Streams of electricity lashed to and fro, like a multitude of writhing snakes. Sparks began to fly from the trees as static electricity built up and was released along their branches. Constant shifting light illuminated the wet battlefield as Pikachu, Ash, and Metapod fought the electabuzz.
String Shot! Ash ordered as he leaned out from behind a tree, pointing Metapod at the electabuzz. A white line of silk shot out, only to be blackened, burned, and then incinerated by an aura of electric power surrounding the enemy pokémon. The electabuzz didn't even bother to move.
"Electabuzz, Pattern A," a female voice spoke from the forest. It was loud, calm, and confident.
Crap! Pikachu and Ash said at the same time as four blasts of electricity shot out from the still electabuzz. Ash ducked back behind the tree and then rolled forward as the attack destroyed the tree, setting it alight. Electricity crackled above his head as the attack continued past him. Splintered bits of wood rained down around him.
Pikachu jumped over the electric death and onto the branches of a nearby tree. The two other attacks blazed into the forest. And then they all began to rotate clockwise, temporarily surrounding the electabuzz with a wide blindingly bright, yellow, buzzing disc that cleared the forest around it.
Ash scrambled behind another tree outside the blast radius, hair standing on end from the static.
Another Thunder Wave! Ash shouted. Rings of electricity flew from Pikachu attempting to earth themselves in the electabuzz's body and paralyze it. But, with an almost contemptuous flare of power, the electabuzz shattered those rings, again without moving.
"A foreign language?" The voice sounded out again. "That's a good idea kid. I think you've shown some real talent today. If you surrender, we'd spare your life under the condition that you join us."
"I don't even know who you are! Thundershock!" Ash shouted back and then sprinted away from his hiding spot as Pikachu attacked.
"Masking your movement with an attack. It's nothing ground breaking, but it's encouraging to see in a trainer so young." The voice said again. "I'm Hanna by the way, with Team Rocket."
Ash didn't respond. He took cover behind another tree and then looked around for the source of the voice. Nothing but darkness and trees. She had to be doing something to mask her location. Probably the only reason that she felt safe talking to him.
"No response? I guess our reputation has proceeded us," Hanna spoke again from the darkness. "Or did we manage to hit you? Are you unwilling or unable to talk? Electabuzz, flush them out."
Ash shut his eyes as a wall of yellow light swept through the forest, electricity blasting between trees. His cover held; the attack must have sacrificed power for coverage. Pikachu wasn't so lucky. With a squeak of pain, he fell from the branch he was hiding in.
I'm getting real sick of this pokémon, Pikachu growled. Ash we need a plan!
Thunderbolt! Ash ordered. Keep him focused on you!
Pikachu obeyed and blasted at Electabuzz. The rocket pokémon growled as Pikachu's attack coursed through him and then flared his own electric power as a counter. Electricity pushed against electricity, sending sparks flying, and tiny tendrils reached out from the clash to earth themselves in the earth and trees.
"Still alive then." Hanna said. "I don't want to kill a child, but I will if left no other choice. Surrender soon, or you won't get another chance to."
String Shot, Ash muttered to Metapod. Best you can do. Another blast of silk soared through the dark forest and hit the electabuzz's arm, trapping it against its' side. Ash grabbed the line and yanked with all his might, pulling the electabuzz off balance. Its concentration faltered and Pikachu's attack smashed back into it, sending it sprawling into mud and fried earth.
Metapod cut the line and Ash let go, running for another hiding spot, just before a jolt of electricity ran up the silk. The silk burned and a blast of yellow power sent Ash sprawling.
They didn't like that I see, Ash groaned as he picked himself and Metapod up. He looked back at the enemy pokémon. It was mildly singed, but looked otherwise unhurt.
Pikachu appeared at Ash's side, skidding to a stop in the mud. He was also slightly singed, wet, and covered in muddy brush.
I hit it with a pretty good shot and it did nothing, Pikachu admitted. I don't think I can win like this.
Pidgeotto's still busy, Ash replied. And he burns away String Shot too quickly.
What are we going to do Ash? Metapod asked. Can we beat it?
We can beat it! Pikachu declared. I'm too awesome to lose to a jerk like that. The question is how are we going to beat it?
I need to think, Ash said. Warn me if it looks like they're getting close.
Ash closed his eyes. What did he know about the electabuzz from their battle so far? It had powerful electric attacks. It used those attacks for both offense and defense.
What else did he know? Ash thought back on the fight. The electabuzz barely moved. Was that because it didn't need to? Or because of some other reason?
Ash remembered his conversations about pokémon training with his caretakes and his classmates. While a pokémon could be good at most aspects of battling, at defense, physical attacks, special attacks, speed, accuracy, and evasion, most pokémon were not trained that way. With a few exceptions, if a pokémon was good at everything, it meant that they passed up the chance to excel at a smaller number of things. The exceptions tended to be monsters like dragonites or legendary pokémon.
The enemy favored long range special attacks. Maybe it was an artillery type pokémon? Meant to destroy enemies or support friends with strong special attacks from a distance? Then it shouldn't be very good at close quarters combat.
Ash took a deep breath as he came up with a plan.
Pikachu, the human said, amber eyes opening. Here's what we're going to do. You're going to use Speed Burst to run circles around it. Keep hitting it from every direction with Thundershock, don't let up.
That's going to exhaust me before it hurts it, Pikachu replied.
