Author's note: Another chapter up! Story almost finished now.
As Ash climbed up the ladder, he could see the access hatch above. He grimaced and raced on, even as the ladder was withdrawn. A meter away from his goal, he felt a hand seize him by the shoulder and yank him roughly into the blimp.
"So, we have a spy sneaking onboard!" the Rocket member jeered.
Ash was hurled to the metallic floor, and he looked up to see he was surrounded by a dozen Rocket agents. They glowered at him threateningly. One, who seemed to be the leader, approached.
"Take him to the boss! He headed for his office. Get going, now!"
Ash was grabbed by two officers and dragged off. He offered no resistance. He had no idea how he was going to get his Pokémon back. All he knew was that he couldn't let Giovanni get away this easily.
A moment later, he was escorted into a lavish room, with expensive Pokémon art on the walls. There was desk in front of a large window. Sitting on a large chair at the desk was Giovanni and the Persian in his lap.
"Boss, we found this rat sneaking in", one of the thugs saluted.
"Just as I predicted. Leave us", Giovanni said quietly.
The two villains left, leaving Ash and Giovanni alone.
The crime lord pressed a button on his desk, and a chair was elevated from below to sit in front of the desk.
"Sit, Ash Ketchum. We have much to discuss".
Misty and Pikachu watched in horror and disbelief as the juggernaught cruised away. Ash was gone.
Tears rolled off Misty's cheek and dropped onto the dusty floor. Pikachu looked at her and reassuringly placed a paw on her shoulder. She managed a weak smile at him.
The other trainers had left the arena at a rush, followed by the League Official. They were looking for Officer Jenny to help track down Team Rocket.
The more she thought about it, the more Misty realized how powerful Team Rocket was. They had managed to infiltrate the League and fool everyone. The police were no match for them.
Gradually, she realized she wasn't alone in the arena. Nearby were Jessie, James and Meowth. They were muttering to themselves, looking extremely shocked.
"Functionaries?" James murmured.
"We was nothing to 'im", Meowth said quietly.
"Nothing. Just slaves", Jessie looked away, "And now we're out of Team Rocket".
Misty sighed, and looked at Pikachu. Pikachu nodded, and the two of them approached Team Rocket.
"Hi", Misty said quietly.
They noticed her for the first time, "What do you want?" Meowth asked suspiciously.
"Help".
"Help? Why would we help you?" Jessie snarled.
"It would work to everyone's advantage".
James looked up at her, a slow smile forming on his face, "Sounds like you have an idea".
Misty shook her head, "No, not really. But I think we need to work together".
"What for?" Meowth demanded to know.
She sighed. This was going to take a while.
Hesitatingly, Ash sat down before Giovanni. He glared at the villain fiercely. The Rocket Leader leaned forward.
"What brings you here, Ash?"
"I'm here for my Pokémon. And the other trainer's. We all need them back. They're our friends".
Giovanni laughed, "I have worked for too long for a chance to grab this many powerful Pokémon from right under the nose of the League. They are Team Rocket's now".
He pressed a button on an intercom and spoke into it, "Bring in the prisoner".
"We have something that may interest you", Giovanni leered.
A few seconds later, the prisoner was led into the room by two Rocket members, who saluted and left.
"Brock!"
"Ash! What are you doing here?"
There was an oily chuckle from the master criminal, "Young Ash is a guest here. As for Brock Slate, well, I discovered he was leaving to try and solve my identity. I couldn't have that, so I had my Gengar ambush him, originally with the intent of killing him. But he managed to survive so Gengar brought him here this morning".
Ash shook his head, "I don't understand how you could get away with that heist".
"It was very simple. Last night Team Rocket stole a few Pokéballs. Naturally, this would result in an inspection in the arena. It was so simple, yet so effective. Of course, not everybody knew about it. The fools Jessie, James and their miserable pet were told I was going to carry it out on the day of the League Parade. And with them out of the way, my march to domination is unhindered".
"So if they were so useless, why did you send them to capture Pikachu?"
Giovanni frowned slightly, "You disappoint me, Ash. I never wanted Pikachu, or at any rate no more than as a passing fancy. Originally I just had those morons follow you around to keep them out of the way, but then I realized your potential. They were, in a sense, spying on you, although they thought otherwise".
"My potential?" Ash stared.
"Why, yes. You're one of the most gifted trainers there is. That is why I am offering you membership to Team Rocket".
Brock clenched his fist, "Ash, don't do it"
"Why would I join you?" Ash's eyes narrowed.
"For a few very good reasons. If you were to join us, you could have your Pokémon back. Your friend Brock would be released. And Misty would be allowed to go free".
"Leave Brock and Misty out of this!"
"I'm afraid it's too late for that. The two of them have stuck their noses in for long enough now".
