Chapter 9- A Clue to the Deceiver?

 

~Aquamarine is the one of the strongest out of the Super Fiends and second only to Sky Render. His reputation portrays him as vicious fighter, whose explosive power and utter ferocity makes him nearly unbeatable. When he first left Cerulean City as a boy, he was only intending to become a great trainer and wining the heart of Misty, but now he’s become a lot more. He had nearly killed himself with fierce training and reached levels in a short amount of time that many spend their entire lives trying to reach. Aquamarine could easily become the strongest warrior alive if it weren’t for the rage and hatred that fills his heart and clouds his skills. No matter how much I improve, every time I fight him, I barely cheat death. It’s a miracle I’ve survived this long against him… because while I continue to grow stronger, so does he. Aquamarine is living proof that no matter how good I get, I must always be careful and NEVER underestimate my enemies, because every fight against him could be my last…

-Ash Ketchum

 

(Location- Offshore Island)

 

The wind blew as the clouds were beginning to gather. It was cold, but the two warriors couldn’t care less. Both of them were like statues, each in a fighting stance with a weapon and a pokéball. They glared at each other, just daring the other one to make the first move.

 

“During our first battle in the Green Forest, you won simply because of a fluke! This is the match of truth, and only the winner will leave alive!” said Aquamarine

 

“Says you, unlike you I’m not a psycho obsessed with killing people. This time I’ll completely wipe the floor with you!” said Ash

 

Aquamarine glared at him as he threw his first pokéball “KRAKEN! GO!” Aquamarine released it. The giant jellyfish pokémon stood waiting for the trainer to make his commands. Ash noticed that this time the pokémon was armoured and on the end of each tentacle was a large needle, hollow so poison can be injected by the pokémon. “Perhaps you’ve noticed the new weaponry? I’ve updated and improved!”

 

“Doesn’t matter to me! Whatever you do I’m gonna win this battle! Bulbasaur go!” Ash threw the pokéball “Bulbasaur! Use Razor leaf!” said Ash

 

“Bulba!” The leaves shot forwards, but bounced off the helmet

 

“That won’t work on Kraken!” laughed Aquamarine, “Show him a water gun attack!”

 

“TENTACRUUUEEL!” Kraken attacked with the water technique. Bulbasaur was pushed back by the attack

 

“Use your constrict attack!” Said Aquamarine

 

“Knock him back with vine whip!” said Ash. Bulbasaur’s vines swung and slapped the pokémon. Even though it was armoured, it was light and could easily be knocked back. As it fell over, Ash could see the weak spot, “Bulbasaur! Hit the black area of its body with your razor leaf attack!” Bulbasaur did as it was told. The leaves flew and struck the un-armoured part of the body, dealing heavy damaging. “Now finish it off with Solar Beam!”

 

“Bulbaaaaa!” Bulbasaur focused the energy into the bulb, “SAAAAAURRRR!!!!” The powerful beam flew towards Kraken…

 

“TIDAL SPEAR!”

 

CLASH!

 

“Don’t think I’ll just stand back and watch my pokémon get hit!” Aquamarine stood in front of the Tentacruel, holding the trident he used to deflect Bulbasaur’s attack, “Kraken, we’ve been polite long enough. Let’s show him what you’re really made of! POISON STING!”

 

“TENTAAAA!”

 

“WA?!” Before Ash knew it, the Tentacruel had bounded upon Bulbasaur and wrapped up with the tentacles and had stung him multiple times before letting go. Bulbasaur lay on the ground, wounded and bleeding from all those sharp needles. He was paralysed and poisoned. “Bulbasaur return!” Ash called his pokémon back. The sky was getting dark and it began to rain. Ash growled, he had to think of a way to win this, suddenly he got an idea, “Muk! GO!” he said, “Muk’s a pure poison element! None of your poison attacks will work! Defence curl!”

 

“Constrict him Kraken!” Aquamarine ordered. Kraken charged and attacked, wrapping the slime pokémon up, but Muk simply slid out of the grip

 

“As you know, defence curl will make Muk even more watery, slippery and slimy! Nothing that blender you call a pokémon can do could hurt it! POISON GAS!” Ash shouted. Muk belched out loudly, releasing toxic gas at both Aquamarine and Tentacruel.

