Hello! Well, I don't know what else to say. Except for this: last time, Dr. Blanchard discovered that Giovanni is the one employing Beth, who ambushed him in his study and froze him. Thankfully, he was thawed out by Sofia and her Ninetales. Meanwhile, Ash and Serena came within seconds of kissing at the party, until Team Rocket interrupted… again. This chapter includes theirs and Beth's attempt to capture Pikachu, while Ash and Beth have a rematch. But it probably won't be the kind of battle you expect. Enjoy!

Chapter 13

Professor Oak's Lab. Night.

Every guest at the party took in the scene with complete and utter surprise. But no one felt more devastated than Ash. Why now? Why did they have to barge in at that moment?

"Do you ever quit?" Misty asked, furiously.

Jessie laughed in response. "Where's the fun in that?"

Ash scowled at them, fearing what they would do.

"What do you want?!" he shouted.

"Where have you been the last four years?" James asked, rhetorically.

"We're here for Pikachu, what else?!" Meowth added.

Gary took out a pokéball. "Like we're gonna let that happen!"

He threw the pokéball. "Blastoise, go!"

Ash mimicked Gary's action. "Greninja, I choose you!"

The pokéballs landed at their feet, everyone expecting them to release the two Pokémon, only… they never did. They just sat there. Unresponsive.

"Huh?" Ash puzzled.

Gary was equally confused. "What's going on?"

"Let me try," Serena suggested. "Go, Braixen!"

But the result was the same as Ash and Gary's attempt.

Instantly, other trainers began trying the same thing.

"Gyarados!"

"Croagunk!"

"Blaziken!"

"Sceptile!"

"Togekiss!"

"Dragonite!"

"Pansage!"

"Luxray!"

But no many how many tried to call out their Pokémon, the balls remained motionless.

Ash picked up the pokéball containing Greninja, seriously confused.

"Why didn't it work?"

A soft, sadistic chuckled answered him. It was coming from above them.

"You have me to thank for that," an eerily familiar voice said.

Ash and the others looked up to see a menacing, three-headed dragon-like Pokémon. And to his horror, riding it was…

"It's that woman from the museum!" Serena shouted, taking a stance beside Ash.

"Beth," Ash said, remembering their last encounter.

"So, you remember me," she said, in an almost casual tone. "I love to make an impression."

"What did you do to our pokéballs?!" Dawn shouted, picking up hers.

Beth just held up the hilt of her whip, showing a red, pulsating light at the end.

"My whip can transmit an electronic signal that jams the release mechanism of any pokéball within range."

Everyone gasped, Team Rocket included.

Jessie, however, was more furious than surprised.

"NOW HOLD ON A MINUTE HERE!" she shouted at Beth. "HOW'RE WE SUPPOSED TO CATCH PIKACHU IF WE CAN'T EVEN CALL OUT OUR POKEMON?!"

Beth lowered her Hydreigon so that it was a few feet above Jessie.

"If what I have planned works, you won't need to."

She turned back to the crowd of trainers and guests.

"If you want to take Pikachu," Ash said boldly. "You're gonna have to go through me."

"And me," Serena said.

"And me," Misty added.

"And me," Brock interjected.

And the rest stood with Ash, defending Pikachu from the Pokémon Hunter hovering just above them. But Beth, however, only laughed.

"Take it? Is that what you think I'm going to do? On the contrary… you're going to give it to me."

Ash felt his jaw drop so low, it was practically on the ground. His fists began shaking.

"Why would I do that?!"

Beth shook her head. "Think. You can't call out your Pokémon. I have one of the strongest Dragon-type Pokémon out. And the rest of your Pokémon can't even scratch Hydreigon. So, you'll give me that Pikachu now, or else."

"Or else what?!" Iris shouted.

Beth just smirked. "I'm so glad you asked."

She cracked her whip, then pointed at two targets below: Max and Bonnie.

"Use Hyper Beam," she commanded.

Hydreigon opened its center mouth. A dark purple orb formed at the end. That orb became a beam of energy that was directed at Max and Bonnie.

"Look out!" May and Clemont shouted, rushing to the scene. The two pushed their younger siblings out of the way of Hydreigon's attack before it could hit.

"Stop!" Ash shouted.

