Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. Nope, not even .00000001%!
Usagi: Hey! What do you mean Mr. Disclaimer?! *pulls out a bokken* I've been practicing with this here wooden sword and Tajiri-sama won't be able to hit me with his shoes anymore! Hiii-yaaaa!!
Pikachu: chaaaaa....
Usagi: What's that sigh for Pika-Pika?! *lets out a huff* I will be able to defend myself in the art of kendo! Let's see Tajiri-sama hit me with a shoe now!!
A shoe comes flying Usagi's way and pounds her straight in the head, knocking her to the ground.
Usagi: Waaaaa!! What in the...How'd--?
Tajiri-sama: Ha ha ha! Zuniataru!! Donkusai...
Mr. Tajiri: Ha ha ha! Right on target!! You're so irritating...
Usagi: RRRRR!!*face beat red* Tajiri-sama!! Next time I'll pay more attention!!....*thinks about what he said*...HEY I'M NOT IRRITATING!!!
Author's Notes: Hello, hello, hello!! And Welcome to the next chapter of Nightmare Mansion! What number is this *counts on fingers* So many I lost count! Sheesh, it should be coming to a close real soon! Yay--then I can finally work on my other story! Yay, Yay! ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ Happy happy happy!
Nightmare Mansion
Chapter Fifthteen :: Thriving on Hatred
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
You mustn't give up hope. You are the only one who can save them.
The warm light drifted around Ash, softly embracing his cold body. Within the light emerged a small figure, gliding along with the rays. He felt the rays gingerly warm his skin, causing a smile to form across his lips.
Only you can save her...
"...who...?" Ash breathed, taking in the peaceful warmth.
You must save her.
"Who...?" He asked again, slowly opening his eyes.
The figure before Ash still lay in the bathing light, making it impossible to see the true form of the figure. Stretching out his arms towards the welcoming figure that brought so much warmth, he asked softly in a daze:
"Who...are you?"
You must save her. You must save Yuuki from the demon that has possessed her.
The statement brought Ash crashing back into the agonizing reality that was his life. Now he wanted entirely nothing to do with this being in front of him. Dropping his hands, not caring for the splendid warmth radiating off of the figure, he lowered his head and let out a low sigh.
"Can't I at least....die in peace?"
The figure casually brushed off the question as if it were never asked and continued with what she was saying.
You must understand. Yuuki is a very nice young girl....unfortunately...
The figure fell silent, not finishing the sentence. Ash looked up and raised a brow. Now that he really looked, he realized the figure was actually very small. It was much to small to be a human. He stepped a little closer in curiosity, now wanting to know just who...or what this thing was.
"Just...who are you...?" His question was more of a demand than a question.
There was a soft laugh that came from the figure. Slowly it stepped...well floated out of the light and into view. Ash stepped back in shock, staring unbelievingly at the figure before him. The little pokemon stared on in what looked like amusement. It's half cracked shell body radiating the warm light that Ash found so intoxicating.
"Eh...h-how..."
The little egg shaped pokemon chuckled and floated over to Ash. The light pouring off of the little pokemon was rendering him helpless. The warm light was consoling him, making his heart at ease. His head was all messed up, as the warmth settled in, all he could think of was her. The way she smiled, the way she would brighten when he'd give in and rent a hotel. The way she smelled....Oh God, her scent drove him mad.
As he stood there, bathed in Togepi's light, he started to realize how familiar it felt. He'd felt it before. The same warmth. His eyes widened, realizing why it was so familiar. It was the same as hers....as Misty's. The same kind warmth that flowed all around her, making his legs go weak and his heart beat fast. It was the same.
"The...same..." he breathed out.
Yes....Misty and myself have always had a strong bond...She is...after all my mother.
Ash, snapping back into reality, looked up at Togepi, cradling his throbbing head. "How...When..." He shook his head, ridding himself of his hazy thoughts, "How can you talk? And--And how do you know Yuuki?!"
I do not know Yuuki. Her friends have told me of what is happening.
Togepi looked in back of her pointing to the ball of light she had come from. Turning back to Ash, she smiled. Drifting slowly towards him, she comfortably placed herself in his arms, hugging his chest.
Ash welcomed her with no objections. As Togepi hugged his chest, her light filled his heart. Closing his eyes and smiling, he happily accepted her warmth. He could feel his strength returning, his heart growing strong again.
You want to save her don't you?
"Who?"
Misty of course.
"I'd do anything just to see her safe again...in my arms..." he mumbled.
What about Pikachu and Brock?
"Of course! I just want everything back to normal. I want everyone safe."
Good. Then let that guide you. The only way to save Misty and everyone else is to save Yuuki. I have been informed...by her friends...her real friends...that all these years she's been unstable. Her emotions going through so many stages, mostly in hatred and anger. Thus, this demon you see now, was created....
"A demon..?"
Yes. The girl you know is no longer Yuuki, but the demon formed from her hatred and anger itself. That is what it feeds off. Yuuki is constantly angered by you and possess a hatred towards you so fierce that the demon that thrived in her was finally getting such a strong supply of negative emotions that it took over her...completely.
"...So...this is...all my fault..." Ash stated so low, Togepi just barely could catch it.
No, not at all. She was doomed from the beginning. She hates you so much because she sees how strong your bond is with Misty. You've brought her back to you more than once and that proves how strong your friendship is.
