Charmander nervously fidgeted by the mouth of the cave. A few squirtles snored next to him. Bulbasaur stood before him, keeping an eye on the entrance of the cave and the path leading down the cliff.
Umm…. Charmander began. Should we wake them up?
Bulbasaur looked at the squirtles and rolled his eyes. No, if something comes, we can use their shells as shields.
Isn't that-
If they wanted to object, they shoulda stayed awake, Bulbasaur told the fire-type.
That- well- okay, Charmander said, fidgeting with his front claws, and looking at the ground. Umm…
What's on your mind, Bulbasaur sighed.
It's a stupid question, but….. well….. how did you get so strong? Charmander asked.
It ain't a stupid question, but I don't think I can give you an answer that will satisfy you, Bulbasaur replied after a moment's reflection. You're asking because you want to become stronger, right?
Well, yeah, Charmander said, still looking at his feet. Damian got rid of me because I was weak. Those people nearly got me because I couldn't fight back. And if they find us again, I won't be able to help.
Damian was an asshole, it was his job to help you get stronger, Bulbasaur growled. And right now, you're under Melanie and I's care. You shouldn't be worried about having to fight those assholes.
Too bad because I am! Charmander protested. I- I shouldn't be so weak!
Everyone's weak at some point or another, Bulbasaur pointed out. I was when I was younger. The squirtles were too.
But they're not weak now!
And in the future, I'm sure you won't be weak either, Bulbasaur reassured the fire type. But for now, don't worry about it. Look, you want to help? When it comes time to move out, stick close to Melanie.
Guard her?
Yep. Make sure she doesn't get hurt. Bulbasaur told Charmander. Humans are so fragile.
Alright I'll- Did you hear that? Charmander asked, suddenly looking out of the cave. There had been the sound of small rocks falling.
Yes, Bulbasaur said grimly. His vines snaked out and shook the sleeping squirtles. They yawned and rubbed their eyes. Go get your boss, Bulbasaur told them. We might have something coming.
A large round shape dropped down into the cave mouth as the squirtles scurried away. Charmander lashed out with a stream of fire, illuminating the shape as a spherical red and white pokémon, an electrode.
Get back! Bulbasaur shouted, vines lashing out to grab Charmander and throw him back into the cave.
Too late! Electrode shouted. Tendrils of electricity reached out of its body, seeking the retreating squirtles and Charmander. But Bulbasaur already had more vines in the way. The electric power ran down the vines into Bulbasaur instead of the water types.
Crap! That always hurts! Bulbasaur swore before striking back with his vines. Electrode was beat about the face by the green tendrils, with the harsh staccato of a plastic-like substance being drummed sounding out. The electric type was rocked back and forth by the constant impacts.
Bulbasaur then fired off several dark brown seeds at the electric type. Electrode shook itself, recovering from the Vine Whip, and then lashed out with another Thundershock attack, burning up many of the seeds, but a few got through. The seeds erupted into leafy vines, wrapping around the electrode and digging into it.
Bulbasaur glanced around the cave as the leafy vines around Electrode began to glow red. His eyes widened as he saw a small crack in the ceiling and then he jumped backwards.
Good instincts, Electrode grunted. With the sharp sounds of cracking rock, a sandslash erupted from the cave roof in a burst of dust. It slashed downwards, aiming at where Bulbasaur had been, while Electrode summoned up more electricity and burned away the Leech Seed attack.
Of course, there had to be pokémon who can use dig, Bulbasaur growled.
Oh, there's plenty of us, the sandslash said. You're surrounded. My trainer asked me to offer you a chance to surrender. I suggest you take it.
And what would surrendering entail? Bulbasaur asked.
We'll kill the humans and then you pokémon get distributed to the trainers of Team Rocket, the sandslash answered.
Ain't happening, Bulbasaur replied, backing up his response with a volley of Razor Leaves. The sandslash ducked and Electrode blasted the leaves with electricity.
