A Little Adventure in Alola

Chapter 6
-
Rescue Party - Pt.2

“Team Rocket again, what do you want this time!?” Ash shouted with a shake of his hand before grabbing a pokeball from his belt.

A girl named Lana with somewhat thin hands and legs stood by Ash’s side, holding a pokeball of her own. Her sea-blue shorts which looked a bit like a skirt covered most of her legs. “Not a step forward. I may not have Popplio by my side, but I have an Araquanid and I’m not afraid to use it.”

On Ash’s left stood Lillie as she clenched her fists, completing the human wall between TR and the Pokemon Center. The sun shone brightly from above with barely any clouds in the sky. Aside from numerous buildings located on both sides of the Pokemon Center, there was still enough space for a few trees and some green scenery, a common mix among towns of Alola.

“Capture pokemon to make our boss happy, getting rich, you know, the usual,” James said as he held a pokeball of his own.

“You won’t steal any pokemon on my watch,” Ash said with a stomp. “Not mine, nor my friends’, nor the ones in the Pokemon Center!” He fixed his hat and smirked. “Besides, if you want to capture my Pikachu, bad news, he’s not here.”

“Oh, we don’t want to capture your Pikachu. We have an eye on a bigger prey,” Jessie said, returning a smirk of her own.

“You don’t?” Ash blinked in confusion, relaxing his pose, no longer as wary of his opponents as before.

“Bigger prey? What are you talking about?” Lillie asked as she looked over her shoulder. “You can’t mean…”

Jessie’s eyes sparkled. “That’s right. We are here for a Raichu. Now hand her over, or we’ll raze this Pokemon Center to the ground.”

James stepped forward and shrugged. “Let’s say we fight here. Maybe an accidental attack will strike this building, burying the hurt pokemon under rubble. Surely you don’t want that.”

Lana jumped forward, sending the spider-like pokemon into the field. The creature reached up to her middle, standing on six legs while a protective bubble surrounded its head. She glanced at her friends and said, “We’ll safeguard the building, so don’t worry about it.”

Both groups stared at each other as if having a staring contest, holding their pokeballs, waiting for the other side to make the first move. The tension in the air was broken the moment something flew through the window of the Pokemon Center before crashing into a nearby tree with a loud thud, alongside the noise of breaking glass and smashed wood.

“What was that?” Lillie asked as everyone’s attention focused on a tree, or rather on the Meowth now stuck in it.

James ran closer. “Meowth? What are you doing here? Where’s the…” He failed to finish as bolts of electricity shot through the window, blowing up the tree, pushing the little pokemon further away.

The Team Rocket members and Ash’s team raised their hands protectively, hiding away from the fragments of flying wood.

Jessie lowered herself, shaking her hand in front of her nose due to the smell of burned fur. “So capturing her didn’t work. Plan B it is.” She grabbed Meowth before addressing Ash and his friends. “Here’s the deal. We have Ace, an Alolan Raichu in our custody. If you don’t bring… you know who…” she glanced at the pokemon peeking through the window, “to the abandoned Megamart in next ten minutes, his life will be forfeit.”

“There’s too much on the line, kid. We can no longer afford to play nice,” Jessie explained before throwing a smoke bomb to the ground, only for her, James and Meowth to vanish from everyone’s sight.

Ash covered his face protectively, coughing from the unpleasant gas. Walking backward, he lowered his hand, only to notice a bandaged pokemon jump from the window of the Pokemon Center, charging into the cloud of smoke. “Raichu, wait! Stop!” He jumped to the side and spread his hands, blocking the pokemon’s way. “Don’t fall for their trap, Nica!”

The Raichu pulled herself to a full stop, reacting to being called by her name. She stood up on the tips of her rear legs and looked up at him curiously.

