Chapter 36 – The enemy of my enemy
Landing on a moving railway carriage while trying to get through a narrow doorway…Charizard was surprised he'd managed to get inside the carriage at all, let alone in one piece. He was in one-piece, right?
He raised himself back onto his hind legs and felt himself over to check. This caused Ash, Zacian, Pikachu and Ashachu to slip off.
"Whoa!"
"Pika!"
"Ahh, I'm sorry," said Charizard apologetically. "Is everybody okay. Ashachu?" He spotted his boyfriend on the floor of the carriage and scooped him up into his arms.
"I'm fine," Ashachu replied. "All thanks to you."
"Yeah, thanks Charizard," added Ash patting him on the side. "You saved us." He turned to Zacian. "Right. That Darkrai can't get in here can he."
Zacian shook her head. "No. There's a shield around the entire train that a Darkrai can't cross."
"Can you please step off me," came a croaky gasp from the floor. "You're…cr-rushing me!"
Everybody looked down to see Mightyena trapped under Charizard's right paw – looking something like a Mightyena pancake.
"How did you get down there?" Ash asked, coxing his head and frowning.
"I grabbed this Pokémon's leg before he could fly aboard. Now get him off me. I can't breathe!"
"Oh sorry!" Charizard quickly removed his foot from Mightyena's chest, allowing the poor Pokémon to breath.
"Ugh, that's better."
"Mightyena, are you okay?" Zacian laid down beside Mightyena and put a paw on his head.
"I will be," the dark type grunted. "When somebody reinflates me."
Charizard glanced out of the door he'd just flow through. The train was gathering speed, the brick buildings, and factories of Motostoke rushing by. He couldn't see any sign of Shadow the Darkrai.
He then glanced around the carriage. It was dark and shadowy inside, the only light being the sunlight coming in from outside through the door. The car appeared to be mostly empty, with the exception of a small collection of crates in the far corner.
There was a hissing sound coming from the far-left hand side of the carriage, attracting everybody's attention. The door to the next carriage had opened, and light was pouring into the carriage.
There were two figures standing in the doorway. Because of the light behind them and the darkness of that part of the carriage, their faces were obscured in shadow. When they spoke however, their voices were very familiar.
"Zacian," snapped one of the two in a deep gravely, raspy voice. "You weren't supposed to bring anyone onboard."
"That voice," squeaked Pikachu. "I know that voice."
"Alright twerp," snapped the other in a feminine but commanding voice. "Withdraw your Pokémon and put your hands up! Lights!"
She clapped her hands twice and lights in the ceiling came on, illuminating the carriage. The two humans at the end of the car were no longer hidden in Shadow – Ash could see exactly who they were.
"You," he declared angrily, while Pikachu growled an unhappy, "Pika Pika."
The two figures, now revealed to be a strawberry blond woman and a green haired man, both in their mid-twenties leered at him.
"Prepare for trouble."
"And make it double."
"To infect the world with devastation."
"To blight the people in every nation."
"To denounce the goodness of truth and love."
"To extend our wrath to the stars above."
"Cassidy!"
"And Butch of course."
"We're Team Rocket, circling the earth day and night."
"Surrender to us now, or you will surely loose the fight, fight, fight!"
Zacian gave a loud bark of "Zacian," as she jumped up in front of a posing Cassidy and Butch, bringing their team's version motto to a close. She then spun back around to face the two rockets.
"Cassidy, Biff. This is Ash, Pikachu, Ashachu and Charizard. They're not our enemies."
"Yeah, we know who this kid is alright," said Cassidy, while Butch hissed through gritted teeth, "the name is Butch!"
"And we may have to disagree on whether he's our enemy or not!"
"Pikachu." Pikachu lowered himself into a defensive and battle-ready stance; on his all fours with his tail low to the ground, fur bristling and cheeks sparking. Charizard hugged Ashachu a little closer to his chest, his eyes narrowing to slits.
"Yeah, that twerp and his Pokémon and ruined so many of our schemes I've not count," spat Butch.
"That may be so," said Zacian. "But right now, these four, especially Ashachu and Charizard have also been marked for death by Shadow."
Cassidy folded her arms and replied indifferently, "And that's our problem because!"
