Chapter 21 – The shocking recruit returns I

Elsewhere in the Petalberg woods – Many hours later…

"Hey, you…have you two kids seen any Riolu round here?"

The kid was greasy hair, dressed in a green jacket and a scowl. There had been no greeting or friendly hello as he emerged from the woods. Just the single aggressive demand of Cameron and Jimmy.

"Excuse me," Jimmy asked frowning.

"I heard there are supposed to be wild Riolu all over the place," the kid snapped. He eyed Lucario carefully.

Cameron's heart skipped a beat. "Uhh, we're looking for a Riolu actually. If you've seen."

"Listen here kid, you'd better stay away from the Riolu if you know what's good for you," said the kid. He marched over to Cameron, getting right in his face and personal space, and holding up a finger aggressively. "Understand. I SAID TO STAY WAY FRO THE RIOLU!"

Cameron took a step back, bewildered, and Lucario let out a warning growl, his fur bristling.

"What in the world."

"Stay away from the Riolu!" Before Cameron could utter another word, he had turned around and disappeared back into the trees.

Cameron let out a wail. "On man…That's that the last thing I need. HUNTER. WHERE ARE YOU?"

"Lu." Lucario put a paw on his shoulder to comfort him. "We'll find him Cameron. I promise."

"Why did he have to run off at all," sobbed Cameron, burying his face in his hands. "Now he's going to get caught by that creep."

"That's not going to happen," Jimmy tried to reassure him. "You can't catch another trainer's Pokémon. The Pokéball won't work."

Cameron, Jimmy, Lucario and Typhlosion had been out in the woods for hours searching for Hunter. Ash and Pikachu had remained behind at the Pokémon centre with Ashachu. But so far that had found neither ears nor tail of the emancipation Pokémon. And it was taking an emotional toll of Cameron and his Lucario mate.

"Just want him back." Cameron closed his eye, fighting back the tears.

Lucario let out a small cry before putting his arms around Cameron and hugging him. Cameron accepted the embrace and buried his face in the soft fur of Lucario's chest. Lucario nuzzled his neck with his long nose.

"Like I said, we'll find him. But you can't stay here crying about it, we have to keep searching…"

"You're right." Cameron suddenly perked back up. "Can't feel sorry for myself. Hunter needs me now. Jimmy, take a look at the map, where haven't we looked."

"Hmmm." Jimmy pulled out his Pokenav and frowned. "Well, according to this, we're not too far from Vandanturf Town. Maybe…"

"Lucar!" Lucario was the first to notice it. He jumped in front of Cameron protectively, springing into a battle-ready stance; legs spread apart, tail low to the ground and fur bristling.

"Lucario," asked Cameron. He felt a lurch of fear in his stomach.

The ground shook beneath them as the thing burst out of the trees. It was incredible how something so large had managed to say concealed until it had been right upon them, lumbering out of the trees like a giant a beast.

Lucario snarled, Typhlosion sprang in front of Jimmy, dropping to his all fours with the flames on his back erupting into life, and Cameron and Jimmy both jumped backwards.

"Oh Arceus."

"What in the distortion world is that!"

What it was, was a giant mechanical Yungoose, that crawled along the ground on four hydraulic legs. It appeared to be wearing a red baseball cap, on which the letter R had been painted in purple.

All four of them felt their hearts sink as they noticed the R, and realised exactly what this was…

"Oh no," Jimmy groaned. "Not now. Not, them again."

There was the sound of laughter as a hatched opened in the top of the and a small platform rose up, on which who was standing but Team Rocket's Jessie, James and Meowth along with Wobbuffet, Noibat and a certain Pikachu with his fur dyed black…

"Prepare for trouble,"

"And make it double."

"To protect the world from devastation."

"To unite the people within our nation."

"To denounce the evils of truth and love."

"To extend our reach to the stars above."

"Jessie."

"And James."

"Team rocket blasts off at the speed of light."

"Surrender now, or prepare to fight."

"Meowth dats right!"

"Pika Pika, Pikachu! Pika!"

"Wait, is that Ashachu," said Cameron pointing up at the black electric mouse striking a pose at the edge of the platform.

"Still," Jimmy gasped. "I thought he was at the Pokémon centre. What the heck is going on."

Another chorus of laugher from Jessie, James and Meowth…

"Sorry but I'm afraid little Ashachu is one of us now," said Jessie.

"A fully fledged and valuable member of Team Rocket," James added.

"Pi Pikachu," Ashachu growled.

Cameron shook his head then bellowed angrily. "What is that thing. What are you planning to do with that machine?"

"What dis," Meowth gestured to the robotic Yungoose below him with his. "Dis is our Mechanised Automatic Geyser Acquirer."

James groaned and rolled his eyes. "That's the worst name ever!"

