All parts of this story may be found at http://www.freewebs.com/lethal_shinken
Note: Pokemon and its associated characters are copyright by Nintendo,
Game Freak, Creatures Inc, and 4Kids Productions.

Part 1 - Wish

Celadon City. Once a jubilant colourful city complete with its own sophisticated shopping mall and high-tech Game Corner. The people who had dwelt here during those 'happier' times were good-natured helpful people whose free time was occupied by gardening.

Celadon City. Now a rotting trash-can complete with its own band of slime-loving rowdy Muk and putrefied corpses. The people who dwelt here now were a dull bunch, who refused to answer traveler's questions and preferred the bliss of eternal sleep to the bliss of assisting others.

The Muk were, as usual, emitting loud raucous cries, filling the city with deafening noise, as the Pokemon fought over food and space, something that was rare in such a creature-infested place like Celadon.

The huge purple slob of slime, known by most as Muk, wandered the streets of the noisy city, sniffing out any thing that tasted particularly toxic or decomposed. It turned a corner and arrived at a littered street that led to the City's old Pokemon Gym. Muk groaned as it entered a state of ecstasy. A garbage can full of rank food had fallen down, spewing its contents over the road. Spreading its fetid body over the food Muk devoured its feast in a matter of seconds. When it had finished it rose once more and the Muk began to move on, sheets of slime falling onto the pavement causing purple puddles to appear like water puddles do after a particularly heavy showering of rain.

Unexpectedly the Pokemon stopped and raised its huge head to gaze thoughtfully at the skies, which had at one point of time been the sweet blue colour of periwinkle but now...

The sky, which a moment ago had made up of swirling black clouds, had reached a crescendo as the bulging clouds glided along gaining more weight with each step until they finally stopped forming a shadowy ring in the heavens . The rest of the sky was the grey colour of faded linen, only adding to the gloom of the City. Suddenly, the clouds began to tremble like a person caught in a blizzard and they let out a rumbling cry which was answered by a streak of electricity. But this was no ordinary storm, as the Muk knew only to well.

Fear came over the Pokemon and it began to make its way too Route 16 where the Cycling Road started. And then...

In an instant the sky turned to a violent shade of red and the clouds began to churn, making deep grunting noises. As the storm reached its climax the centre of the ring the clouds had created was filled with blinding light. In one swift movement the light began to pour down on Celadon, blanketing it in white. From the ramshackle Gym a cry of 'Holy Water' was to be heard and the Earth began to shudder as it was whipped by a freak arctic wind that appeared from no where. The sky let out a final roar and Celadon was suddenly flooded with bleached waves of acid, wiping out anything that came in it's way.

Muk was one of the unlucky ones.

A lone woman was seated near the fences that bordered Route 16 and 17, leaning against the railing and dipping the toes of her boots into the stream that ran around the Cycling Road.

Earlier, Misty might have rolled up her trousers and swung her legs into the waters but now it was clogged with Pokemon, namely Muk's, trash.

After a few moments of waiting she got up from her slumped position. With narrowed eyes she studied the destruction she had wrecked upon Celadon. The city was flooded with venomous white water that was eating away at the buildings, trees and everything else in the City. In an hour or so all that would be left was a sticky mass of black goo. Toxic goo, Misty thought and she considered putting up a sign alerting all that wandered too close to the damage of the danger they were in.

But then again, few people came to Celadon these days. It was no longer the lively tourist attraction it had been. And those stupid enough to visit would have to pay for their idiotic antics. Hopefully, their bodies would serve as a warning for the next fool who wandered into the City.

Deciding, she'd wasted enough time, Misty hopped over the fence landing in a crouched position on the gravel path. Brushing the dirt of her clothes Misty pulled up the hood of her blue sweatshirt. She put her glove encased hands to her mouth and let out a haunting whistle. Next to her, materialized a haze of blue, which was so cold it caused even Misty to shudder. Soon the mist vanished revealing a beautiful horse, it's sleek streamlined body made out of pure unbreakable ice and its mane dancing with glacial fire.

Misty smiled and ran her hand through her horse's mane. She hauled herself onto its back.

'Come Icedash,' she whispered to her Pokemon, 'Fuchsia awaits.'

