Chapter 36: A Short Lived Reunion.
Blade sat trapped as he always seemed to be, trapped in one way or another. But now he wasn't just stuck with that collar, he was trapped in a pokeball. And he had been like that for a while, he didn't know how long, but it was torture. As if he hadn't suffered enough indignities at the hands of Team rocket in that town, he had just been handed off to what Lyte had claimed was the worst members of the organization. Blade had been forced to endure so much the past days….weeks…he didn't know, but his headache had finally subsided. Few things caused as much irritation as listening to these two humans arguing. And of course right when he managed to relax he heard the call.
"Go Sneasel!"
He appeared free of the pokeball and on instinct brandished his claws ready for battle. He was being pitted against a Pikachu, he could handle this, but he had to obey the humans commands when given.
"Blade!"
The Sneasel heard his name called, and a familiar voice calling out. He looked over, crossing his arms and leaving shock evident on his face. "Oh you have got to be fucking kidding me." Such surprise, why was Hikari here, why was he going to have to fight his friend?
Everyone was surprised, Blade himself hadn't registered the situation fully when he heard them speak again, and the piercing sound that caused him so much doubt and grief.
"Ashachu. Do you know this Pokémon."
That name, again, as if to haunt him, why did they call Hikari Ashachu?
The rocket trio appeared to be as confused as Hikari's trainers. Jessie pointed at Hikari and said, "wait. These two know each other."
"Apparently so," Meowth shrugged.
Uh-huh," Hikari replied with a nod of his head. "Guys…This is Blade. He's the Sneasel I told you about. The one from Po Town."
Blade's eyes narrowed deeply. 'why do they call you Ashachu…..why?' Blade had a feeling he knew, but he refused to believe it.
One of the humans spoke up. "Well that explains where Team Rocket got a Sneasel from,"
"So, this human boy's your trainer, Hikari!" Blade spat the name in a dangerously venomous fashion. "Pity he doesn't seem to get along with mine."
"Blade! I-I'm so sorry this happened to you. I-I…" Hikari stammered, uncertain of what to say.
"Oh, you're sorry. Well, that's nice, I…" Blade stopped abruptly, staring daggers at the charmander cowering at the human, Ash's, leg. "Wait Pyre. You're with Pyre!"
"This is so confusing," said James to Jessie and Meowth. "It's like reading a book with a missing chapter."
Hikari tilted his head. "Whose Pyre?"
"What the fuck Hikari! After all the shit that flaming piece of shit did.. You and your trainer are defending him?" Blade was furious, Pyre knew what he'd done and the Sneasel was too angry to bother explaining what the charmander had done.
It was Hikari's turn to look confused. "Pyre! Whose Pyre."
Jessie had heard enough. "Okay. Sorry to have to break this happy little reunion, but Sneasel we've got a job to do. Now go get that Charmander. Use metal Claw."
"Gladly." The Sneasel smirked, and Blade charged, his claws beginning to glow a metallic colour.
Ash ordered his Pikachu to attack, "Iron tail."
The two steel type attacks collided. Pikachu proved to be stronger, and Blade was thrown backwards. He managed to land gracefully on his feet, however. If nothing else, Blade knew how to stay on his feet in a fight.
"Ugh. Sneasel Ice Beam" Jessie ordered in frustration.
"Pikachu thunderbolt!"
Blade put his paws together and fired a beam of blue energy at Pikachu. Pikachu reposted with a bolt of lighting. The two attacks met in the middle and exploded, filling the air with smoke.
"Now Metal Claw." Blade was already growing tired of this, he couldn't stand taking orders from this human, and yet he couldn't resist.
Using the smoke as a cover, Blade launched himself at Pikachu. Pikachu didn't see the attack coming until it was too late. The Sneasel suddenly appeared beside him and and after a single leaping spin swiped him hard across the side of the head with one of his long claws.
"Pikaaa." Pikachu gave a pained cry.
Ash grimaced before issuing another command. "Pikachu don't give in. Use thunderbolt."
Another bolt of lightning shot from the electric mouse. But Blade managed to avoid this attack, leaping into the air. And while in mid-air, he fired another Ice Beam at Pikachu. He was acting on his own again, ignoring any commands issued by his trainers.
"Pikachu, use electro ball."
Pikachu tossed a ball of sparks off the end of his tail into the oncoming Ice Beam. It managed to stop the attack dead in its tracks.
Blade wasn't done… No sooner had the attacks collided than he came at Pikachu with another metal claw attack. The electric mouse countered him however.
The human called out again, "Iron tail," and Pikachu swung his tail like a bat into Blade's claw. For the second time, Pikachu's strength prevailed and Blade was thrown back.
The Sneasel was knocked a short distance across the grass and landed on top of Meowth, who gave a cry of "Nya, get off me ya furball," as the two tried to disentangle themselves from each other.
"Meowth. Stop messing about," snapped Jessie.
Blade heard another command of thunderbolt.
The Pikachu let off one of the most powerful thunderbolts Blade had ever felt, and he felt himself and Team Rocket launch into the sky screaming that they were "BLASTING OFF AGAIN!"