Chapter 27: A Cold Wind Blows
It was now very early in the morning, before the sun was rising. Tails, having put the Tornado NX on autopilot, was restless. He woke up several times throughout the night because of a nightmare, only to fall back asleep. Now he was fully awake, as his restless body would not let him sleep anymore.
Annoyed by this, he pulled out his Chaos Emerald radar to check on the emerald's location. With the improved accuracy, he pinpointed its location:
"Mount Quena?" he murmured. "How did it get there?"
They are coming the Messenger said.
Are they? its master replied, his back turned to his servant.
Yes. They are heading to Mount Quena.
Mount Quena the dark figure repeated, closing his eyes as though remembering. Something about that place...that detestable place...something about it strikes a chord in my heart. It's as though I've been there before. But it makes no matter. Their quest for the Chaos Emeralds will lead them to us. What fools...believing that such pathetic power as that can hope to undo what the doctor has wrought!
You mustn't underestimate the emeralds the Messenger informed him. One emerald alone is a source of unlimited power. Whenever they gather all seven, there is nothing they cannot do.
Its master nodded in understanding. Yes he mused. But my power is greater than anything they know. He clenched his fist. That is why Ash Ketchum must die.
What? the Messenger looked at him, surprised.
He holds a power greater than my own, and he has already tapped into it once. If he should learn to control this power, to harness it, then all I have done will be for naught. I cannot spare any risks!
Do you truly believe he will be able to harness it? the Messenger asked, sounding uncertain.
He has already learned how to wield a similar power with his Greninja. It would not take much for him to discover the power housed in that stone he carries around his neck. He is far too dangerous to be allowed to live, and I cannot rest until I know for certain that he is DEAD!
The Messenger flinched as its master suddenly shouted, causing a small explosion in the dark void he called home. When it settled down, its master could be heard breathing heavily.
Then what is my next task? the Messenger asked after a moment of silence. You know I could never kill him.
Leave that to me its master said. I have promised you one life, and one life only. All else is mine. As for you, keep a low profile. When these fools come for the seventh Chaos Emerald, then we will strike.
That's something else that bothers me the Messenger interjected. Dr. Eggman and Team Rocket have the seventh emerald, as well as the one from Mt. Pyre. Why did you let them take them?
I wanted to make things easier for them its master said with a growl. Their usefulness is quickly coming to an end. I need them only to lure Ash Ketchum to the seventh emerald. Then I will dispose of them. He turned and looked at his Messenger. You are not concerned with my desire to kill him, are you?
Silence filled the void as the dark figure's question hung in the air. The Messenger simply stood there, its hidden face expressionless. Then, with an icy bitterness that no human being could wield in their voice, it gave its answer:
He means nothing to me.
I see its master mused, turning away again. Then it's settled. You take her life, and I'll take his. He chuckled softly yet darkly. It's almost poetic, like a tragedy from ages past.
Sir, if I may ask one more question the Messenger quipped.
Make it quick he snapped back, though not completely vehement.
What about Shadow? Do you fear him, too?
After a brief pause, he simply chuckled. I told you I would take care of him in the same way I take care of anyone who dares to stand against my power. Shadow the Hedgehog is no longer a threat to us. He will live...and suffer.
The Messenger nodded. I understand.
Good. Now, is there anything else?
No it replied. I am content.
Good. Now remember: keep a low profile. You are the key to Ash Ketchum. If anyone else should unlock him before I do, they will suffer a fate worse than his own!
As you wish, my master the Messenger bowed, then turned and slowly walked away.
The power of his stone the dark being shivered. He will destroy us all.
"Do you think this'll work?" Knuckles asked over the roar of the plane's engine. The door was open, and he, accompanied by several others, held a rope. Ash was at the bottom of the rope as they neared their destination. The sun was rising by this point.
"It should be fine," Tails called back. "Ash has a firm grip. This'll be a piece of cake."
Knuckles shrugged and turned back as Mount Quena was now in range.
"I found it!" Ash called from below. "Lower me!"
"Hold on tight, Baseball Head!" Sonic, a hedgehog again, called as they slowly lowered the rope. As Ash lowered towards the mountain, a glimmering gem wedged between two rocks. After calling for just a little bit more, he reached out and grazed the emerald with his fingertips. It slipped slightly and started to fall, but he quickly snatched it.
