Team Rocket
After evolving Ash's Eevees & Serena's second Eevee, the gang & Jessie & James went to Celadon Game Corner.
"Wow, this place looks awesome" Ash said in amazement
"Yeah, this is where you can win coins & receive prizes like Pokémon & items" Jessie said
"Pika?/Ee?" Pikachu & Eevee said as they sniffed something familiar & jumped off of Ash & Serena's shoulders
"What's wrong, you two?" Ash asked
"Eevee Eevee" Eevee said
"She said they smell something familiar" Meowth translated
Pikachu & Eevee followed the source of the smell, & when they turned, they glared & growled. When the gang, Jessie, & James looked, they saw a Team Rocket Grunt.
"What's a Rocket Grunt doing here?" Brock said
"He's probably up to no good. Come on" Ash said as they walked towards the grunt
"Hey, I'm guarding this poster, now get lost. Go Raticate" The grunt said as he sent out his Raticate
"Raticate" Raticate said
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt" Ash said
"Eevee use Swift" Serena said
Pikachu fired a bolt of yellow electricity & Eevee's tail glowed yellow & released yellow stars from it & hit Raticate which caused it to faint. The grunt returned Raticate & fled.
"What was that all about?" Meowth said in confusion
"I don't know, but he said something about guarding this poster." Ash said as he took the poster off the wall "Hey, it's a switch"
Ash pushed the switch & heard a loud sound, they followed the source of the sound & they saw a secret door. When they entered
"This must be Team Rockets' Hideout" James said
"We should investigate" Ash suggested
"But why?" Serena asked
"Maybe we can find the boss of this newly revived Team Rocket" Ash said
"Ash is right, we need to find out who revived Team Rocket & get to the bottom of it" Jessie said
They looked around & encountered several grunts, but the gang, Jessie, & James made short work out of them. They went to the elevator, but it wasn't working, so they had to find a key. They found the Lift Key. When they got to the floor where the boss of Team Rocket was, they encountered Cassidy & Butch
"You." Ash said pointing at them
"Oh no, not you two again" Butch complained
"How long are you gonna follow us around?" Cassidy said irritatingly
"We're not following you, we're here to find out who's leading this newly revived Team Rocket." Serena said
"Oh, so you're here to see the boss, huh?" Butch said
"That's right, so are you gonna let us through?" Ash asked
"Well, if you're willing to find out who the boss is, you're gonna have to go through us first" Cassidy said
"Kids, you go on ahead" Jessie said as she & James stepped in
"We'll handle this." James said "Just go on & find out who's responsible for Team Rocket's revival"
"Right" the gang said as they passed by Cassidy & Butch
"Well, never thought we see you two again" Cassidy smiled evilly
"Yeah, really has been a long time, hasn't it?" Butch smirked
"Well, we never thought you two of all people would be working for Team Rocket" James said
"Indeed, you two certainly took the wrong path" Jessie said
When the gang went into the office, they saw a man with teal hair & a man with a black cloak, long white hair, & a white ghost like mask
"Silph Co. definitely has the technology & skill Team Rocket will need to make our wishes come true" the Man said
"Excellent. Carry on, Archer, with your plans to take over Silph Co. for Team Rocket" the masked man said
"Yes sir." Archer said as he turned around & saw the gang "What do you three think you're doing here?"
"Who are you?" Ash asked with a glare
"My name is Archer, I'm an Admin of Team Rocket & I don't go easy on children" Archer said as he sent out a Weezing
"Weezing" Weezing said
"Alright, if it's a fight you want, then it's a fight you'll get. Fearow, I choose you!" Ash said as he sent out his Fearow
"Fear!" Fearow cawed
"Use Thunderbolt" Archer said. Weezing fired a bolt of yellow electricity at Fearow
"Dodge it" Ash said as Fearow dodged the attack
"Now, Use Steel Wing" Ash said. Fearow's wings glowed white & charged at Weezing
"Use Gyro Ball" Archer said. Weezing spun while shining in a light purple aura & clashed into Fearow
"Now, Use Sludge Bomb" Archer said as Weezing prepared the attack
"Quick, use Mud-Slap" Ash said. Fearow fired a stream of brown mud from his beak & hit Weezing, causing it to fire multiple brown globs of explosive sludge from its mouth at the wrong direction
"Now, use Drill Run"
Fearow spun like a drill with white lines swirling around him & hit Weezing causing it to faint
"Return" Archer grudgingly said as he returned Weezing "Go Golbat"
Archer sent out a blue bat-like Pokémon that looked like a Zubat with eyes & a wide mouth. Ash pulled out his Rotom Phone
Golbat, the Bat Pokémon, A Poison & Flying Type, & the evolved form of Zubat, Golbat's fangs are hollow, which allows it to suck up blood for its meals more efficiently. This efficiency can cause problems—sometimes it eats so much that it has trouble flying afterward.
