Resistance
By: Trix
E-mail: q-chan@juno.com
Category: Gen.
Part 2c: Chapter 1, part 3

Warning: Kiddies, this isn't for you.

Disclaimer: Duh.


Shaking his head, Ash watched her ride to the front of the line where Misty and Michael lead. The assassination attempt had failed, his attackers were not dead, but he was not dead yet. Moreover, she was not their target.
Why is she so worried, anyway? They didn't try to kill her.
"Ash, what'd she say?"
Turning back to Gary, he heaved a sigh. He knew perfectly well why Liz was worried, and did not blame her. "Ishe is worried, Gary"
"'N' so 'm I," he admitted. "You may think this is all a game, but I'll be open. I'm scared shitless. I don't believe in playing a game of chance with lives."
"Me, too," Anne agreed. "You almost died today"
"Well, I didn't," he reminded both.
Heeling Dodrio lightly, Gary pulled ahead quickly, not bothering to say another word.

The dimness of late evening had settled under a thick canopy of leaves, though it was light yet. Stretching to the sky, immense trunks of ancient trees watched over the forest like tall, solemn sentinels. It was as if no creature wished to make noise, even the breeze was quiet. Very little rain reached the forest floor, their pattering nearly inaudible. The silence was complete; anyone passing through would have taken it for some great forest temple.
And they were the Priests. Dark cloaks did not clash with the deep colors of the forest, but seemed to fulfill it in some sense, creating an odd feel of pattern.
"We have orders," he winced at the sound of his own rasping voice that grated in his throat, like he had received some horrible injury at one time, but any scars that may have existed were hidden by his high collar.
"Aye, Master Giovonni," the young man kneeling at his feet nodded slightly, keeping his head bowed. He did not seem to mind or notice the rich loam staining the knees of his breeches.
"You know them."
"Yes," it had not been formed as a question, but an answer was given none the less.
Dark eyes flashing, Giovonni took a step back. "You will not fail?"
Keeping his head bowed, the sienna cloaked man stood, thick green hair hiding his features. "I do not failunlike a certain fool we will not mention."
"Duplica is no more fool than you or Ishe had good reason to flee as she did. But that is good, A.J. No matter what happens, stay focussed on our goal. Do not fight for revenge. Fight and kill for what you know is right."
"Aye, Master. I will not fail you."
But Goddess knows I wish I could.

Camp was set up at the mouth of a narrow canyon. Rainier, Matten, and Todd were posted as sentries, they weren't so stupid as to doze off like those of the night before. Outcroppings of boulders and scattered trees hid both shelter and small fire.
It was simply a canvas awning with a fire and their bedrolls beneath it. Considering the flames were created of Gary's aura, they were light and heat, nothing more.
Sitting alone, Ash watched interchanging crimson and gold mirrored in his eyes. He would never admit it, but he was terrified, utterly terrified of the Resistance. The League only understood an inkling of what Giovonni, their Leader, was capable of. He knew everything that they could do, had witnessed themand he was frightened. The previous Electric Master before he had taken his place, Surge, was a better swordsman, and he would kill himeventually.
Not caring how many sentries were posted, he knew sleep would never come. Looking into the blaze, he watched it burn, and memories of years he didn't want to remember flooded through the gates of time

"Boy, get out of this now," he chuckled, walking slowly towards the much smaller teenager, who barely came halfway up his chest.
"No, Surge. I won't," flat brown eyes bore holes into him, as if the boy could see right through him. Drawing the sword strapped to his back, he growled in his throat. Surge flinched at the sound, his younger "rival" was wild, the Bond he shared with his Pikachu making him a complete monster in his eyes.
Unsheathing his own blade, he half grinned. "Then you will die today."
"You're wrong."
"I'm warning you, Ashton. I knew your father, he was a good man," Surge cautioned. "I don't want to kill you. You're too young."
Smiling bitterly, Ash held the point level with his heart. "I don't have a father. I was born alone."

The fire cracked, and Ash sat up, startled. Calming, he settled back, still caught up in the past.

It was only a few minutes until Ash realized Surge definitely had the upper hand. The older man was more experienced, stronger, and faster. He might as well have asked for him to kill him, arms open.
But death never came.
Leaping back when Surge slashed at his throat, he bent his knees on landing. The point caught him above the eyes, slicing through his flesh.
Screaming, he fell to his knees, blinded from both blood flowing in his eyes and hot white pain that seared his vision, his mind. He couldn't see, but Surge kicked him, hard. Hitting the wall, he heard the bones in his right arm snap, and everything flooded into darkness.

