Through Shadow and Lightning A Warrior Rises

Chapter 6

A/N: hella trigger warning in this chapter.

Later that night, Ash finished his training and had developed strategies on how to deal with the sticky web and ice beam.  Finally, daylight broke and Ash was ready to have his rematch.  The field was set for his rematch against Viola and Ash was going with the same Pokemon from last time.  Pikachu and Surskit faced off.  Right off the bat Surskit used it Sticky web attack to try and immobilize Pikachu, but he dodged them easily.  Pikachu then uses Thunderbolt which Surskit nullifies with Protect, but then misses with Signal Beam and gets slammed with an Iron Tail.  Eventually, Surskit succeeds in making the ice field, but Ash reveals the counter for that by having Pikachu anchor his tail into the ice.  Surskit uses Signal Beam and Pikachu uses Thunderbolt and the two attacks appear to cancel out upon collision.  However, the Thunderbolt breaks through and hits Surskit dead on knocking it out.  Both gym leader and challenger recall their Pokemon and Ash sends out Fletchling to face off against Vivillon again.  The battle is close and although Fletchling successfully counters Vivillon's Gust there is no counter for Vivillon's Sleep Powder and got knocked out by Solar Beam.  Pikachu went back in to finish the battle.  Even though Pikachu was holding his ground against the Gust attack he was still feeling it from his last battle with Surskit.

"You know Pikachu can't win in that state" Viola said.

"Come on Pikachu we've had it worse than this and we don't give until the fight is over, right buddy?" Ash asked.

"PIKA" Pikachu confirmed.  However, Viola has Vivillon use Sleep Powder and Pikachu starts to get drowsy.  Ash doesn't know what to do and his mind goes blank.

"Ash remember you're training from yesterday" Serena yells.

A spark goes through Ash's mind.  "Pikachu use Electro Ball on yourself."

Pikachu uses Electro Ball and throws it up in the air and it falls back down on Pikachu.  The Sleep Powder effect is neutralized and Pikachu is rearing to go again.  He uses Electro Ball again sending Vivillon flying back and then finishes it off with one last Thunderbolt.  After the battle Ash was presented the Bug Badge.  Everyone left except for X who told them he would catch up later.  He walked back into the gym and went straight to Alexa.

"I hear you are a reporter that covers some rather interesting and borderline dangerous stories" X said.

"Apparently I have a reputation" Alexa said.  "Why do you want to know?"

"You have been hearing things then, things that Kalos has been trying to cover up" X said.  "Girls being found raped and left on the side of the road, claims of seeing things move in the dark in the forests and cities, and claims of seeing yellow-eyed creatures."

Alexa was shocked.  She had heard all of these things, but no one was covering this because no one wanted to be that one person who exposed it and got laughed out of Kalos.  Luckily, she liked a little danger.

"Yes I know about these things, but at the moment I have no leads to follow nor do I have the time to sniff one out myself" Alexa said.

"I can fix that" X said as he whipped out his cell.  He dialed a number and put the phone to his ear.  A few minutes later someone picked up.  "It's me.  I need you to get him to Kalos yesterday.  I found someone who is willing to investigate and who isn't afraid to expose this shit.  It's a woman and yes she is serious.  Oh for fuck's sake, look Stone asked me to find someone that would help him and I did, but he needs to help her as well.  I have a job for them and it isn't something they can do alone.  Just get him here and have him meet her in the Santalune Gym.  Her name is Alexa and he can't miss her.  Bye."

"Who did you just set me up with?" Alexa asked.

"The Hoenn region champion, Steven Stone" X said and took off running to catch up to the group.

X didn't have too much trouble finding Ash and company as they had just started walking on the route to Lumiose City.  They continued along that route until night fell and they decided to break for camp and sleep.  X would stay outside on guard, Bonnie had her own tent, Clemont had a large tent for himself, and left Serena to sleep in Ash's tent.  Serena blushed hard when she heard this as she would be sleeping next to her crush.  After dinner everyone got into their tents (except for X).  Ash waited outside so that Serena could change into her PJs and then he went in to put on sleeveless shirt and shorts to sleep in.  That night Ash couldn't sleep well at all.  He was having a nightmare and woke up covered in sweat.  He couldn't remember what he was dreaming about, but he knew whatever it was, bad things had happened.  He happened to glance over at Serena who was facing him.  She looks so peaceful when she sleeps, Ash thought.  Suddenly, a horrible screaming noise started pounding his eardrums so bad he covered his ears.  He looked around but there was no one else except him and Serena.

"Do it" a sinister voice commanded.  "Take her by force and make her scream for mercy.  Take away her innocence and be powered by her tears of pain and sorrow.  Embrace our poison and tear her apart."

Ash felt his entire body heat up with an anger that he had never felt before.  He looked over at Serena and a powerful urge was overtaking him.  He wanted to take her and use her until she broke.  Ash reached over to the top of Serena's PJs ready to tear them off.  Then, he regained control and had a splitting headache as he forced whatever was manipulating him back into the deepest recesses of his mind.  He was horrified by what he had almost done.  He had been inches away from taking Serena and raping her right there in the tent.  A thought crossed his mind and he pulled up his shirt to look at the wound left by the shadow that scratched him in Lumiose City.  The scar had turned black and something seemed to be flowing in it.  Shortly thereafter, the scar returned to its normal dark red color.  Ash ran out of the tent and to a pond.  He got down on his knees and splashed water in his face.  When he looked back at his reflection he had yellow eyes with razor sharp teeth and black marks all over his face.  Ash jumped back in shock and looked at his reflection again.  It had gone back to normal.  What the fuck is happening to me, Ash thought.  Outside the tent, X could see everything that happened after Ash ran out to the water.  The poison is starting to work its way into his soul, X said to himself.  If Ash can't beat the shadow within him then, I will have no choice but to kill him.