Chapter 52 – Rainy Blue

"Lilligant, I choose you!"

Lusamine's ball opened in a burst of white light and out came a humanoid Pokémon that looked like a walking plant. It's head and toros comprised the stem, with several large green leaves sprouting from its middle like a dress. On the top of its head was a bright orange flower. Ash held up his Pokédex again.

Lilligant, the Flowering Pokémon. The flower on Lilligant's head gives off an aroma that can be very relaxing.

"Put Blade to sleep Lilligant," Lusamine commanded. "Use sleep…"

POP

She was cut off however before she could finish the sentence, as another flash of light shot from her belt, and a second Pokémon appeared beside Lilligant.

"Step aside Lilligant, I'll get that little brat out of the box." It was a Weavile, similar in appearance to Blade, except for a crown of feathers on the top of its head and the monovalent grin on its face.

"Cleave no!" cried Lusamine putting her hand over her mouth. She reached down to her belt and fumbled around for his Pokéball, but too late.

A series of nasty snarls echoed through the park as Cleave dragged Blade from the box by the scruff of his neck and threw him to the ground. "He he. Pathetic. Your Darkrai bitch is dead. Nobody to protect you now."

"Cleave leave him," Lusamine snapped.

Blade stared back up at the Weavile wide eyed before he let out a long sigh and mumbled. "Do it, do what you've wanted since I was born Cleave, kill me." His voice was little more than a whisper and eyes looked empty. "Kill me, as you so wanted to. Wipe away the worthless runt that should never have been born…"

"Cleave I'm warning you. Leave him."

Pikachu frowned sadly and whispered to Ash, "Should we do something."

Ash bit his lip. Could he really stand by and watch this Pokémon be hurt or even killed? Even if it was Blade? "I…I"

Cleave put a claw around Blade's neck and raised his other above his head. "You always were a useless runt. Time for you join your dear mother."

Blade just continued to stare straight at him. "Go on Cleave. Strangle me, stab me, rape me again if you so want, but make sure I die. And make sure I suffer the entire time…"

POP

For the second time a Pokéball burst open at the intention of the Pokémon inside and not at their trainer's calling – this time one of Ash's balls. There was another burst of white light and Ashachu materialised in the grass at Ash's feet.

"Hey…Ashachu. What are you?"

Ash didn't get a chance to finish his sentence before Ashachu let out a cry of "Piiikkaaa," then charged straight at Cleave. The Weavile barely had time to look up before he clobbered with an iron tail under his chin.

"Wea…" Cleave grunted with pain and staggered backwards, his claw falling away from Blade's throat. He managed to right himself before he fell over, his mean little eyes fixing on Ashachu. "Why you. Eat metal claw."

He took a run at Ashachu his claw raised ready to strike. Ashachu didn't move, remaining right in his path of attack. Instead, he left off a powerful thunderbolt attack, hitting Cleave a split second before Cleave has been about to strike.

The Weavile's entire body convulsed, his arms and legs going ridged, and his face contorted with pain. The electricity coursing through him had the effect of an X-ray, and the Weavile's skeleton came in and out of view as Ashachu discharged into him.

Finally, and after a surprising long time, Ashachu seemed to tucker himself out and the bright yellow sparks surrounding Cleave faded, leaving the Sneasel standing there ashen faced. He remained frozen on the spot for a second, leaving it unclear whether the attack had finished him off or not.

However, before he could either fall over and faint, or continue to attack, Lusamine returned him to his ball. "Cleave, return now!" She had finally found the right ball on her belt and held out towards Cleave. A red light shot from, disintegrating Cleave's body as touched the back of his head.

The Weavile quickly disappeared, leaving Blade staring at Ashachu. "Ashachu, you…saved me?"

Ashachu didn't reply. He just folded his arms across his chest and gave a single nod, a stony expression on his face. Then he returned himself to his Pokéball, disappearing into a cloud of that same mysterious red energy, that was sucked back to Ash's belt.

"Ashachu wai…"

Lilligant wandered over to Blade and placed a paw on the top of his head. A burst of orange spores burst from the flower on its head, falling over the Sneasel. Blade let out a soft groan, the claw outstretched towards where Ashachu had been standing fell to his side and his eyes head started to droop. A second later he collapsed onto the ground, fast asleep.

[Pokémon]

A few hours later…Aether Paradise, Alola Region…

"Gladion. Do you remember when you were six years old. You found an injured Eevee somewhere in the wild. I had expressly forbidden you to leave the estate, but you went out anyway and you found an injured Eevee."

"Mother." Gladion wandered into the hospital bay open to find his mother standing one of the beds. He wasn't entirely sure how she knew that it was him, as for the entire time she had kept her back to the door, her eyes on the bed. But then, a mother always knows!

"You brought it to me, knowing that I would not be pleased you had disobeyed me. But knowing also that I would never allow a Pokémon to suffer. I gave you a heal ball. You caught. You and that Eevee have been faithful partners ever since."

"Is there a point to this," Gladion asked gruffly as he approached the bed. Lying on it was a Sneasel, fast asleep. "This is Blade, isn't it?"

