Ash sat between Brock and Pikachu near the edge of the cliff as Butterfree soared off into the flock. Brock watched through a pair of binoculars while Pikachu napped on Ash's other side. Ash had his pokédex out and had turned on the speech-to-text function so that he and Brock could dictate their observations.
"Oh, that didn't take very long," Brock commented, pointing at Butterfree. Ash followed his finger and could see that Butterfree was receiving a dance from another member of his species. When Butterfree didn't react the dancer sadly fluttered away.
"Oh, that poor, poor thing," Brock sighed. "Still, it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all."
"I guess," Ash shrugged.
"Oh, that saying is just wasted on you." Brock said archly. "Still, in a few more years you might start getting it..."
"Getting what?
"Nevermind." Brock sighed and returned to watching the flock.
Butterfree flitted through the cloud of his species while Brock and Ash watched and debated about what was happening. They both made sure to describe several of the interactions they saw between members of the flock for the benefit of the pokédex. They watched Butterfree, identifiable by his scarf, reject suitor after suitor.
Brock slowly shook his head as one slunk away. "You gotta make sure to butter him up first," he said with a grin.
Ash rolled his eyes.
"Oh, didn't make it home free," Brock commented after another was rejected, eliciting a groan from Ash.
"I guess they shouldn't have bugged him," Brock said after another failure to woo Butterfree.
"You're awful," Ash told him, cradling his face in his hands.
"I'm Brockful, you mean."
"That doesn't even make any sense!"
"It doesn't need to," Brock said, face sporting a shit-eating grin.
"Your poor brothers and sisters," Ash groaned. "They had to put up with this for two years?"
"Oh, I was making these jokes before I started taking care of them," Brock informed the boy.
"Your poor family," Ash shook his head slowly.
"Oh, they loved it," Brock said. They turned back to look at the flock in time to see another suitor fail to attract Butterfree. The two watched it slink off in silence.
"Those poor pokémon," Brock sighed. "It's not easy to do what they're doing."
"Huh?" Ash looked over at Brock, his brow furrowed.
"To go up to someone they're attracted to and try and talk to them. To be upfront about their interest." Brock looked down at the ground between his legs, a grimace on his face. "It's not easy. I've been where they are."
"You have?" Ash's eyebrows shot up. "I thought you were too young to be interested in romance."
"What- Who- Aaron, how old do you think I am?" Brock asked, giving Ash an incredulous look.
"Uh…." Ash searched his memory. "You became a gym leader when you were sixteen, I think, and it's been two years, so around eighteen?"
"Yes!" Brock said. "How old do you think you need to be to be interested in romance?"
"Uh… twenty something?"
"Ugh," Brock groaned, face in hand. "Aaron, you can start being interested in that stuff younger than you are now."
"What? Really?" Ash thought back to his sex-ed courses. "Well, I guess that's what they taught us in school, but it seems like only old people were interested in that stuff."
"Old people- Twenty something isn't old!" Brock said in a voice that was halfway between a groan and a cry.
"It is to me," replied the twelve-year-old Ash.
"Oh, Groudon save me," Brock pleaded to the earth.
They turned their eyes back to the sky. They saw Butterfree join the group of pokémon trying to woo the pink butterfree. They winced when the brawl started. They observed what appeared to be Butterfree talking to the pink butterfree. They watched with bated breath as Butterfree danced for the pink butterfree. They cheered when the pink butterfree danced back.
"He did it!" Ash said, jumping up and down in excitement.
"Good job Butterfree!" Brock cheered, pumping his fist in the air.
Then Ash saw something that made him quit jumping.
"And- uh… are they supposed to be doing that," Ash asked, pointing at a butterfree falling from the sky.
"No- It's not the only one, look!" Brock pointed at a few others that had started to fall.
"What's going on?" Ash exclaimed, grabbing for Butterfree's pokéball.
"I don't know, but I've got a bad feeling about it," Brock said, hauling himself to his feet and grabbing a pokéball. "Zubat!"
Wait, what's going on, Pikachu asked groggily, picking himself up from his nap.
White light blazed and Zubat appeared before them, hovering.
"Zubat, find out if there are any strange people or pokémon nearby!" Brock ordered. Zubat turned around, opened his mouth wide, and then Ash could hear the faint ringing from the use of Supersonic. Zubat turned back to look at Brock and then pointed to the base of a nearby cliff with his head.
Ash's eyes followed and found a large bank of fog at the base of the cliff. Looking closer he thought that he saw barely perceptible movement. He looked back at the falling butterfrees just in time to see a tentacruel grab it before it hit the water. Beside it, an orange water type, with pincers and three spikes on its head, jumped out of the water to grab another.
"I think we've got some poachers on our hands," Brock growled, grabbing some more pokéballs from his belt.
"They're not getting Butterfree!" Ash growled and then tried to recall his pokémon. The red beam lanced out, but Butterfree flew away. He vanished into the flock as it milled around in obvious panic.
Darkai's cruelty! Ash snarled.
Damnit Butterfree! Pikachu swore. What's the point of having one of those things if you don't retreat when you need to!
Ash grabbed another pokéball. White light blazed again and Pidgeot joined the fray.
"Protect the flock!" Ash ordered. "The poachers are doing something to it! Try to shield them with Gust, or just get the falling ones somewhere safe!"
I'll try! Pidgeot cawed before taking wing. She banked, cutting through the air, and into the butterfrees. Columns of swirling wind began to surround sections of the flock.
"That'll only work if they're using something like Sleep Powder or tranquilizer darts," Brock said. "Damnit! Where's Misty when you need her!"
