Route 25, also known as Cerulean Cape. It is home to a small forested area filled with wild Pokémon, a popular place for Trainers to battle each other. There is also a lone house overlooking the ocean, dubbed the Sea Cottage, which is home to a brilliant inventor named Bill.
"Okay then, time to get to work! The Pokémon Storage System won't check itself for bugs." Bill said to himself.
"Abra." his Pokémon nodded.
As Bill booted up his PC to run diagnostics, the door of his house was smashed open, sending glass and paperwork flying everywhere.
"WHAT THE HECK?!" Bill shouted, completely dumbfounded. His Abra began shivering in fear as several men and women dressed in black walked into the cottage.
Bill knew exactly who they were, and yet he couldn't believe it. "You…but how?!"
One man stepped in front of the strange gang. "So, you're the man behind the Storage System, eh?" he said.
"We have need of you."
Brayden emerged from the Cerulean City Pokémon Center, excited to finally get to work for his rematch with Misty. "All right, guys, let's head over to Route 24! Time to catch a Grass Pokémon and do some training!"
All of his Pokémon cheered, and Brayden recalled them to their Poké Balls. As he neared the "Nugget Bridge" that connects to Route 24, he heard someone call out to him. Brayden looked back, and to his surprise, Misty was running over to him.
"Hi!" she called out as she ran, waving to him.
"Misty? What are you doing here?" Brayden asked her.
She put her hands on her hips. "What? Can't a Gym Leader go out every now and then? I have a life outside the Gym, you know. Most Gym Leaders do." Misty said, somewhat annoyed.
Brayden felt a little embarrassed for saying that, but he said nothing.
Eager to change the subject, Misty brushed off the unintended offense. "Are you going to catch some Pokémon?" she asked.
"That's right!" Brayden grinned. "Gotta get ready for the rematch!"
"Which one? Me or that jerk?" Misty teased. But she immediately regretted saying that and covered her mouth with her hands. Brayden looked a bit downhearted.
"You were watching yesterday?" he said to Misty.
"Sorry," Misty said sheepishly. "But that's the actual reason I came out here. I want you to beat that guy too, so I'm going to help you train!" she said fiercely.
Brayden was astonished by this. A Gym Leader, helping him train? He couldn't believe his luck. He smiled as he adjusted his hat.
"Sweet! Then what are we waiting for?! Let's go!" Brayden shouted as he ran across the bridge. Misty laughed as she ran after him.
"Pidgey, use Quick Attack!" Brayden exclaimed. The Tiny Bird Pokémon charged into a wild Poliwag, knocking the Water-type out.
They had been training for around 20 minutes at this point, and while Brayden's Pokémon had all leveled up, they had yet to see a Grass-type. But as Brayden praised Pidgey for his victory, a Grass Pokémon finally jumped out from behind a bush.
"Odd! Oddish!" The little Pokémon cried happily.
"Huh?" Brayden and Misty said together. The wild Pokémon seemed to know Brayden.
Brayden brought out the Pokédex.
"Oddish. The Weed Pokémon. A Grass- and Poison-type. Its scientific name is 'Oddium Wanderus.' It is said to walk nearly 1,000 feet on its two roots."
The Oddish walked over to Brayden and began dancing in joy. "Oddish, Oddish, Oddish!"
Brayden couldn't help but laugh. "You really like me, huh, Oddish?" he said to it.
"Oddish Odd!" The Weed Pokémon nodded.
"I wonder… is it possible this Oddish saw your battle yesterday, too?" Misty wondered. Oddish looked at her and nodded.
"So that's why Oddish likes you, Brayden! It saw how much you love your Pokémon! That's so sweet." Misty said in adoration.
Brayden almost couldn't believe it. A Grass Pokémon that willingly wanted to join him! "You want to come with me, Oddish?" he asked Oddish.
"Odd dish!" Oddish jumped with happiness.
Brayden pulled out a Poké Ball, but before he could throw it, a mass of feathers swooped down and took Oddish away. The little Grass-type immediately began crying.
"No! Oddish!" Brayden yelled. Misty stomped her foot down. "You rotten Pidgeot! Give it back!" she screamed as she, Brayden and Pidgey gave chase.
Without warning, another Pokémon appeared in front of them as they ran, causing Brayden to fall over.
"Ow! What's this Pokémon?" Brayden asked Misty.
She looked at the strange yellow creature carefully as it got up and immediately started frantically trying to tell them something.
"It's an Abra, a Psychic-type Pokémon. But it's not acting like a wild one, meaning that this one is Bill's!" Misty concluded.
"Bill? The guy who made the Storage System? The guy who lives over on the cape?" Brayden asked.