Ash felt himself tensing up inside. What would Team Rocket do? Throw them off the train? Try to steal Pikachu? Imprison them? Or use them as bait to catch Blade? He knew down and put his hand on Pikachu's back to calm him.
Zacian glared at Cassidy. When she spoke, her voice was barely above a growl. "Because I've seen this human child and his Pokémon fight, and they are strong of heart. They can help us bring Shadow down. And also because I, as the hero, will do everything in my power to protect them. So, if you want me to help you, you'll help them too!"
Butch and Cassidy exchanged looks.
"And you should know that Shadow showed up at the gym to ask for Ash's help in returning Blade to him. So, if you don't help them, they may find themselves with nowhere else to turn. As you've said, Ash has destroyed your schemes in the past. I doubt it will help Team Rockets cause, them working with Shadow."
Butch and Cassidy seemed to consider. They turned their back to the carriage and huddled together, discussing in low voices.
Ash felt his heart rate increase and a lump form in his throat. He had seen Jessie and James do this before. It usually meant they were planning to pretend to work with Ash and his friends before backstabbing them to get their own way…
"Pika!" Pikachu growled, thinking the same thing.
"Alright twerp," said Butch as he and Cassidy turned back around. "You and your Pokémon can stay here, and we won't hurt you, provided you follow our rules."
"Now come and meet the professor," added Cassidy. "If Shadow want to kill you, then you should understand what you're facing…"
[Pokémon]
"Well, well young Ash. And Pikachu too…Yes, I recognise you. You're the meddling little boy and his Pikachu who destroyed our operation in the Whirl Islands."
Ash I had only met Dr. Namba on one previous occasion. A short bushy haired man dressed in a white lab coat. On that occasion Namba had had Ash and his friends locked in a cage, while he had attempted to connect his Pikachu, along with Ritchie's Pikachu Sparky, to a rage inducing machine.
The memory still made Ash shiver to this day and the flash of white-hot anger as Namba eyed Pikachu on his shoulder. He clenched a fist without meaning to.
"And I take it from your reaction that you remember me too," said Namba curtly. "That shall save us some time with introductions. Cassidy, Biff…What is he doing on this train? Why have you brought him to me?"
He looked from Ash to the two Team Rocket agents standing behind him…
From the baggage car at the front, Butch and Cassidy, along with Zacian following, had lead Ash, Pikachu, Charizard and Ashachu on a long walk down the train. Charizard had had to hunch over slightly to stop his head from touching the ceiling.
Through all sorts of carriages with all sorts of functions; Dinning cars, sleeping cars, a Pokémon centre car, lounge cars, cars with plants growing inside and what had appeared to be an aquarium. To name a few. They had not lingered in any long enough for Ash or his Pokémon to take a good look around.
The long walk had culminated here, in this carriage. It was the strangest of the lot so far. Dark with no windows, and the only light coming from the holographic computer screen projected into the middle of the car.
Ash guessed it was a laboratory…the long metal table in the middle and the benchtop covered in microscopes and other complicated looking equipment was a dead giveaway.
"Umm sir, it's actually Butch not," Butch begun, before Cassidy cut him off.
"Dr. Namba sir, Zacian brought him to us. Shadow approached him at the Pokémon gym and asked for his help in recapturing Blade the Sneasel."
Namba stared at Ash and raised an eyebrow, before glancing at Zacian who was standing quietly behind Butch and Cassidy. "And why would Shadow be seeking this child's help. What is so special about you, young Ash?"
Ash felt a touch of annoyance at being referred to as child and young. Hadn't he already proven himself the last time he had met Namba?
Before he could respond however, Cassidy answered, "It appears that one of the two Pikachu's here." She gestured to Pikachu and Ashachu. "Was the Pokémon that had the romantic relationship with Blade and was the Pokémon Shadow attempted to kill on the Centurion."
Namba seemed impressed. "Oh-ho. So, you're the trainer who was tangled up in that mess Ash? I have to say, you certainly get around, don't you?"
Ash shrugged. "If you say so," was all he could think of in response.
"Pika," said Pikachu. Charizard and Ashachu remained silent.
Namba's eyes narrowed. "Don't be glib with me, boy! If what Cassidy has told me is true, then it appears that Shadow may have marked your Pokémon for death. You see, I have been studying this creature for a while. And it seems that anyone who poses a threat to that little pet Sneasel of his, Blade, is brutally murdered. Allow me to show you."
