Chapter 19: Crisis in Castellia City A Venipede Stampede
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
Somewhere underground in Castellia city:
In their latest capture, a familiar trio relished as the dark ball claimed the Pokemon inside it.
"So pathetic that the leader of the swarm put up a fight but lost instantly to one attack," Jessie said proudly as the dark ball was finished brainwashing the Pokemon.
"Now to command the Pokemon to cause mayhem with his swarm for the city," Meowth said.
"And soon, the rest will join our cause," James said as the trio laughed loudly.
We joined our heroes as they were still exploring the city. Still waiting for Burgh to return for Ash's Gym battle, he promises Ash.
Ash was looking around at the sites of the city. "Man, this place looks even better than the last time I was here, and with the fishing competition down, hopefully, things will quiet down," Ash said excitedly.
"Maybe we can take in the sites now that the city's main event is done?" Misty asked, looking excited as well.
"I should take the ladies' sites," Brock said with his usual expression, which made Misty sweatdrop.
"Only for them to run away from you, Brock," Misty said as Pikachu and Snivy snickered. Brock slinks at this. Ash noticed Burgh standing in the roadway, looking more perplexed and worried than when they saw him.
"Hey, Burgh, your back," Ash said while running towards him. Burgh turned around and noticed Ash.
"Hey, you three, I was hoping to meet you in a better situation," Burgh said to Ash and the others.
"Let me guess, things gotten worse with the Pokemon in Pinnwheel forest since we last saw you?" Ash asked Burgh, who nodded at this.
"More bug Pokemon have been at ease as of late ever since we last saw each other, and I hope things with Volcarona are doing well as I just got back and didn't get the info about what happened when we last saw. Each other?" Burgh said to Ash.
"Well, we can tell you that Volcarona is safe now. While we couldn't save her mate, we did manage to save one of her eggs from a Poacher that we think might be hired by Team Rocket," Brock explained to Burgh, who was in awe by this. Ash pulled out the Larvesta egg that Volcarona gave him as thank you.
"When we left, she gave us one of her eggs as thank you for helping get her other egg back, and I promise to take care of it, and she might be coming to Kanto for safety at Professor Oaks lab," Ash said to Burgh who nodded at this.
"Take good care of it, Ash. You have a very rare Pokemon egg right there, given the circumstances. As for moving, I think that is a good idea once we can get her mate back one day," Burgh said to Ash. The group heard rumbling and screaming from the other side of town, closer to the Pokemon Center. As they ran to see what was happening, they saw a swarm of what looked like some centipede Pokemon destroying certain parts of the city with Toxic and Sludge bomb attacks. Misty was freaking out because she hated bug Pokemon, which was a nightmare.
"This is bad. These Venepede aren't native to this area and aren't the type to go and attack humans or cities on what is happening," Burgh said as Ash looked them up as he had never seen them before.
As Ash sees, one of the Venepede is watching this on the sidelines, scared about this. It didn't want this to happen. Ash asked it what was happening until he saw Trip trying to protect the city from this stampede from them with his newly evolved Lampent, as it launched a flame burst at the scared Venepede by accident. Ash dove in front of the attack and took the brunt.
"Ash, Woah, sorry about that. You okay?" Trip asked Ash while running over to him. He was surprised that Ash would do that. Trip knew that Ash was the type to take attacks for his Pokemon, but not like that.
"Yeah, I am. I took flamethrowers and thunderbolts like that before, but this Venepede wasn't with this group and seems like it wants it to stop," Ash said to Trip, who returned Lampent after hearing this as the swarm dissipated.
"Thank you, Ash. I was trying to figure out why we were asked to do this suddenly," Venepede said, noticing that Ash had a translator, as did Trip.
"Can you tell us what is going on? I thought that you are more the living in forests?" Ash asked the Venepede as Misty Brock, and Burgh walked over to Ash.
"It...it all started just recently as we were all just relaxing around the forest area outside of the city our leader, as well as my father Scolipede, started acting very strangely as if he wasn't himself. We don't usually attack the city or humans, but he ordered us to do so. He said he found another group to help us get stronger and a new home, but I was never told about it. He called us to cause some havoc on the city but not enough to make us vicious we are usually casual Pokemon and would always like being with trainers if we like them. Then suddenly, Dad just turned into, I don't know what, and managed to get the colony to attack the city," Venepede said with a tear. This was sudden, as if this wasn't her father at all.
"This is bad. I heard many Bug Pokemon left the forest for others in the regions. But not this caliber," Burgh said after Ash translated all this to the group.
