Taylor started waving his arm wildly
" Hey, it was an accident! " said Taylor, " I'm in a bit of a hurry here, I can't stay and talk! "
She pointed her finger at him sobbing.
" Don't back down from a challenge! Get him, Aipom! "
Taylor ducked, holding his head.
" Wait! " said the tracing man, " he doesn't have any Pokemon! "
Aipom stopped in midmovement and jumped onto the girl's hair.
" What?!! Thats not fair!! " she fell to her knees and started sobbing big tears.
" I gotta go! " said Taylor, " that guy is going to get away! "
She stopped sniffling for a second and straightened up. Her red hair sprung out again and Aipom gave a big grin.
" He is long gone... " she said, " we have to head back to New Bark town and see how the professor is doing! "
" Ah! " said the man, " Professor Elm... I was going to see him for information on young Pokemon. Oh... I almost forgot! "
He bowed slightly.
" I'm Dr. Sketchit! Call me Tracey. "
Both Taylor and the girl bowed deeper.
" I'm.. I'm Whitney. " said the girl respectfully, blushing a bit.
" Taylor... " said Taylor, his mind somewhere else.
" This is Aipom! " said Whitney with a smile. She held out her arm and the purple monkey crawled from it onto Tracey's shoulders, giggling wildly.
" Lets go back to his lab, " said Whitney, " were not going to solve anything just standing out here in the middle of nowhere! "
* * *
" Well, Natu, that was just crap... " said Casey, sitting down on a vent riser.
" I... I should have known the thief would be better well prepared... " Jones sat on the concrete, cradling Gligar.
" We were careless. " said Natu.
" We'll get him next time! " said Casey, " I'll show him what happens to those who mess with Team Rocket! "
She pulled out a rocket launcher.
" I'll capture that Sneasel if its the last thing I do! "
She spins around and a rising sun background flashes wildly behind her.
" She frightens even me sometimes... " said Natu.
It suddenly jumped on Jones' face, causing him to fall over, and stomped angrily.
" You should train your Gligar better! " he twittered.
" SHHH! He is coming back! " said Casey, " would you two stop playing games? "
" I'm sorry. " said Jones quickly.
" You should obtain a spinal column. " said Natu, shooting Jones a look.
* * *
They approached Elm's lab when they heard laughing from above.
" To bestow the world our perfection! "
" To protect all with no selection! "
" To reveal all truths hidden! "
" To act upon all things forbidden! "
* poof *
" Casey! "
* poof *
" Jones! "
" Our power is unleashed on cue! "
" We are Team Rocket and we shall show you the power of two! "
" Natu, its true! "
" Oh no... " said Taylor.
" Who are THEY? " said Whitney, looking up at Team Rocket's position on the roof.
" ..... VERY familiar " said Tracey, pulling out a pad and scribbling like crazy.
" I guess what Officer Jenny has always been saying is true! " laughed Casey, " the crook ALWAYS returns to the scene of the crime! "
" We'll have you now! " shouted Jones, launching Gligar at the heroes.
Aipom jumps off of Whitney's head, grabs Gligar by it's hand-tail and spins it around and throws it back at Jones. Jones catches it and falls over, swirly eyes in his glasses. Gligar made an " urk " sound.
" Jones, get up! " snapped Casey.
She ran to the edge. They weren't standing there anymore.
" ARGH! " she snapped, " They must be inside... Murkrow, go spy on them again! "
* * *
" Professor! " said Taylor and Whitney in unison, running up to him.
Elm smiled down at both of them and scratched the back of his balding head.
" I'm sorry Professor! " said Taylor, " that rotten thief got away... I would have got him if it weren't for... "
" Team Rocket, " said Dr. Sketchit, adjusting his glasses, " they remind me of some old friends of mine. "
Whitney folded her arms.
" That stupid boy is a crook though! If he didn't steal Professor Elm's Pokemon, he DID wreck my bike and I'm not leaving until he pays for it! "
Tracey looked over the two of them. A smile crossed his mature face and he burst out laughing.
" Whats so funny?! " snapped Whitney, tears in her eyes.
