Ash's mind was flooded with thoughts and worries ever since he had that dream, the last moments of preparation to a well-deserved rest, when in the past it was supposed to be the start of an unforeseen adventure, now was the first step into a nightmare that had been going on since one, strange, night.
Sleepless and always more than awake, Ketchum never wanted to think of what would happen if he tried to give in to the desires of that creature that now inhabited his body.
No, he didn't want to even name it or look at it. The mere thought of closing his eyes would cause shivers and shakiness over his body, blinking was a horrific experience that Ash tried to avoid at any given time.
Yet he knew, deep down, it was always him.
the sound of concrete grains being moved reverberated through the room, that at this moment was in a dead silence
The almost purple pockets resided down of ash's eyes, results of the many moons that he had passed staring at its light.
In fact, that was the only source of light that Ash wanted to see, as the sun would mean going out, and going out would mean being close to Serena, and that would open him to "lose control" and hurt her, as for everybody that was close.
Of course, that the girl would notice it.
dust rises up from the ground, lifting and spreading at same time as many desperate movements were being made.
Who wouldn't?
Heavy breathing
Ketchum was vivid, happy and almost hyperactive. He would make the most of his day to the point of crashing down into bed in the end until another adventure would call him.
Nothing could stop him… Well, three weeks ago, nothing really could've stopped him.
Something scratched down the surface, making a screeching noise as the howling wind slowly invaded the room.
Yet, it happened.
And not even Serena's smile or Clemont extensive research could've helped him.
There was only one solution.
a sudden sound of steps started, becoming louder and louder.
A temporary one, but a solution nonetheless.
It halted and the breeze became silent.
Or so he thought.
…
"Howdy, Braixen… I'm really surprised to see that you are already awake"
Ash said in a calming tone that was almost friendly, while being supported by his modest smile.
The fox slowly glanced over at him, not really understanding what was happening or why she was there or why her vision was so blurry, dizziness and confusion striked her head as the weak light poorly illuminated the trainer's face.
Not knowing how to react, Braixen picked up the pieces of what she had seen and heard, the voice was clearly of Ash, but the place that they were was nothing short of ominous or macabre, Ketchum wouldn't be in a place like this.
Maybe She was captured by Team Flare?
That was her first thought, coming up with and accepting it, since everything pointed out to this, and by her vague memory of what happened before the world turned dark…
"Awake and well" Ketchum continued, now with a frightening tone that confused the fox even more, he simply let out a devious grin, sighing just seconds after while looking at the floor.
It wasn't just the pokemon there that was confused
So, Ash was there to save her? Alone? Well, it made some sense for him to be the first. He was so fast and powerful that not even the best trainer could have a chance, his heroic pose and almost suicidal decisions during the Prism Tower event made clear for the fox that Ketchum wasn't a normal Human.
She saw him as an example of courage and bravery, just like her trainer did, the two would see how Ash's fighting spirit helped him win the most difficult fights and how that could be used in her performances with Serena.
"No need to worry now, I'm here" His voice had a "warm" feeling, like home, comforting… or just uncanny.
The Trainer's dark brown eyes stared at her directly contrasting his words.
Something was wrong.
Braixen knew.
Where is Pikachu? His so-called best friend, and most important for the fox: Where is Greninja?
"Still dizzy?" He asked expecting a simple nod from the pokemon that just stayed silent and immobile making Ash rolls his eyes after remembering that the fox probably wasn't able to control her body as of now.
In fact, Braixen couldn't make any movements or feel anything, she was just thinking and asserting what twisted place she was being kept in.
Maybe Greninja was outside, waiting for her to come out?
"My Arceus, how slow can you be?" Ash questioned, standing up and looking down frustrated while looking to the scarlet eyes of the fox that stared to regain control over herself.
"Mmphh" A muffled sound came out of the Braixen's mouth, that was when she realized that her thank you was obstructed by a gag.
Ash face was taken by disturbing smile that stretched from cheek to cheek after hearing the pokemon struggle to speak. It was like music to him, the fox was trying her best to say anything, but that red ball stuck in her mouth only made her efforts worthless.
