True Love Knows No Boundaries

Chapter 1: Ash's heartache.

"What's wrong, Ash?" asked Brock.

Ash's hunched-down head jerked up at the sudden question and he stared at his friend with a confused expression, as if it took a moment for his eyes to focus on Brock sitting at the other side of the campfire.

It had now been over a week since their most recent adventure, where they had met the Pokemon whish maker Jirachi and returned it to its home in Forina. Since then, they had been back on the road as usual, but from time to time during the last few days Brock had noticed that his best friend wasn't being his usual positive self. Sometimes Brock had seen Ash walking a short distance behind the rest of the group, staring down at the ground and frowning, as if he was thinking about something really hard.

Earlier today, even Pikachu had left Ash's shoulder and run forward to Brock and the others. When Brock had bowed down and scooped up the electric Pokemon, it had a very worried expression and it was clearly asking Brock for help. So Brock had decided to take it up with Ash and ask him about what was bothering him. He had waited until May and her little brother, Max, was asleep in the tent and he was alone with Ash around the fire. Pikachu and the other Pokemon were also sound asleep. After quite a long time of awkward silence, Brock had finally posed his question.

"It's nothing," said Ash wearily. Immediately after his short answer, he returned to his former position, staring emptily down on the ground.

"No, Ash," Brock said seriously. "I can tell that something's wrong with you … and it has been for several days. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but maybe I can help you."

"I… It's just that ever since we met Jirachi I've been thinking a lot. About what I would wish for if I could wish for anything … about the choices I've made."

Brock was very surprised to hear about this. He had never thought of Ash as being the introspective type. But he felt that there had to be something more that was troubling Ash. Something more specific. Not wanting to rush things, he asked gently, "What choices do you mean, Ash?"

"Choices about some of the people I've met", Ash said. "We've met so many wonderful persons on our journeys and I … I've always just moved on with only one thing in mind."

Ash didn't need to tell his friend what that thing was. Everyone who knew Ash, also knew that he wanted to be the greatest Pokemon trainer ever. That drive was what kept him going … although right now it didn't seem to keep him going at all.

"Is there someone in particular you're thinking about, Ash?" Brock asked.

"Yeah…"

Just then, Brock figured that he should have known that this would happen. Ash and Misty had been together on the road ever since Ash started his journeys and she had stayed with him even in the Orange Islands, when Brock himself had chosen to stay with Professor Ivy (although now Brock didn't want to think about that part of his life at all). He had always thought that Ash and Misty would become a couple sooner or later, although now that Misty wasn't with them he wasn't so sure anymore.

"Ash, I understand that you must miss Misty very much but we'll see her again soon. If you really want to, we could go back for her."

With that, Ash slowly turned his head and looked at his friend, and Brock was stunned to see tears in his eyes. "This isn't about Misty, Brock," he said, his voice breaking.

This confused Brock a lot. If it wasn't Misty, then who? May was right here, sleeping in the tent so it couldn't be her and Ash couldn't be crying for his mom, could he? Brock thought about it for a few seconds, and then it hit him. It was obvious, now that he had thought of it!

"It's Latias, isn't it?" he asked carefully.

Ash's sad expression told Brock that it was. Tears were starting to run down his cheeks.

"Ever since we left Alto Mare I've felt something inside. Like something was missing. At first, I thought it would pass with time, but after we met Jirachi I started to think about … things, and it only got worse."

"How does it feel Ash?"

"Like a yearning … even burning sensation right here," Ash said and placed his hand on his chest, over his heart.

Brock looked across the campfire at his friend. "It's called a heartache, Ash. It means you're in love."

"I thought so…" Ash said quietly between sobs.

"Listen to me, Ash. You don't need to wish for things to be different. You are free to do what you want to do. If you feel like this, then I think you should go back and see her again. Even if she doesn't feel like you do, you'll still be better off afterwards."

"You really think so?" Ash said, wiping his eyes. He had calmed down a little now that he finally had told someone about this.

"Yeah, I do. But you have to understand that a love like that is … complicated … even more so then love between two humans." Brock started to feel like he was in over his head with all this talk about love, but he desperately wanted to help his friend.

"I know, but… I will go and see her, Brock. I will."

"Good. Will you leave first thing in the morning?"

"No, I have to go right now. Can you take care of Pikachu while I'm gone?"

Brock was surprised to hear this. "What? You're not bringing it?"

"No, if I'm going to do this I have to do it alone, and you know that he never wants to go into a Pokeball."

"I understand," said Brock. "I promise I'll look after it. And I'll tell May tomorrow when she wakes up."

Ash looked hesitantly at him.

"It's better to tell the truth, Ash."

Ash nodded silently and then went to fetch his backpack. When he had collected his things he went back to the campfire and laid his hand on Brock's shoulder. "Thanks for the advice, Brock. You're a great friend."

Brock looked up at Ash and nodded once. "Take care of yourself, alright?"

"I will. Bye, Brock."

Concluded in Chapter 2