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NO.[break][break]

The headache was pounding, pulsing, overwriting every thought with one of pain. He's disoriented, and with movements of his eyes, he's seeing double. A lucky headbutt? No, that wasn't even calculated, it was nothing short of force.[break][break]

But then the back of the elbow would collide with his hand, reaching for the pistol to end it, as it smashed into his thumb, and with it, the pistol flings to the other side of the room. Soon after, the fist reaches his gut, and the wind is knocked from his lungs.[break][break]

Jelly fares even less. He isn't a battle Pokemon, he's still just a baby, and with the sudden nose pain, he lets Romeo go to grab at it with a whine, as Ashley collapses to a knee, and tries to breathe. Fuck, he needs to breathe, he needs to-[break][break]

His silver eyes attempt to focus raw emotion. "I-" he forces out, coughing up spittle, gasping for air.[break][break]

An act of love is all it takes.[break][break]

Jelly remembers how Ashley saved him from poachers. How Bongo, a little Grookey at the time, and him would save him from a fate. And how Ashley needed him now. Cutting his losses, Jelly races past Romeo, running on all fours, and attempts to BIND Paxton, not caring if the Riolu attacked him. He'd protect Ashley.[break][break]

No matter what.[break][break]

Ashley's hand goes up towards Jelly. "No..." it only comes out as gasps. He's already lost Bass today, his silver eyes looked fearful. "Jelly..." He can't get it out. FUCK. FUCK FUCK FUCKFUCKFUCK. Please, get the air he needs. He tries to reach for the Pokeball for Jelly.

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Anger seethes through him. He doesn't remember? This piece of shit.[break][break]

As Jelly takes the Quick Attack, he responds in turn, as soon as their bodies collide. With a wrap of his arms, a BIND would attempt to keep the Riolu from moving, an attempt to keep the tiny jackal down, with the scowl of the Rocket Sawyer preparing to fire at Landon's head.[break][break]

And with the punch connecting, he watches Landon Cassidy fall, ecstatic that the man was choking out. He wanted Landon Cassidy to beg for death. Yes. You deserve to die, you piece of-[break][break]

His eyes go up to Jelly for a moment. The saddened look over the Bewear's face, as he stared on at the horror, leaving Ashley vulnerable. What...? This was necessary. Landon killed three innocent Pokemon. He deserved to die. Why...? Why was he acting like Ashley was committing a crime?![break][break]

Everything stops when heads collide, smashing Ash back to reality like a glass ceiling breaking into thousands of itty pieces. His pupils faded in the silver iris from the sheer pain and shock, as he reels back a step, and feels his vision fade. The corners of his eyes were black.[break][break]

He feels his legs wobble, as he could barely move. Jelly, in fear, would watch on. He was confident that Ashley could turn it back around. He wouldn't intervene until that moment.[break][break]

"Bastard." He grabs at his head.[break][break]

He was at Landon's mercy now.

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Brutal Swing and the Rocket sideswipe. And it was done. Even as Jelly took the Zap Cannon, he did so and prepared to sock the hell out of the Magnezone, racing up to the Magnezone, and quickly returns the favor; DRAIN PUNCH coming straight for the Magnezone, to recover all the strength that was lost in that Zap Cannon.[break][break]

Gets interesting. Ashley moves in, throwing his leg to kick Paxton back onto the ground. His gaze hate-filled, as he points the pistol downward.[break][break]

"I have trained my body every day since Mt. Pyre." Ashley begins to recite, revenge much more on the mind, the barrel aimed down to his face. The long barrel a line pointed to his chest. "Every day, I have thought of that little Starly you shot out of the sky. The Lunatone that gave its life to see you falter. The Aggron who protected her trainer so he may live." He continues, furious eyes downcast and hateful.[break][break]

He takes a breath in. And smiles down at him.[break][break]

"My name is Sawyer. Remember me?" And he fires right next to Paxton's head, aiming for the ground. He wanted Paxton's ears to ring. 10. He holsters the gun, and with Jelly handling the Magnezone, pulls his fist back, and throws it forward.[break][break]

Aiming for the neck.

