Ash quietly inspected his Pokédex. It seemed mostly intact, with only some dirt on it. Otherwise, it seemed mostly the same as it always was.
"How did it get here?" Pikachu questioned. "Like, Brock says that it was just… in front of him and there was no sign of someone holding it."
"I don't know, Pikachu," Ash said to his starter. He fiddled with its controls and got the Pokédex again.
My name is Dexter and I am a Pokédex programmed by Professor Oak. My assigned Trainer is Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town. If I am lost or stolen, I cannot be replaced. The device buzzed out and completed its introduction.
Ash frowned. Once they had been made aware that Squirtle and Zorua had been missing, everyone had bolted into action to try to find any sign of them. Dexter was the only lead they had, the Pokédex having been given to Squirtle for the turtle to fill up with any interesting information while they were at the library.
Now, the Riolu held the last thing that they had,
"I'm sorry I couldn't give you more information," Brock yawned as he laid his back against a curled up and snoring Onix. "But Dexter is the only thing we found."
Bulbasaur's vines fell on Ash's shoulders. "We'll find them," Bulbasaur's voice hummed with a certain conviction.
"I hope." The Riolu just wanted to know if his friends were alright. "But where are they?"
"Maybe Dexter knows?" Togepi cried from nearby, her voice shrill and excited to help. "Dexter was with them. Maybe he saw where they went?"
Ash blinked.
"Togepi," Misty told her little Pokémon. "Dexter might not know, because he's not… you know, like us."
Togepi tilted her head. "But why? Mister Baltoy knew plenty of things! And he's like Dexter, too!"
Misty's face contorted as she tried to come up with an explanation that the young Pokémon could grasp. "Dexter isn't a Pokémon."
"Is he a Maiju?" Togepi questioned eagerly.
Misty's whiskers twitched, clearly unsure how to answer that.
Thankfully for her, Goldeen came to the rescue. "Mister Baltoy is very knowledgeable because he could remember things and because he can learn on his own, but Dexter isn't very good at remembering things, unless we ask him to remember."
That seemed to bother Togepi a little bit, but eventually Togepi let out a shrill cry and smiled. "Okay!"
For Ash, that explanation gave him a flash of insight. After all, he set Dexter to record everything that happened yesterday.
The trainer-turned-Riolu hit a sequence of buttons and went to search for its latest recording logs. Perhaps Dexter could give an idea as to where his friends had been taken to.
He input the sequence and….
WARNING! Memory error. Unable to load requested video files.
Ash frowned. He was hoping to bring Dexter's video footage to see if there was anything there that would help, but his Pokédex had nothing for him.
"You might have exceeded its memory storage," Brock suggested.
"No," Ash said, going through his Pokédex. It seemed that most of the files he made earlier in the week were still there, but everything from yesterday was inaccessible, as if the files were ruined. "There's still plenty of room for stuff, but I can't access some stuff."
Frustrated, the Riolu hit various buttons in an effort to find anything that could help. People's lives were on the line.
Activating DexNav. The Pokédex buzzed to life, its screen now showing a radar; with a line that slowly rotated around, causing blips to appear on an otherwise blank screen. Locating Owned Pokémon.
Ash's eyes lit up just as several dots glowed on the radar depiction. Most of them were very close by, with the closest being right by Ash's side.
Pikachu let out a chuckle, pointing at the light that represented him. "Wait, is that a function your Pokédex actually has but we never knew about?"
"They never covered this in Gym Leader orientation," Brock said with Misty nodding behind him. "What's DexNav?"
Ash really should have read the manual, but given even his friends had no idea, it could have been a feature of the upgrade Professor Oak gave him ages ago. Hopefully, there was information somewhere. He pressed a few buttons and got what he wanted.
The Dexnav is an experimental feature. Dexter rang out. Its primary purpose is to provide a trainer with information on where to locate Pokémon in the local area. Additionally, this function can be used to locate owned Pokémon that have been misplaced by a careless and reckless trainer."
"Hey!" Ash said, offended at the implied insult.
"It would have really helped a few times!" Pikachu let out a chuckle. "Hey, look on the bright side. That means we know where they are."
Ash frowned, though Pikachu was right. He looked down at the Pokedex's radar and noticed there were two dots out in the distance, far away from town if he had a guess. "That must be them."
"If it is, we should go out there and get them!" Pikachu declared.
"Pikachu, Ash," Bulbasaur called for their attention. "Are you sure that is safe? This could be a trap."
"You think so?" Ash winced, aware that there was every possibility that someone had taken his friends and that they were also planning on capturing the rest of them. On the other hand, they still had no idea of what actually happened.
"Well, it is oddly coincidental that my team found Dexter," Brock offered.
"He was right there, too," Vulpix said.
"And I saw no one!" Zubat said back. "Well, not that I could see, but hey, they should have made a sound imprint.
"Hey," Pikachu crossed his arms. "How does this DexNav thing work? It says it tracks owned Pokémon."
"So, maybe it tracks Pokémon that are registered to me?" Ash thought aloud. His eyes widened as he got the idea that Pikachu was alluding to.
"Since when did you catch Zorua? She doesn't have a Pokéball!" Pikachu declared.
Ash looked down at Dexter's radar screen. There were five flashing lights on the screen. Nearest was Pikachu, with Bulbasuar a close second. Charizard was also shown, a fair distance away from everyone else, but in shouting distance. The only outliers were the two lights that were distant from the camp and the town. If one was Squirtle, then why was Zorua showing up as an owned Pokémon? If she was showing up, then why weren't Misty or Brock or any of their Pokémon on the radar?
The chance that this was a trap skyrocketed, but did they really have a choice?
"It doesn't matter," he said finally. "It's the only shot we have to find them and I want to take it."
Pikachu frowned. "We don't know what we'll face. We don't even know if someone has captured the two of them. We don't even know if the DexNav thing actually works. The only thing we can be sure of is that your Pokédex is… off."
Ash looked at his Pokédex. Pikachu was right. Something had happened to Dexter. And this was not even the first time. Not only did Dexter know he had changed into a Pokémon, but it had somehow managed to capture a picture of Ho-Oh from a memory. He wasn't the brightest, but he knew there had to be something there. Gadgets don't just do that.
He took a gamble and asked a question to his Pokédex. "Do you know who took Squirtle and Zorua?"
For a moment, Ash felt a cold chill run up his paws, before ceasing. Dexter's screen flashed a single image, a Sneasel's face.
The Riolu recognized who that was. It was that same Sneasel who had been at Scholar Aspen's place those weeks ago. Did that mean he had captured his friends?
"That's that Sneasel!" Pikachu blurted out, also recognizing him. He then frowned. "Wait, if Sneasel took Zorua and Squirtle, how did Brock get Dexter? Did they drop it or something?"
"I don't know," Ash shrugged. Admittedly, while he had gotten better at using the tool Professor Oak gave him, he was far from an expert. But, he just knew something happened to his Pokédex, something that he could feel, but it was also something that would have to be looked into another time.
"I don't like this," Misty admitted. "But I think we have to check it out, one way or another. If Sneasel and his friends kidnapped Squirtle and Zorua, we have to get them back."
