Chapter 30 – Training by the Lakeside

"You do realise, that he's only on the rebound from Hunter. He doesn't actually love you. He just wants someone to fill the hole in his heart."

Geyser wasn't quite sure what had made him blurt that out. Certainly not at an opponent who much, much bigger than he was, and stronger too despite the type advantage. Ever since leaving Hoenn he had felt like he'd been walking through a storm.

Like a dark cloud had come over his life. Geyser found himself angry all of the time. Unable to find anything that made him feel calm of happy. And, for some, reason the sight of Ashachu and Charizard, acting like they'd just used attract on each other, made him pissed.

It was a practice battle – a warm up before Ash's schedule match with the Motorstoke Gym Leader that afternoon. And still, Ashachu felt the need to give him a good luck kiss. There they were in front of him…Ashachu pushed up onto his hind legs, while Charizard crouched and lowered his head so it was above Ashachu's. Their maws met.

They broke apart. Charizard gave Geyser a surprised looked, while Ashachu glared at him.

"Keep talking otter boy," Ashachu muttered under his breath. "And I'll…" He sighed, unsure how to finish the sentenced. He was annoyed yes, but didn't really want to fight with Geyser. Especially since he had never had a battle with Geyser that he had won.

"Why don't you admit it bolt breath," Geyser continued to taunt. "If it weren't for Hunter having dumped you, you won't be wasting your time with flame tail here."

Ashachu puffed out his cheeks in irritation and shook his head. How he would like to hurl a thunderbolt at Geyser. But he knew better than to do that. So instead, he turned and walked off.

"Ashachu," said Charizard, watching opened mouthed as his boyfriend wandered away. His attention then snapped back to Geyser, and his eyes narrowed to slits. "You're a little brat. Has anyone ever told you that?"

"And you're an overgrown Charmander pretending to be tough," retorted Geyser. "Anyone ever told you that!"

"Why don't you stop saying mean things to my boyfriend. Or I'll show you exactly how tough I am."

"Ooh. I'm so scared. I'm a water type. Just what are you going to do."

They stared daggers at each other. It was a good job that Ash, Pikachu and Bulbasaur arrived on scene at that, because another few seconds of the tension, and one of them would have snapped and attacked the other.

"Okay, you guys read…Oh." Ash's mouth opened to form a perfect O at the sight of the two Pokémon glaring at each other. "Errr…Is everything okay."

Charizard raised his head and grinned at Ash. "Fine. Just getting…into the spirt of things."

"Where's Ashachu?"

Charizard pointed a little further up the embankment to where Ashachu was sitting under a large oak tree.

"Ummm, alright," said Ash thinking it was better that he not ask what was going on. "Let's get started. Charizard you get first move. Geyser, you listen to me. Got it."

Both Pokémon nodded. "Gotcha."

"On the count of…" But Ash was distracted again at that moment by Pikachu jumping off his shoulder to join Bulbasaur in the grass. "Ummm…Buddy."

"Pikapi, Bulbasaur and I are just going for a walk round the lake, okay," said Pikachu.

"Bulba," added Bulbasaur.

"Err…okay, don't go too far guys." Well, that was certainly a surprise to Ash, but he shrugged it off. "Alright, on the count of three…One…Two…"

Charizard attacked before Ash got to three, opening his maw and belching flames at the Dewott. Despite the surprise attack however, Ash was ready for it.

"Geyser, water gun!"

Geyser lent forward slightly and blasted a jet of water into the oncoming flames. The attacks were not evenly matched. The jets of water seemed to evaporate under the heat of the flames, leaving Geyser exposed. He had just enough to time to cover his face with his right arm before the flames hit him in chest.

The flamethrower was powerful enough to o knock Geyser off his paws, but not enough to knock him out. He was just able to steady himself before he hit the ground, landing on his four paws.

"Yeah, that's the spirt Geyser," cried Ash. "Now, use razor shell."

"Dew." Geyser launched himself forward. He drew a Scalchop from his leg and swung it at Charizard's chest.

Charizard brought up a claw to protect himself. And again, the attacks were not evenly matched. Charizard's dragon claw sent Geyser flying backwards across the grass, and knocked the Scalchop right out of his paw. He still managed to land on his feet, but only just.

Ash bit his lip. "Come on Geyser, don't give up. Use…" But Geyser sprung into action before he could finish the sentence.

