Games or Bust
By: Aubrie1234
It was some sort of game called Zathura, whatever that was.
"Zathura? Sounds even weirder than Monopoly." Iris muttered.
"It's a two-player game too. Who's going to play?" Ash asked.
"How about I play against you, Ash? I haven't got to play yet and you really didn't stand a chance with Monopoly." Trip said. Ash sulked a little, but he said: "Fine. How do we play?" Trip looked it over for any rules, but the only thing he could find was some writing in the box cover, which said:
"Zathura. Attention, Space Adventurers. Zathura Awaits. You have what it takes to navigate the galaxy? It's not for the faint of heart. But once you embark upon your journey, there's no turning back until Zathura is reached. Pieces reset at the end of each game. Play again and again for different adventures."
"What a mysterious and exquisite flavor!" Cilan commented.
"Well, the only rule for the game must be no cheating." May shrugged.
"Let's start the game, then!" Ash said, getting out the wind-up key to start the game. He was the red ship and he went 5 spaces. A card shot out of the game.
"Huh? What's this for?" Ash said, grabbing the card. It looked at it and read what it said: "Meteor Shower. Take evasive action."
"Maybe that's something that helps you during-" Drew started, but was quickly silenced by something shooting through the roof and landing beside him, making him yelp with surprise. He looked back to see a rock had landed beside him, except it was smoking. Suddenly, the ground started to shake and they were surrounded by pelting rocks.
"RUN FOR COVER!" Misty yelled, diving under a table. She was soon followed by Cilan, Brock, Dawn, and May. The others hid under other tables and things until the shower and the shaking stopped. Then an even bigger meteor landed on the empty desk and broke it, signaling the true end of the shower.
"What just happened?" Kenny asked, getting out from the table he was hiding under and standing up.
"You guys don't think that game did this, do you?" Barry asked, also getting out. The ceiling had lots of holes in it and the ground was littered with the smoking rocks.
"Maybe. Besides, we were just pelted by METEORS!" Harley exclaimed, waving his arms for emphasis.
"And I was almost hit by one." Drew added.
"Well, remember, we can't go back on the game. If what the description said is true, then the only way out of here is by playing until the end." Solidad explained.
"Is it just me, or did it suddenly get dark outside?" Iris asked, looking at one of the windows.
"I think we might have a problem." Dawn muttered, also looking out of the windows.
"What sort of problem?" Gary asked.
"I think we're in space. Look." She then pointed to the outside. They all came over and looked, seeing it was true.
"Then it's your turn, Trip." Ash told him, turning his head to face him.
"I hope we don't get another shower, then." Trip muttered as he turned the wind-up key.
"It shouldn't happen. Most games don't have duplicate cards." Zoey told him. He was the blue ship and went 8 spaces. A card then popped out.
"Your robot is defective." it read.
"This doesn't make any sense. I don't even have a robot." Trip said, confused. May suddenly squealed and pointed at a small toy robot in one of the doorways.
"So cute!" she said. Everyone else ignored the robot and talked amongst themselves about what the card meant. Except for Paul and May. May because she thought the robot was adorable and Paul because he thought the weird toy might have something to do with the card. After a few seconds, they both got their answer.
"Uh, guys?" May asked, scared.
"Not now, airhead." Drew said.
"Now is not the time, Drew!" Paul growled.
"What, you're defending her?"
"Just look!" he said, and pointed at where the robot should be. Should be. Instead, a giant robot was in its place. No wonder Paul and May sounded afraid.
"Run?" Ash asked Trip, scared.
"Run." Trip agreed (also scared), and they both ran, with the robot ignoring the others and chasing after them.
"I think we should help them. They're the only ones who can get us home." Brock said, watching the robot almost charge the two into oblivion.
"How are we supposed to stop the robot, though?" Kenny asked, also watching.
"Trick it into falling into the basement?" Barry asked. They all looked at him with confused faces.
