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. "Shadow Fox" is the property of Shadow Fox 05, who also requested that I include him in my fanfiction.
A/N: I am very happy right now. Why, you ask? I just got to saw Pokemon the First Movie on TV just now. That makes me mucho happy because I've been wanting to watch that...now if only they'd show Pokemon Heroes!
Ah, yes. We're almost to the end. One more chapter after this one and we're done with Shadow League. Anyone sad about that?
OK, OK, I know, no one is. XD
Warnings: The pairing in this is RivalSibling. This fan fiction has a lot of violence and gore, not to mention some language, and implied rape/sex. Not for kids, that's for sure.
- - -
Chapter 20: The Unlikely Savior
Ash watched out of the window, his hands resting lightly on the sill, regarding the cloud-filled sky thoughtfully. "Hello, Ashura," a voice broke in.
He scowled, and turned to face his enemy. "Hello, Gary. It's been a long time...yet, it's not been long enough."
Gary's lip curled into a smirk as he shut the door. "How's my sister, Ash?" he asked, "I am surprised by her, really. I had expected one of the other Masters to get to her, if you catch my drift."
Ash tensed up, his eyes narrowing menacingly in displeasure, and Gary knew he'd hit a few nerves with his statement. He expected the angry man to lash out at any time...
...and thought correctly, as dark lightning forked across the ever darkening clouds and Ash bolted across the room towards him. He barely dodged the kick that had been aimed at his face, and laughed. "Ah, temper, temper, Ash!" Gary sneered, blocking the punch that came in and launched one of his own, connecting with the Shadow Master's jaw, then taking a similar hit. "You must learn to control that! Especially considering that you yourself did the very thing you despise, twice!"
Ash froze, staring at him as he paled. "Never." he said, hands balling in shaking fists, and he glared at Gary, "I would never do such a thing, and especially not to May!"
"What a sad, naive denial that is," the Ground Master snickered, and Pikachu hissed at him. "What about in Sabrina's tower, hm? Surely you can't debate about what happened there. And even at Fuschia City?"
"That was not me in that tower!" Ash seethed, grinding his teeth angrily. "That was Mazin, and you know it. And Fuschia...Fuschia...we...she...agreed..." He faltered.
"Ah, going on the defensive, are we Ash? I am not one to lie...that often...you're correct, she did. Hell, she suggested it." Ash narrowed his eyes then.
"How would you know?" he asked, glancing at Pikachu. He was growing increasingly uncomfortable as time went on. Gary shrugged nonchalantly.
"I had my sources. Though, I must ask, do you even know why?" Gary shot at him, and Ash backed off, looking at him warily. "Surely it wasn't because there was no choice, as I am sure you've talked yourself into believing. Oh no-" Gary laughed humorlessly. "-It is nothing like that."
Ash crossed his arms, watching him. Gary continued talking, eyes glowing in amusement. "Oh, how she knew how badly you were suffering, being trapped by your own demons...what a dilemma it is, either suffer fighting them, or let it go and have more blood spilled for it, isn't it? Of course, I'd hope we both know that wouldn't be her only reason for letting you have at her after such a long, agonizing separation." He smirked. "Lust is such a powerful motivator. Regardless of how she acts, she's exactly like most of the female population that hasn't been traumatized by...past events you've caused. Don't you know? You're thought of as the-" He snorted disdainfully. "-tall, dark, handsome knight in shining armor. It astounds me."
"What of it?" Ash asked, his irritation coming out in his voice, and Pikachu's cheeks sparked when the thought of ripping Gary's head off ran through his mind.
"Patience is a virtue; try getting some. There was the issue that you two had an unspoken agreement to hate each other, or to at least try to act like it. Quite the predicament, wouldn't you agree? It's rather hard to tell someone you want to be screwed by them if you 'hate' them, to put it lightly. Don't take this the wrong way, Ashura." Gary saw his expression change to one of anger, which he assumed was not aimed at him. "She's my baby sister, and I know that she loves you – for some reason I don't wish to ponder about – and most likely has through this whole ordeal. It's a weakness, even. You should know above anyone else that love and lust share the same wall. One can lead to the other."
"What the hell do you know?" the darker man said, and Gary tilted his head, gesturing for him to elaborate. "You haven't seen May since Cerulean Tower, and I damn well know she wouldn't give someone the likes of you a summary of her life."
