Chapter 4: To Save a Pangoro
The group of five were traveling to Cyllage City until they came across a bamboo forest.
"Pika. Pika." Pikachu's stomach growled.
"I think Pikachu's got the right idea. I'm starving!" Ash said clutching his stomach for extra effect.
"Aw come on guys! Let's keep on going." Kuzuki noticed that no one was walking anymore. Instead, they all sat down on a bench that was conveniently placed on the ground.
Bonnie looked at Clemont. "Clemont, can we have lunch here?" She asked.
"That's a great idea! I'll get right on it." Clemont started rummaging through his bag looking for his cooking materials. Ash and Serena sat on one side of the table while Clemont and Bonnie were on the other side.
"Er…" Kuzuki noticed that there was no room for him. "Well I guess I could eat later." Ivysaur started to protest. "We should do some special training while we wait Ivysaur." Kuzuki winked at his pokemon.
"Ivy!" Ivysaur exclaimed excitedly. This caught Ash's attention.
"You still have your special training Kuzuki? Are you ever going to tell me what you and your pokemon do?" Kuzuki shook his head with a grin.
"Special training?" Bonnie questioned.
"Yeah ever since we began our journey, Kuzuki has been running off to do some special training every now and then," Ash replied. "I've asked him a couple of times if I could join but he's says it's top secret!"
Kuzuki nodded. "Very top secret. It's what helped me beat you in the Indigo Plateau Conference after all." Kuzuki smirked. Now Ash was more curious.
"What! Really? Now you have to let me in, please?" Ash pleaded. Kuzuki decided to pretend to not hear him and walked further into the bamboo forest. Ash sighed in disappointment.
"The Indigo Plateau Conference?" Serena finally spoke up. She felt like she could finally relax. "Is that what they have back in Kanto?"
"Yeah, Kuzuki beat me in the fifth round. I was in the top sixteen while he made it to the top four. He lost to someone named Assunta." Ash then smirked. "But I technically beat him in some sort during the Silver Conference in Johto."
"How did you technically beat Kuzuki?" Clemont asked as he began stirring the metal pot. Serena and Bonnie were making sandwiches while also listening into the conversation.
"Well you see." Ash laughed nervously. "We both won the semi-final rounds from each of our blocks and were scheduled to face each other in the first round of the Victory Tournament but Kuzuki got disqualified before our match began." Bonnie and Clemont gasped.
"He got disqualified?! Did he do something awful?" Bonnie asked.
"Er, not exactly. One of the official rules is that you can't battle outside the match. Kuzuki battled this guy when he kept making fun of his pokemon. Before he could beat him an official came and disqualified them both. Instead, I battled my rival at the time, Gary Oak," Ash finished with a wandering tone in his voice.
Clemont started to put the food that he was stirring in bowls. "So Kuzuki never got the chance to fully prove himself in the Johto League after all that work," Clemont said with sympathy for Kuzuki. Ash nodded solemnly.
"Yeah and I was looking forward to our rematch. Afterwards, he got a call from his dad." This got Serena's attention. "He never told me what they talked about. All Kuzuki said was that he was heading back to Kanto."
"Did he…" Serena started before she stared down at her feet. "...nevermind." The group went silent after that. They began to eat their meal in peace with their pokemon. A million different thoughts started to roam in her mind. The situation that Ash mentioned was eerily similar to one of her past experience. Before she had the chance to think more about the possible outcomes their pokemon, minus Chespin stopped eating.
Elsewhere…
"Ahhh." Kuzuki sighed happily. "This is the perfect weather for this, huh Ivysaur?"
"Ivysaur!"
The two lay on the top of the mountain in peace. The patch of grass was lacking with only a couple of bamboo sprigs sprouting from it. The two thought that no one will find them during their 'special training' until the inevitable happened. An explosion rang off.
"Pika!" He heard a voice yell as it soared through the air. Kuzuki presumed it to be Ash's Pikachu. With the help of Ivysaur's vine whip, Kuzuki got down the mountain and made his way over to where the voice came from.
After a minute of running he spotted Pikachu on the grass with a dazed look on his face.
"Pikachu!" Kuzuki called out. Pikachu shook his head before seeing Kuzuki. The tiny mouse pokemon quickly ran up to him.
"Pika! Pika!" He cried out before running off. Kuzuki took this as a sign to follow him. They ran until they came across a river.
"Froakie!" Kuzuki saw the water type pokemon there. Pikachu started to speak with him until they sped off. Kuzuki sighed, already a bit worn out from the running. Reluctantly, he started following them. Once he reached the two pokemon he spotted Chespin with his head buried in the dirt.
"Hang in there Chespin." Kuzuki grabbed the grass types body and pulled him out. Chespin graciously thanked him with a smile. As the pokemon talked amongst themselves Kuzuki heard something from up above. It was a Meowth.