The cavalry has arrived! Pressurized jets of water lanced out from behind Bulbasaur. Sandslash quickly dug into the ground and the electrode rolled out of the way, one jet glancing off of his rounded side.
Some of you get back to Melanie! Bulbasaur ordered. They've got more pokémon coming!
Squirtle, Squirtle, and Squirtle, get back there and protect Melanie! The squirtle with angular sunglasses ordered. Three squirtles followed his command.
Bulbasaur unleashed a barrage of Razor Leaves and Leech Seeds at Electrode, forcing the electric type to defend itself instead of lashing out at the squirtles. Meanwhile the squirtles kept an ear to the ground, listening for the sandslash.
Rocks cracked overhead and the sandslash burst from the ceiling once more.
Orange light flared as Charmander ran forward from where he had been thrown and unleashed a plume of fire upward at the ground-type. The sandslash kicked off the cave wall and spun to avoid the majority of the attack, the remaining flames streaming past and out of the cave mouth. The attack drew a thin orange line into the sky…
"Everyone get up!" Brock shouted looking at the line of orange light coming from the canyon. "The fun's started!"
"I just got to sleep too," Ash said blearily.
You're the one who wanted to do this, Pikachu pointed out, already up and rearing to go. Now let's go shocks some fools!
"Where are they," Misty asked, rubbing her eyes.
"Over there," Brock said. "About two o'clock from our position."
"Are you talking about the time or the clock position thingy?" Ash asked with a yawn.
"Relative positioning," Brock said. "Tell your pokémon to get ready. Now, go Onix!"
While light blazed and the stone serpent was released. Brock climbed up its back and then turned to Ash and Misty.
"Get aboard," Brock told the other two humans.
There's too many of them! A squirtle shouted before being blasted by a Gust attack from a venomoth. The cave was filled with struggling pokémon, squirtles and Bulbasaur attempting to beat back the pokémon who were coming in through the walls and cave entrance.
Is the back-way open yet? Bulbasaur shouted over the din, vines reaching out to strangle the venomoth.
They're still working on it! Squirtle replied before using the opportunity to blast the immobilized venomoth with a Water Gun attack, smashing its head into the cave wall. Bulbasaur threw away the dead or wounded poison type and got into a fight with a bellsprout that was about to finish off a wounded member of the squirtle squad.
Regroup! Regroup in back! Bulbasaur ordered, unleashing a stream of Razor Leaves at the Rocket pokémon, forcing them to duck. The Squirtle Squad used the opportunity to retreat, dragging their wounded and unconscious members back with them. Bulbasaur followed, bringing up the rear, pausing to fire off more Razor Leaves when the Rocket pokémon got too close.
They retreated further into the cave, into a narrow passage that could serve as a bottleneck. Bulbasaur and four squirtles gathered at the end of the passage, firing off long range attacks to keep the Rocket pokémon from proceeding further.
This will only work until the ones that know Dig get here, Squirtle pointed out.
Well, it will slow them down at least, Bulbasaur grunted out, firing off another brace of Razor Leaves and slitting the throat of a machop that got too close. Can Tauros hurry up back there?
They've almost got it, one of the squirtles shouted.
Everyone get back. I'll hold them off here! Bulbasaur shouted. Just watch out for anyone using Dig!
All of the squirtles, but one, ran back towards where Melanie and Tauros were breaking down one of the rock walls. Bulbasaur glanced back at the one that had stayed, the squirtle wearing angular sunglasses.
I thought I told you to get back! Bulbasaur shouted.
I'm not leaving anyone behind, Squirtle replied. It wouldn't be very cool of me. Besides- He blasted an emerging fissure with a pressured jet of water. There was a scream of pain and a cubone fell out of the wall. Bulbasaur quickly grabbed it and began to slam it against the cave walls. -this habit of trying to do everything yourself will be the death of you, ya know? Squirtle finished.
Erg! Fine! Bulbasaur shouted, engulfing the cubone in Leech Seeds and then throwing it to the side. Then they ain't getting past us!
