Greetings, Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to Ash's Unova Journey My Version. Let's get this chapter started, shall we?
Chapter 56: Cold storage crisis
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
Earlier that morning, just before Ash and the gang got up.
Emolga was enjoying her day off, enjoying herself in the tree. Emolga's fur showed more signs of growing darker, which Emolga hadn't noticed as it looked like Zorua fur. Emolga has eight more Pokemon left to catch for Team Rocket to be free from their control.
"Ah, I needed this time off and not a care in the world," Emolga said, enjoying a pair of apples she hadn't had while with Ash and the others.
Emolga heard the sound of someone watching her. "What's wrong, Buizel? Afraid to get your fur cold? Or do you not trust me staying loyal to your masters," Emolga called out to Buizel, snickering like a Zorua.
"More like my main boss doesn't trust you were hiding your plans," Buizel said, crossing his paws. Emolga sighed and flew down to him. "Care to explain, Emolga? Because I won't leave until you do, or should I tell," Buizel was interrupted by Emolga.
"Chargestone Cave and Mistralliton Tower," Emolga said, smirking but annoyed that she had to reveal her surprise for Team Rocket, raising Buizel's eyebrow. "You want a stronger power for Team Rocket to claim control over the region Buizel? Then you will get it with those two areas. One is the major source of the electricity that is not only the source of the electric types of the region but can cause some major issues in Unova," Emolga said.
"And the Tower? Are you referring to the bell at the top of it? If I remember correctly, both of that isn't a place that can get too easily," Buizel said to Emolga, who nodded.
"If affected correctly, the bell can ring throughout the area, including the current cave," Emolga snickered as Buizel crossed his arms, annoyed that Emolga was finding this situation about her funny, and felt like she was doing this to get out quickly.
"If you think this will get you out of your deal, remember that a flock or group counts as one, right? So it would be best if you had something else up your wings," Buizel said to Emolga.
"The fathers of two former teammates of mine," Emolga said as Buizel was more interested. "One guards the main stone that surges throughout the cave, and one guard the tower's bell," Emolga said. "I'm sure Team Rocket would love a strong electric-type without weakness and a powerful ghost-type of the region to their roster of strong Pokemon," Emolga said, humphing.
"And what of the twerps? Your last two missions almost got ruined by them," Buizel said as Emolga smirked.
"Oh, you don't think I have a backup plan for that Buizel," Emolga said. "I know that one is heavily guarded, but by drawing them out even after the twerp's leaves, I can swipe them and take over the area," Emolga snickered. "Do you have any more grips tool of Giovanni of you going to leave me be?" Emolga asked.
"We have a feeling that you are using some of those wings for your plan as well, and I can see that might be the case," Buizel said to Emolga, who humphs.
"You want me to get more Pokemon for you? Well, my Attract powers are much stronger than you think, Buizel. Like you, I have to do whatever it takes to get my goals, or have you forgotten that you taught me that, Buizel, or is the fact that I am getting better than you are getting under your fur," Emolga said? "So, are we done now? Cause you are ruining my day off. I didn't do that on yours, so give me some space."
Buizel sighed and nodded as she thought of everything. "You better watch your tone with me, Emolga. You may have today off, but you aren't excused of still joining me in staying under Team Rocket," Buizel said before leaving as Emolga sighed.
"At least you want to stay with them, Buizel. I don't have a choice. You could have just left me be and stayed in my original state," Emolga said to him, who sighed.
"You have a point there, Emolga, and this is still the old me talking to you, so be happy that I'm being nice to you because I feel sorry for what Team Rocket was doing to you. Team Rocket didn't ask for me to release you; I did," Buizel said before leaving, which made Emolga stunned by this.
"How can I trust what you said is true, Buizel? Ugh, he's always cynical to me," Emolga said to herself as she returned to the tree, enjoying her day off.
Meanwhile, Ash and the others got up and headed to the Driftville City gym.