Ash knelt to one knee. “Listen. Those people are Team Rocket, they want to capture you, and you’re still badly hurt from your recent fight. They’ll take advantage of that.” Much to Ash’s surprise, the Raichu swiftly tore away the bandage, revealing her near-spotless fur as one needed to pay very close attention to notice marks of her previous fight. “Your burns and marks… they’re gone!” he shouted in shock as the pokemon before him stretched her limbs without a single show of discomfort.

Nica patted her chest and raised her head proudly as bolts of electricity escaped the dots on her cheeks. <Don't underestimate how fast I recover. I am fine and ready to fight.> She clenched the bronze patches of her forepaws and narrowed her eyes. <My brother saved my life and they captured him. I’ll not rest until he’s safe!>

Ash stretched his arm towards the Raichu and rubbed the top of her head. “A bea...creature from a different world named Twilight, she told me what happened: How you were summoned to her world just like my Pikachu did where you two became friends, and how you teamed up to fight against that gigantic beast.”

He carefully picked up Nica, now holding her gently in his embrace as memories of the many times he had held his beaten Pikachu in a similar manner flashed in his mind, though unlike his light Pikachu, Nica weighed a bit. The pokemon didn’t resist and just stared back curiously. “She told us how you saved my Pikachu by taking a deadly ‘Discharge’ upon yourself, and how you were hit by two ‘Power Whips.’ You fought incredibly and nearly lost your life. You don’t need to act tough anymore.”

He gulped, his throat dry as he resisted the urge to cry for the poor creature in his arm. “I’ll save your brother, I… I swear, s-so just t-take it easy, okay?”

Nica gasped, staring at the trainer for a few seconds before raising a forepaw up to her forehead, fainting.

Lillie and Lana flanked Ash from both sides, looking at the pokemon in worry, while the spider-like pokemon peeped over his shoulder.

“She must be very tired,” Lillie spoke up. “Should we leave her at the Pokemon Center?”

“We can’t let Team Rocket take her, but how will we rescue Ace without her?” Lana asked. “They seemed determined to carry out their threats.”

Nica’s eyes shot open and sparkled as she stared at Ash with the widest smile she could muster. <You… you’re Pikachu’s trainer, the heroic Ash Ketchum Astra praised so often! I can’t believe it.> She pushed herself free from his embrace, jumping and wrapping her paws around his neck as he lost his balance from the applied force while his hat fell from his head.

Now lying on his back while using his elbows for support, he felt the pokemon’s tight embrace as she affectionately nuzzled his chin and cheek. He felt her cold nose and her flexible ear rub against him while hearing a repetitive cheerful ‘Rai.’

Lillie chuckled. “For someone who nearly died, she’s incredibly cheerful and playful. I think she likes you.”

Nica stretched her tail, rubbing and tickling Lana while still nuzzling the hero.

“H-hey, t-that tickles… stop it,” Lana said as she tried to push away the long tail.

Nica pushed herself further up before licking Ash’s nose playfully. <I can’t believe I get the honor of working with you. An amazing trainer like you will save my brother for sure, and I’ll fight by your side with everything I have got, and then we’ll reunite with the ponies and your Pikachu and end this mess.> She pushed herself away, landing in front of Ash while jumping from one tip of her rear paw to another, not daring to let more than a single limb to touch the ground at a time, as if jumping on a heated pan.

“Wow, you’re more enthusiastic than my Pikachu has ever been, well, maybe…” He stood up and smiled proudly at the dancing Raichu. “I can’t believe you have so much energy after resting so little, but you need to save your strength.” He held a hand on his chest. “Just leave the battling to me and my team.”

“I am fine?” Lillie read the marks on the ground. “You know how to write?”

“You… can’t be serious,” Ash said, his mouth agape. “You want to fight by my side after everything that happened to you? But you can’t…”

Nica shook her head before displaying her tail as it turned a metallic grey. She leaped up and swung it in mid-air as the trainer felt a gust of wind on his face. She wrote ‘Iron Tail,’ on the ground a moment later. She wrote ‘Thunderbolt,’ before summoning bolts of electricity directed towards the sunny sky. She stood on a single leg and stretched her forepaw, summoning a transparent barrier while writing ‘Light Screen’ in the dirt at the same time.