They fought for what seemed like hours, but was in reality minutes. Bulbasaur cut and beat any pokémon that attempted to go through the passage way. Squirtle blasted any pokémon using Dig to try and get around the walls.
Rocket pokémon were driven back bleeding and broken before the two of them.
The way's open! A squirtle shouted from where the other pokémon and Melanie were sheltered. Hurry up if you don't want to be left behind!
On it! Squirtle shouted. You get going Bulbasaur, I'm faster!
I ain't leaving you behind either! Bulbasaur protested.
You won't. Just get running now! Squirtle shouted before letting loose a Bubble Beam attack. Bubbles flew like bullets, blasting rock walls and pokémon alike. Bulbasaur growled and began to run to the back of the cave.
Soon after Bulbasaur began running something flew over his head, something blue and propelled by a jet of water. It was Squirtle's shell. The water type had withdrawn into said shell so that it could launch itself down the passage way.
Bulbasaur skidded to a halt at the end of the cave, where Tauros had battered down a wall. All the pokémon from Melanie's small village were filing out of the hole. Melanie and the man who had stumbled onto the village were on the back of the Tauros, Melanie making sure the man stayed on.
"Bulbasaur, I think we have everyone," Melanie said. "Do you agree?"
It looks like it, Bulbasaur nodded. Go, go go!
The two humans and all the pokémon streamed out of the cave into the dark forest beyond. Pokémon like the geodudes and the pidgeys helped carry the pokémon who could run or were slow, like the magikarp and the bellspouts. Melanie on Tauros led the way.
They cleared the cave and charged straight up a hill, tripping and stumbling in the night, dodging around trees lit only by moonlight, and leaving the rushing river at the bottom of the canyon behind them. A caravan of frightened, tired, quivering, and shouting pokémon, led by two humans on a tauros.
And then Melanie and Tauros came to an abrupt stop. All the pokémon skidded to a halt behind her.
People and pokémon stretched out in a large semi-circle before them. Bulbasaur and Squirtle recognized some of them from the previous night when they had rescued Charmander. And this time they had brought friends. Bulbasaur couldn't be sure, but he estimated that there were at least thirty people and maybe fifty pokémon. Too many for Bulbasaur and the Squirtle Squad to fight.
"Your ambush last night was pretty good," the scarred woman said, stepping forward, her raticate following close behind. "So good that we decided to take a page out of your book."
No one escapes Team Rocket, the raticate added.
"What do you want? Why are you doing this?" Melanie asked getting off Tauros and stepping forward, attempting to put herself between the ambushers and the wounded man on the tauros.
"We need to kill him, and unfortunately you," the scarred woman said. "Sorry. It's just bad luck that he stumbled across you and your little village."
"And the pokémon? What are you going to do with them?" Melanie asked. Her manner was stiff, arms at her sides, and standing up straight, but Bulbasaur could see the tiny shakes in her shoulders, and knew that she must be trembling.
"We'll distribute them to our trainers," The woman said told Melanie. "Provided you get them to surrender to us now. Otherwise we'll have to fight them and take the survivors."
Melanie looked at the pokémon. Bulbasaur caught her eye, barely visible under the stars and moon. He knew what she was thinking. He knew that she was thinking that it would be better to surrender and try to spare the pokémon under her care. Even if it meant her certain death.
Bulbasaur shook his head, trying to tell her not to do it. He tried to tell her to fight to survive. To tell her that he would think of a way to save her.
Bulbasaur couldn't let her die. He had to save her.
Melanie smiled at him. Bulbasaur knew that there were tears on her cheeks, even though they were almost invisible in the night. Melanie then shook her head.
"I know that I cannot hold you to your word, but I'll ask for it anyway," Melanie said, turning back to Aki. "Will you promise to spare the pokémon?"
"Yes," the scarred woman said, nodding. "You're surrendering I take it."
"I am," Melanie said. "As long as you swear to spare these pokémon under my care."
"There's no point in killing them when we can use them," Aki said. She and her raticate began walking forward. "If you don't think you can trust our word then you can trust that."
