-The Legal Stuff:-

1) I am not affiliated at all to Game Freak nor to Nintendo, nor any other companies that write/produce Pokémon.

2) I do not own any part of Pokémon.

-A Waiver:-

1) I am not following any storyline already created, not a game, not the television show, my storyline is completely original as far as most characters go and as far as what is going on with the plot.

2) The only thing I borrowed from the game (I just started playing Crystal Version again) is the Gym Leader's names and their Pokémon, the city names, route names, and a couple of Team Rocket situations. I think I also mention well known people like Professor Elm and Professor Oak.

Basically…storyline and main characters are of my creation, the other stuff I borrowed from Crystal Version.

-And finally, the story. (: Enjoy!-

Chapter Thirty-Eight:

Take Two.

"I suppose Sabrina kind of mirrors Morty of Johto," I muttered as I read the article about her I had bought in Vermillion. I followed behind Espeon, Umbreon and Doug as we walked northerly towards Saffron City. "She uses psychic Pokémon."

"Morty uses ghosts," Doug said to me. "Psychic and ghost are nothing alike, they're each others weakness."

"But this magazine article describes her as exceedingly creepy," I said, pointing to the words in the text. "Morty was kind of creepy, with the way he skulked around in the fog."

Doug shot me a look over his shoulder. "It doesn't call her that."

"It does too," I hissed, pointing to the words in the article. "Sabrina, while possessing great skills when it comes to controlling her Pokémon, is often described by trainers who have faced off with her as 'exceedingly creepy'," I read out loud to him.

Doug snatched the magazine from me and read the short article about Saffron's gym leader. He scoffed before tossing it to the ground.

"Hey!" I snapped at him while scooping the magazine off of the ground.

"Quit reading that, you're psyching yourself out," Doug muttered.

"I am not," I retorted. "I just want to be prepared, I want to know what I'm up against."

"You're psyching yourself out and you know it," Doug said to me.

"Maybe I'm psyching you out," I laughed.

Doug turned to snap at me when something further up the road caught my attention. "What is that?" I asked as I noticed something glistening in the middle of the path.

'Something doesn't feel right,' Espeon commented as she too stared at the spot out ahead of us.

"Do shiny things distract you?" Doug asked. He however, turned to look at the object with a curious stare as well. We cautiously moved towards the object, unable to decide what it was even as we neared it.

"It's going to work!" Someone suddenly whispered and Doug whipped around, grabbing my arm in the process.

'Did you hear that?' Espeon asked, as she looked around.

"Shut up!" Another person murmured.

"Don't touch anything," Doug whispered to me.

"Why?" I asked.

"Just trust me," he snapped at me.

"Dammit Ace," the second voice spoke again, I recognized it as a female voice this time. "You set them off. Get down there and stop them!"

"How?" The first voice asked.

"Come on, we practiced it earlier," the woman snapped. A moment later, a young man fell out of the trees lining the path and into the road ahead of us.

"Ow," he sighed as he rubbed his rear and he stood up off the ground. He turned, caught sight of Doug and I, and froze. "Oh," he murmured.

"Doug," I said. "Are they-"

"Ace! Our intro!" The woman snapped, interrupting me.

"Oh, yea," the man shook his head before spreading his feet apart and shoving his hand, palm out, towards us. "You can hold it right there!"

"Take another step only if you dare," a woman said as she dropped out of the trees and landed gracefully in a crouch.

The young man spoke again. "We intend to cheat, steal and lie."

As he finished his line, the woman said, "interfere with us and expect to die."

"So prepare to surrender to us."

"We don't believe in being just."

"Go on and try to guess who we are."

"After all, we are known near and far."

"Not one person dares to knock it," the man folded his arms across his chest.

"We are members of the esteemed Team Rocket," the woman planted her hands on her hips. They held those positions as they stared us down.

I could feel my jaw hanging slightly agape and when I glanced at Doug out of the corner of my eye, I could see he looked just as perplexed. I closed my mouth and cleared my throat. "Did they say esteemed Team Rocket?" I asked.

"Did they really rhyme Rocket with knock it?" Doug inquired as he snapped back to his senses.

'Their rhyming skills were lacking through the whole thing,' Espeon sighed. 'That was almost painful to listen to.'

"We meet again Douglas," the woman spoke. I furrowed my brow as I stared at her, she seemed familiar.

"What the hell are you doing here Susanne?" Doug hissed.

"Susanne," I muttered as it clicked in my mind. "The Rocket that you were all disgustingly suave with!"

"We were sent after you," Susanne explained, her eyes flicking to me.

