Hello, hope everyone's enjoying their Easter vacation! Well, here's chapter 7! Angelina finally gets out of Union Cave and is almost toward Azalea Town, what's to happen now? Read on to find out!
Chapter 7: Rockets Down In Slowpoke Well
Last time, Angelina captures two new Pokemon while traveling through the Union Cave. Then her Oddish evolves into a Gloom after battling a Hiker and his Geodude.
Angelina continues along the route heading towards the next town, holding the egg she received from Professor Elm. She happily walked up a small slope in the middle of the ledge until seeing a rather large, circular-shaped area of the ground that had been sunken down. There was a man at the entrance, standing guard. He was wearing a black uniform emblazed with a red "R".
Angelina clicked on the map feature on her Poke-Gear, wondering about her location. "It says that the Slowpoke Well is right here. I'm guessing that's what the guy is guarding." She walked up to the shady man dressed in black with her map in her hand and asked nicely, "Excuse me, but why are you blocking the Slowpoke Well?"
The person in black turned his attention to the trainer in front of him and explained; "It's unsafe to go in there, so I'm standing guard. Aren't I a good samaritarian?" He flashed her a quick smile while Angelina gawked at his weird behavior, though she continued walking until she suddenly jumped feeling something tap against her chest. She almosted dropped her egg in shock, but held it up, to see that it was cracking slightly.
Angelina stared in awe as a crack appeared along the top of the egg and began traveling around it in a circular fashion. This was accompanied by two cracks on the side of the egg, and two on the bottom. The shuddering suddenly stopped and the top of the Egg burst open, revealing a light yellow lump. She leaned in close until the lump suddenly sprouted open, revealing five spikes attached to a rather stumpy head. It had tiny black eyes, which suddenly snapped open and laid eyes on Angelina. The two stared at each other for a few moments, until the other four cracks on its shell burst, revealing two stubby arms and feet.
"Oh my, what are you?" Angelina murmured as she pulled out her Pokedex and scanned the creature in her arms.
"Togepi, the Spike Ball Pokemon. It is considered a symbol of good luck. It's shell is rumored to be filled with happiness, which it will share with its owner if treated kindly."
Angelina smiled as she puts away her Pokedex. "Togepi, such a cute little baby!" she cooed sweetly as the Pokemon gurgled in delight. She headed up the path that lead into Azalea Town and looked around. She found a sign next to the Pokemon Center and it said, "Azalea Town. Where People and Pokemon Live in Happy Harmony."
"How come I feel no harmony from this place?" Angelina muttered to herself puzzled. There were no people walking the streets, the water fountain was dried up, and it was dark in most of the houses.
She walked to a large house-like structure with light blue shingles and white-colored drywall and wood. There was wmoke rising from the concrete chimney on the top and the house was surrounded by trees. She knocked on the door.
"Come in!" a voice said. Angelina opened door and walked inside. A little dark-haired girl, no older than six years with rosy cheeks, sat on the floor. She had brown hair in pigtails curled into loops that stuck out of the side of her head and held up by red hair ties. She wore a pink short sleeved shirt with a pink pompom in between the collar, and red shorts. Her blue eyes were puffy and red, she had been crying.
"Uhm, Hello?" Angelina said.
The girl looked up. "Are you a Pokémon trainer?" she asked.
"Yes." Angelina said. "What's wrong?"
The little girl ran over and threw her arms around Angelina. "Oh can you please save the town's Slowpoke?"
"Um, Slowpoke?" Angelina asked, taking out her Pokedex. "What's up with them?"
"Slowpoke, the Dopey Pokemon. Although slow, it is skilled at fishing with its tail. It does not feel pain if its flavorful tail is bitten."
"Yesterday people dressed in black came and took all the Slowpoke in the town to cut of their tails and sell them! I'm so worried if they have cut of my Slowpoke's tail yet!" The girl said and burst in tears.
"Calm down Mazie," an elderly man with gray hair walked up to them. He wore a dark blue robe, and his silver hair was combed back and ended above his shoulders. "This is my granddaughter Mazie, and my name is Kurt. I create one-of-a-kind Pokéballs from Apricorns."
"It's very nice to meet you both." Angelina said, pocketing her Pokedex. "What are Apricorns?"