*****

The mist that kept Route 19 hidden from view, was getting thicker and whiter with every growing second. The sky was darkening too, and the sun was barely visible, a faltering energy source that was gradually vanishing. The air itself was empty, for there was no breeze to jostle and caress it. It was a depressing scene for there was only one sign of life over the whole expanse of water.

A single light sliced through the fog, creating a narrow path of vision in the miasma. A sturdy wooden boat was cutting through the water, and upon it was seated a man and a Pokemon. The Pokemon was emitting the light, a lazy expression on its cute face. Every so often its ears would twitch and it would scan the seascape for any signs of activity.

The man, on the other hand, was concentrating solely upon the fog as if looking for something. He allowed his hood to fall from his face and pushed away his black fringe that was forever threatening to obscure his vision.

'Keep going, Pikachu,' Ash said, softly.

'Pika, pika,' his Pokemon replied, 'Pika – chu!'

'Yeah, yeah,' Ash sighed, 'You can have an extra helping of ketchup. If I can find any.'

'Pi pika chu!' Pikachu answered.

'What do you mean its in my bag?' his master asked, then shrugged, 'Well, if you say so. I guess you'd know.'

'Pika,' the electric mouse stated, in a tone of finality.

Ash sighed again and bent down to find his bag, his hands brushing the damp floor of the little craft. As he did so, he felt a faint breath against his cheek. He stopped abruptly and rose, the boat creaking underneath his weight. Pikachu, too, had stopped using 'Flash' and was standing still as stone as they heard the sigh of the wind. It was weak and only succeeded in making Ash's hair flap around his face. But still, wind...wind...that meant...

'We're near, Pikachu,' Ash let out a cry of triumph.

'Pika,' his Pokemon agreed.

From beside him, Ash pulled out two oars and slid them into the waters. He began to row, fiercely and the boat picked up pace as it sailed down the wide sea. For a few moments, neither talked, focusing completely on getting to their destination as quick as they could. And then...

'Pika!' cried the electric mouse.

'Huh?' asked Ash and then smiled, 'Yes there it is. Good going, Pikachu. Now turn Flash up a notch.'

The light intensified and now only a few feet away, Ash could see the sandy shores of Seafoam Island. The boat began to rock precariously as it slid onto the bank. Ash dug one oar into the sand and the boat came to a sudden halt.

Pikachu leapt onto his shoulder and Ash hopped down from the boat. The air, if possible, felt even more dead then before. The wind had gone as quickly as it had come.

Ash knelt down to touch the ground, a worried expression on his face. The grains of sand, under his palm, felt sharp and cold, yet strangely comforting. The pair sat there for a few minutes, silent.

'Let's go,' Ash finally said and rose from his position on the ground, 'After all, Brock said she's in the cave.'

Pikachu nodded and murmured words of encouragement to Ash as he stumbled through the sand towards the mouth of the cave.

When Ash entered the cave, he was slightly surprised by the lack of sound.

'Stupid,' he chided himself, 'What did you expect to hear. Ghosts?'

The walls of the cave were coated in a greyish substance that Ash was at a loss to name. The cave itself was made out of stone coated in a thin layer of ice and droplets of water hung from the ceiling, much to Ash's annoyance. Every so often they would fall onto his face, either startling the hell out of him or distorting his near-perfect vision.

But he could not hear anything apart from the patter of water as it hit the ground. It was so quiet that the mere sound of Ash's boots against the ground, seemed to have been magnified a hundredfold. Normally, Ash would have tried to conceal his footsteps as best as he could, so that no enemy or predator would be able to hear or see him – but now he felt too curious to bother.

'She should be here,' he said quietly, 'Let's go further in.'

Pikachu looked uncertain, but held onto Ash as he headed into the depths of the dark cave. After a minute or so of walking Ash came to a halt. Pikachu who had been hiding his head in Ash's longish hair, looked up angrily to see the cause of this sudden stop. It let out a gasp of 'Pikaaa' and practically fell of Ash's shoulder.

The narrow tunnel-like cave around them had been changed into a circular shrine. Directly infront of them were two thick slabs of stone forced into the ground, holding up a rotting piece of wood. There was nothing on the wood, save a marble ring that was emitting an eerie glow and a few statues bearing twisted faces and awkward clothes.

