Whispering Darkness Part 8 By Crysta Disclaimer: Blah. I own Crysta, and the fic, Nintendo and Gamefreak own everything else. ********** Crysta was out of the woods now. In fact, she was now hopping around, bruised and battered, but none the worse for wear. She poked Ash's shoulder. "What happened between you and Misty?" "I don't want to talk about it." "Pikachu's upset, you know." A tear trickled from his eye. Crysta put her arm around him comfortingly. Being careful to keep her other arm (which was in a sling, badly bruised and sprained, but not broken) out of the way, she pulled him closer. "Come on Ash. Let it all out." Ash sobbed softly into her shoulder. She allowed him to. She saw Ash as the little brother she'd never had, and cared deeply for him. Sisterly love. Like what Misty felt for Tracey. She put her arm around Ash, and let him cry. "Shhh. I'm here for you." she whispered. Ash's choking sobs slowly began to stop. He looked up at her, his face tearstained. "I'm sorry." He said, thinking what a fool he'd make of himself. Crysta smiled, and ran two claws through his hair to neaten it up. "Don't worry Ash. We all need a shoulder to cry on sometimes. I do it with Misty, Misty does it with me and Tracey. It'll be fine. I promise you." Ash smiled softly. "I think Misty hates me now." Crysta sighed. "Want to know how I could tell something was wrong?" "Go on then." "A, Misty left without saying a word to you. B, Pikachu was with Misty and did the same. C you're not wearing your hat. When one of those occurs I know something's wrong. When all three occur I know you'll need someone there for you." Ash sighed. "I took her teasing a little too seriously last night, and she got mad. Then I took it out on Pikachu." Tears began to run down his face again. Crysta got a tissue ad wiped them away. "Well Ash, you can solve it all very easily." She said. "Apologise?" "Yes. Then Misty will forgive you, and Pikachu will forgive you because she has, and everything's fine." Ash nodded. "But where is Misty?" "Out back with Tracey, training my pokemon." "Think I should go to her now?" "No. Embarrass her in front of Tracey and she'll never forgive you. Wait until she comes back in." Crysta glanced out of the window. "We picked a fine place to go to hospital in." "Whaddya mean?" Crysta turned. "This is Orchid City. My home. well, it was, ten years ago." "Orchid City." Ash considered this. "Does it have a gym?" "As a matter of fact it does. The orchid badge is shaped like an orchid flower. However, in five years no- one has successfully beaten her." "The gym leader's that tough?" "Oh yeah. They say she's the best of them all. Her gym is a normal gym, which means she can use any kind of pokemon. The power she releases all depends on which pokemon she's decided to use today. She's an even better expert than me. They say she knows every weakness, every strength of pokemon types, and she raised them for the most powerful attacks." "She sounds tough." Ash said, as Misty and Tracey came in. Tracey passed the pokeballs to Crysta. Crysta picked out one, then held it to Ash. "Your only chance would be with Mew. If you want, I will lend you her for the gym battle. Mew has no weaknesses, as it can use any and all abilities." Ash smiled. "Thanks. I'll challenge her tomorrow." Crysta nodded. "Now, Ash, do you have something to say to Misty?" She gave Tracey a look that said *beat it!* "I'll be going." Tracey left Crysta smiled. She knew how to pick them. "Misty, about last night." "This better be good Ash." He gritted his teeth. "I want to apologise for what I said and did. I knew you were joking, and I didn't mean to get so mad at you." *Pikachu.* Crysta sent a psychic message. "And Pikachu? I'm sorry I yelled at you, because you didn't do anything wrong. I was in a bad mood, and I'm sorry." Pikachu and Misty exchanged glances. "Well. I guess we'll let you off this time." Misty said. The twinkle in her eye told him she was winding him up. He ignored it. "Friends?" "OK." Pikachu said. Crysta's green eyes had regained their sparkle. But somehow, she doubted this would last long. The scene was too cosy. The explosion proved her worst fears. ********** When the dust cleared Crysta saw Ash lying over Misty's body, protecting her. Pikachu was lying upside down, unconscious. "TRACEY!" she screamed. "He won't be able to stop us." Said a familiar female voice. "Oh no." Crysta whispered. "Prepare for trouble and make it double!" "To infect the world with devastation," "To blight all