Caught in the Middle
As Hoothoot hunted for prey, Latias and Bayleef stirred pleasantly in their sleep. Having been reunited with the boy they loved, as well as sharing his sleeping bag, they were experiencing pleasant dreams for the first time since they last saw him. Maybe too pleasant.
"Ooooo...harder...yes...I love you, Ash...I love you so much...keep going..." Bayleef moaned as she felt the boy she loved so much thrusting into her from behind. To feel his manhood gracing her lips was more wonderful than she could have imagined. "Ash...lean closer..." She felt her lover lean forward and responded by leaning her neck back. As soon as their faces met, she clamped her mouth over his and began to swirl her tongue around inside his mouth as she had the most wonderful kiss she ever knew.
"I...can't hold out..." Bayleef gasped as her inner walls clamped down of Ash's member as fluid splashed out of her flower as she had the most amazing orgasm. Suddenly, she felt something else. "It's throbbing? Why would...ahhhhh..." Bayleef sighed as she felt her lover's seed flood into her as he had his own orgasm. The very thought of becoming pregnant made Bayleef giddy with joy.
"YES! MORE! MORE CHILDREN! MORE, ASH! GIVE ME MORE!" As directed, Ash continued thrusting into the lustful Pokemon to help her become pregnant with as many children as possible. "More...yes, give me more...I want to bear your child...my love..." Bayleef had entered an almost narcotic state of bliss as her hormones began to cloud her mind. Ironically, another female who was sleeping with Ash was having an eerily similar dream.
"It hurts.....but it feels so good..." Latias groaned as she pushed her second child from her womb as the boy who had impregnated her held her head up. It's almost...hooo..." Latias breathed a sigh of relief as her daughter fell out onto the floor and began to cry loudly. Latias and Ash cradled the baby Latias as well as her twin brother. "There, there, my little ones. Mommy and Daddy are here for you." The two newborns began to calm down and had started to snuggle against their parents. "Such beautiful babies. I've wished for so long to give birth to the children of my one true love. And that day has come." He lover embraced her along with their children.
"No. I want more. Ash, please. Give me more!" Latias lay down to allow Ash to pound her again. He quickly plowed his member into her ragged and overused womanhood to try and satisfy her. "Oh yes...it always feels so good to feel you inside me...I love you so much, Ash..." After only a brief moment of sweet lovemaking, Latias felt Ash's sperm flow inside her again. "I can feel you filling me. Will it be twins again?" Latias cooed as her belly began to swell while her lover pulled his limp and spent member out. "I had no idea that I was so fertile."
Over the course of several minutes, Latias observed her belly swelling with life as Ash's seed fertilized the eggs within her womb. As her womb ballooned, Latias shivered in delight as Ash sweetly kissed her swollen belly. "I wonder if our children can feel your love. Ah!" Latias quivered in pain as the first child began to slide down her birth canal. "It's coming!" Ash kneeled next to her neck and cradled her head as their third child began to be born. "Is it a boy?! Is it a girl?!" Latias was in pain, but was still overjoyed at the thought of becoming a mother. However, as her lips parted to allow the newborn out, a fragrant aroma filled her nostrils.
"Mmmm...that smells good. But there's no one around here cooking. Is there?" Just then, a voice asked, "Wow, is that your famous breakfast stew, Brock?" At that moment, Latias and Bayleef awoke from their dreams, much to their disappointment. They were still snuggly rested in Ash's sleeping bag while on opposite sides. For the moment, they had forgotten about each other.
With a yawn, Ash started to awaken as well. "Huh? Mmmmm...that smells great." He then looked back and forth at the two ladies in his sleeping bag with him. "Morning Latias! Bayleef! You two look like you slept well." The two girls smiled. It was true. Up until last night, they had not experienced a single pleasant dream, so the dreams they just had were a wonderful difference.
"OK! Are you girls hungry?" Bayleef and Latias gave a happy cry to say yes. "Cool! Then let's...what the?" Ash tried to pull himself out of the sleeping bag, but he wouldn't budge. "Don't tell me...we're stuck?!" All three of them began to squirm and struggle, but none of the three could get out. "Guess this was a bad idea after all. Guys!" Brock came over and asked, "What's wrong? I thought you would've been ready for breakfast by now." The three friends blushed as they looked up at him. "Well, uh...the truth is, er, we're stuck. Could you give us a hand?"