"I got it!" he called back up. "Bring me in!"
With that, everyone hoisted him up again. He climbed back into the plane and held himself close as he stood up and shivered.
"Chilly breeze out there?" May winked at him.
"You h-have no id-dea," he said through chattering teeth. May just laughed and pushed him playfully. Then she gasped.
"Goodness! You are cold!"
"I t-told you," he said, his teeth still chattering. "D-Did winter c-come early this year?"
"You sure it's not just the breeze blowing through?" Serena asked in concern.
"Even if it was, I don't think it would make your teeth chatter," May said, her eyes worried. She laid a hand on Ash's forehead. "Are you okay, Ash?"
"I-I'm f-fine," he said, still shivering.
"Here," Dawn said, handing him a winter coat. "I brought this for hiking Mt. Coronet. I guess you need it more than I do."
"Th-Thanks," Ash smiled, gratefully taking her pink coat and covering himself in it. He sat down and continued to shiver, though as he continued to warm up, he shivered less and less.
"Something's not right," Amy muttered. "There's no way the temperature outside could naturally get anywhere below sixty degrees. And even if it did get that low, there'd be no way it would be cold enough to cause someone to shiver this much. And even if it was cold enough, Ash was wearing two shirts and a pair of pants. Yet here he is, shivering like he just got out of some icy water! Does this strike anyone else as suspicious?"
"Hm," Cilan thought. "You know, Amy does have a point. What could have caused this?"
"Possibly a Pokemon of some kind?" Sonic suggested. "Wouldn't be the first time I heard of a Pokemon causing something unnatural."
"I think Sonic's right," Ash, now steady, said. "The question, then, is which Pokemon?"
"Let's just keep our eyes open," Knuckles said. "With everything that's been going on, I'm sure we'll find the answer soon enough."
Everyone agreed as Tails set their course for Kanto to find the sixth Chaos Emerald. As he did so, Ash walked over.
"Hey, Tails," he asked. "Where are we headed next?"
"Hm, let's see," Tails said as he checked the radar. "Ah! It looks like the emerald is somewhere outside Pallet Town!"
"Pallet Town?" Ash's eyebrows went up. "That's great! Man, Mom's probably worried sick about me right now. May and I left without warning when Eggman attacked."
"Think we could land there?" Tails asked.
"Find a sufficient spot, and we'll do it," Ash grinned. With that, he walked back to his seat and sat down. The blood suddenly rushed to his head, causing him to become dizzy for a moment. "Ugh," he muttered.
"You okay, Ash?" Max asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied. "Just a little dizzy, that's all."
But Ash was wrong. As the Tornado NX rapidly drew closer to Pallet Town, his condition worsened. He started hacking, his throat became sore, and his overall energy level plummeted.
"Aaa-CHOO!" he sneezed for the fifth time.
"Good gracious, Ash!" May exclaimed, placing her hand on his forehead again. "You really are burning up!"
"It's...nothing," Ash wheezed. "I'm...fine."
"No, you're not!" May said angrily. "You're burning up! You've got a fever! We need to get you home now!"
"Tails!" Max called. "How much farther?"
"We're practically there!" Tails called back. "Let me just land the plane and we'll get to Ash's house straight away!"
Ash sighed, depressed. "This is not how I wanted to spend my afternoon," he moaned.
As soon as the plane landed, May and Sonic worked together to carry Ash across the plain to his house. When she was a few yards away, the front door opened as a familiar, auburn-haired woman rushed out.
"Oh, heavens!" she cried, coming up and placing her son's cheeks between her hands. "What's happened to him?"
"He caught a bit of a fever," Sonic said. "It's probably not too serious. He just needs some rest."
"Bring him to the couch," she instructed them. "Place a damp cloth on his forehead and stick a thermometer in his mouth." They nodded in response, and Sonic took him inside. May tried to follow him, but Ash's mother grabbed her arm. "As for you, young lady," she said, looking somewhat stern.
"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Ketchum," May said. "I know we left without warning, but –"
She was cut short when Delia put her hand on her shoulder. "Thank you for taking care of him."
May blinked. "Huh? You're not upset?"
"No," Delia shook her head. "Maybe a little frustrated that you left without warning, but I'm glad you're okay. Now come in, quickly! Your Ashy needs you."
May blushed furiously at that last comment, but she hurried inside to take care of her boyfriend.