Chapter 37: Back in Black
Walking across the woodland, the boy silently walked with his Riolu, the two of them not saying a word. They took a few more steps before looking back at the military facility, which was a mile behind them at this point. Viewing from the tree-filled hills, Roxas could taste freedom at the tip of his tongue. The child was now free from watchful adults and his overprotective sister, he was ready to see the outside world and he was ready to start his journey.
The boy looked up at the sky and saw a rainbow-colored bird flying over them, the direction of its flight being north. Ho-oh, Riolu simply said with amazement.
His sapphire-eyed trainer smiled and spoke, "Let's follow it!" Riolu smiled and the two ran off after the legendary bird. With every running step the boy took, he could feel he was one step closer to one day becoming like his beloved parents, the two people he continued to hold dear even after a year since their passing.
"Have you had any luck locating those three stooges and my turncoat agent?" Giovanni asked with his legs crossed, one hand holding a glass of red liquid and the other was used to pet his Persian.
"No sir, we haven't had any luck," Butch spoke with a tone begging for forgiveness.
"Unova is too difficult to navigate with just Butch and me on the mission sir, please forgive us," Cassidy hung her head low, a tone of anger and frustration in her voice.
"This is perfect, I pick two of my most loyal operatives and I receive nothing but failure. Honestly, what will become of our rogue and lazy-filled criminal organization?" Giovanni asked with an annoyed voice.
Butch and Cassidy remained quiet as Giovanni just glared at them. Suddenly, the sound footsteps alerted the three of them. "Giovanni, why don't you let my men take over the operation?" Omega came out of the darkness of the room, a sly grin across his face.
"Omega, how did you get into my room and how long have you been eavesdropping?" Giovanni became slightly surprised and bugged by his unwelcomed business partner.
"Long enough to understand that Cassidy and Butch have failed in locating, Jessie, James, Meowth and Pierce, but that's not what interests me. You see, the same day they disappeared my men discovered that the equipment Silver had stolen from Luxuria Town had also mysteriously vanished," the leader of the Majestic 12 spoke with a displeased tone.
"Are you implying that those fools took it?" Giovanni raised an eyebrow.
Butch and Cassidy just watched with confusion as the two leaders exchanged words. "That's right, but I didn't find it necessary to say word because I had really hoped Team Rocket would locate its renegade agents at this point, but my faith in your organization has failed once again."
Giovanni became even more annoyed and slammed his glass on the table, making some of the liquid fly out of the glass and stain his wooden table, "My operatives will find those clowns and make them pay for their betrayal, they couldn't have just vanished into thin air!"
"I lost my patience with your operatives already Giovanni; I'm taking matters into my own hands. You as well as I do we need that equipment for our next move and there is no time we can waste, our enemies are already mobilizing," Omega said sternly.
"Lucky for you Giovanni, we've already located your clowns and Pierce," Silver came out of the shadows with Cloud.
"We should get the job done by nightfall," Cloud mocked Giovanni, Butch, Cassidy, and chuckled.
The Team Rocket duo and Giovanni's eyes widened, "But how?!" Cassidy exclaimed.
"A great magician never reveals his secret," Silver teased by moving his index finger back and forth.
"Why you!" Butch made a fist out of anger.
"Butch, Cassidy, enough! Do not blame your allies for your incompetence, all you can do now is step aside and let these two handle it," Giovanni ultimately recovered his cool and just ordered with his typical authoritarian voice.
Butch and Cassidy sighed and regained their composure. Silver and Cloud smirked at them while Omega's blank stare turned to Giovanni again, "Giovanni, for now let your team rest, the Majestic 12 will take care of any other inconveniences for now."
Giovanni wasn't sure what to say, he was never one to take orders, but now he was forced to submit. Even Cassidy and Butch were in shock when Giovanni simply nodded, their boss had never taken orders from anyone, not even his own mother.
The dark feeling Omega and his underlings gave off made Giovanni get the chills, ever since he formed a partnership with the enigmatic Majestic 12 he was always suspicious, but now the Team Rocket Boss became even more concerned with what exactly Omega was doing. He wondered if he was eavesdropping on Team Neo Plasma's own personal operations as well and if he was hiding information from him, Colress, and Ghetsis. At this point, Giovanni began to speculate if he had become a puppet to a larger and darker plot.
