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Chapter Seven: Plan of Action

Your tears don't fall
They crash around me
-Bullet For My Valentine

It was a routine jump. Though, that kind of thinking usually leads to mishaps like this. He had done this several times without even the slightest problem. They practically drilled the motions to death, just to make sure this sort of thing wouldn’t happen. Ash had no actual concept of the risk they always told him he was taking.

Ash knew there had to be a reason he signed a waiver before taking these classes. He signed it under Gary’s name, but that was besides the point. He was still responsible for it.

Aerial jumps were typically done with saddles. Beginner Aerialist were required to own and use their saddles with every flight. But at a certain level, there were those that decided to learn less conventional skills. Bareback flying was one of those skills- for when a saddle is inconvenient or unreliable.

Bareback aerial tricks, like jumping from one aerial Pokemon to another, was taught only to the most elite, fearless, and foolish of the aerialist students. Ash met those requirements to a T.

Ash had always preferred learning on Charizard. But since most aerial Pokemon were not built like the dragon type, Ash was forced to practice most of his jumps off Pidgeot. There was a considerable difference between the two’s flying styles. Charizard was all power while Pidgeot was much faster.

Thinking back on it now, Ash figured it probably wasn’t very smart to switch to using Charizard when he was still working on aerial jumps.

Julie, his aerial trainer and daughter of the aerial school’s founder, was a terrific aerialist. She was barely eleven years old but her grace in the air was rivaled to none. With strong arms and precise balance, she was able to pull off even the most difficult aerial tricks in seeming ease.

But where she excelled in aeronautics, she lacked in social skills. On the ground, Julie was a soft spoken brunette with a crew cut; containing of both considerable modesty and little backbone. So when the fourteen year old pleaded with her to use Charizard in the jump, she could hardly say no. Besides, Julie found the boy’s enthusiasm for aeronautics attractive. Not to mention that he was a very charming and handsome Pokemon trainer to begin with.

“Please please please, Julie-sensei! I want to learn to fly both kinds! How am I suppose to learn if no one will teach me?”

Julie gritted her teeth. He really was too forward. His face was too close to her own- a very uncomfortable position to be in with one’s own pupil.

She had only taken two others in the air under her instruction before. Gary was the third. He was more promising than the other two, but also the one lacking the most discipline. Like his Charizard.

Julie cast a nervous glance at the lizard and then back to the trainer in front of her.

“But you know you really shouldn’t be trying a dragon type when you haven’t yet mastered Pidgeot. You’re going to get me into trouble, Mister Oak.”

Ash smiled. He knew he had won his sensei over.

Julie held up a finger. “One jump.”

And one jump was all it took. The take off was smooth. Even though Ash had little practice with his Charizard, his control was sublime. Julie was impressed. She flew her Pidgeot into position beside Ash’s larger Pokemon. Ash waved and grinned over to her through his mouth guard.

He always complained about the safety gear. Aerialist students were required to wear helmets, mouth guards, and goggles as protection. Not to mention a parachute- in the case of emergencies. A parachute excusal was granted in the case of skilled students, and of Ash. But still Ash whined. In real case scenarios, Ash argued, the safety gear was impractical. And Ash was always thinking of real cases. As if he were training for some grand scheme.

Which, Julie thought while strapping the goggles over her eyes, he probably was. They were at a level altitude, at least fifty some feet in the air. The wind was calm and predictable.

Julie gave the signal with a twist of her wrist. Ash leveled Charizard’s flight off and pushed himself up onto the pokemon’s shoulder blades. Once he was steady enough to stand, Julie spun around on her saddle so as to help Ash make the jump should he land awkwardly.

Ash bent his legs.

And it probably would gave gone without a hitch if they hadn’t hit pocket in the air. Charizard lost momentum. Pidgeot rose with the updraft. When Ash jumped there was no longer any place for him to land.

Ash didn’t scream. His decent was muted, almost passive for such a long drop.

Julie immediately righted herself and sent her Pidgeot in a nosedive after him. She stretched out her arm as far as it could reach. Which wasn’t long for one of her stature.

