Chapter 3

Jack and Pikachu, on Pidgeot, arrive safely to Cinnabar Island. It seems brand with a few people and a few buildings. The old gym is back to its knees again. And the mansion is still abandon. There is just one problem, and that is the volcano on the far side of the island.

"As long as the volcano is not active, we're okay." Said Jack, worried.

"Pika, Pi." Said Pikachu.

A voice asks, "Excuse me, but would you be Jack?"

Jack and Pikachu turn around, and then see a tall man wearing glasses, a coat, long brown pants, and a black shirt. The tall man has a shiny bold head.

"Blaine." Said Jack, surprised. Jack and his Pokémon turn around. "How're you doing?"

"We're doing okay, Jack." Said Blaine. "It seems you're doing delivery service."

Jack asks, surprised, "How'd you know?"

Blaine replies, "The gym leaders replied to me. They also mentioned about 'Team Rocket returning?'"

"Oh, you knew?" Ask Jack.

"It's alright." Said Blaine. "Just hand over the letter and the muffin your mother sent, and I'm sure your delivery service is done." Jack pulls out the letter and muffin, and then gives Blaine the letter and the muffin. "Thank you."

Jack cheers, "Yes! All the letters are done! I can finally get my spaghetti!"

"Ah." Said Blaine, interested, "So your mom is making your favorite dinner, huh?"

Jack and Pikachu get on Pidgeot. Jack said, "Before I go and get my favorite meal, its time I go see dad."

"You're going to see you father, Red?" Ask Blaine.

"Yep. He's been busy for years." Jack answers. "But soon, I will make my dad and claim my own title!" He taps his big bird and calls, "Yah!" Pidgeot flies high to the sky, and then flies west.

"Good luck, boy." Said Blaine.

Up in the sky, Jack and Pikachu fly on over to Mt. Silver with Pidgeot carries them. They come out of the Kanto Region area and then finally reached to Mt. Silver. They look around and found an inside opening.

"Pidgeot!" Jack calls. "There!" Pidgeot dives through the open hole, and lands on the ground. Jack and Pikachu jump off and look around. Jack calls, "Dad! Dad!"

"Pikachu!" Pikachu shouts.

They see nothing but complete dark purple cave walls, a few stalactites, and a few open holes as passageways.

"Hm." Said Jack, thinking. "Where did he go?"

But then, Jack spots another shadow and rolls to the right. Pikachu and Pidgeot follow Jack and turn around. Jack sees two figures: one tall man wearing a cloak and the other a big frog like Pokémon with a big flower on its back.

"Hey! Who are you?" Jack calls. The tall man said nothing. "So be it." He calls, "Pidgeot! Go!"

"Pidgo!" Pidgeot flies high and dives in on the big frog.

But then, the figure shouts, "Venusaur! Dodge it!" The big frog jumps back avoiding Pidgeot.

"What?" Ask Jack, surprised.

"Poisonpowder!" The figure shouts. The figure's frog releases a purple gas out of its flower, and smokes Pidgeot. Pidgeot becomes poisoned.

"Oh no!" Jack shouts, surprised.

"And I thought you learned a lot from your father." The figure taunts, "It's too bad you're not him." Jack growls. "I was looking forward to fighting your father, but you're weak as he is."

Jack pulls out his toy sword and shouts, "I'm ganna slice you down!"

"With a toy sword?" Ask the figure. "You're just a kid."

Jack charges with his Pidgeot and shouts, "Wing Attack!" Pidgeot attacks Venusaur by the side while Jack swings his toy sword like having Pidgeot fight. "EIYAAGH!" Venusaur is hit, but still standing.

"Child's play." Said figure. "Use Leech Seed."

"Pidgeot! Look out!" Jack shouts. Venusaur spits out a small side, and homes in at Pidgeot. Pidgeot flies high. "Yes!" Jack tosses an Antidote to heal Pidgeot. "Okay."

But the figure comes in quick and shouts, "Poisonpowder!"

Venusaur releases another Poisonpowder. Jack covers his mouth, but Pidgeot is caught off guard. It becomes poisoned again. "Hey! That was a cheap move!" He swings his sword again. "Wing Attack!"

Pidgeot dives in at Venusaur and hits Venusaur. Venusaur is hit but Pidgeot is still poisoned.

