Crimson Tears

Chapter Twenty Nine: Evolution

Ash looked at Misty for a split second. His eyes appeared to sparkle in the moonlight. It took Misty a minute before she realized they were glowing. She blinked and took a step away from him.

"Don't be afraid, Misty. You have to trust me," Ash said softly holding out his hand.

The rest of the horrible temple seemed to fade away until it was just Ash standing before her. Her heart twanged with fear and confusion. She gazed down at Ash's hand that was held out to her. She clutched her own fists trying to decide. She waited for Ash to urge her on but he did nothing but watch her with his strange amber eyes. She held out a quivering hand when Ash put a hand on her shoulder.

"Misty, calm down. I am not forcing you to. You must do this of your own will."

"What am I doing?" Misty asked bewildered.

A sly grin swept across Ash's face giving Misty a glimpse of the child who had destroyed her bike all those years ago.

"It called a link." Ash smiled, "The stronger the bond the stronger the link is. Pikachu and me share one but not a psychic link. I never wanted to try it…in case someone sensed it happening."

Misty still looked baffled. Her eyes waved from Ash's hand to her own.

"I dunno…"

"I won't force you," Ash sighed lowering his hand from her shoulder.

He was just lowering his other hand to his side when Misty grabbed his hand roughly.

A surging power swept through the two of them. Blue electricity sparks curled their ways over them. Misty felt near faint. She tilted slightly but Ash caught her, "Thanks Mist."

Misty smiled weakly back up at him, "You're w-welcome."


Cassidy watched in amazement as Ash and Misty both began to glow a strange heavenly white.

"N-no! They can't be… linking? T-that's impossible. Y-y-you would have to be directly related to… to… him! But how could Ash be…"

Cassidy clenched her fist together tightly, "There is still time to stop this. I won't let this happen. They can't have the advantage!"

Cassidy raced at the two with a powerful kick. She had only gotten a couple of feet from Ash and Misty when both of them opened their eyes. The pupils of their eyes glowed blue and Cassidy was frozen in place. Misty turned about as Ash fixed his gaze on Cassidy fully. Both of them lifted their hands and muttered,

"Shitemo yoi shi kuru ni anata, Cassidy."

May death come to you, Cassidy.

Cassidy found herself shaking as she backed up against a nearby pillar. She closed her eyes in concentration. She must have been happy for what she had found, cause when she opened them glee swept across her face.

"Children, children. This isn't fair at all."

"When did you care about playing fair?" Both Ash and Misty spoke in the same eerie tone. "Death has come, and it has claimed your soul."

Ash and Misty held out one of their opened hands before them as they spoke and slowly clenched them into a fists.

"Linking is an ancient art. Turning the two into one," Cassidy explained. "I will not allow that form of cheating in my temple."

Cassidy held her arms to the sky and mutter in an ancient language. Power surged from her body and into Ash and Misty's. They were both blow off their feet and throw across the floor. Several feet were now separating them.

Ash was the first to wake up. He sat up groggily rubbing his head.

"What happened? Did we beat her?"

"Unfortunately for you, no."

Ash looked up to see Cassidy standing before him. Ash crawled backwards in fright, "What?!"

"Since your link was fairly new it wasn't very strong. I could easily break the connection."

Ash suppressed a gasp of surprise. He was sure it could work. Ash got to his weak legs and glared at Cassidy,

"You are a demon."

"Why thank you. I am sure every bad girl dreams of being called a demon someday," Cassidy smiled taking Ash by the collar of his shirt. Ash turned his head away from her face. She smiled even more sinisterly.

"Or maybe that's just me…"


Misty woke to with a start at the sound of a scream. She sat up, smoke in dust surrounding her. she waved her hands about to get rid of it. Misty slipped to her knees peering into the fog. What she saw struck her heart with incredible sorrow. Ash lay on the ground in a heap. His face was bruised and scratched and he had a terrible gash on his arm that was spilling blood. Cassidy was walking slowly over to his fallen body. He wasn't moving… was he?

"No Ash!"


What you think is never the same as what you know…

"Tracey," Ash groaned trying to get his feet, "I don't know…what I know…"

"Stay down, Ash," Cassidy smiled. "I will not hurt you if you give up. I will let you and your girlfriend leave here free of any harm."

"No," Ash hissed. "I can't…"

Ash sat up glaring up at Cassidy. He wiped the blood off his chin and gritted his teeth.

"I may think I may not be able to beat you but I know I am not gonna back down. I am not a coward."

"Thought as much," Cassidy sneered.

She powered up a beam and blasted Ash back through and pillar and against the opposite wall. Ash slid down the wall and fell on his stomach hard.

"NOOOOOO!" Misty cried. She raced forth with tears streaming down her cheeks.

Suddenly, another Cassidy appeared in front of her. Misty took a step backwards in shock.

"This is my double team attack… like it?"

Misty slid back into a fighting stance, "Stop hurting, Ash. He won't survive. He is too stubborn to give in."

There was another wail of pain. Misty began to sweat, "Please. I beg of you. Leave him alone!"

Cassidy smirked deceitfully, "Ash is the Elemental Master. If he wishes to give up then I will let him live. But I doubt he will do that any time soon. And until then… let's dance!"


Ash shook his head and looked up at the figure in front of him. His vision slid in and out of focus. It was hard to tell what was what. He bit his lip and tried to get to his feet again, "Pitiful. Don't you know when to give up?"

