Hey dropping Chapter 2 because why not? Please review to let me know how I'm doing. Hope you're all enjoying Sword & Shield, . Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 2
"How have you been?" Paul asked sarcastically.
"Cut the act." Ash snarled. "What are you doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Paul said with a condescending tone. "What's the one thing you've always associated with Team Rocket?"
Ash knew the answer.
"Stealing other people's Pokémon," He answered. "So, I'm guessing you've joined Team Rocket then?"
"Sharp as usual." Paul mocked.
"Why?" Ash wondered. "You know what they've done. They tried to steal your Pokémon in Sinnoh. You even helped us against them once."
"I'd love to explain but I just don't have the time." Paul said. "Plus, I don't have to explain myself to you. So just keep quiet and don't try anything or else you and your friends will be in a lot of pain."
Paul walked past him, and two other grunts came up to him and held his arms behind his back.
Paul continued walking towards Professor Oak's Lab. Before entering he turned his head and addressed the grunts.
"Do not let any one of them even reach for a Pokéball."
Paul entered the lab for about five minutes and then emerged holding a file that was very familiar to Professor Oak. His eyes widened at the sight and began struggling at the sight of it.
Paul saw this and walked over.
"Oh, is this important?" Paul asked, feigning ignorance.
"You know what it is." Oak shouted, that was very important information.
Paul had a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He then punched the elderly Professor in the face causing him to collapse.
"Hey! You coward!" Gary shouted while trying to break free resulting in a punch for him as well from one of the grunts holding him.
To everyone there, Ash looked calm, he had his eyes closed and his head down. Little did everyone know that Ash was having a mental conversation as this was going on.
Paul walked casually towards Ash.
"So, we have the file we wanted and the Pokémon of the Kalos League winner in the net over there. How the mighty have fallen."
Paul then began to laugh.
"Seriously Ketchum, I thought you'd put up a better fight."
Now it was Ash's turn to laugh.
"Who says I'm done fighting?"
Paul's face fell.
"Why so confident all of a sudden?"
"Tell me Paul," Ash started. "How many Tauros do you have in that net?"
Paul had to look and saw that there was just three.
"Three, why?"
Ash didn't answer. He could hear the hooves pummelling the ground and hear the vibrations.
Paul realised this too.
"Everyone fall back! Take what we have and go!" He commanded.
None of the Team Rocket Grunts made it very far though as over 20 Tauros crashed through the woodland into the clearing and started wreaking havoc.
The Tauros charged at the many Rocket grunts, knocking them down before they even had a chance to draw a Pokéball by using attacks such as Tackle, Take Down and Head Charge.
One of the Tauros managed to take out the two men holding Ash. Ash thanked him and jumped on his back.
"Tauros, take me over to the net with the Pokémon." Ash ordered.
With a loud cry the Tauros dashed towards the net. One brave grunt tried to intervene but just when he was about to release his Pokémon, another Tauros tackled him from behind.
When they reached their destination, Ash thanked Tauros who ran off into the fray once more. After a bit of manoeuvring with help from some of the Pokémon's moves Ash managed to free them from the net.
They cheered and then ran towards all the action taking place in the clearing. Pikachu, however, stood by Ash's side, waiting for instructions.
Ash was scanning the field looking for a particular trainer and he soon found him about to order his Electivire to attack Dawn's Piplup.
"Pikachu, use a Counter Shield to deflect that attack." Ash ordered.
Pikachu darted across the grass to get in front of the attack. Electivire released a Thunder attack but Pikachu countered it by spinning quickly on his back while releasing a Thunderbolt, creating a shield that protected him and Piplup.
Elsewhere, Misty was battling with her Azumarill alongside Brock and Tracey who were using their Croagunk and Scyther respectively. They were more than holding their own against the three grunts they were battling.
Gary had his Blastoise and Umbreon battling as he tried to guide his dazed grandfather to safety. Max was providing cover with his Sceptile and Gardevoir as was Leaf with her Venusaur.
May was using her Blazekin and Beautifly. She was using some improvised combination moves that were keeping her opponents guessing, Meanwhile, Iris' Dragonite was battling any Pokémon that came within 5 feet of it.
Clemont's Luxray was battling hard while Chespin was trying hard to impress Serena's Sylveon who was just focusing on battling alongside Pancham and Braixen. Bonnie's Dedenne was also shocking anything that tried to come to close to his friend and was helped by Clemont's Bunnelby.
