Chapter 39 – Plasma Express

Ash's head was spinning. This was unreal. He had been starting to wonder where Pikachu was about to go and find him and Axew when a disheveled looking Cameron had come running in yelling something about "Team Plasma," and "Taken them." He, Iris, Serena and Drasna were there aswell along with Snivy, Zorua and Fraxure.

"Cameron," said Ash slightly worried as the boy grabbed his arm. "What happened. And why is your shirt back to front."

"I told you," said Cameron. "Two people from Team Plasma. They took Lucario, Axew and Pikachu."

"Wait..Axew's been dragonapped," said Zorua sounding concerned. "And Pikachu too."

Cameron nodded. "These two people they attacked me and stole the pokemon. I didn't know what to do but I sent Swanna to follow them."

"What are we going to do," said Zorua. Terror was flooding his system. Axew was his best friend. He cared about Axew more than anything else in the world and he had never told him so. He cared about Pikachu aswell. That pokemon had changed their lives. He couldn't stand the though of anything happening to either of them. But it was Axew who had him most worried.

"Team Plasma," said Iris. "From the Unova region."

"You know them," said Ash.

"They steal pokemon from trainers to liberate them," Iris explained. "It started just before I got back from Johto. They held rallies all over to tell trainer to release their pokemon. Then a number of trainers begun reporting their pokemon were going missing."

"And now they got Pikachu and Axew," said Serena.

"I can't believe anyone would do that," said Iris. "How can they steal someone's beloved pokemon. that's just bad."

"We can worry about that later," said Drasna. "We need to contact officer Jenny."

"I'm going after them," said Ash. "Cameron which way did they go."

"But Ash it's too…" Serena begun.

"I don't care if it is dangerous. I'm getting Pikachu and Axew back no matter what it takes."

Ash didn't need Serena or anyone else telling him it was dangerous. There was nothing Ash wouldn't do to save his mate. Zorua and Snivy climbed onto his back.

"Don't worry buddy. I'm coming…Cameron which way did they go."

"Up towards the road," he replied.

"Right."

Ash ran towards the door.

"Hey wait for me," said Cameron.

"And me," said Iris. "I'm coming too. Right Fraxure."

The green dragon pokemon nodded.

"Me too," said Serena.

"No."

"What."

Ash looked at her. "Serena…I'm sorry but you only have one pokemon..and..Don't take this the wrong way. You and Fennekin have never battled. Cameron and Iris have."

"Oh." She looked at him sadly

Ash could tell he'd probably hurt her feeling but he knew he was right. He needed to save Pikachu and Serena would be of no help with only a low level Fennekin.

"I'm going to find officer Jenny," said Drasna. "I'd come with you too but I don't think I could keep up."

Ash exited the cottage and ran to the road. As luck would have it the road was not sealed and a set of tyre tracks was visible heading in the direction of Camphier town. He took out a pokeball and called out his strongest pokemon.

"Go Charizard I choose you."

"Dragonite let's go."

The great flame pokemon roared upon appearing in the air as Iris Dragonite appeared beside him.

"We need you guys to follow the tyre tracks," said Ash. "Then fly back and let us know where they head. Your looking for Pikachu. a group of people with a P have him."

Charizard and Dragonite nodded and set off followed by their trainers at a run.

[Pokemon]

Pikachu slowly begun to open his eyes but closed them as they were filled by bright light. He felt groggy like waking up from a deep sleep. He was on his back on something cool and hard yet familiar. He rolled onto his side and opened his eyes to see Axew sitting next to him, his head slumped and his eyes closed.

He glanced quickly around. He was on a trolley like the ones they use in pokemon centres. But this was no pokemon centre. It was too brightly lit and it was too cold. It smelt dirty. He turned his head to see an audino pushing the trolley.

"Audino," it said happily seeing Pikachu stir.

Pikachu's eyes became adjusted to the light and he was able to get a better look at his surroundings. He was on a railway platform being pushed alongside a train. It was similar to the ones he'd been on earlier except it was green not silver and carried the Team Plasma insignia on the sides of the engine and doors. Various team Plasma grunts were moving around on the platform along with many different Pokemon. Most of them were moving items into the train.

Pikachu's first though was to make a break for it. He was small enough and fast enough to get away from here. Just one problem. He couldn't abandon Axew like nor could he escape carrying the little dragon pokemon. He decided to lie back down and close his eyes pretending to be asleep but listening intently to his surroundings.

"Audi Audino."

The Audino stopped pushing the trolley about halfway down the train. Then Pikachu heard a set of voices speak.

"So this is the famous Pikachu."

