Aoba frantically gathered fallen leaves and branches. Beside him, Tauros pawed and nudged at a prone Melanie.
When Team Rocket had separated the group with their blitzkrieg, Aoba and Melanie had run away from the attacking pokémon, withdrawing into the tree line. A blast of fire had exploded near them and the next thing Aoba knew, he was watching Melanie fall to the ground, a bloody gash on her head.
In the chaos of the battle, between the bursts of flame, streams of rushing water, brilliant beams of psychic energy, and flights of poisoned needles, Aoba had found Tarous hiding deeper in the forest and loaded the wounded woman onto the pokémon's back. The three of them had fled together. Aoba led them far enough into the woods to be out of sight from the battle and then had tried tending to Melanie.
Aoba had done his best to make her comfortable, hidden under a bush. The former biochemist had then begun working to camouflage her. He had no idea if he was going about it the correct way, but he couldn't bring himself to leave her in the open.
When he had finished covering Melanie, Aoba turned to Tauros.
"Try to hide," the scientist told the pokémon. "And keep an eye on her. I've got to go back. I can't leave Aaron by himself."
You're going to get yourself killed, aren't you, Tauros replied, features drooping. She gently bit the man's sleeve when he turned to go.
"You'll be alright," Aoba said, giving the pokémon's head a quick rub. "Just stay safe." And then he tugged his sleeve free of Tauros's mouth and took off back towards the battle.
Tauros watched him go with tearful eyes.
Pikachu burst from the underbrush, burnt, lathered in sweat, covered in forest debris, and bleeding from several small cuts. A scene of burning trees and downed pokémon greeted him.
Half of the Squirtle Squad were on the ground and the remaining members didn't look like they would last much longer. Pokémon who had been getting treated at the village lay scattered about. And Ash-
Ash lay on the ground, feebly moving as a zubat prepared to launch an attack.
Pikachu moved without thought; moved faster than he could think. Between one moment and the next, he vanished and reappeared next to Ash. The zubat flinched in surprise at the electric type's sudden appearance.
Yellow light mixed with the orange glow from the fires and the crackling buzz of electricity filled the clearing, competing with the roar of the flames. Pikachu speared the zubat with a Thunderbolt attack, the stream of yellow power engulfing the poison- type and continuing onward into the night sky.
Threat dealt with, Pikachu turned back to look at his trainer. What he saw filled him with a fury he had very rarely felt.
Ash's face was dirtied, bruised, and tear-stained; one of his legs was covered in blood and Pikachu could see red stains all over his arms. The boy was shaking like a leaf in the wind and his eyes were only just then focusing on Pikachu.
Sparks flew from Pikachu's cheeks, from his whole body. The tiredness from his battle with the cubone and slugma was forgotten, the leaden pain in his limbs from his sprint through the forest was forgotten, the ache in his cheeks from using too many electric attacks was forgotten.
They did this to you, Pikachu said to Ash in a voice that was half hiss and half growl. A static charge filled the air around the pokémon, sparks snapping and popping into existence around him.
Pikachu, Ash said in a small voice, reaching out with one hand.
They'll pay, Pikachu promised and his voice must have sounded strange enough to startle Ash; the poké-raised child's eyes widened at the sound of it.
Pikachu turned his attention back to the pokémon from Team Rocket. To the cloud of zubats over the Squirtle Squad, to the beedrill flying around, to the whipping vines from the bellsprouts hidden in the trees.
YOU'LL ALL PAY! Pikachu screamed, unleashing the electric power that had been building up inside of him.
The glow of his power outshone the growing forest fire and the world turned yellow. Bolts of electricity branched out of Pikachu reaching for the pokémon from Team Rocket, the smell of ozone conquering the smell of smoke and a crackling buzz filled the clearing once more.
Zubats and bellsprouts shrieked as electricity ran through their wings and vines respectively. Zubats fell from the sky, Pikachu's electricity pursuing them, coursing through them as they fell. The vines from the bellsprouts, jerked, writhed, and lashed all around in their electric agony. In their thrashing the vines struck several of the standing squirtles, giving them electric shocks as well.
Pikachu's attack lasted long enough for the zubats and the bellsprouts to stop screaming before the tremendous buzzing yellow power faded. Pikachu stood before Ash, panting as he looked over the destruction he had wrought.
