Pokémon: Masters
Chapter Sixteen – The Perfect Fortress
Tracey managed to dodge the energy ball from Ash but was knocked down from the explosion it created. Tracey looked up at Ash with his crimson eyes.
"You missed," he smirked as he blasted Ash.
Ash took the blast in the chest, sending into the center of the park.
"You're not getting away that easy," Tracey laughed as he hunted Ash down.
Seeing that he had a disadvantage, Ash took the smart route; he hid.
"Tracey, why are you doing this?" he asked as he ducked behind some bushes.
"Destiny trapped me in the cursed pokéball for centuries," Tracey replied as he shot an energy ball in Ash's direction. "I thought I return the favor."
"Tracey," Ash pleaded, "you're my friend. Don't make me hurt you."
"Unfortunate for you," Tracey laughed as he moved closer to Ash's position, "I have no such convictions."
Tracey made a dive when he saw Ash had sent a rock flying at him.
"Nice try," Tracey commented.
Ash sighed. He did not want to hurt Tracey, but he was left with no choice. He jumped out of his hiding spot and tackled his friend.
"So, you can fight," Tracey laughed as he gave Ash a punch in the stomach.
While Tracey continued to pound Ash, he did not notice Ash was forming another energy ball. Before Tracey knew, Ash slammed it into his back.
Tracey let out a scream of pain which allowed Ash to slip out of his reach.
"Come back here, you little pest," Tracey snapped at him.
"If you insist," Ash replied. He turned and nailed Tracey with an uppercut to jaw.
After another jab to the stomach, Tracey fell to ground. After five minutes, he failed to get up.
"Tracey?" Ash asked.
"Ash," Tracey replied in a weak voice, "help me."
"Tracey, is it you?"
"Help me," Tracey repeated.
Ash knelt down to help him, but Tracey jumped up and grabbed his wrists.
"Fool," Tracey laughed. "This body is useless. How about I take yours?"
While Ash struggled to get free of Tracey's grip, a shadow emerged from Tracey. Ash watched in horror as the shadow left his friend and entered him.
Once the shadow had entered its new body, both boys collapsed to the ground.
Finally, the shadow laughed, revenge will be mine.
It looked around its new environment. While Tracey's mind was neatly organized, Ash's was a chaotic mess. Even through the efforts of Anna, Serebi, and Scott of the TR psychics, many of the old mental barriers still existed in his brain.
Come out, come out, wherever you are, the shadow called as he drifted through Ash's mind.
"Come and catch me," Ash called back.
You're just delaying the inevitable, the shadow replied as he slammed into an invisible wall. Everyone succumbs to my power.
"There's always a first," Ash replied.
The shadow was becoming annoyed at the hunt. Most of its former victims were so easy to control, given the correct form of persuasion, but here, even the body refused its commands.
Listen, you little brat, it snapped. I have no time for this foolishness.
"Too bad," Ash shouted. "I seem to have all the time in the world."
The shadow seethed at the reply. Even the former Destiny showed it more respect than this boy.
Listen, boy, it shouted as it wondered into a blue mist, I am the most powerful pokémon imaginable.
"I have a pretty big imagination," Ash laughed. "I doubt you're that powerful.
All right, you insignificant, it snapped, I was the first pokémon.
"And that means?" Ash called.
Fool, the shadow replied. I'm the ruler of pokémon. They are my slaves.
"I seriously doubt that," Ash replied.
It was the first Destiny that ruined everything, it cried, but at least she had the courage to face me.
"And so will I," Ash replied, "when the time is right."
I have decided a fitting end for you, it said, hoping to bait Ash out of hiding. I will use your body to regain control over this world.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Ash replied.
And what would that be? the shadow asked.
Ash jumped in front of the shadow. "You have to beat me first," he replied.
Ash sent a wave of lightning at the shadow, driving it back in pain.
How very inventive, the shadow panted. Distract me, then come up from behind.
"I have three friends who were masters at that," Ash commented.
Indeed, the shadow replied, but you've made one mistake. You left me alive.
The shadow made a rush for Ash but was driven back when Ash held out a lantern.
"I figured that as a shadow you would be afraid of light," Ash stated as he walked closer.
This isn't over yet, boy, the shadow snapped as it cowered away from the light. If I can't have this body, I will find another.