"Hey you!" The Meowth said. "You're that twer-er I mean guy that traveled with Pikachu and the others back in Kanto!" Meowth exclaimed. "Could you do an old pal a favor and get me down."
Kuzuki narrowed his eyes. "I don't know, after all you and the other two always tried to take my pokemon. Why should I help you?" Pikachu, Froakie, and Ivysaur agreed with the boy.
"Ches! Chespin!" Cheslin quickly used his pin missiles and destroyed the tree branch that Meowth was stuck in. The talking pokemon face planted in the ground as a result of it. His head got stuck in the ground much like Chespin.
"Well, I guess we're helping him after all," Kuzuki muttered, not liking how Chespin made the decision without anyone's consult. He then began to pull out Meowth from the ground. With that all set aside, Meowth faced the trainer and pokemon.
"Thanks, all you lugs! What do you say we call it a truce, pal?" Meowth extended his paw for Pikachu to shake. The electric type smiled and was prepared to shake it until Meowth grabbed his paw and started shaking him up and down.
"I knew I could count on you because that's the way you roll!" Pikachu, not liking it, let out an electric shock. Meowth shrieked as he got electrocuted and he fell on the floor.
"Hey!" He stood back up. "What was that for!? I was paying you a compliment!" Pikachu apologised. "Well just as long as you understand." He had an obnoxious grin on his face before letting out a chuckle.
"Uh, what was that all about?" Kuzuki asked, catching the talking pokemon's weird behavior. Froakie was also suspicious. Pikachu and Chespin reassured both of them, trusting Meowth at the moment.
"Pikachu." Meowth seemed pleased at this. "I'm so glad you and Chespin choose to trust me."
"Dude, you have that look on your face again," Kuzuki commented. Meowth let out a yelp at this.
"No no! You got the wrong idea. I'm just so grateful that I got pals like you all!" The Team Rocket member smiled. Kuzuki narrowed his eyes causing Meowth to smile even harder.
"You know Meowth, if you really want my trust then I got one request."
"Sure! Anything to get you to believe my word!"
"I want you to tell me…" Kuzuki stepped back so that Ivysaur was in the view. "...why does Ivysaur like macarons more than the food I put so much work into and he doesn't even eat it!"
"Wha?" Meowth sputtered. "That's it?" Kuzuki nodded with a grin. "Well Ivysaur? Why do you?"
"Ivysaur." Ivysaur glared at Meowth, still not trusting him. While the rest of his friends talked to Meowth, Ivysaur observed him like a hawk.
"Come on Ivysaur. Do it for me at least," Kuzuki begged.
"Ivy." The seed pokemon sighed. "Ivy Ivysaur Ivy!" Meowth gasped in horror.
"Wow! Did your mother kiss you with that mouth?! How could you say those rude things about your trainer!" Meowth exclaimed. Pikachu, Chespin, and Froakie also looked at Ivysaur in surprise.
"What? What did he say!?" Kuzuki demanded. Meowth exchanged glances with the other pokemon.
"I think it's best not to tell you."
"Why!?"
"Because…" Meowth couldn't find the right words to say. "It'll hurt your feelings! What kind of pal would I be if I do that to you." Meowth mentally patted himself in the back for his clever thinking.
"Oh well." Kuzuki stared at the ground in disappointment. "Will you at least tell me by giving me a thumbs up or down?" Meowth gave him a thumb sideways. "I guess that's not that bad!" Kuzuki beamed brightly.
"You have no idea," Meowth muttered to himself.
"Now Pikachu, is there anyone else that came with you?" Pikachu alerted him with a bunch of nonsense that he didn't understand. "Meowth?" The talking pokemon took the hint.
"Pikachu said that Fennekin is still out there," Meowth replied.
Kuzuki had a conflicted look on his face. "Hmm, alright. Let's go find Fennekin!" The others cheered and started walking deeper in the bamboo forest. The pokemon, minus Meowth, leaded the way.
"So Meowth," Kuzuki quipped. "How's Jessie and James been? I thought they'd be here with you." Kuzuki readjusted his crimson beanie as Meowth talked.
"We're doing alright. Although, we've had an argument about…" Meowth hesitated at telling Kuzuki the real reason why they're all out here in the first place. He might lose the trainer's trust. "...which one of us is the better member of our group." In a way, Meowth was telling the truth after all.
"Between you and me I think the one who makes the plan is the real mastermind of a group. Without it you'd have a bunch of idiots running around aimlessly," He finished with a wink. Meowth genuinely smiled at this.
"You're speaking like it's out of experience," Meowth pointed out.
