Figured today i'd actually give you guys something of value (and at 10,000 words it's quite a lot). This is a working chapter that I've written, so keep in mind it is subject to change. It deals with Kurumi and Ash, and of course our favorite walking Pokemon, Pikachu. Do tell me your thoughts, what I can improve on (if anything), any additional questions.
By the way, when you see Kurumi, can you guess what of her Moves and Abilities she used throughout this chapter? One is Time-Eating Castle, that I'll give you, but i'm sure the rest of you can figure it out for yourself. Interested to see what your answers are (her Signature Moves/Powers list is on chapter 1).
Here's bit of context for this chapter and what I have planned for the story in general so your not entirely lost:
1) Ash and his friends have aged up a little bit. Ash is 16, and Serena and Dawn are 15.
2) Unlike other regions, Tenju allows its officials such as the AST to track Trainers' via their Pokedex. This is of course for general security reasons, as well as if a Spirit Pokemon is ever captured by a Trainer. If the AST desire, they have full authority to confiscate that Pokemon.
3) AST Pokemon are in special Poke Balls that automatically return the Pokémon to that said Poke Ball when they are defeated in battle and can no longer continue battling. This is so the AST soldier in question can focus on the target.
4) Following number 2, Ash has "caught" Tohka. While the AST normally would have taken her away, Ash was exempt from this from a higher position of authority, allowing her to be kept.
5) Following number 4, Kurumi herself has in fact been "caught" numerous times, but somehow escaped by the time her Poke Ball is opened again. Mana was one of the AST ordered to capture her, but has since resorted to trying to kill her as capturing her does not seem to work.
You can probably guess why the above happens if you know the harsh reality of Date A Live, though more content will be given if an official fic is written. (You can always ask.)
From Lildeevil:
What typing are Spirit Types strong and weak against?
Bakuganman: As much as I want to answer this question, this is probably the only type of question I won't answer. Its tied into the plot as well, so once I start writing, I want my readers to dissect it and figure it out. Lore-wise to this story, Spirit-Types have not been studied, so no professors know exactly what they are weak or strong against at this point in time.
From Batthan the Dark Knight:
Guess Ash better be on a lookout should Kurumi seek him out
Bakuganman: The fact you said this before this chapter was posted… did Google give you my data?
From 54godamora:
You're welcome for the joke. If possible, as a joke chapter, have it be where the Spirits find out about Latias and vice versa and fight over Ash.
Bakuganman: Maybe. Not sure atm.
Working Chapter: Kurumi Killer
Ash, with Pikachu on his shoulder, ran up to the roof of the Pokemon Center… had that hole always been there in the double doors?
He and his little yellow buddy couldn't help but feel very anxious. He and Pikachu for some reason, were the only ones not affected by the large shadow that seemed to spread over the entire Pokemon Center out of nowhere. Tohka, Serena, Dawn, Yoshino, Origami… they were under its effects, but thankfully their Pokemon in their Poke Balls were safe.
Regardless, he and Pikachu were the only ones who could move… the only ones who could stop Kurumi and whatever game she was playing. The moment they opened this door… it was battle time. But even then, Ash still felt conflicted on it. Even if these Spirits were Pokemon, they still acted and were very close to human-like in appearance. Even Pikachu felt weird zapping Tohka, even if it was only to snap her out of her rampage.
With no words, Ash pushed the door open slowly…
There she was… the Nightmare herself, waiting for them, and looking directly at the door. It was weird, as if she knew he was there…
Because of the… incident… Ash didn't get time to actually look at her Spirit Form. Now that he could have a good look at her, she looked much different than what he had noticed before. What Kurumi was wearing was very similar to the black gothic dress she wore in human mode, but this one was crimson red (almost blood colored) with black frills. She still had her twin tails but instead of them going down her shoulders, they were tied to a higher point on her head, and they appeared unevenly cut. Also on her head, she had a matching net bow that held her hair, the same colors of her new dress. This dress also exposed a generous view of her breasts, which was kind of hard NOT to miss due to the thin spaghetti straps.
It all suited her so well. Tohka's armor portrayed strength and power, while Yohinso's gave off cuteness and innocence. But Kurumi's… it was the perfect mix of elegance and sexiness, without one overbearing the other.
Ash couldn't lie, Kurumi out-classed Kanto's Giselle by a long shot.
"Welcome, Ash… and you too, Pikachu." Kurumi greeted them. "Such a romantic spot to spend some quality time together alone, isn't it?" She asked him in a teasing fashion.
XXX
Back in a few floors lower than the roof; Origami, now wearing her AST armor, was running side-by-side with Serena. Both were focused on getting to Ash as soon as possible.
"Tobiichi! I'm detecting you've activated the emergency armor! Not only that, a civilian's Pokédex is tracked being right next to you! What is going on up there?!" Asked the voice of Origami's boss via it's built-in intercom, which Serena also heard due her close proximity. Her boss wasn't sounding happy at a civilian (Serena in this case) being caught in the crossfire. So many rules were being broken right now…
"Dangerous situation, no time to explain!" Origami said quickly. At this time, the duo turned a corner. "The Pokemon Center has been compromised, I'm going to need some… *gasp*." She was asking for backup but lowly gasped, and Serena's mouth was opened in shock as well.
Standing before them. Was Kurumi.
"*chuckles* Excuse me, but this floor is strictly for Nurse Joys' only." Kurumi joked with them while smiling. "Where exactly are you both going?"
"We're going to get Ash away from you." Origami told Kurumi in a threatening tone.
"Hmmm… Ash… Ash…" Kurumi questioningly teased, feigning innocence. "Would he happen to be yay tall, tan skin, messy raven hair, and have a silly yellow rat on his shoulder with an equally silly hat?"
"Where is he?" Serena then asked, slowly and a bit of hostility in her voice.
Kurumi chuckled again before answering the Kalos native. "Sorry, but him leaving doesn't work for me." She said with that same smile still on her face. Origami took out an energy blade; while Serena, as nervous as Kurumi made her, got a Poke Ball out and enlarged it.