" Nothing... " he said amusingly, while finishing a picture of Taylor and Whitney folding their arms and glaring at each other.
Elm laughed and held his side a bit as the bandage felt rough there.
" It looks like you met Whitney... " he said with a grim smile.
" You know this dumb tomboy? " said Taylor, shooting Whitney a look.
Elm nodded and paced the floor. Falkner stood against the wall, his arms folded.
" Whitney and Falkner were in my class last year, like you are now, and have moved on to the Pokemon League. They came promptly when they heard about last night's emergency... though I'm not sure how they arrived so quickly. "
Whitney cleared her throat.
" I'm a big girl, " she said, " I took Goldenrod's magnet train. "
Falkner sat quiet as a stone monolith. He knew past his cold, stone eyes that his own premonitions had led him to save Taylor's life. Elm limped over to a chair feebly.
" Officer Jenny has Sneasel on the stolen Pokemon list... " he said, " but there won't be any catching of this criminal... He is gone... "
Taylor stepped forward resolutely, holding up his fist in determination. Light glittered in his eyes from the skylight, sending out rays of truth.
" I haven't given up! " he said.
There was an ' ahem ' from the back of room. Tracey stepped forward. Elm looked up.
" Dr. Sketchit, This is an honor! " he said, " what could you need at a time like this? "
Tracey adjusted his glasses so they were just below his red headband.
" I heard you were the authority on Pokemon young... " he said, " so I wanted to show you this... "
Tracey reached behind his back. When he brought whatever it was forward, it made a little sound. It was the size of a beach ball and very blue.
" Ah...! " said Elm, " A young Marill! He looks just a little over a week old!... "
Taylor became quiet and stared at Marill in awe. He had never seen one outside of TV, and most of the Pokemon around his neighborhood were all Sentret and Pidgeys anyway. A few Kanto trainers would stop by New Bark Town on their way to the Johto league, but even then they didn't allow their Pokemon to run amok.
Tracey turned his head slighty and caught Taylor's eye. The light from his professional looking glasses shined brilliantly as their eyes locked. The little Marill kicked a bit in curiosity of this other human and made a couple of " Maer! " sounds. Time seemed to stop before Tracey turned completely to face Taylor.
" Here... " said Tracey gently, placing the young Marill into his arms. Marill yawned a bit and closed it's eyes, drifting off to sleep peacefully against Taylor's soft sleeves.
Whitney bit her lip, a tear coming to her eye - this one moment of tenderness had made the anger all drain away. She wanted to hate Taylor so much but looking into the boy's eyes...
" Thank you... " said Taylor, offering the little Marill back, grateful to Dr. Sketchit.
Tracey however shook his head. Taylor took a step back, confused.
" Please take care of him... " said Tracey, using his now free hands to jot a picture of young Taylor holding the Marill.
Taylor felt a wave of emotions and he turned to look at Elm, as if crying out silently for help. Elm quietly looked at Taylor with solemn but kind eyes.
" Everyone has to have their first Pokemon sometime, Taylor... " he said with a soft voice.
Taylor dashed out of the hall and towards his house. He burst through his door like thunder and ignored his mother's calling to him as he slammed the door into his room and sat on his bed.
" Mar... Mar.... Marill? Mow! " came a little voice from his arms. He held on tighter, still gentler, at the warm little ball and felt it's heartbeat against his own. Tears were crawling down his cheek.
" Marill! "
The little creature bounced out of his arms and onto his pillow. Taylor looked at it as if it were the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Marill bounced on his pillow a few times, a wide grin spreading on it's tiny face. Suddenly Taylor felt his face being sprayed with water as the little creature washed his tears.
Suddenly came a tapping at his Window. Falkner was looking through it, hanging upside down. Taylor ran to open it and Falkner flipped into his room after hanging by Pidgeot's talons.
" I understand what you must be feeling, " said Falkner, " it was, indeed, a random act of kindness on the good doctor's part. But he had no intention of taking back the little Marill. "
Taylor sat and thought for a second, on his bed. He realized that is why he ran - deep down, he was afraid Tracey was going to retract the offer and depart from New Bark with his special, beautiful Pokemon. He felt something nudging his arm.
