As expected, the battle with Paul had put the group's departure on hold. A few members of the team (namely, the ones with notable head injuries) needed most of the day to be fully healed, with the advice from Nurse Joy to not exert themselves too much until a good, overnight sleep.
After spending time talking with the girl he had offered to help (who's name turned out to be Nicole), Ash took the opportunity to do some light training with Nebula, who hadn't seen action during the battle. The Staravia vehemently took the opportunity to further work on Air Cutter, along with honing Double Team.
After a loss as brutal as the one they had to Surge, it didn't surprise Ash too much to see that his friends hadn't taken their defeat at Paul's hands too harshly. He, himself, hadn't been very demoralized by the outcome, given the closeness of the battle. Eevee, in particular, actually seemed quite satisfied with her performance, and had come out of Nurse Joy's care in a noticeably upbeat mood, as though a tremendous weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Ash skimmed through the Celadon City pamphlet as he sat at the table in the cafeteria. Their dinner had been a late one tonight, the skies already black and twinkling with stars by the time they had sat down to eat. Having finished ahead of most of his teammates, the boy had decided to pass the time by looking through the booklet once more. Now, Nebula, Valiant, and Tyrunt were close to finishing, having taken a slower approach to consuming their meals. Tempest had finished a few moments ago and wandered off, although Ash didn't have an issue with it as long as he didn't go too far (or cause any trouble).
Pikachu and Eevee were on either side of him, having finished around the same time he had and joined him in glancing at the pamphlet.
"Erika seems like a busy woman." the boy commented, looking at the section that talked about the city's current Gym Leader. The picture showed a dark-blue haired woman in what looked like a kimono. The pamphlet stated that she owned a successful perfume company, with products that had achieved near-universal popularity throughout her territory. The company's status only further exemplified her position in the high-class city, a territory that she already had jurisdiction over. "She's just as much of a businesswoman as she is a Gym Leader."
It was Ash's wonder how any of the Gym leaders could balance such schedules. Misty's sisters were performers, Sabrina and Surge effectively led training academies, and Erika ran an entire company. Just taking on challengers and leading the law enforcement was enough responsibility, to say nothing of everything some of these Leaders did in addition.
"We'll probably visit the shopping district before challenging the Gym." the boy flipped over to the pages detailing that section of the city. ""Even after losing to Paul, we still have plenty of money left. If we can keep this up, we'll be able to get some useful supplies from the Department Store. Mainly TMs. After the Gym, we should head over to Breeder's Lane to visit Elacia, or Suzie if she isn't there." he scratched the back of his head. He still needed to pay the breeder off at some point. She wasn't rushing him, but he felt guilty that he wouldn't be able to clear up that debt by the time they reached the city. He definitely needed to start planning it so as to not keep her waiting too long.
'I won't be able to do it at Celadon, but next time for certain.' He owed her quite a bit, not just for Tyrunt's egg, but for all the help she'd provided back at Pewter in general. He was still hoping to see her again for that reason, however. It'd be nice to catch up…
/
The group had gone to bed soon after dinner, wanting to leave early and make up for the time they had lost.
After a quick breakfast, a rejuvenated Ash stepped out into the sunlight, Valiant and Tempest on either side. The boy adjusted his cap as the trio set their sights on the road ahead. Just two more days of decently paced traveling, and they would be in the city, with much to do upon arrival.
"We'll get some battles in with whoever we run into on the way." Ash looked between his two teammates, knowing that Tempest was sure to respond positively to that. Proven right by the excited clicking of pincers, he continued. "We can probably do some training before lunch and long as we can keep the momentum going."
Both seemed to be relatively okay with the plan. Valiant spared a moment or two to shoot a somewhat concerned look in Tempest's direction, but didn't hold it for long, trying to keep his focus straight ahead.
His brief gaze didn't go totally unnoticed, though, as Tempest shot a sneer towards the young Kirlia just before the group began to move.
As they walked, the young Krabby would occasionally glance from side to side, as if begging for a trainer or Pokemon to pop up out of thin air. The battle with the Skorupi that that Paul guy had used was still fresh in his mind. As was his defeat at the Scorpion's hands.
Losing hardly upset him, as long as it wasn't a humiliating affair. Pikachu had defeated him fair and square back at his old playground, and the river crab hardly took that personally. The mouse was a worthy rival.
But defeat made him crave triumph. The emotion produced by the sight of watching the opposing Pokemon collapse from your attacks was one that cannot be beaten.
It was what made fighting so great. The adrenaline rush obtained from pursuing that sensation of victory was what he looked forward to every day. Ever since he and a few of the other Krabby from the beach had gotten into a brawl over the scraps of food that had only been enough for one of them, he had felt the thrill.
The battle had been the perfect introduction to the joy of fighting. The way his blood flowed through his body as he tried to overpower his rivals. The rush from the action. The satisfaction of using his moves without restraint. The joy of watching the other Krabby sprawled out, unconscious on the beach as he made off with the prize he had earned for his efforts.
Battle was a natural instinct for all Pokemon kind. And on that day, the instincts had awoken. It was a feeling he longed to recreate. And so he did. It didn't matter if he was getting mixed up with the other Pokemon on the beach, or the younger Pokemon that that nearby Researcher had been taking care of. All he had to do was stir up some quick conflict and he would have that sensation. The energetic action that came from fighting. Being active was all he could think about now. Now that he knew what it was like to utilize his body to its truest potential, to push his muscles to their limits and unleash everything his essence allowed, how could he ever go back to such a boring life, where he did nothing but walk around and eat? That brief conflict with the other Krabby on the beach had freed him from the oppressive set of shackles that he hadn't even realized were chaining him. This was what Pokemon were supposed to be like. This was the life he had been meant to live.
After all, how could a life as boring and uneventful as one without fighting possibly be the correct way to live? The action-packed joy that a lifetime of fights enabled was far more fun. Didn't that make it better? How had he not realized how boring it was for him before he had begun getting into fights? Was it because he never knew of the superior alternative? It was a life changing realization that he had discovered in the blink of an eye, all because there hadn't been enough food to feed every Krabby. So, he broke off from the unbearably monotonous repetition that a life of "peace" and "pacifism" had previously given him. He took the correct path: He continued to fight.
And the more he fought, the stronger he got. And the easier the encounters became. It was satisfying to be the best, but meeting Ash had reminded him that difficult fights were much more invigorating in the moment, even if the outcome wasn't always a happy one. Even when he lost, the additional fun and enjoyment of battling against an opponent who pushed his body and adrenaline even further, was more than enough to make up for not feeling satisfied with himself if he lost. Being defeated and captured had been a humiliating experience, but it also gave him an opportunity. Ash often spoke of a wide, unpredictable world filled with many trainers just like himself, and spoke highly of the League. The knowledge of such a competitive environment had left the young Krabby drooling: If he traveled with this group, he could get into as many fights as he wanted. Any trainer on the road would just be ripe for the picking. And hearing about those Gym Leaders, the people who led their territories and provided the ultimate test? Who were strong enough to inspire fear and respect from just about any trainer? The broader scope of Indigo was a paradise.
