A report of a lone 12 year old girl, who steals pokemon, are getting more and more reports everyday. People have decided to give her the name of the Black Phantom, for she wears completely black. This young trainer is believed to be using black poke balls to capture her victims' pokemon. Trainers are to be told to be careful of this girl, for she may be young, but she has already stolen ten pokemon! No one knows where she hides them for she can't carry all of them, but if anyone spots her, they are to report her to the local authorities. Thank you.
The T.V then turned off. Ash, Dawn, and Brock were sitting on a couch, in the main room of a pokemon center. Ash had turned off the T.V with the remote. Dawn gave off a shiver and said, "Gosh, I wouldn't want to come across her." Brock looked at Ash and said, "Yeah. She's about the same age as you Ash and she's already stolen ten pokemon!" Ash got up and said, "Yeah I know. It's weird. Well let's go." Brock stood up, but Dawn yelled, "Are you crazy?! What if we come across her?!" Ash laughed and said, "Dawn we'll be ok. Come on." They then left out of Floroma Town. They were all alone on a road, when they saw a figure come up the road. Ash and the others stopped, as the figure got closer. They saw that the figure wore a black scarf around its mouth, long black sleeved shirt, and black pants. The person had long black hair that was tied up in a ponytail. They figured out it was a girl. On the girl's shoulder, was a dark yellow Pikachu. When the girl reached the gang, she pointed to Ash and said, "You! Hand over your pokemon!" Ash looked at her angrily and yelled, "Why should I?!" Pikachu shot sparks out of its cheeks. The Pikachu on the girls shoulder showed its teeth, and shot sparks out of its cheeks as well. The girl looked at the Pikachu and said, "Calm down, Thunder. We'll get them." Dawn, who was holding Piplup, asked, "Why do you want Ash's pokemon?" The girl then turned her attention to Piplup. Dawn turned scared, and Piplup jumped out of her arms, to Ash's front. Piplup started talking in an angry voice. Thunder, the Pikachu, smiled at her trainer.
They couldn't see it, but the trainer smiled back. She then pulled something out of her pocket. It was a black poke ball. Ash yelled, "Dawn, she's the Black Phantom!" Dawn then started to scurry over to her Piplup. The girl threw the black ball, saying, "You're too late." The black poke ball then reached Piplup, and Piplup disappeared inside it. The poke ball then flew to the girl. She looked at the poke ball and said, "This pokemon might be useful." And then put it in her belt. Dawn cried, "Give me back my Piplup!" They then heard the girl laugh. She then reached out her hand to her scarf. She then yanked it off, and gave it to Thunder. Ash saw that the girl had ocean blue eyes. Her face was tan, as probably with the rest of her body. The girl said, "Not a chance. This Piplup is mine now." She then looked at Ash, who was staring at her angrily. The girl asked, "You're not going to help your friend? Pitiful!" Pikachu barked at her and jumped off of Ash's shoulder. Ash made a fist. Thunder saw this, smiled, and jumped down from her trainer's shoulder. The girl said, "No, Thunder. Let's let Icee do this." Thunder looked a little disappointed, but went to stand by the girl's side. The girl pulled out a blue poke ball, threw it, and yelled, "Icee, let's show these amateurs what battling is all about!" Out of the poke ball, came a very light blue Vaporeon. You could swear it was white, but its eyes were as dark as coal. Icee smiled at Pikachu. Ash smiled and said, "This will be an easy battle. Pikachu, quick attack!" Pikachu then ran towards the Vaporeon, who stood its ground. The Phantom said, "Icee, wait…..Now!" Right when Pikachu was nose to nose with the pokemon, Icee dodged before Pikachu could do any damage. Everyone gasped at the quick speed of the Vaporeon. Pikachu then landed in front of Ash and the Vaporeon did the same, except by her trainer. Ash yelled, "Let's finish this, Pikachu! Use Volt Tackle!" Pikachu then started to run. Phantom yelled, "Icee, ice tackle!" Ash yelled, "What's that?!" Icee smiled and started to run. Soon she was covered by ice spears as she ran. Finally, Icee and Pikachu collided, and an explosion came. Ash saw Pikachu come out of the smoke, and caught him. No one saw the Vaporeon come out, so it was still in the explosion. When the smoke cleared away, everyone gasped. There Icee was, looking like not a scratch had been on it. The Phantom smiled and said, "Looks like I win. Come, Icee. Let's take our new trophy home." Icee smiled and walked over to her trainer. Ash heard Dawn cry. As the Phantom turned and started to walk away, Ash yelled, "Wait!" The Phantom turned around and asked, "Yes what is it?" Ash looked at her, furious, but asked, "What is your name?" The Phantom smiled as she pulled out her scarf. She said, "It's Crystal." She smiled, put on the scarf, and started to walk away, but fell to her knees. She was holding her stomach and screaming in pain. They saw her cough, blood then suddenly covered the brown, dirt ground. Dawn looked at her, wiping away the tears. Crystal started to pull something out of her pocket. It was a black poke ball. She threw it into the air and yelled, "Re-Release!" Out of the dark poke ball, came Dawn's Piplup. Dawn caught it in her arms, and hugged the pokemon tightly.