"There's only one way I'll stop," Beth said coldly. "And you already know what it is."

Ash looked back and forth between Pikachu and his friends. How could it have come to this? How could he have let this happen?

"Pika!" Pikachu shouted.

"Huh?" Everyone asked, confused.

Pikachu jumped off the table where Ash left it.

"Pika pika. Pikachu!" it said solemnly.

Meowth started upon hearing this.

"Woah," he said. "Somebody pinch me!"

"What's Pikachu saying?" James asked.

"It's sayin' it'll go with us as long as we leave everyone else at this twerp fest alone."

A series of collective gasps ran through the crowd. Ironically, Ash just stood there. Speechless. Trying to remember how to even talk.

As Pikachu took its first steps toward Team Rocket, that ability suddenly returned.

"Pikachu," Ash said, mortified. He attempted to run after the electric rodent… only to be stopped by a series of sparks coming out Pikachu's cheeks.

"PikaPi," it said, almost sternly. Then, suddenly, tears began streaming down its face. "Pika pika."

Ash's eyes soon began pouring as well. "No," he sobbed.

Beth's eyes, on the other hand, remained as cold and unfeeling as ever.

"Well, that was quick." She then put a small device on her wrist. Immediately, she aimed it at Pikachu. A large projectile erupted from it. The projectile, which everyone could recognize as a net, entrapped it. The net, suspended by a cable, was hoisted up toward Beth and Hydreigon. Releasing the cable and net, she tossed it down to Jessie, James, and Meowth.

"It's all yours," she said. Then she addressed Pikachu. "And don't bother trying to escape. The fibers of that net are designed to absorb electricity."

The Team Rocket trio, who normally would have been over the moon at the thought of capturing Pikachu, found that words escaped them.

"Did that really just happen?" Jessie asked, somewhat excited.

"If this is a dream, I never want to wake up," James added.

"Oh, who cares? We finally got Pikachu!" Meowth rejoiced.

"Ahem," Beth cleared her throat. "If you three are done celebrating, your boss is impatient to get this Pokémon."

"Right!" the trio agreed.

Beth turned back to the crowd, rising higher.

"Well, I'd love to stay. But I have an appointment back at Team Rocket Headquarters. And I don't want to miss it."

Wiping his eyes, Ash glared at Beth.

"You won't get away with this!" he shouted bitterly.

Beth just crossed her arms. "Try using a line more origini-"

But she was cut short by a long burst of fire coming from her left. It narrowly missed her, but she could still feel the heat.

"What was that?" she asked. "Impossible. That jamming signal should still be working."

Then she looked behind her. What she saw was a Pokémon she had rarely ever seen. A Pokémon that she knew could easily match her Hydreigon in terms of sheer power. A Pokémon that had been her opponent only once before.

It was…

"Charizard!" Ash exclaimed.

Soaring past Hydreigon, Charizard landed beside Ash.

It then growled in a way that was all too familiar to him. It had done something like this before a few years ago in Greenfield. And he instantly knew what it wanted.

"You want to help?" he asked. Charizard nodded in response.

"All right!" he mounted the Fire-type's back. "We've gotta stop her."

Serena walked over to Charizard. "Ash, be careful."

"I will. Don't worry," he said gently. As Charizard rose to meet Hydreigon at face level, all Ash's opponent could do was sneer at him.

"Haven't you learned your lesson yet?" Beth ask, mockingly. "You can't beat me, you know. The only reason you and your little girlfriend down there are still here is because of your friend, Dr. Blanchard. Well, guess what? He can't help you now. I personally saw to that. So, give up now, before I knock you and that Charizard of yours out of the sky."

"No way!" Ash said. "Charizard, use Flamethrower!"

Charizard opened its mouth, sending a long stream of flame at Hydreigon and Beth. Unfortunately, they easily evaded it.

"Dragon Pulse." Beth cracked her whip. As turquoise energy orb was fired from Hydreigon's mouth, Charizard was barely able to avoid it. Other than a small scratch on its left wing, it was fine.

"Now, use Slash!" Ash shouted. Charizard's claws began to glow white and then they extended. It began swiping them at Hydreigon relentlessly. By the time Charizard let up, Hydreigon was completely covered in scratches as opposed to the former's one.