Ash opened his mouth, but closed it just as quickly as he read the names of the used attacks.

The Raichu wrote ‘Volt Tackle’ before repeating her name, running in circles around the trio of humans as her body ended up surrounded by an aura of electricity. She jumped, landing in front of the group a few seconds later on a single leg before leaping from one rear paw to another while punching the air.

Lillie looked at Ash. “She seems very determined. Maybe she regained more strength than we’re giving her credit for.”

Ash rubbed his chin while saying to himself, “Iron Tail, Volt Tackle, Thunderbolt. My Pikachu used the same attacks before he learned Electro Ball. Light Screen instead of Quick Attack though… what is that skill used for?”

“‘Light Screen’ provides the pokemon and its allies with temporary protection against special attacks. The opposite of ‘Reflect’ that does the same against physical attacks,” Lillie pointed out. “She may not have the speed that ‘Quick Attack’ provides, but when it comes to special defense and providing support, ‘Light Screen’ is really handy.”

“That’s neat,” Ash said, giving Lillie a glance of admiration. “Thanks.”

Ash turned towards the enthusiastic Raichu. “I can tell you really want to help us fight them, but try not to push yourself until you fully recover, alright?”

Nica rolled her eyes. One of the advantages of her body’s adaptation where it swapped some offense power for extra survivability was how quickly she could recover and return to the field of battle, something which caught plenty of trainers off guard.

Lana approached and lowered herself to the long-tailed pokemon. “Nica, please don’t panic, but your brother Ace is being held as hostage by Team Rocket at the abandoned Megamart where the ghost trial is often held.”

Lana looked at Ash and added, “There’s not much I can do with only one pokemon, so I’ll stay and guard the Pokemon Center. I’ll also tell Professor Kukui about what happened here. I’m counting on you, Ash, to send Team Rocket packing.”

“Got it,” Ash said with a swing of his hand. He picked up his hat from the ground, returning it on his head. “Now to the Ghost trial… ummm…”

Lillie smiled sheepishly. “Anyone have an idea where we can find that Megamart?”

“I think it is near the…” Lana failed to finish as Nica ran away from her, bypassing the others.

“Hey, wait!” Ash shouted, hastily rushing after the enthusiastic Raichu, only to trip over due to a log from the destroyed tree. He yelped and closed his eyes, yet his chin didn’t hit the ground. Blinking in confusion, he noticed the yellow part of Nica’s tail pressing against his belly. In a few seconds, the surprisingly strong Raichu pulled him to a standing position.

Nica smiled cheerfully before gesturing with her forepaw, pointing towards the shore. <Just follow me. I know the way.>

“Do you know the way?” Lillie asked as Nica nodded. “Seems you have a guide.” She clenched her fists and frowned in annoyance. “As much as I want to come, I would only get in the way without Snowy. I feel so useless.” She shot him a stern glare. “Ash, you better get back in one piece. Just rescue Ace and come back, no crazy stunts.”

Lana chuckled. “No crazy stunts? You know you are asking for the impossible.”

Lillie rolled her eyes before walking towards the Pokemon Center. Together with Lana they waved farewell while shouting, “Good luck.”

“Thanks.” Ash waved back before jogging and then running after the impatient Raichu.

“You’re pretty fast,” Ash praised as his breathing rate increased in speed. With the ten minute time limit the Team Rocket members gave them, they still had five minutes left as they arrived at the shore.

Nica leapt between the remnants of damaged buildings, gesturing for him to follow while glancing at him every other moment. She pointed over the damaged buildings at the Megamart in the distance which was surrounded by scorched ground.

