Chapter 9 – Well of Secrets

"Hey there's light up ahead!" Lyra exclaimed as the group reached the end of Union cave. They had been exploring the cave, battling wild Pokemon and trainers alike, for close to a week now, and their food stores were beginning to run low. Reaching the end was desperately needed. Blaze and Mari ran out first, right into the downpour of rain. Blaze immediately went from looking happy with his flames lit to very grumpy. Arthur couldn't help but laugh at his partner.

"Well I suppose this saves me from having to give you a bath!" Blaze just grumbled as Arthur returned the Fire-type to his Poke-ball to save him from walking in the rain. Mari on the other hand was happily splashing around with Lyra as the rain washed away the dirt from the two of them. Lyra and Arthur stood in the mouth for a few moments to done rain coats, so they could continue their trek onto Azalea.

From the exit of Union Cave, it was only a few hours walk to Azalea. Arthur was already starting to get excited for his next gym battle. There was one stop that the pair was thinking of making however, on their way into the city. The rains began letting up as the two trainers neared the famous Slowpoke Well. It was a famous landmark just on the outskirts of Azalea.

"Closed?" Lyra said aloud as the two neared the entrance way. In the past, it was believed the underground aquifer which was home to native Slowpoke, had a much smaller entrance. As the years past however, and the curiosity and resourcefulness grew, people crafted a larger stone stairway down. The bigger mystery was how the Slowpoke climbed in and out in the past. Today they were usually lounging all over Azalea, and there were strict rules on travellers and more so on trainers about catching the dual psychic and water type Pokemon. The entrance way today seemed to be closed off today though. Arthur frowned as he lowered his hood from his jacket. There was a sign before the Well's stairway saying that due to unstable footing within the Well, it was closed until further notice.

"I guess so…" Arthur said. Lyra sighed and put her hands on her hips looking at the stairway. "Guess we could head into the city and find out when it'll be open?" the young man ventured. Lyra simply nodded and followed behind as Arthur led the way west.

Sabrina stepped out into the lobby of the centre and surveyed her surroundings. The nurse had assured her that Bugsy would be alright, but it still had left her shaken. Something had caught the Azalea leader unawares and he was still lying in a hospital bed. Sabrina hoped he awoke soon because she had no idea what exactly the problem was here and no clue as to where to start. She was so lost in thought she almost missed the two young trainers asking about the Well and the missing Slowpoke.

"Excuse me but could you tell us what's going on? The Slowpoke Well said it was closed?" The girl asked as she and a young man checked in to the centre and dropped off their Pokemon. Both trainers looked travel worn but were around Sabrina's age. And for some reason the boy looked oddly familiar to her.

"I'm so sorry but the town is dealing with a small crisis at the moment," the nurse responded. "Slowpoke have been turning up with their tails cut off and now someone has attacked our gym leader!" The nurse looked absolutely exhausted and Sabrina felt a moment's pity for the girl. This type of crisis wasn't something that came up in medical training Sabrina was sure.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" the girl in the white hat asked.

"I'm sorry..."

"Jaqueline! Is it true?" an old man came charging in. A small girl was close on his heels frantically trying to get the elderly man to calm down.

"Kurt! Yes, I'm so sorry but Bugsy has been attacked. He still hasn't regained consciousness" the nurse named Jaqueline said hurridly.

"Damn those Rocket goons" the old man named Kurt said more to himself. That comment caught Sabrina's attention.

"What?" Both she and the boy standing by the reception desk said rather sharply. A brief glance had Sabrina's violet eyes meet his blue-grey eyes before they turned back to Kurt.

"I thought Team Rocket was disbanded. Giovanni broke the group up after Red all but wiped out the organization" the boy said. Kurt nodded his agreement.

"That's true but if this isn't Team Rocket's doing, then these people are cut from the same cloth!" Kurt let that sentence sink in. "It's absolutely abhorrent! I had thought Bugsy capable of taking care of this issue however, it seems that someone else is going to have to step forward."

"Grandpa you can't!" the tiny granddaughter said loudly.

