Truly, Madly, Deeply AN: Hello! It’s me slickboy444. Here is a nice AAMRN for you to read. It is inspired by an old fanfic that disappeared from fanfiction.net a year ago. I have now created a new romantic fic with some fluff, angst, and drama. Remember, I don’t own pokemon or the song truly, madly, deeply by savage garden so please don’t sue me. I hope you like this one and please, I beg of you, tell me what you think. E-mail me at slickboy444@aol.com. I hope you like it, enjoy! AN: ‘These mean character thoughts.’ Ash and Misty are 18 and Brock is 20. Darkness…Total darkness…Everything spinning…Everything blurry…A deafening cry. “NOOOOOOOOOO!” Ash: Ahhhh! Ash Ketchem abruptly awoke from his sleeping bag. He started breathing heavily and sweating profusely. He looked around himself. He was back where he remembered, in the forest where he and his friends camped out for the night. Ash: ‘Oh no. The same nightmare. Why? Why do I keep having them?!’ Ash got up and walked to the nearby lake and started throwing rocks to calm his nerves. A mixture of anger and anxiety engulfed his mind. He kept having nightmares of the same nature. The same kind of blackness, despair, and excruciating cry of pain had plagued his sleep for months. Ash was so lost in his thoughts he didn’t notice a presence approaching him. Misty: Ash? Ash looked over his shoulder startled, but was relieved when he saw it was her, the girl he deeply cared for and loved. She approached him in a concerned manner. Misty: Ash, what are you doing out here? Ash: Well…I just couldn’t sleep. Misty: Bad dreams? Ash: Yeah, something like that. Misty: Are you okay? Ash: Yeah, I’m fine. Just…Need to get up and move around a bit. Misty looked at Ash; he seemed so distraught. Over the last year or so, the young boy she had grown up with had changed so much. A year ago he acted so vibrant and lively, but for an unknown reason that character was taken away from him. Now, he was always so anxious and restless, he never fought with her any more, and he acted differently in the mist of pokemon battles. Misty: Ash…Is there something you want to tell me? Ash: No…I just need to get back to sleep. Thanks anyway. Misty: Okay, just tell me if anything is really wrong. I worry about you. Goodnight. Misty then went back to the campsite to go back to sleep. There was something wrong with Ash. He didn’t show it all the time, but something was definitely there. Misty knew Ash better than almost anybody else did. She had stayed with him through so much and grew to love him very deeply. Her attempts to sleep were constantly frustrated by worries about Ash. Ash had worse luck; the same nightmares kept him from sleeping much for the rest of the night. The next morning Ash did the best to hide his sleep deprivation. He acted normally towards his friends and pikachu. He constantly tried to forget the dreams that haunted him every moment of his life. They meant something, but what? Brock: Look! I can see New Bark Town! Ash: Finally! Come on lets get out of the forest for a change. The group walked towards the town in the distance despite the grueling sun and heat. When they finally reached the town they started heading for professor Oak’s lab. Ash and his friends got to the lab and met up with their old friend. Professor Oak: Ash! You made it! Ash: Hey professor, it’s been a while. Professor Oak: It certainly has, are you alright you look like you haven’t slept in weeks? Ash: Yeah, I’m just excited about the Indigo league. Professor Oak: Well don’t be it’s not starting for another six months. You deserve a rest, why don’t you stay here at my lab? Ash: Really? Thanks professor! Misty: Yeah, we’ve been on the road nonstop for months. We need a break! Professor Oak: Well you deserve it. You all can sleep upstairs. Brock: Okay, come on guys we had better go unpack. The group did as they were told, but even Professor Oak saw something was wrong with Ash. He was acting much different, but he thought little of it. For the rest of the day the group just let themselves unwind from the long trip on the road. Ash let out all of his pokemon so they could rest in the pastures outside of the professor’s lab. Everybody seemed to unwind but Ash. He was still haunted by these dreams that kept coming to him. Sleep was low and he tried to act normal. Then, later that evening, Ash felt the sudden impulse to call home. He quickly went over to the professor’s phone and dialed his house number. Delia: Hello? Ash: Mom! It’s me! Delia: Oh hi honey! It’s great to hear from you