Chapter 31 – Love, Totodile Style | Fiendishness, Team Rocket Style!

Aether Paradise – the previous day…

"Wake up sleepy head…It's morning…"

"Ugh…Already." Blade was awoken, must sooner than he would have liked, by a gentle paw stroking him on the side of the head. He sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes with his claws to find the small, pointed face of a Sandshrew close to his. "Man, how many times do I have to tell you Shrew? Not so close…"

Sandshrew was a bipedal mammal Pokémon resembling a mouse. He had thick course skin, bright round black eyes, pointy ears and thickset tail and arms. He was the first, and really only, friend Blade had made here in the Aether Paradise.

The only one who had listened and empathised with him about Cleave and the only one that had let him live in his burrow. Had it not been for Sandshrew, Blade didn't think he would have lasted even the short time he had spent here.

Still…he needed his personal space. He gave the mouse Pokémon a gentle push in the chest, moving him off his legs.

"And I thought we agreed no touching."

Sandshrew just giggled. "As I recall you TOLD me no touching. I never agreed to anything…Goodness you're so cold. Literally!"

Blade groaned and rolled his eyes. He was getting really sick of that joke. "Haha real funny."

"Never gets old…Anyway, I brought you some breakfast." Sandshrew handed him a bowl full of Pokéchow.

Blade wrinkled his nose at the sight. "Ugh…More human food. Where are the berries?"

Sandshrew giggled again and rolled his eye. "Oh, come on. Don't pretend you don't enjoy this. I saw you wolf it down yesterday. And the day before that. And before that."

"And it never occurred to you that I might just be hungry, and this is what there is to eat."

"Nope."

Blade shrugged and took the bowl of Sandshrew. He'd rather die than admit it, but he did really love the food here at the Aether Paradise. But of course, he would. Most of the Pokémon did. It was specially formulated and made to correspond to their type and, in some cases, species.

Admitting that though would mean admitting he had a need or a dependence on humans. And he couldn't have that…

Sandshrew beamed at him as he started to eat. "See. You like it."

Blade didn't respond he just focused on eating.

"So, what do you want to do today," Sandshrew asked. "We could go for a walk. Or we could go swimming. Or you could battle on that Growlithe. He's been acting like he owns the place. Time somebody taught him a lesson."

"I think I'll just go back to sleep," Blade replied.

Sandshrew sighed and put his paws on his hips. "Look, you can't stay in the den for the rest of your life. Your fur will start to fall out. You need to get out. To run around and be a Pokémon…If you're worried about him, you shouldn't. Lusamine's not here today. Heard one of the employees saying he was in Galar."

"I'll be fine."

Sandshrew just shook his head. "Seriously. If you don't come out with me today, I'm going to get Ninetails to smoke you out…"

Blade groaned yet again and closed his eyes. "Fine, I'll go for a walk with you…Pushy."

A wide grin spread across Sandshrew's face. "Yah! Come on then."

Blade hadn't even finished eating, but Sandshrew grabbed him by the claw and started tugging…Neither had any idea what was waiting in store for them that day!

An hour later…

"Hmm…You don't look so tough," said Blade, a smirk spreading across his face as he eyed the Growlite. "You just look like… A pup." He folded his arms and sneered.

This annoyed Growlithe. The orange and black puppy Pokémon growled, bearing his fangs at Blade, his hackles raised. "You watch your tongue Sneasel."

"Ha… and what if I don't want to."

"I'll burn you to cinders and rip apart your miserable body, that's what."

"You talk big…But I bet your bark is worse than your bite."

"You tell him Bladey." At that moment Blade felt a pair of paws grip his shoulders and…starting to rub them.

"Ugh…I thought we'd had the conversation about touching."

"Sorry. Teehee." Sandshrew blushed and took a few steps backwards.

Blade sighed and turned his attention back to Growlithe. "Look pal. I'm a reasonable mon. Shrew here has told me that you've been giving some of the grass types a hard time. Now I don't know if that's true, but here's the deal. If that stops here today then I won't have to hurt you. But if you want to keep playing mister tough guy, then I'm going to beat your ass down, freeze you into an ice cube and set you a float in the lake…Understood? Puppy!"

Growlithe's eyes narrowed. "Nobody call's me puppy. NOBODY!"

The comment had exactly the impact Blade had been hoping for. Growlite charged at him in a fit of rage. He heard Sandshrew gasp, "Blade look out," but it wasn't needed. He knew exactly what he was going to do. And it would teach Growlithe a lesson that he would not soon forget…

But Sandshrew hadn't been trying to warn Blade about Growlithe. He had been trying to warn him along the long metallic claw that had reached down from the walkway above…

[Pokémon]

Wild area south of Motorstoke, Galar Region- The next day….