"I have my sources, as I said before. Even though she is currently...well, out of the loop, I suppose. It is unfortunate, really." Gary smiled thinly, and pulled a poke ball out as he saw Ash glare at him, and knew he had finally connected the dots. "Let's settle this. Sandslash!"
"Yes, let me tear you to shreds," Ash said, eyeing the battling pokemon as they attacked each other. Gary laughed coldly, and pulled a sword out quietly, swinging it when he gained his footing. Ash's expression darkened as he leaped back, dodging the strikes; he swore under his breath, and gave his enemy a sour look. He had to figure out how to get the weapon away from the Ground Master...
Getting an idea at last minute, Ash dodged again, shielding against the sword, and swung around to grab the blade, chewing on his tongue as he ripped the sword out of Gary's hands, and blood seeped quickly between his fingers. "Tsk tsk, you should know better then to play with sharp objects," he said condescendingly, and Gary growled; the sword turned into dust.
Ash looked at his hands, at the crimson liquid that continued to drip from the cuts. "I am so sorry," he continued, sighing sarcastically, and glanced at the small pool of blood that was forming in a crevice in the floor. "I seem to have made a dreadful mess because of this, what with my bleeding!"
"Moron!" Gary snapped, "Only someone brain dead would grab the end of a sword with their bare hands, and then still pull on it!"
Ash went serious then, smirking, and nodded to Pikachu to become the Shadow Blade. "Oh really? Well then, I suppose that means you most likely won't be doing the same then?"
- - -
"Pikaaachu..." Lucia peered at May, watching at she stared down at the building in deep thought. Fiona hovered above the headquarters silently, craning her short neck to look around.
"It's huge! Where would Ash be in there? I could be looking for hours." May frowned, looking at the statue of three of the Master Pokemon, and narrowed her eyes when she saw something poking up behind it. "There! Go over to that tower, Fiona!"
- - -
Ash looked at Gary, smirking when the Ground Master took his last gasping breath, beaten and bleeding. Pikachu held onto his head, standing on his shoulder as they regarded the corpse. "Hm."
Walking over to one of the windows, Ash glanced down to look at the stadium below. It was a feature of the building that not many knew about, and even less were allowed access to it. He could see small areas of the inside through the skylights, and he opened the window quietly. He pushed himself out, his eyes darting to the side when he saw movement in another window.
"Most likely just a Flying pokemon," he said to Pikachu, doing a flip off the ledge and falling feet-first down the tower, bringing his arms up to shield his eyes as he went through the glass of a skylight, the pieces showering down around him. He landed roughly, crouching down briefly as his cloak settled around him gently. Ash stood again.
There was the sound of clapping, and he frowned. "It's been awhile, Ashura!" Kiall stood in the stands, watching them enter, and smiled. "How have you both been?"
Ash looked at him sharply, as his Elemental sibling approached him. "You are a coward, Kiall." he said, ignoring the question, "Not even being one of the four Gate Keepers. You left Sabrina, Agatha, Blaine, and Gary to do it for you."
"But of course. How could I put myself as one, knowing that they would eventually die? No, no, I could not risk it, not until I could draw you out." Kiall smirked. "And you walked right into my hand. Now it is time for me to seal your fate!"
- - -
Fiona flew around the statue gracefully, circling around to get near the tower, and stopping near one of the sets of windows. May leaned forward to look in, seeing only Gary's body, and blood. "Dammit...we missed him. Land at the front, then. I need to go in."
"Chu." Lucia frowned in disapproval.
- - -
The remaining four sat in an alley, resting after their escape. They had just barely gotten away from the battle, and they had to sit idly until peace was restored and the Masters had returned to their patrolling. "It's funny." Misty said, "They just go on their orders, and soon people will be waking up and going to work...and not a single one of them know that Ash is probably already in the battle between life and death right now.
"You've been talking about Ash ever since we got in here, Shut up, will you?" Lance sighed, and rolled his eyes. Fox helped Paran carefully, her right arm broken from a strike she had taken from a Fighting-type pokemon that had taken to attacking her.
"I think all of us are worried about him." she mused, "What'll happen if he beats Kiall?"
