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The Light Within

Chapter 4: The swamp

James moaned in pain, he felt like he'd just been blasted off again, but wasn't he just sleeping in a soft bed? James opened his eyes. The place he was in nowdefinetly lacking in any beds. Slimy, ugly, and grimy, the swamp land bubbled dangerously.

"Ugh..."

He stood up, his body ached terribly. The swamp looked very intimidating, burbling and gurgling like it were alive. James walked backwards and tripped over something. Standing up quickly, James got into a defensive position ready to attack what had tripped him. It was Ash, who was moaning and standing up himself.

" Sorry."

" About what?" Ash asked stretching.

" Uh, never mind. Look, we better get going. It looks like this will take a while.." James said.

" Wo.." Ash mumbled, looking at the swamp for the first time.

" Yeah I know." James agreed.

" Wait, here are those packs the fairy promised us before." Ash said shoving a backpack at James.

Opening it, James saw that it was filled with ropes, matches, almost everything one would bring on a camping trip and more.

"Oh here are the swords too, right next to where the backpacks were." Ash took his in hand, and gave James the other one.

The sheath was blue with golden lines creating a design on parts of it. Slowly, James removed the sword and looked closely at the masterpiece in front of him. It was long and curved, like a pirate's sword, and came to a short handle at the end.

Ash was examining his own sword, which was shaped much like James, but the blade was shorter. Ash's sheath had red and white on it. Without saying anything, both boys put their swords back into their sheathes and into their packs.

" Come on. The faster we get this done, the sooner we can be back with our friends explaining what has happened." Ash said.

" That's not something I'm looking forward too..."

" Yeah, but that's nothing we can escape. The longer it takes us here the more they're going to worry... Plus their my friends and I can't wait to tell them the great news! Cauldron warrior, man, they won't believe it!"

James smiled faintly, "Yea..." He wondered if Ash considered him a friend yet.

Ash continued walking, until he had taken his first step in the swamp followed closely by James. The muddy water that they had to travel through was sticky, dark, and murky.. Ash wrinkled his nose at the ugly smell that surrounded them, traveling was slow. Every now and then they'd get their feet stuck, and the murky liquid would seep into their shoes.

They continued as the swamp rose to their hips. James began to wonder if there would be any creatures that would have to be killed. He hadn't seen or heard anything else moving yet. James began to wonder a little too soon….

Ash heard it, the sound of moving water. He looked around him but saw nothing except for James who was busy getting his foot out of the mud again. Ash shrugged and continued on. Until he heard the sound again… He frowned.

" Hey James, don't you think there should be some scary music or something when a bad creature is around? Y'know like in the movies…it'd be a lot easier that way I'll tell you that." Ash got no answer; he turned around and James was gone.

" James?" Ash searched the waters but no sign of anything or anyone. "James? Come on...this isn't funny. Or fair. Damn it."

Ash walked to the last place he'd seen James, and his foot went fell through. There was no ground to walk on. Suddenly he felt and felt the mud slide right past him as he continued falling much farther down then the swamp should've been. He looked up and saw the ground above him grow back together.

" What in the…" Ash stood up and rubbed dirt and mud off his face and eyes.

" Glad you could make it." Said a pained voice from behind him.

Ash turned to see James on the floor.

" Yeah, well I didn't want to miss out on all of the fun." He paused. " You all right?"

" Fine, just feeling a little sore." James replied getting up.

" Me too. So where do you suppose we are?" Ash looked around, but there was nothing to see.

" The ground. I mean, I don't think we're below ground... I think we're actually on the ground."

" What?"

" I think…that the ground above us isn't actually ground. The way it grew back together like that after we fell in…just isn't..right..."

" So, what are you saying?" Ash asked.

" I'm saying that I think the ground is some kinda of creature. That this swamp area wasn't really meant to be a swamp at all…" James said.

" Oh."

They were silent. And it seemed as though it would stay that way for a while, but then the ground shook.

" What was that?" James asked.

" I'm not sure, but I think it's time to bring out those swords…" Ash replied surprised because his hands were shaking.

" But didn't the fairy say…

" Forget that, I am not going to try and fight with my hands. I am no Jackie Chan and you're no Buffy Summers."

" Oh all right I'm not going to….Hey, why do I get the female comparison?"

The rumbling grew louder, and the creature that was making it finally jumped out of the shadows to reveal itself. James tried not to scream. Cauldron warrior, you're meant to do this...you can do this..But that thing is...big and scary and mean and strong! It reminded Ash of a giant lizard that could walk and move like a human. His heart beat quickened, this was different than any battle he'd ever done before.

Ash reached in his pack and pulled out his sword. Now time for some action. He really had been looking forward to this, even though it was dangerous. But every time he'd watched his pokemon battle, he wished that he could get in and fight too. Now, he finally had his chance.

Standing in his best battle position, he waited for the lizard to make the first move. The monster stared at them a long, before it seemed to realize that they stood there. Ash thought he saw it smile before it swung at them. With incredibly reflexes, Ash and James simultaneously jumped back out of the way of the swing.

Ash jogged backwards and allowed the lizard to follow him. The lizard swung again missing by a long shot. The monster swung once more, Ash dodged, rolled in and sliced. The ugly creature screamed and recoiled holding it's wounded leg. Then turned it's ugly glare at Ash.

" Uh,oh"

He heard the thing scream and limped as quickly as it could in pursuit of Ash. Ash ran and figured he'd gained a lot of distance on the creature who's limp must've slowed him down. Faintly, Ash could hear James yell his name. Ash turned to the direction of the voice; the lizard was closer than he thought.

He felt a sharp sting, as the lizards large hands swiped him aside. With a thump, he landed on the ground near James. James yelped and looked Ash over quickly, but then realized the threat was still nearby. The lizard seemed to be smiling, as if it was saying ha, this guy should be easy, he'll be a cinch.

James felt infuriated, anger replaced what would've other been pity for himself or fear. His anger gave him strength. A tingling sensation covered James' body, he was covered in some sort of blue electricity. Magic!

James looked up, just as the lizard prepared to strike. James yelled in fright now, throwing his hands forward, the blue electricity flew from his fingers and smashed into the monster. The creature didn't know what hit him, as he fell over in convulsions then finally lay still. James' eyes widened in amazement.

From behind him, Ash stood up. " I was wrong…"

" About what?" James turned to look at him now, his eyes sheepish.

" Who we are. I'm a ninja...and you... You're like that Static Shock guy!"

Author's note: Chapter 5 is next for rewrite. Suggestions, advice, critiques, and comments are welcome.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters…..