Me: New chapter time!
Crow: This chapter kinda takes a dramatic turn, but one can't say that there aren't some emotionally driven moments in the pokemon anime, either in the show or in the movies.
Me: Like in the very first episode where Pikachu nearly died due to the amount of damage done by those Spearow, or the three part mini series featuring those two Lugia back in Johto. Anyway, the description here is that our buddy Ash is trying to come to terms with the info that was given to him after the last chapter. Of course, he's understandibly depressed at this point as he fears whoever, or whatever else might be after his Pikachu.
Servo: What's the big deal with that mouse anyway? I kinda forgot.
Me: Well, it was shown in the first two episodes of the series that Ash's Pikachu was quite special. Remember how it's Thundershock looked when it zapped that flock of Spearow, and the aftermath of the first Team Rocket battle?
Servo: Yeah, the electricity was obviously a lot more powerful than it should have been. After all, Thundershock is the weakest electric move with only a base power of 40, and a ten percent chance of paralysis.
Me: Now in the third episode, when Ash captures Caterpie, Meowth blurts out that Ash's Pikachu had strength that exceeded it's own evolutionary level. Meaning it packed more voltage than a Raichu.
Crow: If that was the case, why did Ash lose to Lt. Surge?
Me: As tried to overcome Raichu by power, which couldn't be done very easily, unless you had apokemon with a type advantage. It was due to speed that Pikachu won the second round. Another thing that people complain about is how Pikachu is able to KO ground-type pokemon. With the fact Pikachu is able to outpower it's own evolved form, doesn't it seem reasonable for Pikachu to be able to outpower a pokemon it's normally weak against?
Servo: Care to explain?
Me: Ok, Ash lost to Brock the first time since he was still inexperianced at the time. With a boost to it's power from a generator powered via waterwheel, he gained even more power to win battles with. Now when it comes to how real life physics works, electricity is obsorbed by the ground, and then fizzles out. But, a ground pokemon cn still be affected under several conditions: 1) If wet, the resistance is bypassed. This happened to Brock's Onix in the rematch. 2) If a big enough blast of electricity is made, it can shatter the resistance a ground pokemon has. Brock's Geodude was taken out as a result of this fact, and the same with Roxanne's Geodude during the Hoeen Gym Challenge. As for the Rhydon belonging to Blain when Ash first went for his Volcano Badge, it's drill-horn appears to be made of metal, and metal conducts electricity just as easily as water.
Zane: Ok ladies, enough chat, let's get going already!
Me: Watch it. Ok, let's get started!
Chapter 6: Time to Hit the Road Again
Ash was on the verge of a total mental breakdown. Just moments ago, he heard that his best friend Pikachu, his first and most powerful and most trusted pokemon was a target for a sick tournament cooked up by a monster who wished to put everyone across time and space into slavery. For years he's known his Pikachu was a one of a kind mouse. Ever since he took out that flock of Spearow when he first started out, he noticed that despite his inexperiance at the time, that Pikachu's electrical abilities were far stronger than they should be.
When Jessie, James, and Meowth attacked him in the Viridian Forest, they explained Pikachu's power exceeded that of a Raichu, which is half the reason why he wont give Pikachu up under any circumstance. Team Rocket would likely subject Pikachu to cruel experiments that could end his life, and Team Rocket may learn how to artificially enhance their own pokemon to make themselves even more dangerous. Then there's the fact that Pikachu and Ash are best friends, and they'd never leave each other as a result.
However, this news regarding the evil Master Hand seemed to strike a nerve on the poor boy. He said to himself in a shaky voice, "Just how many more people want to take Pikachu from me!? All I want is to become the greatest Pokemon Master in history... No one deserves to be toyed with like this!" In the distance, Clay was keeping an eye on Ash at Brock's request. Jessie, James, and Meowth went along simply out of curiosity and concern.
When the four saw how upset Ash was, Clay said, "I may not know the whole story here, but I think it's time you guys stopped tailing Ash. I don't care if you guys wind up getting fired or killed by you boss. A real job doesn't involve cruelty." The three Rocket goons were conflicted with their emotions. They enjoyed trailing Ash and his friends to steal their pokemon partially for the journey itself. What would happen if they finally succeded? Part of them actually enjoyed the constant failure as they got to see more and more of the world, as well as new ways to try to screw with Ash.
But another part actually see Ash and his friends as a second family. James left his family since he could never live up to their expectations. Jessie's reasons behind leaving her home have been shrouded in mystery. In fact, hardly anything is known about her, so it's safe to assume that her past was quite painful to say the least. Finally, Meowth was suffering rejection from a young lady Meowth who was obviously a spoiled rich brat after he explained his past earlier.
Despite the constant beatings the three endured at the hands of Ash and his friends, there were many a time where they actually got along and worked together for the greater good. However, they refused to admit, even to themselves that they might in fact be better off being good guys rather than villians.
