Chapter 11: Seaside Rendezvous
A/N: After much typing and much deleting I have finally settled on a path, but once again be patient with me because all the details are not yet hammered out.
The constant hum of the engines vibrated through the ship, the only indication that they were still on the move. Time passed as they flew further and further, blind to what exactly they had managed to get themselves into.
Brock and Dawn had fallen off into an uneasy sleep, but Pikachu's overwhelming concern kept him wide awake. It was killing him inside knowing that Ash was within his reach locked in an eternal prison. He knew what it was like to be suspended from the world. To watch as the world moved on around you, while you remained powerless to act. Pikachu remembered how relieved he had been when Ash freed him from his prison and wished he could do the same, but Brock was right. All that there was left to do was wait, and Pikachu had never been good at waiting.
No matter how much he hated the situation they had to draw out the client. It was beyond the comprehension of the little pokémon as to why anyone would want to kidnap his trainer, but Pikachu swore that whatever the reason he would bring an end to it.
The ship suddenly gave a shudder as the engines cut off waking Brock from his slumber.
"pi?" Pikachu listened intently as it twitched its ears.
"We stopped." Brock observed as he shook Dawn awake, reminding her to remain quite. Not long after many footsteps echoed in the hallway announcing the return of the hunting party. All three peered around the crate they had been hiding behind to watch as the gigantic bay doors screeched open. The hunter strode forward with a man pushing Ash's case closely behind her and made their way down the ramp.
"Where are we?" Dawn asked when she realized that the ground was covered with sand instead of the mud of the forest floor they had been wadding through the past few days.
Brock merely shrugged as he motioned for Dawn to be quiet. He stooped down low and made his way towards the door praying to whoever may be listening that they were not seen.
Hunter J strode forwards and finally came to a stop a few meters away from her ship. She glanced at her watch in annoyance letting out a groan of disapproval. The rest of her men impatiently scanned the area looking for any signs of the client, but they were only greeted by the lull of the sea as it kicked the white sands of the beach.
Twenty minutes seemed to pass and then from out of nowhere a giant gust of wind kicked up the sand blowing it every which way. Everyone scrambled to shield themselves from the sudden sandstorm as a giant air ship continued it's decent on the beach below.
The engines roared loudly drowning out all other noise until, the ship finally landed. The noisy engines cut off sharply and the sand settled down. All eyes were on the ship before them as it sat there for a moment completely still. A loud clink filled the air as its massive cargo ramp lowered opening the ship to them. Then out from the ship walked five men, including Gareth himself.
They walked the short distant across the beach until they were only a few meters in front of the hunters. Gareth broke out of line of his men and walked on casually towards the hunter, which did the same, until they met in the middle.
Gareth's face broke out in a huge smile as he observed the hunter. "Nice ship." he began as if this were merely a conversation on a beach and not a business transaction.
Hunter J snorted at the little man's comment as she signaled her men behind her to bring forth the merchandise. Her men responded immediately pushing the casing towards the two.
"Brock," Dawn began as she watched the scene before her. "We better sneak on board now while they are all distracted." she finished pointing to the open cargo doors.
Brock nodded in agreement as he looked over to the other ship. Dawn was right, they had to sneak over now while they weren't looking because unlike the forest the beach provided no cover, and he did not want to miss his opportunity.
Brock was so focused on getting into the other ship he hadn't even realized that the group had stopped talking.
"over there!" Someone shouted drawing everyone's attention towards the trio.
"It's those brats again!" Hunter J's goon squad yelled out as they recognized the intruders.
"Take care of it." Gareth glared menacing at the hunter.
Before the hunter could even react to Gareth's command however, her men had already released their pokémon to seek their revenge from their earlier humiliation.
"Crobat, go!" They yelled and before Brock could blink a swarm of crobat was between them and Ash.
"Crogunk, Sudoowudoo!" he retaliated as he threw the pokéball up releasing the pokémon.
"Brock we don't have time for this!" Dawn cried out as she eyed the client retreating back to their ship with Ash in tow.
"I know!" Brock replied as he motioned for her to chase after them. "I'll hold them off."
Dawn threw a glance at the giant swarm of crobat now charging them, not liking the idea of leaving Brock. The Crobat ebbed closer until they clashed with the two pokémon. They swooped around the two easily avoiding their attacks. Then seemingly from nowhere a massive thunderbolt ripped through the air hitting two of the poison type pokémon.
"Pika!" Pikachu cried out pleadingly with Dawn knowing Brock would need his help here.
"Dawn!" Brock called out to her again breaking her from her uncertainty. "We got this." he assured her.
Dawn nodded with new found confidence. They could handle the goon squad easily; she had to get to Ash. She quickly turned her attention back towards the client and saw there were almost to their ship.
Dawn took off sprinting, the sand making her feel as if she were crawling. The distance between her and Ash never seemed to be getting any closer. She hitched her breathing and pushed herself even harder as she realized they were mere inches from the ramp. If she didn't get to them in time, she would loss him. Why had she wasted her time worried about Brock, when Ash was the one who needed her?
She could hear the fight continue from behind, but her eyes were narrowed on Ash. She had to reach him. She pushed herself even harder when suddenly the ground in front of her exploded. Dawn was sent flying and landed with a thud. Sand pelted her from everywhere making it difficult to see, but she had a pretty good idea what had caused it.
Dawn scrambled to get up and found a massive Salamence hovering before her, and on top none other than hunter J.
"Going somewhere?" The hunter chided.
Dawn's anger flared as she glared up at the hunter, hatred pouring through her eyes as she reached for a pokéball, and releasing Buneary.
A smile began to play on the hunter's lips as she looked down on the little girl. "You know, you brats are all alike." She scoffed, "defiant to your end."
Dawn clenched her fist as she yelled out an attack, but Salamence was quick, and easily dodged the ice beam thrown at it.
A loud grinding noise began to fill the air as the cargo bay of the client's ship closed. Brock chanced a glance to see if Dawn had made it, only to find her face to face with Hunter J. Forgetting his battle he bolted towards the ship, desperate to reach it.
The engines whined to life as it began to kick up sand, swirling it all around stopping everyone in their tracks, to protect themselves from the harsh sands. The deafening whirl of the engines drowned out Pikachu's cries as he realized the ship was taking off with his trainer still inside.
In the center of the sandstorm, the ship slowly made its ascent, and before it could even register on the trio, Ash was gone.
The battles all lay forgotten as they all watched the ship disappear from sight. Hunter J, realizing her job was done, called out to her men for them to pull back. The men called back their pokémon as they filed back aboard their ship.
Brock finally snapped out of his shock and realized the hunter was leaving. They were their only lead to Ash. If they left, they would never know where he was.
"Stop!" He yelled running after them, with a very angry Pikachu on his tail. The hunter paused on the ramp, and turned around to face him.
"Where are they taking him?!" Brock yelled angrily, Pikachu sparking his cheeks threateningly. Hunter J merely scoffed at him and turned back around continuing her way back into the ship.
"Wait!" Brock yelled desperately As Pikachu charged up for a massive attack, but before he could release it the engines of her ship whipped to life as the cargo doors were pulled shut. The sand once again whipped around as the early morning calm was once again torn apart.
It wasn't long until the calm returned as the ship left for its next assignment, leaving the three alone on the beach.
A/N: Like I stated before Drag Hunting is coming to an end as Hunter J's part in the story closes. One more chapter in Drag hunting and then that's it, a new part of the story will be written with a Gareth heavy plot. Also please don't hate me for the cliffhanger.