Chapter 98 Suffocating

After arriving at Fiore Mansion, Ash, Serena, and Lillie find that Julia is wearing sunglasses while resting on a raft, much to their surprise.

Julia: Oh hey, you're back! Or like, BOOM back-lacka~ Speaking of backs, Amy's there too! She's not doing too hot, but her Scald TM more than makes up for that. Gottem~ By the way, if you plan on battling Amy, you better give her the same thrashing you gave me! If you beat all of us, then it makes me look better~

Ash: Yeah...

When Ash enters the Gym Field with Serena and Lillie, they were expecting Delia to answer the telecom, but this time it is Victoria.

Victoria: Ash, is that you? Are you challenging Amaria already? Well, I guess if you can, there's no reason not to. Just be careful with her; I heard she was injured!

Ash: I know, I was there when Solaris punched her, and she tried to jump off the waterfall as well.

Victoria: (Frowns) Then again, that didn't seem to affect her battling ability at all from the thrashing she gave our employee... Anyway, you probably want some advice about her, right? Um... Try... Electric attacks?

Ash: Okay, then thanks?

Victoria: No, hold on, don't hang up yet! I'm looking for the notes on her team... Here they are! Oh, hey I was right. She'll fight on the Water Surface where Electric attacks are more powerful, and that goes double for if you're fighting underwater. But being the Water Leader, she's definitely going to be ready for that kind of thing, so be careful! If she drags you below the surface, your options will be pretty limited... But there's one drawback there- it's hard to use physical moves underwater, which means most of her team uses Special attacks. If you have a strong special wall, it may prove invaluable against her! Additionally, you can think about how you'll play around her water field. If you have moves like Dive or Fly, they can get you back up above water! Alternatively, you could try freezing or poisoning the water, but those can be double-edged too... Maybe it all comes down to timing. Best of luck!

Ash: (Turns to Pikachu and the others) I'll be trying to get to the maze, once I'm there, I'll try to bring you to the battlefield.

Serena: Please be careful.

Pikachu also nods as he jumps into Lillie's arms, then Ash jumps into the water to see if he can find the way to the battlefield. Ash is surprised to see how big of a maze it is. But after getting to the battlefield, Ash is surprised to see Amaria facing Lin, who has been telling her what happened back at Never After.

Lin: Just as I said. Here, and no "friend" in sight.

Amaria: Why are you telling me all this? Is it just out of pity?

Lin: I prefer to think of it as compassion. Do what you will. (Leaves)

Ash: Amy?

Amaria: (Notices Ash) So... Ash, right? What brings you here? And where's Tania?

Ash: I'm here because of our gym battle, and Titania wants me to come before her.

Amaria: She sent you ahead, alone? She should just come here herself. In fact, I'm just gonna take a swim until she gets here. Bye!

Ash is surprised to see Amaria jumps into the water and leave, Ash is angry at Lin, Amaria lost her memories, so she wouldn't remember anything about Team Meteor, and now they are trying to take advantage of that like he is going to let it go.

Ash: I need to chase after her.

After chasing after Amaria, she finally notices Ash and stops.

Amaria: You followed me down here? I was really hoping you wouldn't... I didn't want to say anything undue, but... Why do you have those Bracelets? Those are the Bracelets Titania gave me. They belong to me. I thought I lost them, but then here you are... Won't you give them back?

Ash: Amaria, I can't give you back the bracelets, Team Meteor is after them. It is because of this you lost your memories, it is because of this you have been injured by them!

Amaria: (Frowns) Hey, do you ever think about how fragile we are as people? When we're down here, just one mistake could fill our lungs with water and make us rot from the inside out. So, where is Tania anyway? Why are you here and she's not? Did you do something?

Ash: Of course not! I wouldn't harm her since I care for all of you!

Amaria: (Frowns more at Ash's outburst) I'm- sorry... That was very rude of me... I should go.

Ash widens his eyes as Amaria is leaving again, he can't give up until it is over, so he continues to chase after her.

Amaria: Do you really have to stalk me? This is supposed to be my personal area. Pass through to the Gym if you want, but the only one allowed to stay down here with me is Tania...Not like she ever would... Hey, you know why I cling to her so much, right? It's because she's the only one...who let me. When I was crying, she stayed. When I was bleeding, she stayed. And when I was dying- The first, the second, the eighteenth time- She's still here. And I know... I know she deserves better. I know- She doesn't love me. It shows in the half-second before every hug, and in the taste of disdain within every kiss. I'd suck venom right from her tongue a half-thousand more if it meant she would always be here... But she's not here now. Why is she not here now, Ash? Why is it you? She's all I have. You don't understand.

Ash: And what part did I not understand? Just tell me! You don't need to hide your pain!

Amaria: Forget it. Please leave. Do what she never could.

Ash: I'm not going to leave, you're hurt and I'm going to help you!

Amaria grits her teeth as she continues to swim, and Ash continues to chase, after chasing to a corner, Amaria stops.

Amaria: You don't know when to stop. You're like me that way, aren't you? She's going to leave me, isn't she? That's what she came to warn me about. It's your fault, isn't it?

Ash: Lin is a manipulative person! She tried to do the same to Titania and me, we didn't listen to her to fall into her trap, so you shouldn't listen to her as well!

