"Are you sure Rapidash is okay with this?" Megan asked, hanging onto Ash.
"With Butterfree knocked out, she's our best chance at finding Articuno." Ash said, his arms holding onto Rapidash with Cassie between them.
"Ash, how are we going to protect legendary birds, I'm down to two and a half Pokémon." Megan said.
"I don't know, we'll just have to figure it out, work together if we can, there should be a lot of people on the chase for that robot, we might not even encounter Team Rocket." Ash said.
"Arbok!" A screech was heard, as everyone was knocked off of Rapidash.
"Isn't it crazy who you run into." Revan said angrily.
"Go, find Moltres and Articuno, I'll handle him." Ash said.
"Ash, Rapidash is down." Megan said.
"I can handle him, get the birds out of here, if he's here, the robot isn't far behind." Ash said.
As Megan ran off towards where Articuno landed, Ash looked at his first three Pokémon. "Okay, let's show him we aren't the same scared kids we were on their boat."
"You aren't scared?" Cassie asked.
"Never said I wasn't. Jigglypuff let's go!" Ash shouted.
"Arbok use Poison Sting!"
"Jigglypuff use Sing!"
Jigglypuff rolled out of the way of the poisonous needles before killing the large snake to sleep.
"Alright, now use Body Slam!" Ash commanded.
"Arbok! Get up!" Revan barked, as Jigglypuff slammed into Arbok.
"Jigglypuff use Pound!"
"Arbok use Screech!"
Jigglypuff stood on top of Arbok, slapping its face back and forth, until the large snake began to stir awake.
"Arbok use Wrap!"
"Jigglypuff dodge it!"
Jigglypuff wasn't fast enough as Arbok quickly wrapped up its tormentor, beginning to squeeze it tightly.
"Try expanding your way out of this." Revan taunted.
"Jigglypuff use Disable!"
Jigglypuff struggled momentarily before Arbok's body suddenly went limp, dropping her to the ground.
"Now use Body Slam!"
Jigglypuff launched into Arbok, sending it crashing into several trees before being knocked out.
"Arbok return! Gyarados you're up!" Revan said, as the water snake let out a ferocious roar.
"Jigglypuff use Sing!"
"Gyarados use Hydro Pump!"
A blast of water shot out, covering the field in the flood.
"Jigglypuff return! Pikachu go get him!"
Pikachu ran towards the Gyarados deftly dodging the blasts of water coming at it.
"Pikachu use Mimic!" Ash shouted.
A blast of water shot right at Pikachu, seemingly drowning the electric type, only for it to be pushed back by a jet stream of water surrounded by electricity, blasting back the Gyarados.
"What?! How?!" Revan shouted. "Gyarados use Hyper Beam!"
"Pikachu dodge it and use Thunder!"
Pikachu sped between trees, as the beam of light followed him, quickly closing in, running out of space to run, Pikachu turned around, releasing a storm of electricity breaking through the beam of energy and zapping the large Gyarados.
"Gyarados use Bite!"
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
Gyarados ducked down, chomping into the ground, grabbing Pikachu and the surrounding dirt with ease. A yellow light started to come from Gyarados's mouth, as it burst open, Pikachu flying out of it.
"I've got you buddy." Ash said, catching his starter Pokemon in his arms.
"Gahh! Try a taste of your own medicine, come on out Magneton!" Revan said angrily.
"Pikachu, use Hydro Pump!"
A burst of water shot out of Pikachu's mouth, surrounding the Magneton.
"Magneton use Tri Attack."
Each of Magneton's eyes began to glow, one red, one blue, and one yellow, before each fired a beam at Pikachu.
"Pika!" Pikachu said, brushing off the attack.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Magneton use Thunderbolt!"
The two bolts of electricity collided with one another, pushing back and forth, until two more bolts of electricity shot out from Magneton, blasting Pikachu and his attack back.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu sped forward, only for the Magneton to separate causing Pikachu to fly right between them.
"Now Pikachu use another Hydro Pump!"
Pikachu blasted the Magneton from behind, separating the three parts and knocking them out.
"Grrr! If it wasn't for my accomplices, I'd be worried." Revan said trying to regain his composure. "Hypno, put them to sleep."
"Pikachu dodge it!"
Pikachu didn't even know where 'it' was, until 'it' was right in front of him, and by that time he had no chance as Pikachu fell asleep.
"Now Hypno use Headbutt!"
Hypno slammed his head down on Pikachu, knocking out the electric type.
"Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed picking him up. "Gloom, don't hold back." Ash said angrily. "Use Mega Drain!"
Gloom popped out of his Pokeball, already pulling in the Hypno.
"Hypno use Hypnosis!"
"Gloom use Solar Beam!"
Reversing the flow of energy, Gloom blasted a Solar Beam at Hypno, causing its coin to go flying off.
"Use Toxic!"
"Hypno use Headbutt!"
Hypno charged forward, only for it to be covered in the sludge coming from Gloom's flower.
"Hypno use Psychic!"
"Gloom use Mega Drain!"
Try as it might, without his coin Hypno was unable to use his psychic abilities, as he was once again dragged in.
"Hypno, get out of there!"
"Keep it up Gloom!" Ash commanded, his eyes glowing Purple.
"What the? Kid what is going on, let up!" Revan said, seeing his Hypno go limp, along with the strange glowing eyes.