Namba raised his hands and begun pressing at holographic computer screens that hovered in front of him. Ash didn't understand what he was doing, but a second later a large projection of the Darkrai appeared in the middle of the carriage.
"Shadow is not entirely what he appears. Oh yes, he is most certainly a Darkrai, a legendary Pokémon, but he is more than that. He was captured several months ago by a group of scientists operating out a laboratory in the Unova Region. His DNA has been fused with that of Charmander and a Raichu, and possibly other Pokémon too, giving him enhanced attack power and abilities."
Ash, at that moment, remembered a story he had seen on the news a couple of months ago. Heather Dunbar, the Special Counsel investigating the Aether Foundation, had indicted a group of scientists for Pokémon experiments.
At the time he had only been interested in the part about the Pikachu Zygarde hybrid they had made – that was the origin story of Hikari. But now he thought about it, there had definitely been something about a Darkrai in there as well.
He glanced at Pikachu and judged from the frown on his face that the mouse was thinking the same thing.
"That was when Team Rocket first became aware of his existence. Our Rocket spies discovered the laboratory and gave us news of the powerful Darkrai. Since then, I have been doing my best to study and observe it. I had our spies follow it. They couldn't get close. Too dangerous. But they were able to bring me a lot of valuable data. Coupled with information I have from eye-witness accounts, I have managed to build a historical and psychological profile of this creature."
Namba pressed a few more buttons on the virtual computer scene. The holographic image of Darkrai changed to become that of a Sneasel. Not just any Sneasel. Ashachu did a double take on Charizard's shoulder. The image was so lifelike, it was almost as if Blade were standing with them in the car.
"Pikachu!"
"Zard." Charizard raised a claw and stroked the back of his head to comfort him.
"So much of this Darkrai's psychology appears to revolve around this Sneasel, known as Blade," said Namba. "The story starts about a year ago when Shadow discovered Blade dying under a tree. Blade was the runt of his pack. Born into the harsh winters of the Giant Chasm, he was unable to fight for himself and thus could not contribute to the well-being of the pack. Always reliant on the others for food and shelter. Eventually the pack cast him out of the pack. Condemning Blade to die so the others might live. It wasn't a pretty sight."
The scientist pressed another button and the holographic Sneasel became a Weavile.
"This is Cleave. Blade's father and the pack leader. A young research student named Lyte was observing this Weavile's pack for a project on Sneasel and Weavile populations in northern Unova. And that is how little Blade came to be under the tree. Shadow offered him food. Berries and fruit. Enough to allow Blade to regain some lost strength. He then allowed the little Sneasel to travel with him… I have been unable to trace Shadow and Blade's precise moments over the months that followed that initial encounter. I believe they were together for this period and that a sexual relationship developed. I also believe that Shadow begun to train Blade. That accounts for the more toned and muscular Sneasel described and observed in later accounts. The next account I have been able to find is one of the early murders committed by Shadow. That of a Charizard!"
Namba hit at the keypad again, and the Weavile image was replaced by that of a ferocious looking Charizard. Two long spear-like fangs protruded from his jaw.
"Zarr…" Charizard raised his eye, looking curiously at this other flame Pokémon. At the same time Zacian's eye widened and she gave a sharp intake of breath.
"Now this Charizard suffered quite greatly at our Shadow's paws! Shadow ripped Charizard's tongue out of his mouth and forced the poor Pokémon to asphyxia on its own blood."
"Zaa…" Charizard's eyes widened in horror at this information, and he made a small sound that sounded like a whimper. At the same time, he raised a claw as if reaching out to his fellow Charizard.
"Are you okay," Ashachu whispered to him, to which Charizard nodded.
Form what Ash and Pikachu had seen and heard so far, they both knew that Shadow was a brutal Pokémon. But they had not been expecting something like that. Ash swallowed, his heart beating a little faster in his chest and Pikachu gasped.
"Pika!"
But it was nothing compared with what was coming next. Namba pushed a button on the keypad again changing the projection once again. "Our friend Lyte doesn't seem to have witnessed this. At least, the event is not recorded this in his journal. Two trainee Pokémon rangers however managed to get this footage…"
Ash's already rapid heartbeat a little faster. He was sure he wasn't going to like this….
