"Anyone there?" Ash asked Butterfree.
No, Butterfree shook his head. I couldn't sense anyone.
"Then we're clear," Leaf said, peeking her head around the corner. Ash followed suit and saw that the street ahead was indeed empty. The two children, plus Butterfree and Pikachu, slipped around the corner and scurried down the street, hunched over, keeping a low profile. They came to the end of the block and then took shelter in an underground stairwell.
"I keep expecting them to jump out of nowhere," Leaf said as Butterfree focused, glowing faintly as he scanned the next block.
Ash shuddered remembering the ambush in the Viridian forest.
"I guess we're just lucky that these buildings weren't fortified," Leaf said, looking up at the building they were sheltered under.
"Yeah," Ash agreed. "Anything for the next block, Butterfree?"
Uh… I don't know whether to nod or shake my head, Butterfree said. Nothing in the next block, but I think there's something behind us now.
"It's never a good sign when they can't give you a yes or no answer," Leaf said. "Is there something after the next block?"
Butterfree shook his head.
"Behind us?" Leaf asked. Butterfree nodded at that.
"Human or pokémon?" Ash asked. "Or both?"
Both, I think, Butterfree nodded.
"Wait, which one-"
"Both," Ash said quickly. "He nodded for the last one."
"Is that right?" Leaf turned to Butterfree, who nodded again. "Huh. Strange but, I guess we've all got our own way of understanding our pokémon."
Pikachu and Butterfree exchanged looks.
"Let's keep going," Ash said. Leaf nodded and then the group scurried out again, pressing up against the wall on the building across the intersection and peeking around the corner.
"Maybe we should try and lose them," Leaf suggested, withdrawing back behind the corner.
"That would take too long," Ash said, still peeking around the corner. "We don't even know if they're after us."
Leaf looked down the other streets and then back around the corner.
"Fine," she said with a small sigh. "Lead the way."
They crept down the block, sticking close to the wall and hiding behind stairways or in entrances whenever they could, in order to give Butterfree time to scan. Puddles had started to form as the rain fell harder, the drone of droplets hitting the surfaces of the city growing in volume.
"I wonder if anyone's going to do anything about that?" Leaf murmured, looking up at the sky from the alcove they were huddled in.
"Do we know if our side has enough pokémon with weather moves to do anything?" Ash asked, looking up as well. The clouds were dark as they let their burden fall to the earth below.
"I don't know," Leaf replied. "I guess even if they did, they might not change anything; the rain will stop the city from catching fire at least."
"Yeah," Ash said, memories of the smell of smoke flared through his mind. "This is fine… I hope. Butterfree, do you know where they are better?"
No, the bug type shook his head. I think they started hiding.
"That's not good," Leaf said. "I wonder if they know we're here?"
"I hope not," Ash said. "Come on, let's keep going."
They made it another quarter of the way down the block. Butterfree reached out again, but this time he found absolutely nothing.
"I guess they left," Ash said with a shrug, but his word rang hollow, even to him. He felt like someone was watching them, a prickling sensation on the back of his head. Ash told himself it was just his imagination, but his shoulders and back tensed all the same.
Creeping onward, they came across a stream of water spilling off of a crumpled and mangled overhang, flowing over wide sections of the sidewalk and into the gutter, and then the storm drain. Thinking nothing of it, Leaf and Ash started to move across.
Pikachu's tail twitched as they did so. He looked around, his brow furrowed and then sniffed. Suddenly his ears and tails sprang straight up.
Watch out! Pikachu jumped into the street, galvanic power crackling off of his cheeks. He loosed it into the water, crackling bolts of electricity coursing through the stream. There was a burst of yellow light as they met another electric attack racing the other way out of the storm drain.
Leaf and Ash jumped back as a column of electricity erupted from the gutter, the crackling buzz becoming a roar as stray bolts and tendrils scorched the pavement. Pikachu let out a battle cry as he struggled, another surge of power leaving his body and racing through the water.
There was an explosion, the shockwave forming a dome of water in the rain, wind whipping at Leaf and Ash as they shielded their eyes from the intense light.
"I think they know we're here," Leaf said, her face grim despite her sarcasm as she grabbed her pokéballs.