"Hey guys, do you see that?" May let go of Ash's hand and pointed forward.
"I see it, but what is it?" Iris placed her hand over her eyes.
"It seems familiar and it's coming fast," Cilan looked into the horizon.
Victini, Pikachu, and Axew also tried to identify the figure, but it was Ash who was able to tell what it was before anyone else. It ran incredibly fast and left a cloud of dust behind it as it ran towards them. Ash's eyes widened and the boy exclaimed, "It's a Ma-!" but before he could finish the Pokémon tackled him down.
"Ash!" May, Cilan, and Iris shouted in concern.
"Tini vi!" Victini had flown off Ash's shoulder just in time and looked at the teen with the same concern.
"I'm ok," Ash shook a bit as he felt the pain travel through his body, a dazed look in his eyes as he lied there on the ground.
"Pikachu pi pika!" Pikachu had rolled off Ash's shoulder and was under the newcomer's mercy.
"Mareep ma!" the Mareep nuzzled its face against Pikachu's cheeks, making it laugh from the tickling.
"It's a Mareep," Cilan stated with surprise.
"Aren't Mareep supposed to be rare in Unova?" May asked with a confused tone.
"I wonder how this one got here," Iris looked at Mareep as it continued to nuzzle itself against Pikachu.
"It sure is strong," Ash repositioned his hat and stood up. The boy quickly reached out for his Pokédex to see what the device had to say.
"Mareep, the Wool Pokémon. When Mareep's wool builds up with static electricity, its size doubles," the machine informed.
All of a sudden, Victini's ears heard something and the Legendary Pokémon instantly became invisible, alerting the gang in the process, but before they could say anything they heard someone coming out of the forest. "Mareep!" an old woman came out of the bushes with an old man.
"Mareep, thank goodness we didn't lose you too!" the old man cheered and the pair rushed to the sheep Pokémon.
"I'm so happy you're alright!" the old woman picked Mareep up and embraced it.
"Mareep ma mareep," Mareep smiled at the sight of the old woman and licked her face.
"Uh excuse me, but what's going on?" May was the first to ask out of the four confused teens.
"Oh we're so sorry for the trouble Mareep might have caused you, it tends to be very energetic," the old man responded.
"We don't mind, it's actually pretty nice to see a Pokémon have so much energy," Ash told the old couple with a warm smile.
"But what was it doing out here all by itself?" Iris questioned.
When Iris inquired them, the elderly couple quickly became saddened and the teens became uncomfortable while Axew, Victini, and Pikachu had baffled expressions on. "I think you might have hit a sensitive spot," Cilan whispered to Iris with a nervous chuckle.
Iris raised an eyebrow and wondered how a simple question could make the couple sad. "You see our Herdier got stolen from us earlier today by a gang of thieves and we've been trying to track down Herdier with our beloved Mareep," the old woman explained with sad voice.
"We're so sorry," May's face became sympathetic one and looked at Ash and the others, who also felt the same way.
"How are you able to track down Herdier with a Mareep though?" Iris sympathized with her friends, but couldn't help but wonder how Mareep could be useful in this scenario.
The old man reached his hand out and petted the Mareep in the old woman's hand, "You see this is a unique Mareep. It has been such a good friend of our Herdier that it managed to gain the same sense of smell as Herdier. Unfortunately, it isn't as focused so the moment it sensed the electricity coming from your Pikachu it left us behind and rushed in search of Pikachu."
"Amazing, a Mareep that can track things down through smell like a Herdier," Cilan clearly stated with an impressed tone.
"It is marvelous, but we can't help but feel a little insecure about going off into the wilderness like this with just a Mareep. Plus, we feel uncomfortable leaving our home all alone with just our granddaughter," the old woman pointed out with her face still saddened.
"My wife and I are too old for battling and we don't really think it safe for us elders to be out like this, but we're willing to do anything to find our dear Herdier," the old man said with a caring tone.
The gang looked at the discontent expression on the old woman's face and they all looked at each other, even Axew, Pikachu, and Victini. The seven of them nodded and smiled at the elderly pair, confusing them in the process.
