Holding On
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. I own only the characters that are in the flashbacks and lab scenes. I own the chimera Pokemon.
Summary: Ash is captured by Team Rocket and goes missing for half a year. This is before the Sinnoh region. They find him in a abandoned lab and changed into a beast with endless problems. It's up to his friends and old rival to help him through this ordeal. Gary/Oak Friendship
Chapter 2
Only a kid
I woke up it was 7 I'm just a kid and life is a nightmare And maybe when the night is dead, I'll crawl into my bed I'm just a kid and life is a nightmare What the hell is wrong with me? I'm just a kid I'm just a kid and life is a nightmare I'm just a kid and life is a nightmare I'm all alone tonight
I waited till 11
To figure out that no one would call
I think I've got a lot of friends but I don't hear from them
What's another night all alone?
When you're spending everyday on your own
And here it goes
I'm just a kid, I know that it's not fair
Nobody cares, cause I'm alone and the world is
Having more fun than me tonight
And staring at these 4 walls again
I'll try to think about the last time I had a good time
Everyone's got somewhere to go
And they're gonna leave me here on my own
And here it goes
I'm just a kid, I know that it's not fair
Nobody cares, cause I'm alone and the world is
Having more fun than me
Don't fit in with anybody
How did this happen to me?
Wide awake I'm bored and I can't fall asleep
And every night is the worst night ever
I'm just a kid, I know that its not fair
Nobody cares, cause I'm alone and the world is
Nobody wants to be alone in the world.
I'm just a kid, I know that its not fair
Nobody cares, cause I'm alone and the world is
Nobody wants to be alone in the world
Nobody cares, cause I'm alone and the world is
Having more fun than me tonight
Nobody cares tonight
Cause I'm just a kid tonight
- Simple Plan – I'm Just a Kid
Last time:
The memory broke and Gary saw the beast looking at Gary with those crimson brown eyes that looked so familiar. "Gare-bear is that you?" The beast spoke again with pleading in it's tone. That's when Gary realized he recognized the voice. Tears started to gather in his eyes in that minute while looking at the creature. "Ash?" He whispered. The creature that was Ash perked it's ears and gave a watery smile with it's muzzle. "Gary." It said.
Gary couldn't help but stare and felt tears going down his face. Everyone could only look in horror that the beast that was there before them was their best friend and twerp.
Present:
Ash smiled at the group with his ears tweaked upwards. His tail wagged side to side in pure happiness to see all his friends.
The gang all looked at him in horror. Misty and May had there hands towards their mouths. Brock clenched his fists and looked away in sadness. Max looked angst. Jesse and James looked saddened to see their enemy in such a state. Meowth looked at him in pity. Pikachu looked horrified that his trainer got turned into this.
Gary stared at his friend. "Ash is that really you?" Ash tilted his head at Gary and gave a sad smile. "Of course." He said brokenly.
Gary smiled and was happy to find his friend and rival alive. He was agonized to find him in this state though. He hoped Gramps knew how to fix this. He turned to see the others looking at Ash with weird looks.
He saw Ash looking and saw the ears drooping. His tail went and wrapped around his legs and hid his eyes with his hair. He clenched his claws and turned his head away from them. Ash knew what they were thinking. "I'm a sight. Aren't I?" He said with a faint laugh.
Gary saw the look in his eyes and as quick as lighting grabbed him in a hug. After a split second's hesitation Ash returned the hug, holding Gary just as tightly as he was holding him. Ash closed his eyes, and just held onto him. Gary had saw him as himself and not the beast he appeared to be. Ash started to cry.
Gary held the trembling form in his arms and started to rub his friends back. Ash froze and then started to held on tighter. As Gary held him he heard a whimper make it's way out of Ash's mouth. It made Gary bit his lip to see his friend reduced to this.
The gang looked at the little moment before them and Max hesitantly made his way to them. When he got there he saw Ash's ear twitch and saw Ash turn his head to look at him. When Max saw those eyes staring at him Max couldn't hold it in anymore.
Max cried and ran to give Ash a hug. Ash froze staring at Max in shock before his eyes started to grow soft. As Max started to cry in his arms, Ash growled softly and started to pull Max in a deep hug. He pulled Max in his arms and held him to his hip like a young child. He turned to look at Gary staring.
