Next day
"Honey, wake up and get ready quickly!” my mom's voice echoed from the kitchen, shattering the quiet of the morning.
"Okay, Mum!" I called back, forcing myself out of bed. I sighed heavily, the weight of everything that had happened in the last two days crashing back over me. The break-up, the change in my dreams, and the overwhelming uncertainty.
I stretched and headed to the bathroom, my thoughts swirling. “First I break up with Serena, then I decide to change my dreams entirely. I gave up on becoming a Pokémon Master. Life sure does have a way of slapping you in the face...” I muttered, yawning.
Opening the window next to my bed, I looked out at the world. “Good morning, new day,” I said with false cheer. The brightness outside seemed too much for the gloom I felt inside. But I had already decided. “No regrets,” I told myself, brushing my teeth, “Starting today, Ash Ketchum will change for the better.”
“Honey, we’re having guests over today, so don’t go anywhere,” my mom’s voice called out, interrupting my thoughts.
“Guests? Who?” I asked, more curious than anything else.
“They should be here in about two hours,” she replied, tapping her finger against her cheek as if trying to remember.
Strange. My mom wasn't one for random visits from guests, especially not today. Today was supposed to be quiet. I glanced at the calendar. No special occasion. No reason for visitors. Suspicion began creeping in. Why today?
And then, something shifted. Something felt... off. How do they know I'm back from Kalos? Why now?
Two hours later...
Ash’s POV
I stood in my room, glancing at Pikachu as we packed away my things. My achievements, my awards, all of it was getting boxed up. The past was being sealed away, locked behind the choice I had made.
“What do you think, Pikachu?” I asked, my tone light despite the heavy decisions weighing me down.
Pikachu sighed, clearly not amused. “If I were you, I wouldn’t be doing this.”
I laughed. “Why not?”
“Because it’s demotivating! Why are you packing away everything you’ve accomplished? I mean, who hides their own success?” he huffed, crossing his arms.
I paused, feeling a small twinge of guilt. “I’m not hiding it. I’m just... moving on. I don’t want to stay on that path anymore. We’re starting fresh.”
Pikachu’s POV
That smile... it gave me chills. Something wasn’t right. He was pretending everything was fine, but I could feel it. The doorbell rang, pulling us both from the conversation.
“They’re here,” Ash said, his voice distant.
Delia’s POV
I greeted the guests with a warm smile as they entered the house. But inside, my nerves were on edge. Ash didn’t know what was coming, and I wasn’t sure how he’d take it.
"Guys, he’s coming down now,” I whispered to the group. “Stick to the plan.”
The group nodded. Gary cracked his knuckles, his usual cocky smile on his face. "Don’t worry, Mrs. Ketchum. We’ve got this.”
Ash’s POV
As I headed downstairs, I could hear voices. Familiar voices. My stomach twisted. Why were all these people here?
“Mom, what’s going on?”
“Oh, just fetching some tea leaves for me from the garden, dear,” she said with a too-bright smile. “The guests just arrived.”
Guests? I raised an eyebrow but decided not to question it. Heading to the garden, I bent down to pick the tea leaves, my mind wandering.
Suddenly, someone covered my eyes.
“Gary and Misty,” I said flatly.
“Aw, come on, how did you know?” Misty whined, while Gary smirked.
I shrugged. “Aura.”
Misty rolled her eyes. “Still the same Ash.”
“And you’re still playing knock-knock jokes? Are you serious?” I replied, my voice laced with sarcasm.
Gary snickered, but before anyone could say anything more, more voices approached. I turned to see Paul, Brock, Clemont, Bonnie, and—my stomach dropped—Serena.
Why was she here?
“Hey, dummy,” she said, her usual playful tone striking me like a cold wind. I ignored her and greeted everyone else, but her presence gnawed at me.
After lunch, we all gathered in the backyard. Everyone was chatting, laughing, but I felt distant, like I wasn’t really there. My mind kept drifting, weighed down by decisions I’d made, paths I’d left behind.
And then she came over. Serena.
“Ash, I need to talk to you,” she said quietly, her eyes searching mine.
I stiffened. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
She took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly. “Please, just give us one more chance. I... I don’t want to give up on this.”
My heart ached, but I kept my face neutral. “I gave you my answer. Let me go.”
“But Ash—”
“No, Serena. I have other things I need to focus on now.” My voice was firm, but it hurt more than I’d admit.
She stared at me, her eyes pleading, but I couldn’t look at her any longer. I had made my choice. And there was
NO TURNING BACK.
YOU ARE READING
When dreams aren't achieved.
FanfictionWhat Happens When You Keep Losing? Ash stood at the edge of defeat, staring into the abyss of his sixth consecutive Pokémon League loss. His dreams, once vivid and unstoppable, were now slipping through his fingers like sand. The once-hopeful traine...
