A Brief Moment in Time

Part 16

My eyes open to a rough, jagged ceiling. What had happened?

I sit up, with a little difficulty, and a rush of pain goes to my head. I can’t do anything about it now. I’ll just have to ignore it.

I look around for Ash, hoping he’s with me. I spot him a few feet away, unconscious and facedown, on the dusty ground floor. I reach him and gasp at the pool of blood on the back of his head. I try to examine it more closely with my hands.

It had not been bleeding for sometime now. That’s good. But I need to bandage it with something. I look around at my surroundings for a cloth to cover it.

It looks like I’m in a cave. But… the walls… they’re smooth.

I get up onto my feet to the nearest wall, curiosity getting the best of me.

There’s… writing.

I trace some strange letters with my fingers.

Chosen

*Your awake.*

I twirl around and I face…

“Celebi!”

@---}-----

Misty was exhausted.

She had kicked, yelled, and even screamed, ever since Team Rocket had captured them in the forest. Nothing worked. She struggled against the chains that held her to the wall of her cell, then gave up, again.

Oh how she longed so much to be free. To be with Ash.

Now I know how a caged Pidgey feels like.” she whispers to herself.

She didn’t want to admit it, but she felt defeated. Team Rocket had captured her, Brock, Pikachu, and Rose’s Pikachu. She didn’t even know if Ash and Rose were alive.

A tear gently flows down her cheek.

Ash where are you?...

The hope that she had held on to for so long was now gone.

@---}-----

Celebi waits a moment, then continues.

*You’ve been asleep for a long time. I thought you would wake up soon.*

“Uh... where... are we?”

*Deep inside the Ancient Ruins.*

“How did we get here?”

*I brought you here.*

I cock an eyebrow in question. Celebi was only providing answers but now further explanation.

She giggles.

“What was that white blast back in the Radio Tower? Did you do that?”

*No. It was not me.*

“Then what did?”

*I know, but I will not tell. You will find out soon. Very soon.* She floats closer. *I see you are still confused on what is going on. I will explain everything, but at a later time. How is your head?*

A hand automatically reaches for it. “My head?”

*Both of you fell hard on your heads from the blast. Ash took the worst of it.*

“It’ll be fine.”

*Yes. It will.* She floats closer and places a hand on my shoulder. Her eyes close and she starts to glow.

What is she doing?

A soft, gentle bell chime starts ringing and echoes throughout the Ruins.

I’m in awe. It’s her Heal Bell.

She slowly returns to normal and the chime ceases. My headache is gone and I feel rested.

Celebi floats to the ground and sits. She sighs deeply.

*I’m afraid that is the best I can do right now, Rose.*

I sit down next to her.

*Heal Bell can be more powerful than that. Usually it makes the being feel ten years younger, like your complete. But... my powers... they are... fading.*

“What do you mean? How is that possible?”

*My heart is full of sorrow to tell you this, but I must...* her gaze shifts to the Ruin’s floor. *The longer Team Rocket is here, the less of my powers I can use.* Her eyes slowly close.

Fear starts to grow inside of me.

*The natural flow of time has been disrupted, Rose. If it is not returned, then... then I will disappear... forever, and the world will be covered by the darkness of evil, for all time.*

I shake my head in horror.

No. This can’t be happening.

A world always living in fear. In evil.

No! It can’t happen! I won’t let it!

No one deserves to go through what I did. All of the people I have ever loved died in the hands of that monster.

It can’t happen!

“NO!”

I was hit by a massive wave of pure white light. It flowed through every part of my being.

The power was terrifying.