First encounter
Xxxxxxxxx
What do I do? Ash wondered his gritting his teeth so hard his jaw ached. The adult ground-types had fallen quickly when the Rocket's backup had arrived, and the stronger Rocket's Pokemon were barely hurt. Even with his entire team he couldn't defeat an adult Donphan cleanly. But, they were young Donphan. The boy shook his head vigorously, and tightened his grip on Gore's ear. Even if the Donphan were only a couple years older than Vulpix, the cows would still have been too much for every member of the team, except maybe Gore.
But, if I leave them who knows what Team Rocket'll do? Team Rocket was the most powerful criminal organization in the world. They likely had hundreds of thousands of trainers that are more experienced than Ash, not one of them possesses an ounce of morality. The trainer didn't know exactly where the Rockets came from, only that they had been around since his grandfather had been a boy. For around fifty years they had ruled the underground and had even been strong enough to challenge the League ten years ago, albeit indirectly. During the four year war they killed thousands of people and Pokemon, and left hundreds families in mourning.
They had even managed to kill former Champion Agatha and Champion Karen, before Bruno defeated their leader. He shuddered, a cold hand seeming to grip his heart, at the thought of the Rockets attacking his family or the corral. Astonishingly, Pallet had been mostly untouched by the first war.
Gore grunted insistently and butted him lightly. Ash flinched and snapped his head to his partner, expecting to see a Rocket Pokemon attacking them. He glanced around the boulder they had made their hiding place. Gore and the others - including Vulpix to his shock - were staring beyond the Rockets. What?
Then, he saw it, a giant, black body rolling toward the Rockets with startling speed. The beast neared and the Rockets Pokemon finally noticed it. The criminal's Pokemon fired attack after attack at the surging titan, to no avail. The beast barreled through the van, sending the two hunks of metal skidding yards away from it. The Pokemon came to a stop in front of the large boulder they were hiding behind. Ash and his team barely noticed, too stunned by the Pokemon's display of power to be afraid of it being so near them.
Ash flinched as it uncurled itself. That's right; Donphan females live in herds, headed by an experienced and powerful matriarch. The matriarch had to have been six feet tall at her shoulder, and probably weighed over two tons. The trainer sighed in relief, if the matriarch was as powerful as Tiny or the Ninetales then they weren't necessary. His shoulders relaxed, and he hugged a still unmoving Gore to his chest with one arm.
Bulbasaur snapped out of her shock and leaped to his chest. Ash hugged the shivering saurian tightly. Krabby clicked uncertainly and moved behind his legs. The trainer flinched at the action. It wasn't the first time Krabby had been frightened, but he had never reacted so strongly. Vulpix was frozen and staring beyond the Donphan wide-eyed. When he had looked away, the criminals released a small, furious looking Nidoking. Gore stared at the patriarch blankly for a moment then he snarled. He tore himself out of the boy's grip and rushed around the boulder. Ash drew the boar's Pokeball faster than ever before and returned the boar before he could reveal their hiding place. The feisty swine wouldn't last a moment against a king. How the hell do they even have a Nidoking?
The Nidoking roared and charged the large Donphan, who met him without hesitation. Donphan overpowered the smaller Pokemon with ease and sent the poison-type skidding yards away from it. Donphan roared and rushed the downed male with her tusks lowered and her eyes narrowed. Nidoking rose quickly and scrambled out of her path. The monarch spat a large glob of poison at Donphan's back, making her roar in agony. Ash flinched at the volume of the cry. We have to help.
At least we get to be the ones that look cool this time. "We're gonna help her," he told his team. They stared at him wide-eyed as though he had lost all reason. "We've got to! They need us," the trainer said peering into their eyes. Krabby moved out from behind his legs and gurgled quietly. Ash grinned at the water-type and then looked at his girls hopefully. Bulbasaur mewled and buried her face in his neck. Vulpix glared at him and huffed.
He sighed, frustrated, "We have to! Rockets are evil people who think of their Pokemon as tools! They'll make them breed and separate them from their offspring!" Bulbasaur stiffened before warbling and licking his cheek. The saurian hopped down next to Krabby on shaky legs. She shuffled in place before snorting with a look of determination. It warmed the boy's heart that they were willing to fight for him as afraid as she was. Krabby gurgled and raised his claws. "What about you?" Ash asked turning to Vulpix.
The vixen shuffled and then snapped her head away from his gaze. The boy gritted his teeth when the Donphan uttered another pained cry. "Go hide behind that," he muttered pointing to another boulder twenty yards away from them. Vulpix looked at him as though he were an impossible puzzle and then sprinted to her new hiding place. Ash released Gore the moment she entered Quick Attack.