"Brock," he turned at his wife's soft inquiry. "I am so worried"
"Uh huh, we all are," he whispered back. "Except for our dear friend Ketchum."
"Ashton is scared, too."
"And I don't blame him," he sat up, propping himself on his elbows, pulling his broadsword closer to him. After the previous morning he wanted his weapon close at hand. Very close at hand.
Already upright, Liz reached over and slid her fingers through his spiky dark hair. "I don't want anyone I care about to die."
"And neither do I, love," he replied soothingly. "Goddess knows I don't."
"Brock" her shoulders began shaking violently, tears streaming down her cheeks. Pulling her close, he muffled her sobs on his shoulder. Casting a glance to the lone figure at the fire, he sighed. If Ash had heard, he didn't care. "What if he does? What will we do then? He is like a brother to mehe can't die"
"I don't know what we'll doshh, love, it'll be alright."
Looking to the canvas above him, he tried to tell himself just that. He failed miserably.

Dawn arrived, dull, without a hint of wind. The rain had stopped for the moment, with promise to return. Making the best of their short time, they ate a cold, frugal breakfast of uncooked pop tarts. Slinging a quickly folded canvas between Michael and Rainier's Rapidashes, they tossed staves easily replaced into the brush. Saddling up, they began riding down the winding canyon, hoods up against a cold wind whistling between high walls.
Gary and Ash kept their distance, not wishing to speak. The Fire Lieutenant took the lead and the Electric Master fell back to the rear of the company, avoiding each other like the Plague.
If Gary had anything to say, Ash certainly didn't. Even after a night of fear and confusion, he still needed to be left alone, to think everything through in the logical hours of daylight, hopefully when his Past wouldn't haunt him. The mulled, half thought of "Dear Goddess I am so bloody tired" broke his concentration often enough he considered calling halt so he could fall off of his Rapidash. If the fall would knock him unconscious, he would be grateful.
"Ash?" Anne slowed to ride next to him. "Are you alright?"
"Wonderful," he yawned. "'Ello, Anne. You will have to excuse merough night"
"Don't die on me."
The statement caught him completely off guard. The only conversation between them for several moments was his half-formed words and her patient silence. After several moments, he managed a slight grin. "I won't, love."
"I mean it," she gripped his arm. "You can't die, for any reason. I don't careyou just can't dienot for me, not for anyone. Please."
"Anne, I promise, I'll do everything in my power to live through this," he grasped her wrist with his other hand. "I swear by the Goddess, and may she find it fitting. I give you my word."
She released him, and he followed her example. He began to say more, but it was cut off by an alarming cry of his Pikachu. A stab of its terror hit him, and he nearly fell from his saddle. "Sweet Goddess," he hissed, gripping the leather edge. Feeling its Master's unease, the Rapidash whickered nervously.
"Pika pi! Pika pi!"
The electric mouse wove around hooves, causing Rapidashes to start. The distressed Pikachu bounded onto his saddle and began waving its paws, jagged tail jerking back and forth.
"Pikapi, pikachu! Chu! Kachu! Pika-chu!"
"Are you sure?" his eyes widened.
"Pika! Pikapi!"
"Damn," he turned to Anne, holding her shoulders. "Stay here, please." He dismounted, paused for a moment to allow his aura to flicker around him, and began running to the lead, Pikachu at his heels. Ignoring the curses at his back and rearing horses, he skidded to a halt a few yards ahead of Liz and Gary, balancing lightly on the balls of his feet. Sword ringing as he ripped it from the metal chain he used to strap it to his back, he took a cautious step forward.
Aura giving him light, he tried to penetrate the shadows of the canyon walls cast by heavy cloud cover and steep rock fixtures. If not for the flickering manes and tails of the Rapidashes they would have been lost in near darkness. The walls of the winding gully were strategic, however, not allowing a clear shot of an arrow from above.
The flare of Ground Elemental energy and the trembling of the ground beneath him were the only warnings he needed. Pushing off the ground, he leapt back, landing on one knee in between Gary's Dodrio and Liz's Psychic Rapidash. The canyon floor where he had been standing a minute before exploded in a shower of rock and mud, shards of stone ricocheting off of granite.
"What the hell" he heard Gary muttering, backing his Dodrio several paces. The mix of Elemental Rapidashes were in near panic, shying despite their Master's commands.
With a sickening feeling he realized that Brock's Rapidash was directly behind him. The Ground type was to slow, and if he dodgedthere was only one thing he could do. Crossing in arms in front of him, he created a crackling golden Reflect. Needles of glowing, sienna formed together into a solid force, hitting his quickly erected shield, hard. With a piercing shriek it was rent in two and he was hit head on. He tried desperately to stay upright, to no avail. The blow knocked him down, burning his fore arms, a galaxy of hot white stars exploding across his darkening field of vision, falling in a brilliant meteor shower, and everything faded to black.