"You know what, we're going to help you," Ash told them with an eager voice.
The pair was taken back by the statement and the old man spoke, "No way, do you mean it sonny?'
"Of course, we're always willing to help people in need!" May made a fist of determination.
"And it looks like you'll need all the help you can get!" Iris smiled with determination.
"We'll help you find your Herdier." Cilan added with a more than excited voice.
"That's beautiful, thank you children, and here I thought your generation was going to be the end of our world," the old lady wiped away the tears from her eyes and spoke with a sweet tone.
The four laughed nervously at her last comment, but pushed it outside. "You just have your Mareep lead the way and we'll do the protecting if any Pokémon or person attacks us!" Ash told the pair.
"I like that plan young man, by the way, my name is Tokuzo and this is my wife Ellie," the old man presented himself and his wife.
"Hi, I'm Ash and these are my friends Iris, Cilan, Axew, Pikachu and my…girlfriend May," Ash felt a little uneasy pointing out the last one since he rarely presented May like that, but the brunette was making him practice that since Ash couldn't always say May was his friend.
May giggled at Ash while the old couple began to speak, "Well isn't that cute, a couple and two friends travel together exploring the world with their Pokémon. My granddaughter would have loved to meet your four," the old man smiled.
"I just hope you aren't going off doing things you're not supposed to, especially without adult supervision…young man," Ellie's eyes focused on Ash and he knew what she was implying, but the boy merely lowered his head in embarrassment.
May's face began to flush and turned a deep red while Iris, Cilan, Pikachu, and Axew began to laugh. Tokuzo felt a little uneasy and Victini's innocence didn't allow it to understand what Ellie meant.
"Please forgive my wife, she is a little old-fashioned," Tokuzo apologized to Ash and May.
"It's no trouble at all," May waved her hand at him nervously and giggled, while the red shade on her face remained.
Ash instantly lifted up his head and formed a fist, "Well how about we start finding your Mareep!" the boy eagerly reminded.
"Right!" the others nodded in agreement.
"Mareep, lead the way!" Ellie freed Mareep from her grasp and let the sheep fall to the ground.
Mareep landed smoothly and began to sniff the air; the sheep-like Pokémon did this a few times until it caught scent of something. "Mareep mar!" the sheep focused its gaze on the deep forest and began to run off.
"Looks like we have a location," Tokuzo said and they all dashed behind Mareep.
"So Tokuzo, Ellie, how far do you live from here?" Cilan asked as they followed the sniffing Mareep through the woods.
"We live a decent distance from here, at a nice quiet ranch where we raise Mareep," Ellie answered his question.
"Would that ranch happen to be Flocessy Ranch?" Iris questioned as Axew listened to the conversation while residing in her hair.
"That's right, how did you know?" Tokuzo asked in return.
"Apart from being the only ranch around this area, Flocessy Ranch is always on magazines discussing where you can get the finest wool in Unova," Cilan stated.
"Wow, you guys sell the best wool in Unova?" May became impressed by the accomplishment. Victini, who sat on May's shoulder, was also left impressed.
"You guys must live a pretty nice and calm life if that's what you do for a living," Ash stated. Pikachu looked at Mareep and then back at its owners, the mouse didn't expect to hear that but it explained why the sheep's wool tickled its face so much earlier, it was so soft and warm to the Electric-type.
"Well it helps us pay the bills, but we wouldn't say we live like those celebrities you hear all the time about from Virbank City," Ellie replied.
"Much of our success comes from our wonderful Mareep, Herdier, and beloved little granddaughter, Ellie," Tokuzo thought fondly.
"Your granddaughter is also named Ellie?" May inquired.
"That's right, her mother named her after me," Ellie said.
"And the name fits with her, Ellie is just as hardworking as her grandmother and is always happy to assist us with the Mareep, may be after all this is over you may get a chance to meet her. I'm sure she'll be excited to meet a couple of Pokémon trainers," Tokuzo told them.
"We'd love to," May politely accepted the invitation, Ash, Iris, and Cilan also didn't mind taking a detour, after all they could use the rest.
"Great, you'll also love all the natural grown food we have at the ranch. None of that industrially produced garbage you kids eat," Ellie laughed at her comment.