" Marill! "
Falkner smiled, which looked odd on his serious face.
" The little one has truly taken to you. It seems you are destined to be best friends forever, as I was with my first... "
The Pidgeot stuck it's head through the window and cheeped affectionately.
" And you know the importance now of the bond between human and Pokemon. It is a bond that is often forgotten by those older than you, or people who have never taken care of a little creature like that one. "
Taylor bit his lip.
" That is why I have to save Sneasel from that psycho... I saw him... No one else except for you and the professor. I'd recognize his face anywhere... Thats why I have to find him! I will become a Pokemon Master and crush him! "
Falkner scratched his chin, thinking.
" Perhaps you should go to the Pokemon league... " said Falkner, " with all eight badges, you could have the support of the entire nation of Johto. "
Taylor nodded.
" I'll do it... " he said, " I will leave for Cherrygrove tommorow and challenge the Gym Leader of Violet City! "
Falkner stood up and crossed his arms.
" The Violet City Gym Leader is no pushover! " he said in a steadfast voice, " I know him. I've seen him crush fresh trainers with no remorse! "
Outside their window, the glaring eye of a Murkrow hid in the shadow of the Pidgeot. It took off with a sudden jolt.
* * *
" What lead me into this anyway? " mumbled Casey, watching Elm's lab from a bluff.
Suddenly an old-film quality movie plays with the song " Team Rocket Forever ".
" To protect the world from devastation! "
" To unite all people within our nation! "
" To denounce the evils of truth and love! "
" To reach for the stars above! "
" Jessi! "
" James! "
" Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light! "
" Surrender now or prepare to fight! "
" Meowth, thats right! "
A couple more clips. Meowth slashes at the two angrily. Bombs go off and they're going crazy. It shows them continuing to try to grab Pikachu and getting shocked. It showed explosions shooting them up to the sky. It showed them running around with bags of loot. It shows them dancing over floors of tacks.
James laughs and Jessi does that Japanese woman laugh with her hand pressed against her face and Meowth falls over, pointing and laughing at the other two. It showed clips of them being shocked over and over again. Boom, they blast off again. Boom, they blast off again. Boom they blast off again. Boom, boom, boom, boom.
" The legendary Team Rocket fell that one day... " said Casey's voice over, in a sad, wistful voice.
It showed Giovanni pointing at Team Rocket and James pointing back. Bruce and Cassidy were on the floor, battered. Meowth and Persian were mixing it up. Fire was burning with electricity fizzing everywhere. It then overviewed a bluff with Ash, Misty, and Brock standing on it. A building was collapsing in front of them. Just as the building was just about gone, a scene of a limping Team Rocket appeared from the sands.
" It was over... Team Rocket, the untouchable mafia, was finally defeated... "
It showed Jessi and James looking at each other and giving each other a warm hug, even though their faces were covered in dust and a bit of despair. Fake tears and babbling about how they'll never get a decent job again.. Meowth was throwing dead flowers.
" Or so we thought... "
It shows a non-old film quality scene of a woman who looked kind of like Casey with hair that went to her back instead of upwards. She released a Houndoom and it breathed fire at them and their faces got burned and an Umbreon ran up to them and bashed them, sending them into the sky, blasting them off YET again. A younger Casey looked up at them, biting her nail.
" My sister Karen and I met them... No... I AM Team Rocket now! "
Casey shook her head and held out a Pokeball pose and a loud " CHING! " sound is heard.
Natu, nearby, was listening to Murkrow and nodding. Natu then turns and jumps into Jones' hair.
" Murkrow says that our kid thief is headed to Cherrygrove city. He plans to challenge the Elite Four. "
Casey look struck for a second. She didn't know what to say or think.
" Karen... " she whispered.
" Oh thats just great! " whined Jones, " we have to travel?! "
Casey held up a finger.
" Don't whine now! We'll catch that thief, keep the Sneasel, and claim our reward... Then.... THEN! "
Suddenly an imagination flash goes. It shows Casey wearing a business-woman type outfit in an expensive looking office. She is holding a bubble-pipe and laughing while a Persian rubs her leg. Murkrow is perched on her shoulder.