"Mother above, Ash!" Liz swore when Ash crumpled backward, his own sword jabbing into his side when he slumped against it. "Oh, dear sweet Mother above"
"Bastard!" Gary screamed, leaping from Dodrio's back and landing on all fours. Scrambling to both feet, he drew his glaive, hood that framed his face slipping to become folds that rested on his shoulders. "Show your face, you cowardly bastard!"
A deep chuckle echoed from the shadows and a broad-shouldered Master stepped into the half-light, cowl casting shadows that hid his features. Scampering behind him, a Sandshrew peered out from beneath the edge of his cloak, dark eyes reflecting the flickering Rapidash manes. Drawing the saber at his side, he tossed back his hood, revealing a middle-aged man with emerald hair, square-jawed, his rough weathered features and insanely bright brown eyes giving him a terrifying lookespecially to anyone who recognized him immediately.
"A.J.?"
"Gary," the Ground Master shrugged indifferently.
"I thought you were dead," his blade lowered to point at the ground, his grip shaking slightly. "I thought" his eyes narrowed to mere slits, anger tight in his words. "You bastardyou joined the Resistance."
"Sandshrew, Fissure."
"Shit!" he yelled. The golden-scaled Pokemon ran from beneath the edge of his cloak, confronting him, then leapt into the air. Twisting around it created an orb of force, using its fist to pound it into the earth. The ground split beneath it, cracks forming in the ground, the edges sagging inwards. The mud beneath his feet was forced upwards, the land heaving with Sandshrew's attack, shards of rock snapping free to cut into his unprotected flesh. Rising into the air, Gary fell heavily on his back, his breath forced between his teeth. Lying there, stunned, it was a few moments until he was able to sit up, trying desperately to breath. "Bastardyou" it was the only thing he managed to choke out before he collapsed in a sodden, red heap, blood spreading beneath him.
"Gary!!" Misty screamed. "Gary, answer me!"
"A-ash" Brock stared in shock at the unconscious form of his younger friend. "Y-you" he glared at the Ground Master, growling and baring his teeth.
Dismounting, the Rock Master charged towards A.J., hands thrust back. Tackling him to the ground, he threw a punch at his jaw. Jerking his head to one side, the attack missed, and Brock's fist splintered in solid rock. Taking absolutely no heed of his torn skin or split knuckles, he went in with a right hook, catching A.J. in the side of the face. Jumping to his feet, he kicked the half-conscious Ground Master in the side, cracks issuing under the blows. Palm flat on the ground, A.J.'s aura flickered momentarily. The stone beneath Brock's feet screamed with agony, and he hit the wall.
"You're not getting away with this!" Anne's Rapidash galloped forward, its rider leaning close into its neck, wings held in a battle position. Swinging her broadsword, she caught him in a glancing blow as he gained his feet in the side of the face. With amazing speed, he grasped the handle of his saber, heaving it off the ground to block Anne's swing as she tried to ride by again. The curved edge hooked in her blade, and she was pulled from her mount's back. Hitting the ground, she could only watch her sword slide across the canyon floor, sparks streaming from the edge.
"I was sent here to kill one person, what the hell are you trying to do, playing hero?" he bent next to her, his whisper nearly inaudible. "I don't want to kill anyone morecertainly not you."
"You didn't seem to care about Gary and Brock," her eyes hardened. "You're trying to kill the people I care about."
"I don't want your blood staining my hands!" he hissed.
"Get away from my sister!" Todd nudged his Flying Rapidash into a gallop.
"Anne!" Misty was quick to follow the Flying Master. She used one hand to attack him with a spray of water from her fingers. The water attack caused him to stumble back, and Anne used the moment perfectly, kicking him in the midriff and turning his sword on him as she kippered to her feet.
Looking up, he found the point of his own sword at his throat. "Anne," he pleaded hoarsely, "It's me, A.J., remember? Please, Anneplease"
"You tried to kill Ash, and you expect mercy from me?!" she screamed, but already she was lowering the sword slowly. "A.J., why? The Resistanceoh Goddess, A.J."
"I don't have a choice," he shot back.
Why can't I kill him?
"You're not a Master, Anne, don't you understand?" he gripped his upper right arm, Misty's water had rendered it useless. "Please, Anne"
"I-I don't know" she turned to where the Water Mistress and her brother had hesitated. "Todd! Misty! We're taking him prisoner!"
"Wha'?" Todd looked thoroughly confused. "But"
He trailed off, shaking his head. "A-alright, Anne."
"Rewww," the Sandshrew murmured softly.
Liz looked up from where she supported Ash, his head resting in her lap. Her tears gleaming, she glared at the defeated A.J. "He doesn't deserve the mercy we're giving him."
Looking over to Brock, she could see even at this distance that most of the injuries were to his aura, not physical. Sighing with relief, she held her hand over Ash's wound, the skin drawing back together, set him lightly on the ground, and walked shakily towards her husband and the Fire Lieutenant.

