Pokemon EDventures: Johto Journeys

by Gusto God of Story

If you were given a chance to go to another world, would you do it? Given the chance by a young trainer from Kanto, the kids of the Cul-De-Sac embark into the world of Pokemon. The Eds have been fans and know their way around battling... or so they think. So much has changed, and so much is unknown to them. But they must deal with the changes, even if it changes them as well...

7. A Wonderful Union

So, I have both technically met my deadline and also not met my deadline. This chapter is done within a months time, but I was unable to post it by the end of January. Oh well, have to start somewhere on the road to consistent uploads.

So, as for this month, I'm very happy with how far we've come. We're approaching 1,000 views, and we've got 20 reviews, both of which are something to be proud of in my book. And plus, soon we'll be in the double digits in terms of chapters, which has me very excited. I can't wait to see how everyone feels about this chapter.

Speaking of this chapter, I'll say right now that this chapter is a bit all over the place. I'm trying to give a little bit of spotlight to the OCs in the latter half, since I thought it'd be fun, and I'm doing my best to establish that this is a real place, and that the people in it have their own interesting stuff to talk about. Personally, I think I did a good job, and I hope you guys enjoy where I went with it.

Anyway, time to answer some reviews.

Playerhood18: Yeah, that's fair. I just thought Eddy would be interested in it, since it's new and all.

The Afterdreamer: Don't worry, I absolutely get it. Wild times, these are. But hey, if I can provide a good story that people can read whenever they have the free time, then I'm happy.

Engineer1869: We shall see indeed. However, probably not right now. Real life, she calls, and I must answer whether I like to or not.

Anyway, thank you all for the support, and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Welcome, to Chapter 7 of Pokemon EDventures: Johto Journeys!

---

The platform rose, for the eighth time that day, as Hayato watched eagerly to see which opponent he would be facing now. Every manner of foe had been thrown his way, from Eddy and his aggressive use of Spearow, to Double D and his excessive stock of healing items, to even Rolf keeping him guessing with every round. All different, yet all worthy opponents in their own way, and all successful in gaining their badge.

From what he had been told by his previous opponent, there was one left. His mind raced as he considered what they might bring to the table...

"IT'S ABOUT TIME!"

The moment that shrill, grating voice was heard, the Gym Leader grimaced. Looking over, he saw a girl, perhaps the same age as his previous opponent Jimmy, with a pink shirt and an angry look.

"Welcome," he said simply. "You stand where your friends stood, as my newest oppon-"

"Can we just get on with it!?" She snapped. "I've been waiting for hours!"

"... Very well. But before we begin, I would like to know your name."

"Sarah! Now let's go!"

Hayato sighed. Ornery challengers were nothing new, but this one was certainly a step above the rest.

"Hoothoot! Let us go!"

"Come on, Rowlet! Let's show him!"

The two released their bird Pokemon onto the battlefield, both owls looking to each other.

"(Ah! Another so handsome as myself!)" Rowlet joked. "(Let this battle be the best you've ever had!)"

"(Well, you seem quite nice,)" cawed Hoothoot. "(Very well! Begin!)"

"I'll allow you the first move," Hayato declared. "Show me what you are made of."

"You'll regret that, bub," Sarah told him, pointing forward. "Alright Rowlet, use Tackle!"

"Brace for impact, Hoothoot!"

Both acted out their commands with great haste, as Rowlet slammed into Hoothoot. The attack nearly knocked it off its foot, but it managed to keep a steady stance, and now had Rowlet right where Hayato wanted him.

"Hypnosis!"

With its natural speed, Hoothoot got off the command before Sarah could even utter one of her own. Rowlet would not be able to avoid the powerful rays from this close up, and was forced to feel their effects firsthand.

Drowsiness overtook the Grass Type, who fell to the ground sleepily, much to the chagrin of his trainer.

"HEY! WAKE UP!" Sarah yelled. "This is no time to take a nap, you idiot!"

"Hoothoot, continue your assault while it sleeps."

Sarah gritted her teeth as he said that, and watched as Hoothoot continued to lay into her only Pokemon while it was unable to respond.

"Come ON!" She called out angrily. "Stop sleeping and fight!"

As the third peck came in, Rowlet woke up, and jumped back out of the way of the attack. He looked to his opponent with the closest thing he had to a smile.

"(Nice try,)" he cawed. "(But you won't beat me so easily!)"

"(You say that, but your foliage is not offering much protection.)"

"Use Peck right back!" Sarah demanded, to which Rowlet was more than happy to deliver upon. With a swift motion, he closed the distance between them, and pierced through Hoothoot's feathers to deliver a strong attack of his own. The Gym Leader's Pokemon jumped back at this strike, but was not too worried overall.

"So this is to turn into a war of attrition, is it? Very well then. One more Peck!"

"Oh no you don't! Rowlet, hit him right back!"

Despite Hoothoot's best efforts to end this, it wasn't able to muster up the force needed to take down Rowlet. The damage was impressive, but unfortunately, the Grass Type managed to power through. He delivered a STAB Peck attack right to its side, and try as it might to keep standing, the damage was simply too much.

"(I leave the rest to my partner...)" it said, before being returned to the Poke Ball. "(Finish it, Pidgeotto.)"

Not one second after returning his first Pokemon, Hayato unleashed his second. Pidgeotto entered the battlefield, and for the tenth time today, let out a mighty caw. Looking down to Rowlet, it's eyes narrowed.

"The battle shall continue," Hayato told Sarah. "Pidgeotto is the last bastion between you and the Zephyr Badge."

"I'll beat that stupid bird!" She told him defiantly. "Rowlet, use Peck!"

