No POV

2 years ago

People in black suits sat sat silently, as they watched how others gave their good byes to the person inside the coffin. They were crying for their lost and even more because the body was in such bad state, it was almost impossible to recognise.

Ash watched older pair walked up to the coffin, the woman crying over her lost son and her husband held her, giving some strenght he had. Behind them stood their sons, their red and blue hair being most visible between each of the members of the funeral. Blue hair held his face still, but feeling sad for his brother. The other was was feeling the same, but also angry.

Ash looked to his side, seeing how his friend Iris was slowly sitting down with patch over her jawline. She just gave her last good bye. They didn't talk to each other since their friend died and none of them mind. Iris still held grudge about what Ash said, but it wasn't the reason for not talking to him. 

Ash looked back to the coffin, seeing that the family has finally walked away, sitting back to theirs seats. And so he could now. He needed to say good bye, but he knew he didn't deserve to be one of the first people saying the good bye. He reached the coffin, seeing how the body was in black suit, covering most of the burns it had. 

"Kalos is a beautiful reagon? I-I don't know what to tell you Cilan. I know I will miss you and that I thank you for saving me." Ash said, before giving him a slight smile. "You always surprised me and I did you. I guess it was mutual." Ash clenched his fist. "I will avenge you Cilan. They will pay." After that, he sat down, not noticing the glare he received.

When that all was done, Cress stood up again and walking next to coffin. Taking a deap breath. "My brother was always special to everyone in some ways. And even though it is sad, I think he would see the better side of it. Because that is what Cilan was, is and will be. His wish a being burried here, in Kalos, is mine main reason to think about it." when everyone learned about Cilan's death, even more suprised them was that his wish was to be burried in Kalos in Laverre town. Those few, who looked around, could see it was beautiful town. "So I don't want to think of the reason of why this all happened, but I wanna think of what everything he would tell us about this. So please, I ask for moment of silence for you to think of what he would tell you about this."

Everyone sat silently, some closed their eyes and Ash thought about anything until the words popped out.

'Even in the darkest times, there is light to guide you through.'

After that, Ash had to do one thing he thought he would never do in his entire life. But now, here it was. He, Chilly, Cress and their father stood up and walked up to coffin, both at each corner. They gave each other only slight nod before lifting it up slowly walking out through opened door. The people slowly followed, as they carried the coffin.

Ash let his mind clear for this moment, only to think how he carried his friend to his final place for rest. Before he could think even more, he saw the the hole.

A few hours later

"Wow, this will get me some money before I have to close this pub" bartender said, as he gave the glass of alcohol to Ash. Ash looked at it, only for mere second thinking about how alcohol isn't good to drink, but also hearing Gary's voice.

"Take this and drink something. You need it."

Ash drank the alcohol, feeling the bitterness and alcohol going down. he looked at the card Gary gave him, with which he could take this.

"I didn't expect so many young people, but after some girl appeared here out of nowhere, I don't think things can surprise me." said the barman, preparing another drinks.

"You would be surprised." Ash muttered, putting down the drink and petting Pikachu who lied next to him, sleeping.

He wasn't there alone, more people came here from funeral, but others went elsewhere.

Ash drank the alcohol, only feeling slight affect by it. The barman told him not take too much, but after Ash showed no affection, he continued.

"So here he is!" Ash heard an drank voice behind him. Ash loked behind, seeing the red hair, one of three... brothers.

"Hello Chili." Ash said, as he watched the fire brother walk up to him.

"What are you doing here? Using the opportunity to waste even more my brother's sacrifice?" Chili slurred, as he slammed down three pokeballs next to Ash. Ash looked at them confused. "Pff, he even gave you responsibility to take care of his pokemon." Ash's eyes widened at this information. "You know, there is one thing I always wanted to do."

"Chili don't." Ash saw for a moment Cress's hair, but that was replaced by a moment of star he saw when felt fist hit his face. Ash's back hit the bar and almost falling over it.

"HEY! HEY! Either you stop it or both of you take it out." yelled the bartender, while Cress pulled Chili out.

"I am sorry sir. We will be on our way." Crest said before he started to pull him out. "Sorry Ash-"

"Don't Cress!" he interrupted him, swanging around. "It is his fault after all that he died. " he said before he was pulled out by his brother.

Ash looked at them as hey were gone, thiniking about what he heard, knowing it was truth one way or another. Ignoring the hot red stream coming down from his nose.

Presence

Ash was floating in darkness, nowhere he could see, but only a voices he heard each time he had nightmares or his memories. But now, they were more quiet after what he remembered.

