Written by me and Cloud4012

Started: October October 22nd, 2022

Finished: October 24th, 2022

Beta Reader: cherrybombees


Chapter 10: Here Comes the Squirtle Squad

It was a nice sunny day, as Ash, Misty and Brock were making their way down the pathway to the nearest town.

So far, Ash had recently caught himself a Charmander for his team and was very happy about it as he smiled to himself. 'Torch will do just fine.' Ash thought to himself. He was pleased to know that this was his first fire Pokémon.

First Bulbasaur, and now a Charmander. Why all that was missing was-

Ash was interrupted by his musings by walking over the ground when he heard a crack. He stopped at this with his head tilted, "Huh?" Misty and Brock who were behind him stared and asked what was wrong. They heard the cracks too and looked at each other. The ground exploded and they fell in, screaming as they hit the bottom with a groan.

"Ow! What's a pitfall doing in the middle of the road?!" Misty complained.

"At least something soft broke my fall." Ash groaned

"That would be me." Brock muttered, revealing he and Misty landed on him.

The two quickly apologized and got off him as Brock got up. "Someone clearly must've dug this hole as a prank." Brock pointed out. It looked obvious; no Pokémon tracks inside and the hole looked artificial rather than naturally dug up by a horde of Dugtrio.

"Well they must have a sick sense of humor if you ask me," Misty huffed, wanting to find the culprit of this cruel joke.

"Who would play such a rotten trick?" Ash questioned. They heard laughter above them and looked up to see five Pokémon above the hole.

They were small reptilian Pokémon that resembled a light-blue turtle. The end of its long tail curls inward, brown shells on the top, pale yellow bellies and each wearing sunglasses.

"Who are you?!" Brock yelled out.

Misty frowned and shouted, "That's not funny! We could have been hurt!" The Squirtle then laughed at Misty's remark and went away from the hole. Ash growled at that and climbed out of the hole to face the aquatic pranksters.

"Dangerous practical jokes are nothing to laugh about!" Ash shouted in anger.

Misty and Brock crawled out of the hole and hung beside Ash. They all got out to see all the Squirtle laughing at them. Ash got out of the hole then in frustration. He then glared at them and pulled out his Pokédex.

"Squirtle, the Tiny Turtle Pokémon.The grooved, rounded shape of this Pokémon's shell helps to reduce water resistance, allowing the Pokémon to swim at high speeds. Squirtle can spray foamy water from its mouth with great accuracy."

"Just my luck, I come across the Pokémon I always wanted to get and it pulls something like this on me." Ash fused as he looked at the group. "Looks like to me these guys need to be taught some manners about being more cautious of who they're pranking." He said bringing a Pokéball out.

The Squirtle saw this and were about to leap in to accept the challenge. "Squirtle!" They stopped once looking at their leader, who had pointy sunglasses. "Squirtle—Squirt." He said he'll handle this. Looking at Ash's face, it looked surprised seeing his scars and realized it could be a tough match.

The rest of the members obliged and stood down as the lead Squirtle looked to Ash. "Squirtle." He said challenging him.

"Bring it on." Ash said as the two stood in place, ready to throw down.

Suddenly the sounds of sirens blares off in the distance, getting their attention.

"Squirt?!" One of the Squirtle gasped and alerted his teammates as they panicked knowing the cops were coming. "Squirtle-Squirt!" It shouted to its leader, saying they gotta go.

"Squirtle.." The lead Squirtle reluctantly agreed before glancing at Ash one last time, before running away in the distance.

Ash and the crew blinked at this, "What just happened?" Ash questioned.

"Hey you!" Racing down the path Officer Jenny pulled up alongside them. "Did you see a group of Squirtle come this way?"

"Officer Jenny!" Ash said with a smile.

Officer Jenny blinked at this, "Huh? Have you met before? Your face doesn't look familiar." Then she went silent after what she just said, noticing the scar.

Ash went silent at this and frowned, but sighed after shaking it off, "We met you the other day? At the Pokémon Center on Route 6." He stated.

She then thought for a second before getting the picture as she got off her bike, "Oh you mean one of the other Jenny's. My cousin."

"Cousin?" Ash said, confused.

"We all graduated from the same Academy plus we're all named Jenny." She explains showing Ash a photo of multiple officer Jenny.

