Guardian Solaris
Ages:
Ash-17
Max- 13
May- 15
Dawn- 13
Serena – 10
Review Replies: Well positive responses to the chapter. Nice to see how people liked the chapter, Time to bring in some continuation (hopefully, if I can), and to keep some things in mystery. Lucifer, there are a few points that I put into every chapter that either foreshadow, or reflect upon past event, it's all there, one just has to look. And remember my chapter may have been big, but there are always others with bigger chapters. Something I'm striving for, (bigger/better chapters) always (and will never reach) but if I recall your first fics were very nicely done, nothing to be sad about. Quality over Quantity, and you got the quality sorted better than me by far.
--
Chapter 23- Arrogance isn't Wisdom
There it was. Ash and May gradually began to lose a sense of their surroundings, due to the great expanse of time that they had lingered in the dark forest. They stopped all urges to gaze upon the disheartening sights that had once grown all around of them, as the view of the winding trees, and the tainted skies became the last notion within the confines of their minds.
The only aroma that existed wasn't one of rot, as one would expect within such a place. The Forests enchantment stretched onto further planes that life dwelled upon. The microorganisms that fed upon the deceased hulks of mass that remained in the wood, found no secure area to feed. They like all other sentient life forms that existed upon the face of the planet found themselves repelled from this particular area. Consequently it remained in a state of limbo, not moving forward to rot and therefore recycle the lifeless shells, adding onto the cycle of life.
Life?
Not giving the horrid smell that any form of organic matter would give. In contrast the only scent that filled through the two teenagers was the light mist that gradually grew around of them as their predetermined destination, stood tall in front of them.
They stood upon the side of the forest as it seemed to stop in an instant. Making its way to reveal the bare earth, once more devoid of any forms of life. In the centre of the clearing it stood. A great building, towering its way into the sky.
Their Pokémon had been returned to their Pokéballs as the dissipation of the Forest around of the structure did not require for them to remain out, exposed to the great danger that was an evident peril to any form of life in the vicinity.
Its design was not exactly attractive. On the contrary, it was a bleak and depressing site to look upon. Its four rising walls were made out of rubble. The grey walls grew upwards, as it seemed that it would crumble at any moment, without any form of conventional man made design apart from the square shape of the perimeter, that was not generally found within nature. Its relatively weak potency to remain upright was strengthened by four enormous tree trunks upon each corner, acting like a form of scaffolding. The tree trunks had managed to not rot, in accordance with the rest of the forest. The wood wasn't expertly engraved, or decorated. It was there out of necessity, otherwise my construction; no matter how dismal would crumble to the ground. That was something I couldn't let happen.
It had to hold in its prisoner, that traitor should not have been allowed to be released. My unsuccessful attempt, no matter how long it had stood was disgraceful.
Something that would soon be rectified, after all, my ineffective endeavour at manufacturing a prison, would soon be that which would fabricate one of my greatest strengths. Yet no matter how fruitless it was in effecting its duty, it was brilliant. The Tower, the Town, the Forest, the Dead, the Living. All were walls for him. Like the valley and the gates were for that fool Leo. My inventive use of resources in order to create some of the greatest walls, made out of stone, and wood, and Life, and Death. Making sure that it wouldn't crumble away with time.
But it would, wouldn't it. After all, he was there, that boy. That boy with that Dragon, with that symbol of chaos. One of the few voices that the void had incarnated itself in. That Dragon. Nevertheless, I was drawing closer, and the boy who dared to interfere in my agenda, would have had to pay the price. Yet the traitors head could be seen from the flat roof of my structure. His mouth muzzled like a Houndoom. The great irony, to be trapped like the very thing that you despise. It's beautiful.
Yet all of this time he looked onto the tower, as he began to realise the structure that stood in front of him.
"I remember this place" He muttered.
"Where?" His accomplice asked, taking advantage from the heightened senses that came in conjunction with a lack of action for a certain period of time.
"Well, not here, here. You know?"
"No" she replied honestly.
"Well you know that other tower? The one closer to the city? Well Agatha made that one for training." He recalled the last time when he was at Lavender town. The last time he had made his way into a haunted tower, and befriended a pair of ghost Pokémon. "That tower was like a second version"
"It was supposed to be like somewhere to train, because the original tower was" he paused, recalling what he had heard, "Deadly"
"Right, so that means that we shouldn't go in." She said taking in all that Ash had told her.
"No" he replied as a split reaction.
"Why?" she questioned him in return.
"Well" he pondered, not exactly knowing what had triggered his action.
"You don't know?" she asked, wearily sensing the supernatural at work once more.
"Well" Ash thought, "No" and in all honesty in my part, he didn't know after all he was a human, a pawn in this game that my prisoner has attempted to resume playing. How would he know, the signs have been scared upon the universe for what seems to be an eternity, on the top of every mountain, and written upon all of the walls of every city, and in the Iris of each Eye. Yet this ignorant species still haven't been able to discover the truth. How imprudent and wretched could a species become? Yet, humanity is so integral to my story, but that's a thought for later.
Slowly he began to feel it, as he continued to look upon the tower. Like a claw, finding its way through the shadows. Gradually clutching him in its grasp, the ears of the boy, opening his ears to the whispers that made their way through the mist.
Calling, 'come to me, I need you' in a tone that did not fit the callous attitude of its owner. Ash felt his heart gradually quicken its pace as the lure slowly wrapped itself around the boy. He was so close, freedom was near, he could almost taste it. This boy had to comply with his duties as a pawn. At least that's what he thought. Not Ash, the other.
Ash glanced towards the dark tower as he began to take steps forward, being drawn by the arm that had guided him all this way through the forest. In more ways than one.
"Ash" May called snapping the trainer out of his trance.
"Yeah?" He asked casually forgetting all about the voice, that remained. Whispering, 'come, do not waste time'
"Well Ash. Are you sure that we should go in. It's not really stable" she said taking note of the ancient structure.