"Well, I have my own fair share of devious master plans. You can't expect me to not have something up my sleeve after all." Before Meowth had time to think about what Kuzuki really meant by his words, the other pokemon called for their attention and pointed up ahead. The group of pokemon and the human finally found Fennekin sitting by a stream of water. She looked glum for some reason.
"Pika!" Pikachu squeaked happily. The others followed in pursuit with Kuzuki, Meowth, and Ivysaur falling back behind a bit. Fennekin perked up at seeing her friends until Meowth came to view.
"Looks like you got to gain her trust too." Kuzuki patted Meowth's back and motioned him towards the fire type pokemon. Pikachu and Chespin were trying to convince Fennekin that Meowth was good.
Meowth put on his best smile. "Dig! From now on we're the best of friends! What do you say?" Fennekin believed Meowth and smiled before she set her eyes on the trainer.
"What up?" Kuzuki said casually. Pikachu tried to calm down the fire type pokemon but failed. Fennekin started yipping at Kuzuki angrily.
"Wow! And I thought Ivysaur had a foul mouth!" Meowth said in shock. Fennekin turned her attention to Ivysaur and started yelling at him too. The seed pokemon decided to defend his trainer.
"Ivy! Ivysaur!" Ivysaur retorted back. Everyone but the human gasped.
"Oh wow! This is getting good!" Meowth acknowledged cheekily. He didn't know why Kuzuki and this Serena girl have an issue, judging by Fennekin's statement, but he was getting one heck of a show!
"Ivy?" Ivysaur took a quick glance at Fennekin's tail before laughing. Fennekin turned red in embarrassment and prepared to use Ember on Ivysaur. Ivysaur noticed this and pulled his vine whip out.
"Hey hey hey! Stop fighting you two. Ivysaur, we've had a long talk about manners and it seems like you haven't learned anything." Ivysaur hung his head down in shame and muttered an apology.
"Fenn." Fennekin stared at her ruined tail sadly. Meowth noticed this.
"Your fluffy little tail got all dirty, so you want to clean it?" Fennekin nodded. "You really like to look good, don't you?"
"Aha!" Kuzuki shouted loudly. He put his bag down and searched in it. "I knew that this would always come in handy!" Kuzuki took out an expensive looking brush along with a spray bottle full of water. Fennekin looked at the brush as if it was her best friend. "If you don't mind." Fennekin weighed in her two options before reluctantly deciding to accept the boy's offer.
Kuzuki started to make small talk as he sprayed a few squeezes of water on her tail. "Swinub always likes to roll on the grass and mud. His fur gets all dirty each time so I bought these to keep him in tip-top shape." He began to brush her tail. "We sometimes do contests whenever they're around but very rarely. I'd say I've only done three in total. I haven't won a single one, though they are a lot of fun. Swinub is my main attraction so it's best to keep him in his best condition."
"Fenn!" Fennekin yipped graciously as she admired her tail. It looked better than ever, but she wasn't going to let her trainer know that. The other pokemon complimented on how great her tail looks.
"Now." Kuzuki put his things back in his bag. "We should get going and find the others. They must be worried sick about you guys." The others agreed and continued their search.
Fennekin kept on stealing glances towards Kuzuki. He seemed nice enough to her, so why does her trainer despise him? His Ivysaur was rude to her sure but she was the one who started it. The seed pokemon was just defending his trainer as Fennekin would do the same. Confused by all of this the fire type pokemon wanted something to keep her distracted. This came in the form of a twig.
"Fennekin." She munched on the twig in content.
"It's a twig!" Meowth exclaimed. "Is it really that good?" Chespin saw this as an opportunity to eat once more. Last time he was rudely interrupted from his lunch because of Team Rocket. Picking up another twig on the ground, he excitingly put it in his mouth expecting it to be a tasty treat. Instead.
"Ches! Pin! Pin!" The starter pokemon spat out the twig and flung it in the air never wanting to see it again. The twig bounced off a couple of bamboo plants before it met its unintentional target.
"Pan!" A voice roared out, frightening everyone.
"Cranky pants!!" Meowth yelped. He sped off in order to avoid the Pangoro. Kuzuki took out one of his pokeballs and tossed it in the air.
"Blastoise! Come on out!" Kuzuki yelled.
"Blast!" Blastoise cried out. The water type pokemon then notice the Pangoro charging towards them. Although Pangoro was still taller than Blastoise, the shellfish pokemon didn't let that bother him and he got into battle stance.
"Alright Blastoise! Use water gu-" Kuzuki's command was cut of by a swarm of Pin Missiles flying from up above and hitting Pangoro! Chespin had fired the attack out of fright. The Pangoro stopped charging, taking in the effects of the attack.
Meowth observed how the two Panchams were concerned for Pangoro. "It looks like they're pals!" He commented in fright.
