Chapter 6: The Invasion (Pt 2)

November 14

Ash was thinking about the situation as he, Dawn, and Pikachu ran to the PokeMart while weaving through missile fire and debris. He thought especially of what the woman from Team Rocket had revealed to him. Her terrifyingly calm voice haunted him, even after she was gone; This'll be ours tomorrow. It'll be wiped out, along with the rest of Sinnoh. Innocent lives will be lost, thousands of them. Unless you give up the egg. He assumed that, since he never gave up possession of the egg, that she would hold true to her word and overthrow the region.

But what about themselves? How would they survive after they went into hiding with the egg when they would be hunted by Team Rocket? Ash had resolved then to grab anything and everything he could before making haste for the forest outside of the city.

Ash glanced over at Dawn once they had entered the PokeMart. They only ran about four blocks, but she was still panting from exhaustion. When they were travelling, Ash and Brock would often have to slow down for her to catch her breath. She wasn't an asthmatic, she would insist, she just had naturally smaller lungs.

Ash gazed at the PokeMart, which, for the most part, was void of people, save for a few lunatics who were taking everything they could off of the shelves. Well, that's what he and Dawn were here to do, so maybe "lunatics" wasn't the right word. They were more like pessimists, Ash thought, but smart ones at that.

He spotted a box of white garbage bags, lying open near his feet. He reached for the box and found that there were four bags left in the box. He took two and handed the rest to Dawn. "Take these and fill them with as much food as you can," he said to her. "Be sure to get enough for the Pokemon and for us. Meet me at the front of the store in ten minutes. If something happens, get the hell out of here, head for the forest and we'll meet up later. Got it?"

Dawn nodded. "Where are you gonna go?" she asked.

"I'm going to loot some supplies," Ash replied. "I don't know how long this attack is going to last, but we need to assume the worst."

"Be careful," Dawn said as she ran to the aisles of food. Ash and Pikachu ran in the other direction, where the aisles of supplies were. When he got to the aisles, he only then realized how vast they seemed, the aisles lined with just about anything a trainer could need. Ash didn't know where to start.

Ash tried to think of what they already had, but then figured that, since this was their last chance they would get to grab supplies, that he should move quickly but efficiently, taking only what was absolutely needed. He started with the batteries, where he shoved all kinds of batteries into his first garbage bag. It felt awkward having to hold the other garbage bag while holding the first, so he reached for his Pokemon to help him fill the other one at the same time.

It was then that he realized the pouch in which he kept his Pokemon was gone. Suddenly frantic, he frantically checked all of his pockets, finding his pouch in none of them. That bitch from Team Rocket must have taken them when he was out cold! Ash had lost all of his Pokemon, except for his Pikachu, who stood there in defeat alongside him.

Ash stood still for a full moment, the reality of the situation now starting to sink in. Team Rocket had taken his Pokemon. Who knew if he'd ever see them again? No reason to think Brock was alive, either. And what was to count them out from death, either? He could be flat-out dead by the end of the day. So could Pikachu, and Brock. And Dawn.

He couldn't let that happen. He wouldn't.

He broke out of his stupor and went back to stuffing his garbage bag with supplies faster than he had before, wanting nothing but to stock up and go. Flashlights, matches, hand warmers, wood axes, anything he thought he might need he shoved into his garbage bag without a second thought. He even splurged a little, throwing in some new plastic water bottles and even a transistor radio, even though he had just bought one a few months prior.

Ash realized that, with all of this extra stuff, he would need a new backpack or two. He spotted two new backpacks hanging neatly on the wall and threw them over his shoulder. His first garbage bag was now full, so he laid that down on the ground and began to fill his second one. He paid a little more attention now as to what he actually needed. He tossed a portable fire pit ring in first, along with some new winter jackets, since winter was coming. Pikachu was helping out, too; he grabbed supplies from the bottom shelves while Ash focused on the higher shelves.