" Ah... I can hardly wait! " she gushed, her hands pressed to the side of her face, and dollar signs in her eyes.
The binoculars came out of the pocket on the travelling bag and floated over in front of Natu's eyes.
" They are leaving. " he said.
" What? Gimme those! "
Jones reached up and grabbed the binoculars and took a look. Taylor, with Falkner and his mom was approaching Whitney and Elm. They were talking about something.
" Let us go! " snapped Casey!
A few yards ahead, Taylor turned around to see Team Rocket fly in front of him, in formation. Everyone swung around and gasped.
" Not them AGAIN! " mumbled Taylor.
" We already did the motto, so lets start the show! " snapped Natu.
Casey twirled a pokeball on her finger.
" Go, Murkrow! "
" KROWWW! "
Jones twirled and a snap is heard and he starts jumping up and down, holding his leg. Natu reaches into his hair and throws a pokeball. Gligar comes out of it.
" I'm sorry Marill.... " said Taylor, " but I need your help already! "
Marill jumped out and nodded.
" Get him Murkrow! Grab Gligar and launch him! "
" KROWWW! "
Murkrow swoops and grabs Gligar swiftly and turns around deftly, heading at top speed at Taylor. Gligar's poison tail rears, ready to inject. The camera seems to zoom in on Taylor's face. Suddenly, a shadow appears behind Murkrow and Gligar.
" Pidgeot! Stop them! "
Pidgeot swoops down and and grabs Murkrow with it's talons, but Murkrow already has too much momentum to lose control.
" Aipom! "
Aipom runs across Whitney's arm and launches from Taylor's head, and uses it's extra hand to grab Gligar's tail, pulling it away from Taylor. Poison stingers fly into the side of the house an along the ground in perfect proportion to where Taylor would have been standing. All four Pokemon are now flying off course, their weight becoming too much for Murkrow. Taylor quickly swallowed and regained his senses.
" Marill! Use your Water Gun! Aim for Murkrow's eyes! "
" Marill! "
Marill became pumped and shoot out a blast of water, which hits Murkrow straight between the eyes. Murkrow drops Gligar, which causes it and Aipom to hurtle towards the ground. Aipom swung it's tail so Gligar was on the bottom of it. It lands straight on Jones' face. Aipom then climbs up his shirt and swings it's tail a few times to smack Jones in the face repeatedly, Natu and all. Meanwhile, Pidgeot takes Murkrow and pins it ruthlessly against an oak tree.
" Pidgeot, do your Fury Attack! "
Pidgeot pecks Murkrow relentlessly.
" Krowwowowowwww...... " Murkrow shakily falls, it's eyes swirling - fainted, through and through. Casey runs to it and cradles it in her arms. Jones stumbles backwards, on top of her, and Natu rolls out of his hair and bonks into the tree. He quickly rights himself and bounces in front of them.
" After inspiring fright, Team Rocket slips out of sight! " chanted Natu, using Teleport to take them away.
" They inspired something, but it certainly wasn't fright! " quipped Professor Elm, after watching the fight.
" Oh my... don't they need a nice hot bath after that? TAYLOR! Why didn't you invite your new friends to a bath?! " snapped his mom.
Taylor shivered. He couldn't believe how dense his mother could be.
The scene shifts. It is barely light out at the town's entrance. The morning sun isn't yet risen.
" I'm surprised that Marill made a difference when it's strength level is so low... " said Falkner, sounding like he was talking to himself,
" Its like it was born to help Taylor... "
Whitney, meanwhile was playing with Aipom on the ground, like a little girl. Aipom cheered and giggled as Whitney tickled it.
Elm approached Taylor and put a hand on his shoulder.
" Taylor, you've been my wonderful student for the last few years. I remember when you were a child... " Elm took off his glasses and cleaned them, " seeing how you won the heart of a Pokemon that just met you and how you used it to turn a losing battle tells me that you've grown up... Its time... "
His mother sat quiet.
" My baby... " she said under her voice.