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"Tell me when I forced your hand." No. He doesn't get to justify it. He doesn't get to feel okay with what he did. Sawyer wouldn't let him. "When I said hello? When I defended myself with Bass?" The tears kept going down his face, as he got closer. Releasing from his ball, Bongo the Rillaboom. The gorilla looks at the body of the Noivern. His eyes water.[break][break]

Their anger is one.[break][break]

"Does it feel good to feign responsibility?" He pulls his own pistol out, and haphazardly moves it upwards, not aiming it to Greyson. Bongo holds a fist up, in respect, behind him, Ashley rubbing at his face.[break][break]

And he had the gall to say he wanted none of this.[break][break]

"You don't get to sit on your high horse." He scowls, his face exposed. His eyes showing fury. "You gave the order. You knew what it could lead to. At least she gets to live." But his eyes were filled with determination.[break][break]

He didn't order Bongo at all. Not yet. He just stood there, respecting a fallen brother.[break][break]

"Bongo." He made sure. Bongo could hear. "Bring the storm. Go easy on her." He placed his hands together, the gorilla throwing out a SPRINGTIDE STORM to encompass Jester if it could make it. Ash watches Greyson coldly.[break][break]

"Go ahead. Spout more of your bullshit. I'm listening." But it'll only fall on deaf ears.

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Unfortunately for Sunny, a Worry Seed leaves him feeling off, as he paws at his arms, and stares down, attempting his best to jump up and down. It didn't affect his speed, but looking at the Pumpkaboo, his eyes go big, as he charges at the tree ghost.[break][break]

And pulls him into a hug. That was so cool! He didn't feel his normal type difference![break][break]

Ashley laughs at that, knowing Sunny is too sweet to hurt a new friend. "Don't sweat it. Sunny is setting up Agility for an enemy. They come interrupt us, they won't be able to hit him." He smiles, giving the bunny a thumbs up, who returns it in kind, hanging from the ghost tree trunk happily. "Nearly took out my friend's Metagross."[break][break]

To Mint, he rubbed the back of his head, a laugh that sounded a little troubled. An earlier Interdream provided a lot of context to Mint, and he couldn't blame him, but Ashley sighs. "Nah. He does best the way he is, you feel?" He chuckles, thinking to their mission against Josh. Left to his own devices, he's one of the smartest in the cave.[break][break]

Seeing that he wanted to find someone, Ashley nods. Knowing the same was true for him. He had find whoever he could. Jayden fixed him up, but there were people down here that needed help. He could push through the pain. But the confirmation to have first round of drinks on Milo has him smirk.[break][break]

"You're on, cowboy. I'll invite that redhead you're super sweet on too." He's smug, knowingly how likely that'll go, but knows damn well that it's mostly (MOSTLY) a joke.[break][break]

Whoever that redhead was, he was sorry in advance.[break][break]

Getting to his feet, he whistles, and with it, Sunny hops and skips back to him, as Ashley turns back towards Milo. A serious face.[break][break]

"Friendly advice. Get out while you can. This is war. I'll train you to be ready for it next time, but... nothing can train you for war, Sharpe. I lost two today."

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Confirmation.[break][break]

YOU.[break][break]

Epiphany connects the Magnezone. The shine, the coloration, and the bastard, the cruel, shit bastard. Anger drives him, pilots him like a human mecha of its own, as the scatterbang hits, and leaves not only Ashley blinded, but Bongo too.[break][break]

While Bongo had been slightly hurt from the Discharge, he had no intention of letting Joules go. He wouldn't kill the Magnezone, but that was the good-heartedness in Bongo, even blinded. But as he grits his teeth, unable to see, he does something he hasn't done since his puberty as a Thwackey; he beats his chest, making noises.[break][break]

Ashley, on the other hand, is on the receiving end of a punch, and though he can't see, and all of it is blinded, he scowls towards the direction of the strike, reeling back, a step, but throwing one blindly back that direction. "What do you mean? You're out in the open now."[break][break]

Bongo's noises is exactly what gives Ashley an edge. He feels on Bongo's Pokeball, and towards that noise, returns Bongo, tossing the other ball upwards.[break][break]

Jelly the Bewear appears right behind Paxton, and though Ashley can't see which ball he released, he orders. "EVERYTHING YOU GOT ON HIM."[break][break]

Jelly, rears back, pulling a fist back, and goes for a BRUTAL SWING on Paxton, flanking from where Ashley was. Attempting to go for the head with the arm swipe.[break][break]

"Delayed gratification, asshole."

