Chapter 35 – Ash, Oshawott and Hikari Pt 2
Malva and the two Flare Grunts stood on the other side of the helicopter from Ash and Oshawott, one of the grunts holding a squirming and squeaking Hikari in her arms. Seeing this cruelty made Ash explode with anger and loathing.
"You're through Malva! Let Hikari go."
"OSHA OSHA," Oshawott screamed his fur bristling with anger. He brandished his Scalchop threateningly.
The grunt who was not holding Hikari, male by the looks of him, pressed a button on a console beside him. A blue energy shield formed in the middle of the fuselage separating Ash and Oshawott from Team Flare.
"OSSHAAA." Oshawott fired a hydro canon at the shield, a powerful jet of water shooting from his mouth. It ricocheted off the wall and back towards Ash and Oshawott, forcing them to scramble away to avoid being hit as it struck the back wall.
"Pika." Hikari gave a distressed cry and struggled harder to escape the grip of the woman holding him, but to no avail.
"I'm afraid that isn't going to do you any good," Malva sneered. "That shield was designed to contain Yveltal. Your little Oshawott doesn't have a hope of breaking through it."
At that moment a door behind Malva and the two grunts, that lead to the cockpit slid open. An evil looking man with pale skin, a red ponytail and a bright red lab coat complete with a pair of thick red goggles stepped out, smirking at them.
Ash couldn't believe it. It was the admin he'd met in Lysandre labs. The admin who had activated the ultimate weapon. "Xerosic!"
"Oshawott."
"Hmm. I see we have company." His voice was high pitched and cold. It made Oshawott shiver. "And…Oho ho ho. You're the boy who destroyed the ultimate weapon. How curious we should meet again."
"My name's Ash," Ash said through bared teeth.
"Tell me. What happened to Lysandre?"
"He's dead," Ash said simply hoping that hearing this would hurt him. "He was killed when that weapon blew up."
"Oh. How sad." Xerosic didn't sound sad at all.
"Well I acquired the specimen for you," said Malva. "Just as you asked."
"Pika PIIIKAAA." Hikari wriggled more urgently, thrashing about in the grunts arms.
Oshawott let out a soft moan. "Hikarii…"
Xerosic's eye fell upon the struggling mouse.
"Pi." Hikari immediately stopped struggling suddenly too terrified to move. Xerosic gave off an evil aura.
"Oh ho. So this is the prophesised Zygarchu." He chuckled at his own jokes while Malva rolled her eyes. "How disappointing." His eyes took in Hikari's pale pink cheeks and thin form. "I expected more from a legendary. You can't have been taking very good care of it boy."
Ash clenched his teeth not permitting himself to rise to the taunt. Oshawott let out a soft growl. "Oshawott."
"Place the specimen into the machine."
Standing against the left wall of the helicopter was a odd looking machine, with a small glass case connected to a computer. At Xerosic's words the case slid open. The grunt placed Hikari inside, and the case immediately closed.
"Pika." Hikari whimpered, the sound barely audible, and placed his paws on the glass.
"What are you doing to do to him," growled Ash.
"Oshawott."
"Oh don't worry. It's just a simple containment device," said Xerosic without turning to them. "The glass can't be penetrated by the cells so little Zygarchu here won't be able to transform. Now lets see."
He started tapping at the keyboard attached to the machine. A blue light begun to glow at the bottom of Hikari's cage and at the same time an image came up on the screen. "Okay. Now let's see."
"PIKA." Hikari suddenly let out a loud cry of pain. A series of needles had emerged from the bottom of the case sticking into his feet. His eyes begun to water and he hit the glass with his paw as if try to break.
"Hey. What are you doing to him," Ash shouted glaring at Xerosic.
In a fit of rage Oshawott chucked his Scalchop at Xerosic, only to have it bounce off the shield and hit him in the face.
"Relax kid," said Malva. "It's just taking a simple blood sample that's all. To analyse Hikari's DNA."
As she spoke the double helix used to represent the molecular structure of DNA appeared on the computer screen, accompanied by a series of number and symbols that Ash didn't understand.
"Amazing," Xerosic said more to himself than anyone else. "Simply astounding. And to think this came from the scientists at Team Plasma. Ha."
"What are you talking about," demanded Ash. "What's amazing."
"Osha."
"What species of Pokémon do you think this little cutie is," said Malva. "Didn't you ever wonder why it was that it could transform like that. Or why Team Draconian would be after a worthless runt like this. Take a look at it's DNA."
