Episode 4: Rocks and Rockets!

Red ran into the City, having lost sight of the men, he knew he had to find someone who could help. He sprinted about the place, attempting to find anyone, a police officer, a less-new trainer... Nobody.

"Whadaya think Pikachu?"

"Pika!" Pikachu said, pointing to the Diglett cave their foes had spoken of.

Red looked and thought for a moment.

"Alright, looks like we're on our own."

Red ran around the corner, and was shocked to see that those two weren't the only people in black uniforms there, there were at least seven more, each holding a Pokeball.
Red stood in awe, but something else caught his attention, a massive Snake Pokemon made completely of Boulders, smashing the Zubat, Ekans and Koffing that the Team Rocket members were sending out.

"Onix! Slam!" Its trainer called out, a tall boy, about 15 years of age, wearing a sandy-orange hoodie and army pants.

"OOONX!" Onix roared as it attacked, easily defeating the Rocket members' small Pokemon.

"Now get out of my city!" The Onix' trainer ordered the grunts, most of them obeyed... All but two, they were dressed in White Uniforms, rather than the standard Black.
"I don't think we can do that little boy, y'see, we have orders to take all of the Pokemon from this cave, one way or another." Said the first, she was a tall woman, though very young, about 20 to 21 was Red's guess, long blood-red hair and steel-blue eyes that seemed to stab into whatever she looked at.

"You'll hurt innocent people and Pokemon if you go through with this!" Barked the boy, gesturing to the cave.
"Our mission is too important to worry about a little pain... Now step aside." Said the second, a man of equal height and age to his female compadre, he with long-ish Light Blue hair, obviously dyed, it would look goofy on anyone but him.

"Never!"

"Fine then... Go!" The male white Rocket sent out a Pokeball, it released a massive Snake-like pokemon as well, though this one was far different from Onix.
It was blue and tan, though its body wasn't what caught Red's eye, it was its atrocious face, massive fangs, horns and fins left an intimidating impression on the Onix, who seemed to back up a bit.

"Gyarados! Hydro Pump!"

Gyarados did as it was ordered and blasted Onix directly with a high-pressure blast of water from its gaping mouth.
Red's eyes widened, as did Pikachu's, both knowing fully well that water type moves were very strong against Rock type and Ground type Pokemon... and Onix was a member of both groups.

Onix fell to the ground with a loud boom as Gyarados' blast impacted, it was soaked and very weak.

"Well then. boy, give us back our detonator and we'll send you on your way."

Out of nowhere, a bright yellow light shot across the sky, it hit Gyarados, lighting it up like a blown fuse, Gyarados stopped moving, falling to the ground and seaching for its assailant, as were Onix's trainer and the two members of Team Rocket.
"Hit 'em again Pikachu!" Red ordered Pikachu for a repeat of its double-powerful Thundershock.

"No!" Yelled the girl member, scowling at Red and Pikachu.
"This Gyarados exceeds its level of power in all aspects! How is this possible?!"
"Gee, I wonder... Do your homework, electric-type moves are four times more powerful against a flying-water type like Gyarados!"

Red Slid down the cliff he was on with Pikachu and met up with the other boy, who was smiling in thanks.
"This isn't over, children... Team Rocket WILL succeed!" In that word, Team Rocket and their fainted Pokemon were gone.

"Thanks for the save, we were in real trouble back there." The boy returned his Onix to its Pokeball for a rest and faced Red.

"Not a problem, just glad I got here."

"Same here, say, whats your name?"

"Red, and you?"

"Brock."
Red smiled, "Gym leader Brock?"

"One and only." Brock smiled with a hint of regret.

"Cool, as you might've guessed, I came here to challenge you to a battle for the badge..." Red explained, Pikachu running back up his shoulder.

"Challenge accepted, I'll wait for you in the gym, Onix needs a rest."
"Sure thing."

After Brock left, Red ran to the Pewter City Pokemon Center, in order to contact Professor Oak... If anyone could help with this Team Rocket situation, it was him.
"Red, good to see you! How's the Pokedex coming aliong?"

The Professor's face appeared on the Pokemon Center's videophone booth, he and Red spoke face to face.
"Well, so far I've seen 24 Pokemon, but there's something more important I need to talk about!"

Oak's brow furrowed, "Well what is it?"

"There are these people, this 'Team Rocket', that's what they call themselves. From what I've found out, they've been stealing Pokemon from their trainers, as well as forcing them out of their homes in the wild."
Oak looked surprised, but miantained his cool, "Red, have you come across any of them?"
"Actually, just now in Pewter city, the gym leader and I pushed them out but I doubt they'll lay low."
"Be careful boy, Organizations like this are uncommon, especially when their ambitions involve Pokemon..."
"I will Professor, g'bye.."