XXX
Around the same time somewhere else in the building; Tohka, Dawn, her Piplup and Yoshino were in one group. They too were running to get to the roof, Piplup in Dawn's arms. However as they were going down this particular corridor, where the power was somewhat out and only the emergency lights were on (and the darkness from the shadow bubble outside didn't help either), Piplup suddenly struggled to get out of Dawn's grasp, causing the group to stop once the little penguin Pokémon jumped out ahead of them, staring on ahead into the semi-darkness.
"Piplup, what's wrong?" Dawn asked her starter, but he remained focused on ahead.
…
…
…
"PIIIIIIIP-LUP-LUP-LUP-LUP-LUP-LUP-LUP!" Seemingly for no reason, Piplup used his Bubble Beam attack into the darkness of the hallway…
…
…
…
BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG!
KA-BOOM!
Dark bullet-shaped orbs shot out at Piplups attack, both Moves canceling each other out and causing an explosion. This of course made the group brace after the attacks blew up. Apparently Piplup sensed something was wrong, or more accurately something dangerous was up ahead.
"W-What was that?" Yoshino asked. As the dust cleared, they heard slow tapping footsteps come out of the darkness.
"Well… little birdie caught me red-handed?" Said a voice that wasn't close enough out of the darkness to reveal itself just yet, but then took a few more steps to reveal…
Kurumi: Or would penguin be more appropriate?
"Kurumi?" Tohka questioned. The opposing Spirit in question had her gun out, most likely how she launched her last attack.
"So ladies, where are you in a rush to?" Kurumi asked.
XXX
Back on the rooftop…
"Kurumi… what's this all about?" Ash asked, keeping himself calm and getting straight to the point. "What's with this Terrain Move you used? Why'd you target the whole Pokemon Center?"
Kurumi gave a soft chuckle. "Not Terrain… its my Time-Eating Castle. Isn't it lovely?" She asked, also giving the correct term what this was called. "I guess its what'd you call a Status Move. Its a barrier that absorbs the Time of anyone and anything who step in this shadow."
Both Ash and Pikachu were very much confused. That's not to say they haven't dealt with time moves before, experiencing Dialga's time wrapping firsthand, but time eating?… That was a new one. What was that even supposed to mean?
"Pika?" Pikachu questioned.
"Time… Eating…?" Ash said, trying to understand. It was at this point that Kurumi moved away the bang covering her left eye, which wasn't much, but that's when Ash and Pikachu noticed something odd. Her eye was yellow, which they did notice prior… but was something moving in there?… And were those markings around the inside edges of the eye?… Wait a second…
"Pika!" Said Pikachu, surprised at the sight,
"Your eye…!" Ash finally realized, amazed at what he was seeing, and so was Pikachu. "It's a clock!" It's not that he hadn't noticed the yellow-colored eye behind Kurumi's hair; but up until now, she did not lift up her hair to give him a better view. So it wasn't just style she did for in her human form… it was to cover up that same creepy eye. Not only that, it was going counter-clockwise at the moment.
"That's right. What your both seeing is my Time… such a fickle thing… I guess you can call it my lifespan." Kurumi confirmed, dropping her hair after finishing that sentence. "I do have such an amazing power. In fact, on par with the legendary Steel/Dragon and even the Voice of the Forest themselves. Unfortunately unlike that four-legged diamond and pixie plant, I'm using up my own Time whenever I use it." Kurumi explained as her clock eye continued to tick backwards. "So every once in a while, I have to… borrow other peoples Time, otherwise my own Time expires."
"Wait… other peoples Time?" Ash asked in a slightly louder tone, his and Pikachu's eyes widened in horror of what that implied. Now he was dense when it came to things other than Pokémon battles, but seeing as Kurumi explained her shadow bubble was a 'Status Move'… the reason everyone else was feeling weak and the fact it was called 'Time-Eating Castle'… and also how the clock in her was basically her lifespan that was now going backwards instead of forwards, then she was…!
"Everyone… people and Pokemon alike, are my adorable prey." Kurumi said. "But you… you both incredibly special… a Pikachu having higher Electrical power than usual, and a human with such a thick level of aura…" she continued. "I've been watching you, Ash… I've been watching you grow for quite some time…"
-KURUMI'S FLASHBACK-
Kurumi: I'll admit, I wasn't necessarily attracted to you at first. You were only a little boy, chasing down his starter…"
On a certain rainy day, Kurumi was walking in a forest with an umbrella above her head. That's of course, when she heard the squawks of Spearow, and turned around to see a kid on a bike being ruthlessly pecked at by a flock of them.
Kurumi: But there was something about you… something that I found, rather shocking…
During the fateful moment Pikachu used Thunder Shock, which was only further enhanced by the rain, Kurumi watched the entire thing unfold. She had to fall back a bit, not wanting to get shocked by that amount power.
Kurumi: I was drawn to you… I don't know why, but it was something very special. And when you lost your first league, I figured maybe it was a mistake and I wasted my time… but there was something about you that kept me interested. I just didn't get to see it for myself until much later.
From that point on, Kurumi kept tabs on Ash. His first Gym battle with Brock, the time he was helping Lugia, when he caught in-between Mew and Mewtwo, the time he lost his league challenge due to Charizard's lack of respect for him… almost every major event or battle in Ash's life, Kurumi was there… watching in the background.
Kurumi: It wasn't until you were dubbed this 'Chosen One', and then eventually made your way to a Tree where everything was Beginning…
During the Tree of Beginning situation, Kurumi was at that party as well in a variation of her Spirit Form, and was just as surprised when that surprise Lucario popped out of that staff Ash was holding at the time as everyone else. Then of course during the climax, Ash began manipulating aura with Lucario. At that point, Kurumi looked like she wanted to pounce on him right them and there, but kept control of herself.
Kurumi: From that day on, I knew I found the One. One that I knew, would amount to great things and would only continue to grow stronger. Low and behold… you eventually found your way here.
After that adventure, Kurumi was shown keeping and even closer eye on Ash. When he dealt with a Jewel of Life, got the Top 4 of the Sinnoh League only to lose to Tobias, overpowering a Champion's Mega Evolved Gardevoir and even when he nearly won Kalos' League entirely.
