While the group entered the big building with the white walls and tight, narrow paths, Daisy noticed that a Pokemon was following the group around. "Hey, it's that Croconaw, he's still following us," she said.
"As I said, I think Croconaw is here to help us," Professor Ivy said. "After all, why else would he be following us around in the Team Rocket hideout here?"
"Ehhh... I think he's there for a different reason," Tracey said, while a sweatdrop left his head. He saw how the crocodile was on top of Vaporeon, tickling her on her belly and kissing her on her lips. The female Water-type blushed, enjoying the attention and touches. "This Croconaw is so awesome! And so hot! I wish he could stay with Misty for the rest of my life..." she thought. "This is true love!"
"This is so cute! I think Vaporeon has a boyfriend!" Misty squealed. "I should totally catch that Croconaw if I get the chance," she thought. "He's such a sweet gentleman, I totally wanna catch that Croconaw!" Daisy thought.
"Yeah, but that's a wild Croconaw," Tracey said. "And we really need to go on!" The Pokemon Watcher bended over and grabbed Croconaw away from Vaporeon. "You two lovebirds can hug again when we're finished here."
"Hey, come on! This was the hottest moment of my life!" Vaporeon thought. As a result of her anger, water was spit in Tracey's face.
As our heroes walked onwards, with Misty up front and Professor Ivy at the end, our heroes saw an old friend again. The perverted Pewter City-native doctor was battling the Magmar trainer with the moustache. "Though luck, Freddy, but you can't stop Ludicolo and me! I won't allow you all to keep Celebi here, and I'm gonna stop you!"
"So what? You beat me, but you're not gonna beat Brian and his Rapidash!" Freddy teased. "And Cassidy and Butch are also here to defend Celebi. You don't stand a chance on your own!"
"No, but if we all work together, we'll rescue Celebi!" Daisy snapped at Freddy.
"What? Daisy? Misty's older sister? What are you doing here? I thought you, Tracey and Misty were here for a vacation!" Brock asked.
"Yeah, but when Team Rocket captured Celebi, we just had to do something," Misty said.
"And we have someone with us who you might really want to meet!" Tracey said, while stepping aside for Professor Ivy.
"OH NO!" Brock screamed, while his face turned blue. "NOT HER!" The flirter burst out in tears upon seeing the woman who hurt him so much.
"We tried asking Professor Ivy a few times what happened between you two, but she didn't say anything," Misty said. "Would you be ready to talk about it now?"
"Don't mention that name..." Brock moaned.
"I'll take that as a no," Tracey said. Then, he looked at the professor. "Will you tell us when we get out of this building? You promised us that when we visited you at your lab!"
"Oh, alright then, the day had to come..." the professor complained. "But then let's go on now!"
"You don't need to go on!" a man with long, curly hair snapped. He was wearing black, classy pants and a black tuxedo with a small 'R' on it. "I won't let you!"
"Are you that Brian guy Freddy was talking about?" Daisy asked.
"Yes, I am, and I'm often seen as Team Rocket's strongest Pokemon trainer. I'm guarding this building and I won't let any of you through!" Brian said. "Rapidash, jab them with your horn!" he said, pointing at the Pokemon who stood next to him.
"Dash!" the horse screamed, jumping at Vaporeon. However, her new love interest was able to help. "Croco Croconaw!" he snapped, while jumping in front of Vaporeon and taking the hit for his beloved. "This hurts, but I won't allow them to hit my sweetheart!" The crocodile collapsed on the ground.
"Oh no, Croconaw!" Vaporeon thought. Then, she gave Rapidash an angry look. "You won't get away with this, you bastard!" Water was spit at the Fire-type, who wasn't able to take a Hydro Pump.
"Oh no, Rapidash!" Brian screamed. "Return, my sweet horse! I'll get you cured soon, you're gonna be alright!"
"Can we finally get further now?" Brock asked.
"I have more than one Pokemon," Brian said, while grabbing a Poke Ball from his belt. "Dewgong, I choose you!"
"We'll just take this one down as well!" Tracey shouted.
"Jumpluff Pluff!" Jumpluff shouted. The Grass-type hopped in front of Tracey, ready to battle.
"Jumpluff, you can't battle, we need you for navigation, we're in trouble if you get defeated, you can't battle now!" he explained to his friend.
"Pluff Pluff..." the sad Grass-type moaned, hovering back.
"Venonat, I choose you!" Tracey shouted, while hurling the Poke Ball of his bug friend.
"A Venonat? My Dewgong can take care of that! Dewgong, Aurora Beam!" Brian commanded. The colourful beam struck the bug, but didn't defeat him.