"What does the boss want with Rowan?" Doug snapped, stepping in front of me and blocking my view of the woman and the young man.

"Not the chick," I heard the man hiss. "You, moron."

I peered around Doug. "Why him?"

"You have something that belongs to the Rockets," Ace hissed.

"Your stupid contraption?" Doug asked. "I helped create it, I might as well keep it."

"It's not just that Douglas," Susanne said. "No one just up and leaves the Rockets. The Rockets leave you!"

"Oh Mew," Doug sighed. "I'm done with Team Rocket."

"You're not done until we say," Susanne pointed at us, a cruel smile across her face. She stood staring at us for several moments before she finally glanced to her right at the young man. He was staring at whatever he was scratching on his palm. Susanne slammed her elbow into him.

"What!" He shouted as he jumped with fright.

"Send out your Pokémon!" Susanne shouted. "Come on Ace, you've been a Rocket for two weeks. You should know this by now!"

I glanced at Doug, his eyebrow was arched high on his forehead.

"Oh right," Ace agreed, fumbling to grab a pokéball from around his waist. "Sorry, I'm sorry!"

"Dammit Ace!" Susanne pushed him. He stumbled, tripped over his own feet and fell to the ground off of the road. "Go, Golbat!"

"Wait," Ace scrambled back onto his feet to stand next to his Rocket partner, he had his own pokéball in one of his hands now. "Go Ekans!"

"Ekans, that's all you have?" Susanne screeched. She again pushed her partner and he fell off the road as his Pokémon appeared next to Susanne's Golbat.

"I feel as though sending out a Pokémon and defeating them so utterly would be a little cruel," I muttered.

"Hell if I care," Doug snapped. "Kangaskhan, go!"

"Fine, let's be cruel," I sighed as I snatched a pokéball from my waist. "Come on out Houndoom!"

"Golbat, Confusion!" Susanne instructed pointing at Doug's Pokémon. I ducked behind Doug, Houndoom and Espeon following after me so I could line up with the Ekans sitting confused in the middle of the road. Ace was slowly pulling himself out of the bushes and back onto the road.

"Houndoom," I shouted, pointing at the small, purple snake-like Pokémon. "Use Flamethrower!"

"Ekans, dodge!" Ace hurriedly said, pulling himself to his feet. "And use Poison Sting!"

His Pokémon barely slithered out of the way of Houndoom's attack before he coiled up in a loop. The Pokémon quickly spat a small projectile in my Pokémon's direction. "Ember," I retorted.

Houndoom shot a lesser burst of flames, which burnt the venomous projectile into oblivion. "Wrap Ekans," the Rocket immediately shouted. His Pokémon quickly slithered across the ground towards Houndoom. It coiled and sprang forward, it managed to wrap itself around one of Houndoom's front legs.

Houndoom glanced over his shoulder at me. "It's suppose to be an intimidating attack," I shrugged and a toothy smile came over Houndoom's features. "I hope you like exotic meat Houndoom. Crunch!"

Houndoom bit down on the snake-like Pokémon bound around his ankle. The snake hissed before trying to slide out of Houndoom's jaws. Houndoom, after chewing slightly to ensure more damage, spat the Rocket's Pokémon on the ground.

"Ekans!" The Rocket screeched. "Return! Susanne! What now!"

"Your Pokémon is unconscious already?" She shrieked in return. "You are so useless! Golbat, Supersonic!"

"He wasn't unconscious," Ace explained. "But he was hurting, I couldn't just allow him to continue battling when-"

"We don't care if they're hurt!" Susanne yelled. "We're Team Rocket!"

"It's my Pokémon, I can't just let it pass out when he doesn't stand a chance!" Ace waved to my Houndoom still standing in front of me.

"Quit being naïve!" Susanne clenched her fists as she turned towards Ace to scream at him. "Send your Pokémon back out!"

Ace crossed his arms over his chest and turned away from her. "No," he muttered in a slight pout.

"Mature," Susanne sighed.

I glanced over to Doug. He was staring out ahead of him at his Pokémon and the lady Rocket's. Golbat was on the ground, wings extended and Kangaskhan had its foot positioned on the back of Golbat's body. Doug looked over at me and shrugged. "I still don't feel guilty," he told me.

Susanne glanced over her shoulder and noticed her Pokémon pressed against the ground. She let out a squeal before holding out a pokéball to return her Pokémon. "Come on Ace!" She grabbed her partner's arm and yanked him off the street and into the brush. I could hear it rustling as they ran away from us.

"You let them get away," I said to Doug, who shrugged. "You don't care?"