"Talk about family resemblance." Ash blinked.

"At least they remember their names." Misty deadpanned.

"So what do you know about these Squirtle?" Brock asked.

Leading them back to her station, Officer Jenny explained the situation to them.

"You see they were all Squirtle that were abandoned by their trainers. And quite often they end up going into town stealing from the citizens and pulling these pranks everywhere. I don't believe their truly bad Pokémon, they're just sad and trying to survive." Officer Jenny shook her head in disappointment.

The group were stunned hearing this, again.

"So what? The people of this town think they're criminals?" Brock asks.

"It's pretty sad." Jenny nods.

' Again? First Bulbasaur, then Charmander and now this?' Ash frowns both saddened and disgusted at what he heard while he thought in his head.

This was the third time they heard of Pokémon being abandoned by their trainer.

Little did they know Team Rocket was listening to this.

"A band of criminal Pokémon huh? Just the kind of Pokémon we need." Jessie grins.

"It'll really boost our image with Team Rocket for sure," James said.

"And the best part is if we run them out of town everyone will give us whatever we want because they'll think we're heroes." Meowth snickered.

"We'll be showered with gifts and have our names written in the Hall of Fame for life." Jessie fantasized herself being presented with bouquets by the townsfolk.

It was a win-win situation and Team Rocket wanted it. They wanted it badly.

But the question was, how and WHERE are they gonna find the Squirtle Squad to begin with?


After saying goodbye to Officer Jenny, the group had decided to take a small break by the river.

"I just don't get it guys. I would have given anything to have a Squirtle on my team and five people abandoned them just like that? What is going on?" Ash asks, confused.

Brock sighs, "That's just how some people are nowadays, Ash. Unlike you, they don't have the patience to take the time on any day to commit themselves to actually train."

"Like that Damian freak the other day." Misty shook her head in disgust as she held her fishing rod.

"They treat Pokémon like toys. If you don't like this one you can just get a new one. It's disgusting." Ash cringed just from thinking about him.

"It's a sad take on, but that's reality," Brock said.

"Some people just don't deserve to be trainers." Misty said.

Ash silently prayed, he NEVER acts like any of these selfish assholes in the world.

"Squirtle!" A voice calls out.

Looking up Ash noticed one of the Squirtle Squad members standing across from them.

"There's one of them now!" Ash said standing up.

"It's their leader." Brock said, looking at his shades.

"Hey, we didn't appreciate you and your friends ambushing us for nothing," Misty said, still salty over that pitfall.

"Yeah, you could've hurt us." Ash said.

"Squirtle?" However to their dismay, the water type shrugged with a grin, saying ' So?'.

"Look just because you're sad doesn't give you the right to mess with people." Ash said.

"He's right, imagine if someone did that to you and your friends?" Brock said. "Wouldn't feel happy about that, would you?"

"Squirtle Squirt." Squirtle said, telling them now they know how it feels.

"But that doesn't give you the right to take it out on innocent people." Misty said.

"You and your Squirtle Squad are pushing it and honestly it's only a matter of time before all your garbage catches up with you." Ash warns.

Narrowing his stance, it was clear Squirtle was glaring at them when suddenly he heard something.

"Squirtle! Squirtle!" Another Squirtle squad member calls out.

"Squirtle." Hearing this the leader turned away to leave.

"Where's it going?" Misty asks, surprised.

"I don't know, but now's our chance to follow it." Brock says. Grabbing their bags, they chased after Squirtle.

Following his path they noticed he was heading towards a canyon area.

The lead Squirtle stopped to look around, trying to find the source of where one of his crew cried out to him.

Suddenly a net was shot out landing atop it.

"Squirtle!" Squirtle yells.

"A net?!" Ash gasped before he and his friends found themselves caught in a net as well.

"I am really sick of all these traps!" Misty said as Squirtle's net was yanked away.

Suddenly a familiar laughter echoed throughout the canyon. "Oh don't tell me.." Ash cursed through his teeth.

(Cue Team Rocket Motto)

Pulling down a tarp in front of a wall we see that it was hiding a huge opening revealing Team Rocket atop a cage holding the entire Squirtle Squad.

"Well I say that plan worked out well in our favor!" Jessie laughs.