"Pidgeotto! Gust!"

From within the sky, Rowlet could only watch, as Pidgeotto flapped its wings with furious force. It was pretty clear to him that he would not reach in time to deliver an attack, and a Gust from that thing would hurt hard. Not enough to kill or anything like that, but it'd definitely throw him out of the fight...

But, not one to disappoint, the Grass Type flapped its wings and rose up toward where his opponent was. The attack came forward at blistering speeds, and he tried his best to dodge, but that just was not in the cards for him. The attack clipped his wings, and he fell from flight, landing on the floor of the Gym.

He could not stand up. It was simply too much for him to take.

And that just didn't sit right with Sarah.

"Get UP!" she demanded. "We're not done yet!"

"I'm afraid your Rowlet is out of steam, so to speak," Hayato told her. "You should send out your next Pokemon, and give it time to rest."

Sarah dared not answer. In truth, she still had yet to catch anything, and had only used her Rowlet for combat. But now he was defeated, and she had nothing else to turn to...

"Was Rowlet your only Pokemon?" Hayato questioned, causing Sarah to grit her teeth in anger.

"SHUT UP!" she yelled, calling Rowlet back. "You think you're soooo tough because you've got two Pokemon! Well, I'll be back, and then you'll get yours!"

"I'll be available to battle again in thirty minutes. For now, take a bit of a break. You've earned it."

"Don't patronize me!"

A heavy sigh escaped Hayato, as he watched the girl go down the platform. Sarah was, without a doubt, the single most disrespectful trainer he had ever seen. She was even more disrespectful than that 'Silver' boy from yesterday, though nowhere near as mean to her Pokemon.

Closing the roof of the Gym for a bit, he took Hoothoot's ball and placed it within the healing tray. He had no doubt she'd be back in thirty minutes on the dot, and he'd need to be prepared for when she did.

"This is only the first step on her journey," he thought aloud. "If she grows even a little from this experience, then I'll have done my job. But for now... I wait."

---

Back at the Pokemon Center, the party were eating a small supper, enjoying their individual meals, as the Pokemon were convened around their individual bowls. Chikorita had been regaling them with the tale of Double D's battle, and even though their own experiences were still fresh in their minds, she was quite the storyteller.

"(I could hear the blast from even within my own ball, and I knew Pidgey would be down and out,)" she told the various Pokemon. "(And so, Double D was left with me as his final Pokemon, but I could tell that Pidgey did a number on that Pidgeotto. I knew I'd probably only have one shot at this, and so I fired off Razor Leaf right as it hammered away at my defenses with Gust...)"

"(And then it killed you!?)" Totodile asked, on the edge of his seat.

"(Better! The Razor Leaf landed perfectly, piercing Pidgeotto's abdomen! A critical hit if I'd ever seen one! Down he fell like a mighty oak, and we had won!)"

"(Gee willikers,)" Horsea said in awe, as she grabbed some food with her mouth. "(It sounds like you got incredibly lucky there.)"

"(Oh, for sure,)" admitted Chikorita. "(But I can't discount all the work my teammate did. And plus, my darling was the one who put it all into action.)"

"(Your 'darling'?)" asked Cyndaquil.

Without another word, Chikorita looked over to Double D, who was smiling and laughing with his friends as they ate. Her smile was quite warm, more than enough to confirm to every 'Mon there what was going on. No one commented initially, not sure what to say or how to say it.

Then, Gastly finally decided to put something into words.

"(It sounds like puppy love to me,)" he told her. "(But hey, I suppose if it helps you win battles...)"

Chikorita took great offense to that. "(What, do you doubt my love for him?)"

"(No, I doubt HIS love for you. Sure, he cares about you, but only as a Pokemon. You're... in two different egg groups, so to speak.)"

All she offered was a simple 'hmph', before going back to eating.

Meanwhile, back with the trainers, the conversations were alive and well. They didn't even notice that Sarah had made it back, until she had sat back down, and practically slammed her head against the table.

"Whoa, easy," Gold told her. "I'm guessing it went bad?"

"SHUT UP!" she yelled back, immediately grabbing the attention of everyone in the Pokemon Center from the sheer volume. No one said anything, but before she could continue ranting, a bowl of rice and meat was placed before her.

"Well here," said Ryuji. "You can tell us all about it after some food."

Sarah was more than a little shocked. Some part of her was too used to people reeling back whenever she raised her voice, and it still hadn't completely clicked that Ryuji wasn't afraid of her. It was a new feeling, though not exactly a bad one...

"Well, what is this stuff?"

"Just a basic beef bowl with some onion and mushroom. Nothing too wild, but gives you lots of energy."

Sarah nodded, and grabbed a fork (the group had requested them, due to a lack of experience with chopsticks). It wasn't long before the bowl was emptied, and she immediately started venting about what happened.

"Sounds like there's a pretty simple solution there," Eddy told her. "Catch yourself another Pokemon. Ya can't rely on your starter forever. Believe me, I tried."

Gold raised an eyebrow at that statement, but let it slide. "Considering you're starting with a Grass Type, I think you'd do good to get a Water or Electric Type. I'll help you look for one."

"Oh... uh, thanks."

"Don't mention it."

---

Route 32 was their route of choice, on which Gold did his best to show her the ropes of catching Pokemon. She'd never done it herself, but the experience was certainly helpful, especially since it ended with her getting a new teammate this time.

Everyone waited outside the Gym this time, as they wanted to see whether or not they'd be done with Violet City already, or they'd have to wait until next morning for the chance to continue.

"Think she's got what it takes?" Eddy whispered to Kevin.

