Chapter Three: Trouble at Flocessy Ranch

Mei and Hugh walked through the ranch together, keeping an eye out for the missing Herdier. The ranch was large and flat with Mareep wandering everywhere.

Mei shielded her eyes from the angry glare of the sun with her hands and followed Hugh as they made their way through a herd of Flaafy.

After searching for an hour, Mei fell to her knees and collapsed to the ground. "Dear Reshiram, where could that Herdier be? We've searched the entire ranch three times!" she groaned, glancing at Hugh who was equally exhausted. "Maybe someone really did steal it and got away already…"

Hugh flopped down beside Mei in frustration. "What do you suppose we should do? Go back to the breeders empty-handed?"

Mei sighed and pulled her knees to her chest. "I don't know. They were counting on us and even healed Tepig and Snivy. I feel so guilty… But what else can we do?"

"C'mon." Hugh got up and dusted himself off, before offering a hand to Mei. "At least we tried. There's nothing else we can do but offer our support. Now let's go."

Resigned, Mei let Hugh help her up. They began to head back to where the breeders were waiting. As they walked, Mei noticed a narrow dirt road leading north with bushes and ferns growing around it. The road was barely noticeable and very easy to miss. She stopped and stared at the road. "Hey, Hugh, come here for a minute," she called to her friend. When Hugh came back, Mei pointed at her discovery. "I don't think we've gone this way before. Do you think the Herdier's in there?"

"Only one way to find out." Hugh shoved some vines and leaves out of his way and took off down the dirt path.

"Hugh! Wait!" Mei shouted after him. She adjusted her visor and tried her best to keep with her reckless friend.

The road led to the small forest behind the ranch and came to a dead end. Mei panted as she caught up with Hugh. They both stood there and gazed into the woods, wondering if it would be safe to go in there.

There was a strange noise coming out of the forest, and it sounded like a Pokémon's cry.

"Did you hear that?" Mei asked. "It came from that way…" She turned to face the east and tried to listen for the sound again.

The sound came again, and this time Hugh heard it too. "That's a Herdier's cry. Let's move!" He took off, leaving a trail of dust in his wake. Mei nearly tripped over her feet as she struggled to catch up with him. As they got closer to the source of the sound, the duo caught the sound of a human voice talking to the Herdier. They crept closer, using the cover of trees and bushes. When they finally got near enough to make out the words, Mei pressed herself against a tree and cautiously peeked out from behind it, eyes widening as she took in the scene.

There was a small clearing in the forest. A Herdier was cowering beside a man. The man wore all black with a hat that had a pirate crossbones sign on it, a gray mask that covered his nose and mouth, and bright orange hair that was probably dyed that color. A logo on his vest was a strange 'P' with a zigzag through it on an electric blue shield-shaped background.

Mei jerked back behind the tree as the man looked around suspiciously.

"I found the Herdier," Mei whispered to Hugh. "But there's a person with it."

Hugh poked his head out and saw the man dressed in black take out a phone. Hugh turned to Mei. "You go back and tell the breeders what we found and get them to come help. I doubt we can beat this guy in a Pokémon battle. I'll stay here to make sure he doesn't leave," he instructed.

Mei shook her head. "No, I'll stay here and you go get help. I'll keep an eye on the Herdier. Now go before it's too late!" she hissed before grabbing Hugh by his sleeve and steering him back in the direction they came from.

Hugh hesitated about leaving his friend alone in the forest, but he knew that Mei should be able to take care of herself, being the independent person she was. The male trainer turned and ran back to the ranch.

Mei watched Hugh go and couldn't help but feel a bit lonely without him. He's always such a good friend… Mei thought. Although he can be pushy and a total jerk at times, he's always lending me a hand and protecting me. I need to show him that I can get along on my own. Determined not to let the thief go, Mei observed the Herdier and the man in black.

The Herdier was whimpering and backing away from the man. "Aaargh…"

Mei wanted to save the poor Pokemon, but she knew that her Snivy wouldn't be strong enough to take on the thief in a battle. She strained to get a better look at the man who stole the Herdier.

Snap.

Mei froze and realized that she had stepped on a twig. She winced at her carelessness. Crap.

The Herdier's ears perked up at the sound and the man in black also looked in Mei's direction.

The female trainer did her best to stay hidden, but the man still noticed her trying to hide behind an Oran Berry bush. "Tch. You little pest!" he growled at Mei.

Mei stumbled at from behind the bush and tried to look brave. "Who are you and what are you doing to that poor Herdier?"

The man laughed a cruel laugh. "I'm a member of a group that strikes fear into the hearts of those who stand before it: Team Plasma!" He said that as if it were a big honor or something. "Ever heard of us?"

Mei cocked her head to one side, racking her brain for any recognition. "Team Plasma? Nope, doesn't ring any bells."

"Really?" The Plasma grunt was genuinely caught off guard. "We're the notorious group who attempted to conquer Unova two years ago in order to liberate the Pokémon!" He looked at Mei hopefully. "Anything?"

