Chapter 23
"Awww...do we really have to go to Saffron now Sam?" Kat pleaded."Sorry Kat, it's been 2 months you know. We promised Duplinka we'd have you home by now..."
Kat looked like she was going to cry.
"Cheer up Kat. I'm sure your folks will like Tony, and all the Pokémon you've captured."
Unbeknownst to the trio of trainers, a shadowy figure was watching them in the tree above them. Blaze's ears twitched to the sense that someone was watching them...
"Growlithe!" Blaze growled, snarling up the tree.
"Bulba!" Bobby joined in sensing something was wrong too.
"Bobby, wha..." Samantha began to say.
"Who's there Blaze?" Tony said, much wiser to his Pokémon's thinking.
"The figure jumped out of the tree, and landed on the ground with a grunt. He was a boy, about 13 or 14 years of age. He wore a t-shirt with a big red "R" on it. His jeans were torn, and there was a cap atop his head, concealing any hair he may have had.
"Who the heck are you?" Samantha asked startled.
The boy smiled, and gritted his teeth. He calmly replied, "I'm here to take possession of ALL of your Pokémon..."
"In your dreams! Who the hell do you think you are anyway?" Tony demanded.
"To incur destruction,
To annihilate peace,
To obscure love and honesty's evils in darkness.
I am a Rocket, and this is my duty.
A dark tomorrow awaits all!"
"Team Rocket?!" Kat gasped.
Tony collected himself much quicker than his girlfriend.
"Girls, there is only one of him, and three of us! He can't seriously be that much of a problem!"
"Oh yeah gelled-hair boy? Try me." Patch grinned.
Tony growled, "Kick his ass Blaze!"
Blaze leapt in front of his trainer, and barred his sharp teeth.
Patch shrugged, "Teach him what happens when they mess with Team Rocket! Go Golbat!"
With that, Golbat came out of its Poké Ball.
"Blaze, TAKE DOWN!"
"Golbat...CONFUSE RAY!"
Before Blaze could connect with Golbat, a blinding flash of light stunned him long enough for Patch to make his next move.
"WING ATTACK!"
Golbat extended his wing, and smacked Blaze so hard, that he was sent halfway across the path they were walking on.
"Anybody else?" Patch evilly laughed.
"Right here smart-alec!" Samantha said stepping forward.
Patch looked at the young teenage girl that stood before him. He was unimpressed by her size or physical appearance.
"Very cute. But you don't look very tough. Get her Sneasel!"
Samantha opened her Pokédex:
"Sneasel. The Sharp Claws Pokémon.
Rarely seen, these Dark-Type Pokémon
Have very short tempers, and are very dangerous."
"Oh yeah you jerk? Show him what we do to bullies, Bobby!"
"You must be a pretty bad trainer to send a Grass-Type out against an Ice- Type" Patch grinned.
"Dark-Type, Ice-Type...make up your mind!"
"Ha! Sneasel, FAINT ATTACK!"
Sneasel flew at Bobby with its lightning speed. It slammed into Bobby hard, sending him to the ground with authority. Gloom looked on with deep concern.
"This is way too easy! ICE BEAM!"
Sneasel held out one of its sharp claws, and fired a chilly beam right towards Bobby...
"Bobby you can stop it! WATER GUN!"
"Sam, No! Don't do it!" Tony screamed out.
But it was too late. Bobby pressed his lips together, and fired his only water attack. The WATER GUN connected with the ICE BEAM and created a wall of solid Ice between Bobby and Sneasel. Patch and his Sneasel both stood in awe. You just didn't see that everyday!
"What's wrong Tony? Bobby stopped it, didn't he?" Samantha said proudly.
"Not that! You just showed him what Bobby can do! He'll want him even more now!" Tony explained.
"Right about that Slick!" Patch smiled, "The Boss would love to have something like that!"
"You're never getting Bobby!" Samantha screamed out, not finding that remark at all funny.
"Easier for you to say girl. Sneasel, THIEF attack!" Patch commanded pointing at Bobby.
Sneasel once again flew at Bobby with incredible speed. All of the sudden, Gloom leapt directly in front of Bobby. Bobby let out a small gasp, as "his Gloom" stood in front of his attacker. Gloom's bulb was radiantly glowing. Neither Patch nor Sneasel had any time to reacted, before a huge beam of light exploded out of Gloom's bulb. Both Patch and Sneasel were completely engulfed in the attack. When the light show was over, both Patch and Sneasel were on the ground badly hurt.
"Wow! A SOLARBEAM!" Kat marveled.
Patch struggled to his feet slowly. "You're lucky! Don't even kid yourself into thinking you've gotten away with this. We'll meet again, and it will be a completely different story!"
Patch recalled Sneasel, and ran off hastily.
"Gloom...you...you saved Bobby..." Samantha said with deep thanks in her voice.
"Glooom!" Gloom smiled.
Gloom walked away from Samantha, and over to Bobby. The two of them just stood there staring at each other.
"Oh brother, and I though Tony and Kat were bad..." Samantha grinned.
Samantha laughed as Kat chased her angrily. The three trainers and their Pokémon could all see magnificent Saffron City on the horizon.
