Author's note:
An updated list including Ash's team is now up on my profile.
About a week or so ago, a chihuahua my family had for seven and a half years passed away a few days ago. Rhea was a real trooper. Even when she ached so much she couldn't walk, she ate. I'll never forget watching a seven-pound, ten-inch tall dog chew so quickly her jaw blurred. She will be missed by all, save my and my mother's wallets. She wasn't even mine, but she sure as hell ate my food.
I'm very late, but I ask any religious readers to pray for Thailand and Haiti. I'm sure any donations would be appreciated too.
I also ask you to pray George R.R. Martin takes pity on his devoted base...
Congratulations to any Trump voters I have. I'm slightly happy for you. Very slightly.
I do not own Pokemon. Please support the official release. The Alolan Pokemon are rather interesting, don't you think? I think I like Alolan Marowak best. Talc's one of my favorites, so it's not that surprising.
Episode 35
Death Comes to Pallet
Xxxxxxx
"King. Gore. Hellfire is going to trap them in a Spin," Ash ordered, his eyes narrowing. "Get them close together for him." The Kingler and Piloswine stepped forward. They inhaled deeply, then Hellfire barked in alarm. Ash snapped up. A red and white ball far smaller than the one that had nearly ended their team descended from the sky above them. "Ice! At eleven o'clock!" Ash cried. Gore reared back on his hind legs and blasted a howling gust of snowy wind that sent Voltorb soaring over the trees with a whirr of panic.
A black and red streak darted from the line of trees. King swung at it with his glowing hammer, only for the Pokemon to jump over him. Ash's eyes widened in alarm as the black feline landed in a crouch behind his Kingler. King used his hammer's momentum to spin before intercepting Sneasel with a swipe from his sword. The cat squeaked, then dove from the Metal Claw that nearly removed its head from its shoulders.
Hellfire snarled, shooting a Fire Spin around Ash and lunged at the cat Pokemon. Sneasel retreated from the Houndoom's snapping jaws with Quick Attack. Ash smiled. The bipedal feline stumbled to a stop when it saw a large Kingler in its path. The crab's eyes narrowed while Sneasel's bulged after realizing it had been trapped, then Hellfire rammed King's side, knocking the crab off his feet.
An orb of fire fell where King had been standing and exploded in a spray of sparks. Ash scowled. A Growlithe stood ten yards away. James managed to get him back. Sneasel took a step in Ash's direction, and hesitated before darting to Growlie's side. Smart cat. Growlie had grown considerably since their last encounter. For a Growlithe to have three black stripes down its side and a tuft of creamy fur covering half of the dog's head meant it was now a capable member of its pack. Growlie's growth wasn't half bad for a year and a couple months, Ash was forced to admit. Should I watch for a Golbat too? Mr. Fuji said they captured a Golbat from a Rocket that looked like James.
"I swear it wasn't us!" James cried, drawing Ash's attention. "A-ask the Admin! Admin Luke was in charge of the Voltorb, he can tell you he didn't give us one!" Admin? A step down from an Executive? Why would such a big shot want us dead? The only strong Rockets they'd defeated were the guy with the Kingler and the young man with the Electabuzz.
"Fine. We can figure this out after completing the mission." the red headed young man turned away from James. The blue-haired man sighed as some of the color in his face returned. He found the reason for James' anxiety staring at his partner. It was closer to six feet than five and had blue plates armoring most of it. The golden-brown plates around the bug's arms also coated the side of its throat, and formed a shape like a V on its belly. A Fossil Pokemon? Its appearance reminded him of his first encounter with the Rockets. They were at Grandpa Canyon, a place well known because so many fossils were found there. Does this mean the higher ups will have Fossil Pokemon too?
Armaldo took a step forward with a shake of its head that made the red-tipped white feathers sticking out from its neck flutter. The black pincers gave Ash pause, as did the large wings on its back. It's way too heavy to fly. Armaldo's armor was composed of stone and bone, the Fossil Pokemon had to be a few hundred pounds heavy at the least. Only draconic Pokemon flew with such bulk. So, what use do those wings have then?
