The plane swiftly landed as dirt and grit flew away, the wheels of the heavy flying machine skirting slightly. The calls of a flock of sparrows callings aggressively in the sky, the stairs slowly descending down as passengers stepped down, careful of lagguge. Their pokemon either riding on them or carefully stepping down as well. A certain raven haired boy came down them, a yellow mouse with bright red cheeks on his shoulder. A sleeveless turtleneck on, with dark blue jeans. Once on solid ground he looked up, a hand on his face to shadow the sun. He grinned slightly at the familiar surroundings, it almost seemed unreal. He sighed happily, noticing the awed faces as he passes. He ignored it, use to it. He made his way to the direction of pallet town, his home, his starting point. The nostalgia happily suffocating him. He made it to the little town, ignoring the excited gazes of his use to be neighbors.
" Heh, ironic isn't it, Pikachu?" He said softly to his companion.
" Pika pi!" They responded enthusiastically, grinning ear to ear. The boy, well, man now, smirked. Stopping at his childhood home, he softly knocked, a gorgeous old woman opening the door. She gasped, dropping whatever she was holding, tears threatening to spill from her beautiful amber eyes. It was her son at the door, the very son who set off on a journey, the very one that hadn't returned in years from training. She looked at her son's face, his natural soft features having matured handsomely. Her son, Ash Ketchum, champion of Alola, defeated the undefeatable Leon, claimed 2nd to the kalos championship. Her very successful son. He smiled cheekily at her, his mother, the one who supported him no matter what. It wasn't as if he never saw her, he did, but mostly from home. He focused on training after Galar. After skillfully pushing down her raging emotions, Delilah looked angry at her son. I mean, he was 21 now with barely no contact. She softly hit his head, puffing out her cheek with a hand on her hip.
" Ash Kechum, you get in this house right now young man!" She huffed, Ash nodded vigorously, following as his mother went inside.
" So, what happend while i gone? I didn't have any service where I was." He explained casually, full attention on his mother. Her mood instantly downplayed, her eyebrows arching downwards. Her eyes narrowing in a sad manner.
" Professor Oak died.." she said, her tone barely a whisper. But Ash heard, his heart began to thump wildly, his eyes widened, Pikachu reacted as well, he let out a sad Chu.
"What?" He breathed out, the only thing he could have managed to.
" He died peacefully in his sleep, Gary took over as pokemon professor.
H
e's done an excellent job, but...he puts far too much stress on himself..probably to keep the grief away." Delilah said sadly, Ash still far too deep in shock. He eventually found his words, forcing himself out of his shocked state. Guilt and sympathy built quickly for Gary, no matter how rude he once was to Ash, they were still rivals as well as friends. With new found determination, he stood up, his mother giving a gasp at how sudden, but she understood. Pikachu jumped back to Ash's shoulder as he went threw the door. Making his way to the lab, were his pokemon once rested at, now they rested at his house. He knocked on the Professer's lab, now Gary's lab. He heard movement, then the door opened, and he slightly gasped at the sight. Gary looked horrible, his bags were dreadfully thick and long, stubble was starting to grow, his eyes were bloodshot and down, he looked to be battling sleep, he was in desperate need of a shower, in total, he was a wreck. Gary actually showed emotion, his bloodly eyes widening in pure shock.
" Ash?" He mumbled, almost as he didn't believe it.
" Hey Gary, first time you didn call me Ashy boy." Ash joked. Gary stood, dumbfounded. Not knowing whether his mind was making illusions again.
" Pika!" His thoughts were interrupted by a irritated Pikachu.
" Oh, sorry..come on in." He offered, standing to the side. Ash nodded, stepping in. His mouth slightly open at the place. Books, clothes, papers, Trash, etc were EVERYWHERE. " Sorry, it's a little bad." Gary laughed nervously.
" A little?" Ash gaped, forcing himself to only look at Gary.
" I um...what...uh...brings you here, Ash?" Gary said looking away,
" I heard about the professor." He stated. Gary flinched, the wounds still healing.
" Yeah, it was two months ago.." Gary mumbled. Ash nodded, looking away as well. An awkward tension building. " Why do you...care?" Gary said suddenly,
" Because believe it or not, I care for you." Ash said, proudly. Pikachu gave a cracked chu, looking grossed at the place him and his trainer were in. Gary looked surprised, looking at his rival with new found warmth.
" Really?" He asked, sounding desperate for clarification. Ash nodded, his hand reaching for his rival. His hand softly embraced Gary's face, Ash's hand was soft, and squishy. Gary jumped at the contact, eventually getting use to it. The moment was awkward again, and Ash removed his hand. Gary surprising himself at wanting it back.
" If you need help, of any kind, you can call me." Ash said softly. Going back to the front door, Gary nodded slowly. Still confused by what had just happened. Ash nodded back, opening the door with a creak, and closing it with a thud. Gary collapsed onto his couch, Umbreon jumping onto the other cushion. His cheeks heated, remembering his childhood crush on the boy. Oh how excited he would have been, what made him question was, why was his heart thumping at the idea Ash cared, Even after these years?
YOU ARE READING
I'll Save You, My Dear
FanfictionAsh, after years of being away from home, and loved one, for training, comes back. He came back to his mother, but stops when he finds out the professor had died. Worried for his rival, Gary, he finds him. Only to reveal that his past rival is a wre...