Misty nodded. "Uh-huh. It never leaves his side. So if it's here…"
"And it's panicking…" Brayden continued.
"Then that means something happened to its Trainer." somebody finished.
Brayden and Misty turned around, and there was Bill, held captive by people wearing black suits and hats. Emblazoned on their shirts was a large red "R".
Misty gasped, and Brayden was stupefied. These were the criminals who tried to take control of the Silph Co. in Saffron City. Their boss had disbanded them after being defeated by Red. But here they were, up to their old tricks again.
"You're Team Rocket!" Brayden cried as he shot a finger of accusation at them.
The man who had finished their sentence flashed a wicked smile. "We haven't been forgotten after all. That's good to know." he said as he stepped forward.
"You stand in the presence of one of the four Team Rocket Executives…" he struck a dramatic pose. "PROTON!"
Many of the girl Grunts swooned.
Misty rolled her eyes. "Oh please. Stop trying to act cool!" she said.
Brayden's patience was thinning. "What do you want with Bill?! Answer me!" he demanded.
"It's quite simple, really," Proton began. "We want him to invent things for us. And…we want access to the Storage System." He smiled menacingly.
"The Storage System?!" Brayden cried, outraged.
"You can't have that!" Misty yelled. "That would let you steal or release Pokémon at will!"
"Precisely," Proton said. "What better way to prepare for the great Giovanni's return than to gain control of every Pokémon in storage?"
Bill struggled to escape the grip of the Grunts, but to no avail. "You're crazy if you think I'll help you!" he said to Proton.
"Your words mean nothing to me." The Executive said, not looking at his captive.
Brayden had heard enough. They had to act quickly, or Team Rocket would would escape.
"There's no way we're letting you get away with this! Let him go NOW, or we'll make you!" Brayden exclaimed, reaching for a Poké Ball.
Proton laughed slyly.
"How amusing. That's the first time WE'VE been threatened. Very well." Proton turned to his subordinates, then pointed at Brayden and Misty. "All of you but the ones holding our prisoner, eliminate them! For Giovanni!"
The Grunts cheered in approval. But Brayden wasn't about to settle for the Grunts. "He's just trying to distract us until his getaway vehicle arrives. I HAVE to fight Proton to keep him from sneaking off!" Brayden thought.
"Hey! Why send your Grunts to take care of me?" Brayden said to Proton, as obnoxiously as he could.
Proton immediately turned his gaze back to Brayden.
"You seem pretty sure of yourself, yet you're letting your pals fight your battles for you. What's the matter? Are you just a big coward?" Brayden taunted Proton.
Some of the Grunts gasped. Misty looked at him like he had just said that Charizard was Grass-type.
Proton was shaking with unbridled fury. "WHAT did you just say?! Did you call ME a coward?!" He screamed with rage. "You will regret that! I have a reputation as the cruelest and scariest member of Team Rocket!"
He immediately turned back to the Grunts and pointed at Misty. "Grunts, attack the Gym Leader!" Proton shot his gaze back to Brayden. "I'll handle this accursed brat!"
The Grunts roared their approval before charging at Misty.
"Are you sure you can handle that guy?" Misty asked Brayden.
Brayden grinned and gave her a thumbs-up. "You bet! You just make sure those losers don't beat you!"
Misty nodded, then called out her Starmie. "Starmie, Psychic!"
The Mysterious Pokémon's gem core glowed, then all of the Grunts running towards Misty were flung into the nearby stream. "Good! Now we can fight these guys in our element!" Misty said as she and Starmie jumped in after them.
Brayden and Proton stared each other down as the remaining Grunts, Bill and Bill's Abra watched.
Then, Brayden broke the silence. "Butterfree, let's go!"
The Butterfly Pokémon appeared from his Poké Ball. "Freeee!"
Proton threw a Poké Ball of his own. "Dodrio, show them their place!"
What emerged from the ball was a truly strange-looking bird. It had no wings, very long legs, and three heads, all of which had different expressions.
"Dodrio, huh…" Brayden muttered as he brought out the Pokédex.
"Dodrio. The Triple Bird Pokémon. A Normal-and Flying-type. Uses its three heads to execute complex plans. While two heads sleep, one is said to stay awake."
Proton growled. "Put that thing away! We're battling now! Dodrio, Drill Peck!"
Dodrio dashed towards Butterfree.
"Butterfree, use Flash!" Brayden commanded.
A bright flash of light shone from Butterfree, blinding Dodrio. "Sweet! Good thing one of Professor Oak's assistants sent me that HM." Brayden thought.
"Now, Confusion!" Brayden shouted. Butterfree's psycho waves struck Dodrio, and all three heads shrieked in pain before being knocked away.
