Between a Rock and a Hard Place - End Game Part 1 - Berserker
" .and...five...*pant* *pant*.three hundred and six...*sigh* ..err..five hundred! I'm done."
Lugia glanced down to Ash. "That was never five hundred pushups."
Ash limped over to a log. "ya well, I did about two hundred pushups yesterday. Added together that's five hundred. Hey, you never said five hundred pushups in a row."
Lugia just rolled its eyes then gracefully raised its head to pluck an apple from a nearby tree. Ash looked at the plump round fruit and heard his stomach growl. "Hey, Lugia! Can you grab one for me."
The legendary bird licks its lips. "hmm..let me think..no."
Ash shot Lugia a crusty look. "What do you mean no? Come on I'm hungry."
But it seemed no matter how much Ash pleaded, Lugia remained still. "Try and get one yourself, only without climbing up the tree or throwing any objects at one."
Ash narrowed his eyebrows and looked up to where an apple hung from a branch, thirty feet in the air. Ash attempted to jump and reach out to grab it, but he was about 25 feet short of his goal. He sighed. "This is impossible."
Lugia plucked another juicy apple from the tree and ate making loud smacking noises to irritate Ash. "You know you could get one easily if you could fly."
"Ha Ha," he said sarcastically. "Humans cannot fly, we're too heavy, we have no wings and we aren't really aerodynamic. *chuckle* fly, ya right."
Lugia lowered his head to Ash. "wasn't it true that Humans could not posses accelerated healing abilities, or enhanced strength, or Telepathic abilities, or sharpened reflexes, or amazing speed and.."
"Wait." Ash interrupted. "Are you saying I can fly?!" He said shockingly.
Lugia cocked its head. "Well, not fly necessarily, more like levitate. Your power has increased greatly, far beyond our hopes. Do you remember back with your battle with Suicune and the unexplainable explosion?"
Ash slumped down onto a rock. "Why do I get the feeling your about to explain it?"
Lugia cleared his throat. "That explosion did, in fact, come from you. Just before you lunged at Suicune you remember how that burst of energy shot through your body? You were actually charging yourself up. You were calling upon the energy in the earth and channeling it deep within your being. I was surprised to find this out since Satoshi did not learn to channel his power until after many years of training. You have been progressing at an alarming rate. That explosion was a Chi Attack. Ash, you were able to concentrate your chi and throw it from your hands and create a devastating attack! Isn't that exciting!"
Ash remained still as Lugia's words stunned him over and over. Lugia continued.
"You see Ash, with a lot of training you make this energy do anything you want. It already has given you amazing speed and strength but it also has given you a very dangerous power, one that could inflict serious injury or even death if not used properly. So, Ash, you have to be careful to not let loose another blast like that.. Especially around others. You see it is your emotions that control your power. When you were angered, your power doubled a hundredfold. You must be careful and control your temper if you let the dam break you might let loose an attack so devastating that it could wipe out a whole city!"
Ash looked down to his hands to where that attack had emitted. To think that such power could create something so destructive. But Ash had, to be honest, he loved the feeling he got when that power was surging through him. He felt no less a human, but a God. A tiny smile crept over his lips as Lugia continued to talk.
"Anyway, after a while you'll discover different attacks involving your Chi power. But for now, you can also use your power to push you off the ground and in essence, fly."
Ash got to his feet and walked into a small clearing. "Okay! No time like the present, so how do I fly!"
Lugia grabbed another apple from the tree and nearly swallowed it whole. "Well, first you must learn to channel your power without truly letting your emotions control it. Stand with your feet parallel and firmly on the ground. Then clench your fists and bring them close to your hips."
Ash did as he was told and stood there with his eyes gazing up to the apple tree. His stomach growled again. Lugia continued. "Next you must concentrate your energy, close your eyes, take some deep breaths. You must feel the energy in your body."
Ash took a deep breath through his nose and released it through his mouth, a bit of drool escaped the corner of his mouth as the thought of food tormented his empty stomach. "Wait. It...its flowing through my veins, my muscles, and my skin."
