Part 11 – The Power Within
"Ytre….Sym…Ehtk…Colnu……."
***
What would you do? What would you do if you found out that you alone are the protector of the earth. The sole man chosen by the gods themselves to eliminate evil were ever it reared it's ugly head. What would you do knowing the lives of billions are in your hands? That's what Ash wants to know.
Since that fateful day when Articuno came into his life, nothing had been the same since. To him even having a pokemon battle, one of the few joys in his life was now…ancient history. His life was changing every day and he couldn't stop it. A part of him wanted to back to the way things were, but the rest of him knew that he couldn't run away from this huge responsibility. But what helped him along the way was his two reasons for being, Brock and Misty. These two had been with him through the toughest test's and the through the ups and the downs of his journey. They never faltered, they were always by his side, even now in his darkest hour. And out of both of them Misty was the most compassionate. But Ash could see the Misty was scared, she was afraid of change. And something this big doesn't come around everyday. True they have been through some rough times, but nothing like this. All Ash wanted to know is, is this a curse or a blessing in disguise. Time will tell, but how long can one wait for the inevitable?
After capturing Lugia, Ash underwent another change. He had lost most of his depression and was now much more alive with energy. After the event on the beach they all went to a local diner to eat and discuss what had happened. Ash took some time explaining to Professor Oak what was happening to him. And the more he talked the more Misty's grew wide with fear.
As Oak took down a million notes, his excitement was very clear as he smiled and laughed from ear to ear. Brock's calm demeanor didn't change the whole time Ash had been talking. He only brought his hand to his chin, signaling that he was thinking, but he never said anything. As their breakfast was served that's when Brock noticed the first change in Ash. It was soon after he had picked up his glass of orange juice that it shattered in a million fragments. Sending the juice onto his pants and the glass shards sticking into his hand. He screamed, mostly from surprise and began yanking out the glass. Misty ran over to a waitress to bring a large towel and some water. The wounds began to flow with blood and he cursed the cheap manufacturing of the glass.
When Misty finally came back with the towel she noticed that he had stopped bleeding. For several deeps cuts, that wasn't right, by all means it should have bled for more then a minute. Ash took of the glove on his hand and inspected the cuts. They were so small all they could see were big red lines were the glass had sunk into his flesh. Other then that his hand look completely fine. Brock gasped and grabbed his hand. He held it under the light and yelled for everybody to look. As they leaned in to see, they noticed that the thick red lines were slowly disappearing right before their eyes. Soon the red marks became very faint and then disappeared leaving only the pale color of his skin. They all stared in shock even Professor Oak hadn't seen anything like that in all of his years healing pokemon.
"How did you do that! Was that a trick or something?!" Brock yelled.
They began to scream at each other, bewildered at what just transpired. Ash inspected his hand and there were absolutely no trace of cuts, or scars or any damage. He was starting to get freaked out.
The gears in Brocks head began to turn as he reached for his knife. Ash looked at Brock, then at the knife and the crazy glint in his squinty eyes.
"Hold him down!"
The Professor lunged for his arm and pinned it to the table as Misty tried to keep herself as well as Ash calm.
"what are you doing!" Ash yelled
"a science experiment" Brock proclaimed
And with a simple swipe of the blade he made a semi-deep cut on the tip of Ash's finger. As he cursed and screamed they began to get a lot of attention from the other diners. Brock turned to them. "We're rehearsing a play…"
The diners seemed content with that and continued to eat their meals. Brock quickly sat down and looked at Ash's hand. There was more blood on his finger and he couldn't see anything. After taking a napkin and wiping off the finger he gasped as he couldn't find the cut he had just made. His finger was completely healed. Even Pikachu who had now just jumped onto the table was looking very confused.
"…Accelerated healing…"
All three trainers and Pikachu whipped their heads towards the Professor. "What!?" The all screamed.
