Chapter-6 Azalea-The town of Slowpokes
Both Sam and Ralts are walking through a small jungle. Sky is clear, gentle breeze is flowing and wild pokemons are here and there all over the jungle. That day is nice and pleasant. Sam checks his map,
"Almost there Dizzy."
/Really?/
"Yeah. According to map we are going to reach Azalea town soon." After walking for some minutes, they reach a cave outside of which a man wearing black T-shirt and pants with a big red 'R' printed on his T-shirt, is guarding the cave. Sam checks his guide book,
"The book says this cave is called Slowpoke Well."
/Slowpoke Well? A cave named after a pokemon?/
"Its true."
/But why it is called well?/
"Actually its an underground cave, only its entrance is on the surface."
/Wow, I wonder what's inside./
"Hey you 2, stop with your chit-chat and get out of here." that man says to Sam after spotting him from a distance.
"You should work on your behavior pal." Sam replies.
"Get out of here immediately otherwise you have to pay for it."
"Oh yeah? Then let's see what you have got."
"You want to fight? As you wish, but don't cry after losing."
"You really have a big mouth. You don't know that you are going to lose."
"Kid you don't know who you are messing with."
"I know... with a black punk who's got a big mouth."
"Wh-what!?"
/Come on stop it. We don't have to interfere./
"Don't worry Dizzy, I'll get him."
/No you don't./ then Ralts teleports herself with Sam away.
After appearing, they see bushes all around there.
"Whoa, where are we?"
/Shhhh... look there, we didn't get too far./ she says while pointing her finger toards a direction where they see the same man finding them here and there.
"What did you do?"
/Actually I just teleported ourselves behind a bush to hide./
"Really?"
/I don't want you to do nasty things./
"Well you win. If you want that... then it's OK."
/Hehehehehe... I know you will listen to me./
"Yeah-yeah" they both begin walking again. After taking a few steps, they see a town in front of them outside of which a sign board is there saying 'Welcome to Azalea Town'.
"We already reached there?"
/seems so./
"Well good for us." they both enter the town. They are expecting that it will be fun visiting a new town there but atmosphere is all gloomy there. Everybody seems sad there.
"What's with that mood?" Sam asks.
/They are depressed. Something terrible must have happened here./
"Hmmmmmmmm... seems so.". While walking, they reach a house outside of which a wooden sign board is present saying 'Kurt- The Pokeball Maker.'
"Pokeball Maker? Sounds interesting."
/He's kind of a craftsman./
"Let's pay him a visit since we are guests here." Sam knocks the door and a cute little girl in red frock opens it.
"Good morning, can I help you?" she asks.
"Well yeah. We want to meet Mr. Kurt, is he here?"
"So you want to meet with my grandfather. He's home, come in, I will come him." That girl shows them the way to drawing room. Sam and Ralts sit there while that girl goes to call Kurt.
"Whew, I never thought that Kurt would be so old that he has a grand-daughter."
/Yeah and also she's so cute./ After some time, that girl enters the room with an old man with her. He's probably Kurt.
"Good morning sir." Sam greets him.
"Good morning. My child told me that you want to meet me."
"Yes, I do."
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Not really sir. Let me introduce you to myself, I am Samuel Connor from New Bark town and she is my friend Ralts, I call her Dizzy. I am on an errand and I came to Azalea town to challenge its gym leader but I find it interesting that this town has a great pokeball maker and I just wanted to meet him so I came here."
"Ohhhh... so you want to meet me, that's so pleasing."
"Privilege is mine."
/Wow, you really know how to please people with your dialogues./
"Shut up." Sam says.
"Huh? Do you say something?" Kurt asks him.
"N-no-no."
"Very well then, I am Kurt, the pokeball-maker as you already know and she is my lovely cute grand-daughter Anna."
"Nice to meet you... and yeah, I also want to ask something."
"Go ahead."
"When we arrive here, people were so sad , is there anything bothering them?"
"Well. its a long story."
"I am ready to listen."
