Chapter Twenty-Five: Standoff
Colours.
All Ash could see were blurs of colours, indistinct shapes.
His sneakers thudded noisily against the hard tile floor with every tap of his feet. He could barely hear them over the pounding of his heart. His wringing hands slipped over each other easily, wet and clammy with the sweat of his multiplying fear and shock.
Shot. His mother had been shot.
Red slumped into the seat next to him. His cheeks were crimson, his jaws tight and his eyes blinking with unbridled rage. Two doctors passed by, wearing pale-blue surgical gowns.
Only colours.
Ash blinked, trying to see clearly. It all felt too unreal. Something about his surroundings felt…wrong. Everything around him was zooming out and then back in until he felt way too tiny in to the hallway. Even the unique, sharp smell of hospital equipment couldn't make him accept the reality of the situation…
Until the door to his mother's ward whooshed open, and it was like he'd been torn out of an eternal daydream. Red immediately stood up, and Ash followed suit - even though he couldn't meet his brother's eyes. Suddenly, his words back in Saffron weighed more than ever.
"How is she?" Red asked, and Ash couldn't understand how he had the ability to hold his tears back. He feared that, if he opened his mouth, he'd do nothing but cry.
The doctor sighed, taking off her glasses and pinching the bridge of her nose. "She's suffering from a few of burns to her respiratory system due to smoke inhalation, although we've managed to keep her stable," she said. "But…"
"But what?" Red pressed.
She hesitated. "She'll never walk again."
Ash stared at the doctor, mouth slightly agape and heart beating to a stop. "W-what?"
She nodded solemnly. "I'm afraid so. The bullet travelled through her spine, and, unfortunately, she's paralysed from the waist-down." She looked away. "I am truly, truly sorry. I'll give you some time to process this."
As she left, leaving them to their thoughts, Ash felt his entire world fall apart. Utter despair seized him, shock keeping him from dropping to the floor. He couldn't believe it - wouldn't believe it. This couldn't be happening.
What had his mother done to deserve this? She was the kindest, sweetest, most selfless person he ever knew. Even those that barely knew her in Pallet could attest to her golden heart. Who could've done this?
Ash clenched his teeth. He was going to find the person who dared to hurt his mother. He was going to tear them apart, limb by limb, and-
Red's words were soft but chilling in his ears. You are not strong enough.
He deflated.
"Mr Ketchum?" a voice called. Ash looked to his right with half-lidded eyes and saw two men approaching them, wearing brown and grey trench-coats.
Red blinked the tears from his eyes. "Yes, that's- you."
The man Red was glaring at held his hand out. He had short, wiry hair and a gangly frame, but his coat was still a bit too big for him and it went all the way past his knees. "My name is Detective Looker. This is my partner, Detective Jude." The other detective - shorter, but built like a wrestler - nodded in acknowledgement. "We're from the International Police."
"I know," Red muttered. He looked on edge, for some reason, and his fingers were itching to release his pokémon. "And what does the Interpol have to do with me?"
Looker's wry smile grew. "Nothing that should worry you - for now," he added quickly. "We're here on an investigation regarding Team Rocket. We believe the two of you might have some information for us about the circumstances behind the shooting of Delia Ketchum and kidnapping of Samuel Oak."
The professor. Ash had almost forgotten about his kidnapping. He couldn't imagine how Blue, Daisy and Gary must've been feeling. At least he knew his mom was safe - the didn't even know if Oak was alive.
"Oh yeah? I'd love to answer your questions, Looker, but I have more important things to worry about, like my mother-"
Detective Jude sighed. "We spoke to the witness…Daisy Oak," he said, looking to his clipboard for her name. "According to her statement, the people behind the attack were none other than Team Rocket."
Ash flinched like he'd been slapped. Something inside him withered and died as those two words began to whirl in his mind like a cyclone. Why would they-?
And then he understood. They'd come after his mother because of him. They'd shot her and left her to die because of him.
"It's my fault," he whispered. It stung so bad. He struggled to believe it, but why else would they go after his mom? There was no other possible explanation-
"What?" Red blinked. "Ash, none of this is your fault. Team-"
"You said it yourself!" Ash snarled, taking a step back. Hot tears welled up in his eyes and made everything a blur. The walls around him appeared to close in. "You told me I hurt my pokémon. And now they went after Mom, b-because of me!"
Red looked panic-stricken. "Don't say that-" He reached out to pull his brother in a hug, but Ash ripped himself away from Red's grasp.
"Just leave me alone!" he screamed, and he broke into a run.
He didn't know where his legs were taking him, but he had to get away from here. His heart ached, his mind hurt and his limbs were shaking as he pushed past hospital staff and patients and visitors. He wouldn't have cared if Team Rocket had come after him. He would've understood if they came after him and hurt his pokémon. But his mother? She had paid for his sins. She didn't deserve any of this. She should be at home, working at the restaurant and having dinner with the professor and Daisy, not suffering in a hospital and waking up to the loss of her legs.
He hated Team Rocket, he hated himself for bringing this on his family, his mom should've been okay-
Ash didn't know where he was going, but he realised he was in an empty hallway of the hospital. Sobbing, he looked around and wiped his tears and snot away. He was being stupid. Maybe he should make his way back to Red, even though he couldn't bear to look him in the eye. He needed to be there when his mom woke up…
"Ash Ketchum?" he heard a gruff voice say. It sounded somewhat familiar, so he turned around without any apprehension. It was Detective Jude.
Ash sniffled. "Y-Yeah. Sorry for running-"
His words sputtered and died as Detective Jude grabbed him by the throat in a painful vice. On instinct Ash thrashed and screamed, trying to pry off the meaty fingers around his neck, but he was like straw in the face of a tornado.
Almost instantly, Ash was thrown into a small, dark ward. His eyes wide and fearful, he bit down hard and the detective whipped his hand back, hissing and gasping. Ash tried to run, but a quick slap across his face threw him to the ground. It stung like a hundred Beedrill.
"Brat," Jude snapped, glaring.
"W-what are you doing?" Ash mumbled, caressing his neck. His free hand instantly flashed to his belt, but he cursed; his pokémon were back at the receptionist's desk.
Jude looked disinterested. It was as if he'd forgotten the past five seconds. Ash didn't dare move for the door - while Jude was busy dialing a number on his phone, he kept a gimlet-eye locked on his prey the whole while.
"Yeah, I got him. Yes, he's alone." He looked annoyed. "Look, just get yourselves down here. Looker's bound to get suspicious if I'm away for too long."
With that, he shut his phone and flicked a light one, whistling as they waited for…someone. After Ash somewhat processed the situation, he found the courage to speak, but he still couldn't hide the fear in his voice.
"Why are you doing this?" he whispered, almost pleading.
Jude didn't respond. In fact, he was doing his best to keep his eyes away from Ash.
After ten whole minutes of tense silence, the doors flew open. Two people - two male nurses, Ash corrected - stepped in and they instantly put him on edge. He couldn't help but feel as if something was about to terribly wrong. He didn't know what Jude was up to, but he didn't think it was anything nice.