"Wah-Wah-Wah-Wah…"

Totodile was excited…Back with the team, in a new region, preparing for a new gym battle. An exhilaration overwhelmed him as his body regained its material form, just having been released from his Pokéball; at the cool Galarian air touched his skin.

"Wah-Wah-Wah-Wah…"

He couldn't help himself. He started to dance with joy, hoping from one foot to the other, his jaws open in a wide Grin. Totodile was a small blue crocodile like Pokémon, with red scales running down his back.

Ash had caught him in the Johto region…Well sort of. He and Misty had both tried to catch Totodile at the same time, and nobody knew whose Pokéball had actually been successful. Ash and Misty had a battle to decide who got to keep Totodile.

To this day, both Totodile and Ash were pretty thankful that Ash had won that fight. Not in the least because Misty was now sitting in a cell in the dungeon below the federal Parliament awaiting the date for her execution. Her Pokémon were either dead or released.

"Everybody," said Ash with a wide smile. "I want you to say hello to my friend Totodile."

"Wah-Wah…" Totodile stopped dancing and looked around at the Pokémon gathered around him. Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charizard and a few he didn't know. Axew, Zoroark, Ashachu, Oshawott, Geyser and Sniveon.

There was a chorus of "Pika," "Osha," "Vee" and "Char," as all the Pokémon expressed their greetings and raised or waved their paws.

"Wah-Wah-Wah…" Totodile opened his jaws in a wide grin and did his happy dance again.

His happiness and positivity seemed to be infectious. All of the other Pokémon gathered couldn't help but smile. Pikachu grinned and said to Bulbasaur, "That's Totodile."

Bulbasaur nodded. "Always energetic isn't he."

"Hey Totodile, nice to meet ya," said Ashachu stepping forward, waving his right paw in greeting.

"Wah…"

It happened the moment that Totodile's eyes met Ashachu. Suddenly he found that he couldn't breathe. He was overcome with how beautiful this Pikachu was. He was completely and totally lovestruck.

What was it about him…Totodile wasn't entirely sure? Perhaps it was those warm chocolate eyes. Or the obvious muscles beneath his silky yellow fur. Or the way his coat gleamed in the sunlight. Or the pointy ears, or his perfect little body…Or just everything about him.

"Oh wow," Totodile squealed, putting's its claw over its mouth. "Ash caught another Pikachu. A really cute one this time."

Pikachu frowned at him. "Hey!"

Without any warning, and to Ashachu's complete surprise, Totodile reached out and took hold of Ashachu's paws in his claws.

"Huh," Ashachu's eyes widened in shock. Before he could say anything, Totodile begun dancing with him, swinging him energetically around and around while hopping from one paw to the other.

This was obviously quite a funny sight. Multiple Pokémon and even Ash giggled or sniggered…Or in the case of Zoroark, laughed outright.

"Teehee. Looks like you've got a new admirer, Ashachu."

Even Charizard did. The only Pokémon who didn't was Geyser, who instead folded his arms, pouted and mumbled irritably, "Since when did Ashachu become EVERYBODY's favourite Pokémon. No love for Geyser!"

"Oh man, I can't believe it. You're just so adorable. I think I'm in loooove."

Totodile practically sang this last word. Eventually he let go of Ashachu, pointed his shouted in the air and fired a water gun. Two jets of water, one shot from each nostril, arched in the air above him to make the shape of a love heart.

Ashachu gaped at it in disbelief. He couldn't quite believe what was happening. All the spinning had left him feeling dizzy. "Ummm Ummm," he mumbled unable to form a complete sentence. "Totodile I."

"So," said Totodile abruptly ending his water display. "You got a name cutie. Or just good looks?"

"Umm. Call me Ashachu," Ashachu replied. He was starting to feel a little uncomfortable with the way Totodile was acting towards him – for some reason his eyes seemed to have taken on the colour and appearance of love hearts. A little colour rose in his cheeks.

"Awwwww that name's as adorable as you are. Wah-wah-wah!" Totodile started to bounce from one foot to another again and, seemed to be blowing kisses to Ashachu.

"Okay, this is too weird," Ashachu, mumbled to him, he took a few step backward toward Charizard, who promptly picked him up and placed him on his shoulder.

"Huh! Hey come back," Totodile called to him, stretching out his arms to reached Ashachu.

Ash groaned and rubbed his palm against his forehead. "Please Totodile. Not this again."

Ashachu looked away, feeling particularly awkward.

Zoroark lifted himself onto the tips of his toes so he his maw was level with Ashachu's ear. He whispered to the mouse Pokémon, "Aww come on Ashy. Show the lizard some love."

Ashachu blushed scarlet at this. Charizard grunted and glowered at Zoroark…before elbowing him hard in the ribs.

"Ahh," Zoroark gasped in pain as he doubled over. "I deserved that."