"Pikachu plus." Xerosic turned around. "Specifically Pikachu plus dragon type. Zygarde. Perhaps you need a bit of an explanation. Zygarde is a very peculiar Pokémon. It's less of an individual Pokémon than it is a massive organism covering the face of the entire planet. Have a look"
He tapped his keyboard and the image of two Pokémon Ash had never seen before flashed on the screen. A Zygrade core and a Zygarde cell, both bright green and with single white eyes.
"Zygarde is made up of cores and cells. The Core or nucleus the Pokémon's brain. The cells make up the rest of the Pokémon and can combine with a core to form one of Zygarde's two known forms."
The image on the computer screen changed again to show the dog like creature Ash had seen by the lake in Kalos and in Grandé Vallée – Zygarde 10%, as well as the larger snake like 50% form Malva had shown him earlier.
Flashback
Little green cells with one eye and a green crystal inside their transparent bodies appear all around; In the grass, on the rocks and on the sides of the cliff.
Miror B gasped. "What… The cells."
"Cells," repeated Ash.
"Hikari's friends," mumbled Cameron.
Hikari leapt out of Ash's arms. The cells transformed into a green energy and were absorbed by the mystic energy surrounding Hikari. Hikari started to change; his limbs grew, his chest expanded and his muzzle became longer transforming him into a dog like Pokémon with green and black scales.
"Is that Hikari," gasped Cameron.
Ash stared at Hikari in disbelieve. "They all merged…."
End of flashback
"The form it takes depends upon how many cells combine with a core," Xerosic continued. "Very little is actually known about Zygarde. From the little research I've been able to uncover, the core's are linked together by some sort of telepathic field. It's believed, but no one's ever been able to prove it, that Zygarde has a third component. A central brain or Omega that produces the telepathic field linking the cores togethers. But that's just a theory...Now I suppose you're wondering how did a Pikachu-Zygarde hybrid come into existence. Zygarde is a genderless Pokémon. It cannot breed with Pikachu or any other Pokémon. Zygarde doesn't have reproductive organs of any description. The cells and core's reproduce by splitting in two. The answer is that Zygarchu here is the product of rather ingenious genetic engineering. A scientist by the name of Dudley working for Team Plasma developed an ingenious device called the DNA splicers. These splicers can literally change the genetic make up of Pokémon cells by transferring genes from one species to another creating modified Pokémon. I believe he intended to use it to create super powerful Pokémon for the Team Plasma Grunts to use. He carried out his experiments at the P2 laboratory, which sits on a small island in the south of Unova. One of his test subjects was sweet little Hikari here. Zygarchu. I believe he used a process called mitochondrial manipulation to insert DNA harvested from a Zygrade cell into the fertilized egg of a pregnant Raichu. Young Hikari's mother. And as a result Hikari has become part of Zygarde. His typing is not electric. It's dragon and ground just like Zygarde."
"So that's why Hikari can't use electric moves," muttered Ash. "Nurse Joy thought it was depression."
Xerosic continued as if he hadn't said anything. "He's part of it's central nervous system. He can communicate with and bond with it's cells and other core. He is in effect a Zygarde core in Pikachu form. But before he was born, the P2 Laboratory was discovered and raided by the police. Dudley was arrested and his test subjects released into the wild. So Team Plasma never found out what became of their constructed core. Team Flare found out about it's existence when several of our agents searched the abandoned labs and managed to recover Dudley's notebook in which he had written down every detail of his experiments…"
The floor of the helicopter suddenly rambled and there was a soft thump from outside. Xerosic glanced up at the ceiling and muttered, "Ah good we've landed, before continuing.
"Of course the notes weren't particularly useful to us as at that point. Team Flare had no way of finding Zygarchu. One Pikachu among thousands. It would have been quite impossible. And of course we didn't need to. We already a means of powering the ultimate weapon. But then a little while ago that I found out that Cipher, the terrorist front for the warlords of Dragnor, had located and were pursing Zygarchu. And just who should it be with but the trainer who was responsible for Team Flare's downfall. The opportunities for both revenge and an exit strategy were perfect. I gathered together what members of Team Flare who were left and came up with a plan to acquire Zygarchu."
"I thought you said you saw Hikari in Xatu's vision," Ash said looking at Malva.