The kids only faked their laughter to please the old woman while Tokuzo sighed at her wife's old world mentality. However, their conversation was cut short when Mareep stopped in its tracks.
"Ma," Mareep said as it stared at the grotto in front of them, it had been hiding behind the thick branches and dense bushes.
"It's a hidden grotto, inside must be the good for nothing thieves with our Herdier," Tokuzo grinded his teeth.
"There's no doubt in mind Herdier is inside," Ash added.
"It's the perfect the hiding spot for a bunch of crooks," May agreed with Ash.
"Looks like Mareep's sense of smell, is better than I thought," Iris became amazed and wondered if she could teach something like that to her Axew.
"Well, all that's left is to go in," Cilan stated.
"C'mon!" Ash and May said simultaneously as they ran into the grotto with Pikachu and Victini on their shoulders.
The group all ran inside with great speed and were amazed by how Tokuzo and Ellie were able to run despite their age. When finally entered the grotto, their suspicions had been confirmed and the first one to speak was Ash, "You!" the auburn-eyed teen yelled.
Inside, they discovered a lab filled with large screens, computers and other high tech equipment installed. Working on the computers were none other than Jessie, James, and Meowth, with Pierce staring at the large screen above the machine the Team Rocket trio was operating. The most obvious thing about the hidden lab though was the cables connecting the machine the Rockets were using to a cage, and inside the cage was Tokuzo and Ellie's Herdier.
"Herd!" Herdier howled with excitement when it saw its masters.
When Pierce and the Team Rocket trio saw the gang, the three Rockets instantly felt their hairs stand up while Pierce gritted his teeth. "Well, if it isn't Ash and his friends," Pierce glared at them.
"How dare you take our beloved Herdier!" Tokuzo shouted at them.
"I should have known that Team Rocket was behind this!" May screamed in anger.
"Since we hadn't seen them for such a long time I figured they had reformed or something," Iris stated with an annoyed tone.
"But it looks like there still up to no good," Cilan reached for a Pokéball.
James and Meowth quickly hid behind Jessie in fear while the magenta-haired woman spoke, "No twerps, you got it all wrong it's not what all looks like," the woman nervously waved her hands in front of her body.
"This wasn't what we had planned for ourselves," James spoke with a frightened tone.
"We was forct ta do tis against ouwa will," Meowth also said with a terrified voice.
"Forced to do this against your will? What do you mean?" Ash quickly became confused, no longer in an offensive stance.
"Shut up you blasted fools, this why Giovanni has always thought so little of you. All you do now is continue working on getting that disc working and experiment it on the darn Herdier!" Pierce commanded.
The Team Rocket trio were easily intimidated and responded very quickly, "Yes sir right away!" they said at the same time.
"What disc is he talking about?" May inquired.
"That one!" Cilan pointed.
They all spotted a familiar disk sticking out of a larger machine that was connected to Herdier's cage and easily recognized it. "Isn't that the same device we saw In Luxuria Town at the Battle Club?!" Iris yelled.
"The same one Silver stole," Ash frowned and remembered the incident fairly well.
"What does the device do?" Ellie spoke with fear and concern for her Herdier.
"Supposedly it enhances a Pokémon's power, but we won't let them risk Herdier's well-being just to test that theory," Ash reached for his Pokéball.
"Meowth pull the lever again," Pierce demanded, receiving a quick nod from a disturbed Meowth and pulled the lever.
All of a sudden, electricity from within the cage shocked Herdier and made it howl in pain, "Heeeeeeeeeerrrrrrr!" the dog Pokémon squealed.
"What are you doing to our Herdier?!" Tokuzo yelled in horror while the others watched with disgust.
"Still no results sir," James informed Pierce. The shock then stopped and Herdier dropped, groaning in pain from the electricity.
Pierce grinded his teeth, "Whatever, just keep working on it and I'll handle all of these obnoxious punks," the dark-haired operative then reached for two Pokéballs and threw them into the air.
From them emerged a Weavile and Sableye, two Pokémon who were sneaky and nasty out of nature. "Looks like Pierce got himself two new Pokémon," May glared and Ash nodded in agreement.
"Ash, May, let's settle the score for good," Pierce snickered evilly with his two Dark-type Pokémon.
