Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. Roose's the only character that I own in this story.
Author's Note: This was an idea I've had since the beginning of Pokemon, I've just never really sat down and thought it out until now. Unfortunately, due to other things going on in my life, I've been kind of out of touch with things in the cartoon, so I apologize if I didn't get somethings right.
Ash and his friends, Brock and Dawn, were on the trail to the next town when they all noticed the threatening-looking dark clouds gathering in the sky and heard a faint rumble. "I don't like the look of those clouds," said Brock. "Ash, we better find somewhere dry to weather out the storm."
Ash nodded, and the group looked around for someplace to set camp. "Look over there," Dawn pointed. There was a cave that led into a nearby hillside. It looked like the perfect place, so the gang rushed inside.
"This ought to work ok," Ash remarked as he gazed around, Pikachu chattering in agreement.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning zapped down from the sky and struck above the cave entrance, sending boulders crashing down. Ash and his friends ran further inside before they were crushed and dropped down to the ground, covering their heads. Once things had quieted down, Ash looked underneath him. "Hey, Pikachu, you ok?" he asked the Pokemon.
"Pika," Pikachu nodded.
Then, Ash turned his attention to Dawn and Brock, "Dawn? Brock?"
"We're fine," replied Dawn as she got to her feet, "but it looks like we're also stuck here."
Dawn pointed to the wall of boulders that had sealed them in. After testing the natural barricade, Ash sighed in defeat, "Even with all of our Pokemon helping us it'll take forever to get out of here."
"Wait a minute you guys," said Brock, who was looking further ahead. "I don't think this is a cave, it's a tunnel. Let's follow it, maybe there's another way out."
Ash and Dawn agreed and the trainers followed the path of the tunnel, hoping that Brock was right. Soon, the tunnel widened into a little cavern where before them was one tunnel with two others on either side of them.
"Which way do we go?" Dawn asked.
"Maybe we should try the center one, since one would think that the way to get through this mountain is to go straight through it," Ash suggested.
"But first, let's leave a mark of some kind so we know we've been here in case we end up going in circles," Brock pointed out.
Nodding in agreement, Ash took a sharp rock and etched an 'x' on the entrance to the center tunnel. "Alright, let's go," he said, and they entered the tunnel, completely unaware that they were being watched and their unseen stalker grinned with evil anticipation.
After what felt like hours, Ash, Dawn, and Brock came to another cavern far more spacious than the last one they were in. Unfortunately, they'd come to a dead end.
"All of that walking for nothing?" Ash sighed dejectedly.
"Pika," Pikachu sighed with him.
"Guess we're just going to have to turn back and try again," said Brock.
"Can't we rest for a little while first?" asked Dawn. "I'm exhausted."
"Good, that should mean you won't give me any trouble," said a voice.
Their exhaustion forgotten, the kids were on the alert in a flash.
"Who's there?" asked Ash.
"Show yourself," commanded Brock.
No answer came, however; only silence. Then, Pikachu pointed to a ledge above them where there was a tunnel. Footsteps could be heard coming from there. A dark brown haired, stocky built man finally appeared, wearing a red jacket with black across the shoulders, blue jeans, and knee-high brown boots. What bothered Ash the most was his smile; something about it and the way he was looking at them seemed to set off alarm bells.
"Who are you?" the boy asked in a demanding tone.
"Name's Roose, I'm a professional thief," the man answered with the grin still on his face, unaffected by Ash's attitude, "and, you have something I want."
"You're not taking our Pokemon," Dawn declared.
"Relax, kid," Roose calmly said. "It's not your Pokemon I'm after; it's not my style. The only one I'm interested in is him."
The trio gave confused expressions when he pointed at Brock at that last statement. Suddenly, everything happened very fast. Brock was swiftly yanked off his feet and into the air, a pair of vines entwined around his underarms. Even Ash and Dawn didn't realize what was happening until it was too late. "Whoa! Help me!" Brock instinctively cried out. At first, Ash and Dawn couldn't see anything; then they saw on another ledge a huge dinosaur-frog like Pokemon with a giant flower on its back.
Ash recognized it right away, "It's a Venusaur."
"A Venusaur?" Dawn wondered as she pulled out her Pokedex.
"Venusaur: the fully evolved form of Bulbasaur," said the device. "It must constantly move in search of sunlight in order to gather energy."
Meanwhile, Brock, who was now restrained by his outstretched arms, legs and waist, struggled, but couldn't move in Venusaur's powerful vines.