Ash reached out to her in return. He wasn’t frightened, merely confused. As if it were puzzling, this dreamlike fall of his. She grabbed him by his wrist. But Pidgeot leveled off too quickly and Ash slipped through her fingers. Julie could only watch in horror as Ash was swallowed up into the tree tops.

In all honesty, Ash didn’t feel a thing. He blacked out long before.

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Gary didn’t like to run. But in this case, he made an exception. Just because it was a downhill run into Pallet did not make the job any less taxing. His legs burned and sweat bled into his eyes. He was racing the sun. He needed to be in Viridian before nightfall.

So far he was making pretty good time. The sun was resting just above the trees and he was nearing on his grandfather’s laboratory. Dust kicked up as he ran down the dirt path next to the Pokemon pastures. There was still at least a mile of farm land to run before getting to his own house.

Once again, Gary contemplated just using one of his Pokemon to get to his house. But if he were spotted making such a dash, people would know something was up. At least at this pace, Gary could just write it off that he was trying to get home before dark.

The path snaked and forked through the hilly lawns of green. East from the Laboratory, Gary’s father, Craig, still lived. Gary’s mother, Karen, much like her grandfather, was a controlling high paced workaholic. She had Craig wrapped around her finger since they first started dating. He took her maiden name. He stayed at home with the kids. And he withstood the control for fourteen years, before he finally broke.

Craig snapped, the divorce papers were signed, and Gary hadn’t laid eyes on his mother since. Taking his father’s side, Gary couldn’t bring himself to see her again.

After his first year of Pokemon training was up, May went and finished high school. She applied and was accepted to college, graduated four years later, and got herself a good job in a law firm. Much like her mother.

So it was just him and his dad now.

Gary slowed his run down to an eventual rolling stop. The yellow house was quiet. Gary spotted his father’s red convertible parked in the drive. He knew his father had to be home.

He let out a low exhale. Trying to think of some excuse so as not to get the usual welcome back salutations.

Gary pushed open the chain link fence, avoiding the slobbery kisses aimed at him from the worst guard dog in the world. The Growlithe yipped playfully, pawing at his legs and blinking puppy dog eyes.

“Shush, you stupid mutt,” Gary chuckled pushing the dog off him. “I can’t play right now.”

The screen door opened and Gary looked up. Craig stood there, looking peculiar. He had a mixture of surprise and almost, was it… resentment?

“Gary?”

“You don’t look happy to see me.” Gary baited off the Growlithe with a squeaky toy in the guise of a bone. He dusted off his knees and stood up to face his father.

“No, no of course I’m happy,” laughed Craig nervously, taking his boy by the shoulders. “It’s good to see you- great to see you! …I just wasn’t expecting you, home so soon. Good God, did you run the way here.”

Gary laughed, “Just about. Look, I’m not staying long. Just here to pick up some supplies really…”

Gary trailed off at the sound of a feminine voice coming from beyond the screen door.

“Craig, who is it?”

It hit Gary then why his father looked so surprised to see him. Gary sent his father a sly smile that Craig responded to with only a sag in his shoulders.

“It’s my son. Gary- back from Pokemon training.”

Beaming a smile so bright that Gary swore could act as a lighthouse on Pallet beach, Delia emerged. She looked hardly a day older since Gary last saw her two years before. A few gray hairs more wiser, but still brilliantly beautiful and oblivious.

“Gary! Oh Gary, it’s so good to see you, dear. How have you been?”

“Just fine, Mrs. Ketchum.”

“Your father just fixed this fabulous dinner- would you like to join us, Gary? We’re having Lasagna. Your father’s garlic bread is simply to die for.”

“Ah no. No thank you,” answered Gary eying his father’s agitated expression. “I really just came by to say hello. I can see your busy…”

“Not at all, Gary dear. Please. Stay. Have dinner with us.”

“I really can’t. I made other plans. Urgent. I just needed to pick up a few things… Dad,” Gary looked to his father again, relieved to see that Craig appeared a little less indignant. “Where- where’s my saddle again?”

“Fearow’s? I think I put it in the garage.”