Meowth ignored him. "It's specially designed to capture aura Pokémon like da twerps Dewott and dem Lucario and Riolu of yours."

Cameron put his hand on Lucario's shoulder. "You're not taking my Pokémon."

"Lu-carr!"

"Hey, speaking of which, where is that Riolu," said James. "Doesn't he usually keep it out of its Pokéball."

"The twerp and his Pikachu aren't here either," added Jessie. "Where are they?"

"None of them are here right now," said Jimmy coldly.

Jessie looked at James, then shrugged. "Well, if that's the case."

The platform lowered back into the Yungoose' head. The machine reared itself up and leapt into the air.

"Look out." Lucario grabbed Cameron and pulled him side, while Typhlosion jumped on Jimmy to protect him.

The Mechanised Automatic Geyser Acquirer soared over their heads, landing on its mechanical paws and bounding into the trees with surprising speed.

[Pokémon]

In another part of the woods…

"Ashachu…Ashachu," Ash called out, again and again. "Are you there."

"No! Quit asking," snapped a voice from nearby.

Ash spun around to see who had spoken and caught sight of a Mighyena glaring at him from the grass. Ash jumped, his heart suddenly pounding.

"Pika Pikachu." Pikachu stepped in front of him his cheeks sparking a warning to the dark type. "Pika!"

Mightyena stared at him for a moment, before rolling his eyes and disappearing back into the grass.

Ash breathed a sigh of relief. "Phew. Thanks buddy."

"Don't mention it," breathed Pikachu.

The two of them continued on through the forest, calling out Ashachu's name.

"Ashachu!"

"Pi Pi Pi!"

The trees were thick in this part of the forest and the gaps between then narrow. Ash found himself stumbling and staggering over roots and brambles. Pikachu, being much smaller and nimbler, had no such trouble. There was no road in this part of the forest – it was the domain of the wild Pokémon.

"Pikachu. Wait up!" Ash had to take hold the trunk of a tree to stop himself falling.

Pikachu sighed. "You know. We are never going to find him if you don't keep up."

"Hey, I'm trying my best," protested Ash. "What makes you think he's this way."

"His scent." Pikachu raised himself up and took a sniff at the air. "He's got to be around here somewhere. C'mon."

Pikachu darted into the trees once more.

"Pikachu!"

Ash eventually managed to catch up with his partner in a small clearing.

"Here," Pikachu said as he approached.

Ash looked around. The trunks of several of the trees, as well the grass, were blackened as if they'd been burned.

"Ashachu's been here."

"What makes you so sure."

Pikachu pointed at a nearby tree. "look at the trees. They've been struck by lightning."

"You sure?

"I'm sure…and." He bounded forward a few steps. "Here, check this out."

"Paw prints." Ash knelt down and examined the prints in the grass. "Wait, don't these look like."

"Hunter's," agreed Pikachu. "He must have been too."

"Okay. So which way did they go from here?"

Pikachu took another sniff at the air. His ears flattened. "I don't know. The scent doesn't go anywhere else."

Ash felt his heart sink. "Bummer…Well, I'm sure Charizard will find him." He slumped down against the trunk of a nearby tree and sighed. "Oh Arceus. Why did Ashachu have to run away again."

"Well, you know Ash. It may have something to do with you threatening to send him back to Oaks."

Ash looked up at Pikachu and raised his eyebrows. To his surprised Pikachu was wearing a scowl and his voice and an icy tone to it. He had folded his arms and was tapping his right foot paw impatiently. It would be cute, were it not for the fact Ash could tell he was very serious.

"Pikachu. What are you talking about?"

Pikachu took a deep breath before responding. "You know Ash. I love you but…Sometimes you are really dense. Have you actually stopped to consider how Ashachu might have been feeling through all of this? First, he's stalked by a Darkrai, which you…and me I admit…ignored, until he lost his tail. Second his boyfriend, who he's been friends with since he hatched, breaks up with him. Third, you keep punishing him and you threatened to push him away."

Pikachu had not shouted or screamed or said anything mean. Yet the words hit Ashachu like a close combat attack from an angry Mienfoo. Or a focus punch from a Lucario.

"Pikachu. W-what are you saying. Y-y-you can't be blaming me for this. All I was trying to do was keep Ashachu safe. You saw what that Sneasel did to him. I mean."

Pikachu held up his paw to silence Ash. "I'm not saying Ashachu is blameless in this. But you haven't made any effort to understand why he's done the things that he's done. And you haven't because you're a human, and you don't have the ability to understand how Pokémon think and feel about things. It's partly my fault. I should have spoken up. I regret not doing so."

Ash opened his mouth. Then closed it again. He didn't have anything to say.

