Chapter 12 – Team Rockets shocking new recruit II

"Ashachu…ASHACHU…"

Ash sat up just in time to see Ashachu running off across the field. With Cameron and Jimmy's help he managed to get back to his feet, just in time to see him disappear into the forest.

"Ashachu, come back."

"Pika Pikaka!" Pikachu shouted; his paws raised to his maw.

Ash noticed the distressed look on his partner's face. A mixture of horror and disbelief as if the most terrible and unbelievable thing had happened to him. Which, of course, it had. He himself was still having trouble processing what had just happened.

Yes, Ashachu had been acting out lately, and this wasn't the first time he'd wandered off by himself. But to shock him and run away like that. It had been the last thing Ash had been expecting.

"Come on, we got to go after him."

He sprinted towards the trees in the same direction as Ashachu, beckoning for the others to follow.

"Pika…"

Pikachu was soon at his heels, but the others were slower to follow.

"Ash, wait," called Jimmy. "Axew's still injured. You need to get him to a Pokémon centre."

Cameron, Hunter and Geyser seemed too shocked to move. Nova and Sniveon were giving each other looks as if unsure what to do. After about ten seconds or so, as Ash neared the tree line, Sniveon called out "wait for me," and followed.

"Ashachu," Ash called out once he reached the beginning of the forest. "ASHACHU!"

"PIKA PIKA, PIKACHU," cried his partner.

Unfortunately for Ash and Pikachu, Ashachu was not the only Pokémon in the jungle. The tree tops were home to a large family of Treecko, the wood gecko Pokémon. And they were not happy about having two shouting strangers in their territory.

"Tree…" "Tree.." "Treecko!"

"Huh."

"Pika!"

Ash and Pikachu stopped dead in their tracks as the little green and red gecko like creatures dropped from the branches or poked their heads out of bushed. One…two…five…ten…too many to count.

"They're Treecko."

"Pikachu."

Ash gazed at the nearest Treecko. For a very brief second he felt a feeling of warmth in his chest, remembering how he'd met the Pokémon that was now his Sceptile in a forest just like this, when it was just a Treecko.

Then the Treekco's eyes narrowed to angry slits, and it raised its paw, pointed at Ash and declared angrily, "Treecko tree!"

All at once, the small army of little wood geckos dropped open their jaws and begun to fire a barrage of seeds at Ash and Pikachu.

"Ahh. That's bullet seed!"

"Pikachu!"

"Let's get out of here!"

Covering their faces with their hands and paws, Ash and Pikachu turned tail and ran back the way they'd come, not stopping until they were well clear of the trees.

"Man," Ash groaned as they finally stopped to catch their breath. Once they were sure the Treecko were behind them. "What's got them riled up!"

[Pokémon]

One hour later…

"Axew…You're alright."

"Zoroark!"

Axew leapt into Zoroark's waiting arms as he, Ash and Pikachu exited the Pokémon Centre.

"Hehe. I was so worried about you," the illusion Pokémon cooed as he swung the little dragon around and around before holding him up in the air. The two touched noses and Axew gave a happy cry of "yew Axew."

Luckily for Axew, his injuries sustained from Dedenne hadn't been too serious, and Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Centre had been able to treat him with relative ease.

Cameron, Jimmy, Hirosaki, Lucario, Typhlosion, Nova, Hunter, Geyser and Sniveon were also waiting for them outside. The group had been conducting the search for Ashachu while Ash had been with Axew in the Pokémon centre.

"Any luck," Ash asked.

Hirosaki shook his head sadly, while Cameron replied, "Not yet. Trying to find any Pokémon in that jungle likes finding a needle in a haystack."

"Bummer." Ash's heart sank, and a creeping fear slowly moved over him. "I can't understand why he'd just away like that. I mean, was I too harsh on him."

"Perhaps if you'd listed to him about the fucking Dedenne," Nova muttered to himself. "Or about anything really."

Jimmy frowned at him. "What was that Nova?"

"Nothing. Just thinking!"

"Maybe he was telling the truth about Dedenne," suggested Cameron. "And that's why he was upset."

"I heard he and Hunter broke up," said Jimmy. "Could have something to do with that."

"What!" Ash felt a lurch in his stomach. He stared and Jimmy and asked, "what are you talking about. When did Ashachu and Hunter break up?"

Jimmy frowned at him. "Day before yesterday, I think. Just before you caught him with Meowth."

"I told Hunter that perhaps he and Ashachu needed a break from each other," added Lucario sombrely. "Maybe that was bad advice."

This information hit Ash like taking a focus punch to the stomach. He stared at Pikachu. "Did you know this buddy."

"Pika." Pikachu nodded.