"She could save the butterfrees in the water?" Ash asked, watching another butterfree get pulled into the ocean.
"She could kick the poachers out of the water," Brock said, shielding his eyes and looking at the cliff base again. "We can't touch them from here-"
"Squirtle can-"
"Do you think Squirtle can handle all the pokémon we've seen in the water and the poachers too?" Brock asked, cutting Ash off.
"No," Ash agreed. "Then... come on… come on!" Ash rubbed the sides of his head, trying to think of something he could do. "Pikachu! Do you think you could hit them there!" He pointed to the bank of fog by the bottom of the cliff.
Pikachu judged the distance with a critical eye.
I could get one good shot there, Pikachu replied, nodding. But I'll need to rest after that.
"He thinks he can do it!" Ash said, turning to Brock.
"We don't know if they've got the stolen butterfrees in there, so be careful," Brock warned. "We don't want to kill the pokémon we're trying to save."
Ash nodded and then turned back to Pikachu. "Ready when you are, buddy."
Stand back, Pikachu warned and then he started to scrunch up his face. Sparks danced around his cheeks and the hairs on Ash's arms began to stand on end as a charge grew in the air. A faint yellow light surrounded him and his eyes were fixed into a glare.
Leave Butterfree alone! Pikachu bellowed as he unleashed a crackling, booming bolt of yellow power. The fog bank roiled and billowed as the electricity coursed through it, tearing it to shreds. People and pokémon cried out from within.
The fog dispersed, leaving a number of cameo-clad humans picking themselves up from an icy platform alongside a poliwrath and a purple pokémon with gems for eyes. They were armed with crossbows and what looked like dart rifles.
"Take cover," Brock said, pushing Ash down as one of the humans below looked over at their perch.
"Hey!" Ash protested, but Brock was already grabbing a pokéball.
"Go, Geodude!" Brock cried out as the pokémon appeared in a flash of light. "Get ready to use Rock Throw!"
"I'm not-" Ash tried to stand up, but Brock grabbed him by the shoulders.
"You can help, just don't let them get a shot off," Brock told him. "You should know to stay behind cover by now."
"Yeah, but-" Ash tried to think of a way to succinctly express the feeling that Brock was going to force him to run away to keep him safe and how even if Brock wasn't planning to do that, rebelling against that the thing that Ash felt Brock was going to do was somehow more important than staying safe. In the end he realized how foolish the sentiment was and stayed down, keeping an eye on Pidgeot while trying to find Butterfree in the flock.
I need to catch my breath, Pikachu panted, laying down beside him. Give me a minute.
Projectiles whistled through the air as Geodude began to bombard the poachers. Ash couldn't see what was happening, but he heard ice cracking and people shouting in anger and panic. He guessed that Brock had his pokémon targeting the platform instead of the people.
"Bulbasaur!" Ash cried out. More light bloomed and the grass type joined the group. "Help Geodude! Listen to Brock!"
"Thanks," Brock replied before turning to Bulbasaur. "Target the ice with whatever you can hit it with."
Makes sense to me, Bulbasaur said with a shrug. He began to join Geodude in the assault, whipping rocks and the occasional Razor Leaf down at the poachers.
Ash crawled to the edge of the cliff and peeked over. The ice platform was breaking up and the poachers were already scrambling and swimming for the cliff. Ash could see the bursts of light that meant that they were sending out pokémon. From the way that the poachers were vanishing under the waves, he figured that they were swimming away using water-types.
"We've driven them off," Brock said from beside Ash. "The flock should be safe. For now."
Ash looked back over at the flock, just in time to see two shapes speeding away, one pink, and one with a scarf around its neck.
Take care of them, Butterfree said, telekinetically depositing a pair of unconscious butterfrees into the care of several members of their flock. He looked around. There weren't any more pokémon falling from the sky. A few butterfrees were held aloft by whirlwinds, watched over by Pidgeot as anxious flockmates fluttered down to retrieve them.
He also saw the commotion by the base of the cliff and realized that he could faintly sense some minds that he couldn't sense before, even though the cliffs should have been out of his range.
It was strange, but Butterfree didn't care about why it was happening. Several members of the flock had vanished into the waters below and Butterfree didn't intend to let the poachers get away with them. He dived until he was out of the flock and pulled up, the wind whistling past as he sped after the poachers.
As he chased, he saw something pulling closer out of the corner of his eye. Something pink.
What are you doing here? Sky Painter asked as she pulled alongside him.
I'm going after the butterfrees those humans took, Butterfree answered. What are you doing?
The same thing! Sky Painter called back. I'm not letting them steal members of my flock!
How are you planning on tracking them? Butterfree asked.
Psychically!
Won't we have to get close to do that?
Not as long as we don't get too far from the flock, Sky Painter told him. How- Right, you're new. Did you try and sense anything while you were with us? If you did you might have noticed-
Is that how I sensed those poachers over here? Butterfree asked as they skimmed over the waters by the cliff base, where chunks of ice melted and tumbled in the waves. But why didn't someone sense them earlier?
They probably had a dark-type or ghost-type shielding them, Sky Painter explained. I don't know why it quit-
I think my trainer and his friends attacked them, Butterfree told her.
Good, Sky Painter nodding and humming in approval. But it looks like the poachers have got a lead on us. Reach out to me and I'll show you how to track them together.
Right, Butterfree nodded. He pushed his mind towards the pink butterfree and felt her mind embrace it. Their minor powers entangled and suddenly Butterfree felt himself sensing further, being gently pulled along with Sky Painter's awareness as she searched for the poachers. The two butterfrees found the poachers, a pod of minds moving beneath the waves.
