The battle was finally over, Ash had finally won. So, why was the victorious side so melancholy?
After the fight had ended, Goku had retrieved Ash from the crater that was once the battleground the two fought on. But he wasn't prepared to see the trainer sobbing his heart out as his eyes were wide open, his breathing sporadic and his body trembling.
Goku quickly kneeled in front of the trainer and reached his arms out, pulling Ash in closer, resting the trainer's head on his shoulder.
However, no matter how much Goku tried to console him, Ash wouldn't stop shaking and sobbing.
The wounds from the battle were lost to Ash as his entire body was wracked with nothing but sorrow and grief. Both Pikachu and Lucario could do nothing but watch as their best friend realised the gravity of the situation.
Lucario had his paws clenched, anger and frustration at himself marring his face. Darn it! How could've he been so careless? He and Pikachu were made into hostages to play a part in Xero's plan, and were forced into the role easily. Ash wouldn't have needed to kill him if he was just more careful. Ash was the reason he was even alive and yet, he failed him by being too negligent.
Pikachu was looking directly at Ash, his bright brown eyes full of sadness and brimming with tears of regret. He had never seen Ash like this, looking so sad and helpless. But then again, he'd just killed a person, something that he never thought Ash could do. Pikachu couldn't bear to think of the terror that Ash needed to go through, it was unfathomable.
Goku closed his eyes.
This shouldn't have happened...Ash shouldn't have needed to take a life, at least not this young. It was like the world was being cruel to the poor boy, this was not what he deserved.
Little did the saiyan know that this was not Ash's first kill, not even his second.
Goku's first kill wasn't until he was fourteen, but Ash was two years younger and was against an opponent of a much higher-tier. But Goku didn't have remorse for people who shed so much blood that wasn't their own.
Ash wasn't like that, however. He was a true believer that all life was worth it and all evil could be redeemed.
A person like Ash, being forced to kill; it was crushing for him.
"Shh, it's ok...you'll be ok..." Goku whispered. He gave Ash's back a few comforting pats as the trainer continued to cry.
"You did good, Ash...you did good..."
Ash's eyelids shut tightly, and the trainer found it hard to bring forth his voice.
"What…are…y-you…talking…about?" He asked in a voice laced with inner agony, putting no effort into hiding his tears.
Hearing Ash speak, Goku looked to him with concern.
"Huh?" The saiyan replied.
"I-I'm not ok. I...I...I'm not..." He let out a barely audible whimper.
"I...killed him! I killed somebody! I-I didn't want to...but he gave me no ch-choice."
His tears was running down heavily from his cheeks.
"I…I DIDN'T WANT TO KILL HIM!" Ash suddenly let out a loud cry of anguish as the unbearable knowledge of someone dying at his hands clutched tightly at his heart. There was some part of Ash that wished that this was just a nightmare...that he was just dreaming, that he didn't truly take a life, but it was too real, all too real.
The pain wracking his body. Real
The tears running down his face. Real
The indescribable agony in his heart that could never be replicated...Very real.
The trio were shocked at Ash's outburst. It was like if a wall was broken and all his pain was escaping.
"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY! I'M NOT OK! I DIDN'T DO GOOD! I-I JUST KILLED SOMEONE! ARE YOU MAD?! I-I'M NOT OK! OH ARCEUS! I KILLED HIM! I KILLED THEM! I KILLED THEM ALL!"
Ash wasn't in this field anymore. He was back at that dreadful night in the forest, with those Pokemon Killers.
The stench…
The gore…
The red…!
"Ash!" Goku put on a firm voice as he decided to put a stop to Ash's shouts.
The trainer flinched at the authoritative tone Goku used.
"S-Sorry...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..."
Ash returned to whimpering again as he begged forgiveness from those present. All three looked at him sadly as he apologised over and over. Soon it became apparent that Ash wasn't just apologising for shouting.
"I'm...sorry...I didn't mean t-to yell...I-I didn't mean t-to..." Ash sobbed, hanging his head as he let more tears fall from his eyes. He let out a terrified gasp as he caught a glimpse of his hands.
There was an instant where they were dyed crimson red, before returning to normal.
Blood.
The strain of the entire night. The battle. When he took over, and the grief of his first kill finally caught up to Ash.
Slowly, his eyelids began to close and his consciousness left him.
As Ash's body collapsed in Goku's arms, the trio gasped.
"Ash!/Ash/Pikapi!"
