I own nothing except the stuff I made up

XXXV- The Espurr-fect caper!

Feeling refreshed and restored from the rest house, Tai, Rio and Meowth continued on. Tai was just happy to be away from anymore dream weirdness. He smiled when he suddenly saw another town. "We're here and this place has a phone!" he stated happily.

"Dat eager to get rid of me huh?" Meowth asked.

"Maybe," Tai happily replied as Rio gave him a sigh and followed. Meowth folded his arms and followed as well. As they got inside however there was a scream.

"AHHHH STOP THEIF!" shouted a woman. The three looked around trying to see what was happening. They suddenly saw a Espurr rush past with a bunch of people chasing after her.

"What's going on!?" Tai asked surprised, one of the townsfolk stopped by to tell him.

"That Espurr's pretty infamous around here!" he said. "It's always stealing food, jewels and many other things from the people in town. Even travelers, If I were you'd get out as fast as you can before that cat gets it's grubby paws on anything you're not prepared to lose!" He stated running off.

"Leaving town won't help me with that problem." Tai thought as he walked further into town. He looked over to feel a shadow on him. He looked to see a small greyish purple cat staring down at him. It had large purple eyes. Its ears were folded down and tucked over its head.

"That's gotta be the Espurr!" Tai yelped as he pulled out his Pokedex.

"Espurr the restraint Pokemon: The Organ that emits it's incredible Psychic powers is sheltered by it's ears. It has the power to blast anything within three hundred feet of itself. As a result of focusing all on keeping the power contained Espurr barely shows emotion."

"That must be da theif!" Meowth breathed.

"What do you want Espurr?!" Tai shouted angrily. Rio barked at her and within a few seconds she disappeared.

"That was weird she didn't try to take anything, I think…" Tai muttered running off to the Pokemon center. Once he got in a room and shut the door he dumped everything out.

Meowth saw the last thing fall onto the pile. He gasped in horror. It was the death Key that Giovanni had been looking for. Tai carefully sorted through the pile organizing things into piles as he went; clothes food, other items, healing items and Pokeballs. "Whew, Tai muttered. Everything's here."

Meowth was staring at the key subconsciously reaching out for it as Tai packed it away in his pocket. He sighed placing everything back in the bag. "We're good, it's almost lunch time, let's stay here Meowth can call his friends and wait for them to come pick them up."

"UHhh, auhhhh Ac..actually I just suddenly remembered where they're going!" Meowth lied.

"Which is?" Tai asked.

"Da next town over," Meowth replied.

Tai sighed. "You're sure?" he asked.

"Positive would little ol' me lie?" Meowth asked.

"Yes," Tai replied flatly.

Meowth sighed as he slinked away. Tai watched him go suspiciously. "Why is he so sure of that all of a sudden…" Tai grumbled then he remembered dumping out his bag in front of him and what was inside. "AAHHHHH!" Tai screamed. "STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!" he hit himself in the head a few times before slumping down to the floor.

"Raaahh?" Rio asked sadly putting his paw on his trainer's shoulder.

"He knows about the Key," Tai sighed. "Now he won't leave us alone!" Rio sighed realizing this as well.

"I could blast him off right now...But then Jesse and James will never leave me alone till they get the key…" Tai muttered thoughtfully trying to solve this problem.

YX YX YX

Meanwhile Meowth huffed. He wasn't getting the Death Key after hearing what the twerp was saying. For now he'd have to try and convince Aura001 what it wasn't about the key.

He did however notice something strange about where he was. He looked nervously around and turned to see a pair of purple eyes staring at him. "GUAAAHHH!" he screamed alerting Tai and Rio. They rushed over to see the Espurr from before just staring as Meowth who had gotten over his surprise calmed down.

"What do you want?" he asked nothing the Espurr just kept staring. Meowth stared back and was soon joined by Tai and Rio.

"It just keeps staring…" Tai muttered. They continued their staring contest. Eventually the stare started to get under their skin. "Okay seriously you're starting to creep me out!"

