Disclaimer: No Ownership of Pokémon

The 12 Elements of AshMas, Volume IX

Element: Water
Shipping: MarshadowShipping

One-shot 1: A Verity of Relation

Marshadow had been betrayed. The sore loser of his battle between his Incineroar and Ash's Charizard, Cross ripped the Rainbow Wing feather from Ash and presented it to Marshadow. The Gloomdweller Pokémon became corrupted with Cross' tainted heart by taking the Rainbow Wing. It soon took control of Cross' Lycanroc who attacked his trainer. Other wild Pokémon were being controlled by Marshadow. Ash, Verity, Sorrel and their Pokémon were facing Marshadow's army. "This isn't good," Sorrel gritted. His Lucario stood steadfast as did Piplup with Verity. Ash had one target in mind with Pikachu on his shoulder: the Rainbow Wing.

"I gotta get to Marshadow!" he chose. Verity heard the shout and became worried.

"Are you sure, Ash?" she questioned. To Aash, it was the only thing that could help.

"I have to get the Rainbow Wing! If I do, Marshadow will be normal!" This determination on full display worried Verity more, but she had no idea on a different route.

"Please, be careful!" With a nod, Ash and Pikachu raced ahead, fighting Marshadow's Pokémon. Piplup's trainer watched as Ash wanted to complete the quest. 'All this time, I was having fun… and poking fun… and mocking you… I began to know who you really are. You care for Pokémon as if they mean as much to you. Maybe the Pokémon who aren't under Marshadow's control realize you're important to them. Is that why? Is that why I can't stay away from you? Is it that your destiny is to make everything right after it's been wrong? All I know is… your strength, your courage, your passion… I want to be like you! No, I wanna be you! No, I… I…' After passing through the army of Pokémon, Ash and Pikachu reached Marshadow for the final confrontation.

"Marshadow!" shouted Ash. Marshadow glared wickedly at the boy from Pallet Town as his grit was on display. "Give me the Rainbow Wing!" Marshadow launched Shadow Ball attacks, the fight on between the Gloomdweller and Mouse Pokémon. Verity wondered what to do: Help Sorrel and Cross with the Pokémon Army… or go to Ash and Pikachu?

("Verity?") called out Piplup. Hearing her Pokémon, Verity glanced to her starter.

"Piplup…" she called to her Penguin Pokémon. "Let's go!" Piplup leaped onto Verity's shoulder before she left for Ash and Pikachu.

"Verity!" shouted Sorrel. "Where are you-"

"I'm gonna reach Ash!" interrupted Verity as she raced past the Pokémon.

"Why would she go after that loser!?" snapped Cross.

"Hey, if Marshadow beats us, it's all on you!" retaliated Sorrel.

"What!? Don't put this on me when Ho-oh knows how strong I am!"

"Even after Ash beat you and you took the Rainbow Wing?" The argument forced Lucario and Lycanroc to growl at both. Cross and Sorrel realized the argument wasn't going anywhere. Verity rushed as hard as she could to reach Ash and Pikachu when an explosion occurred from the summit.

"Ash!" she cried. From the explosion, Ash and Pikachu tumbled to the ground. Pikachu's badly injured. Ash got to his feet and ran for his Pokémon.

"Pikachu!" he cried out. After scooping Pikachu up, he ran to the edge of the cliff with Marshadow's Pokémon. A Nidoking fired a Hyper Beam attack which got Ash, knocking him down and gravely injuring him. Verity ran, hoping to reach Ash. Suddenly, she stopped and felt something in her chest. Something was wrong.

"Oh no…" she shuttered. Despite being in so much pain, Ash crawled to Pikachu who stood up.

"Pikachu…" Ash weakly called out before tossing a Pokéball to Pikachu. "Get inside, please!" The Pokéball bumped Pikachu who couldn't move. "I know you can't… stand… going inside… your Pokéball, but you'll be… protected." Marshadow's Pokémon powered up attacks to launch at Ash and Pikachu. Finding the strength, Ash stood in hopes of saving Pikachu and shifted his cap backwards. He faced the mind-controlled Pokémon. "Now, you look! I don't think you know who you're dealing with! I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town! And I'm gonna be the world's… greatest Pokémon Master!" Verity heard Ash's call, the words echoing in her heart.

"Ash…" she hushed. She rushed on, hoping to see Ash succeed.

"Mess with me and you're gonna lose!" he bellowed. Just as Verity neared Ash, a huge explosion. The blast blew Piplup from Verity's shoulder.

"Piplup!" she yelped as she spun and caught her Penguin Pokémon. Ash and Pikachu were down again, pain and exhaustion keeping them from moving. Ash was upset that Pikachu's still with him and not in his Pokéball. The Pokémon powered up for one more strike.

"Pikachu…" he winced. "Why won't you go into your Pokéball?" What happened next seemed surreal.

"It's because," Pikachu spoke… like he knew how a human talked. "It's because… I always want… to be with you." Ash gawked in shock. Pikachu wanted to be Ash's partner, no matter what they faced together, no matter what struggles they endured. They seemed destined to be together forever.

"Pikachu… you-" Suddenly, there was a massive blast. Verity huddled with Piplup in order not to be caught in it. When it settled, Verity ran up and soon saw Pikachu sparking up.