"With pleasure," the couple said simultaneously. Pikachu smirked and prepared to bring justice to the malevolent human, the mouse dropped to the ground on all fours. Victini instantly sensed the evil in Pierce's heart and knew it couldn't risk being identified by the human so it remained silent, but it also felt the urge to burn away Pierce's evil nature.
"Let's go Alomomola!" May called her Water-type Pokémon.
"We'll work on freeing Herdier with Tokuzo, Ellie, and Iris," Cilan told the couple.
"Right," Ash and May nodded.
Pierce looked at the Team Rocket trio and the group of three quickly knew what to do. "Jess, Jimmy you two take care of them twerps an I'll be workin on the machine," Meowth told them.
"Are you sure about this Meowth?" James was a little concerned for his friend.
"Ouwa lives will be at stake if we don't obey Pierce, so we have ta jus do tis," Meowth gulped and a fearful expression formed on his face.
"Meowth is it right, let's move quick James!" Jessie told her partner and the three of them nodded, all though James still wondered if Meowth could the job done on his own.
Jessie and James quickly got between the gang and Herdier, reaching for Pokéballs to prepare their battle. "No you don't today we don't fail our mission!" Jessie yelled at them.
"That's right, prepare for this twerps!" James reached for a Pokéball and threw it.
"If that's how you want it fine!" Iris exclaimed and threw her Pokéball with Cilan while the elderly couple stood behind them.
"If I had known tat we'd be torturing Pokémon like tis and have ouwa lives hangin by the line I would've neva signed up fur Team Rocket," Meowth sighed as he looked at his friends prepare for battle.
"What's going on Pierce, tell us, something isn't right about Team Rocket, they didn't even do their motto this time and I have a feeling you have something to do with how odd they appear to be acting," Ash glared at his foe.
"They seem scared to death for some reason, why do you even have the device Silver stole?" May smelled something fishy.
Pierce chuckled and spoke, "That is no concern of yours, what matters here is if you'll escape out of this grotto alive! Weavile, use Dark Pulse, Sableye, use Shadow Ball!"
"Alomomola, provide us cover with Surf!" May extended her arm forward.
"Aloooooooo!" Alomomola cried out and a large body of water burst out of the ground. Even though it was just a grotto, the place was big enough to house a wave that could cover up a football field.
The large wave violently surged out of the ground and motioned forward to counter the incoming Dark and Ghost-type attacks. Surf easily canceled out the attacks, but Pierce had method to quickly stop the water from crushing his Pokémon. "Weavile, use Icy Wind to freeze that wave!" Pierce countered.
"Weeeeaaaaaa," Weavile blew out a chilly air that froze the wave within seconds.
"Iron Tail Boomerang Pikachu!" Ash called out.
While Pierce couldn't see his opponents through the frozen wave, just hearing the technique was enough to chill his spine, what kind of move is that?! The man yelled in his mind.
Pikachu stood firmly in front of the wave and its tail transformed into iron. The mouse then leaped towards the wave and swung its tail with as much force as it could, "Piiiiiiikaaaaachuuuu!" When Iron Tail came into contact with frozen wave, it shattered into thousands of pieces and Pikachu motioned at the dastardly Pokémon pair like a boomerang.
Pierce and his Pokémon were in awe when they saw the brightness of Pikachu's Iron Tail motioning like an orb spinning 360 degrees. Within a matter of seconds, Pikachu came at Weavile and Sableye and sent them flying with the force of its powerful tail. Weavile flew to the left while Sableye flew to the right.
"How is that possible?!" Pierce felt overpowered and his eyes widened with fear. Pikachu landed smoothly on its fours and flashed a sly smile at Pierce.
"We've gotten a lot stronger as battlers and as a pair since the last time we met; did you think we were actually going to be easier opponents this time just because you got new Pokémon?" May taunted her foe and smirked.
Pierce clenched his fists and spoke, "You children have left humiliated twice before, and I won't allow that to happen this time, I will not accept defeat!" Pierce pointed at the duo and Weavile and Sableye quickly got up and shot another Dark Pulse and Shadow Ball.
"Pikachu get behind Alomomola!" Ash ordered.
"Alomomola, Protect!" May instructed.
