Pokemon: Friends to the End
Chapter 53: Once There Were Greenfields!
In Emeragrove Town, a group of young children come running out into a school yard and gather around Gardenia.
The four heroes walk by and notice her.
"Hey look."Ash remarked.
"It's Gardenia!"Dawn remarked.
"Yahoo!"Brock cheered.
"I wonder what's she doing here?"Denise wondered.
The four heroes walked forward causing the Grass Type Gym Leader to notice them.
"How is it going Gardenia?"Ash asked.
"Pika pika!"Pikachu said happily.
"You look great."Dawn remarked.
"Hey, it's been a while hasn't?"Gardenia agreed.
"Yeah, it has been."Denise agreed kindly.
Brock then went up to Gardenia.
"Seeing you is like a summer day on the village green or perhaps the sweet scent of the forest!"He flirted. "Or perhaps there is only one explanation of meeting you again in such a out of the way Hamlet like this...destiny!"
The Breeder then got abruptly stopped by Croagunk.
"The good and the bad..."Brock muttered.
Then Croagunk dragged him away.
Then Ash, Dawn and Denise walked up to the Gym Leader.
"So Gardenia, how come your here in Emeragrove Town?"Ash asked.
"Simple I'm promoting pokemon battling by having battles all over the area."Gardenia replied with a smile.
"Wow that's a great idea."Ash admitted.
"And a good sense of training too."Denise agreed.
"Hi."
The three trainers, Gardenia and the group of children notice Team Rocket on the other side.
"Team Rocket."Ash said with a frown.
"Once again in the way."Denise mumbled.
"All right, what is it this time?"Dawn questioned.
Team Rocket then began reciting their motto.
"Listen is that a voice of a twerp with no brains?"
"That answer couldn't be more plain."
"On the Wind!"
"Pass the Stars!"
"What a pain!"
"Bringing chaos at a breakneck pace!"
"Dashing hope, putting fear in its place!"
"A rose by any other name is just as sweet!"
"When everything's worse, our work is complete!"
"Jessie!"
"And it's James!"
"Meowth the name!"
"Putting the do gooders in their place!"
"We're Team Rocket!"
"In your face!"
"Wobbuffet!"
"You guys never give up!"Ash said angrily.
"Its obvious they're the ones with no brains."Denise said simply.
"Excuse me, but where I come from giving up is not a virtue!"Jessie giggled. "Go Seviper!"
Her pokeball opened and Seviper came out.
"Seviper!"
"Cacnea out in front!"James ordered.
When Cacnea came out of his pokeball, the Grass Type rushed to hug its trainer.
"Not with me!"James complained.
"You guys are through!"Ash stated.
Pikachu went off his trainer's shoulder ready to attack.
However before the Mouse Pokemon could use Thunderbolt, Gardenia starts swooning over Cacnea.
"Cacnea, I was hoping when I could see you again!"Gardenia said happily. "So cute and cuddly!"
"It's cuddly?"Ash said awkwardly.
"She never met a grass type, she has fallen in love with."Dawn replied sheepishly.
"Well that's no surprise..."Denise mumbled while sweat dropping.
Gardenia continued hugging Gardenia.
"Hey that's my grass type!"James complained and snatched his grass type out of the gym leader's hands. "Go grow your own!"
"But wait can I just borrow Cacnea?"Gardenia asked hopefully.
"Letting to the likes of you, it's a permanent proposal and you know it!"James replied angrily.
"Hey, this is supposed to be a Pikachu capture in progress!"Jessie reminded.
"It was."Meowth answered.
"Hold on, Gardenia, our battle."A little boy reminded.
"That's right did you forget?"Another little boy asked.
"Oops sorry, I got sight tracked."Gardenia replied. "I know let's have a tag battle instead!"
"A tag battle?"Ash asked in confusion.
"You bet."Gardenia answered. "Let's make it my Turtwig and this blue haired guy and his Cacnea against Ash and his friends, what do you say?"
"No thank you!"James replied. "This blue haired guy pass!"
This caused few of the kids to smirk.
"Ooh scared old man?"
"Sounds scared to me."
"I'm not scared and I'm not old!"James replied angrily.
"Then prove it, old man!"One of the boys called out.
"You impudent little twitts!"James snapped. "I can beat the short pants out of all of you!"
"Then put your pokemon where your mouth is!"The other boy chuckled.
This caused the other kids to shout in agreement.