"Maizie, they're cutting off Slowpoke tails. I have to do something!"

"Kurt allow me" Sabrina said stepping forward.

"Sabrina! I didn't know you were here!" the old man said. Sabrina recognized him when the nurse mentioned his name. Kurt after all was a famous Poke-ball maker.

"Bugsy called me just before they got to him asking for my help. If this is Team Rocket, then allow me to handle them."

"Sabrina you're good but even you can't take them all on alone."

"She won't be." Both Kurt and Sabrina turned towards the boy. He was taking his Poke-balls back from the nurse staring at them. Suddenly, Sabrina remembered a vision that she had three years ago just after being defeated by Red. Could it be?

"I'm coming too" Lyra said looking at Arthur. She could tell that he was outraged by what these people were doing to the Slowpoke here in Azalea and he wasn't alone in that. Kurt looked at the three young trainers and nodded. It lifted his heart to see that there were still some young people out there who were willing to look out for others.

"Let's get going then. We have no time to waste."

Two days previous…

Bugsy prepped himself and left the gym mid morning. He had made the call to Sabrina and sent Josh to collect the psychic gym leader from Goldenrod later today when the magnet train arrived in. While the Saffron leader was travelling though, Bugsy figured he could find a lead, or at least something that might help Sabrina quickly figure out what was going on.

Azalea's gym was close to the center of town, meaning that the ride out to the edge of town was needed before Bugsy continued on foot to the Well. He could have taken a bus all the way out, or even used his jeep, but he may overlook something while on the road. As he traversed the well-worn trails, he kept his hand ready to send out one of his trusted bug Pokemon. Minutes passed by in relative silence, save for the soft crunch of dirt and gravel beneath the gym leaders boots.

Bugsy walked around a corner and came across a vision that churned his stomach. Two men were watching a third carefully cut off a tail of a caught Slowpoke. The Pokemon in question did nothing to prevent this, as wild Slowpoke were, well they were named slow for a reason. The gym leader quickly shut his opened mouth and burst forth.

"What do you think you're doing?" Bugsy exclaimed in shock and anger. The man doing the cutting jolted up, dropping his knife, yet causing more harm to the captured Slowpoke and the second man whirled around, his hand dropping to his belt. The third man however, slowly crossed his arms and with a slouch, turned to appraise the bug type leader.

"Don't think it's any of your fucking business" the third man said. Bugsy was taken aback by the brazen attitude.

"I think you're wrong there. This Well is under my protection!" Bugsy shouted back. The man began laughing.

"Oh, you're the little gym leader?" The man asked when he had finished laughing. "Well far be it for me to stop you! Or wait… that's what I was sent to do!" Bugsy heard something briefly before something crunched into the back of his head.

Present day

The group left the Pokemon centre in a measured hurry. Kurt had sent his granddaughter home to wait after much shouting and arguing. Sabrina had finally told the young girl that she could be in danger and that this was a task best left to full trainers. There was something about the way the psychic said it that brokered no argument.

Kurt drove everyone to the Well and led the way towards the entrance from the designated parking lot. The entire group was rather quiet, and he had to look back a few times to make sure they were all still there. The young girl, Lyra, looked a little worried and somewhat out of place with that big white hat of hers. If Kurt was being completely honest, she looked completely at odds to the other two trainers. Kurt knew Sabrina was a little different than most others her age and he assumed it had something to do with her psychic powers and being a gym leader. Not many could relate to that. She was beautiful in a way though. And the boy, Arthur, he seemed to be cut from the same cloth as other great trainers before him. The boy's eyes looked like they could freeze water right now.

There was a lone guard watching the entrance, who looked up as the group approached. Both Sabrina and Arthur stepped up to take the lead on this, but Kurt beat them to the punch. He took off his pack and swung the heavy bag at the grunts head.

"ARG!" the grunt yelled as the backpack connected. The guard stumbled back towards the stairway that led down to the Well. He grabbed hold of the bag as he stumbled, pulling Kurt down with him. Arthur made to grab the elder but missed and watched as the two men fell down the stairs.