"Dodrio, Agility! Then use Tri Attack!" Proton ordered. Dodrio sharply increased its speed, then each head launched a beam of fire, ice, and electricity, respectively, at Butterfree. All three struck Butterfree, but he held up and continued flying.
"Grrrr! Use Drill Peck!" Proton snarled.
"That's not gonna be enough!" Brayden said as Dodrio raced towards Butterfree. "Butterfree, use Confusion!"
Dodrio was again struck with psychic waves and thrown backwards.
Proton couldn't believe this was happening. This child, completely dominating him? He decided to play his trump card.
"Stop right there! Make another move, and our other hostage gets it!" Proton sneered as he pointed up.
Brayden thought he was bluffing at first, but then he heard a Pokémon sobbing up in the sky.
"No…ODDISH?!" Brayden cried as he looked up. To his horror, the Weed Pokémon was being dangled by its feet by the same Pidgeot that had taken it.
"So YOU ordered Pidgeot to take Oddish!" Brayden snarled as he tightened his hands into fists.
"Precisely," Proton said with a sinister smile. "And if you value that Pokémon's life, as I know you do, you'll stand there and accept your defeat! HA HA HA HA HA!" he laughed cruelly.
Brayden had never felt such hatred in all his life. Suddenly, Blue didn't seem as bad as he had thought.
"Now then, Dodrio, punish that Butterfree! Use Drill Peck!" Proton ordered with glee. Brayden simply watched as Butterfree was subjected to Dodrio's fearsome Drill Pecks. Three heads meant three beaks, and three times the pain.
Now what? If he continued to just stand there, Butterfree would be knocked out, and Proton would be free to escape with Bill. But if he attacked, his new Poké friend would pay the ultimate price.
Before Brayden could come up with any sort of backup plan, Pidgey shot into the air after Pidgeot, screeching loudly.
"Pidgey! Wait!" Brayden called out.
Proton laughed once again. "Worthless fool! Pidgeot, Wing Attack!"
As Pidgey closed in, Pidgeot swatted it back down with one wing. Despite this, Pidgey took off once again.
"Pidgey, don't do it!" Brayden shouted to the Tiny Bird.
"Utterly pointless!" Proton shouted. "Pidgeot, HURRICANE!"
Pidgeot flapped its wings rapidly, and a massive tornado sucked up Pidgey. The Tiny Bird was helpless before the harsh winds, and he plummeted back to the ground.
"Pidgey…why?" Brayden whispered, anguished.
Pidgey tried to get up, but then Proton spoke again.
"Don't bother. You're just an insignificant, unevolved weakling. What could you possibly hope to achieve against us, the mighty tusks of evil?" he mocked Pidgey.
The little Flying-type lied there and let Proton's words sink in. He remembered all the things Blue had said about him.
"What good did it do you if it got knocked out from being trampled? Seems to me you caught a real weakling!"
"Only an idiot would fly right into Fearow's beak!"
"You should've evolved that weakling. Maybe then it would've had a small chance!"
Pidgey lowered his head and began to cry softly. Proton's Dodrio had stopped pecking Butterfree to laugh at the Tiny Bird Pokémon, and Pidgeot did the same. Brayden couldn't stand to see his little friend treated this way. He refused to stand for this any longer.
"You're wrong, Proton!" Brayden shouted at the Rocket Executive.
Proton raised an eyebrow, still smiling. "Oh? And why is that?" he asked, unconvinced.
"Pidgey is stronger than you could even imagine! He may not be that tough physically, but he's got courage! He attacked Pidgeot because he wanted to rescue Oddish! And that's what really counts, the strength of your heart!" Brayden exclaimed courageously.
Pidgey opened his eyes when he heard this. Then, all the memories of Blue and Proton's mocking were replaced by Brayden's own kind words.
"Don't listen to him, Pidgey. Squirtle and I know how strong you really are."
"Don't give up, Pidgey! You can do it!"
"Great job, Pidgey!"
"Thanks for being my friend."
The Tiny Bird Pokémon felt the love and trust of his Trainer empower him. Pidgey's determination became stronger than it had ever been. The time to repay that trust was now! Pidgey shot back into the air, screeching wildly, "PIIIIIIIDGEY!"
Then, an intense glow engulfed Pidgey's body. Brayden watched in awe. "Pidgey, you're…!"
Proton simply frowned and narrowed his eyes.
When the light subsided, Pidgey's evolution was complete. He had grown larger, his talons sharper, and and a set of beautiful red feathers curled back at the top had grown on his head. "PIDGEOTTO!" he screeched.
Brayden had to see what the Pokédex said.
"Pidgeotto. The Bird Pokémon. A Normal- and Flying-type. Very protective of its sprawling territorial area, this Pokémon will fiercely Peck at any intruder."
