Chapter 20! I hope you readers enjoy! This should be the end of the St. Anne.
"Deino." Ash's hand fell onto the ball containing the irate dragon. The decision between Jangmo-o and Deino had been tearing Ash's mind apart. There had only been one option left to solve his dilemma. Ash brought his hand back and shut his eyes. He let his hand fall onto either one of the poke balls, and his answer came in the form of Deino. Ash picked up the poke ball and rolled it across the palm of his hand.
"Ash Ketchum has chosen Deino! Gary Oak, please choose a Pokémon." Gary butted Ash to the side, but Ash didn't hold it against the other boy. Gary was just excited to choose. Gary's hand swooped down confidently on Jangmo-o's poke ball like a Pidgeot on a Caterpie.
"Now, Michelle, please take Bagon's poke ball." Michelle took Bagon's poke ball without a word. "Audience, can we please get a round of applause for these fabulous trainers?" the announcer asked the crowd. There was a polite applause, but not much. As Ash was about to step off the podium, a female assistant waved him over.
"We will need to get your Pokémon registered to the league." Ash was reminded by the assistant. Ash internally laughed at himself. How could he forget that Deino wasn't registered? Ash followed the assistant into a small room, containing a computer. "Can you hand me Deino's poke ball?" Ash handed his poke ball over to the assistant. She placed the poke ball in a slot next to the computer. "Your name is Ash Ketchum, correct?" Ash nodded mutely. The assistant rapidly typed onto the keyboard for a few minutes. Ash's eyes weren't able to comprehend what was happening. Suddenly, Deino's poke ball was covered in a blue glow. When the glow died down, the poke ball was gone.
"What happened?" Ash asked. He was panicking.
The assistant, however, wasn't. "You have six Pokémon. Since Deino is your seventh, Deino was teleported to your Pokedex supplier." Ash let out a deep breath to calm himself down. He had forgotten a simple rule again! "You will have to send a Pokémon to your supplier to get your Deino."
Ash nodded. "Can you give me a second?" The assistant nodded. Ash stepped out of the room and brought Exeggutor outside. "Hey, Exeggutor. Would it be fine with you if I send you to Professor Oak's lab for a bit? I'll bring you back soon." The tree shrugged. "Okay then. I'll bring you back soon." Ash put Exeggutor back into its poke ball and walked back into the cramped room.
The assistant looked at him. "I assume you know how to switch your Pokémon out?" Ash nodded. He had learned that at Pokémon school. That might have been on the test, too, but Ash's didn't bother remembering things like tests. All that mattered to Ash concerning tests were that the test was over. "Good to hear. You should know, this Deino is not nearly aggressive as the average Deino is. At least, that's what the man who had Hydregion breed this Deino said. In fact, the breeder called the Deino 'modest.' " The assistant then walked out of the room, leaving Ash alone. Ash plugged in his poke gear and called Professor Oak. The professor was quick to pick up.
"Hello, Ash! You want the Deino's poke ball, I assume. "Professor Oak guessed. Ash sheepishly nodded. "Which Pokémon will you be sending over?"
"Exeggutor." Ash replied.
Professor Oak chuckled. "The Pokémon better not cause as many problems as it did as an Exeggcute." Ash smiled fondly. He clearly remembered the day he had caught his first Pokémon. What trainer didn't? Ash had come far from then. Ash placed Exeggutor's poke ball into a container, and the ball shimmered, covered in a curtain of white light. Ash closed his eyes. As the light died down, an identical red-and-white poke ball was in the container, but Ash knew the Pokémon in that poke ball was very different than Exeggutor. Ash grabbed Deino's poke ball and latched it onto his belt.
"Thanks, professor." Ash said. Professor Oak nodded to Ash and cut the call. As Ash walked out of the room, he saw Gary and Leaf wave him over.
Ash was sitting with crossed legs, facing Leaf and Gary. "Well, what are you waiting for? Open the poke balls!" Leaf complained, exasperated at Ash and Gary. Both trainers were nervous to open their poke balls. What if their Pokémon didn't listen? Jangmo-o and Deino, like all Pokémon that belonged to an evolution family containing a pseudo-legendary, only respected strong trainers. The only reason Gabite listened to Ash as well as it did was because Ash had been taking care of the dragon since it was an egg. With Deino, or Jangmo-o in Gary's case, it would be tougher to gain their Pokémon's respect. Gabite stood by Ash's side, prepared to protect Ash in case either Pokémon went wild. Beedrill hovered above Leaf, and Pinsir stood next to Gary.