"Some of us are tired, because of the searching." Brock yawned. "I don't know how many of us would be up for fighting after going through most of the town before we even ran into your Pokédex, Ash."
"If I may," Staryu glittered out. "It's probably not a good idea to bring everyone, regardless. Some of us are resting already or might cause a bit of a ruckus on the way over." He turned a glance towards Togepi. "Furthermore, if we could avoid it, there are some of us who should not be in combat at all."
A round of nods came out from everyone who was still awake and present. If Zorua and Squirtle were where the Pokédex directed, then there was no choice, they had to go rescue their friends. Others would stay behind, in order to ensure the safety of those who were not able to fight for themselves. The fact was, without Pokéballs, no one could be carried into battle in a conveniently sized sphere.
Which led to the question of who went where.
"I'm going with you Ash," Pikachu soundly declared, a fierce look in his eyes that dared anyone stop him.
The Riolu nodded back, glad to have his best friend's help. "I have to go, because Dexter is my Pokédex and he knows where everyone is."
"I should probably go with you, too," Brock interjected. "If you guys get into trouble, I did study some first aid in case we really need it."
"With paws?" Misty questioned.
"I can coach someone else if I have to," Brock said back.
"I uh… maybe I should go, too?" Vulpix said aloud, she seemed hesitant, maybe a little afraid.
"You don't have to go if you don't want to," Ash said, seeing that she was troubled.
Vulpix's face hardened. "I'm fine, if I have to!"
"Togepi needs me," Misty said. "I'm not leaving her behind."
"And my place is by my Mistress's side," Staryu glowed.
"As is mine," added Goldeen.
Psyduck tilted his head. "What were we talking about again?"
Everyone took that as a sign he was not fit to leave.
"Onix and I can stay behind, we'll only slow you down and the big lug is already snoozin'," said Geodude.
"I can see in the dark! And I can fly!" cried Zubat. "I'm fine for either or!"
"Misty could use the company," Brock suggested. "Especially since you're nocturnal by default."
"Alright!" Zubat cried as she found a nearby tree branch to hang onto.
With most of the group having decided on what they wanted to do, Bulbsaur stepped forward.
"If Squirtle is in danger, I have to go, too," the bulbous toad said. He turned a glance towards Pikachu.
"I know it's important to you, so you're free to come with us." The electrical rodent gave him a curt nod.
"Hey, Bulbasaur, I never got to ask, but you were awfully close with Squirtle, weren't you?" Ash asked. He had noticed that Squirtle tended to hang around and talk to Bulbasaur the most of his Pokémon, even when he had been human. He never really asked about it before since there was no way for him to get a meaningful reply. And even after having been turned into a Riolu, it just never came up.
Bulbasaur gave a nod. "You'd be surprised how much we had in common, though it's mostly because we joined you at around the same time." A small chuckle left his lips, perhaps remembering good times?
"It'll be good to have you." Ash nodded. He turned his body and was about to go run to where Charizard had been napping to ask him, only to run into a massive orange leg and fall onto his rear.
Charizard looked down at his trainer with an amused expression. "Alright, so who needs beating up?"
All Maiju have the spark of magic about them, that's what Master Aspen had always told her.
Whether it be the power to conjure torrents of fire, the ability to create oceans from thin air, or even the strength to shatter boulders, all Maiju had access to a wellspring of power inside of them, ready to be tapped into with the right training and practice.
As an alchemist, Zorua had been taught to blend her innate magic with chemistry and medicine, to create elixirs that lent strength, to imbue vitality to the sick, or to perhaps with enough practice extend life past its natural endpoint. All she needed was the right ingredients to imbue a portion of her own essence into.
"How long do we have left?" Squirtle questioned, growing impatient as he stared at the gauze wraps that covered his shell.
"Soon enough," Zorua promised as she looked down at the simmering mixture that she had created. Her captors unfortunately had only the most basic of herbs and mineral salts available to them, though Gligar at least had plenty of magical seeds and Orans. Add to that the fact she had left her tools behind with the others and the fox was lacking in just about everything. Thankfully, they at least had the sense to give her a fire.
Zorua stirred the pot with a wooden spoon. In her natural form, it was difficult to stir using her paws, however, she needed all of her focus to properly imbue the potion, especially if she wanted the results she wanted.
As the mixture bubbled and the reagents dissolved, the fox knew it was time to imbue the mixture with a hint of her power. While all Maiju had magical power inside of them, the fact of the matter was that not each breed of Maiju had a proficiency with certain types of magic as defined by their bodies and what essences flow through them. Doubtless, a Chansey or even most Grass-types would have been better at creating true healing potions, there were still workarounds.
Zorua reached into herself into her essence and pulled a small sliver that would act as a catalyst. After all, if she wanted to, especially without knowing a technique to heal herself, she needed to offer some of herself in exchange.
The steaming mixture glowed slightly as power flowed into it before dissipating.
Seeing her work done, Zorua turned off the fire and pulled the pot onto the floor.
"Now we just have to wait for it to cool," Zorua said to the injured turtle. A vague dizziness fell over her. "Though you are welcome to drink it if you can suffer through the discomfort."
"I can take it. It'll be good practice for Scald," Squirtle said as he took the cooking pot and poured the freshly made potion down his throat. The turtle Maiju collapsed to the floor, hunched over in obvious pain.
Zorua rushed under him and kept him from falling. It was a sight to behold, where Squirtle so casually proved his grit.
"At least everything hurts slightly less," Squirtle said back.
"It's the best I could do," Zorua said. With the limited resources she had available, the most she could manage was a potion that took reduced swelling and provided comfort for pain; it otherwise did nothing to heal Squirtles cuts, nor did it completely take away his bruises.
"It's better than feeling my everything hurt," Squirtle said as he touched his cheek, where a particular Sneasel knocked him out.
"You shouldn't have antagonized Silver by mentioning Team Rocket," Totodile said from outside the cage, looking up from the card game he played with Gligar.
"It sounds like he has personal history with them," Squirtle glared at the other Water-type and walked to the very edge of the cage.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Totodile returned the glare with his own.
"Squirtle, is this wise?" Zorua frowned, hoping this was not going to end with another injury on Squirtle's part.
"No, but I have to ask, especially since I got hit over it," the turtle admitted. "Besides, aren't you the least bit curious about them?"
Zorua pursed her lips. She did wonder who exactly Silver was and why exactly he had such a reaction at the mention of Team Rocket. Moreover, he was another human, another source of the outside world. "I do admit that I wonder if they also seek to leave Citrine…" She placed her paws over her mouth! She hadn't meant to say that outloud!
"You're so lucky he isn't here because he's doing his daily workout!" Totodile shook his head.
"You're his starter, aren't you?" Squirtle questioned very bluntly.
Totodile said nothing as he looked Squirtle in the eye.
"You know what a Pokédex is," Squirtle began. "That means you've been educated outside, and within the past few years, too."
"How do you know I'm not human?" Totodile spat out.
"Silver doesn't treat you like one."
