Freewill

Part III

"Now where did Ash go?" wondered Misty aloud. There little race had escalated into and all out brawl, including kicking, punching, scratching and the occasional bite, but Ash had fled when Misty had taken out her trusty mallet. Misty sighed and grabbed some dry branches for the firewood; she would find Ash later. She walked on collecting various branches and dried leaves, unaware of the two figures following her.

"We can use the girl," muttered Butch to his female partner.

Cassidy nodded in agreement and reached into a bag. In it she selected a long knife. "This might be better suited for the job!"

Butch examined the glistening metal and licked his lips, "Yes, it might be."

Misty slowed her walk down to a near stop; something was wrong, she could feel it. She had none of her Pokeballs with her, and Togepi was back at the camp. Misty shrugged off the feeling, it was probably nothing, but even so maybe she should head back to the campsite. "Do you think she saw us?" questioned Butch.

"Well," answered Cassidy, "even if she did, there's nothing she can do. She doesn't appear to have any weapons with her, and Giovanni assured us that none of them have any fighting or defensive skills."

"What about her Pokemon? We know that they all have pretty tough Pokemon."

Cassidy glared at him, "our Pokemon can easily handle whatever they can throw at us?"

"Even that Pikachu?"

"Yes, and besides we're going to have a little bargaining power," Cassidy motioned towards the ginger-haired girl that they could see edging her way around the bushes.

Butch got an evil glint in his eye, "Now?"

"Now!"

The two Rockets's jumped from the bushes, weapons in hand, however they lost the element of surprise when Misty saw the light reflecting off the knife and let out a blood curling scream.

Cassidy dived at her in hopes of knocking her to the ground, but Misty managed to move and make a run for it.

"Ash!" she screamed in terror, "Ash, Brock, HELP! It's Te-umph."

Butch had a gloved hand wrapped around her mouth and a knife held at her throat. "You make one sound and you are dead! Got it?"

Misty nodded her head in fear, and Butch loosened his grip slightly. Now, Misty didn't have many weapons, but she used one of them. She bit down, hard.

"Ahh," Butch screamed "that fucking hurt!"

Misty took her chance and kicked him in his crotch, and she kicked it well, pretty hard- let's just say hopefully Butch doesn't want kids.

"Ash, it's Team Rocket, I need help!"

Cassidy noticed Butch doubled over in pain on the ground, uggh once again she was going to have do it herself. She let fly a Pokeball, "Venasaur, go!"

The grass Pokemon materialized, ready to fight.

"Grab her, vinewhip!" The green ropes wrapped themselves around Misty's legs, knocking her to the ground.

Cassidy walked up close to her "like my new Pokemon? It was a gift from the boss, for completing the most missions with success."

Misty struggled to sit up, "whadda ya want? I don't have Pikachu."

Before the fair- haired women could answer her partner came up, still in some pain. He called Venasur off.

"You Bitch!" he cried yanking Misty up by her hair, as Cassidy watched, amused.

"Hey, Cass," he called in mock confusion.

"Hmmm?"

"The boss just said that we couldn't hurt Ash, right?"

"That's right Butch, he never said anything about this little girl."

Butch laughed, "hear that honey? I can do what I want with you." He slammed her head against the wall and pressed a hand against her chest, Misty whimpered in fear. He trailed his other hand down the side of her face, bringing it towards his own. He loosened his pants and whispered in her ear, "I think you know what I want…"

Meanwhile, Ash was racing through the forest screaming Brock's name, he stopped when he heard a voice try to sedate him, it was Brock.

"Whoah, Ash, calm down buddy, what's up?"

"Mi-Misty," Ash panted, "she was screaming really loudly."

Brock groaned, "c'mon, she probably saw some Beedrill and flipped."

"No!" I heard her yell something about Team Rocket."

"Team Rocket? We had better find her soon!" The two boys took off into the forest in hopes of finding their friend.

Butch let out a sigh as Misty spit in his face, really this girl was so annoying, that fiery attitude of hers. Oh well, all the more fun to break. Butch pulled his pants down and grabbed Misty's arms. "First, I'm going to hurt you like you hurt me. Second, I'm going to have some fun with you, and lastly, I'm going to kill you," and with those words he knocked Misty down and smashed her across her face, Cassidy merely stood there, leering. Misty's hand flew to her cheek as Butch hit her again before slipping his hands down her shorts. "Actually, I think that I'll have fun with you first."

He pulled his hands out and ripped off Misty's shirt and pinned down her shoulders. He leaned close to her, "you really are pretty you know."

"Misty," a voice cried out.

"Huh," Butch spun around allowing Misty the chance to look up.

"Ash, Brock!" she cried joyously. Ash raced towards look with an intense look of hatred on his face, "get off of her!" he called, but before he could reach Butch Cassidy hit him in his gut with her elbow. "Ugghh," he moaned.

This gave Butch enough time to pull up his pants and force Misty up. As Brock raced to help Ash, Butch wrapped his hand around Misty's neck. "You don't want to do that…" he said.

"Misty," gasped Ash.

Butch sneered, "if either of you takes one step I will strangle her!" Too prove his point he tightened his hands around Misty's neck. Misty's hands thrashed desperately too try and remove Butch's hands, "Ash," she cried weakly.

Ash stared with fear, this could not be happening. One of his best friends was in the hands of a maniac, and he had no idea what to do. In a Pokemon battle he always could come up with something, turn the battle around, but this wasn't a Pokemon battle and Ash was clueless.