'They're kind of harmless,' Espeon murmured as she sat down and started to lick one her paws.

"No, I don't care," Doug said as he recalled his Pokémon.

"What a great stance to take," I sighed, following suit and returning Houndoom as well.

"I didn't see you turning to run after them," he retaliated.

"They weren't after me," I shrugged. "I have no need to stop them."

"And what?" Doug spat at me, "I should be scared of those two?"

He turned and stalked down the path away from me. I pursed my lips before glancing down at Espeon. She was sitting on the ground, licking her paw, but quickly glanced up at me as my eyes landed on her.

'What's wrong?' She asked me.

"Those men," I sighed.

'Correction,' Espeon slowly stood and looked after Doug and Umbreon. 'Man, I have nothing wrong with mine.'

"Doug's not mine," I hissed.

Espeon flashed me a smile before she trotted up the road after Phantom. 'That's what you think,' she called back to me in a mocking, singsong voice.

I pushed the small stick I held into the flames to jostle the ashes. The flames burst back into bright life and swallowed the stick I was holding. I let out a frightened yelp before throwing it into the fire.

"Was that completely necessary?" Doug muttered.

I shot him an irritated glare, which Doug missed. He was leaning against his backpack, his hands folded behind his head and his eyes closed. "Yes it was."

"It sounded like someone stepping on a Growlithe," Doug noted.

"You should be nicer to me," I hissed as I crossed my arms over my chest and settled myself against my backpack. Espeon walked over to me and settled on the ground next to my legs.

"Never," Doug murmured. I narrowed my eyes at him before flipping on my side to face the fire and unfortunately Doug too. I continued to glare at him across the fire from me. "Why are you staring at me?"

"Glaring Doug, glaring," I corrected him.

"Whatever it is, stop," his eyes flicked open and he returned my glare.

I quickly looked away from him, suddenly feeling silly. How could I intimidate someone like him? I pursed my lips as I thought of the events that had occurred earlier in the day. "Doug," I whispered.

"What?" Doug snapped, slamming his hands onto his forehead in exasperation.

I was taken aback by his response so I shook my head. "Nothing, never mind," I muttered, turning my back to the fire and away from Doug.

A silence came over the two of us for several minutes, though finally Doug let out a irritated sigh. "What Rowan?"

"I was just going to ask something, but it's not important," I murmured. "We should just get some sleep I suppose."

"Rowan," Doug replied. "Please."

I turned back around and sat up, looking at Doug. He was still laying against his backpack with his hands over his eyes. "Aren't you worried about them?" I asked and Doug's hands dropped. "Team Rocket, I mean."

He pushed himself onto his side. "Are you?" He in turn asked me.

I shrugged slightly and looked down at the ground. "Actually, yes," I admitted to him. "I may crack jokes about them, but Team Rocket scares me more than anything else I could imagine."

'Scarier than Steelix?' Espeon interjected. I looked over at her and she shrugged. 'I'm sorry, I won't interrupt your moment with him.'

I wanted to retort, but Doug had already begun to speak again. I looked across the fire at him. "You really don't need to worry Rowan," he was saying as he shook his head. "Nothing bad will happen. We'll have to battle a few Rockets off I'm sure, but then they'll move on to other things."

"I guess," I sighed as I looked away from Doug and to the ground.

Another period of silence overcame the two of us. As I muddled through my jumbled thoughts, I drew a line in the dirt in front of Espeon. When I finally glanced up again, Doug was standing over me.

He licked his lips before his eyes narrowed. "Rowan?" He said.

"Yes?" My voice came out hushed.

He held his hand down towards me, which I placed my hand in. Doug gently pulled me up to my feet, there was very little space between he and I. It felt like there were dozens of Butterfree going crazy in my stomach, what was Doug going to do?

"Would you like to see something amusing?" Doug asked me and I felt my eyebrow arched.

'And,' Espeon said, 'the moment is ruined.'

"Sure," I agreed after laughing to myself. I was being absurd.

"You can't laugh at me too much," he warned me as he stepped away from me and back over to his stuff.

"I'll try not to," I replied.

Doug stooped over and scooped up his belt that had his pokéballs on it. He selected one and sent out the Pokémon that was contained inside. A moment later Kangaskhan appeared next to Doug, standing taller than him.

I glanced at the Pokémon, which was looking around. After a moment, the Pokémon glanced to her right to Doug. She let out a contented roar, after which her paw went around his shoulders and she yanked him towards him.

"What the heck?" I asked as the Pokémon cuddled Doug.

