Chapter 16: the Punishment Due.
Summary: before reaching Pastoria City Ash and Salvia get caught in a fight between Dusk and Wrath, but before the battle end, as the outlook on life, Dusk starts to change.
Dusk stood her ground, the trees on the ground felled by the power of Wrath, "What's the matter little girl, no one to rescue you?" Wrath asked the woman with a confident smirk.
Taking her chance to spit out some of the blood in her mouth, "me? I need to be rescued," Dusk started to question the lack of logic coming from her foe, "you attack me from out of nowhere and you think I need to be rescued," Dusk started to charge the Shadow Lord, her right hand glowing black, she clenched her fists and swung her fist out towards the foe.
"Ha, weak," Wrath taunted the Dark Aura Master, jumping into the air.
Dusk leapt back to avoid the body press of Wrath, glaring at him she stood at the ready in a boxer's stance, "I am only getting warmed up, you bastard," Dusk snapped at the enemy, the Shadow Lord started punching the Dark Aura Masater, managing to dodge the attacks, her hands glowing black and blue she ducked one of the punches and unleashed a powerful uppercut, sending the Shadow Lord into the air.
Landing on the ground the Shadow Lord remained motionless, gripping the dirt surrounding him, the arms collapsed causing the Dark Aura Master to ease her guard, "ha too easy," Dusk confidently stated as she turned towards the city and started walking.
"Is that all?!" Wrath asked the bluenette.
Dusk glanced over her shoulder as fear became more obvious in her expression, "how are you still standing?" Dusk asked the Shadow Lord.
"You hit like a little girl," Wrath taunted the young woman.
"You son of a bitch! I am girl!" Dusk angrily retorted with her eyes fixated on the Shadow Lord, "but for that comment, I am going to break every bone in your body, just like I did to Gluttony," the blue haired Aura Master decreed her intentions to the Shadow Lord, she charged towards her new enemy and unleashed a powerful kick directed at his head.
Much to Dusk's surprise the kick was blocked by the muscular arms of Wrath, "is that all you have?" Wrath asked the woman with a proud smile, grabbing her right leg he prepared to slam her into the ground.
Gathering her aura Dusk prepared her defence, "I am not giving up Wrath," Dusk decreed as she was slammed into the ground, the Aura shield dissipated allowing for her to get back up, panting from the vicious assault unleashed by the Shadow Lord, "is that all you have? You bastard," Dusk started to waver as she started to notice that her aura was starting to deplete and fast.
As Wrath was about to land the next attack he was tackled away from the Dark Aura Master, "that is enough!" Ash growled at the Shadow Lord.
Dusk looked up and noticed Ash standing ready to fight the enemy she was fighting against, "you idiot, this my fight, get lost!" Dusk ordered the trainer to leave the fight.
"You know, Ash isn't here to save you, he is here to save Sinnoh," Salvia walked up to her look alike. Helping her up, "you shouldn't be doing things alone," Salvia informed the bluenette calmly.
Dusk glanced over to Ash and frowned at him, "I couldn't care less about this region, but if you want to save someone, he should save himself, he hasn't even recovered from the last time we met," Dusk whispered her concerns for Ash, she looked over to the east and spotted Shade and Hollow, "so you two were watching this?" Dusk asked the two Dark Aura Masters, she pushed the princess aside and recklessly charged towards her former allies.
"Oh come on we thought you could handle it yourself," Shade calmly said as a smirk ran across his face.
"Like hell you did, you will still suffer my wrath!" Dusk charged towards the Dark Aura Masters with no care for her wellbeing, as she got closer and prepared to punch the former ally, her fist was grabbed by Hollow who glared at her.
"You see, your amnesia was easy to manipulate, plus we had every intention of having you killed, because like your friend over there," Shade pointed over to Ash who was fending off Wrath, he looked up to dusk and saw her spitting at him, hitting his face, he wiped it away and shook his head, "you aren't very lady like," Shade started laughing at his scapegoat.
"No one ever asked me to," Dusk retorted in her own sense of sarcasm, "you couldn't even tell me your true intention, you're after Arceus aren't you?" Dusk questioned the Dark Aura Master.
Ash took a quick glance out towards the left and noticed the danger Dusk was in, "so Wrath, why are you even here?" Ash asked the Shadow Lord furiously.
