Author's Notes: I guess that no one really cares for this fic anymore and
so I'll then eventually give up on it well before I reach the end, but no
matter. It's not like I really matter anyway; I'm just the author of these
fics to whoever reads them. Anyway, here's chapter 4.
*
Misty was nervous as she saw the challengers for Ash. Of course the challengers would face the elite four first and then if they were able to make it, they would then face Ash. Although Ash seemed to be confident in his ability, Misty wondered if Ash was beginning to become overconfident. As they reached the front doors of the Indigo Plateau, they found that an Officer Jenny was waiting and asked them to surrender their swords. Ash and Achmed did so willingly. Misty was surprised that Achmed allowed his sword to be given up so willingly. Misty expected Achmed to have been more resistant, but didn't give it much thought.
They made their way to the arena where Ash would wait for the challengers. They knew that it would be a while for any of the challengers to make it to them, even if the first one made it past the elite four. While they waited, Brock, Isuelt, and Lachlan arrived. They began to update each other of what went on during the year that they were away. Soon, Ash and Misty found out about how Gary was already a watcher. Ash was really surprised.
"Who's Gary?" Achmed asked.
"He was my biggest rival until I finally got the title of the Pokemon Master," Ash replied, smugly.
Misty put her hand to her head and shook her head slowly, trying not to make a comment about Ash and Gary, as she knew that it wouldn't be too good of a comment. Misty knew too well that there were still some bad feelings towards Ash and Gary, feelings that would need to be worked out over time. Misty also didn't want to make that time last any longer than it had to.
Only one of the few challengers actually made it to Ash and Ash and his pokemon didn't seem to have too much trouble, until the challenger pulled out her final pokemon, at this point, Ash only had his Pikachu and Charizard left. The challenger's final pokemon was a Rhydon. Ash seemed to get a little nervous, but still barked out orders to his Pikachu. It was obvious that Pikachu wouldn't be able to last long against the Rhydon, but it seemed that Ash was only trying to wear the Rhydon out. When Ash had to call back his Pikachu, he only did so when he knew that his Pikachu couldn't do anymore. Ash had his Charizard fly around, mostly making feints, but finally Ash deemed the time right and had his Charizard dive in and begin the final moments of the battle. Misty watched in fascination. It seemed that Ash had used tactics to neutralize Rhydon's rock defense and make it so tired that it couldn't do much more than try to use it's horn to attack an enemy that was still full of energy. Ash soon won and didn't have much difficulty towards the end.
As they were leaving, Ash, Achmed, and Lachlan suddenly stopped. Misty was confused, but it seemed that Brock and Isuelt understood what was happening. "What is it?" Misty asked.
"There's another immortal nearby," Achmed replied, beginning to run towards the entrance.
Everyone followed Achmed towards the front, not sure of what to expect. When they arrived, they found a man holding a bloody broadsword standing around several people who were dead. Ash recognized a couple of them as some of the challengers that he had faced. Achmed motioned for them to stay back, while he went over to Officer Jenny and spoke a few words to her. She nodded and handed him his Katana. Achmed walked over and cried, "Your time now ends!"
Both Achmed and the other immortal charged at each other and both parried each other's swings. At first it seemed to be a stalemate as neither would be able to get their sword past the other without letting the other's sword strike them. However, it soon was obvious that Achmed was going to lose the battle. Ash hurried with Lachlan right behind him over to Officer Jenny to get their swords back. They quickly received their swords and hurried to join the battle. However, when they got there, Achmed had already been struck down and lost his head.
The other immortal received Achmed's power and had already recovered to meet Ash and Lachlan. Unlike battling Achmed, Lanacan seemed to be at a disadvantage with two fighting him. The battle quickly showed how unmatched both Lachlan and Ash were. Lachlan was the first to fall. The enemy immortal then tried to take Lachlan's head, inadvertently giving Ash an opening. Ash took it and for the first time in his life he killed someone.
Misty stared in horror as she watched it happen. She knew that Ash wasn't like that and it would not be something that he would brag about. Misty could tell just by looking in his eyes which now had a haunted look to them. Misty could tell that it wasn't something that Ash was going to be at peace with for a while. Ash wiped his sword off on the grass and handed it back to Officer Jenny without another word. Lachlan followed suit and they all went back inside. This would be a night where they wouldn't get too much rest.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Are you sure you're all right?" Misty asked, again. They were both in their rooms and were sitting on the bed facing each other.
"Yes I'm sure I am," Ash replied. "It's just- it's just that everything seems to be different now."
"How?" Misty asked, not certain of how to respond.
"I took a life with my hands," Ash told Misty. "Now there is one less person in the world. What right did I have to kill him?"
