Chapter 5: Derek and the rebel

As we got onto the ferry to Orita Island, we relaxed a bit and decided to send all our Pokemon out. I decided to send an E-mail message to my mom.

"Dear mom, " I said as I was typing it on my PDA. "Things are going great so far. Not only did I catch a Mudkip, Treecko, and Torchic, but also my Mudkip evolved and I managed to get my first gym badge. I'm with Zack and Marie in a ferry to Orita Island. See ya soon!"

Just as I sent the message, I received an E-mail message from Roger.

"Hey little dude,"I read to myself. "Hope you're having a righteous time. When you can, come to the Bright Town gym anytime, and like, do some meditation…or a battle if you want that." I chuckled at the meditation remark.

I felt good, as I was traveling among the water, there was a cool and crisp breeze, and it was very sunny out. It was a perfect day to relax and hang out, not to mention get a gym badge.

"WHAT?"

…or so I thought. It turns out, the door to the gym was locked and there was a sign on it, saying that the gym is closed.

"Closed?" I said. I was raring to get to my gym battle, but it was closed, on today of all days. "Re-opens…NEXT MONTH? Is this even true?"

"Don't worry, Derek," Zack said. "At the rate we travel, you'd get…2 more badges by next month."

"But for the moment," Marie added. "I say we get some seafood! Let's go, Swablu!"

She and Swablu ran off before we even noticed, and we were trying to catch up to her. All of a sudden, a blur ran past Marie, and then a flamethrower was about to hit her as she screamed in terror.

"Marshtomp, water gun!" I said as I threw out Marshtomp's Pokeball just in time for the mud fish to let out a stream of water to block the flamethrower. Nearby, we saw two red Pokemon, both red colored, one small, and one big. The small one looks almost like the big one, their mouths almost looking like beaks, but the small one was red with yellow on its belly, while the bigger one had a flame on its tail, and it was red and yellow, too, but in a flame pattern. We also saw a familiar face, which we all loathe so much.

"Great, how did you urchins manage to get good Pokemon, let alone graduate from school?"

People, I despicably introduce to you Winston Stone. He's the most annoying and snooty kid you'll ever meet. He thinks money and only money is all that matters, and his dad is the CEO of the Devon Company. Since that company makes big bucks and his brother's the Hoenn champion, he thinks he's greater than everybody.

"Great, what are you doing here?" Zack said. "Going to the 99 cents store?"

"Ha-ha, you ungrateful rat," Winston said. "In fact, I heard thattheveryPokemon thatjust passed by iscausing all sorts of trouble here."

"And what does that have to do with you?" Marie said, ticked off at him.

"To capture it, of course," Winston said. "If this Pokemon is half as tough as everyone says or if it's a rare Pokemon, my dad says I could have it as a little present. And if I don't want it, I'll just simply sell it."

"You make me sick," Zack said. We all hated him, but the real rivalry is between Zack and Winston; they have been starting it ever since they were 4.

"You just see. I'll have it in no time. These Pokemon dad let me borrow will help."

"And what will happen if you COULDN'T catch it?" I said.

"I'll just call the police and send it to the pound," Winston said. "I'll be seeing you little lab rats later." And at that, he left along with the two Pokemon.

"What are we gonna do now?" I asked.

"I'll tell you what we're gonna do," Zack said. "You're gonna catch it so I can shove it in his stupid little face."

"Why me?" I asked hesitantly.

"You're a better trainer than us," Marie said. "Besides, I want to get my revenge for him getting gum all over my hair last year!"

"This Pokemon would be a good addition to the team if it really is tough. It could help me out a lot in gym battles."

A minute after walking around the harbor, we heard a commotion by the Pokemon Center. We went there and we saw a sailor with two Pokemon. They were exactly the same, they were grayish-light bluish in color, and they had some developed muscles. He was battling a wild Pokemon, which might be the one causing trouble. It was battle-scarred, and it was black in color with sharp claws with sharp looking eyes.

"Those two are Machop," Zack said, pointing at the two muscle Pokemon.

"And that must be the Pokemon everybody's talking about," Marie said, pointing to the black Pokemon. I looked it up in my Pokedex.

"It says here it's a Sneasel," I said. "It also says it lives in frozen caves and mountains."

"That's strange, a Sneasel all the way out here in a harbor," Zack said.

"Machop, let's get this Pokemon and get our reward!" The sailor said.

The two Pokemon charged toward the Sneasel, but it vanished just before it hit them.

"That's a fast Pokemon!" Marie said.

"It's using agility," Zack explained.

The Sneasel appeared then disappeared again. When it re-appeared, it struck one of the Machop.

"That's a faint attack," Zack said.