Jude rolled his eyes, exasperated. "So, when's my payment due?"
The nurses looked at him with the barest of annoyance. "Your money will be wired to your account shortly. Thank you for your cooperation."
"Wait!" Ash cried. "Someone tell me what's going on here!"
Jude gave him a look of sympathy, but he could tell that there was no real emotion behind it. "Sorry, Ketchum. I'm just a delivery boy. I…gotta go."
And with that he left, leaving Ash alone with the nurses. They stared down on him, eyes cold and half-lidded, looming above like a pair of Ursaring. Ash was scared out of his mind to say the least. Silence hung heavy in the air, but when Ash opened his mouth to say something they spoke, effectively shutting him up.
"You must be wondering who we are," one of them said. Ash wanted to make a witty reply, but he held his tongue for his sake. "We are Team Rocket."
His heart skipped a beat. They were from Team Rocket? What the hell were they doing here? Had they come here to kill him? Or worse, finish the job with his mother?
His breathing quickened and a cold sweat began forming around, and the Rockets smirked. "Don't worry. We're not here to kill you - yet," they hissed. "As much as we would love to dismember you for trying to ruin our organisation, we would much prefer to leave that to our boss. We are simply here to deliver a message."
Ash swallowed. "A-And what message is that?" he said, trying to be brave but failing miserably.
The Rocket to his right bared his teeth in a savage smile. The one on the left fished out a small, red phone and dialed in a number, speaking for a few seconds before offering it to Ash. "Talk."
He took it gingerly, fingers trembling as he grasped the device. He dreaded to talk to the voice on the other line, but he had to. If he had to guess, his life depended on it.
"H-Hello?" he whispered. For a moment, there was nothing. Then a strong, smooth voice fuzzed from the other end, sending chills down his spine with every word spoken.
"Ash Ketchum," said the man. He spoke with an air of elegance, of aristocracy and importance. There was amusement in the man's voice, but there was a hidden anger there that Ash didn't want unleashed. "Your name is one that has been spoken of far too many times in my office. I am so glad to finally speak to you."
"Who are you?"
The man chuckled - it was a rich, smooth sound that made Ash shudder. "For the sake of this conversation, you can call me…Mr Sakaki."
"Alright, Sakaki," Ash began, finding his confidence, "what do you want?"
"What I really want is your head on a platter while my Persian feasts on your face," he snarled, the first streaks of his anger striking Ash through the phone. "But that would be too easy, wouldn't it? You see, I've learned a few things from dear old Persian. Like her, I like to play with my food, too. Now, if you care for your mother's safety, you will follow my orders like a good little Growlithe-"
Rage lit his blood on fire. "You leave my mother out of this!"
"Silence, boy!" Sakaki roared. "You've been nothing but a royal pain in my ass these past several months, and I will tolerate your insolence no longer. If you wish for your mother to live, and poor Professor Oak, you will stay quiet, and listen."
Ash was ready to scream, but Sakaki's words silenced him. They had Professor Oak, too! Fuming, he waited for the Rocket boss to speak again, his hatred for the man growing every second.
"Now," Sakaki continued, returning to his smooth, business-like tone. "Two days from now, you will make your way to the gates of Viridian City by nightfall. We will meet, face to face, and I will settle this once and for all. However, if you do not abide by my commands, we will kill your mother and Samuel Oak. Likewise, if you tell anyone of this, we kill your mother and the professor. Do not take my threats lightly, boy. You have been warned."
There was a click. Tears bubbled in Ash's eyes as he handed the phone over to the Rockets - he couldn't believe how bad things had gotten. Now his actions had resulted in death threats upon his family, but he could do nothing but listen to Team Rocket. It felt like his life had been turned upside-down so fast that his brain was struggling to process it.
"We'll be keeping our eyes on you - and dear mummy, of course," the nurses - Rockets, he reminded himself - said, cackling.
Ash didn't even know when they'd left. All he knew was that he was on all fours, crying his heart out as every ounce of strength began leaving his body. Guilt flooded his veins as he thought of his mother and Professor Oak. His entire world had crashed around him, and it was all because of his stupid, reckless arrogance.
Rubbing his eyes until they'd gone red and puffy, Ash sniffled his way out of the ward. He was twitchy and scared out of his mind, looking around for any hidden Rocket grunts, until he saw Red all over the other end of a hallway. He instinctively clenched his teeth - he didn't want his brother to see him crying. Nor did he want him to know of what had just transpired with Team Rocket.
Red pulled him into a hug as he sprinted across like his life depended on it. "Hey," he said, his smile wavering and watery. "Don't scare me like that again."
Ash didn't say anything. He was so close to breaking down again, but he steeled himself and refused to return his brother's embrace. Red's arms grew tighter.
Then he let go, a look of guilt flashing across his serious face as he grasped the boy by the shoulders. "None of this is your fault. I- I never should've said those things to you," Red added quickly, struggling to meet his eyes. "I was just-"
"I don't want to talk about it," Ash mumbled. Red swallowed, but nodded in understanding. Then he frowned.
"What happened to your face?" he asked, confused. Then a hint of shock and anger crept in his eyes. "Is that a bruise-?"
Ash froze. Think fast, he hissed to himself in his head. "I, uh, crashed into a wheelchair." Idiot!
Red's frown didn't go away, but he seemed to accept it. He stood up, then looked at Ash with hesitation. "Is everything okay? You can tell me anything."
And he wanted to. Ash wished he could tell his brother everything - his idol, the youngest League winner, his hero. He wanted Red to protect him, he wanted to tell him about Detective Jude and the Rockets and his phone call with Sakaki, and how he was so so scared, but he couldn't. He didn't know how, but Team Rocket would know if he told on them. And they'd go for his mom. He couldn't take that risk.
So he just shook his head, trying to calm his rapidly beating heart and heaving chest. Red hesitated, but dropped it, but a part of Ash wished he'd pressed the issue.
Red flashed him a warm smile. "The detectives were out here looking for you, too - we've got to answer some of their questions. Are you okay with that?"
A sliver of ice ran down his spine as he thought of Detective Jude - what if that Looker guy was with him, too? Maybe they both were Team Rocket informants. He didn't want to go anywhere near them.
"I just want to be alone," he whispered, hanging his head.
Red nodded like he understood. "Let's get back, okay? Maybe they'll let us see mom. You'd like that, right?"
Ash nodded slowly. He knew he would hate to see her in such a state, but he wanted to. He needed his mom.
XxXxX
Ash returned to Pallet that day when the doctors informed him that his mother would not regain consciousness soon. The fields of Pallet Town greeted him with their lush, perfectly-mown grass that parted at his feet as he walked through. The pastures of Oak Lab - although closed at the moment - were teeming with the corral pokémon, jubilant and alive. Everyone appeared happy. Everything looked beautiful in the sunlight.
Ash wished it didn't. His mother was in the hospital. Pallet should be grieving, instead of waiting expectantly for the rare snowfall to hit their coastal town. The whole world should've been cold and bleak. Nothing should look beautiful.