"We caught a Squad of Squirtle and a Squad of twerps at the same time!" James laughs.

"Let us and the Squirtle go, you losers!" Misty yelled.

"No way these Squirtle are our ticket to the easy street." Meowth said.

"When the citizens see us drag these worthless criminals out of town they'll be cheering for us all the way back to Team Rocket headquarters." Jessie said.

"Not as if they would care where they ended up anyway." James laughs.

"They're not criminals! They're just on the wrong path!" Brock said.

"Meanwhile, we're on the right path!" Meowth grinned.

Struggling, Ash tried to reach his belt but couldn't.

"Misty, I need you to swing your elbow. Knock some Poké Balls loose." Ash said.

Nodding, Misty moved her arm around her friend's waist, trying to let as many Pokeballs fall as they could. Not caring, who was who.

Two Pokéballs from Ash, one from Misty and two from Brock rolled onto the ground and were enlarged once hitting the ground.

From flashes of light, we see Talon, Quake, Starmie, Zubat and Geodude appear.

"Huh?!" Team Rocket turned to face the twerp's Pokémon glaring at them.

"Geodude break that cage!" Brock yells.

"Dude!" Geodude rolled towards the cage with the intent on smashing it apart.

James quickly threw his Pokéball. "I don't think so, Koffing! Stop it!" The floating poisonous gas Pokémon appeared in front of Geodude.

"Koffing!" Koffing collides into Geodude, knocking it backwards.

"Ekans Poison Sting!" Jessie said, calling her Pokémon out.

"Ekans!" Hissing Ekans fire poison needles down at them.

"Starmie! Rapid Spin!" Misty said. Starmie cried out before spinning like a top, deflecting each needle, sending them to random places around the field.

"Quake! Rollout!" Ash said. "Talon, Steel Wing!"

Spinning into a ball, Quake races towards Geodude and rams into Koffing while Talon flies in and strikes Ekans.

"Ekans! Wrap!" Jessie says as Ekans successfully coiled its slinky body around Talon, squeezing him, making the poor bird cringe.

"Zubat, Bite!" Flying in Zubat bit down on Ekans allowing Talon to escape. Once escaping out of its grasp, Talon struck Ekans in the face with an onslaught of pecks and scratches.

"Now Starmie, Water Pulse!" Once both flying types flew away allowing Starmie to blast Ekans.

"Hey no fair! You're ganging up on us!" Jessie points.

"Says the thief herself!" Brock retorted as Geodude bashed Koffing, sending him near the cage.

"Squirtle?" The leader Squirtle said surprised.

They were trying to save them and all they did was mess with them.

"Talon, use Whirlwind!" Ash said. Flapping his wings Talon made a powerful gust of wind that blew Ekans and Koffing away.

Brock said, "Geodude, break that cage open!" Hopping towards it, Geodude started bashing his fist against the hard steel.

"Meowth they're getting away! Go to Plan B!" James said.

"Plan B!" Taking out a remote Meowth pushed it causing the ground under them to shake.

From under Team Rocket a large robot with flame designs emerged.

"How do they come up with this stuff?" Ash backed away in fear.

"I don't but I really think we should get out of this net right about now." Brock said not wanting to get in that way.

The TRio sat themselves inside of their newest contraption. "Time to bring the heat! With our Team Rocket Fire Fighter!" Jessie declares.

"Uh Jessie you might want to rethink that name." Meowth sweat drops.

"Well SOMEONE designed it to look like a hydrant." James mutters.

"Oh shut up and get em!" Meowth snaps.

Pressing a button flames hit out of the FireFighter forcing them to run for cover.

"Guys! Get the Squirtle!" Ash yells.

"And get us out of this net!" Misty screamed.

Flying in, Zubat and Talon cut their trainers free while Geodude, Quake and Starmie smashed the cage open.

"Slash! Slash!" said Quake, telling the Squirtle to get out and fast.

At first they were hesitant to listen when suddenly fire shot out the fire fighter and quickly changed their mind.

So the turtle Pokémon ran out of the cage just as the cage was signed.

"We gotta get out of here!" Ash said.

"Starmie, Water Gun!" Firing water, Starmie blasted the flames allowing them to escape.

"Oh no you don't! Fire Two!" Jessie ordered.

