Azalea Town: Where People and Pokémon Live in Happy Harmony

Slowpoke Well, a.k.a the Rainmaker Well: Locals believe that a Slowpoke's yawn summons rain. Records show that a Slowpoke's yawn ended a drought 400 years ago.

---

"It was around a year ago. Team Rocket was up to no good with Pokémon," the reporter said on TV. The Tohjo Times was on! "But justice came in the form of the Color Triad. In other news, Azalea Town appears to have been stripped bare of all of its flagship Pokémon, Slowpoke. Investigators are searching this case."

"Crystal, check this out! Azalea Town's Slowpokes are gone!"

"Maybe they went off playing somewhere else. Ilex Forest?"

"Team Rocket, which disbanded last year, appears to have resurfaced. Their leader's identity is still unknown. They were said to be last seen during the Slowpokes' disappearance. The leaders of this group are said to be Rebecca Drayan, Tabitha Ventosia, and Courtney Ramalio."

Crystal gasped in horror. "Team Rocket's back!" She wished she hadn't started this journey after all.

Duncan thought, That's just lame. What would they use those Slowpokes for? Suddenly, he remembered... "That fat guy who offered us Slowpoke Tails!"

"Duncan, could you please not gross me out anymore?"

"No, I have an idea! I bet the Slowpoke Tails are linked to Team Rocket somehow! They were last seen when the Slowpokes disappeared!"

"So Team Rocket must have taken them!"
"Exactly!"

"That's using the old noodle! But we can't fight them," said Crystal disappointingly.

"Why?"

"Because Karl and Hadley ran into them last time, and who knows what could have happened! Now Karl's number one on their hit list!"

"You're right. It's too dangerous for us to handle. We'll have to continue on with the Pokédex quest."

"It's better than getting kidnapped."

---

"Kamon, Team Rocket is back. I don't want you to get involved with them. And so, I'm afraid you're not to leave the house until the problem is resolved," Norman told his nephew, apologetically.

"You're just too overprotective of me," praised Kamon.

"I just want to make sure you're safe. I don't want you to be robbed, or worse!"

"I know. Axel and Croc like it with me. They're fine with me. Right, Croc?"

Croc cried out in positivity.

In Slowpoke Well, Becky was talking on her video cellphone. "We have the Slowpokes you requested, sir."

Conner said on the phone, "Good job. Now we're going to be rich! Bring them over to HQ, and we'll have our Slowpoke plantation! Giovanni will really want to come back! And remember his son, Kamon. You have to pick him up at Goldenrod City."

"Yes sir. Goldenrod is our next stop."

Tabitha said, "You got it, dude!"

Courtney added, "Sure thing. Three Elites will be easily able to overpower a kid with only two untrained Pokémon."

Duncan and Crystal tried to enter Union Cave, but it was closed up. The sign said, "Cave closed for repairs. Please use the road to get to Azalea Town."

"I guess we'll just skip a dungeon," said Duncan.

After ten minutes of travel, they began to grow tired. A Jeep drove to them.

"Don't, Duncan. We're not hitchhiking."

"We have to! And besides..."

"I'm Kurt, the custom PokéBall creator from Azalea Town. And this is my granddaughter Maisy. We'll give you a lift there."

"...we can trust him."

The trainers entered the Jeep.

---

A few minutes later, they finally reached Azalea Town. Dusk had set in, and Crystal was already very scared. Team Rocket came here, and they may still be here.

"Duncan, I got a really weird feeling here."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

In Kurt's house, Duncan saw many things, among them was a supposed picture of a young Prof. Oak. In addition, a desk had tools for forging PokéBalls. At dinner time, all four people.

"So, you make PokéBalls," said Crystal.

"Yes, I do."

Duncan asked, "Could you make some for us, please?"

"I'm sorry, but that will have to wait right now."

"Why?"

"Team Rocket is here, and you know them. They use Pokémon to do their criminal duties. They're supposed to have disbanded a year ago. But, they're at the Well, cutting off the tails of Slowpokes! Selling the tails would net them a fortune!"

Crystal inquired, "So how does that get in the way with your job?"

"My thoughts are always occupied by them! So I'm going to give them a taste of their own medicine! Hang on, Slowpokes! Kurt's on his way to save you!" He then barged out the door.

