Chapter 29 – On to Motorstoke
Galar region, route 5…
"So, you and Charizard are mate's now? What happened to Hunter," asked a nosey Bulbasaur, the small green bipedal dinosaur like Pokémon with the large bulb growing on his back.
Ashachu sighed before replying, "Hunter and I aren't seeing each other anymore. Not that's it's any of your business. Yeah, Charizard is my mate."
Bulbasaur raised is eyebrows and let out a little snort at this information, causing Ashachu to add, "Do you have a problem with that?"
Bulbasaur paused before responding. He bit his lip then said slowly, with an air of great patience, "Look Ashachu, I've known Charizard for a long-time and. Hmmmm. How to put this…" He sighed, then continued, "There's no sensitive way to put it. He's moody and his mind wanders. He's been a difficult Pokémon for Ash to train. Personally, I think he can be down right ignorant and self centred."
Ashachu frowned at the plant like Pokémon. "Those aren't very nice things to say, Bulbasaur. What are you talking about?"
"He's the reason Ash lost at the Indigo League," explained Bulbasaur. "He lay down in the middle of the battlefield and refused to fight Sparky. He's a Pikachu belonging to a friend of Ash's named Ritchie."
"I know who Sparky is. We've met!"
"Small world… Point is, Charizard wouldn't listen to a word Ash said, and so the referee declare Ash forfeit and Ritchie won by default. Ash was crushed. Spent the next few days feeling depressed. The rest of us Pokémon were all pissed. All of our hard work and effort had been for nothing. To be honest I still haven't forgiven him for it. Pikachu was pretty upset about it for a long time to."
"Oh…I didn't know that." Ashachu wasn't sure what to say or think. He remember the conversation he'd had with Charizard the previous evening. Charizard's explanation for why he had stopped listening. "But, Charizard said he had a good reason why he wasn't listening. Ash wasn't strong enough back then."
Immediately he knew he had said the wrong thing. Bulbasaur glowered at him, and when he next spoken it was in a slightly hurt voice. "First of all, you shouldn't talk that way about one of your parents. Second, Ash has always been strong. Strong and kindhearted. Charizard's attitude was egotistical and selfish."
Ashachu shook his head. "Fine, you're right. I shouldn't talk about dad that way. But look, the Indigo league was before I was even born. You feel angry about it is between you and him, but it doesn't affect how I feel about my boyfriend."
"You need to realise Ashachu that he can be quite self centred, and he may not always put you first in a relationship. And he's a lot bigger than you, so there's a risk…"
"Okay, stop, just stop." Ashachu raised himself onto his hind legs and held up his paws to silence Bulbasaur.
"You just need to make sure you know what you're getting into and that don't get hurt," continued Bulbasaur. "That's all I am trying to say. In addition to being dense, Charizard's are also quite needy. They form intense emotional bonds to their mates and expect a lot from them. He'll want to be with you all the time. He'll certainly want to have sex a lot."
Ashachu actually had to smirk at this last remark. "Hey, don't threaten me with a good time."
"It's a good time until he cuts you off from your family and friends or starts pressuring you to do things that you don't want to do. Or tries to eat you. Charizard's sometimes mate with prey before eating them."
"Just stop."
Bulbasaur sighed again. "Okay,I really have tried to be delicate here. But, given this is your attitude, I am just going to say what's on my mind. Ashachu, you're obvious still hurting from Hunter and you're trying to use Charizard's affections to heal the hole in your heart. But it can only…Ahhh"
He was cut off at that point when an extremely pissed Ashachu discharged a powerful bolt of electricity. Bulbasaur was surprised at the strength. It was painful, and despite the type advantaged, caused him to collapse onto his stomach. As it faded, he felt Ashachu place two paws on his head, pushing him into the ground.
"Okay Bulbasaur. First of all, fuck you for saying that and for saying bad things about my boyfriend. Second of all, it's none of your business who I mate with or why. So, leave me alone, and stop trying…"
Whack…Bulbasaur pushed Ashachu away from him with a quick vine whip before rising to his feet. Ashachu flew through the air and landed a few feet away.
"Pikaaa."
As he tried to sit up, Bulbasaur placed his two front paws on Ashachu's chest and pushed him back to the ground, pinning him down. "Don't lash out in anger like that. It'll only get you hurt. Don't forget I've got a lot more experience than you, and the type advantage. Now you can choose to listen to me, or not. It doesn't matter, but sooner or later, you'll realise I'm right. Now, I'm going to.."
"Bulbasaur," came Ash's voice from above. "That's enough let him go."
Bulbasaur did as he was told, allowing Ashachu to get back to his paws. Ashachu glowered at him, but took no retaliation. Instead, he climbed back up onto the seat between Zoroark and Pikachu.