"I did," replied Malva. "When I was 12 years old the Xatu I caught in the safari zone showed me a vision of your Pikachu transforming into Zygarde 50%. I didn't think anything of it at the time. I remembered it when Xerosic informed me of Cipher's discovery of Zygarchu and asked me to help him capture it for Team Flare. When I told you about it earlier I made it sound like the event had happed recently in order to trick you into trusting me while our two agents went about capturing Zygarchu."
"Pika." Hikari whimpered and Ash and Oshawott's glares intensified.
"So what are you going to do with Hikari?"
"Oshawott."
At this Xerosic chuckled. "Oh ho. With such a legendary Pokémon under my control I will be invincible. I will reconvene Team Flare and form a vast criminal empire. Bank robberies, art theft, blackmail, extortion, prison breaks. The possibilities are infinite. Not to mention if all fails to go according to plan I can always sell Zygarchu to Cipher in exchange for a large sum of money and asylum in Dragnor."
"Your sick," Ash shouted at them a sick feeling rising in his stomach. "Abusing poor Hikari like that for your own selfish gain. Just like you did to Pikachu. And Ashachu."
"Osha…" Oshawott's fur bristled. 'I can't let them do this. I can't let let these people hurt my…mate. Like this.' It was the first time he'd ever thought of Hikari that way and he almost surprised himself to think it.
Xerosic waked over to the door and took a briefcase down from a luggage rack above it. "It matters not what you think," he said as he opened it. Inside was a shiny metal gauntlet. He removed the gauntlet and stowed the case back on the rack. "There's not a lot you can do to stop us now."
"What's that," Ash said as Xerosic took blue rubber glove from his left hand and slipped the gauntlet on.
"This is a control gauntlet." Xerosic moved to stand in front of the case containing Hikari. "It's adapted from our Gigaremo unit. It produces EM waves. I dare say you're familiar with their effects." He chuckled and raised the gauntlet pointing it at Hikari.
"Pika." Hikari squeaked with fright.
Ash felt a sense of dread. "EM waves. No. That means."
A beam of green light shot from the palm of the gauntlet, went through the glass and struck Hikari between the eyes.
"NO Hikari."
"Oshawott!"
"PIKAA." Hikari screamed in pain and clutched his head with his paws. His eyes shut tight.
Ash clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. He knew what was happening. He'd seen Team Flare do this before. The mind controlling EM waves that would turned Pokémon in to their puppets… And sure enough Hikari's body became ridged. His arms fell by his side and he stared blankly at Xerosic. Hikari's usually chocolate eyes had turned blood red.
Xerosic sneered. "Excellent. Even a Pokémon with the power of Zygarde is still susceptible to the influence of EM waves." He lowered his arm and turned to Ash." And there is no way you'll be able to snap him out of it this time. I know full well you have not had time to build the sort of bond with this Pikachu as you have with your other. Now for the delicate part. Can the EM waves be used to summon the cells and turn Zygarchu into it's 10 or 50% forms. Alright. Let's take it outside."
One of the grunts went over to the machine and pressed a button on the keyboard. Hikari's case detached from the brace holding it to the wall allowing the grunt to pick it up.
"Uhh." Ash groaned in frustration and gritted his teeth. He knew he had to do something before Xerosic could force Hikari to transform. "No way you're gonna do this to Hikari. Oshawott. Use Hyrdo cannon."
"Ossshaaawoootttt."
Oshawott spat yet another powerful jet of water at the shield, but again nothing happened.
"You're wasting your time," said Malva with a smirk.
"Ughh." Ash clenched his fists harder that the nails digging into his skin started to hurt. "Come on Oshawott. Try it again."
"Osssshhaaaaawooooootttt."
Oshawott took a deep breath and fired Hydro cannon once again, more powerfully this time. It had no effect.
Malva laughed. "Pathetic…"
Ash looked at Hikari standing ridged inside the case waiting for Xerosic to give him instructions. 'I can't take this anymore. Poor Hikari looks so helpless… Gotta find a way to break the shield. Oshawott's trying his best but his attacks just not powerful…'
And then it hit him. He turned to his sea otter and said, "Oshawott. We have to Synchro-evolve."
"Osha." Oshawott stared wide-eyed at Ash. Could he just "Synchro-evolve" at will.
"We can do this," Ash said more forcefully. "I believe in you Oshawott."
"Oshawott." Oshawott nodded then turned back to the shield, his eyes narrowing. 'I can do this. If Ash believes in me then there's nothing I can't do.'
