Chapter 13
Twilight
Kates cafe
Ash and his friends are hanging out in a part of the cafe. Kate was on shift but finishes any minute. Barbra and Harleen taking part time positions at the cafe. But they were allowed to leave their shift at any point. Some of Ashes other friends would help out from time to time. Mallow and Cilan were on a break, they had about 15 minutes left before they had to go back up and prepare in the kitchen. Brock was also on break. But where he was the doctor of the watchtower, he had to be ready to go at any point. The rest of the friends wanted to do jobs around the watchtower. They wanted to help more. And they were asking Ash what they could do.
"So what did the League say Ash?" Misty asked.
"They said they'd be happy for you all to help out since the stations a large place and so many duties to do." Ash said.
"Alright." Kiawe said.
"Oh yeah, the league said all of your legal papers came through." Ash said.
"That's good news." Lillie said.
"At least I can start looking for a place to live now." Tracey said.
"Yeah but also that means Max and Bonnie need to attend school from Monday." Ash said. They didn't like the sound of that.
"Oh come on." Max said.
"Do we have to go?" Bonnie asked.
"I'm afraid you have to." Ash said.
"Bonnie remember this is a different world. So it's got different rules here." Clemont said.
"Hey I got an idea. Brock, would you be in need of a nurse?" Dawn asked.
"I can teach you some things Dawn." Brock said. "But you only be on the small cases for a while until you get the hang of it."
"Clemont, Sophocles, the League was wondering if you wanted to be engineers?" Ash asked.
"You kidding, I'd love to." Clemont said.
"Absolutely." Sophocles said.
"Wait a minute, what other jobs are there?" May asked. Everyone started wondering as well.
"Everyone calm down. I'll get Martian to print off a list of duties and see what you like the look of." Ash said. Kate, Harleen and Barbra were listening in.
"Maybe I can get a job in the kitchen." Kate said. Walking to a customer. Leaving Barbra and Harleen alone.
"We could get jobs up there too." Barbra said.
"Please, you can easily go on missions with the league." Harleen said.
"To be honest, I have been thinking about asking Batman to give me a recommendation." Barbra said. "What about you?"
"Yeah I wouldn't mind getting a job up there." Harleen said.
"That's not what I meant." Barbra said. "You haven't done anything bad for a long time now. I'm so the League will at least consider you."
"I don't know. I mean I still haven't told Ash." Harleen said.
"You still haven't told Ash?" Barbra asked. "Harleen you need to tell him."
"But what if he hates me for my past?" Harleen asked.
"It's easy to see that he won't hate you, as long as you're honest with him." Barbra said. Harleen looked at Ash.
"Ok, I'll tell him now." Harleen said. Walking over. Barbra followed. Ash saw them.
"Hi Harleen, Barbra. Is your shift over yet?" Ash asked.
"No, not yet. Ash do you think we can talk in private?" Harleen asked.
"So, I don..." Ash receiver went off. Someone activated the SOS signal.
"Ash what's going on?" Serena asked.
"There's an emergency up in the watchtower. I need to go. Everyone stay here for now." Ash said. He stood up from the table and disappeared from everyone.
Watchtower
Ash arrived in the Pokemon room first. He knew the sos was only set off when something required all of the heroes. Even the Pokemon.
"Everyone, get ready for a mass return." Ash said. The Pokemon looked at him. Ash pressed a button on the wall and the Pokemon all at once returned into their pokeballs. "Come on, Pikachu." Ash said. Pikachu climbed up on Ashes shoulder and Ash ran out of the room. He ran along the hallway until he met Superman, Batman, Diana, Shayera and Martian in the observation deck. There was a portal in the middle of the room.
"What's going on?" Ash asked.
"Boom tube." Superman replied. Suddenly a dark figure walked out of the tube. He was easily taller then Superman. "Darkseid."
"Hello Superman." Darkseid said. Next thing everyone knew, Superman started attacking Darkseid out of nowhere. Ash can see they were damaging the room.
"Pikachu, down on the ground now." Ash said. Pikachu got off of Ash. Ash jumped over Superman and brought up a aura shield. Superman hit the aura shield, completely protecting Ash and Darkseid.
"Ash, get out of the way. He's a monster." Superman said.
"At the moment, you're acting like a monster. So how about you calm down and tell us you just started attacking." Ash said. Superman knew if Darkseid was going to attack he would of down it by now. Superman lowered his fists and Ash brought down the shield. "Right now what is going on?"
