Chapter 50: Trying To Fix What He Broke

Blade had finally tracked them down after they left, and found them all together, Hunter and Geyser bound and helpless, and Ashachu, in his painted fur. "Oh man. What did I miss…? Well, I didn't expect to see you here kid!" Blade lied, he didn't want to upset them with the truth that he hadn't helped them.

Ashachu spun around looking at Blade, who was smirking wide at the Pikachu. "Blade." His heart swelled with joy at the sight of the Sneasel. Without really thinking about it he rushed over to him and threw his paws around his neck. "Good to see you again!"

Blade looked taken aback for a second. He returned Ashachu's hug. "Good to see ya too. But what are you doing here? And why is your fur black? And aren't those your friends tied up here!" Blade was feigning ignorance, but he did need to know Ashachu's response, if he was feeling guilty about what he did it would help Blade to be able to help him deal with it.

"Oh, there you are," said an annoyed Jessie, scowling at Blade. "Where have you been, we could have used your help earlier."

"Hey!" Blade replied, releasing Ashachu and folding his arms. "I've already told you; I don't work for you. And I ain't doing any Pokémon stealing, okay!" Better than confessing that he was watching. His attention returned to Ashachu. "C'mon. Let's find somewhere to talk privately. Just us Pokémon. Where's Meowth." He looked around and spotted the scratch cat. "Oh, there you are! Come on."

*A Bit Later*

"You know, you really shouldn't have tied your friends up like this," Blade muttered in concern as he examined Hunter and Geyser writhing on the ground in their bonds. "That wasn't nice. Here, let me…"

There was some mental hesitation, when he considered Geyser, but even so he still did it, as much as he did not like the Dewott. In one quick motion of his claw, Blade cut open the ropes binding the Riolu and Dewott. Once free, Hunter rose slowly to his feet, while Geyser pounced on Ashachu.

"Ha, big mistake pal! I've got you now."

He charged at Ashachu with such speed and ferocity that Ashachu froze, unsure how to respond. Blade hoped he'd try something, and caught a hold of him before he could actually strike. "Whoa. Slow down there."

"Ugh get off me." Geyser wriggled and squirmed but was unable to free himself from the nelson headlock Blade had him in.

Ashachu blinked several times. Blade had moved so quickly to stop Geyser his whole body had become a blur. And he appeared to be holding him with little effort.

As if reading his mind, Blade grinned at Ashachu and chuckled, "see what I've been saying about instinct kid. If I hadn't been here to save your sorry butt."

"Hey. What do you think your doing," Jessie snapped at Blade?

"Those are our prisoners," complained James.

Blade held up a claw. It really didn't matter to him, but even so he felt they had treated him well all things considered so he had a bit of respect for them. "Relax guys. I'm not freeing them; I just want to talk."

Jessie and James glanced at each other then looked at Meowth who shrugged and said, "Meh, let 'em 'ave it."

Jessie's eyes narrowed. "You trust this guy, Meowth."

"exactly whose side is he on!"

"Our I t'ink," replied Meowth. "Besides, not like dey can get very far, even if dey did escape. We're a long way from the twerps now!"

Geyser gradually stopped struggling. Blade had a tight grip on his throat, cutting off his air. His face begun to turn purple, and he was gasping for air.

"Stop that," squealed Hunter. "You're going to kill him!"

"No, I'm not." Blade let go of Geyser, though he truly didn't want to. The Dewott fell to his all fours and took in several great breaths of air. "Though, I might if he attacks Ashachu again. You have been warned…"

'i…I said it…hmmm, heard it too much I suppose' Blade thought, before looking at the still gasping Geyser 'oh, if only I went through with that, but you deserve a date worse than death.'

"What is it you want," snapped Hunter. "Why'd you free us. What the fuck is going on here? Who are you anyway?"

"Name's Blade," Blade said coolly. "I take it Hikari's told you who I am."

Hunter's eyes widened in shock and he pointed dramatically at the Sneasel. "You! You're Blade. You're the Sneasel that's been causing all the problems."

