Hi! Didn't think I'd actually do this, but someone requested a sequel to 'The Fire Gem', and here it is! No, my spelling isn't THAT terrible, I'm just writing some of the words the way they sound like. (And _NO!_ I'm not writing a third part! it's TOO much!I know, I know! I left it open to another part, but forget it!) Enjoy this, it'll be awhile before I can write anymore stories. (I have more important things to do.) Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. It belongs to...big corporate people at Game Freak, 4 Kids, Wizzards of the Coast, and anyone else who I've forgotten to mention. Questions, comments, and other such items, can be sent to pamcam@sprint.ca C-ya! *** Prologue: "Where could he be?" Princess Mistylena wailed, stumbling over Sir Gary's corpse, landing in a pile of rubble. "He just...disapeared!" Prince Trace groaned, holding his arm. "Do you think he's been captured?" Sir Broc mumbled through a broken mouth. "No, I don't think he's been captured, friend." a lazy and familiar voice drawled. All three turned, and saw Prince Ashling standing there, injured and exausted, leaning on his fire sword, a grin threatening to split his face horizontaly. "Didja miss me?" he inquired. Mistylena stared for a moment, before tackling Ashling with the strength of a Rhyhorn. She sat on his chest, kissing and scolding him while crying. "Mmmh! Ashling! How could you-mmmhhmmm!-scare me like that! When I get you home, I'm going to-Mmmmmmmhhhhhppphh!!!" "...I just had to take his place for awhile. I mean, jump into his head, and guide my past self around until he won his first battle, and make sure he didn't get sent to the Gates of Dark Abyss prematurely. That would've been disasterous." "That's right!" Trace grunted, tugging on a tight bandage around his upper arm."Then New Avalon would've never existed, and you and Mistylena would have never married, and..." "So on." Ashling finished for him, quivering slightly."I can really see that." he paused, shivering, teeth chattering."I think I've got the battleshock." Mistylena grabbed his arm, and dragged him to his chamber. "Bed!" she commanded, pushing him ahead of her. Ashling took off his heavy armour, and pulled off his thick leather boots. Mistylena put him to bed, not bothering to let him take off his black tunic or pants. "Comfy?" she inquired, smoothing the covers. Ashling nodded drowsily. "Good. I have something to tell you." Mistylena grinned wickedly, leaned close to his ear, and whispered something to him. "Ashy boy, I'm pregnant." Prince Ashling's eyes widened, and rolled back in his head. He uttered a faint whoop and fainted. *** A tall warrior, with long black hair, and white armour, wielding a red crystal sworld. Ashton the warrior. Another with braided black hair, gold and red armour, wielding the same sword. Ashe the blaze. A third with short black hair, three long strands falling over his left eye, wearing blue armour, grasping the hilt of the sword. Ashana the mace. The next had ebony hair worn in a ponytail, long bangs, gold and white armour, holding the red crystal sword aloft. Ashara the mighty. The fifth was slightly different. He was younger, with gold stripes running through his long black hair. His armour was blue, gold, red, black, and white, symbolizing unity. He held the sword out across his palms. He was Ash the wise. The sixth stood out the most. The other warriors all had sparkling black eyes. This one had warm hazel eyes. His long hair was held back with a jewled-gold clip, his armour was gold and black, and the red crystal sword was grasped in both hands to the side, its wielder in a fighting stance. He was prince Ashling the dream. They circled him, and Ashling stepped forewards. "You are the hope for the future, Ashlynn. Your name is hope. We cast our trust unto you." The baby wailed, his fire symbol lighting up. He had seen all the warriors in a dream, and it had frightened him. His mother glided over to the crib, and picked him up. "There there, my treasure, my dove." she crooned, patting his back."It was just a dream, Ashlynn. Mommy's here now." Ashlynn sniffled, and clutched a lock of his