"You even learned some new moves! Great!" Brayden grinned. "Let's show them your real power! Use Aerial Ace!"
Pidgeotto soared through the air at high speed, then slashed Pidgeot twice with its wings. The shock alone was enough to cause Pidgeot to drop Oddish, but Pidgotto immediately caught the Weed Pokémon in its talons.
"Odd, Oddish!" Oddish thanked Pidgotto happily. Pidgeotto simply smiled at Oddish as it returned to Brayden.
This all happened so quickly that Proton wasn't expecting it. "What?!" he yelled.
Brayden held Oddish in his arms. "Are you okay, Oddish?" he asked it. Oddish smiled brightly and nodded.
"Now then…" he said as he looked at Proton again. "I think it's time we finished this battle! Butterfree, Confusion!"
Before Proton and Dodrio could react, the Triple Bird Pokémon was bombarded by psychic waves, and it collapsed to the ground, unable to fight.
"This isn't over yet, worm!" Proton snarled as he recalled Dodrio. "I still have Pidgeot! Use Hurricane!"
The massive tornado came flying at Brayden and Oddish, but Brayden dodged it just in time.
"Attacking ME?! I've had enough of you!" Brayden shouted. "Pidgeotto, Twister!"
Pidgeotto shrieked, and it whipped up a vicious tornado of its own. When it struck Pidgeot, the fully evolved Bird Pokémon flinched. "No! You fool! What are you flinching for?! That's your pre-evolved form!" Proton snarled at it.
"This is it! Pidgeotto, Quick Attack!" Brayden cried.
It was done in an instant.
Pidgeotto crashed into Pidgeot, and the latter dropped like a rock, extremely dizzy.
They had won! Against all odds, Brayden and his Pokémon stood victorious over the evil Rocket Executive.
Brayden breathed a sigh of relief, knowing his losing streak was over. At that moment, Misty jumped out of the stream with her Starmie.
"I beat all the Grunts!" she grinned.
"And I beat Proton!" Brayden grinned back.
They stood together and faced the Rocket Executive. "We won, so release Bill!" Brayden shouted. Proton was overcome with the shock of being trounced by an ordinary Trainer. The Grunts holding Bill readied their own Poké Balls, but Proton held out his arm.
"Stop. Release him." he said calmly.
The Grunts were astonished, but did as they were told. Bill ran to Brayden and Misty, and his Abra hugged him.
At that moment, a black helicopter flew overhead and dropped a rope.
"Let's retreat and formulate a new plan." Proton said to the Grunts. As the Rocketers climbed the rope, Proton called out to Brayden. "I underestimated you. But know this: Team Rocket isn't going anywhere! We WILL conquer Kanto! And nobody will stop us! Not you, or the Gym Leaders, not even that accused Red!" Pidgeot got up and flew towards the helicopter, but instead of recalling the Bird Pokémon, Proton did the opposite.
He smashed its Ultra Ball.
Brayden, Misty, Bill, Pidgeotto, and Pidgeot itself were shocked.
"You were said to be the king of Sevii Island's skies! But you lost to your pre-evolution! We have no room for such incompetency in Team Rocket. Get lost!" Proton shouted at Pidgeot. With that, the helicopter flew off to an unknown destination.
Pidgeot turned around and leered at Brayden, then flew off to the north.
Bill took Brayden's hand and shook it thoroughly."I can't thank you enough for getting me out of that pickle! You already know me, but I'm Bill! Very pleased to meet you!"
"The pleasure's all mine!" Brayden replied.
"I'm amazed that you actually managed to beat that guy! You're getting better already!" Misty said.
Brayden grinned. "Heh! Thanks! It means a lot!"
There was still one more thing that needed to be done.
"Well then, are you ready, Oddish?" Brayden asked the Weed Pokémon. "Oddish!" it said. Brayden pulled out a Poké Ball, and tapped it on the Grass Pokémon's face. The button clicked the instant the ball closed.
"YES! Oddish is now our friend!" Brayden exclaimed as he held up the ball.
"Free! Butterfree!" Pidgeotto!" Butterfree and Pidgeotto cheered.
"Would you look at that." Bill said. "That Oddish is truly happy to be with you! Take good care of it!"
"Of course!" Brayden replied.
"Oh yeah, I'll need to call someone to replace the door those guys smashed." Bill said.
"Oh, don't worry about it. I'll pay for it." Misty said as they all walked over to the Sea Cottage together.
Brayden's first encounter with Team Rocket ended in a stunning victory! Pidgey has evolved into Pidgeotto, and the adorable Oddish has joined the team! Next time: Brayden vs Misty Rematch!