The Gym Leaders alone were enough incentive for him to want to tag along. Anyone encountered on the road was just a bonus. The idea of being commanded in battle, not completely free, irked him at first, but he had no ill opinion of Ash. The human boy's restrictions were annoying, but Tempest wasn't going to bite the hand that feeds him. If Ash was good enough to capture him, he was good enough to order him around. It was Tempest's own fault for not being strong enough to win that battle, after all. And his cooperation was rewarded with the opportunity to join the trainer's adventure as well. When Ash had informed Tempest of his goals, the river crab couldn't wait for the future ahead. After all, he had everything to gain from it: If the human boy dreamed of being the best trainer in the world, then the best place to be was by his side: where they could be battling at any given moment. And there was apparently an esteemed tournament reserved only for those who were capable of overcoming the Gym Leaders. Ash's goal was to reach that tournament, where the amount of thrilling opponents would be positively overflowing. Tempest certainly didn't regret sacrificing a portion of his freedom if it meant he was able to be a part of that. And when coupled with the free special training Ash provided him with, he was gaining so much more than he lost. The new Scald move that Ash had used that TM to give him was incredibly satisfying to use. He never tired of watching his opponent's wriggle in agony from the boiling water. It was just another way to crush the opposition and embrace the satisfaction of winning.
And he would keep on winning. The encounter with Surge had been an excellent preview for the future that was laid out in front of him: Opponents stronger than anything he could have ever hoped to picture in his head. With Ash's tutelage, and his own strength, he would rise up and meet them all. Watching them fall one by one.
It offended him that he was the only one who seemed to think this way. Everyone on the team was bitter towards him from the start. And for what? Embracing the pure, untainted thrill of fighting? The joy of cutting loose with no shackles to hinder his body and what it was capable of? They all clearly enjoyed battling too. But they didn't take it seriously. They didn't revel in it. They didn't understand. Even Ash, for as much deserved respect the river crab had for the human, was rather irritating with his views.
He was only allowed to cut loose when they were okay with it. Back on the coastline, he could get into a fight whenever he felt like it. He didn't need someone else's permission to start something whenever the itch presented itself. Now, he could only do it when his trainer said it was okay. The fights had been a lot more entertaining since joining the team, which made up for it, but it was annoying to have such a limiting rule in place. Everyone on the team would always shoot suspicious glances his way, even glares, just because they thought he could pick a fight at any minute- as if that would be the wrong thing to do!
It had been irritating, but it didn't matter much in the grand scheme of things. He wasn't here for them, or their approval. Early on, however, he had taken note of the youngest member's behavior.
Tyrunt had been a weakling. Just a baby getting his foot in the door. But his jaws still made him dangerous, and anyone on the team could have noticed the bloodlust lurking beneath his surface. In Tempest's mind, it had been the perfect opportunity. That was why he had provoked the hatchling into fighting him that night. Tyrunt wanted to cut loose, and getting him to do so was a perfect way to get some extra action in.
But he had been scolded for that. The team had subdued him, leaving him on the receiving end of their trainer's frustration. Ash had even threatened to release him, which shook the Krabby a bit. Maybe he should have been grateful for what he had… He could have lost everything he had been given the chance to enjoy that night.
And of course, the rest of the team was even more infuriatingly suspicious of him ever since. They were all hypocrites. There wasn't a soul in the group who didn't enjoy battling, and yet he was somehow the bad guy for enjoying it the most? Valiant in particular had rarely ever taken his eyes off him since that night, seemingly. The Kirlia had not let Tyrunt out of his sight, as if Tempest was a starving predator that would devour the hatchling whole at any given second. Not that the Krabby cared, of course. If they were this determined to see him as the villain, then let them. They're opinions didn't matter to him. He'd let them know exactly how he felt about them.
But Ash's words yesterday had startled him. It didn't surprise the river crab that the human had wanted him and the others to at least try to get along, but the trainer had gone as far as suggesting that the water type would fall behind without their help… It was absurd. How could he ever benefit from working with Pokemon as shortsighted as them? They didn't understand the primal thrill of combat, despite claiming to love battles. There was no way they could offer him any meaningful kind of help. At the very least, he had also told Valiant to quit it as well. Of everyone in the group, the Kirlia had slowly become the most annoying. All the psychic seemed to care about was coddling Tyrunt and licking Ash's shoes.
Tempest wouldn't be picking any more fights amongst the team themselves. He had learned his lesson. It didn't stop him from feeling annoyed. Did Ash not want to be the best trainer in the world? The human loved battling as much as he did. So why was he so careful about it? Why did Ash refuse to see his side of the story? The trainer was too reserved for him and Tempest to see eye to eye, even if the river crab was still glad to have been on his team.
And yet… Ash must have known what he was talking about, right? It had gotten him this far. His actions were completely right, so why did his words sound so… wrong?
It felt conflicting. Being with Ash was holding him back, and yet, it wasn't. Whenever Tempest felt frustrated about all of these silly little rules that the human trainer had in place, he was also reminded of everything he had gained from their partnership. He had already grown a good deal stronger than he had been before, and even picked up new moves to play around with. There had already been some exciting battles that he had partaken in, with countless more to come in the future. Despite his misgivings, he felt he had no right to complain.
The Krabby's opinion of Ash was a river of mixed emotions, especially when taking the rest of the group into consideration. In the end, however, the good outweighed the bad. It was the conclusion that he had always come to. Even with all of the annoyingly limiting rules that Ash had continued to push, the battles that he did seek out promised to be far more exciting than anything that Tempest was used to. And at the end of the day, that was what really mattered. The battlefield was what really mattered.
He could put up with the disdain from his so-called "teammates". He could tolerate Ash's rules. At the end of the day, he had found a good trainer. One who, even with all of his short-sighted quirks, had been strong enough to capture him, and had given him quite a lot to be grateful for since. An endless road of adventure and battling awaited Ash and the others, and that was reason enough to stick around. Shake off the annoyances, and indulge in the benefits. Once he got to the city, he would charge into battle against this Erika gym Leader, and once he was done revelling in his victory, he would look forward to his next prey.
Tempest took a moment to spare a quick glance at Valiant. The Kirlia and the other Pokemon on the team were trivial to him. He wasn't here to make friends, or find comrades. All he needed to care about was living life to the fullest, by experiencing the high-octane action he had been ignorantly missing out on. Acquiring eight badges and fighting in the Indigo Conference was the perfect endgame to compliment his wants. As long as Ash's goals and interests benefitted his own, he'd gladly remain with his new trainer, and fight by his side.
His old home didn't matter to him. Who needed to be confined to a single beach for their whole life? The only thing relevant to him was the path laid out in front.
And apparently, this "Celadon City" was where that path would be taking them next.
/
The day went by as planned. Valiant and Tempest remained out with Ash for the entire walk, with the rest of the team temporarily joining in for training, meals, and battles, but preferring to stay in their balls otherwise. Tension between the Kirlia and Krabby did not vanish, but was much more subdued than it was prior, the respective moods of the two Pokemon being the only thing to truly come of it.
They won every battle they had gotten into that day, with each member of the team seeing action at least once. Tempest had sent a Bulbasaur flying after powering through a barrage of Vine Whip, Pikachu ran circles around an Aipom before disorienting his opponent with a fierce Static Tail and finishing the fight with brick Break, and Valiant outsmarted a Gastly to avoid a series of crippling ghost type moves before blasting his opponent into submission. That had required the psychic to overexert his usage of Shadow Sneak, however, along with some teleportation, and Ash had instructed the winded emotion Pokemon to take a break from battling afterwards.
They had settled down at camp feeling fairly satisfied for the day, and had covered enough distance for Ash to be confident that they'd reach the city the following night. He even considered focusing less on battling the next day in order to ensure that.
Nevertheless, getting some battles in still wouldn't hurt.
