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Episode 13

Yanked

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"Gore you really oughta be resting with the others," Ash said, giving the boar a chastising look. Gore grunted stubbornly and turned his back on the boy. Brat. "Anyway, you guys ready?" the trainer inquired. "I meant girls!" he corrected quickly when Vulpix narrowed her eyes. Bulbasaur crooned and shuffled in place. Ash smiled gently and patted her head. He turned to the technical move translator. Or at least, he thought that was what it was named.

The translator was a simple machine. It stood taller than the boy, was a couple feet wide, and was a dull gray. Aside from the darker buttons it was completely forgettable. Ash swallowed and inserted the disc for Mega Drain. Then he lifted Bulbasaur up onto the table next to translator. The small, black spot she sat on was where the information would be filtered through. The trainer frowned. Given that there were only a few trainers in the town an older model was efficient. She warbled anxiously when the machine made several whirring noises. Ash rubbed her side with one hand and patted a growling Gore with the other.

The saurian jumped and brought out here vines when the machine clicked loudly. "Easy, easy!" Ash snapped when Gore and Vulpix lowered themselves to the ground. "It just means it's done," he said in a gentler tone. "Do you feel any different?" the trainer inquired turning to Bulbasaur. The grass-type narrowed her eyes, then she shuffled. Ash's heart sank, without Mega Drain their battles were that much more difficult. Mega Drain could not only heal her, it could potentially be used to improve the power of Leech Seed. Then she jumped off the table, looked up at him, and warbled. "Great! Vulpix it's your turn!" he chirped with a wide smile.

The vixen yelped when he tore her off the ground. The vixen glared at her trainer's back as he hurried to put Reflect into the machine. Gore stared at him as though he had lost all sense, but Ash ignored him. Reflect would pave the way to two great moves for Vulpix, Psywave and Light Screen. Bulbasaur hid behind Gore when he cackled.

Light Screen was a barrier technique that strongly resisted elemental attacks. It was arguably the greatest defensive move a Pokemon with psychic abilities Pokemon could learn. Psywave wasn't nearly as useful, but it was also far less strenuous than advanced telekinetic attacks such as Psychic. The click snapped him from his thoughts. "Well? You got it right?" Ash asked, forcing himself to keep his tone.

The vixen gave him a condescending sniff and hopped off the table. She held her tails in what was likely her best imitation of the Ninetales. "Good," he said with a vicious smirk. "Now-" the trainer shuddered as a cold feeling crept up his spine. Ghost Pokemon! Gore snarled and charged the ghost with Take Down. Ash and Vulpix dove out of the boar's path with startled yelps. The boar crashed through the ghost's form and into the translator. Ash winced. Gods, I'm going to be relying on my mother till I'm seventeen!

Bulbasaur shot a seed that hit the Haunter between its eyes. The seed sprouted several, glowing vines that wrapped around the ghost's head. Haunter shrieked before tearing the seed off. Ash blinked. Bulbasaur blinked. "Has that ever happened before?" the boy whispered. The saurian snorted a denial. "Didn't think so," he muttered rising to his feet. Haunter snarled and cocked a claw back.

"Gaari?" Janine's voice called with hope. The Haunter's face split into a happy grin, then she flew to her trainer with her arms spread wide. Vulpix and Gore strode to his side with vengeful gleams in their eyes. Ash held out an arm and shook his head. Vulpix hissed, then turned her back on him and began to clean her paws. Gore snarled and kicked a piece of what used to be the table into the wall. Ash sighed and hid his eyes with the bill of his hat. "I was so worried about you," Janine mumbled into the ghost's shoulder. Gaari had the decency to look ashamed.

For disappearing when Janine needed her, not for attacking Ash and his team. The ghost's sad, red eyes and pout might have moved him were it not for that little fact. Gary crashed through the double doors and into the lobby with Aria and Wedge on his heels. "What's happening? Is it Team Rocket?" Gary questioned in a rush. The brown-haired boy scoured the lobby as though he expected to be ambushed at any moment.

"Just catching up," Ash sighed patting Gore's side. A moment later, Mr. Fuji and his male Marowak shoved through the doors. "It's okay, just got a bit excited," the trainer affirmed. He glanced back at the translator. Well, maybe more than a bit.

"Very well then," the old trainer said with a slow nod. The veteran clearly didn't believe him, but didn't seem to think it wasn't worth pushing the issue.

"Mr. Fuji there's something I've been wondering," Janine began as she stepped out of her ghost's embrace. Ash couldn't help but notice the furtive glance she sent Gaari as though she expected the ghost to disappear in a moment. Gaari noticed too, judging by the way her red eyes fell. "Where's everybody else? The only people we've seen so far are the ones in the basement and the back," she questioned.

"Many years ago, Lady Agatha and I created a tunnel that leads to Dark Town in the southern part of town, many likely fled there. Many more are in the Pokemon Tower guarded by Rockets," Mr. Fuji answered seating himself. "I don't think the Rockets have killed any of them," he added. Janine gave a relieved sigh while Gary and Ash smiled. "You children have done very well," the veteran said quietly his eyes shut. "Even so, a sad day when children fight for cowering adults," he murmured.

