Greetings, everyone; Mgunnels3 here, and welcome to Ash's Unova Journey My Version. Before we begin, I want to bring up something that a review just asked, and it's about Team Rocket. I thought about it long and hard about them not being in the story, and I could come to a compromise. After this chapter, there will be a change to this three-parter. Team Rocket will be in this chapter, but only in this chapter. But remember that they will be at the end of the PWT Tournament. It will be soon as Twist Mountain is over. It's straight through for the story. Let's get this chapter started, shall we?
Chapter 63: Choices and Consequences
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We joined our heroes as they were outside the cave area of the infamous Twist Mountain and enjoying lunch while watching for anything unusual since the incident of the Mistralliton tower.
"So, Brock, how long will it be once we start heading into the Mountain till we make it to Icirrus City? From the looks of it, it's pretty long regarding how the Mountain is structured?" Misty asked Brock, who was looking at his Guidebook. On the other hand, Ash was paying attention to Cubchuo, who was starting to feel the side effects of what Team Rocket did to her, showing a darker personality along with her cute and kind one.
"According to the Guidebook, it should be a three-day trip into the cave if we don't run into issues or make any stops," Brock said as the group ate. Brock noticed that Ash was focused on Cubchuo. "You've been worried about her since she joined the team. Ash, you feel like Team Rocket just gave up on her?" Brock asked Ash, who nodded.
"Yeah, I have a feeling that they will try to come back after her after the attack at the tower," Ash said while also looking at Emolga, who was trying to ignore the conversation, but she could hear it anyway. "Emolga, come on, you think you can try to convince them to get her out of this situation?" Ash asked Emolga. Everyone turned to Emolga, who sighed, knowing she might not do that.
"Look, what happened to her is out of my paws, and it was Buizel who did that, and you know that the only one who can break them free is Zoroark, not me. I may have been ruthless the other day, but I'm almost free from their control. Don't make me do something that will ruin that," Emolga said, trying to be nice but putting down her food and noticing that everyone was looking at her trying to plead with her as Emolga sighed.
"Alright, I can try and talk to Zoroark, as she is now in command, but don't expect it to go without something in return or actions for what I am about to ask. Remember, I am working under her orders, and right now, I'm on time off from working for them until further notice," Emolga said to Ash, which made Servine, Zorua, and everyone else glare at her but nod.
"You owe us for what happened the other day, Emolga. You betrayed your former teammate and took his father, from the looks of it. I think that Team Rocket can lose one Pokemon from their control," Misty said to Emolga, who sighed and hated to admit in her new state that the whole thing with Cubchuo was a bit ridiculous.
"Again, I'll try to talk it out with her but don't be surprised if they ask me to return to them or something of the sort in return. If so, you won't see me again until either I'm free from their control or when Zoroark is broken free from Team Rocket's control," Emolga said, which made Misty worried, but she knew that might be the case.
"Try your best to do so," Misty said, showing that she still cared about her as Emolga nodded and took off.
"You going to be okay, Misty? You agreed to that easily?" Ash asked Misty, who sighed.
"It's as you said, Ash, it's a bit too much for one Pokemon, not to mention someone of Cubchuo's age," Misty said to Ash, who was worried that she might be unable to ask for a good reason.
Meanwhile, Emolga, who was far away from the group as she, sighed and tried to contact, Zoroark, who picked up.
"I know what you are about to ask me, Emolga, and I will think about it during this mission. But are you willing to prepare for the consequences if you choose to do this? You have one more capture left, and not sure if they will be lenient to you," Zoroark told Emolga, who thought about it.
"I'll give you the rest of the day to think on that until then. It would help if you didn't interfere in my mission here, as I got my eyes on one particular Pokemon affected by one of your powers from the tower," Zoroark said to Emolga.
"But you think what I brought you the other day is enough, Zoroark? Is it worth attacking a Pokemon that is just innocent?" Emolga questioned her, who sighed.
"You're just like Buizel, soft but stubborn, I'll think about it, but you should too, Zoroark out," Zoroark said, ending the call as Emolga headed back towards the group wrapping up eating.
"Well, Emolga?" Misty asked her, who sighed.
"She said she'll think on it and took the second option of me being in her place as a thought but told me to think on it," Emolga said. Misty was about to say something about what she said, only to see something heading their way and land on the ground injured. It was an Eagle-looking Pokemon. Ash looked up the Pokemon, a Rufflett, as Brock was healing up the Pokemon; however, something was off about the little guy, which Emolga noticed. "I think I found the Pokemon Zoroark was talking about," Emolga thought.