"I guess" he said listening to the advice of his friend.
'No'
"But"
'Pikachu'
"Pikachu could be in there"
"You sure?" May asked sceptically. Sensing danger emanating from inside of the structure.
"Well"
'Yes'
"Yes, it's the biggest thing here; you'd rather be in there than in the forest. Right?" he said
"I'd rather be out here any day" she said.
'Hurry'
"But we gotta go inside" Ash said resolutely.
"Why" May asked continuing to sense danger from the tower.
'Hurry UP'
"May" Ash said in a tone that he hadn't used on May, in what seemed to be an eternity. "If Pikachus in there, we have to go in."
"But Ash?"
'What'
"WHAT" Ash snapped echoing the voice inside of his mind.
"Ash?" May asked seeing Ash becoming tense, until that snap had forced the young girl to inquire.
"Sorry, don't know what happened" The trainer replied gaining control of his senses. For a brief moment.
'Hurry'
"But we gotta go in." Ash said once again falling into the subliminal lure that came from the tower.
'Pikachu, needs you'
"Pikachu's in there" he said once more adamant to maintain his own stance.
"How do you know?" May asked
"I don't" he admitted, not yet realising the grip that the tower had grown upon him, especially from such a short distance.
'Leave her'
"May, if you don't wanna go it's fine. I'll go and come back as fast as possible." Ash said as he took a step forward
"Wait, I'll come" she replied, "After all, someone has to take care of you"
'Why are you so adamant to taking to her? Hurry!'
'Freedom will be mine'
"Alright then" he said taking another step forward to the tower.
"Wait?" May said as the trainer turned his head around to talk to her once more.
'What Now?'
"What's going on May?"
"Someone's there" she said listening closely to something.
'WHAT'
"What?"
"Listen" she said as the sound of slashing and the echo of organic substance being cut down became more and more clear. "It's the others" she said with realisation, as their general chatter could be heard growing nearer and nearer.
'This is not a time for distractions'
"Right" Ash replied unsurely, feeling torn between the mental voice, and the help that his friends could provide.
"Here!" May shouted shattering the ominous silence that the forest provided. The slashing was silenced for a brief second, "Its May!" she called once more, as the noises resumed at a faster pace, growing louder and louder as the other group made their way through the heavily wooded area.
'Leave Them'
"May" Ash said unsurely.
"Wait a sec Ash" she said, shouting towards the other group "It's us!"
"May, Ash!" Someone from the other group called out.
'Time is of the essence'
"We're fine!" she shouted in return.
'They will only hinder my efforts'
"We're nearly there!" the person shouted in return, as Ash could hear their voices grow even louder as the space in between began to close.
'You must come'
"May" Ash said in a whisper as the foreign thoughts continued to fire at his mind.
'NOW'
"I gotta go" He muttered as he turned his back to her and began running towards the Tower, devoid of any of his own individual judgment taking command of his limbs. Looking on like a bystander, whilst the voice grappled for control of his consciousness. Fighting Tooth and Claw, and Winning.
Ash ran feeling, breathing, yet not thinking. He took step after step in succession as he saw the great tower grow closer and closer.
"Ash" May whispered, hearing a rapid flurry of steps from behind of her. She turned around, no longer answering to the calls from the other group. "ASH" she called out to the trainer seeing him run away.
She saw him as he reached a bulky wooden door. Held upright with thick metal bars. Ash launched his leg into the door, shattering the wood that had been weakened by the damp originating from the mist that continuously lingered around of the tower.
The metal braces that held the door up collapsed onto the ground.
'Continue'
Ash ran into the tower, complying with the wishes of the voice as Mays call for him to stop remained unanswered. "Ash!" she called out once more causing the advance of the other group to grow out of anxiety for Ash's wellbeing.
"Ash!" she called once more as he vanished into the dark shadows of the tower. She continued to look allowing thought to vanish as she began to chase after him, wading through the fog knowing that there was something else going on. Seeing that something was amiss with Ash.
"May!" someone called out for her, as the co-ordinator stopped and turned around, to see a familiar figure through the haze. "May" he called out once more as she turned her head around, in order to see the other person who was calling out to her.
"Max?" she said, stopping in her tracks, as Max, Serena, and Dawn also began to run towards May slicing through the fog in their dash, having returned their Pokémon back into their Pokéballs.
"May" Max called out to his sister as he saw her figure in front of him, regardless of the large ominous tower that watched down behind of her.
"Guys" the Co-ordinator said in relief seeing her little brother and the others safe, not remembering the other two that were once journeying with the party. Max ran faster than the two girls alongside him as his sister waited in the mist. She held her arms out wide ready for how Max would hug her, like he used to. The boys' mind which until now had doubted that May would come out of this in one piece, blew a sigh of relief. The Trainer stopped two meters away from his sister, not hugging her as he would have done when he was younger. But maintaining that distance in between the two of them.
"Are you alright May?" he asked his elder sibling, as she let her arms drop back down.
"Yeah, I'm fine, but"
"Where's Ash!" Serena called out.
"Yeah" Dawn continued
"Ash." May said turning to the large tower. But before she could say another word, Serena along with Dawn had already moved out in a hurry to the dark doorway that led into the ancient tower. Soon enough May and Max also found themselves running into the dark entrance.
Searching for the friend that they had lost.
Found.
Now lost once more.
--
The boy who the four chased made his way through the darkness of the tower, after entering through the door. Cramped, as a description of the space inside of it, was an understatement.
He ran with the strong earthy scent running through his nose, as the invisible claw took control of his liberty. The sharp scent of the stones that encompassed the perimeter took up the light that would have brightened the dark tower, but the vision of the trainer was still intact, no matter how much of the natural dingy light from outside was blocked from the inside of the tower. Small slits, across the walls, like those found in medieval castles, to prevent even the smallest of people to enter or exit, in coalition with the tiny holes in the structure allowed small streams of grey dingy light to penetrate the heart of the tower.