Ash couldn't help but agree. The people here didn't give their Pokemon even the most basic training. His mother wasn't a skilled trainer, the only powerful Pokemon she had was trained by Arcia, but she would never allow herself to be so weak that children would have to fight alone. He thought of Johnny, Tracey, and of Mr. Roberts. No, the people of Pallet wouldn't sit idly by while he and Gary fought. The fact that only Mr. Fuji and the ghost-type trainers could fight was inexcusable.

Abira the Crobat rushed through the center's doors with a screech. Mr. Fuji shot from his chair with the speed of a man half his age. "From what direction?" he demanded. "We're surrounded," he muttered when the Crobat blew a light gust.

"Surrounded?" Ash repeated tugging on his hat.

"I'll take the back and the right, you take the left and the front," Mr. Fuji said glancing at his partner. "Talc tell Beryl to guard the people, and not to leave them unless I give the signal," he ordered. The Marowak snorted, then he sprinted through the double doors.

"Will you be okay alone?" Janine asked as she released Crowie.

"I'm never alone child," the veteran said with a smile that made the wrinkles around his eyes crinkle. "Now go! And watch out for one another!" he barked over his shoulder as he and his team strode away.

"You ready?" Ash asked, glancing at his team. They looked offended by the question. Ash released King with a smirk.

xxxxxxx

"I'm glad I chose the front," Ash remarked as he walked down the white steps. Gore and King strode in front of him, their eyes hard. They'd been looking forward to this rematch too. Bulbasaur crooned worriedly when she saw the Lickitung. "You're stronger than you were then," the trainer offered quietly, his eyes trained on the criminals. These two were on a different playing field from the grunts they'd been fighting. He'd need to be alert.

"Gods, I should have known," James muttered pinching the bridge of his nose. Weepinbell glared at Gore and Arbok glared at King. Floating above James' shoulder was a Koffing with a dopey grin. The trainer crossed his arms over his chest. Koffing was a purple, round Pokemon with several raised parts of its hide that could puff out poisonous gas. If he wasn't careful it could easily kill Vulpix or King. Growlie the Growlithe growled at his team from the criminal's side. Ash twitched when he noticed the dark look Vulpix gave the dog. The dog may have worked with a criminal, but it still didn't deserve what she'd likely do to it.

"This time, you'll not be running," Jessie promised with a dark smile. Winder, the Arbok, raised itself up to display the pattern on its chest that only intimidated Bulbasaur.

"Me running? I seem to recall you guys bolting like a baby Nidoran at the sight of Hero," Ash retorted with a smirk. His smirk widened when Jessie's face took on a color similar to her hair. Carnivine isn't here, eh? Guess it was hurt when they took the town. If so... "Don't show fear. Take out the Koffing first," he whispered so lowly that he knew only Vulpix, King, and Gore could hear.

"Poison Gas attack!" James barked pointing at him. Koffing gurgled cheerfully, then it floated several yards away from its trainer so it was floating over its fellow Pokemon.

"Stop it!" Ash snapped, panic seeping into his tone. Acting quickly, Vulpix shot a small ball of purple fire at their opponent and King shot a Water Gun. An instant later, Koffing shot a cloud of poisonous gas at the team. Vulpix's Ember penetrated the cloud and ignited an explosion that completely consumed the enemies' Pokemon. Koffing fell from the sky like a Pidgey with a broken wing. Ash and his team stared at the smoke with bated breath and wide eyes. Jessie and James uncovered themselves with similar expressions. Finally, the smoke cleared revealing the Rockets' teams. Winder and Licki were lying prone and unmoving covered in burns. Growlie whined pitifully as it righted itself, appearing to be favoring its front right leg. Bella the Weepinbell was missing. "Finish him!" the trainer barked, making Jessie and James flinch.

Vulpix threw herself at Growlie with a snarl. The dog yelped and flailed when the vixen clamped down onto its neck and knocked it over. "Bulbasaur Sleep Powder! Don't worry about Vulpix!" Ash ordered. She glanced at him nervously, then squared herself. Vulpix's eyes widened slightly as the saurian shot a cloud of green dust. The vixen jerked her head in their direction, drawing a pained yelp from the Growlithe, then she leaped away from the dog Pokemon. Growlie rolled back to its feet. Sleep Powder engulfed the dog before it could retaliate. "Looks like you're all out of luck," Ash said with a taunting grin.

Jessie only smiled. He cried out as pain shot through his calf and he fell to a knee. The trainer froze when a claw pressed against his neck with enough force to draw blood.

"Looks like you're tha one outta luck," a nasally voice murmured. "Stupid boy," the voice purred. The warm breath they exhaled made the hairs on the back of the boy's neck stand up. Gore snarled and took a threatening step forward. "Easy big guy! You take one more step and the brat gets it!" the creature that could only have been a speaking Pokemon declared applying enough pressure to his neck to draw blood. "That goes for you too little lady," he added, glancing to the right. Bulbasaur lowered her vines and took a few steps away from them. The helpless look she sent him made Ash's heart ache.