"Me and Darkseid aren't on the best of terms." Superman said.
"No we are not, I didn't come here to fight." Darkseid said getting up. "I came here for your help."
"Help with what?" Batman asked.
"Brainiac." Darkseid said. Superman's eyes went wide. "I know what Brainiac does to planets and he's nearly finished gather the data."
"What does he do?" Ash asked.
"He destroys the planet." Superman said. Ash looked at him. Destroys planets?
"I need your help to save Apokolips." Darkseid said.
"You're on your own. We're not lifting a finger for you." Superman said.
"Wait Superman we should at least consider it." Diana said.
"We will not." Superman said.
"Superman this should really be a team decision." Shayera said.
"We are not discussing anything..."
"I'll help out." Everyone turned and looked at Ash. What did he just say?
"Ash, you want to go?" Martian asked.
"There's a whole planet in danger. I don't know the full story between you two. But there's a whole civilisation in danger that haven't done anything to you. I don't know if you guys are going to come with me or not, but I'm going because people that are counting on me." Ash said. Everyone was stunned by his speech.
"You have my thanks young one." Darkseid said. "We must go now." They started walking towards the portal.
"Wait." Ash and Darkseid turned round and saw Shayera talking. "I'm not going to let you out there by yourself." She said walking over.
"Thank you." Ash said.
"I'll come too." Martian said walking over to them. Superman leaned over to Batman.
"I need you to do something for me." Superman whispered. He told Batman what to do before saying to Darkseid. "Fine I'll come as well."
"Really?" Ash asked.
"Yes, I know how dangerous Brainiac is. So you need all the help you can get." Superman said walking over.
"Thank you." Darkseid said.
"Let's make one thing clear though, if you have something up your sleeve. I will show no mercy." Superman said.
"I understand." Darkseid said. Ash turned to Pikachu.
"Pikachu, stay with Batman and Diana. Do anything they ask." Ash said.
"Pika." Pikachu said, jumping up on Diana. Ash turned back to Darkseid.
"You ready?" Darkseid asked.
"Yes." Ash said. The group walked through the portal and it closes.
Apokolips
Ash, the heroes and Darkseid arrived at Apokolips. And it was a battlefield. The residents of Apokolips were fighting against robot clones that were flying about. And in the distance was a gigantic ship, with a laser penetrating the ground and a force field surrounding the ship.
"Brainiac's in his ship." Darkseid said.
"How are we suppose to get to him then?" Martian said.
"The ship needs to open a part of its shield anytime it attacks outside the field." Darkseid said.
"So we to get inside it before it closes." Shayera said.
"Or for as long as can I hold it." Superman said.
"If you hold it open, I can fire my weapon at the ship and bring it down." Darkseid said.
"Ok, if I cause a distraction then al..." Ash began to say before a clone grabbed him from the ground.
"ASH!" Shayera said. Ash was carried high up in the air. He was struggling to get out of the clones grasp. He tried to pry its arms apart but no good. Ash then put aura into his fist. He punched it, the head is damaged. He punched again, the head is nearly off. One more time, the heads gone. And Ash was falling towards the ground. He quickly grabbed a pokeball and threw it. Charizard came out and caught Ash on its back.
"Thanks buddy." Ash said. Now he had some time, he looked round. He saw Martian fighting against random clones. Shayera flying round the field to create an opening and Superman following close behind. He couldn't see Sarkseid anywhere. Ash saw close advancing on Shayera and Superman, and Martian was still busy with the other ones. Ash had to help and keep them covered. "Let's go." Charizard streamed over to the field. A few clones put themselves in front of them. "Steel wing." Charizard's wings glowed and smashed the robots. They reached Shayera. "We're going to cover you."
"Just be careful." Shayera said. Ash and Charizard got in front of front of her. Clones were scaling the field.
"Flamethrower." Charizard blasted them with fire. They were heading to the ground. Another clone came up beside Charizard. Ash saw this. "Charizard, 180." Charizard twisted its body and flew over the clone. When they were on the other side, Ash formed an aura sphere. He threw it at the clone. It hit and the clone hit the field, exploding it. But the aura sphere passed through it. Wait, did Ash see that right? "Charizard get closer." Charizard flew closer to the field. Ash infused his hand with aura and moved it closer to the field. And closer, and closer, until, his hand went through. Ash brought back out. He had his way in. "Get ready, Charizard." Ash put a aura barrier around himself and expanded it so Charizard was inside too. "Ok let's get in now." Charizard turned and passed through the field without a problem. Shayera and Superman saw this.