"Yes, this is Blade." Lusamine stroked the Sneasel's face, from his cheek to his chin. "This Sneasel represents the sum total of all of the poor decisions that have been made at the Aether Foundation in the last few months. I should never have permitted Faba to start the P2 Laboratory. I should never have commissioned those experiments. And I never should have asked Shadow to assist us in reclaiming that lost Type: Null."

"I did try to warn you," said Gladion irritably, but Lusamine ignored him.

"Shadow, since he was freed from P2, has caused so much misery and suffering to so many Pokémon. So many dead. The Charizard he tried to drown in its own blood. The Pikachu who's tail he cut off." She sighed then finally turned to look at her son. "And so, this is my apology to you Gladion. You were right and I was wrong. And I'm going to listen to you from now on."

Gladion raised an eyebrow. "Well. That took a long time."

"Don't be glib with me, there is a lot of work to do," Lusamine snapped, her tone going from wistful to sharp in the space of a single sentence. "And time is of the essence. The breach is expanding, more ultra-beasts are appearing by day. I need your help."

"What is it that you want me to do," asked Gladion.

"First, I want you to contact your sister. I want her back, Gladion. I miss her terribly and I want her back. And then I want you to help me run the Aether Foundation. You are intelligent and an adept trainer. I want you to put both these skills to use in a positive and challenging way. No more grunt work for Team Skull. Gladion, I am making you the Aether Branch Chief. At least temporarily."

Gladion was taken aback by this. He took a deep intake of breath, not sure how to respond. After a second, he settled on, "I thought that position was given to that scientist, Lyte."

"As of right now, Lyte no longer has a place in the Aether Foundation. Our IT team ran a diagnostic of the system and found several irregular file downloads from his user. It seems he gave highly sensitive information about Ash and his team to Shadow, for the purpose of assisting Shadow to murder that poor Pikachu. That is not what the Aether Foundation stands for."

Gladion looked curious but said nothing.

"And I am placing this Weavile into your care." She took a Pokéball off her belt and handed it to Gladion.

Gladion didn't immediately reached out to take it, but instead frowned at his mother.

"This is Cleave," said Lusamine, reading the expression on his face. "Blade's father. He was not a good father. He abused and tried to kill Blade on multiple occasions. I had hoped that in the care of a trainer, with adequate food and the intervention of a counsellor, and of course without Shadow, Blade and Cleave could reconcile. What happened today at Cerise Park proves otherwise. So, I am separating them. Cleave is mean spirited but strong. Make something of him, Gladion."

[Pokémon]

Several hours later…Pallet Town, Kanto Region…

Charizard had never liked the rain…In fact he hated the rain. Hated every droplet of water that fell from the sky, pelleting his scales and irritating his skin and making his tail steam up. He despised the cold, sapping his energy making him slow.

On nights like this, when the rain pelted the roof and the wind howled shaking the trees and the air turned cold, it was all he could do not to be transported back in his mind to the rock where his old trainer has left him.

Left him with nothing but a single green leave to shelter from the elements under, and a promise to return. Nothing but a leaf to keep his flame alight. Thankfully on this night he had Ashachu with him to comfort him.

Nestled together in the small cave Charizard slept in when he lived on Professor Oak's ranch in Pallet Town. A boulder in front of the entrance keeping them sheltered from the elements and a small fire burning in a corner kept, along with the natural warmth from Charizard, it warm and dry.

Charizard was curled up at the very end of the cage, his tail curled around his body and his head resting on his claws. Ashachu had nestled himself comfortably in the crook of Charizard's neck, between his head and his chest.

"Today when we were at Cerise Park," said Charizard sleepily. "I heard you let yourself out your ball to help that Sneasel? Is that true?"

"Hmm." Ashachu's eyes were closed, and he was just drifting off to sleep when his boyfriends words brought him back. It took him a moment to process what Charizard said.

"Well Ashy. Did you go and battle some other Pokémon for that Sneasel?"

"His name's Blade," Ashachu said, more out of habit. It had used to bother him a lot when other Pokémon and humans would refer to Blade as that Sneasel. It didn't bother him as much coming from Charizard, but it still did.

And to his pleasant surprise, Charizard replied, "Sorry Blade. You went out your way to help him. Even after everything he did? Do you still care about him?"

"I don't still have feelings for him it that's what you mean," said Ashachu, a little more defensively than he meant.

"I didn't," said Charizard.

The slightly hurt tone in his voice made Ashachu feel a little ashamed and he added quickly, "Sorry Charizard. I didn't mean…"

"I know. I just meant. Even after everything. You still care for him. Platonically."

Ashachu sighed deeply and gave a weak smile. His memories of Blade flashed wistfully in his mind. "Of course, I still care about him. He was my friend. He was kind and went out of his way to be my friend. He was cool and exciting to be with. Kind of like you, Charizard! I feel really bad for him. His pack rejected him. His dad tried to kill him. The only friend I think he had before me was Shadow. And Shadow only wanted to possess and control him, from what I saw. Yes, Shadow did terrible things, including to you. But that was Shadow, not Blade."

"He let all that happen though," grumbled Charizard. "He could have stopped it. He stopped Shadow from. Err." He briefly trailed off before saying, "On the Centurion… But he let Shadow try to murder me on the train. And you, and our egg."