He reached for the pocketknives when a set of hunting knives from across the aisle had caught his eye. He fingered their sleek, blood red handles, gazing upon them as if he were a child in a candy shop. These were knives designed for no less than hunting, which usually led to killing. Animals, mostly, but would Ash ever need to use them on a human? Maybe, he decided. He threw three of them in his bag, and he took a fourth one, which he kept in his hand, should something go wrong before they left the city.

He couldn't think of anything else he needed, so he simply threw in anything that looked like it could be of use. A waistbelt? Might be useful, thought Ash. He threw three into his bag. Bug Spray? Definitely. He took several bottles. Rope? Why not! He grabbed some off of the shelves, but before he could throw them in he heard several gunshots ring out from the front of the store.

Ash ran for his first garbage bag, which he had thrown a few yards from him down the aisle. Pikachu, visibly frightened by the gunshots, jumped on Ash's shoulder and hid behind his neck in fear. Ash grabbed the bag and ran for the rear of the aisle when a Team Rocket grunt, in his dull grey jumpsuit, appeared right in front of him. Out of nothing but pure fear of death, Ash rammed his knife into the grunts neck, sending a volcano of blood spewing onto Ash and the grunt.

The grunt, eyes wide with shock, fell in his own pool of blood. He looked up at Ash as if to say, Why? before lowering his head in death, the same expression of shock forever plastered on his face. Ash looked on aghast, horrified at what he had just done. A few short moments ago he was worried about someone taking his life thoughtlessly, and now he had done the very same thing. But wasn't it to save his own life? Didn't that make it….alright?

Before he could answer, more gunshots rang out from the other end of the store, springing Ash back into action. Not bothering to retrieve his knife from the grunt's neck, he ran for the rear of the store, where there was likely an exit into a back alley. He could only hope that Dawn had thought of the same thing.

Thankfully, she and Ash had reached the back exit at about the same time. She was horrified to see Ash covered in blood. "Shit!" she exclaimed, "did they-" she let the question hang.

"No," Ash breathed, as he grasped the handle of the back exit door, "I did."

She said nothing as they flew out the door and down the back alley, clumsily running with their garbage bags swinging around in the air. Ash was frightened when he heard more guns being fired outside, as it would make it that much harder to leave. At least there aren't any more missiles, he thought. He, Dawn, and Pikachu kept running, fearing that the gunmen may have been behind them, and they made a sharp left out of the alley and into the city streets.

As soon as they were on the city streets Ash ran full force into someone, knocking the two of them down and making him drop one of his garbage bags. He didn't stop to help the bystander out, or even to apologize; he grabbed his bag and kept running without saying a word, only catching a glimpse of her as he ran off. He saw that the forest, the almighty solitude, lay at the end of a good mile of chaos and death.

While they were running, he was thinking about how Dawn might not be able to run the mile or so to the forest when he realized something; he recognized the face of the person that Ash had knocked down. He turned his head to have his worst fears confirmed; about two hundred yards behind them it was the same woman that had kidnapped Ash, but worse was that she had a dagger in her hand, poised and ready to throw it at him.

He spotted another alley to his left that led to a street that Ash knew would be filled with gunmen, but was going to have to do. "Move into the alley!" He shouted at Dawn. She didn't look back as they turned into the alley, which may have been a big mistake. Ash heard her shriek in pain as they turned into the alley, and looked over at her to see a dagger stuck in her forearm.

They skidded to a halt in the alleyway, taking refuge behind a large dumpster that smelled of rotten eggs. Dawn stared in disbelief at her gushing wound, tears of pain rolling down her face. Ash popped his head back into the street to see if that woman was following them, which she thankfully wasn't. He turned back to Dawn's wound, which was still excreting blood.

"We need to find something to cover that up," he said, trying to keep the hysteria out of his voice. He and Dawn both searched frantically through their backpacks as well as their garbage bags for anything that they could use to treat the wound. Ash had to help Dawn with this, since she only had one usable arm. They both looked defeated when their search came up with nothing.

