Ash Gets Possessed... Again!
Ash, Marnie and Zach had recently arrived at the Sinnoh region in the hopes of catching Cynthia's battle against Palmer, unfortunately for them they were unable to get plane tickets that took them directly there as they sold out within minutes which was understandable considering how much hype and attention Cynthia received. Though that didn't change the fact they had to walk the rest of the way!
The group walked through Sinnoh's vast desert region which wasn't as an exciting experience for Marnie as Unova's desert but Ash kept his eyes open as if he hoped to find something, Marnie wasn't sure what he hoped to find but wasn't going to question it as he looked focused. Lucario meanwhile forcefully held water bottles to his trainer and Raboot's mouths as he feared their lack of attention would get them dehydrated.
Lucario let out a yelp as the sand began stirring beneath them, the jackal quickly shoved his trainer and Raboot away causing them to faceplant against the sand as a mountain of sand rose up beneath Lucario's paws!
"Hippo!"
"Car!" Lucario let out an aggressive growl as he summoned up an aura infused bone club and brought it crashing down upon the Pokemon's head! "Lucar!"
"Hippo..." Ash turned around as the Pokemon dropped to it's knees, the sand fell off it's head to reveal a Hippowdon! Ash couldn't help but tilt his head as something was telling him that this Pokemon was familiar, he couldn't place it at first since it had been years since they'd last seen each other but it eventually came to him!
"Car!" Lucario prepared to whack Hippowdon again before Ash intervened.
"Lucario wait!"
"Car?" Lucario shot Ash a look as he halted the club mere inches away from Hippowdon's face.
"Let me talk to him," Lucario grunted before backing away to help his trainer and Raboot back up as they were still laying in the sand. Ash turned his attention to Hippowdon as the large hippo raised back up to his feet before locking eyes with Ash, the hippo's red eyes gazed directly into Ash's brown eyes.
"Hippo..." Hippowdon's eyes lit up as he gave Ash an affectionate nuzzle. "Hippo!" Hippowdon's legs then began to sink as if he prepared to leap up on top of Ash's head!
"Whoa whoa, don't do that!" Ash hastily waved his hands before uttering out a pained grunt as Hippowdon landed on top of him!
"Hippo!" Hippowdon cried out in an excitable manner before looking around as Ash had disappeared. "Hippo? Hippo?"
"Mmpph!" Ash's arms flailed about beneath Hippowdon's body.
"Um, Hippowdon? I'm afraid that you're sitting on my friend!" Marnie pointed towards his chest. Hippowdown glanced down and uttered a gasp of alarm as he sprang off of Ash and began hastily bowing in an apologetic manner. Ash let out a grunt as he raised back to his feet and uttered out a light chuckle as he waved at Hippowdon.
"I'm guessing you don't know your size, eh?"
"Hippo..."
"Don't worry about it, you were just happy to see me again I get that! I'm glad to see you too!"
"Hippo!" The two smiled at one another for a moment before Ash produced an empty Pokeball.
"Hey Hippowdon, would you be interested in joining my team? I'm working towards becoming the World Champion and I think working together would be a great opportunity for the both of us to become stronger, what do you say?!" Ash offered with an excitable expression.
Hippowdon didn't even need a second to think as he gave a quick nod of his head before leaping up and down in an excitable manner. "Hippo! Hippo! Hippo!" The ground shook beneath them as he leaped about. Ash let out another chuckle as he threw an empty Pokeball at Hippowdon but right as the hippo disappeared in the familiar beam of red light, the ground suddenly caved in beneath them sending the group plummeting to the depths below!
"Ow my head!" Ash wasn't sure exactly how long he was about but judging by the light coming from where they fell it had to be around dusk. It was too far to fly back up and it didn't even look big enough to support Charizard's wingspan! Sure they could blast it but they'd be putting themselves at risk if the rest of the roof caved in! Ash hastily glanced around the room, he could feel his Rotom Phone vibrating which meant that Hippowdon's capture had likely been a success and he was safely transported off to Oak's lab!
Lucario, Raboot, Pikachu, Morpeko and Marnie were all still unconscious but there was movement on Zach's end as the trainer slowly raised to his feet. He took a good long look around before uttering a fairly large sigh. "Not again..."
"Hey don't worry, we'll find a way out of here as soon as Marnie and the others wake up!" Ash grinned while waving his hand. "How about we take a look around?"
"I guess..." Zach muttered. The two began searching the large room for clues to escape or even just a secret passageway of some sort as they couldn't find any doors or open passages. Zach's gaze soon fixated upon an odd looking keystone and he couldn't help but feel drawn to it. "Hey I think I found the way out of here!"