Ash still stared angrily at Crystal, who was starting to cry in pain. Ash saw for the first time, Thunder look worried, instead of ferocious or intimidating. Her trainer was now facing flat on the ground, still holding onto her stomach, coughing up much more blood. Thunder was trying to pick her up. Ash stood up and said, "Let's go." Dawn then smacked him upside the head. Ash turned around and yelled, "What was that for?!" Dawn was furious. She yelled, "You're just going to leave her here?! She could be seriously hurt Ash Ketchum!" Ash turned back around, turning his back on her, and said, "But she stole your pokemon!" "And then she gave him back!" "Pikaa!" He was surprised to see his buddy angry at him. Pikachu jumped off of his shoulders and ran over to Thunder. When he got to her Thunder was crying. Pikachu patted her back. Thunder than started to talk. Dawn asked, "I wonder what they're saying." They then heard footsteps and turned to see Team Rocket. Ash yelled, "What are you three doing here?!" Jessie said, "Don't worry twerp, we're too hungry to fight." Dawn then smiled and walked over to Meowth. She said, "Meowth can you tell us what that Pikachu over there is saying?" Meowth turned his attention to the crying and talking Pikachu. Meowth's eyes widened. Brock asked, "What is it Meowth?" Meowth replied, "That Pikachu, her buddy, says that she has been seriously sick since they met. She refuses to take her medicine. She says if she doesn't get to a Pokemon Center soon, she could die." Ash's eyes widened and so did the other's. Dawn didn't wait. She walked over to the girl and put an arm over her shoulder. Crystal's eyes opened and stared at Dawn. She asked, "Why do you help me?" Dawn started to move, saying, "You can't be all bad. Besides we can't leave you to die here." Crystal's eyes widened. She stared at Dawn, but then realized somebody else grabbed her other arm, and placed it over their shoulder. She turned to see Ash. She smiled and said, "I thought you were going to leave me." Ash grunted as they pulled her. He said, "Like Dawn said, it wouldn't be right to leave you here." Crystal stared at Ash, and smiled. Then she winced at the pain.
Dawn asked, "Exactly what's wrong?" Crystal looked at her and said, "The doctor I went to long ago said it was a type of cancer, but they don't know what kind yet. I've had it for 6 years, taking medicine for it. It tastes disgusting." She stuck out her tongue at the last sentence. Brock was walking by when he heard her say that. He said, "It may, but it also helps you."
Minutes later they found themselves at the pokemon center. Ash and the others were in the waiting room. Pikachu was trying to cheer up Thunder, and it seemed to be working. Thunder got along well with Pikachu. Thunder was then curled up by Pikachu. She nuzzled against Pikachu's cheek, making Pikachu blush, and a jealous Buneary mad. Dawn was stroking a sleeping Pachirisu. She said, "I hope Crystal's ok." Brock nodded his head. Another minute later Nurse Joy came out, a smile on her face. Ash shot up and asked, "Is she ok?" Nurse Joy smiled and said, "She didn't cooperate when I tried to give her the medicine, but then I said, 'Your friends will be upset if you don't.' She then got quiet and took the medicine without hesitation." Ash smiled and said, "That's great." "Not quite." Ash turned around to see Officer Jenny.
