POKÉMON: CRYSTAL
(POCKET MONSTERS: HUNT FOR THE CRYSTAL MONSTERBALL!)

(Episode 2)
"Trouble Times Two"
(Fight! New Rocket Gang!?)

Written by TiredGamer

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Last Time on POKÉMON: CRYSTAL...

Tim and Beth, two children from the small town of Terreth, set off on their first Pokémon journey. At least, Tim is excited about the prospect, since his older sister Beth has been ordered onto the trip. The two prepared to battle each other, using their new Pokémon, when they were interrupted by a Charizard's attack! Quick wits and their new Pokémon friends managed to drive off the fire-breathing giant. Now our heroes continue their journey, albeit wiser. Or is that wittier?

-=-=-=-=-

The sun was high over the Terreth Forest, as our heroes momentarily stopped their trek. The trees swayed with a cool wind. Tim and Beth found a small amount of shade, and were having lunch.

Beth turned around so her back was to Tim, "I can't eat watching you!" Tim stopped for a moment, then started eating faster. Beth sweatdropped, "Yuck.." "At least you're not such a pig," Beth gave a small piece of her sandwich to Meowth.

"Me-owth..." the feline Pokemon feasted on the small portion of its master food.

Tim finished eating and leapt up, "I don't see why you feed it your food-"

"Because Pokemon get hungry too!" Beth interrupted. She continued not to look at Tim, "You should let your Marril out and give it some food.."

"Why?"

Beth spun around and towered over Tim, "Because it needs to eat and exercise!!" She folded her arms, "That is, unless you just don't care about Marril. It DID save you from that Charizard.." Beth split her sandwich and looked at Meowth, which was eyeing the food.

"I care about Marril! Watch.." Tim threw the Pokeball, "Marril, come out and eat!"

Marril blinked and looked up at Tim, "Marril Mar?"

"You deserve to eat like a..a..a Nidoking!" Tim reached over and snatched away the remaining piece of sandwich from Beth and gave it to Marril.

"Why yooouuu.... That was for Meowth!" Beth flailed about and grew fangs, looking daggers at Tim. Immediately the two siblings leapt into a fight with each other.

"Marril.. Marril Marril.." Marril held out the sandwich to Meowth.

"Meowth Me-ow.." Meowth took the sandwich and broke it in two, giving the remainder to Marril.

"Marril Mar.." "Me-owth.." The two Pokemon finished their meal and smiled at each other.

Tim and Beth stopped in mid-air, looking at the two Pokemon. They immediately were standing and looking at their respective Pokemon.

Beth clasped her hands together and sighed happily, "Meowth.. Your so sweet, sharing your lunch with Timmy's Marril..." Beth hugged her Meowth tight. 3 3 3 3

Tim bent down and looked Marril straight on, "I can't believe you gave Meowth part of your lunch.. I'm so proud your mine." Tim hugged his Marril, then stood up.

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As the sun approached the horizon, the treeline began to break up. Clouds gathered overhead, reflecting the red and orange, setting the land below it aglow. In the distance, Kero City awaited. Kero City was a small metropolitan area, most buildings were tan or white stucco, with only a few buildings multi-story. The most noticable structures lay on opposite ends of town. One is the Kero City Pokemon Center, a red and white, 2-story structure with a "P" towering over it. The second is the Kero City Pokemon Gym, a 2-story structure in grey, with a cast-iron fence.

Beth and Tim were racing toward the small city. Beth rushed to keep up with Tim, "Timmy, wait up..." She grabbed Tim's backpack and stopped him. "Why are you in such a hurry?"

"I wanna call home. Dad MUST have made a mistake with our first Pokemon!" Tim hurriedly explained and then continued running. "And do you really wanna to sleep in the forest tonight?"

Beth sweapdropped, and then started running to catch up, "Wait for me!"

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The Kero City Pokemon Center was beautiful. Bas reliefs of various Pokemon went around the exterior of the building. The interior was a soft off-white, to match its origins. Darkness had fallen, and the exterior reliefs were lighted, making them even more surreal. Beth and Tim gathered at the Center's vidphone.

"Goodness gracious, are you already at Kero City?" exclaimed their mother. "I was sure it would be two days until you made it that far. You must have run the whole way!"

Beth opened her mouth, but it was Tim who spoke up, "We got attacked by a Charizard!"

Beth sweatdropped and then shoved Tim away, "What he meant was that we saw a Charizard and decided to run before getting too singed." She sweatdropped again when her eyes locked with her mother's.

"You shouldn't fib, you know I can always tell.." she said in that sing-song way all mother's do. "You must be talking about the old Charizard that belongs to your father." She sweatdropped, "Well, own is too strong a word. Your father and that Charizard have an understanding."

Tim and Beth looked stunned, "You mean it wasn't wild!? But it attacked-"

"Of course not. I even believe your father told it to watch out for you.."