He took a run at Charizard once again, brandishing his other Scalchop.

"Geyser…"

This time Charizard didn't even need to use an attack. He took hold of Geyser by the paw with his right claw, spun him once around his head then threw him bodily across the grass. Geyser landed hard on his back.

"Hmmm, who's tough now," Charizard sniggered, loud enough for Geyser to hear, but not Ash.

"Bah," grunted the Dewott. "I'm just warming up!"

Charizard strolled over to Geyser, as the otter started to push himself up. But before Geyser could sit up, Charizard put his right foot over Geyser's face and pushed him right back down.

"What was that."

"Grrhmmm." Geyser made a muffled groaned from beneath the giant paw. Charizard wasn't putting enough weight on him to hurt him. Only enough to prevent Geyser from escaping.

Geyser groaned and squirmed, trying in vain to get himself free. His body grew hot with humiliation and embarrassment. Charizard's had the distinct smell of Charizard musk, sweat and…something else Geyser definitely didn't want to think about. It burned his nostrils.

"Grrhmmm…"

"Here's the thing Geyser," said Charizard, an icy tone to his voice. "I've been on Ash's team from the very beginning and I'm one of his strongest Pokémon. Until you've been through as many battles and trials as I have then you don't have the right to say insulting things about me. Is that understood."

"Letmego…"

"I took three moves to beat you down, tough guy, and you didn't land a hit. And I wasn't even trying. So maybe think twice before acting all tough again. And until you've done the same training and had the battles that I've had. Learn your place!"

He pushed his foot just a little firmer into Geyser's face. Not enough to cause pain, but definitely so Geyser couldn't breath without getting a nose full of the odour.

"Oh, and don't say anymore mean things to or about my boyfriend. Or I'll really humiliate you. Understood."

"Fuck you!"

"I said is that understood."

Ash chose that moment to intervene. "Charizard, get off him."

Charizard obeyed, removing his foot from Geyser's face and allowing him to sit up. "Ugh Arceus. Do you ever wash those things?"

Charizard smirked, before wandering off to find Ashachu. He found him sitting in the branches of a nearby tree, laughing uncontrollably.

"Hehehe. Way to show him," he chuckled when he saw Charizard approach.

"Meh, I didn't mean to be that hard on him," said Charizard. "I just didn't like the way he was talking about you." He lifted Ashachu out the tree, gave him a lick across the face and placed him hon his shoulder. "You know you can't let him get to you, Ashachu. He's angry and he's jealous.."

Ashachu sighed before rubbing his cheek against Charizard's neck. "I try not to. He just has a way of…getting to me. I mean…He kept beating me, and that made me feel weak. Then he took a liking to Hunter and that made me feel bad. And now he's just got an attitude all of the time."

"Come on, let's go somewhere more peaceful to talk," Charizard suggested.

Ashachu glanced down at Ash, who had now sent out Sniveon to train with Geyser. "Doesn't Ash still need us for training."

"Ugh screw training," Charizard replied with a flick of his claw. "I'm strong enough already, lets go."

He gave a flap of his powerful wings and took to the air. Ashachu repositioned himself so he was perched on Charizard's back as the ground fell away beneath him, and the wind whipped his fur.

As they rose higher he could see more and more of the landscape surrounding. The city of Motorstoke with its high wall and many chimneys behind them, to the giant lake and grassy hill below, to the mountain's way in the distance ahead. Above the sky was a clear blue.

And them…SMACK…Ashachu had seen it, but Charizard had not. Not until it was too late at least. It had started as a glint in the sky. Then it had grown to becoming a round irony coloured meteor.

Ashachu had just enough time to yell, "Look out," before whatever it was came crashing into Charizard, striking him right in the face. There was a jolt as Ashachu felt himself slipping off Charizard's back. Fortunately, the flame lizard managed to catch him by the scruff of his neck.

The world begun to spin around him. Blue above and green below. Ashachu felt a sickening churning in his stomach. He closed his eyes and tensed his body waiting for the inevitable impact…

[Pokémon]

"Are you insane…Why don't you watch where you're going!"

Ashachu wasn't sure how long he'd been out. Or even if he'd been out. He didn't recall the crash, but he certainly felt the affects of it. His entire body hurt and he felt dizzy. He was lying face down in the mud and his mouth was full of dirt.