Ash didn't say anything, he just followed her lead and prepared to send out his team.
"Electabuzz, Pattern G," a voice said and something about it struck Ash as familiar.
"Pikachu counter! Pidgeot, Charmander, whip up some steam and use it to catch their attack!" Ash shouted, throwing his pokéballs as Pikachu ran forwards towards the voice. A manhole cover in the center of the street shot upward and then electric tendrils reached out, sizzling on the asphalt and concrete as they as they writhed, like searching tentacles.
Pikachu countered with his own attack, countering each electric tendril with a crackling line of his own power. Coruscating, crackling, thrashing yellow bolts ground into each other, sparks flying and static tingling across everyone's skin.
White light blazed; Charmander and Pidgeot were moving before they even finished materializing. Charmander took in a deep breath and let out a gout of flame into the gutter, sending up a great cloud of steam. At the same time Pidgeot flapped her wings, herding the steam over the sewer opening.
Pikachu let out a cry of triumph as the attack was momentarily diverted by the steam cloud, giving Pikachu just enough time to overpower it. Once again electricity blazed up into the air, yellow light washing over the street.
"That's giving away our position to everyone around here!" Leaf hissed.
"Better then getting hit," Ash said, but Leaf's words had left a sinking feeling in his stomach.
Ash, I feel something happening underground, Charmander said, his eyes wide.
"Move!" Ash shouted. "Everyone move!"
Startled by the shouting, Leaf was still for a moment as Ash rushed past. The sidewalk beneath her feet cracked and collapsed.
The girl shrieked as ground dropped out from under her. Ash could only watch helpless as she fell, his hand reaching out uselessly.
But Leaf's reflexes were good enough for her to her throw her weight forward, her arms grabbing the edge of the hole. And Pidgeot knew her trainer well enough to anticipate his next command; she swooped forward and grabbed Leaf's wrists in her talons, hoisting the girl out of the pit.
Ash saw two stoney hands grab at Leaf's ankles, the hands of a geodude. He looked down into the hole and saw the pokémon, and next to it was a woman.
Ash finally remembered where he had heard that voice before.
"You," Ash growled, staring at the woman with the electabuzz from the Viridian Forest. His pokémon joined him, Pikachu growling when he saw the woman.
"Fancy running into you," the woman said, meeting his glare with a dark look. "It's been a while."
"Course you'd be here," Ash growled. "Trying to kill people again?"
"Yes, actually," the woman said nonchalantly. "Specifically, people with the League, like you."
"Vines!" Leaf shouted and then Ash registered movement behind him. Ash whirled around to see Vines lashing out with green tendrils, driving back a poliwhirl that had been sneaking up on him.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash ordered. A buzz spear of electric power lanced out at the water-type, but the poliwhirl was already diving into the open manhole before Ash gave the order. Pikachu's attack scorched the pavement and nothing else.
"Thanks," Ash said, backing away from the pit and turning his head to look at Leaf. Her face was pale, but her eyes were hard and sharp.
"Just returning the favor," she said.
"And you brought a friend," the woman in the sewer said. "Not the gym trainer from last time, I see."
"And you got new pokémon, 'cause we beat your old ones so easily," Ash sneered. "Pikachu, Thunderwave her!"
With pleasure, Pikachu said with a dark purr. Rings of electric power flew into the pit, but the geodude jumped in the way, the rings earthing themselves in it with no effect.
"Razor Leaf!" Leaf ordered Vines and sharp greenery sliced through the air towards the woman in the pit. Electricity crackled, a wall of crackling yellow power interposing itself between the woman and the deadly plants.
"Let's get out of here," she said. "We don't have time for this."
"Sure," Ash said. "Pidgeot, Gust in that hole! Let's go everyone!"
Pidgeot flapped her wings and a cyclone drilled into the hole- only to dissipate as the geodude charged through.
Watch out! Pikachu shouted, electricity sparking off him as he countered another crackling tendril from the manhole opening.
Something cracked. A jet of water blasted out from beneath the street, bits of asphalt going flying as it lanced towards Ash and Leaf. They both dove out of the way, Ash a half-second too slow. It glanced off his shoulder, scraping off the outermost layer of his body armor and spinning him around.
