Disclaimer: Pokemon is copyrighted to Satoshi Tajiri and Game Freak (characters, concept, and creatures). The only features I claim ownership to are my original characters.
Author Notes
This is a rewritten/remade version of the original Pokemon Story. This story takes place between episodes DP029 (The Champ Twins!) and DP030 (Some Enchanted Sweetening!).
Pokemon Story: Sinnoh Journey has a supplementary side-story by the name of Pokemon Story Chronicles. I encourage you to check it out during or after you finish this one. It will explain some things, especially in preparation for the sequel Pokemon: Nova and Antica.
Arrival
Mesa Verde Town was among one of the many unique places travelers could visit within the Sinnoh Region. It was essentially a cliff dwelling, wedged into the southern stone of Sinnoh's Route 205. The town prided itself with being the perfect combination of rock-cut and modern architecture. Buildings such as residences and a Pokemon Mart were constructed atop whatever level ground was available. When none was, other establishments like small abodes and shops were cut right into the living rock. Mesa Verde Town utilized what their location offered to show everyone that terrain shouldn't stop progress.
The town, geographically, was located between Floaroma Town and the Eterna Forest. In fact, from its highest point, one could see the tops of the lush, famous forest in the immediate distance. The townsfolk also took satisfaction in that, for Pokemon Coordinators, their town was a must in terms of visiting because Mesa Verde Town had a Contest Hall situated snugly in the back.
Many travelers made this place their next stop, and the company of Ash Ketchum, Brock, and Dawn were no exception.
"Man, I've never see something like this before!" Ash remarked, adjusting his cap so that he could get a better view of his surroundings. He and his friends had traversed up a short trail from Route 205 to reach Mesa Verde Town. Turning around, he was greeted with a view of the route they had just mostly cleared. Pikachu was on his shoulder, drinking in the sights himself.
Brock took several looks around, drinking in the sight as a small, prideful grin appeared on his face. "Heh heh. This is my kind of place." After all, being the former Pewter City Gym Leader, and an on-and-off Rock-type specialist, Brock had to appreciate places that utilized the earth itself to the fullest.
"I wonder where the Contest Hall is." Dawn searched around while using her hand to shield her azure eyes from the sun's rays. She couldn't find the building with the telltale logo or sign from where they were. Piplup, who was in her arms, had a hard time finding the Contest Hall as well.
"Don't worry, Dawn, we'll find it." Brock reassured, trying to give Dawn a comforting thought. He tossed a small grin her way, "What? You're not getting anxious, are you?"
"W-what?! No! No way!" The Twinleaf Town resident considered herself well-accustomed to the contest stage by now. Gone was the uneasiness she experienced back at Jubilife City; it was replaced by burgeoning self-confidence following her first-ever contest victory back at Floaroma Town.
Ash laughed. "No need to worry, right, Dawn?"
Dawn giggled lightly and winked at him. "That's right!" The blue-haired girl was prepared to seize yet another Contest Ribbon and take a step towards gaining access to the grandest stage of them all, the Grand Festival.
"(This'll be a piece of cake!)" Piplup piped in. If Dawn's arms weren't currently around him, he would have pounded his chest arrogantly.
The trio proceeded onward, taking the main walkway. While strolling across the street, they were exposed to little previews of lifestyle at Mesa Verde Town. People tended to use Pokemon that were excellent climbers or diggers or were Flying types. That way, transport in the town was easier even though they had stairways and paths for walkers. They also spotted gardens with decent-sized trees to add some natural, green décor to the earth and rock.
Little did they know, Ash and his friends were being watched. Three familiar figure poked their heads from around the corner of a small house and observed them with prying eyes.
"Of all the places the twerps decide to go to, why did they pick the dirtiest place?" Jessie complained. One too many times did she have to stop and sweep gravel and dirt off her precious hair in her short time tailing them.
"You're telling me." James nodded, crossing his hands while glancing around to check the terrain, "Our balloon is so inopportune here." Indeed, riding their hot-air balloon in a cliff dwelling would be incredibly inconvenient.
"Would you two stop yappin'?!" Meowth exclaimed, pointing at the direction where the trainers went off, "Hurry! We gotta go after them! We got a Pikachu to pilfer!" The Team Rocket trio quickly scurried off, trying to catch up with their targets amid the condensed civilization.