"Are you ready, Cacnea?"James asked.
"Cacnea!"Cacnea responded.
"Great then I'm in too!"Ash remarked.
"So am I."Denise replied and looked at Brock. "And Brock, we'll need a judge."
"Sure."Brock answered with a nod.
"Oh sure."Jessie muttered.
"Out smarted by a bunch of tiny tweerps."Meowth commented.
"Turtwig, come on out!"Gardenia stated.
Her pokeball opened and Turtwig came out.
"Turtwig!"
Turtwig stood alongside Cacnea to face Luxio and Aipom.
"All right, let the tag battle begin!"Brock announced.
"Now Aipom use Swift!"Ash ordered.
Aipom starts with Swift, which hits Cacnea while Turtwig dodges.
"Cacnea, Pin Missile go!"James ordered.
"Turtwig use Leaf Storm!"Gardenia ordered.
Cacnea fights back with Pin Missile and Turtwig uses Leaf Storm.
"Dodge it, Aipom!"Ash ordered.
"Dodge it too, Luxio!"Denise ordered.
Aipom and Luxio quickly dodge the attacks causing the kids to be impressed.
"My heart, I never seen such a gorgeous pin missile ever!"Gardenia admitted with lovey dovey eyes.
"Gorgeous eh?"James mumbled while sweat dropping.
"Luxio use Spark!"Denise ordered.
Luxio fires Spark towards Turtwig.
"Dodge it and use Bite!"Gardenia ordered.
Turtwig dodges before hitting Luxio's tail with Bite.
"Quick Luxio use Night Slash!"Denise ordered.
Luxio strikes to scratch Turtwig with Night Slash, but the Grass Type dodges it causing the Spark Pokemon to slash Cacnea.
"Oh no, Cacnea!"James called out.
"Cacnea is great as ever."Gardenia remarked.
"Now Aipom use Focus Punch on Cacnea!"Ash ordered.
Aipom prepares to use Focus Punch on Cacnea.
"All right, Cacnea use Needle Arm!"James ordered.
Aipom uses Focus Punch and Cacnea counters with Needle Arm, which breaks through the Focus Punch and hits Aipom.
"Whoa..."Denise whispered.
"Aipom!"Ash called out.
"Bang Zoom!"James remarked.
"You know that Needle Arm wasn't all that half bad."Meowth stated with a surprised look.
"You could make two needle arms in a row."Gardenia suggested.
"Sure why not?"James asked.
"Luxio use Wild Charge!"Denise ordered.
Luxio shrouds himself in electricity before charging forward.
"Cacnea, Needle Arm!"James ordered.
Cacnea powers up Needle Arm again.
"Needle Arm again?!"the boy with spikey hair said in surprise.
"Luxio is in trouble!"the other boy commented.
Luxio does an acrobatic flip to dodge Cacnea's Needle Arm before hitting the Cactus Pokemon.
Cacnea hit the floor in front of its trainer.
"Cacnea!"James said.
Cacnea carefully stood up.
"Oops, the tweerp just took out Cacnea."Jessie said quietly.
"Aipom use Focus Punch, let's go!"Ash ordered.
Aipom prepares to use Focus Punch.
"Go and tell Cacnea to use Drain Punch."Gardenia suggested.
"But we never used that move before."James replied worriedly.
"Drain Punch is a stonger move than Needle Arm, all you do is have Cacnea move its arm while it hits."Gardenia explained.
"Of course, easy for you to say."James responded nervously and closes his eyes. "Now Cacnea use Drain Punch! Twist your arm while you hit!"
Cacnea hits Aipom with a powerful Drain Punch, surprising everyone except Gardenia.
Aipom slammed on the ground.
"Aipom!"Ash called out.
"Whoa, Cacnea learned a new move..."Denise said.
"Drain Punch worked?"James asked in surprise.
"Surprise."Meowth commented.
"Who knew Cacnea had that much kick?"Jessie asked.
"Just like I thought..."Gardenia thought.
"Okay Luxio, Night Slash!"Denise's voice rang out.
Gardenia snapped out of her thoughts just in time to see her Turtwig getting hit by Luxio's Night Slash, knocking it out.
"Turtwig, no!"Gardenia called out.
"Now let's finish this up, Aipom use Swift, let's go!"Ash ordered.
Aipom fires Swift towards Cacnea.
"Cacnea, let's put Drain Punch in repeat."James stated.
Cacnea nodded, but fails to repeat it's new move causing it to be hit by Aipom's Swift.