His silence was interrupted by clapping. He looked around, feeling the familiar presence but couldn't see the person.

"I am right here." the voice spoke from above him. He looked up, seeing almost nothing until he noticed a very narrow line. The line was changing each moment until it was getting more wider, showing Ash his own face only with purple eyes and his body changing in an sick movements until he fell next to him, like small pile of bones. After a few seconds, he was getting back up, with cracking noice, and his face looking at Ash. "Look at it. The chosen one finally for once has clear mind." he spoke with his cold voice.

"Why are you here? I thought after the stunt you pulled with Malamar and Mismagius, you wouldn't try anything." Ash answered with his own cold voice. Slash shook with his head, looking into darkness.

"Well I was only planning to see Cilan's grave and just go back but after you got the whole emotion out of hand, I couldn't and so I had to watch that whole thing with you. By the way, let me guess, you have no idea what happened after Honey walked away, right?" Slash asked with slight smirk. Ash looked at him confused for a moment before realizing.

"Serena? Why would you even talk about it?!" Ash yelled and Slash snorted.

"Because after what she told you, you thought about letting your guard down. That is why I replayed this." Slash said, standing against Ash. Ash snorted this time and glared at Slash.

"You really thought I would do that? Than you aren't really my other side. You would know that I wouldn't let my guard down." Ash snickered. "And what would you do anyway? It is not like I have nightmares or memories of the past almost every night in here." Ash tapped his head. "You gonna scare me more? You have no control now." Slash raised his eyebrow.

He was about to reply snarky comment until he fell on ground kneeling screaming, confusing Ash until he felt something also, but it wasn't probably that painful than Slash's. When it stopped, Slash looked up at Ash. He knew this wasn't him in the pain, it was someone else he met. Someone with similiar power.

"What was that about?" Ash asked confused, but Slash ignored him for a while, scratching something on his arm.

"There is something or someone and they are doing something real bad." Slash said as he continued scratching.

"Oh right. You would know or wouldn't. I am not sure."

"Trust me, what I wanted was a silence. This is everything but that. But you are right. There is no reason in telling you that. You are just dense as a rock." Slash said, as he finished.

"Really? Well at least I am not as thin as air." Ash replied, seeing he hit the spot. Slash looked angry at him and he expected some attack from him, but closed his eyes for moment before opening them.

"Let's see each other next time." Slash's words were slowly fading as Ash woke up from his sleep, but before he woke up, he saw how Slash lifted his arm smirking.

When Ash woke up, he saw he was sitting on his bed, looking straight forward and behind windows was still dark. He was about to sleep longer when he felt how his arm was stinging. He looked down and saw his arm was covered with the same scratches Slash was doing inside their mind. He looked at it more and saw words that were forming from scratches and blood: 'No control?'

Ash looked at it with wide eyes. He stood up and walked out of the room, ready to go for another run. He couldn't sleep after this and so he closed the door behind.

"So do you plan do it all over again?" Ash's snapped to door next to him. Bonnie was leaning against them, eyeing him from side.

"Why are awake Bonnie?" Ash asked, as he stood so his arm couldn't be see even in the dark.

"I thought about if my expectations were right after yesterday. And it makes me both happy and angry that I was right." she says, when a sudden light appeares from Ash's side. He looks there and sees floating pokedex. It quickly flyes to Bonnie, the screen lit up. In the same place where the pokedex is, appears Celebi, who was holding it entire time. When Celebi's eyes lands on Ash, meeting his, Celebi hides more behind Bonnie's hair. "It is ok Celebi." Bonnie said as she pet her pokemon and looked at the screen. "No contro? Slash is again knocking on your skull or something?"

"It is not your place to handle this." Ash countered.

"So another evil can come after you totally destroy your body out of fear? So another pokemon or person can get into danger because of it? So unless you want to argue with me in this darkness, you go back to sleep so you are ready for your next gym." Bonnie looked at him sternly. Ash sighed and rubbed his head, but smiled.

"I would never expect to get so much pep talks in a few hours from so many different people." Ash said, as he walked back inside, looking down, seeing Pikachu looking back at him. Ash lied down, closing his eyes.

"He was back in the darkness, but this time, he saw Slash floating in air, chilling out. When he heards the steps, he turnes around, rising his eyebrows.

"I did not expected-" he pause as he sees the memories. "Bonnie does surprised me." he simply says as Ash shrugges.

"I want to make a deal." Slash steps back down on ground, looking at him.

"Huh?"

"I won't try to avoid letting you take over, but I will let you take over only if you let ME know."

Slash and Ash looked in each others eyes, glaring each other.