Ch 13: Rocket X

Ash and May had left Rustboro city and were heading for the coastline to catch a boat to Dewford island. The two were walking through the Petalburg woods, "I can't believe I already have two ribbons" May said. "At this rate you'll have more ribbons than I'll have badges" Ash said.

Occasionally Ash and May would see a poochyena , zigzagoon, wurmple, or taillow but the wild pokemon didn't seem to mind them. "So May do you know where your next contest is going to be held?" Ash said. "I hear it's being held just off the coast of Slateport on an ocean liner" May said. "That's new" Ash said. "I know" May said.

After a few hours of walking they stopped for some lunch. Ash started a small fire cook their lunch while May poured pokefood into all of their bowls. She sat down next to Ash and saw him seasoning some kind of meat. "Almost done" Ash said. "I think artificial meat was one of the best inventions made" May said.

"Yeah meat and no hurt pokemon" Ash said. He took a piece and put it on May's plate. "This smells good" "Thanks, I got the seasoning in Rustboro" Ash said. They were about to eat when a man came sprinting from some bushes and tripped over Ash's cooking pot and face planted on the grass.

"Oww" he said. "Hey are you ok?" Ash said. The man got up , he looked like he was in his early 50's. The man had brownish hair and was wearing what looked like a torn up lab coat. " Please you must help me he's still after me!" The man said frantically.

"Who?" May said. As soon as she finished they heard something growl. A pair of big houndooms ran toward them from the same direction that the man in the lab coat did. Another man came up from behind the houndooms. He was wearing a black uniform and hat with a large blue R with a white X going through it in the center of the shirt.

"Doctor Marrs, did you really think you could get away from me" The man said. "No that can't be team rocket'"Ash said. Five years ago Giovanni was defeated and arrested. Since then team rocket had dissbanned. Dr. Marrs stumbled backwards trying to get away "Please no" He said. Ash and May got up and got between the rocket and Dr. Marrs.

"Look we're letting you hurt this man" Ash said. "Listen kids I don't know who you think you are but your getting in the way of Team Rocket X and that's a big mistake" He said. "Rocket X?" May said. "Enough of this Houndoom use flamethrower" The Rocket X said. The two Houndrooms growled then unleashed a torrent of fire.

Ash and May Lurched back to avoid the fire coming at them. "Quick Pikachu use thunderbolt" Ash said. Pikachu jumped off Ash's shoulder and unleashed the attack. "Dodge it" The Rocket X said. The two houndoom quickly evaded the attack.

"Flamethrower again" The Rocket X said. "Pikachu dodge it then thunder" Ash said. Pikachu quickly evaded the attack then unleashed thunder on the first houndoom. "Wartorle quickly use water gun on the second one" May said.

The first houndoom was hit with thunder and the second one by water gun. "Thunder fang on wartorle and crunch on Pikachu" The Rocket X said. The two houndooms ran at Pikachu and wartorle. "Guys dodge it!" Ash said but the houndooms were too fast. Wartorle got into his shell but Pikachu was taken up into the houndooms jaws. "Houndoom use beat up on wartorle" The Rocket X said.

Houndoom quickly thrashed at wartorle's shell as the first one tightened his jaws on Pikachu. "Pikachu quick use fusion bolt" Ash said. "Pika chu!" Pikachu shouted as he flashed blue and shocked the houndoom so much that he knocked it out.

"Wartorle use water pulse" May said. Wartorle quickly came out of his shell and blasted the houndoom with water pulse knocking him out. The Rocket X returned his houndoom and saw the rest of Ash and May's pokemon coming toward him. "This isn't over Dr. Marrs count on it" The Rocket X said then ran off.

"Well thank you both very much" Dr. Marrs said. "Do you know who these rocket X people are?" May said. "No all I know is that they are after my research" He said. "What is your research?" Ash asked.

"I study pokemon evolution and how it works exactly, I have discovered there is a specific energy emitted by a pokemon when he is strong enough that creates evolution. I have been trying to find a way to create this energy" Dr. Marrs said.

"Just imagine, with that kind of energy you could cure any pokemon or person for that matter of almost any ailment of wound. It could help those who have lost serious tissue or skin. However, there are those who wanted me to use this energy to force evolution upon a pokemon on demand. That's probably what these Rocket X people want" Dr. Marrs said.

"Force evolution on a pokemon that sounds cruel" Ash said. "I know I could never condone such a practice that is why I work alone" Dr. Marrs said. "Well Thank you both I think I can get to Petalburg safely now" He said.

Dr. Marrs walked off as Ash and May sat back down with their pokemon. "Rocket X , you don't think they're connected to team Rocket do you?" May said. "I don't know but I do know one thing that guy was allot tougher than Jessie and James ever were" Ash said.

"Well I would hope that is the last we see of them but if they are related to team Rocket it certainly won't" May said. "If they come back we'll just beat them again" Ash said. "So confident , but that's something I like about you" May said. She then came over and gave Ash a short kiss.