A final whip crack from the vines and Squirtle lay sprawled on the forest floor. The zubats fluttered overhead, but their Supersonic attacks weren't needed. Squirtle went through the motions of trying to stand, but he had no fight left in him.
He only had the burning welts all over his body, the overwhelming nausea within him, and the knowledge that he was alone in his fight.
The water-type couldn't even bring himself to withdraw back into his shell. Squirtle simply had no energy left. His angular sunglasses lay beside his head as he stared up at the night sky, barely able to see the stars through his pain.
Squirtle didn't want to abandon his squad to the mercy of Team Rocket, but it looked like he had no choice. He was just glad that he had managed to accomplish all that he had done before his end. He just wished that he could have a cooler end than getting beaten to death alone in the forest at night.
Four vines crossed his field of vision, not whipping at him, but reaching down. They circled around the unresisting water type's neck, constricting, and lifting him into the air. Squirtle feebly attempted to pry them off, but it was no use.
They tightened, vices around Squirtle's throat, and then he couldn't breathe.
The light of the moon and the stars faded from Squirtle's vision. The trees, barely distinct when the night had begun, began to blur together into one great big grey mess. Soon almost everything was gone.
Everything, that was, except for a strange orange dot.
There were noises that Squirtle couldn't make out. Things were happening that Squirtle couldn't understand. Squirtle felt like he was swimming through molasses. Everything was a thick darkness where he couldn't see, hear, or even move.
Until the shock of hitting the ground jolted him out of it.
Squirtle rubbed his throat and then looked up. The four vines remained above him, but now they were writhing and lashing about in agony. Flames licked up and down their length giving Squirtle some light to see by.
Charmander stood in front of him, standing between Squirtle and the vines. The little fire type was standing up straighter than Squirtle had ever seen him. His claws were out and his teeth were bared. His tail flame burned bright.
One of the zubats dived at him, using Supersonic as it did so. Charmander countered with an Ember attack, casting a stream of small flames up into the night. The zubat squeaked in pain as it was pelted with small flames.
At the same time, the other zubat swooped in, hitting Charmander in back with another Supersonic attack, bringing the fire type to his knees
I've had- Squirtle pushed himself to his feet- just about enough of you! He accompanied his exclamation with a Water Gun attack, blasting the zubat out of the sky.
Thank you! Charmander exclaimed, picking himself back up and rubbing his temple.
The flaming vines were covered in a red glow and then they vanished, recalled by their trainer. The remaining zubat swooped low to recover its downed comrade and then took off.
Ugh, I feel like I'm going to throw up now, Charmander groaned. Is that what Supersonic always feels like?
When it succeeds, yeah, Squrtile replied, helping Charmander up. And thanks, yourself. I figured I was a goner there.
You're welcome, Charmander squeaked, looking down at the ground, his tail flame illuminating his blush.
A wave of dizziness overtook Squirtle and he had to lean on Charmander for support. The water type closed his eyes and started taking deep breaths.
Are you alright? Charmander asked, concerned.
No, Squirtle answered. But we don't have time for me to not be alright. Come on, we've got to go help the others.
Right, Charmander nodded.
And then there were two.
Bulbasaur strained against the vines interwoven within his own, sweat dripping from his face as he pushed and pulled. Machop, breathing hard, covered in dirt and bruises from the battle, walked towards the grass-type, eyes locked with Bulbasaur's own.
Bulbasaur fired off some more Razor Leaves, forcing the fighting type to doge. But in that moment, while Bulbasaur's attention was focused on the leaves instead of the vines, the trainer made her move.
"Now!" The Rocket trainer shouted and the bellsprout reacted.
The grass type released its grip on Bulbasaur's vines and went for his throat, managing to wrap around the other grass type's neck several times before Bulbasaur could respond. Bulbasaur tugged at the strangling vines, gasping for breath. While the grass-type was occupied, the machop charged forward, fist raised.
Bulbasaur managed to take the blow on his shoulder, letting the impact roll him away from the machop until the vines around his neck came up short. He grit his teeth and fired off another brace of Razor Leaves, the sharp greenery curving through the air, coming at the vines entangled around his neck.
"Dodge!" The trainer shouted.
