To the Reviewers: Not much to say on an individual basis this time. Just would like to welcome the two newest reviewers and I am glad you are enjoying this story.
Trials of the Sky Pillar
Ash looked up at the large tower before him. Two days on this island and he still couldn't get the door opened. Every time he would get close several Duskulls would come through the door and chase him around until he was away from the pillar. One Duskull wouldn't have been a hard task to deal with, but over twenty of them was proving to be a real problem. His pokemon were still tired from their battle against Groudon and Kyogre and for some reason his poke'dex wasn't responding to any transfer commands. The only pokemon that could still battle were Mune and Dawn. Unfortunately Mune was next to useless against the dark and ghost type pokemon. That left Ash with only one option of pokemon to use against the ghosts. After much convincing he had gotten Dawn to agree to come with him to try and get the door open.
"All you have to do is run up there and nudge it a bit." Assured Ash. "They can't hurt you because you have a type immunity to anything they try and throw at you."
("What about Shadow Ball or Curse?") Argued Dawn ("If I get hit with one of those it's all over.")
"That's what Quick Attack is for." Said Ash "Use that to slam into the door and open it."
("Remind me again why we can't wait until the others are feeling better?") Asked Dawn.
"Pikachu says he needs more rest, Swellow has a broken wing, Silver thinks he pulled a psychic muscle or something from carrying Meganium, Meganium's been sleeping for almost the entire time we've been here and Crawdaunt swam off somewhere saying something about doing his duty to all available females in the area." Explained Ash "That leaves you and Mune as the only two pokemon willing or able to do something about these ghosts. Since all of Mune's attacks would pass right through them that makes you the only choice for this mission."
("But all my attacks will pass right through them too.") Said Dawn. ("Even after I get the door open there are bound to be more ghosts inside. You can't expect to get in there and make it all the way to the top with just me and you. Can you?")
So much for my 'one step at a time' plan. Thought Ash I guess I have to wait now. "You're right Dawn. I didn't even think about after we get in there." Said Ash embarrassed.
("You never have been good at thinking.") Said Pikachu as he came from the direction of his sleeping place. ("If it wasn't for me you probably wouldn't have lasted a day after Brock left.")
"I thought you said you were tired." Said Ash dryly. Pikachu never hesitated to bring up Ash's lack of mental prowess.
("I was fine yesterday.") Said Pikachu ("We all just decided that since you game yourself a break for two days when you needed it we could all do the same. Now we're even.")
Just then Ash's other pokemon assembled themselves in front of him. They were all awaiting Ash's orders. "You guys really need to learn when the proper time for joking is." Said Ash
("I wasn't joking.") Said Crawdaunt ("I really was doing my duty to water-pokemon as a species.")
"I don't even want to know what you mean by that." Said Ash. "We need to get through that wall of ghosts and into the tower."
("I say we wait until morning.") Said Pikachu ("The ghosts won't be as active then and it will be easier to get inside.")
"It won't matter what time of day it is when we try and get in." Said Ash "These ghosts are here even during the day. It's really weird."
("How about everyone gets in their pokeballs and you find some way to get us in while we do absolutely nothing to help.") Offered Crawdaunt sensibly.
("You know that sounds like a really good idea.") Said Meganium ("We all still could use some rest.")
Ash knew she had a point. What his pokemon really needed was a good night in the rejuvenator at a pokemon center. All he could give them here was some fresh air, rest and food. He returned Silver, Meganium, Swellow and Crawdaunt to their balls and Pikachu hopped onto his shoulder.
"Dawn it looks like you still get to do that little mission of yours." Said Ash. "Use Quick Attack and get that door open!"
Dawn looked at the door then looked back at Ash. ("Are you sure this is going to work?") She asked ("That door looks pretty sturdy.")
("All you have to do is ram into it.") Said Mune ("I'd do it but the ghosts will sense me coming a mile away and all swarm around me before I even get close. You're not scared are you?")
("No!") Yelled Dawn ("You're not the only one who used to battle back on that island!")