Ash slapped himself in the left temple with his right palm. "Oh Arceus. All this time I thought maybe he was just acting. I didn't know him and Hunter were having problems. Is that why he ran away. Because he was broken hearted."

"Its possible," Jimmy suggested.

Ash bit his lip. "I should have listed to him more. Understood how he was feeling. Man, I'm trying to become the world's best Pokémon master, and I miss that my own kit is hurting."

He closed his eyes. He was starting to feel tight in the chest, like he was being squeezed by a giant paw. "I'm the worst trainer in the world."

"Don't say that," Cameron put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

At the same time Pikachu climbed onto his free shoulder and gave him a lick on the cheek.

"We'll find him. He can't have gone too far. We'll go back to that part of the forest and try and follow his paws steps."

"I bought some max repels from the Pokémart," said Jimmy. "Those should keep the Treecko away…"

[Pokémon]

"Ashachu…"

"Ashachu…"

"ASHACHU. WHERE ARE YOU!"

The group returned to the forest where they had seen Ashachu run off. The repels managed to keep the Treecko and any other nasty wild Pokémon at bay, just as Jimmy had promised. They didn't encounter any other Pokémon while they searched and called out.

Unfortunately, the forest seemed to be devoid of a certain yellow electric mouse Pokémon too. And after about half an hour or so, they were becoming despondent and Ash a little desperate.

"Ashachu…ASHACHU," Ash bellowed at the top of his lungs. "This is ridiculous. Where did he go!"

"Pika Pika," cried Pikachu.

He looked as bad as Ash felt, Ash thought to himself. Pikachu's ears were drooped and his tail dragged sadly along the ground.

Lucario sat down under a tree and started to meditate. Reaching out with his aura to try and find the mouse. "It's not that easy," he grunted when Cameron asked if he had, "found anything yet," after about five seconds.

"There's hundreds of Pokémon in this forest and the forest is very large. Trying to pay attention to any one aura is…difficult. And I'll never be able to do it, if you keep interrupting me!"

"Sorry," Cameron snapped back at him.

With their attention focused on finding Ashachu, nobody noticed Hunter or the affect Ashachu's disappearance had had upon him. He lagged behind the rest of the group, not bothering to call out to Ashachu or even to look very hard. He was lost in his own thoughts.

'Did I really do this. Is telling Ashachu that I wanted a break what made him run away. He tried to tell me he was sorry for what he did with that Sneasel. And I didn't listen. Maybe his anger at Geyser wasn't just jealously. Maybe he really does still feel something for me!'

"Ashachu," he eventually managed to say, though it was so faint none of the others heard him, let alone Ashachu. "If you come out, I promise I'll listen. I'll promise we'll talk this out. Just, don't be lost anymore."

"Ahhh. I'm never going to find him," Ash declared after nearly an hour. He felt as though he were sinking into a cold black void. Would he ever actually see Ashachu again. He sank to his knees and pressed his face into his hands. Hot tears were running down his cheeks.

"Don't give up," said Jimmy encouragingly. "We'll find him. He'll probably find us soon enough. Nova ran away once and he found his way back."

There was probably an interesting story there, but Ash was in no mood to hear it right now. "What if he's hurt? What if there's a Pikachu eating creature out here. What if some low lives like Team Rocket got to him? He's all alone out here?"

"Pikapi." Pikachu patted his arm in an attempt to comfort his mate.

"You shouldn't think like that," Jimmy replied. "Ashachu's strong. He'll…"

A loud cry of "Veee," suddenly cracked through the air. Ash was suddenly back on his feet, alter.

"That's Sniveon!"

The Flareon had gone a short distance ahead, sniffing at the ground, trying to find Ashachu's scent. They found her in a clearing nearby, at the bottom of a deep round hole…

"Sniveon," called Ash. "You okay. What happened."

"I don't know," she cried back. "I was walking and suddenly the ground gave way. I think I hurt paw."

"Can you stand up."

"I don't think so."

"Hang on. We'll get you out." He reached for Snivy's Pokéball. And that was when he heard it. A loud BANG from somewhere above. "What was that."

He turned his head skyways and was greeted with the unwelcome sight of a Meowth head shaped hot air balloon. The exploding sound had come from two rocket engines fixed to the side of the basket. The basket in which Jessie, James and Meowth were standing.

He groaned. Not these clowns again. Not now. "Team Rocket. I'm so not in the mood for you now!"

There was a chorus of mocking laughter before the trio begun to recite the motto.

"The sound of trouble, you'd best prepare," declared Jessie.

"With additional backup, you'd better beware," added James.

"To protect the world from devastation."

"To unite the people with our nation."

"To denounce the evils of truth and love."

"To extend our reach to the stars above."

"It's Jessie."