The brown-haired boy standing across from Ash recoiled a bit as his Mankey landed on his back with a thud. Standing over the fallen fighting type, Tempest cheerfully pumped his pincers in the air, his body sustaining only a few superficial bruises from the match.
Returning his partner, the boy (who had introduced himself as "Adam") approached Ash and Valiant with a sheepish grin. He wore a yellow hoodie that seemed surprisingly thick, zipped all the way up to the point Ash couldn't even see the collar of Adam's shirt. His pants looked a bit familiar, but Ash couldn't quite place why.
Ash accepted the roll of money that Adam handed to him as the other boy spoke in a somewhat nervous tone. "W-wow…! That Krabby of yours is something else! What was his name again?"
"Tempest." Ash responded, looking back to the water type with a smile. "He's a handful, but… he's great at what he does."
"Right, Tempest! I knew that. Heh heh heh…" Adam's laughter trailed off as he rubbed the back of his neck. His facial expression caught Ash off guard. It was rare to see someone behaving this awkwardly. The look Adam was giving him almost made the other boy appear comically uncomfortable.
"Are you okay?" Ash asked in mild concern. At his side, Valiant crossed his arms with a somewhat bewildered expression, yet trying to stare intently at the other boy.
Adam's cheeks flushed as his arms shot out, his hands wiggling. "O-Oh! I'm fine! It's just… there was something I wanted to ask you about. Thought you might be interested?"
The rookie raised a curious brow. "Depends… what is it?"
Adam tried to straighten himself before looking him in the eye. "Well, you might not have heard about this, but there have been some rumors around these parts that some exotic Pokemon are lurking in a nearby area." he held out his fists giddily. "And apparently a few of them are super strong! Like, crazy!"
Ash's eyes widened a bit at that. None of the trainers he'd battled had told him about this before, but it was cool to hear now. "Do you know what kind of Pokemon they are?"
Adam shook his head. "Sorry, I don't have the details on that." he pointed behind himself. "But they're supposed to be hiding out somewhere in the western part of this area. A girl I battled recently said she was sure she saw something she couldn't recognize at a spot she showed me. I didn't go in there myself, but you're pretty strong, so maybe…?"
Tapping his foot against the grass, Ash began to think about his options. This would likely be a bit of a detour, and he wasn't in any immediate need of additional teammates now that he had a full team of six. It was certainly recommended to have more than that, but adding too many Pokemon to his group this early would make things more difficult to manage between them. Especially since trainer's weren't able to carry more than six Pokemon on them until they had eight badges. He would have to constantly swap his friends out to give everyone the attention they needed, if he captured any more.
The sound of loud, rapid clicking filled his ears as Tempest approached him. Ignoring Valiant, the Krabby gazed up at Ash with a determined grin. The boy inwardly sighed at the sight. Of course Tempest wouldn't ignore a rumor about a group of powerful wild Pokemon…
'I suppose the worst that could happen is we have to wait another day to get to Celadon.' Ash thought to himself. He supposed he could also skip training and use his bicycle to make up for lost time. There were ways around this, admittedly.
"Okay, we can go." Ash looked back up at Adam as Tempest chattered joyfully. "I'm not sure if I'll be catching any of them, but battling them could be good training."
Adam's face lit up. "Great! I'll lead the way!" he turned and walked off in the direction he had pointed. As Ash prepared to follow, a thought suddenly occurred to him, and he looked down at Valiant. The Kirlia had been silent for the entire exchange, still crossing his arms thoughtfully. "Hey buddy, you need anything?"
Perking up, Valiant snapped out of his thoughts before shaking his head uneasily. "No, it's nothing. Sorry."
Ash looked his friend over with some concern for a moment, before nodding with an assuring smile. He was worried that something was bothering the young psychic, but perhaps he was just deep in thought. It didn't seem to be anything that needed to be pried. "Alright, just figured I should ask." he looked between his two teammates. "Let's get going."
Tempest nodded at the trainer as he and Ash followed after Adam. Valiant lagged behind for just a second or two, his face momentarily contorting into a frown. He shook it off an instant later, before taking off after the group.
/
After about ten minutes of walking, Adam led the group to a large patch of trees and bushes that resembled a tiny, bite-sized forest. The area leading to Celadon had a few of these, and Ash recounted passing through a couple yesterday as he took in the surroundings.
At Ash's sides, Tempest and Valiant followed. The river crab glanced around the trees with his face split into an anticipating grin.
Valiant, however, felt an intrusive shiver running down his body as they continued. His steps were beginning to feel a bit heavier while he glanced from side to side.
Adam extended an arm outward, signaling the group to stop. Valiant took the time to clutch his head, Tempest tilting his head at the Kirlia in confusion as Ash observed where they were.
A series of bushes sandwiched either side of the path, the leaves from the trees spread out overhead, carried by a slight breeze that brushed against the boy's skin. Normally, such a setting would bring back unpleasant memories of Viridian Forest, but Ash knew that this place thankfully wasn't nearly as big.
"Somewhere… around here." said Adam, backing his way towards Ash. "She said she left a mark behind on some of the trees to signal where she saw them." Ash followed the other boy's finger, and indeed, someone had carved part of the trunks to make some kind of symbol that he didn't recognize.
It looked like a hexagon, but with lines sticking out of each corner, connected by an oval. Not overly complex, but surprisingly high-effort for the circumstances. Perhaps she just wanted to make sure it stood out enough?
Apart from a couple of Pidgey flying overhead, Ash didn't see much at the moment. Either the rumor wasn't true (he hoped it was, he didn't want to disappoint Tempest), or the wild Pokemon just weren't out yet.
Thankfully, Adam seemed to know what he was thinking. "They'll be here." he reassured. His voice seemed a tad bit nervous again, the anticipation clearly building. "Let's just give it some time, if that's okay?"
Ash nodded. "Sure, we can wait. Is that okay with you… two?" looking behind him to address Tempest and Valiant, he noticed the state that his kirlia friend was in. Valiant's eyes were clenched shut, his hands firmly pressed against the sides of his head. Watching him, Tempest seemed more curious than concerned.
Ash mentally kicked himself. He shouldn't have taken Valiant's word for it. Something was clearly bothering his friend. He wondered what it…
It clicked with him.
"Are you nervous about being in a forest again, Valiant?" The emotion Pokemon opened his eyes as Ash crouched down to talk to him. If there was anyone in the group who hated Viridian Forest the most, it was definitely the psychic. "This isn't Viridian, so you don't have to worry, but I can return you if it'll make you-" he frowned as Valiant shook his head. "That's not it?" a nod in response. Ash placed a hand on his friend's head, hoping it'll at least somewhat ease him. "Okay, then can you tell us what-"
"LOOK OUT!"
The psychic's panicked voice blared in his mind, just an instant before an arm grabbed his shoulder and forced him to his feet. Just as a startled yelp escaped Ash's throat, the air was suddenly sucked out of him as a fist collided with his abdomen. Even as he was processing the pain, Adam's other arm shot out and frantically clutched at Ash's belt.
Outraged, Tempest lunged forward just as Adam moved away. The other boy cried out in desperation as leapt back from the stream of boiling water that escaped the Krabby's pincers, nearly losing his balance in the process.
Forcing himself to regain his bearings, Valiant ran in front of his trainer. and glowered at the other boy. Picking himself up, Ash clutched his stomach as his eyes shot to Adam, who's expression had become somewhat hardened, determined.