A sudden wave of dizziness came over him and the electric-type fell to four limbs. He shook his head vigorously and looked back over at the Rocket pokémon.
His attack had missed some of the zubats and the beedrill. They had ceased their assault on the Squirtle Squad and now had turned to face him. The standing members of the Squirtle Squad took the opportunity to gather up their fallen brethren and drag them to the relative safety of the other side of the clearing.
Pikachu growled at the flying pokémon and his growls were answered by more growls coming from Team Rocket's side of the clearing. A mightyena and a poochyena, both scuffed, dirtied, and bruised, stepped out of the forest, hackles raised and teeth barred.
White light flashed and they were joined by more pokémon. Zubats, just as beaten and bruised as the dark types below, appeared. Damaged vines from even more bellsprouts reached out of the forest. Cubone, beaten but no longer bloodied, steeped out from between the trees, gently tapping his palm with his club, followed by the slugma.
Pikachu's growl grew in intensity as he saw further threats to his trainer. Sparks fell from his cheeks, but for some reason Pikachu found himself having trouble building up a charge.
The pokémon moved forward and then their trainers finally appeared. Five humans, a mix of men and women, in dark grey camouflage uniforms. They carried various weapons in their hands, a collection of knives, batons, and small crossbows.
Pikachu locked his glare with the impassive stares from Team Rocket, with the glares of their pokémon. Flames roared and trees groaned as the fire grew. A haze of smoke had started to settle over the clearing, a twilight fog growing ever darker.
A twig snapped behind him and Pikachu looked over his shoulder.
Ash didn't even register the appearance of the human trainers at first. He was too busy trying to pick himself up, pull himself together. It wasn't until he had half dragged himself halfway to his feet that Ash noticed them.
And then he heard a noise behind him. Gingerly turning, trying not to upset his already abused back, Ash looked behind him.
Squirtle and Charmander walked out of the trees. Charmander's expression was drawn into a snarl that seemed ill at home on his face. Squirtle's expression was inscrutable behind his sunglasses, but something about the way he held himself suggested that he had his game face on.
Behind both of them came Bulbasaur, holding Butterfree in his vines. Butterfree could barely hold his head up; his antennas were limp and wings drooped. But his brilliant red eyes flashed when he saw the state of his trainer. Bulbasaur's face was drawn into its usual scowl, but the haze of smoke made it seem more intimidating.
Boss! One of the remaining members of the Squirtle Squad called out from where they had dragged their wounded comrades. You're back!
Yes, Squirtle replied, sunglasses glinting in the firelight. Form up! It's time to finish this!
The trainers are finally showing their faces, Charmander growled. His tail flame grew in intensity. I want to hurt them.
Hold up, Bulbasaur grumbled. Get our human out of the crossfire before we do anything else. Pikachu! Ash, get moving!
Ash, are you okay? Pidgeotto said, fluttering down from her fight with the flying pokémon from Team Rocket. She hooked her talons into his jacket and attempted to help the boy up.
"Form up!" One of the trainers from Team Rocket shouted at the same time. "Everyone, standard formations!"
Bulbasaur set Butterfree down by the trees at the edge of the clearing. His vines then reached out to assist Ash, aiding Pidgeotto in helping the child to his feet as the pokémon and the trainers from Team Rocket assembled.
The poocheyna and mightyena took point, bodies low to the ground, growling as they crept forward. The slugma and cubone took positions behind them, one on either side, guarding their flanks. The remaining zubats and the beedrill hovered overhead in a malevolent cloud of wings. The humans spread out behind their pokémon, taking cover behind trees on their side of the clearing.
The remnants of the Squirtle Squad formed a line between Ash and Team Rocket. Pikachu followed Ash back to the trees, guarding his trainer's back.
Get Butterfree in his pokéball, Bulbasaur ordered. And then get out of here!
No! Ash managed to grunt back. You might need me!
You're in no shape- Bulbasaur began, eyes on Team Rocket, but Ash cut him off.
Like you would run if our places were switched, Ash said, getting out Butterfree's pokéball. Butterfree, return!
Butterfree was recalled with a flash of red light. Ash put the pokéball back on in its place on his belt with trembling limbs. And then he looked out into the clearing at Team Rocket.
