Crimson Tears
Chapter Twenty Eight: Battleground
Misty leapt down from her spot in the banisters. She landed gracefully in a squat. When she stood up she was immediately brought into a hug by Lily.
"You idiot! Cassidy could of killed you!" Lily laughed in joy. "But you rock!"
Misty smiled gently and pushed Lily away, "I've still got a job to do."
Ash jumped out of the way as Cassidy lunged at him.
She got back to her feet and turned to his direction just to have a ball of electricity surround her. The electricity formed a barrier about her concealing her from Ash. Ash stuck out his tongue playfully. She growled and turned to see a brown haired boy that looked remarkably like Ash. He was the one controlling the electricity.
Come to think of it, Cassidy knew she had seen that boy before. It clicked in her mind finally that he was the new Lighting Master of the league. She let out a high pitch laugh that didn't suit her.
"Did you actually think this pathetic confinement would hold me?" Cassidy snarled.
Richie's eyes widened as Cassidy bent the bars of electricity and stepped out from its imprisonment. Cassidy let out a haunting smile and lifted a delicate finger in Richie direction. His whole face went purple as he was lifted high into the air.
"STOP IT!" Ash screamed tackling Cassidy from behind.
Cassidy lost her concentration on Richie releasing him to the ground. Richie rubbed his sore neck and tried to get back to his feet. He was too drained. Cassidy's attack was not a weak one.
Cassidy flung Ash off her back. He skidded on his back across the marble floor to be stopped by a marble column Slightly dazed, Ash used the column's support to get back on his weak legs. He glared a Cassidy and Cassidy glared back at him.
"You are only a child, Ash." Cassidy whispered, "You are not worthy for a fight with me."
"You're right." A voice from far off shouted.
All eyes turned in the young red head's direction again. Misty was standing behind Cassidy smiling evilly. Three pokemon all stood ready on her side.
One her left side stood a pokemon called Golduck. The blue spiky duck's eyes were glowing a bright bluish color. It was about half Misty's height and stood erect like a human on its webbed feet. There was a strange red jewel implanted into his forehead and at the moment his was glowing with power.
Togetic hovered a few feet on her other side. Its eyes too were lustrous with rage towards Cassidy. Its tiny wings bat furiously to keep in the air.
And down arched in to fighting stance stood a small rodent. It had to be no more 2 feet tall. Its scarlet cheeks sparked with yellow and golden electricity enough to kill a normal human in one blow. Its tail was forked high in the air. Its whole body aimed from the kill.
"Yes. You are correct, Cassidy," Misty said calmly not needing to yell any more since everyone was watching her. "But he has friends."
At this statement, Ash too got into fighting stance. Cassidy eyes flared with obvious rage.
"This is not fair, children," She hissed. "I am outnumbered."
"When did you ever care about anything being fair, Cassidy," Ash growled. "You and Butch ganged up on me that night."
Cassidy's eyes rolled back into her head so only the whites of her eyes were shown. She turned to Ash her teeth bared.
"DO NOT MENTION HIS NAME IN MY PRESENCE!!"
Ash took a step backwards. His eyes wandered to the crystal on her wrist was glowing black now. Ash understood. The Crimson Tear was feeding off her fear and sadness turning it into anger and power. Ash gulped.
The wind encircled around Cassidy blowing anyone near clear off their feet. Misty flew back into a near by wall. Ash gripped the column for balance. The rest of the people in the temple began racing for exits. No one wanted to stay and wait anymore. Lily who had been trying to reach Misty and the others was taken by a guard.
"We can't stay, child!" The guard shouted.
She was pulled out by the wrist. Richie was slammed against the opposite wall and knocked unconscious with a uneasy snapping sound. His left arm lay in a awkward angle at his side no doubt broken. The temple began to shutter under the might of Cassidy's transformation. The whole world stood still as Ash's nightmare came true.
Ash stood in utter shock as a new Cassidy emerged from the smoke and light. She was much more muscular and her eyes were a vivid red now. She stood her muscles pumped and a black aurora about her. She was more monster like now. You could tell by her presences.
"Still think you have a chance, Ashton?" Cassidy laughed clenching her gloved fist.
Ash stared in horror.
Sometimes fear is the real enemy. Brock's words rang clear in Ash's mind.
Ash held his breath and got into a fighting stance, "I am not afraid of you."
Cassidy's face turned into a awful smirk, "Oh, but soon you will."
The force of wind about Cassidy blew stronger keeping only Ash and Cassidy standing in the small vortex. Cassidy was looking victorious while Ash stood feeble. Ash backed as far back as the tornado would allow him to. He needed more space then this to dodge Cassidy's blows. He wouldn't make it this way.