Pangoro gritted his teeth and turned his attention to Chespin. Suddenly, the plant in Pangoro's mouth burnt into a crisp and he slumped to the floor in a depressed manner.
"Chespin?" Chespin along with everyone else seemed confused as to what happened. Blastoise grunted, mildly annoyed that Chespin took out his opponent! The two Panchams started yelling at Chespin.
"Pikachu!" A voice called out. Everyone turned around and saw their trainer's headed their direction.
"Pika!" Pikachu was delighted to see Ash again. Meowth on the other hand was alerted by his presence.
"It's the twerp!" He said with his fists clenched. Soon the other pokemon reunited with their trainers.
"Heh, twerp." Kuzuki chuckled, amused at how Meowth didn't look so friendly anymore.
"Kuzuki!" Ash shouted in surprise. "I thought you were off doing special training."
"I was but I heard Pikachu yelling in the air so I went over to check out what the deal was. What were you guys thinking? Leaving your pokemon out here by themselves."
Ash grew agitated at Kuzuki's claim. "We didn't dump our pokemon out in the forest. Team Rocket took them!" Kuzuki gasped.
"Meowth.." The talking pokemon began to tremble. "..you played me like a fool." Kuzuki smirked. "Nice."
"Huh?" Meowth asked, wondering if he heard that right. The others finally noticed Meowth's presence. They demanded to know what he was doing with their pokemon. "Now, don't get all bent out of shape! The problem is this big lug." He gestured towards the weakened Pangoro. While Ash scanned the Pangoro with his pokedex, Kuzuki called Blastoise back into his pokeball, thanking him for trying to protect them.
"I think it's Chespin's fault! You see, Chespin has broke Pangoro's leaf sprig!" Meowth informed the others. Kuzuki let out a yawn, feeling worn out. He laid down on the soft grass and closed his eyes. Ivysaur took a seat next to his trainer and listened on to the conversation that the others were having.
"...we've got to find the bamboo sprig!" Clemont declared.
"The bamboo sprig?" Kuzuki asked with his eyes still shut. "I saw one of those up a mountain. Not too far from here."
"Really?" Bonnie gave Kuzuki a questioning glance. "I thought you were doing special training." Kuzuki's eyes opened and he nervously explained himself.
"I was! I was on the mountain doing special training and I just so happened to spot the bamboo sprig. I'm sure one of the Panchams can show you the way!" Kuzuki forced a laugh.
"Pancham!" One of the Panchams confirmed his story and was ready to direct the group to the location.
"I'll stay here!" Meowth announced. "I'm worried about Pangoro." Everyone didn't seemed convinced at his reasoning.
"What? You worried?" Serena questioned.
"Hey I have a heart," Meowth responded.
Kuzuki chuckled darkly. "Yeah, unlike some people here."
Serena glared at the boy with his back on the grass. She could tell who that comment was directed to.
"Kuzuki, you coming?" Ash asked. Kuzuki waved him off.
"Nah, I've already had enough adventure for today. I'll keep an eye on Meowth if you're all so bent up about it." Kuzuki relaxed on the grass once more. Ivysaur rolled his eyes.
"Ivy!" The seed pokemon protested.
"Huh? You really want to go Ivysaur?" Ivysaur nodded. "I guess you can go. Ash, do you mind looking after Ivysaur?"
"If that's what you want," Ash said. "Come on guys! The sooner the better!" Everyone agreed and they followed one of the Panchams.
Kuzuki let out a happy sigh, enjoying the silence. His mind drifted off elsewhere.
Flashback
Young Kuzuki sat on the grass and watched the clouds go by. It wasn't his cup of tea to go cloud watching but the plans for today got cancelled so there was nothing to do.
"Ugh! So boring!" He drawled out, rolling on the grass in boredom. Kuzuki had really been looking forward to going on a hike trail but the Camp Counselor Chad just had to get a cold. Kuzuki didn't understand why they couldn't have gone without him. Apparently he was some kind of specialist in Botany.
"Whatever that means," Kuzuki muttered. He felt like he was about to explode from all the boredom.
"Hello Kuzuki," A voice greeted. Kuzuki lifted up his head to see Serena staring down at him. "What are you doing today?"
Kuzuki let out a groan. "Nothing. Just cloud watching Siri." Kuzuki went back to staring at the fluffy white clouds.
"Oh." Serena looked up at the clouds for a minute before clicking her tongue. "This isn't very fun." Kuzuki sat back up in an instant.
"Exactly! I don't know how those people over there find this exciting." The boy pointed at the kids over at the left. They had acquired some binoculars and pointed towards some clouds.
"Well let's try harder," Serena suggested, having a seat on the grass next to her friend. The two gazed at the upcoming cloud.
"Holy moly! That cloud looks like a…." Kuzuki faked his enthusiasm. "..cloud." Kuzuki stood up and got ready to leave.
