Chapter 12: Garlikid the Hero

After a long way, they finally reach the Rochfale Town, Aurora turns to Ash and says, "By the way, Ash. Since we are here in this town, how about we visit someone that is also a best friend with mom?"

"Really? Is there someone like that here?" Ash asks as he feels a little delighted.

"Yes, I know that her name is Professor Cypress." Aurora says as they walk forward, until they find Professor Bamb'o and Will there. "Ash, Aurora, Serena! How unexpected! It's good to see ya, mate."

Serena asks, "Professor? What are you doing here?"

Will says, "Unfortunate, this is not the best time...There has been an emergency at Cypress Labs!"

This causes the three of them to be surprised, "How bad is it?" says Ash.

"We're all incredibly flustered. So we went out to try and do something. Although, actually...running into you now might have been the lucky break we need." Professor Bamb'o says.

"So what is the problem?" Ash says. Aurora notices that Team Rocket trio is nearby listening to them and she says, "How about we go to the lab? Maybe we can meet Professor Cypress."

"That's a good idea, she'll give you the low-down on what's happened." Before they are heading there, Aurora looks at the place where Team Rocket trio is hiding, she sighs and says, "I really don't like them ruining what we are about to do." Then she uses Future Sight on them, after a while, the three are blasted by the attack.

"Hey! What gives?" Jessie says. "Who dares to attack us?"

"I don't know, don't tell me it is like that Future Sight!" James yells.

"Importantly..." Meowth says. "We are blasting off again!" The trio yells as they disappear out of their sight.

"Aurora? What's wrong?" Ash asks in confusion.

"Don't worry, I just send those troublemakers flying before they know what we are going to do." Aurora says as both Ash and Serena notice that Team Rocket was nearby.

"Okay...now that could explain why they manage to give us trouble all the time." Serena says.

As they enter the lab, a female Professor rushes in and says, "Ernest! You're back! Did you find the thief? Is it one of the kids?"

This causes them to get shocked as the Professor says to Ash, "Listen, kid, you picked the wrong lab to break into last night."

"But we just arrived here today." Ash says back, Professor Bamb'o says, "Wait, Lily, hold on! This isn't the thief. This is Ash, along with his friend Serena and his sister Aurora. They are my research assistants along with Will. They happened to be passing through town and they are Pokemon trainers."

"Hmmm...Pokemon trainers? Aer they trustworthy?" Professor Cypress asks.

"They're my assistants, aren't they? Besides, Ash and Aurora are the children of Adam, the Ranger Chief, and Delia, the Tandor Champion as well as our fellow researcher."

This causes her to widen her eyes. "Adam and Delia's Children? What a surprise..."

Ash asks, "So you really know our parents?"

Lily says, "Yes, they are my good friends. Well, I suppose I can trust you. As you can see. I am Lily Cypress, the Pokemon Professor at this lab." She turns to Aurora and says, "No wonder you look familiar to me, the last time I saw you, you were just a little girl."

"Yeah, it sure has been years since we last met." Aurora says with a smile.

"And I never knew that Delia has another son, it is nice to meet you. Ash."

"Same here." Ash shakes hands with her, "But can you tell us what happened?"

"You probably figured out what's going on now. Last night, while we were out, someone broke into the Lab. They stole many of the Pokemon we were keeping here for research. But, it's strange...they completely ignored the most valuable thing in here."

"Most valuable thing?" Serena asks in confusion.

"There, on that table: the prototype Pokemon Speech Translator! It's a cutting-edge technology we've been developing. There are some who would go to great lengths to get their hands on it..."

"Wow..." Ash and the others are in awe at the sight of the machine. Lily continues, "That's what's got us baffled. Why would someone break in if they weren't going to steal the PST?"

Bamb'o says, "And then we decide to help out, Will said that he found something, so we decide to discuss about it until we find you. So Will, what did you find out?"

Will says, "I managed to recover one of the stolen Pokemon." He says as he takes out an Owten. "This fella was hanging out on Route 6."

"This is excellent. I have an idea...Let's use the PST on Owten to find out more about the thief." Lily says.

Ash turns to Aurora and says, "But I am basically an Aura user and you are a Pokemon, why don't they just ask us about it?"

Aurora says, "It is true that we can hear it, but I think creating a machine so people can hear really saves a lot of time."

Owten says, "Scary! So scary! I was in my Poke Ball, asleep. Suddenly, I am moving. But it was not a human friend. It takes me and others out towards the mountain cave. It dropped my Pokeball, and I got free."

Even though the others can't hear the whole sentence, but Lily says, "Towards the mountain cave...that must be on Route 6. Maybe the thief is still there, with the rest of the stolen Pokemon. This is a good lead. Somebody give that Pokemon a treat for its hard work."

Bamb'o says, "Now the question is how do we catch this thief? They've got the stolen Pokemon on them, so they could be dangerous."

"Well, we can help. I have two badges already." Ash says as he shows them the badges, the others nod and Lily says, "Is that so? In that case, Ash, Serena and Aurora. You might be exactly who we need. According to the Owten, the thief is still on Route 6 to the West. If you'd look into it, we'll all be in your debt. In order to help with your inestigation...Oh, I know! Why don't you take this PST? That way, you can talk to any other Pokemon."

Ash says, "In fact, Professor, I can talk to Pokemon easily, so I don't need it, why don't you give it to Serena instead?"

Serena is surprised and she says, "Wait, you want me to take this PST?"

"Of course, you would be able to communicate with Pokemon without our help. And it will be much easier."

Lily nods and says, "Okay, Serena. Please use it to locate the thief for us."

