Chapter 47: Helping and Hurting a Friend

It had been a few days since Blade's escape from Aether, and he wasn't exactly thrilled now that he'd finally gotten a chance to check on Ashachu. Blade watched from the trees. Ashachu, and that Riolu, Hunter, were having an argument of some sort. And that Dewott had shown up, and as if at the sight of him, Ashachu turned and bolted into the forest. Blade decided to follow behind him. 'He's clearly upset about whatever they were talking about. So let's get his mind off his problems.' Once Ashachu stopped moving, Blade made his move.

He took hold of the Pikachu, holding him from behind, blocking his vision. "Got you, little chu."

Ashachu opened his mouth to scream, but quickly found it covered by Blade's claw.

"No, no. Don't scream little chu. And don't even think about using an electric attack or else." Blade's threat was hollow, he had no intention of harming the mouse pokemon. Blade started to laugh. "He he. Is that all you're going to do kid. Just stand there. Haven't you listened to anything I taught ya."

"Blade?" Ashachu finally recognized Blades voice. The Sneasel released him allowing him to spin around and face him.

Blade was grinning at him, his maw wide open.

Ashachu scowled at him. "There was no need to sneak up on me like that?"

"Hehe. You know kiddo. If you're gonna wander away from your trainer like that, you'd better keep your wits about you. This is where the wild Pokémon roam, you need to be aware. Sensitive to your surroundings. No humans to protect you out here. What have I been telling you about instincts? A wild Pokémon would never leave themselves so vulnerable."

Ashachu sighed and rolled his eyes. "But you still didn't need to sneak up and grab me like that. You scared me half to death."

Blade continued to grin his smug grin at Ashachu. "Only way you'll learn kiddo. You'll be on your guard next time." He laughed, slapping Ashachu on his back. "Haha. So how have ya been. Arceus, I missed you!"

Ashachu seemed to blush at that, I missed you, statement.

"I'm okay, I guess," Ashachu replied. "Same old trained Pokémon life. Training, gym battles, walking."

"Sounds terrible!" Blade held back a groan, the very thought sounded like torture.

Ashachu resisted the urge to roll his eyes for a second time. "What about you," he asked. "What are you doing here?"

"What do you think I'm doing here," Blade replied. "I came looking for you, Hikari. Was getting lonely in that place."

"How'd you get out?"

"Had a little help from a friend. Turns out they were looking for you too. Well for your trainer."

Ashachu groaned. "Ugh. Please tell me your not still with Team Rocket."

Blade laughed again. "Hehe. Meowth told me ya might say that. I've heard they've been following your trainer since the second day of his journey. I told him, sheesh, talk about stalking."

"You don't know the half of it," grumbled Ashachu.

"I know enough," Blade winked at him. Then decided it was time to address his issue. "Now tell me Hikari. What's going on between you and that Riolu."

Ashachu let out a long sigh. "His name is Hunter. And I don't want to talk about it."

"Look I saw what happened alright." Blade was genuinely worried about the Pikachu, and having a spat with your partner can be a real issue for people.

"Y-you saw that."

"Mmmhmm." Blade nodded. "Team Rocket's been following you since Robusto. I've been watching your camp for a while, waiting for an opportunity to come talk to you. I saw you run off into the forest and, so I followed you."

"You know Blade you're right," Ashachu replied. "Talk about stalking."

Blade laughed. "Hehe. You know what you need Hikari." He scuttled around Ashachu and grabbed his shoulder, making him jump. "You need to unwind. Let out some of your pent up emotion."

Blade started to massage Ashachu's shoulder. Blade wasn't exactly, experienced with massaging others, let alone with the sharp claws he had, but he was clearly doing something right, since the Pikachu visibly relaxed.

"And I think I know just the thing! Come with me."

*Later*

Blade had lead him Ashachu to a beach that was much more secluded than closer to the nearby town. There wasn't a single human insight, and the only other Pokémon were a flock of Wingull flying overhead, and the Magikarp that kept leaping out of the waves.

"Here we are," Blade exclaimed happily, giving Ashachu a slap on the backside as he did so. "Arceus, I love it here. Why can't I live somewhere like this?"

Ashachu, rubbing his backside, frowned at Blade. "I thought Sneasel lived in cold places."

"We do, usually," Blade replied. Blade was all too happy to divulge information to his friend, especially since it was just bits of his past "Don't mean I like them. I grew up in a miserable, cold damp chasm. One of the many things I hated about growing up. Honestly, I hate the cold. C'mon."