"Kuzuki! Wait!" Serena called. "I was thinking that we could go do some arts and crafts! I love making such wonderful creations."
Kuzuki wanting to get out of a boring day agreed and the two walked off.
End of Flashback
"Hmm," Kuzuki grumbled. The clouds up in the sky were once again meaningless to him. His attention immediately turned to the rustle in the bush.
"I'll go check it out," Meowth insisted. Kuzuki nodded and stood up, dusting some of the dirt off his shorts. Meowth looked like he was having a conversation with whatever was in the bush. He presumed it to be a pokemon. Kuzuki then looked at the Pangoro who was still not moving. The Pancham next to him was doing its best to comfort the big guy.
"Don't worry little guy," Kuzuki comforted the worried Pancham. "My friends are going to get that bamboo sprig and help out your friend. They're one of the most reliable people I know and that's a fact." The Pancham smiled sadly before a net was flown across the garden and trapped both the Pancham and Pangoro!
"What!" Kuzuki shouted out. He heard a chorus of laughter coming from behind him.
"Thanks for the Pangoro Kanto twerp. That Pancham is just a bonus for our organization." Kuzuki recognized that voice.
"Team Rocket!" Kuzuki sneered. Team Rocket all had grins on their faces because of their successful capture. Kuzuki mentally facepalmed. Why did he even trust Meowth?
"Meowth! Go tie them up. I'll deal with this twerp!" James announced, taking out his pokeball. "Inkay! Come on out!" The revolving pokemon let out a cry of triumph.
"Roger!" Meowth saluted, running to the two pokemon with rope in his paws.
Jessie seemed nerved. "Aw! But I wanted to test out my new pokemon!" Jessie whined. James rolled his eyes.
"Who said that we weren't going use Pumpkaboo?" James responded with a wicked grin.
"Always never playing fair, I like it!" Jessie took out her pokeball. "Say hello to my new catch of the day! Now, Team Rocket is stronger than ever!" Jessie declared as her Pumpkaboo appeared. Kuzuki let out a grunt at the unfair advantage.
"Alright then, Blastoise! Take charge!" Kuzuki called out his water type pokemon.
"Pumpkaboo, use Leech Seed!" Pumpkaboo released a swarm of seeds out of its mouth directed at Blastoise! Kuzuki already very familiar with this move had a counter.
"Water Gun! Let's go!" Blastoise shot a beam of water which knocked the seeds out of the path. "Now use Tackle on Pumpkaboo!" Blastoise began charging towards Pumpkaboo.
"Nice try! Pumpkaboo use Shadow Ball!" The pumpkin pokemon shot a dark sphere towards Blastoise.
"Blastoise, quick use Tail Whip to deflect the attack and don't stop charging!" As soon as the Shadow Ball neared the water type his tail began to glow. His tail made a direct hit at the Shadow Ball and deflected it back to Pumpkaboo! Jessie gasped when the attack hit her pokemon causing it to have a dazed look on its face. Blastoise kept charging forwards.
James, seeing Pumpkaboo in a vulnerable state, stepped in to assist Jessie. "Oh no you don't! Inkay, use Psybeam!" Kuzuki seeing this had a strategy of his own.
"Blastoise, dodge it!" The shellfish pokemon sidestepped out of harm's way. "Use water gun on Inkay!" Another beam of water was shot out and made a direct hit! Inkay crashed down to the ground in pain. "Keep charging at Pumpkaboo!" Luck was on Kuzuki's side as the battle appeared to come to an end. Blastoise was just a few feet away until a voice made itself known.
"Manectric, use Thunder Wave at Blastoise!" A wave of electricity came out of nowhere. Kuzuki wasn't quick enough to react and watched as his Blastoise got hit by the surprise attack. The shellfish pokemon staggered but was still barely managing.
"Tsk. Magnezone use Electroball!" The voice shouted again and a sphere of electricity blasted through the air and hit Blastoise. This time the water type collapsed from the attack.
"Who are you!? Show yourself!" Kuzuki demanded. Team Rocket exchanged confused glances wondering who interfered in their battle.
"If it isn't Mr. Sakai," The voice said making Kuzuki's blood grow cold.
"It can't be." The voice finally came out of their hiding spot. A tall man appeared along with his two pokemon. "It is! It's you Bradshaw!"
"Nice to know that you remembered my name." Bradshaw chuckled. His eyes wandered to the other people in his sight. He observed their shirts. "Team Rocket? You chumps should stay back in Kanto. Maybe then you'll actually achieve something worthwhile," The man taunted.
James gritted his teeth. "How dare you insult us! Just who the heck are you!?"