-END FLASHBACK-
Ash was shocked from that information to say the least. So it wasn't that she just randomly appeared, she had been stalking him for quite some time, only appearing to him when she felt when the time was right. And what better place to strike than her own region?
"Do you get it now?" Kurumi asked him, now putting on a more sinister look and both her eyes were glowing. One red and the other yellow. "It's you, Ash… your the reason I'm here, why I left the safety of the tall grass and followed you region-to-region. Just to see the look on your face when you and I become one… You and your Pokemon will be inside me for all eternity. Isn't that wonderful?" She added, revealing her intentions for revealing herself.
Ash initially didn't know how to respond. Most people would label Kurumi as an evil Pokemon and to an extend even Ash himself couldn't help but think that for a second. On the other hand, he still wanted to maintain his belief that there was no such thing as an evil Pokemon. Mewtwo and even Darkrai being the best examples of this.
Although; Kurumi was referring to humans and Pokemon in a strange way when saying they were her prey… talking like she herself… wasn't a Pokemon…
Regardless in a way, Ash felt kinda sorry for her, but also the happy and almost giddy way Kurumi spoke about eating him and possibly Pikachu as if it was normal did freak him out. Part of him wanted to run, as this was probably the reason the AST that patrol the streets like Officer Jenny's say how dangerous Spirits are, but that sight of his vulnerable friends and the staff in the Pokemon center, as well as the Pokémon themselves flashed in his brain.
No… He couldn't run away… it was NOT an option.
"Well, fine then! I'm right here! I'M the one you want! So don't hurt anyone else!" Ash said to Kurumi with as much gusto as he could. Did he want to die? Course not. But if it would get her to stop, then he's willing to make that sacrifice… how many times had he given his life or put it on the line without question? This was no different.
Even if it meant him never fulfilling his dream, at least everyone else can fulfill their's…
Kurumi smiled a bit more from his answer, either finding his willingness noble or somehow knowing he was afraid. That or his will to face her head on and not run away was a form of twisted entertainment for her.
"I suppose that is an option…" She said, "But first, I want you to take it back." She then added, confusing the raven-haired teen for a second and his Electric-Type companion. "Come on, Ashy… tell me the truth. Causing all this trouble only for a meal? You must think I'm a monster… an Evil 'Pokemon'… doing all this for the sake of seeing people suffer." She continued, talking a step forward at a time as she put the word Pokemon in quotation marks, getting ever so closer to the human who claimed to want to help her.
Again… she was speaking as if she wasn't a Pokemon at all…
As Kurumi continued forward, Ash and Pikachu remained put, despite the mouse Pokemon's instincts flaring off like crazy the closer the Spirit Pokemon got. He like his Trainer, wanted to help these new type of Pokemon, even if this one in particular did have a creepy vibe coming off of her.
"Go ahead… you can say it… say you hate me. Unlike those other 2, I clearly don't deserve the same kindness." Kurumi was right in front of the Kanto Trainer at this point. "I will eat you… but I'm giving you the chance to be honest with yourself." Kurumi put a hand to his cheek gently as if she meant no harm. One of her white arms from her shadow pool also did the same to Pikachu but instead gently scratched under his chin. "Then. I'll take this 'Terrain' before I eat you so no one else will expire…" Kurumi joked about Ash misnaming her Status Move, making him a deal and giggling at the end of it.
"What'll it be, Ashy-Boy?… Better hurry up, for Time is running out…" Kurumi finished, leaning into the opposite ear that Pikachu wasn't on the side of, either knowing the little mascot wouldn't attack or she was that brave, and held that position as Ash was debating what he should do (the long white arm also disappearing back into a shadow pool). She also used a variation of the nickname she gave him, or it was possibly an indirect reference to a certain Ditto Trainer, further implying just how long Kurumi kept tabs on him.
…
…
…
"… Fine. Get rid of the Castle." Ash ended up saying with closed eyes after thinking on it for a moment. This did get Kurumi to smile. "Then; allow us to help you."
Kurumi removed herself from the range of his ear, now frowning at the Pokemon Trainer. "Your seriously that stubborn?" She asked him flatly, but all the Trainer did was look back at her, not changing his decision. "… And your not gonna talk sense into him?" She then directed her attention to Pikachu, but he gave a similar stare as his Trainer did, agreeing 100% with him.
Ash nor Pikachu changed their answer, keeping on a poker face as both parties looked at each other… they were really going this far? Kurumi couldn't tell if they were stubborn or just being two idiots. For a few seconds, none said a word…
"*sigh*… Your both hopeless…" Kurumi sighed, then let Ash got and leaped backward away from the boys. She also raised her arm in the air for some reason…
~WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!~
"You both know what that sound means, so what could I possibly have done?" She asked with a smile, of course perfectly aware of what that sound was and what it meant was coming.
It took less than a second for the normally dense teen to figure it out, both he and his partner Pokemon's eyes widened in shock, which Kurumi's sarcastic remark confirming it.
Pikachu: Pi-Pika!
Ash: A Space Quake!
And she was causing it AT WILL!
XXX
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Back onboard Fraxinus with the ships alarms going off, even the crew was shocked as well, having not dealt with a Space Quake AFTER a Spirit Pokemon appears.
"Wait a second. But she's already there, and there's no other Spirit Pokemon manifesting!" Kotori said, trying to understand what was happening.
"Because she's causing one on purpose. We didn't know Spirit Pokemon could do that." Reine said, gathering as much from the situation. Leave it to Ash to make a Spirit Pokemon reveal a dangerous power like that.
XXX
"HEHEHEHEHEHE! What is my Darling Chosen One going to do now?" Kurumi 'asked' Ash back on the roof, as the Quake began forming directly above them in the sky but slowly. The clouds beginning to swirl symbolizing the Quake forming. "If a Space Quake drops on this Pokemon Center… what will happen to all those poor people and Pokemon trapped inside?"
Ash knew what could VERY well happen. As Kurumi knocked everyone out with her Time-Eating Castle and even cut the power to the Center in general, it was no longer a viable Shelter. Therefore… when the Quake hits…
At this point, even someone as unorthodox as Ash had no idea what to do! He couldn't stop a Space Quake, and most certainly not any Pokémon that he had with him could. Since Kurumi, a Spirit Pokemon, turned on a Quake, then logic dictates only a Spirit Pokemon can shut it down. However, Tohka and Yoshino were downstairs somewhere along with everyone else, the only other two Spirit Pokemon they know!
