Disclaimer: Ash, Misty, Pikachu, Brock...They are all property of the almighty, one of a kind Tajiri-sama!

Usagi: More like the almighty, shoe throwing Tajiri-sama! *rubs huge shoe imprint on face* Tajiri-sama decided to bombard me with shoes since I hadn't updated in such a long time!

Pikachu: pikachu chu? (Why didn't you guard with your bokken?)

Usagi: *sweatdropps* AHEM..*cough*..I sort of threw it up in..*cough* the tree last week...

Pikachu: (and WHY were you throwing it?)

Usagi: I wasn't throwing it!...I..um...fell down our porch stairs...and it...flew out-

Pikachu: Pika pika?! Pi Pi Pi Pi, Pika pika!! (You tripped?! Ha ha ha ha, You tripped!!)

Usagi: *face beet red* OH BE QUIET PIKACHU!! *stomps off in a rage*

Pikachu: Pika pikachu! pi pi, pika pika! (Have fun reading this chapter! he he, she tripped!)

Usagi: I heard that PIKACHU!

Author's Notes: WAAAAAA! Please don't kill me! I know, I know--It's been a long time since I last updated! I know, I know! Well at least it's finally here, right? Now you'll just have to wait another year for me to update the next chapter! Just kidding, Just kidding! It was a joke, hopefully I'll be able to update before then...



Warning: This chapter has the use of a light swear word. Just a safe warning, since this is the first time I wrote any bad language in a chapter.



Nightmare Mansion
Chapter Sixteen :: Deprived of Life



He fought 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, feeling dazed.



His eyes slowly opened, taking in the scene. The first thing that came to his mind was how blue the sky really was. White, puffy clouds floated, aimlessly through the wide open space that never seems to end. His gaze drifted downward to a tall, shady tree, its prickly leaves extending out to offer him such wonderful shade.

A light moan escaped his lips as his head tilted to the side to peer out at the endless hills of a stretching golden valley. It's so peaceful... he thought as a smile made its way across his face.

Feeling so content, he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. The scent of Honeysuckle's entered his nose and left him dizzy. Misty. Honeysuckle's. Her scent. In that instant his eyes flew open. Hovering over him was the only girl he ever dreamed of, her golden orange hair gently rising and falling with the wind. Her delicate smile reached into his soul, filling him with happiness. She was lightly brushing her thumb against his forehead, playing with his ebony hair. It was then that he noticed his head was lying in her lap.

"Myst...?"

His voice came out, flowing with his breath, weak. Her beautiful oceanblue orbs softened as she continued to stroke his hair. Her bangs slightly moved across her forehead in a teasing manner as she tilted her head, a thoughtful look on her face.

"You're awake." she smiled. "You looked so cute, asleep."

A blush crept to his cheeks as he looked at her with a loss of words. He opened his mouth wanting to say something, but when nothing came to mind, he closed his mouth and looked puzzled. She giggled at the look he was giving her and lowered her head to his. His first reaction was to draw back at her sudden closeness, but since he was up against her lap, it didn't work to well. An amused smile reached her lips as she pulled closer to him and lightly brushed her lips upon his cheek.

"I'll always protect you, no matter what Ash..." she whispered as her soft lips lifted off his cheek.

"Misty..." he looked up at her with a warm smile, "...Thank you."

A sigh escaped his mouth as she continued to stroke his hair with her hand. He slowly closed his eyes with only one word running through his head. Angel... This place was heavenly, he wanted to stay here forever. The sky was so blue, the grass so green, and the sun shinning its golden rays across the valley making it look unreal. This was his heaven.

Ash....

Ash! Please, wake up!

Shrilling cries of a forgotten pokemon rang through Ash's mind, shattering his heaven and crashing him into the excruciating reality which was his life. His eyes shot open, only to find that he lay on a hard, cold marble floor. His head was screaming with torment, feeling like molten lava was burning right through it.. Everything was dark, a small torch lit the walls, casting eerie shadows among the walls. They were dancing away from the dim light, which seemed to be clinging to the cold walls.

"W-Where..?"

Ash! You're all right! I thought you wouldn't make it!

Ash pulled himself up and let out a agonizing moan as all senses returned to him. His body felt like it had been to hell and back, and considering the circumstances, he had. His body just wanted to quit right then and there, it felt like cement.

Take it easy, Your body's been through a lot.