He forced himself to sit up, rubbing his temples with his paws to stop the world from spinning around him. The first thing he noticed was Charizard, standing up and glaring at a much smaller creature clutched in his claw.

"Don't you realise how dangerous that was. We almost crashed into the lake. You could have killed me and drowned Ashachu."

Ashachu glanced behind him. They had crashed on the other side of the giant lake, just at the side of the embankment. That would explain the mud.

"You know full well I can't let my tail get wet."

"Hey, it's not like I 'ad any control over it. I ain't got wings like you, ya know."

Ashachu recognised that voice. He raised his head and looked closer at the Pokémon clutched in Ashachu's claw. "Meowth."

Both Charizard and Meowth turned their heads.

"Ashachu."

"Kid!"

"Thank Arceus." Charizard let go of Meowth, causing him to drop to the ground. He then picked up Ashachu and held him close against his chest. "You okay. Ugh, you're all dirty. Here, let me." He lowered his head to Ashachu and licked most of the muck out off his face.

Ashachu accepted the embrace, burying his face in Charizard's chest. "I'll be fine. You?"

"It'll take more than some stupid kitty to take me down…Speaking of which." Charizard reached down and picked up a startled Meowth by the scruff of his neck. "What do you have to say for yourself."

"Ummm…What da heck are you talking 'bout?"

"I want you to apologise," Charizard growled.

"For what," Meowth protested.

"For not looking where you are going and crashing into us."

Meowth folded his arms and shook his head. "Hey, it's not like I can control where I blast off too, lizard brain!"

Charizard's eyes narrowed. "Or, if you'd prefer, I can just eat you now!" He opened his jaws wide.

"No, no. I'll say it." Meowth started flailing desperately in Charizard's claw. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean ta hurt ya. Just please, DON'T EAT ME!"

"Chari babe," said Ashachu. He wasn't sure why, but at that moment he felt a sense of pity for Meowth. "Maybe don't try to scare him too much."

Charizard looked down at him and rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on. After everything he's done to us, let me a little fun." When Ashachu gave him a folded his arms and gave him the look however, he added "alright, alright.."

He let go of Meowth, causing him to fall to the ground, where he landed in a heap.

"Damnit," that cat groaned as he got gingerly to his paws. "Can't dat twerp keep you on a lease."

Charizard raised his brows at Meowth in a mock curious manner. "What was that?" It was actually more of a warming…which Meowth caught at once.

"Ahh…Nothin'"

Charizard picked Ashachu up and hugged him against his chest. Ashachu knew he was trying to keep him apart from Meowth, as if fearful the cat might throw him over his shoulder and run away with him.

He felt slightly irritable as the overprotection, but still grateful that Charizard cared so much about him. And of course, he simply adored being held so tightly by his boyfriend.

"So, what are you doing all the way down here, in the Galar region," Charizard asked Meowth suspiciously. "Please tell me you aren't still trying to steal Pikachu."

Meowth shrugged. "Pikachoo, rare Galar Pokémon. Maybe, even you!" Then when Charizard opened his mouth again and licked his lips, he held up his paws and added, "Hey don't blame me. I just go where Team Rocket sends me."

"So how did you end up here all by yourself," asked Ashachu curiously. "Don't you normally have Jessie and James with you."

"Uhh. Dats a good question, I'm not sure where they went. We got separated after we blasted off again," Meowth replied. "T'anks to some lousy hooligans in weird outfits." He then grinned and added, "Hey ya know kid. If ya ever want to come back to Team Rocket, I'm sure dat Jessie and James would be more den happy to 'ave ya."

It was Ashachu's turn to fold his arms and shake his head. "No way. After the trouble that got me into last time. Not to mention what happened to poor Hunter."

"Oh yeah. How is mister Riolu anyway." Meowth frowned and looked around. "I don't seem 'em 'ere. You two are normally inseparable."

Ashachu felt a pang in his heart at these words. Fortunately, Charizard spared him the trouble of answering.

"Ash is travelling in this region by himself. Hunter's is still with Cameron in Hoenn."

"Shame." Meowth sighed as he started to stretch. "So, what you are doin' all da way over 'ere with Charizard kid. Where's da twerp."

Ashachu flattened his eyes in annoyance. "His name's Ash. And he's training with otter boy." He gritted his teeth on the last two words.

Meowth noticed and smirked. "Yeah but what ya doin' with lizard boy 'ere. Always thought he was a bit of loner."

