S6 CH361 Deja Vu
Sasha blinked her eyes open and was immediately hit by a spell of vertigo. Her knees and legs felt weak, her body was leaning as if she were on crutches.
Then, she heard a voice call to her, "breathe," Larrell's voice filled her ears, "just breathe, Sasha," he coached.
But Sasha could barely process his instructions. She slumped to her knees, rolled onto her back and stared at the golden sun in the heavens.
"This isn't Killing Moon," she exhaled, "this is reality." She realized.
Sasha felt the rays of the sunlight shower her caramel-brown skin. Her body's melanin absorbed the solar-energy and gradually her dizziness passed.
Larrell kneeled over and examined her, "How are you feeling?"
"A lot better." Sasha carefully sat up and inhaled. Through her eyes, the first thing she noticed was that her cranberry-violet locks had transformed into royal blue. "My hair?" Running her fingers through her shoulder-length locks.
Sasha's royal-blue tresses were one of the first changes Larrell took notice of. (Blue? Exactly like the Goddess Isis that she once was.)
Sasha looked over Larrell, he had also changed. His crew-cut black hair had bloomed into neatly tapered high-and-tight afro. His wool-like hair was stylistic and revolutionary. A Jafar-like goatee of hair draped from his chin. Was it an indicator of the sinister nature of politics that were woven into the soul of the reincarnated pharaoh?
Behind Larrell, the three Shield members strode forward with their legendary beasts behind them. Roman/Entei, Seth/Suicune and Dean/Raikou examined Sasha. The three men had all changed a bit.
Dean's eyebrow-length, dirty-blond hair had been trimmed to a buzz-cut.
Seth's dual-colored neck length hair that was once electric-blond and black was now completely ink-black.
Roman's arms were now covered with tribal tattoos and the sides of his head were tapered and shaven.
Seth extended his hand, "We need you, Sasha."
Sasha took a deep-breath, accepted Seth's hand, then she was pulled to her feet.
The spell of vertigo jabbed Sasha for a moment, then, she felt her stomach boil with hunger for a moment. 'I'm-"
Before Sasha could finish that sentence, Seth cut her off and said, "We all are but there isn't a sign of life or food around us for miles."
Sasha felt a strange shift in the energy of the three Shield members. Seth had been the more withdrawn member. The silent assassin also known the architect of The Shield had now found his voice, assertiveness and felt more like a leader than the other two.
Roman gently patted the neck of Entei, "We just checked this city. Nothing's here except a bunch of sufferin' succotrash."
Everyone stared at Roman.
"Huh?" Larrell glanced at him.
"I mean," Roman continued, "there are no jolly-green-giants, I wish I had a bag of magic beans to grow us some food and-"
Larrell blinked, "Roman, what in the HELL are you talking about man?"
Roman bit his lip turned to the Northern Pharaoh and said, "Well, Larrell, I thought black people liked fried chicken, but to me, whoever built this city probably has some little chicken-nuggets." Roman chuckled to himself then glanced around.
None of the others were laughing at all. They seemed more confused than amused by Roman's attempts to be amuse them. Everyone shook their heads.
"Sooooo," Sasha breathed to change the subject, "Anyone else getting that déjà vu feeling right about now?" Sasha's eyes spun like a Frisbee. Sasha optically digested the kelp-covered city of Atlantis.
The streets, oddly, were not littered with fish, crabs, eels or any life at all. How had no fish or pokemon been pulled to the surface? Had Atlantis been 'protected' from invasion in some way all the eons that had been submerged?
"I definitely am." Carlito cleared his throat and inspected the city.
Sasha noticed that the Pharaoh of Madagascar had also undergone a few changes. His wiry arms and frame had bulked up a tad bit, his curled shaggy hair were now long coiled braids that trailed down his neck.
Carlito closed his eyes and deeply breathed the salty-air.
(What's he doing?) Sasha wondered.
Was Carlito merely tasting the oxygen of the land?
Then, his eyelids cracked open and Carlito's chocolate-brown pupils were gone and were now a kaleidoscope of colors.
Whatever it was Carlito was doing was deeper than anything Sasha's mind could comprehend at the moment.
Through the kaleidoscopic lenses of Carlito, the world around him was bathed in the golden glow of Chimchou and Lanturn lights.
