Infected

| Chapter 2 |

Ash instinctively turned on his heel, stumbling back a few steps as the Eevee that had charged at him rolled over itself. It stood back up, shaking it's head before trying to charge again. However, Ash was prepared this time, grounding himself in the earth.

"Pikachu! Quick Attack!"

Just as the Eevee was about to latch it's outstretched claws into Ash, Pikachu bashed into the Eevee's side, sending it into a nearby tree with a crunch. Ash felt his stomach butterfly worriedly as the Eevee slumped back down to the ground limply. Ash cursed under his breath, taking a few steps forward.

"Shit! Are you okay?" He asked. Pikachu cautiously walked over to Ash's side, still tense and ready. Greninja warbled, taking a step towards Ash in warning. Ash hesitantly reached out to touch the pokémon, but instead, he found sharp teeth snap into his wrist and clamp down tighter than a vice. 

Ash wailed in horror, pulling his hand back in pain and panic. He kicked at the Eevee, limply swinging around with Ash's attempts to detach the creature. Pikachu shocked it, slashed at it, however to no luck. Only when Noivern grasped onto it's tail, and roughly yanked it off, did the Eevee let go, pulling the skin of Ash's wrist off with it. It fell to the ground, thick, bubbling black blood seeping from the gap where it's tail once sat. 

Noivern spat out the limp, brown lump of fur, snarling and grasping the Eevee's head by it's ears as it began to fly into the air. The Eevee wailed, scrambling and snapping to reach the bat. Noivern ignored it, flying over to a nearby tree and pressing it against the sharp branch until the wood punctured through it. The pokémon squirmed, but eventually fell silent. Noivern looked at it in disgust and hatred, before hastily making it's way back to Ash.

Ash lay curled on the ground, the feeling of lava and fire flooding through his entire body. He clutched his arm tightly to his chest, the rich red blood pooling under him and staining his hoodie. He kept his eyes off the wound, trying to focus on getting his legs to work.

"Get..up..!" Ash snarled at himself, pulling himself weakly to his knees with the aid of a hand on his back. He gasped, holding his shaking arm tightly to his chest. He struggled to his knees, his head spinning.

"Pikaaa," Pikachu whined, watching in concern as Ash struggled to his feet with Greninja's help. Ash looked around blearily, his watery eyes finding Noivern's concerned head close to him. He grasped blindly at Noivern's neck tuft, grabbing the fur and pressing his head temporarily into it.

"Greninja, return," Ash mumbled, plucking the pokéball from his hip and pressing the button. The frog croaked in surprise as the red light swallowed him and he returned back to Ash's hip. Ash then turned back to Noivern, hoisting himself up carefully. Pikachu followed, hopping onto Ash's bloody lap carefully. Ash mumbled, shaking his bleary vision once more.

"Noivern, there's a...a pokémon center just a few miles ahead...go..." Ash mumbled, grasping on with his good hand. Noivern purred, flapping into the air with a mighty whoosh of air. Pikachu looked up at Ash in concern, pressing it's head into Ash's stomach in support. Ash tried to smile, but the pain from his wrist has spread up his neck and across his face. He could hardly think straight as he watched the blurry mass of tree's rushed under his feet.

Ash must've passed out after that, because the next time he opened his eyes Noivern was landing down beside a Pokémon Center with Pikachu sparking on his lap. His arm was numb, so he couldn't feel the pain, which he was thankful for. Ash slid off Noivern's back carefully, stumbling into the side of the Pokémon Center. It must've been busy, because Ash could hear a multitude of voices inside the building.

Ash felt Pikachu rub his face against his as the door's to the center opened. Ash thanked Noivern, before returning the bat to rest in his pokéball. Ash took a shaky step in, immediately feeling slightly claustrophobic at the amount of people and pokémon laying around in blankets. He felt a warm shiver crawl down his back. He bit his cheek. He needed to find Nurse Joy, but the chances of him being seen with the amount of Pokémon here, it was unlikely. Pikachu squeaked in joy suddenly, making Ash jump. He looked up at him.

"What's wrong?" Ash mumbled, following his partner's gaze. He was met with a tight hug from the front, making the pain rage through his body again. He pushed the body aware, hissing in agony as it flared through his body again. Pikachu cooed in surprise.

"Ash?! Oh my god I'm so sorry! Are you okay? What happened?!" A familiar voice panicked, pressing her hand gently on Ash's back. Ash's eyes widened as he pulled himself back to look at the voice. It was Serena, her blue eyes wide in shock. 

"You...Forget about me, are you guys okay? Noivern and I heard screams when we were getting water, and when we got back you were gone!" Ash asked, looking across as Clemont and Bonnie joined them. Serena was staring wide-eyed and slack-jawed at the mass amount of drying blood on Ash's torso.

"We were attacked by some pokémon for no reason. But enough about us, what the hell happened to you?!" Clemont asked, his eyes wide and worried at the bloody state of Ash. Ash giggled half-heartedly.

"Well, those pokémon found me. Tore a chunk out of me, hehe..." Ash mumbled weakly, revealing his shaking, bloody, torn wrist. Clemont and Bonnie looked away in disgust, and Serena just sobbed gently but Ash stared at it in confusion. He could've sworn it was worse than this, bigger than this. It still was pretty gruesome to look at, but the one time Ash had seen it he could've sworn it was much deeper into his muscles and veins.

"That's seriously bad, Ash." Serena cooed quietly, gently taking and holding Ash's arm. Ash winced slightly, feeling his head become light again. Ash's knees began to shake weakly. He blinked.

"Uh oh." Ash warbled, his legs buckling beneath his body as he fell into Serena and Clemont. Serena and Clemont cried out in surprise, catching Ash's limp body as he fell forward. Pikachu transferred to Bonnie's head in the sudden collapse. Serena's heart leapt into her mouth in fear and panic.

"Ash!"

....................................

Yo, Merry Christmas 2018 everyone!

So I changed the pacing of this a little. I've made Ash and the others a little O.O.C. but I've tried to make them more mature and lifelike? IDK if it worked but hey--

Enjoy! This will be the last update of 2018, but to 2019!