Ash looked around as the grey light that filtered through the clouds barely illuminated the internal area of the tower. There were no stairs of which to speak of, no ceiling, that showed that there were floors in the tower. Just the roof that was invisible to the trainer, the beams of scattered light reviled that there was no way to go higher, as there was no sign of stairs of any sort.
He looked around.
'Nearly there'
The light that filtered through lay upon a column in the centre of the room. It took up the majority of the area inside of the tower forming the cramped atmosphere, the column was by no way consistent in its outline, bulging in and out, in comparison to maintaining a straight form. Although there wasn't enough light to clearly define what it was.
He looked as he heard footsteps of others growing closer into the tower. The air began to gradually turn chilly, as Ash began to slowly notice many things around of his environment. Gradually feeling the air grow colder, with even the slightest movement of his muscles.
'Pikachu?' He continued to think of his friend. As the foreign thoughts that once grabbed onto his mind let loose of its grip.
For a moment.
"Where are you?" he muttered as the slight hope that the other voice had put into the trainers mind to increase its grip vanished just like Pikachu did once Ash and May were attacked by the crystal being.
He began to take notice of his surroundings, heightening his senses, searching inside of the darkest corners. Wondering where his friend was, like the voice had promised.
Seeing the individual pieces of dust floating in the air, viewable only from the small streams of light that existed inside of the tower.
He looked, seeing the stone walls, the darkness with slight and shallow beams of light like stars within the darkness of the universe, a pair of eyes, the rest of the rocks.
'What?' The trainer thought, as he turned to the eyes, only to feel a force strike him as everything became cold.
"Ash" he heard.
"Ash!" he heard someone cry out for him, as even the low amount of light within the tower disappeared in the blink of an eye.
He could feel it getting harder and harder to breath, as all breath vanished out of existence.
Ash felt things getting colder, no light at the end of the tunnel. Just the emptiness, the void. Waiting there for him. Ash felt his spirit slowly fading out of existence, slowly ebbing away into nothingness. But it then stopped.
Gradually, the dark, the emptiness. It slowly grew into a sensation inside of the trainers' body.
The cold. Took hold from the crown of his head to the inside of his chest. At a temperature lower than that which ice is formed at, that one point where there is no form of energy whatsoever within an atom.
The cold shocked the trainer as he opened his eyes, only to have them remain close. He tried to scream, but nothing came out of his mouth.
The cold ebbed away in an instant as he felt an arm grab him out of the chill, wrapping round of his soul once more, as the cold dissipated into nothingness.
Then it all seemed to stop.
Nothing was there. Absolutely nothing. Apart from the claw that wrapped itself around of the trainers soul. That claw, holding on. Keeping Ash conscious. But other than it, there was nothing.
Absolution, absolution from the burden of life. The burdens of your friends, and family. To take off the weight of the world. Ash felt it leaving, the feeling that some may believe that would cause babies cry once they are born.
The weight of the world, the chaos that flows in and out of it with every waking moment.
It just...
Went away.
And with the release from these great burdens Ash opened his eyes, to find himself rushing. Not knowing where he was heading to, only knowing that he was heading somewhere.
Beams of light scattered throughout the great darkness made their way closer to the trainer and passed him with great speeds. Still he felt no gravity as he continued to ascend. No wind, just the nothingness.
Ash continued to look to where he was going as the beams of light dissipated behind of him. Only the darkness at the end began to grow. Ash didn't have the ability to panic, to try and stop, or even the capability to question why. The claw continued to hold onto him.
It kept coming, kept growing; as the hold that the other had, grew in turn.
Then, all lights had past, as only darkness remained, yet Ash still had no form of doubt, no question as to his current situation. He just watched on as the events transpired.
Then from the dark expanse, it came, as the great grey clouds above of him came into view, and Ash came to an immediate stop without any feeling coming into the trainer from the sudden stop that he had just made.
He looked around as the claw vanished into nothingness, allowing the ability of sentient thought to bloom inside of the boy.
The floor that was underneath of him was made out of jagged rocks. There was a light mist everywhere. Yet he felt neither, the pain that the rocks would create upon his feet, or the sensation of water particles condensing upon his skin.
The sky was grey everywhere.
Then he noticed, as he murmured, "That ain't right" He realised, that he was on the roof of the tower.
"What happened?" he asked to himself, taking into questioning all that had just happened. Seeing everything just rush past his eyes. Recalling that the last thing was how he was standing besides May.
Regaining his ability to think as the grappling claw had dissipated.
'Enough, Come to me'
A voice came into the trainers head, echoing inside of it.
He turned around in search of the voices source, and he found what appeared to be a stone pillar.
Rising out of the roof that managed to maintain its might after all this time. A stone structure not made out of the same material as the rubble. This seemed to be more expertly carved, to the boy at least. He continued to look upon it as he walked towards it, maintaining his gaze. He began to see that it shared resemblances with other things he had seen.
The face of a handful of Pokémon. The pillar looked like the snouts Lucario, and Houndoom had. Ash began to unravel other Pokémon that this one structure had been based off of.
Without the strength of mind in order to see who was based on who.
The human was only a meter away. Only a meter, after so long.
'I see that you have taken your time' the voice boomed once more.
"What" Ash said.
'What do you think? Human incompetence never ceases to amaze me. Or is that just you?'
"What are you talking about. Who are you?" Ash asked.
'I'm right in front of you. The stone.'
"oh" Ash sighed in realisation, not really all that fazed by the strangeness of the situation.
'I am the one.'
"The one?" Ash spoke remembering Leos words, "I thought I was the One"
'NO'
"Huh?" Ash said not knowing what the other voice was talking about. Recalling the last thing in his memory as May.
