Chapter Eight: In The Void
Ash2 and Misty2 stare at the swirling vortex that their twins disappeared into only a short while before. Ever since Ash and Misty entered the portal it hasn't expanded or shown any noticeable changes, but Ash2 and Misty2 are still on guard. They're bodies glow with power as they wait and watch, ready for any sudden growth spurts
Misy2: (eyeing the vortex wearily) I hope they'll be okay.
Ash2: (turns to Misty keeps one eye on the swirl) Don't worry. I'm sure they'll beat Zohar.
Misy2: We should have gone in with them!
Ash2: (closes his eyes and concentrates a little) I…I think I can sort of feel them. Our powers must connect us together somehow. They're alright, for now. If they get into any major trouble, I'm sure we'll both feel it, and then we can charge in and save the day. But for now, we should probably hang back, like they said.
Misy2: I really hope your right.
Ash2: (does his pose) What are you talking about, I'm always right!!
Misty2: (bonks him lightly on the head, smiles) This is serious.
Ash2: (rubs his head) Yeah, yeah I know.
Ash2's eyes suddenly go wide as he's hit with a shocking wave of emotions, sent from the other two contacts. He and Misty2 both collapse to their knees as they are assaulted by the flurry of emotions, the strongest of all being fear.
Misty2: (holding her head) Something happened!!!
Ash2: (grits his teeth in pain) I know. They must be in danger
Misty2: (struggling to her feet) We've got to go in and help them!
Ash2 nods and slowly struggles to his feet. But before either of them can run to the portal to join their friends the room is filled with an earsplitting roar. The vortex flares a menacing blood red color, and suddenly begins to expand at an amazing rate. The portal shakes, crackles, and shoots off jagged beams of light. Not thinking at all, just reacting, Ash2 and Misty2 run forward, Misty2 towards the upper left corner of the portal and Ash2 towards the upper right. The two of them throw up their arms and concentrate hard. Focusing their powers towards each other, the two create a large icy blue box that surrounds the large portal and traps it. The vortex's energy pushes against the walls of the barrier, which yield slightly but then bounce back into place.
Ash2: (already sweating from the exertion) It looks like the seal is about to break. I guess it was a good thing we decided to stay behind.
Misty2: (panting) This power is incredible! How does the wave existence expect us to beat something like this?
Ash2: Don't give up. We'll make it.
Misty2: (exhausted) We won't be able to keep this barrier thing up forever. I'm already dead tired.
Ash2: (smiles weakly, and glances into the vortex) Then we'll just have to hope the other two can defeat Zohar….before we drop.
Misty2: If their still alive in there.
Ash2: (angrily) Don't talk like that! I know they're in there somewhere. (thinks for a minute) Maybe the connection works both ways. Maybe we can send them some support, some of our own strength.
Misty2: (voice becoming slightly weaker) I don't think I have any to spare.
Ash2: We've got to try. Just concentrate on them, send them a little encouragement. (closes his eyes and concentrates on Ash and Misty) Come on guys, whatever's happening in there, don't give up!! Keep fighting!
meanwhile Ash and Misty float together in a space that exists and yet doesn't exist, a swirling void of vague distorted shapes and wispy strands. The place glows a jack-o-lantern orange, and seems to pulse and heave, as if the entire space is one gigantic living thing. Ash and Misty's ears are filled with a rhythmic pulsing sound, like a giant heartbeat. Looking about, Ash and Misty suddenly realize that they can no longer simply see in normal dimensions, but they can also see around, behind, underneath, and inside of everything, X-rays and tripped out fun-house vision rolled into one. The total sensory overload nearly overwhelms the two trainers. Ash grabs his head and shuts his eyes, but he can't block out the color, the noise, or the pulsing, rolling, kaleidoscope landscape, and, for a minute, he wonders to himself if he's gone insane. Then suddenly his and Misty's heads are filled with a voice that seems to come from every direction at once and explode from within them at the same time.