"But why does it matter? You've revealed your identity now!"
"That matters not. I will still be able to hide from the authorities. It was about time that I cast off that burden. But as a code of honour", he glared at Brock, "I don't like people snooping around".
"Code of honour? What kind of honour is there among gangsters like you?" Brock snapped.
"You come perilously close to questioning my wisdom, young Brock. Be silent. Your fate is no longer in your own hands. It is in Ash's. What is to be, Ash?"
Ash didn't reply. What kind of choice was this? His friends and his Pokémon, or joining Team Rocket? Surely he had no choice.
"I'll join you, Giovanni".
Brock started, but the gangster held him back with a warning glare.
"Excellent, Ash".
"On one condition".
Giovanni sighed wearily, "You are in no position to be making deals".
"A Pokémon match. If you win, I'll do as you wish. If I win, you will let me, my friends, my Pokémon and everyone else's go".
"You drive a hard bargain. If you win, I lose everything. Whereas if I win, you will still get what you want, except for joining me".
"If you're such a great trainer, you won't be afraid to risk it".
"Afraid? Me?" he laughed again, harsh and cruel, "What an amusing concept. So be it", he spoke into the intercom again, "Pilot, take us to the Viridian Gym".
He turned in his chair to face Ash and Brock, "We will land there, and host a three on three Pokémon battle. This will actually work to my advantage. The authorities will be hunting down this blimp, while I get off in Viridian City, throwing them off the trail".
"You won't get away with this, Giovanni!"
"On the contrary, I already have".
"So you want us to help you find the boss and the twerp?" James stared at Misty.
"That's right".
Meowth laughed, "Why would we do that? What's in it for us?"
"You'll have a chance to be free from Team Rocket forever", Misty tried desperately.
"In case you haven't noticed, kid", Jessie pointed out sourly, "We already are. We've been fired".
Pikachu stepped forward, "Pika pika, chu pika!"
Meowth nodded, "He's got a good point. He's saying that we know too much about Team Rocket. The boss may come and", he gulped, "Get us".
Jessie and James exchanged glances, worried. Misty smiled at Pikachu. It had been quick thinking. What's more, it was probably true.
"Wait!" a though occurred to Misty and she looked at Ash's friend, "What about Brock? He's not back yet!"
"Ah, yes, the boss has him", James grinned almost sheepishly.
"He has Brock too? Oh no!" she looked at the skies, as if trying to catch a glimpse of the blimp, "We need to hurry".
"I'm still not sure I trust 'em", Meowth growled.
"Me neither", Jessie looked proud and defiant, "Why are you so desperate to hunt down the boss, kid?"
Misty looked away awkwardly, "I need to find Ash. If anything happened to him…" she fought back the tears threatening to escape.
James got to his feet, more than a little moved, "I say we go for it! And what's more, if we help bring down the boss, Team Rocket will go down too! And we'll be heroes!"
Jessie clicked her fingers, "That's right! Ahah, why didn't I think of that?"
Meowth smiled slowly, "I guess it's worth a try. What do we got to lose anyway?"
Misty and Pikachu looked up, hopeful, "So you mean you'll…"
Jessie grabbed her by the arm, "That's right. Come on, before we lose them!"
Meowth grabbed Pikachu by the paw, and they all raced out of the arena, dragging the surprised Misty and Pikachu with them.
A few minutes later and Misty and Pikachu found themselves with their new allies aboard the Meowth hot air balloon, that they had hidden in the Pokémon Park.
"You think we'll be able to find them from up here?" Misty asked doubtfully.
"We got a better chance up here than we does on the ground, kid", Meowth said, scanning the skies through a pair of binoculars.
"I guess…"
"They were heading south. What would they be heading south for?" James wondered.
"His gym, maybe?" Jessie considered.
"We'll find out when we see 'em. Less yapping, more lookin'", Meowth insisted.
Misty placed the sleeping Togepi in her backpack, "You better stay safe, Togepi. This is going to get rough".
"Hey, there they are!" James exclaimed, pointing to a mountain ahead.
"I don't see them", Meowth said.
"They've just gone behind that ridge. It will emerge soon…"
Misty stared through her binoculars, and saw a massive steel-grey blimp slowly peek around a mountain face to the south.
"Full speed ahead!" Jessie ordered.
At the Viridian City Gym, the sky was smothered for a while by the huge airship. Then a helicopter descended from it, and headed for the Gym roof.
Inside, Giovanni sat between Ash and Brock, at the controls of the helicopter. He was staring ahead, blank and emotionless. Ash edged away from him. He was an imposing man to even look at, let alone sit next to.
