Chapter 6: The Realization of the Truth Ash continued through the maze with his friends, hoping for, yet fearing the moment when he would meet up with anyone else. Jessie and James walked silently behind him, and Ash smiled when he thought of them as a couple. Perfectly wrong for each other, they'd be quite an interesting pair. He was nearly positive it would never occur, so he cleared his mind of it. "So, you managed to free your friends huh? Let's see how lucky you are with the rest of them, and with escaping..." Jessie and James recoiled in fear hearing Vinetra's words booming above them for the first time. "Yeah, she gets annoying doesn't she?" Ash said, the bravado guilefully hidden in that remark. "Y...Yeah," Jessie stuttered. Ash smiled nervously and turned a corner in the Labyrinth. "Ash..." He turned on his heel and faced Jessie and James. "You guys say something?" he asked. They shrugged simultaneously and Ash blinked in confusion, turned around while shrugging and continued. "Please, help me..." Ash whirled around, his heart racing. "Who said that?" A faint glow coming from the bushes seemed to answer his question. Ash stepped forward cautiously, rolling his heels as not to make noise. "Careful Ash," Jessie warned as he approached the illuminated area. There was a small trail of blood leading out from it, as if someone, or something, had been wounded and crawled into the ivy for protection. He parted the branches, and looked down. "No!" he screamed, for Pikachu lay on the dirt, his body bruised and broken, and next to him, lay the bloodied body of Meowth. "Ash," he whispered reaching out to him. "Hold on buddy! I'll get you out of there!" Ash grunted squeezing into the vines. "Chaaaa," Pikachu moaned using his original tongue. He gritted his teeth against the pain of the ivy scraping at exposed flesh with every move and slowly bent down. "I'm going to get Meowth out first, I'll be back in just a second," Ash said. Pikachu nodded as Ash reached to his left and gathered the inert form of Meowth into his arms. He didn't move, didn't stir, it concerned the boy, and he reluctantly stepped from the foliage. Jessie and James came close to meet him. "What'd you find?" James asked. Ash closed his eyes and turned around. "Meowth!" Jessie and James gasped in unison. Ash offered the Pokemon in his outstretched arms. James accepted him, cradling his body gently into his arms. He immediately took him to the center of the pathway and laid him on a patch of moss growing over the stones. His creamy white fur, which had kept impeccably clean, was now filthy, with streaks of dirt and blood running through it. Ash turned away and dove vivaciously back into the ivy. "Ash, it hurts," Pikachu moaned tears sliding down his crimson cheeks. It nearly brought tears to his trainer and friend's as well. He gently gathered him into his arms and exited the ivy. James stood, still tenderly cradling Meowth. Ash looked concerned and took a hesitant step forward, his neck craned to see. James sensed his presence, looked up and smiled at the boy. "He'll be alright," he assured him. Ash sighed in relief. "Let's go, we still have to find Brock," he said. "Right!" James answered and they started down the cobblestone path again. "What about her?" Jessie asked suddenly. Ash stopped, and looked to the ground. James looked confused, and laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Oh...I...I...-" "It's alright, you didn't know," he answered Jessie's embarrassed stammering. "What? What happened?" James asked bewildered. "You're dense, let's go Ash," Jessie said leading him away by the shoulders. "I still don't get it!" James whined. Jessie turned around and glared at him, her azure eyes penetrating his emerald ones deeply. "Drop it, James," she hissed. Ash put a hand atop hers and slid it off of his shoulder. "I can tell him," he said solemnly. Jessie looked sympathetic and lowered her voice. "Are you sure?" Ash smiled vaguely and nodded. "Misty's gone, Vinetra, she...She told me she erased her mind," he said sadly. James' eager face fell at the news. "She was so kind to me too," he whispered mournfully. "But we can still save Brock, let's go," Jessie piped up. Ash and James nodded and started down the path again. They wound aimlessly about, Pikachu writhing in pain, and Meowth, out cold in James' arms. The roads seemed to lead to nowhere, and the group was getting agitated. The Pokemon needed medical attention and they had yet to locate