Chapter 4 – Frozen on the track

Ash, Pikachu, Cameron and lucario left early the next morning, so at to catch and early train to Santalune City. It was raining and the sky was a miserable grey, although luckily they did not have far to walk to Luminose station.

The station served as the central terminal for Kalos's railway network and was the centre of it's high speed, high efficiency network.

Cameron offered to get each Ash and himself a TMV pass, which would allow them access to any train in the region. Ash, Pikachu and Lucario took the opportunity to look around the station.

They were standing in a very large room linned with ticket windows, shop and restuarants. At the centre of the room was a large clock and a board showing the arriving and departing trains. At the far end of the room were a set of gates beyond which were the platforms.

"Here we go, the train to Santalune City is leaving on platform 9"

Cameron had reappeared holding two TMV passes.

"Awesome. Thanks" said Ash

"thanks" said pikachu

"shall we" said lucario.

They headed to the gates at the far end of the room, swiped the pass on the gate and headed up an escalator to the platform. Unknown to any of they were being closely tailed by three figures wearing suits and dark sunglasses.

"Twerps at 12 o'clock," said James.

"heading onto platform 9" said meowth

"shall we" said Jessie.

The three of them followed passed the gate and onto the platform.

The silver train was waiting on the platform. It was a 15 car high speed unit. At the front and back of the train was a streamlined electric locomotive. The carriages were bi-level. the train was capable of operating at 500km per hour and could seat 1000 adults. It ran on a wider gauge than most other conventional trains. It had no engineer and was operated using an automatic train system similar to that used on the Nimbassa Subway.

Ash, Pikachu Cameron and Lucario boarded the train, and found seats on the upper level of the car. The car was arranged in a three by 2 seating arrangement with restroom and luggage racks at the front and back of each car. The seat were comfortable complete with armrests, footrests, and a fold down table. There were TV monitors along the middle of the ceiling of the car and luggage racks for small bags above the seats

"awesome" said Ash

"Pika"

this certainly beat walking.

Ash took a seat by the window. Cameron sat next to him with his Lucario sitting by the asile. Pikachu, being small was sitting on Ash's lap. This suited Pikachu just fine. Pikapi's lap was much more comfortable that some stupid seat.

Around them, other passangers were taking their seats and stowing luggage, and there was a carriage attendant offering drinks. With all the hussle and bussle none of them noticed three figures in dark suits sit down in the row behind them.

There was a lurch as the train begun to move. Pikachu jumped up in Ash lap, standing on his leg with his front paws against the window looking out as Lumiose station fell behind them. The train headed out of the city on a series of overpasses taking them over roads and over the river and out of the city, gathering speed.

The suburbs of Lumiose begun to rush around them. Pikachu watched in fascination as houses, streets, school and playgrounds rushed by the window. The train followed the river for most of it's journey out of the city and into the badlands. The houses were soon replaced with industrial lots, which gave way to a large red clay plain. There was an announcement over the train's PA system

"This is a Ambrette Town train, running express from Shalour cit to Cyllage Town. The Next station is Coumarine City. Breakfast service will be available until 11 o'clock. Passangers may place their order with the attendant. Thank-you."

"Oh no"

Cameron pulled his headband back and let it go.

SNAP

"owwch"

"Oh Cameron," said Lucario.

"We're on the wrong train" said Ash.

Cameron had trouble with numbers and had confused platform 9 with platform 6, from which the train to Santalume city was departing.

Ash pulled out his pokenav. Sure enough, Santualume city was south of Lumiose and the train was headed east. He signed

'I like Cameron and all. But he is a bit of a scatterbrain' he thought.

"oh well. We'll just have to go to Coumain city instead then" said Pikachu.

"Yeah" said Ash with his usual enthusiam.

Just then a woman wearing a blue attendants outfit and an Ampharos came up to their seats pushing a large trolley serving Tea, coffee, croissants, pastries and buns. There was also food for pokemon.

"Hi, I'm Amy and this is Ampharos. What can we get you"

"just a glass of milk and a roll, please" said Cameron.

"I'll have the same" Ash said. "thanks"

they opened their tray tables so she could pass them the food.

"would your pokemon like to try a pokepuff." Amy Asked.

"Whats a pokepuff," replied Ash.

"there special confections for pokemon. Like a cake. They come in citrus, mocha, spice, mint and sweet, and can either be plain, frosted or with a topping"

"what would you like pikachu"

"errr, Sweet thankyou"

"I'll try mocha" said Lucario.

The attendant placed the two pokepuff onto separate placed and handed them each to Ash and Cameron.

Ash handed the pokepuff to pikachu, who picked it up in his paws and took a bite. It was sweet and moist. Pikachu greatly enjoyed it and begun cramming it greedily into his mouth.