'Incompetent Fool. My patience was drained far too long ago. Do not dare to pester me with your inferior perspicacity, and incredibly dry sense of humour. I have no room for it. If I want, I can crush you. I may be held behind this prison of Stone, but you are feeble, and even now rely on me for survival. Of your Past, Present, and Future. So choose your words carefully'
"Sorry" Ash said, not knowing any other way to reply to the voices threat.
'good. Now I can begin. My name is Marcus' The voice told Ash as a telepathic message.
"Marcus?" Ash said, quickly recalling the man in his dream.
'Took you long enough' its voice seemed to be agitated.
"So, I have to."Ash pondered, slowly recalling all that had just happened recently. "Free you." He said, 'Then you'll show me Pikachu' he thought, not blurting out his own needs, speculating that he may offend the being if he did voice his own wants in front of the beings needs.
'Yes, I have waited for so long. Days and Nights. Now you are here. Do you recall my brother Leo?' It asked.
"Yes" he answered, not having been able to make the links between the three if he was told straight to his face.
The brother of the friendly giant, the kind man inside of his mind. This was it, the two put into an actual physical being created this individual. This cruel and subjective being, 'well' he thought. The links were like the outlandish theories by a few that he had met saying how Ho-Oh and Mew were one and the same.
'To liberate me, and obtain what you are searching for. Use the power that has fallen into your lap. Boy, I suggest that you make haste. I have waited so long, and you do not know how agonising it has been'
"So what do I do?" The trainer replied in his voice that suited the dark person that he was in the view of the public. Another duty had been put on top of him, and he had to be strong for it. For Pikachu.
'Stop. Just cease. Before I tell you. You are Not exceptional. You are LUCKY. To have the emblem of Anarchy within your arsenal, the power shoved straight into your lap. Consider yourself for what you are. Your gloom doesn't phase me, I have witnessed great horrors before my eyes, so don't deem yourself to be something Big. I've witnessed your psyche, and have controlled your body. I've even killed you Boy. Get over yourself'
"Killed me?" he said, as every shred of existence around of him began to gradually become distant, and empty.
'What do you think you are right now? Incompetent Human. The rocks don't touch your feet; the spikes upon the stones don't pierce your skin. You can't feel the wind or the cold upon yourself' Then nothing seemed to matter. Ash had his eyes wide agape as his non- existent knees collapsed upon the jagged rocks, as the jagged edges just passed through him.
Ash looked towards his hands, as he bought them in front of his face. The view of the rubble underneath of them, appearing as if a slightly tinted window had appeared in front of the dingy grey stones.
"No" he murmured.
'What?'
"No, no, no" He said in a more panicked tone.
'Yeah, you said no'
"NO, This. I can't. NO NO NO." He roared
'oh Shut up, fool'
"HOW." He bellowed. "I'm DEAD,
You killed me.
What do I.
How do I,
and.
But,
NO
NO
NO." He said in alarm.
'Enough Drama' The voice called, as Ash found that he couldn't talk anymore. His mouth was sealed shut, he continued to try and repeat the alarmed half- sentences that humans naturally voice out. Only finding that nothing continued to make its way out of his translucent mouth.
Ash looked up to the stone that appeared as the only solid piece of rock in the whole tower. Two points upon it gleamed a bright but unnoticeable pale green. Not as intense as the Emerald crystals, but menacing nevertheless.
Ash just stood, with his internal panic attack becoming replaced by a great sense of terror.
'Now' The voice spoke breaking the deadly silence.
'If you would have just contained your pitiable animal instincts, I would have explained things to you. Audacious Monkey' It spoke calmly in a tone which contradicted Ash's state of alarm.
Ash thought 'Animal?' the trainer began to wonder. What was it? That word, he had heard it before.
Hadn't he?
'You can easily re enter your worthless meat sac, at the moment I am finished' It continued to speak.
'Monkey?' Ash continued to think, where he had heard of these names before.
'So use the Strength of the Chaos, and complete your portion of the agreement, and I shall complete mine.'
Ash looked back up towards the eyes of the statue, or at least they seemed like eyes.
'Now I ask, will you hold up your end of the bargain?'
"Of Course" Ash stated, still wondering where those words had found their way into his mind.
'Then I suggest that you disappear' It said, as nothing else of importance appeared to happen. To any mortal viewer of these events, nothing happened. After all. The traitor spoke using telekinesis, and the boy is a mere spirit.
But to Ash a lot had happened, and a lot was still happening. He felt a rush. Something, a force.
Foreign yet familiar, pushing him, like a hand would.
He felt his essence pushed down, as the statue, the rubble that lined the roof of the tower, and the dingy sky vanished.
'Gengar' The statue ordered, as Ash vanished underneath of the rooftop.
A purple Pokémon rose from the rubble, with its menacing face looking straight towards the green eyes.
'Well done' It acknowledged for a moment as the Ghost type did not dare to raise its head to its master, knowing that the consequences could be brutal.
'You killed him as you have been ordered.' The conspirator thought rallying his opinion to the Ghost type Pokémon.
'and That pitiable pair. They've been destroyed?
It serves them right, For all their ability, they were idiotic, now I don't have to worry about that Marowak, and Mineral anymore they were unsuccessful, and merit what is to come to them. Now my loyal disciple, assure that that meat bag complies with our agreement. I have no assurance with Humans. They are even more treacherous than the tainted species that have infested this rock.' The voice spoke as Gengar disappeared into the tower, ready to follow Ash.
'Freedom.' He began to talk to himself, if his telekinesis is even considered actual speech.
'My name is Marcus.
And soon, my Master.' He believed with wishful thoughts.
'I will meet you face to face. And I WILL not meet the same fate as my dim-witted Brother.
The Day of the Wolf is pending.
My Day'
The fool thought. Oh, how mistaken he was.
--
Ash came through the beams of light as they passed through his immortal spirit as if it didn't exist. The grey light and darkness seemed to provide a greater sense of alarm towards the trainer as the claw that pushed him didn't entangle his consciousness, like the claw that pulled him in had.