Brock sounded like he was going to laugh himself to death. Finally, he said, "Hey...guys, I could use a hand over here! Ash...hahahaaaa...is kinda stuck." May, Max, Misty, and Pikachu came over and tried not to laugh. "Were you three playing a game of Sardines?" Ash yelled, "Knock it off and get us outta here!" "Fine. Could you reach your hands up?" Ash wiggled a bit and got his arms above his head. "OK. Now, you four grab the end of the bag and start pulling when I give the signal." Brock ordered while grabbing Ash's hands.
"OK! PULL!" The three kids and Pikachu started pulling hard at the end of the sleeping bag while Brock yanked at Ash's arms. "Whoa! Not so hard! You're gonna break them!" Brock tried to avoid yanking too hard as the three were now airborne as the sleeping bag was being held up.
"I think I'm starting to loosen! Keep it up! Ash's shoulders were above the opening in the bag as Bayleef and Latias squirmed while trying to ease the tightness between them. Just then, Ash slipped right out of the bag. However, it happened so suddenly, Brock didn't have time to stop Ash and fell over backwards while Ash plunged headfirst into the base of a tree behind him!
"ASH!" The others dropped the sleeping bag right away and ran over to him. He was knocked out and was bleeding from the head. Latias and Bayleef felt guilty that it was their fault. "This is bad. He might have a concussion. Where's the closest hospital?" Max checked the Pokenav, "The closest one would be in Viridian City, but that's still half a mile away." May cried, "Does that mean we don't have enough time?!" However, Latias surprised them all when she gently floated over to Ash and took his head in her arms. (I won't let you die. I promise.)
"Latias, what are you..." Misty stopped when she saw a gently glow encase the two of them. "I think.....she's using Recover?" After a moment, the glow receded. "Mmm...huh?" Ash opened his eyes to see a grief stricken Latias holding his head. "What happened?" May breathed a sigh of relief, "You really hit your head hard. Latias here saved you." Ash felt his head and looked at his hand. It was covered in blood. "Latias...?" She smiled, "Thank you." The relieved Pokemon embraced the boy she loved as she burst into tears; all the while Bayleef's rage was beginning to cloud her mind. (Yeah. Enjoy him while you can, 'cause by the end of the day, you'll be six feet under.)
"Latias, it's not like I'm gonna leave you behind if you stop holding me, now let go!" Ash grumbled as Latias kept her arms around his neck. She was constantly blushing as she couldn't get enough of him. "Man, what's gotten into you? I know you liked to hang out with me back in Altomare, but this is ridicules!" The whole gang burst into laughter. Misty teased, "I think she's so happy around you because she's in LOVE!" Ash got a sick look in the face, "YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING!!!" Everyone laughed harder while Latias blushed even deeper, even if Misty was just joking with him.
Bayleef scowled at Latias from behind her back as she formulated a plan to get rid of this rival. Suddenly, Bayleef shot one of her vines into Ash's jacket and began fiddling with his badge case. No one noticed, but as soon as she managed to pop it open, Ash looked down and saw Bayleef run into the woods with the whole case in her vine!
"What the?! BAYLEEF, WHAT'RE YA DOING?!" The feisty Grass type paid no attention to her love's screams as she disappeared into the woods. "What's wrong with her?! Huh?" Latias floated in front of Ash and let out a series of cries. "Huh? Are you saying you'll go find her?" Latias nodded. "OK! Just don't hurt her!" Latias smiled and flew off into the woods, unaware of the trap Bayleef had set.
"Miss Bayleef! Why'd you run off with Ash's badges?! Come out! Let's go back together!" Latias shouted as she looked around. However, Bayleef was in hiding in some bushes with a butcher knife she had pilfered from Brock's supply bag while they were packing up. She clutched it tightly in her vine, sweat trickling down her neck. "No one...no one will come between me and the boy I love..."
"Where is she? Huh?" Just then, Latias noticed Ash's badge case lying right out in the open! "Looks like Bayleef dropped it. Well, I guess that's one down." Latias flew over to the case and picked it up. "Now then, where would Bayleef...wha?!" Something leapt from the bushes with a shimmering object! "DIE!"
