Chapter 38 – Will you

"Jessie…This is ridiculous. We are never going to catch up with them this way! And I'm tired!"

James was exhausted. For the last hour he had been pushing the walking beam down, then pulling it back up, unassisted. Meowth had supposed to be helping – But the scratch cat wasn't of much assistance being shorter than the support on which the beam stood.

Jessie, James and Meowth had used a variety of odd forms of transport over their time chasing Pikachu; the Meowth balloon, a pedal powered Magikarp submarine, and now, their answer to Butch and Cassidy's train, a railway handcart.

The design was simple enough; A platform resting on four large wheels, powered by a seesaw like pivoting beam usually operated by two people.

Jessie, who was standing at the very front of the cart, glared at him. "Well not with that attitude we won't."

James, not wanting to put Jessie into one of her moods, sighed and continued his relentless pulling and pushing of the beam. Meowth was holding onto the other side. Unfortunately, every time James pushed down, he was pulled off his feet, and hung from it mid-air. Almost comically.

"Umm, just outta curiosity," Meowth said as his paws left the platform again, "What exactly is our plan 'ere?"

"It's simple," snapped Jessie. "Once Biff and Cassidy have Shadow trapped, we're going to stop their train, kick them off it, and take the train and Shadow for ourselves. But to do that we have to catch up to them. So, chop, chop!"

James gave a hard push on the beam. His arms and legs were aching and the sweat was causing his uniform to stick to him. He just couldn't take it any longer. He slump forward and whined, "Okay! But could you at least help me with this. Right now, I'm doing all the work."

Jessie's eyes narrowed and a little colour rose in her cheeks. James immediately regretted his outburst, reasonable though it was – at least in his opinion. Fortunately, he was spared her wrath by the sound of a loud horn calling out from behind and temporarily distracting the three of them.

Unfortunately, the horn belonged to the Shadowpiercier…Jessie, James and Meowth turned around slowly and saw to their horror, the arrow like locomotive hurtling down the track towards them.

"James. Get this thing moving," cried a terrified Jesse.

James didn't need telling twice. His tiredness forgotten, he gripped the handlebar and started frantically working the beam. Up, down, up, down, with such energy it was as if he had found the strength of a Machamp.

The handcar begun to speed along the track…But the hand powered cart was still no match for the one hundred car high speed train. The locomotive continued to draw closer and closer, sounding out it's horn.

CHOO CHOO…

"James…FASTER," bellowed Meowth.

"I'm…trying," James protested through gritted teeth.

And he was – pushing and pulling with all his might, using every ounce of strength he could muster. But wasn't enough.

The handcar shattered into a thousand tiny pieces of wood and metal as the locomotive slammed into it, and Jessie, James and Meowth were sent sky high…

"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"

The trio disappeared into the heaven, leaving only a brief twinkle in their wake. Like a star…

[Pokémon]

"Chari…Is something wrong."

Charizard had been staring out of the window. As the train had moved south the night had come in and there was very little so see, now. The occasionally flash of lights when they passed through a town or station, or the occasional headlight from a lonely car.

"Zarr." Charizard snapped his head around and looked down at Ashachu, sitting across from him on the opposite side of the table. "No…it's just."

"It bothers you doesn't it," said Ashachu. "Seeing those Pokémon…What he did to that Charizard."

"Sort of," Charizard replied. "It's just…I always thought that only humans were capable of such monstrous acts. But now…" He shook his head. "How can one Pokémon do such a thing to another Pokémon. It's awful."

"Mmmm." Ashachu nodded but wasn't sure what else to say. All he could think of was, "it is awful."

"I wasn't there when he was stalking you and I wasn't there on the Centurion when he." Charizard glanced at Ashachu's tail. "But now I think I'm beginning to understand. And it makes me angry. First that this piece of shit Darkrai did that to you. And second." He glanced across the aisle at Ash and Pikachu. "That Ash ignored you and let it happen."

Ashachu shook his head. "It wasn't his fault. Not entirely at least."

"You shouldn't defend him," muttered Charizard. "Ash should have listened to you when you told him what was going on. Too many humans think they're above us. That we Pokémon should just obey them and fail to see the trainer relationship as a partnership." He snorted, a little white smoking coming out of his nostrils. "I thought Ash had grown. Matured. Maybe not! And as for Shadow…You're right Ashachu. He deserves to die."

He looked back out the window, a hard look coming over his face. "I'd like to rip that eye out of his head myself!"

"Charizard no," Ashachu whispered urgently, feeling a pang of fear in his stomach.

The suddenly afraid tone in Ashachu's voice made Charizard turn his attention back to him, coxing his head curiously. "Hmmm Ashachu." Ashachu was gaping at him, a fearful look in his eyes.

"I agree that Shadow deserves to die but…You can't be the one to fight him. Look what he did to…" Ashachu trailed off, before saying, "All those other Pokémon."

