Ch. 9 To the Death

Once that was done, Articuno and Ash got ready for the battle. They entered the arena and saw their opposites. Ho-oh was in the form from before and holding two small knives. Lugia was an orange head with a side ways pony tail. She had a sun gold tank top and jean shorts. Her weapon was a bow and arrows. Ash suddenly had a vision of a black hair woman with the same weapon. Even though he didn't know her he weirdly knew her name was Kikiyo. Suddenly he snapped back into reality.

"All right. It's the semi-finals. Today we have Ash and Articuno vs. Ho-oh and Lugia. Whoever wins enters the finals and gets a chance to get free buffet at Uxie's and a trip to Paris." Heatran said. "Now let the battle... Begin."

Lugia suddenly shooting arrows into the air while Ho-oh got closer. Ash dodged the arrows while Articuno blocked Ho-oh's attacks. Lugia saw her moment and dipped an arrow into a strange liquid then she shot it. "Articuno! Look out!" Ash yelled as he ran. Then he pushed her out of the way. He was hit in the back instead of her. "Ash!" The three females yelled. "Ooo... That must have hurt. If Articuno doesn't want to lose then she better defeat Lugia and Ho-oh by herself." Heatran said. Then Articuno laid down besides the boy. He wasn't moving. She tried to wake him up. But it was too late.

"I'm sooo sorry. This arena took over me." Lugia said. Then Articuno shot at Ho-oh and Lugia. The bolts missed but it scared them so much that they fainted. The crowed waited a minute then they cheered. "Lugia and Ho-oh are unable to continue. Ash and Articuno win." Heatran said. The losers were soon teleported home. Articuno then picked Ash up. Then walked to the waiting room.

Arceus and Giratina were already in human form. "We saw what happened." Giratina said. "Is... is he...?" Articuno tried to speak. Arceus first listen to Ash's heart then said. "No. He's just unconscious. But you better get that arrow out of him." Articuno did as he said. But Ash was still in the same state. 'Attention. Attention. Arceus and Giratina. It's time to enter the arena.' Heatran voice said. "I'm sorry but we have to go." Arceus said. Then they left.

"Ash." Articuno said as she hold his body. Suddenly she got a great eager to sing. "I can't breath. I can't sleep without you. I'm lost in this hell hole. So I pray. Can I find the light? Can I change? Will I be alright? I only I can clear my mind. Leave all this madness far behind. I don't want to want you. But I hate to say I do. I can't help the way I feel for you. I don't need to need you. What am I suppose to do? I can't help the way I feel for you." Articuno sang. Then the mysterious music continued.

"We were good. We were doing alright. In those days. They were beautiful nights but the stars in your heart blinded you from the start. Not a thing I could do. If only I could have save your life. And leave all your darkness far behind. I don't want to want you. But I hate to say I do. I can't help the way I feel for you. I don't need to need you. What am I suppose to do? I can't help the way I feel for you.

"I just can't let goo... We can't lose and we can't win. In this game we're playing in. Look at us now we're savoring. It's over. Over. I guess it's over. It's over." Articuno sang. Then the music suddenly stopped. "Oh Ash." She said.

(Inside Ash's head.)

He was floating in the darkness. 'Am I dead? No! Mom said I can't. But she never said I can't be killed. NO! I must survive.' Ash thought. Then bubbles of his life passed by. 'No, No! This can't happen. I'm dying.' Ash thought. Then he began to hear Articuno sang but it had his times with Dawn pictures. 'Is she talking to me?' Ash thought. Then he saw more. 'She is. But why? Just when we were kicking things off. Why did I have to die like that.' Ash thought. Once the song was done he started to panic and humans started to fill up the place. 'If only Arceus didn't make those humans I would be still alive. He always does stupid stuff like that. I don't make mistakes.' Ash thought as his mind began to crack.

'Yes. Yes. Everything makes seance. If I was an only child then I would only have to deal with myself. I wouldn't have sex with anybody. And I would be alive.' Ash thought. 'It's all his fault. He must die.' Suddenly Kyogre appeared. She and Ash were in human form and laid beside each other.