This is just the start, Ash told his pokémon. When the moment is right, I want you to use Quick Attack on it and don't stop using it. Beat it to a pulp.
Alright, Pikachu nodded, a serious expression on his face. I'll do it. And with that he was off, mud splattering as he accelerated away.
Jerkface! Pikachu shouted as he suddenly appeared in front of the enemy pokémon, blasting at it with a Thundershock. Electabuzz growled and let loose his own electric attack, but Pikachu was already gone.
Your trainer is ugly! Pikachu called out from behind the electabuzz, blasting it again. Once more Electabuzz retaliated and once more Pikachu was gone.
And she smells awful! Pikachu continued to taunt and attack the enemy from many different directions, zipping around the battlefield too fast for the eye to track. He was moving so fast that sometimes it seemed like there might have been multiple Pikachus.
"Keep calm Electabuzz," Hanna said. "Pattern E."
A multitude of small electric tendrils extended from the electabuzz, seeking, searching, reaching, moving like many grasping limbs. They earthed themselves all around the battlefield and then began to move, carving tiny furrows in the earth. Pikachu ducked and dodged, twisting around arcs of electricity, and continued to harass his foe.
Meanwhile Ash had found a spot good spot with a clear line of sight on the electabuzz. He braced himself against a tree root and pointed Metapod at the enemy.
Alright, when you see an opportunity, hit it in the eyes with String Shot, Ash told his pokémon. Keep in mind we've only got one shot at this, so make it count.
Got it! Metapdo said, staring through the trees, at the battle lit by electric flashes. The fight continued for another minute, another minute of Pikachu dodging and attacking between the buzzing streams of power that the electabuzz let off.
Pikachu began to pant, his movements were becoming less crisp, and he was slowing down. If not for the rain he would have been soaked through in sweat.
The electabuzz, for its part, was singed all over from Pikachu's attacks, and was growling as it tried to blast Ash's pokémon. With a roar and a great flash of light it let loose an explosion of electric power, blasting the ground and surrounding trees at random.
The attack faded and Pikachu stood on trembling legs before his foe, glaring up at the electabuzz. Electabuzz glared back down at its foe.
And then silk splattered all over its face completely wrapping its head and blinding it.
Quick Attack! Ash shouted, seizing the opportunity.
Grinning and feeling a second wind, Pikachu launched himself forward and slammed his body into the electabuzz's gut. Pikachu used his enemy as a spring board, launching himself at a tree, and then used Quick Attack again. His form became a blur as Pikachu bounced around the battlefield, rapidly pummeling his foe without mercy. Electabuzz staggered drunkenly, not even able to tear at the silk over its face as its limbs and head were knocked about by the near constant impacts.
Pikachu smashed into one ankle and then another, making the electabuzz slip. Before it could hit the ground, Pikachu was above it, launching himself into a tree.
And this is because you're a jerk! Pikachu shouted and launched one final Quick Attack, pile driving the electabuzz's head into the ground. Pikachu bounced off and came to a stop before his enemy, looking for movement, but the electabuzz was still.
A beam of red light came from the dark woods and electabuzz was recalled. Ash and his team looked in the direction it had come from, looking for the trainer, or more pokémon, but there was only darkness and the sound of falling rain.
Ice shattered under the feet of the tyranitar as it chased after Misty. She knelt on Starmie's back, who was swiftly sliding away from the tyranitar, coating the ground ahead of them with ice. Staryu rolled on its side nearby, making sure to stay close to its trainer.
Misty had tried attacking the beast several more times to no avail. The tyranitar was quick with its defensive moves. At the first sign of a water or ice attack it countered with a pulse of dark energies.
Misty grit her teeth; what good was type advantage if you never got a chance to use it?
Swishing and swerving the chase continued through the forest. Misty clenched her fist as trees whipped by. She had screwed up so many times to reach this point.
First, when she spotted the poachers, she hadn't reported them and their location. Second, she decided to try and deal with the situation by herself, instead of calling for reinforcements. Third, she didn't make a call to either her gym in Cerulean or the gym in Pewter City to report what she was about to do. Fourth, she didn't try to incapacitate the suspected poachers before revealing herself.
And now here she was, with two crossbow wounds, covered in mud, being chased by a tyranitar, and having to worry about a newbie trainer that had gotten caught up in her screw up. Who, even now, was probably engaged in a life or death battle that there was almost no chance he was prepared for, and all she could do was hope for a miracle and try and distract the tyranitar to give him the barest of chances to get out of her mess alive.
Her sisters had been right. She wasn't ready.
"Alright, let's try to turn this around," Misty muttered to herself. "Starmie Ice Beam. Staryu, make a small ledge of ice to try and trip it up."
Starmie let loose another white blue beam of ice from one of its points even as it carried its trainer over its trail of ice. Once more the tyranitar blocked the beam with a pulse of dark power. But at the same Staryu launched its own Ice Beam to create an ankle high wall of ice.
The tyranitar fell like an ancient tree, deceptively slow and with a great deal of crashing. Mud and ice were sent flying as the large pokémon came down.
"Bubblebeam and Ice Beam!" Misty ordered her pokémon, intending to seize the opportunity, but anther voice cried out at the same time. "Dark Armor and Dig Tyranitar!"