"They are a special fruit hollowed out to create Pokeballs to catch Pokemon." Kurt explained.
Angelina nodded. "Okay, but yhy is the town so empty?"
"Well, it all happened since yesterday, when the Team Rocket came and took the Slowpokes." Kurt began, laying his arm on Mazie's shoulder. "Some of the people were afraid that the Rockets would steal their Pokémon as well, so they moved. Not many dared to stay."
"Does it have anything to do with the cave I passed earlier?" Angelina asked. "The person in black outside didn't want me to go in. He said it was none of my business."
"Of course it does! They're cutting off the Slowpoke's tails for sale! So I'm going to help you teach them a lesson in pain." Kurt replied. "Mazie, stay here, and make dinner for us when we come back. We will save the Slowpokes!" He charged out of his home leaving the two girls to watch in amazement.
"Horray Grampa!" Mazie cheered and jumped up in the air.
Angelina just smiled. She hasn't even seen a child in this town since she got here, but was surprised that she was left with a big responsibility. She ran out of the house and through town, arriving back at Slowpoke Well to see no one blocking the entrance.
"Kurt is really determined to save the Slowpoke. And I'm going to help him!" Angelina cheered running down the old stone stairwell into the damp, ancient well. She paused at the last step and found Kurt lying against the wall breathing heavily and holding his back injured. "Kurt?" She jogged up to the old man and bent down to see him face to face. "What happened?"
Kurt held his head up seeing the bluenette looking worried at him while he brightened up though he was injured. "Hey there, Angelina! The guard up top took off when I shouted at him. But then I took a tumbling down the wall. I slammed down hard on my back, so I can't move."
"I see." Angelina muttered seeing him hold his back pained.
Kurt then slammed his fit into the ground and cursed upset, "Rats! If I were fit, my Pokemon would've punished them…Ah, it can't be helped. Angelina," the girl glanced curious at him when he spoke her name. "Show them how gusty you are in my place!"
Angelina nodded confidently and stood up exclaiming, "Alright, Kurt! I'll show Team Rocket not to mess with Slowpokes or anyone. I'm off!" She started to run down the creaky hallway while Kurt watched her smiling knowing she would be able to defeat Team Rocket.
Angelina took off running down the dimmed lit hallway until a Team Rocket Grunt popped out in front of her and spoke upsetly, "Some old coot shouted at me and made me stumbled down the stairs. I can vent my anger out on you! Go, Koffing!" He threw the pokeball out and a floating purple creature with crater-like protrusions appeared right in front of her.
"Koffing." the pokemon spoke with its smiling face.
"Oh wow, a Koffing!" Angelina exclaimed, pulling out her Pokedex.
"Koffing, the Poison Gas Pokemon. Because it stores several kinds of toxic gases in its body, it is prone to explode without warning."
"Okay, then. Spritz, I choose you!" Angelina threw her pokeball and her Marill popped out. "All right, Spritz, use Water Gun!" she commanded confidently.
"Mariiiiiiii" the aqua mouse shot a blast of water from her mouth as it struck Koffing hard in the stomach.
"Koffing!" the poison Pokemon cried out pained from the attack.
"Koffing, use your Tackle!" the Rocket shouted irritated to his cringing Pokemon.
"Koffing!" it cried out charging towards the aqua-mouse in a slow speed.
"Time to end this. Use your Ice Punch!"
Spritz readied her icy powers into her fist and as Koffing was a foot away from her, Spritz sent a powerful blow to Koffing's small round body. The mighty punch made Koffing crash into a wall nearby making a small crater in the wall. Koffing was unconscious lying against the wall while Team Rocket Grunt cried out baffled, "Oh, no!"
"Good job, Spritz!" Angelina praised her Pokemon while Spritz bounced happily. She recalled her back into her pokeball with a red beam and pocketed it on her belt. She continued going down the hallway passing the Rocket crying defeated with his out cold Koffing.
Angelina continued to walk. She yawned, and she could understand since the moon was out. She needed a good sleep after this. And maybe some food when her belly growled. Then she thought about what horrible things the Rockets could do to the Slowpokes, and even wondered if she had to battle more since the Rockets can't guard with only three people. She then started to run like crazy as she heard wings flapping behind her. The flapping got faster. She thought she was going to fall anytime, but then she had to look behind. Majestic wings, and big it was, a Fearow. She had to send out Gloom; her Marill was too weak, but Gloom had a weakness. Fearow could blow it away anytime. Then Angelina got an idea.