Flying.
Falling.
Ash made his way down as the claw continued to push him. Pushing him to complete the terms of his agreement with the traitor.
Gradually, feeling his freefall slowing down, as he viewed the barely visible ground beneath of his feet.
Hearing others weeping.
Why were they weeping?
Ash put his toes down as they strived for the ground, regardless of the fact that he couldn't feel its cold touch. Slowly the claw let go of its grasp, letting the fragile, yet potent soul slip through its fingers, as Ash found himself standing, fully aware of his surroundings, regardless of the low amount of light.
Weeping.
He felt it, cutting through him like butter. As if he was more exposed to outside influences than he had ever been before. No body or skin to defend him.
Sad.
He turned to his left, seeing figures illuminated by a flashlight, inside of the dimly lit tower. As the flashlight ripped through the darkness figures gradually made their presence known to the trainer as he took steps towards the silhouettes. All standing, in a melancholy silence. Ash could feel it. The Chaos.
He saw them all surrounding one figure that lay upon the floor, as Ash slowly walked over to them. He looked to their illuminated faces, recognising them in an instant as their faces bought happiness into his core.
"Dawn!" he exclaimed happy to see a familiar face, after everything that had just happened; only to find his yell of joy go upon deaf ears.
"Huh?" he queried to himself, looking towards the other faces that surrounded the one body. They were all there. May, Max, Serena.
Yet they were all sad.
Just sad.
Ash wondered why, for a brief moment, until reality came in front of his face once more. He turned towards the figure that lay upon the ground as realisation struck through him. "Oh" he whispered, as he looked upon himself.
His pale skin, his shut eyes. Just laying there.
"Don't worry" one person said. As Ash continued to look to his mortal body.
Feeling nothing. Just, alone in this dark tower, put up in this dark forest, filled up with deadly spirits. Built nearby a suspicious town, unwilling to accept the outside world with open arms.
He was alone. Not even Serena who had kept him from so much darkness could see him.
Just looking.
"Don't worry" the voice came, as the trainer turned his face away from the deceased, and to his living friends.
It was Serena, the one who had helped him when the rest of his friends had vanished. Despite her young age, her innocence was refreshing to the dark trainer. Keeping him, from the point of no return.
"What happened" another said. Whom Ash immediately recognised as his dear friend May.
"I died" Ash said immediately recalling his prior conversation.
Serena moved over to May who was sitting down, not taking her gaze off of Ash's body.
"Don't worry" Serena reassured May. Despite the age difference.
"How" Dawn added in, standing, yet also maintaining her view onto Ash. "He's gone. We can't bring him back even if we tried"
"Don't worry" Serena added, reassuring Dawn as well as May. "It's not all that bad"
"Yeah" Dawn said, as Max who stood silently with his arms folded took his eyes over t the co-ordinator, "At least we got to see him." She said with a sigh, trying to look on the bright side of things.
"No. Just watch" Serena consoled knowing that there was something bigger at work here. Recalling how everything had been guided to this moment, and this wouldn't stop the events that had already been set in motion.
"What?" May asked, "What's gonna happen?" she scrutinised, seeing what was in front of her, despite of Serena's efforts to help.
"I'll show you" Ash muttered, knowing that he wouldn't disappoint Serena. Even his lifeless body hadn't stopped how she trusted him.
He looked to his cold face as he moved his translucent hand towards it.
Recalling how Marcus had said of how his body would be waiting for him to re enter. Remembering the path that Leo had put him on, and knowing that he had to find Pikachu.
He felt his hand being pulled, as it moved closer and closer towards the pale face. Recalling the previous time that he had come to Lavender town, and had his soul ripped apart from his body.
Déjà vu?
He felt himself pulled as he began to feel the emptiness slip away. Replaced by another feeling. Slowly the figure of his spirit changed in shape as the trainer began to feel warmer.
Eventually the spirit was no longer separate from its physical counterpart.
His heart began to beat, as Ash felt a shock enter his system. Allowing him to be reacquainted with Pain once more.
His heart worked harder and harder as it sensed all areas of the body had been completely shut down.
His muscles contracted, as electrical signals from the brain, forced all of the trainers' limbs to reactivate. His cheeks became warm as the cold was washed away with the flow of new blood. His mind was the prime portion of the body that managed to find itself warm from the newly pumped blood once more.
Ash could feel nothing as his mind restarted, bringing up all portions, as a flurry of thought rushed in front of the trainer. Not allowing him to realise what to do.
His lungs, took in a new gasp of air as it quickly oxygenised his circulatory system. Refreshing the blood to allow his food to burn. All of Ash's friends looked on as his back arched up, in conjunction with his large gasps for air. Breathing in great panic, not ready to return into Deaths door.
Next was his ears as they reactivated, the sound of blood took over all other senses within the boys revitalised mind. Pounding, its continuous drum beat, as the Deafening sound filled the space of Ash's mind.
His fingers curled, backwards, to their limits, as his muscles stretched. Moving, waking up from their blue sleep. Yawning for a newly awakened body.
But all he heard was the continuous beating of blood within his mind and body. All he could hear was the beating of his blood. Pulsing, reviving, rejuvenating his body, as he opened his mouth.
Screamed, as his muscles pounded with the red life that had been returned into them. Ash felt someone grab him. An action which led to the contrary of what that individual had aimed for. Ensuring that Ash didn't have sufficient room in order to revitalise his body.
That person said something in alarm, and Ash sensed it, although it did not register. Just the throbbing beat of life, burning in his ears, as the shock ignited his body. The continuous Drumbeat of life echoing within his ears, as his body woke up once more.
Throbbing, as that persons close proximity, forced the body to take drastic actions.
The hart inside of him raced to greater length, in order to bring consciousness into his once lifeless body. Not ready to walk through Deaths door.