But Beth wasn't ready to give up. Cracking her whip again, she pointed at Charizard.

"Hydreigon, Frustration."

Hydreigon's entire body began to glow dark red. Furiously charging, it collided with Charizard, almost knocking Ash of its back. Regaining his hold of its neck, he spoke in a concerned tone.

"Charizard, are you alright?"

The Fire-type gave a nod to indicate that it had been hurt by the attack, but it was still able to fight.

Ash smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. But Beth scoffed.

"How incredibly naïve. You think that Charizard will win just because you respect it? You stupid kid. Pokémon are nothing more than tools to help a trainer on their way to greatness. The only way they'll respect you is if they fear you."

Ash's smile turned into a scowl almost immediately.

"You're wrong!" he shouted. "My Pokémon are my friends. They're strong because we depend on each other. Not because they're afraid of me. That's why I'm not letting you get away with Pikachu!"

He pointed back to Hydreigon. "Use Dragon Tail!"

Charizard swung its tail, which was now glowing a light blue. The tail hit Hydreigon with enough force to send it flying backwards. Beth, though a little dazed, was undaunted.

Growling at the young boy, she cracked her whip again.

"Use Bite."

Hydreigon opened its mouth, its teeth beginning to glow white. Rushing back toward Charizard, it bit the Fire-type in the shoulder.

Charizard roared in pain.

"Charizard, try to break free!" Ash shouted urgently.

Slowly, but surely, Charizard was able wrench its way out of Hydreigon's grasp.

Taking one look at Beth, Ash could tell she was growing bored.

"Enough of this!"

"Charizard," Ash said.

"Hydreigon," Beth said at the same time. Then she cracked her whip.

"Flamethrower!"

"Hyper Beam!"

As the two attacks occurred, they swiftly collided with each other.

Charizard's Flamethrower was in the middle of a standoff with Hydreigon's Hyper Beam.

On the ground, Ash's friends and Team Rocket were observing with awe.

"This is amazing!" Clemont exclaimed.

"I know," Gary added. "I don't think I've ever seen a battle this intense."

"So, what happens next?" Bonnie quizzed.

As the two beams still met each other, suddenly, a massive explosion occurred between them, knocking down several tables on the ground.

"That happens next," Cilan said.

As the smoke cleared, Ash and Beth were both panting with exhaustion. The two Pokémon were evenly matched, so both knew it would take a very long time for a winner to be determined.

Beth's face, once a mask of stoic superiority, was now an expression of unbridled fury.

As much as she hated to admit it, there was no way her Hydreigon could beat that Charizard. Looking around herself, she desperately tried to think of an idea.

Then she looked down.

In that one moment, she saw the very thing that would ensure her victory. Or rather, the person who would ensure her victory.

Cracking her whip, she pointed downwards.

"Hydreigon, it's time we change our strategy."

At the sound of its trainer's whip, Hydreigon swooped down into the crowd of people.

It all happened too fast for Ash to stop. Amidst the screaming, there was one shout he recognized in particular.

As they came back up, he saw that his worst fears had been realized.

For on mounted on top of Hydreigon, with Beth's right arm wrapped around her was…

"Serena!"

"Ash!" Serena shouted.

Ash turned his direction to Beth's face.

"Leave her alone!" he demanded furiously.

Beth only continued holding her tighter. "It seems we've reached a stalemate. How would you feel about making a deal?"

Ash looked at them both curiously.

"Simple. Agree to surrender now and I won't hurt her. If you don't… well let's just say what Hydreigon did to Charizard is nothing compared to what I'll do to her."

Ash's blood ran cold. If he surrendered, Beth and Team Rocket would get away with Pikachu. But if he kept fighting, well, he didn't want to know what Beth would do to Serena.

"Ash," Serena's voice rang out. "Don't listen to her. Just get Pikachu away from them. Don't worry about me."

Ash once again found his eyes darting back and forth, only this time it was between Pikachu, trapped in a net being loaded into a balloon by Team Rocket. And then to Serena, who despite her reassurance, appeared to be just as scared as he was.

Serena or Pikachu? How could he have possibly chosen between the two? How could Beth be so cruel? How could he find a way to stop this?

Surprisingly, he could think of now answer.