The opening of several Pokeballs caught his ear. The redhead released a Poliwhirl and a female Hypno of average height. The Poliwhirl stood a half a foot taller than most, and the Hypno's pendulum was in its final stage. At least it still needs a pendulum. Their foe's third Pokemon was a small bear who stood on two legs and had brown fur that was as deep as Gore's eyes. Her white claws looked to be a couple inches long on the bear's chest was a light brown circle that marked her as fully grown.
Ursaring. A female Ursaring at that. Grace or Willow wouldn't struggle much with a big male. A female was almost like fighting a different species. A male Ursaring hit like Nidoking, but they were only slightly faster than the average Piloswine. A female Ursaring possessed half the strength of a male, but could run fifty miles per hour. It wasn't something he could afford to underestimate. Hypno, a Poliwhirl who would be ready for evolution soon, and a fit Ursaring? Just who the hell is this guy?
"Poliwhirl's belly can't do anything to you anymore, but staring at Hypno's pendulum will be the last thing you do in this fight," Ash murmured. King clicked quietly. The crab was doing his best to keep an eye on the strong water-type across him while sending furtive glances in Armaldo's direction. It was the first time King had met an ocean dweller his blood didn't recognize.
Hellfire snorted lightly while matching Sneasel's crouch. Gore gave no sign of acknowledgement as he met Armaldo's glare with one of his own. The redhead eyed Ash critically before murmuring something to his Pokemon. He turned to his subordinates. "Jessie, get the plate on your own. James, send your Carnivine and Koffing with her. Oak will have left something strong here for sure," the redhead ordered.
"But, Silver-" James began.
"Shut up!" the redhead snapped. Silver gave James a glare that made the man flinch. "Can't you see he's way beyond you two? James, stay out of the fight. Your job is to make sure he doesn't come for us."
I'd be insulted if it wasn't true. Ash wasn't Gary. He hadn't an issue with threatening a Rocket's life if it meant ending the battle. "Good luck, sir," Jessie said before dashing away with her Arbok and James's Carnivine and Koffing behind her.
Something golden brown glinted in the tree behind the Rockets. "Hellfire deactivate the shield," Ash commanded. The Houndoom looked at him like he lost all sense. "Do it, you'll need everything to win. Trust me." And I won't be needing protection. The Fire Spin lowered until it was mere flickers. A black streak made his eyes widen. "Hellfire, Ring!" the trainer barked.
The Houndoom flipped around and blasted a flare of flame that coiled around him like a snake preparing to strike. Sneasel leaped with one of its two inch claws shifting to a silver hue. Hellfire rammed his glowing horns into the cat's belly, sending it soaring through the air. The moment his front paws landed, the Houndoom was in pursuit. Sneasel forced itself to its feet, only to be rammed into the air again.
"Ursa, get Night!" Silver commanded.
"Hellfire, stop!" The dog skidded to a stop, then a rippling orb of water tore through the air in front of Sneasel and crashed into a tree with such force its bark was blasted off. Holy shit. A Water Pulse like that from an Ursaring? The female Ursaring sprinted to shield Sneasel with her body, then Ursa stood on her hind legs and roared at the Houndoom. Hellfire lowered himself to the ground as he took a few cautious steps back. Ash scowled when he saw Sneasel rising to its feet. "Hellfire, remember your days with Hellfang's pack," Ash ordered while turning to King's fight. He received an understanding whuff that nearly made him sigh in relief.
"Whirl, go with Wolf," Silver ordered. The Poliwhirl croaked unhappily as it crouched. Wolf? A strategy that relies on endurance? Its feet glowed white while it dashed at King. The Kingler responded with three small concentrated streams of water that the frog wove around with ease. King's eyes lit up when it rolled under the last shot. The crab blasted a widespread burst of bubbles so close together they appeared to be harmless foam, making Ash's eyes widen. A Bubble that doesn't focus on power? A Bubble trap?