"What the hell was that for?!" confusion raced through his mind. None of this made sense. Why had he-
Adam let out a loud sigh before glaring at the trio. "Sorry, guys, but I had to do this. In my defense, you did make it pretty easy."
Ash's face tightened. "What do you…!" his eyes widened like plates as he saw what was in the boy's hands.
Three Poke Balls.
Ash's hand immediately raced for his belt, feeling for his team…
Some balls were missing.
Ash couldn't tell if he was feeling panic or anger as he shouted at the other boy. Why was another kid stealing Pokemon so shamelessly? What could have possibly made him do such a thing?!
"Give those back! NOW!" The feeling suddenly struck him like one of Pikachu's Zap Tails. He was being separated from his team! He didn't know why, but he cared less by the second what the reasons were. Right now, all he could do was focus on the sick feeling in his stomach as the implications of the situation crashed down on him. "Why are you stealing other people's-"
"Maybe we can clear that up." a female voice interrupted from the side. Ash, Tempest, and Valiant all started as the bushes surrounding them rustled.
Four figures, two on each side, stepped out and surrounded the group. Two girls, one blond with pigtails, and the other with dark hair and a ponytail, and two short-haired boys, one silver haired and the other green haired. It had been the dark haired girl who spoke.
They all seemed to be Ash's age, which made what they were wearing even more startling.
A deep black uniform with a red R in the center.
Any anger Ash felt was replaced with panic at the sight of the familiar logo. Beside him, Valiant was shivering again. Tempest observed their reactions carefully.
"T-Team… Team Rocket…?!" Confusion, fear, shock… he felt it all. Why were a bunch of kids wearing…
One of Adam's hands shot to his zipper, yanking it downward as his hoodie opened up to reveal his own uniform, identical to the other four children. The smile he gave the trio was the same as usual, but much more sickening now with his current appearance.
Sneering at their assailants, Tempest rapidly clicked his pincers together, bloodlust in his eyes as each of the four newcomers took out a Poke Ball.
The dark-haired girl flicked at a strand on her head as her eyes bore into Ash's chest. The smirk on her face was as smug as Misty's, but with an explicit, unsettling venom that almost made Ash vomit. He wasn't sure if the uniform alone was the cause of that feeling, or if there was something else about her…
"Heh." she chuckled. "This should go pretty smoothly. Nice work, Adam."
A surge of aggression rose into Ash's chest as his fists tightened.
Why was he scared? The uniform brought back horrible memories, but these were just kids. They weren't as dangerous as… but why?
"Why are you guys even… how are you…?" he'd never heard of kids being a part of Team Rocket before. It wasn't like he had gone out of his way to research the group, but… it just didn't make sense. What reason did they have to…
The blond girl spoke up. "Quit whining. We don't have to explain ourselves. All you need to know is that we are real Team Rocket members." her expression wasn't as aggressive as the other girl, and her tone was more even.
"And quit stalling." the silver haired boy spoke up. He seemed more determined than anything else. "We know how strong you are. Our group has been scouting out this area for days. Your team's one of the best around these parts."
Finally, the green haired boy. "Yeah, but we just took half of them. You'll be a lot easier to deal with now."
The dark haired girl nodded towards Adam. "Hurry up and get back to Damian at camp. We'll handle this."
Adam nodded frantically, excitement building in his voice. "R-Right! Good luck everyone! Thanks for believing my story, sucker!"
The panic returned as Adam dashed off. Ash's face paled as the Rocket boy retreated with half of his team.
"WAIT!" his scream practically carried him forward without thinking, but just as he started to break into a run, four flashes of light stopped him in his tracks.
Surrounding him, Valiant, and Tempest were a Venonat, Electrike, Poliwag, and Tyrogue.
The dark haired girl's bitter smirk was replaced with a smooth, stoic expression as she crossed her arms and nodded at the trio. "Alright, just hand over the rest of your team, and we won't beat you up too badly."
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Valiant and Tempest sank into fighting stances as the four enemy Pokemon slowly stalked forward from either direction. Ash's hand grabbed one of the Poke Ball's from his belt. It occurred to him that he had no way of knowing who Adam had taken until he checked.
Two of them were Valiant and Tempest's empty balls. And the last was…
Eevee appeared in front of him. Instinctively, her head darted from side to side, her eyes widening in horror at the sight of the familiar uniforms.
"Eevee!" Ash got her attention quickly. "It's Team Rocket, theys stole everyone else except Valiant and Tempest! We have to fight our way out!" Eevee's fur stood on end at the news. Her back was facing Ash, so he couldn't see the combination of crippling anxiety and murderous rage in her eyes.
That's right. They needed to fight. These people weren't the platoon that had attacked Mt. Moon and tried to kill them and Misty. They were just children. Ignore the uniform. Don't be scared…
The adrenaline shot through his blood. They needed to beat these guys as quickly as possible. Before Adam got too far…
Tempest didn't wait. The boiling water blasted its way out of his pincers as the river crab shot forward towards his nearest target: Venonat. The water type's aggression triggered a response from everybody.
The rocket children began shouting commands to their teammates as Electrike and Poliwag targeted Valiant. As the emotion Pokemon startled the duo, teleporting in front of Poliwag and driving an electrical fist into its stomach just before the stream of bubbles could be fired, Tyrogue charged Eevee with a flying kick, which was intercepted by a Shadow Ball.
Venonat was blasted backwards by the steaming water that struck the bug head on. As his opponent began to pick itself up, Tempest's face twisted into a bitter, satisfactory smirk, even as the enraged snarl escaped his throat.
/
Somewhat far away, in a part of the area not commonly explored, a series of large tents stood atop the grass and soil that made up the ground, surrounding a decently sized hut towards the end of the camp.
Several kids went about their routine at the camp, one boy messing around with a radio, seemingly talking to an adult on the other end. A girl was taking water from a dispenser, wiping some sweat from her forehead after the hour-long patrol she had done.
Every kid wore the same uniform.
A blue-haired boy about a year older than Ash sat at the top of the small set of stairs leading to the hut, his back against the doorframe as he absentmindedly tossed a Poke Ball up and down in his hand. A pair of sunglasses rested on his forehead.
Mild frustration accompanied his features as he ran the past week or so through his mind. Their goal had been to infiltrate the nearby Pokemon Center and make off with as much as they could, in order to have something to present to that pompous know-it-all back in Celadon. But they had a deadline, and it was approaching faster than he'd like. And the Pokemon Center hadn't seen as much activity as he and the rest of the group had been hoping.
Thankfully, they had come up with a last minute Plan B. They had spent their time in the area scouting the surroundings and observing all of the trainers passing through. They had members of their squad spread out all over the grassy fields between Vermillion, Celadon, and Saffron, keeping an eye on as much as possible.
The boy clenched the Poke Ball in his hand, mumbling to himself in frustration. With the planned heist on the Pokemon Center turning out to be a bust, he had instead decided to switch gears and target the two strongest trainers in the area, who had been cleaning house against everybody who battled them. If they could make off with both trainers' respective teams, they could at least have something to show for their stuck up piece of crap could finally stop talking down to them once they had done something to prove themselves.
A vibration in his pocket caught his attention as he pulled out a communicator. Pressing a button, he spoke into the device. "I'm here. Tell me what's going on."
"Hey." came Adam's voice on the other end. It sounded like he was panting. "I'm on my way over now, but things didn't go quite as planned."
The boy's brow furrowed, his tone of voice not doing a very good job at hiding his frustration. "What do you mean? What happened?"