-WHO ARE YOU AND WHY DO YOU COME TO ME!?-
The voice is terrible and unearthly and for a moment Ash wonders if maybe he and Misty are in over their heads, if maybe this task is too much for them to handle. Grabbing Misty's hand weakly and summoning up every last shred of courage and confidence, Ash answers.
Ash: (beyond freaked out) I am Ash Ketchum, of Pallet Town.
Misty: (the same as Ash) And I am Misty of the Cerulean City Gym.
Ash: We have come….to…(says it with conviction) to destroy you!
The void suddenly rings with laughter so huge that it shakes and saturates every molecule of Ash and Misty's bodies. The two cover their ears in a vain attempt to reduce the effect.
-YOU PUNY HUMANS DARE TO THINK YOU COULD EVEN STAND IN MY PRESENCE!!! YOU CANNOT HARM ME, YOU CANNOT AFFECT ME. YOU HAVE NO POWER!!-
Ash: We have been given power! Power to defeat you.
The void vibrates again with Zohar's arrogant laughs, and Ash and Misty are once gain blown back by the powerful voice that issues from everywhere and nowhere at once.
-I AM ETERNAL. I AM THE DESTROYER OF WORLDS. YOU ARE NOTHING MORE THAN SPECKS OF COSMIC DUST. I WILL RISE UP AND YOUR WORLD WILL BECOME NOTHING MORE THAN MERE SPACE VAPOR BEFORE ME, AND YOU ALONG WITH IT-
Misty: If we are strong we will prevail against you!
-AH, BUT YOU ARE NOT STRONG. YOU ARE WEAK AND FEEBLE CREATURES. THE WAVE EXISTENCE CANNOT HELP YOU. HIS POWERS ARE NOTHING COMPARED TO MINE. HE IS AN IMPOTENT, PATHETIC, DO-GOODER WHO COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT TRUE POWER IS. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT POWER REALLY IS, LITTLE HUMANS? LET ME SHOW YOU-
Ash and Misty are suddenly hit with a wave of unbelievable force and emotion, a blast that nearly shatters their minds.
-HERE IS THE POWER, FEEL IT, BRATS, AND THEN SPEAK AGAIN OF HOW YOU COME TO KILL THE ETERNAL!!-
Ash and Misty are flung through the orange void, their minds reeling with pain and emotion. All confidence evaporates from them both and they fall into fear and despair. How can a power so vast be countered by anything they possess? And yet the two still mange to keep a grip on each other's hand. Another blast hits them and their grip loosens slightly. Ash and Misty are suddenly both hit with the strong unyielding feeling that they must not let go of each other's hand, no matter what happens, that if they do lose hold of each other they will both be lost forever. But yet another blast hits them, and their minds fall even further into raw emotions and madness. But just when their minds are on the edge of destruction, Ash and Misty suddenly feel a faint glimmer of strength, a flash of hope and determination, and a single phrase slides through their heads. Don't give up!! Keep fighting! The two trainers cling onto that positive feeling with all their might and tighten their grip on each other. Suddenly their bodies glow with the familiar icy blue light and the pressure of Zohar's mind blast is partially blocked. Zohar pulls back in surprise, but soon begins to fill the space with his volumous laugh once again.
-VERY INTERESTING. SO YOU CAN RESIST ME SOMEWHAT. IT STILL WON'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE END-
Misty: You're wrong. (squeezes Ash's hand) we'll defeat you because we're together.
Ash: Our strength is our feelings for each other.
-SO YOU PUT YOUR FAITH IN THAT CONVULUTED, INSIPID, HUMAN CONSTRUCT CALLED LOVE? YOU TRULY ARE FOOLS!-
Misty: No. Love is strong, it means something
Ash: What would a creature like you know about love, anyway? All you do is kill and destroy.
