Chapter 93 – Sky Wars III – Team Plasma Strikes back!

A/N: Hello, this is Ivy the Snivy. Unfortunately I'm leaving this note owing to the most recent reviews left on "Ash and Pikachu: Beauty in love." As is quite clearly advertised on my home page, I write Pikashipping fanfiction and my fanfics inevitably involve romantic and sexual relationships between people and Pokémon. I will not dignify troll reviews by responding to them, here or in my Q&A section. As always if you like my work and want to read more, please leave a review, and don't forget to check out my Dinosaur King fanfic "Make your move." However, I am moderating guest reviews and will block users who leaving trolling comments or else nitpick. If that is your intention, please do not bother, I have no interest in airing that sort of nonsense...And now onto the next chapters.

"Nyaa...Dis is da life," Meowth sighed as he laid back on the, now clean, bunk bed, his head propped a set of pillows. "Hehehe...It's like a dream come true."

He had all the twerp's Pokémon doing his bidding. Charizard was making the bunk beds, covering each mattress with a fresh mattress over and folding the sheets on top. Hunter was folding laundry and delivering it to each grunt's cupboard. Geyser was mopping, a task he was naturally good at due to his ability to refill the bucket. Pikachu, Dragonite, Lucario and Flygon were next door cleaning the mess hall. Zacian cleaned toilets while Typhlosion and Nova were in the Laundry. And as for Ashachu...

"Heh, 'bout time kiddo."

He had just sidled up to Meowth carrying a soda pop on the top of his head. Meowth swiped it off his head with one paw, cracked it open and took a swig. "Ahh." He belched, as the gas expanded in his stomach, before replacing the can on the Pikachu's head. "You don't mind standing there and being my table, do you? Hehehe...Thanks twerpachoo." He gave Ashachu's cheek a squeeze for good measure, to which Ashachu did not respond.

The two eggs were resting on the bunk bed beside scratch cat. He would glance at them from time to time. "Hmmm, I know Dragonite laid da blue egg. But who does the orange egg belong to? And who got Dragonite pregnant in da first place. Guess we'll find out when da eggs hatch."

Meowth took another drink from his can before settling himself back into the pillows. He closed his eyes and thought about taking a cat nap. He resisted the urge to do so. He needed to keep an eye on the twerps work. He vaguely considered having Pikachu or Ashachu juggle or dance or do something for his entertainment. Once again, he decided against it.

He did, however, call out to the room at large, "Hey, would one of ya get me a snack. Maybe some rice balls."

Those rice balls, however, never came... At that moment, Meowth heard a clatter. Like the can of soda pop falling to the floor and a string of nervous and confused murmurs.

"Nya." He opened his eyes and raised his head. And then sat bolt upright when he saw what was happening. Ashachu, Charizard and Geyser had all stopped working.

Geyser had dropped his mop and Charizard had dropped pile of fresh linen he was holding on the wet floor. They were all looking at Meowth, their eyes no longer pupilless and red and their expression no longer blank. A range of emotions crossed their faces from surprise to confusion, to anger. Meowth held up his paws apologetically.

"Guys...Dis ain't what it looks like!"

[Pokémon]

"Blade," cried out a breathless Cameron, as he, Ash, Jimmy, Gladion and Koraidon pounded up the stairwell. "Do you actually know where you're going."

The stairway was steep and ascended five decks. Taking it at a run was hard work, even for Ash and co who were all used to walking long distances and running after Pokémon. Blade, however, with his nimble body, adept to climbing, took it in his stride and was at least a flight ahead of them.

"Trust me, I got their scent," Blade called back. "We Sneasel can sniff out our prey from a mile away. Have to in the climates we live in. ."

Chest and thighs burning they reached the first deck of the Halberd. The ambiance here was much nicer than below where they had been held. The walls were wood panel and the floor covered in tiles. The cabins were open, with wide windows on either side to allow the daylight in. Not that there was any daylight at the moment. It was pitch black outside.

This was the crews living space; open plan in design with the different areas separated by the Halberd's bulkheads. From the stairwell they found themselves in what looked to be a locker room with showers, saunas and even a small swimming pool. Next was a gymnasium with treadmills, stationary bikes, and weights. A common room with couches, shelves of books and a couple of large televisions. Then the mess hall filled with rows of tables and chairs.

