Chapter 36: The Nugget Challenge
Ash sprinted off as soon as Don said go. He found the first trainer lurking in the grass, juggling a Pokeball.
"You one of the trainers part of the Nugget Challenge?"
"Sure am, but don't expect an easy fight. Go, Beedrill!"
"I never do. Go, Lycanroc!"
The large bug type jabbed its stingers at Lycanroc, who growled in response.
"Lycanroc, use Rock Throw!"
"Poison Sting, Beedrill!"
Lycanroc jumped out of Beedrill's path, its stinger lodging itself into the dirt before Lycanroc formed a boulder out of thin air and hurled it a Beedrill, knocking it back as it fluttered it wings to stay afloat.
"Hit him back with Pin Missile, Beedrill!"
"Dig, Lycanroc!"
By the time the giant stingers had found their way towards their opponent, Lycanroc was already underground. Beedrill darted its eyes around to try and spot it, to no avail. Then its trainer noticed a patch of dirt right underneath it start to shuffle.
"Beedrill, underneath you!"
But by the time Beedrill could react, Lycanroc had already leapt up and struck it, knocking it out. The trainer didn't feel bad, though, and smiled as he returned it.
"Good job, Beedrill. You get a nice long rest."
He then turned to Ash.
"Good battle, man."
"Thanks, you two. No hard feelings?"
"Nah., I did my best, I have no regrets."
The rest of Ash's battles went more or less the same way, his Pikachu knocking out a trainer's Pidgeotto, Shellgon knocking out a Crobat, Trumbeat a Nidorina, and finally Incineroar taking out a Mankey.
"Alright, that's all of the trainer's taken out!"
Don, who had been keeping an eye on Ash, walked over, a huge grin plastered on his face.
"Congratulations, Ash. As proof of your victory, I present to you a Big Nugget. These puppies sell for up to 10,000 dollars at any Pokemart or similar shop."
"Alright, thanks Don."
Ash struggled to hold up the large piece of gold, but eventually found his grip.
"And one more thing. I'm about to make an offer that will change your life for the better."
"How so?"
"How would you like to join Team Rocket?"
Ash couldn't believe his ears.
"What did you say?"
"Team Rocket. We're a group dedicated to stealing, selling, and otherwise making profit off of Pokémon. And under the leadership of our leader Giovanni, we'll conquer the world. So if I were you, I'd get on the winning team."
Ash's face turned into a scowl.
"No way! I'll never join with the likes of you!"
"Too bad, kid, cause I'm not asking."
Don then threw off his disguise, revealing a much younger man with purple hair wearing the traditional Team Rocket uniform.
"Perhaps a demonstration of power will convince you. Names Petrel, Team Rocket Executive, and master of disguise."
It was then that he noticed the Pikachu on Ash's shoulder, and something dawned on him.
"Wait a second, you're that kid with the Pikachu that Jessie and James are always complaining about."
"You know them?"
"Who did you think taught them to be masters of disguise?"
"Well, it doesn't matter. I have no interest in joining you guys, so scram!"
"We'll see about that. Go, Aggron!"
Ash's eyes narrowed as the mighty steel and rock type roared at him.
"Guess I don't have much of a choice. Go, Croconaw!"
Petrel just sneered at the crocodile.
"Please, that pup doesn't stand a chance. Hyper Beam!"
"Croconaw, use…"
Ash didn't get the chance to finish that sentence, however, because Aggron's Hyper Beam connected, knocking Croconaw out.
"Told you. Make it easy for yourself and just give in. Join now and you might just make it to Admin in a year."
"Fat chance. Lycanroc, I choose you! Use Accelerock!"
While Aggron rested from using Hyper Beam, Lycanroc charged right at him, hitting it with such force that knocked him back. To Ash's amazement, the Aggron disappeared, revealing a Zoroark in its place.
"What the-"
"Surprised? As Team Rocket's master of disguise, my Pokémon are all about illusion and mimicry. Zoroark, use another Hyper Beam!"
"Continental Crush, Lycanroc!"