Zorua blinked, wondering just how Squirtle was able to deduce that.
Squirtle continued. "Last night, when we were fighting, it was clear he was expecting his orders to be followed to the letter. But you disobeyed by fighting by his side; he tolerated it, but he wasn't expecting it from what I saw. He wasn't used to the idea of a Pokémon disobeying him, was he?"
Zorua's eyes widened. She hadn't thought of any of that, mostly because she had been terrified for most of last night. Then again, she hadn't met humans in their natural form before, she had no idea what to look for, whereas a foreign Maiju like Squirtle would know.
Totodile began to laugh. "Very impressive, you figured it out. Not that it changes anything." He crossed his arms. "I might as well tell you then. Yes, I am Silver's first Pokémon and kind of his only one."
Gligar made an uncomfortable face. "Please, don't mention that. I know Silver's one of us now, but I don't like hearing about people being… owned like that in the outside world. It gives me the creeps!"
"Sorry," Totodile said, though he didn't sound very sorry.
Gligar gave Totodile a glare, visibly annoyed.
As Totodile and Gligar had their spat, Zorua contemplated her options. While cooperating ensured Squirtle's stability and health, it was plainly obvious that as soon as other Keepers arrived, they would be taken away and escorted elsewhere, perhaps from a place they would never be allowed to leave. Therefore, the best option was to somehow escape before then.
However, while in this cage, none of their techniques and moves would affect anyone from the outside.
Perceptions and emotions are your greatest weapons as a Zorua, not your moves, she thought to herself, remembering a lesson from her father. She hated her father, for always giving her these lessons when she was much younger, yet with no other options, what choice did she have?
Fear and mistrust are deadly as any poison, she imagined her father saying. If your foes are mired by strife, you can bring them to their knees.
Totodile and Gligar seemed to be at odds on this one issue. Perhaps there was something there, if she could gather enough information.
"What do you mean… one of us now?" Zorua questioned. "You mean how Sneasel was once human?
"He's a Maiju now, not a human," Gligar stated as a matter of factly. "I mean, isn't it obvious? He is one from head to toe, and it isn't like that one is hard to figure out."
That was an interesting opinion, especially since from Zorua's perspective, humans were surprisingly mundane. "And he's not only your Bearer, but it's clear he's your leader from what I saw."
"He's the most driven out of all of us," Gligar shrugged. "Anyone in our age group could have earned the Looplet, but he won it fair and square." She then turned towards Totodile and flashed him a smirk. "I won second place."
"Stupid poison immunity," Totodile grumbled.
"You had the advantage over me!" Gligar said proudly.
Strange, it definitely sounded like Sneasel's group also had a battle to determine who held the Looplet. Moreover, it sounded like there was a preexisting wedge between both Totodile and Gligar. Could she exploit that? Gligar certainly had a fear of being "owned" by a trainer.
"So, does this make Silver my tamer?" Zorua posed a question, a hint of fear in her tone. She had actually gotten over her fear of trainers having seen how Ash and the others treated their companions, but Gligar might not have.
"What are you saying?" Gligar asked curiously.
Totodile grunted. "She's trying to confuse you."
"I mean, you all did capture me. I was told that tamers had to capture Maiju by weakening them and then trapping them somehow," Zorua said, feigning worry.
Gligar squinted her eyes. "What, and you weren't captured by those others you traveled with?"
"Nope!" Zorua said. "I just followed along since they appeared with very nice Maiju and my Master thought I would be better served by traveling with others my age."
"Huh, come to think of it, I wasn't captured either," Squirtle spoke aloud. "The Boss is my Boss, because he helped my gang! And I just followed him!"
"But I thought it needed to be trapped in those round sphere things, especially since they control your mind and make you do what the humans want," Gligar said, bringing a claw to her mouth.
"I keep telling you that's not how it works!" Totodile spat out. "It's a stupid idea and I have no idea why people here think that!"
Send your opponents to oppose each other and they will weaken themselves. Zorua saw an opening, as Totodile outright opposed Gligar's perceptions and knowledge. "But don't you have a Pokéball, too? One owned by a tamer, no less."
Gligar's eyes widened in shock. She looked at Totodile like he was ridden with the plague.
"Do you honestly believe that silly superstition?" Totodile called her out, but it was too late.
"I don't want to be enslaved!" Gligar backed away from her teammate.
"That's not how it works!" The Water-type shouted back.
"But that's what you want me to think!" Gligar flew on top of the cage.
The two proceeded to run around the room, with Totodile trying to chase a fleeing Gligar. This worked far better than Zorua had been expecting.
Squirtle gave Zorua a look of barely contained laughter. "Nice work," he whispered in her direction.
"Now to figure out how to use this to get us out of here!" Zorua said back. She raised her voice and shouted towards the panicked Gligar. "I'm the only other Maiju here who isn't trapped by a sphere. You can trust me!"
"I mean, should I?" Gligar said as she fled from the Water-type.
"No!" Totodile said. "She's making stuff up and exploiting your superstitions!"
"But why should I trust you?" Gligar spat back and turned towards Zorua in the cage. "After all, you serve that human so well!"
"He's not human anymore!" Totodile defended himself. "And I doubt he'd ever want to go back to being one!"
Gligar seemed like she was about to reconsider her course of actions.
So, Zorua shouted. "He's going to attack you!"
Gligar blinked, panic entering her mind yet again. She ducked out of the way and went to a nearby table to pull a set of keys.
"Don't free them!" Totodile said. He lunged right at the flying flying scorpion.
"Why not? So you'd have the advantage over me, so you could trap me?" Gligar said back, dodging Totodile's lunge. She glided towards the cage, keys in hand.
Zorua could practically taste freedom. Her plan was coming to fruition.
Frustrated, Totodile let out a Water Gun. He scored a direct hit onto Gligar and knocked her into a wall.
The keys clattered onto the floor.
Gligar picked herself up and stared at the keys.
Totodile took a deep breath and looked Gligar in the eye. It looked like he was considering using another Water Gun onto Gligar to knock her out.
There was a high chance that Gligar would have been taken down, but the possibility remained that the flying scorpion would get to the cage and would open it to set them free. And even in the chance that Gligar failed, this might cause problems for her captors in the short term future.
The two Maiju prepared to take the other down and-
The door abruptly opened, the lilac furred Sneasel came rushing into the room. He leveled a furious gaze upon the two other Maiju. "What's going on here?"
Both Gligar and Totodile stopped what they were doing and turned to look at Silver.
"Gligar panicked-!"
"Totodile wanted to-"
Silver pointed towards Totodile. "What happened?"
Totodile turned a claw towards Zorua. "She tricked Gligar into thinking I was mind controlled or something because I had a Pokéball!"
"Well, why didn't you get yours destroyed!?" Gligar spat back.
"Because that's none of your business!" Totodile shouted back.
"Maybe it's because you're mind controlled!"
"Enough!" The Sneasel gave out a frustrated growl. "I don't have any mind controlling Pokéballs," said Silver. "They exist, and I have seen several of them, especially on one of my father's men, but I never actually used one."