"If our friendship is so strong...then why isn't she here with me now...safe in my arms..."
Ash bowed his head as regret once again flooded over him. The painful memory of her desperately calling out for him once again playing through his mind. She believed in him. The one time she actually needed him, he was powerless to save her. Tears formed in his eyes as flashes of her terrified face tormented him.
Togepi lifted out of his arms and grabbed his hand. He looked up when she yanked on it, his eyes stained with tears. She pulled him towards the light and he reluctantly obliged.
Now is not the time to sulk. We must hurry. In order to save Yuuki you must defeat the demon that has possessed her. Once the demon is destroyed, Yuuki will be back to normal....and we will get everyone back.
"De-Destroy? How--"
I do not know...Yuuki's friends...they did not know either...
Togepi guided him to the ball of radiating light. She turned to him, her small body set in a firm, serious look. Ash looked down at the little pokemon, a bit confused. Togepi's body began to overflow with light as she neared him. Confused by Togepi's sudden movement, Ash took a step back, startled.
"Wha..What are you--"
Before Ash could even finish his question, Togepi reached for him, her little paws gently brushing his chest. Light filled his soul and once again he felt the dizzy, overwhelming warmth flow through him. His head spun as images of Misty flooded his mind. Her soft smile, her touch, her warmth.
This will protect you from the darkness the demon casts.
Ash was so wrapped up in the wonderful feel of Togepi's warmth, which was almost identical to that of Misty's that he almost didn't hear her. Jerking his head, images of Misty still playing in his mind, he replied with a confused grunt.
We are going to break the barrier the demon has cast. I needed to protect you from it....are you ready..? We have to move fast.
"...We...?" Snapping his head down towards the egg pokemon, he questioned, "Your going too?"
Well of course. I must protect you from the demons spell. If I'm not there you'll just get thrown back into the endless black depths of ebony once again...and we'll be right back where we started...
"All right. I'm ready." He said seriously, pushing his lingering thoughts of Misty back into the depths of his mind.
All right. Now we step into the light.
Ash grabbed Togepi and held her tightly in his arms. He quickly made his way towards the ball of light. The light emitting from it was so fierce that he had to cover his eyes with the shade of his arm. The light was getting hotter and hotter as he neared. He unconsciously slowed down, a little scared of going in it.
Ash! We must hurry! Why in God's name are you slowing down?!
"Sorry." He muttered as he broke out into a all out run.
The light was blinding him. It was so bright that he couldn't hold his eyes open. If he was already in the ball of light, he did not know. All he knew was that he was still running and the light only seemed to get bright even through his closed lids.
The light was so intense that Ash found himself lacking air. His chest clinched up in a attempt to absorb air that was no longer getting sent to it. He began to choke and wheeze. His heart was pounding a million beats a second and his chest felt like it was going to explode at any given minute.
Just a little further Ash! Hang in there! Whatever you do--don't slow down!
That was easy for her to say, she was the one just sitting in his arms. His legs felt like boulders. And his head felt like it was hollow, he wouldn't be surprized if it started to float off his shoulders. At this very minute the idea didn't seem all that bad, due to the head-splitting migraine that was pounding in the depts of his head.
If he thought for a second that it couldn't get any brighter than this, he was wrong. Within a second, everything exploded in a mass of extreme brightness. Ash's hand flung up to sheild his closed eyes, but it didn't help. They burned like they were on fire and he screamed like he'd never screamed before. Somewhere in the distance he could hear Togepi shouting something at him, but he didn't catch any of it.
The darkness came no slower than the light. One minute he's screaming bloody murder as his eyes burn and the next everything turns black. His body falls to the floor helplessly as everything around him fades into nothingness...
Ash....
Ash....Please...
You have....you have to wake up..
Please....Ash...
His head was screaming, his eyes were burning, his stomach felt like it had just been through a hurricane, and not to mention the rest of his body which he could hardly feel. Somewhere he could hear someone calling out to him. For a moment he wondered who it was, but he was to weak to dwell on it.
He was warm all over. He could feel some of his energy returning to him as the soft warmth cradled him. He took in a deep breath and smelled it. His breath caught in his throat and his heart beat quickened. There was no doubt about it, it was her scent. The scent that drove him mad everytime she walked passed him, the same scent that lingered in the bathroom after she'd taken a shower. It was Misty's scent. But did that mean that...? Was she there? Was she sitting next to him at this very moment trying to heal his wounds?
He faught with his body and forced himself to open his eyes in hope that she would be there. Maybe this had just all been a horrible dream and now he has finally woken up and she's here, with him.
"M..Misty...?" he asked the voice, fealing dazed.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
So, so?? How was it?! There's still a few more chapters left before the end finally comes! Stay tuned minna-san for the upcoming chapters are going to get deep--real deep! Wahahahaha!!
I hope minna-san*everyone* likes my story and will stay tuned and read the upcoming ones!
OHHHHH!!! AND Thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou!!! Everyone who has reviewed! I've been getting so many AWESOME reviews--you people have me jumping up and down with a huge grin plastured on my face when I read all of your WONDERFUL reviews! You all make me sooooooo happy! Thankyou thankyou! I just LOVE to read them! Thankyou soooo much, I'm soo happy...I could just..*sniff* I'll stop now before I cry!
Thanks again soooooooooo much minna-san!
Usagi and Pika-Pika