Chapter 11 – Team Rocket's shocking new recruit I
"Ashachu…ASHACHU!"
"…PIKAKA…"
Ashachu heard the desperate cries of Ash and Pikachu calling after him as he ran through the trees. Deep in his heart he knew he would regret this later. He knew running away was wrong. It was callous and cowardly.
But Ashachu also knew that, at this moment in time, he couldn't go. He couldn't go back inside his Pokéball. He couldn't go to live on Oak's ranch. He couldn't listen to Axew's lies or to Ash's indifference any more. He couldn't bare Hunter's cold shoulder or Geysers affections any longer.
No, in this moment he needed to be free!
"Ashachu! Come back!"
The trees grew thicker, and the sounds of Ash's voice more distant.
Ashachu had no idea where he was going or what he was going to do. Right now, he was acting on pure instinct now. Now he would act and live just like Blade did. Without plan or certainty, but on whim and his own Pokémon abilities.
He thought briefly of finding Blade!
Little did he know, he'd be finding someone else as well…
[Pokémon]
Meanwhile…Somewhere in the jungle…
Just a short distance away from where our heroes were cramped, a certain trio of two humans and a Pokémon were sat under a tree of their own, plotting to make one of Ashachu's dad's theirs…
In the centre of a small clearing, Jessie, James and Meowth were sitting around a large flat boulder. They were pouring over a series of blue prints for Meowth's latest Pikachu-nabbing mechanical contraption.
"Tah-dah," Meowth exclaimed proudly, brushing his paw over the top sheet of paper. "My mechanised automated Geyser acquirer!"
James groaned. "That's the worst name ever!"
Meowth ignored him and continued. "It's work's liked dis. Da claw scoop up Geyser and feed him into da maw. T'en Geyser slides down into the cage in his heart. Da machine draws his aura energy from him and let's us fire it back at the twerps. What do ya t'ink…I mean I'm my own toughest critic. But I t'ink it's genius."
Jessie and James exchanged looks before Jessie folded her arms and asked curtly, "Who or what is Geyser?"
Meowth sighed and rolled his eyes. "Geyser's da twerp's Dewott kit. Ya know, da aura Dewott."
James frowned and coxed his head. "I thought the twerp's kit was Ashachu the aura Pikachu?"
"It is. Da twerp has two kits. Ashachu and Geyser. One's Pikachu's kit and da other is Oshawott's."
Jessie and James raised their eyebrows in surprise.
"Wow," exclaimed Jessie. "The twerp certainly gets around."
"But why do we need a robot for capturing Geyser," asked James. "It's Pikachu we're after remember."
"And why just a machine to capture Geyser," added Jessie. "Given Ashachu is also an aura Pokémon."
Meowth folded his arms and scowled. "It can capture Ashachoo too. Why shouldn't it. Besides, once we've got dat Dewott in da machine, his aura powers will make da machine virtually indestructible."
"That's what you said about all of previous robots," Jessie interjected.
Meowth ignored her. "Plus, da twerp won't be able to stop the machine without potentially hurting Geyser. He'll 'ave no choice but to let us take Pikachoo. I tell ya, it's genius."
Jessie and James were quite for a moment. James picked up the blue print and eyed it with a deep from on his face. "You know Jessie, it does have its merits."
Jessie gave another loud sigh and shrugged. "Alright. How much is this going to cost us. You heard the boss say that we've used most of discretionary funds."
"I t'ink he said dat if he had to dig up any more barrels of money to build any more explodin' robots, he'd burry us in da hole next," said Meowth. "But we don't need to worry 'bout dat, 'cause dis machine's totally fool proof!"
"Noibat Noi." At that moment a small purple bat like Pokémon fluttered down from the trees and perched itself on James's head. "Noi." Noibat then put its wings over his eyes.
"Noibat," James' giggled. "I can't see." He put his hands under the little bats' wings and lifted him off his head and then held the bat close to his chest. "Hehehe." He lifted Noibat close to his face, pressed the end of his nose to the crown of ifs head and nuzzled it.
"Noi Noi Noi," Noibat cooed happily.
Jessie shook her head. "You know James, you're beginning to look just like the twerp! Hey that reminds me. Where's that no good Sneasel. I haven't seen him since he ran off with you yesterday Meowth."
"His name's Blade," Meowth grumbled. "And He'll come along when he wants to."
"I hope so. If we're going to attack the twerps before they leave the island, we could use the extra fighter."
[Pokémon]
Jessie was not the only one looking for Blade… On the other side of the bushes, Ashachu was trotting along the jungle floor calling out for the Sneasel.