"I hope so. Otherwise we're gonna be here all week. Ryuji said we've only got so long before the League tournament."

"What Gym you think she'll quit on? My money's on third."

"Second. I don't think she's gonna be patient enough to get to three."

"Would you two please just have some faith in your traveling companion?" Double D demanded quietly.

"No," they told him in perfect unison.

"Look, I know she's not the most patient of individuals, but it's rude to talk about others behind their ba-"

"Here she comes!"

Ed's declaration drew the attention of the three boys, as the door to the Gym opened up once again. Not fifteen minutes had passed since she entered, but now she stepped back outside, her new Mareep in tow, and a confident smile on her face.

"Take a good look, losers!" she exclaimed proudly, showing off the badge for everyone else. "Now I've got my first badge."

"Excellent work, she whose mouth is loud like Papa's summer shorts," Rolf commended. "You have beaten the master of the skies, and your sheep's fleece is looking more bountiful than ever."

"You try and shave my Mareep, I shave your head," Sarah warned him. "So now we can call it a day, right?"

"Ah, what, you wanna bow out early?" Gold asked her incredulously. "C'mon, the sun hasn't even gone down yet, and we got a whole route to explore. Let's keep goin'!"

Whispers began among the group, until Double D decided to step in and say what was on their minds. "I think that would be an unwise decision. Being out in the woods at night without proper gear seems quite dangerous."

"Well, you're gonna have to do it at some point," countered Gold, placing a hand on his hip impatiently. "Ryuji, you're with me on this, right?"

The brunet looked to the newest member of the group with a look of conflict. "Well... don't get me wrong, I love nature as much as the next guy, but I've been trying to take it easy on 'em. They're brand new, after all."

"So are you. Isn't that what'cha told me?"

Ryuji said nothing, and Gold smirked.

"I rest my case. Trust me, it'll be a good learning experience for you guys. And plus, it's not like we'll be camping out there. They got a Pokemon Center just outside of Union Cave, and we can rest there for the night."

"Could ya not have just led with that?" Eddy asked. "Probably would have sold 'em on it sooner."

To this, Gold shrugged.

"Now then," he continued. "I'll be your tour guide through Route 32. I've already been down it a bit, and I think you'll love it."

And so, the party began this trek, following Gold down the trail and through the patches of tall grass, as the sun finally vanished from the sky, and they were greeted with the darkest of nights. It was long, arduous, and most of all, filled with challenges.

The group split off around the halfway mark, with the Eds and Ryuji joining together to take the land path, and Gold and the others taking the path by the waters. It wasn't until nearly 10:00 pm that they were finally done, due to the sheer amount of battles, a few close calls with wild Pokemon that ended less-than-ideally, and only one successful capture by Kevin for Nazz.

But in the end, it was well worth the trouble.

They wasted no time cramming into the Pokemon Center, and once again, Ryuji was kind enough to pay for rooms for everyone. Sleep overtook most of the party, who were admittedly very exhausted after such an experience.

However, in Room 4, Double D could not keep his eyes closed.

Pulling out Chikorita from his Poke Ball, he held her close as he eyed the egg over. To think that Elm entrusted him with such a massive responsibility was both a boost to his confidence, and a boost to his anxiety. Would he truly be able to care for a baby Pokemon? Could he handle raising it, and ensuring it grew up strong? And what of battle? Would he truly be willing to challenge trainers with an infant?

Some part of him said no, and shuddered at the thought of what could happen if he'd dared to do so.

"I hope I can be an adequate caretaker to this Pokemon," he said to no one in particular. "Once it hatches, I'll have to do some research into its diet and behavioral patterns... I sure hope its needs are within my power to provide."

"(Oh, you'll be fine,)" the Grass Type assured as best she could. "(I know you will do a wonderful job taking care of our new teammate. You've been so sweet to me and Pidgey, that this should be a cinch.)"

Double D smiled, and Chikorita raised her leaf, bringing it up to his nose. He took in the familiar aroma once again, enjoying the soothing sweetness.

"Thank you, Chikorita," he told her, having gotten a bit of the worry out of his system. "You've been such a help to me lately. I appreciate it more than I could articulate."

"(Aww, you're welcome,)" she said, nuzzling into his chest. "(It's all for you, my darling.)"

Double D chuckled. "It's funny. I don't understand anything you're trying to communicate to me, and yet I feel a strong connection to you. You've become like a friend, rather than just a member of my team. I think that bodes well, personally."

Glancing over to the clock, Double D noticed the time.

"Oh dear. I should be in bed by now."

Returning Chikorita to his Poke Ball, he fell back onto the bed, and let his thoughts wander. Today was a great day. Only the second in his journey, and they had already obtained their first badge. And at the rate they've made it, who knows how long it would be before the next one?

He honestly could not wait to see what tomorrow would entail.

---

Ryuji's eyes scanned the cave, searching for his next Pokemon. This early, various Rock and Ground Types were all wandering around, scrounging for food or going to battle one another. The options were all there and ripe for the picking, and he just needed to actually pick.

And pick, he did.

From the corner of his eye, Ryuji noticed it. With a gleaming armored shell, claws that were reasonably sharp, and a particular bounce in every step, he watched as the Ground Type moved over to a corner, scarfing down a berry as quick as it could.

'Perfect choice, Ryuji,' he thought as he pulled a Poke Ball out. 'Now all I gotta do is catch it...'

Without a moment wasted, he chucked the ball, flying at high speeds directly toward the Sandshrew. Before it even had time to react, the ball had tapped it on the head, and enveloped the rodent in the light of capture. As it fell to the ground, Ryuji watched as one massive shake occurred, and...

DING!

