Chapter 39

Ash was sceptical as he looked at the girl. “That is not true you certainly can’t be the founder. You don’t look as old as the king.”

“I’m dead.” The girl replied flatly. “I stay here watching time flow on pass because I don’t deserve peace. I am however the founder of these people I brought them together in my time of grief.”

Ash paused remembering the kings directions and warning before he had rushed after Misty to save her. The man had given him directions but told him to beware the vengeful ghost of the founder.

“I do not know if you will be able to see her or even calm her wrath.” The king had sighed. “She died an old woman deep in regret of the world then and we were supposed to carry on her way but I guess we wandered from the path because she haunts us.”

“Not true!” The prince roared at his father. “She appears before children showing them the new path. The way we should be going and disappears once their duty is done. She appears among those that are pure enough.”

“Not so.” The High priestess murmured. “She appears before those that had the same heart as she did when she was young and the world was a terrible place. She lingers on because we have stagnated like the most un clean of waters. We misunderstand the times and the legends.”

“The thing is, I do not know if you will meet the ghost of the founder but if your heart is strong enough you should be able to reclaim your friend before the beast seeks revenge on her. The beast she so summoned.” The king said grasping Ash’s hand.

“These children are foolish.” The priest huffed. “Just because she looks like the one does not mean she can control the beast. If anything keeping her here could kill us all. That beast fled mankind.”

“Because of those above!” The prince’s attendants cried out. “We are nothing like them.”

“Unless you learn the true story you know nothing. Personally I think I’m too old for this. This place sings of regret and hatred. We live here singing of peace but there is so much conflict. This is not what she wanted.” The priest huffed.

“Ash. It is up to you to decide. The founder is not one to be taken lightly her view on the world may be limited to what she knows if she reveals herself. And the beast only knows the pain it suffered in the times of our founding. Do not underestimate them.”

Ash frowned. If she was limited. Why did she change her clothes. Why did she talk to him why was she watching over Misty like a sister. How could someone so young dead or not found something so crazy.

“You look a little slow.” She murmured. “My name back then was Crystala. In the times in which I lived, war was everywhere the only concern being land and power and acquiring it. No one valued anything no commoner had anything.”

“Crystala.” Ash whispered. “That sounded so terrible.

“I lost my parents at sea, they were fisher folk and I was so young when they drowned. The sea was all we had left because the land was rich with blood of many. I should have died that day but my friend rescued me and I washed up at the shore.”

Crystala held Ash’s gaze. “My rescuer was the beast. In those times my parents and I lived with this country in a city that has long fallen obsessed with having the ultimate power. Pokémon were tools. Dangerous ones.”

“They cared not for the damage they caused to them, the balance that the Pokémon provided. The king then wanted to be the most powerful and thought Pokémon were the way. My friend and I met in secret. He raised me because the village could not.”

“All I ever wanted was to be like you and your Pikachu Ash. I wanted to walk and swim with my friend without having to worry about us being killed or tormented. All I ever wanted is the freedom this land has today I could not have dreamed of.”

“Was it really that bad?” Ash whispered.

“It was beyond anything you could have ever known. You can sense Auras but if you had only honed your ability then maybe you would have heard the land screaming. Covered in blood, the Pokémon fleeing from our climate. The wrath of the heavens.”

Crystala closed her eyes. “Still the people of this region, all over the world refused to listen. But I did, my friend one day revealed to me the others. I was beyond honoured. All I valued was my friends and slowly my power reached the level of me being able to sense the trouble in the world.”

“To me, I had hope everything could survive, the people if only we could change the children then in time everything could change like I had been. However I forgot this was a time of war and I was tricked and my friend captured and myself tortured.”

Ash swallowed, this was the founding of the people? How horrible. Yet she looked almost calm as she talked about it.

“The castle fell that night and my friend. Driven mad destroyed the majority of the country side and sank this place.” Crystala smiled at Ash. “This place long ago was above ground. Was once a mountain to tell the truth.”

“I know my friend must have been unable to forgive me for what had happened. My followers tried for years to summon and call him but I knew he was too angry too enraged too forgive me. He had lost his mind entirely.”

“The bell your friend was given. My friend gave to me so in times of danger I could call from the depths of the ocean, across space so he could save me. I died a Martyr for the people. I was their way and they continued to search to find someone else with my strength and will to show them the new way.”