The young travelers finally managed to find the Contest Hall in the back corner of Mesa Verde Town. The reason behind this particular arrangement was to devote as much as space to the establishment as possible. Many people liked to watch contests, and there were coordinators who wanted to train, so the architects and the town had to compensate for the Contest Hall with that in mind. The building was silo-shaped with a reddish-pink dome and a metallic blue body, making the decidedly colorful building stand out. Though, as implied earlier, that didn't help if one was near the entrance to the town.
"We're finally here!" Dawn declared, skipping in her steps.
"You must be coming in here with a plan or something, Dawn." Ash commented. Sure, Dawn usually was pretty sprightly, but today seemed to be an exceptional case.
"Well~ Let's say Piplup and I have something up our sleeves." Dawn flashed him a smile. Again, Piplup had a smug look on its face. "Hopefully, it'll win us our second ribbon!"
Pikachu looked curiously at Piplup, "(Can you tell me what it is?)"
"(I would, but Dawn might kill me for spoiling the surprise.)" Piplup replied. The only thing that scared him more than anything else was his trainer's wrath if her reaction to Paul not knowing her name was any indication.
The group had momentarily stopped walking. This pause allowed Team Rocket to finally catch up to them and station themselves behind a tree growing in a container. "Meowth, get it ready." Jessie demanded, keeping her eyes on Pikachu. Their intentions were to nab the Electric type and run. Run and never turn back. Mesa Verde Town's layout would actually prove useful to them. After all, they had the criminal syndicate training, not the twerps.
"Got it." Meowth pulled out a handheld contraption with a glassy, bulbous protrusion on top of the controls.
"Hurry up! They're on the move again!" James said urgently. Indeed, Ash and his group were beginning to enter the Contest Hall. They had almost bumped into someone upon entry and were giving a brief apology before going on their way.
"Fire!" Meowth pushed the button on the device, and the bulb burst open, shooting out a net that was attached to a grappling hook. The stretchy cord whizzed by as it closed in on their target.
It missed, instead grabbing said someone's Riolu and Mawile.
"What the—?!" The person exclaimed, moving the significantly wide brim of his grayish silver hat up to reveal shocked brown eyes. One minute, his Riolu and Mawile were arguing over who should be carried by him; the next, they were suddenly snatched away. Immediately, he turned his head and saw the net – with Riolu and Mawile flailing inside – returning to Team Rocket.
"Hey, you!"
Ash and company heard the authoritative yell, turned around, and saw Team Rocket stealing the stranger's Pokemon. "TEAM ROCKET!" They exclaimed in unison, running up as Pikachu and Piplup jumped to the ground, ready to battle.
James noticed that they do not get their desired target. "Meowth, you dolt! You missed!" However, he had second thoughts when he saw they procured the Deceiver Pokemon and the Emanation Pokemon instead. "Well, then again, these two specimens are pretty rare."
...
...
"Works for me!" The trio declared flippantly. Riolu and Mawile were two species people were hard-pressed to find and capture. That, and they did not want to suffer the wrath of a Thunderbolt. Jessie, James, and Meowth sprinted away, leaving behind a dust trail as they did so, planning to make a swift escape.
"Hold on, we'll get your Pokemon back!" Ash said as he passed the stranger, pursuing Team Rocket with his Pikachu. Dawn, Piplup, and Brock were right behind him.
He watched them chase after his Pokemon's kidnappers. He reached inside his knapsack and pulled out a Poke Ball, pressing the button in the middle to enlarge it. "Don't think I won't help out myself." He said to himself, his brown bangs swaying slightly from the wind.
Meanwhile, the pursuit continued. Team Rocket showed no regard for anyone in their way. They ran over unsuspecting townsfolk and Pokemon obstructing their path, furiously attempting to escape. In comparison, Ash, Dawn, and Brock were more courteous, avoiding any sort of collision with innocent bystanders. However, such mindfulness caused Team Rocket to get farther and farther away from them.
"As soon as we hit the trail, we take a dive for it!" Jessie said as her team was approaching the exit to Mesa Verde Town that would lead them back to Route 205, "When we land, make a break for the balloon!"
"Aye-aye, ma'am!"
"Get back here with those Pokemon, Team Rocket!" Brock demanded, his voice distant due to the substantial gap between them.
