Chapter 4: Cacnea's Farewell!? Learn Drain Punch!
Last time on "Pokémon Sinnoh Journey", the group have arrived in Emeragrove Town, where they reunited with Gardenia, the Eterna Gym Leader. That was when Team Rocket arrived, interrupting the moment. Gardenia managed to stop this, however, when she suggested a Tag Battle with James and herself against Ash and Hikaru.
James grew hesitant, but with the kids insulting him, he accepted, with Ash and Hikaru accepting as well. It was Cacnea and Turtwig against Luxio and Aipom. As the battle went on, Cacnea was able to use Drain Punch the first time, but failed in the second and third tries.
Gardenia explained to James about his lack of perfect sync with Cacnea, part of the reason why Drain Punch didn't work again. She suggested to James for her to train Cacnea for herself leaving James to think and to decide.
Team Rocket was on the hill, watching Emeragrove Town on higher grounds. James and Cacnea sat in front of Meowth and Jessie, thinking. Jessie, for a few moments, grew irritated with the male Team Rocket member. "Those two sad sacks! They are pathetic!" Jessie scoffed.
She got up and stomped over to James. "Snap out of it! Don't let that grassy know-it-all bum you out!" Jessie snapped. James only gave a reassuring smile. "Jess. She's not bumming me a bit!" James lied. Jessie wasn't convinced with it, though.
"Tell the truth! You're actually thinking of giving Cacnea to that goofy Gym Leader, aren't you!?" Jessie shrieked. James looked down and sighed. "Come on! That's just crazy talk!... I think..." James muttered. Jessie twitched with that. "You think!? There's one thing that Team Rocket's definitely not, and that's charity!" Jessie shrieked.
"Always thinking about the bottom line..." Meowth sighed in disappointment. "Cacnea! Cac Cac!" Cacnea called. "Cacnea says it wants to learn how to use Drain Punch!" Meowth translated. James grew surprised with that. "Cacnea!" Cacnea demanded. "Hey, you're right! If you do Drain Punch, we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place!" Meowth agreed.
"Of course! Alright then! Let's train!" James called. "Cacnea!" Cacnea agreed. The Grass Type was determined to learn the Fighting Type move. Just then, Jessie looked by. It was the group walking by! "I know those twerpish outlines anywhere!" Jessie snapped.
The group stopped to see Team Rocket, as they grew confused. "Team Rocket?" Ash asked. "They just won't leave!" Dawn grumbled. "They're always like this. Imbeciles." Hikaru muttered, sighing. "Ferno." Monferno agreed with disappointment. With that, Jessie had an idea.
"I've got an idea!" Jessie explained. "Spit it out!" Meowth demanded. "If we could partner he twerps to train, we could get Cacnea to learn Drain Punch and a slow of outer stuff!" Jessie explained. Meowth seemed to get the idea as he smirked. "Sure enough!" Meowth agreed. The two began to laugh silently.
Later, James began his training with Cacnea. Ash, Hikaru, Dawn, Brock, Jessie, and Meowth watched the training begin. "Alright! Are we ready to learn!?" James called. "Cacnea!" Cacnea nodded. "Alright! Cacnea! Use Drain Punch!" James yelled. Cacnea punched his fist in the air.
But, Drain Punch didn't show! Cacnea looked at his fist in confusion. "Cacnea! One more time! Use Drain Punch!" James called. Cacnea aimed his fist again, hoping to succeed. But, once again, Drain Punch didn't show. Ash sweat dropped as he looked. "Uh... I guess this means they're doing some special Drain Punch training." Ash muttered.
"Even Team Rocket does things the right way, once in a while!" Dawn stated. Jessie and Meowth both side glared at Dawn. "Excuse me! But, we've done lots of right things once in a while!" Jessie retorted. Hikaru narrowed his eyes at that. "And what would those right things be?" Hikaru asked.
Brock folded his arms and observed. "Well, whatever the truth is, this is one of them." Brock stated. James and Cacnea continued on, as Canea began to pant. "Practice makes perfect! One more time!" James called. Cacnea panter as it gave one last punch in the air.
The results were the same, as Drain Punch didn't show. "Dear me..." James sighed. Cacnea followed with a sigh in disappointment. "Sad... It's just so hard to find a good training partner these days!" Jessie said sarcastically. "Now what's for a Pokémon to do?" Meowth asked, sighing.
