So I redid this chapter three times, but I think it's finally ready. This is the one that finally explains what this story is actually about. Aren't you excited? XD A big thanks to everyone who reviewed, as always. You guys keep me going, even when I have to redo a chapter three times. ;D
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A Different Kind of Soulmate
Chapter 6: Answers
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"Pikachu!" Ash cried, diving forward and lifting her limp body off the ground. "Pikachu, are you alright? Pikachu?" Fear built in Ash's eyes as his best friend remained eerily still. "C'mon buddy, wake up. Open your eyes or twitch or shock me or something…" Pikachu remained motionless and a single tear rolled down Ash's cheek to wet Pikachu's still-warm fur. She wasn't breathing. "Buddy, wake up. I don't know what will happen to me if you don't. I need you. Please, Pikachu." Ash hugged his best friend's lifeless body to his chest and squeezed his eyes shut to block out the image of Pikachu's vacant face, her closed eyes, and the terrifying stillness of her body. Another tear trickled down his face. "Wake up."
Finally Ash felt the bundle in his arms stir, and his eyes flew open, overcome with relief. But the shouts of happiness died on his lips as Ash watched Pikachu's body float slowly upwards, out of his arms. Her body was surrounded by a pulsing green glow, much like that on the runes of the cavern wall. It lit the area formerly touched only by moonlight, giving Ash's arms and Pikachu's fur a sickly green tinge. The pokemon's body continued to rise into the air, and only when it was hovering at Ash's eye level did he snap out of shock.
"Pikachu!" he cried, making a desperate grab for the yellow mouse. He gasped in surprise as his hands slid right by her, as if deflected by an invisible force. He tried again but only encountered the same results, and soon his best friend's body was higher than he could reach. Ash could only stand and watch; hoping desperately that when this was all over, things would be back to normal and Pikachu would be okay. I'd give anything to be bored again. Anything. Just…not this. Reverting to the mentality of a little kid, all he wanted was for everything to be better again.
"Pikachu…" he whispered, another tear falling from his eye to splatter on the only scorch-free patch on the whole plateau. "Please…anything but this."
Ash caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of his eye and a flash of green, but was unable to tear his gaze away from his friend's body. So he was surprised when he heard a voice coming from only a few meters away.
"Ash," the voice said softly, and Ash immediately locked on to the speaker, too startled to keep watching Pikachu. His eyes widened as he recognized the figure, a woman with strange green hair and robes that seemed to be made of mist. He was drawn back to an event that seemed a lifetime ago, a remembrance that was oddly fuzzy and vague…like a memory from a dream. He shook his head to get rid of the cobwebby thoughts, remembering Pikachu's situation as he did so.
"You!" he accused, immediately aggressive against this suspicious stranger. "Are you doing this to Pikachu? Let her down now! Can't you see she's hurt?"
"Ash, calm down," the figure soothed, moving closer. Ash cut her off.
"No!" he shouted, his hands balling into fists and his eyes glinting with determination. "I won't calm down until Pikachu's safe. Let her go!"
"Ash." The single word was nothing special, but something in the woman's deep green eyes made Ash pause. "Listen to me. Pikachu has lost a lot of energy, and she is not able to recover on her own. I am aiding the process and giving her the energy she needs. Without my help, she would likely die."
"No…" Ash whispered, staring up at Pikachu again. He was momentarily shaken by the first mention that death was a possibility, a term his conscious mind had been avoiding for quite a while. He took a deep breath and turned back to the woman, fixing her with a piercing, evaluating look, trying to detect any hint of deception. He didn't see anything untrustworthy, but then again Ash was not particularly good at recognizing dishonesty in other people, being such an honest person himself. Finally he nodded, going with his instincts and remaining innocence and trusting this mysterious stranger.
The woman merely nodded back, as if she had never suspected that Ash would reach any other decision. This assumption angered him a bit, but it was a helpless sort of anger that Ash mercilessly quashed from years of practice.
"Who are you, then?" Ash questioned, needing at least a name for the person he was entrusting Pikachu's life to. The woman smiled slightly, as if she knew a secret; her robes billowed around her in a mystic dance.
"I am everything and nothing, one thing and many. I exist in the past, present, and future, and belong in none. I am the mistress of Time itself; and that is all the answer I may give you."
Ash gasped at her words, the pieces of the puzzle coming together and his memory suddenly becoming clearer. "You're that woman," he announced, "the one that told us to come here. That this plateau was where we should come if we wanted to begin the next stage of our journey." Ash paused, mulling something over in his mind. "But it only ended in Pikachu getting hurt and almost dying. Why'd you tell us to come here?" Ash ended angrily, his gaze centered on Pikachu once more and her still lifeless face.
"It was a test," the Mistress of Time admitted hesitantly, as if preparing for another outburst. "It is a requirement that I test both your bond and your power, and I felt this was the best way to do it."
"The best way!" Ash flared. If the woman had been expecting an explosion, she wasn't to be disappointed. "You thought that the best way would be to almost kill my best friend? And all because of some silly test? What right do you have to test us, anyway?"