Strange writings adorned the walls of the cave and Ash, depsite the fact he knew they were Elder Speech, could not make out exactly what they said. The dripping of water had turned into splashing as if there was a waterfall behind the cave.

Ash, felt slightly puzzled at the sound, for it couldn't have been the sea seeing as from what he could remember from his earlier travels the cave was pretty much soundproof. He wondered, would she really have some sort of waterfall or lake situated in the cave.

His monologue was interrupted by the sound of footsteps and he turned to see who it was.

A young woman, only a few years older then him, approached where Ash and Pikachu stood.

She was wearing a peculiar headdress and long violet veil that covered her face completely, even though Ash was pretty sure she could see through it. Her dress was shaped much like a purple bag, loose and trailing after her skeletal form.

Her eyes flashed from underneath the veil as she spotted Ash and his Pokemon standing in what she had become accustomed to calling her cave.

'So,' she murmured in a mystical yet haunted voice, 'Ash.'

'Sabrina,' he replied, his heart beating like an overplayed drum as he adressed the Physcic. He noticed Pikachu's body beside him stiffen with a cold fury and understood what his Pokemon felt – after all he felt the same.

'You have come,' she smiled, but her voice when she spoke was devoid of mirth, 'for answers.'

*****

An elegant, green-haired woman dressed in a red sweater and green skirt, leaned back on one high-heeled foot as she brushed through the shelves of Saffron City library. Finding, what she was looking for she pulled a lone book from the shelf. It looked newish, the cover glossy and the pages only slightly yellow. She thumbed through the pages, deeply engrossed in the book. So engrossed she did not notice the suit-clad, olive skinned man approaching her. Until he whistled, that is.

Erika looked up, her expression frosty. Then it turned to one of complete shock, and the book she was holding slid out of her hands and hit the floor. She did not notice.

'Brock,' she addressed the man in front of her, 'Br...I...Oh...God! What happened to you?'

'You noticed, huh?' Brock asked, happily, twirling around and examining the designer suit he was wearing, 'Just picked it up. Not that this is my only one.'

'B-b-but you almost look classy!' Erika exclaimed, then recovered herself, 'Not the wannabe poke breeder from Pewter anymore, eh? I heard you've earned quite a reputation in the breeder business.'

'Heck, yeah I have. Worked hard to get where I am now,' he replied, puffing out his chest.

'Hmm.. ' Erika looked amused, 'Your fashion sense has improved too.'

'My fashion sense was always good,' Brock retorted, his chest deflating slightly.

'Oh really?' Erika allowed a skeptical expression to creep onto her elegant face, 'Well, why are you here anyway? Don't tell me the way-too-famous poke breeder of Pewter came to visit lil ol' me in this...ahem...place.'

'Place?' Brock, raised an eyebrow, looking thoughtful, 'I guess that must be the cleaned up version.'

'I guess,' Erika shrugged, uncaring, 'Now are you going to answer me or not?'

'Well,' Brock knelt down on one knee and drew out a posh leather suit case. He opened it up and seemed to rummage through the collection of papers inside it for a few moments, 'I have something I think might interest you.'

'I don't know,' the Grass trainer looked doubtful,' Unless,' her expression brightened, 'You have the new Poke Gardener's Digest. It comes late in Saffron.'

'No,' Brock replied, ignoring Erika's disappointed look, 'But I do have this..'

He held up a startlingly old book in his arms. The cover was falling apart, and the pages were ancient and wrinkled like an old man's face. Erika let out an audible gasp and stumbled a few steps back.

People passing the aisle in which the two former Gym Leaders were standing, were completely oblivious to the fact one of the greatest revelations in the history of time was taking place...

But maybe that was a good thing.

*****

When Misty arrived in Fuchsia City, she found the place a little less friendly than Celadon.

'Stupid dogs,' she cursed the snarling Growlithes at her feet, and then created a weak shield by throwing her slender arms up above her head, as they hit her with an array of effective Swift attacks, 'Ouch!'

She watched in alarm as their eyes and mouths began to glow a devilish shade of red, before coming to her senses.