"Pika!" Pikachu leaped behind Alomomola and the pair became enveloped in a green barrier. Dark Pulse and Shadow Ball were easily canceled out when they came into contact with the barrier; Pierce was now slowly feeling the same humiliation he had already felt twice before.
"Watch this Twerps, Woobat, use Air Slash!" Jessie commanded.
"Stunfisk, counter with a ThunderShock!" Cilan instructed.
"Yamask, use Shadow Ball!" James demanded.
"Emolga, go for a Discharge!" Iris extended her arm.
"Wooooooooo!" Woobat flapped its wings furiously and released sharp disks of energy at Stunfisk.
"Yaaaaaammmaaaask!" Yamask charged a super-size Shadow Ball.
"Stun!" Stunfisk shouted and released a powerful shock of electricity and managed to destroy several of the saw-disc like blades, but they were too numerous and they ultimately sent Stunfisk flying backwards. "Stunfiiiiiiisk!" Stunfisk cried out as it flew a few feet back.
"Eeeeeeeeemoooooooo!" Emolga shouted and released a powerful shock that clashed with Shadow Ball, strange enough though, the impact was so powerful that it sent Emolga flying back as well. "Emolgaaaaa!" Emolga squealed as it landed near Iris's feet.
"Axew ew," Axew expressed its concern with Mareep.
"Mareep mar," Mareep also became scared, wondering if they were going to be able to save its dear friend.
"These Team Rocket fellows seem too strong," Ellie commented with fear.
"Don't worry dear, I'm sure the children will find a way to save our lovely Pokémon," Tokuzo embraced his wife to reassure her that everything was going to be alright. All they could do right now was watch the teens battle hard against the Rockets.
"Cilan, this is nuts, Team Rocket has never given us such a hard time before," Iris clenched her fists.
"It seems that their fear is motivating them to fight harder than before," Cilan gritted his teeth.
"Fear of what?" Iris asked.
"That's what I would like to know," Cilan frowned as Stunfisk constantly found itself at odds with Woobat's Air Slash and Emolga was unable to get past Yamask's sneaky tactics.
Weavile and Sableye slowly got up as Sableye felt electricity course through its whole body while Weavile could feel drops of water hang from the tip of its fur.
"Alomomola finish with Water Pulse!" May ordered.
"Pikachu lend a boost with Iron Tail!" Ash commanded.
"Alomomola!" Alomomola blasted out a sphere of water.
"Piiiiikaaaaa!" Pikachu leapt into the air and slammed its tail against the sphere for more power.
The large incoming Water-type attack prepared to take down both Pokémon, but Pierce was not ready to accept losing and had a plan. "Weavile, dodge using Quick Attack, Sableye, use Detect!" the operative instructed.
Sableye and Weavile quickly gained their composure and dodged with incredible speed, "Now take down Ash and May with Payback!" Pierce shouted. Much to Pikachu and Alomomola's surprise, their opponents moved past them like bullets and Ash and May were even more surprised.
None of them expected Pierce to pass that line, but now Weavile and Sableye were just a few feet away from ripping them to shreds until a powerful fire got between the two violent Pokémon and the couple.
"What the?!" Pierce exclaimed in anger.
The bright fire caught Iris, Jessie, James, Cilan, Meowth, Axew, Mareep, and the old couple's attention as well, everyone's eyes moved to the fire. Ash and May looked behind them and saw Victini in its visible form, glaring at Pierce as it sent Sableye and Weavile firing away with Flamethrower.
"Saaaaaaab!" Sableye cried out as it crashed against one of the computers and damaged it while Weavile violently crashed into the ground.
Team Rocket's eyes became filled with fright and Pierce stood still like a statue while Victini glared at him with fire burning in its eyes. Pierce could feel a bit of sweat start to form on his forehead as he muttered, "So the rumors are true, you truly do have Victini with you. How foolish was I not to expect this?"
"You had a Legendary Pokémon with you this whole time?" Ellie asked Iris and Cilan, who laughed nervously.
"Now we're busted," Meowth sighed. James and Jessie were petrified with fear, they thought they had an opportunity to get things right this time, but once again those hopes have been dashed like nothing.
"Victini…" May said. The brunette wasn't sure if she should be thanking it for saving them or start yelling at it for blowing its cover.