Under the lights, one-hundred and eight lost souls gathered. The light of their souls glowed golden and in a burst of energy the dead smiled and waved at the Pharaoh of Madagascar.
Carlito looked over each soul of the dead and calmly asked, "Were all of you drowned when Atlantis sank?"
The souls collectively nodded.
"And have you decided to haunt this land?" Carlito inquired.
Sasha looked at the others around her, "Is he alright?"
Ambrose nodded, "its déjà vu for me seeing him like this. Part of me feels like I've seen him do this before. I think he's okay."
"Dean?" Larrell pressed, "Think-"
"Hey," The most-vocal member of the Shield abruptly said, "As of this moment, I'm changing my name. Don't call me Dean Ambrose anymore. I'm going back to my original name, Jon Moxley."
"You're changing your name like Ron Artest?" Larrell chuckled. "But I guess it's cool if you want to. Okay, I guess I'll just call you Moxley from now on."
"Whatever," Sasha shook her head, "I'll call you whatever I damn well please. We don't have time to name and rename people. Does anyone know exactly where we are?"
Carlito blinked his eyes, shook his head. The chocolate-brown had returned to his pupils but they were very dilated, "Atlantis. This is Atlantis." He answered as he massaged his forehead.
"Are you sure?" Larrell asked.
"Positive." Carlito dug in his pocket and shoved a vape-pen into his mouth a soaked his lungs in tobacco. The others watched as his eyes returned to normal. "Alright," Carlito glanced around, "We have to be careful. The souls of the people that drowned haunt and protect this city. Some of the souls have gathered and become something. A pokemon I've never seen or heard of. It's called Spiritomb."
"Spiritomb?" They turned the name over in their heads. No one had heard of the creature.
Sasha instinctively patted her waist. "Like I'm worried." She confidently scoffed. Sasha knew her team had more than enough firepower to put down whatever she came against. The others, she wasn't so sure about.
"Spiritomb," Trey strode out of the shadows of nearby kelp-covered building, "is a being of ancient magic. West African Voodoo."
"You!" Seth blurted. Everyone immediately went on-guard.
"Where's Wyatt?" Carlito angrily gritted his teeth carefully searching around.
Trey shook his head, "I don't know. I just woke up here. I remember battling him and the Wyatt Family on Zion and," scratching his head, "It's all a blur really?"
Sasha examined the former traitor. Unlike the others, Trey hadn't changed much at all. He still looked the same as when she had last seen him. Is it because Sithis had stripped his soul of his pharaoh-like power?
"You're not with Wyatt anymore?" Larrell asked.
"Fuck that," Carlito charged forward.
Trey's Pikachu stepped between Carlito and Trey, it's cheeks crackling with lightning.
Carlito stopped in his tracks, "You coward." He seethed at Trey.
"Look guys," Trey innocently raised his hands, "Whatever I did, I'm sorry. I really don't remember anything."
"Liar!" Carlito snapped.
"Honestly," Trey innocently shrugged, "What did I do? I don't know but if I did anything to hurt you guys, I'm sorry."
Moxley shook his head. "I say we mash this clown out right now. Carlito, you might not have pokemon right now…but I do," the Raikou behind him growled, "Really think that Pikachu can handle Raikou?"
The mouse nervously backed away.
"I'm not here to fight." Trey gazed around for sympathy, "C'mon guys, you can trust me?"
Larrell exhaled, "Maybe we should give him a chance."
Everyone glared at Larrell.
"Rell," Carlito shook his head, "Prince is the one drunk are the time, not you. Are you high? You wanna trust this fool? If he's not with Wyatt, he could be with Sithis. We haven't seen him since Zion. How do we know he's not one of them? He could be leading Sithis to us right now."
"Good point." Sasha stared at Trey. "If you're going to be with us, we gotta test you, Trey."
"How?" Trey asked.
The knowledge of how-to free Sithis' mind slaves still wasn't common to all. There was only one person among them that knew how to do it.
The voice of Prince filled the area as he ordered, "Raiden, use Zap Cannon."
Two rolling ball of lightning shot across the road and crashed into Trey and his Pikachu.
The Pikachu gritted its teeth and stood its ground as an Electrike scurried to the side of the group.
Trey lied on the ground, his entire body stiff from the overload of electricity.