Ash wondered why they had chosen to show themselves and then looked up at the cloud of zubats. Most of them had scuffs and marks on them from previous battles, but some were fresh. Ash remembered some comments from Team Rocket's first attack, days ago. He remembered how the zubats had talked about getting messages from their trainers or how the other pokémon had talked about getting messages from zubats.
Ash looked at the fresh zubats again and wondered if they were the zubats responsible for handling communications. If so, Ash figured, then the trainers from Team Rocket were showing themselves because they needed those zubats to fight.
The realization gave Ash new energy. Team Rocket was running out of resources. They had committed their reserves.
If they could endure this final assault, then Team Rocket would have nothing more to throw at them.
Ash looked over the Rocket pokémon again and two things struck him. First was that there seemed to be pokémon missing from the roster, ones that he didn't see defeated. Second was that they hadn't attacked yet.
He was missing something-
Everyone, pull back, Ash shouted. And tell me what pokémon you encountered!
I had to fight a machop and two bellsprouts, Bulbasaur reported as he withdrew.
Two zubats and two bellsprouts, Squirtle shouted as his squad hurried back.
That cubone and slugma, Pikachu spat from by Ash's feet.
A poliwag! Charmander growled.
There had been a nidorino in that first attack, Ash recalled. And there had been that ariados that Pikachu had taken out at the beginning of the fight. Ash knew that more than enough time had passed to recall and treat the bug/poison-type.
They've got two poison types hidden in the trees, Ash said, scanning the other side of the clearing, through the smoky haze. And one of them probably knows String Shot. Charmander, Pikachu, Bulbasaur! Let's make the first move! Attack from range! Ember, Thundershock, and Razor Leaf!
A stream of small flames, small tendrils of electricity, and a volley of razor-sharp greenery crossed the battlefield. As the flames and electricity passed through seemingly empty air, they encountered something flammable. Energies briefly flared in midair and Ash was confident that they had just destroyed a String Shot web.
Ash heard shouts from the other side of the clearing and then the visible pokémon from Team Rocket began to move forward. The wisps of darkness floated out from between the mightyena's teeth. The slugma opened its mouth and fire appeared. And, Ash caught a glimpse of several glints in the forest behind it.
Incoming! Ash shouted, ducking behind a tree. Needles from Poison Sting attacks slammed into the trunk. The pokémon with him either took similar shelter or withdrew into their shells.
The mightyena and slugma launched their attacks and then all the visible pokémon from Team Rocket began to move forward.
Gust! Ash shouted. Strong as you can!
Pidgeotto gave four strong flaps of her wings as the attacks closed in and summoned up the largest Gust yet of the night. Darkness and fire were caught in the swirling winds, forming a rotating pillar of orange light and pitch-black darkness.
Send it back to them! Ash shouted. Pikachu, Thundershock as well! Squirtle Squad, when the Gust fades, Bubble and Bubblebeam!
Pikachu unleashed more tendrils of electricity that reached around the dark fire tornado as it sped back at the Rocket formation. The Rocket pokémon had scattered to either side of the column as they advanced and some didn't react to Pikachu's attack in time.
The mightyena and the slugma grit their teeth as electricity coursed through them. One of the zubats fell from the sky, electrocuted and unconscious.
And then bubbles, spherical and ovaloid, streaked across the clearing, shining with reflected fire light, an eerie light in the haze. The cubone defended itself with its club, blocking and parrying the bubbles, each bubble exploding and tearing at the haze. The slugma ducked as low as it could, letting itself melt or sprawl all over the ground, head tilted back as it watched the watery projectiles pass by overhead.
Poochyena yelped in pain as it was pelted, the bursting bubbles knocking the canine-like pokémon on its side. Mightyena growled and charged forward, ignoring the projectiles. The zubats scattered, bobbing and weaving around the water attacks. The beedrill thrust its stingers forward, cutting a path through the onslaughts of the Squirtle Squad.
Now charge! Ash shouted as pokémon from Team Rocket closed in. Pidgeotto take that beedrill! Pikachu, take those zubats! Watch out for everyone else!
You heard the human! Charge! Squirtle shouted to his squad. Hit them hard!
With a chorus of cheers, shouts, and threats, the Squirtle Squad withdrew into their shells and launched themselves at the Rocket pokémon. Their water jets mingled together and it seemed like there was a wave launching a mass of shells forward.