No.
"AAARRRGGGHHH" He roared, as his muscles tensed, near to ripping themselves to shreds. The throbbing growing and growing. The everlasting drumbeat of life. As Ash sat upright, through no deliberate conscious thought,
Still hearing the rapidly drumming heart inside of him, as he opened his eyes.
Seeing nothing. Just light and dark. Undefined, a mixture of the two polar opposites seemed as one and the same in his revitalised eyes. Slowly focusing.
Gradually defining individual shapes. Streaks of light, lying lazily, unfazed by the recent flurry of action inside of the tower.
A face.
These shapes, slowly forming, as the face grew to have hair, and the light chose not to mix with the shadow any more.
The hair becoming brown.
The heart slowing down.
The symphony of drums relaxing from their climax.
Calming down, as the muscles, mind, and heart grew accustomed to the rhythm of life once more. Returning to their natural flow and harmony with one another, as the beating sound within Ash's ears relaxed gradually.
"Ash are you alright?" someone's faint voice came into the ears of the trainer, as the beat in his ears gradually descended. He began to take in heavy breaths for air, as his body gradually slowed down from its resurrection. He sat upright, as the initial shock gradually wore off.
Breathing in order to rejuvenate the oxygen within his circulatory system.
Slowly focusing his eye sight, as it adjusted to the unusual light within the tower. Not at once knowing how many times he had been in the same circumstance this day.
"Urrr" he groaned as he moved his hands to his forehead. Holding it, as the pounding dissipated. Ash could feel the sweat on his skin.
He could feel. The air, the cold, and the warmth.
"Ash" the comforting voice came from his side. From the person who was holding him. Interfering with his resurrection, regardless of her best intensions.
"May" he said as the sound of his heart subsided completely, and in unison his eyesight focused.
"Yeah Ash" she said with relief in her voice, as Ash turned to his side, looking at her relived face. As well as the shocked expressions that Dawn and Max had. Whilst smiling towards the smug face that Serena had upon herself.
He just stayed there, breathing, as his hearts rhythm, dissipated. Not to be heard of with the same ferocity that it had previously. He just lay, whilst May remained besides him. Waiting as everybody took in the actions that had just happened. Regardless of the numerous moments in which the subject had been put through a form of rebirth.
"May?" Ash asked, whilst she continued to hold him at the side, recalling the last instance something like this had happened; not too long ago. Although previously he wasn't as far as a fatality.
"Ash?" she said in return, carrying a calm voice.
"You can let go now. I'm fine" he said, noticing the expressions that the others had gradually grown, concerning how close the two were.
"Oh" she said in a somewhat crestfallen manner. As she let go of the trainer, who was ready for, 'More questions. Just great.'
"What happened?" Dawn asked with curiosity, and slight surprise, "Ash. I thought. We thought"
"Well, I'm alright" the trainer said, putting to rest all of the fears that may have remained within his friends, with the exception of Serena.
"Besides, you gave up on me." He said accusingly, feeling his body return to its natural flow; getting over his recent revival.
"How" Dawn replied a bit hurt.
"Serena was the only one who really believed in me." He said looking towards his white haired friend whose smug expression for some peculiar reason had vanished.
"Sorry Ash" Dawn said, as she looked to the ground. Realising that unlike Serena she didn't have trust in Ash. "It's just that, you were. It's just that" the Sinnoh native muttered, unable to reply towards his slight irritation.
"It's alright" Ash conceded without a second thought. After all, the events had transpired so fast, and were continuing to move on.
"Thanks" Dawn said, "It's just that." The Sinnoh native chose wondering whether to continue.
"It's a bit complicated" he sighed, as his primary objective made its way to be completed.
"Ash" Max asked, breaking his constant silence.
"Yeah?" he replied, as he continued to sit up.
"Where are we?" the younger trainer asked.
"Well" Ash said recalling old memories, "Lavender tower"
"How?" Max asked, "I thought that was that place with the friendly Pokémon, with a path."
"Yes and no. This is the original tower"
"Original?" Max queried
"Well" Serena interjected into the conversation, "This was built ages ago. And that wasn't" she put it in simple terms.
"Meaning?" Max queried once more. Wishing to know more detail concerning his current situation.
"Well" Ash sighed ready to teach a little history lesson. "This Tower has been here for who knows how long. But when, Agatha became a member of the Elite four. She chose to use this Tower as a place to train, like Elites do. But the locals didn't like it. Even then she tried but had no way of reaching the tower, always falling short of it. Seeing as how powerful the ghosts in the forest were. Even for an Elite."
"So she built the tower that we all know about, the one closer to the city. Things went well for a while. Then something got her to abandon the place. After that it was used as a Pokémon graveyard, but that was a bad decision. You know, Ghosts. But something happened with Team Rocket and a person in the town called Mr Fuji. It was abandoned. Until I came, and had a chandelier dropped on me.
This is like the Extreme version of that tower" He sighed after his lengthy speech.
"Alright" Max said, satisfied. Realising how the disputed and speculated tower that Agatha had created, was an echo of the original that he stood in. Altogether allowing him to wonder if those were the dangers in that tower, what dangers did this tower contain?
But Ash already knew.
The Raven haired trainer stood up, as May rushed in to assist him, knowing that he would probably be drained of his energy, although he managed to stand upright without much if any assistance. Kindly rejecting the assistance that May had offered him.
He looked around as the flash light that remained on, illuminated a small portion of the dark expanse. In the distance the grey rays continued to go through. Laying in front of Gengars two menacing Eyes.
'Eyes?' Ash recalled seeing them before he was attacked. They vanished, but the trainer had a clear idea of his primary objective. Lifting the torch Ash shone it around the stone structures interior.
"What you looking for" Serena asked with curiosity, regardless of the fact that Ash would have probably told everything to her later on.
"This" he said as he pointed his flashlight over towards the large stone pillar that lay in the centre of the room. The group looked at it as they noticed its uneven texture.