Meowth had to get one last insult in because this seemed to be one of the very rare moment he and his posse might succeed in a theft. He looked over his shoulder, facing the trainers in the distance, stuck out his tongue, and pulled down his left eyelid. "Gimme, gimme never gets!"
Ash gritted his teeth. There was no way his sense of righteousness would be hurt today by letting them escape. "Pikachu, use—"
He was silenced by a red blur swooshing by at incredible speeds.
Meowth saw it coming but was powerless to do anything as said blur snatched him off the ground and into the air with it. He consequently dropped the device carrying Riolu and Mawile. Fortunately for them, James had the wherewithal and the reflexes to dive for the machine before it shattered against the stone. Atop the stone gate that welcomed visitors to Mesa Verde Town, a Scizor stood on one of its support pillars with perfect balance, holding up Meowth by his tail.
"(Oh darn. I got the cat, but I missed my friends.)" The Scizor sighed, placing his free claw on his hip as he stared at Meowth with a neutral expression.
Meowth released a kitten's growl as he flailed unsuccessfully in the Pincer Pokemon's grasp. "Lemme go, you catnapper! Do it 'fore I give ya a taste of my Fury Swipes!"
Scizor chuckled; it wasn't condescending or smug, it was genuinely entertained by the Scratch Cat Pokemon's antics. "(You peg yourself a threat to me? That's almost cute.)" It said, swinging Meowth from side-to-side for its own amusement.
"That Scizor's got Meowth!" James shouted in surprise, watching anxiously as the Scizor kept their pal hostage.
"Nowhere to run now, Team Rocket!" At this point, Ash, Dawn, and Brock finally caught up, ready to face them off. Ash exhaled sharply when he noticed James was now holding the capture device. "Dang. They still got the Pokemon."
"Hey, look, whose Scizor is that?" Dawn asked, pointing toward the Pincer Pokemon that was nonchalantly standing on the gate.
"My Scizor is going to keep that Meowth until I get my Pokemon back." Said a firm voice. Everyone looked to see the same brunette from before walking up. His metallic silver tennis shoes with blue streaks made soft thuds against the stone with every footfall. Strangely calm, his hands were in the pockets of his blue jeans as he took his time regrouping with them. Another breeze flew by, causing the end of his silver, unbuttoned dress shirt to billow slightly. Completing his ensemble was a black, white, and silver-striped undershirt. "Unless, of course, you want to do an exchange so we can move on with our lives."
James was outraged. "Since when did twerps start taking hostages?! That's our thing!"
"And you obviously don't know who you're talking to!" Jessie gritted his teeth, detesting his gall. He seemed older than both Ash and Dawn. Probably around Brock's age. Nevertheless, she hated these kinds of enemies – those who acted cool but patronizing at the same time.
He stared dully at her. "Well, I'm not talking to the Sandshrew a few feet away from us." Both Scizor and Piplup had to stifle a laugh at his sarcastic remark.
"Well then! Let us educate you!" Jessie calmed herself down and smirked confidently. She wouldn't be outdone here, "Listen, is that an ill-mannered voice I hear?"
"It's speaking to me loud and clear." James followed up, flipping his short, periwinkle hair with his free hand as the other kept a firm grasp on the machine holding Riolu and Mawile.
"Floating on the wind!"
"Pass the stars!"
"In your ear!" Meowth screeched as he tried to swipe at Scizor's face. The disgruntled Bug/Steel type held up its other claw to keep Meowth's Fury Swipes at bay.
"…did that Meowth just speak human language?" The owner of the Riolu and Mawile finally noticed the anomaly in their presence.
"(Sure did, Aaron.)" Scizor replied nonchalantly. Apparently, it found the whole talking Meowth aberration unusually uninteresting.
"Man, if Jacob was here, that Meowth would've became his case study for school." Aaron thought, shaking his head. Nevertheless, Team Rocket proceeded on with their motto as if Scizor and its trainer never talked.
"Bringing chaos at a breakneck pace."
"Dashing hope, putting fear in its place."
"A rose by any other name, just as sweet." Jessie continued, taking out a spare rose from her person to emphasize her line.
"When everything's worse, our work is complete."
"Jessie!"
"And James!"