 

“UGH!” Aquamarine gasped, covering his mouth before inhaling the poisonous fumes… “GRR!” he growled, twirling his trident through the air. The wind from the weapon was blowing the smoke away, “Kraken! Hydro Pump!”

 

“CAPTURE!” Ash threw an element capture ball, capturing the water completely. Ash smirked “You’re not the only one who can interfere in a battle you know?” Ash pointed the QuickSilver at Kraken, “Use your sludge attack on the tentacles!”

 

“MUUUK!” Muk slapped a load of smelly, disgusting sludge at Kraken. Kraken struggled to move, but couldn’t move its thin tentacles in the thick, rubbery slime. As Kraken struggled to move, Ash fired a nitro ball at it.

 

BOOM!

 

The armour was blown to pieces by the explosion, and not to mention it damaged the pokémon. Ash then called up Pikachu, “It can’t move, so focus on power instead of accuracy! THUNDER!”

 

“PIKACHUUUUU!!!!”

 

“CRUEEEEL!!!” Kraken cried out as the lightning surged through him. The jellyfish sighed one last time before it collapsed to the ground. Kraken was defeated!

 

“Kraken return!” Aquamarine called the pokémon back, “You’ll regret that! TAKE THIS! OCEAN LANCE!” he fired a bolt of energy from the trident at Muk, causing the slime pokémon to explode.

 

“Muk, return!” Ash called back his pokémon. The fragments were pulled into the pokéball by the red beam and Ash placed the ball on his belt

 

“OGOPOGO! I CHOOSE YOU!” he said as he jumped into the air and released Gyarados. Aquamarine stood on top of its head, “USE BITE!”

 

“WA!” Ash exclaimed as he and the pokémon dove out of the way, “SKULL BASH!” Ash shouted and threw Pikachu with all his strength… Pikachu flew like a rocket and slammed the side of Ogopogo’s armoured head, but bounced off, “That armour is too strong… I guess hitting it with your own head isn’t such a good idea” he said as Pikachu slapped his leg angrily. He had hurt himself when he head-butted that armoured pokémon!

 

“OCEAN LANCE!” Aquamarine fired a bolt of energy

 

“AAAGH!!” Ash screamed as he took the heavy blow in the shoulder, “Why you… WAAA!” he dove to the side, missing the harpoon strike. Ash growled, “TOTODILE! SQUIRTLE!! I CHOOSE YOU!” he released his water pokémon, “That Ogopogo is nothing but trouble! Show him just how strong you are! HYDRO PUMP!”

 

“HYDRO PUMP!” Aquamarine shouted, as Ogopogo attacked with the water move. Both high pressure water jets struck in mid air, but Ash’s two seemed to be winning, “Looks like I’ll have to help!” he jumped down and pulled out his coral weapon and darted towards Squirtle, “CORAL CUDGEL!”

 

WHAM!

 

“SQUIIIIIR!!!” Aquamarine hit him on the back of the head, knocking him out!

 

“TOTOOO!!!” Totodile didn’t know how to use the Hydro Pump, he only had water gun, and not to mention he was going against a pokémon stronger than him, “DIIILLE!” Ogopogo’s water attack overpowered his and sent him flying

 

“Return!” Ash called back his two pokémon. There’s no way he could beat him in a contest of strength. He had to use strategy! “He may not be my strongest water pokémon, but… KINGLER I CHOOSE YOU!” he chose the crab pokémon, “That armour is keeping us from using any electric attacks! Use that big claw of yours and tear that Gyarados’ armour right open!” said Ash, “ATTACK, KINGLER!”

 

“KOKIIING!” Kingler moved forwards, readying its claw

 

“Devour him Ogopogo! CRUNCH!” Aquamarine ordered

 

“GROAR!!!” Ogopogo roared as it lunged forwards, ready to eat the large crab…

 

“CRABHAMMER!” Ash shouted

 

SLAM!

 

“GROO!” The powerful hit from the claw sent the Gyarados’ head spinning to the left.

 

“NOW USE YOUR CLAW TO PIERCE THE ARMOUR!” Ash shouted

 

“KO-KING!” Kingler attacked with its gigantic claw and struck into the side with all its might, cutting through and leaving a big hole in the armour that protected the neck.