Payback time! Bulbasaur shouted, vines reaching out as he ran forward.
Let's teach them not to mess with us! The geodude from the village cried out, running forwards on its hands. The two rattatas let out wordless shouts of rage and followed close behind. Charmander let out a high-pitched growl as he joined the charge.
"Mass Supersonic!" A human from the other side of the clearing called out. Moving as one the zubats opened their mouths and their horrible screeches rang out. Ash could see the sound warp the water behind the Squirtles, watching the wave twist, deform, and disperse. The geodude and the rattatas collapsed instantly, rolling and skidding to a stop on the ground.
But it wasn't enough to stop the shells. Mightyena yelped in pain as he took a shell straight to the center of his head. Cubone attempted to block another squirtle, but when shell clashed with bone, bone gave way and the cubone was knocked off its feet.
The zubats were forced to break off their assault and dodge around the shells. Beedrill slapped one out of the way with its stingers, but was left open for a Wing Attack from Pidgeotto.
Pidgeotto's attack clipped the bug-type's head, sending it tumbling through the air, until it regained control of itself, mere feet above the ground. It shook its head and then charged back at Pidgeotto.
Pikachu unleashed another Thundershock attack, tendrils of electricity reaching into the cloud of zubats. The poison/flying-types managed to avoid the strands of electric power, soaring in a tight group like an airborne bait ball, making it difficult for Pikachu to target any single zubat.
Bulbasaur's vines lashed out, wrapping around the mightyena's snout, snapping the mouth closed. Mightyena tugged and growled, trying to yank itself free. But its growls turned to whines as Bulbasaur managed to pick it up by its snout and raise it above his head. Sporting a savage grin, Bulbasaur slammed the dark-type down on the slugma.
But while Bulbasaur was preoccupied with that, other vines reached out from the sides of the clearing. They wrapped around Bulbasaur and his vines, immobilizing him.
Ash realized that they were the bellsprouts whose vines he had seen earlier. Team Rocket must have used the time while the two sides were staring each other down to move their grass types into position.
Charmander, help Bulbasaur! Ash hollered. I need you to try and keep those vines off of everyone!
A high-pitched sound, like a cross between a mew and a roar, was his response. Charmander took in a deep breath and unleashed an Ember attack at the vines entangling Bulbasaur.
But before the stream of small flames could do more than brush the vines, the zubats came together and screeched their Supersonic attack. Charmander couldn't even last an instant under their combined barrage. He fell to the ground, keening and clutching at the sides of his head.
However, the zubats couldn't keep up their attacks any longer than Charmander could. Yellow light flared once more and the zubats were forced to scatter before Pikachu's attack. One wasn't quick enough and was engulfed in buzzing yellow power, falling from the sky, singed and scorched.
Charmander groaned and picked himself up again, while Ash turned to Pikachu. The human boy could see that his starter was panting and barely standing, one forepaw against the tree to support himself.
Pikachu, I need you to be honest, Ash said. You're spent, aren't you?
I can still fight- Pikachu tried to protest, leaning away from the tree to make his point, only to immediately start wobbling on his feet. Pikachu fell back against the tree to keep to his feet.
Okay, maybe not, Pikachu admitted, panting.
We're going to need a new way to deal with that zubat swarm then, Ash said, looking back over the battlefield.
Charmander had managed to free Bulbasaur from the vines and was skirmishing with the bellsprouts, flames fending off vines. The Squirtle Squad was fighting on multiple fronts, water attacks harassing the zubats, the slugma, and the cubone. Bulbasaur had once more begun to attack the mightyena and poochyena.
Ash didn't see any sign of the ariados or the nidorino. The pokéraised child figured that they would either be staying back to launch Poison Sting attacks from the safety of the trees or they were repositioning. Ash glanced around again, realizing that he didn't have any way to deal with them when they made their move.
Ash looked back at the zubats, swirling overhead, doing their best to disrupt the forces from the village with bursts of Supersonic. The Squirtle Squad had to switch targets to keep the zubats moving and not attacking, which freed up the other Rocket pokémon.
Ash watched as the slugma belched out a glob of fire that met a stream of water from one of the squirtles, both attacks exploding into a cloud of steam.
Dang, Pikachu muttered. Last time I got it because it was in the cloud.
