~*Prologue*~

Ffl.

His upset face lightened a little. On this page of the yearbook was a girl with long, chocolate brown hair and bright blue eyes. She had a true smile on her face, like she was laughing at an inside joke. She wore a short sleeved orange dress with a yellow cami. Next to the picture was her quote:

"Middle school= the best years of my life. Between Conference and staying in touch with my best friend, who's in Unova right now, nothing has been more fun. By the way Ash- Poliosis."

A small giggle escaped him while he was trying to hold it in. Iris and Cilan both looked at him.

"What's so funny?" Ash just shook his head. Iris sighed and put her hands on her hips. "You're such a kid!"

"Iris, he's reading quotes from his yearbook. He probably just read a funny one."

She rolled her eyes at Cilan. Ash continued reading the quotes, and one caught his eye:

"I can't believe I'm putting this out there for everyone to see, but this is the only contact I'll have with him: I love you, A.R.K." –Emily Sugooi.

A.R.K.

Ashton Richard Ketchum.

He swallowed hard.

He didn't like her at all.

He had to tell her.

O_O

Iris shivered. "I-It's so high up…"

"Well, the ground seems pretty solid. You don't have to worry about falling," Cilan coaxed. She still shivered. Ash glanced down the cliff, thought of something, and shook the thought out of his mind.

No, I'm not jumping.

They kept walking, Ash only looking at the ground. Cilan noticed this, and the Pokemon Connoisseur was obviously concerned.

"What's wrong, Ash?"

Iris and the two Pokemon looked at the boys as Ash glanced at his newer friend.

"Nothing, I'm just tired. Why?"

"You just seem… quiet. A 'something's wrong' quiet, not an 'I just don't feel like talking' kind of quiet."

"Oh. I'm just tired, that's all," he repeated, looking at the ground again. Pikachu jumped off of his shoulder, and Axew hopped out of Iris's hair to talk to it. Cilan quietly walked over to Ash.

"You scared of heights?"

Ash looked at him again. "No, why?"

"Well… It's just worrying me that you're quiet. You're usually really energetic, like soda."

"Pop."

"What?"

"It's pop, not soda."

"No, I'm pretty sure it's soda."

"No, it's pop."

"It's so-"

Suddenly, they heard a large crack coming from below the boys. They both jumped and froze. Everything was still. A small breeze blew through, ruffling everyone's hair. They all looked at each other, laughing slightly to lighten the mood.

"Maybe we should… Keep going," Ash suggested quietly. They nodded.

"Yeah, let's go-"

The ground suddenly crumbled from beneath Ash and Cilan. They screamed and tried to grab onto something to prevent them hitting the ground. Ash finally caught a branch, and he quickly grabbed Cilan. They hung there for a few seconds, catching their breath.

"Y-You okay?" Ash finally asked. The green-eyed boy looked up and swallowed.

"Yeah… What about you?"

"Pretty sure…"

As they panted, a strong gust of wind blew by, causing the duo to sway. Both boys noticed a little slip. Ash gripped tighter, but that didn't prevent his hand from slipping a bit more.

"Ash…"

"I-I won't let go!"

His hand was now dangling by just two fingers. Ash's grip was so tight, Cilan feared he was going to have a bruise. Finally, another gust blew by, and Cilan fell off.

"Cilan!"

Ash suddenly let go of the branch, falling after the older boy. He extended a hand as his hat flew off, and Cilan reached for it. Just as they grabbed each other, they hit the trees, and everything went black.