The bellsprout obeyed instantly, their vines waving and swaying around the leaves. And Machop was back on Bulbasaur as well. It began to hammer away at Bulbasaur's face like it was a judge calling an unruly courtroom to order. Bulbasaur could barely keep fighting against the strangulation as the attacks continued.
In the end he had to release his grip with one of his vines and use it to catch one of the machop's fists. Machop's teeth ground together as it struggled against Bulbasaur's hold. When it couldn't free its limb quickly, it returned to punching Bulbasaur in the face with its other hand.
Bulbasaur's vision was slowly going grey from a lack of oxygen and his head was a mass of throbbing pain, punctuated by blows from the fighting type. The grass-type from the village pushed through the pain, forcing himself to focus on his opponents.
He fired off several Leach Seeds, but the machop batted them out of the air. He tried firing off more Razor Leaf attacks, using his grip on the Rocket pokémon to try and hold it in place, but the Machop was able to lean and duck out of the way of the barrage-
Water rushed and the fighting type found itself flying to the side as its head was engulfed by a pressurized torrent of frothy water. It was sent cartwheeling through the dark forest.
In the same moment, a stream of small flames lit up the night. Plants sizzled and burned and the bellsprout hastily withdrew its vines from around Bulbasaur's throat. Bulbasaur scrambled to his feet, his own vines extended and prepared to lash out. He looked around and saw Squirtle and Charmander racing to his side.
Thanks, Bulbasaur said to the two, his voice hoarse after the abuse his throat had received. But don't think they're out yet. Get ready for round two!
Bring it on! Squirtle shouted in challenge.
Yeah! Charmander squeaked in agreement.
"Bellsprout, support," the Rocket trainer called out. "Machop, Mega-Kick the charmander!"
Vines lashed out from the treetops, whipping at Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Charmander's eyes. Bulbasaur countered with his own vines, once more entangling tendrils, stopping the attacks.
Simultaneously, Machop came barreling out of the forest. Charmander flinched at its sudden appearance, leaving him open to the flying Mega-Kick.
But Squirtle had anticipated Machop's trajectory and another powerful Water Gun attack caught the fighting type in midair. Drops of water rained down around them as Machop's kick met Squirtle's water in a liquid explosion. Machop cleaved through the attack, but the current had pushed him off course enough so that his kick missed Charmander. It landed just behind the pokémon from the village.
"Machop," the trainer from Team Rocket called out, still hidden somewhere in the forest, "use Protect!"
Charmander, now! Squirtle shouted at the same time.
Charmander spun around, breathed in, partially exhaled, stoked his inner fires, and then inhaled again. But, by the time he had finished the sequence, the Rocket pokémon had already conjured up a translucent green shell around itself. Charmander's Fire Bloom washed harmlessly over the shield.
My turn again! Squirtle shouted, cheeks puffing up as he prepared his attack. Machop's shield dropped and Squirtle fired off a Bubblebeam attack. The Team Rocket fighting type countered with a barrage of punches. Bubbles exploded, sounding like small fireworks, popped by the rapid fire pistoning of Machop's fists.
"Bellsprout, focus on that Squirtle!" The enemy trainer commanded. "Machop, continue after that Charmander!"
Bellsprout tried to extract its vines from Bulbasaur's grip, but the other grass-type wasn't having it. With a dark smile, Bulbasaur tightened his own grip and yanked! He pulled Bellsprout's vines towards himself and then further, towards Charmander.
Got a light? Bulbasaur asked, presenting the struggling enemy vines to the fire type.
I mean, we could use my tail, Charmander replied, glancing back at his extremity.
Just light it on fire, Bulbasaur sighed.
Oh. Okay, Charmander said, before firing off another Ember attack. Plants sizzled in the night and the bellsprout shrieked in pain. Its struggles grew more frantic, managing to extract itself from Bulbasaur's grip.
That's one down, Bulbasaur growled, turning around to look at Machop. The fighting type was still locked in combat with Squirtle, fists fending off bubbles.
Bulbasaur fired off one slow Razor Leaf upwards, letting it drift for a quiet instant. A vine lashed out, whipping the leaf with a tremendous crack! The leaf blasted forward and drilled through the Rocket pokémon with a spray of blood.