What do you mean? Ash asked, half paying attention to his pokémon as he tried to think up a plan.
Squirtle hit the slugma before and it tried to hide in the steam, Pikachu explained. So, I just shocked the steam.
Ash looked at Pikachu, at the zubats, at Squirtle, and then at Charmander.
He had an idea.
His brain was telling him it was a bad idea without explaining why.
Ash thought that he should try it/Ash knew that he shouldn't do it until he figured out why he thought it was a bad idea.
Ash couldn't bring himself to stop and think. Pokémon were shouting, screaming, yelling, roaring, and making all the noises of pain, anger, and fear. The boy couldn't bring himself to ignore that. He shouted out warnings and suggestions as the melee continued, trying to do as much as he could to spare the pokémon on his side from pain.
And even that was difficult for Ash. His earlier pain hadn't receded; the pokéraised boy had simply overcome it long enough to put it out of mind. But it was still there, lurking, a bill that he would have to pay eventually. It made it difficult for Ash to focus on anything other than the most immediate of circumstances.
The zubats used a Mass Supersonic attack to take down one of the remaining squirtles and Ash knew that they wouldn't be able to win unless something changed. Ash knew that he needed to deal with the zubats.
Charmander! Squirtle! Get over here! Ash cried out, doing his best to be heard over the din of battle. Pidgeotto- And then Ash realized why his idea was a bad one and how he could fix it – buy them some time with another Gust! And then get over here!
Winds spun together at Pidgeotto's command, scattering pokémon. Charmander and Squirtle sprinted across the battlefield, a Shadow Ball attack from the mightyena barely missing them. They ducked and the ball of darkness sailed over their heads, battering down a tree, the explosion of dark energies demolishing bark, branch, and wood.
Ash ducked behind his tree as a shower of splinters rained down around him, ignoring the pain in his back and legs that the sudden movement caused. He leaned out of cover again as the pokémon he had called over arrived.
We're going to try and deal with the zubats, Ash told them. Thank Pikachu for this dumb idea.
Don't go blaming this on me, Pikachu protested from his spot at the base of the tree. What is it anyway?
Charmander, I'm going to need you to get a sustained flame going, Ash instructed, slowly kneeling down until he was near eye level for the pokémon. Squirtle, I'm going to need you to hit that flame with a Water Gun attack, pointing it at the zubats. Pidgeotto, I'm going to need you to guide the steam that they'll make and make sure that it goes towards the zubats. Pikachu-
I'm going to zap the steam! Pikachu grinned an evil grin, tiny bolts of electricity dancing on his cheek pads.
This is a bad idea, Ash went on, grimacing as his wounded leg protested his current position. I don't know why exactly, but-
I'm probably going to get shocked, that's why, Squirtle said. One of the lenses in his sunglasses was broken, allowing Ash to see one of Squirtle's auburn eyes. It had started to water in the haze that covered the battlefield.
The fire that was spreading through the forest had grown large enough that the crackling of the flames had merged into one dull, constant roar. It was another thing that Ash knew they would have to deal with.
That's why! Darkrai's cruelty! Ash swore. He clenched his fists. He was out of ideas and they needed them more than ever! We can't do that then we'll need to-
No, I can take it, Squirtle interrupted. Standing straight, his calm gaze locked with Ash's. We need to stop those zubats, right? And this is our best chance? Then I can do it.
Are you sure? Ash asked, reaching out to put one hand on Squirtle's shoulder. I can't ask you to-
And you aren't asking me to, Squirtle replied. We don't have time to argue. Charmander are you ready?
Yeah! Charmander nodded. Behind him, the battle raged on.
Bulbasaur was cutting through the whipping vines of the bellsprouts with a volley of Razor Leaf attacks; The slugma was taken out by a Bubblebeam attack straight to the face; bits of its body were splattered off of the main mass, the molten goo burning the dead leaves on the forest floor. The zubats had taken out yet another member of the Squirtle Squad and the beedrill was picking itself up off the ground after being briefly taken out of the fight by Pidgeotto's Gust attack.
The zubats were forming up again and Ash knew that they had to act soon or all would be lost.
Charmander, get the flame going! Pikachu, get ready! Ash told them. Pidgeotto, you'll have to be ready to go as soon as the steam is made, but not before. We don't want to let the zubats know what we're doing.