"Man, what's with Bayleef, stealing my badge case like that? I thought that was Glalie's hobby!" May giggled, "Maybe she just wanted to play!" Ash frowned. It had to be something else. She had been acting weird since yesterday. But why?
Misty asked, "Hey, Brock. Is it lunchtime yet?" Brock laughed, "We just ate! Don't tell me you missed my cooking that much! Hold on. I think I may have some leftovers." Brock then went searching through his supply bag to check for any leftovers he might have stashed away. After a moment, Brock looked at everyone and asked, "Um, did any of you guys happen to put my large cutting knife in your bags when we were packing up?" Everyone shrugged their shoulders. "Weird. I was sure I put that in here before anything else when we were packing. Did it fall out?"
Max spoke, "Maybe it's still at the campsite. We could go check while Latias is looking for Bayleef." Brock stood up, "Good idea. Misty and May, you two come with me. Max, you stay with Ash. Just in case." Misty and May left their bags with the two boys and set off back down the road with Brock.
Max wondered, "Hey Ash. Could I ask you something?" Ash looked at him, "Sure. What?" Max scowled slightly, "I'm curious. Has Bayleef ever lashed out at anyone like she did to Latias yesterday? I think she has something against her." Ash laughed, "Oh, Bayleef's always been protective of me! When she was a little Chikorita, she went nuts when a Quagsire was climbing on me! Besides, she's never met Latias before. Why would she have anything against her?" Max chuckled, "Oh, I dunno. I thought she really hated Latias after she smacked her around like that. You think she might be at least a little jealous?" Ash gave him a weird look, "Maybe, but I don't see why......wait...jealous?"
Max looked up at Ash when he suddenly stopped short of what he was going to say. "What's up? Why'd you stop?" Ash's face turned pale. "No...she wouldn't really..." Max looked puzzled, "She wouldn't what?" Ash jumped to his feet, "Stay here! I need to find Latias!"
Latias had narrowly evaded a slash at her neck with a large knife. Instinctively, she floated a good distance away to escape the attacker and turned around to face it. "Bayleef?! Why?" The rage blinded female had a vine wrapped around the hilt of a large knife. "What's wrong with you?! Why are you so angry at me?!" Bayleef growled, "You know exactly why, you wretch! You plan on taking the boy I love away from me! Don't even try to say I'm wrong!" Latias was silent for a moment. (So...her too. She's probably known Ash longer than I have. But to want to kill me out of hatred...? Does she...really love him so dearly that he's more important to her than anything?) Bayleef roared, "NO ONE WILL TAKE HIM AWAY FROM ME!!! NO ONE!!!" She extended her vine further and took a swing at Latias!
"Please stop!" Latias froze Bayleef's vine in place with Psychic! "I know you love Ash deeply, and I admire that. I know just how precious he is to you, as I too can't live without him. But there has to be a better way to solve this!" "SHUT UP!" Realizing that her vine couldn't move, Bayleef launched a flurry of Razor Leaves instead! They hit dead center and caused Latias to lose her focus, releasing the vine. "I don't care what excuses you have! You're not taking him away!" She then lashed out with the knife, but was blinded by a sudden Mist Ball! "Sorry!" Latias had to think of someway to get the knife away from her.
"I don't want to hurt you! Please stop this! Ash wouldn't want this!" However, Bayleef was already too lost in her rage to even speak as she tried to nail Latias with the knife, but by now, Latias blocked every swing by using Protect. "Now you can't hurt me. Just calm down!" Bayleef growled, "I won't forgive you! TRY THIS!" Bayleef then sent her other vine right through the ground. A moment later, it burst out of the ground behind Latias and struck her in the back! However, it didn't hurt.
"Huh? What was...GGAAAHAAHHHH!!!!" Latias screamed in pain as her body was drained of stamina by a Leech Seed! Soon, she couldn't even support the Protect barrier and collapsed to the ground, after which the Leech Seed fell off. "Now die!" Latias closed her eyes as Bayleef thrust the knife directly at her face. "Why..."
A sickening sound was heard as blood splashed on the ground. The knife had struck flesh and blood had spilled. However, instead of a crow of triumph, Bayleef was silent in horror. Latias, wondering why she didn't feel any pain, looked up and was also frozen with horror. "Bayleef...*glub*why...?" Ash had arrived just in time to save Latias from her love rival. In a desperate attempt to stop the blade, Ash had reached out to grab it, only to miss and have the knife plunge into the space in between his neck and right shoulder.
