Tryst with Destiny: The Beginning of the End (Main Story)

2 : The Eventful Morning

(In the night after dinner)

Ash is sitting in the living room all by himself. He merely juggles Pikachu's Poke-ball in his right hand from time to time, to pass time. Upon seeing Ash looking so sad and reserved, Delia comes over to him.

"Hey sweetie," Delia sweetly says as she sits next to him.

"Hey mom," Ash mumbles in a beat down tone before putting his head in Delia's lap.

"Honey. What's wrong? Pikachu and the others have been asleep for almost twenty minutes. Yet you're wide awake. I have never seen you so low and quiet. Is everything alright?" Delia asks in a gentle concerned tone as she gently strokes Ash's head.

"Nothing mom," Ash replies in an equally soft tone while his head shifts restlessly in Delia's lap.

"Are you upset about Unova's performance?" Delia questions.

"Not so much. But to a certain extent, yes." Ash replies before sitting upright. Despite not wanting to, Delia's mention of Unova starts stirring up unwanted thoughts in his mind. It's almost as if some old wounds which had sealed have reopened.

"Then why are you so sad? Even during dinner, you were unusually quiet," Delia asks as she remembers when Ash was playing with his food for almost half of his dinner time and when he was eating he was silent as the grave.

"It's just that..." Ash says before his voice trails of into uncomfortable silence.

"Just what? Tell me," Delia says while placing a reassuring hand on Ash's shoulder. Ash wants to tell her but decides to change his mind at the last moment, thinking that the time is not right yet. Furthermore, he doesn't need another person to have a breakdown right this very instant.

"It's just that I am tired, of losing wherever I go. I need. I need guidance. I need help." Ash says as he sits back upright. 

Ash then quickly drinks some water to soothe his throat which has gone dry faster than usual. Delia gently squeezes his shoulders to calm him down.

"Well, Professor Oak is coming tomorrow to have a proper chat with you. So he should be able to help you. Also, if you want I can call some of your friends. I a sure talking with them should make you feel better." Delia replies with a broad warm smile on her face.

"No. No. This. This is something I need to do on my own. I need to stop being a child and start winning battles on my calibre rather than relying on a few strong Pokemon and luck." Ash replies almost instantly.

The serious look on Ash's face immediately worries Delia. She wants to ask him further but stops herself knowing that this is not the right time for this discussion.

Delia asks "Anything you need? Water, maybe some alone time?"

"I could use an Aspirin," Ash finally answers as a familiar throbbing sensation resumes in his forehead.

"I'll get you the Nidorina Aspirin. But tell me are you having a headache?" Delia asks as she instinctively puts a hand of Ash's forehead to check for fever.

"Yup, but no fever. Also, a sleeping pill would do me good as well. I think I desperately need a good night's sleep, considering all I have been through," Ash replies. His quiet tone worries Delia but she reminds herself that now it is more important that he gets a good night's sleep first.

"Well, go to your room. I'll get you your medicine there and we'll call it a night. We'll talk first thing in the morning if you're not up for it right now," Delia says while getting up.

"Thanks, mom. You're the best." Ash replies in a meek tone as he pulls his unwilling body up. 

He quietly walks over to his bedroom while stumbling in a few places along the way.