If Kurumi was willing to set one off, how could Ash convince her to stop it? Battling wasn't an option, as that wouldn't accomplish anything other than waste time and energy. He couldn't say he hated her like she wanted either, cause honestly he felt there was more to her actions.
Despite these acts she was pulling, Kurumi didn't seem like a bad person… if a bit crazy.
"Ketchum." Reine's voice came over through the earpiece Ash was given for emergency situations and communication. Pikachu was also able to hear this due to his position on Ash's shoulder, as well as his own level of hearing. "I'm not sure why, but Kurumi's emotional state slightly changed." This made Ash a bit more nervous, thinking he may have screwed up somewhere, but Reine continued. "It almost seems as she's just as nervous of you."
Kurumi?… Nervous of him?… How does that work? That didn't make any sense! Why would a human-like Pokemon, one that had extraordinary powers, be nervous of someone like him? Ash tried to come up with a possible answer, but couldn't think of any…
Wait.
Kurumi was after him for a long time, right? If she WAS after his essence this whole time, and wanted to eat him raw… why didn't she? Why wasn't she right now? She had plenty of opportunities to try beforehand, and its not like he could have stopped her.
Ash glanced at Pikachu, who noted his best friends slight turn if his head… he was reading his mail. His Trainer had another one of his unorthodox ideas, so Pikachu was gonna play along with it, putting their trust in each other.
Was it a stupid idea?… Yes. But if it works…
"Kurumi. You want to eat me, right? Then stop the Quake!" Ash said, Kurumi raising an eyebrow at this.
"Is that a threat?" Kurumi asked him. "What'll happen if I don't?"
Ash didn't say anything, but kept a hard stare at the Nightmare. "… Pikachu. Iron Tail." He said very calmly. Kurumi mentally scoffed at this. So he was gonna try and have Pikachu battle to try and force her? Real cute.
However… Pikachu did not jump down off of Ash to execute the Move, which colored Kurumi surpised. He activated it on command as he normally did, his yellow tail glowing white before hardening into a Steel-Type attack, but he put it directly behind his Trainer's head…
…
…
…
"… You can-not. Be serious." Kurumi said, sounding amused. Based on her tone, she did not believe what they were implying. "Real cute. But something tells me, neither of you have the Ultra Balls to go through with it." She called out what she believed to be a big fat bluff the boys were pulling on her.
After a moment of silence, Ash only continued to look at Kurumi, then Pikachu leaped into the air. "Chuuuuuuuu-aaaaaa…" He began, beginning to actually perform the Move in midair like he normally does.
Ash kept his locked gaze at Kurumi, while she did the same to him. Pikachu then began to come down along with his Iron Tail below him after flipping forward in midair… a close-up of Kurumi's clock-eye showed it narrowing slightly… surely Ash was not…
"Pi-KA!"
POW!
…
…
…
A long white arm grabbed the Iron Tail a mere second before it could impact its target, being Ash's own head.
YANK!
Ash: WHOOOOOOOOA! OOF!
Not only that, a second white arm had grabbed and yanked Ash away to a safe distance as a contingency. With how hard Ash was yanked, he fell to the ground as the arm vanished, and Pikachu was tossed away since Kurumi's shadow arm had the leverage. The yellow rat landed back on his feet though, and regrouped with his Trainer.
"Are you two kidding me?!" Kurumi asked in a raised tone with a growl in it. She was not happy, but wasn't yelling at the boys, just angry with them. "Dammit! What is wrong with you? Are you both dense AND stupid?!" Kurumi asked another set of questions before she even got an answer to the first one, directing it more to Ash as he was the one who gave the order.
Getting a Flamethrower kiss from his Charizard was one thing, but a Steel-Type Attack at that velocity and aimed at his head could've caused severe and irreversible damage to a human target.
"Not exactly…" Ash said, starting to get up slowly. "Cause now I know…"
Kurumi narrowed her eyes again, realizing she just got played, falling for Ash's trap. With that one simple act of saving him from an attack that very well could have killed him, it made one thing abundantly clear: Kurumi wasn't going to harm him, nor let harm come to him. Going as far as letting Pikachu do that on purpose, and the yellow rat went along with it, just to see if they'd get a reaction from her.
They set her up.
"So how's about stopping that Space Quake before I really do get hurt… oh, and deactivate your Status Move while your at it." Ash 'asked', now starting to fully stand up.
"Pi-Pika. Chu-Pi." Pikachu agreed, telling Kurumi the same thing though in his own language.
Kurumi was furious. She was so easily tricked by Ash despite the fact she has been keeping a watch on him for sometime, yet she still fell for one of his tricks. She had also lost all leverage she once on the situation.
"Don't take too long… Time's running out." Adding insult to injury, Ash made a time-based jab at Kurumi, the camera on her clock-eye again as its shown to be ticking away.
Gritting her teeth and growling again, "Grrrrr! No wonder your called a Twerp."
*Snap!*
Kurumi then snapped her fingers, and the Space Quake above them that wasn't fully formed shrunk quickly before fizzling away altogether. She also recalled her shadow bubble with that too shrinking in size until light finally reappeared, the effect of her Time-Eating Castle now cancelled. At least now, the Pokemon Center was safe.
"Alright. Now there's one more thing." Ash said.
"What do you want now?" Kurumi asked, using a little sass.
"What I want Kurumi, is for you to give yourself a second chance." Ash said.
"Hmmph. Back to this again? You really are dense." Kurumi said. "Your wasting your time, mighty Chosen One. Trust me, I'm more trouble than I'm worth."
"I don't think so." Said Ash. "And I don't think you really believe that either." Those words visibly caught Kurumi by surprise, her expression changing. "If you were this bad person you claim to be, then why wait so long to try eating me? Do you know how many times I've been separated from my friends even before coming to this region?" He added, as he's lost track how many times he's been to a new region and for whatever reason (sometimes due to Team Rocket and they're various schemes), his friends would be separated into smaller groups until they met up somewhere else.