Bradshaw placed his hands on his hips. "How rude of me. My name is Bradshaw and I'm an elusive pokemon smuggler." Bradshaw took a bow.
Team Rocket gasped. They had their own encounter with a pokemon smuggler before and it ended up with them having to release their pokemon in the wild.
"Pokemon smuggler eh? Team Rocket has more credibility than just some low class smuggler," Meowth hissed. Bradshaw stared at Meowth in delight.
"What's this? A talking pokemon! You'd be worth far more than any of my other sales!" The man let out a raspy laugh. Jessie and James quickly shielded Meowth.
"As if! We'd never let you take Meowth away from us!" James defended.
"Wow," Meowth muttered. "You guys really are the best pals a pokemon can ask for." Kuzuki glared at Bradshaw and returned his fallen Blastoise. He didn't want the shellfish pokemon to get in danger.
"What are you even doing here anyways Bradshaw? I thought you and the others already learned your lesson from the last time I prevailed." Kuzuki's smirk made the man scowl.
"I was not apart of what those idiots couldn't accomplish. Letting a kid free all our merchandise was the stupidest thing they've ever did." He chuckled grimly. "But now I'm here to rightfully claim what's been lost. And that starts with all the pokemon here!" He then pointed at Kuzuki. "Then with you boy. I wan you to learn what happens when you mess with us."
"Not a chance." Kuzuki tossed a pokeball in the air. "Nidoran, come on out!"
"Nido!" Nidoran sensed the danger and went into battle stance.
"Nidoran and I will defeat you like we always do!" Kuzuki remarked.
"Oh Mr. Sakai, did you really think that I came alone." Kuzuki's eyes went wide as more men came surrounding him and Team Rocket. Each had at least one pokemon with them. Some of the men have already trapped the Pancham and Pangoro in a cage. They hauled the two pokemon off away.
"This is bad," Jessie muttered. Their plan has already backfired tremendously. The three along with their pokemon huddled closely together.
"As much as I hate to admit it. If we want to have a chance to get out of this predicament we'll have to work together with the kanto twerp," James admitted reluctantly. Jessie and Meowth nodded weakly and made their way next to Kuzuki.
"We've come to help you twerp! No one will stop us if you work with the almighty Team Rocket!" Meowth claimed profoundly.
Kuzuki sighed and shook his head. "I don't think we can make it out of this guys."
"Huh?!" The three uttered in unison.
"These people." Kuzuki gestured to everyone around them. "They're the real deal. Their pokemon are strong and tough. It was a miracle that I even managed to pull off what I did last time."
"So you're just going to give up? Maybe your memory is fuzzy but Team Rocket never gives up until they're successful!" Meowth encouraged everyone with pride.
Kuzuki smiled. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to try." He pulled out all of his remaining pokeballs. "As long as they're safe. Everyone come on out!" Swinub, Dartrix, and the banged up Blastoise came out. Kuzuki then tossed his bag towards a bush to keep the smugglers from stealing it.
"Guys, we're in some deep trouble right now. We might not even make it out of here." The pokemon gasped. "Blastoise. I know you're still hurt from the last battle but are you okay to keep fighting?"
"Blastoise!" He cried out affirmatively. He'd protect his trainer to the very end. Kuzuki tossed his crimson beanie to the side to ease his wills.
"Swinub, Dartrix, Nidoran, Blastoise. I want you guys to know that I love you all. Just felt like getting that out of my chest if the worst happens." The pokemon smiled warmly at their trainer. The boy let out a shaky breath. "It's been fun having you guys around. Heh, look at me, not having any confidence that we'll win this outcome. No matter what happens I'll be proud of you all."
"You ready Team Rocket?" Kuzuki said with butterflies in his stomach. This whole situation made him feel uneasy.
"Of course, Team Rocket is always ready!"
"Well…" Kuzuki looked to see the men advancing towards them. "...here goes nothing!"
Sometime later...
"Panagoro! We got the bamboo sprig…." Ash went speechless as soon as he saw the carnage in front of him.
"What's wrong Ash?" Clemont asked before he too went speechless. Bonnie let out a muffled cry, covering her mouth with her hands. Serena gasped.
"What happened here!?" She shrieked. The whole area where they left Pangoro was a complete wreckage. There was no grass left in that area at all, the trees and bamboo were in ashes, patches of clothing scattered the ground, and most notably was the deep craters punctured through the ground.
"Pancham!" Pancham panicked as it searched the entire area to look for his beloved friends. Everyone scampered around the area to search for clues. Bonnie noticed a crimson beanie barely hanging off the ledge of a crater.
"Clemont." Bonnie tugged on his jumpsuit and directed his attention to the headwear. "You don't think that…"
"No!" Ash exclaimed loudly, not wanting to hear the worst. "Kuzuki is a powerful trainer! He won't…" Ash stared down at the ground, tears almost welling up in his eyes. "...he won't let someone do this."
