Route 33
Jackson, Eevee, Kris, and her newly hatched Togepi had recently left the Union Cave, and were along the path towards Azelea Town. "Gotta say, it took longer than expected to make it to this town." Jackson noted.
"Well, considering you like to go super fast everywhere, your regular way of just speeding around would be considered monstrously faster than normal pace." Eevee noted.
"That's the truth." Kris agreed, "How do you even handle those speeds, anyway? Wouldn't your skin peel off or something?"
"I think you forget the part where I am not a normal human being." Jackson noted, "Besides, it took years of practice and endurance to enhance my capability of dealing with speeds like what I'm use to."
"I guess I'll just never understand that kind of feeling." Kris sighed.
"No need to be sad about it, mama." Togepi assured her.
Kris looked down at her new Pokémon, before stating, "Considering my age, I find it weird that someone is referring to me as 'mama'."
"You are the one who hatched me, so you are my mama." Togepi stated, looking happy.
"I've heard that the first person a baby lays eyes on is considered their parental figure." Jackson noted, "Face it. You're stuck with that name."
"Guys, look!" Eevee pointed something out ahead of them. They had just walked up a hill and saw a short set of stone walls surrounding an area that had an entrance and a path that, upon closer inspection, led down to an old well. Standing at the entrance was a pair of men wearing some sort of kimono-like garments fit for Japanese palace guards, and each carried staffs.
"That must be the famous Slowpoke Well of Azalea Town." Kris noted, "Inside is an area abundant with Slowpoke."
"Right. That's the one you told us about. The one rumored to have Team Rocket involvement?" Eevee asked.
"Yep. But I bet that's why those guards are there at the entrance." Kris stated, "No way would Team Rocket get involved if there is security that tight."
Jackson, meanwhile, only looked to the guards with suspicion. He saw the looks in their eyes, and frowned. It didn't take him too long to know that these guys were phony. They were Team Rocket.
(Insert 'Never Give Up' By Sonar Pocket)
Instrumental Opening
(Jackson stands at the top of a cliff, looking out into the vast landscape of the Johto region. He turns to the camera with surprise, grins, then draws his sword and swipes it across the screen, transitioning to white with the logo appearing.)
What tough heart! Once I decided that I'd keep up the fight
My road has never stopped unraveling
(Camera circles around Jackson as he runs along an open-plain path with his Eevee, who after a couple seconds, leaps onto his shoulder as he activates his Extreme Gear and shoots even faster onto the path.)
Carrying a small bit of pride
With my fists clenched
(The screen shows a brief image of Professor Elm, dropping papers from his clipboard, and smiling as he rubbed the back of his head. It shifts to a visual of Kris, Ethan, and their starters, with Ethan punching his fist forward, while Kris spun around with her arms out wide.)
I aim for the goal again step by step
Racing towards it with all my might!
(The screen shifts to Sonic & Tails, the former giving a thumbs up, while the latter waved his hands above eagerly. The screen shifts to Cypher, who glared at the screen with a Pokéball held close to his face.)
Sometimes it'll be a bad day
Where nothing goes the way I want it to
But even if the sky blurs through my tears
(Jackson is sitting by a campfire, his expression full of emotional pain as shadows of his past with red eyes creeped all around him. He curled himself into a ball as the shadow of his father appeared over his head.)
I'm sure my smiles will come back tomorrow
So it's okay!
(Shadows started getting blown away one large piece at a time, until light broke out around Jackson, who looked up to see his Pokémon all standing there, protecting him from his trauma.)
There's nothing out there to fear
I'll keep believing that 'I'm strong'
And get going!
(Silhouettes of the Gym Leaders appeared as the screen scrolled upwards through a gold, silver, and crystal colors behind them. It shifts to the emblem of Team Rocket, with darkened faces of grunts, with the four admins in front, holding their Pokéballs. Jackson readies his blade, as he tosses a Pokéball forward, which opens up and blinds the screen in a white light.)
'With you around, there's nothing to worry about now'
I felt as if the sky was saying that to me with a laugh
(Eevee leapt forward, unleashing a Swift attack from her tail, with Ledian flying next to her, using Flash to blind the scene. Dewott and Weavile shoot through the Swift attack, unleash double Night Slash, slicing the stars, before dismissing their blades, and Dewott angrily looking at the calm and collected Weavile.)
With the sweat and tears I build up
I'm sure I'll come out dazzling
(Cyndaquil turns to face the Team Rocket logo, before unleashing his Flamethrower. Cyndaquil sighed in relief as Scyther flew over him, before slashing with his mantis claws like a swordsman.)