"No kidding." Ash replied sarcastically, glaring over at Togepi.

Ash took a few seconds to glance around the darkened layer. The place was cold and damp. He shivered as an uneasiness ran up his spine.

"So...Where are we..?"

In Yuuki's mind.

Togepi took hold of Ash's index finger and led him down the dreary layers, into a dimly lit room. At the end of the room was a giant door, towering over everything else. Ash stared in amazement up at the enormous, transcending corridor in front of him.

"What is this..?"

This is the entranceway to Yuuki's world. Behind this door lies your friends and all the answers to your questions.

"Well then, let's go." Said Ash as he stepped forward.

Right. But you must be careful Ash. Yuuki controls her world, you must not be brash.

Togepi floats up to Ash's side and gives him a small, worried smile. She recollects her attention back onto the door in font of them. Closing her eyes, a warm glow begins to surround her body. Ash watches in amazement as the giant iron door slowly begins to open, creaking as it seems that the door hadn't been opened in quite some time.

Rays of light burst through the doors cracks, igniting the corridor with light. The shadows that had once been dancing on the walls had all retreated to the end of the hall, hiding from the unwelcome light. A light smell of flowers reached Ash as he inhaled. The new scent contrasted to the old murky smell of the chambers cold, wet walls. He could already imagine the beautiful fields of flowers that lie behind the door.

A moan escaped the little egg pokemon's mouth before she collapsed onto the ground. Light spilled out of her body, sucked into the rays bursting into the room. It took a few seconds to register what had happened and he hurriedly ran to Togepi's side, scooping her up in his arms.

"Are you all right?"

Yes, I'm fine. Let's go, we have no time to waste.

Ash nodded in understanding, then began to step through the opening in the door. With a flash of light, suddenly he was in a field of wild flowers. Cherry blossoms danced in the air, glided by the gentle breeze. The breeze brought the scents of flowers to his nose and he found himself in a daze. 'This is just like...'

Ash this is the world Yuuki lives in.

"It's...." he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, "Beautiful."

This is her garden. At least this is how she remembers it.

Ash continued to stare in awe at his wondrous surroundings. The fields so colorful, the sky so blue, the air so clean. He inhaled, the wonderful sent filling his lungs once again, leaving his whole body aching for more. A smile touched his lips as he closed his eyes and just took it all in. But his sudden realization left him feeling bitter. It was all fake. The flowers, the sky, the gentle breeze caressing his cheek. It was all fake, thought up by a crazed girl.

"Where are my friends? I have no time to revel about Yuuki's fake world." Ash asked bitterly, burying the comforting sense this world gave him.

This world was once real Ash. This was her garden. She was the only one who took care of it.

Ash looked at Togepi shocked. "She kept it as beautiful as this...just by herself?!"

She found it in a ruin, everything on the verge of death. It was alone and dying, just like her. She loved this garden and spent almost all her time here. She brought it back to life, and her garden loved her. It seemed as though it flourished just for her. It made her happy and healthy again.

Ash remained silent. He couldn't believe such a selfish girl as Yuuki could pour her whole soul into keeping a garden alive and...beautiful. Someone so selfish care about something so little as a wilting flower? It didn't make sense to him.

It's dead now.

"What...?" Ash asked confused.

Her garden. When she died, it died. At the same exact moment she passed, it wilted. Her bond with garden was so intense that it died with her. Some say she intertwined her spirit and soul with the garden and that's why both died at the same time, because they were one.

Ash looked out, around him at the beautiful flourishing garden. So they live her together. Where Yuuki is, her garden thrives. It was her world after all. Maybe it wasn't so fake after all, but it certainly wasn't real in their world. It only existed in her world. Maybe he only misunderstood Yuuki. She seems to be confused, trapped within her world, only to think it is real. She's lost. Now, to Ash, she was a confused little girl in need of someone to show her the light, literally.

"Well Togepi, shall we go then?" he smiled over at her, "Let's go get our friends back."

Ash began to walk through the wild flowers, Togepi clutched tightly in his arms. I'm coming guys... His eyes sparked with determination. Misty...



"To my great friends!" Yuuki chimed, lifting her tea cup up to her lips. "We'll always be happy, won't we?" Misty, Brock, and Pikachu all sat in a chair around a small white table. They all simultaneously lifted their tea cups to there lips and agreed with Yuuki before drinking. Even as they drunk, they all seemed to have blank expressions on their faces.

