Chapter 36: Old is New Again
"Use Flamethrower!"
"Counter with Sandstorm!" In order to prepare for their upcoming challenges Ash and Nikki decided to have some practice battles. In the final pairing Larvitar and Vulpix were once again proving they were evenly matched as Vulpix's Flamethrower and Larvitar's Sandstorm canceled each other out.
"Use Iron Tail!" Nikki called. Vulpix charged forward, her six tails taking on Steel-like properties.
"Stop her with Screech!" Ash instructed. An ear-piercing Screech from Larvitar stopped Vulpix in her tracks, effectively ending her attack.
"Now use Stone Edge!" Ash shouted. Razor-sharp stones materialized around Larvitar, and with one wave of her hand she sent them hurtling towards the six-tailed fox.
"No you don't! Counter with Energy Ball!" Nikki said. As quickly as she could Vulpix formed a ball of Grass-type energy in her mouth and fired it towards the incoming Stone Edge. The two attacks created an explosion on impact, destroying the first few stones in Larvitar's attack and forcing the remaining ones to careen off-course.
"Okay, I think that's enough for now," Ash announced. With the practice battle over both Larvitar and Vulpix were allowed to relax.
"That was a good training session. I can't believe how much stronger everyone is getting," Nikki commented.
"They've been working hard, so it's only natural that they get stronger," Ash explained. "I'm really impressed with Vulpix and Larvitar. They're really putting their all into getting stronger, and it shows."
"(We just… want to do… our part,)" Larvitar said.
"(Yeah… and to do that… we need to get… stronger,)" Vulpix added.
"Well at this rate you two will grow to be incredibly strong," Nikki commented.
"I'll say," Ash agreed. With the training session over the trainers and Pokémon got to work cleaning up their temporary campsite. Unknown to them, however they were being watched from the shadows.
"Okay, looks like they're done with their training, and with their Pokémon worn out now is the perfect time to strike," Meowth commented. "Okay, let's go." He got up and prepared to confront Ash and Nikki, but something didn't feel right to him. Turning around he noticed neither Jessie nor James had made a move.
"What are you two waiting on?! Let's get moving!" he demanded.
"What's the point?" James sighed. "We'll just get beaten again, and then it'll be time for another blast-off." Meowth gasped. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"You can't be serious?!" he said. The Scratch Cat Pokémon turned to Jessie, hoping to get some backup from her.
"Help me out here, Jess," he requested.
"Sorry, but James is right. No matter what we do the twerps always defeat us," she sighed.
"Not you too?!" Meowth whined. By now Ash and Nikki had finished packing up and were getting ready to head out.
"Well if you won't help me then I guess I'll have to go it alone!" Filled with confidence he charged out to confront Ash and Nikki… only to be quickly defeated and sent crashing at the feet of Jessie and James.
"That… didn't feel good," he groaned.
"See what we mean? The twerps just beat back any attack we launch at them," James commented. Meowth, however, would not be deterred.
"One defeat won't be enough to make me give up!" With his confidence still on a high he charged back out… only to be met with the same result as before.
"How about two defeats?" Jessie questioned. Again Meowth sprang to his feet.
"Third time's the charm!" he shouted. He charged out for a third time, and for a third time he was soundly defeated. By now his confidence was starting to waver.
"Okay, I need a new plan of attack," he groaned.
"Now do you agree with us? The twerps seemingly have an answer for everything we throw at them," James said.
"Then we're just going to have to come up with something they don't have an answer for," Meowth declared.
"Easier said than done. With the number of Pokémon the twerps have at their disposal they have an answer for just about anything," Jessie stated.
"Then we'll just have to match their numbers," Meowth suggested.
"That won't be easy. Combined the twerps have ten Pokémon between them, and with the main twerp constantly rotating his team around they have more options than you can shake a stick at," Jessie explained. "Including you we only have eight."
"And even if we could match their numbers our Pokémon won't be able to match their strength," James added. "Let's face it. In numbers and strength the twerps have us trumped."
"But there's got to be something we can do to try and even up the sides," Meowth said.
"Well if you have a suggestion I'd love to hear it," James said.
"(We may have one for you.)" The three of them turned towards the sound of the new voice. What they saw left them speechless.