"Why else… I'm a predator… stocking my prey until the right moment." Kurumi said, now her tone was changing to a more depressed one.
"Stop it!" Ash ordered, which took Kurumi aback of how passionate his voice was starting to become. "If that was true, what about the Contest Hall? Do you know how many people and Pokemon were there, that you could've easily taken a bite out of if you wanted too?" He mentioned the Contest they had all gone to the other day, with Dawn and even Serena taking part in it. Of all the participants in that event, Kurumi did not pull the same stunt as she did today.
"Your not a monster Kurumi… If you were, then you never would have been enjoying your time there. Heck, if you were a monster, you would've just eaten everyone there." Ash pointed out again.
"Your wrong… I am a monster…" Kurumi said, though you could see a small difference of emotion in her eyes. "I'm such an Evil Spirit… an Evil, vile, twisted Spirit…
"Then let me help you!" Ash blurted out, not wanting to hear anymore of this Evil Pokemon nonsense, which got Kurumi off guard again. It gave her pause at how much Ash was letting slide. "Listen, I'm gonna be honest. I might not know how to help you right now, but I can give you a fresh start. Just like Tohka, and just like Yoshino, we'll figure it out together."
"Pika-Chu! Chu, Pika!" Pikachu added, giving his agreement with Ash's statement. The mouse will admit, he was wary of Tohka at first, being this unknown Spirit Pokémon. But after getting to know her and what exactly she was, she wasn't a bad person, and he had even defended her from the AST's Pokemon when the time called for it.
Kurumi was taken aback. Both the human and his Pokemon kept saying they'd try to help her, even after all she did to them… was it really possible? Could she really… start over? "R-Really?" She asked, but she still sounded conflicted on the matter. "But… the way I acted…"
"Kurumi." Ash now spoke on a slightly tougher tone, but with a level of understanding. "I've been on this journey for a long time. And after all I've been through, Pokemon never act out without a good reason. Your no different." He assured her. "You said it yourself. Your powers eat you alive, so with that context in mind, it sounded like you had no choice."
"T-That's not…" Kurumi tried to answer, trying to make an excuse, but Ash refused to hear it.
"It's okay… I understand." Ash said, calmly. "And I think the authorities will too if you let them know your situation. Yes, you'll still have to atone for all you did… but I promise, I'll be right there every step of the way, regardless of how terrible you've been." He promised her. "There is no such thing as a purely evil Pokemon, and that includes you. And nothing you say or do will ever convince me otherwise."
The Spirit Pokemon of shadows was rendered almost completely speechless. "Ash, I… I don't know…" she was still willing to rebut, but her voice was cracked with emotion, the girl still looking indecisive. This didn't seem to surprising, as this was probably the first time someone actually went as far for Kurumi as he did.
The human then gave a warm smile before lifting up his hand, offering it to her. Kurumi looked at the hand Ash lifted, then glanced as the boy in question before glancing back down at the offered hand. She extended her arm, but only by an inch before immediately pulling it back in hesitation, still unsure about this.
Here's when Pikachu got re-involved, and his feet made that cute sound when he moves before he jumped onto his Trainer shoulder. "Pika." He said as he landed on Ash's shoulder. "Pika-chu!" Then went along Ash's arm, where of course Ash had to adjust the strength in his arm to hold the new weight, but the little mouse offered his tiny paw while standing on his three other legs, putting on a bright smile akin to his Trainer's and mirroring his Trainer's offer.
This appeared to give Kurumi the push she needed, and held her hand back out while taking very slow steps, one step at a time as she slowly made her way to the duo. "Can I… can I really…?" She softly questioned herself, but she did not stop her steps.
She was in front of the Kanto natives now, her fingers close to the paw and hand of the other party, appearing to debate with herself one final time… her fingers nearly grazed Ash's…
STAB!
"URK!" Kurumi felt a flash of pain in her abdomen, and even Ash and Pikachu heard a wet snapping sound. Their eyes widened in shock as Kurumi's widened in pain…
There was a white arm, having pierced through her…
"Ya know, it really doesn't help Me when You get seduced by someone from the boonies…" said a Kurumi-sounding voice from seemingly nowhere (also making another reference as well), as Kurumi's mouth was gasped open in pain and did not move to speak. Ash and Pikachu didn't hear that in their heads, so it wasn't telepathy, but then where was it coming from?!
"A-Ash… Pi… Pikachu…" NOW Kurumi's mouth moved, though she struggled to get both of the boys names out.
"Well, you seem exhausted…" said the Other Voice, now the arm retracted back into Kurumi's body. "Why not use Rest?"
Ash could see Kurumi's clock-eye quickly tick forward as it spun almost out of control while hearing a humming sound. The clock finally slowed down to a stop, Kurumi lost the light in her eyes and even her dress vanished…
THUD!
…
…
…
Right in front of them, Kurumi collapsed to the floor, her arms and legs bent under her in a way that should not be possible. Both boys could not help but stare at what just happened to the body of the Spirit Pokemon, and even Pikachu backed up off of Ash's arm back in his shoulder as the mouse still locked on to the sight before them.
All that blood below Kurumi…
"Oh my… what a mess." Kurumi's voice came back, but it sounded like it was coming in front them were Kurumi was standing a second ago. "I forgot Rest puts the user to sleep for a while…" she made a joke as Ash and Pikachu looked back up slowly…
Kurumi was standing there, despite Kurumi was lying on the ground between them.
"K… Kurumi…?" Ash said, he and Pikachu were gobsmacked, trying to figure out what the hell just happened. One second, he was about to get Kurumi some help like he did with Tohka, only for Kurumi to kill… Kurumi?… This wasn't making any sense!
Did she use Substitute at some point? If she did, then why did it take severe physical damage like that?! Substitutes usually fade away after a little while or after taking damage as if they were illusions. That wasn't Double Team either for the same reason! Just what was going on?!
"H… How did…?" Ash tried to ask, but then a shadow pool opened below the now 'fainted' Kurumi, and those same white arms wrapped around her body and dragged her down into the darkness.
