Ash's three Dragons watched silently as their trainer slept, Misty curled up in his arms, surrounded by his cloak and protected by the night's unforgiving cold.
"It looks like Lord Ash as entered the slumbering world." Mael said with his knight-like voice. The fire gleamed of his scales casting shadows over the camp.
"Yeah, he didn't get any rest last night in that dreadful cave." Smaug said, shuddering with the mere thought of that horrid, cold, and damp cave. Fire-types,like him, loathed anything wet or cold especially those two together.
"Plus, he is the one carrying us around and he is taking care of a little one." Smaug continued, while munching on a berry.
" I just wished he let us see those Crobats. I always wanted to crush one of those poison bats." Tyrunt voiced, cracking his neck in challenge.
" Please, think with logic, they could tear you apart in a second." inquired Smaug.
"Like their fangs could pierce my scales." Tyrunt said confidence in his voice.
" As if, your too slow. You'll be dead before you could even launch an attack." retaliated Smaug.
" Will you two be silent! Your bickering will wake up Lord Ash." Mael hissed.
The two dragons instantly quieted seeing Ash move in a drug-like state. He looked around the campsite, before settling down again and bringing Misty closer to him. Once they were sure that Ash was not waking they continued their conversation.
" Hey, Mael why do you treat Ash with such respect?" asked Tyrunt.
Mael gained a nostalgic look before answering," When I was smaller, my parents told me a saying. 'If you are ever captured by a Lord, serve those who fight alongside their troops."
"But, Ash never joins us when we are challenged by another trainer." asked Tyrunt.
Mael gave a chuckle before saying, " As you know I shall and never will doubt Lord Ash's strength, but if he ever stepped against a challenger's pokemon, he could perish. Humans aren't built like us. They are more fragile, but that isn't what make them superior to us. Its their minds. Its utterly unique in our world. They can process information and make machinery we couldn't even dream of making yet. Sure they can't move objects around like Psych-types, but they still astound. But anyway, that isn't what I meant. Remember when those...creatures attacked the settlement of Pewter. He and King Brock were the only ones joining their troops in battle."
"Yeah, that's what makes him such a good trainer."Smaug said, pride in his voice for being his starter. He always looked on with envy with the Professor's Charizard. So much power, all gained through years on traveling through Kanto. Exploring every road, forest cave, and mountain. Now he could become what he dreamed of most. A soaring dragon that flew through the wind without challenge.
" Well we better get some sleep. Lord Ash will without a doubt wake at dawn tommorrow and request our services. We should be ready for what ever he throws at us." Mael said.
" Yeah, come on Tyrunt we better stoke the fire." Smaug yawned. Tyrunt grunted before complying and grabbing a large log and placing it on the fire, while Smaug grabbed several, smaller ones and piling it on the fire. While they fueled the fire, Mael began cleaning the used berry dishes with a gentle stream of water, before piling them up neatly.
" Well see you tomorrow." Smaug said, curling up against the blazing fire. Tyrunt grunted in acknowledgement as Mael began sinking into the murky depths. Soon sleep encased them all in its comforting arms.
However, slumber didn't bring comfort to all, especially Ash. He shifted and rolled in his sleep and it was pure luck that Misty had escaped his arms.
Black lightning flashed through his dream world, illuminating it with a strange, black light that illuminated, but darkened the area at the same time. Decrepit forms shambled around him, quietly groaning and moaning in their misery as Ash continued forth.
The land was decorated with blood, large streams flowed pass him and his boots always splashed into one, every step of the way. Shambling, four-legged beings crawled around him, their bodies shrouded by shadows and leaking off their bodies like gas. Their eyes bore on Ash, but he stood perfectly calm. He faced these things before and he wouldn't show them weakness.
When one of the creatures became too close to him, Ash slashed the beast's throat with his sword. The creature gripped it throat, its shadowed body dispersing for a second before reforming again.
Ash's eye widened in shock. This never happened before, not in any other nightmare for sure. The same beast snarled and pounced him its teeth warped around his sword. Ash fell backwards landing on his back.
Man and beast struggled on the bloodied ground before Ash kicked it off him, only to have one bite his left hand. Pain erupted from his hand as the creature's fangs drove through his flesh. It somehow was even worse when he was bitten in real life when they were first attacked by those creatures.
The creature released his hold on his arm, only for the pain to intensify. Another one's claws raked the side of his throat. Ash gripped it try to cease the bleeding.' Arceus...It hurts.' Ash couldn't believe it, never in his dreams could he remember that the imaginary creatures that resided in his subconscious attacks ever hurt. Nor did his blade not protect him.
