Chapter 4
A distraught Mari stood beside her two Pokemon as they stared into their damaged flower shop. The counter was broken, pieces of glass were scattered about the floor and flower pots had been knocked over, spilling dirt all over the floor.
"Mom?" Mari called out, silently praying that nothing had happened to her mother during he attack.
"Mari? Is that you?" A voice asked from the hallway leading into the back of the store, causing Mari to release a sigh of relief.
"Mom, you're alright." Mari said, rushing into the hallway where she found her mother who was seated on the floor. "They came here to right?"
"Yes. There were two of them. The tore apart the store before finding the Miracle Seed." Her mother explain with a nod as Mari sat down beside her.
"Oh no, we were just going to ship that to Goldenrod City to pay off the rest of the loan for the shop." Mari exclaimed.
"I know, but we'll pull through. This could have been a lot worse if that boy hadn't shown off. He somehow chased them off before leaving himself." Mari's mother sighed heavily. "I don't know how this town is going to make it out of this one."
"What do you mean?" Mari asked in confusion.
"I never told you this Mari because we were getting by with out payments, but now it seems like we have no choice but to leave."
"Leave Cherrygrove City? Why?"
"We owe the Committee a lot of money. And if we fall any further into debt they'll force us out and replace the city with a seaport and Battle Dome." She explained sadly.
"What?" Mari shouted. "How could they do that?"
"Unlike most cities in Johto, we didn't want a Battle Dome, we have to pay to stop the Committee from building. The Town Charter is the agreement we have with the Committee saying that prevents them from building a Battle Dome here as long as we keep up with out payments." She continued. "But now the town is in shambles and rebuilding it could take months, maybe longer. How are were going to pay for the repairs and the Committee?"
Mari remained silent for a moment, soaking all of this in.
"What if we pay them off?" Mari asked suddenly.
"How, none of us can earn money with all our businesses burned to the ground."
"What if I send back all the money I win the Battle Circuit to help with the repairs and the debt?" Mari offered.
"That's a good idea sweetie." Her mother said, pulling her into a hug while whispering a thanks into her ear. "But the towns debt is huge. "That kind of money won't be much help at the moment."
"So then what are we going to do?"
"We?" Her mother asked, separating from Mari to get a better look directly at her.
"Yeah, we. Us, the whole town. What are we going to do?"
"You're not staying here Mari. You've been cooped up in this town long enough, plus you've already entered the Battle Circuit. The best thing you can do right now is generate some money for the town." Her mother said. "I want you be out there exploring the world while your young. "You've been here long enough telling everyone you'd explore the world, now its time for you to do that."
"But mom-" Mari began.
"Mari, please!" Her mother interjected, sounding quite desperate. "I don't want you getting involved with the Committee."
"I'm sorry mom." Mari said after a pause. "But I refuse to watch my home town get wiped off the map. I want to meet with the Committee when they come."
"No Mari, you're way to young to be challenging them."
"I'm not challenging them mom. I just want to talk with them and try to work out a plan with them."
Blake quietly moved through the north side of Cherrygrove City, observing the damage done by Team Rocket. It wasn't pretty at all. If the wooden houses hadn't been burned to ashes, then the structure had been completely demolished. Many of the trainers that had joined in fight against Team Rocket were now moving about the town with Water type Pokemon, putting out the stray flames that were still burning.
As he turned onto another street, Blake could hear the sobs of a woman which caught his attention. Spotting a couple watching a group of trainers put of the flames that had burned down what was probably there house, Blake approached them curiously.
"Everything was going smoothly. Why did Team Rocket pick now to attack us?" The wife shouted with a sob as she cried into her husbands shoulder.
"Don't worry, I'm sure we'll find a place to live before the baby comes." The husband said, comforting his wife by rubbing her back as he embraced her.
"Excuse me, can't you just rebuild your house?" Blake asked, keeping a neutral expression as he gained their attention.
"I wish kid." The husband replied, continuing to comfort his wife.
"Its that damned Committee's fault!" The wife spat at Blake angrily.
"Easy." The husband said, holding her back. "It's not really our choice. We have a Charter with the Committee to stop them from building a Battle Dome, but we're way behind on out payments so we've fallen into the debt. It's been like that for years, and we were barely scraping by, but now that the town was burned down, it seems like our only option is to move or they'll force us out once word reaches the Committee."