Both children hit the ground. Beth was the first to get up, "That means we were never in danger..."

Their mother smiled, "Of course not! Most of the Pokemon in Terreth Forest belonged to your father or I. That's why I'm so surprised you're in Kero City. Your father was sure you two would be in Terreth Forest catching Pokemon."

The children hit the ground, again. This time it was Tim who got back up, "You mean I missed all those Pokemon, and wouldn't have had to battle as hard... Why did you give me Marril anyhow?"

"Well, Marril is a good Pokemon for a new trainer. Marril is also a good companion. Though I thought Beth was going to get Marril-"

Beth moved Tim over, "And why Meowth? Meowth is cute, but its attacks are so weak.."

"Beth, I didn't know you were going to get Meowth. But now that you're Meowth's trainer, you'll have to learn to look outside the power of an attack." Her mother smiled, "Besides, Meowth is very intelligent, and can learn many things besides attacks."

Beth and Tim sighed.

"I'm sure you two will learn about your Pokemon's strengths and weaknesses soon enough. I have to go help your father now." She blew kisses at the screen, "Goodnight children, and don't be afraid to call!" The monitor of the vidphone flickered and switched off.

Tim sighed. "I guess Marril isn't so bad..."

Beth sighed, too. "Meowth isn't a complete waste..."

As the two walked towards rooms set aside for visitors, they stopped at a Bulletin Board. Among the many notes and announcements was a conspicious poster.

Tim looked at it curiously, "Who are they?"

Beth seemed non-plussed, and waved her hand while turning back towards the rooms. "Oh, just a bunch of weirdos. I saw something about them on TV once."

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It had started to rain. The rain was occasionally pierced by a low rumble of thunder. The two individuals, a woman and a man, entered the Pokemon Center in a run, sliding into the counter. Both were dressed in dark-blue, hooded rain slicks. The rain left them dripping wet. Both looked panicked.

"We need some help here!!" exclaimed the woman, with a distinctive accent.

A nurse approached the counter. She was rather non-descript, save for deep-pink hair, which was neatly woven under her nurse's cap. "My name is Nurse Joy, what can I do for you?"

The gentleman spoke up, "Our Pokemon is hurt, please help it." He, too, had a distinctive accent. After he spoke, the woman moved part of the rain slicker from her arms. Craddled in her arms was a small, yellow creature. The Pokemon had a deep-blue collar inlaid with large, metal-looking bubbles.

Nurse Joy called over a Chansey with a small, wheeled cart. She put rubber gloves on and carefully removed the small, yellow Pokemon to the cart. The Chansey wheeled the Pokemon into a room with an examination table. In an adjoining room were other carts with Pokemon in various states of distress.

Nurse Joy looked back at the Pokemon's owners, "Your Pikachu will be alright. It will have to stay here overnight. Do you have a place to stay?"

The woman waved her hand quickly, "Oh, no, we'll be alright. We have a place to stay."

The gentleman spoke up, "Just as long as our dear, poor Pikachu gets put in a place that's qui-" He was stopped by the woman's elbow in his stomach.

"As long as our Pikachu is taken care of, that's all that's important." She then hastily pulled the gentleman out of the Center, and back into the rain.

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The Pokemon Center was lit low, and the sound of thunder had lessened, even if the rain had not. In the Visitor's Quarters, Beth and Tim slept soundly in their separate beds. In the Pokemon Sleeping Quarters, the many Pokemon remainded quiet. Tim's Marril and Beth's Meowth slept soundly in their places in the corner far from the door adjoining the Recovery Room.

In the Recovery Room, many Pokemon were sedate. All but one. A small beep sounded. The Pikachu's ears twitched, and it arose from its bed, looking around. Seeing no movement from the snoozing Chansey directly outside the room, it tapped the beeping collar once. It looked around again, before hopping down to the floor and racing to the Sleeping Quarters' door. The Pikachu leapt up and twisted the lock.

The Pikachu ran to the door into the Center's Control Room. It slowly pushed the door open, while watching the Chansey for any reaction. Once it had gotten out, it made its way across the room to a group of equipment. This was the equipment used to transfer full Pokeballs to other facilities around the world. It also included security and communication equipment for the Pokemon Center. The Pikachu looked back at the Chansey uncertainly, then turned back to the equipment and clinched both of its fists, focusing.

The focusing brought about sparks around the Pikachu, and gathered in a bolt of electricity, "Piiikkaaaa-CHUUUU!!" The bolt leapt at the equipment, and caused it to spark and catch fire. The fire died out quickly, but left a smoking mass of electronics. The dimmed lights brightened momentarily, before going out, along with the power for the entire building except the Recovery Room.