The figure shouts, "Solarbeam!" Venusaur releases an immense light at Pidgeot and Jack, and both Pidgeot and Jack are sent flying.

"Venusaur!" Venusaur shouts, releasing a light beam attack at Jack and Pidgeot.

"AAAAGH!" Jack shouts.

"Pidgo!" Pidgeot shouts, attacked. They keep flying towards a cave wall, but instead fall down and tumble over.

"Is that all you can do?" Ask the figure. The figure signals his Venusaur to attack again. Jack and Pidgeot charge in again, but this time wait for the right moment. The figure shouts, "Solarbeam!"

"Venusaur!" Venusaur releases another beam of light. This time Jack and Pidgeot foresee the attack, and avoid it. The figure and Venusaur are surprised.

Jack swings his toy sword again, and Pidgeot attacks. "See ya!" Pidgeot attacks Venusaur by a barrage, and then knocks out Venusaur.

"Venu!" Venusaur cries.

"GAAAAGH!" The figure cries, surprised.

"Ve! Ve!" Venusaur tries to stay up, but howls, "SAUR!" Venusaur falls down.

"I…lost." Said the figure.

Jack points his toy sword at the figure and said, "Take back you said about my dad!"

The figure said, "Fine. I'll take it back. Just to let you…you did well, son." Jack and his Pokémon are confused. The figure reveals his spiky black hair and red eyes. He's almost like Jack but older. "Hi, son."

"Dad?" Ask Jack, surprised.

"Pika?" Ask Pikachu.

The man gets up and said, "Forgive me for poisoning your Pokémon, but I was expecting your arrival shortly, Jack." He restores Pidgeot from the poison, and Pidgeot is healthy. "There we go, good as new."

"Pidgo!" Said Pidgeot.

"Thanks dad." Said Jack, grateful.

Jack's father looks at his son and asks, "So, Jack, what brings you here?"

Jack explains, "Well, dad, or should I said my father who is Red Ketchum, you've been gone for some time since I saw you. Mom and my little sister are worried about you."

Red said, "Don't worry about me, Jack. I've been fine." He looks outside, "Then again, I do have my concerns about what's been happening."

Jack said, "That's right. You saw what's going on, right? Team Rocket appeared out of nowhere and started attacking again."

"Yes. I've heard." Said Red. "They were going after the Phantom Pokémon and tried to capture Misty's Pokémon again."

"How'd you know?"

"The same events happened to be before. Ever since my journey, I wanted to stop Team Rocket and end their reign of terror, and that terror is over. The man, Giovanni, was responsible for his work of art. He tried to conquer the world with an iron fist, but for what reason: his own son missing. The poor man had so much grudge to find his son, but when Giovanni lost to me, he disbanded Team Rocket ages ago. And now they're back again, and this their third time striking back.

"But it's strange. How could the events come back after I took them down? It's like history is repeating itself. If they're back, that means Giovanni, no, a dark version of Giovanni has returned. This could be mean trouble to all the Gym Leaders and the new Elite Four. I'll be going out there and do my job again thirty-seven years ago. And once Team Rocket is gone, we'll get to the bottom of this."

"Whoa, hold on, dad." Said Jack, interrupting. His father looks at him. "Maybe I should help out too. It's not only your job, it's mine too."

Red thinks over it and said, unsure, "I don't know. You, your mom, and little sister could get hurt. I might put the risk of hurting you than taking out Team Rocket."

"Please dad!" Jack begs, "I can do it! My Pokémon and I beat the Pokémon league, and I'm strong enough to beat the Elite Four. You just gatta let me try!"

Red thinks over it. "Are you willing to do this? Once you help out, there's no turning back."

Jack pats his chest and said, "Leave it to us!"

"Pi, Pikachu!" Pikachu agrees.

"Pidgo!" Pidgeot agrees.

Red smiles and said, "Okay. On one condition." Jack, Pikachu, and Pidgeot are curious. "You boys do it on my occasion, okay? My friends and I know Team Rocket way back. You and your Pokémon will be doing heavy training, do you understand?" Jack and his Pokémon nod. "Good. Now, before we do anything else?"

Jack remembers, "Oh yes. There's one more thing you should know, dad."

"If it's about your birthday don't worry." Said Red.

"Uh, no." Said Jack.

"Oh, I get it. It's your little sister's birthday." Said Red, guessing. "Silly me. Tell me, what does she want?"