He hated returning to his home. It was so cold and empty and devoid of the brightness of his mother that entering the living room made his soul leave his body. He wanted his mom to greet him from the kitchen, to hug him and kiss him and tell him that everything was going to be okay.
He spent his entire day crying at random intervals. At one point he got so disconnected that the only thing bringing him back to reality was the itching on his cheek from dried tears. But then there was that growing sensation of dread at Sakaki's orders. He mulled them over, imagining terrifying scenarios of being slain by Rockets, of Proton torturing him with his Ariados, and of the faceless Team Rocket boss laughing maniacally as Ash felt his life slip out of him.
But why did Team Rocket want him to meet them in the Viridian City? Was there a connection? Was Team Rocket planning on killing him there as a twisted sign of mockery towards Giovanni, and the whole Indigo League? Countless conspiracies ran through his mind, but he didn't have the energy nor the intelligence to think them through.
He looked to the belt of pokéballs on his bedside desk. He hated keeping them cooped up, but then the thought of seeing them after risking their lives in Saffron filled him with trepidation. How was he going to explain Atlas' absence, and whose actions led to his stay in intensive care? He shook his head. He would see them tomorrow.
That night, Ash struggled to sleep. He was sweating even in the cold breeze of winter. Cursing and groaning, he lumbered his way downstairs, frowning at the sound of hushed arguing from the living room. He was three steps from the bottom of the staircase when he heard a voice that was definitely Red's say,"…going to destroy Team Rocket!"
Ash froze.
"...won't do anything," Red continued. He clicked his tongue. "No, I can't go to Interpol! I don't trust Looker anymore. I've got to do this alone. I have to."
Red went quiet. Ash inched closer, thinking he was out of earshot, when Red growled angrily.
"I can't stand down!" he snarled. His Pikachu cooed sadly, leaping from his lap and scuttling away to a different part of the house. "They went after my mother. I won't let them get away with this."
Ash waited for the person on the other end to stop talking. Then, he heard Red inhale through gritted teeth.
"If you're not going to support me right now, then I can't do this- I'll call you right back." Red went silent. "Ash?"
His heart hammering, Ash decided he couldn't get away with it by simply running back to his room, and so he stepped into view. "S-Sorry," he stammered, not meeting Red's eyes. "I just…I couldn't sleep."
Red sighed. "That's okay. Why don't you head back up? I'll be there in a minute."
Ash nodded slowly, bleary-eyed as he lumbered back to his room. All of a sudden he was tired, his eyes flitting close, but he couldn't help but think of Red's words downstairs. Was he really planning on going after Team Rocket? And why couldn't he trust Detective Looker, or Interpol? Did he know they were in connection with the Rockets? Could he confide in his brother about Sakaki, then?
He shifted in his bed, pulling at his sheets so that they were comfortably woven around his curled body. He couldn't risk telling Red about his phone call. He couldn't put his mom in any more danger. He had to do this on his own.
XxXxX
The next morning, Ash woke up to a pleasant surprise. He was still joyless as he got out of his bed, but the news he received while having his breakfast of warm cereal couldn't help but bring a smile on his face.
The doorbell rang, and Red grinned. "They're here."
Ash frowned. "Who's here?"
He couldn't believe his eyes when the door swung open. He wondered if he'd hit his head that morning - standing there were Gary, Natalie and Jack. It was like seeing ghosts. How long had it been since he'd seen them, or even heard from them? Several months, but it felt like years.
"Wha-?" Ash blinked, abandoning his bowl of cereal like it had never existed. "How?"
"Good to see you too, Ashy-boy," Gary drawled, clapping the boy on the back as he made himself at home. His cocky smirk looked forced and strained, and Ash realised that he wasn't the only one grieving. He couldn't imagine how Gary must've been doing, having lost both of his parents, and now his grandfather.
Jack flashed him a smile, pointing the Twinkie in his hand at Ash's cast. "What the heck happened to your arm?"
Ash rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Long story," he said tersely.
Natalie snorted. "We've got time."
Ash stared at Natalie with an incredulous look on his face. She looked so different…A thin scar ran down her cheek, marring her youthful face. She'd changed her hair - it was now till her chin and tipped in bright blue. And her eyes - they still had the spirited fire she was known for, but there was no passion in it. Just a cold flame that only blazed out of fear of dying out.
Ash couldn't believe his eyes. "When did you guys get here?"
"I got here this morning," Gary told him, taking a seat at the dining table. "It's a hell of a trip from Cinnabar Island, y'know - Pidgeot's probably taking the entire day off. I came as soon as I heard about- well, about Gramps. And Ms Ketchum…"
Ash nodded, his smile saddening. "Yeah."
"I came here about an hour ago, actually," Jack perked up, ignoring Gary's rolling eyes and sigh of exasperation. "I've been stuck in Viridian for like, a month. Just training my team so we can win the earth badge, but Giovanni's so strong! I've challenged him, like, thrice now and I've only made it till his fourth pokémon."
Gary snorted. "He may be strong for a pathetic weakling like you, but we're going to breeze past Giovanni like he's paper!"
Jack just smiled. "Let's go a few rounds and test that theory," he challenged, palming a pokéball in a tight grip.
Gary hesitated. "I don't want to waste my time leaving you in the dust, so I'll pass."
"Scared?"
A scoff. "You wish, Jackass-"
"Language," Red warned, although not too seriously.
"What about you, Nat?" Ash asked. His conversation with the professor about her came to the forefront of his mind. "No one's heard from you in forever."
"Yeah, you don't even answer my calls!" Jack exclaimed with false indignation. "What's that about?"
Natalie flashed them all a quick, tight smile. "Just been busy training."
"Too busy to talk to your friends? And you're so quiet now; the Natalie we knew just couldn't shut up." Jack grinned teasingly, and even Gary cracked a smirk. "What, did someone die-"
Natalie glared. "Shut up."
The venom in her voice made Jack's smile vanish instantly, and the whole room went silent. Finally, it was Gary who decided to break the awkward tension in the air. "So, Ashy-boy," he said. "Wanna go spar? My backyard's free if yours isn't."
Ash smiled despite himself. "Sorry, but my team isn't up for it." Gary shrugged in acceptance.
Jack finished his Twinkie in one smooth bite. "How about we compare pokédexes, then? I've probably left you guys in the dust. I've been travelling so much!"
Ash grinned. That he could do.
XxXxX
Spending the day with his old friends was a refreshing change that Ash accepted with open arms, even if it wasn't like when they were aspiring trainers full of energy. Gary was unsurprisingly subdued, Natalie was uncharacteristically listless, and Jack had lost some of his trademark silliness, but Ash was relieved at the change in the atmosphere. His mother was still in the hospital, but at least he had something to keep him from crying all day long.
They talked about their pokédexes, their pokémon and regaled each other with stories of their adventures. Ash didn't offer much, but hearing about Jack's Alakazam leaving him atop a tree after an argument elicited a hearty laugh.
