I don't own Pokemon

Sorry for the wait everyone, I suck I know. LOL

I would like to thank Rocketlord6485 yet again for help with this chapter! Thank you so much my friend! :)

The first thing Natalie felt as she groggily came to was that she was on a bed under a thin, but soft blanket and that her legs were very sore. She blearily opened her eyes and she saw a fuzzy figure in a purple komono stoking a fire in the grate. Who is that? She thought groggily, the last thing I remember is Taz carrying me and a voice... Natalie's eyes focused and the figured materilaized into a middle-aged man with dark black hair and some-what stern eyes, "His?"

"unngh... what hrrpened?" Natalie slurred.

The man turned and procured a canteen. Natalie reached out and grabbed it with her arm that wasn't covered in bandages, "Here, drink this, you need to keep your fluids up and wash away the rest of the poison." he said.

Natalie balked and almost dropped the canteen. "Poisoned? That's what-" suddenly a rush of memories assulted her, of Taz and herself being surrounded by dozens of Tencool and her left arm and legs being stabbed by darts. "Where is Taz? Is he ok? He was-"

"Woah, woah." the man tried to calm her and get her to lay back down as he said, "Your Charizard is fine he is currently hunting and wouldn't hardly leave your side, I'll call him now." He walked out the door and Natalie heard a long shrill whistle come from his mouth twice. Taz didn't come, but Silly did and he ran up to Natalie and gave her as big a hug as his short arms could manage. "Yoolm safe mistress! Om thank gloomness." Silly said as he nuzzled into her face.

Natalie giggled and shook away what fuzziness remained in her head and patted Silly's head "I'm glad to see you too Silly, I'm sorry that I didn't think to release you to help us but everything happened so fast." Silly nodded and sat down beside her bed. Natalie then relaised where she was and sat up strait and said to the man as he walked back in, "Thank you, for saving my life. I hope I can repay you someday, my name is Natalie, what is yours sir?"

The man didn't speak at first and instead gathered five big bowls of Pokemon food and set them on the porch, "Yes I know who you are, tell your Gloom he can eat, I'll release my Pokemon as well, then we can talk. Go Venomoth, go Golbat, go Grimer!" He threw three Pokeballs and out came the Pokemon. Natalie had seen Golbat and Grimer thanks to dealing with Rockets, but not the moth one, it sure looked strong though... Just as she stepped out of bed to look at them the soreness in her legs intensified and the Pokemon ran out the door and she collapsed to her knees-which also didn't help her predicament and she cried out.

"Young fool! Your legs are healing! Get back onto the bed." he said sternly.

Natalie pushed herself up on wobbly legs and sat down on the bed, the pain instantly abated. The man then continued, "My name is Koga, poison master and Gm Leader of Fushica city, we have some important matters to discuss."

Natalie was a little surprised when he said Gym Leader, but it makes sense, that is why his Venomoth looks so strong. Natalie thought.

"Futhermore!" Koga suddenly barked which made Natalie jump, "I know who you are, you are an up-and-coming challenger with surprisng skill for one so young." Koga said.

"Thank you sir, my name is Natalie, maybe I could challenge you after my legs are a little better?" Natalie asked thinking that she could do no real traveling at this point so a Gym battle would be prudent.

Koga once again didn't answer right away, but instead looked to be deep in thought and then said. " I think I know what drives you to such strength," Natalie cocked her head in confusion and then recoiled when he said: "You are seeking revenge for what the Rockets did to you-"

"NO! ...I-I don't, how did you..." Natalie stammered ut she couldn't finish because suddenly Taz came in and pushed his clawed hand up against Koga's collarbone and shoved him up against the wall and growled " You should mind your own business or-"

"Taz! Stop it! He saved my, he saved me from the poison!" Natalie yelled anxiously. It was a tense moment as Taz backed off with a quiet hiss but was suddenly thrown several feet by an angry Venomoth using Confusion. "No!" Natalie screamed and jumped off the bed again and stumbled in front of Taz as an angry Grimer and Golbat joined the ranks of Venomoth in a meancing juxtapose.

"Enough, I would expect more of Gym Pokemon." Koga glared at his team who bowed back, although Venomoth gave a last glare to Taz which Taz returned. He then turned to Natalie and said "All the same, control your fire-dragon! I Perhaps I was wrong to think your strength was more than luck."

Taz hissed but Natalie pushed him back and tersely replied, "Can we all calm down please?" she looked at Taz and Koga pointedly and then said, "Furthermore there is no need to insult me, you just angered Taz is all and in case you didn't notice Taz did listen to me when I called him off!" Natalie replied a little miffed.

Koga's mouth became a thin line but then he simply said, "fine but it just proves what I already know, the Rockets killed your family and your Charizard is very attached to you so he simply doesn't want you to be upset." Natalie was assaulted with sorrow at his frank words and Taz bared his teeth in a snarl but didn't make a move.

"I don't want to know any more about their deaths." Natalie whispered as her eyes flooded. "It hurts enough already! Why would-"

Koga angrily cut her off, "if you know more you can take down all those who are responsible! You can do what I cannot and take care of Rockets!"

