Crossroads Chapter 15: Radiant Dawn Part 1!
Previously on Crossroads: After Ash's loss to Paul, Ash took off into the woods, leaving Anabel and Corey to search for him. After coming up empty through the night and most of the next day, the pair found Ash in a gruesome scene. Anabel must now battle and free Ash from the dark aura that controls his actions. If she loses, then Ash might be gone forever.
Tohjo Falls, Woods – Kanto Region
The sky was as black as Anabel had ever seen it. Lighting rained down from the dark clouds striking everything around them, creating flashes of light that ran over Ash's features before extinguishing. It was a cycle demonstrating the exact setting of the storm raging within Ash's heart.
This Ash wasn't the boy she grew to care for even more than she ever thought possible over the past month and a half. No, This Ash was born out of disgust for all of the failures he's endured in his life.
Cynthia used to describe Ash and Paul as two sides of the coin. Everything Ash was Paul wasn't and vice-versa; however, the lines have become blurred. For the entirety of Ash's life, there has only been light. Only once has darkness overcome the young man, although that was out of his control. However, this time, the dormant darkness has finally risen to the surface, overcoming all of his thoughts and emotions. Becoming a person much colder and more calculated. One that doesn't feel the same feelings as an average person does. Not only has Ash traversed to the other side of the coin, but the darkness engulfed both sides.
Anabel stared down at her lover, knowing she wouldn't get another chance if she didn't stop him now.
Before the battle began, Anabel said, "Ash, I'll ask one more time; please stop this and just come back to me!"
Ash laughed at Anabel's question and replied, "I don't think you understand what you're asking, Anabel! The Ash you knew is gone, and he's not coming back unless you battle me right here, right now!"
"Fine… but know this, I don't care how strong you think you are, I finally got Ash to read my heart for the first time, and we experienced something nobody else in this world can understand! I'll stop this no matter what and bring the real Ash back!"
"Prove it then! Pikachu, Quick Attack into an Iron Tail!" called Ash as the yellow mouse sprang forward with white streaks raging around it.
"Alakazam, fight back with Focus Punch!"
"Dodge and smack that pathetic Pokémon away," ordered Ash, directed after Anabel released her command as if Ash knew what she was going to say.
Alakazam quickly charged its fist in a white glow while Pikachu's tail also shined a bright white. As Pikachu was about to make contact, Alakazam moved its fist to make contact; however, Pikachu read the movement and quickly jumped over Alakazam, successfully dodging the attack. Pikachu then quickly looped around and struck Alakazam with its tail while it was flatfooted from the missed punch.
"Alakazam, no!" Called Anabel while Ash continued the pressure and ordered, "Thunderbolt!"
While Alakazam got back to its feet, Pikachu quickly released a powerful stream of electricity toward it. Still, Anabel was able to react fast enough to call out, "Alakazam, redirect it with Psychic!"
"Go in with Volt Tackle!" Ash once again, anticipating Anabel's command.
As the Thunderbolt approached, Alakazam's eyes quickly glowed a light blue, which surrounded the Thunderbolt and sent it right back towards Pikachu. On the other hand, Pikachu was already charging for Alakazam and gaining speed with its entire body engulfed in electricity. Before Alakazam knew it, Pikachu could avoid the redirected Thunderbolt and slam Alakazam with full force in the stomach sending the psi Pokémon hurtling across the ground.
"Alakazam, you have to get up!" Called Anabel while Ash kept on the now ruthless assault by calling out, "Iron Tail!"
"Anabel, you have to call out to your Pokémon mentally! Ash's anticipating your every move!" Yelled Corey, not waiting to see a repeat of the last series of attacks.
Anabel shook her head quickly to focus before she mentally called out to Alakazam, saying, "Alakazam turn around quickly and use Psybeam before Pikachu makes contact!"