“So this is where the Ghost Trial takes place. Your brother must be held there, but not for long.” He wiped sweat from his forehead before preparing to jump down the slope as the stairs were damaged. Nica quickly ran over, as if afraid he would trip over for a third time.

As his boots landed on the sand, Ash walked towards his destination at a slower pace. “Hey, Nica.”

“I’m not sure how it is between you and your trainer, but when I travel with my Pikachu,” he patted on his right shoulder, “he often rides on my shoulder. So… if you want…”

Nica held her forepaws close to each other as her mouth opened in a wide smile. Her eyes sparkled in joy. <C-can I… can I really?>

Nica screamed a joyful “Chuuu” before rounding the trainer and hopping onto his shoulder while her tail swung left and right from excitement.

Ash tilted forward as he underestimated Nica’s weight, taking a moment to balance himself. He felt Nica’s rear paws press against his back while her forepaws were wrapped over his neck and his arm. As he glanced at the Raichu, he was greeted with a face showing pure joy. Why is she so happy just because I took her for a ride? Now that I think about it, whenever she looks at me, there’s this aura of admiration and happiness that follows her around. As his boots made continuous contact with the sand, he looked at the sky. Pikachu, what did you tell her about me?

Upon noticing the Rocket members standing near the entrance into the Megamart, he started trotting, not wanting to keep his enemies waiting. He spotted bolts of electricity from the corner of his eye, which were escaping from the dots on Nica’s cheek. That expression, those sparks. How often have I seen the same whenever Pikachu was on my shoulder while we were about to face an important battle. Still, seeing a Raichu do it feels kind of off.

Jessie and James grinned before opening the door and walking inside while Meowth exposed his tongue, blowing them a raspberry before mocking them to go inside.

Ash stopped before the stairs, almost tripping over due to the extra weight on his shoulder before stabilizing himself. Feeling the growing tension, he took a moment to examine his surroundings.

From the beach area stairs were located for potential customers among the people relaxing under the sun as a few damaged and knocked over ice-cream stands were located on the scorched ground. As he walked up the stairs, his attention focused on numerous desks blocking most windows, while those which weren’t sealed away had curtains preventing people from peeking inside. The building itself seemed less damaged than the surrounding area, yet rust covering the yellow walls and dirt on the glass meant no one had taken care of it in years if not decades. The entrance wasn’t from this side of the mart as Ash rounded the wall while Nica scanned their surroundings for a potential ambush, her tail raised and ready.

After rounding the wall, Ash spotted the entrance that Team Rocket used, as well as some cracked asphalt before it. If it was leftovers from an attempt to make parking for cars while connecting the Megamart with the rest of the city, the work was stopped quickly as the nearby forest and rocky hills sealed this area.

“The scorched ground, destroyed buildings, yet this Megamart is still standing. Why would Tapu leave it?” Ash asked, getting a curious glance from the Raichu.

<Maybe it was left as an example, or maybe the Tapu left this place for ghost pokemon to live in as they defend the ground he views as sacred?> Nica deduced, rubbing the back of her head, still well-anchored on his shoulder with the help of one paw. <To be honest, I have no idea.>

“All those sealed windows and rust, barely letting any light inside. A perfect place for ghost pokemon for sure,” Ash commented before stopping in front of the main entrance. “And even better to set up a trap. We better get prepared.”

Nica nodded before leaping forward, taking a protective stance between Ash and the door. Her ‘Iron Tail’ raised towards the sky, her muscles tense while sparks of electricity kept appearing on her cheeks.

Ash picked the first pokeball, positioning himself before swinging his arm. “Oshawott, I choose you!”