"I think from now on Ash, I'm going to set Ashachu's boundaries and I'm going to be responsible for punishing him when necessary. Because all you've done is make him feel isolate from his family and loved ones. And to be honest I'm really disappointed in and upset with you as a mate."

Ash felt as if he were being hollowed out slowly. Pikachu was disappointed in him as a mate…That hurt more than if Pikachu had used his most powerful Z move on him.

"Oh man Pikachu…I…I don't know what to say."

"And I'll say one more thing for Ashachu before you mention it. Yes, he may have joined Team Rocket. And I know that was wrong of him, and I know most of the other Pokémon are really mad at him. But see it from his point of view. He felt you were pushing him away. He felt isolated. Blade and Team Rocket made him feel included. They were kind and supportive of him. Human notions of good and evil, right and wrong, legal and illegal don't mean anything to Pokémon Ash. Haven't you noticed that Team Rocket's Pokémon will always fight for them, regardless of the fact that they get beaten up each time?"

"I thought that was because they were stupid," said Ash.

"It's because Team Rocket take care of them and are kind to them. They have a bond just like we do…well, maybe not quite like we do. But they have a bond."

Ash was taken aback. Pikachu with empathy for Team Rockets Pokémon. "Ghee Pikachu. I never thought of it like that. But its not like Team Rocket are going to bond with Ashachu. They were just using him."

Pikachu sighed and nodded. "I know. Trust me, I've been around Meowth long enough to know how manipulative he is. It's something I'll talk to Ashachu about when we find. I will talk to him about it, not you!"

Ash frowned at Pikachu, a bit of defiance returning to him. "Hey, I don't see why I don't get to be involved in parenting our kit."

"You absolutely do," said Pikachu. "But he's a Pokémon and therefore he should be accountable to Pokémon. I don't want you disciplining or setting rules for him anymore. You've lost that right… Oh and when you see him, I want you to apologise too, and tell him that you understand how you've made him feel."

Ash looked at Pikachu and understood that he was right. He didn't know why, but he could tell that Pikachu was right. He looked down at his feet, no longer able to meet his mates' eyes. A great sense of shame was welling up inside him.

"You're right Pikachu. I promise that when I see Ashachu, I'll let him know…Oh man. How could I have done this to Ashachu!"

For the first time that day, Pikachu smiled. "There's the kid I fell in love with." He scurried over to Ash, climbed in his lap and gave him a tender lick on the cheek. He tasted the salty taste of a single tear under his tongue.

"Awwww. Now isn't that Sweet!"

Ash and Pikachu nearly jumped out of their skin and fur at the disembodied voice that rang out of trees. They both leapt to their feet, looking this way and that for the source.

"Huh! Who said that?"

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The mechanised Yungoose lumbered slowly from out of the trees. Ash and Pikachu had both seen enough of Team Rocket's Mecha's to recognise one when they saw one. These machined were always the worst thing about fighting team rocket. Who knew how powerful they were or what they could do!

"Pikachu! Use thunderbolt on that thing."

"Pi." Pikachu gave him a curt nod before springing into action. With a cry of "Pikachuuu," he discharged his most powerful thunderbolt attack at the machine, striking it right in the Yungoose' chest.

It had absolutely now affected…All Ash could do was gasp.

"Ahhh."

"Pika!"

There was the sound of laugher, and then the hatch opened in the top of the machine out of which a platform arose.

"Prepare for…"

"Can the motto, is arse whopping time!"

Ash and Pikachu spotted him at the same time. Standing at the edge of the platform, on his all fours with his tail raised in the air, his fur dyed black with yellow highlight in his ears, just in front of Jessie, James and Meowth was…

"ASHACHU!"

Ash heart sank lower than usual, coming to rest somewhere around the pit of his stomach. "What are you doing with them still. Get down from that bucket of bolts!"

"Pika Pika, Pikachu Pika!," Ashachu growled, glaring down at them, his teeth bared.

"Ash," said Pikachu looking over his shoulder. "What did I tell you."

"Oh right!" Ash took a deep breath. "Ashachu. Please, come down. I know that you're upset. I know that you feel I tried to push you away. I know you're in pain. And…I know that I caused that. But please Ashachu. Team Rocket are just using you. You can't trust them."

"Pi."

For a moment it appeared that Pikachu strategy might have worked. Ashachu's face relaxed, and he tilted his head curiously. But then Meowth stepped forward and placed his paw on Ashachu's back.

"Don't listen' to 'em kid. Ya know he's just gonna send you back to Oak's as soon as ya back with him."

The scowled returned to Pikachu's face. "Pika!"

"He's lying," cried Ash. "Ashachu I'm sorry. I mean it."

"Pika Pikachu pi," Pikachu called out desperately.

For a moment he stared pleadingly at Ashachu as Ashachu scowled right back. Then Ashachu turned his back to them and folded his paws. "Pika."

