Chapter 112 – Aura Raichu rising!
"Alright, mutts! It's feeding time!!"
"Yahh!"
The guard hit the bars of the cage with the steel baton, and the smell of Pokéchow and berries wafted inside. Zacian awoke from her fitful sleep with a start. Raising her head, she looked across the confines of the tiny cell that she, Lucario, Typhlosion and Koraidon had been confined in. Deep in the dungeon of Team Rocket's castle, beneath the surface of the asteroid.
The cell was barely bigger than a closet or pantry. Two narrow bunk beds had been placed at either side of the room and a small litter box had been shoved against the back wall. From the stench of it, it had not been emptied in some time. A set of cold iron bars, like a grill, separated them from the rest of the castle…and freedom.
"Lucar!"
"Ty."
Lucario and been sitting on the top bunk, meditating with his legs crossed, while Typhlosion paced up and down across the tiny floor space. One step to the right, two to the left, repeat and switch. They both reacted to the arrival of the grunt, Lucario slipping off the bunk to stand on the ground, with his back leaning against it. And Typhlosion force and looked over his shoulder. Only Koraidon didn't react, remaining sitting on the bunk beneath Zacian, scowling at the wall.
"Wake up at eight, place that you hate," the guard sang to herself, almost tauntingly.
The guard was a young woman, probably no older than Ash, dressed in the usual non-conspicuous black outfit worn by rocket grunts. Her only shrinking features were her hair, which she had dyed a combination of blue and pink, and a large nose ring.
She hummed a couple of bars, as though forgetting the words to whatever tune she had in her head, before uttering the words "feeding time."
Lucario and Typhlosion both moved expectantly towards the bars, despite themselves. They had not eaten in some time and were both very hungry. Zacian too was noticing hunger pangs in her stomach at the smell of the food but did not make a move. She was t giving Team Rocket that satisfaction.
"Carr."
"Ty."
The female guard grinned at the expression on the Pokémon's faces, before raising her hand and waggling her finger annoyingly. "Uh uh, you want feeding you have to earn it first."
And then, to the great shock of the two males standing by the bars, she pulled up the top of her uniform, before undoing her pants, exposing both their breasts and her womanhood. Typhlosion and Lucario recoiled, exchanging confused and disgusted looks. Something inside Zacian's mind snapped.
"Are you fucking kidding me," she growled, leaping off the bunk. Typhlosion pressed himself against the wall to give her space to land on the floor, where she stood with her hackles raised and teeth bared at the nearly naked Rocket grunt.
The guard laughed. "Hahaha…you want food boys. You've got to earn it. Get those tongues busy."
Typhlosion tilted his head, a sickened expression on his face. "Does she…"
"Want you to get her off, yeah, snarled Zacian, confirming his worst fears.
Typhlosion's eyes widened in horror, while Lucario growled, his fur bristling in anger like Zacian's.
"Oh, Arceus no."
"You sick fuck!"
The guard continued to laugh, mockingly, her breasts shaking as she did so. "I don't think you boys know how it works here. You aren't a thing here. You aren't independent beings, you're just tools. Tools for Team Rocket to use as we so require. All Pokémon exist for the glory of Team Rocket. That's our motto. So if you want food and water." She gestured with two hands to her exposed groin. "Here's the appetiser."
"GRRRRRR…"
Typhlosion snapped. Flames erupted from his back in a spurt of horror and anger. He roared, his maw open wide, his muscles tensing.
"Ty," cried Zacian whipping her head around. "That didn't work the last…"
BOOM
It felt as though they were hit with a massive earthquake or fissure attack. The ground shook violently, and cracks started to appear in the floor and ceiling.
"What the…"
Zacian and Lucario gaped at Typhlosion. Even Koraidon was brought out of his trance, sitting up on the bed to see what was going on. But Typhlosion looked as confused as they were. He was glancing around wide-eyed, his jaws still parted, but the flames on his back had gone out.
"Th-that wasn't me," he stuttered confused.
