Shadows and Ash Chapter 29: Resurfacing, a pokémon fanfic

Chapter 29, everybody! In which I am highly amused by all the different ways you all have figured out to make a Tepig fly….And we once again reference Dragonsrule18's story When One Door Closes, Two More Open….

IceDragonGirl36, thanks for the review! Yes, well…aha, thank you, glad you like it! That was one of those scenes I had been planning for quite some time. :D

Dragonkeeper10, thanks for the review! Yes indeed! And I am apparently going to have to invest in that game….Me too….

ChangelingRin, thanks for the review! Maybe. Haha, thank you, glad you liked it! Worked on that scene for so long in my head….

Yami-chan and Unrealistic, thanks for the review! Thank you, glad you liked it! That was one scene I planned from way early on, so glad it works. :D Maybe…and maybe. :D Okay then, have fun!

Jakeroo123, thanks for the review! This is true. I think I might have seen that one….This is true. And this is also true….And that is definitely true (Pokémon logic, you defy all reason).

Luktopius, thanks for the review! YES! JOIN TEAM ROCKET, TEPIG!

Thor94, thanks for the review! Yes….

AveragePichu, thanks for the review! It is….

InfernalFox, thanks for the review! Of course!

Johnny Spectre, thanks for the review! That could work.

IAmUmbreon11, thanks for the review! Yes, that might not work. YES! This is probably nothing to Brock, to be honest—he's got all those siblings, I bet at least one brought something odd home. 'It followed me home, can I keep it?' 'No you cannot, now go take that back where you found it.'

Anonyman, thanks for the review! Good question….

Ardtornismyname, thanks for the review! Yes, finally! We shall see….

Pokémon © Game Freak; Nintendo

And now, for something completely different:

In other news, the town of Danjeeves had to cull their supply of Foodie Magikarp due to scale rot. Fillets coming from Pokémon with scale rot have an overpowering bitter and sour taste. Stores receiving Fillet packets ending in 27 should return the packets immediately.

"Is there an actual plan, or are we just wandering around waiting to drown?"

Misty glared back at Jessie. "I built a model S.S. Anne when I was little—I know how this ship is structured. We have to get to the bottom of the ship to the engine room—that's where the hull is thinnest."

"You'd think it'd be the opposite," Ash observed.

"Ah, the brilliance of engineering," Darkrai said.

"I don't know why you want that," Misty said to Team Rocket, pointing at Darkrai. "It's been nothing but useless so far."

"Oh, that's rich."

"I've decided that none of us are any good in a crisis," Ash said to Brock.

"I've noticed," Brock said as they entered the engine room. "Woah."

It was on fire.

"Dat's not a good ding," Meowth observed.

"Don't worry, those are electric turbines," James said. "It's not like it's gas or anything like that."

"It's burning up all the air," Misty pointed out.

"Okay then, now we can worry."

Darkrai had already lifted Ash and Brock to the next room. "Bye," he said airily, waving back at the rest of them.

"Hey!" Misty snapped.

Brock had Bulbasaur lift the rest of them to the next room.

"I can't believe you were going to leave us," Misty said as soon as she was across, rounding on Darkrai.

"I don't like the rest of you," Darkrai pointed out.

"See?" Ash asked Pikachu, who had stayed on his head to avoid the water. "I told you he liked me."

Pikachu stuck his tongue out at him.

"I second dat emotion," Meowth said, pointing.

"Are we in the right place?" James asked.

"Yes," Misty said, forcing herself to break off of the tantrum she was having. "We just have to get through the hull. And then have our water Pokémon get us to the surface. And hope we can hold our breath for long enough. And hope we don't get the bends. And hope we don't get crushed by the water pressure."

"What a positive outlook you have," Darkrai observed.

"It's realistic."

"If we don't get out alive," Jessie said to James. "I want you to know that you made my life rich."

"And you made my life an adventure!" James returned, hugging her.

Ash looked at Darkrai. "Do I get a premortem hug?"

"No," Darkrai said flatly.

Misty released Goldeen, Squirtle, and Staryu. "Start tying yourselves to them," she ordered, pulling rope out of her pack. "I'm not sure if they can tow all of us, but it's a start."

"Here, this might help," Ash said, releasing Lenny. "Lenny, you can tow me out of here, right?"

"Karp?" Lenny asked, confused.

"It was nice knowing you, kid," Darkrai said.

"Hey, wait! I have one too!" James said, releasing his Magikarp. "See? And you made fun of me for buying it."

"And I will up until it actually saves my life," Jessie said.

Ash glanced at James' Magikarp. Comparing it to Lenny, it was bigger….

