And now, the second part of our two-parter chapter! Let's see how we reach the conclusion of how Ash and Starfire defeats Team Rocket!
Back at the other room, Ash and Nurse Joy were working together to make sure all the Poke Balls in the room were safely transported out of there, and so far, almost half the room had been cleared out. Ash panted a bit as he turned to the working nurse. "How much longer do you think we have?"
"I'm not sure, but we have to be fast. Those Team Rocket goons could be popping in at any-" Nurse Joy started to say as she turned her head slightly to notice smoke coming out from beneath the locked doors. "Uh-oh. We're out of time!"
Ash turned as the doors burst open, Koffing charging in with a large Smokescreen to cover up the room. Ash looked around as he picked up a random Poke Ball and turned to Joy. "Are any of these Pokemon healed up?"
"A few of them, so they should be battle ready, but I should tell you-" Joy started to say as Ash threw a Poke Ball.
"Poke Ball, go!" Ash shouted as the Poke Ball floated in the air for a moment... before it opened up, revealing nothing. Ash just looked dumbfounded.
"Some of the Poke Balls are empty." Joy sighed as she picked up a few Poke Balls that the Koffing charged in and made drop down below their feet.
"I wish you told me that before." Ash rolled his eyes before picking up another Poke Ball. "Go, Poke Ball!"
The ball was thrown down to the ground as that time, a Pokemon was released. A small brown bird was looking around, seemingly battle ready as it looked up at the Koffing.
"A Pidgey?" Jessie laughed as she and James appeared at the doorway. "You think that thing can beat us?"
"Maybe not, but..." Ash paused as he gave a smirk. "Pidgey, WHIRLWIND!"
The brown bird just blinked, but noting the danger, willingly obeyed the person ordering it and flew up in the air as it started to flap its wings in a threatening tone, setting up a whirlwind to blow the smoke away.
Jessie and James yelped as they noted the smoke coming right for them. James then said, in a rather small voice, "Oh boy..."
"Okay, okay, I think I'm onto something here..." Ash smiled as he picked up the Poke Ball and returned the Pidgey, before picking up another Poke Ball and throwing it. "Poke Ball, go!"
The Poke Ball was thrown and this time, a small purple rat creature with large buck teeth came out of it and sniffed the area. The Rattata immediately looked up towards the floating orb of gas as it gave a small gulp.
Ash shut his eyes as he tried to think of something to do with the rat. "Okay, okay... Rattata, Rattata..."
As he was trying to think, Jessie and James recovered as Jessie noted the small rat and laughed. "Oh, how cutely pathetic. A little rat trying to stack up against OUR poison types..."
"A big mistake from a rookie trainer." James chuckled darkly. "Koffing, Smog!"
"Koffing!" The purple floating orb said before spitting out a purple cloud of mist towards the Rattata's direction.
"Rattata, uh... dodge and Quick Attack!" Ash said, trying to remember the strategies that trainers would use on television.
The Rattata, hearing the commands, nodded before jumping up to avoid the Smog attack, then rushed forward and leaped in the air, ramming the floating orb right in the skull symbol, causing a surprised Koffing to be thrown off.
Jessie and James blinked twice before James smirked, "So you got a couple of lucky shots, but you're still a little weak..."
Ash growled in anger as he grabbed another Poke Ball. "I'll show you who's weak! Poke Ball, go!"
Ash quickly threw a ball as it opened up... to show a strange red fish looking creature flopping around uselessly.
"Karp, karp, karp."
This only caused Jessie and James to stare dumbfounded as James said, "Uh, what? Kid, what would a Magikarp even do?"
"I think it's suffocating..." Jessie said, looking rather concerned.
"Uhhh..." Ash paused, before getting an idea. "HA! I got you through confusion, because water Pokemon cannot battle on land!"
James and Jessie just frowned as they looked at each other, wondering just how stupid this kid is, with Jessie asking, "Exactly, how far along are you on your little journey?"
Ash frowned. "H-hey, this is only my first night here, cut me some slack!"
At that moment, Starfire and Clefairy rounded the corner with Pikachu in Starfire's arms and noticed the two humans standing in front of the doorway and heard Ash's voice in there. She gave a frown as she looked down at Clefairy.