Dark energies flared up around the fallen pokémon, intercepting the attacks from Misty's pokémon, and then the tyranitar disappeared into the ground. Misty growled. The tyranitar could pop up anywhere now. But at least she now knew that the tyranitar's trainer was still nearby…...
Might as well slow it down. "Starmie, cover the ground in ice!" She told her pokémon. "Try and stop it from getting out of there!"
Thick sheets of ice covered the muddy ground, turning the battlefield into an outdoor ice rink with trees. Misty idly wished that she had brought some skates. But, as long as she was at it, she might as well wish that one of her pokémon knew Hydro Canon or Hydro Pump, or was simply powerful enough to blast through the tyranitar's defenses.
There was a creaking beneath her and she and Starmie slid away. Cracks spread out through the nearby ice and the tyranitar blasted its way out of the ground.
"Bubblebeam, both of you!" Misty shouted. High pressure streams of bubbles shot out from both of her pokémon, watery bullets streaming at the tyranitar. Tyranitar blocked the attacks again, but was sent sliding back on the ice.
"Keep it up!" Misty ordered. This was their chance! Starmie and Staryu kept up their barrage of bubbles, blasting the beleaguered tyranitar back. It tried to dig its claws into the ground to brace itself, to arrest its growing speed and momentum, but couldn't find purchase on the ice. Its burning dark armor shrank under the constant attacks.
Finally, it was pushed to the edge of the ice and beyond. Tyranitar was sent soaring over the ground, smashing through branches as it was hurtled in to the darkness.
Misty let out a sigh of relief. Maybe now-
A large rock came from the direction the tyranitar had been sent. It narrowly missed Misty and her pokémon, destroying yet another tree instead.
"Time to go," Misty told her pokémon. "Let's see if we can help Aaron."
Pidgeotto and the golbat were still locked in aerial combat when Ash returned to the site where he and Misty had split up.
Pikachu, Thundershock around Pidgeotto! Ash ordered. Take out that golbat!
Pikachu's attack reached skyward, twisting around his comrade, and earthed itself in the golbat. It fell from the air and thudded in the mud nearby.
It's- Pidgeotto was panting heavily as she landed on Ash's shoulder. It's good to- to- see you again. What took- took so long?
There was a real ass of an electabuzz, Pikachu said. But I managed to beat him.
And I helped! Metapod added proudly.
Have you seen Misty? Ash asked, looking around for the orange-haired trainer. There was a trail of ice leading away from their current location, but no sign of the human or her pokémon.
I think I hear something, Pikachu said from on top of Ash's head, his ear twitching. I think it's her.
Ash heard the sound of ice creaking and then a trail of ice froze its way over to him. Misty returned on her starmie. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw him.
"I managed to lose the tyranitar and its trainer for a bit," she told the other trainer. "How did you do?"
"We got the electabuzz and the golbat," Ash reported. He looked at his pokémon, at Pikachu and Pidgeotto, panting and covered in sweat. "But my pokémon are tired."
"Pretty much the same here," Misty said, looking at Starmie who's purple prongs were dropping. Icing over so much ground, so quickly, had been too much for it. "Damn, that tyranitar! What have they been feeding it?"
"No clue," Ash replied, recalling Pidgeotto and Metapod so that they could rest. "Oh, the woman I was battling said they were with Team Rocket."
"Looks like I was right then," Misty said. "Doesn't matter now. We've got to get moving before that tyranitar gets back."
And then there was a now familiar roar and crashing sound. Misty's eyes closed and her shoulders slumped. She took a deep breath and looked at her pokémon.
"Aaron grab onto Starmie's prongs," she said, grabbing the other human by the shoulders, guiding him over to her pokémon. "Starmie, get Aaron out of here. Get to Pewter City."
"Wait, what?" Ash said, automatically grabbing the purple prongs. "What are you going to-"
"Ice Bindings please Staryu," Misty interrupted him. A small ice beam shot out, locking Ash's hands onto the starmie. "Starmie go! I'll hold them off."
"Wait, no- "Ash tried to protest, but Starmie took off then, paving its way with ice, taking the struggling trainer away from the battle.
Misty nodded and returned to her battle.
Let us off! Pikachu exclaimed from his spot on Ash's head. Are you just going to abandon your trainer?
I don't like this, Starmie replied as it left Misty behind in the dark forest. But I trust her. If she wants to get your trainer to safety then I'll do it. I'm- I'm sure- I'm sure she'll be fine.
Ash grit his teeth and struggled against the icy bindings. They wouldn't break and his struggles unbalanced Starmie.
Get your human to quit struggling, Starmie told Pikachu.
I'm not going to quit, Ash growled. I'm not going to abandon someone!
Did you just- Starmie began, before losing focus and control. Ash, Pikachu, and Starmie were sent tumbling through the mud. Ash's bonds broke and he rolled away from Misty's pokémon. He got to his feet as quickly as he could.
Did you just speak properly? Starmie finished. I thought I might have heard you do that before, but thought I was just hearing things.
No time for that, Pikachu said. Ash, what's the plan?
Ash? I thought his name was Aaron-
Here's what we're going to do, Ash said, ignoring Starmie. White light flashed. Pidgeotto and Metapod came back out. You three are going to go to Pewter City and get help. You can go with too Starmie, or you can come with me and try to help Misty.
Wait, what? Pikachu shouted, throwing up his forepaws. Oh, by the First Sparks of Life, didn't we just get upset at Misty for doing this exact thing? And now you're getting in on the fun, you utter idiot!