Goku furrowed his brow. Physically, Ash was wounded badly and exhausted, but wasn't in any danger of dying, and it was nothing a good night's rest and a Senzu Bean wouldn't fix.
The mental and emotional scars were a bit more...complicated. The terrified gasp of Ash before he passed out were startling, but there didn't seem to be any reason for it. Not that they could see at least.
Deciding it was time to get Ash to back to Capsule Corp, which was in the district of the city that Xero hadn't blown up, Goku hoisted Ash onto his back, taking care to mind his injuries. Ash didn't need to be caused any more pain.
Once Ash was secured onto Goku's back, the saiyan looked to Lucario and Pikachu.
"Come on, you two...let's head back." Goku said as he gestured to his shoulder.
Lucario unclenched his fist before he placed a paw on Goku's shoulder, Pikachu hopping onto the taller pokemon's outstretched arm.
Goku used one hand to steady Ash on his back while he put two fingers of his other hand on his forehead. Goku then used Instant Transmission, blurring himself, and his passengers away.
Goku reappeared in the crowd of spectators that had watched the fight. Instantly, everyone's attention was brought to the unconscious boy on Goku's back.
"Wha! Go-Goku! Is he...?" Krillin cried out.
"Oh man, he looks super beat up..." Trunks muttered as he looked over Ash's injuries.
"Ash..." Both Goten and Gohan whispered. The two boys had come to see Ash as a third brother, and it was obvious they were worried about him.
Ash's pokemon that came along crowded around Goku, hoping to see that their trainer was alright. The battle that they had witnessed was beyond anything they had ever seen before, and they wouldn't think, not in a million years that Ash could fight like that.
Goku smiled at the group of pokemon surrounding him to ease their concerns.
"Don't worry, Ash'll...be just...fine..."
Goku couldn't help but hesitate as he said that, since as of now, Ash was probably the exact opposite.
The pokemon picked up on it and were put on edge, as it didn't help dissuade their anxiousness. So was anyone else that heard him.
"Kakarot..." Vegeta's suddenly chimed in.
"What exactly happened down there...?"
Goku's eyes trailed to the prone boy on his back, before they narrowed as he looked to the ground.
"Ash...he..."
Everyone waited to hear what Goku had to say, obviously it was important. They could see that Pikachu and Lucario had the same expression of sadness that Goku had, so something awful had clearly transpired.
"Ash...He didn't want to, but he was forced to..."
Goku took a deep breath.
"...Do what?" Vegeta asked.
Goku looked to his rival, staring at him and Ash with an expectant expression. He would've answered, but to be honest, even he didn't exactly know what went on in the final moments of the fight.
"He was forced to kill that Xero villain."
Everyone gasped and turned to look at the one who spoke.
Piccolo had his arms crossed and his eyes scanned over the entire crowd.
"I heard every single thing. Including the climax of the battle. I was even able to discern bits and pieces of what was said during that evil energy spike we felt..." Piccolo said.
That's right, the evil energy. How could've they forgotten? The very presence of that horrid aura was unimaginable. If it could unnerve fighters like Goku or Vegeta, then it was very potent.
"Goku...has Ash ever said anything along about finding killing fun?" Piccolo asked out of the blue.
Goku's eyes widened and he instantly shook his head.
"No way! Ash would never say that!" He cried.
Piccolo closed his eyes.
"If that's the case, then there's definitely something wrong with that, because there was the moment where he was the boy you introduced to me this evening was perfectly fine, but then I heard him...actively enjoy trying to kill Xero." Piccolo recounted, making the group gasp.
"There was something, something I presume Ash has held back for a while. Some kind of...evil persona...I heard him mention about 'being out' and he made reference to Ash like he wasn't even present, something that I'd find strange if Ash was himself at that moment..." Piccolo explained.
He looked to Ash.
"To hold something like that back...is extraordinary..." He muttered.
Piccolo looked up to the stars.
"I am certain that Ash knows just what he's doing, he keeps something of that nature from getting out. He's...like...like a sentient prison...it must be hard for him..."
(Yes, this is just like Naruto and the Nine-Tails, but cut me some slack. With what I have planned, there's not a lot of ways to describe it.)
"And then to kill for his very first time after whatever that was leaked out...no wonder he's exhausted..."
Piccolo then walked up to Ash, still secured on Goku's back.
"Xero knew he was beaten, and that he was going to die, so he decided that he was going to take any win he could..."