"This is not going at all like I planned," the woman muttered, putting a hand to her forehead. Ash was momentarily stunned by this show of human weakness by the mysterious figure, but quickly got over it, all his anger returning with a single glance at Pikachu's prone form.
"Ash, I will explain everything, I promise," the woman tried, lowering her hand and becoming the mystical stranger once again. "Just wait until I am finished healing Pikachu," she suggested. "I have a feeling we will be able to understand each other much better when she is safe."
Ash was silent for a moment, his gaze hovering on Pikachu and flicking only occasionally towards the Mistress of Time. "Fine," he finally ground out, his eyes flinty. Without another glance in the woman's direction, Ash moved to stand directly under Pikachu and waited, ready to catch her at a moment's notice.
"…Did we pass?" Ash muttered finally, his curiosity getting the best of him at last. He threw a quick, darting glance at the woman and found her smiling slightly and looking relieved.
"You passed."
Neither of them spoke again, and Ash allowed himself to become hypnotized by the pulsing light surrounding his prime pokemon. He stopped thinking, preferring to wait and not allow himself to ponder the 'what ifs'. Action was his choice when faced with any kind of problem, and being forced into idleness was torture.
Eventually Ash noticed the green light begin to dim. Pikachu's body shuddered and Ash threw an accusing glare at the green-haired woman, who held her hands up innocently. Suddenly the green aura around Pikachu disappeared with a blinding flash, and her body dropped into Ash's open arms.
"Pikachu!" he cried, kneeling on the ground and cradling his prime pokemon once more. "Pikachu, c'mon buddy, wake up." Ash held his breath as he waited for her to wake up, to be miraculously healed and restored. But nothing happened.
"What did—" Ash began accusingly, but the woman silenced him with a wave and a gesture towards the bundle in his arms. Ash gasped as Pikachu's eyes fluttered open, weak but alive.
"Pikapi…?" Pikachu whispered weakly, blinking dazedly up at her trainer. She frowned in confusion, catching sight of the tears glistening in the corners of Ash's eyes.
"Pikachu!" Ash cried, hugging his best friend close and not planning on letting go any time in the near future. His tears flew out of his eyes to sparkle like diamonds in midair as he buried his face in her warm fur. They were both still for a few moments, Ash just happy feeling the reassuring rise and fall of Pikachu's chest, and Pikachu willing to give her trainer whatever comfort she could, even if she had no idea what the problem was.
At last Pikachu pulled back, curiosity winning out.
"Pikachu?" she questioned, blinking up at Ash in confusion. Ash just shook his head.
"How do you feel?" he asked softly. Pikachu frowned.
"Pikachu pi," she replied hesitantly. Ash nodded; it was expected that she would feel a little weak. "Pikapi… Chu pikachu?"
"You used up too much of your energy, Pikachu," Ash explained gently. "It almost…" Ash paused, choking on the word. "You almost…died."
"Pika…" Pikachu murmured, her eyes downcast as she pondered this new information. They were both silent, lost in their own thoughts, until the third presence on the plateau made herself know again.
"The energy loss was merely the result of bad timing and inexperience," the woman announced, turning all eyes to her. "It will not happen again, provided she attempts it at full power, and with practice it will become easier."
"Chu?" Pikachu questioned, wanting to know who this random person was. Ash turned to her.
"Pikachu, don't you remember the Mistress of Time?" Ash prompted, and watched as his friend's eyes lit up with understanding. "She's the one that healed you and saved your life. We can trust her—I think."
"Chu," Pikachu nodded, showing her understanding. She turned to her savior. "Chu kachu pikachu?"
"I merely provided the energy you needed to recover," the woman explained. "You did all the hard work. By the way," she continued, shifting her focus to Ash, "you may like to know that she has learned a new attack. It is called Thor's Hammer, and it is the ultimate electrical strike, penetrating even the earth's own defenses. This is the first time it has been seen on this world."
"Then how do you know about it?" Ash threw back immediately.
"I have known of it and those who would create it since I began," the woman replied serenely. "There can be no secrets kept from me."
"Pikachu pika?" Pikachu asked thoughtfully after a lengthy pause. A delighted smile passed across the woman's face.
"Why, you are an intelligent one, aren't you?" she gushed. "To answer your question, it is more complicated than that. Fate is not a yes or no question; but it is true that some events are more certain than others. There is little surety in the future, and the futures of most are a tangled mess at best."
"Pika pichuka pikachu?"
"Yes, exactly like the fact that I didn't know what you were going to ask me. Small details like that are almost impossible to predict. Even if you could pin one down, the probabilities would shift and the most likely result would be different only seconds later." The Mistress of Time paused again and gave Pikachu another dazzling smile. "Very impressive, Pikachu. I'm glad to see your trainer's intelligence didn't rub off on you."