"I don't mind." Ash spoke and turned to see Max in his arms. He looked at the others and gave a soft smile. He felt a hand on his arm and saw Gary giving a gentle smile to him. "Let's get out of here." Ash gave a hesitant smile and nodded. Before leaving he froze and said, "Before we leave... Can I bring her with me?"
Gary froze. "Her who? Is there someone else here?" Ash looked at the floor and hugged Max closer. "No just me. I want to bring 17 with me." Ash said with a faint whisper. That froze Gary to the core. "Did you know her?" Ash didn't speak but nodded.
Brock saw the hesitation and spoke, "I'll help out." James agreed to help out as well. It's the least they could do.
Ash saw this and gave a small grin. His tail wagged faintly and watched them head down the hallway to his old cell. He closed his eyes happy that his friends came.
He looked down into his arms to see Max snuggling into his fur. Ash's eyes went warm at the sight. He saw the others looking, but other wise ignored them. He saw the look of question on Gary's face, but didn't say a word.
Minutes passed and Ash felt Max relaxing and heard soft snores. Ash smiled and started to changed Max's position. He turned and had Max placed on his back looking to give him a piggy back ride. Max snuggled deeper into his fur and gave a soft sigh.
Ash gave a faint smile at the sight and turned to the others. It made him happy that Max could feel relaxed around him even though he was this thing. It warmed his heart to know that others cared.
Ash heard footsteps and his ears twitched. He saw Brock and James walking towards them carrying a ploy board with a tarp on it. Ash could make out the unmoving lump on it and his ears drooped. He turned the to others. "Let's go."
The way back was quiet. They traveled through helicopter. Ash made no further comments with any of the others feeling that certain conversations might not go well. Gary made one sided converse with him which made Ash happy inside.
Max was still asleep snuggled close to Ash. Not that Ash minded.
It was a while till they saw they made it to Pallet Town. Ash looked at the scenery and his started to droop. Gary saw this exchange. "What's the matter Ashy-boy?" Ash gave a snort. "I wonder how Mom's gonna deal with this... I'm not exactly the most welcome sight." Ash said in his twisted humor. Gary bit his lip in response.
"She won't mind Ash. It isn't in her nature to be judgmental." Gary spoke with sincerity. Ash turned to him and gave a small grin.
"Thank you." Ash said with a small grin. Gary gave a smirk. "Your stuck with me for life Ashy-boy. Get used to it." Ash rolled his eyes, but thanked him none the less. Ash glanced at the child in his arms and tightened his grip.
The helicopter landed gently on the ground. Jesse and James turned to speak. "Twerp, I hope what that the Professor has something that can help with you. I don't know what went wrong. But we didn't have any part of it." Jesse spoke silently. Ash looked away from them distancing himself from them. He gave a faint nod. "You weren't the one's who did this to me... It was your bosssss... He liked my blood type... It's him.. I have a problem with..." Ash spoke with his eyes starting to glow a faint red.
Jesse and James discreetly looked at each other. "Well hope things get better. You have our prayers for you." James said honestly. Ash gave a surprised look then settled his face in a look of content. "Thank you James." He gave a small grin and letting go of one of his paws holding Max held it out to James.
James looked at the paw in the sign of a handshake. He saw the three claws that were once fingers, but shook those thoughts away. He gave a smile and shook. Ash and him gave a contented look to one another. A small truce was born then and there.
Ash watched the Team Rocket members take off and gave a silent smile. "Thanks for your help."
Ash sighed and turned to the others. "Let's go to Professor Oaks." With that Ash started leading the others down. While walking there he could feel the others gazes on him. Ash walked with Max in his arms, the little boy's head resting on his furry chest, arms resting on his shoulders as he walked. Ash felt happy still that Max still was comfortable in his presence.
Gary glanced at Ash and saw the small little actions of being over-protective Ash was being around Max. From what he heard from the other's Ash wasn't usually this gentle around Max.
Ash could feel Gary's gaze, but willed himself to ignore it. He lead the group into Pallet Town and saw Professor Oak's lab. He smiled to himself happy to be home.
They were making their way up the stairs in silence. Reaching the top of the stairs Gary made a run to the door. Gary got to the door and shouted, "Gramps! Gramps! Come on out! We found Ash!"
The sound of a yelp and things hitting the floor greeted the ears of all all that was present. If Ash wasn't in such a state right now he would be laughing his ass off. Unofficially he wasn't in that state of mind. He although did a small smirk to himself. 'Oh Professor Oak you never change."
