Chapter Ten
Wow Me
The question ate at him for the coming days, but not once did he re-ask, or pry into Domino's past. He honestly like the blond with pretty violet eyes, and he was not about to make her think less of him.
But he knew that at one point in time, she had either been influenced by drugs in alcohol, or had at least had a traumatizing event with them.
And he knew, knew with every fiber of his being, that whatever that reason was.
Was why she was with Team Rocket.
But he dared not ask again. If on the chance that she come to trust him, or feel like sharing. He'd listen, and would not interrupt her story unless she prompted.
But God he wanted to know…
But that was the least of his worries that day.
It had now been one month and three days since he joined Team Rocket, and today Domino had told him to relax for the day as his regular training had been canceled. Domino had told him that she was due to have a meeting with Giovanni that day, she didn't say whether or not it was here at the training facility or elsewhere, she just told him to relax and do some reading later on.
He'd taken to his set schedule quite lovingly. Despite her orders, he had gone for a run and a short work out before cleaning up and heading down to the training fields to watch the battles scheduled for the day.
He'd been delighted to hear that there were to be eight or nine that day. There had been two already before an explosion left the field in need of repairs.
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his pack of gum and stuck a piece in his mouth. He was still itching to get a fix, but the gum was helping.
Barely.
But helping none the less, it took his mind off of the drugs and let him chew his stress away.
But there was that little inkling in the back of his mind that told him he'd be at that point between druggie and getting clean rather soon.
That wall he would run into which would have him clawing his eyes out, crying, doing God knows what in an attempt to get something in him.
He'd seen it happen, those junkies who hadn't had a high in well over a month who would be willing to kill for a single puff or injection.
He wasn't looking forward to it.
But it was coming soon.
He felt sluggish and tired, the motivation he had had at the beginning of his recruitment was diminishing, and the thoughts of ditching were seeping into his consciousness.
But he wouldn't do that. Or at least, that's what he told himself anyways.
He took his eyes away from the field and to the door as Domino walked in, clipboard in hand, and another Rocket right behind her.
He frowned, as she and the Rocket went into the room in which she had gone in once before. She was supposed to be in a meeting? And who was that guy? He'd never seen him before, a trainer? Grunt? Teacher?
Boyfriend!?
For whatever reason the thought appalled him, Domino just didn't seem to be the kind of girl who did relationships.
Although she certainly was really nice… smart... and pretty...
He blinked realizing what he had just thought. What the hell was he thinking? Taking the thoughts out of his mind, he watched as she came out of the room, Rocket behind her and surprisingly start his way.
His chewing slowed and Domino came to a stop in front of him, "Ready for your next lesson?"
"I thought you had to speak with Giovanni?"
"That's already been done," She said simply turning to look at the field, "Now Ash," His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, this wasn't how she usually began when she was going to teach him something new, "You've been doing well with what you've been assigned, your skills are improving, and your schooling is helping you, yes?"
He nodded carefully, "Well, now I'm not going to be teaching you how to do this. I can battle yes, but I'm not great. That's what Archer is here for, questions?"
He was blinking rapidly and Domino's eyebrow rose questioningly. "Ash?"
"Huh!?" He asked startled looking into her eyes.
"Questions?"
He opened his mouth, and then closed it swiftly before asking, "I… I-I get to battle?" It was a little more than a whisper, but she heard it clearly.
She removed the hand from behind her back and showed him the black and white orb, "Wow me," She challenged easily.
His eyes widened when he saw the Pokeball.
He stared for a solid fifteen seconds until he reached out and removed it from her palm, rolling the minimized ball between his fingers.
"W-What is it?" He asked quietly, his index pressing the button on the front, the ball expanded in his hand and he eyed it with growing excitement.
Domino flourished her arm out to the battlefield, "See for yourself,"
She was startled by the immense grin he shot at her, before he leapt over the railing and sprinted over to the Trainer's box, Pokeball held at the ready.
"Come on Archer!" Ash exclaimed enthusiastically, "We're wasting daylight!"
A small laugh escaped her mouth as Ash waved impatiently at the other end of the field, "Better do as he says," She muttered to the taller man beside her.
"Kids going to get wrecked," He muttered going over to the other end.
Domino clicked her pen and started jotting down a few notes onto her clip board before the battle begun. Had she expected that sort of reaction out of him? No, no she really hadn't.