Ash on the other hand smiled at his friend and turned to Pierce, "Now do you want to surrender and hand over the Herdier?"
Pierce's thoughts came back to reality and the man looked at Ash with surprise, before he could answer though, another voice interrupted, "While you're at it, why don't you return the doohickey I stole from Luxuria Town too huh?"
The wise guy voice alarmed everyone within a millisecond and the next thing they saw was a pair of people coming out of a dark portal that had popped out of nowhere. Silver and Cloud came out of it wearing their usual black coats, but even though they both seemed to be around their age, the gang could feel a sense of fear crawl into them. Victini also felt a familiar dark energy coming off of these two and quickly remembered Phantom. The Fire-type didn't cower this time though; instead it glared at Silver and Cloud. However no one showed more fear or anger than Pierce.
Pierce stared at Silver with horrified eyes as the red-haired member chuckled, "What's the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost, by the way, why didn't I get invited to this party?" Silver smirked at Pierce and took a look at everyone who remained silent and the wisecracker noticed Victini just hovering a few feet away from him.
"Even Victini is here, you must be throwing one hell of a show if you got a Legendary Pokémon to pop up," Silver chuckled and patted Pierce on the back as he stood like statue.
"Did you really think you could hide from us forever Pierce, the game of hide and seek has ended here," Cloud glared at Pierce.
Pierce looked at the other member and felt a feeling of disgust surge inside him, "Leave me alone, I have no business with you people any longer," Pierce took some steps back.
"Do you want to handle this one or should I do it?" Cloud asked his partner.
"You take over this one, I have a date to catch tonight so I can't afford to waste much time on this," Silver joked.
"Right," Cloud sighed and took a few steps forward, he reached for a Pokéball and Latios came out. The moment Latios came out, Pierce turned around to make a run for it, but Latios's psychic abilities froze him in place.
"Who are these people?" Tokuzo asked Cilan with a confused, but frightened tone.
"Not good people," Cilan gulped as he answered.
Cloud looked through the corner of his eyes and saw Iris, Cilan, and the elderly couple and just a few feet near them Jessie, James, Meowth, their device and a Herdier lying there half dead. Cloud could feel a powerful amount of hate fill inside him and all of a sudden Pierce shouted in pain.
"What are you doing?!" Ash yelled at Cloud.
"Shut it kid, we're not here to deal with you today," Silver glared at Ash.
"So you were using our device to experiment on a Herdier, how long can you get? Don't you have any honor left in you?" Cloud gritted his teeth as Pierce felt several of his bones snap from the inside and tried his best to hold the pain.
"For your betrayal you have to pay a high price and that also includes you three," Silver turned to the Team Rocket trio and embraced each other out of fear, causing the Majestic 12 member to chuckle.
"Could you tell us what you want?!" May got disgusted by the brutality the Majestic 12 displayed.
"You know, if you keep intervening in our business we will consider taking Victini," Silver warned May.
Silver's comment surprised the gang and Ash was the first to question with confusion, "Wait…you aren't…taking Victini?"
Cloud looked at Ash and gave him a stern expression, "No, as you've probably already noticed, Pierce has taken something from us and we came to retrieve it. We were given no orders to capture Victini and we most likely don't need it anymore because we have other alternatives at our disposal."
Cloud's statement confused the gang and even the Pokémon, they didn't believe their eyes. "Don't let Cloud's words fool you though, we will take Victini if you interfere with our plans," Silver glared at Ash.
If they cared about Victini, the gang would remain quiet and that's what they did, they could only watch as Silver and Cloud continued their agenda. Silver walked past the Team Rocket trio, who had expected Silver to do something, but all Silver did was pull out the disc from the machine and walked back next to Cloud.
Cloud then reached for another Pokéball and released Latias. Latias's presence intimidated everyone as much as Latios's, but Ash and the others weren't sure what to expect with Latias out. Silver snapped his fingers and at that instant, Latias bashed at Herdier's cage and broke it that instant, freeing the Normal-type Pokémon.
Herdier slowly got up and felt a sense of freedom as it began to move its feet. The dog Pokémon's face lightened up and the Normal-type rushed up to Ellie and Tokuzo, leaping into their arms happily.