"Ashachu's my boyfriend now," Charizard explained before Ashachu had an opportunity to open his maw to respond. He hugged Ashachu a little tighter and licked him on top of his head, making Ashachu blush.

Meowth's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean….Wow. Didn't see dat comin'"

"Not that it's really any of your business."

"So how do…" Meowth shook his head. "I don't wanna know. Whatever does it for you I suppose."

"Again. None of your business," said Charizard.

"Don't suppose either of you 'ave heard or seen Blade since Hoenn 'ave you."

"No." Charizard practically roared the word, and Ashachu felt his grip tighten intensely. It was almost hard to breath.

"Charizard," he whispered, rubbing his claw with his paw. "It's alright." For his part he wasn't sure how he felt. He didn't hate the Sneasel for trying to kill him, but he was…certainly apprehensive about seeking him again.

As long as Blade was safe and happy, he was content to not see him again. "I think he's at the Aether Foundation. He'll be safe there."

Meowth shrugged. "Guess so…Well. I supposed I better go find Jessie and James. Ummm." He looked at Ashachu. "Hey kid do ya t'ink you could give me a hand. T'ink they blast off dat way." He pointed vaguely towards the north.

"No problem." Ashachu slipped out of Charizard's arms, landed on the ground beside Meowth and charged up a thunderbolt.

"Piiiikachuuuuu!"

Meowth barely had time to cry out "T'ank you, before he was flying off into the air, out of sight.

"They keep getting weirder," Charizard mused as he watched Meowth disappear.

[Pokémon]

Meanwhile – Far away in the Alola Region…

A Malasada is a popular Alolan desert – a fried doughnut made from small balls of yeast coated with sugar and cinnamon. And nowhere sold better Malasada than the Malasada shop in Hau'oli city on Melemele Island.

In fact, the shop had become quite the go to destination for trainers and tourists to the island….The two people at the counter however did not look like either. It was a bright blond woman and a green haired man. Both dressed in black outfits, their faces concealed with dark sunglasses.

"We'd like the Super Malasada special, please," said the woman, her voice mono-tonal and emotionless.

"With extra super," the man added. He had a low gravelly voice.

The server was a young girl, perhaps no older than thirteen. Even so, she gave the two a knowing smile and replied simply, "One Super Malasada Special with extra super coming right up…."

There were a number of booths at the rear of the store. Despite the store's popularity with the city's visitors and citizens, it relatively quite. Perhaps nobody fancied a sugary treat at 5:00am in the morning. There was only one other patron, a lone man charmed into a booth nearest the counter.

The man and woman took a seat at the booth in the far-right corner of the establishment. They looked around suspiciously as the giant Malasada was placed before them by a server with a casual, "have a nice day."

As soon as she was sure nobody was listening, the woman picked up a knife and for, and in almost surgical like manner, sliced the Malasada in half and pushed each half to the side of the plate.

She found what she was looking immediately. A small computer chip lay in the middle of the plate. A tiny black object with a single red light gleaming in the middle. The two of them looked around the room once again, just to make sure, then leaned in so their heads were just above the plate.

"Good morning Cassidy and Biff."

"The name is Butch," the man hissed.

"Be quite," his partner whispered, irritably.

The voice was coming from a tiny speaker somewhere in the chip. It was barely audible, hence why the pair at the table had to lean in. Anyone who happened to be watching would think they were just having an intimate conversation. They certainly wouldn't be able to hear what the man in the chip was saying.

"Your next assignment is to capture the Sneasel who goes by the name Blade. Blade is an Aether Foundation rescue Pokémon. Your job will be to break into the Aether Paradise and steal that Sneasel that report back to me at Headquarters."

Cassidy and Butch each raised their heads slightly and gave the other a perplexed look.

"Why what Dr. Numbaa want with an Aether rescue Sneasel. There must be thousands of them in the wild."

"IT'S NAMBA," came a shrill cry from the chip. "And no, there is nothing special about this particular Sneasel, other than it happens to have formed a close association with a Darkrai called Shadow. I plan to use Blade as bait to draw out this Darkrai and capture it for the glory of Team Rocket… Do not fail!"

The message ended and the chip self-destructed, a small puff of black smoke arising from it. Cassidy and Butch looked up at each other.

"The Aether Foundation. Finally, a new mission."

"This could be fun!"