Ready? Sky Painter asked.
Always, Butterfree nodded.
"Why did Butterfree go charging off?" Ash groaned. "Doesn't he know that it's dangerous?"
Brock raised a single eyebrow and said nothing.
"Ugh, now we're going to have to go after him to make sure he's safe."
Brock was still silent.
"Just flying off into trouble!" Ash complained, throwing up his arms. He sighed. "Alright, we have to find him. Can Zubat help?" The boy asked, turning to Brock, who just kept giving him a look.
"What?" Ash asked upon seeing Brock's expression.
"Nothing," Brock said, coughing into his shoulder.
"Okay," Ash said, shrugging. "So can Zubat help find Butterfree?"
"Yes," Brock nodded, coughing a bit more into the side of his fist. "Zubat has been trained to scout for things in trouble. I have anticipated situations like this one."
"Okay then! Let's go help Butterfree!" Ash said, turning to look out over the ocean. "Honestly, where'd he learn to act like that?"
Yes, quite a mystery, Pikachu said, coughing into a curled forepaw, imitating Brock.
Ash shot Pikachu a suspicious look, while Brock continued his odd coughing.
"Alright, let's find out what's happening, and then we'll need to make a plan." Brock said after he was done. "Zubat, it's time to get to work!"
Sky Painter and Butterfree tracked the poachers to a cave set in the coastal cliffs. The pair landed on the sides of some nearby rocks, peering over the top at the cave entrance. Once again Sky Painter reached out with her senses, using Butterfree's power to aid her.
I can't sense anyone by the entrance, she said. But-
It could be a dark-type or a ghost-type, Butterfree finished for her.
Exactly, Sky Painter nodded. So, we can't rely on sensing them. We'll need to look for them if we're going to get in.
But if they're hidden somewhere we can't see them, then that won't work either, Butterfree pointed out. They'll just jump on us when our backs are turned.
Ugh! That's no good! Sky Painter groaned. We need to sneak up on them so we can free the other butterfrees!
I wonder how they're holding them, Butterfree mused. Are they using pokéballs or cages?
Does it make a difference? Sky Painter asked, shooting him a glare.
It could, Butterfree said, posing like he had seen Ash do when his trainer was thinking. He figured that it might help him think better. As long as Butterfree had to figure things out like Ash usually did, he might as well adopt some of the trainer's tricks as well. I mean we can just grab the pokéballs, even if they've got locks, and then run. But if they're in cages, then we'll need to get them out.
Ugh, Sky Painter groaned again. More to worry about. We need a plan-
I think I've got one, Butterfree said. One of us can act as a distraction, to lure out whatever's guarding the entrance. The other can sneak in and free your flockmates.
That could work, Sky Painter replied. Who's going to be the distraction though?
There was a pause.
I'll do it! Both butterfrees said at the exact same time. They turned to glare at each other. No, I'll do it! They said, again in unison.
Okay, it's my flock, so I should be the one to take the risk, Sky Painter said.
It's your flock, so they'll listen to you if you need to get them out of cages, Butterfree pointed out.
They'll listen to any butterfree then, Sky Painter retorted. I'm a shiny. Humans want those right? They'll be more focused on getting me than you.
Which will make it harder for you to escape when I'm done, Butterfree argued back. If things go right, the sneaker shouldn't be seen, and that means it's safer for you to sneak in.
By your logic, if things don't go right, I'll be seen and I'll be in the middle of the poachers if I sneak in, so it would be more dangerous for me, Sky Painter replied.
That's only if things go wrong, Butterfree said. You'll be in danger either way if you're the distraction.
The sneaking pokémon should know some quiet attacks, Sky Painter said, changing her angle of attack. I don't know any. Do you know Sleep Powder or Stun Spore?
Yes…. Butterfree said hesitantly.
Good. I don't. Sky Painter stated, peering over the edge of the rock again. You should do the sneaking, in case you've got to knock someone out quietly.
I- You- Well- Butterfree sputtered, trying to think of a counter argument. When nothing came to mind he sighed. Look, just be careful, okay?
I'll be fine, Sky Painter reassured him. Now get ready to go.
Butterfree sighed again, took a deep breath, and dived into the water. His body wasn't made for swimming, but if he kept his wings back he could at least not embarrass himself in the water. Submerged, he peeked around the side of the rock
A purplish light shone overhead as Sky Painter did something by the cave mouth, probably a Psybeam attack. A blue and white fish-like pokémon with a yellow star on the top of its face shot from the waters by the mouth of the cave. Butterfree saw it jump in and out of the water multiple times. An orange pokémon with pincers and spikes on its head joined it.
He took the opportunity and swam low, passing under the fight, and then kicked up to the cave entrance. The bug-type hoped that they didn't have a second sentry further in.
The cave entrance became a tunnel with a wide channel in the floor. Butterfree swam up it, trying to keep low and to the side. Keeping his antenna down, he peeked above the surface and grabbed a breath of air. The tunnel led to a cavern further in.
A group of humans sat in a circle, maintaining equipment, preparing a meal over a fire, and one was fiddling with the large rack of cages in the back of the cavern. Inside the cages were limp and unmoving butterfrees. They must have been sedated, sedated so heavily Butterfree could barely tell that they were breathing.
Hurry up with that fire! A pokémon called out from somewhere in the cavern. Butterfree turned to see who had spoken and saw a magikarp in a cage. If you're going to eat me then don't make me wait!