"Go Flower! Stun Spore!" As soon as Gloom was sent out, small spores sprayed towards Fearow. It cried out and was paralyzed.
"Fearow, return! The boss will not be happy."
Angelina heard the Rocket run away, and continued walking. She was running up some small stone steps and onto a platform before a shrilly-female voice cried out, "Stop right there!"
Angelina stopped and glanced at where she heard it from as a purple-haired Rocket Grunt stepped from the shadows. The young Rocket scrutinized while the girl was prepared for whatever she'll pull out.
The Rocket took another step and crossed her arms seriously. "Why are you here?" she questioned her earnestly.
"I'm here to put a stop to your scheme of cutting off Slowpokes' tails." Angelina replied back filled with confidence and determination.
The Rocket Grunt narrowed her grey eyes while she scoffed, "So, what? Slowpokes' tails grow back. Besides, if we obeyed you, then our rep would be totally ruined!"
"That's too bad. Your rep is already ruined anyway." Angelina calmly stated putting a hand next to her pokeballs.
"Like you know. Ekans, go!" the Rocket called out throwing her pokeball up in the air. The pokeball opened and revealed the snake Pokemon flying out and landing on the ground in front of his trainer.
Angelina picked a pokeball up and threw it out calling, "Flower, come on out!" Gloom showed up from her pokeball and landed on the ground determined.
"Ekans, use Poison Sting!" Team Rocket Grunt ordered to her snake Pokemon. Ekans shot poison needles from its mouth towards the small weed Pokemon.
"Flower, dodge and use Razor Leaf!" Angelina told calmly to her. Gloom dodged the poison needles swiftly and whipped the leaves towards Ekans. The snake Pokemon flew back to the wall scratched heavily while Gloom stood there awaiting orders.
"Ekans, get up!" the Team Rocket Grunt coldly commanded her Pokemon. Ekans slowly stood up and slithered towards his position again. "Now, use your Wrap!" Ekans slithered toward Gloom quickly and wrapped around her beginning to squeeze her tight.
"Gloooom!" the weed Pokemon cried out pained while Ekans continued to squeeze the leaf Pokemon tighter.
"Flower!" Angelina gasped concerned for her grass Pokemon.
The female Rocket grunt giggled harshly until a thought popped into the young brunette's mind as she ordered, "Flower, use Giga Drain!" she commanded Gloom.
Gloom drained Ekans' energy making it heavily damaged as Ekans coiled on the ground unconscious.
"Oh, no!" the female Rocket cried out in despair.
Angelina recalled Gloom back into her ball and passed by the freaked-out Team Rocket Grunt. She then ran down the lightly dimmed hallway until she reached a room that was filled with several cages filled with sleepy Slowpokes and several Rocket Grunts chopping off Slowpoke's tails with knives.
"Stop!" Angelina screamed out running into the room startling the Rockets.
"What are you doing here?" someone questioned, the figure stepped forward and narrowed his eyes at her seriously. He was wearing the same outfit as the rest of the Rockets, however, he had noticable light blue hair, which seemed to be pointed at the sides underneath his cap.
"I'm here to stop you from cutting the Slowpokes' tails off and your little scheme." Angelina countered determined to put a stop to their evil, twisted plan.
The grunt scoffed uncaringly, "Like we'll do that because of you. I saw what transpired back there. You seem pretty resourceful to be able to get past those underlings. My name is Proton, and I am one of Team Rocket's Executives." he looked Angelina over with a sly grin, "Well, you don't seem like much, but I suppose looks can be deceiving. If you would consider joining Team Rocket, then we can let this little assault of yours slide."
At this, Angelina gasped and shouted angrily, "I'll never join you! No one gets away with hurting innocent Pokémon just to make a profit!"
Proton sighed and said, "What a shame. But since you're choosing to interfere with our plans, expect no mercy!" He pulled out a pokeball and threw it out revealing a Koffing.
Angelina let out a frustrated sigh, "Again. Oh, well, time to play." She released her Marill from her Pokeball and readied for another battle.
