Chapter 23 - The shocking recruit returns IV

STOMP….STOMP…STOMP…

Team Rocket's Mechanized Automatic Geyser Acquirer thudded it's way through the forest on its way east. They were somewhere outside Vanderf town, along the foot of Mt. Chimney. There were no roads in this part of the region, and it was far from any human settlements.

The only thing Team Rocket had standing in their way right now were the wild Pokémon. And they scrambled pretty quickly when they heard the mecha coming. Their nest and burrows destroyed as it crashed through the undergrowth.

It was twilight – the first stars of the night were appearing in the sky like little Charmander tails, and the moon had just rising above the horizon.

Team Rocket were in a celebratory mood. After all, they had just managed to swipe Ash's Charizard, an aura using Dewott and Hunter the Riolu. Three Pokémon usually hard to come by. They may not have got Pikachu yet, but they had Ashachu the aura Pikachu…

And that's not nothing is it.

And so, they spend the journey fantasying about what they were going to do with the rewards they would get when they presented these rare Pokémon to the boss.

"Ah yes, da life we always dreamt of. We're on our way to easy street," Meowth mused as he leaned back in his seat with paw behind his head.

"Yes, and I heard they have all the flavors of ice cream you want on every corner," James added, a dreamy expression on his face.

"Yup. Soon as we get dare, I'm orderin' a double cheeseburger, Charizard sized fries and chocolate shake and Pokémint Ice cream for dessert."

It was Jessie's turn. "No, no, no, no. You guys aren't thinking big enough!"

James and Meowth turned their heads to her.

"Oh, what do your dreams include," asked James.

"Well, for starters, I'll build my summer dream home on a tropical island, where I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want. Twenty-four seven straight from the barbeque."

Looks of excitement crossed James and Meowth's faces. They lent forward and asked, "that's sounds good, could you include us in your dream."

Ashachu let out a beleaguered sigh and shook his head. These dweebs were starting to become embarrassing to be around. He climbed down from the console and slipped out of the door to the cockpit.

"What 'bout you Ashachu," Meowth asked before noticing he was gone. "What do are you dreamin' Huh…Hey, where'd he go!"

[Pokémon]

The mecha was split into three main compartments. There was cockpit where Jessie, James and Meowth operated the device from. That was contained within the head. There was the middle section that contained the machines batteries and motor. This was kept within the chest. Finally, there was a storage area in the pit of the belly.

This last compartment was where Team Rocket were keeping their three prisoner Pokémon. It was split into two sections, with some type of energy forcefield acting like a screen in the middle. This allowed the members of Team Rocket to come down here and inspect the prisoners without fearing attack.

"You shouldn't have done that. There's no sense in you been trapped with these creeps as well."

"I know. I just didn't want to see them hurt any more Pokémon. I mean, after what happened to you and Charizard here."

"Aww. C'mere." Geyser put his arms around Hunter and the two Pokémon hugged each other.

In spite of their situation Hunter felt, surprisingly safe in Geyser's arms. It felt almost as good as the many hugs he had shared with Ashachu. "Besides," He added, pressing his nose into the fur of Geyser's neck. Maybe this way I can reason with Ashachu."

Geyser snorted.

"He's a good Pokémon. We just need to give him a chance. He'll do the right thing!"

Hunter wasn't entirely sure if was saying that to reassure Geyser or himself. And speaking of Giratina…

"Well, well. What do we have here?"

Hunter and Geyser broke apart and spun around to see Ashachu standing on the opposite side of the laser screen. For the first time in his life, Hunter was not pleased to see him. He flattened his ears.

It was remarkable how, physically as well as emotionally, the Pikachu standing looked very different to the one he'd been friends with since they had hatched. His fur was the color of night, except for the R painted on his chest and the yellow highlight in his ears.

He was smirking in a sort of crazed way, that showed his fangs, and there was an almost malevolent glint in his eyes.

"Ashachu," Hunter said, taking a tentative step forward. "What happened to you."

Ashachu grinned at him. "What, you don't like the new look. Yellow was getting boring."

"Be serious now. Why are you doing this. Why are you trying to hurt us? What on earth made you sign up with Team Rocket?"

"Why," said Ashachu. "Let's see. First my trainers threatens to bench me. Then you dumped me and decided to play around with otter boy over here. At least my new friends treat me with the dignity I deserve."

"There not your friends."

It was Charizard who had spoken. Ashachu, Hunter and Geyser seemed surprised. It was so rare to hear Charizard speak.