"Shit..." Arthur said looking down the well.

"Kurt!" Lyra shouted at the same time looking scared. The two looked at one another but it was Sabrina who quickly took charge.

"Come on."

The stairs were somewhat steep, descending down into the earth. There was a landing where the stairs switched back, only lit thanks to the flashlights of the three trainers. It was here that they found Kurt, eye's closed in pain.

"Oh Kurt! Are you alright?" Lyra almost shouted as she raced over to his side.

"Ugh, my back. I don't think I can move at the moment. You three go on ahead." The old man said through gritted teeth. Lyra looked up at Arthur stricken.

"We can't just leave him here like this. I'll stay with Kurt. You two go and take care of whoever is responsible for this."

"Alright but here." Arthur handed Lyra one of his Poke-balls. Lyra just accepted nodding.

"If you head straight through there that should be where they're hiding. At least that's where I saw the grunt that dragged me down here run off to." Arthur nodded and both he and Sabrina headed off in the indicated direction.

Their flashlights scanned around them but only lit just enough that Arthur and Sabrina could see where they were going.

"So, you're the gym leader in Saffron right?" Arthur finally asked after they had been walking a bit.

"Yes." Silence overtook the pair once more. As they wandered deeper Sabrina suddenly found herself stepping into nothing as she was looking in the other direction. Fear immediately washed over her and just as she opened her mouth to yell, a surprisingly strong grip took her by the arm and pulled her into an embrace. In her rapid breathing she could smell something like spice mixed in with the dampness of the cave.

"You alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine" Sabrina replied without sounding panicked by what had just happened. "Thank you." Arthur released her, and she immediately turned away and continued walked. She didn't want him to see the blush that was spreading across her cheeks.

After a few more minutes the pair came across some mummers. Arthur and Sabrina poked their heads around some rocks and found a group of grunts all talking.

"A group is headed down here. We need to tell Proton! I could have sworn one of them was another gym leader!"

"Proton dealt with the last one when he started snooping around. This won't be any different." Sabrina smiled.

"Want to let me in on the joke?" She turned to find Arthur watching her.

"They only took Bugsy out because he wasn't expecting it. They'll have a harder time against me." And with that she walked out from behind the rock surprising the group of grunts. This time it was Arthur's turn to smile.

"You!"

"Yes me. Alakazam come out." Sabrina hadn't thrown a Poke-ball but suddenly one was floating in mid-air and opened revealing her Alakazam. The grunts were quick on the upswing and brought out their Pokemon as well. Arthur was also about to join in the fight when he saw one of the grunts break away from the group.

Go. I'll take care of these three Sabrina said telepathically to both Alakazam and Arthur. She didn't know why she connected her mind to this young man's whom she'd only just met but as soon as she had Sabrina knew that it was the right thing to do.

"As she says" her Alakazam echoed. Arthur nodded and sprinted down the path. The Rocket grunts were torn until they saw Alakazam moving.

Show them no quarter old friend. The Psychic-type grinned and began its attack.

Arthur raced down the path which suddenly opened into a massive open space. Slowpoke were milling about, some with tails, others without. Blood reflected black in the poor light and Arthur found himself appalled and outraged.

"So, they sent a whelp down here to help." Arthur turned to his right to see the grunt who had run from Sabrina just behind another man with teal hair who had a different outfit on than the grunts. There was a look of malice in those black eyes. His slouch was pronounced but in a way that made him look like he didn't give two shits about what happened around him. A crooked smile spread across the unremarkable face, besides the crooked nose.

"I take it this was all your work?" Arthur asked trying to keep his voice steady.

"Slowpoke tails do fetch quite the price to the right buyer." The man seemed indifferent to the atrocity committed here.

"You're going to stop this right now." The man just laughed.

"Boy I could beat you bloody. In fact, I probably will. Little pieces of shit like you don't get to come in here and make demands. Not for interrupting my work, Golbat! Use Supersonic!"

