Servo: (is holding an odd-looking machine)
Me: What the heck is that?
Servo: This is an old invention Joel, Crow, and I made years ago. It's called the Steve-O-Meter.
Ace: Ok... I'm almost afraid to ask. What does it do?
Crow: Joel built this thing in honor of Steve Allen. There was so many things this guy thought up, Joel made this machine to determine what he had thought up. The end result of our first use of this machine was downright crazy.
Servo: Yeah, apparently according to this thing, Steve already thought up the idea of the Steve-O-Meter! Look: (scans the Steve-O-Meter. The light on the machine flashes, and there's a strange buzzing sound in the air)
Otto: I hope you didn't bring that thing here to annoy us!
Gantz: I'd have to agree with you there... It's a cool machine though.
Me: Ok, we'd better get started with the newest chapter of the fanfic now.
(the Steve-O-Meter goes off)
Crow: Who would of thought it! Steve thought up the concept of fanfiction!!!!!
Crow and Servo: HE'S EVERYWHERE, HE'S EVERYWHERE, HE'S EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wally: Ok, those two seriously need help...
Me: AHEM! Ok, this chapter adds a small twist to the story that a reviewer has stated neded to be put in sooner, but I couldn't think of any place to stick it sooner. In other words, the heroes suffer a small, but still somewhat painful defeat. Read on to see what I mean.
Zane: Ok, it's fanfic sign!!!!!! (Steve-O-Meter goes off)
Otto: Ok dammit, give me that machine!!!!! (chases Servo and Crow)
Chapter 39: Double Trouble
The team was making good time after their brief stay in Blackthorn City. While they were in Blackthorn, they had some battles against the resident dragon trainers, and faird quite well. The experiance gained here was hugely bennificial, as some of the pokemon in the group evolved, as well as learned some new moves.
Clay's Piplup evolved into a Prinplup, but Clay found it to be more of a bad thing than a good thing as Prinplup became very self-centered.
Zane's Mankey evolved into a Primeape, which made it tougher for Zane to teach the pig monkey pokemon to control his temper.
Vivian's Teddiursa had also evolved into an Ursaring, and had learned to use the devestating Facade attack.
Brock's Geodude evolved into a Graveler and even learned how to use Stone Edge and Earthquake.
Eventually they arrived in a small town known as Meadow Town, so called because the town was built in a beautiful meadow. As the team walked around town, some of the people were looking at the heroes strangely. At one poing, Cambot said quietly to Brock, "Why are they staring at us like that? We're in our human forms."
Brock then said, "I dunno. I wonder what's going on?" Evntually, an Officer Jenny walked up and said, "Hold it you guys!" The heroes froze, and that's when they saw Jenny rush up and slap a pair of handcuffs on Crow's wrists. Crow stared wide-eyed at this, and said, "What the!? What did I do!!?!"
Officer Jenny then said, "Don't play dumb with me! There's been reports all over town about a man stealing pokemon from their trainers who looks exactly like you! And don't think that cheap disguise is gonna fool me pal!" Crow was too dumbstruck to even argue or fight off Officer Jenny as he was hauled to the police station.
That's when Luigi asked, "What was that about!?" May then said, "We only just got into town! How could she think Crow did anything wrong!?" Servo then said, "Yeah, I know! He's a little twisted, but he'd never steal anything!"
Clay was in deep thought. He said in his mind, 'A pokemon thief who resembles Crow... I hope whoever did it isn't who I think it is...' Clay then said to the others, "Guys, come with me. I may have an answer to our problem."
Later, after Clay explained an event that occured in a past adventure, Ash said, "So you're saying that perhaps Bowser Jr is disguised as Crow like when he disguised himself as you, Luigi, and Mario? If that's the case, how did he get here, and why would he waste his time with us?"
Luigi then said, "Listen kid, with Bowser and his kids, no dirty deed is too small for them to pull. They'd even steal one grape off a bunch of grapes at a supermarket and eat it in front of a security camera. As to how Bowser Jr. could be here, I have no clue... Not only that, why would he be bothering with stealing pokemon?"
Suddenly, the heroes heard someone yelling for help. When they arrived at the scene, they saw a little kid crying. Vivian said to the young boy, "What's wrong?" The kid said, "Some jerk took my Growlithe!!!! It was that no-good pokemon thief that's been running around, I'm sure of it!!!
Ash then asked, "Where did he go?" The kid said, "He ran south of here..." Clay then said, "Ok kid, I need you to come with me to the police station to help someone. After that, wait there with Officer Jenny and we'll get your Growlithe back!"
Clay and the boy ran off tosee Officer Jenny while everyone else ran to the south where the thief allegedly escaped to.
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At the police station
Clay and the kid, whose name was Johnny, got to the police station as quickly as they could. When Officer Jenny saw them, she said, "Hey, aren't you one of the people that the thief was hanging around with? What are you doing here?"
Clay then said, "Ok Johnny, tell her what happened." Johnny then said, "Just a few minutes ago, some creepy guy took my Growlithe, and he looked just like the guy in that jail cell! The only difference was the guy looked like a goth with his pale skin and black hair."
Officer Jenny was confused about this information. She said, "Wait, are you telling me that I made a wrongful arrest!? Law enforcement doesn't take too kindly to pranks you know!" Crow then shouted from his cell saying, "Hey here's an idea, why don't you give me a lie detector test! That'll prove I'm innocent!!!!"
Officer Jenny was confused by Crow's outburst. 'If he was willing to take a lie detector test, than he might be telling the truth...' Jenny thought. She then said, "Ok, I think I believe you. Can you tell me where the supposed true thief ran off to?" Clay then said, "My friends ran after the guy, who ran south of where we met this kid. My only question is that can you let Crow come with us? I'm sure he wants to give the crook a piece of his mind."