"It looks so peaceful. It doesn't appear to be injured."

"Let's get them aboard quickly we need to keep to schedule."

Pikachu felt a set of hands pick him up. He opened his eyes. The person who was carrying him was tall and slender. He was dressed in some sort of black outfit with a dress like set of and a vest though his chest was visible though which his chest was visible. His face was covered by a black mask and a white wig. There was something familiar about him. Pikachu though he had come across this man's scent before. The man carried Pikachu into the carriage and up to the second level where he placed him down in a bed.

"There you go. You'll be safe here."

"Pikachu."

Pikachu looked around. The carriage had been converted into what appeared to be a mobile pokemon centre with two rows of little beds underneath the windows and several nurse Audino's. Axew was set on the bed next to him by the another man in the dark black. A few beds down Lucario lay sleeping.

The two men in the black left the room and an audino came over.

"Au Audino. How are you."

"Where am I," demanded Pikachu. "Why am I here."

He stood up but the audino pushed him backdown.

"It's okay. Your safe now. No harm will come to you while in our care."

"Who are you."

"We're Team Plasma," said the audino. "Team Plasma works to liberate pokemon from foolish humans. We are taking you to a place where you can be free and safe. You see it is our kings desire to create a world where pokemon can live free from humans."

While Pikachu was digesting what he just been told Audino moved on to Axew's bed. She pulled out a bottle and gentled poured something down the little dragons throat. He begun to stir. The Audino placed him back down and moved onto her next patient.

"Axew," said Pikachu.

"Pikachu," said Axew. "It's you. Thank goodness. Where are we."

"I'm not sure," replied Pikachu. "On some sort of train. Listen how do you feel."

"Okay."

"We need to get off this train before they try to take us somewhere." He looked around. "I think Iron tail should be enough to break the window. Then we can."

"Don't even think about it."

Pikachu looked around to see one of the Team Plasma grunts standing over him.

"Team Plasma exists to save pokemon. But if you attack us we will have no choice but to subdue. With force if necessary. I advise you to take a look around. Let me assure you, you are outnumbered."

"What do you want with us," said Pikachu. "Why can't you just let us go back to our trainer."

"Team Plasma liberates pokemon by taking them from their trainers. Your being taken to a place of safety to live in peace."

"But I don't want that," said Pikachu. "I want to go back to Ash."

"Heh. If I had a quarter for every time a pokemon said that to me I wouldn't need this job. But nevertheless the pokemon we have liberated are much happier in their new lives than the ones they led before."

He walked off.

Outside the train four people were talking. One of them was Ghetsis, the interim leader of Team Plasma. The other three were the people in the black outfits who had carried Pikachu onboard. These where the shadow Triad, a group of high ranked members of the organization who were loyal to Ghetsis.

"The pokemon have all be placed safely onboard Lord Ghetsis sir," said one of the Shadow Triad.

"Good," replied Ghetsis. "When will you be ready to leave."

"As soon as the doctor is ready," said another member. "Will you not be joining us lord."

"I have other business but I trust that you will oversee this assignment properly. If that is all."

He turned to leave.

"Shall we get a move on then," said one of the triad. "It's a long journey and we need to complete it before dawn."

"I suppose," said another.

"What is you problem. You've been acting all weird lately."

"I just can't help but wonder if what we're doing is…right…I mean separating pokemon from their beloved trainers. It just seems so heartless."

"Not this again," said the third member. "You haven't been the same since you met that kid. You know what we're doing is for the greater good of pokemon."

"But. I know one of th…"

"Listen we have work to do so stop talking."

The man was about to open his mouth reply when one of the grunts approached them.

"We have a situation. There's three pokemon trainers trying to force their way into the station. We're holding them off but we can't for much longer."

"We need to leave now," said the triad member. "Quickly get everything onboard the train."

[Pokemon]

Charizard, Dragonite and Swanna had flown back to Ash and the others and led them to Camphier Town's railway station to have found the entrance blocked by the Team Plasma grunts.

"Hey you," said the grunt infront of the station. "Beat it."

"You took Pikachu," said Ash. "Give him back at once."

"Pikachu…Personally I'm not aware of what pokemon have been liberated…I was just told to stand guard. NOW GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE OR I'LL HAVE TO USE FORCE."

"We're not going anywhere," said Iris.

The grunt took out a pokeball and sent out a Garbodor.

"Garbodor use sludge bomb."

The Garbodor sprayed a jet of foul smelling liquid from its arms.

"Charizard use flamethrower."

"Dragonite use Dragonbreath."