Mei thought some more. "Nope. Not at all. I still don't know who Team Plasma is. Sorry."

The grunt sighed in frustration and facepalmed. "Whatever…Fools will never understand us. Still…" He gave Mei a venomous look. "First I got lost chasing this cursed Herdier and now some nosy kid caught me! All of this is your fault!" He took something out of his pocket.

Mei tensed and her hands instinctively flew to Snivy's pokeball that in her bag.

"Take THIS!" The Plasma grunt flung a round object at Mei with all of his strength.

Mei shrieked and jumped back, thinking the object was a poison dart or something dangerous. The item landed at Mei's feet and she realized that it was a just a TM or Technical Machine. She picked up the CD like object and noticed that it was Frustration. She looked up at the Plasma grunt. "Really? You threw a tiny little TM at me?"

"Don't mock Team Plasma!" the grunt shouted in anger. "I'll take this opportunity to retreat for now!" He jabbed a finger in Mei's direction. "I suggest you be very afraid of what is to come…" Then, faster than Mei could blink, the Plasma member pushed past her and rushed deeper into the wood and out of sight.

"Hey! Wait!" Mei yelled after him. "Get back here!" But the grunt was already gone. Mei was about to pursue him, but the Herdier bit down on Mei's bag and pleaded for her not to go. The female trainer sighed and bent down to pet the normal type. "It's alright now. You're safe, Herdier."

There was some rustling in the distance and Hugh showed up with the breeders right behind him. "Herdier!" the male breeder cried.

Herdier gave a yip of joy and jumped into its master's arms. "I'm so glad you're alright, Herdier," the breeder said happily.

Hugh scowled, "You're awfully calm about this."

The breeder stopped and looked at the Quilfish haired trainer. "I'm just… so glad to know that Herdier is okay…"

Hugh rolled his eyes, "Whatever, just be more careful. You might not be so lucky next time." He then noticed Mei studying the TM that the Plasma grunt had given her. "What do you have there?"

Mei looked up from the TM, "The thief gave this to me before he left. It's a TM for Frustration. Do you know what kind of move Frustration is?"

Hugh narrowed his eyes at the TM. "That's a move that's more powerful the more the Pokémon hates its trainer. No Pokémon should ever have the misfortune of learning that move, Mei."

Mei nodded and began to follow Hugh and the breeder out of the forest. The passed a river on the way back. Mei took the opportunity to toss the TM into the water and watched it float downstream. She made a silent vow to never teach a Pokémon that horrible attack.

Once they got back to the ranch, the Herdier reunited with its friend, and the breeders told Mei that she could take as long as she needed to find a Riolu in the Tall Grass. Hugh decided to keep training before the first gym to assure his victory.

Mei was left alone at the ranch with only her Snivy as company. "Snivy, if you see a Riolu, call for me, okay?" Mei instructed her grass-type.

Snivy gave an obedient nod and skipped into the nearest patch of Tall Grass. Mei went the other way and turned on her Running Shoes to attract more Pokémon. As soon as Mei stepped into the Tall Grass, a Riolu lunged at her. The female trainer quickly stepped aside and managed to suppress her excitement

"Ah!" Mei clasped her hands together in wonder. "I can't believe I found you on my first try, Riolu! I'm so happy!"

The Riolu blinked and began to walk away, uninterested.

"Huh? Wait!" Mei stopped celebrating and ran after the fighting-type.

Riolu ran faster and was about to disappear, but Snivy came to the rescue. Long vines wrapped around the Riolu and prevented it from escaping. "Sni!" Snivy said as it squeezed the wild Pokemon. Riolu struggled but couldn't get free. Snivy squeezed its opponent even tighter, and Riolu's face turned a strange shade of purple.

"Good job, Snivy!" Mei dug around in her bag and produced a shiny new pokeball. "Go, pokeball!" she tossed the capsule at the struggling Riolu.

The pokeball hit the fighting-type on the forehead and opened. A red light came out of the capsule, touched Riolu and sucked it into the pokeball.

The red and white capture device dropped to the ground and began trembling violently. Mei clutched her hands as she stared at the Riolu struggling to break free, making the ball wobble from side to side. Stop moving, she prayed. Don't break free...

Click.

Mei let out a breath that she didn't even realize she was holding and picked up the pokeball. She peered inside and saw the newest member of her team. Riolu smiled at her from inside its capsule.

"It's nice to meet you, Riolu," Mei greeted. "We got off to a bad start so I'll introduce myself. I'm Mei. You're going to be part of our team. We're going to have so much fun!"

"Snivy!" Snivy added.

"And Snivy learned Wrap, too," Mei smiled at her starter. "I'm so proud of you! If only the Gym would open…"Mei gasped as realization dawned on her that she had forgotten someone. "Ah! Alder! We forgot about him!" She quickly returned Snivy back to her pokeball and stuffed them in her bag, before racing out to Route 20 and leaving Flocessy Ranch behind.