"Esspurrr esssppurrr," she muttered creepily.

"Help me?" Meowth asked. "Help you with what?!"

"What he said explain!" Tai stated.

"Essspurrrrr." She muttered.

"I didn't do it…wait so ya didn't rob dese people!?" Meowth asked.

Tai's eyes widened in a realization as it clicked in his head. "Then someone's-"

"Is everything okay in there?" Nurse Joy asked. She was coming towards them. They yelped in horror and started looking around for a way to hide her. "What's wrong do you see Espurr!?" she stated coming forward quickly.

"ACK! Tai cried as he quickly pulled out a Pokeball and threw it at her. Her expression didn't change as the ball sucked her in. It shook a few moments before signaling capture. Tai quickly swapped out one of his own Pokemon and tucked the pokeball away.

"Is everything alright!?" Nurse Joy asked as she rushed into view.

"Everything's fine!" Tai lied. "We just tripped over something that's all."

"Oh dear was the floor wet?" Nurse Joy asked.

"Uhhh sure I guess…" Tai muttered.

Nurse Joy sighed. "I'm so sorry, that Espurr stole the Pokemon Center's wet floor sign."

"Why?!" Tai asked in disbelief.

"I have no idea. Then again I have no idea why that Espurr suddenly became so malicious." She sighed. "It lived as a stray around here for at least two years. But suddenly it started stealing things from people. Or so they say…" Nurse Joy replied.

"So you don't think it did it?" Tai asked somewhat reaching for Espurr's ball.

"Well to tell you the truth no…but I can't be sure. If that Espurr shows up here I have to turn it in." Nurse Joy replied, that made Tai quickly move his hand away from his belt.

"Oh….well…I hope it'll be okay…or at least we can work something out." Tai replied.

"Me too," Joy replied returning to her post.

"Okay so now what?" Tai asked when she left. The ball wiggled and suddenly popped open with Espurr materializing in front of them.

"Essspurrr." She muttered.

"Ya know you don't have to act so creepy. I'm on your side." Tai replied kneeling down.

"Espurrr. Espurr esp sepurrrr!" she muttered.

"Meowth think you can help me out here?" Tai asked.

"She wants help proving she's innocent." Meowth replied.

"Okay that makes sense!" Tai declared. "Don't worry we'll help you!"

"Espurrr!" she said happily smiling though her eyes didn't close.

"You could show emotion in your eyes." Meowth pointed out. However Espurr stared at him with one mention of her own name. "Okay do tings your way dat's cool." he replied sweating beads laughing nervously.

"Maybe you can help us figure out where to start?" Tai asked. Espurr nodded and started to run off.

"Raahh!" Rio called running after her. Tai and Meowth jumped up rushing after them.

YX YX YX

Raichu wandered into town and found a berry tree. Using a small focus blast he knocked down some berries and began to eat them happily.

He suddenly saw the group rush by and went to follow but quickly lost them. "Raiiiichuuu." He sighed in confusion. Suddenly he smelt something sweet and hot coming from nearby. He happily rushed towards it and saw several freshly baked pies on a shelf sitting out to cool. "RAAIIII," he happily sighed.

"Oh hello little one," said the baker making Raichu slink down a little bit ready to flee. "Don't be shy, I know lot of Pokemon get attract to the smell of our world famous pies." The man replied smiling making him feel more comfortable. "Here," he replied handing out a small piece for Raichu. "This is from earlier today I always keep some off to the side just in case."

"Raichu!" he happily replied taking it and eating it. Tasting the delicious Pecha berries fresh as though they were newly ripened. The jelly had a nice syrupy texture that danced on his tongue he chaaed happily at the taste.

As Tai and the others rushed by He suddenly saw all the Pokemon attracted by the smell. "Guys?" He asked and then smelt the pies. "MMMM!" he said rushing over as more pie pieces were handed out. "UHH Hey!"

"It's alright," The baker replied handing him a piece which Tai took and stared when he got a nod he happily ate the pie.

"OHMYGOSHTHISISTHEBESTTHINGEVER!" he said with stars in his eyes.