"Blade…Blade! Are you there?"
Where was the Sneasel. Ashachu felt he'd been calling to him for a long time now…Though really it had been less than ten minutes. He didn't know where abouts in the jungle he was. Ash and Pikachu's shouts had faded into the distance now.
Part of him was apprehensive about finding his way back. About becoming lost in here forever.
"Blade. I…Ahh."
Ashachu had raised himself on to his hind legs so he could call out and sniff the air for the Sneasel's scent easier. But in doing so, he had failed to watch where he was going. He tripped over a brambled and fell face first right through a bush.
"Ahhh!"
Meowth and Noibat had heard his voice echoing through the trees. Jessie and James heard the crash as he fell through the bush…So, the next thing Ashachu saw, as he looked up where he had fallen was the sight of Jessie, James and Meowth standing over him.
Noibat was flying around in a circle overhead.
"Pika!" Ashachu gasped and jumped back to his paws, his heart suddenly thumping in his chest. At once, he started to regret running away. Meowth on his own, he trusted. Or thought he could trust. But with the rest of Team Rocket?
"Isn't that Ashachu the twerp's kit," said a puzzled James.
"Speak of Giratina," added Jessie.
Ashachu took a deep breath, eying each of them carefully. He looked from Jessie, to James and then to Meowth, wondering desperately what to do. One wrong move now and he'd had it.
A broad grin spread over Meowth's face. "It's like a bug Pokémon drawn to the Team Rocket flame."
"Except it's not a bug type silly," replied James.
Ashachu took a few steps backwards and raised his paws as a gesture of peace. He decided the best thing to do was play in friendly. Appeal to Meowth's better nature. "Ummm hey Meowth. Funny seeing you here. I'm just gonna."
He felt his tail and back connect with something solid as he continued to move backward. He looked up and saw a big blue mass standing behind him.
"Wobbuffet!"
It was Wobbuffet. And he was blocking Ashachu's means of escape, whether on purpose or by accident Ashachu didn't know.
"No need to look so worried dare Ashachoo," said Meowth happily. The scratch cat walked up to Ashachu and put an arm around him. "We was just talkin' 'bout you kid."
Ashachu started to feel a little more relaxed, though his heart was still thumping.
"Say, are you all alone out here. Where are Pikachoo and da twerps?"
"Well, I don't see the twerps anywhere," said Jessie. She put her hand over her eyes and squinted, looking around for signs of Ash or the others.
"Noibat take a look," said James. The little bat in his arms nodded, before fluttering up above the trees.
Meowth leant a little closer to Ashachu and spoke softly into his ear, "Was its Hunter? Did you two 'ave another fight. Or 'ave you been having more trouble with ya parents."
Whatever Ashachu had been expecting, it had not been that. He stared wide eyed at Meowth unsure how to respond.
"Just need a bit of time away. Dat's alright, I understand."
Meowth patted him on the back.
"Hey Meowth, have you seen Blade….What the?" Ashachu started to ask, before he noticed Jessie and James removing Pokéball from their belts. He felt an immediate tension in his stomach. "What are you!"
"No twerps around to protect you now Ashachu," said a gleeful Jessie, a wide grin across her face.
"Yeah, your ours for the taking." Added James.
"Wobbuffet," said Wobbuffet stupidly.
"Umm guys, I don't think that's necessary," Meowth begun, as Jessie and James tossed their Pokéballs into the air.
"Go Serviper!"
"I choose you Carnaivine."
The balls burst and open and in a flash of red light a purple snake Pokémon and a strange plant creature appeared.
Ashachu had never seen a Carnavine before. It was green a sort of resembled a Venus fly trap. Its eyes were circular with small pupils, and it had spiky teeth. Its stem was yellow with green spots, with red and green vines beneath with the appearance of tentacles.
The moment it appeared it ran or floated over to James, wrapping its tentacle like vines around him and biting down on his head.
"Ahh," James squealed. "Don't attack me, get him." He frantically pointed at Ashachu.
"Serviper, use poison tail," Jessie commanded.
"Carnavine bullet seed."
"Yah!" Ashachu's cried out as Serviper launched itself towards him like a bullet. It raised its tail above its head before brining it down towards him like a knife.
Without thinking about it, Ashachu hardened his own tail into an iron tail and swung it upwards in self-defence, Serviper was sent flying backwards. A split second later, Carnavine opened its great mouth, which seemed to comprise the whole of its head, and fired a spray of seeds at Ashachu.