Ash was determined, however, to keep Dawn away from any harm. Seeing as he had already failed, he felt that it was responsibility to make sure that the pain was lessened. He ripped off a long piece of his shirt and tied it around Dawn's arm, above the wound, which still had the knife inserted. Ash thought that the knife might be stopping some of the bleeding, so he thought it best to leave it in her arm. It wasn't the best treatment in the world, but it would have to do, given the circumstances.

It didn't quite calm Dawn down, however. "Ash," cried Dawn, still trying to hold back tears, "what do we do now?!" She raised her voice to a near scream. "I DON'T WANNA DI-"

"Shush!" hissed Ash, "I'm gonna get you out of here!" Dawn quieted down after that, but was still stifling her fearful sobs, looking to Ash for strength. Ash's mind was racing, thinking of a way that they could get out of the city alive. They could've used the same street that the woman who threw the knife had been on, but he didn't want to risk her being on that street still. Who knew if she had a gun? The other street was obviously unsafe, due to the gunmen.

He thought of his Pokemon, which would have been a great help in a situation like this, provided he still had them of course. He still had Pikachu, but he alone wouldn't be able to get all three of them to safety. But what about Dawn's Pokemon?

"Dawn, I need your Pokemon," said Ash. Dawn handed him her pouch that held her Poké Balls. He fumbled around in the pouch, trying to find the Poké Balls labeled TOGEKISS and CYNDAQUIL. When he finally found them, he released the two from their Poké Balls. The two pokémon seemed startled by the gunfire that was surrounding them, but became even more so when they saw Dawn's wound, with the dagger still lodged in her arm.

"OK, guys, listen to me," Ash said to them, "Dawn's hurt really badly, and we need to get out of the city. But I need your help to do it." He turned to Togekiss. "You're gonna fly us out, but I also need you to use Protect, so that Dawn doesn't get hurt further, OK?"

Togekiss looked determined. "To-Kiss!" she chanted.

Ash turned to Cyndaquil. "Cyndaquil, I want you to use Swift to keep the bad guys from hurting Dawn and us. You think you can handle that?" said Ash, trying to downplay the situation as much as possible, so as to keep them from worrying.

Cyndaquil looked apprehensive, but determined nonetheless. "Cyn-da!" he said, with an edge of nervousness in his voice.

"Good," Ash said, suddenly filled with self-confidence. "Dawn, climb on Togekiss's back. Everyone else, do the same. We're gonna make for the forest, then get as far away from the city as we can, but not too far," Ash said, suddenly remembering Brock. They climbed on Togekiss wordlessly, which weighed him down somewhat, yet he was still able to remain airborne.

"Togekiss, use Protect!" Ash commanded. Togekiss emitted a neon purple aura that barely encircled Ash, Pikachu, Dawn, and her Pokemon, as well as their loot. "Alright, Togekiss, once we get going, don't stop!"

"Tog Tog!" Togekiss said in understanding.

"Alright, let's roll!" Ash said. Togekiss rolled forward out of the alley, rising majestically higher and higher into the air. They pushed forward at about twenty miles an hour, eventually topping off at about eighty feet in the air, all while going unnoticed by the Rocket gunmen below them, who focused on the other fleeing trainers.

Cyndaquil and Pikachu eyed the gunmen cautiously, waiting to attack when the time came. Dawn did nothing but look down frightfully as she lightly held her arm, the one with the dagger still in it. Togekiss continued to fly majestically, and they were already a quarter of the way to the forest, still having gone unnoticed by anyone. Ash was ecstatic. Could they really just fly out of the city as easy as this? It seemed too good to be true.

It was. One of the gunmen must have seen Togekiss's shadow flying past them, because the next thing Ash knew one of the gunmen was shouting, "There he is!" and a barrage of bullets was pelting the protective wall that surrounded them. They bounced off of the protective shield with a ping, the shield flickering lightly with each bullet impact.

