Chapter 15

Ash went crashing through the brush of the foliage as he chased after the two delinquents. He couldn't let them get away with stealing anyone's Pokémon, let alone the Pokémon of people he cared about.

Gaz could see a faint outline of Ash far in front of him, he knew Ash was here for the same reason he was, so he continued to follow him despite the calls from behind from Gary.

"Hey Gaz! Come back!" Gary shouted.

"What and leave Ash alone?" Gaz yelled back.

"We can get him too!" Gary answered. "Can't you see it's a trap?"

"It might be." Gaz continued to sprint forward. "But I'll take the risk if it means we can get those Pokémon back."

Gary cursed as he knew the Unova trainer was right, so he continued to follow despite his instinct.

"If I die because of you, I'll kill you." He warned Gaz.

"I'll take that risk." Gaz laughed. "Look, I'm guessing you were like me and got your Pokémon back before rushing in so we should be fine. We can fight out of it."

Normally Gary would accept that but in the back of his mind he still had a nagging feeling that this wasn't a good idea.

Ash kept running as fast as he could, he sprinted with his eyes dead ahead and couldn't see the bunch of brambles that wrapped around his foot and he crashed through a bunch of low branches which cut and scratched his skin.

He stopped tumbling in a clearing and took a second to gather his bearings once more.

"Come on Ash get up." Gaz and Gary had caught up to ash and the pair gave the Kalos champion a hand up.

"Where did they go?" Ash asked as he stood up.

"I don't know, we were following you." Gary told him.

"I lost them." Ash admitted, he cursed and kicked the ground. "Let's split up and look."

"That's the worst thing we could do." Gaz pointed out. "Three of us running around the forest without a clue would only get us lost, injured or worse."

"Then what do we do?" Ash asked in frustration.

"Clueless as usual Ketchum." Came a voice from the right of the clearing, the three trainers turned and could just see glint of green hair in the moonlight behind the first line of trees.

"Give us back the Pokémon Drew." Gary warned.

"They're just over here, come and get them." Drew laughed before retreating further into the trees.

"Get back here you bastard!" Ash yelled, once again chasing after the co-ordinator.

"Damn It, Ash." Gary exclaimed as he and Gaz broke off in pursuit of their friend.

The trio once again made their way through the forest at top speed. Gary began to fall behind as Ash and Gaz picked up the pace at the sight of Drew. Gary tried to speed up as much as possible. Unfortunately, this resulted in him tripping over the root of a tree and tumbling to the ground.

"I knew running in here was going to be a mistake." Gary muttered to himself as he spit dirt out of his mouth.

Gary rose to his feet and he had lost all sight of Gaz and Ash. He couldn't even hear any noise aside from the sound of wind rustling through the trees and the odd cry from a Hoot-Hoot.

"This is bad." Gary began to move forward slower this time hoping he can reunite with his two friends.

A little ahead of Gary, Gaz kept running at full pace trying to keep up with Ash, but he was struggling.

'How is this guy so fast?' Gaz thought as he continued to run.

He was so focused on keeping up with Ash without tripping that he didn't see the jet of water being shot at him from the right. The stream hit him square in the chest and sent him flying into a tree knocking the wind out of him.

Gaz was just getting his bearings when he realized someone was walking towards him.

"Did you run out here trying to be all noble for Dee-Dee?"

Gaz looked up and saw it was Kenny who stood over him alongside an impressive looking Empoleon.

"Just give us back the Pokémon." Gaz warned.

"I don't think you're in position to demand anything." Kenny asked. "You're actually so stupid to chase after us? Did you honestly not think we had a back-up plan?"

"What do you mean?" Gaz asked.

"You have no need to worry it's Ash who should be worried." Kenny laughed.

"So, you lured us out here to try to hurt Ash again? Do you guys never learn your lesson?" Gaz snarled.

"Are you really one to talk? You guys got baited out here so easily." Kenny asked. "I saw how angry you were when I was fooling around with Dawn earlier."

"Fooling around with her?" Gaz replied, the phrase touching a nerve.

"How does it feel knowing I got to experience all of Dawn before you did? To watch me do whatever I wanted to her while you lied there helpless. It feels so good having that power."

Kenny bent down to eye level with Gaz.

"And you know what? I bet she enjoyed it."

Gaz had enough and with all his hatred spat in the face of Kenny.