They wandered out of the forest and onto the sand. Near the water's edge was a large umbrella with a single beach towel lying beneath it. And resting on the towel, with his body outstretched was Meowth.

"Hey Meowthy," Blade sang out. "I'm back. And I've got him…" He was so happy to have both his friends together.

Meowth didn't respond to Blade, making the Sneasel groan and roll his eyes. "Right. Seems this calls for…Ice beam." And he leaned forward and shot a small electric beam of blue energy from his open maw.

It struck Meowth in the stomach, just above his belly button. At once a solid block of ice developed around him, trapping him from the neck down.

'Well didn't mean to freeze him, but oh well.' Blade thought, looking at the cat pokemon.

"Yahhh." Meowth's eyes shot open. He tried to get up, only to realise he was trapped. His eyes darted this way and that, looking for his assailant, until they found Blade. "Oh, it's you!" His eyes narrowed. "Ya know. Ya did not need ta use Ice beam."

Blade grinned at him, or smirked depending on one's point of view. "Oh yes, I did. You know how hard you are to get up!"

The ice encasing Meowth shattered, allowing the scratch cat to push himself to his paws. "Yeah yeah. Gimme a break, its my day off." He then noticed Ashachu, and a curious expression crossed his face. "What's twerpachoo doin' here."

Ashachu scowled at him. "I could ask the same thing! And stop callin' me that."

"Aww come on Meowth, lay off the kid," said Blade, glancing at Ashachu. "His boyfriend just broke up with him."

An irritatingly smug smirk spread across Meowth's face. "Really. You and dat scatterbrained twerp's Riolu just broke up."

"He didn't break up with me," protested Ashachu. "He just wanted a break. And his name's Hunter."

To Ashachu's uttered annoyance, Meowth burst into laughter. "Hahahaha. Just wanted a break. Ha. Sure."

Ashachu coxed his head. "What are you talking about?"

Meowth clapped a paw on his shoulder. "Listen kid. If he said he wanted a break, it means he's breakin up with ya. Trust me, I heard 'em all before…" He lifted up his paw and started counting out the number of break up lines he supposedly heard. "I like you as a friend. Purloin's a guy. Skitty, use fury swipes. You're a freak…"

Ashachu brushed Meowth off him, slapping his paw with his tail. "We have not broken up! And it' none of your business." He then glowered at the Sneasel. "Blade, why did you bring me here… Wait, this isn't a trick is it. Your loser trainers aren't about to jump out and grab me are they?"

It was Meowth's turn to scowl. "Jessie 'n James ain't my trainers. I'm my own Pokémon." He pointed to his chest with his thumb as he said the words own Pokémon.

Ashachu folded his arms. "Where are they then?"

Meowth shrugged. "I dunno. I told ya. D'ey ain't my trainers."

"Come on you two," said Blade, sighing with exasperation. "We're all friends here."

Ashachu turned to face away from Meowth. "He is not my friend."

"Oh, come on Hikari." Blade slid up behind Ashachu, and for the second time that morning, placed his claws on his shoulder. "I told you, you need to relax after what happened." He started rubbing Ashachu's shoulders again, making Ashachu's tail twitch. "Unwind, let go. Meowth's just here to have a good time too. We can all be friends for a couple of hours. Can't we." He genuinely wanted to help the Pikachu relax.

Without warning, Blade spun him around and he found himself face to face with the Sneasel. The pikachu's face was very close to his and he could see right into his eyes. There was always something about the eyes, Blade found Ashachu's rather nice to look at.

Blade, after noticing how apprehensive Ashachu was, kindly said "Look Hikari. Meowth's not going to try to kidnap you. I'm not going to let him. I promise. I protected you from Shadow, and I'll protect you from Meowth. I am not a member of Team Rocket. Trust me!"

And Ashachu did. "Okay," he said. "I trust you!"

"Just try to focus on having a good time, alright. Like I said, we're all friends here!" He turned back to Meowth. "Now, did you get the good stuff?"

"You know it, Bladey," Meowth replied with a wink. The little nickname evoked a light blush f on the Sneasel.

Meowth opened a picnic basket beside the umbrella he'd been sitting under, and produced a long tall bottle, full of a brown liquid. He cracked open the lid, took a swig, then handed it to Blade.

