Chapter 18 – Team Rocket's shocking new recruit VII

"Alright Ashachu, use thunderbolt," James cried out.

Ashachu gathered his strength and fired the lightning bolt at Lucario. He didn't figure it would do him much good. There was no way he was strong enough to take Lucario and there was no way Team Rocket were going to come up with a strategy good enough to enable him to evade death.

"Lu- CARR!"

Sure enough, Lucario sidestepped the attack and threw himself at Ashachu. He moved so quickly he had become a blue blur. One second he was on the other side of the battlefield, the next he was directly in front of him. He was brandishing a bone made out of blue energy.

Ashachu had barely registered it when he felt the blows reigned upon him. It hit him harder than any attack he had ever experienced before. He felt a sickening pain in his head, like Lucario had split his skull open. He wanted to vomit. He felt dizzy and his eyes were out of focus.

"Err Ashachu," said either Jessie or James from behind. Ashachu had no idea which.

"Come on, fight back! Are you just going to lie there?"

Ashachu tried to get back to his paws, only to feel Lucario's foot connect with his chest. The breath was knocked out him as he was knocked onto his back again and send sliding against the floor.

He couldn't move at all. He couldn't breathe properly. His entire body was wracked with pain. And then he heard Lucario's voice in his head. The aura Pokémon was speaking to him telepathically.

"Do you think you'd get away with this act of cowardice and treachery Ashachu. My pup gave his heart to you. You were everything to him. But you gave it away. Then you got jealous when he decided he wanted to be with something who would actually care for him. And you joined Team Rocket and steal him from Cameron and me. What were you thinking?"

"Lucario. Please," Ashachu tried to respond, but it only came out as a pained mumble. He hoped Lucario could read his thoughts.

"My species protects their young and their mates. You are never going to threaten Hunter again!"

Ashachu hadn't thought it would be possible to be in more pain than he was already in. He was wrong. Lucario picked him up, with his mouth, by the tail, biting down hard. The fangs dug deep into his flesh, causing him to bleed ferociously. It was like having his tail cut off over again.

And it got worse. Lucario begun to spin him around and around before tossing him into the air. Ashachu felt himself float upwards, before falling down. He gritted his teeth. In this state he had no way of bracing himself of the impact of hitting the ground.

THUD

But before he could hit the ground, Lucario struck him with another bone rush attack, batting him with the energy club like a human hitting a tennis ball with a racket.

A bewildered and horrified Team Rocket watched from the sidelines. They had huddled against the gym wall, trying to keep their distance.

"Should we do something," asked James.

"Are you crazy?" Meowth replied. "I ain't goin' near dat thing."

Even Cameron seemed unsure. "Lucario," he said softly. "I think that's enough."

"Stay out of this Cameron," Lucario barked back as he advanced on Ashachu. "This is between us Pokémon."

"Pika!" Ashachu opened one eye. "Alright Lucario," he croaked. "You're right. I was a traitor. I did do wrong to Hunter. Please. Just end me. I don't want to be in pain anymore."

And then, before Lucario could do anything, he heard a familiar voice cry out "NOOOOOO!"

[Pokémon]

Meanwhile…

"Who in the distortion world are you!"

Blade scowled at he looked at the second Pikachu that had just burst out of its ball and materialized beside Pikachu. Although many might find it difficult to distinguish them, this Pikachu was nothing like Ash's Pikachu or Ashachu.

He was a little smaller, with a slightly fatter tail, which had a cut at the end. He is fur was much paler and looked matted and disheveled as if he never brushed it. There was a small amount of fat around his belly, and no muscle visible under the fur. He was certainly, nowhere near as attractive as Ashachu.

The other Pikachu raised his eyebrows and coxed his head curiously. "Hmmm. So, Ash caught another arsehole. Great." He scratched his cheek with his rear paw like a canine and raised a paw to examine his claws.

Despite being recognizable as a male, Blade thought there was something very feminine about the way he moved.

"You got a name cutie or is it just Sneasel."