"No need to read your mind. I already know what you're thinking!" Clefairy chuckled before waving her arms around in a certain motion.
Back in the room, Ash frowned as he returned the Magikarp back to its Poke Ball. At that moment, James noted Nurse Joy delivering the last of the Poke Balls over towards the transporter and frowned. "And just where do you think you're going with those? Koffing, use Sludge and melt those computers!"
"Koffing!" The floating orb said before spitting out some purple sludge-y substance with its mouth towards Nurse Joy, who had just put the last Poke Ball in.
Ash gasped as he noticed the attack coming to Nurse Joy. "Nurse Joy, get out of the way!"
Joy turned and gasped as she saw the purple substance heading towards her. Then, as quick as a flash, Ash quickly ran over and grabbed Nurse Joy by the hand and pulled her out of the way, just as the purple sludge made contact with the machine, melting it down. Joy gave a small gasp of shock as she looked at the sludge where she had previously stood, before turning to Ash, who gave a small sigh of relief.
"You... saved me..." Joy said in pure surprise as she turned to Ash, panting a bit.
"Just didn't want to see you get hurt, that's all." Ash said as he tipped his hat towards Joy and gave a small smile. To Nurse Joy, however, that smile was more than just a small gesture.
"All right, enough is enough!" Jessie frowned, causing the two to snap back to attention as they turned to a rather infuriated Team Rocket. "You may have gotten all of these rare and valuable Pokemon to another center, but that's not going to stop us from getting the oth-"
All of a sudden, two green bolts of electricity came barrelling down on Jessie and James, knocking them face flat on the ground, causing Ash and Joy to look over in confusion. Then, a Clefairy appeared with a small wink as Starfire ran over with Pikachu in her arms.
"Star! What happened to the Meowth and Ekans?" Ash asked.
"They're down for the count." Starfire said as she handed Pikachu over to Ash before looking down towards the dizzily inflicted Jessie and James. "At least we managed to take care of those two..."
It was then they heard the sound of the police siren as they looked up, with Ash smiling. "Looks like Officer Jenny came almost to the dot!"
"Officer... Jenny?" Starfire asked.
"I'll introduce her later... Nurse Joy, can you go over to the door and get Officer Jenny over right away?" Ash asked as he turned towards the nurse.
Nurse Joy looked towards her savior with a smile and a nod before turning around and heading out of the room. As soon as they were gone, Ash turned towards the groaning Team Rocket. "Uh, maybe we better make sure these two are tied up before anything else..."
"Leave that to me!" Clefairy smirked before wiggling her fingers as some rope appeared and started to bind the two.
Ash looked over towards Pikachu as he jumped out of his arms and stretched as he gave a smile. "Pikachu! So, you're recovering?"
"Little by little." Pikachu said as he turned towards the two humans being tied up and chuckled. "I think it's safe to say, these two are going to get theirs just for robbing a Pokemon Center."
Ash blinked, not knowing what Pikachu said, but getting the general idea of what his 'Pika Pikas' were implying. "You said it."
"Well, this is certainly the most joyous of joys to win!" Starfire smiled as she walked over to Ash. "Is this what all the Pokemon battles look like?"
"Uhhhh... no, I think that was just a robbery that we thwarted." Ash chuckled.
"Oh? Well, then what about the floating purple orb? Should he not be the fainted?" Starfire asked as he pointed to the left.
Ash turned and gulped as he noted Koffing, who the two had negelected until now, leaving the area as it seemed to be following Nurse Joy out. Ash gasped as he jumped up. "We forgot to faint the Koffing! And if it tries to hurt Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny... we better stop it, now!"
"Let me go with you!" Pikachu said as he hopped on his trainer's shoulder, looking ready to fight. "I stood on the sidelines long enough, let me get some action!"
"Are you sure?" Ash asked.
Pikachu nodded, looking ready as Starfire and Clefairy joined in, with Starfire saying, "I shall join you, Ash. The nurse and the officer need our help!"
"What about Jessie and James?" Ash asked as he turned towards the dazed people.
