Disclaimer: See previous chapters…

Sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes…

The Arena/ Chapter Six

Ash Ketchum: a thirteen-year-old, black haired boy from the town of Pallet. His goal is to be the greatest Pokemon Master the world has ever seen… or at least, that used to be his goal. Since he arrived and took part in the Arena, his view on the world had changed a great deal. Now he isn’t sure what he wants…

No. He knew one thing- there was one place he wanted to be at right now… only one place, where he could feel safe: his home. But his home was far away.

Ash is not the kind of person to just give up: whenever he failed, he came back, and beat whomever he lost to.

But now, he doesn’t want to come back. He only wishes to stay asleep like this forever and not to fight anymore.

Here you are, said his inner voice, backing down on your greatest challenge yet- choosing the easy way out. And you know what? You didn’t even succeed in that! Now, it’s either you’ll remain in this coma forever, or you wake up, go up there and beat them up. Then you can go free, release your Pokemon and start a new life. What would your mother and friends think when they’ll hear about what you’ve done? That the never-giving-up Ash Ketchum tried to kill himself because he couldn’t handle a situation! They love you! They’ll be crushed! Then if not for you, go back for them! Those, who love you so much.

That inner voice was right. Ash will not back away from this challenge. He would even try to be the best in there. It will improve his chances to get free soon.

Ash felt the darkness and fear around him disappear, and a new feeling came into him- determination and courage. He hadn’t felt those in a long time…

He could feel again. A hand was caressing his cheek, and he leaned into it, loving its warmth.

Zac was surprised to see Ash stirring again, yet the expression on his face wasn’t one of pain and suffering. He was even more surprised to feel a sudden weight on his hand, and saw Ash leaning into it, a small smile crossing his lips, and then, as quick as it came it was gone.

Slowly, yet surely, Ash’s eyes twitched until they opened. He closed them right away again, though, as the sudden light in the room struck him. He opened them again, slowly this time. His pupils roamed about, trying to distinguish his whereabouts. When they fell on Zac, his eyes narrowed slightly. “You…” he whispered.

“Glad to see you too,” he replied, sarcastic. “You should be thanking me for saving you,” Zac said, any emotion he had in him earlier disappeared as he was forced to put his mask and smile again.

“Never asked you to do that,” Ash said coldly. He expected this warm hand to be Brock’s, or even Misty’s. Anyone but… him! “You should have just left me there to die! Isn’t that what you all want? Huh?!” Ash was screaming now, or at least trying to. Not speaking for days took its toll on his voice. “You hate trainers! All you wish for is their death! I was about to give you just what you wanted, Zac! You rotten, stinking, piece of-“

Ash wasn’t able to finish as he felt the same palm, which caressed him so tenderly just a moment before colliding with his cheek. He felt a stinging pain, and the sudden urge to cry.

He was alive. The pain proved it. He got his chance to look at things differently now.

“You idiot!” Zac cried, the smile disappearing from his face. He glared at Ash for a few seconds, as if he couldn’t decide what he wanted to do, and then and he looked down. “You idiot…” he repeated, this time in a whisper. And then, to Ash’s surprise, he wrapped his arms around him and hugged him, weeping into his shirt and repeating those two words.

As the arms tightened, Ash felt his body shaking. His lips quivered as his own tears crept into his eyes, and then he cried too, wishing for his mother to hold him instead of this representative of evil.

Both cried into each other’s shoulder, as Ash thanked the lord for the second chance he was given, and Zac wishing Ash would have never got there.

After an hour, an exhausted Ash fell asleep in Zac’s arms. Zac, feeling the fatherhood rising within him, laid him down on the bed with a smile. He just sat and stared at him, until the door opened suddenly.

Zac gasped as he saw who opened it. “Chris…” he said quietly.

“Have you been crying?” Chris asked as he saw Zac’s red and puffy eyes. “The great-cheerful-happy-Zac was crying? How… peculiar.” He smirked. Zac frowned.

As great as this man’s ideals were, his character was terrible. “Did he wake up?” he asked.

Zac nodded in confirmation, and then returned his gaze to the sleeping boy.

“That’s great to hear,” Chris said and turned to leave. “Oh, and Zac? When your dear son is awake again, send him to my office. There are some matters we need to… discuss.” With that he left and closed the door behind him. Zac frowned a bit in thought. What could Chris want with Ash?

He just hoped that whatever it was, it wouldn’t push him into deeper despair.

*~*~*

“That Shannon was one, weird boy…” said Misty as she pushed the branches of bushes away, trying to stay on the road that was well hidden under the vegetation.

“I perfectly agree,” said Brock, pulling tiny thorns out of his skin, muttering ‘damn those bushes’ here and there. “He acted so nice and timid… then became a vicious boy,” he said.

Misty stopped, her head bowed. “You think… you think it’s the Arena doing that?” she asked.

“Huh?”

“I mean, he did say that Ash tried to-“ she stopped; the words cannot leave her mouth. “Maybe the Arena is doing some kind of… mental damage?” she suggested, now looking at the older boy in front of her.