"Koffing, use Smog!"
Koffing started to spread poisonous gas around the battlefield usually while Marill stood her ground unaffected. Angelina couldn't look through the purple mist with Marill until she saw Koffing's outline appeared.
"Spritz, direct your Ice Beam to the little left." Angelina told her while she readied her beam and shot it across the field.
The Ice Beam shot through the thick cloud and hit Koffing directly turning it into an icicle causing it to fall on the ground. The smog cleared up once again and showed Koffing frozen up in a frozen tomb. Proton growled angrily at the young girl while he recalled his Koffing back into its Pokeball. Angelina recalled her Marill and sets the Pokeball back on her belt.
Proton snorted stubbornly and grimaced, "Maybe you're better than I thought. We're leaving now, but just remember that you were lucky! Next time, the full force of Team Rocket will bring you down!" Suddenly, the whole area went dark, and when the darkness cleared, Proton and the other Rockets were gone.
"Where did he go?" Angelina asked looking around the Slowpoke-covered room.
While she was surrounded by Slowpokes around, Kurt ran in huffing in quick breaths before he checked each Slowpoke for injuries. He walked up to Angelina with a pleased expression and exclaimed, "Way to go, Angelina! Team Rocket has taken off."
"Is your back okay?" Angelina asked concerned about his injury.
"My back's better. Let's get out of here." Kurt said leading her out of the well with the Slowpokes following them into town again.
Angelina ran to the cage and opened it. The Slowpoke thought for a while, then they ran out.
"Run home!" Angelina said to them. When all of them were out of the cage, Angelina went after and ran to Kurt's house.
They arrived back at Kurt's house while Kurt went back sitting on his mat and the little girl was having fun playing with Slowpoke. Angelina walked up to Kurt and stood before him while he looked and smiled gratefully, "Hi, Angelina! You've handled yourself like a real hero at the well."
Angelina blushed a little and rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, "Well, I'm not exactly a hero."
"Nonsense! I would be honored to make balls for a trainer like you." Kurt stood up and stepped over to the cabinet searching for something. He pulled it out and walked back to her. "This is all I have right now, but take it." He handed her a brand-new Lure Ball while she scanned it intrigued at it. "I make balls from apricorns. Collect them from trees and bring'em to me. I'll make balls out of them."
Angelina put the Lure Ball in her backpack and smiled back saying, "I will. Thank you, Kurt." She bowed politely and respectfully to him.
The next morning, Angelina woke up early. She looked around and remembered that she slept overnight at Kurt's house. She went downstairs after refreshing in the bathroom and dressed in clean clothes. Kurt was already down there, working with something, and Mazie was looking in the fridge for something to eat for breakfast.
"Hello," Angelina greeted.
"Oh, hello Angelina." Kurt said, without turning around.
"Hi!" Mazie smiled. "Are you going to challenge the Azalea Town Gym for the Hive Badge today?"
"Well, I guess so. And I think it will be easy with my Charmander." Angelina replied. "What are you doing, Kurt?"
"I am making a Fast Ball. It's a ball who catch fast moving Pokémon, they are made from white Apricorns. You can find them at the back of our house." Kurt showed Angelina a white ball, but it wasn't complete yet.
"Bet it'll be a neat Pokeball when its done," Angelina smiled. "Well, I need my Pokémon and they're still at the center! Thank you, Kurt, for letting me stay here over the night!"
"No, I should thank you, since you got all Slowpokes back. It was very brave of you." Kurt said. "Good luck on your journey!"
"Thanks! Bye!" Angelina waved and left Kurt's house, ready to earn her second Johto badge.
§To Be Continued§
*The egg that Angelina receives from Professor Elm hatches into a Togepi.
*Angelina enters Azalea Town and meets Kurt, the Pokeball creator, and his grand-daughter Mazie.
*Kurt rushes off to Slowpoke Well to save the Slowpoke from Team Rocket.
*Kurt has a back injury and asks Angelina to take his place; she confronts two Rocket Grunts and defeats a Koffing and Fearow.
*Angelina battles Proton, one of the four executives of Team Rocket; defeats his Koffing and saves the Slowpokes.
Alot of fun stuff happens, huh? Tell me what you think in your reviews, and the next chapter will be up sooner than you think! Thanks!