"What your Drain Punch has been drained?"James said in disbelief.
Cacnea fell on the ground.
"Aipom, Focus Punch!"Ash ordered with a smile.
"Cacnea, Drain Punch now!"James ordered.
Aipom then hits Cacnea with Focus Punch as it tries to use Drain Punch again, knocking the Cactus Pokemon out and ending the battle.
"That's it!"Brock announced. "Cacnea and Turtwig aren't unable to battle! So the winners are Luxio and Aipom!"
"We did it!"Ash cheered. "You were great, Aipom!"
"You too, Luxio, awesome as always!"Denise remarked.
Luxio smirked while Aipom cheered happily.
Ash and Denise high fived each other.
"All that starts sticky ends sticky."Jessie mumbled.
"I can't believe Gardenia lost."the boy with spikey hair said sadly.
"It was the old man's fault!"the other boy retorted.
The other kids started to shout in agreement.
"I promise to put you all across my knee!"James said angrily.
"Thanks Turtwig, you were great return."Gardenia admitted kindly.
She returned her Grass Type back in its pokeball.
"Cacnea, you okay?"James asked.
"Cacnea."Cacnea responded sadly.
"You did your very best."James assured.
"I knew it, I was right about your Cacnea."Gardenia admitted with a smile.
"What do you mean?"James asked.
"When I saw your Needle Arm, I knew your Cacnea was super strong and that's when it hit me."Gardenia explained. "Your Cacnea could probably learn Drain Punch."
"Which is why you suggested it to James in the first place."Brock stated.
"Then why did Drain Punch work the second time?"Dawn asked.
"Cacnea, Cac!"Cacnea replied.
"Cacnea said, it was probably just an accident and that's why didn't work at all."Meowth translated.
"No way!"Gardenia replied. "That Cacnea is something special that's why it worked."
"Huh?"James said in confusion.
"But Cacnea needs a lot of training and trainer and pokemon need to be in perfect balance."Gardenia stated.
"You mean it was my fault?"James asked sadly.
"I would like to take your Cacnea and train it myself."Gardenia answered. "I have high hopes for Cacnea."
The kids rushed up behind Gardenia.
"Gardenia, can we see your other pokemon?"
"Please, Gardenia!"
"All right, what do you say, we all go to the pokemon center?"Gardenia suggested kindly.
"Yeah, all right!"the kids cheered happily.
Gardenia and the kids walked away.
"What now little miss ego?"Jessie muttered with a frown.
The four heroes fell silent not knowing what to say.
"Pika."Pikachu said quietly.
A While Later...
The four heroes go to the hill where they saw Team Rocket.
"Team Rocket."Ash said.
"They won't leave."Dawn admitted.
Jessie looked at Meowth.
"You know I just had an idea."She remarked.
"Spit it out."Meowth suggested.
"If we can partner with the tweerps to train, we could have Cacnea learn Drain Punch and a bunch of other stuff."Jessie whispered with a smirk.
"Sure enough."Meowth agreed.
The two chuckled evilly.
James and Cacnea start training while the four heroes, Jessie and Meowth watched.
"Right are we ready to learn?"James asked.
"Cacnea!"Cacnea replied.
"Cacnea use Drain Punch!"James ordered.
Cacnea tried to use Drain Punch, but it didn't activate.
"Cacnea, one more time, use Drain Punch!"James suggested.
Cacnea raised up its arm ready to try and use the new move.
"So I guess their doing some sort of special training."Ash said.
"I can't believe I'm saying this but for once Team Rocket are doing the right thing."Denise admitted.
Her sentence angered Jessie and Meowth.
"Excuse me?"Jessie questioned with a frown. "But we've done the right thing lots of time."
"Well, whatever the truth is, this is one of them."Brock replied with his arms folded.
"Practice makes perfect, one more time!"James stated.
Cacnea was getting tired but when it lifted up its arm, Drain Punch didn't still activate.
"Dear me."James said rubbing the back of his head sadly.
Cacnea sighed with a sad look. "Cacnea."
"Sad, it's hard to find a good training for our partner these days."Jessie admitted.
"Well no pokemon can do."Meowth agreed.
Jessie and Meowth sighed sadly.
"Pikachu, why don't you and I help them train?"Ash suggested with a smile.
His statement surprised Brock and the two sisters.
"Say aren't you kind?"Jessie remarked with a sheepish smile.