"That good buddy"

"Chuuu"

Lucario had picked up his an begun eating it, savouring it more than pikachu had.

Once finished the pokepuff, pikachu retruned to looking out of the window. The train was still racing through lumiose badlands as it headed north-west towards the coast. It wasn't really much to write home about.

Pikachu quickly found himself becoming tired and Ash was so comfortable. He head back against Ash stomach and closed his eyes. Ash looked down at his mate. He loved watching Pikachu sleep like this. He was just so cute. He gently stroked he mouse with his hand.

After a while the Lumiose badlands became boring and Cameron had falled asleep, leaning on Lucario. He decided to use his headset and watch the TV. The television was nothing special. It was just ordinary TV streamed from the Kalos broadcasting corporation (KBC). It was showing a battle between Shinno champion Cynthia and a member of the Kalos elite four, Malva.

"Pika"

pikachu had woken with a start.

"what's wrong buddy" whispered Ash.

"I feel strange" said Pikachu

"how strange"

"charged. Like there's a current running through my body. And I feel like something's pulling on me. I have an urge to run to something over there"

pikachu pointed to the otherside of the carriage, though ash knew he meant something outside the train.

"are you okay." It was the ampharos assisting the carriage attendants.

"it's okay," it said to pikachu in pokespeak. "we coming up to the Kalos power plant. It creates a magnetic field that attracts electric types. Though I've never felt it this strong before. Don't worry we'll be passing it in a minute and then it'll be gone."

Ash looked over to the window on the opposite side of the train. There was a large concrete structure like a tower.

Pikachu grimaced.

"I feel it too. Don't worry we'll be past soon," said Ampharos reassuringly.

That's when the ATO system commanded the train to stop. The brakes activated and the train came to a grinding halt right infront of the power station. Cameron woke with a start.

"who woke me" he said. "are we there yet"

"No we've just stopped" said Lucario.

Pikachu had falled out of Ash lap and onto the floor when the train had stopped. Disoriented, he had been unable to resist the magnetic pull upon his body and he had walked over to the door at the front of the carriage.

"Pikachu, where are you going"

Ash got up, stumbled over Cameron and Lucario and headed over to Pikachu. Lucario and Cameron followed him.

"what's going on buddy." Ash knelt down next to pikachu.

"Sorry. I don't know what came over me"

"It's the power plant. It produces a magnetic field that attracts electric type pokemon."

It was the carriage attendant Amy.

"what's going on."

Cameron and Lucario had caught up to them.

"I don't know." Said Amy. "The train's automatic. It's not supposed to stop until we reach the station. the ATO is programmed only to stop the train when the line is blocked a single is red. But there's no reason why that should have happened. This is a passanger only line."

"is everything okay here"

a man dressed in a blue suit with a hat had appeared through the doors to the next carriage. This was the conductor. He was holding a walkie talkie.

"Yes sir, everything's okay here. Do you know what's going on"

"I've had a look at the computer. There's no problem the ATO has stopped the trains. I'm trying to contact control to ask."

The passanger's were getting restless. There were angry and disgruntled voices starting to fill the carriage.

"there's nothing to be concerned about. We're just experiencing an unexpected delay. Most likely a there's a train further ahead on the line in the way. Just be patient and we'll be moving again soon."

He turned to Ash, Cameron, Lucario and Pikachu. "I suggest you return to your seats."

"I demand to know what's going on"

A second man had appeared. He was wearing a long trench coat and dark sunglasses.

"Sir, please go back to your seat. Nothing is going on. The ATO has stopped the train" said the conductor.

"may I see the computer" asked the man.

"no, I can't allow that" replied the conductor.

Pikachu stared at the man with a quizzical look in his face. "pika"

"huh, Pikachu"

"oh nothing Ash. I could just swear I recognise that guy's scent"

Team Rocket had also been relaxing and for the most part enjoying the trip when the train had stopped.

"we're inert. That's odd" said James

"unless we're stopping to hug a few trees I agree" replied Jessie.

"heh. This is an express. We're not supposed to stop" said meowth.

Jessie then got an idea.

"I know, why don't we go and poach pikachu while everyone's confused"

"great Idea Jess," said James.

"You gotta strike while the iron is hot. And now it's so hot it's about to melt" said meowth.

The three got up and moved towards the doors at the opposite end of the car from were the conductor was, just as Ash and company returned to their seats.

Ash sat stroking Pikachu reassuringly. The magnetic field was making the mouse restless.

"it's okay buddy, just calm down."

"Yeah Pikachu. You heard the conductor. We'll be out of here very soon" said Cameron cheerfully.

"maybe there's something I can do" said lucario.

He placed his paw on Pikachu. It glowed green for a moment. Pikachu felt a waive of relief wash over him.