the last remaining member of their group. The scenery was almost always the same, the occasional jet-black bird, but that was all. James wouldn't be able to fly if he tried, the atmosphere was completely dead, no winds, not even a breeze of any kind drifted through. The smaller, lighter birds that resided there had no problems, but James was much larger than they were, and required the presence of a friendly wind. They stopped, scrutinizing the bushes and they curves and bends in the great labyrinth. "Ash! We've been here before!" James whined. "No we haven't! It's totally different!" he retaliated refusing to believe he was lost in any way. "I don't know," James mused plucking an ivy leaf from the branch. Ash sighed and rolled his eyes. "Isn't that bush over there where we found Meowth and Pikachu?" Jessie asked. "No!" Ash yelled sharply. "Well! You don't have to bite my face off for it!" she snapped back. Ash resisted the urge to draw his sword and continued walking. "I swear we've gone that way before!" Jessie called after him. "And what do you know?!" he replied turning over his shoulder. "A lot more than you!" Ash gritted his teeth and squeezed the hilt of the fire sword angrily. "Ash, she's psychic, I'd listen if I were you," James added. "You stay out of this!" Jessie and Ash yelled simultaneously. James held Meowth closer for comfort and watched his two close friends argue. Ash kept one hand on his sword, while the other held Pikachu. "Look Jessie, we're friends now right? Let's just go my way and leave it at that," he said calmly. Jessie shot him one of her infamous cynical looks and crossed her arms angrily across her chest. "I would, but it's wrong," she said through gritted teeth. "You just can't get over that superiority complex left over from Team Rocket can you?" he said cruelly. Jessie took the blow personally, looking away quickly. "Don't ever mention that again," she whispered. "Oh so now we're all sensitive are we?" Ash snarled haughtily. James frowned at him and stepped in front of his friend. "Please, Leave her alone," he said evenly. "Why should I? She's the one being stubborn!" he replied. "I am not! And its not because of Team Rocket either!" Jessie snapped. "It's over now Jessie, can't we please forget about it? We don't even live in the same world anymore!" James assured her. He turned toward his friend as to somewhat prevent Ash from hearing their conversation. It proved disappointing, he leaned in and was able to hear them without their detection. "It's easy for you to say James," Jessie replied. He closed his eyes sadly. "It's not trust me, you don't know what happened," he said. "You think I don't know? James they...They," she stammered. "What? What is it?" he asked her concerned. "I saw...Everything." James gasped and looked away as Jessie continued. "They made me watch, I could hear and see it all, so don't tell me what I do and don't know!" she yelled, her voice hinting at tears. James sunk to his knees nearly dropping Meowth. Jessie's hands flew to her mouth and she knelt next to him. "Oh James, I'm so sorry," she whispered putting her arm around his shoulders in comfort. "It's okay, I...I know too, they did the same thing to me," he whispered beginning to cry. His words caused Jessie to join him, holding him and Meowth tightly. The conversation deeply disturbed Ash, the duo were now his friends, and they'd obviously had a tough time before he'd met them in Periwinkle village. His mind cleared with realization as the picture of what they were saying painted itself I his brain. "You guys didn't get fired, did you?" he asked. Jessie and James shook their heads mutually and continued to sob. "Listen, I won't ask what happened to you, since it's obviously painful, but James was right. Here, you don't have a past, you can start over again, we have a duty we have to-no-That we want to perform, and you guys are part of it. And whether you like it or not, you are my friends, we've come too far to give up now. Leave the past behind," Ash said and knelt by the two souls. Jessie suddenly lashed out, shrieking and pushed Ash over square in the stomach. "Keep out of this!" she yelled. Ash tumbled backwards, his fiery tail flipping over his head as he disappeared behind the bushes. Jessie and James stood instantly and rushed after, concerned for his safety. "Ash! Are you alright?" Jessie called searching the scenery for him. They forced themselves through the ivy to find him sprawled on the