again! Ash: You too! Something didn’t look right, Ash looked at his mother and noticed that she was paler than usual. It looks like she lost some excess weight and she sounded out of breath from coming to the phone. Ash: Mom, are you okay? You look a kind of sick. Delia: Oh I’m fine honey, just a bit under the weather. Ash: Are you sure, maybe you should see a doctor. Delia: Don’t worry Ash, besides you know I can’t afford one. I’m just a little fluish that’s all. Ash suddenly acted on an impulse. Ash: Well, okay. So what’s been going on there? Ash and his mom conversed mildly for the next ten minutes. Ash decided not to pester his mother about going to a doctor since most of the money she had was funneled in to Ash’s journey. After a while Ash suddenly saw some blood coming from his mother’s nose. Ash: Mom, your nose is bleeding, are you okay? Delia: Oh no, not again. My allergies have been acting up for some odd reason. Ash: In this weather? Delia: It’ll pass, don’t worry. I’d better go and tend to my nose. I’ll talk to you later honey! Be safe! Ash: Okay mom, love ya. Delia: I love you too honey, bye! Both hung up the phone after those words, but Ash couldn’t ignore a sudden sick feeling in his stomach. Those dreams were flashing through his memory again. The darkness, the despair, and the cry of pain were haunting him again. Ash: ‘Oh no, not again. I need to get some sleep. It’s been days since I’ve had a good night’s rest.’ Ash went off to bed even though it was only 8:30. Misty, Brock, and Pikachu grew concerned at this action. Ash never went to bed that early, he would always stay up and watch TV or study his pokedex. Misty: ‘Geez Ash, what’s wrong with you? Something is troubling you. I know it.’ The evening wore on and the rest of the group eventually went to bed as well. However, Ash was not getting the restful night sleep he had hoped. The dreams were back and worse than ever. There was a voice that kept ringing “NO, WHY, HELP!” Weather he was awake or asleep he kept hearing this sixth sense. Ash: ‘Why is it so bad now? Why?!’ Ash lay awake and stared at the ceiling while his eyes got heavier and heavier. Eventually, he fell asleep hours later, but was still plagued by the same nightmares. It was if they were trying to tell him something. But what? Ash continued to travel towards New Bark Town as if everything was normal, but to his friends and pokemon he was clearly disturbed. He actually avoided battles, an unheard of action for Ash Ketchem. For some reason he just wanted to get to New Bark. Ash took no short cuts and listened to Brock on every crossroad. After a week they finally reached their destination. Brock: Ah, finally a familiar sight! Misty: Yeah, in record time! Ash: Yep, we had better get to the professors soon. Misty: But Ash, don’t you want to grab a bite to eat first like you always do? Ash: Nah, I’m not too hungry. You guys can go, but I’m going to the professors. Come on pikachu! Pikachu: Okay! Brock: Well okay Ash, suite yourself. Ash walked off towards the lab with pikachu by his side. He was still dead quiet, hearing the same voices crying out for help. When he finally reached the lab he didn’t do much other than situate himself and his friends for the week. He still trained for the league, but he didn’t show the same enthusiasm as he had in the past. Then one fateful day officer Jenny came to the lab with an urgent message. Jenny: Is there an Ash Ketchem here? Oak: Yes, he’s here. Jenny: I have message for him he needs to hear. Oak: Okay. Ash! Officer Jenny is here to see you! Ash walked down the stairs with a strange feeling. The voices of help continued to scream in his subconscious now more then ever. He uneasily approached Jenny. Ash: I’m Ash Ketchem. Jenny: Ash, I’m afraid I have some bad news for you. Your mother was found in her house earlier today unconscious. She’s in the hospital at Pallet Town. Ash: No! Is she okay? Jenny: I’m afraid not. Did you know she had cancer? Ash: What? No. Jenny: Well neither did she. She had been showing the symptoms for a while, but nobody really saw her much so doctors couldn’t treat her soon enough. Just then Ash realized something. Ash: ‘Those dreams…They were warning me…That help…My mom.’ Ash had tears streaming down his face. He remembered how his mom looked the day he called her…He knew, but did nothing. Without saying another word Ash ran outside. Ash: Pidgeot, go! In a flash of light the majestic bird appeared. Ash leaped on its back. Ash: As fast as you can, fly to Pallet Town! Pidgeot: Right! The pokemon flew in to the air in to the setting sun. Brock, Misty, and pikachu saw Ash fly away, but didn’t know why. They ran over to Professor Oak to find out why. Misty was the one who was most worried about Ash. Misty: What’s wrong? Where’s Ash going? Oak: Well, according to Jenny his mother was sick and was sent to the hospital in Pallet. They think she has cancer. Misty gasped. Ash’s mother was the only family Ash had. She became concerned what Ash might do if he lost her. Brock: We’d better get to Pallet soon! But how? Just then Misty got an idea. She ran off to her room before explaining anything to Brock. Meanwhile Ash continually urged Pidgeot on as he neared his hometown. With increasing anxiety Ash approached the hospital. As soon as he landed he recalled his tired pokemon and ran in to the hospital. He quickly found out where his mom was and ran as fast as he could to her room, but when he got there he was greeted with a horrific sight. Nothing… Ash: No…Where’s my mom. Just then a doctor walked in behind Ash. Ash turned around to see the tall doctor with a face of sorrow. Doctor: Are you Ash Ketchem, son of Delia Ketchem. With a weak voice Ash replied. Ash: Yes. Doctor: I’m sorry I have to tell you this, but we couldn’t save your mother. Ash: NO. Doctor: It was hopeless. She had an advanced stage of cancer that couldn’t be cured. Even if we caught it early she didn’t have the money for proper health care. I’m sorry Ash. Silent, Ash sat down on the bed where his mother once laid. He let his head sink, unable to fight back the wave of tears. The doctor left and Ash was alone. Ash: I’m alone. I have nobody. My dad’s gone, my mom’s gone. Before he could think of anything else he broke down in tears. He ran out of the hospital as fast as his legs could carry him. He ran and ran until he reached his childhood house. He ran up to the door, only to see a sign that said the bank was foreclosing on everything he and his mother once owned. He ran in to his house and grabbed two possessions from his house. He ran back out, but before he could get to far his legs gave out. He tripped and fell on the soft ground, but it didn’t matter. Ash: ‘What’s the point. My mom’s gone, I’ve got nobody to prove my worth anymore. Nobody.’ With a heavy heart Ash walked off in to the near by mountains behind his town. He carried only the two possessions he took from his house. Behind his house a bright light appeared. From the light a familiar figure appeared. Misty and her baby pokemon togepi had teleported from New Bark Town to see Ash. Togepi was exhausted from the energy consumption and promptly went in to one of Misty’s pokeballs. She saw a familiar figure running off towards the mountain. She knew it was Ash. She decided to follow him and see where he was going. She then noticed he was carrying two things. One was a small book in one hand and a guitar in the other. Misty: Where’s he going? She kept following Ash until she reached the top of a large hill. It led to a ledge that overlooked the entire town and part of Viridian Forest. Misty saw Ash set the guitar down and opened the little book. It turned out to be a small photo album. Ash began to flip through the pages and look at the only images left of his mother. He kept flipping the pages and got sadder and sadder as he looked at them. Ash: Mom…I’m so sorry I didn’t do anything. Those dreams were warnings and I failed you by ignoring them. I’m sorry. So sorry. A tear fell on to the page as Ash turned to a familiar picture. It was the picture taken of him and Misty at the Maiden’s Peak Festival. All of the sudden his mood changed. He looked in to the eyes of the girl in the picture. Ash: God she’s grown so much. I guess she’s all I have left now. Even if she doesn’t feel the same way I feel about her. Misty had seen enough. She decided she had to let Ash see her. Maybe it would make him feel better. She stepped out from the bushes she was hiding in and approached Ash. Misty: Ash. Ash, shocked, turned around and closed his little booklet. He was both relieved and anxious at the sight of the girl he cared so deeply for. Ash: Misty…What are you doing here? Misty: I followed you here. Professor Oak told me about your mother. Misty walked over and put her arms around Ash. Misty: Ash I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine the pain you’re feeling now. Misty continued to embrace her friend and secret love. She hoped that her love could heal the permanent scars she knew Ash had. Ash: When I was little, my mom always came here with