"Poor thing," one of the humans sighed. "But some idiot brought our supplies with us when we went hunting and now, you're our only option. Thanks a lot Jacob."
"Hey!" Another human protested, walking away from the cages he had been fiddling with. "It was supposed to be an easy job. Just nab a bunch of butterfrees from the mating flock. There wasn't supposed to be any danger."
"There's always some danger you nimwit!" The first human growled. "That's the first rule of business."
"Well, I'm sorry that I didn't know that there would be two trainers with artillery trained pokémon and a non-psychic scout there to stop us!"
Quit arguing and eat me already!
Butterfree decided to ignore the magikarp for now. If he could get the captured members of the flock out of their cages and wake them up, then they could make a break for it and pick up the water-type on the way out.
He crawled up out of the water, keeping the group of humans in the side of his vision and then crept low to the floor, to minimize both his profile and the sound of dripping water, sidling up next to the wall of the cavern.
Butterfree had thought his days of skulking around were over with after he had evolved. At least these humans weren't planning on eating him, unlike the unfortunate magikarp.
He held his breath again until he was able to creep around to the cages and hide behind them. The humans were too busy bickering and preparing to cook the magikarp to notice him. Butterfree let out his breath in a sigh of relief and then started to work on the next part of the plan.
The cages weren't simply metal wire boxes. Instead, they were complex electronic structures with wires running all over their surface and a faint white sheen or glow surrounded each cage. Getting closer the sheen felt familiar. It gave off a sensation that reminded Butterfree of the inside of a pokéball. The bug-type didn't know what was up with that. It was probably to stop the other butterfrees from escaping.
He couldn't carry all the cages so he would have to break them. Butterfree's brow furrowed in concentration as he focused on telekinetically breaking the wires and electronics on the nearest cage. The wires quivered for a moment and then broke. Circuit boards bent and then snapped.
Butterfree winced, looking over at the humans, but they were still focused on quarrelling with each other. He returned his attention to the cage. Breaking the circuitry had caused the sheen to vanish. But the pokémon held within hadn't woken up.
Butterfree reached out again, gently shaking the other pokémon. There was no response. He then reached out with telepathy instead. He pokéd the other butterfree's sleeping mind, getting a vague impression of sensations without thought, dream, or knowledge.
Butterfree decided to move onto the next cage. He tugged the wires apart and broke the circuit board in a quieter manner, but also was unable to wake up the occupant. He repeated the process with another two cages. On the third cage he accidently was too forceful with the electronics and it broke with a loud snap. A piece of the board clattered on the ground towards the group of humans.
The group turned to look at the source of the disturbance.
Butterfree flushed red. He sidled away from the cages, ducked his head and then charged forward! He barreled through the humans, scattering Sleep Powder from his wings as he did so. Men and women were bowled over, but they turned their falls into rolls and yanked off their shirts and gloves, getting rid of most of the Sleep Powder.
Butterfree lashed out with Confusion, knocking a woman prone, a pokéball falling from her hand and rolling away. The rest of the humans jumped back and threw their own pokéballs. White light blazed and then Butterfree had company.
There was a poliwrath, a tentacruel, a machop, an elekid, and several pokémon that Butterfree didn't recognize. There was a bipedal blue reptile like pokémon with an eggshell pattern on its stomach. There was a purple pokémon with gems in its eye sockets. There was a blue fish like pokémon with antennas that ended in yellow bulbs.
Butterfree gulped and then shook his head. Well, he managed to say, might as well do my best! Let's do this!
Before any of the humans could give a command Butterfree tackled the elekid. He knocked it on its backside and then flapped his wings to shower it with Sleep Powder. Not bothering to see if it worked, Buttefree darted off to attack the poliwrath.
The humans shouted orders, their voices overlapping. The poliwrath summoned a ball of white-blue light growing over the center of the pattern on its stomach. Butterfree had spent enough time around Misty to recognize an Ice Beam. He dove down just as the poliwrath fired and felt a chill pass over him.
He launched himself up, the machop smashing the ground behind him where he had been fractions of a second ago. Chips of rock from the shattered cave floor bounced off his back and wings as he blitzed towards tentacruel. A stream of stingers from the poison type sped to meet him. Butterfree rolled out of the way, changing course to attack the blue pokémon with the antenna.
The antenna rose and Butterfree had a sudden flashback to what he had heard from Bulbasaur after Surge's gym. He shot upwards and electricity crackled under him. The bug-type rolled and pushed off the cave ceiling, shooting back down at the blue pokémon.
Rock cracked behind him again and Buterfree curled up on instinct. Pain flared in his side as something glanced off of him, spinning the bug-type around. Butterfree flared his wings and glided to a landing, rolling again as his hairs stood on end. Yellow and blue light intermingled, electricity crackled and ice creaked as two attacks converged where Butterfree had been.
Butterfree jumped back into the air, lashing out with Confusion as the machop dashed at him. A faint purple glow enveloped the fighting type as he was bombarded with a series of weak telepathic and telekinetic waves. It tripped and fell flat on its face.
As he did that, the rest of the poacher's personal pokémon formed a semi-circle in front of Butterfree. He ended up with his back to the wall. They slowly advanced, attacks charging, leaving no room for Butterfree to escape. The machop picked itself up and shook its head.
Butterfree gulped. At least he'd given it his best!
That's it! Everyone paused as the magikarp, who had been lying with the discarded cooking utensils and fire suddenly shouted. If you're not going to hurry up and eat me then you can kill me in battle! It threw itself at the back of the tentacruel's head…. Only to bounce off without doing much to the tentacruel.