"Hey!" Ash protested, liking this woman less and less. "I was smart enough to become the Master, wasn't I?" The woman merely laughed, a sound like wind chimes. While Ash still found the sound oddly soothing, it calmed his mood only slighty. He was still annoyed and wary of the person who had almost killed his best buddy, and the insults were not helping.
"Pikachu, pikachupi pikacha."
"Of course you're right, Pikachu," the woman replied. "I called you here for a reason, and as you have passed the test I believe it is time to proceed. Ash, if you would come over here please?"
"Why?" Ash threw back immediately, his wariness increasing tenfold. The woman sighed.
"Ash, please just do as I ask. It's easier this way. I promise upon the very essence of the earth that you will not be harmed."
Ash paused, considering. He didn't entirely trust the mysterious woman, and in fact he had many reasons to believe the worst of her and leave the mountain immediately. On the other hand, he and especially Pikachu had sacrificed a lot to be here and apparently to receive just this offer. To cower away from it now would be to make those sacrifices meaningless. Ash took a deep breath and steeled himself against his doubts. They had scaled the mountain and braved the test; he would not flee now from his prize, however dubious it might seem.
Ash walked slowly towards the woman, picking his way carefully over the charred plateau. Surprisingly not a peep was heard from Pikachu, and Ash turned to make sure she was still alive and breathing, as per the Mistress's promise. She was, and she was also locked in some sort of staring contest with said Mistress.
"Pi pikachu chu?" she asked finally, flatly. The Mistress answered with equal solemnity.
"You may trust me. I have no reason to harm you. Indeed, I am much inclined to do the opposite." Curious, Pikachu tilted her head in a silent question, but the Mistress shook her head. "Everything will be explained in due course. Have patience." Slightly disgruntled, Pikachu nevertheless settled back in assent. The Mistress turned the full weight of her attention on Ash, who blinked.
"There are some things you both need to be aware of before we begin," she explained. "This experience will be strange and probably shocking to you both, but I ask simply that you let it run its course. Ash, I am about to trigger a change in your body, and it will feel quite strange. However, I assure you that it will not be painful, nor will it be permanent." She switched targets at this point, and the small yellow pokemon became the focus of that heavy gaze. "Pikachu, you must not interfere. You will see Ash go through some changes here, but I swear that he will not be harmed or even truly changed. This is to be your reward for passing my test. However, if you interfere with the process in any way, I cannot be sure that Ash will come out unharmed."
"Pi pika," Pikachu promised, holding a paw over her heart. Ash had to grin slightly at the gesture, although he was slightly put off by his friend's easy acceptance. Was he the only one who was the least suspicious of this stranger?
"Ash, are you ready to begin?" the Mistress probed, drawing his attention back. Taking a deep breath, Ash nodded, not trusting himself to say more. He was making himself totally helpless for the next few moments, and he didn't like it one bit.
"Very well then, we will start off slowly," she stated, apparently having caught on to Ash's twitchiness. Her voice, when next she spoke, had a soothing quality that made Ash feel sleepy despite his situation. "I want you to close your eyes and try to relax. Think of times when you were happy, at peace…times when everything seemed easy and simple, and the world was a friendly, hopeful place…when everything was just right, and natural." Ash could feel himself slowly slipping under the woman's spell or whatever it was, and although his first impulse was to fight it, he let it happen. He began to feel increasingly weightless and adrift, and gradually became aware of a growing brightness against his eyelids. As the brightness increased, so did a disturbing feeling of compression, something close to what Ash imagined claustrophobia to feel like. As it grew stronger Ash could no longer convince himself to remain passive, and he began to fight it, pushing out against whatever was squishing him. The lights began to flicker, but Ash's sense of calm was rapidly fading, and he continued to push.
Meanwhile, Pikachu was watching with growing horror at the spectacle before her. When Ash had first been engulfed by a familiar green light, everything seemed fine. Eventually he began to glow, almost like he was about to evolve. Pikachu had tensed, but mindful of the Mistress's warnings, remained where she was. He glowed brighter and brighter, and the without warning something like a small tornado seemed to erupt from his body. Pikachu had twitched, but remained stationary while the furious twister engulfed her best friend. The funnel of wind was strangely opaque, making Pikachu strain for a glimpse of Ash. The light was still noticeable, glowing brightly from within the twister. Pikachu just waited, not even daring to breathe.
Then, unexpectedly, the lights from within began to flicker. Pikachu frowned, knowing instinctively something was wrong, and turned to the Mistress. Her eyes were tightly shut, and a frown was also visible on her face. Pikachu jerked again, her eyes darting frantically back to the mini-whirlwind that was Ash. She wanted to dash over there, do something, anything, but the Mistress had said not to interfere, no matter what. She had promised…
A tear appeared in the funnel, revealing a glimpse of bright, blinding light. Pikachu had to close her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again the tear was gone. The light inside continued to flicker, but was now growing brighter nonetheless. Pikachu knew that if another tear appeared now and her eyes were subjected to the light within, she would indeed be blinded.