It was far better than she could have hoped for honestly; this was a side of him she had yet to see. The childish, carefree side of Ash Ketchum.
Did she think he could win the battle? No, no she didn't. Did she care one way or the other? No, all she wanted was to see how he reacted to the situation.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
The smooth metal of the pokeball was surprisingly comforting in his hand, he watched Archer with a grin as he stepped into his Trainer box.
"Wow me," Archer mocked casting a glance at Domino when she scowled at him.
He couldn't help it, "Same goes for you big boy, don't get cocky cause the battle hasn't even begun!"
From the corner of his eye he saw Domino give him an approving look, "Shut your trap Rat! Go Golem!" The Pokeball spun out from Archers grasp as he side armed it out across the field.
Ash watched with growing exhilaration as the large Bolder Pokemon beat it's rocky hide with its stubby arms and bellow out at him.
The grin wouldn't leave his face, bringing his eyes down to the Pokeball; he looked out to the field and threw it towards the center, "Go Pokeball!" He cried excitedly. It was something he had seen numerous Trainers do on television when they called out their Pokemon.
The Pokeball burst open and in a flash of intense white light, a small slate-grey colored fox with red accents on its head appeared on the field. The small fox yawned and shook itself out, before glancing over its shoulder and staring at Ash.
"What is it Domino? What are its moves!?"
"It's a Zorua," She replied, "Figure out its moves for yourself,"
He looked at the little fox and gave an encouraging nod, his grin widened as Zorua gave him one back before looking at the towering rock type.
"Let's see what you and that rat can do, Golem Rollout!"
"Dodge it!"
Golem flipped in the air, arms and legs tucked in as it sped down the field in a roll for Zorua, rocks churning up in its wake. The little fox bent its legs, and when Golem was about to collided, it leapt into the air, up and over landing squarely back on the ground.
"Great job Zorua!" Ash cheered, "Give it a-a- Dark Ball!" Zorua looked at him with a confused tilt of the head, "No?" he asked himself, "U-Uh Ta-Dodge it!"
Golem had U-turned directly back for it, Zorua leapt to the left, but was clipped as it rolled past.
Ash winced, "Are you okay?" He asked worriedly, there was a growl in response as Zorua shook out its fur and ready itself once again.
"Golem Earthquake!"
Ashs eyes grew wide as he heard the attack, "Jump!" He cried out desperately.
Golem unfurled from the rollout and leapt into the air, the Bolder Pokemon hit the ground which released a bone rattling tremor across the field, making Ash lose his balance as Zorua leapt high in the air, "Tackle!"
Zorua landed back on all fours and sprinted down the field in a blur. Leaping off the ground, it dove head first into the rocky build of Golem.
Ash watched in horror as Golem scratched at where Zorua had hit unaffected, while Zorua stumbled about shaking its head. That was no good, "Golem!" Archer called out, "Stone edge!"
"Kick sand at it quick!" Zorua still a little dazed from its attempted attack, buried it's two back feet into the ground and kicked dust rapidly into Golem's eyes.
The Boulder Pokemon bellowed in frustration before stomping on the ground, jagged rocks shot up from the field encircling the blinded Pokemon.
"Zorua get out of-" Ash cut himself off and sprinted sprinted out of his Trainers box towards Domino, right as Stone Edge shot outwards.
Golem blinded by the sand attack, shot the rocks in the direction where Zorua had been, which had coincidentally also been in the direction Domino had been standing.
Ash tackled her to the ground right as the rocks rocked over top of them and into the wall, shattering into dust and fragments, "Zorua Punch it!"
He was surprised when Zorua's front paw was enveloped in a dark purple mist, the little fox dove at Golem and swung an uppercut right beneath where Golem's jaw protruded out from its rock shell.
Golem stumbled backwards, doing two back somersaults before righting itself dazed. "Golem!" Archer barked angrily, "Steamroll that rat with Rollout!"
Doing much like it did before, Golem leapt into a somersault down the field as Zorua sprinted away.
Ash thought quickly, "Zorua run over to Archer!" Zorua halted, and jumped high into the air above Golem; it landed back down and ran towards their opponents Trainer.
"Kill it Golem!"