Shooting more flames out they scrambled to avoid getting hit.


From the town, Officer Jenny was walking to her bike when she sniffed the air.

Turning around she gasped seeing smoke enter the sky. "Oh my goodness, a flash fire!" Quickly hopping onto her bike, she drove off to go warn the townsfolk. "Attention everyone!!" She yells out loud on her bullhorn. "A flash fire has just been spotted near town!"

As an alarm roared through the town the people were running for cover.

"Where's the fire department?!" Officer Jenny asks.

"The forest area makes it impossible for the trucks to get close!"

Jenny cringed. It would take a long while for people from the town to help put their fire out, it'll already be too late by then.


Running through the forest the trainers and Pokémon struggled to outrun Team Rocket.

"What's the matter twerps? Not feeling so hot?" James laughs.

Starmie was getting exhausted as the gem in its center was beeping repeatedly.

"Guys Starmie is too worn out. We need to do something before the whole forest is burnt down." Misty panics.

Trying to think of anything to help them, Ash looked to the group of Squirtle, who were huddled up together. "That's it! Squirtle!" He said getting their attention. "You guys have to put the fires out!"

"Squirtle?" They all said looking at him surprised.

"Look I know it's not exactly something you do but if you don't we're all in trouble." Ash said.

The lead Squirtle looked at the scarred boy's face, and his expression was saying he was begging them for help. Looking over to the other humans and Pokémon, theirs read the same as well.

Suddenly the Fire Fighter blasts a large tree causing the trunk to crack.

Gasping, Talon saw it fall towards the Squirtle Squad and Ash.

Flapping his wings, Spearow rams into four of them, knocking them out of the way.

"Squirtle!" Gasping, the leader ran to try and get Talon to safety when the tree collapsed on them.

"Talon!" Ash gasps when suddenly a large Steel Wing slices the tree in half.

Everyone looked in surprise as a blinding light engulfed Talon whole. A pair of wings sprouted from the silhouette, spreading out as far as the eye could see. Long tail feathers sprouted from the back, joined by a razor sharp crest atop its head.

When the light dies down we see Squirtle on the back of a large brown bird Pokémon with large wings and a sharp beak.

"Skraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" He roared triumphantly.

"A-A Fearow," Brock gasped.

"Talon..evolved," Misty said in amazement. Ash quickly took his Pokédex out.

"Fearow, the Beak Pokémon. The evolved form of Spearow. Its large, powerful wings allow it to fly for an entire day. The crushing power of its beak is tremendous."

"Amazing." Ash said blown away.

"Squirtle! Squirt!" The Squirtle squad cheered.

"Squirt! Squirt!" The leader yells ordering them to put out those fires on the double.

Every Squirtle turned to face each fire and blasted Water Gun, smothering the flames into nothing.

"I don't believe it. The twerp's Spearow evolved." James gasps.

"Who cares? We'll catch that thing too." Jessie said.

"I dunno Jess," Meowth cringed. "It doesn't look happy with us, right now." He points to see the evolved Talon glaring at them with Squirtle.

"Talon, rip that truck apart! Fury Attack!" Ash yells.

Talon aimed downwards to Team Rocket, while his beak was spinning around like a corkscrew while glowing.

"Wait, that's not a Fury Attack." Ash said, confused.

"No, I think Talon is about to use Drill Peck!" Brock said, recognizing the technique. Talon just learned a new move!

Ash then grinned, "That's even better! Talon, use Drill Peck!"

Flying in, Talon smashed into the Fire Fighter and began drilling a hole through it.The Rockets shrieked in fear, as they were narrowly and almost impaled by the crushing steel beak.

Leaping through the hole, the Leader Squirtle began stomping all over the controls.

"Hey, stop that!" The three cried out as they scrambled around to grab onto the turtle, but he always alluded to their grasp.

Firing a Water Gun, both Team Rocket and their controls became soaked to the bone.

Unfortunately for them, the latter started emitting sparks.

"Oh no!" Meowth panicked.

"Squirtle! Get out of there!" Ash shouted.

"SQUIRTLE!" Squirtle jumps out of the hole, as Ash quickly catches him.

From inside the Fire Fighter mini explosions went off scaring the daylights out of Team Rocket.