"Herdier!" Ellie cheered happily and laughed as the dog licked their faces.
"I thought you said they were bad?" Tokuzo whispered to Cilan.
"I…I…" but Cilan had no words to say, Iris would've come to his rescue but she didn't know what to say either and Ash and May were also puzzled by what the heck was going on.
Cloud then spoke, "Latias go."
Once again, the gang became confused by Ash's eyes widened when he saw what Cloud ordered. Suddenly, Team Rocket became enveloped in a blue aura and the three got pressed against each other back to back like if a rope had tied them together.
"Oh no we're next!" James shouted in fear and felt tears forming in his eyes.
"But I'm too beautiful to be left crippled!" Jessie squealed in fear.
"And I've still got nine lives ta live!" Meowth screamed in dread.
"What are you doing?! Let them go, they're innocent!" Ash felt anger burst out of him as he saw the clumsy and obnoxious villains he'd come to known fall at the mercy of the most evil organization he had ever faced. Despite all of the trouble they caused him over the years, he wouldn't allow them to get hurt because deep down those three represented a part of him and at times had begun to consider them his friends.
"Ash!" May shouted, remembering how much harm they'd put Victini in if they intruded in the Majestic 12's operation.
"I'm sorry May, but we can't let them hurt Team Rocket, they may be crooks, but they're still human," Ash apologized to May, but after hearing that last part May came to her senses and realized that she should be sorry.
"Whaddaya know, the twerp iz stickin up fur us," Meowth became surprised.
"But why, after all we've done to him he cares about us?" James also expressed puzzlement.
"That's certainly something I wouldn't do," Jessie spoke with a baffled tone.
"You guys are still living beings and no one has the right to hurt you!" Ash yelled at them even though he was in defense of them.
Silver glared at Ash and prepared to call his Gyarados, but Cloud lowered his arm, "Let it go Silver, we have more important things to do."
Silver didn't say a word and just walked away, a portal forming out of the blue in front of him. As the pair began to walk while Latios and Latias carried a crippled Pierce and the goofy Rockets, Ash and the others watched with horror.
"Hey twerp, come save us we don't want to end up like Pierce!" Jessie yelled, tears forming in her eyes.
"C'mon the autor has ta type ur reaction right now!" Meowth tried to move his arms and legs but it was hopeless.
"Mommy!" James cried out and let tears pour like a waterfalls.
Ash clenched his fists and charged at them, "Ash stop!" May ran after him. Cloud quickly turned around and placed his hand in front of Ash. The simple motion froze Ash in place as the raven-haired boy lost all control of his body.
"Stay away if you know what's good for you, we'll meet again for sure and you'd best be ready," Cloud frowned at Ash, who in return glared back and didn't say a word. Cloud then extended his arm all the way, pushing Ash back to a running May.
"Aaaaaaahhhhh!" May cried out when she saw Ash coming back couldn't react in time.
Ash and May were able to stop from flying backward thanks to Victini's psychic abilities and the two quickly gained their composure, standing back smoothly on the ground. "May are you ok?" Ash grabbed May's hand as a form of affection.
"Yeah, I'm fine," May smiled at him sweetly.
The last thing they all saw Cloud flashing a stern look at them as they disappeared within the portal, the last thing heard was Team Rocket begging for mercy. The only thing they could all do was stare in confusion, sadness, anger, and fear as the portal closed itself. So many questions, so much pain, none of them were sure what would become of Team Rocket and Pierce.
I don't know what you guys thought about this chapter, but I don't think it came out all that well. I don't know if it's because I'm losing my edge or I'm not satisfied with anything lately, but maybe I'm wrong, maybe you guys will like it. I really need people to REVIEW this chapter because I need FEEDBACK, I'm really not sure about what you guys will think but I felt like this was rushed and things didn't fit like I would've wanted. The priority of this chapter was to see what happened with Pierce and Team Rocket and their importance in what will happen in the rest of the story, Team Rocket will surely remain key figures from here on out. Once again I'm sorry if I disappointed anyone, hopefully things will improve in the later chapters, starting with the next chapter, the training with Nate, Rosa, and Hugh begins. Hope I still have some readers left for next week, I'll see you then!