"Since the very beginning, this town is a peaceful one. Everybody lives here happily but years ago a drought occurred and put its citizens in a state of chaos. Then from somewhere a Slowpoke appeared and yawned. Then after some time few drops of water fell from the sky and in few minutes it began to rain heavily. After that incident people of this town began to breed Slowpokes and they really brought good luck with them. Whenever they yawned, it always occurred the rainfall. Due to this, people befriended with Slowpokes and it increased their population in Azalea which leaded to the formation of Slowpoke Well which is just outside of this town. People provided them shelter and food and in return they made it to rain. This town has already made a strong bond with them. But few days ago, all Slowpokes suddenly disappeared from the town. That's why all people are depressed. They know the consequences of this incident. Without Slowpokes, our livelihood will be destroyed. People believe that because of some mistake or sin done by us, Slowpokes left to give us punishment. We even tried to check the Slowpoke Well but people who went there never returned. So people are scared even to go near the well these days."
"But that's not true."
"What do you mean?"
"We just saw a man there outside of the cave. It seemed like he was guarding it."
"You must be kidding."
"No, I am not. You can go yourself and check if you don't believe us."
"Really?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
"You really got my interest kid, let's go." then Sam, Ralts and Kurt leave to go to Slowpoke Well. Though he knows that he is going for a good reason, still Kurt is frightening just thinking about the lost people. But Sam's faith gives him courage.
They reach there but they hide behind a bush to avoid attention from the black suited guy from earlier.
"Wow, you were really telling the truth." Kurt says.
"I know."
"But what is he doing here?"
"Don't know."
They all are facing the back of that man. When he turns around and Kurt looks at the big 'R' on his shirt, he is surprised and scared a bit.
"Sir, what happened to you?"
"Th-thi-this guy... he's fr- from Team Rocket."
"Team Rocket?"
/Team Rocket?/
"It is an evil organization that steals pokemons for their own benefits and it is not clear what they do to them. They capture pokemons and make them to do whatever they like, whether pokemon like it or not. They can use force heartlessly if they have to. Their leader is Giovanni. Police is still trying to capture him but it is not that easy."
"What can be the reason that Rocket grunt is guarding the Well."
"Sam, disappearance of all Slowpokes and Team Rocket's presence her, now it makes sense."
"So, are you saying that-"
"Yeah, it is due to them. We have to stop them whatever they are doing."
"Yes we do."
"Come on Sam, we have to first take down this guy."
"Leave it to me."
"Will you do it?"
"With pleasure, after all I have to settle things between me and him."
"What do you mean?"
"Never mind. Come on let's go." Suddenly they all appear in front of that Rocket's foot soldier.
"So, you brat, you bring reinforcements to fight me? That's amazing." he says to Sam.
"Who says we are going to fight you? I am going to defeat you alone."
"Yeah? Then let's go." he sends out Zubat.
"Zubat, huh? Then Monferno I choose you." before Sam can release his fire-monkey, Pidgey comes out of her pokeball.
"Pidgey? DO you want to fight?" she nods saying yes.
"OK Pidgey, let's do it." then the battle between 2 flying types begins. Without a doubt, Sam wins the battle. They tie that Rocket grunt with rope and enter the Slowpoke Well. They quietly and cleverly go further in the cave. Soon they see a strange light at some distance. They can't believe on their eyes what they are watching. There they see many scientists working on computers and also there are big cylindrical containers in which Slowpokes are kept in unconscious state in water with their tails being cut. There are also many guards present in typical Team Rocket uniform.
"N-no, it can't be..." Kurt says.
"It-it seems like it is-"
"Yeah, it is a lab but what are they doing with all Slowpokes?"
"Th-their tales... their tales are already sliced apart."
"N-no, no, no, no, I can't forgive them for what they did to those innocent Slowpokes."
"It is indeed unforgivable." They all are hiding behind big rock pieces. They are going closer to the lab as quiet as possible. Sam then makes his move and is about to go from one rock piece to another then suddenly one of his pokeball on his belt opens loose and falls on the ground. But before it can hit the ground, Ralts teleports that ball with her and saves it from falling and making any noise. They all sigh in relief. But at the next second, Pidgey comes out of that ball and aware all guards there.
"Hey you 3, what are you doing here?" one of them says.
