For my active readers, how are we doing today? xD 

And for today's question:

What do you think would make Ash a Pokemon Master? There are a lot of theories that suggest different ways for him to become master, such as beating the elite four, winning the pokemon league or catching every single Pokemon. In my opinion, the whole slogan for ages was 'gotta catch em' all!' so that leads me to believe Ash is going on his journey to either catch as much as he can or just get all the Pokemon in his pokedex, then he will be considered a master. I think the gym badges are adding to his journey to make it more exciting, like an extra challenge. He never wins a league because it gives him a reason to go somewhere new. This is also why I think Ash never takes any old Pokemon with him. It isn't because the creators think he would have to be too overpowered, because Pikachu isn't that strong in some cases. I think it is because he wants to have new pokemon, so he can fill his pokedex. It is done the same way in the games, your mission given to you by the professor is to fill the pokedex, but you do other things, so maybe Ash is the same. Just a thought though, so tell me yours.

Now, on with the chapter!

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

(???)

"Call an ambulance!" A voice shouted in panic, trying to find anyone they could in order to get an ambulance. "Somebody help us!" various voices were crying out in the distance. I realized that there was a serious situation, maybe my friends were involved. I began running through the forest behind Kevin's house, dodging twigs and branches as fast as I could.

"Where are you going? This ain't over yet!" A voice shouted behind me, chasing me through the forest. I ignored them and made it to Kevin's backyard. I hopped over the fence and ran to the front, where the cries continued. My eyes widened as I saw the scene before me.

"Oh god..."

4 hours earlier, Kevin's Party Begins

(Ash)

"A party ain't a party without the main man!" Gary shouted, introducing himself as we walked into Kevin's house.

"Be quiet Gary, you're embarrassing yourself" Iris pulled a straight face and folded her arms. She acted like his mother too much.

"Heh. Sorry" Gary scratched his head and went quiet. Iris also had that motherly authority, Gary is such a sucker.

"Hey guys! You all made it" Kevin came walking down, with a tray of assorted drinks. "Take your pick" Kevin seemed a little too cheery, something was up.

"What is this party for, someone's birthday?" Calem asked, looking around as if he was jealous of Kevin's house.

"Just a party, while the parents are away y'know?" Kevin tried to explain. Calem had never had that freedom before, but he replied with the straightest face imaginable, no words escaping his lips.

"Well then" Kevin scratched his chin awkwardly, before turning around "Enjoy yourselves!" He said as he walked off.

"It's too crowded in this house, lets head in the garden" Dawn suggested, so we all followed her outside. The garden wasn't too big, but it had a small patio and lots of tables and chairs. We all took a seat and sat in a irregular circle in the garden. 

"Say, where is May?" I wondered, finally finding a chance to speak since we got here.

"I have no clue, maybe she is with her little brother?" Misty began thinking about it too. "Come to think of it, her dad is in town, so it would be likely" 

So, May's parents split. I guess I learn something new everyday. I noticed Serena being a little too quiet, was she finding everything awkward?

"Is everything ok, Serena?" I asked her. She immediately looked up from the ground and smiled.

"Everything's fine, I am just thinking, that's all" She explained. I was trying to find any hints that could suggest she was lying, but she didn't seem to be.

"I am going to check Kevin's upstairs. There is bound to be something fun" Gary sounded extremely bored, so he slowly got up from his chair.

"You mean video games?" Dawn and Iris spoke in unison, looking straight at Gary.

"Who cares, what are you my Mom?" Gary turned around and headed back inside before there was a reply. Dawn sighed and Iris huffed in annoyance. Drew and Kenny headed inside too, obviously following Gary. Calem sighed and followed them in, leaving me with Dawn, Serena, Misty and Iris.

"Are you not going too, Ash?" Misty asked me, wondering why I wasn't following.

"Nah" I instantly replied, not wanting to go. "I don't see the point when we can just relax out here, there's a really nice breeze tonight"

"Yeah..." Dawn replied, closing her eyes as the wind picked up. The weather was just right, neither hot nor cold. 

"So, how far have you guys gone?" Misty suddenly blurted out, looking at me and Serena. Dawn and Iris leaned in, interested by the conversation. I looked up, a little shocked, while I noticed Serena's face was going read.

"All the way, I bet" Dawn teased, giggling. 

"No, no!" I waved my hands infront of me, trying to calm them all down. I felt my cheeks getting a little warm. "We haven't gone as far as, well, making out" I said it without trying to sound kind of awkward.

The girls all calmed down, uninterested by the conversation suddenly.

"Here I was thinking you had gone beyond fourth base" Misty sighed, shaking her head.

"Me too..." Dawn replied, with a little giggle.

"That was such a random question!" Serena exclaimed, finally entering the conversation.

"Well, you and lover boy never tell us what you get up, so our curiosity peaked" Iris explained. 

"And I am interested in what kind of fruit you eat"I retorted, not believing for a second that her 'curiosity peaked'.

"Ash, sometimes, you are so immature" Iris shook her head and sighed. Dawn was nodding with agreement, looking back and forth between us all.

There was a sudden shout and I instantly knew it was Gary. 

"Must be having fun up there, huh?" Misty thought, looking up to the window. I followed her gaze and noticed people jumping around and laughing.

"I would go and see what all the commotion is about, but I don't feel like gossiping" Dawn sat back and relaxed.