Another one slashed his chest, completely ignoring the steel plate that protected his torso. His chest burst into agony as the shadowy claws retracted from his chest. Fighting through the pain, Ash raised his head at his attackers, only for them to dive at him and for Ash to enter into a world of pain. They tore him apart, limb from limb, they raked his body with their claws, and they gauged his flesh with their fangs. And the worst of all Ash couldn't leave his nightmare, nor could he faint to escape the agonizing flames of pain. that engulfed his body. He would have to endure hours of the mind breaking pain without breaks.
Ash awoke in a gasping mess. Sweat dripped of his entire body soaking him. His body still lingered with the faint torture he had endured and he reeked with bodily odor. Ash quickly, but silently rushed to the lake and began splashing water on his face, trying to rid himself of the agony filled hours of the night before.
After splashing his face with water, Ash fell against a trunk of a tree, trying to calm himself down. His entire body ached from the torture he endured and he felt he was on the edge of his sanity.
Ash sat there panting for awhile till he felt he was prepared to use his mind. What ever happened in his head was not from his subconscious . It was something more...powerful. Something smarter. Something deadlier. Something not human.
Ash growled at the thought, something was invading his mind. And it was not invited. Ash visually shook with anger. The trees howled and the leaves were torn from their branches. The lake itself began rippling and the waves became more violent. Unknown to him, his body began glowing with an ominous blue light. But when he began to calm down so did his surroundings. The trees stilled, the water silenced and the wind became its ever calm self again.
'Whatever attacked me was trying to weaken me with mind tricks. It want's me to snap.' Then it'll swoop in and deal the final blow to cripple him. So whatever was pulling the strings for Team Rocket and the creatures were aware of his involvement.
'Snap out of it Ash, you have a little sister to look after. You need to be strong for her.' Ash thought as he sat up from the tree trunk. Ash rose and made his way to camp. Once he got there, he stacked more fire wood on the dying flames before snuggling in with Misty making sure to wrap her with his cloak. It was still night and the moon was high in sky dominating all the other lights that twinkled through the night. Its glow making Ash feel protected from the nightmares of the night.
He turned to Misty and Ash looked upon her calm, sleeping face as she slept snuggling into Ash. He swiped some red hair out of her face before laying on his back and wrapping his arms around the small child.
'If anything dares harm you, I'll dice them to pieces and have Smaug burn them to ashes. I promise you, you'll be safe.' Ash thought as he closed his eyes, knowing full well nightmares would not plague him. Soon he succumbed to dreamless sleep.
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Ash awoke to the chirping of Pidgeys and the rising Sun's rays on his face. Ash rolled over on the ground, groaning. It took a couple of seconds before Ash realized, ' WHERE'S MISTY!' Ash got up and frantically began searching around the camp, dread and fear painted on his face for the safety of his adopted little sister. After 10 minutes of heart-attack inducing searching, Ash tuned his ears and with a sigh of relief, began hearing laughter. That of a little girl.
Ash briskly began following the source of the laughter to a smaller body of water not to far from the large lake whereMisty was playing, what seemed like tag, with Staryu, Smaug, and Tyrunt. Mael floated nearby, apparently keeping watch on the playing pokemon. Two other pokemon resided on the small pond; in the shallows an average size Goldeen, her large, one horn silver gleaming in the rising sun and a red armored Krabby watched with interest as the little girl darted around the lake chased by both of his pokemon.
"Misty! Get ready, I'm going to clean up camp and then we heading for Cerulean, okay?" said Ash.
Misty stopped her playing for a moment and turned to Ash and nodded before returning to her little game.
Ash sighed at her antics. As a child he never got to play games or have fun. Everything was serious and there was no time to play. But he smiled at the thought too. that was his job, to protect her from the horrors of the world. To ensure her life was that of an average person. Ash gave one more look at the playing little girl before heading to camp.
Once there, Ash stripped off his night wear and put on his travel gear, making sure his armor was snug and tight. He folded his cloak neatly before placing it neatly in his satchel and he sheathed his sword in his scabbard. Before he left he kicked some dirt over the dying coals of the fire, ensuring nothing was burned from its heat.
It was a short walk back to the small pond and by the time Ash got back their all his pokemon were waiting patiently. However Misty was by them looking very... anxious. It was almost like she wanted something. She looked from side to side and seemed to recite words to her self.
"What's the matter Misty?" Ash asked as he appeared from the brush. His armor needed some serious cleaning. Its shine was lost awhile ago and it was covered in stains of mud and some specks of dried blood.