"He may have done this you know," Serena's quiet voice said. "Why else did he want to stay behind? The pokemon put up a fight but they lost. He might've even took that pesky Meowth too!"
Ash's body started to shake. "Why are you so against Kuzuki, huh?! He's been nothing but nice to us and you keep insulting my friend!" Ash accused hotly.
"Some friend he is!"
"Some friend you are!"
Clemont stood between the two. "Guys! Guys! Arguing isn't going to get us anywhere! We need to keep on finding more clues to figure out exactly what happened here." Clemont turned to Serena. "Do it for the Pancham."
Serena crossed her arms and proceeded to walk towards the emotionally hurt Pancham.
"What is up with her? She was so nice before," Ash said with a hint of disappointment in his voice. "Ever since Kuzuki came she's been acting strange "
Clemont nodded. "I noticed that too. Kuzuki said that they've known each other since the summer camp you all went to," Clemont added in. "Maybe something hap-"
"T-t-twerps!" A weak voice groaned. Ash and Clemont searched around the area for the voice.
"R-right h-here," The voice coughed.
"Meowth!?" Ash hollered. The Team Rocket member crawled out of a bush that was barely intact. He wheezes as he kept pushing himself and something else to view. "And Swinub!?" The two were in terrible condition. Bruises, scratches, and burn marks covered their body. Swinub was out cold while Meowth was fighting to stay awake.
Meowth appeared to be trying to say something until his body slumped down. Ash gasped. The Kanto boy quickly made his way over along with Clemont.
"They're still breathing"" Clemont informed him. Bonnie dragged Kuzuki's bookbag, not being strong enough to carry it. "I don't know if there's a Pokemon Center nearby. These two need immediate attention!"
Ash growled. Meowth was their only chance at telling them the events that unfolded. Suddenly, an idea came to mind.
"That's it!" Ash took the backpack from Bonnie and unzipped it.
"Ivy!" Ivysaur rammed himself into Ash and caught the backpack for himself.
"Wha! Hey what was that for!?" Ash rubbed his shoulder in pain.
"I don't think Ivysaur wants us to be in Kuzuki's bag," Clemont acknowledged. Ivysaur guarded the bag in his disposal.
Ash sighed and got down to Ivysaur's level. "Ivysaur, will you please let me have the bag. I know there's something there that'll help us with Meowth and Swinub. Don't you want to know where your trainer is?" Ivysaur was deep in thought before he reluctantly nodded and dug his head in the bookbag. When the seed pokemon's head popped out he had a video camera in his mouth. He dragged it with him and left the rest of the backpack to Ash.
"Hey, isn't that Kuzuki's camera?" Bonnie asked her brother.
"Yes it is. But why did Ivysaur take it out with him?" Clemont placed his hand on his chin.
"Maybe that's why he didn't want his to open the bag," Bonnie piped in. Clemont was about to respond until Ash fished something out of the bag.
"Aha!" He yelled, holding two small vials in his hands. "This is Kuzuki's Healing Potion! I knew it'd be here. It sure helped me a lot back then." Ash stared at the vials in confidence. Zipping the bag once more Ash crouched down to the two fallen pokemon.
"If you two can hear me, can you please open your mouth the best you can." Ash requested the two. For a while, nothing happened. Two minutes passed and Ash saw Meowth slowly open his mouth. Ash smiled and poured the liquid into his mouth. Swinub took a bit longer to respond, but the liquid was soon draining down his mouth too.
"Awesome." Ash put the two empty vials in his pocket.
"We should probably clean up their wounds in the meantime. It'll take a while before they wake up," Clemont suggested. Ash frowned, he wanted to know the whereabouts of his old friend as soon as possible. There is a possibility that Kuzuki was in danger. But there's nothing anyone can do right now until Meowth wakes up.
"I guess you're right." Ash grinned. "Who's going to clean who?"
"I'll clean up Swinub!" Bonnie announced. She scooped up the pig pokemon and took him over to her side. Ash and Clemont exchanged looks.
"That leaves us with Meowth." As the three were treating the two pokemon, Serena was busy comforting the Pancham. Or at least that's what it seemed like.
"I didn't mean to get angry at Ash, it's just that I really really loathe that Kuzuki. He has some nerve just coming into my life again like nothing has ever happened. I'm afraid that my attitude towards Kuzuki will ruin my relationship with Ash. I want Ash to know how much I care about him. Not that I mean anything by it. Well I do bu-" The Pancham shut her lips with its paw and glared at her.
"Sorry," She apologized as the Pancham let go. Serena then gazed at Ash. If only if there was a way to get him to notice her more without involving Kuzuki into the situation.