Piccolo paused for a minute to let his words up until then sink in.
"He gave Ash the choice to kill him in exchange for those two's lives." Piccolo pointed a thumb in Lucario and Pikachu's direction.
"Kill him, throw away his innocence and save his friends, or keep his innocence, but at the cost of his friends...there was no choice that Ash could make that didn't hurt him deeply. I guess, in a way, Ash won the fight...but Xero won not only the war…but all wars to come."
Everyone looked at the raven-haired boy, not even trying to imagine the insane emotions he was put under at that moment.
"To make a choice like that at his age...Goku...you chose a hell of an apprentice." Piccolo said to the saiyan.
"Yeah...I know." Goku replied.
Goku let out an exhale before he looked up at the crowd.
"Let's get back, Ash'll definitely need some rest." Goku said as he held out a hand, prompting everyone to prepare for another Instant Transmission.
All but one person...
"Vegeta?" Goku asked his saiyan rival, who was looking down into the crater formed by the battle.
Turning to them slightly, he waved them off.
"Get going...I'll catch up. There's something I need to do here first."
Although confused, Goku nodded and then teleported away from the battlefield.
Once they were gone, Vegeta hopped down into the deepest point of the crater, where Xero's body lay. The twisted neck made the cause of his death obvious, and the maniacal grin he had on his face after his death still remained.
"You were no Frieza..." Vegeta said as he raised a hand.
But you did something that would make your family proud..."
He growled bitterly, before firing a shot out at the dead body, destroying every single atom that made it up.
Soon, nothing remained of the tyrant, the only thing there, was a smoky crater in the center of the massive one.
Vegeta let out a sigh.
"Finally...now every member of his family are dead. I guess that's a load of my back."
"You probably won't accept this, but you have my gratitude...Ash..." Vegeta thought to himself.
Vegeta then took to the sky and began heading home. He needed to see if Bulma was alright after all.
Everyone gasped as they saw the group return via Goku's Instant Transmission. Fortuitously, it seemed that Capsule Corp. was untouched, the half of the city that faced its destruction was unoccupied by the corporation.
"Oh, you're back! What happ-?" Bulma was cut off as Chi-Chi dashed past her.
"Goku! What happened to Ash? Is he alright?" Goku's wife cried in a frenzy.
Normally, when his wife used this type of tone, Goku would either run away, or try to placate her, but this time, he didn't do either.
"He was so brave, Chi-Chi...I know that you don't like this kind of stuff, but, please...don't be angry at Ash..." Goku said.
That reaction to her ordinary rambling stopped Chi-Chi in her tracks, Goku was acting totally different from his usual self.
"Wh-Where is he...?" Chi-Chi asked in a less aggressive tone.
To answer her, Goku moved his head to show that he was carrying Ash on his back, causing the one's that stayed at the party to gasp.
"He was so brave, and he fought to the very end...he won Chi-Chi...he won..." Goku said as he lifted Ash off his back, and shifted his position so he was now carried in his arms.
"Ash..." Chi-Chi looked at the battle worn body of the one she had come to see as a third son.
At that time, Bulma caught up, and looked at Ash. Immediately, she frowned.
"We have a medical facility here in Capsule Corp, we'll take Ash there." She said as she pulled out a cellphone and dialed a number before bringing the phone to her ear.
After a few moments of waiting, the person on the other end of the line picked up.
"Hello? Bulma Briefs here, can I get a medical stretcher for a teenage boy? Yes? Great! Can you send it to me? Thanks. Oh, and also we need to make sure that medical room A-18 is empty...we may need the space..."
Saying that last part, she gave a smile and a wink to the present pokemon, who were overjoyed that they were going to be allowed to see Ash.
"Uh-huh...it is? Good, alright, thank you." Bulma then took the phone from her ear and hung up.
She then reached into her pocket and pulled out a small device that looked like a compact mirror, but it had electronic grids running along the insides when she opened it.
Everyone was fascinated with the device as it briefly glowed for a second before a small capsule materialized in it.
"Huh, that's neat..." Gohan said as he watched the display of technological engineering.
"Yup, I can request any capsule I need and I can have it sent to me with this." Bulma displayed the device in full view of everyone.
She then cleared her throat.
"Anyway, let's get Ash onto this thing." Bulma said as she clicked the button on top of the capsule and tossed it onto the ground. As it made contact, the capsule burst into smoke, obscuring everyone's view for a few moments.