Surprising everyone, even herself, she sped straight for the entrance to the tower and went straight through four Duskulls who tried to bar her path. She slammed into the door with all her might causing them to fly open and slam against the inside of the tower.
"Wow, that actually worked." Commented Ash
("You didn't think it would?") Asked Mune
"Well my ideas have been known to back fire." Admitted Ash
("What an understatement.") Muttered Pikachu.
With the doors open the Duskulls floated off in different directions. Their only job had been to keep Ash outside as long as possible. Now that they had a clear path the group made their way through the entrance and into the main hall of the Sky Pillar.
The room wasn't exactly what Ash was expecting. There were no grand paintings or red carpet. Instead there was a plane room with a gray stone floor and runes etched all over the walls. The building looked as if it had been standing for thousands of years and based on the number of ghost pokemon Ash had seen around the island he didn't think that guess was too far off.
Amazingly there were no obstacles on the first floor and Ash soon found a stairway leading to the next floor. After climbing about 12 flights of steps Ash finally arrived on the second floor.
…
("He's on the second floor sir!") Said a Shuppet sentry to Rayquaza.
"About time." Said the dragon "I didn't think it would take him two days to get this far."
("Should we go ahead with the plan?") Asked the Shuppet
"Yeah, you guys have fun." Said Rayquaza "Just don't over do it."
("We won't.") Said the Shuppet while laughing evilly
…
The second floor wasn't much different from the first, aside from a few cracks in the floor. Ash was only walking a bout two minutes when he suddenly felt extremely cold.
"Is it just me or is it getting a little chilly in here?" Asked Ash
("I think it's just you.") Said Pikachu ("I told you to buy a new jacket after you grew out of your old one.")
"Yeah maybe you were right." Said Ash. He continued walking but the cold only got worse and worse. Without warning Ash went falling to the ground sending a startled Pikachu tumbling across the floor.
("Ash!") Yelled Dawn and Mune
("What's wrong with you?") Asked Pikachu. He looked back at his trainer and was horrified to see about five Shuppets hovering around Ash's fallen form. ("Hey get away from him!")
("And miss a meal like this?") Asked one of the Shuppets ("Never. Your friend here is brimming with so much negative emotion he's a regular cornucopia for our kind.")
("What!") Asked Pikachu. He knew Ash had been feeling down, but he didn't think it was that serious.
("Yes.") Said another ("The anger, the sorrow, the doubt and the desire to end ones existence. It tastes so wonderful!")
("The desire to…") Began Pikachu ("HE DIDN'T. HE WOULD NEVER…") Pikachu then thought back to the look on Ash's face when the Hyper Beams almost hit them while in Sootopolis City. He was unsure at the time, but now that the cynical pokemon had said this, he realized Ash had looked happy when the beams were coming and looked almost disappointed after they had been reflected. ("Oh no…")
("That's right little mouse.") Sang another ghost ("Your trainer is a walking pit of depression. We feed on negative emotions using them to siphon life energy from the body. It's only a matter of time before this human is no more than a shell of his former self.
There has got to be a way to get him out of this! Thought Pikachu frantically. He powered up a thunder bolt and fired it toward the ghosts. The attack seemed to bounce off an invisible force field and then dissipated harmlessly into the ground. ("Huh?") Said Pikachu confused
("We are protected by the lord of the tower.") Informed a Shuppet ("The only way to get rid of us is for this human to will us away with positive emotions.") He said the last part with disdain. ("It looks like he's all out of those though!")
The Shuppets laughed sinisterly as they continued to feed off of Ash's negativity. Ash was stuck in an endless loop of his worst memories and little by little his essence was being sucked away as each memory caused a different emotion to surface. There were no happy memories being shown to him. All he was experiencing were the bad times in his life. His first day of training when Pikachu almost died. Loosing countless battles, Loosing in the Indigo League because Charizard refused to obey orders, and all the events of the past few months.
Dawn and Mune looked at Pikachu hoping that the electric-mouse would have some type of solution. All Pikachu could do was look on as his friend was drained by the evil ghosts.