Mouth open and gasping, Machop fell back, hands clutching at the hole in its chest. A beam of red light lashed out of the trees and the fighting type was recalled.
A second beam of red light appeared and then the vines from the bellsprout disappeared. The pokémon from the village could hear the sounds of a human running through the forest, the noise moving away from them.
Do we go after her? Charmander asked hesitantly.
No, Bulbasaur shook his head. We've got important things to worry about. First, is anyone wounded? Speak up now.
I've been beaten halfway to Girgantia's Gullet and back, but I can still fight, Squirtle responded.
Are you sure? Bulbasaur asked, eying Squirtle. It ain't worth it to act tough now and then go down when we really need you later.
There's too many of them for me to stay out of this, Squirtle shot back. Let's just go help the others.
Fine, Bulbasaur grumbled. But you're going to need to fill me in on what happened with you two as we go. We're going to need to tell Ash what we're up against now.
Butterfree fell from the tree like one of the many autumn leaves. He landed among the scattered branches and shattered bark that was the result of the Rocket pokémon's assault.
Biters, the mightyena, started to pace towards the downed bug-type, hackles raised and snarling the whole time. It moved silently through the night, each deliberate step of its paws failing to rustle leaves and snap branches.
Butterfree tried to pick his head up, but the world was spinning and his wings wouldn't work. He tried to push himself up using his tiny forepaws, but he didn't even have the strength for that.
"Finish it! Use Crunch!" Butterfree heard the trainer shout. He could feel the migthyena's breath by his head, hear the snarl right in his internal ears.
Finish this! Butterfree thought he recognized the new voice suddenly shouting, but his head wasn't in any shape to actually provide an answer as to whom the voice belonged. Something whizzed through the night.
The breath and snarl vanished. There was commotion all around Butterfree, pokémon shouting and grunting. There was a series of loud, high pitched yelps, the sound of a pokémon being recalled to a pokéball, and then the commotion quieted down.
Butterfree are you….. that is not good, Butterfree heard yet another voice say.
That's one way to put it, the first voice, a gruff voice, said.
What do we do? Another voice asked, high pitched and sounding scared.
We need to get him to a pokéball, the gruff voice said. He can last in there until someone can use a potion on him.
How are we- Butterfree felt somethings wrap around him and gently hoist him into the air -oh, that's how. I keep forgetting how easy you can carry things.
What do we do now? Someone asked. Butterfree though didn't hear any answer to the question. With the threats gone he let himself slip into oblivion.
Electricity crackled and buzzed. Yellow light danced between trees and branches. Leaves crinkled and were reduced to cinders. Tendrils of yellow power splayed all over the forest.
But the cubone kept shielding the slugma from Pikachu's assaults. No matter the angle Pikachu tried to attack from, no matter the amount of power he put into his attacks, no matter the timing or the frequency of his shocks, Pikachu just couldn't take down the slugma.
He had tried to disengage and rejoin Ash an additional two instances, but each attempt was stopped by the cubone and slugma working together to cut him off. Pikachu's fur was singed and blackened in a few more places and there was a throbbing pain in Pikachu's side that would probably end up as a very nasty bruise.
A few times Pikachu caught snippets of a high-pitched voice giving what sounded like orders. But the electric-type hadn't caught a glimpse of the source of the voice, so he had paid it no mind.
Panting, Pikachu looked over at the cubone and the slugma again. There were a few scuffs on the ground type pokémon, from when Pikachu had been able to land some Quick Attacks. The slugma was untouched.
Pikachu was lathered in sweat, drops dripping off of his tail, off of his ears, and the ends of his fur. His limbs felt leaden. His cheeks ached from the strain of firing off so many electric attacks.
The cubone stepped forward, its club held in a low ready stance. Pikachu growled and bared his own teeth. He started building up another charge, ready to continue the fight.
But before either of them could do anything, water streamed through the forest, striking the cubone in the side of the face. Pikachu could see the ground type's eyes went wide behind its skull helmet before the attack sent it flying.
The slugma's reaction was blindingly fast. Before Pikachu could quite finish processing what had happened, the enemy fire type spat out a ball of fire at Pikachu, and then turned to the direction the water blast had come from.