He could see the rage instantly appear on the face of the Sinnoh co-ordinator and he reared back and kicked Gaz square in his face. Gaz's face snapped to the right and a mix of saliva and blood flew from his mouth onto the dead leaves that rested on the ground. He was face down on the ground listening to Kenny's footsteps draw closer anticipating what came next.

"Orders were to take down Ash but if anyone got in the way then we have full permission to eliminate any other annoyances."

Gaz heard Kenny's footstep right beside his head and new this was his only chance. He grabbed a handful of loose soil from the forest ground and threw it in Kenny's eyes.

Kenny reeled back cursing in shock.

"Damn it, Empoleon use Metal Claw on him."

Gaz reached for one of his Pokéballs as the large Pokémon ran towards him with his claw glowing. He just threw the Pokéball in time to try and dodge the attack but couldn't get fully out of way and Empoleon left a sizeable cut on Gaz's arm, causing him to yelp in pain.

Luckily by this stage Infernape had appeared from his ball.

"Infernape, Close Combat." Gaz shouted.

Empoleon didn't have time to react as Infernape ran forward and pounded its fellow Sinnoh starter with a flurry of punches and kicks until it fell to the ground.

Kenny had recovered at this stage and recalled Empoleon before dashing away once again.

"We have to follow him." Gaz told Infernape who nodded. "Thanks for your help."

"Fernape." Infernape nodded.

"I'll return you to your Pokéball, save your energy." Gaz recalled Infernape and ran in the direction he just saw Kenny go, clutching his arm as he went.

"Get back here Drew." Ash shouted.

Ash kept in close pursuit trying to get closer to the Hoenn native so he could stop him. He kept picking up his pace gradually and was closing in on the co-ordinator. Drew kept glancing back more often in fear of being caught.

Ash kept getting closer and closer until he got to just the right distance and leaped at Drew tackling him to the ground. Drew reacted quickly though and as soon as he felt Ash hands on him, he rolled forward causing Ash's momentum to propel him forward onto the ground with Drew over him.

Drew brought his fist back and slammed it into Ash's face.

"You finally know your place now Ketchum?" Drew laughed. "Beneath me where you belong."

Ash usually could never bring himself to hate anybody. For as long as he could remember he never truly hated. Not Gary when he was growing up not even Team Rocket. But as he lay on the ground looking up at Drew, he finally understood what hate was. He despised Drew.

"Ritchie was too soft to finish the job earlier," Drew told Ash. "So, I'll pick up where he left off and actually do what needs to be done."

Drew began to reach for a Pokéball before he heard a rustling sound behind him. His arm froze and he looked behind him but couldn't react in time as Gary crashed into him knocking him off of Ash.

Gary wasted no time as he rushed over to the grounded Drew, ripped of his jacket and took the pokéballs that he had stolen.

"Here's a bit advice you bastard." Gary spoke between heavy breaths. "When you're trying to be discreet in a quiet forest at night don't waste time talking where people can hear you."

"Thanks Gary, I would have been a goner if you hadn't showed up." Ash said in gratitude.

"You would have been dead loads of times before if it wasn't for me." Gary reminded him. "You were never the most careful type when we were kids."

Gary then turned his attention to Drew once again.

"So, this was your plan? Lead us in here and just hope you get the chance to kill Ash after letting him chase you for ages?"

"It's crazy how people from Pallet Town just never learn." Drew shook his head. "After everything we have done do you really believe this is the extent of our plans?"

Ash and Gary looked at each other in confusion.

Then suddenly the sound of the wind rustling gently through the leaves of the trees was interrupted by a loud male scream that sounded full of pain and fear.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHH"

It rang through the ears of the three males as they stood there, even though it was a scream, Ash and Gary recognised the voice as Gaz's.

"Sounds like your friend is in trouble." Drew laughed.

"What's happening to Gaz?" Ash asked.

"It doesn't sound pleasant whatever it is." Drew laughed mockingly.

"Tell us or else we'll make you hurt just as bad." Gary warned.

Just as Gary finished his sentence another scream rang across the forest.

"I don't think you'll have time for that." Drew said with a sly smile.

Ash and Gary exchanged one final look. They wanted to take Drew down a peg but unfortunately, they knew that they couldn't leave Gaz to suffer.

"I promise the next time that we run into you, I'm going to make you regret everything you've done to me and all my friends." Ash shouted.

He and Gary then turned and ran towards where the screams were coming from.

