AN: Sorry for the late update, I've had a lot on my plate recently. Thank you to those who reviewed, favorited, and followed, i really appreciate it!

Chapter 4

Ash ducked behind a large rock in the forest. There was no sign of the Jenny that he had followed, and he had heard voices up ahead. Figuring it would be best to stay out of sight, he, Pikachu, Oshawott and Kingler tried their best not to make a sound. Greninja had disappeared, most likely being stealthy to avoid detection as well.

Peeking over the top of the rock, Ash saw a sight that made him put a hand over his mouth to stop himself from gasping.

There, tied up in the clearing, and with terrified expressions on their faces, were the Team Rocket Trio of Jessie, James, and Meowth. Jessie and James' Kalos Pokémon, Wobbuffet, Gourgeist, and Inkay were all fainted on the ground among them, in addition to the Pokémon he had not seen with them in a while: Jessie's Seviper and Yanmega, and James' Carnivine and Mime Jr., also fainted. Five Team Rocket Grunts surrounded them, with a Golbat, Dodrio, Venomoth, Golem and Rhydon, each one standing next to each Grunt, in addition to some figures Ash couldn't see.

The Rhydon appeared to be tossing something next to the helpless Trio, which Ash suddenly recognizing as the unconscious form of the Officer Jenny who had arrived there first and her fainted Arcanine.

At last a voice rang out from one of them.

"Jessie and James," it said, coming from a man with long black hair that stepped forward, "and of course your little Meowth pet…"

"H-hey," Meowth protested, but was silenced when the man kicked the helpless cat Pokémon.

"It has been determined that you have ben little more than a waste, as you have been funneling funds and resources, for years, into unsuccessful attempts to steal, of all things, a Pikachu."

Pikachu's cheeks sparked at that comment.

"Therefore, due to this wastefully high failure rate it has been deemed that you are no longer of use to Team Rocket, as ordered by our Boss Giovanni."

"Please…," Jessie begged, "You said it yourself. We have no use. Let us go…"

"I'm afraid we cannot do that." said the man, and the grunts snickered at that.

"Why…"

"You know too much," said another voice, and Ash recognized him as Dr. Zager, the scientist who had commanded the Trio in their efforts in Unova. "You could reveal things to the authorities. In Team Rocket, you serve or you die."

"Indeed," the black haired man continued, "And your time has come to an end."

Ash couldn't believe what he was hearing. Team Rocket was just throwing them away?

"Oh don't worry," Ash suddenly heard Dr. Zager say, "We are thankful for what you did manage to give us. So we have prepared a special treat for you."

Dr. Zager tossed four Poké Balls, which opened up to reveal Pokémon that Ash recognized. Jessie's Woobat and Frillish, and James' Yamask and Amoonguss, all from Unova, emerged. What was really disturbing was that they were wearing something on their heads that vaguely resembled something Ash had seen during his travels in Johto. They resembled Dr. Namba's Rage Crowns.

All the Pokémon had a blank look on their faces.

"The Boss thanks you for these subjects," Dr. Zager announced, "these new Crowns certainly have a way with erasing nasty sentiment."

Dr. Zager snapped his fingers, and suddenly, the Pokémon began charging attacks, while the grunts began ordering their Pokémon to charge attacks as well, aiming at the now ex-Rocket Trio, and the unconscious Officer Jenny.

Ash decided that he had to do something.

"Kingler quick!" he ordered, "Use Hyper Beam!"

Immediately, Kingler charged up and launched a Hyper Beam, and launched it at the Pokémon, managing to hit Amoonguss and Woobat, but only causing Yamask and Frillish to turn toward him, as Normal-type moves don't affect Ghost-type Pokémon.

"What's this?" asked one of the Rocket Grunts.

"It's that kid," said another Grunt, "the one we've been sent to…"

"Shut up you dingbat!" snapped the irate first grunt, "You'll let him know we've been sent to get him out of the way!"

"You're the dingbat!" snapped a third Grunt, "you just…"

"You…what…!" Ash suddenly had a realization. He could smell gasoline in the air. And the Rockets smelled of smoke.

"Oh…shit!"

"YOU!" Ash bellowed, "YOU'RE THE ONES WHO SET FIRE TO THE RESTERAUNT!"

The Grunts suddenly began to take a step back, even Dr. Zager looked a bit put off, but the black-haired man remained unfazed.