Poliwhirl shrieked while its legs were knocked out from under it, but it caught itself on its hands. King spat a gust chilly at the foam, which turned the bubbles into an icy prison. Nice, King! "Don't let it recover! Finish it with Vice!" King chirped and charged with his dominant claw leading.
Shrieking frantically, the frog tugged at its limbs. It only succeeded in creating small cracks in its prison. "Water Gun! On the ice!" Silver barked, his pale complexion growing even more so. Whirl inhaled so deeply its expanded throat looked like it had a Voltorb in it, while King's claw opened to ensnare it. The torrent of water Poliwhirl spat crashed into the ice and shot in every direction. The sudden rush of water forced King to anchor himself on his sharpened sword while the ice around Poliwhirl's hands finally gave.
Poliwhirl cocked an arm back in a familiar stance as a whirling orb formed above its palm. King took the attack head on, holding his hammer in front of him like a shield and shoved his sword into the ice. A terrible shriek akin to metal being scraped came from the ice as the crab was sent sliding back, making all the humans wince. King wrenched his smaller claw from the earth before leaning back as far as he could with the flat of his sword propping him up. The crab hissed and shoved the whirling orb into the air above him.
Poliwhirl shot a concentrated stream at King's belly, drawing a pained hiss from the crab Pokemon. King blasted a spurt of bubbles into the Poliwhirl's belly that ripped its feet from the ice and sent it skidding back. This fight's going to drag on. Damn it. Hellfire had interpreted his order perfectly, the wild dog was using his flames to hound his opponents, while not truly engaging them so they couldn't assist their comrades. Hellfire's getting the hardest fight here, but everyone's getting pressed. I have to figure out a way to get Sneasel out of the picture before it gets past Hellfire's armor.
He couldn't even see Gore, though he was certain his partner was still fighting because he could hear the bellows and hisses the Piloswine and his foe gave as they exchanged blows somewhere behind the trees. Where's the Hypno?
A stone the size of a man's head rose from the earth like it was gripped by an invisible hand. Then it soared across the clearing at a speed too great for Ash to utter a warning. Thin streaks wrenched Hellfire to the ground, making him squawk and the stone fly over him. Ursa flipped to her right. Two seeds crashed into her belly and exploded, making the bear backpedal with a pained cry.
Ash grinned as Willow retracted her vines. Sneasel shot at the dinosaur with its claws glowing and teeth bared. Purple fire landed between the cat and dinosaur. Sneasel stumbled to a stop, and the flames moved like a serpent winding to form a ring around it. The Fire Spin flared at all sides before moving to envelop the cat. Sneasel spat a glob of snow on a portion of the shield. It dashed to freedom, the purple fire was quick to pursue Sneasel through the air.
A wave of pink energy crashed into the flame's side, dispersing it. Hypno waved her claw toward a tree near Willow, launching another wave of pink energy. Willow's vines slapped the psychic wave, forcing it to shatter. Hypno's large black eyes shifted pink as it regarded the Ivysaur, who pawed at the ground in response.
Hypno's abilities make her a great supporting Pokemon. The Pokemon with the best supporting ability in my team is Grace. Grace's leg isn't fully healed yet, so she's limited to mainly mid ranged moves. If Willow beats Hypno before Kakuna gets involved, we win for sure! The trainer drew breath to command when a pained shriek came from behind his grandfather's lab. Ash smirked. You didn't really think the lab's guard was weak, did you?
Silver cursed. "Myza!" he called as he rushed toward the lab. The Hypno sent another pink wave at Willow before sprinting to her trainer.
"Wait! What about this!" James cried, gesturing to the battle.
Silver threw three Pokeballs at him. "My Pokemon can handle it!"
"Damn it!" Ash scoured the field. The battle had only begun moments ago. There wasn't a way to finish them quickly without his Pokemon risking their lives. And Silver's team is trained well enough to not need any instruction…
He looked to King again. The Kingler's foe refused to allow him near it, it was pestering him with small shots of water and forcing him to stay with it. Like a wolf or wild dog hunting. It wasn't trying to bring him down alone, it wanted to keep King occupied until another team member could finish him. "Willow to me!" Ash called as he chased after Silver. The saurian Pokemon was cut off by Ursa until Hellfire rammed the bear's rib cage.
