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Munum chapter 9

Punishment

By Shadymissionary

Contact day hits a snag, and Ash must bear the consequences...a setup for the next few future chapters.

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"...so yeah, that's what I've been up to. So, what's it like in Munum?" Max asked from the other side of the computer screen. The young man with short black hair and thick glasses was only slightly younger than Ash, and had lost a lot of his childishness years ago. He had grown into a decent Pokemon trainer over the years, though not nearly as good or as famous as Ash.

"Hot. Really, really hot." Ash chuckled, rubbing the back of his head as if to soothe a hidden sunburn. "I'm not really sure it actually rains here. Apparently, all the water in the region is taken from the ocean or a massive underground reservoir."

That was what he'd been saying variations of to his mother and the other friends who had called him. Max was the very last person he needed to talk to, and then things would go back to his new normal. Part of him wanted to get out of these clothes as soon as possible and get back to work, but it still felt good to have a normal conversation with old buddies. Even if nothing on their end had changed very much, it was great catching up.

The 'contact room' was designed to look like a standard trainer's bedroom with a Munum flavor, with posters of Pokemon battles and local art of painted desert spirals. A few readouts of training schedules and plans would demonstrate how Ash's Pokemon were spending their time, and a few photos of Munum sunsets and fully dressed dancers gave an innocent suggestion as to how Ash was spending his time outside of training. Even though it would only be seen through the camera of a specialized laptop, every inch of the room had been carefully planned out.

Ash's 'normal' Munum outfit was a light white shirt that looked cool enough to handle the desert sun, pale brown 'Arabian pants' that probably had a name but neither Ash nor Max could think of what that might be, and a nice-looking blue vest overtop. The vest had an embroidered gold-and-sapphire eye design on the right side, as well as the blue fez on top of Ash's head.

"Hey, I've been meaning to ask. What's with the eyes? They weren't really your style before." Max noted curiously.

"Oh, it's basically my sponsor's symbol, like those things on Leon's cape." He playfully put his hat on Pikachu's head, who cooed happily underneath it. "House Malifa, one of the best places to train in Munum."

"Sponsor?"

"Yeah. The Munum region doesn't have a lot of its own Pokémon, so it's a bit of a co-op effort for the tournament. I bring the Pokémon, they give me the training gear and supplies. It's a pretty neat set up. The point is to prove how well you can build up what you have rather than what you can catch or trade in the wild."

Ash pointed to the written-up graphs hanging on the wall behind him, citing attack power and accuracy for all his Pokemon's moves. There was definitely some sharp improvement for all his Pokemon (and somemon named 'Thabane') over the last few months. A picture of a big Pokemon team posing for the camera, all smiling next to Ash and a handsome dark-skinned young man Max guessed was Jador.

"Definitely a lot of hard work. Sheik Malifa has...super high standards, and he's never satisfied with anything but our best. A lot more regimented than I'm used to, but I'm not gonna argue with the results. Don't tell Paul or Gary, though."

"Do you just train all day?"

Ash and Pikachu both laughed and shook their heads. "No, we do plenty else. The Sheik is always busy with work, but Jador is really fun to be around. It's a pretty active nightlife here in Al-Mazid, with dancing and movies and food... I've actually learned about a traditional Munum dance, believe it or not."

Max's eyes widened as he shook with suppressed laughter. "Seriously?! You can't dance, I've seen you!"

"I said I learned about it, I didn't say I could dance it! You should've seen me try...I kept tripping over everything and getting stuck." Ash laughed. "But there's also the movies...we saw one about Coco a few weeks ago, and it was quite the experience. They're completely different from the movies we watch...they put a lot more emphasis on enhancing the sensations beyond what's on screen. Kinda like 4D with extra speakers and scents."

"I've never heard about any of that...is there anything outside Munum that shows them?"

Ash shook his head. "No, not really. I don't know why, I guess it's a cultural thing. Same reason they don't allow a lot of cameras in the towns...the rules are pretty strict about what you can take pictures of. I should have some photos for you guys before I come back."

Max chuckled. "Maybe I could take some photos of my own when I get there...oh."

Ash blinked in surprise, a hint of panic hidden behind his eyes. "Say what?"

Max covered his mouth too late. "Oh...woops, that was supposed to be a surprise. But yeah, I'm going to check Munum out for a day trip before I see May's latest Ultra-Rank Contest. Maybe you can show me around?"

"Sure!" Ash's mouth moved faster than his thoughts did. "Let me just talk with my sponsor first, and I'll get back to you. I can tell you this...you're gonna have a blast here!"

This is unexpected... Ash glanced at Lucario, who was supervising the 'contact day' as per Sheik Malifa's orders. The dog was frowning, but was it directed at Ash? Or Max? Or something else?

Max didn't notice anything amiss. "Maybe I could meet this Jador guy while I'm there. He sounds really cool."