When the smoke cleared, a wheeled stretcher was sitting in the place where the capsule landed.
"Wha-? How does that work?" Lucario asked, shocked at the technology.
Bulma gave the Aura pokemon a flat look.
"Yeah, I don't really think that you can talk considering you live in devices like these." Bulma said as she carefully took Ash from Goku's arms and carefully lay on the stretcher.
"We'll need to perform a preexamination on him and treat any serious wounds. He's clearly not able to eat a Senzu Bean, and I don't think that'll be the case for a bit. You're not gonna be able to visit him right now" She said.
"W-Well how long until we can see him?" Goten asked, a question shared by everyone else.
"At the earliest? Maybe in the morning, the day after tomorrow." She replied.
Bulma then began pushing the stretcher with Ash on it into the Capsule Corp building.
Ash's pokemon watched sadly as their friend was carted of inside the Capsule Corp. building. It was already hard for them to see Ash in such a poor state, and they wanted nothing more than to be there to comfort him.
"Well...what do we do now...?" Krillin asked.
Goku looked to his long-time friend.
"I guess for now...we go home..." He answered.
"Pi?! Pika Pikapi!? (What!? What about Ash?!)" Pikachu cried in a frenzy, flailing his paws in the air with an irritated look on his face.
Not even needing Lucario to translate, Goku bent down to Pikachu.
"Sorry Pikachu, but you heard Bulma; we can't see Ash right now, no matter how much we want to." Goku said dejectedly.
The pokemon's ears drooped to his sides as he let out a sad "Chuuu..." It was obvious to everyone that he was feeling the worst. Not only was his best friend being hospitalized without him there, but the emotional trouble from the night was partially his and Lucario's fault.
Goku picked up Pikachu and hoisted him onto his shoulder. He then walked over to Ash's bag which he left behind when he went to go fight Xero and started taking out everyone's pokeballs.
All of Ash's pokemon had no choice but to sadly let themselves be returned to their pokeballs, save for Pikachu, for obvious reasons.
"Well then...what do we do tomorrow?" Gohan asked.
His answer came in the form of his first mentor.
"We'll need to gather the Dragon Balls, we must resurrect the people who have died here tonight..." Piccolo explained.
Everyone nodded, it was a good call to do that in the time they were waiting to see Ash.
"Alright, we'll meet up here tomorrow and use the Dragon Radar to collect the Dragonballs." Goku commented on the unanimous decision.
Soon, all pokemon, but Pikachu, were returned to their spherical domains and placed inside Ash's backpack. Goku hoisted the bag onto his back and started hovering in the air.
Goten did the same after saying goodbye to Trunks, which the lavender haired boy reciprocated.
Gohan lifted his mother up in his arms as he too hovered above the ground.
Soon, the entire Son family, Pikachu in tow were suspended in the air. They waved goodbye to the remaining partygoers, who were also getting ready to leave and then proceeded to soar back home.
Obviously, everyone's minds were all on Ash, and wishing him a quick recovery, in all physical, mental, and emotional factors.
Soon, after everyone had left, Vegeta had arrived at the Capsule Corp. building. He looked around the area where the party had been and slightly cursed the fact that there wasn't any food left. He probably should've eaten more before he and Buizel challenged Ash.
Deciding to go inside, Vegeta strode through the automatic doors of the building. There were lights on everywhere, understandable since it was night time.
He let out a sigh, tonight had sure been a great ordeal. With the amazing fight he'd witnessed Ash put up, he was even more determined to do what he wanted to do. But first, he wanted something to drink.
Going over to the residential area of the Capsule Corp. building, he entered the kitchen. He then opened the fridge and pulled out a can of orange soda.
Pulling the tab and listening to the satisfying "Pssft" of the drink, he then proceeded to raise the can to his mouth...
"AAAAAHHH!"
Vegeta flinched as a scream echoed down the halls of the Capsule Corp. building.
"What the-?" He exclaimed turning around. He recognized the scream that he heard...
"Ash? He's still here?" Vegeta thought.
Quickly, he dashed off to where he could sense Ash's fluctuating ki, leaving the now dropped soda to spill onto the floor.
"Ash! Please...try to calm down."
Bulma and the medical staff were not having a good time.
It had been ten minutes since Ash's unconscious form was delivered into room A-18, and at first, everything seemed normal.
They had him lying on a stretcher, bandages wrapped around his grievous wounds and a cold compress taped to his cheek. They hooked him up to a monitor that detected his heart rate and oxygen levels, connected to him by a wire attached to a steel electrode taped on the back of his hand.