"Grandpa's gone... I'm so lonely."

"He'll come back," assured Crystal.

---

A few hours later, Kurt didn't come back.

"It's 11:00 PM, and he's still not back? Come on Crystal, we have to find out what happened to him!"

"No, Duncan! It's too dangerous!"

"Look, we're just going to find Kurt." The trainers then ran out the door, to the town center, and into the Well. "You know about Slowpoke Tail? I heard it tastes great," said Duncan sarcastically.

"Ugh..."

"Glad I told you that?"

Crystal nodded. "No."

---

In the cave, as their eyes adjusted to the darkness, they found that there were no Slowpokes. Kurt was missing too. "Where are they?" asked Crystal.

"Maybe they're deep in the cave."

After a few seconds of walking, Crystal was pulled away. "Help!"

"Crystal! No! I can't believe it!" He ran out of the cave.

---

The Rocket Elites were in the lit-up center of the cave. Crystal and Kurt were tied up and gagged, their Pokémon and equipment taken from them.

"I can't believe some trainers are already trying to stop us," said Becky.

"That old dude's much weaker than us, and so is that rookie trainer! I think she's related to Red and Green," added Tabitha.

Crystal froze for a second. They know Karl and Hadley! Crystal tried to protest, but all that came out was a muffled cry.

Courtney continued, "We need to bring the Slowpokes to HQ."

Tabitha asked, "What about these two?"

Becky replied, "We'll bring them along, too."

"Mmmph!" Crystal and Kurt began to tense up, trying to struggle out of their bonds.

"Mach, guard them," ordered Becky. She then told Crystal, "Slowpoke Tails grow back in just a few minutes! There's nothing wrong with selling them. By the way, do you happen to know someone by the name of Kamon Stelldox?"

"We're telling you this info because after all, we're going to HQ and you're coming along with us soon."

Crystal tried to protest against their plan, but couldn't. They're coming after him! As soon as I get free, I'm going to warn him, thought Crystal.

Machamp looked at them, with a threatening look, cracking its knuckles. Crystal began to shiver uncontrollably, thinking she was about to be punched. She looked at the captive Slowpokes, and admitted defeat.

Kurt thought, What a shame. Innocent Pokémon abused by their trainers. There was no such thing as a bad Pokémon. They only did bad things because their trainers are abusing them. Nevertheless, Duncan only had tonight to stop the plan, or Kurt and Crystal could suffer a horrible fate.

---

Meanwhile, back at the entrance...

"Ember, I don't believe it! Why would someone take away Crystal? Does it have anything to do with Team Rocket's involvement with Karl and Hadley? Maybe they should have stayed out of their plans in the first place! I'm not angry, but I just can't believe the journey's at a downhill here. That's what life is, a series of downhills! This is not my day! We've got to stop them, and show them how gutsy we are! Caliducts never give up! Karl and Hadley didn't, and so neither should Crystal and I!" Duncan told Ember. He recalled the fire mouse, and ran into the cave. "Don't worry, Kris! I'll save you!"

---

In Goldenrod City, Kamon was watching the news. Apparently, Team Rocket was indeed hacking the tails off of those Slowpokes. "Doesn't surprise me," said Gloria, May's mother. "Everything they do is for profit," said Norman.

May responded, "Hey, they're Team Rocket. They'll do anything to make a quick buck!"

"And I think Duncan and Crystal are in on it," exclaimed Kamon.

"I hope not," said May.

Kamon was scared. What if Team Rocket got away with them?

---

In the cave, with Ember's Flash to guide him, Duncan traveled through. He was scared that Team Rocket might find him too. All we wanted to do was fill the Pokédex, he thought. Now it's becoming a manhunt for the newly-reformed Team Rocket. He had hoped that they didn't hurt Crystal or anything.

Duncan gasped, and whispered, "Ember, come back." He recalled the fire mouse as quietly as possible. A Team Rocket Grunt was searching the area for any intruders, with a flashlight. Duncan hid in the darkness while the grunt searched the area, careful not to be seen. He couldn't tense up, or he would be heard. Suddenly, a familiar owl flew through the grunt, pecking him. "Ow! Ow! Get away! Go, Rattata!" The owl attacked the rat, and in an astounding flurry defeated it, and knocked the grunt unconscious. He'll be fine, Duncan thought.

