Shadows of the Past Chapter Two

Shadows of the Past
Chapter Two
Brandon had immediately returned to the ruins after leaving the hospital. Samuel would have preferred for him to take the rest of the day off, but seeing Ash’s condition had sparked a fire in the Pyramid King. He was determined now more than ever to uncover the secrets of the ancient empire. The King had led them to the city itself by using his magic, but Brandon had discovered a stairwell underneath what he had presumed to be the throne that the King had once sat upon. It was in poor condition, but it looked sturdy enough that it wouldn’t crumble beneath his weight.
“Samuel!” he yelled for his assistant.
“What is it, Brandon?” Samuel called as he ran up to him. He was shocked when he saw the stairwell. “What’s this?” he asked.
“Let’s find out.” Brandon said and descended the stairwell. Samuel was right behind him.
Both of them had noticed the engravings on the walls on either side of them, but they didn’t have the proper equipment at the moment to examine it closely.
We should have brought a flashlight and a camera… Samuel thought shamefully.
They continued until they had finally reached the bottom.
“T-This is!” Samuel exclaimed in shock as he looked around the familiar site.
Brandon nodded gravely as he walked up to one of the crumbled buildings. “Yes.” He said. “We’re in Pokélantis.”

Everyone looked up when the doctor returned the room. Three hours had passed without any news and all of them were starting to feel antsy from the long wait, especially Ash. He was very eager to start travelling again. He stared at the doctor with anticipation as the doctor looked down at his clipboard. “Your EEG was clear and you don’t have a problem holding down food.”
There was a chuckle around the room. Ash gave his friends and his mother a dirty look and then turned back to the doctor. “Can I go home?” he asked.
The doctor contemplated on this for a moment and then he nodded. “Yes.” He answered. “But I would recommend that you do not engage in any Pokémon Training or other strenuous activities for the next few weeks.”
Ash and Pikachu slumped in disappointment. “A break will be good for you, Ash.” His mother encouraged.
“But Mom, Pokémon Trainers never take breaks!” he exclaimed in frustration.
“Well, this Pokémon Trainer will follow the doctor’s advice and rest!” his mother said sternly to him.
Misty and Brock looked at each other. Perhaps now would be the best time to…
“Ash, we’re glad that you’re feeling better.” Misty said.
Ash smiled at them. “Thanks for coming!” he exclaimed.
“Pika Pikachu!” Pikachu exclaimed.
Brock and Misty smiled back at him. “Of course, Ash!” Brock said. “I hope you feel better.”
Then both of them stood up. “I have to return to the gym.” Misty said and then she sighed. “My sisters will panic if I’m gone for too long.”
“And I have to return to the medical facility.” Brock answered with regret in his voice.
“Don’t worry.” Ash answered. “I’ll be fine.”  
His friends said their farewells and then left the hospital room. The doctor removed the I.V from Ash’s arm and began to unhook all the wires from the machines. Once all of the wires had been removed, the doctor turned to Delia. “Let me get those discharge papers.” He said and left the room.
Delia let out a sigh of relief and leaned back in her chair. Ash grinned down at Pikachu while they awaited the doctor’s return. “We’re going home, Pikachu.” He said.

Ash had thought that he had slept enough during all that time that he had spent in the hospital, but apparently, his body had other ideas. He couldn’t crawl into his bed fast enough before the sleep overtook him. Delia had noticed that he hadn’t even taken his shoes off or pulled the blankets over himself in his exhaustion when she quietly snuck into his room to check on him. She walked over to him, took off his shoes and pulled the blankets over him. Pikachu trotted into the room and settled at the foot of the bed.
“Sleep well.” Delia whispered and then walked out of the room. She closed the door behind her and walked into the living room.
Mimey, her faithful Mr. Mime, looked up at her when she sat down on the couch and quietly sighed. “Mr. Mime Mime?” it asked.
“I’m alright.” Delia answered the crown like Pokémon. “And Ash is home, safe and sound. That makes me happy.”
Mimey stared at her suspiciously from the worried tone it had heard in her voice, but it didn’t press any further. It returned to cleaning up the living room. Delia stood up and put Ash’s shoes, which she had still been holding, away. Then she headed into the kitchen to make something to eat.