The tentacruel slowly shook its head, giving the magikarp a pitying look. We'll deal with you later. Now, let's hurry up and finish this!
Butterfree had used the moment while everyone was distracted by the magikarp to quickly form a telekinetic defense. Ice, electricity, needles, water, and ghostly power lanced out. The barrier shattered like a thin ceramic plate. But it bought Butterfree just enough time to slip out of the way. The attacks converged on the cave wall behind him and there was an explosion, smoke billowing out and engulfing Butterfree.
He took the shot and threw himself towards what he hoped was safety. He burst out of the cloud, bits of smoke trailing from him, winging it towards the exit-
The machop grabbed his foot and slammed him to the cave floor. Butterfree let out a gasp of pain. The poliwrath was quick to follow up with a punch to the face and Butterfree's world exploded into stars. His face and the back of his head become throbbing poles of pain that dominated his senses and he went limp.
Finally caught him, Butterfree heard the machop say. There was a tug on his foot and he was pulled along the cave floor. Butterfree groaned and tried to push through the throbbing pain and stars. His vision cleared and he was able to see that he was being dragged towards the cages.
Unhand him! The magikarp shouted, throwing itself at the machop's face. The fighting-type just ignored it, letting the water-type flail ineffectually against it.
"Now we can finally make dinner?" One of the humans said as they walked back to their previous position.
"First we've got to secure the newest capture," another said, getting out a syringe. "I'll just sedate him. Poli, would you hold him down for me?"
Certainly, the poliwrath said. Butterfree tried to yank his foot free before the poliwrath could grab him too, but the machop's grip was made of iron. White hands closed around the top of his torso and Butterfree couldn't get them off-
There was a slight rumbling from the cave ceiling. Everyone looked up. The sound vanished as quickly as it had arrived. The poachers and their pokémon stared up for another moment, waiting to see if it would happen again, before resuming their activities.
Butterfree saw a small crack grow on the wall as he was dragged closer to the cage. His captors didn't see it.
That's why, when the wall exploded outward, and Onix bellowed as he charged forth, Butterfree was able to hit both the machop and the poliwrath with a Confusion attack. They lost their grip and Butterfree rolled away.
Get away from Butterfree! Electricity crackled as Pikachu shouted. People and pokémon alike screeched in pain.
"Butterfree!" The bug-type in question looked up just in time to see his trainer sprint out to him, a potion in one hand, Butterfree's pokéball in the other. Primeape and Pikachu followed Ash.
Onix roared and there were the sounds of battle behind Ash. But the boy paid it no mind, instead proceeding to spray the potion all over Butterfree.
"Pikachu, Thunder Wave when you can," Ash ordered, not looking up from Butterfree. "Primeape, keep them away from us."
Got it!
On it!
Ouch, ouch, ouch, that stings, Butterfree whined as Ash applied the potion.
Quit complaining, Ash growled. This is because you were reckless!
What did I do that's so reckless? Butterfree asked, squirming under the stinging potion.
When you flew off to go attack a bunch of poachers by yourself, Ash said, finishing up and looking Butterfree over again.
I wonder where he learned that from, Pikachu muttered, crossing his forelimbs.
What's that supposed to mean? Ash asked sharply.
Nothing, nothing, Pikachu said, turning his attention back to the fight.
Thanks for the potion, Butterfree said, fluttering back into the air. What's the plan?
At Butterfree's question, Ash looked over the fight in the cavern as he thought over how to answer. It was chaos with people and pokémon everywhere, scattered supplies, a rack of potential hostages, and, for some reason, a magikarp flopping around on the floor.
Onix, Brock, and Geodude were currently battling with the poachers' pokémon. Onix found itself constrained by the tight confines of the cavern and was only halfways in the hole he had dug into the cave wall, striking out and retracting. Most of the poachers' pokémon were forced to try and defend their trainers, blasting at the stone type with torrents of pressurized water and streams of icy power that failed to find the stone snake.
Geodude was brawling with the machop, a close combat match that left small craters in the rock walls and floor, a frantic tangle of limbs where Geodude was barely able to stay one step ahead of the machop and its type advantage, while keeping the fighting-type between it and the water-types.
"Primeape!" Ash called out. "Go get the machop! Butterfree, help Onix! Confusion and Sleep Powder! Don't get close!"
What should I do? Pikachu asked, his cheeks sparking as he looked around.
Stay by me and get ready for something big, Ash told him.
Primeape launched himself at the machop, smashing it with a flying kick. It sailed over the cave floor and then smashed into the opposite wall.
Thanks! Geodude said. I'm going to go help Brock and Onix. Do you think you can handle it?
Go on, Primeape said, watching as the machop picked itself out of the rock. This one's for me!
Geodude ran off on its hands to go help its comrade and trainer. The machop silently launched itself at Primeape, coming in for a jumping overhand blow that could shatter stone. Primeape kicked at its knees, but the machop abandoned its overhand blow and countered with its own kick, the two kicks colliding and the two pokémon pushing off each other, sliding and flying apart.
The machop charged again, sliding in and aiming a kick at Primeape's ankles, with a turn as smooth as still water, lashing out with blinding speed. Primeape jumped the kick, glove like hands snapping out at the machop's head as it slid by, only to be grabbed by the wrist and pulled to the ground, as the machop skidded to a stop and spun around to squarely face Ash's fighting-type.
Blows were exchanged, too many for any watching human to count, grapples being broken and established constantly, flying fists being parried, kicks aimed at the other's legs and sidestepping kicks aimed at their own. The cave floor was torn up by their exchange, divots in the rock appearing all around them as chips of stone went flying.