"I'm sorry," Melanie said, turning to Bulbasaur and the Squirtle Squad. "I wish I could have taken better care of you. I'm so sorry. But please, don't fight."
I'd rather die in battle then let them take you! Bulbasaur growled, running forward and planting himself between the scarred woman and Melanie. A chorus of cries sounded out in support.
Yeah!
Let's fight 'em!
Take as many of these punks out as you can!
Squirtle Squad Assemble! Squirtle shouted as he and his comrades joined Bulbasaur.
"Please don't do this!" Melanie begged. "If you surrender you can live and maybe you can be happy again someday. Don't throw away your lives for me!"
"Well, they're making a stupid choice, but I'll commend their loyalty," the scarred woman said. "We'll just kill them, and then you and the man, and then we'll take your other pokémon."
Bring it! Bulbasaur shouted, vines coming out. The squirtles stood ready for battle against the long line deadly people and pokémon before them. Dark shapes in the forest, slowing closing in on them.
Bulbasaur grit his teeth as the scarred woman took a step forward, knowing that her words would probably lead to his death and the death of everyone with him.
"Everyone, atta-"The scarred woman began to shout the order to attack, but stopped suddenly. Bulbasaur could see her eyes widen just a tiny amount. She and her raticate turned back to shout at her people behind her. "I'm feeling a tremor. Get some ground types to investigate now!"
Too late, a voice boomed from beneath them.
There was a rumble from the ground beneath the feet of everyone gathered and a shaking that everyone could feel through the soles of their feet. The ground cracked open as something large moved through the earth below. Dirt exploded and something huge reared up, scattering the broken bodies of people and pokémon like rag dolls. It towered over everyone in the forest, silhouetting itself against the moon, and then it roared.
Yellow light flared from the shape's back and buzzing, crackling, electricity stabbed into the assembled Rockets. People and pokémon jerked like marionettes, controlled by the streams of electricity coursing through them.
Blue light joined the yellow light. Ice creaked and roared, people and pokémon screaming, as Ice Beams scythed through yet more members of Team Rocket.
And then the large shape was upon them again, moving faster than anything that size had a right too. People and pokémon were crushed underneath, letting out blood-chilling screams as they were crushed.
"Retreat!" Aki shouted. "Retreat and regroup!" She grabbed several pokéballs from her belt. "Go Scyther! Go Sneasel!" White light blazed in the night as her subordinates began to flee the monster in the darkness. A winged, bipedal bug like pokémon with blades for arms, a scyther, and a small dark blue pokémon with one red ear, a sneasel, stood by her.
"Sneasel, Scyther, it looks like they've got an onix or a steelix," The scarred woman informed her pokémon. "Sneasel hit it with an Icy Wind. Scyther, it's got some trainers on its back. Let's see if we can't distract them so everyone else can escape. Raticate, you're with me."
The four of them took off, running at the dark serpentine shape. The blue lights that were Ice Beams and the yellow flares that were electric attacks were still shining from its back, as the people and pokémon of Team Rocket were blasted.
"Scyther, Double Team and Slash. Raticate Quick Attack into Super Fang." The leader of the Rocket forces ordered. She drew a small crossbow and a large knife from her belt. "Let's do this!"
An illusionary copy of Scyther emerged from her pokémon and both the real Sycther and the copy flew forward. The sped at the shapes on the onix's back, blades raised to Slash them.
White light blazed and there was a sudden tornado blasting the real Scyther even as the copy kept going forward. A pressurized jet of water shot out from the giant's back, piercing the illusion.
Raticate blurred out of sight as it used Quick Attack to get close to the things on the onix's back. But there was a burst of yellow light and Raticate was forced to dodge tendrils of electric power instead of attacking.
"Cancel that Icy Wind," the scarred woman told Sneasel. "Instead we're going to have to use Shrouding Wind. Wait for my mark."
Ugh, Sneasel groaned. It's so tiring. It's like using ten Icy Winds and Dark Pulses at the same time….