mothers orange hair. "Mystylena?" Ashling yawned, the fire symbol on his brow flickered sleepily."Was anything wrong?" "No, dear. He had a nightmare, that's all." "What?! That's the fifth one this week, and it's only tuesday!" "Just give him time, and he'll grow out of it." Mystylena yawned, blue water symbol glowing softly, and snuggled closer to her husband of eight years. Ashling slowly settled down, worry crossing his handsome features. His tiny son's nightmares were getting worse, and more frequent in occurence. As sleep once again claimed him, Ashling cast one last glance at the crib. Ashlynn was sleeping peacefully once again. "Mamma! Mamma! Mamma!" Ashlynn wailed. Mystylena jumped out of bed, ran down the hall, and into Ashlynn's room. "What is it?!" she cried. Five year old Ashlynn was sitting up in bed crying. "Oh, no. Not again!" Mystylena groaned."Another nightmare?" Ashlynn nodded furiously. Mystylena sat beside him. "Tell me all about it." "All these warriors!" Ashlynn sobbed."They all looked like da! An' they all had da's sword! It was scarey!" "Dreams about warriors who look like me?" Ashling gulped."I used to have those dreams, too, when I was his age, and then some." He paused, and shook his head."I still do." "Ashlynn, keep your shield up!" Prince Trace instructed, jabbing at Ashlynn with his green and silver scimitar. Ashlynn heaved slightly, holding the heavy shield up, and thrust with his red and gold dirk. He was no match, how ever, to Trace. The prince of grass had more experience than Ashlynn. That made him mad, his ice blue eyes blazed with a cold fire, and the red fire symbol on his brow flared angrily. "Chill out, kid." Sir Broc said, entering the courtyard with Vulpix."You aren't at Trace's level yet." "Vulpix." his Pokémon agreed, striding briskly past the enraged ten year old, in search of her mate. Ashlynn just glared. *How c'n I chell oot, whin mah blood is oon fire?* "Hey, weren't you supposed to meet your wife fifteen minutes ago?" Prince Trace asked, eyes twinkling, green leaf symbol flickering happily at Broc's apparent distress. Sir Broc's face drained of all colour, making him look like he was made of paper. The silver rock symbol on his forehead stood out a mile, shinning with fear. "Oh, Shoot!" he cried."Lady Suzie! She'll kill me!" Trace just smiled as his friend of sixteen years ran from the courtyard. Ashlynn left to find a place to pout. His pet Eevee followed. " 'Tisn't fair, Merope!" he pouted."They expect mae to be some great warrior already, but I'm just a child!" "Eevee." it responded, patting his arm with her paw. "Soometimes I wish I weren't the croown prince of New Avalon. Soometimes I wish I were a normal boy, doown THERE." he pointed down, meaning earthwards."I wish I were a Pokémon trainer. I mean, as a prince, I c'n have any Pokémon I want, but what's the point, if I can't capture them mahself? Ye're the only Pokémon I've caught. I want tae do et myself. I want tae go down there, and explore. I've lived on New Avalon mah whole life, and I've neever, ever left et. Et's like being stuck in heaven, with no way oot." "Eevee eevee eevee eeeeeee vvvvveeeeeeee!" "Leave?! Y'mean, joost like that?!" "Eevee!" "Alright! Let's do et!" Ashlynn dug around in the back of his closet, and pulled out his most treasured possesions: a complete set of normal trainers clothing. A white t-shirt, black jeans, green sneekers, white socks, black gloves, and a red, white, and black leather jacket. He finished the look with a pair of shades, a red bandana to hide the fire symbol on his brow, and a blue back pack. "Good thing that I wasn't born with mam's wings! Now that would be hard tae cover up!" Ashlynn grinned lopsidedly at Merope before becoming serious. "Merope, return!" he commanded. He slipped Merope's pokéball into his pocket, and slipped out of his room. "Pika!" Ashlynn turned guitily. Pikachu had caught him. "Pikachu, pikachu pikachu pika pikaaaa!" Pikachu grinned and wagged a tiny finger at the prince. "Okay, okay! What do I have tae do tae keep yer mooth shut?" "Pikachu pika!" "Ye want tae come with mae?" "Pika!" "Get in mah back pack, then. Now, tell