a/n: I've had a lot to deal with in my personal life. So much has happened between now and last time I published. But that's neither here nor there.
Just know I lost my best friend. The woman who I loved. She's gone forever.
This fic is kind of a joke, but in all seriousness. Please. Tell your loved ones you care about them.
After this one, only two more.
—-
Ash awoke yet again, feeling sick to his stomach. He felt as if he had died and been pulled out of his grave, over, and over.
The past week had been the most miserable of his life, feeling as long as a year from his point of view. Various Psychic-Type Pokemon had slowed his perception of time, and dulled his senses.
While he was incapacitated, yet concious enough to comprehend what was happening, his Pokemon were executed in front of him, one by one.
First his Melmetal was melted down over the course of several hours by a legion of fire types.
Then his Rowlet was drugged, put to sleep and fed to a few starved Mandibuzz.
His Lycanroc was drowned.
Ash's Incineroar was chained up with industrial heat resistant steel, and was left there to starve to death. He only died a few hours ago.
As for his current team, their fates weren't much better off.
Dracovish was frozen, and returned to a fossil state by scientists from the Aether Foundation.
Dragonite was actually spared, but had its wings clipped and was sold to a wealthy collector from overseas.
Gengar was sent into Ultra Space via a wormhole opened by the Aether Foundation, never to return to this dimension again.
Sirfetch'd was given a most dishonorable death, being beaten to death senselessly by a pack of Zangoose.
Lucario was paralyzed, and slowly drained of his energy before being forced to fight against Kukui's Incineroar. Lucario nearly won, but a last minute Z move put down the dog for good.
Pikachu was forced to watch every single one of his friends die.
Ash tried comforting his old partner, but Pikachu was unresponsive.
Ash's old teams back at Oak's Lab were captured by the Kantonian Government. Alola threatened to declare war unless Lance seized Ash's Pokemon and turned them over to the Alolan Government. Professor Oak reluctantly complied, given that he was held at gunpoint.
—-
Ash started shaking, he had only one full day after today before he was to be executed.
There was a knock on his cell. It was his usual guard delivering a meal.
"Step away from the door,"
The Guard walked in, flanked by a Machamp on each side. Machamp on the left punched Ash in the gut, causing him to fall to his knees in pain.
"What the fuck," Ash wheezed.
His cry was met with a slap from the Machamp on the right.
"Serves you right, dirty sisterfucker," The guard laughed
The guard laughed as Ash collapsed to the ground, curling up in the fetal position.
The guard set down the tray and walked away.
After a moment, Ash got up and began to eat.
The food wasn't horrible here, which was surprising considering how poorly he was treated.
He just hoped that Pikachu wasn't being treated as poorly as he was.
—-
Meanwhile…
Team Rocket was sitting in their restaurant. Having settled down in Alola, building a brick and mortar restaurant after upper management was busted on tax evasion charges.
However, the usual jovial spirits of the trio weren't up like they usually were. Instead, it was silent. They all saw the news, their reluctant friend and someone they slightly admired (they'd never admit this, but they all knew it was true)
"The twerp…..this is horrible, he's definitely getting framed," James said softly
Jessie shook her head, "I…..I never thought it'd end like this for him,"
Meowth put his head down, "He's going to die…..for this? This is horrible….,"
"It sucks, but it's life. What are we going to do about it," James said dejectedly
"I have an idea…." Meowth said
"Oh please, do tell Meowth. How do you expect to just stop an execution?" Jessie questioned
"Jessie, we're industrial geniuses. We've built dangerous mechas, piloted dangerous balloons, and literal submarines. We've always had the objective of stealing, but never raw destruction. What if we just build a tank?" Meowth stated
"Meowth, you can't seriously be-" James questioned
"I am," Meowth said
"How will we?" Jessie asked
"Cannibalize the spare parts from the mechs we have lying around in the basement. If we start now, we can finish the tank in a few hours," Meowth explained
"What will it shoot?" Jessie asked
Meowth slapped his head, "Jessie, did you pay attention in bomb making class? They literally taught us how to build explosives,"
"Oh….well, we owe it to the twerp. It's time we do something good for once," Meowth said
"By building a tank?" James questioned
"Yes, and then we will try to get him to the sea. We need to help him escape these islands,"
"How?" Jessie asked
Meowth sighed, "Jessie, we have a submarine,"
"Well, I guess that settles it. Let's get to work,"
—-
Meanwhile….
Kukui stood in a room with Hala.
"We still need to find a method that the Tapus would approve of," Kukui muttered
"Well, we could do this the traditional way?" Hala said
"You don't seriously mean to," Kukui said shocked
"I do," Hala said firmly
"Hala, this could land us on international news, I don't know," Kukui said, somewhat disturbed
"Kukui, come on now. You know what needs to be done," Hala slammed his fist on the table
"Fine…..we'll do it. Death by slashing," Kukui said
"We'll surround him with a hundred local men, each with a lengthy spear tipped with obsidian. Slowly move in the circle, cutting him little by little before allowing him to flee. Eventually, he'll break, and we will let the Tapu decide if we can end his suffering," Hala explained
"And this will be in the Battle Royale dome?" Kukui asked
"Yes," Hala said
—-
12 Hours Later….
Ash was awoken by the sound of gunfire, a loud explosion sounded off in the distance.