"Really?" Ash smirked. He pulled the GS ball out of his pocket.
Keep that thing away from me, the shadow screamed.
"I guess we all have fears," Ash laughed, "even shadows."
This is not over, the shadow replied as it faded away, not by a long shot.
Ash opened his eyes and saw the shadow creature fly off into the night sky. He turned to Tracey first and saw he was coming around.
"What happened?" he asked with a groggy voice.
"You don't remember?" Ash replied.
"Remember what?" Tracey said as he began to stand up.
Ash looked around and saw Misty and Brock still asleep on the bench.
"Misty," he said as he gently shook her. "Time to wake up."
"Just five more minutes," she replied.
"I think she's out of it," Tracey commented. "Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind taking a nap myself."
Ash, using a bit more force, woke Brock.
"Why did you do that?" Brock demanded. "I was having the dream where Nurse Joy and I…"
"Not now, Brock," Ash sighed as he picked up Misty. "Let's just get to Sabrina's, all right."
"How come she gets to sleep?" Brock asked.
"You want to wake her?" Ash replied.
"Good point," Brock admitted.
Ash, a voice called to him in his sleep.
"Yes," he replied.
You did well, the voice continued, for the first time at least.
"Thank you," he answered as he sat up to see Serebi hovering over the foot of his bed.
It still got away, Serebi told Ash, but it will be back.
"I hope not," Ash sighed. "I don't think I could take it coming into my mind again."
That was a marvelous strategy, Serebi commented. Even the most powerful minds can get lost in there.
"Thanks, I think," Ash replied, trying to figure out if that was a compliment or not.
I came to warn you as well, Serebi told him. Its next body will be more willing to its control.
"What does that mean?" Ash asked.
The less power it takes to control the body, Serebi informed him, the more it has to take care of you.
"I'll remember that," Ash told the green fairy.
I better let you rest, Serebi said as she began to float out the window. Your mate has something planned for tomorrow.
"My mate?" Ash asked.
Sorry, Serebi said as she stopped just before the window. I sometimes get your age mixed up. Anyway, farewell.
Ash sighed as he laid back down.
"She probably meant Misty," he said as he drifted back to sleep.
Shane looked at his three brothers standing in front of his desk. They had a decision to make.
"Are we in agreement, then?" he asked.
"Yes," they replied.
"Then, Matt, since you are the youngest," Shane told his younger brother, "you will challenge first."
"I am ready," Matt replied. "I will give the challenge tomorrow."
"Very well," Shane said as he turned to Jake. "Remember, this will be done according to the rules of the Pokémon League."
"Yes, brother," Jake snarled.
"Then it is settled," Shane said as he took picked up a document off his desk. "Tomorrow, Ash Ketchum will face the first of the Rocket Brothers."
Giovanni stared at the barred window of his cell. Thoughts of revenge flowed through his mind. Revenge against the arrogant guards of the prison, revenge against his sons for betraying him, but more importantly, revenge against Ash Ketchum.
"I have to get out of here," he sighed as he sat down on his cot. Even the luxuries the former warden allowed him were gone.
Perhaps I can help, a voice from outside the window replied.
"Who's there?" Giovanni asked going to the window.
One who has a way to give you everything you want, the voice answered. I have only one thing to ask for in return.
"And what is that?" Giovanni asked.
Your body, the shadow replied as it came through the wall.
"What are you?" Giovanni asked as he backed to the bar on the far side of the cell.
There is no need to fear me, the shadow said as it drifted closer. We have a common enemy, you and I. Ash Ketchum.
Giovanni began to relax at the proposal the shadow was making.
You're interested, the shadow said, noting the change in the crime boss's attitude. Good. You give me your body, and together, we'll destroy Destiny, I mean Ketchum.
"Sounds pretty good," Giovanni replied, "but what about afterwards?"
That remains to be seen, the shadow replied. It stuck out what appeared to a hand to Giovanni. Do we have a deal?
Giovanni stared at the hand for a minute. He reminded himself of all the stories about making pacts with devils and their results.
"I agree," Giovanni said as he shook the hand.
Good, the shadow replied as it quickly entered Giovanni's body through the hand.
Giovanni fell to his knees and clinched his chest as the wave of pain surge in his body.
"You know my friend," Giovanni said as he blasted a hole in the wall, "this looks like the beginning of a beautiful relationship."