"I...don't know, actually. I know about as much as you do, really," the Dragon Master replied, and they fell into silence, each of them hoping for the best.
- - -
Ash panted heavily, glaring at Kiall; he was already taking a beating, only a little over an hour into the battle, with his left eye bruised and swollen, and multiple cuts visible all over his body. Kiall, on the other hand, was better off, but with his own share of wounds.
Kiall smiled, looking down at the hurting man in triumph. "Having fun yet, Ashura?" he asked, and laughed. "I'm about to show you a new attack, one I bet you never considering trying to master. Have you ever heard of Hellish Whip?"
"...Hellish Whip?" Ash asked, his senses turning numb from the pain that had already been inflicted and his weariness. Kiall made a motion, and a long whip of Shadow electricity formed in his hand.
"This is to be your undoing!" Kiall hissed, and Ash twitched as the whip cracked against his back painfully. "Painful, isn't it? It will eventually kill you, of course."
He winced, and grabbed hold of the Shadow Blade, using it to push himself back up. "I will not die today!" Ash yelled, barely managing to stay upright, "You'll not defeat me!"
Kiall laughed scornfully. "You're in no condition to say so Ashura!" he said, the whip hitting the ground, and he snapped it into Ash's chest with a smile; they both looked down at the cut it had made in his shirt, at the injury it had caused. "Surrender yet?"
Defiance bubbled up inside of the shivering younger Shadow Master, adrenaline rushing through his veins as he rushed Kiall, surprising the elder when he caught him in the face with the heel of his boot angrily. "Never!" Ash said, before collapsing once more. I should have waited. I shouldn't have ran in without resting first. May, I'm sorry, he thought.
Looking at the deadly whip, Ash dreaded what was about to happen, and what was to be his fate. One more hit would surely be the end...
Light flooded the stadium, blinding both adversaries. Kiall hissed in pain as Ash shook his head, rubbing his eyes as his eyesight returned, and he looked around. "What? May...no! Get out of here!" he yelled, pleading to her.
The wide doors of the stadium opened, May stood between them Lucia at her feet. "No Ash, I won't!" she said, striding towards them quickly, the Light pikachu following after. "You need help, and I'm here to give it to you!"
Kiall growled, and used the whip to knock her back from Ash. She yelped. "Lucia, change!" she cried out, and the mouse-like pokemon squealed, changing into the Shadow Blade's twin sword, the Holy Blade. "Die, you bastard!" she snapped, aiming the sword at him.
Ash watched them, his breathing quick. Letting Pikachu change back to normal, he sat back weakly, disbelief etched across his face; he'd never had to back down, let alone let someone else take over his fight. Pikachu crawled onto his lap tiredly, and he held onto the Shadow pokemon tightly, frowning.
- - -
"This is impossible!" Misty shouted, getting a sharp look from Lance when she startled him and the others. They were trying to find – and get to – the League headquarters without being caught or seen. It wasn't proving easy.
"Quiet! We'll find it. It just takes time." Fox said, looking about. Mewtwo returned, smirking triumphantly. "You've found it?"
"Two blocks away," the Psychic-type replied, pointing in the proper direction. "Look out for the statue of Master Pokemon, and you'll find it."
"Thank you, Mewtwo." Returning the cat-like pokemon, Fox nodded. "Onward then."
"Three of them...Mewtwo, Dragonite, and Rapidash." Paran looked at them. "The Rapidash reared up, Mewtwo and Dragonite on either side. I remember that."
Several minutes went by, before they finally saw the statue in question. "Aha!" Lance announced, "We're here, finally!...Now what?"
"We should stay out here. If we go in, we could have the risk of getting caught," Fox replied, and frowned.
- - -
May doubled over painfully, the shadowy veil falling to cover her; whatever it was doing, it hurt. She looked up at Kiall, who looked back calmly. "Vile Shadow...poison is very common for you people, isn't it?" he asked, "It isn't quite as affective as Kumori is, but it is still dangerous for you. It can suck out all of your energy."
Ash's blood ran cold when the word poison registered in his mind. Hopelessly, he silently ordered Pikachu to change back into the Shadow Blade, getting a good grip on the hilt when the Shadow pokemon obeyed, and glared. Frustrated, he swung and threw it at Kiall, who did a turn, and caught it before the blade could strike him. "Say goodbye, Light Mistress Marian!" Kiall said, holding the Shadow Blade in front of him, the tip aimed at her, "How ironic, that you are the be slain by your own Bonded lover's sword!"