ground. Jessie stooped down and gingerly helped him to his feet. "What on earth was that for?" he asked woozy. "I'm sorry, you're right, I...It's just really hurtful to me, please understand," she said softly. Ash wrapped his arms around her in comfort and forgiveness. "It's alright, believe it or not, I do get it," he soothed. Jessie hugged him back and actually cracked a small smile. "You're my friend too, Ash," she said happily. James couldn't help but feel a little envious, and crossed his arms across his chest. It was then he noticed the soft red light emanating from a large pedestal in the center of an equal square formed by ivy bushes. "Uh, guys?" James added nervously. Jessie slipped away from Ash and went to her friend's side. She stared in awe at the spectacle before her and put a hand on his shoulder. "Dear...God," she breathed placing her other hand over her mouth in amazement. The wooden lectern that stood seemed ablaze whit crimson energy, swirling about it like a ravished snake. The podium itself was intricately carved with brilliant designs of the seven powers which all were easily able to recognize. Pikachu suddenly sprang to life, the wounds upon his body sealing and leaving no scars. "Pikachu!" Ash cried happily. Meowth too, regained consciousness and was alleviated of his abrasions. James let him down slowly and he curled into a sleepy ball at his feet. "What happened?" he asked groggily. "Don't worry, you're alright-" "But not for long!" The powerful surge of water sent all three humans and both Pokemon hurtling against the ivy wall. Ash cried out in sheer agony as the flames extinguished with a billowing cloud of steam. It felt as if he'd been doused in the coldest water existing on earth, now that his body temperature was so much higher, and the flames were necessary for his life. After the barrage had ended, he slumped to the ground, the flames a sickly shade of blue. "Fire, its weakness is water, always will be water!" a cruel voice boomed. Jessie coughed up a mouthful of the crystalline liquid and raised her eyes into the icy pair that belonged to her former friend and confidant, Misty. James lay hacking up large amounts of water and Jessie rushed to his side. His tail lay in a crumpled heap behind him, and his wings were matted brutally against his sides. There wasn't any way he was escaping with ease from this situation. He stopped the coughing and sat up with a loud groan. "Aw, poor James! Did I hurt you?" Misty asked vengefully. Ash stirred, fire flared briefly and he drew in a deep breath. "Oh good! He's not dead! Yet," Misty mused. Brock stood behind her, his eyes, due to the squinting, had only the signature black circles beneath them. Misty gestured with her head towards Ash and Brock grinned devilishly. He walked briskly over to the boy and gathered his neck in his hands, squeezing ever so gently. Ash weakly struggled against it, but to no avail, without the flame he was as meek as a kitten. "Leave him alone!" James called. Misty snapped her head menacingly toward him, her tail flipping angrily about behind her. "I'll play with you, later," she hissed her eyes flaring a brilliant blue. At the signal, enormous coiled seashells burst from the ground, creating a haphazard cell around both human and Pokemon alike. Ash closed his eyes, letting the fire die down. Brock stared at him with a hate unfathomable for him, but Ash accepted it, knowing it was no longer Brock, his long time friend. "No! Don't kill him!" Ash's eyes snapped open at the sound of his former voice. Brock gritted his teeth in pain at the battle against the demon in his mind. "I won't let you win," the demon snarled. Misty scowled at the pathetic attempt at liberty and took matters into her own hands, or tail. She swung it in a broad arc, the broad end landing with a hard slap in the small of the stone-man's back. He crashed to the ground with the horrible crunch of rock grating upon rock and lay still. "Water is rock's weakness too!" Misty hissed raising her webbed hand high above her head. Ash heard the wail of energy gathering in her palm and rose shakily from the ground. He summoned the last bit of energy he possessed and charged at Misty. "No! Don't!" he cried diving into her with full force and taking her to the ground with him. She cried out in pain as they both hit and immediately threw him off of her. "Get off of me twerp!" she yelled. Ash sprang to his feet and faced the demon that stood before him. He knew he