Hearing the sound of frantic feet making its way to them got to everyone's ears. Ash's ears twitched the most sense his hearing was better then anyone else's there except for Pikachu.
The door opened to see Professor Oak looking widely distressed. "Gary! Did you really?1" The elder man exclaimed while panting. Beside the old researcher was Tracey who appeared just as winded.
While all that fuss was happening Ash was slowly making himself scarce. He tried to hide himself behind Brock. He was grateful to have Max still in his arms to keep him relaxed. He didn't know how the others would see him. His mothers reaction made the most to him.
He was just clearing his head when he heard a faint mummer, "Did you say that you found my baby?". Ash froze after hearing those words. He looked frantic at the brown haired women making her way out of the lab. She had red eyes from tear stains that showed the world of her sadness.
Gary smiled and nodded with happiness. "We found him Ms. Ketchem!" Then Gary looked down and tried to avoid eye contact with his Gramps and two friends. They looked around widely to see him. They saw the board with the white tarp and gasped thinking the worst. Gary saw what they were looking at and gulped. "That's not Ash!" He too looked around and stopped Ash hidden behind Brock. Ash was pressed as close to the older boy as he good. Brock glanced and saw Ash's trembling form and frowned.
"You don't have to be scared. It's your Mother. She wouldn't give you up for the world." Brock said gently to Ash. Ash looked at Brock with the corner of his eye and gulped slowly. "What if she doesn't? I don't exactly look like myself anymore..." Ash spoke with a whisper.
He felt hands rest on his shoulders and looked up to see Brock's stern face before him. "Ash your Mother won't care if you came home a ghost. As long you can come home matters the most to your Mother." Ash saw the sincerity in Brock's eyes and felt his world become easier to breath.
He saw his Mother, Professor Oak and Tracey looking around for him. He gluped but saw Brock's look of reassurance he felt himself grow calm. He calmly handed Max over to Brock's open arms. He then coughed and made his way out from behind his friend.
Professor Oak was the first to see him. The Professor's eyes went really wide and looked him all over. Ash felt very self-conscious with the professor looking him over. It was like back at that place. The Professor peered closely at Ash and widened his eyes. "No... Ash?" He said with a broken voice.
Ash gave a faint smile and nodded to the elder man. Professor Oak looked at Ash with an anguished expression, "What did they do to you my boy." Ash's ears twitched at this and a grim smile appeared. "What didn't they do to me?" Ash said with cold humor. The Professor closed his eyes when he sharply turned away imaging the horror the boy went through.
Ash heard a faint gasp and turned to see his Mother looking right at him. Ash's ears drooped to the point that it almost hid in his mane of hair. She said with a hesitantly whisper, "Ash?" Ash looked at his Mother taking note of her appearance of distress and gave a faint smile. He said with a gentle voice, "Hello Mom."
With that the dam burst. Delia Ketchem ran with all see had and held her son as close as she could. Ash froze and felt his Mother running her hands through his mane of hair. He couldn't hold it in anymore and started to cry.
At first it was small tears and until total sobbing made it's way through. Delia smiled and cried happy that her son was in her arms again. She was heartbroken to see that he was made into this thing. She was glad though that he was alive. She thought the worst when she saw the white tarp.
While holding her crying son, she heard the whimpers and whines coming through his throat. She was chilled to the bone that people could do this to a child. If she ever found the one's who did this to her baby it wouldn't be a pretty sight. She calmly held her baby till she felt, he had his fill of distress.
I'm just a kid and life is a nightmare I'm all alone tonight
I'm just a kid, I know that its not fair
Nobody cares, cause I'm alone and the world is
Nobody wants to be alone in the world
Nobody cares, cause I'm alone and the world is
Having more fun than me tonight
Nobody cares tonight
Cause I'm just a kid tonight
End of Chapter 2
More with the updates. Story is starting to get good.
Next Story ideas:
Reflections: Daisuke (Davis) Motomiya over hears his friends about himself. He starts to feel self-conscious about himself and feels like he shouldn't be a leader. His cousin Takuya takes him and something happens. He is a legendary warrior along with several others. It's up the others to help them in their time of need.
Doing things differently: Ash is given Pikachu in the beginning. What if Pikachu ditches him in his time of need. What is another pokemon takes place of his starter. He takes to the world differently and is colder. He wants to be the best of trainers. Watch out world.