 

“HYPER BEAM!!!” Ash shouted. Kingler fired a beam from its claw into the hole. There was a large explosion from inside and Ogopogo roared as it fell to the ground, not to mention the helmet and the armour protecting the neck fell off. Ogopogo roared in agony as it hit the ground, struggling to get up, “That did especially a lot of damage because I hit its weak point!” said Ash

 

“A weak point!?” Aquamarine exclaimed

 

“I bet you didn’t know, but since Gyarados heads are really heavy, their necks are easy to injure! Not only that, but lots of the armour is gone as well! And that means… HYDROTHUNDER!” Ash shouted

 

“KO-KIIIINGG!!!”

 

“PIKACHUUUU!!!”

 

The two elements flew into the air. The water carried the electricity as it flew into Ogopogo’s face and into its mouth. Electricity surged through the pokémon’s body and Ogopogo fainted from the attack “NO!” Aquamarine exclaimed

 

Ash called Kingler back because his other water pokémon were out and he’d need a strong one if he needed to use a UniStrike. “Aquamarine, we’re halfway done! So why don’t you just call out Leviathan so we can beat him so then we can get to beating you?” asked Ash, him and his pokémon were ready to fight.

 

“You may have gotten past my other two, but don’t think you’ll survive this one! LEVIATHAN! GO!”

 

“FERALIGAATROOOOAAAR!” Leviathan roared. As usual it was heavily armoured from top to bottom and was armed with blades, talons, spikes, but the weapons and armour looked deadlier than before

 

“That Leviathan… really looks dangerous” said Ash, “Oh well! Looks can be deceiving! Attack him P…”

 

“HYDRO PUMP!” Aquamarine yelled

 

“WA!”

 

“PIKA!”

 

Both Ash and Pikachu were slammed by the water blast. They both growled and got up. Ash took a fighting stance and Pikachu’s cheeks were sparking. Aquamarine took a fighting stance and Leviathan was ready for battle.

 

“HAAAAA!” Ash charged towards Aquamarine

 

“YAAAAA!” Aquamarine charged towards Ash

 

As the two trainers engaged themselves in combat, Leviathan attacked with his claws, slashing down at the tiny Pikachu. “Pika!” Pikachu dodged and shot some electricity back up at Leviathan. Leviathan didn’t feel the electricity because his armour protected him from such attacks. Leviathan stamped on the ground with his feet, trying to crush the yellow rodent, “PIKAAAAA!!!!” Pikachu exclaimed as Leviathan stepped on his tail. Pikachu growled, turned around and bit hard into Leviathan’s un-armoured foot, also sending a current of electricity through the water pokémon while he was at it.

 

“GATOR!” Leviathan exclaimed and jumped back. Leviathan growled and swung its hand, slapping Pikachu to the side. The two pokémon continued to battle, unguided by their trainers.

 

“SILVER BULLET!” Ash swung his arm, his punch strengthened by the rocket boost

 

“CORAL CUDGEL!” Aquamarine roared, swinging the heavy cudgel…

 

SMASH!

 

“GRR!” The two of them were thrown back, their attacks were evenly matched! They both struck again and again, deflecting each other’s hits with their weapon. Whenever one could hit the other, the blow was soon returned. Aquamarine had more power, but Ash was more durable to attacks. They were too equal. Both combatants jumped back and panting, “You’re… really strong…” panted Ash

 

“You too…” Aquamarine also panted. Ash was completely different from their first battle in the Green Forest… he has now matured into a full fledged fighter. This fight would go on forever if he didn’t go at it with all his strength. Though Aquamarine usually valued honour as much as Sky Render, and the fact that Ash was such a good opponent would’ve made Aquamarine change his mind about Ash and not hate him so much, but the fact remains that Ash had stolen Misty. The thought of those two together made his blood boil… He growled and lashed out at Ash. “RHAAA!!”

 

SMACK! BAM! POW!

 

Ash took several heavy blows. Ash stepped back, dazed. Aquamarine pulled out his trident “DEEP SKEWER!”