"One down," said Ash while his smirk from before reappeared as Pikachu was about to make contact. However, his smirk quickly turned into a frown as, without knowing Anabel commanded anything, Alakazam turned around with its spoons crossed in an X and fired a colorful beam of lighting into Pikachu. The beam was larger than any ordinary Psybeam Ash had seen before. Even though Pikachu attempted to break through it with Iron Tail, the beam overpowered and engulfed the mouse Pokémon, sending it flying back towards Anabel's side of the field.
"Nice, way to go, Alakazam!"
"Hmph, just because you can speak mentally with your Pokémon, it means nothing. I don't think you understand your situation; little party tricks will do you no good!"
"We'll see! Alakazam, use Psycho Cut!"
Ash noticed Anabel's eyes and knew she was communicating with Alakazam, so he called out in response, "Thunderbolt all-around Alakazam!"
Alakazam took two spinning discs of Psychic energy on top of its spoons and threw them towards Pikachu; however, the mouse Pokémon was ready as it jumped into the air and unleashed a barrage of lightning bolts toward Alakazam.
"Alakazam try to use Psychic to redirect them!" called Anabel mentally. Still, unfortunately, the effort was in vain as the Psycho Cuts got destroyed by the Thunderbolt barrage, and there were too many streams of lighting coming towards Alakazam that it couldn't control all of them, causing multiple bolts to strike Alakazam.
Thankfully, most of them missed Alakazam and the ones that did strike it were weaker than your average Thunderbolt. Still, Alakazam had taken so much damage at this point that the shock forced the Psi Pokémon to a knee.
"Finish with a Quick Attack into Iron Tail!" Commanded Ash, trying to capitalize on the weakened Alakazam.
"Alakazam, try to give one more Focus Punch!" Called Anabel telepathically, and while still on his knee, Alakazam put the remainder of its energy into one last Focus Punch as its hand glowed brighter than at the start.
This time, the two attacks collided, creating a difficult power struggle for the two sides. After a couple of moments, Ash took the initiative, "Spin it off and strike!"
Pikachu got the message and put an extra burst of power into its tail which caused the Iron Tail to break through Alakazam's Focus Punch, leaving the Psi Pokémon on its back foot and out of position. Pikachu quickly seized the opportunity, spun around just like its first battle with Paul's Elekid, and struck Alakazam across his skull, sending Anabel's first Pokémon straight into the charred grass.
"Hmph, one down," said Ash as it was easily notable that Alakazam lay unconscious with swirls in its eyes.
"Return, my friend," called Anabel as she held up Alakazam's Pokémon, which sucked the Psi Pokémon back into its depths.
"Thank you, my friend, you fought so bravely," said Anabel as the Pokeball decreased in size, and she pocketed it only to exchange it with her second choice.
"If anybody can stop Pikachu, I know you can do it, my friend, Espeon!" called Anabel as she threw her Pokeball into the air releasing the Sun Pokémon onto the charred field.
"Espi," called the Sun Pokémon as it appeared only for its eyes to widen at the scene in front of it, and it quickly turned its head towards Anabel in apparent protest of what it was about to go through.
Anabel got down on one knee and said, "Espeon, I need you to be strong here, we need to get Ash back to the way he's supposed to be, and I need your help. I know this is hard, it's already harder than I could have imagined, but we have to do this to get back who we love."
Espeon nodded at Anabel and, with a determined face, turned to face its opponent, knowing that, just like Anabel, this would be harder than she could have imagined.
"If you think your ridiculous excuse for a Pokémon is any match against me, then your crazy!"
"You should know by now, Ash, that Espeon is my strongest Pokemon! You'll have a tougher time than you think!"
"Hmph, no matter, I have a battle to win and a region to dominate when I'm finished with you. Now Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Espeon, it's time; we have to win this to get Ash back! Counter it with Psychic to redirect it!" called Anabel telepathically.
Pikachu jumped into the air and released another stream of lightning toward Espeon. The Sun Pokémon, on the other hand, ignited its eyes in the same blue glow as Alakazam, which then surrounded the incoming electric attack, sending it back towards Pikachu.
"Dodge and use Volt Tackle!" commanded Ash, recalling the scene before with Alakazam.