"its accelerated healing, Ash's body can some how repair itself very rapidly. I myself have seen it in some pokemon, but never in a human."
Those words struck deep with Ash. He recollected his conversation with Lugia while he was in that dream world.
"He had the flesh and blood of a man but he also had the deep hidden power of a pokemon…."
Ash fell back into his chair. "……..i think I'm gonna throw up…"
Brock brought his hand back to his chin as he once again much to Ash's dismay, began to think. Brock quickly began to clear the table and once completed stuck out his arm to Ash.
"come on let's have an arm wrestling match!"
Ash sighed. "But I have never been able to beat you…"
"I have to know something…..just do it….Misty you say 'go' alright?"
Ash reached out and grabbed Brock's hand loosly as he had no intention of winning since in the million times they have done this, Brock had always won. They stared each other down in the classic arm wrestling way and waited for Misty to cue them."
"Ready……"
They tightened each others grip, Brock began to squirm when he felt Ash almost crush his hand. He was about to go back on the whole thing when Misty screamed "GO!"
Almost instantly Ash slammed down Brock's arm and sent him tumbling out of the booth. Ash stared dumbly at his hand and frowned. "you let me win didn't you!"
Brock bolted upright and sat back down in the booth. He quickly put out his hand. "Let's do it again!"
*Whump*
"Again!"
*Whump*
"AGAIN!"
*Whump*
Brock rubbed his arm and picked himself off the floor for the fourth time. Embarrassed and sore he sat back down and sulked. "How did you do that Ash?…."
This was all happening way to fast, not only was his way of life changing but his body as well. It felt like the room began to circle around him. He found himself breathing harder as his heart began to palpitate. Professor Oak quickly got a bag from off another table and gave it to Ash as he began to hyperventilate. It was no use, Ash's eyes sunk back into his head and he passed out over the table.
Brock poked him with his fork, then raised his hand to the waitress. "…check please…"
*****
~"sir, there is some people here to see you"~
"Hmm? I don't have any appointments….what do they look like?"
~"Well……kinda tired…"~
"What? Are they part of Team Rocket or not?"
~"Yes Sir they are, they have a pokemon with them…it talks."
"Ah, that's Jessie and James, my two low class subordinates doing a little undercover work for me, send them in."
~"Yes sir."~
Giovanni leaned back in his chair and awaited the arrival of James and Jessie, and what ever horrible news they might of brought with them. The door from across his office slow opened and in stepped, well more like limped in the three loser of Team Rocket.
They propped himself up with sticks and had many rips in there uniforms. Their hair was messed and they were quite dirty. Giovanni looked at them in disgust. "What on earth are you doing here?! Your supposed to be out watching that kid for me! And salute me when your in my presence!"
They quickly straightened their sloping backs and gave respect to their leader. Jessie spoke up first. "Sir we have urgent news, even we are surprised at the recent events surrounding the twerp….I mean the subject in question." She said, trying her best to sound professional in front of her boss.
Giovanni tapped his desk with a pen as he stared them both down. "Well? Let's have it! I'm a busy man!"
Team Rocket jumped at his outburst. Jessie quickly took out a notebook and videotape. "Instead of telling you, let's show you instead."
Jessie handed Meowth the tape, he scampered over to the TV on his shelf next to the text and popped in the video. The screen flickered to life as the video queued up. There was a bit of static at first but soon a blurry image appeared on the screen and to Giovanni's complete surprise the glorious site of Lugia was thrown across the TV. The leader of team Rocket almost fell out of his chair as he watched the video. He ran over to the screen and watched the amazing spectacle. On the video the footage panned to the left and he could also see the other three legendary birds, but he could also see something in between them. It was hard to make out, there was a lot hazy blue light around him. Then suddenly the video went out and nothing but static could be seen. Giovanni whipped his head towards what he first thought were bumbling fools but were in fact the most brilliant members of Team Rocket he had ever had.