Charmander took in a deep breath and released a small but intense flame. Pidgeotto hovered just above it, eyes lining it up with the zubats. Pikachu scrunched his cheeks, slowly building up an electric charge.
Squirtle? Ash turned to the last pokémon needed. Ash couldn't bring himself to voice the question.
Can't let them show me up, now can I? Squirtle gave Ash a lopsided grin. It wouldn't be very cool. Time to do this!
Squirtle spat out a Water Gun attack, straight into Charmander's flame. Water and fire met with squelching hiss and a cloud of steam was born.
Pidgeotto! Ash commanded. Wings flapped and a horizontal column of wind swirled around the steam cloud, guiding it towards the zubats. And before they could react, Ash spoke again.
Pikachu! Go! Ash cried out. At his command, Pikachu gave a cry and let loose one more Thunderbolt attack. The yellow light couldn't overcome the shrouding haze, the buzz was lost to the roar of the fires in the forest around them, but the bolt was true. It hit the steam cloud.
Jagged yellow lines drew themselves in the cloud, crackling, buzzing, dancing, and sparking. Pidgeotto's winds carried the cloud towards the zubats, who were preparing to launch a mass Supersonic at Bulbasaur. They noticed the incoming attack too late.
Zubats shrieked as scalding steam and excruciating electromagnetic currents engulfed them. Squirtle let out a noise that was half scream and half groan as some of the electric current traveled down his attack, earthing itself in him. Ash reached out to touch him, to comfort him, but the snapping sparks and buzzing current warned him away.
Squirtle powered on through the obvious pain and his water attack kept coming. Charmander kept his flame burning bright. Pidgeotto's winds spun. And Pikachu swayed in place, screaming a war cry as he kept unleashing his electric power.
Ash heard shouts coming from the other side of the clearing and the remaining Rocket pokémon leapt into action.
The mightyena opened its mouth again, dark energies growing. But instead of unleashing another Shadow Ball attack, the energies extended from the canine pokémon's mouth and formed a blade. The dark-type charged forward, dark blade pointed right at Charmander.
Cubone ducked under a Water Gun attack, smashing its bone club into the backside of a squirtle's shell to send it sprawling on the ground. It then dashed forward; the bone club held high.
The poochyena dashed towards the largest concentration of Squirtles and then suddenly, there were three more poochyenas on the field. Snapping and snarling, they harried the squirtles, real and illusory teeth biting at tails and ankles.
Beedrill soared around the sparking cloud, stingers lining up with Ash and the pokémon near him.
The remaining vines twisted themselves together and formed a whipping trunk-tentacle. It lashed out at Bulbasaur, who sidestepped the attack. The strike left a large divot or small ditch in the ground.
Enough of this! Bulbasaur snarled. When the combined Vine Whip lifted up, Bulbasaur's own vines lashed out, wrapping around the mega-vine and lifting himself to it. Small brownish pellets flew through the air, nearly invisible in the smoke and the smog and the haze. More vines erupted, leafy vines growing all over the mega-vine, wrapping around it and digging into it.
Bellsprouts cried out in pain as a red glow engulfed their combined vine. It lashed to and fro in desperate agony, forcing the mightyena and the cubone to abandon their charges to avoid being clobbered.
More things flew through the air, blade-sharp greenery. Beedrill was forced to drop from the air to avoid having its wings shredded by the Razor Leaves.
Zubats tried to scatter, but Pidgeotto manipulated her winds to draw them back in. Supersonic shrieks echoed within the cloud, the zubats accidently turning their attacks on each other in their agony. Blue pokémon began to droop and drop from the air, only to be caught by the whirling winds and either spat back into the heart of the cloud or spat limp into the air, to crash unmoving on the ground.
Everyone let up! Ash shouted on instinct. Pidgeotto, Gust around us now!
Winds swirled, sucking in smoke and dust, forming a dark rotating column that surrounded Ash and the pokémon next to him. Ash waited with bated breath, trying to perceive if there had been any attacks coming. He couldn't tell; he couldn't tell if he had just started to panic from being exposed for too long or if there had been a genuine reason to suspect they were in danger.
Alright, Ash said as Pidgeotto's winds began to die down. Everyone-
Ash's sentence was interrupted by something small and gray smashing through the dying winds. Ash fell back, the thing passing just over the boy's shoulder, tearing the shoulder of the boy's jacket and the shirt underneath.
