Episode 4: Food for Naught

Team Rocket is in the middle of a forest clearing, huddled in a circle. Jessie complains, "I'm hungry, where's lunch?"

Meowth pulls out a bag of chips. "This is what we got."

James looks happy, "Oh goody, I love chips!"

Jessie says, "Well too bad, they're mine." She grabs them out of Meowth's paws.

Both Meowth and James shout, "Hey!"

Jessie is stuffing the chips from the bag into her face. She mumbles with her mouth full, "I need these to keep up my figure."

James leaps for the bag, "No you don't!" He tries to grab the bag, but Jessie holds it up too high for him to grab it.

Meowth insults, "If you want to keep your figure, you should be eating less of those things, not stuffing your face!"

Jessie appears offended. "Are you calling me fat!?"

James comes in, "Maybe he is!"

"Why I never! How could you!?"

Meowth and James leap at Jessie and the three of them get into a brawl that results in a giant cloud of dust forming around them. Meanwhile, the chips are tossed out of the fight and land on the ground near by. The three continue to fight, not noticing.

At the same time, a Pokémon walks in curiously. It's a short little thing that looks similar to a chipmunk. Its brown with one big white stripe going down its back and a small, but bushy tail. It also has large front teeth. Around its neck is a collar. It pokes its nose at the chip bag and finds its way in. When it pulls its head back out, its cheeks have expanded and puffed out, apparently having stored all of the chips in side of them. It looks curiously at Team Rocket.

That's when James pokes his head out of the dust cloud and sees the Pokémon. He shouts, "Thief!" The fight instantly breaks up and the three look at the Pokémon.

The Pokémon in one gulp swallows all of the chips and smiles. While tilting its head to the side it says, "Munch? Chip?"

Hearts appear in Jessie's eyes. She shouts, "Cutie!" and runs over to it, scooping it up in her arms. "Why aren't you the cutest little thing I've ever seen!"

James storms over to Jessie and says angrily, "Might I remind you, that cute little thing just ate our lunch!"

Meowth extends his claws and says, "Yeah, now it owes us a bunch!"

Jessie says, "I don't care if it ate our brunch!" She nuzzles it. "It's just too cute to be angry at."

James and Meowth both shout, "Get it!" and lunge towards Jessie and the Pokémon. It jumps out of Jessie's arms and on to her head. It then leaps off and runs back into the forest. James and Meowth land on top of Jessie.

Ash, Brock, and Brenda have set up camp in the woods next to a stream. All of their Pokémon are out and about. We now find our heroes taking a break and getting some well deserved rest. I'm sure I'm not the only one who knows what's on a certain young trainer's mind right now.

Ash is sitting at a table. His stomach rumbles. He asks, "Hey, Brock, when's the food going to be ready?"

Brock turns from his work and smiles. "Almost Ash, don't worry."

Ash turns around and looks at Brenda, who's sitting across from him. "You're going to love Brock's cooking. It's the best. I've missed it."

Brenda responds, "I hope so, I'm starving too."

Pikachu and Kappaqua are chasing each other around while Apprentichick watches from a short distance. Blissey is helping Brock cook. Brock walks over towards the playing Pokémon with three bowls of food. He says, "No need for the Pokémon to wait, their food is ready now." Brock sets down the bowls and the Pokémon come to eat. He then grabs an extra bowl for Blissey."

Kappaqua sits down in front of its bowl and picks up a piece of food with curiosity. It throws it in its mouth, and then smiles. "Qua!"

Brenda says, "Wow Brock, Kappaqua loves your food."

Brock responds, "Oh, it's nothing special."

Ash says, "He's just being modest. You see, before Brock became a Pokémon doctor, he wanted to be a Pokémon breeder. He was the best I knew, and still knows all the tricks of the trade." Ash looks over towards Blissey and asks, "Hey Brock, what happened to your other Pokémon, Croagunk and Sudowoodo?"

"They're back at the Pewter Gym with my mom and dad."

Brenda questions, "Pewter Gym?"

