As our heroes continue on to Azalea Town they feel weird without Rick by their side.
"Even though Rick met us halfway in Sinnoh it still feels weird without him," Stephen states staring at Pikachu on his shoulder.
"It sure does cuz," Rob states, "We'll meet up with him again when we get to Olivine City."
"How long with that take?" Lucario asks.
"Couple days," Melissa replies, "We still have three more gyms to go."
Melissa and Stephen are leading the way as they hold hands. Rob is behind Stephen with Raichu as Lucario is behind Melissa.
"Hey the Charicific Valley is up ahead!" Stephen shouts.
"We should go see your Charizard," Rob states.
Our heroes run to Charicific Valley as he starts getting late.
"It's getting late should we see if we can stay?" Melissa asks.
"I don't think anyone is home," Lucario replies.
Stephen walks up to the steel door and knocks. The steel door opens and therefore our heroes enter. As our heroes enter Stephen notices his Charizard.
"Charizard!" Stephen shouts.
Charizard turns and sees Stephen. Charizard runs towards Stephen and the two hug.
"Man Charizard it is great to see you again," Stephen states.
"We last seen you back in the Sinnoh League," Rob announces.
"You were so amazing in the battle," Lucario states.
"Is this where you first met?" Melissa asks.
"Yeah I got Charizard here when Ash was leaving his Charizard here to train," Stephen replies.
Coming to our heroes is Ash's Charizard.
"Speaking of him," Rob says.
"It's like a small reunion," Lucario states, "Al we need is Ash, Brock, Dawn, and Rick."
"What about Misty, May, and Max?" Melissa asks.
"They're all doing their own stuff," Stephen replies, "Misty is the Cerulean Gym Leader, May is here in Johto doing contests, Ash heads back home as Brock is studying to become a Pokémon Doctor and as for Dawn I have no clue but she is back home."
"Wait did you say May is here?" Rob asks.
"That's what she said back at the Wallace Cup," Lucario replies.
"Wow, I may met May," Melissa says, "That would be so cool."
"You guys need a place to say?" a girl asks, "Stephen and Rob?"
Walking to our heroes is a female Charizard named Charla and Liza.
"If you don't mind Liza," Rob says on one knee, "How about we go off together as well."
"Oh no not another Brock," Liza says while laughing.
Stephen pulls Rob away by his ear.
"Liza I like you to meet my girlfriend Melissa," Stephen states, "And Melissa this if our friend Liza."
"Nice to meet you," Melissa says.
"Yes it is," Liza states.
"So Liza how are the Charizard doing these days?" Rob asks.
"They are all doing excellent," Liza replies.
"I can see mine is doing great along with Ash's," Stephen says as he pets both Charizard.
"Yeah they been training together all these days ever since you first left them here back in your journey," Liza announces.
"They must have grew very close because of it," Melissa says.
"They seem like brother now," Lucario states.
"They basically are brothers," Liza says yawning.
"Don't yawn because it will make me tired," Lucario says.
"We need to get to sleep now," Rob explains, "We got to head off to Azalea Town tomorrow for Melissa's second gym battle."
"Melissa's that's cool how you are following in Stephen's footsteps basically," Liza admits.
"It is but I'm not going to be as great as Stephen," Melissa says
"Who knows?" Stephen questions, "Maybe you will."
"Well follow me so I can show you where to sleep," Liza states.
Our heroes follow Liza to her cabin. Liza points our heroes to where they all can sleep. Our heroes go to their rooms and fall asleep. The next morning our heroes get up and have breakfast. After breakfast our heroes wave bye to Liza and head off to Azalea Town and on their way to Azalea Town our heroes reach the Union Cave. As our heroes enter the Union Cave, Melissa notices a Vulpix.
"It's so cute!" Melissa shouts.
"Catch it then," Stephen states, "It will come in handy with your next gym battle."
"The Vulpix seems to be a tough once," Lucario says.
"Weaken this Vulpix before catching it," Rob explains.
Melissa throws her Poké Ball.
"Pichu come on out!" Melissa shouts.
Pichu appears in front of Vulpix.