"Surround Pikachu with Psychic before it can move!" Yelled Anabel mentally to Espeon.
Pikachu successfully avoided the incoming Thunderbolt and began to run forward with streaks of electricity beginning to spark around its body. However, before it could start its full attack, the yellow mouse's body was surrounded by a blue glow, forcing it to a dead stop.
"Great, Espeon! Lift Pikachu into the air and use Zap Cannon!" Espeon replied by motioning her head towards the sky, which in turn rose the motionless Pokémon from the ground into the sky before releasing it in mid-air. Espeon then quickly created a powerful ball of electrical energy on the gem on its forehead and fired it towards Pikachu, who could not defend itself as the ball collided with it, creating an explosion.
Pikachu emerged from the smoke in the air and landed on its stomach in obvious pain as it struggled to its tiny feet. "Damn it, Pikachu, get up and use Quick Attack!"
"Espeon, Iron Tail!"
Pikachu made it to its feet and didn't hesitate to rush forward with Quick Attack; however, it was easy to notice that Pikachu was slower than usual. Espeon took control of the situation and jumped ahead above Pikachu, successfully avoiding its attack and bringing its twin tails down into Pikachu's head hard. Pikachu was sent to the ground like a rocket, shaking the earth upon impact from the attack.
"That's enough, Ash! Pull Pikachu back; he's in no condition to continue battling!"
Ash gritted his teeth in anger as he did something neither Anabel nor Corey was expecting as he pulled Pikachu's Pokeball from the back of his belt and held it up in a returning motion.
"No, Ash! Pikachu doesn't like to go back in its Pokeball!"
"Who cares what it wants! After all of the battles Pikachu's had throughout the years, it's a disgrace it couldn't wipe your whole team, and I will no longer tolerate failure!" Yelled Ash as the red beam emerged from the Pokeball and, for the first time in seven years, sucked Pikachu into its depths.
"You shouldn't have done that, Ash! Pikachu's like a brother to you!"
Ash ignored her, pulled another Pokeball from his belt, and threw it into the air, releasing Quilava onto the charred battlefield.
"Qui-Quilava?" called out the Volcano Pokémon as it looked around in confusion. Quilava then looked towards Ash, who looked back at the Fire-Type, and the effect was almost instantaneous. Quilava's body went stiff, and its eyes turned the same reddish color as Pikachu's as if Ash was controlling it. Quilava turned around to face Anabel and Espeon and released a loud cry, "Quilava! Quilava!"
"Corey… did you see that?" Anabel asked in a shaky tone.
"Looks like the effect of Ash's aura is instantaneous as right when his Pokémon look at him, his aura pollutes their body and fills it with the same anger Ash is currently feeling. Wow, who would've imagined things would get this far..."
"Now, let us continue! Quilava, Flame Wheel!" commanded Ash as Quilava leaped forward and engulfed its body in a fiery wheel of flames.
"Espeon, stop Quilava with Psychic!"
"Don't let it stop you!" commanded Ash as Espeon's eyes glowed a bright blue, then surrounded Quilava, which stopped the Johto starter in its tracks.
"Now Espeon li-" Anabel was in the middle of her command but was canceled out as Espeon faltered under the immense pressure Quilava was giving, which led the Fire-Type to continue its path towards Espeon.
"Espeon, you have to get out of the way! Quick Attack!" called Anabel using telepathy; however, it was too late as while Espeon moved to get away, Quilava managed to catch it and singe the left side of Espeon's body causing the Sun Pokémon to wince in pain.
"Continue the attack!" ordered Ash as Quilava turned at a 90-degree angle to intercept Espeon.
"Jump and use Zap Cannon!"
As Quilava was about to make a significant impact, Espeon, still in the middle of its Quick Attack, jumped into the air, causing Quilava to roll under where Espeon would have been. Espeon then turned in mid-air and created a powerful Zap Cannon on its gem just as before. Espeon took aim at Quilava, and just as it was about to fire, from turning around in mid-air, the wound on Espeon's left leg caused it to wince again in pain. Espeon tried its best to shake off the pain and fired the ball of electricity towards Quilava; however, the attack was off as it grazed the side of Quilava's Flame Wheel, causing the fire-type to roll out of control, which in turn extinguished the flames around it.