"Ahh good on ya!" Blade took the bottle off him without hesitation and lifted it to his lips, tipping it up and pouring the contents into his maw. He took a long drink before dropping the bottle and letting it swing in his left claw, while wiping his mouth with his right. "Yeah, that's the good stuff. If there's one thing humans are actually good for!"

He handed the bottle out to Ashachu, who froze. "Errrr. I don't know."

"Go on, take it," Blade said, shaking the bottle. "If any Pokémon here needs this, it's you." When Ashachu remained hesitant he added, "trust me kiddo, I am not going to let anything bad happen to ya!"

Ashachu reached out and took the bottle, then after a minute took a deep breath and took a sip. Of course, given the bottles size, taking a sip proved a challenge. He was forced to sit down in the sand, and balance the bottle against his chest, leaning back, in order to tip some of the contents into his mouth. He sputtered and coughed, a little of it pouring out of his maw and onto his chest and dropped the bottle. It landed on the sand, its contents spilling out.

Meowth dashed over and seized it before too much could escape. Blade went and slapped Ashachu on the back. "Hehehe. You alright kid."

Cough…Cough… "What the heck. Blade that stuff burns."

"Hehe. It's supposed ta." Meowth chimed in

"You could have warned me."

"Ah relax, would ya. I told ya. I'm not going to let anything bad happen to ya. Now, let's have some fun." Blade smiled happily.

*A Few Minutes Later*

"You have got to be kidding me," exclaimed an exasperated Ashachu, giving Blade a wide eyed stare.

"Oh, come on, kiddo," Blade replied with a chuckle, giving him another slap on the back. 'am I doing that too much, gosh I hope I don't hurt him doing that….' "It's just what you need to help you get over your little spat with Mr. Riolu. Nothing like a battle to help you get all the stress and aggression out of you. And with all of your little Pikachu mind focused on the battle you won't be able to think about him." 'Might not be the best way to cope, but at least ignoring your problems can help ya feel better for a bit.'

Ashachu grumbled, making Blade chuckle again.

"Come on, what's wrong scaredy-chu," Meowth taunted him. "Frightened ya gonna lose."

Ashachu glared at him. "Yeah right. Me scared of you. How many times have you fought us and when have you ever won?"

"We were mostly fighting Pikachoo on those occasions," Meowth replied, and Ashachu was pleased to see a scowl cross his face. "I don't remember battlin' you."

"I don't seem to recall you doing much fighting for Team Rocket either," Ashachu retorted. He sighed then rolled his eyes. "Fine, you know what I will battle you. Then I'll wipe the smirk off your face."

"That's the spirt," said Blade beaming. He grabbed hold of Ashachu's shoulders, again, and pushed the mouse onto his all fours. "Now remember," he whispered in Ashachu's ear. "Your trainer ain't here to help so! All you've got is your instinct. Use it."

He then let go of Ashachu and went to stand by the sidelines. Ashachu watched Meowth carefully. The scratch cat got into position, spreading his legs apart and lowering his tail to keep his centre of gravity low, and extending his claws.

Ashachu did the same.

Whatever had been in that drink was starting to have a strange affect on him. He felt…buzzed. Like a fog had filled his mind, making it hard to think straight.

"Battle begin!" Shouted Blade.

Meowth launched into action straight away… "Fury swipes." He leapt into the air, brandishing his claws at Ashachu.

Instinct…. Ashachu didn't think, he just reacted in the best way he knew how. He fired off a thunderbolt attack at the oncoming Meowth.

Suddenly Ashachu's vision turned red and he felt as if hot knives were raking across his face. He cried out with a loud, "Pika!"

Meowth had scratched his face nearly three times in a row, without fail. The blows stopped and he opened his eyes. He saw Meowth standing in front of him, claws brandished.

"Ooh," called out Blade from the sidelines. "That's gotta hurt. Need to work on your accuracy there kid!" 'gotta distract him, he has to learn to focus on more than one thing at a time…if he lets his guard down….' Blade gently rubbed his own back, tracing a claw over the scar from where Cleave had stabbed him.

It took Ashachu about a second to work out what had happened. Meowth wasted no time in following up his attack. He launched himself at Ashachu once again, his tail turning a metallic colour.

Ashachu's jaw dropped. "No way. Since when does he know iron tail?"

He tried to dodge but was too slow. The solid tail collided with him, just under his chin. He was knocked off his feet and the next thing he knew he was lying on his back in the sand.