" While I do admit I have... pressing duties elsewhere, " began Falkner, " if Taylor needs assistance, I do not mind helping for part of the way... "
Whitney stood up, tears in her eyes. She jabbed Taylor in the chest a few times with two of her fingers.
" You still owe me a bike, and I'm not leaving you alone until you pay for it! "
Meanwhile from the shadows of a building, there is another figure. He laughs to himself quietly at Whitney's comment. Light shines in his glasses. He scribbles the meeting quietly. He looks up and smiles.
" We haven't left the lab in a while, have we Marill? " he asked.
" Marill! " comes a voice from below him.
" Come to think of it... I don't think I really got a chance to see Johto. If the rest of Johto is as sketchable as this beautiful town, then we should check it out! What do you think? "
" Marill! "
Back on scene, Taylor hugs his mother.
" I'll be all right mom... "
Dabbing at her eyes, she presses an object into his hand.
" I was going... I was going to give this to you for your birthday... but... I think you could use it now. "
It was a cellphone. On it were the numbers to contact her and Professor Elm. It was black and very beautiful. She then reached up and pulled out a backpack. On it was a clock, a detachable map, and even a radio.
" Please my baby... Please call every night you can. The Pokegear has us on speed dial. "
Taylor looked at the ground and sighed wistfully, hardly believing that he had to ever leave home. He took the Pokegear with trembling hands and nodded, tears biting bitterly at his eyes.
" I will mom, I promise. "
All three of them leave and Taylor turns to wave goodbye to his mother, his pack in one arm and a happy, warm Marill in the other. As they cross the next hill, the sun rises, casting three silhouettes against the hills. A fourth figure can be seen following them a bit after they're gone, followed by a little blue ball.
The picture folds to a " To be continued... "
Commercial voice : Don't go away! Stick around for Tracey's Lab!
After the commercials, Tracey steps onto the screen with a pointer. He adjusts his glasses and points to the screen.
" Today we'll be going over the pictures which show the beginning of an adventure! " he says.
A sketch of True Team Rocket appear.
" This is a picture of copycats in action! They, like my old friends from Team Rocket, have a habit of coming out at the worst time and spend more time rattling off a motto than actually fighting. Its actually part of their charm! "
He points to Natu.
" Notice the little creature's plume is not yet fully grown! This Natu is obviously much younger than it seems. "
He taps his pointer and the sketch of Taylor and Whitney folding their arms and looking at each other from the side with a snide look appears.
" This is the start of a beautiful friendship! " said Tracey enthusiastically, " notice how our young Taylor's eyebrow is cocked. That may mean he partially has interest in Whitney's personality! "
He ahems.
" And may I add, " he says with a laugh and putting his hands behind his back,
" that these two remind me very much of two more old friends of mine? "
He taps the pointer. The picture of Taylor holding the Marill comes into view.
" Marill Mar~! " comes a little voice. Tracey bends over and scoops up his older Marill and holds him with one hand and the pointer in the other.
" A young boy and his first Pokemon. This is a perfect picture opportunity! "
" Marill Marill! " agreed Marill.
" Yes Marill, he is going to take care of him, " he says with a nervous smile and readjusting his glasses, " look at his tear stained eyes and his trembling lips. He is overwhelmed by emotions of having something to love so dearly. This is also the beginning of a beautiful lifelong friendship! Right Marill? "
" Marill Mar~!
" And finally we have... "
It shows the meeting before they depart. Hands are being shaken and the sunlight is just rising.
" I went through a lot of ink doing this, but it was perfect! Its the moment a boy leaves on his journey to grow up. This in itself is a type of evolution and even the best Pokemon watchers sometimes don't get to see that! "
Tracey folds up the pointer and holds up a pen.
" I'll see you next time! Keep on sketchin'! Ja ne! "
Author's note - Yes, I know how weak Marill and Azumarill are. So what? Your first Pokemon almost never turns out to be championship material, but thats OK.
Yah, also, I know True Team Rocket is kinda boring character wise, but please give them a chance. They get better. Like Jones being a true to form otaku.... oops, said too much. See you next chapter. I'll post it soon! (No, I don't write this fast, I got the first five chapters written before they appeared on FF net)