The two of them closed their eyes and concentrated, trying to get into Synch. Oshawott concentrated on his feelings for Ash, his affection and desire. A single heartbeat sounded in both their ears and then it stared. Oshawott's body started to glow and became surrounded by a veil of water that shot upwards like a geyser.
"What the hell," Malva shouted in alarm. "What's that Oshawott doing."
"Oh my," said Xerosic as Oshawott's body started to grow.
A split second later the water surrounding Oshawott vanished revealing him to have changed into his Ash like Samurott form.
"Yeah." Ash cheered ecstatically throwing his arm into the air as Oshawott let out a loud roar. Malva, Xerosic and the two Flare Grunts covered their ears. "Now. Break that barrier."
"Samurott."
Oshawott drew his Seamitars from the sheath on his front legs and slashed at the energy shield separating them from Team Flare. Ash mimicked his action, raising his arms as if holding invisible swords and copying Oshawott's sweeping motion.
The shield broke, the green energy shattering like glass while the generators on the walls and ceiling short circuited with violent blue sparks. Malva stumbled backwards her mouth falling open in surprise and Xerosic clutched his chest.
"Fuck."
"Such power."
"Ha. Great Job Oshawott," Ash half laughed half shouted. His eyes then narrowed and he glared at the four Flare members. "Now. Team Flare. Let Hikari go right now."
"Sam Samurott," Oshawott snarled, bearing his now knife like teeth as he stood on his rear legs holding his two sword like seamitars with his front paws. Ash was copying his stance, standing legs apart and bent at the knee slightly his arms held out.
At that moment the door to the cockpit slid open revealing another Team Flare grunt. "What's going," he begun then seeing Oshawott said hurriedly, "Ahh. Carry on," before closing the door again.
"Xerosic," said Malva desperately. "What happened? How is it doing that?"
"Hmm." Xerosic rubbed his chin with his gauntlet free hand. "It appears we are witnessing synchro evolution or the bond phenomena. A power said to be unleashed when the love and trust between trainer and Pokémon reaches maximum. Hmp. And here was me Ash that you loved you some Pikachu."
Ash didn't understand this last comment and didn't really care about it. "Oshawott. Let's set Hikari Free."
Oshawott took two strides forward towards Xerosic then slashed at him with his Seamitars. He drove one blade into the side of his face, and the other into his stomach.
"Ahh." Xerosic couldn't scream owing the wind being knocked out of him. He fell onto his back, hitting the steel floor with a dull thud. Oshawott stowed his seamitars in their sheaths placed a paw on his chest to hold him down.
Malva and the other grunt had pressed themselves against the wall and were looking on in shock. Niether dared to do anything.
At the same time Ash up to the grunt holding Hikari's case and punched him in the jaw and the stomach. The man let out a cry and kneeled over, the glass case spilling out of his arms and onto the floor where it shattered freeing it's Pikachu prisoner. Ash quickly scooped him up.
"P-Please," Xerosic gasped pathetically looking up and Oshawott. Oshawott glared at him, hatred blazing in his eyes. "D-Do.."
"Sam." He fell silent as Oshawott growled.
Oshawott lowered his head to his left hand and put his mouth around the gauntlet and pulled it off his hand. He then crunched down hard, breaking it in two. Hikari's eyes returned to their normal colour and he again became aware of his surroundings. "Pi PIKA."
"It's alright," Ash whispered to him. "I've got you. You're safe." He hugged the mouse tightly to his chest then looked at Oshawott. "Come on. Let's go."
"Sam." Oshawott gave a quick nod before rearing his head and blasting another hydro cannon at the rear of the helicopter. This attack was 10 times stronger than previously. It blew the flap clean off the aircraft.
Holding Hikari with one hand, Ash climbed onto Oshawott's back. Oshawott then charged out of the hole he had just created and into the forest.
As soon as they were gone Malva rushed to Xerosic's side and helped him into a sitting position. "Doctor Xerosic. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine I'm fine." Xerosic brushed her off irritably and struggled to his feet. "Get after that Trainer. We can't let Zygarchu escape.
[Pokémon]
As Oshawott ran through the forest with Ash and Hikari on his back, the trees suddenly opened up onto the ocean front. He skidded to a halt Ash gasping, "Huh. Where are we… How far did that chopper take us."
"Samurott."
"Pika chu."
A short distance across the water was a long narrow spit of land, and above it a raised pathway. This was the seaside Cycling road, a special bikeway connecting Slateport City to Mauville. Beyond this, the wide open ocean.