Gligar eyes and ears drooped slightly. "Uh… sorry."
"I don't have them. And it's unlikely we'll run into one," Silver said firmly. "Does that help?"
"Uh, yes." Gligar warily nodded her head.
"Good," Silver walked over to the cage.
Zorua felt a cold shiver run down her spine as the Sneasel seemed practically stared right through her.
Squirtle stepped forward, putting himself between the two of them.
Sneasel glared daggers at the two captive Pokémon. "Was your plan to cause my team to fight each other to soften them up for your friends to rescue you?"
Zorua sat on her rear and tilted her head down. The former human scared her in a way that only her father did.
"Why are they here?" Silver spat, his gaze focused onto the spirit fox. "How did you manage to tell them where we were!?"
"I… I don't know what you're talking about!" Zorua said, trying to avert her eyes, but the way Silver kept looking at her made it hard to look away.
"Liar!" Silver shouted back, rattling the cage with his claws. "Somehow, someway, you managed to tell your friends where to find us. I want to know how."
Zorua whimpered.
Frustrated, Silver threw a fist at the cage. "Fine, be that way! I'll pull the answers from you later." he spat. He turned towards the other two Pokémon nearby. "Come on! We have a fight to win!"
Both Totodile and Gligar nodded their heads and made sighs as Silver led them out of the room.
With the three Maiju gone, Squirtle fell onto his rear and visibly relaxed.
Zorua too felt the tension drain from her once Sneasel left the room. "I…. are we going to be rescued?"
"Probably," Squirtle said. "And just when I thought that we were going to have a vacation from people being captured." He shook his head. "Oh well, at least Ash has a lot of practice doing this."
"I hope you're right," Zorua said back. She stretched her legs. "Say, Squirtle. Do you know how they're finding us?"
"Not sure," Squirtle shrugged. "But my money is on Dexter being involved.."
"You mean Ash's Pokédex?"
Squirtle nodded. "The one and the same."
"How are you sure?"
"I'm not," Squirtle replied. "I'm just saying, Dexter had to go missing somehow, though I'm not quite clear on how it got back to the others." He shrugged. "We can probably ask them later."
Zorua nodded. She laid her body onto the floor of the cage and relaxed. She hoped to see her friends again.
"Charizard, slow down!" Brock shouted at the top of his lungs.
While being a small rock hound meant that he had a much higher top speed than he had ever had as a human, Charizard still flew faster than him or anyone else in the group. It also helped that he could fly over the forested underbrush.
The fire dragon turned one look at the Pokémon behind and below him before flapping his wings and leaving them in the dust.
"At least he's enthusiastic!" Ash said as he sprinted right next to Brock, his tongue flying free as he ran. Idly, Brock wondered if he looked like that, too.
Pikachu said something unintelligible, but it sounded like a complaint.
Once it was decided who would be following Ash, the group packed up what supplies they had left and followed the blips on the Riolu's Pokédex towards what were hopefully their missing friends. Dexter directed them away from the town, through the dense hilly woodlands while in the dead of night. It was hard to say how far it was.
Strangely, Brock felt good about running through the night. Maybe it had to do with the fact that the Moon hung overhead, bathing them in moonlight. Though the world was darker, his keen eyes could see the world clearly through monochromatic shades.
Then in the distance, a jet of flame spewed out from the sky, illuminating some vague house-like shape in the distance.
"I think Charizard might have found them!" Ash said as he held up his Pokédex. He pointed in the direction of Charizard's Flamethrower. "It's just right over there."
Brock nodded. "I really hope that Charizard isn't attacking anyone who didn't deserve it." After all, while Charizard had become strangely helpful in the kitchen, he still had a tendency to attack first, talk later.
A bolt of lightning surged out from the ground, an Electric-type might have been fighting against Charizard.
"I might need to catch my breath!" Bulbasaur said, as he came from behind. "I'm good, but I'm not exactly a distance runner."
"Wait, Bulbasaur, didn't you still have your Pokéball?" Vulpix questioned.
Everyone turned to Ash, who put on a Mareepish expression. "Whoops. Sorry, Bulbasaur. I forgot I had that."
Brock chuckled. "I guess we've all gotten used to the idea of Pokémon always being out and about, especially since most of our Pokéballs had been destroyed."
"Yeah, now I'm starting to get why Pikachu likes being out all of the time," Vulpix agreed.
"See! I had a point!" Pikachu snapped.
Bulbasaur grunted "I'll be fine. Especially after we save Squirtle and Zorua."
"That sounds like a good plan," Pikachu said. "I think I want to give my new necklace a go."
Brock turned a short glance towards the necklace that Pikachu now bore. He had Geodude attach the strange sphere onto a cloth string that they had, allowing the electric rodent to carry the object without needing to use his hands.
He wondered that since there were items specific to Pikachu, maybe there were similar trinkets that applied to other Pokémon, perhaps even to Rockruff.
At the end of the run, the group found themselves in a clearing where a few old buildings stood, far away from the rest of the village. It was hard to make out what they were exactly, but the Rockruff saw what looked like a circular saw. Maybe this was a lumber mill?
Charizard swept in, his Flamethrower scattering wide.
Three other Pokémon opposed him, launching lightning and water into the sky. None scored a hit yet.
"Let's back him up!" Ash shouted from the top of his lungs as he ran forth.
Charizard turned a glance towards his trainer.
That was when Brock saw him. Sneasel appeared from nowhere, a large seed clutched his hands. He threw it at Charizard with an almost unnatural accuracy.
"Look out!" the Rockruff shouted. He didn't know what was so special about it, but he knew that there had to be a reason Sneasel was even bothering.
Charizard turned to look at the seed just as it hit. Light engulfed him and in that flash, Charizard disappeared.
This would prove to everyone how great I am! Charizard thought in his own mind as he left his trainer and everyone else in the dust.
He just loved the look on their faces, especially on that annoying rat. He was clearly jealous of him! After all, the dragon could fly while the little mouse can't!
Letting out an excited roar, Charizard flapped his wings and quickened his pace. His thoughts filled with the thought of a well earned victory. Not only was it likely that he would be beating up some thieves, but now he could prove that everyone needed him more than he needed them!
And sooner he found Squirtle and Zorua, the sooner that could all happen.
Charizard beat his wings forward and faster, over the rocky woodlands. Though he lacked the keen night senses other Pokémon had, the Fire-type had the advantage of his vantage point and the fact that his trainer pointed in the general direction he had to go.
That gave him all of the coverage he needed to spot an irregularity. There was a clearing in the woods where several buildings stood, though some had caved in. It seemed abandoned, but appearances could be deceiving.
Light seemed to pour from some of the old, dilapidated houses. That was enough for Charizard to look into it. The Fire-type swooped in and circled around the buildings, trying to spot if there was danger. None seemed present. Perhaps he needed to draw attention.
"Hey!" He roared. "Is anyone out there?"
There was no response.
For a few minutes, he considered waiting for the others, but then he realized that if he did that, that would defeat the point of his coming here.
