Chapter 3
Brad entered the building and noticed that about twelve armed guards stood along the walls leading to the end of the hall, where a door was located. Brad tried to ignore them as he walked to the end, opened the door, and stepped inside.
He emerged into a large Pokemon battle field. The roof was closed, but large windows allowed sunlight to filter in. On the far end, a man stood, arms folded across his chest. He had short, dark hair, blue eyes, and large muscles beneath his business-style suit.
"So, you're my next challenger?" Mayor Zach said, sounding bored.
"Yep, and I'm gonna win!" Brad declared. His Bagon raced into the field, ready for battle.
Zach sighed. "Very well. Combee, take the field."
A small Pokemon with what appeared to be three heads in a sort of hexagonal pattern appeared, flying on short wings. It glared at Bagon, then looked bored. It had fought and defeated a Dratini, and doubted that a Bagon would be much different.
"You may have the first attack, child," Zach said.
"You'll regret that!" Brad said. "All right Bagon, start with Leer!"
Bagon made odd faces at Combee, which made the Bug-type chuckle and lowered its defense. Zach said and waved dismissively, knowing he had already won. "Combee, use Bug Bite."
Combee charged, its mouth opening in preparation for its attack. As green light appeared in its mouth, Brad ordered, "Bagon, dodge it!"
Bagon tried to move out of the way, but Combee was faster, grabbing onto Bagon's leg and biting down hard. It screamed and glared at Combee.
"Now, Gust to blow it away," Zach said.
The twin wings of the Combee began vibrating until they created a strong Gust to blow away Bagon. It landed at Brad's feet, weakened but still able to battle. It rose to its feet and glared at Combee. Zach was momentarily startled, but then shrugged. Bagon would soon be defeated, anyway.
"Bagon, charge and use Bite!" Brad ordered.
Bagon raced forth, leaping into the air to Bite its opponent. He was so intent on its attack that it failed to notice Combee flying out of the way until it crashed to the ground. Bagon tried to rise, but Combee used Gust to force it back down.
Brad grimaced. At this rate, he was going to lose! How could go home with that knowledge?
"Bagon, use Rage!" Brad ordered.
Bagon felt its anger rising as its Attack began increasing. It turned, glared at Combee, and lunged in for another Bite attack. It grabbed onto Combee, forced it to the ground, and then used another Bite to grab it in its mouth to throw it into the air so it could land at Zach's feet.
"My…my Combee…" Zach stammered in shock. He fell to his knees, than recalled the Bug-type. He looked up at Brad and growled, "My guards shall give you the Pokedex, PokeBalls, and TM Case. Now, leave."
Brad grabbed and hugged Bagon when it came racing over, and then exited the arena. He was approached by the guards, who gave him the items, then literally kicked him out of the building.
-Line-
After healing Bagon at the Pokemon Center, Brad left Viridian City and began exploring Viridian Forest. He had only begun exploring the Forest for about ten minutes before he realized something.
"I'm lost," he stated in shock. His Bagon frowned and kicked the ground.
"Well, I suppose that's not the worst thing that could happen, right?" Brad said to Bagon, smiling.
Without warning, about twelve Beedrill shot out from behind some trees. Brad and Bagon turned and ran, with Brad crying out, "OKAY, IT JUST GOT WORSE!"
-Line-
Giovanni paced endlessly in his office. His secretary had just reported to him about a secret organization forming somewhere in his territories, plotting the downfall of Team Rocket. Yes, Giovanni had dealt with several past resistance movements in the past, but what set this one apart was the fact that this resistance had been formed in secret for about ten years. Ten years. Right under his nose. And they were only just beginning minor operations against Team Rocket, such as spy missions and mysterious assassinations. Just yesterday Mayor Kelsey of Eterna City had to be replaced because she had been killed when a Voltorb used Self-Destruct to blow up her car.
A Rocket Executive, Proton, entered Giovanni's office and ignored the cold stare Mewtwo gave him from the corner of the room. He folded his hands across his chest and said, "Sir, Alpha Squad has just brought in Bill."