Amaria: Hey, Ash, do you want to know a secret?

Ash: What now?

Amaria: But I won't tell you. I don't need to tell you. Secrets are only as good as the whispers that betray them. And dead men can tell no tales.

Just then, Amaria shuts the door, causing Ash to get trapped between the walls.

Ash: Amaria! What are you doing?

Amaria: Don't you get it? This is a matter of life and death for both of us. Titania is my air. And since you've come, I've suffocated.

Ash: Get me out of here! Amaria! You'll regret it!

Amaria: "Huh? Ash was here? I don't remember seeing anyone..." You can drown.

Ash can't believe that Amaria is going to drown him, all because of that Lin. He tries to find a way to get out, but there isn't any way, and Ash can feel his consciousness starting to slip away.


Back at the Fiore Mansion, Serena and Lillie are waiting for Ash to come out, and at the same time, Titania has arrived.

Titania: Where's Ash?

Serena: He was already going in to challenge Amaria...

Titania hears it and she rushes to the battlefield, and she finds only Amaria here.

Amaria: Tania! You're back! I'm so worried about you!

Titania: Where is Ash? Tell me.

Amaria: Huh? Ash was here? I don't remember seeing anyone...

Titania: You don't have to lie to me. Those girls, Serena and Lillie, as well as Julia, told me that Ash is here to challenge you to a gym battle. (Realizes something) You wouldn't...

Amaria: Wouldn't what?

Titania quickly jumps into the water and tries to search for Ash, she can't believe what Amaria was doing, she tried to kill Ash. She has to find Ash before he is out of breath. And after searching for a while, she finds a switch on the wall and presses it, the walls open up to reveal Ash whose eyes are closed and was suffocating.

Titania: No good...I need to get him out of here!

After swimming for a while, Titania manages to bring Ash back to the shore. Julia, Serena, and Lillie gasp as they see Ash's state.

Serena: (Horrified) What happened to Ash?

Titania: Amy tried to drown him. Move out of the way!

As they rush to the second floor, they put Ash on the couch and try to do some CPR to get the water out of his body.

Lillie: Will he be okay? How come it becomes like this?

Titania: (Grits her teeth) There are security cameras on the battlefield. I have to find out what happened.

As they manage to get the video, Amaria is also there as she is surprised to see Ash lying on the couch while the others are glaring at her.

Amaria: What's the matter?

Titania: Amy, did you try to kill Ash yourself? After everything, he's done to us?

Amaria: What did he do to us? And why would I try to kill him?

Serena: Stop lying! We saw you trying to drown Ash! Just because that Team Meteor Leader said something to you...

Amaria: How did- What are you talking about?

Lillie: How did what? So you admit you tried to drown Ash!

Amaria: Okay! I'm sorry! Is that what you want?

Titania: Are you really sorry? Then tell me why did you try to kill Ash?

Amaria: I had no idea!

Titania: Just stop fucking lying!

Amaria: I said I'm sorry!

Serena: But you won't admit the truth.

Amaria: I already said I didn't know!

Lillie: Those walls don't close themselves.

Amaria: I don't know what happened, okay?

Titania: You're not fooling anyone.

Just then, Ash starts to cough as he slowly opens his eyes, meaning that he is waking up.

Serena: Ash! You're awake! Thank goodness!

Ash: What...what happened...

Titania: I got you out of there. We're even.

Lillie: Ash, what happened? Can you tell us?

Ash: I was trapped between the walls...and then I am out of breath... Amaria...

Titania: Are you really going to keep on like this even now that Ash is right here and listening?

Amaria: Listen...

Titania: You tried to fucking kill Ash!

Amaria: (Now angry) Like you've never done something like that?!

Titania: I've been fighting Team Meteor to keep everyone alive! And what about you?

Amaria: I've been fighting to keep myself alive!

Lillie: Then you're selfish! Ash has been trying really hard to save all of us! Without him, you and Titania would be dead, and you tried to kill your savior?

Amaria: You don't understand... (Turns to Titania) Tania, you're all I have...

Titania: I'm well aware. And you know what? I'm all I have too.

Amaria: (Frowns) You have me...

Titania: From what I've seen, I don't think so. I have scars. You're one of them. (Leaves)

This causes Amaria to shatter as she realizes what she has done, Ash wants to feel sorry for her, but from what she did to him, she doesn't know.

Amaria: I'm sorry for taking this out on you, Ash. That was wrong. I was wrong. I am wrong. I'm scum.

Ash decides to hug Amaria, letting her cry on his shoulder.

Ash: Amaria, I don't hate you. Lin tried to manipulate you, you were just confused, especially since you lost your memory. I care for both you and Tania, and that won't change.

Amaria: But Tania...

Ash: She just needs to be alone. What you did also shock her, you are not the only one that needs saving, she is as well. I'll try to talk to her.

Amaria: I'll be in the arena. (Leaves with tears in her eyes)

Ash, Serena, and Lillie can only sigh, for Serena and Lillie, Ash is too kind to hate anyone that he cares about the most, and that's why they love him.


And here is a new chapter, since I chose the Reshiram route, this is what happened before you challenge Amaria's gym. I hope you like this chapter.