Gaz was laid out on the forest floor twitching as the waves of pain ran through his body. The sensation started in his head, he felt like it was being pounded from the inside and that feeling spread throughout every nerve in his body and once it reached his nerve endings it culminated in what felt like mini explosions being set off.

He couldn't help but scream out as tears of suffering ran from his eyes and moistened the dry forest soil. Another wave passed and it took all his might to not throw up there and then.

Footsteps approached Gaz as he tried to catch his breath. He attempted to look up to see his attacker, but he didn't have the strength.

"Oh honey, you should have known better than to try to get in our way." A dainty voice trilled. "And you followed us out here all by yourself? How foolish."

Gaz tried to push himself up once again but once he rose a couple of inches off the ground, he received a large boot to the face.

"Who are you?" Gaz asked through heavy breaths.

"Oh, don't you worry about that, I'm just here to keep you entertained while we wait for your friends to get here."

"Leave them alone, don't you dare touch them." Gaz snarled.

"I don't think you're in any place to make demands darling." His attacker laughed. "Me and my special Pokémon are the ones in charge here."

"How did you get that?" Gaz asked, every word hurt to speak but maybe if he talked, he could hold off the next attack for a bit.

He was so fatigued though, he just wanted to close his eyes and fade into sleep.

"You ask a lot of questions, you're quite annoying." The attacker answered. "I don't blame you though as you should be scared, we have this extremely powerful Pokémon, and almost every other Pokémon on the same power level as well as even stronger ones."

It finally began to settle in for Gaz just how much of a threat their enemies are.

"Anyway, that's enough of a break, we still have to get the rest of your friends here. It's showtime! Give us your best performance.

"Please! No more, please." Gaz begged.

"It's so pitiful seeing a trainer beg. I'd feel bad for you if I wasn't so disgusted."

"Hey, the other two are coming. My Noctowl spotted them." Gaz recognised that voice as Kenny's.

"Good, we'll make sure this scum screams nice and loud, so they know exactly where to find us. I think you should get into your position also."

He took a deep breath and turned to his Pokémon.

"Another wave of your powerful Psychic attack please?"

Unbearable pain pulsed through Gaz's body once again as his screams pierced the forest's usual silence.

Ash and Gary heard the latest scream as they sprinted through the foliage.

"Hang in there Gaz we're coming." Ash shouted, more to reassure himself as he knew his friend couldn't hear him.

The Pallet Town pair ran for another couple of minutes hoping to find Gaz and help him. As Gary was running, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye.

"Ash, that's Kenny over there!" He called out.

The two came to a stop and looked across. They could see the co-ordinator moving through the trees to their right. But as they stopped, they heard another scream coming from straight ahead.

"Gaz is still in trouble though." Ash told him.

Gary gritted his teeth. Gaz was clearly in a lot of danger, but this could also be their chance to catch Kenny.

"Let's split up. I'll go after Kenny you try to find Gaz." Gary suggested. "It's our last resort."

Ash nodded.

"Okay be careful." Ash then ran in the direction where the screams were coming from as Gary sprinted off after Kenny.

Ash continued to sprint for another few moments, he hadn't heard a sound in a while aside from his own heavy breathing and rushed footsteps. He was starting to get worried and was hoping he wasn't too late. Whilst in thought, Ash tripped over something heavy on the ground and crashed to the soil. He looked back to see what it was, and he found Gaz in a heap on the ground.

Ash looked on in shock before scurrying over to his friend.

"Gaz please be okay." Ash checked to see if he was breathing and he heard a faint inhale and exhale coming from the Unova native. "Thank God, what happened here?"

"Oh, you'll know soon enough, you'll get a similar treatment." A familiar voice came from behind.

Ash turned slowly behind him.

"So, you're behind this Harley?" Ash asked full of rage.

"Guilty as charged." Harley sung in joy. "Me and my new Pokémon pal over there."

Ash turned to see where Harley was pointing, and his eyes widened in shock. He saw a Pokémon he was all too familiar with and it broke his heart to see it as it is now. The Pokémon he had great times within the past had eyes filled with darkness from the recognisable manipulation of a Dark Ball.

"Latias…no what have they done to you?"

"No time for this now Ash, your friend is now your enemy, a familiar feeling by this stage huh?"

Ash couldn't reply, he just looked on in hurt at his friend.

"Latias, make this easy for us, knock him out."

"Latias please no." Ash begged. He couldn't get through to his friend though as her eyes lit up and Ash lost consciousness.