"Yew." Axew rolled his eyes and folded his arms.

Ash knelt down and put a hand on Totodile's head. "Umm Totodile. Maybe tone it down a bit. Ashachu seems a little uncomfortable!"

"Wah." Totodile stopped dancing and turned his head to Ash, staring at him wide eyed. For a moment he was silent, then he grinned and started his little dance again. "Wah…Wah…Wah…What!"

But then, suddenly, Totodile froze. The happy expression vanished from his face and a large droplet of sweat appeared on the side of his head. "Wah!"

Ash had noticed it too. It was not a warm day by any means…but the air temperature had noticeably cooled. It was more than that. It was like a creeping anxiety had come over him. Not just him either. The other Pokémon were affected too.

They were looking worrying around, their noses in the air. Pikachu and Oshawott toddled over to Ash and gripped their trainer by the legs, while Ashachu held Charizard's neck tightly.

Charizard responded to this by lifting Ashachu off his shoulder and hugging him to his chest.

"THERE!" Sniveon spotted it. She stood on her hind legs and pointed to something in the sky above them.

Ash squinted and noticed a black billowing figure making its way across the sky! "What's that thing?

Ashachu, of course, knew what and who it was the moment he saw it. And deep fear took over him…He froze unable to breathe, a cold sweat breaking out over his body and soaking his fur. Charizard, noticing, griped him a little tighter.

Clueless as ever, Ash pulled out his Pokédex.

Darkrai, the Pitch-Black Pokémon. Legend has it that on a moonless night, Darkrai will lure people to sleep and unleash nightmares upon them.

"Ash," said Pikachu, climbing up onto his shoulder so as to speak to him better. "You don't think that's the same Darkrai from Mossdeep do you."

Ash's heart skipped a beat at the suggestion. "I don't…Maybe. Should we."

But the Darkrai didn't come anywhere near them. Instead it passed nearby, drifting over the lake towards the viaduct that crossed the valley on the Eastern side of Motorstoke.

"Huh! Where's it going?"

[Pokémon]

Meanwhile…

The train that sat parked atop the Motorstoke Viaduct was not one of the ordinary Diesel Electric 125 HST train sets ordinarily operated by the Galari Department of Railways. No, this train was very different.

For a start it was much longer. While an ordinary train might comprise five to fifteen coaches, including the two power coaches at the front and rear of the train, this train was nearly one hundred cars long – it stretched back beyond the Viaduct into Motorstoke City and further.

Its cars were also much large. Most were bilevel, just small enough to ensure they would clear the many tunnels that formed part of the Galar Railway network. The carriages were articulated, resting on Jacobs's bogies – one bogie (wheels) connecting two carriages.

This gave the train a lower centre of gravity and permitted higher speeds. This technology was utilised on the Kalosian and Magnet train lines, but was not used in Galar. A sleek locomotive snapped like an arrow, designed to be aerodynamic, and riding on sixteen wheels, hauled the cars.

The locomotive and carriages were all painted jet black in colour, and each donned and purple R symbol on the sides. Together, they were called the Shadowpericer – the name was embossed in gold letters on the side of the Locomotive.

And the train belonged…of course…to Team Rocket.

The second coach had a long sliding door in the side that slid open as the Darkrai floated towards the train. There were two people and two Pokémon inside. The two humans were Butch and Cassidy, two of Team Rocket's top agents and rivals to Jessie, James and Meowth.

The Pokémon were poor Blade the Sneasel…Captured, beleaguered and being held to the by Butch's Mightyena. The Hyena like Pokémon had a hold of him by the throat, her fangs pressing into his flesh.

Blade didn't dare make any move to try and throw the Pokémon off – he knew Mightyena could snap his neck before he could reach. All he could do was put his faith in the dark form approaching the train.

"Now remember Hutch," Cassidy hissed to her partner. "This Pokémon is a psychotic killer. So, keep you nerves and just do everything like we planned."

Butch glared at her. "The name is Butch and you know it. And you don't need to keep warning me about that. I've seen the pictures the professor showed us, I know what we're dealing with."

"Hey Darkrai," Cassidy called out, his voice echoing through the valley. "We've got your friend here. Don't you want to rescue him? Be ready Butch. Activate the shield."

"It's…. Oh that's what you said." Butch took a remote control out of his pocket and pressed a red button in the centre. At once some sort of blue aura appeared around the train. "Now Shadow. It's time for you to prepare for trouble and, while you're at it, make it double!"

[Pokémon]

Ash watched as the Darkrai floated towards the far end of Motorstoke and disappeared up the valley. He thought of following, but Pikachu had different ideas.

He squeezed Ash's shoulder gently and mumbled, "I don't know. But something tells me we shouldn't follow. Remember what happened the last time."