Pikachu fell backwards and closed his eyes, feeling the heat from the passing attack curl his fur, seeing the backs of his eyelids go orange. When the sensations had faded, Pikachu opened his eyes, and sprang back to his feet.
The spot where the slugma should have been was encased in a cloud of steam. More blasts of water were coming in, spearing into the steam cloud and then out the other side.
Take this! Pikachu screamed. Sparks flew from his cheeks and from his tail as the small yellow pokémon built up a charge. And then Pikachu threw a Thunderbolt attack into the steam cloud, electrifying it. The cloud roiled, yellow light flickering within, and the slugma screamed.
While that was happening, another jet of water pierced the cloud. A small current ran up the jet when it hit the electrified cloud.
Shit! Watch what you're doing! A voice shouted. Pikachu recognized the voice; it belonged to Squirtle.
You watch what you're doing! Pikachu shouted back. I was shocking it first!
Umm….. I… er….. maybe we should make sure it's down? Another voice said from near the same location as where Squirtle's voice was coming from. Pikachu recognized it as Charmander.
Fine, Pikachu growled. And then he fired off another Thunderbolt into the dissipating steam cloud. The current tore the cloud apart, leaving the slugma exposed before Pikachu. The Thunderbolt attack curved low and hit the fire-type right in the face.
While the slugma screamed, Squirtle used Water Gun, the pressurized stream of water sailing right past Pikachu's shoulder, and drilling into Cubone, who had been sneaking up behind the electric type.
Thanks, Pikachu said flatly, watching the cubone collapse out of the corner of his eye. He then fired off a Thunderwave attack at the downed slugma. Rings of electricity earthed themselves in the fire-type, paralyzing it.
Two beams of red light lanced out of the darkness of the forest, the hidden trainer from Team Rocket, recalling their pokémon. Pikachu, Squirtle, and Charmander waited for a moment, to see if they would be doing anything else, but there was no further action from the trainer.
Let's go! Pikachu growled after the moment was done and then he darted off towards where he last remembered Ash to be.
Wait up! Squirtle cried out. We need to wait for Bulbasaur and Charmander!
But Pikachu didn't respond. He had already disappeared into the night.
Jets of water, frothy and grey in the night under the waning moon, shot into the sky as the Squirtle Squad tried to fend off the aerial attackers. At the same time, the squirtles were being harassed by long green vines that snaked out of the forest, battering shells and laying open flesh.
Brilliant purple beams of glowing energy lanced out from the girafarig, blasting a geodude that had been trying to put it down using Rock Throw. The geodude tumbled back, and fell limply to the ground. It joined many of the other pokémon from the village.
The staryu from the village attempted to blast the girafarig in the tail with a Water Gun attack, but the ralts threw up a translucent glowing pane of psychic power.
"Pidgeotto, Gust around Staryu!" Ash shouted while he watched the ralts defend. He was sheltered behind a tree, trying to observe the whole battlefield.
Pidgeotto swooped out of the sky, pausing to flap her wings twice, before shooting back up into the night sky. A windstorm erupted around the staryu, just before the ralts dismissed the Light Screen and reached out one tiny hand towards a nearby tree. Leaves glowed and then flew from the tree at the staryu, the attack Magical Leaf.
The glowing leaves pierced through the miniature tornado and then out of the other side. Pidgeotto's attacked faded, and Ash could see the staryu, largely undamaged by the Magical Leaf attack.
A cluster of needles thudded into the tree next to Ash's head and the pokéraised boy flinched back, tripping over a tree root. He fell to the ground, his back erupting into a universe of pure pain. Another brace of needles passed over him, right where his face would have been if he hadn't tripped.
Ash started to scramble away, only to freeze up when a wave of agony washed over him. He felt the skin on his back tear, nerves singing their silent song of suffering. The pokéraised boy forced himself to start moving again, pushing through the pain to get up and sprint deeper into the forest.
Ash found a new tree to duck behind and then turned his attention back to the battle. The staryu was now covered in a purple glow, hovering in the air before the ralts. Ash could see its limbs tremble and he knew that it must have been fighting against the telekinetic hold.
Ash glanced at the Squirtle Squad. Several of the water-types were on the ground, clutching at the sides of their heads as the zubats hovered above them, the horrible screeching from the Supersonic attacks keeping the squirtles down. Vines from the forest whipped at their prone forms.