"Excellent. Bring the traitor here."
Proton nodded, exited, and reappeared a moment later, following two Rocket Grunts that were carrying a rather beaten man between them. They tossed him to the ground and moved to the walls, glaring at the man.
"Greetings, Bill," Giovanni greeted the prisoner, but his voice carried no warmth. "Do you know why you are here?"
"This bastard," Bill answered, gesturing at Proton, "said I have betrayed the Rocket Empire by conferring with rebels, when I have no knowledge of any sort."
Giovanni sighed. "We have intercepted an e-mail from you linking to somewhere in Hoenn. We know you have been conferring with these rebels. Where are they, and why would you risk your life?"
"Like I'd tell you," Bill growled.
Giovanni kicked Bill in the face, growling. "Haven't you heard of Mewtwo's torture methods? He uses his Psychic abilities to slip into your mind, search for your greatest fear, and creates a never-ending illusion of it. Would you like to suffer that?"
Bill turned, stared at Mewtwo, and looked away when the Pokemon coldly returned his gaze. Bill smirked and said, "Nope. It's a good thing I have this, then."
Before anyone could react, Bill slipped a pill out of his pocket and stuffed it immediately into his mouth. He had swallowed it when Giovanni grabbed him by his shirt and lifted him off the ground.
"What did you do?" Giovanni demanded.
Bill still retained his smirk. "Took…took a pill…that's killing me…guess you…you still need to find some…somewhere else to get that info…"
Bill's eyes became glazed, and he became deadweight in Giovanni's grasp. He dropped the corpse to the ground and took a step back. If this group was so determined to remain secretive to have captured operatives kill themselves, then he'd have to search extremely hard to find them.
He looked up at Proton and ordered, "Take multiple squads and search Hoenn and anywhere else in the vicinity. I want them found. Now."
-Line-
Brad took deep breaths as he leaned against the a tree. His Bagon stood beside him, also panting. They had just gotten away from the Beedrill and had paused here to rest.
"I think we lost them," Brad said, sighing. "Wish we had the chance to catch one. Oh well."
Brad sighed, then heard faint cries from somewhere nearby. Brad and Bagon followed the cries until they came upon a small Pichu lying on the ground. It was uninjured, but it looked extremely afraid and lonely. Brad approached it steadily, then bent down beside it and said, "Hello."
The Pichu's head jerked up and it suddenly zapped him. Brad cried out and fell on his back. The Pichu growled and jumped up, landing on Brad's belly and zapping him. His Bagon rushed in and chomped down on Pichu with Bite. It cried out and tried to electrocute Bagon, but the Dragon-type tossed it away. It then approached Pichu, glaring at it. Brad got up and snapped, "What was that for, huh? I was only trying to help!"
The Pichu growled and prepared more electricity, but then Bagon charged and used Bite again, causing Pichu to cry out in pain. When Bagon released it, the little Pokemon suddenly began crying.
"Oh, for Arceus's sake, what are we going to do now?" Brad said. "That crying might bring about its parents, not to mention those Beedrill. What are we going to do?"
Bagon shrugged. Brad then snapped his fingers and pulled out an Oran Berry. He carefully approached the crying Pichu and set down the Berry, then stepped back, awaiting a reaction. He did not have to wait long. Pichu stopped crying, sniffed the Berry, nibbled it, then began eating it with more enjoyment. When it was through, the Pichu crawled up Brad's leg and ended up on his shoulder. Pichu rubbed its cheek on Brad's, squealing in delight. "Hey, what would you say to being my Pokemon?" Brad asked.
Pichu paused, then nodded. Brad touched it with a PokeBall, allowing it to jump in, then released it again. Pichu jumped onto his shoulder, and Bagon jumped onto the other.
"All right, guys. Let's get going!" Brad declared. His two partners nodded in agreement, and Brad set off again, walking through the forest.