("Ash how are you gonna be a pokemon master if you die!") Asked Pikachu, He was desperate now. The remark got no response from Ash. ("Who's going to get revenge on Giovoni for hurting Brock and Misty?")
The last remark seemed to cause Ash to stir and the Shuppets' horns grew brighter trying to keep him subdued. Seeing this was working Pikachu continued ("That's right Ash if you die no one is going to be able to make him pay for what he's done. Brock and Misty might even still be alive; they never found any trace of them at the Gyms.")
"Alive?" Breathed Ash. The thought had never occurred to him. He had told himself not to hope because if he didn't hope he would have no reason to be disappointed if his hopes were crushed.
("Yes Ash Alive!") Said Pikachu ("And if they're alive you can finally tell Misty how you really feel!")
Now Ash was completely out of the Shuppets' trance. A warm blush seeping into his cheeks. "W-What are talking about Pikachu?" He asked trying to feign ignorance. "Misty's my friend that's it."
You gotta be kidding me. Thought Pikachu as he slapped his forehead with his paw. ("Ash you are 16 for crying out loud! It is fine for you to feel attracted to a female. Especially a pretty one like Misty!")
("Hey where'd all his negative emotions go?") Asked a Shuppet
("I don't know.") Answered another ("One minute he's brimming with bitterness and now all I can taste is…") He flicked his horn tentatively trying to discern the flavor of Ash's aura. He suddenly gagged and started wheezing. ("…Hack…unrequited love.") He said as he passed out.
("No! Not the 'L' word!") Moaned the other ghosts. They quickly fled the scene not wanting to take advantage of their free meal any longer.
"What was that all about?" Asked Ash. He couldn't understand what the Shuppets had been saying and was even more confused when he saw Pikachu and the others laughing and pointing at him. "What's so funny!" Asked Ash indignantly
("They said you scared them off because all they could feel was 'love' whenever I said 'Misty'.") Said Pikachu. At the sound of her name Ash blushed even more and caused Pikachu to laugh even more.
"Okay so what if I do happen to 'like' Misty?" Said Ash. "I still don't see why that's so funny."
Pikachu finally got himself under control and hopped back onto Ash's shoulder. ("You'll figure it out one day.") He assured his trainer.
("Do you know what we were just laughing about?") Asked Dawn to Mune
("Yes actually.") He said ("I read Ash's mind when I saw him blushing and found out that he really likes this girl he used to travel around with. They were really good friends but Ash never got the courage to tell her because he was afraid of the rejection and the strain it would put on their friendship.")
("And that is funny why?") Asked Dawn
("Well I read Pikachu's mind and found out that the same girl really likes Ash and has for a long time. She won't tell him for the exact same reasons. They also fight all the time in an attempt to cover up how they feel. When you look at it from Pikachu's point of view it is pretty funny.")
("I guess…") Said Dawn
…
("Sir they are on their way to the next floor.") Reported a Banette. ("Shall I inform my brethren to go ahead with their little 'experiment'?")
"You know you guys are really evil right?" Said Rayquaza. The Banette just grinned evilly and nodded. "As long as we're clear then. Go ahead."
…
After climbing yet another ridiculously long corridor of stairs, 24 flights in all. Ash finally made it to the next floor. "Whoever designed this tower should be shot." Huffed Ash. "There is no reason why there has to be so many stairs."
("It wasn't so bad.") Said Pikachu. ("I'm not tired at all.") The remarked earned him glares from all and a nice new position beside Ash's feet.
"No more rides for you." Said Ash.
("Can't you take a joke?") Asked Pikachu
"No, no I can't." Said Ash
They were about halfway through the room when suddenly a lone Banette appeared right in front of them. The ghost had a long needle floating over itself with the pointed end dangerously close to its body. ("One more step and you'll be sorry…") Said the ghost.
("Ash stop!") Yelled Pikachu.
"I'm not afraid of some needle." Said Ash "I bet it isn't even real." He continued walking and went right past the Banette.