"Yeah," said one of the Grunts, "We were sent to take your journey out of the picture. What better way than to take out your support!"

"And I think we can eliminate you while we are at it!" said another Grunt, "We've got way better Pokémon than you! Venomoth, Psybeam!"

The Grunts Venomoth proceeded to launch a Psybeam attack at Kingler, which struck it, and caused it to get pushed back. Immediately, the Grunts began ordering their Pokémon to attack.

Ash proceeded to fight back, enraged. How dare they! How dare they hurt him and his mom so much!

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu charged up a Thunderbolt attack, and launched it at the Rockets Pokémon, but suddenly, it was redirected to the Rhydon.

"HAHAHA!" Laughed the Grunt who commanded the Rhydon, "My Rhydon's Ability is Lightning Rod! Take this! Rhydon, Megahorn!"

The Rhydon was about to attack Pikachu, when suddenly, a rain of Water Shuriken rained down from the trees, hitting the Rocket's Pokémon, and canceling the Megahorn attack .

"Greninja!"

As Greninja appeared suddenly, Ash jumped out of the way of an incoming Shadow Ball from Yamask. Ash noticed that Yamask, Frillish, and to his surprise, Amoonguss, were attacking him.

'That Hyper Beam attack should have Fainted Amoonguss.' Ash thought, snapping out and calming down a little. 'Why…'

An attack command from the Grunts snapped Ash back to reality. He quickly realized that he had to take out the Rhydon for Pikachu's Electric-type attacks to work.

"Oshawott, Hydro Pump! Greninja, Water Shuriken!"

The super-effective attacks caused the Rhydon to faint, and Pikachu proceeded to zap the Golbat and Dodrio into unconsciousness as well. Only the Golem and Venomoth now remained.

"Commander Pierce," One of the grunts asked the black-haired man. "What should we do? He's getting the upper hand.

"Then don't fail me or Giovanni." Pierce said coolly.

Ash had enough, and his heart rate began to increase. These MONSTERS! Why couldn't Team Rocket leave him alone for once in his life! He barely noticed the sensations of synching with Greninja until Ash suddenly felt that he had become his Greninja.

Suddenly, he realized Greninja was in its Ash-Greninja Forme.

"GRENINJA! WATER SHURIKEN!"

Greninja proceeded to launch its Giant Water Shuriken at the Golem and Venomoth, fainting them.

"What is…"

"AAAAGGGHHH!" Ash could feel his rage building, and a wave of a water veil burst from Greninja and knocked back the Grunts, and Yamask, Frillish and Amoonguss.

Ash suddenly noticed that Woobat's Crown had broken, and now Woobat was looking around in a daze.

He suddenly knew what he had to do.

"Pikachu, Iron Tail on the Crowns!"

Pikachu realized as well, and attacked with his tail glowing silver. Pikachu jumped in the air, and swiped at Yamask's Crown, managing to score a hit and snap the Crown in two. Then, using Yamask to jump to Frillish, he managed to do the same.

However, before he managed to strike a third Crown, Amoonguss, slammed Pikachu with a Body Slam attack, knocking the wind out of him, and nearly causing him to faint.

"PIKACHU!"

Suddenly, Pierce stepped forward, and sent out a Hypno. "As much as this is amusing, I'm afraid I cannot risk you. Hypno, Focus Blast!"

Hypno charged up a ball of Fighting-type energy, and proceeded to launch it at Greninja. The ball hit, and as Greninja is part Dark-type, it dealt major damage. Suddenly, Ash felt as if the wind was knocked out of him, and his vision became blurry.

"No…the Crown…"

"Pikapi."

Pierce smirked. "Time to end this, Hypno. One more Focus Blast!

"INKAY, INTERCEPT WITH PSYBEAM!"

"YANMEGA, SONICBOOM ON AMOONGUSS' CROWN!"

"HERDIER, ASSIST THE UNCONSIOUS OFFICER JENNY, GROWLITHE, FLAMETHROWER ON THAT HYPNO.

Ash spun, and the last thing that Ash noticed before he passed out was what looked like to be a group of police officers surrounding the unconscious Jenny and the Grunts, James's Inkay , Jessie's Yanmega and an officer's Growlithe launching attacks at Hypno, and Amoonguss, and, a large cloud of dust being kicked up in front of Pierce and Dr. Zager. Then…darkness.