Primeape disengaged, dashing off like he was going to attack the poachers themselves. He heard the machop chase after him. Primeape spun around on the spot and launched himself back at the machop who was lunging for him with outstretched arms, getting inside its guard. He chopped at both of the grey fighting-type's shoulders, moving such that the full power of his body was channeled through his glove like hands. While the machop reeled back, arms flailing uselessly, Primeape swept its feet, leaving it hanging for a brief moment in the air.
Primeape smashed it with his elbow backed by his body, a small shockwave radiating from the point of impact, the center of the machop's chest. It was blasted back, a grey bullet, and exploded into the cave wall opposite the cages.
Yeah! Primeape pumped his fist in exhilaration. Take it!
His celebration was ruined by two simultaneous events. The machop rocketed back at him from the cave wall and there was a sudden creaking as pain, cold as the depths of winter, engulfed his fist. Primeape groaned, tucking the pained limb to his chest, and then rolled under the machop's axe kick that cratered the floor.
He looked down and saw that his hand was engulfed in ice. It burned with cold and the agony started to radiate up his arm, even as his hand was going numb from the chilling agony-
Sharp pain bloomed in the back of his head and Primeape's vision briefly went white. He felt himself going flying. His vision returned just in time for him to land on his feet, spin around, and then slide back first into the wall, frozen arm still cradled against himself.
The machop was on him right away. Primeape ducked and dodged, letting himself take a piledriver kick to the side in order to get around the machop. He spun around, head throbbing, side burning, and launched his own series of kicks at the machop. Another rapid exchange of blows ensued until foot met fist and the two were sent sliding away from each other.
Primeape fell to one knee, panting, new bruises on his face and body. Electricity buzzed behind him as Pikachu and the blue water-type with antenna exchanged attacks. Onix roared, water rushed, and there were cries of pain as Brock's fight continued.
Primeape looked the machop in the eye. It was standing straight and tall. Primeape could see the bruises he had left on it, but they weren't enough. He was going to need to get Ash to send backup. He couldn't-
You won't eat me, you won't kill me, and now you're ignoring me! The magikarp flopped off the floor, throwing itself at the machop's face. The enemy fighting-type casually backhanded it away and it went flying at Primeape.
Ash's pokémon caught the water-type by the tail. Primeape looked at the magikarp in his hand in astonishment for a brief moment. It was all the distraction the machop needed to hurl itself back at Primeape.
Acting on instinct, Primeape lashed out with the hand holding magikarp, the water-type going rigid in his grip. With a wet sounding slap, Primeape struck the machop across the face with the magikarp. Its head was spun to the side and it staggered and twirled back.
Take that! Magikarp shouted, pointing himself at the machop. Let's get them!
Primeape didn't need to be told twice. He leapt forward as the machop turned back around, smashing down at it with the water-type in his grip. The machop blocked with both arms crossed, wincing at the impact, and then its eyes bulged as Primeape's foot caught it in the gut. It let out a grunt and doubled over. Primeape seized the opening, smashing down with the magikarp on the back of the machop's head with all of the strength in his arm.
The machop was driven face-first into the ground like a nail, the impact cracking the rocky floor beneath it. It went limp, and as Primeape watched, it didn't move again.
Primeape let out a sigh and sat back on the floor, wiping his brow with the hand holding the limp magikarp, eyes closing as the fighting-type relaxed.
Thanks a lot, he said to the water-type in his hand. You were a lifesaver there.
There was no response.
I doubt I could have beat them with my hand frozen like this, Primeape continued, eyes still closed.
Still no response.
It was real nice of you to hit them in the face for me like you did, Pimeape went on. It really helped.
Silence still.
Okay, what's- Primeape began to say, opening his eyes, only to see that the magikarp was limp in his hand.
Oh no! Primeape cried out, holding the other pokémon close. I killed you! I killed you! Damn my temper! When will I have caused enough damage? I'm a monster! A monster I say!
Ugh…. The magikarp groaned in a weak voice.
I've killed this innocent pokémon! Primeape shouted to the heavens above, or at least the cave ceiling above, holding the magikarp above his head. No, I've killed a comrade! I'm the worst of the worst! Giratina, take me now!
I'm- I'm not dead, the magikarp managed to croak out in a weak voice. Though-
A monster! Primeape wailed, accidently dropping magikarp to the hard ground. There was a small thud as the water-type's head met the ground and then the magikarp passed out.
Butterfree drove the poliwrath and the blue electric/water type back with showers of glittering Sleep Powder. Pikachu lashed out at the reptilian the water-type with the eggshell pattern forcing it to retreat with whips of electricity. Geodude pummeled the elekid and Onix was striking everywhere, herding the poachers and all their pokémon towards the cave entrance.
Wind roared and the orange pokémon with pincers and the fish-like pokémon with a star on the top of its head came flying into the cave. Ash heard Pidgeot call from outside, saying, We're clear on this end!
"We're ready!" Ash shouted to Brock.
"Onix, now's the time for Rock Tomb!" Brock ordered.
Onix snapped back, retracting into the cave wall. The ground shook, and Ash stumbled, trying to stay on his feet. The poachers and their pokémon were similarly affected. With a series of loud cracks, the ceiling broke and chunks of rock fell all around the poachers and their pokémon, driving them into the water and trapping them in a ring of stone.
"Pikachu!" Ash called out when the enemy was in position. "Thunderwave!"
