Chapter 15
*Undella Town*
"STOP! Give me back my Mudkip!" the desperate trainer chased after Hunter J, who simple ignored him. However she made sure her Salamence wasn't flying too fast for her real target to catch up.
"Ash, wait! We can't just dash forward! We need a plan!" May said, doubting that they would be able to stop her.
"I've got a plan already; let's just catch up with her first!"
"Wait guys! Did you see Piplup and Pikachu?!" asked Dawn. She was worried that Hunter J might capture them as well.
"I think… I saw them running off somewhere." Lyra, who was almost out of breath from running, answered her.
The trio finally caught up with the trainer, who was still chasing after Hunter J. All of a sudden, Hunter J stopped and turned around to face them. May and Dawn both grabbed their pokeballs tightly, ready to put up a fight. But much to their surprise, Ash spoke up even before Hunter J said anything.
"Look, it's obvious you only want me, so why not leave the trainer alone?
Dawn, who didn't know what happened before, was bewildered by his comment. "Ash, what are you talking about?"
Hunter J simply smirked at him, "Well, you're smarter than I thought." After having said so, she threw the pokeball back to the trainer, who caught it and hurried far away.
"Hunter J, why don't you just give it up already?" May said
"I suggest you stay out of this, young lady. Have you forgotten your horrible experience the last time you interfered?"
"I won't! Ash is my friend; I won't let you get to him so easily, even if it means to risk my life!"
Ash could only watch and listen to what May said, and deep down he was really touched. Even in a situation like this, he couldn't help but recalled back on how May took the blow from the cannon for him. 'Does that mean that she- whoa wait, what am I thinking about! Okay, let's just hope the Pikachu can make it on time…'
"Whatever. Don't waste my time. Salamence-"
*POOOOOFFFFF*
Smoke started to spread and cover up the area, after three unknown subjects fell from the sky and landed harshly into the ground. Ash took this chance to motion the others behind some bushes.
"Owww…"
"My aching back… I don't think I can take another blast off like this."
"The next time one of us should be watching the stall while the other two stalk…"
Hunter J frowned at the sight of the three, "You REALLY like to interfere, don't you?! Salamence, dragon pulse!"
"What?!"
"Again?!"
"Well then why are you two just standing there?! RUN!" Meowth exclaimed, but he was too late.
"WAHHHHHH! WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN?!"
"Seriously!" Hunter J cursed her bad luck, as she looked around, half-expecting her target to be gone.
"Darn it! Let's go, Salamence!"
Ash and the others watched quietly from behind the bushes, until she was totally out of sight.
"Phew, that was close…"
Dawn smiled at Lyra's reaction, "Exactly, strangely we should thank Team Rocket."
"I was hoping Officer Jenny would have arrived on time though..." Ash sighed
"Oh Ash, you said you had a plan. So did you actually send Pikachu off to get Officer Jenny?" May asked
"Yeah I did…"
As if on cue, Officer Jenny appeared on her motorbike. She wasn't alone though, as Brock, Max, Pikachu and Piplup hopped off. The group came out from bushes to join them.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu jumped into Ash's arms as the two hugged for a while.
"You guys! Are you alright?" Brock asked.
"Yup we are."
"Pip, Piplup!"
"Piplup! You got me so worried!"
"Oh no! Seems like she made it off before I arrive, didn't she?" Officer Jenny said, scanning the area.
"Yes she did. But then… it's obvious that she will come back again, right?" May said, looking at Ash worryingly
"What's going on? Why is Hunter J after Ash so directly this time?" Dawn asked
"Err…" Brock hesitated as he looked at Officer Jenny, "what are you talking about Dawn? Hunter J's only… trying to steal pokémon, that's all. Come on guys, let's go back."
What Officer Jenny didn't notice, was Brock giving Dawn a wink, suggesting that she'll get to know the full story later.
Dawn kept in silence and walked back to the beach with the rest
*Professor Oak's Laboratory*
Mandy turned back in front to find her way blocked by a few pokémons.
"Oh crap!" she pulled out another device and proceeded to throw it, but her hand was stopped midair.
"SNOWW!" Snorunt froze Mandy's hand with his icy wind, preventing her from using her device. At the same time, Bulbasaur and Bayleef grabbed hold of her with their vines.
"LET GO OF ME!" Mandy struggled as Professor Oak and the others approached her.
"You are under arrest!" Officer Jenny declared, securing Mandy's hands with a handcuff.
"I'm not the mastermind! Go look for Hunter J! She hired me to do this! I'm innocent!"
"What are you talking about? Hunter J?" Professor Oak asked.
"Yes, she was the one who hired me to come to you, so as to get information on aura."
"That's exactly what Ash told me…"
"Ash? I don't understand Professor, is that the problem you said he was facing?" Tracey asked
Professor Oak sighed, and explained everything to Tracey and Officer Jenny, who were just stunned by the information.
"You're saying a boy can use aura?!"
"And that boy is Ash?!"
"Yes…"
"That's incredible…" Mandy commented unconsciously
"Exactly, so right now you'll bring us to that J." Officer Jenny said, upon realizing the dangerous situation.
"What?! Oh bother…"
"Thanks Officer Jenny! We're counting on you."
"No problem!"