Saffron City, Kanto.

The early evening hours cast deep blue skies across the region's most populous city. Ordinarily, nary a star in the sky could be seen, with the metropolis's excessive light pollution. But, tonight, Saffron wasn't as it seemed. The entire business district was shut down; even those normally associated with the nightlife. Lights were out, everywhere except for residential areas.

A curfew had been ordered on the city, courtesy of Saffron's Police Department. A precautionary measure, after news broke of the Silph Company being invaded in a Team Rocket takeover. If panic were to take hold in the streets, matters could surely only get worse. Any and all civilians were ordered to stay inside their homes, until further notice.

Outside the skyscraper, a blockade of police cars and K9 units surrounded the front entrance. Though the Growlithe and Arcanine fighting alongside Officer Jenny were finding themselves dampered by the dark stormcloud casting Rain Dance over the crime scene.

"Arcanine! Use Thunder Fang!" Officer Jenny commanded, holding her cap down upon her head to shield her eyes from the rain. Even so, her teal hair was thoroughly matted down from the constant downpour.

"Ar!" Arcanine lunged towards the Huntail being commanded by James.

"I don't think so!" Jessie declared, even as she stood under the shelter of an umbrella that only kept herself dry under the downpour. "Use Psychic, Gorebyss!"

A bright blue aura outlined the deep sea dwelling Pokémon, who exerted that influence on Arcanine, and sent them flying back into a nearby car. The valiant Fire-type slumped, with swirls in his eyes.

Jenny reluctantly recalled him, clicking her tongue. "This is looking awfully bad… We need reinforcements!"

While a stubborn fight raged on outside the Silph Company, though, the true battle was being waged quietly, within the company's interior. Several floors above ground level, a trainer had snuck in uninvited and unnoticed… Perhaps, until now.

Sporting a red cap, and a fierce look of determination, Ash Ketchum stood opposite of the self-admitted Executive of Team Rocket, Archer. He'd hit the end of his endeavor to sneak under Team Rocket's vigilant gaze, but truthfully, he was all-too-eager to beat them down.

"What do you say, Pikachu?" Ash asked, looking to his very first Pokémon. "You ready to charge on through this guy and get this thing over with?"

"Pika!" Pikachu nodded, and sprung onto all fours before Ash. Black, beady eyes narrowed and glared at the teal-haired villain. His disgust for Team Rocket was palpable, for their likely endless list of crimes, and first and foremost, their disrespect for Pokémon, and any notion of their intrinsic worth. He was more than happy to take part in putting them in their place.

Rosa, Ash's Riolu who was motivated by justice, simply stood vigilant alongside Ash. A low, guttural growl of disdain for their foe rumbled in her throat.

"Oh, I'm afraid you won't be going anywhere. Certainly not through me." Archer grasped a Poké Ball between his fingers, and flung it before him. "Houndoom! Fire Blast!"

A Houndoom spawned before Archer, snarling. A potent blaze in the shape of a kanji fired towards Pikachu; the reaches of its flames expanding towards the floor, ceiling, and walls of the hallway.

"Use Quick Attack!" Ash waved a hand, as Pikachu picked up speed with a burst of silver. Bouncing off the wall, Pikachu handily avoided the Fire Blast. Meanwhile, he himself was forced to to tuck and roll. He felt embers snap at his jacket, and ripped the garment off before smacking it against the floor.

He was relieved to see that Rosa, for her part, had avoided the attack. Pikachu had gone on to smash into Houndoom's jaw, sending the canine soaring into the air.

"Tch…! Crunch! Now!" Archer commanded.

Houndoom found his footing, dragging his claws through the fine carpeting. With Pikachu still coming his way off of pure momentum, he opened his jowls, and chomped down.

"Block, with Iron Tail!"

"Pi-ka!" Pikachu righted himself, turning around to offer Houndoom his tail, which quickly coated itself in sturdy steel. When fangs came down upon his extremity, he hardly felt it, grinning.

"There!" Ash called out. They'd walked into his trap without a hitch. "Now, use Thunderbolt!"

Potent electricity coursed through Pikachu's tiny body, down to his tail, and right through a yelping Houndoom. Golden lightning eclipsed the fluorescent lighting of the hallways, before dying out instantaneously. Houndoom fell, and Pikachu sprung back towards Ash with ease.

"Nice one, Buddy." Ash praised.

"Pi-ka!" Pikachu exerted extra sparks, as Archer recalled his first Pokémon.

The Executive rolled the sphere in his hand, lips pursed and face screwed up in some annoyance at the outcome. Whatever he felt, though, he didn't voice it, holding his composure. A second Poké Ball was cast. "Weezing! Use Sludge Bomb!"

Weezing floated in front of Archer, voicing its own name with a sickly wheeze. "Weezing…!" For its typical concerning appearance, though, they were no less well-off for battle. A barrage of compact, explosive sludge was spat towards Pikachu.

"Repel it, with Iron Tail!" Ash commanded, gesturing a hand in the air.

"Pi-ka!" Pikachu sprung forth into the line of fire. Spinning around, he hardened his tail and whacked at the incoming sludge repeatedly. "Chu-chu-chu-chu…!"

Steel plating protected Pikachu from the ill effects of poison, and his sheer speed and striking power sent toxic sludge splattering in all directions. Not one drop succeeded in so much as touching Pikachu's fur.

Ash was forced to duck, holding his cap down atop his head. Underneath its shadow, he grinned. "Now, use that momentum for an Electro Ball!"

Pikachu continued to spin, and a bundle of gold spun around with him. Quickly growing larger, thanks to the increased speed and vibrations put off by the mouse.

Archer, himself, had been forced to dodge splattering ooze, only correcting himself afterward. By the time he stood upright, a yellow flash impacted his Weezing. Smoke flooded the hallway, and the Poison Gas Pokémon fell. Charred and unconscious.

The Executive grimaced, tapping his foot against the floor in a growing sense of impatience. Weezing was returned without a word, and exchanged for a different Pokémon. "Golbat! Air Cutter!"

A Golbat fluttered around and above their trainer, shrieking loudly. Cutting projectiles of wind sliced through the air, converging on Pikachu.

"Use Agility!" Ash commanded, as his coattails billowed behind him from the coming wind. Under ordinary circumstances, a sporting battle would limit them to just four moves; something they hadn't even had to consider, before Mt. Silver.

But fighting off a Team Rocket invasion wasn't exactly sporting.

"Pi!" Pikachu compressed his form, and then seemingly vanished. Springing toward the surface of a nearby wall, he avoided the chasing trail of Air Cutters by constantly staying one step ahead. Once they closed in, he leapt off the wall. Seemingly instantaneously, he'd planted all fours on the opposite wall.

"Electro Ball!"

An even larger Electro Ball was conjured on the tip of Pikachu's tail, dwarfing the mouse himself by several times. With a swing of his hips, he struck down Golbat instantaneously. "Chu… ka-pi!"

"You know… You're really starting to get on my nerves." Archer hissed through his teeth, as Golbat disappeared in a red flash of light. "It's starting to become apparent why that rat is so sought-after. But, ultimately, you're both just children. You can't win against Team Rocket."

Ash bit back the urge to correct him on being a kid. He recalled Gary's remarks that only a child would bother to correct that. "Hasn't stopped us from beating you before," was his chosen retort.

"Only because you've never had the displeasure of facing an Executive. Wobbuffet!" Archer released his next Pokémon; seemingly, a female Wobbuffet, boasting what looked like lipstick. She stood patiently before her trainer; a buffer in Pikachu's path. "Wobbuffet, ultimately, is the greatest test of childish impatience. I'm afraid that 'simply charging through' will get you nowhere, here."

For his part, Ash smirked. The amount of times he'd fought Jessie's Wobbuffet, he probably couldn't even count. Not to mention the tremendous obstacle in fighting Sabrina's. He sincerely doubted Archer had Sabrina's wits, let alone her powers. "Wanna bet? Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

"My point is proven." Archer smiled to himself. "Mirror Coat!"

Lightning struck Wobbuffet, making the glowing punching bag invert. Subsequently, she flung the bolt back towards Pikachu, twice as bright, and twice as potent. Its power was moot, though, as Pikachu darted beside the return fire.

"Now! Charge in, and show us your best Thunderbolt!" Ash called out.

"Pika!" Pikachu sprinted forth, fairly sure that he understood what his trainer had in mind. Lightning built up in his cheeks, soon surrounding his entire body in a glow. "Piiiikaaaa…!"

The feint was enough to instill confidence in Archer that Ash was foolish enough to make the same mistake twice, judging by the odd look he gave his younger opponent. "You really are just a child. Mirror Coat."

Many different hues coated Wobbuffet in reflective armor. The die had been cast, and Archer had sealed the results of this round.

"Gotcha," Ash grinned. "Now, use that electricity for a good ol' Iron Tail!"

"What did you say!?" The man's face contorted in shock. But even he realized that he was far too late to stop was transpiring, as Pikachu pivoted on his front paws, and focused all of his building electricity into the metallic shell of his tail. He'd been played for a fool.

"Chua… Pi-ka!" Pikcahu slashed across Wobbuffet, sending an arc of residual electricity crackling through the open air of the corridor. The living punching bag was sent flying, and landed behind Archer, unconscious.

A trembling hand held the Poké Ball that recalled Wobbuffet. Archer cast a look of complete disbelief at Ash and Pikachu. Was he really being humbled by a brat with a few sports competitions under his belt? Was that his limit?

"Are you sure I'm fighting a Team Rocket Executive?" Ash taunted. "I'm honestly pretty disappointed. The three stooges who come after Pikachu usually give us a tougher fight than this!"

~It's true. They do.~ Rosa testified, frowning with her paws stationed on her hips. ~You're evil and lame!~

"You… insolent punks!" Archer's eye twitched; his composure bordering on crumbling all at once, before he took a deep breath, leveling himself. "...Ah. You almost went and made me lose my temper. You're going to pay dearly. For interrupting Giovanni's grand design, and for insulting his right-hand man!" A fifth Poké Ball was thrown, with greater force than the previous.

"Tyranitar!"

The floor of the level they currently stood upon trembled, as a towering beast nearly scraped the ceiling. A feral shriek coursed through Ash, Pikachu, and Rosemary, as if they themselves had been rattled by the beast's might. Tyranitar towered over all three, and looked upon them with disdain.

"That's… weird," Ash said. "There's no sand. But I feel… off." He looked down at his own two hands. They were trembling. A cool sweat had started up, prompting him to take off his hat and shake it out. "We're winning. Why do I feel scared?"

"Piiiika." Pikachu slowly backed up towards his trainer. He, himself, felt distaste for the fear plaguing him. He had no particular reason to feel like their opponent was stronger than him.

~These vibes are rotten,~ Rosa remarked. ~Pa. It's Tyranitar's Aura! Something about his is disrupting ours!~

"Huh…?" Ash withdrew his Pokédex, and pointed it at their foe. "Dexter?"