"Meoooooowth!" Meowth screeched out in distress as Scizor twirled him around as punishment for his behavior, "You better memorize that name!"
"Putting the do-gooders in their place!"
"Team Rocket…" James's voice trailed off. He realized that Meowth was way too preoccupied with the uncaring Scizor to finish their motto. Not wanting this setback to diminish the impact of their motto, James imitated the voice of Meowth, "U-uh, we're in your face! Meowth, that's right!"
"Don't steal my lines, James!"
Aaron gritted his teeth, losing a bit of his cool, "This is so annoying." He was tired of hearing Team Rocket prate. All they could have done was give him their names and spared him of the folderol. However, he had to tolerate it. Capturing Meowth to use it as a captive worked, but his Pokemon were still in their clutches. "I need to get them. Especially, Riolu; he's been stolen enough."
"I'm gonna warn you one last time, Team Rocket!" Ash barked out as electricity crackled in Pikachu's red cheeks, "Hand over those Pokemon, or you'll be sorry!"
"You and what army, twerp?" Jessie retorted as she threw out her Poke Ball, "Seviper! Get them! Poison Tail!"
"Carnivine, you're up too!" The minute the Flycatcher Pokemon was sent out, it turned around and wrapped its appendages around James, biting down on his head with its massive maw. "OW! OW! Carnivine, get them, not me! Bullet Seed!"
Seviper slithered toward Pikachu and Piplup as the edge of its tail glowed purple. Carnivine finally released its hold on James, levitated into the air, and opened its mouth, shooting out glowing seeds like a machine gun.
"Dodge!"
Pikachu stared fearlessly at the charging Seviper. Once the poison snake swung its tail, Pikachu hurried out of harm's way. Then, Seviper lifted up its poison-laced blade and slammed it down, trying to chop Pikachu in half, but his speed allowed him to again get out of the way. Narrowing its eyes, Seviper slithered after Pikachu, ready to keep attacking.
Meanwhile, Piplup charged headlong to Carnivine's Bullet Seed and took a great leap up. Dawn then pointed to the air with passion. "Okay, Piplup! Bubble Beam!" Dawn pointed to the air with passion. Piplup, encouraged, span around the Bullet Seed to avoid and closed the gap between himself and the Grass type. While still in the air, the Water type released a stream of bubbles from his mouth. The Flycatcher Pokemon cried out as the force of the Bubble Beam sent it flying backwards to its trainer. Unlike last time, James wasn't quick enough to avoid collision as Carnivine knocked him down, causing the capture device to fly into the air.
"James!" When she noticed the net in the air, Jessie tore her attention away from the battle to try and recapture it.
That was the opportunity Aaron was waiting for. "Scizor! Play baseball!" He ordered, pointing at Jessie.
"(Here comes the windup!)" Scizor rotated the arm carrying Meowth several times, building up momentum. All Meowth could do was scream, awfully scared. "(The pitch!)" Scizor finally threw Meowth with great force. He screamed all the way down, his high-pitched wail equitable to nails on a chalkboard, tears welling up in his eyes due to the wind's force on his face. By the time Jessie raised her eyes to the sky, it was already too late; Meowth had hit her head with a loud crack.
"(And she is outta there!)" Scizor declared humorously as it crouched down and shot itself toward the airborne capture device, catching it and landing near its trainer. "(Clear for takeoff!)"
If the situation wasn't so serious, Ash would have burst out into unrestrained laughter seeing Scizor use Meowth as a dodgeball and nailing Jessie right in her face. "Well, it's about time! Pikachu, Iron Tail! Then Thunderbolt!" There was no use holding back now that the Pokemon were rescued.
Pikachu hopped over another Poison Tail and landed on Seviper's tail. Then, his own tail glowed as he flipped himself over and struck Seviper across its jaw, and sending it over to the rest of its cronies. That done, electricity sparked in Pikachu's cheeks as he unleashed a great jolt of electricity. It struck Team Rocket, electrocuting them for a few brief seconds before spontaneously exploding.
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" James was the only one who spoke. Both Jessie and Meowth were too dazed and concussed to say anything. The trio and their Pokemon disappeared into the sky, leaving behind an ephemeral twinkle.
Scizor ripped open the net and the machinery itself with its claws, finally freeing Mawile and Riolu. "(Enjoyed the free joyride?)"
