A quiet morning broke over New Bark Town. It was early summer, just warm enough for short sleeves and swimming. The pidgeys chirped as the townsfolk began to wake. Neighbors greeted each other, and, in the small town of New Bark, everyone was a neighbor. Some people set up their small shops in the center of town, while others worked outside in their lawns. Small children ran through the town, chasing their pet rattatas and sentrets. Older kids stood around town, challenging other trainers to battles with their newly acquired chikoritas, cyndaquils, and totodiles. One trainer walked through town, a sandshrew sitting on her shoulder, resting its head contently on top of hers. The girl was no more than fourteen years old, yet she had an air of independence about her. They passed a group of people and the sandshrew lifted its head.
"Wicha," the sandshrew said.
"What is it, Sasha?" the girl said, turning to see what had caught her pokemon's eye. The group of people was crowded around the side of a building, looking at something tacked to the wall. The girl squeezed her way to the front. They were newspapers, articles about some rare pokemon. The pictures were black and white, showing some sort of creature running by. She moved closer and tried to make out what the pokemon was.
"Wait a sec," she said. "That's a ponyta!" What she read in the article confirmed this. "Ponyta aren't all that rare." She continued reading. The article mentioned that the flames of this ponyta were blue. "A blue ponyta, huh? Now I've heard everything. Kind of a useless post to put in black and white, though…"
"Tara Jane?" someone said.
"Oh, no," The girl said, quickly ducking into the crowd. A man started walking her direction when he lost her. The man scanned the crowd, standing on tip-toe, and trying to see over the people's heads. The girl slipped out of the group on the far side, creeping away silently until someone grabbed her shoulder. She stopped and stood upright again, letting out a disappointed sigh.
"Tara Jane Winters. I haven't seen you in town in a while." he said.
"Oh, Professor Elm! I didn't even notice you!" she said, turning and trying to sound as if she had no idea he was there. "Yes, long time, no see. Been out visiting Cherrygrove." She didn't sound entirely glad to seem him.
"Well, I have been looking all over for you!" Elm said happily, either oblivious or ignoring her tone. "Come with me to my lab, I have a job for you." And, before she could protest, he pulled her away, almost knocking Sasha off her shoulder.
Professor Elm's lab was large and cluttered. Among the towers of books and random machines, pages of hand written notes about everything from pokemon breeding to their abilities littered the area. In one corner of the room, a large, round gadget sat quietly humming. Three pokeballs sat on it, each carrying one of the starter pokemon Elm passed out. On the other side of the room was a video phone, a pokemon transfer device, developed by the well known Bill, and an old microscope. Lab aide ran in and out, their arms full of their research. Elm led Tara to his main office, shutting the door behind them. His office was a mini version of the rest of his lab. One wall was lined with books, the other with papers and news clippings. He had an old desk covered in more research notes, as well as a second video phone. Tara sat down on a tattered chair near the desk, clearing a space on the desk for Sasha to sit. She opened her bag and pulled out some pokemon food. Elm remained standing on the opposite side of the desk.
"So, Tara Jane, you obviously saw those newspapers in town." Elm started.
"How many times do I have to tell you," she cut in, aimlessly feeding Sasha the food. "Call me TJ."
"Your late father was my close friend." Elm told her sternly. TJ, having heard this speech before, began mouthing along with him. Sasha also joined in. "And, when he passed, I promised to look out for you and keep you safe. And I will call you Tara Jane just like he did!" He looked at the two mimicking him and glared. The girls snickered. "I just wish you would take things more seriously!"
"Oh, come on, old man!" TJ said. "I'm tired of being your errand girl! That's all I ever do around here! 'TJ, go pick some Cheri berries', 'TJ, go get the groceries', 'TJ, watch all the snot-nosed, spoiled kids in line, waiting to get their precious first pokemon'." She made a face.
"Now, I offered you a pokemon a long time ago…" Elm told her.
"And I said 'no'." she replied. "I've been with Sasha since I was a little girl. Dad and I caught her together." She scratched Sasha behind the ears. "I didn't need you to give me a pokemon, we were gonna catch one on our own. And, we did, didn't we Sasha? A pidgey. And Celia's a pidgeotto now, too. But, even that was hard enough to do, stuck here between New Bark and Cherrygrove. I've fought every trainer. Twice!"