Even if I end up feeling anxious after it all
As long as I believe I can do it
(An Aeroblast and Sacred Fire came from the sky, shooting down at Jackson's team, but Jackson stepped in and unleashed several sword beams, countering the attacks and making them explode. He and his team endured the shockwaves and smoke from the explosion, before looking up into the distance, and saw the silhouettes of the Tower Duo flying over the two towers that represented each.)
These footsteps have taught me to
Always
Never Give Up!
(Jackson's Pokémon come to his side as he looked to them, before grinning eagerly, and the group leapt up into the air, taking on the new threat and the new adventure. The screen goes white before showing Jackson standing with his sword stabbed into the ground, his Pokémon companions surrounding him.)
"Come on, girls. Let's leave them alone for now." Jackson warned the team, and they walked away, heading towards the path to town.
"You okay?" Eevee asked, "You are acting differently to me." This drew Kris and Togepi's attention.
"Listen to me carefully, girls." Jackson started in a quieter tone, "Those guys were clearly not guards. The left guy had his black collar from his attire underneath showing. Both of them were clearly not wearing the proper footwear, and the right one mistakenly had his whip showing from his garments. Those two are clearly Team Rocket members."
"You could tell that quickly?" Kris asked, surprised.
"My masters in Ryouzanpaku had taught me to observe opponents very closely." Jackson noted, "Not just what they wear, or what weapons they carry, but also their stances to know what styles of combat they use, where their eyes gaze to predict their attacks, or even where there are more muscles on a person to know what they favor."
"That's seriously next-level observation..." Kris noted.
"I am amazed at how observant you are with people." Eevee added.
"It goes beyond that." Jackson stated, getting closer to Kris, "Would you mind holding out your arm for a moment. Maybe put down Togepi for her safety."
"Um...okay?" Kris responded, doing as she was told, holding out her right arm, "Is this okay?"
"Yep. Perfect." Jackson answered, pulling back a hand that he flattened tightly, "Now this won't hurt whatsoever. Trust me."
"Wait, wha-?!" Kris started, about to retract her arm when Jackson swiftly jabbed his hand at one part of her lower arm. In an instant, Kris felt all feeling in that arm and hand vanish. She couldn't even wiggle her fingers. "What did you do to me?!" she questioned, holding her numb arm and hand with her other free hand, "I can't feel anything!"
"My specific hand-to-hand combat style surrounds Chinese Kenpo." Jackson explained, "Not only that, but the master who taught me that was an acupuncture specialist. With grueling training and serious understanding about the human anatomy, I was able to create a style where I can shut down nerve systems with a jab of my hand. And I can do the reverse, like so..." He took Kris's arm again, and with a couple jabs around her arm, restored her feeling in her hand again.
"I have never seen anything like that before." Kris noted, flexing her fingers to get the feeling back, "I've heard of moves with paralysis effects, but none like what you just did."
"Will the wonders ever cease in my trainer?" Eevee asked.
"I might have gone a little overboard by going from my observation skills to showing my fighting skills." Jackson apologized, before getting serious again, "Well, in any case, we need to be wary. That place is obviously their base of operations to obtain Slowpoke Tails. Let's see if anyone is aware of it in town."
"Good plan. Let's go." Kris agreed, and they raced together to the town.
Azalea Town
The team arrived in the small town that was different from Violet City, more made like it was part of nature rather than more city-like. The place was known as 'The Town Where People and Pokémon Live in Happy Harmony'. However, as they looked around, they could see that there were a lot of somber faces for such a happy town. Asking around, they learned that many of the owners of Slowpoke around town suddenly had their Pokémon vanish recently. They tried to get the local police to aid them, but so far, they had no such luck. They split up to investigate the place, deciding to convene at the Pokémon Center.
"I went by the local police office, and upon investigation, I can tell that the only law forces are made up of Team Rocket members." Jackson told Kris as they sat at a table, eating burgers.
"Not only that, but the Pokémon Gym here hasn't been open for the last few days." Kris noted, "Just what is going on around here?"
"Definitely looks like Team Rocket is controlling the place, and no one is able to do anything about it." Jackson stated, taking a french fry, holding it aloft.
"Then...what are we gonna do?" Kris asked, holding Togepi close, "I really don't want to leave things the way they are."
Jackson paused to think on it. This was his first opportunity to be a hero since coming to this world. A part of him was very afraid. What if his emotions went out of control like before, and he ended up harming innocent civilians? However, the other part of him told him things were different. Not only that, but HE, himself, was different. He had many friends and allies with him here, and he was dealing with a different kind of enemy. Plus, he was not as overwhelmed with anger than he was back then. He learned his lesson from before.