Outside their little cell, the guard had lost her smug and controlling demeanour. Just like other grunts had that day, she had gone into a panic, desperately trying to find out what was going on and find out what going on. She had pulled out her communicator and was shouting something to the control room while trying to do up her pants one-handed with her free hand. She wasn't having much luck.
"Command, this is dungeon block, requesting urgent assistance. Do you copy…What command do you copy? I repeat, this….AH!!!"
A blue-coloured creature seemed to leap from nowhere, tackling the guard and knocking her to the ground. Zacian, Typhlosion and Lucario pressed themselves closer to the bar to see what was going on outside. Koraidon leaned out from his bed, trying to see over their heads. There was not enough space for all of them.
"Die you Team Rocket bastards, die!"
"Hunter," barked Lucario in surprise.
The Riolu was on the ground, wrestling with the guard, punching her in the face with a fury of paws.
"Hunter, no!"
Flygon, Zoroark and Sylveon ran up behind the Riolu. Sylveon wrapped her feelers around Hunter's arms and midriff and pulled him off the guard.
"Let me go," the Riolu yipped angrily, struggling against Sylveon. "I'll kill them all for what they've done to us!"
At the same time, Zoroark and Flygon picked the guard up by her shoulders and dragged her to her feet. Their claws dug into her flesh.
"Alright sweetie," Zoroark whispered menacingly into her ear. "Nice and promptly now. Where's the key to the cell?"
[Pokémon]
"Foolish moussse. What did you expect to gain by coming here sssss."
Ashachu glared defiantly at the giant totem Serviper who was baring down upon him. Each Pokémon sizing their opponent up and waiting for the opportune time to strike. The air was tense, even without the sounds of Mewtwo howling in pain as he was restrained by the Primids.
"You know what I came here for," Ashachu replied. His voice was low and icy. Very much un-Ashachu-like as he glowered at Seviper with murder in his eyes. "You have something of mine. I want it back!"
"Ashachu," whispered Geyser from behind. "Take it slowly. Don't make any sudden moves. We've got your back."
"Trust your instincts kiddo," added Blade.
Ashachu took a deep breath, trying to keep his cool and not react to Seviper's taunt. A wrong step here would be very dangerous. His body was tensed, muscles tight, his tail low to the ground and his fur bristled. Geyser was on his hind legs with his Seamitars drawn, while Oshawott brandished his Scalchop and Sniveon and Dragonite prepared for battle. Blade folded his arms, his posture relaxed in contrast to the others, but his eyes darted between the Pokémon and humans present. Hikari, meanwhile, shied away from the expected fight.
The passing seconds felt like hours. The. Jessie gave the first command. "Seviper, use Poison Tail."
The totem snake struck in one fast, clean movement. In the blink of an eye, his body repositioned, so that his tail was directly above Ashachu and the others. In another, Seviper struck, bringing his tail down like a machete.
Geyser, Blade and the others scattered to avoid being struck, but not Ashachu. No, Ashachu stared it down with a steely expression in his eyes, before parrying with his iron tail attack.
"ASHACHU NO!" Cried Geyser.
"Bad move kid," shouted Blade. "He's at least ten times your size what are you thinking!"
Dragonite and Sniveon each shouted out cries "Ashachu," and "Oh fuck!" It was hard to tell, who had said which. Oshawott merely gaped as the giant knife-like tail came into contact with Ashachu's with an almighty clash.
"Oh, Arceus I can't look." Sniveon covered her eyes with her feelers.
"Hsssss…What'sssss thissss!"
There was a general gasp of surprise and relief from the other Pokémon, as Seviper's jaw dropped open and his eyes widened in shock. Far from being flattened like a Stunfisk under the massive snake's tail, Ashachu was resisting the attack. He had turned his back to Seviper, looking at the serpent over his shoulder, while his steely tail held pushed back against that of the larger Pokémon.
"Fuck me kiddo," gasped Blade. "Remind me not to underestimate you."
