Vanish

Chapter 3

"Mmm, those pancakes were almost as good as the ones that Mom makes," Max commented, rubbing his belly and following May and Brock out of the restaurant.

"I hear that," May added, smacking her lips. "But I hope Combusken didn't get too hungry waiting for me to return with the pokémon food..."

"I'm sure he's fine," Brock said. "And May, did Ash mention why he didn't come to breakfast?"

"Well, he did say he wasn't hungry earlier this morning, but don't worry about it, because he'll probably be complaining about his empty stomach at lunch," May answered.

"Hey, look!" Max said, pointing to the sky. "It's a hot air balloon!"

May looked at the balloon. "If it's any balloon other than Team Rocket's, I'll be happy," she replied sourly.

Just then, Brock spotted something sprinting toward them. Turned out to be Combusken.

"Com! Busken, ken com... Combus...ken bus...," he cried, catching his breath.

May's eyes widened. "What's wrong Combusken? Where's Ash?"

"Ken, busken!" And Combusken ran away, apparently wanting the others to follow.

"I wonder what Combusken's problem is," Max muttered, not wanting to run after he had just eaten a ton of pancakes. But it did sound urgent... So he followed the others.

May was pouring on a lot of speed. She knew her Combusken, and when he speaks like that, she knows something is wrong. She was way ahead of the other two, and reached Combusken's destination first.

Combusken raised a claw and pointed to-

"Oh, my God!" May cried in horror. "Ash!" She ran over to his limp form. "Ash...you gotta...wake...up... Ash, are you okay? ...Oh, my God..." She looked him over.

He looked like a wreck. His clothes smelled...singed. A nasty looking cut on his forehead that was drizzling blood down his face...

But what was most noticeable was a big rip on the left side of the left pant leg of Ash's pants, from just above his knee down to his ankle, revealing a long cut just as big underneath.

May gasped and began to cry. What happened? What?

She didn't even notice Brock and Max come up behind her. Max had just gasped and backed away slowly, while Brock rushed forward and felt for Ash's pulse.

"He's still alive, but he's unconscious...," he informed Max and May. He then ripped open the tear in Ash's pants a little more. "Max, please get me the antiseptic and the bandages..."

May just couldn't stop crying. Seeing Ash like this... Just the sight of him sent tears streaming down her face. And she was the one who had left him there alone. Wait, not alone, May corrected herself. I left him with Combusken... What happened then? How...?

Brock grabbed the antiseptic from Max and drenched a part of a hand towel with it. He then carefully applied the towel to Ash's big cut...

"Ow...," groaned Ash, his eyes flickering.

Brock and May leaned in closer. "Ash, are you awake?" Brock asked.

"Would...I be talking...if I was...asleep?" Ash countered quietly.

"Ash!" May cried, not hesitating as she hugged Ash tightly.

Ash was more than a little surprised. "Umm... May... That...kinda hurts..."

May jumped back. "Sorry!"

Brock pressed the towel to Ash's leg again. "What happened, Ash?"

"OW!" Ash protested as the antiseptic stung into his skin. "Cut it out!" And he did his best to sit up. He did, eventually, painfully. He snatched the towel from Brock. "I'll do that myself, thank...you...very much..."