The ice-type blinked, and then froze and sniffed the air. "Buddy, I know you hate Nidos, but I need you to listen to me!" Ash pleaded grabbing the boar by his tusks, and making him look his trainer in the eye. Gore growled but didn't try to free himself. "Those Sandshrew and Phanpy are just babies, and they've been captured by poachers," he said his gaze unwavering. The swine's eyes widened at the word and he growled. "But you can't save them by fighting Nidoking," Ash finished.
Gore snarled and gritted his teeth so hard he drew blood. Ash knew he was asking a great deal of his partner. After millennia of being hunted by the poison-types and competing with them for food, they had developed an instinctual hatred of the Nidos. They hated none with more passion than the patriarchs, who were the primary hunters and protectors of their herds. Gore closed his brown eyes and grunted quietly. The swine butted his chest gently.
"Then let's go!" Ash said grinning so widely his face hurt.
Xxxxxxxxx
It's a good thing Donphan don't tire easy. Even facing a Nidoking and the remaining Rocket Pokemon, the matriarch was holding her own. Then again, she did kill many of the Pokemon with that Rollout, mainly the Zubat who had perched themselves on the van and were too tired to fly. A burning feeling crept up his throat when he saw another mangled bat. The shielded Bulbasaur's eyes as best he could.
Pokemon could handle death better than most humans could but he didn't want to risk traumatizing her. Gore was staring at the bodies wide-eyed but continued to creep behind Ash loyally. Krabby only seemed mildly disturbed by the corpses. He probably saw worse in the forest. Ash grimaced, given the Beedrill population he probably had seen much worse. Fortunately, it was the time of year the Weedle were preparing to evolve when they were passing through. For a month and a half, the Beedrill were restricted to guarding the Kakuna.
Ash blinked when Gore nudged him. "Sorry," the trainer whispered. They peered around the cacti they had been hiding behind, "Do not charge them," he ordered giving Krabby and Gore significant looks. Krabby ignored him; opting to keep his eyes on the battle, but Gore huffed, offended by the implication. The trainer set Bulbasaur back down and pointed to two Rockets standing near the vans, "Ice Shard," he said his eyes closed.
Ash flinched when the Rockets crumpled. He gulped and then rushed beyond the cacti with his team close behind. They're pokemon abusers and murderers they don't deserve sympathy! Besides, I told Gore to hold back. He shook his head vigorously this wasn't the time. Ash opened the door as quietly as possible. They had been extremely lucky to avoid detection thus far. He wasn't going to push their luck any further. "Oi what happened to you?" a deep voice questioned loudly. A large man with an equally large stomach was striding toward the downed rockets.
Ash cursed. There went our luck. "Water Pulse!" he muttered quickly. The criminal cried out when the swirling orb of water hit him, then was quickly silenced by an Ice Shard smashing into his chin. The boy hopped into the van. That definitely would have been heard. Hopefully, the Donphan matriarch's trumpeting and the Nidoking's roars would distract them. He grabbed a large, black bag and tossed it down to Krabby. The water-type snipped the side of the bag and peered into the hole. He clicked an affirmative and Ash fist pumped. He threw the remaining three bags down to his team, and then hopped out of the van. "One more guys," he said with a grin.
"And who are you?" a high, haughty voice demanded. The trainer stiffened and turned quickly. It was the redheaded woman, and she had the Arbok and Lickitung with her. Ash gritted his teeth as his team took positions around him each eyeing her pokemon warily. "Who are you, little boy? How did you find us?" she asked again with a condescending smirk. Arbok hissed, and displayed the pattern on its chest, making the intimidating snake seem even more frightening. Ash gulped and Bulbasaur took a step back at the display.
Gore pawed the ground with a snarl and Krabby cloaked himself with bubbles. Ash took a deep breath. "Don't look afraid," he whispered as much to the dinosaur as himself, "It'll attack if you do," he added taking another deep, calming breath. He glanced beyond her. Donphan had already defeated the Nidoking. Leaving the Nido patriarch face down in a puddle of blood and was now being double-teamed by the Carnivine and Weepinbell. Judging by her sluggish movements, she was hanging on by a thread. Ash's eyes narrowed there was only one choice.
"The strong silent type huh," the redhead said with a frown, "Doesn't matter you'll be singing like a canary soon," she added with a devious smirk. Gore snarled and fired an Ice Shard at the criminal that was smacked away by Lickitung's tongue. The normal-type groaned as a portion of its primary weapon was frozen.