The group arrived at the gym, an extensive mining facility, and they were in awe. "Wow, look at this place fitting for a ground-type gym," Ash said aloud.
"I agree this is very fitting. Wonder what ground types were used," Pikachu agreed with Ash.
"Well, I figured that a member of Krokorok's evolutionary line or Seismetoad's," Ash suggested to Pikachu, who nodded only to hear a southern accent speaking to the group.
"Howdy, yall. I have taken you here for a gym battle?" a male adult that looks like a cowboy with an emerald gem in his hat. Ash nodded.
"Yes, my name is Ash Ketchem from Pallet Town, and yes, I am here to challenge the gym," Ash introduced himself.
"Ah, Ash. The champion associate and helper's son is here to challenge the gym. I would be happy to accept your challenge, young man, but I have problems," the man said to Ash, who was curious about what was happening. "As of this morning, the main cities supply called the Pokemon, attacked the Cold Storage in the facility and the area," He said. Ash was surprised by this.
"I'll tell you, what if you stop whatever is going on? I, Clay, will accept your challenge. If not, I'll ask you to do something else," Clay said before leaving, not allowing Ash to answer.
"Well, we might as well help out anyway. No sense in making him mad," Ash said. "Is that legal to do?" Ash said to Brock, who nodded.
"His gym rules. It's not like the whole thing with Erika, who refused challenges because they don't like Perfume," Brock said.
"We can discuss this later, you guys; today is my last day in this human form, so we don't get all day," Zorua said, which the group nodded as they left for the Cold Storage area.
They arrived at the area only to see many of the workers were being attacked by the Pokemon of the area, from Gurdurr to Vanillish.
"Pikachu uses Thunderbolt Servine. Use Leaf Storm," Ash commanded his two Pokemon, who used the attacks on the Pokemon who snapped out of whatever was controlling them.
"Thanks, kids; more of the workers in the storage is hurt or being attacked by the Pokemon of the area," one of the workers said to Ash and the others, who nodded at this. Ash and the others ran towards the main storage area to see Buizel trying to manipulate a young bear Pokemon.
"Pikachu, use Volt Tackle. Stop him," Ash commanded Pikachu, who charged as electricity was all over him as he slammed right at Buizel, stopping him from fully converting the young Cubchu as Ash and the others ran over to the young cub.
"Oh, great twerps, you had to arrive just at the worst time, but not that it matters to me. I've already taken over what we need from here to get even with you," Buizel said to Ash. Pikachu and Servine stood before Ash as Vanillux and Conkurdur stood before Buizel. "Leave me, you two. I'll handle these twerps myself," Buizel said, snapping his fingers which the group left. "Let's take this outside twerp where it's least crowded and less cold," Buizel said as they left outside the main storage area.
"Buizel, I don't want to fight you, but you leave me no choice," Ash said to Buizel.
"You have my son. Show me why I trust him with you, Ash; no manipulation moves, no longer holding back, just basic skills," Buizel said to Ash.
"So a fair fight. I never thought I heard a Team Rocket member wanting to fight fair," Ash said. Buizel smirked and got into a battle position as Pikachu was ready to fight him. Buizel and Pikachu were circling each other, staring each other down.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt," Ash commanded Pikachu, who fired a stream of electricity at Buizel, who countered with Sonicboom slicing through the attack. "Quick Attack now," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who hit Buizel right in the stomach, sending him to the side. Buizel used Hydro Pump right at Pikachu.
"Pikachu dodge it and then use Iron Tail," Ash commanded Pikachu, who ran towards the Buizel tail glowing steel-like color as Buizel used Iron Tail. Pikachu and Buizel were getting tired from this Buizel were surprised to find out that he would be having trouble with Pikachu without using Zoroark's dark ball as Buizel used Aqua Jet and Hydro Pump.
"Volt Tackle now, Pikachu," Ash commanded Pikachu, who charged right at the Aqua Jet as the two Pokemon collided. Sending both Pikachu and Buizel to the ground, hard-knocking them both out. "Pikachu," Ash ran towards Pikachu, who woke up from that collision. Buizel gets up, shaking his head.
