Chapter 24 – The Shocking Recruit Returns IV

CRASH!

The Mechanised Automated Geyser Acquirer pitched forward, as the bridge snapped beneath its mechanical paw, and went sliding down the cliff side toward the river below.

"Waaaahhhhh!"

It hit the ground with a loud thud. Fortunately, it came to rest on the riverbank and did not slide into the rapidly moving waters. Still, the crash had certainly thrown its passengers around.

In the cockpit, Jessie, James and Wobbuffet were lying in a crumpled heap, one on top of the other.

"Ugh…My head!"

"James! You have to the count of three to get off me, before I kick you in the…"

"Wobbuffet." Wobbuffet, seemingly the only one unaffected by the crash, just smiled stupidly.

Back in the cargo hold, Ashachu slowly sat up. His head was spinning, and his vision was out of focus. "Ohh. My head. What in the distortion world happened!" He examined himself with his paws. Ears, head, body, lighting shaped tail – all there, he seemed fine.

"Nyaa…Is everybody okay?"

As Ashachu's vision returned, he saw Meowth getting to his paws and looking around. Charizard was lying on the floor looking dazed and Geyser was on his feet, stretching at a crick in hi back.

"Ahhh…Arceus damnit. What in the name of original one was that?"

And then finally, as Ashachu's vision returned to sharp focus, he laid his eyes on Hunter. The Riolu was lying slumped against the wall, nursing his paw and whimpering. Looking closer, Ashachu could see his paw was sticking out at an odd angle. It was clearly broken.

A wave of and nausea came over him – he felt as if he was going to puke. Hunter had been hurt…And it was all his fault. He had never meant for that to happen!

"Hunter."

Ashachu ran over to him. Unfortunately, Geyser seemed to have noticed at the same time and rush over as well. The Dewott got there first, kneeling down beside Hunter, and asking in concern, "Hunter…Are you okay. Where does it hurt."

"Hunter. Oh, my Arceus. I'm so…so sorry," whispered Ashachu. "Are you…"

WHAM!

So concerned for Hunter was he, that Ashachu didn't see Geyser's aura sphere coming. It caught him in the side and sent him spinning across the room until he landed against Charizard. He raised his head to see Geyser glaring at him.

"Haven't you done enough damage," the Dewott snapped. "This is entirely your fault."

It was true…Ashachu knew it. He had never felt worse about anything in his life. "I-I-I…I didn't…it was an accident…I-I-I I'm sorry!"

"Just stay away from him," snapped Geyser….

Ashachu didn't reply or move. Once again, he felt numb. His brain unable to process what had happened…

"Ugh…Okay, damage report," snapped a frustrated Jessie as she, James and Wobbuffet managed to separate themselves from one another and pulled themselves off the floor.

James bent over the console. "Hmmm. Not too bad. The engines and the weapons seem fine, and. Oh, there appears to be a crack in the amour. That's not good."

"How big of a crack."

"Uhm, it looks like a single panel may have come loose."

Jessie sighed in frustration as she collapsed into her seat. She placed her arms on the console in front of her and rested her head on them. "Do the legs work."

"I think so."

"Then let's just get out of here!"

James slid back into his seat. He flicked a lever and the Mecha begun to rise back to its hydraulic feet…

"It's alright…It's going to be alright…I promise…" Geyser was holding Hunter close to him, while Hunter sobbed over his injured paw. He gently stroked the Riolu's face with his paw, wiping the tears from his eyes.

Any other time, this would have bothered Ashachu immensely. But he was far too numb to care at this stage. He cast his mind back to the moment when Meowth had offered that the joint Team Rocket. What had he been expecting? Not this…

The floor shook as the Mecha begun to move again. Lumbering forward. Meowth crossed the compartment and flicked the switch re-activating the laser screen…With Ashachu still behind it. Ashachu didn't care. He was only vaguely aware of the scratch cat heading back into the cockpit.

"There you are, Meowth," said James as he returned and took his seat.

"What on earth has been going on back there," demanded Jessie.

Meowth just rolled his eyes as he took his position in the pilot seat. "Better question, what's been goin' on up 'ere. How da heck did we end up down 'ere?"

[Pokémon]

The wind whipped through Ash's hair, and Pikachu's fur, as the soared above the forest. Now without Charizard, he was riding on the back of Cameron's Hydreigon, along with Jimmy, following the trail of destruction left in the forest by Team Rocket's Mecha.

Cameron and his Latios brother Hirosaki were just a little way ahead, just visible in the distance.

