Chapter 10 – When nobody understands you

Ashachu was almost grateful for the hours of solitude in his Pokéball that followed the gym battle. He really didn't want to speak to any of the others, least of all Hunter.

'It just isn't fair,' he thought to himself. 'After everything we've been through together, Hunter doesn't even like me anymore. I mean, I know I did wrong. I know I probably really hurt him but, does he really have so little faith in me. In our friendship, that one incident and he doesn't want to talk to me anymore. Well, if that's how he feels, then I don't want to talk to him either. And as for Geyser.'

The poisonous thoughts swirled through his little Pika mind. The awful combination of sorrow, heartache and rage.

'When I get my paws on him. How dare he take Hunter from me.'

He was still feeling angry and hurt when they stopped for lunch. Some meadow, in some forest on some island. Ashachu had no idea where they were or where they were going. To be honest he didn't really care. In fact, he was getting a little fed up with the humans and their journey and the stupid gym badges.

'And Pikapi doesn't seem to care about me. He hasn't made any effort to understand. I know Blade, he's not a bad Pokémon. Pikapi's never met him. All he does is punish me for running away. When its not even my fault!'

"You okay Ashachu," asked Sniveon, putting a paw in his back.

"Fine," was Ashachu's one word reply.

He had taken his food bowl and taken it as far as he could from the others, while still being close enough so that Ash or Axew could see him. He didn't really want to get in more trouble.

"Then why are you sitting over here all by yourself. Come sit with us."

"No. I'm happy here."

Sniveon sighed. "Well, you don't look happy." She sat herself down in the grass beside him and patted him on the back. "Ashy, don't push us out."

At that moment Nova appeared, taking a seat in the grass at his other side. "Yeah, we're your friends, we want to help!"

Ashachu gave them each a weak smile. He was grateful for their kindness. They were about the only ones who didn't seem to be turning against him. But at that moment he felt like being alone.

A short distance away, sitting under a tree, Hunter and Geyser were sitting, eating and talking animatedly to each other. As Ashachu watched Hunter giggled, a slight blush appearing on his cheek. He found the sight of it angered him too much, so he looked back down at his food bowl.

"You can't let it get to you," said Nova.

Ashachu coxed his head at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Geyser and Hunter," Nova explained. "You can't let that get out you. There are somethings that aren't worth getting angry or upset about. Relationships are one of them. If Hunter wants to be with Geyser, then you have to let him. You'll find something else."

Ashachu's fur bristled. "You know Nova. Shockingly, that doesn't make me feel better."

"I don't think Geyser and Hunter are even together," said Sniveon thoughtfully. "I think they're just friends."

"Geyser certainly likes Hunter," Nova replied. "That much is obvious."

Ashachu groaned. "Can we talk about something else. Please!"

"Look I know it feels like shit now. But you'll get over it eventually. It's never worth pining over someone who doesn't want to be with you. Save your energy for someone who'll love you back. And if Hunter really does care, he'll make amends."

"It's not his love I want anymore," said Ashachu through gritted teeth. "I just want to know why, after we've been best friends since we both hatched, he has no faith in me anymore. That's what hurts the most. That and the fact Geyser's a boyfriend thief!"

Nova and Sniveon exchanged looks. At the same time Geyser placed a paw on Hunter's knee, making Hunter go scarlet in the face. The sight made Ashachu feel a little ill.

"You guys want to train for a bit," he said suddenly. "I've had all I can take of watching those too."

Nova shrugged. "Okay."

Sniveon on the other paw coxed her head. "You sure Ashachu."

"I gotta find some outlet before I knock that otter flat on his ass. C'mon." Ashachu got to his feet, grabbed Nova by paw and started pulling him along. The Cyndaquil let out a brief, "Cynda" of surprise.

"Wait for me," called Sniveon, sticking out her paw, as Ashachu dragged Nova away.

[Pokémon]

"You sure you want to do this lighting butt," Nova called to Ashachu from the other side of the field. "'Cause I'm not taking it easy on you!"

Ashachu felt a flutter of annoyance at Nova's casual use of Hunter's pet name for him. He pawed the ground, his fur bristling. "Very sure, Floatzel face."

Nova coxed his head before shaking it. "Floatzel face? Okay, if you're sure!" He ignited the flames on his back and dropped to his all fours, ready for battle.

"Battle begin," cried out Sniveon, waving her fuzzy tail like a flag to signal the commencement of the bout. Ashachu narrowed his eyes and tried to picture that stupid Dewott where Nova stood. And then he unleashed the fury within…

Ashachu had no idea how he was doing it. But, without thinking about any of his moves, he found himself matching Nova step for step. Every attack the Cyndaquil launched was dodged, every counterattack hit.