"It's enough to make anyone cry!" Meowth added. "Forget Gateau this Pie is a gift from the Gods!"

"I'm glad you like them." The baker replied. He then saw Espurr, "oh No is that-"

"Ummm no, yes maybe…..this Espurr claims it's innocent." Tai quickly replied.

"It does how do you know?" The baker asked.

"This guy believe it or not…." Tai stated pointing at Meowth who had taken more than his share of Pie pieces.

"EMERIGHFFFHFHGHF?" Meowth asked with a mouthful. His Cheeks were large and massive like a Pachirisu's when they had many things in their mouth. Crumbs covered his whiskers and lips which had a fine layer of pink jelly on them.

Tai sighed as turned away from him. "Before you ask it's not my Meowth. Nor does it have a trainer that asked me to watch it. It just wants me to take it somewhere."

"I see," The baker replied blinking in shock.

"Anyway, Espurr was supposed to be showing us where we could start to find the real Culprits. But it seems it just wanted a snack. Tai sighed.

"Maybe not," the Baker suddenly sighed. "I've noticed that money from my register goes missing every time it's around."

"Right, don't worry I'm sure with all of us we'll notice the culprit!" Tai assured.

"I hope you're-" The Baker sighed but then a sound. Raichu's ears perked and he ran ahead as the group reacted. There was a silence when he got inside.

"RAAIIIII!" Raichu suddenly shouted. Everyone gasped and rushed after him to see what was wrong. Inside was a sinister looking Pokemon holding Raichu in the air. It was mostly Purple and black with a couple of black pearls in it's forehead and belly.

"What is that?" Tai asked.

"It's a Grumpig!" Meowth shouted as Tai pulled out his Pokedex.

"Grumpig the Manipulate Pokemon: It uses the pearls on its' head to amplify it's Psychic powers and take full control of it's foes. It's breath shortens when it uses this power."

"Let Raichu go Grumpig!" Tai shouted.

"Raauuhhh!" Rio barked in agreement.

"Grumpig grum grumpig!" the Grumpig sneered.

"What did it just say?" Tai asked.

"It's says you're talking big for a shrimp." Meowth simply replied.

"I'm taller than you!" Tai snapped at Grumpig.

"He was talking to Rio." Meowth pointed out.

"Oh…." Tai replied a little embarrassed.

"Anyway, now that we know you're the thief we're taking you down and clearing Espurr's name!" Tai declared.

Grumpig stared for a minute, before bursting into full on laughter. "What's so funny?" Meowth asked.

"Grumpig Grumpig Grumm pigpig!" He replied with a sneer.

"You're Technically not the theif!?" Meowth yelped.

"He said technically what does that mean?!" Tai cried.

Grumpig smirked as its pearls and eyes lit up. Espurr then started to groan in pain holding her head.

"Espurr!" Tai cried out. Suddenly she stopped holding her head and looked at Tai eyes glowing as she suddenly slammed Tai and Meowth into the wall. "Espurr what are you- wait a minute, it all makes sense." Tai growled glaring at Grumpig. "You're making her steal everything so you don't have to get your hands dirty!"

Grumpig laughed as he talked a bit. "Yeah it sure beats having to use my own powers take all dis stuff." Meowth translated. "Don't you take pride in your work!?" he scoffed.

"Thieving is not something to praise!" Tai snapped.

"Raf!" Rio agreed in a loud bark.

"Grumpig!" he shouted charging up a hyper beam. The three screamed and dodged out of the way. Grumpig laughed and started to run away with Raichu and the stolen goods.

"RAIIII!" Raichu called.

"Raichu!" Tai cried out as Rio jumped up and followed them as fast as they could.

"We've gotta go after them!" Tai shouted as he jumped out and followed. Rio being much faster than him soon got ahead of him. He saw Rio round a corner but he was long gone before Tai got there. "Crap now where?!" he growled.

Meowth wheezed as he ran to catch up with Tai. "Uuunngngg ever hear the phrase stick together?" Meowth coughed.