"I am here to bring Dusk to Pride, then she will be sacrificed for the rise of Arceus, but you are needed as well," Wrath informed Ash.
"You see Dusk, you are still needed, we cannot kill you just yet, but very soon your usefulness will be over," Shade nodded at his teammate and who forced her arm behind her, "don't resist, you don't have that much Aura left and not only that, we would hate to see you break your arm," Shade whispered into the ear of the young woman.
"She isn't going anywhere!" Ash yelled out, tackling Hollow to the ground, forcing him to let go of Dusk, Ash looked back and stood back to back with the woman, "are you alright?" Ash asked the bluenette.
"I never asked for your help or even wanted it in the first place, so there will be no thanks from me," Dusk hissed her response from, "so what is the situation?" Dusk immediately asked her new found ally.
"Well let's see, it seems like we are the intended targets," Ash answered with a hint of cynicism, he looked over to the young royal and thought about what was told of him mere moments ago. "also Shade and Hollow, actually have someone else, you aren't actually a Dark Aura Master, like you think you are," Ash informed the young woman, her eyes widened in disbelief, she scowled at the Aura Guardian.
"So what does that make me?" Dusk asked the raven haired man.
"I don't know, I thought you already knew," Ash retorted as he felt the elbows of Dusk digging into his back, Ash leapt forward and turned to the young woman, "hey what the hell was that about?!" Ash yelled at the blue haired Aura Master.
"You got in the way," Dusk argued with the trainer.
Ash ducked after sensing the attack of Wrath, he started to glow blue as his aura started to appear, 'damn, I cannot use too much Aura, or I might pass out this time,' Ash returned the attack knocking Wrath back, but he still managed to stay on his feet, "hey what's going on?" Ash complained about the endurance of the Shadow Lord.
"Well I hit with everything and he still gets up, well good luck since I am not helping you out," Dusk smirked at the Aura Guardian.
Ash and Dusk stood back to back again as the enemies started to surround them, "I have a plan," Ash stated with the princess watching from behind the trees.
"Don't care, stay out of my way," Dusk charged towards her former allies.
Ash grabbed the arm of Dusk but was punched by the young woman sending Ash flying to one of the trees, "you need to listen, I have a plan!" Ash yelled at the young woman as she changed her target of her assault to Ash, Ash dodged the attack as one of the trees fell to the ground, "come on Dusk this is stupid we shouldn't be starting a fight now, we can do that later," Ash tried in vein to convince Dusk.
"I told, I don't want your damn help!" Dusk snapped at the trainer, but was soon surrounded by the Shadow Lord and the Dark Aura Masters, she looked at either side and smiled, "come at me, I will still destroy you," Dusk challenged her foes, boldly awaiting the foes to attack her, they all charged at her but she jumped into the air, during the attack Wrath grabbed her leg once again and started to send her crashing to the ground, before she hit the ground Ash flew in to make the save, "what the hell are you doing?!' Dusk asked the Aura Guardian.
"Salvia now!" Ash called to the princess.
"Gardevoir, use Flash to blind the enemies," Salvia instructed her pokemon, appearing in the middle of the battle, Gardevoir emitted a blinding light that prevented the enemies from seeing properly, Salvia rushed up to Ash and Dusk, "alright Gardevoir get us out of here," Salvia ordered her pokemon to help them with the retreat.
As the light vanished the three victims who had covered their respective eyes, started to get a fix on their vision, Shade looked around and noticed that the two who were meant to be captured were no longer in the area, "well it seems like they have escaped, oh well at least they can still play our little game a little while longer," Shade started to laugh at the new development, "Wrath, you're free to go, just don't follow them, that is up to us," Shade instructed the Shadow Lord.
"I don't take orders from little ants like you!" Wrath angrily retorted as he went to grab the throat of the Dark Aura Master, but was easily evaded by the young man.
Shade grabbed the right arm of Wrath and turned him around, "listen we are after the same targets, we cannot afford to get careless now, plus those two are their own worst enemies, so it would be easier to let them fight one another," Shade informed the Shadow Lord.
"Um Ash, are you certain that she can be trusted?" Salvia asked the trainer, turning their attention to Dusk who was on the bed, "she didn't hesitate for a second to attack you again," Salvia informed Ash who showed equal concern for the Aura Master.