He leapt into the air allowing the seeds to fly beneath him before releasing a thunderbolt attack, that hit Carnavine directly. Despite the type disadvantage, the attack was enough to take the vine Pokémon out. It fell to the ground in a heap of leaves and vines.
"Carnavine," shouted James in horror.
But Ashachu didn't have time to celebrate.
"Serviper, use crunch," cried out Jessie.
At her command the snake like Pokémon shot towards Ashachu again, its mouth wide open, bearing its two large fangs. Fangs longer than Ashachu's arms and almost the length of his tail…
Ashachu gathered his strength and sparks gathered on his tail. The maw came closer and closer. He could see right down it's throat. Red fleshy walls disappearing into a dark void. He knew full well that, left to its own devices, Serviper would probably eat him.
It was inches from him. Ashachu could smell its breath. He jumped, did a back flip throwing the electro ball off his tail into Serviper's mouth.
KABOOM!
Ashachu landed on his feet, his eyes shut tight. If he had missed, if it hadn't worked, he would fell those jaws close upon him any second now. Feel the fangs pierce his flesh. He forced himself to open his eyes.
Serviper was so close now its nose was nearly touching his fur. Except it was lying on the ground, its mouth hanging open and its eyes turned to black swirls. The tell-tale sight of loss of consciousness.
"Pika!" Ashachu breathed a sigh of relief, raising his right paw to wipe sweat off his brow.
Meowth clapped his paws together. "Hehehe. Well done kid." He clasped Ashachu's shoulders with both paws. "Looks like ya really took on board what Blade said about instinct."
The compliment made Ashachu smile and blush slightly in spite of the situation. "Thanks. So where is Blade?"
"Oh, he's around 'ere somewhere, I'm sure. He should be back 'ere later. If ya lookin' for him, why not wait 'ere."
"Errr. I'm not sure that's a good idea," said Ashachu, eyeing the unconscious Serviper and Carnavine."
Meowth grimaced for a brief second then, waved Ashachu's concern away with a flick of his paw. "Eh don't worry 'bout dat. Ya clearly strong enough to not 'ave to worry 'bout those dweebs. Now come 'ave a drink with me!"
[Pokémon]
"…I dunno why I did it. I just…Lost my temper. I was so angry. At Hunter. At Geyser. At my parents. I mean, Sniveon and Nova told them what happened and Ash still thought I was lying."
Ashachu sighed and shook his head before taking a sip from his drink. Something in a coconut shell Meowth had mixed for him. It was fruity and sweet and delicious, though he thought it was making him feel a little light headed.
"Wow man," gasped Meowth. "Dat really sucks. Sure, don't sound like da twerp. Errr I mean Ash. Is bein' very fair to ya!"
"Tell me about it," said Ashachu.
It was surprised how easy it was to talk to Meowth. Even after everything that had happened between them and Team Rocket, after flopping down in the grass and drinking a little of this, whatever Meowth had made for him, he was able to recount to him everything that had happened over the past few hours.
"Sounds like Axew's bein' an asshole too. Dare really wasn't any need for him to say any of that stuff to ya. By da sounds of it he's routin' for Hunter to wind up with Geyser."
Ashachu couldn't think of anything to say to that so he just nodded.
"So, ya t'ink it's really over between you and Mr. Riolu."
Ashachu shrugged. "I guess so. He won't even talk to me. I mean, I know I did wrong and that I obviously really hurt him, but. It really upsets me that he just wants to throw our bond away over this. I mean, we've been friends since we were born. We've each risked our lives for the other."
Meowth reached out and put a paw on Ashachu's back. "You know kiddo, I know exactly how ya feel. 'Ave I ever told ya da story of how I learned to talk."
Ashachu shook his head.
"I used to be a common street Meowth livin' in da city," Meowth recounted. He looked up at the sky a distant expression falling across his face. "And den I saw her. Meowzie. She was the prettiest Meowth I ever saw. Owned by some rich human. Used to be covered in all these fancy bows. First time I told her how I felt she called me a common street Meowth and said she wanted nothing to do with me. She used to really like humans. I t'ought if I learned to walk and talk like a human she'd take an interest in me…"
Ashachu coxed his head curiously. He had never heard this story before. "Did she. Take an interest in you."
Meowth shook his head wistfully. "Nope. Said I was still the same poor street Meowth. Only it was worse 'cause now I was a freak. I 'ad never felt so hurt or humiliated in all my life. Left town dat day. Vowed never to return."
"Is that why you joined Team Rocket," Ashachu asked.