"Let him go," Ash commanded at Roose, but the man just grinned.
"Nothin' doin', kid," he replied, then turned his attention to his Venusaur. "Venusaur, we have what we came for. Use Stun Spore."
Venusaur roared as it unleashed a yellow cloud of spores. Ash, Dawn, and Pikachu tried to cover their faces to keep from breathing in the spores, but it was too late. Instantly, they fell to the ground, unable to move due to the spores doing their paralysis work. "Let's go," Roose said to Venusaur. "I'll meet you back at the main hideout." Venusaur nodded and started turning around to head back into the tunnel.
"Ash, Dawn, help me!" Brock called as he was carried away by the Pokemon.
Unfortunately, paralyzed as they were, there was nothing they could do. All Ash could do was weakly reach out his hand as he called out his friend's name, as if in an attempt to grab hold of him.
Elsewhere in the tunnels, Team Rocket were following the tunnel they were currently in, also trying to find a way out. Like Ash and his group, they too found themselves trapped inside the mountain's tunnel network when they only meant to get out of the storm. A loud grumble echoed and they both groaned as they grabbed their bellies.
"I don't suppose there's a chance we'll find a snack stop down here, is there?" asked James.
"I swear, at this rate I'm going to wither away," Jessie moaned.
"You and me both, Jess," Meowth piped in.
Just then, they saw the end of the tunnel and hoped that it was a way out—only to come to a fork in the road. Jessie and James collapsed with a shared groan; they were now too tired and hungry to keep going.
Meowth bowed his head when his nose caught the whiff of something and started sniffing, "Hey, guys."
"What is it, Meowth?" both trainers asked.
"Unless I'm smelling things, I think I smell food nearby."
"Where? Where?" Jessie inquired hopefully; both she and James could practically see the feast that they believed they would find and it made their mouths water.
"This way!" Meowth pointed to their right, and the group was rushing down the tunnel, eager to see what they would find.
"I see light up ahead," said James as a light began to appear around a corner.
A little further and they found themselves in a small chamber that was empty aside from a pile of small packages of food. "Look at all of those packages of camp food," said James. "There's beef jerky, instant mashed potatoes, granola, and even some trail mix."
"It's as if they've been waiting here for us to find them," said Jessie.
"C'mon, what are we waiting for?" asked Meowth. "Let's dig in," and they all leaped for the food—only to find themselves falling. They slid through the trap for what felt like forever until they were finally spitted out—and fell into an underground river and carried downstream.
At the main chamber, Roose heard Team Rocket's screams. "Either those other two kids already recovered from the Stun Spore and found their way to one of my storage caverns, which I highly doubt," he thought aloud. "Or, someone else did. Either way, sounds like one of my little traps did the trick." Roose gazed down at the tunnel that was the only way in and out of his fair-sized chamber, which had its own small supply of food and a laptop with a webcam. Venusaur would be arriving with the kid soon and he could hardly wait. 'Finally, I'll have him right where I want him,' Roose thought to himself.
Meanwhile, back at the cavern where he left them, Ash, Dawn, and Pikachu were trying to get moving, but were still under the effects of the Stun Spore. Finally, Ash managed to grab hold of one of his Poke' Balls. "Buizel, we need your help," he commanded as the ball opened, releasing the weasel-like Pokemon. "Buizel, use your Water Gun to wash off the Stun Spore," Ash ordered.
"Bui," Buizel nodded, and doused a stream of water over the trio.
Once it was done, they attempted to get up—and were able to. They were wet, but they were now able to move again. "Thanks, Buizel," Ash thanked his Pokemon as he returned it to its Poke' Ball.
"How did you know that would work, Ash?" Dawn asked.
"I remembered when I first battled Misty, an old friend I traveled with before. She had her Staryu jump into some water to wash off the Stun Spore one my Pokemon used on it and it worked," the boy answered, then turned his attention to the ledge from which the Venusaur had disappeared. "Now, let's go help Brock." Dawn nodded and the three climbed up to the edge and followed the tunnel. 'Hang on, Brock, we're coming,' Ash thought to himself.
In his main cave, Roose was enjoying a quick bite to eat, as was his Venusaur. Saddled on its back was Brock, straining to get free, but Venusuar's vines held his hands behind his back and were wrapped around his upper arms and torso. The Pokemon had also secured him further by his ankles; he couldn't budge in the least.
"Let me go," he demanded as he continued to struggle.