"How did he do that?" Shayera asked.
"Was there an opening?" Superman asked. There were another set of eyes and they saw there was no opening.
"Intriguing." Darkseid said. Ash looked up and saw he was underneath the laser that was hitting the planet.
"Charizard, fire blast there." Ash said. Charizard lifted its head and fired the attack. Ash used his aura to push the attack and increase the impact. It hit. The laser exploded and took out some of the weapons on the ship. "Good work, ok lets do some more damage." Then a door to the ship opened and a robot started to float down. This must be Brainiac. It was looking at Ash and Charizard.
"You are not from round here." Brainiac said.
"No I'm not from this planet." Ash said.
"No, you're not from this reality." Brainiac said.
"How did you know?" Ash asked.
"You and your creature have unique dna. I will get data from you." Brainiac said. Ash remembers what happens when he finished its research.
"No way. Charizard flamethrower." Charizard fired at Brainiac, but a personal force field protected it.
"Nothing can break my fields." Brainiac said. So he didn't see what happened. Ash fired an aura sphere at Brainiac. The beam passed through the field and hit Brainiac. Brainiac slammed against its ship. "Not possible." Ash put two aura spheres together and condensed it. Then threw it at Brainiac. Brainiac panicked and got back in its ship. The aura hit the ship and exploded. The field of the ship went down. Shayera, Superman and Martian gathered around Ash.
"How did you do that?" Superman asked.
"That doesn't matter, we need to get in the ship now." Martian said. Before they could move in, the ship speeded away from them.
"It went light speed." Shayera said.
"We can't catch up now." Ash said.
"It stopped, its in a nearby Asteriod field." Superman said. Ash pulled out a pokeball.
"It's a good job I got our ride." Ash said. Opening the ball and releasing Mew. "Mew, we need you to take us to the asteriod field up there." Ash pointed up in the general direction. Mew nodded and and made them vanished. Darkseid watched the whole interaction.
"He can be useful." Darkseid said.
Asteroid
They arrived inside the asteroid, but it looked different. It had electronics inside. It had other potential targets plotted on the screens on the walls. Ash hoped off of Charizard and brought out two of the pokeballs.
"You two did good. Return." Ash said. Both Pokemon went back into the balls.
"Those creatures are fascinating." The heroes turned their heads and saw Brainiac sitting on a throne. "I take it, it was the pink cat that got you here.
"It's over Brainiac. We will stop you here." Superman said.
"Don't make threats. You are in my base and I can kill you at anytime. The only reason you are not dead is because I want to make a deal." Brainiac said.
"I'm not interested." Superman said.
"I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to the alternate world boy." Brainiac said. Shayera stepped in front of Ash.
"No way." Shayera said. Ash took a moment.
"What did want from me?" Ash asked. Everyone just looked at him.
"You and your creatures would be the first subjects I study from another world. You agree to come with me, I'll let your friends live." Brainiac said. Ash came up with a counter offer.
"If I come with you, then I become your last study subject. You stop what you are doing." Ash said.
"Ash, no." Superman said.
"You and your creatures and this will be my last study." Brainiac said. Ash conjured a aura sphere.
"Just me." Ash said. Staring at the drone.
"You and the creatures." Brainiac said. Ash threw his sphere and hit Brainiac. Destroying it.
"What did you do?" Martian asked.
"Brainiac has no intention of stopping." Ash said.
"You are a bright one." They heard Brainiacs voice. But how?
"How are you here? I just destroyed you." Ash said.
"You destroyed my body, but my mind is in the asteriod itself. Since you are not willing to volunteer, I will forcefully study you." Brainiac said. Clones came out of everywhere and the heroes had to defend themselves. Superman used his laser eyes to cut through them in half. Shayera used her mace to smash the clones. And Martian punched the clones into each other. Ash condensed his aura and let out a wave, knocking back the drones. A portal suddenly opened and Darkseid came through.
"Darkseid, we need your help." Ash said.
"Not this time." Darkseid said. He pointed a gun at Superman and shot him. Knocking him out. Then at Martian and then Shayera. Ash saw all this.
"Why you." Ash charged at Darkseid. Darkseid shot at Ash and knocked him out.
"Kept my side of the deal." Darkseid said.
"And in return I will spare your planet." Brainiac said.
"Good, Superman is all yours." Darkseid said.