"Hit the deck!" Brock yells as they all jumped for cover right as the machine exploded launching Team Rocket into the air.

"It's not fair! We were going to be set for life!" Jessie whined.

"And now our hopes and dreams..." James starts.

"Are going up in smoke." Meowth finished.

"LOOKS LIKE TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" They screamed in unison before disappearing in a dot in the sky.

"Well that's one problem taken care of." Misty smiles when Officer Jenny pulls up next to them.

"Is everyone okay?" She asks worriedly. "What happened to the fire?"

"The fire is no more, thanks to the Squirtle Squad." Ash smiles, still holding onto the leader.

"Squirtle." Squirtle and his posse nodded, confirming it.

"You all stopped the fires?" Officer Jenny said as they nodded. "Our own Fire Department could never take out fires that quickly and all the way out here."

Pausing, Officer Jenny smiles, getting an idea.


Back in town..

Everyone was in front of the Police Department as Officer Jenny handed the Squirtle a certificate. "And so, we gratefully award this certificate to the Squirtle Squad. Thank you for saving our town from the fire."

Some of the firemen stepped and happily handed out firemen jackets for each Squirtle to wear. "Because of your skill and bravery, we proudly appoint you the newest members of our town's firefighters."

"Squirtle." The leader said, striking a cool pose.

Now that the Squirtle were accepted into the town, none of them have to worry about any more trouble in town again.


Soon Ash, Misty and Brock were on the road to Vermillion City, but they weren't alone. They were being followed, and Misty took notice.

"Hey guys, that Squirtle is following us." She alerts them.

"Squirtle! Squirtle!" Behind them was none other than the lead Squirtle.

"Squirtle? What are you doing here? Why aren't you with your friends?" Ash asks.

Reaching for his shades, Squirtle takes them off revealing a big smile on his face.

"Wow look at that smile." Brock said. "You know, something tells me Squirtle likes us."

"Or more specifically a certain trainer who helped save him and his friends." Misty said, nudging Ash.

(Play Pokémon Anime OST-Such Sweet Sorrow)

"Is that true, Squirtle?" Ash asked as Squirtle came up to him.

"Squirtle. Squirt." Squirtle smiles, giving him a hug.

Surprised Ash didn't expect him to be that grateful.

"You know something Ash?" Brock says. "I think fate has really helped you out this time."

"What do you mean?" Ash asked, confused.

"Think about it. Bulbasaur, Charmander and now Squirtle. What do they all have in common with you?"

"They're all the Starters that I couldn't get when I started my journey." Ash realized.

"And?" Brock said.

"All of them...were abandoned. Just like me." Ash pauses.

"Exactly." Brock nodded.

Brock was right. All three were just like him, and like him they all just wanted a chance to prove themselves.

And it looks like fate just awarded him with another chance. "Squirtle?" Squirtle looks up to Ash with pleading looks, in which he smiles in return.

"I already know what you want to Squirtle..of course you can come along with me." Ash nodded.

"Squirtle." Squirtle smiles.

"So what are you gonna name him?" Misty asks knowing his habits by this point.

"That's an easy one. I'm gonna go with...Shades." Ash smiles.

Squirtle then pulls out his own spare. "Squirt?"

"Oh yeah, the shades make you look cool, intimidating and give you the right kind of flair." Ash nodded.

"Squirtle Squirt." Squirtle said flattered.

"Plus it's also thanks to you Talon evolved." Ash said, pulling out a Pokéball. "I'll be glad to help you where your old trainer failed."

Tapping the ball against his forehead, the red beam sucked him in and instantly the ball clicked transporting Shades to Prof. Oak.

Ash had just saved another hurt and innocent soul from a terrible future.

And with a newly evolved Talon, his team was becoming a force to be reckoned with.

(End song)


Party Data:

Ash: Fearow (Talon), Magikarp (Mystic), Meowth (Bastet), Ekans (Naga), Beedrill (Videl) and Sandshrew(Quake)

Oak's lab:Bulbasaur (Alpha), Charmander (Torch) and Squirtle (Shades)

Sent to his mother: Pidgeotto and Clefable

Misty:Staryu, Goldeen, Starmie, Seel and Oddish

Brock:Geodude, Onix, Zubat and Paras