"You think you deserve to be taken easy! After all the trouble you've caused! You're trapping legendaries! Your team is nothing but villains!" Ash shouted, as the Hypno fell to the ground.
"Kid, we're saving this world, and if I have to beat you to prove it, fine then. Let's give you a taste of your own medicine. Ditto come on out!" Revan chuckled.
The small pink blob looked up at Gloom, who seemed confused.
"Ditto use Transform!"
"Gloom use Toxic!"
A burst of light engulfed the two Pokémon, when it died down, there were now two Gloom standing there.
"Ditto use Solar Beam."
A burst of light came from the other Gloom, pushing back Ash's Gloom a few feet.
"Gloom use Mega Drain!"
"Ditto use your Mega Drain."
Gloom tried his best, but was soon swept off his feet, tumbling towards the Ditto-Gloom.
"Ash, Gloom isn't enough, just stop!" Cassie begged.
"No, I'm tired of letting Team Rocket hurt anyone they want!" Ash said. "Gloom use Acid!"
Gloom shot a lob of poisonous funk at the Ditto-Gloom, causing the drainage to stop. Gloom landed on his feet, with the leaves around him moving ever so slightly.
"I need a boost, but what?" Ash said to himself. "That Ditto can do everything Gloom can."
"Ditto use Solar Beam!"
Gloom was shot back, tumbling into the ground.
"Ditto use one final Solar Beam." Revan cackled.
"Except he can't learn! Gloom catch!" Ash said, tossing his Pokemon an item.
As the beam hit Gloom a growing burst of light expanded outwards from the grass type. Suddenly something shot into the air from the burst of light. It landed on the ground with ease before charging towards the Ditto-Gloom.
"Vileplume use a real Solar Beam!" Ash shouted.
Energy seemed to be drawn to Vileplume's flower as he gathered sunlight before turning and shooting a huge beam at the Ditto-Gloom. Rocks, dirt, and even some smaller plants flew by with the beam, when it finally died down, Ditto was unmoving.
"Scyther cut them down!" Revan said angrily."
"Vileplume use Toxic!"
"Scyther use Cut!"
Scyther sliced right through the poisonous splash, the two halves falling to the ground.
"Try cutting this, Vileplume use Mega Drain!"
Nothing happened for a few moments, when suddenly something very different from a Mega Drain happened.
"What in the? New move!?" Ash said in shock as small flower petals flew out from Vileplumes larger flower and spun towards Scyther.
Revan's Scyther was attacked from all sides as the petals surrounded it and Vileplume.
"Scyther use Double Team!"
Scyther tried making copies of itself, only for them to be instantly dusted from the dancing petals.
"Vileplume use Solar Beam!"
A beam of light shot out from the petals, sending Vileplume off into the distance.
"Treeeaaaaa!" A cry was heard.
"You're too late." Revan cackled.
"Tell me how to stop it!" Ash shouted, running up to the maniacal Revan.
"Stop it? Why would you want to do that? That machine is for your protection." Revan said. "Besides, I didn't work on it, I can't help you with, grk!"
Revan spat out blood, as he looked down, a sword having been impaled through him.
"Can't have you exposing any secrets now." The Team Rocket woman's voice said from atop the robot. "And don't worry about Moltres, or your girlfriend." The woman said, shoving a ties up Megan to the front. "They'll be safe as long as you give back Articuno."
"Revan! What is Team Rockets plan! Why do they need all three birds!" Ash shouted into his face.
Revan chuckled to himself. "It doesn't matter in a few weeks, I'll be remembered as a hero. Meanwhile you will be on the wrong side of history." Revan smiled.
"Time is ticking." The woman said.
"I dont have Articuno! Even if I did, I'd never him her to you!" Ash screamed.
"Wrong answer." The woman said, grabbing the ropes binding Megan. "Say goodbye."
"Megan!" Ash shouted as she was shoved off the robot.
In the blink of an eye a blue blur shot through the air, Megan's body disappearing of any trace.
"Articuno." The woman said happily. "If she's looking to protect, then protect this!" The woman said throwing a knife at Ash.
The only thing that could be described is a sudden change from the middle of the woods to inside a cave.
Ash turned to see Articuno lying on the ground. She was alive, but exhausted.
"Ash!" Cassie exclaimed. "We're alive!"
"Thanks to Articuno here, I think Megan is alive too." Ash said, patting the birds head. "Thank you."
"Cuuu." Articuno cried.
Ash looked over seeing the knife had struck her, and she was bleeding.
"Oh no, we need help." Ash said worriedly. "Don't worry I'll go find someone!"
Character of the day: Revan
When I first wrote Revan, I knew I didn't want him to make it to the final act. This Team Rocket is more cut throat than the ones from the anime or games, quite literally. He was a good initial foil for the first half of the story, and now that the focus has begun to shift his purpose has finished.
Ash's team and their moves
Pikachu: Thunderbolt - Quick Attack - Mimic - Thunder
Vileplume: Petal Dance - Solar Beam - Toxic - Acid
Jigglypuff: Sing - Pound - Disable - Body Slam
Rapidash: Ember - Stomp - Agility - Fire Spin
Dratini: Wrap - Leer - Dragon Rage - Hyper Beam
Seel: Headbutt