"I think we should step in and help." he decided, "We may be new trainers, but I can't stand this injustice. Let's go take out this whole organization!"
"Okay, then. But will we be okay with just the two of us?" Kris asked.
"There's no need to fear. I am also in on this plan!" a voice that made them jump in shock. They looked to the table next to them, and saw none other than Ethan sitting there, smirking.
"E-Ethan! Where did you come from?!" Kris asked in surprise.
"I was here for a while, actually." Ethan explained, "I'm surprised you didn't see me here."
"Guess my concerns for the place dulled my senses." Jackson admitted, "Maybe I should've been more observant anyway. I mean, who knows if someone like him..." He pointed to a person nearby, who looked like he was listening to a music system, but froze up, "...could be listening in on us."
The pair looked to the said person, who jumped up and started to run away. Fortunately, Jackson saw a nearby broom that was left by a custodian, grabbed it, and threw it like a javelin. Despite the dreadlock-ended mop head, the force of Jackson's throw made it nail the guy in the back, and he toppled over, his back injured from the attack. Many onlookers were stunned at what happened.
Jackson raced over, with Eevee, Ethan, and Kris, still holding her Togepi, behind him, and he rolled over the fallen man, ripping his shirt open. Sure enough, he was wearing a Team Rocket uniform underneath. "I knew it." Jackson muttered.
"Team Rocket?!" Ethan gasped.
"How did you know?!" Kris asked.
"Come on. That headset was a listening device." Jackson answered, seeing their amazed expressions, "I guess it was just obvious to me. Anyways, how long have you been in town, Ethan?"
"About a day. I was waiting for the gym to open up, but it never did. Is this related to Team Rocket?"
"I wouldn't be surprised." Jackson replied, striking a nerve on the back of the Rocket member's back, knocking him unconscious, "Anything else I should know?"
"Yeah. This old Pokéball maker named Kurt had recently went to the Slowpoke Well." Ethan explained, "I actually met him last night. He was getting really angry old man. He was at the boiling point by the time I got the hell out of his house."
"Did you anger somebody by accident again?" Kris asked.
"I...might've accidentally knocked over some tools he had." he muttered, causing Jackson and Kris to sweatdrop.
"Well, in any case, we should probably act while we have a chance." Jackson stated, looking to the man, "Who knows if his listening device was connected to someone else. You guys head over to the police station, and find if they had the police force captive in there."
"How are we gonna do that with the place full of Team Rocket members?" Ethan asked.
"Accidentally knock something over or something." Jackson answered, "One of you can be a distraction, while the other one searches the interior."
"I can do that." Kris responded, "What about you?"
"I'll enter into the Slowpoke Well." Jackson answered, "If that's their main force, then I'll take point."
"That's gonna be a lot on you." Ethan noted.
"That's why I am counting on you finding the law enforcement." Jackson responded, standing up, looking around to see the gazing citizens, "Let's go before we draw even more attention."
"Right!" the two trainers answered. For safety measures, Kris placed Togepi into a Pokéball for safety, before they set out together to take on their mission.
The minute Jackson got outside, he activated his Air Shoes, and had Eevee hop onto his shoulder. He took off like a shot, while the pair of trainers went the other direction.
Jackson flew around the town before leaving back the way he came, slowing to a halt shortly before reaching the Slowpoke Well. "Alright. Let's blade things up a notch!" Jackson declared, going into a run, with Eevee hopping off his shoulder to join with him at his side. He was running so fast, though, she went into a Quick Attack just to keep up.
They saw the two 'guards' still at the entrance to the well, and they turned their gaze towards the pair as they ran towards them. "Hold it, twerp!" one of the 'guards' called out, "This area is off limits!"
"Just turn back the way you came before you get yourself hurt." the other 'guard' added.
"Calling me a twerp AND immediately threatening to hurt me?" Jackson noted, "You two clearly are not guards!" He gunned for the nearest guard, going into a flying kick, striking him in the stomach, and sent him careening into the wall.
"Why you-!" the other guard started, pulling a whip behind his back, and about to crack it at Jackson. The trainer turned and drew out his sword, and in a quick flurry, sliced up the whip. However, instead of the obvious way of slicing it into pieces, he turned the long string of the whip into four parts, like he just peeled a banana. The guy was stunned at what just happened, looking at his whip, gasping, "What just... there's no way!" He suddenly gasped in pain as Jackson used the butt of his sword, hitting him in the gut, and knocking him out cold.