"As long as they don't get near me, that is all that matters, as bugs are scary," Misty said. Now even more scared upon hearing all of this.
"What's with her? I'm not scared, and I want to make friends, and most of us like to be with a trainer one day?" Venepede asked.
"Misty is like that. She hates bug Pokemon. I guess it's a female thing," Pikachu said as Snivy smacked his head upon hearing that.
"Not all females are like that, Pikachu. Remember that the next time you put your foot in your mouth like that for Misty," Snivy said to Pikachu, who apologized.
"I'm a female too, Pikachu, but I understand and hold no ill will towards her for that, but I do for what you said that Pikachu thanks, Snivy, I appreciated that, and I do accept the apology for now, Pikachu," Venepede said to Snivy and Pikachu with the first part directed towards Pikachu.
"The funny thing is I was planning on catching one when I was in the forest, but maybe after all of this is done," Trip said to Venepede, who nodded.
"One of the scouts I've known from growing up would love to join your team. I was thinking about my savior here joining his team after this is done," Venepede said to Ash, who was chuckling at this.
"Better not let Bayleef or Misty hear that, Ash," Pikachu said. Ash stopped talking, and Venepede shook her head, showing she was not interested in Ash like that.
The gang started to plan for the colony out of one of the swarm members spying on the group, especially the leader's daughter. He was in charge of keeping an eye on her as the leader knew she might do something like this as it left, but it did take an interest in the other human, Trip.
Meanwhile, in the sewers where the leader is.
"Sir, your suspicion about your daughter is true. She has asked the humans for help to stop your orders of this chaos," the Scout said to the leader, Venepede's father, who sighed at this.
"Why am I not surprised, given that she's been stuck in the past about our swarm wanting to be in a better place? Forget her continuing the city's destruction and ensuring that she doesn't bring those humans to the swarm. I found a better way to get us better," Scolipede said to the Scout.
"Sir, with due respect, you are being harsh on her. She is your only daughter, and I'm also the closest to a son to you. But you are taking this a bit too far as we went this way to get away from humans," The Scout said in shock. By the way, the swarm leader was chastising his daughter like that.
"Don't question my methods. This swarm needs a better way of thinking, and humans didn't drive us from the forest, and I don't want you to speak out of terms again. Do your orders now, and get out of my sight," Scolipede yelled at the Scout, who nodded and ran off.
"You are doing well with the swarm of yours, Scolipede. The more destruction, the better it is to get them away from our plans to catch your swarm to our cause as we speak," Jessie told her new capture as she owned his dark ball.
"Mistress Jessie, welcome to the swarm, and yes, we are doing our best to do so, but my daughter is being difficult and got the help of a group of humans, and my Scout might be onto you. Should I do something about it?" Scolipede asked his new trainer.
"If the humans are who I think they are, we should bring the swarm back and prepare them to be members of Team Rocket and cause more problems in Unova and soon the world. As for your daughter, forget her if she were your daughter. She would be willing to help with our cause," Jessie laughed at this, as did Scolipede as he bowed to Jessie.
"As you command, I will call out to the other scouts, and they will have no choice but to join you," Scolipede said, sending out a vibration from where he was to the other swarm members. Little did he know it, but the Scout there listened to the entire thing and left before sending that soundwave from his antenna. He arrived in a hurry to where Ash and the others were.
"We got trouble, princess," the Scout said in a hurry and out of breath as she could feel the soundwave only the members of the swarm could hear. The two tried to resist the urge to go back instantly as many were in a trance to return to the nest as the two in front of the group were under it now.
"Snap out of it, you two," Ash said loud enough for them to break free of whatever called them. "What happened to you two?" Ash said as he saw the other Venepede marching back to the sewers.
"That was fathers soundwave. He usually uses that to help lead the swarm and when we leave, but it was never used like that?" Venipede said, now upset as she had never had that feeling before.
"It's your father. He was willing to either make you do what he wanted or forget you are doing so. His so-called master had just visited the swarm and planned on capturing the swarm. It's in trouble," The Scout said.
"This is bad. We need to get to them quickly before the entire swarm is captured by who knows what against their wills, "Trip said to Ash, who was now concerned, given what he just saw.
"Follow us. We can get there without being noticed," the Scout said to Ash and the others, who nodded and followed the two to another entrance of the sewers.
The group was walking deeper into the sewers and saw an ugly sight. Many of the swarm was being forced to be caught by Jessie. At the same time, many managed to snap out of it when they saw what had happened.