Blake took a moment to think about it.
"What if you somehow paid them off?" Blake asked.
"That would never happen. But if it did, I'm pretty sure we would be able to keep the town."
"Is there anyway I can help?"
"The only thing we all can do right now is try to pay of the debt in any way possible."
"Will my winnings in the Battle Circuit help out all?" Blake asked.
"Even if it doesn't, we'll accept any help we can get." The husband said.
"Well then I'll give the money I win in the Battle Circuit to Cherrygrove City. It won't be much right now, but I'll keep winning and giving the cash to this town." Blake said, getting a small smile from the man.
"That's really kind of you." The husband said. "What's your name?"
"Name's Blake."
Robbie sighed as he wiped the sweat of his forehead, looking around the street where he and six other trainers had put several houses that hadn't been completely burned to the ground. The town looked terrible in his opinion, practically every building was charred from the flames or just ashes on the ground.
"Hah, job well done." Robbie mumbled, returning Totodile and Pidgeotto to their Poke-balls. "The entire town is put out."
"Ah, thank you so much trainers." One of the citizens said, approaching them. "Your efforts are appreciated by all of us."
"It's no trouble sir." One of the trainers responded. "Although I don't know what else we can do right now."
"Oh no, you've done enough already." He began. "I'm sure all of you have your own journey to continue. We can handle things from here."
"Are you sure?" Someone asked.
"There's no need to worry. Things should be fine here in a month." He replied with a false smile which was believable to the trainers and Robbie.
"Alright sir, we wish you luck in rebuilding your town." Robbie said to him.
"Good luck to all of you on your journey."
4/11/0046/Late Afternoon
Route 30
Route 30 was probably the thickest forest Blake had ever entered in his sixteen year life span. Unfortunately, the boy lacked a sense of direction, so the most he could depend on for a general direction to travel in was the map function on his Pokedex and the dirt pathway he had been following.
"Didn't we just pass that tree?" Blake asked Larvitar and Cyndaquil, pointing to the small part of the tree trunk where Blake had ripped off the bark to mark where he had been. Both of the Pokemon standing behind him shook there heads. They were just as lost as Blake was.
"I can help you out." A feminine voice called out from a nearby bush. A young woman stepped out from the bush that Blake instantly recognized as 'Carol from back in Cherrygrove City, the Team Rocket member who had trashed Mari's flower shop.
"You!" Blake hissed at her with a dark glare, motioning for Larvitar and Cyndaquil to get red. The small Fire type ignited the flames on its back while Larvitar went down on one knee to prepare a Rock Throw attack.
"Whoa, whoa." She said, putting up her hands in defense. "No need to sick your Pokemon on me."
"Why shouldn't I?" Blake asked. "Are you aware of many lives you ruined in that city?"
"I was just following orders kid." She replied. "I gotta make it look real if I'm going to stay undercover."
"Under...cover?"
"Please. Did you really think I was part of Team Rocket?" She asked, getting a curious nod from Blake. "Well I'm not."
As 'Carol' removed the black shirt she wore, revealing a dark red shirt underneath it, Blake called off Cyndaquil and Larvitar.
"Then who are you working for?" Blake asked.
"The Committee." She replied, getting an even darker glare from Blake.
"Are you aware of how many lives your still going to ruin?" Blake asked, Larvitar and Cyndaquil preparing their attacks once more.
"Sorry, but I'm not part of that department." She responded.
"So what? You should at least know that your affecting hundreds of people by forcing them out of Cherrygrove City." Blake said.
"Look kid, that's none of my business right now. The only thing I have to do right now is keep and eye on Team Rocket." She said, tossing her shirt to Blake who didn't bother to catch. Watching it land on the ground, 'Carol' gave Blake a weak glare. "Aww, you were supposed to catch it."
"I can't get caught with that." Blake said, turning away from her.
"Wait, aren't you going to help me out?" She asked.
"Help you out? Why would I do that?"
"I have a friend in Violet City who would want to meet a trainer that's as good as you." 'Carol' explained, collecting her shirt.
"That's not going to happen." Blake said, beginning to walk away. "I don't want anything to do with someone from Team Rocket or the Committee."
"Oh come on, please." She pleaded as Blake glanced back at her.
"Give me one good reason."