"Tyranitar's hidden ability: Unnerve. Unnerves opposing Pokémon and makes them unable to eat berries. Your recommended course of action would be to win, before any healing is necessary, if possible."

"Heh. Y'know, you got a whole lot of attitude for a Pokédex with a robotic voice?" Ash smirked, wiping the sweat from his brow. "No problem. None of this is real, Pikachu, so let's get him!"

"Pika!" Pikachu nodded.

"Hmph. Stave off your fear for now, if you must. It'll be back soon. Use Dark Pulse!" Archer shouted.

The rocky behemoth wound back his head, gathering pitch-black energy in his maw. Wicked rings blasted away in a horizontal path, aiming to pulverize Ash, Pikachu, and Rosa all at once. In its wake, Dark Pulse carved away at the walls and flooring; leaving smoldering gaps in the infrastructure.

"Move forward!" Ash shouted, over deafening explosions, springing back off the sole of his shoe. Rippling explosions rattled and launched him back with a shout. Luckily, Rosa seemed to clear the blast with greater dexterity than himself. He heard her call out his name in worry.

"Pikapi!" Pikachu did the same in kind; ultimately, his concern was a distraction that would come back to bite him, quite literally. When his head was turned, he felt mighty jowls come down upon him.

"Crunch!"

Pikachu squealed in pain. Tyranitar's sharp fangs dug into his plush body, hoisting him up high like a trophy.

"That sympathy of yours really is your undoing. What kind of tool for battle is that Pikachu, if it falters at the slightest sign of a trainer coming into peril? Now, you'll both suffer for it," Archer lectured.

"Pikachu's not a tool," Ash hissed, "and if anyone's about to get bit in the rear, it's you! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

Once again, Archer had made the mistake of having his Pokémon gnash down upon a walking conduct of electricity; Tyranitar's flashing and writhing a clear testament to the difference in skill between the upstart hero, and the villainous second in command.

Tyranitar's jaw slacked, and Pikachu wriggled his way out to run back towards Ash, standing with his eyes turned on the foe who'd left him with a nasty sting.

"Pika-chu!"

"You alright, Buddy?" Ash asked.

"Pika!"

Meanwhile, the Armor Pokémon was hunched over, looking halfway cognizant. Trails of smoke fluttered from his rocky scales in the electricity's aftermath.

"This… can't be possible," Archer sputtered.

"Trip him up, with Iron Tail!" Ash commanded, waving his hand aside, as his partner dashed into the shadow of his faltering foe, and pivoted on his rightmost front paw. Coating his tail, he swung around, bashing it into the Tyranitar's shin.

Tyranitar cried loudly, and sailed through the air.

Archer gasped, and quickly recalled the falling Pokémon to its Poké Ball, before the Armor Pokémon could potentially collapse an entire floor with its weight. Or, potentially, worse. Disarmed of his fifth Pokémon, the Executive slowly backed away from the mouse that threatened him with sparks from his cheeks.

He was dominated by a cold sweat. "So, this is the infamous Pikachu… I'm hard-pressed to believe that the rumors were true, but the evidence is right before me." Nervous laughter followed, as uneasy eyes darted around for a solution. 'I've utterly lost in a straightforward battle. I can't simply lose to a child and allow him to ruin Giovanni's plans! There has to be an out…'

Soon enough, Archer found it. The gash carved in the floor from Dark Pulse; displacing scorched bits of carpet, wood burnt to a crisp, and errant wires that were torn asunder. A wound in the building that could have been far worse, had Tyranitar fallen. 'Perhaps I don't need to defeat that Pikachu… I only need it out of my sight!' Grinning wickedly, he tossed his last Poké Ball.

"Misdreavus!"

An impish, gaseous form of pale blues and pinks orbited the fray with wicked laughter. "Mi—is!"

"A Misdreavus," Ash whispered. "I don't like the look on his face… What's he up to?"

Archer snapped his fingers. "Sink that Pikachu down below."

"Pika…!?" Pikachu backed up onto all fours, unnerved. Before he could puzzle out what that cryptic command even meant, the Screech Pokémon zipped into his personal space, and tapped her forehead against his. "Pi?"

Pikachu suddenly felt a very odd sensation. One he'd perhaps only once or twice. He felt… intangible. His feet no longer touched the carpet, but sank through the floor. His head was next.

"Pikachu!" Ash ran towards where his partner had been in a panic, as he seemingly disappeared. He crouched down, patting the floor where both Pikachu and Misdreavus had been. There wasn't a sign of them. "You… What the hell did you do to Pikachu!?"

"I simply displaced it," Archer explained. "As much as I hate to admit it, that rodent of yours was a threat to me. Now, it's on a lower floor… without your help, it's only a matter of time before it's cornered and caught by Team Rocket. And you're without its help."

"Pikachu can handle himself," Ash snapped back, and hopped to his feet. Even if he did believe in his partner, though, he couldn't shake a nagging feeling of concern. Just what had he been dropped into? What if he did need his help…? It was a train of thought that he soon realized was stupid, and smacked his own cheeks to shake it off. "We'll both beat our enemies, and meet back up, soon!" His hand reached under his jacket and towards his belt, for his next Poké Ball.

"I think not! Misdreavus, his belt!" Archer hastily urged.

Ash grabbed at the capsule he'd picked, only to find himself squeezing thin air. "What the…!?" He pulled back his jacket, only to find his belt missing, and all of his Poké Balls missing. "My Poké Balls! Where…!?"

"Misdreavus~!" Misdreavus had now reappeared, dropping Ash's belt into Archer's grip; Poké Balls and all.

"Stealing Pokémon wasn't in my itinerary… But, I'll take this bonus as the spoils of my victory, when I eliminate you."

Ash snarled angrily through her teeth. "You no-good, rotten…!"

"Use Hypnosis!"

The trainer, unfortunately, made the mistake of making eye contact with the devilish spirit. Rings of hypnotic light bore directly into Ash's eyes, and immediately began to take effect. He felt groggy, first; lightheaded. His limbs started to feel like jello, next. "No… Damn it, I can't…!"

~Papa!~ Rosa turned around towards her trainer, crying in worry.

Heavy eyelids came down like they were hundred pound weights, even as Ash struggled to keep them open. 'I can't… If I sleep here… We're all done for! Pikachu, Rosa… Dawn…'

The immediate most sensible action, for Ash, was to painfully pinch and pull at his own cheek. It was an unpleasant jolt, but it was something to keep him from slumpering. "I… I won't fall asleep…! I've got too much on the line…!" But, it couldn't hurt if he at least sat down, to take the pressure off his legs. To conserve a little energy. Despite his best efforts, Ash loudly yawned, and felt the warmth that came with near-sleep flooding him. It was hard to fight… so, so hard.

"A very stubborn effort. Children are quite irritating… But, you'll no longer be a thorn in Team Rocket's side," Archer boasted. With Ash's blurry vision, he couldn't quite tell, but he could practically hear the smarmy upturn of the Rocket's lips, with his words. "Misdreavus! Shadow Ball!"

A purple, crackling mass of necrotic energy could vaguely be made out, from Ash's perspective. Not something he was particularly dying to be hit by… But instead, something else entirely crashed into his side. The pain of being hip-checked was almost enough to rattle Ash wide awake.

"Ow!" Ash sat up, clutching his side. In place of where he'd been was a very familiar baby blue. Shadow Ball swallowed what looked to be Rosa's form, though even with Ash's blurring vision, she seemed to be translucent. "Rosa…!? What're you—"

~Leave the rest to me!~ Rosa's voice passed through Ash's mind in total clarity. Her body had faded in the wake of Shadow Ball's explosion, but he could still hear her. He could still sense her.

"Rosa… I can't do that!" Ash shook his head, and quickly regretted it. He felt even more dizzy, and rolled over on his side. "You… I have to…"

~You have to get to Pikachu,~ she told him. She sounded so serene. So certain. ~You can't do that if something happens here.~ Something about this all felt so eerily, forebodingly familiar to Ash. He felt frightened for something, but he couldn't put his finger on what it was. He sincerely wanted to believe in her, and rest easily.

His eyelids were heavy, and one more thought passed through his mind; one that he couldn't quite actually pin a voice to. It felt more, really, like a thought that had been inserted right into his head, rather than a voice he heard. He wasn't sure whether it was real or not. He slumbered, before he could deliberate further.

~The Aura is with me.~


He'd never quite get used to being turned intangible. At least, back in the haunted house, he'd been prepared for it, but being taken for a sudden dive by a malicious foe made Pikachu awfully worried. He had a glimpse of each floor down for about a moment, where he saw gathered Rockets, or empty hallways. It all went by very quickly, and he felt his paws touch solid ground again.

"Pi…" Pikachu huffed, tapping his paw against the carpeting, just to be certain that he was tangible, again. He was alive, and upon a quick survey of the hall, found Misdreavus nowhere to be seen. They must've returned to Archer, he figured… Which meant that Ash was without him.

"Pikapi…" Deciding that the only course of action was to find his trainer, he dashed down the hall, in search of the closest stairway. If he recalled, they'd been on the fifth floor…

"Well, well. What do we have here?" A redheaded woman stood in Pikachu's path, bringing him to a quick halt. The first thing to come to Pikachu's attention was her uniform; it looked a lot like Archer's, if not more elegant. She reminded him just slightly of Jessie, though she looked decidedly more wicked at first glance.

"I don't see why a Pikachu would be running loose… unless you escaped from the testing room. Those bumbling idiots…" She muttered, with an irritated twitch of her brow. "We can't have stray rodents running around and disrupting our operation. Return to where you came from, if you know what's good for you." To punctuate her threat, the woman casually tossed a Poké Ball.

Its latch came undone, and spawned a tall, purple serpent with a huge hood, featuring intimidating markings to resemble a wicked face. "Chaaaarbok!" An Arbok towered over even its trainer, grinning wickedly at Pikachu.

"I don't imagine you'd like to be lunch for my dear Arbok," she threatened.

"Pika!" Pikachu shrieked, exerting crackling lightning from each of his rosy cheeks. It was their one and only warning, lest he make them regret engaging him. The threat of being eaten was not on his bucket list for today… Or, for any day, for that matter.

"A stubborn one… shame." The woman shrugged her shoulders. "Arbok. Glare."

The second the command passed her lips, Pikachu instinctively tucked his head in, and shut his eyes as tightly as possible. A paralyzing leer would surely be sent his way; if he were rendered immobile without any backup, this could turn disastrous, quickly.

"You knew to avoid eye contact… I don't think I've seen many rodent-like Pokémon who were wise enough to avoid their predators. Unfortunately, you didn't have the sense to avoid your own demise," the villainess lectured. "Use Wrap!"

Pikachu squeaked, as he felt Arbok's long, muscular body constrict around his torso. His entire upper body was being compressed in an uncomfortable manner, and he was sure worse was to come. "Pikaaa… chu!" He shrieked, unleashing a potent Thunderbolt through his direct contact with Arbok.