"Yea, I know," Doug laughed as he tried to keep her paw from ruffling up his hair. After a few moments, he gave up and the Pokémon made a mess of his hair. As Kangaskhan removed her paw and pulled Doug back towards her, Doug's hair was now sticking up in all directions. "I can't tell you how long I've had her, but ever since I have she thinks of me as her second son," he informed me.

I giggled. "Second?"

The young Kangaskhan poked its head out of the pouch and let out a happy squeal. "Second," Doug repeated as he scooped the youngster up and held him against his chest. The Kangaskhan nuzzled his face against Doug's shoulder.

The mother Kangaskhan again bellowed as she looked at what I suppose she believed to be her two children. "When I don't call her into battle with a gym leader, but against another trainer," Doug started to explain as he replaced the baby to the pouch, "she gets very defensive and protective, especially when the other trainer gets angry."

"You know," I said as Doug recalled his Pokémon after another crushing hug, "I still feel guilty about telling Typhlosion to attack that kidlet."

"Hey, you were just trying to win," Doug shrugged his shoulder as he replaced the sphere to the belt. "All's fair in love and war."

"I suppose," I said, eyeing the other pokéballs on the belt Doug still held. "Hey Doug?"

"Yea?"

"Anymore strange relationships?" I asked with a laugh.

Doug flashed me a smile before selecting another pokéball. "You're still not allowed to laugh," he said before releasing the Pokémon inside.

The small, white Pokémon that had beaten Vaporeon in our battle appeared hovering in the hair. "Toge!" It squealed with a bright smile across its features.

"She's a little spoiled," Doug said as he snatched her out of the air and into his arms. "Because besides Kangaskhan, she's the only female Pokémon I have."

"She's your little girl," I laughed.

"No laughing," Doug looked at me, but there was a soft smile still across his lips.

"I think it's cute Doug," I told him honestly.

"Most people do," Doug laughed now. "It apparently makes me impossible to resist when I have her out."

I made a quick face. "Doug," I sighed. "I don't really want to know of all of your escapades."

"What makes you think I have any?" He asked. I glanced up at him, I couldn't read the expression on his face.

"It's just hard to believe you don't," I shrugged.

"Why?" A bright smile quickly covered Doug's face.

I narrowed my eyes. "I refuse to say."

"Say it," Doug prodded as Togetic chortled in his arms. He was stepping in my direction and the Butterfree's returned to my stomach.

"Doug!" I shouted, stepping backwards.

"Oh come on," he flashed me an exceedingly charming smile as he returned Togetic to her pokéball.

"You're being weird," I hissed.

"That's nothing new," Doug shrugged, "ask Phantom. Now come on, say it."

I took another step backwards, tripped over my backpack and started to fall backwards. Doug surged forward, wrapped his arm around my waist and yanked me towards him. He leaned dangerously close to me and held me close to him. I had forgotten to breathe as I stared into his dark and gorgeous eyes.

"Rowan?" He urged.

"Yes?" My voice was hardly above a whisper.

"Tell me why you wouldn't believe that," he requested of me.

"Because you're attractive Doug," I murmured.

"That's what I thought," he smiled smugly and released his hold on me. He turned and walked back over to his backpack. He dropped to the ground, laid against his backpack, and closed his eyes.

I let my breath out impatiently, feeling foolish and ridiculous.

'Finally,' Espeon chuckled. 'A moment.'

Author's Notes: Chapter Thirty-Nine: I make myself notes on individual sheets of paper and fold them up so I don't forget any of the research I do. I have one with a list of all of Rowan's, Doug's and Ashley's Pokémon that they have so far. I have a piece of paper with the Route names that lead to the cities. I have a piece with all the gym leaders and what Pokémon they used in Crystal Version, the Elite Four are on that sheet of paper too.

For this chapter I turned to my piece of paper entitled: Team Rocket Shenanigans in Kanto. :D Great name right?

Oh, and also, I wrote the poem that the two Team Rocket members (Ace and Susanne) used when introducing themselves. It was suppose to be really bad, so I don't need to be advised not to ever write poetry again. (I already know that I shouldn't XD ) Haha. I know it was bad, it was suppose to be. It's kind of satirical I suppose. I will be writing at least…one and a half more TR poems. XD They'll be bad too.

Thanks to all of you who reviewed! Delu, Avasaya, I-Hate-Ash-Ketchum, and pyskokwak54! You guys are wonderful! Thank you also for your kindness and compassion, it means a lot to me.

As always…review/comment and subscribe! 3

Oh, p.s., I'll probably update every OTHER day for the time-being. (: