Foreward:
It's rather funny, for about 6 years I've had people adding this story and giving reviews, despite the fact I haven't written a thing in ages. Looking back, I can't even see why it has such a following at all. It's short, it's terribly cliche, and I've seen better grammar on a bathroom stall. Still, I may as well try to fix this thing.
Chapter 4: The Escape
Ash had been walking for an eternity. Nothing but black fog all around him, scenes almost visible peeking through the veil of darkness, none of them familiar. The more he tried to look at them the further they seemed to move, like rats scampering into the shadows. Muddied voices called out to him from the distance as a rhythmic pounding filled the air.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
"ASH!" the voices cried again and again. He didn't know what they wanted or why they kept calling for him, he wished they would just leave him alone.
A scene finally emerged with unnerving clarity. A ruined town with the scent of smoke, ashes streaming down through the air. "ASH! ASH!" Perhaps this was what the voices were shouting about? One building called out to him, different from the others. It was larger, white paint on the walls with a sign marked 'Pallet Lab' above the door. His body took him inside with a will of its own, refusing to obey his mental commands.
Inside was unlit only except for the faint embers of flame outside the windows. Rows of scientific books lined the shelves with incomrehensible titles such as "Breeding Patterns of the Viridian Caterpie" and "Kanto Guide to Migratory Flying Pokemon". Between two shelves was an opening further into the lab. Two desks were barely visible in the gloom. On one rested an aging computer long since deactivated, on the other a single red and white sphere. Ash moved closer, practically drawn to the pokeball before him. A flash of lightning illuminated the room as he realized he wasn't alone. Grabbing the ball he turned to run but felt a heavy weight weighing him down. No matter how hard he ran the door never came any closer. The pounding grew louder and louder. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP! THUMP!
Suddenly, Ash awoke in a cold sweat. The pounding and screaming continued all around him. Alarms were screaming as red lights flashed all around. He pulled open his door and saw people in uniform running this way and that, a massive crack forming in the side of one of the walls. He suddenly found himself alongside Malday, being pulled away from the crack.
"Ash, I know you haven't had much practice with your new abilities yet, but if they break through we're going to need your help to push them back. Can you do that for me Ash? Will you help us keep you safe?"
Ash nodded weakly and hoped with all his might the wall would hold. Alas, it was to no avail as with a loud roar the wall exploded into a rain of plaster. A large snake head made of rock poked through with another roar and began slithering into the hallway. The voices screaming his name seemed to come through the crack, behind the mighty beast of stone. Terrified, Ash could hardly move as the snake filled the room with its bulk. On its back he saw a redheaded girl and a man with dark skin. As they called out to him his fear reached its climax, he knew what he must do. Almost by instinct he transformed his arm into the Scyther's blade like he had before. As he charged at them spiked wings emerged from his back to give him the speed he needed. This was home, no matter who these people were he couldn't let them destroy the only place he'd ever known.
The rock beast dodged left and right to avoid his blows, despite the ineffectiveness of his attacks. With a tear in her eye the redhead whispered something to the dark skinned man and the beast let out a mighty roar. Shockwaves coursed through the halls as lab equipment shattered under the stress. Ash held on through the blast, determined to make it through, before the creature slammed into him with all its weight. Bruised, beaten, and bloodied, Ash could move no longer as his world faded to black. The last thing he saw were the woman's arms reaching down to hold him as tears fell onto his face.