'Ash what's going on?' She asked. 'And why can I only talk in thought?' 'I don't know we must be dead.' Ash thought. 'How did you die?' 'Rayquaza hit me with his lazer in the cheast.' She said. 'I died from Lugia's arrow.' Ash said. 'Ash I heard all your thoughts while I was still alive. You don't need to blame others. Nobody's perfect. And blaming only makes things worse.' She said. 'You're right. I guess I snapped a little being here.' Ash said. 'I still can't believe we died.' Kyogre said. 'Me too.' Then they hold hands. 'At least we're together.' Kyogre said. Suddenly a light emerged from their bodies. The lights soon flew off. This scared them.

'What was that?' Kyogre asked. 'I have no idea.' Ash said. Then a light surround them from both sides. They were soon separated. 'Aaaaah.' They screamed.

(With Kyogre)

Kyogre soon woke up in her room. 'Was it all a dream?' Kyogre asked herself. She was in Legendary form. "Hey Kyogre. It was pretty funny when Arceus revived you just after you lost to him. Well bye." Groudon said as he entered then left her room. 'So it wasn't a dream. But then what was that other light. And did he said Arceus revived me that must mean.' Kyogre thought. Then she imagined Arceus in human form kissing her and pressing on her heart. Kyogre then blushed. Then she went to the kitchen for some food.

(With Ash.)

After Articuno representative him he woke up. "Ash! Your awake!" Articuno said in glee. "Yeah. What happened?" He asked. "You pushed me out of the way and got hit by it instead. I was able to win for both of us. Then I revived you." She said. "What about Arceus and Giratina?" Ash asked. "I was too worried about you that I only heard they won." Articuno said. Then the two winners arrived.

"You're awake." Arceus said. "Yeah." Ash said as he sat up. Then went to his own spot. But he felt pain along the way. "So you won." Ash said. "Yeah. But only because I dodged Rayquaza's lazer beam." Giratina said. "Yeah. But Kyogre was hit. I was able to revive her to be only unconscious. But Giratina knocking Rayquaza out while I was doing that is what really made us win." Arceus said. 'So she did die too.' Ash thought.

"Attention all remaining contenders. The games will continue tomorrow. Have a good night and see you tomorrow." Heatran said. "Great I'm starving." Ash said. Then they teleported away.

(That evening.)

They all had diner together like always. "I can't wait for Uxie's food." Ash said. Then said chef gave them food they liked. Some were more picky than others. Ash and Zekrom had piles of food. Reshiram had very little more than usual and Ash had the most. "Man Ash when you sure meant you were starving." Giratina said. "Yeah. That's you twelfth plate." Arceus said. "Uncle always had a big appetite." Palkia said.

After diner they went to bed. Everyone had good dream except Ash.

(Ash's Dream)

People were laughing at him for no reason. "Stop laughing." Ash commanded. This was like his last nightmares but then the unexpected happened. It was Pikachu. They were in a strange place. "Pikachu you're back." Ash said. Thinking his nightmare has become a beautiful dream. But suddenly a black creature appeared. It took Pikachu away. "Give me back Pikachu." Ash commanded. He tried to use a move but suddenly he shrank and was a human.

"What the?" Ash said. Then he heard Pikachu scream. Ash ran and ran but he wasn't getting closer. Suddenly he bumped into Arceus. "Arceus get out of the way. Pikachu's in danger." Ash said. "Pikachu is already dead and it's because of you." His brother said. Ash stepped back. "No. No. It was Ethan. You told me your self." Ash said. "Who was the one to say we'll do it tomorrow?" Arcues asked. "Me but..." Ash try to say. "Who wanted to leave the door open so a breeze could come in the room?" Arceus said. "Me but..." Ash said. "Who was the one who didn't decide to move the village to a river or lake." Arceus said. "Me. But.." Ash tried to say. "Facts are facts you let Pikachu die. And you know it." Arceus said. "No. No. I don't want to believe you. It's not my fault its not my fault." Ash said. He started to cry.

Then he felt a hand on his shoulders. "Mom." Ash said. He turned. Then I am slapped him. "Arceus is my true son. You're just a mistake." She said. "No. Mom. You can't say that." Ash pleaded. "Yes. That's why I let you die. To erase the mistake I made." She said. "No. No. I am not a mistake. I am not." Ash said. Then she let go and walked to Arceus. Ash turned to them. "You were never the one liked the best anyways." She said.

"It's your fault." The voices said as they returned. "Yeah. You're the one that shouldn't exist." Another one said. Then they went back to laughing. "No. It's not my fault. It's just not. No. No. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Ash screamed as he released all his anger, all his sorrow, all his pain, and all his darkness.