"Kinda. To be honest it was probably 'cause rocket was da first word I learned to say."
Jessie and James sat on the opposite side of the boulder watching the two Pokémon conversing with some bewilderment.
"James, do you think we should give them some privacy," Jessie asked.
James shook his head. "No, I want to hear what they're saying." He was watching the two Pokémon intently, a serious frown on his face.
"You don't even understand what they're saying?"
James waved her off. "I'm working it out. I think Pikachu means Pikachu. And Meowzie is some kind of spaceship."
Jessie buried her face in her palm and muttered, "idiot."
Wobbuffet saluted nobody in particular and let out a happy cry of "wobba!"
"Course den Meowize ran off with some stuck-up Persian," continued Meowth. He gritted his teeth and bawled his paws into first. "Man, I hate dat Persian so much! Guess you must really 'ate Geyser too."
Ashachu's ear gave a flick of annoyance. "You bet. Stealing Hunter from me!"
"For what it sounds like," said Meowth. "Geyser's taking advantage of Hunter's broken heart to get him to be with him. He doesn't really care about his feelin's at all."
Ashachu's eyes widened. "You think so."
"Maybe. Either way he's a shit! Muscling in your boy like dat. In da wild Pokémon fight each other fer far less than dat."
"So, you don't think I'm being toxic for being angry. That's what Axew said!"
"Heh. I'd be angry too!"
Ashachu felt a lightness in his heart that he had not felt for days. Just talking to someone who seemed to understand him. Who empathized with him and took his side? It felt like a great weight off his back.
'Who knew that would come from Meowth,' he thought to himself. 'Guess he really is a sensitive guy after all.'
He took another sip of his drink. He was starting to feel pleasantly buzzed.
"Hey what's this." Ashachu pulled the top sheet of the stack of blueprints sitting on the boulder.
"Uh dats nothing, don't worry about it," Meowth replied a little too quickly.
Ashachu squinted at the diagram on the page. It was too complicated for him to understand, but the picture in the centre looked sightly familiar. "You guys building another robot. It kinda looks like a Yungoos."
"Like I said. Work in progress." To Ashachu's surprise, Meowth snatched the drawings out of Ashachu's paws and rolled it up.
Before Ashachu could say anything or object, he changed the topic of conversation. "So, tell me Ashachoo, what are you gonna do now!"
"I don't know," Ashachu replied. "I suppose I'll have to go back to Ash in the end. I just. Want some space. I really want to see Blade again."
"Would you ever consider joinin' Team Rocket!"
Ashachu gaped and him incredulously. He could not believe what he'd just heard. He leapt to his paws.
"No way! Uh-uh, not going to happen."
"Now, now hear me out," said Meowth raising his paws to calm Ashachu down. "I don't mean like forever. Just for a little bit, ya know."
Ashachu folded his arms. "Why on earth would I do that. I'm not going to help you steal Pokémon!"
"Didn't say ya had too! Just stay with us long enough to get a little revenge on Geyser!"
That last sentence made Ashachu think. In spite of everything an image of himself posing for the end of the motto while the twerps watched on in horror…
'Team Rocket Blasts off at the Speed of light.'
"Meowth dats right!"
"Pika Pika!"
…and Ash burst into tears.
'Ashachu…how could you'
…And as for Geyser…
'Ahhh…I think I wet my fur!'
"Well," said Ashachu, scratching his chin. "When you put it like that!"
"I tell ya, it's a pretty good deal," said Meowth. "You'll also get three meals a day and all the naps you want to take, whenever you want to take 'em. I'll even thrown in a Team Rocket retirement package."
Ashachu thought he was joking. Jessie and James seemed less sure.
"Did he say Team Rocket retirement package?" said Jessie, pointing at Meowth.
"We have those," asked James.
"Last time I checked," Meowth called back. He then turned back to Ashachu and offered his paw. "What do ya say, Ashy. We partners?"
Ashachu raised his own paw to take it, but hesitated. Was this really the right thing to do?
'You'd be betraying everyone,' said his conscience. 'Your parents, Hunter, Sniveon, Nova. For what! Because of Geyser!'
'Yeah, after they pretty much abandoned you! Why would you care.'
'But you've seen what Team Rocket does,' his conscience reiterated. 'Other Pokémon could get hurt!'
'Yeah, you've seen them loose every battle they've ever had with your parents. You've seen them blast off over and over. Team Rocket suck! They'll never be able to actually hurt anyone!'
"You got it." Ashachu took hold of Meowth's paw and shook it…