Chapter Thirteen: Dawn
"I hope Ash is alright. His message seemed urgent," I said to Brock as we walked out of the airport. We had just arrived in the Camos region after hearing from our raven friend.
"I'm not so sure," he said. I looked at him with a question in my eyes. "He seemed to be in a confined area. And I think I saw others with him, and they didn't seem very happy with where they were."
"You two got his message too, huh?" a girl asked, walking to us with a boy.
"Yeah, I'm Dawn, and this is my partner Piplup."
"Piplup!"
"My name's Brock."
"Axew, ew!"
"I'm Iris. This is Axew."
"And I'm Cilan."
"According to Ash, there's this new threat called Team Universe. Their leader has many rare Pokémon that are hard to beat," I said thoughtfully.
"Unfortunately, that's my childhood friend, Lily. She has a bunch of Pokémon whose type tends to vary from others like it or can learn other types of moves besides what's normal. Like, her Electivire is can learn water type moves."
"Ash added attacking her will be futile. We should restrain her and get rid of her friends," I told them.
"They are not her friends! I am! Ash is! Jacob is! Not Team Universe! They're a bunch of weirdoes who found a way to control her mind!" Iris declared.
"Sorry," I said sheepishly.
"So what's the plan? We're going to need the right ingredients to make this the perfect recipe for a rescue," Cilan replied.
"Hey, I know!" Brock said suddenly. We huddled up to make the plan.
~Lily~
"Give me the key! Those five will certainly find a way to take it from you!" I snapped, snatching the key from the man standing in front of me.
"So sorry, Miss. I didn't realize…" he said fearfully.
"Of course not. Now go get my tea."
"What happened to you?" Paul asked me as the man scurried upstairs. "You would've never spoken that way to anyone before all of this despite whether they were friend or foe."
"You haven't had enough thunderbolts yet?"
"Attack me all you want. It won't change a thing." I nodded to Pikachuett.
"Pikachu!"
He grunted as he fell back. "You know what I say is true. Stop fighting me. I am not your enemy." He slowly stood back up.
"You just don't know how to shut up. Perhaps you need more encouraging. Bring them in!" The door behind me opened. Ash's Pikachu and Paul's Electivire walked in robotically.
"Pikachu!" Ash pressed into the bars of his cell. "Buddy, speak to me! What did you do?!"
"They are under my control now. All three of you, use Thunderbolt on Paul."
"Pikachu, don't!" I laughed as I was obeyed. Paul had a hard time getting up this time.
"Paul, stay down! This isn't worth you constantly getting hurt!" The mauve haired boy fell back to the ground at Ash's suggestion.
"Now that's so much better. You sound sweeter when you're silently sitting down." I tied the key to a string around my neck as I walked to the main room of the walking battleship. I sat in my throne and sighed. "How long before we reach our destination?!" The room was silent. "Do you dimwits not hear me?! I said how long before we reach our destination?!"
"Miss Lily, get off of your throne!" a distant voice said.
"Huh?" I started to get up, but a vine wrap tied me to the spot. I struggled as an ice beam froze the wrap, trapping me completely. "Uniswan, use Fire Blast to melt this ice!" I commanded.
"Cyndequil, hit Uniswan with Flame Wheel!" a girl yelled. I scowled as the Pokémon was hit. She soon after fainted.
"I found the others! We just need the key!" a vaguely familiar boy voice said. A Piplup approached me.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika…!" I glanced over when he didn't finish; he was trapped in ice. I scowled as Piplup grabbed the key. As he ran off, I started barking orders to my Pokémon.
~Ash~
"Get Team Rocket and Paul out of here. I'm going to snap Lily out of this," I told my friends. They had just unlocked the cells to release us.
"No, I'm going with you," Paul grunted. I looked at my rival/friend and saw him standing by his cell.
"Paul, you've been blasted way too many times. You can't…."
"I said I'm going."
"We don't have time to argue about this! Those ice bonds won't last forever!" Dawn pointed out. I sighed and led the way upstairs. Paul and I stopped at the main room as the others continued on.
"Pokémon, take those two down!" Lily ordered. I tackled Paul as many blasts hit where we had been. "Give it up, boys! I can't be beaten!"
"Lily, please! You gotta listen to me!" I ran closer to her. She raise4d her chin as I was blasted back two feet.
"Do not come any closer!" The Pokémon crowded me as I stood back up.
"You can't let this darkness take over you!"
"Everyone has darkness in them! Mine was just released!" I grunted and fell to my knees as I was blasted.
"You have to fight it! You have to remember who you truly are!" I yelled as every Pokémon blasted me again.
~Paul~
"You have to remember who you truly are!" Ash's words gave me an idea. As he got blasted (sorry, Ash), I ran to where Lily was standing with only Pikachuett near her. She yelped in surprise as I grabbed her arms.
"Lily, remember who you are," I said earnestly.
"Pikachuett, use Thunderbolt!" I grunted as it hit, but I held strong.
"This isn't you," I continued. "Please. You have to remember life before Team Universe. Remember us."
"Pikachu!" My knees buckled.
"Remember the lessons I always gave you on how to make your Pokémon stronger. Remember how I saved your life from angry Ursaring."
"Pikachu!" I held on, not giving in to the pain. I'm getting through. I see it in her eyes.
"Remember how I always held you when you became afraid during a campout. Remember how I always used to make you laugh and smile."
"Pikachu!" Almost there.
"Remember our first kiss." I pulled her closer and kissed her gently. Just like that day in Sinnoh. Firm hold. Gentle kiss.
I heard the blasting behind me cease and felt Lily's body relax. I moved my hands to her waist as her hands cupped my neck; I deepened the kiss as she whimpered lightly.
"Paul, I am so sorry," she whispered as we pulled apart. I wiped tears from her eyes.
"It wasn't your fault. You weren't in control."
"I hurt you and Ash countless time. Why didn't you just escape with the others?"
"Because it's not what we do." I took a step back from Lily as Ash joined my side. "You're our friend, Lily. And we never leave our friends behind."
"Oh, now isn't that cute?" Ash and I turned around and saw a member of Team Universe. "I almost regret having to take her away."
"I'm not letting you. Electivire, use…!" I grunted and fell to my hands and knees.
"Paul" She knelt down beside me.
"Don't worry, Paul. Pikachu and I…." Ash fell as well, holding his stomach. 'Yeah, thought so,' I thought.
"Ash! Wha… what do I do?! What's wrong with you guys?!" Lily asked in earnest.
"All of that blasting has taken a toll on us. You gotta fight this guy on your own, Lily," Ash muttered.
"Don't worry. I'll get you to a hospital soon." She stood up and faced the Pokémon. "You guys?" They all looked at her. "I know I was mean to you before. But please, I need your help saving Ash and Paul. Please."
I guess the Pokémon all forgave her, because soon I could hear them all attacking. After a few moments, I felt Lily lift me onto Uniswan's back.
"You two are going to be ok. I promise. Arcanine, come on out!" She mounted the fire type Pokémon. "To the closest hospital!"
Reviews are greatly appreciated.
-RozaCourt