Blade felt a pang of irritation at being spoken to this way. He opened his maw to retort, when he heard Ash groan from somewhere behind him, "Oh man! Hikari what are you doing out of your ball?"

Blade's eyes widened in shock. He was stunned… like he'd just been hit over the head with an iron tail. "N-no way! Your Hikari?"

"That's my name," Hikari replied coolly, without looking at Blade. "Don't misuse it."

"Hikari," said Pikachu. "This is Blade. Blade. Hikari."

Hikari stopped scratching and turned his head to look up at Blade. "So, you're Blade. Hmp, well now the little brat's behavior makes a lot of sense. I'd have broken a thousand silly trainer rules to get inside of you!"

Yup, Blade definitely did not like this Pokémon. He scowled at him, but before he could retort, Hikari continued, "Well, perhaps not you. I think Sneasel are scary and gross. But I can see why Ashachu likes you. Hmmm."

To Blade's horror, Hikari licked his paw and touched him – right between his legs. He shivered as the little fingers trailed over his sheath, then though his fur and up his belly, tickling his skin.

"Yes, I can see exactly what Ashachu sees in you. Wow!"

"Err Hikari," asked an exasperated Pikachu. "Is that really necessary."

But Hikari ignored him. "So, where you released, traded or ran away!"

Blade wasn't sure what Hikari meant. "What?"

"You can't be a wild Pokémon. Not with muscles like these." Hikari's paw had reached his chest. Blade winced when he squeezed his nipples. "So, what happened to your last trainer. Did he release you or trade you? Or did you run away?"

"None. I am a strong, independent, wild Pokémon," Blade growled, gnashing his teeth.

Hikari withdrew his paw, flinching momentarily. Blade felt a small sense of satisfaction, though it was short lived as Hikari's attitude returned.

"So, what was it you were saying about me? Just now while I was in my Pokéball. Don't deny I, we can hear in those things you know!"

"Umm Blade said that he used to know your mother Hikari," said Pikachu. "Rai. Rai-some."

"Raiee," snapped Blade. "She was my friend."

"Ah yes." Hikari nodded. "You gave my mother's thunderstone to Ashachu, believing he was me."

Blade sighed and nodded. "That's correct. Raiee used to be very special to me. She gave me that stone right before…before they took her. Told me she wanted you to have it!" He may not really like this Pokémon, but if he was Hikari then he owed it to Raiee and to himself to make an effort. "I always wanted to meet you because. Because, even though she's gone, I felt that a part of her still lives through. And I wanted to get to know the Pokémon that had her blood."

There was a moment of quiet. Hikari bowed his head and rubbed at his eye with his paw. Pikachu put a paw on his shoulder.

"Hikari?"

Hikari snapped his head back up, staring at Blade dry eyed. "Well, I hate to break it to you hot stuff, but I'm not my mother. I'm my own mon!"

"Yeah but…I'm not saying."

"My mom threw me away. The Pikachu in the nest pushed me out when they found out what I was. Then the other Pokémon in the forest first tried to kill me and then tied me up and stuck me on a train."

"Oh…" Blade had no idea what to say. That certainly didn't sound like the Raiee he had known. "I'm sure. I mean. Raiee…"

"Shhh." Hikari hissed putting a paw to his mouth to silence Blade. "I'm not interested in anything you have to say about my mom, got it. That's a part of my life that over now and I intend to keep it that way. And I certainly am not going to talk about it with some disgusting Sneasel I've never met looking for closure. Go find some appropriate way to deal with your emotional needs."

"Hey!" Blade protested. "That's not fair. I just…"

"Talk to the tail because the face isn't interested." Hikari spun around and waived his tail at Blade. "Arceus, I am not looking forward to having you on the team."

"I am not Ash's Pokémon," Blade growled. He was angry now. His last connection with Raiee had been cruelly shattered. Just like the illusion of one Ashachu had given him. He decided it there and then. He hated the both of them. Ashachu and Hikari.

And when he regained the ability to move, there would be the distortion world to pay…

A roar from overhead announced the return of Charizard. At the same time a beam of red light shot from somewhere behind, sitting Hikari in the flank who quickly dissolved to energy.