The Fire-type widened his wings and tilted himself upward, causing him to stall in the air. He went to make a gentle glide down…. Only for a flash of electricity arc towards him
Charizard, seeing the danger, quickly flapped his wings and barely avoided getting shocked.
"You missed me!" he taunted his unseen foe.
"Oh no!" cried out a voice. "Take this!" More electricity flew upwards, aiming for Charizard.
The dragon twisted his wings and curved out of the way before making a lunge to sweep at his opponent. His jaws opening, Charizard let his Flamethrower scorch the land.
A startled Voltorb rolled away, just in time to evade the attack.
Charizard laughed. Was this his mighty foe? He might have to embellish this event!
He let loose another Flamethrower, this time managing to score a hit and causing the round Electric-type to run away in a panic.
Charizard then went to unleash another fire attack, but a jet of water struck him in the side.
Drenched, the fire dragon used his wings to shield him to endure the hit. Then, as the Water Gun lost pressure, Charizard surged forward to bathe his opponent in fire. It engulfed an old building and threatened to consume it.
A Totodile leapt out, blasting water to contain the blaze.
With his foe distracted, Charizard went in to finish the job, but then just as quickly Voltorb rolled in and sent out a bolt lightning.
It struck true, injuring the flying dragon.
Then, to follow it up, a Glgiar appeared behind Charizard and lobbed a poison coated claw against the dragon's backside.
Charizard howled in agony. He grabbed Gligar by the claw and tossed her aside and to the ground.
"I'll take you all on!" he shouted in defiance. Truth be told, he was less angry and more excited. He was going to prove a point after all; what was better than beating multiple Pokémon by himself? This was going to be fun!
He swooped over the old buildings and let loose his Flamethrower again and again, sometimes scoring hits and causing his foes to flee.
Seeing this, Charizard adjusted his mouth and twisted the fire to the left to form a ring, a Fire Spin. The Gligar was suddenly trapped on all sides by a ring of flame.
"Let's back him up!" a voice shouted in the distance.
Charizard turned and saw his trainer leading the other Pokémon into battle. So much for defeating his opponents all by himself, but that just meant he would have witnesses to his triumph!
"Look out!" some shouted.
Charizard did not know what to be on the lookout for, but as he turned his head to the side and saw a small seed hurtling right at him, its source being that odd Sneael character. Charizard didn't even bother evading. After all, it wasn't like it was an attack! Even if it was Fling, what could a tiny seed do to the likes of him?
Then before he knew it, a blue light engulfed him, erupting from the seed. Charizard pushed through, undeterred and unafraid. He the burst free from the light as it died.
He prepared to bash that Sneasel's head in, but as he looked down, the Sneasel had vanished. And so had everything else for that matter.
Charizard looked down and noticed… he was just outside of town again. Somehow, he had been teleported back. And away from the fighting.
Not again! The Fire-type let out a frustrated roar. This was practically a defeat in all but unconsciousness. What was wrong with him? Ever since he had come to Citrine it was like he was not allowed to score a victory!
He extended his wings and pushed himself to get back. Charizard was no weakling!
"Where did Charizard go?" Ash howled as he reached a paw to where his dragon disappeared. His eyes slightly watered.
Brock stepped by his side to give the Riolu some comfort. The Rockruff wondered where Charizard went, too, but they had little time to ponder that.
Four Pokémon approached with a Sneasel up front. Totodile stood by his side, whilst Voltorb and Gligar stepped forward.
"Are you going to cry?" The Sneasel hissed. "Are you sad that he is gone?"
"Give me back my friends!" Ash shouted.
Pikachu's cheeks sparked, backing up his trainer, while Bulbasaur got ready to face down his opponents. Vulpix stayed at the back, her eyes focused on the Voltorb.
"Be careful, he's trying to get under your skin." Brock meanwhile scanned the opponent's side. On the one hand, they had the advantage, though only by one person. On the other hand, the opposition better type resistances.
Gligar crept on top of a nearby rooftop, whilst Totodile took a position behind Sneasel. Voltorb rolled behind some discarded boxes.
"Not that I have to do much. The Riolu looks like he wants to fight!" Sneasel smiled, raising a poisoned claw in the air as if to threaten. "Come on then!"
Sneasel closed the distance with a Quick Attack, tackling Ash and forcing him to roll onto the ground before bounding back on his feet.
Pikachu threw himself at Sneasel and blasted him with a bolt of electricity at point blank range.
It happened all so fast. Brock had barely any time to process what was going on and he sent random stones flying towards the enemy team. Vulpix and Totodile threw Flamethrower and Water Gun at each other like it was a standoff.
Bulbasaur took a position and lobbed a Seed Bomb like it was a mortar shell, blowing up the cover Voltorb hid behind. In response, Gligar quickly flew over to Bulbasaur, tackled him, and then retreated.
Brock saw an opening to intervene and conjured a stone. Rock Throw scored a direct hit on Gligar, forcing the flying scorpion onto the ground.
A torrent of seeds poured out Voltorb's top in a high speed flurry.
Brock felt several impact his side and explode on impact. He rolled to evade the rest of the incoming barrage. Meanwhile, a swathe was cut through the whole battle as Pokémon on the Rockruff's side had been forced to retreat or get caught up in the attack.
"Watch where you aim that!" Sneasel snapped.
"Sorry!" Voltorb apologized.
"Whatever, just… do better next time."
The Pokémon continued to battle it out, scoring hits or evading counter attacks.
Brock staggered to his feet, the wind beat out of him. Most everyone had gotten roughed up in the fighting, but it was hard to tell who would be winning at this point. They needed to organize. "Ash," the Rockruff whispered to his teammate. "I'm going to lure out Totodile. You and Pikachu should be ready to take him."
The Riolu nodded his head. He went over to Pikachu and spoke to him, whilst trying to evade Gligar's fly by attacks.
Brock turned to the only Pokémon that was technically his and gave out the order. "Vulpix, take down Voltorb!"
Vulpix nodded at the order. Then she launched a Flamethrower at Voltorb. Voltorb narrowly escaped.
Totodile, seeing this, went to throw a Water Gun at the opposing Vulpix, only to instead find himself thrown back as not one, but two Quick Attacks slammed into his chest and knocked him into a nearby building.
"Totodile!" Sneasel snapped. He lunged forward at the Riolu and Tackled him to the ground.
Ash quickly recovered, but the Sneasel pressed on. Pikachu went to chase after, the three of them moving away from the rest of the group.
Brock wanted to intervene, but there was no time to join in. He leapt up at Gligar as she attempted to join in and landed several Bites into the Pokémon's hardened exoskeleton.
Gligar howled in pain.
Brock went to dig his teeth in further, but he saw Voltorb preparing to launch a volley of Bullet Seed again. He let go and took cover behind some old walls.
"Gligar!" Voltorb called out as it rolled towards its fallen friend.
"Wounded, but fine!" Gligar called out. She reached into a satchel that was near her waist and pulled out a small blueberry, an Oran. She ate it and then took off into the sky.
Vulpix and Bulbasaur walked by the Rockruff's side.
Brock poked his head out from where he hid and stared down at the two opposing Pokémon. "You're outnumbered!"