A satisfied grin overtook the boy, as he picked the ball up, compacted it, and placed it on his belt. A 'Critical Capture', as it was known, allowing him to add the Pokemon to his roster without a need for conflict. And to make matters better, it was early morning, and he could be back before anyone else had woken up.

Walking toward the exit of the cave, Ryuji entered the Pokemon Center, waiting for everyone to finally get up. Releasing his newest teammate from its ball, the Sandshrew looked around with great curiosity.

"(W-where am I?)" he asked tentatively. "(What is this place?)"

"Hey there, little guy," Ryuji greeted, offering the Ground Type a berry. "I'm Ryuji. I just caught you, now you're on my team, and I want to train you to be strong. Would you like that?"

'Get strong...? Could this guy do that?' Sandshrew questioned, as he took a bite of this second fruit. The idea sounded good, especially given everything that had happened only a few minutes before he got captured.

And so, he nodded, leaving Ryuji as happy as could be.

"Excellent," he said, "And plus, you've got friends to meet. I told 'em 8:00, so they should be arriving right about..."

The mechanical doors of the Pokemon Center Rooms whirred open, and he heard footsteps.

"Now."

Eddy was the first one down the stairs, followed by Jimmy, then Rolf, then Gold, and so on. The final one down the stairs was Double D, who was taking great care with the container in his arms. The egg from before was housed within, and the blonde guarded it like one would expect a mother to protect a child.

"Mornin' boys," Ryuji told them.

"Looks like you've been up and at 'em without us," Kevin said, looking at the new 'Mon. "What's that little dude called?"

Ryuji was about to answer, but Gold wasted no time butting in. "That's a Sandshrew. It's a slow, bulky Ground Type, especially on the physical end of the spectrum."

Pulling out his Pokedex, he scanned the creature, and was extremely satisfied with what he saw.

"And by the looks of it, this one's a rarity among his kind."

"Whatd'ya mean?" Eddy asked. "Looks like any other Sandshrew I've ever seen."

"That's because you don't know what I know," Gold countered. "This one's got the Hidden Ability Sand Rush."

"Hidden Ability?"

Gold rolled his eyes. "I can't even blame you for that one. They're really rare Abilities that some Pokemon can have. For Sandshrew, it gets Sand Rush, which makes it stupid fast in a Standstorm."

Everyone's attention was turned to the little critter, as they watched it finish its breakfast. The only exception was Gold, who had his eyes set on a different subject.

"I have to wonder, though," Gold asked. "What are the odds of that happenin'? You go out and you come back with a Sandshrew, and to top it all of, a rare Sandshrew."

"Guess I've got luck on my side," Ryuji told him nonchalantly.

"Quite... so what's on the agenda for today, you lucky bastard?"

"Well, obviously we're goin' through the Union Cave. If I remember correctly, there's a town on the other side with a Gym in it, and we can take the rest of the day to mess around and train up, if need be. Sound good?"

A collective nod was his answer.

"Spectacular. Now, let's have a quick breakfast and get moving."

Their orders were placed, food was delivered, and within half an hour, everyone was ready to go once again. The group began to leave the Pokemon Center once everything was settled. Nazz was one of the last ones out, and was eager to see what the day held for them.

Then, she felt a hand grasp her shoulder. Looking back, she saw Kevin, who was looking at her nervously.

"So babe, uh..." he stammered. "Do you like the Mareep?"

Nazz smiled. Kevin had caught her a Mareep yesterday, and thankfully this one didn't try to shock either of them. She looked to its Poke Ball, and gave him a hug.

"It's wonderful, dude," she told him. "You rock."

Pride swelled in his chest as she told him that.

"I'm glad that this region has so many cute Pokemon," she mused. "I can't wait to see what the new town has."

"Well, don't just repeat that last part. After you."

---

The dark, musty air of the cave permeated, as Sarah's opponent flapped her wings, fluttering over as she tried to strike first.

"Mareep, use Thunder Shock!" she commanded, as the Zubat landed an unimpressive Astonish attack, only to be greeted with a healthy dose of Static for it's troubles. The ability was further compounded by the jolt of electric energy that came immediately thereafter. Letting out a high pitched screech, the bat backed off, and looked at Mareep angrily.

"(H-how... d-dare you t-t-tarnish m-my perfec-ct-t coat,)" she said shakily, the paralysis kicking in rather hard. Mareep just looked at her belligerently.

"(You're the one who got in OUR way, loser,)" the sheep said. "(But don't worry, we'll make it up to you.)"

Right at that exact moment, Sarah pulled out a Poke Ball, and threw it with all the might she could muster. It nearly knocked out Zubat with that move, but the Poison Type barely hung on as it was brought into the capsule. It barely had enough strength to fight after that move, and none left over to resist the capturing effect.

And as easy as one, two, three, Zubat was now a member of Sarah's team.

"Alright!" she said excitedly, picking up the Poke Ball and immediately scanning it with her Pokedex (a trick she had learned thanks to Kevin). Looking over its stats, she was pleased with what she saw.

"Alright, this guy oughta be able to do something," she said to herself. "Unlike SOME Pokemon I know..."

"(Are you talking about me?)" Mareep questioned. "(Because if so, I'm offended!)"

"Not bad, Mareep," she told her Electric Type, not understanding a word of what it said. "Return!"

Once he was safely back in his Poke Ball, Sarah turned around to see the rest of the group had finally caught up. She'd stepped away during a battle with the Firebreather Fukuo, so she could only infer her brother won that fight.

"It's about time!" she said impatiently. "I was able to catch something new before you guys got here."

"Well sorry none of us decided to RUSH OFF AHEAD while one of their friends had a battle," Eddy countered.

"I'm behind on catchin' Pokemon, and I'm not gonna lose the League because you guys want me to watch you get stronger!"

"Yeah, but we should still stick together," Gold told her. "What if Team Rocket were in this cave?"

Sarah scoffed. "Don't act like I'm stupid. Double D said Team Rocket isn't a thing anymore!"

"Aw, how cute. She doesn't believe in us."

A chill ran up Sarah's, Gold's, and especially the Eds' spines, as they heard that gruff and arrogant voice filled the area. Once they felt it fade, their attention was brought toward the source of the sound.

Two men, dressed almost entirely in black, with the exception of a massive red 'R' on the front of their shirts. They sauntered over confidently, staring down the party like a Pyroar eyeing a carcass.

"Looks like that redhead was right," the first man said, "A whole host of trainers, ripe for a beating."

"Oh yeah," the other agreed. "And look at the one with the stupid hat. See what he's got in his hands?"

Double D tensed, holding tightly to the egg's container.

"And the boy with the basket on his back, makes you wonder what goodies he's got in there," the first man continued. "Looks like we've hit the jackpot."

Whispers began among the party. What were they talking about? What was that about a redhead? And why in the world would they want the Pokemon egg? There was so much that could have been asked, but it wasn't out of a sense of worry. This was the first time a trainer wanted to TAKE something from them, instead of just having a battle for a prize.

Such an experience was certainly a shock for most of them.

What was more shocking however, was what came next.

"Should have known Team Rocket wouldn't be done," Ryuji said angrily, pulling out his Poke Ball and unleashing Sandshrew. "You wanna get them, you'll have to get through me!"

"Aw, look at that, the boy wants to be a hero," one of the Rockets taunted. "Well too bad, kid. You're going down!"

"Afraid not," Gold told them tauntingly. "In case you haven't noticed in all you bluster and fumes, you're severely outnumbered. But even then..."

The Johto trainer removed the straps that held his basket, and took it in his arms.

"It won't take more than two of us to take you down. Ed!"

The boy immediately came to the forefront of the crowd, accidentally knocking over Kevin in the process, as he stood there awaiting directions.

"Take my basket, and get out of the cave," he explained. "Me and Ryuji'll handle this one."

"You got it, Booster Gold!" Ed answered, taking the basket into his arms.

Both Rockets threw their Poke Balls into the air, and out from them came a pair of Rattata. Not missing a beat, they commanded Tackles aimed at the kids as they tried to get by. They managed to knock Jimmy down, and the boy screamed in horror as one of the two Pokemon glared at him, looking ready to attack at any moment. The rocket smirked, and called for another Tackle...

"Wooper! Mud Shot!"

From Gold's Poke Ball, the Water Type burst forward and unleashed a torrent of mud from its mouth, slamming right into Rattata's face as it tried to attack Jimmy. While this was happening, the others used this opportunity to escape, the other Rattata not being enough of a problem to slow them down.

"(Agh!)" the rat cried out, trying desperately to rub the gunk from its eyes. "(I can't see! Where's that stupid fish, I'll kill it!)"

"(I defy you to try, you dirty rat,)" Wooper said, trying his best to be intimidating. "(Hey Sandshrew, you wanna help me take them down?)"

The Ground type looked to the opponents, and nodded. "(I uh... I don't know how much I'll be able to do. B-but I promise I'll help.)"

Grunt B looked to Gold with disdain. "You've got a lotta nerve, kid. Just who the hell do you think you are?"

"You're looking at the future champion of the Indigo League," boasted Gold. "It'll take a miracle for you to beat me."

"Bah. We've met a buncha wannabe Reds just like you who thought they could stop Team Rocket. You'll be no different!"

"Prove it then, assholes!" he taunted, before looking over to his teammate. "You up for this, Ryuji?"

The brunet nodded. Nothing else needed to be said, and their battle began.

"Quick attack!" both Rocket Grunts said in unison.

With an incredible burst of speed, both Rattata's closed the distance, attempting to overwhelm Wooper with blinding speed. The first one landed its hit no problem, but knocking Wooper back made the second miss his mark only slightly.

"Mud Shot while it's right by your face, Wooper!"

The second Rattata tried to get away in time, but the attack came before it could fully dodge, and just like its ally before, a blast of mud caught it right in the eyes, lowering its Speed as well as dealing heavy damage.

"Defense Curl!" Ryuji called out, his voice even-toned. Sandshrew did as commanded, compacting his body slightly, as a red aura enveloped him, raising his Defense in the process.

"What's the matter, kid?" One of the Rockets taunted. "Too scared to actually fight back?"

Ryuji did not answer.

"Hmph... Keep actin' all high and mighty. Won't change a thing! Double up on that Sandshrew!"

With the command given, Ryuji watched as the two Normal Types tried their hardest to make their way over to his Pokemon. The first hit was taken no problem, as the Rattata was thrown face first into the rocky ground behind Sandshrew, right when the second one landed its strike.

Unfortunately for that one, such an act was exactly what Ryuji was hoping for.

"Now Sandshrew! Rollout!"

Gold's smile grew as he watched the Ground Type act on his given orders. Before Rattata could even react, his opponent jumped up, and slammed him into the floor below with intense vigor. As if the initial impact wasn't bad enough, Sandshrew began to roll around with considerable speed, dealing an unreasonable amount of damage with a single Rollout.

"Ah crap!" Grunt #1 said as he noticed his Rattata, barely able to stand after he finally fell off Sandshrew. "Get outta there!"

"Oh no ya don't!" Gold countered, throwing his arm out. "Water Gun!"

