Chapter-4: The Lust I- O'er the Rampardos We Watched! Dark Reprisal

Ash was suddenly awakened by Infernape's call. Zoey slowly got up as she saw Ash quickly got dressed.

"Ash, what's wrong?" Zoey asked in concern.

"I don't know, Zoey, but, something's got Infernape all riled up. I'm going to check it out."

"Be careful, Ash!" Zoey called out as Ash left the hot spring.

As Ash was heading towards Infernape, he had a feeling that Aggron was somewhere close by. He knew that he had to fight it to escape this treacherous cave. He spotted Infernape thirty yards away from the hot spring. It noticed Ash and pointed towards the path they got here on. Ash listened carefully to what Infernape heard.

"Parrrrr!"

"Rampar!"

Ash's eyes widen, "Was that Rampardos I just heard?" He listened again, just to be sure.

"Ramparrr!"

"Parrrr!"

It is Rampardos! Two of them and they are close by! Ash quickly ran back towards the hot spring with Infernape in tow. He made it back to see Zoey already dressed and ready to go. She noticed the panic and fear in Ash's face.

"What is it, Ash?" Zoey asked.

"We got company! Two Rampardos are heading this way!" Ash replied quickly.

"Are you sure?"

Ash nodded, "We need to get moving. Once we find a place that is wide enough to be like a battlefield, we can take them on!"

"But, Ash..." Zoey was about to protest when Ash pressed his finger on her lips.

"Zoey, I fought Rampardos before. Trust me, Zoey, we can take 'em!"

Zoey looked at Ash's fierce determination in his eyes. She suddenly remembered the Coal Badge he won from Roark of Oreburgh City. He told her about Roark's Rampardos and how strong it truly was. Had it not been for Ash's quick thinking, he would have lost to Roark for a second time. If Ash beat a Rampardos once, he will sure as heck do it a second time!

"Ash, you never cease to amaze me!" Zoey said, earning a grin from Ash.

"Thanks, Zoey-" Ash turned to hear the two Rampardos roar again.

Ash quickly grabbed Zoey by the arm, "Let's move!"

With that, the two went deeper into the cave, hoping to lure those Rampardos into a trap.

Ivan felt the vibrations from his scientists' Rampardos down below. He grinned as he soon knew it was about to be all over for those two annoying kids.

"Try as they like, they are no match against those Rampardos," Ivan said aloud.

Zoey and Ash followed Infernape as they headed towards another part of the cave. The path was now becoming wider; meaning another section of the cave was near. As they finally made it there, it caused Ash and Zoey to be amazed.

The whole area looked like a small stadium, almost like what a Pokémon Gym would look like. This would be a perfect place for them to fight.

Ash looked around and smiled, "Looks like this use to be a Gym here or something."

"Seems that way," Zoey nodded in agreement, "if we weren't being chased by wild Rampardos, I think this would be a great place to train here."

Ash smiled, but then he turned to hear the two Rampardos once again.

"Here they come, Zoey!" Ash called out.

The Top Coordinator pulled out two Poké Balls, "Gallade, Mismagius, curtain!"

Ash pull out a Poké Ball of his own, "Torterra, I choose you!"

One by one, Zoey's Gallade, her Mismagius, Ash's Infernape and his Torterra stood in a line behind their masters as they await the two Rampardos. The Rampardos did show up moments later, but what surprised Ash and Zoey was that two people jumped off both of their Rampardos and stared at the two trainers.

"So, we were right," a blue haired female scientist said, "they did survive Aggron's attack."

"I guess it was our mistake that we did not finish you off sooner," the red haired male scientist said, "I guess we'll dispose of you guys quickly."

Ash's eyes narrowed, "Wait a minute! Are you saying that Aggron, the Pokémon that attacked Zoey and me...was yours?"

"No, it was our master's Aggron. He sent Aggron after you because you were a threat to our plans," the female replied.

"What plans? What did we ever do to you guys?" Ash asked angrily.

The male scientist smiled, "Come now, boy, do the names, 'Butch and Cassidy,' ring a bell?"

It finally it Ash like a ton of bricks, "Team Rocket!"

"So, you know them after all. Very good, but to tell you the truth, our master in charge of this project is more dangerous than you can comprehend."

