Chapter 15: Ash and Lillie vs. Annie and Oakley
We join our heroes in the aftermath of the battle, even more, frustrated now that the Big 5 had been taken away with no way of getting Tristan's body back.
Tired of all this standing around trying to figure out something for nothing, Joey grabbed Tristan and held him upside down. "Hey, Joey, put me down. That isn't needed," Tristan said shouting in anger, wondering what was happening.
"Joey, I know that you are mad that those old geezers just did Tristan dirty like that, but you shouldn't take it out on Tristan like that," Gladion said to Joey, who sighed.
"I'm not taking it out on Tristan. I'm trying to figure out if there may be a clue on Tristan's body to either find a way out of here or where we can get his body back. Think about it, guys. His body is a robot, so maybe they might have some settings on Tristan," Joey said to Gladion and the others, much to Tristan's and Serenity's dismay.
Suddenly Joey noticed a keypad with numbers on Tristan's body that might be a clue. Joey touched one of the buttons that were number 5, which instantly turned Tristan's feet into wheels as a sound was made. "Wheel mode activated, please stand clear," a sound came from Tristan's body that didn't sound like Tristan.
Joey puts Tristan down as Tristan rolls around that group uncontrollably. "Somebody, please stop this thing," Tristan said, not in control over his body as Duke picked Tristan up, stopping the wheels. When Duke did that, Duke tried another button, hoping it would make things easier, as he pressed the number 2 button only for the tires to spin even faster and out of control. Yugi who wanted to help Tristan picks him up and tries to find something else that can help. He found a Red button with an emergency exit put on it and decided to press it. Suddenly Tristan's eyes light up.
"Emergency exit has been activated. Please file in single file line to get out of this area," the voice that is coming from Tristan said as the door opened to show a virtual world version of Kaiba Land, which surprised everyone except Ash, Lillie, and Gladion, who had never seen this place just from the entrance of the door.
"That's Kaiba Land, where Kaiba and Mokuba were planning on building for their dream one day from what Mokuba and Kaiba repeatedly told us," Yugi said, surprising Ash and the others.
"Well, we might as well head in there. It might lead us out of here somewhere in the theme park?" Joey said to the group, who nodded. Just as the group was about to head into the door, they were met with laughter which Ash instantly recognized, and Lucario was growling, bearing teeth.
"Down pup, unless you want to regret it," Annie laughed. Ash held out an arm to Lucario to indicate that it was enough. He calms down for now. "Good, we are here to have a double battle with you and Lillie unless your lapdog there is willing to ruin your reputation as Champion?" Annie said.
"They must be here to ensure that Ash wouldn't interfere with Kaiba's duel with Noah?" Yugi said, to which Ash nodded.
"You are right on the mark, Sweetie, per Noah's orders," Annie said to Yugi, which made Tea mad that someone would have the audacity to say that to Yugi. "But you all are fine with going in without them if you want?"
Gladion was now worried about Ash and Lillie. "We'll be fine as long as I am with Ash. I can do anything?" Lillie said, to which Gladion groaned and nodded.
"We'll catch up. Just go," Ash said to the group, who nodded as they entered the doorway. Ash turned to the two girls. "I want to settle the score with you for what you did to Latios back in Alto Mare anyway," Ash said, gripping his fist at the two girls who were laughing. Ash was going to lash out, but Lucario held Ash back.
"Not worth it, master. I want to get back at them as well, but like with me, we can't let revenge get to us, or it will cloud your judgment," Lucario said.
"Like Pet like master, don't know who needs a leash between you two," Oakley said to Ash and Lucario the latter growled at her. "As for what happened back then it's in the past, but it seems like, you still hold it on us for an accident," Oakley said.
"An accident you literally touched the soul dew when it was in a bad state and nearly caused the entire city to flood, which cost Latios his life, because of the state he was in, which you caused by the way, and you call it an accident? Your group knows no bounds when it comes to making things worse," Ash yelled at Oakley.
"Ash, I suggest you take Lucario's suggestion and push it aside, I know how you feel that hurts just hearing that. But that's what they want you to feel to cloud your judgment," Lillie said. Ash sighed and nodded and turned to the two girls who were amused about all this. "So I take it that this isn't a duel huh?" Lillie said to the girls.
"Humph, smart girl," Annie said as she and Oakley let out Espeon and Ariados from their Pokeballs. "Duels aren't normally our specialty anyway and we are allowed to choose if we want to do that or not but the rules here still apply if you lose we get your bodies," Annie said.
Snowy went out to the battlefield as Ash pulled out a Pokeball as Lucario wanted in on this fight. "Sorry, Lucario, but I don't want what they said getting to you during this battle. I want to use your teacher here," Ash said as Lucario whined but nodded as Ash let out Greninja. "You ready to fight," Ash asked Greninja, who nodded.