"Pichu use Iron Tail!" Melissa shouts.
Pichu uses Iron Tail and hits Vulpix. Vulpix comes back at Pichu with a Flamethrower.
"Dodge the use Thunderbolt!" Melissa shouts.
Pichu dodges the Flamethrower barely and then uses Thunderbolt and paralyzes Vulpix while taking damage itself. Melissa throws a Poké Ball and captures Vulpix so Melissa picks the Poké Ball up.
"I caught a Vulpix!" Melissa shouts cheering.
Pichu climbs up on Melissa and sits on her shoulder just like Stephen's Pikachu does with Stephen.
"Looks like's Pikachu's daughter wants to copy her father," Stephen states.
"I still can't believe Pikachu bed with another trainer's Pikachu and they let you have the egg," Lucario says.
"It's not that hard to believe," Rob states.
"Well…" Lucario goes to say.
Our heroes continue their way through the Union Cave until they exit and head off to Azalea Town. As our heroes enter Azalea Town they notice it is taken over by Team Rocket.
"What's going on here?" Melissa asks.
"Team Rocket is trying to take over the Slowpoke Well," Stephen states.
"Let's stop them before they get away this time," Rob announces.
"We need to trap them," Lucario says.
Our heroes run off towards Azalea Town but three members of Team Rocket and their Pokémon surround our heroes and trap them inside the Slowpoke Well.
"What brings you trainers here?" Team Rocket member one asks.
"I'm here for my second gym battle," Melissa replies.
"How cute," Team Rocket member two says.
"Well too bad for that dream because you'll be giving all of us your Pokémon," Team Rocket member three states.
"I like to see you try," Stephen admits.
Nidoking, Golbat, Nidoqueen, Persian, Weezing, Arbok, Muk, Magneton, and Venomoth close in on our heroes.
"Blaziken come on out!" Stephen shouts throwing his Poké Ball, "Pikachu, and Lucario get ready to battle!"
Blaziken appears next to Pikachu and Lucario.
"Gallade and Garchomp come on out and help Raichu!" Rob says throwing two Poké Balls.
Gallade and Garchomp appear next to Raichu.
"Vulpix and Bayleef come on out!" Melissa shouts throwing her Poké Balls, "Pichu get ready too!"
Vulpix and Bayleef appear as Pichu jumps into battle next to her father.
"Guess we'll do this the hard way," Team Rocket member one says.
"Pikachu, Volt Tackle!" Stephen shouts, "Lucario, Blaze Kick! Blaziken, Overheat!"
"Garchomp, Hyper Beam!" Rob shouts, "Raichu, Thunder! Gallade, Shadow Ball!"
"Bayleef, Razor Leaf!" Melissa shouts, "Pichu, Thunderbolt! Vulpix, Flamethrower!"
"Attack!" the Team Rocket members shout.
All the Team Rocket Pokémon start attacking our heroes' Pokémon but all nine end up fainting because of the teamwork of our heroes' Pokémon.
"We better get out of here!" Team Rocket member three shouts.
Team Rocket returns their Pokémon and runs out of the well.
"Hold it!" Lucario shouts.
Our heroes run after Team Rocket and when they arrive out of Slowpoke Well they notice Team Rocket is fleeing.
"Stop!" Lucario shouts.
Lucario throws Aura Spheres at Team Rocket.
"Lucario knock it off," Stephen says putting his hand on Lucario's shoulder, "We'll get them some other time."
Lucario calms down as our heroes return their Pokémon. Pikachu jumps onto Stephen's shoulder as Pichu jumps onto Melissa's shoulder.
"We scared them all?" Rob questions, "Man Team Rocket is so pathetic."
"They probably got what they needed," Stephen states.
"Well we will stop them sooner or later but for now let's head to the Pokémon Center and rest up for my battle tomorrow," Melissa announces.
Our heroes walk off to the Pokémon Center and when they enter Rob goes straight for Nurse Joy but Stephen quickly grabs his ear and drags him into the dining room. Our heroes eat, then shower, and lastly head to bed. The next morning our heroes get ready and head off to the Azalea Gym. When our heroes enter the gym they don't see anyone.