The serpent screamed and flailed about, lit up by a dazzling golden current. The attack continued until Pikachu felt their grip on him loosen, and he wriggled himself free. Arbok collapsed beside him, unconscious.

"Arbok…! Nobody defeats my Arbok that easily." Ariana grimaced, recalling her Pokémon. She looked awfully suspicious of the creature before her. "A stubborn, intelligent, and powerful Pikachu like you has no reason to be here… No, you're clearly too well-trained."

"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu argued. She'd be far less surprised if she took time to understand Pokémon, rather than treating them as weapons!

"And argumentative," she hummed. Suddenly, her eyes widened in an epiphany. "That's it! There's been word that that kid shut down our operation in the Celadon Game Corner, along with his abnormally powerful Pikachu… You're his, are you not?"

Pikachu was silent. If she knew that, then Ash's cover would be fully blown. The last thing he needed was two executives on his tail; especially without his own aid.

"No answer…? Then I'm right." Ariana smirked. "Actually, this is ideal. I've been intrigued with your power for a little while, now. Those three morons have always been something of a laughing stock for their obsession with you, but after your performance against a Latios… I'm admittedly quite eager to study for your power for myself. A specimen like you would be wonderful on Team Rocket's side."

Pikachu recoiled in disgust. "Pika-Pikachu!" As if he'd ever be their lab rat!

"Oh, you're adorable. You think you have a choice in the matter." Ariana tutted, flinging another Poké Ball forth. "I'll capture you, now, and do what those three could never do. Giga Drain!"

"Glooom~!" The short, odorous flower appeared before Pikachu, sporting the species' usual, rather gross trail of drool from its mouth. Instantaneously, a flash of green light captured Pikachu, and began to drain his stamina right from his body.

"Pi…!" Pikachu grunted in discomfort, and held up the flat end of his tail. Lightning gathered in a bundle, before rolling up into an Electro Ball. "Chu-pi-Ka!" He swung, blasting the poor Grass-type, and eliminating any trace of Giga Drain.

"Gloom…" The plant stumbled back, showing very little composure, as sparks danced off her body.

"Tch…! How dare you!" Ariana grunted. "Gloom looks nearly incapacitated, in just one hit."

"Pi-ka!" Pikachu cried, swiftly bashing into his foe with a Quick Attack. Gloom was sent flying, landing far behind Ariana on the other end of the hallway. 'Make that two.'

"...Ah. So, that power of yours wasn't all luck. I'm actually relieved," Ariana smirked, recalling her Gloom. "It'd be rather anticlimactic, if you turned out to be nothing special. Unfortunately, raw power will only get you so far against Team Rocket." She called on a Drowzee, next. "I'd like to avoid that pesky speed of yours. Drowzee, Disable!"

The stocky, yellow aardvark leered upon Pikachu with a sinister gaze. "Drow… zee~" Widened eyes flashed blue, and exerted a sudden paranormal hex upon Pikachu.

Pikachu was fully aware of what Disable did. Quick Attack was out of the picture, at least for a little bit, and trying it again would only leave him wide open. Instead, he charged up a Thunderbolt. "Pikaaa…!"

"Use Confusion!"

"Pi-!" Pikachu choked, as his entire body was roughly yanked into the air, and subsequently slammed against the ceiling. He was disoriented, and his face had been flattened; there was no stopping Drowzee from smashing him into a wall, whichever one it may have been. In his state, he couldn't tell up from down, or left from right. "Ka! Chu!" He cried, suffering several more impacts.

If all of that hadn't been enough of a headache, the mouse was suspended in mid-air before Drowzee, afterward. He shook his head out, frowning at the villainous duo.

"How unfortunate… All of that momentum makes you dangerous, but once you're suspended, you're helpless!" Ariana laughed behind the back of her hand. "A weakness I'll keep in mind, once you're ours. But first, Drowzee, let's wear it down, with Poison Gas."

"Drowww…" Drowzee opened his mouth, spitting out a green cloud of noxious gas that crowded and encircled Pikachu.

Pikachu swallowed a great deal of air, first, and did his best to hold his breath. Even with shut eyes, he could feel his lids and nose start to burn. He held out as long as possible, but soon enough, his lungs demanded air, and he was forced to inhale the toxins.

Pikachu coughed violently, as a sickly feeling filled him. When the smog cleared, a streak of blue covered his nose. He was poisoned, and suspended at Drowzee's mercy.

"Perfect," Ariana said coldly. "Now, you're-"

Loud, but far-off explosions rattled the ground floor, interrupting Ariana's boasting. She nearly staggered off her feet, holding her ears. After a moment's passing, puffs of inky smoke rounded the nearest corner.

The shock of it all was enough to startle Drowzee, who lost its grip on Pikachu.

The mouse fell to the ground on all fours, panting. He was free, at least, even if his health would slowly be seeping from him, from here on out. "Pi…!"

"What in the hell…!?" Ariana grimaced, and pulled out an earpiece to slap on, tapping away at its sleek surface. "There's been a far-off explosion, on Floor 1! Grunts; go investigate, and report immediately."

Muffled affirmations sounded in her earpiece, and she tapped it, once more, disconnecting the communication. "An unwelcome distraction… But ultimately irrelevant." She smirked, staring down the ailing rodent. "I wouldn't bother fighting back anymore… although I'm sure you will." Her cherry red lips parted for a nasty grin. "You're within my grasp."


"How touching…" Archer remarked dryly, as Misdreavus's Shadow Ball blasted away at a quickly fading, translucent copy of the Riolu that accompanied Ash. Obviously, she'd used Substitute to absorb the damage. "To sacrifice yourself for your trainer. I see that loyalty is a running theme among his Pokémon. It's too bad that it's wasted on an upstart that needs to be executed."

Rosa answered the threat with a snarl, and dragged her trainer over towards the side of the hallway. With some effort, she propped him up against the wall. ~You won't be laying your grimy hands on Papa. I'll beat you down, first.~ She reached up, adjusting his cap properly atop his head. He'd done plenty to nurture and protect her. She'd return the favor.

Piercing red eyes turned on Archer, narrowed with ferocity. ~I won't bother asking you to run. I already know you won't. Don't blame me, when you leave with something broken.~

"What's this…? A Riolu that talks." Archer blinked, then grinned. "Another valuable Pokémon. You'll do nicely, but you'd benefit from learning to properly address your superiors. Misdreavus, use Curse!"

An awful wail left Misdreavus, as she cast a perilous curse upon herself; her body outlined in a wicked shadow. She hovered just a bit closer to the floor below her. But, she wasn't alone in her pain.

"Riah…!" Rosemary yelped. A sudden, unpleasant jolt brought her to her knees. Some supernatural spell had torn some of her strength away from her, in just an instant. After her last substitute, too, she was feeling under the weather. 'I can't afford to use that too many more times…! Not with whatever this is.'

"You've lost," Archer taunted. "Give up! Misdreavus, Shadow Ball!"

Misdreavus fired plum-colored orbs of otherworldly power in succession.

~Over here!~ Rosa sprung far out of Ash's range to draw the attacks away from him. A first exploded far behind her, but a second came close to her feet. She sprung forth, and planted her paw and right foot on the wall beside her. Misdreavus followed her trail, and shot another Shadow Ball. The Riolu sprung away, flipping through the air. Chunks of wall and debris flew all about, but she went untouched.

"You're a persistent mutt," Archer breathed out. He was obviously frustrated with her dodging.

Which, to Rosa, could mean only one thing. She spilled more of her vitality into a false construct that stood directly before her. Her Prankster ability came into play, once again, allowing her to move before Archer so much as opened his mouth.

"Hypnosis!"

Misdreavus' hypnotic influence struck the Substitute construct. Fuchsia rays of light bounded off an unliving vessel, leaving the real Rosemary untouched. That provided a vital opportunity that she wouldn't miss.

She sprung over her clone, and analyzed the very little she'd gotten to see of Hypnosis. Rewinding the scene clocked by her temporarily photographic memory, she analyzed every second of it. Copycat did its job, and imbued her with temporary understanding.

Archer was left confused and concerned, when Rosa's red hues flashed pink. The hypnotic light struck Misdreavus, and suddenly, she collapsed to the floor. "It used Hypnosis, as well…!?"

~You're done!~ Rosa cried, and smashed the end of her Iron Tail against the floor to spring her high above. Flipping forward, she put Pikachu's dexterity training to use, and smashed into the downed Misdreavus. Afterwards, she sprung off the unconscious ghost, and landed on her feet.

"That's… impossible," Archer muttered out. "Forgive me, Giovanni!"

That's where your loyalty lies!?~ Rosa stood upright, looking at the man with disgust. ~An evil, rotten, no-good…!~ She yelped, and collapsed onto all fours. Searing pain brought her down a second time; Curse did its duty in humbling her.

"All of that insolent talk, and yet here you are… humbled at my feet." Archer spoke haughtily, but a twinge of fear and relief still carried in his voice. He walked closer, and moved to kick the dog while she was down; quite literally.

A move that he quickly thought better of, when he found his foot caught in her grip.

"Ack… How dare you! Release me, you mutt!" Archer shouted, yanking away. But, the pup's grip was stubborn as a Kingler's, and she held him in place. He was forced to meet her eyes.

~You say I need to be humbled. But only one of us is afraid of the other, right now.~ Rosemary suddenly released Archer's foot, allowing him to yank it back far harder than intended, and it sent the man stumbling back over his feet. Despite her pain, she forced herself upright.

All of that fatigue and discomfort coursed through her body, and into a blazing fist. A hefty Reversal lit up the hallway, and sparked with intensity. She sprinted forth, and threw herself at Archer. "Riaaaah…!"

Archer had no time to collect himself, let alone retaliate. An unforgiving punch bashed him in the sternum, and completely knocked the air out of the man's lungs. He coughed and hacked as he flew through the air, and roughly hit the floor at the other end of the corridor. Rolling and tumbling roughly, the man was unconscious before he'd even hit the carpeting.

The residual power of Reversal leaked off Rosa's outstretched paw. Snapping at the air violently, before she opened it to catch Ash's dropping belt. It was all she could do, before Curse's exhausting influence snuck up on her.

'Pa… Papa…' She trudged over to the unconscious trainer, and tripped over her own feet, landing face first in his jacket. Her vision was starting to fade to black. All she could do was grab her trainer's t-shirt, and yank on it. ~C'mon, Pa…~ She collapsed against him, with her muzzle resting on his side.

"Mmm… huh?" Ash muttered tiredly, and slowly opened his eyes. His head felt like lead, and he felt groggy as hell. "...Rosa?" He sat up, and felt her weight slump against him. It was enough to make Ash come to. "Rosa!"

The Riolu laid against him, unconscious. His belt full of Poké Balls sat nearby, which jogged his memory. "...Right! Archer! What happened…? Where is he!?" Upon looking around and about, he spotted the man in an unconscious heap, down the hall. The pieces were coming together.

