Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of Pokemon, its characters, locations, or names. All of them, with the exception of the original characters, belong to Nintendo

Credits: The original fanfiction Shadow League was based off, Pokemon Master, was written by Acey. I retrieved permission before starting this the first time. "Paran" is the property of Elemental Sorceress, who had requested that I include her in my fanfiction.

- - -

Chapter 11: Master to Mistress

Wincing, Ash stayed silent as May gently applied the cream ointment, rubbing it into the cuts and the bruise that had blossomed on his side. He knew it would only be a day or two before both were gone anyway, but using the medicine made the process even quicker. Pikachu watched them, small blue eyes questioning.

"Thank you," he said quietly, shaking his head to clear the fog that seemed to have covered his mind. May nodded, continuing the constant motion of up-down-around on the dark-haired man's shoulders, every once in a while using her knuckles and nails to get the kinks out of the muscles.

When he tilted his head back, a soft moan escaping, Ash jumped, his eyes widening. He blinked, noting the subtle differences there were in his senses, such as how sensitized Touch had become. What worried him wasn't that though; it was the fact he felt like jumping someone, but whether it was for bloodshed or something else was hard to tell.

Pointedly looking away, Ash jerked away and went into the bathroom, slamming and locking the door behind himself, ignoring the confused look May had given him. Staring into the mirror, he bit his lip, a tremor running through him; his eyes were flecked with red, the gold taking on the tint of it.

"No...no. Not this," Ash said, as there was knocking at the locked door.

"Ash, what's going on? Open the door!" He shook his head, trying to block out May's worried voice, and sank to the floor. Mazin...what are you doing to me?

He closed his eyes as he felt the rush of blood, blushing. Ash felt warm, and uncomfortably aware of his doubles influence. Quickly getting against the wall, he curled into a ball. "May, stay away from me!" he cried, painfully remembering what had nearly occurred in Sabrina's tower...

Ash was bent on making sure it didn't occur again, even if it meant suffering alone; he was used to it. There was silence, and he was able to lower his guard slightly, thinking the Ice Master had taken the order immediately; the hope was dashed though, when the doorknob turned blue and exploded, leaving a very much unlocked door. No, May, no! You're setting yourself up for... The thought was too hurtful to even finish for Ash.

Hiding his face in his hands, leaning forward, Ash listened to his partner pokemon make a quiet, sad sound, as the door swung open and there were loud footsteps. "Ash-"

With a scowl, he stared up at May, gold and red eyes narrowed menacingly. It became apparent how unstable he was in the transition; Ash laughed bitterly, the sound neither completely his nor Mazin's. "You fool." he said quietly, "Look at my damned eyes! I'm becoming Mazin!"

Taken for surprise, May took a step back. Ash balled his hands into fists at his sides, and shivered. There was the acute sensation of being pulling in two directions at one time, and it caused an almost pained expression to appear on his face. "Go away!" he screamed, "You don't know what he is capable of! Get the hell away from me!"

Wondering if any of the people in the surrounding rooms could hear just how hysterical the Shadow Master was, May crouched down, her eyes narrowed. "No," she said quietly, ignoring the small nagging voice that yelled at her from inside that she had better run while she still could, "no. I cannot just leave you like this!"

By then, even Pikachu was showing signs of being affected. Little blue eyes were darkening, and changing to the evil red color, and the ears were flat against the skull, ready to attack at any moment. "No..."

The faint protest was never finished, as Ash's voice faltered, and his head drooped. There was silence for several minutes, as he sat shaking, grinding his teeth. "I won't give up! No, he can't-"

May warily slid over, staying on the opposite side of him as Pikachu was. As the small creature hissed at her, she gently lifted his head to look into the haunted eyes – most of the gold was gone, replaced by the color of the blood that had been spilled by so many people. What did they do to you..., she thought, wondering what exactly had caused such a drastic thing such as the demon to have formed, Surely it isn't as simple as how my brother explained it.. "Stop fighting him, it'll be alright." May calmly whispered, getting a confused look in return, "It'll be better for the both of you if Mazin is allowed to see the sunlight every once in a while."

"But he is a-"

"Yes, yes," she sighed, impatiently, "I realize he is an evil demon who murders people for fun and have no qualms about doing whatever he feels like doing. All the more reason you should stop bottling him up all the time. It must be horribly frustrating, and just makes matters worse when he does happen to get you taken over."

Ash looked at her sadly. "He'll hurt you-" he started to point out, getting cut off quickly by the Ice Master.

