The Closest Ones

69. The Punishment

A.N. Content warning: Chapter contains scenes with torture and blood.

Over two years ago

No POV

Ash's head sleepily lifted, hearing muffled voices. He slowly opened his eyes and they landed on the lifeless body of Hanzo. He then noticed Iris and Cilan. Both of them were tied to a two separate trees. Iris even had cloth in her mouth.

He was about to lift his arm, but it was stopped by chain. He was chained up to steel beam. He had the chain over his chest, pinning his hands down to the ground.

"Look who is finally awake?" Ash's head turned up. There he saw one of the Shadow Triad. "Ash Ketchum. We have looked forward seeing you."

Ash groaned, his mind still shattered over Hanzo. "W-why are you doing this?"

"Why? He really asked 'why?' right?" Ash turned his head again. He almost had hearth attack fro,m another Shadow ninja.

"Because you ruined him." The one above him spoke. "You broke someone we believed was unbreakable."

Ash heard Iris muffled voice. Although he didn't understand, he had the same question. Ash looked between the two. "What do you mean?"

"After we heard about your so called win over our leader, we were already decided to break him out with his people." Ash couldn't get use to it. The third one was behind him. Ash only heard him behind that steel beam. "But when we finally got to his cell, we didn't see our leader."

"What we saw was broken man with no hope, shattered dream. A man that refused to continue in his destiny even with door opened. Shattered dream by a small boy that accomplished nothing meaningful in his life." Ash tried to ignore it, but there was nothing he could do. The ninja remembered, how they saw Ghetsis in trauma and ignoring their words. He wouldn't try to leave with them for freedom."All you did until now was to be a blockade for others to get over or be stopped by. That is what we think of you. A nothing other than blockade with meaningless dream."

Ash clenched his muscles, chains rattling. "You want to prove that you can do it. Well let us tell you."

In that moment, Ash felt their piercing stares. "You will never leave this place to accomplish anything." They all said in unision.

As Ash tried to look at them, his eyes noticed large cage. He saw his yellow buddy right next to his other pokemon he had with him. He could see some of them covered in scars, probably after trying to fight them off. He noticed Pignite and Snivy took it the hardest. They were all knocked out.

A.N.: The mentioned torture and blood start here.

Ash turned his head hearing Iris scream. He turned his head toward them. One of the ninja cut Iris over her jaw line. He purposely took out her cloth so her scream could be heard.

"Stop it!" Ash yelled, chains shaking over him trying to break out. "They did nothing to you!"

None of them could see reaction through their masks, but his hidden smile was happy.

"It's alright Ash. Whatever they want, don't let them have it." Iris said, clutching her teeth. She felt the blood flowing down her neck.

Cilan was about to try to calm both of them, but the ninja above him spoke. "Oh yeah. We did want something frkm you."

"But..." the third one spoke. "We are going to punish you for what you did. And when you are on your last breaths, then you will want to give us what we want."

Ash was about to ask, but he felt a piercing pain his torso. He looked down a saw a dagger stuck in him. He wanted to pull it out, but he heard Cilan.

"Don't try it Ash! You will bleed out if you pull it out!" Cilan yelled, the ninja closest to him nodded his head.