The rest of the squad was blasting away at the beedrill, keeping it from finishing off the downed Squirtles with Poison Sting attacks.
Ash then turned to the girafarig, who was hounding a weepinbell and a pair of rattatas. Next to them lay another weepinbell, limp on the ground, next to a similarly limp bellsprout.
Ash grit his teeth and clenched his fists. He knew he had to prioritize. Pidgeotto was the only pokémon free to act and she was needed in three places at once. He just needed to figure out which situation was the most important.
He looked again at the vines lashing at the downed Squirtle Squad and then at the weepinbell frantically trying to escape from the girafirag.
Pidgeotto! Ash screamed skywards. Sand-Tornado that girafarig!
Heeding her trainer's call, Pidgeotto dropped from the night sky; a dark silhouette against the moon and stars. She swooped over the normal/psychic-type and then began to flap her wings rapidly. Winds began to cut into the ground, pulverizing dirt and small rocks, and sucking up the debris. A sandy-brown whirlwind formed around the girafarig, stopping it in its tracks.
Everyone but the Squirtle Squad get over here! Ash shouted. Pidgeotto get up in the air again!
Pidgeotto sped forward, wings flapping furiously as she gained altitude. The pokémon from the village scampered, crawled, and ran over to the boy. Ash looked over at the staryu and grimaced as he saw it go limp. The ralts threw it to the side and then turned towards Ash.
A brilliant orange blaze erupted in the night, a new conflagration arcing towards the pokémon grouping together around Ash.
Pidgeotto! Ash cried out again and the flying type responded. She cut over the fire and used Gust once again. A new whirlwind sucked up the brilliant flames, leaving a spinning column of orange light to illuminate the battlefield. The sudden light was a harsh contrast to the dark forest, clearing away darkness and leaving long shadows behind.
Psybeams lanced out at Pidgeotto from the girafirig and the ralts. At the same time, Ash heard the hiss of Poison Sting attacks flying through the air, the needles glinting in the firelight. Ash's pokémon corkscrewed through the air, avoiding the attacks, sometimes by the smallest of margins.
The attacks from the Rocket pokémon continued; Psybeams, Poison Stings, and more flames. Pidgeotto continued to avoid them all, but Ash could tell that her movements were becoming more panicked, less graceful. He could tell that it was only a matter of time until she was hit.
Someone help her! Ash called out, not knowing if there were any pokémon who were able and willing to assist.
Three small shapes dropped out of the sky, the three pidgies from the village, their small wings flapping. Three small Gust attacks sprang up behind Pidgeotto and merged into one larger whirlwind. Flames and needles were captured by the rotating winds, creating another pillar of orange light to replace the first one.
Pidgeotto banked towards Ash and the pidgies followed suit.
Yet more fire lanced out from between the trees, errant flames setting dying leaves alight. Pidgeotto and the pidgeies conjured up another whirlwind to block it. Ash was forced to shield his eyes from the torrent of light.
Another gout of flame lanced out from different position. It streaked past the flying types countering the first attack and headed straight for Ash and the pokémon gathered around him.
Move! Ash shouted dashing away from the terrible light. The pokémon from the village followed suit. The tree Ash been sheltering behind went up in a blaze.
While that was happening, two Psybeams, their glow dim compared to the flames, blasted at the flying types. One missed, but the other struck one of the pidgies straight in the chest. It fell like a rock and the small shape was motionless on the ground.
Ash dove to the ground, sheltering behind an unburnt tree. He looked back the way the attacks had come. The ralts and the girafig were no longer visable. He could barely make out the struggling Squirtle Squad.
The starlight and the moonlight had been joined by the blazing torches that were trees burning from the attacks of the fire types. The smell of smoke filled the air and there was an uncomfortable warmth all around.
Ash closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. There was a new top priority. They had to deal with those fire types before Team Rocket simply burned them out.
First Ash needed to find them. And then he needed to take them out quickly.
Ash looked over the pokémon around him, trying to figure out who had the means to do. One of the geodudes had gotten back up and joined them. There was also the pair of rattatas, a bellsprout, the unlucky magikarp who had managed to flop its way over, and a caterpie, and the remaining bellsprout.