Lugia chuckled. "yes, you are doing quite well. Now concentrate and channel the energy into your chest. Can you feel it?" Ash nodded. "Yes, it's very warm...I feel so at peace right now..."
"You must now force it down, deep into the souls of your feet, past your shoes and the grass, deep into the ground."
Ash grunted and focused all of his energy into his legs. He held onto his breath as he felt it travel down his quads, into his calf muscles, and into his feet. Everything became all tingly as the energy was collecting in his shoes, so to speak.
"Now Ash! Push it deeper! Past your body!"
Ash bit his lip, clenched his fists tighter and strained every muscle in his body. His eyelids were slammed shut and every vein was popping out of his skin. Ash thought he was about to pass out when he suddenly felt something brush against his head. He opened his eyes and looked up. It was leaves.
"WHAAA!" Ash found himself floating thirteen feet in the air. He whipped his head down to his feet to find nothing but airlifting him up. Ash was so startled he began to flail his limbs as if trying to tread in water.
"Ash no! You must stay calm! Concentrate on your chi or else you'll." It was too late, he quickly lost his concentration and plummeted toward the ground. Ash's body slammed into the forest floor and lay there, silently, not moving a muscle. His head moved slightly to the right to see an apple lying right next to him. "ow." He uttered softly.
Lugia's head hovered over Ash. "That was very good except for the falling down part. You mustn't let that startle you, Ash. Now take a rest and in a while, we will try it again."
Ash reached over and grabbed the apple and slowly bit into it, making sure that his teeth were all still intact before doing so. Though Ash was in pain, Pikachu couldn't help but laugh like crazy.
"I ..an apple..not a concussion..."
"Did you see that? He flew! This is terrific! Satoshi never truly grasped levitation. This boy is far powerful then I could have ever foreseen." "Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Could he become so powerful that no one would be able to control him?" "Don't think of such things!" "Being an optimistic all the time will always overlook the worst case scenarios" "I don't see why you have to see the downside to everything" "Its called being prepared!" "Prepare for what? There is nothing we can truly do...it's all up to him" "Can we trust the fate of the world to a mere boy?" "...we have to." "How long do we have?" "...only five years.." "it's going to be close..."
Deep in the recesses of a dark jungle surrounded by a stagnant swamp hide a makeshift base camp. Around a small area lay a fifteen-foot perimeter wall made of steel and wire, the kind of structure that could be dismantled and transported easily if need be. Behind the wall was a massive undertaking. For as far as one could see there was nothing but huge tents and giant trucks holding satellites and giant communication devices. The ground had been turned into a thick mud by the constant trampling from the hundreds of armed officers that walked about the encampment carrying out a multitude of tasks to get the area fully operational. Smoke billowed into the sky and there was a buzz floating around the tents as the people talked and worked on their base. There was a huge commotion deep in this sleepy forest.
And around every tent, truck, mess hall and guard post would fly a large black flag with the well-known symbol for Team Rocket. But the most impressive thing was the large house like building sitting in the center. The sheer size of it must have taken a few weeks to build alone. And in the very top of the metal structure appeared a man, a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips, and a Persian gently rubbing its head against the man's thigh.
Giovanni smirked at the layout of this makeshift base. His underground city was far from being completed and needed a secured place to spread his reign of terror. Little did the world know that the floor shall be pulled out from underneath them all. They will have no warning, no chance, no hope. Already his plans have begun and soon he will require the legendary pokemon that so rightly belong to him. Giovanni turned into the tiny room and stared at the young girl, who was slumped onto one of her legs trying to relieve the strain on her arms as her wrist was bounded and strung to the ceiling. Misty's head was down and her eyes barely opened.
Giovanni leaned over and ran a finger over her cheek. "How's my little hostage today?"
She raised her head slightly to reveal large bruises and a cut on her lower lip which still gave off small drops of blood that collected on the grimy floor. Her hair was very messy and her body was very emaciated from lack of food and water. "You...can't...break..me..down.." Misty struggled to say.
Giovanni raised his hand and brought it down swiftly against her face. Misty spun on her heels and cried in pain from the ropes wrapping around her wrist harder as she twisted from the blow. And thus more blood began to flow as the wound from her lip was ripped open once again. Misty whimpered and drew back as Giovanni bent down next to her. "don't forget, that I can't break you down..but I can break your neck. Your boyfriend will give me his legendary pokemon, or he will die."