"We're not giving up! We aren't weaklings, are we?" Gligar slapped her compatriot in the back.
"I mean I a… no, no we're not!" Voltorb hesitated for a moment before changing his tone entirely.
Brock let out a sigh. This was not going to be easy was it.
The three Pokémon went to close the distance from their opponents, but in that instant, Voltorb glowed.
Sneasel was strong, that was the conclusion Ash came to.
There was no time to run beyond just falling back. Ash could barely muster the strength to put up his blocks as Sneasel kept throwing himself right at him. His natural arm guards stared to feel sore as the repeated impacts and blocks stared to take their toll.
Pikachu came from behind Sneasel, but the Poison-type had seen it coming. He ducked out of the way at the last moment, grabbed Pikachu by the neck, and then threw him into the ground.
"Pikachu!" Ash cried out, seeing his friend injured.
Seeing no other way to help his friend, Ash dropped his block and accepted Sneasel's next strike into his side. Ash responded with an uppercut, knocking Sneasel flying.
The Riolu went towards his best friend and helped the electric rodent up.
"Anyone get the number of that bus?" Pikachu said wearily. He shook his head, snapping himself back to reality. "I'll be fine, Ash, really!."
Ash smiled back.
"So, you're Ash?" Sneasel said as he picked himself off the ground and wiped the trickle of blood from his mouth. "You're the lucky kid who got selected by Professor Oak to receive a Pokédex? I can't say I'm impressed."
Ash narrowed his eyes, his guard up. "You know who Professor Oak is?"
"We're both from the outside, aren't we? Who hasn't heard!" Sneasel hissed. "Only one hundred of those stupid hats were made, after all."
"It's not stupid!" Ash shouted back. Angered, he made a lunge right at Sneasel, aiming a Force Palm into his belly.
"Too slow," Sneasel side stepped, dodging the attack before sending back sweep. "We might have both been human, but you clearly never learned how to fight your own battles, did you?"
Ash tumbled to the ground. He spun into a roll, just in time to get away from a poison coated fist as it slammed into the ground. With his momentum, he managed to get himself standing. "You're human, too?"
"Was," Sneasel emphasized. "My name is Silver." He ground his claws against one another before making another lunge.
Ash saw the attack this time and threw himself into a Tackle before letting the Sneasel's attack connect.
Silver staggered as he regained his footing. He leveled his gaze towards the Riolu's wrist. "Tell me, did you actually win that Emera on your own terms? Or did you have your friends give it to you?"
"Shut up!" Ash shouted.
"You probably started with Charmander, didn't you?" He hissed as he leveled a claw at Ash and Pikachu. "That Charizard looks pretty strong, but it's obvious he had a nasty independent streak given he came out here all by himself. Does he even listen to you?"
Ash gritted his teeth, agitated at the Sneasel's venomous words.
"Oh, that struck a nerve."
"Charizard isn't my starter," Ash protested.
That caused Sneasel to squint and eyebrew. "Then who is?"
"Me! Eat Thunderbolt!" A large torrent of electricity spilled out from Pikachu's body, rushing towards Sneasel.
Silver went to evade once again, but Thunderbolt struck true.
Ash averted his eyes as the light from the attack practically blinded him. The Poison-type fell to one knee, smoke rising from his body.
The Riolu walked forward, leveling his gaze at the Sneasel. "Where are my friends?"
"I'm not telling you!" Sneasel glared back. He rose to his feet once again, this time more wobbly than before. "Nor am I going to let myself be beaten by the likes of you!" Poison gathered in his claws.
Pikachu's cheeks sparked.
Blue fire covered Ash's palms.
The three began to circle around one another, waiting for the other side to make the first move.
Then, abruptly, Silver's eyes widened as he went towards somewhere near Ash's side. "That Pokédex, why do you have it?"
"I'm not telling you!" Ash spat back.
Silver ground his teeth. He looked ready to make an attack.
But instead of the Sneasel attacking, someone else did.
A high speed stream of water slammed into Ash's side, nearly knocking him down. The Riolu ducked out of the way before the Water Gun could knock him down.
Pikachu blasted a bolt of electricity at the unseen attacker.
"It looks like you're in trouble. Yet another two versus two." Totodile walked by Sneasel's side, injured but still standing.
"Stop intervening," Silver spoke to the newcomer. "I have this taken care of."
Totodile rolled his eyes, as if this was a conversation they had before.
Ash turned to Pikachu, concerned by the newcomer's arrival. While they were distracted now, in a small argument over whether or not Totodile was allowed to fight, that wouldn't last long. "What do you think, Pikachu?"
"We have a slight type advantage, because I can zap Totodile," Pikachu observed. "We had a range advantage since I could blast them with electricity, but Totodile has his Water Gun."
"That makes up for the fact Poison resists Fighting. And Water resists Steel." Ash turned his hat backwards. He pointed towards Pikachu's Light Ball. "Think you're up for using that thing?"
"Yup!" Pikachu declared.
"Then, let's do it!"
The duo rushed towards the bickering pair, causing them to scatter.
Brock rolled out of the way as a wild torrent of electricity erupted in every direction from the Voltorb. It sent Vulpix flying; Bulbasaur had to duck to avoid the blast.
The only one who did not fear the Discharge was the flying Ground-type.
Seeing no other options, Brock threw himself down through the ground. His claws tore through the earth with impossible speed, tearing through stone and earth.
Dig was an odd attack, one he had learned from his Pokémon. While it rendered him blind, very few Pokémon could attack him while he was underground.
Quickly thinking about how much distance he had to go, the Rockruff tunneled as fast as he could before erupting with a subterranean attack.
Voltorb's discharge flew in every direction, except down.
Brock's tunnel based tackle threw Voltorb into the air, its Discharge ending.
Voltorb slammed against a wooden wall, eyes spinning in a daze.
"It's over!" shouted Brock. "You're down a teammate!"
"I'm not!" Gligar said back, flying about. The flying Scorpion took something from her bag and threw it at Voltorb. It was a seed of some sort.
The seed shattered, covering the incapacitated Pokémon in a faint light. Then within moments, Voltorb rolled forward. "Ow, that hurt."
Brock eyed Voltorb, unsure of how to take that. The Electric-type had been knocked out, but apparently, it had been healed… by a seed.
"That is so unfair!" Vulpix complained. She took out her frustration by throwing a Flamethrower in their general direction.
Voltorb and Gligar split, narrowly avoiding the jet of flame.
"Seed Bomb!" Bulbasaur shouted as he threw an explosive seed in Gligar's direction.
"Use the orb!" Gligar shouted as she went down and fell to the ground.
"But…" Voltorb sounded like it wanted to protest, though it rolled in the direction of one of the buildings. Bulbasaur and Vulpix chased after it.
"Just do it!"
Brock went to close in, seeing that the flying scorpion was safering for him to engage. He went to lunge and make another Bite to finish her off.
Gligar staggered an threw sand at the Rockruff's face.
Brock's eyes itched and the canine had to close his eyes mid charge. He failed to hit Gligar and went far past her. The Rockruff came to an abrupt stop and shook the loose sand from his eyes.