Finally she detected a muffled flash from within the twister that put her in mind of an exploding star, and then the strange winds seemed to lose their fury as quickly as they had gained it. They disappeared in disgruntled wisps, revealing what they had hidden for all to see.
A tiny figure, still glowing, stumbled away from the scene. Apparently badly uncoordinated, it tripped over its own limbs and toppled to the ground. Pikachu winced automatically in sympathy before the reality finally dawned on her. As the glow around the figure began to fade, she could only stare in disbelief at the tiny pokemon that was now curled into a little ball in the middle of the plateau.
Ash, for his part, could not have been more disoriented. There was something wrong with his legs, although he couldn't quite figure out what. Not only that, but he couldn't make sense of what he was seeing, and hearing, and smelling. After his first failed attempt at moving, which had resulted in bruises in body parts he hadn't known he had, he had curled up in desperation on the hard, crispy ground. Curling into a small ball, while normally not an acceptable solution never mind being physically impossible to the extent at which he was now curled, had seemed a natural defense, and he had gone with whatever strange instincts were guiding him. Right now, he would take all the guidance he could get.
He had to take one thing at a time. Currently the most distracting was what he smelled, so he would deal with that first. Poking his nose slightly out of the ball, he gave the air a sniff. An array of impossibly intricate smells assaulted his poor nose, so many that it was impossibly to identify individuals. Even if he could, Ash had a sinking feeling that he wouldn't recognize any of them. Freeing up an ear from the curl, he tried out his hearing. The wind still blew across the plateau, and his ear twitched obediently as it picked up the minute sounds of gravel shifting against the wind's onslaught.
Wait… Ash paused. Since when have my ears twitched?
Startled, his head shot out from his ball, eyes wide open. The rest of his body uncurled compliantly, and he was left sitting awkwardly on his haunches, his arms splayed out ahead of him. No, not hands, his slightly comatose mind informed him, paws.
In disbelief he stared down at the two small yellow paws that were currently holding him upright. They shook as he stared at them, and he became aware now in his stillness of an odd weight on his head and back.
"You nearly made yourself a half-Pikachu, you know," the Mistress stated, her odd conversational tone breaking Ash out of his trance. Ash could only blink at her. The Mistress shook her head and beckoned to something behind Ash. "It is safe now, you may move. Thank you for keeping your promise."
Pikachu nodded absently in acknowledgement, but within she was in turmoil. At the Mistress's beckoning she had no choice but to finally come forward, but she was still conflicted about her reaction. One thing was certain, however; Ash needed her, and she would be there to help. She sternly reminded herself as she stepped forward that no matter how much she wished this could be true, no matter how perfect it seemed to her, it would not be what Ash wanted. He would hate this, would be afraid, and would want to reverse the process as soon as possible. And as his friend, she would help him do just that.
"Pikapi?" A quiet, familiar voice caught Ash's attention, and he turned to it in relief. His best friend sat beside him, and she at least was still familiar. True, she was now a bit larger than he was, and she smelled a lot stronger than she used to, but it was a familiar scent, and a familiar figure.
"Pikachu," he breathed in relief. "Pi ka…" he stopped, startled. He had meant to say "I want my body back", but he had forgotten about the speech problem. Fortunately Pikachu seemed to understand without words.
She nodded, and butted him with her head in encouragement to rise. Ash caught something like pain flickering in her eyes, but he was too distressed himself to wonder at it. He rose obediently to all fours, and gratefully leaned against Pikachu when his legs wobbled a bit. Seeing he was reasonably stable, Pikachu turned an imploring gaze to the Mistress.
"Pika chu."
The Mistress's expression seemed to soften in apology, as if she was finally realizing how hard this had been on them both. "I do not have to. Ash now has the ability to change back whenever he wishes. But aren't you being a bit hasty? Surely you would like to experiment a bit more, Ash?"
Pikachu hesitated at the question, but Ash firmly shook his head. He gave the Mistress his fiercest glare but refused to attempt 'speech' again. The woman's attempt at helpfulness was lost on him. Pikachu furiously swallowed the selfish questions on her tongue and told her eyes to water another time.
"Pikachu, pika," she assured the Mistress. "Pi?"
"As you wish," she conceded to the pokemon's request for an explanation. "To change back, all that is required is for Ash to imagine himself back as a human, and to will the change to occur. The reverse is also true."
"Pikapi?" Pikachu questioned gently, prodding Ash. Ash nodded his understanding and steeled himself for the umpteenth time. Establishing a firmer grip on the rocky ground, he leaned away from Pikachu and did as the Mistress had instructed. Concentrating was difficult, but by sheer will power he was able to tune out the distractions. At least the willing part was easy, since currently there was nothing he wanted more.