Wooper didn't miss a beat, shooting out a blast of pressurized water right into the side of the Normal Type. The damage was too much for it to take, and it fell, completely drained of stamina, and unable to continue.

"(Alright!)" Wooper cried out. "(That's what I like to see!)"

Grunt #2 gritted his teeth in anger. These two kids were making fools of them! For all the bluster of the yellow-eyed one, he seemed to have the might to back it up. Such a fact only increased his ire.

"I've had enough of this!" Grunt #2 declared. "Rattata! Take down that damn Wooper!"

"(You're goin' down!)" the rat squeaked, as he rushed forward with a powerful Quick Attack. A critical hit, for sure, as the damage knocked Wooper off its feet effortlessly. The Rocket smirked, seeing the damage his 'Mon had delivered.

A smirk that faded almost immediately when Sandshrew came back around. Rollout was a cruel mistress, the built-up momentum increasing the damage even further. A direct hit found Rattata, slamming into its body and knocking it right in front of the two Rockets. They looked to Ryuji and Gold with utter horror.

"What's wrong?" Gold taunted, hitting both Rockets with the same glare they'd had toward the group earlier. "You were talkin' all that good shit before, weren't ya? C'mon and back it up!"

Neither one could answer him. They had thought this would be easy, but these two had taken them down in only two rounds of combat. It wasn't as simple as attacking them before they could retaliate. These two could fight back better than any recent opponent...

The boss would not be happy to hear about this.

Seeing no other option, both Rockets rushed the opposite direction, eager to get as far away from the duo as possible. Meanwhile, Wooper and Sandshrew celebrated, the Water Type jumping in the air, and the Ground Type letting the adrenaline wear off after that attack combo.

"(W-wow... I actually did it!)" Sandshrew said happily. "(I can't believe I actually pulled that off!)"

"(Looks like all you needed was a good trainer to guide you,)" Wooper told him. "(That Ryuji's got a good head on his shoulders.)"

"(You think so?)"

Wooper nodded. "(Stick with him, and you'll go far. Possibly even to the League. That's where me and Gold are going.)"

"(...The 'League'?)"

"(Yep! And plus, then we could work together more. You and me were a good team out there, don't you think?)"

Sandshrew smiled, enjoying the mud fish's friendly nature. Perhaps he was correct, being with Ryuji could make him so much stronger. And considering the morning he had, news like that was welcome indeed.

And so, Sandshrew nodded, excited to work with Wooper in their future endeavors.

---

Everyone stopped to catch their breath outside the cave, the worry having not died down after that incident. There were many things they expected that day, but a Rocket attack was not one of them.

"Is everyone okay?" Double D asked, scanning their numbers to ensure no one got separated. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw no one missing, but it was short lived, as Kevin came up to him.

"What the heck, Double Dweeb!?" He asked indignantly. "I thought you said Team Rocket was gone!"

"I'd also said that was three years ago in this world, according to Ryuji," he corrected. "Some devout members of the group must be trying to recreate it."

"Fantastic. So now we're gonna have to deal with those idiots too?"

"Potentially. If so, we must remain cautious, my friends. Team Rocket is quite the dangerous organization."

"What do they actually do?" Nazz questioned.

Double D thought on it for a moment, summoning memories of his own experience through Pokemon Blue. He'd paid close attention to the dialogue, and noticed a number of offenses that were certainly worth mentioning. Though some among them were quite horrifying, he knew they had to be brought up.

"Larceny, both of property and Pokemon, destruction of private property, unlawful occupation of the Pokemon Tower, murder of Pokemon, as well as an attempted hostile takeover of the Silph Company. And that was only in the games. Here, they might be even more depraved than that. Hence why we need to be on our guard while dealing with matters regarding Team Rocket. Agreed?"

A collective nod was his answer, and he could breathe easy upon seeing that.

He could breathe doubly easy when he saw the two Rockets running away in fear. It didn't take a genius to figure out what happened there, and that meant that they'd have their friends back soon enough.

A hearty laugh escaped Eddy as he watched them flee like scared children. "Looks like they won't be gettin' our stuff today! Idiots!"

"And I protected the basket!" Ed said happily.

"Speaking of which, what's in that thing anyhow?" Kevin questioned. "He's not let us see it yet."

"I'm certain there's a reason for that, you two," Double D told them. "We need to be patient an-"

A flourish of the sheet being pulled interrupted Double D's thoughts, as Eddy looked at the contents of the basket in sheer amazement.

"What in Sam Hill are you doing, Eddy!?" Double D asked, crossing his arms at his friend's behavior. "You're violating Gold's privacy!"

When Eddy didn't give a response, his annoyance was only furthered. He walked over, intent to give his friend an earful over that, but before he could even get a word out, he was stunned silent by the sight before him. Whatever he had been expecting to be in the basket, it was nowhere near as exciting as what had actually been revealed to the party:

Pokemon eggs.

Five of them, all of various colors and patterns, each contained in a capsule much like the one Double D carried. There was a purple one, a dark teal one, two yellow and black ones, and a dark blue one, all of varying sizes, but still exceptionally large.

"Jeepers, Gold was carrying that on his back?" Jimmy asked, his eye on the dark teal one in particular. "That must have been so heavy."

"Rolf is impressed," said Rolf. "Perhaps gangly Gold boy is a son of a shepherd as well."

"I'm more curious where he got them," Double D noted. "How did he come to possess five Pokemon eggs?"

"My father, if you must know."

Double D jumped at the sound of their newest fiend's voice, and slowly turned around to see the Johto trainer looking at him with a grin of both amusement and annoyance.