"Because your hopelessly lost. This path leads back to Cherrygrove City." 'Carol' said, watching Blake who hid his embarrassment quite well."
"I was heading back to Cherrygrove City to get some supplies." Blake replied in a deadpan.
"The Poke-Mart was burned down." 'Carol' said.
"How do you know?"
"I did it myself."
'Damn it!' Blake shouted mentally, turning around to 'Carol'. "Alright, what do you want?"
"I want you to meet my friend in Violet City." She said, pointing in the correct direction for Blake to move in.
"Fine." Blake muttered, beginning to move north, actually moving toward Violet City now. 'Great, now I'm stuck with someone else.'
4/11/0046/Night
Kanto Region
Indigo Plateau
"Why Cherrygrove City?" A feminine voice said. "What does that town hold?"
"I don't understand what Team Rocket is planning. None of there movements make any sense." A deep male voice said. "First they take over Lake Rage, and now they've attacked Cherrygrove City."
"Stanly, what about Shari, how is she doing?" Another male voice asked, looking at the dark skinned male who sat at the end of the table.
"Shari hasn't sent in a report in three days." He replied. "But I bet she will be sending something with the recent attack.
"Lake Rage was the only area they had taken over, so I believed their force was small. But it appears that they are far larger than we anticipated." The feminine voice noted. "They must be spread throughout Johto."
"Rae-rae, you're over thinking it." The deep voice cut in.
"Dustin, you're under thinking it as usual." The other male voice replied with a sigh.
"We need to do something about this. Team Rocket is becoming a bigger threat then we thought. Trainers all over this region are in danger now." Stanly said.
"We need action!" Dustin announced, rising from his seat. The whole room silent for a moment.
"You know what? For once, he's right." The remaining male voice said.
"Yeah, I agree with Randy and Dustin. Just tracking their movements isn't enough, we need to hit them back." Stanly said, nodding in agreement.
"Then what do we do?" The female asked.
"I'll hunt down one Team Rocket's major facilities and blow it up!" Dustin declared, hitting his chest with one of his large fists. He was tall man, with a huge bulky torso that could be seen through the tight black shirt he wore. Around his waist was a black belt that held up his gray sweat pants. Over all his clothing was a large black jacket that he always kept open. Covering his forehead was a black sash tied into a knot behind his head to keep his unruly black hair out his face.
"Alright Dustin, but don't go overboard." Stanly said to him, allowing the large man to leave.
"Of I go!" He shouted, exiting the room, his heavy foots steps fading as he walked down the hall.
"Stanly, you're really going to let him go by himself?" The feminine voice asked.
"For now I'll let him move on his own since the only definite location we are sure of is Lake Rage. If he finds anything I want you to back him up Randy." Stanly said, looking to the person sitting beside him who mumbled something under his breath.
"Fine." He said, rising from his seat. This guy possessed some spiky brown hair and an annoyed expression. He was kind of tall, 5'7" and he wore a loose gray t-shirt and baggy black cargo pants. Hanging loosely around his waist was a brown belt that held his Poke-balls and Potions, something Randy didn't enjoying wearing because of the weight of the Potions.
Strolling out of the room with his hands in his pockets, Randy attempted to whistle a short tune.
"And Grace, you and I will be going to Violet City and then down to Cherrygrove City." Stanly said, waiting for a reply from the girl sitting on the opposite end of the table. "Grace?"
At the other end of the table sat a short, cream skinned girl, with long black hair that had an ear bud in each of ears. Obviously she was trying to act like she was listening to the meeting, but in truth she was listening to one of her favorite songs.
"Grace!" Stanly shouted, trying to get her attention.
Grace's left eye was covered by the long bangs she had with a silver highlight, her one visible eye possessing a far away look. She wore a black, long sleeved shirt along with a black and silver pleated miniskirt over a pair of bike shorts.
She was no older than fifteen, but she was an S-Class trainer in the Battle Circuit, a legend in the Johto Region that was quickly working her way into the IBF.
"Grace!" Stanly shouted again after walking over to her and removing one of the earbuds from her ears.
"Oh, Stanly. What do you want?" She asked with a blank expression as he grabbed her by her forearm, dragging her along behind him.
Leaving the remaining female in the room by herself, she sighed loudly before spinning around in her seat to look at the map of Johto that was mounted on the wall.
"Just what are you planning Team Rocket?"