Cassidy must of noticed Ash's fear for the vortex began to grow stronger. It was ripping bits of tiles off everywhere and its whooshing scream filled the temple with its terror. Ash's eyes were wide. He looked over at Cassidy who was slowing advancing on him.
He wouldn't be able to escape.
Misty's face felt like it was being pressed down by a million weights. She slowly lifted herself in a upright position just to be overcome with a flight of dizziness. She caught herself before she fell on her face again. Her vision was slightly distorted but even someone's grandma would be able to tell what was happening right now.
Misty pressed her hands against the cold marble floor as a grip to keep from falling back against the wall again. Her aqua eyes were firmly on Cassidy. She didn't say a word as she crept over trying to battle the fierce winds.
In Cassidy's palm, an glowing sphere of dark light emitted. She clutched it like a baseball and swung it at Ash with all her might. As the negative energy ball charged at Ash, another one came at him from behind. Awkwardly, not knowing which to duck, Ash swiveled to the side just to be graced by the one that came behind him. Ash clutched his left side in agony as the white hot pain flowed from the burn.
"It's a psy-burn attack fussed with a psychic blast," Cassidy smirked. "That attack with two of the balls is called my double team attack, slightly altered to my advantage."
Ash sneered at Cassidy. He staggered to his right to lean against to the column. Cassidy's eyes a lit with anger at seeing Ash try and take a break. Another ball drifted upward from the skin of her palm. She threw with all her might at Ash. Ash swung himself to the left just in time.
The blast hit the column with a sickening creak. A long crack made its snake-like way down the middle of the column. It broke into two halves and the top part came crashing down in Ash's direction. Ash covered his hands over his head and crouched low as his only defense.
"ASHHHHH!" Misty's scream echoed.
Much to everyone's surprise the pillar fell over Ash but stopped inches from Ash's back.
Ash looked up and breathed a happy sigh of relief shared with Misty. Cassidy was in partial shock. In her anger, Cassidy's energy returned to her letting the wind barrier die down. Her pupils narrowed in on Ash not taking note on who was coming up behind her. Cassidy sneered in disgust.
"And to think that could of finished you. Well, I like to squash my pests by myself anyw-"
Suddenly a fist came out of nowhere and uppercut into Cassidy's jaw. She fell back taking the blow of the punch.
"TAKE THAT BITCH!" Misty yelled in anger.
She caught herself and jumped back as Cassidy threw a punch back at her. Misty's heart beat wildly she jumped into the air and did a high kick towards Cassidy's face.
"Asa made the same mistake," Cassidy laughed as she suddenly vanished.
Misty turned around rapidly and flipped back as Cassidy sent out a low power energy beam where she once stood. Misty fumbled back into the split pillar that Ash was under. It shook violently. Ash let out a squeal of fright and zapped out from underneath it.
"Couldn't you have waited to cat fight after I got out of the way?!"
Misty shook her head and charged out at Cassidy. But Cassidy had different plans. She spun about Misty and threw a thunder punch at Ash which he narrowly avoided.
He scowled and grabbed her wrist. Ash flung her with all his might into the fallen pillar. She flipped upwards into the sky and shot back down like a bullet in a kick form. Misty shot at Cassidy punching her off her course. Cassidy flew back into the temple's wall. Taking this advantage, Misty charged at Cassidy.
"Wait Misty! We need to fight together!" Ash's cry called out from behind her.
She ignored him. She had Cassidy right where she wanted her. But at the last second, Cassidy pushed off the wall and met Misty in the air with an arm. She knocked Misty in the chest sent her on her back and skidding in reverse direction into the broken column.
"Told ya," Ash's taunt came from above her.
"Shut up," was Misty's reply.
Misty didn't have much time to say anything else. Cassidy was one unhappy camper with her.
Cassidy blasted down at her faster the eye could see. Agility… Misty was just thinking on how she wouldn't be able to avoid her when Ash leapt in front of her.
"This stops here," She heard him mutter.
He caught Cassidy two outstretched fists with ease. Misty's eyes widened in amazement… How did he see that coming?
Cassidy let out a sinister smile as her eyes glowed a eerie blue. Ash blinked uncertainly and turned to see Misty being lifted into the air by a confusion attack. She wobbled unbalanced for a few seconds and hurled straight at Ash.
Ash let go of his grip on Cassidy and ducked down to his knees as Misty flew over his head. Cassidy stepped out of the way and followed Misty with her eyes trying to send her into a wall. Seeing the wall coming straight at her, Misty covered her face with her arms and screamed in terror. Inches from the wall, she halted.