Eyeing the glinting blade, May felt a prickling sensation, and spun to look at Ash; he'd disappeared from his spot on the ground. Just as quickly she had to bring the Holy Blade up to block Kiall's attack, the two swords ringing against each other loudly, and the battle started anew.
She took a gasping breath when the Shadow Blade cut into her arm, tearing the flesh open and blood flying, when she wasn't fast enough to dodge. The ridges tore and sawed as it was pushed through, and May screamed. "This has gone too far."
Kiall, raising an eyebrow, turned to look behind him when May's eyes widened. Ash stood several paces behind him, knees bent, hunched forward and his arms out to the sides, as if he was about pounce. At the sight of him, it felt like her stomach had dropped out, fear replacing the pain she was feeling and the weariness that Vile Shadow was inflicting.
Ash's eyes glowed a dark, menacing blood red, narrowed angrily. The bruises were gone, leaving only cuts and scrapes in multiple places. "What in hell?" Kiall said, when he crouched down, and extended the black, dragon-like wings that had sprouted out of his back.
He smirked when hundreds, if not thousands, of Shadow Pokemon appeared in the stands, red eyes glowing. "Ah, doesn't it feel like it was just yesterday, when you bragged that they listen to what you say?" Ash said, standing and approaching them, "I am assuming this is something you never thought could happen, that your sworn enemy could come along and steal away that control. Quite an amazing twist, wouldn't you say?"
Snapping his fingers, the Shadow Blade quivered, and shifted back into Pikachu. "What have you done?" Kiall asked, watching Ash carefully as the dark electric-type leaped and landed on the laughing Master's head.
"Oh, nothing that Ashura couldn't have done had he put his mind to it. Of course, he hasn't an idea of how to, so it has to be left to me to take care of you. Quite ironic, really, that we are so similar, yet I'm about to be the cause of your end...using your own Shadow army." The play on Kiall's own words took a moment to sink in, and Ash merely moved to stand beside May when Kiall growled.
"You are overconfident," Kiall snapped, forming a ball of Shadow energy between his hands. Ash shrugged, and smiled. As the ball grew and started glowing, Ash darted to the side, grabbing May around the waist, and jumped as the hordes of Shadow pokemon poured into the arena, and Kiall changed his aim to them. "You can not stop me this easily-"
Ash pulled his cloak up to cover their heads as they flew up through another skylight, glass shattering around them. Settling down onto the roof, May swayed on the spot, holding her arm as blood poured out. Crouching down by the broken window, he looked in, at the flashes and screams inside, and closed his eyes, putting his hands on either side. A dark shield of energy covered the hole, and all of the other skylights went black. Lightning forked across the sky when they heard a crackling noise all around the stadium, and one of the bolts struck down, the League statue breaking in three, and the part of the stadium roof being blown off.
Looking back over, his concentration on the attack broke off, and he rushed back to May as she fell into him. "You are not going to die!" Ash cried angrily, his aura flaring up when he pressed a hand against the tear, and May screamed. "Quiet, wench, I am not trying to kill you!"
The skin and muscle stitched itself together slowly, as the electricity sparked along the slash. With a final spark, it finished, the skin pink and raw were it had once been torn. Ash carefully got down onto one knee, letting May slump down. "Mazin..." she said.
"Do not thank me, as if I did this out of kindness. I didn't." Ash looked at her dully. May leaned back against him, listening to the sounds of the stadium as it creaked and groaned.
"Then why?" May asked, and he snorted.
"I do not need to give my reasons to you." Ash looked away, and May twisted to look at him. "Just be happy I saved your miserable life. I have only ever done so for two others."
"Who?" she prodded, and yelped when he pulled the same stunt he had earlier, as the roof started collapsing. "Who else did you save?"
"You can figure it out for yourself," Ash replied, alighting on another part of the roof, bouncing along until they were at a stable spot. Panting, he put her back down. May reached for his arm when he stumbled forward.
"...Ash." He turned his head to look at her, gold eyes clouded over. He smiled weakly.
"I'm sorry, May," he said softly, flopping down to sit, hunched over. He had fainted.
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