Pokemon, Pikachu and other Pokemon character names are trademarks of GameFreak Inc, Creatures Inc, Nintendo. No copyright infringement is intended.

Destination Indigo
by Sailor Chronos

Chapter Four: New Year, Old Enemies

The winter break gave Heather and her Pokemon a much-needed rest. As soon as Nurse Joy gave Eagle a clean bill of health, she travelled home to Twilight Village. Her family welcomed her back with open arms, although her father was still upset about her disappearance and skeptical of her stories about her adventures. When she introduced her Pokemon, however, he was finally convinced.

It didn't take long for her to become a celebrity, and she was embarrassed by the attention. During the Year End festival, many people begged her to stay in town and teach them about Pokemon, but she declined, saying that she had to return to school. Still, the idea of teaching intrigued her. She had a discussion with the Mayor concerning the construction of a Pokemon Gym, which she would run if she did well enough in the Indigo League and was able to get a certification. Her younger brother Jack insisted that he would be her first student.

She returned to Vermilion City feeling happier than she had been for some time. Professor Linden and his Pokemon all greeted her warmly, and gave her some good news.

"I heard that the Indigo League Committee is going to hold a Trainer Exam here in the spring. It's a special exam that will allow those who pass to compete in the League tournament without having to go around to the Gyms and get all the badges. Since you are unable to get the last two official badges that you need, I thought you'd be interested."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "Of course! That's a golden opportunity! Is there a way to sign up in advance?"

Linden nodded. "There will be forms available in the Gym and at the school, one month before the exam takes place."

The term began on a high note. Scott and Robyn informed her that Todd had indeed been expelled from school and his academic records annulled. Should he go to the Gyms for badges, any Gym Leader could look up his record and would have the right to refuse his challenge.

"But I thought all Leaders had to answer challenges!" she said.

"Normally yes," explained Scott, "but if someone is known to be cruel to Pokemon, they won't be allowed to compete. It's to protect the Pokemon and their trainers."

"It'll serve him right," Robyn said, with little sympathy.

Todd's former cohorts, Terry and Jeff, were still around, but tended to stay out of the way, which suited Heather and her friends just fine.

On the second week back, the class was introduced to two new students, brother and sister Peter and Dawn Viking. They were both slender and had dark hair, giving the impression that they were twins. Most of the students were awed by their charm and extensive knowledge of Pokemon, but to Heather, it seemed that the siblings were just showing off.

In the following weeks, the school's attention shifted toward them, and her resentment of them grew. They seemed to be everywhere; no matter where she looked, they could be seen participating in various clubs and activities. Whenever did they find the time to study?

"Come on, give it a rest," Robyn told her during lunch break one day, having noticed that she was moping. "Just because they've temporarily eclipsed your popularity-"

"It's not that," she interrupted. "Actually I'm glad that I'm not the centre of attention any more, I was getting tired of all the running around. There's something about them that bugs me, but I can't put my finger on it."

Scott nudged her arm playfully. "You're just being too suspicious, and after the hard time you had last term, I don't blame you. Loosen up a bit." He grinned and did a little dance until Heather finally smiled. "That's more like it!"

Unfortunately she still couldn't shake the feeling of wrongness, despite her friends' assurances, but had to put it aside in order to focus on her classwork. The Valentine's Day Dance approached, and many of the girls were going starry-eyed and gossiping about who would be the handsome Peter Viking's date. Robyn was going with Ethan Chandler, a red-haired boy from her Pokemon Care and Health class, and Heather herself was very surprised when Scott shyly asked her to be his date, as she hadn't been planning to attend at all.

Robyn was taken off guard too. "I thought you'd be pining after Dawn like the other boys are," she told him, then added derisively, "Bunch of lovesick rabbits with nothing else on their minds. She's too good for any of them."

He rolled his eyes comically. "You must be kidding. Unlike them, I already know I have no chance with her."

"It's nice of you to ask," Heather said. "I'll go with you."