"Where did you get this!" he yelled as he rewound the tape.
Meowth polished his claws on his coat. "Why it was care of the Professor. Youse see, we were snoopin around like you told us to and suddenly we were smack dab in the middle of a huge storm. We got tossed around like rag dolls and ended up lying on a beach. When we came to we saw the twerp running down the beach followed by the other twerps and the old Professor. We didn't want to be found so we quickly disguised ourselves as driftwood and spied on him. It was one of the most amazing experience I have ever witnessed. The twerp began to glow all blue and rose into the air, and on top of dat, Lugia appeared out of no where. And much to our surprise the twerp actually captured Lugia. During the 'what ever it was' the Prof was making a video but the camera exploded. After they left he left the bits behind, we recovered the tape, although slightly damaged we were able to extract this footage." Meowth proudly beamed, also trying it's hardest to sound professional in front of the Boss.
Giovanni was at a lost for words. Something wasn't right here. He played the tape again and watch the figure in the center of the birds as it hovered there in front of Lugia. "Are you saying that the 'twerp' has captured Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres and Lugia?"
James raised his hand. "……yes."
"This is very interesting…." Giovanni walked around his desk as he brewed up a plan in his clouded mind. "okay…..this is what we do, I allow this 'twerp' to capture more pokemon for me, then we will strike. It's brilliant, since I am the chosen one, I will be the one to rule all pokemon even the legendary pokemon. This boy will do all the work, and I will reap the benfits. It is true that he is an astonishing trainer to have captured the legendary birds, but I am the Chosen One. And when I want something, I am bound by fate to get it……for now you will continue to follow this boy and report back to me. I will begin the preparations for the strike. Tell me, is the boy competing in the Johto league?"
James raised his hand "yes sir"
"Excellent…tell me, what is the boy's name? I would like to know the name of the one whose life I will destroy"
Team Rocket looked at each other. "Well, his name is Ash Ketchum…."
"…..Ketchum you say?"
"Yes sir…….what's wrong, you look troubled?"
"It's nothing, I've heard that name before…..somewhere…now get out of my site!"
Team Rocket ran out his office leaving the tape behind. Giovanni rewound the video and watched it for the third time. "Something is not right here……." He watched as Ash was brought once again into the air. And in the background he could hear some voices. One was a gruff male voice, the other a sweet girls voice. "So he his not alone…..now he has entered the game, one that he will surely lose."
He ejected the tape and locked it in his desk. "Perhaps, a trade off will be in order…."
***
Ash awoke in very odd surroundings. He was staring at a very bright light and could just make out the shadowy lines of faces looking over him. "…….were am I?…..in a hospital?"
Someone placed their hand on his brow and soothingly rubbed it. "no, your in a Pokemon Center."
"…….what!?" He screamed. Ash bolted up and off the table as he stared at Nurse Joy.
"What am I doing here?!" Ash erratically ran around trying to understand were he was. Just then Professor Oak and Brock burst in to try and calm him down. They soon had him pinned to the wall. "Listen!" Brock began. "Just take it easy, there's a reason you're here! Professor Oak is just running some tests and he needed Nurse Joy and her equipment to help!"
Ash finally calmed down and grabbed his bearings. He was very dizzy, like he had just spent a wild night on the town and was paying for it the day after. Just then from across the room Misty entered carrying a pot of tea in one hand and a slumbering Togepi in the other. And by her feet, Pikachu walked in carrying a tray of cups on it's head.
Professor carefully led Ash onto the exam table. "Listen Ash, I believe I have a theory to why you have these mysterious powers that have only now surfaced within you. Every pokemon on this earth have special cells within there body that not only generate the powers that they use to battle but we also use them to measure what level that pokemon is at. They are called Odakama cells. They form throughout the pokemon and become stronger over time. Now since we first discovered them we have only found these on pokemon and not on humans. But using the KamaScanner here at the pokemon center we were able to find a significant trace of these 'cells' throughout your entire body. In fact in a average pokemon level standard, you are at Level 31….for what ever reason this has happened. It is truly amazing. You are adopting the abilities of many different pokemon although you remain completely human."
