Chapter Five: The New Kids In Town
"Who in the world do you two think you are? Team Rocket?" The girl who had spoken laughed. "No way are we connected with THOSE losers! We're freelancers, but you can tell the authorities that you were robbed by The Beedrill Brigade!" (Try saying THAT five times fast!) I couldn't believe my ears. "The Beedrill Brigade? O-k, then." I looked at Kanna, who shrugged. She didn't buy it either. "So, you think you're going to rob me, is that it?" The other woman, who had long blonde hair, giggled. "Wow, um, like, I don't think she believes us!" The red head sighed. "You DON'T think, Vanati." "Ha ha, very funny!" I saw my chance. While they argued, I quietly walked my bike a few feet past them, then got on. Just then, Vanati saw me. "And you think I'M ditzy! She's getting away!" "And taking that rare Pokemon with her!" shouted the other girl back. "C'mon, lets get her!" "Uh, oh! Hang on Kanna!" I pedaled as hard as I could. A fork was coming up, but I knew it wouldn't matter which way I went. I took the left side and hid off in the bushes. A moment later I saw the two girls follow behind, also on bikes, but they took the right fork. Kanna and I breathed a sigh of relief. It took us a few more minutes to get to where the roads met up again, and when we did, we both wished we hadn't. "Ha! Thought you'd lost us, huh? Well, we just took the shorter path to be sure to beat you here!" Vanati looked at the girl in confusion. "We did?" The girl looked ready to crack. "Of course we did! I was leading, remember?" "Oh, yeah!" Vanati smiled at her adoringly. "You're just so smart, Ellen!" Ellen smiled. "Of course. That's why I lead." I sighed. I knew at least ONE person who had THAT big of an ego. I was used to it. Ellen looked up at me. "We challenge you to a Pokemon Battle! But this one has a little more on the line - your Pokemon!" There was no way those two bozos were getting Kanna! "I only have one! You have at least two between the both of you, so it's not a fair fight!" "Who said we fight fair?" asked Ellen. "Life sure doesn't. You might as well get used to it!" They brought out a Pokeball each. "Lets get started!" "Hold it!" Everyone turned to the new girl. She was blonde and thin, but looked to be in good shape, and was holding a Friend Ball. She looked at me. "So you were gonna hog all the fun!" I noticed she said it with a wink. This, however, was totally lost on the "Beedrill Brigade." "Well, if you don't mind loosing your Pokemon either, then feel free." "Fine. Go, Furret!" Out of the Friend Ball popped a Furret, its coat shiny and long. I turned back to the two Pokemon thieves. "You too, Kanna!" And so our second fight began.
~*~*~*~*~
Kanna and I were pitted against the leader, Ellen. The new girl and her Furret took on Vanessa. Ellen had a Beedrill (big surprise), and Vanessa had a Butterfree. They looked like they had just evolved, too. "Furret, Quick Attack!" "Counter with a Harden!" Butterfree gave its trainer a funny look, but did as asked. The Quick Attack did little. "Ok, Kanna, use a Headbutt!" "Fury Attack, Beedrill!" Beedrill let loose a barrage of attacks, but Kanna dodged every one and Headbutted the Beedrill into a tree. It looked beat. Ellen growled. "Get up! We can't loose!" The Beedrill slowly rose up into a fighting position. "Good! Now use a Poison Sting!" Direct hit! Kanna went down, and it seemed that a few stingers had made it into Kanna skin, and poisoned it. But Kanna got up, and without my order, let a Bubblebeam. It was enough to KO the Beedrill. Ellen was shocked. "No way! No Pokemon learns Bubblebeam this early!" She recalled Beedrill, but smiled evilly. "But I'm not through with you yet! I have another Pokemon, and it should be super-effective against yours!" Now what? "Sunkurn!" Uh oh! A Grass type! No wonder she was so smug! "Your Pokemon looks beat. Let me take over for you!" That girl again! I wonder who she is? Ellen smiled. "Fine. I'll beat you, too!" "Furret, you know what to do! Use Tackle!" Ellen laughed again. "That won't stop a Mega Drain!" But Furret was quick on its feet, and dodged the Mega Drain easily. Unfortunately for Sunkurn, it didn't HAVE feet. "Great job! Now finish it off with a Quick Attack!" That ended it. Sunkurn went down with hardly a fight. Ellen recalled Sunkurn, and drooped. "Our first try, and we failed miserably." The new girl stretched out a hand, palm up. "Lets have it." Vanessa and, for once, Ellen looked mystified. "Have what?" asked Vanessa. "Your Pokemon, of