Suddenly a Charizard appeared above them. And not an ordinary Charizard. It was more slender with three horns on the back of it's head, larger fangs and small wings on it's wrists. Mega Charizard Y. Before Ash or Oshawott could react, it opened it's mouth and spat a jet of flame towards them.
"Look out!"
"Samm…" Oshawott did the only thing he could think of. He leapt forward into the water. The flames missed by inches.
Oshawott swam away, using his powerful tail to charge through the water. He was careful to keep Ash and Hikari above the surface.
Ash and Hikari looked up at Charizard. The beast was circling them getting ready for it's next attack. "It's Malva," he shouted. The Elite four and Team Flare member was standing on Mega Charizard Y's back, reminding Ash of the way Hunter J used to ride her Salamence.
"Hahaha. I've got you now twerp," she laughed. "Charizard Flamethrower."
The orange dragon spat another burst of fire at them.
"Oshawott! Be careful."
"PIIIKAAA."
Oshawott spun around and, raising his head out of the water, countered with a Hydro cannon. The attacks exploded in a cloud of steam.
"Now Dragon Claw!"
Before the steam had time to clear Charizard dived at them, it's claws glowing with a green aura. Oshawott saw it coming at the last second. Realising he had no other way to dodge he shouted, "Hold your breath," before diving underwater. He saw the silhouette of Charizard through the dark surface of the water.
Ash gripped the shell on Oshawott's head with one hand while holding Hikari to his chest with the other, as the Samurott dived deeper. Hikari's claws were digging into his arm painfully. His lungs were starting to object to the lack of air. Oshawott surfaced again directly underneath the cycling road allowing him and Hikari to breath again.
Malva sighted them and Charizard swooped towards them once more, firing a third flamethrower. Oshawott powered through the water narrowly managing to avoid the attack.
'I can't keep this up,' he thought desperately. 'I can't fight that Pokémon with these two on my back.'
Charizard fired another fireball at him. Oshawott dived, missing it by inches. He felt the water warm slightly as the flames hit the surface. As soon as he could see the fire had gone he rose to the surface again and then leapt out of the water and onto the grassy path underneath the Cycling road.
Ash and Hikari slipped off his back and lay in the grass both panting heavily. "Phew…Let me know if you're gonna do that again Oshawott."
"Pikachu…"
The ground shook slightly as Charizard landed on the grass with a thud. Ash scrambled to his feet, scooping Hikari up again to see Malva sliding off the Orange Dragon's back.
"Alright kiddo let's make this nice and easy. Hand over that cute little rat and I'll let you go."
"Not going to happen," Ash shouted back glaring at her and holding Hikari closer.
"Samurott." Oshawott moved forward and stood protectively in front of Ash and Hikari.
Malva's eyes narrowed. "Then you leave me no choice. Charizard, Dragon Claw."
At her command Charizard charged towards them raising it's claws that glowed with green aura.
"Oshawott. Use Razor shell."
"Samu." Oshawott drew his seamitar and swung it defensively into Charizard's claw. But Charizard was stronger, breaking through Oshawott's force and sending him flying backwards.
Ash and Hikari looked on in shock.
"Oshawott."
"Pikachuuu."
Oshawott managed to right himself, doing a back flip in the air and landing on his paws. He glared at Charizard.
"Hmm. You're certainly though I'll give you that," Malva sneered at Oshawott. "But you're still no match for my Charizard. Alright. Now thunderpunch."
Charizard charged at Oshawott again, this time his claw becoming surrounded with an electric yellow orb.
"Oshawott. Use Aqua Jet," Ash commanded.
Oshawott covered himself in a veil of water and launched himself at the oncoming dragon like a torpedo tucking in his arms and legs. The two collided again, except this time Oshawott prevailed. He drove his horn into Charizard's chest before it could strike with it's claw. The dragon let out a groan as it fell backwards.
"Now Razor Shell."
Oshawott reached for his sword like shell and slashed the falling Charizard across the chest. The creature roared in pain and hit the ground with a hard thud.
"Uh. Charizard get up," Malva yelled in frustration, a worried look in her eyes.
"Grgh." Charizard let out a pained growl raising it's head. It slowly pushed itself back to it's claws.
Not quickly enough…
"Now's your chance Oshawott. Finish it with Hydro cannon."
"Samurott." Oshawott leapt into the air above Charizard and spat his powerful jet of water at it causing it to faint. Charizard fell back to the ground it's eyes replaced by black swirls.