Jack shakes his head, "You're not even close." Red looks surprised. "Our birthdays are not coming in."

"Then what is it?" Ask Red.

Jack answers scared, "Well…it's you and mom's Anniversary."

Red thinks this through, and shouts outside, "WAAAAAAAAGH!" He picks up Jack, panicking that he forgot. Red even shook his son like crazy. "How could I forget our Anniversary? Do you remember what happened the last time I forgot about our Anniversary? What do I do? You gatta help me, Jack! You're my only hope!"

"Wa! Wa! Wa! Wa!" Jack shouts, shaken over and over. "Stop! Shaking! Me! Please! I'm! Going! To! Be! Dizzy!"

Red stops shaking Jack, and drops his son. Jack feels dizzy almost spinning around. "You're right." Said Red, calming down, "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

Jack shakes off the dizziness and looks at his dad. Next, he looks at his Pokémon, and then looks at his dad again. "Uh, dad. Maybe some flowers would be nice, or some chocolate bonbons."

Red stops and looks at his son, "Uh, Jack, that's not enough."

"Oh!" Said Jack, surprised. "Right. Uh." He thinks over it. Then, Jack gets an idea, "That's it!" Red and Venusaur look at Jack. "Dad, what does mom see in you?"

"That I'm a grown adult?" Ask Red.

"No! You're her hero." Said Jack. "If you can do something heroic for her, maybe she'll forget about the old Anniversary! Plus, a nice dinner date would be nice, and fireworks, and…"

"Whoa. Slow down, Jack." Said Red, stopping his son, "I don't want to go too far for our Anniversary, but you are right for an Italian idea. And there's the heroic part. How am I going to pull that off?"

"I know you'll figure something this out, dad!" Said Jack. "This'll be great!"

"Okay, I'll do it." Said Red. "Jack, tell your mom and your little sister I'm coming back home."

Jack cheers, "Yeah! Best Anniversary Party ever!" He hurries to the ledge and shouts, "What are you waiting for? Let's go!"

Red shouts, "Jack! Stop!"

Jack stops close to the ledge. He turns around and asks, "Yes?"

Red suggested, "I got a better idea." He walks to his son and requests, "Jack, take out your arms. Hold them forward." Jack holds his arms straight. Red puts heavy rocks on Jack's arms, and then his ankles. Jack can feel the heavy rocks pulling his arms down until they pull Jack's hand down to the floor.

Jack asks, surprised, "Uh?"

"You know, Brock, right?" Ask Red. "This should help you improve better."

"What are…what?" Ask Jack, confused.

"Pika, Pi?" Ask Pikachu, confused.

Red explains, "These rocks will help you train to be in top shape." Jack has a distinct shocked look in his eyes. "You will train your arms for strength and your legs for speed. You won't be able to take them off unless you have trained your body and speed very well. When you're done, I will take them off. Do you understand?"

"Uh…" Ask Jack, clueless.

"Good." Said Red. He returns his Venusaur back into its Poké ball by a cloud of smoke, and then brings out his second Pokémon. "I'll be waiting for you back at the Kanto Region." The Poké ball opens up with a cloud of smoke, and then reveals an ancient prehistoric dinosaur with wings and big sharp teeth.

"Wait. Then how do I get down?" Ask Jack.

Red gets on his Pokémon and replies, "Well, Pidgeot can't carry you back, so you'll have to make your way down. It is very important to rely on your Pokémon." He pats his Pokémon, "Aerodactyl, let's fly." The Pokémon flies off carrying Red back home. He left Jack and Jack's Pokémon behind in Mt. Silver. A gust of wind blows Jack.

"Oh boy." Said Jack. He turns around and sees only an open arch hole. "I guess I'm stuck here until I find a way out." Jack pulls out a Poké ball and said, "Return, Pidgeot. You need rest from the battle." He tosses the ball, and the ball hit Pidgeot returning Pidgeot back into the Poké ball. Jack puts the ball away, and lets Pikachu on his right shoulder. "Okay! So I won't take them off, but I can make it down! Dad! I'm ganna make you proud!"

"Pikachu!" Pikachu agrees.

Jack hurries through the open arch, and make his way down the mountain.