("Oh no…") Said Pikachu. He was starting to wish the depressed but cautious Ash was back.
("I warned you…") Said the Banette ("…Now you get a nice Curse!") The needle plunged into the ghost's body and it yelled in pain. As soon as its mouth was open the cursed energy surrounded Ash and seeped into his body. The pokemon gasped as the energy brightened and then suddenly disappeared.
"That's it?" Asked Ash
("Yep.") Said the Banette ("Now when you least expect it the curse will flourish and cause some 'interesting' things to happen. BRUHAHAHAHA!")
"What'd he say?" Asked Ash
("Basically, that you have a curse that could strike at any time between now and the rest of your life.") Said Pikachu ("Whatever the strike happens it doesn't sound like you're going to like it much.")
"That doesn't sound good." Said Ash nervously
("Oh trust me its not.') Said the Banette
The broad grin on the Banette's face was all the translation Ash needed. The group waited for several minutes expecting something dire to befall Ash at any minute. They waited and waited and waited some more. Finally Pikachu was fed up with all the waiting and broke the silence.
("Why are we just standing here!") He shouted
"Isn't there something else that's supposed to come and try to kill me?" Asked Ash.
("Of course.") Said the Banette ("All my brethren and I compiled that curse on you. So when it strikes it is sure to put your life in extreme danger. Such a strong curse can stand up to the most powerful Spell Tags and won't be broken easily. There's nothing else on this floor but you'll never solve the Dusclops' riddle on the next floor.")
"Translation?" Asked Ash
("In a nut shell, You're screwed no matter what so go to the next floor and hope for the best.") Said Pikachu
"Can't be any worse than dieing, and I've lived through that at least once."
("You have?") Asked Dawn amazed
"I'll tell you about it later." Said Ash
They walked passed the laughing ghost and headed up to the next floor. After walking an amazing 48 flights of steps our heroes found themselves in a room which had many different pathways and doors strewn across it. In the middle of the room stood a tall red Dusclops. He was holding a large book which was titled Unsolved Riddles of the Supernatural Kind.
The pokemon looked up from his tome when he noticed Ash and the others. "Ah, hello!" He said cheerfully waving to them. "I am Copernicus the LV."
"You speak English?" Asked Ash
"Certainly." Said Copernicus "I am an avid scholar of all dialects of this planet. Being alive for hundreds of years has its advantages you know."
"So what mortal danger am I in this time?" Asked Ash. He was eager to get off this island and out of this weird tower.
"Mortal danger?" Asked the dusclops confused. "Oh! You must be the one trying to get to the top of the tower, I see." He scratched his chin thinking. "You have to answer five riddles, Which I will pick randomly from this book."
("That's it?") Asked Pikachu ("I am the riddle master. I'll have us on to the next floor in no time!") He announced.
"Each of you has to attempt to answer one of the riddles and the last one is a group effort." Said Copernicus "Should you fail to answer correctly, you will be subdued and hung over this pit." He snapped his fingers and a pit magically appeared beside him. It had many different colors swirling around inside of it and red and black smoke was coming from within it. "This is the Gateway to Hell. Don't worry its one way." He assured "Should your next team mate answer their question incorrectly as well. They will take your place in the cage and you will be 'released'"
"This is crazy!" Shouted Ash "What if we refuse to take part in this?"
Copernicus snapped his fingers again and Ash was transported into the cage. "I'll ask the questions here, understand?" Ash nodded and he was returned to his former position and Copernicus continued. "Since you like to talk so much you get the first question. If a train leaves Saffron at 5:00 p.m. KST (Kanto Standard Time) and another train leaves Goldenrod at 2:00 p.m. CJST (Central Johto Standard Time) What time will the train from Saffron hit the stantler with its hoof stuck in the tracks?"
"What!" Asked Ash
"Is that your final answer?" Asked the ghost
"Wait no!" Yelled Ash "Let me think about it."
("He's doomed.") Muttered Pikachu
"Thirty seconds." Said Copernicus. He snapped his fingers and a really annoying tune started to play in the background.