With tears streaming down his face, and blood oozing from his mouth, Ash asked, "Why? I don't...understand... Why do you hate Latias so much...? Was it...something I did...? Did I...make you hate her...? What was it............." Ash fell forward as he lost consciousness, but not before Bayleef removed the blade to prevent it from going in even further. Latias weakly floated over to Ash in tears, "No! Ash, don't die! It was an accident! She didn't want to hurt you! Please...we both need you..." Latias buried her face in Ash's jacket as her love slowly bled to death.
"What have I done? How could I...NOOOOOO!!!" Bayleef ran over to her rival and lover and pleaded, even though Ash wouldn't be able to understand her if he was awake, "I'm so sorry...I loved you...and it was my loved that blinded me... If I could take this back... Please, take me instead!" Bayleef wept as she begged Ash to awaken, but to no avail.
"He went this way! Hurry!" Max led his friends and sister in the direction Ash had ran off in. "I think I hear something. Is that Latias and Bayleef?" Misty asked. It didn't take long for them to reach the spot where the three were. "No...Ash, what happened?!" Latias didn't even seem to notice them, but Bayleef looked at May with a face covered in guilt. "My knife...who could have used it for something so despicable?" Bayleef began to cry even harder as Brock looked over the bloodstained blade.
"Latias!" The dragon looked at a tearful Misty. "You need to get Ash to Viridian City. You can get him there much faster than we can. Please." Latias nodded and took Ash in her arms. (Please...even if you never speak again...please live...) Latias flew north over Viridian Forest while being careful not to drop her lover.
"Bayleef. Did you see who did this? Where did it go?" The young female began to cry uncontrollably, knowing that she should tell them what happened, but could not. "Whatever happened, it really scarred her. If Ash pulls through, maybe he can tell us who did this." The group headed back onto the main path and continued north. During the whole trek, Bayleef wept, knowing that this time, it was her who had destroyed their relationship.
When the group arrived at the Pokemon Center, they checked if Latias had stopped by. "Oh, her? Yes, she is waiting right outside the ER. Ash suffered a severe wound, but fortunately, it isn't life threatening. Still, there is the possibility of long term damage caused by the severing of the nerves. Still, I am confident that we will be able to prevent any permanent damage." Bayleef's crying eased slightly, knowing that her love would live and would be back to 100% someday, but she still dreaded what Ash would say to her.
"Ash...please don't die...please don't forget me...I didn't come all this way just to lose you!" Latias choked back tears as she could imagine seeing his corpse on the operation table after a failed attempt to save him. "Latias..." The pink dragon turned and faced a grieving Bayleef. "You do know that he's going to be all right, don't you? The wound isn't life threatening." Latias almost stopped crying, but couldn't. "When I go in to see him, I want us to go together." Bayleef halfheartedly nodded.
"Well...here goes." Bayleef and Latias entered the room where Ash was resting after the operation. When they came over to him, they saw that he was just staring up at the ceiling. "Bay?" Bayleef reached out and touched his hand with a vine. Ash turned his head slightly and asked, "Why? Why did you try to kill Latias?" Finally, Bayleef broke down in tears as she blurted out the whole story of what she was feeling and why she had gone at Latias with the intent to kill, but Ash still couldn't understand her. More than ever, he wanted to know what Bayleef was saying.
"Kuu?" Latias whispered as Bayleef managed to stop crying. "Girls...could you come here for a second?" Curious, Latias floated over to him while Bayleef jumped up to the bed. To their surprise, Ash gently stroked their pretty faces. "Hey, I don't know what happened back there, but let's just make sure it doesn't happen again. There's nothing to get jealous over. There's enough of me for both of you." Latias and Bayleef blushed at the thought of what he meant by 'enough of me', but gently licked him in thanks.
"Say, Bayleef, could you hand me a bottle of water from the fridge?" Bayleef happily obliged and opened the fridge with her vine and snatched one up with the other. When she brought it over to him, he grinned, "Thanks." However, when he reached to grab it, it fell right onto the floor. "Wha?" Bayleef and Latias looked at him in surprise that he would let a bottle slip right through his hand.