Officer Jenny then said, "Well, civilians aren't supposed to take the law into their own hands, but it'll save me the trouble of letting him go later if you're telling the truth." Clay then said, "Ok, thanks Jenny. Johnny, go on back to your home, and stay there. We'll get Growlithe back in no time!"
Johnny ran off for his house as he had a feeling this would be dangerous for him. Crow was released from his confinement, and said, "Clay, I owe ya one!" Clay then said, "Forget about that for now, we got work to do!!!"
------------
Meanwhile...
The heroes had tracked down the true thief, and sure enough, he looked a lot like Crow when the gold robot was in his human form. The difference was that he was dressed in goth clothes as he wore a black leather jacket, black jeans, black sunglasses, and even had black hair along with pale white skin like a ghost.
Servo began shaking in fear, as this figure seemed eerily familiar. 'A dark-colored human version of Crow... Oh please God, don't let it be him!!!!!!' Servo shouted in his mind. Ash then said to the imposter Crow, "Who are you, and where is everyone's pokemon!?"
The fake Crow then said in a sociopathic voice, "Ah, I've heard much about you kids..." This comment chilled everyone to the bone. Ash shook it off, and repeated his last words. This time with quite a bit of anger in his voice. "You didn't answer my question! Who are you, and where is everyone's pokemon!!?!"
The dark Crow said, "Temper temper. If you must know, those pokemon I stole are on their way to a special location to become another batch of DR pokemon!" Kooper then said, "So your working for the Dentes Rhohos and Team Rocket? That gives us even more reason to take you down!"
The fake Crow then said, "Oh please... You would never be able to defeat me in battle. I also do not work for those idiots. I'm, as you say, a freelance worker. As for who I am, I will remain annonymous for now" The dark Crow heard the voice of Haze say in his mind, 'Nice cover, Timmy.' The fake human Crow, Timmy answered back telepathically by saying, 'I knew you'd be pleased.'
At that moment, Clay, Crow, and Officer Jenny arrived o the scene. Timmy was suprised to see Crow, but held in his suprise so he wouldn't blow his cover. Timmy said in his mind, 'How did Crow get free!?' Haze then said to Timmy, 'Your last theft gave theose fools the evidance they needed to free him from prison. I think you should come back before your identity is discovered.' Timmy then said, 'Yes, I definately agree. In fact, I would have retreated even if you had ordered me not to do so otherwise considering the situation.'
Timmy then said to the heroes, "I'm afraid my time here is up for now. I must leave for now, but chances are we may meet again!" Timmy threw a smoke bomb down and blinded everyone as he made his escape.
The heroes felt deflated of their pride upon Timmy's departure. They had failed to get the stolen pokemon back, and they were schedualed to become tools for Team Rocket's forces and unwilling soldiers in the ever growing army of the Dentes Rhohos.
Officer Jenny said, "Those poor kids in town are gonna be crushed when they find out they wont be getting their pokemon back..." James then said, "If it's any consolation, we have some information to pass on in regards to this unfortunate turn of events."
Luigi then said, "I know what you're thinking. Are you sure it's a good idea to tell her this?" Misty then said, "We already have the entire Kanto police force in on this, so I say we let the police force of Johto know as well."
After making sure the coast was clear, the heroes explained the whole story, and Clay even deactivated the human forms on the non-human members of the team as proof. After careful consideration, Jenny understood how serious this was. She then said, "What is it you all want me to do? The best I can do is alert the other Jennys in Johto."
Brock then said, "Couldn't you also let other pokemon law enforcement agencies in on it too? Like the Pokemon G-Men, or the Pokemon Ranger Association? Heck, even the Elite Four groups of Johto, Kanto, Hoeen, and Sinnoh would be good places to get help from."
Goombario then said, "Yeah, we need to figure a way to end this ASAP. We can't just keep going one place to another like this, we have to find out where Team Rocket's hiding! Once we figure that out, we find the Dentes Rhohos, and all the town's stolen pokemon!" Officer Jenny then said, "Yes, I'll alert all of those groups of this info. Of course, you yourselves will likely need to be there too as the story wouldn't be believed otherwise."
Diddy then said to Officer Jenny, "We'll be leaving for New Bark Town now. We'll be staying there for a little while, so if any of those agencies want to talk to us, tell them to contact us there, please." Officer Jenny then said, "Will do. Be careful kids."
With this small, but still painful defeat, the team leaves for New Bark Town. We, the readers may now know the thief's identity, but will the heroes learn of it? Most likely. But the question is when and how will they find out?
To be continued...
Otto: (catches Crow and Servo, and destroys the Steve-O-Meter with his Shadow Claws) The next time you decide to share one of your inventions, it better be one that isn't as annoying as you two!
Gantz: Otto, as much as I didn't like that thing, you should know to respect other people's property.
Me: Well, at least that thing wont buzz when we're in mid sentance anymore.
Mallow: I can see why Clay thought the fake Crow would be Bowser Jr. considering the fact this chapter seems to be similar to Super Mario Sunshine plot-wise.
Me: Yeah, that was part of the inspiration. This also gives the heroes something to think about as Bowser would likely not bother with the pokemon world, weither or not if he knew Clay and the others were there. Plus, Servo's gut feeling about who the fake Crow is (despite how obvious to us who it is) helps set things up for later.
MMSB: BTW, there's something I've been meaning to ask. What is Crow's human form? It might be a good idea to tell us for future refrence.
Me: Ah, thanks for reminding me. To go along with the voice he had during the Sci-Fi years of the show, I chose Bill Corbet to be Crow's human form. Anyway, R&R!