Carlito smiled as Prince strode forward, he like many of the others had changed from their time on Killing Moon. Prince's dreadlocks were a lot longer, he was clean-shaven now, now, he wore a necklace that displayed the visage of a dragon, overlord of life no other being dared to hunt or oppose.
Larrell shook his head, "Prince, what are you-"
"Electricity frees the minds of anyone that's been brainwashed." Prince explained, "It has to be just enough electric power though. A simple shock isn't enough to free someone. Zap Cannon has just enough power to break Sithis' control." Prince looked at the shaking body of Trey, "If he or his Pikachu were with Sithis, they aren't anymore. We don't have to worry about 'em."
Larrell frowned at Prince's autocratic approach. There had to be a better way of doing things.
Prince glanced and down appreciatively nodded to his Electrike, before turning away from the group and striding around the city.
Sasha's eyes were locked onto the iron that had sharpened her own iron, Prince.
What was he searching for?
Then, it struck her.
(That bitch!) She thought bitterly.
Was he searching for Eva? Had he awoken and not even cared about whether Sasha alright or not, he'd chosen to search for Eva.
Sasha frowned and marched up to him. "Hey! Didn't you hear what Carlito just said? Aren't you worried?"
Prince ignored her. He looked through the translucent windows of the buildings in search of Eva. Where was she? Where had she gone to? Before disappeared she'd said something to Sasha? What? Would Sasha tell him if he asked? Probably not.
Sasha circled Prince. Her face was level with his sternum, "Look!" She snapped, staring up at him, "We are not enough to beat Sithis, Prince! Fully-awakened with fully evolved Pokemon and he crushed us! The two of us aren't going to be enough to stop Sithis!"
Prince said nothing.
"His army gets bigger every single day. The only way we beat him is if we train with the others, Prince." Sasha reasoned.
"Two of us?" Prince shook his head. "There were three of us that had enough power to fight. Where's Eva?"
Sasha rolled her eyes. Sasha's soul was still sour. Although, Eva Marie forfeited their battle it seemed obvious to everyone who would've won had the battle continued.
Season 5 Finale Flashback
"What a battle?" Eva wiped a bead of sweat from her eyebrow. She examined both women, "I see why you both have a place in his heart." Recalling Lenus with a smile.
"It's not over!" Sasha shouted, "Finish the battle! Finish it!" Pointing to the pokeball where Eva's Mamoswine rested.
Eva shook her head, "There's no need. I forfeit," She smiled.
Sasha's blood boiled, "NO!" She snarled stomping across the battle-scarred city.
"What's going on?" Ash looked around with confusion. "I mean, Sasha won. Why is she angry?"
Carlito looked at Ash, "You weren't here when Prince battled Sasha."
"No," Ash admitted, "But it says in the records Sasha won that battle."
"Prince forfeited," Larrell explained, "He could have easily defeated Sasha but out of…," choosing his words carefully, "some say love, some say mercy, some say pity, he forfeited that battle in the Pacific and they sailed North together."
"Umm," Ash cluelessly scratched his head, "So…why is she mad again?"
Carlito, Larrell and Rihanna all shook their heads.
"Eva…Eva," Rihanna sighed, "is proving she's closer to Prince…closer to Prince…than Sasha ever will be…than Sasha ever will be."
"COWARD!" Sasha shouted but Eva was immune to every insult hurled at her.
"I have other aspirations than battling. I will fight the war in a different way. My way," Eva explained, "I will build an empire for Prince. I will build a nest for us rest on when all the battles are over. When the war ends…I'll be waiting for him." Eva then stared at across the battlefield, "Carlito," she called.
The young pharaoh nervously glanced around, "Uhh, yeah?"
"This," holding out the Ring of Set, "Belongs to you."
Carlito scurried across Killing Moon and with a satisfactory smile returned the ring to his finger, "Thank you."
"Keep it safe this time," Eva nodded.
"I will." Carlito vowed.
"Sasha," Eva sighed, "Before I go…"
Sasha's anger splintered into confusion. The two women's bodies were enveloped in silver energy and for a moment the two levitated.
Then, the glow faded and the two returned to the surface.
Sasha and Eva both silently nodded to one another.