Ash was stunned. "But…But why is this happening now!'
Oak looked at a clip board were he had scribbled numerous notes. "It's without a doubt the side effect of your role with the legendary pokemon and being the 'Chosen One'. It is quite conceivable that the 'energy' the Lugia described that is flowing through you is making the Odakama cells inside start reacting and thus creating more…in a sense…..you are evolving."
Those words hit so hard with Ash. How could this be happening? One day he was Ash Ketchum, a rising star in the Pokemon League. Now he was the Chosen One, a mutating freak of nature put on the earth by the Gods themselves. He began to cry as all the news finally caught up with him. Misty quickly ran over to him and gave him a shoulder to cry on. She was always there for him, even through his torment and pain of accepting the truth. For his life was changed forever. But Ash had Misty to count on always. Their love could survive anything, even something as serious as this.
As he wiped away the last of the few sting tears from his eyes. He felt a renewed sense of energy and lust for life. He couldn't see this as a curse, but as a blessing. But would his heart accept it?
"Either I can go on, and live this life. Battle evil, become something that people may fear and hate. And live a life that has no written outcome. Or I can go back to what it used to be, to be Ash Ketchum, pokemon trainer. To wake up every morning next to my friends. To capture pokemon, to feel the trill of winning a battle. To grow old, have a family and die in peace….but do I turn my back on the world? Or do I turn my back on my dreams?….."
There was a long silent pause that seemed to drag on for years. Professor Oak slowly put down his clipboard and gave him a penetrating stare.
"It seems to me Ash that….….your in between a rock and a hard place……"
***
"It seems the Chosen one is troubled."
"Nonsense, in the end he will make the correct decision"
"Are you certain?"
"Of Course."
"I was surprised to see his dormant powers develop so quickly."
"True that this is a fantastic surprise, he will be ready."
"The only problem now is to locate Ho-oh"
"Yes, and the Oracle will help him in his journey"
"The only thing to do now is to wait and see and hope."
"May the Gods watch over you Chosen one…"
***
Ash sat in the lobby of the pokemon center holding Pikachu in his lap. He had been there for quite some time as he pondered what to do next. Pikachu (who was starting to get a friction burn on his head where Ash was petting him a little to hard) turned around and starting thumping his chest.
"Pikachu, what are you doing?"
The little electric rat continued to push against Ash's chest. "Pika, pika!"
He then knew what Pikachu was trying to tell him. He could feel the cold metal of the medallion that was tucked safely under his shirt. Ash quickly reached down and brought it out of hiding. Ash rubbed his thumb over its surface, he had forgotten about it since the day Pikachu found it. What could be so important about this pendant that Pikachu continually tried to tell Ash? Just then Misty appeared beside him and took a seat on the lobby couch.
"How are you feeling?" She asked worried over the state of her boyfriends' well being.
Ash gave a long sigh and looked up towards Misty. "I'm scared, nervous, anxious, excited, worried and angry at the same time. I don't know how to feel, everything has changed so much."
Misty took his hand into hers. "Ash, everything changes over time. In one way over the other. To be honest when all of this first started, I was scared. I was scared for you and what you might become. But for the past 2 days, I've discovered something. To me, you are still Ash Ketchum. Your still the boy I fell in love with and are still the person that has always done what his heart has told him. I say Ash, don't run away from you fate……embrace it! Sometimes I think it was fate that brought us together, and I accept it, you should to!"
Those words meant so much to Ash, finally he had a clear cut answer. He couldn't run away, and above everything else, he was still Ash Ketchum damn it! He was still the guy that loves to laugh and eat and battle. He was still himself and no God or Fate could take that away from him.