Ordinarily a legendary Pokémon showing up out of the middle of nowhere would have fascinated Ash. But this time he decided to listen to sense…and Pikachu. "I think you're right Pikachu. Let's get back to the Pokémon Centre. We can train later. Everybody return."

He pulled out Pokéballs two or three at a time and begun returning the Pokémon gathered there. "You too Ashachu. And you Charizard."

Given the threats Blade had made about Shadow and brutalising Charizard's that he had made in Petalberg City Ash didn't want to take chances. Unfortunately before, the red light from the ball could touch either of their bodies; there was a loud BANG and a flash of white light.

Neither Ashachu, nor Charizard were quite sure what was happening. It had happened too fast after all. Charizard felt as if some giant claw and grabbed his ankles and was hoisting him into the air. Ashachu fell of Charizard's holder and onto something rough and course.

They thrashed about for a moment, righting themselves, and realised they had just been captured in a giant net. A net that was slowly rising into the air.

"What the!" Ash gasped in astonishment – What on earth was going on?

That answer to that became apparent as the smoke cleared. A very familiar Meowth shaped hot air balloon was hovering in the air just above him. And hanging below the basket was a net in which Ashachu and Charizard were held captive.

He groaned. "Team Rocket."

Pikachu let out an angry cry of "Pikachu!" While Totodile, the only Pokémon still out of his Pokéball, which Ash hadn't returned, yet, gasped, "Wah!" It jaws opened wide.

There was a chorus of laughter from the basket.

"Prepare for trouble it's a brand new day."

"But we're making it double anyway."

"To protect the world from devastation"

"To unite the people within our nation."

"To denounce the evils of truth and loves."

"To extend our reach to the stars above."

"Jessie."

"James."

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

"Surrender now, or prepare to fight, fight, fight."

"Meowth, dat's right."

"Wobbuffet"

"Noibat."

"Ugh. How many times are you going to make me listen to that rubbish," said Ash shaking his head as Team Rocket posed and freeze framed at the end of their motto - Wobbuffet and Noibat making their usually end of motto cameo appearances.

"Rubbish," Jessie snapped, clearly offended by his remark.

"Treat the motto with some respect twerp," added James, shaking his fist. "It strikes fear into the heart of trainers everywhere."

Ash sighed and rolled his eyes. "Look, give me my Pokémon back. I've got things to do!"

"Pika Pikachu!"

"Wah Wah."

Another chorus of laughter…

"Sorry twerp, no can do," said Meowth. "I'm afraid young Ashachoo 'ere still owes us for what he did to our Mechanised Automatic Geyser Acquired back in Hoenn."

"But we didn't think the two love birds should be separated," said James. "So we decided to take Charizard too."

"Which leaves you pretty much unable to style to stop us now doesn't it, twerp," Jessie taunted.

"Ahhhh. Not this again pleased," Ashachu half groaned half whined.

Charizard managed to manoeuvre himself in the net sot that he was able to scoop Ashachu into his arms and hold him tightly. "Don't worry cutie. I'll get us out of this." He pressed his nose against the mesh of the net, opened his jaw and breathed a jet of flames.

It had no effect. Ashachu felt the heat. The ropes glowed red. But they did not break or come apart. Realising what was happening Charizard stopped his attack, and stared at the ropes wide eyed. His heart started to pound in his chest and he begun to realise the seriousness of the situation.

"Hehe. Sorry big guy, but these ropes are flame retardant," cackled Meowth.

"We came prepared for every situation," James added. "There also made from a steel alloy and resistant to sharp objects."

"So there isn't a single Pokémon on your team cable of breaking that net," sang Jessie.

Ash clenched his fists, the usual anger and worry that pervaded him whenever he encountered Team Rocket rising in his system. "Oh yeah. Well we'll just have to bring down that balloon. Pikachu, use thunderbolt."

"Pikachuuuuu!" Pikachu leap off his shoulder and fired a spark of electricity at the basket.

"Oh no you don't. Wobbuffet counter!"

At Jessie's command, Wobbuffet jumped onto the side of the basket, his body glowing blue. Pikachu's thunderbolt hit it…and rebounded.

"Ahhh." Ash, Pikachu and Totodile had to drop and roll to avoid being hit by the electricity, as it came crashing back to earth.

"And now it's time for da getaway," Meowth proclaimed pulling a remote control out of…somewhere. It's not clear, as Meowth doesn't have pockets.

Two compartments opened on each the side of the basket and a pair of helicopter blades protruded out from them. Exactly where they had been stored was a mystery. They started to rotate and soon the balloon was speeding off across the lake.

"No. Get back here," Ash shouted.

"Pika Pikachu."

"Wah wah."

He, Pikachu and Totodile got back to their feet and chased after it – though now without a flying type that was going to be hard.