Hey guys! Back with a new chapter, and this one is a little bit shorter, but it is a bit of a filler. We see a little interaction with a character who has appeared in the original Pokemon series which I thought was fun!
Anyway...
Let's dive right in shall we?
Enjoy!
Chapter XIX:
After a long day of working in the Contest Hall, all Team Rocket wanted to do was have a nap, but no. They were forced to continue following the punks through the forest as they headed off into Lavender Town.
"We didn't even get the chance to snag Growlithe from the punks after the contest!" Jace groaned, wiping sweat away from his eyes.
"Zorua how much did we even make?" Jackie moaned in exhaustion, flopping down in her balloon.
Zorua had been the only silent one as he counted the money, before looking up at his co-workers in amazement.
"We have enough to buy food for a year with this!" He yipped excitedly. "We'll never go hungry again! Now all we have to do is snag that Growlithe, and we'll be rolling in dough!"
Jace and Jackie sat up intently at the sound of "rolling in dough" and they returned their natural smirks.
"Alright then!" Jace crowed. "Let's go find the punks!"
(Line-Break)
Bryce, Nathan and I had been walking through the forest that leads towards Lavender Town for several hours, so we decided to stop for dinner. While Bryce went away to cook, Nathan and I stood face to face, ready to train some more. Growlithe sat by my legs, ready to watch the battle with interest.
"Alright Budew! Let's see what your made of!" I called encouragingly to my new Pokemon. The tiny dual type nodded, jumping excitedly at the thought of battling. "Bu-dew! Bu!"
Nathan released Mudkip, who spun through the air once. "Mudkip! Mud!"
"Let's give Budew a fair fight Mudkip." Nathan commanded with a grin. "Scarlet does need to train her."
The fish Pokemon nodded, and I got the chance to take the first move.
"Ok Budew! Let's try Grass Knot!" I nodded to the small Pokemon, and Budew's eyes began to glow green, and tough vines began to grow around Mudkip, causing the fish Pokemon to look at his feet worriedly.
"Hey great job Budew!" I cheered. "You're doing great!"
Nathan's eyes widened, and the boy quickly tried to retaliate. "Mudkip use mud-slap!"
Mudkip's eyes narrowed and it flicked his tail to send mud flying, but before he could the vines shot up, and Mudkip cried out in shock and tripped, hitting the ground with a thud.
I giggled and nodded to Budew in approval. "Great job Budew! You're doing awesome!"
Nathan grit his teeth and turned to his fallen Pokemon, who was getting to his feet. "Okay Mudkip, don't worry. Use Attract!"
That got my attention, but just a second too late. The pink hearts Mudkip emitted sailed around Budew, and hit the small dual type, causing her to wobble in awe.
"Oh no!" I gasped. Attract worked well on Pokemon of the opposite gender, so having Mudkip, a boy, use it on Budew, a girl worked in Nathan's favour.
"Budew!" I tried, thinking hard about how to get the Pokemon to snap out of it. "Listen to my voice! Try and snap out of it!"
The green Pokemon couldn't hear me, because it just babbled and rocked on her feet.
"Mudkip! Water Gun let's go!" Nathan grinned.
The fish Pokemon let out a stream of water that connected with Budew, and the tiny Pokemon sailed backwards and rolled twice, before getting up with a groan.
"Oh Budew!" I sighed. "Are you alright?"
The tiny green Pokemon nodded, and jumped again, signalling it was ready to keep battling.
"Awesome Budew!" I grinned. "Ok, use Growth!"
Budew began to flash, slowly storing up energy he would need for the battle.
"No so fast!" Nathan chided. "Mudkip use Tackle!"
The fish Pokemon charged forward, and I took this as my opportunity to attack. "Ok! Mega Drain Budew!"
Budew's eyes flashed, and suddenly Mudkip dropped the the floor, groaning in pain. I raised my eyebrow and Nathan gasped.
"Budew! Stop now!" I commanded, and confused, the tiny Pokemon nodded and backed up, and I let Mudkip get to his feet before nodding once at the blue Pokemon and his trainer.
"We should stop now." I sighed. "I didn't realize Mega Drain was going to hurt Mudkip that badly. This is only practise anyway."