"I almost feel like I am not needed for you here." Eevee noted.
"Don't say that. You and the others will be needed for the battles in the well." Jackson replied, walking away from the scene of the crime casually. He and Eevee went down the hill inside the walls, reaching the stone well, and peering in. "Let's put an end to their 'tail-gating'." He leapt down the well, with Eevee following him.
Azalea Town
Ethan stomped his foot outside of the police station, shouting, "Hey, you goons! The jig is up! I know the police force is a bunch of phonies! Why don't you come out and prove me wrong!" Many onlookers were stunned at his audacity against the police force.
His call worked out, as five men and one woman in police attire barged out of the office, standing in the street as the woman shouted, "You got a lot of nerve to call us out, you brat! Why don't we show you just how real of a force we are!" Two men launched forward, and tossed out Pokéballs, revealing a Zubat and a Koffing to the field.
"Quilava, Teddiursa, let's do this!" Ethan shouted, calling out both Pokémon to the field, who were ready for a fight. "Quilava, Smokescreen!" he ordered, and Quilava spewed out a fume of black smoke, causing it to swarm the scene. As the Team Rocket grunts were coughing from the smoke, Kris snuck through the smoke, holding a cloth to her mouth and nose to keep her breathing. She managed to find the building in the smoke, and snuck through the door with all the police distracted.
Inside, she was able to sneak about, looking through the place carefully as she opened doors. Finally, she opened one up, and was shocked to see none other than the group they were impersonating, along with Officer Jenny, all tied up and gagged. Jenny looked up, suspecting Team Rocket at first, but suddenly saw it was Kris. "I'm here to save you!" she told them, running in to untie them.
Back outside, Ethan shouted, "Quilava, use Flame Wheel!" His partner responded by dashing, curling into a ball, and spun into a fiery wheel as he hit Koffing, knocking it out. Quilava came back to Ethan's side, with Teddiursa already taking out Zubat seconds before. However, there were still more grunts to deal with.
"We won't give you rest!" another grunt growled, as the remaining four readied their Pokéballs, as Ethan prepared for their worst.
Suddenly, the doors behind them barged open, and out came the police force, with Kris and Officer Jenny in the lead. "Arrest these members!" Jenny ordered as the men roared and tackled down the grunts, restraining them before they had the upper hand on them again. The female grunt tried to pull out her whip to crack them away, but Kris had already called out Growlithe, unleashing Flame Burst to burn away the whip, before Jenny tackled her down, cuffing her in the back.
"Nice one, Kris!" Ethan cheered, as Quilava and Teddiursa looked relieved.
"Let's just hope Jackson had it as easy." Kris noted.
Slowpoke Well
Inside the well, in one of the deeper parts of the place, several cages with Slowpokes in them were lined up along the walls, all of which either too oblivious to care, or worried about their situation. Four grunts were in there, along with one that stood out; a man with short teal hair that curled towards his cheeks from the sides, and he had teal eyes. His attire was the same as the others, though his gloves and legs had red bands on the sleeves.
"Is this the last of the Slowpoke you can find in this well?" the man asked a grunt.
"Sir! We're looking in deeper into the well, but this is all we could currently find." the grunt responded.
"Then go and GET more!" he told off the grunt, "Our business selling Slowpoke Tails to refuel our funds for Team Rocket must continue! You understand?!"
"Y-Yes, Executive Proton!" the grunt stammered, before running off.
"Honestly, it's too easy." Proton chuckled, "These grunts are wet behind the ears, so they are easily intimidated by me. Course, I am known as the scariest and cruelest executive of the bunch." He turned to one corner, and saw a pair that were tied up by their hands and legs.
The first was an old man with medium white hair and beady eyes and wore a dark blue samue, with a white band tied up at the waist, and white slip-on shoes.
The second was a young boy with medium purple hair that seemed to be segmented in purple rectangular parts, and his eyes were the same color as his hair. He wore a green short-sleeved, collared shirt, with a yellow neckerchief. He had a brown belt and a case containing research equipment, green shorts, white and green-striped socks, and brown shoes.
"After all, it was pretty darn easy to capture these two." Proton continued, "The famed Pokéball maker and the Gym Leader of this town. And even this Pokémon, too." He wandered over to the cage, where a scared Cyndaquil was in. He took the cage in one hand and held it up. "You said this Pokémon was pretty important, didn't you, old man?" he asked, "Might as well go and research how special this puny thing is."
"You keep your hands off of it!" the old man roared.
