I won [Amourshipping]

The Champion's death

*Ritchie POV*

I swallowed my pride and ran away as far as I could with Ash's Pikachu in my arms. This was stupid, why was I running? I know that Ash was leagues above me now but I'm still a Champion. I had to go back. Luckily, there was a Pokemon Centre nearby. 

"Hello, Nurse Joy. Please take care of Pikachu for a while, I need to hurry somewhere." I said as I handed Pikachu over to Nurse Joy and ran back to the stadium, Ash needed help. 

"Ash, hang in there, buddy!" I thought as I reached the stadium. I ran in, expecting to see Ash still trying to hold the newly evolved Mewtwo off, but there was nothing. All that was present was the rubble and craters, which meant that the entire stadium was destroyed. I walked around, calling Ash's name and tried to look for him, but all I found was his hat which was partly destroyed.

"Oh... Oh no... This... No..." I stuttered, assuming the worse. I fell to my knees covered my mouth, it was too much for me to handle. Before I knew it, I started screaming in fear and sadness while holding what used to be Ash's hat close. 

My screaming eventually attracted some people who were nearby, they saw what was going on and tried to calm me down. It helped a bit, but the realisation that Ash was dead still traumatised me as I knew that I could've done something to prevent it from happening. Soon after I have fully calmed down, I went to go fetch Pikachu and head back to the Champion's HQ.

*Third Person POV*

"Well, Ash and Ritchie are sure taking their time." Paul said he shared his leg impatiently. 

"Don't tell me that you're worried about them?" Steven asked. 

"No way. Besides, Ash and Ritchie are powerful Champions. There is no reason to worry about them at all." Paul replied as he crossed his arms. 

"I suppose you are right." Steven said. 

"I agree with what Paul said, but isn't suspicious that they're kind of late?" Iris asked.

"Indeed, perhaps they've encountered a problem?" Lance added in. 

"Even if they did, it's probably something that they can handle." Paul said. 

The conversation went on before Ritchie entered the room, he had a gloomy face and his legs were shaking violently. It was almost as if he was traumatised. Immediately, the others knew that something was up. 

"Ritchie, are you alright? What's wrong?" Lance asked. 

"I-I.. He-...I...." Ritchie mumbled as he started shaking even more violently. 

"Whoa, whoa... Stay with us, Ritchie..." Iris said calmly as she held Ritchie, who was on the verge of breaking down.

"Wait, where is Ash?" Paul asked, he didn't notice that his question made Ritchie tremble even more violently than before. 

"He should be with you, right? Ritchie?" Lance asked. 

"He's gone..." Ritchie blurted out, which caught everyone by surprise. 

"Gone? What do you mean gone!? Tell me!" Paul yelled as he grabbed Ritchie by the collar. "He was supposed to be with you!" 

"Paul, get off him!" Iris yelled. "I don't think he's in a state where he can take that from you!"

"I don't care, he's giving me answers right now!" Paul replied. "Where the hell is Ash?" 

"He... He's dead." Ritchie mumbled before he passed out due to a panic attack, before he hit the ground, he was caught by Lance. 

"Look what you've done, Paul!" Iris scolded. 

"What do you mean!? I only wanted answers!" Paul argued. 

"But you didn't have to try and force it out of him!" Iris yelled. 

"Enough of this, what Iris said is true. You should have been more tactful." Steven butted in. 

"Oh really? I bet you two idiots would've done to same if you were in my position!" Paul yelled, the three Champions were having a heated arguement and Lance has had enough.

"ENOUGH!" Lance yelled angrily. "AS CHAMPIONS, YOUR CURRENT BEHAVIOUR IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!" 

Eventually, everyone calmed down, especially Ritchie. Though he still looked unstable, he confirmed that he was able to talk. 

"Alright, Ritchie. You don't need to answer if you don't want to, but what happened?" Lance asked. 

Upon being asked what happened, Ritchie opened his mouth and started to explain everything. How Ash decided to battle Giovanni alone, how Giovanni evolved Mewtwo with that gem, how Ash told him to run away and how he found what seemed like Ash's remains. 

"This is rather a lot to take in..." Steven commented as he adjusted himself, trying to stay calm. 

"Indeed, not only do we have one man less, there is a bigger problem on the horizon." Lance replied, who was also struggling to keep his composure. 

"Who's going to inform his family?" Iris asked.

 "I'll do it." Both Ritchie and Paul spoke up at the same time. 

"Both of you? Seriously?" Steven asked. 

"Ritchie, you're in no condition to do this. Let me, I am one of his closest friends after all." Paul said. 

"No, I am responsible. I'll do it." Ritchie replied. 

"No, Ritchie. I agree with Paul. You should take some rest and let Paul do the job." Lance said. 

Ritchie wanted to retaliate, but he couldn't. He was out of words to say and his mental state was definitely not helping. For now, all he could do was rest. 

"Fine." Ritchie said as he scoffed. 

"Look, it isn't your fault. And I apologise about earlier." Paul said as he patted Ritchie on the back, trying to at least make him feel better. 

"Well, that's what I'd like to think. But thanks anyway." Ritchie replied. 

"I'll be on my way, then." Paul said. 

"Right. And while you're at it, we'll come up with a plan and send you the details later." Lance informed. 

"Safe travels."