"Fearow, Return" Ash said as he returned Fearow "Pikachu, I choose you"
"Pika" Pikachu said as he stepped in
"Pikachu, Use Quick Attack" Ash said. Pikachu became surrounded by light blue aura & tackled Golbat with great speed
"Golbat, use Screech" Archer said. Golbat released red soundwaves from its mouth which caused Pikachu to cover his ears
"Now, use Poison Fang"
Golbat's fangs glow purple, created purple teeth-like aura & bites down Pikachu
"Use Thunderbolt" Ash said as Pikachu fired Thunderbolt at Golbat
"Use Double Team" Archer said. Golbat glowed white & created multiple copies of itself. The attack ended hitting one of the copies
"Use Swift" Ash said. Pikachu's tail glowed yellow & fired multiple yellow stars which hit the copies & the real Golbat
"Now use Volt Tackle"
Pikachu became surrounded by golden electricity & tackled Golbat which caused it to faint
"Tch, What a blunder" Archer said grudgingly as he returned Golbat
"That's enough, Archer" the masked man said as he got up from his desk & walked towards the gang
"Forgive me, for being defeated by a simple child" Archer bowed to the masked man
"So, you defeated Archer? I must say—I'm impressed you & your friends got here. I assume you know what Team Rocket is?" The masked man asked
"I do, & you must be the leader of this newly revived Team Rocket." Ash assumed
"Correct" the masked man said
"Who are you?" Ash asked while glaring at him
"My name & identity are classified, but you can call me Phantom" the masked man said
"Why did you revive this organization. It was disbanded by my father Giovanni" Ash said
"Oh, so Giovanni's your father, huh?" Phantom said
"Yes, & I came here looking for answers. Now I'll ask again, Why did you revive Team Rocket?" Ash asked demandingly
"Well, After Team Rocket was disbanded, I collected the remaining grunts, hired new members & revived this organization." Phantom simply said
"But why?" Ash asked
"Because your father made a huge mistake in disbanding Team Rocket, he could've had everything he ever wished for! Yet he foolishly, gave up on the organization & had the nerve to disband it! Pokémon are important tools for keeping our criminal enterprise going!" Phantom scolded
"You're wrong, they're not tools, they're our friends, our partners." Ash said while clenching his fists "My father realized that while he battled my brother Red."
"Hm, So be it. Let's see how you defeat me with your "friends"" Phantom said as he sent out a Gengar wearing a phantom mask with a Gengarite on the forehead part.
"Gengar" Gengar said
"Beedrill, I choose you!" Ash said as he sent out his Beedrill
"Bee!" Beedrill buzzed
Just then Jessie & James arrived at the scene
"Kids, is everything alright?" James said
"Everything's fine, we found the one who revived Team Rocket" Serena said
"He's the one with the mask & the Gengar." Brock said "What happened to Cassidy & Butch"
"We defeated them, but they escaped" Jessie said
"We'll show you how strong our bond is. Now Beedrill," Ash said as he touched the Key Stone of his Mega Necklace which shined in a white light "Mega Evolve!"
Beedrill glowed bright red orange & mega evolved into Mega Beedrill. Mega Beedrill had antennae that were shorter and T-shaped. His eyes were longer and sleeker. He had three pairs of wings; the uppermost pair is larger with a black trim along the top. His stingers were longer and larger, resembling javelins. Additional conical, black-and-yellow stingers with white tips took the place of his legs. His abdomen was larger, grooved and is attached to its thorax by a black structure. A similar black structure was connected his head and thorax
"Beedrill!" He buzzed as Ash pulled out his Rotom Phone
Type: Bug/Poison
Ability: Adaptability
Phantom evilly chuckled
"You're not the only one who can perform Mega Evolution" Phantom said as he raised his white gloved hand revealing a Key Stone on the back of the glove.
"Now it's our turn" Phantom said as he touched the Key Stone of his Mega Glove which shined in a white light "Mega Evolve"
Gengar glowed bright red orange & mega evolved into Mega Gengar. Mega Gengar's portion of its body had sinked into the ground and its arms and tail lengthened. The lower portions turn a more reddish-purple, and an unblinking, yellow, oval-shaped, third eye has appeared on its forehead. The spikes on Mega Gengar's back are more numerous and pointed, and additional spikes appear on its hands and tail. Its ears had grown longer and tilted backward.
"Gengar" Mega Gengar said
"So, that's a Mega Gengar." Ash assumed "You ready, Beedrill?"
"Bee!" Mega Beedrill nodded
"Then use Aerial Ace" Ash said. Mega Beedrill became surrounded by light blue streaks & tackled Mega Gengar with great speed
"Fire Punch" Phantom said. Mega Gengar's fist became engulfed in flames & punched Mega Beedrill
"Use Knock Off" Ash said. Mega Beedrill arm stinger glowed black & charged at Mega Gengar
"Use Psychic" Phantom said. Mega Gengar's eyes glowed blue & telekinetically held Mega Beedrill in place, & raised him into the air.