Everyone thought that he seemed normal, and that he was going to be fine with a bit of rest.
That was until the monitor started beeping erratically as Ash's heartbeat and breathing quickened. His eyes scrunched up and his hands grasped the mattress of the bed, digging down into the springs.
Before anyone could administer a sedative, Ash opened his eyes wide and let out a horrifying shriek.
Both Bulma and the medical staff covered their ears as Ash screamed. It wasn't from one of his injuries, nor of anger, it wasn't like an ordinary emotion at all, but, instead, more of a maelstrom of negative feelings.
Fear
Sadness
Confusion
Nervousness
And most of all...Pain.
Before anyone could react however, Ash leapt out of bed frantically. His mind was rushing at insane speeds and coherent thoughts for him were near impossible.
Ash backed himself up against the wall of the room, wincing a little as some of his wounds reopened, staining the bandages with fresh blood.
"Please...don't...don't come near me...!" Ash shouted, shocking everyone present. He was wounded and tired, how on earth could he resist help.
Ash's eyes were full of anguish as he leaned up against the wall.
"Please...I...I don't wanna hurt anyone...I'm a...a..." Ash couldn't get the last word out.
"Ash! Please...try to calm down..." Bulma tried to speak in a calm voice.
Ash's attention was brought to her specifically, and in that moment, her heart nearly broke at seeing just how shattered Ash seemed to be.
He was so different from the cheerful boy who played with his pokemon just a few hours before. Now, he seemed so scared, but he wasn't scared of her and the staff, so why was he so afraid?
Upon seeing the exit to the room, Ash had his first thought that he could put into actions.
"I gotta get out!"
With the quickest speed that he could manage with his wounded body, Ash tried to limp out of the room. No one could react in time, and all anyone of them could do was call out for him to stop.
Ash paid the cries no heed and burst out of the room. He didn't get very far however.
The very second, he passed through the doorway, a gloved hand suddenly chopped at the back of his neck. He felt a tiny twinge of pain before he returned to a state of unconsciousness. Before he could hit the floor, however, he was stopped by a second hand holding his body up.
Bulma and the staff looked to see that the perpetrator was none other than Vegeta, who had been standing next to the doorway of the room.
He, was not as gentle as his wife had been and hefted Ash over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. It was just luck that Ash didn't sustain any further injuries.
Vegeta slowly made his way over to the bed Ash was previously on. With motions not matching the carelessness ones he used to pick Ash up, Vegeta gently set him down on the bed.
"Thanks, Vegeta. I'm not sure we could've stopped him if he escaped." Bulma thanked the saiyan prince.
She then turned to one of the female medical staff.
"Make sure that until he's healed, Ash is kept sedated with our strongest sedative, we'll need it..." Bulma ordered.
Thinking it best not to question the head of the Capsule Corp. the woman nodded and quickly dashed off to grab the required drug.
"So...Vegeta, why did-?" When Bulma turned back to address him, the saiyan was gone. She shrugged and let out a sigh before turning back to Ash, who was now being administered the sedative.
"We've never needed to treat someone like this before, hopefully it won't happen again..." She thought.
Suddenly, Trunks burst into the room, looking ready for a fight, frightening half of the doctors and nurses. He looked confused when there seemed to be no danger. He looked to Bulma with that same look of confusion.
"Mom, I just felt a big surge of energy just now...what happened?" The half-blooded saiyan asked.
His answer was met with a wry, closed eyes smile, a hand ruffling his hair from his mother.
"Well, Ash had a...little episode...Don't worry, it's ok now." She said as she tried to reassure her son.
Trunks looked from his mother to Ash, who now seemed to be sleeping peacefully. Seemed may be a strong word, however, as his eyelids were slightly scrunched up, like he was having a nightmare, not surprising, due to what had happened tonight.
"Hey...Mom...?" Trunks said as he watched Ash's sleeping form.
"Hm?" Bulma hummed in reply as she opened her eyes.
"Uh...can I watch Ash tonight if I don't get in the way? Y'know, make sure that he doesn't try to run off again?" Trunks asked, concern in his voice.
Bulma pondered the request, before she reluctantly shook her head.
"Sorry Trunks, but right now, the only people who are allowed in are authorized personnel, so you're not allowed to be in here." She said,
Trunks let out a groan as he looked at the floor in disappointment. He really was genuinely concerned about Ash's wellbeing, it was just something the raven-haired boy made him feel.