"Samu Samurott." Oshawott smiled with satisfaction as he landed on the grass beside the unconscious dragon.
"Ha. YES. You did it Oshawott." Ash felt a strong sense of both relief and Joy. He threw his arm into the air triumphantly.
"Pika Pikachu," Hikari cheered.
"Samurott." Oshawott turned back his head back to him a massive grin on his sea lion face.
"Such incredible power!" Malva stared at Charizard as if she couldn't quite believe what had happened. "If we had known that this Oshawott had this sort of power. We may never have needed the aura Pichu." Her eyes narrowed and she reached for another Pokémon. "Alright. Let's see just how strong you…"
"Samurott…"
Before she could do anything Oshawott growled and fired a beam of blue energy from his mouth hitting her in the stomach. A block of ice appeared where the beam hit quickly spreading and engulfing her entire body freezing her solid.
Ash placed Hikari down and gave Oshawott a hug, wrapping his arms around his neck. "You're the best buddy." Then, without really thinking about it, he kissed Oshawott on the cheek making him blush…
[Pokémon]
"Uh We not sure what happened."
"We just found her like this over near the Cycling road."
Xerosic took a deep breath and tried to keep his frustration from getting the better of him. Two of his Flare Grunts and just brought him the block of ice containing Malva. He sighed and turned to his Malamar that was standing beside him. "Use brick brake."
"Mala.." The strange purple squid like creature slammed one of it's tentacles into the ice cube. It shattered freeing Malva.
"Ahh. It's difficult to breath in that thing," she gasped, doubling over and taking a deep breath. She then caught sight of the Flare scientist and straighten up. "…Dr Xerosic."
"Not acceptable Malva," said Xerosic coldly. "Not only did you fail to retrieve Zygarchu, you allowed yourself to be defeated and humiliated by a mere child and his Oshawott."
Malva's face flushed red both with anger and shame. He was right. How had that Oshawott defeated her. A member of the elite four? "Hey it's not my fault," she shouted defensively. "That thing is insanely strong. It…"
"I don't wish to hear your excuses," Xerosic interrupted her. "I want Zygarchu. Now. All of you get back out there and bring me that Pikachu…"
[Pokémon]
Slateport City…
Even with Malva defeated Ash, Oshawott and Hikari faced another problem. They were lost. Not knowing exactly where the helicopter had taken them they didn't know the way back to Pikachu, Jimmy and the others and they had no way of contacting them.
They walked to the end of Route 110 and into Slateport City, a large port City in the south of Hoenn home to a contest hall, the Oceanic museum, Shipyards and a busy harbour where ships from all over Pokémon Nation and beyond docked.
"Hmm. Slateport City," Ash murmured looking around at the many people and Pokémon going about their business. "Sure is a busy place."
"Pika," whimpered Hikari nervously.
"Oshawott," Oshawott said cheerfully. Unlike Hikari new places, sights and smells always excited him. Now back in his Oshawott form, he climbed from Ash's shoulder onto his head to get a better look at the city.
"If we find the Pokémon Centre," Ash muttered more to himself than Oshawott or Hikari. "Maybe I'll be able to phone Jimmy. He's got that cell phone thingy…"
Being Ash and not having a great sense of direction, he set off in no direction in particular walking at a fast pace. He managed to pass the centre without noticing it and end up in the Slateport Market, an open air bazaar filled with colourful stalls selling a range of colourful items. Crates of juicy fat berries, racks of TMs and tables of Pokémon dolls.
A large elderly man with a box full of little pots approach him from one of the stalls. "Hey kid. I see you're really close to those cutie Pokémon you got there. You wanna breed with them. I'll sell you incense. $10 Poké a pot. Bargain."
"N-No thanks," Ash said surprised walking away.
"You there. I sell you a T-shirt."
"Hey amigo… Bring your parents to my bar."
Before they knew it, Ash Oshawott and Hikari were surrounded by sales people approaching them or shouting out from their stalls.
"Wow." Ash wasn't quite sure what to do. He tried to politely decline the objects being waved at him or shoved in his face and keep moving, but they didn't seem to want to take no for an answer.
It didn't help matters when Oshawott caught sight of basket of a colourful sweet smelling fruit and jumped off Ash's head to go and check them out. "Osha Oshawott."
"Oshawott," Ash cried as the greedy sea otter picked one up and take a large bite.