She stroked Misty’s face sadly. “Her only crime is loving Pokémon and resembling me. I don’t know what he took her here for of all places. If he wants to kill his memories of me by getting rid of her. I’m too weak, I can’t even face him.”

“You said you were tricked. If there is one thing I know about legendary Pokémon.” Ash assured place his hand over Crystala’s feeble one. “I know they feel spirit. Your people I get they fell off the path. I know this disappearing thing was never in your plan.”

Ash paused. “But because they for whatever reason don’t want to give her back. It’s going to create problems. So Misty looks a little like you. Thing is she is not you. Sure she wants Pokémon to be her friends. The ones she likes anyway.”

Pikachu sniggered and Ash felt a smile twitch on his lips. “She wants to be the best. She wants to show people the strength of Pokémon. Thing is you people trying to convince others that Pokémon are our friends are way behind everything. That is long gone. Now your friends here should come forward and use those skills to preserve the things we might miss.”

“How do you expect a ghost to do those things?” She laughed.

“I kinda forgot you were dead for a minute there.” Ash admitted. “But I really need to get Misty out of here. Away from that. Back home she has a family waiting. A town that loves her. Pokémon that will miss her greatly.”

“And you.” Crystala whispered. “I wonder sometimes if I had not been so selfish to want his friendship all for myself and only him if I would have lived and gotten that too. We lost so much and gained almost nothing. Would I have gotten friends. Family. Somewhere to call my own.”

“These people are your family.” Ash shrugged. “They see you as their mother. Being a Mom is tough work. Especially if you have to do it alone. These Pokémon saw you as their Mom too. Just because it fell apart after you were gone doesn’t mean it’s your fault you saved people by healing right? Preserved history. You were amazing.”

Crystala blushed. “She is so lucky. You act like a clueless idiot but your way of sight. I see now why they have given everything to you. Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town. And Pikachu. I’ll help you. Your understanding touches me. You make sure good friends. Your hearts shine pure.” She smiled.

“We were not always good friends. Don’t let this fool you.” Ash laughed. “In the beginning I really sucked and Pikachu didn’t like me at all.”

“Chaa.” Pikachu squeaked blushing.

“But we got through that and we are the best buddies ever. In fact just because you don’t hit it off in the beginning doesn’t mean to give up. Because of everything we understand each other better now. We will always have each other’s backs. Pikachu is my best friend with his own thoughts and opinions not lesser than everybody.”

“How lucky it is.” Crystala whispered. “That you managed to live in your time. In my time with the hardships. I would have hated to see what you would become. You value your friends. And you were never exposed to this way of teaching.”

Crystala beamed. “I’m so glad. To think I thought everything we achieved here as mean less. Sure we managed to preserve the life of some Pokémon but we lost them in the end. I wanted to cry.”

“Nothing you try to do is mean less.” Ash assured her. “It just means you learn what goes wrong and figure out how to do better. If everything was perfect all the time things would be boring and losers can’t be losers all the time. At least this is what I believe.”

“How I wish we could have met before that man tricked me.” She snarled. “We could have had a Pokémon battle and seen who would have been victorious.”

“I think it’s safe to say I would have lost.” Ash sighed. “I know my Pokémon and to go up against a legendary Pokémon is just asking for trouble. And yours sounds strong considering what it did to this place.”

“This place in particular was a rock in a lake in a forest close to the village. We met here often.” Crystala sighed. It’s where I decided to come back to. The people try to make it here. Even though the small whirlpools remain.”

Ash felt himself pale. “Whirlpools? Where?”

“Why everywhere.” That is how he designed it so no wild Pokémon would be able to come after me as I waited. It is safe to come from above like on a boat but you have to navigate carefully. See if you try to sneak here you will drown.”

“Just how did I manage to get here then? No what about that fat king? He can’t swim through that!”

“The king uses his power to calm the water bit by bit. It takes a long while to master such a method. Not everyone can do it.”

“But I swam here.”

“You must have a very thick head and a lot of stubbornness to make it so far.” She assured.

“Mmm. Ash.” Misty moaned. As she stirred. Ash’s heart leapt as he leaned over her.

“She will awaken soon. You should try to get her out of here if you can. This place is fine for you but even though it is the work of my old dear friend and I owe him so much. He can’t have her.”

“I’ve been saying that since I first got here.” Ash mumbled scooping Misty up. He had gotten her slumped on his back when he hesitated.

“What about you? What are you going to do?”