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If Bass were still alive, they could fly out of this problem... Ash feels it tear at his soul, as he turns back towards the direction of the mecha Tyranitar. The screams behind them, as the building explodes has him nod. No choice but to crawl.[break][break]

And crawl he most certainly did.[break][break]

Spumoni did cover him, but what comes next, unfortunately, is the grass under he grey sky, harsh winds, and children laughing. A school? Ashley never really got to have a normal life at school. It's a regret he wished he had gotten the chance to have, but as soon as he was out, and looking about, he notices the gazebo. Ash's expression sours entirely.[break][break]

"... that you?" Ash can't help but take a moment to watch on, as the 'rain' begins to hit over everything, but what makes it worse, the part that hits the closest to home, is the Vulpix. The little flash of pale white. Everyone had a Jubilee. A Pokemon that meant more to all of them, to everyone. With a hand outstretched, he almost places it on his shoulder, only to back off the last moment.[break][break]

The hideout bursts into a boom of wreckage. The Tyranitar appeared once more. Relentless determination driving them over every basic instinct they had. Ash grabs towards Mint. "COME ON." He yells, and kicks the door to the school open. Stones thrown at the school itself on their way in, from two STONE EDGEs.

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Pause. It was supposed to, at the very least, clear the air. But... if it were that easy, they'd be best friends again. He knows that. They both shared in the punishment. Just like they were kids. So, realizing he had to do this, he makes a sigh. This would need some work. The question isn't left on deaf ears.[break][break]

"You know why I left Rocket the first time? It wasn't to get away from you, it was a philosophy thing. Rocket is a bad organization-" He takes a moment to look at Jayden, ready to fire back Kanto, or Walsh at a moment's notice. Waiting for the moment he'd need to. He continues, closing his eyes. "No matter how hard Theo pushed me, I couldn't bend easy. Lo and behold, I felt like you could. You could be the Rocket they wanted. I couldn't do that, Jay." He takes a moment to fish through his bag, and grab out a Pokeball, looking over it with a saddened gaze.[break][break]

Longingly, he just eyes the ball and just nods. "I love my Pokemon. Every single one of them. So when Theo ordered I kill Jubilee, or die myself... something in me broke. But I didn't realize it at the time. I became what they wanted, but I hated it. I hated me. But instead of blaming myself, I blamed you, Theo, and Rocket as a whole. I was just following orders. No way I was a bad person." But he puts the ball away, and closes his eyes. "Hypocritical, yeah. But I didn't believe I was a villain. A killer. I was just a Rocket dog, and so were you. I just felt more alone. Isolated. So I chose to leave after Kanto."[break][break]

The memory of leaving him with a blade in the shoulder has Ash wince.[break][break]

"So my surprise came when you attacked me at the lighthouse near Dewford. I didn't force you to do that, you were just there. Lingering due to my mistake. Theo was in Slateport too, and I didn't force him to fight me. I challenged him myself. He even tried to give me an out. Theo. OUR Theo." He finely illustrates the point, holding his arms out to exemplify the insanity of that. Of him, being somewhat of a good person. "So when Meteno happened, and I lost Bullet, I did some crazy, near psychotic acts. At the time, I thought I was still good. A good person. Attempting to murder some Ranger in cold blood." He rubs at his face. He still has nightmares of Landon Cassidy.[break][break]

"You came to visit Isaac in the hospital. You were there. It was nice. But it contradicted everything you were supposed to be. You weren't supposed to be a good person, Jay, you were supposed to be a cold hearted killer. But you're not. Not fully." He levels one hand out, an example of Jayden. "Your baking was good. Really good. You showed me, to some degree, you're still you."[break][break]

It's painful that he has to say the next few words. The realization comes full circle.[break][break]

"How could I face you, a contradiction to who I am? I pushed you away. I believed me to be good, but the Ranger I attacked would have begged to differ. It clicked with me that I came back to Rocket to gain strength; the conviction needed so Pokemon like Sushi wouldn't die again." He takes a moment, dead silent. Remembering the smiling Slowpoke that would be on his ceiling fan, hanging off with every bit of life, happy to just be included.[break][break]

Breathe in. Breathe out.[break][break]

"I left because of a hypocrisy I believed in. And I came back because I grew up."

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Overkill. That's the first regret that comes to mind. An echoed scream throughout the entire cave system, a voice of reason that deemed him insane. His response. "I could ask you the same thing for hitting an unarmed man with a mask. A fucking facemask. What if I had just been a germaphobe?" He's gritting his teeth, as Greyson makes the call.[break][break]

Send it back?[break][break]

Silver eye widen with a level of abject fear, as he watches the impact, the way the cave shakes, the smoke, the debris. Ash's hopes were dashed with the battered, bruised, bleeding Lopunny, and with it, the fear welled up, as the meteor would come back.[break][break]

Memories flash of Mt. Pyre. And Ashley's face is sitting in terror, as he feels himself yelling for Bass to not be a hero, to not come and take this head on. But, no matter how hard he screams, Bass lands on the ground with a ROOST, and roars out towards the bunny, a soundwave echoing out and bursting, at the ready.[break][break]