"Trust me, they're tied up tight. They won't be able to escape!" Clefairy said as she motioned the three over. "Now come on!"
With that, Clefairy ran out, with Ash, Starfire and Pikachu rushing after the pink fairy Pokemon. For a moment, the room was silent before Meowth poked his head inside and noted Jessie and James still unconscious. The cat Pokemon gave a sigh.
"Seriously?" Meowth groaned as he walked in, with a tape in one hand and a dazed Ekans in another before putting them down. "Sheesh, I know the boss said we were on a lower level, but come on, you two!"
Meowth then summoned his claws and jumped up as he sliced through the ropes and scratched Jessie and James awake respectively. As the two yelped upon feeling the claws on their faces, Meowth stopped as he gave a grin. "Ah, good, you two are up!"
"Wh-where are those little twerps?" Jessie growled in anger. "They're going to pay for messing with Team Rocket!"
"And we still have a Pokemon Center to rob!" James frowned.
"Never mind the Center! I think I have something far more valuable to show to the boss, and it's all in this tape!" Meowth said before grabbing the tape and pointing to it.
Jessie and James blinked twice, looking at the object in Meowth's hand. "Why would the boss care about security footage from the center?"
"Because, when Ekans and I were trying to nab- ugh, it's too complicated to explain it in words! I need you to watch for yourselves! Let's just go to the headquarters!" Meowth said.
"B-but, we were told to get Pokemon by any means necessary, stealing them! We're just going to leave empty handed?" Jessie asked in pure shock.
"Not empty handed, you'll see!" Meowth said as he pointed to Ekans. "Ehhh, you might want to return your Ekans, Jessie, it got a little beat down..."
Jessie frowned as she pulled out her Poke Ball and returned Ekans. "I can SEE that."
As Jessie was talking with Meowth, James paused in confusion, as he looked around. "Uh, has anybody seen Koffing? Koffing!"
"So, Team Rocket came in, huh? And it was these kids that stopped them?" The blue haired officer asked as Nurse Joy was standing by the desk as she was finishing the story.
"Yes, we managed to get the Pokemon out of the center in time, right before their Koffing melted the computer. I would have been drenched in poison too had it not been for Ash." Nurse Joy explained as she gave a small smile. "He's a young man, but from what happened, he looked more... heroic..."
Officer Jenny noted the look in Joy's eyes as she looked a bit weirded out. "Joy, while I admire that he saved you, you do hear yourself, right?"
"Oh no, I'm perfectly aware, but I think he'd make some girl lucky with his little heroic attitude." Nurse Joy giggled. "I guess you had to have been there."
Officer Jenny paused as she gave a small sigh. "Well, as long as you're not being-"
All of a sudden, the door exploded as both nurse and officer jumped and turned to see the purple orb putting down a smokescreen.
"KOFFING!" Koffing shouted out as smoke filled the area, causing both Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny to cough.
"Wha-what's happening?" Nurse Joy coughed as she fell down to the ground.
"Nurse Joy, Officer Jenny!" Ash's voice called out as Jenny fell down, the eyes stinging her.
"Don't worry, we will see you saved!" Starfire called out as she and Ash entered in the smokescreen, being thankful that they were covered. This caused Starfire to start flying up in the air before charging straight towards the orb, tackling it in the air.
Koffing yelped in surprise as Starfire tackled it down, causing the screen to stop.
Pikachu took it as its cue to shock the purple orb in place just as Starfire rolled out of the way of the shocks. In the meantime, Ash was starting to get more of a clear vision as his eyes turned to see Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny, down and coughing. Taking a deep breath, Ash quickly ran over and bent over, quickly putting his hands on Nurse Joy's mid-section, before helping her up and leaning her towards the desk as Nurse Joy gripped her hands. Ash then turned and noted Officer Jenny, who seemed to have inhaled the smoke, suffocating. Ash gulped as he closed his eyes and tried to remember what his mother and Professor Oak told him about what to do if someone inhaled smoke. Quickly, Ash opened his eyes and lifted Officer Jenny up to her legs before getting Nurse Joy's hand. Joy looked over to Ash as she gave another small, appreciative smile.