"Hm?" Ash turned to look at his friend and let out a gasp of alarm as he recognized the object, he'd only seen it once but the evil spirit Pokemon was quite unforgettable! "Wait don't touch that!" Ash raced towards his friend in an attempt to push him away before it was too late! "Got ya!"
The two fell to the dirt and at first it appeared as if Ash was successful but he soon realized that the keystone had been knocked off it's pedestal, the stone now touching both his and Zach's hands as he felt an odd sensation flowing through him. One he was all too familiar with as he was placed in a prison within his own mind!
Marnie shot awake a few moments afterwards and looked around before letting out a gasp as she saw two pairs of red eyes looking at her from the shadows. "Ah!" She closed her eyes and pinched herself as she thought she was just having another nightmare but she found that she wouldn't wake up! "W-What are you?!"
"Hehehehe..." Cackling could be heard as Ash and Zach stepped out from the shadows.
"That wasn't funny you two, ya scared me!" Marnie growled out.
"Hehehehe..."
"Hey cut it out, that ain't funny!" Marnie clenched her fists as the urge to punch them was growing. "We're stuck down here so how about we focus on getting out of here? I'll happily play giggle like a madman once we're back on the surface!"
"Join us Marnie..." Ash spoke with a demonic looking smirk.
"Yeah join us, we've got cookies hehehe..." Zach giggled out.
Marnie's eye began to twitch. "I thought I told ya two to cut it out!" She glared directly into their eyes before taking a startled leap backwards as she noticed how unusually red they were. "Oh... you two aren't in there are ya?"
"Nope nope nope!" Zach giggled out.
"Any chance that a declaration of love will snap you out of it?" Marnie questioned as she shot Ash a look before turning to Zach. "And I know you're depressed but I'm sure that May girl will date ya if you asked her, come on you two snap out of it!"
"They can't hear you... and if you won't join us... I'm afraid that you must be destroyed!" Ash flashed her a smirk as he threw his arm forward. "Pikachu use Thunderbolt on that brat!"
"Pika?" Pikachu tilted his head as he awoke.
"You heard me, use Thunderbolt!" Pikachu gave Ash a funny look before ghastly green light flowed into his body, giving him no choice but to deliver a painful shock to Marnie!
"Ahhh!" Marnie screamed out as electricity surged through her veins but she was saved from her fate by Morpeko who threw herself at Pikachu and knocked him away!
"Jab her with Bone Rush hehehe..."
"Car!" Lucario shook his head as he knew his trainer was possessed and wouldn't want him to harm his friend. The green spirit soon possessed him and left him with no choice as he rushed towards Marnie!
"Flame Charge!"
"Ra!" Raboot's eyes glowed a dark red color as bright red flames surrounded her body, the rabbit rushed forward while Prinplup, Porygon 2, Raichu and Corvisquire were released from their balls. Ash soon following in his possessed companion's example as Charizard, Greninja, Primeape, Torkoal and Palpitoad emerged only to wind up possessed!
Marnie soon found herself surrounded by her friend's Pokemon. She could easily defeat Zach's team part from Lucario and maybe Porygon since she didn't know it's strength, it was doing so without majorly hurting them that was her concern. While Ash was the true threat especially with Charizard, Greninja and Pikachu under possession!
"Last chance goth girl, join us!" Zach giggled out.
"Why do people keep calling me that? I ain't goth!" Marnie clenched her fists as she released Grimmsnarl, her shiny Obstagoon, Krookodile, Drapion and Shiftry from their Pokeballs. Morpeko leaped away from Pikachu to join her teammates as they found themselves surrounded by Ash and Zach's Pokemon. "This is so how I didn't picture myself going out..." Marnie growled out. "Everyone attack, use whatever you deem fit just don't kill them!"
Marnie's Pokemon let out cries of their own as they rushed forward, Grimmsnarl tackled Primeape and Palpitoad causing the three to disappear in a cloud of dust before Primeape and Palpitoad were thrown out and sent flying! Porygon, Corvisquire and Prinplup were sent flying after them and upon fainting, the green spirits retreated from their bodies freeing them from their control!
Grimmsnarl snarled out before tackling Charizard while Marnie's Drapion grabbed hold of Greninja and Morpeko continued to keep Pikachu busy. Torkoal and Raichu were knocked away by Marnie's Krookodile while Raboot and Lucario ganged up on Shiftry, successfully taking him down before rushing off to assist Charizard!