"Hold on guys," he mumbled through gritted teeth. "We're coming!"

[Pokémon]

"Ashachu…Are you okay!"

"Hmmm." It was the last thing Ashachu had expected. Charizard's, surprisingly soft, voice in is ear, and his warm breath upon the back of his neck. He flipped himself around and found the flame lizard's face inches from his own.

"Pika!" Instinctively, he shuffled backwards, his heart suddenly beating very fast.

"It's okay," said Charizard. "I'm not going to eat you. Unless you want that."

Ashachu's eyes widened, and a smirk crossed Charizard's long muzzle. "Heh. I'm just messing with you, cutie." He reached out with his claw and slapped Ashachu on the side.

Ashachu groaned and collapsed onto his back. "I am so not in the mood for this right now!" At that moment, he wouldn't have cared if Charizard did try to eat him. Honestly, he probably deserved it.

"Hmp. You're funny! Listen Ashachu…It is Ashachu, isn't it?"

Ashachu nodded.

"I've been watching everything that's been happening today. And the others have told me what was going on before. And I wanted you to know that I understand how you feel."

Ashachu's jaw dropped. Of all the things that he had expected Charizard to say, that had not been one of them. He shook his head and turned his back to him, "I doubt that."

"Let me try," said Charizard. "You feel like Ash is pushing you away. That he's not listening to you. That you're getting into trouble all the time for stupid things. You feel like you should be getting stronger, but instead you just keep losing to your rival, Geyser. You've been scared that you were losing the Pokémon that you loved to your rival. You feel trapped and frustrated and like nobody is listening to you!"

Ashachu turned back around, his eyebrows raised. Charizard had pretty much summed it up. "That, and the other Pokémon I'm attracted to tried to kill me!" He frowned, "But how did you."

"Because" Charizard interrupted. "I've been through all that. I used to be exactly like you. Did Ash or Pikachu ever tell you the story of how he caught me?"

"They told me they found you on a rock. Abandoned."

Charizard nodded. "Mmhmm. My previous trainer told me that he had to go somewhere and that I should wait for him there. I waited on that rock for hours, but he never came back. I waited all into the night. Even when it started to rain. If Ash hadn't rescued me, I would have died there waiting for him. So, I know how it is to be let down by humans?"

"You mean. You're not mad at me, like the others," asked Ashachu, a little surprised.

Charizard shook his head. "I don't blame you at all. Ash has been treating you fairly at all lately. In fact, he's been an idiot. Though, that certainly isn't new for him. He just keeps balling you, punishing you, certainly isn't listening to you. And for what. All because you made a friend. He didn't listen to you when you were being hunted by Darkrai. You've had more than enough reason to be upset. I don't blame you for joining Team Rocket.'

For the first time, since falling off the cliff, Ashachu felt his sprits lift slightly. Here was another Pokémon who emphasised with him. Who understood exactly how he felt?

"I would have done something very similar if it was me. Heck, it has been me in the past. Humans aren't automatically owed our allegiance just because they capture or raise us. Ash used to be a lot weaker than he is now. I stopped listening to him in battle. Because I don't owe anything to weak humans, who don't treat Pokémon with respect. Some of the others don't like me for it. I have no regrets. And you shouldn't either."

Ashachu had questions. Many of them. But the most pressing was, "But you said Team Rocket were trying to manipulate me?"

"They are," said Charizard. "They're bad humans. The worst of the humans. We're not living creatures to them, we're just objects to be used for their person gain and profit. All humans have that bias. At least to a degree. They've tricked us all before. My guess is you probably felt all alone and Meowth offered you a friendly paw. That and you probably wanted to get back at Ash for how he treated you. Correct?"

Ashachu couldn't believe it. Once again, Charizard was entirely correct. "Ummm, yeah…Oh Arceus. I'm such an idiot." He sat up and buried his face in his paws. "How could I have let any of this happen."

Charizard smiled at him weakly, then licked him on the top of the head to comfort. "Cheer up Ashachu. This isn't your fault. Meowth tricked you. They built this contraption. They drove it off the cliff. That's on them, not you."

Ashachu and Charizard's heart to heart was interrupted at this point by a loud clunking sound. Ashachu suddenly felt a breeze on his ears and tail. The compartment had suddenly cooled.

He turned around and saw a small rectangular hole had appeared in the side of the Mecha. A beam of moonlight entered the Mecha. Curious he scurried over to the hole. Outside he could see the valley and the river. The water glinted silver in the moonlight. The sky above was dotted with stars.