Yellow canvas dominated his vision. He could see the corner of his pack from where he lay, and the edge of the bedroll he was lying on. That was all. He felt strangely disoriented, like nothing was real.
When he turned on his back, he barely felt the sting of his wounds against the rough blankets. That was real, at least. Holding onto the sensation, he slowly relaxed his shoulder muscles, staring at a ceiling he barely recognized. Blinking slowly, he wondered for the hundredth time where he washe should be deadshouldn't he?
"You're awake."
Jerking up and supporting himself on his elbows, he ignored the blossoming pain in his skull and the dark spots swimming over his vision. Entering through the canvas flap, Anne smiled at him. "I heard you moving," she explained, kneeling next to him. "Areyou alright?"
"Who was it?"
Turning her head, she closed her eyes. "It's not important now."
"Tell me," he sat up completely, reaching out to grip her wrist. "Who was it?"
"It's not important now, Ash!" she ripped her hand from him. "It's not important," she repeated, barely above a whisper.
"I understand, love. Be that way," he grinned. "Stubborn."
She snorted. "Not half as stubborn as you and you know it."
"I don't know about youbut I must really be an idiot," he admitted. "What the hell, I know who it was. Why do I want the fact confirmed?"
Smiling softly, she stood. "Ya should get rest."
Massaging the raw, burned skin of his forearms where the ground-type aura had ripped open his shield, he grimaced. "I've been out for too long already."
"You're right, the League Championships are taking place as we speak," she giggled at his alarmed expression. "Ready to go home now?"
"Yes. I'm ready."
"Oh, and A.J.'s not dead, by the way."

The moment she knew Ash and Gary were going to live and soon regain consciousness, the Psychic Mistress strode beyond the edges of their pitiful camp, to the forest beyond.
After A.J.'s attack, those still standing decided the best move would be to move from the canyon, the Resistance had plenty of Masters and Trainers on their side to search for him. They could sense auras as well; only a dead Master emanated no such feeling. Maybe it was for the best Anne had refused to kill him.
At least the intertwining canopy above offered shelter from the rain that had begun falling in earnest, though the clouds seemed to have cried themselves out.
This was the place, a small clearing open to the overcast sky. She knelt in the grass, arranging hair and cloak behind and around her. Glowing a soft violet, her eyes closed, and she reached out for a familiar soul in which she had confided many times. She did not have to wait long, before her the air wavered, and a cloaked and hooded woman appeared, kneeling in a similar position.
"Mistress," she breathed, bowing her head. "You have summoned me? What is it?"
Liz sighed. "Yes. The times are changing, good friend," her voice shook, and she did not dare speak above a whisper. "I fear for the worst."
**********
Sorry, I just realized that the italics weren't being brought over or this story would make a lot more sense. Okay, sometimes, when the characters refer to themselves in first person and there aren't any quotation marks, they're thinking.