“I’ll survive don’t worry. Maybe I’ll get to see my friend again like I hoped. Ever since I heard the bell I’ve been praying he would come here so I can at least catch a glance. Maybe that will set me free.”

“Or you can come with us.” Ash offered. “The people, they would like to see you too. You don’t need to be mad at them or think you are interfering with them.”

“I’ll pass this time.” She laughed. “Who knows I might stop watching the children and puss sense in their skulls. I admit I was frustrated they wouldn’t go back up especially as the world changed so much but the dead should not bother the living.”

“I’m right there with you.” Ash agreed. “Ghost and monsters can just keep to their part of the world. Trust me give me I want them happy where they are.”

Trudging to the entrance of the hole Ash looked at Crystala in frustration. “I’m not going to leave a girl behind who looks like she is about to cry ghost or not. You must be lonely having no one to talk to except the Pokémon.”

“I did pray a lot.” She admitted “and seclusion is okay just having no friends in lonely.”

“The Pokémon are your friends. I’ll be your friend. Pikachu too.” Ash said extending his hand back toward her. “So come with us. We will help you make up with your friend.”

“Really?” She whispered.

Ash froze before slowly sliding Misty back to the ground and carrying her backwards away from the hole. Something was coming. From deep in the water. He could feel in approaching.

That feeling of something furious coming. Consumed with rage, it was still a distance away but he could see how it’s approach affected the water. This was dangerous. It was coming and he was not sure if Misty was it’s only target.

“Stay back!” Ash roared flinging an arm to stop Crystala’s approach. “It’s coming, the beast whatever it is. Dead or not I can’t let it hurt you. It may be mad or crazy but I can’t let it needlessly hurt people.”

“I’m dead!” Crystala insisted trying to go around Ash.

“I can touch you!” Ash shouted seizing her arm to prove that point. “I can touch you, hear you and smell you. You may be dead but right now you are alive and can be hurt! Nothing dies unless the soul dies and your soul is still alive right here with me and still hurting! I won’t let it hurt you or Misty!”

The air chilled considerably and the water churned as the beast got closer. Ash held back his shudder as he tried to ensure the girl stayed behind him out of harm’s way. There was no room to move or run. Just this cavern already he was doubting his chances.

He had no choice but to fight this out because running looked like it was not an option. He was not sure if he really would have. It was not even in his nature. Even with Misty was in danger, he would more send Dratini off with her and fight it out.

Pikachu on his shoulder dug in its claws to greater gain support. Ash felt a slow wash of calm sweep over him. Even Pikachu knew it. Running was very rarely their last resort. They would fight it out to the end.

That was who they were. They had gone up against powerful foes before. Pikachu had fought bigger and tougher foes before. Even they had taken down impossible foes before. Sure they were fighting at a double disadvantage but they could do this.

“Let me help you! Maybe I can do something.”

“No offense but when you were alive you couldn’t calm him down. Somehow you being dead won’t improve our chances any bit.” Ash retorted as he braced himself.

The waters churned faster and Ash felt the anger whatever start to come up the tunnel. Slowly a white body began to rise. His heart fell heavily when he finally made out the body.

How had he not guessed? Everyone kept ranting about beast, beast, beast. She herself had said something about him making whirlpools. The bell itself should have been the real trigger. It should have been the first thing he thought of.

He really was a dense idiot but he had to be excused in this case. Just how was he to guess these people were talking about a Lugia? It was not something you would thing about.

Ash winced as he looked into the huge red crazed eyes of the Lugia. It had been a while since he saw one. This one vastly differed from the ones he had seen before. For one the others did not look this blood thirsty.

The others were not this huge either. She had said that this was for them but Ash suspected this cavern had been made by this creature as a sort of resting place. This thing had really rescued her? Considering just how frightening it looked he was surprised she had not run in shock.

The head looked like it should the body too but it looked battle scarred. Actually it hurt Ash just by looking at it. Since he came down to this place he had been feeling aura against his will.

Looking and feeling this huge creature he wanted to just shut it all off. It’s pain it was radiating so much pain, agony hatred that it was spreading to every bit of its surroundings. Surrounded by so much pain. No wonder it went mad.

But for the eyes to be coloured like that. Maybe Crystala, maybe it was a good thing he was born in this time. Their time had to be a sort of hell. Where Pokémon like this were suppressed and others tried to strip them of their powers and use them.