didn't have a chance, the cause was obviously lost, but he wouldn't juts give it up. That would be failing Misty, he had to avenge her. Ash drew his sword furtively and held it loosely in his palm. "I'm sorry," he whispered to himself. "Well Ash, old friend, seems like we meet again," Misty mused sauntering over to him. "Yeah looks like it," he replied staring at the ground. "Too bad I have to kill you now, we would've made beautiful music together. Jessie and James too, they were quite the dynamic duo," she said with a slight chuckle. Ash heard them both whimper pitifully from the shell prison. Ash refused to answer, but was answered himself by Misty's webbed fingers tightly clamped around his throat. He gasped for air and stared straight into the demonic irises. They were only a slight blue, nearly white, and even more evil than the fire type of eyes had been. There was no compassion hidden anywhere in the ice, and no trace of Misty was visible at all. Ash knew what he had to do, he'd regret it for a lifetime, but it was in both of their best interests. "I'm going to enjoy killing you Ash Ketchum!" Misty growled grinning. Ash gripped the sword he'd held in his hand and readied it. "No, you won't," he gasped and plunged it into the girl's stomach. She howled in pain and dropped her captive, the fire sword entirely through her slim figure. The shell cage retracted into the ground, releasing Jessie and James, and they rushed to Ash's side. He lay on the floor, his renewed flames flaring with sorrow. He sobbed tears that slid down his cheeks and to the ground and exploded in a small burst of flames like melting plastic. "I'm so sorry Misty, I wish it could be different," he whispered coiling his fiery tail about his body protectively. Brock opened his eyes and slowly sat up. "What happened?" he asked in his own voice. The circles had disappeared from beneath his eyes and the demon had been expelled. He looked up to see Ash sobbing onto James' shoulder and Jessie holding the limp form of Misty. Jessie gripped the sword protruding from her stomach and pulled it out, a wave of blood pouring from the wound. She dropped the blade and gently lowered the body to the ground. "You did the right thing Ash," she whispered. Ash wailed louder and James put a hand to the back of his head reassuringly. A tear slid down his cheek as well. "Ash? Why?" Brock asked as he stood. Ash answered him without leaving the comforting arms of a good friend. "She couldn't be saved, her mind was gone," he sobbed. Brock began to cry at the gaining of the knowledge and knelt by Misty's body. He slid his hand into her now seemingly frail one and held it close as it slowly lost its warmth of life. The crimson pool slowly spread beneath her and he was forced to move away to comfort his friend. "I love you Misty, goodbye," Ash thought to himself as he was passed from James to Brock, and Ash was quickly replaced by Jessie in James' arms. Brock provided more comfort than the blue-haired companion had. Of course he loved James more than ever as a friend now, Jessie and Meowth as well. They'd all gone through this together and they'd been drawn inseparably close with the development of their powers and overcoming every adversary that went along with it, but Brock had been there much longer. He was like the big brother he'd never had, and in some ways even a father figure to him. He'd never known the paternal side of his family, his mother often saying he'd left her before he had even been born. Brock was the only thing that managed to quell the sobs that wracked his body. He pulled away from the cool stone body and knelt respectfully by Misty's side. She looked peaceful in death, no longer tormented by the demon that had contaminated her mind body and soul. No longer subjected to the evil that was the pain of everyday life, Misty's soul was free. "Goodbye my friend," he whispered laying a hand over the wound that penetrated all the way through to her back. He felt a warm surge in his arm and a thin trail of flames slid down it to his hand. They coiled around her stomach and chest, engulfing her in a delicate web of tiny nimble flames. Ash was frightened, but he held his hand rigid. Something in his mind told him to stay, something told him he was doing something right. There was a sudden flash of fiery heat and light as the fire sealed for a brief instant then dissipated with a flurry of embers. Misty's eyes snapped open and she drew in a sharp breath, hacking