"He was hanging off the side of the train," Ashachu protested. "I don't think he could have intervened. Besides, no Pokémon deserves to be treated like that by. Not by somebody who is supposed to care for them. Even if they have done bad things."

"Perhaps you've just got a kinder heart than me Ashachu," Charizard rumbled, a little putt of white smoke emitting from his nostrils.

"Aww." Ashachu stood up from his comfortable position against Charizard's neck, placed his paws on the side of the lizard's head and rubbed him gently. Charizard closed his eyes lazily and let out a pleasured grunt, seemingly enjoying it. "I'm not saying that Blade didn't do bad things, because he did. He did terrible things…To both of us Chari and yeah. I am angry at him for letting that happen to you. He can be a real asshole and I won't be playing with him again. Ever. But those times we played and trained together still mean a lot to me. And that's why I stood up for him."

"Like I said. You've got a kind heart, Ashy. Maybe that's why being with you feels so good. Charla was the same."

Ashachu ignored the reference to the old girlfriend and continued to rub Charizard's head. "I guess we all have light and dark within us." His voice waivered. "I-I know I do. I've done bad things, just like Blade."

Charizard opened an eye. "No Ashy, you haven't," he said curtly. "If you mean that crap with Team Rocket."

Ashachu nodded, gritting his teeth.

"Ashachu listen to me." Charizard lifted his head, raising it high enough so as to give Ashachu a lick on the cheek. "Ash had that coming. As did the rest of them. Especially that little brat Geyser." He snorted.

"Yeah, but I…I." Ashachu felt a tear well up in his eye, a sick sense of guilt coming over him. Normally he didn't think about that day, to avoid the guilty feelings from getting to him.

"It wasn't your fault how that situation ended," Charizard said comfortingly. "Team Rockets toys usually break pretty quickly. I've smashed plenty of them before. You had no way of knowing that was going to happen. I've been with Ash a long time now, and I can't think of a single time those dweebs have ever posed a real threat."

"I should never had…"

"Ashachu stop." Charizard was firm. His booming dragon voice had a silencing effect on the much smaller mouse Pokémon. "Don't put yourself down. When everybody you know and love turns their back on you and pushes you away, your broken heart can send you to places you would never expect. Humans aren't owed our loyalty and power Pokémon, just because they are our trainers. I didn't listen to Ash for years because he was being stupid. You had every right to be upset, and in your position, I'd be tempted to teach him a lesson too. Stop beating yourself up."

Charizard's words didn't extinguish his guilty, but they did make him feel better. Just as they had the first night they had really talked, after Hunter had left him. He winced. That memory always stabbed him in the heart, each time it resurfaced in his mind.

Seemingly understanding how he felt, Ashachu felt a pair of large yet gentle claws warp around him. At the same time, Charizard pressed his nose against his neck and nuzzled him. "There's nothing wrong or dark about you Ashachu. You're amazing. You make me feel like the luckiest Charizard in the world having you as a mate."

That brought a smile to Ashachu's face and suddenly made him feel a lot lighter, the dark thoughts that had descended on his mind evaporating. "Thanks Chari. You always know just what to say."

He soon found himself back in the crook of Charizard's neck, with the dragon's body wrapped around him.

"I was scared Ashachu," Charizard said, once they had settled back down. His voice was so low it had almost become a whisper. "I thought Shadow was going to kill me. I didn't think that I was scared of dying. I've faced death before."

Ashachu felt his chest tighten at what Charizard was telling him. "Pika," he cooed, unable to think of anything else to say."

"But I was terrified. And the reason I was terrified. Was because of you. I was scared of what would happen if I left you alone in this world. Certainly not when you cling to me so tightly. While you were still having issues with your parents. But most importantly because I know my leaving would cause you pain. Worse than that I would be leaving with our egg. A little Charmander hatchling who would never know me. Zacian is right. The worst sin that Shadow committed was against the families and loved ones of the Pokémon he killed."

Ashachu sniffled. He put a paw to his cheek and felt dampness in his fur. He really was crying now. "Oh Charizard!"

"And then Shadow was going to kill and torture you as well. And wasn't able to protect you. I failed as a mate. I wasn't able to be your guardian angel. Just know Ashachu that. If I had died. My last thoughts would have been of you."

Ashachu blinked to clear the tears away. The he pushed himself forward, clambering onto the side of Charizard's head and nuzzling him softly. "Pika Pika." He couldn't think of a response, so he expressed himself in nuzzling.

"That's why I'm angry," Charizard continue. "Blade could have stopped that, but he didn't. He was complicit. He stayed with Shadow, stayed as his mate, and let him Shadow manipulate him. It's his fault we ever came into contact with Shadow. I won't lie. Right now, I want to rip him apart and set him on fire. Send him to the pits of hell to join that blasted Darkrai." Hs voice grew bitter, and more steam came from his nostril. "But now that you've told me how you feel, I think I understand. I love you Ashy, and respect how you feel about Blade."

"I love you too, Chari," Ashachu replied. It was all he could think to say. "With all my heart…"