After unintentionally digging through to the underground path that connected Cerulean City to Vermillion City, Ash, Misty, Brock and Tracey left via the Cerulean exit, after first blacking the hole and informing the attendant.
"Misty, where are we going?" Ash asked.
"Well, since Team Rocket is trying something, we need to go somewhere Poison Types aren't going to be helpful."
"Saffron City." Tracey realised. "Sabrina uses Psychic Type Pokémon."
"Not to mention her own telekinetic abilities." Misty agreed.
"How has Sabrina been anyway?" Brock asked.
"Well, ever since Haunter moved into the Saffron Gym, Sabrina has really come out of her shell." Misty replied.
One hour later, the quartet entered Saffron City and instantly headed to the Gym. Brock became a little self-conscious when people started whispering the second Brock entered their sight. But Misty knew that there could be an equal chance that they were talking about her and the recent takeover of Cerulean Gym.
She tried to call her sisters, but she couldn't get through. She, along with Tracey, thought that Team Rocket could easily have done something to the phone networks. And if that was the case, they couldn't warn any of the Gym Leaders or police in the other cities and towns.
"I hope Sabrina can help." Ash said. "Or at least see if there's anything she can do."
"Well, I'll try my best." A mature voice surprised him.
The quartet turned around to see a woman with waist length blue hair smirking at them. A Poké ball hovered at her shoulder, slightly spinning.
"Sabrina, we need your help." Misty instantly said.
Sabrina held up her hand and the group instantly found themselves inside the Saffron City Gym's main battle room.
Sabrina looked around and turned to Misty and Brock. "That's terrible news about the tragedies in your city. But I don't know what I can do to help."
"Well, right now we're just wanting a little solace here." Ash answered. "Team Rocket has…"
"Started something big and chased you out of Cerulean Gym?" Sabrina asked. "I know."
"How did you know?" Tracey asked.
Sabrina blushed slightly. "Sorry about that. I'm doing extra telepathy exercises. Anyway, how can I actually help you?"
"Well, we were hoping your Psychic Pokémon and abilities could give us a little help against Team Rocket." Brock answered. "Since they use mostly Poison types anyway."
Sabrina thought for a second. "Well, I could make Saffron City a stronghold and refugee." She turned and sat down in her chair. "But I'd have to co-ordinate with the other Gym Leaders. If you are here Misty, where are your sisters?"
"They've got to Pallet Town to get our Pokémon back." She answered. "But I couldn't tell them what I had to do to our Gym Pokémon."
Sabrina nodded as a piece of paper and a pen appeared in front of her. "I see." The pen began writing against the paper due to Sabrina's telekinetic abilities. "Well, unfortunately my abilities are not that strong to find them now. But if you have anything that can connect to them, then I believe Alakazam could Teleport to their vicinity."
The boys all looked to Misty, making her flinch and step back. "I can't think of anything that can connect with my sisters."
"It can be anything Misty. A locket? A random item that they gave you? A Pokémon?"
Misty pulled out two Poké balls. "Well, my Luvdisc is in love with Daisy's Luvdisc and before it evolved, Gyarados was in a lot of their underwater ballets."
"What do you think Alakazam?" Sabrina looked at the still floating Poké ball. The ball opened itself and Alakazam appeared, nodding slowly. "It could be tricky but to maintain the connection, Alakazam would like someone who knows them to go with him."
Just as Misty stepped forward, a purple Pokémon materialised and made frantic gestures pointing to the door.
"Excuse me." Sabrina said. "Haunter says something is happening outside."
"We'll go with you." Ash offered.
With another raise of her arms, the group had teleported outside, seeing more members of Team Rocket beginning to surround the Gym. Sabrina turned her head and took in the sight.
"Can I help you?" she calmly asked.
"Team Rocket now takes ownership of…"
Sabrina held up her hand. "Let me explain something. I decide who takes ownership of this Gym. No one takes it away from me."
"I beg to differ." Came an oily voice that sent shivers down Misty's spine.
"And who are you?" Sabrina asked.
"He's the one who forced us out of the Cerulean Gym." Misty seethed.
