By rion21
A/N: Okay! Update! First and foremost, I'd like to thank all of those who've read and appreciated my story. This chapter is relatively shorter than the last two, but I hope you'd enjoy it nonetheless. Read on and tell me what you think!
Chapter 7
Old Enemies
The sound of footsteps and rustling leaves broke the silence of the forest located in the outskirts of Petalburg City. Two figures flitted past the trees and shrubbery, both of them clad in black, with biker helmets strapped on their heads.
"Stop right there thieves!!"
On the trail was Petalburg's own Officer Jenny, accompanied by a dependable looking Growlithe and a handful of other lower ranking police officers. The pair made a great leap for the branches. The smaller thief grew long claws, which it used to cut down an invisible piece of string.
FWOOOSH!!
"Look out!" yelled Officer Jenny, although a little too late.
BLAG!!
The thieves had sprung a well placed trap consisting of a huge log masterfully hidden inside one of the trees. It swooped down and nailed not less than six people in one shot, reducing the pursuers into a mere eighth of their previous number. The remaining officers stopped to help the injured, while Officer Jenny and her Growlithe chased on.
"You're not getting away!" Officer Jenny called out in warning. "Growlithe, Flamethrower! Go!"
"Growww—LITHE!"
"Two can play at dat game!" The smaller thief shot back, summoning a ball of black energy. "Take dis! Shadow Ball!"
The black glob of energy collided with the burst of flame, canceling each other out. Growlithe attacked again and again, always being countered by the smaller thief. The taller thief pulled out a throwing knife from her boot and chucked it towards another tree, hitting another invisible string.
"Gotcha!"
Click!
"What the---?"
"GRRRRWWW!!"
Without warning, a huge net sprang up from the ground, effectively catching both Officer Jenny and her Growlithe. The taller thief quickly pulled out a remote control and pressed something on it, making the net quickly tighten itself around both captives. The thieves laughed in delight.
"Now for the disappearing act!" The tall thief said, throwing out a Pokeball. "Seviper! Haze attack!"
"Seeeeeviper!" The Pokemon hissed, spewing out a thick cloud of smoke as soon as it came out, causing the captives to close their eyes and cough.
While Officer Jenny struggled her way out of the net, her Growlithe tried to gnaw on it. With a few more tries, the net gave way, and the two fell on the ground hard. Not long after, the smoke cleared. The two thieves apparently vanished.
"I can't believe they got away again!" Officer Jenny exclaimed in frustration. "Let's go Growlithe! They couldn't have gotten far!"
"Growwwrr!"
After the coast was clear, the pair of thieves reappeared from behind the bushes. Right on cue, both of them took off their helmets, revealing none other than Jessie and Meowth.
"Dat Repel prototype we stole last time was woith it!" Meowth exclaimed with glee. "Growlithe didn't even sniff us out!"
"This was even more worth the thrill," Jessie interjected, revealing their loot. It was a whole bag of jewels. "I'm gonna put these on the dress I'm preparing for the next contest!"
"Yous sure have dat winning streak lately," Meowth complimented, flinging its leather jacket on the floor. "How many ribbons have you collected so far?"
"Three and proud of it!" Jessie bragged, tossing her attire over Meowth's while quickly changing into casual clothes. "Get rid of these quick so we can get our lunch already."
"I hear ya," Meowth replied, instantly reducing the used clothes into shreds by using a flurry of Slash attacks. Just to make sure, it then fired a Shadow Ball at the torn clothes, blasting them into nothing. "Just don't foiget to cash in some of dose diamonds for the dough we're gonna need ta---"
"SHHH!!"
The sudden sound of footsteps and voices prompted Jessie to grab Meowth and clasp her hands on its mouth; the Pokemon frantically gagged and flailed in response. She only tightened her grip on it as the voices grew louder.
"Last one there's a rotten Exeggcute!" exclaimed an all-too-familiar voice.
Jessie immediately let go of Meowth and the pair glanced in disbelief at each other before finally deciding to peek into the bushes. There, on the road, their eyes rested upon a trainer, a coordinator and a Pikachu they knew all too well.
"For old times' sake?" Meowth inquired, a grin forming on its face.
"For old times' sake." Jessie agreed as the two vanished into the thicket of the shrubbery.
It was almost noon when May and Ash found themselves in a familiar forest road leading to Petalburg City. They would be there in no time; most of the city buildings are already visible over the horizon.
"I can see rooftops from here!" Ash exclaimed, squinting to get a better view of the city ahead. He then gave a mocking sideway glance at May. "Then again, we could have gotten there earlier if somebody hadn't slept in late."