Pikachu was standing on his hind legs, leaning against the window and staring out. His two front paws were pressed against the glass. Zoroark was scribing something on a note pad. Part of some game he was playing Ash.
Our heroes were taking the train from Hulbury to the site of Ash's gym battle in Motorstoke. A journey of about four and half hours. The route took them inland, through fields and meadows. It had started to rain about an hour into the trip, making visibility poor.
Ashachu had no idea what Pikachu was so interested in, staring intently out of the window as he was…
The Galar region consists of a number of isles right down in the Southern Hemisphere – as far south as one could go, without reaching Antarctica. The main isle, the isle of Galar, is snapped like a sword. A long, thin strip of land covered in mountains, meadows and lakes.
Settlements are sparsely dotted throughout the region, and most of the population is concentrated into the cities. And connecting these cities and towns is the Galar railway. A continuous line running north to south.
The train was not very long or full. Just four carriages pulled by a diesel electric locomotive. The express maintained considerable speed, even where the line was twisty or ran up a gradient. Ash had been fortunate to get a compartment to himself.
A few other trainers were onboard as well, along with a few ordinary commenters and tourists ladened with rucksacks and cameras. Small Pokémon could often be found running up and down corridors, or else playing under seats or in luggage racks.
"Okay and done," Ash suddenly declare triumphantly. He stood up and held out the phone he'd been playing with to Zoroark.
Ashachu looked up. On the screen he'd doodled something that looked like…Ashachu had no idea. Like a star with squiggly lines coming out of it.
Zoroark lowered the notepad he'd been writing with and frowned at the image. "No way," he scoffed, a half grin half sneer spreading across his mischievous face. "What's that's supposed to be."
Ash scowled at him. "What does it look like. It's Garchomp!"
"Garchomp doesn't look like that."
"Okay then mister smarty tail, show me your's."
Zoroark held up the bit of paper he'd been drawing on. It had a bit more of vaguely recognisable form, but wasn't much better than Ash's. And so, it was Ash's turn to scoff.
"That's not Garchomp! What sort of Garchomp looks like that."
"One that looks like this." Zoroark changed form. Where the black anthro-fox Pokémon had been sitting, now sat a scaly shark like dragon Pokémon.
"Fine we'll use an impartial judge," said Ash. "Pikachu, which one of these looks more like Garchomp?"
Pikachu turned around as both Ash and Zoroark held up their creations. A sweat drop appeared on Pikachu's head the moment he laid eyes upon them. He rubbed the back of his head before mumbling, "Pika Pikachu Pika," waving his little arms up and down.
Ashachu couldn't help but smirk at the situation – he made a mental note to tell Charizard later.
"Geyser. What do you think?"
Geyser was occupying the seat next to Ash, beside the window. He had been leaning against it, with his feet resting on the seat and his eyes closed. He opened an eye curiously, saw what was going on, then closed it again without saying a word. He then proceeded to shift himself so he was facing away from Ash and Zoroark.
"I know. We'll ask Axew," suggested Zoroark, before calling, "AXEW."
His long mane of red hair rustled, and a bleary-eyed dragon Pokémon poke his head out. "Will you lot keep it down. Some of us are trying to sleep…"
"Bulbasaur, what do you think." Ash crouched down to show Bulbasaur the image on his phone.
But Bulbasaur just shook his head and replied, "Leave me out of this…"
[Pokémon]
Meanwhile…
The Airbus H225 Helicopter, also known as the Super Puma, sped across the Galari sky at just below its top speed of 275 kilometres per hour. It has left the city of Hulbury a couple of hours after Ash's train, but would arrive in Motorstoke well ahead of Ash and Pikachu.
While Super Puma could be used for a variety of different functions, this one was fitted for VIP transport. It seated 11 plus a pilot and co-pilot. Its cabin was split into two compartments; a front lounge fitted with four leather armchairs.
And a second area with six comfortably appointed VIP seats and one flight attended seat. There was also a small toilet at the very rear of the aircraft, and an even smaller galley with room for a fridge and tiny oven.
There were five people onboard. In the rear of the aircraft, two accountants – company men – enjoying the refreshment and conversing in increasingly loud tones, and a harassed flight attended attending to their needs.
In the front; a man in his early fifties dressed in a grey three-piece suit and red tie, accompanied by a tall Slavic woman with long flowing brown hair, hard face and haughty expression.
The man in the three-piece suit sat in the leather upholstery as if it were a throne; upright and regal with one leg resting on the other. His neck was slightly inclined as he examined the grey manila file that was open in his lap.
"Good," He commented to himself as he reached the last paragraph. "Very good…A talented group of trainers we've got this year."
He closed the manila file and looked up at the Slavic woman. "How is the construction below the stadium progressing?"
"It iz, in its final phase," she replied, with a thick eastern European accent. "We are, as you say, in position to being testing."