"We've defeated you, and sent you blasting off before," Ashachu snarled to Seviper, fangs bared. "And we'll do it again. Your castle's falling apart. I brought you and your team directly into the hands of the human authorities. There's no way out for you. But before this is over, you're giving me back Charizard. Even if I have to turn you inside out…"
[Pokémon]
The castle was a scene of complete carnage, as Ash and Pikachu pursued Giovanni and Delia through its various halls and passageways. Throughout the liar Rocket grunts and Admins were trying to fend off the invading Primids with their Pokémon, only to find their Pokémon getting slaughtered. The Primids, with their guns, swords and fists made quick work of their Pokémon foes, leaving a trail of blood, corpses and much worse.
Ash forced himself to ignore the sight and stench of death as he gave his grandfather chase, thinking only of his poor little Pichu kit trapped in the pocket of his coat.
Perhaps surprisingly, few of the Primids posed much of an obstacle as they ran through the castle. They were too busy engaged in combat or arrest with other Team Rocket officers to seemingly bother with the fleeing boss. Content to allow the head of Team Rocket to slip through their hands (for they seemingly had nothing resembling fingers), or perhaps not programmed or trained to recognise and stop him. Only twice did a Primid or two try to intercept Giovanni and Delia.
And when that happened, Giovanni would causally toss several Pokéballs, two or three at a time, and let the Pokémon inside fight them. Or at least cause a distraction with their deaths while he and his daughter continued their escape. Ash forced himself not to look back and blocked out their cries of anguish as they were cut down. He had, of course, something much more precious to him to deal with. He didn't even register their species.
Things changed when they reached the entrance chamber to the castle. The last room separates Giovanni from the hangar and is a means of escape. Here the Primids had control. Several grunts were on their knees and locked in handcuffs, having just been arrested, and the floor was littered with the bodies of Pokémon. No sooner had Giovanni crossed the threshold, than a group of five Primids surrounded him and Delia.
"Halt," ordered one of the Primids, in its electronic voice. It held up one of its hands in a stop gesture, like a police officer. "You are under arrest! Put your hands up above your head and lay on the floor. Failure to comply will result in your death!"
Ash and Pikachu skidded to a halt in the doorway just behind, hearts racing. But before he could do anything, Giovanni stepped forward, reached into his pocket and pulled out the tiny yellow Pichu inside…And to the horror of Ash and Pikachu, threw it into the air.
"Pichuuuu!"
"No!"
"Pikkaaa!"
Ash and Pikachu leapt forward in an attempt to catch their little kit. What happened next, was a blur. As Ash was running forward, arms outstretched, Giovanni pulled a gauntlet out of another coat pocket and slipped it on his right hand. That was the last thing he saw before he felt something solid collide with his midsection, knocking the breath from him. One of the Primids had caught him. His vision faded as his eyes watered. And then there was a series of squeaks, a loud BANG, followed by a flash of blue light…
[Pokémon]
"C'mon Seviper, shakes those brats off you," bellowed an annoyed Jessie. "Poison tail!"
The disadvantage of being so large is that it made it difficult for the Totem Pokémon to fight off smaller Pokémon once they got in close. He had now to contend with Ashachu, Sniveon and Blade on his back, Geyser coming at him with Seamitars, while Dragonite fired attacks at him from above. Seviper had no idea who to swing his tail at.
He hissed angrily. "Ssssss."
"Chuuu." At that moment, Ashachu, who had taken perch on the very top of his head, let off this thunderbolt attack.
Seviper convulsed as the electricity coursed through his body. Angered and in pain, he tried to bring his tail down to the place he could feel the electricity coming from. Only to have Ashachu slide out of the way, causing Seviper to knock himself in the back of the head.
"Ssss. Why you little."
Seviper flicked his head around to locate Ashachu. Only for Geyser to strike him in the side of the head with a hydro pump attack. A torrent of water slammed into him, drenching his scales. He wheeled around and struck at the Samurott with another poison tail attack. Expect l, before he could strike, Dragonite hit him from above with dragon breath. Right in the eyes.
"Ssssss."