"Uh oh..." Marnie muttered out as Grimmsnarl lost his grip on Charizard allowing him to deliver a powerful Flamethrower directly to the demon's face! Grimmsnarl grunted out before falling to his knees where Lucario delivered a swift Bone Rush with Raboot following up with Electro Ball! Grimmsnarl roared out as Charizard finished the job with Dragon Pulse! Grimmsnarl dropped to his side as swirls formed in his eyes and it was over before Marnie knew it cause once Charizard got free Morpeko, Obstagoon and Drapion were taken out with ease thanks to a Charizard Greninja tag team!
"Oh shoot..." Marnie had her back against the wall as Raboot, Lucario, Charizard, Greninja and Pikachu surrounded her.
"So long Marnie, it was nice knowing ya!" Ash laughed.
"Yeah, see ya!" Zach giggled out.
Marnie closed her eyes and silently prayed out. 'Oh Arceus, what have I done to deserve this? Please forgive me!"
"GARRRR!"
A dark blue blur raced through the room before an orange-purple glow surrounded the blur, lighting it up as it charged straight through the Pokemon and sent them flying like bowling pins!
"Raaaa!"
"Car!"
"Pika!" The three Pokemon collapsed as swirls filled their eyes, Pikachu's long fight with Morpeko tired him out!
"GAR!" Garchomp snarled as Greninja and Charizard hopped back to their feet and stared eye to eye with Garchomp.
"Garchomp let's show these spirits what true power looks like, Mega Evolution style!"
"GAR!" A pink light enveloped Garchomp's body and lit up the cave, Ash and Zach covered their eyes with their elbows and let out irritated hissing sounds while Marnie looked towards her savior as another figure came into view.
"I don't believe it... Cynthia's here?"
Ash's spirit glanced towards his arm and attempted to activate his Mega Ring only for it to have no effect. "Bah! Greninja use our bond!"
Unfortunately for the spirit only Ash could activate it as it required them to be in synch and he was not Ash!
"Dragon Rush!"
"GAR!" Garchomp's body became surrounded in a light blue aura as he rushed forward with blinding speed, hurling through Charizard and Greninja and knocking them back to their feet!
Greninja grunted out and fired off a Water Shuriken while Charizard followed up with Flamethrower but Cynthia's Mega Garchomp tanked it! "Giga Impact!"
"GAR!" Garchomp's body glowed orange-purple as he charged at Charizard and Greninja, striking them against each other as he sent them flying back! Greninja and Charizard crashed head first against a nearby wall which crumbled to pieces shortly after they made impact. Neither Pokemon moved as they now laid in defeat!
Cynthia turned her attention towards Ash and Zach who began giggling out as a Spiritomb emerged from behind them!
"Tomb!"
"S-Spiritomb!" Marnie's expression turned to that of horror as the Ghost/Dark Pokemon came into view, it was starting to make sense to her now. Spiritomb had hundreds of spirits residing within him, more than enough to possess all of them and their Pokemon several times over!
Cynthia didn't seem the least bit phased by it's appearance as she calmly tossed a Pokeball forward to reveal a Togekiss! "Dazzling Gleam!"
"Toge!" Togekiss' body was surrounded in a rainbow energy sphere as she blasted towards Spiritomb and slammed her body against his!
"Tomb!" Spiritomb let out an ear shattering moan of terror as green lights flew out of Zach and Ash's ears, the boys quickly fell over as they fell unconscious. Spiritomb cried out once more as he began retreating back into his keystone but Cynthia was quick to act, grabbing hold of an empty Ultra Ball before chucking it at the spirit! The ball opened up and absorbed Spiritomb's body, it's various spirits cried out in agony the Pokemon disappeared! The ball hit the floor and began shaking back and forth before chiming out to confirm the capture a success! Cynthia flashed a silent smirk as she walked to pick up the ball while Marnie rushed to help her friends back to their feet.
"Ugh... what happened?" Zach groaned out as he woke up.
"You mean you don't remember being possessed?" Marnie questioned.
"We were possessed?" Ash groaned as he rose back to his feet before shooting a frantic look around. "Wait where did Spiritomb go?!" He was sure that was the Pokemon that did the deed as he vaguely recalled attempting to prevent Zach from touching the stone, he didn't blame him for it as Spiritomb weren't found outside of the Sinnoh region. Marnie only knew what it was due to her vast knowledge on Dark types!
"...You sure you don't remember anything? Anything at all?" Marnie questioned Ash.
"I feel a strange craving for cookies but other than that I don't remember anything." Ash shook his head.
Marnie let out a sigh of relief. "Thank Arceus..." Perhaps she'll find a more convenient time and place to tell Ash how she felt, Zach already knew so it shouldn't be a problem getting the two alone if she asked. She didn't want their relationship to start because Ash almost killed her, she wanted a better memory than that!
"Heal Pulse!"
"Carrr!" Lucario perked up as he heard another of his species, hearts quickly forming within his eyes as he spotted Cynthia's Lucario firing off a rapid series of pink energy spheres at the surrounding Pokemon, restoring their energy and health!
"R-Raa..." Raboot slowly awoke and Lucario's lovestruck expression was the first thing she saw. Raboot smirked and looked like her usual cheerful self for a moment before realizing that it wasn't directed at her but another Lucario. Raboot shot Cynthia's Lucario a glare and huffed as she crossed her arms with an irritated expression.
"I-Is that Cynthia?" Zach began to speak before shaking in an excitable fashion as Cynthia made her approach, the champion's eyes flickered between them before focusing on Ash in particular.
"I thought that Charizard looked familiar," She remarked. "How did you get in here? I had to solve some ancient puzzles to reach this room."
Zach silently pointed upwards as she was too star struck to speak. Cynthia glanced up before emitting a light bit of laughter as she shook her head.
"Should have figured it was an accident, was it Team Rocket?" She questioned.
"Oddly enough no, it was just an excited Hippowdon." Ash sweated.
"Ah, well there will be time to catch up later. I should get you three out of here, it's not safe here. Besides I've got to get to the Pokemon League stadium, I only came here because I stumbled across an ancient tablet that hinted there are some lost secrets of the past hidden away here but it appears that it was just a trap set up by some trick-" Cynthia went silent as she looked towards the massive hole in the wall where Charizard and Greninja fell through. The Champion silently tilted her head before walking towards it.
Ash and Marnie looked at each other before silently shrugging as they followed after all. Cynthia stepped foot into the room and gazed around it before her eyes set upon some ancient wall art. "Fascinating..."
"Did you find something?!" Ash couldn't help but ask in an excitable manner as he hoped that they had stumbled across a brand new Pokemon!
"Yes and no, it's just wall art... the writing appears to have crumbled off with age." Cynthia remarked as she shot another look around the room before fixating her gaze upon the art. "There are quite the unusual Pokemon here, this one looks just like a Voltorb but more... wooden?" She tilted her head.
"Hey that's a white Zorua!" Marnie was quick to comment.
"It looks amazing..." Zach trailed off as he gazed at the Zorua.
Ash's gaze turned towards what looked like a Scyther with rocky armor. He tilted his head before retrieving his Rotom Phone to check Scyther's data as he never heard of another evolution for Scyther.
"I wonder if my Scyther can turn into that..."
"No data found."
"Fascinating, that looks just like Scyther!" Cynthia gasped out. "And that's a Zorua, Braviary and an unusually large Basculin! It's quite possible that these are what the Pokemon looked like ages ago but unfortunately I can't solidify my theory without writing. It could just be an artist's interpretation for all we know." Cynthia shrugged before flashing another light smirk. "But I'm definitely going to look further into this as soon as I'm able to."
"Let me know if you find anything, that Scyther looks awesome!"
"Pi Pikachu!"
"So you're Marnie and you're Zach right?" Cynthia questioned as the group now sat aboard a boat that'd take them to the Lilly of the Valley Conference.
"Right!" Marnie grinned while Zach could only silently nod in response as he was too star struck to speak to her! "It's my dream to become a Dark type Master, while it's his dream to become the Galar Champion! Right buddy?" Marnie playfully nudged his arm with Zach giving off a nervous smile in response.
"So you two are working to beat Grimsley and Mustard then?" Cynthia mused before uttering out a light giggle. "Well good luck with your dreams, they're quite powerful opponents! Hydreigon and Urshifu won't go down easily."
"Nor will your Garchomp, i-it's amazing! It's an absolute beast!" Zach suddenly exclaimed before placing his hand over his mouth as his cheeks burned a fiery shade of red.
Marnie snickered in response to her friend's outburst while Cynthia let out a light laugh. She was used to fans like him, and ones far worse. "Why yes I suppose he is!" She laughed. Marnie smiled as she thought her friend was back to his usual self but as soon as Cynthia excused herself and left the group's side to go talk with one of her Elite Four members, his glum expression returned.
"Fascinating..." Saturn mused over the painting as he and Mars stood where Ash and the others had just a few hours ago. An ambitious look formed within his gaze. "So it appears that the rumors of Hisui are true, it does exist!"
"Great fic man, it's fun as hell to read all of his old pokemon coming back. I wonder if he'll catch dragonite in this story as well as larvitar. Keep up the great work and stay safe out there!" Hello there, thank you for the kind words! I really appreciate it! As for Larvitar, you'll just have to keep reading and find out! :)