Ash looked down at the unconscious woman, "yeah I know, if we can convince her to help us defeat the Shadow Lords and stop the Dark Aura Masters, I don't care what she does next, she doesn't want to destroy the world," he explained while placing his hand over his chin.
Salvia started walking to the door, "even if she turns her rage onto you?" Salvia asked the young man, to which he nodded in response, "I see, but please don't do anything that would sadden me," Salvia requested, knowing it was a selfish request.
Ash watched the young royal walking out, feeling a hint of guilt overriding his thoughts, 'why does she care this much?' Ash started to question himself
(Veilstone City)
Paul walked over to the guard who was sitting up in the bed, eating his food, "you know, I was sworn to protect the royal family, but I cannot do that now," the royal guard informed Paul who took a seat next to him.
"Alright, then tell me, where are they going?" Paul asked the soldier calmly.
"Pastoria City, it will be an ambush, designed to kill the princess and the king," the guard informed Paul who grabbed an apple, "I need to go now," the injured soldier informed the powerful trainer but was pushed back into the bed, "hey what was that about?" the guard asked the trainer.
"Not in your shape, I will be going instead," Paul started to exit the room, he looked back with a proud smile crossing his face, "plus if the crown princess is with Ash, then you have nothing to worry about, I trust that Ash has her wellbeing in check," Paul assured the guardsman as he closed the door.
Looking around the royal guard spotted a remote for the TV, "this is stupid, I am the one supposed to put his life on the line for the royal family, I was trained for it, and now I have two trainers doing the task I was trained to do," the soldier grew frustrated, he desired to get back to protecting the royal family.
Paul walked out of the hospital and halted on the spot, he looked up towards the room, "so now I need to save my old rival," Paul started to complain about him being forced to take action, he turned his attention towards the exit of the city, seeing the trees rising over the horizon, seeing them heading off into the distance and towards his destination. "so there are an organisation called the Shadow Lords," Paul whispered to himself, he walked towards the southern streets, ignoring the people in the city.
"Did you hear the rumours? Someone looking like the great Coordinator was involved in a fight," one of the female members of the community asked her friend.
Paul stopped to listen in, hoping it would shed some light on what was going on, "yeah I heard about it, but Dawn was kind and caring, from what I have heard this look alike is ferocious," the blonde haired woman stated with a concerned tone, "sad really, I really idolized Dawn, for her to go to lengths to destroy someone in order to win," the woman stated while thinking about the time she watched the bluenette at one of the contests.
"Excuse me, both of you are saying that Dawn is alive, the last I heard from one of my friends she was murdered," Paul informed the two people, remembering what the injured royal guard had told him.
"Yeah, but what of the person who looks like her?" the woman asked the trainer.
"First I need evidence of this, until evidence is provided, then you cannot take these rumours seriously," Paul informed the women as they looked for something in their bags.
Eventually they pulled out a picture of a fight that had taken place moments ago, "my friend was near that fight, they took a picture of the fight," the lady stated as she handed Paul the picture.
Stunned at what he had seen, he noticed someone that looked like his friend, he pushed the photo back into the hands of the women and ran off to get to Pastoria City, 'how? What's going on?' Paul questioned the person he had discovered, realising that he had seen a doppelganger, but the most striking feature was her blood-lust, her thirst for battle, "that wasn't Dawn, not the one that Ash was going to marry," Paul whispered as he continued to push people aside to make his exit of the city.
(Near Hearthome City)
Walking out of the house with a cup of hot chocolate, he scanned the garden and spotted Salvia having a conversation with her psychic pokemon, "hey princess, I have some hot chocolate for you," Ash called to the young royal.
Salvia looked back with a thankful expression, she politely grabbed the cup and started to sip the drink, after taking her first sip she glanced back at Ash, "thank you Ash," Salvia thanked the young man.
"Not a problem," Ash quietly replied, she looked over to the royal's pokemon and smiled at it, "you have a really nice pokemon," Ash complimented the princess.
"So Ash, how is Dusk doing?" Salvia asked the trainer. Before Ash could respond a loud sound emanated from the house, "what happened?" Salvia asked the Aura Guardian.
Ash rushed into the house to see furniture all over the place, he shot his vision over to an angry Dusk who was destroying one of the rooms, "hey calm down," Ash called to the blue haired Aura Master.