However, just a split-second after Sneasel used the attack, the other Pokemon used a karate chop attack and hit. But, all of a sudden, it disappeared and in mid-air appeared 6 more Sneasels.

"Before the Machop could even attack, it probably used double-team and an illusion took its place," Zack said.

"But that was so fast," Marie said. "You could barely see it coming."

Then, all of the Sneasels ran around the two Machops, which made them go dizzy. All but one of the Sneasels disappeared and the remaining Sneasel's claw glowed. He swung its claw at the two and hit them so hard, they were instantly knocked out.

"But- that was a crush claw!" Zack said. "How can a Sneasel learn crush claw?"

"Wow, crush claw, too," I said in awe. "I gotta have this Pokemon."

"It took down two Machops at once without even taking a hit," Marie said. "I don't think nobody could ever beat it."

The Sneasel then vanished without a trace, and the people crowding around scattered after. We saw Winston once again as soon as the crowd cleared.

"Impressive, isn't it?" He said. "I'll really enjoy this one."

"What makes you think you'll catch it?" Zack said. "As far as I know, Derek could have as much of a chance as you do."

"The two of you don't stand a chance," A lady said, overhearing us talk. "This Pokemon is too fast and too strong."

"I heard that Pokemon has been stealing food and clothes from the Pokemon Center," A man said, appearing out of nowhere. "It takes sackfulls of the stuff, and no matter how hard people try, they can't beat it."

"Yeah, well I heard that the Pokemon was sneaking around the warehouses at night," A teenager said, showing up all of a sudden.

"Warehouse, eh?" Winston said. "I'll be sure to check tonight."

"Don't count your Torchics before they hatch," Marie said. "We might get to the bottom of this before you do!"

"So, it's a challenge?"

"Yep, and may the best man win," I said, holding out my hand. Winston refused to shake it, though, and turned away.

"I intend to," Winston said, making his leave.

Later that night at the Pokemon Center, we got ready.

"Walkie-talkies?" Zack said.

"Check," I said.

"Binoculars?"

"Check," Marie said.

"Pepper spray?"

"Che- wha?" I said.

"In case Winston comes, so we give him some in his eyes," Zack replied.

"Right, check."

"Alright, team, here's the plan," Zack pulled out a map of the city. "Marie, you head to 48th street. I head to the corner 53rd and Indris. Derek, you start out at 8th avenue and make your way to Andreas road. Once there, you give us the signal and Marie moves 3 blocks East. Once one of us spots Sneasel, give me the signal and I move to 39th street. From there, I could be able to pinpoint the location of Sneasel. Then, you two from your locations move to the coordinates. Once there, you surround Sneasel, then fight it, and catch it. Mission accomplished."

"Pretty longwinded," I said. "Will this work?"

"100," Zack said. "Now let's get going!"

It was 11:50 at night (way past our curfews) and we snuck out and headed to our positions. As I moved to a different location, I gave the signal through the walkie-talkies. After, it seemed like forever, as I was about to fall asleep. I then noticed a shadow on top of a warehouse roof; it was the same one as during the incident at Pokepalooza. It then ran off, as I got up again. I turned around, and I saw a different shadow swoop by; in the moonlight, I noticed it was Sneasel.

"Bogey on sight! I repeat, bogey on sight!" I shouted through the walkie-talkie.

"Gotcha," Zack responded on the other line. "I'm in position. The coordinates are at 30th and Maple. Got that, guys?"

"Read you loud and clear," Marie said.

"Heading there now," I said.

We got to the location, where we met the Pokemon.

"Alright, Sneasel!" I said. "Get ready to be captured!"

"Snee!" Sneasel said, itching for a battle.

"Go, Marshtomp!"

"Go, Seadra!"

We both threw out Pokeballs, revealing Marshtomp and a Pokemon that's blue in color, but it looked kinda like a Horsea, but with spikes on it.

"Seadra?" I asked.

"I found it while fishing in the creek one day," Marie said. "Besides, Seadra evolves into Kingdra, don't you know?" Let me tell you, if you wanted to know about dragon Pokemon, no one knows about them better than her.

"Marshtomp, slow it down with mud shot!" Marshtomp tried to do an attempt, but Sneasel was too fast.

"Swablu, try a sing attack!" Marie ordered. Swablu sang a pretty good sonnet, and no matter how fast it was, Sneasel could still hear it, as it fell asleep.

"Now, Marshtomp, tackle!"

Marshtomp charged at Sneasel so hard it flew at least a few feet far. However, Sneasel felt it and it woke up. It landed a dismount, and using agility, it went and attempted a crush claw attack at Marshtomp, but Seadra went in front of it, taking the damage and getting knocked out. But, Sneasel seemed to get hurt, too.