As Ash quickly got the two out of the center, Pikachu had just finished its Thundershock attack as Koffing fell to the floor. Starfire gasped a bit before floating upwards in the air and patted Pikachu on the head. "Good job, Pikachu! You really showed that orb what for..."
"What the-?"
"Is she... FLOATING?!"
Starfire stopped short as she turned to see Jessie and James standing outside the doorway, looking rather shocked. Nearby, Meowth was giving a smirk as he turned towards the two. "Dat was part of the reason why we have to leave now!"
"Hey, I binded you in rope!" Clefairy growled angrily as she waved her arms, with James quickly returning the fainted Koffing back to its Poke Ball.
"Oh no you don't, you little Floatzel!" Meowth shouted before leaping in the air and tackling Clefairy down to the ground. "I think it's time for a proper bit of redemption, making sure that fairy and mouse get what they deserve... and I think I'll start with youse!"
"Clefairy!" Starfire shouted as she started to hold her hand out, ready to use her powers, before Pikachu jumped on her shoulder, the girl looking in surprise. "Wha-?"
"Hey, Starfire! Think we can combine our powers? If those green bolts of yours can be combined with my electricity, I can produce a lot more power, enough to blow those three to the sky!" Pikachu suggested as Jessie and James rushed forward.
"Won't that destroy the center?" Starfire asked.
"Trust me, it'll work!" Pikachu said.
Starfire paused, before nodding as Pikachu started to spark electricity from its cheeks. "Okay then, Pikachu, give it everything you got!"
"PIKA-CHUUUUUUUUUU!" Pikachu shouted as it sent a Thundershock right at Meowth, causing the cat to yell out in shock as he got fried. Clefairy rolled out of the way before rushing forward and slapping the shocked Meowth all the way before being sent flying towards the two rushing humans.
Jessie and James yelped as they tripped over Meowth and fell down. The two humans looked up towards Starfire as her eyes started to glow green.
Jessie and James looked at each other as Jessie chuckled, "So, uh... can we talk about this?"
Starfire's hands started to glow as Pikachu's cheeks began to spark. James gulped as he said, "Uh, that would be a no, Jessie."
At that time, Ash was laying Jenny on the ground as she was still choking a bit. Ash then applied his hands to her chest and started to push on it, causing smoke to fly out of the officer's mouth as she gasped. She then got up and shook her head, before giving a couple coughs as she groaned.
"Are you okay?" Ash asked in concern as he held up Jenny's hand.
Jenny looked over towards Ash as the officer looked at his concerned eyes. "Kid, you... saved my life..."
"I was just trying to do what people would do if they were hurt." Ash said as he gave a nervous chuckle. "If anything, uh, you should thank my mom and Professor Oak for teaching me those lessons..."
"Hmmmm... maybe you do have some common sense..." Jenny said with a smile as she leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. "Thank you."
Ash paused slightly as he blushed as the two of them heard giggling. Jenny and Ash turned to see Joy giving a slight chuckle as Jenny frowned, "What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing. Just surprised to see you be so bold, Jenny." Joy said with a smirk. "Especially after what you told me..."
Jenny stammered a bit as she narrowed her eyes. "There's a difference..."
"Though, you do have the right idea..." Joy smiled as she bent over and pecked Ash on the other cheek, making him blush. "This is for saving me from the poison inside..."
"Uhhhh... y-yeah..." Ash said, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Before he could think on it too hard...
BOOM!
The two jumped as they turned to see an explosion engulfing the center. Jenny gasped as she looked up. "Oh my goodness!"
"The Pokemon center!" Joy gasped in horror.
"Starfire!" Ash said as he rushed forward towards the explosion. "Pikachu!"
However, after he took a few steps, he noticed a few figures emerging out of the smoke. Ash stopped as he looked in surprise... happily of course. Starfire was walking out with Pikachu and Clefairy in her arms, as the former was giving Ash a wave. Ash laughed as he ran over and hugged Starfire, causing her to blush a bit. "Oh, I'm glad to see all of you are okay!"