Brock seemed taken aback by this. He stared at her, furrowing his brow as he thought about what she said. “I honestly don’t know. I think we need to see it ourselves to know for sure. But now that you mention it, it does make sense…”

Misty did not reply. They just stared at each other, as if they were talking in silence with their eyes. Then they turned on continued down the road.

“Ouch!” Brock shouted suddenly, and Misty turned around in panic.

“What happened?” she asked and walked over to were he was, crouched on the ground and clutching his arm.

“Something grazed my arm!” he said, and showed her a deep scratch on his arm.

“It looks deep…” she commented.

“Don’t worry,” he said, “I still have some bandages left.”

“What grazed you? Was it a thorn?” Misty asked, looking at the bushes around and searching a long thorn that could have done that damage.

“I don’t think so,” he said. “It felt more like… something metallic.”

“Metallic?” she repeated in wonder. There was nothing metallic miles away! They were walking in this forest for a long time, and not once they countered a fence or a broken iron pole or any other metallic thing.

“There,” he said and pointed to his left. Misty pushed the bushes away and was surprised to see a fence with spikes. “Private ground,” she said quietly.

“Weird,” Brock said, his arm now bandaged. He took the map out of his bag and cocked his eyebrow. “This ground is not listed in this map as private.”

“Maybe the map is old,” Misty suggested, trying to poke her head between the spikes and see what is beyond the fence. The vegetation blocked her sight, though.

“No. I bought it about a month ago. It’s a part of a series of new Jhoto Region maps. There’s no way this thing is old.” He said.

“You think this place could be… the Arena?” Misty asked.

Brock stood up, and joined her by the fence. “Maybe. Let’s look for the entrance!”

They started walking, making sure to always stay by the fence. If they walk next to it, they are sure to get to the gate soon enough. Suddenly, Brock stopped in his tracks. “Did you hear something?” He asked his female companion.

She titled her head to the side in confusion. “Like what?” she asked.

“Shh!” he silenced her and walked over to a small bush. “Who’s there?!” he demanded.

Slowly and timidly, a small Pikachu came out of the bushes. “Pikachupi! Pikachu!” it said and looked at the duo, surprised. Then his lips twisted into a grin and he leaped at Misty.

“Whoa!” she cried in surprise and fell on he behind.

Brock laughed. “Something tells me we know this Pikachu,” he said.

Misty glared at him. “No kidding,” she said sarcastically. “I wonder what it’s doing here, though.”

After the short and joyous reunion, Pikachu begun screaming phrases and waving it’s arms around. “Are you looking for Ash?” Misty asked and Pikachu nodded.

“You escaped from the Arena?” Pikachu shook it’s head, and tried to explain again, yet only succeeding in confusing the two teenagers.

“Well, whatever it is, you can come with us. We’re looking for the entrance.” Pikachu stared at them, his eyes as if telling them not to, but then it sighed and joined them. Pikachu knew that the guards wouldn’t let them in, and that they should search for another way, but how could he tell them that? And if they did let them in, that means they would do that for one purpose only. He stopped his train of though there, for he didn’t want to think farther at that possibility.

As they walked farther into the woods, they noticed that the vegetation got thinner and thinner, until the road and fence were completely visible. They also noticed that the spikes on the fence disappeared, and now they could see a normal fence, and a large gate to the farther left.

“There it is!” exclaimed Brock, breaking into a run into the compound. Misty and Pikachu soon followed.

When they arrived, to tall and… big-boned guards stood on their guard, looking down at the teenagers.

“What are you doing here? Go catch some wild Pokemon in the wilderness. This is not a place to fool around,” said one of the guards, signaling “shoo” motions with his hand.

“Just answer us one question,” asked Brock. “Is this the Arena?”

The guards exchanged stares and then looked down at the young boy again. “No one informed us on you arrival.” Said the guard, and then both of them grabbed

Misty and Brock and carried the two screaming and kicking trainers into the compound, closing the gate in front of Pikachu, who yelled something and scampered away into the forest.

“Let us go right now!” Misty screamed, kicking the guard, which seemed to have no effect at all.

“No can do, missy,” said the one, who was holding her firmly. “We have specific orders to get anyone, who isn’t invited to the boss.”

Misty and Brock kept on kicking, until they were thrown into a room. A young man, who sat behind his desk looked up from the papers he was currently reading, and stared at them, surprised, and then looked at the guards for explanation. “I am a very busy person. You should know better than to bring in people, who didn’t make an appointment.”

“Sorry, boss- I mean, Chris,” said the guard, remembering that Chris didn’t like being called “Boss”. “But these people knew that this place is the Arena, and we didn’t get notice of their arrival.”

“I see,” replied Chris, and then signaled the guards to leave. “So,” he turned to the teenagers, who sat on the floor. “What brings you here?”

“Why should we tell the likes of you?” Brock spat. The man cocked an eyebrow, but did not make a move to punish the rude boy.