Dawn, on the other hand, was struggling. She found herself isolated from everyone else. Two of her Pokémon were already knocked out and now her Mamoswine was breathing heavily. The grunts looked to take advantage.
"Magneton, use Thunder Wave." The Magneton shot a blast electricity at Venusaur, leaving it paralyzed.
"Now Raticate, Hyper Fang on the girl." The other grunt ordered.
Dawn was shocked at the instruction and was frozen in fear. She closed her eyes anticipating the hit, but it didn't come. Instead she heard a cry of pain from the Raticate.
She opened her eyes and saw an Infernape stood over the unconscious Raticate.
"Are you okay?" A voice asked.
She turned and saw Gaz standing there, it was obviously his Infernape.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you for saving me." She answered. Sometime during the ordeal, she fell over.
Gaz offered her his hand and she gratefully took it.
"Now Infernape, Flamethrower on that Magneton." Gaz called.
Infernape shot a jet of flames at the Magneton, knocking it out.
While all this was going on, Ash and Paul were having a standoff, neither willing to make the first move.
"Come on Ash, what are you waiting for?" Paul asked looking to provoke Ash into making a rash decision. His Electivire stood beside him, prepared for anything.
Ash was about to order Pikachu to attack when suddenly a massive explosion at the edge of the woodland area caused tremors to course through the ground Ash and Paul stood on.
"What the hell was that?" Ash shouted, his voice barely heard over the noise.
"Looked like an explosion up at the trees." Paul said bluntly. He then looked at Ash with a fake expression of wonder. "There must be something very powerful up there."
Ash gritted his teeth and faced Paul once again.
"How did you know?"
"We've been tracking that Mewtwo for a while now, this was an ideal time to make our move." Paul told him. He then glanced at something over Ash's shoulder. "Anyway, I'd love to stay and chat Ash, but I think that's enough stalling."
"What?" Ash asked incredulously.
"What's wrong Ash, don't you believe me?" Paul laughed. "Don't you trust me?"
"What are you talking about?" Ash shouted. He noticed that Paul put emphasis on the word trust.
"Of course you don't," Paul continued. "I don't blame you. I mean who can you trust? You think these people are your closest friends and then they betray you. How does that feel Ash?"
"What? No-one betrayed me." Ash was extremely confused.
Paul again looked over Ash's shoulder.
"It's time you showed your true colours." Paul smirked.
"With pleasure." Said a voice that Ash knew well.
Ash turned and saw one of his close friends, his former traveling companion and someone he trusted greatly.
Cilan stood with a smirk evident on his face with a pokéball in his hand. If Ash wasn't so caught up with the revelation, he would have noticed that it wasn't an ordinary pokéball.
"Cilan?" Ash whispered. "What are you doing?"
"I'm sorry Ash," Cilan answered, his voice cold. "But I'm afraid our long-standing friendship has become a cold dish with a bland flavour."
"Why would you side with them? After all we've done and been through together." Ash shouted.
"Grow up Ash!" Cilan snapped. "Iris was right all along; you are a little kid."
"Why did you do this?" Ash persisted.
"I don't have to explain myself to you." Cilan replied coldly. He then faced Paul. "We have what we wanted, let's just go."
"Remember who's in charge." Paul snarled. "But I suppose you're right. The helicopter should be here in a minute."
Sure enough, the loud noise of rotors spinning, and a roaring engine reached the ears of all gathered.
Ash felt it was time for desperate measures, he reached out to Mewtwo with his mind once more.
"Are you okay? I saw the explosion but if you are in any way able, we need your help down here."
Ash waited but got no reply he tried again and again each time more persistent but there was no answer. He then noticed the pokéball in Cilan's hand.
"Is that a Dark Ball?" Ash shouted, recalling his time with Celebi.
"Yes, this ball has 100% catch rate and raises the Pokémon caught to its highest level." Cilan answered confidently. "In this pokéball we have our little friend from Unova."
Ash simply glared at his former traveling companion and Sinnoh rival.
"That is now the second Mewtwo we have in our possession," Cilan continued, voice full of arrogance. "Just one more until we have the exquisite palate of flavours for our plans."
"Shut up," Paul snapped. "You'll give away everything."
The helicopter finally reached overhead and lowered a rope for both Cilan and Paul who's Electivire was still on guard for any attacks while other grunts were also providing cover. Ash didn't even attempt an attack though, knowing it was futile.
As Ash disdainfully watched Cilan getting raised up he had to satisfy himself by shouting.
"Traitor." He roared.
