Where The Red Fern Grows

Again, on their journey, Ash, Brock, Misty and Pikachu came across a beautiful city: Scarlet Town. There were many Pokemon, people, and trainers.

"Wow, this place is beyond any town I've ever seen." Ash said.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu cheered.
"Yeah. I bet there's more than fifty Pokemon here." Misty said.
"More than fifty all right. Not to mention nice people." Brock said.

"Stupid Growlithe!" a voice hollered.

The kids stopped from the voice.

"Guys, look!" Misty gasped.

The boys turned around and saw another boy yelling at his Growlithe. The Growlithe's tail was between it's legs and it also looked badly bruised.

"You didn't try harder at that match! We lost, and it's all your fault!" he yelled.

The boy saw a rock, picked it up, and threw it at him. The puppy Pokemon yelped. Ash was furious. Again, the dog didn't move. The boy saw a big rock, like about the size of a dinner plate. He picked it up and raised it above his head.

"Don't you yelp at me!" he yelled.
"Don't!" Ash yelled as he tried to pull the rock away from the dog.

He grabbed it and threw it on the ground.

"Hey, get out of here." the boy said.
"No. Not until you apologize to your Pokemon for beating it!" Ash yelled.
"You're not the boss of me."
"You shouldn't treat your Growlithe like that!" Misty exclaimed.
"Yeah, he didn't do anything to you." Brock said.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu exclaimed.

The Growlithe scampered away from the boy and hid behind Misty. She bent down and petted the puppy.

"It's okay, little guy. No one will hurt you again." she said."... Growl growl!" Growlithe exclaimed happily.
"Keep your hands off my dog, girl." The boy said as he aimed for the Growlithe.

"Don't you touch her and that Growlithe." Ash said as he grabbed the boy's shoulder.
"You don't own that dog."
"Yeah, but that's no reason to treat it that way."

Misty put Togepi inside her backpack and picked up the trembling Growlithe.

"Why do you have to hurt the poor Growlithe?" she asked angrily.
"Because it means discipline."
"Discipline? Like this? No wonder your Pokemon hate you. And lose in battles. You treat them hatefully!" Misty exclaimed.

Behind a few trees in the park, Team Rocket were spying on the kids with their binoculars.

"Did you guys get that?" Jessie asked.
"Yeah. Selfish trainer." Meowth said.
"Poor Growlithe." James said, as he started to remember his dog, Growly.

"Hatefully? What a bunch of words. Now give me my dog!" the boy exclaimed as he grabbed Misty's arm.

"Let me go!" she exclaimed.
"Not until you give me that varmint."
"Run, Growlithe! Run!" Misty whispered to the scared puppy.

Growlithe jumped from her arms and ran into the park.

"Why did you-" the boy started.

A rage, pouring through his body, let out. He threw Misty to the ground.

"I'll make you regret that!" the boy said as he picked up the rock.
"Oh no you don't!" Ash exclaimed as he grabbed the rock out of his hands.

Ash breathed a long breath, slammed the rock on the ground, and watched it shower into pieces. He walked over to Misty and helped her get up off the ground.

"If you're thinking about hurting a Growlithe, don't even think about hurting my best friend!" Ash exclaimed.

"Now dat's sinkin' t' a new low..." an astonished Meowth said.
"That was sure close. What do you think James?" Jessie asked.

James didn't answer.

"James?" Jessie asked again.
"Yeah?" a voice said behind her.

"What are you doing-" Jessie asked, but stopped to see what she saw as she turned around.

James was petting the Growlithe.

"James, what are you doing?" Jessie asked quietly.
"Getting used to the Growlithe." he replied.
"James, you're startin' to-" Meowth began but was interrupted by a voice.

"Growlithe! Get over here!"

It was the boy. The Growlithe whimpered, and walked slowly to it's master out of the trees.

"No Growlithe. He's gonna beat you once you come to him." James said.

Then he picked up the Growlithe and stepped out of the trees.

"You think you can treat this Pokemon differently? I had a Growlithe of my own, and I treated him with respect." James protested.

"Who do you think you are?" the boy said.
"James, what are you doing?" Ash asked.
"I'm trying to protect Growlithe." James said.
"We aren't supposed to protect Pokemon, we're supposed to steal Pokemon!" Jessie yelled as she also came out of the trees.

"Forget this! Give me the Growlithe!" the boy said.
"No!" James yelled.

"Hey!" a voice yelled.

It was a girl. She looked exactly like the boy. Blonde hair, green eyes, and stylish clothes.

"What's going on here?" she asked.
"This boy was beating up this poor Growlithe." James said.

The girl looked at the boy.

"You were beating the dog? You said you wouldn't do anything to hurt him!" she said.
"He's my Pokemon, Becky!" he yelled.
"Go home, boy. I'll be sure to tell your mom about this." Becky said.
"Just give me my dog when you get back." the boy said, and walked away.

"... Who was that jerk?" Ash asked.
"That's just my annoying cousin. You can just call him Will. He doesn't really want to say his real name." Becky said.

"He's such a jerk! He treats his Pokemon like dirt!" Misty exclaimed.
"He just wants to win battles all over the world." Becky said.
"Well that doesn't mean that he has to hurt his Pokemon." Brock said.
"I never saw a kid abuse their Pokemon in my life." James said.
"It felt like that Growlithe was nothing to him." Jessie said.
"Well he's like that, all the time." Becky said, walking towards James.

She scooped the Growlithe in her arms, letting his chin rest on her palm.

"I wish that he could show some respect for the Pokemon." Becky said.
"Do you have any way to show him that Pokemon are important to him than anything else?" Misty asked.

"No. There's no way..."
"... Do you have plans this week?" Ash asked.
"Yeah. I got to set up the play."
"What play?" James asked.

"I'm trying to make a play about a wonderful story of Pokemon. But I just can't figure out what theme to use." Becky said.

"Hey, that's it! If we can think of a good theme of the play, like about a friendship about Pokemon, Will can understand to respect his Pokemon!" Misty exclaimed.

"That's a good idea! But what can we make the theme about?" Brock asked.
"... Why not try 'Where Da Red Fern Grows?' " a voice said from behind.

It was Meowth.

"That's great, Meowth! 'Where The Red Fern Grows' is about a boy and his dogs that work together to accomplish everything from coon hunting to chasing." Misty said.

"But who's gonna cast the characters?" Jessie asked.
"Well, I know someone who's good at acting and making decisions: Ash Ketchum." Misty said.

"Huh? Me?" Ash asked.

"Yeah. You can do this Ash. You just have to find the characters of the play, and we can fix this all up. You can do this, Ash. Do it for Growlithe." Misty said, putting a hand on Ash's shoulder.

"... You might learn something from the play." James said.
"I know for sure that Will will watch it. And you can make this your way. But, just stick with the story, okay?" Becky asked.

"Please?" Misty asked.

Ash and Misty have finally discovered their feelings (shortly after "I'll Never Let Go"), and would do anything for each other. With the details that he's heard, he put his hand on Misty's hand, and said,

"I'll do it. We're going to make Where The Red Fern Grows."

TO BE CONTINUED...