Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon. All rights go to the Pokémon Company Inc.
Chapter 4: Team Flare Strikes!
I woke up at 7:30. The sound of morning was like a song. Fletchling were chirping and the morning air smelled of berries on trees. I looked through the opening at the top of my tent. The sunrise was beautiful as it casts a variety of colors in the sky. I put on my normal clothes and headed out of the tent. Clemont was there preparing breakfast for the group.
"Morning Clemont." I said cheerfully. He looked up.
"Good morning Ash. Did you sleep well?" He asked.
"I slept like a rock!" I exclaimed as I stretched and yawned. He just smiled.
"Bonnie and Serena awake?" I ask. My question was answered by Serena's voice inside her tent.
"Yeah I'm up. Bonnie's still asleep though. Clemont you want me to wake her?" She asked.
"No it's okay. She can sleep a little longer. She needs that sleep." He says. Serena comes out of her tent in her normal attire and for some strange reason I felt a little bit of butterflies when I saw her.
"What are you doing Ash?! You've seen her like that hundreds of times before?!" My brain asked at me.
"Come on brain. You have to admit she is very pretty. Plus you haven't really been the romantic kind. Maybe it's time to try." My conscious told my brain. My thoughts were broken when I heard Serena's voice.
"Uhh Ash are you all right?" She asked.
"Uhh y-yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" I asked stuttering.
"No reason." She said dropping it. Although I could tell she wanted to find out more. I snap out of my trance and remembered that we go to Terminus Cave today.
"Yeah I just remembered we're going to spend time at the Terminus Cave. Isn't it rumored that there is a Legendary Pokémon hiding out there?" I ask.
"Yeah. They say it has a massive purple tail and light purple of the rest of the body with a dark purple oval on it's stomach." After that description I gave everyone a I-know-who-that-Pokémon-is look.
"You know who it is don't you Ash?" Serena I said. I nod.
"Mewtwo." I say and everyone looks up at me shocked and confused.
"Wait you're not talking about THE Mewtwo right? The one that that was created by an evil organization?" Asked Serena.
"Yeah and you wanna know who that organization is?" I asked smirking knowing what their reaction is going to be.
"Who?" They all ask collectively.
"Team Rocket." I simply say and all of their mouths are now touching the floor.
"Are you serious?!" Asked Clemont in disbelief.
"Yep." I say.
"What happened? How was it created?" Bonnie asked curiously.
"If I remember correctly, Team Rocket created it in a lab in some sort of like floating chamber. After that they began mistreating it for Arceus only knows how long. And when Mewtwo was powerful enough to turn on the humans it did it with a vengenance. Some say it's rumored it killed some of the scientists that mistreated it. And from there on out it does not trust people." I say.
"Why is it that people are so mean to Pokémon it makes me sick? Almost makes me not feel bad for them being killed by it." Serena asked in anger. I was nodding with her in agreement.
"Yeah I feel you. When I saw Kagetomo kick his Weavile when it clearly couldn't battle anymore I was furious. At that point on I was seeing red. I was on a whole 'nother level of being mad at him for doing that." I said with a hint of irritation in my voice.
"Well good thing he was reprimanded and put away. Hopefully he goes away for a while." Clemont said. I nodded in agreement.
"I'm sure he will. Kidnapping someone while committing a bunch of vandalism while also Pokémon abuse will not sit well with the police and the courts." Serena said.
"Yeah. Well we should get going," I said checking the watch. It was almost 8:30.
"It's time to get ready to go to Terminus Cave. Who knows how long we will be there." I say. I then get up and grab my backpack and went to get my Pokébelt. I then put it on and started walking ahead and waited for them. After a couple of minutes they catch up to me.
"Alright let's go." Serena says while holding out her tablet.
"Alright it says we have to walk up this path and then make a sharp left and then the first right and then we'll be on a trail that will take us directly to the cave." Serena says. We all nodded signaling that we understood.
"I guess while we're here we can do some training. Greninja and I." I say pumped up.
"Pika-piiii." Pikachu said as he was dozing off on my shoulder. Saying he was gonna get some beauty rest. I chuckle. He really likes his sleep.
"Ash I think it'd be best if you were to take a break from training Greninja. You haven't been training Pikachu and the rest of your Pokémon. Or if you're gonna be training only Greninja at least tell them. They at least deserve to know that." Serena says in a slightly stern voice. A pang of guilt overcomes me. She was right about that. I haven't trained Pikachu, Talonflame, Hawlucha or Noivern at all the past couple of days and Goodra was back at his home in the marshlands. I take out three Pokéballs and toss them out. Out came Hawlucha, Noivern and Talonflame. And I woke Pikachu up.