Ash heard a scream, and standing on his bed, saw a guard tower explode.
Loud footsteps were heard rushing towards his direction, and Ash immediately got back towards the end of his cell.
Another explosion rang out, this one was nearby and the ceiling outside of Ash's cell collapsed.
He panicked, there was no way out now. Was this some sick joke?
A megaphone could be heard in the background, as well as the sound of helicopter blades.
"Step out of your vehicle or be destroyed, you are outnumbered!"
Ash heard a very loud explosion, and another one in short succession. It sounded like the helicopter was shot down?
The sound of poke balls opening could be heard, with several fighting types being released
Ash recognized the cry of a Lucario, which was silenced with a loud yelp after another explosion.
A few more explosions rang out, silencing several Machamp.
Ash heard a familiar voice curse, "You killed my pokemon you bastards!"
Several gunshots rang out, and the voice screamed
Ash heard a familiar engine hum in the background, bringing back memories….
It couldn't be, could it?
Why would they come here?
The engine sound grew louder, and the reinforced steel wall was rammed. Once, twice, three times. Before being pushed down.
Ash stared down a large tank. Five meters tall, and at least ten long. Two main guns, and several smaller ones on the perimeter.
The hatch opened.
"Get in twerp! Come with us if you want to live," Meowth shouted
Several gunshots rang out in the distance, falling harmlessly off the tank.
"You coming?" James asked, throwing a rope down to Ash.
Ash nodded, grabbing the rope and climbing the tank. He hopped down into the tank, narrowly avoiding several gunshots near the hatch.
Ash began talking, "Why are you here? Why are you doing this? Where the hell did you get this tank? What about Pika-"
Pikachu was in the tank, and he looked pissed.
"Pikachu buddy, oh thank Arceus…it's so good to see you," Ash hugged Pikachu
Pikachu remained silent.
Meowth sighed, "When we found him, he didn't resist or go willingly, just stood like a statue. I think he's traumatized,"
Pikachu remained silent.
James sat down and closed the hatch.
Jessie pulled the gear shift, and the tank began backing up and driving away.
James fired several rounds from the main gun, and Meowth punched away at some computer.
"Where are we going?" Ash asked
"Away from here," Jessie said
"Why…why are you rescuing me," Ash questioned
"Because we care about you, that's why. And an execution? For a hero like you that's horrible," James said
The tank hit a car, and James fired the main barrels, destroying a police vehicle and the local DMV.
"We can't do this forever!" Ash said, "We'll run out of ammo or fuel,"
James laughed. "We know twerp, and we're almost done. Once we reach the beach, we're taking you on our submarine far far away,"
Ash nodded
"Have you thought about what region you'd want to go to?" Jessie asked.
"Don't go to Kanto, Pallet Town is probably full of Alolan spies," James said
Ash thought for a moment before deciding, there was only one place he'd have a strong Pokemon left.
"Kalos," Ash muttered
Jessie nodded
After destroying a few more cars, and a few more government buildings, the tank arrived at the local beach.
Just then, several helicopters and armored vehicles pulled up around them.
"You're surrounded! Leave your vehicle and hand over the fugitive," A voice in the megaphone demanced
Meowth pressed a button, and a large cloud of smoke deployed. He pressed another button, and a large shockwave expanded from the tank. All of the electronics shut off in the tank.
"I put down a smoke cloud and an EMP, we have about five minutes. The submarine is waiting off the dock right now so let's go!" Meowth said
"Quickly! Let's leave!" James said
Ash picked up Pikachu and left the tank.
Team Rocket ran towards the beach, but as Ash ran down the pier, Pikachu jumped out of his hands and slapped him with an Iron Tail.
"Pika Pika Pika Pika Pi! Pi Pika!"
Meowth gasped, and Ash was horrified. Both knowing what he meant
"Some translation Meowth?"
"He told Ash he should turn himself in and die, he's hurt so many people and pokemon,"
"Pikachu, please! Come with me, you're my best friend!"
"Pika…..Pika…Pi,"
"He told Ash he can't redeem himself, seeing all of his friends die….he wants you to leave and never return or die,"
"We have to go now!" Jessie said
"Pika Pi Pi," Pikachu said as he ran off
Ash was crying, "Pikachu! No!"
"Goodbye Ash….I'm sorry," Meowth muttered to himself
Ash turned his back, sprinting towards Team Rocket.
As they closed the hatch of the submarine and began to submerge, Ash saw the form of Pikachu for the last time ever.
—-
9 Months Later:
The hospital room was bustling, she was about to give birth. After a long process, and several hours of labor she was almost finished.
Lusamine sat next to her daughter, being next to her when it mattered.
Finally, it was over.
Lillie had given birth to healthy triplets
"What do you want to name them honey?"
This one will be named Sun, Lillie said, motioning to her oldest son.
"This one will be named Selene," Lillie said, pointing to her daughter
"And he will be named Elio," Lillie said, pointing to her youngest son.
"Beautiful names," Lusamine said with a smile
Suddenly, Lillie began to cough, and she vomited before passing out.
"Doctors, help!" Lusamine shouted
Doctors rushed in and tried to help, but it was of no use.
"How…what's going on?" Gladion asked, bursting in.
"She's not well,"
Lillie muttered, "See you soon…..Ash," before never speaking another word
Her heart went silent.
The screams of a mother, and three motherless children could be heard that night.