Ash smiled. He couldn't have been more proud. "Alright, girl. You did your part." He shrugged his backpack off, and searched through his contents before pulling out an Oran Berry. With the pup unconscious, Ash was left with the responsibility of pulling her into his lap, and to sit her upright to eat.

It admittedly reminded him a lot of their earliest days on Iron Island; when she could barely fend for herself, as a baby. Opening her muzzle and feeding her the tiniest chunk of berry, however nostalgic, carried a whole different weight to it, when she was only like this because she'd protected him. He gently massaged her jaw to help her chew.

Instinctively, she swallowed; that seemed to do the trick. Rosa let out a low whine, and her eyes trembled, before slowly opening. ~...Pa?~

"Hey. Rise and shine, sleepyhead." Ash grinned. Even now, he looked rather tired, his eyes half-lidded. "You crashed on me."

~Only because you crashed on me, first!~ Rosa argued. ~I saved you, remember?~

"Hah, yeah… You sure did." Ash pulled Rosa into a tight hug. "Thanks, girl… I gotta admit, though. I don't know how I feel about you getting hurt on my behalf," he laughed.

She returned the hug, and nestled into his chest. ~It's like I told you! I handled this one. You have to go get Pikachu.~

She had said those things. It jogged Ash's memory of that third thought that he found hard to shake. 'The Aura is with me.' Rosemary hadn't mentioned it, though. Had it even been real, at all…?

Something about it. This whole situation. It felt like a case of deja vu. An ugly one that he didn't like at all. But, he had to shake it off, for now. They didn't have time to dwell. "...Hey, you're right. We gotta find Pikachu, ASAP, and Dawn too. Before we draw more attention!"

Ash stood up, and grabbed his belt, beginning to slide its loop back on, and resituate his Poké Balls. "Can you help find 'em for me?"

~You bet!~ Rosa hopped down to her feet, and pointed towards the floor. ~They're on the first floor. I'll show you the way!~ A paw held to the floor sent a quick scan across the premises, making her aura bundles stand on end. The nearest stairway was located, and she sprinted off.

Ash was soon to follow.


With the plush carpet of Silph Co. quieting her steps and muting the click of Houndoom's claws, Dawn found her walk suddenly becoming eerily quiet. She hadn't seen any other grunts for a good couple of minutes… Even if she was the one agent assigned to patrol that she was aware of, something didn't feel quite right. They shouldn't be completely alone… Though, that turned out to not be the case, when Houndoom perked up, barking at Dawn.

"Huh? What is it, boy?" Dawn asked, frowning. She took slow, cautious steps forward, and soon heard the faint sound of sobbing. 'It must be a hostage… that nasty Executive said something about patrolling for them, but the joke's on her.'

Walking down the hall, they spotted an old man leaning against it, his face turned away from them. His shoulders were wracking softly and the whimpering noises were definitely coming from him.

"...Excuse me. Sir…?" Dawn hesitated before laying a hand on the stranger's shoulder. She was no good at this whole 'comforting' thing, but he clearly seemed distraught.

"Ah!" The man yelped, flinching away to back up against the wall. Short, portly, and old, with bushy brows, and round spectacles. Dressed up in a black suit, he looked… pretty harmless, actually. "P-please, don't hurt me! Name your price — let my company go, and I will pay it!"

"Sir! Sir! No need to worry," Dawn assured, waving her hand. "I'm not one of them. Believe it or not, I'm here to rescue you, and everyone else at Silph." She smiled, pulling back to stand alongside her Houndoom, who was poised proudly, his devilish tail wagging behind him.

"...Oh. Oh, thank goodness." The man anxiously adjusted his tie, sighing in relief. "I was sure I'd been caught. I couldn't have imagined a youth your age being our saviors… But I am incredibly grateful."

"Well, I'm not alone," Dawn smiled, brushing one of her bangs aside. "There's someone else busting the operation up, right now… Hold on, did you say your company?" She blinked, raising her brows.

"Ah, yes! Sorry. I'm the President of this fine company. President Silph. I managed to make my escape, but who knows how long that was going to last without your help…?"

"...Wait a minute." Dawn furrowed her brow. She suddenly got a sinking feeling. "The President… But that Executive said…!" Her eyes widened. The President was in a meeting with Giovanni! Then, he couldn't be here. Something was very, very wrong.

The elderly man started chuckling, almost uncontrollably. "Well, well… it seems I've been found out. But, I wasn't the only one with a secret!"

She yelped in surprise as the old man whirled on her. He stood much taller, now, towering over her. He grabbed at the top of his face, peeling it away.

Thankfully, another was under it; rather than a portly, dignified old man, a sleazy-looking villain. With his free hand, the man yanked off the rest of the costume, revealing a surprisingly tight and form fitting Rocket uniform. Dropping the disguise to the floor, the purple haired man slammed Dawn back against a wall. Her black beanie fell to the floor in the process, and her hair came undone.

"Augh!"

Houndoom snapped and barked, fire billowing at the side of his maw.

"Breaking in here, with your own disguise… I almost have to respect it. You're certainly no slouch, even if you're dumb enough to… huh." The man's lazy, half-lidded eyes widened. "...Well, what do ya know. Dawn Tsumura."

"W-what!?" Dawn balked. Taking the moment of surprise, she smashed her boot into the Rocket's stomach. The moment he recoiled, Dawn slipped away, backtracking to Houndoom's side. "How do you know my name!?"

The man dusted off his uniform, slinking back into a lazy posture. Even so, he was still rather tall; his body was lank enough to match his rather long face. "I've seen a few of your Contests."

"What're you doing even watching those!?" Dawn exclaimed. Being recognized was usually her favorite thing, but by someone like this, she couldn't help but feel thoroughly put off. "Is Team Rocket just… spying on us, now!?" The thought gave her shivers.

Despite her fear, the man was entirely nonchalant, shaking his head with a light chuckle. "C'mon kid. Do you think the bunch of us eat, sleep, and breathe villainy…? Okay, maybe a few of us do, but not me. I'm an artist, girlie. A master of disguise! And for all that, I've gotta say I'm a fan of your Poké Styling work. Great work at bringing the aesthetics out, seriously."

Dawn's face twisted up; a look of confusion and disgust all behind grit teeth. "I really don't think I like being complimented by a Team Rocket creep…!"

"Aw, now I'm hurt," He said, holding a hand over his heart. His lax smile betrayed any real sense of hurt feelings, however. "Look, I'm a nice guy. Since you went and spilled the beans about you and your friend, I'll share a secret, too. If you want to get to the boss on the eleventh floor, ya need a Lift Key. And it just so happens I've got one." He grinned, waving a little card key before placing it back on his belt. "Not crazy about bein' known as 'Team Rocket Creep,' by the way. The name's Petrel. Not that any of that really matters, since you ain't getting past me."

Upon announcing his name, Petrel lightly tossed a Poké Ball. A Weezing emerged, bouncing off the floor before floating in front of their trainer. "Weezing…!" They cried, expelling puffs of noxious gas from their body.

Snapping his finger, Petrel began his attack. "Weezing, use Smokescreen!"

Snatching her hat back up and slamming it on her head, Dawn furrowed her eyebrows upon seeing the thick cloud of black smoke settling between her and her opponent. She frowned, before recalling a familiar strategy. "Houndoom, use Smog!"

The purple haze dispensed among the smoke and ash.

"What is she up to…?" Petrel wondered aloud. "Oh well… Her funeral. Weezing, use Sludge."

He took the bait! Dawn pointed forward. "Houndoom, use Flamethrower!" She commanded before crouching down behind her canine partner.

As soon as he expelled the fire from his maw, it ignited upon hitting the hazy air. It burned even more quickly through the Sludge. A chain of explosions detonated, filling the hallway with a blaze.

Much of it seeped into Houndoom's fur, triggering Flash Fire. Not a bit of it touched Dawn; absorbed cleanly by her faithful hellhound.

"Agh!" Petrel was thrown back by the detonations. He dusted the ash off his uniform, and singed an ember that'd gotten into his hair. Smearing the soot between his thumb and index finger, he grinned. "That's right! I remember that combination of yours. You're pretty dangerous for a kid dabbling in Contests. But, I'd be careful playing with fireworks… You might run into an expert like myself."

Dawn grimaced, backing up at the veiled threat.

"Weezing! Use Explosion!"

Dawn and Houndour panicked upon seeing the purple sphere rush towards them. It was beginning to glow.

"Houndoom, retreat!" she ordered.

Both she and her canine companion hastily ran away. The more the Weezing swelled, the slower it became. Unfortunately, Dawn and Houndoom didn't get far enough; a deafening, flashing explosion followed, blasting their fleeing forms.

It wasn't enough to hurt either of them severely, but unlike Petrel, there was no hall corner to turn around and hide behind. They were sent flying through the air, landing heavily on their sides.

Sitting up, Dawn held her aching side. "C-Crap…"

Houndoom, meanwhile, swiftly got onto his legs, growling upon seeing Petrel peak around the corner.

"...Huh. You lived." Petrel recalled the unconscious Weezing, rubbing the back of his head. "What a drag. And that was my favorite Pokémon, too… I've seen your team, Tsumura. I know when I'm beat. So, I'm just gonna be on my way, now."

"Oh, no you don't!" Dawn snarled. "You can't just run from a battle!"

"Oh, but I totally can. There's no doubt some other members heard all those explosions; they're bound to come running. You can try your luck with me, or get away. The choice is yours." With that, the Executive disappeared behind the corner. Fleeting footsteps could be heard.

The Coordinator grimaced. 'Chasing him would be a risky move… But I need that Lift Key! Ash and I can't make it to the President, without him!' Swallowing heavily, Dawn made her decision. "Let's get him, Houndoom. Use Odor Sleuth."

Taking off down the hall, Houndoom was hot on Petrel's trail. Dawn followed after.

Their chase was short. At the end of a dead end hallway, Petrel casually stood.

"I figured you'd follow me. You're a real funny one… The grunts are going to corner you, you know. I much rather would've seen you continue your contest streak."

"Trust me. I will." Blue eyes blazing, Dawn held her hand out towards the Rocket superior. "Houndoom! Block off his end of the hallway with Flamethrower!"

"Houndooooooooom!" Spitting out a sustained stream of flames, Houndoom sustained this flickering fire for perhaps a full minute.

"Hey, hey… I think you might even be topping me in the pyro… Er…" Petrel started, slowly backing up towards the wall behind him. In the intense heat and depleting oxygen, he realized he surely could've suffered worse. But, as seconds passed, he felt less than cognizant. Dizzy. "Pyrotechnics department… You're ah… real ruthless for a hero… And I was such a nice…"

Lids heavy and posture slack, Petrel collapsed.

"I'm here to protect Pokémon. Not you. That's enough, Houndoom." Dawn raised a hand, calling off Houndoom's attack. Even so, she needed him incapacitated, and nothing else. Reaching for her belt, she tossed another Poké Ball. "Empoleon! Put out this fire with Hydro Pump."