"Superman and the boy." Brainiac said.
"The boy is coming with me." Darkseid said. The clones closed in. Darkseid saw this and pointed the gun at Ash. "Back up now." The clones backed up.
"I will just take Superman." Brainiac said. Darkseid put his gun away and picked up Ash. The clones picked up Superman and headed down the hallway.
"What did you need Superman for?" Darkseid asked.
"I'm in my last stage of my evolutionary line. I need genetic materials to further evolve. Superman's dna is the only thing that can support me." Brainiac said. They reached the extracting room. Darkseid put Ash down and the Clones strapped Superman into the bed. "The extraction will kill him. But I will be able to further expand my studies." The clones put the wires onto Superman. "Everything's ready." Just then. The extraction started. Superman yelled in pain.
"AHHHH!!!!" Darkseid pulled out a device and insert it into a control panel. The extraction stopped.
"What did you do?" Brainiac asked.
"I inserted a mother box into your core. Which means you must follow my orders." Darkseid said.
"I ran a full diagnostics on my systems and it is true. I must do whatever you command." Brainiac said.
"First order, destroy New Genesis." Darkseid said. A laser shot out and hit a far away planet. Darkseid was watching the destruction on the monitor.
"STOP!" Darkseid turned and saw Batman, Pikachu, Diana, Shayera, Martian and a man in a red costume and a silver helmet. Orion. Coming in.
"Stop them." Darkseid said. Turning back to the screen. Clones came out of everywhere. They were taking out the clones, but there were too many clones to make any advantages. Ash started to stir. He opened his eyes and saw the scene. The heroes couldn't get to them. Ash looked at Darkseid and remembered what he did. Ash stood up, Darkseid hasn't noticed him. Ash fired a aura beam at Darkseid and hit him in the back. It knocked Darkseid over the edge. Ash followed.
"Ash, get back here." Batman said. Ash landed on the ground and Darkseid got up from the ground.
"I don't like sneak attacks." Darkseid said.
"You stabbed us in the back. I thought I'd return the favour." Ash said. Going to punch Darkseid. He caught the fist and lifted Ash off the ground.
"Pathetic." Darkseid said. Punching Ash and knocking him into the wall. Ash looked and saw Darkseid leaping at him. Ash moved and Darkseid punched the wall. Ash put aura into his fist and hit Darkseid. He stumbled. "You have potential. Come with me now and I can make you captain of my army."
"Never." Ash said. He brought up a aura sword and went to slash Darkseid. Darkseid snapped the sword in half and threw Ash down the hallway. Ash got on his knees and saw Darkseid approaching. Ash threw multiple aura spheres at him. Knocking him back a bit but eventually reached Ash. Ash went to fire a aura beam, but Darkseid brought up his boot to block the beam and kicked Ash to the floor.
"I must admit. When we first met, I didn't think much of you. But when I saw you pass through that shield and with your strength nearly matching Supermans, you can be a force to be reckoned with. So I'll ask you again. Join my army." Darkseid said. Putting his boot on top of Ashes chest.
"I'll die before I'd say yes." Ash said.
"That will happen if you don't accept." Darkseid said. Slowly pressing his boot into his chest.
"AHHHHH!!!!!" Ash screamed in pain. The bag on Ashes back began to glow. Darkseid kept on applying pressure onto the chest.
"You will die then." Darkseid said. Lifting up his boot. Ready to crush Ash. Before he put his foot down, the hallway started to explode. In the blast white beams escaped Ashes bag, but no one noticed. Darkseid got knocked down to the side. "Brainiac, what's happening?"
"The Justice League have destroyed my motherboard and in a result, my self destruct timer has started. You have two minutes to evacuate." Brainiac said. Darkseid quickly got up and went to grab Ash. Before Darkseid touched Ash, he was tackled by a large white lion. Darkseid skidded back and saw Ashes new protectors. The lion, Solgaleo. And a night sky bird, Lunala. Darkseid tried to get Ash again but Lunala knocked him back with a moongeist beam.
"Forget it." Darkseid said. Pulling out a motherbox and creating a boom tube. Darkseid walked towards it but a aura sphere destroyed the motherbox, closing the portal. Darkseid looked back and saw Ash standing.