"I guess now there's no running away, we have to fight." Kurt says.
"You are right." Sam says and releases all of his pokemons, Treecko, Monferno, Pidgey and Ralts into battle. Kurt also releases his pokemons. He sends out Sandslash, Rapidash and Magneton.
"So you guys want to fight against us?" one of them says.
"Of course. We will not only defeat you, we will also stop you from whatever you are doing."
"Do you guys even know what we are doing? These Slowpokes in Azalea town, they are priceless. Its amazing that they can bring the rain
on their own and scientists here are working to find out what their yawns have that triggers rain right at the moment. Just imagine what we, Team Rocket can do when we have full control on weather. We shall rule the skies in the whole world, isn't it great?"
"But what did you do to their tails?" Sam asks.
"Tails? Oh yeah... we just cut them off and sold them. They really are tasty as a snack."
"WHAT! You sold them as a mere SNACK!" Kurt shouts in anger.
"How heartless. You will pay for what you did to those Slowpokes. I will never forgive you." Sam says and unleashes on them. He orders his every pokemon to attack. Kurt does the same. Rocker grunts also send their pokemons, mostly Zubats and Koffings. It is a fierce battle. Its like a war. Almost every type of pokemons fire, grass, flying, electric, rock, ground, poison are fighting each other.
After a long battle, Sam and Kurt turns out to be victorious.
"You... how can you defeat us!? How can you defeat the Team Rocket!"
"Well, its not that much hard, you guys are so weak and pathetic."
"Don't worry, we will come back again and take revenge. Celebrate for now but you will pay for it. We will tell about you to our boss Giovanni."
"Whatever, just get the hell out of here." Sam says. Then one of them uses smoke bombs, it creates a fog of smoke. When it clears, they all are already gone.
Sam, Ralts and Kurt free every Slowpokes there. They come out of the cave and return to the town. It makes citizens full of joy. They celebrate the return of Slowpokes, while in the lab, Kurt orders his Rapidash to use Hyper Beam and destroys the lab there. Then they all come back to Kurt's house.
"Sam, you really did a great job." Sam says.
"You were also amazing."
"I really want to thank you Sam. You helped us to bring back Slowpokes, it was really a very big help. Believe it or not, you now owe Azalea Town."
"Come on, you are exaggerating things."
"No, I am not. Its really because of you that we were able to bring back all Slowpokes and I know, things will get better again."
"Well that's good to hear."
"And yeah, I want to personally thank you, take this Fast ball Sam as a token of my appreciation. It is used to catch pokemons who are fast and quick."
"Thank you very much sir."
"Also, best of luck for your gym battle."
"Thanks. I should leave now."
"Bye then, see you later."
"Good bye." Sam and Ralts leave his house to go for the poke-center. After resting, they go for the Azalea gym the following day.
After having such a battle experience with Kurt, he is confident that he is going to win the gym battle.
After a few minutes of walking, they reach the Azalea gym. Sam enters the gym. They see that gym is like a hive for insects. There are various bug-pokemons here and there. As Sam walks further, he sees a boy slightly younger than him, wearing green shirt and shorts,
"Hi, can I help you?" he asks Sam.
"Actually I come here to challenge the gym leader for a fight, is he here?"
"So, you come here to fight me? Interesting."
"What!? There's no way you are the gym leader. You are so young."
"So what? I am the gym leader."
"Ohhh… sorry to suspect you. I am Samuel Connor from New Bark town, you can call me Sam and she is my best friend Ralts."
"Nice to meet you. I am Bugsy, Azalea town's gym leader and you should have figured it out that I use bug type pokemons."
"Yeah I did."
"Hmmm….. you say that you are Sam, right?"
"Yes."
"So you are the one who helped Kurt in fighting Team Rocket and rescuing all Slowpokes."
"Yes, that's right."
"I see, you are a brave man as you have guts to fight Team Rocket. Now I also want to test your strength."
"That will be my pleasure."
"So shall we begin?"
"Why not?" Sam replies. Bugsy takes them to battleground.
"Sam, what you did for Azalea town is really something, we owe you one, but don't think that I will go easy on you for that reason."