"How am I supposed to think with that annoying music on?" Asked Ash
"If they can do it in 'Jeopardy' You can do it now." Assured the dusclops
Ash started sweating hard. He didn't want to be suspended over a gateway to the underworld. "It'll hit…" He said "…When it hits"
"Is that your final Answer?" Asked Copernicus.
If he says yes… Thought Pikachu
"Yes." Said Ash
"Wrong!" Said Copernicus "The correct answer was 7:09 EKST (Eastern Standard Kanto Time)."
("Don't worry Ash we won't get any wrong!") Assured Pikachu
"I am not wrong!" protested Ash "I said 'It'll hit when it hits' and if it hits the stantler at 7:09 then 7:09 is 'when it hits'."
"But I can't accept such a broad answer as being right!" Argued Copernicus.
"You didn't say that at first." Countered Ash "And the question didn't say 'exactly' what time either. So I am right."
"Fine!" Said Copernicus this one won't be so easy though!" He flipped through the pages of the book until he finally got a riddle that was satisfactory. "You!" He pointed to Dawn. "You get the next question." The eevee swallowed and nervously awaited the question "How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?"
("What's a woodchuck?") Asked Dawn
"That's not important." Said Copernicus "Thirty seconds, start now." The music started to play again and the seconds slowly ticked away.
("A woodchuck would chuck all the would he could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.")
"Is that your final answer?" Asked the dusclops. Dawn nodded "Correct." He said sadly. He was sure that one would stump them.
("How did you know that?") Asked Pikachu
("If you're asked a stupid question give a stupid answer.") She replied
"Works for me." Said Ash
"Nest question." Said Copernicus "You're up next." He pointed to Mune "What was born at the same time as the world and destined to live just as long, but is never more than five weeks old?"
"This is a hard one." Said Ash
("Hmm?") Said Pikachu while pondering the question.
("Good luck with this one Mune.") Said Dawn
"Thirty seconds…Go!" Said Copernicus. Again the music started and the clock began ticking.
Let's see the world is pretty old… Thought Mune The only things as old as the Earth are the sun and the stars and the…That's it! ("The Moon! Final Answer!") Yelled Mune.
"What the hell?" Asked Copernicus "No one ever gets that one right! You must be cheating!"
"Hey you can't call people cheaters just because they answer your question right!") Shouted Ash
Copernicus flipped through the book franticly, He went to the section entitled "Unsolvable Riddles" and read the first one he saw. "This one's for you rat-boy!" He declared to Pikachu. "What is thicker than the thickest steel and denser than the densest iron?"
With no hesitation Pikachu jumped on Ash's shoulder and rapped in soundly on the head with his paws. ("That.") Said Pikachu ("Final answer!")
"You're gonna get yourself killed joking around like that Pikachu." Said Ash
("I'm not joking.") Said Pikachu ("It's been proven.")
Copernicus looked down at the book and then back up at Ash. "That's actually right." He said genuinely amazed. He furiously flipped through his book and found the last chapter which was named "Questions yet to be Answered"
"This is how it's going to work." Said the dusclops "By the rules I set at the start this last question gives all of you a chance to answer. I'll go in the same order I did before. If you answer wrong I'll lock in a cage and dangle you over your eternal doom. If all of you get it wrong I let the cages fall. Get it right and I'll let you up to the last floor."
"Sounds fair enough." Said Ash
("I'm up for it.") Said Dawn
I am really sick of this Thought Mune
"Last question." Said Copernicus "How do you get Jessie and James to go away and stay away for all eternity?"
Oh crap! Thought Ash I don't know if anyone knows the answer to that question. He decided to say the first thing that came to mind whenever he wanted to get rid of Team Rocket "Have Pikachu use a Thunder Attack?" He said uncertainly
"Wrong" Said Copernicus. He snapped his fingers and Ash was once again hanging over Hell's Gate.
"Hey what happened to 'Is that your final answer?'" Asked Ash.