 

“AH!” Ash exclaimed… feeling the cold points of the trident strike into his stomach…

 

“I’ve been waiting so long to do this!” Aquamarine smiled evilly as he pushed it harder into Ash’s gut, “Come on! Feel the pain! For all those blows you dealt me, emotional and physical, SUFFER!”

 

“Ah… AHHHHH!!!!” Ash screamed,

 

Aquamarine began to laugh “I WIN!”

 

“Just kidding” Ash smirked, “SILVER BULLET!!!”

 

SMACK!

 

“AAAGH!!” Aquamarine screamed when Ash delivered a powerful hook, strengthened by the boosters on the QuickSilver, and was sent flying to the side… Aquamarine got up, “What?! No! I skewered your guts! How on could you still be alive…!?”

 

“Weren’t paying attention to Ebi back at Jolt’s bunker, were you? I’ve got a mesh inside my clothing protecting me!” Ash smirked, “Not only has it worked well in protecting me, but carrying around the extra weight has made me even stronger!”

 

“So that’s it…” Aquamarine growled, “Damn… if you’re immune to stab wounds, there’s only one thing left to do… CORAL CUDGEL!” He slammed Ash on the leg, making him fall over

 

“WA!” Ash exclaimed, clutching his leg where he was hit…

 

“If you can’t be impaled because of that armour, then I’ll simply have to crush your insides with my strength! TIDAL SPEAR!” he swung the trident.

 

SMACK!

 

Ash was sent flying. “URGH!!!” Ash exclaimed. He got up, he could see Pikachu and Leviathan fighting, and Pikachu was losing against the big water pokémon, “I’ll have to even the odds a bit!” he said as he pulled out several nitro balls…

 

“GATROAAAR!” Leviathan roared and slammed Pikachu to the ground. Pikachu was exhausted, and because he can’t hurt this enemy with electricity, he couldn’t win. Leviathan tossed Pikachu up and opened his jaws, he was crunch this mouse. Pikachu closed his eyes, expecting to be dead, when suddenly…

 

KABOOM!

 

Pikachu opened his eyes and was shocked to see that Ash had him in his arms. And furthermore Leviathan was on the ground, unconscious! Ash had used the QuickSilver’s Silver Bullet to speed forwards and grab Pikachu, at the same time replace him with a load of Nitro balls the second Leviathan crunched! Leviathan was tough, but even he couldn’t handle something like that. Leviathan fainted! “That’s the last one of your pokémon Aquamarine!” said Ash, “You’re all alone now!”

 

“That’s fine with me” Aquamarine said as he called his pokémon back, then taking a fighting stance, “It just means I’ll have you all to myself! HA!” He suddenly darted forward and kicked Ash, sending him flying and hitting a coconut tree

 

DONK! DONK! DONK! DONK!

 

“ACK! OUCH! GAH! OWWWW!!” Ash exclaimed as four coconuts fell on his head one after the other “You’ll pay for that!” Ash growled, a tear in the corner of his eye as he grabbed all the coconuts, “HAAA!” he flung them all at Aquamarine

 

“JAVELIN RAIN!” Aquamarine threw the javelins. Each one nailed a coconut and they fell to the ground. When he looked at Ash, he was gone “Huh? Where did he go?”

 

“SILVER BULLET!”

 

“PIKACHUUUUU!

 

KASMAAAACK!!!!

 

“AAAAAGH!!!!” Aquamarine took a really heavy hit. One on the left side of head from Ash’s Silver Bullet, and on the other side Pikachu used skull bash.

 

“Nice work Pikachu!” Ash high-fived his pokémon as Aquamarine gasped and fell to his knees, “That was payback for the coconuts!”

 

“Grr… to think that I could be brought down to my knees by such weaklings…!”

 

POW!

 

Ash kicked him and Aquamarine fell, “If you don’t give up, I’ll bring you down to more than your knees, but down to your grave! You lose. Misty stays with me.”

 

“GRRRRR… NO… SHE… WON’T!” Aquamarine snarled as he grabbed Ash by the leg and twisted, causing Ash to stumble. “All these years I’ve spent training pokémon!” Aquamarine hit him, “All that time I spent mastering the art of combat…!” he struck Ash in the stomach, and “All those wounds I’ve suffered throwing off the shackles that bind this world, and fighting the servants of the Deceiver! AGH!”