Misty gave him a small grin but winced from the large bleeding cut. "He has become something far greater than your little Team Rocket..he will destroy you."
Giovanni sniggered. "Little girl, I have over 120 men and women out there, armed to the teeth and completely loyal to my every whim. They would die for me. Your boyfriend will not make it 2 feet in my base without them swarming all over him."
Misty propped herself on her right leg. "Only 120? He won't even break a sweat..he will rescue me."
The boss of Team Rocket walked slowly to the tiny window overlooking his newly constructed fortress. "That's what I'm planning on. But what in the world is taking him so long..does he not worry about his little girlfriend?" He said sarcastically.
Misty glared at Giovanni with anger and contempt as he strutted about the small office. "He still training...with Lugia."
Giovanni stopped instantly and slowly moved his head toward Misty, a shocked expression was emanated on his face. "What was that!" He demanded.
"Well, since you gonna find out soon enough...Ash is the chosen one..."
Giovanni's face became red as rage and fury gathered in him. He slammed his fist against his desk and screamed at Misty. "I AM THE CHOSEN ONE! It has been written for hundreds of years that I shall control the earth! Your boy is a mere sideline in my plans, a test given to me by the gods! I am the chosen one! I am! You understand! You shall see!" Giovanni, seething with rage, pounding the intercom on his desk. "GUARDS!"
Almost instantly two men covered in black clothing and helmets that hid any parts of their faces stormed in through the door. Giovanni pointed a shaking finger at Misty. "Take her to Area 23! Give her five hours of 'Shock Therapy'"
The two guards grabbed onto the trembling Misty and dragged her to the door. Giovanni turned his back to her and spoke more softly. "Let's see how much you talk when thousands of volts of electricity surge through your body!"
The doors slam shut as Misty's scream disappeared within the large metal halls.
Brock's hands dropped to their sides along with the ransom note he was holding. His head slowly leaned to one side as a large sigh escaped his lips. He rubbed his eyes and pondered what to do next. Ash was in a forest somewhere, and the notes said not to contact any police or help of any kind.
"DAMMIT!" Brock exclaimed. The threat of Team Rocket had become perfectly clear. They wanted Ash, but as long as Brock was still alive he was not going to let them take another one of his best friends. And perhaps what was another sad event is this would certainly stop Ash from entering the Johto League competition, let alone not get the chance to have another gym battle. Brock knew this conflict would be a lengthy one.
Across the room sit a rotary phone on the edge of the bedside table. Brock thought a moment, did he dare chance it? Or was it going against everything that he believed in?
"Screw it!" Brock leaped towards the phone and began dialing numbers right through lunchtime.
Ash slowly walked along the trail rubbing his tailbone. It had hurt like hell when he fell from that high up. Ash still couldn't believe that he had actually levitated. He only read that sort of thing in comic books. But it kinda made sense, all he did was take this energy that was surging through him and let it push him off the ground. As he limped slightly he admitted that it still needed some honing. But right now it was time to head back to the gang, back to Misty. Ash had about all the training he could handle for now and was excited to see civilization. He decided that flying was out of the question, for one he didn't want to be spotted flying near the city and that he had about all the flying he could handle for one day. He glanced over to Pikachu who was still snickering away.
"Besides its only an hour away from Olivine City."
The girl with the Pigtail entered a small room. In front was a large screen and a table riddled with buttons and switches. After taking a seat she exhaled a small sigh and began plugging away at dozens of buttons. The screen flickered on and a large satellite view of the region suddenly appeared.
"Where the hell are you?" She said quietly to herself.
After striking a view more switches large blips appeared. The girl knew them as thermonuclear readings. This girl had been searching for Ash for the longest time but he had always alluding her. Ash's power gave off a sort of Gamma Wave fingerprint. Not exactly radiation, but a byproduct nonetheless. The system was able to track it from space. On the screen was a faint blue smear near the east at goldenrod. As it moved west the smear got thicker and much brighter. Showing a higher concentration. And finally at the far west was a large white dot that showed the source of the power. That white dot was Ash. But every time she went to search the Area, Ash was already gone. He went all over the place but the girl found that he was steadily moving west. She and the others would make her move soon. But she had to find out what Ash was up to first.