-I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS WEAK AND USELESS. IT CANNOT OVERCOME TRUE POWER. YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG BECAUSE THE WAVE EXISTENCE HAS GIVEN YOU THESE POWERS, BECAUSE YOU STAND TOGETHER. BUT ARE YOU REALLY SO SURE?-
Ash and Misty slowly turn and look at each other, almost involuntarily. It is exactly the reaction Zohar wanted
-ARE YOU SURE THAT YOUR FEELINGS ARE REALLY AS PURE AS YOU THINK THEY ARE? YOU CLAIM TO LOVE EACHOTHER, BUT WHEN THE GOING GETS REALLY TOUGH THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE FEELINGS WILL BE PUT TO THE TEST. HUMANS ARE INHERENTLY SELFISH, ARROGANT, AND POWER HUNGRY. IN THE END THEY WILL ONLY RELY ON THEMSELVES, AND WILL FORSAKE ALL OTHERS. IT'S NO USE DENYING IT, LOVE IS JUST AN ILLUSION, A LIE HUMANS TELL THEMSELVES-
Misty: (a little less confidant than before) That's…that's not true.
-OH REALLY? HAVEN'T YOU ALREADY EXPERIENCED FIRST HAND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?-
Ash and Misty glance at each other and Zohar's laugh rings out arrogantly.
Ash: (also feeling less confidant) How do you…
-I AM THE ETERNAL POWER, THE GREATEST BEING IN THE UNIVERSE. YOU CAN HIDE NOTHING FROM ME. YOUR MINDS ARE UNGUARDED, NAKED. I PEER INTO YOUR VERY SOULS! I KNOW OF THE DOUBTS AND FEARS THAT RUN THROUGH YOU. DOES SHE REALLY LOVE ME THE MOST? WILL HE REALLY STAY WITH ME FOREVER? ONCE YOU LET YOUR TRUE FEELINGS OF DOUBT AND SELFISHNESS SHOW THROUGH. AND LOOK AT WHAT PAIN IT CAUSED YOU!!-
Ash: (becomes very angry) That won't happen again! I promised Misty that I would never hurt her like that again!
Misty: (nods) And I promised Ash the same thing.
-BUT YOU WILL, EVENTUALLY. IT IS IN YOUR VERY NATURE. HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE YOU ONCE AGAIN DOUBT EACHOTHER, BEFORE YOU ALLOW THE SELFISHNESS AND MISTRUST IN YOUR HEARTS TO SURFACE? HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE YOU BREAK THAT PROMISE YOU SO HASTILY MADE? OR…HAS IT ALREADY BEEN BROKEN?-
Zohar's lets out another cold, arrogant, world shaking laugh as Ash and Misty look at each other again. A look of shame and regret crosses Ash's face as he looks into Misty's eyes, which are suddenly filled with doubt. Their iron grip on each other slowly begins to loosen and Zohar's confidence swells. He pushes forward with another verbal assault.
-YES, DOUBT EACH OTHER. LET YOUR INHERIT MISTRUST RULE YOU. IT WILL SAVE YOU THE PAIN AND DISSAPOINTMENT YOU WILL INEVITABLY SUFFER IF YOU CONTINUE TO FOOL YOURSELVES WITH THESE PITUFL DELUSIONS AND IDEALS. ACCEPT THE FACTS!! YOU ARE NOT STRONG, YOU ARE WEAK AND PATHETIC INSECTS WHO SHALL FALL BEFORE MY MIGHT!! YOUR LOVE HAS NO POWER AGAINST ME, IT IS TINY AND INSIGNIFIGANT. IT SHALL CRUMBLE AWAY AND YOU WILL BE LEFT ALONE AND BETRAYED. YOU DO NOT TRULY NEED EACHOTHER. YOU DO NOT TRULY LOVE EACHOTHER. THE WAVE EXISTANCE WAS A FOOL TO PUT HIS FAITH IN SUCH AN ILLUSION AND I SHALL SOON SEE VICTORY OVER HIM. I WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING HE CARES SO MUCH ABOUT, STARTING WITH YOU CONTACTS-
Zohar unleashes another powerful blast of psychic energy and this time Ash and Misty are caught off guard. Their hands are ripped apart and the two trainers tumble away from each other, deeper into the bottomless void. The small glimmer strength and confidence that they felt a moment ago is destroyed as they sink farther away from each other into the orange glow that envelopes everything.