Eva's training with Prince on Killing Moon had turned the pacifist lovebird into a Zen-like warrior.
In the eyes of many, Eva had the battle won with a fresh Mamoswine on her team ready to go into battle against an exhausted Dragonite. However, Frahma had shown its resilience many times before. A Dragonite had the ability to use flame-based attacks as well as it speed against the slower Mamoswine. Although Eva had the advantage, it still wasn't perfectly clear that Eva would have won the battle had it continued.
That 'victory' was still a fresh wound in Sasha's mind as well as the questions that orbited her mind surrounding Eva and Prince's time together on Killing Moon.
How much time did they spend together?
What did they do together? They obviously weren't just training the entire time.
Did he still love Sasha?
Prince repeated, "Where's Eva?"
Sasha crossed her arms, "You know what," she snapped, "Why don't ask her? Oh wait, she left you. We're the ones still here holding it down."
Prince shook his head. "You're lying." Pulling his flask out and unscrewing it, "Lying like you always do."
Sasha shook her head. She'd gone into battle for him. Fought for him and would die for him and he was still choosing Eva. "You know what, go find her! Go have your stupid Disney-romance!" She shouted as he walked away.
"Like you did with Rocky?" Prince retorted.
Sasha caught her tongue.
"You left me to be with him." Prince defended. "Before that, you couldn't let go of being a wrestler and wanted to be with Roman." Prince gestured to the Samoan. "How do you sleep with Roman, then turn around and sleep with his cousin too?"
Sasha glared at Prince, "I had to awaken. It's the only chance we had to even fight Sithis. If I didn't awaken, we'd all be dead or worse right now. I did what I had to do to save everyone."
Prince crossed his arms. "All you've done is lie and cheat on me. Eva never did any of that. So I choose her." Prince took a sip of his flask and marched deeper into the city of the Atlantis.
"You know what, Prince," Sasha shook her head, "Fuck you!" She hissed, "The world's going to either end or be Sithis' playground of mind-slaves and you're worried about one chick. Fuck you! We're going to fight and beat Sithis this time."
"Whatever," Prince strode deeper into the city.
"Asshole," Sasha muttered, turning on heel and walking back to the others.
Carlito watched Prince disappear into the city. "He alright?"
"No, your brother needs a surgeon to remove his head from his ass." Sasha rolled her eyes. "We need to be ready to fight Sithis. No more running and hiding."
"I agree." Seth nodded.
"No," Roman shook his head, "You gotta understand!" He shouted after Prince, "This is life! This is real life!" He passionately yelled after Prince, "Believe that!"
"Believe what?" Carlito squinted.
"Yeah?" Larrell scratched his head. "Believe what?"
Roman nodded, "You heard me, believe THAT!"
Sasha sighed, "Sooooo," ignoring Roman and turning to everyone, "What pokemon do you guys have?"
"He can't go alone." Carlito strode forward. "Not with Spiritomb around."
Sasha clutched Carlito's arm. "Your brother's strong enough for whatever's out there. What we need to be worried about is making sure everyone's strong. What pokemon do you have?"
Carlito shook his head. "They're gone." He exhaled turning away. "It's my fault."
Sasha licked her lips, "I'm sorry to hear that but it's time to man up-"
Carlito glared at her, "I lost my pokemon! You're telling me to man up! I lost everything for this! What have you lost?!"
Sasha glared at Carlito and motioned to the city, "The love of my life. I wish I hated him but I don't. He wishes he hated me but he doesn't-"
"Actually," Trey coughed as his muscles slowly began to regain power to move. "It looks he does."
"SHUT UP, TREY!" Everyone snapped.
"Aah," Trey groaned getting to his feet, "Look, there won't be too many more of those shut ups…okay," looking at Larrell and Carlito, "Because I'll whoop both y'all asses."
"Pika!" Trey's Pikachu teased.
Carlito glared at Trey. The Zap Cannon hadn't done a lot to erase Carlito's feelings of distrust towards the former Wyatt Family member.
Carlito exhaled, "Maybe bros is onto something."
"What do you mean?" Sasha inquired.
"Neither of us woke up in this spot except you Sasha?" Carlito highlighted, "Right?"
Everyone nodded. "Look at the direction bro walked in. Northwest."
"How do you know that?" Sasha asked.
