Part 17

After Ash's triumph over the Coumarine gym leader, Ramos, the boys were headed towards the Pokémon center for the night. Although after his battle, it seemed Barry had some questions that needed urgent responses from Ash.

"Ash, the way you battle is impressive and so cool! How do you do it man?! You've got to teach me!" Barry shouted hyperactively.

Ash raised his brow at his proposal. "I'll think about it dude. Maybe if you're fully committed to it and not a quitter, I'll teach you a thing or two someday," Ash replied.

"Sounds awesome! I'm no quitter. I promise I won't let you down my guy!" Barry assured. Although Ash and Paul in particular didn't seem to convinced at his claim.

Since the sun was already starting to set that meant it was going to get dark soon.

"It's getting dark soon guys. Why don't we all crash here at the Pokémon center for tonight and we head back to Vaniville tomorrow," Gary suggested. Everyone seemed to agree...

"Nah, not for me dude. I've got things to do... I'm going to be heading back right now," Trip said. No one seemed to protest with Trip's reasoning as they all nodded and saw him on his way. As the four boys entered the Center they couldn't help but notice how packed it was.

"Man, I've never seen a Pokémon center of all places so packed before. Is there some sort of festival going on or something?" Barry Asked in annoyance.

"I'm pretty sure there is," Paul responded. "I saw a load of people outside gathering around a huge tree back there. Somethings going on here..."

For a few hours after that the four guys talked and joked around in the Center to pass the time since it was almost dark. After that they each got there own individual room for the night from Nurse Joy. They each headed to the second floor, finding their respective rooms they all said goodnight to each other for the night, heading to bed.

As Ash laid in bed, hands resting behind his head, he thought about what Ramos had told him during their gym battle earlier that day.

"Lose sight of what's important... am I really losing sight of what's important?" He mumbled to himself. Pikachu, whom was just beginning  to doze off next to Ash's pillow awoke to see what his partner was up to.

He smiled. "Sorry bud, didn't mean to wake you."

"Pika-pi" It responded signaling it was okay.

As Ash was beginning to doze off himself he was startled suddenly by his phone going off. Who could possibly be calling him now? He checked and saw it was an unfamiliar number. He would have thought for a second that it was his mother checking up on him but of course not...

He decided to pick up with the slight chance of it being important. He stepped out onto the balcony of his room to get a nice view of the starry sky and

"Hello?"

"Ash... it's me Red," The familiar voice on the other end revealed.

Ash's eyes widened immediately at his older brother's voice. It'd been months since he last heard his brother's voice and it felt good to know he was okay.

"Oh Red! How have you been bro?" He asked.

"Just fantastic," the sarcasm in his tone evident. "Just got my ass busted again by my parole officer, woke me up early again, oh and my phone got taken too so I had to use their stupid landline. Other than that, everything is just peachy little brother."

"Ohh right, I completely forgot about time zones. Over here it's nighttime in Kalos. Completely forgot what time it was in Vermillion," Ash said. "Well that explains the unknown number too from those damn landlines."

"Anyways they said if I'm good, they'll allow me to have visitors soon. You should come through soon bro, it's been much too long since I've last seen you in person," Red proposed.

"I will dude, I promise I will. Once I have time too I will. Don't worry though, I'm not gonna leave you in there," Ash said.

There was a short pause on Red's end before he finally responded, "Alright man I gotta go."

"Don't worry bro, I'm not leaving you in there."

As he put the phone down he could finally smile for once. He just spoke to his brother for the first time in several months. Red was the only person who could bring a genuine smile on the face of Ash nowadays. The boy was just simply not himself anymore like years ago.

Next morning, Saturday

The gang woke up bright and early, ready to head back home to Vaniville. Of course each individual having a Pokémon who could use Fly made the trip so much easier. Still, Barry in particular had more questions for Ash, knowing if he learned how to battle like Ash he would be unstoppable. Though Barry made it sound ridiculously easy than it actually was.

"I just don't get it Ash. Have you ever lost a battle before?" Barry inquired. They both knew the answer to that but he needed confirmation on this one.

Ash raised his brow. "What do you mean have I ever lost? Yes, many times. Losing a battle is what makes me want to be successful. I'll admit I do not like to lose and I may feel bitter at times, but it drives me to become better every day."

"Amen to that. The guy is preaching right now, Barry. You'd learn something if you didn't rush things all the time," Paul joked.

"Yeah, Yeah, we'll see the one rushing things when I'm up there in the podium lifting the Junior cup," Barry said cockily.

"That doesn't make sense Barry," Gary told.

Later that evening

After arriving back home and parting ways for the moment Ash finally got home and greeted Delia.

"Hi mom, I'm back," He greeted.

She placed her hands on her hips not pleased with him at all."Well, it's about time boy. Tell me, where have you been?"

"I was at Coumarine city winning my fourth badge of the region mom. Just the usual stuff you know..."

She raised a brow and folded her arms. "Annnd?"

"And what? That's it. That's all I did really. A few friends tagged along," He said.

She seemed to accept his response for now and nodded. Then Ash remembered the phone call he'd received from his brother Red the night prior.

"Oh yeah, and I might be heading back to Kanto in a few weeks," Ash told her.

"For what?" Delia questioned.

"Well Red called last night and told me that soon they would be allowing him to have visitors and he said he wanted me to visit him," Ash broke the news. Upon hearing this Delia once again folder her arms at the mention of her other son who'd gotten into trouble.

"And why go and visit him? So that he can get you into trouble too? So that you can end up like him in Juvie?" She protested.

"Mom, it's not like that at all. I haven't seen him in ages... besides he's changed from all that. He's a human being too you know," Ash stated.

"Yeah, people do change. You certainly changed for the worse, but Red? He couldn't change for the better if he tried. Please understand darling, I'm only doing this for your sake. I don't want you ending up like him," Delia spoke softly now.

Ash couldn't believe what his mother had just told him. In recent times they hadn't had the best relationship and now it was sinking even more.

"Wow, that's just an awful thing to say about your son, mom. I can't believe you sometimes," He fired back. He went up to his room and shut the door, enraged by his mother's antics.

To be continued...

Have a wonderful thanksgiving with your families by the way if you are celebrating!