"Charizard," he said, sadly. "That's enough."

Serena gasped while Beth's lips formed a sinister grin. Down below everyone could barely believe their ears.

"No," Misty said, in shock.

"I don't believe it," Gary stated.

The reaction was nearly the same from everyone present. Even Team Rocket appeared to be on the verge of tears.

As Charizard lowered itself, Ash disembarked, defeated.

He then turned back to Pikachu.

"Don't worry," he said. "I'll find a way to save you both."

He then looked back up toward Beth, who still had her arm wrapped around Serena.

"All right! Now let her go!"

Beth let out another small chuckle that quickly deteriorated into loud cackle.

"Sorry, no can do."

"WHAT?!" Everyone shouted.

Misty was the next one to speak up.

"But you said you'd-"

"I said I wouldn't hurt her. I didn't say anything about letting her go."

"Why you!" Ash growled.

Beth ignored him. "Besides, I have feeling Giovanni will appreciate having a witness to him gaining mastery of Ho-Oh."

"Ho-Oh?" Ash and Gary asked.

Beth began to rise further up. "Well, then, I'd best be going now."

She then addressed Team Rocket. "You three meet me back at your headquarters. And don't forget to give them our parting gift."

"Aye-aye!" the trio shouted.

Hydreigon took off into the night sky, carrying Beth and Serena along with it.

Ash found himself hyperventilating. No, he couldn't accept it. Serena couldn't be gone.

In all this however, he'd forgotten about Team Rocket.

James, casually walking away from the balloon, stepped up to the DJ booth.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said into the microphone. "We have one more piece of entertainment for you tonight."

The moment he said that, he, Jessie, and Meowth put on a pair of what everyone could only assume were noise cancelling headphones.

Adjusting a few controls on the booth, he left it swiftly and hopped back into the balloon.

As it began ascending, another song began to play through the speakers. This one, however, didn't seem to be one played for a dance.

But neither was it sung by a human.

"Jigglypuff," a gentle voice sung from the speakers.

Gary, remembering that song, rushed into inaction.

"Quick, everyone! Cover your ears!"

But it was too late. One by one, every guest at the party was growing drowsy.

Each had fallen asleep in very peculiar places. Against speakers, under tables, in front of the stage. By the time Ash was the last one left conscious, his thoughts only focused on one thing: He'd failed them. Both Pikachu and Serena.

Further away from Professor Oak's lab.

Dr. Blanchard's RV-like vehicle was designed for mainly for expeditions throughout Kanto and Johto. But he never imagined it would be used in a situation such as this.

In the driver's seat, he recounted what Beth said to him back at the museum.

You mean nothing to me

He suspected that she had adopted this mentality for some time. But hearing it still cut deeper than he could ever have anticipated.

"So," Sofia said. "This Beth hates you just because you were a better trainer than her?"

"I don't like bragging," he told her. "But yes. That's what she believes."

"But why go through all this trouble just for…" she trailed off.

"What is it?" Dr. Blanchard inquired, worried.

She pointed through the windshield to indicate a Meowth-shaped balloon. It had a giant letter "R" on the front of the basket.

"That cannot be good," Dr. Blanchard said.

He stopped the vehicle, unbuckled, and went outside with Sofia following him.

He threw a pokéball up into the air, revealing a purple, four-winged bat with a frowning expression.

"Crobat," he said. "Follow that balloon."

Understanding its instructions, Crobat took off in pursuit of the balloon.

Then he redirected his attention at Sofia.

"I want you stay here and try to get a hold of Officer Jenny. Tell her that Beth is working for Team Rocket and they have the stone."

"But what about you?" Sofia asked.

"I have to get to Professor Oak's lab and tell him what I know."

He looked up at the starry night sky, contemplating.

"I just hope I'm not too late."
Yikes. I have really put Ash through the wringer in this chapter, haven't I? Imagine being forced to choose between your best friend and love interest only to wind up losing them both. Well, I think it's safe to say that if you didn't hate Beth before, this should do the trick. And the worst part? Ash came very close to beating her that time if it hadn't been for that stunt she pulled.

Anyway, we're getting into the climax now. Ash and co. must team up with Dr. Blanchard and Sofia to rescue Serena and Pikachu. Read and review!