Ash answers, "Oh yeah, before Brock was a breeder, he was the Gym Leader at Pewter City, back in the Kanto Region, that's how we met." Ash thinks for a moment. "Speaking of gyms, I don't even know what gym I'm heading to first."

Brock suggests, "According to what I've heard, the closet gym would be in Crater Town."

Brenda shakes her head. "No, that wouldn't work. The only way to get to Crater Town is through the Crater Gate Caves, and there was recently a cave-in that's blocking anyone from getting to Crater Town the normal way. I say we should go to Horizoport City. It's the biggest, and only, city on Tenno Minor, and the gateway to Tenno Major, where you'll find more even more gyms."

Ash nods. "Alright then, Horizoport Gym it is."

Apprentichick is pecking at its food. It hears the cry of another Pokémon and looks up to see several Pidgey and a Pidgeotto flying overhead. While it's looking up, a shadowy figure dashes past its food bowl, taking all of the food, and then dashes away. Apprentichick looks back down to see an empty bowl. It looks at Kappaqua, sitting next to it, and shouts with anger and challenge, "Apprenti! Apprenti! Apprentichick!"

Kappaqua looks back at it with confusion. "Kappa?"

"Apprenti!" Apprentichick lunges one of its talons at Kappaqua, who dodges out of the way.

Pikachu tries to get between them. "Chu pika chu!" The two look angrily at each other.

Meanwhile, the same shadowy blur comes in and takes the food from Pikachu and Kappaqua's bowls. Both notice and cry out in surprise.

Ash gets up from eating his food and walks over. "What's wrong guys? Do you need more food?"

Pikachu points at his bowl. "Pika pika pika!"

Ash looks at him puzzled. "You're telling me that someone stole all of your food?"

"Pik." Pikachu nods.

"Hmm…"

Just then it can be heard, "Blissey!"

Everyone turns to see Blissey has grabbed the Pokémon seen before, its cheeks stuffed with food. It struggles. "Chip chip chip chip!"

Ash pulls out his Pokédex. "Chipmunch, the Cheek Pouch Pokémon and a Normal-Type. The cheeks of Chipmunch are able to stretch out to ten times their normal capacity in order to carry food. Chipmunch are almost always hungry and spend most of their waking hours in search of food. They carry food in their cheek pouches the few times when not hungry, storing it for later. Evolves into Squirrelutton at level 15."

Blissey is scolding the Pokémon, "Blissey, bliss, blissey."

Ash asks, "Did you steal their food? That's not nice."

Brenda adds, "Yeah, how would you feel if we stole your food?"

Brock carries over a stack of bowls filled with more Pokémon food. "Don't worry about it, we have plenty of food." He places another bowl of food in front of Pikachu, Kappaqua, and Apprentichick. They dig in. He also places another bowl next to Blissey. "Blissey, why don't you put down Chipmunch and let it eat?" Blissey slowly lowers Chipmunch and places it next to the bowl. Chipmunch starts to eat away. "See, there's enough for everybody."

Brenda asks, "What do you think it's doing here?"

Ash answers, "Looking for food, no doubt about it."

Brock notices the collar around its neck. "Look at that, this Pokémon must belong to someone."

Ash notices it as well. "Oh yeah." He kneels down in front of it and asks, "Hey there, are you lost?" It stops eating for just long enough to shake its head no. "So you know how to get back home?" It nods.

Brenda suggests, "Well we can't just leave it out here. If it knows its way home, maybe we go with it there."

Brock says, "I don't see why not."

Behind all of them is a bush. Out of it pokes the head of the Turcell from before. It observes them for a few moments, and then ducks back in.

Who's that Pokémon!?

This Pokémon can manipulate an opponent's memory. Apparently, it communicates by flashing its three different-colored fingers.

The group is now packed up and walking through the woods. Chipmunch leads the way. Ash asks, "Chipmunch, are you sure this is the way?"

It faces Ash and nods. "Munch."