"Stop worrying about me, just worry about keeping yourself sane! Let it go; sit back, shut down, and let things go as they will. I'll be fine." May then thought about taking it back, but decided against it in favor of trying to save her friend from almost certain destruction from his own inner demon. Forcing a smile, she carefully smoothed back the dark, damp hair from his face. "Just let me take care of it. He won't harm a fly."

The worried, unsure look remained, as Ash stared with wide eyes. Deflated, he slumped over, closing them, and let out a long breath. "I'm sorry," he said, before the tone changed from the unusually defeated one, to the brutally cold one that was even more unusual.

I hope I don't come to regret this, May thought, dread closing in around her heart, as Pikachu jumped up to get into a more open spot, tail straight out and teeth bared. The dark form that was huddled next to her shifted, and the eyelids opened to reveal the red orbs. She frowned; the expression was the same as at the tower of Sabrina, yet something was different...

It clicked as he moved, putting a foot under himself to leap up, getting to a standing position. At the first tower, Mazin had been wanting simple pleasure – which made May wonder about whether Ash actually did anything other then kill – while at that moment, it appeared that it might be blood that he was thirsting for.

With a cry, she jumped, grabbing the back of Ash's cloak to pull him back. "Where do you think you're going?" she asked, as he spun around to glare at her.

"Stay out of my way if you know what is good for you," he replied disdainfully, frowning at May. Of all the ones that just had to be left alone, it was that one! "The only reason I even bother sparing you the chance to feel the blade-"

"-Is because you were told to, and you are obeying the request. Isn't that right?" Snorting, he turned to return to the bedroom, his steps quick. With an uttered word, May saw the door out of the room glow for a moment, as the doorknob and jam turned cold and froze over, the locks frozen in place.

Just as Ash was about to turn about to turn to snap at the offending Master, entertaining the thought of running her through with the Shadow Blade regardless of orders that he didn't need to heed anyway, May slowly stepped across the remaining space, banishing the remaining doubt from her mind.

The look on his face – one of which May was willing to guess was not a common one for Mazin, nor Ashura – was priceless, as she side-stepped him and reached up to pull the peeved Shadow Master down to her level, and surprised him even further with a sudden kiss to the lips.

"Do as you like, Mazin, Ash...whoever the hell you are." May had to bite her lip to keep from laughing, when Ash pushed her back to stare incredulously at her. Might as well have fun with this, she thought. "Come on, don't tell me now you suddenly rather blood over that! Not even an assassin can go without the basic needs after awhile!"

When it was obvious all she was going to get was the same look as before, May threw her arms up. "I can't believe...you must be really experienced. I know it just by looking at you." A little ego boasting couldn't hurt any; Mazin probably already thought highly of himself anyway.

Calculatingly, Ash stared at her, head tilted to the side. Pulling out the small dagger that acted as a weapon when the Shadow Blade couldn't be used, he twisted it around, looking at the silver blade. "What do you want, woman? I don't have all day to stand around while you gape at me like a blasted fool," he snapped, carefully angling the blade and pricking his index finger, watching as drops of blood dripped down.

Licking the new cut, almost smiling in amusement at the look on May's face, he swung the dagger down, letting it hit the wall behind him with a loud thud. "That's..."

"Disgusting?" Ash finished for her, "It is nothing more then my own life force, my blood." With careful, deliberate steps, he neared the worried Ice Master. "Human blood...it can be a purer substance then any body of water could dream of being."

With a wicked grin, he launched himself forward, and both of them fell into the opposite wall. "You should be proud, it is not often that someone catches my attention without dieing soon after."

"What kind of attention?" May asked, keeping her voice low and suggestive. Ash's expression turned to mildly interested. "I hope you aren't going to be disappointing now?"

Seeing that the bait was taken, she put her arms out and smiled. Bring it on.

- - -

May twisted the edge of the pillowcase nervously, biting her lip. Most of her thoughts were confused, each one meshing into one another and causing mass chaos. She sat up, rubbing her eyes. This is...

Looking over at the still form next to her, she shook her head. She cracked a smile when Ash moved, curling into a ball. It appeared that he was actually tranquil, totally at ease and relaxed. The thought that it must be uncommon that the ever moving Shadow Master was able to sit back, not having to be wary of all that was going on around him, ran through May's mind.

Seeing the time – nearing five in the morning – she mulled over the possibility of carefully getting out of bed and letting him sleep longer, but remembering the group they were with and the questions that would be asked decided against it. Gently running a hand through her companions hair, pulling out the hair band that had barely stayed in, she bent over to speak to him.

"You have to wake up." May said quietly, not wanting to be struck from startling him, "It's morning."