The combination of the two attacks was too much for Garbodor and it was knocked out. Unfortunately four more grunts exited the station building. Ash, Iris and Cameron where soon faced with a Liepard, Watchog, Deino and a Timburr. The grunts each ordered a different attack.

"shadowball."

"Hyper Beam"

"Dragon Pulse"

"Superpower"

The barrage of powerful attack were sent at the four pokemon.

"Charizard use Dragon tail," commanded Ash quickly. Charizard managed to use his powerful dragon tail to stop shadowball just as Dragonite's dragonbreath collided with hyperbearm.

However it was superpower that caused the most problems. The Timburr became surrounded in a light blue aura and then to everyone surprise put it's hand on a streetlamp and pulled it out of the ground.

"Ahhhhhhhhhh."

Timburr threw the object directly at Ash.

"Fraxure dragonclaw."

Fraxure jumped in front of Ash and cut the projectile in two with his powerful claw preventing from hitting Ash.

"Wow. Fraxure's gotten really strong," said Ash.

"Yeah," said Iris. "Now Fraxure Dragon rage."

Fraxure opened its mouth to fire a orb of blue light back at Timburr.

"Liepard use shadowball."

"Okay Snivy leafstorm."

"Sni."

Snivy leapt off Ash's shoulder and sent stream to leaves spinning at Liepard taking out shadowball and hitting their target.

"Now leafblade."

"Snivyy."

She struck Liepard hard with the leaf on her back sending it flying back against the wall of the building.

"Dragon pulse."

Dieno's Dragon pulse hit Snivy knocking her to the ground.

"Snivy are you okay." She was still conscious but did not get up.

"Okay use Hyper fang watchog."

"Swanna hurricane."

Watchog took a run at Snivy preparing to bite her with it's long teeth. But before he could Cameron's Swanna blew a powerful gust at it preventing it from getting close. Ash managed to grab Snivy picking her up.

"Are you okay Snivy."

She looked at Ash and nodded.

"Forget about me Ash. We need to save Pikachu and Axew."

She looked a little battered but otherwise okay.

"We have to get inside," said Ash.

"Mienshao use Solarbeam."

Out of nowhere came an incredibly powerful jet of pure energy which was fired directly into the line Team Plasma's pokemon.

"What was that," said one of the grunts looking around to see where the attack had come from.

Standing there was Trip and his Mienshao. Ash wondered what he was doing there. Had he come to help them. Despite the boys general animosity towards him

"Trip," said Ash. "What are you doing here."

"These people stole my Serperior," he said angrily. "I'm here to get him back."

One of the grunts scowled at him. "I remember you. That Serperior was suffering because of you. We didn't steal it. We liberated it. We're taking it to a better place."

Trip looked angry. It was one of the few times Ash had ever seen him show any emotion.

"Serperior's my m…best friend," said Trip. "You had no right to take him from me."

"I've had enough of this," said the grunt. "Liepard shadowball."

"Mienshao aura sphere."

With Trip's help the remaining grunts were quickly defeated and retreated back into the station.

"Thanks for helping us Trip," said Ash.

"Yeah thanks," said Iris. "It's so terrible they took your Serperior."

"Don't mention it," Trip replied. "They didn't get any of your pokemon did they."

"They took Pi..Pikachu," said Ash his voice breaking slightly as he said his boyfriends name. "And my Axew."

"They got Lucario," said Cameron.

"Figures," said Trip. "I was warned about a group of people stealing pokemon when I left Unova. Seems they've come to Kalos now. Now we need to go and save Serperior."

The four of them entered the station. They made there way past the ticket booths and up to the platforms where Team Plasma's train was waiting under guard from several grunts and their pokemon. They hid behind the small building in the middle of the platform, which contained a set of bathrooms.

"What's that," said Ash.

"It must be there train," said Snivy. "So Pikachu and Axew are in there."

"How do we get onboard," said Zorua.

They looked around. There was no way they could get on without being spotted.

"There's only one thing for it," said Ash. "We'll have to force our way in. Ready Snivy."

"Ash that's a terrible idea," said Iris but too late. Ash had already jumped out.

"You moron," muttered Trip. "Why does he always have to act like a child. What does he think this is a game."

"What the.." said a grunt. "Patrat attack."

"Snivy leafstorm," Snivy leapt off his shoulder and used leafstorm against the patrat.

"Sniv"

"Leipard Shadowball," commanded another grunt.

Ash took another pokeball off his belt and threw it saying, "Go Oshawott hydrocannon."

"Oshawott."

The little otter spat a powerful torrent of water at the Liepard that had leapt at Ash on it's trainer's command. The pokemon what thrown back giving Ash, Zorua, Snivy and Oshawott the chance to jump onboard the train.