Jack and Pikachu make their way down the mountain. However, with Jack wearing the heavy rock bracelet and anklet, he's slower than his Pikachu. Pikachu looks behind and sees Jack trying to catch up.

"Sorry, Pikachu." Said Jack, trying to catch up. "I'm not as fast as you think. I just need you and Arcanine's speed to make it down the mountain." Pikachu gets on his master's right shoulder and let Jack try and run. "Mt. Silver sure is beautiful. No wonder dad stays here a lot."

"Pikachu." Said Pikachu.

"You said it." Said Jack. Before Jack and Pikachu could advance, big blue bats with big mouths and small fangs come out from the ceiling and swarming on Jack and Pikachu.

"Agh. Stupid Golbats." Said Jack. He swings his toy sword shooing the blue bats with big mouth and small fangs. "Get out of my way before I let you have it."

Pikachu swings his tail like a sword to repel the bats. The Golbats fly back up. This time, Jack and Pikachu reach to a steep slope all the way to the bottom. Jack and Pikachu slide down.

"Yahoo!" Jack shouts.

"Pika!" Pikachu shouts.

They come into their first obstacle puzzle, a simple puzzle that requires Jack's Pokémon. There are three boulders and three potholes.

"A puzzle huh?" Ask Jack. "Seems easy." He brings out his card holds it forward, "Primeape! I summon you!" The ball comes out of Jack's belt, opens up smoke, and then a pig monkey like Pokémon with big white fur, boxing gloves, and black bracelets and anklets appears. "Primeape. Power up with Strength."

"Pri!" Said Primeape. It gets pumped up. Primeape is able to move boulders. It pushes the boulders along with Jack and Pikachu. One-by-one, all the boulders are pushed in. "Primeape!" Primeape cheers.

"No problem." Said Jack. A secret entrance opens. Jack, Pikachu, and Primeape enter through. They encounter wild Pokémon. "Primeape, time to show these guys your muscles." They see a pack of big brown grizzly bear like Pokémon with white circle rings on their stomachs. "Yipe." Said Jack, surprised. "Ursarings."

"Pika." Pikachu agrees.

Jack thinks, "Then again, I could use a lot of training, so I guess battling won't be so bad." He jumps out with his pig monkey Pokémon, and shouts, "Hey! Ursarings! Want a piece of me?" Five grizzle bear Pokémon see Jack and his Pokémon, and then roar at them. Jack and Primeape get in position. "Come and get some." He puts his gloves on. "I won't need my toy sword."

The Ursarings charge at Jack and Primeape. Pikachu hangs on Jack's right shoulder.

Jack shouts, "Brick Break!" As Jack punches, Primeape punches a barrage attack to the first Ursaring. "Ha! Gotcha!"

"Pri!" Primeape shouts, knocking the first Ursaring out. The grizzle bear Pokémon are shocked to see one of their bear brothers out cold. They howl and become furious. The grizzle bear Pokémon attack again. Even one is charging an energy ball.

"Here it comes!" Jack shouts. "Dodge!" Jack and Primeape jump to the right. The Ursaring in the back blasts a focus blast attack, but misses. "Here I go again! Brick Break!" Primeape continues attacking, chopping the second Ursaring and then the third. "Ready?" Jack pulls his arms back, and then chops around like an X-Scissor chop, "Cross Chop!"

"Primeape!" Primeape chaps the fourth Ursaring down by its neck, and then the fourth Ursaring goes down. The last one is not giving up without a fight. It charges up an energy and then blasts a powerful beam at Primeape. "Pri!" Primeape is hit, and flies further.

"Whoa!" Jack said, surprised, "Hyper Beam." Primeape manages to tumble forward, and then charge in the attack. The last grizzle bear Pokémon can't move. "Last move! Brick Break!" Primeape chops the bear Pokémon, and Ursaring takes a hit without avoiding. All the wild Pokémon are wiped out. Jack and his Pokémon press forward, but they can't go without a souvenir.

"Alright." Said Jack, giving Primeape medicine, "Hyper Potion."

"Pri." Said Primeape, grateful.

"Just in time." Said Jack, feeling his arms. "I'm almost able to lift the rocks on my own. Time to solve this maze." They look around the old cave to try and look for a way out. "Let's see. This place is huge for a battle run, and the puzzle solving was way back. I'm guessing dad was making sure I'm prepared for battle before Team Rocket."