She did not have to tell him. he knew. Just looking, feeling this Lugia Ash could tell. Somehow that scumbag king had managed to trick these two and hurt them to an extent that even now centuries later they were unable to recover.

Unable to recover and this Lugia was lost deep in its thoughts and memories. It must be like a living hell. Ash saw it’s gaze fix on Misty and himself and he instinctively blocked her raising his arm out to thwart it.

“Don’t even think about trying to get Misty or Crystala!” He yelled at it not knowing whether it would hear or even understand him.

The Lugia roared a deep roar filled with pain agony and anger. It was so loud and powerful that Ash found himself being pushed back just a bit by it and Misty’s hair fluttered in the wind generated by it.

“Stop it! You won’t hurt them! I get why you are angry but you can’t be angry forever!” Ash yelled dragging Misty behind him and bracing himself. He had no choice even though he did not want to hurt it this thing would not stop he could see that.

As he braced himself Ash was bombarded by a new emotion from the beast. Fear. So strong that it stopped him in his tracks and he gapped like an idiot. He stared at the Pokémon there was no need for it to feel fear.

In fact the fear only came up when he went to protect Misty. Sure he dragged her behind him briskly and she would have a bit of bruising later but the fear was not for the Lugia. The Lugia feared not him for itself but for Misty.

Crystala’s shocking looks and Misty’s. Could it even be possible that the Lugia was confused? Lost in memories of when it took care of Crystala?

She said it earlier. Both of them were tricked. She had been captured too, Lugia had went on rampage in anger. But what if that was not the only reason?

Taking a chance Ash stopped his fighter’s stance and slowly removed himself from hiding Misty. The fear slowly went away. It was still there but it no longer was the dominant emotion.

“You, for someone so big and powerful. You actually feel fear. But not for yourself. If it was just you, you would not but when it comes to others you feel powerless.” Ash whispered.

“Ash! What are you doing!” Crystala cried out charging past him. in Lugia there was just the bit of confusion before it opened its mouth to roar again.

“Wait stop! It’s too dangerous!” Ash yelled at her before cradling her and dragging her to the ground. Just in time because the next roar of rage was much stronger than the last one and it shook them even though they were crouched down.

It was carefully aimed so that Misty would be out of danger for she was flat on the ground. This Lugia except for being just a little delusional still had all it’s sense. It would still be a strong opponent.

“Listen to me Lugia!” Ash yelled not daring to look up. “That isn’t Crystala! The girl on the ground isn’t Crystala! The girl you took! The girl you are trying to protect the one that summoned you back. The one you want to protect it is not Crystala!”

“What are you doing?” Crystala whispered trying to wiggle away. “Cut it out it’s serious!”

“I’m serious! I’m not playing either! I’m with a ghost and a half crazy Lugia and my best friend was dragged off. The last thing I’m feeling is amusement!” Ash snapped.

“What do you mean protect me! All this time he was rampaging in the seas!”

“She looks like you but he never hurt her! He brought her here, gently I might add. He didn’t toss her anywhere he came to her, maybe sensed her fear and brought her to the one place you would feel safe. He doesn’t want to hurt Misty.”

“All this time, he never.” Crystala whimpered.

“Look I’m going to get up now.” Ash said. “Stay down a little longer. I’ll try to solve this without words. But it’s been a while I’ve only seen it a few times.”

Standing up Ash faced the wary Lugia. Since he spoke the rage went down even thought the pain and fear were still there but the rage. It had gone down considerably that was a relief.

“My name is Ash, I’m from Pallet town.” Ash began. “This is Pikachu, my buddy. Just like you and Crystala were buddies. Or I guess you were like more of a parent than a buddy. I know it hurts.” Ash sighed as he tried opening his aura so Lugia could feel it.

Doing this was exhausting work though he could feel the strength start seeping from him but he wanted Lugia to feel his words and the truth. These legendaries, words did not fully work with them. They needed to feel your sincerity.

And besides, this one had been fooled by words already. It needed to feel the truth, the sincerity and pain he felt. Feel his life force. Feel he was willing to use his life for Misty, for Crystala, for Pikachu for the people for the Pokémon and for Lugia itself.

“I know what happened. I know you wanted to protect Crystala. I know you are angry about being tricked and used. I can see they were horrible towards you. I know you survived I know you want to hate humans but you can’t.”

“All you want.” Ash said in the silence of the cavern. “Is go back to how things used to be. But the thing is the girl you are trying to protect right now. That’s my job. See that’s my Misty. I know she looks like your Crystala. I mean it’s a shock to me too.”