Ash and Zoey's eyes widen in horror at those words.

"Clyde, you talk too much!" the female scientist complained.

The man named Clyde smiled, "I guess you're right, Bonnie. It's time to begin..."

With that, the two Rampardos charged forward.

"They're attacking without receiving commands?" Zoey asked in complete surprise.

Bonnie smiled, "Just watch and be amazed."

Both Rampardos opened their mouths and blew out a column of red-orange flames towards the group.

"Gallade, use Psycho Cut!" Zoey yelled.

Gallade's blade-like arms began to glow blue, and started to fire multiple blue circles at theduo Flamethrower, causing the two attacks to collide into one big explosion. The two Rampardos emerged from the smoke and began to head straight for Gallade.

"Infernape, Mach Punch! Stop those Rampardos in their tracks!" Ash called out.

Infernape charged at the rampaging Rampardos, its fist glowing light blue. The first Rampardos came after Ash's Infernape, but Infernape was more agile, connecting the Mach Punch right at the first Rampardos' face, sending it crashing towards the second Rampardos.

"No, how dare you!" Clyde cursed, noticing the spiral eyes the first Rampardos had.

"Wow, his Rampardos went down fast!" Zoey said in amazement.

Ash smiled, "That was a lucky shot, now we can take out her Rampardos with little problem."

"TERRA!"

Ash turned around to see Bonnie's Rampardos, back on its feet, smashing its head right at his Torterra.

"Torterra, use Energy Ball!" Ash called out quickly.

Torterra began to charge up the attack, but Bonnie's Rampardos slammed into Torterra with a brutal Headbutt Attack, causing Torterra's Energy Ball to be disrupted.

"Torterra, NO!" Ash cried out.

"Torterra, YES!" Bonnie mocked, "Now finish the job!"

Her Rampardos complied and was about to attack when suddenly it's body was lifted up in the sky.

"What is this trickery you are pulling?" Bonnie screamed.

Zoey smiled, "Did you forget me?"

Bonnie and Clyde looked at the coordinator in shock.

"When Infernape took out your first Rampardos, you all focused on Ash and did not pay any attention to me. That was your biggest mistake."

Gallade, using Psychic, thrust its hand forward causing Bonnie's Rampardos to fall down onto the ground.

Bonnie cursed under her breath, "How dare you! We'll finish you for good!"

Bonnie's Rampardos got up again and was about to attack, when suddenly...

"Bonnie, Clyde, fall back!" a voice boomed on their radios.

Bonnie grabbed her radio and spoke in protest, "But, sir! We still haven't finished them off yet!"

"BONNIE! NEVER QUESTION MY ORDERS!"

Clyde sighed, "Understood, sir."

Bonnie looked at her partner, "Are you serious, Clyde? Master Ivan wants us to leave them alone?"

"If Master Ivan calls us back, it must be very important for him to call us. It is unwise to question him," Clyde replied, recalling his Rampardos in his Poké Ball.

Bonnie sighed and recalled her Rampardos back. The two scientists started to walk away when Ash called out.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Ash demanded.

"That is none of your concern," Clyde replied as he and Bonnie soon walked away.

Ash clenched his fist as Zoey tried to calm him down.

"Ash..." Zoey said calmly.

Ash smiled sadly, "Guess we never finished that fight. Didn't we?"

Zoey nodded, "I have to say, they were tough. If that first Rampardos didn't go down, we would have been in major trouble."

"Yeah..." Ash replied silently.

Zoey waited until Ash faced her again, "Now what do we do?"

"Finding a way out of here!" Ash said happily as his and Zoey's Pokémon agreed.

Zoey smiled, "All right everyone, return!"

"You all deserve a rest!" Ash said as they all recalled their Pokémon back.

Once they were all set, Ash and Zoey headed further into the cave in hopes of finding a way out. Their battle may have ended in a no contest, Ash and Zoey both must be prepared to face Ivan, when the situation arises...

Ivan calmly watched as he could sense Ash and Zoey go further into the cave. He scowled in anger.

"Those two sure are an annoying bunch! Oh, well...I guess Aggron and I will have to deal with them ourselves!" With those words, he got up and began to leave the makeshift lab.

Chapter-4: END

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