"You get tired of saying it after so many years." Said the dusclops "What's your answer?" He asked Dawn.
("Ask them politely to 'please leave you alone'?" She said doubtfully. She didn't know Jessie and James too well so had no idea what to say.
Copernicus just snapped his fingers and she was in a cage beside Ash. "Next" He said impatiently. He was ready to be rid of the pests who bothered him from his research.
("Use psychic manipulation to erase all memory of you from their minds.") Said Mune confidently ("They can't bother you if they don't know who you are.")
"Nope." Said Copernicus. He snapped his fingers and Mune was now in a cage on the other side of Ash.
"How could he be wrong?" Yelled Ash
"You can only use psychic manipulation on someone who has enough brain power to be hypnotized. Jessie and James don't have enough smarts between them to see with a microscope."
("Good point.") Said Pikachu
"You're next Rat-boy!" Said Copernicus
Pikachu swore that when he got out of here he was going to track the dusclops down and give him a Thunder he would never forget. ("Which meaning of forever are we talking about? Do you mean like eternity or like an indiscernible amount of time?")
Copernicus looked very confused by the question. "Aren't they the same thing?" He asked
("Nope.") Said Pikachu
"Well, I don't know…" Said the dusclops. Suddenly Ash, Dawn and Mune were standing beside Pikachu and Copernicus was in the center cage. "…Oh no." He said just before the chain broke and he fell into the swirling abyss. There was a hissing sound and than the floor closed over the pit leaving no evidence of its existence.
"Will we ever know the answer to that question?" Asked Ash
("I don't think so.") Said Pikachu
They headed to the other side of the room ignoring all the other doors and finally found a staircase.
"Guys I really don't feel like walking up all these stairs." Said Ash.
("Look over there!") Said Mune. He pointed to a set of sliding doors with the word 'ELEVATOR' printed over top of them.
("Don't you think that this is just a little too convenient.") Asked Dawn.
"No way." Said Ash "Come on guys lets use that elevator."
("I'm taking the stairs Ash.") Said Pikachu.
("Me too.") Said Dawn.
("You two are just paranoid.") Said Mune ("I'm with Ash.")
("Suit yourself.") Said Pikachu as he bounded off up the stairs.
"Come on Mune. We'll get there in no time." Said Ash. No one seemed to notice the purple aura that was surrounding Ash.
…
About an hour later Pikachu and Dawn were waiting on the top floor by the elevator doors.
("Can you believe it was only 3 flights of stairs?") Asked Dawn ("I thought it would be a lot more.")
("Guess we just got lucky.") Said Pikachu ("I wonder where Ash is. It's been almost an hour.")
He then heard slow and labored steps coming from the stairway. Ten minutes later Ash and Mune collapsed at the top of the stairs.
("What took you guys so long?") Asked Dawn
"Elevator…huff….only had…huff…first floor button." Panted Ash
("Climbed…wheeze….100…wheeze…flights of stairs") Croaked Mune
Once Ash and Mune had finally caught their breaths the group made their way to the large double door at the end of the corridor. The door had a mural of a large green serpent with yellow markings. The beast had its mouth open showing several rows of fangs ringing a thin reptilian tongue. As they approached the door it slowly opened. Once they made their way through the doorway they found themselves outside and very high in the air.
"About time." Said Rayquaza. He then caught himself, cleared h is throat and switched to his 'Omnipotent Voice' "WELCOME HUMAN." He thundered "YOUR TRUE TRIAL HAS JUST BEGUN!"
…
A/N: I decided I had had enough sad chapters. (strictly for the time being. I am not through being evil, not by a long shot) So I decided to make this one a bit more light hearted and do a bit of character development. I need to mention that I do not own "Jeopardy" It is owned by Kingworld as far as my knowledge goes. And just to be safe I don't own "Who wants to be a millionaire?" either. Hope this chapter was enjoyable. Drop me a comment in a review and the next chapter should be up no later then Tuesday.
A/N II: With this chapter this fic passes the 60K word mark. Now I can officially call it a moderately long fic.
Until Next Time…