Ash groaned as the trio cackled with laughter.

"See dat twerp," taunted Meowth. "He doesn't trust ya anymore."

"And now you're going to hand over that Pikachu or else," demanded Jessie.

Ash felt a wave of anger. He raised his fist, shook it and retorted. "And why should I listen to you, your big fur ball."

"Oh, you'll see," Jessie replied, an evil grin crossing her face. The platform begun to descend back into the machine.

Ash felt a tightening in his chest. This was the part where Team Rocket usually launched their attack. His instinct was the run – but he couldn't leave Ashachu. The mechanised Yungoose rose onto its hind legs, it's right paw outstretching towards them.

"You may like to know twerp," came Jessie's voice out of some sort of speaker system within the Mecha. "This robot has a very special power source."

Ash swallowed, a feeling of dread coming over him. He was sure he whatever that special power source was, he wasn't going to like it. And sure enough…

A compartment in the Yungoose's chest slid open to reveal a bright yellow crystal-like object stuck in the middle. As it slid forward and into place, it revealed a dark blue otter like creature trapped within. An angry expression on his face, tapping the structure with his claws.

"Oh Arceus, Geyser," Ash gasped as Pikachu let out a cry of "Pikachu!"

"Ya see twerp," came Meowth's voice. "Dis is our Mechanised automatic Geyser acquirer."

"I still don't like that name!" James interjected, but Meowth ignored him.

"It harnesses the power of young Geyser dare's aura to power its weapons. Care to see?"

The arm of the Yungoose moved so it was pointing directly at Ash and Pikachu. Its paw slid open to reveal a cannon of sorts. Then came the shrill cry of Jessie over the speaker, "ATTACK!"

Followed by James. "We'll make his trouble double with our aura cannon."

The cannon begun to light up a bright orange colour. Ash realised he had no choice now. He had to run for it, or he and Pikachu could get seriously hurt.

"Pikachu, this way," he shouted as he sprinted forward, just the cannon arm fired.

The attack missed by the force of the shockwave still managed to catch him. He was nearly knocked off his feet, though fortunately was able to keep running. He glanced down and was relieved to see Pikachu running along beside him. He was smaller and was able to avoid the worst of the shockwave.

Through the trees he ran, stumbling over the roots and through the tall grass. He knew that if he were to trip and fall here – or run into some angry wild Pokémon – that would be the end of him. But he didn't have time to watch where he was going.

He could hear the machine thumping along behind him. "Ahhhh. Look out, it's coming! Oh, Ashachu why!"

There were some bushes ahead. Perhaps they could provide a hiding place. "Over there…Get ready Pikachu."

"Pika." Pikachu leapt onto his back with surprising agility and grace.

Ash dived headfirst into the bushed. He shut his eyes tight as he felt the twigs and branches scrape and poke at his flesh. Luckily, he didn't get anything too close to his eyes. He opened one eyelid and found himself surrounded by a wall of green. They must be covered here.

The thumping got louder as the Mechanised Geyser…Whatever the distortion world it was…drew near.

"Huh…Where'd he go?" asked a bewildered Meowth. "He was right ahead of us a second ago!"

"Nowhere that one of our impressive arrays of inventions can't find him," said James proudly.

Jessie folded her arms, and added, "While you were flitting around with that Sneasel I was thinking of new weapons."

"Like this." James raised his arms and struck some sort of weird pose that made Ashachu shake his head.

What was with these three exactly. Why were they so eccentric?

"I scream, you scream. We all scream for eye beam!"

The Mecha's eyes begun to glow, and a crossfire target flashed on the console. "There! Target!"

"Fire!"

From his crystal cage Geyser begun bellowing a pointless warning. "Get out of there. GET OUT OF THERE!" Too bad Ash and Pikachu couldn't hear him.

The Mecha raised its arm and fired another pulse of aura. It missed Ash by a long shot, but the shockwave was enough to destroy most of the bushes protecting him, effectively forcing him and Pikachu from there hidey hole.

"Waaahhh!"

"Pika!"

He glared up at the Mecha and shouted at it…more to show he wasn't afraid that because it made any sense… "Hate to burst your bubble we got things to do!" He then ran as fast as his legs would carry him.

"After them!" shouted Jessie.

But as the Mecha moved forwards, its left rear paw got caught on the roots of a tree. There was a jolt, then the entire thing pitched forward, falling onto its stomach…

Ashachu had been perched on the top of the console, his paws pressed against the front windshield. The fall caused him to lose balance and fall off and onto the floor…Where Jessie, James and Meowth proceeded to fall on top of him.

"Pi ka!"

"What happened," growled and irritable Jessie.

"Dare appears to have been some kind of slip up," said Meowth unhelpfully.

Ashachu groaned. Not for the first time today he wondered what he had got himself into…