Look, you're all exhausted, Ash explained, taking off his backpack. Don't bother trying to deny it. There's nothing more you can do to help here. But you can go to Pewter City and contact the gym to send some reinforcements.
And what will you do!? Pikachu demanded. What do you think you can do against that monster?
I don't know, but I'm fresh, Ash replied. Look, you were the one who wanted me to exercise while you were training because you thought I should suffer too. I'm just applying that principle here.
You- you- Pikachu sputtered, but Starmie interrupted.
I'm going back to help Misty if I can't get you to go to Pewter City, Starmie said.
Okay. Pidgeotto, once you've rested a bit, you'll need to fly Metapod and Pikachu to Pewter City. Do you know how to get there from here? Ash asked.
I think so, but- Pidgeotto began, but Ash kept talking.
Good. Go to either the gym or the pokémon center and do your best to get them to follow you. Try to indicate that it's Team Rocket we're dealing with. Lead them back here. Ash told her. If we're still in the area we'll keep an eye out for you. Otherwise just have them keep searching. Goodbye and good luck.
Ash, don't- Metapod protested, but the human had already started running back the way he had come. Starmie followed, sliding on ice.
The three pokémon stood in silence as their trainer vanished into the darkness. For minutes there were no words exchanged. They were surrounded by the sound of falling rain and their own tired panting.
Well, I think I could get us started soon, Pidgeotto said eventually. We'll have to stay below the tree line to avoid the lightning, but once the storm lets up-
Ash will be dead! Pikachu growled, clenching his forepaws into fists. Of all the cockamamie schemes he could have come up with! Of all the stupid ideas! We need to go back and save him! And then I get to kill him for being so stupid!
Well, what can we do? Pidgeotto asked. We're all spent, except for Metapod, and he can't do anything other than String Shot-
That's not true, Pikachu said. Remember what Ash said earlier? There is a way we can use metapod. Other than as a club to beat some sense into our damn trainer.
The battle had moved from where Ash had last seen Misty, but it wasn't hard to find where it went. Large puddles of water and trails of ice were scattered about the forest, mixing with downed and shattered trees. It was like some combination of tornado, hailstorm, and blizzard had passed through.
There were several half domes of ice erected here and there, just big enough to shelter a person and a pokémon. Ash could hear the tyranitar roar off in the distance. He knew he was getting close. He crept forward, elbows and knees in the mud, peering through a bush to try and get a glimpse of the current fight.
She's going to be hiding in one of those ice domes, Starmie informed him. But most of these are going to be decoys.
Do you have any way of telling which one she's in? Ash asked.
I do have some psychic abilities, and a sort of electric sonar, Starmie replied. But I've never really trained with those. Give me a minute.
Ash waited while the tyranitar went about smashing the ice domes. Each time it came across one Ash held his breath, hoping that Misty was safe. Each time it turned out Misty wasn't in that particular dome, he let out a sigh of relief.
Found her, Starmie said. This way. The two of them crawled through mud away from the tyranitar's current position. Starmie led Ash to a half dome about a hundred meters away. When they got close a glaring Misty peeked out from behind the dome.
"What- Why- Just get over here and explain yourself Aaron," she managed to get out through gritted teeth. "And Starmie, what are you doing?"
"I came back to help," Ash explained as he joined her and Staryu behind the half dome. "I'm not going to abandon you."
Misty closed her eyes for several seconds, teeth gritted, hands flexing in and out of fists.
"Okay," Misty said, in a deceptively calm tone. "Are you trained for actual battles?"
"A little," Ash said, rubbing the back of his head. "But nothing that would be, uh, what's the word, acknowledged? No, uh, accredited I think?"
"So, some informal training," Misty said in the same tone as earlier. "That might be worse than nothing. But fine, it looks like I can't get you too safety. Great. Just going to have to deal with your death on my conscience before I get killed as well. Fine. Great."
"Well, I don't intend to die," Ash replied. "Anyway, what can I do to help?"
"Which pokémon of yours is freshest?" Misty asked.
"Oh, I sent them to Pewter City to get some help," Ash admitted. "It's just me and your starmie."
At Ash's statement Misty's head dropped and she let her face fall into her hand. "And you didn't think to follow them?" She said through gritted teeth and her palm.
"They're all tired," Ash countered. "I'm not. What can I do to help?"
"You can't do anything against that tyranitar you stupid- "Misty hissed and then stopped. She reached into her backpack and took out an odd-looking baton. "There is one thing you can do." Misty said, handing Ash the baton. "This is a stun baton. Press the button on the end and you'll get a current flowing. The tyranitar's trainer is somewhere around here. If you can find her and shock her, then we might stand a chance. She can be a hostage. I'll distract the tyrnaitar some more."
"On it," Ash said with a nod. "Do you know where the trainer is?"
"I have no idea," Misty answered. "Otherwise I would have gone after her myself."
"Your starmie could locate her," Ash said. "That's how I found you."
"I considered that earlier," Misty replied, staring in the direction that the sounds of the tyranitar smashing ice were coming from. "But I didn't have time back then. Now we might have a chance to try that. Okay Starmie, try and find the trainer."
Yes, Starmie replied.
"While its working, we need to split up," Misty went on. "If something happens to me, run away and don't come back. I mean it this time."
