Emerging from union cave onto route 33, Natalia was met with rain. She didn't the sprinkle so much, but she knew Eve hated getting wet. Turning around towards the cave, she couldn't help but chuckle as she saw the purple cat sitting at the edge, waiting expectantly and glaring at the droplets that dripped down from the ceiling. Natalia took out a pokeball and the red beam of light shot out, bringing Eves essence into the safety of the container. Grace chirped a bit, giggling as the raindrops tickled her head, which made Natalia smile. "You like the rain huh...?" She chuckled, re-wrapping the blanket around the small Pokemon and heading down the road. "Hey!" A voice called out to her suddenly, causing her to turn around. A rather large man with a beard came running, wearing cargo pants and at least three layers of shirts, gasping and out of breath. "Hey... Do you have... Any water...?" He wheezed. "U-um... No... Do you have a bottle...? You could um... Collect rainwater maybe...?" She suggested. "I have been... Its not going very well though... I'm really thirsty..." He coughed a bit, turning away. "What have you been doing exactly...? I mean... You look like you ran a few miles..." Natalia asked, getting a bit worried for the mans health. "Hiking! I'm a hiker. The names Anthony! Nice to meetcha..." He coughed a few more times, and slowly sank down to sit in the grass. "A pleasure... I'm Fey... No wonder you're so tired. Did you come from Union Cave?" She questioned further. "You bet! Traveled that tunnel inside and out with my Pokemon many a time little lady." He cracked a smile, proud of this accomplishment. Natalia began to wonder how he could be so chubby with all of this proclaimed hiking the man had been doing, but bit her tongue and mentally slapped herself. She didn't want to judge the man, he seemed rather nice. "You have Pokemon? May I see?" She asked earnestly. "Well, I'd love to, but they really wouldn't like this rain you see, because most of them are rock type, but my machop probably wouldn't mind. "Come say hello macho man!" Anthony let the small muscular Pokemon out of its Pokeball. "Maaachop!" It said with a flex of its arms. "Togi Togi brreee!" Grace chirped, waveing it's stubby arms. "Maaachop!" The other Pokemon smiled, replying to whatever conversation Grace had started. "Hey, that's an interesting Pokemon you've got there... Can't say I've ever seen it before... Would you mind battling with me and show me what it can do?" Anthony asked, just now noticing the Togepi in her arms. Natalia hesitated somewhat. "She's only a baby, just hatched today... I don't know if that's a-" She started to say, but Grace seemed to like the idea of a battle, and wiggled out of her arms, making sure that her blanket didn't touch the ground and get dirty by wearing it like a cloak over her head. "It seems she thinks otherwise! Hahaha! I like her spirit." Anthony chuckled, standing up and backing away to give the Pokemon some space. "I... I suppose... I don't really know what she can do though..." Natalia said slowly. She was going into a battle completely blind, and it seemed just so... Unnatural... "We'll take it easy on you then! I just wanted to see what she could do remember? We'll find out together." Anthony promised, which made Natalia feel a little bit better. "Alright... Grace... You're going to have to help me out here..." She said looking worriedly at her Pokemon. Grace turned and turned her head a little to the side. "Togi...?" She asked. "Maybe she needs a little push in the right direction! Macho! Use pound!" Anthony commanded. "Hey wait hold on we-!" Natalia started to argue, but the Machop started running towards Grace. "Look out!" She yelled, looking away, afraid to watch. However, there was no noise of impact, nor any cry from Grace. Maybe she had dodged...? Slowly, she opened one eye to look, and she couldn't believe what she saw. Grace was chirping happily and waving the machop around in the air with psychic power. "Wow... Grace um... Why don't you set him down..." She said with a small nervous smile. Grace turned to look at her master curiously, and then chirped, smiling, and complied. The machop slowly drifted to the ground, already passed out due to the super effective move. Anthony looked rather stunned and returned his Pokemon. "Well then... Now you know." He chuckled, watching as Grace ran back over to her mama. "Togi Togi brrri!" She chirped, jumping into Natalia's arms. "She certainly likes that blanket, you did notice that she made sure not to drag it on the ground right?" Natalia nodded quietly. "You know, I'm not so thirsty anymore, and I think that by now my water bottle should be filled, so I think I'm going to go back into union cave. But hey, if you want to battle me again when it's not raining, I can show you the rest of my team. I should be right around here, but just in case I'm not..." He walked closer and folded back his sleeve to reveal his