After walking a little further, they hear the voice of a younger girl shouting, "My darling Chipmunch, there you are!" Running in comes a young girl dressed in a white and pink dress. She grabs a hold of the Chipmunch and cuddles it. She looks towards Ash, Brock, and Brenda. "Did you three find my precious Chipmunch?"

Ash answers, "Yeah, it kind of came to our camp and ate some of our Pokémon's food."

The girl bows. "I'm so sorry. I hope he wasn't too much trouble."

Brock says, "Not at all, we gave it some food of its own, and it hasn't bothered us since."

"That's good. My name is Alice. And of course you've already met my Chipmunch."

"Hi, I'm Ash, from Pallet Town, and this my partner Pikachu. These are my friends Brock and Brenda."

Both say at once, "Nice to meet you."

Brock asks, "Why was your Chipmunch out in the forest? It told us that it wasn't lost."

The girl laughs awkwardly. "Yeah, my little Chipmunch has a great big appetite, so sometimes when it gets hungry, it will wander out in search of food. It always comes back of course." She looks at Chipmunch and then exclaims, "Hey, I have an idea! You guys are Pokémon trainers, right? Why don't we have a battle?"

Ash steps forward. "Yeah, I never turn down a challenge!"

Brenda also steps forward and pushes Ash back. She says, "Get in line. Kappaqua and I haven't had a real battle yet, why don't you let us go first?"

Ash looks a little disappointed. "Okay…fine…"

Alice beckons them forward. "Come on, I know a good place for battles nearby."

It's Beheeyem!

Alice leads the group into a clearing. The floor is covered in grass and wild flowers, and a stream bisects it. Alice says, "Here we are, my personal battle ground."

Brenda says, "This is perfect. I'm ready for our battle."

Brenda and Alice move to opposite sides of the clearing. Brock steps between them and states, "I'll be the referee, if you don't mind."

Brenda says, "Sure."

Alice adds, "Of course."

Brock holds up his arms and announces, "This will be a one-on-one battle, no substitutions. The first trainer to knock out her opponent's Pokémon will be the winner. Begin the battle!"

Alice shouts, "Go my wonderful Chipmunch!"

Chipmunch leaps out in front of her. "Chip!"

Brenda throws her Pokéball. "Kappaqua, center stage!"

Kappaqua emerges ready for battle. "Kap kappa kap!"

Alice shouts, "We'll make the first attack! Chipmunch, use Hyper Fang!" Chipmunch's front teeth grow larger and glow. It runs at Kappaqua.

"Kappaqua, stop it with Confusion!" Kappaqua's eyes glow purple, and so does Chipmunch, which is stopped in its tracks and lifted up into the air. "Now hit it with your Water Gun!" Kappaqua then blasts a torrent of water from its mouth, hitting Chipmunch directly, knocking it backwards.

"Chipmunch, into the trees!" Chipmunch effortlessly climbs up a nearby tree. "Now use Stockpile!" Chipmunch sucks in air into its mouth, puffing up its cheeks.

"Kappaqua, hit it out of the trees, Aqua Bomb!" Kappaqua generates several orbs of water in front of it and shoots them at Chipmunch. However, Chipmunch manages to avoid the attacks by hiding behind various branches in the trees.

On the side lines, Brock nods. "Clever."

Ash asks, "What?"

"Brenda's using Aqua Bomb. You see, when Chipmunch used Stockpile, it raised its Defense and Special Defense. Now Brenda's countering with a move that could lower both of those stats back down."

Alice commands, "Chipmunch, let's use Stockpile again!" Chipmunch sucks in more air, swelling its cheeks further.

Brenda shouts, "Keep up the bombardment!"

"Aqua!" Kappaqua continues to fire its exploding water balls at Chipmunch, who continues to dodge.

"Now Chipmunch, Spit Up!" Chipmunch opens its mouth, and unleashes a massive beam of energy at Kappaqua, hitting it dead on.

"Kappaqua, catch yourself with Confusion, then Aqua Bomb!" Kappaqua stops itself from flying backwards with its Confusion attack, then instantly unleashes another Aqua Bomb, this one hitting Chipmunch out of the tree, causing it to fall.