"I had to act a bit more quickly. His Kirlia was onto me. I only swiped three of his poke Balls, but the others are gonna get the rest. He won't be only to fend them off with only half of his team-"
"Never mind that" the boy snapped. "Just make sure you get over here quickly. I still haven't heard back from the group that went after the other trainer yet, and I should've. If you stall you might run into trouble-"
"But I'm already out of breath as it is-"
"You were the one who said you could handle the run, dimwit!" the boy spat. "Suck it up and move!" Before Adam could offer any further protest, he pressed a button, cancelling the exchange.
Letting out a deep sigh, the blue-haired boy ran a hand across his face. He should've known that Adam would be terrible bait. Maybe he should've had somebody with a better poker face assume the role, or at least a faster runner with more stamina.
It couldn't be helped now, though. The best thing he could do was provide extra assurance.
The boy perked up as the sound of footsteps filled his ears. He stood up to address the brunette girl with wavy hair ascending the stairs. "Hold on a second."
The girl stopped and nodded in acknowledgement. "Yes, Damian?"
Damian's face turned as stoic as he could manage. "Adam's on his way back to camp, but he's being a crybaby about it." suppressing a scoff, he continued. "Haven't heard back from the other group yet, so we're gonna be sending in a few fliers to attack on sight. Spearow are the preference for now, but don't use them all up. Send some Pidgey too."
She nodded, a Poke Ball already in hand. "Will do." a frown formed on her face. "Are you sure this approach was the best-"
"It's like I said before." Damian responded with crossed arms. "That damn Center was never busy enough. A bunch of trainers were going in and out, but there was never enough there at the same time. At least this way, we're not empty handed." his arms fell to his side. "We just need some extra backup just in case."
/
"Electrike, Thunder Fang!" at the green haired trainer's orders, the electric type bounded for Valiant, who had been standing protectively in front of Ash to fend off attacks from the trainer.
The silver haired boy had retreated after Venonat was put down by Tempest's Metal Claw. Poliwag had taken advantage of its Water Absorb ability to trick the Krabby into healing it, before charging Ash as Electrike attempted to keep the frustrated crab occupied.
This was when Valiant had stepped in, his defensive techniques and competent use of electrical moves keeping the water type at bay. Now Electrike and Poliwag were switching places, Poliwag once again using Water Absorb to its advantage by using its body as a shield to protect the fleeing electric type from the barrage of bubbles fired by the pursuing Krabby.
The stress of the situation hadn't left Ash, but he somehow found it progressively easier to steel his nerves. Perhaps it was because these were people his age. The uniforms that they were wearing triggered a lot of instinctual fear, but he found the effect diminishing the more he reminded himself that these were just children like him, Team Rocket or not.
He had an avalanche of questions running through his mind. Why were children being recruited into Team Rocket? How would Team Rocket benefit from that? Why would any kid want to be associated with such a group? These people were killers! Surely these four kids realized that!
He pushed those questions away, however. Maybe if the circumstances were different, he'd double down on asking them, but right now, three members of his team had been abducted. All he could really think about was getting them back from Adam. And that meant winning this fight as fast as possible.
Valiant and Eevee seemed to have the mindset, as Ash watched his psychic friend momentarily sink into his shadow, before rapidly rising up to deliver a fiery uppercut to Electrike's chin from below. The combination of blunt force and fire sent a surge of pain through the electric type's jaw, although which Valiant capitalized on by blasting his opponent away with Dazzling Gleam.
As Electrike's trainer began shouting in desperation, Eevee raised a metallic tail to block the incoming Tyrogue, who rushed her at startling speeds as his own fist turned to metal. The momentum of his Bullet Punch toppled her over, even as the metal coating of her tail absorbed the impact and nullified any harm.
After rolling away for a moment or two, Eevee successfully regained her balance, just in time to see Tyrogue upon her, rearing back an orange fist.
Crouching as quickly as she could, the evolution Pokemon bolted forward with Quick Attack, charging into her opponent's stomach at point-blank while the Brick Break passed over her head. Having not had enough time to reach her full speed (or anywhere even close, for that matter), her attack wasn't especially strong, but did manage to push the fighting type backwards.
"Thunderbolt!" from the corner of her eye, she could see Electrike advancing towards her from somewhat afar, his body crackling with electrical aura before launching the bolt of lightning towards her. Just as she prepared to turn around and defend herself, Valiant ran forward (being careful not to get too far from Ash) and launched a barrage of glowing leaves from the green sphere forming in his hand. As the Magical leaf intercepted and soaked up the Thunderbolt, Eevee turned her attention back to Tyrogue, who had taken advantage of the momentary distraction to rush her with a sweeping kick.
Jumping over his kick just in time, Eevee coated her tail in metal, lashing out to cleanly strike the fighting type in the side of the head. A loud smacking noise sounded as Tyrogue shattered back, struggling to maintain his balance while his hand involuntarily shot up to clutch the large gash left behind on his head. Eevee was far from merciful, however, the Shadow Ball already forming in her jaws as she sprinted after her opponent.
The attack was fired point-blank, and the blond girl didn't even take the time to recall her unconscious partner before running off.
The dark-haired girl's teeth were grit in frustration as Poliwag and Electrike switched places once more. "Poliwag, freeze that Eevee with Icy Wind!"
"Valiant!" Ash called to his psychic companion, backing away quickly to distance himself from the fight now that there weren't enough enemy Pokemon to fully surround him. "Don't worry about me, help Eevee and Tempest!"
The look of mild concern on Valiant's face only lasted a moment before the Emotion Pokemon nodded to his trainer, flashing in front Eevee (who greeted him with a smile) before intercepting the barrage of frozen air with a wall of golden glass. As the Icy Wind harmlessly slammed into the Light Screen, a terrified scream brought everyone's attention to the green-haired boy, who was fleeing the scene as Electrike lay unconscious at Tempest's feet, covered in mud.
"You cowards!" screamed the girl, her knuckles turning pale as her fists tightened. "Leaving me here like-" she paused as she surveyed the scene.
Eevee had circled around Poliwag, allowing her and Valiant to face the water type from either side. As Poliwag cautiously looked between the two combatants, Tempest slowly stalked his way the confrontation like a predator, grinning with dangerous malice as his pincers slowly clicked together.
"I'm… the only one left…" the realization dawned on her as Ash shot the young Rocket a glare.
"You can't win!" the boy spat with uncharacteristic aggression. "I don't know why you joined Team Rocket, but I don't care. You're not taking my team. Let us through, NOW!"
Her face formed into a frown as Eevee growled at Poliwag, who was beginning to sweat as Valiant sank into a fighting stance. Their advantage in numbers hadn't taken very long to be reversed…
Sighing in frustration, the girl raised her Poke Ball and returned Poliwag in a beam of red light, before turning to fix Ash with a nervous scowl.
"You won't catch up to Adam. Your team is gone. I'm out of here." As she dashed off, Ash saw Eevee and Valaint preparing to make a move.
"No, don't!" as his friends looked at him curiously, he ran over to speak to them. "We can't worry about her right now. We need to go after Adam. He's the one who has Pikachu and the others." As the two nodded in understanding, the boy turned to Tempest, unclipping a Poke Ball from his belt. "Tempest, I have to return you for now." Although the Krabby was faster than his species would have been expected to be, he wouldn't be quick enough for them to run at full speed without him getting left behind. Tempest seemed somewhat disappointed, but not angry as Ash recalled him.