"Seriously, Oshawott taught you some bad habits," mumbled Ash. "Did you find them Charizard."

The orange dragon like creature nodded and begun pointing frantically. Blade closed his eyes. He was sure whatever was coming next would not be good.

[Pokémon]

Ashachu opened his other eye and forced himself to raise his head. He was surprised to find Hunter standing before him with his arms outstretched. The little Riolu had positioned himself defensively between him and Lucario.

"Hunter?"

"Don't do it," Hunter yelped, staring at Lucario defiantly. "Please, don't hurt him. There's no need to hurt him, anymore."

Lucario stopped dead in his tracks. "Hunter," he barked in an odd tone – It sounded as if he were somewhere between giving Hunter a warning and being surprised by his actions.

"Dad you're better than this," Hunter cried. "You can't do this to Ashachu, there's no need. I'm fine now, he hasn't hurt me. Please dad, no more!"

Lucario looked at Hunter, then at Ashachu and slowly the snarl faded from his face. And just like that he was transformed back into his ordinary self. The dark vibe he'd been giving off vanished. His fur stopped bristling and a remorseful look fell over his face.

"Hunter I…I don't know what came over me. I never intended. You're right. And I'm sorry."

"Hunter," Ashachu croaked, reaching outwards towards his best friend with a paw. "Y-you saved me."

Hunter turned slowly around to face him. To his discontent, Ashachu noticed he was scowling at him.

"Yes, I did," Hunter said, his voice cold and emotionless. "I did because I still care for you Ashachu. You were my best friend. I loved you, man." On the word loved, the emotion Hunter had been holding burst out of him and he started to cry.

"I-I love you…" Ashachu begun.

"NO," Hunter half barked, half sobbed. "No Ashachu. If you loved me, you wouldn't have stood by and let Team Rocket tie me up and force me into a dark smelly bag. If you loved me, you wouldn't have let that Sneasel fuck you. Twice. I never want to be with friends with you again. But I want you to know that you were, you still are, really special to me and I hate that this has happened. Goodbye Ashachu."

Hunter turned back and around and ran to Lucario, who knelt down and dropped to his knees again and embraced his pup. Ashachu let himself collapse to the floor. The pain of his wounds felt much worse than they had before, for some reason. He just wished unconsciousness…or perhaps even better, death…would take him now. Then he wouldn't have to feel this way.

"Is it just me," said Jessie pointing at Ashachu. "Or is that the most pathetic sight you've ever seen."

"Looks like the mighty aura Pikachu was all thunder and no lightning," mused James.

Jessie tutted annoyed and stamped her foot angrily. "Ugh. Whose idea was it to recruit him."

She and Jessie looked and Meowth, who folded his arms and pouted. "Yeah, alright I admit it, he was a bad buy. Let's just move onto plan B."

What was plan B. Not yet to be revealed, as at that moment Team Rocket and the others became distracted by the dramatic arrival of Ash onto the scene. There was a crashing sound as glass and fire fell from the ceiling.

Then a second later, the great form of Charizard dropped into the middle of the gym between Team Rocket, Cameron, Lucario and Hunter. Ash slid off his back gracefully, with Pikachu clinging to his shoulder. Sylveon followed with Blade still wrapped in her feelers.

Ash took one look around the room before spotting Ashachu collapsed in the corner. "Ashachu!"

"PIKAKA."

Pikachu and he rushed over. Ash dropped to his knees and picked Ashachu up, while Pikachu let out a loud wail.

"Pika chuuuuu!"

"Ashachu," Ash moan. "Oh Ashachu no. No, no, no."

Ashachu was still breathing, thankfully, but it was labored. His fur was stained with blood, noticeable even with the black dye. Ash clutched him close to his chest, tears filling his eyes. It was the worst he had ever felt in his life – and that was pretty high bar.

Had he…Was he about to lose Ashachu?

"Oh Ashachu," he cried. "This is all my fault. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry this happened to you. I love you, Ashachu."