"Quickly Chipmunch, another Stockpile!" Chipmunch fills its mouth again.

Brenda warns, "Watch out, another Spit Up is coming!" Kappaqua readies itself.

"Now Chipmunch, Swallow!" Chipmunch gulps down what it has stockpiled, and glows momentarily. Alice explains, "The energy gathered from Stockpile can either be used to attack with Spit Up, or to heal with Swallow."

"Looks like we have to start over, Kappaqua, give it another Water-"

Brenda is cut off when a mechanical arm reaches out and grabs Chipmunch, pulling it up into Team Rocket's balloon. Alice shouts, "Chipmunch!"

Brenda sounds annoyed, "Not you guys again!"

Jessie laughs. "Yes, us again!"

James adds, "And we're here to win!"

Meowth finishes, "So you might as well give in!"

Alice asks, "Who are you people?"

Jessie begins, sounding infatuated, "Prepare for trouble, you're so cute indeed!"

James continues, sounding angry, "Make it double, you stole all of our feed!"

"To protect the world from major cuties!"

"To unite all those who are foodies!"

"To denounce the evils of cuteness and adorability!"

"To punish those who follow gluttony!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth, that's right!"

"Wobbuffet!"

"Mime, mime!"

Alice demands, "Why did you take my Chipmunch!?"

James answers, "It stole our lunch! You really should learn how to control your Pokémon better!"

Jessie, who's holding Chipmunch, adds, "Not to mention this Pokémon is the cutest of the cute, and I'm claiming it as my own!"

"You thieves!"

Meowth smiles. "We take that as the highest compliment."

Ash runs forward and Pikachu leaps off of his shoulder. Brenda and Kappaqua also prepare to fight.

Jessie and James through their Pokéballs. "Go Repiv!"

"Go Haking!"

"Repiv, use Poison Sting!" Repiv shoots hundreds of poisonous needles at Pikachu.

"Pikachu, dodge!" Pikachu leaps out of the way.

"Haking, use your Sludge Bomb!" Haking fires several balls of sludge at Kappaqua.

"Kappaqua, use Confusion to catch the Sludge Bomb!" Kappaqua catches the attack and sends it back at Haking.

"Pikachu, Iron Tail on Repiv!" Pikachu slams Repiv with an Iron Tail, causing it to crash into Haking.

"Kappaqua, Aqua Bomb, now!" Kappaqua fires another bomb at the two enemy Pokémon, which sends them flying back into the balloon's basket. "Now, use Confusion to get back Chipmunch!" Kappaqua uses its psychic powers to levitate Chipmunch away from Team Rocket, and into Alice's arms.

Jessie shouts, "Hey, how dare you take my cutie!"

James shouts, "Stealers keepers!"

Ash looks at Pikachu. "Let's finish this off Pikachu! Thunderbolt!"

"Pikaaachuuuuuu!" Pikachu unleashes a massive bolt of lightning that hits Team Rocket, causing an explosion that results in Team Rocket flying away.

As they're flying, Jessie is crying. She wails, "My poor, poor Chipmunch! Why did we have to be separated!?"

James shouts at her, "How many times do I have to remind you?! It stole our lunch!"

"I can't stay angry at such a cute face!"

Meowth mumbles, "No wonder I have no problem being angry at you…"

Jessie shouts with anger, "What was that!?"

James sighs. "It doesn't matter because…"

They all say together, "We're blasting off again!"

Brenda and Alice shake hands. Alice says, "I guess our match is draw."

Brenda nods. "It would appear so. Your Chipmunch is really powerful."

"Thank you, so was your Kappaqua. I couldn't believe that was your first battle."

Brenda smiles. "We'll have to have a rematch next time we meet."

Alice nods. "For sure."

Brenda, Ash, and Brock begin to walk away into the distance, waving back at Alice, who in turns wave to them.

With her first battle behind her, Brenda is more sure than ever that she'll be a great Pokémon trainer and coordinator. How will she fare in the future? There's only one way to find out…stay tuned!

To Be Continued…