The floor here was wet, having been freshly mopped. Running through the aircraft barefoot, Ash and the others had no chance. As they burst into the mess hall, Ash slipped and fell hard on his backside.

"Ahhhh...Ouch!" Ash winced as he tried to sit up.

"Are you alright," asked Cameron.

"I think so."

"Ugh." Gladion rolled his eyes and shook his head in exasperation.

The commotion had caught the attention of the now unhypnotized Pokémon working there and next door in the kitchen. Pikachu, Lucario and emerged from the kitchen adjacent to the mess hall, and Dragonite threw aside the mop he was holding and charged at Ash. Before Ash could get back to his feet, he found himself pinned to the floor held firmly in the arms of Dragonite.

Poor Pikachu couldn't get in there at all and was forced to hug Ash's head. The frustrated way he cried, "Pikapi," was testament to his displeasure with Dragonite hogging the reunion with his mate. Flygon watched over them with a wide smile on his nuzzle. At the same time, Cameron was embraced by Lucario, and a moment later Jimmy found himself tackled by a happy Typhlosion and Nova as they escaped the laundry. He joined Ash on the floor.

"Lucario...Man I thought I'd never seen you again."

"Hehehe. Typhlosion."

Cameron sounded teary, and Jimmy giggled and Typhlosion licked his face enthusiastically.

"Hehehe. I love you guys too," Ash said to his Pokémon, as he hugged Dragonite back. Or at least tried to hug him back, given that one of his arms was pinned underneath him. "But wait, where are Ashachu and the others!"

Blade, not wanting to stick around for this particular reunion, continued to follow his nose, continuing past the next set of bulkheads and into the crew quarters.

[Pokémon]

"YOU ARE SO DEAD!"

"Nyaaaaa!" Meowth couldn't remember exactly what had happened, but suddenly he was running for his life. Tearing through the Halberd as fast as his tiny legs would carry him, with a certain very angry winged lizard on his tail.

"I mean it," Charizard growled from behind. "When I get my claws into you, I'm going to skin you alive then burn the rest of your worthless body into cinders and break it apart with my claws and wings."

The only thing stopping Charizard already was the confinements of the crew quarters. Filled with bunk beds and other bulky furniture, it was much harder for Charizard to maneuverer quickly. Meowth being much smaller, was able to move through the labyrinth fairly quickly. Though, of course Charizard had another weapon at his disposal too. Meowth felt a great heat rising behind him as the Flame Pokémon fired a powerful flame thrower attack at him.

"Nyaaa." Meowth managed to throw him through the door to the quarters and hit the deck before it hit. He felt the fur and skin on his back burn as the flames blew over his back.

A few of the other Pokémon still left in the crew quarters protested.

"Careful," cried Hunter, as he leapt out the way.

"What the fuck," Geyser growled, poking his head from out of the bunk he had hid under to avoid being hit. "Are you trying to kill us all."

Even Ashachu seemed worried. "Chari," he said holding up his paws. "Just calm down."

"That piece of shit has my egg," Charizard growled as he smashed through a cabinet to get to the door. "I'll kill him. I'll fucking kill him."

It was true. The orange and cream Charmander egg was lying on the ground beside Meowth. He scrambled back to his feet, slammed the door behind, before picking it up. Holding the egg above his head, he continued to run. To his horror, he heard a crunching sound behind him. Charizard had knocked the door right off its hinges.

"Yikes."

Meowth couldn't remembered ever being this scared of a twerp Pokémon. Sure, they all had reason to hate him and do him some really harm. But even on their worst day, the worst that ever happened was a painful blast off. This was different, however. The way Charizard looked at him and roared, Meowth could tell he was out for blood. Charizard wouldn't just make him blast off! Charizard would kill him!

The next chamber was another common room. An area for crew to relax, watch TV, read books, or make phone calls home during down time or periods of low activity while on board the Halberd. Meowth tore up the room towards the door. He knew these doors would lead him into the officer's part of the vessel. Private cabins, officers, dining room and meeting rooms. And finally, to the primary flight deck. There would be other members of Team Rocket, and more importantly a storage of Rocket prize masters.