Cilan just laughed and then it was Paul's turn. He recalled his Electivire and grabbed the rope. Before being hauled up though he turned to Ash.
"How does it feel Ash?" Paul asked. "This feeling that someone who you felt you could trust just stabbed you in the back."
Ash couldn't even look at Paul, the emotion finally getting to him.
Paul just laughed.
"Get used to that feeling," He said. "It'll happen again."
"What do you mean?" Ash asked, confused at the comment.
Paul didn't even answer, he just waved the file he took from Oak's lab as if taunting him and the helicopter flew away as the grunts fled on foot.
When the helicopter flew out of sight, Ash turned to see the aftermath of the attack.
The place was a mess with the grass torn up and burnt in many places. The tables and chairs set up for their meal were broken into pieces too many to count.
On the bright side, no-one was seriously hurt although Professor Oak was unsteady on his feet and Gary had a noticeably big bruise from the hit he got.
Ash walked over to the nearest person who happened to be Dawn.
"Hey, are you okay?" He asked.
"Yeah." She responded. "Just a little shaken up. I can't believe that Paul would join Team Rocket. I know he wasn't the nicest person, but I thought he had standards."
"Yeah, but that wasn't even the biggest shock of all this." Ash told her.
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked her head tilted.
"Didn't you see?" Ash raised an eyebrow.
Ash was going to tell her when a shout from Iris caught his attention.
"Hey, has anyone seen Cilan?"
Ash grimaced when he heard this, something that didn't go unnoticed by Dawn.
"What is it Ash?" She asked.
"I think we should gather everyone, I only feel like telling this once." He answered.
Everyone gathered together inside a large room inside Oak's lab. Everyone except Oak and Delia that is. Delia went home to make sure Mr. Mime was okay and Oak needed a lie down.
"What is this Ash?" Misty wondered.
"Is this about Cilan?" Iris couldn't keep the worry out of her voice.
Ash just sighed and then began telling them all the events that occurred as well as everything Paul and Cilan said.
Afterwards, everyone was in a massive state of disbelief, especially Iris.
"No, I don't believe that Cilan would do this." She said loudly while shaking her head.
"Iris-" Ash started.
"No Ash!" She practically screamed. "Why would he do this after everything we've been through?"
"I understand how you feel but-"
"No! You don't!" Tears were flowing freely down her cheeks. "You're just a kid, you can't understand."
At this stage, she just broke down right there and then. Dawn walked over and drew her into a tight hug and whispered soothingly in her ear. Iris overcome with her emotions just clutched on to Dawn tightly.
The rest of the group just remained quiet and still, watching the purple haired Unova native release all her hurt and sadness while her Axew patted her knee consolingly.
Ash couldn't even be angry at Iris as he watched her breakdown. He knew she was just speaking out of hurt.
After a few minutes Iris' sobs subsided and she managed to control herself.
"Thank you Dawn, Axew" She said while wiping her eyes. "And I'm sorry Ash. I shouldn't have said those things; I didn't mean them."
"I know Iris," Ash said with a smile. "There's no need to apologise, you've been through a lot."
Iris simply nodded and then sat in the corner with Axew in her lap.
For the next few minutes, nobody said anything. The sombre atmosphere taking its toll on the conversation. The silence in the room was broken when the sound of a door opening was heard. Everyone looked at it and saw Professor Oak stood there.
"Gramps? What are you doing up?" Gary asked, voice full of concern.
"You should be resting." Tracey told him.
"I'm feeling fine," Professor Oak insisted, and he did look steadier on his feet than earlier. "Besides, now is not the time to rest."
"What do you mean?" Brock asked.
"There is something I need to do." He said vaguely. "Ash, Gary and Leaf, please follow me. The rest of you please remain here."
Ash shot a look at Gary who had his brow furrowed and at Leaf who caught his eye and shrugged. Professor Oak walked out of the room and the three instructed to follow did just that.
The rest of the group were curious but followed Oak's orders and remained there.
Oak led the three to his study. Ash recalled many memories of being here including visiting here with Brock and Misty before his Indigo League challenge. Gary had been there also.
Oak sat down on the couch at one side of the coffee table and instructed Ash, Gary and Leaf to sit on the one opposite him.
"What's this about Professor?" Leaf asked.
Oak sighed.
"There is something I have to tell you, something I feel you should know before the rest of your friends."
"What is it?" Ash was very curious at this stage.
Oak took a deep breath.
"It is about the dark history of Pallet Town."
Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
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