Wowee, this is an emotional Episode. Who knew that Squirtle's character had so much depth. I guess even smart asses can get upset. And the plot thickens somemore. Who knows how much mental damage has been done, to all of the Pokémon

Episode Eighty-Nine: Deadly Irony

After a good nights sleep, we all split up into small groups in order to search for our runaway Charmander. Pika got stuck with Raichu, Alpha with Cubone, Scyther decided to go with Hitmonchan. Scout was able to fly again, so I partnered up with him as Bulbasaur and Porygon decided to stay behind and hold the fort.

We got a nice early start, setting out just as the sun began to rise. Scout had a small radio attached to him, while I carried a bracelett that allowed Porygon to track our location. So, if we found anything then we could call the others and Pory would direct them to us. Which was a slight confidence booster, considering the massive amount of ground that we would have to search.

Scout flew at rooftop level, not daring to go any higher, while I trundled on foot. I wasn't worried about beind ambushed, Scout would be able to spot any attacker well before they could start anything. Alpha's team didn't have a problem either, Alpha would be able to smell out any Rocket from a mile off while Pika and Raichu both had brilliant hearing. Scyther just had that strange ability to sense danger, although that did little to stop Flame attacking him the night before.

"Anything?" I called up to Scout after about an hour of wandering the streets.

"Nothing," came the reply. I turned my attention back to the road, we were in one of the few streets that hadn't suffered any damage. The houses were abandoned as all civilians had left the City, so there was a strange silence that threatened to choke us.

Another hour passed and still no sign of any kind of life. We had entered the industrial zone and were walking between factories. I was glad that we were doing this during the day, without the sunlight then many of the shadows would have been impenetrable.

As we were heading through one of these dense shadowed patches, we both heard voices coming from around the corner of the factory we were passing by. Scout landed beside me and I slowly edged fowards, taking a glance around the corner.

"You sure that the Squirtle and Pidgey were around here?" a Human, in a strange red uniform, asked two Rockets.

"Sure as the sun sets," one of the Rockets replied, "A security camera picked them up as they entered and no one has seen them leave."

I turned back towards Scout, who had also heard the exchange.

"This doesn't bode well," he sighed, "I'll ask Porygon to send us some help."

"I hope they come here soon," I replied, before a gasp caused me to look up and strait into the eyes of a third Rocket, "uh oh."

The Rocket yelled and I could hear the other Humans approaching from behind me. Scout got airborne and shot towards the lone Rocket, forcing him to dive out of the way. I dashed through this opening with three Humans on my tail.

"I think I can safely say that we're in trouble!" I yelled up at Scout as we dashed down random pathways, trying to lose the Humans.

But they would not be fooled so easily and managed to follow us through every detour.

"We're getting nowhere!" I yelled up at Scout, who was constantly looking back at the chasing Humans.

"Alpha and Pika's parties are close by," he called back, "They'll be here in ten minutes."

"We don't have ten minutes!"

I was right, I was tiring fast, unable to maintain full sprint. Scout was tiring too, but he could easily get away if he wanted. He stuck with me, guiding me through the maze of paths and avoiding dead ends. But the Humans were gaining and I heard a Pokémon join the chase.

I looked over my shoulder and spotted a green furred, with yellow patches here and there, canine like creature catching up. I had seen pictures of that Pokémon back in Pallet Town. Electrike. Fast, accurate and a master of lightning. There was no chance of me or Scout beating that.

Luckily, backup finally arrived. But not in the form I had expected. Just as the Electrike lept for me, teeth bared, then a fireball shot over my shoulder and into the canine's face. I skidded to a halt and looked at the shooter, gawping at him. The facialy scarred Charmander was right in front of me. We had found him. Or, more likely, he had found us.

"Flame!" Scout called from his perch as the Charmander stepped fowards. I immediatly spotted something different about him, a steel collar around his neck. I didn't have time to ponder about it though as the Humans had finally caught up fully.

"Tell the others that I'm sorry but I'm going to be a little late for lunch," Flame said loudly as he began to walk towards us. The Humans turned and started to flee, which caused me and Scout to cheer.

"Flame! You scared them off!" Scout called down.

"I knew you'd be okay," I told him, untill his blank stare wiped the grin off of my face.

"I have nothing against you two," Flame said, emotionless, "but if you stay here then I have no choice."

"What the hell does that mean?" Scout asked, flapping his wings in confusion.

"Leave here now."

"Flame, what is wrong with you?" I said, as loudly as possible, "we're your friends."

"You were untill I found out the truth," Flame replied with a glint in his eye.

I knew what was coming and dived out of his fireball's path.

"Damnit Flame!" I yelled, "you've completely lost it."

"You are the one who had lost it," Flame countered, "you are the one that is allied with murderers."

"I don't understand," I replied, having to roll clear of a second fireball.

Scout was shouting into his radio as Flame slowly walked towards me. I knew that Scout was unable to attack in this confined space, I was stuck on my own. I couldn't help but marvel at the irony, it had only been a few weeks ago that I had been forced to attack him by the Hypno. Now it was Flame being controlled, by the exact same organization that I hated.

"How could you?" I yelled at him, "how could you allow Team Rocket to manipulate you like this?"

"They are not manipulating me," he replied coldly, "I do what I do on my own free will."

"I bloody saved your life!" I shouted, trying to get through to him, "surely you have not forgotten what Asmodeus nearly did to you? What he would have done to you if I hadn't shown up!"

That stopped him, for a few seconds. He stood there, indecision flashing across his features.

"That is true," he said at last, "you saved me out of your own free will. For that I give you one last chance to leave."

"This isn't you," I muttered, dispair threatening to swallow me, "you have been brainwashed."

Anger appeared in Flame's eyes and he prepped another fireball. I made no attempts to move or defend myself, I didn't care anymore. All my faith, my determination, was gone. Scout tried to divebomb Flame and was forced away with a smokescreen. I could hear Porygon speaking through the radio, it must have picked up everything.

Then a streak of yellow appeared in the smoke and Pika slammed into Flame's back, knocking him too the floor. Porygon had broadcasted the entire thing over the radios and she had heard, so she didn't bother talking. As Raichu appeared, Flame lashed out with his legs and knocked both of them away.

I just lay there as he pelted them with fireballs, not allowing them any time to launch an attack of their own. The alleyway prevented them using their speed to get around his attacks, all they could do was stay back and dodge each attack as it came. He had his back turned to me, focused purely on his task.

I knew what I had to do and it pained me. Moreso than when Hypno had controlled me. I attacked him, from behind, with a Water Gun attack. I struck him on the back of the head, causing him to fall to the ground. Pika and Raichu used the respite to blast him with twin Thunderbolts.

I blocked out his screams, everything became mute as I stood up. I looked down at Flame, who was now unconsious, as Raichu took out some rope from the pack that he still carried with him. Alpha and Cubone appeared, helping Raichu bind and carry Flame.

I stood there, motionless, as they began to carry him away. Pika looked up at me, looking worried.

"Squirtle?" She asked me, "you okay?"

"Why?" I asked the air, "why would Team Rocket do this? Now I know how he felt when the Hypno forced him to fight us."

"We'll fix him," she said, trying to reassure me. It failed.

"And then what? They will get him again. And again I'll be forced to fight him."

"Squirtle has a point," Scout said as he landed on the wall next to me, "but I agree with Pika. We will return him to normal and then we will take down Team Rocket. Now, lets catch up with the others. I don't want to be left behind."

"'Kay," I muttered before following them down the alleyway, still lost in my ocean of thoughts.