"Venonat, can you go on?" Tracey asked. His Pokemon shook his head, showing that he was still able to battle, even though he could barely stand on his feet.
"Finish it with a Water Gun," Brian said. His Pokemon quickly shot some water at the opponent, causing the bug to collapse.
"Venonat, no!" Tracey shouted.
"Nat..." the Pokemon murmured softly. Then, the Pokemon started glowing. Instead of a small, gray Pokemon, Tracey noticed that his Bug-type turned into a purple moth. "Venomoth!" the Pokemon screamed energetically.
"That's awesome, you evolved!" Tracey said. He saw that his newly evolved Bug-type used his wings to blow green powder at Brian and Dewgong, who started yawning. Then, the two fell asleep, allowing the group to move onwards through the narrow path.
Our heroes walked onwards. On the walls, they saw an arrow that was pointing in the direction they were walking. The text "Team Rocket research room - Right ahead" was painted there with red graffiti. "Research room? It wouldn't surprise me if Celebi is in there!" Professor Ivy said.
"Me neither, but I suppose we need to get past some more guards..." Misty predicted. "Of course such a rare Pokemon won't be left unwatched..."
"You got that right," a woman with dark blonde hair said, while she walked up to the group, along with three allies. "As you know, I'm Cassidy and this is B*tch, and these are John and Roger, two colleagues of us. They are friends of Brian, he got them to recruit Team Rocket. And those excellent battlers aren't going to let you in the research room! If you want to go there, you'll have to get past the four of us!"
"Hey, I'm Butch, not B*tch!" the blue-haired man snapped. "Anyways, I can't use my Ivysaur, because he's keeping Celebi asleep in the research room. But that Venomoth won't stop us, right?"
"Do you think so? Venomoth can put you all to sleep!" Tracey snapped.
Then, the moth got struck by a thunderbolt, instantly defeating it. "Not anymore," Roger said. His Starmie stood next to him, anxiously waiting for the next Pokemon thrown at it.
"Venomoth, no!" Tracey said, while returning his Bug-type.
"Venomoth was already tired and close to defeat when he was evolved," Misty moaned.
"Hey, I'll just throw a second Pokemon at them," John thought. A Chansey emerged from his Poke Ball.
"I'll battle you!" Daisy screamed. "Oddish, I choose you!" While the Pokemon looked ready to battle, her father wasn't happy. "What if she gets hurt?" Tracey's Jumpluff thought.
"A baby Oddish? Come on, my Chansey can wipe the floor with that kid!" John shouted. "Chansey, Egg Bomb!"
"Oh yeah?" Daisy said. "Oddish, jump and then try your Razor Leaf!" A few seconds after the eggs struck the wall instead of the Grass-type, the baby Pokemon struck the pink opponent with the sharp leaves she hurled.
"Hey, the training paid off!" Daisy thought, while seeing the pink Pokemon collapse.
"Chansey, come back!" John cried. Tears were flowing from his eyes. "Okay, I admit it, I'm a weakling who pretended to be strong, but my Chansey only recently evolved from a Happiny because I found an Oval Stone, and this Chansey is just a baby... And it's my only Pokemon! I'm a man in my sixties, but I only started Pokemon training a few weeks ago..."
"What?" Cassidy thought. She didn't hesitate for a second and smashed John on his head. "You dirty liar!" Butch snapped. You always said you're such a great battler with a strong Chansey, you scumbag! We're no longer friends, I hate liars!" Roger screamed. "Starmie, use your Thunderbolt on John!" And so, the entire group was struck by lighting, because all tried to hit John.
"Come on, let's go!" Misty whispered.
"Yeah, they're too busy arguing," Tracey said softly, while our heroes walked up to the research room. They saw a big room without any guards, but they did find what they were looking for. "Celebi!" Tracey shouted, pointing at the cage that was guarded by a strong Ivysaur.
Then, a giant chair turned around, with a man wearing a classy, orange suit and a red tie sitting in it. "Welcome, I've been expecting you all," he said.
"Give us that Celebi, you crook!" Tracey screamed.
"Why would I? He's safely kept asleep by Ivysaur, and we're keeping him," the man said. "You might've beaten my workers, but you can't beat me!"
"You guys, there's something I don't understand. Why was Celebi even in the GS Ball? I saw him months ago in Johto!" Brock asked.