"And James."

"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light."

"Surrender now or prepare to fight."

"Meowth dats right."

"Pika Pika, Pikachu…Pika!"

It was a sight Ash would not soon forget. As Jessie, James and Meowth struck a pose at the end of their motto, a Pikachu leapt up crying out its name. He looked very different to an ordinary Pikachu…

The fur down his along his back, legs, arms and over his head had been died black. Only a patch of yellow along his stomach. The letter R was painted in purple across his chest and stomach, stretching from under his chin to the top of his thighs.

The Pikachu had a wide opened maw-ed grin and waved his right paw at the group, as if taunting them.

Despite the change in appearance, Ash knew exactly who it was. He would know who it was whatever.

"Ashachu…What are you doing with Team Rocket!"

"Pikaka," Pikachu gasped, his maw falling open in surprise.

Some of the others seemed slow on the uptake. Cameron frowned and mumbled, "huh, when did Team Rocket get a Pikachu," before his eyes widened in shock and he exclaimed, "Wait…THAT'S ASHACHU!"

Nova too shook his head. "No. No that can't be Ashachu! It can't."

Axew gave an exasperated sigh and burred his face in his claw. "Oh lord, he's covered in paint. What is it this time Ashachu?"

"Pi." Ashachu, now perched on James' shoulder, turned his nose up and looked away from Ash.

"Ashachu simply wizened up and decided to ditch you twerps," said a gleeful Jessie.

Meowth then added, "We're talkin' strength, talent and good taste!"

"Oh, Ashachu. How could you," asked Cameron softly.

Ash was at a complete loss for words. This had to be some kind of nightmare, right? There was no way Ashachu could be part of Team Rocket now, could there?

"Hey guys," Came Sniveon's voice from down the hole. "What's going on up there. I can't help but feel I should be a bigger priority right now. Who are you talking too?"

But everyone ignored her. They were far too fixated on Ashachu.

The balloon drifted gently to the ground allowing the three, no four, members of Team Rocket to climb out. At once, Geyser, Lucario, Hirosaki and Typhlosion moved to form a protective barrier in front of their trainers.

"Alright, what do you want this time," Lucario growled at them. "It's obvious you've done some kind of brainwashing to Ashachu. What is it? What are you up to?"

"Oh, dare's not brainwashing," Meowth replied. "Perhaps you twerps ought to consider how you've been treating your little friend here lately."

"What in the distortion world are you talking about?" barked Lucario.

"Punishing him for making a friend. Not listening to him when he say's he's unsafe. Heck, even his boyfriend don't have any faith in him," Meowth taunted. "What choice did he 'ave but to come to Team Rocket."

"That's a lie," shouted Ash. "I'd never do any of those things to Ashachu."

"Pika Pikachu," agreed Pikachu.

"Enough chit chat," Jessie snapped. "You're wasting valuable stealing time. Alright Serviper, come on out and just haze!"

"Ashachu, use thunderbolt," shouted James.

What followed next was chaos. Jessie's Serviper appeared and spewed a thick cloud of black smoke over the entire group. It became impossible to see or to breath. One breath and Ash found himself coughing as the particles of smoke irritated his lungs.

He heard Ashachu give a cry of "Piikaaachuuu," and there was a flash of yellow. This was quickly followed by a cry of "Dewott." Ash closed his eyes and tensed his body, instinctively preparing to feel the burn of electricity.

But it didn't come…

Fortunately for our heroes today was a windy day and the smoke quickly cleared. The first thing Ash saw once it did, was Geyser and Ashachu facing off against each other. Each stood in a battle-ready position.

Ashachu on all fours, his paws spread apart, tail low to the ground and fur bristling. His cheeks sparked a warning spark. Geyser stood crouched, his knees bent, leaning forward ready to spring on Ashachu. He had a Scalchop clutched in each paw, pointing at Ashachu.

The two Pokémon stared daggers at one another. It was impossible to tell whose expression conveyed the most anger and hatred…

Ash's heart stopped. He couldn't breath or move as his two kits squared off against each other. In that moment he felt as though his entire life were crumbling around him. He had failed as a trainer and a parent.

Geyser let out a low growl. "Back off Ashachu. Take one more step and I'll kill you, you little fuck!"

Ashachu was not intimidated. "I'd like to see you try you piece of shit otter."

"Ha. I've kicked your arse every time we've fought. What makes you think this time will be any different."

Ashachu pawed the ground with his right paw, kicking up a small patch of dirt, before sniggering and replying, "You really think you're tough don't you. Standing there in front of everyone playing the hero. I've fought far worse than you. I've fought actual villains. Team Flare. Team Plasma. Yvetal. And now I've got nothing to loose."

