Chapter 2 Old Friends New Enemies -
"Are you deaf Ketchum?" Drew said delivering a swift kick to Ash's stomach with his freshly polished steel toe boots, knocking the air out of him "Don't you know it's rude not to answer someone's question people could get hurt." Drew said flipping his hair to the side "
Good thing you hit like a bitch then." Ash said smiling through the pain his lungs where going through "Yea I guess you're right." Drew said with sigh looking down at the ground, suddenly he let out a kick landing right on Ash's jaw, Ash cried out in pain as he fell back to the ground. Drew didn't ease up he walked over picked Ash up and started to un mercifully beat him until he grew tired, once Drew finished he threw a half conscious and badly beaten Ash back down to the ground. Ash laid on the ground coughing up blood and trying to stay conscious, he looked back up at Drew "How's about you cut this net and fight me like a man?" Ash said whipping away the blood from his mouth "I bet you'd like that Ketchum but unfortunately I'm just having too much fun beating you to death." Drew said raising his foot over Ash's face, Ash looked at the bottom of Drew's boot and prepared himself for the coming pain, Drew took a deep breath raising his foot a little higher in the air and just as he was about to slam his foot into Ash he was interrupted
"Stop!" A voice called out from behind Drew, Drew turned then slowly put his foot back down Ash let out a sigh of relief. "Drew you know we need him alive for this." The stranger said coldly "I was just roughing him up a little that's all." Drew said trying to sound innocent; the stranger walked over to where Drew was and took a look at a bloodied Ash "Little bit of an understatement." He said squatting down to the ground in front of Ash, Ash looked the stranger over he wore a spiky white hat with a green bandanna around it and a orange and black jacket, he had a bigger build than Ash and was about six inches taller his most prominent feature though were his ruby red eyes which were currently staring right at Ash's soul
"The names Brendan." The stranger said in a hollow voice "Yea well that's your problem." Ash said, Drew lashed out at Ash kicking him in the stomach winding Ash and causing him to cough up more blood "Drew please restrain yourself and let Ash out." Brendan said pulling out a small switch blade; he pushed the button releasing the long stainless blade
"Are you sure?" Drew said hesitantly before taking the knife, Brendan didn't answer so Drew just knelt down in front of Ash and began cutting the net "So Drew you went through all of this just so you could get back at me for dating May?" Ash asked as Drew cut the net, Drew stopped what he was doing and looked over at Ash, lurching at him he grabbed him by the neck and sinisterly spoke "Do you really think I would through all of this just because you stole my girl? Listen to me Ketchum when I say you can keep the whore I have bigger things in mind." Drew slowly let go of Ash's neck and continued to cut Ash out of the net.
As soon as Drew finished cutting Ash out of the net Ash leapt forward tackling Drew to the ground knocking the knife out of his hand, Ash grabbed the knife and held it to Drew's throat. Both of them slowly stood up Ash keeping the knife on Drew the whole time.
"Ash put the knife down." Brendan said taking a step forward "If you move towards me one more time I will kill him!" Ash bluffed, Brendan wasn't shaken by this instead he shrugged his shoulders; lifting his hand he snapped his fingers.
"Let go of me!" Ash heard someone yell, out of the brush came May, Dawn, Brock, Max, and Pikachu held against their will by Team Rocket members. Ash looked at the group Dawn had her mouth taped shut and her eyes covered and Pikachu was placed inside a cage which he assumed to be electric proof. "I said let go!" May said struggling, the Team Rocket member smiled "As you wish." He said pushing her to the ground "May!" Max yelled running to his sister helping her up "Max it's ok I'm fine." May said dusting herself off
"Ok Ash I'm going to have to insist that you put that knife down." Brendan said whipping out another switchblade knife, then taking May by the arm he put the knife to her throat "May please talk some sense into Ash before I have to." Brendan said tightening his grip around May, Ash looked over at May who was on the verge of tears "Alright!" Ash relented dropping the knife to the ground "Just let them go." Ash said putting his hands behind his head.
Brendan nodded and released May. Drew grabbed Ash's hands without a struggle quickly bound them together and kicked him down to the floor on his knees, Ash slowly looked up spotting James walking toward them holding a staff of some sort he handed it to Brendan.