She turned off the equipment and decided to go boil some water.
Ash emerged from the woods and was ecstatic to find the skyscrapers of olivine City staring him in the face. The first order of business was to get a burger, then get over to the Pokemon Center to receive his welcome back kiss from Misty. He managed to find a fast food joint rather quickly and murdered his burger. With a full stomach and a sore tailbone, he started the across town trek to the Pokemon Center. Man, that was at least forty minutes away. His butt was too sore to run or use his 'Spontaneous Movement'. He had no money for a taxi or bus fare. Ash couldn't use Lugia to fly there, he was too big and people would spot him. Crud. Looks like he was walking...unless. Did he dare try it? I wonder if people would notice a 15-year-old boy flying down the main street? Perhaps they would dismiss him as a Spearow or something. He was sick of walking, that left the only option. It was time to take flight.
He made his way into an empty alleyway and prepared himself.
"If this is going to work I'm going to have to go really fast..hmm if energy lifts me up, then more energy should propel me pretty quickly. Time to power up. Let's see, this might go faster if I thought of something that pissed me off. Gary, okay got it."
He concentrated on Gary's annoying laugh. It worked. Soon after he could feel this incredible surge of energy start to pulsate throughout his body. Ash crouched down and let the surge build as he gritted his teeth. Ash then began to glow a brilliant blue as loose papers began to swirl and dance around him. Tiny rocks on the ground began to scatter around as the intense energy grew inside Ash.
Once Ash was sure that he had enough energy built up he released his thought of Gary and returned to normal. But Ash could still feel the power inside him.
Ash chuckled to himself when he discovered that Gary was his 'Unhappy Thought' more or less like Peter Pan's 'Happy Thought'. Ash's train of thought was diverted when he noticed that his feet were not touching the ground. He gasped in amazement, the second time was so easy he didn't even have to strain or anything! Ash twirled in the air and displayed his flying ability to Pikachu who sat and watched in awe. Once Ash was comfortable with hovering, it was time to fly.
"Come on Pikachu, get in my backpack and hang on tight!" Pikachu was reluctant at first but quickly clambered in the dusty pouch and hung on for dear life.
With a huge grin, Ash clenched his fists and felt a rush of power sweep through him. He took off like a zubat out of hell.
Ash flew up into the sky like a bolt of lightning, almost slamming into a high-rise in the process. Luckily he became comfortable with the speed and began to turn and twist all over the city way up high in the air. Ash was screaming with joy and excitement as if he were on the worlds fastest, scariest roller coaster imaginable. Pikachu, however, did not share his enthusiasm and screamed its little head off. But Ash was having far to much fun to pay attention.
He continued to weave beside buildings and skim the tops of spires. Suddenly without warning, he felt this weird feeling inside. The back of his head tickled ever so slightly and he suddenly got a horrible feeling in his gut. Ash immediate stopped in mid-air and tired to think of what was happening. He looked in all directions and something was drawing him towards the east. It as the third legendary dog...it was something else. He could feel this weight in his heart. Something was wrong. And as fast as it came the weird feeling had passed, but know he could feel the power leaving him as he slowly began to sink towards the ground.
Ash had expelled the energy he had collected while prancing about the skies. It was time to get to the Pokemon center, time to get back to Misty.
Ash shot back down to the city streets like a blur and landed in a nearby alley undetected. The Pokemon Center was right across the street. Soon he would be reunited..but as he thought that, another odd feeling overcame him.
"I hope it wasn't something I ate. "
Without a second thought, Ash raced towards the front door and flung them open.
"Hello? Brock? Misty? Are you there?" He waited for an answer.
Nothing.
"Perhaps they stepped out for a moment.I'll wait here."
It was at this time that he remembered the little Pokemon huddled in his backpack cowering in fear. Ash slowly pulled out the frightened Pokemon and walked up to Nurse Joys front desk. He dinged that little bell a few times and out came Nurse Joy in all her glory.