Yuuki can't help but smile, as she gleams over at her new friends. No one could take them away now. She'd made sure of it. They all belonged to her now, body and soul. She glanced over at Misty's blank expression and her face saddened. Slowly she lifted her hand from her lap and placed it atop Misty's hand. Misty looked over at Yuuki, a small smile on her lips but the smile didn't reach her lifeless eyes.

"I'm sorry Misty." Yuuki said in a soft, pained, whisper. "I just can't let him take you away again. To make sure he can't reach you...I had to do this...."

Misty continued to smile at Yuuki as though nothing she said got to her. Yuuki removed her hand and sighed, burying her face into her hands. She hated this. What's the point of having friends when they're deprived of their soul?

All three friends set their tea cups down on top the table, finished with their tea. They all looked at Yuuki to pour more tea. With a sigh she picked up the tea kettle, but realized it was empty. She smiled over at her friends as she got up from her chair.

"It seems we're out of tea. I shall go make some more." Yuuki turned towards her mansion behind her. "Please excuse me."

Misty, Brock, and Pikachu all watched her go, staring blankly. Slowly, they turned their heads back towards each other. Staring blankly at one another, not saying a word.



Ash stopped when he heard Yuuki's voice from behind the hedges in font of him. Swiftly, he jumped behind them, hiding himself from her.

"Please excuse me."

He peeked his head above the hedge to see Yuuki walking into a part of the garden that was unusually dark. Her form slowly disappeared into the darkness. He watched intently for her to return but was sidetracked by what caught his eye.

Sitting at a small white table, right on the other side of the hedges he was hiding behind were his friends, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu. Without thinking he jumped up and rushed around the shaved hedge bush and ran towards his friends.

Ash wait, it could be a trap!

Ash was totally oblivious to the little Pokemon's words. He practically tripped, running to his friends. A smile spread across his face as he called out to his friends.

"Brock, Pikachu, Misty!!" He continued to run towards them, through the maze of hedges. "I'm so glad I've found you! I thought I'd---"

He stopped dead in his tracks, a look of horror across his face, as his friends turned towards him. They peered at him with lifeless, blank eyes. Ash's eyes widened in fear. What in the world? Their eyes held no light, no emotion. Their eyes, they were dead.

Fear flooded through his body and he ran to Misty's side. Violently, he shook her. She rocked back and forth, but her expression stayed the same. She made no motion of being uncomfortable, she didn't yell, her eyes showed she felt nothing. She was nothing.

"Misty? Misty! Misty, what's wrong with you?!" He shook her harder. Tears filling his eyes, as panic rose within him. "Please, say something! Yell at me, whack me---I don't care what, Please."

It was no use. He glanced up at his friends, who were all looking right through him. He looked down at Misty, who he had stopped shaking. Her hair was in a mess, but her face remained pale, her eyes holding no light. Shaking his head, he let go of her and backed away.

"W-What's wrong with them..?" Ash yelled, staring in disbelief. "It's me guys. Wake up. Please."

He slowly walked back to Misty and placed his hands on her shoulder. He bent down to stare straight into her eyes, his face pleading. "Please..." He gently shook her. "What's wrong, wake up."

It's too late....

Ash turned his head towards Togepi, who was shaking her head, her head bowed. Ash's eyes widened in horror. Togepi floated up to Ash and placed a paw on his arm. Tears filled his eyes at what she said next.

We can no longer save them. She's taken away their souls. They're just lifeless puppets. That girl before you is no longer Misty, just a lifeless body...

Ash turned towards Misty, his eyes wide, tears began to slowly stream down his cheeks. She made no notice to this, her eyes stayed blank. She had no soul, no will. She was gone...

"No...."

He pulled her into a hug. Gripping her tight, he sobbed into her shoulder, tears freely flowing down his cheeks. No more holding back. He didn't care if it made him weak. His friends were gone. Yuuki had taken them away. She had gone to far. She had taken them away. She had taken Misty away. A sob racked within his body, and he hugged Misty closer. This wasn't happening....This couldn't be happening....

They were all gone.

Misty was gone.

".....Myst....." he cried through a sob. "Don't leave me..."



That's it for now!! I hope everyone's happy that I finally updated! Please no throwing Tomato's or Sticks! I'll update as soon as I can....which isn't saying much...but I'll try, k?



Review please!

Usagi and Pika-Pika love to read review's! It makes us squeal with glee!