Charizard frowned, as if a little offended by Ashachu's pronouncement. He opened his mouth as if to reply, but Ashachu cut him off.

"I know you're strong Charizard. And I know you've beaten legendries before but…You're not strong to take on Shadow." Ashachu bit his lip. "And, and I don't want to see you get hurt. I certainly don't want to see you get brutalised like that."

The frown on Charizard's face turned to a warm smile. "Hehehe. That's sweet of you to say, little chu."

Ashachu continued. "You have no idea how much I need you in my life. You were there for me when I was at my lowest. When nobody else was. I was coming apart and you put me back together. I love you, Charizard. And I can't imagine having to live in a world without you. And I never want to see you suffer the way Shadow has made other suffer. Nobody deserves to die like that, least of all y-you."

Ashachu heard his voice finally break. He felt something moist tickle his nose, and instinctively lapped at it with his tongue. It tasted salty – he had shed a single tear.

And he was not alone in doing so. Charizard sniffled, before leaning forward and licking Ashachu on the crown of his head. "Aww. You know little chu, I think that's the sweetest, kindest thing anyone has ever said to me. I'm touched Ashachu." He wiped a tear from his own eye with a claw. "You, very important to me as well Ashachu!"

"Then promise me you won't go trying to fight Shadow by yourself," said Ashachu, sternly.

Charizard sighed. "Alright. I promise."

Ashachu slumped back in his seat and shook his head. "Maybe Pikachu's right. Maybe we should try to find a way out of here." He looked into Charizard's deed green eyes. "Just the two of us. Find somewhere where there isn't anything but our love."

Charizard raised his brows. "You would do that! Just abandon Ash?"

Ashachu glanced at Ash, who was talking to Zacian, and shook his head, "No, I wouldn't."

"I wouldn't have blamed you if you did," said Charizard. "I stopped listening to him, for a lot less than what happened to you."

Ashachu breathed heavily and gave Charizard a weak smile. "I used to feel that way. I was really angry at my parents. I was angry at everyone, even Hunter. There was a brief time when I really did consider staying with Team Rocket." He added under his breath, "before they betrayed me…But like I said, it was you. Being with you has just made all my dark feelings disappear. As if you evaporated them with your flame."

Charizard beamed at Ashachu, then leaned forward and gave Ashachu another lick across his face. "Thanks, Ashachu. You've helped me a lot too. I feel…Really content when I'm around you." He glanced back out the window, then heaved a heavy sigh. "Ashachu…Can I ask you for something?"

"Of course," Ashachu replied. "What is it?"

"I know I said I wanted to take things slowly," said Charizard. "And of course, I'll never ever try to pressure you into anything you don't want to do but…Ashachu. I want to." He paused for a second, then shook his head. "No, let me rephrase that. Ashachu, will you do me the honour of…Of mating with me."

Ashachu blushed for a second. Even thought, they had decided to become, "boyfriends," they hadn't yet mated. The most they had done so far was a few intense make out sessions and light touching. The two had decided that – perhaps for obvious reasons – they should take things slowly.

"I just mean," said Charizard noticing Ashachu's face and hurriedly looking away. He scratched the back of his head with his claw. "If Shadow's going to kill us all, this might be our only…huh."

He stopped and looked down in surprise. For at that moment Ashachu had climbed onto the table, walked across it and flung his paws around the base of his neck.

"Ashachu? Does this mean?"

"It would be my honour Chari!"

[Pokémon]

Meanwhile – far away in the Hoenn Region….

Spoink….That was what the Pokémon was called, it looked a bit like a Tepig, if it was coloured grey and only consisted of its head and arms.

Spoink was round, with pointy ears and flat snout and curly tail, which it sat on like a spring due to an absence of legs. It's most distinguishing feature was the large shinning pearl that sat on the top of its head, between its pointy ears.

Spoink, the Bounce Pokémon. Spoink bounces about on its tail. The pearl upon its head helps to magnify its psychic powers. If the Spoink loses its pearl, it grows extremely tired…

"So that's a Spoink huh," Cameron said with a smile as he lowered his Pokédex. "Alright, then Hunter I choose you."

"Oruro…" Hunter leapt forward to face his new opponent, a confident grin on his face.

Spoinks trainer was only a young boy – half Cameron's height, and probably age too, likely only just starting out on his journey. This Spoink might have been his first catch or even his starter.

Hunter's grin widened and barked confidently, "rio, riolu." Ready to loose, Spoink!

Lucario gave him a disapproving growl.

"Alright kid, you can have the first move," said Cameron.

The other trainer scowled and replied, "thanks and my name's not kid, it's Bradley. Now Spoink, use Psybeam!"

"Hunter use quick attack and dodge it."

Spoink's eyes started to glow and a jagged beam of rainbow coloured light shot towards Hunter. Hunter started to run, leaping to the side to avoid being hit by Spoink's Psybeam – the rainbow, coloured light shot straight past him.