mae, how do I leave New Avalon? How am I supposed tae get down?" "Pikachu." "Uh, 'her'? Pikachu, are ye sure?" "Pika." "Char?" "Please?" "Char..." "PLEASE?" "Char." "Thank you, Charizard." "So THIS is earth." Ashlynn gaped, fiddling with the Pokémon training lisence and pokédex he had obtained from his parents after catching Merope. "Pikachu!" Pikachu sighed, inhaling deeply. "Charrrrr." Charizard agreed. "Charizard, ye can go back tae New Avalon now." Ashlynn said, nudging her. "Char-iz-ard?! Charizard charrr char char!" (Roughly translated, this meant 'Are you kidding?! I'm stayin' with ya!) "Okay." Ashlynn shrugged, capturing her in a pokéball. He suddenly stood still, feeling guilty. Was this anyway for the crown prince of New Avalon to act? *Screw that!* he thought bitterly.*I have mah freedom now, which is something THEY never gave mae!* "Coom on, Pikachu." Ashlynn said, studying a map he had brought with him."We should start in Palette toown...noo, there's nothing we need tae do there. Maebe Viridian city. We're half way there, anyway." "Pik." Pikachu shrugged, picking up a crab apple from beneath a tree. "I'll ask Merope." Her opinion was the same. "Eevee." "Big help ye two are!" Ashlynn muttered."Merope, return. In the back pack, Pikachu." Pikachu crawled up onto his shoulder instead, and polished his apple on Ashlynn's head. Ashlynn sighed, defeated. Ashlynn knew he was in Viridian city. It was exactly like what his parents had described from the stories they had told him, of when they had been Pokémon trainers. Ashlynn's eyes lit up at the prospect of all that lay ahead of him. Pikachu chortled in anticipation. "I can't wait, Pikachu!" he laughed, hugging the electric mouse to his chest."First of all, let's look aroond. Second, we should plot our course. Third, we need supplies. Hmmm, that means a battle for the money to get the supplies." "Pikaaa!" Pikachu growled, cheeks sparking. "Glad tae see you're up tae it." "Go Caterpie!" "Let's go, Merope!" The pink haired trainer blinked when she saw the Eevee. "Caterpie, stringshot!" "Merope, sand attack!" The sticky strings fell the the ground, coated in sand. They were too heavy and sandy to have any effect on Merope. "Now bite it, Merope!" Caterpie curled up into a ball, hoping to protect itself. No such luck. Merope sank her sharp little teeth easily into the Caterpie's back. Caterpie screamed and uncurled, and angrily tried stringshot again. "Scratch it!" Merope raked her dewclaws across the Caterpies face. "Caterpie, return!" the girl pouted at having lost, and tossed 100 dollars over to Ashlynn, before walking off in a huff. "Merope, return." Ashlynn said, stiffling a shriek of joy."Thanks liddle friend!" He counted the money. "659 dollars, six cents, and a button." Ashlynn blinked."A button? Where'd that coom from?" "Ashling!" Mistylena shrieked."Ashling!! Trace! Broc!" All three came running, tried to squeeze through the door at the same time, and got stuck there together. "What is it, love?" Ashling panted, tumbling to the floor with Trace and Broc on top of him. "Ashlynn is gone!" Mistylena wailed."His bed has not been slept in! Merope, Pikachu, and even Charizard, are gone! Where could they be?!" Ashling, Trace, and Broc exchanged glances. Ashlynn usually didn't travel far from home on New Avalon, and he certainly wouldn't have run away. He was and experienced fighter, and could stand up for himself, though. But the missing Pokémon? It hit Ashling like a slap in the face. "He's gone off to be a Pokémon trainer!" he groaned, burrying his face in his hands."No! He's never been to earth before! He only knows our world, beneath the cloud cover!" Trace bit his fingernails nervously. Broc stepped away from the grieving parents. They knew of Ashling's legendary temper. Mistylena's was worse. "Wait!" Mistylena said, as a thought hit her."Pikachu and Charizard are with him! They know what to do! They'll keep our son safe. I know it. The Gates of Dark Abyss do not wait for him." there was a pause."At least he didn't take Togepi." "Pikachu?" "Pika?" "Now what?" "Pik." "Ye're sure?" "Pik." They were cornered in the Viridian