"I see." Sabrina nodded slowly. "Alakazam. Psychic."
Alakazam raised its two spoons as its eyes glowed blue. Every member of Team Rocket glowed with a blue outline and lifted into the air. With a gesture, Alakazam sent everyone flying through the air and away from Saffron City.
"Well, that was easy." Sabrina said. "Thank you Alakazam." Sabrina faced the quartet. "But that is only a temporary measure, they will return."
"We're sorry about this Sabrina." Tracey apologised.
"Don't apologise. The only difference is that I knew they were coming." Sabrina smiled. "But this only further increases the need to contact my fellow Gym Leaders." She pulled out her phone and dialled a number. "Hello Erika? It's Sabrina. Get your Gym Trainers, Pokémon and come to Saffron City. There's a situation rising."
Walking down an alley in Vermilion City, keeping out of sight of anyone that may recognise him as the unique species of Pokémon that he was, Meowth travelled to the meeting place.
Reaching a dead end, he called out his name three times and clapped his paws. He looked up as what looked like a darkened Jack-o-Lantern fell towards him.
"We need a new place to hide." Meowth told the familiar Pokémon. "Was I followed Gourgeist?"
The Kalos Region Pokémon shook her head that was actually above her Jack-o-Lantern body. Using the arm-like appendages from the top of her head, she grabbed Meowth and floated to the roof of the building.
On the roof of the building, two humans in dark trench coats looked at Meowth and nodded. "Did you do it?"
Meowth nodded. "I made sure Surge got the note. Even made sure his Raichu heard my warning so at least if he doesn't believe the note, he'll at least take notice of Raichu."
"Our next target?"
"I would think Fuchsia City would be best." Meowth suggested. "But it would be tricky due to what the Gym is like."
"Well, if we had our other Pokémon, it would be easier." The short haired human sighed.
"That's true." His partner agreed. "At least we have some credibility so we could get our Pokémon. But we'd need a plausible explanation for getting them."
"There is another way…" Meowth implied.
"Erika is on board." Sabrina said, dialling a second number. "I just hope Jasmine actually answers her phone this time."
"What about the Elite Four?" Misty asked. "Shouldn't they be informed?"
"As soon as I heard about the Pewter City Pokémon Centre, I placed a call but I was put on hold." Sabrina answered, after closing her phone since Jasmine, the new Fuchsia City Gym Leader did not answer her phone, as expected. "I teleported there and found nothing."
"Why does that sound bad?" Ash asked.
"There was nothing there." Sabrina explained. "The Indigo Plateau was destroyed. Neither my Pokémon, nor I were able to sense any brainwaves. But I choose to believe they were not in the building at the time."
"Well, I'm sure you'll be able to do something here in Kanto." Brock said. "But what about Johto? They had troubles with Team Rocket before."
"I hadn't thought about Johto." Sabrina admitted. "I can't leave Saffron City now that Erika is joining me here."
Ash looked at his friends, and Pikachu. They all had the same look in their eyes. As each of them nodded, he smiled slightly. "Well, I guess we could go."
"Are you serious?" Sabrina quickly asked. "Do you have any idea how dangerous the situation is? You could all die!"
"Well when you travel with Ash, you get used to those things." Misty smiled slightly.
"It's like a rite of passage." Tracey added.
"Besides, Ash needs people with him so he doesn't fall off a cliff or try something crazy by himself." Brock teased.
"Well, it's not like I'd be able to stop you anyway." Sabrina sighed.
"No you would not." Ash smiled, turning around. He took two steps away and suddenly found himself in the air. He turned his head, seeing Sabrina's eyes glowing blue. "Put me down Sabrina. You knew what I meant."
"Of course I knew." Sabrina giggled. "I just couldn't help myself."
Once Ash was on the ground, he faced Sabrina. "Do you know anywhere we could get some supplies?"
"Well, there is the new Super Saffron." Sabrina thought, raising her arms. "I get a ten percent discount since I helped lift some of the heavier items with their Pokémon. Follow me." They blinked in surprise when Sabrina walked inside a tall building.