Blade rolled his eyes. "Pleased to meet you too. Now, why don't we all sit down and discuss this like reasonable Pokémon." 'You're not wrong though.'

Hunter folded his arms and scowled. "Talk about what!"

"About you, Hikari and Geyser making amends with one another!" This was a desperate bid to fix what Blade felt he'd broken.

Ashachu and Hunter both stared bewildered at Blade. Then Hunter's jaw dropped and he exclaimed loudly, "What! First you creeps kidnap me. And now you want to play counsellor! Fuck that. Take me back to Cameron, right now!"

"Just sit down and hear me out! You may as well. I suspect Jessie and James are going to just let you run off. And I won't be freeing you a second time…" Blade was being honest, he had no reason to do it a second time.

*A Short Time Later*

"…And so, what happened at the Aether Foundation is my fault," said Blade. "I let my feelings for Hikari override my judgement. I took advantage, despite knowing that he had a boyfriend. The pheromones in the air didn't help. Hunter, you should find it in your heart to forgive him." Blade had spent a the time explaining what had happened, trying to help heal the rift he'd caused between the two Pokémon.

Hunter considered for a moment, coxing his head and frowning curiously, but then folded his arms and stuck his nose in the air.

"Yeah, no dice," he snapped back. "Not that it's any of your business, and I don't know why I'm talking to you about any of it. But as I recall, Ashachu seemed pretty into having sex with you as well. Which means he cheated. Which means it's over. And another thing. Why do you keep calling him Hikari? His name's Ashachu."

Blade looked taken aback by this last sentence. He turned to Ashachu. "Is that right? Your name's Ashachu." 'Come on kid….it can't be right…..but…if it is….I need you to tell me, I need to know the truth…no, I know the truth, he isn't lying to me, he's my friend, he wouldn't do that to me.' "what you change it or something?"

"He's always been Ashachu," asserted Hunter, but Blade ignored him.

"The point is Hikari, or Ashachu, really cares about you. You should give him another chance. He's sorry. I can tell, it's really eating him. Tell him." He tapped Ashachu on the back. At this point, regardless of what anyone called him, he was still his friend.

"Oh errr." Ashachu stuttered, unsure of what to say. He forced himself to look at Hunter and spoke from the heart. "Hunter. You are. And you always have been. My best friend. We've been together since the moment we first met. And I can't bear the thought of losing that. When you first told me that you loved me, I wasn't sure how I felt. I didn't know whether I felt the same way. I didn't know if I was ready to be in a relationship. Seeing Geyser flirting with you made me scared because I feared that you might give up on me and I would lose you. That's what pushed me into your arms. That time we were first together, in that secret base. Was incredible. I felt good and whole in a way I never felt before. And then, I went and treated like nobody should ever treat your mate. I betrayed you. You gave me your heart, and I didn't take care of it. And for that Hunter…All I can do is say that I'm sorry and mean it. These last few days where you haven't been talking to me have been agony. Having my tail cut off didn't hurt as much as much as this has hurt me." He paused to wipe his eye with his paw. "The point is Hunter. I love you. And I can't bear this rift between us. Please, please forgive me."

The little speech seemed to have had an effect on Hunter as well. His expression softened, and he gazed at Ashachu with big wet eyes.

Only Geyser was unmoved, folding his arms and shaking his head. Ashachu thought he heard him mumble, "Please."

It wasn't his imagination, and Blade glared at him. 'Envious little bitch. You're the one that can't accept that he likes Hikari more than you!'

"Wow Ashachu," said Hunter softly. "I didn't know you felt that way. You're right. I did give you my heart and you did throw it away. Before I can forgive me, I need you to tell me honestly how you feel about Blade here! He's the one you let fuck you, after all."

Ashachu bit his lip and was quiet for a moment as he contemplated his response. "I admit it. I do have feelings for Blade. In the time we've been together, I've really come to care for him."

Blade sighed and felt his eyes lower almost sadly before patting Ashachu on the back with his claw. "That's sweet of you to say kid. But you don't want to be with me. Not as a mate. I'm damaged goods." 'I am far too damaged for anyone.'