"Sorry, kid, but you're mine until your father, Flint, and I settle a little business."
"My father?" asked Brock. "What does he have to do with this?"
Roose finished his drink before continuing, "I'll take it he never told you."
"Told me what?"
"I met your father while he was traveling. I was about to make the jackpot of my life and career, and I would've if your meddling old man hadn't got in the way, sticking his nose where it didn't belong. I was just moments from getting away when I found him in my path. I told him to get out of my way, but he refused, so we ended up in a little Pokemon battle. I'll admit, your old man was a decent trainer, but he still left much to be desired. We were both down to our last Pokemon, and just when I was about to end the whole thing, the police arrived. I ordered my Skarmory to attack the Rhydon first, which I thought was finally out for the count, then turned it on the police. Just when I thought I was finally home free, that lumpy pile of rocks grabbed me from behind and the cops managed to take down my Skarmory. After that, I was taken to prison and they threw away the key. However, during all of that time I spent in that hole, I plotted the best way to get my revenge. At first, I couldn't decide the best way to do it, but when I learned that he had a family, it came to me. Mind made up, I worked on sneaking out of prison and getting my Pokemon back. The fools, they may had confiscated my Pokemon, but they were still loyal to me."
Roose didn't need to specify what 'came to him' when he found out about Flint's family, and Brock involuntarily shivered from fear. He may have never had much of a relationship with his father after he left and didn't come back for years, but what this man had in mind was something entirely different. Not only that, he now understood that Roose intended to somehow use him against him. "Now that we're done with that trip down memory lane," Roose said as he got up, "it's time to get busy."
At Pewter City, all the way back in the Kanto region, things were bustling and active as usual at Flint's home. Kind of difficult not to be when there are thirteen children to take care of. Everyone was excitedly getting ready to have some lunch. Once Lola got everyone to calm down and set themselves at the table, Flint took a moment to gaze upon his family, his thoughts drifting on his eldest son, Brock. He missed his son, but was happy that he was following his dream of becoming a Pokemon breeder. Flint had no doubt that Brock would make that dream a reality.
"C'mon, Daddy," said a little voice as he felt a tug at his arm. "If we don't hurry, lunch is going to get cold."
"Well, we can't have that happen, can we?" Flint replied to Suzie, and helped her onto her chair.
After their meal of delicious, hearty soup with bread, Lola and most of the kids went outside to do some gardening in the backyard while Flint remained in the house. Just then, the computer signaled there was an incoming message.
"Harrison residence," he greeted.
"Hello, Flint," Roose answered when his image showed on the screen.
"Roose," Flint gasped, recognizing the man. "How did you get this number?"
"I have my ways. I don't have a whole lot of time, so I'm going to get to the point. I'm interested in a little payback for your interference a few years ago. Listen carefully. I'm sending you a ferry ticket to the Sinnoh region, that's where I am. Once you dock at Sunyshore City, head north towards a small hill range outside of town. I'm also sending you a map of the maze I've constructed within and underneath the hill range. The 'x' is where I'll be waiting."
"Forget it, Roose. I'm not going to play your little game."
"I believe I have something you won't be able to resist."
Roose stepped away to reveal a scene that made Flint's heart stop, or at least skip a few beats, and caught his breath in his throat. "Brock!" he exclaimed at the sight of his son tied up by his ankles, hands, and arms and gagged. All Brock could make in reply were muffled groans.
Roose then came back into the picture, "See what I mean?"
Flint growled in barely contained rage, "Roose, I swear, if you hurt my son-"
"Take it easy, old man, it's you I want, not the kid," Roose tried to assure him. "Meet me at 'x' before the end of the day; and Flint, my patience can only last for so long before I get antsy, so don't make me wait too long." The screen went black.
"Roose!" Flint snarled, slamming his fists on the table. He felt trapped; even though Roose wasn't really a killer, he still feared what he might do to his son if he didn't cooperate.
More than that, Flint was scared out of his mind that a member of his family was now involved in something he thought he needn't worry about for the past few years. Seeing no other way, he went to the master bedroom to start packing, unaware that Lola had seen his outburst from outside through a window and was very worried about what might've brought it on.
Back at his cave, Roose chuckled; now Flint had no choice but to come. Turning, he faced Brock. "Now, you just sit tight. I need to take care of a few things before your father arrives," said Roose. Brock, propped into a sitting position against the wall, groaned through the cloth wrapped tightly around his mouth. But Roose was gone and he was alone.