"Gore, go help Donphan! Krabby get Arbok, Bulbasaur get Lickitung!" Ash barked clenching his fists. Gore bellowed and took off toward the matriarch's battle. The swine discharged an Icy Wind at the Weepinbell, who cried out in agony before collapsing.
"Bella!" the blue-haired rocket cried rushing to the Weepinbell. Ash stared at the man uncomprehending, as he cradled the grass-type to his chest. The Rocket glared at Gore and released a Growlithe. "Everybody take care of that Donphan!" he barked gritting his teeth. The swine turned away from the Rockets shouted their affirmation and released their Pokemon. The criminals released three Rattata, two Raticate, three Grimer, and four Houndour. Ash paled, even if the majority of them weren't very strong, his team couldn't possibly defeat half of them.
"Growlie, grill that pig with Flame Charge!" he snarled at the Growlithe pointing at Gore.
Growlie barked, and shot toward the swine like a dart with fire surrounding the dog. "Gore behind you, and Mud Shot!" Ash cried frantically. The boar turned his attention to Ash with a confused blink just as he was rammed in the side by Growlie. Gore squealed and flailed as the intense heat seeped past his layers of fat, but was unaffected by the force of the blow. The fire-type yipped in pain, when the pig's hoof slammed into its chest and threw it onto its back. "Don't let it back off!" the trainer ordered.
"Quit ignoring me!" the redheaded rocket cried stomping her foot. Ash didn't hear the frustrated woman, the boy's was mind completely focused on his partner's battle. The fire-type narrowly rolled out of the charging boar's path. Growlie whimpered and ran when Gore circled back toward it.
"You're supposed to chase it!" the blue-haired rocket cried to his fleeing Growlithe. Ash scoffed, and turned back to his other Pokemon. As long as Gore kept his temper in check, the dog wouldn't be a threat to him. Worry gripped his heart when he couldn't see Bulbasaur. He tugged on the bill of hat this wasn't the time. The crab Pokemon was keeping Arbok at bay with his claws and mastery over Harden, but couldn't get around the snake's reflexes. Finally, Arbok seemed to accept that it couldn't pierce the crab's armor. Ash blinked, he had expected an Arbok to be far stronger.
"Poison Sting!" the rocket woman commanded scowling. Ash's eyes widened in alarm when Arbok's marked chest puffed out. It spat poison in the form of needles at his Pokemon, who was quickly covered by the white sheen of Harden. Krabby hissed and glared balefully at the snake. The crab shot three Water Guns at the poison-type, only for the snake to evade the concentrated streams of water without effort. "Just give up and it won't too hurt much!" she said shaking with the force of her laughter.
"Bubble!" Ash barked gnashing his teeth. Krabby chirped and shot a spray of Bubbles into Arbok's chest knocking the snake onto its back. "Water Gun!" the trainer ordered with a snarl. The water-type fired Water Gun after Water Gun at the defenseless snake, who hissed and shrieked in pain.
"That's enough!" the trainer ordered placing a firm hand on the crab's claw. Arbok's body was covered by as much red as purple now. Ash eyed the snake hesitantly, if it wasn't given a potion soon it could die. Pokemon raised by amoral people tended to be bad themselves; he had to free the wild Pokemon first. So why does it still bother me? The trainer sighed and turned toward the red-haired woman.
"Get out of the way or Krabby'll use you for target practice," Ash told the Rocket as he and Krabby strode toward her. She gulped and took a large step back.
"Get up, you useless reptile!" the criminal cried clenching her fists. Arbok hissed weakly and rose slightly - to Ash and Krabby's shock - before slumping again.
"Have it your way," Ash sighed, "Bubb-" the trainer's command was interrupted by a shriek and a small form wobbling toward him. "Bulbasaur?" the boy blinked. The saurian stumbled to a stop in front of him panting heavily. Ash quickly knelt in front of the dinosaur and scanned her for injuries.
She didn't seem hurt, though she was favoring her front, right leg. Ash's eyes narrowed, she must have been licked by the Lickitung. The greatest feature the normal-type's possessed was their numbing saliva. A single lick could leave an opponent limping or even unable to battle. Numbing saliva was one of the most dangerous abilities a close-range Pokemon could posses. The boy shut his eyes tightly; leaving her alone with it had been idiotic.
His eyes snapped open when he heard a loud squeak. Lickitung had returned, and had positioned itself in front of the Rocket. The normal-type whined sadly when it saw the wounded Arbok. "They hurt Winder!" the Rocket woman cried pointing at him accusingly.