Nathan smiled and nodded, before running up to his Pokemon to praise him and I did the same.
Budew was looking a little guilty when I approached him, but I giggled and pulled him into a hug. "Hey don't worry Budew! You did great! You're pretty powerful you know. We're going to be a great team. I know it!"
"Bu?" The tiny Pokemon frowned at me. From my side, Growlithe barked encouragingly at Budew, and soon the green Pokemon jumped happily. "Bu! Budew!"
"Alright guys! Lunch is ready!" Bryce called, and Nathan and I shared excited looks before running towards the lunch table with our Pokemon at our heels.
We decided to take a quick break after lunch and just relax for a while, releasing all of our Pokemon to relax as well.
Rhyhorn was stomping in circles with Budew and Tyrouge on his back, trying his hardest to entertain the two younger Pokemon. Swablu and Beautifly were playing in the sky, and Growlithe, Buizel, Aron, Larvitar, and Mudkip were kicking a red rubber ball around the grassy field.
I was sitting on the grass with my egg in my hand, using a cloth to carefully wipe the egg, keeping the shell nice and clean.
"Scarlet that Pokemon doesn't care if its shell is dirty." Nathan rolled his eyes, lying down on the grass with his arms behind his head.
I stopped the cleaning to glare at the brown haired boy. "And how do you know that?" I growled.
"Scarlet's right Nathan, a Pokemon will feel happier if they are kept in good condition while in a shell." Bryce nodded, flicking his eyes away from the apple he was eating. "The Pokemon should be hatching soon, so why shouldn't she be taking good care of it?"
I smirked at Nathan, and the boy grumbled to himself before lying back down, and I returned to rubbing the egg cautiously.
"So Bryce, which way do we go next?" I questioned.
Bryce suddenly froze, looking at me in confusion. "I thought you guys knew the way out?"
"Bryce! You're the one with the Pokenav!" Nathan groaned sitting up.
"You mean we're lost? Oh fantastic." I complained. "How are we going to find our way out?"
It was silent for a moment while the three of us thought it over, not daring to look at each other.
The silence was broken however, when I suddenly heard a yip of surprise from Growlithe, and as cries of shock from the rest of our Pokemon.
I jumped to my feet, looking around wildly, and Bryce and Nathan did the same. "What was that?" I gasped.
We heard the familiar maniacal laughs, and I turned to see a large Zorua balloon hovering over a net carrying all of our Pokemon.
"You've got to be kidding me!" I growled.
"Team Rocket!" Bryce spat angrily.
Sure enough, the three figures of Jackie, Jace and Zorua appeared crackling from the inside of the balloon.
"Be respectful, and take off your hats!"
"We're here to snatch Pokemon, and that will be that!"
"To protect the world from abomination!"
"To unite all peoples with declaration!"
"Hope and Faith to always defy!"
"As fast as a bullet we are sure to fly!"
"Jackie!"
"Jace!"
"Team Rocket is here with unlimited power!"
"Ready for action, standing tall as a tower!"
"Zorua! Now COWER!"
"Give back our Pokemon right now Team Rocket!" Nathan snarled, and the three of us ran forward while I held my egg carefully.
"How about.. NO!" Jackie snickered, crossing her arms evilly.
At this point the balloon was getting higher into the sky, and I knew if we didn't do something quickly, the Pokemon would be taken.
I rolled my eyes and turned to the net, searching for a familiar flash of red fur. "Growlithe! Fire Fang Let's go!" I called.
Growlithe seemed to hear me, and I saw a hint of flames before they crunched down on the net, but to no avail.
"Too bad so sad." Jace laughed. "That net is completely fire proof!"
Now we were running to try and catch up with the balloon. "This isn't working!" I cried. "We need to think of something!"
Just as we thought Team Rocket was going to get away, I heard a voice from behind us. "Scizor! Catch up with that balloon and cut them Pokemon free!"
A flash of red flew past me, and I saw the bug type leap through the trees, reaching the nest in less then a second. Jumping high into the air, it chopped off the top of the net sending the Pokemon down, and the three of us rushed forward in worry.
"Rhyhorn! Larvitar return!" Bryce called, and the two Pokemon vanished while the older boy caught Tyrouge in his arms.