"Shit," said one of the grunt. "Where do you think your going."

Ash ran onboard and looked around. This carriage was no different from any on the other trains he had traveled on so far. It contained rows of seats which acouple of grunts were occupying. They got to their feet upon seeing him and begun taking pokeballs off their belt.

Ash and his pokemon ran for it, darting up the stairs and into the next carriage. This carriage was the same. Two grunts sitting at the front end stood up and attempted to block his passage.

"Oshawott hydrocannon," said Ash.

"Oshawotttttt."

The powerful torrent of water knocked the two grunts aside.

"Take that," said Oshawott sticking his tongue out at them as they passed by.

They ran into the next carriage. In this one the seats had been replaced by little beds almost like a makeshift pokemon centre. And sitting on one of the beds…

"Pikapi."

"Pikachu."

Pikachu leapt off the bed and ran over and jumped into Ash's arms.

"Oh Pikachu I so pleased to see you."

"Axew yew."

Axew was sitting on the bed next to Pikachu and had also run over the minute he saw Ash. Ash scooped him up to and pulled him into a group hug.

"Oh Axew thank Arceus your safe," said Zorua. "I'm so happy." This caused Axew to blush.

"It's good to see you too Zorua. I'm really pleased you came after me,"

The happy little reunion did not last long. At least 15 Plasma grunts entered the carriage.

"Alright you. Your coming with us," said one of the grunts.

"Get ready guys," said Ash.

"Pika."

Pikachu jumped of his shoulder sparks flying from his cheeks. Oshawott took off his schalchop and brandished it like a knife. Snivy also moved into a battle ready position. Axew and Zorua sat on Ash's shoulders, frightened. Ash looked down at his three pokemon knowing they would do their best.

"Alright..Pikachu use."

There was a lurch beneath their feet that caused Oshawott to fall over.

"Ouch. What the,"

"Oh Arceus," said Snivy. "The train is moving."

Ash looked out the window. To his horror the station was falling behind them. Soon the train was leaving Camphier town and gathering speed. There was nothing to be done. They were trapped.

[Pokemon]

Ash, Snivy, Pikachu, Oshawott, Axew and Zorua were taken to a carriage at the front of the train. This carriage had been converted into an office, with a large desk taking up most of the room at the side. Behind the desk was a man wearing a purple robe like garment with the P symbol on the chest. The man looked old with long white hair.

At the same time, the door at the other end of the carriage opened and more grunts brought in Iris, Trip and Cameron along with Fraxure and emolga.

"What is going on," said the man with white hair.

"Zinzolin sir," said one of the grunts. "We found this good for nothing trainer in the hospital car. He was after Pikachu and Axew."

"These three were skulking around on the platform," said the grunt who was holding Trip.

"Well Well," said Zinzolin. "If it isn't the gym leader…Trip."

"Who in the distortion world are you," said Trip. "And what have you done with Serperior."

Zinzolin chuckled. "My name is Zinzolin," he replied. "And as to your Serperior. He's perfectly safe. Pokémon are our king's friends. While we're taking care of them, we can't let any harm come to them. But rest assured you will never see him again."

"So what do you do," said Ash. "Go round stealing people's pokemon."

"We liberate Pokemon," said Zinzolin. "Liberate them from foolish trainers who are making them suffer. That is why we took Serpeior." He eyes moved over to Ash. "And your Pikachu..and Axew."

"But we're not making our pokemon suffer," said Ash. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Throughout his journey so far the people he had know to steal pokemon had been selfish and had usually wanted to hurt the pokemon or use them for their own end. Yet the Zinzolin spoke he was almost…

"Why are you acting so righteous," said Cameron. "We don't hurt our pokemon. I love Lucario."

"I don't want to be liberated," said Pikachu. "Ash is my best friend." Ash was surprised and a almost a little hurt that Pikachu didn't say boyfriend.

"Enough of this," said Zinzolin. "It matters not what you think of us or our actions. It's not as if you can do much to stop us considering."

"What are you going to do with us," said Iris.

"Well you see that's a problem," said Zinzolin. "We're on a tight schedule. We need to be reach the drop point in Nimbasa before the number one tomorrow morning. Otherwise we'll be detected."

"Did you say Nimbasa," said Ash. "As in Unova's Nimbasa City."

"That is where we're going," said Zinzolin. "From there the pokemon will be taken across the drawbridge to Driftveil city where there is a ship waiting to take them to Fiore where they'll be safe." He turned to the grunts. "Now I have work to do so take them away."

Authors note: I'm interested to know