"Come on kid, use your instinct," bellowed Blade. "Arceus are you really not able to fight without a human shouting moves at you!" Blade was disappointed, but he was just trying to evoke a response, rage, he was trying to make Ashachu angry. Rage tended to carry one beyond their limits, and if he did, he could use that feeling to make himself a better battler.

"Pika." Annoyed by this comment, Ashachu forced himself back to his feet and charged at Meowth. "Alright Meowthy," he muttered to himself. "Let's see how you like volt tackle." Sparks formed around his body as he ran, and his vision turned yellow.

He felt his forehead collide with something hard, as if he'd just run into a brick wall. Some opposite force that had collided with him. He felt the impact in every inch of his body, his bones jarring. And, not for the first time that battle, he felt his paws leave the ground…

Ashachu wasn't entirely sure what happened next. He must have blacked out again. The next thing he knew, he was lying on his back in the sand, Meowth standing over him, a triumphant expression on his face, with his right foot paw pressed firmly on Ashachu's chest.

His heart sank with the realisation he had lost. "Oh crap!"

Meowth just grinned. "See, not so tough," he teased, pressing his foot a little harder against Ashachu's chest, just to drive the point home. Ashachu's face turned a brilliant shade of vermillion, humiliation and embarrassment overwhelming him.

"Get off me."

He managed to push Meowth off him and get to his feet. Immediately, Blade came up to him and draped an arm around his shoulder. "Oh man, did that suck," the Sneasel said with a laugh, to Ashachu's great annoyance. "Have you not listened to anything I told you about instinct. You'd better hope your trainer never releases ya, cause you would be dead meat in the wild." Blade meant every word, but he had enjoyed the show nonetheless.

Ashachu glared at him. "First, Ash would never release me because Ash loves me. Second, I couldn't concentrate properly."

"You're not supposed to concentrate," said Blade. "You're supposed to act on instinct. Your brain's preprogrammed to know what to do in these situations. If the opponent's bigger and stronger than you, you flee. If they're weaker than you, you fight. If you've no way of escaping, you fight like the distortion world. You don't get clever, you don't save energy, you throw everything you've got at them until one of you is dead."

"Some survival strategy," mumbled Ashachu. "Fight to the death."

"It's the only survival strategy," Blade replied. "Out here in the wild there are no humans to protect you, and you can't always rely on other Pokémon. Being prepared to use your moves and your claws can be the only way to survive sometimes. Pokémon don't have what the humans call laws, you know. Sometimes, it is eat or be eaten."

"Yeah you say that" said a sceptical Meowth. "You who had a protector in da form of a Darkrai."

Blade smirked. "Who do you think first taught me to fight on instinct. It was all Shadow. He taught me everything I know. Well, him and life experience." Blade remembered all the training Shadow had given him. And how, the training became easier and easier over time, he had truly grown stronger, and yet he was still too weak to protect anyone.

Ashachu coxed his head. "Okay, did somebody hurt you," he asked.

Blade brushed the question off. "Ha. That's a long story for another day. And I'll need to be far drunker." He clasped his claws together and then said dramatically, "Now how about another round. And this time we'll make it interesting."

"Okay, I think what you need kid, is a little motivation," said Blade. "You wanna fight like a wild Pokémon, something reals gotta be on the line. For me it was always my life. Now what's something you'll fight tooth and claw to avoid. Hmmm." He rubbed his chin with his right claw.

Ashachu stared at him in disbelief. "Uh. Did someone hurt you. You messed up thing."

Blade snickered. "Ha. Funny…Now, I think I got just the thing. Hikari, Meowthy. Come here."

The two Pokémon drew in closer so Blade could whisper whatever it was he was planning into their ears.

Ashachu's eyes widened in shock. "Uh-uh. No way." He shook his head seriously and folded his arms. "There is no way!"

Meowth smirked at him. "Oh, come on twerpachoo. What are ya, scared. Scaredy-chu."

He glared at him. "For the last time. Stop calling me Twerpachu. And there is no way I'm scared of you!"

"Oh really," taunted Meowth. "Because I think the results of a few battles say different."

Ashachu's eyes narrowed. "Alright, I accept the challenge. And you just wait. When I kick your tail. It's gonna be." He made a gesture with his paws as Blade held up a claw.

"Pokémon. Take your positions!"

*Later*

Ashachu gave a huffy sigh as he got back to his paws. For the second time that day he had just lost a battle with Meowth. Every attack he had launched had missed. Every time he had tried to dodge an oncoming attack, he had found the scratch cat right in front of him. A series of repeated fury swipes, tackle and iron tail later and he was down for the count.