The two sighed again as they slumped down. Brock, Ash, and Dawn seemed to get the problem as well. "Hey, Pikachu! Why don't you and I help them train, too?" Ash asked. Hikaru and Momferno looked at the two, in surprise. "Say! Aren't you kind?" Jessie asked sweetly.
"Mighty big are you twerps... I mean, folks!" Meowth stuttered. The two smiled, knowing that their plan was starting to work. Hikaru was starting to get suspicious. "Hold on, Ash. If we were to help them, we'd be helping an enemy, don't you think?" Hikaru asked, folding his arms.
"Hey, come on, Hikaru! It's our job to help anybody who is serious about training their Pokémon the right way!" Ash explained, smiling in reassurance. "Pikachu!" Pikachu agreed. Hikaru sighed in disappointment, as he rubbed the back of his head. "I guess so... But this is Team Rocket we're talking about..." Hikaru muttered.
"Monferno..." Monferno agreed sadly. "Your kindness has no bounds!" James cried. He and Cacnea began to pour their tears out in joy, like a fountain. With that, Ash and Pikachu faced James and Cacnea in the field of grass for a practice battle. "Alright! Are you ready to go, Cacnea?" Ash asked.
"Cacnea!" Cacnea agreed. "Okay! Just remember Gardenia said that you were strong! Got it? So, if you add some more movement to your Needle Arm, I bet you will pull off Drain Punch!" Ash explained. "We've got it!" James agreed. Ash then started the battle. "Pikachu! Use Quick Attack!" Ash yelled.
James: Cacnea VS Ash: Pikachu
Pikachu charged towards Cacnea as James grew prepared. "Needle Arm!" James called. Cacnea countered Quick Attack with the Grass Type move. The two attacks met, but Needle Arm had overpowered a little. Both Cacnea and Pikachu was recoiled back, skidding back to their trainers.
"Come on, Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!" Ash called. Pikachu flew back and shot the Electric Type move at Cacnea. "Quick, Cacnea! Dodge it!" James called. Cacnea narrowly dodged Thunderbolt. The move instead shocked James. James yelled in pain and shock as he fell down, twitching.
"Nice dodge... Needle Arm again..." James called. Cacnea shot back towards Pikachu, which Ash countered on. "Iron Tail!" Ash called. Pikachu shot forward, using the Steel Type move. Once again, the two attacks met, but Needle Arm overpowered Iron Tail! Pikachu was sent tumbling in front of Ash.
"Pikachu!" Ash gasped. Hikaru, Dawn, and Brock gasped as well. "Wow! It's working! That Needle Arm is getting stronger, one hit at a time!" Brock exclaimed. James saw his chance to make another move. "Alright, Cacnea! With the same gusto, use Drain Punch!" James called.
Cacnea aimed his fist towards Pikachu. His fist started to flow, like in the battle before. But suddenly, Drain Punch was stopped as Cacnea tripped. He slid across the grass, sliding besides Pikachu. Pikachu asked Canea if he was alright or not. James gave a deep sigh. "Oh dear... Down we go..." James muttered.
"I thought that it might've been a success, but I guess it wasn't!" Hikaru admitted. "Not quite. The timing is still bad. And the trainer's commands are not much better!" Brock stated. That's when James slumped down, in despair. Brock sweat dropped, trying to reassure with James.
"Uh... It's nothing personal. I swear!" Brock assured.
Later...
As sent out Chimchar, as James sent out Carnivine. The two helped out Cacnda, being practice targets. Cacnea began to practice his punching, as he tried to make enough power for Drain Punch. "Looking good, Cacnea! Right, left!" James cheered. Pikachu and Monferno also cheered for Cacnea as well.
"You know, if they keep working Cacnea's arm power and speed, I'm sure it'll be using Drain Punch in no time!" Ash exclaimed, grinning. "You sure about that? This is the third attempt they're using to make Drain Punch." Hikaru asked. "Course I'm sure!" Ash replied, smiling.
"Maybe... And we'll be regretting it in no time..." Dawn laughed nervously. "Keep it up, Cacnea! Awesome!" Ash called. Cacnea kept on punching Carnivine and Chimchar's hand, trying to build up some more power. As Cacnea punched, it accidentally punched Chimhar, causing him to fall on his back.
Monferno helped Chimchar up, much to Chimchar's thanks. "Cacnea, now! Twist your arm and punch!" James called. Cacnea did its move, making its punch on Carnivine's leafy hand. As it punched, it looked it was a success. But, Drain Punch vanished again, after for a few seconds.