Rufflett was trying to attack everyone because of how the mental state he was in. "Hey, easy there, boy, you are in no shape to fight, let alone to the ones trying to help you," Ash said to the Rufflett, who stopped and returned to normal.
"Sorry, as of today, I couldn't help it, and I'm not normally like this. I'm very nice and a bit prideful," Rufflett said to Ash, who translated this.
"You guys, you don't think?" Misty was saying too, and Ash and Brock thought the same thing, only for Cubchuo to speak up.
"It's the same situation I am in, but different infections," Cubchuo said to Ash as Ash explained what was happening to her to Rufflett, who looked down. It was true; he was passing through the area because of it.
"We have another Pokemon to try to get out of their grasp, but the worst part of both cases is they both look like they will evolve at any time. And who knows what will happen if they evolve while still in this condition," Brock pointed out as the two Pokemon looked down and knew that someone would fall under their control if something weren't done soon.
Brock finished healing the Rufflett, who sighed and smiled.
"Thanks, I just wished we met in a different situation," Rufflett said.
"No problem, but what were you doing in the area? From what I saw in the Pokedex, Rufflett isn't from the area?" Ash asked the Pokemon.
"I was migrating back to the mountains closer to a big city. I was struck by a wave of something while flying by the tower with the bell, and suddenly I find myself fighting against other Pokemon and then finding myself being healed by you all," Rufflett explained to the group.
"I know which Mountains you are referring to, the one outside Opulucid city that's the second largest city outside of Castellia that has mountains nearby," Ash said to Rufflett. He nodded as he wasn't sure of the place's name but knew what he was talking about Rufflett was about to say something when a Dark Pulse was sent towards the group. It was Zoroark.
"Not good. Hey, please stop it. We don't want to fight you," Ash said to her as the pain in Rufflett's and Cubchuo's heads began to hurt the more she was around them.
"Just give me the Rufflett or Cubchuo, and I will, or are you going to fight for them," Zoroark told Ash and the group. Misty and Brock were ready to fight her along with Ash. "No, only the boy here. You two aren't worth my time. You want me to break them free you have to fight me for it," Zoroark said. This took Ash aback as he knew that Team Rocket had supped her up, and he knew how strong she was the first time he met her.
"Pikachu, you ready, boy," Ash asked Pikachu, who nodded.
"Yeah, let's do this, Ash," Pikachu said to Ash, who turned to Zoroark, who was ready to fight Zorua was worried as her mother wasn't the type to be taken lightly in battle and knew that she'd toy with Ash and Pikachu.
Pikachu and Zoroark got into place as Brock and Misty were away from the battle to ensure that no one went after Cubchuo and Rufflett as Emolga watched from the tree. She knew that after this battle, she might be returned to Team Rocket and was ready for it.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt," Ash commanded Pikachu, who fired the attack right at Zoroark, who used Dark Pulse right at the Thunderbolt attack as she charged right at Pikachu using Night Daze. "Iron Tail now, Pikachu," Ash commanded Pikachu, who slammed his tail right into Zoroark's claw just before she could use the move as she used Flamethrower.
"Woah! Quick attack now, Pikachu," Ash commanded Pikachu, who barely dodged the Flamethrower and slammed right into Zoroark in the chest Zoroark used Night Slash at Pikachu who hit Pikachu in the chest, sending him to the ground hard. "Pikachu!" Ash said as Pikachu struggled to get up. Zoroark was also panting heavily.
"I must admit you are strong for a human-trained Pokemon, not to mention that you are willing to go blow to blow with me even with me only holding back," Zoroark said to Ash and Pikachu, who weren't surprised that she would say she was holding back. Zoroark used Night Daze at Pikachu, but this time a much stronger one.
"Volt tackle now, Pikachu," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who charged right at Zoroark with speed and electricity might, knowing that this might be the last attack of the battle given that Pikachu was at his last length. "Iron Tail," Pikachu commanded Pikachu, who also used the Iron Tail with Volt Tackle as it clashed with the Dark Pulse, only for Pikachu to gain the advantage slammed right into her hard with both attacks. Pikachu and Zoroark were panting heavily as Zoroark sighed.
