Inside was a vast office, a strong desk stood facing them, an intimidating man staring them down. His hands folded before him and eyes narrowed. He was as still as a statue, breathing not even visible on him. His hair was slicked back, the simplicity of the room drawing all attention to him.
"What do we have here?" He asked, breaking the silence as the children stood frozen in place. "A group of punks breaking into my office?"
"Don't rope me in with your employees. For the record we're here to get what two of your punks stole."
"Oh really? Then why are you here? Why not go straight to the holding floor? Did you come to ask permission like good brats do?" The man smirked behind his hands, narrowing his already squinted eyes on them.
"You know damn well only your grunts, and the most trustful of the deceitful lot, are given access. Even if we'd gone straight there we'd have been unable to do anything."
"So, tell me, what're you planning?" The boss stood from his chair, striding around till he was stood before them, leaning back on his hands and settling on the desk.
"We'll force access from you." His voice was solid, completely serious. "Blastoise water gun!" The pokemon reacted instantly, a jet of water shooting at the man. Though he didn't seem fazed in the slightest. Reaching into his pocket he produced a poke ball.
"Machamp." A large four armed pokemon burst from the poke ball, two arms raised above its head, flexing its muscles. It looked like it was grinning but the serious aura emanating from it told otherwise.
"What the hell is that?" Ash yelled, jumping back, using May as his shield.
"A Machamp, they're not too common around here but you should have seen a couple." Gary supplied, starting to doubt whether or not it was possible to know so little about pokemon. They did grow up in this world didn't they?
"How do you fight it?"
"Well, as you've got no pokemon whatsoever. I don't know how that's possible. It seems I've got to take him on. Shouldn't be too difficult, he may be strong but Blastoise is no pushover." Looking briefly at the pokemon he waited for him to react, and as though reading the others mind he did.
The pokemon hunched forwards, charging at the Machamp, head levelled with its stomach. Blastoise's arms were held tight towards his chest as he charged. Machamp stood ready, four arms there prepared to halt the pokemon with minimal damage sustained.
"Machamp, use karate chop." The four armed human bodied pokemon complied, grasping onto Blastoise and throwing the side of his hands down towards the back of his skull. Machamp winced as it attacked, Blastoise's skull imbedded in his stomach.
"Seems he's no pushover."
"I could say the same for your sea food."
"We're a lot better than that, we're just getting started, right Blastoise?" The pokemon jumped back, letting out an agreeing cry.
"Good, so are we." Machamp clenched his fists, holding them before him as he took a fighting stance. The boss seemed smug, the smirk on his face unnerving Gary. The words were one he'd heard many times before. All from people who're on the ropes struggling to take a single hit. But he didn't seem that way. If anything Gary would say he was toying with him.
Narrowing his eyes he glared at the man. Ash and May stood back, knowing it wasn't their fight. But they couldn't help worry for Gary. Even they could tell the man was holding back on them.
"Blastoise, water gun." His voice was stony, even, he wasn't enjoying this anymore. He hated when he was underestimated. The pokemon complied, moving to stand before his training and shooting a large blast of water at the humanoid.
Machamp hesitated on moving, he could easily avoid the attack but the desk would be damaged. His worry for his master's property outweighed his own self and he allowed the water to strike him. Machamp used his arms to shield his stomach, the water spraying out around him and splattering lightly on the files.
"Machamp, same again." The boss instructed, his arms crossed over his chest. Machamp ran forwards, throwing his hand down once more to chop at the turtle.
"Withdraw." Blastoise made no sign of movement, waiting till the pokemon was dropping down on him before dragging his head and arms inside his shell. Machamp's fist landed with a painful thud on the shell, the humanoid clutching onto his hand as he skipped backwards.
The attack could smash through anything put before it, even steel types couldn't hurt him. But that shell surpassed them. How that was possible neither trainer or pokemon knew.
"Rapid spin." Still surrounded by its shell Blastoise stood, hunching ever so slightly before leaping from the ground, his shell spinning at inhuman speeds.
May and Ash jumped back, shock and horror written across their faces. They'd never seen anything like this. The pokemon's shell crushed the humanoid, but the four muscular arms clung to it, the edge the only thing connecting.
"W-What the hell is this?" Ash stuttered, standing behind May who was frozen where she stood.
"H-How the hell should I know?" She replied, grabbing onto his shirt, she'd be damned if she went out as a human shield.
"You don't have to worry." Gary assured, as calm as ever. "This is a pokemon battle, the trainers and others don't get dragged in, purely one on one." They weren't convinced but Gary seemed to know what he was talking about. "Don't worry, if anything happens my other pokemon will step in. Blastoise may be the strongest but the others aren't far behind."
