Chapter 2

"So," Wes asked. "What are the rules?"

Lawrence let out a small snigger with confidence. "Three of you will in a tag team. Each of you must use two pokemon each while facing six of Team Dark's most powerful pokemon, which I sincerely think that they'll provide such a challenge. If all six of your team's pokemon are unable to battle you'll lose the match, the same goes for me."

"Good enough for me," Black Jack replied, agreeing with the rules, so did Ash and Wes. "But I do have a small favour to ask you."

"Which is?" Lawrence asked.

Black Jack walked to the back of the van and took out the trashcan that was filled with various items. "How about we make things interesting," he said. "How about we use these as weapons."

Ash and Wes looked at him in shock. "You sure you want to use those things?" Ash asked, predicting what would happen if pokemon used those against each other. Knowing Black Jack, he could tell how violent things could get while he's around.

"Interesting idea," Lawrence replied. "Since we are in Orre, a rotten and violent place, I accept… that is if your other teammates aren't afraid to order their pokemon to use them."

"No way!" Ash thought. "I can't do this to the pokemon, even if lives are at stake."

Pikachu sensed Ash's hesitation to accept Lawrence's challenge. "Pika!" Pikachu cried, which meant, "Accept it!"

Ash looked at Pikachu with a concerned look in his eyes. "You want to do this, Pikachu?" he asked. Pikachu nodded in response.

Suddenly, all of his pokemon released themselves from the pokeballs that were attached to his belt, much to everyone's shock, including Ash's. "You guys think so too?" he asked, which his pokemon nodded to in response.

Knowing that his pokemon would do anything to save the life of others, tears began to dwell in Ash's eyes. "Guys… thank you…" he sobbed as he hid eyes with his cap.

"I'm also in," Wes said with confidence in his voice. "My pokemon and I also had our rough battles around here… but they're nothing compared to what I'm going to you guys."

"I guess we're all in," Black Jack said with a smile. "We're seeing broken bodies tonight… mainly yours, Gartner.

"Yeah!" Ash said in a determined tone. "Together we're gonna beat you and Team Dark are gonna break up for good!"

"I fear that you three would be eating those words," Lawrence said. "For there's six of my superior pokemon that you cannot defeat."

The three heroes were led to the battle hall by the grunts while being surrounded by them. "Black Jack," Ash said.

Black Jack let out a small grunt sounding like he wanted to know what Ash wanted to say. "Last time we worked as a team I took a big blast in that battle with Mane," Ash said.

Black Jack nodded in agreement. That was true, Black Jack and Ash teamed up once before and Ash was killed in their battle against Mane to free Black Jack's family and the legendary pokemon. But somehow, Ash was able to regain his life thanks to his loved ones.

Ash smiled as he continued talking. "There's a good chance that one of us is gonna get attacked by Lawrence's pokemon. I know you don't see me as a friend and you probably never will. But I know that you have someone in your heart… so Wes and I are gonna look out for ya."

"Let me tell you something, Ketchum," Black Jack said. "You're right, we ain't friends but I'll look out for you guys too. And if Lawrence tries something… he better look out for me."

As they entered the battling hall, the three heroes looked around the room. The room had the floor, the walls and the ceiling made out of steel. One of the walls had an electricity box connected to it. Various items, such as steel ladders, adjustable tables and others, were scattered around the field and Black Jack, Ash and Wes realised that they were weapons that can be used in battle. At the other end of the room were six doors and behind them were six pokemon that our heroes were going to face.

They spotted three boxes that were painted on the floor distances away from each other. "See those boxes?" Lawrence said from the speakers that were connected from corner of the room. "Those boxes are for you three to stand in, just like in a battling arena."

"We already know that," Black Jack snarled. "Just show us your worst."

"As you wish," Lawrence said.

The six doors opened and six pokemon entered the room. There was a strange electric alien-like pokemon called Electabuzz, a gorilla-like pokemon known as Vigoroth, a mantis pokemon called Scyther, a devilish looking dog Houndoom and an armoured rhino-like pokemon Aggron. The sixth was the pokemon that Ash immediately.

"It's that masked Machamp!" Ash yelled. "The Machamp that hurt Misty!"

"I see that you're already acquainted with Samson, Mr. Ketchum?" Lawrence said.

"Samson?" Ash thought. "Mecha did mention him when we were watching that movie. Could it be that those guys know each other?"

"Then allow me to make further introductions," Lawrence said. "Mr. Ketchum, Black Jack and Wes, meet my pokemon - Shocker the Electabuzz, Scar Maker the Scyther, Berserker the Vigoroth, Rottweiler the Houndoom and Mincer the Aggron."

"There's something strange about those guys," Wes said as he noticed that each pokemon that Lawrence introduced gave large roars as though they were crazed.

"Team Dark's dirty upgrade," Black Jack snarled. "They must've used their gadgets to not only power up their pokemon but they also made pokemon fight like madmen."

"They can't do that!" Ash yelled. "Humans and pokemon are supposed to work together."

"Pika!" Pikachu squeaked angrily.

"Correction," Lawrence replied. "Pokemon are only used to obey us humans, nothing more and nothing less."

"We'll see about that!" Ash yelled as he took out a pokeball. "Ready, team!"

"Do you really need to ask that question?" Wes asked as he took out two of his.

"Let's whip some," Black Jack replied as he glared maliciously at the opposition.

As the three trainers were about release their chosen pokemon, Lawrence spoke out again. "Oh, and to prove I'm not bluffing that I have your friends as my guests, look at these."

As he spoke, a robotic sphere floated into the room and showed them their comrades locked behind bars as though they were prisoners.

"Misty!" Ash yelled, hoping that Misty could hear him.

"Ash!" Misty yelled in response.

"Don't worry," Lawrence said, who was talking to the speaker in the battling hall. "They, too, can see the battle but from their cell via the holographic screen provided by my messengers… besides, Mr. Ketchum, you and your other teammates will soon be joining them."

"Don't worry, you guys!" Ash yelled. "We're not gonna lose to Lawrence after what he did to the us and the pokemon!"

He picked a pokeball off his belt and tossed it out. "Sceptile! Go!" he yelled.

Sceptile materialised as it became released from its pokeball and let out its battle cry. "Pikachu! You go too!" Ash yelled.

Pikachu squeaked obediently as ran onto the field.

Wes looked at Rui and Plusle with determined eyes, while they looked back with concerned eyes. "Rui…" he whispered as he looked down to the floor. "I can't…"

Knowing what Wes was thinking, Rui walked towards the screen. "You can do this, Wes!" she yelled encouragingly.

"Plusle!" Plusle cried as it leapt onto Rui's shoulder.

Wes… during his mission of disbanding Team Snagem, Rui always stood by his side despite his dark nature. At some level, they felt that a special bond came between them although they couldn't figure out what it was. Even though she couldn't be there in person she was there in spirit. Wes showed a small smile knowing this.

He took out two pokeballs and tossed them. "Umbreon! Eespeon! Go!" he yelled as his pokemon became released, as they got ready for battle.

"Gartner," Black Jack said, hoping that Lawrence can hear him as he took out two pokeballs of his own. "I can be more sick and twisted than those freaks you've got here… you have no idea."

"Chan! Tyranitar!" he said as he tossed the pokeballs. "Let's whip some!"

Chan and Tyranitar materialised as they came out of their pokeballs, yelling out their battle cries. After the chosen pokemon were released, the holographic screens disappeared and the spheres floated out of the room.

"Everything is set," Lawrence said. "Now… let the battles commence!"

"With pleasure," Black Jack growled in a sinister voice, showing a confident and evil grin.

More coming! Reviews please!