Ash nodded. "He is, it's a shame he was too busy to talk today. But yeah, he'd love to meet you in person. I'll have to let him know you're arriving."

"Sounds great! Looking forward to seeing you. I should arrive the day after tomorrow, and then...one night in Munum before I head back to see May's contest."

Something was ringing in Ash's head, something Jador had said last night. How if Wakor hadn't intercepted him at Rekik and understood that he was for Sevof, Ash could've been taken by a 'lesser auctioneer'...like the other slaves Ash had seen throughout the city...and Max wasn't famous or well known enough to be a 'limited-time offer'.

"Let me know exactly when you arrive, Max." Ash clarified with surprising firmness. "That way, I can be the first face you see when you arrive in Munum."

And keep Max from vanishing...he didn't have the protection of world fame Ash did, just his family and friends...which included Ash Ketchum, and his sister who was expecting him to attend her contest right after his visit...

"Ok! See you then!" And with that, Max's face vanished from the screen, leaving Ash and Pikachu alone to mull over what just happened. Something told Ash that this was not going to make Sheik Malifa happy...

Sure enough, seconds later there was another message on the computer screen that Ash could not ignore. The Sheik's room. Immediately. WIth no pretenses of being anything other than what you are.

The obedient slave understood, stripping away his modest, professional looking outfit that made him look like a normal Munum trainer. The disguise that he would wear during contact day so no-one would suspect anything amiss. But inside the walls of his master's house, no-one would be fooled. He was still very much a slave in Munum, entirely at the mercy of his master and other superiors.

When all his clothes were gone, the naked slave was tapped on the rear with just enough force to get the message across. Don't bother getting dressed. The sheik will receive you as naked and vulnerable as possible, so you know your place.

Ash nodded at his watchdog, but he noticed that Lucario wasn't looking as severe at him as he would've expected. He almost looked concerned. But he still had a job to do, and he began pushing Ash towards the Sheik's room to face his master.

No doubt there were luxurious trappings inside the room of Sheik Malifa, possibly more so than Jador. A bed to sleep in, attendants to see to his every need, and any number of luxuries for the Sheik of House Malifa. But inside the dark room, his bare feet on the carpet and the wooden door closed behind him with a deafening thud, all Ash could see was the old man's piercing eyes as they bore into him. Behind Malifa was his Alakazam, holding the screen with which his master had monitored the situation.

"What. Happened?" Malifa demanded. "You were under orders not to invite anyone to see you."

Ash was compelled to tell the truth. "Sheik, Max had already made arrangements to come to Munum, I didn't know-"

"You should not have promised him that you would see him." Malifa growled.

"Sir, if I didn't, he'd be more suspicious." Ash attempted to explain.

Malifa was silent for a few moments, staring at the vulnerable slave in front of him. His gaze was like ice, and Ash was too scared to breathe, let alone speak. Finally, the silence was shattered.

"He arrives the day after tomorrow." That wasn't a question from Malifa, just a statement.

"...Yes. Only for a day trip." A vision of Max being captured and sold by a stranger played out in Ash's mind. "I-I would like-"

"What you like does not matter." Malifa said coldly. "What matters is what preserves Munum, and what your master wants. If he is captured, so be it. You will not jeopardize our security for your own desires-"

"My master desires to meet one of my old friends himself." The words tumbled out of Ash's mouth, praying that this would give him the leverage he needed. "Jador told me so last night."

Malifa seemed to freeze in place, and the air grew unbelievably cold in the room. But Ash stood firm. That was what Jador had told him, and if it would keep Max just a little bit safer, he could handle whatever punishment Malifa had in store.

The sheik glanced at Lucario, who nodded in confirmation. Jador had indeed said that. The father's hands clasped and unclasped as he stared the naked slave down.

Ash decided that, do or die, he had to make his case now. "I...only ask that Max is safe. That his day trip ends with him leaving Munum as planned, unharmed and with good memories. That is all I request, Sheik Malifa. If not for my sake, then for security. If he fails to see me, he may get suspicious. If something happens to him while he tries to visit me, his family will get suspicious. If-"

"Enough." Malifa growled before settling in to think. Eventually, Malifa gestured to his Alakazam, who looked straight into Ash's eyes before lighting up with a blinding flash that swallowed Ash's mind too fast for him to register...

The next thing Ash registered was Malifa's voice.

"Open your eyes, slave."

Ash opened his eyes...only to discover that the darkness behind his eyelids didn't change in the slightest. He could see nothing at all. At first, he thought night had fallen, but then he registered the sensation of something clinging to his face...a mask. A mask that covered his entire head, even pressing into his hair.