"Thanks tweerps, I mean folks."Meowth added.
"Hold on Ash."Dawn reminded. "If we help them out with their special training, Cacnea learns Drain Punch, then we're putting ourselves in danger, right?"
"That sounds a hundred percent true, sis."Denise agreed.
"Hey come on, it's our job to help anyone who is serious about training their pokemon in the right way."Ash reminded with a smile and looked at Pikachu. "Right, Pikachu?"
"Pika pika!"Pikachu repsonded happily.
"Your kindess theirs no pounds!"James sobbed.
Then the man and Cacnea covered their eyes while crying.
"All right are you ready, Cacnea?"Ash asked.
"Cacnea!"Cacnea answered confidently.
"Now remember that Gardenia said your really strong, got it?"Ash asked. "So if you add more move in your Needle Arm, you'll be able to use Drain Punch!"
"We've got it!"James replied.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu charged in full speed.
"Needle Arm!"James ordered.
Pikachu uses Quick Attack, which Cacnea counters with Needle Arm.
"Come on, Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu fired Thunderbolt.
"Quick, Cacnea, dodge it!"James ordered.
Cacnea dodges Pikachu's Thunderbolt causing it to hit James instead.
"Nice dodge."James said weakly. "Needle Arm!"
Cacnea moved to attack.
"Iron Tail!"Ash ordered.
Cacnea uses Needle Arm and Pikachu counters with Iron Tail, but Needle Arm breaks through it and hits Pikachu.
"Pikachu!"Ash shouted.
"Wow!"Dawn gasped.
"Amazing..."Denise whispered.
"Looks like its working."Brock admitted. "Needle Arm is getting stronger one hit at a time."
"All right Cacnea with the same power, use Drain Punch!"James ordered.
Cacnea then tries Drain Punch, but it fails causing the Grass Type to trip on a rock.
"Oh dear, down we go."James said sadly.
"Weird, what happened?"Denise asked.
Dawn looked at Brock.
"I thought Drain Punch would work this time."She said.
"Not quite."Brock responded. "The timing is still bad and the trainer's commands are not much better."
This caused James to sit down in shame.
"It's nothing personal, I swear."Brock assured while sweat dropping.
Afterwards...
Cacnea uses Carnivine and Chimchar to practice punching.
"Good work, Cacnea!"James remarked. "Right, left, right, left!"
"Pika pikachu!"Pikachu cheered.
"Looks like Cacnea is gaining more confidence."Denise commented.
"You know, if they keep working, Cacnea's arm power and speed, they would be using Drain Punch in no time."Ash admitted kindly.
"Maybe and we'll be regretting it in no time."Dawn said with a awkward smile.
"Keep it up, Cacnea!"Ash called out.
Suddenly one of Cacnea's punches hits Chimchar in the face.
"Cacnea now twist your arm and punch!"James ordered.
Cacnea tries to use Drain Punch, but it failed.
James dropped his head down in sadness.
"Still no stick up."He sighed.
Later that Evening...
James goes back to pondering over whether to give Cacnea to Gardenia.
"What a shame."Jessie admitted. "His more pathetic than yesterday."
"That's no proper use worthy."Meowth added.
"He seems to be taking it hard."Denise said.
"It all started when I asked him if he was serious giving Cacnea over that potted gym leader."Jessie explained and looked at James. "And then well..."
Cacnea looked at James.
"Cacnea."It said quietly.
"Yeah, it is a magnificent sunset."James agreed and suddenly stood up. "How about some more special training?"
"Cacnea!"Cacnea responded happily.
James looked at Ash.
"Hey, I could use a hand over here!"He admitted.
"Yeah, but this time Aipom is up against Cacnea!"Ash replied.
Brock notice Gardenia walking up to them.
"Gardenia."He said.
"Oh its you."James stated.
"I thought I would find you out here doing some special training."Gardenia remarked. "So how is it going?"
"Well, it's going great perfect."James answered with a worried smile.
"Do you mind if I stay and watch?"Gardenia asked.
James decides to have a training battle with Aipom.
"This time for sure."James stated. "Cacnea, Needle Arm go!"
Cacnea rushed forward towards Aipom.
"Aipom, Focus Punch!"Ash ordered.
Aipom opens with Focus Punch, but Cacnea dodges and uses Needle Arm.
"Whoa that Needle Arm is powering right back in no time!"Meowth said in surprise.
"So I guess will Drain Punch!"Jessie added.