"Shake it off and use Flamethrower!" called Ash as Quilava quickly turned around and fired a powerful stream of fire towards Espeon, who couldn't get out of the way in time and was engulfed by the attack.
"Espeon, no!" Yelled out Anabel while Ash was quick to follow up and called out, "now Dig!"
Espeon emerged from the flames and landed with numerous burn marks on its body but didn't falter. Instead, it stayed alert, waiting for the next attack, while Anabel devised a plan to try to stop Quilava in its tracks.
"Espeon, fire a Zap Cannon into the hole!" Yelled Anabel mentally, knowing there wasn't much time before Quilava surfaced.
Espeon quickly created another ball of electricity and jumped into the air before firing it into the hole Quilava made earlier. Unfortunately for Espeon, the moment it landed, Quilava emerged from directly beneath it, striking it with its claw and sending it hurtling backward towards Anabel. In contrast, Quilava landed before the hole it had just jumped out.
"Quilava, finish with Lava Plume!" commanded Ash while pointing to Espeon, who was making its way slowly to its feet. Quilava quickly unleashed a mighty torrent of flames from its back and mouth, gradually reaching the injured Espeon.
"Damn it, I have to do something!" said Anabel when an idea sprang into her head, and if she could pull it off in the time, it would turn this match right around in her favor.
"Espeon, use Psychic to push Quilava backward!" Praying the timing was right.
As the Lava Plume approached, Espeon surrounded Quilava in bright blue and, with the rest of its psychic power, pushed it back across the ground until it was a point where there wasn't any ground under it. The hole it just made.
"What are you up to, girl!?" Roared Ash before his eyes widened upon realizing what the young frontier brain was planning and quickly yelled out, "Use Flamethrower to push yourself back!"
It was too late as right when Quilava appeared over the hole, the Zap Cannon from before emerged from the hole's outlet. From circulating through the hole, the electric ball turned from a ball into a wave of electricity, which in turn engulfed Quilava in mid-air. At the same time, Espeon knew its fate as Quilava's Lave Plume sprayed over the Sun Pokémon like a wave of water, submerging it completely.
Once both attacks cleared, Quilava could still move. However, electric sparks protruded on its exterior as it retreated towards Ash's field side. On Anabel's side, Espeon lay motionless with swirls in its eyes as Anabel reached for her Pokeball and recalled her prized Pokémon, saying, "thank you so much, my friend. I know this was hard, but I promise your effort put us in the exact position we need to win this!"
With that, she pocketed the Pokeball and debated her next choice before deciding on Metagross; however, Corey stepped in, "Don't do it, Anabel, it won't work."
Anabel turned to him and said, "What do you mean? Quilava's weakened; if I beat it, Ash doesn't have another Fire-Type effective against Metagross."
"That's not the point, Anabel; you and I both know this is a test where if you use the basic ideas, you won't win. You need to grow, and I think one Pokémon in your possession needs to grow like you are."
Anabel thought about what her brother had to say and nodded, saying, "You're right, thanks, bro; I know what I have to do!"
"Hey, what's family for? Now go get him back, Anabel!"
"Right!" Said Anabel while pulling out a different Pokémon from her pocket and looking once more towards her lover.
Ash raised an eyebrow in curiosity as Anabel said, "Time to grow up, Ash; it's time for me to end this and bring back the person I love, not the monster you've become!"
"Hmph, and what are you going to do about it?"
"I'll show you… go, my friend, Kirlia!"
Author's Note:
I finally caught up with editing everything, and thankfully, the next chapter will be brand spanking new, and it should be exciting!
Thanks again for reading, and looking forward to the next one! (Only waited 10+ years for it, sheesh!)
Crossroads Chapter 16: Radiant Dawn Part 2!
Cyclone20