Before the bat Pokemon had even appeared, Blaze was running towards the Rocket executive at full burn. Golbat had barely began its ultrasonic attack when it was pelted with tons of tiny flaming projectiles. The flier cried out in pain rendering its attack useless.

"I see you're not quite as inept as I first thought. Doesn't matter about some pathetic Pokemon. Perhaps I'll take yours when I beat you!"

"Who do you think you are? You seriously think you can just come in here and do this? And you really think that you're going to be able to get Blaze from me?" Arthur was incredulous. However, his opponent did not seem so glad that Arthur had no idea who he was.

"I am Proton! A Team Rocket Executive! How dare you think you can best me! Go Weezing!" Arthur's anger was suddenly matched by this Proton.

"Blaze come back."

"What? Are you crazy? Let me teach this asshole a lesson!"

"Are you sure?"

"I'm the one who can take a licking and keep on ticking remember?" Arthur smirked despite himself.

"Alright light that floating gas ball up then!"

"My pleasure!" Blaze roared into action once more spewing forth another Ember attack. Weezing however shrugged off the attack like it was nothing. Arthur's heart caught in his throat. This wasn't some pushover Pokekmon like the wild variety outside the Well. Here was a fully trained poison type who clearly had other ideas for what constituted a battle as compared to league trainers. Proton was laughing manically as his Weezing moved in to Blaze who was slowly backing away, also aware that he may be outmatched. Just as the poison type was about to attack, it seemed to freeze, looking surprised. Proton also stopped his laughing, immediately looking outraged.

The Weezing was thrown back into its trainer, both going down hard. Proton turned his head and spit out a glob of blood, looking around for his attacker. Alakazam walked into the light, eyes glowing a threatening blue.

"Great, another fucking gym leader. You pisspots just can't keep your noses out of our business can you?" Proton demanded upon seeing Sabrina. It was obvious her reputation preceded her.

"You attacked a colleague and having been cutting off Slowpoke tails. You're lucky I'm not having my Alakazam rip you apart." Proton laughed at that.

"Like you would ever go that far. You don't have it in you, do you freak?" The man's smile was ghastly, as blood covered his teeth. Sabrina looked on disgusted.

"I won't today, but you're coming with us." The gym leader looked to her partner to stop the man. He wasn't quick enough however as a poisonous gas began obscuring both Proton and his Weezing. Something about this gas reminded Arthur about a combustion experiment Professor Elm had shown him once. Eye's widening, Arthur quickly tried to recall Blaze who still had his flames lit, looking to continue the fight. The young man wasn't fast enough however, and upon contact with the fire type, a massive fireball when up around the cavern. Arthur yelled, trying to get to Blaze to protect his friend. Alakazam was quick on the upswing of the situation, rapidly erecting a protective barrier to protect everyone. The resounding boom shook the cavern, scaring even the Slowpoke around them who just moments earlier did not seem to be aware of what was happening.

Arthur fell to his knees beside his partner. Blaze reassured his trainer that he was fine. Arthur breathed a sigh of relief then looked around. The man Proton was nowhere to be seen.

"He ran while we were blinded. Probably further into the cavern." Sabrina said, as if she was reading his mind.

"We should go after him…" Arthur began but Sabrina held up a hand.

"He won't be back, now that he knows people are aware. Besides, we need to get nurses or rangers down here to look after all these injured Slowpoke." Arthur blushed. He was being so rash, wanting nothing more than to dole out punishment to the people who thought it was acceptable to cut off tails from these Pokemon. It was justice, but it wasn't the most important thing at this very moment.

"You're right." Sabrina looked around, her face falling as she surveyed the damage these men had caused.

"I knocked out the others back there, but until they come around, I won't know who they work for" the psychic said absently.

"They're team Rocket" Arthur said quietly. Sabrina snapped her gaze to the young man beside her, locking eyes.

"You're sure?"

"That's what the guy said. Proton he said his name was. A team Rocket executive." Sabrina let out a long breath. Arthur looked around once more, only one thought going through his mind. Team Rocket is back.