Nathan caught Mudkip, and when his other two Pokemon took flight, he turned to me with a grin. "Swablu catch Aron! Beautifly get Growlithe!"
Knowing my two other Pokemon were okay, I shifted the egg in one hand to catch Buizel, before putting him down in a hurry to look for my final Pokemon.
"Wait..." I asked in fear. "Where's Budew?"
I heard a little squeak, and I looked up only to jump back in terror. "Budew!"
The tiny dual type was hanging perilously from a tree, holding on just barley. Before I could even speak, she couldn't hold on, and began to fall.
"Pidgeot! Get that Pokemon!" The same voice from earlier called, and the massive bird Pokemon flew forward with great speed, catching Budew and setting her gently on the ground, and the bud Pokemon ran to me in excitement, forgetting the fear it had just been feeling moments before.
"Budew!" I sighed with relief, hugging the tiny Pokemon. "Thank Arceus you're okay."
"Jace! How could you let this happen!" Jackie roared form the balloon. Hitting the boy repeatedly over his head.
"Ow! Jackie not everything is my fault!" Jace gasped, covering his head from the brutal attacks while Zorua just winced.
"Those three gotta 'nother thing comin' if they think i'mma let em' get away with this!" The voice that had called Scizor and Pidgeot growled. I spun around and saw a man who looked about my Dad's age step out of the shadows.
He had brown hair tucked under a cowboy hat, and was wearing a blue t-shirt and blue jeans and had brown cowboys boots. He had his hands tucked into the pockets of his leather jacket, and he looked absolutely furious.
Nathan grinned at the man and shrugged. "We deal with them almost everyday. It gets old really."
"Shut it punk!" Jackie roared, and I giggled at her. "What? Nathan's telling the truth!"
"Ouch! That really took a blow to my ego punkette!" Jace grumbled rubbing his head from where Jackie attacked him.
I rolled my eyes and turned to Growlithe with a grin. "Alright Growlithe, blast those three off right away! Flame Burst!"
Growlithe shot the fire high into the air and it exploded into little balls of fire, falling down and popping the balloon, sending the three criminals soaring through the air.
"LOOKS LIKE TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAAAAAIIIIIIINNNNNNNNN!"
Growlithe barked once in approval and I giggled at my puppy while shifting the egg in my hand and turning to look at the man who had saved our Pokemon. His Scizor and Pidgeot were side by side, and I couldn't help but gap at how strong they looked.
"Woah! A Scizor and Pidgeot!" I awed reaching for Dex and scanning them.
Scizor, the Scissor Pokémon. The evolved form of Scyther. Its incredible attack speed and its large scissor-like claws make it a formidable opponent.
Pidgeot, the Bird Pokémon. The evolved form of Pidgeotto, it can fly at twice the speed of sound at an altitude of nearly one mile.
"Hey, Scarlet! Doesn't your Dad have a Pidgeot?" Nathan questioned.
"Mhmm. But Dad let's him roam free so he can watch over a flock of Pidgey, but Pidgeot is always ready to battle when my Dad needs him!" I grinned, before suddenly remembering who the Pokemon belonged to.
"Thank you sir! You saved all our Pokemon! How can we repay you?" I grinned, turning to the nameless man.
The man shrugged, leaning against a tree while he called back his Pokemon. When the two returned to his Pokeballs he smiled at us. "I don't need no help. But I think you three sure do. I heard earlier that you ain't got a way out of the forest right? You need t' get t' Lavender Town? It's just through these trees. About three hours journey. I can take ya' there."
Bryce perked up and grinned. "Really? You would do that?"
The man nodded. "Sure! I could use a walk anyway."
I cocked my head to the right in interest. "So what's your name Mister?"
The man looked right at me, smiling softly and chuckling. "I'm not surprised your Dad didn't mention me. We never really hit it off in the first place Scarlet."
I frowned now, and Growlithe pawed my leg in confusion. "How do you know my name? Do you know my Dad?"
