Timeline: 1 week
Chapter 4: Protect me forever
He was drawing, that was a warm feeling.
The markers swished and swooshed over the white paper, as beautiful
little creatures sprung out from clear doorways.
Pretty, pretty.
He touched one, surprised when his fingers came in with dark blue
stains on them.
Why were they bleeding? Markers didn't bleed.
No, blood red, red on the grass, drops falling…
No!
Run, run, run, but you can't get away because he's still chasing you…
He's faster and older and you can't do anything!
Help, someone, help!
Small, so small, but Poliwag was falling, and they were so far… far
from the safe water where he could finally forget…
Red and white and pain…
Someone help me…
Shrugging, Ash picked up another marker and continued to color.
Pretty pikachus! They danced up and down the pages.
Blue and red and yellow and green pikachus, swimming and sleeping and
running and eating!
His pokemon sat in a protective ring around him.
No matter what, they would stay. You didn't leave because master was
having problems.
If you did, you became an outcast.
Always.
Of course, if your master was beating you, there was a natural right
to survive and flee. But that was it.
Stupid master? Bad luck.
It was a good thing Ash was getting better. Ever since Orange League,
he had been improving. That was important.
Even though instinct worked, you needed fast calculations.
And so there they were.
Time and time and time…
One last pikachu found life under colored paints, and then the
trainer stepped back with a shy smile.
"Isn't it pretty?"
"Very pretty." Lance said, glancing at the shiny green fur. True, it
was wrong colors, and childish technique, but recognizable as a pikachu.
"Can I have a snack now?"
"Yes."
Lance handed him a chocolate milkshake, which Ash ate slowly,
stirring with a spoon every so often.
Chocolate was sweet. Pure, melting yumminess!
Sweet, not with a bitter aftertaste like some people said. Cool and
frosty on his tongue like winter air, sweet
Sweet and cold and soft…
Snow. Snowflakes fall, like stardust. Stars shine and shine.
Pretty, pretty white and gold and shiny…
Pretty.
Snow was nice. They could run in it, and throw snowballs, and cheer,
and on some days you could pour maple syrup on the snow and make candy!
Candy was sweet too.
Yummy and maple and cold ice all swirling over his tongue.
Taste and taste and eat, until you were full.
Yummy candy, sweet and cold and so pretty!
Snowballs hurt if they hit, but he was fast!
Fast, run, wind, cold wind on your face, running.
Nice, nice
Cold and sweet and yum
He finished eating the milkshake, placed the cup and spoon in the
sink, and then went back to his drawing.
This time, it was lots of hearts and flowers.
Oh well. Maybe his mind would return, but only when it wanted to.
Lance kept him company, and that afternoon, they trained their
pokemon together. It was routine.
And it kept him safe.
Pretty threads dancing all over the place, sparkles of light and color!
Jon watched outside the window scornfully.
"What a waste of life…"
Anger surged through him, once again.
After all, Ash had turned out to be a worthless son, just like he had
the last time. The only reason Jon hadn't been able to do anything
about it was that blasted trainer protecting him.
Damn Lugia! In fact, curse them all!
Well, now Jon had his chance. He had full permission to knock off
this worthless life. Exactly what he had been dreaming of…
He smiled at his partner.
Janet was not impressed. She was a professional hired hit woman, and
she did not appreciate a blundering, emotional idiot following her around.
"We might have to kill more than Ash."
"Impossible." Jon said. "We need the others alive."
"Why?"
"Procedure." Jon said shortly.
Janet glared. "Fine! Let's do this!"
They charged inside.
End Chapter
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