-DO YOU FEEL THE HOPELESSNESS AND DESPAIR? THIS IS HOW IT TRULY FEELS TO BE ALONE, TO BE HUMAN. YOUR FEELINGS WERE NOTHING MORE THAN A CRUTCH TO PROTECT YOU FROM THIS REALITY. GIVE UP AND SUBMIT TO ME!!-
Ash tumbles through the void, assaulted by the powerful psychic and verbal attacks, but he still holds onto one shred of hope. Clamping one hand over an ear in a vain attempt to suppress the attack, Ash reaches his other arm out towards Misty.
Ash: (gritting his teeth, straining out to reach her) Misty….hang on!!!
Misty: (reaching out for Ash in the same way) Ash!!!!
-YOU STILL INSIST ON HOLDING TIGHT TO THESE PATHETIC FEELINGS? DON'T YOU SEE YET?? YOU DON'T NEED EACHOTHER, YOU CAN'T HELP EACHOTHER. YOU ARE MEANT TO BE ALONE, TO RELY ONLY ON YOURSELVES. I WILL SHOW YOU THE TRUTH, I WILL MAKE YOU UNDERSTAND!!!-
Another psychic blast hits and Ash and Misty are thrown even farther away from each other. Ash tumbles out of control, head over heels, as the psychic assault increases to nearly unbearable levels. His mind is overwhelmed and his visions fills with the spiraling distorting nothing-ness around him, until it is all he can see, until it pervades every corner of his being, until it seems like nothing else exists, except the relentless orange glow, and the rhythmic pounding, like the beat of a giant heart.
BRIIIING BRIIING BRIIIING!!
Ash startles awake at the sound of the alarm clock. Sitting up in bed, holding his pounding head, for a moment Ash has no idea where he is. His mind fills with fragmented images, scenes of battles, fear, and evil. Ash shakes his head to throw off the last vestiges of the nightmare and then closes his eyes, allowing his breathing to return to a normal pace. After a few moments he opens his eyes and takes in his surroundings. He is in his room, at home in Pallet Town. The morning sun streams in through his window and warms the sheets of his bed. The alarm clock on his bedside table reads 7:00 A.M.
Ash: (rubbing his eyes slowly) Whoaaa, that was one weird dream. I should probably stop watching those late night sci-fi movies, they're starting to get to me. (sniffs the air and notices something good) Smells like Mom's already got breakfast ready. Guess I better get down there soon.
Ash leaps out of bed and heads into the bathroom. After a quick shower he dresses in his normal clothes and heads downstairs. Brock is already at the table enjoying a heaping plate of bacon and eggs. Delia looks up from the stove when her son enters the room and smiles.
Delia: Good morning honey. Did you sleep well?
Brock: (looks up from eating) Hey dude, what's up?
Ash: (plops down in a chair next to Brock) Not much, and no, I didn't sleep very well. I had a really weird dream. I don't remember much about it but I know that it was really scary, although…(thinks for a moment) not everything was so bad.
Brock: What do you mean?
Ash: (blushes a little) Well…there was this girl…
Brock: (smiles slightly and pokes Ash) Ash, you stud you…Have you been hiding something from us?
Delia: (looks at Ash sternly) Your not dating some girl without introducing her to me first are you??
Ash: (sweat drops, waves his hands nervously) No, no, it's not like that. I've never even met her before. It was just a dream! But…(gets a dreamy look) she was kind of cute.
Brock: (looks jealous) It's not fair. Why can't I have a dream about a cute girl.
Pikachu: (jumps into Ash's lap) Brock, the only way you'll ever get a girl is if you dream her up
Brock: HEY!!!
Ash: (laughs and scratches Pikachu's ear) Good one, Pikachu. You have a nice rest??
