Please note that I do not own Pokemon, or any other characters mentioned in this story.

I realize I'm adding some buildings to the city that don't exist in the games, but the guys needed a place to stay. Also, the Gary mentioned here may have a similar attitude to Oak's grandson, but that doesn't mean he's related in this story.

I don't know if anyone uses id locks for Masterballs, but this story does. Can you guess what rare and exotic pokemon the boys got this time? If you can, then you'll understand why I didn't' want them to use such a powerful pokemon so early in the story.

Once again, thank you for reading, and I hope that you enjoy the story.

Chapter 4: Gary

"Any idea where they went?" Caleb asked the others.

"Nope," Daniel replied. "There's not a singe trace of them."

"Oh no?" Joshua picked up a pokeball. "Looks like they forgot one more pokeball."

It was the strangest-looking pokeball any of them had ever seen. The large M printed on the top wasn't really that unusual, but the ball also had two metal clamps sealing it shut. Also unlike most pokeballs, this one had a complete opaque casing to prevent anyone from seeing or communicating with the pokemon inside.

"What is it?" Jason asked curiously.

"I don't know," Joshua replied with a shrug. "I think I'll give Professor Oak a call when we get to Viridian city and ask him about it."

"Let's hurry to the city," Caleb urged. "Charmander could use a good rest, and I really want to buy some more pokeballs."

"Same here," Daniel chimed in.

It wasn't easy for the boys to run from every Pidgey and Rattata they saw, but they made it to Viridian City before dark. Since the Poke Mart was closed until the morning Joshua checked them into the hotel while the other three took their pokemon to the Pokecenter.

Joshua used the opportunity to also call Professor Oak.

"Joshua, it's good to hear from you," Professor Oak said over the video phone. "I'd heard your brother and his friends talked you into joining their little group."

"I have to admit, it's more fun then I had thought," Joshua replied. "How is it going with the burglars that attacked your lab?"

Oak sighed. "I still have no idea who did it. Until I can get a crew here to start repairs I'll be doing my work here at home, which isn't easy let me tell you. But enough about me. How are your travels going? Have you caught any new pokemon yet?"

Joshua told him about their battle with Team Rocket and the pokeballs they had recovered from.

"The green pokeball with the Pikachu probably came from Saffron City," Oak said after a moment of thought. "As for the other pokeball, could you please show it to me?"

Joshua held up his pokeball. "That looks like a Masterball," the Professor said with intrigue. "Silph Company, an industry that makes its business through pokemon supplies, has only made a few of them. They're rumored to be powerful enough to catch any pokemon without having to weaken it, even a legendary pokemon."

"I've tried to open it, but the clamps are keeping it shut," Joshua told him. "Is there a trick to opening a Master Ball?"

Professor Oak shook his head. "Masterballs are sealed by an ID key. Only the actual owner can open it."

"Well, it certainly is nice to have these pokemon, but I really think we should return them to their original owners," Joshua said. "Do you know how we might track down the original owners, Professor?"

Oak thought for a moment. "You should see Bill. He's a friend of mine that lives up north on the coast. He runs the Pokemon Storage System, so he should be able to find out who the missing pokemon belong to."

Meanwhile…

"Here you are," Nurse Joy said. "Your pokemon are fighting fit. We hope to see you again." She handed the pokemon to their respective owners.

"Great," Caleb smiled as he pocketed his Charmander. "Now let's rest ourselves. I want to be at the Poke Mart when it opens first thing tomorrow."

"Definitely," Daniel agreed. "Magikarp has been better then I expected, but I really want some pokemon that can last more then one attack."

"Well, our next stop is Pewter City," Jason said, glancing at his map. "We'll have to pass through Viridian forest on the way. There should be a lot of pokemon there."

"Excellent," Daniel said with a grin. "There's supposed to be a gym in Pewter City. We can compete for a badge there."

They joined Joshua at the small inn, and soon all four of them were fast asleep.

The sleeping didn't last all night, though. At about 3 in the mourning, Caleb woke up from a sudden noise. Looking around the room, he saw someone going through his backpack.

"Hey, get out of my stuff!" Caleb yelled, getting up and shoving the thief all in one motion. He reached his hand into his pack and pulled out Charmander's pokeball. "Let's teach this thief a lesson, Charmander."

Charmander popped out of the pokeball, his tail providing enough light for Caleb to see that the intruder was a boy his age. The noise also woke the others up.

"What's going on?" Daniel asked.

"My name is Gary. Some friends of mine tell me you stole my Masterball," the kid said with a demanding and arrogant tone. "I want it back now."

"The Masterball?" Jason said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "If that's what this is about, you could have just asked us in the morning."

"Look, if it really is your Masterball, then we'll give it back no problem," Joshua said slowly. The look on his face said he didn't trust the boy's claim. "But first, you have to prove it really is yours. Do you know the ID key for the Masterball?"

Gary made a face. "It's really my father's pokemon, but he was going to give it to me before it was stolen."

Joshua shook his head. "I don't believe you, especially since you were trying to steal it." It was also a fact that only Professor Oak knew they had the Masterball. Joshua wondered if the boy had any connection with Team Rocket.

"I don't have to explain myself to you," the boy said angrily. He reached for his belt where six pokeballs were strapped.

"Oh no you don't," Caleb shouted. "Charmander, hit him before he pulls a pokemon out."

"You too, Pikachu," Jason added, throwing out his pokemon as well. "Hit him with your Thunder Shock."

"Huh? Whaaaaaaaaaaa!" Gary screamed as Pikachu zapped him. He fell onto his back, fried. Charmander picked him up and tossed him out the window.

"Shouldn't we turn him over to the police?" Jason asked.

"Viridian City doesn't have much of a police force yet," Joshua replied.

"Besides, we're leaving tomorrow," Caleb pointed out. "What's the point of delaying our trip to testify against a stupid kid thief?"

"Until then, sleep sounds good," Daniel said with a yawn. The others agreed.

By dawn the Poke Mart was open, and there was no sign of Gary. The store only had 3 pokeballs in stock, much to everyone's disappointment. They bought all three, plus a potion and an antidote for their pokemon.

"How are we going to decide who gets a pokeball?" Caleb asked as they left the store.

"Daniel and I need one the most," Joshua pointed out. "You and Jason can fight over the last one if you want."

"You can have it, Caleb," Jason said with a smile. "I want to train some more with Pikachu before I get a second pokemon."

"Well then," Daniel said with a grin, "to Viridian Forest, and the adventures that await us there."