"Fine..." He muttered as he turned on his heels and walked out of the room.
Bulma sighed before she too left the room, and the patient to the medical staff. She needed some coffee...
Vegeta had his arms folded as he walked down the corridors of the Capsule Corp. building. He had a place in mind where he wanted to do some thinking.
Eventually, the saiyan prince made it onto the balcony, overlooking the remains of West City. It was a pretty horrible sight, but regretfully, not one he wasn't used to.
He had destroyed a lot of cities in years gone by. Though he didn't do that anymore, it didn't mean the memories of the carnage he brought upon was lost to him.
His entire reality was flipped on its head when he started living on Earth. The side that enjoyed killing for the fun of it had slowly degraded into nothingness.
Although the evil in his heart was reawakened briefly by the wizard Babadi, Vegeta reclaimed his humanity and had lived peacefully, with a family even, something that he'd never thought he do in the past.
Evil, or at the very least, arrogance was something that was practically inherent in the saiyan race, and even the infants had those traits ingrained into their psyche.
Goku was a prime example of this as he'd been an extremely aggressive child, until his little trip down a canyon.
Vegeta, funnily enough, wasn't like Goku. He wasn't born like other saiyans, and that wasn't just because he was the saiyan prince.
No, in a shocking twist, Vegeta was born pure, and happy, on a planet with almost none of those qualities, or at least, true ones. He was like that for the first three years of his life.
However, that all changed when his training started. Being taught to fight by numerous teachers was fine and all, and he was remarkably good at taking a beating. In a way, he might've ended up just like Goku was now, well, except smarter, if he wasn't made to kill for his first time at the young age of five.
It was a saiyan in his mid-thirties whom had been accused of treason to the throne, and King Vegeta, Vegeta's father, insisted on his son to end him.
Vegeta was conflicted about killing, even if it was a traitor. His father wanted to absolve that niceness, he believed that it made a fighter weak. He wanted to turn his son into just another cold-blooded saiyan.
Eventually, he succeeded. Vegeta was forced to kill for the first time, by going through the man's chest with a ki-infused hand. It was obviously traumatizing for someone who was just a kid.
However, that trauma twisted Vegeta. His niceness was permanently locked away in the back of his mind. That very event was what sparked his distaste for his father. He was turned into a heartless killer that killed and destroyed for fun. He didn't even shed a tear for his destroyed home world, due to his new personality.
Even with all his years living on Earth where he'd been mellowed out a bit, the only things he got back were his sociality, humanity, and maybe a bit of humility.
If any kind of smile found its way onto his face, it would come out as nothing but arrogant and rude. It was rarely one of happiness.
Compliments were also something lost to him, he couldn't acknowledge someone's skills without having great difficulty doing so.
And finally, his respect wasn't something he just handed out to anyone. The only two ever to earn it was Goku, and his son, Gohan.
However, Ash Ketchum was someone who'd earned all three, and so easily too. It took years for Goku and Gohan to do it, but it only took Ash one. It was like...Ash was the key to opening the lock that kept any of his old child self in the back of his mind. He felt it happening little by little.
Now, that wasn't going to change who he was now, it was far too late for that. Plus, he had a reputation of coldness to upkeep, pretentious as that sounded. Still, that didn't mean that he was going to reject some of the only bits of true happiness that he'd felt in a long time.
It was one of the reasons why he was so...concerned about Ash. In a way, they were similar, being forced to kill. But Ash's first kill was possibly worse. In the afterglow of a well fought battle, thinking the horror was over, and then, being forced to kill at the risk of his friends' deaths. Not like him, who had a lot of time to mentally prepare with nothing to coerce him to kill the saiyan traitor, unlike Ash who had half a minute at best.
If they didn't play their cards right, Ash could possibly become another Vegeta, and although, with the right nurturing, he could be staved off the path of evil, they really didn't need another one of him around. Even Vegeta admitted to that.
That's why, when Ash awoke, and they got this whole thing sorted out...He was going to make Ash his student, give Goku a...relief period, after his more than a year-long one. But hopefully, he was so stupid, he'd overlook that.
However...the kid was trained by Goku...so a slight lack of cognitive function would probably be expected. Maybe the buffoon threw the kid into a few too many plateaus. He really didn't want to risk having a student like Goku whose intelligence barely got him through a word search.
He could only hope that Ash came out unscathed.