Blinded, Seviper flailed around, waving his tail in the hope of catching something. It didn't work. Dragonite and Geyser kept their distance, all while using their long-range special attacks against him. And he couldn't bring his tail close enough to his body to get Ashachu, Sniveon or Blade without risking injuring himself.
While the fight went on, the Primids, realising Seviper to be an enemy Pokémon, regrouped. Two continued to hold Mewtwo down, while the other three advanced on Seviper. Namba meanwhile had retreated to the console at the far end of the chamber, while no one was watching.
It was unfortunate that nobody had seen this, for a second later, tiles on the floor begun to glow brightly beneath the advancing Primids, before they disappeared. Their bodies flew upwards and dissolved into thin air as though thrown into an invisible cloud, by an invisible trampoline.. Warp tiles…At the same time, metal shields closed around the coloured tanks holding the six legendary Pokémon, before they retreated into the floor below, in much the same way Mewtwo's had appeared.
And then Jessie gave another command… "Acid Downpour!"
Ashachu managed to turn his head to look at her and noticed her striking a pose. Something was glinting around her wrist. A sudden wave of panic flooded him. "Oh crap…"
A Z-Move…
An aura of light surrounded Jessie and spread to Seviper, blinding Ashachu. That was the last thing his mind was able to process before the attack struck. Purple storm clouds appeared in the air around Seviper, and suddenly Ashachu and the others found themselves caught in a torrent of thick, foils smelling liquid that was irritating on their fur and skin. Ashachu's brain seemed to skip time…that or he had been knocked out.
The next thing he knew, he was lying on his back on the far side of the chamber. Someone was shouting his name. "ASHACHU…look out!!"
It took his mind slightly too long to work out that it was Geyser calling to him, to warn him about the pair of snake jaws that had appeared directly above him. In a flash his world became one of darkness and wet fleshy walls…
[Pokémon]
"Pi-kachu!"
Ash gasped his partners name as consciousness slowly returned to him. His entire body was wracked with pain, as though he hand been trampled by a heard of rampaging Rapidash. Opening his eyes, he found himself lying on the floor of the entrance chamber, and tried to remember how he'd gotten there. He recalled Giovanni throwing Pichu as the Primid's advanced and then a lot of blue light.
"Pichu!"
He forced himself up onto his arms, experiencing a spasm of pain across his chest and shoulders as he did so.
The Primids had gone. Their weapons, uniforms and a black mould like substance lay strewn across the floor. A number of Pokémon, probably Team Rocket Pokémon, and some grunts in black uniforms, lay unconscious either slumped against the walls or spreadeagled on the ground. Only one man remained standing.
"Giovanni." He said the man's name with pure hatred and contempt in his voice.
"Ash. Are you alright."
Ash felt his mother's arms wrap around him and her face press against her neck. He hadn't see her approaching. He brushed her off as he forced himself, painfully, to his feet.
"Where's my kit," he demanded.
Giovanni reached into his pocket and pulled out the tiny yellow mouse. He was unconscious, swirls over his eyes and breathing slowly.
"GIVE HIM BACK!!!"
Ash took a step towards the Team Rocket boss but was stopped by Delia putting his arms around him from behind.
"Ash no. Let me try." She looked up at her father and pleaded, "father please. Give him back that Pokémon!"
Two things happened at once…
First, the front doors burst open, and holes in the wall appeared, out of which more Prinids flooded the chamber. Reinforcements to replace their fallen fellows. Laser swords were raised above their heads.
Second, from out of nowhere, Pikachu bolted and threw himself at Giovanni. He managed to climb up the Team Rocket leader's legs and, before Giovanni could react, sunk his little fangs into the wrist of the hand holding Pichu, and started discharging electricity.
"Ahh." Giovanni, not expecting the attack, double over in shock and pain.
Ash broke free from his mother's grip, ran up to Giovanni and grabbed hold of the arm clutching Pichu, trying desperately to prize the tiny mouse out of his fingers.
"Ash…Father," cried Delia in horror.