"Can it, Ash," May countered good-naturedly. "But then again, I am getting pretty hungry."
"You just ate," Ash teased, eyeing May. "Maybe all that fat and nutrition goes to your---"
Ash's stomach growled before he completed his sentence, causing him to blush and giving May a good laugh.
"Guess your stomach just turned on you," May shot back with a smirk.
"Yeah, yeah, you win," Ash said in defeat, rubbing his tummy. "The sooner we get there, the better."
May kept stealing glances at Ash. Something in her gut told her that there was still something wrong with him. Sure he seemed to be back to his normal self, but deep inside, it still felt that something was different. She just couldn't quite place what it was.
"I wonder how Max and your parents are doing?" Ash asked, catching May a little off-guard.
"O-oh! I'm sure they're fine."
"Really? That's good to hear. Right Pikachu?"
"Pikaaa…"
May stopped walking when she noticed that Pikachu seemed to be feeling down. She distinctly remembered a saying that Pokemon sometimes act and feel the same way their trainers do. May pondered on this, further confirming her beliefs. She just had to do something…
"Ash?"
"Yeah?"
"Uhm… Are you… okay?" May slowly asked. Ash would always tell her if something bothered him. She didn't really know why she was nervous.
"What do you mean?" Ash asked back, looking over his shoulder, prompting Pikachu to hop off.
"Well… I just wondered if you wanted to talk about… You know…" May continued as Ash stopped and turned to look at her.
"I'm fine, really," Ash lied, giving May a smile that failed to convince her.
"Ash… I know you…" May began, walking towards him and placing both of her hands on his shoulders. She attempted to peer into his jet-black orbs, but Ash only tried to avoid eye contact. "And you know me just as well. You can talk to me about anything, right?"
Ash didn't respond. May continued to search his face for an answer, but Ash's eyes were barely visible under the hem of his hat. Pichu took its cue to jump off May's head, landing beside Pikachu. Slowly but surely, May rested a hand on Ash's cheek. He winced and took a step backward at her touch.
"Last one there's a rotten Exeggcute!" Ash suddenly exclaimed, spinning on his heel and started to sprint towards the city.
"Ash…" May murmured, before following suit. Pikachu and Pichu trailed after them.
"Hey! Ladies first remember!"
"Not a chance!"
Click!
Four pairs of eyes instinctively shot towards the direction of the sound. Suddenly, a huge net went flying towards Ash's direction. Surprisingly, the trainer just gaped at it without even moving a muscle.
"Watch out!" May warned, swiftly pushing Ash out of the net's way.
FWOOSH!
"May!!" Ash yelled as he helplessly watched her being scooped up by the net.It finally hung limp near a tree at the opposite side of the rope with May frantically struggling inside. Without warning, a streak of white suddenly rushed towards Pikachu; a clenched paw connecting to the surprised Pokemon's belly.
"Pika! Pi… Ka… Pi…"
"A Meowth?" Ash pondered, confused as he dodged a Shadow Ball attack from it. This one seemed too powerful to be Team Rocket's Meowth. But then---
"Dat's right twoip," Meowth replied as Pikachu collapsed into its arms. "Yous two oughtta be more careful round these parts."
It was Team Rocket! Ash couldn't believe his eyes. Team Rocket was this good? Where the heck did Meowth learn how to battle like this?
"What twoip, cat got your tongue?" Meowth taunted, extending its claws as Ash was scanning the area for other options.
"Sceptile! I choose you!" Ash called out, gritting his teeth as he pulled out and threw a familiar Pokeball. The Pokemon bit on its signature branch the moment it appeared. "Use Leaf Blade on that net and get May down from there!"
"Sceeptile!"
"Gliscor! Night Slash attack!"
"Glll---ISCOR!!"
Gliscor and its attack came out nowhere, effectively parrying Sceptile's attempt to sever the net using its large green blades. The force of the collision sent Ash's Pokemon crashing into a nearby tree. Sceptile then emerged from the shrubbery, shaking its head.
"One twerp down, one left," Another familiar voice said coming from the spot the net sprang. Jessie emerged holding some sort of remote. "Not bad for former Team Rocket members, eh?"
Ash noticed that they were one man short. He and Sceptile automatically looked around for a sign of James, but were unsuccessful. However, Ash caught a glimpse of May reaching for her Pokeballs, giving him an idea. Thinking that he was still looking for their former Rocket companion, Meowth clicked its tongue.
"Yous two won't find James coz he ain't here," Meowth said matter-of-factly. "He went solo ta start some business of his."