"No," Tai replied as he raced off.

"DATS A LIE! GASSSPPPP unnnggghhh." Meowth groaned as he laid there catching his breath.

YX YX YX

Rio was sure he saw Grumpig sneak inside an old building. It looked rundown and abandoned. He looked around and saw window that had been broken into. He jumped inside and looked around it was empty.

"Where could they have gone?" Rio asked himself as he looked around. There were several movable shelves in the dark area. It smelt bad and the floor felt like it had a layer of grime on it. However he suddenly noticed something weird about a part of the floor. "That's weird," He muttered using Shadow Claw to pry it slightly so he could get his paw under it.

"There we go!" Rio shouted lifting it open. He then headed down the stairs. He quietly made his way down the stairs. As he got closer he started to hear laughter.

Rio looked inside to see Grumpig with a bunch of stolen goods from the before with Raichu tied up in the corner. "Raichu!" Rio hissed to himself as he snuck in. Grumpig was too busy eating to notice him as he crawled around a bookcase and some chocolate cake. He came around to where Raichu was. The tied up Electric mouse was much closer now. He snuck closer Raichu noticed him but Rio shushed him. As he got closer he stood up readying Shadow Claw attack only to find his arm grabbed by a force.

"WAAHH!" Rio cried as he was pulled away.

"Thought you could sneak up on me huh?" Grumpig asked.

Rio's eyes widened. "How'd you-!?"

"Psychic, but I thought I'd give you the illusion that you might be able to sneak in and run off with something!" Grumpig replied.

"I don't care about this stuff you're gonna lose it anyway. But you have to let Raichu go!" Rio growled struggling to get his arm loose.

"Why do you think he's here? He saw me and you found me so you're now my prisoner too!" Grumpig smirked as he used Psychic to wrap ropes around Rio that tightly tied themselves around Rio's upper arms, wrists and feet.

Rio growled struggling in the ropes but he was thrown in the corner. "You won't get away with this."

Grumpig merely smirked and threw him into the corner. Rio growled as he struggled but he suddenly saw a small hole in the ceiling leading outside. He sucked in a breath and started to howl as loudly as he could startling Grumpig out of the chair he was sitting in.

"Rio stop he's gonna hurt you!" Raichu warned. Rio didn't listen however he kept howling and howling. But suddenly his mouth was clamped shut. It was Grumpig glaring at him. He then used Psychic to tie some rope around his snout and cover it with a Cloth. He glared but Grumpig didn't pay him any mind and walked back to his seat. Rio sadly sighed hoping that Tai had heard him, or would find him.

YX YX YX

"Rio!" Tai muttered nervously, "I think he's in trouble!"

"How can you tell?" Meowth asked.

"I just can!" Tai replied. "I don't know how though…aura maybe?"

Tai took off running trying to find Rio but had no idea where to look and ended up wandering around in circles. He started to growl in frustration. Then saw Espurr staring sadly at the ground. "Espurr!" Tai shouted rushing over to her. "You need to lead me to Grumpig! I think Rio's with him in trouble!"

"Esssp." She muttered backing away. She didn't know.

"You've got to! Grumpig's been using you you've gotta know where his hideout is right?!" Tai asked.

Espurr shook her head and started to cry. Tai blinked in surprise.

"She ain't gonna remember where he is. If she doesn't remember that she was the thief after all." Meowth pointed out as he pulled himself along on a stick.

Tai gasped, and sighed. "I'm sorry Espurr," Tai replied watching as she stared at the ground tears falling. He put a hand on her head. "Don't sweat it, you can't be blamed for not stuff that Grumpig made you do." Tai assured.

"Espurr?" She asked.

"Yes we can still clear your name!" Tai happily replied.

"Espurr!" she shouted hugging him. Tai hugged her back then put her down. "Lets go find Grumpig and make him pay. And rescue Rio and Raichu!"

"Esspur!" she happily agreed as they ran off. Meowth stared in horror trying to run and keep up.