But when evening neared, Ash made a few excuses and took his leave. The pit in his stomach had reappeared and, realising this with a knot of guilt, he had yet to talk to his team. They probably hadn't even realised how long it had been since the attack at Silph Tower, and he hadn't seen them since after he took them from the pokécenter - well, everyone save for Atlas.
He blinked back his tears. He wasn't going to cry.
After finding an empty clearing near the south of Pallet, Ash set his team loose - everyone except for Screecher. They were noticeably muted when they greeted him, and Ash couldn't blame them for their lack of heart.
Looking over his team made his heart hurt. Most of them looked okay - Saur, Eevee and Zeus, to name a few - but he could still see the effects of the injuries on the rest. Delphi's breathing was still somewhat laboured, and she did not attempt to make contact with his mind. Hydrus looked upset. Even Snorlax looked similarly disheartened, his eyes lowered in distress. The armour around Kratos' chest looked like cardboard. They all looked terrible.
"Hey, you guys," breathed Ash, his shoulders sagging.
They looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to continue. Ash sighed and struggled to meet their eyes.
"I am so, so sorry," he said, trying to keep his voice free of stutters. "I should never had put you all in danger. I was so stupid and reckless that I didn't care about your safety, and only for my idiotic thirst for justice. I made you guys suffer for my mistakes, and- and-"
Ash fell to his knees, the tears pouring from his eyes without rest. He felt his team's watchful gaze upon him, sympathetic but silent. He struggled to speak with such trembling lips, but he had to.
"Atlas is hurt," he spat out suddenly, choking on his own sobs. "Real bad. He…he…The doctors say it'll be a long time until he's out of stasis. A few weeks, couple months at most. And then…even then, there's the chance that he might not recover fully. And it's all my fault."
The last words passed from his lips as the softest of whispers, but they shattered him like glass.
"I don't deserve you guys. I- I don't deserve to be your trainer. I'm sorry."
Then a feather-light presence touched his mind. He looked up in surprise, the sight of his team blurred by hot, briny tears. I think I speak for the team when I say it was not your fault, Delphi told him, staring at him with her wise, comforting eyes. Yes, you were reckless in your actions, but you never harmed us, Ash. We fought with you.
Ash felt a thick, rubbery tentacle curl around his shoulder and squeeze in support. Blinking out his tears, he saw Saur, holding him with a vine, trod over to him with deathly seriousness.
The rest of his team followed suit. Zeus and Hydrus walked over and patted Ash on the back. Eevee ran up to him and squeezed into his arms, cooing sadly, and Monferno petted his head. Even Snorlax, who never involved himself like this, lumbered close, helping Kratos along with one arm.
You made a mistake, Ash, Delphi continued. But mistakes can be forgiven. After all, you're not just our trainer - you are our friend. You are part of this…family.
Right when he thought he'd cried all his tears out, his sobs returned with twice the fervour. What had he done to deserve them? He couldn't have asked for anything more. He loved his team. They were his family. He was never going to wrong them again.
He ended up crying until his eyes had dried out and his shirt was soaked in his tears and snot. His team said nothing throughout his breakdown; they held him in their embrace until he pulled away, managing a watery smile on his face.
"Thank you," he murmured, rubbing his swollen eyes. His pokémon grunted and gave him space, although Saur still grasped his shoulders with his vine, keeping him upright.
Then, he unclipped the final pokéball on his bandolier. He regarded it with a bitter taste in his mouth - he didn't know if he was right in being mad at Screecher after putting her to the same fate as the rest of his team, but his emotions were running so high that he simply lost it. With a snarl, he tapped the release button and set the Mismagius loose.
The rest of his team was confused with the venomous glare he sent her way. Even Screecher looked nervous, keeping her eyes to the ground as she tried to find a shadow to hide in. Ash wasn't going to give her the chance.
"Why didn't you help?" Ash snapped, rising to his full height. Screecher floated away, tittering awkwardly, but he didn't care. He wanted an answer. "Atlas nearly died because you were too busy watching the Rockets crush him to a bloody pulp. Maybe you could've stopped the R-Rockets, maybe you couldn't. But you could've at least tried!"
Tears began pricking his eyes again. "Why didn't you!?" he screamed.
Screecher looked away. Delphi hopped forward, chirping something. Maybe she could get some answers and translate for him.
Screecher warbled something back. Ash noticed shock in the next few chirps. Screecher then murmured something incomprehensible - this one held undertones of remorse. Delphi's chirps turned to angry squawks. Screecher didn't reply.
And then, with a furious shriek, Delphi launched herself at Screecher with a flick of her wings. The Mismagius backed away, twirling to the side to avoid a vicious peck to the chest. Delphi flapped her wings to a stop as she zoomed past and turned around, this time a spherical mass of pulsing black forming in her beak. Screecher didn't defend herself from the Shadow Ball, but simply floated away to evade. The Xatu screeched and flew faster, but Ash began to notice her breathing get strained.
"Stop!" he yelled. Delphi scowled, flying to the ground with painful coughs. Ash walked over to the Xatu, looking over her in concern, but she pushed him away with her wings and continued to glare at Screecher with shocking anger. "What the hell just happened?"
Delphi's voice sliced into his mind almost painfully. The hag had no intention of saving Atlas! she hissed.
He frowned. "What? What do you mean?"
She assumed that the injuries inflicted would make you…change. Her glare hardened. That your emotions would intensify enough to manifest your 'Adaption'. Of course, it did not.
Ash blinked, the disbelief on his face obvious. "What?" he asked Screecher, incredulous. "Your plan was to let Team Rocket hurt Atlas so I'd get mad enough to Adapt? What did you think, that- that I'd attack them with Shadow Balls? Psybeams? You're insane!"
She looked to the ground, face stricken with guilt. He wanted to be angry, but he couldn't find the strength to scream and whine and yell at Screecher. Sighing, he pointed the pokéball at her, and she vanished back into it with no resistance.
"I'll deal with her later," he growled, resisting a scowl as he clipped the pokéball to his bandolier. He couldn't help feeling guilty with the way he was treating now - the sensible part of him reasoned that she was in no less danger than the rest of his friends. But the childish side of him wanted to simply be mad at her right now.
There was a nervous knot in his chest as he glanced at his team - even though he hated the slightest notion of putting them in harm's way again, he had to tell them about Team Rocket's visit. He needed their help.
"I…I have something else I need to tell you guys." Ash gulped the lump in his throat. "Team Rocket attacked my mom and the professor," he told them slowly. "She…She's in the hospital now. Professor Oak's gone missing."
The rest of his team watched him with a curious look. "They want me to meet them tomorrow, or else they…They'll hurt my mom even more."
He wiped the tears from his eyes. "I know I'm asking too much from you guys. I don't know what they're planning, but- but I need you guys to be there with me. If something happens…I don't wanna be alone."
Ash cursed his words for making him sound weak. He expected his team to balk at his pleas, but to his surprise they assembled at his feet, facing him with their minds already made up. They didn't make a sound, but the look in their eyes told him everything.