"Aaron!" Leaf cried out, picking herself up and starting to run towards him.
"I'm fine!" Ash shouted back, pushing himself off the pavement. "She's not going to let us run and we don't have time for this. I've fought her before. I'll hold her off. You go save Gary!"
Leaf frowned, looking in the direction of the Silph Tower and then back at Ash. There was another cracking sound and she jumped back as a jet of water speared through the street.
"Trust me!" Ash told her, getting up. "Go Squirtle! Keep that geodude back! Pidgeot, help him! Pikachu, get that poliwhirl if it comes out! Charmander, look out for a golbat!" White light blazed as Squirtle came out, already blasting away with a Bubblebeam. The geodude retreated underground.
"Aaron, if anything happens to you, I'll- I'll tell that gym trainer who's willing to learn necromancy to deal with you!" Leaf told him. And then she recalled Vines and sprinted off down the street.
"You won't be winning this time," the woman growled from the pit in the sidewalk. "You're going to pay for what you did to Aki and her tyranitar."
"You were trying to kill us!" Ash shouted back. "I didn't want them to die, but I couldn't stop it!"
"Save your breath," the woman seethed. "Electabuzz, Poliwhirl, Crushing Bolt."
Pidgeot Gust around us! Ash shouted. Pidgeot complied, a raging whirlwind surrounding Ash, Pikachu, Squirtle, and her while a loud crackling buzz sounded underneath the street. Once again, the street cracked and a blast of water erupted out, infused with electric power. Wind whipped away water, drawing the galvanic power along with it.
Pidgeot, drop the wind and then everyone move! We can't stay on the street! Ash told everyone.
"Your little language trick won't help you," the woman bellowed. "Geodude, take him down!"
Now! Ash shouted and started running before the winds had dissipated. His pokémon followed close behind, racing away as the street and sidewalk began to crumble behind them.
Open that door! Ash shouted, pointing at the entrance to what was either an office building or apartment.
A blast of wind and a Bubblebeam converged on the door, smashing it to synthetic splinters. Ash and his pokémon raced inside as the sidewalk crumbled and monsters emerged from the sewers.
Leaf dashed down the street through the rain, looking back over her shoulder until the signs of battle and Aaron were out of sight.
"Stupid, why do they all have to be so stupid," she muttered. "Gary just had to get himself caught and now Aaron's doing the sacrifice play. I swear by the Tree of Life, I'll get them for this."
The rain was falling hard enough that its constant drumming began to wash away other noises. Leaf huddled against a building, keeping an ear out for the sounds of people and pokémon moving, but she couldn't pick anything up over the weather.
"This isn't going to work," she muttered to herself, clutching her body armor over her thighs. She looked over at the street, at the manhole cover. "And I can't let them catch me by surprise again."
Leaf looked over at the building she was huddled against, a high-rise apartment building. No lights were on, but Leaf knew that didn't mean anything when it came to the people who might be inside. But she couldn't see any signs of fortification either.
"Well, if it worked once," she muttered to herself, grabbing a pokéball.
Ash knew that they didn't have long before the woman chased them into the building. Another combined electric-water attack was hot on their heels, blasting the stairs in the lobby that they had just ascended.
Electricity sparked and crackled in the droplets that went flying from the impact. Ash put on an extra burst of speed to not get caught up in it.
Gust where we came in! He shouted to Pidgeot. Another cyclone erupted by the entryway, the splinters of the door rattling as they were whipped into the walls.
It didn't last; the geodude charged in, slamming into the windstorm, dissipating it. And before Ash could turn around and have his pokémon do anything, the poliwhirl leapt over the geodude's head and unleashed a Bubblebeam.
Damn! Ash swore, scrambling around the corner as the attack destroyed the steps behind him.
What's the plan? Pikachu asked from a flight above him.
I don't have one yet! Ash called back. Let's just get to the next floor!
He and his team scrambled to the landing and then ran into a hallway, passing what looked like medical offices.
I don't know if she's going to come through the floor or from the stairs, Ash said he skidded to a stop. Butterfree, do your best to sense her.
Sure thing!
Whattodowhattodowhattodo, Ash muttered thoughts racing as he looked around. Oh, I know! Go Primeape!