"Hi guys," I say with a smile. "Look I'm very sorry I have not been training you guys that much due to me and Greninja's special form that has to do something with our bond. I just would like to let you guys know that I will continue to train you definitely, most of my training will lean toward Greninja just until we can master the form. Is that okay everyone?" I asked while I looked in each of one of their eyes. They seemed a little disappointed, especially Pikachu, but they nodded as they want to have a good member on our team. I smile guiltily as I look at them. "Thanks guys. And I promise to train all of you soon." I say and they cheer. I take out they're Pokéballs and put them back in them. I put Pikachu back on my shoulder. We then continued walking a little bit until we hit the mouth of a cave.
"Hey Serena, is this it?" I ask.
"Yep. This is Terminus Cave. Looks very creepy." She said in a disturbed tone.
"Well there should be nothing to worry about. The only thing that would be living in there are Noibat and the occasional Zubat." Clemont said. I don't think that helped any bit.
"Brother will you keep me safe?" Bonnie asked in a frightened voice while latching herself onto him. Clemont was shocked at first, but then looked down and smiled and patted her head.
"Of course Bonnie." He said as we began walking and exploring the cave.
Unknown POV
"Are we ready to initiate the attack?" A green haired woman asked while spying on the kids.
"I think it's time. We need that Z1 cell." Said another with purple hair.
"We should be careful. I've heard that the boy with the blue jacket has some powerful Pokémon with him." Said the green-haired girl.
"Roger. Let's move in with caution." The purple-haired girl replied as they move from their position to intersect the young adults heading into Terminus Cave.
Ash's POV
"Man this cave is damp." I say as we continue into the dark damp cave. The light of the entrance behind us becomes farther and farther away. All of the sudden a sound happens a few yards ahead of us. We stop and Bonnie is clinging onto Clemont while Serena was hiding behind me.
"What was that?" I asked on alert.
"I don't know. Maybe a stone fell." Clemont said a little shaken up. Although I didn't care what it was. If there was a challenge I would stand up to it no matter how big it is.
"Who is there!? Show yourselves!" I yell into the darkness. I don't even know how I knew that someone was there. Or two people. Then I can see the outline of two figures. I guessed it right. I was dumbfounded to how I knew, but I snapped out of it quick. Both of the people had Pokémon at their sides.
"Well, well, well I see you heard us. Well congrats, but that's not gonna save you now." Said one of the figures laughing. They step close enough to where I can see them. Nearby there was a lake with a green light emitting from it which made it easier to see. There were two ladies dressed in all red with white stripes on part of their uniforms. They both had a curvy F on their uniforms. One had short purple hair that stopped short at her upper neck and purple lip gloss. The other had green hair that stopped just above her shoulders and she was wearing green lip gloss.
"Who are you and what do you want?" I ask with a growl.
"We want merely what's ours. That Z1 cell needs to come with us." Said the green haired lady.
"Well Bryony I think we're gonna have fun here today." Said the purple-haired girl mocking a laughing tone.
"Yeah we will but remember why we're here Celosia." Says the green-haired girl in a tone that meant let's get to business.
"Now if you don't mind we would like that Z1 cell." Celosia demanding us.
"You mean Squishy?" Bonnie asked.
Bryony walked up to Bonnie and kneeled to Bonnie height. Bonnie was guarding her bag and Clemont came up to her and put her behind him and glared at Byrony. Byrony stood up laughing.
"Aww how cute. I see you made a nickname for it. Squishy, Z1, it doesn't matter we'll be taking it. And if you're not willing we will simply force you." Says Bryony pointing at us and their Pokémon going into fighting position. They had a Manectric and a Liepard.
"I'm not gonna let that happen." I say angrily. I pulled out a Pokéball.
"Greninja, I choose you!" I yell throwing his Pokéball with a lot of force. Greninja popped out and was in fighting position.
"Braxien let's go!" Serena said while tossing her Pokéball.
"Luxray time to battle!" Clemont said as he brought out Luxray.
"Hmm. I expected resistance from you. Oh well, it's not going to work. Manectric use Thunderbolt!" Celosia said and it created a Thunderbolt and shot it at all of the Pokémon. I wasn't going to let that happen.
"Greninja use Water Shuriken!" I say with force behind my tone. Greninja created just one shuriken, but it was at least three times bigger than a normal one. Apparently my feelings got to him. Everyone looked a little surprised.
