Title: The Sentry

Author: Wordpainter (That’s me!)

Chapter One: I Walk In Shadow

Disclaimer: Do I really need to say it? Alright, alright, I don't own anything, except for maybe my cd's, books, movies, most of my clothes...

Author's Note: Here starteth The Sentry...

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When Ash Ketchum entered Pallet Town, it was dark. He had planned it that way, of course. He would attract less attention. Most people thought Pallet to be below notice, but it was smart to be careful. Too many people wanted Ash dead.

Part of him was amazed that Pallet wasn't under close watch. His life had been here, after all. His mother, his mentor, even his rival. The other part knew exactly why he could always enter the small town without much fear or difficulty. His life had been here, yes. But it wasn't anymore.

Professor Oak had been arrested; his equipment, data and pokemon confiscated. Once you were arrested, you never returned. Tracey had disappeared. No one knew what had happened to him. Gary, his childhood rival, was still very much in Ash's life. The rivalry was gone, replaced by partnership, friendship, and brotherhood. They were kin, Ash and Gary. Their families gone, they had come together in their grief, anger and hatred. And his mother...dead. In the take over, she had been killed. Ash had been away; he was never home for long, but he returned faster than he ever had before. He had come home to a war zone. Some houses were burned to the ground, others were trashed and ridden with bullets. The school had been turned into a hospital, treating the numerous wounded and dying.

No, Pallet wasn't his home anymore. Not for four years. Team Rocket had made sure of that.

The assault had been everywhere, stemming from a power people hadn't known of, or hadn't paid much attention to. For years, Team Rocket had been growing in power, gaining thousands of members, pokemon and artillery. When they attacked, it had been completely unexpected. Other than the occasional large pokemon thefts, Team Rocket had barely proved to be in existence. They had used that to their advantage, and now held total domination.

After his mother's murder, Ash had remained in Pallet, helping to rebuild the town. Then he had left, trying to escape the memories that haunted him. For a month, he traveled alone, save for Pikachu and his loyal pokemon. Brock had gone back to Pewter to protect his family. Misty had left months earlier. He never expected to see her again, had convinced himself he didn't want to. After a while, Gary caught up with him. His grandfather had been arrested, he said. He figured the boys of Pallet should stick together. Ash had been about fifteen then.

Now they were wanted, part of a group that didn't live by Team Rocket's laws. They weren't rebels, determined on overthrowing the Rocket "government". They were survivors, protectors. Their only purpose was to protect the people from Team Rocket's harsh rule. Only defensive, never offensive. They had become the thorn in Team Rocket's side and the people had named them "the Sentries". Ash and Gary commanded over the Indigo division. Their faces were recognized by every Rocket, who had orders to shoot them on sight. They were to brought in dead, not alive.

A noise behind him made Ash reach for the gun strapped to his ankle. No one was out at dark, unless they were stupid or had reason to be. Those reasons were hardly ever innocent. "Pika," a voice said, and Ash relaxed. Pikachu always caught up to him when he came here. He gave his friend a tiny smile and wiggled his shoulder. Pikachu jumped up and like ghosts the two made their way through town.

They stopped at the edge having reached their destination. The moonlight illuminated the sign: Pallet Town Cemetery. Silently, Ash and Pikachu climbed over the locked gate. Ash passed by graved of both humans and pokemon, not giving them a glance, until he reached a headstone near the middle of the graveyard.

Delia Marie Ketchum

April 23, 1971-September 2, 2009

Loving Mother and Friend. She Will Live in our Hearts.

Ash stood in front of it. He had no flowers to place on her grave. They would be signs of life at a place where none belonged and a possible threat to his own existence.

Ash reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a folded picture. Anyone could tell by looking at it that it was at least a few years old. For one, Delia was in it, happy and alive. Standing next to her were Professor Oak and Brock. In front were Misty, Tracey, Ash and Pikachu. The picture had been taken when Ash was fourteen after he had won the Johto League.

Although the boy in the picture wasn't very different physically from the nineteen year-old Ash that existed now, one look would show that the two were completely different people. His skin was still slightly bronzed and his hair was still black but not spiky like it once had been. The tousled strands fell past his ears, often falling into his eyes. He had grown, of course, and now stood just under six feet. Avid training was a must in his life, and it had resulted in toned, strong muscles. A thin scar ran through his right eyebrow. But his eyes were no longer happy and animated. The warmth had all but vanished, leaving instead a hard, detached look. Only when being with Pikachu and Gary, hearing from Brock, or visiting his mother, did Ash let any emotion show.

As always, his eyes glossed over the skinny redhead in the picture. She was out of his life, and he didn't plan on changing that.

The tiniest hint of color appeared on the horizon, giving warning of the coming dawn. Ash refolded the picture and placed it inside his pocket. Kissing his fingertips, he brushed them against the headstone. With his faithful Pikachu on his shoulder, he quickly headed for the other side of town, where his motorcycle awaited. The sun would be rising soon, and by then Ash had to be under cover. He no longer had a place in this world. He lived in a world of secrecy, where he was hunted and light had no place.

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