He flashed a grin at the pig like psychic type as he came closer, noticing it's eyes widening in worry. Oh yeah, this was going to an easy win…But before he could attack the little boy, Bradley, called out, "Spoink, use psychic!"

Spoinks eyes lit up a bright pink and Hunter suddenly felt his paws leaving the ground. He looked down and found to his horror that he was suspended in mid-air above. He tried to move his but couldn't. it was like he was encased in invisible cement.

"Oh shit!"

"Ah nuts," groaned Cameron, gritting his teeth. Hunter, a fighting type, was particularly vulnerable to a psychic attack.

Lucario folded his arms and said in a satisfied voice, "well Hunter, let's see you get yourself out of this."

"Shut up, I'm trying to think," Cameron snapped, before pulling the sweatband on his head out then releasing it, so it slapped him in the forehead.

Lucario rolled his eyes. "Does that actually help you think, or does it just give you a headache?"

Cameron wasn't listening, he was desperately trying to think of a way of getting Hunter out of this mess. "Hunter, try using a Vacuum Wave!"

"Rio…" Hunter tried, but found that he couldn't move his paws to aim at Spoink. "Nah…Can't move."

"I don't think he can move," said Lucario, making Cameron roll his eyes.

"Yeah, thanks for pointing out the obvious Lucario," he muttered under his breath. "Gotta think of a plan, gotta think of a plan…" And then his eyes fell upon the large pearl sitting on Spoink's. "Hey wait…"

What was it the Pokédex had said…? If the Spoink loses its pearl, it grows extremely tired.

"Hunter use copycat," snapped Cameron.

"You need to focus," shouted Lucario.

Hunter stared down at the Spoink tried to concentrate – which was hard when he was being suspended in the air, his body being twisted this way and that. The image of Spoink's eye lighting up flashed across his mind.

"Now Spoink," called out Bradley, "send that Riolu…hey what."

Hunter had become surrounded by a waving aura, and the pearl on the top of Spoink was covered in a blue shroud. Then slowly, very slow, it begun to rise into the air.

"Spoink Spoink!" Spoink gave a squeak of surprise as its most valued item floated away. It raised its short paws as if trying to grab it. "Spoink."

The pearl continued to rise into the air until was level with Hunter.

"Spoink Spoink Spoink." Spoink continued to cry out desperately, the pink colour in its eyes vanishing.

"Whoa!" Hunter felt the invisible force holding him up vanished, and he found himself falling to the ground. He managed to straighten himself, coming to land on his paws. His own psychic attack was unbroken and the pearl continued to hover high above them in the air.

Cameron punched the air triumphantly, "YES. Way to go Hunter!"

Bradley gave a cry of frustration. "Come on Spoink, we can still win this. Use Psybeam."

"Spoink…" the little pig like Pokémon fired another beam of rainbow light at Hunter. But it was noticeably far weaker than before. Now was their chance.

"Alright Hunter. Finish this with a focus blast!"

Hunter put his paws together and fired a blue orb of energy – it hit Spoink directly between the eyes…

[Pokémon]

"Hahaha…You rock Hunter," Cameron cheered, kneeling down and pulling Hunter into a tight hug, one he'd finished shaking hands with Bradley and congratulated him on a good match. "Way to go."

"Olu," Hunter yipped, accepting the embrace, a wide grin on his face. "Olu Riolu!"

Lucario was more reserved in his praise, saying sternly to Hunter, "You should wipe that smug grin off your face, Hunter," when he and Cameron parted. "That was a disappointing performance."

"Lucario," said Cameron in surprise, as Hunter coxed his head.

Lucario folded his arms. "The two of you let Spoink get the upper hand. It is a psychic type, you ought to have known it would do that. That battle turned on a Zigzagoon's whisker. But that Spoink was inexperienced. It shouldn't have."

Cameron gaped at him. "Oh, come on. We won didn't we."

"All I'm saying is that if the two of you are going to fight in the league, then Hunter needs to improve his focus."

"I was focusing," Hunter pouted, puffing out his cheeks angrily.

Cameron put his hands on his hips and shook his head at his partner. "You keep saying that Lucario. Yet Hunter and I have won every battle we've had recently. Including that won at Mauville gym." He put his hand on Lucario's shoulder and added, "Which you still owe me for. Don't forget."

Lucario blushed, a little rose colour appearing in his cheeks under his blue fur. "I haven't forgotten. I just don't want Hunter to become overconfident."

"I don't think he's overconfident," said Cameron.

Hunter sighed and looked down at his paws. Seriously, why did every little thing he did in battle earn him criticism. It was ruining the good mood he'd been in after his win. It was a time like this that Ashachu would put his paw on his shoulder and say something comforting.

I thought you were great Hunter, or You're a powerful fighting type in my book.

It helped that Hunter always defeated Ashachu in Pokémon battles. Usually, quite convincingly. He looked about, as if expecting to see Ashachu somewhere nearby. We he didn't see him; he felt a little cold and lonely inside.