Gardenia didn't say anything and continued watching the battle.
"Now Cacnea use Needle Arm one more time and then transform it into Drain Punch!"James ordered.
Cacnea activates Needle Arm.
"Aipom use Focus Punch!"Ash ordered.
This time Cacnea misses and is hit by Focus Punch.
"Ever heard the thing called timing?!"Jessie questioned angrily.
"Oh funny."James replied.
"Focus Punch, one more time!"Ash ordered.
Aipom charged towards Cacnea.
"Cacnea, dodge it!"James ordered.
Cacnea dodges another Focus Punch.
"Now Needle Arm!"James ordered.
Cacnea hits Aipom with Needle Arm.
"All right, let's use Drain Punch!"James ordered with a smile.
Cacnea took its arm causing it to glow green.
"Here we go..."Jessie said quietly.
"Could this be it?"Meowth asked.
Cacnea tries to use Drain Punch, but it fails and the Grass Type ends up hitting its face on a rock.
"It's no use."James said sadly.
"Don't be too sure."Gardenia reminded.
Cacnea stood up with a brave look even if it had a few scratches on its face.
"Your all right."James remarked. "So use Drain Punch!"
Cacnea rushed forward to attack.
"Aipom use Focus Punch!"Ash ordered.
Cacnea tries to counter repeated Focus Punches with Drain Punch, but is hit repeatedly.
However the Cactus Pokemon ends up extremely tired, and still trying to continue, but James stops it.
"Enough."James admitted sadly. "Cacnea thats enough, it's over, you did your very best."
"Cac?"Cacnea asked weakly.
Ash took out Aipom's pokeball.
"Aipom, thanks, take a long rest."He admitted.
The Normal Type returned back in its pokeball.
James took a few steps forward causing Cacnea to do the same.
"Cacnea, stay away."James stated.
"What do you think your doing?"Jessie demanded.
"What's wrong with him?"Ash asked in confusion.
"I guess he finally understood something, Ash."Denise responded quietly.
James looked at Gardenia.
"Remember about what you said?"He asked. "About Cacnea having high hopes?"
"Sure and I still do."Gardenia replied.
"Cacnea?"Cacnea asked.
"Cacnea, here's where we part, please go with the gym leader."James stated.
"Cac?"Cacnea said in surprise.
"But James-"Jessie started.
"What are you doing?"Meowth asked in disbelief.
"Cacnea needs a great trainer to learn to use Drain Punch, but its not me."James stated and looked at Cacnea. "You have to go Cacnea to be your best."
Cacnea looks at its trainer with a heartbroken look.
"Cac Cac Cacnea!"It protested.
"No go way!"James responded.
Cacnea whimpered sadly, but then forced a brave look on its face.
James took out the grass type's pokeball with a weak smile.
"That's my Cacnea."He thought. "I'll always treasure our times together, the hard times and the joyous time, return and good bye."
The man returned Cacnea in its pokeball and looked at it quietly.
He then walked up to Gardenia.
"Take care of Cacnea."James admitted.
"So that means it's all right?"Gardenia asked.
"Yes."James responded.
He handed Cacnea's pokeball to Gardenia.
"I swear Cacnea will be raised well."Gardenia vowed.
"I know it."James answered.
The man rushed down the hills causing Jessie and Meowth to rush after him.
"James!"Jessie called out. "Where are you going? Wait for us!"
"Slow down!"Meowth protested.
The four heroes quietly watched as the trio went away in the hills.
The Next Day...
At the Pokémon Center, the heroes say goodbye to Gardenia with Turtwig and Cacnea by her side.
"Stay well everybody."Gardenia admitted.
"You too!"Ash, Dawn and Denise responded in unison.
"See you later."Brock remarked.
Team Rocket watch Cacnea from the roof.
"Cacnea, good luck my friend and take care."James admitted quietly.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter
Feel free to review of what you think so far:)
Denise's Team:
Grotle (Male): Solar Beam, Heavy Slam, Razor Leaf and Bite
Eevee (Female): Water Gun, Shadow Ball, Attract and Thunder
Luxio (Male): Spark, Night Slash, Wild Charge and Ice Fang
Ralts (Female): Psychic, Double Team, Magical Leaf and Confusion
Hoot Hoot (Male): Peck, Reflect, Aerial Ace and Supersonic
Drifloon (Female): Ominous Wind, Thunderbolt, Will-O-Wisp and Astonish