Then he woke up.

(Real world.)

Ash woke up in a scream that it woke everyone in the hall. So they all went to Ash's room. Even though you'd think not all of them could fit. They did. Arceus was closest to Ash. "Ash what happened?" Arceus asked. Ash soon laid his head on his brother. "Make it all go away." Ash cried. "Guys I think this is a brothers only thing." Arceus said. Then they left. "Good. Leave those two alone. I'm going back to bed." Registeel said.

"Ash what happened?" Arceus asked. "I had a nightmare." Ash said. Then he let down his claw and showed Arceus in a vision. (A special twin vision power.) Arceus was sad that the nightmare made him so mean, so cold. "Ash that would never happen. I don't blame you. The only one I blame is Ethan. He was the one that started your pain." Arceus said. "But mom said." Ash said. "That wasn't our mom. Heck that wasn't the real me. Do you believe I would really do that?" Arceus asked. "Now that you mention it no." Ash said. "Believe your heart. Your dreams aren't always right." Arceus said.

Then he walked away. "I'm going back to bed. You better do too. We have a tough day tomorrow." Arceus said. Then he turned off the lights. "Good night." Arceus said. "Good night." Ash said. Then he went back to sleep.

(The next morning.)

Ash woke up all excited. "Today. I'll face my fears." Ash said. Then he got up. Surprisingly he was in human form. 'How'd that happen?' Ash thought. Then he changed back to normal. Then he enter the main hall. It seem everyone was cheering. "What's up with the celebrations? Is it someone's birthday?" Ash asked. Everyone looked at him. "Okay are you still mad that I woke you last night. It was just a dream." Ash said. Ash flew to the top of the crowd and fond Giratina. "Giratina where's Arceus?" Ash asked. "Like you'd know what happened." Giratina said. "What's going on? I have no idea what you're talking about?" Ash said.

The Palkia and Dialga ran up to him. "Why? Why uncle? Why did you do it?" Palkia cried. "I have no idea what your talking about. I didn't do anything." Ash said. "And to believe I thought you were my hero." Dialga said. That stung him. Then he noticed something. Two somethings. Ash flew over to them. Articuno was cring on a stone plate. "Articuno what happened?" Ash asked. "And I thought I liked you? That I could change you but I guess everyone else was right." Articuno said then she leaft. Ash saw what was on the stone. 'Here lies Arceus. The true leader of us. Killed in the Coliseum by Ash.' It said. "No. No. I didn't do it." Ash said. Then he turned to the crowd. "I didn't do it." Ash said.

He floated backwards in fear and knocked over the grave. "No. I can fix it. I fix it." Ash said as he tried to do it. "Ash you struck a new low." Regigigas said. "Even I wouldn't do that." Registeel said. "No. No. It's a mistake. It is. You got to believe me." Ash said. "Why! So you can betray us again." Articuno said. "Get him." Giratina yelled. "No. No. Nooooo!" Ash screamed. He woke up again to see it was another nightmare.

'A... a dream but it was so real.' Ash thought. Then the morning light came from the sun. Ash looked at it. 'I don't want that to happen.' Ash thought.

(At the coliseum.)

Ash was all twitchy. "Ash what happened now?" Arceus asked. "I had another nightmare." Ash said. "Another one?" Articuno said. This confused Giratina. "Dad. What are you talking about?" Giratina asked. "For the last few weeks since Zekrom and Reshiram arrived. Your father has been having nightmares." Arceus said. "Yeah. Ash would always tell me in his dreams that these voices kept laughing at him." Articuno said. "Yeah and last night Ash showed me his dream." Arceus said. This confused the females. "You may not know this but we can see into each others dreams in cause we have a nightmare so bad it can't be described." Arceus said. "That's cool but if you can't describe it then how can you tell us what it was." Articuno said.

"Well since Heatran is giving us this time I can show you. They each grabbed each others claw or hove then Arcues touched the t.v. with one of his hooves. It then showed Ash nightmares. After they were done they were crying. "Dad that's so sad." Giratina said. "Yeah." Articuno said. "That second one must have been new." Arceus said. Ash was nodding yes while he cried. "Its okay. Its okay." Arceus then petted his brother. The girls didn't mind the weird feeling of awkwardness.