"Sorry, just going to ignore that," Ash replied as he and Starmie began to crawl away. Misty gritted her teeth, hands curling into fists, and then shook her head.
"No time for this. Just gotta focus." She said to herself.
I've found them, Starmie told Ash after they had gone a little way. She's about fifty meters to the north.
Which way's north? Ash asked. I've lost track in all the excitement.
Forward and to our left, Starmie answered. Let's hurry.
"Water Gun!" Misty shouted from her hiding spot.
What's she doing? Ash and Starmie said in unison. They looked at each other.
She's giving us a distraction, Ash said. You go back and help her out. Wait until you see an opportunity and then strike. I'll get the trainer.
Ash crept forward in the dark and the rain while Misty resumed her battle with the tyranitar. Water and ice blasted at the beast's dark defenses once more. Ash wondered if the dark-type was also getting tired? There had to be a limit on how often it could use that defensive move.
When Ash was about twenty meters away from where Starmie had indicated that the other trainer was, Ash could see a vaguely human shaped outline that had to be them.
The tyranitar roared in pain for the first time in the battle. Ash glanced back. It looked like Starmie had managed to land a surprise blow, a Water Gun attack drilling a little way into the monster's rocky shoulder.
Finally, Ash thought to himself. It was about time they got a hit in.
He continued creeping through the mud towards the other trainer. He got to his feet behind a tree about five meters from where he thought the other trainer was. Ash tightened his grip on the stun baton. He really hoped that the Rocket didn't have any more pokémon.
He got even closer, moving silently through the forest as his caretakers had taught him so long ago. Two meters now. Still no sign that he had been noticed.
Ash pressed the button on the baton and charged in, aiming for the head. He swung with all of his might, knowing that this was their only chance-
The trainer whirled around just as he got in range, grabbing and twisting his wrist hard. Ash cried out in pain and drop the baton. She then used his moment of surprise to force Ash's arm behind his back.
"Not bad kid," the woman said to him. "Wish the fools I had to work with were half as smart." She used her grip to slam Ash's face into a nearby tree. Ash saw stars floating in his vision and staggered. She then proceeded to pummel him with sharp, precise punches to his kidneys and neck. Ash's legs went weak at the sudden pain.
Finally, she spun Ash around and brought her knee up into Ash's stomach. Ash wheezed as the air left his lungs. Muscles convulsed as his body attempted to expel any food within it, even though Ash hadn't eaten for hours. Ash felt his vision begin to dim.
His feet left the ground as the woman threw him away from her.
"Nothing personal kid," she said to him, before turning to her tyranitar. "Tyranitar! Get over here and kill this kid."
"Ice Beam as long as you can!" Misty shouted, panic creeping in at the edges of her voice. Once more two shining white-blue beams lanced out at the tyranitar and once more they were stopped by the dark blaze.
"Dark Pulse! As big as you can!" The rocket trainer shouted. The dark blaze expanded and exploded outward. Misty cried out and the Ice Beams were cut off.
"Now finish off this kid," the rocket trainer continued. Ash tried to pick himself up. He could hear the stomping footsteps of the tyranitar, feel the vibrations through the ground and mud. Panic and fear returned. What had happened to Misty?
What would happen to him?
He wouldn't die crying. He wanted to die on his feet. He didn't want the hunters to get him. He didn't want Misty to be dead.
Ash didn't want to die.
Ash got to his knees and looked up. The tyranitar was calmly walking over to him, unhurried, unstoppable, a malevolent mountain in the darkness.
There was nothing Ash could do/Ash knew he had to do something.
He tried to force himself to move, to do any-
Something in the sky whistled. Ash and the tyranitar looked up.
Too fast for the eye to track, a small and dark object hurtled from the stormy skies above, impacting the tyranitar with the force of a bomb. There was a shockwave, throwing away rain and mud. Tyranitar went down with a scream.
And that's for trying to hurt my trainer! Something small and angular rolled away from the Rocket pokémon. Metapod!
I wasn't going to enjoy this before, but now I'm looking forward to killing your trainer, Tyranitar roared, standing up. Bits of its face were gone and blood flowed freely. Time to die little bug-
A whirlwind engulfed him, picking up rocks and twigs, and then smashed them against the wounded tyranitar.
A Gust attack? Is that the best you can do? Tyranitar shouted skyward.
It was a distraction asshole! The world turned yellow. A blast of electricity lanced out into the tyranitar's marred face. Another scream of pain and the tyranitar was forced to its knees by the electric current.
"Dark Armor now!" The Rocket trainer shouted, trying to get her pokémon to act through the pain.
Come on, get away from here, Pidgeotto said, coming down from the sky and hooking her talons into Ash's jacket, helping him up. Metapod, send a line. A line of string stuck itself to her foot.
I thought I told you to go get help, Ash managed to yell as the flying type led him and Metapod away.
Pikachu thought you were being stupid, so we decided to ignore what you said, Pidgeotto informed him.
That's not fair! Metapod protested. Pikachu always thinks Ash is being stupid. I think Ash isn't usually as stupid as he was tonight.
Thanks, Ash said with a small laugh. They managed to limp over to the source of the electricity currently battering at the tyranitar.
Pikachu began to yell at the top of his lungs, upping the intensity of the Thunderbolt attack in accordance with his volume. A small patch of dark power was now between Tyranitar and Pikachu's attack, shielding the Rocket pokémon from the worst of the electricity.