He pulled the necklace a girl had just put around his neck and handed it back to her.
"Are you sure. It goes so well with your skin…"
He then ran over to Oshawott as the otter finished his first fruit, tossed the core aside and reached into the basket to pull out a second.
"Oshawott. That's not…"
"Oshaa." Oshawott let out a cry of pain and withdrew his paw from the basket. A Spinarak, a tiny green Pokémon with many legs crawled out from between two fruits.
"Yeah well it servers you right," Ash said picking him up. "You can't take things that don't belong to you."
Hikari, put a paw over his mouth and sniggered.
"Oshawott." Oshawott angrily spat a water gun at Spinarak sending it and several of the brightly coloured fruit flying into the air.
"HEY. What do you think you're doing water rat."
Ash spun around to seek an angry looking Servine standing behind them. "Those are my buddy's mangoes." It looked up at Ash. "Your trainer better be prepared to pay for those…."
"Umm…I'm really sorry for Oshawott," Ash said awkwardly. "Umm. He was just hungry. He didn't mean…"
"I don't care what he meant. Those Mangoes cost $1 Poké each. And water rat here just ruined the entire barrel. That's $75 Poké."
Ash swallowed. He was in trouble now. "Uhh. Well you see. The thing is we kinda just got here by accident and I don't have any money…"
Without warning the Servine suddenly shot out it's vines wrapping them around Ash's middle. "No money. Well then you're in a lot of trouble aren't you pretty boy."
"Pika."
"Osha."
Hikari' and Oshawott both exclaimed in alarm. Oshawott growled and took a deep breath preparing to use another water attack until Ash hissed at him, "Oshawott don't."
"So what's it gonna be," said Servine. "I can get my partner to call the police. You can find some way to pay me. Or I can get my buds and we can play a game of beat the otter!"ead.
, and the rest Oshawott was balancing on hsi were being hledaged and stolen magoesntil Ash hissed at him, "
[Pokémon]
"Oh Oshawott. What am I gonna do with you," Ash sighed. "You sure do know how to cause trouble."
He, Oshawott and Hikari were now making their way across Slateport City towards the harbour, after Ash had managed to make a deal with Servine that as payment for the damaged and stolen mangoes, they would take a delivery to the contest hall. This consisted of 10 trays of berries, two of which were being held by Ash, and the rest Oshawott was balancing on his head.
"Yeah. But don't you get some good adventures from it," Oshawott replied with a cheeky grin.
"That's not the point."
"Pika."
When they reached the contest hall, a beautiful round building in the north of the city, adjacent to the entrance from 110, they found a small crowd of people gathered outside.
"Hmm. Wonder what's going on here," Ash mused. They made their way through the crowd and found that they were all gathered around a girl and her Altaria, a blue dragon type Pokémon with beautiful cotton wings.
"Hiiiiiiii, ev-er-y-bo-dy! Lisia here! Me and my Altaria, Ali, have come to Slateport City's Contest Spectacular Hall for a bit of FUN!"
"Ali-li-Ali." As she spoke Ali the Altaria let out an happy cry in it's soft melodic voice.
"Osha." Oshawott took noticed a smitten look appearing in his eyes and a slight blush on his cheeks. Ash rolled his eyes mumbling, "Oh boy. Here we go again," and Hikari frowned jealously.
"Watch me as I dive right in again today! Dazzling, dizzying, doldrums defying!" Lisia preformed a twirl as she finished speaking then struck a pose raising her right hand triumphantly before her.
"Ali-Ali."
The crowd cheered, a few people whistling and one or two calling out "Yeeeahh" and "Lisia! Aliii." Ash thought he even heard someone shout "Lisia. Scout me to be your next boyfriend!"
"She must be a star or something huh," Ash mumbled.
"Osha." Oshawott nodded but wasn't really listening. His eyes were fixed on Altaria.
'Ahh. She's so pretty…Or is it a he. Meh. Doesn't matter. Those wings look so soft. And those eyes.'
"All righty!" Lisia announced. "I'm going to bring another fantastic trainer into the world of contests." She looked around at the crowd and started pointing at individuals. "Ernie…Meenie…Miney…You there Watching me with that baffled expression on your face."
Apparently spotting a fantastic trainer, Lisia walked into the crowd who parted to allow her to pass, going up to someone Ash couldn't see because of the other people blocking his view. "Hi…"
"What. Me," an embarrassed sounding kid replied. "But I'm not a."