Five seconds until impact. Ashley grabs at Bass' wing, and tells him to fly. But Bass needed the strength to take this blast.[break][break]

Four seconds until impact. He turns back to look at Ashley with a smile on his maw, his one good eye closed.[break][break]

Three seconds until impact, he throws Ashley backwards, as he rolls onto his ass, and looks towards Bass in horror.[break][break]

Two seconds until impact, Bass cranes his head to the meteor.[break][break]

One second until impact. He closes his eye.[break][break]

Boom.[break][break]

Ashley is screaming, as the cave shakes. His silver eyes matted with tears as he roars of his own, attempting their best to shred his vocal cords, as he cries for the sound dragon, a requiem to the ending to protect his trainer.[break][break]

How many more was he going to lose?[break][break]

The dust settles. Bass is standing. A bloody heap, eye filled with anger, and hatred towards Jester and Greyson. Vision blurry, Bass stands tall, attempting to show that he can take the blast back, and stay strong. No matter what this bunny throws at him, neither of them... will hurt...[break][break]

Ashley takes a step forward, legs shaking, as he grips to the sound dragon's wing. "Bass... wake up." The dragon had fallen standing.[break][break]

No pulse. "Bass...?" Voice crack, mask pulled down. Identity possibly revealed, Ash shakes the dragon again. He grips the bat one more time. "Wake up. Please wake up."[break][break]

Bass was gone. Just like that. Ash's hands covered in the dragon's blood.[break][break]

Ashley turns back to Greyson.[break][break]

Red. A hand coated in blood, smearing a Pokeball.[break][break]

Sawyer the Rocket wasn't done.

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With the Magnezone having used Electric Terrain, it almost was just like back then... in Mt. Pyre. To the point where Ashley was sure the Magnezone looked familiar. But when charged at, Ashley smirks, unmoving.[break][break]

Because the helmeted head pops out from behind the rock, and Ashley throws his pistol out. 12. "LANDON!" Trigger pulled, and fires towards him, as the earthquake stops, a deranged look within Ashley's silvers. But for Joules, from above, the emergency landing of a HAMMER ARM Rillaboom comes in with the attempt to break that flying saucer and beat it down, as Ashley fires another shot. 11.[break][break]

Ashley begins moving away, towards the helmeted person, ready to throw down.[break][break]

If he's wrong, and this isn't Landon, fuck. But it felt way too familiar. He was getting his goddamn revenge for Bullet, Pluto, and Kiryu. "Stop hiding behind your Pokemon and fight me, pussy!" He screamed out. All he can see is red.[break][break]

Red.

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Jayden isn't wrong. Their friendship was on a flimsy terrain, a plateau that was as topsy as it was turvy, toppled on either end of they aren't careful. On the one hand, he hated Jayden for what had been done, but...[break][break]

That hatred was misplaced. He still wanted to be Jayden's friend.[break][break]

He sighs quietly, contemplative himself as he places a hand on his other's shoulder. "You didn't deserve that fire on your own." He looks Jayden in the eyes. For a moment, he's wondering if he should back off now, but releasing his hand, he leans back.[break][break]

"But now we're both burned."[break][break]

Letting out Bongo the Rillaboom, Ashley gestures to the cargo, with the big ape hoisting it onto his shoulder with a thumbs up.[break][break]

And Ashley makes the first step.[break][break]

"Sorry. For what I did to you, Jay. Really."

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Had him beat there. No way Ash could pass as a germaphobe, even if the idea of 'punch first, ask questions while punching. As the Hyper Voice booms through the space around them, it's like being punched in the head constantly. As he grabs at his head, he tries to cover them from the noise, and as Bass screams in pain. The little Noivern's ears bleed.[break][break]

Turning his head back to see Ash, Ash nods, and wordlessly, letting his ears suffer as he balls a hand into a fist to hit the palm of his other. Bass nods.[break][break]

DRACO METEOR. With a roar all his own, emitting ultrasonic waves from his ears, Bass summons forth a massive meteor, attempting to end the fight all at once as it moves its way towards the Lopunny and her trainer. The firey meteor blasts off into multiple smaller meteorites, a scatter spread to combat a simple dodge. Ashley biting his bottom lip as he hopes, just hopes, this ends the conflict quickly. He felt like his head was ripping itself apart.[break][break]

Agony. He'd remember this feeling if ever he faced Greyson again. Tired silver eyes watched on.

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