Pikachu: (pumps its fist) Yeah, I'm all rested up and ready for today's training!
Delia: (brings her and Ash's food over and sits down) Where are you guys going to go today?
Brock: Yeah Ash, where do you think will be a good place today?
Ash crosses his arms and thinks really hard, trying to come up with the perfect training ground. Suddenly a complete idea pops into his head and pushes all the others aside, as if it has a life of its own and wishes to be found.
Ash: (rubs his chin thoughtfully) hmmmm. How about….Cerulean City? We could shop for some more Pokemon supplies and maybe challenge the local gym leader. I don't have a badge from that gym yet.
Brock: (looks at Ash funny) Ok, I guess that will work but…I thought you wanted to go train around the Indigo Plateau?
Ash: I changed my mind.
Brock: Ok. Any particular reason why?
Ash: (thinks hard) Not really, its just kind of a feeling I got. It just seemed right to me.
Brock: (shrugs) Whatever, man. We should get going as soon as we're done because we'll have to catch a bus to get up there.
Ash nods his head and begins to eat his food. The three humans and Pikachu finish their breakfast in relative silence, then Ash, Brock, and Pikachu leave for the bus station to catch the 8:15 bus to Cerulean.
meanwhile BREET BREET BREET BREET!!!
The loud, shrill siren of the alarm clock startles Misty out of her fitful sleep. Her mind still swims with a collage of images left over from her strange dream. Misty closes her eyes and tries to slow her breathing as the strange images slowly fade from her mind. After a moment she glances over at the alarm clock next to her bed and notes the time and date.
Misty: (long sigh, talks to herself) Yet another nondescript, boring day in my boring life as co-gym leader of the Cerulean Gym. (flops back onto the bed) Maybe I can pick up the dream again if I go back to sleep. At least it seemed interesting.
Daisy's voice: (calling up from downstairs) Misty, are you awake yet?? It's, like, time for Breakfast, you know.
Lily voice: Yeah, get your butt out of bed and down here or we're going to eat your share.
Misty: (sighs again and drags out of bed) Alright, alright, I'm coming, just give me a couple of minutes.
Misty heads into the bathroom and takes a very quick shower before changing into her trademark clothes and heading downstairs for Breakfast. Her three teenage sisters are already gathered around the kitchen table with steaming plates of waffles and bacon.
Violet: (gives her a condescending look) About time, slowpoke. We were just about to divide the last waffle up amongst ourselves.
Misty gives her and evil glare but says nothing as she sits down and helps herself to the last waffle and a couple strips of bacon.
Lily: (cleaning her nails) You really should set your alarm clock earlier and learn to get up faster. We aren't going to be so generous as to wait for you like this all the time, you know?
Misty: (glares at her plate) What's the rush? It's not like there is anything to look forward to. Every day is exactly the same.
Lily: What are you talking about? Don't you enjoy being one of the Cerulean Sensational sisters?
Misty: (stares at her) Not really. Being a gym leader is boring! All I get to do is just sit around here and wait for people to challenge us. It's the same thing every single day. (gives her sisters a pleading look) Why can't I go on my own Pokemon journey?? I want to see the world and learn all I can about water Pokemon, and I can't do that just sitting around here.
Daisy: But you can't leave!! You're the best battler out of all of us. Without you our gym would sink into obscurity.
Violet: (flips her hair) and besides, with you here to help handle the battle load we have more time to work on our synchronized swimming and water ballets.
Misty: (becomes steaming mad) All you three think about is yourselves, and you know what? I'm sick of it!!! (pushes away from the table and stands up angrily) I'm going out for the day. If I stay in this building another second I'll explode.
Lily: (stand up) But…Your scheduled as the designated gym leader for today. What if someone shows up looking for a match?
Misty: (gives her sisters a death glare) Handle it yourselves, because I really don't care!!! I'm out of here.
And with those words Misty angrily stomps out of the kitchen leaving her three very shocked sisters behind to fend for themselves.