Ash opened Deino's poke ball first. It had four dark blue legs. The creature had a stubby blue tail that looked like someone had ripped off part of it. Deino had a long neck that was coated in black fur. The fur reached over the back of Deino's head, covering all of Deino's head excluding its mouth and nose. The fur could almost be considered a helmet if it hadn't covered Deino's eyes. The coat of fur spread over the shoulders of Deino's front legs and partway across its spine. The dragon snorted inquisitively, but didn't attack, which Ash took as a good sign. Then, Deino broke into a sprint. The dragon ran right between Ash and Leaf and slammed into a wall. Deino recoiled and repetitively butted its head against different parts of the room.
Ash pulled out his Pokedex. Maybe there would be an answer to Deino's strange behavior there.
Deino, the Irate Pokémon. They cannot see, so they tackle and bite to learn about their surroundings. Their bodies are covered in wounds.
Well, that explained a lot. Just then, Deino collapsed on its haunches, apparently satisfied with its knowledge of Ash's room. If Ash was being honest, when Deino wasn't crashing into walls, he would go as far to call the dragon cute. "Deino?" Ash called. The tiny dragon's long neck snapped around and Deino stood up. Then, before anyone could react, Deino charged at Ash. Ash closed his eyes, waiting for the impact. But, what Ash felt wasn't an impact. Deino's head softly rubbed its way across Ash's body, feeling his skin. Ash smiled. "It's fine, guys." Gary and Leaf had their eyes wide open and filled with panic. Upon hearing Ash's statement, his fellow trainers calmed down. Deino lightly bit Ash's shoulder. Ash grunted in slight pain but didn't complain. Deino probably didn't have too much control over its strength yet. In a few minutes, Deino was satisfied with its knowledge of Ash.
Ash whispered to Gary, "Aren't Deino supposed to be, you know, more…. agressive?" Gary shrugged. From what Ash had read about the Deino evolutionary line, they were extremely dangerous Pokémon that most trainers shouldn't trifle with. He wasn't complaining if his Deino was more aggressive than the majority. Ash softly rubbed his new Pokémon's head. Deino laid down and stretched luxuriously across the floor. The tiny dragon's long neck and head laid in Ash's lap. Ash smiled and scratched the dragon's fur. Ash pulled out his pokedex yet again and scanned his specific Deino.
Deino, the Irate Pokémon. This Deino is a Level 25 Male Pokémon. This Deino knows the moves Head Smash, Dragon Breath, Tackle, Roar, Assurance, Bite, Headbutt, and Work Up.
"You're a strong little guy, huh?" Ash asked Deino. The tiny dragon snorted in response.
"Well, if it went so well for Ashy, it has to go well for me. "Gary boasted. Gary tossed out Jangmo-o's poke ball, revealing the dragon. Jangmo-o was quadruped like Deino. It's legs and body were a dark black. A silver coating covered the top of its body and its neck. Jangmo-o's head was also silver. On top of its head was a gold heart that gleamed in the light of the room. Scales covered parts of Jangmo-o's body that clanged as Jangmo-o moved.
"Jangmo-o!" the dragon cried.
"Deino!" Deino cried out. Deino flew to its feet and charged at its fellow dragon. Deino ruthlessly bit Jangmo-o and tossed the scaly dragon across the room. Jangmo-o squealed in distress and stumbled back to its feet. Jangmo-o battered Deino with its front legs. Deino was happy to return the favor. Deino took a step back, and then rammed into Jangmo-o, sending Jangmo-o into a wall. The scaly dragon cried out and stood up, ready to fight.
Before the fight could escalate, Gabite broke up the younger dragons. Gary was quick to return Jangmo-o to its poke ball. "It's probably better for all of us if I check Jangmo-o out at my room. "Ash and Leaf were quick to nod in agreement. After Deino couldn't sniff out Jangmo-o, it became content sleeping.
"At least Deino's aggressive in battles. The breeder couldn't breed that out." Ash commented. Gary grunted.
"That thing's a monster!" Gary complained. Deino heard Gary, though, and stood up, seeming to know where Gary was. The dragon fired a light purple stream of gas at Gary, which pushed Ash's fellow trainer over. "Ow!"
"That's enough." Deino looked at the ground, downcast. "You're going to have to learn your own strength." Ash told the tiny dragon. Deino sighed in agreement. Just as Ash ruffled Deino's fur, the boat rocked.
"What was that?" Leaf asked. The boat shook again.