Ash tilted the flashlight upwards and saw that the pillar continued to stretch to the roof. Pointing the light back to eye level Ash took a few steps forward so that there was barely any distance in between him and the pillar. In turn the others also moved forward besides Ash.
"What's that Ash" May asked the question that was on the lips of everybody.
"Fur" He replied, as he looked at the hair like texture of the column.
"how" May asked. Knowing that she was getting closer to the secret that Ash had been hiding.
"I don't know" He sighed, placing his hand upon the fur. Feeling it as cold and solid as Stone. Grey in colour like the rubble that the building was made out of.
"Ash" Serena said, as Ash turned to her, "Don't tell me" she sighed, recalling what he had told her of his last encounter with a trapped creature.
"Aright then" he said, turning back to the stone, "I won't tell you"
"Tell you what" Dawn asked, sensing the great danger that Max and May also sensed.
"Tell you later" He said, smirking out of nervousness. Although this did close to nothing in order to calm down Mays nerves.
"Ash, you're not gonna freak out again?" she asked wondering if another invasive force had made its way into the trainer.
"Not yet" he said, rummaging for a Pokéball within his pocket. Grasping it tightly, and taking it out. "Here it is" Ash said holding the pitch black Pokéball as he felt something pulsing inside of it.
Repeating his orders within his mind, 'the Strength of the Chaos'
He held the Pokéball up. The greatest power, with the capability of rivalling mine with millennia of training. After all. The universe is merely a speck of Order within the void of Chaos. The Universe. Matter and energy working in harmony
Chaos, with the capability of devastating that harmony. Even now, Black holes envelop the universe in chaos. Radiation dissipating every form of matter.
Chaos with the power to annihilate anything, as I know all too well. To crush the order of a living being, or a Ghost, a curse or even a Planet.
He held up that power.
Slowly he felt pain surge through him. He felt power encompass him.
He saw the ball create links with the stone in front of it, as the streams of energy drew the sphere closer towards the statue. Attracting to each other like magnets.
He heard a cry. Ash heard the dragon cry out in agony, as the young creature used some of its greater strength. He heard a Roar, as the power crazed Dragon felt Power first hand. Flow through him like a conductor, as my curse dissipated.
The grey stone became enveloped by a pitch black oil like substance, as it grew along the stone, encapsulating it at each point.
The tower that had held itself upright for all this time began to shake, as the rubble did what debris naturally does, and crumbled.
Ash held on, as everything appeared to shake. Keeping his grasp onto his Dragons Pokéball. Keeping his hands around the sphere, knowing that to let go was not an option in any sense.
But the force grew stronger and Stronger, as he arms felt as if they would rip apart if he didn't let go. Ash suddenly felt a load taken off of his arms, as he turned to see Dawn at his side, also holding onto the Pokéball.
"Thanks" he said, with a smile, whilst Dawn continued to aid him. Recalling the last time that she couldn't aid someone in their time of need.
In turn the others also grabbed the Pokéball, all holding on with their own arms holding some of the strain. As the attraction that the Pokéball had grew, and the stress that the humans had upon their bodies also grew. But their determination seemed to persevere.
The courage of fools is courage regardless.
The one named Ash continued to hold onto the Dragon, muttering the words "I'm not letting go of you" as the structure became engulfed in the pitch Black substance. With its purpose completed the Pokéball stopped its actions, as the Dragons cries ceased. As all of the humans fell backwards with the potential energy that was utilised for holding the Pokéball being used for.
Ash found himself on his side. But the ground for some strange reason felt warm and comfortable. He sat up, finding that he was on top of Dawn.
"Sorry" he muttered, not finding the time to create an unusual situation. Within a crumbling building, small talk wasn't the most ideal thing.
Ash stood up, and held out his hand to a partially crushed Dawn. She took it, feeling the pain of the crash landing, as well as the strange sensation of blushing. But like Ash, she knew that this wasn't the time for small talk. The Blue haired girl found herself being dragged by the hand, as he led her out of the tower. Covering her eyes with her free arm as the change in light shocked her pupils.
She panted as her eyes quickly adjusted to the dingy light. Turning around to the tower as the rest of the group remained besides her, and Ash let go of her hand.
They all looked on as the tower shook violently. Where the grey rubble that had formed its structure was now thick black. Made out of a Black pigment that didn't allow even the slightest portion of light to reflect off of it.
They all looked on, witnessing as the feeble structure which I had been ashamed of finally showed its Achilles' heel and began to shake in search of absolution. But my ineffective endeavour at manufacturing a prison, gained no penance from me. It had been infiltrated purely because the townspeople had allowed foreigners to enter the town, regardless of how unwelcome the visitors were. The people of Lavender had bought their fate upon themselves.
The walls of stone shook, as chaos distorted the slight potency that order had bought them, it began to crumble. The individual rocks falling off of the ancient structure.
The traitor could sense his freedom as my curse broke off of him. Although his pleasure was inconsequential, he like the boy was a pawn.
Yet the happiness of a prisoner is sickening regardless.
The stones rumbled as the barren ground surrounding the perimeter of the tower began to crack, and rip apart just like the tower that it had surrounded.
The conspirator shook, and reinvigorated his lifeless limbs, in an attempt to hasten his liberation. Happy that his apparent wisdom, translated to others as arrogance would be free to enlighten the cosmos once more. Not learning that Arrogance isn't Wisdom.
The stone shook as he ripped his arm free from its stationary position. Ripping the tower apart.
Enormous chunks flew off, as an entire side of the tower dissipated into chunks that lay scattered upon the desolate earth.
His growl, ripped through the air, as he began to unshackle himself. Rotating his head, from the muzzled position that I had locked him in. He shook his body. Every limb, every strand of hair, like a Houndoom shaking off water from its back.