Ashachu shook his head. "No, you're not. You are kind, and smart, and strong and brilliant. It's exciting being with you. And I've learnt so much about myself in the time we've spent together."

"And who do you want to be with," asked Hunter. "Because you need to decide!"

"Well, to be honest. I don't know," replied Ashachu. "I like you both, and I don't really want to choose."

Hunter considered Ashachu for a moment, tilting his head and giving Ashachu a sad look. Then his expression hardened, and he replied, "Well maybe that's the answer!"

Blade opened his maw to say something, but then froze. 'Damn it! Of course I'd forget that he could actually care about me! Damn it damn it damn it! I was trying to fix this!' But he could hear a faint sound.

"Blade," said Ashachu, starting to feel unnerved. "What is…"

"Shhh," Blade raised a claw to silence him before getting to his feet, looking up at the sky.

Geyser jumped to his feet. "I hear it too."

Ashachu looked up and noticed the winged creature diving towards them…And the fires rained down.

Ashachu ducked and rolled as flames descended. He felt the heat against his fur, but he wasn't hit. When he got back to his paws, the world had become one of smoke and embers.

Blade saw a Charizard land in the clearing with a dull thud. He let out a roar loud enough to cause the leaves of the trees to shake. "Charrr!"

"Ah crap," Meowth said.

Blade made his decision in that moment, they were….his friends, so he'd do this for them. "Guys…Get out of here!" Blade leapt into action at once. He launched himself at Charizard. His claws were raised above his head and there was a nasty snarl across his face.

"Zarr!" Charizard brought his right claw up to meet Blade as he closed in. There was a sickening thumping sound as it made contact beneath his chin.

Blade was launched backwards from the force of the impact and landed hard on his back in the grass.

Ashachu scurried towards him, but suddenly found he couldn't move. A firm hard hand or paw seized a hold of his tail and he heard a voice shout "Not Ashachu, we need to get out of here!" Next thing he knew was being lifted into the air. The world around him inverted as he was turned upside down.

Blade scrambled to his feet and took another run at Charizard, but he was easily battered away with a swing of his tail. This was followed up by another jet of Flamethrower.

"BLAAAAADE!" Ashachu called out.

'Live or die, I'm not letting you take him back to that cruel neglectful bastard' Blade used what remained of his strength to prop himself up on his elbow. Looking down at his body, he could see an angry red burn across his stomach and chest. He was in pain. He was dizzy from being hit in the chest and chin and his skin felt as though it were melting off him.

As he stared back at Charizard, the reality of the situation hit him with a dull sense of realisation. 'He is simply too strong, there's no way I can win…. My body is telling me to run, but I can't, Hikari and Meowth need to escape, the rest can get fucked for all I care!'

Charizard had lost interest in him. Thinking him down and out, he had turned his attention back to the others. Blade couldn't see where they were. He assumed that they must have fled the scene, as Charizard at that moment let out another roar and gave chase. The ground shook violently as he ran into the trees.

"No. Not Hikari…" Blade knew what he had to do. There might have been nothing he could do, but he had to try. He would never be able to live with himself if he didn't try. And it was at that moment that he knew, He cared for Hikari. Really, truly cared for him. Almost…almost more than he did Shadow. "Y-you're not having him…"

And with that the sneasel suddenly found his strength. Blade forced himself back up, and leapt at Charizard again, this time aiming at his tail. And again, he was beaten back. Charizard noticed or sensed him coming, and his reflexes were fast.

Charizard turned back and released a flurry of attacks, hitting him several times with his claws, fists, and tail, blasting him with flamethrower. He suddenly felt himself winded as he slammed back first into a tree trunk.

Blade watched as Charizard came barrelling toward him and slash him across his chest, feeling his chest cut open letting blood deep out. 'that'll leave a scar…'

Then THUMP… Charizard swung his tail hard into Blade's stomach. The tree behind him shattered. The Sneasel found himself airborne – he had been sent blasting off like Team Rocket. The rushing air tore at his broken body.

He lost consciousness long before he hit the ground.