Ash brought his right hand to his face. "No...don't tell me..." Ash then tried to close his fingers into a fist, but they wouldn't bend all the way. As the three observed what was happening, tears began to build in their eyes as they understood what this meant. Ash's career as a Trainer was over.
"Ooooo...harder...yes...I love you, Ash...I love you so much...keep going..." Bayleef moaned as she felt the boy she loved so much thrusting into her from behind. To feel his manhood gracing her lips was more wonderful than she could have imagined. "Ash...lean closer..." She felt her lover lean forward and responded by leaning her neck back. As soon as their faces met, she clamped her mouth over his and began to swirl her tongue around inside his mouth as she had the most wonderful kiss she ever knew.
"I...can't hold out..." Bayleef gasped as her inner walls clamped down of Ash's member as fluid splashed out of her flower as she had the most amazing orgasm. Suddenly, she felt something else. "It's throbbing? Why would...ahhhhh..." Bayleef sighed as she felt her lover's seed flood into her as he had his own orgasm. The very thought of becoming pregnant made Bayleef giddy with joy.
"YES! MORE! MORE CHILDREN! MORE, ASH! GIVE ME MORE!" As directed, Ash continued thrusting into the lustful Pokemon to help her become pregnant with as many children as possible. "More...yes, give me more...I want to bear your child...my love..." Bayleef had entered an almost narcotic state of bliss as her hormones began to cloud her mind. Ironically, another female who was sleeping with Ash was having an eerily similar dream.
"It hurts.....but it feels so good..." Latias groaned as she pushed her second child from her womb as the boy who had impregnated her held her head up. It's almost...hooo..." Latias breathed a sigh of relief as her daughter fell out onto the floor and began to cry loudly. Latias and Ash cradled the baby Latias as well as her twin brother. "There, there, my little ones. Mommy and Daddy are here for you." The two newborns began to calm down and had started to snuggle against their parents. "Such beautiful babies. I've wished for so long to give birth to the children of my one true love. And that day has come." He lover embraced her along with their children.
"No. I want more. Ash, please. Give me more!" Latias lay down to allow Ash to pound her again. He quickly plowed his member into her ragged and overused womanhood to try and satisfy her. "Oh yes...it always feels so good to feel you inside me...I love you so much, Ash..." After only a brief moment of sweet lovemaking, Latias felt Ash's sperm flow inside her again. "I can feel you filling me. Will it be twins again?" Latias cooed as her belly began to swell while her lover pulled his limp and spent member out. "I had no idea that I was so fertile."
Over the course of several minutes, Latias observed her belly swelling with life as Ash's seed fertilized the eggs within her womb. As her womb ballooned, Latias shivered in delight as Ash sweetly kissed her swollen belly. "I wonder if our children can feel your love. Ah!" Latias quivered in pain as the first child began to slide down her birth canal. "It's coming!" Ash kneeled next to her neck and cradled her head as their third child began to be born. "Is it a boy?! Is it a girl?!" Latias was in pain, but was still overjoyed at the thought of becoming a mother. However, as her lips parted to allow the newborn out, a fragrant aroma filled her nostrils.
"Mmmm...that smells good. But there's no one around here cooking. Is there?" Just then, a voice asked, "Wow, is that your famous breakfast stew, Brock?" At that moment, Latias and Bayleef awoke from their dreams, much to their disappointment. They were still snuggly rested in Ash's sleeping bag while on opposite sides. For the moment, they had forgotten about each other.
With a yawn, Ash started to awaken as well. "Huh? Mmmmm...that smells great." He then looked back and forth at the two ladies in his sleeping bag with him. "Morning Latias! Bayleef! You two look like you slept well." The two girls smiled. It was true. Up until last night, they had not experienced a single pleasant dream, so the dreams they just had were a wonderful difference.
"OK! Are you girls hungry?" Bayleef and Latias gave a happy cry to say yes. "Cool! Then let's...what the?" Ash tried to pull himself out of the sleeping bag, but he wouldn't budge. "Don't tell me...we're stuck?!" All three of them began to squirm and struggle, but none of the three could get out. "Guess this was a bad idea after all. Guys!" Brock came over and asked, "What's wrong? I thought you would've been ready for breakfast by now." The three friends blushed as they looked up at him. "Well, uh...the truth is, er, we're stuck. Could you give us a hand?"