"Dawn. Not up to gossiping?!" Serena was shocked "Next you'll tell me Ash isn't hungry"

At that moment, my stomach growled. I laughed nervously. "I guess she would be lying" 

Everyone laughed, including Dawn.

"Lets go grab something from the table" Misty suggested, sauntering off with Dawn and Iris in tow. Serena grabbed my hand and almost dragged me out of my seat, being a little giddy for some odd reason.

At the table there was loads of food. I grabbed as many slices of pizza as possible and dashed back to our seats. As I was eating, someone came up behind me.

"Hey, Ash" I instantly recognized Kevin's voice. "Can we have a little talk in private?"

"Sure" I said, being a little suspicious of Kevin. He didn't feel right, but I couldn't put my finger on what he was doing. I followed him down the path and into the little forest. He locked the gate behind him and continued on. We made it about halfway before he stopped.

"Ok, no one should follow us out here" He spoke to himself, seeming a little strange.

"What do you want, Kevin?" I asked, keeping a short distance from him.

"I wanted to ask, how is Serena?" Kevin suddenly asked, which was really creepy.

"That's a little creepy, why should you care?" I replied, questioning him further.

"Because I am her friend? And..I care a lot for her" Kevin's eyes narrowed, he looked angry.

"Well she is fine, so if that's all you wanted..." I turned to walk off but Kevin grabbed my arm.

"If I hear you hurt her in any way, I will hurt you" Kevin warned me. I let out one little laugh, not even worrying about his threat.

"Kevin" I began. "I have been with Serena for years now, so don't think for a second that you scare me. I won't hurt her" I finished sternly, throwing his arm off me. Kevin was angered by me and I heard him yell out. Without turning I sidestepped and he swung his fist into mid-air. "I don't want to fight, Kevin. Don't be so stupid"

Kevin didn't speak but instead went for another punch. He caught me off guard and hit me right in the jawline. A stinging pain shot through my face, my jaw throbbing. I managed to keep my balance and focus. I felt a little angered by Kevin's violence, but I won't fight him. Kevin threw another punch, this time into my stomach. The impact knocked the wind out of me, sending me to my knee's. Kevin looked ready to hit me in the face, when suddenly we heard tires screech and several screams in the distance. Kevin turned to noise and ignored me, wondering what it was.

"Call an ambulance!" A voice shouted in panic, trying to find anyone they could in order to get an ambulance. "Somebody help us!" various voices were crying out in the distance. I realized that there was a serious situation, maybe my friends were involved. I began running through the forest behind Kevin's house, dodging twigs and branches as fast as I could.

"Where are you going? This ain't over yet!" Kevin shouted behind me, chasing me through the forest. I ignored him and made it to his backyard. I hopped over the fence and ran to the front, where the cries continued. My eyes widened as I saw the scene before me.

"Oh god..." I couldn't take in the scene. Drew was laid out on the road, unconscious and Calem and Gary had a guy pinned to his car. There was a little dent in the front, telling me that the impact was rough. Misty, Serena, Dawn and Iris all crouched around Drew, trying to wake him and desperately urging him on, as if he was about to die. Kevin came up behind me and had exactly the same reaction. Everyone looked on in horror as an ambulance arrived and carefully put Drew on a stretcher, before sending him off to the hospital. The police arrived to question the man, at which point Gary and Calem stopped intervening. As the scene was cleared and peace restored to the street, I noticed Kenny was on the other side on the front yard, tears building up in his eyes. All of the girls took a few minutes to come around, besides Serena. I went over and sat next to her, putting my arm around her.

"Hey, he-hey" I spoke quietly, trying to calm her down. She continued to cry into my shoulder. "He is going to be fine. Drew is as tough as nails."

After five more minutes, Serena had exhausted herself and had fallen asleep. I called her Mom to have her picked up and she arrived within a few moments.

"Is everything ok?" Grace asked me as I put Serena in the car.

"Drew was hit by a car, it looked rough, but I didn't see what happened" I explained, noticing the grieving look on Grace's face.

"I better tell his parents as soon as possible. Thank you, Ash" Grace's face broke into a smile as she left with Serena. I walked up to Calem and Gary, as they was being as relaxed as me. There was no point in feeling upset, for now. Someone had to be strong in place of others, to make them feel better.

"What happened guys?" I asked them both. They turned to me, breaking off from their conversation.

"We had a few 'drinks'" Gary hinted and I realized he meant alcohol. "Drew was a little tipsy, so we decided to head home. He started refusing and pushed off me, when-" Gary stopped, because I knew what was next.

"How did you get alcohol?" I wondered, looking at them both. 

"Kevin's old man has a cupboard full of the stuff. Kevin happened to find the key while we was messing around and opened it up, before heading off" Calem explained, looking around my face.

"Say, what happened to your face?" Gary picked up on it too. Calem nodded, wanting an answer.

"I'll explain all of that later. For now, let's all go home and we will see Drew after school, ok?" I asked them both. They took a few moments but finally nodded. I sighed of relief, feeling glad that they understood.

It took us awhile but we managed to get everyone else home. Kenny took a few extra minutes, but he finally got into his car and headed home himself. I felt worried for him, being Drew's bestfriend. I suppose we would have to wait and see what was going on after school. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.

#ThePerfectYear