"Thank you James." Brendan said taking the staff, Ash recognized it he remembered it was a staff that belonged to Sir Aaron that had once been used to imprison Lucario "You recognize this yes?" Brendan asked kneeling down in front Ash holding the staff "This staff has the ability to control Aura it can bend it or wield it as much as the user wishes and in certain cases can take it away from people…get what I'm saying to you?" Brendan asked
"Well it's a shame you can't use it." Ash said smirking "Oh and why is that?" Brendan asked "You need to have an Aura similar to Sir Aaron if you want it to work." Brendan shook his head at this remark "How arrogant you are Ash." Brendan said slowly standing back up; he held the staff close to Ash and closed his eyes. The staff began to glow a spectacular light blue color that mesmerized Ash, Ash began to feel cold he started to shiver uncontrollably but unable to take his eye off of the light. The light grew brighter and brighter and Ash grew colder and colder eventually falling over on his side he could faintly hear May calling his name. "Ash!" May yelled, and attempted to come to his aide but was held back by James "Let go of me!" May cried trying to push James away "Drew please do something!" May pleaded, Drew looked over at her "Drew please don't let this happen." May continued, Drew walked over to her and with a look of anger struck her across the face "Shut up." He said then turned back to Ash, May rubbed her check trying to ease the sting and continued to watch helplessly as Ash continued to have his Aura taken from him.
Suddenly May saw Brock run and tackle Brendan to the ground dropping the staff and freeing Ash from its spell. Brendan kicked Brock off of him "Stupid fool." Brendan said pulling out his switch, Ash came back to reality and saw what was going on, getting up he ran towards Brock only to be stopped by Drew.
Brock stood back up and took a swing at Brendan who easily dodged it slashed at Brock with the knife cutting deep into his arm. Ash with his hands still bound behind him stood face to face with Drew, Drew slowly moved in closer to Ash watching his every move "Come on Ketchum use your head you know you can't win." Drew said slowly creeping forward his fist ready, he threw a swift punch Ash quickly ducked forward and head butted Drew in the chest knocking him to the ground "Looks like you where right about using my head."
Brock continued to try and score a hit on Brendan but found he was too quick to land a punch on; Brendan took advantage of Brocks slow movements and threw a series of blinding fast punches at his torso and chest. Brock fell backwards onto the ground trying to get up, Brendan walked over and putting his foot on his back slammed him on the ground. Ash was tossed aside next to Brock by both Drew and the Team Rocket member
"I will say I admire your tenacity to not give up." Brendan said returning to them with the staff in hand "But I guess it wasn't enough was it." Brendan said in his usual cold voice "Now if there are no more interruptions we can continue." Brendan said pointing the staff back at Ash, Ash tried to get up but found he had hardly any strength left and fell.
The staff glowed a beautiful light blue color entrancing Ash in it, it grew brighter and brighter and Ash became numb to everything that was around him. Brendan opened his eyes a sudden look of surprise came over him turning the staff away from Ash to the direction of what surprised him, Ash snapping out of the trance looked over to see what happened, he saw nothing except Drew who was on his Flygon and the Team Rocket member with his Houndoom "Psst Ash take this that guy dropped it." Brock said placing Brendans switch blade in Ash's hands, Ash pushed the button clicking open the knife and began to cut his binds
"Flygon use Dragon breath!" Ash heard Drew yell, watching as Drew's Flygon sent out a large green flame which hit nothing. There was a long silence that followed Ash stopped cutting to watch what was unfolding, the sound of hoofs could be heard approaching closer and closer a faint glow of fire which came even closer until Ash could make out the clear figure of a Rapidash and a rider "Houndoom Flamethrower!" the Team Rocket member yelled "Flygon use Dragon Breath!" Drew commanded, both Pokémon sent a large combination of flames toward the rider completely engulfing Ash's view of the rider. When both Pokémon finished their attack the rider was gone, the Team Rocket member called back his Pokémon "Haha I think we got him." He said happily, as he finished speaking his words a large orb of light shot out of the brush exploding against him, the force knocked him against the tree so hard it left him unconscious.
The rider leapt out of the brush shooting blue orbs of light at Drew and Brendan disorienting both of them "Lucario close combat!" The rider exclaimed, a large Lucario leapt out of the tree's and in front of James and the other three Team Rocket members it sent out a quick attack of punches and kicks scattering them like roaches they all fled. The rider continued to send out orbs of blue light at Brendan and Drew, Brendan dropped the staff, attempting to retaliate he threw punches in the air small red orbs of light seemed to appear out of them. They shot towards the rider at blinding speed; the rider simply lifted his hand and created a wall of blue light where the red orbs exploded against. Ash finished cutting his binds, quickly standing back up ran towards the staff.
Brendan witnessed his attack as being futile turned to retrieve the staff, as he reached down to grab it was snatched away by Ash. Brendan took a step forward but another orb of light exploded in front of both Ash and him sending them both back a few feet. "Brendan get on!" Drew yelled, Brendan looked over at Ash then back at Drew and jumped on the Flygon immediately the Flygon took off into the sky and disappeared.