Clay then said to the three, "My girlfriend Vivian was at one point an enemy. But due to constant abuse from her older sister, as well as a helping hand from me, she wanted to help me out with a mission I was doing at the time which ultimately saved the world in the end. Just because you guys and Ash were enemies in the past doesn't mean you should always be enemies." Meowth then said, "But what if the boss finds out!?"
Clay then said, "What is more important: Your future, or what some asshole thinks of you!? Sometimes people see me as a lunatic, especially after the stunt I pulled trying to get away from your comrades. But I don't let that bother me because that's how I am. My point is that you guys deserve better than what you got right now, and the concern that your showing for Ash proves it. But the only way to get it is to apologize for all your wrong doings, and to quit Team Rocket entirely. Getting blasted like that so many times for so long must really be bad for your health, and it'll ultimately drive you to an early grave if it keeps up."
The three thought for a moment, and realized that Clay made a lot of good points. Their health always took a beating when they got zapped/burned/blasted/slashed into the Ionosphere. They also were very different from other Rockets in terms of personality as they actually cared about their pokemon. James then got up and went to were Ash was sitting, followed by Meowth, and then Jessy. Clay continued to watch to see how things turn out.
When Ash looked up and saw his usual enemies standing over him, he feared the worst. But James said, "Relax, we're here to talk." Ash was skeptical, but decided to give them a chance. James then said, "After all that we've heard, and after some advice from that plumber friend of yours, we came to an important desicion..." The three then said at the same time, "We surrender..." Ash wasn't suprised as he'd heard this story before. And each time he did, it was another lie.
He said warily, "How do I know you aren't lying?" Clay stepped up, then said, "Because I really did speak to them. I weighed the positive and negative consequences of either leaving Team Rocket or staying with them. They'll tell you more." Meowth then said, "Yeah, it's no trick! Clay told us about how he and Vivian used to be enemies, but they still became friends because Vivian didn't have the heart to be evil!"
James then said, "Yes, and we looked back on our past and saw that despite being as evil as we claim, we were stronger when we put aside our differences for the greater good." Ash remembered many a time where he had to work together with the three Rocket goons. Part of the reason being that they caused some trouble that they couldn't fix on their own like a machine going out of control, or angering a wild pokemon. But he remembered a few times where he had worked with them to properly deal with legendary pokemon. The best example he could remember was when they nearly commited suicide back at the Orange Islands when he teamed up with the legendary Lugia to stop Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres from destroying the world during their aerial war against each other.
Ash smiled, and then said, "We did have our problems in the past, but I don't see any real reson why I shouldn't give you guys another chance. I think you guys are being honest for a change." The three Rockets began cheering, glad to see that Ash was so understanding. Clay pulled out his hammer, then said, "Don't worry about them going back on their promise either. I'll be sure that if they even think one thought about stealing anything that I'll give them a taste of my hammer."
The three goons looked nervously at the hammer, and began bowing before Clay begging to be spared from the Hammer of Doom. Wobbuffet appeared from nowhere, leaving Clay confused as to how he did, and began doing the same. Ash's other firends, along with Vivian and Meriee walked up, saying it was time to go. Clay then said, "I got good news children." He then turned to the Rockets, and said, "Our friends Jessie, James, and Meowth decided to leave Team Rocket!" Ash's friends were skeptical and had blank looks on their faces. Meriee then said, "I can sense that they're being truthful. We don't have to worry about any double-crossing."
Clay then said, "Meriee's sixth sense doesn't lie, paisanos. Her family's been famous for fortune telling, and the predictions foretold are amazingly accurate." Ash's friends could hardly believe it regardless of Clay's faith in Meriee's abilities. Ash then said, "They actually sounded sincere this time guys. Give them a chance." Ash's friends were reluctant, but they decided to give them a chance. Brock then said, "Ok, but one wrong move and you're going to be blasted off again."
Clay then said, "Now that that's settled, let's go find the others and figure out why we were sent here of all places. The Warp Whistle should've only let us travel to other places in my world." Meriee had a feeling of dred overcome her, as she felt that something had brought them here on purpose. However, she knew better than to jump to conclusions, and decided to wait and see before she jumped to any conclusions.
To be continued...
Servo: Clay talks big business here. And I mean 'big'.
Zane: Yes, he had an excellent point when he said that they shouldn't care about what people think of them, as well as explaining why they should just give up.
Me: I would have put this moment off for later, as I wanted to have a couple of rounds against the three goons being blasted off, but I couldn't think of any ideas. I envy the writers of the anime for thinking of so many crazy ways for having them attack Ash and co, and then being beaten to a pulp and sent flying into the Ionosphere. But, aside from the case of writers block on that matter, I wanted t be merciful as part of me feels sorry for them.
Crow: Poor guys. They had a worse past than Servo and I did back when we used to live on the Satilite of Love.
Me: Yeah. Anyway, R&R!