Ash returned his attention to Lenny, who was apparently asking Pikachu a question. Pikachu responded with a few terse words, pointing up.

"Karp," Lenny squeaked, the enormity of the situation becoming evident to him.

"We still have to get through the hull," Misty said, looking up. "Fire types, maybe, or a strong enough impact—"

"Can you punch through the hull?" Ash asked Darkrai.

"Are you suicidal?" Darkrai asked.

"So that's a yes?"

Darkrai sighed and warmed up an attack. It was nice knowing you."

"See you on the surface."

"That's da positive tinking," Meowth said.

"Keep an eye on them," Misty said to Staryu—who, possessing no eyes, seemed confused.

Darkai released the charged Focus Blast—

And the hull ruptured.

Ash's first observation was that the water was cold.

Darkrai had hit a shadow ahead of the spray, that much he had seen before being doused. Pikachu clung to him as Lenny frantically swam, beating against the torrent—it wasn't working….They had gotten out, but they weren't going to make it—his lungs were burning—

And then there was a flash of light.

Misty and Brock surfaced, paddled frantically for a piece of flotsam as Squirtle and Goldeen swam beside them, supporting them as they scrambled on—

After gulping down lungfuls of air, they looked around.

"I don't see Ash," Misty said, worried.

"I don't see anyone," Brock said.

Misty quickly undid their ropes. "Squirtle, Goldeen! Go help them!"

They dove immediately—

And Squirtle jumped back out and into Misty's arms as something absolutely huge broke out of the water.

"G-g-g-gyarados!" Misty stammered, looking at the big blue sea serpent.

And then they noticed the kid hanging by a rope off of one of its horns.

"Hey, guys!" Ash managed as soon as he caught his breath. "Look! Lenny evolved!"

"Wonderful," Misty moaned, sitting on her knees.

"Where's Team Rocket?" Brock asked, helping Ash onto the flotsam as Lenny leaned over.

In response, Goldeen and Staryu surfaced and shoved Team Rocket onto the flotsam.

"Are you okay?" Ash asked as they spluttered and coughed.

"Wet," Meowth moaned. "Wet again."

"I told you that Magikarp couldn't hack it!" Jessie said.

"It wasn't it's fault!" James protested. "It was hauling two people and a Meowth!"

"Face it—you wasted your money."

"You can't blame the Magikarp," Ash said.

"Gyaaar," Lenny agreed, now voicing his thoughts in a deep rumble.

The Magikarp started crying.

"Now what's wrong?" Meowth asked.

"See?" James asked. "You hurt its feelings."

"It's a fish," Jessie argued.

Meowth, meanwhile, was looking at Pikachu.

"I don't tink my Pokénese's dat rusty," he said, pointing at the sobbing Magikarp. "And I don't tink da sobbin's doing dat—can you understand it?"

"Pika," Pikachu said, looking confused.

"Uh-huh. Hey. Hey!" he snapped, bonking the Magikarp on the head. "Say it plain—I can't understand you when you're cryin' like dat!"

The Magikarp slowed to sniffling and explained itself.

"What'd it say?" Ash asked, sitting next to them and feeling invested now.

"No clue," Meowth said. "It's like…." He looked to Pikachu. "What's a good human phrase? Like it's talkin' around a mouthful of Grimer. Wait…." He listened further.

And then turned beet red.

"You," he snarled, rounding on James. "I'm gonna feed you ta dat Gyarados! Not only did you blow all our money on a Magikarp, you blew all our money on a Foodie!"

"On a what?" Ash asked.

"You do know where your meat comes from, right?" Brock asked.

"At best dat ding's worth two dollars fer fillets!" Meowth continued, beating his paws against a cowering James. "You! Wasted! Our! Money!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" James wailed.

Jessie sat cross-legged away from them, looking fit to combust.

"I suppose the good news," she fumed finally. "Is if we're stuck here too long, we could eat it."

"Gyarados!" Lenny thundered, prompting Jessie to bolt to the other side.

"That's not necessary, is it?" Ash asked Meowth, who had also bolted.

Meowth smoothed his fur before answering. "Well….Foodies were bred ta be…dere's no delicate way ta say this—dey were bred ta be dumb so people didn't feel bad about eating dem. Not dat Pokémon have dat problem….Anyway, dey're not bright, dey don't learn moves like regular Pokémon, and no one knows how long dey live because dey're always killed in da first year. Dey're not training Pokémon."

The Magikarp was crying again.

"But you can't just get rid of it!" Misty protested. "Look at the poor thing, it's crying!"

"I don't think I'll be able to feel right about eating meat from now on," Ash said to Brock.

"You'll get over it next mealtime," Brock told him.