Alright, Charamnder you go left and Primeape you go right, Ash went on before his pokémon even finished materializing. Get into an office or something. After we get attacked, I'll shout for us to retreat and then you bust through the floor and attack them if they've got anyone down there. If not, bust back through the ceiling under them. Got it?
Uh, I think so, Primeape replied, scratching his head. You say retreat, we go through the floor and then attack them?
Basically, Ash said. Now get!
Charmander and Primeape hurried to their respective sides, Charmander slipping into a bathroom and Primeape slipping into the unlocked lobby of some medical practice with a specialty that Ash wasn't familiar with.
I think they're coming, Butterfree said, his face scrunched up in concentration. They're definitely shielding their minds though, it's hard to sense them.
Just warn us if there's anyone who decides to attack from below, Ash said, keeping an eye on the stairs. Everyone else, attack as soon as you see them.
There was the sound of pokémon being sent out and then the golbat and geodude were coming over the top of the stairs. Wind and electricity lashed out, only for the geodude to throw itself into both attacks, smashing through the wind while the electricity harmlessly earthed itself in the rock type.
They're below us! Butterfree shouted and everyone else jumped back. Wood and plaster shattered as another stream of water, crackling with electric power, lanced upwards at Ash and his team. Ash let out a small cry of pain as he was shocked by sparking droplets as the main body blasted passed him.
The golbat surged forward, supersonic waves assaulting the inner ears of Ash and his team, making them feel dizzy and nauseous.
Retreat! Ash shouted, stumbling backwards. Sleep Tornado!
Butterfree let the glittering Sleep Powder fall from his wings and Pidgeot caught it in a whirlwind that raced at the golbat and geodude.
The golbat let loose a shrieking attack that caused a pocket of air to vibrate so ferociously that Ash could see it with his naked eyes. The Sleep Powder was blown out of a section of the whirlwind and then the geodude rushed in, curling up into a ball and dissipating the Gust with a Rollout attack.
The exchange bought Ash and his team precious seconds to retreat. Butterfree took the opportunity to start using the telekinetic defense against Supersonic, the one he and Ash had developed last time they had fought Team Rocket. When the golbat resumed using Supersonic a glowing Buttefree held the rear and nobody was affected by the sonic attack as they ran through the hallway.
"Don't let them get away!" Ash heard the woman shout from beneath them. "Crushing Bolt!"
A large hole was blasted in the floor as Ash and his team dove for cover. Even as the main body of the attack missed them Ash and his pokémon cried out in pain as the sparking droplets fell on them.
As they screamed, loud crashing sounds came from behind the doors to Charmander and Primeape's hiding spots. There was the sound of more crashing and cries of alarm from below as Charmander and Primeape jumped their foes. The golbat and geodude faltered, looking down at the source of the noise.
Thundershock and Confusion! Ash shouted, pushing himself to his feet. Pidgeot, make that hole bigger, we need to see what's happening!
Several tendrils of electric power found the golbat and it screamed and jerked as the current ran through it. The geodude tried to intervene, jumping towards the golbat, but a series of telepathic and telekinetic waves knocked it down.
One Gust Bullet from Pidgeot and the hole in the floor was suddenly large enough for a grown man to fit through. Ash looked over the edge and saw the woman from Team Rocket, her electabuzz and her poliwhirl locked in combat with Charmander and Primeape.
Primeape and the poliwhirl danced around each other, striking so fast that Ash couldn't tell whose limbs belonged to whom. Meanwhile Charmander was wrestling with the electabuzz, claws out and in the electabuzz's arms, pushing them back. The electabuzz scrunched up and started to deliver a shock to Charmander, only to be interrupted by a face full of flames.
Ash turned his attention back to the geodude and golbat. The golbat was out of the air, but still wobbling on its feet. The geodude was shaking its head and picking itself up.
Pidgeot, flip that Geodude over with Gust Bullet! Butterfree, keep using Confusion until you see a chance to hit it with Sleep Powder, Ash ordered. Pikachu, Thundershock again!
With pleasure, Pikachu growled. Electricity hummed and wind whistled and Ash saw the geodude get hit with another Confusion attack. He turned his attention back to the fight below.
"Switch!" the woman from Team Rocket shouted.
