The Beautifly Effect

Chapter Fourteen -- Grief

Pallet Town, three days later...

A solemn group of people and one small, yellow Pokémon were gathered at the cemetery. Gary approached Lily, Daisy and Violet. They wiped their tears.

"I'm sorry about Misty," said Gary.

They nodded. It was obvious how hard they were taking it.

"Thanks for letting us bury them both together," he said.

"They were meant to be together," said Daisy, starting to cry at the thought. "Now they'll... sob... they'll... sob... be together forever..." She burst into tears.

"Ash's mom is taking it very hard," said Lily.

"You were at the League at the time, Gary," said Violet. "Do you know how it happened?"

"I don't know. I wouldn't believe the theories in the papers though. It'd take more than one defeat to drive Ash to... to something like this."

Brock joined the sombre group.

"Hello Gary, hello girls. It's been a while."

Gary nodded. So did the girls. This was no time for smiles.

"It's sad it takes this sort of thing for people to meet up," said Brock.

"Yeah," said Gary.

"You know," said Brock, "kinda odd... they're finally together and not fighting each other."

Suddenly there was a commotion. The group's attention was diverted to the two graves.

"Pikachu, come out little fellow," Professor Oak coaxed.

Gary came up and saw Pikachu clawing at Ash's coffin.

"Pikapi!" it cried, its black beady eyes glistening, its ears drooped. "Pikapi!"

"Pikachu," siad Gary, "we'll look after you."

Pikachu whirled around, an eerie anger suddenly descending upon its face.

"Pikachu," said Professor Oak, "we know you miss Ash. We all do. Acting like this is only upsetting the people that cared about him."

Pikachu looked thoughtful, then jumped out of the grave. But the anger still burned in its eyes.

Gary reached to pick it up. "Come here buddy."

"Pikachuuu!"

Gary yelped as the mouse zapped him, and ran off on all fours into the woods adjoining the cemetery. Gary went to run after him, but his grandfather stopped him.

"Let the poor thing be. It knows where we are if it needs us."

A/N: So you think the Beautifly has caused enough? Heh, heh ;-) You ain't seen nothing yet!