forest by a group of older, tougher trainers. They were Pokémon thieves. Ashlynn stared them down, ready to release his secret weapon. They still advanced. Ashlynn's eyes glittered coldly from behind his shades as he tore the bandana off. The fire symbol on his brow glowed brightly, and he released a powerful blast at the thieves that grazed their heads. "CLEAR OUT!" he bellowed."Next person tae make a move for mah Pokémon gets blasted!" Shrieking, his enemies ran from the forest. "Ah, too bad I had tae do that." Ashlynn drawled in his north country accent, swinging his waist length hair."I did want tae keep a low profile. At least I sent them bawlin' to their mammies!" A noise behind him made him tense up. Springing into a tree, he watched the clearing carefully. It was just a weedle. Wrinkling his nose, Ashlynn avoided the bug Pokémon. He did NOT want to get stung. He had heard awful tales about bug Pokémon of the poison variety from Trace. "Ahma noot aboot reedy tae tray thet!" he muttered, his accent becoming thicker. It did that when he was scared, angry, or when he didn't want anyone to know what he was saying."Pedgeys an' sooch soond MOOCH bettah!" "Hi!" "Ahhh!" Ashlynn jumped six feet. He face the trainer, a girl who was roughly the same age as he. "Ahhhh! Doon't do thet! What do ye wahnt tae do? Give mae a ha't attack?!" "Pardon?" the girl frowned. Ashlynn blushed and tried to calm down. "I said, don't do that. Ye scared mae oot o' mah skin, that's all." "Oh. Why didn't you say so?" "I did." Ashlynn smiled."I doon't know where I got this accent from. Noon o' mah fam'ly has et. Not mam, or da, or grampae. 'Tis prob'ly hard to understoond sometimes, or sommat." "Oh, I can 'understoond' it just fine, now." "Ahre ye makin' foon o' mae, lassie deah?" "Ahhh..." Ashlynn chuckled. "I see you couldn't understand et then, could'ya?" "Nuhuh." "Ah, where're mah manners t'day?" Ashlynn bowed courtiously."Mah name is Ashlynn Ketchum. How d'ye do, lassie gel?" The girl giggled at his well mannered aproach. "I'm Mara." she said, bobbing a slight courtsy."Oh, you said Ketchum?" "Yiss." "You wouldn't happen to be related to Ash ketchum, would you?" "Yiss, 'e's mah da. He's knoown as Ashling nowadays." "Oh wow!" Mara squeeked."I'm standing here, with the son of a legend! That'll mean...Carey Ketchum is your grandmother." "I neever knew I had a grandmither 'afore this." Ashlynn's eyes lit up at the thought."That soonds coel!" " 'Coel'?" "Ye know, froosty, cauld, friezing. Coo-el." "Ohhh." Mara scratched her head."I'm never going to get it." "Oh, ye will. Beleve mae, Maera, ye will if ye spend enoof time with mae. I'll have ye speakin' with mah accent 'afore ye c'n say 'Ahrticoono'!" "Does that mean what I think it does?" "I think et does. Pikachu an' I are in need of a trav'lin partner. Ye int'rested, Maera?" " 'Course!" " So, mah grandmither stell resides in Palette toown, eh?" "Yep. She stays there, hoping that her son'll come back some day." "Ahhh, the puir woman." Ashlynn clucked."Mah da couldn't tell 'er, for fear she'd think 'e was gooin' insane, or sommat, or that et'd reveal his location to his enemies." puase."Thoogh I doon't understoond why he never told 'er. She already knew aboot a lot that was going oon." "Di you say 'Enemies'?" "Yiss, Team Rockeet, and sooch. Allaways after 'is Pokémon. ::Tsk tsk tsk::" Ashlynn shook his head. "Ashlynn, you keep talking about your dad, but who's your mother?" Ashlynn screwed up his face. "Weell, she's knoown as Mistylena now, but I think her name was Misty...sommat. I dunno." "Misty! She's the missing sensational sister!" "Noo, she wasn't reely a sensationool sistah. She was the 'roont'." "Roont?" "Tek oot the 'o's, an' add a 'u'." "Runt?" "E-zackly." "That's not a nice thing to call your mom!" "Tek it easy, Maera. 