Dusk charged towards Ash, with her fists at the ready, she didn't hesitate, grabbing her fist Ash slid back from the force of the attack, "I don't like being rescued, even by the likes of you," Dusk announced her displeasure to being saved by Ash, she tried to force Ash to let go of her right hand, "I hate you!" Dusk declared her dislike for Ash.
Ash smiled at the young woman as she unleashed another punch at the Aura Guardian to which he also stopped the attack, "you are the exact opposite of Dawn," Ash started as he was being pushed back by the powerful woman who was attacking him.
"Let go of me or I will kick your damn head off," Dusk threatened the trainer.
"Listen, you cannot be a lone wolf, I want to talk to you, what you do afterwards, well that is up to you," Ash informed the Aura Master. Letting go of her fist he walked over to a chair to start a conversation with the Aura Master, "come on, we don't have to be enemies," Ash tried to reason with the bluenette, but she maintained her anger towards Ash.
"Ash is right, you want to get your revenge right?" Salvia started questioning the Aura Master.
Dusk glared at Salvia and started to settle down a little, she shot her vision back to Ash, "this isn't over, I will listen for now, but don't think for a second that I have let you off the hook yet," Dusk stepped back after her fists were released by the Aura Guardian.
"Alright, but first your injuries," Ash pointed to the graze on the right leg of the blue haired woman.
"I will be fine," Dusk replied coldly, she started limping towards the last standing couch trying her best to ignore the pain, she was stopped by her counterpart, "what do you want?" Dusk asked viciously.
"It could get infected, if that were the case, your leg would be amputated, if you're anything like Ash, you would also be drained of you aura," Salvia argued with the Aura Master.
Dusk looked up and started laughing at the trainer, "I am nothing like that idiot, but I still need to fight, so I have no choice in the matter don't I?" Dusk asked the two as they nodded at her, "alright if you two must know, I have no recollection of my past," Dusk confessed to the two people, she looked away as the princess started helping her while leaned on the wall with his arms crossed, "I thought Shade and Hollow could help me, but it is now obvious I can trust no one in this world," Dusk explained her original plan to Ash and Salvia.
"Did you know that Shade and Hollow think this entire situation is nothing but a game?" Ash asked the Aura Master, but she ignored the question, glaring at the trainer, "that they were using you to achieve their goals, heck I am even part of their sick plans as well," Ash told her as she turned away from Ash.
"Shut up, I am not interested in what they have in store for you," Dusk snapped back, she felt a sharp pain shoot up her body as the princess put disinfectant on her right leg, "hey that really hurts you fool," Dusk berated the princess.
"You know, that it is for your own well-being, unlike Shade and Hollow, we do care about you," Ash informed the blue haired Aura Master.
"Highly doubt that, how do I know that I am not a pawn to you?" Dusk showed even more distrust in Ash and the princess.
Ash looked at the ground, hiding his displeasure at the current situation, "because, life is a precious gift," Ash repeated Salvia's words to the Aura Master, he turned towards the door and put his hand on the door handle, "you shouldn't throw your life away so readily," Ash told the silent woman who looked away from Ash, he exited the house, he stepped outside seeing the clear sky with the storm clouds rolling in from the west.
"Why does he care?" Dusk asked the young royal.
"Ash lost someone important to him, he felt responsible for what had happened, so he sought revenge against the Shadow Lords," Salvia tried to answer the Aura Master's question, she opened up her bag and pulled out the white cloth, Salvia started to wrap Dusk's leg, "he isn't out to use you, he really needs your help, he wouldn't admit it either."
"So he saved me, because I am needed in this world?" Dusk asked the princess, to which she nodded in reply, she watched the young royal pulling out a picture of her family and she handed it to the Aura Master, "what is this?" Dusk questioned the princess, looking at the happiness of the young royal and her family, with the palace in the background, the large garden which was behind them.
"When I was at my happiest, with mom and dad," Salvia answered he look alike, "that was taken before my mother was killed, since then my father has been depressed, he is being used by the Shadow Lords and I am meant to be killed by them," Salvia explained the situation to the lady, she watched her get up and start limping to the window.
Dusk looked at the picture again and then towards Ash, "so you are like him, you cling to the past, one day princess you will need to make a tough decision," Dusk informed the blue haired royal, she watched Ash calling out for his Lucario and smiled a little, "you know, my opinion of him has changed…." Dusk confessed much to the joy of the young royal, "but only by a little," Dusk finished her comment, but the princess was still relieved by the words of the Aura Master.