"Since you all are going down, I can just as well tell you what my researchers found out. Forty years ago, Celebi travelled from back then to a few months ago, to escape a hunter. Then, he got captured by one of our Team Rocket hunters who tried to turn him into a battle machine. However, after some twerps saved him, he went back to his own time, forty years ago. Some years later, Team Rocket developed the GS Ball, in which we could catch any Pokemon, and only open it with the shrines we built in Johto and on that deserted island close to here. We made a fake ancient book to make this all seem like a huge mystery, and to prevent people from understanding everything. Celebi has been captured in the GS Ball for ten years now. Unfortunately, one of our workers lost the GS Ball, and Professor Oak found it almost a year ago. Now, we finally got Celebi back. We want to build a device to get him under our control, so we can time-travel and start stealing Pokemon back in ancient times! Then this world will be ours, and I will be rich!" Giovanni explained. "If you try to stop me, you'll just end up losing, so get out!"
"You sick, sick bastard!" Misty snapped.
"Who do you think you are? Sure, Celebi is amazing for science, but you can't do this!" Professor Ivy screamed.
"Who I am? Well, Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket. And we could use a good scientist like you. Would you like to join us for a giant wage, Professor Ivy?" Giovanni offered, much to Brock's dismay. "Don't mention that name!" the blue-faced pervert moaned.
"No! And we're going to stop you!" the professor screamed.
"Rhydon, I choose you!" the Team Rocket leader screamed. "Who wants to go down first?"
"We're going to stop you together!" Daisy screamed. But then, Croconaw pushed the blonde-haired Sensational Sister aside. "Croco Croconaw!" he said.
"So you want to battle, Croconaw?" Misty asked.
"Naw!" the wild crocodile nodded.
"Go for it!" Misty encouraged, while her Vaporeon stepped forward too, following Croconaw. "Are you two going to battle together?"
"Vaporeon!" the female Water-type nodded.
"Then I'll have to choose some of my other Pokemon as well," the criminal said. He hurled five more Poke Balls, sending out his Nidoqueen, Nidoking, Kangaskhan, Persian and Dugtrio.
"Six against two? Maybe Misty should help us with her Gyarados..." Vaporeon thought. "No! Croconaw and I can do this!" she thought. "Vap Vapor Vaporeon!" she shouted at her trainer.
"So you don't want me to send out other Pokemon, even though it's two against six?" Misty asked.
"Vap Vap!" the Pokemon nodded.
"I understand. Go for it! But if things look bad, we might have to," Misty said.
"Dugtrio, start with your Dig!" Giovanni commanded. "Meanwhile, zap that Vaporeon with your Thunderbolt, Nidoking and Nidoqueen!" And so, the three-headed Pokemon was out of sight, while Vaporeon jumped away and narrowly avoided the blow.
"Vaporeon, Aurora Beam!" Misty commanded. "And Croconaw, I don't know what moves you can use, so show me what you've got and hit that Kangaskhan!" While a colourful beam instantly defeated the weak, inexperienced and lazy Persian, Croconaw struck Kangaskhan with his fist, striking harsh after a few seconds of concentration.
"That's a really nice Focus Punch!" Daisy complimented, while the crocodile received a kiss on his cheek from Vaporeon.
"Oh no, I already lost two Pokemon!" Giovanni moaned. He returned Kangaskhan to her Poke Ball and put Persian on his lap. "But I still have four left! Dugtrio, hit Vaporeon with your Dig!" The Ground type came up to the surface, striking Vaporeon with a harsh blow, severely damaging the Water Pokemon.
"If you even try to attack my sweet Vappy, you're attacking me! I demand revenge!" Croconaw thought. Then, water was shot at the Ground Pokemon, who immediately collapsed.
"Wow, that's a damn strong Hydro Pump!" Misty complimented, while Giovanni had to retreat another Pokemon. The Team Rocket Leader's cursing even woke up Celebi, who got struck by Sleep Powder immediately, even before he had a chance to travel in time to escape his current situation.
Then, Croconaw started glowing in white light. The Water-type grew and surprised anyone. "Feraligatr!" the Pokemon growled.
"And now, Feraligatr, beat those crooks!" Daisy commanded. However, she got a Water Gun in her face from both Vaporeon and her newly evolved boyfriend.
"Feraligatr, Vaporeon, double Hydro Pump those three Pokemon and Giovanni!" Misty commanded. Unlike Tracey, Misty is someone both of them respected. And so, the Team Rocket Leader's remaining Pokemon got defeated in one blow. The man himself got shot against the wall, causing him to be unconscious.
"This is our chance!" Tracey said. "Jumpluff, Sleep Powder on that Ivysaur!" And so, the Pokemon who guarded Celebi and prevented an escape ended up falling asleep himself.