'Er sistahs called 'er that, for fun. They liked to cause 'er distress." Ashling sighed. He was bored. Mistylena was pouting in their room, Trace was off sketching Pokémon, and Broc was with Suzie. And Ashlynn... "I'll take a walk." he decided. The grounds were quiet, no one around. Ashling frowned. Something didn't feel right. He knew that feeling. It was evil. "No! Not now!" Ashling ran back to find his friends. He could feel the strength draining from his limbs."Ashlynn!" Ashlynn held the Pokéball close to his chest. It contained his newest catch: a Bulbasaur. "Et's kind of cute." he remarked, releasing it. It had pink spots, instead of green."Bulbaesuers aren't supposed tae 'ave pink on them, are they?" "No." Mara smiled."You've caught a really special Pokémon, Ashlynn." Ashlynn winced. "Please doon't call mae that, Maera. It soonds too formal." "Then what do I call you?" "Ye will think of sommat." "How 'bout Ashy?" "Fine by mae. I doon't mind et." "You think it'll work?" Mistylena asked. "This has to work!" he muttered."Or Ashlynn's fate is sealed. He won't survive the upcoming battle. We have to hurry, before the evil drains our power completely." Ashling closed his hazel eyes, and began to concentrate. Mistylena, Trace, and Broc shrugged and followed suit. Soon, their symbols began to glow with the effort. They shot a quick blast of red, blue, green, and silver at the items on the ground. Ashlynn stopped suddenly. He could feel his fathers energy draining. "What's wrong, Ashy?" Mara asked, grabbing his arm. "Noothing, Maera. I just...was thinking of...someone." Ashling picked up the original Fire Gem and Fire blade, leaving the copies on the ground, and inspected them. "Not bad, for having been split in two." Ashling looked up and whistled for one of his Pokemon."Pidgeott! Go find Ashlynn!" "Pidgeot!" They watched the bird Pokémon fly away. "Now what?" Trace asked. "We wait, and try to keep our strength up." Ashling sighed, sitting beneath a weeping willow."You know that evil drains positive energy." Ashlynn found himself falling in love with Mara. The more he spent time with her, the more he liked her. If he could, he would tell her who he actually was. But how would she react? He was about to ponder this furthur, when Pidgeot landed beside him. "Pidgeot!" Ashlynn exclaimed."What're ye doing here?!" "Pidgeot! Pidgeo pidgeooooo! Pidgeot!!!" "Go back?" "Pidgeoooottt!" "New Avalon is in trouble?!" "Pidgeot!" "They want mae to come back?" "Pidgeot!" "But I-!" Ashlynn looked around desparetly. He saw Mara watching him, eyes wide and innocent, lips trembling."C'n I take Mara with me?" "Pidge..." the Pokémon contemplated."Pidgeot." it shrugged. "Mara, please ome with me." he pleaded."I need your help. My family is in great danger." "But where-?" "New Avalon." Ashlynn pointed up."Please?" "Alright." "Get on Pidgeot." Mara did what she was bid. "But what about you?" "I have Charizard." he replied, releasing the fire dragon."Let's go!" The evil showed itself at last. Ashling struggled up as the sky changed from Cerulian blue to coal black, and the temperature dropped. Mistylena cried in terror as Pokémon, here and there, were struck down with bolts of black lightening. Trace and Broc stood in front of the prince and princess as if to protect them. But, from what? It looked like a giant black Ditto, with the tail of a Vaporeon that had poisoness barbs down the ridge, the ears of an Eevee, and the back feet of a Raichu, all black as evil could be, darker than Gary's soul had been, darker than the Gates of Dark Abyss. Ashling shoved his wife and friends out of sight, and confronted the strange creature. "Who, or what, are you?" he asked, unsheathing his sword. "Who am I?! I am your death, prince. I am the disgarded souls of all evil Pokémon past, all killed in battle by your ancestors! I am Doomsday!" it shrieked, lashing out with his tail, catching Ashling across the chest. The barbs tore through his armour, poison entering his body through wounds made by the barbs. Doomsday picked Ashlynn up, and threw him across the courtyard like a limp rag doll. "Let that be a warning!" Doomsday shrieked, turning his attention to the rest of New Avalon. Mistylena knelt by her fallen husband. "Oh, Ashling." she whispered, cradling his head in her lap."Can you hear me? Please answer." Ashling's eyebrows twiched slightly, and his hazel eyes opened slowly. They were begining to mist over. He was starting to shake slightly, as well. "Mist, don't