"Don't get cocky kid, Machamp is one of my weakest pokemon. I'm being generous because you're a brat." He couldn't stop his jaw from going slack. Weakest? That couldn't be right, this pokemon was almost on par with Blastoise.
"Well, uh, we're not even getting started. Blastoise has a lot more to give."
"Oh yeah?" Machamp, return." Holding out the poke ball he returned the humanoid four armed pokemon, tucking it back into his pocket. "Persian, come here my pet."
Movement from the corner of their eyes caught their attention, all turning to see a cat sashaying from its bed in the corner. The first thing they noticed was the large ears, second the gem embedded in its forehead. And lastly the swaying of that curled tail. One thought registered in May and Ash's mind. That's not a fighting pokemon. Even they could tell. It was more of a pet.
"Meet my dear Persian. My loyal friend, usually I don't use him in battle. However you'd be foolish to think he wasn't strong. He's never let me down before." The cat purred, holding as much grace as royalty.
"It's just a cat." May muttered, perplexed as to why that would be a dangerous pokemon. They had those in their world.
"Don't underestimate it. It looks like a pushover but it has power to match a truck." Gary warned, tensing. This wasn't supposed to happen, he was supposed to help them get their pokemon back not fight the teams boss.
They stared in shock, the boy had to be kidding. It was a cat, why couldn't he throw a ball of string and use something shiny for it to chase? Surely one squirt from the blue monster would sending it running, they hated the water. But, they were in no position to argue, if he said it was strong they'd have to watch and see.
"Blastoise, water gun." He shot a stream of water, thinner than what he had done before but lacking little power. The cat pressed his paws into the floor, springing up and landing once the water ended, the floor soggy and the desk thrown back into the wall. Unlike the other it showed no caring for its owner's possessions.
"Slash." The cat pounced, landing on the turtle's shell and sending razor claws to the back of his head. Blastoise cried out, the cat far too quick for him to dodge, he couldn't even withdraw himself into his shell.
"Blastoise, shake it off." Gary yelled, "What's with this thing? Its crazy strong, I've never seen someone make Blastoise cry."
"Gary, you gonna be ok?" Ash asked, holding onto May to stop himself from shaking. He didn't know what they'd do if he lost.
"I-I don't know, I really don't." His eyes scanned everything, looking for some way out, some chance of victory. And a miracle happened before his eyes, on the corner of the desk, millimetres from falling were his keys to the hideout. All he had to do was shoot them down and they could run. Hiding the smirk that tugged at his lips at his realisation he watched as Blastoise managed to grab the cat, throwing it from him.
The pokemon winced, his arms having dug into his shell from stretching so much. He shrunk into his shell slightly, protecting the patch of skin that was bright crimson. Gary glared at the man, he hated seeing Blastoise in pain. They'd trained hard trying to prevent the pokemon from ever being in pain.
"Water gun, once more." The two's eyes met seconds before he fired, and as he did he swept it across the room. The attack spraying the boss as well as crashing into the desk. Persian jumped, landing delicately on the desk. It purred as it landed, completely unaware of the plan it'd fallen for.
The keys had dropped to the floor, skidding closer to the blue pokemon. Blastoise caught sight of them, a connection forming in his mind as he bent down to grab them with the small claws on its paws.
The boss couldn't see what was held in the pokemon's hand, though he didn't truly care. Whatever it was wouldn't aid it in the fight. Nothing could beat Persian.
"Persian, slash." The cat complied, using the edge of the desk to throw itself at the turtle. Blastoise, acting on his own, withdrew into his shell, letting the pokemon throw him back from the power of its slash. He stopped just before Gary, his hand touching the boys and dropping the keys into it.
Closing his hand tightly around the keys he gave the pokemon an affirming nod. Silently telling him to fight however he pleased. While he was keeping them busy he checked the keys, his eyes landing on a small tag attached to them. A large R was imprinted on the tag, though he wasn't sure what it was. It looked like some sort of digital key.
Running his finger over the key card he tucked it into his pocket. Blastoise's large body wouldn't be enough for them all to run, but Ash and May could.
"Hey, you two." He hissed, catching them off guard, they'd been too wrapped up with the battle. "When I say so you're going to run for the lift and use these keys." He tapped his pocket, looking at them and waiting for their affirming nod.
They gave it, waiting impatiently for then.
It took much less time than they'd anticipated. Blastoise was being forced back by the cat, his shell covered in scuff marks from his sharp claws.
Digging into his pocket he tossed Ash the keys, nodding silently. Following orders they ran, the boss completely unaware they were gone. Too busy revelling in his victory.
"Hang on Blastoise, we've just got to last a few more minutes."
please read review