 

“Whoa, you need to cool down Aquamarine” Ash said as he caught his arm, spun, tripped him and pinned him to the ground, “Shackles? Deceiver? What are you talking about?”

 

“GRRRRRR! GET OFF ME!” Aquamarine threw Ash off and grabbed his trident and tried to stab, but Ash deflected it and attacked, “The deceiver who seeks to destroy this world and reshape it as his own… the same deceiver who has cast its shadow above our heads, and will soon plunge our world into chaos!”

 

“What are you talking about?” asked Ash as they continued fighting…

 

“GRAAA!” Aquamarine knocked him back as he grabbed his trident and twirled it. The dark and rainy sky grew even darker and rainier, “BLACK SQUALL!!!”

 

WHOOOSH!!!

 

“WAAAAAAAAA!”

 

“PIKAAAAAAAA!”

 

Everyone except Aquamarine was lifted off the ground into the air by the hurricane he with his trident. Ash and Pikachu screamed as they flew up into the air

 

SPLASH!

 

They landed in the water with all the other debris of trees, coconuts and a whole lot of other junk. Ash coughed, “MAN! Couldn’t he have taken it a little easier? I only asked what the Deceiver was!” He gasped, grabbing onto a floating tree. It wasn’t his fault he didn’t know… how could he understand what Aquamarine was talking about if he was gonna act so cryptic? Ash looked at the island, he could see Aquamarine dive into the water and moving towards him with incredible speed. Ash quickly pulled off the QuickSilver and attached it to his feet.

 

“TIDAL SPEAR!” Aquamarine shouted and swung his trident.

 

Ash had boarded the QuickSilver just in a nick of time. He rose above the water and barely missed Aquamarine. Pikachu sat on Ash’s shoulder. Ash smirked, “Don’t think you can get me just because I’m in the water!”

 

“So what if the water doesn’t give you any weaknesses? It gives me strength! OCEAN LANCE!”

 

CRASH!

 

“WAAAA!” Ash exclaimed. The strength of the Ocean Lance was strong, but when Aquamarine was in the water it was even stronger!

 

“TIDAL SPEAR!” Aquamarine swung the weapon. The force of it created a huge wave that knocked Ash, QuickSilver and all into the water. Ash quickly tried to get out, but before he rose, Aquamarine sped forwards and slammed him on the knee with the coral cudgel

 

“AAGH!” Ash exclaimed, holding onto his knee. “WHY YOU!!!!” He pulled out several nitro balls and threw them into the water. Aquamarine dove as they exploded.

 

Ash stood there, waiting to see if any hit when all of the sudden Ash felt his trainer instincts kick in. It was telling him, the danger was… “RIGHT BEHIND YOU!” Aquamarine’s voice shouted

 

“Huh?!” Ash looked back. Before he could react…

 

“TIDAL SPEAR!” Aquamarine slammed him with the energy wave, dealing heavy damage

 

Ash screamed as he fell back. He got up and panted, trying to fight back against Aquamarine’s fierce onslaught, but it was no use. Aquamarine was a lot stronger than him. Ash was getting desperate. Aquamarine being in the water made him stronger and faster! He couldn’t win like this! He had to get back to land! “MAXIMUM AFTERBURNER!”

 

“Trying to escape? I think not! OCEAN LANCE!” He fired a bolt of energy and it hit Ash on the back. Ash groaned, his back was smoking, but kept on course. Aquamarine dove underneath and swam very fast, surfacing right in front of him, “TIDAL SPEAR!” he hit him with a huge wave of energy. Ash tried to turn and run again, but Aquamarine pulled out the net, “CAPTURE NET!” he shouted as he pulled him close. Focusing his energy, he struck, “TERROR OF THE DEEP!”

 

CRRRRAAAAASSSSHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

 

“AAAAAAAAAAGH!” Ash screamed. He was in pain. This was the toughest battle ever. This enemy’s long-range attacks were stronger than Grand Dreamer’s and he was more dangerous in close combat than Chaos Reaper! He fell into the water, but struggled to stay upright as he was hit again

 

“What a loser! Why can’t you just accept it? You can’t win!” Aquamarine said as he sped forwards, pulling out the trident, “Even with that Special Mesh protecting you, this move at full power will pierce even your defence! PREPARE YOURSELF ASH KETCHUM!” he leapt out of the water and dove down towards Ash, “DEEP SKEWER!!”