Growlie charged the dinosaur's flank with flames wreathing him. Willow kept her eyes forward while a vine struck the Growlithe between his eyes, making the dog trip and tumble before a seed landed on him and sprouted vines. "Don't let him follow us!" King chirped in response.
They wound around the corner. A roar reminiscent of hail falling upon stone made Willow's ears perk up. Gore moved this way too? Gritting his teeth, the trainer fell into a sprint as they ran along the back of the laboratory. He slid to a stop and panted. Fifteen yards in front of the lab and ten yards to the left was the hatchery. Jessie's Arbok hissed and displayed its chest, but its foe was unmoved.
A Nidorina stood in front of the hatchery with her fangs bared. Small pins usually kept beneath her light blue hide had emerged to join the large spikes along her back. Mr. Brown's Nidorina? It had to be his. His grandfather's assistant was the sole trainer working on the corral with a Nido.
Koffing had a slash running down the center of its circular body. The purple Pokemon wheezed while keeping its eyes locked on Nidorina. Ash scoured the area. Where did Silver go? The trainer crept back to the lab's side. He needed the whole picture before he intervened.
Jessie's Arbok spat a needle of poison that Nidorina swiped away before barking, shooting a wave of white energy at the snake and Koffing. Arbok activated the white sheen of Harden, then the blast crashed into the snake and drew a pained hiss. Nidorina leaped onto Arbok and bit the side of its face with fangs coated with black energy.
Arbok shrieked and flailed mightily as Nidorina shook her head as hard as she could. Koffing puffed its chest out and blasting a ball of fire. Nidorina unclenched her jaw and pushed off the cobra's chest. "Winder!" Jessie cried as the ball of flame crashed into Arbok's chest. Koffing flinched, giving Nidorina enough time to bark another white wave of energy at it.
Ash stared wide-eyed. Since when can she fight like this? He'd seen Mr. Brown's Nidorina cry after tripping over a rock. Shrieks of pain drew him back to the fight to see Nidorina slashing at a pinned Koffing. "Willow, Sleep!" Ash ordered. "Get back Nidorina!" The blue Pokemon glanced at him, then leaped away from its victim. A spray of green dust enveloped Koffing as it struggled to lift itself, making the Pokemon sink with lidded eyes. A Headbutt from Nidorina put the purple Pokemon out of the fight.
"You again!" Jessie snarled, reaching for her belt. One of Willow's vines lashed out, only to be slapped away by the Arbok's tail. Winder hissed and displayed his belly. Willow gave a low hum as she squared herself to take the cobra more seriously.
It still wants to fight? After being thrashed by Nidorina? These Rockets, they've truly- Nidorina turned to them and spat a stream of mud before a sharp pain erupted from Ash's shoulder. Something living, pulsing, grew from the projectile's side, and the agony robbed his awareness of anything else. What? His breathing quickening, he looked down to find a piece of wood sticking out from his shoulder.
A furious bellow sounded from behind him as he felt Willow move. Blinking, the trainer gripped the stick and tugged lightly, making the wood rip through flesh on its way out. He released it with a sharp inhale and his vision watering. Ash wiped the useless tears while turning to face his attacker. A green haired, green-eyed man in a white suit with a red capital R over his shirt pocket. "The Nidorina kept it from your neck, did she?" the man observed, which caused Ash to sweat. I was that close to dying, and I didn't even know it.
"Admin Luke!" Jessie breathed.
Willow bared her canines at the Rocket. The Admin raised a brow. "It's better this way. I'd prefer defeating you face to face anyway. And this time, I'll be using more than just one member of my personal team." The man released a golden bipedal feline Pokemon with a black stripe the shape of a bolt of lightning running down its chest, and two antennas. It was an Electabuzz. It stood at the height of an adult member of its species, which was just under four feet. Willow's eyes widened in alarm when the Electabuzz turned to bared its large fangs at her. It's not big, but size doesn't always indicate a Pokemon's strength. I'm getting a bad feeling from that thing.