"Why hello Ash!" She chimed happily.
"How do you know my name?" Ash asked
"Your friend Brock told me about you, in fact, he has been on the phone all morning." "I where is Misty?"
"Misty? I wouldn't know. It's just him that's been here the whole time."
WHAM. Ash just got hit by a ton of bricks.
"w..what?"
Nurse Joy pondered a moment. "Actually I remember a girl coming in with him, but it's just been him staying here for the past for days."
WHAM. Another ton.
"What?!" Ash screamed. That serious sense of foreboding struck him again. He knew something was wrong! Was Misty hurt? Was she in the hospital? Was she so angry with Ash that she just got up and left! Where is she!
In the corner of his eyes, he saw Brock appear in a doorway near the cafeteria. His face was cold and expressionless. Ash ran over to him and demanded to know where Misty was. Brock slowly cleared his throat as the thought of Misty made it tighten up.
" .I'm afraid I have some news."
Ash's eyes darted all over the place as he searched Brock's face for a faster answer.
"Ash...Misty was abducted by Team Rocket a few nights ago.."
"..." Ash fell silent.
"I. to stop them but they drugged me. I didn't know what to do..they told me to not contact anyone. I was so scared. I haven't got a single night sleep since they took her."
Ash stared at the floor, saying nothing, not moving. It was clear he was in shock. Brock continued to search for the right words. But his pleas fell on deaf ears. Ash focused on two words. 'Misty' and 'abducted.'
The world began to spin uncontrollably around him. Ash's heart raced as the words rolled over and over in his mind. Time seemed to stand still has the shock of the news really began to sink in. Then it was the one word that sent Ash careening over the edge.
"..Team Rocket"
As the anger began to grow within him something inside his mind began to stir. A dark cloud of insanity began to spread. All common and sense and logic, all he once knew was replaced by a surge of uncontrollable rage. Something had snapped within his mind.
On the outside, his mouth foamed more and more after each staggering breath. Every vein was popping out of his flesh. And what was most frightening was that his eyes, they were so cold and distant.
Brock became afraid at Ash's sudden change and held up his hands in fear ready if he was going to attack.
Suddenly Ash retched back his neck and let out a tremendous scream. Nurse Joy held her hands to her ears as he continued to scream at the top of his lungs. What Brock witnessed next would change him forever.
The entire building began to shake as if an earthquake had hit. It wasn't until now Brock noticed the large blue glow around Ash. As each second passed like nails on a chalkboard, Ash's power doubled then tripled. The building shook with more intensity as even Brock was having trouble staying on his feet. With one final blood-curdling scream a huge light emanated from Ash as Brock was thrown into a wall. The floor underneath them began to crackle under Ash's power. His energy now filled the entire room as swirls of electricity sparked all over his body.
Ash had lost it.
Brock heard Nurse Joy screaming behind the desk. He struggled to reach her but another burst of chi pinned him against the wall. As he continued to power up a large tornado-like funnel whirled around him, slowly spreading across the room. The force he was generating was now crushing Brock and sucking the very oxygen from his lungs. Brock struggled to stay conscious as Ash continued to scream in rage and power up beyond normal limitations. The very clothes he was wearing began to tear away and thus revealed the sword strapped to his back. It also showed his muscles as they became larger and more taunt. Suddenly the floor caved in underneath him forming a crater, yet Ash remained in the air, clenching his fist and straining every last fiber in his being.
Brock began to cry watching his friend lose his sanity and sense of reality. He was no longer Ash. He had become a mere shadow of what he once was.
Suddenly Ash raised his hands toward the ceiling and let loose a tremendous blast of energy that ripped the cement apart leaving a gaping hole. With one last burst of energy, Ash disappeared through the ceiling leaving behind a trail of chi. After a few moments, the building stopped shaking, and the bluish haze that once filled the entire room had vanished. All that remained was a crater in the floor, a hole in the ceiling and a young man with tear-stained cheeks.
Brock wiped his face and knew that even if Ash was successful in rescuing Misty. He had already lost Ash forever.
