Disclaimer: So I found out the other day that in fact I don’t own pokemon. It was a wee bit of a shocker; yes, when the verdict came down that I had to pay Gamefreak over 2 million in royalties…

“I chose you Pikachu! Overrule and declare a mistrial with thunderbolt!” Somebody then hit me with a chair. I was billed for the repairs to both it and the punitive damages caused by everyone wasting 2 seconds of their respective lives. Your check is in the mail. I don’t think I own it anymore. But I countered with a page from the WoW handbook with level 35 wizard casts “Bitch-slap!”

A/N: Ok, enough with this damnable ambiguity. The man is Ash Ketchum already! Ah yes, a world that lets you go back and edit with retrospect is a good place. Crazed overdose of caffeine at 3:34 A.M. does wonders for writers’ block. The mood will change. It will now be PG-13 so it might be taken seriously. 3, 2, 1 … Poof

Above the Unfortunately Blue Sky- Part 2

Ash was leaning forward over the railing of one of Celadon’s many bridges. His arms were loosely folded and hung over the water churning below. A long-dead cigarette hung from his mouth unwanted but with nowhere else to go. There was an uncommonly warm breeze blowing across for this time in November that made his jacket flap to and fro. Not that he welcomed the change, but it least it gave him a chance to air out the apartment and go for a walk on his day off.

Ash looked down to the little yellow mouse-like pokémon sitting on the sidewalk next to him, its head through the bars being hypnotized by the swirling water below. Taking the cigarette from his mouth but not taking his gaze from the horizon Ash tried to start up a conversation, “Nice weather today.”

“Pika.” It responded, dull and unenthusiastic.

“So what do you say we go pay May a visit today?” This time Ash got a bit more of a confirmation of life. Pikachu lifted its head and gave him a quizzical look.

“Pi pika pi chu?”

A/n – I neither know how nor care to go on typing these pi’s and chu’s and whatnot so we’re going to keep ‘em short.

“No, I don’t think we’ll be back for at least a week. In fact,” pushing himself up from his slouch with renewed enthusiasm, “let’s go get my bag and drag the couch to the nearest pokémon center. I’ve been in this hellish town too long.” He paused for a moment in thought. “Jeeze. 5 months went by pretty fast, huh?”

“Pi.” The mouse yawned and stretched, fur bristling out like a frightened cat. It stood up and leaped up to Ash’s shoulder as he began to walk off down the road back to the apartment.

Back on the 7^th floor of his dilapidated shit-hole, Ash stepped over crumbled wood, previously his door. As he walked down the short hallway, he glanced at his closet and drew his fist back.

He paused.

“Today’s your lucky day, door. The last one standing receives mercy on account of my good mood.” He opened it and pulled out a worn-out, green backpack. Ash was still wearing his only pair of pants, the grey ones, one of his black T-shirts, and black combat boots. “Well, I’m traveling light today.” He commented to Pikachu as he threw a sweater, zipper hoodie, and the rest of his underclothes in the bag. He dug around a bit. Coming back out he pulled on a pair of black, fingerless gloves. Ash shouldered the pack and stepped out of the closet. He walked into the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. The tattoo on his left wrist, scars across his right arm, and the toned body were a change, but he looked into his own eyes and began to see the same old Ash Ketchum. “What has the place done to me?” he thought to himself. “I’m so gaunt I’ll be a rotting twig in no time. This hasn’t turned out to be the vacation I planned on 3 years ago.” “Hey Pikachu!” Ash called to the other room, “Has it really been three years since we’ve seen any of them? Well, except for May… but ya know… ”

It nodded and gave a quick “Pika,” which Ash heard but did not see.

Just then, interrupting the quiet sentimental moment of thought, four gunshots erupted out from the first floor. A force of habit by now, Ash hit the ground and lay on his stomach before realizing that there were footsteps coming up the stairs and fast! All the other floors except the first were all rotted through with holes so that no one could walk on them without plummeting to an untimely demise. Those footsteps could only be headed for one place, this floor of 6 rooms. Only one had been occupied in over a year, his.

The pile of rags with jet-black hair stood up slowly, frozen in place. The footsteps were sprinting closer and were almost at his floor by the sound of it. Ash threw a panicked glance at Pikachu who motioned up with his nose. Ash quickly got the idea.

The footsteps slowed as the man stepped over the top stair. Instantly the door lying in pieces on the floor caught his attention. He held out an already drawn gun in front of him cautiously as he tiptoed into the apartment.

Through the keyhole of the hall closet door Ash got a good look at the man. His age couldn’t be recognized due to the hard lines made by years of junk running through his veins. He had ratty short brown hair, wore old faded jeans, a pair of tattered chucks and a coat that looked like it was stolen. Not all that different from Ash’s usual appearance really, although Ash’s was intentional yet tasteful.

From inside the closet, the crouching 19-year-old purposely poked the wall with his boot making a tiny thump. The other man’s eyes shot directly to the closet. He began to turn his gun toward the door when he was struck by a massive thunderwave. He was twitching but violently locked in place as Ash swung the door open colliding with the man and splintering to pieces. The man partially broke through the opposite wall and just hung there limp, KO’d, but still breathing.

About an hour later, the man began to come to. He shook the stars and fuzz from his vision only to realize he wasn’t where he had been before everything went black. He stirred and tried to stand from the wooden chair, which he was seated in to no avail finding his hands, feet, and waste bound to the chair with duct tape. “Oh.” He groaned with an ache in his head, “This is not good. No. Not good at all. My boss will be dropping by with my pay today.” He began to chuckle to himself. “Maybe I should correct myself and say this is no good for you?”