let Doomsday win." Ashling screwed up his features as a searing pain formed in his chest."Ashlynn m-must take my place in the c-c-circle from now on." "No, oh god, no." Mistylena hung her head, trying not to cry."Ash ketchum! Don't you dare die on me! I won't let you!" Ashlings head lolled from side to side, as he struggled to stay concious, despite the cold fingers of death that clawed at him. "Mam! Da!" Ashlynn screeched. A sharp object clipped his temple, drawing blood. It was a red crystal sword, with a red gem necklace wrapt around the hilt. "Da!" he whispered, putting the necklace on. He held the sword high, his clothes changing back into his blue, red, and black armour. He turned to Mara and grabbed her hand. "Coom with mae, Maera. We need tae find mah parents." "Mam! Da! Where are ye?" "Pikkkaaaaaaaa-aaaaaaaaaaa!" Mistylena looked up, face streaked with tears. "Prince Ashlynn!" Sir Broc yelled, waving his gem high. It created a kind of signal as it imulated a pure white light. Ashlynn signaled back, from the top of a ruined building. Grabbing Mara, he held her close to protect her, and started to climb down. Halfway to the bottom, he lost his footing, and fell. Ashlynn tossed Mara into the air, and whistled sharply. Pidgeot caught her in his talons. Ashlynn fell on his back, with his left arm trapped underneath him. Ignoring the bolts of pain that savagely attacked his arm, he struggled up, and crawled to his mother. "Mam, I'm sorry..." he moaned, clutching his arm. Mistylena sniffed, and hugged him. "No, it's not. We didn't give you enough freedom. I don't blame you for what you did." "N-neither do I, A-A-Ash...lynn." Ashling stuttered, opening his eyes with great difficulty. "Da..." "No, I w-won't allow any interuptions." Ashling smiled slightly."You m-must take m-my place now. Only y-you can destroy Doomsday. Just you, a-and Mara." "No, da, no! Doon't!" Ashlynn screamed, putting his hands on his ears in the 'I don't want to listen' position."Ye're a Ketchum! Ketchum's doon't give up that aisy! Fight et, da!" Ashling closed his eyes, trying not to give in, but couldn't. He gave a sudden jerk, as if surprised, a small sigh, and settled back, whispering his last words. "I love you." Ashlynn slowly shook his head, not accepting what had just happened. "No, da, noot there. Ye can't go there!" he cried. It had started out as a whisper, and ended up as a scream. Broc and Trace grabbed his arms incase he hurt himself, but Ashlynn wrenched them free, stumbling backwards. His blue eyes grew cold and full of bloodthirst, glowing purple. "When I git mah hands on Doomsday, no force oon New Avalon will save 'im!" he snarled."He'll 'ave more pieces than a jigsuw puzzale!" He started when a gentle hand touched his shoulder. It was Mara. She had somehow found a weapon of her own: a golden bow, and a quiver of silver fletched arrows. The look in her eyes told Ashlynn that he wasn't alone in this. "We'll do it together." she promised him, taking his trembling hand."Together." Ashlynn smiled appreciativly. In those few minutes since he had returned to New Avalon, it seemed that he had aged 20 years. "Soo, ye doon't find any oove this strange, Maera?" "No, Ashy. Some how, I don't." "Nice tae hear et. I figured moost people would scream, and roon away." "No. I always believed that there was a special place in the clouds like this. My grandmother told me tales of King Arthur and his knights, and about Avalon, and said that it would be resurected sometime by fire." "Ahh, listen tae 'er. By all means, listen. She spoke the truth. This es New Avalon. And this," Ashlynn held up his Fire Blade."