PTS, and tapped it to hers, transferring their information. "Alright, I'll give you a call sometime." Natalia smiled, and Grace chirped as well before they waved goodbye and started to head for Azalea Town. She came upon a small dirt road with a well up ahead, as well as two men, one significantly older than the other, the younger however, was wearing some strange clothing, it looked like a uniform of some kind. The two seemed to be in some sort of bitter debate, but she couldn't hear what they were saying until she came closer. "... so scram!" Was all she caught from the boy in the uniform as he shoved the older man away. It seemed he was able to scare the man enough to persuade him to go away, because he scrambled and ran off as soon as he was shoved. The boy in the uniform thumbed his nose and nodded, feeling rather superior. "Thaaats right buddy, keep walkin." He smirked and turned to stand guard by the entrance to the well. Natalia didn't really like the look of this, and walked up to the boy. "What's going on here...?" She asked suspiciously. "Nothing is 'going on'. It's unsafe to go down that well, so I'm standing guard to make sure people don't wander in. You know, being a good Samaritan and all that." He stated matter of factly. "Don't you think you're being a bit rough about it...?" Natalia continued to question, only causing the boy to scowl. "Hey, you don't like the way I do my job, then that's your problem. No one gives me any respect for doing this, they only complain about how they can't go down and get some fresh water and nag to me about it, kinda like what you're doin right about now. Don't complain, just take my kindness and get outta here." He crossed his arms, holding firm. Natalia sighed, giving in. Maybe the uniform was for the maintenance corporation he worked for, which made some sense. She wondered what the purple V stood for though?seemed like a strange letter choice for a maintenance company. Turning, Natalia went into town, however, an air of gloom seemed to hang over the place. People were huddled in corners, mumbling about missing slowpoke with worried faces. The town was just getting stranger by the minute. Soon she saw the older man who had been shoved earlier and walked up to him. "Hey, are you alright...? What was with that guy shoving you earlier?" She asked, deciding to get his side of the story as well. "Oh... Yeah he yelled at me for trying to sneak down into the well." He said sadly. "Why is that well so important...?" She asked curiously. "Well, it's not THAT important really, we get fresh water from it but we have other sources of water too. What we've really been concerned about is the fact that those guys have been here for weeks, and ever since they came, our slowpokes have been disappearing!" He wailed. Natalia looked rather confused however. "Your slowpokes...?" "Yes! Azalea Town is famous for the slowpokes that always roam around here. They come from that well and now they haven't been coming out at all. We think that those men are the cause of it." He suggested, and Natalia began to think. "And what about your gym leader? He hasn't done or said anything...?" She asked, frowning. "No... No one has seen him recently..." That was it. Natalia turned and headed for the gym, planning to give this guy a piece of her mind. Gym leaders of a town were responsible for the people, they were supposed to protect and solve problems, and it somewhat ticked her off that this one wasn't doing a thing. Coming to the front of the gym however, she saw another man in the same uniform as the well guard. "Excuse me, may I come in? I'm a trainer and I wanted to get my gym badg-" She started but was then cut off. "He's not here." The man said gruffly. "Well then where is he? And why are you here?" She asked frowning. "Like I know! Probably went off to catch some bugs or something. As for me, he asked that I make sure the gym is nice and secure till he gets back." Right. 'gets back'. Either this was the worst gym leader on the planet or there was something going on with these men in uniform. "In the meantime, why don't you go get yourself a nice tasty SlowpokeTail and relax for a bit? I heard that they're really nutritious." Natalia froze, eyes growing wide. "S-sorry... Did you say SlowpokeTail?" She asked, trying to remain calm. "Yeah! SlowpokeTail. Haven't heard of it? It's considered a delicacy in some places so it's kind of expensive, but hey, there's always a price for good things. Aren't you glad I told you? Now you know." Natalia resisted the urge to gag and nodded, looking pale and quickly turning to head back to the old man. She knew what was going on now, the men in uniforms weren't dong well maintenance, they were keeping the slowpokes down in the well to chop their tails off and sell them for money, it was a revolting notion, and she had to stop it. "Hey! Old man!" She called, stumbling up to him in panic. "W-what?" He asked, surprised. "The gym