Gligar used this opportunity to put another Oran into her mouth. She then leapt up into air, seemingly reinvigorated."
Brock growled, causing the Gligar to slightly flinch. Orans were a common snack food that restored the vitality of Pokémon eating them, even back home. However, the Rockruff never knew them to be potent enough to seemingly make a Gligar recover from multiple injuries.
Gligar swooped down and threw a pincer level to Brock's eyes. "Eat Knockoff!" she shouted.
Brock recoiled, the Dark-type move wounding him. He leapt up to make another attack, but failed to latch on like before.
Voltorb rolled into Brock's view, letting loose a small range Discharge.
Brock, unwilling to take another blow, leapt back.
Vulpix and Bulbasaur chased the fleeing Voltorb, launching attacks right at it.
Brock was even tempted to send a Rock Throw its way.
Gligar swooped nearby to her partner and then shouted. "If you have it, use it!"
Then, just as the attacks were about to land, Voltorb spat a blue orb from its top. It flew into the sky before shattering into a dozen pieces. Then from its epicenter, a dome-like barrier formed around the two Pokémon. Both Flamethrower and Seed Bomb failed to contect, bouncing off harmlessly against the transparent wall of force.
Both injured Pokémon fell to the ground, exhausted.
"What do we do now?" Vulpix questioned.
"Prepare. I don't know how long that shield is going to last, but it's going to go down eventually." Brock said. He sat on his rear and drew in his breath. His eyes focused on the Moon overhead, its light guiding him.
"Growth!" Bulbasaur's bulb slightly a sphere of green light formed at its tip.
"I… I don't have any move like that." Vulpix frowned.
Brock let out a howl, the biggest he had ever done. His blood pumped, his strength surged.
Meanwhile, as Brock and his friends prepared, Gligar and Voltorb also got ready for the next engagement. It seemed they were unable to attack out of their protective shield.
"I don't feel so good," Voltorb muttered as it rolled to one side.
"Your revival seed has worn off. Take another!" Gligar offered the Voltorb yet another large seed. It broke, light bathing the weakened Voltorb. So, apparently, the seeds only provided temporary strength and relief to the Pokémon that took them?
Voltorb rolled back into a standing position, just in time for the barrier to shatter.
Brock led the charge and Tackled right into Voltorb.
The round Pokémon tumbled back, the hit running true.
Gligar went in to save her companion, but Vulpix came out, Flamethrower bathing the Fly Scorpion in fire.
The injured Flying-type came low to the ground and beat her wings against the soil. Mud burst forth from the ground, engulfing Vulpix.
Bulbasaur tackled Voltorb's side. In response, Voltorb lobbed a flood of explosive seeds at everyone and everything that it could see.
Brock, invigorated from his howl, pressed on. He narrowly evaded exploding seeds, but too several in his thighs.
He landed right on top of Voltorb and dug his teeth into the Pokémon's wooden flesh.
"Aagh get him off!" Voltorb shouted.
Gligar flew down to save her teammate. She threw her claws right into Brock's face, causing the canine Pokémon to break his hold.
Brock growled. Voltorb trembled as it looked right at him.
Gligar was also similarly intimidated, but got ready to press the attack once again.
And then Charizard's roar filled the destroyed lumber mill, drawing everyone's attention as they stopped their fighting to observe the returned Fire-type. Wherever Charizard had been, apparently, he had gotten free and come back.
Both Gligar and Voltorb turned to look at each other.
"Oh, Silver's not going to like this," said Voltorb.
"Yeah, but that Charizard looks pretty big," Gligar agreed.
Before Brock could ask what they were talking about, Gligar pulled yet another seed. She cracked it in her claws, causing both Gligar and Voltorb to be bathed in an intense glow of light. It was the same one that had caused Charizard to vanish.
The Rockruff went to lunge at them, to stop them from getting away.
But as soon as Brock got close enough, the two Pokémon vanished in light.
For his troubles, Brock ran into a wall.
As Ash put himself in between the still arguing Totodile and Sneasel, Pikachu threw himself at Totodile, his cheeks sparking.
The juvenile crocodilian s he tumbled to the ground as he was hit.
Pikachu pushed the attack, keeping the Water-type off balance. Repeated Quick Attacks slammed into Totodile.
Totodile gave a hard look at Pikachu, his eyes moving in every direction to track the electrical mouse.
Pikachu went in for another attack… only for his face to run head first into a poisoned fist.
Sneasel threw Pikachu onto the ground and threw a kick into the mouse's chest.
Ash's claws flashed in metallic hues as he drew them to cut into Sneasel's chest
Pikachu rolled onto his belly and swung his tail around, turning his flesh into metal for a brief instant. Iron Tail landed a blow, leaving a gash over the Sneasel's face.
Totodile bounced forward, jaws wide. He latched onto Ash's right arm.
Ash howled in agony. He prepared to slam a Force Palm into the Totodile's face, throwing him off.
As he fell back, Totodile squirted out a flurry of Water Guns, firing wildly.
Ash narrowly avoided one, Pikachu dodged over another.
Sneasel took one in the face and grunted. "Watch where you're aiming!"
The Sneasel went to throw another Poison Jab at Ash, but this time the Riolu managed to escape.
Totodile rushed to corner Pikachu with a Bite., but a quick Agility gave the rodent just enough clearance to avoid the attack
Instead of meeting their intended targets, Sneasel and Totodile attacked each other, Sneasel receiving a bite, whilst Poison Jab went into Sneasel's chest.
"Hey!" Totodile moaned as he let go of Sneasel's arms.
"Don't be in my way!" Sneasel shouted, clearly agitated.
The pair then turned to face their opponents, who stood close to one another.
They rushed in, Pikachu facing a Poison Jab from Sneasel, whilst Ash instead met a Totodile's claws extended to prepare some sort of slashing attack.
Pikachu leapt from his trainer's side, avoiding the attack he faced, whilst Ash instead ducked under the Cut.
And once again, Totodile and Sneasel hit one another.
"Quit getting in my way!" Sneasel shouted
"Stop being so reckless!" Totodile complained. The duo stared at one another, clearly upset.
"Did you see that?" Ash questioned Pikachu.
The Electric-type nodded his head. "They're not very well coordinated, are they?"
"They aren't used to fighting as a team," Ash said simply.
Pikachu gave his trainer a knowing smirk. This was the first time the two of them fought on the same side, not as a trainer and Pokémon, but as equal fighters. Yet despite that, they were always a team before, it's just now the roles were slightly different. And Ash was hairier than before.
"Let's finish this!" Ash shouted an order as he leapt forward. "We'll beat them, together!"
Landing in front of Totodile and Sneasel, both Pokémon went to attack the Riolu. This resulted in Sneasel once again getting doused by the Water-type.
"Thundershock!" Pikachu lobbed multiple bolts of electricity at the duo, drawing their attention as he ran in a circle around them.
Totodile blasted rapidfire Water Guns back at him, but it was clear his accuracy had little to be desired.