The intercom buzzed and turned on. "Team Rocket has taken over your ship. The St. Anne will be blown up in approximately ten minutes. Have fun with the rest of your life!" Ash's, Gary's, and Leaf's eyes all widened in a mix of surprise, worry, and fear.
"Let's get out of the room. "was all Ash could say. Leaf and Gary agreed, and the trio walked out the door, Deino following Ash. "What do we do?" Ash asked.
"They probably already have their grunts blocking off all the exits. We just have to push past the grunts." Gary told Ash and Leaf. Ash quietly nodded and pulled Charizard's poke ball off his poke belt.
Then, Ash bent down to Deino. "I'm going to return you to your poke ball." Deino grunted in annoyance, but let itself be sucked into the poke ball. "Let's go."
"Charizard, Flamethrower. "The steady stream of flames burnt Koffing to the core, sending the gassy ball to the ground.
"You're just kids! How can you be so strong?" the grunt complained. Ash didn't bother saying anything, as did Gary or Leaf. The trio ran down the hall. They were almost at the docks, where they could fly off the boat with their flying-types. Ash reached the door first. He broke through the doors and sprawled onto the deck, Leaf and Gary close behind.
"Well, well, well. I didn't actually think you'd be on this ship, Ash Ketchum. I suppose my birthday has come early." Ash looked to the direction of the voice. It was Team Rocket Executive Proton. "Ash Ketchum. Do you know how much trouble you have caused me? That ends today. Rhyperior!" The lumbering, rocky, monster burst out of a poke ball and glared hostilely at Ash.
Ash looked at Leaf and Gary. "It's me he wants. I'll stall him. Go!" Ash hissed. Then, he looked at Proton. "You were in jail! How did you get out?" Ash asked.
"We're Team Rocket, kid. That's all you need to know." Proton replied. Ash slowly unlatched Sceptile's poke ball.
"Sceptile, Leaf Blade!" The gecko burst out of its poke ball and a glowing green blade extended out of its arm. Sceptile was quick to bring the blade down on Rhyperior, slashing straight at the behemoth's chest.
Proton laughed. "Weak! Rhyperior, Rock Wrecker." Rhyperior brought a heavy arm back, preparing to swing at Sceptile.
"Charizard! Gabite! Flamethrower and Dragon Breath!" It was technically cheating, but that didn't matter. Charizard let loose a steady stream of flames, charring Rhyperior's stones, but barely affecting the giant. It was the same case with Gabite.
"Kid, you've got one minute left, and that's the best you got? Incineroar, come on out and use a real Flamethrower on that pesky Charizard. Rhyperior, just Rock Blast." Proton drawled. The wrestler-like cat appeared on the field, immediately letting loose a far stronger burst of flames that sent Charizard flying like a Caterpie.
"Eevee, use Swift! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash sent out Eevee and Pikachu to fight as well. Pikachu let loose a bolt of electricity that arced into Incineroar, but didn't even faze the beast. Eevee's Swift was useless as well.
"Hydregion, crush the kid." Proton's ace Pokémon. Hydregion fired a concentrated beam of draconic energy at Ash, who could do nothing but close his eyes.
Ash felt the last poke ball on his belt vibrate and open. Deino. The little dragon seemingly glared at its evolution and tried to counter the Dragon Pulse with its own Dragon Breath. The Dragon Pulse tore through the Dragon Breath like it was paper and sent Deino reeling. Ash ran over to his new Pokémon. "Are you okay?" Ash cried. Deino softly grunted.
"Well, I better take my leave. Bye!" Proton leapt on his Hydregion and flew far away from the boat.
Just then, the boat rocked again. Then again. Next, the boat split apart. Ash returned all his Pokémon to their poke balls. Ash staggered to the rails as the boat rocked again. Looking at the sides, Ash could see he was sinking along with the boat. Charizard couldn't fly. Incineroar had made sure of that. Suddenly, the boat jolted backwards, sending Ash crashing into the other rail. Just then, Ash remembered something. Ash sent Charizard out and opened his bag. After a few frantic seconds Ash found what he was looking for. The max revive. Ash applied one to Charizard, and the dragon roared like a new creature.
"Can you fly us off?" Ash asked. The dragon roared in affirmation and let Ash climb onto the dragon's back. Charizard was airborne just as the surging water reached the deck of the boat.
Chapter 20 finished! That is the end of the St. Anne. Ash made it out, but just barely. I hope you enjoyed the chapter!