leader is either gone or that man in the uniform is keeping him trapped inside, but we have to get down in that well now! They aren't who they say they are!" She said quickly, panic rising with anger and horror. "Slow down! What's going on?" People were starting to look in their direction because she was causing such a big commotion. "The men in uniform... They're keeping the slowpoke down in the well and taking their tails to sell them!" The mans eyes grew wide. "Wh-what!? How did you find this out?!" He asked. "Gathering information. It just all makes sense and it fits together. Is there anyone who can help us get that guard out of the way?" The man paused to think for a moment. "Well... We have this tough guy called Kurt in this town. He makes Pokeballs out of Apricorns, so he's pretty strong, he should be able to help us." Natalia nodded. "Where does he live?" "Just over there in that little house." He pointed to show her the way. "Alright, let me go ask him." She said, heading over to the house. Opening the door, she saw a man pacing back and forth while a little girl watched, looking worried. "Um... Kurt?" She asked. The man stopped walking and turned around. "Hm...? Who are you?" He asked, not really looking at her but down at her feet. "I'm Fey, I'm a Pokemon trainer visiting here." She said, coming all the way in and shutting the door. "Ah, then I suppose you me to make you some Pokeballs? Well I'm sorry, but that'll have to wait." He waved her off. "No, no that's not it... You see, I've come to ask you for help. Those men in the uniforms are cutting off slowpoke tails in the well and selling them! It's horrible and the gym leader is unavailable..." Kurt and his granddaughter actually looked her in the eye now, shocked, then exchanged a glance. "I knew it! I knew those men were nothing but rotten liars! Our poor slowpoke... That's it, time to give them a lesson in pain!" And with that he charged out the door. "Hold on Slowpoke! Old Kurt is on his way!" Natalia moved out of the way and smiled. That was the spirit she was looking for. She turned and ran out the door after him, surprised at how fast he ran, because he was already nearing the edge of town and disappearing from her view. As she reached the well, there wasn't any sign of either Kurt or the man in the uniform, so she jumped the ledge and climbed the ladder down carefully, since Grace was still in her arms. When she reached the ground, she heard a groan and turned to see Kurt kneeling on the floor. "Kurt! Are you okay?" She asked, walking up to him. "Oh hey there Fey! The guard up top took off when I shouted at him so I chased him down here but I took a tumble down the ladder. I slammed pretty hard on my back so I can't really move right now... Rats! If I were fit and young my Pokemon would've punished them... Ah well... It can't be helped. But you, you can show them a thing or two! Go give them what for in my place will ya?" He gave a weak smile. "Are you sure you'll be okay...?" She asked, still worried. "Yeah! I'll be fine, go on!" Natalia nodded, and walked into the small cave opening to the left and ran through. Soon she stumbled upon the well guard. "Agh... You again lady? What are you gonna yell at me too? That stupid old coot startled me so much that I fled down here. Now I'm just plain out mad!" He tossed a Pokeball up into the air and let out a Rattata who screeched, feeling the same emotions as its trainer. Natalia quickly responded by letting Eve out of her Pokeball as well. "You deserve to be yelled at you scumbag..." Natalia spat. "Quick attack!" The well guard commanded, and Eve was hit with blinding speed. Natalia blinked, somewhat surprised that they had been so off guard, but Eve wasn't hurt too badly. "Psychic." She said coolly, hazel eyes glaring at the guard. Eve grew a purple aura around her body, and soon, so did the Ratatta, before it was flung into the cave wall, instantly fainting. "What? How are you so strong?!" He yelled in frustration, returning his Pokemon and sending out a Zubat who swiftly met the Sam fate as the Ratatta. "ARGH! This is just NOT my day..." The guard grumbled, returning his Pokemon once again and running off. "Come on Eve!" Natalia yelled, chasing the man further. She didn't see him again for a while because even more guards stopped her, battling and losing and running off as well until she reached the pit of the well where she had to see all of the tail-less slowpoke. The stench of smoke started to become prominent, and Natalia began to cough, waving the haze away from her face. "So yer the little brat who's been messing with my business..." A strangely accented voice stated through the smoke. Natalia coughed a few move time times before replying. "Buisness? You call this a- *cough* business?" She asked rhetorically. "Well it ain't much now but as soon as we make more deals and get more tails I'll be richer than all of yer ancestors combined lady."The figure finally