course," The girl stated matter-of-factly. "We were battling for control of Pokemon, so when you entered the fight, you put your Pokemon on the line." She stretched her hand out farther. "And now we want our new Pokemon." They both stepped back. "But that's thievery! You can't do that!" She smiled. "You were going to." "So?" shrieked Ellen. "You can't have them!" And with that, they both ran off into the woods. The girl turned to me. "So, I guess we'd better introduce ourselves." "Later," said, picking up Kanna. "Kanna's hurt, and needs to get to a Pokemon Center fast." She went pale. "Of course. I don't have a bike, so I'll follow at my own pace. Meet you there?" I smiled at my newest friend. "Sure." Kanna was in the back room when the girl came in. We introduced ourselves, and I found out her name was Allie. She said she was a cousin of Whitney, the Gym Leader for Goldenrod City, and she had gotten her Furret as a Sentret from Whitney herself. It just made sense to have a Normal type. I told her my story of how I got Kanna, and my theories as to the odd Pokeball. When I showed it to her, she was amazed that such an odd shaped Pokeball would be used. "I can't imagine it holding anything, let alone being used to carry a Pokemon! Who would be so, so.cruel?" asked Allie, looking disgusted. "I don't know," I replied, "but someone was." Just then Nurse Joy came out with a sleeping Kanna in her arms. Before they reached us, I added, "But I doubt it did Kanna any good." Nurse Joy came up with a smile on her face. "Your Pokemon is perfectly fine now, but you both had better stay the night. It's almost 8:30." We both nodded. "Let me call my dad and tell him where I'll be. I just hope he doesn't come get me!"
~*~*~*~*~
"Hey, Dad, its just me. I'm calling to tell you that Nurse Joy has asked me to stay the night in the Pokemon Center." "Why? I can come pick you up." Dad got up to get his coat. No! I want to stay here! "Um, there's a group running around, some thieves. Nurse Joy says that they can stop cars with their Pokemon and steal anything." It was a lie, but he didn't know that. The truth was, of course, that they weren't any better than Kanna and me. "So, she says it'll be better if I just stay here and walk home tomorrow. Besides, once the Center closes, it only opens for emergency. Sorry, Dad." I looked behind me at Nurse Joy closing up for the night. "She's almost done now. I guess I'll have to stay the night!" I turned back to a flabbergasted Dad. "See you tomorrow! Night!" With that, I waved goodbye and hung up. Allie walked up to see me sigh. She giggled. "A little trouble with your dad?" I smiled at her. "A little? Ever since I was old enough to set off on a journey of my own, he hasn't let me out of his sight with a Pokemon." I sighed again. "It's getting old. I'm almost 15, and it's just not fair. He treats me like a 5-year-old! At least Mom knows I'm getting older." Allie nodded knowingly. "Shall we get some sleep?" "So long as its sleepover style!" "Ok!"
~*~*~*~*~
The next morning I set out for home. Allie asked if she could come along too, and both Kanna and I welcomed the company. I walked the bike, Kanna sat on the seat, and Allie walked beside us. "I thought Professor Elm lives in New Bark Town," Allie commented. I nodded. "He does. He's been letting me help out at his lab ever since I turned ten. He's great, and he promised he'd work Dad over for me while I was gone." I looked up as we reached the crest of the hill. At the top we could see New Bark. I sighed my ever-present sigh. "I just hope it worked." "Kan!" As we started down the hill we saw Kory. He ran up towards us and shouted to me to come over. When we met up at the foot, he said something about two thieves stealing one of the Pokemon reserved for beginning trainers. "They took a Totodile! They were about to take the other two when Elm and I came in with the Totodile's trainer. They ran off with the Pokeball, and we couldn't catch 'em!" Allie and I were shocked, and I was almost certain I knew who they were. "The Beedrill Brigade," I whispered. "C'mon, Allie! We know how to deal with them!" "No, wait!" Kory shouted after us. "They have Pokemon! A Butterfree and Beedrill for sure, and maybe more! You can't fight them, Nicole, Kanna's not old enough!" I turned around and face him. "I already have, and Allie helped. Now where were they headed to?" Kory sighed. "Your Dads gone after them. You can reach him via your PokeGear." I nodded my thanks and took off. Allie and Kanna weren't far behind.