'Water barrier,' she thought impatiently. Suddenly, her mind was filled with a buzzing noise, and her body went numb. For a fraction of a second, nothing happened and then she felt adrenalin and power consume her, like flood waters consume an abandoned city. She lifted both arms and noticed they were glowing bright blue, and she felt the intense power of water inside her. She released the defense attack, and an attractive blue bubble formed around her and Icedash. The Growlithe's attacks bounced of it, much to their frustration for it came soaring back to them, and they were forced to retreat in order to dodge it.

'Water always beats fire,' Misty heard herself gloat. She blinked and momentarily strengthened the water bubble around her before allowing Icedash to canter on, unharmed by the flame throwers aimed their way.

The Fuchsia City Pokemon Center, which had at one time, been easily recognizable and open to humans and pokemon alike, was now no more than a wreck. The building had caved in after a terrible earthquake, that had taken place half a year back and no body really bothered to even attempt to rebuild it. The half-destroyed walls barely held up the ceiling and inside all the equipment that Nurse Joy had collected over the years had been ruined, by various thieves and other wrong-doers. But still, most thought of it, as a safe place.

But now even that safety was being destroyed. An aging man, in a lab coat as white as snow, blasted open the door of the Pokemon Center, a pack of red-clothed men and women around him.

Blaine, Fire Master and former Gym Leader of Cinnabar Island, leered at the crouching children in one corner of the building and his ugly grin deepened when he noticed Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny, in front of him, looking fierce.

'You,' Jenny yelled, blowing on her whistle and taking a pokeball out of her pocket, 'Stop or we will have to resort to violence. You cannot keep destroying Fuchsia like this. Think about what you are about to do. There are children here.'

'Don't make me laugh,' he smirked, and knocked both her and Joy down, effortlessly, with two tendrils of fire that burst out of his fingertips. Ignoring their yells of frustration and pain, he turned to his band of simpering Fire Trainers and then to the others in the Centre.

'You!' he pointed to a young boy with a head of golden hair who had ducked under a chair in order to avoid Blaine and his trainers, 'What's your name?'

'A-a-adam,' the boy stammered, getting up and clutching a pokeball to his chest. The Fire Trainers fell about laughing when they saw this.

'Stupid kid. Expects to attack us,' one of them cried. She raised her right arm above her head and pointed it at Adam. It morphed into a burning brand of fire, and the Fire Trainer smirked at the boy's petrified expression.

But instead of attacking, she let out a high-pitched scream as she was throttled by a rope of water that threw her to the ground. She had no time to react, as a women standing in the door way, shot a powerful ice beam at her. Instantly, the Fire Trainer was reduced to a block of ice.

Blaine swung around, hissing like an enraged Persian, to see who had caused the disturbance.

'Misty,' he spat as he recognized the redhead, 'That interfering little she-devil from Cerulean, I remember you...'

'How nice for you,' Misty answered, coolly, knocking down four other Fire Trainers, with a couple more strings of water energy.

Blaine, if possible, seemed to grow angrier and his face swelled up like a balloon, 'I''m going to burn you to crisp.'

'Ho ho!' Misty replied, looking amused and defiant, 'I'd like to see you try.'

Blaine chose not to say anything but instead shut his eyes and began to focus on his element. An unbearable burning sensation began to heat up his body, and his skin turned a revolting colour of red. Eyes smarting, he released enough fire power to cause an unsuspecting Misty to hit the Center wall, bruising her back and shoulders.

'Not bad, old man,' Misty snarled, as she struggled to get up.

Blaine cackled, 'Not bad? I hit you...quite well in fact. And I've got a couple of Elite Fire Masters with me here. We'll easily overpower you. Don't tell me you've grown into an airhead like the rest of the Sensational Sisters. It won't be half as fun if you have.'

Fuming silently, Misty drew herself up to full height, 'I see your memory needs refreshing. There are only three Sensational Sisters, not Four, Blaine.'

'Eh?' Blaine looked slightly perplexed as Misty cracked a grin.

'Watch and see,' she whispered.

Blaine felt his head suddenly erupt with pain as what felt like a thousand bullets of water bullets exploded from inside his body. He gasped and a dim part of his mind told him he may as well just shrink up and die, after all there was nothing worse then enduring this much pain. He managed to open his streaming eyes, which he had shut just before the pain hit its peak, and saw that there was no one to save him. His other Fire Trainers were in similar states of agony.