"Serena," Bonnie whispered from beside her. "Can you help me clean Swinub?" She asked timidly.
Serena's first instinct was to refuse the offer until she remembered that she still owed Bonnie for the scare the other day. Serena forced a smile.
"Of course Bonnie." With that, the two cleaned the dual type pokemon's cuts and injuries. After they were done Bonnie started petting Swinub in an attempt to wake him up.
"Swinub…." The pig pokemon muttered weakly. Bonnie gasped and hugged the pokemon lightly. She was glad that Kuzuki's pokemon was awake.
"You're okay Swinub!" Serena looked on with mixed emotions. Seeing Bonnie happy made her glad but on the other hand Serena couldn't help but conclude to her previous statement. Kuzuki attacked both Swinub and that Meowth, then stole Pangoro and Pancham for himself. He told Ivysaur to go with them and left Swinub. Left two pokemon for another two. It made sense to her.
"He does have a way to backstab others in the back," Serena spat out bitterly.
"Nub! Nub!" Swinub searched frantically for his trainer. Although not in one hundred percent condition, he could still handle himself.
"If Swinub is awake then that means…" Bonnie was cut off by a screeching voice.
"Twerps!" Both Serena and Bonnie ran to where the others where at. What they saw shocked them.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Meowth was kissing Ash's feet. Everyone gaped at this. Pikachu hopped down from Ash's shoulder and smothered him with questions.
"Hold on there pal. I got to thank my hero for saving me with whatever he made me drink!" Meowth pushed Pikachu aside.
"Actually." Ash rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. "That was one of Kuzuki's herb medicines."
Meowth gasped in realization. "That's right!" Meowth observed his surroundings. "Kuzuki is the one that saved me!" Meowth felt himself grow furious. "Those pesky men. My team…"
Ash was quick to respond. "Meowth, can you tell us what happened? Where is everyone!?"
"I'm afraid I can't tell you much. Those punks got me first," Meowth growled.
"Well, can you at least tell us what you dl know?" Clemont asked. Meowth nodded and sat on the ground.
"Kuzuki and I were watching the Pangoro like we told you mugs after you all left. Jessie and James came by and found me." Meowth hesitated to tell his true motives but felt like had to since he owed Kuzuki. "Jessie, James, and I planned to take the Pangoro."
"What!?"
"Really?!"
"I knew it!" Just as Meowth predicted, the outbursts came left to right.
"Hey! Let me finish!" Everyone calmed down. "As I was saying, I tied Pangoro and Pancham up while Jessie and James battled him and his Blastoise. Before the battle even finished two different electric moves attacked Blastoise. This man came out, called himself Bradshaw. He said that he was some kind of pokemon smuggler and apparently those two had some history."
Serena snorted. "Kuzuki most likely was a smuggler," She remarked in disgust.
"Let Meowth finish his story!" Ash snapped. Serena hung her head down. She was suppose to stop doing that if she wanted to Ash to like her more. Not that she was admitting anything.
"Right. Well the two were about to have a battle until he called for an army of his men! They had us cornered. Each with a pokemon. Team Rocket and Kuzki came to a mutual agreement to work together and fight them off. I'm guessing they wanted me the most because I'm a pretty unique pokemon. They had a Diggersby shoot a mudshot at the back of my head! More attacks hit me, it was a madhouse! If it hadn't been for Kuzuki's quick thinking I would've been done and captured!"
"What did he do?" Ash asked. He had been secretly glad that Serena's prediction wasn't true.
"That lug got his Dartrix to use his Ominous Wind on me. With all the smoke from the attacks those smugglers didn't see me get whisked away to a nearby bush." Meowth scratched his face. "I'm afraid that's as much as I can tell you."
Ash frowned deeply. "That doesn't really help us." Meowth shrugged. "If only if there was some way to know more."
"Tsk." Serena folded her arms and faced away from the group. Ash ignored this and tried to come up with a decent plan.
"Nub! Nub!" Swinub bounced off of Bonnie's arms. The pig pokemon began yapping at Meowth.
"Of course! Slow down! Slow down! Tell me again slowly."
"That's right! Meowth can translate what Swinub says! He was with Kuzuki when all this happened!" Clemont exclaimed.
"Alright you twerps," Meowth began. "I'm only repeating this once so you all better be listening closely." The talking pokemon informed the others. Everyone but Serena nodded.
"Swinub! Nub! Nub! Swinub!"
"So it all started one day when….."
Author's Note: Chapter Four is complete. Sorry for the long wait. As most of you all know, the site was acting nuts so I delayed the chapter. The beginning may've seemed a bit weird because I wasn't sure where the best place to put Kuzuki would be. I loved how the rest turned out though so that's that. Also, Cliffhanger because I'm evil : P. Stay alert for Chapter Five: Past Encounters