"Pol!" Appearing in a flash of light, Empoleon opened his beak, and spewed a wave of pressurized water across the blazing corridor. Smoke and steam flooded the hallway behind Dawn and her Pokémon; it was plenty enough to veil them for at least a good minute.

"Thanks, big guy." Dawn walked over to the unconscious man, and crouched to pick at the latches on his belt, until she pulled out the Lift Key. "There! It looks like we're all set. Now, let's find Ash."

"Pol…" Empoleon trilled quietly. His eyes were wide at the sight before him. His beloved trainer was… certainly dangerous. Though, he could only imagine that this man deserved whatever came to him.

"I'm afraid I'm gonna have to return you, though." Dawn smiled sadly, patting his shoulder. "You'll stick out like a sore thumb. Sorry."

"Pol…!" Empoleon huffed, crossing his wings.

"Look at it this way. You're too big and strong for me to pass as a Rocket Grunt! Right?" Dawn winked, sparing her Pokémon's feelings. The penguin seemed to find this satisfactory, and he disappeared into his ball. "Now, we've just got to-"

Loud, crackling explosions drowned out Dawn's voice. She and Houndoom flinched; a series of detonations and sizzling electricity could be heard from somewhere nearby. "Well, that can't be good…! C'mon, Houndoom. Let's see what's going on, but we have to be really cautious about it."

"Hou!" Houndoom barked, slowly stalking into the steam and smoke. His nose twitch, as a familiar scent made itself apparent. "Doom! Houndoom!" He barked happily, sprinting forth.

"H-hey! Houndoom!" Dawn called out, running after her partner. She could trust his way forward through the veil, until they both came out the other end. Once she did, she found quite the scene before him.

One of Silph's many long corridors, strewn with singed walls, ceilings, and floors. Unconscious Rocket grunts laying about, with burnt clothes, and Poké Balls rolling idly across the carpet. Several squads of Zubat, Golbat, Rattata, and Raticate equally incapacitated.

Notably, the redheaded Executive was scooted up against one of the walls lining the sides of the hallway, pulling herself up. Her formerly pristine outfit was singed and damaged much the same way. Leaning against the wall, she turned, and her intense hues landed on Dawn.

…Though, she noticed, they didn't look quite so intense, anymore.

"You… What's with all of the commotion down here? Why is there smoke…?"

Dawn swallowed heavily. "I… erm…!"

"Nevermind that," she cut Dawn off. "Your orders have changed. Gather any other Rockets you can, and evacuate immediately. We've run into difficulties that none of us could have calculated." Her gaze shot down the hall to one lone, tiny figure that Dawn just now spotted.

Small, yellow, sporting a jagged tail, and adorable red cheeks. Pikachu growled, poised forth on all fours. Electricity danced off his cheeks wildly; a spoken warning to the Executive who was slowly backing away.

"Pikachu," Dawn whispered. Eyes widening at the sight of the Electric Mouse.

"Pika…" Pikachu's beady eyes widened when he spotted Dawn, but he made no move towards her, or made any sounds recognizing her, for that matter. He'd spotted that she was still in disguise, and released even more threatening sparks.

"A… Pikachu?" Dawn continued, sticking to the script. "We're running from a Pikachu?"

"Do not bother engaging with him!" The redhead snapped. "No one but our leader, Giovanni, stands a chance against that freak of nature. We will leave the resolution of his meeting to him." She turned her eyes towards the ceiling. Brows furrowed. "...Surely, he has full control of this situation, just as any other."

Dawn watched as the woman who'd been so cutting and bold round a corner, blinking. Once she was fairly sure her enemy was out of earshot, she ran over to meet their friend. "Pikachu!"

"Pika-ka!" Pikachu instantly took on a more chipper tone, running over to leap into Dawn's arms.

"It's great to see you're okay! Looks like you gave them a heck of a scare…" Dawn looked around her. Single-handedly, it seemed, he'd made a complete fool of Team Rocket. Single-handedly, though… "Wait a second, Pikachu… Why are you here? Where's Ash!?"

Pikachu's ears drooped immediately. "Pikapi…" His eyes turned up towards the ceiling as well. "Pikapi, Chukapi, Pika Pika!"

"...I don't understand," Dawn frowned. "...But wherever he is, he needs to be on the same page as us. The elevators require the Lift Key to get to the eleventh floor, where Giovanni is. Which I just happen to have," she explained, flashing the card.

Pikachu's face soured at the mention of the man. He understood their circumstances though, all the same, leaping out of Dawn's arms to run down the length of the hall. "Pika Pikachu!"

Dawn and Houndoom immediately followed.

As they neared the stairway, a pair of sneakers could be seen. After that, a bright red jacket. Ash stopped at the foot of the stairwell, with a sluggish Rosa coming alongside him. Both of them stopped, once they spotted their friends.

"Ash…? Ash! There you are!" Dawn laughed, running towards him.

"Dawn!" Ash exclaimed happily. "Now, where's… Pikachu!"

"Pikapi!" Pikachu dashed over as fast as his little legs could carry him, and jumped into his trainer's arms. He felt Ash spin around with the momentum, but it didn't stop him from cooing and nuzzling into his chin. He was here! He was fine!

"Ahahaha…! Hey, hey! That tickles." Ash laughed, then holding his partner at arm's length. "I'm so glad you're okay, Buddy. You had me worried."

"Piiika, Pikachu!" Pikachu scoffed, folding his arms.

"What, you were worried about me?" Ash snorted. "...Actually, you had the right idea. Our lil' hero, here, saved my ass, just now."

"Saved you?" Dawn asked. "What even happened!?"

Ash shook his head. "Nevermind that. Did you learn anything?"

"As a matter of fact, I did!" Dawn reached into her pocket, and pulled out a card key. "The Lift Key! Now, we can access the elevator and get to Giovanni. I was told he had a 'meeting' with the President… And whatever that is, can't be good."

"So, that's what these creeps were preparing for, all along… It's probably a good thing that we snuck around so much. Whatever's waiting for us up there, I don't wanna be worn down for it, before it starts," Ash said. "And speaking of that, Buddy, you don't look so hot."

"Pika-chu…" Pikachu winced. Poison had struck him, again.

"Here…" Ash pulled an Antidote out, and sprayed Pikachu. For good measure, a Super Potion followed. "You don't look too roughed up, so this should cut it, right?"

"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu smacked his paw against his chest. He was fresh, and raring to go!

"Great!" Ash smiled. "C'mon. Let's go!"

"Right!"

"Hou!"

~Let's get 'em!~

"Pika!"


"I assure you, this is in your best interest." A hand pressed against a desk made of solid oak. "Of course, cooperating with Team Rocket always is. You'd be passing up quite the rich opportunity to turn us away." A tall, broad-shouldered man in a pinned black suit lectured, cat-like eyes locking on to the portly, mustached man that sat behind the desk. The portly man was shuddering.

But, when it came to these encounters, what else was new?

The smaller of the two fiddled with his collar, his bushy brows furrowing at the 'offer.' "You say that like you're giving us a choice."

"Please, President. I'm hurt. You're behaving like our presence is a punishment. We could provide funds, more than you could ever dream of, to see this project through. Team Rocket is no bunch of panhandling upstarts. We have the influence, the power, to make your dreams a reality!"

"I didn't start this company just to sell my soul!" The President sputtered. He reached for the golden plaque standing upon his desk reading 'President Silph,' adjusting it in a feeble attempt to retain his authority. "I've heard of your exploits. I have no reason to believe you wouldn't abuse our inventions! I'll be damned if you take something meant to revolutionize the lives of trainers and Pokémon, only to turn it against them for your own gain! I have no reason to trust your intentions."

Giovanni exhaled. He slammed his opposite hand on the wooden surface, forcing its various stationary pens and photographs to clatter and jerk. The space between Silph's face and his own was reduced to inches at best. "So feeble and short-sighted… But, that's why I'm here."

Glaring into the eyes of a pale, sweating businessman through his thick-rimmed glasses, Giovanni continued. "Trusting such influence, such power to ordinary trainers… Children! You don't see that as an utter waste?" Spitting his words, he retreated from the flinching man to walk towards the window that offered him the night skyline of Saffron City. "Our vision is greater. We're organized… We can bring out the full potential of man and its dominion over Pokémon!"

The team leader's monologue was interrupted by the sound of a swinging door, turning the eyes of Giovanni, Silph, and a Rocket standing in the corner towards the intrusion.

Ash stood in the doorway, grimacing at the scene. Pikachu sat atop his shoulder, Rosa on the other, and beside him was Dawn, still dressed up in her Team Rocket outfit, only her blue hues distinguishing her, then.

"There you are!" Ash snapped at the man, stepping into the spacious office room. "Giovanni… Why don't you save yourself some time and get out of here!?"

"And, leave this company alone!" Dawn added, her navy brows furrowed.

"Ah, there you are… Ash, was it? I was wondering when I'd get to meet you, face to face." A smirk tugged at Giovanni's aging face. He walked toward the President's desk once more, his arms folded behind his back. "And, you… I don't know you. A rogue grunt, perhaps?" He tutted with a shake of his head. "We'll have to tighten our disciplinary introductions, it seems."

Dawn's eye twitched. "That coming from a shady, no-good crook who has to sneak in to get what he wants…" Who was he to ridicule her for not being recognized!?

Giovanni chuckled. "Quite a tongue you've got on you… If you hadn't turned on us, you might've had potential. As for you," he turned his gaze towards Ash. "I don't believe we've ever met, face to face. I'm sure you know me by reputation?"

Ash swallowed, quickly averting his eyes from the crime lord. 'I forgot, Mewtwo erased his memory… Last thing I wanna do is get 'im suspicious about that.' He turned his attention back to the man. "You're damn right, I do. I know what you're about; I'm not gonna let you hurt anymore Pokémon, here!" He declared, pointing a finger at the man.

"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu snarled.

Giovanni smiled to himself, suppressing a chuckle that erupted into laughter. "Aha ha ha…! Oh, children are amusing as they are irritating. Them and their blind heroics… Pokémon are a resource. What would I have to gain from hurting them?"

A resource. The very words the man used made Ash nauseous. "What about the testing lab, downstairs, huh!?"

"The testing…?" Giovanni blinked, before he seemed to recognize what Ash meant. "They're supposed to be gathering information. Not engaging in pointless violence. If they've fumbled this operation, I can assure you, they'll be fired, posthaste."

"The Pokémon were terrified, down there!" Ash argued, waving a hand. What in the world was Giovanni even trying to pull!? Did he seriously think that he could make himself sound innocent…? "I saw them. They wouldn't even go near the employees they were used to! That's no way to treat Pokémon, period!"

"They have no reason to be frightened of us," Giovanni coolly explained. "As long as they stand among our ranks… And if not, then they have plenty to fear, just as any other enemies of Team Rocket."

"You're sick," Ash spat. "We're beating you down, right here and now!"