Eventually, Giovanni's grip on the tiny mouse slackened enough for Ash to pry him free. He pushed his grandfather off him and ran away. The Primids were encircling them now, forming an impenetrable wall. Guns and swords raised and pointed.
Ash took a deep breath before throwing his hands above his head, and shouting, We surrender."
"Pika Pikachu!" Pikachu mimicked him behind.
"Release the Pokémon and get on the ground," spoke one of the Primids.
[Pokémon]
"Ashachu."
"ASHACHU!"
Geyser and Sniveon call out his name as Seviper scooped Ashachu into his jaws, and flicked his head back, preparing to swallow.
"Fuck." Ashachu swore to himself as his paws tried to find purchase on the wet walls now enclosing his little body. Trying to push himself out of the back of Seviper's throat before the serpent could swallow him.
"Hey Seviper. Eat this." Suddenly, Dragonite was on the move. He flew back into the air before diving at Seviper. Seviper opened his maw wide to snap at dragonite, but to his and everyone else's surprise, Dragonite dived straight into his maw. Arms stretched above his head as though he were diving unit a swimming pool he gave a mufffled cry of "Ashachu!"
But nobody had noticed the time clutched in his claw. The tiny yellow rock, which he managed to stretch far enough to touch the top of Ashachu's head with!
"Pi"
Ashachu felt a sudden surge of power course through his whole body. As though he were suddenly growing bigger and stronger. A wide grin spread across his maw in the dark. "Hell yeah!"
Seviper gagged. He flicked his head and made a wrenching sound as though something large was caught in his throat. And then….
"CHUUU!!!"
Then, to the amazement of everyone watching, Team Rocket and twerp alike, the giant serpent convulsed. His body started to glow as though hit with a powerful thunder attack. Dragonite let out a yell from within his maw, kicking out with his hind legs and tail. It lasted a couple of seconds before Seviper collapsed. The snake Pokémon came crashing to the ground with a dull thud.
"Seviper," shouted as though unsure of what just happened.
Dragonite pulled his head out of Seviper's head, and stumbled around looking dazed and confused. "Ahh man. Couldn't you have warned me first buddy," he speared as he clutched his head with his claws.
"Chu."
Ashachu clambered out of Sevipers maw after Dragonite, his fur covered in scratches and saliva. But he wasn't Ashachu anymore. He was nearly double the size he'd been when he'd been nearly swallowed, his fur had turned from yellow to organs with cream around his belly, and his ears had had become large and flat. But the most noticeable change was his tail…it had grown in length to nearly the length of Ashachu's body and grown thin as a noodle with a lighting bolt at the end.
Ashachu had evolved into a Raichu…
"Ashachu," breathed Sniveon.
"You evolved," exclaimed Blade.
Geyser's jaw dropped in disbelief. "H-how is that possible."
"Oh you'be got to be kidding me," shouted an exasperated Jessie.
Ashachu shook himself to get the excess saliva off his fur. The he turned back to Seviper, glowered at him for a moment, then put two paws around one of his exposed fangs and gave an almighty wrench. And, to the amazement of everyone watching, the tooth snapped allowing Ashachu to pull it right out of Seviper's mouth.
"I don't have anything clever to say. So, fuck you!"
Ashachu then proceeded to take the fan and, holding it like a sword, jabbed it hard into Seviper's flank. He the. Brought it down the serpents long body, cutting a deep gash along his side. A tidal of blood poured out, staining the floor and Ashachu's fur red. Ashachu reached inside, and pulled out the end of a long organs tail…with a tiny flame flickering at the end. He flung it over his shoulder and pulled.
Slowly, the massive unconscious form of Charizard emerged from inside Seviper. His scales stained with bile and stomach fluid, and black swirls over his eyes, breathing slowly. A trail of blood and entrails followed him and an acrid smell filled the air. Nobody said a word…neither Team Rocket nor Geyser, Blade and the others. Not until an almighty crash from up above rocked the room, and the ceiling opened, bringing steel and rock crashing down into the chamber.
"EVERYBODY, RUN!" cried Dragonite…