what was left of the blood from her stomach to the cobblestone ground. Ash sat in mild shock, as she lifted her head, her eyes the original sea blue they had been. "Ash?" she queried looking at him quizzically. He felt dizzy and blinked twice rapidly. "M...Misty?" he gasped terrified. She gasped and caught him as he fell. "Ash? What's wrong?" she asked worried. He smiled broadly and touched her cheek briefly. "You're alive," he whispered. Misty smirked crookedly. "Of course! Was I dead?" she asked raising one eyebrow. Ash sighed in relief, she didn't remember. "No no, you were just, uh, out for a little while, I guess you're okay now," he replied. Jessie and James nodded for him to acknowledge what he wanted her to believe. She shrugged and helped him up. "Now, James started, "what about that?" He pointed to his previous discovery and the jaws of all those who hadn't seen it dropped. The wooden podium still shimmered with the deep crimson light. "What is it?" Ash asked slowly advancing. "Careful!" Misty warned. He slowly walked up to it and was finally able to see what was on the top. Several old and yellowed scrolls lay piled in a neat stack. Ash reached out to touch them, ever so slowly, and again heard the voice in his head that he had heard when he'd first woken up. "Your destiny lies before you," they said. Ash whirled around and looked at his newly reunited group and raised one eyebrow. They shot him an innocent look back and he turned to the scrolls. He reached out tentatively and touched his finger to the red aura. It froze instantly, into a hard red shell and shot a small beam of energy from the back. All present gasped and took an apprehensive step backward. The energy piled on a spot on the floor, much the same as when a Pokemon was released from the Pokeball and solidified into a small lizard like dragon. It yawned comically and blinked a few times rapidly to clear it's vision. "Hmm? Oh, welcome! Have you come for the scrolls?" it asked perking up. Ash stared at the creature and smiled wryly. "I suppose, what are they?" he asked. The dragon snorted, a small puff of smoke billowing from its nostrils and directed its piercing green eyes to the boy. "You've never heard of the scrolls?" it asked. Ash shook his head. The dragon reacted instantly, skittering nimbly up the podium and laying atop the red glass. "These are the legends of old, they tell of the ancient battle, the seven powers," it whispered its long forked tongue lingering on every word. Everyone gasped and smiled broadly. "Now we can fulfill our destiny!" Misty exclaimed excitedly. The dragon burst into laughter pounding the glass until Ash was sure it was going to break. "What's so funny?" he asked it. The dragon continued the hysterical wailing, howling with laughter, tears streaming down its scaly cheeks until it was reduced to a soft giggle now and then. When the group was certain it was fit to communicate again, Ash addressed it. "Now, can you please tell us what's going on?" he asked. The dragon, sniffed briefly and extended the small claw. "Introductions first, this ain't gonna be the last you see of me!" it said cheerfully. The dragon was tiny, its claw barely able to fit between his index and middle fingers, but he shook it regardless. "I'm Ash, these are my friends, Brock, Misty, Jessie, James, Meowth, and Pikachu," he said, his hand indicating the respective person as he mentioned their name. "Nice ta meet alla ya!" the energetic little lizard chirped, "my name's Riley!" Ash smiled at the beast and decided now was the time for answers. "So, what was so funny?" he asked. Riley smiled at him slyly and flicked the crimson tongue out at him tauntingly. "This is not your home world am I correct?" Ash nodded. "Do you really expect to be able to read the scrolls?" Riley asked lowering his thinly slit eyes deviously. "Uh, I guess not," Ash muttered finally beginning to realize the truth. The group's hearts mutually fell and they heaved a sigh of frustration. "What do we do now?" Pikachu asked sorrowfully. Riley perked up and waved a paw wildly in the air. "Oh! Oh! I know! Pick me Pikachu!" he called. The Pokemon regarded the hyper little dragon judiciously and shrugged. "Okay then, Riley, do you have an answer?"he asked properly, mimicking the stereotypical teachers he knew of. Riley sat regally, his tiny wings pulled tightly into his body, and tail coiled practically about his legs like a cat. Meowth had been in that same position, but