“Ash paused as his voice hardened. “But I knew just by a glance. That’s not my Misty. Crystala is Crystala and you should know that better than anyone. Please my buddy and I are trying to get our Misty back home with us.”

Ash hauled Crystala up. “I don’t know if you can see her.” His knees shook and Ash winced fighting to stay on. “This is your Crystala. All this time she was blaming herself. And you too blamed yourself.”

Ash fell to his knees alarming both Pikachu and Crystala. He heard their worries but he knew he was not finished. Not yet. He had to bring his point across.

“I know how it feels to not be able to protect someone you care for. To lose them, or let them go but. You can’t pretend Misty is Crystala. That is not fair to both of them. They are both amazing people.” Ash fell forward unable to hold the gaze of Lugia any longer.

The flapping of the hovering Lugia stopped and he frowned at the ground. Suddenly he felt something curve around him and lift him to the gaze of the Lugia. He cursed his weakness. Had he not been strong enough?

The red eyes slowly faded until the blue he knew should be there returned. Ash breathed a sigh of relief. That relief stopped as he was lowered onto the back of the beast. He felt so weak but he had to say it.

“Thank you but Misty and Crystala. We can’t leave them. If you can’t carry that many. I’d rather you leave me behind until you can.”

Lugia ignored him and lowered its gaze to Crystala. There was a pause before Ash felt her and Pikachu thump on Lugia’s back next to him. more of a thump from Pikachu. He was unable to look up anymore. He was so tied and weak.

“Misty’s hear too Ash!” Crystala cried out and he felt his arms being pried open and Misty’s hand being placed in his grip.

Ash was about to close his eyes when something clicked. “You sound different. Older.” He murmured. He could feel air around him but he knew they were moving underwater or something.

“He forgives me.” Crystala sighed. Trying to sit up Ash grasped Misty to him as he looked around. They were in some sort of bubble underwater on Lugia’s back. At least himself and Pikachu and Misty. Crystala was sitting in the water on Lugia’s neck.

“Know what I think?” Ash said watching as she slowly aged in front of his eyes. “I think all this time Lugia never hated you. He thought he hurt you and that drove him crazy. The anger was both at himself and at the people.”

“Remember? You both were tricked.” Ash reminded her. “He valued you more than anything and he saw you being hurt and he though he hurt you. Then he thought you were dead and it was his fault so he assumed it was a trick again.”

“What about Misty?” Crystala asked as she aged to a woman around Ash’s mother’s age. If this is how Misty was to age, not bad.

“She looks the same, maybe she thinks the same. He was so lonely he took the chance and thought he had to protect you. It was a second chance. He knew it was not you but he wanted it to be.”

“I suppose, I suppose you are right.” Crystala laughed. “I feel so happy.” Her aging had stopped now she was beginning to look transparent.

“I thought they said you died old.”

“In my time, this was old. People rarely lived long.”

“I’m sorry, sorry that you two don’t get time to talk to each other you must have a lot to talk about.” Ash said feeling sad as she slowly faded.

“We never needed words to talk.” Crystala said softly. It was then Ash realized the hand she had resting on Lugia’s neck was glowing blue with the strength of her aura.

“I suppose you don’t.”

“I’m so glad. So glad that I got to meet someone like you before I go Ash. Your pure heart. Your determination. I’m so glad I managed to linger on. May I ask you for a favour? Make sure they don’t forget me.”

“I don’t think we will ever be able to.”

“Ash, Lugia, I’m going on ahead. I’ll wait for my friend on the other side.” Crystala laughed. “Where we can swim freely until the time comes where we have to come back to this world. Where it is so peaceful. Lugia the times may have been rough but I never regretted meeting you.  My dear friend.”

“Crystala.” Ash whispered as he slumped down and Lugia gave such a mournful cry. “You can’t leave what about Lugia?”

“I have overdone my lifetime. I’ll rest until my friend can join me again. I’ll leave your friend a keepsake.” Crystala murmured as she reached for Misty.

“You too.” She said as an afterthought. Ash fought to keep his eyes open as Crystala faded faster. Deep inside him it burned terribly. Maybe he had poured too much of his aura into this. He burned and he felt sleepy. Misty’s hand fell from his grip and he struggled to get it back. He knew that they were rising but his senses were fading. Thoughts were so hard to grasp. Everything faded until he was without pain or thought anymore.