A video started playing. It was a little fuzzy. It showed a gangly looking youth in a red outfit standing amongst a bunch of trees. As they watched, somebody said in a girl's voice, presumably the person holding the camera, "so tell them where we are Lunick."
"Really," replied the youth. "Nobody but your sister is going to watch this. Shouldn't we get back to work…. Oh alright. If you happen to be watching this and are blind. This is Lostlorn forest…"
"Describe it!"
"Well, it's got trees, and grass and there's supposed to be…"
"Oh, my Arceus."
"Huh!" The youth in the middle of the frame spun around. Two blurred figures had appeared between the trees somewhere behind him.
The camera zoomed in, the youth disappearing from the frame. The image was slightly out of focus, but the outline of a Charizard was clearly visible. It was being held on the ground by a large black figure…Who seemed to have a claw in its maw. Then…
"Arrrghh…" there was a spurt of red blood. The black figure had pulled something out of Charizard's mouth and there was a terrible scream.
Fortunately, Ash and the others didn't have to watch for long, as at that moment the girl drop the camera. The image of the two figures was replaced by grass.
Ash's throat had gone very dry, and Pikachu was looking away. But nobody seemed to have been more affected than Charizard, who let out a half angry half sad cry of "Zarrr!" before spitting out a jet of flame at the screen.
Namba did not seem impressed. "Ash! Control your Charizard," he snapped.
Ashachu rubbed him on the side of the neck. "It's okay. It's okay. Just breath. Breath!"
Ash wanted to comfort him but couldn't think of anything to say. He was starting to feel a little queasy himself.
"Other murders would follow," said Namba. "One Zoroark was stabbed in the neck with its own claws. Shadow pulled its face off and used it like a puppet. No video of that one, I'm afraid, but it's corpse was found preserved in the snow."
The holographic projector now showed the familiar form of the human like fox Pokémon, except with half of its face missing and most of its fur covered in blood. Ash found that he wasn't able to look for too long and he stared down at his feet. He had an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"The body of Gyarados was found in a lake. Its fins had been severed clean off and its scales removed. Shadow most likely kept him alive while he was doing that to it."
Ash glanced back up as the image change. This picture was even worse. The Gyarados had been reduced to a crimson mess spread out over a table. Pikachu gave a small gasp and covered his mouth with his paw.
"The remains of an Absol were found in a forest. Shadow appears to have removed her spine. There was an Arbok pulled inside out. A Feraligatr with a broken jaw."
Images of wounded and deformed Pokémon appeared in the centre of the carriage, one after the other. Ash had a definite feeling of nausea now, and he silently cursed Shadow. Ash wasn't naïve. He knew that sometimes; Pokémon did bad things to each other. But he had never imaged a Pokémon capable of doing this.
"There are many accounts like these! And probably many more that we do not know about. However, none come close to matching the horror that was the great Unovan Sneasel massacre…"
The next holographic projection was the worst yet. A three-dimensional replica of a snowy field that appeared to be covered in what appeared to be the remains of dead Sneasel and Weavile. A horrific display of entrails and dismembered corpses and blood…So much blood.
Ash felt a hot surge of horror run though him and he had to take a deep breath to fight back against the urge to be sick. Pikachu shut his eyes and covered them with his paws. "Pika!"
"It's not entirely clear what happened or what the cause was," Namba explained softly. His voice sounded as though it were coming from miles away. Oddly distant, perhaps muffled by the display. "Blade and Shadow apparently encounter Blade's old Sneasel pack a few months after they first met. We don't seem to have any witness accounts of this, nor do we know exactly why it happened. But for whatever reason, Shadow appears to have brutally murdered the entire pack. One can perhaps only hope that they didn't have to suffer too long."
"I think we can take that image down now profession," said Butch. Ash glanced at him and noticed that some of the colour had drained from his face. Though that could have just been a trick of the light in this dark carriage.
"You see Ash," Namba Continued. "All of these murders are triggered by some apparent threat made to our Shadow's little pet. At the corner of this Pokémon's psyche is an unhealthy and perverted relationship with Blade the Sneasel."
"Professor, that's not fair." To Ash's surprised it was Cassidy who had spoken. He raised an eyebrow as she continued.