"Cyndaquil, use Swift!" Ash shouted over the gunfire. Cyndaquil did nothing initially, not having heard Ash over the gunfire, then let out a Swift attack after a couple of seconds, knocking down several of the gunmen. Pikachu wanted to help, but knew that using any kind of a thunder attack would risk breaking the immaterial protective wall that spared them from death. Togekiss was pushing forward at full speed towards the forest now.

Dawn was screaming in fright. "This shield can't keep us from getting killed for long!" she shouted, "It's already weakening!"

They were halfway to the forest now, but Dawn was right, their protective wall was beginning to weaken. "Move to the left if you can, Togekiss!" shouted Ash, who was clinging for dear life on Togekiss's horn. She wordlessly moved very slightly to the left. Ash could tell her stamina was running low, since she was also losing speed and altitude. Her protective wall continued to weaken too; by now it was barely visible. Who knew how much longer it could last against the bullets?

"Alright, Togekiss, make a sharp dive into the forest!" commanded Ash.

"Tooo…." grunted Togekiss, who looked about ready to faint from exhaustion. She began her descent into the forest, but it was more of a free fall than a descent. She had to use all of her remaining strength to even remain level.

"Everyone hang on!" screamed Ash, giving up all effort to keep calm. Dawn and Pikachu clutched Togekiss's other horn, nearly crushing it as they did so. The descent grew steeper and steeper; at the rate they were going, Ash figured, they'd land on solid ground about ten feet into the forest. They screamed in horror as they blasted their way down to Earth, gunshots still colliding with their nearly-dead protective wall.

Their protective wall dissolved completely at least two seconds before breaking through the wall of trees that made up the edge of the forest. Branches from the trees were hitting them as they continued to tumble down to earth. Togekiss crash landed on a patch of hard-packed dirt, sending everyone flying off of her and landing hard on the ground beside her.

Dawn, who had thankfully landed on her good arm, immediately called Togekiss back to her PokeBall. She pulled out Cyndaquil's PokeBall to do the same, but she couldn't find him.

She looked behind her to see Ash, speechless and still, standing over Cyndaquil. Dawn ran over to him to see what the matter was. What she saw made her wish she hadn't. Cyndaquil was lying on the ground in his own pool of blood, several gunshot wounds littering its body.

Dawn screamed in horror, not believing the fact that Cyndaquil lay dying. He wasn't meant to die here, she thought. Not like this. She knelt beside Cyndaquil, whose breathing had become shallower by the second.

"Oh, God!" Dawn exclaimed, unable to contain her emotion, "Cyndaquil, I'm so sorry!" She contined to weep over Cyndaquil's failing body. Cyndaquil turned his head and used the last of his strength in a way that surprised both Ash and Dawn; he issued toward them a single look of hatred. Whether it was hatred at Dawn for letting him die, hatred at Team Rocket for causing his death, or simply hatred at the cruel and unfair world was anyone's guess, but it was undeniable that his look of hatred was pure and seething. With that, he fluttered his eyes shut and breathed his last, never to wake again.

Dawn knelt there, shocked. Once his action had registered with Dawn, she broke out in heavy, uncontrollable sobs. She drove her fists into the ground, punching it in hard anger, shouting, "Why? Why? WHY?" Her Pokemon was murdered, and it seemed to Dawn that she was the guilty one. What was it that he died for, anyways? So they could run for their lives while he gets shot?

Next to her, Pikachu cried next to Dawn, sad that he had lost one of his friends to such mindless violence. Ash simply stood behind her emotionlessly, staring at his body, unable to look away. She didn't even pay any attention to the gunshots that still echoed from the city. So what if they killed her here?

She eventually felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Ash standing above, her, a grim expression on his face. He had a deep sadness in his eyes, which were cast toward the ground as he mumbled, "C'mon, we gotta get going."