Pikachu continued to let out a long loud moan. A single unbroken note of sorrow and pain. "Piiiiiiiikaaaaaachuuuuuuuu!"

"Ash," said Cameron tentatively, unsure what to do now. "I can explain."

Could he though? As he stood there watching his friend…former friend…cradling his injured kit he felt a deep sense of shame and remorse. A hot prickling guilt all over his skin. How could he have done this. How could he have let Lucario do this terrible thing. He had let his fear and anger over Hunter get the better of him. And this was the result.

"Sylvee."

Sylveon and Charizard made their way silently across the floor to join their trainer. Slowly, Sylveon wrapped her feelers around Ashachu's broken body and let out a soft coo of "Veee." Her body begun to glow bright pink and waves of energy emanated from her, flowing over Ashachu. Slowly, the cuts and bruises on his body begun to disappear

"Sylveon," Ash sniffled. "You're using refresh."

"Slyvee!" Sylveon nodded.

The waves and the light disappeared and Ashachu opened his eyes. "Pikachu."

"Ashachu! You're okay." Ash hugged Ashachu close to his chest and kissed his forehead. "Thank Arceus. Oh, thank Arceus."

"PIKA." Pikachu gave a happy cry before throwing himself at Sylveon. "Thank-you Sylveon. I could kiss you!"

"Aww. You're sweet," Sylveon replied wrapping her arm around Pikachu's back in response and nuzzling the top of his head. The two touched noses as a sign of affection.

In all this, nobody had noticed Blade whom Sylveon had left lying limp and immobile on his back in the middle of the gym. Nobody except Meowth of course…

"Huh. What's happening now." Blade had been lying there, unable to see anything except the hole in the ceiling punched by Charizard, wondering how his day could get any worse, when felt someone take hold of the feathers on his rear and begin to drag him across the floor. "Let me go!"

"Oh, quit bein' such a drama queen," said Meowth. "Sheesh."

"Meowth," Blade asked.

"Twerps really did a number on you. Paralysis is the worst. Which move they get ya with?"

Blade sighed. "Thunder wave, I think. Fucking Pikachu's."

A second later the faces of Jessie and James appeared above him.

"There you are, Blade," mused Jessie unconcernedly.

"We were wondering what had happened to you," added James.

Blade scowled. "Yeah, thanks for helping me."

"Oh, quit your whining," said Meowth. "'ere, use dis on him." Meowth handled a small spray bottle to James.

"Full restore. Where did you get this?"

Meowth shrugged. "Swiped it from da scatterbrain twerp when he wasn't looking. Been saving it for a special occasion."

Jessie glowered at him. "What! When were you planning to tell us about this? How many others have you got?"

"I wasn't. Now will you hurry up and give it to Blade. My paws can't operate the nozzle."

James bent down and sprayed the contents of the bottle over Blade's body. The effect was instantaneous. Blade felt not only a huge sense of relief wash over his body, but also as if he had just a acquired a massive amount of energy.

He felt as though he could do anything now…Take on any opponent. And best of all, he could move again. He jumped back to his feet and punched the air triumphantly. "Ahh that's better. Meowth I could kiss you."

Meowth battered him away with his paw, blushing.

Blade surveyed the room, and, like Ash, he quickly spotted Ashachu over in the corner, being hugged by his trainer and Pikachu… It was strange, the mi of emotions he felt the first time he saw Hikari – the Pokémon he thought was Hikari – since being captured by Ash.

First his heart fluttered, and he experienced a warm fuzzy feeling of affection towards Ashachu, lying so cutely in Ash's arms. Coupled with a sense of relief that he was okay. He wanted to run and hug that mouse, to hold him close and never let him go.

But the warm fuzzy feeling of affection quickly turned to a hot, boiling rage as the knowledge that, everything about Hikari – about Ashachu, was a lie. This Pokémon had lied about who he was. Had allowed Blade to open himself up to him, and build affections based on false premises.

He had tricked Blade…and that wasn't something Blade could forgive.