A big white head the size of this pokemon’s belly, a small bronze nose in between his eyes. The pokemon looked as if wearing green costume with a shell attached to it. Tiny feet, a short tail and little rounded ears were dark-blue, unlike his front limbs which were short and white. The little Oshawott looked to the side, raising his head slightly while giving Nica a confused glance. <Pikachu? Did you finally decide to evolve?>

The Raichu shook her head, still maintaining her stance. <He didn’t, but we became friends recently. My name’s Nica.>

A monkey-like pokemon appeared on Nica’s right, taking a lowered fighting stance while his arms proved longer than his rear legs. His hair made of flames flapped above his head. His attention quickly shifted towards the electric pokemon. <Raichu?>

A tall green lizard-like creature appeared in all his glory. One could mistake his tail for a miniature tree while three yellow orbs were standing out from the pokemon’s back. He looked down, giving the Raichu a suspicious glance.

Krookodile stood on two massive legs with his arms being very thin in comparison. He stared ahead with black glasses covering his eyes, resting atop his long muzzle. Most of his body and tail was red mixed with numerous black stripes, his white belly being exception. Each hand was equipped with three massive claws. <So, who do I need to trash today?>

“Everyone, say hello to Nica. Her brother was taken hostage and she’ll be our ally while we rescue him from Team Rocket,” Ash explained as he pointed at the Raichu, who now ended up surrounded on all four sides by the taller pokemon.

Nica withdrew from her batting stance, glancing at each pokemon with a cheerful smile while waving at them. <Hello, my name is Nica, nice to meet you all.> She held her forepaws together and respectfully bowed to each pokemon.

Krookodile turned around, now staring down at the Raichu with a smirk of superiority.

Sceptile raised his head arrogantly while his signature twig was standing out from his closed mouth. <Seems our fame precedes us. It’s nice to be appreciated.>

Nica pressed the tip of her tail into the ground, raising herself up to reach the heads of the taller pokemon. She held a forepaw to her chest. She raised her forepaw towards the sky, shouting in excitement, <Lets rescue my brother and defeat every member of Team Rocket who gets in the way!>

Oshawott held his forward limbs together, looking up in admiration while overtaken by her charm and charisma. <So you’re Pikachu’s friend? Since when?>

Nica looked down, flexing her tail a little in order to lower herself. <It is a long story, but we met more than a week ago. He’s truly admirable.>

<Admirable? Lucky Pikachu, befriending such a charming lady.> Oshawott frowned. He grabbed his shell and slapped it against his chest. <Just watch me in battle. I’ll amaze you with my skills.>

<If Pikachu’s friend needs our help, I’ll fight even harder,> Infernape spoke up as the flames on his head intensified.

<Your brother is as good as saved,> Sceptile said while pointing at himself. <I’ll show them my best moves. You can count on that.>

Krookodile crossed his arms. <Those guys just don’t know when to quit. Hopefully a bite or two will teach them a lesson.>

Ash held his hands on his sides and smiled, already seeing how his pokemon had warmed up to the Raichu. “I must say, Nica, you sure know how to make friends. You’re like part of the team already.”

“Just don’t push yourself too hard. You’re not at your full strength since your recent battle.”

<Not at full strength?> Oshawott asked as he looked at the Raichu in worry. <If you’re tired… I can…>

Nica rolled her eyes. She patted her chest. <I’m at my best and ready for battle, and I shall prove it.>

<Then, then I’ll support you in battle, you can count on me,> Oshawott declared.

“Alight everyone, let’s go in, but be on guard. I have no doubt that this is going to be a trap,” Ash said before going ahead of his pokemon and opening the door.

Creating a formation with his pokemon, he walked inside, Krookodile and Infernape ahead of him to provide frontline protection and to light up the darkened area thanks to the fire pokemon’s flames. Oshawott took Ash’s left flank, Sceptile took his right while Nica secured his back, keeping an eye on the other pokemon in case they needed assistance. An important fight was ahead where she would fight alongside heroic Ash and save her brother, and she was going to do her best, fighting literally to her last breath and last bit of stamina. She wasn't going to fail.

A Little Adventure in Alola

by CommanderX5

Ch.6 - Rescue Party - Pt.2