As he remembered what it felt like to be human, he felt the odd weightlessness overtake him once more. Refusing to lose his calm he endured the sensation, and was surprised when the feeling of compression remained absent. Instead there was a freeing feeling, akin to shedding a skin that had been too small. It was a good feeling, and this time the transformation progressed without complications. When he opened his eyes again everything was back at its proper height and he was refreshingly tail-free. The smells were back to their nearly non-existent state and all he could hear was the wind. He could almost believe it had all been a dream – albeit a really weird waking dream – except for the way Pikachu was determinedly not looking at him, instead choosing to glare at the Mistress. The woman remained impassive.
"Pika," Pikachu demanded, now that it seemed everything was back to normal. The Mistress gave a nod that was almost a bow.
"Before I explain, I will remind you that the change was only temporary, as I had promised," she pointed out. "And that it was Ash's own will that fueled it, both times. This was meant simply as a gift, and one that Ash can have access to whenever he chooses. Do you still wish to hear my tale? You may still leave at any time, if you choose." Ash glared, having recovered enough to be angry.
"That wasn't a gift, that was a cage," he retorted, the experience too fresh in his mind to truly consider what he was saying. Pikachu flinched, but it went unnoticed.
"I do realize that I could have handled that better, and I apologize," the Mistress admitted. "That being said, are you not willing to listen to my reasons? Will you be stubborn to the point of foolishness?" Ash made no response, and the woman seemed to take that as acceptance.
"Very well then. My story begins—"
"Wait," Ash interrupted. "Explain the half-pikachu comment." The Mistress tossed a glance of vague annoyance in his general direction.
"As you may have noticed, there were some…difficulties with your transformation."
"Difficulties," Ash deadpanned, with more success this time.
"You fought against the initial change, and with surprising strength," she elaborated. "I was unprepared for such a struggle, and as a result you nearly achieved a stalemate. Luckily I was able to get the upper hand, or you could have ended up as some sort of pikachu and human mixture, which I'm sure would not have been pleasant."
"So you mean that I could have…"
"I am certain it would have been reversible," the woman assured him. "In truth the confusion probably accounted for your heightened disorientation after the change. The next time will probably be much easier."
"Who says there will be a next time?"
"Ash..." The Mistress sighed. "If you will allow me to explain, you may see the necessity of this, as well as the other events that have occurred."
"Fine," Ash ground out, angry but as reluctant as before to turn away from his 'prize'. "Explain away." Pikachu, curious and as eager as the Mistress to change topics, nodded in agreement.
"Thank you. My story begins in a time long past and equally long forgotten, when humans and pokemon lived in harmony with each other. They each lived life according to their own beliefs and rules, and each respected the beliefs and rules of the other. Some pokemon helped humans out of their own free will, as humans likewise occasionally helped pokemon, but there was no ownership. There was no such thing as a pokemon battle, and although conflict still existed and the world was not perfect, there was never the idea of inferiority that exists today, that humans are dominant over pokemon. Pokemon were not exploited as they are now.
"With the invention of the pokeball, all of this changed. Its invention, of course, was a mistake – but the mistake turned out to be a wealthy one, and soon people everywhere were shouting for their own balls. It turned into a new sport and then, a lifestyle. The first pokemon trainers were born, making it their life's aim to capture and train as many pokemon as they could, changing irrevocably the symbiotic relationship between people and pokemon.
"The humans ruled over the pokemon for a long time, eventually becoming entirely reliant on them. They exchanged their old electricity systems in favour of pokemon-powered generators; they used pokemon in agriculture, for entertainment, communication, transportation – virtually anything and everything was done with the help of pokemon. The humans flourished from the work of their slaves, and exploitation of pokemon grew.
"Finally there came a time when the pokemon had had enough. They revolted. They slaughtered their trainers first, their enslavers, and anyone else who stood in their way. Good trainers were killed as well, along with the few pokemon who dared to stand up for them. It was a massacre. The people were helpless to defend themselves against their own weapons. Eventually the humans abandoned their towns and cities and fled the wrath of the pokemon.
"They tried to rebuild, but at first it seemed impossible. They had been reliant on pokemon power for so long that they were utterly helpless on their own. But slowly they regained the technology of the past, and very, very slowly they began to establish normal life once more. Of course, they could never attain the fabulous lifestyle they had previously enjoyed, but they survived. Humanity struggled on. Children were born, and those children grew up with a strong respect for the natural world around them, especially the pokemon. Both sides began to forgive and forget.
"…With the invention of the pokeball, all of this changed." The Mistress paused, likely for dramatic effect.
"Um, not to say that isn't interesting and all, but what does that have to do with us?" Ash prompted, concerned that the woman was done talking. Pikachu nodded her agreement.
"I'm getting to that, just be patient," the Mistress said, dismissing his comment with an airy wave. Ash scowled, but stayed silent. "My point, Mr. Ketchum, is this: this cycle has been repeating itself for centuries, no, millennia. Now it has been interrupted, and the consequences of such an interruption can only be disastrous. And it is all your fault."
"What?!" Ash exploded. This was too much. "It's my fault?! How in the world is it my fault?! I'm only 20! And what happened to being 'chosen'?!" Pikachu stiffened beside him, but still remained mute.