"Daddy, stop it, please, this isn't what we were dreaming of becoming stronger; please remember our dream to be in peace," the female Venepede pleaded with her father, who growled at her like the father she knew was no more.
"That dream is dead, along with the daughter I see in front of me. You are no daughter of mine. If you don't join my new cause, then you are my enemy," Scolepede said to Venepede, who was in tears by this wasn't her father talking to her anymore.
"That's enough talk, my pet. We have almost half the swarm, which is enough for our cause. Say goodbye to your father, little Venepede, cause the next time you see him. You will be his enemy and leader of a new swarm and our cause," Jessie said to Venepede.
"That's enough, Jessie. You've taken it too far," Ash said to Jessie, who was laughing at this.
"Heatmor and Excadrill, come on out," Jessie lets out two Pokemon she was going to use on Ash and the others the other day.
"Dewott, come on out," Ash sent out his water starter.
"Lampent, we need your help," Trip also sent out his Pokemon.
"Golduck, come on out," Misty also sent out her Pokemon. Scolipede stood next to his fellow Pokemon, ready to beat the humans that made his daughter betray him.
"Dewott. Golduck uses a water gun on Heatmor," Ash and Misty commanded the two water types to attack the fire anteater Pokemon.
"Lampent, use flamethrower on Excadrill," Trip commands his Pokemon on the steel/ground type only to do minor damage to them as if the Power of the dark ball was making them tanky compared to what they are known for, which Jessie laughed at this.
"Heatmor uses Flamethrower to show them what a half-powered one under the dark balls Power. And Excadrill uses Rockslide," Jessie commanded the two Pokemon who launched their attacks, knocking them out even with the flame body ability didn't help it either.
"We don't have time to mess with you, twerps. They may be strong, but we don't want to cause a collapse of the sewers, so we'll take what we have and leave. Thank you, but what I said is what's going to happen, so goodbye, twerps," Jessie said while returning all three of the Pokemon to their balls before leaving; Ash and the others couldn't do anything as it was too late as Jessie was gone.
"What are we going to do now the swarm is in danger now, given that their leader is gone?" Ash said, now worried about the swarm's chances of survival.
"Burgh, maybe we can contact the league and have them send the swarm to many of the Professor's labs, but which one?" Burgh suggested.
"Well, given that Volcarona is going to Professor Oaks' lab, why not there?" Misty suggested to Burgh, who nodded at this.
"I taken that he's the Professor you started with, Ash?" Trip asked Ash, who nodded at this. "I think that is a good idea, given that from what I've seen, Juniper's lab isn't big enough for them?" Trip said.
"Oak's lab is more of a ranch where many of my Pokemon are, and many of them can freely explore the lab without problems," Ash said. Many of the Venepede was happy to hear this as long as it was not these sewers and few human interactions outside, maybe Ash and the place's owner.
"I'll contact the league about this, and once they come and get you all, and once you arrive, you'll be safe and free from all of this," Ash said to the Venepede, who nodded at this and would not harm them. The female Venepede and the Scout walked over to Ash and Trip to ask them something. Both of them knew what they were going to ask them.
"Let me guess. You two wanted to join our teams?" Ash asked the two Pokemon, who nodded as the Scout walked over to Trip, who nodded at this, pulled out a Pokeball, and caught the Scout Pokemon.
"I promise you, this girl, I will get your father back, and he will rejoin the swarm at the ranch. One day but if you aren't satisfied with my team, let me know, and you can go to the lab but not on my team and not trained by them as any Pokemon that join my team that isn't with me will be trained by them," Ash told Venepede.
"I don't think I would want to be released by you, Ash, and I don't mind being trained by you and your Pokemon as I wanted to get stronger to help my father and what it takes to be the second leader of the swarm," Venepede told Ash who nodded and caught her.
The group headed up to the surface. "I'll contact the league and tell them what happened and to pick them up. Until then, tomorrow, Ash, I will be happy to take you as a challenger at my gym, "Burgh told Ash, who nodded at this.
"I'll battle you the day after, Burgh. Until then, see you around, Ash," Trip said as he took his leave, as did Burgh.
With the remaining swarm now safe, Ash's next gym battle is guaranteed to happen as the Journey continues.
Meanwhile, Team Rocket was talking to Scolipede.
"From this day forward, we are your family, Scolipede, and by the time we are done, that daughter of yours is nothing more than a distant memory for you," Jessie told Scolopede, who nodded at this.
"Change my memory of those traitors, and I accept your offer to make you my leaders," Scolepede bowed and said.
Jessie laughed at this.
Stay tuned