"Of course I'm okay, Ash." Starfire smiled as Pikachu nodded. Clefairy panted in exhaustion as Jenny and Joy approached, with Starfire turning to Nurse Joy. "I'm truly sorry about destroying your Pokemon Center, ma'am..."
"It's all right. At least everyone's evacuated out of the building..." Joy sighed in relief.
"But... what about the thieves... Team Rocket?" Officer Jenny asked.
"Gone." Starfire said as Pikachu hopped off. "All I can say is is that they were blasted into the sky..."
Jenny paused as she looked over towards Clefairy, then up at the sky as they noticed three figures flying up in the air, before a twinkle was seen up there. "Shoot. And I really thought they'd be the key to take down Team Rocket..."
"What exactly are Team Rocket, anyway? Pokemon thieves?" Ash asked in confusion.
Jenny paused as she gave a sigh. "It's a very long story, but... I think it'd be best if we had everything explained at the station... I think we all had a long night..."
"Agreed..." Joy said as she turned to Ash and Starfire. "You two better come with us and share your stories."
The two looked at each other and nodded in agreement as they followed Jenny and Joy.
Later that night, over at the police station, Ash and Starfire were sleeping in a separate room, as per agreed by Jenny as both of them were laying down on beds. Pikachu and Clefairy had long since snuggled in and were seen sleeping together, with Clefairy leaning towards the yellow mouse's body for warmth. For a long time, the two said nothing.
"Sooo... what a day this was, huh?" Ash said, finally breaking the silence.
"Oh yes." Starfire nodded as she looked up. "It has been quite an... interesting experience for me as well... escaping from aliens who captured me, arriving in this strange world, becoming a trainer, and even stopping two criminals from harming anything..."
"Even though we caused a lot more harm..." Ash chuckled nervously.
"Well, at least the officer Jenny does not hold it against us. After all, it was all in self-defense..." Starfire said as she looked down.
"Right..." Ash said as he gave a relieved sigh. "I have to admit, this day had its ups and downs... I mean, things were a little mixed up and crazy, especially on my first day... until I met you, that is."
"Oh?" Starfire asked as she looked towards Ash in confusion.
"Well, if anybody came up to me and asked 'what was your first day like' and I said that I met an alien that's not a Pokemon, they would not believe me... especially Gary..." Ash frowned, before giving a smile. "But I'm sure that my name will probably be on the news and hopefully everyone will see that I'm the greatest!"
"Awww, Ash, you were already great. I mean, I helped out a lot, but from what I've heard from Joy and Jenny, you saved them." Starfire said with a smile.
"Yeah, although... they did give me kisses on the cheeks... it's weird, my first day out as a trainer, and I already received three kisses from three different girls... one of them being you... on the... lips..." Ash said as he touched his lips a bit. "Is that a normal thing? Will I get kisses every time?"
Upon hearing the first part, something inside Starfire twinged in her face, which she did not understand or could properly explain, but she decided to ignore it for the time being. Rather, she turned to Ash with a shrug. "Well, I assure you that my kissing you was so I could understand your language..."
"And yet... it made me feel a lot more... appreciated..." Ash paused as he gave a smile. "Well, maybe I can think more about it later..." He yawned. "After all, the journey is only beginning..."
"You're right..." Starfire said with a yawn as she turned to Ash with a smile. "Good night, Ash. I'll be ready to start that journey alongside you in the morning."
"That... I like that..." Ash said as he let his eyes droop down as sleep overtook him.
Starfire stared over at Ash for a moment, before putting a hand to her heart. She looked up at the ceiling, letting sleep overcome her as a lot was going through her head... those thieves had clearly seen her float and fly, but would anybody believe them? Would they hunt her down?
And what about her home planet? Was it safe? Was her sister okay? Those were many questions running through her mind, but as she looked over to a sleeping Ash, they all calmed down as she smiled, thinking to herself...
"Everything will be fine as long as I have Ash to help me..."
And that's this chapter done! I know I said that I would have an extra scene involving Meowth, Jessie, James and Giovanni, but I think I'm going to save that for next chapter... plus, we'll be showing a scene with Blackfire, and a scene with Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny about the aftermath of the battle! All that and more! Until next time.