The Chansey came to its feet, and looked confused. The equipment across the room was still flickering lightly, and the door to the lightly-lit Recovery Room was open. Panicking, it walked over to the door leading out into the main hallway and opened it. There was a shuffle of movement, and the Chansey fell over onto its side, a small hypodermic needle jutting from its back.

The noise of the thundershock attack caused several Pokemon in the Recovery Room and Sleeping Quarters to awaken. The hurt Pokemon could only look around in confusion. Inside the Sleeping Quarters, the Pokemon were more active. Several had began to call for their masters in fear. Others were gathered at the locked door in a crowd, attempting to escape the danger.

Marril and Meowth looked at the crowd forming at the door, and the flaring tempers that were threatening to create a riot. Marril was confused by the many noises of the Pokemon squabbling. Meowth looked around, as if examining the situation. It then looked up at a vent, and quietly motioned to Marril. In the confusion of the squabbling, Marril boosted Meowth to the vent. In a few moments, both were crawling inside the vent and pitch darkness.

The Pikachu waited on the counter in the Enterance. The electronic doors, rendered unlocked by the power outing, slid aside. The two figures who had visited the Center earlier stepped inside. They walked over to the counter.

"Brilliantly executed, Pikachu." The woman grinned triumphantly.

The gentleman laughed, "Don't you mean brilliantly electrocuted?"

The woman and Pikachu sweatdropped.

The trio raced into the Control Room. The pair of humans stared into the Recovery Room.

The woman was gleeful, "All of these wounded Pokemon, RIPE for the taking!"

-=-=-=-=-

The thieves threw the last Pokeball into the sack. Pikachu looked down into the sack and grinned evilly. The woman grabbed the sack and hoisted it over her shoulder.

The gentleman jumped up and down, "We did it, we did it!"

The woman seemed unamused and smacked him into the ground with the sack. "Save the celebrations until we're out of here." She hoisted the sack back over her shoulder.

The thieves raced out into the Enterance, but stopped in their tracks. There were a line of shadows.

The woman snarled, "Great... Witnesses!"

Nurse Joy turned on her lamp. "How dare you use your injured Pikachu to break in!"

The woman laughed, high-pitched, "Break in? We've more than just getting inside in mind! As you can see, though, Pikachu is quite healthy!" Pikachu leapt in front of the pair and grinned.

Beth stepped forward into the light, "Who do you think you are, breaking into a Pokemon Center?"

The woman grinned, "Well, if you insist..." She threw off her rain slick. Her outfit consisted of thigh-high black boots, a dark-blue mini-skirt, dark-blue overcoat with a dark-red "R", black undershirt, and black gloves. Her long, darkish-blue hair laid back from her head almost with a life of its own.

The man tossed off the rain slick in joy, "Oh Goody, goody!" His outfit consisted of black boots, long dark-blue pants, dark-blue overcoat with a dark-red "R", black undershirt, and black gloves. He brushed back his neck-length darkish-red hair with a triumphant flair. The pair grinned at each other.

From Pikachu's collar, an anthem played...

The woman turned her back to her partner and laughed, "Prepare for trouble..."

The man moved back-to-back with her and grinned, "Make it double..."

"To protect the world from desolation..."

He produced a purple rose, "To unite the peoples of every nation..."

She extended her free hand to the sky, "To renounce the evils of peace and love..."

He mimicked her move, pointing the rose skyward, "To extend our reach to the moon above..."

She eyed Beth, "Annie..."

He threw the rose to Joy, "Leigh..."

Annie swung the sack onto her back again, "Team Rocket lifts off at the speed of thought..."

Leigh pointed at the group, "Give us your Pokemon, or prepare to be shocked!"

Pikachu grinned, "Pi-ka, Pik!"

Tim moved forward, scratching his head, "That sounded dumb."

Team Rocket slammed to the ground.

Annie leapt up, "I'll have you know we worked a long time to write that!"

Leigh slowly got up, "I thought we stole that from our heroes?"

Pikachu sweatdropped and sighed, "Pika..."

Annie nonchalantly swung the sack, beaning Leigh, who started to see stars. "The Motto can never be stolen! Only repeated, very very often.."

"Uh, excuse me? But aren't you supposed to be surrendering now?" Tim stepped ahead of the group. "Marril, get ready!" Marril moved next to him. Upon seeing it, Team Rocket all fell to the ground laughing and pointing at Marril, which sweatdropped.

"A pitiful Marril?" asked Leigh.

Annie was more to the point, "Such a useless water Pokemon could never hope to beat Pikachu!"

Pikachu flexed and grinned, "Pika, Pika!"

Beth looked grim, "She's right, Timmy.. Water-type Pokemon are weak against electric-type Pokemon." Beth's Meowth walked up in front of her.

Annie and Leigh's mouths dropped open. They pointed at the Meowth. "That's.. that's...a.." They both leaned in close, examining it. Pikachu crossed its arms and upturned its head in disgust.