That was probably it, Ash realized. The weepinbell's Sleep Powder was probably their best bet. But how, Ash wondered, could they deliver it? He glanced over at the flying types hovering nearby and had an idea.
Pidgeotto! Ash called out. See if you can't help the squirtles! Just be careful!
Got it! Pidgeotto called back, before soaring away to help the beleaguered water types.
You two pidgeies, get over here, Ash then called out. The two small flying types came to a rest nearby.
What? One of the squawked.
I don't want to be here, the other one said in a distant voice. By the light of fire and moon Ash could see that there were tears leaking from its eyes. Its entire body was trembling.
Shhhh, Ash cooed, gently stroking it, keeping one eye out for any more fire attacks. Shhh… I don't want to be here either.
With that admission Ash felt like he was teetering on the edge of an abyss. His old fears were lurking below, ready to grab him and drag him into the darkness forever. If he thought about it for too long then he would be lost; and then there would be no one there to help the people or the pokémon from the village.
And Ash would not let that happen.
But, Ash continued to the pidgey, there are still some things we have to do if we want everyone to get out of here. We're going to have to fight. Do you think you can do that?
Yes, the pidgey responded, voice shaking like its body. But it still nodded and met Ash's eyes.
Good, Ash said, gently rubbing the top of its head. Now I'm going to need you two to work together. Weepinbell-
It's Beautiful Maw, not Jungle Mouth, the weepinbell interrupted.
Sorry, Weepinbell, we're going to use your Sleep Powder to take care of those fire-types, Ash went on. You two, Ash looked at the flying types, will have to carry him over the fire types. Do you think you can do that?
Maybe, the first pidgey said. But won't they see us coming?
I'm going to try and distract them, Ash replied. So, you'll see them attacking me, but they won't see you. And you'll want to take a long way around to be safe. Do you think you all can do this?
The pokémon from the village turned to each other, their gazes initially uncertain. But then they all locked eyes and Ash could see them all stand up straighter. They turned back to Ash.
We can do it, the second pidgey said.
Thank you, Ash said, giving both pidgeies a gentle rub on the head and giving a nod to the weepinbell.
Each pidgey grabbed one of the large leaves on weepinbell's sides and then they took off. Ash watched them go for a second and then turned his attention back to the main fight.
The Squirtle Squad and Pidgeotto had managed to drive off the zubats long enough for their comrades to recover from the Supersonic attacks, but now they were also being assaulted by the ralts and the girafarig.
The equine pokémon was galloping around, firing off weak Psybeams to harass Pidgeotto while the Ralts was using its powers to push the squirtles around, preventing them from forming up to deal with the beedrill and the returning zubats.
Ash looked at the remaining pokémon from the village. He knew that one of the rattatas with him knew Superfang. The caterpies knew String Shot, but Ash guessed that they wouldn't be as good as Butterfree had been when he was still a caterpie. And the geodude knew Rock Throw.
We're going to have to take down that girafarig, Ash told them. And then that ralts. Geodude, Caterpie, and Caterpie, attack it from range. Rattata, keep low, get close, and wait for my signal and then use Super Fang. And Rattata, you're with me. We're going to be a distraction. Everyone got it?
No! Rattata exclaimed. What's the signal!
I'll tell you to attack, Ash said.
I'm not sure that I won't accidently hit you, the geodude said.
Then I'll just try and dodge you too, Ash replied.
I'm not sure how far we can fire String Shot, the taller of the two caterpies said.
Don't worry, Ash said, a stupid plan forming. I might be able to help there. Alright, let's go!
Ash stood up. More harsh orange light bloomed further off in the forest, more fire attacks coming at Ash. But Ash was already moving forward, the small pokémon running behind him. Fire splashed behind him, heat washing him, but Ash ignored it.
His back was still silently screaming. Ash could feel something hot and liquid running down it and his shirt was sticking to his skin. If he took a moment to dwell on the pain, Ash thought that it would paralyze him. He had to keep moving, keep focusing on other things. He had to stay two steps ahead of the fear and the pain.
The battle drew closer. More fire attacks illuminated the night. Light burst and flames crackled on either side of Ash. Heat and smoke washed over his face, but he continued to focus on his target.
The girafarig paused in its harassment of the Squirtle Squad. It turned to look at the charging boy.