Ashachu hadn't noticed how warm or stuffy it was inside until now. The cool fresh air felt good. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

"Get out of the way rodent."

Suddenly Ashachu felt a pair of paws, grab him and shove him aside, hard. He fell on to his side, and looked up to see Geyser standing there, Hunter beside him.

"Come on, Hunter. On three we're going to jump."

Hunter looked taken a back. "Are you sure. That's a bad idea."

"This might be our only chance to escape." Geyser offered Hunter his paw. "Do you trust me."

Hunter looked at him intently for a moment, then replied. "Yes."

"Hey. Just what do ya t'ink you're doin'." It was Meowth. He had reappeared, sent down by Jessie to investigate what had happened after they had heard the clunk.

"Now!" Geyser grabbed Hunter's paw and the two of them jumped out of the hole.

"NO!" Meowth let out a growl of frustration. Two of their prize Pokémon had escaped. Jessie was going to kill him.

To make matters worse…That was when the twerps arrived on the scene!

[Pokémon]

"Geyser!"

"Hunter!"

It had become a sadly familiar feeling for Ash. The sense of euphoria and relief every time he was reunited with a Pokémon Team Rocket had stolen.

He and Pikachu slid off Geyser back and ran towards Geyser. He practically fell on the Dewott, kneeling down and pulling him into a big hug. He put his nose in his soft fur and breathed his scent. Pikachu did the same.

"Oh Geyser. Thank goodness you're alright."

"Pika Pikachu."

Beside him, Cameron dropped of Hirosaki's back and proceeded to do the same with Hunter. He pulled Hunter into a furious Bewear hug. "Hunter. You're safe!" Only to be forced to let go when Hunter squeaked with pain.

"Ow ow ow!"

"Ah, I'm sorry." Cameron watched Hunter recoil, in distress, nursing his right paw. He then noticed it was sticking out at an odd angle. "Oh Arceus. What happened to your paw?"

"Looks like everybody's safe," said Jimmy.

Ash shook his head. "Not everybody. Where are Ashachu and Charizard…And Team Rocket."

The answer to that was obvious. As he rose to his feet, he caught sight of the Mechanised Automated Geyser Acquire turning around.

"They must still be trapped on that thing," said Cameron.

[Pokémon]

"You moron Meowth," Jessie snapped at the scratch cat, holding him up by the ears. "You let our prize Pokémon get away!"

"How are we supposed to use this thing without our aura Pokémon," James roused on his.

"Hey hey, careful with my ear," Meowth protested. He tried to pry Jessie's fingers off him, but to no avail. "Besides, it's your fault dey escaped. It wouldn't have happened if you hadn't driven us off a cliff!"

"What did you say," growled Jessie, holding him a little higher off the ground.

Meowth immediately regretted his outburst. "Nahh…No worries. We've got a second aura Pokémon. Twerpachoo."

[Pokémon]

"Hey…Ash is here," said Ashachu putting a paw to his mouth. He could see the three trainers through the hole in the side of the Mecha.

"You should go to him," said Charizard. "Get out of here while you can. Don't let Team Rocket use you any further."

Ashachu looked at him. "But what about you."

"I won't fit through that hole."

"Can't you use your fire. Or break it open with your claws."

Charizard shook his head. "No. I'm too weak. I'm hurt." He turned slightly, raising his wing and showing Ashachu the left side of his belly. For the first time, Ashachu noticed a large wound in his side.

He gasped. "How did."

"When the machine grabbed me," Charizard explained.

Ashachu felt another wave of guilt. "Oh Charizard. I'm so sorry." He gritted his teeth. "I'm not leaving here without you. I'll stay."

"You don't need to do that! Just go. End this nightmare. Ash will rescue me, I'm sure."

"No," Ashachu replied, a little more assertively. "This is my fault. You shouldn't be trapped in here all alone. I'll stay with you. I'll find a way to get us both out I prom…"

"ASHACHU BEHIND YOU!"

But it was too late. A pair of strong rough hands grabbed Ashachu and picked him up off the ground. Then they turned him around and he found himself face to face with Jessie.

"There you are Ashachu," she simpered in a sickly-sweet voice.

"You weren't planning on going somewhere were you," asked James.

Ashachu did the first thing that came to his mind. He let off a thunderbolt attack. "Pikachuuuuu."

To his horror, the electricity didn't seem to penetrate her body. She just laughed. "Sorry little chu. But I'm wearing my rubber gloves."

"Yep. Dat electricity ain't gonna have no effect," said Meowth with a smirk.