'It's an attack called Water Revolver,' Misty explained, smiling slightly, 'I was wondering, if you'd like it.'

Blaine, once more, avoided answering her. All of his energy and willpower was focused on trying not too pass out.

Misty tore her gaze away from the sobbing Fire Master to notice two black shapes dart towards her. She did not, though, have time to duck as they pinned her arms behind her back in one, swift movement.

She gasped in frustration as she tried to free herself from their iron-like grip when she saw, what most assumed, was their leader.

‘Koga?’ she breathed, as she stared into the vampire-like face of the former Gym Leader of Fuchsia ‘But I thought you were on our side. I don’t – argh!’

Misty cursed as she felt her captor yank her long ponytail back and whisper, ‘Be quiet, little girl.’

Ignoring him, Misty shot a questioning look at Koga.

‘You thought wrong,’ the Poison Master replied before he turned to his fellow Trainers, ‘Let her go.’

Misty sank to the ground, rubbing her sore arms. Then, impossibly quick, she elbowed the Trainer behind her and hit Koga in the face with a sidekick. Koga swore and Misty found herself thrown against the wall of the Pokemon Centre (yet again) but this time, it crumbled underneath her weight and she was thrown to the ground, a cloud of dust rising around her.

‘I, for one, am unimpressed. I had heard that your skills had improved through the years, Misty. I see my sources were quite wrong,' Koga said softly, as he stepped through the hole Misty had fallen through.

He leapt into the air, his black and purple cloak flying around him like a pair of celestial wings. He pulled out a plum-coloured three-section-staff that had been wrapped round his waist like a belt and landed in a squat on the ground.

'Yeah, it's time little water girl learns it's bad to mess with the big boys,' Blaine, who looked as if he recovered from Misty's ferocious attack, jeered from behind Koga.

Misty spat at his feet, 'There's no way I'm going to let you win!'

She jumped up and created a weak water barrier to repel the mass of poison stings flung at her. She, then, sprinted towards the gate of the Pokemon Center and tore it clean of its hinges. Holding it up like a shield, she threw it at Koga who was forced to duck in order to prevent the blocks of wood doing any serious damage to his head.

'Little girl, you did some serious bad,' Blaine taunted her as he stepped out from behind Koga, 'You're gonna pay.'

He brandished a large scimitar from the sheath in his leather belt and waved it at Misty, in a threatening manner. He growled and then lunged at her. His weapon began emitting angry red sparks.

Misty, with enough speed to put her Icedash to shame , pulled out two sai knives from her backpack, which she threw onto the ground. She sidestepped Blaine's attack and then hit him with a back kick.

The Fire Master staggered, regained his balance and tried too hit her with two jabs to the head. Misty blocked the first and dodged the second. As she kept up this pattern of defending herself, she realized Blaine was a poorly fighter. She could easily outmaneuver him. She, then, only had too choose the right moment.

The fight went on unrelentingly for a few more minutes and Koga watched, impressed – against his will, by Misty's fighting style. Both masters were evenly matched, he noticed, advantage-wise.

Misty's element was stronger than Blaine's but the former Gym Leader was bigger and heavier than Misty. Yet, she still seemed to have the upper-hand. Koga readied himself for battle with the Water Master, clenching and unclenching his fists. Her style was graceful and tough. She mixed brute strength with expertise and stealth, making her in most eyes' a perfect assasin.

Well, Koga thought arrogantly, That's a statement we'll just have to prove wrong.

After blocking yet another front kick, Misty hit Blaine in the stomach with an uppercut. The man, completely unsuspecting of such an attack (he had planned on tiring Misty out), toppled over. Misty, wasted no time, and pinned him down with one booted leg in his stomach and smashed the other into his nose. She smiled grimly when she heard the breaking of bone.

'That,' she snarled, 'was for my 'air headed' sisters.'

She then turned to Koga who was scowling, only adding to the intensity of his face and outfit.

'Finished?' he asked, but Misty was unsure whether he meant her or Blaine.

Ignoring him, she cracked her knuckles and then held up her right hand, which was encased in fingerless blue fighting gloves. Silently, she beckoned him forward.