Ash proudly stood up, a new sense of energy and fire had been ignited within. He felt like he could do anything and take on anyone. He shoved the pendant into his jacket pocket as he ran off to find the Professor and Brock. Misty grabbed Togepi and ran after him. "where are you going?!"
Ash glanced back as he flew through the backroom doors. "I need to say goodbye to the Professor!"
Misty stopped dead in her tracks. "goodbye? Where are we going now?
***
In the emergency room Brock was drooling over Nurse Joy as Prof. Oak continued to work on the data he got from Ash. His work was interrupted when his experiment burst into the room.
"Professor Oak! I know what to do now! I have to go and I'm taking Brock and Misty with me!"
Samuel Oak gave Ash a confusing stare. "What on earth are you talking about?"
"Professor I have to embrace my future and accept my fate! I have to go find Ho-oh!"
"The fifth legendary bird, he's trapped and he will die if I don't free him very soon. And if he dies, I could die to…"
Brock finally snapped out of his girl crazy trance to listen to what Ash was trying to say.
"Ho-oh is trapped somewhere deep in the Johto mountains. The other legendaries don't know exactly where he is but they believe that I can find him."
Professor Oak smiled. "Well, make sure you back in time to win more badges and compete in the Johto tournament, I'm sure you will do quite well. After all that's what you do best isn't it?"
Ash smiled and gave the Professor a thumbs up. Just before leaving he thanked Nurse Joy and dragged Brock out of the room by his ear. "OWW LEGGO!!"
"You know this is usually Misty's job…"
Before you knew it they were packed and raring to go. Ash was now on a mission, one that he would complete against all odds. The team of young trainers ducked behind the pokemon center and made their way to the very back of the yard. Ash then inspected his pokebelt. He had, Moltres, Articuno, Zapdos, Lugia, Charizard and Pikachu's pokeball, making six. He was quickly running out of room, but he through that aside as he grabbed the pokeball containing Lugia. And with a flick of his wrist Lugia was set free in a glorious shower of light.
It slowly stretched its wings and lowered it's head to Ash. "I hate being in that thing….well, have you decided?"
Ash smiled. "I will do what I can to become the Chosen One. Right now, I want to go after Ho-oh."
"excellent, I will bring you to the mountain range where he is being held captive." He glanced down to the wide-eyed stares of Misty and Brock. "Ah, it seems you brought the Prophets along with you, they should be of great use."
Misty narrowed her eyes. "Prophets? What does he mean by that?"
Ash looked around nervously as he tried to come up with a logical excuse. "Oh, nothing, he meant 'profits' as in….um…..this wad of money my mom gave me, remember? He's just saying that this money will be of great use…('yes, that will do nicely')
He then leaned into Lugia. "ex-nay on the prophets-ey" He whispered through gritted teeth.
Lugia rolled his eyes and bent down to allow Ash, Misty and Brock to get on. Once everybody was safely aboard the legendary beast of the sea flew off the ground at amazing speed. They closed their eyes as the wind made their mouths flap open in the wind. "Slooooow doooowwwnnn!" Ash finally managed to say. Lugia then softened the pace and flew more gently.
"I don't think ….I will ever get ….used to that…." He breathlessly exhaled.
They were already flying quite high up as they could see almost everything around them. Over to the far east they could see the beginnings of the indigo region. The many giant cities looked like splotches of gray amidst the green canvas of the trees.
And to where they were headed, he could see the unforgiving terrain of the mountains. Peaks that seemed to pierce the very sky loomed out of the rocky, twisted ground. The mountains seemed to go for miles, a never-ending land of wonder and danger. Near the bottom they could see lush green forest, then at the tree line nothing but rocky cliffs and over hang. Then neat the top of the peaks, the whitest snow he had ever seen. They face many challenge terrains ahead of them. And the fact they had to find a legendary bird in this mess seemed almost impossible and way above his head. He now knew why the other birds were having so much trouble locating him.