peoples in every nation," "To denounce the goodness of truth and love." "To extend our wrath to the stars above!" "Cassidy!" "Butch!" "Team Rocket, circling Earth all day and night!" "Surrender to us now or you will surely lose the fight!" "That's right!" "Raticate!" Crysta smiled slyly. "Not today, you bungling baddies." "You can't stop us Crysta. We're here for Ash and Misty, and we'll get them." "Oh yeah?" Crysta gritted her teeth. This was going to be hard. Struggling, she tried to get one of her pokeballs without Butch and Cassidy noticing. They were busy with Ash and Misty. "Hey!" Butch tried to run over and kick the pokeball out of the way, but Crysta grabbed it just in time. Rolling, she pressed the button on it. "Mew, go!" "Mew!" "This looks bad." Cassidy said. "Catch it! The boss will be thrilled!" Butch said. "Not so fast you Rockets!" "Tracey!" Crysta yelled. "Get Ash and Misty clear!" Tracey pulled them away. "Mew, Mega Punch!" Crysta yelled, kicking Butch hard in the leg. "Ow! You little rat!" "Cate!" "Not you Raticate, her!" "There's more where that came from!" Crysta barked. "Mew, hurry!" Butch turned. Mew's fist was glowing. "This will hurt." Cassidy said. "Damn right!" Crysta snarled. "Go! Mega Punch!" Mew's glowing fist hit Cassidy, then Butch, then Raticate, sending each flying out of the hole they'd made in the wall anyway. "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again." They wailed. Ash came round. "Ash! Thank goodness. Mew dealt with the Rockets. Are you OK?" "I'm fine I think." Ash picked himself up. "Oh no! Misty? Pikachu?" "Ash, I'm fine." Misty rolled onto her back. "Here's Pikachu, Ash." Tracey held out Pikachu's bruised form. "Pikachu!" Ash hugged him close. "Please." Pikachu didn't move. "No. Please no.." Misty whispered, Tracey putting his arm around her. "Pikachu!" Ash yelled, sobbing for his lost friend. Again, Crysta was there for him. "Ash. It may not be too late." "Huh?" "I said I don't bring people back from the dead. I didn't say anything about Pokemon. Besides, he's not dead, but he's just barely alive." "I'll do anything!" "You don't have to. Tracey, fetch my backpack!" Tracey offloaded Misty to the couch. He handed Crysta the backpack. Crysta delved into the side pouch. "Here!" She pulled out a leaf. "I can only pray this works." She bit the leaf with her sharp teeth. A blue liquid began to ooze from the broken vein. Crysta squeezed it into Pikachu's mouth. When the leaf's sap had run out, she wrapped the leaf around Pikachu's arm. Pikachu's soft brown eyes opened. Crysta smiled. "Come on, I know Chu can do it." The pun was deliberate. Pikachu smiled. Crysta winked. "He'll be fine." "Which is more than I can say for the hotel!" "Oh well." Crysta faced the mad hotel owner. "Chill. Machoke and Machamp can fix this. Come on guys!" "Machoke!" "Machamp!" "OK guys, get to work. Rebuild this place!" "'Choke!" "'Champ!" "Where do you get these from? I can only carry six at a time." Ash mused. "As can I. Pok‚dexes have more uses than identifying stuff. It also lets you exchange pokeballs for different ones. You've just never seen me do it. I've sent Marril and Cubone back now, until Machoke and Machamp finish here." "That's incredible!" The hotel owner marveled at Machoke and Machamp's swift work. It was coming along nicely. ********** "Marril, Hydro Pump!" "Marril!" Flareon yelped as the water struck it, knocking it for six. Ash groaned. "You've just thrashed my Flareon again! Flareon, return! Go Bulbasaur!" "No way Ash! Marril, be strong. It's a plant type, but you can do it. Bubblebeam!" Misty smiled to Tracey. "My TM. I gave it to her as a thank you for saving my sight." "Interesting." Tracey was sketching something again. "I want to capture the heart of their battle." "I'll capture you in a minute, Sketchit!" Crysta called over. "Aaah!" Tracey fell over backwards. Crysta laughed at him, then turned her attention back to the battle. "Bulbasaur, Vine Whip!" "No! Marril, evade and counter with water gun!" "Marril!" "Bulbasaur!" Marril ducked out of the way. Crysta grinned. "Bulbasaur, Solar Beam!" "Oh no! Marril, prepare for a super fast swift attack!" "Bulba!!!" "Fire the Solar Beam!" "Marril, Swift then evade with Agility!" Marril was too slow and hit the floor. "Oh! Good work Ash. Marril, return!" "Well, she's getting stronger at battling." "True." Misty watched. "I don't know whether to root for Ash or Crysta!" "Neither. Trust me, it'll save you a headache in the long run." Tracey said. Crysta heard