"Perhaps the Me I chose to deal with you was a little too young and naïve…" Kurumi said nonchalantly as absolutely nothing had happened. Too young and naïve though… that only confused Ash and Pikachu further. What was that supposed to mean?
GRAB!
Those same white arms grabbed Ash by his feet and arms, restricting him from escaping. In addition to that, Pikachu was also grabbed by a few as well and was held in the air.
"Now why don't we try this again? Only this time, with no disruptions." Kurumi said.
Pikachu, knowing what Kurumi was implying, began to spark his red cheeks even while he still struggled in vain to get out of the grasp of the white arms. "pi-kaaaaaaaa-CHUUUUUUUUUUUU!"
With electricity flowing through the white arms, it only took a few seconds for them to finally let it go and dissolve back into the shadows. Landing back in his feet, Pikachu ran towards Kurumi as fast as his tiny legs can carry him without the usage of Quick Attack, saying "PI! PI! PI! PI!" all the way. Then he jumped and triggered Iron Tail again.
Did he want to attack a human-like Pokemon? No. But if it came to that and the choice to protect his own human, then the choice was obvious.
Pikachu: Chuuuuuuuu-aaaaaa… Pi-KA!
SLAM!
However just before the Iron Tail contact, Kurumi herself then dissolved into shadows before reappearing from shadows 3 feet away. Pikachu at this time took his regular battle stance.
"Hehe… so your really gonna go that far, huh?" Kurumi asked the rodent, whose only response to the question was sparking his cheeks again. Responding in kind, Kurumi's pistol arose from the shadows so she could defend herself. "Suit yourself…" She pointed it at Pikachu…
"Jolteon! Swift!"
Out of nowhere, stars rained from the sky in-between the two fighters, though closer to Kurumi and throwing off her aim…
SLASH!
A blindingly fast flash also flew by, slicing the hand Kurumi was holding her gun with, which of course dropped and rolled along the floor but there was no blood. That same flash also wizzed around Ash a few times, severing the arms restraining him before the flash finally gained a physical form after stopping in front of him.
Mana: Are you two ever not in some kind of trouble?
"Hey Mana." Ash said, glad to see a familiar face. She was in her AST suit, and her partner Jolteon also joined up next to Pikachu.
Kurumi chuckled at Mana's timely arrival, almost as if she already expected it. "Right on cue as usual…" she then held up her severed hand. "You've always had a natural talent of tracking me and cutting through my armor so easily…"
"Ash… if your gonna be here, your going to have to fight." Mana told Ash. "You tried, but like I said, there's no reasoning with her."
Ash was very conflicted. On one hand he knew Mana was right, like when he dealt with Pokémon poachers with N. As much as he hated to do this, him lowly growling to himself… "Go! Charizard!"
With a flash, his most powerful Pokémon has been released, releasing a powerful roar upon summon. While he didn't know what was going on, he knew there was a target somewhere.
"Hehehehe… now your going to attack me Ash? Even after all we've been through?" Kurumi taunted. All Ash could do was grit his teeth and lowly growl some more.
(AN: Play Kurumi's theme "Rhapsody Rage". You may have to find an extended version on YouTube.)
"Weeeeeeeell. If that's how you want to play this, you are both going to have to accept the fact that no matter what you do: I can't be captured, I can't die, and neither of you can win…" Kurumi then held up her other hand. Was she gonna make another Quake?
Kurumi: Hear me, Zafkiel! Come to me now!
Remember those shadows on the ground? Well now they formed behind her in a circular shape before they spawned a large clock with Roman numerals. It also had a visible gears moving a varying speeds in the center, but no long hand and short hand for some reason like an actual clock would. When this giant watch was brought out, it was followed by a loud gong sound.
Charizard: Raa?
Jolteon: Jol?
Pikachu: Pika?
The others and there Pokemon had questioning expressions, having not seen this before. They were aware that Spirit Pokémon had these very strange weapons on them… so was that her Angel?
Kurumi then summoned her longer gun. "Darletto."
Before anyone could ask what that meant, a dark power that appeared even darker than Dark Pulse flowed out from the number 4 on the clock behind Kurumi, and it swirled around the Spirit as it flowed directly into the barrel of the gun. Not only that, the clock-eye Kurumi had also finally began ticking forward for some reason…
Once both were done, Kurumi positioned the gun directly under her chin… what was she doing?
BANG!
One would think she had gone nuts and attacked herself without being under confusion… but the hand laying on the ground rolled backward and appeared to leap in the air before reattaching itself back to Kurumi's wrist… as if what just happened to it had rewinded itself!
Charizard: Raa!
Jolteon: Jol!
Pikachu: Chaa!
The Pokemon rightfully shocked, having not seen a Move like THAT before. Ash himself gasped… how did Kurumi do that?
"Well, I didn't know you knew recovery Moves." Mana said, thinking that's what it happened. To be fair that was the most logical conclusion.
"Hahaha! I'm recovering nothing in the least!" Kurumi laughed at the notion. "I'm merely turning back the clock… So… you want a Pokemon Battle? Then let the fun begin!"
"Fine. No big deal. I'll just kill you like many times before." Mana said, that while the sight of Kurumi's Angel was impressive and in fact this would be the first recorded appearance of it (and leave it to Ash to get her to reveal it), The AST soldier did not think this will make any difference. She's killed Kurumi so many times already so in her mind, how and why would this be any different?
"Hehehehehe…" Kurumi gave her giggle, but something about it just gave off a more crazy vibe that it usually does, and she also did it through her teeth while having a very creepy smile. "You don't get it, do you? Try as much as you like! Not even Arceus itself can get rid of me completely!" She declared with her eyes glowing, the notion she said sounded extremely bizarre to everyone else. Arceus itself?… She had to have completely lost it.
"Jolteon! On me! Shock Wave!" Mana said, using a barrage of laser fire towards Kurumi, not wanting to hear anymore of her nonsense.
"JOOOL-TE-OOOOOOOOOON!" Her Jolteon wasted no time following its order, using its Move when told.
All Kurumi did was smile evilly with both her mouth and eyes. She then raised her longer gun toward the 1 on her clock. "Aleph." Once again, dark energy was sucked into the gun. She positioned it in her neck this time and once again shot herself.