The woman's name was Oleana, and she heralded from Leningrad, but had spent most of her life in Wyndon, climbing the corporate ladder. She now served as the vice-president of the Marco Cosmos, Galar's mega corporation.
The man in the grey suit was none other than her boss, the Chairman of the corporation, Rose…
It wasn't known whether Rose was his first name, last name or if was even his real name at all. Many journalists and curious minds had tried to find that out, only to be threatened with their personal destruction.
To the citizens of the Galar and the world, as well as to those who knew him personally, he was just Rose or the more formal, Chairman Rose.
"Good," said Rose. "In that case we can prepare to move the test subject. And make the final preparations for the final experiment."
"Ze Darkrai!"
"Correct…Finally, the world can be rid of that abomination. And if the trials are successful, we should be able to proceed with the final phase of the operation."
"And vhat of his partner. Sneasel, was it not," asked Oleana?
"Yes, he will be needed also," Rose replied in a matter-of-fact way. "Personally, I believe it rather good that Sneasel should get to watch his partner die. It is a fitting punishment, for his life time of perversions…Oh, that reminds me. I take it the arrangements for the receptions have been made."
Oleana nodded and rubbed the end of his long chin with her right hand. "Of course. And the invitations have been sent out."
"Excellent!" Rose glanced out of the window. "It seems that the pieces are all on the board. All we need to do know is make our move."
After spending so much time flying the sights from the air no longer particularly interested him. Ahead he could see the towers and chimneys of Motorstoke and figured they'd be landing soon.
There was a loud cackle of laughter from the compartment behind. One of the accountants. He curled his lip. "We simply must stop serving alcohol on these trips. It's turning my staff into debaucheries."
"I let catering know," said Oleana.
"Who is it we've got with us," asked Rose. "I will be giving serious considerations to their statutes as employees."
"I speak to human resource also," Oleana replied, before adding. "I must ask. Have we managed to locate the Dark one yet?"
"If all goes to plan, we will not need to. The Dark one shall come to us."
[Pokémon]
Motorstoke was a walled city sitting high above a valley. A long viaduct took the train into the city. The green of the Galar country side was quickly replaced by a maze of red brick and black steel. For Motorstoke was an industrial city. The Galar regions power house of manufacturing and innovation.
But for a city known of innovation, it did not posses a particularly innovative railway station. Ash stepped out of the train on to a narrow platform, full of people and Pokémon both simultaneously trying to onboard and off.
There was much pushing and shoving and Ash nearly lost his balance once or twice. Pikachu and Ashachu were sitting on his shoulders. He felt their little claws dig into him and heard them squeak each time somebody knocked into him or pushed past.
Both evidently fearing what he was fearing. 'Man, if either Pikachu or Ashachu fall off, they could get trampled…Which way's out.'
He looked around for a sign, but it was hard to see over the tops of people's heads.
And then, to make matters worse, there was a loud POP, as one of his Pokéballs burst open. "No, Oshawott. Not…Oh!"
The reaction had been instinctive. It was usually Oshawott who let himself out at inappropriate times. But this time it wasn't Oshawott who had let himself out…It was Charizard.
People scattered to make way as the large dragon like Pokémon materialised and filled the platform. There was much cursing and tutting but most people gave the lizard a wide berth.
Ash groaned. "Charizard…Not you as well."
"Zar." The first thing Charizard did upon appearing, was reach out and lift Ashachu off Ash's shoulder. He gave Ashachu a lick with his large tongue before placing him on the top of his head.
Ash resisted the urge to roll his eyes or shake his head. Normally he didn't like it when anyone took Pikachu or Ashachu off him
Another problem arose now, because Charizard was blocking the way forward. People were having to press themselves against the wall to get past, to avoid clipping his wing. Nobody seemed to want to touch him. Charizard's tail was threatening to knock someone over too.
Ash was just thinking what to do, when an angry voice shouted behind him, "Hey you, kid."
"Huh." He spun around to find himself face to face with a railway porter in a black uniform and scowl.
"What the fuck do you think you're playin' at, letting that thing out in here. Get it back in it's Pokéball or get out."
"Ummm sorry," said Ash embarrassed. "Won't happen again."
But the man's expression quickly change, going from angry to worried. Ash looked back over his shoulder to see Charizard glaring at him. He started to back away, his previous bravado go.
"Come on, let's get out of here." Ash turned and pushed Charizard back down the platform with the crowd.
With much shoving, and cursing and apologising they eventually managed to make their way out of Motorstoke station and into the city proper.
"Don't know what you were thinking just coming out like that," Ash scolded Charizard once they were out. "Honestly, can you two not wait a few hours to see each other."
"Easy for you to say," Charizard scoffed at him. "When's Pikachu ever not on your shoulder."