“Ah great. Could you get it for me? I really just need to grab a few things- up in my room. Be just a sec.”

“Gary.”

Gary stopped midway up the stairway and looked down. Craig had almost left the room, also halted by the tone in Delia’s voice.

“This doesn’t have something to do with… Ash does it?”

“No… No. Why would you think that?”

Delia didn’t answer for a moment. It was then that Gary mentally berated himself for responding too quickly. Should he have acted shocked she asked? Or would have hesitation showed more guilt? Gary wondered if Delia was pondering the same as deductions herself.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that- aren’t you afraid of heights?”

“Um no. Just not a fan of Pokemon aeronautics. I just got the saddle to speed race, flying low to the ground. It’s a trust issue, really- I’m working on it.”

And Gary continued up the stairs to avoid meeting Delia’s eyes. Ash’s mother could be pretty unnerving when she knew you were hiding something. And she always knew when you were hiding something.

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An unusual phone call came ringing one afternoon at the Oak Laboratory. It was a year- almost two years- into Ash’s self made exile. Gary was home visiting, helping Tracey clear out the office when it happened. Tracey answered it.

The screen flickered to life showing not a person but rather flashing bold red letters that read “Emergency Call”. Often Pokemon hospitals did so to save on the electricity. Though Gary figured it was mostly just for employee privacy. Visual phones did leave things a bit too personal. Being the bearer of bad news was bad enough without the receiver knowing what you look like.

Tracey never liked one sided calls. He always answered the phone with the visual off. It was a distinct advantage in this particular situation.

“Hello? Professor Oak Observatory. How may I help you?”

“This is Chiffon regional hospital calling for a Mr. Samuel Oaks… in regards of his grandson.”

“His… grandson?” repeated Tracey glancing Gary’s way. Gary set down the textbooks he had been sorting. He had only been partially listening. But at the mention of himself, his interest peaked.

“Yes. Mister Garrison Oak currently enrolled in the aeronautics academy here in Chiffon.”

“In Chiffon? Isn’t that in northern Kanto?”

“Yes sir.”

Tracey muffled the speaker with his hand and turned to Gary who had come beside him.

“Have you ever been to Chiffon?”

“No,” answered Gary honestly. “That’s in the Iroh mountain range.  You’d have to fly to even get through the pass. And an aeronautics academy… I hate flying. Why on earth would they think I enrolled there… unless…”

And the gears began to turn. Gary slowly came to realize what the phone call meant.  

“Please sir. Is Mister Oak present? The matter is urgent,” said the person on the phone.

“Yes. Yes, I mean no. I’m sorry. But Mister-“

Gary shoved Tracey out of the way and mustering the best impression of his grandfather’s voice he could, he answered.

“Oh yes. Hello. This is Professor Oak speaking. Who is this?”

Tracey grabbed for the phone but Gary pushed him back. The Pokemon researcher’s face was livid.

“You can’t possibly expect to imitate-“

“This is Chiffon Regional Hospital, sir. We are calling on behalf of your grandson, Garrison Oak. He was injured in an accident at the Chiffon Pokemon aeronautics academy earlier this morning. Your grandson does attend the academy here sir?”

“Yes yes. He does,” answered Gary briskly still fighting Tracey off.

“We are holding him here, sir, for treatment. You did sign the waver so the academy cannot be held accountable for his injuries. But if you would like him transported to a private physician nearer home, there is transport available.  The academy is prepared to endorse you the full amount of lessons paid for this semester, if you should chose to withdraw him from his schooling.”

“No need. Just perhaps until he gets well.”

“Very good, sir.”

What are you doing? mouthed Tracey. But Gary ignored him.

“I’d like to see him… no I mean. Perhaps I could send someone up to asset his- to… well I’m sure he’d like to see a friendly face, right.”

“Sir?”

“Would it be alright for someone to come see him?”

“Of course, sir. We will have transport made readily available for you.”

“Oh, not me,” said Gary quickly. “I’m much too busy. But a friend… A personal friend of mine.”

“Who should we be expecting then, sir?”