PEW, PEW, PEW!
ZAP!
Both attacks from the AST members went for their target… only for Kurumi to zip away instantly just before the attacks hit, shocking the group again. Did she know Teleport?
"Hehe." She reappeared next to the Eevee-lution in a wiz.
KICK!
She gave the poor Jolteon a hard kick on its side, where of course Jolteon moaned out its name in pin, but then the Dark-Type Spirit reappeared in Jolteon's flight path and shot it with a bullet of darkness at point-blank range, sending it in the other direction. The attack must have been pretty strong, as that's when Jolteon automatically returned to its Poke Ball due to AST precautions.
As you can imagine, this only pissed off Mana, and she flew at Kurumi to take revenge on her fallen partner.
"Grrrrr…" Ash wanted to try and find another solution, but clearly there was no other solution. He had to fight Kurumi… A Spirit Pokemon. "Charizard! Wing Attack! Pikachu! Quick Attack! On Kurumi!"
With a roar, Charizard's wings glowed and he took off to execute the move on Kurumi. Likewise with Pikachu, his body began glowing white before he dashed off in a burst of speed. Kurumi did not even looked concerned she was being attacked by 3 opponents at once.
3 shadows ran along the ground at each of her foes. Then Mana, Charizard, and Pikachu were all attacked by these same shadows from behind themselves, which did catch them all off guard. This only stopped Pikachu from attacking as the shadow attack knocked Pikachu off balance.
Ash has heard of this Move, but had never seen it in action until now. It was Shadow Sneak, a Ghost-Type Move. Now this wasn't too shocking as Yoshino had preformed Ice Beams and Kurumi clearly had shadow-like powers, its just that they and by extension the entire Tenju region originally thought only Spirit Pokemon could ONLY use Moves based on their additional Type. As Kurumi was classified as a Dark-Type, Tohka was a Fightning-Type, and Yoshino was an Ice-Type; many had assumed that's the only Type of Moves they could use.
It looks like just like regular Pokemon, Spirit Pokemon too can learn Moves outside of their Type.
Kurumi vanished yet again with Greninja-like speed. She popped up next to Mana, shooting in the same fashion as her Jolteon which also had the same outcome, then warped in front of Pikachu, though was leaning down at his eye level.
"Ka?!" Pikachua said his name in shock.
Kurumi: Pika-boo.
BANG!
After being shot, Pikachu rolled backwards along the floor, moaning and groaning as he took damage from her attack. She the warped away one final time, appearing directly in front of Charizard…
BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG!
Kurumi used an attack that again, had a Teleport-like effect, but struck Charizard with gunshots at 5 different angles near instantaneously. First of course was the front of the Fire/Flying-Type, then directly behind him on the top left, the bottom front right, top right, and finally bottom left. It was oddly a star-shape kind of pattern where the attacks went off.
KICK!
Kurumi finished her attack by kicking Charizard square in the back, and exactly at the centerpoint where his wings met, making the dragon-like starter lose balance himself and with a grunt-like roar, crashed to the ground.
Ash normally would have called out his Pokemons' names in worry, but something about seeing the ruthless way Kurumi was fighting them, and the crazed look in her eyes gave the impression she probably enjoyed it, he was left silent.
"He-hehehehe!" Kurumi giggled her giggle while she looked down upon her opponents while she was floating, though her laugh was at a slightly higher pitch this time. "Wow. This's kinda embarrassing. The yellow rat and orange iguana can fight on par with Legends, but not little old me? He-HE-heheheheeeeee!" She then mocked Pikachu and Charizard specifically.
Mana arose and took flight with her equipment again, flying towards Kurumi to try her luck again. His pride injured, Charizard recovered quickly, took flight himself, and immediately grew of his claws using Slash. Giving a loud roar akin to when he fought Iris' Dragonite when they first met, he then dashed toward the Dark-Type Spirit with astounding speed for one his size.
"Zayin." Kurumi said, pointing her gun towards the number 7. Like the prior usage of this technique, dark energy filled a gun upon calling out the Move, only this time both of her guns. Since Charizard and Mana were coming at her from opposite directions, once the dark power was filled into the guns, she held them both straight out and fired them at the same time.
BANG!
The bullets hit their targets literally just as they approached Kurumi, Charizard's claws and Mana's blade merely a second away from making contact. When these bullets took their effect, a void of darkness veiled over Mana and Charizard each in negative colors. They were no longer moving, but they didn't fall to the ground either.
"Charizard! Mana!" Ash called out in concern. He was shocked at what he was seeing. Kurumi said her power was 'turning back the clock' when she used her Darletto Move, but then the Aleph one appeared to Teleport her around like…
It was here Ash finally realized Kurumi's power… her REAL power. Yes, she had shadows as a power, but that appeared to also be an extension. When she (or at least the Substitute Kurumi) mentioned Celebi and Dialga… what her real power was, was time itself! Those bullets had effects based on time! Rewinding, Fast-forwarding and now Pausing! Combined with her shadow abilities, she was practically untouchable!
Kurumi just looked at the Flame Pokemon and AST soldier, appearing to admire her work…
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Then fired 4 rounds into each opponent on different locations of their defenseless bodies before leaving them suspended in midair while she floated down to the roof. After a few seconds, both Charizard and Mana fell back on the roof, the effect of 'Zayin' wearing off but both having taken unfair damage from Kurumi at the time.
Charizard and Mana groaned in pain, for as far as they knew, they suddenly got a flash of pain from out of nowhere, then fell from the sky as a result.
"Pikachu, Electro Ball!" Ash ordered quickly.
"PIKA! Pika-Pika-Pika-Pika-Pika-Pika, Chu-PI!" Pikachu, who had ample time to recover while Kurumi was busy with Charizard and Mana, built up electricity in his tail before it expanded into an orb. Then when it got large enough, he did a front flip to launch it at Kurumi.
Kurumi glanced over at the incoming attack, but didn't seem concerned by it. In fact, she willed away her pistol so her hand was free, then dark energy crackled in her empty hand. Ash recognized the attack immediately. That was Shadow Ball!