"Sceptile! Bullet Seed on Meowth and Jessie!" Ash commanded, trying to stall them so that May had enough time to escape. Little did he know that Jessie had already caught on to this plan.
"Sceeeeeptiletiletiletiletile!"
"Oh no you don't twerps!" Jessie muttered, as she and Meowth easily dodged the Bullet Seed attack. Jessie proceeded to press a button on the remote she was carrying.
KKKKZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTT!!
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
"MAAAAAAY!!"
At May's shriek, Ash unconsciously bit his lip hard as he was forced to watch the horrible sight before him. An electric current briefly coursed through the net and electrocuted May until her body fell limp.
"THAT is the LAST STRAW!!" Ash boomed. Sceptile braced itself. "Sceptile!! Take them down with a Leaf Blade!!"
"Tile! Sceeeptile!"
"Use another Night Slash, Gliscor!!"
Sceptile viciously lunged at Meowth, both forearms growing twin green blades. However, Gliscor appeared out of nowhere, blocking the attack yet again.
"Don't give up Sceptile! Leaf Blade! Full Power!"
"Sceeep---TIIIIILLLEE!!"
With the green blades increasing significantly in size, Sceptile attacked Gliscor once more. The opponent attempted to block it again with another Night Slash, but as it did, the increased power of Sceptile's Leaf Blade sent it crashing into the nearest tree.
"Gliii---scooor!!"
"Good! Follow that up with a Quick Attack!" Ash instructed, clenching his fists. "Then let's wrap this up with another Leaf Blade!"
"Sceeptile!"
In a flash, Sceptile rammed itself hard onto Gliscor. Ash's Pokemon then slashed at its opponent again, which actually managed to avoid the attack in point blank range. Sceptile's attack sliced the tree's trunk clean instead, causing the tree's upper portion to noisily fall off.
"Keep on attacking Sceptile!" Ash urged impatiently.
Sceptile vigorously kept slashing at Gliscor with its Leaf Blade attack, only to be dodged every time. The more this kept up, the sloppier Sceptile's attacks became. Jessie's eyes narrowed as she noticed that Ash's frustration began to build up and was beginning to get the better of him.
"I've seen enough reruns already," Jessie scoffed, flicking her long red hair. "Gliscor, move in and use Poison Fang."
"Gliiiscor!!"
After effectively dodging Sceptile's last Leaf Blade, Gliscor clamped onto the Pokemon's back and sank its fangs directly into its neck. The potent venom quickly seeped into Sceptile's bloodstream, badly poisoning it.
"Sceeep…" The Pokemon moaned weakly, barely trying to stand up.
"No! Sceptile!" Ash exclaimed, running towards his Pokemon.
"Wrap this up with an Aerial Ace!"
Ash dove in front of Sceptile just in time; the attack hitting him instead of his weakened Pokemon. However, the Aerial Ace sent Ash crashing into Sceptile. In the net behind Jessie and Meowth, May stirred. She automatically clutched on her throbbing head as she looked around.
"Get it right this time!" Jessie scolded her Gliscor. "Another Aerial Ace!"
"Ash… no…" May managed to say as she saw Ash take a hit for his Sceptile again.
Seeing Ash and Sceptile crash into another tree, May tried with all of her might to reach for a Pokeball. After painfully and successfully retrieving Blaziken's, she weakly tossed it outside the net.
"Blaziken… Use Sky Uppercut…"
"Blaaaaaaaaaze!"
The instant it got out of its Pokeball, Blaziken leaped and punched the upper portion of the net, cutting its trainer loose. It then caught a falling May in midair, then gently set her down on the ground below. May, exhausted, instantly melted to the floor. Pichu went running towards them.
"Blaziken… Don't worry about me…" May said weakly, trying to catch her breath. "You too Pichu…"
"Guillotine attack, Gliscor!"
As she was mustering her strength, May watched as Gliscor lunged at Sceptile, but was blocked again by its trainer. The opponent caught Ash by the neck and pinned him to the ground.
"Blaziken! Ash needs help!"
"Blaaaze!!"
Upon hearing this, Blaziken leapt up and fired a Flamethrower attack on Gliscor before gracefully landing in front of Ash. May was not far behind; Pichu on its usual perch on top of her head.
"Blaziken, Blaze Kick! Let's go!"
"Counter it with a Poison Jab Gliscor!"
The two attacks collided, creating a shockwave that caused both Pokemon, along with May, to get knocked back while Jessie just shook her head. Ash slowly got to his feet and limped his way beside his poisoned Sceptile.
"This battle is pointless," Jessie states, suddenly recalling her Gliscor into its Pokeball.