"I wish she'd ask before teleporting us." Misty sighed before walking inside the building.
After getting their supplies, Sabrina led the group to a train terminal near the Gym. "This is the Magnet Station. It was installed a few years ago to allow better and safer passage between Kanto and Johto. It's also the fastest way between the regions. Not counting teleportation."
"Thank you Sabrina." Ash smiled. "And good luck."
Sabrina nodded. "And to you. Please be safe. And look out for each other."
Brock gasped in realisation. "We don't have the money for tickets."
Sabrina smirked and shook her head. "Follow me."
Arriving at the ticket office, Sabrina handed the staff member a card and explained the situation. Producing four silver and gold cards, Sabrina handed the cards to them and began to wave goodbye as the doors of the station blew off their hinges.
"What's happening?" Sabrina asked.
"Prepare for trouble!" Announced a female voice.
"And make it double!" a male gravelly voice added.
"Here's our mission so you'd better listen." The voices joined as one.
The four friends eyes widened. "It can't be." Misty said.
Two people stepped into the terminal. One was indeed a woman with bright yellow hair and the man had green hair in a bowl haircut.
"To infect the world with devastation!"
"To blight all peoples in every nation."
"Administering justice with lightning speed."
"Bashing the bad guys, should we feel the need."
The woman stretched her arms outwards, making her body look like the letter 'T'. "Cassidy."
The man balanced on one leg and placed his left hand on his hip, making the letter 'R'. "And Butch."
"We're Team Rocket, circling Earth all day and night."
"Surrender to us now, or you will surely lose the fight." Butch finished as a Shuckle appeared and rested at their feet.
"Who are these clowns?" Sabrina asked, unimpressed.
"They're from Team Rocket." Ash explained.
"I thought I sent them away." Sabrina recalled.
"These ones are a little ruthless." Misty told the Psychic Gym Leader. "I still remember when they used a Drowzee to hypnotise all the Pokémon on an island and used them against us. Our own Pokémon."
Sabrina nodded. "Very well." She looked Cassidy and Butch in the eyes. "As the Saffron City Gym Leader, I must insist that you leave Saffron City immediately."
"Listen toots, we don't take orders from you!" Butch shouted, as he threw a Poké ball, releasing a grey and black furred wolf-like Pokémon called Mightyena.
Cassidy also threw a Poké ball, releasing a Dark Type Pokémon of her own. Houndour.
"While I do commend you for facing me with Dark Type Pokémon…" Sabrina went to her belt and pulled off a blue ball with a yellow 'X' crossing over the button. "…I am hardly unprepared, thanks to a friend from Hoenn."
"What's in there?" Cassidy taunted. "A Slowpoke?"
The Quick Ball opened, releasing a human-like Pokémon level with Sabrina's shoulder. The Pokémon readied his arms and stood, ready to attack.
"You four get on the train. I'll deal with Cassidy and Lurch." Sabrina insisted.
"It's Butch! Not Lurch! How can a psychic get a name wrong?" Butch snapped. "Mightyena! Use Bite!"
"Houndour! You use Bite also!" Cassidy called.
The two canine Pokémon ran towards the Pokémon, mouths wide open. Sabrina remained calm as she simply said two words. "Close Combat."
The green and white Pokémon quickly knelt down and delivered two uppercut to the attacking dog Pokémon. Then he leapt in the air delivered punch after kick to each Pokémon with lightning speed. For a finishing blow, the Pokémon drew back his arms and landed a direct hit, sending both Pokémon back to Cassidy and Butch.
"How can a Psychic type Pokémon be so good with Fighting Type moves?" Cassidy asked.
"They can when they're part Fighting Type." Sabrina answered. "Thank you Gallade."
Gallade nodded his head and kept his eyes on Cassidy and Butch. Sabrina turned her head slightly. "Get on the train. Gallade and I can stall them."
"Gallade can't fight them on his own." Brock argued. "One Pokémon can't fight those two on its own."
"But with some back-up, he has a chance." A soft, but firm voice added before a blue powder covered Cassidy, Butch and their Pokémon instantly sending them into a slumber.