All Ashachu knew was the rage inside him and the desire to strike down the Dewott in his mind's eye.

"Quil!" Nova let out a squeal of pain as his body crashed into the trunk of the large tree. Ashachu had just caught right in the chest with an iron tail.

Ashachu's eyes widened at the sight of the fire mouse lying spreadeagled against the tree. Had he done that. He couldn't really remember what attack he'd used. Was this battling on instinct as Blade had been telling him to do?

Nova peeled himself off the tree and steadied himself on his paws. The flame on his back had gone out. "Cynda!"

Ashachu felt a slight sense of worry creep over him. Had he hit Nova too hard. They were just sparing after all.

"Nova! You okay buddy?"

But Nova didn't get a chance to answer before a shrill voice cut through the air, "Ashachu! What the fuck are you doing."

Ashachu, Nova and Sniveon all turned to see a scowling Axew sprinting towards them. Ashachu's heart sank. He was sure he was about to get it now.

"Axew?"

Axew skidded to a halt in front of him. "You were told to stay where either Ash or I could see you," the little dragon snapped. "Not go wandering off into the trees like this. Hasn't your experience with Darkrai taught you anything."

Ashachu felt a twinge of annoyance at the way Axew was speaking to him. But he forced himself to remain calm. He held up his paws in a gesture of peace and replied, "look we just came over here to do a little training. We can still see you."

"Then why didn't you tell me!"

"Look it's my fault," said Sniveon, obviously doing some quick thinking. "I told suggested Ashachu and Nova come over here to train!"

Ashachu couldn't help but smile at her.

Axew looked at her for a moment then shook his head. "You heard what Ash said Ashachu. You're not to go wandering off. You should have told me. Do you want Ash to send you back to Pallet Town?"

"Hey look, I'm sorry," spluttered Ashachu. A wave of exhaustion came over him. He really did not want to have this argument with Axew. "I didn't realize I. It won't happen again."

"It really wasn't his fault," Sniveon interjected to no avail.

Axew held up a claw to silence them both. "I don't want to hear it Ashachu. You were told not to go where I couldn't see you. So why did you." He sighed, then buried his face in his claws. "I don't know what's wrong with you at the moment Ashachu, but you've turned into a real brat."

The words stung. "Hey," Ashachu protested, but he was cut off by Axew's rant.

"You keep running off to play with some wild Pokémon despite your parents telling you its dangerous. Heck, you're even playing with Meowth from Team Rocket. You've certainly managed to push Hunter away."

The flicker of annoyance in Ashachu became a burning anger. How dare he? "That's not…"

"And your behavior around Geyser's become really toxic. If Hunter wants to date him that's their business, not yours. You don't have an entitlement to Hunter's affections. Are you even listening to me?"

The rage was building in Ashachu like a volcano about to erupt. He couldn't believe what Ashachu was saying. What would Axew know about anything to do with himself and Hunter? Ashachu wanted to hit him.

Sniveon evidently knew how he was feeling, because she placed a paw on his arm as if to tell him not to do something stupid.

Nova sidled over at that moment, a confused expression on his face. "Is there a problem here? What's everyone shouting about."

Everyone ignored him. Axew raised a claw and pointed it at Ashachu's chest. "You need to take a hard look at yourself, Ashachu. And try and remember what it actually means to be on a team. And you need to accept that you blew with Hunter and allow him and Geyser to be happy toget…YEWWW!"

ZAP!

Axew's body suddenly became shrouded in yellow sparks, and he begun to convulse, while screaming in pain. It all happened very quickly. A second after it begun, it ceased, and Axew fell flat on his back, black swirls over his eyes.

Sniveon gasped and clasped a paw to her mouth. "Ashachu. You shouldn't have."

"I didn't," replied a bewildered Ashachu.

"There," Nova suddenly cried, spinning round and pointing to the tree.

A small rodent like Pokémon was standing at the foot of the tree. It looked something like a mini-Raichu. Round, covered in orange and white fuzz, with a long thin tail. Except unlike a Raichu it had round ears, long pointy wishers and the end of its tail was spiky rather than shaped like a lightning bolt.

"Umm. What's that Pokémon," asked an incredulous Ashachu?

"Aww," Sniveon cooed. "Look how adorable it is."

"It's called Dedenne," Nova explained. "An electric-fairy type!"

Dedenne had been sleeping in a hollow further up in the tree until it was awoken by Nova slamming into the trunk. Now it was mad…

"De-nee-nee!"

Dedenne growled, revealing on sharp looking fang in the top of its mouth. Sparks flew around its whiskers and tail.