After clipping the Krabby's ball back to his belt, Ash could feel the anxiety surging through him again. At this point, all they could do was run straight forward, the same direction that Adam had gone in. But if he had ever changed direction at any given time, there was no way they could-
Something clicked in his mind as he turned to Valiant. "Hey, Valiant. You can sense emotions. That's how you knew something was wrong, right?" At the Kirlia's nod, Ash turned to Eevee, who was listening intently, her eyes fixed into a steel glare. "Eevee, you'll go with me. If Valiant picks up on anything, we'll go in that direction. Once we spot Adam, I need you to chase him down at your top speed."
Eevee nodded at her trainer, her mind racing. She didn't have the full context for what was going on, as she hadn't been out when Adam had assaulted Ash, but the fact that half the team had been abducted was all she needed to know, as far as she was concerned.
She couldn't help but frown at Valiant, however. She knew her best friend was their strongest chance at tracking this kid down, but could he keep up with her and Ash while sprinting? The psychic had gotten a lot faster as of recent, but he still wasn't the most agile just yet. And unlike her or Pikachu, he wasn't light enough for Ash to easily carry.
Ash seemed to think of this, however, raising Valiant's Poke Ball. "I'm going to call you back for now. Eevee and I will go in a straight line, as fast as we can. Adam's going to their camp, he has to stop somewhere, so if we still can't find anything after a certain amount of time, we'll have to assume he changed directions. That'll make things a lot more difficult for us, but I'll send you out to see if you can track him down."
Even after he spoke, the trainer bit his lip. It was far from a perfect plan. It wasn't like Valiant's ability to detect emotions was some foolproof technique that stretched across the entire area. He wasn't a sentient radar. And even if they did find the camp, what did they do then? They'd be outnumbered by who knows how much. The best case scenario was to catch Adam before he got back, but he already had a head start on them…
The boy did his best to push the anxiety down. No, they wouldn't go charging in. That was absurd. The obvious option would be to find the base, and then try to contact the authorities. But that would require backtracking all the way back to the Pokemon Center. What if the Rockets left at that point?
His bike was another option. But Valiant might be too heavy for the basket. Still, it would increase their speed…
He quickly returned Valiant. Any time they spent here pondering over things was more time lost when they should be pursuing Adam. They needed to hope for a miracle…
Eevee tilted her head at her trainer as he took another Poke Ball from the pocket of his backpack. Thankfully, he had started carrying his bike's ball in a different area from his Pokemon, so Adam wouldn't have been able to steal it by targeting the belt.
As the bike appeared in front of them, Ash looked down at Eevee and nodded. "Change of plans, get in the basket."
/
Paul's scrunched up face gave way to a sigh of frustration, his hand finding its way to his forehead as he, Grotle, Elekid, and Skorupi observed the four fallen boys in front of them. The four who had crashed his team's training session.
After their failed ambush, their attempt at retreating had been clumsy, leaving Elekid to give two of them a quick stun with his electricity, while Sneasel and Murkrow dealt with the other two. There had been many questions racing through the purple-haired boy's mind, the most dominant one being why they were wearing Team Rocket uniforms.
Paul couldn't say he knew much about the organization. He had certainly heard of it, but his knowledge of the group stopped at the fact that they existed. He was from Sinnoh, where the terrorist organization had no presence. And until now, he had never even seen them before, outside of some of the recent news reports regarding their increase in activity.
He had tried to interrogate them, but only one was willing to talk. They had been planning to sneak into the Pokemon Center and steal the Pokemon being kept there, but had changed their plans after the Center ended up not being busy enough. So now, they were just targeting him out in the open…
He frowned at that. Why were children his age associating with these people? They claimed to be the real deal, when he had initially thought they were pulling a prank. He somehow doubted it, but their aggression was convincing. Perhaps they were some kind of gang trying to emulate the group?
Whatever the case, if they were the real deal, this wouldn't be over yet. He wasn't intimidated by these people. They weren't the adult, stone cold killers that he had seen on the news. Even if they were part of the actual group, they were just people his age. He had a strong team, so there was no reason to fear a bunch of kids.
Paul turned his attention away from the fallen Rockets, now focused on Teddiursa, Murkrow, and Sneasel a couple of meters away. Calling them over, he looked between his team.
"We need to get back to the Center and inform them of what's going on. They'll call the police once they find out Team Rocket is here." After they all nodded in agreement, he recalled Grotle, Teddiursa, and Skorupi. Turning to Murkrow, he pointed upwards. "I need you to keep an eye on things from the sky, Murkrow. Let us know if you see anything at all, understood?"
The dark flier nodded, an affirmative chirp escaping her beak as she flapped her wings and rose into the air. Satisfied, Paul turned to Elekid and Sneasel, gesturing for them to follow him.
/
Adam took a seat on a nearby boulder as his lungs gasped for air. The camp wasn't too far from here now, but he was out of breath. He couldn't run anymore.
Damian had said that the other group hadn't sent him any word yet, but that didn't mean he was in danger, right? He should be far away from where either of their targets were at the moment. Even if Ash had managed to escape the ambush, he wouldn't be able to find him at this point. He could afford the breather.
/
Murkrow flew ahead of her group to scout out the area leading back to the Center. Paul knew she could find her way back, so as long as she didn't stray too far off course, she could investigate the surroundings. High above the ground, she could see a great distance, her eyes scanning the grassy fields below for any signs of people.
Making a mental note as to where her trainer and teammates were, she swerved westward, to ensure that nobody would ambush them from the side. Paul watched her go, nodding to himself. She could likely see the Center from over there, so there was no need to worry about her getting lost.
As her eyes scanned the ground that passed by beneath her, her flight began to slow as she spotted somebody. Hoping not to be spotted, she lowered herself just enough to get a better look, flapping her wings in place.
A boy was sprawled out on a boulder. She recognized the R on his shirt. He was one of them. Thankfully, he wasn't in her trainer's path, but if he was here, others may be nearby. She had to warn Paul-
Two aggressive squawks caught her attention as she turned to see a Spearow and Pidgey charging her. Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
The duo unleashed a barrage of pecks and slaps that she deftly avoided. The moment she saw an opening, her eyes flashed, the Spearow's aerial balance becoming compromised. As the bird struggled to stay airborne, Murkrow turned her attention to the other bird,the Pidgey crying out in surprise as the Thunder Wave traveled along its feathers.
With her wings coated in metal, the dark flier smacked both of her opponents on the head, aiming downwards to send them catapulting towards the ground below. If the blows didn't put them out of commission, the impact would.
/
"What do you mean the ambush was a bust?!" Damian screamed into the communicator as a few of his comrades walked by him nervously. He had just received word from the group that was supposed to help Adam on his assignment. And all of them had been driven away.
"I'm sorry, Damian. Do you want us tog et back to camp, or-"
"No, stay in hiding." the blue-haired boy attempted to regain his composure. "I'm gonna have to lead a group of my own out there to fix this. We might not have much time before the authorities are notified, but I'm not leaving empty-handed!" he broke off communication, pulling at his hair in frustration. He should have just gone for the Center while he had the chance. Now, a bunch of his allies were out there unprotected, with the police sure to come at any given moment.
They had to act fast. Use the fliers to track down their targets.
His lips twisted into a bitter smirk. "Nobody gets away from me. Nobody embarasses me, either."
/
Eevee had never ridden in the bike's basket before. Certainly not at this speed.
She didn't know why she found it so startling. After all, could she not run this fast herself?
But she knew the real reason. She wasn't the one in control. It was one thing to run at an incredible rate. It was another to be carried around at that same rate.