Mawile rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "(Oh, yes, Scizor. Nothing like being inside a net that promotes claustrophobia. It's a veritable funhouse.)" The Pincer Pokemon laughed heartily at Mawile's response, and the Steel type couldn't help but smile a little as she shook her head.
Aaron walked over and kneeled down to his recently freed Pokemon. "Are you two OK?"
Riolu and Mawile looked at Aaron and gave him a cheerful thumbs-up, "(Yep!)"
Aaron breathed a heavy sigh of relief as he offered a smile, "Good. I'm glad. Now, can you two reach a compromise about me carrying you?"
Mawile tapped her foot and cupped er chin, "(Even though I've been doing it since you caught me, I'll ride you piggyback. Riolu can be in your arms.)" Reaching that conclusion, the Deceiver Pokemon leapt toward Aaron and made herself comfortable on his back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Riolu happily nodded its assent, followed by Aaron picking it up into his arms.
"(I understand Riolu wanting attention, being newly hatched, but Mawile, you're practically a young lady now.)" Scizor chastised as it crossed its arms.
"(Shut up! Leave me and my eccentricities alone!)" Mawile cried out defensively, sticking her tongue out.
"(I guess some things never change.)" Scizor thought as it scratched the back of its head.
At this point, Ash, Dawn, and Brock approached Aaron and his Pokemon, glad that the entire ordeal was over with. "Are they okay?" Ash asked as Pikachu took his usual post on the boy's shoulder.
Aaron faced them. "Yes, they're fine. Thanks for the assist. You guys were a big help."
"Don't worry," Brock replied reassuringly, "Trust me, we've dealt with those crooks before. We know how they function."
Scared at the thought of someone else attempting another theft, Aaron recalled all of his Pokemon into their Poke Balls. That done, he asked them, "May I have your names?"
"I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town." Ash introduced himself and then scratched Pikachu behind his ear, "And this is my buddy, Pikachu."
"And I'm Dawn. Nice to meet you!"
"My name's Brock, and I'm studying to become a Pokémon Breeder."
"Aaron Shadow. Metropolis Town is my hometown. Pleasure to meet you all."
"(Aaron must be a common name.)" Pikachu thought, thinking of at least two other Aarons he had heard of.
It was then Dawn recalled a minor detail amid these odd circumstances. "Oh, Aaron? You came out of the Contest Hall, so does that mean you're competing in the contest?"
"That's right, I am," Aaron replied, "Can I assume you're in it?"
Dawn brightly smiled with a hint of pride in it. "You certainly may!" It seemed with every passing contest, she was meeting more and more rivals, new and old, like Zoey and Kenny. At least she was now aware of her main obstacle in the Mesa Verde Town Pokemon Contest.
"How many ribbons have you got, Aaron?" Ash asked curiously.
Aaron inhaled through his nose and let out a dejected sigh. "None. My case is gathering dust right about now." Though, this wasn't his first contest, not in Sinnoh at least. He had participated in one earlier in some town whose name he had forgotten, but he had lost during the Battle Stage against someone named Zoey.
"Ouch." Brock remarked, shaking his head. That had to be a spike to someone's self-esteem.
"You, Dawn?" Aaron reciprocated the question. It was only common courtesy.
Dawn rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, "Um, well, I only have one right now. You see, I'm a little new to the scene."
Aaron chuckled, "A novice, huh?" He remembered those days quite well. He spared a small, competitive grin, "Then, Dawn, I suggest watching me carefully. You might learn something."
"Get real! I'm going to win this!" Dawn responded confidently, smirking back at him.
Ash could practically feel the rivalrous tension rapidly forming between Dawn and her newfound rival. It was a stark contest to the Dawn he saw during her first-ever appeal round all the way back in Jubilife City. "Jeez, Dawn, you haven't even registered, and you already got me ready to watch a contest!"
...
...
"OhmyArceus, I forgot all about it!" Dawn's mouth, and her legs, went off at the speed of sound. Ash and the other boys barely heard her at all, as she suddenly broke into a powerful sprint through Mesa Verde Town, leaving behind a prominent dust trail.
Aaron stared at the dust-ridden path that Dawn apparently went along with an agape mouth, "Uh… wow. Dawn's got some legs on her."
Brock only shook his head, "No kidding."