"Ash, please calm down. I did not bring you here to get into an argument with you."
"You didn't?" Ash spat. "Well, that's not how it looks from here! Let's see, first you drag us up here to this horrible mountain, you almost kill me and Pikachu, and now you're accusing me of destroying the world! That is what you're saying, isn't it?"
"Well, yes, potentially, but—"
"Then we're clear! And I really don't need to listen to you any more!" Ash turned, and was about to storm away to who-knows-where (he sure didn't) when he saw something dart ahead of him. Placing herself between Ash and the exit, Pikachu met his gaze with some effort and simply said his name in a soft, almost pleading tone. After a long moment he sighed, his anger drained.
"Alright," he said, turning back to the Mistress, "I'll keep listening - as long as you promise to stop insulting me." Some of his anger rekindled and Ash glared at the offending woman.
"Ash, I'm afraid I can't make that promise," she admitted, "For it is true that you—and Pikachu—are the ones at fault for the calamities now facing us, whether or not it was done intentionally. However, allow me to explain." The scowl had reappeared on Ash's face, but he made no move to leave or speak. The Mistress sighed.
"I suppose I should apologize for my earlier comment; I had not meant to anger you, though I felt it was best to broach the subject bluntly. That was a mistake, I see that now." Ash nodded stiffly, and she continued.
"You see, there have been a few events in the past that should have been the start of the pokemon's revolt. The first of these involved a pokemon called Mewtwo. I'm sure you remember it." Ash merely frowned in confusion, and Pikachu cocked her head to the side. The Mistress frowned as well for a moment, but soon her features lifted again in understanding. "Ah yes, that's right; your memories of that incident were wiped." She paused again, seeming to consider something. "Well, I don't see any problem with returning them to you now. They will certainly help you with the current problem, and Mewtwo was wrong to take them away in the first place." She waved her hands, and there was a sudden flash of light. Ash and Pikachu gasped.
Images, feelings, and thoughts raced through their minds like wildfire, too many to consciously make sense of. But somehow it was making sense, and they were remembering. Ash's eyes widened as his memory of the clones returned, and softened as he remembered releasing Pikachu, Bulbasaur and Squirtle from capture. Pikachu felt tears come to her eyes as she watched Ash get hit and turn to stone, and felt the unbearable pain of loss once again. Eventually the rush of information slowed, and then sputtered to a stop. Blinking in astonishment, they exchanged glances with each other, and then turned identical wide-eyed stares to the Mistress.
"As you can see, it was because of your actions that Mewtwo did not succeed," she clarified. "If not for you two, that event surely would have led to the next stage of the cycle. Instead, the era of humans was prolonged. But there were more chances for the revolt.
"The second event involved the three legendary birds and another legendary pokemon called Lugia. The three birds, known as Zapdos, Moltres, and Articuno, became victims of the enslaving humans. But the humans had overestimated their own strength, and the birds were freed. This was inevitable. Their rage and vengeance was also inevitable, and it was also foreseen that Lugia would rise up out of the sea and try to contain their fury. It would fail, this was foreseen as well. What was not foreseen was your involvement. Without your aid, the combined power of the three legendary birds would have overcome Lugia, and would have laid waste to the power of the humans. However, you stepped in, and because of you, Lugia emerged victorious."
"But…but there was a prophecy!" Ash sputtered. "I was the 'chosen one'! I was supposed to help!" The Mistress raised her eyebrows in surprise – or maybe just interest.
"Chosen one? No one is ever 'chosen'. Sometimes the necessary personalities are simply in the right place at the right time. Nothing more, and nothing less. That prophecy was created by observant people long ago, who had noticed the inevitable shift of power, and who were hopeful. That is all."
"You're one to talk! What about all the 'Champion' stuff?" The Mistress of Time waved her hand in dismissal of the idea.
"Nothing more than a backup plan," she explained, no emotion entering her voice. "That prophecy was preserved over the years in case something like this happened. The wording of it was changed slightly as the possibilities narrowed and I was able to see farther ahead, so it fits the two of you quite well. There is no truth to it, but it served well enough to bring the two of you to me."
Pikachu frowned. Something didn't seem to fit – if this woman could see the future as well as she claimed, then why hadn't she done something before now? Pikachu said as much, and the Mistress smiled in appreciation.
"Good question," she commented, and both observers could detect something like pride in her expression. "The future is a tricky thing, as I think I've mentioned before. Although the possibilities do narrow as the actual event approaches, the outcome is never entirely certain until after the fact. Because of this, although I edited the prophecy I could not act until I was entirely sure that the revolt would not come to pass. Also, altering the future is very dangerous. If your actions do not fit into one of the many possible outcomes – and my interference did not – then the consequences are completely unpredictable, and could be disastrous. I did not want to chance that until I knew I had no choice. With the way things are now, I am willing to risk it. I doubt anything that I do could end with a future worse than the one I currently foresee. And of course, before there was always a high possibility that one or both of you would die, and there would be nothing to worry about."