"There's nothing inherently wrong with being gay. Most Pokémon are bi or polysexual, and there's nothing in scientific literature to suggest."
"Yes, I know this," Namba snapped, suddenly irritable. He waved a hand in their air, as if waving away her suggestions. "Shadow is not a real homosexual! But he thinks he is, he tries to be. He's tried to be a lot of things, I suspect. He has a deep-seated obsession and possessiveness of the Sneasel, and he thinks that makes him a homosexual, but his pathology is a thousand times more dangerous and more terrifying. The observations, the eye-witnesses accounts, and the data. I have had a team of Pokémon connoisseurs review it. It all suggests that our Shadow is a sociopath. He is the first and only know example of a Pokémon serial killer. A Pokémon who murders his fellow Pokémon, not in self-defence or for food, but the psychological gratification it gives him."
A Pokémon serial killer! It wasn't a phrase that Ash had ever thought he would here. The only serial killers that Ash and Pikachu had ever counted before had been human and contained safely inside a television set. They were characters in the police dramas and procedurals Delia sometimes watched on TV.
And now, here they were, discussing not only a real serial killer but also a Pokémon. He shivered, crossing his arms across his chest as if hugging himself to keep warm. Still fighting the urge to throw up.
"Pikapi…" Pikachu, noticing how his trainer and mate was feeling, nuzzled his cheek and neck gently.
There was a loud retching sound. Ash spun around to see Charizard doubled over, clutching his belly with his claws, a pained expression on his face.
"Charizard You okay," asked Pikachu because Ash couldn't speak right now.
A concerned Ashachu patted his next and mumbled, "Pikaka."
"Hurrah…" Charizard opened his large jaws and vomited. A foul-smelling green sludge poured from his maw and splattered onto the floor.
"Ugh." Cassidy wrinkled her nose and took a step backwards and Butch scowled.
Ash took a step closer to him and patted him on the side.
"I'm fine," Charizard mumbled as he lifted his head. "It's just…that was horrible."
Namba glared at them. "Can't you keep that thing under control boy. Or put it back in it's Pokéball. I would have thought a predator species like Charizard would be unaffected at the sight of blood. Perhaps not."
Ash didn't reply.
Namba shrugged and continued. "But of course, Shadow is not any mere serial killer. As I have explained, nearly all of the murders revolved around the Sneasel! As I have said, Shadow is not really a homosexual. These are not the actions of a protective mate. So why this level of violence."
Ash shook his head. He felt that if he opened his mouth, he might throw up, just like Charizard.
"It is about control. Shadow wishes to possess and control Blade's entire being. He thinks of Blade, not as Pokémon usually think of their mates as individuals and partners with their own rich inner worlds, but as property. An item to be held and jealously guarded. Every interaction these two have had, has been designed by Shadow to increase Blade's dependence upon him. Finding Blade under the tree – where was the starving runt supposed to go, if not with the strong Pokémon. Training Blade, making him stronger – Enough to give a small amount of self-confidence and strength to him, but always in a way that would make Blade feel he only gained it because of Shadow. And so, the dependency increases. Brutally murdering that Charizard in front of him. Why such a terrible method of disposal. To frighten Blade of course. To ensure there is always part of him that fears Shadow. That fears what might happen to him if Shadow ever became bored of him. Or he thought of ending the relationship and running away. Or he ever did anything to displease Shadow. Blade may as well have, property of Shadow tattooed on him. Hence we are using Blade to draw Shadow out."
"In some ways we're actually doing Blade a favour," added Cassidy. "If a relationship like that were to continue between them…"
"Shadow would almost certainly end up murdering the little Sneasel too," concluded Butch.
Namba nodded. "Yes. Then moving right on to the next victim."
There was a moment of silence. Ash couldn't think of anything more to say. And he was fairly sure that if he opened his mouth, he would likely be sick. The question that burned in his mind was – how any Pokémon was capable of treating their fellow Pokémon this way. Pokémon were usually friendly creatures, who preferred cooperation to confrontation.
It was Charizard who spoke next. He still looked a little queasy, but his voice had a dark, slightly threatening tone to it. "If this Darkrai is so dangerous, then what do you lot want with it. Why are you trying catch it? Knowing you lot, I very much doubt it's because you want justice for Darkrai's victims."