The poliwhirl ducked under a roundhouse attack from Primeape and elbowed the fighting-type in the face. Primeape recovered almost instantly, hands snapping to guard position, but the poliwhirl wasn't interested in fighting him any longer.
Instead, it turned towards Charmander and the electabuzz. The electabuzz had spun Charmander around so that the poliwhirl could get a clear shot off.
Without thinking Ash jumped through the hole, tackling the poliwhirl in the shoulder just as it fired off a Water Gun attack. The jet of water went wide, carving a furrow into the wall.
In one fluid motion the poliwhirl let the momentum from the tackle spin it around and back handed Ash in the chest. Air left his lungs and his feet left the ground. There was another collision before the first could even start to hurt, Ash's head and limbs snapping back and slamming into the wall. His vision swam and he saw stars.
BASTARDS! He heard Pikachu roar and then there was a blinding flash of yellow light and a scream of pain from the poliwhirl.
Ash! He heard several pokémon cry out. Ash forced himself to look up, trying to get his eyes to focus. He was able to make out Primeape pummeling the electabuzz. He could hear the sounds of running footsteps, forcing his eyes to focus on the source, the woman from Team Rocket coming at him, knife in hand.
I don't think so! Pidgeot yelled and suddenly the woman was flying sideways into the wall, Pidgeot landing in the space where she used to be. The woman slammed into the wall hard enough to rattle the hallway and make Ash wince.
Ash! Pikachu cried out, jumping down and sprinting over to his trainer. Are you alright?
Yeah, I think so Ash said, undoing his helmet and slipping it off. He gingerly touched the back of his head, surprised to feel his hair slick with sweat. The back of his head felt tender, but Ash's vision was clear again and there was no blood on his fingers when he examined them. He figured he was probably just bruised. Ash looked down at Pikachu, who was just staring up at him with wide eyes, ears drooping and twitching.
Aren't you supposed to say that I don't think? Ash grinned, picking himself up.
Didn't Brock and Misty ask you to be careful? Pikachu asked, ears perking up and eyes narrowing into a glare. Butterfree peeked over the edge too, the geodude evidently dealt with.
Well, Brock asked me to, Ash replied. Misty just threatened me with necromancy.
Either way, what were you thinking? Pikachu growled.
That the poliwhirl was going to get a shot off on Charmander if I didn't do anything, Ash said, stretching and rolling his limbs, checking to see if anything hurt.
You should have thought of something else then! Pikachu screeched. And you, Charmander, don't let yourself get into situations like that! You almost got Ash hurt!
I- I- I didn't- Charmander stammered, wincing like he was being struck.
He could've gotten killed! Pikachu went on. Because you were too-
Pikachu! Ash snapped, making Pikachu flinch back. Quit yelling at Charmander! He didn't do anything wrong! That electabuzz was pretty strong, remember? Charmander did good to keep it occupied like that. And I was the one who chose to jump, you can't blame Charmander for that!
Well, you wouldn't have-
I might have! Ash cut Pikachu off. Don't get mad at Charmander for what I did.
Pikachu looked away, his expression dark. Ash sighed and then turned to Charmander.
Don't listen to Pikachu, he's just cranky, Ash said. Are you okay?
I'm fine, Charmander said, slouching and looking down. Don't worry about me.
You don't need a potion or an ether? Ash asked, looking the fire-type over.
No, Charmander said, still not meeting Ash's eyes.
Okay, Ash grimaced. But tell me if something starts hurting.
I will, Charmander replied, eyes glued to the floor.
Butterfree, String Shot her, Ash said, looking at the unconscious woman from Team Rocket. I'll get her pokémon back in their balls. I don't have any pokéball locks, but maybe String Shot will make it harder for them to open.
After the work was complete, the woman and her pokémon secured, Ash stood back up, wiped his brow and put back on his helmet.
It was so much easier this time, he said as he finished with the buckles.
We got stronger, Butterfree said, hovering over his shoulder.
Yeah, Ash smiled. Yeah, we did.
AN: I'd like to thank Amationary for beta reading.
Normal release schedule for next week.
It's sort of fun to bring back these old OCs to reuse them, like Jared or Hanna. Reuse also adds some extra continuity compared to making new characters.
Don't forget to review!