"Hoothoot! What are you doing here?"

He pulled out the Pokédex, and pressed the Translator button. Hoothoot's hoots were translated to, "I fell out of my PokéBall when Crystal was kidnapped. I'll follow you through!"

"Great! A miracle! Come on, Ember! Let's follow Hoothoot," Duncan said.

Duncan and the two Pokémon followed through the dark cave. At that point, they heard the blunt cry of a Slowpoke. Duncan followed the cry, and indeed it was a Slowpoke, with its tail cut off. Further, were voices.

"...Giovanni's kid..."

The Slowpoke had a stump where the tail used to be. I hope this isn't permanent damage, Duncan thought.

"I can't believe they abuse you like this! You're living things, not tools!"

"What's that?"

"Uh-oh!" He ran into the darkness, but a crow Pokémon detected him!

Becky said, "Hey! You!"

"Me?"

"I don't see anyone else! Shouldn't you be with the other grunts... Hey! You're another intruder!"
"Quick, Rocky and Hoothoot, deal with this Rocket while I get Crystal and Kurt!" He switched out Ember with Rocky, and scurried over to where Becky came in from.

Indeed, there were Crystal and Kurt, tied up. Crystal desperately tried to yell for help. Duncan quickly came over, and untied her.

"Thanks, Duncan." She untied Kurt, and they returned to the battle. "Hey! Hoothoot got free!"

And two other Elites were there. Tabitha and Courtney. "All right, now it's even," said Kurt.

"We're going to stop you!"
"Stop us? Right, just try to defeat us," said Tabitha sarcastically.

"Uh, please leave the adult matters from you kids," uttered Courtney.

Becky yelled, "Don't expect any mercy! Murkrow, Thief!"

"Weepinbell, Sludge," ordered Tabitha."

Golbat, Supersonic!"

---

In Rocket Hideout, Conner told Sandy, "Gee, it sure is taking them a long time. I tried giving Rebecca a phone call, but she didn't answer. Must be busy."

"They'll come, we just need to wait a bit more."

"Does Kamon know his dad led Team Rocket?"

"Not to my knowledge, no. But he'll find out."

Suddenly, her cellphone beeped. Sandy answered, and said, "Where are you?"

Rebecca told her mother, "We were defeated by some rookie trainers and Kurt."

That old man is still powerful, thought Sandy.

"Well, then, pull out. Just remember to get Kamon."

"OK, that brat's not so tough!"

Sandy then hung up.

"Sandy?"
"Yes?"

"Set a course for the Elite Triad."

"Where?"

"In National Park."

"Why?"

"During the Bug-Catching Contest, which is two days from now, prepare for cleaning out the area of the Bug Pokémon."

"Okay, no problem."

---

Duncan exclaimed, "Hey! Ember and Leafy are evolving!"

The two Pokémon flashed, and gradually morphed into bigger Pokémon.

"They're now respectively Quilava and Bayleef," said Crystal.

Becky exclaimed, "You did okay this time, you brats, but wait until next time!"

Duncan turned away from the evolution. "I thought you broke up last year."

"We did," said Tabitha. "But we've continued our activities underground"

Courtney added, "So, feel free to see us stirring up trouble!"

They laughed victoriously despite their defeat, and ran off.

Kurt exclaimed, "Way to go, Duncan! Team Rocket ran off!"

"Let's get out of here," said Crystal.

---

In Kurt's house, was a blue-haired kid. A boy or a girl?

"Great job, Duncan and Crystal! You sure are powerful to start with. I'd like to have this for your work." Bugsy handed Duncan the Hive Badge.

"But, I didn't battle you..."

"Doesn't matter. You'd defeat me anyway, since you showed those Rockets who's boss. You deserve it anyways."

"Thanks, Bugsy," exclaimed Crystal.

"You're welcome." He ran out.

Maisy exclaimed in excitement, "Grandpa's back! And so is Slowpoke, and his tail is growing back!"

Kurt told Duncan, "Duncan, you handled yourself real good at the Well. My PokéBalls are going to be available for sale soon at every PokéMart in Johto!"

Crystal uttered shakily to her brother, "Duncan, Team Rocket told me that they're going to get Kamon."

"Oh, no. We've got to warn him," he said in disbelief.

They had a bad feeling about this...