"You know… I've been dying to see that Pikachu's power for myself," Giovanni admitted, and snapped his fingers.

A Rocket dressed in all black walked over that looked decidedly more fearsome than the rest, despite his almost standard attire. With fearsome, aquamarine horn-like hair, he flashed a sadistic grin at the small band of heroes, and held up a small case. Flipping the latch, he offered several Ultra Balls for the leader of Team Rocket to pick from.

Giovanni grabbed one, and walked towards the back of the Silph President's office, before casually tossing his chosen capsule forward. "Nidoqueen!"

Bright light manifested into the form of a small behemoth, who slid forward across the wooden floor. Her very entrance kicking up planks and splinters with her momentum. She dug her tough nails into the floor, and threw her arms out with a feral roar.

Large for her species, with tough, pale navy scales, tan plating, and the eyes of a merciless predator. She cracked her tail against the floor, shattering it. Everything about her exerted an aura of pure power.

"Oh, and you," Giovanni eyed Dawn. "I hope I don't see you butting in. This won't turn out to be a fair fight," he threatened with a gesture to the man who was just returning to the corner of the room.

Leaning against the wall, he cut Dawn a shady sneer that told one that you really wouldn't want to run into him in a dark alley.

Dawn grimaced. So much for getting a chance to teach them a lesson. "Fine. Ash doesn't need my help, anyway!"

"You're damn right," Ash agreed, gesturing an open hand towards Giovanni and Nidoqueen. "We've got no problem beating you, in a fair fight. Let's show them what we're made of, Pikachu!"

"Pika!" Pikachu ran down the length of Ash's arm, and sprung off the end of his wrist. Somersaulting, he landed on all fours, standing off against Nidoqueen. He leaned his weight forward, and met the larger Pokémon's leering gaze without fear. "Pikachu…!"

"After all," Ash continued, "for all that talk, here you are, sending out a Pokémon who's immune to Electric-type attacks." While it did make things more difficult for him, the decision emboldened Ash. Just how confident could the man possibly be, to make that sort of choice against him?

"Of course," Giovanni replied. "What would a Pokémon of its caliber be worth, if it can't handle a mere disadvantage?"

Ash growled through his teeth. The way he talked about Pikachu was infuriating. But, he collected himself, smiling. "But, you can't go using any of your Ground-type moves, either. Not in a building, this high up. So, we're even." As soon as the words left his mouth, though, Ash felt a sudden dread. He wouldn't… do that, would he!?

Giovanni grinned. "That terrified look on your face… Aha ha ha! Oh, I almost envy your childish worldview. You really thought for a moment that I would, didn't you…? Listen, kid." Giovanni held up an open palm, and closed it into a fist. "I am a man of business and conquest. Not a mad dealer of wanton destruction." His open palm came down upon the President's desk. "I want Silph's wealth. Its brilliant minds. Its technology… You children and the President have nothing to worry about… aside, of course, from the repercussions of standing against me."

He turned towards President Silph. "Oh, and for that matter, you may want to find a safe little corner of the room to stand in. But don't even think of escaping. We're not done, quite yet."

"...Hm." President Silph grumbled a note of frustration, but offered no argument. He shuffled off towards a plush faux leather couch. He wasn't quite keen on getting caught in the crossfire. Although, he felt awfully disgusted with himself for being of no help. "Do your best, kid."

"How touching…" Giovanni smirked, and refocused his gaze on Ash. "Now, back to our matters… There will be no electrocuting my Nidoqueen. No demolishing the earth under your Pikachu's feet. This will be a battle without an excess of special advantages. One of raw skill and pure brute force; the most beautiful kind of battle. Now! Prepare to be crushed under the heels of the world's strongest trainer."

"I wouldn't count on it," Ash countered. "Pikachu! Quick Attack!"

Pikachu leaned forward, and shot towards Nidoqueen.

"Drill Run," Giovanni countered.

The meager horn atop Nidoqueen's head became elongated with ethereal, Ground-type power, and whirred to life with a perilous, whirring spin. She roared, and charged Pikachu head-first.

Ash's eyes widened. "Dodge that, Pikachu! Pull back!"

Pikachu skidded to a halt, eyes shooting open at what he'd gotten himself into. By the time his battle knowledge had triumphed over his flight or fight response, all he could do was throw his weight to the left, and barely scrape by Nidoqueen's horn.

"Superpower."

Nidoqueen's armored tail whipped around, and smashed into Pikachu's blind spot. The nasty crack of a whiplash rocked the mouse, sending him flying forward, towards the furthest wall of the room.

"Ka!" Pikachu cried in pain, but quickly reoriented himself. He landed on the wall sideways, with all fours pressed to its surface. Shaking his head out, he ignored the soreness in the back of his skull.

"Use Sludge Bomb." Giovanni snapped his fingers.

Nidoqueen turned back towards Pikachu, and fired a barrage of explosive grime.

"Use Agility!" Ash quickly urged.

Pikachu used his newfound speed to dart along the wide expanses of the office's perimeter. Dashing along walls as little more than a yellow blur, he avoided one projectile after the next. Each crashing into the wall and detonating; he had to take extra care to run higher up the wall, when he crossed over the cowering President's head.

Luckily, toxic sludge splattered the carpet and walls, and nothing more.

"Now, Quick Attack!" Ash waved a hand.

"Pi-ka!" Pikachu propelled himself off the wall with a glowing trail of energy; quite like a silver bullet that instantaneously smashed into Nidoqueen's belly. The beast roared and recoiled, as she was thrown through the wall behind her, demolishing it. She didn't stop there, either, embedded in the hallway's opposite wall.

After a moment of regaining her bearings, she roared with fury, and yanked herself free of the plastered walls and wiring. Stumbling forth into the corridor, she was furious.

But, Pikachu wasn't done. Tumbling forth onto all fours, Pikachu followed up his last impact by zipping for the break in the wall, planting his feet on the broken and jagged structure; a halfway point for him to fling himself at the hallway wall behind Nidoqueen, just as she yanked herself out.

The Poison-type couldn't even process what happened, as a second blow bashed into her spine. She cried out, thrown forward into the President's office, landing on the floor facefirst.

"Pikachu's… incredible," Dawn mouthed out.

~Get 'im!~ Rosa cheered.

"Well, well…" Giovanni tilted his head, raising a brow at the yellow creature who'd just dashed back in through the gap in the wall. "You officially have my regards, rodent. Consider me impressed. Your reputation is well-warranted… But, you still stand no chance against me. Nidoqueen, Poison Tail!"

"Pikachu! Iron Tail!" Ash countered, punching forward.

While Pikachu sprung forth with glistening steel, Nidoqueen pivoted on her feet, and whipped around with pink, noxious poison. His momentum crashed against her weight and mass, meeting in mid-air. A brief struggle between them forced them apart, putting Pikachu at her feet. He sprung back in for another swing, but his Iron Tail was intercepted by another swift lash of Poison Tail.

The clash continued for several more swings; like two warriors clashing blades repeatedly. But the difference between them steadily became more apparent; for all of Nidoqueen's power, she had far less command of her weight than Pikachu did, who still boasted Agility, to boot.

With an entire spin of his body, he disarmed Nidoqueen's tail, and bashed her across the face with his. "Chu… Pi-ka! Ka! Ka! Chu! Pi!" Whipping around, he repeatedly struck Nidoqueen in the head with Iron Tail. Dropping to all fours, he went for another strike, smashing it into her stomach.

Nidoqueen roared. Knocked off her feet and onto her back, by the President's desk.

Giovanni's arms were now crossed; his fingers drummed away uneasily at his opposite forearm. "Use Superpower!"

The downed biped reached behind her, and yanked the entirety of the desk over her head. "Nido!" She grunted, and tossed the huge piece of furniture directly at Pikachu.

Pikachu squealed, pinned against its weight as it flew back towards Ash and company.

"Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" Ash ordered.

A loud shriek preluded scorching lightning cutting through well-varnished wood, blasting it to many, many pieces. Pikachu hung in the air, surrounded by gold. By the time he did, though, Nidoqueen was at his side.

"So stubborn… But so easily cornered," Giovanni shook his head. "Use Surf."

Nidoqueen pressed her paw up against the airborne Pikachu. A roaring current conjured right before his face, and smacked into him. Before he could even shriek in pain, he was swept up in a wave, where he was forced to swiftly hold his breath.

Surf crashed into the wall behind Pikachu, forcing him into the rolling undercurrent. He couldn't move, nor breathe.

"Pikachu!" Ash gasped in worry. "He's trapped under there, until it goes down… Break free, with an Electro Ball!"

Within the waters, It was difficult to make what Ash'd said. But 'Electro Ball' seemed to be the gist of what he'd said, and that was enough. Pikachu tilted back, holding his jagged tail upright. Lightning gathered into a sphere, and suddenly detonated. Surf was burst into a fine mist.

"Stubborn," Giovanni remarked. "So, so stubborn… Crunch!"

By the time Pikachu was free, hanging in mid-air, Nidoqueen was upon him. She snatched the mouse into her jowls, biting down hard. He squealed in pain.

But, Nidoqueen wasn't content to simply bite Pikachu. She tossed her head around, brutally flailing and ragdolling her meal.

"Tch…! He can't even shock her to get out of there," Ash muttered through his teeth. He was becoming more concerned for his partner by the second, when an idea struck. "Pikachu! Electro Ball!"

"Electro Ball…?" The team leader frowned. "What on earth could you be planning with a move that my Pokémon is immune to?"

"Just because we can't shock Nidoqueen doesn't mean electricity can't hurt her," Ash explained, as Pikachu's tail hung out of Nidoqueen's mouth… and, dangerously close to her eyes. Electro Ball sparked, and emitted a blinding flash at point-blank range.

Nidoqueen cried painfully, stumbling back to paw at her eyes. Pikachu was released in the process, falling at her feet.

"...Hmph. Quite an underhanded tactic for a kid," Giovanni hissed out.

Ash ignored him. "Pikachu, you alright, Bud?"

"Pika!" Pikachu stood back up. His hide was sore, and he'd surely feel this all later. But he wasn't defeated.

"Great! Now, give 'er everything you've got, with Iron Tail!"

"Chu… Pi-ka!" Pikachu lunged, and swerved his body around, smashing the steel extremity into her side. But he didn't stop there, spinning around to strike her in the jaw. Several more aggressive swings followed, pinning Nidoqueen down. "Pi… ka! Ka! Ka! Chu! Ka!"

The intensity took its toll on Pikachu, and he landed, panting heavily. Sweat stained his fur, and his breaths were labored. But, upon a glance, Nidoqueen's condition was far worse.

On her back, she clutched her side, catching her breath. Her torso was battered and bruised, despite the armor-like scales covering her body, and sturdy plate protecting her belly. She was losing.