"MPHMHMP" The Vixen rapidly stood up only to be dragged down right into her old position in a violent shake hitting the ground and almost fainting, her shoulders almost stayed there.
Ash simply laughed and watched as the fox slowly started to feel the pain come out of her pulses, the trainer almost clapped to the scene that was playing right in front of him.
Handcuffed behind one of the legs of a metal table that was strongly fixed on the ground, Braixen made several attempts to escape only to cause more bruises around her arm, she was panicking, why Ash was just watching her surfer witch such a delightful sight?
Screaming wouldn't help, no matter how much the pokemon pledged for his attention, Ketchum simply sat there while waving at her letting out some small chuckles.
Not even Braixen's powers were working. Struggling was the only option left for her, and that wasn't helping at all.
She was getting exhausted, the adrenaline of discovering the reason why she couldn't move was being transformed into weakness as the time passes.
An erratic breathing and an astonished glance were all that was left for the pokemon to do, falling on the ground, only to be held on her knees by the handcuffs.
"Calm down little fox, you will only hurt yourself more" He said while walking over to her only to be greeted with a look of betrayal by the vixen who couldn't believe that Ash was the one responsible for all of this.
"There, easy… No need to be so desperate, I'm already pleased with your reaction"
Ash's words where full of satisfaction and pride, like if everything got way better than he expected while Braixen movements became more and more stable, understating that it was all pointless, making the trainer smile.
"Y'know, for a pokemon, you really managed to put things together really quick. I mean, others would still be thinking that I'm here to save them, the shock of this discovery would've just blinded them"
He was surprised and happy, Ash had never thought that the pokemon would have go so far as unraveling his secret, accepting that he was actually an enemy, not succumbing to the past and trying to make sense out of his actions.
She was quick into realizing that Ketchum wasn't there to save her, but that he was the one responsible for everything that was happening there.
"They would just make up an excuse and say to themselves that the "true ash" wouldn't do this and believe in that lie, because accepting reality is too harsh and difficult, I bet Serena would create an entire alternative world just to avoid the truth"
Braixen's claws scratched the ground with anger as she heard those last words, although he couldn't hear her growl because of the gag, he expected that muffed sound to be full of hate.
"Mmpmph"
Instead, it was full of disappointment and sadness in which Ketchum noticed, suddenly the trainer grabbed the pokemon's neck, violently closing his hand and shaking it making her head move from front to back.
"Do you really think that you're better than me just because I said that?" He asked, rage could be felt in his voice while he wrapped his hand around the fox fragile white neck, Ash was pressing it with all the power that he had, slowly caressing it with his bigger thumb as in a way of teasing her.
Braixen couldn't do anything other than choke and look up, her body twitches as the trainer continued to move his hand, up and down, feeling her soft fur.
The trainer started to think about how comfortable her neck was for his hand, how delicate it was, just like a Braixen in general, he wanted to be a little gentle with it, but yet rough.
The vixen would cough every time her trachea was in the reach of the hands and fingers that belonged to Ketchum. He had even removed one of his gloves just to do that.
He enveloped his hand around her neck one more time, making Braixen look directly into his dark brown eyes, and with a little smile, Ash said.
"Such a beautiful creature"
Those words trembled the now scared fox, there was something in his voice that made her think of a malicious force that surrounded the trainer.
Suddenly, Braixen could feel the cold air invading her mouth as Ash removed the red gag.
Slow drops of saliva struck the ground creating an ominous sound, Braixen's tongue was completely out and reacting to her erratic breath as the liquid kept pouring down from each end of her mouth.
Drooling, in a fit of relief and despair.
The fox heavy breathing made Ash look to the red ball that was now on the ground being close to the small pools of the almost transparent substance, completely covered with it.
Braixen's mouth wasn't free to speak, it took just a few second for her to realize that the red gag only served as a tampon, like what a door is to a wall.
It was now wide open for Ash to use, and she couldn't close it no matter how much pressure she put into breaking it.
Silence...
The trainer only stared at the fragile and helpless Braixen that now waited for the worst.
Ash needed to make a choice.
He was always a hero.
Always.