Brock sounded like he was going to laugh himself to death. Finally, he said, "Hey...guys, I could use a hand over here! Ash...hahahaaaa...is kinda stuck." May, Max, Misty, and Pikachu came over and tried not to laugh. "Were you three playing a game of Sardines?" Ash yelled, "Knock it off and get us outta here!" "Fine. Could you reach your hands up?" Ash wiggled a bit and got his arms above his head. "OK. Now, you four grab the end of the bag and start pulling when I give the signal." Brock ordered while grabbing Ash's hands.
"OK! PULL!" The three kids and Pikachu started pulling hard at the end of the sleeping bag while Brock yanked at Ash's arms. "Whoa! Not so hard! You're gonna break them!" Brock tried to avoid yanking too hard as the three were now airborne as the sleeping bag was being held up.
"I think I'm starting to loosen! Keep it up! Ash's shoulders were above the opening in the bag as Bayleef and Latias squirmed while trying to ease the tightness between them. Just then, Ash slipped right out of the bag. However, it happened so suddenly, Brock didn't have time to stop Ash and fell over backwards while Ash plunged headfirst into the base of a tree behind him!
"ASH!" The others dropped the sleeping bag right away and ran over to him. He was knocked out and was bleeding from the head. Latias and Bayleef felt guilty that it was their fault. "This is bad. He might have a concussion. Where's the closest hospital?" Max checked the Pokenav, "The closest one would be in Viridian City, but that's still half a mile away." May cried, "Does that mean we don't have enough time?!" However, Latias surprised them all when she gently floated over to Ash and took his head in her arms. (I won't let you die. I promise.)
"Latias, what are you..." Misty stopped when she saw a gently glow encase the two of them. "I think.....she's using Recover?" After a moment, the glow receded. "Mmm...huh?" Ash opened his eyes to see a grief stricken Latias holding his head. "What happened?" May breathed a sigh of relief, "You really hit your head hard. Latias here saved you." Ash felt his head and looked at his hand. It was covered in blood. "Latias...?" She smiled, "Thank you." The relieved Pokemon embraced the boy she loved as she burst into tears; all the while Bayleef's rage was beginning to cloud her mind. (Yeah. Enjoy him while you can, 'cause by the end of the day, you'll be six feet under.)
"Latias, it's not like I'm gonna leave you behind if you stop holding me, now let go!" Ash grumbled as Latias kept her arms around his neck. She was constantly blushing as she couldn't get enough of him. "Man, what's gotten into you? I know you liked to hang out with me back in Altomare, but this is ridicules!" The whole gang burst into laughter. Misty teased, "I think she's so happy around you because she's in LOVE!" Ash got a sick look in the face, "YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING!!!" Everyone laughed harder while Latias blushed even deeper, even if Misty was just joking with him.
Bayleef scowled at Latias from behind her back as she formulated a plan to get rid of this rival. Suddenly, Bayleef shot one of her vines into Ash's jacket and began fiddling with his badge case. No one noticed, but as soon as she managed to pop it open, Ash looked down and saw Bayleef run into the woods with the whole case in her vine!
"What the?! BAYLEEF, WHAT'RE YA DOING?!" The feisty Grass type paid no attention to her love's screams as she disappeared into the woods. "What's wrong with her?! Huh?" Latias floated in front of Ash and let out a series of cries. "Huh? Are you saying you'll go find her?" Latias nodded. "OK! Just don't hurt her!" Latias smiled and flew off into the woods, unaware of the trap Bayleef had set.
"Miss Bayleef! Why'd you run off with Ash's badges?! Come out! Let's go back together!" Latias shouted as she looked around. However, Bayleef was in hiding in some bushes with a butcher knife she had pilfered from Brock's supply bag while they were packing up. She clutched it tightly in her vine, sweat trickling down her neck. "No one...no one will come between me and the boy I love..."
"Where is she? Huh?" Just then, Latias noticed Ash's badge case lying right out in the open! "Looks like Bayleef dropped it. Well, I guess that's one down." Latias flew over to the case and picked it up. "Now then, where would Bayleef...wha?!" Something leapt from the bushes with a shimmering object! "DIE!"
"Man, what's with Bayleef, stealing my badge case like that? I thought that was Glalie's hobby!" May giggled, "Maybe she just wanted to play!" Ash frowned. It had to be something else. She had been acting weird since yesterday. But why?