Pikachu shouted in distress and there was a small, abortive buzz. As Ash fell down, managing to avoid landing flat on his back, he could see that the electric type had collapsed. Pikachu twitched and tried to push himself up on trembling limbs, but each attempt failed.
Ash! Charmander shouted and Ash turned his head to see that the grey blur had landed in the middle of the group. It was the aron from earlier and it had turned around and was staring Ash straight in the eyes.
Claws glowed as the diminutive steel type prepared to charge again, pausing only as Charmander roared his high-pitched roar. Ash and the aron turned to see Charmander charging, an orange glow growing in his mouth. The aron dashed to the side, only to run straight into Squirtle.
No you don't! Squirtle said. The water-type was singed, covered in minor electrical burns, and wisps of smoke were still rising from his shell to be lost in the smoky haze, yet he was still able to Tackle the aron before it could take off.
The aron was able to push through Squirtle's attack with ease but not fast enough to escape Charmander. The crackle of Charmander's flames was lost to the sounds of the fires surrounding them, their shine was dimmed by the smoke, and even the smoke was smothered by the haze. The aron's scream of pain, however, was clear as Charmander's Fire Bloom engulfed it.
Squirtle grimaced as some of the flames singed him; his grip on the aron didn't falter. Charmander kept exhaling his flames until the aron quit struggling. Only when it was limp and glowing red did he relent.
Squirtle let go of the steel-type and looked down at his hands. Burns from Charmander's attack had joined his collection of burns from Pikachu's attack; his blue skin had turned an angry purple color where the flames or the heated steel had touched it.
Squirtle, Ash began, reaching out to comfort the water-type.
Not now, Squirtle waved away Ash's arm. We've still got to worry about the other pokémon!
Ash looked out onto the battlefield again. The bellsprouts had managed to free their vines from Bulbasaur's Leach Seed by separating and were once again harassing the Squirtle Squad, assisted by the beedrill. The poochyena was lying unmoving on the ground in a puddle of water. The mightyena and the cubone were fighting Bulbasaur, bone club caught by vines, while the mightyena's shadowy blade was forced to parry Razor Leaf attacks.
Ash coughed; the smoke was growing worse. He hunched down, trying to stay under the worst of it. His mind blanked while he tried to think of what he needed to do, beyond lying on the ground, tired and aching.
Charmander, Ash said eventually. Go deal with the bellsprouts. Squirtle, go help your squad. Pidgeotto, fight beedrill.
Wha- Pikachu said, slowly pushing himself up beside Ash. What should I do?
It took Ash far too long to think of the answer, his brain blanking again as the other pokémon ran off to rejoin the battle.
You should, Ash began. He felt like he was forgetting something. Something important that he had figured out earlier. But it was getting so hard for the boy just to keep his eyes open. Dull pain engulfed the entirety of the boy's body and every part felt so heavy to the boy. You should…..
I should what? Pikachu asked, staggering against the tree.
Ash saw a hint of purple by firelight and a new shot of adrenaline surged through him.
Move! Ash shoved Pikachu out of the way with one hand. A brace of needles stabbed into the ground where Pikachu had been, one needle impaling itself in the soft flesh of Ash's arm.
Ash! Pikachu screeched when he saw what had happened.
Pikachu, get going! Ash shouted. His new reservoir of adrenaline allowed him to get his shaky feet. It allowed him to duck behind the tree. It allowed him to grit his teeth, and as his poisonous pokémon parent had taught him, the adrenaline enabled him to grab the poisoned needle and push it through his arm before the poison had any more time to spread.
No, Pikachu said, joining Ash behind the tree. I'll hold them off while you get out an antidote-
No need, Ash hissed through gritted teeth, clutching his arm. Hot blood began to seep through his fingers as the boy applied pressure to the wound. I didn't let it sit and I don't think that they're strong enough to poison me with a single stinger.
Ash looked around, trying to see if the poison-type attacker had gotten a new angle on him. He then threw a quick glance out into the clearing to see how the others were doing.
Charmander and the Squirtle Squad were driving off the remaining vines, while Pidgeotto was harrying the beedrill. Squirtle, separated from his squad, was blasting the cubone with Water Gun attacks, sending the ground type staggering back. Bulbasaur had the mightyena backpedaling, occupying the shadowy blade extended from its mouth with Razor Leaf attacks, while whipping at its sides with his vines.