"I told you, you're not going out there until you are ready." Elm said. "Besides, I needed the help here."
"I am ready, Professor!" TJ said. "I want to go out and catch pokemon and train them on my own. You send ten year old kids out there. I understand that you were entrusted to protect me, but you can't keep me here, giving me tedious tasks forever." Elm looked hard at her. TJ's eyes glowed with determination.
"You're right." he finally said. "But, you have to do one more thing for me. Think of it as a right of passage. If you complete this last task for me, I'll let you leave without a complaint." TJ thought for a second.
"OK, deal." she said. "What is it that you need me to do?"
"I need you to catch a ponyta." He said.
"Again with the ponyta." TJ said. "Just like the newspapers."
"Exactly like the newspapers, actually." Elm told her. "The blue flamed ponyta. Did you know that not all pokemon are born the same as the rest of their respective species? While this is relatively new information, sometimes a pokemon is of a different color."
"Like the blue ponyta." TJ said.
"Yes." Elm continued. "Those pictures were of a ponyta found running around outside of New Bark."
"Outside of New Bark?" TJ said. "But, there are no wild ponyta around here."
"On the other side of Tohjo Falls, there are." Elm explained. "In Kanto, on route 29. It somehow managed to get across to Johto. And I think I know how. Have you heard of Team Rocket?"
"Yes, of course." she said. "But they disbanded about eight years ago."
"Or, so we thought." Elm said. "Small bands of loyal members have popped up now or then over the years to make minor trouble. This small group seems focused on one main goal: To capture special pokemon. I don't know why, but I do know that the reasons cannot be good. So, what I need you to do is to catch this ponyta before they do."
"OK, so you go from not wanting me to go anywhere to putting me up against one of the biggest crime groups in the nation." TJ said, rolling her eyes.
"Ex-biggest." Elm corrected. "They shouldn't be too powerful, now. No one has stepped up as leader since Giovanni fell. Besides, when I say before, I mean before. If my timing is right, you shouldn't even run into a grunt." TJ sighed and looked at Sasha.
"Well, partner, what do you think?" She asked. "Should we go catch us a ponyta?"
"Whichuuu!" Sasha said happily, thrusting her arm up into the air.
"OK, that's all I needed to here!" She stood quickly, an excited grin across her face. "Let's go!" Sasha hopped onto her shoulder and they went for the door.
"Wait! You'll need this!" Elm called, tossing her a pokeball. TJ caught it and examined it. The ball was different than a regular pokeball. "That's an ultra ball; it has a higher success rate than regular pokeballs. Use that to catch the ponyta."
"Got it!" TJ said, pocketing it and running out the door. Professor Elm sighed as he watched her go. Scratching his head, he went to return to some research when the phone rang. He picked it up and Professor Oak's face appeared on the video screen.
"Elm." he said, nodding in greeting.
"Hello Professor Oak." Elm replied.
"So?"
"She just left. If all goes well, she should be back in a few hours."
"Good. I wish her the best of luck." Oak paused for a moment. "So, do you really think this girl is…"
"Everything matches perfectly. Her appearance, most of her mannerisms, even her love for pokemon. Yes, I do believe this is her. The one to save us from the darkness."
"I hope we are right, for all our sakes."
"Me too." Oak's face disappeared and the screen went quiet once more. Elm looked over at his research; a pile of stone tablets with strange characters written on them. He walked over to them and ran his hand over the top most one. Among the writing were pictures. One at the top was a crude drawing of a girl, a ponyta, and a mew. The other at the bottom was of fire, ice, and rage. "Me too."
TJ and Sasha crept quietly through the trees of a small forest just outside of New Bark. They had seen no sign of the ponyta and this was the last place on their list of places that the horse had been seen. There was loud rustle a few feet ahead.