YX YX YX

As Tai ran through the deeper areas of the city he found himself in an area with several abandoned buildings. He suddenly felt drawn to a large ware house on the left of him. The two cat Pokemon found him staring at a window. He was looking for something. Espurr floated over to him.

"Purr?" she asked.

"Rio's somewhere inside but I don't see him." Tai muttered.

"Hey over here!" Meowth shouted catching their attention. They turned to see him standing by a door that was adjacent.

Tai grinned. "He was definitely here." They raced inside, Tai looked around he suddenly saw the layer of grime had been pressed on persay. On the ground were small round jackal like paws. He gasped recognizing them instantly.

"Are they Rio's prints?" Meowth asked.

"Yeah, but they lead to the middle of the room and just stop." Tai sighed. "RIOOOO WHERE ARE YOU!?"

He sighed however he suddenly heard whimpering it was quiet but he dropped to the ground. Glaring a Meowth when he opened his mouth to ask what he was doing and listened. Muffled whimpering in was Rio's voice. He saw a small hole that was drilled into the ground.

"He's below us!" Tai whispered telling them to shush. He went back to the footsteps and looked where they stopped and suddenly saw a line around a small tile. "Huhhh," Tai muttered clawing at the indent.

"Come on…." Tai muttered but suddenly it finally pulled out. "Awesome he stated pulling it open and sneaking downstairs with Meowth and Espurr following. He quickly rushed down the stairs and entered the room. "GRUMPIG!"

"GRUMP!? He shouted in shock. Rio let out a loud muffled noise alerting Tai to seeing him and Raichu tied up in the corner. He growled at Grumpig and rushed to Rio. Grumpig tried to stop him with Psychic however a Shadow ball to the face from Espurr. Who was glaring at him.

Tai quickly cut away the ropes on both Raichu and Rio after pulling off the cloth around the latter's face. "Are you two okay?" Tai asked.

"Raichu!" Raichu happily replied. Rio on the other hand jumped into Tai's arms and hugged him in gratitude.

"I'm glad!" Tai happily replied.

"GRUMPIG, GRUMPIG, GRUMPIG!" he shouted loudly.

"You're about to get your butt kick! For kidnapping my friends and stealing all this stuff and framing someone before! I don't think you get to complain!" Tai growled.

Espurr suddenly jumped between them growling at Espurr. "You want to battle?" Tai asked.

"Espurr!" she declared.

"Alright revenge time!" Tai stated.

Grumpig growled and charged up a Power Gem that burst from his pearls and charged towards Espurr. "Dodge it!" Tai shouted. Espurr used her own Psychic to fly up above where the attack landed. He quickly checked his own Pokedex. "Signal Beam, Psychic, Energy ball and Light screen. Alright use Signal beam!" Tai shouted.

"ESSSPURRR!" she shouted unleashing the multicolored beam that blast Grumpig in the chest and sent him skidding back towards some of the stuff he stole. He sneered and used Psychic to send several plates at them. Meowth and Rio freaked as they dodged several that shattered upon impact with the floor.

"Quick use Light screen to block them!" Tai shouted.

"Purrrrrr." She stated with large eyes that summoned a bright white sphere around them that caused the plates to shatter harmlessly away from them.

"She's got dat creepy look again….." Meowth muttered.

"Use Energy ball!" Tai shouted.

"PURRRRRR ESP!" she shouted charging the attack between her paws. unleashing the attack that flew forward.

"GRUMM!" he shouted charging it similarly to how she did Energy Ball. Then unleashing Shadow Ball and the two clashed against each other. In a burst of green and black energy that swirled around Tai noticed that it was mixing and got an idea. Could he get that to happen again.

"GRUMPIG!" he shouted using Power-Up Punch intent on sending Espurr into the wall. She used Psychic to stop him in his tracks and threw him into the chair and into a cake splattering it. Grumpig blanched at the cake it had been smashed he didn't get to eat it and it looked, Sooo good. He snarled at Espurr and unleashed another Shadow Ball.

"Now's our chance counter with Energy ball quick!" Tai shouted.