After she takes the PST, the Professor says, "Please be quick! We are counting on you." Then the three of them nod as they leave the town to Route 6.

In the next route, they find that the route is blocked by a lot of Owten, so they can't get pass there. "What should we do?" Serena asks.

"We should go to the Mountain Cave first, that way we can stop the thief." Ash says.

But much to their surprise is that the Owten start to attack them, Ash says, "Pikachu, Buizel, use Thunderbolt and Ice Punch."

As the two Pokemon attack the Owten, Serena also sends out her Pokemon. "Kinetmuck, use Thunderbolt as well."

After the Owten are fainted by the attacks, they manage to get into the cave. There, they see a Pokemon with a garlic like head and the green body with the Pokemon that it stole.

"What are you doing here, humans? Are you trying to enslave these Pokemon again?" The Pokemon yells at them.

"What are you talking about? Why are we want to enslave them?" Ash asks with an angry tone, "Are you the one who stole them from the lab?"

"They have been freed from your clutches! They won't be your prisoners anymore!" The Pokemon yells back. "Garlikid is here! The Pokemon Hero! I found them in that horrible human place, and I liberated them! We'll fight for our freedom!"

"More like you are trying to turning them against their will." Aurora says, seeing how scared the two captured Pokemon are.

Garlikid suddenly yells at the two Pokemon to fight, the two, scared of the Garlikid, are forced to battle them. Serena says, "Really? You told us that we are bad to enslave them, but you are enslaving them as well!"

"Do not question me, human! They are fighting for their freedom!" Garlikid yells as the two attack with Bulldoze and Bite, but thanks to Buizel, who uses Aqua Jet to dodge the attack and then slams them to the wall, knocking them out.

Garlikid is so shocked and he says, "We...we lost? But how?! Why do these Pokemon fight on behalf of humans? Don't they want freedom?"

"They are our friends." Ash says as Pikachu and Buizel also agree at Ash's statement. "That's impossible..." Garlikid yells. "Pokemon and humans can't coexist!"

"Now's our chance." Serena says as she rushes towards the two hurt Pokemon, hugging them in her hands. And the two Pokemon start to feel comfortable and they relax in Serena's arms.

"Comrades! You are going back to the humans? Why?! Grr...you'll pay for this, humans! So long as there are Pokemon that are being held against their will...I, Garlikid, the Pokemon Hero, will be there to save them! I'll be back."

Then the Garlikid disappears in the shadows, much to their surprise. Aurora says, "Well, that's that I guess..."

"Yeah." Ash says as they leave the cave, only to find Professor Bamb'o, Cypress and Will there.

"Ash, Aurora, Serena. You did it." Lily says, "We also managed to recover all the other stolen Pokemon, thanks to you guys."

"What are you guys doing here?" Ash asks in surprise.

"We followed behind you in case you needed backup." Will says. "But you three did great! We saw everything that happened while we grabbed the rest of the Pokemon."

Aurora asks, "Did any of you see a tiny green man in a costume run by just now? That wasn't a man, that was a Pokemon!"

"We didn't. But can you tell us more about the thief?" Bamb'o asks.

"The thief is actually a Pokemon known as Garlikid." Ash says, causing them to widen their eyes.

"They're incredibly rare...I haven't heard of one being sighted in many years..." Cypress says in shock. "It's habitat is in a remote spot in the mountains, so it doesn't encounter humans often. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if that one had never encountered people before."

Aurora says, "Yeah. Garlikid has a strong sense of justice. It must have seen the Pokemon in the lab and thought that we were keeping them prisoner."

Will says, "So they attacked because they were just excited?"

Cypress says, "Perhaps Garlikid has a point, though. From now on, we'll make sure our Pokemon have more freedom, and we'll listen to them more closely. Speaking of...as a field test for PST, I'd say this was a resounding success. I can see it becoming a very useful tool in the hands of a Pokemon Trainer. So, as to thanks for all that you've done for us, why don't you keep that prototype PST?"

Serena smiles and thanks the Professor. Professor adds, "This is bound to give us some great field data. Just be careful with it, all right? We wouldn't want it to fall into the wrong hands. If you need anything, we'll be back at the lab."

Just then, the puppy like Pokemon starts to nuzzle Serena while the bat like Pokemon flies from Serena's arm to Ash's head, Cypress says, "And it seems like these two really like you. How about you take care of them?"

"You mean we can keep them?" Ash asks in shock as she says, "Maybe with you two, they are sure to get some freedom that they wanted."

Ash and Serena smile as they capture the Pokemon, after that, they all go back to the town and have some rest.

Lunapup: The Loyal Pokemon: Ground and Fighting Type. Although small, it is very brave. It won't hesitate to protect weaker Pokémon in danger. They can often be heard howling at the moon.

Minyan: The Mischief Pokemon: Dark and Poison Type. Called the "tiny master of evil", it tries to cause discord but often ends up messing up and fleeing in embarrassment.

Here is the another chapter, and the Garlikid sidequest is here. I hope you like this chapter and the next one will be more capture, more Team Rocket and so on.

Ash's New Pokemon: Eletux, Aveden, Dearewl, Grozard, Dunsparce, Magikarp, Feleng, Brailip, Pahar, Sponee, Comite, Flaaffy, Minyan

Serena's New Pokemon: Orchynx, Kinetmunk, Cubblfly, Owten, Tonemy, Fortog, Lombre, Firoke, Sponee, Jerbolta, Baashaun, Lunapup

Jessie's New Pokemon: Costraw

James' New Pokemon: Tancoon