became clear as Natalia came closer, a man with a fedora, white polyester shirt, and a grey vest, holding a cigarette. That at least explained the smoke. He looked rather unamused, serious, and a tad irritated at Natalia's doings with the one grey eye that she could actually look at since the other was covered with a mess of black greasy hair. "No, what I meant was that if you call 'business' chopping of slowpoke tails and selling it for profit then you're sick and twisted." She growled, but became much less intimidating when she succumbed to a coughing fit from the smoke, and the man began to laugh. "Maybe I am, but I don't really care about yer opinion now do I? I need money, so what if I have to chop a few tails? They don't really need em." "Yes they do! Their tails let them evolve you idiot!" Natalia argued. "Huh... Maybe that's why they're so nutritious? Thanks! Now I can prove that with facts. Ever think about becoming a teacher when you retire?" He smirked, watching Natalia smolder slowly. "Get out of here before I make you." She spat. "Oooh feisty one ain't we?" He continued to smirk, holding his hands up in a fake defensive stance. Natalia quietly swore she would wipe that stupid grin off of his face as Eve stepped forward, getting ready for battle. "I'll give you one more chance; leave now or I'll make you go." She warned. "You're so sure you can make me do anything huh doll face? Well then... Imma have to make you eat those words then." He grinned, and then sent out a Houndoom, making Natalia's eyes widen. Most of Eves moves were psychic, and ineffective on a dark type. "Dark Pulse." He commanded, and the Houndoom let loose a shadowy energy that spread across the floor, undodgeable and hitting Eve hard. "I'm... I'm okay..." Her voice echoed weakly in Natalia's mind. "Are you sure...?" She asked in her mind as well. "Yes..." "Then use quick attack. We'll communicate silently to have a slight advantage." She thought, and Eve nodded, disappearing and reappearing next to the Houndoom, hitting it full on with her body. "Crunch." The man commanded. "Try to dodge it!" Natalia thought, but it was too late, the Houndoom was faster than she expected, and Eve was down for the count. Furious now, Natalia returned Eve into her Pokeball and sent out Blaze. The Combusken, seeing what had happened thus far, came out raring to go, wanting to avenge its partner. "Busken!" He growled, the Houndoom retorting with a snarl. "Double kick!" She commanded, and Blaze whirled around, getting two powerful kicks in on the demon dogs side, causing it to yelp and slide back. "Shadow Ball!" The man commanded, and a dark sphere grew at the Houndooms mouth, shooting towards Blaze and he swiftly dodged it, countering with another Double Kick without Natalia's instructions, he didn't need to be told again. The Houndoom was knocked out cold and it's trainer puffed a cloud of smoke in irritation, returning his Pokemon and reaching for another Pokeball when suddenly the well guard came running in. "Max! We gotta go, the boss called us in!" He yelled, and the man, apparently named Max glared in the boys direction. "Right now?! Really?" He growled, frustrated. "You aren't the boss?" Natalia asked, bewildered. "Of course not lady! I don't make the orders, just carry em out. But get one thing straight, this ain't over, and you got lucky. I'll finish you off another day." He said sternly, obviously upset that the battle was cut short before running off. "Hey! Get back here scumbag! You're damn right this isn't finished! HEY!" She yelled, but they were already gone. Kurt was also nowhere to be seen, so she supposed she should check his house to see if he recovered enough to get back up the ladder and back into town. For now she rounded up the Slowpoke, and led them into town. "The Slowpoke are back!" People in the town came over to the line of Slowpoke following Natalia. Each person claimed their own Slowpoke and Natalia eventually made her way to Kurt's house with the last Slowpoke left from the bunch. As soon as she walked through the doors, Kurt's granddaughter ran over to her Pokemon and hugged it tightly. "Daisy you're back!" She squealed, swinging the pink Pokemon from side to side. "Slowwwwww...?" It said sleepily. "Look Grandpa, her tail is starting to grow back too!" She pointed to the stubby tail on the Slowpokes rear and smiled. Kurt chuckled and motioned Natalia over. "Thank you Fey, you've done good. I saw those goons running as I made my way over to the house, you must be an excellent trainer! I have no doubt that you'll be able to win the gym badge here." Natalia smiled. "Thank you sir." "Hey miss, if you ever want us to make you some Pokeballs, just come here and bring us some Apricorns." The little girl offered, holding out her PTS. Natalia tapped it with her own, exchanging their information before leaving. She needed to get to a Pokemon center to heal Eve so they could win their second badge.