It was empty...and lonely...
Pikachu felt so lonely and sad without Ash here. The electric type had obviously opposed leaving Ash behind. He wanted to stay with his best friend, he wanted to be there for him, especially after what he went through, but no...Bulma had to deny him! While that angered Pikachu, the concern for Ash overshadowed the anger. Now, he just felt miserable without him here.
He sat on the bed that he and Ash had slept in before heading to King Kai's place. It was rather nice to lie on it again. However, it didn't feel the same without Ash. This had been the longest time they'd been apart in recent years.
The house had already gone to sleep, but Pikachu was wide awake. Honestly, he was scared. Without Ash's comforting warmth, would he have a nightmare again? What if he did? There was no one to comfort him. That alone made Pikachu not only reluctant, but even scared to sleep. The dream he had a long time ago was still fresh in his mind, and it had even come close to being a reality tonight.
It at least didn't end in Ash's death, that was good; he still had his best friend. In fact, the way Ash fought to avoid death made Pikachu proud beyond belief. But, if this was the result, was it worth it?
Pikachu was suddenly on edge as the door to the room opened. He however, relaxed a little when he saw that it was Goten.
The eight-year-old was dressed in a grey long-sleeved shirt with blue trimmings around the hem and collar and grey pants.
"Hey, Pikachu...how're ya feeling?" The child asked as he walked inside the room. Pikachu gave a brief smile at Goten before he frowned and looked at the floor.
"P-Pika..." He replied, humoring Goten, only Ash could fully understand him. The kid did love pokemon ever since he found out about them, but that didn't mean he could understand him.
Goten however could read the sadness on Pikachu's face.
"Not good, huh...?" He replied, to which Pikachu nodded.
Goten gently reached out and pet Pikachu's head.
"I'm real sorry, Pikachu...he's your really good friend...isn't he?" Goten asked.
Pikachu once again nodded, Goten had no idea.
"I guess it's kinda like if Trunks was like how Ash is right now...I wouldn't really feel that good." The boy said.
"Chu..." Pikachu nodded again.
Goten was no Ash, but Pikachu did feel calmer talking to him about this, even if he couldn't understand him.
Suddenly, out of the blue, Goten picked up Pikachu and put him on his lap.
"I can stay here with you, so you can fall asleep, if you want..." Goten offered.
Pikachu gave the boy a look of appreciation.
"Pika...Pikachu...(That would...be nice...)" The electric-type said.
Goten smiled before he lay down in the bed and pulled the blankets over him and Pikachu.
"Ash'll be fine, Pikachu...I know he will." Goten said.
Pikachu smiled as he looked up to the ceiling. That's right...Ash was Ash, there was no way he'd let this beat him.
Soon, Pikachu found sleep coming and felt his eyes droop. Hopefully, a good night's sleep would be an obtainable goal tonight.
Elsewhere...
Ash looked around. It was dark...and cold...
It registered in Ash's mind that he felt cold for the first time in a while...just where was he.
Looking around the area, he saw only blackness, not a sliver of light in the entire place.
"Where...am I?" Ash asked himself as he took a few steps forward. His voice sounded hollow in here, and it was extremely unnerving for him.
He tried reaching out with his ki senses, but couldn't feel anything. Which was weird; normally he'd feel some kind of ki. Even plants or animals gave it off to some extent. This led Ash to one conclusion.
"Is this a dream?" He asked into the void.
In his current situation, he certainly didn't expect a voice to answer back.
"Not a bad deduction. What was your first clue?" The voice asked with a sarcastic tone.
Ash gasped and turned around to the direction the voice was coming from. His eyes narrowed as he saw the speaker. In the darkness of the room, a person stood with a sickening grin. One that Ash had the misfortune of knowing. He stuck out like a sore thumb against the blackness.
"What do you want?" Ash asked rather harshly.
In response, the person shrugged. "Don't suppose you'll be willing to set me free, huh?"
Ash glared at him.
"Didn't think so..." He said with a sigh.
"As long as I live and breathe, you'll never ever be set free again. You've caused too much pain and destruction already." Ash growled.
The person chuckled at this.
"Heh heh, big words from someone who just broke two vows in a single night. You let me loose, and broke your promise to never kill anyone. Nice job by the way, killing without me pulling your strings." He taunted.