"What right did he have to kill others?" Misty asked.
"I know, but does that make it right? No matter what I tell myself, it doesn't change the fact that he's dead now," Ash snapped.
Ash could see Misty staring now at him. Ash didn't know what he should do. Is this what I'll be doing until I finally get my head chopped off? Ash asked himself. Will I be able to continue without Misty? No matter how much Ash wanted the answers to these questions, he knew that he might not ever get an answer to any of them. What was worse was that he didn't feel that he could voice these questions no matter how much he really wanted to. He felt alone. The only one he thought might understand was Lachlan. He wanted to talk with Misty about this, but he couldn't bring himself to put these thoughts into Misty's mind for her to think about, if she hadn't already thought of them.
"I'm sorry, but I just can't think of what else I could have done," Ash apologized.
"There wasn't anything else you could have done," Misty comforted.
"You don't understand!" Ash cried, feeling tears flow freely over his eyes. "I killed someone today! I don't care what the circumstances were. Yes, it was in self-defense, but I still killed him!"
Ash heard Misty catch her breath as he finished. Ash then saw Misty try a few times to speak, swallow then, "Ash, I'm sorry. I just don't want to think of what would have happened if you had died."
Ash nodded, understanding completely. "I understand that you didn't want to kill him," Misty continued. "But, what's done is done. There isn't anything that we can do to stop what happened. I wish that we could as well. I know you aren't a killer, but I guess that we have to deal with what happened. You know that Officer Jenny won't arrest you, that man was already a murderer."
Ash knew that Misty meant well, but it just seemed to be all for nothing as he couldn't get over the fact that he killed someone. No matter what he wanted to believe, he couldn't get over that fact.
"I know, but I just can't figure out what else I could have done."
Misty sighed. Ash wondered what she was thinking, but figured that she was trying to think of what to say, but Ash couldn't think of what she could say that would help him. Ash wasn't certain that he knew what he should do. All I can do now is continue on being an immortal, Ash thought to himself, bitterly. Ash then decided to try to act cheerful and talk with Misty about their upcoming wedding that they still had to decide when to have it. Ash knew that one of their guests that they would have had now would not be able to come. Although Ash didn't like it, he had to admit that it was a little ironic that when he couldn't do anything, Achmed and Lachlan had saved them, and now he returned the favor in a small sense. Even though Achmed didn't make it, at least Lachlan still lived.
*
Author's Notes: If you want me to continue then review, otherwise I'll just stop.
*
Misty was nervous as she saw the challengers for Ash. Of course the challengers would face the elite four first and then if they were able to make it, they would then face Ash. Although Ash seemed to be confident in his ability, Misty wondered if Ash was beginning to become overconfident. As they reached the front doors of the Indigo Plateau, they found that an Officer Jenny was waiting and asked them to surrender their swords. Ash and Achmed did so willingly. Misty was surprised that Achmed allowed his sword to be given up so willingly. Misty expected Achmed to have been more resistant, but didn't give it much thought.
They made their way to the arena where Ash would wait for the challengers. They knew that it would be a while for any of the challengers to make it to them, even if the first one made it past the elite four. While they waited, Brock, Isuelt, and Lachlan arrived. They began to update each other of what went on during the year that they were away. Soon, Ash and Misty found out about how Gary was already a watcher. Ash was really surprised.
"Who's Gary?" Achmed asked.
"He was my biggest rival until I finally got the title of the Pokemon Master," Ash replied, smugly.
Misty put her hand to her head and shook her head slowly, trying not to make a comment about Ash and Gary, as she knew that it wouldn't be too good of a comment. Misty knew too well that there were still some bad feelings towards Ash and Gary, feelings that would need to be worked out over time. Misty also didn't want to make that time last any longer than it had to.
Only one of the few challengers actually made it to Ash and Ash and his pokemon didn't seem to have too much trouble, until the challenger pulled out her final pokemon, at this point, Ash only had his Pikachu and Charizard left. The challenger's final pokemon was a Rhydon. Ash seemed to get a little nervous, but still barked out orders to his Pikachu. It was obvious that Pikachu wouldn't be able to last long against the Rhydon, but it seemed that Ash was only trying to wear the Rhydon out. When Ash had to call back his Pikachu, he only did so when he knew that his Pikachu couldn't do anymore. Ash had his Charizard fly around, mostly making feints, but finally Ash deemed the time right and had his Charizard dive in and begin the final moments of the battle. Misty watched in fascination. It seemed that Ash had used tactics to neutralize Rhydon's rock defense and make it so tired that it couldn't do much more than try to use it's horn to attack an enemy that was still full of energy. Ash soon won and didn't have much difficulty towards the end.