Ash weakly picked himself back up and looked around "Ash are you ok?" May asked as she ran over to Ash embracing him in her arms "Never better." Ash said hugging her back with a sense of relief. Max took the blindfold off of Dawn then ripped the tape off of her mouth "Ow Max!" Dawn cried holding her mouth; Max then freed Pikachu who immediately ran over to Ash and jumped on his shoulder "Hey Pikachu it's good to see you to." Ash said happily petting his Pokémon, both Dawn and Max walked over then they were joined by Brock "What just happened?" Brock asked confused "We were saved by him." Ash said pointing to the hooded rider who stood before him, he dismounted his Rapidash and walked to the group.
"It's good to see you again Ash." the Rider said in a familiar voice "I wish I could say the same but unfortunately I don't remember you." Ash confessed, the rider chuckled then threw back his hood, a smile came across Ash's face "Riley it's you!" Ash exclaimed joyfully "Ash you know him?" May questioned a little unsure of Riley "Me and Ash go way back like the time we were on Iron Island he helped me stop Team Galactic when they made all the steel Pokémon go crazy." Riley reminisced "Help! I practically did all the work!" Ash jokingly replied "Ha yea well anyways it's good to see you…man you look awful." Riley said examining Ash "Don't worry I've been through worse." Ash replied, Riley nodded and looked over to the rest of the group "Dawn, Brock good to see you two although it seems you haven't done a good job of keeping Ash out of trouble." "It seems trouble just happens to find Ash." Dawn replied putting a hand on Ash's shoulder "So Ash I see you've made new friends." Riley said looking at May and Max "Well actually we've been friends a long time but this is May and this is Max." Ash replied "Pleasure to meet you both." Riley said shaking both their hands, then his face getting serious turned back to Ash
"We have to leave they will be looking for you." "Were do you suggest we go?" May asked, Riley thought for a moment then said "You will come with to my place there you can protection." "And what about that guy?" Brock inquired pointing to the Team Rocket member who was unconscious against the tree "We will take him and keep him prisoner he could have valuable information." Riley answered "Lucario go pick up the man lying against the tree and bring him here." The Lucario nodded walking over to the man he threw him over his shoulder and walked back to the group "Do all of you have Pokémon big enough to ride?" Riley asked, the group looked around at each other and shook their heads "Looks like where walking then…It shouldn't be too long of a trip though probably take us a day at the most." Riley said returning his Rapidash "The staff please." Riley said holding out his hand, Ash nodded and handed Riley the staff "Good now let's head out, we'll need to stay off the trail in order to keep from being tracked." Riley reasoned, and started to head off with the group behind him. They walked through thick brush and steep hills along the way they were constantly bombarded with bug Pokémon, when night fell they made camp under a large tree blocking their view of the sky. Ash had tried to make a fire but Riley stopped him saying it could give them away so instead to keep warm he laid next to May which wasn't disappointing.
It seemed given all that had happened May had completely forgotten about Dawn kissing Ash and Ash had no intention of bringing it back up. That night as Ash and May laid in each other's arms Ash had another recurring nightmare that startled him awake, he looked around to see everyone was still asleep and again laid down and closed his eyes. The next day Riley woke everyone up early and had them skip breakfast so they could make it to the place by noon. The Team Rocket member was still unconscious and had to be carried by Lucario.
"So is this place like a house or something?" Ash asked as he walked next to Riley "No not really but it has houses." Riley answered "So it's a town?" Ash continued "Well you'll find out when we get there." Riley said with a grin, Ash rolled his eyes then stopped to wait for May to catch up "So what'd he say?" May asked curiously "He said we'll find out when we get there." Ash said mimicking Riley's voice, causing May to giggle a little and Dawn to glare over at her.
At around noon they finally made it out of the forest and stood at the mouth of a small cave "Were almost there." Riley said pulling out a small torch from the ground he lit it creating a large flame "Stay close it's easy to get lost in here." Riley said entering the cave, May held on to Ash's arm as they entered. The cave was dead silent there wasn't even the classical dripping of water one might expect a cave to have all that could be heard was the sound of every ones breathing.
As they walked deeper into the cave it began to widen out until they came to a dead end a large flat wall with an inscription written on the top in big black letters "What now?" Dawn asked in a snobby tone, Riley walked forward and looked at the inscription he read it aloud "Tueri infirmos inermis inops, et pugnate pro communi omnium." When he spoke these words the inscription began to glow and the wall split in half and reveled what was behind it "Ah! Home sweet home." Riley said joyfully walking in.