Cassidy sensed that they were in control, "Now Ashy, we promise not to hurt your little girlfriend if you come with us peacefully.

"No, Ash" cried Brock.

Butch squeezed Misty's neck cutting off the air, "I think yes."

Ash panicked, he didn't have any Pokemon, except Pikachu, and he- wait, Pikachu. Where are ya buddy, though Ash. As if reading Ash's mind Pikachu appeared behind the Rockets. Ash let out a relieved sigh. "Okay," he said, "I'll come." The Rockets grinned at each other.

"Tackle, now!"

"What?" the Rockets said simultaneously, and turned around. It was too late, Pikachu slammed Butch in the stomach and he stumbled, dropping Misty too the ground.

"The sign of a good trainer, your Pokemon can always tell when you're in trouble."

"Pineco, go!" now that Cassidy wasn't watching Brock let out his Pokemon.

"Tackle!" both trainers called out. Pikachu and Pineco each slammed against one of the Rockets, causing them both to hit a tree. "They should be out cold for a while," Brock commented, as he called back his Pokemon.

"Misy," Ash bellowed as he raced towards the fallen girl. He kneeled down and brushed her hair off her face. His blood boiled as he traced the bruises of Butch's hand with his fingers. Misty's eyes fluttered and she groaned softly and sat up. Ash ran his eyes over her. Her face was bruised and bloody and she had dirt all over her arms and legs. She was wearing no shirt, and her suspenders were ripped and hanging limply.

"Are you okay?" Ash whispered.

Misty nodded and threw her arms around him. Ash was surprised, but eagerly hugged back and ran his hands up and down her back in a comforting manner.

"I think they're gonna kiss," whispered Brock to Pikachu.

"I don't think so!"

The sound of a gun going off drew Ash and Misty away from each other, as they watched in horror. A bullet struck Brock in the back, and another, and another.

"No!" Ash and Misty cried out as their friend fell to the ground. The ringing in their ears was so great they couldn't hear Butch sneak up behind them and crack his gun down on Misty's head. Ash let out a horrified scream.

"She'll be okay," snapped Butch as Misty collapsed, "but you won't be."

Ash jumped up, "how, what?"

Cassidy laughed "we're Team Rocket agents those weak Pokemon couldn't knock us out!" She released a Pokeball, "take care of that Pikachu!"

"Venasaur!"

Ash didn't have time to react as the Venasaur let out a razor leaf attack. It followed with a vinewhip knocking Pikachu to the ground.

"Crush it!"

With this command the Venasaur stood over Pikachu and brought it's foot down. Ash could hear the sound of breaking bones. "Pikachu!!!!!" he cried, but he was too late. Ash picked up the limp body and began to sob, "you bitch!" he cried, "you killed him!"

Cassidy laughed, "Venasaur, grab Ash, vinewhip!"

Ash jumped out of the way and began running; he needed to get his Pokemon. The tears in his eyes dulled his vision, Brock, Misty, Pikachu, he thought. I couldn't save you…"

"Uhhh," he hit a rock and went flying, allowing Butch and Cassidy to catch up with him. Cassidy lifted her pointy boot up and kicked him in the face.

"You're pathetic," she whispered, "simply pathetic. You couldn't save any of your friends of your precious Pikachu."

Even though Ash was in pain anger sharpened his skills. He flew at Cassidy with all his might and tackled her to the ground. He punched her in the face multiple times before going to Butch, who had drawn his knife. He slashed at Ash's chest, and hit his mark. Butch grabbed a tranquilizer and jabbed it into Ash's leg "nighty-night."

A few hours later Officer Jenny surveyed the scene, and sighed. A trainer camping in the woods had called in and said that they had been camping out in the woods and heard gun shots. Jenny had arrived at the scene and found hell. She glanced over to where the red- haired girl was being treated and smiled kindly at her. The girl's forehead was lined with sweat, "Ash," she panted, "where's Ash?"

Jenny exhaled, the girl had been asking about Ash for twenty minutes.

"We didn't find another body," said Jenny, as sympathetic as she could be. The girl let out a strangled cry.

Jenny returned to the crime scene unhappily. "Mam, we found this." Jenny examined the old hat.

"Where was it?"

"It was down near the ravine!"

"Any bodies?"

"No mam?"

Jenny would have to question that red-headed girl more later. The older boy had already been sent to the hospital. Jenny turned the hat over in her hands; she needed to get some answers.

In a different town a frowning man was staring down at a body, "Not exactly the state I asked him to be in."

Butch and Cassidy fixed each other with nervous glances. "We're sorry sir, but complications arose."

"Giovanni sighed and rubbed his temples, "oh well, I suppose he is here and in one piece, you did well."

Butch and Cassidy stood up straight, "thank you, sir!"

Giovanni smiled, "I suppose you deserve a reward." He reached into his desk and pulled out a gun, "and here it is."

He shot Butch and Cassidy so fast that they didn't have time to react. He looked down at the two dead bodies on his floor, really this was getting ridiculous, he had just renovated, and he needed new carpet already. It was a shame to lose two great agents, but they knew too much. He looked at the dark-haired boy crumpled on the floor, besides this plan was worth the death of hundreds of Team Rocket agents.

"You, boy, are the key to Team Rocket power!"

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Disclaimer- I do not own pokemon.This chapter had a lot more action in it. I doubt the next one will though. As always please review. thanks.

-A