"Who in the world do you two think you are? Team Rocket?" The girl who had spoken laughed. "No way are we connected with THOSE losers! We're freelancers, but you can tell the authorities that you were robbed by The Beedrill Brigade!" (Try saying THAT five times fast!) I couldn't believe my ears. "The Beedrill Brigade? O-k, then." I looked at Kanna, who shrugged. She didn't buy it either. "So, you think you're going to rob me, is that it?" The other woman, who had long blonde hair, giggled. "Wow, um, like, I don't think she believes us!" The red head sighed. "You DON'T think, Vanati." "Ha ha, very funny!" I saw my chance. While they argued, I quietly walked my bike a few feet past them, then got on. Just then, Vanati saw me. "And you think I'M ditzy! She's getting away!" "And taking that rare Pokemon with her!" shouted the other girl back. "C'mon, lets get her!" "Uh, oh! Hang on Kanna!" I pedaled as hard as I could. A fork was coming up, but I knew it wouldn't matter which way I went. I took the left side and hid off in the bushes. A moment later I saw the two girls follow behind, also on bikes, but they took the right fork. Kanna and I breathed a sigh of relief. It took us a few more minutes to get to where the roads met up again, and when we did, we both wished we hadn't. "Ha! Thought you'd lost us, huh? Well, we just took the shorter path to be sure to beat you here!" Vanati looked at the girl in confusion. "We did?" The girl looked ready to crack. "Of course we did! I was leading, remember?" "Oh, yeah!" Vanati smiled at her adoringly. "You're just so smart, Ellen!" Ellen smiled. "Of course. That's why I lead." I sighed. I knew at least ONE person who had THAT big of an ego. I was used to it. Ellen looked up at me. "We challenge you to a Pokemon Battle! But this one has a little more on the line - your Pokemon!" There was no way those two bozos were getting Kanna! "I only have one! You have at least two between the both of you, so it's not a fair fight!" "Who said we fight fair?" asked Ellen. "Life sure doesn't. You might as well get used to it!" They brought out a Pokeball each. "Lets get started!" "Hold it!" Everyone turned to the new girl. She was blonde and thin, but looked to be in good shape, and was holding a Friend Ball. She looked at me. "So you were gonna hog all the fun!" I noticed she said it with a wink. This, however, was totally lost on the "Beedrill Brigade." "Well, if you don't mind loosing your Pokemon either, then feel free." "Fine. Go, Furret!" Out of the Friend Ball popped a Furret, its coat shiny and long. I turned back to the two Pokemon thieves. "You too, Kanna!" And so our second fight began.
~*~*~*~*~
Kanna and I were pitted against the leader, Ellen. The new girl and her Furret took on Vanessa. Ellen had a Beedrill (big surprise), and Vanessa had a Butterfree. They looked like they had just evolved, too. "Furret, Quick Attack!" "Counter with a Harden!" Butterfree gave its trainer a funny look, but did as asked. The Quick Attack did little. "Ok, Kanna, use a Headbutt!" "Fury Attack, Beedrill!" Beedrill let loose a barrage of attacks, but Kanna dodged every one and Headbutted the Beedrill into a tree. It looked beat. Ellen growled. "Get up! We can't loose!" The Beedrill slowly rose up into a fighting position. "Good! Now use a Poison Sting!" Direct hit! Kanna went down, and it seemed that a few stingers had made it into Kanna skin, and poisoned it. But Kanna got up, and without my order, let a Bubblebeam. It was enough to KO the Beedrill. Ellen was shocked. "No way! No Pokemon learns Bubblebeam this early!" She recalled Beedrill, but smiled evilly. "But I'm not through with you yet! I have another Pokemon, and it should be super-effective against yours!" Now what? "Sunkurn!" Uh oh! A Grass type! No wonder she was so smug! "Your Pokemon looks beat. Let me take over for you!" That girl again! I wonder who she is? Ellen smiled. "Fine. I'll beat you, too!" "Furret, you know what to do! Use Tackle!" Ellen laughed again. "That won't stop a Mega Drain!" But Furret was quick on its feet, and dodged the Mega Drain easily. Unfortunately for Sunkurn, it didn't HAVE feet. "Great job! Now finish it off with a Quick Attack!" That ended it. Sunkurn went down with hardly a fight. Ellen recalled Sunkurn, and drooped. "Our first try, and we failed miserably." The new girl stretched out a hand, palm up. "Lets have it." Vanessa and, for once, Ellen looked mystified. "Have what?" asked Vanessa. "Your Pokemon, of course," The girl