"Their manipulating you, so you'll help them steal Pikachu," he said, gruffly. "And it looks like it's working too."

"You think I'm that stupid," asked Ashachu.

"Do I have to answer that question."

Ashachu's eyes narrowed to slits. "Don't test me, flame tail." He then turned his attention back to Ashachu and Hunter.

"You don't need to do this Ashachu," Hunter said quickly before Ashachu could say anything further. "You're a good Pokémon. Don't do this."

"Tell me Hunter. How do you really feel about me," Ashachu asked?

Hunter groaned. "Seriously Ashachu. You want to do this now."

"How do you feel. Do you actually love me? Cause it sure didn't take you long to go from wanting a break, to kissing Geyser here."

Hunter sighed and shook his head, before glaring at Ashachu. "Okay, one I said I wanted a break after you hurt me when you mated with that Sneasel. So, complaining that I kissed Geyser is a little like the Hydreigon calling the Mightyena black. Two, I still do care for you. But I have a hard time feeling any affection for you when you're doing this. Three, it really isn't your business who I kiss."

Ashachu glared right back at him. "You don't mean any of that. Geyser's turned you against me."

Geyser opened his mouth to speak, but Hunter cut him off first, "Ashachu you're being ridiculous. I don't know what you think you're going to achieve by being this way. It certainly doesn't make me want to be with you again."

Ashachu felt his temper rising. Anger and frustration threating to blow out of him like an erupting overheat. He wasn't entirely sure why he was saying the things he was saying or doing what he was doing. He just needed to vent… To make the others feel some of what he had felt over the last few days.

"You know you've kind of been a shitty boyfriend as well," he screamed at Hunter, his voice elevating in tone and volume. "You didn't give me any chance to explain myself after what happened with blade. It's like you have no faith in our relationship."

Hunter gaped incredulously at him. He raised his arms in disbelief and shouted back, at almost the same volume as Ashachu, "What exactly is there to explain. I saw you and Blade together. After all the affection I had for you, all of what I put into our relationship, you couldn't decide between me and another Pokémon."

"I didn't have control over what happened. The humans had laced the air with incense and there was an affinity enabler. I heard one of the employees talking about it afterwards."

Hunter rolled his eyes. "Sure Ashachu. I can't believe you think I would fall for that."

"It's true."

"Just stop!"

"What's goin' on down 'ere!" It was at that moment that Meowth appeared. He wandered into the hold an exasperated expression on his face. "Jessie says ya need to keep da noise down. She can't 'ear herself t'ink about her private island."

"You are little bastard Meowth," growled Charizard. "You're the one who turned Ashachu against us, aren't you? You like you managed to convince Pikachu he was part of team rocket after he got amnesia. I ought to incinerate you right where you stand."

Meowth sniggered. "Except you'll never get through dat laser screen dare big boy. Also, I'd be careful playin' with fire. Might activate da sprinklers, and I seriously doubt you want dat tail of yours getting' wet."

Charizard's eyes narrowed to slits. "You little shit!"

[Pokémon]

James, why have we stopped," Jessie demanded, as the Mecha suddenly came to a halt.

"Nowhere to go. Look." James pointed through the windshield.

They had reached the edge of a cliff, below which was a raging river. It was a sheer drop with no obvious way down. The only crossing was a rickety looking roped bridge. One thing was certain. It wasn't going to take the mocha's weight.

Jessie let out a hiss of frustration. "Meowth said it was a clear run through to Lilycove City. Where are we."

"Hang on, let me have a look at the map," a beleaguered James replied. He knew how an irritable Jessie could be, and had no desire to have to deal with that now. Best to try and keep things clam.

He pushed a few buttons on his console, bringing up a large map of the region on his computer screen. "Hmmm according to this, we're not too far from the Weather Institute."

"Okay, and how do we get to Lilycove?"

James studied the screen and bit his lip. "Err I think the safest thing to do would be to head south towards the mouth of the river and find a shallow point to cross at."

He closed his eyes ready for the onslaught. And sure enough.

"James, are you insane! That'll take ages. Not only is that miles out of our way, it'll give the twerps a chance to catch up with us."

James groaned with frustration. "Well do you have any better suggestions."

"Of course. We'll just use the bridge."

James' mouth fell open. "What. Seriously. There's no way that thing will take this machine's weight. We'll end up in the river."

Jessie dismissed his concern. "So, we're water proof aren't we?"

"Yes, but."

"Besides, if we do it at speed we'll be over before it collapses."