Simultaneously, they dropped their weapons and began their dance of death.

Misty circled around Koga, who was bouncing on the balls of his feet. She supressed the urge and want to strike first. Patience, that was what she needed.

Finally, Koga leapt into the air and aimed a deadly accurate jumping side kick at her head. Misty winced as she felt his boot graze her fair skin, but ignoring the pain, she ducked underneath his leg in order to dodge the full impact of his blow. She brought one hand down against his leg, blocking it from doing any further damage to her. He twisted in mid-air so he did not land flat on his back. He stood up to find Misty a respectable distance away from him. His eyes widened slightly at how fast she had become. He couldn't help but shake his head. What a waste it would be to kill her. But she was the enemy and kill her he must.

But her speed and skill enthralled him. It felt so good to be engaged in battle with such a powerful opponent - even if it was a woman.

Misty, then, sprinted towards him, swung around and shot a back kick at his face. He brought his arms together in the shape of an X to block this attack but was not fast enough to dodge the snap kick that followed. He stumbled back, but regained his balance quick enough, to hit her with a punch strong enough to cause her to expel a breath.

She back flipped away from him and then moved so fast all he saw was a blue and red blur of clothes and hair. One minute she was in front of him, the next she had his arms pinned behind his back and his face against the ground. He swallowed and choked on a few blades of grass, as he flailed and tried to rip himself out of her strong hold. Finally, he managed to turn his body so that he could kick her. But once more, she outsmarted him and before he had a chance to attack, kneed him in the stomach. As he yelped in pain, Misty momentarily freed one hand to fumble around for one of her sai knives. When she felt her fingers clasp the hilt of the dagger she brought it towards Koga's horrified face.

'D-d-don't,' he choked.

'I'm sorry,' Misty whispered, eyes tight shut – she did not wish to see his distressed face, 'It's what I have to do.'

A few moments later, Misty got up to look at Blaine. She cursed when all she saw was a black burn mark on the grass a few feet away from her, remembering all the other times she had almost killed him and he slipped away from her, in the last seconds of the match.

'Stupid man,' she muttered,' Like a boomerang. Always bouncing back and damn hard to get rid of.'

Suddenly, she stopped, spotting something that she swore hadn't been there a minute ago. It seemed to be a piece of paper with some scribblings on it.

She bent down a picked up a small, white card. Upon it where printed the words:

I know who you need,

To win this fight of yours,

The annoying little weed

who wished to be a Pokemon master.

He travels now,

well out of your business,

But he is an important pawn.

If him, only you could find,

Before it is dawn,

Visiting the cave of a great Master of Mind,

Your wish for victory may come true...

For a fraction of a second, Misty felt confused, then it hit her like a blow to the head. She had dreaded this day, but had known, in a dim part of her mind, it would come. But this soon?

As she looked at the greyish blue sea that stretched out beyond the shores of Fuchsia, Misty felt a rush of emotions inside her. Was there really any chance that they might succeed? Was Ash really the key to their victory?

'Stupid,' Misty told herself, angrily, 'Don't...be...so...negative. Just find him.'

The Water Master's eyes began to glow an ugly blue. She scrunched up the paper and soon all that was left was a pretty aqua-coloured dust in her sweaty palms.

Misty closed her eyes and called to her Pokemon, who appeared, as usual in it's cloud of blue.

But this time it wasn't the cold that made her shiver.

Notes:

Sorry 'bout Icedash – I always get a kick out of making up new Pokemon. The Pokedex entry is below.
Stay tuned for Part 2. 
Comments and crits much appreciated. 
Feel free to sign my guestbook at:
http://www.freewebs.com/lethal_shinken

Pokedex:

Icedash

Icedash, the horse pokemon. Much like the fire Pokemon Rapidash, Icedash is extremely fast, but unlike Rapidash, Icedash is a brilliant swimmer. Little is known about where to find Icedashes or their evolution.

Water Barrier

Attack - ---

Accuracy - 75

Creates a powerful barrier of water which will repel a majority of attacks

Water Revolver

Attack - 150

Accuracy - 100

One of the most deadly attacks in the world. Opponent is shot down by powerful bullets of water. It is very hard to learn and takes a lot of vigorous training.