"So, this is what it's like to experience its power in person." Giovanni spoke through gnashing teeth, his fingernails digging into his palms. How humiliating. 'I've been eager to test its power for quite some time… But I cannot lose to a mere child. I would never be able to look at myself in the mirror again!' No. The time for entertaining his foe was over, he decided. "Blind it."

Nidoqueen sat up, and spat a Sludge Bomb directly into Pikachu's eyes.

"Kaaa!" Pikachu squeaked, pawing at his grime-splattered face. His eyes were now burning.

"Pikachu!" Ash called out in concern for his partner. He turned a nasty glare on Giovanni. "You coward!"

Meanwhile, the villain fished a small, glimmering device out of his jacket pocket, and tossed it to Nidoqueen. "Put this on Pikachu, immediately."

"Queen!" Nidoqueen grunted, catching the pin in her claws. She sat up to pin Pikachu to the floor beneath her claws, and pinned the small gadget to his fur. Pikachu shouted in pain.

"Pikachu…!" Ash panicked, as he watched the scene play out before his eyes. He sprinted towards his trapped partner. "What did you do to Pikachu!?"

Nidoqueen's tail swung out, and crashed into Ash's torso. The sudden blunt force sent him flying back, crashing into the wall behind him.

"Ack…!" Ash coughed out, clutching his side.

"Ash!" Dawn exclaimed.

~Papa!~

"Oh, dear…!" President Silph choked out. To see all the harm that was coming to innocent Pokémon, under his eye… Children, even. He felt utterly worthless.

"Pika… Pikapi!" Pikachu wriggled his way out of Nidoqueen's grip, and stumbled over to his trainer. "Pikapi, Pikachu!" Whatever had just happened to him, he was far more concerned for the injury his trainer just suffered.

But, in true Ash Ketchum form, he sat up, and completely ignored the condition he was in. He fell onto all fours, focused entirely on his partner. "Pikachu… Are you alright, Buddy…?"

"Pika… Pikachu," Pikachu answered noncommittally. He didn't feel terribly different, beyond a pinch.

"No harm has come to your precious rat," Giovanni explained coldly. "I'm simply testing out the technology that I came here for. What was it that you called it, now, President…? The 'Level Modulator?'"

Pikachu, meanwhile, was busy trying to gnaw the device off. He was having no luck.

"It's designed to suppress a Pokémon's strength, speed, abilities… All-around level of experience. Their level, if you will, in more archaic terms."

President Silph massaged his temples. "That technology was designed to be a tool for trainers and their pokemon… To allow trainers of vastly different experience to enjoy the sport of battling with one another. For Gym Leaders to use their favorites against challengers, no matter their level of experience! Not for sabotage." He utterly cringed at the thought.

"And, that's why I told you you're not seeing the big picture… Rogue criminals could be neutered in their attempts to use pokemon for chaos. Opposition to Team Rocket would kneel at our feet… Yet, you're utterly wasting it on sport." Giovanni grimaced. Always so stubborn.

"Of course, you needn't worry about Pikachu," President Silph feebly added. "What he has is only a prototype; for the sake of avoiding any unforeseen consequences in testing, it only suppresses a Pokémon's power by ten percent of their possible maximum… Or, ten levels, if you will. Your Pikachu shouldn't be defenseless!"

"Well, that's good to know," Ash growled out. He forced himself to stand, wincing at the pain in his side. "Then, we're not out yet! But… Pikachu can't see," he frowned. "How about it? Can you trust me to guide you, Pikachu?"

"Pi… Pika!" Pikachu smirked, and steadily turned himself around, following where he'd last heard Giovanni's voice. "Pikachu…!" Sparks danced angrily from his cheeks. He refused to give up. He couldn't, with their pride on the line. With all of Silph, hanging in the balance.

"Suit yourself," Giovanni obliged. "But don't whine when I teach you the meaning of pain. Drill Run!"

Nidoqueen lunged forward, her deadly, whirring horn aimed at Pikachu.

"Dodge that! To your right!" Ash quickly urged.

Pikachu sprung away from the coming, frightening sound, aiming to slip by Nidoqueen. But a sudden, sharp pain scraped his tail. He yelped, stumbling forward to catch his footing. "Cha!"

The broad end of his tail was now bruised.

"Pikachu…!" Ash grimaced. "He couldn't dodge it."

"He's a lot slower," Dawn observed, frowning. "I don't think they were kidding about his power being watered down."

Giovanni tilted his head back with a nasty grin. "Superpower."

"Don't give in, Pikachu!" Ash urged. "Iron Tail, at 8 o'clock!"

"Chu…!" Pikachu sprung back off all fours, turning his body around to swing. His solid steel tail swung. "Pi-ka!"

Roaring, Nidoking swung a powerful haymaker right into the solid surface of Pikachu's tail. For a moment, she struggled with the weight Pikachu was lacing behind his strike. But it didn't last long. Snarling, she followed through, punching downward.

Pikachu smacked against the carpeted floor, before bouncing off of it and smashing into the ceiling. The force he'd hit it with rattled the room, and dislodged an entire, long fluorescent light. It hung from frail wiring, swinging momentarily before falling to the floor.

The room lost most of its light, and the crash of broken glass sounded throughout.

Pikachu hit the floor, sprawled out on his back. He panted heavily; his entire body was sore.

"Pikachu!" Ash called out.

"Well, well… It seems this match is mine." Giovanni grinned wickedly. Contrasted by the dim room, and the starry skies visible from the window, he was cast in a stark shadow. "Finish him. Sludge Bomb."

The situation was dire, and the desperation carried in Ash's voice; an urgent roar, urging on his partner. "Pikachu! Thunderbolt!"

"Pi… Ka…!" Still on his back, Pikachu lit with lightning. "Chuuuu….!" Wild, undisciplined bolts struck at the incoming Sludge Bomb; each compact filthy projectile igniting in a chain reaction.

Grimacing, Giovanni backed away from the scene. The volatile aftermath to come was inevitable.

Seeing this, Ash dove forth to hug Pikachu into his chest and shelter him. "Pikachu!"

Dawn saw the urgency of the matter, as well, and tossed a Poké Ball towards the President. "Empoleon! Protect him!"

Deafening explosions rang and rattled the room, one after the other. Lightning flashed, toxins splattered, and hot smoke poured in a pitch-black blanket across the room.

As the ringing started to die down in everyone's ears, the heat of electricity and explosives started to drift away, surprisingly replaced by a cool breeze. The smoke scattered to Saffron's skies, revealing a complete absence of a wall overlooking the skyline.

"Ash… Pikachu! Empoleon!" Dawn cried out. "Oh… they're alright, aren't they…?"

~They are,~ Rosa asserted, even as she held her paws over her ears. The excess of harsh noise left her completely dizzied, leaning her weight over Dawn's shoulder. ~...They're fine.~

Empoleon emerged from the rubble. His sturdy wing held protectively over President Silph. The man looked shaken and dirty, but otherwise untouched.

"Oh… oh, thank you. Thank you dearly," he muttered out, as the Emperor Pokémon helped him stand. "Dear Mew… What a catastrophe."

"...Ugh." Ash sat up, shrugging off a dislodged ceiling title. "Pikachu…? Pikachu!" He cradled his partner in his arms. Charred, bruised, and splattered with sludge, he was unconscious. "Pikachu, please, speak to me!"

"Pi…" Pikachu forced out, his voice hoarse. He attempted to blink his eyes out, but sludge still stained them. "Pikapi…" He apologized to Ash. They'd failed.

"Don't beat yourself up, Buddy," Ash soothed, hugging him tightly. "I'm just glad you're okay."

Out of breath and looking extremely pissed, Archer rounded the corner, standing behind Dawn, effectively blocking them into the room. "Lord Giovanni, intruders have-... You!" he snarled. He looked around. "You made a mess up here, too! Lord Giovanni, we have to-!"

Raising a hand, the older man cut him off. "It's no use. The officers no doubt saw this explosion. They'll need time, but it's doubtful that we have long until they get Flying-types and try this entrance as well." Looking below, he noticed that the swarm of Arcanine and Growlithe were closer to the entrance than ever before. "I don't think they can hold off the main entrance much longer, either." He looked at Archer. "Call a helicopter. We're leaving. Tell the grunts to flee if they can."

Archer reluctantly glared at Dawn and Ash before darting away.

"It seems my takeover has failed…" Giovanni looked down upon Ash, grimacing, with his arms folded behind his back. "...But, you have lost. Now, you've seen the might of the world's strongest trainer."

"You're not the strongest trainer!" Ash glared at him, cradling Pikachu. "You won because of a dirty trick."

"Correction: I won because I was willing to use every possibility and advantage at my disposal," Giovanni replied. "Something that you aren't willing to do."

Ash snarled through his teeth. His pride was thoroughly wounded. But even so, Giovanni's mentality made him sick to his stomach, as a human being, and as a trainer. "That's not what a Pokémon Master-"

"A Pokémon Master…" Giovanni mused, interrupting Ash. "What does that mean to you, child?" He walked over towards the demolished wall, looking down upon Saffron, and the expanding horizon beyond it. "I, myself, aspire to one day be the world's greatest Pokémon Master; to have an army, and triumph over all!" With narrowing eyes, he tightened a fist. "What could you possibly hope to achieve, with that kind of power?"

Ash opened his mouth to give an answer; swift and assured. But no words came to him, the way he expected them to. This felt sickeningly close to how he'd felt when proposed a similar question by Deidra, he realized. He wanted to say that he'd come closer to his answer, since that day; he desperately did. But, he hadn't. Silence hung in the air.

Giovanni laughed to himself. "I expected as much… Foolish childhood dreams with no meaning. No vision. However skilled you are… someone like you will never overcome someone who knows the meaning of true power."

The loud, deafening whir of a chopper filled the room, and wind billowed from the pitch-black aircraft's spinning blades. It hovered just outside of Silph, filling the room with harsh light at Giovanni's back. The ruthless leader cast a shadow upon Ash and Pikachu.

"I'll give you one final warning," Giovanni spelled out, looking back at Ash. "I'm well aware that you've been interfering with my affairs. This is your last chance. Keep that meager skill and power of yours where it belongs; in the Pokémon League."

The wicked man accompanying Giovanni boarded first, and the boss himself followed.

Ash could only watch as the villain boarded, leaving him utterly defeated. He was just… leaving. Walking off, as if none of this had ever happened. As if he hadn't taken an entire company hostage, or threatened violence against countless people and Pokémon.

As if he thought he could face no consequences at all.

The thought burned Ash up. It made him angry. So angry, even, that he set Pikachu down without thinking, and turned his hat backwards upon his head. "Oh, no you don't!"

"Ash!?" Dawn cried out. "What're you doing!?"

The words fell on deaf ears, as he was already sprinting through the room, with glass crunching under his feet. He heard the faint cry of "Pikapi" over the ringing in his ears. Righteous indignation was the only thing driving him, as he hit the building's edge, and lunged for the retreating helicopter.

"Ash!" Dawn shrieked, running to stand at the building's open precipice.