"Looks to me like you're the villain now. Teaming up with Team Rocket. Why'd you do it Ashachu. Can you really not handle that Hunter like me more than you."

Ashachu's cheeks sparked angrily. "Fuck you. There is no way Hunter feels anything for you. You're just taking advantage of his broken heart. You don't really care about him; you just want to get with him! You're a boyfriend stealing pice of shit otter."

Geyser thumped his tail on the ground. "Wow. You really feel entitled to Hunter's affections don't you. What, do you want to possess him or something. Like a Pokémon. Maybe Team Rocket is the right place for you and your toxic masculinity!"

At this, Meowth groaned and buried his face in his paws. "Ai vey!"

"What are they saying Meowth," asked a curious Jessie with raised eyebrows.

Meowth just shook his head. "Ya don't wanna know!"

Geyser continued. "You need to get it through your thick pika skull that Hunter is free to be with anyone he pleases. And he pleases me!"

"That's 're dead squeak toy." Ashachu charged at Geyser, launching himself at the otter with a volt tackle attack.

Geyser threw himself right into the oncoming Ashachu's path with a fury of swipes from his Scalchop. The two Pokémon disappeared into a flurry of water, electricity and yellow and blue fur.

"Guys. STOP!" Cried a very distressed Ash. "You're Team mates, you're family. You can't fight like this."

"Pika!" Pikachu moaned.

Ash couldn't move. He stood there rooted to the spot, unable to look away from the horror scene that was the fight between Ashachu and Geyser. Fortunately, Cameron and Jimmy were more proactive, issuing instructions to Lucario and Typhlosion, who promptly fired aura sphere and flamethrower.

"Wobbuffet counter," screamed Jessie, pointing dramatically at the twerps.

"Wobba…" The big blue Pokémon waddled forward, its body glowing bright.

Lucario and Typhlosion attacks hit…And rebounded…

Chaos reigned…Typhlosion's flames flew in every direction. Ash was hit in the face. His skin burned. He clutched Pikachu to his chest and turned his back, trying to protect his mate. There was a fury of shouting, swearing and the calling of attacks from both Team Rocket and the other two.

The popping sound of Pokéballs cracked through the air. Team Rocket were bringing out reinforcements. Ash managed to turn his head and caught a glimpse of Inkay and Woobat, before being hit in the stomach with an unknown attack. Pain exploded through his abdomen and he fell to his knees. His eyes watered.

More blows were traded. Attacks flew in every direction. The air was soon filled with dust, smoke, fire and all forms of energy. It was hard to breath. Ash started to cough and spluttered, his lungs crying out for fresh air. He was on his all fours. Where were Ashachu and Geyser.

For that matter, where was Pikachu. He had been in his arms only a second ago.

And then it happened. Ashachu let off a massive discharge of electricity. For a split second the air turned yellow and the air around him felt like fire. The world went dark. He had blacked out…

Ash opened his eyes to find himself slumped under a tree. His friends and foes were scattered around him. In the middle of the clearing where Ashachu and Geyser. They were each covered in cuts and bruises and there was blood in their furs. Whose blood wasn't clear.

Geyser was on one knee and had one eye shut. He seemed to be trying and failing to force himself to stand. Ashachu was still on his paws but looked like he might faint at any minute. Both Pokémon were breathing heavily.

"Come on. STOP," Ash shouted in vain. "Don't fight. You're family. You're brothers. YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THIS!" He tried to get up. To run over to them. But he couldn't. Trying to stand hurt to much, and he ended up back on the ground.

And then a shrill cry rang through the air. "NOOOOOOOO!"

Hunter had sprinted out from wherever he had been hiding and thrown himself between Ashachu and Geyser. "Stop it! JUST STOP IT," he bellowed at the top of his lungs.

Unfortunately, he was now standing much closer to Team Rocket than to his friends.

"Alright. Time to bag a Riolu," declared James as he raised an enormous bazooka like gun and fired a single shot directly at Hunter.

What happened next took less than a second, but Ash watched it in slow motion. Hunter didn't notice the gun until he heard the shot. By the time he looked up and saw it, it was too late. Both Ashachu's and Geyser's eyes widened in horror.

There was a cry of, "HUNTER!" From Cameron.

Geyser reached deep within himself and, with the last reserves of his strength threw himself in front of Hunter to take the shot!

But what he didn't know. What he had no way of knowing. Was that the bazooka was a net gun? A compressed net opened a split second before impact and wrapped itself around the pair of them.

It was over before any of the twerps could do anything else. Jessie picked up Ashachu by the tail and threw him over her shoulder, while James grabbed the bag containing Geyser and Hunter.

With a laugh, they ascended in their balloon. "Later losers!"