Ash leaned in and yelled into Lugia ears. "Where do we start?!!"
Without warning Lugia tucked in its wings and plummeted to the ground. In turn almost sending our beloved heroes careening over its back and into the thin air. But with extreme precision Lugia managed to touch down on the side of a mountain without seriously injuring its passengers. Brock was the first to fall off then Misty and then Ash. All three lay haphazardly on the rocky ground with wind swept hair and erratic heartbeats. After Ash yelled a short exclamation, he thanked Lugia and inspected the surroundings. From above it looked like a magical place, but when you were in it, the mountain range looked dark and dangerous. Off in the far distance he could hear the smacking of rock against rock as they slide down a mountainside. The wind made a howling sound as he whipped past the many peaks and crevasses. It looked like hell on earth, but without the fire. It seemed impossible to anything to live in this desolate place. The perfect spot to seal away a legendary bird. He looked up to Lugia who was also scanning the terrain. It seemed to be searching for some sign of Ho-oh. As Ash glaned back to Misty and Brock he saw that they were quite shaken although unscathed. Misty's eyes went wide as she flew threw many objects in her little red backpack. She sighed when she found Togepi safely sleeping in the bottom next to her pokeballs. "You can sleep through anything…….."
Ash cleared his throat. "Okay, we're gonna have to figure out what to do next…"
Brock raised his hand. "Didn't you already have a plan?"
"Well, not really, I'm kinda making this up as I go along….'
Brock and Misty sighed, they should of already known that answer. Just then to their surprise, Lugia spoke up.
"Ash, it is quite simple, use the oracle to guide you."
"what oracle?"
Pikachu clambered up his leg and started tugging on the string around his neck. Ash didn't clue in at first but after Pikachu's incisive tugging he finally pulled out the rusty old pendant. "look Pikachu if you want to play with it……you……..have………to….." it finally clicked.
"this thing is the oracle?…." Ash asked while looking up to Lugia.
"Yes! My, its been a long time since I've last laid eyes on it…."
"What is it?"
"this was a speaical tool given to the Chosen One by the Gods. It was created to keep track of the ten Legendary Pokemon. You can use it to locate Ho-oh."
Ash rubbed his thumb over the tarnished metal. On the outside he could see little tiny symbols. They looked almost like letters. But it might have been some ancient language. The words they formed ran all along the rim of the oracle. Ash shook his head in frustration.
"What does it say?"
"it says….Ytre….Sym…Ehtk…Colnu……".
"I've heard that before in my dreams, what does it mean?"
"some things are not always as they appear to be…."
"that doesn't make any sense……wait a sec…" Ash inspected the letters and noticed a pattern. The last letter on the oracle was much bigger then the others, it must be a capital. Saying it is one thing, but reading it is another. Ash then had a strong realization within him. He flew over to were Misty was putting her many things back into her bag. He dumped out the contents. Misty tried to berate him but he quickly shushed her. Ash hurriedly searched for her compact mirror. Once he found it he quickly breath a sigh and stood back up slowly. Ash unfastened the compact and held the mirror in front of him. He slowly raised the oracle to the mirror surface and gasped at what he saw. Brock and Misty looked at each other confused. They then both heard a slight laugh coming from Ash. "…your right Lugia, some things are not always as they appear to be…."
He turned to Misty and Brock and proudly held the oracle in front of the tiny mirror.
"It's written backwards…..it actually says……….'Unlock… the ….mystery'……….."
To be continued
Authors notes: Well,
having period one spare is great, I have an hour and a half to do nothing but
right my stories. This is great it only
took me 4 days to write this! And part
12 will be coming very soon after this.
I had a problem with the title and the ending, but I think it ended up
really great. Thank you for reading,
and if you've made it this far, perhaps your willing to go a little further,
part 12 will be out by next Tuesday, I promise. Until then, Ja ne!
All the best in 2002
Neongene