 

“NO!” Ash moved to the side, moved missing it. “SILVER BULLET!” he shouted. The QuickSilver was still on his feet, but it still shot upwards and slammed Aquamarine on the chin. As Aquamarine was dazed, Ash shouted, “MAXIMUM AFTERBURN!” the boosters flared and singed Aquamarine as Ash zoomed and finally reached land and jumped off the QuickSilver. He pulled it to his arm, and it closed around his forearm and fist, so now it was a weapon. “AGH…!” Ash gasped… falling to his knees and breathing heavily… his body was racked with pain, it hurt to breathe… and he could see Aquamarine coming towards him once more… “Aquamarine…” He spoke, trying to delay fighting, for just a little bit longer… “The deceiver… what is it?”

 

“Then listen closely!” said Aquamarine, “Misty told you I left Cerulean City as a vain attempt to become stronger and win her heart? That is only the half truth… the real reason I left was to grow strong… stronger than any mere pokémon master… strong enough to protect her from the destruction heading our way! I have nearly killed myself to acquire this power, so I can be strong to free myself…!”

 

“Free yourself from what?” asked Ash

 

“From the grasp of the Kaiser Cult… the Shadow of the Deceiver!” he shouted

 

“Wa?” asked Ash

 

“They have cast a shroud of darkness over itself and hidden itself from the world, and while it remains invisible, it continues to grow in power and will consume us all!” Aquamarine shouted, attacking. Ash deflected the hits, but barely, “We the Super Fiends… though branded as wanted criminals, we are also the only ones stand between the deceiver and its goal!” Simply talking about this ‘Deceiver’ seemed to make Aquamarine burn with rage… “All you ignorant people… simply because you hear we’re criminals, you seek to defeat us… all who challenge Sky Render stands for the destruction of this world, all of you are aiding THEM in their goal!”

 

“AGH!” Ash felt a sharp pain. Aquamarine had struck so hard that one of the prongs pierced the armour Ebi made. Ash groaned and stepped back, “(I won’t let this psycho intimidate me…)” he gritted his teeth and ignored the pain. He didn’t know what he meant by Deceiver… but he did note it involved the Kaiser Cult… “(Again with the Kaiser Cult… why do their names keep coming up?)” Though Ash didn’t really understand, talk about the cult and deceiver seemed to make Aquamarine angry, and when he is mad, he wastes his energy. If Ash could get him mad enough, he’d go completely out of control and start lashing out, forgetting to defend himself properly or fight professionally, he would be at the point where Ash would be able to beat him! “You keep talking about this Deceiver like it’s actually something serious!”

 

“What?” said Aquamarine, “You don’t believe me?”

 

“Why should I believe the ramblings of a psycho Super Fiend?” said Ash

 

“Y-YOU…” Aquamarine growled

 

“You’re an idiot who’ll believe anything! That’s why Misty hates you, and loves me!” Ash smirked, “And frankly, this Deceiver sounds made up! If it’s really plaguing the world like you say it’s doing, then I’ve got no problem with it! Frankly, I like it the way it is! This ‘deceiver’ you speak of is probably a good thing!” said Ash

 

“What…?” Aquamarine was shocked, “You mean you support the Deceiver?”

 

“So what if I do?” said Ash, not really knowing what this was all about.

 

“YOU…” Aquamarine’s voice was bitter, with the most hatred Ash has ever felt. Anger was radiating from his body

 

“(All right!)” Ash thought, “(When he’s this angry, he’ll lash out, wasting all his energy, and then I’ll strike! All I have to do is endure it… which shouldn’t be a problem. If I can do it, then this battle is won!)” Ash thought, but then Ash saw something strange. There was a golden glow that began to surround Aquamarine’s body, “Ah… that light… it can’t be…!”

 

KASMACK!!!!!

 

“WAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!”

 

CRASH!