A woman in her late-twenties in a yellow robe stood at the doorway with a large yellow plant Pokémon. She stepped forward and looked around. "I seem to have arrived on time."
"You were quick getting here Erika." Sabrina commented, walking to her fellow Gym Leader.
"Well, we were in the process of evacuating the Gym. There weren't enough water Pokémon to save my Gym this time." Erika sighed. "But my Tropius was able to blow out the flames before the fire spread elsewhere."
Sabrina turned back to Ash and company. "Now I do suggest you leave now before the train leaves." She raised an arm and sent the group through the air and to the platform.
Cassidy had begun to wake up. She reached for another Poké ball and threw it, releasing a large orange Pokémon.
"When did they get a Charizard?" Ash asked, not wanting to leave yet.
"Ash, we have to leave." Brock insisted, grabbing Ash's arm.
"What about Sabrina and Erika?" he argued back. "Can they beat a Charizard?"
"Ash, they're Gym Leaders." Misty replied. "Together, they can hold it off."
A whistle sounded and Brock quickly pulled Ash in the train. The doors closed and the train pulled away from the station. Ash screamed as the Charizard launched a Flamethrower attack towards the train.
The flames hit a barrier, stopping them in its tracks. Ash looked and saw Sabrina's Alakazam with its arms pushing against Charizard's attack.
Ash gathered his breath as Saffron City soon became distant. He followed Brock down the carriage and sat at a four-seat table with Tracey and Misty.
"What was the scream for?" Misty asked.
"That Charizard used Flamethrower and Alakazam stopped it." Ash answered. "It gave the train the time it needed."
"So we can't go back?" Tracey asked.
Brock shook his head. "I wouldn't recommend it."
"So what's the plan?" Misty asked her friends.
All three shook their heads and Ash placed his head on the table. Pikachu jumped to the table and patted Ash's head. "We don't even know what's happening." Ash said against the table.
"We're going to Johto to warn the Gym Leaders about Team Rocket." Brock loudly whispered.
Ash lifted his head and looked at the Doctor-in-Training. "And what are they doing? They destroyed the Pewter City Pokémon Centre and took over Cerulean Gym. Now they're trying to overrule Saffron City as well. We don't even know why they're doing what they're doing."
"Whatever it is, it can't be good." Misty said. A white light erupted from Misty's bag and landed on the table, revealing Psyduck. "You need to stop doing that." Misty put Psyduck back in its ball.
"When we get to Goldenrod City, we should find Whitney." Brock instructed. "Tell her what's happening in Kanto."
"Then what?" Tracey asked. "Travel all of Johto telling the Gym Leaders what's happening?"
"If that's what it takes." Brock confirmed.
Suddenly, the carriage jerked. Ash looked out of the window, seeing the scenery rapidly slow down. "What's going on?"
"The train's leaving us behind!" Called another passenger.
"What?" Misty asked, instantly rushing down the small corridor and looked out of the carriage end. Misty turned around. "He's right. Are we in the last carriage?"
"There's only the buffet car after us." A female trainer answered.
Misty nodded. She looked around. "Ok. We're on a bridge that's roughly fifty feet in the air. Does anyone here have someone waiting for them in Goldenrod?" A teenager and an elderly woman raised their arms. "Try to contact them and tell them to report what's happened. Meanwhile, does anyone have any Flying or Psychic Types with them, or even Pokémon with Psychic Type moves."
Aside from Ash, no-one else raised their arms. Misty sighed. It would be asking too much from Ash's Pokémon to carry everyone down from the train.
"This is going to be tough." Brock sighed. "How are we going to get down?"
"Could Steelix do the job?" Ash asked.
"It could be a bit much for him." Brock admitted. "I assume that's why Misty isn't asking to use your Pokémon."
"I don't want to put too much pressure on them." Misty added.
The elderly woman raised her hand. "Excuse me, but I couldn't answer you before, but I have a Magnezone, a Gothitelle with Psychic and a Golurk. I'm sure the three of them could help get us to the ground."