As they were leaving, Ash, Achmed, and Lachlan suddenly stopped. Misty was confused, but it seemed that Brock and Isuelt understood what was happening. "What is it?" Misty asked.
"There's another immortal nearby," Achmed replied, beginning to run towards the entrance.
Everyone followed Achmed towards the front, not sure of what to expect. When they arrived, they found a man holding a bloody broadsword standing around several people who were dead. Ash recognized a couple of them as some of the challengers that he had faced. Achmed motioned for them to stay back, while he went over to Officer Jenny and spoke a few words to her. She nodded and handed him his Katana. Achmed walked over and cried, "Your time now ends!"
Both Achmed and the other immortal charged at each other and both parried each other's swings. At first it seemed to be a stalemate as neither would be able to get their sword past the other without letting the other's sword strike them. However, it soon was obvious that Achmed was going to lose the battle. Ash hurried with Lachlan right behind him over to Officer Jenny to get their swords back. They quickly received their swords and hurried to join the battle. However, when they got there, Achmed had already been struck down and lost his head.
The other immortal received Achmed's power and had already recovered to meet Ash and Lachlan. Unlike battling Achmed, Lanacan seemed to be at a disadvantage with two fighting him. The battle quickly showed how unmatched both Lachlan and Ash were. Lachlan was the first to fall. The enemy immortal then tried to take Lachlan's head, inadvertently giving Ash an opening. Ash took it and for the first time in his life he killed someone.
Misty stared in horror as she watched it happen. She knew that Ash wasn't like that and it would not be something that he would brag about. Misty could tell just by looking in his eyes which now had a haunted look to them. Misty could tell that it wasn't something that Ash was going to be at peace with for a while. Ash wiped his sword off on the grass and handed it back to Officer Jenny without another word. Lachlan followed suit and they all went back inside. This would be a night where they wouldn't get too much rest.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Are you sure you're all right?" Misty asked, again. They were both in their rooms and were sitting on the bed facing each other.
"Yes I'm sure I am," Ash replied. "It's just- it's just that everything seems to be different now."
"How?" Misty asked, not certain of how to respond.
"I took a life with my hands," Ash told Misty. "Now there is one less person in the world. What right did I have to kill him?"
"What right did he have to kill others?" Misty asked.
"I know, but does that make it right? No matter what I tell myself, it doesn't change the fact that he's dead now," Ash snapped.
Ash could see Misty staring now at him. Ash didn't know what he should do. Is this what I'll be doing until I finally get my head chopped off? Ash asked himself. Will I be able to continue without Misty? No matter how much Ash wanted the answers to these questions, he knew that he might not ever get an answer to any of them. What was worse was that he didn't feel that he could voice these questions no matter how much he really wanted to. He felt alone. The only one he thought might understand was Lachlan. He wanted to talk with Misty about this, but he couldn't bring himself to put these thoughts into Misty's mind for her to think about, if she hadn't already thought of them.
"I'm sorry, but I just can't think of what else I could have done," Ash apologized.
"There wasn't anything else you could have done," Misty comforted.
"You don't understand!" Ash cried, feeling tears flow freely over his eyes. "I killed someone today! I don't care what the circumstances were. Yes, it was in self-defense, but I still killed him!"
Ash heard Misty catch her breath as he finished. Ash then saw Misty try a few times to speak, swallow then, "Ash, I'm sorry. I just don't want to think of what would have happened if you had died."
Ash nodded, understanding completely. "I understand that you didn't want to kill him," Misty continued. "But, what's done is done. There isn't anything that we can do to stop what happened. I wish that we could as well. I know you aren't a killer, but I guess that we have to deal with what happened. You know that Officer Jenny won't arrest you, that man was already a murderer."
Ash knew that Misty meant well, but it just seemed to be all for nothing as he couldn't get over the fact that he killed someone. No matter what he wanted to believe, he couldn't get over that fact.
"I know, but I just can't figure out what else I could have done."
Misty sighed. Ash wondered what she was thinking, but figured that she was trying to think of what to say, but Ash couldn't think of what she could say that would help him. Ash wasn't certain that he knew what he should do. All I can do now is continue on being an immortal, Ash thought to himself, bitterly. Ash then decided to try to act cheerful and talk with Misty about their upcoming wedding that they still had to decide when to have it. Ash knew that one of their guests that they would have had now would not be able to come. Although Ash didn't like it, he had to admit that it was a little ironic that when he couldn't do anything, Achmed and Lachlan had saved them, and now he returned the favor in a small sense. Even though Achmed didn't make it, at least Lachlan still lived.
*
Author's Notes: If you want me to continue then review, otherwise I'll just stop.