And when he gets to heaven, To Saint Peter he will tell, "One more soldier reporting sir, I've served my time in hell." -Unknown Chapter 1 Letters of the Past The sun was just rising as a 14-year old Ash Ketchem awoke from a peaceful night's sleep. He yawned and sat up in his bed, being careful not to disturb Pikachu, who was still asleep at the end of his bed. But the yellow electric Pokemon was ready to get up anyway. He yawned and stood up on his four paws. "Pikachu!" he said cheerfully. "Good morning Pikachu!" Ash said with a smile. "Did ya sleep well?" The Pokemon replied with a nod, and then hopped of the bed and walked downstairs. Ash stretched and yawned one more time before getting out of his bed. He put on his blue jeans, and his favorite black tee shirt, and walked down the stairs. "Morning Mom!" Ash said as he walked into the kitchen. "Good Morning honey." his Mom replied. "Breakfast will be ready soon!" "Okay Mom!" Ash walked into the living room and sat down on the couch and turned on the TV. The news was on. "This is Kanto News, Good Morning". "Our top story today is the threat of war in Johto". "As the threat becomes greater, more and more trainers continue to be removed from the Johto area." Ash nodded. He had also been removed in the middle of his journey in Johto a month ago. He had been traveling with Brock and Misty, his two best friends. When they returned to Kanto, they decided to go back to their hometowns. Their good bye had been hard. He turned his attention back to the TV. "Numerous reports indicate that The Black Moon terrorist organization has regained power since the Johto War. This gives Johto officials cause for alarm." Ash started at the name "Black Moon." This was the terrorist army his father had gone to fight six years ago. The army, he knew, had never gotten enough power to invade Kanto, but had done devastating damage to Johto. He stood up slowly and began walk up the stairs. "Ash it's time for breakfast!" his mom said, "Where are you going?" "I'm not hungry right now" he said, "I'll just have something later." He went up to his mom's room and shut the door. He walked over to his mom's dresser and opened the top drawer. Inside were three letters, he took them out and sat down on the bed, opening the first one, he read it aloud. Dear Ash and Delia, I have been not able to write to you sooner for we were on the move in various campaigns, but now we have stopped in a quiet village, and are planning our next move. How is everything in Pallet? The last letter I got from you was that Ash is now nine. Your are growing up so fast my son, I hope that I can be back to see you soon. That also means that you will soon be able to become a pokemon trainer! Remember to treat the pokemon you choose with love and care. And Delia, I hope that I can see your beautiful face once more and come home to you and Ash soon. There is talk that we will have one more campaign for this battalion, that we are to move in and fortify a chemical plant in Northern Johto. But if this is true, I will be safe there, for this plant is far from the front lines. My enlistment time is almost up I have only two months more until I can come home. My love is always with you and I hope that yours will be too. Your loving husband and father, Tom Ketchem Ash put the letter back in it's envelope and picked up the second letter. He opened it and read it aloud also. Dear Ash and Delia, This is not a long letter for there is little new news, except that we have arrived at the Northern Johto chemical plant safely. I have only now less then two months more in enlistment time. And since they will be spent here, at this plant, there is little chance that I will see another battle before coming home to you. You're Loving Husband and Father, Tom Ketchem Ash closed the letter with tears in his eyes. But he did not pick up the third letter. He just put it on the bottom of all the others and put them back in the drawer. Ash wiped his eyes and left the room. He walked down the stairs and said to his Mom, "I'm gonna go over to Gary's for a little while." "Okay" his Mom replied. Ash grabbed his hat and his vest and walked out the door. Pikachu began to follow, but Ash stopped him. "I'm gonna go for a walk Pikachu, stay here with Mom." Even though Gary was his next door neighbor, he was still a ten-minute walk from his house. On his way he heard others talking. About war in Johto, and about what would happen if the war were to carry over to Kanto. Many men from his town had already enlisted and were shipped out just two days ago. A sure sign of war, they said. Ash didn't believe in signs. He shut his eyes and kept on walking. He finally arrived and Gary's house. He walked up to the door and knocked three times. After about a minute the door opened and a woman, about his mom's age, was standing there. "Hi! Mrs. Oak. Is Gary here?" he asked. "No, I'm sorry Ash. He still hasn't returned from Johto yet." she replied. "Oh. Okay, thanks Mrs. Oak!" Ash said "Your welcome! Goodbye!" "Bye!" He said as he walked away. Ash knew something was wrong. If Gary hadn't returned from Johto, there was only one other thing he could've done. Enlisted. Ash began to walk away from the house thinking. "If Gary has enlisted, then all my friends are sure to enlist as well. They're all like Gary in some way. I guess all boys are like that. Wanting to defend everything they love." "All boys…" he said softly, but then his thinking was interrupted by a voice behind him. "Hey Ash." Ash froze. He knew that voice all to well. He slowly turned around and gave an exclamation of surprise! "Misty!" Well that’s part one! More parts on the way! Comment or be destroyed!!!