"Now!" the woman shouted, holding up two pokéballs. Red light lanced out and her other two pokémon were recalled. Sneasel grunted and huffed. A black mist came out of his mouth, with specks of ice twinkling within. A wall of sparkling black fog emerged, separating the large dark shape from the fleeing members of Team Rocket.
"Good job," the scarred woman told her pokémon. "Return." And then Sneasel was recalled as well. Aki took one last look at the battlefield, making sure that everyone who could run had ran, and then took off herself.
Ash was left trembling as the adrenaline left his system. He took deep breathes, one after another, trying to calm himself.
After using that black mist move the attackers had vanished. His entire part in the fight had taken only a couple minutes, but in the heat of the moment, it had felt much longer.
Ash closed his eyes and then was hit by the fresh memories of people and pokémon screaming as they were crushed beneath Onix. Ash told himself that there had been no choice. Geodude had quietly dug some holes earlier so that the humans could hear what was going on. Ash had heard what they had told Melanie. Ash knew what he and his companions had stopped.
That didn't mean he had to be happy with all the death. He was just glad that Pikachu and Pidgeotto hadn't needed to kill anyone. Pikachu had been going for range instead of power and Pidgeotto had been kept in reserve and had only contributed a Gust attack to the battle.
Onix came to a stop before Melanie and the pokémon accompanying her. There were mutters from the pokémon.
I recognize that Onix, one of the squirtles said. It nearly crushed me earlier today.
Hopefully it's gotten all the crushing out of its system, another squirtle commented.
"Brock?" Melanie called out hesitantly. "Is that you?"
"Yes," Brock said, leaping down from Onix. Ash and Misty followed suit. "Are you okay?"
"I didn't get hurt," Melanie replied. "What about you? Did any of you get hurt?"
"They didn't manage to touch us," Brock replied. "Right, Aaron, Misty?"
"Not a scratch," Misty answered.
"What about the pokémon, uh, Melny?" Ash asked.
"Melanie," Melanie corrected.
"Right," Ash nodded. "Are any of your pokémon hurt Melanie?"
"I think so," Melanie replied. And then she bowed deeply. "Again, I have to thank you. You saved not only my life, but the lives of all the pokémon here. You came even though I refused your help earlier."
"We get it," Brock said, waving away her apology. "You were worried that we might do something to the pokémon here and you had no way of knowing if you could trust us."
"I think I have a way of knowing now," Melanie said, still bowed.
"Let's just tend to the pokémon," Brock said. "We've got potions. Do you still have any medical supplies?"
"Yes, back in the cave," Melanie said, straightening up. "Though they might have been damaged or stolen."
"We should have enough for now," Misty reassured her. "Come on let's go back."
"Yes," Melanie said. "We can tend to the pokémon there and talk about what happens next. Over tea, because after the events of tonight I desperately need a cup."
The attackers hadn't bother to destroy or loot the supplies in the cave. The humans tended to the wounded pokémon, giving them potions, cleaning their wounds and bandaging their cuts. Two members of the Squirtle Squad were in critical condition. Brock split a Hyper-Potion between them and worked tirelessly with Melanie to stabilize them.
Meanwhile Misty took care of feeding the pokémon and Ash got some practice in tending to the pokémon with minor wounds. He was sitting in a relatively isolated part of the cave, gently cleaning the scrapes on Bulbasaur, Pikachu lounging nearby.
I guess I owe ya'll one, Bulbasaur grunted to Pikachu as Ash gently applied disinfectant.
And just think, Pikachu replied. Earlier you were talking about beating us up and taking us captive. Feel stupid now?
Well, we hadn't gotten a good measure of that onix yet, Bulbasaur admitted. But I'm pretty sure we could've taken the rest of you.
I meant do you feel stupid because if you had managed to do that, then there would have been nobody to save your butts just now, Pikachu clarified.
Well if we had done that, then we wouldn't be having this conversation now, would we, Bulbasaur shot back.
Now you're just being stubborn, Pikachu replied. Admit it. You feel silly now.