Pikachu was woken up by the wondrous aromas coming from the kitchen. “Pikaaa!” It squeaked in delight and jumped off of the bed. It raced out of Ash’s bedroom and down the stairs into the kitchen to find Delia standing in front of a pan.
“Pika Pikachu?” Pikachu asked.
“Hmm?” Delia looked down at the mouse Pokémon. “Oh Pikachu, is Ash awake?”
Pikachu nodded and hopped onto her shoulder so that it could look at the contents in the pan. “Pi Pikachu!” it said in appreciation of the wonderful smells rising out of the pan.
Delia laughed. “It’s almost ready.” She said.
Pikachu smiled. Both of them were so focused on the pan of food that they failed to notice the shadow pass by the doorway and quietly slip upstairs.

Not even the glorious aromas of his mother’s cooking had aroused the young Pokémon Trainer from his sleep. He had sprawled out on his bed as he snored, blissfully unaware of the shadow that hovered above him. The shadow spread out like a cloud above him and then engulfed Ash’s body, snapping him out of his deep sleep. I… I can’t breathe! He thought in a panic. He struggled to sit up, but he felt like a lead weight pinned to his bed. He heard a deep voice call out from within him as he began to lose consciousness. I know that voice. He thought. And then he blacked out.

“It’s ready Pikachu!” Delia exclaimed as she stared admirably at the pot of curried chicken and kale that had finished stewing over the stove. Next to it was a pot of steamed rice.
“Pika!” Pikachu exclaimed in excitement.
“We should wake Ash up so that he can eat.” Delia said. “And it wouldn’t be good for him to sleep all day. He’ll be up all night.”
“Ka Pi!” Pikachu said and jumped off of her shoulder. It ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs into Ash’s bedroom. Its Trainer was in the same position that it had left him, arms and legs sprawled out all over the bed, but his snoring had become silent. A pang of guilt shot through Pikachu. The only time Pikapi never snored was when he was in a deep sleep and it wasn’t something that he had since he was in the hospital. Still… it wasn’t going to let him miss the delicious dinner that his mother had prepared. It hopped onto the bed and trotted up to Ash.
“Pikapi?” it asked.
It had the odd sense that something was wrong when Ash opened his eyes and looked at it, but it brushed the feeling aside when he reached over and scratched it behind the ears.
“Hey Pikachu.” He said.
“Chaa…” Pikachu cooed in contentment, its unease forgotten.
“Mom must be making dinner.” Ash continued. “Whatever it is smells great!”
“Pika!” Pikachu exclaimed.
“Let go eat!” Ash exclaimed and climbed out of bed.
“Pikachu!” Pikachu agreed and followed him out of his bedroom.
They left his bedroom and went downstairs into the dining room to find that Mom and Mimey had already set the dishes and food on the table. Ash and Pikachu sat down at the table and did not hesitate to tear into their food.
“Ash, slow down!” Delia scolded him. “You’ll choke!”
“Buff I haffn’t haff gooth thooth in thays!” Ash exclaimed with a mouthful of food.
Delia folded her arms across her chest. “Ash!” she yelled at him for his manners.
Ash swallowed the food in his mouth. “But I haven’t had good food in days!” he translated.
“That’s no excuse for poor manners!” Delia scolded him and he ducked his head in shame.
Pikachu laughed at him as it picked up a piece of Pokémon food and began to chew on it. Ash picked up his fork and despite his mother’s lecture, continued the demolition of the food on his plate. He leaned back in his chair when he was finished and let a sigh of contentment.
“That was delicious!” he exclaimed.    
Delia smiled. “I’m glad you liked it.”
Ash nodded and looked at Pikachu. “Let’s go to Professor Oak’s and see how everyone is doing!” he exclaimed.
He stood up and began to run for the front door with Pikachu on his heels, but Delia beat him to the door.
“Ash, you just got home from the hospital. I know you’re eager to see your Pokémon, but you need your rest. Wait until tomorrow.”
Ash frowned at her, but he didn’t argue with her any further. “Alright…” he said. He and Pikachu headed back upstairs to his bedroom. Ash grabbed the remote and turned on the T.V. He flipped through the channels until he finally found a channel featuring the Indigo League. The semi-finals were just beginning and the opposing Trainers had sent out a Sandslash and a Kangaskhan against each other. Ash sat down on his bed and began to watch it. Pikachu settled at the end of the bed, its dark eyes carefully observing its Trainer. Ash seemed to be alright, but the electric rodent still could not shake off the feeling that something was wrong.

End Chapter Two