"Look at the sun," Carlito pointed, "it's setting now. The suns over there, that's west. Bro went northeast. I woke up southeast. Madagascar is south east. You woke up here, the easternmost city of this island."
"I get it." Larrell realized. "I woke up North of here. Prince was headed in that direction because Italy. Eva's homeland is in the direction so he's hoping she woke up there."
"Wait?" Moxley scratched his head. "Ash? Dawn? Corin? They'd count as far-east right. So they'll be over here somewhere maybe even farther east."
"I thought you guys searched the island already?" Carlito asked.
"We did." Roman said. "Several times with our pokemon, it's like everyone is returning from Killing Moon at different times?"
Seth thought, "Yet, we all for some reason made our way to this same spot. Coincidence?"
"No." Larrell pointed to giant tower that they had all flocked to. "We came because you can see this tower from anywhere. It's the largest tower in sight. Maybe if we just wait here, the others will come to us."
"Spiritomb though." Carlito shook his head. "It's not dark yet. When the sun sets, Spiritomb could go after them. They don't have the pokemon. They don't have the firepower to protect themselves from it."
"Hold up," Sasha raised her hands, "What is a Spiritomb?" Sasha asked curiously. "Is it really that powerful?"
Carlito turned to Sasha. "I'm not sure but your pokemon just finished battling Eva. Frahma still needs treatment right?"
Sasha exhaled, "And the only asshole that could actually protect is off chasing that bitch."
"So what'll we do?" Trey asked.
"OOH YEEEEEEAHHHH!" A strange cackle startled everyone. "OOOH YEAAAHHHHH!"
Sasha rolled her eyes. "I know that voice anywhere." Sasha glanced around, "Ezal!"
"SASHA!" The crackhead ran with the speed of a horse across the road. He slid on his knees and wrapped his arms around Sasha's legs.
"Get the hell off me!" She snapped.
"Sasha, Sasha, Sasha, Sasha, Sashaaaaaaa," Ezal smiled, "Sasha, let me suck your titties for two dollars!"
Sasha cocked back and slapped him across the face.
"AAAAH!" Ezal shouted, "Oh, I'm suing you! OH I'm hurt! I'm suing yo husband!"
"Get yo stupid ass up!" Sasha kicked the crackhead. "Get up, stupid!"
"Hahahah," Ezal shouted, "You callin' me stupid but I'm the one who knows where Spiritomb can't go. The only safe place for miles!"
"How the hell would you know that?" Carlito asked.
"Because," Ezal rubbed his nostrils, "The crack be letting me know…where the evil lurks and where it doesn't."
Seth stared at Sasha, "You can't be serious. We're really about to trust this crackhead?"
"No, don't trust me." Ezal cackled, "I'm stupid, remember. Lalalalala!"
Sasha grimaced and slapped him again, "Look here, I'm The Boss, understand?"
Ezal coughed and stood tall and obedient, "Yeah, boss. Take us there! NOW!"
"Yeah, Boss!" Ezal nodded.
Seth shook his head, "We're really about to trust a crackhead?"
"Like we've got a choice." Carlito shrugged. "Let's go."
"Oh yeah, Boss," Ezal smiled twenty minutes later, "I forgot to tell you. I made a few friends since I've been here."
"You have friends?" Sasha asked. "Are they crackheads like you?"
"No, Boss." Ezal shook his head. "They're lost though, just like all of us." Ezal then stopped, "Here we are!"
The group looked around.
"You can't be serious." Seth facefalmed, "This crackhead just walked us in circles and brought us back to where we were in the first place? I told you we couldn't trust him."
"STUPID!" Sasha growled punting him in the groin.
"OH SHIT! My balls!" Ezal slumped onto the ground. "I'm not lyin', I swear to you…I'm not lyin', Boss! This is the place! I thought you wanted the scenic route." He groaned, "I swear to God it is!"
Suddenly, the doors to the tower opened.
"Ezal!" A gentle voice called. "What are you screaming about?"
The group turned and stared at two women.
One had golden blond hair full lips and eyes and was heartbreakingly beautiful. The other was a brunette with long dark hair and chiseled muscles.
"Mandy!" Ezal grunted. "Sonya! This here is MY BOSS, grr," he winced in pain, "that I been tellin' y'all bout!"