"Feraligatr, wreck that cage with Focus Punch!" And so, Vaporeon's new boyfriend freed Celebi, who woke up by the sound of the bars crashing.
"Cele... Bi? Celebi?" the green Pokemon asked upon flying in the air for a bit.
"Yeah, Celebi, you're free. We're not going to hurt you, we came here to free you. You should flee to another time now, to get away from here," Professor Ivy explained.
"Celebi!" the Pokemon thanked, shaking hands with all Pokemon, Misty, the professor, Tracey, Daisy and Brock. Then, he hovered upwards and disappeared, escaping to the past.
And so, the mystery was all solved and the problems were settled. Even though Giovanni and the other members regained consciousness and escaped before our heroes could inform the police, at least they were able to save Celebi, mostly thanks to the wild Feraligatr who fell in love with Vaporeon. "We never could've done this without you, Feraligatr!" Daisy complimented.
"Yeah, you're a real hero!" Misty added to that, while our heroes walked out of the building.
"And what are you going to do now? I'd love to take you as my second Pokemon," Daisy offered.
"Or how about becoming my Pokemon?" Misty asked. "I know you love my Vaporeon, and if you're mine, you can train and become stronger, as well as being with Vaporeon all the time. If you will be with Daisy, you'll be doing shows and fashion shoots all the time."
"I think he's pretty interested in girly stuff," Daisy said.
"No, he's gonna join my team!" Misty snapped.
"Hey, stop arguing! Maybe Feraligatr wants to help me with my research!" Tracey suggested. The crocodile immediately shook his head, implying "no!"
"Or how about seducing all the ladies together with me?" Brock suggested.
"Or turning his face blue with your friend Professor Ivy?" the professor suggested, intentionally trying to get her name in the sentence, turning Brock's face blue. "Feraligatr, who do you choose?" she asked.
Without a doubt, the Pokemon ran at Misty and Vaporeon. "Feraligatr!" he screamed, while getting petted by Misty and kissed by Feraligatr. "I got... a Feraligatr!" Misty shouted, imitating the pose Ash normally uses to celebrate when he caught a Pokemon.
"Lame, really lame," Daisy moaned. "He would've been perfect as a prince for some shows. Oh well, Tracey, it looks like you're going to act as a prince without a wage again."
"Okay..." Tracey moaned, not liking the prospect of doing what his girlfriend told him to. At that moment, Feraligatr and Vaporeon were passionately making out.
"Also, would you still like to know why Brock has such trouble with my name?" Professor Ivy asked.
"Don't tell them, it's too embarrassing!" Brock begged, while he and Professor Ivy were ready to take their respective plane and blimp.
"Well, Brock obviously stayed with me on the Orange Islands because he wanted to become my boyfriend. He was constantly flirting with me and even walked around naked in front of me after showering to seduce me. I never saw him as more than a friend, but because he was nice to me, I was nice to him too. And so, he thought I loved him back, while I didn't. Then, after staying with me for two months, my colleague and boyfriend Professor Elm came over from Johto to visit me. Once Brock came to my two-person bed and asked to have sex, he saw me and Elm making love and felt like I was cheating on him and left Valencia Island. Apparently, it traumatized him, Professor Oak told me that. I've always felt guilty about it, even though I would never cheat and even though I never had a relationship with Brock. That's why it feels awful to talk about this, but you three deserve to know why your friend has such trouble with me," Professor Ivy explained. Tears covered her eyes while she entered her blimp. "I really have to get on the blimp now, so bye, and sorry for not telling you earlier."
"Bye!" Misty said, while our heroes waved at both the sad professor and the blue-faced and embarrassed pervert.
"It's sad that Brock got his heart broken that way... Will he ever find the right woman?" Daisy asked.
"Well, maybe someone who likes severe flirting?" Tracey suggested.
"It's time to go to Kumquat Island," Misty said, while sending out her Gyarados. And so, our heroes hopped on the Pokemon, returned the other Pokemon to their Poke Balls and departed.
"On Kumquat Island, we can see Luana, an Orange Islands Gym Leader specialized in Double Battles," Tracey said.
"Misty, maybe you and I should battle her together? It would be a nice way to strengthen our bond as sisters," Daisy suggested.
"Really? I never thought you would say this, of course I'll do it! It's also a nice chance to battle with Feraligatr!" Misty replied.
"And we could go shopping for a cheerleader suit for Vaporeon!" Daisy squealed.
"Ehhh... How about no?" Misty asked.
"I'm so glad those two are finally getting along better," Gyarados thought. "And it's nice that Vaporeon found love, Feraligatr seems really nice!" And so, our heroes went onwards, on to Kumquat Island.