"Liepard use Dark Pulse full power." Bryony says quickly as Liepard created a pulse of dark energy stronger than normal to match the Water Shuriken. The three attacks clashed and they all came out even. A massive smoke cloud was formed. I was going to use that to my advantage.
"Greninja use Aerial Ace!" I said and Greninja's fins grew white and he raced toward Manectric through the smoke and hit it straight under it's chin. Manectric struggled to get up, but eventually it did shaking off the attack.
"Grrr." I growled out of anger while gritting my teeth. More people dressed in these uniforms came out from behind us and Clemont and Serena faced them as I had to take out these two.
"We got this Ash don't worry!" Clemont said. I nodded and faced back to the battle in front of me.
"Liepard use Shadow Claw!" Bryony said.
"Greninja use Cut to counter!" I say as he pulled out a long, white sword and met with the Shadow Claw. They sparred for a minute before they eventually stopped.
"Alright Greninja use Water Shuriken!" I say as Greninja created two shurikens this time as they both hit Bryony's Liepard. After the smoke cleared it was revealed that it was still standing, but was shaken by the attack.
"Alright get in close and finish with Aerial Ace!" I say as he ran forward his fins glowing white and he was about to hit Liepard when a yellow light hit him and he flew back and hit the wall behind me. I totally forgot that I was battling two people. I hear footsteps behind me as Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie are now behind me. Looks like they defeated the other people in these unifroms. I signal them to stay back.
"You said his Pokémon were strong." I heard Celosia say while laughing and walking closer to us. That fueled my anger and also Greninja's. Pikachu was back with the other three so he couldn't hear. But I'm pretty sure he would be pretty upset too if he had heard that.
"Greninja you can still battle right?" I ask Greninja with hope and anger. He immediately gets up. He looks back at me. We nodded at each other.
"Alright! Let's go!" I yell pulling my arms back, my fists pointing to the sky. My heart beat speeds up and my body feels like it's burning up. But that doesn't bother me. Me and Greninja let out a big yell and the torrent of water surrounds Greninja. Within a couple of seconds Greninja changes it's appearance to look like my attire. Everyone looked on in shock especially Celosia and Bryony. The torrent eventually died down. Like before my vision changes again to Greninja's.
"Greninja Water Shuriken!" I say as Greninja forms a shuriken and throws it at Manectric.
"Manectric use Shock Wave!" Celosia says as a stream of electricity connects with the Water Shuriken. They both collide and the attacks are even.
"Liepard Shadow Claw!" Bryony says as Liepard leaps through the smoke and hits Greninja. I feel a sharp pain in my right arm and I clutch it. I just felt the pain of Greninja. Then my sight with Greninja comes and catches me in shock.
"Use Cut now!" I yell as Greninja used Cut to hit the Liepard down. Bryony groaned in frustration.
"Manectric use Thunderbolt!" Celosia says as Manectric uses it's Thunderbolt.
"Greninja dodge and use Water Shuriken!" I say as Greninja ran past the Thunderbolt and uses his Water Shuriken and it hits Manectric hard. They were both down for the count. Me and Greninja then disconnect as he transformed to his original form. We were tired, but were still standing. Although after a couple of seconds we sat down.
"Hey Ash are you alright?" Clemont asks as he runs over concerned.
"Yeah. Whatever this is it's taking it's toll on us." I say still breathing a little heavy. Although I stand up thanks to everyone helping me.
"Greninja-ja-ninja-grenin." Greninja says as I help him up. He was talking about how we will be able to understand and eventually master this form soon. How did I understand him? No matter I had to get rid of these guys.
"Yeah we can Greninja. No matter how long it takes. Let's continue to fight." I said. But it looks like they tapped out.
"Uggh. We can't do this anymore. Manectric use Flash!" Celosia says as Manetric produces a blinding, large white light that envelopes the area. I look away and as soon as the light died I looked back. They were gone.
"I wonder who they were." I say.
"If I remember correctly I recall there being an evil organization here in Kalos. Their name is Team Flare. Hence the F's on their outfits." Clemont says. That didn't matter. What did was that everyone was safe and Squishy was still here as it poked its head out of Bonnie's bag to see if the danger was clear.
"Well let's head back to the cave entrance. We need to rest well for the second part of Serena's Showcase tomorrow." Bonnie said excitedly. We all nod and walk out of the entrance of the cave and back to the camp. It was the afternoon and I need to train Greninja and my other Pokémon as well as I promised them. Greninja and I were going to master this form no matter what.