You're all mine now! Pikachu shouted, electricity buzzing around him. Large rings of yellow power flew from him, crackling as they swept into the poachers and the water. People and pokémon screamed, limbs jerked and then locked into stillness, and everyone caught in the attack fell over, paralyzed.
"Ha! We did it!" Ash crowed, but Brock shook his head.
"Onix, Geodude, make sure that there aren't any stragglers or sentries we missed," the former gym leader told his pokémon. "Aaron, get Butterfree, Pidgeot, and Squirtle to look outside. We don't want to miss someone. It's going to be hard enough to secure them without worrying about them getting outside help."
"Oh, fine," Ash replied, slumping. "Butterfree, can you go tell Pidgeot and Squirtle to look for anyone we missed outside?"
Sure! Butterfree said, fluttering over to the exit. I think there's something I should- SKY PAINTER! I need to see if Sky Painter's okay! And with that the bug-type sped away.
"Thank goodness I was prepared to do some climbing," Brock said, pulling a large length of rope from his backpack. "Aaron, just stay here while I secure these lowlifes."
"Sure," Ash said while Brock started his task. The pokéraised boy sighed, shrugged, and began to meander around the cave. He caught sight of Primeape sobbing on his knees next to a magikarp. Ash also noticed the frozen limb and hurried over.
Ugh, he said kneeling down next to the fighting-type and rummaging through his backpack. Don't tell Misty this, but it was a good thing she nagged me into buying some Ice-Heals.
Yes, you should listen to the other humans more often, Pikachu said, following Ash. Especially in regards to the matter of my adorableness.
No thanks, Ash said, rolling his eyes, before turning his attention back to Primeape. Let me see your arm.
No, don't waste medicine on me. I'm a monster! Primeape sobbed. I've killed this poor, innocent, magikarp!
Ash looked at the magikarp, noting the rise and fall of its sides, and then looked back at Primeape.
Uh, Primeape-
A monster! You should lock me up in a pokéball for the rest of time! I should be buried under a mountain. And if such a thing isn't enough, then I should be cast into the Distortion!
Primeape-
I am the worst! I am irredeemable! I used him to smash the machop and now he's dead!
Primeape, Ash said, rolling his eyes. The magikarp's alive.
Wait, he is? Primeape's tears instantly stopped.
He's just knocked out, Ash said, spraying the Ice Heal on the fighting-type's frozen limb. The ice dissolved and Primeape's hand was free, though frostbitten and red. Ash followed up with a potion and the limb began to look normal again.
Can we make sure he's alright? Primeape asked, looking at the magikarp.
Sure, Ash replied. We'll put him in a pokéball so he can rest, we'll get him to a pokémon center later, and then we'll ask him what he wants to do after that.
Oh good, Primeape wiped his brow.
Speaking of which, I think you should rest, yourself, Ash said, holding up Primeape's pokéball. Return.
Primeape vanished with a flash of red light. Ash then caught the unconscious magikarp in another pokéball.
Ash, be honest, did you have him join the team so that you'd have someone to feel smarter than? Pikachu asked once Primeape had vanished.
Be nice to him, Ash said. He's trying.
But not succeeding.
Ash sighed.
The boy loitered for a quarter an hour, while Brock worked. Then Pidgeot and Squirtle returned from their search.
We didn't find anything, boss, Squirtle said with a mock salute.
Where's Butterfree? Ash asked after shooting a quick glance at Brock out of the corner of his eye. The former gym leader had just finished returning all the pokémon to the poacher's pokéballs and had started to tie up the now unconscious humans.
He took off with that pink pokémon, Pidgeot told him.
I wonder what they're up to, Ash pondered aloud. Squirtle and Pidgeot looked at each other while Pikachu slapped himself on the forehead.
Ash, do you remember the whole reason we're here in the first place? Pikachu said.
Yeah, Butterfree needed to- oooooohhhhhh… Ash looked out towards the cave exit. So he's-
Yes.
And then they'll-
Correct.
So, he shouldn't be so grumpy when he gets back? Ash said. Well, at least that's dealt with.
Too bad we don't have such a convenient method for Pikachu, Pidgeot commented.
Hey!
I didn't know you were into this, Butterfree, staring up at the winter sunset.
Mating is one thing. Cuddling is another, Sky Painter said, cradling Butterfree between her wing and body, tucking his head in under her chin. I love cuddling.
They lay on the top of one of the cliffs by the cave, pillowed in the tall grass.
Doesn't everyone? Butterfree asked, snuggling closer.
Some beings don't like being touched, Sky Pointer told him.
Oh, I guess, Butterfree said and then yawned. I should probably go back before my trainer starts wondering what happened to me.
Stay for a bit longer, Sky Painter said. There's something I want to try.
Oh?
#Can you hear this? # Butterfree heard her voice in his head.
I could! He said, sitting up in excitement.
Wait, no lay back down-
That was awesome! Butterfree fluttered into the air, turning around to face her. I didn't think we could do that!
It's not easy, Sky Painter sighed and then slowly picked herself up and got into the air. It's easier to do it with someone that you've mated with.
Let me try! Butterfree exclaimed. He bent his focus, reaching out to the now familiar feel of Sky Painter's mind. #Can you hear me? #
#Yes # Came the reply in his own head.
#This is so cool! # Butterfree said, wings flapping excitedly. #Do you know how far apart we can do this? #
#As long as I'm with the flock and as long as we both want to keep doing this, then there's no limit, # Sky Painter told him. #We'll be able to talk even if we're on opposite sides of the world. #
#Too bad we couldn't do this before we went into the cave. # Butterfree replied.