Ash shifted, straightening out and stretching his long limbs, making a low 'hmmph' sound. Easing into a sitting position, he peeked at her sleepily. "Are you alright?" he asked, "I'm sorry, this isn't right-"

"I'm fine." Calmly, May grasped his hand. "It isn't like at Sabrina's tower, Ash. Stop thinking as if it is, it isn't." Sad gold eyes stared back at her.

"You still shouldn't have had to put yourself in danger to stop me." May nearly laughed; what had occurred that night hardly constituted as danger! Pointing out that it was she that had started the whole ordeal with Mazin, May watched the distressed man wilt, sighing.

"Don't worry about it. Your demon is happy, I should think you should be, and I wasn't scarred or hurt in any way, so leave it. Water under the bridge?" Ash looked away, focusing on his napping pokemon, before nodding in agreement.

In stifling silence, they went about getting ready to head out, collecting articles of clothing and weapons, packing up for the road that was awaiting. Ash sat down on the edge of the bed, lacing up his boots so they would fit snugly. He turned to give May an awkward look when she gently pulled a brush through his hair.

"Need I ask?" he said, getting a smile in return. Some things were better off not being said.

- - -

"Alright, it's getting close to the time that you are supposed to get Bonded, but...well..." Lance said, making a face; it looked like something one would make when they think about something incredibly disturbing. Ash blinked.

"Well what?" Facing each other, they looked at the map of Kanto, frowning. "What's this about? I still don't like the idea."

"You need the Forbidden Crystal, except Kiall is trying to make it as difficult as possible for you to find it. He knows you need it, and is determined to keep you from getting to it." Ash rose an eyebrow, unsure whether to ask where the older man thought it was at or to let the subject drop before it went on too far; he decided on the former.

"And where is it exactly?" Ash asked, as Misty stepped up behind him, looking to see if they were ready to go. Lance glanced at the redhead, before smiling passively, and put his hands up.

"There is a school not far from here, that has a lab connected, among other things. He's had one of his staff take it in for hiding in there." The corner of his lips quirked. "Problem being, it's a girls-only school."

It took several seconds of Ash staring at him blankly for it to sink in. "What in hell does that mean?" he asked.

"That means you can't get in there, unless you plan on having a sex change sometime soon?" Lance replied, coughing to cover up the words 'sex change.' Ash glared at him, eyes narrowed angrily, as the three women glanced at each other. They grinned at him.

"Actually..." Paran started, "...Lance, that might not be such a bad idea after all." Ash and Lance froze, jerkily turning their heads to look at her. Blanching, the Shadow Master backed up, putting his hands up defensively.

"Hell no! You are not touching me!" They smiled evilly. "Eh...I should have known you three would end up hurting me eventually."

"What's your definition of 'hurt?'" May said, hands on her hips. She looked at Misty. "How much work would it take, do you think?"

"I'm unsure..." Misty replied, glancing at him, starting from the head down. Ash scowled.

"Do the lot of you not understand me? Am I talking in an alien language? No! Cease and desist! Forget it!"

"How'll you get the Crystal then?.." Misty started.

"...Yeah Ash, because you need it to get Bonded..." Paran continued. Ash sighed.

"Lance!" he cried, "Would you help me!?"

Putting his hand up in a sign of surrender, Lance shook his head. "I'm sorry, but you need that Crystal, and it isn't like we can just send one of the girls in."

Groaning, Ash rubbed a hand across his face, and looked at Pikachu. "I'm freaking doomed." he sighed, "Fine! If you do anything permanent, I swear to god I will make sure you are crippled for the rest of your lives."

"Ash, you look enough like a girl as is without us even doing anything to you. I don't think we'll need to do anything like that," May taunted, and he looked crossly at her.

"Don't even start."

- - -

"What to do...what to do..." Paran exchanged a glance with Misty, who smirked. His heart sank; it couldn't be good.

"Shall we do make-up? Yes?" Turning to regard him, they saw that Ash looked ready to kill the first creature that even looked at him strangely or in the wrong way.

"Blush? Lipstick?" the Fire Master suggested, as Misty pulled everything they needed out and set them down on the table next to her. "May, aren't you pretty good at this kind of thing? You should do it?"

"If I get torn to shreds, I'm blaming you." Taking the items, she pushed them out of the room, shutting the door. "Ash, stop pouting. This is for your own good you know."

He scowled as she start applying the reddish powder. "I'm a man, dammit!" he growled, and May slapped his arm. "Why can't you just go in and get it?"