"I've placed an aura shield around you. It'll stop the magnetic pull"

"Thank-you" said Pikachu

"Thanks Lucario" said Ash.

"Pleasure"

of course, Pikachu's troubles were far from over. Just then a mechanical hand broke through the glass and grabbed Pikachu.

"Pika"

"NO PIKACHU"

Pikachu had been pulled out of the broken window of the train. Ash looked out the window to see Pikachu Pulled into a large orange cylinder attached to the bottom of none other than team rocket's balloon.

Amy, Ampharos and the conductor had heard the commotion and rushed over.

"What do you think your doing,"

"prepare for Trouble" said Jessie. "Frozen on your track"

"and make it double" said James "your mate Pikachu's not coming back"

"To protect the world from devastation"

"To unite the people within our nation"

"to denounce the evils of truth and love"

"To extend our reach to the stars above"

"it's Jessie"

"and It's James"

"Team Rocket Blasts off at the speed of light"

"surrender now or prepare to fight"

"Meowth that right" the cat added gleefully finishing the motto.

"Wobberfett"

"TEAM ROCKET" shouted Ash in a fit of rage.

"Not you again" added Cameron.

"give pikachu back right now or you'll be sorry" said Lucario in a threatening voice.

"spew your nonsense when your asleep" said Jessie.

"We'll give them back just as soon as you grow up" said James.

"if you really think we'd give Pikachu up just when things are going our way, you don't deserve him in the first place" said Meowth.

"Perhaps Pikachu can find a boyfriend with a few extra brain cells" taunted James.

"Twerps can be so down when we're in the up" said Jessie.

"YUP"

"The world is much better when we're in the big time" they sang in unison.

"Wobber Wobber"

"Why the nerve. How dare you do this to my passangers," said the conductor.

"Let us not forget that we were you passangers too, Choo Choo chuckle head" replied Jessie.

"And in this world the customer's always's right" added James

"We just switched to a ride with a little more kick" said Meowth as the balloon begun to leave.

"Ampharos, get back Pikachu at once. Use signal beam"

Ampharos shot a beam of white light from the gem on it's forehead through the window at team rocket.

"Go Inkay"

James threw the pokeball containing his newly caught Inkay, which appeared before them in a burst of white light.

"use psybeam"

Inkay shot a wave of different colours, which collided with the signal beam preventing the attack reaching the balloon. The balloon drifted over the carriage.

"OH NO YOU DON'T"

Ash ran up the asile and to the door, closely followed by Cameron and lucario. He pulled the emergency exit lever, which opened the door and the three of them jumped out of the carriage.

"Lucario, Aura sphere"

Lucario put it's paws together and concentrated a ball of aura which it sent flying at the balloon.

"Inkay use protect"

A green glow begun to eminate from Inkay's body. The Aura sphere hit it but did no damage.

"hahahahahaahah" the trio laughed.

"you'll have to do better than that it you want your buddy back taughed meowth.

"yeah. Well I don't have a problem with that. Chazard I choose you"

"why did you open your big mouth Mewoth" Yelled Jessie angrily as Charzard emerged from it's pokeball.

"Do something," said James.

"Charzard use flamethrower"

"Oh no you don't" said Jessie. She pulled a pokeball off her belt and threw it. "Go Yanmega use silverwind"

Charzard spat his flame at the balloon only to have it blow away by the force of Yanmega's silver wind.

"Get up close and use slash to cut them down" Ash commanded.

Charzard took off heading straight for the balloon.

"Yanmega use ancient power"

Yanmega's ancient power made a direct a direct hit on charzard knocking him back.

"alright Hydreigon"

Cameron sent out his most powerful pokemon, Hydreigon.

"Dragon pulse"

the Brutal pokemon opened the mouths on it's smaller heads and sent two green orbs at Team rocket. They hit Inkay and Yanmega knocking them back at the balloon.

"Charzard quickly use flamethrower" commanded Ash seizing his opportunity.

The flames hit the top of the balloon causing it to burst. The rush of escaping air caused it to blow away towards the power station.

"Ash"

The conductor and ampharos had jumped off the train and caught up with them.

"Where's team rocket"

"We burst their balloon, but it landed over there" Ash said pointing to the power station.

"I'm going after them"

"I've contacted control and they said they can get the train moving again. I'm afraid we're leaving in a moment and you need to get back on the train. We can phone the police and report Pikachu stolen," he said

"No" said Ash. "If they get away I might never see Pikachu again. I can't bear to be apart from him. I have to help him. You go on without me."

And with that, Ash ran towards the power station.

"hold on Ash. We're coming with you"

Cameron and Lucario hastily followed Ash with Charzard and Hydreigon taking off after them. The conductor and ampharos returned to the train. No one notice the man with the sunglasses who had demaned to see the computer leave the train and head towards the power station.