The Persian looked at him, and it seemed to Ash it grinned wickedly, with a savage pleasure. He was beginning to feel scared. His hot-headedness had kept him from feeling terrified before, but now the dark, stomach-churning fear was setting in.
Giovanni brought the chopper to a steady landing on the Gym roof, and reached for a sack full of Pokéballs and slung them over his shoulder. He reached into his pocket and pulled out five, and handed them to Ash. They were Ash's. He then led the way to a hatch that led down a set of stairs towards the Gym arena.
The silence was eerie. Giovanni hadn't spoken a word since they had boarded the helicopter. His dark face was full of anticipation, and his eyes were gleaming with a strange light.
Ash and Brock headed to one end of the arena, while Giovanni went to the other. The click of his shoes on the floor echoed around the cavernous room. It had been a while since Ash had been in here.
Giovanni sat down on a luxurious chair, and his Persian leapt into his lap, "You know you cannot win, Ash".
"I still have to try!"
"A fatal weakness of yours. Something that I do not have. I am not trying to take over the world; I am taking over the world. I am not going to try to defeat you; I am going to defeat you. In time and training from Team Rocket, you can appreciate this".
"You and your little speeches don't impress me!" Ash declared defiantly.
"That's right, Ash! Fight to the end", Brock enthused.
"I don't know how you can even hope to win", Giovanni said, looking amused, "You have seen my skill".
"Maybe, but my Pokémon are my friends, not slaves like with you!" Ash was feeling his confidence slowly return, "They'll pull through for me".
Giovanni shook his head, "You must realize you're doomed".
"You're too confident, that's your weakness".
"Your faith in your 'friends' is yours!" Giovanni growled.
Ash stared at him, the unwavering figure of dominance and tyranny facing him. He had to win. It was the only option.
"Let's begin", Giovanni smiled icily.
Ash nodded, "I choose you, Bulbasaur!"
He hurled the Pokéball into the arena, and it appeared before him.
"Bulba!" his friend said confidently.
Giovanni held out a Pokéball and released his minion.
"You're up, Pinsir".
A snarling, drooling Pinsir with massive jaws formed across the arena from Bulbasaur. It hissed and clamped its mandibles together with a deafening clang in a casual display of power.
"Bulbasaur, razor leaf, now!"
A torrent of sharp leaves was fired at the Pinsir, which dodged and rolled underneath the attack. It charged, head down at Bulbasaur.
"Try a vine whip!"
Two strong, thick vines reached for Pinsir. Instead of dodging, it grabbed one in its claws and yanked. It was pulling Bulbasaur closer to its sharp pincers. The other vine thrashed furiously against it, trying to weaken it, but it seemed disinterested.
"Oh no!" Ash was worried.
The Pinsir was working itself up into a frenzy of anticipation, snapping eagerly and thrashing around. Bulbasaur was struggling to keep away, but was steadily being drawn closer.
Brock watched, worried, "You have to do something Ash!"
Ash nodded, "Bulbasaur, solar beam now!"
A strange glow formed around the plant on Bulbsaur's back. The Pinsir stared, surprised and distracted. Then a burst of bright energy coiled forward, slamming into the bug and sending it flying. It landed in a heap, grunting in pain.
Giovanni nodded, "Impressive".
"Hah, I knew we could do it!" Ash yelled.
"It's not over", Giovanni replied.
The Pinsir leapt to its feet and snarled, bruised but unbroken. It lunged forward, slavering and growling. Ash and Bulbasaur stared in shock. It was so tough!
Two powerful jaws seized Bulbasaur and shook it around like a rag doll.
"Bulbasaur, no!" Ash yelled.
Giovanni looked at him smugly, "You can't win".
"That's where you're wrong, creep!" a new voice yelled.
A Pokéball burst open in the arena, and a familiar, long and muscular Pokémon formed.
"Charbok bok!"
"Arbok, use wrap attack now!"
Before the startled Pinsir could react, Arbok had lunged forward and wrapped around it. It constricted tightly, and the bug dropped Bulbasaur in surprise.
"What?" Giovanni stared.
Several figures were running down the stairs. Ash and Brock gasped. It was Misty, Pikachu, Jessie, James and Meowth.
"Misty! Pikachu!" Ash called, relieved.
"Ash!"
"Pika pi!"
"You fools!" snarled Giovanni, enraged.
He reached into his pocket and produced four more Pokéballs. Soon, a huge Nidoking, Nidoqueen, Rhydon and a fearsome Gengar had formed. They leered at Bulbasaur and Arbok and advanced.
Ash didn't waste a second, "Squirtle, Charizard, Snorlax, Lapras, go!"
Misty joined in, "Help them out, Staryu!"
Jessie and James unleashed the rest of their Pokémon, and Pikachu leapt forward to join Ash's too.
The battle had begun.