"Though while we're speaking on parents," he continued. "Didn't your mothers ever teach you it was rude to go through people's stuff without their permission?"

"In our defense, can ya blame us?" Eddy countered. "Not every day ya come across someone wearing a basket on their back."

Gold shook his head. "Well, I would have shown you, but I got distracted with getting us to the Pokemon Center. Now get back, will ya?"

The party stepped away, as the boy took out the purple egg's capsule. He looked to them with a warm smile, and nodded.

"Four of these are my father's work, like I said," he explained. "He's a breeder, you see, and I always wanted to start breeding Pokemon of my own. The light yellow and black one is my own creation, and my dad entrusted me with the other ones, asking me to give 'em to trainers who I thought deserved them."

Double D raised his eyebrow at this. "Is that why you decided to travel with us, Gold?"

"Well, I'm damn sure keeping my eyes out to see if you guys deserve an egg," he answered honestly. "But after what just happened, I do think I've got ONE candidate in mind."

Without another word, he turned around, and walked over to where Ryuji was. Placing the egg's container in his hands left him shocked, as he glanced between it and Gold.

"Wait, you're entrusting me with an egg?" Ryuji questioned. "Did I really leave that good a first impression?"

Gold chuckled at the brunet. "Something like that. That one's a bit closer to hatching than the rest, and I think you'll like what's inside."

"Well, what IS inside?"

He got no answer initially. Instead, the boy went to cover the eggs once again, and made sure they were in proper position. His movements were quick, clearly practiced, as he got the basket set back up, and hoisted it onto its proper place right above his backpack.

"I'd tell you," Gold finally answered. "But that'd ruin the surprise. And besides, I think someone like you oughta be able to handle whatever hatches from it."

Ryuji shrugged. "Well, I'll try not to let you down, then."

"Excellent... as for the rest of you!"

Practically everyone else in the group had their attention locked on Gold, as he looked to them with a scrutinizing gaze.

"You're all in the running for the other eggs," he explained. "But don't try to compete over who gets them. You don't know jack squat about what'll make me pick ya, and if you try to convince me, it might end up hurtin' your chances more than helping. Just focus on your guys' adventure, and we'll figure it out as we go. Got it?"

"Yessir," Eddy said, elated at the prospect.

"You can count on it," Kevin told him.

"Rolf will, as they say, keep his eyes on the prize."

"Don't worry dude," Nazz told him. "Taking it easy is like, my natural talent."

"I won't upset you, Mr. Gold," was Jimmy's response. "I promise!"

"Alright, good to hear," Gold told the party, pointing behind them. "And if you like that, you'll love this."

Following his finger, their sights were set upon a town in the distance. A lovely little settlement not too far off, but somewhat obscured by all the trees. Even so, civilization was a welcome sight, and to make matters better, it was only a hop, skip, and a jump away.

"The next Gym is out that way," Gold explained. "Azalea town, home of Gym Leader Tsukushi, and famous for their Slowpoke Tails. You guys excited?"

"You kiddin'?" Eddy asked. "Let's get a move on! I'll show that suku-whatever who's boss!"

Being that he was the first one to rush off, it wasn't even a second later before Double D and Ed chased after them. The others were not far behind, with Kevin, Rolf, Nazz, and Sarah having made a beeline in that direction. The only ones left were Jimmy, Gold, and Ryuji.

"Are you guys coming?" Jimmy asked the two politely.

"We'll catch up. Me and Ryuji basically agreed to check out the catches first things first."

"Oh... okay. If you see anything cute, you'll tell me, right?"

"You have my word," Ryuji told him. "See ya later."

"See you."

Jimmy scampered off toward the town at that, leaving behind only them. Neither one said anything for a few moments, checking to make sure he was completely gone. Once they were sure, it was time for a discussion.

"So, why'd you give me the egg?"

A discussion which Ryuji wasted no time getting into.

"I told you," Gold answered. "I think you'll like what's inside. And besides, you've definitely proven you have talent."

"Well, thanks, but it's just surprising. I mean, you've seen me battle once."

"And I liked what I saw. It was like watching a completely different person, you know?"

Ryuji tensed. He did not like the way Gold said that...

"But hey, enough about that. Let's see what Route 33 has to offer, yeah?"

A wave of relief washed over Ryuji, as he went over to the tall grass with his new companion. Today was a wild day, and Gold's antics were only adding fuel to this fire. And to make matters worse, now they knew Team Rocket was here.

'Seriously, what the hell?' Ryuji thought. 'I thought they were gone. But now they're here, causing trouble in Johto?'

Anger was not an emotion he expressed too often, but when he saw Team Rocket, his blood boiled. After what they did three years ago, who wouldn't be angry to see them? And if they were in the Union Cave, that meant they had to be close by, correct?

'Hell, for all we know, they could be working out of Azalea Town. That'd suck. But at the same time...'

His mind couldn't help but wander, as the implications of Team Rocket being nearby were no good. And yet, part of him welcomed the challenge. They were all reasonably skilled for novice trainers, and they had numbers on their side. Perhaps it was a problem that was within their power to solve.

But he couldn't ask them to get involved... could he?

"Hey!"

Gold's voice pulled the 14-year-old out of his thoughts. There he was, already in the tall grass, looking to Ryuji impatiently.

"You comin' or what?"

"R-right... sorry."