"Always Ash," Greninja said to Ash as he was glad he finally got to battle something other than those roots in Kalos for the umpteenth time. Everyone was ready to battle, and everything was in place.
Ash and Greninja instantly started to go into Ash-Greninja form, not holding back in this battle. This did not impress or scare the rocket agents.
Meanwhile, Yugi and the others were in one of the only open buildings at the park, trying to find a way to get to Kaiba while still worried about Ash and Lillie.
"Look, you guys, as my sister said, as long as she is with Ash, they should be fine and should be able to catch up with us soon enough," Gladion said to the group, who are starting to have faith in the two of them just from what they saw in Ash handling the big 5 before.
Yugi was about to say something about an old video projector with a reel still on it as they played it. As the video plays, the group notices that it had the man Kaiba mentioned before, Gozaburo Kaiba, in the hospital. The group noticed it was about Noah and that he was involved in an accident as the words, "They couldn't save him," was mentioned by one of the staff members to Gozaburo, which caused some shock to the group.
"Hold the phone. Did that person say that they couldn't save Noah? Did he die or something?" Joey just asked the group, who, in unison, nodded.
"Somethin' isn't adding up. What is going on? If what that video is saying is that Noah passed away, then why is he here? Yes, it's a virtual world, but wouldn't that mean he also participates in it?" Gladion asked, now more concerned than confused as the group noticed subway tracks leading in one direction.
"Huh? That's weird. Why is a subway here if this is the only station? Maybe we should wait for the train as it might come back towards us?" Joey said while looking around as Tristan was hopping up and down and pointing to the hand cart that was nearby. "Score, nice catch there!"
"Hopefully, that can get us to where Kaiba and Mokuba went. I mean, it's better than standing around waiting for something that might not be coming, like a train?" Yugi suggested as the group was hesitant at first but decided to get in and use it as the group got going.
The rail cart started taking off faster than the group expected. "Hey, can you think you can slow it down a bit?" Duke said as Joey tried to pull the lever to slow the cart down, only for it to break and to speed it up faster.
Meanwhile, Ash and Lillie were about to start the fight against Annie and Oakley. Both Ash-Greninja and Snowy were staring down the Ariados and Espeon.
"Espeon use Shadow ball on the Vulpix," Oakley commanded her Pokemon, who fired the attack at Snowy.
"Greninja, use Night Slash. Blast it away and protect Snowy," Ash commanded his Pokemon, destroying the Shadowy ball. "Now, Water Shurriken," Ash commanded him while mimicking the movements as the moves were sent towards Espeon as Ariados went in front of Espeon.
"Use Night Shade Ariados and then use Bug Buzz on both of them, Ariados," Annie commanded her Bug/Poison Pokemon who launched the Night Shade, destroying the Water Shurriken and launching a shockwave of a screech towards the group.
Ash turned to Lillie, who nodded to Ash. "Snowy, use Blizzard now," Lillie commanded Snowy, who fired the big storm of ice towards the Bug Buzz and caused it to cancel out the moves, even doing some damage to both Annie and Oakley's Pokemon. Annie and Oakley started sweating, knowing this was becoming hard for them. That Blizzard of that Vulpix was stronger than they thought. they were actually having a bit of trouble in this battle but refused to back down.
"Tell us what Team Rocket is to gain for joining Noah, and what are you planning," Ash asked the two, who groaned.
"The truth is, kids, that we are here to collect, what Gozoboro had promised Team Rocket years ago, new ownership, doesn't null and void our contract; Team Rocket helped with many of their projects and with their war crimes and in exchange for equity in the company, and we already had a 49% share in the company," Annie said to Ash who was surprised by this but had a feeling that this would be the case.
"Right now, we'll tell you two, as this battle has just begun. Espeon uses Dazzling Gleem," Oakley commanded her Pokemon, who used a massive flash of light that hit both Greninja and Snowy Ash felt that attack as it was a super effective attack on Greninja, sending Greninja to the ground.
Lillie was worried about Ash as she knew that when Ash was synced that Ash would feel the same attacks that Greninja takes. "Ash, you okay?" Lillie asked Ash, who nodded as she sighed in relief.
"I've taken worse hits, Lillie, so need to worry," Ash said to Lillie, which got a laugh from Oakley and Annie. "What's so funny?" Ash asked the two.
"Sorry, but we know all about your synchronization with your water starter as gathering information is our goal; we are more targeting you, Ash, knowing that you might try to fight us with Greninja," Oakley said to Ash. "Meaning when Greninja goes down, so do you due to your connection with him, and he is counted as your Pokemon version of the deck masters here in this word," Oakley said.
"Hey, that's just as bad as when Crump targeted me," Lillie said to the two girls.