I ain't feeling silly right now, Bulbasaur responded. I'm feeling worried because we're going to be attacked again and this time, they'll have a plan for that onix.
And we'll have a plan for them as well, Pikachu assured the grass type, patting Bulbasaur on the shoulder. Our trainer is an idiot, but he has some good ideas.
Isn't the basic definition of idiot being someone who can't come up with good ideas, Ash asked quietly.
No, it's someone who's full of bad ideas, Pikachu shot back. Like you.
Wait a minute! Bulbasaur exclaimed, turning to Ash. Did you just speak properly?
"No," Ash replied. "You're just hearing things."
Well I am under- wait a minute- Bulbasaur glared at the human. You must think you're really funny…
He does, I know, Pikachu griped. He did the same thing to me when we met.
Well maybe if your first words to me hadn't been an insult….
You shouldn't have been able to understand the insult! Pikachu protested. You should have stood there and been captivated by my adorableness instead!
You have a reaaaaaaal high opinion of your looks don't you? Ash asked.
Opinion nothing! You've seen how all the other humans fawn over me, Pikachu answered.
How come you let this loudmouth stay out of his pokéball? Bulbasaur asked, looking at Ash. If you kept him in there you wouldn't have to listen to him.
Oh, I'm tempted, believe me, I'm tempted, Ash said darkly.
But since I hate pokéballs and I'm the real brains of this operation, he doesn't have a choice, Pikachu said with a chipper smile.
I'm sorry that you have to endure such hardship, Bulbasaur said with a nod.
Thank you, Pikachu said in a gracious manner. It's not easy-
I was talking to your trainer, Bulbasaur informed the electric type. Pikachu glared at the grass type.
I do my best, Ash said solemnly. But in all seriousness, he's a pretty good pokémon.
Ah, thanks, Pikachu said. And you're not a bad trainer. Wait a minute? Pikachu turned to Bulbasaur, do you have something against trainers, or was that just the squirtles?
I ain't got anything against trainers. Bulbasaur answered. Never really had one myself, but I worked with them before.
Oh, where? Ash asked as he finished tying off a small bandage on Bulbasaur's leg.
In Orre, or at least in an area that was partially in Orre, Bulbasaur answered. There was a lot of bad stuff going on that I helped put a stop to.
Orre…. Orre, Ash muttered to himself. I don't think I know that region.
It's pretty far away, Bulbasaur told the human. It's also a bit of a shithole. Full of wastelands and deserts. There's almost no wild pokémon there either. A couple of nasty groups of humans like to hide in the outskirts to prey on other regions or the cities.
Okay, Ash said.
I wandered there for reasons of my own, Bulbasaur continued. And got caught up in what was happening for several years.
How'd you end up all the way over here then? Ash asked.
I eventually had to leave, Bulbasaur said with a shrug. Snuck aboard a boat. And then another. And another. And then I got off at that city south of here, uh, Vermillion City.
And then?
I wandered for a bit, and then I met Melanie, Bulbasaur said. I liked what she was doing, but she needed some protection.
And there you were, Pikachu said.
Yes, Bulbasaur agreed. It's been a good few years. Too bad it's over.
What do you mean? Ash asked. After we get everyone to safety and get rid of whomever is attacking you, then you and Melanie can come back.
No, we can't, Bulbasaur disagreed. Melanie kept her sanctuary a secret for a reason. We were a shelter for injured or abandoned pokémon. Do you know how many unscrupulous trainers would love to get their hands on a partially trained pokémon, instead of a wild one?
No, Ash replied in the manner of pokémon.
Well, you might not get it, but there are far too many jackasses out there who would like to steal from us, Bulbasaur said. Team Rocket didn't even come here to steal pokémon, but they decided to do so as long as they were here.
Wait, the people attacking you are Team Rocket? Ash asked, sharing a look with Pikachu. How do you know that?
One of their pokémon said so, Bulbasaur answered. I know it ain't damning evidence, but it ain't like they had any reason to lie either.
We should think of some way to tell the others about this, Ash said. Hmmmm…. Pikachu how do you feel about playing translator?