me and showed me the view. She always told me that she came here with my father, but when he died this place helped her. Ever since then I’ve come here to think when I’m sad or depressed and played my dad’s guitar to ease what pain ales me. Misty: Well, if it helps you, why don’t you play something for me? Maybe it will help you feel better. Ash: I don’t know. Misty: Just play what’s in your heart. Ash looked deep in to Misty’s beautiful blue eyes. Then out of his mind he remembered something. One night when he was looking at her asleep he wrote a poem that symbolized his feelings for the girl he held so dear. Ash: ‘Maybe she’s right. Maybe I’ll feel better if I play that song. I lost my mother because I didn’t say anything, now I will not make the same mistake twice. I’m going to show Misty how I feel through song. I want to show her she means more to me than anything else in the world now.’ Okay, I’ll sing you something I wrote on the road a while back. I’m not the best guitar player so bear with me. Misty: Don’t worry Ash. I won’t criticize you, I promise. Ash then picked up his father’s guitar and began to play a soothing, soft sound. Misty just relaxed as she listened to the song and couldn’t help but tear up as Ash began to sing beautifully. I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy. I'll be your hope, I'll be your love be everything that you need. I love you more with every breath truly madly deeply do.. I will be strong I will be faithful 'cos I'm counting on A new beginning. A reason for living. A deeper meaning. I want to stand with you on a mountain. I want to bathe with you in the sea. I want to lay like this forever. Until the sky falls down on me... And when the stars are shining brightly in the velvet sky, I'll make a wish send it to heaven then make you want to cry.. The tears of joy for all the pleasure and the certainty. That we're surrounded by the comfort and protection of.. The highest power. In lonely hours. The tears devour you.. I want to stand with you on a mountain, I want to bathe with you in the sea. I want to lay like this forever, Until the sky falls down on me... I want to stand with you on a mountain. I want to bathe with you in the sea. I want to lay like this forever. Until the sky falls down on me... Oh can't you see it baby? You don't have to close your eyes 'cos it's standing right before you. All that you need will surely come... I'll be your dream I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy. I'll be your hope I'll be your love be everything that you need. I'll love you more with every breath truly madly deeply do...I love you… I want to stand with you on a mountain. I want to bathe with you in the sea. I want to lay like this forever. Until the sky falls down on me... I want to stand with you on a mountain. I want to bathe with you in the sea. I want to lay like this forever. Until the sky falls down on me... Misty: Ash…That was so beautiful. Ash: Thanks Misty…I feel a lot better now. Misty, that song…Was inspired by you. Misty: It…was? Ash: Misty, when I saw your face for the first time I felt something. Then one night I looked in to your face and thought of those words. Don’t you see Misty Waterflower, with every breath you take I’ll love you truly, madly, deeply forever. Misty felt a surge of energy run thorough her body. Misty: ‘He…Loves me? That song was for me? Oh Ash.’ Misty felt tears run down her cheek, then she put her arms around Ash and their lips met in a soft kiss under the gentle light of the stars. They kept kissing, not wanting to let go of the moment. When they finally did separate Misty was the first to speak. Misty: Ash…You don’t know how much that means to me. Ash Ketchem I don’t ever want you to say you’re alone in the world now. I can’t replace what your mother was, but I can be there for you. I will always be there because I love you too. I love you so much. Ash, short of breath from this revelation, embraced Misty tightly once again. The pain of his mother’s death was eased by the woman he loved. Now, Ash knew he had a goal to fulfill for his mother and Misty. He wasn’t alone anymore. Ash: Does this mean we can call each other boyfriend and girlfriend? Misty: I wouldn’t have it any other way. Ash smiled and embraced his love once again. This time their lips met in another passionate kiss under the stars. They had revealed their secret and opened their hearts. The stars burned a little brighter that night as the two lovers kissed atop the cliff, for they were in love truly, madly, deeply…