...es a modern day equivalent of excaliber. Shhh, listen!" Mara strained to hear what Ashlynn heard. It sounded like screaming. "Ye'd bettah pet a shaft oon yer bow streng, Maera, boot kep et slack, an' reedy tae use." he advised, pausing."Ye DO know how tae use one o' those, right?" "No, but there's a first time for everything." Mara burst out laughing at the expression on Ashlynn's face."Kidding! I'm kidding! I don't know how or why, but I just KNOW how to use it, even though I've never seen one before, 'cept in books." "Ooh, great! Ahma stook 'ere wi' a lass who 'joost KNOOWS' how tae use et!" "Pardon?" "Oh, noothin'." Prince Trace came back to Mistylena from scouting the imediate area. "Nothing so far, but death and destruction. As far as I've estimated, half the population of New Avalon, human and Pokémon alike, has been wiped out completely. Including the Moltres clan, the Mankey tribe, and the Seel holt." "I can't just sit here while that THING destroys the kingdom!" Mistylena shrieked, standing up."I'm not going to let it happen!" "Misty, please!" Sir Broc begged, using a name that she hadn't been c alled for sixteen years."Stay here. We'll go and find survivers for you." "As princess of New Avalon, I demand that you let me go!" Mistylena commanded."I out rank you!" Trace and Broc exchanged startled glances. Mistylena had never pulled rank on them. A thought hit Trace. "You don't out rank me. My title is 'prince' after all." "So we're equal." Mistylena stated flatly. "Exactly. We'll all go. I mean, if we leave, who's going to protect you?" "I need no protection!" Mistylena snapped, knocking him over the head with one of her glossomar wings."Remember, I have spore in these things!" Ashlynn crawled forwards on his stomach, and peeked over the edge of what was once a house. His fathers murderer, his enemy, was lashing his huge tail around, killing humans and Pokémon with every blow. He watched as hundreds of Articuno, Charizard, and Pidgeot fell from the sky like tattered scraps of colored paper. Ponyta and Rapidash tried to get the human companions away from Doomsday, but were struck down just as quickly as they could run. Many Venusaur and Blastoise tried attacking, but were quickly made into a Doomsday sized side salad and a turtle soup entrée. People screamed in fear as their Pokémon protectors were massacred in front of them. Ashlynn was having a hard time controling his temper and gag reflexes. The sight made him sick. And extremely angry. "Fire Storm Spiral!" he screamed, holding the Fire Gem out between his hands. The blast hit Doomsday square in the face, blinding the huge Pokémon. "Oot! Now!" Ashlynn yelled at the remaining people. There were no more Pokemon left; all had been destroyed by Doomsday. They needed no furthur urging. Soon, it was just Doomsday, Ashlynn, and Mara. "What's that?!" Broc asked, as he heard a rumbling noise. Running towards them, at full spead, screaming at the top of their lungs, were the remaining citizens of New Avalon. "We'll be trampled!" Trace yelled, backing up."They're not going to stop!" Mistylena dove to the side, grabbing Trace and Broc. Ashlynn stood infront of Doomsday, purple eyes flashing angrily. "Ye murdered mah da, all the Pokémon, and almoost all the humans on New Avalon! How can ye justify what ye have doone?!" "Simply: for fun! And revenge!" Doomsday laughed. "Ye monstahr!" Ashlynn snarled."That es no reason for all the death an' destruction ye've caused!" ::Oh, but it is!:: Ashlynn gasped. ::Butt oot o' mah thoughts, monstahr!:: he thought back to Doomsday.::I know what ye're doing! Ye're trying tae make mae weak, so ye can kill mae like ye did mah da!:: ::Oh, but I don't want to hurt you.:: Doomsday's thoughts were gentle and calming.::I won't hurt you, and you won't hurt me. Right?:: Ashlynn knew what Doomsday was trying to pull; he wanted to take over his mind. So, he did the only thing he could think of. Ashlynn made a loud mental scream. ::AHHHRRRRAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGG!!!:: Doomsday shrieked in pain, withdrawing his train of thoughts from Ashlynn's mind. "Never try that again, Monstahr!" Ashlynn snarled."Or ye won't 'ave a mind left tae think with!" While Doomsday was wailing, Ashlynn slashed his tail with the Fire blade, severing three poison barbs. Doomsday cried angrily, and wheeled on Ashlynn. "You foolish human! I will kill you, and your pathetic family!" "Tooch them and I will coot oof yer ugly paws!" Doomsday swung his tail towards Ashlynn, intending to impale him on one of his remaining barbs, but the prince wasn't there. Instead, he was busy hacking off one of Doomsday's