"Wait – so you were hoping we would die?" Ash flared yet again. "That wasn't a test, that thing with the geodudes. You were trying to kill us!" The Mistress turned a cold gaze on Ash, and Pikachu decided it was high time she stepped in.
"Pikapi, pi chu pika," she reasoned. She could tell this was going to be hard; had the Mistress been trying to provoke him? She carried on, trying to get him to see past his anger to the necessity of the situation. The Mistress had already admitted that she needed them for her plan to succeed; it would make no sense to kill them off now. And anyways, no matter how you looked at it two lives were a small price to pay for the world's safety. Eventually Ash calmed down enough to see the logic in her argument.
"You're right, of course," Ash sighed. "She just…"
"Pikachupi," she agreed, giving his leg a pat. He could think clearly again, and that had been her goal.
"May I continue now?" the Mistress interrupted. Pikachu narrowed her eyes.
"Pichukapi," she accused, verbalizing her suspicion of attempted provoking. The Mistress shrugged elegantly.
"Perhaps. May I continue now?"
"Go on," Ash replied. His posture was stiff now, prepared. This was a battle now; one that he would not lose.
"As I was saying, there were two chances for the revolt to occur, and the two of you managed to stop both. There will be another, but it will come too late. It is almost too late now. If we were to allow the current sequence of events to continue, it is quite likely that it would be the end of the human race. But I believe if you are careful, and use the gifts I will give correctly, then it is possible to avoid tragedy. Do not think that you can avoid the shift in power completely. All that is possible is too prolong it, and doing so would only make it worse in the end, as I think I've already explained. The only chance now is for you to control the revolt, and perhaps save as many lives as you can, including your own of course. If things continued as they are, I can assure you that the Pokemon Master would become a prime target."
Ash's eyes widened in realization, but both he and Pikachu relaxed slightly. It seemed the Mistress wasn't out to get them after all, if what she was doing would save their lives.
"I regret to admit that this will put you in danger as well, but it is infinitely better than the certain death that awaits you and all of your pokemon," she continued. "You now have a choice to make. I cannot force you, so it is ultimately up to you whether you will accept this task or not. It will not be easy, but I do not believe it will be entirely impossible." Ash and Pikachu shared a glance, and returned with identical expressions of determination.
"We'll do it," Ash confirmed, and Pikachu supported him with a firm "yes". The Mistress nodded soberly, apparently expecting this reply.
"Then we are coming to a close of the wisdom I have to impart. There are a few more details concerning your other form that you should know. The process itself is a very old form of magic, and all it requires is a very strong bond between a human and a pokemon, along with a little psychic help that I was able to provide. I must warn you that this ability is only temporary. There is only so much back-and-forth that you can handle, and you will eventually have to settle again. However, that is a discussion for another time.
"As I've said before, this ability is my gift to you. With the aid of both forms you will be able to easily mingle in the worlds of both humans and pokemon, without giving either side cause for suspicion. This ability will make your task possible, and will very likely save your lives more than once. It should be obvious, but you must be very careful never to let anyone see you change. Not only would that endanger your lives, but it would likely be the end of any chance for success.
"There are a few details of this arrangement that I suppose you need to know. While you are in a form you have all the abilities of that form – meaning, Ash, that you will be able to use electric attacks while in your Pikachu form. Also, I believe in cases like this you retain the lifespan of your longest-lived form…in this case, human. This means that Ash will not accidentally die of old age in his pokemon form."
"I believe that is all I was planning to tell you… If you have any remaining questions, now is the time to ask." Ash and Pikachu had been listening in stunned silence, but both perked up at the prompt.
"There is one thing I still don't understand," Ash began. "What was the point of that…test…if it wasn't to make sure that we were the Champions?"
"Ah yes," the Mistress murmured. "I was wondering when we'd get back to that. The test was, in short, meant to do just what I said it was; it was supposed to make sure that you were who I expected you to be, and to ensure you would be capable of accomplishing the task I would assign to you. It also had the added bonus of giving Pikachu the opportunity to learn that new attack. And, of course, it gave me an opportunity to save Pikachu's life…and overcoming that trial also made you both more determined to hear me out."
"You…!" Ash spluttered, angered again, but was silenced by a soft tug on his pant leg. He looked down into Pikachu's soft brown eyes, and took a deep breath.
"Pi pi, Pikapi," she said softly. "Pikachu pi kachu…"
"Alright," he muttered in response. "We're both ok, you're right. It doesn't really matter anymore." Pikachu nodded in satisfaction.
"Pika ka?" Pikachu questioned, looking back up at the Mistress. The woman raised her eyebrows.
"Who am I?" she repeated, surprised. "I told you, I am everything and –"
"Pi pika, pikachu chu kacha," Pikachu rattled off quickly, beating the Mistress to her own response. "PiKa, chu pika?"
"Oh, you want a name?" the Mistress guessed. "Well, I suppose I can tell you… I am Celebi." There were identical gasps from Ash and Pikachu. They did seem to be doing that a lot.