Ash had put the bike into fourth gear, and the evolution Pokemon felt the startling sensation of the wind pounding against her face as the duo zipped across the fields. She couldn't fully describe the feeling, but it was overwhelming for certain. She felt rather vulnerable, stuck in this basket, with no control over the rapid movements that were carrying her forward.
Taking a moment to look behind her, Eevee saw the look in Ash's eyes. It was clear desperation. All he could think about was moving as fast as he could. Eevee, like many wild pokemon, had had her frustrations about being captured at first. Even for many Pokemon that didn't mind having a trainer pluck them from the wild, it took time to adjust. But moments like these reminded her that she had the right kind of trainer. One who would drop everything for the sake of his Pokemon family.
As her gaze turned skyward, the quadruped gasped as she spotted something from the corner of her eye. A series of rapid barks convinced Ash to hit the brakes, the vehicle skidding to a stop. Almost immediately, Eevee felt the jarring contrast of going from such high speeds, to abruptly grinding to a halt. But it wasn't on her mind right now.
"What is it, Eevee? Did you see something?" even his voice was desperate. Ash was clinging to any possibility that the others could be found. As he followed her paw, his eyes widened at the sight in the sky.
A Murkrow, Spearow, and Pidgey were brawling in the air high above, to the left. As the Murkrow sent both of the other birds falling out of the sky, it was almost as though Ash had a hunch.
"I'm not sure if that's Team Rocket, but we've been going straight for a good bit now. Let's see if there's something in that direction."
/
Paul watched as Murkrow descended back down to him and his teammates. Elekid had spotted the aerial brawl from a distance, immediately pointing it out to his trainer and Sneasel.
The boy nodded as Murkrow perched herself on his arm. Mild concern filled his eyes as he frowned at his teammate. "You were ambushed?" at the dark flier's nod, Sneasel hissed, scratching his claws together while their trainer wracked his brain.
If Murkrow had been assaulted immediately following the previous ambush, the likelihood of it being a coincidence was all but zero.
"They're pursuing us." he stated matter-of-factly, following the deep breath that escaped his nostrils. "There's more of them, just like the guy we interrogated said."
Elekid's body tensed, mild static beginning to roll across his torso. Most beginner trainer's wouldn't be able to tell if the electric type was stressed or angry, but Paul had known him for well over a month. This was stress talking.
"Relax, Elekid." Paul's tone of voice was far from soothing, but the even tone and delivery did away with his usual gruffness, creating a reassurance in its own right. Turning to the side to look off to where Murkrow had come from, the boy found his hand absentmindedly reaching his forehead. "If they're chasing after us this adamantly, there will definitely be another attack before we reach the Center. I could use my bike to pick up the pace, but who knows what direction they will come from next? It might not make a difference." he was mostly speaking to himself, but he felt it was important for his team to hear the words as well. Especially since one of them had been the target of the latest assault-Paul grimaced bitterly at the thought.
His reasons for starting his journey in a foreign Region, instead of Sinnoh, were always at the front of his mind, driving his every move. He had chosen Indigo because his brother himself had recommended it. But he hadn't accounted for situations like this. His first year as a trainer, and it just so happened to be the year where Team Rocket ramped up their activity. Just in time for him to step foot on the Indigo empire's shores.
He wasn't scared, however. Not of these Team Rocket members. And with that viewpoint in mind, he turned to his teammates, who were all looking up at their trainer with neutral expressions, waiting for their orders.
"Listen up." He always did his best to sound authoritative. There were many stereotypes surrounding rookie trainers, from them being helplessly incompetent to entitled snobs with no bite to accompany their relatively unimpressive bark. And sadly, a big part of why those assumptions continued to persist throughout the years was because they did describe a portion of the rookie population. Every single year. If he was to avoid such judgements, he'd rather not be among those who added fuel to the fire.
Besides, a trainer was a leader. Someone who commanded the troops with such regality and perfection that no Pokemon could deny them their loyalty. A loyalty that every true trainer rightfully earned through a showcase of both their merit, and conviction, and what the two took the shape of when paired together.
Those were her words.
"I understand that this situation is uncomfortable. But let's look at the facts." he raised a finger. "That Rocket we interrogated confirmed that all members in the area are children like him. These aren't the stone cold killers we see on the news. Regardless of whether or not these kids are a part of the real group, or their reasons for even being a part of them in the first place, they're just a bunch of wannabes playing supervillain in bland costumes. We don't need to be scared of them." he took a moment for his words to be taken in. Elekid's anxiety persisted still, but his expression was more aggressive. Determined. Murkrow and Sneasel were exchanging nods-those two always seemed to be on the same page. The trainer held his fist in front of his chest. "As far as I'm concerned, if they want a fight, they've got one. We can report to the authorities after we've taught them some manners ourselves."
If these were the adult members, he'd be a lot more anxious, but he wasn't going to run away from some childish gang. And judging by the quick battle cries that the trio in front of him let out, neither were they.
"Good!" he smiled in approval. This was why a trainer always needed to choose the right Pokemon for the job. "So here's what we'll do." he pointed to Murkrow. "We'll go off in the direction where you fought that Spearow and Pidgey that ambushed you. Keep an eye on everything from above. If you see any fliers trying to attack you, or exhibiting aggressive behavior in general," he pointed his index finger downward. "Lure them down here. They'll be the perfect prey for Elekid and Sneasel." His words received a satisfied grumble from Elekid, and an anticipating hiss from Sneasel in response. Seeing the lack of objections from his partners, he gestured for them to follow. "Then let's give them a taste of their own medicine."
It was time to retaliate.
/
Adam finally pushed himself off the boulder he'd been laying on for whatever amount of time (he'd lost track, or maybe hadn't even bothered keeping track in the first place).
He couldn't help himself. The run back to camp was… so much more than he had anticipated. He wouldn't have taken on the assignment if he had known ahead of time.
Damian was going to skin him alive for being late, but as long as he made it back at all-
"HEY!"
His blood turned frigid. No, it couldn't be…
/
Eevee's eyes widened at the aggression in her trainer's voice. Judging by Ash's mood, this was the Team Rocket member that they were looking for.
The bike skidded to a stop as Ash glowered at Adam, who's face had turned pale upon their arrival.
Eevee leered with satisfaction. He certainly should be scared, and she wouldn't go easy.
The bitterness in Adam's voice was clouded by his frustration and anxiety. "H-How did you-"
"Enough!" Ash spat, heart hammering in his chest. He needed them back. He needed them back now.
Eevee approved of the aggression in her trainer's tone. As she hopped out of the basket and onto the grass, growling at the thief on all fours, all Ash needed to do was give the word.
"Who do you think you are?!" Ash's face was pale as well as he dismounted the vehicle, but it didn't show in his voice. "If you think I'm just going to let you run off with my team-"
"And what of it?!" Adam spat back, trying to hide his growing panic. 'I'm not going to let myself be compromised just because you had a tantrum! I have my orders, and I intend to win."
"You call this winning?!" Eevee noted the exasperation in her trainer's tone. "Are you guys the real Team Rocket? You joined a terrorist organization! And if you're just pretending to be them as a joke, I'm not laughing!"
Neither was she. What had happened at Mt. Moon…
The Dragon Pulse threatening to obliterate her. Valiant acting as a shield.
The roar of Tyranitar.
The tremor. The falling rocks.
Eevee shook the memory away. Team Rocket wasn't a practical joke.