Even though the lump in his throat made it difficult, Ash managed to express his gratitude with a smile.
XxXxX
Ash dreaded the next day. He found it difficult to sleep that night, and he was awake right at the crack of dawn. Warm beams of sunlight shone through his windows, but they only made the knot in his stomach tighten. Sweat soaked his shirt even in the biting cold of winter.
When he got downstairs, Ash was surprised to find Red wide awake. The living room was a mess - it smelled of stale pizza and rancid smoke, and beer cans lay strewn over the coffee table. Fortunately, Ash didn't have to make his own breakfast today - a hot pile of pancakes sat atop the dining table, waiting to be devoured. It almost made him forget about his conclave with Team Rocket.
Ash looked over his meal with growing surprise. "Did you make chocolate-chip pancakes?" he asked Red, incredulous.
Red smiled, seemingly proud of himself. "Just like how Mom makes them," he said with a wink.
Ash ripped out a chunk of pancakes with a swift stab. Mom makes them better, he contested, although he didn't say it out loud. He appreciated Red's effort nonetheless.
"So," Red exclaimed, smiling despite the creases of nausea wrinkling his forehead. His Pikachu, appearing out of nowhere, weaved through the litter on the floor and leapt into his lap, scratching at his cheeks. "When are Jack and the others swinging by? Got any plans?"
Ash hid his nervousness. "Er, no," he muttered through a mouthful of pancakes and syrup. "I wanted to spend the day alone. With my team."
Red blinked. "Okay. Well, I'll be leaving the house for a bit, so don't make a mess-"
Ash shook his head. "I was thinking of heading out to the outskirts of Pallet. You know, get some fresh air," he lied quickly. He hoped Red wouldn't notice.
Red was frowning. "I don't know if that would be…safe," he said carefully, petting Pikachu slowly. Then he sighed, massaging his forehead as he spoke. "Look, Ash…I don't want to scare you even more after everything that's happened, but the detective's said that Team Rocket were the ones that sh- hurt Mom," he muttered. "It'd be stupid to think that they won't come after us. I…I don't want anything happening to you."
Ash resisted the urge to scowl. He needed an excuse to get out of the house so that he could sneak off to Viridian. How else was he going to meet Team Rocket? Stifling his discomfort, he schooled his emotions into a mask of petulant rebellion. "I won't be too far," he said. "I want to be alone."
Red looked conflicted. "What if I ask someone on my team to accompany you? You like Tita well enough. Or even Arcanine, let me-"
"I need to be alone," Ash repeated, gritting his teeth.
Finally, he relented. "Just…Make sure you don't stray too far away," Red pleaded.
They gorged through the rest of breakfast in silence, while Ash stewed over his thoughts. He wanted to leave right this instant and end his feud with Team Rocket once and for all, but he didn't want to raise Red's suspicions. Sakaki had specifically told him to come alone and speak of this to no one. If Red knew, then Team Rocket would. He didn't know how, but he just did.
Ash knew he was walking straight into a trap, but it was the only way to ensure his mother's survival. He couldn't forget that they had Professor Oak, as well. From his call with Sakaki, he was hopefully still alive. Team Rocket wasn't playing any games this time, and he didn't want to find out what would happen if he took Sakaki's threats lightly.
Any joy that he'd felt at having pancakes for breakfast vanished. They were just tasteless, bland mush as his head hurt with unending thoughts of Team Rocket.
XxXxX
Route One brought back bittersweet feelings. He remembered the day clearer than anything - how could he forget the beginning of his journey? A smile split his face despite the ominous dread in his heart as he reminisced walking through the tall grass with Jack, Natalie and Saur. If he tried hard enough, he could almost visualise a small, stoic Bulbasaur waddling by his side, his curious vines slithering across anything in sight, and a tiny Natu nipping at his jacket and hat and hopping after any Caterpie that came close…
It had only been months, but it felt like far longer. They'd grown so much. He couldn't believe that he had even been a rookie, dressed in crisp clothes that would wrinkled at every move until they wouldn't crumple anymore.
He didn't know how he was going to reach Viridian in less than a day. Screecher could've cut the journey in half, but he'd never flown on her and she was still recovering from her injuries. He crossed off teleportation, too. Maybe if he ran all the way…He was no Arcanine, but he could try.
I can make it in time, he told himself, even though his feet were already beginning to ache. The Rattata scurrying through the thickets eyed him as potential prey, but a glimpse at his bandolier of pokéballs were enough to ward them off.
Even when his feet began to numb, Ash didn't stop for a break. Sweat dotted his skin, enough to soak his shirt, but he didn't care. It was only when his legs felt like they were about to fall off that he stumbled to a halt, fatigue pricking his lungs with raggedy breaths. He'd barely made a quarter of the journey, and he was already so exhausted. In a few hours, it would be nightfall.
Gulping down a generous amount of water, Ash gasped for breath. He had to make it to Viridian in time.
Right then he felt the need to check his pokégear. There were a dozen unanswered calls from Red, and a whole lot more frantic messages filling up his inbox. He almost felt guilty as he switched his pokégear off, but he watched as the light blinked out without another thought.
By the time dusk had rolled out, he was certain he hadn't even completed half the journey. The squawking of Spearow had been replaced by whistling Hoothoot, the eyes of Rattata glistening like rubies in the shrubbery. Goosebumps pricked his skin as a chilling breeze blew past, soft yet biting. Holding back a shudder, Ash scowled, clenching his teeth at his frustration. At this rate, he was never going to make it to Viridian by night.
All of a sudden he heard leaves rustle with fervour. The shrieking Hoothoot seemingly vanished. An eerie presence crept into his surroundings - something he couldn't place. He shivered, feeling a sliver of ice race down his spine like an ill omen. As Ash straightened and frantically glanced around himself, his hands instinctively flew to his belt and withdrew a pokéball. In a flash of light that sliced through the darkness, Zeus materialised with a powerful bleat and illuminated the route with flickers of electricity.
"Watch out. Something's approaching," Ash murmured, his eyes flitting from right to left. The presence was all around him, its aura making his skin crawl with fright and apprehension. Sparks flew from Zeus' horns and made the air around them fry. Behind them, the bushes shook as a Raticate scurried away in fear.
A guttural, ragged laugh cut through the silence. Ash tensed. "It's here," he warned. He didn't know what it was - creatures like this weren't known to be near route one! Still, he wasn't going to underestimate it. Anything that could drive away even nests of Hoothoot had to be strong.
Ash frowned. Either the moonlight was playing tricks on his eyes, or the shadows were moving. They weren't just flickering - they grew and shrank and rolled like ocean waves, almost as if they were…alive.
Realisation hit him like a hammer. "Shit - it's a ghost!" he cried stumbling back. What the hell was a ghost doing near Pallet Town? But he had no time to think - it was already here.