"Celebi?" Ash repeated. "But…you don't look like –"
"This is merely the form in which I chose to present myself to you," she explained. "It is easier to communicate with both of you this way, and I have found I am treated more seriously when I appear like this." Her dark green eyes darkened. "Just another reason why this cycle needs to progress."
"So you're a pokemon…" Ash muttered. "That explains some things…" If possible, the Mistress's eyes darkened more.
"What do you mean?" Ash paused, but decided to just say it.
"You don't like me."
"No, I suppose I don't," she admitted after another pause. But before Ash could elaborate, she continued, "But has it occurred to you that I dislike you because of your stupidity, rather than your species?"
"You started insulting me the second you appeared. You never gave me a chance."
"I have been watching you for a long time, Ash," she replied dangerously. "I didn't need to give you a 'chance'."
"But you've also been watching humans for a long time," Ash countered, undeterred. "Maybe you're not as unbiased as you seem to think."
"Ash, I dislike you because I do not believe you should have been able to achieve what you have, because you possess below-average intelligence, are oblivious, conceited, and…" she frowned, and then finally admitted softly, "because you are human."
"I knew it!" Ash crowed, but was quickly subdued by a glare from Pikachu.
"I suppose…perhaps I have been watching for too long." The Mistress seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, then remembered herself and glanced quickly at the sky. "Dawn approaches. It is time for you to leave."
"Don't tell me," Ash groaned, glancing back the way they had come, "that we have to go back through there again…"
"No, no," the Mistress reassured them, shaking her head. "I will teleport you to the base of the mountain, and from there it is a simple matter to walk back into town. So if you have no more questions, I think –"
"One more thing," Ash interrupted. "Why was I the only one to get your 'gift'? Why not something for Pikachu?" Pikachu's ears perked up at the question, and she watched curiously. The Mistress shrugged elegantly.
"It was not necessary," she said simply. "Unlike you, Pikachu is already on the winning side." Both friends fell silent as the implications of this sunk in, and the Mistress allowed them a short break before calling their attention to the light situation.
"Dawn is nearly upon us," she reminded them. "If you would both come forward, you can be back in Lavender with the rising sun."
Ash and Pikachu came forward obligingly, and Ash took the offered hand with only a little hesitation. Pikachu, much lower to the ground, balanced precariously on her hind feet to reach the other hand, which she promptly yanked down to a more reasonable height once she got a handhold.
"Don't let go," she cautioned, and then closed her eyes. A soft green glow began to surround all three, growing so that it encompassed their entire view and they could see nothing else. They experienced a now-familiar feeling of weightlessness and then the green light faded and they found themselves standing at the base of the mountain as the light of dawn began to creep over the horizon. Ash turned to thank the Mistress for the ride, but was met only with a flash of green light and a whisper of "good luck".
"Somehow I think we'll need more than just luck," Ash muttered, turning away from the mountain and slowly beginning the trek back to Lavender.
"Chu…" Pikachu agreed, gaze fixed on the rising sun. She fell back to all fours and slowly hopped after Ash, wide eyes still watching the dawn.
(o. o)
Celebi hovered out of sight behind a small bush and watched the two friends make their way towards Lavender. She had allowed Ash to mistake the flash from her transformation as a sign that she had actually disappeared, and now she was alone with her thoughts. The possibilities were beginning to narrow, but the future was still too much of a mess for her to see anything. She had done the equivalent of throwing a wrench into Time's plans, and it was anyone's guess how things would play out.
She had introduced herself as the Mistress of Time, but she no more governed time than a sailor controlled the sea. Celebi was very hopeful that things would turn out for the best, but she no longer had any say in that. She had put that responsibility in the hands of two mortals, and even now she wasn't entirely sure if it had been the right decision.
From what she could gather from their reactions, Celebi could tell Pikachu was beginning to understand the enormity of the problem, but she wasn't sure about Ash. He was still being his normal happy-go-lucky self, and she could only hope that he would understand before it was too late. If he didn't take this seriously enough, the consequences could be fatal.
Perhaps she was underestimating him. He had picked up on her bias towards humans after all, so he wasn't completely dense. Then again…her bias did have some base, and in this case Ash's humanity might actually prove to be a handicap. No matter how good a soul Ash had, the facts remained that he had been raised according to the beliefs and ideals that humans held…and in any other situation that would automatically make him an enemy of the pokemon. Add to that the fact that he was the Master…automatic death sentence.
It would be his relationship with Pikachu that would save him. Celebi had never seen anything quite like it, or perhaps she had just never been looking. In any case, it was something very special, and hopefully it was strong enough to keep them both alive in the times to come. If things went according to plan, the gift she had given the two would strengthen that bond. If not…well, then she'd get to see how much Pikachu could do alone.
Only time would tell. And Celebi would be listening when it did.
One thing I should point out here: I have never seen the Celebi movie, so my Celebi is entirely my own creation. Feed the author's soul, review. :)