The Valentine bash ended up being a greater success than the Halloween party had been; the school gymnasium was packed. Robyn commented sarcastically that the only reason that many people had chosen to attend was because Peter and Dawn were there. Their popularity was still high and they were members of several clubs, but to Heather's recall they hadn't participated in any Pokemon matches.

"I wonder how they train for the practical classes," she wondered at one point as she and Scott danced around the floor. "Nobody has seen them battle."

"I'm curious about that too," Scott said, and sighed. "Your suspicions must be rubbing off onto me. Where are they right now, anyway? I haven't seen them since I went to get some punch."

Robyn and her date Ethan elbowed their way through the crowd toward them. "We just heard a disturbing rumour. Last week the Bobbsey Twins formed their own club where people can trade Pokemon," she said with a worried look. "Private trades are allowed under the school regulations, ut any new club needs to be approved by the administration."

"I asked Mr. Makuso about it," continued Ethan. "He's on the Teacher's Council, but he didn't know anything about a new club."

Heather looked around quickly. There were enough people dancing that their absence wouldn't be noticed for a while. "Let's go check this out. Does the club have an office somewhere?"

Ethan nodded. "Second floor, near the lab."

The four of them made their way out of the gym and up to the club. Ordinarily this particular section of the school was closed off at night for security, but for some reason the gate was open. As they approached the club's door, voices could be heard from within.

"You'd think all these rich kids would have proper Pokemon," a female voice complained. "So far, all we've got are garden-variety common ones."

"Don't forget," a male voice said, "they have been extremely well trained and might have Techniques. Any strong Pokemon is good enough for the boss. With the number we have here, we'll surely be promoted a rank or two."

Scott was confused. "What on Earth are they talking about?" he asked softly. "What kind of club promotes their members if they have strong Pokemon?"

"They're not talking about a club," Heather said grimly, suddenly realising the truth. "They're talking about Team Rocket. It's a criminal organisation that steals Pokemon. I've had encounters with them, they're bad news!"

The woman inside the room was continuing, "...and infiltrating the school was ridiculously easy! Anyway, we'd better get back downstairs before someone notices that we're gone. We don't want to keep our fans waiting, do we?" She snickered.

"I've heard enough!" Heather was furious. "There's no way we can let those two get away with stealing the students' Pokemon!" She positioned herself on one side of the door with Scott; Robyn and Ethan were on the other. As soon as the door opened and the speakers emerged, the four rushed forward to grab them!

Dawn and Peter, for that's who they were, were unable to avoid the sudden attack and were captured. "So we've had some eavesdroppers," Peter said with a smirk, making no move to escape. "They'll need to be taught a lesson to not meddle in other people's business!" He managed to shake one arm, and abruptly the vicinity was filled with blue smoke.

They all started to cough. "Smoke bomb!" Ethan gasped.

"Eagle, I choose you!" Heather croaked. "Gust attack!"

The smoke quickly cleared, but by then Peter and Dawn were loose and standing a short distance up the corridor. They had discarded their school uniforms and a pair of wigs, revealing Team Rocket colours and faces that Heather knew too well.

"Prepare for trouble, don't believe your eyes!" "Dawn" began, tossing her blonde braid.

"Make that double, you ruined our disguise!" "Peter" continued.

Heather groaned.

"To infect the world with devastation! / To divide the peoples of every nation! / To denounce the goodness of truth and love! / To extend our wrath to the stars above! / Will! / Bonnie! / Team Rocket, circling the Earth all day and night! / Surrender to us now or you'll surely lose the fight!" A Sandshrew appeared in front of them.

"AS IF!" the four friends chorused.

It was over quickly. Nipper took care of Will's Sandshrew, and his Venonat fell to Ethan's Growlithe. Bonnie and Robyn went head-to-head, Butterfree against Butterfree; Eagle dispatched Bonnie's Zubat. By the time the battles were finished, several students and a security guard were pelting up the hallway, attracted by all the noise.

Heather ended up staying the night with Robyn in her dormitory room, because it was extremely late by the time Officer Jenny had taken Will and Bonnie away to jail and the stolen Pokemon had been identified. Those whose trainers were not at the dance were returned to their PokeBalls and stored in the Principal's office for safekeeping until the following morning.