"Pika." Ashachu nodded approvingly.
Namba's mouth curled into a nasty smile. "Haven't you figured that out yet? I see you're as dense as that dead Charizard."
Charizard's eyes narrowed and for a terrifying second, it looked like he might attack Namba. Ash shot him a warning look. Charizard don't. The last thing they needed right now was for a battle to break out in this train. Without any exit strategy, Ash seriously doubted that would win.
Fortunately, Charizard's face relaxed slightly. Especially after Ashachu patted the side of his neck and whisper, "He's just being mean! Ignore him."
"As you and your trainer would well be aware," said Namba. "I have long been interested in how rage can bring out the true strength of a Pokémon. I have been working to find a way to harness the power of anger into a weapon that Team Rocket can control. The ferocity and violence with which Shadow attacks his victims, indicate that this is one particularly angry Pokémon. What better test subject for my research and what a Pokémon it will make."
Charizard snorted, a little steam emitting from his nostrils. He folded his arms and growled, "So that's it. You want to use Darkrai's power as a weapon! To hurt another Pokémon no less. How are you any better than he is!"
"I don't need moral lectures from dumb lizards," snapped Namba, a little colour rising in his face. "Learn your place!"
"Charizard return!" Ash whipped out Charizard's Pokéball and returned the fire dragon. Not a moment too soon – Charizard definitely looked as if he were about to attack the Team Rocket scientist.
Unfortunately, Ash hadn't considered that Ashachu had been sitting on his shoulder.
"Whoa." Ashachu gave a squeal as he felt the solid and warm form of Charizard turn to air beneath his paws and he dropped to the ground. There was a thud, and he gave a squeal of "Pika," as he hit the cold steel floor.
Ash pulled face. "Ashachu! Sorry." He hurried over and scooped his kit up.
"Wise move boy," said Namba. "I doubt you're flame thrower buddy would have lasted long against Zacian here. Or any of our Team Rocket Pokémon for that matter. Though I must say, your Charizard doesn't seem to be particularly well trained or disciplined."
"Urgh." Ash felt a twinge of annoyance, but bit back the retort he longed to throw at Namba.
"So now you've seen what Shadow is and what he can do," Namba continued, ignoring the hot and bothered look on Ash's face, or the way the two electric rodents were glaring at him. "If it's true that your Pokémon have done anything to hurt Blade or for whatever reason insult this Darkrai, they are most definitely in the gravest of danger. Of course, no harm can come to them aboard this train! It has been designed with numerous defences to protect specifically against Shadow. I would not normally do this boy, but as Zacian has insisted on it, I am going to offer you safe harbour aboard the Shadowpiercer. In exchange, you will not get in our way and, should the need arise, assist us in our efforts to capture Shadow."
"I…" Ash opened his mouth, but Namba held up a hand to silence him.
"You don't need to answer now. I will give you time to consider. But remember, Shadow is vengeful, and I suspect that, should he ever be reunited with his precious Blade, he will try to make good on his threats to kill all of your Pokémon."
Ash had no idea what to say. It was all too much to think about. Too hard to process.
"What have you done with Blade," Ashachu suddenly blurted out. "Where is he. Is he here? Is he safe?"
"Ahh, so you must be the Pokémon who had the romantic escapade with the Sneasel," said Cassidy with a sneer.
"Rest assured your little male friend is perfectly safe," added Butch.
"We have him locked in one of the dome cars," explained Cassidy. "That way Shadow will be able to see him and will be drawn in."
"He won't be able to damage the train," said Butch. "The carriages are made from an alloy comprised of Z crystals, and the train is protected by an anti-Darkrai shield. He won't be getting in here."
The pair of them laughed.
Ashachu scowled and squeaked angrily. "You haven't hurt him have you," and adding under his breath, "Because if you have!"
"Your little Pikachu here may rest assured that Blade is quite healthy," snapped Namba. "Cassidy, Botch. Young Ash and his Pokémon are growing tiresome. Find somewhere for them to stay and get them something to eat…"
"Yes sir," said Cassidy while Butch mumbled angrily, "How many times. The name's Butch."
Cassidy put her hand on Ash's shoulder. "Alright twerp. Come with us."
And with that, Ash, Pikachu and Ashachu were led out of the laboratory car…