"You're not leaving so easy." Ash said. Darkseid became angry and charged at Ash. Ash ducked under the punch and aura hit Darkseid in the stomach twice. Darkseid recoiled and grabbed his stomach. Ash then hit him on the side of his face, knocking him to the side. Darkseid was about to get up, but Ash used a powerful aura beam to push him along the floor. Ash looked up and saw Darkseid was under a pillar. "Quick fire blast and moonblast." Solgaleo and Lunala fires their attacks and the ceiling collapsed on top of Darkseid. Ash approached Darkseid. "I got a feeling you are too dangerous to keep alive." Ash flared his aura, ready to take Darkseid's aura. He then felt something grab his back and heard a portal opened.
"Sorry Ash." That was Batmans voice. He pulled into the portal.
"NOOOOO!!!!!!" Ash shouted. Solgaleo and Lunala followed Ash and Batman. The portal closed. Darkseid had a smirk on his face.
"I win." Darkseid said. The asteroid exploded.
Watchtower
Ash was in the medical room. After Batman got him out of the battle, he collapsed on the floor. It was his adrenaline from the battle that was keeping him up. The heroes took Pikachu and the other Pokemon to the Pokemon room to rest. Ash was sat on the surgical table while Dawn was bandaging Ash chest. Brock was watching closely to see if she done everything right. Dawn was about finished.
"How's that?" Dawn asked.
"It's good Dawn. But if you wrap up the end part like this, he'll able to breathe more easily." Brock said, adjusting the bandage.
"Thanks guys." Ash said. Having a uncertain look on your face. Brock knew how to handle this.
"Ok Ash what happened?" Brock asked. Dawn was also listening.
"Nothings wrong." Ash said.
"Ash, I travelled with you for a long time and I know when something is bothering you." Brock said. Ash took a second before saying.
"I wanted to kill someone."
"What?" Dawn was shocked.
"Why?" Brock asked.
"Because I had a feeling that if I let him live, he would come back and do something a lot more worse." Ash said.
"Did you?" Dawn asked.
"I didn't. I trapped him and was about to drain his life away, but Batman got me away. Later he told me the asteriod we were on exploded and nothing could of survived that." Ash said.
"And how do you feel now?" Brock asked.
"Glad that he's gone and that I didn't kill him myself. But I'm afraid that I will get that feeling again." Ash said. Ash looked down, he didn't want to see his friends disgusted looks.
"Ash, your not a bad person." Brock said. Ash looked at Brock. "Everyone gets those feelings at some point in their lives."
"Yeah, remember Ursula? I always wanted to punish her everytime she called me Dee Dee." Dawn said.
"And remember Charizards old trainer. You had the same feeling towards him when you found out he abandoned him." Brock said.
"Yeah, but we're in a world now where I am capable of those things." Ash said.
"Ash, you're in a job where you are going to make those sort of judgements on the spot. Was this the first time you acted towards your feelings?" Brock asked. Ash took a moment to think.
"Yes." Ash said.
"Then you probably made the right call. You should always trust your gut instincts."
"We would be a lot more worried for you if you had that feeling all the time." Dawn said. Ash couldn't believe this. He told his friends what he wanted to do and they stood by him. He didn't know what to say. The door opened and Harleen came in.
"Sweetie, are you okay?" She asked. Hugging him but he yelped in pain. "Sorry."
"We'll give you some privacy." Brock said. Him and Dawn left the room. Harleen turned to Ash.
"I didn't hurt you did I?" Harleen asked.
"No you didn't, just still a little sore." Ash said. "Back at the cafe, you said you wanted to tell me something."
"Oh yeah." Harleen said, looking nervous. "Well... you see... this is so hard... ugh."
"Harleen, I'm not pushing you to tell me. I know when your ready, you will tell. But until then I'll wait." Ash said. Harleen couldn't believe it. He didn't care when he finds out. She was going to tell him at some point, but she wanted to wait until their more comfortable with each other. She kissed him on the cheek and gave him a gentle hug. Ash returned the hug.
"Promise you will never leave me." Harleen said passionately.
"I promise."
And the chapter is finished. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. And Darkseid will be back at some point in the story.
To let you all know, the chapters will be less frequent in the story. Because I am starting to write a new story along with this one. That's right a brand new story. Ash and 6 of his pokemon is going to learn how to be a hero with class-1A in 'My New Life Academia'. Ashes pairing will be revealed within the story. I'll be alternating between stories once I finish the chapters.
Thank you for the support for this story. And I hope you'll check out my new story. And I hope you understand if some of the chapters with this story will take some time.
But has Ash and the League met their match when they encounter an android that can copy their powers and Luthors back. Next time on 'Tabula Rasa.'