Cacnea slumps down, as Chimchar, Monferno, and Carnivine looked at Cacnea, feeling sorry for it. "Ugh... And still no cigar." James groaned, slumping down as well.
It was sunset as both James and Cacnea sat, watching the sunset. James was having some thoughts to himself. The group, Jessie and Meowth watched the two feeling bad. "What a shame... He's even more pathetic than a few hours ago!" Jessie sighed. "Though, with James, it's not news worthy." Meowth added.
"He's taking it hard!" Dawn sighed. "This all started when I asked him if he was serious of giving Cacnea over to that "potted" Gym Leader. And then, wham." Jessie explained. Everyone looked back at James, as the male Team Rocket member made some thoughts about Gardenia's words.
"It's always the same... Nothing ever changes..." James thought. "What I'd like to do, is to take on your Cacnea, and train it for myself!" Gardenia's words echoed in his mind. James gave a sigh, deciding whether it was a good idea or not for Cacnea. He looked back at the sunset.
"How am I supposed to measure that kind of Grass Type expertise? I'm in Team Rocket... One of the bad guys! She's a Gym Leader!... And it's not just learning Drain Punch... If she took you under her wing... You'd become a stronger Pokémon than I could ever make you..." James thought.
"If you stay with me... Perhaps you'll never be happy... Or fulfilled... Maybe she could give you a better life than I can give you!..." James thought, feeling sad about it. "Cacnea!" Cacnea called, looking at James. "Oh... It is a magnificent sunset..." James agreed, looking back.
Just then, James immediately got up, facing Cacnea. "How about some more special training?" James suggested. "Cacnea!" Cacnea agreed. James then turned to face the group. "Hey! I could use a hand over here!" James called. Ash grinned as he nodded. "Sure! But this time..." Ash started.
Hikaru interrupted before Ash could finish. "Luxio will be your opponent, next!" Hikaru interrupted. He turned to Ash, to see if it was okay or not. Ash grew unsure, until he nodded. "Sure thing! Alright! Luxio will be facing you this time!" Ash called. Then, Brock turned to see who was coming.
"Gardenia!" Brock called. James frowned as the Eterna Gym Leader came by. "Oh... It's you..." James muttered. "I thought I'd find you here doing some extra training! So, how's it going?" Gardenia asked. James began to sweat on that. "Oh... It's going great... Perfect!" James exclaimed.
"Do you mind if I stay and watch?" Gardenia asked. James grew hesitant with that, before agreeing.
Later, Hikaru and James prepared for a battle. Hikaru sent out Luxio, was ready for battle. "Lux!" Luxio growled. "This time for sure!" James called. He began the battle with his first move.
James: Cacnea VS Hikaru: Luxio
"Cacnea! Needle Arm! Let's go!" James called. Cacnea charged at Luxio for the Needle Arm Attack. "Luxio! Iron Tail!" Hikaru called. Luxio ran to strike ith Iron Tail. However, Cacnea dodged it, and hit Luxio with the Grass Type Attack. "(!)" Hikaru gasped in surprise. "That Needle Arm has gone from wimp to bomb!" Meowth exclaimed.
"So, here comes Drain Punch!" Jessie shrieked, feeling excited. Gardenia remains silent, as she watched. "Now, Cacnea! Use Needle Arm one more time, and transform it into Drain Punch!" James called. Cacnea charged again, ready for some more. It used Needle Arm again.
Hikaru wasn't going to have it, though. "I don't think so! Luxio! Intercept with Spark!" Hikaru called. Luxio swiftly dodged Neede Arm, before slamming Cacnea away with Spark. James gasped in surprise. "Ever hear the thing called timing!?" Jessie scolded. "Oh, funny!" James retorted.
"Luxio! Iron Tail, let's go!" Hikaru called. Luxio ran to strike with the Steel Type move once more. "Cacnea, dodge it!" James called. Cacnea evaded Iron Tail, as he flew into the air. "Now! Needle Arm!" James called. Luxio grew startled, as she was slammed to the air by Needle Arm!
"Alright! Now, let's try Drain Punch!" James called. Cacnea ran and focused on the move. The fist started to glow! Team Rocket prepared to see for success. "Here we go!" Jessie called. "Could this be it!?" Meowth asked. But, to their dismay, it wasn't. Cacnea lost Drain Punch's power!
Luxio dodged, causing Cacnea to bash into a rock. "Ugh... It's no use." James sighed. "Don't be too sure!" Gardenia calle. James looked up, to see that Cacnea glaring at Luxio. "You're alright!... So! Use Drain Punch, Cacnea!" James called. Cacnea shot into the air, getting ready to use Drain Punch.