Natalie was confused, "but you're a Gym Leader, you would cerainly have more clearence for things like..." Natalie paused unsure exactly what he could do that she couldn't. Koga raised his eyebrow and she stammered "Politics, power I don't know!"

Koga's lips thinned once again as he growled, "it is precisely for those reasons why I cannot interfere."

Natalie stared completely befuddled, seeing this look Koga continued, "I cannot expect you to understand as age does make a difference, but lets just say that all who are in a position of power are ensnared in delicate and intricate webs of the politics which you believe give me power. I am given honored places in tournaments and the like, but when it comes to making law decisions, not only do I have limited influence to begin with, I am enslaved by the cunning tricks of corrupt buerocrats."

Natalie was still mostly blank, chanced a glance at Taz but he had already given up and taken his bowl by the door next to Silly, she shook her head and turned to Koga and simply gathered that corrupt politicians must've had something to do with the Rockets so she asked, "how so sir?"

"The corrupt pigs own money to the Rocket organzation, or even have death threats looming overhead." Natalie gasped but Koga continued, "However that is why it is fortunate that you are here, and how we can turn your tragedy to your adavntage." Natalie was curious at this and sat up as best she could, Koga continued "The public would be sympathetic to your plight no doubt, it could coerce the court to look further into the case. Tyrants always create their own worst enemies. Giving them weapons and motivation, you can be the downfall of many members of Team Rocket!" Koga cried.

Natalie was now shvering with excitment and jumped out of the bed again but quickly collapsed. Taz rushed forward to help her up and Silly returned to look anxiously from the side, Natalie waved them off and said "how so? What can I do?"

"Listen closely," Koga began "There have been rumors of evidence of your family's murder being destroyed or lost by a middle-ranking officer but-"

"WHAT!" Natalie screamed, "Why would the officers do that? Many other officers died beside my dad, why would they dishonor him so?"

"Silence! How do you expect to complete this task if you cannot even listen!" Koga snapped. Taz snarled again, but Natalie put a hand to his chest even as she breathed hard through her nose,

"Then finish."

" Adress me with respect and I will." Koga repied.

"Fine I apologize Mr. uh Master Koga."

He nodded and continued "It is as I said before, there are corrupt officials in the police department, or at least they are being influenced by Rockets in one manner or another, the case files are gone and Rockets canot be tied to your family's murder by physical evidence now." he paused "You must find some way to either find the stolen evidence or find more on your own."

Natalie sat there in a curious combination of seething resolve and despondent confusion. She knew that she wanted to avenge her family's murder and that the man who did it was in Johto, but now any evidence against him here in Kanto was destroyed... would all of her work be a waste even if she did find more evidence? Could new evidence possibly be destroyed again were they really that clumsy?Did that mean that the justice system her father once worked for was now and could in the future, forget his, her mother and brother's murder without a second thought? Did that mean she was on her own with no people who could or would help her?

"Taz they... they're going to give up." Natalie said as she teared up, Taz ran up to nuzzle her and soon Silly joined him but she was blank as she numbly continued, "Even Master Koga here admits he can do nothing-"

"You must simply get-" Koga began to protest but stopped when Taz gave a meancing hiss.

Natalie's eyes darkened "You told me things that I could have found from the news or by simply accepting the fact that humans are corrupt. Everyone seems to want to prove that to me..." Silly gave a protestant whine and Taz a sympathetic look when she said this. "But I know more than you would expect Master Koga. I am going to take care of this myself as you have validly advised, but first I am going to have a word with those who would so easily give up on those whom they considered friends." Natalie stood up from the bed with weak legs but strong resolve.

"What will you do? Do you want the to be chasing after you because of your blind rage now? You must control your anger and get incrimnating evidence against the Rockets not fly in and incriminate yourself! THINK!" Koga roared as all the Pokemon out shifted nervously from the bubbling tension from both humans.

Natalie stumbled past him with Taz by her side and Silly chasing after them while mumbling "yet again you doubt what I know, I'm not stupid! I'm just going to tell them who they have betrayed and that any law enforcement will not have my loyalty if they disgrace my family's memory like this." She returned Silly as she walked outside and clumsily climbed on Taz's back. Her intimidatingly serious demeanor was somewhat shaken when she slipped from between Taz's wings until he bent down low enough for her but she continued on without a smirk.

"Good-bye Master Koga, maybe I was too harsh and ungrateful regarding the information you gave me, you opened my eyes to how much of a hold that the Rockets have in everything. I thank you. For your hospiltality and wisodm"

Koga stiffened and said, "maybe it should be this way anyway, although it is cruel that the task should fall to one so young, but then again one as young as you should not be alone in the way you are. "

Taz snorted at him then Natalie pat between Taz's two horns the said, "I was wrong, we were wrong, I'm not alone my Pokemon are here for me. I have all I need to make it through." Without further ado Taz bolted into the sky with Natalie hanging desperately to his neck.

"We-ell ma-abye I need a s-saddle!" Natalie yelled as she was bounced around while they flew toward Cerulean again.