Gary kept running after Kenny, getting closer and closer with each step. His mind was working just as fast as his feet. He had a sneaky suspicion that this is what Kenny wanted so he had to keep his wits about him. Just as that thought reached his head, he saw Kenny slow to a stop, so he did the same.

"Okay that should enough." Kenny panted with his hands on his knees.

"None of this makes sense you're just running randomly throughout the forest! What's your endgame?" Gary shouted angrily.

"Why do you keep asking as if we're going to tell you?" Kenny shook his head. "All you need to know is I'm going to take you out right here and now." Kenny took a Pokéball from his jacket and prepared to throw it.

"No offence, but I don't think a second-rate co-ordinator could be able to take me out in a Pokémon battle." Gary scoffed.

"Second-rate?" Kenny's face was filled with rage. "I'm going to make you eat those words. 5 v 5 battle right now, let's go."

"Why only 5 v 5?" Gary asked.

"Well one of my Pokémon is actually busy with another task." Kenny spoke with pride. "I had my Noctowl scout out for when you and those other two losers were getting near so we could put our plan into action. Pretty clever huh? And you had no idea."

Gary looked shocked at first before starting to laugh.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I couldn't keep up the act anymore."

"What do you mean?" Kenny asked in confusion. As soon as the words left his mouth a Pokémon came crashing down to the tree's and landed on the ground unconscious. It was Kenny's Noctowl.

"How did you…?" Kenny started.

"There's only so many times you can pull the diversion trick before we catch on." Gary explained. "So, when I saw you earlier, just before I began chasing you, I asked my Fearow to search the sky for anything suspicious, looks like he found your Noctowl."

Kenny returned his Noctowl before turning to Gary once again.

"Well, no matter, we still have a battle to get to."

"Actually, I decline your battle," Gary told him casually. "I'll just have my Fearow do the rest."

"What?" Kenny asked. His question was answered by a large brown bird like Pokémon slamming into his back and knocking him to the ground. Gary rushed forward and put his foot and Kenny's back to make sure he couldn't get up.

"So, tell me, where are Ash and Gaz?" Gary demanded.

"It doesn't even matter if I tell you, you can't help them. They are just slightly east of here. Though you might not like what you find." Kenny smirked.

"I've heard just about enough from you." Gary sighed and reached for one of his pokéballs and summoned his Hypno. "Hypno, use Hypnosis on him."

Hypno nodded and began swinging his pendulum in front of Kenny, who suddenly became drowsy and then fell into a deep sleep.

"Thanks, you two, you did great. I'm going to have to recall you two for now." Gary told his Pokémon who nodded in response before returning to their pokéballs.

Gary took a deep breath before making his way in the direction that Kenny told him. After a few moments he decided to stop and bring out his Electivire and Arcanine in preparation.

"Things could get tricky up ahead, but I know we can handle it." Gary told his two companions who nodded loyally.

He began walking again and after a few moments under the light given off Electivire's glow he could see the crumpled forms of Ash and Gaz on the ground.

"Dammit." Gary cursed he ran forward to the two of them and was thankful to find they were both still breathing. His relief was cut short by Arcanine barking at something.

"What is it Arcanine, is there something there?" Gary asked.

His question was answered by Arcanine being hit by a powerful Dragon Pulse and sent flying into a tree.

"No, Arcanine." Gary turned and looked on in shock as he saw the Pokémon that attacked his Arcanine was a Latias.

"What the hell is a Latias doing here?" He muttered. He saw that the Latias was powering up another move. "Electivire move."

Electivire managed to leap out of the way of the Shadow Ball that flew his way.

"Thunder Wave." Gary commanded, the attack landed and the Latias cried out in pain and anger as its movement was restricted by the static. "Okay rush forward and Ice Punch."

Electivire burst forward with its fist growing blue and smashed it into the Latias causing it to cry out in pain. Gary knew he couldn't win this battle, but he at least had to stall time to try think of a way to get him and his friends out of this. The Latias looked like it was preparing another attack. What was it even doing here anyway? Gary had studied the Eon duo in the past, there was no reason as to why it should be in this environment. He shifted his sights to Electivire, ready to figure out a counter before Latias could hit his Pokémon.

Gary misjudged the situation, however. Instead of attacking the Electivire, Latias instead shot towards Gary. He attempted to dodge the Latias, but the Eon Pokémon managed to cause a deep gash in Gary's stomach.

He groaned and collapsed to the ground in pain. Electivire roared in rage and sprinted towards Latias, however the Legendary Pokémon fired a Psychic attack that took down Electivire in his tracks.