"Pika." Ashachu froze horrified. The panic started to set in. He wriggled and squirmed, trying to get free of Jessie. But it was no use. Her grip was too strong.

"Let him go," snapped Charizard. "Leave him alone, or I'll."

"Uh uh." Meowth held up his paw and waved his middle finger annoyingly at Charizard. "One more moves big boy and I'll activate the sprinklers."

[Pokémon]

The Mecha came to halt just in front of them and rose onto its hind legs. Ash felt an immediate sense of trepidation. He had faced and defeated these stupid machines before…But they always managed to fill him with dread.

"Here we go," He muttered, gripping Pikachu and Geyser tight.

"Team Rocket," said Cameron darkly, balling his hands into fists.

Ash took a deep breath before taking a step forward. "Where are Ashachu and Charizard."

There was a chorus of laugher from inside the Mecha, protected over its speakers.

"I'm sorry twerp, but I'm afraid you're little chu, is still very much one of ours," said Jessie.

"Yes, his youthful energy has brought new power to our team," added James. "Care to see."

Ash swallowed. When Team Rocket spoke in cryptic phrases, it was usually never good. The Mecha's chest compartment slid open revealing its yellow crystal heart.

"ASHACHU! NO!"

"Pika!"

Ash had been expecting this as soon as he saw the compartment slide open, but that still didn't prepare him for the shock. He felt a jolt in his heart as he was Ashachu trapped inside the crystal, paws pressed against the side and a distressed look in his face.

He hugged Pikachu a little tighter. "Don't worry Ashachu. We'll find a way to get you out. I promise."

"Pika Pikachu Pika," cried Pikachu in agreement.

Though at that moment neither of them had idea what they were going to do.

[Pokémon]

In his heart Ashachu had known what this machine would do. But it was still a shock to him when felt the surge of energy rain out of him. Sucked out and absorbed by the crystal. Like he'd just been hit with a thousand Giga drain attacks.

He slumped forward and lay on his stomach in the bottom of his cell. He could only watch in horror as the Mecha fired a surge of orange aura…His aura. At his parents and his friends. The twerps scattered to avoid the impact. He heard them shout.

"Look out!"

"That thing can punch."

"Pikachu use thunderbolt!"

There was a flash of yellow, but it seemed to have no effect on the machine. He heard Team Rocket laughing. Ugh…How could he ever have thought signing on with these creeps was a good idea.

Slowly, his strength returned, and he managed to force himself to his feet…Only to have it sucked out of him again when the machine fired another aura cannon.

"We're bad. Good bad," cheered Jessie.

"Good bad. Music to my ears," added James.

"Alright," said Meowth. "Let's bring those twerpies to tears with our force missile paunch."

"Our blinding eye beam time."

"Sample our screwdriver bombardier."

The Mecha fired a series of missiles from its jaws, shone a hot and bright beam from its eyes, and then spun around rapidly, all in quick succession. Each move draining Ashachu more and more.

Soon the poor little chu didn't have any energy to do anything but lie there sobbing. He couldn't even dry his eyes.

"Dad. Pikaka. I'm…I'm so sorry. I…I didn't…I'm just so sorry."

"Ashachu."

"Huh."

"Ashachu. It's me. Charizard. Can you hear me."

"Yeah," Ashachu mumbled weakly. It was too inaudible to Charizard to hear.

"Ashachu. If you can hear me. Listen to me. You're stronger than you know. I know what they're doing. They're stealing your aura. Don't let them take it. You can fight back. I believe in you!"

[Pokémon]

"Ugh." Ash let out a groan of frustration as the dust kicked up by another barrage of attacks faded. He looked down at Pikachu. The poor mouse looked as bad as he felt, his body covered in bruises and his fur dusty. "Gotta find a way to stop that thing."

"Dew Dewott." Geyser started waving his arms frantically.

"You will?"

"Dew."

"Olu olu," cried Hunter at the same time.

"Hunter no," said Cameron. "You're hurt!"

"Dad. If that thing keeps this up, we're all going to get hurt. I've got to try," retorted Hunter frantically. "And besides." He turned and looked up at the machine. "I can't let them do this to Ashachu."

Cameron nodded. "Alright. Hunter use focus blast!"

"Geyser water gun."

Hunter used his good paw to charge an orb of energy and hurl it at the machine. Geyser lent forward and shot a jet of water from his maw. They both struck the machine right in its eyes – but had little if any affect.

"Ahahaha." Came Jessie's mocking laugh. "Those feeble attacks would be fine if you were trying to put out a candle. Alright Meowth. Fire the aura cannon again."