stated matter-of-factly. "We were battling for control of Pokemon, so when you entered the fight, you put your Pokemon on the line." She stretched her hand out farther. "And now we want our new Pokemon." They both stepped back. "But that's thievery! You can't do that!" She smiled. "You were going to." "So?" shrieked Ellen. "You can't have them!" And with that, they both ran off into the woods. The girl turned to me. "So, I guess we'd better introduce ourselves." "Later," said, picking up Kanna. "Kanna's hurt, and needs to get to a Pokemon Center fast." She went pale. "Of course. I don't have a bike, so I'll follow at my own pace. Meet you there?" I smiled at my newest friend. "Sure." Kanna was in the back room when the girl came in. We introduced ourselves, and I found out her name was Allie. She said she was a cousin of Whitney, the Gym Leader for Goldenrod City, and she had gotten her Furret as a Sentret from Whitney herself. It just made sense to have a Normal type. I told her my story of how I got Kanna, and my theories as to the odd Pokeball. When I showed it to her, she was amazed that such an odd shaped Pokeball would be used. "I can't imagine it holding anything, let alone being used to carry a Pokemon! Who would be so, so.cruel?" asked Allie, looking disgusted. "I don't know," I replied, "but someone was." Just then Nurse Joy came out with a sleeping Kanna in her arms. Before they reached us, I added, "But I doubt it did Kanna any good." Nurse Joy came up with a smile on her face. "Your Pokemon is perfectly fine now, but you both had better stay the night. It's almost 8:30." We both nodded. "Let me call my dad and tell him where I'll be. I just hope he doesn't come get me!"
~*~*~*~*~
"Hey, Dad, its just me. I'm calling to tell you that Nurse Joy has asked me to stay the night in the Pokemon Center." "Why? I can come pick you up." Dad got up to get his coat. No! I want to stay here! "Um, there's a group running around, some thieves. Nurse Joy says that they can stop cars with their Pokemon and steal anything." It was a lie, but he didn't know that. The truth was, of course, that they weren't any better than Kanna and me. "So, she says it'll be better if I just stay here and walk home tomorrow. Besides, once the Center closes, it only opens for emergency. Sorry, Dad." I looked behind me at Nurse Joy closing up for the night. "She's almost done now. I guess I'll have to stay the night!" I turned back to a flabbergasted Dad. "See you tomorrow! Night!" With that, I waved goodbye and hung up. Allie walked up to see me sigh. She giggled. "A little trouble with your dad?" I smiled at her. "A little? Ever since I was old enough to set off on a journey of my own, he hasn't let me out of his sight with a Pokemon." I sighed again. "It's getting old. I'm almost 15, and it's just not fair. He treats me like a 5-year-old! At least Mom knows I'm getting older." Allie nodded knowingly. "Shall we get some sleep?" "So long as its sleepover style!" "Ok!"
~*~*~*~*~
The next morning I set out for home. Allie asked if she could come along too, and both Kanna and I welcomed the company. I walked the bike, Kanna sat on the seat, and Allie walked beside us. "I thought Professor Elm lives in New Bark Town," Allie commented. I nodded. "He does. He's been letting me help out at his lab ever since I turned ten. He's great, and he promised he'd work Dad over for me while I was gone." I looked up as we reached the crest of the hill. At the top we could see New Bark. I sighed my ever-present sigh. "I just hope it worked." "Kan!" As we started down the hill we saw Kory. He ran up towards us and shouted to me to come over. When we met up at the foot, he said something about two thieves stealing one of the Pokemon reserved for beginning trainers. "They took a Totodile! They were about to take the other two when Elm and I came in with the Totodile's trainer. They ran off with the Pokeball, and we couldn't catch 'em!" Allie and I were shocked, and I was almost certain I knew who they were. "The Beedrill Brigade," I whispered. "C'mon, Allie! We know how to deal with them!" "No, wait!" Kory shouted after us. "They have Pokemon! A Butterfree and Beedrill for sure, and maybe more! You can't fight them, Nicole, Kanna's not old enough!" I turned around and face him. "I already have, and Allie helped. Now where were they headed to?" Kory sighed. "Your Dads gone after them. You can reach him via your PokeGear." I nodded my thanks and took off. Allie and Kanna weren't far behind.