The shadows spilled out of the ground, rising like chimneys of black smoke, and began to coalesce into a large, black mass. Violet miasma frothed around the creature and wrapped around it protectively as it took shape. Two stubby arms wrinkled into existence, as did a pair of short legs, and rows of spines sprouted along its back. Scarlet eyes blinked at Ash and a massive mouth split into a maniacal grin, displaying massive fangs that could tear into trees. It's chilling cackle rang through Ash's ears again as the spines on its back rustled with each gasp.
Ash glared at the Gengar. He was not very fond of ghosts anymore, not after the Black Fog, and especially Screecher's actions as of late. He didn't know why a Gengar was roaming route one, but he didn't think it was here for anything good. "Thunderbolt it," Ash told Zeus angrily. "Don't give it a second's rest!"
The Gengar simply smiled back. With the most effortless push of its toes, it rose into the air and yawned. Ash blinked.
And then, faster than he could realise, it flew to the ground. Panic rushed through him. Zeus blasted at the ghost with a surge of electricity, but it had already melted into the shadows. Ash stumbled back, as if he could outrun the darkness painting the earth, but then he bumped into something cold and smoky right behind him. Ash froze. He turned around.
The Gengar was staring right at him. For the shortest of moments, neither of them did anything. Then it roared.
Ash screamed. His heart was ready to burst and he jumped nearly a foot in the air before landing roughly on his rear. Zeus yelled angrily and the air turned dangerously ionised, but the Gengar lolled its tongue out and locked eyes with the Ampharos. Within seconds, the stare had hypnotised him and put him to sleep.
Ash cringed. He curled up, waiting for claws to rip out his throat, but…Wait, was it giggling?
Hesitant, he opened his eyes. Sure enough, the Gengar had burst into laughter. It was rolling in the air, clutching its stomach as if its cackles hurt, and then stopped to stare at him with a cheeky grin. What-?
His eyes lit up with recognition. Ash was no longer scared - he knew this Gengar. "Wait a second." He shook his head. "Shade?" he exclaimed, incredulous.
Its grin widened and it turned in the air, hovering closer so that its fangs were inches away from his face.
Ash picked himself up. "What are you doing here?" he asked, any hint of fear replaced with confused curiosity.
The Gengar smiled, unblinking. Ash's eyes flicked to Zeus' sleeping body lying among tufts of dry grass. "Uh, could you wake him up?"
Shade snickered. With a lazy snap of his claws, a pulse of energy leapt off and washed over the Ampharos. It was like he'd awoken from a nice, sound nap as he blinked with a hearty yawn.
"No, that's Shade!" Ash intervened before Zeus could blast the Gengar with a Thunderbolt. Once the sparks died out he turned to face the ghost in question, frowning. "What are you doing here?"
Shade shrugged. Ash pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation, and quickly wracked his mind for a reason as to why Red's ghost would be after him. Then, it struck him. "Wait…Did Red send you after me?" he guessed.
If Shade's grin could widen any more, it would. The ghost nodded, floating above the pair like a cloud. Ash scowled. "Did he send any more of his team?" he asked angrily.
Shade shook his head. Ash felt a wave of relief - until he felt Shade's ghostly hand wrap around his wrist and yank him in the direction of Pallet Town. Panic began to settle in his heart.
"W-Wait!" Ash cried, indignant as he stupidly tried to pry off the Gengar's claws. His fingers sank right through, but the stinging pain of the toxic vapour was inexplicable.
Zeus bleated and sparks flew from his horns. Shade snorted as if his electric attacks would be less than static shocks to him and, with a flick of his claws, a pulse of obsidian energy flashed out like a missile and sent Zeus rolling away like tumbleweed.
"You can't take me back!"
Shade stopped, turned, and looked at him as if to ask, Why not?
Ash blinked. "Wait, you're not going to ignore my pleas and drag me back anyway?" he asked, surprised. He didn't expect the Gengar to so readily want to hear him out...
Shade rolled his eyes, shrugging as if he was saying, If that's what you want…
"No!" Ash licked his lips. "I- I have to be somewhere," he said quickly. Behind him, he felt Zeus rise up with a grunt, but he didn't make a move to strike. "If I don't, things are going to to get really bad."
Shade quirked a non-existent brow.
"I can't say much," Ash added, licking his lips as he remembered Sakaki's warnings. "But I have to make it to Viridian. By tonight."
When the Gengar pointed at the moon, Ash rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I know. But…It's too late to turn back now, and I don't have another way to get there quickly.
"So if you can't help me, you can go back to Red." He sighed. "Maybe if Tita was here, I could convince her to fly me there in a jiffy…" he mumbled, scowling.
Ash beckoned Zeus to follow him. His knees began to tremble, as if dreading the aches to come. The sound of his shoes flattening grass started to form a pattern, but then he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around and was surprised to see Shade still lingering around.
"What?" Ash asked, a bit impatient when the ghost shared his unnerving grin. Then his head burst with pain and he nearly crumpled to his knees.
I can help you, a voice hissed in mind, raspy yet childlike. It made his brain hurt and feel clammy, like he'd smelled something rotten.
"Warn me next time," Ash grumbled at Shade as Zeus helped him up. "And what do you mean by that?"
I can cut your journey short to a mere few seconds. Shade smirked, floating upside down as if suspended by a pair of invisible ropes.
Ash blinked. "How?" he asked, genuinely curious.
Shade cackled. Just trust me, his hissed, cackling.
Ash didn't know if he should. He shared an unsure glance with Zeus, who shrugged as if to say, What's the harm in trying?
He sighed. "Fine," he mumbled. "Do…whatever you have to."
If it was possible, Shade's smile widened. He glanced around, drinking in the gloom of the forest. Then he flew at Ash and Zeus, grabbing them by the arms and yanking them to the ground.
Ash didn't even have the time to scream before the three of them melted into inky blackness of the shadows.
XxXxX
Whatever Shade had done to them felt like an eternity. Cold shivers began racing up and down Ash's spine. Wind slammed against him as if he was flying straight into a typhoon. One moment he could see nothing - then the next second, light pierced his eyes as the shadows around him dissolved and he was sent flying out of the ground.
Stone and dry grass cut at Ash's skin as he tumbled to a stop. He felt his bones ache as he rolled over to all fours, and felt his stomach empty itself as Zeus helped him stand up. "Thanks, buddy," he stuttered, hanging onto the Ampharos' shoulder.
Zeus grunted, his tail glowing as he drove the gloom of the forest away, and then he scowled at Shade who seemingly appeared out of thin air with his trademark grin. The ghost snickered.
"What the hell did you do to us?" Ash exclaimed, angry and confused as he looked around. Then he saw the wooden post sticking out of the ground, the words scratched on it glinting under the light of Zeus' tail: Viridian City, 1.2 km ahead.
"If you're playing tricks on us with your Hypnosis, I swear to the legendaries…" Ash hissed.
No tricks, Shade promised, scoffing at the pitiful threat. I helped you, like you asked. And now you owe me.
Ash hesitated. "Wait, what?"
Shade nodded fervently. Sugar cubes. His tongue lolled out dreamily. Very tasty.
Despite his current circumstances, Ash couldn't hold back a smile. "I'll keep that in mind."