Ash raised an eyebrow incredulously at the man’s words. He rose from the sofa, raven hair falling across his face making his grin seem even more sinister. “Don’t worry about me. I’d rather like to meet him anyway and show him what a fine job you did. Speaking of this job, whatever it was… wait, no. What again was your job?” Ash asked. The man snorted and sent Ash a disrespectful scowl. “I’ll repeat,” began Ash, “Who sent you and what for?” Met with no response again, he rose quickly and stuffed a foot into the bound man’s chest, toppling him over from the force. “Alright then. Come with me.” Ash grabbed the man by his brown ratty hair and dragged him, chair and all, back out into the stair well. Once outside Ash proceeded to smash the railing apart so that a ledge abruptly dropped 7 stories straight down. He stood the chair up just teetering at the edge, ready to fall at the nudge of a hair.

The man began to sweat profusely as his eyes bulged at the realization of what might happen. “Alright, alright! I’ll tell you if you promise to let me go!” the man stammered in a panic.

“Hold on a sec.” Ash interrupted pointing a finger at the man and looking over the edge. “Does your boss grease back his hair and wear nice suites with a rose in his breast pocket? Giovanni, right?”

“Uh yeah, how’d you know?”

“Lucky guess I suppose.” Ash drew the man’s handgun from his own pocket and for the second time kicked the man in the chest. However there was no floor to catch him this time. The man plummeted with a shriek two stories before landing on a railing twisting his appendages to sickening angles as he tumbled down the last five. The man with the grease hair, the white, fancy suite, and the rose in the breast pocket drew a gun and signaled his three goons to do likewise as the crumbled body shot past on its fall. “Since when has Giovanni been a man to get his hands dirty? And what the hell does he want with me now?” Ash thought to himself. “I haven’t even seen Jessie or James since I finished traveling,” he commented to Pikachu, now looking over the edge as well. “None-the-less, we need backup, eh little buddy?” Pikachu gave him a quick nod and sprinted back into the apartment. Ash fired two shots blindly down. Maybe they’d slow their ascent a bit. He took off after Pikachu right afterwards.

Inside the apartment Ash quickly grabbed the backpack and threw all the food and useful stuff he cared about into the bag. He dumped all his toiletries in as well as the toaster. Pulling on the dirty blue-grey snow hat and black sweatshirt Ash made his way for the fire escape. The thumping of the men’s feet was much louder now. Giovanni and his men were at the 5^th floor by now. Pikachu in his arms, Ash bounded down the iron stairs at breakneck speed, nearly falling several times in the motion. At the second floor the stairs turned into a retractable ladder, which, unfortunately, was no longer there. Ash leapt over the side and landed in a full dumpster. As quickly as they could, he and Pikachu freed themselves and sprinted away from the urban sprawl to the trainer’s district 6 blocks away.

Here the gym, pokémarts, herb stores, hotels, and pokecenters were located. It was a familiar home for Ash during his journeys. He never realized how much he missed it until he was far away from the hell of big city living. Ash and Pikachu knew this place like the veins of one’s wrist. They easily found their way back to the center where Ash had left his team and many of his possessions in their lockers. “But first things first,” he thought. Ash made his way over to the front desk. Looking like a badly beaten trainer, the Nurse Joy gave him plenty of sympathy and didn’t even ask for verification of his identity or trainer’s license before allowing him a room.

“Would you like me to heal your pikachu or any other pokémon?” the nurse kindly asked.

“What do you say Pikachu?” It chirped happily and leapt into Joy’s arms.

“Looks like he could use a bath as well; and so could you.” She laughed. “We have a lot of rooms available. Do you have a preference, sir?”

“I’ll take one with two … eh sorry. One bed. Well, actually anything’s good as long as it has a hot, clean shower.”

“Here you are, sir.” She handed him a key. “Room 3. It’s on your left. Say, have I seen you around hear before? What’s your name?”

“Ash Ketchum.”

“Oh yes, I remember you. Goodness, it must have been 2 years by now since you last came in. Didn’t you have a very nice girl, that redhead, with you?”

“Yes, I did. Misty was her name. She died in a tragic accident I’m afraid though.”

Joy gasped, “Oh no, oh that’s terrible. I’m so sorry.” She paused for a moment letting the somber air sink in and infect the entire place. “If you don’t mind me asking, were you two, you know, um…”

“No, no. Just good friends.”

“I see. I’m so sorry for your loss. If there’s anything I can do for you, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“That’s so kind of you. Thanks, but I’ve tried very hard and put it behind me.” A wet glint formed in his deep brown eyes. “It’s been so long now… Well, I’ll be quite all right.” Sold. “Thanks for your concern anyway.” The silence persisted for a few moments until Ash broke it, “I suppose I’ll be seeing you around then, er…”

“Call me Sally.”

“Alright. Thanks and I’ll see you around, Sally.” Ash walked off down the hall to his room, unlocked the door, and walked in. Sally stared at the door for a few moments after it had closed.

“Well at least he’s over it.” Thought Sally. “Curse this job! I can never have a decent relationship with anybody, and he’s so damn cute.” She leaned on the desk and sighed in defeat. Sally checked her watch then looked back at the door. A few moments later she dropped her face into her arms on the desk. “Ugh… oh why him?” She looked up and around. There was nobody there. “Well screw this.” Sally dug a crumpled pack of Camels out of her purse. Switching the sign to CLOSED, she walked out and slumped against the back wall.

A/N: How’s that for part 2? The Giovanni plot will come back in 3 or 4, but you’ll definitely see the regular characters back in 3. So until the next one comes out, which will be sooner than the last update… well, never mind. Thanks for reading. Please R&R. My e-mail again is patreeshquaa@sbcglobal.net. Toodles.