Frustration filled Adam's features. "I won't let you judge me. And you're not taking them back!" even as he made the declaration, his knees were shaking. No doubt he knew what his odds were.
He stood still for a few moments, as if there was nothing else to do. Just as Eevee grew complacent with his stationary status, however, the young Rocket bolted.
Ash's voice filled her ears in an instant. "Eevee, get him!"
Her legs reacted on automation. Before her trainer even finished the command, her body was already carrying her across the grass. All of the training put into her speed was more than enough to close the distance between the fleeing thief and his pursuer.
He couldn't get away, and she wouldn't let him. He wasn't going to make off with her teammates. Not Pikachu, not Nebula, and certainly not Tyrunt.
Adam was sprinting as fast as he could, but he never stood a chance from the start. The boy looked back and yelped just in time for Eevee to leap off of the ground, striking him head-first in the back.
As the Rocket toppled over, Ash returned his bike to its Poke Ball, releasing Valiant moments later. Eevee's fixation was on Adam, however, who shivered as the bipedal let out as deep a growl as she could muster.
Scrambling to his feet, Adam's hand desperately fiddled around his belt. "W-Well see about that! I-I'll just send out another-"
Valiant had already teleported in front of him. With sparks covering his hands, the young Kirlira grabbed onto the Rocket, who's body quickly spasmed from the low-power Thunderbolt. Eevee knew the psychic wouldn't make the attack fatal, but she also knew that the troublesome boy wouldn't be on his feet anytime soon.
If he had been smarter, Adam could have easily tried to send out a Pokemon first, to try and hold them off while he made a break for it. It would not have worked, but it would have improved his chances. His mind was likely jumbled from the panic of the situation, not that Eevee sympathized with him, of course. He had made Ash panic first.
As Adam collapsed in front of the duo, the Poke Ball in his hand rolling across the grass, not enlarged, Valiant turned to Eevee, his determined expression replaced with a kind smile.
"Good work, Eevee."
The evolution Pokemon's mood quickly brightened. Her best friend had always had that effect on her. Even now, she could feel her frustrations giving way to reassurance as his mental voice filled her mind.
For a moment, Eevee returned the young psychic's grin, before their eyes wandered to Adam. He was stammering something, his tone of voice having lost all composure as he lay on his back. Nodding in approval, Eevee watched Valiant position himself in front of the boy's face, eyes lighting up with Hypnosis.
/
Ash's tension died down as he knelt in front of the sleeping boy. Valiant had cleanly knocked him out, ensuring that there would be no disturbances as the young rookie searched Adam's belt. Relief surged through his chest as he plucked the three Poke Balls he needed off of the belt, back where they belonged.
Staring at the Poke Balls that contained Pikachu, Nebula, and Tyrunt, Ash exhaled with deep catharsis as he thought of his family. He had never taken them for granted, and never would. At least, he thought he hadn't. That feeling of separation had come at such a shock to him, he couldn't help but wonder if he had grown more complacent than he realized.
It was a dangerous possibility, and one that he never wanted to repeat.
Side by side, Valiant and Eevee looked up at their trainer as he turned to them. Eevee was now in a sitting position, her face far more relaxed than it had been a few moments prior.
"Thanks, you two." The gratitude in his voice was as involuntary as it could get. Looking back at Adam's unconscious form, he frowned. This had certainly thrown a wrench in their schedule. He wanted to get to the city as soon as possible, but he needed to report Team Rocket's presence in the area. Celadon was probably closer than the Pokemon Center anyway, but what if it wasn't? He didn't know that for sure…
The rookie bit his lip. Dwelling on it wouldn't do them any good. Especially since the sky was beginning to turn orange. His bike should get them to the city sooner rather than later. Once there, they'd stop at the police station.
But what was he going to tell them? That a bunch of kids had joined Team Rocket? Would they believe that? He couldn't even comprehend the thought. People his age were joining these… these… monsters?
Falling rocks. Tyranitar's roar. The Iron-Masked Marauder's demonic grin…
Children… were associated with that?!
He did his best to shake away the thoughts. 'No, no, no!' He could ask the police about that. He didn't have time to…
Shutting away the troublesome thoughts for now, he turned back to his teammates and nodded. "Okay, I'm going to return you two for now. The bike will take us to Celadon and then-"
The trio jumped as a loud cry suddenly filled their ears. Whirling in the direction it came from, their gazes turned to the sky as four figures came into view.
Two Spearow, and two Pidgey. And they sounded angry.
Valiant's eyes widened, Eevee looking at her friend as he took note of the downward, diagonal direction of their flight.
"They're coming this way!"
Ash suppressed his gulp. They were either hostile wild Pokemon or sent by the Rockets. Either way, they needed to deal with them fast.
Pikachu and Nebula appeared in front of him. Just the sight of them quickly tempted the boy to embrace his friends, neither of whom had even realized what had transpired, but he suppressed the urge.
"There's no time to explain," he began, the duo following his finger towards the approaching fliers. "But I need you two to take them out, and fast!"
Neither needed to be told twice. Crouching into a stance, Nebula gestured towards her back, which Pikachu quickly climbed on top of. The two friends were off the ground in an instant, soaring into the increasingly orange sky, on a collision course with their attackers.
Pikachu tightly gripped his best friend's feathers. He had ridden on Nebula's back more times than he could count, and was more than used to her speed. As they neared their opponents, Nebula pulled herself upwards, flying over their heads. With their attention having already been caught, the group of Spearow and Pidgey collectively halted their approach, their gazes shooting upwards as they changed trajectory to pursue the duo. Acting quickly, Pikachu pushed himself off of the Staravia's back, leaping into the sky as one of the Spearow approached.
Pikachu's tail was already coated in metal, crackling with lightning as he smashed the Zap Tail down onto the Spearow's face. The bird only had time to let out an agonized squawk, which was cut off as it lost consciousness in midair, now on a trip to the ground. Not too far away, Nebula's Steel Wing smashed into one of the Pidgey, with similar results.
Gravity took hold as Pikachu felt his body descending, but he wasn't nervous, nor was he surprised when he felt himself landing on top of Nebula's feathered back. He knew she'd catch him. It was the only reason he was comfortable enough to pull the stun that he did.
His grip on her feathers tightened as Nebula rocketed into her top speed, Quick Attack amplifying her momentum as her Steel Wing collided with the other Spearow's face. Although her target was not knocked out, the Spearow was no longer able to maintain its flight, and dropped out of the sky as Nebula set her sights on the remaining Pidgey, just in time to see the smaller flier lashing out at her. Nebula blocked Pidgey's glowing wing with her own, and as their mutual opponent was pushed away, Pikachu leapt off of his friend's back again, his Electro Ball sending Pidgey catapulting to the grass below.
/
Murkrow had ceased her flight, immediately noticing the commotion. Flapping her wings in place, she watched a Staravia carrying a Pikachu towards four more hostile fliers, which the duo easily disposed of. She couldn't help but feel mildly impressed by the efficiency of the way they fought, not that she would have done any worse. Humming to herself, she turned around as the Staravia caught the Pikachu on her back a second time, flying back to where Paul, Elekid, and Sneasel were.
They had already been going in this direction anyway, but this would reaffirm Paul's stance that they were going the right way. Catching sight of her friends below, the dark flier lowered herself just enough to come into view, letting out a shriek to get their attention as she circled around.
Paul immediately took note of his teammate's actions. "She found something, let's go!" he didn;t even need to turn to Elekid and Sneasel. He already knew they were following.