"Perhaps, but I still think that's risky. Should we wait and see what Meowth thinks. He did design this contraption after all."

Jessie slammed her fist on the console. "James, if you don't get this thing over that bridge in the next five seconds."

"Fine, fine, fine." James sighed and resigned sigh and took hold of the controls...

[Pokémon]

"You know Ashachu. We could settle this right here and now," said Geyser, pulling out his Scalchop and pointing them at Ashachu. "You and me. We could battle this out. But you won't because you're a little bitch and you know I'll win. You're just hiding behind Team Rocket!"

Ashachu glowered at him, clenching his paws into fists. A grin spread across Geyser's muzzle. He knew that would bait Ashachu. Get him to do something stupid. But when Ashachu replied, it was surprising calm.

"Fine," said Ashachu. "If that's what you want. I'll just beat your ass."

He wandered across the room to the switch that controlled the laser screen.

"No, Ashachoo don't," Meowth cried, rushing over to stop Ashachu, but he didn't get to him in time. Ashachu stuck his paw on the button and the screen fell.

[Pokémon]

In the cockpit James raised his arms and declared dramatically, "putting Mechanized Automated Geyser Acquirer into reverse. Ignite engine light. Ready and….Ahhh."

Seeing Jessie raising her mallet again, he promptly pulled the lever on his consol. The mecha begun to move slowly backward.

[Pokémon]

"Oh, Arceus I can't watch." Hunter buried his face in his paws. The tension in the compartment was almost too much to bear.

Even Charizard seemed to think so. He pressed himself up against the back wall, giving Ashachu and Geyser enough space to battle it out. Meowth was standing by the door, unsure exactly what to do. The barrier had fallen – there was nothing protecting the two rocket Pokémon from the other three and vice versa.

Ashachu and Hunter circled each other in the middle of the room, each glowering and baring their teeth at the other. It was difficult to tell who's face bore more contempt for the other.

"What exactly are you hoping to achieve here Ashachu," growled Geyser. "Can't you get it through you thick, skull. Hunter doesn't want you anymore. He's certainly not going to take your sorry tail back after this!"

"Says who," Ashachu challenged. "Everything was fine between us until you came along. You've been trying to get with him ever since you hatched. In fact, you're pretty much responsible for everything that's gone wrong lately."

Geyser's eyes narrowed. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"You're the reason those Team Skull creeps were after us," hissed Ashachu. "You're the reason we got stuck in Po Town in the first place. If not for you, I never would have met that piece of shit Sneasel. Everything between Hunter and me would have stayed the way it was!"

Geyser threw his arms up in the air, and replied sarcastically, "Well excuse me for existing. Cause it's really my fault humans wanted to poach me! Are you really that stupid, Ashachu?"

"You know you were a mistake," Ashachu growled. "Ash likes my dad better than yours. He made a mistake by fucking your dad and once you hatched you just ruined all of our lives."

"Oh, is that so!" Geyser's voice was cold and deadly. "Because it seems that right now, I'm one of Ash's stronger battlers. I've certainly kicked your tail often enough. Ash wants to train me and use me in battle. He wants to dump you back in Pallet Town. And speaking of ruining lives – You're the reason we were chased by Darkrai, you're the reason Hunter got taken to outer space. And you're the reason Hunter, Charizard and I are trapped here now. You know most of the other mons on the team I've spoken to hate you and want you to go away. Hunter hates you and wants you to go away. Didn't you hear him tell you that back in the forest."

And with that, Ashachu snapped. "That's it. YOU'RE DEAD OTTER-BOY! Pikachuuuuu."

He fired off thunderbolt. Geyser raised his Scalchop to protect himself.

"Careful kid," called out a worried Meowth. "Dis room's made of metal. If ya not careful we'll all get shocked.

But Ashachu wasn't listening to him. Something within him had changed – it was as if everything that made him, him, at that particular moment had been thrown out the window.

There was only one thought in his head. Destroy Geyser.

He didn't even seem to have control over his body. It was like he'd become a Pikachu on autopilot once more – programmed to attack Ashachu.

"Guys STOP," Hunter bellowed. "You don't need to fight over me. This doesn't help anything. Please, please stop!"

Something else was happening too. For the first time ever, Geyser did not seem to be able to knock Ashachu down. Every blow he landed, every strike made, didn't seem to work. It was not that Ashachu wasn't taking damage – he clearly was.