"Pika, Pi?" Ask Pikachu, curious. "Pikachu."

Jack replies, "Yep. I'm guessing dad had a feeling we're coming here." He thinks about it, "Let's see. The next Pokémon would I have to face is perhaps Golbat since Primeape doesn't stand a chance, or Venusaur."

"Pri." Said Primeape.

"The sooner we get out of her, the better we are free to go eat!" Said Jack. "It's too bad I didn't to check out what kind of Pokémon live here. I saw Golbat and Ursaring. What's next?"

When they come out of the big arch hole, they enter inside a very large room. They look around and see a waterfall, a big lake, and more open arch holes. Jack and his Pokémon are wondering if they took a wrong turn, but they see an open hole across them. They also look down over the ledge and see the water.

"Dad sure loves a good challenge." Said Jack. He pulls out a Poké ball and said, "Okay, Primeape. Take a good rest." The ball touches Primeape, a smoke covers Primeape, and Primeape goes back into the Poké ball. "Let's see. What's the next step?"

Pikachu points, "Pika!" Jack sees a stalagmite across the lake.

"Oh yeah." Said Jack. He holds up the card and calls, "Venusaur! I summon you!" The Poké ball comes off of Jack's belt, and then coming out of the Pokémon is a big green frog like Pokémon with a big flower.

"Venu." It said.

Jack calls, "Venusaur, can you get us across?"

"Venu!" Venusaur said. It releases two long green vines out from the stem, and then shoots it forward a rope. The vine grabs on to the stalagmites.

"Good." Said Jack. "Keep it steady." He and Pikachu get on the vine, but try to keep their balance.

Venusaur felt Jack's heavy body. It tries to keep it up.

Jack calls, "Whoa!" He turns, "Venusaur, sorry if I'm heavy because of my rock bracelet and anklet, but try and keep your vine steady until we get across. Pikachu can walk across the vine gap, but Jack needs to keep his balance before he falls off. "Okay. Balance. Balance." But then, there was a squeak. Jack froze and looks up. He be becomes surprised, "Oh no." Big blue bats with big mouths and small fangs fly down on Jack, Pikachu, and Venusaur.

"Golbat!" They spoke.

"Golbats!" Jack shrieks.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu shrieks.

Jack turns around, "They're coming after us, and Venusaur!" Venusaur sees some Golbats coming after him, but tries to shoo them away with its vine. Jack and Pikachu keep their grip on the vines without falling out. "Ve, Nu, Saur, Saur, Saur, Saur!"

Pikachu panics, and shouts, "Pikachu!" Pikachu shoots electricity at the Golbats, but it accidentally shocks Jack. Venusaur is shocked but at a low shock damage. The Golbats flee.

Jack said, burned, "Good job, Pikachu. Ugh."

"Pikachu." Said Pikachu, apologizing.

Jack shakes off the burn crisp skin, and keeps moving. Jack and Pikachu made it across. "Finally." He pulls out Venusaur's Poké ball, and tosses it to Venusaur, "Venusaur, return."

The ball flies straight to Venusaur, the smoke covers Venusaur, and Venusaur is back into its ball. The ball flies all the way to Jack, and Jack catches the ball. He puts it away.

"Good. On our way home now." Said Jack. "I've had enough of this. I think the rocks tried to pull me down."

"Pikachu." Pikachu agrees.

"We're almost out." He said. Jack and Pikachu press one, and then find more Pokémon wild pack. This time, there are huge rocks. "Oh great. Rocks."

Jack and Pikachu start climbing on the odd rocks. They reach to the top and see a light across the room. That light shines a way to the exit.

"An exit?" Ask Jack. "Finally! A way out!"

"Pika!" Pikachu cheers.

But then, something shook the ground. Jack and Pikachu felt something moving underneath their feet. They look down and see the rocks moving.

"Uh, Pikachu?" Ask Jack. "Rocks don't move, right?"

"Pika?" Ask Pikachu, confused.

"Okay." Said Jack. "Because something tells me those are not ordinary rocks." He pulls out his toy sword, and Pikachu on his right shoulder. The rocks curl around Jack and Pikachu, and then a huge rock head with a horn, big eyes, and almost have a snake head appears. Jack and Pikachu froze in fear. "Uh, hi?"

It roars at them.

Jack shouts, "Onix!"

"Pika!" Pikachu shouts.