The kid trailed off and Lisia started saying something. Ash didn't hear what she said however, as at that moment he felt something cold and metallic being pressed roughly into the small of his back and a familiar voice whisper in his ear, "Hello twerp. Don't move or make a sound or I'l shoot."
He and Hikari gasped, glancing sideways to see the gleeful faces of Jessie and James. Ash dropped the basked of fruit and Hikari let started to squeal. "Pii.."
"Shhh." Jessie hissed and pressed a put his hand over Hikari's mouth to stop him from screaming. "Be quite and prepare for trouble."
"And if you try to get away we'll make it double," added James.
They proceeded to whisper their motto into Ash and Hikari's ears quietly enough so nobody else would notice.
"To protect the world from devastation."
"To unite all people within our Nation."
"To denounce the evils of Truth and Love."
"To extend our reach to the stars above."
"Jessie."
"James."
"Team Rocket Blasts off at the speed of light."
"Surrender now or prepare to fight."
"Meowth dats right."
Meowth ended the motto quietly from somewhere behind them. Wobbufett, Noibat and Braxien didn't add their own names.
"The gun pressed in your back contains a needle that will inject you with a shot of sleeping potion knocking you out instantly," said Jessie. "If you or any of your Pokémon try to escape or attract attention we'll inject you with it and take Pikachu."
"And we know that this Pikachu isn't your main Pikachu," added James. "He's the weak one who can't produce a thunderbolt. Tongari."
"It's Hikari ya moron," Meowth muttered.
Ash started to feel tense. If what they were saying was true, and he didn't want to risk taking a chance that it wasn't, they were in trouble. He looked around hoping someone would notice but everyone had their attention fixed on Lisia.
Even Oshawott was staring intently at Altaria and hadn't seen what was happening to his trainer. His eyes had been replaced by pink love-hearts as he gazed longingly at the dragon/flying type, a big grin on his face.
'Wait Oshawott…' Ash had an idea. He stared at his little sea otter and thought hard, 'Come on Oshawott. I know that our bond is so strong that you can tell when I need you.'
"Now. Let me tell you about our brilliant plan," said Jessie. "Our best ever if I do say so myself."
"It was my idea," grunted Meowth. "Stop tryin' ta steal da credit for it."
"Our balloon is parked just outside of town," Jessie continued ignoring Meowth. "We're going to walk you to it."
"Den we're going to tie you and lil 'Ikari up and force Pikachoo to surrender himself to us," Meowth said gleefully.
Ash gritted his teeth starting to feel sick with anger and fear. Was there no depth Team Rocket wouldn't sink to. 'Come on Oshawott.'
"Get moving." Jessie jabbed the gun into his back signalling him to move.
However, just then Oshawott noticed what was happening. It wasn't because he'd heard Team Rocket whispering or noticed what was happening out of the corner of his eye. He had sensed that Ash was in trouble deep in his head. It felt like being stabbed in the chest with a ice shard snapping him out of his infatuated state.
"Osha." He turned and saw what was going on. "OSHAWOTT."
His reflexes were fast. Before Jessie, James of Meowth had time to register his sudden cry he attacked throwing the boxes of fruit at James then blasting a water gun at Jessie. The two rockets stumbled backwards tripping over Meowth and falling into a tangled heap.
"Ouch. What the."
"James. Get off me."
"Gah. Ya crushing me here."
Ash scooped Oshawott up and ran for it. Team Rocket's shouting echoed after him.
"James. The twerps getting away. Get after him."
"Ha. Great job Oshawott," Ash sighed looking down at his little Sea Otter he was holding in his arms.
"Osha." Oshawott beam at him.
Ash kissed the Otter for the second time that day, pressing his lips to the his crown of his head making him blush again.
"Pika." Hikari made a disgruntled noise and frowned but neither of the other two noticed.
Ash sprinted back out of Slateport City onto route 110, where as luck would have it, he spotted the graceful jet plane like form of Hirosaki high above them.
"HEY. Hirosaki. Down here!"
Author's notes: Well there you have it dear readers. Sweet little Hikari's backstory. My initial intention was that Hikari had a Zygarde core living inside his brain rather than him physically being a core himself. But I couldn't come up with a plausible story as to how the core would have got inside him in the first place. I got the idea of straight up making Hikari an actual core from the Japanese light novel series "All you need is kill" where the protagonist Keiji Kiriya becomes part of an alien organism called the mimics after being drenched in it's blood.