 

Aquamarine had dashed forwards before Ash could even see him move. Ash groaned as he got up, and gasped as he saw Aquamarine! His body was radiating with energy, each of his weapons were glowing… “N-NO WAY!” Ash exclaimed… that light… it was the power of one! “AH… N… NO… IT’S NOT POSSIBLE…!” Ash gasped when he realised something else. The light had not enveloped Aquamarine and changed his form the way it did the other fiends. It… it couldn’t be…! Aquamarine… he was a chosen one?!

 

“Surprised… Ketchum?” Aquamarine asked, he had calmed down a bit, but he was still full of hate and anger, “This is power you can never hope to match… the Power of One. Just like the mighty Sky Render… I too am a Chosen One… HA!”

 

SLAM!

 

“AAAAGH!” Ash flew and crashed into a tree. He wasn’t given a moment’s rest because Aquamarine charged again, “WHOA!” Ash moved away from Aquamarine’s punch as it split the tree in half. Ash got up and swung his fist to hit him, but Aquamarine was a lot faster. He caught Ash’s fist, countered it and hit him, sending him flying back.

 

“I wasn’t even trying” said Aquamarine

 

“Damn…!” Ash said, holding onto his face. His nose was bleeding heavily and was surely broken. “GRRR!” Ash gritted hit teeth as he got up, “I’m not scared of you! Just because I’m fighting an opponent who’s using the power of one doesn’t mean anything!” he said bravely as he stood up straight, “Come at me with all you got!”

 

“Fine” Aquamarine took a fighting stance

 

“(Damn. I’m gonna die.)” Ash sweatdropped, “WA!” He exclaimed as Aquamarine ran forwards and started hitting him. Aquamarine punched at him, and Ash managed to block with the QuickSilver, but the hit sent him sliding back a few steps, and when Ash looked at the QuickSilver he was sure he saw a dent. Aquamarine attacked Ash, and Ash was having the most difficult time defending. “DEEP SKEWER!” He struck Ash in the leg with his trident

 

“AAAAAAAAGGGGH!!!!!!” Ash screamed. The trident had pierced into his leg and injured him badly. It didn’t end there. Aquamarine punched him hard, sending him flying back a good distance away. Ash held onto his wounded leg. The crippling injury Aquamarine inflicted was painful

 

“Pika!” Pikachu growled, standing in front of Aquamarine

 

“No! Pikachu!” said Ash

 

“PIKACHUUUUUUU!” Pikachu jumped and fired lightning at Aquamarine. The Super Fiend simply raised his hand and let the lightning hit him. It didn’t matter because he didn’t feel anything. Aquamarine slapped Pikachu to the ground, and then kicked the mouse, sending him into the air and landing near Ash. Ash quickly grabbed Pikachu and held him protectively in his arms.

 

Ash growled. Aquamarine had injured him and hurt Pikachu, but what for? The Deceiver, that was Aquamarine’s reason. Just who or what is the Deceiver? What could it have done to make Aquamarine even more determined to kill than when he does it so he could win Misty? Ash just didn’t know what was going on! He was so confused, and he was gonna die… “NO!” Ash got up, holding Pikachu, and struggling because of the injury on his leg, “I’ve made a promise to Misty that I’ll come back to her… and I always keep my promises! Even if Aquamarine’s a Chosen one, so what? She believes in me, and that is more than enough!” Aquamarine was getting closer, “Go ahead Aquamarine, I’m not afraid of you! COME AND GET ME!!!!!” he shouted.

 

“It is over” said Aquamarine as he pulled out his trident, “Nothing will protect you now. And Sky Render doesn’t help supporters of the Deceiver so don’t count on him coming to save you. PREPARE TO DIE, ASH KETCHUM!!!!!” Aquamarine howled, whirling his glowing Trident through the air as he charged towards Ash…

 

The battle between Ash and Aquamarine has gotten even more serious, as Aquamarine demonstrates that HE is also a Chosen one, with the ability to use the Power of One! Even if Ash were to use the power of one himself, would he be a match for the powerful Aquamarine? And just WHAT is the deal with this Deceiver he keeps talking about? Find out next time on Pokémon: Shadow of the Deceiver!

 

► TO BE CONTINUED