Infected

Chapter 8

Suicune came to a halt as the gate's closed behind them, alongside several other trainers. Some rode their pokémon, similar to Ash, while others stood on the ground, their team prepped and ready for battle. Ash frowned, grasping the remaining five pokéballs on his belt and throwing them, releasing his friends for battle. Greninja, Noivern, Hawlucha, Talonflame and Goodra all let out a call of their own, having been listening from inside their pokéballs. Ash held up a fist, a confident smile across his face.

"We can do it everyone! Make sure to watch each other's backs, and don't get bitten!" Ash ordered, earning an affirmative grunt from each of them. Pikachu sparked nervously on Ash's shoulder, his eyes focused on the distance where a group of infected were approaching from. Greninja grunted, activating the bond phenomenon between it and Ash with a flash of blue. Suicune hummed, lowering itself in preparation to charge. 

"Your pokémon respect you greatly." He commented, earning a proud smile from the trainer on his back.

"We trust each other," Ash responded, pulling his hat backwards in anticipation. The crowd around him let out a loud cry, starting to charge into the waves that charged towards them. Ash didn't join in the cry, but he felt his adrenaline kick in almost immediately, his heart pounding with Suicune's footsteps.

Then the attacks started being exchanged.

The two sides collided harshly, infected and pokémon tumbling into battles of their own. Ash watched as his own pokémon split into teams of two, taking on infected on their own. Ash prayed for their safe return, gulping away his anxiety.

Pikachu and Suicune combined attacks, shooting electrified beams at some of the larger targets. Ash tried his best not to kill, and he could see the other trainers doing the same. However, the infected were out for blood, and they were getting it. The raven trainer witnessed an absol launch itself into the air, using psycho cut and taking down a charizard with a single swipe, his trainer falling and hitting the ground harshly. 

Ash looked up just in time to see another charizard, eyes locked on the legendary beneath it. It spewed fire from it's foaming mouth, heading straight for the trio.

"Suicune!" Ash called in warning, the blue dog looking up just in time to counter with a water pulse. Ash breathed a sigh of relief, however the feeling was quickly stolen as something rammed into the side of Suicune, sending both Ash and Pikachu sprawling off his back.

The trainer landed with a harsh grunt, quickly standing back to his feet. Ash spotted the legendary fighting off an Arcanine, water and fire clashing harshly. He took a step to go and help, however stopped short as Pikachu let out a cry in warning.

The raven haired trainer looked back, only to be met with a very angry looking Greninja. His heart sank momentarily. It wasn't his, was it? No, he would know.

Right?

He swiftly dodged out of the way as a shuriken was thrown past his head, his eyes wide. His Greninja or not, it was still trying to kill him. He narrowed his eyes again, a frown crossing his face.

"Pikachu, thunderbolt!"

The bolt of lightning hit the frog, making it cry out in agony. Ash winced slightly, pity crawling over his chest as the pokémon collapsed to the ground. He was about to turn to help Suicune when he was jumped from behind. He yelped in surprise, landing and turning on the ground to be met with a snarling Houndour. 

"Ack! Pikachu!"Ash cried out in panic, lifting his arm just in time to block it snapping down on his neck. Instead, the creature gripped down on his injured arm, causing Ash to cry out again. He kicked at the creatures stomach, trying to get it to let go. He got a strange sense of dejá vú. This time he didn't have Noivern to pull it off him.

Ash screamed in fear as another Houndoom latched onto his leg, tugging at it roughly. He felt tears swell up his eyes, panic starting to fill him. Why wasn't anybody helping him?! He didn't want to die!

"Do you want to live?"

The voice! It was back. 

"Yes! Yes, please help!" Ash cried out. That's when the burning sensation returned again, however this time it was across his whole body. He stopped struggling, a unknown force suddenly taking control of his body. His eyes widened for a second, the rim around his pupils suddenly glowing red. 

He grinned, reaching out and grasping the Houndour's throat with his hand before flinging it away with new strength. The dog landed several feet away, yelping as it's body collided with the ground. Ash laughed, grasping the other dog by his leg and pulling it's jaws open, dislocating it's jaw before throwing it to the side, one hard kick to the ribs collapsing it's ribcage and sending it sprawling away.

The trainer stood, an ominous red glow forming around him. He felt strong, like he could do anything he wanted. It was amazing.

And then it disappeared.

Ash fell to the ground again, gasping as if he hadn't took a breath in the last hour. He coughed, looking down at the ground with empty eyes. He couldn't control himself. He felt like he was turning crazy.

With that, he fell to the ground, exhausted and out of stamina. He could barely breathe, or even see straight. He just wanted it to stop.

(wip)