"Oh crap," Ash muttered when the Pokemon turned to them with a snarl. "Bubble and Energy Ball! We can't let it get close!" he snapped as Lickitung surged toward the team. Krabby quickly fired an impressive spray of bubbles. The normal-type stumbled but continued its charge, far slower this time. Bulbasaur warbled and gathered grass-type energy in front of her mouth. Ash smirked; with the bubbles, slowing it down it would have to take the Energy Ball full on. Then, the Energy Ball dispersed.
The trainer cursed, grabbed his team, and then, leaped out of Lickitung's path. He hit the ground hard, making him wince. "Shoulda known that wouldn't work," he muttered face palming. Lickitung blinked confusedly, and then turned back to them with a growl. So, the big guy isn't very bright. Krabby wiggled out of his hold, and stepped in front of him with a chirp. The crab waved his claws threateningly and cloaked himself with Bubbles.
"Jessie!" the blue-haired man shouted running to the redhead.
"Can't you see I'm busy James?" Jessie snapped her eyes fixed on her opponents. "I'll wrap this up quickly, I promise," the criminal said with a grin. Ash's eyes narrowed at the remark and Bulbasaur growled.
"We caught the Donphan!" James interrupted with a proud grin. "And the Nidoking the boss gave us should be completely fine!"
"Wonderful!" the redhead chirped hugging the man. Ash gaped as Lickitung hopped from side to side happily. Krabby hissed and waved his right claw, offended by the dismissal. The boy's eyes narrowed, this was their chance!
"Water Pulse and Water Gun," the trainer whispered. Krabby chirped and shot the largest, rippling orb he had ever created at Lickitung. The normal-type stumbled and cried out in agony when the orb crashed into its head. The crab fired Water Gun after Water Gun into its opponent's large, round body. Lickitung groaned before it collapsed.
"Licki!" Jessie cried worriedly pushing herself out of James' arms.
"Nice one!" Ash cheered pumping his fist. The crab gurgled weakly in response, his claws drooping. Bulbasaur cooed and wiggled free of Ash's hold. She stepped in front of the tired crab and growled.
"You'll pay for that brat! Go, Golia!" James snapped releasing the Golbat from earlier. A whining, red blur slammed into the man's side knocking him onto its back. Golia squeaked worriedly, the criminal groaned in pain. Ash and his team stared at them wide-eyed.
"Growlie, what's wrong with you?" Jessie cried pulling the frantic dog off the criminal. Growlie whimpered urgently, before turning to the direction it had come from with a look of horror. A large black form was racing toward the rockets. Jessie paled, "Get the hell up!" she cried yanking James to his feet. The criminals leaped out of the Pokemon's path with all their might. The beast circled back this time in Ash's direction.
"Great timing, Gore!" the trainer said with a smirk. His partner nuzzled him, and then turned back to their opponents with a glare and a growl. Growlie moved to hide behind James' legs with a whine. "Are you gonna give up?" the boy asked as Jessie recalled her wounded Pokemon. The redhead scowled, but took a step back when Gore and Bulbasaur growled. Ash tugged on the bill of his hat and inhaled deeply. His eyes opened immediately when the rumbling of a large vehicle made itself known.
The criminals sighed in relief when one of the vans parked next to them. "C'mon you idiots! There's a Kingdra coming!" a nasally voice screamed over the van. Ash grinned ferally, there was only one reason a Kingdra would be in the canyon. The rockets squeaked and scrambled into the vehicle.
"Ice Shard on the windows! Water Gun, Acid on the tires!" Ash barked. "Don't hold back, full tilt!" he added quickly as his Pokemon inhaled deeply. Gore's Ice Shard hit the van's right window, and bounced off leaving only a small crack. The van sped away from Bulbasaur's poison, but its back, right tire was clipped by Krabby's pressurized stream of water. "Stop!" the trainer shouted as the criminals made their escape.
Krabby and Bulbasaur voiced their understanding quietly. Gore continued to glare at the van until it was out of their sight. Ash sighed and covered his eyes with his hat. The trainer did not care if they missed a TM; he wanted to leave this desert as soon as possible. He smiled when Gore butted his chest lightly. "You guys are amazing," he said smiling as he scratched his partner behind his floppy ears. The Piloswine snorted as though such a thing should have been obvious. "And humble!" he laughed as Krabby held himself in the most regal manner he could manage in his current state, and Bulbasaur warbled.
Ash glanced over his shoulder. Hero and Misty were only a few hundred yards away. The trainer knelt and hugged his Pokemon to his chest with a small smile. Were it not for his team, three bags worth of pokemon would have belonged to the Rockets. Ash couldn't have been prouder.
Xxxxxxxxxx
Thank you for reading. Have a wonderful day!