"I-Is that…"
Ash and Nikki had put quite a bit of distance between themselves and their temporary campsite. The training battles they waged left their Pokémon a bit exhausted, and though their subsequent encounters with Meowth were handled with minimal effort both trainers felt the need to locate the nearest Pokémon Center.
"According to my Pokécomm the closest Pokémon Center shouldn't be that far away," Nikki reported. "If we keep heading in this direction we'll be there in no time."
"That's good. I want us to get our Pokémon checked out by Nurse Joy as soon as possible," Ash said. "Don't want to get caught off guard by Team Rocket."
"Speaking of them did you find it weird at all that Meowth challenged us like that without Jessie or James backing him up?" Nikki asked.
"That was a bit strange. Usually the three of them attack together," Ash commented. "I wonder what made Meowth go it alone?"
"(Who knows. Those three are always doing something strange,)" Pikachu said.
"That they are," Ash agreed. "I just hope we can go the rest of the day without running into them again."
"No such luck, twerp!" Ash and Nikki stopped in their tracks, for blocking their path were the three individuals they were trying to avoid.
"Out of the sky, falling with grace.
A spark in the eye, arriving with haste.
Ready and willing to put twerps in their place.
Jessie!
James!
Meowth's the name!
Team Rocket, burning a trail!
Blazing a path!
Kickin' some tail!
Wobbu Wobbuffet!
Mime Mime Mime Mime!"
"And here we were trying to avoid you three," Nikki groaned. "Can't you go bother someone else?!"
"Not as long as you have what we want," Jessie declared.
"We've said it before and we'll say it again! You're not getting our Pokémon!" Ash declared.
"You say that now, but wait until we show you what we have in store for you this time," James said.
"You've been throwing blasts from the past at us, but now it's time for us to throw a blast from the past at you!" Jessie shouted. She and James each grabbed a Poké Ball and threw them. Moments later they opened, revealing two Pokémon Ash and Pikachu were not expecting.
"N-No way!" Ash stuttered.
"(That can't be!)" Pikachu squeaked. From Jessie's Poké Ball emerged a large cobra-like snake Pokémon, and from James's emerged Pokémon that looked like two floating balls of gas.
"(It's-s been a while, has-sn't it?)"
"Arbok and Weezing!" Ash gasped.
"I'm not familiar with those two," Nikki commented as she scanned them with her Pokécomm.
Name: Arbok
Species: The Cobra Pokémon
Pokécomm Entry: The pattern on its belly is for intimidation. It constricts foes while they are frozen in fear.
Name: Weezing
Species: The Poison Gas Pokémon
Pokécomm Entry: Inhaling toxic fumes from trash and mixing them inside its body lets it spread an even fouler stench.
"Surprised?" James asked, seeing the shocked looks on Ash and Pikachu's faces.
"When did those two come back?" Ash wondered.
"Just recently, and I must say it's good to have them back," Jessie answered.
"(How did they even get here? Last time we saw them they were in Hoenn,)" Pikachu commented.
"(Our groups-s were brought here to help add divers-sity to the Legenda region. Onc-ce we arrived we all went out s-separate ways-s,)" Arbok explained.
"(Over time we heard that Team Rocket was operating here. We started looking for them, hoping it was Jessie and James,)" Weezing added. "(And the rest, as they say, is history.)"
"So it was by chance that you found each other again," Nikki assumed.
"We like to think it was Fate righting a wrong," Jessie corrected.
"Yes. After tearing us apart in Hoenn it seems that we were destined to be reunited at this very moment, for Fate has delivered them back to us," James declared.
"And they're going to help us deliver your Pokémon to the Boss," Meowth said. Arbok and Weezing looked at Ash and Nikki with wicked smiles.
"I don't think so! We've beaten them in the past and we'll beat them now!" Ash declared. Pikachu let a few sparks shoot from his cheeks in support of Ash.
"Well then, I think it's time to re-familiarize you with some old tactics," Jessie stated. "Poison Sting!" With a loud hiss Arbok opened his mouth and let loose with a barrage of poisonous needles.
"Counter with Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted. Ash's Electric type unleashed a Thunderbolt that easily tore through Arbok's Poison Sting and continue on course to strike the Cobra Pokémon.