ears. Doomsday screamed and tried to bite Ashlynn, but again, he was too quick, and got rid of the other ear. Doomsday finally took his frustrations out on Mara when she shot an arrow at his behind. He hit her with his tail, poisoning her badly. "Maera! no! Noot ye too!" Ashlynn screamed in an agonized tone. Mara wobbled a few steps, and fell down. Ashlynn held her lifeless body in his arms, tears of sadness and wrath falling down his face. "Why did et have tae be ye?" he moaned."Ye neever did anythin' wrong." Laying Mara's body aside, Ashlynn picked up his sword, and again, faced Doomsday. He felt the bloodthirst claim him once more. He knew his mother and Trace and Broc were nearby. "I won't let ye kill anyone else! You've murdered inocent people, and all for fun and vengeance! Et stops here!" Ashlynn held out the fire gem. "Fire Storm Spiral!" The others joined in. "Grass Blast!" "Rock Petrifier!" "Ocean Deep Freeze!" The combined attacks created a huge multi-coloured beam, which completely destroyed Doomsday, turning him into ashes. As the ashes rained down on the ruins of New Avalon, Ashlynn kneeled on the ground, mourning the loss of his father and friend. A single tear dropped from his eye, rolled down his cheek, and hit the ground. As it did, the ground rippled like water. Ashlynn gasped as the ripples grew larger, and spread out over the ruins and bodies. The buildings repaired themselves, and the once human, once Pokémon corpses came alive again. Ashlynn fell backwards, as the ground where he was standing became a house again. He hit his head against the stone courtyard floor, and he slid into a peaceful darkness. 'Ashling, ye did well oot there. Ye've made us all proud o' ye!' 'Ye'd be Ash the wise, correct?' 'Correct. I am one of yer ancestors. That es where ye got the accent froom, liddle warrior, Ashlynn of hope.' 'Pardon mae?' 'Ye have earned yer title, warrior. Now, go back tae yer friends. They're veery upset aboot you.' "He sure can sleep." "He's been out for hours." "That conk on the head must've been a big one!" "Shuot up." Ashlynn mumbled."Ahma tryin' tae slep!" "Ashlynn! you're awake!" Ashlynn's eyes flew open, startled. He knew that voice. Ashlynn grew blue in the face when he realized who it belonged to. "AAAHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGG!" he screamed, picking up a stick. He tried to whack his father with it."AHHH! Go away! Back! Back! Back! Back! Back!" "Chill out!" Ashling replied, dodging the blows from his sons stick. "Ah will noot! Ye're dead as last autumn's leaves!" Ashlynn screamed franticly, laying a blow to Ashlings shin. He hopped around in pain. "Ow!Ow!Ow!Ow!Ow!" he yelped. Mistylena giggled. "No, he isn't dead, at least not anymore. Something you did brought him and everyone else back!" "Sommat 'I' did? What was that? Cry like a babby Togepi?" "Yes." "Yiss, she says!" Ashlynn laughed hystericly."Mah tears brooght them back! Haerdy-haer-haer!" "Don't laugh, Ashy. If you believe in New Avalon, then why don't you believe that your tears revived us?" "Maera? Oof-!" Mara tackled Ashlynn and started kissing him. Ashlynn tried to protest, but his mouth was a tad too busy at that moment. Epilogue Eight years later: "You're sure you can handle things while we're gone?" Prince Ashling asked, climbing up onto Charizards back. "Yiss, yiss, yiss, I'm sure we can." Prince Ashlynn answered. "And we won't trash the kingdom while you're away." Princess Mara added."You have a good time." "And say hello tae grandmither for mae." Ashlynn put in."Tell 'er there's a great-grandchild oon the way." "We will!" Ashling and Mistylena chorused. "Noow, what do we do while they're away, lassie deah?" Ashling asked, smiling coyly. "It's up to you, laddie buck." Mara answered, grinning wickedly. Sweeping Mara up in his arms, he carried her back to their dwelling. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sooooo, what did ya think? Ahh, I changed my mind. If you e-mail me enough, and bug me about it, I MIGHT write a sequel, if I can think up a good enough reson for Ashlynn and Mara's child to do any fighting, or anything. Chiao! -Princess Mystic.