"A Group of Misfits" By Luke's Dragon

"I am Ivysaurace"

Where to start, I'm not sure I know anymore. I feel my age so much these days...

I suppose there was a beginning, when I was a Bulbasaur, but that seems so long ago, and I was a different Poke'mon then, younger, kinder and so much more naive.

My first trainer received me, as is the custom on his tenth birthday, and so we set off on our Poke'mon journey as is the custom in Pallet Town. It has, as you probably know a great reputation for producing world class trainers and whatever else is said about my first master he was certainly world class.

Those were happy times together with my master whose name I will not say...Sorry but I couldn't bring myself to say it without tears coming to my eyes, and I will not shed another tear over him

Anyhow we had a great many adventurers, you know the sort of thing I mean, battling trainers, doing good deeds and seeing the world, at the time I was so happy and I thought those days would never end. But they did.

It came to pass we were investigating an old sewer network that had rumors of being haunted, and my master wanted a ghost Poke'mon to join the team.

Where was it? Saffron City maybe?

My memory is not what it was, although Meowth says it might be that I just don't want to remember some of the things that have happened to me. Then again, he's always saying things like that. I swear that cat tries to be all deep and meaningful just to make me and the others look bad, he thinks he's so smart just because…

I'm getting off the point aren't I, just let me know if I do it again.

Back to my story then, heh, perhaps he has a point and I don't want to talk about it, but I feel like I must. We were walking around, with no sign of any Poke'mon when we came across a group of strange looking men and women. They were all dressed in black and wore a large letter R on their chests, it was the first but sadly not the last time I would see that symbol. The 'Rockets' had a large number of Poke'mon in cages and were loading them onto a boat. We decided that we had to stop them, so I charged into battle as I had done hundreds of times before, using my 'Vine Whip' attack to take out one of the men's Arbok.

But the other one of them, a women I think, said something to my master about joining them, and then, after all this time I still cannot believe it, my master said yes he and his Poke'mon would join them! I knew this was wrong, I could sense the sadness and fear of the captured Poke'mon, and I wanted no part of this evil scheme.

I tried to convince my friends and master this was wrong, but they would not listen, and then the betrayal the thing that haunts me even now. My friends turned on me and although I was strong I was out numbered.

Anyway even if I wanted to fight, I would not harm my friends, stupid to think of loyalty at a time like this but it had always been so important to me. I tried to take them out peacefully with my 'Sleep Powder', but they kept on coming

I had no choice, feeling a power inside me I cried out as I felt myself getting bigger, stronger, the seed on my back bloomed into a flower. The power flowed through me giving me so much strength. I was strong now, and defeated the evil men with razor sharp leaves, but I still could not attack my master.

I still remember his words, 'join us Ivysaur, join Team Rocket and rule the world'. But no I would not 'an unfortunate decision, you were once my best friend'

Sadness, betrayal, I was out of options. I would not join these evil men, and I would not be caught, so I jumped into the stinking, fast flowing sewer and was swept away. I did not realize how fast and rocky the water was, bashed against the sides, and smashed into rubble, I blacked out and was carried along the sewer, my last thought, before oblivion embraced me was, I will stop you, Team Rocket!

~~~

How I survived I'll never know, I know I still have scars all over from that wild ride, they hurt every time it's cold outside. Huh I'm starting to sound like a poet.

Anyway as far as we can work out I was washed along the sewers into the fast flowing river that eventually leads to the raging Tohjo Falls on the outskirts of Johto.

Johto, I'd never been there with my old master and knew nothing about the place, of course I didn't know very much one too many blows to the head had given me a thumping headache and I felt as if I had lost some of my battle skills.

Therefore when a member of that hated group Team Rocket found me I was not in any condition to defend myself.

"Ohh! An Ivysaur, let's capture it"

"…grass…not….material" My head was still swimming and I couldn't hear them or even focus very well as a pile of slime, a Muk and a black bird I did not recognize attacked me.

"Muk, Disable attack!" Great even if I could stand up that attack had knocked out my 'Razor Leaf' attack, now I was defenseless as the bird Poke'mon attacked me too.

"Murkrow, use your Peck attack"

This looked like the end, no attacks left hurting from the flying attacks of the bird and close to drifting away from my injuries even without the efforts of the Rockets. As the Poke' Ball came flying towards me it looked as though my end was near and that I might be joining Team Rocket after all. And then a miracle happened.

As a bolt of thunder struck the incoming ball, causing it to whirl off into oblivion a boy and two creatures jumped into the battle, meaning the odds were now against Team Rocket. Another jolt of Thunder destroyed the Murkrow causing it to faint immediately. In my battered state I wished that I could use electric attacks. The Rockets seeing that things were against them ran away. It was the first, but not the last time I heard them 'Blasting Off".

Back then I only joined them because they saved me, after the way that A…. my master had treated me I didn't want to work with anyone else in case they acted the same way. I told myself I would leave as soon as I got the chance and was healed again.

I never did. I found myself drawn to them. The way they all worked together, believed in each other, it made me think of what I used to have.

He renamed me to 'Ivysaurace' apparently he doesn't believe in not renaming Poke'mon. I like the name, you see I never had one before. Having a name makes me feel as though I belong. I belong to a team and we have a goal, we are going to stop Team Rocket, I always wanted to do it on my own but now I have a real chance.

Watch out Team Rocket, I'm coming for you. I am Ivysaurace and I will win.