Kurumi tossed it at Pikachu, which of course collided with his own "Ball" attack and the two canceled each other out in an explosion.
"Ash!"
Hearing his name, Ash, Pikachu and Kurumi looked in the vocies direction. That was Serena, who happened to open the roof access a second after Pikachu and Kurumi attacked each other. Dawn, Origami, and the others were with them as well. In fact Braixen was out of her Poke Ball. If they decided to join the battle, then they had a better fighting chance against Kurumi.
"Oh, that's so sweet. The gangs all here." Kurumi said. Charizard and Mana began recovering from Kurumi's strange Moves.
"Braixen! Use Hidden Power!" Serena wasted no time calling an attack, to which the fox Pokemon also wasted no time in performing the Move. Waving her stick, she summoned balls of energy and launched them at the Shadowy Spirit Pokemon. Kurumi countered this with more gunshots.
"Oh my! How absolutely terrifying!" Kurumi said, the sarcasm clear by her tone. "Poor little Kurumi, being attacked from all sides by such powerful Pokemon and their Trainers! Whatever shall I do?" She continued the sarcastic rant, where it was obviously she was mocking everybody. "Its such a shame I'm all by my-selves…"
It was here she began extending her shadow below her again, and those same white arms began arising from the shadow pools all over the roof… only it wasn't just arms this time…
Everyone else and their Pokemon then gave the most surprised face you can possibly imagine. It was honestly close to horrified.
"Is that… D-Double Team?" Dawn tried to rationalize what she was seeing. What was happening was Kurumis… plural… arising from the shadow pools, looking exactly the same, and all giving off the exact same laugh.
"Not a Team per say… its Me… my past… my history… Aren't they just beautiful?" Kurumi explained vaguely. The entire group was completely surrounded on all sides, all by multiple Kurumis'! "Now do you see why I can never be captured nor ever be killed?"
Kurumi didn't direct that question to anybody in particular, but Ash now did understand it… this explained everything. How she was cut down by Mana and always returned… how she was supposedly caught, but would always escape confinement before her Poke Ball was opened again… and even explained the Kurumi that Kurumi had killed minutes ago, and possibly how she kept track of Ash himself across regions…
Shadows… they were made of shadows, but also from Kurumi's time powers. They were very similar to Substitutes in appearance and even Double Team like Dawn figured; but they were physical bodies made from Kurumi's darkness. So when Kurumi was killed… it was never the true Kurumi, the same goes for how many times she was reported to have been caught.
What those Trainers ended up "catching" were mere shadows, so by the time the Poke Balls were opened up again… they were simply empty, almost like Kurumi was never there… frankly because she never truly was…
The group was overwhelmed by sheer numbers but they did try to put up a fight. While Mana was severely weekend and could not fight back and was pinned down, Braixen did use some acrobatic moves and attacked with Flamethrower, but was eventually swarmed with nothing else she could do. Piplup unleashed a Whirlpool, which to be fair did defeat some Kurumis', only for more to restrain the little penguin. Due to his small size, this was hardly an issue.
Tohka and Yoshino did use some of their powers and Moves, but then realized the destruction they would cause if they accessed their full powers, so they held back severely. This cost them to be trapped by the Kurumi swarm.
As for Pikachu and Charizard, they were real troopers, lasting the longest from the sudden swarm. Pikachu would run around using a combo of Quick Attack and Iron Tail to either crash into or evade the Kurumis' (though any he attacked would either disappear in shadows or be knocked away). When an opportunity presented itself, he would use Thunderbolt to zap any. He would even use the Counter Shield technique a few times to keep Kurumis' and their white arms at bay.
Sadly though, one mistimed attempt at Thunderbolt in midair gave a few Kurumis' the chance they needed to restrain him.
Charizard, although you can tell he was very exhausted, flew around a bit while blasting many Kurumis' and scorching them with his powerful Flamethrower. In fact when a few Kurumis' tried shooting the heavy hitter to try and weaken him further, his firepower was more than powerful enough to disintegrate any shadow bullets they fired, showing a weakness those attacks had, but the Fire Starter would not get a chance to capitalize on it.
He would get dogpiled on a number of times, and he did break out of each one until eventually the fatigue overcame him, and he was pinned down like the others. For good measure, some shadow arms wrapped around Charizard's mouth, preventing the use of his Flamethrower again.
Any Trainers and Origami were also restrained, preventing them from reaching their Poke Balls and calling out anymore reinforcements. Ash of course was able to look around him, taking everything that happened in… was this all a mistake? Should he had just take back what he said to Kurumi? Would she have never taken things this far if he did?
"Hehehe… looks like your starting to get it now, Ashachu," Kurumi said, obviously directing that to Ash, as well as making yet another reference. "Its sad to end our time like this, and I'll be the first to admit it was fun while it lasted. But just being cute and a great Trainer isn't enough to seduce me…"
With that last taunt, she lifted her arm straight up…
~WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!~
"No! Kurumi, please!" Ash begged in a cracked voice, his eyes widened at the maximum due to the amount of horror he felt. She was setting off a Space Quake like her clone did before, only this time there was no way to talk her out of it!
"He-HE-HEHE! Your all gonna be surrounded by so much destruction, the LAST thing ANY of you want to save, is the Worst Nightmare POKEMON!" Kurumi said.
That's gonna be it for this experimental chapter. Now I can already tell a few of you in the back who are probably Charizard fans might complain how I made Kurumi overpower him. To be honest, as a huge Charizard fan myself, it wasn't an easy decision to make even after I did all the power scaling.
When it comes to raw power, Charizard would win in a head-to-head match with Kurumi, there is no question. However when it comes to skill set, Kurumi has lots of ways to keep the opponent on their toes. Keep in mind, this is merely practice, so perhaps when I write the full fanfiction the outcome here may be changed.
Now I turn the page to you, was there anything different I could've done? maybe added more to the battle? There are no wrong answers. Let me know in the comments, this includes any Moves you've spotted Kurumi using. In addition, the spirit data in chapters 1 and 3 have all been updated to better reflect the power scaling, so you may want to check that out.
Thank you all for checking out what the story could possibly amount to, and I'll see you in the next one!