("How… dare YOU!") he shouted as he let out a massive blast of electricity. The skies cleared and the Pokémon snapped out of Marshadow's control. Verity looked up and saw Pikachu holding Ash's cap. Tears trickled down Pikachu's face. Verity's heart broke. Pikachu's there but no Ash. She immediately realized the outcome: Ash was killed. She began tearing up as she and Piplup got to Pikachu's side and Verity gathered Pikachu to embrace in a hug. Sorrel, Cross, Bonji and the Pokémon watched in disbelief and dismay.

"Pikachu!" she cried. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" The tragic scene unfolded and a dry eye was nowhere to be seen. When Verity's eye spotted Cross, a sudden rage bellowed out. "MURDERER!" Marshadow gasped to Verity's sudden blast of anger. "It's all on you!" Cross felt betrayed.

"Me!?" he gasped.

"You stole the Rainbow Wing from Ash! You didn't accept the fact that he's a better trainer! You didn't accept that Ho-oh gave him the Rainbow Wing! It's your anger that the Rainbow Wing corrupted Marshadow! Corrupted the Pokémon! And now look what happened: Ash is dead! Ash sacrificed himself to protect Pikachu, protect the Pokémon! CROSS… YOU KILLED HIM!" She collapsed, crying to no end. "And I began to love him! I wanted to confess to him! But it's-" That's when a white veil emerged by Verity and the Pokémon.

"What's this!?" asked Bonji.

"I-I'm not sure," Sorrel shrugged. Without warning…

"Pikachu!" sounded Ash's voice. It came from the veil.

("It's him!") a newly excited Pikachu believed. He leaped from Verity's arms and to the veil.

"Wait up!" she yelped before she and Piplup entered the veil. All broke through and fell onto a field of flowers with Ash running towards them in colorless version of himself.

("Ash!") called out Pikachu.

"Ash!" cried out Verity. Pikachu leaped into Ash's arms to which his color returned.

"Pikachu!" he teared up as both trainer and Pokémon hugged. Seeing the two back together, Verity and Piplup smiled before the trainer stepped forward. Ash peeked to Verity and wondered. "Verity? How did you-"

"Before I answer your question, Ash," she silenced him. "I want to give you something… because of how I truly feel about you." She leaned in and kissed him on the lips. Ash's mind began to race as his lips became occupied with hers. The veil that Verity, Pikachu and Piplup jumped through reformed itself as the the group with Ash and Verity's lips still attached. Everyone was shocked to see the trainers in love.

"Whoa, Verity!" gawked Sorrel.

"This is something," Cross gulped. Lucario and Charizard laughed to the sight. As soon as they broke their lips, Ash felt a little perplexed.

"Was it something I did?" he asked.

"Kinda," Verity giggled. "But for a long time since joining you, I began to have feelings and wanted to stay by your side." Ash smiled while Cross snickered.

"So, I guess that means I'm no longer a murderer?" he smirked. Verity's eyes twitched.

"Could you hold Piplup for a second?" she requested as she handed Piplup over. "Thanks." As Verity got to Cross, Ash felt something emerge from his hand: the Rainbow Wing.

"Hey, the Rainbow Wing's back!" he realized as a loud crunch was heard, followed by a wail of a cry. Pikachu and Piplup awed the Rainbow Wing as Cross was face-down and on his knees, his hands gripping the twig and berries betwixt his legs and drum-rolling the ground with his feet in pain. Sorrel and the Pokémon cringed at Cross' pain.

"Deserving," Sorrel shuttered. "But ouch!" After that, Verity scooped Piplup from Ash.

"Cool, the Rainbow Wing's back to normal!" she awed. "Let's go!" The group proceeded to give the Rainbow Wing to Marshadow. The group left the Mount Tensei, Ash, Verity, Sorrel, Cross and their Pokémon were at a fork in the road. "So, you're going on a new journey, Cross?"

"Yeah, well…" shrugged Cross. "After what happened, I need to start straightening my acts. I need to be a better trainer and person… as long as I don't get anymore kicks to the scrotum." Sorrel nodded as his mind still held a picture of Verity's foot forced upward and crushing the body part between Cross' legs.

"Don't remind me," Sorrel stuttered.

("He just did,") Lucario barked. Cross turned to Ash.

"Next time, Ash," he started. "I want to have a fair battle." Ash smirked to Cross' offer.

"You got it, Cross!" he returned. With a nod and smile, Cross left.

"What about you, Sorrel?" asked Verity.

"I'm going after the Legendary Birds," Sorrel responded. "I'm sure to come across Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos." His goal made Ash grin.

"You'll be in for a great time when you find them," he assured.

"And what about you two, now that you've started dating? Going back to Pallet or Twinleaf Town?" A shake of Ash's head told Sorrel something else.

"I'm all about being the greatest Pokémon Master. And I think Verity is a good partner to have since she wants to follow in her mom's footsteps."

"She was a famous trainer," Verity clarified.

"I gotcha," Sorrel accepted. "Well, until next time…"

"See ya!" they said in unison. Sorrel left on one direction and Ash and Verity to another with the trainers holding hands. Pikachu and Piplup watched as the two were on a unified journey that only can be straight to success. Marshadow peered from the shadow of a street sign and watched with a smile, holding the Rainbow Wing feather. From its view, they're two wings of a bird Pokémon flying high in the sky.

END of WATER
Next up: ELECTRIC