“A Mister Ashton Ketchum. “

Tracey’s eyes widened slightly but said nothing.

“Very good, sir. We will send transport to Pallet immediately. Thank you.”

“No. Thank you.”

Gary hung up the phone. Immediately Tracey took the chance to speak.

“What’s going on? Why is someone impersonating you?”

“Not someone. I think it’s Ash.”

“You mean to think that Ash is in Ch-“

“I’m going to Chiffon. Don’t let Gramps know where I’ve gone, got it? This stays between us, do you understand me?”

“But Gary-“

“I said do you understand me?”

Tracey cowered slightly under Gary’s piercing glare. He swallowed a small, “yes” and looked away before adding. “But why must we keep this secret… if we really found Ash?”

“Because… Ash ran away once. He’s more than capable of running again. And…” Gary smiled swinging on his light overcoat jacket. “I’m much faster than an angry mob.”

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The cookie was really ugly. Probably the cookie cutters of Bulbasaur and Charizard cut the dough too close to each other. But whatever the case, Misty was left holding probably the world’s ugliest cookie. She twisted it around in her hand like a talisman. Pikachu had been carrying it around with him before both he and Ash were kidnapped.

Misty got little comfort in finding only five pokeballs on Ash’s belt. Ash had taken Pikachu with him. At least he had been thinking ahead, sort of. Except this meant that the two of them were in danger. And the two of them against the entire white ice organization were not the best of odds.

The night air was only slightly chilling. She sat outside the Pokemon center, illuminated in the street lights golden glow. Occasionally Misty looked outside the circle of light but saw nothing. It was black and bleak.

Misty let out a low sigh, twisted the stale cookie around in her hands again, and to no one in particular, whispered, “God, I hate waiting.”

A piercing cry shattered the night as if to answer her whisper. Misty shot up quickly from where she was sitting. She cast her gaze up to the night sky and searched them desperately for the large bird she knew had to be close by.

Misty stood surrounded in bitter silence. She grabbed at her chest clutching a fistful of her shirt; heart beating against her clenched fingers. She thought she heard a grating tussle against the gravel rock way, not far from where she stood. But it being so dark, all she could see were misleading shadows. She suddenly felt very exposed.

“Gary? Gary Oak, is that you?”

No answer but a shuffle of footsteps. Or at least what Misty assumed were footsteps.

“Gary come on. This isn’t funny. Come out. Now. I’m not kidding.”

Fearful, Misty thought of her chances if whatever came out of the shadows weren’t Gary. What if it was a wild Pokemon? Like the ones that had been killing people? Or what if it was a stranger- a white ice member come to take out any witnesses? And here she was, standing in a spotlight. The nearest person was Nurse Joy, tucked in bed quite far from hearing any screams.

Somehow knowing this made Misty feel braver. No one could save her? Fine. She’d save herself. She kept this resolution firmly in mind as she reached for the nearest pokeball on her belt.

“One last warning.”

And Gary stepped calmly out of the shadows leading his Fearow in tow. Both were loaded down with supplies in satchels and knap sacks, that Misty knew had preoccupied most of his time in loading and traveling here. The relief on Misty’s face was evident. She lowered her readied hand.

“Hey Misty.” said Gary with a gentle smile. “Sorry for the wait.”

Without a single word, Misty ran up and enveloped Gary in a deep hug. And Gary was very careful in returning it.

When Misty noticed his hesitation, she awkwardly broke from him. There was an uneasy smile on her face that Gary reciprocated.

Then she slapped him. Gary fell back, astonished.

“That’s for lying to me.”

“About what?!”

“About knowing where Ash was.”

“I didn’t know where he was!”

“You had his cell phone number.”

“I can explain that!”

“Can you?”

Gary faulted at Misty’s cross expression. “Uh. No I can’t. But- I can assure you, I did not know he’d be in Viridian!”

Misty’s face softened. “I know… Look, I’m sorry for-“ She gestured to his face and Gary just shrugged.

“No. It’s okay.”

“Thank you.”

“What for?” said Gary pulling on the reigns of the restless Fearow.