"Sasha, get down!" TJ said. They dropped to all fours. TJ peered over the tall grass. A few feet in front of them was the ponyta. "Wow. He's beautiful." The ponyta was eating the grass and hadn't noticed their presence. His mane and tail were a bright cerulean blue and they flickered in the air. "Ok, Sasha. You know what to do. Go!" Sasha nodded and ran out to where the ponyta stood. He looked up and Sasha stopped in front of him. He neighed loudly.
"Sasha, fury swipes, now!" TJ said, standing up quickly. Sasha rushed at the ponyta, swiping at it with her claws. The ponyta reared up. "That's stomp! Move out of the way!" Sasha dodged to the left. "Rollout!" Sasha curled up into a tight ball and spun quickly. She hit the ponyta in the face, causing him to stumble. The ponyta shook his head furiously. He faced Sasha, planted his hooves, and his mane flared.
"Uh-oh." TJ said. "Ember! Sasha, brace yourself!" The ponyta opened his mouth and spewed a ball of fire. It engulfed Sasha then went out. Sasha shook herself, hardly a scratch on her. "Thata girl! Go at her with another fury swipes!" Just as Sasha raised her claws, there was a loud snap like a whip crack. A rope came out from the trees across the way and wrapped around the ponyta's neck. TJ's eyes went wide. "Sasha, return!" Sasha turned around and ran back to TJ. They got low again as more ropes came from the woods. They wrapped around the ponyta's legs and neck. He bucked and thrashed, neighing loudly. TJ was surprised that his mane wasn't burning through the ropes. Someone had come prepared. Once the ponyta was successfully tied down, a man stepped out from the trees. He wore an all black uniform, with a large red 'R' on the front of it.
"Ponyta captured." He said, smiling at the still struggling ponyta.
"Team Rocket." TJ whispered. "And, we weakened him. Darn! What are we gonna do now?" The man placed a hand on the ponyta's nose. He shot it back quickly, as if he was burned. He smiled even wider.
"Get the net!" He called. Five more Rockets walked out into the area, two holding a large net. "We'll catch this one and bring him back to the Boss in Cerulean." They circled the ponyta and threw the net over him. The ponyta did not like this at all. His eyes glinted and his fire flared.
"Oh my goodness, that's…" TJ said. The flames on the ponyta grew larger until they exploded in a swirl of fire, reaching well over their heads. "Fire spin." The Rockets were caught up in the flames and they screamed in pain. TJ was just outside of the flames and could feel the heat it gave off. The fire died, leaving a burnt circle in the grass. At the center of the circle stood the ponyta, who bucked to remove the netting. He suddenly bolted. Sasha jumped on TJ's shoulder and they ran after him. After a few feet, the ponyta stopped suddenly. A Rocket member blocked his path. In front of him was a large arbok. TJ stopped next to the ponyta. The Rocket looked surprised.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"The name's TJ and I'm gonna stop you from hurting this pokemon." TJ replied proudly. Sasha nodded in agreement.
"Little girls should stay out of grown-up business." he growled.
"Any business that involves hurting poor pokemon is my business!" she yelled. "Sasha, go!" Sasha jumped off of TJ's shoulder and stood between the arbok and the ponyta. TJ could hear the ponyta breathing heavily. She knew it was in no shape to battle. It was all up to her and her pokemon to get the ponyta out of this unharmed.
"Arbok, poison sting that little rat." he said.
"Cha!" Arbok said, opening his mouth wide.
"Sasha, underground!" TJ commanded. Sasha dug underground, just as poison pins shot out of his mouth. The pins hit the ground harmlessly. After a few moments, the ground broke beneath Arbok and Sasha shot into the air, sending Arbok flying. The snake landed, shaking the ground. He was knocked out. The Rocket returned him to his pokeball and ran.
"This won't be the last you hear from us, TJ!" he called as he disappeared in the trees. Sasha ran to TJ. TJ swept her up into her arms.
"Great job, girl!" She said happily, scratching behind Sasha's ears.
"Sksksksksk!" Sasha laughed happily. Next to them, the ponyta swayed wearily. His flames were really low.