Why do I have a feeling that you're about to suggest something stupid? Pikachu asked.
Well, you can charade something that would make me guess Team Rocket, right?
What would I even charade? A rocketship? I don't know how to charade a rocketship.
How about…. Ash thought for a moment. Maybe the tyranitar. Just snarl and stomp a bit. Oh, and then pretend to call down lightning!
And that makes you think Team Rocket? Pikachu asked.
Well, it was a Team Rocket pokémon, Ash replied. It's not much of a leap to go to Team Rocket from there.
Fine I guess, Pikachu conceded.
Huh, your human comrades don't know you talk properly? Bulbasaur asked.
No, Ash replied. And they don't need to know either. They're only with me because they had nothing better to do and Professor Oak asked them to keep me out of danger.
Bulbasaur looked down at the bandages on his body and then back to Ash. Well, it doesn't seem like they're doing a very good job.
"I must confess," Melanie said as she held the steaming cup of tea, "that when the attack began, I never thought that I would get to have another cup of tea again."
"I'm, uh, sorry about that," Brock said, cheeks tinted red. Misty silently sighed and then sipped at her own tea.
"Why? You're the ones who saved me and allowed me to live long enough to make this cup." Melanie said. "If anything, I should be apologizing to you again for refusing your help earlier."
"You didn't do anything wrong," Brock protested.
"But I certainly had no right to expect your help tonight after refusing it in the day," Melanie replied.
"Yeah, but you got it anyway," Misty interjected, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, how is our medicine? How much do we have left?"
"I'm nearly out of potions," Brock answered. "Melanie, what about you?"
"I still have some of my homemade medicine," the blue haired woman replied. "But my stockpile of pharmaceuticals has been used up."
"Are there any pokémon who still need some of that medicine?" Misty asked.
"No," Melanie shook her head. "The squirtles were in bad shape, but they should recover on their own now. All the other pokémon are fine. One of the bellsprouts and Tauros need monthly treatments, but they received them last week."
"Good," Brock said. "The nearest pokémon center is four days from here at our normal hiking pace. How fast can we safely move the wounded pokémon?"
"I'm not sure how fast your pace is. May I see a map with the pokémon center's location marked on it, please?" Melanie asked. Brock handed her their map and pointed to where the pokémon center was. "Four days would be risky. Seven days should be a safe speed to move all the wounded pokémon. But I'm more worried about our injured human guest."
They turned to look at the gray-haired man, who was situated on a bedroll. He was very flushed and his breathing seemed unhealthy.
"Have you had a chance to talk to him yet?" Misty asked.
"No," Melanie answered. "I've heard him call out for forgiveness and for someone named Ted. I was hoping that he might be better tomorrow, but after tonight's events…."
"Have you had a chance to look through our human medicine yet?" Brock asked, also looking at the injured man. "We might have something that could help?"
"I have taken a look, but in case I missed something, do you have any anti-biotics?" Melanie asked.
"I think I've got some actually," Brock said, digging around in his backpack. "A few days' worth at least. Do you think his wounds got infected?"
"I'm certain that they did," Melanie answered. "They were at least a day old when I had a chance to look at them on the first day and they were improperly tended to."
"Here you go," Brock said, handing over a bottle of pills to the blue haired woman. She accepted them with a nod and then got up to tend to her sick patient.
Misty and Brock sat in silence, sipping tea while Melanie tended to the wounded man. After several minutes of that, Ash joined them, accompanied by Bulbasaur and Pikachu.
"I think I've found out who attacked," Ash said. "It's Team Rocket."
"How'd you figure that out?" Misty asked.
"Well, Pikachu and Bulbasaur were talking, and then Pikachu got all excited about something-"
I wouldn't get excited about something like this, Pikachu protested, but Ash ignored him.
"And then he kept trying to charade something," Ash continued. "Eventually I got what he was trying to say."
"Bulbasaur why do you think it's Team Rocket," Melanie asked. "Hmm…. did one of their pokémon say something?"