Instead of the blue aurora she was surrounded in a golden aurora. Misty glanced over her shoulder at Ash. His hands were extended out and his whole body was glowing the same way Misty was. His golden eyes were planted on her. He was sweating with concentration trying to fight Cassidy with his own confusion attack on Misty. Misty's eyes widened in shock. A smile stretched across her face.
"Thanks, Ash!"
Ash gave a encouraging smile back and replied, "Don't make me laugh or you will be kissing wall."
Cassidy was shocked to find that Ash's confusion was stronger then hers.
'Then he is getting better… Well, good for him. Maybe he will live longer then I anticipated.'
Cassidy turned suddenly dropping the connection on the confusion. She threw a vicious punch at Ash that hit him dead on the cheek. He was sent hurling backwards onto the wall opposite.
With the confusion attack broken, Misty was pushed at the wall again. This time she was prepared and kicked off the wall with a back flip. She landed in a crouched position and gasped when she saw Cassidy running at her. Misty swerved to the right and started running off at a high speed. Cassidy pushed off the wall and turned to follow Misty.
Ash sat up groggily and rubbed his heavy jaw.
"What happened?" He groaned.
Suddenly something flew past him sending dust in his face. Ash coughed and covered his face with his arm.
"Sorry! Coming through!" Misty's voice called.
Ash blinked… Misty? When could she run that fast?
Misty looked over her shoulder at Cassidy who was gaining.
Think, girl! How can you beat her without hurting yourself or Ash…
It happened without Misty even realizing it. A huge white beam formed in her hand. Misty clutched it feeling its warm tingling touch. She drew back and released it aiming straight at Cassidy. Cassidy jumped upward missing the blast by inches. Misty cursed under her breath.
"What a waste of time."
Ash looked about him and was surprised to see who lay next to him. His eyes widened into the size of dinner plates, "Richie! What? You didn't get out?!"
Richie, of course, didn't answer since he was unconscious. Ash let out a groan and turned to see a white beam hurtling straight at them. Ash let a frantic squeal and jumped in front of Richie, putting his back to the blast. He hugged Richie close and felt the pain go rippling through his body. Screaming in agony, Ash felt blackness creep into his vision. The screams caused Richie to slowly open his eyes. He saw what was happening and screamed as well. As soon as the white and dust went away Richie gently pushed Ash off him with his good arm. Ash groaned and landed back first onto the floor.
"Ash!" Richie cried shaking him urgently.
Ash opened one eye and squinted up at Richie.
"Hi buddy. I'm fine if you are wondering. Just a little dizzy."
Ash tired pushing himself to his feet but failed miserably. He fell on top of unfortunate Richie.
"Ash, get off of me." Richie grunted.
"Did you get the number of that freight train?" Ash said in a daze.
Misty flipped upward avoiding a terrible blow from Cassidy. Much to Misty's horror, Cassidy hadn't even broken into a sweat yet. This scared her.
Suddenly something whizzed past her. It was Ash. Ash threw a punch at Cassidy which she caught. She flung him backwards through the air going back for Misty.
Ash wasn't through with her yet though. Ash spun about in the air and shot an thunder attack. Cassidy screamed in pain for a split second and turned to Ash, her eye ablaze with hatred. Ash dug the side of his feet into the ground and skidded to a erupt halt. He smiled and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He beckoned her with a taunting index finger. Cassidy went red in the face and charged out full force at him.
Misty caught some movement out from the corner of her eye to see Richie running with a pikachu at his heel. Pikachu…
Ash must have had found Pikachu and told him to lead Richie out… Then where did my pokemon go?
Misty turned to see her pokemon laying on the ground opposite. They were both K.O. Misty let out a sad sigh and held up two identical pokeballs,
"Return."
Ash jumped upward as Cassidy hurled herself at him. He was up a good few feet before he signaled a Thunder Bomb. Light struck right through the building and shot down at Cassidy. Cassidy shielded herself with a barrier deflecting the blast. Ash's eyes widened. That was his strongest attack he knew! And she tossed it aside like it was nothing!
Cassidy smiled grew wider, "That all you got, Ashy Boy?"
Ash cringed at the horrible nick name. He bit his lip. He could always try a killing move but it took so much out of him. What if he missed? Or worse, didn't have enough strength to complete it?
He felt Misty step up beside him.
"Need some help?" Misty whispered.
Ash eyes a lit with a idea, "Yes, I need a lot."
To Be Continued…
Please r + r!
Okay. This was longer then is was supposed to be. I
have to split the chapter that I was meaning to be one into two. Oh well.