They found themselves starting into the darkness for a moment, and then Ash spoke again. "Shade…You can't tell Red about this. Do you understand?"
I make no promises. Shade clicked his teeth. Time for me to go. Good luck, little Ketchum, he hissed in Ash's brain, bringing the familiar sting of pain. Please do not die. Red would be very disappointed.
Ash grit his teeth at those departing words, but the Gengar had already vanished. Zeus was so infuriated that he blasted the spot where Shade had been with electricity. Ash snorted.
"Let's go," he told the Ampharos, feeling the pit of dread widen in his gut again.
It didn't take long for them to reach Viridian's city gates. He didn't know why, but the city's atmosphere had changed. A weird cloud of gloom had settled over Viridian. It seemed to mute even the piercing streetlamps glowing fiercely in the night. The disconcerting air betrayed the seeming tranquility painted over Viridian. It made Ash's heart crumple.
The moment Ash and Zeus reached the gates, they felt their surroundings shift. Footfalls cut through the silence. Ash tensed. Zeus covered his back and sparks began to spin around his horns. Several figures slipped out of the darkness, surrounding them in a circle. A growl bubbled in Zeus' throat.
"Ash Ketchum?" one of them asked, making him jump. They had to be Rockets.
He glanced around at the grunts, eyes wide and fearful. "Y-Yeah."
Zeus snarled. Electricity leapt from him, crawling out like spiders. The Rockets shifted nervously. "Get that Ampharos in his ball," one of them snapped.
Ash didn't like the way they spoke of Zeus. "Make me," he growled.
Sparks thundered around Zeus. For a moment the Rockets looked frightened, until they realised they outnumbered Ash and his pokémon heavily.
"You're not the one in charge here," the same grunt threatened as another whistled. The trees nearby rustled, and out of the branches flew a great owlish creature, its amber eyes glowing as it swooped lower. As the Noctowl made its silent descent towards them, Ash and Zeus made the mistake of meeting its eyes - they were now bright blue. A pulse of invisible energy enveloped the two as the bird trilled its hypnotic song and, suddenly, everything around Ash began to blur…
XxXxX
Ash groaned as consciousness returned, bringing with it a fierce throbbing around his eyes. He couldn't even remember the last thing- oh yeah, he'd met with Team Rocket and they'd put him to sleep. That was a comforting memory.
His vision swam as he blinked the drowsiness away, finding himself sleeping on cold, hard earth. His eyes flicked around - he was in a massive hall and only a spotlight saved him from the darkness. His limbs refused to move - he hissed as thick, bristly bonds roughed the skin on his wrists as they held his arms behind his back. More ropes tied up his ankles as he peeked at his feet.
Panic burst in his chest. He gasped, writhing against bonds even though that did nothing. Laughter erupted around him and made him freeze.
"Look at the poor Magikarp," yelled a familiar voice. "Finally awake, are we?"
He rolled onto his belly, raising his head so he could get a good look at the person, only to find rage surge within him like a tidal wave. Proton. "You!" he snarled.
Proton snorted. "Nice to meet you too, Ketchum," he greeted coldly. He walked closer and Ash was beginning to smell the nicotine off him. "I'm surprised you showed up. I thought your cowardly ass would've made a run for it."
"Says the one who ran away from Sabrina like a rat," Ash remarked spitefully. He knew the danger he was in, but he couldn't hold it back. He hated Proton.
Proton's pupils narrowed to slits. "Careful, Ketchum. I could ask my Houndoom to cook you like a kebab-"
"But you won't." Ash smiled even though his wrists began to bruise as he wrestled with the ropes. "You won't do anything, because your boss wants me alive. So you're going to shut up and wait for your leader like the good number two that you are."
Ash knew it was risky to push the boundaries of Proton's ego - the man was unpredictable. Thankfully, and surprisingly, Proton did nothing even though his eyeballs looked like they were fit to burst.
"You have spirit, Ketchum; I'll give you that," someone remarked. Ash glanced in the direction of the voice - he recognised it. It was Sakaki. The darkness was beginning to dim now, and Ash could see the Rocket boss' eyes shining like pearls of obsidian.
"Unfortunately, that will not be enough to save you today."
There were shuffling footsteps all around as a crowd of silhouettes began to circle him. Ash began struggling against his bonds harder. He heard a snarl that made him look up, and his heart nearly stopped - a positively prodigious Persian prowled at Sakaki's side, its muscles rippling with every move it made. Its paws looked like they could crush his skull like a balloon.
"I came here like you said," Ash spat, gritting his teeth.
He could almost feel Sakaki's smirk. "Thank you for coming, Ash," Sakaki greeted insincerely, still shrouded in the darkness. "How are you? I hope you're well; I would hate to make my guests feel uncomfortable."
"Where's Professor Oak?" Ash asked, colouring his embarrassment with resilience.
"We'll get to poor Samuel Oak in a minute," Sakaki drawled. "For now, however…I have been waiting for this moment, Ash Ketchum.
Ash grit his teeth. "What do you want?"
"Straight to the point," Sakaki remarked. He stared at Ash, filling the room with his silence, and then he finally spoke, finally stepping out of the shadows.
"I want to kill you, Ash Ketchum."
Shock smacked Ash in the face. "Leader Giovanni?" he whispered, struggling to recover as confusion flood his being. He felt his limbs cease to struggle. His anger faded and his bravado crashed.
The truth was staring him right in the face, but Ash refused to believe it. Couldn't believe it. He wanted a sliver of evidence that would shatter this ludicrous illusion, wanted this to be a bad dream, but it was undeniable.
The Rockets around him looked at their leader with a mixture of fear and reverence. Ash's heart pounded against his chest as repeated stabs of fear gutted his soul. It was truly him - the mightiest gym leader in all of Kanto. Giovanni stood there in his fashionable pinstriped suit, a black fedora shadowing his angular, aristocratic face. His strong shoulders and high cheekbones looked just like the rare photos of him in Trainer's Weekly. Rows of gold and silver rings adorned his thick, yet nimble fingers.
It was only when he stared a bit longer that Ash noticed the cracks in his facade. The smile appeared forced. His eyes looked like they struggled to emulate humanity. Once Ash looked past his irrefutable beauty, he could see the man for the sociopath he truly was.
"What…What the hell is going on?" Ash stuttered, his words flying out in bursts of confused anger. "You…You can't be a Rocket."
Giovanni laughed. It was a rich, sonorous sound that made Ash's bones shudder. "I find your denial oh so humorous."
Ash gulped. "No…" He felt like he was about to throw up. "You…You're-"
"Say it!" Giovanni snapped, grinning as maniacal embers flickered in his eyes. "Spit it out. Loud!"
But he couldn't. The words died in his throat before he could open his mouth. Like an invisible hand was choking the air out of him.
"I am Giovanni," he boomed, laughing as his Persian yowled. "The leader of the criminal society Team Rocket, that you have dared to mess around with. You've caused my organisation quite some trouble, boy. To be honest I must say I'm impressed, although I'm torn between your bravado and stupidity. Perhaps I underestimated the intelligence of a child."