The Mecha raised its right paw and pointed it at Hunter and Geyser. An orange light appeared at the end as it charged up.

"Shit," Geyser swore.

"At least we tried," said Hunter.

The two Pokémon took hold of each other's paws and closed their eyes. And then the light at the end of the cannon suddenly faded. Rather like a light blub blowing.

In the cockpit, Jessie and James rounded on Meowth.

"Wait, what's going on," demanded Jessie.

"Why hasn't it fired," asked James.

Meowth stared widely at his console. "I dunno, I t'ink. It's twerachoo. He's holdin' back."

[Pokémon]

"Hunter! I wasn't there for you when I let Blade fuck me! And I wasn't there for you when Team Rocket put you in that bag! And I certainly wasn't there for you when you got eaten by this bucket of bolts. You're my best friend and I let you down. But I can do this for you know. Because Hunter. I love you!"

It was the biggest aura sphere Ashachu had ever produced in his life. It was almost as big as he was. All of his remining reserves of energy plus more put into it. He didn't care whether this killed him. All he cared about was stopping Team Rocket.

"I LOVE YOU, HUNTER!"

[Pokémon]

"Umm guys," shouted Meowth as a warning light flicked onto his console. "We got a problem."

BOOM!

None of the twerps could quite believe what had just happened. One moment the Mechanised Automated Geyser Acquire had been pointing its scary gun arm at them. The next moment, it had exploded. A huge flash of light from within its chest core before it had shattered into a million tiny pieces.

"What the heck," said Cameron in bewilderment.

"Ashachu…Charizard." As the dust settled, Ash saw his two Pokémon lying in a heap on the ground.

"Pika Pikachu."

He and Pikachu ran over to them. "Oh, Arceus guys. Please be okay." He scooped Ashachu up into his arms, while Pikachu poked Charizard.

Ashachu was lying still with his eyes closed.

"Ashachu. Ashachu please." Ash sank to his knees, tears welling up in his eyes. "Ashachu. Please come back." Sniff. "Oh Ashachu. I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I should have listened to you. I should never have threatened to send you away. You're my kit Ashachu and I love. All I want to do his hold you one more time."

He sank to his knees and held the body closer.

"Pika." Pikachu looked up a worried expression on his face. "Pikapi?"

And then… "Pika."

Ash relaxed his grip on Ashachu and looked down. His eyes were half open, and he was breathing. "Ashachu!" He pulled the mouse into a tight, bone crushing hug. "You're alive."

At the same time, Pikachu jumped onto Ash's arm and started nuzzling Ashachu and licking his face.

"Hmmm." Charizard opened his eyes and raised his head. He looked around, saw the rubble and the sight of Ashachu being hugged by his parents. He smiled. "You did it cutie. I'm proud of you!"

The others all seemed relieved too. "So Ashachu lives," said Cameron. "Thank goodness." He seemed oblivious to the fact his Lucario had been trying kill him only a few hours earlier.

"What a relief," said Jimmy.

The sentimental moment was interrupted by the sound of pained groans from nearby. Unfortunately for the twerps, Team Rocket had survived the explosion too.

"Ugh. That damn twerp and his Pikachu's," said an angry Jessie as she pushed herself off the ground and shook her fist.

"Dat twerpachoo's a little traitor," growled Meowth. "Dat really burns me up!"

"Well, I say what goes around comes around," James added, also shaking his fist.

"Team Rocket," said Ash through clenched teeth.

"Pika." Ashachu suddenly squirmed, freeing himself from Ash's arms and landing on the ground in a battle-ready stance, his cheeks sparking. "Pikachu."

"Ashachu," said Ash. "You really want to."

Ashachu nodded. "Pika."

"Alright."

Jessie and James were already taking out Pokémon.

"Go Serviper."

"You too Inkay."

There were two flashed of light and Ashachu found himself confronted by a large Snake Pokémon and a small floating squid.

"Serviper poison tail."

"Inkay. Use psybeam."

"Ashachu. Use Iron tail."

Serviper lunged forward, raising its tail like a knife. Ashachu charged, weaved around it, then brought his own tail up, striking Serviper under the chin and sending it flying up into the air.

The snake like Pokémon hit Inkay, and then their trainer. Both Jessie and James were knocked off their feet.

"Ahhh."

"Ough."

Ash didn't waste any time. "Now, Thunderbolt."

"Pikachuuuuu!"

There was another bright flash of light, followed by a loud bang, and Team Rocket promptly found themselves sailing into the sky.

"Looks like Team Rocket's Blasting off again!"