Meowth looked at Annie and Leigh, then grinned. "Me-owth!!" It fury swiped both, who fell backwards holding their faces. It then bound over them and leapt, kicking Pikachu face-forward into the floor in surpise.

Team Rocket leapt up. Annie growled, "Meowth or not, NOTHING mars my beauty! Pikachu, go get it!" Pikachu grinned evilly, clenched its fists, and started off after the Meowth.

Beth started forward, but was held back by Tim, "You'll get hurt..."

Beth flailed around, "I don't care! Marril, watergun them!"

Marril looked curious, then turned, "Marril, Mar!" The water gun shot Annie, who was thrown into the counter, soaking wet.

Leigh looked at Beth, "Maybe we can...call a truce?" Beth grinned evilly. Leigh found himself laying on top of Annie, soaked.

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Pikachu looked around in the low-lit room. Meowth was no-where in sight. In the other room, the Pokemon fight had quieted down. Pikachu started walking toward the door, looking between each table. It came to the door, which was bulging from the Pokemon trying to get out, and looked around.

Suddenly there was a tap on its shoulder and Pikachu turned around, "Pika?"

Meowth fury swiped Pikachu, "Me-owth!"

The Pikachu started to focus, "Piiikkaa-"

Meowth smashed it into the ground with a large reflex mallet.

Stars were surrounding Pikachu, "Piika..Pikka..Chuu?"

Meowth leapt onto Pikachu and barely reached the doorknob, turning the lock. It then leapt off Pikachu as it jumped to its feet, sparks leaping off it. Meowth pointed at the door, "Me-ow.."

Pikachu sweatdropped, and slowly turned around. Very slowly, the door smashed open, and dozens of Pokemon started to trample forward. Pikachu's ears drooped, "Pikaaaa..."

-=-=-=-=-

Annie and Leigh leapt up, and pulled out two cannons.

Annie grew fangs, "Let's see you watergun this-" Suddenly the ground began to shake. "What...?"

The door to the Control Room burst open and a stampede of Pokemon started rushing through at Annie and Leigh. Being pushed forward by the stampede was Pikachu, getting ready to thunderbolt. Annie and Leigh grabbed onto each other, "Oooooooohhh..."

The exterior of the Pokemon Center exploded. Debris flew everywhere, as did Team Rocket, "Noooooo...."

As they flew skyward, Annie started crying, "It's not faaaaaiir, we had it all plannnned..." Quickly she and Team Rocket disappeared in the distance.

-=-=-=-=-

The sun arose on the damaged Kero City Pokemon Center. A police automobile sat outside, its lights flashing.

"It was really nice of you to help us out. I wish there was more I could tell you." Joy smiled from behind the remains of the counter.

The female officer nodded, "That's okay, I've heard of these thieves before. This is the biggest heist they've attempted. It's a good thing you were able to stop them."

Beth nodded, "We're just sorry about the damage those weirdos caused."

The officer smiled, "That's okay, the Pokemon League will make sure this place is back in shape in no time."

Tim appeared in front of Beth, "The Pokemon League?"

The officer nodded again, "There's a Gym on the other side of town."

Beth grabbed Tim, "Thank you very much Officer Jenny. I hope you have a luck capturing the thieves. Bye!" Tim started flailing as Beth dragged him out of the Center.

Tim was yelling as Beth dragged him out of Kero City, "But I wanna battle the Gym Leader! I'm gonna be a Pokemon Master!"

Beth was growling, "You have to train before you can fight Gym battles...."

-=-=-=-=-

As Beth and Tim leave Kero City, they head westward, to more adventures. Perhaps when they gain experience, and more Pokemon, they'll be able to challenge a Gym. For now, they've proven they can stand up to more powerful foes...

Pikachu, dirty and scratched, stood at the edge of the hole, looking down into it, "Pika-Pika?"

Annie and Leigh slowly started to climb out of the hole.

Annie elbowed Leigh, "Out of my way! Ladies first!"

Leigh looked around, "Where's a Lady? Where?"

"Argggh.." Annie smashed Leigh, who fell back down into the hole.

Pikachu sweatdropped and sighed, "Pikaa.."

-=-=-=-=-

Next Time on POKÉMON: CRYSTAL...

The children continue their journeys. This time, they run into a familiar face, or is that a familiar face gets run into by them? Professor Oak, a Pokémon Researcher, offers the children a tour of his facility in Dauphin City. He has a bit of a problem involving a legendary artifact, perhaps they our heroes can help? Time to brush up on some history, on Episode 3 of POKÉMON: CRYSTAL...

"Legend of the Crystal Pokéball"

Tim: "Legendary adventure? Count me in!"

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Pokémon and certain characters are , ®, or © Nintendo and are used without permission.
"Pokémon: Crystal" serial fanfiction & concept © 2000 Brightblade Productions