It felt like his entire world had been flipped upside down. Giovanni couldn't be part of Team Rocket. No way. It just wasn't possible.
"Why?" Ash managed to get out. "You're Giovanni," he mumbled, as if struggling to find an argument. "You're a gym leader. The strongest gym leader."
"I'm flattered," Giovanni said with a smile. "I'd rather keep my identity secret but, as you will be dead rather shortly, there's no harm in you knowing."
"How could you do this?" Ash cried. He wanted this to be a sick joke. This couldn't be true! "You- You took an oath as a gym leader to protect the people of Kanto from any threat. Team Rocket is evil!"
It felt like he was arguing with a child over right and wrong. Giovanni scoffed.
"There is no good and evil," he muttered. "There is only power, and those with the willingness to attain it. Pokémon, regardless of their qualities, possess vast amounts of power. Team Rocket's goal is to one day control the world and make it our own! Pokémon are nothing but tools necessary to attain more power." His lips curled into a dangerous snarl, and he wrung his palms. "And we will destroy anyone that dares to get in our way!"
The venom with which Giovanni spat those last words would've made Ash flinch, but he only stared dumbly. He couldn't wrap his head around anything right now after such a terrible revelation - one of Indigo's very own protectors was part of the organisation that had terrorised the To continent for nearly half a decade. It all felt like a horrible, horrible dream.
And suddenly, Ash was bursting with anger again. "I…I looked up to you," he hissed, ignoring the way he still squirmed on the ground like a Caterpie. "You were one of my idols." His eyes lit up with hate. "But you're just an evil bastard who shouldn't be allowed to exist!"
Giovanni's smile turned brittle. Proton stepped forward menacingly, but the Rocket boss held out a hand. "Brave words," he mocked, recovering from Ash's attempt at a dressing-down. "What are you going to do about it, Ash? Fight me?" He scoffed, his eyes dancing with malevolence.
Ash scowled. He wanted to break free and stand up to the traitor in front of him, but the ropes were like steel. "If I have to," he challenged, however pathetic he looked on the ground.
Giovanni chuckled. The Rockets around him joined in his laughter, the sound of their cackles making Ash's cheeks redden in shame.
"I like you, Ash," he told him with sincerity that surprised the boy. "Even in the face of certain death, you are brave. I always valued bravery. Perhaps, in a different time, you could've been part of this wonderful organisation."
Ash balled his fists. "Never!"
Giovanni ignored him and scratched the back of his Persian's ears. "But you seem to forget that courage is meaningless without the strength to back it."
Then he rounded on him like a feral Arbok, his pupils turning to dangerous slits. "You're weak, Ash Ketchum," Giovanni hissed, and his words cut like glass. "Too week to fight Team Rocket. Too weak to help your pokémon. And too weak to protect your mother."
Proton snickered, folding his arms. "She looked pretty stupid when I put that bullet in her belly," he added.
Ash froze as the words sunk into his mind, and his head snapped up. Proton grinned at him gleefully and his eyes danced with mirth, like he felt pure bliss the stab of pain that gutted Ash.
The beat of his heart felt numb. Proton had shot his mom. He'd carried the gun. He'd pulled the trigger. His mother was paralysed because of him, Professor Oak was missing because of Proton-
"I'll kill you!" Ash screamed with rage and despair, his voice piercing like a banshee's. He struggled with all his strength to break free of his bonds. He didn't care as the ropes bruised his flesh. He wanted to tear Proton's head off! He wanted his knuckles to bruise and punch Proton until he was unrecognisable! "You sick bastard! You're dead!"
Proton laughed and spat at Ash's face. Ash shrieked, his mind clouded with rage and despair. Never had he hated someone as much as Proton. The very sight of him made his blood boil even as tears blurred his vision. He wanted Kratos to spear the man on his blades as he died slowly and painfully!
The back of his neck tingled. His blood felt like it was on fire, even though it felt like ice was running up his spine. His vision flickered, red beginning to cloud his eyes like blood. The noise around him muted to a soft buzzing. Something in his chest was going to explode-
A meaty fist smacked his face and his eyes rattled in his head. At once, that murderous feeling vanished, and Ash felt like he was drained of all energy. The roar of his blood in his ears faded and he could hear people talking around him again.
"I think the kid was having a seizure," he heard Proton say.
"Don't be stupid," Giovanni snapped at his executive.
Ash felt his vision refocus. His eyes rolled skywards and he noticed the Rocket boss staring at him curiously. "Get the boy up."
Proton grabbed him by the arms and picked him off the ground. His fingers dug into the back of Ash's neck as he held him upright. "Don't worry, kid," he whispered, almost breathing into Ash's ear. "Once this is all over, I'll send poor mummy to meet you in hell. Promise."
"Fuck you," Ash said brusquely. Proton guffawed.
"You're a curious case, Ash," Giovanni muttered, eyeing him with something more than contempt for once. Surprise? Interest? There was silence in the room apart from the Persian's low growls. "I will offer you this once more: join Team Rocket, and all will be forgiven. Imagine what you could accomplish with us! You wanted to be strong, yes? I could do that for you. All you have to do is join me."
He held out a hand, smiling genially as if his proposition wasn't in the least bit ridiculous.
Ash took one look at Giovanni, and promptly spat in his open palm without a second of hesitation.
Proton pinched the back of his neck, and Ash hissed. Persian snarled. Giovanni looked at his palm with his face twisted in disgust and wiped it against his suit.
He sneered. "I offered you friendship, and you choose to disrespect me," he said. "You made your choice, boy. Your own bravery will be your undoing."
Ash grimaced. Proton's nails began to pierce into his skin. The Persian lounged, as if waiting to pounce at him and tear up his face. The Rockets shifted around and huddled closer, suffocating him with their presence.
"Cut him loose."
That caught him completely off-guard. He didn't believe Giovanni's words even as the ropes around him slipped off, and he fell face-first, hands snapping against the floor just in time to break his fall.
"Get up," commanded Giovanni, and Ash pushed himself off the floor, wrists aching. His knees trembled as if he'd forgotten how to walk, but he stood defiantly even as surprise clouded his face.
"What?" he whispered, confused with Giovanni's direction.
"You didn't think I would let you go with a swift death, did you, Ash?" Giovanni smiled, head inclined. "I've learned a thing or two from my Persian. It's fun to play with food before devouring it. And I will have my fill, Ash…We're going to battle."
XxXxX
Yikes. Looks like some of you guys had some words to say about the last chapter, and…I have to say agree with most of it. Team Rocket is overpowered, Ash is kinda whiny, but I guess I have to stand by it now that I've written them like that. I am in no means disregarding criticism. However, Team Rocket is basically the D-Company of Kanto, if not more terrifying - there is a reason they are that dangerous. They definitely won't sit quiet over some meddlesome kid. I hope this clears some of it up, but I'll be sure to make to clear up anything plot-holey in the future.
Happy new year, and stay safe!