Red hung up and walked out of the booth to find a familiar sight, Blue stood at the Pokemon Center Counter, Taking back three Pokeballs after having them healed.
Red caught Blue's attention, smugly, he walked over.
"Well, so you finally made it... Gotta say, I'm a little disappointed."
Red clenched his fist, "What about?"
"Well your Pokedex Progress, was talking to gramps about it... You haven't caught ANY other Pokemon."
Red looked at his Pokedex, and mentally hit himself in the face, he had registered about thirty Pokemon, but the only information he had in full was what he had on Pikachu.

"I got no idea how ya beat Daisy in Viridian, but I do know I wanna battle. Now." He said, Red scowled and agreed.

The two boys left the center and began the battle in the street.
"Go, Eevee!" Blue sent Eevee out for a rematch against Pikachu.
"Ready, Pikachu?" The small Pokemon hopped down and squared off against the Eevee, "Pika!"
Eevee smirked and the battle began.
"Eevee, Quick Attack!" Eevee struck Pikachu before it could react, but it remained unfazed as Red sent his next command.

"Pikachu, Thundershock!"
Pikachu shot a bolt toward Eevee, connecting with it, but only barely stopping the fox-like creature in its tracks.
"Eee!"

"Ka!"

"Eevee, sand attack!"

"I don't think so, Pikachu, stay away from the sand!"
Pikachu rolled under the attack and struck Eevee in a counterattack.
"Ng..." Blue said, frustrated.
"Now thundershock at close range Pikachu!"

Pikachu let loose its sparks and shocked its foe at very close range, knocking it over and to Blue's surprise, Fainting it.

"Yes!" Red cheered, as did Pikachu, savoring its sweet payback.
"Hmph, guess you have some skill... This aint over yet."
Blue tossed his second Pokeball in the air as he returned Eevee, revealing a large mouse... Nix that, a large, fat, brown fuzzy Rat that loomed over the startled Pikachu, baring its fangs.
"RAATICATE!" It called, hissing.
"Raticate, Super Fang!"

Pikachu attempted to dodge, but Raticate's speed put the mouse's to shame, its large fangs chomping on Pikachu.
"Pikaouwa!"
Pikachu called in pain as Raticate let go.
"C'mon Pikachu, be strong!"
"Piika... KACHU!"

Pikachu let out an angered growl at Raticate, who had just taken another order for a bite.
"Pikachu, thundersh- NO!" Pikachu was sent reeling from a Take Down attack, fainted dead away.

"Nice try, Red, better luck next time. Smell ya later!" Blue took off with Raticate toward Diglett cave.

Red scowled as the smug boy ran off, picking Pikachu up off the ground, "You okay buddy? Anything hurt?"
"Ka Pi Chu..." PIkachu replied irritably.

"Just your pride?" Red said, taking Pikachu back into the Pokemon Center.

About an hour later, Red and Pikachu sat outside, near the gym.
"Didja see Blue's backpack? He had this gym's badge on his strap... Showoff." Red said in contempt as Pikachu promptly agreed.

"But that means he beat this gym, which says something about how muchu better we must need to be..."
"Pika..."

Red stared at the door, then firmly pushed it open.

TO BE CONTINUED

Alright! Gym battle number 1!

I remember my first battle against Brock in Yellow version...Red version was easy, it was Yellow that grinded my gears.

Good times :)

Anyways, here's this week's mailbag!

Guest Writes: Staravia

My Reply: *Buzzer* Wrong! Next!

Anon1 Writes: YOU sir, YOU need to apply for a job writing the script for the anime. To be completely honest, the only good things in the anime anymore are the Pokèmon and the battle scenes.

Actually, if you want to hear worse voice acting in the anime, look at (listen to) the Orange Island movie.(UMMmm... forgot the name, sorry.)

And, the answer to the riddle is Starly. Maybe. I dunno.

My Reply: Thank YOU sir! I would if I had any interest in being a corporate d-bag. Leave us face it, they don't care enough to hire someone who cares... So I'm stuck.
And you couldn't be more right, the ONLY good thing anime-wise is the animation for battles and the Pokemon designs.
But... I have to disagree, Pokemon 2000, the one you're talking about, is actually my second favorite of the Pokemon movies... The VA's were at LEAST trying then!

And you're closer than you think, but I REALLY need to clarify one thing: The Who's that Pokemon segments are KANTO-POKEMON ONLY for now. original 151 exclusively!

Anyway, nobody got it right this week... *Sigh* Fans, I am disappoint.
Pidgey! The first pokemon most of us ever thought was worth catching!

C'mon guys, try this one, this is discouraging.

But anyway, see ya next time!

Gotta catch 'em all,

-TheCrobatman