"Nice work, Meowth!" Jessie congratulated with a grin. "Now finish him!"

"The sooner you do, the sooner we can pay old man Fuji a visit," James added.

"Are you stupid?" Meowth demanded in a snarl. The cat Pokemon sighed when the criminals stared at him uncomprehending. "The moment we hurt the brat we become Pokechow! Just stick to the plan!" he snapped with a note of exasperation. Jessie sneered at the cat Pokemon as the Rocket duo recalled their teams. Then James released his Carnivine. The flytrap Pokemon flinched after it took in the enemies that stood before it. Vulpix's eyes lit up with dark glee. Ash swallowed. I really should have a talk with her at some point about these sadistic tendencies. "Don't move!" the cat snapped.

"Don't be such a coward! This your chance to get some payback," Jessie lectured with her hands on her hips. Carnivine looked between the criminals trainer and the Pokemon that stood against it nervously. It swallowed heavily and charged an Energy Ball. Bella wiggled her way into view from behind a boulder. The Weepinbell took in the situation quickly, then she cocked one of her leaves back.

"And don't try and block or else!" Meowth told his team. Ash felt something cold gripped his heart and his breath quickened as the orb grew rapidly. The boy flinched when Bella was knocked into the air by a silver blast of energy. "What the-? Which one of you did that?" the cat demanded digging his claws in deeper. There was a pop then, an intense heat materialized behind him. The heat grew greater still when Meowth was sent shrieking through the air. The cat hit the steps and tumbled end over end before slamming into the earth on his head. Ash stared at the unmoving cat with wide eyes.

Gore roared with a ferocity greater than ever before and charged Meowth. The dazed Meowth scrambled to his feet in time to be launched through the air by a swipe off the swine's tusks. "You really do have a knack for trouble," his brother's voice called making him flinch. Gary stepped forward and offered him a hand. Ash took with a thankful nod. Bulbasaur crooned and licked his injured leg.

"It'll be fine," he offered with a small smile. Her eyes lit up. For once, he found himself grateful for her youth. Where Gore or King would question him she trusted him implicitly. And I'm abusing that trust. The trainer ignored the ache that accompanied the thought. Life is complicated in ways people can scarcely fathom, his grandfather had told him with wistful eyes. He rubbed his neck and patted the tiny saurian gently. Now I think I understand a little of what you meant.

"If you resist, I'll give you to Aria," Gary promised in a tone so dark that Ash didn't dare doubt it. Ash rose slowly. Would I do the same if it was his life at stake? He swallowed, he didn't want to know what he would do. The trainer searched for his partner and found Gore standing over Meowth's prone form with a baleful gleam in his brown eyes. Ash's eyes widened as the swine reared back. Gore brought brought his tusks down into the soft flesh of the cat's belly. The Piloswine grunted and ripped his weapons from the cat with a grunt. Ash shut his eyes tightly. He'd seen the Pokemon of the corral duel to the end, but somehow he hadn't thought Gore would ever... The trainer shook his head, hoping the action could banish the thought, and turned to check on the rest of his team.

To his slight surprise, Vulpix had opted not to end Bella's life. She had likely been bored with the lack of a challenge. He knew intimately well what the vixen would do otherwise. The Weepinbell's yellow back was mostly black, but grass-types possessed immense healing capacities. According to Dexter, Bulbasaur's healing was nearly as impressive as an Arbok's. Provided she had the right amount of sunlight, she could even regrow limbs. God I'm obsessed.

"Don't get so full of yourself, brats!" Jessie fumed drawing a Pokemon. James flinched.

"Is he really necessary here? We're supposed to save him for Fuji remember?" James asked his face paling. Ash felt something akin to trepidation settle in his belly as the redhead primed the ball.

"Aria, get them!" he roared. The Magmar stiffened recognizing the desperation in his tone. She was in front of Jessie in an instant with a flaming fist cocked back. Her fist came down on a broad, white chest. The beast merely grunted and swatted Aria away. The casual blow sent her sailing through the air several yards away from the Pokemon.

"What the hell is he doing with them?" Gary whispered, his eyes wide in horror. Gore roared a challenge as his rival scoured the battlefield. The great poison-type roared, an action that dwarfed the young boar's and made Bulbasaur throw herself into Ash's chest. The boy wrapped his eyes around the shaking saurian but kept his gaze firmly on their foe.

"Nidoking," Ash breathed.

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To my Guest

Thanks for your review! I'm touched by the praise.

To Rikudo Igneel

There's nothing Charmander can bring to the story at this point. I might do the whole deserted Pokemon thing at some point, but I feel Charmander has enough screen time in fanfiction.

This is actually why I ended up choosing Bulbasaur of the Kanto starters. They're a criminally neglected species.

I probably could have just said no couldn't I?

A.N.

For those of you who wondered how Delia got an Arcanine - now you know how.