"Oh, you're not looking too well, are you boy?" TJ said. "Sasha, I need you to go into your pokeball so I can help him back. Ok?" Sasha nodded. TJ returned her to her ball and went to put her hand on the ponyta to help him back. She hesitated, afraid of being burned. The ponyta looked at her and something told her that he wouldn't burn her. She placed her hand on his neck, finding him to be very warm. TJ lead the ponyta back towards New Bark Town.
As TJ walked towards Professor Elm's lab, the townspeople all watched her walk by. They eyed the blue ponyta and whispered to each other. TJ came to the front of the lab and called out to Elm. He ran out and helped her and the ponyta to the back, where his aides treated him. TJ gave them Sasha as well, to look her over.
"Is he gonna be ok?" TJ asked once she and Elm were inside.
"They tell me his going to be fine." Elm told her. "All thanks to you, might I add. You really did well, young lady. I see that you have become a fine trainer, capable of traveling on your own. Your father would be proud. I would be glad to see you off to where ever you plan on going."
"Cerulean City." TJ said quickly.
"What?" Elm said, startled.
"I plan on heading straight for Cerulean City." she repeated. "I over heard one of the Rockets saying that they were going to take Ponyta to their boss in Cerulean. That's where I'm going. I want to stop them from hurting any more pokemon."
"But, TJ, you only fought grunts today." Elm said. "The boss will rip you to shreds!"
"No they won't." TJ defended. "Not with Sasha, Celia, and that ponyta by my side."
"This coming from the girl who thought I was crazy for sending her up against a small group of Rockets. This is beyond you, TJ. And, who said you were taking the ponyta?"
"This is not beyond me." TJ defended. "You must have chosen me to catch this pokemon for a reason. I want to take what I know and stop Rocket before they can carry out what ever plan they have. You can't stop me; you did say that I would be free to go if I captured the ponyta. Well, he is here and I held up my end of the deal. Your turn." Elm was silent. She was right, he had promised to let her go where she wanted from now on, even if that meant letting her walk right into Team Rocket's territory.
"Fine. You are right, that was the deal. But, I do have one thing I'd like you to do." he said.
"Ah-ah, that's another errand…"
"Just listen, this will help you out as much as me." Elm explained. "I want you to take the ponyta to Professor Oak in Pallet Town. He will want to see it and he may also have some more information on Team Rocket."
"So, that means I get to keep him?" TJ asked.
"I didn't say that…"
"Too bad." TJ said happily. "He'll be with me from here to Pallet. There's no way you could split us up after that!" Elm sighed, knowing he had lost again.
"Fine, keep him." Elm told her. "It would be better for a ponyta to be running with a good trainer anyway."
"Yes!" TJ celebrated. She ran out the door before Elm could change his mind. She went straight to the back of the labs. There were large fields for the lab's pokemon to be observed outside. Most were fenced in and there were also large wooden sheds where the pokemon slept. The ponyta was running around in the area closest to the lab's main building. Sasha was there, too. As soon as she saw TJ walk outside, the sandshrew climbed the low fence and ran to TJ, immediately climbing up her body to her shoulder. TJ gave her a kiss on the cheek, and then walked over to the ponyta. The ponyta ran over them and nuzzled TJ with his nose.
"Hey, feeling better, boy?" she said. The ponyta licked her cheek. TJ giggled. "Guess so. Guess what? We are going to Pallet Town to meet Professor Oak, and then straight to Cerulean to see about those Rockets. Sound good?" The ponyta neighed happily and Sasha shook her head. "Hmm…now that you are mine, you need a name. You're flames are blue and that's what makes you special…how about Indigo? Do you like that?" Ponyta neighed and shook his head yes. "Ok then Indigo, welcome to the team!" She went inside to pack her things and then returned to mount Indigo. She was about to leave when Elm stopped her.
"Wait, you'll need this!" he said, handing her a pokeball. "This is my azumarill, Zuzi. He'll be able to get you across Tohjo Falls and into Kanto."
"Ok, thanks." TJ said, putting the ball on her belt. "Good bye, Professor Elm. Wish me luck!" Indigo ran off, leaving Elm to watch her go.
"Good luck, Tara Jane Winters." he said. After he watched her disappear beyond his line of sight, he returned to his lab to tell Oak of his soon to be visitors.