"It wouldn't be too much for them?" Tracey asked.
The woman smiled. "We've been taking it easy these past few years. Even if it's just a simple thing, I know they'd be happy for the chance for a little excitement."
The woman approached the carriage end and threw three Poké balls. The large Golurk appeared first and instantly ignited some fire from its waist and hovered in place. It held out a hand as a black human shaped Pokémon appeared. The final Pokémon was a large grey Pokémon with a single red eye and magnets for hands.
"Wow." Tracey gasped. "Such amazing Pokémon."
"Save the sketching." Misty said. "We need to get off this train."
The woman looked at her Pokémon. "Ok guys, work together and get all of us off this carriage before something bad happens."
The Pokémon make noises of approval as Gothitelle raised his arms. A green light shone as Gothitelle used his Telekinesis to lift the remaining carriages off the rails. The people inside shook as the carriage rocked.
The woman raised her fist and shook it at Gothitelle. "That's not what I meant you hothead! I wanted you to lift the people off of here."
Gothitelle grunted, but nodded in understanding. As people queued to get lifted from the carriage, Magnezone spun, sensing something. Its trainer noticed this and looked through the skies.
Just as it happened that only Ash, Misty, Brock and Tracey were left on the carriage, a loud noise echoed.
"What was that?" Ash asked.
"I didn't recognise it." Brock answered.
The same noise echoed again, this time, louder. Misty and Tracey rushed to the windows. "It's getting closer, whatever it is."
"It doesn't sound like any Pokémon I know." Tracey commented.
"Maybe we should stay on here to give the others a chance to escape." Ash suggested.
"But we can't even escape what's coming." Misty argued.
Outside, Gothitelle had finished lowering the last person to the ground and heard the approaching noise.
Golurk had lowered the Psychic type to the ground and turned to take up a defence. The trainers on the ground each readied a Poké ball just in case they needed to battle. Looking all around through the trees, one trainer heard a rumble coming from behind him.
He turned his head, seeing a tall green being slithering towards the small group. He presumed it was a legendary Pokémon since it did not look familiar to him in any way.
The green Pokémon suddenly stopped and turned what appeared to be its head. It glowed a bright lime green, sending beams of the same light in all directions. The Pokémon shrunk down and seemed to turn into a dog-shaped Pokémon.
"Did it just evolve?" he asked himself. The other trainers had decided to help those without Pokémon get away from any immediate danger.
The unknown Pokémon turned its head towards the boy and looked at him. Then it looked away and laid eyes on the bridge. It let out a strange howl and shot several green balls that looked like shooting stars straight towards the carriage.
He readied himself to throw the Poké ball in his hand when a larger hand grabbed his, stopping him. He turned his head, seeing a large muscular man in a blue marine-style outfit.
"Let go of me." The young trainer struggled.
"Can't do that laddie." The man answered. "Orders from my captain."
The boy struggled against the grasp, trying to grab another ball, but found himself coughing as a dark cloud suddenly wafted in. the boy was able to break free and found himself being led away by a Pokémon.
Exiting the cloud, the boy saw that a Quilava had led him away and to a nearby ditch. Jumping down, he saw a girl in a white hat and red coat.
"Thanks Quilava." The girl smiled and returned the Pokémon to its ball. "Are you okay?"
The boy nodded. "Yes, thank you." He took the offered bottle of water and drank it.
"What's happening?" the girl asked, indicating the train on the bridge.
"I don't know." He replied. "Something cut off the last carriages and now a strange Pokémon is attacking it."
The girl looked at the carriage and saw yellow bolts of electricity fight against the green attack. She gained a worried look on her face. "We have to help them."
The boy looked at her. "Are you crazy? There's no way we can help them."
The girl smiled at the boy. "You don't have to help. But I'm going to."
"Why?"
"Because an old friend would go and help." She smiled. "A foolish boy with a Pikachu."
"Who are you anyway?"
"That's a bit forward when I don't even know your name." the girl teased.
"I'm Brendan Birch. And you?"
"I'm Dawn." She smiled, holding a Poké ball. "Dawn Berlitz."