#I had my hands full with that water-type. # Sky Painter replied with a mental shrug. #By the way, why haven't my flockmates been released? #
# They were drugged. # Butterfree told her. # They're probably still asleep. #
# I think I should go get the rest of the flock to take care of them. # Sky Painter said with a sigh. #We'll just carry them until they wake up. #
#So, this is goodbye then? # Butterfree asked, slowly fluttering over.
#I guess it is. # Sky Painter fluttered over to meet him. They touched foreheads. #But we'll be able to talk whenever we want, no matter how far apart we are. #
#Good. Then I'll talk to you later. # Butterfree smiled. # Say hi to the eggs for me. #
#I will. Talk to you later. # Sky Painter smiled back. #And stay out of trouble. #
I'm travelling with the wrong human, then.
Ash and Brock sat on the cliff, next to a small fire, Pikachu snoring next to Ash. Nearby Onix lay curled around the tied-up poachers. A patch of recently dug up earth marked where the pokéballs had been buried by Geodude, who was now resting in his pokéball.
The cages that held the butterfrees had also been brought up just in time for the rest of the flock to arrive and carry away their captured brethren. Now they lay scattered and empty. The flock had gone back to cliffs it had occupied before. No doubt it would depart for the tropical hatching grounds in a few days' time.
"What was with those cages?" Ash asked as the older male worked on cooking something quick and simple. "Why were they complicated and, uh... glowy?"
"How familiar are you with the technology behind pokéballs?" Brock asked, flipping some slices of meat.
"Uh... aren't they just based on apicorns?" Ash said with a shrug. "Like a substitute material?"
"For the last century they've used the same basic principles, but in a very different way than apicorn balls." Brock told him. "There are all sorts of moving parts in modern day pokéballs. Those cages are basically just pokéballs without the miniaturization. Poachers and thieves like them because they're cheaper than high quality pokéballs and you don't need a special pokéball lock to stop the pokémon from escaping."
"That's-" Ash's face twisted into a grimace at the thought of pokémon being kidnapped and trapped, stuck in a cage. Pokémon taken from their home by violence and trickery, pokémon hunted-
He dropped the line of thought he realized where it was going. He and Brock sat in silence for a while longer before Ash spoke up again.
"So how long until those rangers come?" Ash asked as the former gym leader continued to cook. "And how long until Misty calms down?"
"The rangers should be here in a day. As for Misty... well, it depends. Is she more mad at me for taking you into a dangerous situation or because she missed out on an ocean battle?" Brock mused with a small grin. "Honestly the fact that I'm not sure speaks to how responsible she must feel for you."
"Well, it might also be that we were going after poachers," Ash said with a frown, light by the dancing light of the fire. "We met after she tried to stop what she thought were poachers."
"Oh, great, more reasons for her to be upset," Brock said with a small laugh. "She'll calm down by tomorrow... I hope. Just be glad that we're not travelling with Matt and Maxine- some gym from Celadon City who really know how to hold a grudge."
"That would've only happened if they had been training in the Viridian Forest instead of Misty," Ash said, looking at the fire.
"Yeah and if it had been them, we might never have met either," Brock sighed. "It's funny, just how many things had to happen for things to be like this. I mean, if Team Rocket hadn't attacked Pewter City, I might have never have been free to go with you."
"And if it hadn't been for Professor Oak, I wouldn't have let you," Ash said, crossing his arms and pouting.
"Yeah, you were even more of a brat when we first started," Brock said, with another small laugh. "But, yeah, that was another thing that needed to happen…. Just like your choice to go around Saffron City….. and…." Brock trailed off while the food sizzled in the pan.
"Aaron, why did you decide to take this route?" Brock asked eventually.
"Because you wanted to show me-"
"No," Brock shook his head. "I mean why did you decide to travel along the southern coast to reach Fuchsia City?"
"I-" Ash opened his mouth to answer and then left it open as he thought. Why had he decided to come this way?
There hadn't been a reason. The thought, the urge, the desire to go by the southern coast had just struck him out of the blue. It wasn't anything unusual for him; Ash made a lot of his decisions based off of a whim or a sudden impulse.
"I- I think it was just 'cause I wanted to," Ash said finally. "I didn't have a reason."
"Are you sure? Because if we hadn't come down this way, then Butterfree wouldn't have needed to mate, and then we wouldn't have encountered the flock, and the poachers would have managed to kidnap a lot of butterfrees." Brock said, giving Aaron a serious look. "Just like how your decision to go around Saffron saved Aoba. And how you ran into Team Rocket in the Viridian Forest when you decided to go through there."
"Yeah…." Ash found himself unable to meet Brock's gaze and found himself staring into the fire. "Well, actually I sorta went looking for what was happening to the caterpies in the Viridian Forest. And that led to everything else."
"It didn't need to though," Ash glanced back at Brock and saw that the gym leader was still giving him a serious look. The pokéraised boy looked back at the fire. "Just like this didn't need to happen."
"I guess I am just a trouble-magnet then," Ash said, still not looking at Brock.
"Maybe," Brock said. "It's just…. suspicious."
AN: I'd like to thank Amationary and WaffleDogOfficial for beta reading.
Okay, and that's this arc done. I think I did everything I needed to/set out to do, but we'll see if I realize that something's missing after I publish this and have a minor panic attack.
People who read the earlier version of this story might notice a familiar face.
Anyway, I'll be taking another week off to increase the size of my buffer. The next chapter of Symbiotic will come out on the 28th of October rather than the 21st.
Dont' forget to review!