him. "'Scuse me Ash. Mew, please vine whip this annoying watcher!" "Mew!!" "OW!" Tracey yelled. Crysta smiled. "Where were we Ash?" ********** "This is quite a battle." Misty mused. Both were down to one pokemon. Ash smiled. "Go on Pikachu, do your best!" "Pika! Let's go!" Pikachu had made a miraculous recovery. Which was better than Crysta, who had spent half last night being sick due to the sap she had unintentionally eaten. She later explained it didn't settle with humans. Or Pokemon-human hybrids. "Come on, I know you can do it! Cubone!" "Cubone!" "OK Bone-boy, let's do this!" Pikachu said. "Mind your manners with Cubone. Ash, you said I thrashed your Flareon? Well watch this! Cubone, Thrash attack!" ********** "Cubone, finish it! Bonemerang!" "Cubone!" "OW!" Pikachu fell over. A few seconds passed. Then Ash lowered his head. "You win." "Yeah! Good work Cubone!" "That was impressive. No-one's ever beaten Ash, either in private battles or in League battles, since he became the master." Misty said. Crysta grinned. "Training. That's all that we need." "Why don't I give up my position now?" Ash joked. "That Cubone's bound to *Thrash* me!" "Very funny!" Crysta said. Then she smiled, and held out a pokeball. Ash looked up at her. "You want to challenge the Orchid City gym leader, right? Well, here's my Mew. Treat it right." Ash took the pokeball softly. Crysta winked. "Let's go. I have a little reminiscing to do with the gym leader." ********** "Orchid Gym leader?" Crysta called, pushing open the door. A female voice rang out. "Who wants to know?" "Alandra, you're fooling no-one. Get out here!" "Crysta?" A young woman, of about seventeen, walked out. She had long blue hair, and brown eyes. She looked to Crysta, ignoring the others. "It's you! It's been so long!" "I know. I mentioned I had to meet up with someone in here. By the way, these are my friends, Ash, pokemon Master, Tracey Sketchit, pokemon Watcher, and Misty, water pokemon trainer." "Nice to meet you." Alandra shook all their hands warmly. Then, to Ash and Tracey, she said "Which one of you laid their hands on Crysta?" "That would be Tracey here." Ash said. Crysta laughed. "Although me and Ash share a close relationship too. Brother/sister thing." "I was going to say!" Misty said. Crysta grinned. "I'm many things Misty, but none of them are even remotely connected to boyfriend snatcher. Besides which, I could say the same about you and Tracey." "Oh fine, you're all one big happy family!" Alandra said, a twinkle in her eyes. "To what do I owe the honour of a visit from the Indigo League champ?" "I've come to challenge you for your gym badge." Ash said. Crysta frowned. "He never changes Alandra. You've met your match in him." "We'll see. Come on Ash, you want a fight, you've got one!" Crysta scampered off, stopping and turning a little way off. "This is the battle field." "Impressive." "Three pokemon each, no time limit." Alandra informed Ash. Crysta climbed onto a conveniently placed rock. "Guess I gotta judge." "Ash, you do know I have been undefeated since taking over this gym?" "Crysta mentioned." "As you wish. OK then, go Raichu!" "A Raichu? Is that the best you have? OK, go on Pikachu, show that Raichu we mean business!" "I'll give it the Surge treatment!" Pikachu jumped onto the battle field. "Does Ash know what he's doing?" Tracey asked. "Oh yeah. He's not particularly intelligent, but he knows Pikachu can do it." "You say so." Tracey watched. ********** "Bulbasaur, return!" "See, he knows Bulbasaur's hopeless against a fire-type." "Misty, what can defeat that Charizard?" "I know what! Ash, remember her!" "Of course!" Ash faked a look of stupidity. Not hard being Ash. "Mew, go!" "Mew!" "A Mew? What the- Oh fine! Charizard, let's make this quick. Fire Blast it!" "Mew, evade and fight back with Water gun!" "Ash is good. He knows the attacks that'll hurt Charizard best." Tracey mused. Crysta watched from the rock. "Charizard, let's try something different, Wing Attack!" Charizard flew into the air. "This battle's going sky high!" Crysta said. Mew easily evaded the attack. "Bubble!" Ash yelled. Crysta's grim smile said everything. Charizard was already billed as the loser. "Charizard, fight back! Flamethrower!" Alandra called. Crysta dived aside as the flames scorched the rock she'd been on as Charizard attempted to roast the elusive Mew. "Hey! Hit Mew, not me!" she howled, picking herself up. "Char!!!" "Mew, one more attack! Hydro Pump!" A powerful gush of water hit Charizard. To Be Continued.