"But why is he having theses dreams?" Articuno asked. "That is something we all like to know." Arceus said. Then Heatran appeared. "Okay I know we have a touchy feeling moment here but the match is starting in ten minutes. Be ready by then." Heatran said. Then he disappeared. "Man just when things started looked good." Articuno said. Then Ash stopped crying. "Ash are you okay?" Arceus asked. "Yeah. But we have a battle to win." Ash said. Then they turned into their human forms. Then got out their weapons magically. Ash and Articuno's weapons were the same. Arceus weapon was a long silver sword with a red rose on the bottom of the blade. Giratina's weapon was a very long electric wipe.

(On the battle field.)

"Okay sports fans. It's the finals. Whoever wins wins our grand prize." Heatran said. "This round is to the Death." This shocked everyone. "Whoever is dies or surrenders is the loser and the team that's left wins." Heatran said. Then Ash's second dream was coming to life. And seances of death and such appear. "Stop." Ash yelled. Heatran looked at him. "What is it?" Heatran asked. "Why do you want it to be to the death? My dream will come true." Ash said. "Because I saw your dream I want it to happen." Heatran said. "You! You're the one who's given me nightmares so you can have revenge. I'll kill you. I'll tear you to peaces. Those dreams have keep me in horror for hours. I'll make you pay for it." Ash yelled.

Articuno hold him back. "Tell us are you the one whose doing this to Ash?" Articuno asked. "Maybe." Heatran said. "If you don't tell us the truth I'll release Ash in this state. And who knows what he'll do." Articuno said. This scared the toad. "Tell us." Giratina said. "No I'm not the one. I just saw that video you guys did and then changed the rules. It looked fun from my point. I didn't know he'd go crazy." Heatran said. "So forgive me. I'm sorry I made you think it was me. But I don't know who's doing it to you." Heatran said. Ash was still scary angry.

"Ash it's not him. Let your anger go. It's not him." Articuno said. This got to Ash and he calmed down. Articuno let him go. "Thanks." Ash said. "Okay the rules are surrender or faint." Heatran said. "Now let the battle begin." Ash blocked Giratina's wipe. Articuno shot Arceus in the shoulder pad. He suddenly regrow it. This confused Articuno. "Did I forget to tell you that me and Arceus have regeneration." Ash said. "What about Giratina?" Articuno said. "No. I tried it before. She almost lost a hand." Ash said. Then Articuno shot Giratina in the shoulder. "You got it coming." Giratina said. Then she and Articuno went hand to hand.

Ash walked over to Arceus. "It's pointless. We can do this." Arceus said. "I know." Ash said. Then he had a headache. "ASH! Ash is everything alright." Arceus walked over to him. 'Kill him. Kill him. You must so you can have your right as supreme one.' The voices said to Ash. "Get out of my head." Ash said. Arceus grabbed Ash. "Ash let me help you." Arceus said.

Then Ash used his aura and push Arceus away. Ash realized this. "Arceus I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." Ash said. Then the voices came back. "Why? Tell me why? Why won't you go away?" Ash asked himself or really the voices in his head. "Ash." Arceus said. Then Ash pushed him to the ground and hold his sword high. "Ash this isn't to the death. If I serenader would it make you happy." Arceus said. "No. You must die." Ash said. Then he lowered his sword. "Ash Nooo!" Articuno screamed. This snapped Ash out of it just in time. He dream almost came true. Then Giratina used her wipe to zap Ash.

He dropped his sword in a place near Arceus but not on or in Arceus. Since Ash wasn't officially on Arceus, Arceus wasn't zapped. But Ash was getting it big time. Then he fell. Articuno saw this then said. "I serenader." The crowds cheered. But Ash's friends looked at him. "Is he dead again?" Dawn asked. Arceus listened. "No. But it was close. Especially for me." Arceus said. "Yeah Dad almost behead you." Giratina said. "Yeah. And Ash's dream would have come true." Articuno said. "I think we stopped it cause I called out to him. I guess in the dream the Articuno was too shocked to do it." They nodded. Then Articuno and Ash were teleported.

Then a chase of stairs raise up on the doe. "And the winners of the league are Arceus and Giratina." Heatran said. "Here's your tickets." Heatran then gave the two, two tickets to Paris and two free buffets tickets. Then they teleported back to the family.

Ash is snapping but why? And what's up with the voices? So many questions you'll just have to wait for the next chapter.

AuraPearl44_May the Aura be with you_Peace.