"Ash is a great person, he isn't perfect, but…." Salvia was interrupted by the woman as she tried her best to explain to her doppelganger about Ash.
Dusk handed the picture back and placed her hand on her head, "don't say anything, I know about people's feelings, I can read you like a book," Dusk informed the Sinnoh born royal, she walked towards the door and pulled it open, "you're in love with him," Dusk walked out the door not waiting for the princess' reaction, she closed the door and walked away on her own, she glanced over to Ash, 'know this Ash, no harm better come to Salvia, because if she gets hurt, your head will roll,' Dusk glared at the Aura Guardian.
"There you are," a familiar male voice rang in the air.
Dusk clenched her fists and prepared to fight, "Shade and Hollow, what are you two doing here?" Dusk asked the Dark Aura Masters.
"Oh please, we are here to give you a message," Shade informed the Aura Master, Ash ran up to Dusk and stared at the Dark Aura Masters, "good, now the two of you are here, time to let you know something important," Shade kept his vision on Ash and Dusk while the duo noticed that Hollow wasn't around.
"What is it?" Ash growled at the Dark Aura Master.
"Get well soon, the fun and games are about to begin," Shade informed the two much to their dismay.
"Fun and games?" Dusk asked her former ally.
Before they could look around they heard the screams of Salvia, "I wouldn't move if I were you, unless you want the princess to be hurt in anyway," Shade hissed at the two in front of him.
"You bastard let her go, she is no threat to you!" Ash grabbed Shade by the collar.
"Calm down Ash, we need to figure out what Shade is going to do with the Princess," Dusk tried to calm the trainer down.
"Well that is obvious, we are taking her to Pastoria City, since you were taking forever to fall for a trap, but I am guess you knew all about the trap, no thanks to Greed," Shade pushed Ash's hands aside and turned away, he was accompanied by Hollow who was holding the princess over his shoulder, she tried to break free but Hollow was too strong.
"Let me go!" Salvia ordered the two, but they continued to walk as Ash tried to run to save her, "Ash, help!" Salvia pleaded with Ash.
"Salvia!" Ash called to the princess, but as he got closer Shade immediately turned around and punched him in the stomach to prevent him from chasing them.
Dusk tried to run but the pain in her right leg prevented her from going to far, "damn, they took the princess," Dusk hissed as she grabbed her right leg.
Winded by the punch that brought him to his knees, Ash watched in horror as the young royal was taken from him, "Salvia," Ash whispered her name, grabbing his stomach Ash got up slowly as Dusk tried to chase after the Dark Aura Masters, but was going nowhere due to her injury.
"Get back here you cowards!" Dusk yelled at the Dark Aura Masters, but to no avail, they were gone and taking the princess to Pride and to her demise. Dusk turned to Ash and glared at him, "get up now, we are going to chase them down," Dusk informed the raven haired Aura Guardian.
After slowly making it back to his feet, Ash nodded at the Aura Master, "I refuse to lose someone close to me again," Ash promised himself, he started walking towards the city with Dusk following him, Ash looked into his right hand and started to think about something that was now bothering him, 'why am I so interested in saving the princess? It wasn't long ago when I would have told her to get lost, but now I want her at my side,' Ash started to think about something, but was hit on the left shoulder.
Dusk shook her head and walked ahead, "no time to think about that, we have to save the princess, that means I will rip their arms off, but if they hurt the princess, I will destroy them," Dusk declared her intentions to Ash, limping slowly towards the next fight that she would have to face her former allies.
An unlikely team up has just occurred, with the same motivation, to save the princess from the Dark Aura Masters, will they save her in time? And what does this new experience tell Ash? It is now a race against time to save the Sinnoh Royal family.
Next up Chapter 17: Auras Collide.
Currently heading into the final chapters being written, the number of chapters completed is 30/38 with another one almost complete, that means there is only 7 chapters left to complete, plus the almighty epilogue chapter, what does this mean? it means now I will be releasing chapters for this story more frequently until I have caught up, this also means that on Tuesday there will be a release followed by another on Wednesday, please enjoy ladies and gents, also please tell me what you think of the story, would like to see what your thoughts are, Thank you