"Luxio! Counter with Spark!" Hikaru called. Cacnea's Drain Punch was drained again, as Luxio smashed Cacnea to the ground. Everyone watched as Cacnea attempted to try again. But, time passed as Cacnea was hit by Iron Tail and Spark, multiple times! Everyone watched as Cacnea fell to the ground, losing.
James watched in despair. "Ah... My dear Cacnea... Kh!" James grunted, not wanting to look as Cacnea dragged his feet to keep battling. Luxio only watched as Cacnea trudged towards her. As Cacnea tried again, James ran over and stopped him. "Enough..." James called.
Hikaru blinked in surprise as James held the bruised and beaten Cacnea up. Ash, Dawn, Brock, Jessie, Gardenia, and Meowth watched as James had forfeited the battle. "Cacnea... That's enough... It's over. You did your very best." James called. Hikaru sighed as he took out Luxio's Pokéball.
Hikaru: Winner!
"Luxio, return. Thanks for a great battle." Hikaru thanked. "Xio." Luxio purred as she was returned to her Pokéball. James placed Cacnea down as he began to walk away. Cacnea tried to follow, but James stopped him. "Cacnea, stay away." James called. Cacnea blinked in shock.
Jessie and Meowth grew shocked as well. "What do you think you're doing?" Jessie asked. She knew of what James was planning to do. "What the... What's wrong with him?" Ash asked. "You don't think he's..." Hikaru started, but Brock shook his head, stopping Hikaru from finishing his words.
"Remember what you said? About Cacnea... Having high hopes?" James asked. "Sure. And I still do." Gardenia answered. "Cacnea." Cacnea called to James. James turned away, looking at the sunset. "Cacnea. Here's where we part. Please, go with the Gym Leader." James asked.
Cacnea, Jessie, and Meowth were shocked and surprised. "But, James!?" Jessie called. "What do you think you're doing!?" Meowth shouted. "Cacnea needs a great trainer to use Drain Punch... But... That's not me..." James explained, stammering. He turned to Cacnea and trembled.
"You've got to go, Cacnea! To be your best!" James called. Cacnea grew teary eyed, as he began to plead with James to reconsider. "No! Go away!" James demanded. Cacnea grew sad for a while... Before making a determined face. "Cacnea!" Cacnea exclaimed. James let out a small smile.
He took out Cacnea's Pokéball, preparing to return him. "That's my Cacnea... I'll always treasure our times together... The hard times... And the joyous times, too!..." James thought. He took one last look a Cacnea before returning him to his Pokéball. "Return... And goodbye." James thought.
As Cacnea was returned to his Pokéball, James took one glance at it. He pictured that Cacnea was still with him. "Oh, Cacnea..." Jessie sighed, feeling sorry for James. James then walked over to Gardenia, handing her Cacnea's Pokéball. "Take care of Cacnea." James requested.
Gardenia grew surprised. "That means... It's all right?" Gardenia asked. "Yes..." James agreed, handing Gardenia the Pokéball. "I swear... Cacnea will be raised well!" Gardenia promised. "I know..." James sighed. He then ran away, heading down the hill. "James!? Where are you going!?" Jessie shrieked.
"Wait for us!" Jessie called. "Slow down!" Meowth called. The group watched as Team Rocket was out of sight, rather than being blasted off.
The next day...
"Stay well, everybody!" Gardenia called. "You too!" The four trainers called. "See you later!" Brock called. The four trainers made their leave. No one noticed taht Team Rocket was spying on them. James was mostly looking at Cacnea. "Cacnea... Good luck, my friend... And take care..." James whispered.
And so, James has come to the conclusion that Cacnea must be with Gardenia in order to be come strong. What will occur after this chapter? What will happen to James now? Stay tuned to find out!
To be continued...
Hikaru's Team:
Monferno: (M): (Flamethrower, Flame Wheel, Mach Punch, Fury Swipes)
Luxio: (F): (Thunder Fang, Spark, Iron Tail, Hidden Power)
Leafeon: (F): (Magical Leaf, Iron Tail, Synthesis, Shadow Ball)
Buizel: (M): (Aqua Jet, Water Gun, Ice Beam, Swift)
Dratini: (M): (Dragon Rage, Twister, Wrap, Thunder Wave)
Kirlia: (F): (Psychic, Shock Wave, Magical Leaf, Teleport)