"I don't want that either."
"Great, now understand the rules. It will be a 3-on-3 pokemon battle. You can switch your pokemons whenever you want but I will not be able to do that. Whose pokemon stands last will be the winner, is that OK?"
"Yeah I am fine."
"Good. Ariados I choose you." Bugsy sends out a red-spider looking pokemon.
"Ariados? Then Monferno, I will choose y-" before Sam can send out his fire-monkey, Pidgey comes out of her pokeball.
"Pidgey? Do you want to fight?" she just simply nods.
Then the first fight between Pidgey and Ariados begins. It uses String shot against Pidgey but she dodges the attack and uses Gust against it. It is a direct hit. Their fight continues. Their speeds are amazing. It is an equal match. Ariados is using a move-set of String Shot, Body Slam, Double Team and Absorb while Pidgey is using Tackle, Gust Whirlwind and Quick Attack. Technically, Pidgey should be at advantage since she is flying type and fighting against bug type pokemon but they both are matching each other very well. They both are very tired now. Pidgey uses Quick Attack and falls in Ariados's trap of Double Team. It appears behind her and uses Body Slam to her defeat. Sam calls her back as well as Bugsy calls his Ariados back. Sam sends out Monferno and Bugsy sends out Beautifly. Again, Sam is at advantage since Monferno is fire type and he is facing a bug type. Their fight begins. Beautifly uses Stun spore but Monferno whirls it away with Flame Wheel. Bugsy's pokemon is using everything she's got to corner Sam's fire-monkey but he is just too strong for her. This fight is really in the favor of Sam. Finally Monferno corners it and uses Flame Wheel to defeat her. Both trainers call their pokemons back.
Now score is settled at 1-1. Now it is the time for final fight which will decide the winner. Sam chooses Ralts as her final pokemon and Bugsy sends out Scyther. Now it is a fight between psychic and bug type. Scyther is really looking strong and powerful. It is sure that this fight is not going to be easy for Sam and Ralts. Their fight begins as Ralts uses Confusion but bug type dodges it and uses Fury Cutter against her. It results in direct hit, but she gets up and fights back against it. It really is a tough one for Ralts. The problem is it's Fury Cutter. She finds that the strength of this move is increasing significantly as Scyther is using it repeatedly. But she is also not intended to give up. She is also using Heal Pulse repeatedly to heal herself. Scyther charges for another Fury Cutter. She uses Confusion but it easily dodges the attack and continues charging. When it is about to strike, she uses Teleport and vanishes. Then she appears just behind it and uses Confusion. She put everything she's got in her last attack. It successfully hits it. Scyther is sent flying and it crashes to the ground. But it gathers its remaining energy and stands up. Sam and Ralts are stunned to see that. They are shocked to see the strength of Scyther. But after some time, it falls down and faints out. Ralts has defeated Scyther. Sam also has defeated the gym leader. He runs and holds her in his arms in happiness.
"We win Dizzy, we won, we won, we won!"
/Yeah, I know./
"Thanks Dizzy for whatever you have done, you fought really very well."
"Congratulations Sam, you have defeated me, a gym leader which means you have earned your badge. Take this Hive badge." Bugsy hands him a round badge. He is really very happy to get his 2nd badge.
"Thanks Bugsy. You were amazing."
"You too Sam."
"I am surprised that you are that much strong at this age."
"That's why I am a gym leader."
"Your Scyther is really great. I have never seen that much strong pokemon."
"Your Ralts is well trained too…. By the way where will you go for your next gym battle?"
"I will go to Goldenrod City next. It is the nearest town from here I guess."
"Hmmmmm….. Wise choice."
"Well, I think its time for us to say good-bye."
"I enjoyed battling with you. I hope we will meet next time soon."
"Thanks. Good-bye Bugsy. Take care."
"You too. Bye, see you later." Sam and Ralts go to Poke-center to rest.
Next morning, they prepare to leave for Goldenrod City,
"Dizzy you know where we have to go next, so let's get started."
/Of course./
"I can't wait to get my 3rd gym badge."
/Me too./
"Prepare Goldenrod City, here I come."