Rosa ran up beside her, but said nothing.

Ash cleared the open air, many stories above ground level. Even as the chopper started to pull away, he'd gained too much momentum. His gloved hand reached out, and clung to the first surface he could find. He swung forth, clutching the bottom rung of the chopper's open hatch with both hands. It was only then, that Ash felt a familiar weight on his shoulder.

He looked to his left. Pikachu clung tightly to his jacket. "Pikapi!" The mouse scolded harshly.

"Hah… Thanks for coming, Buddy." Ash smiled fondly, before turning his eyes upward.

Over both of them, Giovanni's figure loomed. "Now, now… I've never met someone quite so hard-headed." He said, crouching. The man roughly snatched the collar of Ash's shirt, and yanked him up by it. "That is to say, that I've never met someone quite so hard-headed who's lived to tell the tale."

Pikachu bristled at the very present, and very real threat. Protective instincts drove him, and lightning filled his cheeks. "Pikaaa…!"

"S-sir, Giovanni!" A Rocket from within the cabin shrieked in worry. Their boss raised a hand.

"Call off your rat," Giovanni hissed out. "You may be an ignorant welp, but I'm sure even you are aware of the danger that would come from destroying a helicopter directly above the cityscape."

Pikachu understood that well for himself, and immediately stopped.

Ash flailed, reaching for anything to grip onto, and found the ledge to the door. It was enough to clutch, and he could plant his feet on the narrow flooring, just before Giovanni's feet. "You think you just get to leave after… doing all this!?" His voice was nearly deafened by the wind. He hoarsely shouted over it. "After… hurting all these people and Pokémon!?"

"You know," Giovanni replied, "I'd love to have that Pikachu of yours… But I value my life more than I do that bounty… And more than I value yours," he said in a low, sinister voice.

Ash swallowed heavily.

The crime lord smirked, tightening his grip on Ash's collar. "A key virtue of making it in this world is to know when to cut your losses, Ash Ketchum…" His lips parted into a sinister grin. "I apologize for depriving you of the chance to put that wisdom to use." With those words, he tossed Ash from the helicopter.

Pikachu's cries and rushing wind filled Ash's ears in their sudden plummet. He was sure he'd heard something about blaming turbulence, but he had no time to dwell on it at all. He reached for his belt, swiftly gripping a Poké Ball. "Charizard…!"

The wind was knocked from Ash's lungs, as he suddenly hit a plush surface. Given that he was… well, alive, he was certain it wasn't the ground. "Ugh…" He sat up. "Togekiss!?"

"Toge! Togekiss!" Dawn's Togekiss supported him with her widest wingspan, harshly scolding him, after catching his weight, just a few floors down from where they'd been. She sounded worried sick!

"Ha… sorry. Thanks for saving us," Ash apologized. "You alright, Pikachu?"

"Pika," Pikachu affirmed, however exhausted he might've been.

Togekiss hovered at the eleventh floor, where Dawn, Rosa, and President Silph stood.

"What the heck were you thinking!?" Dawn shouted at him, her voice hoarse. She sounded livid.

"Sorry," Ash apologized, rubbing his neck. "I wasn't."

"Good lord…" The President sighed. He sounded absolutely exhausted. "With all of that said and done… Thank you. Thank you all, sincerely. However perilous that was, you've freed us of Team Rocket's clutches."

"It was nothing," Ash waved off, after an excursion that absolutely wasn't nothing. "We're just glad that you're safe and sound!"

"Thankfully… Now, I kindly suggest that the lot of you leave, while you can. Before the police arrive. I'd hate to see a couple of well-meaning children be dragged into our matters."

Dawn looked down at the Rocket uniform she wore, and tugged at the fabric. "Yeah, that's probably a good idea." The last thing she wanted to do was be mistaken for an actual Rocket and get apprehended.

Ash called upon Charizard, who perched beside Dawn. She was allowed to crawl onto his back after recalling Empoleon, with Rosa boarding and sitting in her lap. The Flame Pokémon beat his wings, hovering alongside Togekiss.

"I'll cover for you both," Silph offered. "I'd rather you didn't give your names, and complicate that. But if there's ever anything I can do for you…"

"We'll let you know," Ash nodded, waving. "Thank you. See you later!"

Togekiss and Charizard turned away from Silph, and started soaring the skies over Saffron.

"So…" Dawn exhaled heavily. Tonight had been a bit more than she'd bargained for, even going into it. Her long hair billowed around in the wind. She had to brush her longer locks out of her face. "Where to, now…?"

"Let's try camping outside the city, huh?" Ash suggested. "At least for tonight. We really don't need any attention from the whole thing. Sneaking past Officer Jenny… Impersonating the police." Ash shuddered. He felt Dawn's eyes on him, then, and flinched.

"We still need to talk about that," Dawn shot back.

"I know."

They soon passed city limits, and the two Flying-types coasted closer to the forestry, south of Saffron City. A small clearing could be seen after a short survey, and Charizard and Togekiss dipped to land. They slowly came to a halt, and touched solid ground.

Very tired, and very sore, Ash rolled off Togekiss, allowing himself to land in the grass on his back. The cool ground was refreshing, especially after all of the heat and electricity they'd been surrounded by. Even he felt like he could use a shower; he felt murky and gross, for it all.

Dawn was more capable, having hardly suffered as much. She climbed down, and walked over to crouch by Ash. "You look like a wreck," she remarked.

"I feel it," Ash replied. He'd just let his eyes rest for a minute. "...Shit. Pikachu!" He quickly sat up, instead. "Your eyes…" He looked upon his partner in concern, who was pawing at the grime that was stuck to his fur.

"Hang on," Dawn replied. "I've got just the thing. Do you still have my bag?"

"Yeah. Hold on." Ash shrugged off his backpack, unzipping it. He pulled out her yellow satchel, and handed it over to her. "But I'm not sure if a handkerchief or something is gonna cut it."

"No need to worry," she replied. After a moment of searching, she pulled out a small bottle, and an eyedropper. "Nurse Joy gave me this for Buneary, when she got an Acid in her eye in one of our Contests. We didn't use the whole thing, so it should work just fine for Pikachu!"

"...Oh yeah. I remember that, now!" Ash smiled, grateful for Dawn's quick save. "Talk about a lucky break… Alright, buddy. Just sit tight, and we'll get you all fixed up, okay?"

"Pikachu." Pikachu agreed, waiting patiently.

Dawn picked up a small quantity of fluid into the eyedropper. "Ash, can you hold Pikachu's eyes open?"

"Got it. Sorry, Buddy," Ash apologized, gently pulling back his eyelids. His eyes looked awfully irritated, but soothing droplets would soon do their work to heal them. Once Dawn finished, he released Pikachu.

The mouse repeatedly blinked, wincing at the sensation.

"Now, let's get that grime off your fur," Dawn soothed, pulling out a moist towlette. With some effort, and a few more towlettes, she'd cleaned Pikachu's face off. "...There! All done."

"Pi… Pikachu!" Pikachu exclaimed happily. He still felt like crap, but really, he was just happy that his proper sight was returning to him.

~Phew… I'm just glad Uncle Pikachu is okay,~ Rosa said. ~And you, Papa… You were really cool.~

Ash winced. That crazy stunt he'd pulled, a minute ago… She'd seen the whole thing. He felt like dirt for setting that example. For all he'd done to teach her to be cautious, he'd just gone and undermined it in front of her. "No, Rosa," he corrected. "It wasn't cool. It was stupid of me, and irresponsible. I could've gotten killed… So, don't go imitating that, got it?

~...Yeah, fine.~ The Riolu acquiesced, albeit reluctantly. ~I'm still gonna think it was cool, though.~

Ash rolled his eyes. Kids were so damn stubborn… not that he could ever talk.

"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu scolded, piling on. "Piiika!" Ash had had him worried sick.

"I know, Buddy, I know!" Ash raised his hands. "I'm sorry… Besides, you did join me, remember?"

"Pika!" Only because someone had to be there with him, he argued. At least, Ash was pretty sure that's what he'd said.

"Point taken," he admitted. For all of his growth, lately… For all the maturing he'd done, he was ultimately still something of a hypocrite. Acting recklessly felt so innate to him that it was hard to imagine ever totally shaking it off.

"Speaking of irresponsible," Dawn picked up, "when exactly were you going to tell me about Bertha? And all that junk she taught you!?" Frowning, she crossed her arms. "We agreed to tell each other everything, Ash."

"I… I don't know," Ash sighed. "I'm sorry, alright? I know I should've told you everything. I guess I was just… shaken up by it all. All the trouble I could've gotten into… Rosa nearly getting hurt."

The Riolu quickly averted her eyes.

"I didn't wanna worry you."

"I'll be a lot more worried, if I'm in the dark about whatever it is you're doing," Dawn argued. "I know you're always getting into junk, so I'd like to at least be on the same page."

"...Yeah. That's a good point." Ash sighed, rubbing his neck. "I'm really sorry, Dawn. It won't happen again."

"Good," she said, satisfied with that much.

"...Now, we've got a whole different problem," Ash grumbled. "That Giovanni… We couldn't beat him."

Pikachu sat with his paws folded. The disappointment in the air was palpable.

"I'm sorry, Buddy." Ash reached to pet the mouse's head. "I screwed up."

"Pika!" Pikachu shrugged Ash's hand off. "Pika Pika! Pikachu." He tapped his paw against his chest. They'd fought together, as one. Ash wasn't anymore to blame for it all than he was.

And did he ever feel irritated, for it. His chance to shut down the madman behind all of this mayhem… So many of their hardships, and the suffering of so many others. He'd utterly failed.

"Hey, don't forget," Dawn interjected, "you might've won, if not for that dirty stunt he pulled. You had him cornered! He knew he had to pull some stunt if he wanted to win!"

"But he did pull it, and he did win," Ash countered.

"But you know that's wrong!" Dawn argued. "Ash, don't tell me you listened to that crap he was saying."

"Of course not!" Ash shouted back. When he realized he'd raised his voice, he settled down, sighing. "...I know he's wrong. But he was halfway right about one thing. It doesn't matter if those guys are right or wrong. They're shameless, and they will play dirty, whether it's fair or not. If we can't overcome that… then we're in serious trouble."

"Pika-chu," Pikachu agreed.

Dawn frowned, brushing one of her bangs out of her face. She couldn't quite argue with that logic, as much as she wanted to. "You've got a point… but, still! That just means that we have to get even stronger, so it won't matter what they do."

"Yeah, you're right." Ash agreed. "...And we can get back to getting stronger, soon. I think we all deserve a good break, right about now. I think I've got some instant noodles leftover, in my bag. What do you say we have dinner, and call it a night?"

"Yeah," Dawn agreed. "That sounds great. I don't think I need another night like this one for a while…" Not with villains left and right. Not with Rockets recognizing her… Not with her friends getting hurt. None of it.

Tomorrow's problems would wait until tomorrow. And hopefully, they were more than a few tomorrow's away.