"Return, Seadra," Marie said as the Pokemon returned in its Pokeball. "I hope Marshtomp wins this. My Seadra's Poison point helped by poisoning Sneasel. You just need to finish it," Marie said to me.

"Right," I said. "Now, Marshtomp, water gun!"

Marshtomp let loose a water gun attack, but as Sneasel dodged it, the poison took effect, as it winced.

"Now's your chance! Slow it down with mud shot!"

Marshtomp once again used a mud shot, this time hitting and hitting hard. It seemed like Sneasel is on its last legs.

"Now, Marshtomp! Finish it with ta-"

"Code red! Code red!" Zack shouted over the walkie-talkie.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Winston must've called the police on us. You gotta hide, quick!"

We then noticed Sneasel limping away, so we decided to follow it. It led us to an alley, then continued to a back wall to a warehouse, and crawled through a hole small enough for only people Marie and my size to fit through. Once we were in, we realized it was rather dim, and there were plenty of packages and sacks.

"Those must be the stuff that Sneasel stole," Marie said.

"Why would it want to steal all this stuff?" I asked.

Sneasel moved to a corner of the room. We got closer and saw many baby Pokemon, all playing and eating food. Some of them were sleeping under some toasty-looking clothes.

"Aww, they're so cute!" Marie said.

"That's why it stole the items," I said. "It wanted to feed all these Pokemon and to make them warm."

"Well, we should help them. It's too sad for them to continue living like this. We should set them free."

"Yeah, but how? We can't just get them out of the city, especially with the police around."

"We'll tell them why this happened. They'll listen."

"No, they'll think we're crazy. We're just kids."

"Then let's have some evidence." Marie then squatted down to face Sneasel. "What do you say? Come with us so we'll set all this straight."

Sneasel looked down and thought for a minute, and with some convincing from Marshtomp, it agreed to help.

"Thank you, Sneasel," Marie said.

"So all we gotta do is sneak around the cops and we'll be home free," I said.

We decided to go over a concrete wall in order to avoid the police, but just as we unexpected it, Winston appeared.

"I can't believe you fell for it!" He said. "I merely hired some people to be fake cops to get you out of hiding. But I never thought that you would have Sneasel."

"Out of the way, rich boy!" I said. "We got something more important to do."

"I don't think so," He protested. "I said I want the Pokemon, so give it to me now!"

"Yeah, right, you spoiled brat," I replied. "How about a battle? You know you don't stand a chance against me. I was one of the top students at school."

"Fine, but you don't know my dad can get me whatever I want, whether I lose or not."

"Alright! Go-" All of a sudden, Sneasel stepped forward.

"Sneasel? You wanna fight?"

"Snee!" Sneasel said. I could even see the fire in its eyes.

"Right. Go Marshtomp!"

"Magby, Magmar, use flamethrower!" Winston ordered as the two Pokemon used flamethrower.

"Sneasel, dodge! Marshtomp, block with water gun!" Marshtomp used a water gun attack to stop the attack like before, while Sneasel easily dodged the other flamethrower attack and made an attempt to attack the smaller Pokemon.

"Magmar, fire punch!" Winston said.

Before Sneasel even hit Magby, the fire punch nearly connected if it wasn't for Marshtomp tackling the Magmar. Sneasel then wound up and unleashed a crush claw attack at both of them, which like the other battle, caused both Pokemon to faint.

"All right!" I said.

"No!" Winston shouted with steam coming out from his ears. "I wanted that Pokemon! It was mine, mine, mine! You'll pay for this!" Winston then ran off, and we decided to head to the center of town.

We were too late, as a big crowd of people, along with the police were there, all caused by Winston. They all looked at us, and Marie and I felt a bit of embarrassment. We decided to tell all of them the story, anyway. Hours later, they all understood and headed to the warehouse, where we brought out the baby Pokemon. Instead of sending them out to the wild, though, people decided to adopt them. Everybody left until Zack came running to us.

"Guys, I heard! I don't know how you did it, but nice job, guys!" Zack said.

"Well,we didn't finish the job just yet," I said. I then faced Sneasel. "Do you wanna come travel with us?"

"Snee?" Sneasel asked.

"You could come traveling with us. We would have lots of fun and battles. The best part is you don't have to worry about getting into major trouble or even getting hungry. What do ya think?"

"Snee!" Sneasel said, nodding its head. We then shook hands on the agreement.

We decided to head back to the Pokemon Center to get some sleep. The next morning, we all packed up and headed out to the next town, this time with a new friend, and ready for a gym battle.

Note: Yet again does the shadow appear right in front of Derek's eyes. And it looks like we've seen a new character, along with Derek getting a Sneasel. Next chapter will be a little interesting and funny, not to mention a gym battle.