He just had to reach it.

[Pokémon]

Meanwhile, on the flight deck…

"We're losing power fast," called Cassidy. "I've diverted power from almost everything else to the engines, but the engine capacity is down to eighty percent and falling fast."

It was chaos on the primary flight deck. Cassidy struggled to be heard over the constant warning's lights and announcements from the computer and the voices of Team Rocket Grunts trying to subdue Groudon coming in over the intercom. From the sounds of it, that operation was not going well.

"It's reached the mid-point of the ship. We've had to fall back. Even the strongest water types we have can't stop it…Oh Arceus it's getting ready to use hyper beam again."

"I read you," Gozu replied. "I'll do what I can from my end." He lowered the communicator and yelled at the pilots. "Seal the bulkheads on every deck. We need to confine Groudon in the main shaft."

"Yes sir," replied Butch, hitting at a switch on the console.

"Sir if we seal the bulkheads, we'll be diverting power from the engines," said Cassidy. "I may lose control of the vessel."

"That is an order," Gozu roared, enraged he had challenged her. "Do you hear me. THAT IS AN ORDER!"

[Pokémon]

Meanwhile, aboard the Plasma Frigate...

"Zinzolin sir," Barrett called from his position at the radar.

"What is it," snapped Zinzolin from his position at the wheel.

He held fast to the wheel as the Frigate ascended at nearly as sharp an angle as it had been descending. The Halberd's broadside cannons were powerful, but they had limitations. Fewer cannons had a range more than a kilometre or so above the vessel, so climbing high was as an effective way of avoiding being hit as diving below it.

Only right now, the Halberd wasn't firing...

"The Halberd," replied Barrett. "They...They seem to be in trouble. It's airspeed has slowed and it's no longer firing."

"We should be careful though sir," Aldith interjected. "They could be feinting."

Zinzolin turned his head from one side to the other, trying to look at each in turn. "Are you telling me somethings happened to Team Rocket's vessel."

"No way to tell what's going on onboard," said Barrett. "But the loss of airspeed could be a sign of a vessel in distress. It seems to be losing altitude as well."

"There's no reason for them to be in distress though," added Aldith. "It's not like we've hit them."

"It I dive to striking distance of the Kyurem-Necrozma cannon," said Zinzolin, we'd be in striking range. "I take your point Aldith, this could be a trap."

"I'm only reporting what's on the screen sir," said Barrett. "You must make the call as to how to proceed."

As if that wasn't obvious enough...It was a split-second decision, Zinzolin had to make with no time to turn to anyone else. He prayed he was making the right one. He picked up his communicator. "Mr. Colress, charge the Kyurem to maximum. We've got one chance to take them down. And whatever happens now, I want all crew of this ship to know, it has been a pleasure serving with you!"

He spun the wheel hard in his hands. The Frigate bank sharply, almost violently, diving back down towards the Halberd.

"Aldith...Fire as soon as we are in range. Aim for the centre of the vessel."

The citizens of Olivine City below were being treated to one impressive light show.

"Yes sir."

The Halberd grew larger and larger in the forward windshield. The grunts gathered seated in the wheelhouse held their breath, waiting for the vessel to resume firing. Yet its guns stayed silent. Closer and closer it came. The cannon at the bow of the ship fired a bright blue and orange beam striking the vessel in the middle, just above the left wing.

[Pokémon]

At the same time, back aboard the Halberd...

It was almost a cruel joke. Meowth was an inch away from crossing the threshold to the officers' quarters when the bulkheads sealed. A metal grate fell across the door, which Meowth ran head long into. He fell over and only just managed to keep a hold of the egg, clutching it to his chest. He heard heavy footsteps stomping behind him.

"Oh crap!"

In the blink of an eye, Charizard was upon him. The orange dragon was standing above him, his teeth bared, and his wings outstretched. It was terrifying.

"What's wrong Meowthy," Charizard roared. "Got nowhere to run now, like the coward that you are. Some of my teammates feel sorry for the Pokémon stuck fighting for Team Rocket. They don't get conscripted; they don't have a choice. But you're not even one of their Pokémon. You're technically wild, but you choose to fight for them anyway. That makes you a species traitor!"

"C-Charizard," stuttered Meowth. Normally sharp tongued, he could not think of anything to say.