Gary was lying on his back with his hand pressed tightly to his stomach watching blood leak out between his fingers. He saw someone approached him. He was a tall boy who seemed to be in his late teens with purple hair and dressed like a Cacturne.

"Oh no, another young man fell victim to our regime." He said in fake sadness. "I should probably put you out of your misery, but I just don't have it in me. I think I'll just leave you here to bleed out in the forest." He grabbed Gary, who didn't have the strength to fight back, by the arms and dragged him to a tree.

"Why did you all even come today?" Gary asked.

"To keep all of you busy and to take you out if we got the chance." The boy explained. "We couldn't have you all getting in the way of us capturing that Mewtwo now could we?"

Gary's stomach dropped at these words, Team Rocket was getting closer and closer to whatever their goal was, and it was looking more and more hopeless for him and his friends.

"Now I couldn't put you out of your misery but your Pokémon? We can't have them living sad because of the loss of their trainers."

"Don't! Please! Not my Pokémon." Gary pleaded.

"How noble." The boy commended. "Speaking off we'll start with Arcanine shall we Latias?" He turned to where the Fire type was lying injured, but it was no longer there. "Where did it go?"

Suddenly Latias cried out in pain as Arcanine jumped from the deep shadows of the forest trees and hit it with a Bite attack. He then reared back and let out a fierce Roar that forced Latias to return into the Dark Ball that the boy carried.

"You, vile creature. how dare you do that to such a majestic Pokémon." The Cacturne dressed boy spat angrily.

Arcanine ignored him and bounded forward knocking him to the ground. He stood over the boy snarling and baring his teeth in anger towards the person who hurt his trainer.

"Now, now, good Arcanine, don't hurt the poor human." The boy spoke in fear. Arcanine was bringing his face closer and closer to the boy's face. "Banette now!"

A Banette appeared out of nowhere placed his hand on the boy and teleported away before Arcanine could react. The large Pokémon could only pound the ground and roar in frustration that he had escaped. He then made his way over to Gary and looked down in concern.

"Thank you Arcanine you did fantastic." Gary smiled, he wished he could reach up and pet his friend, but he didn't have the strength. Instead he grabbed a Pokéball from his pocket and returned his Electivire. "Okay Arcanine, I need you to do one more thing for me." He got an obedient nod from his Pokémon.

"Take Ash and Gary down to the rest of the guys so they can be helped. They're hurt badly and they need medical attention. Get them there as quickly as possible."

Arcanine looked at his trainer quizzically and began to bark at him. Despite the language difference Gary knew what he was saying.

"Don't worry about me just get them to safety." Gary told him. Arcanine began barking loudly in denial he would not leave his trainer alone in the forest to die.

"I'm asking you as your trainer and your friend." Gary told him. "I'll be fine just, get my friends to safety please. And take these pokéballs."

Arcanine looked on in sadness knowing how serious Gary was being. He sprang forward and buried his face in his trainer's neck. Gary could feel warm tears from the Pokémon landing on his skin.

"Thank you, for everything." Gary whispered. He watched as Arcanine picked up the bag of pokéballs in his mouth and manuevered Gaz and Ash onto his back by nimbly dragging them up to a position where he could wiggle under them. He took one last look back at Gary before bouncing back towards the group.

Gary stayed slumped against a tree with his shallow breathing being the only audible noise. He grabbed another Pokéball and released the Umbreon that resided in it. As soon as he saw the predicament his trainer was in, Umbreon began crying out in fear and sadness.

"It's okay Umbreon honestly, please can you just keep me company?" Gary asked faintly.

"Breon." Umbreon nodded sadly and cuddled up close to Gary, trying to give his trainer some comfort.

Gaz had the faint realisation that he was on some sort of Pokémon. He had heard a very quiet voice that sounded familiar. He sounded as if he was in pain. He tried to open his eyes, but he was just so tired. Someone was in pain though. He reached for his pokéball. He could help. Every time he tried to move his arm he had to stop. It was so painful. Why won't the pain stop? He tried one more time. Grabbed the pokéball he wanted. Tried to throw it but he lost all his strength and simply dropped it.

He faded back into unconsciousness as the Arcanine ran forward oblivious to the action, only focused on saving his trainer.

This was the longest chapter of the story so far, I hope you guys enjoyed it! What will happen to Gary? Rumour has it you need to follow and review to find out. Stay safe!