“Because, depends on the reason, I might actually give you what you want,” he answered.

“I doubt that,” Brock replied, not trusting the man.

“Fine then. I have time. You can either sit here for days until you break down and tell me, or you could tell me now, and not die from starvation.”

Brock and Misty exchanged stares and then Misty nodded her head towards Brock. “We’re looking for our friend, Ash Ketchum,” Misty said. “He’s supposed to be here.”

Chris nodded. “And he is. But you can’t have him. He’s the best fighter around… I can’t give him to you.”

Brock clenched his teeth, then got up on his feet and stomped towards Chris’ desk. “Ash would never stay in the hands of the likes of you! He’ll find a way to escape!” Brock yelled in Chris’ face.

Chris chuckled and then ruffled Brock’s hair in order to mock him. “I don’t think so, young man. I think that Ash wants to stay here until he’s allowed to go. You may stay here until his next fight and see for yourselves.”

It annoyed Brock that Chris claimed to know what Ash wants. It annoyed Brock that Chris ruffled his hair. It annoyed Brock that Chris remained always calm. But the thing, which annoyed him the most, was the fact that Chris kept on smiling.

“No.” Brock hissed. “We’re going to get him! Come on, Misty!”

Chris didn’t do anything to try and stop them. But as they arrived to the door, they found it locked. “Open it!” Brock yelled.

Chris shook his head. “It will soon be opened, and by none else than your dear friend. How about I’ll let you see him, and you’ll decide by yourselves whether he’d like to stay or not?”

*~*~*

When Ash opened his eyes again, Zac was still sitting next to his bed, smiling. “Go away,” Ash said coldly while glaring.

“No can do, my man.” Zac replied. “I have to guard you.” Ash huffed, and turned his head to the other side. “Chris wants to speak with you,” Said Zac, breaking the silence, which fell upon the two. “Can you stand?”

Ash didn’t answer. Instead, he flung his feet over the bed and stood up wobbly, holding the bed. “A bit, I think…”

Zac cocked an eyebrow. “What’s up with you? I thought you’d say you don’t want to see him, or something like that.”

“Well,” Ash said, and turned a pair of glassy eyes towards Zac and smiled. “Let’s just say I’ve had a change of heart.” Zac could only stare, an image of a certain young boy he knew three years ago coming into his mind….

That moment was over quickly, though, as the door swung open and a boy stood, panting on the doorstep. “Ash!” he called.

“Jason!” Ash called back, surprised yet smiling widely.

Jason stomped over to where Ash stood. “You bastard! How did you dare to do that?!” he shouted, holding the other boy’s shoulders firmly.

Ash looked down. “Well… I-“ and then he stopped as he received the second slap for that day.

“Jerk!” Jason screamed, tears in his eyes.

“I won’t do that again…” Ash said quietly. Jason was about to hit him again, but something in his voice when he said it made him trust his friend.

“Don’t scare me like that ever ever again…”

“Times up,” said a nurse as she entered the room. “Go back to your bed,” she said and dragged Jason after her.

“Your friend?” Zac asked. Ash didn’t answer. “Well, let’s go. We don’t want to keep Chris waiting, do we?”

They heard a knock on the door, and then Chris say “come in!” the door opened slowly, and a man with black hair entered. “I brought him.”

“He woke up? Excellent… bring him in here. But first, take these two lovely teenagers out so they can see him for a bit. I need to speak to him alone.”

Zac nodded, although he found it strange that Chris agreed that two strangers would see Ash… or weren’t them strangers at all?

Misty and Brock followed the man out, hoping that this was their chance of escaping. As they left the room, they gasped. Behind Zac was standing their missing friend. “Ash!” they cried. He lifted his eyes to meet them, and paled. Misty thought she was imagining the flicker of anger in his eyes, for it appeared only for a mere second and then disappeared again in the mix of sadness and determination in his eyes.

Zac, sensing trouble, shoved Ash inside and shut the door, preventing from Ash to reply. Now, however, the teenagers refused to follow him. Zac sighed, and sat on the floor next to them, deciding to wait until Chris was done with Ash.

“Let them out!” Ash shouted as soon as he faced Chris. “I’ll fight! I’ll fight and I’ll be your best fighter, so please-“ he dropped to his knees and bowed on the floor.

“Please, let them go!”

Chris stared in amusement. “But my dear Ash… how would I know you won’t try to pull such a stunt again?”

“Because I won’t… please…” he begged again.

“Tell you what,” Chris said, standing up. “I will not make them fight, however-“ he said before Ash could get up and hug him. “You will have to win every fight. Lose one, and I’ll take them out of the comfy rooms they’ll get and make them fight as well.”

“Thank you!” Ash said, bowing again.

“And I’m sure Zac would like that…” Chris said with a somewhat mocking tone. “He had high expectations for you. After all, you two are so close…”

Ash stared at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

Zac smiled. “Oh, didn’t you know?” he asked, pretending to sound shocked. “He is your father.”

To be continued….