And that's when Geodude hurled his first rock. It hit the equine pokémon on the side, causing it to flinch. Sticky silk flew through the air, missing the girafarig by yards, but distracting it further.
Rattata use Tackle! Ash shouted, pointing forward as he ran. The rodent like pokémon scampered forward, overtaking the boy. A purple blur launched itself at the girafarig. But the equine pokémon nimbly trotted out of the way of the pokémon's attack.
And then Ash was there. He leapt up, arms and legs out, and landed off-center on the surprised girafarig's back. The pink spikes dug into the boy's thigh, but Ash was running on too much adrenaline to feel it. He grabbed at the pokémon's white horns and yanked.
Primal instincts, roused by the sudden feeling of something on its back, overtook the normal/psychic-type. Reason forgotten, the equine pokémon began to rear and buck, trying to throw its unwelcome passenger off of its back. Ash held onto the horns for dear life, attempting to steer the enemy pokémon closer to the geodude and caterpies.
Ash felt the somewhat familiar sensation of telekinesis wash over him, trying to pull him off the girafarig. He turned his head to see the ralts looking at him, one hand raised.
String Shot the ralts! Ash cried out as the telekinetic hold grew firmer. A line of white silk flew through the air, striking the ralts on the side of the head. It dropped its hold on Ash and began to tug at the silk.
Geodude, pull it to you! Ash shouted as he continued to struggle against the bucking girafarig. Ash had to turn his attention back to the pokémon beneath him, but he thought that he heard a small yelp from the ralts.
Ash managed to steer the girafarig closer to geodude and the two caterpies, putting himself and the enemy pokémon between the pokémon from the village and the attacking fire types. Team Rocket wouldn't be able to use their fire attacks without hitting the girafarig.
String Shots impacted the girafarig on its flank and legs. Strands of stick silk entangled themselves into the yellow and brown fur of the normal/psychic type, hindering its movements.
And then Ash twisted the wrong way and his back suddenly quit letting him ignore it.
The pokéraised boy fell off the hoofed pokémon, paralyzed by pain. White hot agony ruled Ash's senses, his back a hellscape, and his thighs adding sharp reminders of the girafarig's spikes. He landed on his side and it took all of Ash's willpower not to curl up and faint.
The girafarig quit bucking, calmed down, and turned to face Ash. Thinking through his pain, the boy guessed that there would probably be a Psybeam soon.
Rattata, now! Ash managed to grit out.
Teeth shining with white light, the other rattata sprang up from where it had been slinking. Brilliant fangs sunk into the spot where the girafarig's neck met its shoulder and the wounded pokémon gave a high-pitched scream of pain.
Ash tried to get to his hands and knees, the effort drawing a cry of pain from him as well. He looked up at the girafarig, drawing hissing breathes as he attempted to struggle past his pain, and saw blood spurting from the pokémon's shoulder.
A beam of red light shot out of the woods and the pokémon was recalled. Ash closed his eyes in relief, enjoying a moment's respite.
Then he remembered that there was now no reason for the fire-types not to attack him.
Fear overrode pain and Ash managed to get moving before another fire attack flared up. This time smaller balls of fire soared through the forest. They flew behind Ash and then continued onward to shatter several trees in explosions of sparks and splinters.
The streams of fireballs tracked Ash, swiftly growing closer. Ash tried to run faster, but his back had finally had enough. It seized up and Ash fell forward onto his hand and knees. His eyes were squeezed tight enough that tears began to leak out of their corners as he waited for the fire to catch him.
But it never did. Ash managed to slowly turn himself enough to look behind him. The streams had ceased. He heard faint noises of alarm coming from further in the forest. Ash hoped that it meant that the Sleep Powder gambit had paid off.
Before he could pursue that line of thought any further Ash felt sudden pressure squash him. He let out a strangled scream as the strange force crushed him down.
And stay down! Ash heard a pokémon shout. Before him stood the ralts, glowing purple with psychic power, one hand pushing down. It was breathing heavily but the force flattening Ash was inexorable.
And then the ralts was once again hit in the face by a strand of stick silk. It pawed at the sudden covering and was yanked off of its feet. Ash didn't couldn't see what happened next, but he heard the sounds of a struggle.