The Pokemon was far from tired. It was anxious having flown so close to the ground for such a distance. It wanted to take flight again much higher up this time. But Gary and its load were preventing it from doing so. And Misty’s sudden anger to his master did not ease it’s spirits any. Misty was just lucky that it was tethered.

“For coming at such short notice.”

“Well it was an emergency.”

“Yeah I suppose so.”

Her eyes met his. For a moment, Gary felt as though she could read him. He looked away rashly, excusing himself to fiddle with the load on Fearow’s back.

“I am really sorry about taking so long. I was kinda… interrogated by Ash’s mom,” grunted Gary as he unstrapped pack after pack from Fearow’s saddle and dropped them hastily into either Misty’s waiting arms or to the ground.

“Ash’s mom?” replied Misty.

“Yeah. She was suspicious but I think I was able to bait her off.”

“No. I mean, what was she doing at your house?”

“Oh that,” Gary dropped his own backpack at his feet. “I think she and my dad are dating.”

“Oh.” Misty’s eyebrows raised and her lips curled into a small smile. “Awkward…?”

“Just a little.”

“So what’s all this?”

“Just some tools. In case, we are going against White Ice. Unlike Ash, I don’t believe in being over prepared… or winging it.”

“Ash was a fan of winging it.”

They shared a brief laugh that quickly fell into uncomfortable silence. That is until Misty looked over at Gary and said, “This seems familiar.”

Gary cleared his throat and carefully avoided her look.

“Gary…”

Gary returned Fearow to his pokeball and then hastily preoccupied himself with picking up the luggage and preparing to cart it into the center for the night. Joy graciously kept the center open for them, no doubt thanks to Misty’s urgings.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Gary said at last. He walked through the sliding doors. Misty followed him with a load of her own.

“Gary please. If it’s going to be awkward between us… For Ash’s sake we need to work together.”

Gary dropped what he was carrying, just inside the doors. Misty cringed, afraid that she had said one thing too many.

However, when Gary spoke, his voice was small. “It’s always for Ash, isn’t it?”

“Gary…”

“No, no. It’s okay,” said Gary quickly. He turned back to her with a painful smile on his face. “You’re in love with him. I know that.”

Gary. What happened between us… You have to understand...”

“We’ll rescue him.” Gary interrupted. Misty met his determined gaze with one of her own.

“I know but-“

“This isn’t about me, Misty.”

“Gary-“

“Misty, I promise you. I promised you. My feelings… they aren’t important. Ash is. And we will rescue him.”

Misty relented. “Okay, Gary. Okay.”

“Friends?” said Gary holding out his hand. Misty took it in agreement.  

“Friends. But don’t ever think your feelings aren’t important.”

Gary shared her smile. And nodded obediently.

“So do have a plan with all that luggage?”

Gary bore a coyish grin. “I was thinking we’d just wing it.”

Misty laughed. Then she pat the tall boy on his shoulder, “It’s okay, Gary.”

“What?”

She motioned to the nearby chair and smiled knowingly. “Take a seat.”

“You have a plan?” asked Gary incredulously.

“I have a plan.”

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The hospital was very clean and not very busy. Gary had little to no trouble upon entry. It was a small town hospital. For such a complicated title it was remarkably simple. Perhaps only a three story building with offices and lobby on the first floor- and patients on the upper.

Gary walked across the small lobby of vacant plastic chairs and fake greenery, to the receptionist’s desk.

“Hello. May I help you?” asked a pretty brunette sitting behind the counter. Gary was half surprised that it wasn’t Nurse Joy sitting all pretty and pink there. But then he reminded himself that he was in a human hospital this time.

“Um yes. I’m here to see Gary Oak.”

“Oh you must be Mister Ketchum. Yes. Of course. He does have a guest at the moment, but I’m sure it would be alright for you to see him. Room Two Twenty Eight.”

“Thank you very much.”

Gary quickly made his way to the staircase. As he climbed the steps, his nerves began to rattle. What if it weren’t Ash, at all? What if it were just some huge misunderstanding and that this was a different Gary Oak? It could be possible. Unlikely but possible.