In the meantime, Ash dove in between both Pokémon while they were distracted. He threw a light punch at the back of Sneasel's head.
In retaliation, Sneasel levied a Slash right where Ash had once been, only instead to make a jagged cut on Totodile's back.
Both Pokémon gritted their teeth in frustration, agitated at what was happening.
Pikachu let out a chuckle. Things were looking up.
He threw more lightning once again, keeping off balance.
But it was at this moment that Sneasel scored a lucky hit. Somehow, as Ash meant to do another attack in the Sneasel's rear, the Poison-type landed a hit clean across Ash's jaw.
Totodile took advantage of this and grabbed onto one of the Riolu's arms. Sneasel took the other.
"You are very frustrating, Ash." Sneasel shouted loudly. "I hope you enjoyed yourself, because I'm going to enjoy myself!" He lobbed multiple fists into Ash's side
The Riolu wept in agony.
"Ash!" Pikachu cried out.
"Give up!" A Totodile shouted to the electrical rodent. "Or he'll get what's coming to him."
Pikachu sparked his cheeks, hesitating on what to do. One wrong move and Sneasel could do something truly awful. Yet if he didn't do something, Ash would suffer.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted and made the decision for him.
"Oh, no, you don't!" Sneasel slammed the Riolu's mouth shut, but it was too late.
With his cheeks already sparking, Pikachu drew on the power within his Light Ball. It was a funny thing, basically acting as a sort of capacitor or battery. For the most of the day, it seemed to draw electricity from, storing it within. Whenever the Electric-type opted to use an electrical move, a small portion of the energy in the Light Ball flowed back into him, effectively making it easier to use most of his attacks. And that power, while only having built up over less than a day, was still more than he had before.
"Enough!" Sneasel ground his teeth. He flashed a claw and prepared to make a slash against the Riolu's flesh.
But it was at this moment, Ash pulled out an unexpected move. "Hidden Power!" he shouted, motes of light danced around the Riolu's body before flying in every direction.
An explosion of light surged from Ash's body, emphasis on explosion. The three Pokémon: Ash, Sneasel, and Totodile were caught up in a large explosion, dust and debris thrown in every direction.
Ash collapsed where he stood, whilst the other two were knocked away.
Sneasel quickly staggered to his feet, attempting to regain his balance.
This was the opening Pikachu had been waiting for. Selecting his target, Pikachu threw a massive swirl of electricity at the most dangerous opponent in the area.
Sneasel howled in pain as he was engulfed by blinding light. A shockwave of erupted on impact, kicking up more debris into the air.
When the dust settled, Sneasel had fallen onto his back, steam rising from his body.
Exhaustion building up, Pikachu slowly walked to his closest friend. Ash laid still, unmoving, but breathing.
"Ash…" the mouse spoke weakly. He had seen Ash die or nearly die just earlier today, so he was relieved that he was still alive. Still, his trainer had done something very reckless again by using that unfinished Hidden Power of his.
The Riolu's eyes fluttered open. "Pikachu…" he groaned. He lifted his head.
"You really are reckless," Pikachu smiled as he offered a paw.
Ash took the offer and both were back on their feet, exhausted but standing.
"I'm not… through yet!" Sneasel spat from his position. He tried to pick himself up, but fell onto the floor.
Totodile had walked up to the Sneasel and offered to give help the Poison-type up.
Sneasel shook his head and pushed himself up. He stumbled forward, as if a stiff breeze could send him back down.
Ash and Pikachu gave the two of them a guarded look. It was impressive just how much fight Sneasel had in him, but at the same time, Ash was just as durable.
Then, just as it looked like they were going to have one more desperate brawl, Charizard's cry pierced the night sky. The dragon flew in the distance and grew closer with every wing beat.
Seeing this, Totodile went over to the other Pokémon and forced one of Sneasel's arms over his shoulders.
"What are… you doing?" Sneasel snapped. "We can… still win this…"
"Not now," Totodile said back. He pulled a small seed from a pack around Sneasel's waist. He shattered it in his hands.
Thinking it was weapon, Pikachu threw a Thundershock at them.
A glow of light emanated from the seed and then two disappeared, just like Charizard had earlier.
"What happened? What's with the seeds?" Ash questioned. He stumbled forward.
Pikachu grabbed his waist and kept him standing.
Charizard swooped down, landing on the ground the disappeared with a thud. He raised his claws. "Where are they!?" he howled. "I want to beat them up!"
"You just missed them," Pikachu spat.
"They're gone!" Charizard growled.
Typical Charizard, did he even notice how beat up Ash had gotten?
"Hey…. Charizard," Ash managed to say.
The big Fire-type looked down and his posture shifted. "Uh, hello, Ash…"
Pikachu rolled his eyes. At least now he noticed.
"Boss… are you there?" Squirtle's voice rang out.
Ash broke free of Pikachu's hold and started to run towards the source of the noise, one of the houses that caved in during the fighting.
Pikachu followed his trainer, as that was what he had chosen to do.
Ash leapt through a hole in the wall to find a cage big enough for a human. Two Pokémon were inside, Squirtle and Zorua. Both were covered in soot and
"Hey… Boss… oh wow…" Squirtle said, his gaze fixed on his trainer. The Water-type had been bruised and beaten, but was otherwise fine. "Are… you okay?"
"I will be," Ash promised. He raised a Force Palm and smashed it against the lock of the two Pokémon's cage, forcing open.
The Riolu then started to fall backwards, perhaps taxed by the exertion. Pikachu grabbed a hold of his closest friend and gently set him down.
Zorua walked out of the cage, her eyes going up and down Ash's body repeatedly before also turning to examine Pikachu as well. She said nothing, but it was clear from her expression that the sight bothered her.
"Do you have medicine?" Pikachu said to her.
"I… think there's some pain medication," Zorua muttered. "Maybe I should make something more potent."
"Please do," Pikachu said.
"I'll… make the fire," Charizard muttered aloud.
Brock, Bulbasaur, and Vulpix had arrived at the scene. All of them were injured, too, but none had suffered anything too major.
Squirtle practically leapt onto Bulbasaur, grabbing hold of the toad's face in a hug.
Pikachu did not pay much attention to what happened next. It was all a blur of everyone getting patched up. Everyone was simply too injured to be carried back to camp. Charizard had been asked to fly back to town to… buy things?
Either way, the last thing Pikachu could remember was lying down next to his trainer. The Riolu was alive, injured but still there.
Yet, Pikachu couldn't get it out of his head that it might not be the case in the future. After all, earlier that day, he had seen Ash die as he stood between two incredibly powerful Psychic-types. He… couldn't bear the thought of losing Ash.
The Electric-type clutched his Light Ball. Every last bit of strength would help.
I hope the fighting was to your liking. It was a bit rough for me since I had to figure out how I wanted to make it feel. I also decided to show a bit on Silver's character motives.
Silver's team uses items just like a PMD Team does. I thought it'd be a fun way to reference the difference in learning and expectations. Orans of course provide a small amount of healing. Warp and Revival Seeds should be fairly obvious. The All Protect Orb was used by Voltorb to set up shields.