---

PARTY DATA:

EDDY

Cyndaquil (Male)

- Level 11

- Ability: Blaze

- Quiet Nature, Alert to Sounds

- Moves: Tackle, Leer, Smokescreen, Ember

Krabby (Male)

- Level 10

- Ability: Hyper Cutter

- Jolly Nature, Likes to Fight

- Moves: Vise Grip, Bubble, Mud Sport, Leer

Spearow (Female)

- Level 10

- Ability: Keen Eye

- Impish Nature, Scatters Things Often

- Moves: Growl, Peck, Leer, Pursuit

Hoppip (Female)

- Level 9

- Ability: Leaf Guard

- Lax Nature, Highly Curious

- Moves: Absorb, Tackle, Synthesis, Tail Whip

ED

Totodile (Male)

- Level 11

- Ability: Torrent

- Jolly Nature, Somewhat of a Clown

- Moves: Scratch, Leer, Water Gun, Rage

Rattata (Male)

- Level 10

- Ability: Guts

- Adamant Nature, A Little Quick Tempered

- Moves: Bite, Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Focus Energy

Rocky (Onix, Male)

- Level 12

- Ability: Sturdy

- Hasty Nature, Sturdy Body

- Moves: Tackle, Curse, Bind, Rock Tomb

DOUBLE D

Chikorita (Female)

- Level 11

- Ability: Overgrow

- Gentle Nature, Good Endurance

- Moves: Tackle, Growl, Razor Leaf, Poison Powder

Pidgey (Male)

- Level 10

- Ability: Keen Eye

- Sassy Nature, Scatters things Often

- Moves: Tackle, Sand Attack, Gust

KEVIN

Treecko (Male)

- Level 12

- Ability: Overgrow

- Lax Nature, Thoroughly Cunning

- Moves: Pound, Leer, Absorb, Quick Attack

Spinarak (Female)

- Level 8

- Ability: Insomnia

- Naïve Nature, Alert to Sounds

- Moves: Infestation, Poison Sting, String Shot, Absorb

Gastly (Male)

- Level 10

- Ability: Levitate

- Serious Nature, Likes to Relax

- Moves: Hypnosis, Lick, Spite, Mean Look

Ekans (Female)

- Level 8

- Ability: Intimidate

- Bashful Nature, Quick Tempered

- Moves: Leer, Wrap, Poison Sting

ROLF

Chimchar (Female)

- Level 11

- Ability: Blaze

- Naughty Nature, Mischievous

- Moves: Scratch, Leer, Ember, Taunt

Geodude (Male)

- Level 10

- Ability: Sturdy

- Careful Nature, Loves to Eat

- Moves: Tackle, Defense Curl, Rollout, Rock Polish

Poliwag (Male)

- Level 11

- Ability: Water Absorb

- Brave Nature, Good Endurance

- Moves: Water Sport, Water Gun, Hypnosis, Bubble

Hoothoot (Female)

- Level 10

- Ability: Keen Eye

- Gentle Nature, Often lost in Thought

- Moves: Foresight, Peck, Tackle, Hypnosis

NAZZ

Popplio (Female)

- Level 5

- Ability: Torrent

- Calm Nature, Often Lost in Thought

- Moves: Pound, Growl, Water Gun

Sentret (Male)

- Level 2

- Ability: Run Away

- Bashful Nature, Likes to Fight

- Moves: Scratch, Foresight

Caterpie (Female)

- Level 4

- Ability: Shield Dust

- Calm Nature, Mischievous

- Moves: Tackle, String Shot

Mareep (Female)

- Level 6

- Ability: Static

- Modest Nature, Hates to Lose

- Moves: Growl, Tackle, Thunder Wave

SARAH

Rowlet (Male)

- Level 10

- Ability: Overgrow

- Brave Nature, Likes to Relax

- Moves: Tackle, Growl, Leafage, Peck

Mareep (Male)

- Level 9

- Ability: Static

- Quirky Nature, Likes to Thrash About

- Moves: Growl, Tackle, Thunder Wave, Thunder Shock

Zubat (Female)

- Level 9

- Ability: Inner Focus

- Mild Nature, Somewhat Vain

- Moves: Absorb, Supersonic, Astonish

JIMMY

Litten (Male)

- Level 11

- Ability: Blaze

- Hardy Nature, Quick Tempered

- Moves: Scratch, Growl, Ember, Lick

Horsea (Female)

- Level 10

- Ability: Swift Swim

- Docile Nature, Study Body

- Moves: Bubble, Smokescreen, Leer

Kakuna (Male)

- Level 9

- Ability: Shed Skin

- Lonely Nature, Likes to Fight

- Moves: Poison Sting, String Shot, Harden

RYUJI

Fennekin (Female)

- Level 13

- Ability: Blaze

- Mild Nature

- Mischievous

- Moves: Scratch, Tail Whip, Ember, Howl

Poliwag (Female)

- Level 12

- Ability: Water Absorb

- Docile Nature, Sturdy Body

- Moves: Water Sport, Water Gun, Hypnosis, Bubble

Bellsprout (Male)

- Level 10

- Ability: Chlorophyll

- Hasty Nature, Loves to Eat

- Moves: Vine Whip, Growth

Sandshrew (Male)

- Level 8

- Ability: Sand Rush

- Timid Nature, Quick to Flee

- Moves: Defense Curl, Poison Sting, Rollout, Sand Attack

GOLD

Quilava (Male)

- Level 14

- Ability: Blaze

- Rash Nature, Capable of Taking Hits

- Moves: Quick Attack, Leer, Ember, Smokescreen

Pidgey (Female)

- Level 13

- Ability: Keen Eye

- Mild Nature, Nods off a lot

- Moves: Tackle, Sand Attack, Gust, Quick Attack

Wooper (Male)

- Level 10

- Ability: Water Absorb

- Bold Nature, Highly Persistent

- Moves: Tail Whip, Water Gun, Mud Sport, Mud Shot