Other sensations started coming into focus. He was on his knees with his arms tied behind his back, and he was not going to change positions anytime soon. All over his skin, there was a feeling of...some manner of fabric that covered him but didn't feel like anything he recognized. Something like rubber? He couldn't feel any air on his skin, and the sensation felt like a numb absence more than anything. Whatever it was, it was tight enough to make it clear that he would not be able to move. There was a similar tightness around his crotch, a soft but firm cage that prevented any arousal whatsoever from manifesting. His mouth was also sealed open with something soft and thick...he could breathe, but nothing else.

Malifa's voice explained. "This is a punishment suit. You will feel no sensations whatsoever. You will stay wide awake inside this void, not moving or speaking or understanding anything around you. You will not fall asleep or let your mind drift in any direction. You will experience nothingness until your punishment is finished. Know that we are discussing what is to be done about your...friend, and you will have no input or influence. As it should be."

Something snapped around Ash's ears, and suddenly he was unable to hear anything, not even his own breathing. Just a dull buzzing that drove any thoughts out of his mind. Numbers, memories, fears, worries, even the arousal of helplessness...Ash could only wait.

What few thoughts stayed in his mind were of Max, his friend. Ash may have come to love this life, and a part of him wished Max could enjoy the pleasures he had. But he could not be taken by Munum - he was only visiting, and his sister was expecting him. Fears of Max being taken by a freelance slaver off the street and being roughly forced into his role for the rest of his life, drawing the concern of his family when a day trip lasted longer than it should, the alterations being insufficient to make him truly happy, a cruel or callous master...that had been what Ash had feared, what had prevented him from staying quiet.

Now, quiet was all he could be...for time he could not count or sleep for. He sat in utter emptiness, helpless and worthless and useless...feeling seconds tick by until they melted away into nothingness...everything ceased to exist, from the sound of his breathing to the air on his skin...none of it existed for Ash Ketchum anymore...

Nothing...

Hour after hour of nothing...

Ash had lost all sense of time passing when something changed. A small light in the darkness that slowly became brighter, slowly enough so that his eyes did not go blind from the growing tunnels of light and colour that swallowed him up once more. The colours erased the nothingness and replaced it with nothing but bliss...

And Ash suddenly woke up in warm water, feeling his skin tenderly rubbed by soft hands. Around him was the wooden bathhouse of House Malifa, with murals made to resemble a desert oasis. The boy was up to his neck in bubbling water, and he could see Pikachu and Lucario watch him with concern and relief. The soft sound of steam and bubbles popping filled his ears, and the boy felt and heard himself breathe once more. It felt...wonderful.

"Are you alright?" Jador's voice asked, his hands scrubbing Ash's dark hair.

Ash swallowed, the abrupt shift in his situation still spooking him. "I-I am fine, but Master, this is beneath you..."

"I decide what's beneath me." Jador retorted, his arms wrapping around his slave from behind. After so long in the numb coldness of the punishment suit, Ash was beyond grateful to feel the warmth of his master's touch along with the water.

"Master..." Ash shivered when he felt Jador's lips kiss his neck tenderly. A finger was placed on his mouth, silencing the slave from any further questions.

"Father and I have...discussed Max. You will meet and supervise his tour of Rekik, putting him under the protection of House Malifa. He will leave Munum unharmed and with good memories...memories that we will control." Jador explained. "But there are two conditions. One, any vendor who decides to use him as we would any temporary tourist will be allowed to do so."

Ash swallowed, but Jador stroked his cheek reassuringly.

"Max will know nothing of it, and feel only pleasure. We have done this before, after all. And two, you will watch as he is toyed with, and not interfere. These are the final terms of my father, you will have to accept them."

Ash frowned slightly, but ultimately nodded. He had pushed his luck with the Sheik more than enough for Max's sake, and he didn't want to suffer the empty absence of the punishment suit again. Even being whipped would've been better as at least he would feel something.

More importantly, Max would be okay. As okay as Munum would allow. This was the best he could hope for. "I...accept."

Jador smiled, and shifted his body into Ash just a little more. "That's good. I'm sorry that boy got you into that...position. Father's punishments can be terrifying."

Ash nodded fitfully. "...I guess. I couldn't even...think about being scared, just...be there. Alone, cold..."

The slave gasped as his master's arms wrapped tightly around him, feeling Jador's tender flesh press into his backside. "Shhh. Never think of it again." Jador soothed, his hand stroking Ash's chest sensually. A smile slowly crept back onto the slave's face as intense warmth began to overtake him, burning away his memories of the darkness.

"Thank...you...master..."

Jador turned Ash's head to face him before planting a kiss directly on his slave's lips. A few moments passed before the two boys separated.

"This Max..." Jador mused. "You've risked quite a lot for his sake."

Ash nodded. "He's a good friend."

Jador smiled broadly, a gleam in his eye. "The night Max stays in Munum, I will make sure he repays you for your friendship tenfold. Now, tell me more about him..."