"DEN."

It let off a powerful thunder attack. A massive beam of electricity firing from its body at the four of them.

"In coming," shouted Nova.

"Not so adorable now," cried Ashachu.

"NO!" Sniveon bolted out of the way.

Ashachu was about to do the same thing, until he noticed Axew's body lying helplessly on the ground. The attack was going to hit the little dragon, and he was totally defenseless.

Ashachu leapt in front of him, his arms held out wide to protect Axew from the attack. He would try to absorb as much of the attack as possible, and shield Ashachu from the worst of it.

Sniveon's eyes widened. "Ashy. Don't try to be a hero!"

It was Nova who saved the day. At the same time as Dedenne attacked, he blew a jet of blue bell flames from his maw. The flamethrower quickly overpowered the thunder attack. The lighting disappeared and the fire washed over Dedenne.

"Den!"

Dedenne was left standing there, its fur covered in ash and shoot, a surprised look on its face as if it couldn't quite believe what had just occurred.

"You Dedenne," Nova shouted at it. "We mean you no harm. However, if you attack me or my friends again, I will have to hurt you. You should leave now."

"Ded."

Dedenne shook the shoot from its fur and scurried away. Whether because of Nova's warming, or because of the sounds and sights of the three humans and the larger Pokémon who had just come over.

"Ashachu, Sniveon," said a concerned and confused Ash. "What's going on. Axew!"

"Axew…AXEW." Zoroark, catching sight of his mate lying unconscious in the grass, let out a howl of despair. He dropped to his knees beside Axew and scooped the little dragon up into his arms. "Axew, are you okay."

"Nova, what happened here," asked Jimmy.

"We were attacked," Nova explained. "There was this aggressive Dedenne."

"Here Ash, catch." Cameron reached into his bag and pulled out a potion.

Ash caught it in one hand. "Thanks!"

Zoroark rose to his feet and held up Axew like a newborn to allow Ash to spray him with the potion. It had an immediate effect. Axew opened his eyes and looked around.

"Axew! You okay buddy?" asked Ash.

Axew looked around, then pointed a claw at Ashachu. "Ashachu. He attacked me."

"WHAT!"

Ash and Ashachu chorused the single word at once, each as shocked as the other.

"I-I was telling him off for walking away and he electrocuted me!"

Pikachu rounded on him. "Ashachu is this true!"

Ashachu shook his head. "No, no it's not I swear. It was the Dedenne!"

"He's telling the truth Ash," said Sniveon quickly. "It came out of that tree and attacked Axew from behind."

"What's a Dedenne," asked Ash.

Cameron took out his Pokédex.

Dedenne, the Antenna Pokémon.

Type: Electric and Fairy

Habitat: Forests and fields of the Kalos region

Dedenne communicates long distance with other Dedenne by sending radio waves through its antenna-like whiskers. It sneaks into people's homes and steals electricity from their outlets. When your electric bill seems off, it's the handiwork of this rascal.

He held up the device so Ash could see the image.

Ash examined it, then frowned at Ashachu. "Really guys. You were attacked by that thing. I find that hard to believe."

"It's true," said Sniveon and Ashachu together.

"They're telling the truth Ash," added Nova. "I swear, I saw the whole thing."

For a moment Ash considered Ashachu. Then he came to a conclusion. And Ashachu could tell by the way his expression changed that it was the wrong one…

"So Ashachu! You mean to tell me that you were attacked by a much smaller Pokémon than you, who doesn't even live in this region. After explicitly walking out of mine and Axew's sight again, when I told you not to."

"I swear, its true!" Ashachu looked from Ash, then desperately at Pikachu.

Pikachu gave him a weak smile. "Just tell us the truth Ashachu and you won't get into any more trouble."

Ashachu couldn't believe what was happening. Was Ash really Tepig-headed enough not to believe him, Sniveon and Nova. "I promise you, it's true."

Ash buried his face in his palm for a moment then glared at Ashachu. "Ashachu, I really don't understand what's wrong with you at the moment. I know you're upset at the moment. I know things with you and Hunter have been tough. But you absolutely cannot attack a team member and make up crap about a wild Pokémon. And even if that's true, you still wandered off after I explicitly told you not to."

He shook his head a little colour rising in his cheeks.

"That's it Ashachu1 I've had enough."

He reached for his belt and took off Ashachu's Pokéball.

Ashachu felt like the ground had dropped out from under him. He felt shocked, angry and betrayed. It was one thing for Ash to tell him not to run away. But to just ignore him and not listen. To push him away like this.

"PIKA-CHUUUU!"

The frustration came out of him in one giant burst of electricity…