Yes, Bulbasaur nodded.
"No solid evidence, but given Team Rocket's recent activities, I don't think we need any," Brock said. "They've been active in Viridian territory, Pewter territory, and now Vermillion territory."
"Aren't we still in Saffron territory?" Misty asked.
"Maybe. It doesn't really matter right now." Brock answered. "Team Rocket's getting more active all over the region."
"And we're the ones who keeping running into them," Misty groaned. "Aaron, do you think they're stalking you?"
"Team Rocket isn't hunting me," Ash said quickly.
"But you've run into them three times," Misty said, resting her head in her hands. "You know what they say; twice is a coincidence and three times is enemy action."
"Though this time he kind of sought them out, so I'm not sure if this really counts," Brock pointed out.
"You mean it might not be because they're stalking him and just be because he has no survival instincts?" Misty groaned into her hands.
"I have survival instincts!" Ash protested.
"Then I haven't seen them yet," Misty said, still resting her face in her palms.
"Moving on," Brock said. "I don't think this information changes anything."
"It might," Misty said, looking up. "What if Team Rocket arranged the outage?"
"To make sure their target couldn't call for help?" Brock frowned and his brow furrowed. "It seems a bit drastic to take out coverage for an entire region, but it would be effective…."
"It may just be an unfortunate coincidence," Melanie suggested.
"Ugh," Misty groaned again. "It was just supposed to be a simple trip between Cerulean and Vermillion."
"What are we doing next?" Ash asked. "Are we going to attack them? Run away from them? Let them attack us?"
"That's a good question," Brock replied. "Did anyone see what pokémon they had tonight?"
"There were too many and it was too dark," Misty replied, shaking her head.
"I was more focused on what the humans were saying," Melanie admitted.
"What Misty said," Ash added.
"So, we don't know if they have pokémon that are a good counter to Onix," Brock said, leaning forward and resting his chin on his fist. "And we don't know if they have any gadgets that might make things difficult, like that group that attacked Pewter City."
"Do you think they're going to come back for the bodies?" Misty asked.
Ash turned ever so slightly green and looked away from the group.
"Not anytime soon," Brock answered. "I've got Geodude keeping an eye on them just in case though. What should we do…. what should we do…..?"
"Are we going to fortify the cave?" Misty asked.
"As much as I'd like to do that, I don't think that it will work," Brock answered. "No, we have the advantage right now, let's use it." He looked at Misty and then looked at Ash for several seconds. "Alright, here's what we're going to do. Misty and I will attack them. We'll harass them and keep them off balance. Aaron, I need you to work with Bulbasaur and the squirtles to guard Melanie. You need to get them to the pokémon center."
"We can't let Aaron go off alone!" Misty protested, suddenly sitting straight up. "It's too dangerous."
"He wouldn't be going off alone," Brock pointed out. "We've seen some of what Bulbasaur and this Squirtle Squad can do. He would be safer leaving with them than he would be helping us to attack Team Rocket."
Misty looked at Ash for several seconds, fists clenching tighter.
"Fine," she huffed, crossing her arms and looking away. "Aaron if you die, I will find a way to bring you back to life so I can beat you up."
"Uh….." Ash wasn't sure how to respond to that.
"It looks like I will be in your care," Melanie said, giving Ash a shallow bow.
"I'll make sure you don't get hurt," Ash replied returning the bow.
"And don't let him do anything stupid," Misty cautioned.
"Aaron, we're going to have to plan out your route in advance," Brock told the younger boy. "We're also going to need to sit down with Bulbasaur and the Squirtle Squad so that you have some sort of plan."
"A good plan," Misty added, sitting back and crossing her arms. "I've seen what happens when he's left to his own devices."
AN: I'd like to thank BlackCatSpecialist92G10 for beta reading
The battle scene exists because I could't think of a better way to get Melanie to trust Ash and co. in the last chapter. It's always fun when the characters don't play along with what you've got planned so you have to take a detour to get where you need to go.
Don't forget to review.
:AN