"You don't even fight for yourself, you let others put their bodies on the line for you. You even have the rest of us doing your literal dirty work for you. I'm going to fucking enjoy ripping you to pieces. And don't even worry about the egg. It's a char egg, it can't be damaged by Char flames."

"I-I…Am not a coward!" Meowth wanted to close his eyes but forced himself to keep them open. He would look the lizard in the face when he killed him.

But before Charizard could strike a yellow blur shot between his legs and positioned himself in front of Meowth.

"Huh."

"Charizard No!"

It was Ashachu. He was standing in front of Meowth, with his arms outstretched as though protecting him…No, he was protecting him. Staring defiantly up at Charizard, with a pleading look on his face.

"Don't do it. Don't kill him."

"Twerpachoo," said a shocked Meowth.

"Seriously Ashachu," Charizard growled. "After everything he's done…"

"I'm not going to insult you by saying he doesn't deserve it or that there's good in him if that's what you're thinking," said Ashachu hurriedly cutting his boyfriend off. "I just know that you're better than this, and that killing him isn't the way. Y-you…You aren't Shadow!"

"Shadow's a murderer," spat Charizard. "This is justice. Actually, it's pest control!"

"Please don't Charizard," Ashachu said again. "For me. Don't do it for me!"

Charizard gazed at him with a deep orange eye. He lowered his wings and brought his head down to Ashachu's level. Though he didn't say anything, or look any less angry, Ashachu took this as an acquiescence and breathed a sigh of relief.

So did Meowth. "Ash-Ashachu."

But as Meowth reached a paw out to Ashachu he found himself hit with the thunderbolt attack.

"Yaaah!"

"GIVE HIM THE EGG BACK, YOU BASTARD!"

A pair of small but firm paws gripped the fur of his chest and slammed him into the wall. Meowth blinked stupidly. Though Ashachu was a head shorter than him, he was stronger than Meowth was, and easily capable of holding him in place.

"How dare you take it from us," Ashachu growled dangerously. "How dare you try to take that unhatched Charmander from its birthing parent. Charizard's right, you are a piece of ship. I can't believe I let you fuck me."

Charizard cocked his head. "Wait, you did what?"

"Ashachu…Gah."

Meowth felt the breath knocked out of him and couldn't finish his thought. Ashachu had kicked him hard in the groin. Despite the small size of Ashachu's little pika-feet, they packed a strong kick. Pain exploded through Meowth's body, and he sank to his knees.

"Ough."

Ashachu spun around and hit him hard in the stomach with his tail, causing him to keel over and pull himself into a ball. And finally, just to add insult to injury, he spat on the scratch cat. A big glob of Pika spit landed on his head just below his ear.

"You'd better keep away from us from now on though," Ashachu growled. picked up the orange egg that lay on the floor beside him and handed it to Charizard.

Charizard accepted it, before blowing black smoke over Meowth's limp body. "And if you ever lay a paw on this unhatched Charmander again. Then next time I won't stop Charizard from ripping apart your worthless..."

KABOOM!

Ashachu was cut off by a loud explosion as the floor started to shake violently. What happened next happened so fast his brain barley had any time to process it. He leapt into Charizard's arms with a scream of "Pikaaa," as the ground begun to feel less solid. He heard screams and saw Hunter, Geyser and Blade running towards them, terrified of something. Hunter had the blue Dratini egg held in his arms.

A split second later he saw what they were running from. A fireball was chasing them down the corridor. The Halberd was exploding. Ashachu felt panic fill his brain, as Charizard held him and their egg tighter. The last thing he heard was Geyser shouting, "HOLD ON," before everything disappeared in a bright white light...

[Pokémon]

Flight deck...

"We're hit," bellowed Cassidy. "Direct hit from the Necrozma cannon to the mid-rift of the vessel."

"Damage report," demanded Gozu.

"Sustained damage to the vessel's structural integrity," said Butch. "It looks like we're going to split in two."

"AHHH." Gozu pounded the wall in fury of rage once again before taking a deep breath and saying. "Alright, I'm giving the order." He raised his communicator once again. "This is Gozu in forward command. Abandon ship, abandon ship."

He knew it was likely already too late...