"Smokescreen!" James called. Weezing quickly moved to the front and spewed a thick cloud of smoke, obscuring everyone's vision. Pikachu's Thunderbolt entered the cloud, but no one could see if it made contact or not.
"Did you get them?" Nikki wondered.
"I don't know. I can't see anything through that Smokescreen," Ash replied.
"Then allow us to remove any doubt. Tackle!" James commanded. Weezing suddenly burst forth from the Smokescreen, slamming into Pikachu with a devastating Tackle.
"No, Pikachu!" Ash called. Seeing Pikachu in an unfair 2-on-1 situation Nikki sprang into action.
"Let's back them up, Buneary! Use Bounce!" Nikki instructed. Buneary hopped onto the battlefield and prepared to go on the offensive, but Jessie was first to make a move.
"Use Glare, Arbok!" she ordered. As Buneary made her move Arbok slithered in front of her and gave her a paralyzing glare, freezing Buneary in her tracks.
"(Now you're mine,)" Arbok hissed.
"Get out of there, Buneary!" Nikki shouted. Try as she did Buneary was completely paralyzed thanks to Arbok's Glare and unable to move.
"Protect Buneary, Pikachu!" Ash called. In the blink of an eye Pikachu positioned himself between Buneary and Arbok.
"(I won't let you hurt her!)" he declared.
"How noble. Use Wrap!" Jessie commanded. Before anyone could react Arbok had Pikachu and Buneary bound in his coils. The two smaller Pokémon struggled and squirmed, but nothing they did could loosen Arbok's hold on them.
"Break free with Thunderbolt, Pikachu!" Ash shouted. Just as he was charging up his attack Nikki called for him to stop.
"Don't do it, Pikachu! You'll catch Buneary in the attack too!" she warned. Pikachu realized Nikki was right and immediately powered down his attack.
"Ha! We've got you now, twerps! There's nothing you can do to save your precious Pokémon now!" Jessie gloated. Nikki, however, did share Jessie's opinion as she grabbed one of her Poké Balls.
"Just because Pikachu and Buneary can't attack doesn't mean our other Pokémon can't!" she stated. "Shinx, use Flash!" She tossed out Shinx's Poké Ball, the Flash Pokémon appearing shortly after.
"(Time to brighten things up!)" she barked before giving off a blinding light.
"Ah! My eyes!" Meowth screeched.
"I can't see!" Jessie wailed.
"Neither can I!" James added. Arbok and Weezing were blinded as well. During the confusion Arbok loosened his hold on Pikachu and Buneary, giving the two of them the opportunity to escape. When the villains were finally able to see they didn't like the sight that greeted them.
"This won't be good," Meowth groaned.
"Okay, Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!" Ash called. Pikachu's cheeks sparked as he unleashed his trademark attack. Cries of pain filled the air as Team Rocket was subjected to the powerful Electric attack. Predictably the Thunderbolt managed to ignite the poison gas Weezing was spewing, resulting in an all-too familiar explosion which sent them flying through the air.
"Not even Arbok and Weezing was enough to give us the edge!" Jessie wailed.
"At least we got them back!" James said.
"Yeah! Welcome back!" Meowth said.
"(Jus-st like old times-s, huh!)" Arbok hissed.
"(Unfortunately!)" Weezing said.
"We're blasting off again!" they cried.
"Whew… that takes care of them," Ash sighed. "I never would have expected them to get Arbok and Weezing back."
"(They seem to have gotten a bit stronger over the years,)" Pikachu commented. "(Unfortunately for them so did we.)"
"And we'll keep getting stronger too," Ash declared.
"We all will," Nikki agreed. "Right, Buneary?"
"(You bet!)" the Rabbit Pokémon enthusiastically replied.
"But first a quick stop at a Pokémon Center is in order," Nikki advised.
"Well since you already found one close by lead the way," Ash suggested. With Nikki in the lead the group departed for the Pokémon Center, eager for a bit of rest before continuing on towards Red Sands Desert.
Even with the surprising return of Arbok and Weezing Jessie and James still couldn't defeat Ash and Nikki. With the good guys still on a hot streak how will things play out from now on? Can their good run continue? Find out in the next chapter of Search for Power!
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