The rubble flew off like bullets being sprayed out in every knowable direction, as the rocks bounced off of the ground from the extreme speeds at which they were launched.
And Ash stared, as the creature reviled himself to the group of five.
The trainer looked on as the great beast, nearly the same height as Leo, shook its back in order to remove debris that may have been stuck within his fur.
It was bipedal like his brother. Although his fur was a deep grey. Stretching from his long pointed claws, to his pointed ears. Covering his tail and stopping as his snouted face, that resembled that of a Lucario, glowed in a deep silver radiance. His long and jagged teeth glowed with radiance out of his mouth. Longer that those of A'Drith, and by all certainty; made for the kill. As his pale green eyes pierced the air around of him.
His eyes that had struck deep within Ash's soul once before awoke, as his claw stretched out. The claw that had kept Ash upon the knifepoint of death, and kept him on it.
The traitor, Hunched his back, as he took in a deep breath. Jolting his back upright once more as he howled through the sky, rejoicing his renewed freedom. From the abyss that I had left him in.
Howling as his call was heard far and wide.
Just like a fool to revile his position, to my army, and generals. Ready to do whatever was necessary to detain him once more.
Fool.
With a menacing grin upon his face, his piercing pale green eyes, Turned their attention to the human that had set him free.
"Shit" Ash muttered, as he saw those pale eyes pierce him once more, as Marcus hunched down to the human. But failing to reach the same height level.
"Ash" Serena whispered besides the trainer.
"Yeah" he said, as Marcus continued to stare.
"Why does this always happen to you?" she asked, as Ash laughed internally, remembering when he had first met Marcus's brother and thought the same thing himself.
"Well" Marcus snarled, "You have completed my portion of the bargain. Maybe my brother wasn't such a proud fool. As we bargained" he spoke as his breath rushed past the three humans.
The creature stood, and opened his hand. Lowering it to the ground in front of Ash, a small yellow Pokémon came out.
"Pikachu?" Ash said in a joyful voice, as his Pokémon jumped onto his shoulder, seeming to be completely unharmed.
Looking on to the scene Marcus huffed, "It took you long enough"
--
A woman stood within the Johto region, looking around the valley. Known to many as the Charisific valley, as the many Charizard began to fly off. One by one. Besides her, her own Charizard stood adamant, with three others. One of which belonged to Ash. The two others were her brothers.
A breeze passed as one of the four Charizard lifted himself up into the air and began to fly, in the same direction as all of the other Charizard.
"Where are they all going?" Liza asked herself, as if the brewing storm clouds didn't provide enough of an explanation.
All of a sudden the three other Charizard also flew off, before Liza could do near to anything.
They flew off chasing the other Fire types, as they went somewhere that they just had to be. Somewhere that all Charizard that had been graced by this valley. Graced to find great strength, ready to fight for the one great being that had forged this valley in the first place. Ready to fight for me.
The last three Charizard flapped their wings, as they only found that one objective was all that seemed to matter.
They flew, as the storm clouds began to grow more and more intense. Striking light, in between themselves. Flashing in between of the great claps of Thunder.
They continued to fly as they neared a secluded area of the world renowned valley. Approaching their destination as fast as their mighty wings could take them, in order to pay back their tribute towards the creator of this safe heaven.
Where Dragons would begin to shape our destiny. Where the destiny of all would be shaped by those with the greatest power.
All of the orange Dragons watched silently. Lined up in a large circle whilst maintaining flight. Staring at the Charizard at the other end of their circle. Each and every Charizard that lived within the valley was a part of this epic ring. The old, the just turned. The Men and the Women. The Pure blooded, and the Half blooded. As long as it went by the name of the Fire Dragon, they had their place as a part of the circle, regardless of origin, and birth.
Each warrior would serve their purpose. Each Dragon would shape Destiny. Change the future, and make history.
My cause was not one to be laughed at, and the beasts knew that, as they maintained control of their Primeval urges to rage like the blazing tips of their tails. Keeping their heads up high, looking to only one point within the sky.
The deep dark Grey sky, that began to take shape, gradually taking form.
From the tip of the nose, sleeking to the majestic horns, as the rest of the great body remained coiled up within the image of the clouds. I was the clouds, my image forged inside of them. But one thing was for certain, and that was the Epic scale of my being. The supremacy of my being was grand regardless.
Forming as the Charizard underneath of me bowed their heads in respect. Even if I was not there in my physical body. They bowed, not muttering a word, as the only sound that shouted was the roar of the thunder within my image. Originating from the great amount of energy that such an image would create.
I roared, "My children"
As there was no other mortal that had any knowledge of this conversation, "This is the moment. This is the time that we will decide destiny. Beyond the False Prophesies that My brother has put up. His Prophesies of Death."
"This is the moment that we change the Prophesy, this is the moment that the Dragons will decide destiny" I roared. "Take flight my warriors of the skies. Take flight to Lavender, and burn the citadel of Traitors to the ground. Make sure that our Roar is heard. Ensure that we create a scar on the land that is so deep; the Earth will cry tears of fire."
Then they Roared. As all of the Charizard took flight towards Lavender to meet with my Generals.
All flapped their wings, equal in species. Equal as long as they roared the name Charizard. They were ready to join in battle with the other Nine hundred I had assembled.
Ready to fight for me.
The Winged ones. The Stone Legions. The Spirits.
My Army is being formed.
My brother Arceus is asleep. His warriors at my mercy. His chosen one in the midst of my coming strike. One traitor dead, another about to meet his true master.
Retribution is mine.
--
F.Y.I.
- When Dawn helped Ash she recalled the time that she was stopped from aiding Simon, and Robert previously (bit of a conscience crisis) she isn't doubting her love. Just what she has to do to achieve it like leaving people behind to (possibly) die.
- Leo (Bipedal Lion) Marcus (bipedal Wolf)
- Too short for what I had aimed. Grr
PLZ R & R
And now I write more...