Zoroark's Hyper Beam barely fazed Lycanroc, who crushed it with its Z Move and knocked it out. Petrel grunted in disgust as he returned his Pokémon.
"You're worthless. Go, Ditto!"
The pink blob Pokémon appeared, before copying Lycanroc's appearance through Transform.
"Ditto, use Accelerock!"
"You two, Lycanroc!"
The two attacks met in the middle, pushing both back with neither one gaining the edge.
"Ditto, keep it up with Accelerock!"
"Stone Edge, Lycanroc!"
Lycanroc howled as he made large stones erupt from the ground, but Ditto dodged them with ease as he kept running. To Petrel's surprise, Ash didn't give any further commands.
"Giving up already? Fine by me."
Lycanroc took the Accelerock right to the face, howling in pain as he doubled back.
"Finish him off with…"
"Lycanroc, use Counter!"
Lycanroc recovered quickly, grabbing the imposter Pokémon before throwing it, sending it crashing through two rocks before it landed at Petrel's feet out cold.
"Alright, way to go Lycanroc!"
"Lycanroc!"
Petrel growled, nearly crushing Ditto's Pokeball in his fist before marching over and grabbing Ash's arm.
"Hey, let me go!"
"No way, kid! You're coming with me. Giovanni will want to see this."
"PUT HIM DOWN AND YOUR HANDS UP!"
In shock, Petrel released Ash to find a small army of Police Officers surrounding him, Arcanine's ready to burn him to a crisp. Realizing he couldn't get out of this; he raised his arms in defeat as an Officer Jenny walked over to handcuff him.
"You're under arrest for poaching, soliciting minors, attempted kidnapping, illegal mining, and probably a hundred other crimes we don't know about. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford one you will be provided with one. Take him away!"
As he was carted off to a car, Petrel turned back towards Ash.
"You haven't seen the last of me, twerp! I'll get out, and once I do you better believe I'll be coming for you!"
"Move it, punk!"
Ash watched as Petrel was driven away, hopefully for good. An officer walked over to him.
"Sorry son, but I'm afraid I'll have to take your Big Nugget in for evidence."
"Of course, Officer."
"Thank you. Stay safe and be on the lookout. Wherever there's one Rocket, there's bound to be more."
"I will."
"Ash! Are you alright!"
Ash turned to find his three companions running up to him.
"I knew there was something I didn't like about that Don fellow, so I called the park office. Turns out they had never heard of the guy before! I called the police immediately after."
"I'm fine. It's a good thing the police showed up when they did, or who knows what might have happened."
"They're questioning the trainers now. They didn't know he was part of Team Rocket; said they had only paid them to help him out. The officers are making sure they get home safely."
"Wow Ash, that sure was brave of you to face him like that. I don't think I could have been."
"Oh, I don't know Lillie. I'd say your one of the bravest people I know."
Lillie blushed as everyone left to find a place to sleep for the night, content in knowing that the worse was over.
Giovanni sat in his office, eating his dinner while watching the evening news. A particular news story catching his attention.
"A recruiting operation has been uncovered in Malie Garden today, resulting in the arrest of several Team Rocket members involved, including the executive Petrel."
Giovanni snarled, but calmed down slightly when his Persian rubbed against his leg affectionately. He briefly considered leaving them to rot in jail but decided against it. He couldn't risk any of them revealing his plans just for a lighter sentence, and Petrel was known to blab.
"We now go live to Malie motel, where the trainer who uncovered the operation, a young Ash Ketchum…"
Giovanni's eyes went wide with shock, his ears tuning out the interview as his eyes focused solely on the boy. He had heard the name a few times, from looking at league results in the paper to his grunts occasionally mentioning the name, but never thought much of it. But to hear his name spoken so clearly, and to look see his face was different. He vaguely felt like he had seen the boy before but could not think of where or how they could have met. But one thing was for sure, there was no question in his mind who his mother was.
"Delila…"
Few things in his life had ever surprised Giovanni, but this had just topped the list.