quickly shifted out of it in embarrassment. "I'll tell you what, answer my riddles, and I'll give you the scrolls, let me come with you, and I can translate them!" Riley chirped enthusiastically. Ash brightened and stood straight upwards. "You can? Will you?" he babbled excitedly. Riley nodded and assumed a more threatening position. "Then I'm ready for the riddles now," Ash said eagerly. "There are three, each harder than its predecessor, prepare thyself," Riley stated. The dragon's eyes began glowing a deep emerald and he stood erect at his full height. He inhaled deeply and blew a small curl of a flame from his mouth. "I can be everything, yet I take up no space, I can fill a mind, and the void of space, people fear me, and welcome me, what am I?" Ash gritted his teeth in suspense, he had absolutely no clue. He'd never been good at riddles or puzzles of any kind and he wasn't about to start now. "Nothing!" Jessie spoke up. "What?" Ash queried confused. "It's nothing! You can have something, but it's nothing in your mind, it takes up no space as well, people can have nothing of a mind, it probably does fill the void of space, you can fear hearing nothing, or you can welcome a break with nothing to bother you! That's the answer!" she explained proudly. "The girl is smart," Riley mused. Ash blushed and faced the tiny creature defiantly. "I knew that," he whispered. "And the next riddle! I can be bent as easily as the softest metal, yet I can be as rigid as a mountain. I can be fickle, and easily changed, or I can be uniform, and as unchangeable as the tides. I can be pure, and righteous, or I can be corrupted and vile, even evil, what am I?" Ash nearly fell over, he didn't know the answer to this one either. He had wanted to assume some sort of leadership roll and he'd never get it this way. He wracked his mind for some sort of an answer, but none came, the harder he tried to think, the more blocked his flow of ideas became. "I...Have no clue," he muttered. "You're someone's mind!" He looked up to see Meowth waving a clawed finger in the air. "A human, or Pokemon mind for dat matter, can be all dose tings!" he shouted triumphantly. Ash had completely under estimated the trio when they'd been Rockets, their minds were sharp as tacks. "Very good, but the final riddle is the hardest of them all. Prepare to lose mortals! Sorry, added that for dramatic effect, little...Thing, I have," Riley grinned amusingly at his own remark. The group glared daggers at him and he cleared his throat. "okay then, touchy touchy! What is never as it seems, it is real, yet false at the same time, feels so good, yet can leave you emotionally drained? It can be terrifying, or it can soothe shattered nerves, it can also be both at the same time. What do I speak of?" This was truly the hardest one of all. It made Ash think of a dream he'd once had. He'd been in the Pokemon league, and there was a really important test that day and he was horribly nervous. He'd walked onto the field and discovered he had no shoes, or socks on. He hadn't wanted to be late, so he'd gone to the battle anyway. That part had been the worst, but in the end he'd done very well with the battle and he'd felt so good when he'd awoken. His head suddenly snapped up, the answer hitting his brain with full force. "It's a dream!" he exclaimed. Everyone's jaws dropped at the sudden outburst. Riley spread his wings and leapt into the air, turning a wide arc. "You did it! The scrolls are yours!" he yelled and his head arched back dramatically. He lunged forward spraying a thin stream of white-hot needles from his mouth. They slammed with full force into the crystalline red glass and it shattered neatly around the base, leaving the scrolls open for the taking. Riley landed swiftly at the base and nudged the nearest ancient document towards Ash with his nose. "Go on! Take it!" he urged. Ash stepped forward and slowly coiled his fingers around the soft, almost cloth-like paper, sealed together with the same design he'd seen on the book at the inn back in Periwinkle. "This symbol has got to mean something," he mused gathering the rest of the scrolls into his arms. The group was generous enough to each carry one, since there were seven scrolls, and seven of them. "Yippie! Okay guys! Pals! Buddies! Where are we goin' now huh?" Riley yipped leaping onto Ash's shoulder. He felt his eyes pop with fear, and he turned nervously to his friends. "Guys? How the hell are we getting out of here?"