"Ash, come on! Wait up!" Misty called to her friend, who was easily a hundred yards ahead. Misty and Brock were walking at a more relaxed pace, but there was no stopping Ash, who had been walking at an incredibly swift pace as soon as they left New Bark Town.

Ash didn’t answer, his head focused straight ahead, jumping a little on the balls of his feet at each step he took. Pikachu had made an attempt to keep up, finally having to leap onto Ash’s shoulders to stay with him. The ride was a little bumpy, but Pikachu was not ready to leave Ash in this nervous situation he had become involved with.

Misty looked up at Brock, scrunching her face in exhaustion. "Brock, we can’t keep going on like this! We’ve been walking way too long!"

Brock groaned. "I know, I know, Misty."

They had been walking for six straight hours, in fact. Without a bit of food in their stomachs, they had left the Pokémon Center without barely glancing back, Ash more destined than ever to go home. In the beginning, Misty and Brock kept up steadily with Ash, the concern for Mrs. Ketchum still floating in their minds since the phone call the night before. But after a while, their feet became achy, and slowly Ash inched his way ahead of them. Fatigue reached them, and little did they know that it had reached Ash as well, but the boy had too much to think of to even worry about his physical condition.

Finally, Brock sighed considerably. "Ash! Let’s take a rest now, whaddah say?"

Pikachu agreed with Brock, tapping Ash lightly on the shoulder. "Pika pi, pikachu," he said softly, encouraging his trainer to consider stopping for a while.

Ash spun around on his heels, and continued to walk backwards. He looked determinedly at Misty and Brock, and he shook his head hastily.

"No way," he insisted. "My mom needs me. I’m getting to Pallet Town tonight whether it kills me or not!"

"But Ash, you will kill yourself!" Misty shouted, halting to a stop. She grabbed Brock to make him stop as well, trying to make a stand against Ash’s tireless march. "You have to rest sometime! This is ridiculous."

In agreement, Pikachu hopped off of Ash’s shoulder and rushed to Misty’s side. Twitching his ears, he looked back worriedly at Ash, who had slowed a bit but still did not stop. Ash shook his head again, despite the fact that now his own Pokémon was against him.

"Fine, rest if you want," Ash called back, turning around again. "Meet ya in Pallet Town!"

"Ash Ketchum, get back here right now!" Misty ordered angrily, stomping her foot down heavily on the ground. "Please!"

Ash didn’t answer, and continued ahead. Misty started to breath heavily, concern for her friend rising in her like steam. She feared him collapsing eventually, his poor legs too tired to even support him any longer. Again, she looked to Brock, who’s intentions had seemed to already match hers. In a second, Brock dashed off after Ash, and grabbed him from behind.

Struggling out of Brock’s grasp, Ash’s eyes raged. "Let me go, Brock!"

Brock held tightly onto Ash, who was putting up quite a fight but still could not seem to escape the clutches of his older and stronger friend.

"Ash, you have to rest now!" Brock demanded sternly. "Now, sit down and stay down!"

"No!" Ash protested, but he allowed Brock to force him down anyway on a log beside the worn path they had been traveling on. He rested his head in his hands as Misty and Pikachu rushed up to his side.

"Please Ash," Misty said, "we’re just concerned about you. We don't want you to get hurt."

"Pi pikachu!" affirmed Pikachu, rubbing his head affectionately on Ash’s leg.

Ash gazed up angrily at Misty. "You’re hurting me by keeping me from moving!"

"Come on, settle down now," Brock said, shushing his frustrated friend. "You need to drink, at least." He handed Ash a full bottle of water, which Ash graciously accepted and quaffed down enthusiastically.

Misty stared deeply at Ash while she drank her water, observing the anxiety flashing in his eyes and the way he hung his head. He was tired, but he didn’t want to admit it. Or accept it for that matter. Aside from the concern that Misty was feeling for Ash, she still had a small conviction that maybe Ash was fussing over what could very well be nothing. Still, she could not stand to see Ash so downcast.

She moved closer to him on the log. With a small grin, she playfully nudged Ash’s shoulder, hoping to cheer him up just a little. Ash swayed from the light impact, but his eyes stared ahead and he took a deep and thoughtful breath, letting the air escape in a loud sigh.

"Cheer up, Ash," Misty said softly with a smile. "We’ll get to Pallet Town today. Won’t we, Brock?"

Although he wasn’t quite sure, Brock nodded anyway, knowing that saying that it may take them another day would distress Ash even more. They could make it to Pallet Town, all right, but they would have to keep at the same preposterous pace that Ash had been traveling at, and they would definitely not make it there in the daylight, anyway.

Misty smiled at Ash again, a gentle, warm smile that she kept fixated on him. Finally Ash looked up at her, but his face lacked so much emotion that Misty shuddered. They had to get him to Pallet Town and fast. Misty decided that right then and there. She, too, wondered what had upset Delia so much to the extent that she wasn’t truthful with her own son, and this fed her persistence even more.