The bout had ended just the way the first one had. With Ashachu on his back, Meowth standing over him flexing triumphantly…and annoyingly…with his right foot on his chest, and Blade laughing.

"Man oh man." Blade draped his arm around Ashachu's shoulder and lent on him. He was laughing so hard he couldn't stand straight and needed Ashachu to support him. "You really can't do it can you. You can't fight without a human coaching you!" At this point, Blade couldn't resist revelling in Ashachu's misfortune.

"I beat twerpachoo. I beat twerpachoo," Meowth chanted happily.

"I can too," Ashachu half groaned, half whined. "I just…" He wasn't sure what the problem was, but he just couldn't think straight during the battle. Or make his body move exactly as fast or in the direction he wanted it to do.

Blade knew the issue, and he'd done it on purpose. He'd been distracting him, and had him drunk before the battles. And Ashachu clearly wasn't used to being under influence that staggers his mind.

He grumbled as Meowth pressed his foot a little harder into his chest, while continuing to flex his muscles. "Will you get off me!"

"Whatever you say, twerpachoo," Meowth giggled before removing his foot.

Ashachu climbed back to his paws and sighed. "I thought I told you to stop calling me that."

"Yeah, ya told me," Meowth replied. "But now I know I can beat ya, why should I listen to ya. What ya gonna do 'bout it."

Ashachu sighed and shook his head. There was no point in taking the bait.

"Well come on then," said Blade, clapping a claw on Ashachu's shoulder. "We should let Meowth claim his prize. Hehe."

"Oh yes," Ashachu breathed. "How could I forget?" He glanced at Blade. "Any chance of getting out of this."

Blade shook his head, he was barely apologetic about the situation. "Sorry buddy, but you already agreed."

"Dat right Twerpachoo," Meowth added smugly, a wide grin on his face. "You lost, so it's time to pay up now…"

It was time for the price to be paid for his loss.

That price was simple, Blade and Meowth restrained Ashachu, and Meowth was then granted the opportunity to have at the Pikachu, which he did. Gently massaging the Pikachu's body.

Not much of a problem as Ashachu saw it, until it became less massaging and more, a relentless ticklish hell for him. There was no mercy for him, and the over stimulation of his body and an undesired effect of causing a great deal of arousal.

Of course this was the plan all along to tease and control the poor chu, for however long they could. Of course Blade could only watch so long before he finally gave the relief the Pikachu needed.

Meowth folded his arms and glared at Blade. "Thought you said you were gonna make him desperate."

Blade shrugged. "Meh, decided to take pity on the poor kid. It is his first time being teased like that."

"Ashachu! What in the distortion world is going on here?"

Ashachu's trainer had shown up, and this was not a good position to be in. Least of all for Ashachu. But given the circumstances, it would be better to leave now, since they'd undoubtedly attack them.

"Oh, dear Arceus no," he cried a wave of horror washing over him.

Blade and Meowth looked at each other. "Cheese it," they both cried out together, before making a mad dash across the sand to get away from them.

They stopped running once the humans were out of view. "Well….that is definitely not gonna end well for him…." Blade said pacing back and forth. I've gotta go keep an eye on him.

"Why ya gotta do dat?" Meowth asked him curiously.

"You weren't watching him like I was….that trainer is bad for him, he was being punished constantly for just doing what any pokemon would if someone was trying to take your mate, and well, now that I know for sure that Shadow was chasing him…" Blade stopped a moment. "They clearly didn't care enough…, for Shadow to torment him, and them just keep punishing him… and then me…." Blade sat down and curled himself into a ball. "Fucking up his relationship! Oh I'm such a fucking idiot!" The Sneasel fell back and start slamming his the back of his head against the sand. "I'm so fucking stupid! Anyone in his situation would be holding on by a thread, and I keep making it worse!"

"What ya talkin about dere Blade?"

"He's just a kid….he's been neglected and treated horribly by his trainer, he's been tortured, and he's had his love life fucked up beyond belief….." Blade felt tears welling in his eyes. "Anyone in his position would be looking for a way to make all that pain go away….."

Meowth gave him a worried look.

"At this point, he'd need so little to tip him over, to make him do something reckless, or even…" Blade dared not finish his thought. And the Sneasel stood up walking back toward where they'd left their friend.

"Where ya goin?"

"To go check on him…I owe him that much…" Blade took off running.