The man laughed and tilted up his head so I could see his dark eyes, which were flashing with warmth. "The names Damian. I'm a Pokemon Evolution Expert 'round here. When your Dad and I was ten just like you three, I released my Charmander. Called it weak. Worthless. Well, your Dad was furious with me, and took Charmander as his own Pokemon. Turns out I really got bit in the behind, cos' that Charmander grew into a powerful Charizard. Ever since then, I strive to be a better trainer. No more releasing Pokemon. Instead I grew fond of my Pokemon, and took interest in evolution. Why Pokemon evolve you kno'?"
I smiled brightly at Damian. "Wow! That's awesome! I never knew how my Dad got his Charizard."
Bryce nodded and smiled as well. "I'm glad you turned around. As well."
"Bryce is right." Nathan beamed. "If you hadn't our Pokemon might have been stolen by now!"
Damian chuckled, rubbing his neck and flushing in embarrassment. "Thanks kids. Now let's get going! I can tell you all about evolution and Lavender Town on the way."
(Line-Break)
"So I suppose you kids kno' all 'bout evolution right?" Damian questioned, leading the way through the dense forest.
"Um, I think so." Nathan nodded. "Evolution is when a Pokemon changed form once it gets powerful right?"
Damian nodded. "Right 'cha are Nathan. But that ain't the only way Pokemon evolve. Some Pokemon evolve using special stones, and some evolve in ways even experts can't understand!"
"Like... how Growlithe evolve with fire stones?" I asked, looking towards my puppy Pokemon. In response, Growlithe tilted his head in confusion causing me to giggle.
"Right on the dot Scarlet" Damian grinned. "But my research is different. I study the way Pokemon's forms change during evolution, and t' do that I have ta raise all kinds of different Pokemon!"
"That must be fun!" Bryce grinned.
Damian nodded. "Sure is. I've already learned more from raising Pokemon then I ever did collecting em'."
After a little bit of silence, Nathan decided to speak up again. "So, tell us about Lavender Town."
"Well, Lavender Town is a little... strange some might say." Damian smirked. "The town is home t' the Pokemon Tower, a place people say is haunted by all kinds a Ghost Pokemon."
My eyes widened, and I instinctively clutched the egg a little tighter. "G-G-Ghost P-P-Pokemon?"
"Oh yeah." Damian chuckled. "Right scary they are. Some say it's even inhabited by Pokemon that have died being tortured by the Ghosts... but don't worry... yer safe as long as you don't go into the tower."
Nathan shivered, and Bryce looked uneasy, but I was downright shaking. I had always hated ghost stories, and my Dad seemed to have the worst ones to scare me into staying by the campsite when we went camping. Crazy things all the way from ghost kids in the woods to possessed rampaging bears. My mom would always chide him after, but the stories stuck with me.
Growlithe was looking at me in concern, and Nathan was snickering. "What, scared of a little ghost Scarlet?"
I snorted and turned away to look back into the trees. "Shut it Nathan."
Damian chuckled and pushed through some brambles along the path. "Well, you three will have time t' explore Lavender Town seeing as yer contest ain't until tomorrow afternoon Nathan. Ye might be able to get some training in kiddo... Ah! Here we are! Lavender Town right on the horizon!"
Damian was right. Just out through the trees was Lavender Town, a misty town that seemed to radiate the colour purple.
"Hey thanks Damian!" I grinned, and from beside me Growlithe barked in thanks as well. "We never would have made it out of there without you!"
Damian waved his hand. "It was no problem. Just stay out of trouble k'?"
"Sure thing! We'll tell Mr. And Mrs. Ketchum we ran into you!" Nathan promised.
Damian grinned and turned, making his way back into the forest. "Thanks! An' tell Ash thanks for taking care of Charmander for me!"
That chapter hit me with nostalgia! Ahhh the memories :D
In case any of you were wondering, yes. This is the real Damian from like episode 24 or something. I miss the old Pokemon :D
Next Chapter:
The gang arrive to Lavender Town! Unfortunately they have time to spare before Nathan's contest, and Nathan spots a wild Pokmon (Not saying which one) and in his desperation to catch it chases it inside the Pokemon Tower, leaving Scarlet and Bryce no choice but to follow them!What will occur... FIND OUT NEXT TIME!
Remember, 3+ Reviews of nice things you have done for someone else for a new chapter!
Love y'all
Shelbs