After resting for about a half an hour, which was hardly enough for the weary kids, they set off again, Ash leading slightly. Misty and Brock had enough energy to keep up with him, now, but Ash still always seemed to be miles ahead of them, both physically as well as mentally. Misty found some comfort in chatting airily with Brock, after many unsuccessful attempts to start a conversation with Ash. She wanted so badly to break him out of his shell, but it seemed to be no use after a while.

As if by the grace of God, the trio reached the green valley containing Pallet Town around seven. The sun was beginning its descent into the evening sky behind the lush, rolling mountains, making the sky a beautiful array of oranges, reds, and blues. Misty looked up at the heavenly sky, and commented on how gorgeous it looked to Ash, who simply just hummed in agreement. That attitude didn’t last for long, however.

"Yes! We made it! We made it!" Ash exclaimed ecstatically, letting out joyous whoops, breaking out of the perpetual silence he had fallen into hours before. The surprising expression of emotion sent Brock and Misty flying back a few feet, but they smiled in relief nevertheless.

Brock wiped his forehead. "I can’t believe we made it here," he said incredulously, shaking his head.

Misty chuckled. "I think I lost ten pounds today."

"Yay! Home, home!" Ash screamed, and in an instant, he darted off in a sprint, picking up more and more speed as he rushed toward the town.

"Whoa! Ash, hold on!" Brock cried after him, as he and Misty took off as well.

All the hours of walking had simply vanished from his memory as Ash flew through the streets of his hometown, the sights of the stores, parks, and homes racing by in a blur. Misty and Brock were yards away, the exhaustion of the day affecting them more. They were still resolute to stay with him, and not lose him in the town they knew just a little about.

Misty felt like she was going to collapse, but she pumped her legs harder instead, keeping the bumpy vision of Ash in her sight. Brock pulled a little ahead of her, which helped her keep the pace and even run harder. He was still ahead though, and glanced back a couple of times to make sure Misty was still with him.

"Ash, slow down!" Brock tried again, though he knew he was wasting his time. They were nearing Ash’s street anyway, and nothing was going to get in Ash’s way.

Ash almost collided with a few unfortunate people at some points, but he never slowed or turned around. His heart pumped vigorously, adrenaline rushing through his veins. A huge smile of relief took over his face as the sight of his house entered his eyes and he breathed out in loud gasps.

Pikachu, who was clinging onto Ash for dear life, also recognized the house, and let himself slip off of Ash. He then continued at his own pace after Ash, Misty and Brock eventually meeting up with him.

Ash almost broke through the fence in front of his house, slipping slightly as he made a sharp turn onto his front walk. His legs shook tiredly as he reached his front door, and he leaned forward to rest on his knees. The resting period lasted no longer than a couple of seconds, and he immediately pounded heavily on the front door, forgetting all about the doorbell that hung right beside it.

There was silence, and Ash banged again like a madman. Misty and Brock approached as Ash made the second attempt at the door, gasping for precious oxygen, figuring they had just ran a mile or two at a full run.

"Who is it?" A nervous voice floated from behind the door, bringing Ash’s head up. Ash immediately recognized the relaxing, familiar voice of his mom, and an exhausted smile came to his face.

"Mom! It’s me! It’s me! Ash!" Ash hollered happily in between puffs of breath, his heart still racing.

"Ash?" Delia asked surprisingly, and the door opened not a second later. Without hesitation, Ash leapt into the arms of his mother, embracing her in a full out hug. He clenched his eyes closed blissfully, the warm, comforting feeling of being back in her protective arms filling his body. Only this time he felt that he was protecting her, or would from whatever was bothering her.

"Ash, this . . . this is a surprise," Delia said, shocked, holding Ash in her arms.

"I came home to see you, Mom," Ash said softly and lovingly, waiting for his mom to reply. A chill ran through his body suddenly, though, when she didn’t. In fact, Ash could feel that his mom’s hug wasn’t as tight as it usually was. Although he was close to her, she felt miles away, and his heart began to sink.

Ash pulled back and looked deeply into Delia’s eyes. Worry filled him again as her eyes spelt out wariness, and the small smile she was creating curved nervously.

"Mom?" Ash asked, fear breaking through his voice. "What’s wrong? Mom?"

Delia took a deep breath, and looked at the floor. Silence took over the room. Almost immediately, as if a bullet struck him, Ash could feel the floor shift underneath him, and the presence of someone behind his mother made his heart skip a beat. Maneuvering his head around Delia’s, his eyes widened at the sight of the handsome, dark-haired man standing in the doorway of the kitchen, smiling warmly back at him.

"Dad?" Ash asked in disbelief.

TO BE CONTINUED . . .