Misty asked, "Hey, Brock. Is it lunchtime yet?" Brock laughed, "We just ate! Don't tell me you missed my cooking that much! Hold on. I think I may have some leftovers." Brock then went searching through his supply bag to check for any leftovers he might have stashed away. After a moment, Brock looked at everyone and asked, "Um, did any of you guys happen to put my large cutting knife in your bags when we were packing up?" Everyone shrugged their shoulders. "Weird. I was sure I put that in here before anything else when we were packing. Did it fall out?"
Max spoke, "Maybe it's still at the campsite. We could go check while Latias is looking for Bayleef." Brock stood up, "Good idea. Misty and May, you two come with me. Max, you stay with Ash. Just in case." Misty and May left their bags with the two boys and set off back down the road with Brock.
Max wondered, "Hey Ash. Could I ask you something?" Ash looked at him, "Sure. What?" Max scowled slightly, "I'm curious. Has Bayleef ever lashed out at anyone like she did to Latias yesterday? I think she has something against her." Ash laughed, "Oh, Bayleef's always been protective of me! When she was a little Chikorita, she went nuts when a Quagsire was climbing on me! Besides, she's never met Latias before. Why would she have anything against her?" Max chuckled, "Oh, I dunno. I thought she really hated Latias after she smacked her around like that. You think she might be at least a little jealous?" Ash gave him a weird look, "Maybe, but I don't see why......wait...jealous?"
Max looked up at Ash when he suddenly stopped short of what he was going to say. "What's up? Why'd you stop?" Ash's face turned pale. "No...she wouldn't really..." Max looked puzzled, "She wouldn't what?" Ash jumped to his feet, "Stay here! I need to find Latias!"
Latias had narrowly evaded a slash at her neck with a large knife. Instinctively, she floated a good distance away to escape the attacker and turned around to face it. "Bayleef?! Why?" The rage blinded female had a vine wrapped around the hilt of a large knife. "What's wrong with you?! Why are you so angry at me?!" Bayleef growled, "You know exactly why, you wretch! You plan on taking the boy I love away from me! Don't even try to say I'm wrong!" Latias was silent for a moment. (So...her too. She's probably known Ash longer than I have. But to want to kill me out of hatred...? Does she...really love him so dearly that he's more important to her than anything?) Bayleef roared, "NO ONE WILL TAKE HIM AWAY FROM ME!!! NO ONE!!!" She extended her vine further and took a swing at Latias!
"Please stop!" Latias froze Bayleef's vine in place with Psychic! "I know you love Ash deeply, and I admire that. I know just how precious he is to you, as I too can't live without him. But there has to be a better way to solve this!" "SHUT UP!" Realizing that her vine couldn't move, Bayleef launched a flurry of Razor Leaves instead! They hit dead center and caused Latias to lose her focus, releasing the vine. "I don't care what excuses you have! You're not taking him away!" She then lashed out with the knife, but was blinded by a sudden Mist Ball! "Sorry!" Latias had to think of someway to get the knife away from her.
"I don't want to hurt you! Please stop this! Ash wouldn't want this!" However, Bayleef was already too lost in her rage to even speak as she tried to nail Latias with the knife, but by now, Latias blocked every swing by using Protect. "Now you can't hurt me. Just calm down!" Bayleef growled, "I won't forgive you! TRY THIS!" Bayleef then sent her other vine right through the ground. A moment later, it burst out of the ground behind Latias and struck her in the back! However, it didn't hurt.
"Huh? What was...GGAAAHAAHHHH!!!!" Latias screamed in pain as her body was drained of stamina by a Leech Seed! Soon, she couldn't even support the Protect barrier and collapsed to the ground, after which the Leech Seed fell off. "Now die!" Latias closed her eyes as Bayleef thrust the knife directly at her face. "Why..."
A sickening sound was heard as blood splashed on the ground. The knife had struck flesh and blood had spilled. However, instead of a crow of triumph, Bayleef was silent in horror. Latias, wondering why she didn't feel any pain, looked up and was also frozen with horror. "Bayleef...*glub*why...?" Ash had arrived just in time to save Latias from her love rival. In a desperate attempt to stop the blade, Ash had reached out to grab it, only to miss and have the knife plunge into the space in between his neck and right shoulder.