Ash's legs slipped out from underneath him. He fell back to the ground unable to stand again. He glared up at Cassidy as voices and images swam through his mind… He felt so alone.

He wrapped his arms about his body and hugged himself. His body was going numb. He could hardly breathe. He felt so alone.

No one deserves to be alone. I'll be your friend, Ash.

Gary…

You can't lose heart. The only way to go is forward.

Duplica…

Ash eyes opened. His distorted vision focused in on Misty's battle with another Cassidy. Ash bit his lip. She was losing…

Misty sent punch after punch but each she caught or avoided in some way. Misty felt it was hopeless to try and fight. Cassidy uppercut her in the chin jamming her two jaw sharply together and the punched her rapidly in the stomach. She fumbled back and Cassidy shot a water gun out of her hand at Misty just to mock her. Misty tumbled into a pillar. Cassidy stepped on Misty's hand and laughed her squinting and shrieking in pain. Misty pulled her hand back and glowered at Cassidy with a look so full of malice.

"Oh. Come on. It couldn't of hurt that bad… cause this will hurt a lot MORE!" Cassidy shouted using a psybeam that she had secretly powered up behind her back.


"NO!" Ash shouted, "This can't be happening!"

"Aw. The poor baby." The Cassidy in front of Ash grinned.

Ash turned his cold gaze upon her, "STOP THIS NOW!"

"Hmmmm… how should I say this… uh… no."

Misty lay limp on the ground. Cassidy continued to use thunder shock on her. Misty screamed with each bolt. Tears of agony slipped down Misty's already red cheeks. Ash couldn't take it anymore. This had to stop!

Ash got to his feet while Cassidy watched in interest. Ash gritted his fist together tightly, his finger nails digging into his flesh. Blood dribble from his fists, but he took no notice to it. His eyes were firmly planted on where Misty was being tortured. The same sensation swept over him as it did back before his was kidnapped by Cassidy. He held it back.

He glowed golden his eyes still on Misty…

Life is a special gift Ash. No one should be allowed to take that away…

Dad…

Sometimes I like painting pictures in the stars… see there's a pikachu!

Richie…

We're a team. And nothing can beat that!

Pikachu…

We'll beat them…

Team Rocket…

If that monster hides in the closet you come at it with a pitch fork. No one can push my little baby around…

Mom...

And remember… we are always behind you… always behind you… always…

"MIIIIIIISSSSSSSTYYYYYYYYY!" Ash screamed.

The glowing light about him engulfed Ash. It turned into a spinning funnel that shot right through the ceiling. The whole sky turned red…

The world shook…

The temple began to crumple…

Misty sat up groggily and gasped at the sight. She scooted back. The Cassidys faded into one whole and stood gaping at where the tornado was. Ash's screams were still heard. The golden funnel became slightly transparent and in the mist of the gold Misty caught sight of Ash.

Tears of crystal were pouring down his cheeks.

"What is going on…?" Misty whispered.


Gary almost fell off his feet. Lily let out a scream and pointed up at the temple as a bright golden light shot out from it. Screams filled the cold night air. Everyone held onto their loved ones and whispers broke out like fire.

Asa hugged Richie's hand as Richie watched the temple with a stony expression on his face. Both Lily and Gary were hugging each other and praying. Team Rocket all hugged into a great big group hug and began muttering goodbyes on how everyone would miss their taste of style. Pikachu stood alone its ears blowing in the fierce wind…

"Pika piii." It muttered somberly.

Asa's tears began to come more freely now,

"Ash… no…not Ash…" She whispered as the tears made their way down her red cheeks.

Her eyes fell upon something gold in the grass. She broke away fro Richie for a second to examine it. Her hands fell about the cold metal. It was Misty's locket.

"Oh…please… protect them,"Asa prayed.


Delia sat outside the house as the wind began to pick up. Her amber eyes widen in shock at the sound of the screaming…

"Ash?"

She bit her lip and compressed her hands together an fell to her knees. Tears fell down her cheek as she listened to the screaming…

"No… Please…"

Tracey, Brock, and the rest of the Cerulean sisters tumbled out of the house.

"What is that screaming about?" Violet asked. "It sounds creepy…"

They all stopped dead at the sight of Delia weeping.

Tracey bit his lip and fell down to his knees next her. He patted her back and whispered comforting things to her. She just kept shaking her head and shuddering with the earth.

Brock looked up at the night sky and sighed,

"This is it."

The two Cerulean sister cast him a doubtful look. He turned to them and smiled, "Now it is up to Ash whether we live or not."

Daisy and Violet looked over at each other and nodded, "He's boyfriend with our sister. He wouldn't kill us. Besides… he knows how much Misty would be at a loss without us… doesn't he?"


Pain filled every core of him. He fought hard to stop it but it was too strong. His mind kept shouting for him to let go…

"Let go, Ash…"

Ash opened his eyes to see a split image of himself staring back at him. Ash couldn't be surprised. He was trying to hard not lose control.

"Ash… You can let go now. Everything will be fine. I promise…"

Ash blinked. Suddenly the image turned into his father, "I promise, Ash. And when have I ever not kept that to you?"

Ash nodded as his tears leaked down his cheeks. He bit his lip and closed his eyes. The funnel became stronger and everything went white…

Mister Pokemon Master. That's me.

To Be Continued…

Please r + r!

Finally I post this!