"How'd it feel to hear his bones crack as you twisted his neck? Or how the sudden weight of his limp corpse felt in your hands? You should've done what I would've and tear his limbs off first, you know, make it last. Could have even tore his head off completely or blew a hole in his chest, y'know, for old time's sake." He finished with a chuckle as he ran a hand through his black hair.
"Shut up!" Ash grit his teeth as the memories of that night came rushing back to him. It was easily the worst night of his life.
"How did it feel...to take a life Ash, to remember every detail? See the blood on your hands? Feel the rush of the moment?" Suddenly, the person bore a scowl as he took a look at his gauntlet-clad hands.
"SHUT UP!" Ash cried as he held a hand to his head and fell to his knees.
"Heh! Look at you...just a whimpering little kid; crying for not getting what he wants. Well, that's how life is; someone wants to kill you, you need kill them back. It's what you did..."
He walked closer and stood above the grieving trainer and finished in a deep, dark voice.
"For Xero... those Pokemon Killers, and me..."
Ash's teeth clenched harder together.
"By the way...when are you going to tell them that Xero wasn't your first kill? When were you going to tell them...what you really are? When were you going to tell them about me? Us?"
Ash's eyes were shut tightly as his body trembled.
"Not telling the truth to your allies? For shame Ash. For shame..."
He then bent down to Ash's level and grabbed a fistful of his hair, yanking Ash's head up to face his crimson red eyes.
"You're just delaying the inevitable, Ash. Sooner or later, they'll find out about me and the truth you've been hiding from them...and then...they'll fear you, hate you, fill your heart with misery. And then...when your will crumbles underneath you, and your resolve shatters..."
"I'll be taking over..."
Ash stifled a small gasp at his declaration.
"Come to think of it...you're in a pretty sorry state right now aren't you? I suppose that time can come sooner than I thought..."
Ash's head was let go, and the red-eyed person stood up.
"Well, in that case...I think it's time I got my freedom back..."
He then backed away from Ash slightly and began to walk in the opposite direction that Ash was facing.
"All the carnage I can cause...the deaths I will be responsible for...I can hardly-Hm?"
His musings were cut off as he felt a hand grip tightly onto his leg.
"N-No...No...no...way..." Ash's voice was heard.
"Letting you out again...is a promise I will never break...no matter what...you'll never hurt anyone...ever again..." Ash growled.
"Merely empty words...promises you can't keep are just your naiveté showing...You failed twice tonight, and you will fail again, I know it..."
"No, I won't, I can never fail again. I refuse to!"
He then stood up and grabbed the person's collar bringing them face-to-face. The person didn't react, but instead threw Ash a blank look, with a hint of frustration.
"You think that just because I had a rough day, I'll let you free? No! Like it or not, we're stuck with each other until we die. And for as long as I live, I will never, ever become like you, a heartless monster who enjoys nothing but death and destruction."
Suddenly, the one in Ash's grip burst out laughing.
"Hahahahahaha! Oh that's rich! You think that you'll never become like me? Already, we're more similar than you think! You may think that you asked to be trained so you can protect your friends...but deep down, we both know the truth...You wanted to be strong again, after we fought, you refrained from using your powers to keep me from escaping."
"You wanted power because you were scared of me, and you wanted to be able to defeat me, should I ever get out...But that's not even the tip of the iceberg. You seek the taste of the insane power that you once wielded.
"I must admit, you certainly surpassed the powers we both held, but that won't save you. Just like you, I get stronger, and just like last time, we'll fight. But unlike last time...I'll kill you...Mark my words, Ash, someday, that will happen. It will be the one true reality..."
Ash simply glared at him.
"I don't accept your reality anymore than you accept mine, but you're right in saying that there's only gonna be one reality. But I promise you, it will be mine. My only regret is that...you never knew what I knew...camraderie and love. Friendship and companionship...maybe...maybe things could've been different if you weren't created the way you were..."
The person's red eyes narrowed.
"Don't lump me in with your stupid emotions...I will never love or bond with anything or anyone. It's literally impossible for me. I was born from malice and hate...You tried to reach me, and you failed. Yet another thing to add to that long list..." He snarled.
Ash sighed and let go of his collar.
The second he did so, the person's body was engulfed in bright blue particles.
"Our conversation is over." Ash spat as he turned and began to walk away. Soon he faded into the darkness, leaving the person alone in the void.
"Heh, mark my words...A day will come when you will set me free...and when that happens...I will kill everyone and everything you love, in both worlds. You will watch as I bring everything crumbling down..."
"All it'll take is just one little push..."