Thoughts left the boy's head as he simply lay on the ground, caught between agony and relief, a moment without time. The world swam out of focus and Ash felt like he had been hidden behind a comforting gray fog.
The pokéraised child was snapped out of the reverie by stony fingers clasping his shoulders and giving him a rough shake.
Come on Ash, don't just lie there, the geodude from the village said. Team Rocket's still out there and I don't know what to do!
Please get up! One of the rattata's pleaded.
Ash groaned as his awareness returned. His body leaden. His back was on fire. His head felt both empty and stuffed with cotton.
But he pushed himself up on trembling limbs.
We need to get in cover again, Ash told the pokémon by him. They still have other pokémon out there. Help me up.
With the assistance of the geodude Ash managed to get back on his feet. He took in a deep breath and then began to limp away from the battle.
Without the harassment from the girafarig and the ralts, the Squirtle Squad had an easier time dealing with the zubats and the beedrill. However, half their number was already down, Ash guessed it was either from the Supersonic attacks, or from poison.
Bellsprouts hidden in the forest still whipped at them with their long vines, and Poison Sting attacks still needled them, but the squad stuck together. They formed a ring around their fallen brethren, and shielded each other with their hard shells.
Ash made a little more progress towards the forest before he heard the sound of flapping wings. Ash looked back and saw the two pidgeies and the weepinbell.
They're chasing us! One of the flying types squawked out when they got closer to Ash. The poké-raised child saw more small shapes chasing them, yet another group of zubats. More Supersonics attacks screeched through the night and the pidgeies shrieked. All three pokémon tumbled from the air falling to the ground behind Ash.
Run! Ash shouted to the pokémon with him as the zubats dived down towards him. Geodude scooped up the two bug types and rolled away. The rattatas shot off as fast as they could.
Horrible sounds filled Ash's ears, screeching and terrible whines hovering just on the edge of his hearing. His stomach lurched and flipped; the fire-lit world started to spin and Ash felt like the contents of his head had joined it. The boy couldn't maintain his balance and fell to his hands and knees once more.
All sense fled and it was all Ash could do not to completely collapse. He didn't know how long he struggled against the sickness of the Supersonic attack; he didn't really know anything during the confusion.
A sudden painful impact jolted him out of his confusion; an impact accompanied by a sudden wave of darkness and a chill that wasn't quite physical. The world flipped instead of spinning and Ash came to his sense just in time to realize that he was falling.
Ash crashed into the ground back first; another painful impact to join a long list of painful impacts and moments that Ash had experienced that night. His back didn't like the latest one any more than it had liked the previous ones and Ash had the delightful experience of dealing with another paralyzing wave of pain.
Ash grit his teeth, tears leaking from the corners of his eyes (yet again), and levered himself up on his elbows. One zubat, larger than the others, was slowly, languidly, deliberately, making its way over to Ash. The rest of the newly arrived zubats joined their fellows in attacking the Squirtle Squad.
The water-types responded with an intense barrage of bubble-based attacks, the ovals and spheres almost shining in the fire light as they filled the air above the squirtles. Pidgeotto was streaking from zubat to zubat, talons and beak trying to rip them from the sky. But Ash knew that it was too intense to keep up, it was a desperate, frantic attempt at defense.
Ash turned his attention back to the zubat coming for him. It had come to a stop above and in front of him. Its eyeless face was turned towards the boy below. Ash struggled to get up, to move, to even crawl away, but his body wasn't responding.
A ball of darkness grew in front of the zubat's face and Ash's futile struggles increased. Ash couldn't believe he was in this situation again, helpless on the ground before a Team Rocket pokémon ready to kill him. He was too exhausted, too hurt, to feel much more than a sense of disbelief and know that some corner of his mind was trying to scream.
AN: Once again I'd like to thank blackcatspecialist for beta reading. And another beta reader that wants to remain unnamed.
And once again, I'd like to thank everyone for their reviews and comments. (Though I will say, if you're going to leave an anonymous review, could you do so on AO3 where I can respond directly to them if I think a response is required?)
I wrote all these fight scenes a few weeks ago. And then I've been editing them on and off since then. It's been a tiring process, but I hope the results were worth it.
Anyway, don't forget to leave a review or comment!