"You're the second guy we fought in Lavender," Ash said, his eyes widening. Archer boasted his brothers killed at least ten of the Celadon Gym's Pokemon, I think. High cheek bones, cultured tones, green hair and eyes to match. "You're Archer's brother," he declared as he gave his surroundings a cursory glance. Gore was fighting an odd white Pokemon with green claws the color of Willow and Saur's vines. It was big, but he didn't have time to note anything else about it.
"You. Jaime. Deal with the Nidorina," the Rocket Admin ordered. "The boy is mine."
"Yessir!" Jessie cried while reaching for her trainer's belt. Her Lickitung appeared in a scarlet flash.
"One lick and its over," Ash murmured. Both of Nidorina's rabbit like ears twitched. Good. Willow crouched as Electabuzz took a few steps from its trainer. "This cat here has telekinetic and barrier techniques. He almost beat Gary a year back," the trainer uttered quietly. "Go with-"
It was then he noticed the claw beginning to slowly emerge from the earth next to Electabuzz. Horror struck him while Willow quavered as a giant horn attached to a gray snout sniffed at the air. The snout wiggled, and orange pads surfaced, followed by a gray head with small eyes. A cold hand clenched his heart. A bull Rhyperior. The evolved form of Rhydon was a foe they'd need their entire team to deal with.
The rhinoceros bellowed and shook his shoulders to dislodge the dirt gathered there as he rose. Nidorina's ears fell and her shoulders sank while Winder and Lickitung eyed the new arrival in reverence. Even the sounds of Gore and the odd Pokemon's struggle had come to an end with Rhyperior's appearance.
"I don't need your help," Luke declared, his green eyes sharpened as they narrowed, "My brother needs you far more than I." Rhyperior grunted before glancing to his side with disinterest. A brown and white body slammed into the side of the ground-type's ribs, making the giant's left hoof lift into the air. Luke's eyes went wide while Ash felt his heart freeze.
Rhyperior's red eyes flashed before he buried the stone blade on his elbow into the side of Gore's rib cage. He yanked it out, revealing half the stone to have been painted with blood. Ash inhaled sharply as he watched the precious liquid drip from the blade. The giant waved an arm, creating a platform beneath the Piloswine. Rhyperior flicked his wrist, moving the platform so it came to a stop in front of Ash.
Willow howled, her pink flower lighting up with her fury. She stomped her front feet before shooting three seeds at the giant. Rhyperior swung his trunk of an arm in a lazy arc, sending a chunk of the pillar to detonate the seeds prematurely and creating a cloud of dust that obscured Rhyperior's upper body. The Ivysaur's vines lashed out through the smoke, creating an audible crack upon impact with Rhyperior's head. Ash felt the hope welling up shatter when Rhyperior grabbed one of her vines.
Rhyperior flicked his wrist, and the shrieking dinosaur was slung toward the giant. Rhyperior swiped with the blade on his free arm while Willow wrapped her other vine around his larger horn. She yanked herself above the blade, throwing her over Rhyperior's head. Willow blasted three seeds that detonated against the back of the giant's head. Rhyperior grunted as he stumbled before yanking the dinosaur down by her vine and releasing it. Ash covered his face with his arms as Willow collided with the Hatchery's wall and shot through it.
Then, Rhyperior turned to Ash and Nidorina. The trainer clenched his jaw to the point of pain. There's no one else left. It's really over for us. "Nidorina, run, now," the trainer ordered. He wanted to flee as well. Ash wanted it so badly his legs inched backward without instruction. But I can't leave them. If we die, it has to be together. Nidorina whimpered as she glanced back at the hole in the hatchery's wall. Ash clenched his fists. A Nidorina couldn't abandon her charges. Think! Think! There's always something!