"You are lucky that Noah let what Ash did to save you go 'cause that would have counted as a loss for you. Grow up, little girl; life isn't fair. You aren't special, here we are after Ash; you're just the bargaining chip to get to Ash," Annie said. "Ariados use Sludge Bomb on Vulpix," Annie commanded her Pokemon, who fired the attack at Snowy.
"Greninja use Double team and then use Aerial ace protect Snowy," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who stepped in and slashed through the Sludge Bomb, barely getting poisoned.
Ash was panting heavily from the attack, and it was evident that Ash was lucky that the poison effect hadn't taken over. "Lillie, don't let them get to you. These two are the real ones who aren't special, left to do dirty work when their masters aren't even brave enough to face us willingly," Ash said to Lillie as the two girls were taken aback.
"What did you say, you brat? Noah asked us to fight you two and prevent you from interrupting his plans," Oakley said as Ash laughed at this.
"I'm not referring to Noah. I'm referring to Giovanni, the man who asked you two lackeys to do his dirty work, the man who thinks that he can take what he wants, and you're calling Lillie not special have you two looked in the mirror lately or the situation you two are in," Ash said as the two girls were mad. "If he wanted Kaiba Corp so much, why ask two failures here to obtain it? If it means that much," Ash said.
"How dare you? If he wanted to send real failures, he would have sent the now-unemployed Jessie, James, and Meowth after this, but you are stalling now. Are we going to battle, or are you going to do nothing," Annie said.
"Your right. It's time we end this battle now," Ash turned to Lillie, who nodded. "Greninja use Mega Shuriken," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who was charging up a massive Shuriken.
"Snowy, use Blizzard," Lillie commanded her Pokemon, who used the attack as both Annie and Oakley were preparing for the attack, only to notice that the Blizzard was sent towards the Shurriken.
"Time to atone for what you did to Latios and what your group has done, you two. Your boss isn't here to save you two. Greninja end this with Mega Blizzard Shurriken," Ash commanded his Pokemon, putting his arm in the air and tossing it, Greninja, was doing what Ash did, sending it toward the two Pokemon.
"Dazzling Gleem, Bug Buzz," Both Annie and Oakley said to their Pokemon, hoping that it was going to be enough to end stop the attack, only for the two attacks to fizzle out in the Shurriken and strike the two Pokemon knocking them out entirely as both girls were stunned that they lost as Greninja returned to normal.
Lucario was amazed by seeing this. He had heard stories about how strong Greninja was from Ash and the others after meeting him and seeing the two in action there shows why Greninja was the teacher and he was still a pupil. No, he makes him feel like a Riolu pup compared to power as he sees Ash walk over to the two hoping to talk to them before they disappear.
"Now, talk, what are you and your team up to? You said that Lillie was just a bargaining chip to get to me. What are you planning?" Ash said in a demanding voice. The two just laughed as Ash got angry. You two aren't in any position to laugh."
"You wouldn't understand even if we did tell you, but let's just say this our group isn't the same Team Rocket that you know, and this isn't the only dimension that we are involved in," Annie said to Ash as Ash was about to say something as the two girls were vanishing before they could say anything else.
"We may have failed, but this isn't over with Team Rocket for you, Ash," Oakley said as the two vanished with their Pokemon.
Ash wasn't happy that this had to happen, and while the two Pokemon were doing stuff for Team Rocket, they shouldn't have suffered like that but had to let it go as Lillie and Lucario walked over to Ash.
"Sorry you had to see me like that, but that was for Latios and Latias. Hopefully, he can rest in peace now after that," Ash said to Lillie and the others, who nodded though Lillie was worried about Ash after taking all that damage and Lucario.
"Don't worry about Ash Lucario," Greninja said to Lucario, who turned to him confused. "We've gone through a gym battle, a league and a crisis in that form. We've taken more than that, and the damage is minimal to him. We only had it for the last half of our journey," Greninja said to Lucario, who sighed as he couldn't argue with Greninja as this was the second time he saw Ash using that form which Greninja can sense Lucario's problem with it and was about to say something, but Ash interrupted.
"We have plenty of time to master that form once we are done with whatever Team Rocket is planning or even during all this you two," Ash said to Lucario and Greninja. "Right now, we need to not focus on me. We need to try to get to the others before things get worse than they already are."
The group nodded as they saw another doorway. Everyone is surprised by this and enters the doorway, hoping to see Yugi and the others hopefully alright or Kaiba either dueling or winning his duel. But they were met with a horrific sight when they opened the door. Tristan, Duke, and Serenity were all turned to stone.
"What just happened? Did Kaiba win the duel or not?" Ash said as Lillie was holding onto Ash's shoulders in tears as she pointed to another pair of statues: Mokuba and Kaiba, who looked like they were trying to reach out for each other. "We were only gone for not even an hour. What happened?" Ash said as Lucario growled as he pointed in the sky and saw a massive Deck master against Yugi.
What happened here, Ash thought with horror.
To be Continued...