He was just getting back up and throwing more attacks at him. He couldn't push him away…All the while, Geyser was taking hits too. Thunderbolt, after thunderbolt, after thunderbolt. The Scalchop weren't enough to protect him – that move had always worked before.

He felt himself getting weaker and weaker – If Ashachu kept going he would not be able to keep defending himself. And then….

WHACK

He brough his Scalchop down at the same time as Ashachu brought an iron tail up. A stronger iron tail than Geyser had ever felt before. The Scalchop flew right out of his paws and into the air.

"Wahh!"

For a brief second the two dueling Pokémon froze, as if each were unable to process what had just happened. Geyser gaped at Ashachu opened mouthed. Then a grin spread across Ashachu's face and he raised his eyebrows. The effect was to make the lighting mouse look almost insane.

'I gotta end this quickly or he's going to beat me,' Geyser through desperately to himself. 'Think!'

Ashachu threw himself at Geyser again. Geyser put his paws together and prepared to use aura sphere. Ashachu was on top of him by the time the blue orb of energy was charged enough to use. It exploded between his paws – both Pokémon were thrown across the compartment, hitting opposite walls.

[Pokémon]

"Alright, that should be far enough!"

Back in the cockpit, James had brought the mecha to a halt. He placed his hand on the throttle and took a deep breath. His heart was pounding in his chest. He knew this was a bad idea. The path to the bridge lay ahead.

"Here we go…Get ready. Ummm," he turned to Jessie. "Maybe we should make sure the Pokémon are wearing their seatbelts before."

"James," Jessie cut him off angrily. "If this bucket of bolts isn't moving in the next five seconds."

"Ahhh." James was scared of what might happen when the mecha reached the bridge but…He was more scared of Jessie. "Yes Ma'am." He pressed the throttle lever as far forward as it would get.

The Mechanized Automatic Geyser Acquirer begun to move.

[Pokémon]

Ashachu didn't waste any time resuming his attacks on Geyser. No sooner had he pulled himself off the wall than he was back on his all fours charging at Geyser. Sparks were flying around his body.

'Ugh, he's using volt tackle,' Geyser thought to himself. 'If that gets me…I've had it. Maybe if I use water gun at his feet, I can get him to slip.'

He took a breath and prepared to use the attack. But that was the moment that the Mecha begun to move forward. The jolt caused him to lose balance – it was only for a second, but that was all it took.

By the time he was ready to use the attack, Ashachu was upon him once again. And this time he had no defense. "Deeewwwww." It was like he'd been simultaneous punched in the chest and electrocuted at the same time. Ashachu crashed into him, tackling against the wall, all while the sparks surrounding him, coursed through his body.

When it ended, he found himself lying on his back on the cold hard floor of the mecha. Ashachu was sitting on his chest. His feet were pressed against his paws so he couldn't move. The mouse had him pinned to the ground.

"Ha. Who's the weak one now Geyser," Ashachu growled. "Who's the looser now."

"Ashachu. Get off me," Geyser gasped.

"Hehehe. No way," Ashachu chuckled. "Now I've got you right where I want you. And it's payback time."

Geyser eyed Ashachu carefully, running his eyes from the maniacal expression on his face, right down his body to his waste. To his horror, he noticed a small pink tip poking out of Ashachu's body. Ashachu wouldn't, would he.

"Alright, you won. You got me. We're even now."

"Oh, we are not even," Ashachu retorted. "After all the shit I've had to put up with from you. After you stole my boyfriend. We are not even."

"Get off me. Don't make this worse than it has to be."

Hunter had, had enough. Without saying a word, he marched over to the pair of them, and seized Ashachu by the chest, dragging him off Geyser.

"Huh." Ashachu had just enough time to register the look of pure anger on Hunter's face, before Hunter decided to give his friend one distortion world of message – in the form of a knuckle sandwich.

The Riolu raised his free paw, and punched Ashachu hard in the face, striking him just below his cheek.

"Pi." Ashachu collapsed backwards, landing on his back on the floor. "Oww." He sat up rubbing his cheek, staring at Hunter in almost a state of shock.

Geyser, Meowth and Charizard all seemed shocked too. All of them stared at Hunter in disbelief, their maws open wide. For a moment there was only stunned silence…And then, it happened!

[Pokémon]

The mecha had reached the bridge…

Jessie had thought that, it they took at speed, they would be across before it collapsed.

That, it transpired, had been a stupid plan. Not exactly surprising – it was one of Jessie's after all. As soon as mecha placed it's paw on the bridge, the wood snapped, sending the mecha on a one-way journey down in the valley below…