All eyes watched Jessie as she approached Meowth and grabbed Ash's sleeping Pikachu from it. All of them were astonished as Jessie tossed Pikachu towards Ash's direction, swiftly being caught in mid-air by Blaziken.
"What the heck're ya doin'?!" Meowth asked hotly, a vein popping out of its temple. "We finally get ta steal Pikachu, and ya just throw it back?!"
"Save it Meowth," Jessie deadpanned, flicking her long crimson hair yet again. "Everyone knows that a Pokemon is at the same level of strength as its trainer. Judging by how horrible the twerp battles, that weak Pikachu's useless to us."
"Pikachu isn't weak!" Ash shot back.
"Then prove it!" Jessie taunted, giving him a menacing grin before turning to leave. The others, including Meowth, were just staring speechless at what had just transpired. "You can't can you?"
Ash gritted his teeth as he melted on his spot, holding back the teardrops forming in his eyes. Sceptile, sensing its trainer's pain, tried to grab a hold of its trainer's arm before it fainted. May staggered over to him and rested a comforting hand on his shoulder. Meowth just kept gaping at Ash in disbelief. It never remembered the trainer so weak before. Meowth was even pretty sure that they would get beat yet again.
"Are you coming or not?" Jessie called out to Meowth, looking over her shoulder. "We've wasted enough time already."
"O-Oi! Wait up!" Meowth yelled, quickly snapping out of its musings and rushing after Jessie.
As Jessie and Meowth began to disappear into the forest, Ash weakly gave the ground a couple of jabs before finally being reduced to tears. May sank down on her knees beside Ash and gently hugged him. Pichu and Blaziken approached them; the former on the verge of tears itself while the latter carrying Pikachu in its arms.
"M-May… Y-You got hurt!" Ash blurted out in between sobs, returning May's hug and burying his face on her small shoulder. "T-that should've been me… I-I'm sorry…"
"Ash… I'm okay… Really…"
"S-sceptile… I-If it wasn't because of me i-it wouldn't… It w-wouldn't…!"
"It's okay Ash," May replied, stroking his jet-black hair. "I'm here. Let's just get Sceptile to the Petalburg Pokemon Center right away. Everything's gonna be alright…"
Ash sobbed a few long moments before he finally calmed down. Pikachu stirred, slowly starting to regain its consciousness. It watched as Ash and May slowly broke up their embrace. May offered Ash a warm smile, causing him to turn brick red and look away. Pichu, which had silently climbed Blaziken and was sitting beside Pikachu, began to cry itself.
"Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
"Pllleeeeeekkkaaaaaaahhh…!!"
Pichu got too enthusiastic that it grabbed Pikachu by the neck and began to shake it violently, making Pikachu faint yet again. Blaziken quickly knelt down beside May, making it easier for her to scoop up Pichu in her arms. However, unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes was still watching them from the forest.
"I suddenly miss getting blasted off by those twerps," Jessie murmured while she and Meowth watched May lull Pichu to sleep.
"Yeah… Da good ol' days…"
Review Replies:
Xaotladv: Well Ash thinks he broke his promise about being a Pokemon Master to May since he lost to Warren. I'll be writing about Ash getting out of his slump in the next chapter. I think. X3
bbbstrwbrry: I hear ya. Let's make sure it doesn't end. Thanks for the support!
aipomlee: I laughed myself when I wrote that! I'm waiting for an update of your story! Keep it up!
Xtreme Gamer: Thanks for the appreciation! It means even more because I know you're a Pokeshipper but you took the time to read this Advanceship! I'll be sure to return the favor.
LuciferIX: Well, you hit the bullseye. Ash was trying to wake himself up. Sorry I came in short for the Pichu antics this time. I'll be sure to add more in the next chapter.
Dark Soul Naarghul: Sorry bout that bro. Thanks for the compliments! Hope you read til the end.
Gryphon Turboclaw (anonymous): Thanks for the compliment. It's too bad you didn't like the Pichu concept though. I also admit that the Brock flick in here was also my doing, but hey, the first and second chapters of this fic are supposed to happen before the episode "Once More With Reeling," the same episode where May's Combusken evolved into a Blaziken. I don't see any continuity error when I used Combusken in the second chapter and I think I posted that on the A/N section. Don't worry, my sources aren't inaccurate. I have downloaded Pokemon episodes here in my PC and I can watch them anytime.
EarthBorn0: Thanks for the compliments! It's glad to hear that the characters aren't OC… I'll be waiting for an update from you too!
A/N: Well, that's that. Thanks for all those generous reviews! And to those of you who are wondering about James, you'll see him soon enough. I'll try to reply individually to your reviews next time. Bye y'all! For now…