"I know when I beat for now," Zoroark snapped her fingers as this hit both Cubchuo and Rufflett as they were free from her control just as they evolved. Ash was about to do something. "I'm freeing them as per our agreement. We don't need them. We have enough Pokemon on our side," Zoroark said before turning to Emolga in the tree, who dove down by her side. "Speaking of," Zoroark snapped her fingers at her, causing her to break out of control, surprising everyone, especially Emolga, who turned to Zoroark.
"What, why?" Emolga asked her.
"I've decided that you've earned your time from our team and have been through enough. You can say Buizel's caring about you got to me. You can say," Zoroark said to Emolga and then tossed Emolga towards the group.
"This time, we won't be going after her anymore. Consider this a warning the next time we meet will be different, and it will be the last of our plans. However, you better watch your back. Most of the Pokemon in the Mountain is under our control, thanks to Emolga here," Zoroark said before leaving. Zorua was about to say something, but her mother was already gone.
Ash ran over to the newly evolved Braviary and Bearatic, who were passed out from all that had happened. "It's exactly like when Emolga was freed from their control back then. Are we sure that they will stay this way?" Servine said, remembering that Emolga went through this twice.
"Zoroark has the power to free the Pokemon under their control, so I think they won't go after them. Hearing what she said means that Team Rocket is planning something big soon, and I don't know what it is before you ask," Emolga said with her arms crossed.
"You know you must make up for what happened back at the tower, right?" Misty said to Emolga, who sighed and nodded.
"I'll try to make it up. I do know this area well. That is why I targeted Chargestone Cave and the tower, and we have one more Pokemon that lives in the Mountain," Emolga said to Misty, which Zorua translated.
"Meaning you were wild in this area before joining Team Rocket after yours, Chandler's, and Eeletrik's released you three?" Brock said, and Emolga nodded.
"That is all I remember; please understand, but my ties with Team Rocket are gone now. But Zoroark holds my memories, but I don't think that is needed anymore," Emolga said, now worried about the two Pokemon recovering from what just happened, not just the Pokemon in the Mountain.
"Hey, you two, relax. You have just been released from that nightmare," Ash said to them, who was surprised but happy as Bearatic hugged Ash in tears. "I did promise you that I would save you from this girl. Now you are no longer held back by your new personality?" Ash said as Bearatic smiled and let go. Even after she evolves, she still has her old personality.
Bearatic wanted to stay still with Ash as Braviary looked like he wanted something. "Let me guess. You want to join the team?" Ash asked Braviary, who nodded.
"Yeah, one of the reasons I migrated was also to find a trainer one-day Braviary is known for being strong and fierce and finding strong trainers. You showed it during that battle, and I can tell you I was planning on asking to join before Zoroark showed up," Braviary said as Ash nodded.
"My team is full and knowing that the instant that Bearatic returns to her ball, she'll be transferred to Professor Oak's lab, but you two will be trained by my Pokemon there, who you might be interested in learning from," Ash said to the two of them who smiled and nodded. Ash pulled out a Pokeball and tapped Braviary, which caught him instantly without hassle. Braviary's ball was sent to Professor Oak's lab as Ash sighed.
"Now it's your turn, girl, and don't worry, I will be calling you when I can, that's for sure," Ash said to Bearatic, who smiled, wagging her tail, and nodded as Ash returned her to her ball which instantly sent to Professor Oaks lab.
"Well, we should be cautious about what is in this Mountain. As Zoroark said, there are more Pokemon under their control, but we can free what we can," Brock said to Misty and Ash, who nodded as the group got things together as headed up the stairway to the Mountain.
With Zoroark not a threat for the time being. Ash and his friends now head into Twist Mountain and on the route toward Icirrus City, the site of Ash's next gym battle. What else is in store for our heroes? As the Journey continues.
Stay Tuned.
Done and done. This was a brutal chapter to write, given the change in the script there. But the request for Braviary was still planned. Before anyone asked what my original plan for this chapter was, Zoroark was going to push Ash to the point that he had to choose between the two Pokemon mentioned in the chapter, and while Ash was struggling to choose, one of them would choose. Who was I struggling with between the two? Initially, I was going to have Cubchuo be the one who chooses, and it would hit Ash so hard that it would make him have a hard time catching Pokemon up until Udella Town. But you all have spoken about Team Rocket. The requests keep coming as the next chapter. We have a two-for-one chapter as to who you'll see. See you next time.