Ash, I've said this before, and I'll say it again, Pikachu shouted as the yellow shine of his attack grew brighter. You're an idiot! But you're my idiot! Our idiot! If you think we'll let you go off and die, then you've got another thing coming!
Pikachu…
Now get him out of here Pidgeotto! Pikachu shouted. While I take on this ass!
You don't get to give me that speech and then send me away! Ash shouted back. You're my pokémon and I'm not going to let you go off to danger without me!
Fine! Then at least get behind a tree! Pikachu shouted. Now eat electricity you overgrown rock lizard! There was an awesome surge of power from Pikachu, briefly turning the bolt of electricity into a solid column of electricity. Yellow light flared like a newborn sun in the dark forest and the tyranitar roared back as it strove to counter the attack.
There was an explosion. Wind whipped at tree branches and Ash's clothes. Smoke billowed everywhere, blinding everyone.
Ash peaked around the tree when the smoke had cleared. Pikachu and the tyranitar stood in a clearing that the explosion had created, surrounded by trees steaming in the rain, staring each other down.
Is that- Tyranitar was panting- is that all you've got. Pikachu didn't bother to respond. Ash could see that his pokémon's legs were shaking; Pikachu was probably barely standing.
That hurt, Tyranitar admitted. But it's obvious that you're out of energy. As soon as my trainer gives the word, I'm going to kill you and your trainer. And there's nothing you can do to stop me.
I wouldn't be too sure about that, Pikachu said, also panting. My trainer's weird you see. Weird and stupid.
So?
You might have noticed it a few times during this fight, but he can also speak properly, Pikachu went on. He began to glow with a yellow-white light. Tiny streamers of electricity crackled from his cheeks and around his body. So, unlike with most humans, we can hold a proper conversation with each other.
And?
Well, you'd be surprised at the things you can learn from that, Pikachu informed his foe. The glow around him intensified. We had an interesting conversation today, and it gave me the idea for an attack.
You're bluffing, the tyranitar said. You don't have the energy for another attack.
You sure? Want to know what the conversation was about?
Sparks began to pop from the ends of tree branches. Ash could feel hair all over his body start to stand on end. Tiny streamers of electricity began to rise from the ground around Pikachu, flying skywards and fading. Pikachu was surrounded by a yellow-white radiance, standing stark against the dark shape of the tyranitar before him. The electric pokémon grinned up at his foe.
And you call me an idiot! Ash swore. He knew what Pikachu was trying to do.
"Finish them!" The rocket trainer shouted.
It was about the weather.
The world went white.
A bolt of lightning could be three times hotter than the surface of the sun, capable of causing great harm even with a near miss to one's person. It was a phenomenon far greater than humans could produce on their own. It could cause even the bravest of people to flinch under the sound of its sudden crack and the unsettling rumble of accompanying thunder.
Lightning was grand. Lightning was terrifying. Lightning was a reminder of the unstoppable forces that truly ruled the universe.
And Pikachu had just called up a massive bolt to strike the tyranitar.
Ash couldn't make out what was happening, the light was too bright, brighter than the sun at midday. He flinched when he heard the sharp whipcrack crash of lightning. The sound of thunder that followed it was like a physical thing. Ash could feel its rumble in his bones. He could feel it shake the forest.
And then there was silence.
It took several seconds for his vision to clear after the intense light. When it did so he peeked out from behind his cover to look at the battle field.
The tyranitar lay in the mud. It wasn't moving.
There was a scream filled with grief from its trainer. She ran into the clearing towards her downed pokémon. A pressurized jet of water speared her through the chest, blood squirting out of her back. She too went down.
Pikachu lay at the edge of the clearing. Wisps of smoke or steam rose from his fur. Ash couldn't see any movement from him.
Pikachu, Ash cried, rushing over to his pokémon. Are you-
Awesome? Pikachu said in a faint voice, slowly rolling over to look at Ash. Very. Ash swept him up in a hug.
Don't do that to me again, Ash said, clutching Pikachu tight.
Consider it payback for trying to send us on without you, Pikachu replied, coughing. Pidgeotto joined them, carrying Metapod.
Great. You taught him to call down lighting. Pidgeotto groaned. I'm never going to feel safe again.
It's true, Pikachu added. Thanks to your teachings Ash, I am now the most awesome electric type in Kanto! I can't wait to do this again!
Oh no, Ash and Pidgeotto groaned in unison.
Where's Misty? Metapod asked. Ash felt his stomach drop out at the question.
I'm- I'm not sure, Ash said, growing tense and feeling like the bottom dropped out of his stomach again. There had been that Water Gun attack earlier, but he didn't hear Misty order that. It might have just been one of her pokémon acting on their own. What did that Dark Pulse attack do to her?
"Aaron! Are you out there?" Ash's head whipped around, searching for the source of the voice. Misty came limping out of the forest, an ugly bruise on her cheek, and a gash on her forehead, but otherwise she seemed fine.
"Misty! You're alive!" Ash cried out, rushing over to her and hugging her along with Pikachu. Some burden seemed to lift itself from his shoulders, some nameless pain was lessened in his gut, and elation ran through his veins. She was still alive!
"Yeah, it's nice to see you too," she said grinning and returning the hug. "It looks like your pokémon aren't any more obedient than you are."