With tears streaming down his face, and blood oozing from his mouth, Ash asked, "Why? I don't...understand... Why do you hate Latias so much...? Was it...something I did...? Did I...make you hate her...? What was it............." Ash fell forward as he lost consciousness, but not before Bayleef removed the blade to prevent it from going in even further. Latias weakly floated over to Ash in tears, "No! Ash, don't die! It was an accident! She didn't want to hurt you! Please...we both need you..." Latias buried her face in Ash's jacket as her love slowly bled to death.
"What have I done? How could I...NOOOOOO!!!" Bayleef ran over to her rival and lover and pleaded, even though Ash wouldn't be able to understand her if he was awake, "I'm so sorry...I loved you...and it was my loved that blinded me... If I could take this back... Please, take me instead!" Bayleef wept as she begged Ash to awaken, but to no avail.
"He went this way! Hurry!" Max led his friends and sister in the direction Ash had ran off in. "I think I hear something. Is that Latias and Bayleef?" Misty asked. It didn't take long for them to reach the spot where the three were. "No...Ash, what happened?!" Latias didn't even seem to notice them, but Bayleef looked at May with a face covered in guilt. "My knife...who could have used it for something so despicable?" Bayleef began to cry even harder as Brock looked over the bloodstained blade.
"Latias!" The dragon looked at a tearful Misty. "You need to get Ash to Viridian City. You can get him there much faster than we can. Please." Latias nodded and took Ash in her arms. (Please...even if you never speak again...please live...) Latias flew north over Viridian Forest while being careful not to drop her lover.
"Bayleef. Did you see who did this? Where did it go?" The young female began to cry uncontrollably, knowing that she should tell them what happened, but could not. "Whatever happened, it really scarred her. If Ash pulls through, maybe he can tell us who did this." The group headed back onto the main path and continued north. During the whole trek, Bayleef wept, knowing that this time, it was her who had destroyed their relationship.
When the group arrived at the Pokemon Center, they checked if Latias had stopped by. "Oh, her? Yes, she is waiting right outside the ER. Ash suffered a severe wound, but fortunately, it isn't life threatening. Still, there is the possibility of long term damage caused by the severing of the nerves. Still, I am confident that we will be able to prevent any permanent damage." Bayleef's crying eased slightly, knowing that her love would live and would be back to 100% someday, but she still dreaded what Ash would say to her.
"Ash...please don't die...please don't forget me...I didn't come all this way just to lose you!" Latias choked back tears as she could imagine seeing his corpse on the operation table after a failed attempt to save him. "Latias..." The pink dragon turned and faced a grieving Bayleef. "You do know that he's going to be all right, don't you? The wound isn't life threatening." Latias almost stopped crying, but couldn't. "When I go in to see him, I want us to go together." Bayleef halfheartedly nodded.
"Well...here goes." Bayleef and Latias entered the room where Ash was resting after the operation. When they came over to him, they saw that he was just staring up at the ceiling. "Bay?" Bayleef reached out and touched his hand with a vine. Ash turned his head slightly and asked, "Why? Why did you try to kill Latias?" Finally, Bayleef broke down in tears as she blurted out the whole story of what she was feeling and why she had gone at Latias with the intent to kill, but Ash still couldn't understand her. More than ever, he wanted to know what Bayleef was saying.
"Kuu?" Latias whispered as Bayleef managed to stop crying. "Girls...could you come here for a second?" Curious, Latias floated over to him while Bayleef jumped up to the bed. To their surprise, Ash gently stroked their pretty faces. "Hey, I don't know what happened back there, but let's just make sure it doesn't happen again. There's nothing to get jealous over. There's enough of me for both of you." Latias and Bayleef blushed at the thought of what he meant by 'enough of me', but gently licked him in thanks.
"Say, Bayleef, could you hand me a bottle of water from the fridge?" Bayleef happily obliged and opened the fridge with her vine and snatched one up with the other. When she brought it over to him, he grinned, "Thanks." However, when he reached to grab it, it fell right onto the floor. "Wha?" Bayleef and Latias looked at him in surprise that he would let a bottle slip right through his hand.
Ash brought his right hand to his face. "No...don't tell me..." Ash then tried to close his fingers into a fist, but they wouldn't bend all the way. As the three observed what was happening, tears began to build in their eyes as they understood what this meant. Ash's career as a Trainer was over.