Ash could see that, while they didn't need any assistance, they wouldn't be able to help him either. He looked down at Pikachu, who was panting, trembling, and lathered in sweat, dirtied and bruised.
Pikachu, if I told you to run away right now, you'd just call me an idiot, right? Ash sighed.
You're finally getting it, Pikachu replied through his panting, a small smile on his face.
You still have a Thunderwave left in you? Ash asked, scooping the small yellow pokémon up.
I think so, Pikachu replied. That's going to be our plan?
Well, there's two of them if I counted correctly, Ash said, while slipping around the tree. So what we're going to-
Once again Ash caught a glint out of the corner of his eye and he ducked. The Poison Sting attack thudded into the tree behind him. He stumbled forward. Another brace of needles embedded themselves into the ground by his feet.
Ash immediately started moving perpendicular to his previous course, hoping to find some way to avoid the second attacker. More Poison Sting attacks flew around him, but Ash ducked and dodged, Pikachu in his arms. Ash's back, which had been neglected, ignored, and abused in significant amounts throughout the night, protested each movement with a jolt of pain.
Ash struggled to think of a plan, a way to deal with the poisonous attackers on either side of him, but between the smoke invading his lungs, the pain jolting and bounding through is body, and the exhaustion that weighed down on every part of him-
"Hey!" A familiar voice cut across the clearing. "I'm the one you want, right?! Well I'm over here! Come and get me!"
Ash looked towards the source of the voice. Aoba, looking a little worse for the wear, stood on the edge of the clearing.
No! Ash shouted, not realizing that the man wouldn't be able to understand him.
Why are all humans so stupid! Bulbasaur exclaimed, loud enough to be heard of the roar of fire and the din of battle.
But, at the same time Bulbasaur's vines snaked up to the side and picked up a nearby rock. He hurled it at the mightyena, who had been momentarily distracted by Aoba's appearance. The dark-type yelped and the shadowy blade vanished from its mouth, dissipating into wisps of darkness.
Bulbasaur's vines wrapped around the canine-like pokémon's head and upper body. They lifted the mightyena into the air and then they came down. The Rocket pokémon was slammed into the ground, picked up, and then slammed again. Bulbasaur then threw the limp pokémon into the air, before firing off another brace of Razor Leaves.
It happened too fast for Ash to look away. Aoba had just appeared and then the mightyena was letting out horrible cries as it was slashed to pieces in midair.
Ash's eyes closed; he fell to his knees. His stomach lurched and Ash couldn't fight it. It was too much. The entire night was too much. Ash couldn't take it/Ash knew he had to keep going.
Ash! Pikachu cried out from within the boy's arms. Move! Please move! Get to cover now!
Ash forced himself to stumble forward, tensing in anticipation of the Poison Sting attacks that were surely coming.
But none came.
The boy looked around, caught between sweat relief and sheer terror. No deadly needles flying at him. No hints of purple by firelight.
But there was movement in the trees, glimpses of dark shapes moving in Aoba's direction. The former biochemist saw it as well. The man turned and ran back into the trees and the dark shapes followed.
Just what we needed, Bulbasaur snarled, before taking off after them.
No! Ash watched as the man, the man he was supposed to be protecting, get hounded and hunted into the fiery night woods.
Ash wouldn't let them catch Aoba. Ash couldn't let them catch Aoba.
His limbs weren't responding fast enough. His body was soaked in a bone deep weariness that he had never felt before. His head was stuffed with cotton. He had begun to grow numb to all the pain that he had been through that night. He could no longer breathe without coughing.
Ash didn't care.
Something inside of him changed, or maybe broke, or maybe something inside of him was always meant to break. The boy's limbs steadied, his mind cleared, and the weariness vanished.
Ash took off after Aoba, Pikachu clutched in his arms, running faster than he had ever run before.
AN: I'd like to thank laurwest and blackcatspecialist for beta reading this chapter.
I'd also like to thank everyone who left a review or comment. I appreciate them all, even if I don't respond.
Got some thoughts on this arc, but I think I'll save them for the next chapter.
I hope everyone's staying safe.
Don't forget to comment or review! :AN