Yet he wanted it so desperately to be Ash. Their first lead on his whereabouts in years.

Gary stopped in front of the door. He could see shadows beyond the fogged glass. Voices carried on quiet conversations away from his ears. And he wasn’t sure if he recognized any of the voices. Screwing up his courage, Gary drew in a breath and opened the door.

There was a girl beside the bed. At least Gary didn’t know it was a girl until she turned around. Her hair was cut rashly short. But even so, she was quite pretty for her age, which Gary guessed to be around nine or ten. Her eyes were red rimmed- obviously from crying. And she looked more startled than angry at his interruption.

The boy on the bed, on the other hand, took the interruption far less kindly. He went pale and then slowly a stormy expression began to form. Helpless and pinned by broken bones and a neck cast, Ash couldn’t run away this time and he knew it.

Gary decided to break the silence first. “Hello Gary.”

“Ash,” retorted the bedridden boy.

“I’m- I’m sorry?” The girl looked between the two boys in confusion. “Who are you?”

“Julie, it’s okay. He’s a friend of mine… from Pallet. Ash-“ Ash sent Gary a look. “This is my flying instructor, Julie. She saved my life.”

Gary nodded to Julie. “Looks like everyone gets that wonderful opportunity, huh?”

Julie only smiled weakly back. “Uh yes. Gary… I’ll come see you later okay? I have to get back to my students.”

“Thanks for coming to see me, Julie.”

“Of course.” She quietly closed the door behind her. She left uncomfortable silence in her wake.

“So... Gary, huh?”

“Don’t patronize me.”

“Jump off a building, didja?”

“Pokemon actually.”

“Hm.” Gary surveyed Ash’s casts and then turned his attention to the cart hanging from the bed. He held up the clipboard for Ash to see, “Says here you almost died… From a six story drop.”

“Nine actually. Julie caught me at six and couldn’t keep a hold on me.”

“Did it hurt?”

Ash looked at him crossly. “If you know anything about skydiving, you’d know that there’s a black out before impact.”

“Ah. Too bad.”

“Look, Gary. I’m sorry I ran out without telling you all. But I’m not going to apologize for leaving.”

“I don’t care.”

“Even when you take me back, I’m just going to leave again. You can’t-“

“I said I don’t care, Ash.”

Ash was in mid sentence but decidedly closed his mouth. Instead of watching Gary scorn over his medical charts, Ash turned his gaze out the window.

“How’d you find me?”

“Believe it or not, the hospital called my grandfather.”

“Ah.”

“So what, you forged my grandfather’s signature and hid under my name. It was very clever. I’ll give you that.”

“If I could have thought any other alias, I would have.”

“What happened to Tom Ado?”

Ash smiled genuinely for the first time since Gary entered. “You have to be a registered trainer to get into the academy. Thankfully their database didn’t have photo IDs to go with the names.”

His expression clouded again. Carefully avoiding Gary’s searching eyes, Ash stared down at the hospital blanket wrapped around him.

“So how many people know?”

“Only Tracey and me.”

Ash shot Gary a bewildered look. Gary only gave him a reassuring smile.

“Tracey is under a oath of secrecy. And I came up here of my own accord. No one else knows. Not even Misty.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t know why you left. But I figured you had a pretty good reason,” Gary plopped down in the chair Julie had vacated.

“I’m not going to-“

“It’s okay. I suspected you wouldn’t.”

Ash relaxed a little. At least as much as he could for one as suspended as he was. “So… Will they learn soon?”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” Gary then leaned forward, a sudden stern look etched into his face. “Cell phone number. And when I call, you answer. No matter what.”

“But I don’t have…”

“I’ll buy you one.”

“But-“

“Those are my conditions. Take them or leave them.”

Ash sighed and stared absentmindedly up to the ceiling. “I suppose I don’t have a choice.”

“That’s right. You don’t,” said Gary getting up and pulling his chair closer to Ash’s bed. “Now tell me. What have you been up to… besides getting yourself in this mess.”

Ash’s face broke into a uncontrollable grin. “Well… geez. Where do I start?”