"Don't give up, Use Flash" Ash said. Mega Beedrill glowed white & shined in a bright light which blinded Mega Gengar & caused it to let go of him
"Now, use Pin Missile"
Mega Beedrill's stingers glowed white & fired white trailing orbs trailing green streams of light & hit Mega Gengar
"Use Dark Pulse" Phantom said. Mega Gengar fired a beam of black & purple circles from its third eye
"Use Drill Run" Ash said. Mega Beedrill spun like a drill with white lines swirling around him, cut through the Dark Pulse & hit Mega Gengar causing an explosion. When the smoke cleared both Pokémon were panting heavily. Several seconds later, both Pokémon fainted & reverted back to their normal stages.
"Beedrill, are you alright?" Ash asked in concern as he picked Beedrill up in his arms
"Beedrill" Beedrill nodded
"You did a great job" Ash praised "& I couldn't be more proud"
"I see you raise your Pokémon with utmost care," Phantom complimented as he returned Gengar "but that doesn't change anything."
"Why not?" Ash asked
"A child like you would never understand what me & Team Rocket hope to achieve. I shall step aside for now. I hope we meet again" Phantom said as thick mist surrounded the area. When the mist cleared, Phantom & Archer were gone
"Where did they go?" Serena said
"They must have vanished" Brock said
They contacted the Celadon Police Department & reported Team Rocket's Hideout, while the police were investigating, Ash contacted Officer Jenny from Viridian City & told her what happened.
"So you found out who revived Team Rocket?" Jenny asked
"Yes, he goes by the name Phantom, he has long white hair, a black cloak, white gloves, & a ghost-like mask hiding his whole face" Ash described as he sent a picture of Phantom which his Rotom Phone took without Phantom knowing
"Mm-hm" Jenny nodded "Is that all?"
"Yes ma'am" Ash nodded
"I see, well done, Ash. I knew you could do it." Jenny praised "Now, we won't have to take your father into custody. We will inform your folks & Professor Oak about this at once"
"Alright" Ash said
"You have a good day, & thank you." Jenny said as she hung up
Several minutes later, the gang were just about to leave Celadon City.
"See you soon, sport." James said
"You too, We had a great time" Ash said
"Be safe on the rest of your journey & good luck" Jessie said as she gave a big hug & kissed his cheek a few times leaving red lipstick marks on it.
"Jess, not in front of my friends" Ash groaned in embarrassment as Brock & Serena chuckled
"It was nice meeting you, Jessie & James" Serena said
"You as well, whoever's is a friend of our godson is a friend of ours" James said
"You two keep watching over our godbaby." Jessie said as Ash blushed in embarrassment
"Don't worry, we will" Brock chuckled
"He'll be in good hands" Serena giggled
As the gang left Celadon City
"That Phantom is very bad news" Brock said
"Yeah, but I get the feeling it won't be the last time we'll see him." Ash said
"He seems pretty dangerous, just looking at him gave me shivers" Serena said
"Hey, Rotom, where's the next gym?" Ash asked
The next gym is in Fuchsia City
After the gang was out of sight, Jessie & James pulled out their Rotom Phones & contacted someone. Meanwhile a man with with brown eyes, black hair, a dark brown suit, with a red necktie, dark brown pants, & a coffee brown trench coat was sitting at his desk when his Rotom Phone rang
"Hello?" The man said after he picked up
"Hey, it's us" Jessie said
"We found out who revived Team Rocket" James said
"Tell me all the details" The man said
Jessie & James told the man about how they found Team Rocket's Hideout at the Celadon Game Corner & found the current leader of the organization, Phantom. They also sent him a picture of Phantom
"So, your godson battled this Phantom?" The man asked
"Yes, & the battled ended up in a draw" James informed
"But unfortunately, Phantom escaped by surrounding the area in mist" Jessie informed
"I see, good job you two, now carry on." The man said
"Yes sir" Jessie & James said as they hung up
The man printed the picture of Phantom & attached it to a cork board with a thumb tack.
"Just you wait, Team Rocket." The man said "The investigation has just begun"
Well, there you have it, Now you know who revived Team Rocket. Phantom is actually the Masked Man from the manga series. I was gonna name him Ghost, but I decided that Phantom is a more fitting name & no, Pryce is not Phantom in this story. You're probably wondering why Ground Type moves are effective against Weezing, well in case you didn't know or have forgotten, Weezing has two abilities; Levitate & Neutralizing Gas. If Weezing had the Neutralizing Gas ability then Ground Type moves will be effective. Stay tuned for another chapter, Morpho Out!