"Errr," Ash let go of her and sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. That might be true come to think of it…
"We got really lucky with that lightning strike," Misty went on, surveying the battlefield. "If the strike hadn't randomly happened-"
"It, uh, wasn't random actually," Ash replied, cheeks flushing. "I, uh, may have accidently taught my pikachu how to summon lightning."
"YOU WHAT!?"
Ash had to find his discarded backpack in the rainy night, following a trail of melting ice. Meanwhile Misty was doing something with the bodies of the Rocket trainer and her pokémon. By the time Ash returned with his supplies and set up his tent, the storm was over. Ash, too tired to setup a tent, change, or clean, just rolled out a sleeping bag and collapsed.
Morning was in full swing when he woke up again. Flying types chirped, bright sunlight shone down, and the ground wasn't so muddy. Ash sat up and yawned, dislodging his pokémon who had been sleeping on top of him.
It's too early to be up, Pikachu whined. Another hour….
It's time for breakfast or maybe lunch actually, Ash said, looking at the sun's position. He looked around. Where's Misty? And why is there that block of ice?
A block of ice sat nearby. When Ash went over to investigate it, he saw that there was a body within, a woman with shiny straight cut black hair. Her eyes were closed, arms were crossed, and there was a pokéball in her hand. Ash realized that it probably was the tyranitar's trainer, killed by a Water Gun attack in the night.
He stood in silence for several minutes, staring at the body. Last night had been the first and second times that he had seen a human die since he had been taken in by Poison Lance, Pocket Watch, and Flygirl. The first time since then that he had seen a human corpse.
I was hoping to get away from this, Ash said to nobody in particular.
From what? Metapod asked, rolling over to join his trainer. Pikachu and Pidgeotto followed.
Death and killing I guess, Ash replied, voice empty. I didn't like the way pokémon lived. The way they killed and ate each other. Being a trainer was supposed to…. supposed to…... supposed to get me away from all that, I guess. But that didn't seem to go as planned.
Oh, yes, Pikachu rolled his eyes. Because you didn't just stop one member of your team from killing and eating pokémon only a few days ago.
And we didn't kill her for food, Pidgeotto added. She was trying to kill us.
I thought it was Misty and her pokémon who killed her? Metapod asked. Pikachu killed her pokémon though.
That I did, Pikachu agreed, forepaws crossed, eyes closed, and nodding. And it was awesome!
Ash remembered the trainer's cry after her pokémon had been killed. How she abandoned her cover to try and get to it. The spray of blood as she was killed. That hadn't been 'awesome'.
Pikachu opened an eye when Ash didn't respond, got a look at the expression on his face, and then groaned.
Don't tell me that you're upset that we killed them? The yellow pokémon asked. Did you want us to go non-lethal on them like it was just training? Did you want us-
I'm not mad at you, Ash said, turning to his pokémon. It's just- Well, I guess I'm not happy that anyone had to die. I wish we could have won without killing them. But I'm not mad at any of you for doing what you had to do to survive.
Survive and be awesome! Pikachu grinned, spark crackling off of his cheeks. I just can't wait for the next thunderstorm!
Yeah, Ash said in a more normal tone, rubbing the back of his head. About that…
He was already a menace Ash, Pidgeotto complained, ducking her head under her wing. And now, thanks to you, he can summon lightning.
It was really cool! Metapod added.
Pikachu, if you want to try that again, there is a lot more training we're going to have to do before the next thunderstorm, Ash said. We'll have to teach you Thunder for one-
Already know it, Pikachu replied. Didn't you see me turn that Thunderbolt into a Thunder when I hit that tyranitar? Or did you forget about that in light of all the other awesome things I did last night?
How do you know it? It's a high-level move-
My father learned it from a trained pokémon and taught it to me, Pikachu answered. I can really only use it once or twice before being exhausted, but I do know it.
Okay. The next time you get to summon lightning is after you've shown really good control over Thunder, Ash went on. And we've got to teach you Double-Team soon. That fight with the electabuzz would've been so much easier with Double-Team. And Swift.
Lunch was forgotten while Ash and his team discussed training plans.
At the same time Misty was swimming in a nearby river. Starmie and Staryu rested on the riverbed, while Misty leisurely swam against the slow current. Goldeen, happy to be in an environment where she could be useful, kept guard.
Misty surfaced, floating on her back, and let out a sigh. Her hands trembled. She tried not to think. But her thoughts kept coming back to the people she had killed. She could remember the expression of grief on the woman she had killed, the expressions of terrified surprise on the Rocket trainers she had frozen when the clusterfuck began.
After the adrenaline had faded last night, as she was gathering what evidence she could, and preparing the body for preservation, she had felt hollow and yet filled. A nervous energy had filled her empty insides, like a nauseating swarm of locusts buzzing and hopping within her body. Even as tired as she had been from all the fighting, from forcing herself to stay professional to keep the rookie from panicking, and from her wounds, it had still been difficult to sleep.
She had needed this swim badly. Misty always felt better in the water. It was where her pokémon were at their best. It was where her family and friends at the gym had spent most of their time. It felt like home even when she was away from home.
Misty wondered how her sisters would react to the news of what had happened. Would they yell at her for her mistakes, for almost getting herself and a bystander killed, while also failing to rescue the poached pokémon? Or would they try to make her come home? Her sisters were both the leaders of her gym, and her guardians after their parents had died six years ago. They had the authority to make her come back, though Misty would still try and fight them.