"You can have this place back. It's not worth the hassle, twerps, but keep that young cub well because she is almost fully converted," Buizel said. Ash was about to say something as Buizel jumped into the lake next to the Cold Storage and dove away. Ash ran inside and saw the young Cubchu suffering from what Buizel had done to her.
"Hey, hey, snap out of it. I'm not letting them get to you," Ash said, deciding to use a Pokeball and catch her to save her from whatever Buizel did to her, which Cubchu caught without hassle. Ash returned to the Pokemon center with her Pokeball, thinking Nurse Joy would help Cubchu. Ash was in the waiting room as Nurse Joy came out.
"Cubchu is doing alright physically, but mentally she isn't doing so well, and it seems like she cannot be transferred to Professor Oak's lab. Whatever happened at the Cold Storage there must've affected more than her genetics," Nurse Joy said.
"What do you mean? Does she have Zoroark or something in her?" Ash asked Nurse Joy, who shook her head.
"It's as if she has a split-personality one moment; she is calm and collective the other, she is snapping and attacking Audino's who was helping her," Nurse Joy said as Ash was worried.
"Can I talk to her?" Ash asked Nurse Joy, who nodded.
"Just be careful, Ash," Nurse Joy said to Ash before leaving. Ash walked into the room where Cubchu was. As she looked at Ash, wagging her little tail.
"Hey, you okay? I heard about the other personality. Is it going to be okay to talk to you?" Ash asked Cubchu, who sighed at this.
"Please help me. I can't contain that part of me, whatever Buizel did to me. I can feel his grip on me taking over whenever that comes out," Cubchu said to Ash, who hugged her, which she embraced.
"I promise you, Cubchu, I won't give up on you. I'll try to break whatever spell he puts on you and get you normal," Ash said to Cubchu, who was crying at this.
"Please, don't leave me, Ash. But if I was forced to become whatever they wanted with me, leave me. I don't want to hurt you or anyone else," Cubchu said to Ash Ash, taken aback by this.
"I promise that I won't let it get to that, Cubchu, and I will try to get through to you as a friend and a family member, as my Pokemon are like family," Ash said as Cubchu smiled before falling asleep in his arms.
With the Cold Storage now back under the city's control, Ash is now faced with a dilemma with his new capture. What does Team Rocket want with Cubchu, and will Ash break her free as the Journey continues?
Meanwhile, with Buizel and Team Rocket.
"Sorry, sir, I couldn't contain the entire Cold Storage area. I could handle the twerps on my own I overestimated them," Buizel said to Giovanni, who held his hand out to calm him.
"It's fine, pet. You've got what we need, and what of Emolga?" Giovanni asked Buizel.
"She's tackling the Chargestone cave and Mistralliton Tower and the guardians of those areas," Buizel said, crossing his paws, which shocked Giovanni.
"I guess she is trying to get on our good side to free her from our control? You know that she's more like a Zorua personally, right Buizel," Giovanni asked Buizel.
"Yes, but I think that is too extreme. You promised her that she could leave us when her last target is ours," Buizel said to Giovanni, only for his head to throb as he held it.
"You're going too soft on her, Buizel. Remember, you were the one who took her in, and you were the one who gave her that communicator. Are you having second guesses?" Giovanni questioned Buizel before letting go of his dark ball.
"No, sir. More worried that she'll replace me, and she got through enough, unlike my latest catch," Buizel said.
"Ah, Cubchu, a fine catch. Ash might have saved her from your control, but she'll come around, and if needed, Zoroark can convince her to our side," Giovanni said with a grin.
Stay Tuned.
Done and done. Man, this chapter was tough to write because of what I was planning on doing with Cubchu in this chapter or leaving her alone. But I decided to do that. It was what I originally planned for another Pokemon later, and Ash's promise might come to fruition. The gym battle is next. Catch you all next time.