"Because I don't have a death wish. You're the only one besides Elizabeth that can touch it without dying. Pucker." When Ash gave her a blank look, May rolled her eyes, and gently pressed her index finger and thumb against the corners of his mouth, applying the lipstick while she ignored the killing glare he was giving her. After fixing his eyes, she handed the fuming Master a mirror.

"Oh dear god." Ash stared into it, disbelief etched on his face. "Please tell me this will all wash off." May nodded, laughing when he sank down in his chair in relief.

- - -

"Hello, I shall be your fashion designer for this evening," Misty said, indicating the stack she had borrowed from Katrina and several other of the women; it had been no easy task trying to explain why she needed clothes that would fit someone that was six feet tall.

"Could we get on with my torture here? Preferably while I'm still young?" he suggested impatiently.

"If you'd cooperate, this would take less time. Try this on." Misty tossed an outfit at him, and pointed toward the folding wall that had been brought in for the occasion. Glowering at her, Ash stalked over, tossing his original clothes into a pile nearby and getting into the new ones. "Well, doesn't that look nice!"

"Try again Misty."

"Oh, fine!"

After nearly an hour of constant changes, Misty clapped, pleased with the work she had done that both of them could agree on, and an outfit that wouldn't hinder him any more then the others had; a black kimono, his normal boots, and his cloak.

"You realize I will kill someone for this," Ash said sourly, getting a laugh out of her. "This really isn't funny. This thing hurts."

"No one will be able to tell that it's you! I'm nearly fooled, and I know who you are and what you look like! The only thing that'd give you away is your voice...and that thing is called a girdle, Ash." Misty glanced at him, admiring how much they'd done. "Hm. Not bad. You really do look like a girl in almost every way, except for your height, anyway."

Ash shook his head. "This is just so wrong. I'm not supposed to look like a girl," he complained, "and this is uncomfortable."

"Get over it," the redhead replied, waving a hand. "Paran, you're next!"

- - -

"Okay! They have done a good job so far, haven't they?" she asked, getting a glare from Ash. "Ah, yes...I think we'll have to work on that."

Pulling the hair band out, she ran a brush through his dark hair, humming quietly as she worked. "You are going to look so pretty when we are through with you!" she sang, grinning at him happily.

Ash's eyes widened at the statement, then narrowed to slits in irritation. She pulled her iron out, setting to the heavy work, swatting Ash when he made remarks about what she was doing.

- - -

Half an hour later, and several curses and a lot of swearing from Ash, and he was nearly ready to go retrieve the Forbidden Crystal. "You still have one thing wrong," Misty said.

Ash gaped at her. "What now?" he asked warily.

"Your voice." May replied, crossing her arms, "You need to work on your voice."

"How hard is that? Come on, it's just working the vocal cords differently." Clearing his throat, Ash took a breath before attempting the changes. "I should hope I can talk like a girl if I need to!"

His voice rose, the tone getting higher as he finished his statement. "Yes, that's it! We can go get it then!" Paran cheered, clapping her hands.

Lance arrived then, curious about the aftermath of the girls' work. "Wow, Ash, looking good," he said, grinning.

Ash scowled, pointedly sending a jolt of electricity at the Dragon Master. Lance's grin grew larger. "Hey now," he continued gently, "why don't we go..."

The smirk the Shadow Master acquired was almost invisible. "Oh, really, I would," Ash started in his higher voice, stepping up to be right in Lance's face, "but I really am a man, so that just would not be right of me!"

"I am so very sorry, sir! You just...look...so stunning!" Lance said, covering his eyes dramatically. He knew they were wasting time with foolishness, but the act was too much fun to let go. Their three female companions laughed. Ash grinned at them, deciding to add his own touch to the scene.

"Oh, maybe just this once..." he hummed, "Who cares?" Misty, Paran, and May's eyes went wide, their jaws dropping. Ash closed the few remaining inches between him and Lance, and it had appeared to the three woman as if he had kissed him on the lips; in all reality, it had been on the cheek. Catching on, Lance staggered back as if in shock.

"Why, sweetheart, I never knew that you cared so much!" Lance cried, laughing.

"Let's get married!" Ash suggested, jumping into Lance's arms, hugging him tightly. Misty shook her head, laughter overtaking her nearly, and waved her arms. "Enough? Aww...that was more fun then it should have been."

"And you thought acting the part would be a nightmare," May remarked, getting a half-hearted glare from him. When he turned away, she looked at Paran.

"Seems like he's not so irritated about being a 'girl,'" she whispered. May and Misty nodded.

"Good thing too. I don't want to have to travel with a killing machine, especially one that can electrocute me." The redhead smiled.