"Hello is anyone here?" Melissa asks, "I'm here for a gym battle."
No response but flying behind our heroes is a Scyther and a man.
"What was that?" Lucario asks.
"Bugsy," Rob replies.
Scyther and Bugsy jump in front of our heroes and scare Melissa.
"Finally a challenger," Bugsy says, "I was getting bored."
"How is a guy like you bored?" Rob asks.
"I swore he was a she," Stephen says looking back and forth.
"He sure does look like one," Lucario states.
"Anyway…" Busy says clearing his throat.
"Let's battle!" Melissa shouts.
"Ariados come on out to battle!" Bugsy shouts throwing a Poké Ball.
Ariados appears as Stephen, Rob, Raichu, and Lucario move to the side.
"Oddish come out!" Melissa shouts throwing her Poké Ball.
Oddish appears in front of Ariados.
"String Shot!" Bugsy shouts.
"Oddish use Razor Leaf!" Melissa shouts.
Oddish breaks the String Shot and hits Ariados with Razor Leaf.
"Poison Sting!" Bugsy shout.
"Dodge it and then use Mega Drain!" Melissa shouts.
Oddish dodges the Poison Sting and then uses Mega Drain which has Oddish start to glow.
"Oddish is evolving!" Rob shouts.
Oddish evolves into Gloom.
"Sweet now use Sludge Bomb!" Melissa shouts.
Gloom hits Ariados and makes it faint.
"A grass-type beating a bug?" Bug questions returning Ariados, "Butterfree you're up!"
Bugsy throws his Poké Ball and out comes Butterfree.
"Tackle!" Bugsy shouts.
"Tackle as well!" Melissa shouts.
Butterfree and Gloom collide with Tackle.
"Acid!" Melissa shouts.
"Psychic!" Bugsy shouts.
Butterfree uses Psychic and then sends Acid back at Gloom.
"Tackle!" Bugsy shouts.
"Razor Leaf!" Melissa shouts.
Butterfree goes for Tackle but gets stopped by Razor Leaf from Gloom.
"Mega Drain!" Melissa shouts.
Gloom uses Mega Drain and faints Butterfree.
"This is getting very annoying," Bugsy says returning Butterfree," Scyther finish her off!"
Scyther jumps into the battle.
"Scyther, Quick Attack!" Bugsy shouts.
Scyther uses Quick Attack and faints Gloom instantly.
"You did great," Melissa says returning Gloom.
"So how about giving up?" Bugsy asks.
"Never!" Melissa shouts throwing her Poké Ball.
Vulpix appears on the field.
"Use Flamethrower!" Melissa shouts.
"Dodge and use U-Turn!" Bugsy shouts.
Scyther goes to dodge by it wasn't fast enough so it gets hit with Flamethrower.
"Quick Attack!" Melissa shouts.
"Slash!" Bugsy shouts.
Vulpix uses Quick Attack and ends up getting hit with the Slash.
"Finish with Fire Spin!" Melissa shouts.
Vulpix surrounds Scyther with Fire Spin and makes Scyther faint.
"Impossible," Bugsy says returning Scyther.
Stephen, Rob, Raichu, and Lucario run to Melissa who is returning Vulpix. Bugsy walks to Melissa.
"Well you have done well," Bugsy says, "Take this Hive Badge to prove your victory here."
Melissa takes the Hive Badge from Bugsy and cheers. Later that night our heroes have dinner and take showers, they now are in their bedroom. Melissa is on the bottom bunk with Pichu as Stephen is below Rob with Pikachu. Lucario is above Melissa as Raichu is next to Rob.
"This trainer stuff is fun," Melissa says.
"It sure is," Stephen says.
"You got two badges so six to go," Rob announces.
"Where is the next gym?" Lucario asks.
"Goldenrod City," Rob replies, "It's close but we have to go through the Illex Forest first."
"Well we're heading off to Goldenrod City tomorrow," Melissa says, "Goodnight everyone."
"Goodnight," the others say.
Our heroes head off to bed and then the next morning our heroes head off to Goldenrod City.