Obsidian and Plum: Unlikely Events

Chapter 1 - Bad Choices.

Not all ideas end up being sensible ones, and sometimes, no amount of positive thinking and drive to succeed will assure you achieve your goal. Nineteen-year-old Ash Ketchum, was being reminded of that fact once again as he foolishly tries to fight his way through a monster of a storm.

Hurricane winds, and torrential rain was beating the islands of Jhoto and Kanto, slowly traveling east in the direction of Sinnoh. Ash and his electric pokémon friend - Pikachu, were currently trying to walk home to Pallet town during one of the worst storms the regions have seen in years. Soaking wet, cold, shivering and tired, Ash had Pikachu

Moving towards the closest tree to rest – if just for a moment to regain his breath and any fraction of energy he could find, his foot caught on a raised root and he tripped. Trying to protect his Pikachu, he turned on the way down, landing awkwardly on his left side and skidding across the ground hard. The pain racked through his shoulder and arm, causing Ash to scrunch his eyes closed and clench his teeth.

"Pikaaaaa?" The small electric pokémon cried to his trainer in concern, poking his head out from the hooded jacket as Ash forced himself to sit up. Pikachu was just as soaked as he was, and that was saying something; At least Pikachu was safer inside his jacket – away from the winds that were far too difficult for his pokémon to move in. Pikachu had already been blown off Ash's shoulders once, even when he'd had his tiny back yellow-legs tucked into Ash's unused hood.

"I'm okay buddy! I'm sorry I got us into this shit. Wasn't my best idea." Ash admitted, breathless and tired. He was shivering as he adjusted his rucksack. He felt extremely foolish. This wasn't the first time he'd acted impulsively – going against sage advice... stupid!

"Pi, Pikachuuu." Pikachu tried to reassure him, nuzzling his head under Ash's chin.

The storm wasn't letting up, on the contrary... it was getting worse. Knowing he had to find shelter or keep moving, he stood up and bit his lip against the pain that groaned in his shoulder. He supported his left arm with his right hand under the elbow, both arms still around his Pikachu, and forced onwards through the storm.

"Come on bud, we have to keep moving!" Ash encouraged himself more than his electric type.

After a while, Ash was losing feeling in his limbs. He didn't know if it was the cold or the fact that he was walking on pure survival power, but the aching muscles just felt absent from his body, yet ... he was still walking somehow. His energy and strength were almost depleted to nothing, so he guessed it must be survival or adrenaline keeping him moving - if not for himself, he had to make sure Pikachu was safe. Of course, Pikachu had refused point-blank to return to his pokéball even though he'd tried.

Man, had he tried!

He was shivering furiously, his ears and noes stung, and he couldn't feel his fingers or toes. His face felt like it had been slapped multiple times, and the only good thing about the cold was that his shoulder now felt numb.

There was no shelter that he could see, but then it was nearly impossible to see anything past the end of his cap –– how that cap was still on his head he would never know, he assumed it must have been because it was soaked and stuck to his hair somehow. Even then the winds and rain were making it very difficult to keep his eyes open – stinging drops and winds irritating his tired eyes. He was exhausted.

He forced his burning calves to work against the wind, but his strength was dwindling – the winds trying to force him backwards. He was just contemplating giving up, laying down on the ground and sleeping – even in this weather, when he heard an almighty crack from directly above.

Looking up, he startled when he saw part of the massive tree plummet down to where he stood. He tried to dive out of the way but he wasn't fast enough – it was too late.