Their foe snorted and ripped a stone from the ground. The stone split in two before floating towards the head-sized holes in Rhyperior's claws. Ash gulped. He's not even loading it quickly. Why would he? They couldn't escape, Rhyperior knew that as well as Ash and Nidorina did. The muscles in the giant's arms tensed, and Ash could hear his heart pounding in his ears. Nidorina shut her eyes. Ash did the same.
A spray of dust hitting his face made him flinch. Huh? A weight that made the ground shake landed next to him with a bellow. "Plains!" Ash exhaled as if the arrival had taken an immense load from his shoulders. The bull Tauros snorted while keeping his eyes locked on the Rhyperior.
"They're not hurt too badly, Ash," Oak called from behind him. He turned to find his grandfather striding to him with a dark-skinned man of average height by his side. "Don't turn your back on the enemy!" Oak chided, making Ash and Nidorina flinch. The professor came to a stop next to Ash. "I haven't seen you since you were a Rhydon," Oak uttered, smiling at Rhyperior. "I see the arrogance of youth has yet to fade," the gray-eyed professor continued while glancing at Gore.
Arrogance of youth? He didn't hit them hard enough to kill them? Ash turned to his partner. A quarter of the boar's side was covered in blood, but the Piloswine's eyes had fluttered open to glare at Rhyperior. The stab wasn't deep enough to do more than stun him. The relief he felt at that made his heart soar. Ash smirked when he heard something rustle behind him. Willow's conscious too.
The red-eyed beast bared his canines and growled. Plains lowered his head and bellowed a warning that prompted a twitch from Rhyperior. Hoped welled up in Ash's chest. Grandpa stepped aside because Agatha was a superior politician, not because he couldn't take the physical aspects of the job. Oak and Bruno were by far the strongest Champions of Indigo since Dreyfus. Rhyperior mightn't be able to win even with Electabuzz giving support. He and Willow wouldn't be letting that happen.
The white and green Pokemon moved in front of a sweating Luke. It was likely over seven feet tall, though it was hard to tell with how it crouched upon meeting Plains eyes, at least four feet wide, and had limbs thicker than Ash himself. The Pokemon's hands and lower legs resembled green branches while the rest of its hide reminded him of the layers of snow that engulfed a mountain in the deepest part of winter. This thing is… Abomasnow? The same species as the legendary Lily of Sinnoh? If that thing was at Lavender we'd not have stood a chance. Ash clenched his jaw.
Plains's ear twitched while Rhyperior snorted. They hear something? Mr. Brown walked to the professor's side with Nidorina at his heels. "What now then? Even if you could get passed us, we would stall you long enough for the rest of the Professor's team to catch you," Mr. Brown said in an even tone. Jessie, Lickitung, and Winder inched back while eyeing the hatchery.
Luke hesitated, throwing a glance at Rhyperior. It was then Abomasnow glanced at the hatchery's roof, making Ash freeze. Jessie had Lickitung, Winder, the Koffing was recalled, shouldn't there be a fourth one?
The explosion of a Seed Bomb and Gore's cry of pain, drew a flinch from Ash. The giant ground-type's right arm blurred before a wave of stone ten feet wide and taller than the Abomasnow emerged from the earth in front of Rhyperior. Plains stomped a hoof, creating a shock wave that split the earth beneath it and stopped the stone's advance. Rhyperior roared and the wave broke into three boulders. Thinking quickly, Plains angled his neck and fired a gray blast around the stones at the giant's head. Rhyperior shifted his hoof and a chunk of one boulder took the shot for him, obscuring the giant's top half from sight.
Mr. Brown cried out when Oak grabbed him by his collar. The professor spun his assistant into Ash, throwing them both to the ground. The trainer hit the earth with a squawk. A sound similar to a stone hitting gravel sounded, and Rhyperior roared in agony. Ash blinked to refocus his vision before pushing himself up on an elbow. "Bolt!" Luke barked. Electabuzz shot a bolt of lightning from its antenna with a howl. The bolt hit the bull, drawing an annoyed grunt and a twitch. Rhyperior shoved himself to his feet before loading one of his cannons. Plains bellowed a freezing wind that consumed Rhyperior's upper body before the bull swung his neck at the electric cat. Electabuzz squeaked in a manner that better suited a Meowth as it darted away from the wind
Abomasnow roared furiously, yanking Nidorina off his head. It glowered at the squeaking female before throwing her at one of the boulders Rhyperior had abandoned. It glared at her as as a stake emerged from its maw. "Rie!" Oak's assistant cried, reaching for his trainer's belt.