"Esspurrr!" She shouted unleashing the attacks the two clashed.

"Quick mix them together with Psychic!" Tai shouted.

Espurr looked curiously at him but shrugged and did so just before the Energy could disappear and she began to swirl it together in a purplish green orb. "Good just like that now slam it on Grumpig!"

"ESPURRR!" She shouted using her Psychic to slam it on top of Grumpig's head where it exploded making him fly back into the chair knocking it over.

"Alright that's the way!" Tai cheered.

"Raf rauuu!" Rio barked.

"Uh oh!" Meowth yelped. Grumpig jumped up looking angry it's eyes lit up brightly and then Espurr's did. She held her head groaning trying to get him out of his head. Grumpig sneered chattering.

"You can't deny me I have more Psychic Power in one claw then you have in your whole body!" Translated Meowth, "Wait didn't the Pokedex say Espurr had incredible power?"

"Yeah it did!" Tai replied before turning to Espurr. "Espurr fight it use your Psychic powers to push him out!"

"Purrrrr," She growled unsure if it would work.

"You have to try! You're known to have incredible power too!" Tai shouted as Espurr fought his voice dimming as Grumpig's control started to take root. "You have to fight him. Show him that he can't control you! And that you're stronger than him!"

"Prrrrrnngg!" she growled.

"You can do it Espurr!" Tai shouted, her eyes closed as Tai stared with baited breath expecting the worse. But suddenly he eyes snapped open glowing brightly as he ears opened slightly. All glowing, with a roar she created a mighty tornado of Psychic blue energy. Grumpig yelped in fear as he was suddenly caught in it and sent spinning around higher and higher through the floor crashing right through it. Tai Meowth and Rio stared in shock as it took everything with it. everything flew through the hole. The Psychic twister was so large that the entire town could see it from the abandoned district and rushed forward.

"Look all our stuff!" shouted a man as Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy made their way through the crowd it suddenly stopped everything else landed miraculously safe and sound on the ground coins fell spinning on the ground while money fluttered down towards it. Grumpig on the other hand came down screaming and hit the ground with a thud.

"Grummmmpiggggg…" he sighed only to have handcuffs that blocked his Psychic powers placed on him. "PIG!" he yelped.

"You've got a lot to answer for, especially when you obviously framed the poor Espurr!" Jenny growled.

"I knew she couldn't have done it!" Nurse Joy sighed in relief.

"Pigggg!" he groaned crying tears.

Meanwhile below ground Tai, Rio, Meowth, Espurr, stared with the thousand yard stare that made Espurr so famous at where the pile of stolen goods once was…

YX YX YX

Tai had finally poked his head out to explain the situation. Grumpig had tried to convince Rio not to testify "I hope Grumpig starts learning to be a better Pokemon," Tai stated as Espurr rubbed against Tai's leg affectionately.

"Huh?" Tai muttered looking down on Espurr. "What's up?"

"Purr!" she replied using Psychic to pull out one of his empty Pokeballs towards her and then let it suck her in. The ball shook a few times before signifying capture. Tai grinned, "I can't believe it! I caught Espurr!" Tai stated raising the ball into the air.

Rio howled with excitement. Meowth however wasn't nearly as impressed. "You seriously want dat ting?!"

"What you scared she'll stare into your soul?" Tai giggled as he and Rio ran off.

"Actually yes!" Meowth shouted as he ran after them complaining. The Pokeball of their newly caught compainion glimmering in the setting sun!

Grumpig learns the following this way
Psychic-TM29 or LV 52
Power Gem-LV 46
Power Up Punch-TM98
Shadow Ball TM30

Espurr learns the following this way
Psychic- TM29
Energy Ball-TM53
Light Screen- LV 13
Signal Beam-ORAS Move Tutor

Prepare for a Double update I've been a bit busy with getting a new bed revision and a cold. Hopefully now that things are returning to normal I can get chapters out faster. Don't worry I haven't forgotten about Digimon TG2 either!

READ AND REVIEW!