Chapter 50: Rocket Boss Giovanni

Ash glared down the leader of Team Rocket with all the hatred he could muster. While this was only the third time they had actually met, he had heard all about him from his subordinates, and he hated everything about the man. Giovanni smirked, as if Ash's anger amused him.

"I don't know what you Rocket Ghouls want, but I'm here to put a stop to it! Get ready, because I challenge you!"

Archer laughed, as if he had been told the world's greatest joke.

"Please, don't embarrass yourself! Giovanni isn't as weak as those other fools you've fought. He'll-"

"I accept."

"Huh? But sir, it'd be a waste of time."

"Perhaps, but it has been a while since I've actually got my hands dirty. I accept your challenge, but know that a world of hurt awaits."

The grunts, seeing how serious this was getting, spread out, leaving the two trainers standing in the middle of the lab.

"Persian, go."

Giovanni's right handed cat leapt from its Pokeball, swiping the air intensely as it landed. Pikachu leapt off of Ash's shoulder, ready to get revenge for their last battle.

"You ready, Pikachu?"

"Pika!"

"Alright, him him with a Volt Tackle!"

Giovanni remained silent as Ash's Pikachu rammed right into his Persian, the cat standing its ground as Pikachu put more power into its attack. Then...

"Payback."

With a single swipe, Persian sent Pikachu flying back to Ash as if he were a fly. Grunting, Pikachu pushed himself up, more determined than ever.

"Hit him with a Thunderbolt, Pikachu!"

"Dig."

Persian burrowed into the ground just before the thunderbolt hit, leaving Pikachu frustrated as he tried to find his foe. Out of the corner of his eye, Ash saw the ground beneath his Pokemon begin to shift.

"Jump, Pikachu!"

Pikachu leapt into the air, just in time as Persian emerged from its hiding spot.

"Use Iron Tail!"

As he descended, Pikachu swung his tail and hit Persian dead center on the forehead, knocking it down but not out as it circled Pikachu, each one waiting for the other to make a move.

After pushing through the guards, the rest of Ash's group pushed their way into the lab to find Ash fighting Giovanni.

"What's Ash thinking? He doesn't stand against him."

"We'd better give him a hand."

But before they could move to help, they were surrounded on all corners by grunts.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"This is between the boss and the twerp, so butt out!"

The army of grunts charged, not even bothering with their Pokemon. Although momentarily thrown off guard, the group managed to fight back, kicking and punching their way through. All except for Lillie, who clutched Snowy closely to her as she tried to kick the grunts off of her. One grunt snuck up behind her, ready to grab her...

Only to be kicked where the sun doesn't shine and thrown away by a rag doll by Gladion, who proceeded to help her fight off the rest.

"Phew! Thanks, Gladion!"

"Thank me later, we've got to help Ash!"

As for Ash, his Pikachu was still in a deadlock with Giovanni's Persian. Although both had taken heavy damage, neither was one ready to fail their master.

"Persian hit him with Hyper Beam."

Pikachu could barely stand before being blasted with a massive beam of fire, sending him flying. Fortunately, Ash had expected that.

"Electro Web!"

Like a rubber band, Pikachu snapped back into focus, creating a web of electricity and using it to break his fall.

"Now use it like a Catapult!"

After springing on it for a minute, Pikachu pounced, leaping at his enemy like a rocket.

"Build up electricity in your tail, then combine it with Iron Tail!"

"Hit him with your own Iron Tail."

The two clashed in the middle, sparks flying as they battled for dominance. For a minute, it seemed like Persian was going to win.

"More power, Pikachu!"

With a grunt, Pikachu surged more power into his tail, pushing Persian back with all his might. Finally, a huge explosion occurred, covering the battlefield and forcing everyone to shield their eyes.

"What's going on, I can't see?!"

"And you think I can?"

At last, the smoke cleared. To everyone's shock, Persian lay on the ground defeated as Pikachu stood, exhausted but triumphant.

"Alright, way to go buddy!"

"Pika."

Wordlessly, Giovanni returned his Pokemon, staring at its Pokeball for a minute as Ash picked up Pikachu.

"Good work, pal. Get some rest."

Archer was livid. There was no way some twerp could beat his leader.

"All hands detain that boy! We'll make him pay for that!"

But as Archer glanced around, he could see that all of the grunts lay on the ground, beaten to unconsciousness. Looker made his way forward.

"You two are under arrest. Your soldiers are defeated, and you have nothing. Surrender now, or there will be trouble."

Before anyone could make a move, Nebby's cries broke the tense silence.

"PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!"

"Nebby! What are you monsters doing to him!"

Just then, all of the lights began to flicker as the power surged. Giovanni smirked, then began to laugh.

"You fools! You're too late! Even without my army, the Ultra Beasts will be more than enough to take you down!"

As he said that, a crack began to appear over head as Ash and friends watched on in horror.

On Melemele Island, Hala was taking a stroll through the forest when he tensed up. He didn't know why, but something didn't feel right.

"I sense a great disturbance."

As if the universe had heard him, a great, glowing rift appeared in the sky, as Hala could only watch on in awe.

"What is that?!"

On Akala Island, Olivia was giving a customer an appraisal on her jewlery.

"Lets see, for the whole lot I can give you $300."

"Deal!"

Just then, a customer barged into the store, looking very scared.

"Olivia, come quick!"

Confused, Olivia ran outside to see everyone watching the sky in horror as an Ultra Wormhole ripped its way into existence.

"What is that?"

Olivia's eyes furrowed.

"Nothing good, that's what."

Nanu sighed, leaning back in his chair with a cup of coffe. It had taken a lot of work, but Team Skull had given up for the most part. While they were still causing mischief, none of it was on the level that required the interference of the Kahuna, meaning he could enjoy his evening in peace for once.

His peace was short lived, however, as Sophocles and Molayne threw open his door in a panic. Sighing, Nanu put down his mug to turn to his "guests".

"Haven't you heard of knocking?"

"There's no time. Something's happening to the sky!"

Sighing, Nanu followed the two outside just in time to see the sky open up. Nanu sighed in annoyance.

"Well, crud. There goes my evening."

Over in Kalos, a Greninja sat underneath the shade of a large tree, meditating. Although it had taken months of effort, Kalos was finally beginning to recover from Team Flare's onslaught. He had a rough day, between helping reconstruction efforts and keeping the peace between a herd of Pangoro.

His meditation was broken, however, when an odd feeling came over him. He couldn't quite figure it out, but something felt...off. As if the very balance of the universe itself was on the breaking point.

Like a spring he leapt from his meditation and began swimming for where he sensed the disturbance was from. He didn't know what was going on, but he knew one thing...

Ash was in trouble.