Golem turned and headed straight back down the field, rocks tearing up from the ground as it increased in speed. Zorua looked to its Trainer waiting for a command; it stood directly in front of Archer as Golem neared.
Ash waited till Golem was a meter away before yelling out "Jump!" at the top of his lungs.
Zorua leapt high above the ground right as Golem barreled passed beneath and into the horrified Archer who took the full force of the attack. Ash watched as Archer was sent sailing into the wall behind him, and Golem left reeling and confused as it waited for a command from its Trainer.
"Tackle!" Zorua flipped in the air and used the falling momentum to drive itself square into Golems back. The Rock Type, caught off guard, was thrown off of the field, and sent rolling into Archer.
Ash waited with wide eyes and an erratic heartbeat, for his opponents to move. After fifteen seconds passed he let his head fall to look at the ground in relief.
The grin that had been on his face the entire battle had been wiped off his face as he saw Domino staring at him with wide eyes, hair spread out messily on the ground and across her face. He cracked a nervous smile, "Heh… I-I won?" He said nervously.
It took a full minute for her to respond, "Yeah… Yeah ya did." She paused, "Now get off of me,"
He hurried to his feet, face heating up as he offered out his hand, "S-Sorry Domino, I… The attack went off and it went straight for you and you were looking at your clipboard-" He bent down and picked up the fallen item and pen handing them to her, "And you would have gotten hurt, and-"
She held up a hand and he silenced, "Don't apologize… But," She cleared her throat awkwardly, "Thank you though. For that…" She tilted her head at the field, "Aren't you going to check on your Pokemon?"
His previous embarrassment was wiped off his face as he turned to Zorua, the little fox watching him with interest, "You were fantastic!" He exclaimed running over and scooping it up into his arms, "Unbelievable, the way you sucker punched him beneath the jaw, and you were so speedy!"
Zorua howled and nudged him with its nose, "When can we do this again Domino, can I use Zorua again?"
Domino finished dusting herself off, "Well I don't see why not, seeing as how you're her Trainer," She kept the smile off her face as his jaw dropped open, "You're not a member of Team Rocket without a Pokemon Ash, I'm not going to let you go out into the field on your own am I?" She reached out and stroked the little fox's head, Zorua leaning into her touch.
"Really? Zorua and I?"
Here she did give him a serious look, "There is one condition however," She said slowly, and she knew she had his rapt attention when he straightened himself out, "I expect you to take extremely good care of her, and the only way that is going to happen is if you take care of yourself. Do you understand where I'm going with this?"
Of course he did, "I-I do… Thank you Domino, really."
She waved the thanks away and looked over to where Archer was attempting to stabilize himself, keeping one hand on the unconscious Golem to hold himself up, "You two go get lunch, I have a feeling I'm going to have to keep Archer from snapping your neck,"
Ash went wide-eyed and looked down to Zorua, "Hungry?" He asked quickly, a little howl in response, "Good enough for me; see ya later Domino!" With that he sprinted away from her, fox held cozily in his arms as he ran for the door.
A tiny smile did make it onto her lips now, and she shook her head in amusement. So he could battle in his own sort of way, and he needed to learn attack names. Maybe a Pokedex or something along that line would help him.
Unfortunately she had still been gawking at him when he ordered Zorua to run to Archer. She had seen from the corner of her eye, the Golem drilling Archer in the gut. And, was the attack a little unfair?
In her opinion no it wasn't, if you were going to be a member of Team Rocket, you had to play dirty some times. And the cards had all been on Archers side at the beginning, Ash was using his Pokemon for the first time, didn't know any of its attacks, so he got creative.
And yes.
She was proud of him.
For winning the battle, and for keeping her from taking the Stone Edge. She had seen on many occasions where an attack went off target and ended up severely injuring a bystander. Attacks like Stone Edge were some of the worst though, with blunt, or sharp objects being impaled against a person could very well be lethal. So for all she knew, Ash had saved her life that day.
Maybe he wouldn't be… That bad of a partner.
Who knows.
Zorua? When I saw that name come up in a review, it was the perfect choice honestly. I hadn't even come close to thinking of using that Pokemon, but I personally feel like there'd be no better choice.
So what do you think?
Please drop in a review, tell me what you like, didn't like, what you thought could have been improved on? Any thing!
Thanks again for reading, and I'll see you all next time!