"What? All Pokemon Centers have a basement because I've been down in one. It's a long story, though." he explained.
"It could work." Cilan muttered to himself.
"THEN DO IT!" both Ash and Trip yelled, passing by and dodging another charge from the robot.
"The basement is the only room in the Center with a door marked 'Employees Only'! Trick the robot into falling down the stairs and it should trap it!" Barry yelled to the two. They nodded and disappeared around a corner, the robot hot on their heels. Soon, they came back, out of breath.
"That robot...is smarter than it looks!" Ash panted.
"Your turn...Ash." Trip panted as he sat down on a chair.
"Alright." Ash said. Then he took his turn, going 9 spaces, and a card popped out. It read: "You have been promoted to a Starship Captain. Move ahead two spaces." it did, but nothing major happened.
"Looks like at least part of this game is normal." Zoey said.
"I hope nothing bad happens on my turn." Trip said as he turned the key. It went 7 spaces and another card popped out.
"You pass too close to Tsouris-3. Enter gravity field." it read.
"Uh oh. Not good!" Dawn said, pointing out the window again as it felt like the whole place was tilting. A giant red sun was outside and it was pulling them towards it.
"We have to wait this out! Everyone, grab onto something that's attached to the floor!" Paul yelled, grabbing onto a table. Everyone did the same by grabbing the broken desk, other tables, or the booths. It felt like forever, but the building finally managed to go back to normal and they were safe.
"My turn always causes bad things to happen. I hate it!" Trip roared in frustration.
"Well, it's my turn now. I hope nothing bad happens on mine." Ash said before he took his turn. It went 1 space and a card came out. It read: "You're promoted to Fleet Admiral. Move ahead 4 spaces."
"Lucky." Trip muttered grumpily.
"Stop being a little kid and a bad sport. It's your turn." Iris told him. He nodded and played. It went 6 spaces and another card popped out.
"You have been demoted to Captain. Go back 2 spaces." it read.
"At least nothing bad happened this time." Drew said. Ash was about to take another turn when there was a loud crash from the back of the Center.
"Not again." Trip muttered sadly. This was going to take a while. Ash took his turn quickly and went 2 spaces. That meant he was almost to the end. The card came out and it read: "Reprogram."
"Reprogram? What's this for?" he asked.
"HELP!" Trip yelled, running from the robot once again.
"Maybe it'll help stop that robot?" Harley asked, pointing to said robot.
"I'll try." Ash replied. He pointed the card at the robot and said: "REPROGRAM!" It stopped and faced him.
"...Did it work?" Trip asked, hiding behind Gary, away from the robot.
"I think so." Dawn answered.
"All it's doing is just standing there. I hope it stays that way."
"And Trip, it's your turn." Ash told him. He nodded and took his turn. The piece went 2 spaces and a card came out.
"Lose map of the galaxy. Go back 2 spaces." it read.
"Really? I keep getting the bad cards." Trip sighed.
"I'm almost done. It shouldn't be long." Ash said, trying to reassure him. He then took his turn and went 9 spaces, finishing the game.
"Yes!" he yelled in excitement, "It's over!"
"G-guys? I-is that Zathura?" May asked, pointing and looking out the window. She was white as a ghost and so was Dawn, who was beside her and also looking out the window.
"What do you mean, May?" Solidad asked. She just pointed back out the window and said: "Look."
"A BLACK HOLE?! That's Zathura?!" Gary asked, also looking out the window.
"This isn't going to end well..." Ash muttered.
"Thank goodness that's over!" Harley exclaimed with happiness. Everything was back to normal and they all sweared they would never play iZathura again.
"Let's try and play a normal game this time, alright?" Solidad sighed.
"Which one this time?" Kenny asked.
"I'll go look." Ash said, going and putting the game back. He came back with another game, which was called...
Another cliffhanger! I based the happenings on the movie Zathura, but changed it a bit to fit the story. I DON'T OWN ZATHURA OR POKEMON!