At least Aaron and his pokémon had managed to come through.
Despite how stupid he had acted last night. And despite the way that he had been assaulted by the Rocket trainer. He might have gotten internal injuries! And that was on top of all the injuries he might have gotten before she had saved him. He might have gotten hit with a poison type attack and not noticed!
Misty grit her teeth at the thought.
Coming back without his pokémon! She shoulda slapped him upside the head for that. How stupid did you have to be to do that? And against a tyranitar of all things!
And then there was the fact that he had accidently taught his pikachu to summon lighting. How did someone even manage that? He was lucky that they both hadn't gotten fried!
That kid was going to get himself killed if he kept at it….
"We're going straight to Pewter City," Misty announced, hands on her hips, when she returned to the campsite, where Aaron and his pokémon were preparing to eat. "We're going to report in at the pokémon center, and you're going to get checked out by the doctors there. Don't even think of trying to get out of it."
"Uh, sure," Ash replied, a little taken aback.
"You're not going to send your pokémon on ahead to go to the pokémon center and then take a detour to go try and challenge the gym leader by wrestling his onix," Misty went on. "You're not going to try and scale Mt. Moon. You're not going to try and chase muks out of the sewer. You're going straight to the doctor, got it?"
"I mean, yeah," Ash said, wondering why she was badgering him about this. "I'm fine, but I'll do it. Besides, I've got to make sure you get there too after all." He went on, looking at her bandages again. They had been recently changed, but Ash could see the beginnings of a red stain appearing. The fight must have opened up her wounds again.
"I've got to report in to the police and a couple of gyms first," Misty told the boy.
"Oh, so I've got to visit the doctor, but yooooouuu get to go do other things…."
"I'm not stupid enough to try and fight a tyranitar without pokémon! I didn't get beaten up last night!"
"I didn't do that." Ash protested. "I just came back to see if I could help! And you got shot by crossbows!"
"You almost got us killed!" Misty reminded him. "Some help you were!"
"Almost!" Ash protested, standing up and getting in her face. "I couldn't just let you try and take them alone!"
"I'm a gym trainer! You're a kid who's been a trainer for less than a month!"
"Oh, look at me!" Ash replied, looking down his nose at the red head. "I'm Misty! I'm a high and mighty gym trainer who can take on a super powerful tyranitar with half of my pokémon! I don't need help from anyone!"
"Oh, look at me," Misty shot back, throwing up her arms. "Hurr, durr, I'm Aaron. I've just started, but I think I'm good enough that I don't even need any pokémon! Let me just blunder into battles and make things worse!"
"Oh, woe is me," Ash mock-preened. "I'm Miss Bossypants McBossy. I'm going to tell everyone what to do and get mad when they don't listen to my stupid ideas."
"Shrimp!"
"Jerk!"
Okay, that's enough! Pikachu cried out. You're both being stupid and getting on my nerves!
"Ohhh, sorry, are we bothering you?" Misty cooed, kneeling down to scratch Pikachu behind the ears. She sighed and looked at Ash. "He probably thinks we're being silly."
"Err," Ash rubbed the back of his head. That was almost, for a given value of almost, what Pikachu had said.
Misty pet Pikachu for a few seconds and then sighed.
"I'll go to the doctor when we check in, if you do the same" Misty said. "Does that work?"
"Okay," Ash answered, letting out a breath.
Now that you two are done being stupid, Pikachu said, what's for lunch?
AN:
First a PSA. Email alerts for Private Messaging on FFN are currently offline and PMs themselves might be having issues. You'll need to check Private Messaging on your account to see your messages.
Second, I'd like to thank BlackCatSpecialist92G10 for beta reading.
Moving on. The author's note at the end of the last chapter was to explain why there was a tyranitar, but why the tyranitar was weak enough Ash and co to put up a fight. Some people might have been wondering how a pokemon that's supposed to be level fifty five in the games, could get beaten by pokemon that are much weaker. Short answer was that it wasn't actually level fifty-five, see last chapter's author's notes for more information about how that works.
Feel free to skip the following.
So this chapter and the preceding chapters contain everything that I had written by the time I had decided it was time to publish Symbiotic. Specifically the line "YOU WHAT!?" was when I felt like I should get this up on the internet. It took a little while to contact my old beta reader Magnive to go over the first two chapters, so I wrote what would become the rest of the chapter in the meantime.
Currently I have about 56,000 to 60,000 words published on FFN and AO3, depending on how you count it, and a total of 108,062 words written in the master document on my hard drive and my google drive. Even if I were to quit writing new material today you will all have another 40,000 words to look forward to.
Because my writing will probably slow down due to things that will be happening over the rest of the month, I'm taking a break from releasing chapters of Symbiotic. The next chapter will be on January 1st instead of December 18th.
(If you want something to read in the meantime, check out Remastered by Xuric. Last time I looked at it, the summary reads like it's a dime-a-dozen pokemon power fantasy, but it's really not. It's got a lot of good ideas, worldbuilding, plot lines, plot hooks, and character backstories. I really like what they did with Gary and Misty being friends since childhood, or what the lines on Ash's cheeks are, or the character of James, Jessie, and Meowth. It should be more popular than it is.)
Don't forget to review.
Edited as of 6/10/2020
:AN