"Willow!" Ash shouted. Abomasnow launched its attack, then green whips shoved the Nidorina out of the stake's path. The white Pokemon flipped around and was greeted by a purple blob soaring towards it. Abomasnow puffed a small burst of snow into the poison's path before inhaling deeply and blasting a howling gust of wind at Willow. The dinosaur squeaked, scrambling back behind the hatchery's wall. Abomasnow howled in agony as another batch of poison fell upon its back, melting through its white hide. It roared and spun to face Rie, but Mr. Brown recalled her before it could finish the Nidorina.
Ash cried out when another tremor wracked the earth and knocked his elbow out from beneath him. Mr. Brown stiffened, prompting Ash to sit up. Their foe stood alone, which sent him into a panic until he realized Willow was pushing herself to her feet a few yards away. It isn't looking at her? Ash followed Abomasnow eyes to find his grandfather applying pressure to a red patch on his thigh.
Abomasnow's glanced at Plains' then to Oak's back. A chill seeped into his veins. It couldn't be thinking of... The tip of a brown stake inched to the edge of his maw. The trainer flinched, pushing himself up on an elbow. "Hit it!" Ash screamed. Willow's vines stuck out as the stake flew. Ash reached as far as his arm could stretch. But the stake still pierced his grandfather's back. Oak froze, and the trainer hoped he would laugh the injury away as he had when he'd sprained his wrist, then his grandfather sank to his knees. Ash stared for the longest moment of his life before Oak fell.
A roar with the force of a herd's stampede sounded before Plains surged at Abomasnow with his horns glowing and head lowered. A stone larger than a man crashed into the bull's side, sending Plains skidding several yards and allowing Rhyperior to move in front of Abomasnow. "PROFESSOR!" his grandfather's assistant screamed. Ash flinched, rolling to his feet and racing to his grandfather's side. Gore was already there, sniffing at Oak's back when Ash slid to a stop. The trainer lifted his grandfather with a grunt before he rolled him over.
Ash felt his blood freeze when he realized the stake had run his grandfather through. The professor's half-lidded gray eyes stared ahead without purpose. The trainer's heart began to pound as his hand fell to the stake buried in Oak's chest. A seed landed between lifeless gray-eyes and glowed while Willow slid to a stop next to Ash. The trainer shook with anticipation. That's right, she can heal now! The saurian shut her eyes as the seed began to glow. Ash's eyes scoured the professor's face in search for a sign of life and found none. The trainer placed his index and middle fingers against his grandfather's throat, searching for the precious pump of a heart's beat.
His breathing quickened and his head swam. No. This isn't real. It can't be real. You can't be killed by the partner of a common thief! Vines wrapped around his shoulders in a hug while Gore sank to the ground in a heap. Ash ignored them.
"Ash!" Mr. Brown cried, sliding to a stop next to them. The trainer realized he was shaking Oak. No, not grandpa, it's just a body... A numb feeling overcame him. "Ash we have to go," his grandfather's assistant told him with tears streaming down his face and his shoulders shaking, "The professor, he- he was a great man, but we have to go!" Willow tugged at his shoulder firmly and sent another vine to tug on Gore, who refused to move.
"No." The assistant froze. The trainer lowered Oak's head and stood. His chest began to heat as the jewel in his necklace lit up.
"Ash! The professor-"
No," Ash snarled as he turned to level a glare at Abomasnow. The jewel's light shone through his shirt. He clinched his fists. "Before being a professor or a former Champion, this old man was my grandfather!" Ash's eyes became slits as his nostrils flared. The temperature fell lower than any he'd ever felt while Willow's flower shifted to the vibrant golden hue of a mastered Solarbeam. And we're going to avenge him.