" I..I was just wondering i-if I could borrow some of your poke-pokeballs." she stammered. When ever she asked her family for anything, she was either sent to her room crying or beaten heavily. She didn't want to see what Ash could do with that sword of his.
"Why?" Ash asked, quirking his eyebrow. He already knew the answer to her question but he wanted her to become less nervous around him, something he wanted to grow out of.
"I wanted to catch two water-type pokemon." Misty said, clenching her fist waiting for an answer. Not moments later two small red and white objects rolled to her feet. She looked up shocked to see Ash frowning.
"You were remembering those parents of yours, weren't you?" Ash asked, crossing his arms.
Misty nodded before saying, "They would always beat me or send me to my room whenever I asked for something. Even when I just wanted some water." Misty was crying now and tears rolled freely down her cheeks. But soon she was enveloped in a hug from Ash, his gauntlets and helmet discarded. He slowly and gingerly wiped the tears away from her eye before hugging her again.
"Don't worry, if they try to hurt you they'll have to go through me and my pokemon to even get close to you." Ash said firmly, but softly.
Misty sniffled and some more tears fell from her eyes, before she nodded. Ash wiped the tears away again before saying.
"Now, lets get you some new clothes, that dress of yours is getting old." Ash said referring to the dress Misty was wearing. Indeed her dress was getting worn. Its color was becoming more vague and the design was running off. Some off her dress was also tattered in a few places.
Misty nodded before she rushed over to the pond and called out to her pokemon-to-be. Goldeen and Krabby swam/ scuttled towards her.
"Hey guys I was wondering if you wanted to come with me on my journey?" asked Misty, anxiously waiting for their response. The Krabby instantly nodded before scuttling towards her. It was soon enveloped in a stream of red light and then sucked inside a pokeball.
Goldeen seemed hesitant at first, but nodded reluctantly and it too \was enveloped in a flash of red light and then sucked into a pokeball.
Misty got up from her crouching position and turned to Ash who was leaning against a tree smiling at her happy moment. Misty ran over to Ash and soon the duo made their way to Cerulean.
Cerulean was not a very long walk from the large lake Ash and Misty had stayed the night before. After a 30 minute long walk Ash and Misty made it to the front entrance of Cerulean City.
"Well we better get you some clothes and some equipment." Ash said, scanning his eyes on the thriving city. Misty shuffled beside him, she was anxious, it seemed, to get out of public.
While searching through the city for a department store Ash noticed that Cerulean was beautiful. It was far more colorful than the bleak and dull colors of Pewter. Each building was painted bright blue with different water-type pokemon decorated with it. Each depiction was painted masterfully and they all looked very real.
There were thousands of fountains made of stone or marble with marvelous sculptures indented into them. The bottom of the fountains glittered brilliantly, from all of the coins that were tossed into them.
Various, mouth-watering smells wafted from the various food carts and restaurants scattered through out the city. Each one boasted multiple foods and beverages that even Ash could not resist to look at.
Soon temptation won out and Ash was forced to buy lunch for him, Misty and their pokemon. They sat down at a public table right next to the ocean, watching the crystal clear water crash against the soft, white sand.
It was indeed a beautiful city. No wonder it was such a popular tourist location. All the natural and man-made sights were marvelous and a gift to see with his own eyes,
It must have been torture for Misty, to be locked away from such a beautiful place and only shown the worst of man-kind's wrath. No, he would share this moment with her and he will keep her safe.
Ash bit down on his burger, savoring its flavor as he devoured it. Misty was munching on a chicken tender, making sure to give some to her pokemon. Smaug and Tyrunt were underneath the table, both lunching on a pile of fries. Mael floated by, watching anyone that passed by with a stoic, but firm glare. He already had a handful of fries and was now full. His species had adapted to eat as little food as possible, but use all the energy it provided to its full extent. It must be hard to eat through a snout.
After finishing their meal, Ash and Misty returned their pokemon and continued their journey to find a clothes store. Not far from where they ate lunch, they finally found a department store and began shopping inside.
Ash had Misty chose her clothing, making sure it was comfortable, but tough. She would be traveling with a very fast moving trainer and her clothes needed to be as tough as her. After buying several outfits, Ash also bought a backpack for her. Seeing that she wanted to be a trainer like him, he wanted her to get use to carrying stuff around. It wasn't like he wouldn't help her though.
While Misty tried on some knew clothes someone tapped Ash on the shoulder. He turned around, gripping his sword, only to find himself face-to-face with a familiar face.
Lordofire here, tell me what you think of pokemon talk. I'll take a little break from this story, but will update sooner if I pass 85 reviews 9all from different people) and 10 more favorites and follows from what i have currently
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