"Why are you doing this to the poor Slowpoke around here?!" the young boy demanded.
"Why? It's not like they lose their tails forever." Proton argued, "They always grow back, giving us an infinite funding supply for Team Rocket. What they are doing is for a great purpose!"
"But what you are doing is forcefully removing their tails!" the old man argued, "Don't you feel any empathy for the Slowpoke that have to deal with this constant pain?!"
"Let me think... Nope, not a thing." Proton mocked, "Pokémon are tools and supplies, and nothing more. Same goes for this little thing." He held up the Cyndaquil in the cage, "It is pretty rare, anyway. But you did tell us how important it seems to be to you, so we might as well do something with it." He gave a sinister chuckle as the old man growled.
Just then, there was the sounds of battling far off, and Proton turned to see a grunt run around the corner of the cavern, shouting, "We got an intruder! A trainer is approaching here!"
"One trainer? Is that all?" Proton questioned, approaching the panting grunt, "Surely you guys can handle him? Or are you saying you are too cowardly to take on the task?"
"Y-You don't understand! This trainer isn't normal!" the grunt explained, "He's really strong! And not just his Pokémon, but he himself is strong, too! We can't hold him back!"
At that moment, a scattering of Swift stars appeared, causing another grunt that was not in the scene, along with his Rattata, to be sent flying, before hitting the wall, going unconscious. The grunt backed off as the other three grunts joined him as they surrounded Proton, who glared as a person came around the corner, coming to a halt. It was Jackson and his Eevee, both ready to fight.
"Who is this boy?" the old man asked.
"I never saw him before." the young boy answered.
"Well, look who wants to be a hero." Proton called out to the trainer, "Listen, if you know what's good for you, you'd better stay out of our business."
"My business IS to stop tormenters like you!" Jackson stated, as Eevee growled as she took a stance, "Now, I have to guess you're the boss in this joint, yeah?"
"The name's Proton. I'm one of the executives of Team Rocket, and I don't have time for big-talking trainers like you." he snapped his fingers, and the other four grunts pulled out Pokéballs, whips, and other capturing devices made to put Jackson down, "You are gonna learn the hard way what happens when you mess with grown-ups, kid. Get him!" The four roared as they leapt at Jackson.
"Eevee, stand back." Jackson told his partner, who stepped back a bit. Jackson then focused as he flattened his hands like they were blades, or in his case, acupuncture needles. He then eyed the movements of the four grunts, predicting where they were going, and launched forward. In a blink of an eye, Jackson swiftly jabbed the limbs of each grunt, passing by all of them without them even getting close to stopping him. He then came to halt, and relaxed his hands as the four grunts crumpled to the floor, barely able to move. This left Proton and his captives, including Cyndaquil, completely stunned.
"Wha-?" Proton asked as Eevee raced to Jackson's side, "Get up, you grunts! He's just a child! He couldn't have done that much to you!"
"On contraire." Jackson remarked, "They might have a hard time trying to get back up...when I struck their nerves and numbed out their limbs."
"What?!" Proton demanded.
"Acupuncture. Maybe you should try it." Jackson stated, "Now, are we gonna do this the easy way, or the hard way?"
"Hmph! You may have been luck to take them out. But I bet that means you suck as a trainer!" Proton growled, tossing Cyndaquil's cage away roughly, causing it to spin about, hurting the poor Pokémon within. Jackson's anger rose as he pulled out a Pokéball, "Let me show you why I am the scariest and cruelest executive there is! Koffing, go!" He tossed out a ball, and out came the Poison Gas Pokémon, ready to attack.
"Eevee, your time to shine!" Jackson called out.
"You got it, Jackson!" Eevee responded, leaping forward to take on the opponent.
Just then, more grunt appeared around the corner Jackson came from, with Pokemon at their side, ready to fight. "We have your back, sir!" one of the female grunts called out.
"Heh! guess you missed a few, kid." Proton snickered.
"Yeah, or maybe they quickly recovered." Jackson assumed, pulling his hands behind his back, taking out his three remaining Pokéballs, "But it's not a bother. Come on out, you guys!" He flipped the balls behind him, and out came Ledian, Weavile, and Dewott, ready to go. "Listen up. I can trust you guys to take care of these guys." he told his three Pokémon, "Think smart, remember our training, and make sure you have each other's backs. Got it?"
"Understood, Jackson!" Ledian answered, pumping its fists.
"Of course." Weavile followed in a calm and collective manner, massaging its claws.
"I'm gonna take out more of these guys than Weavile!" Dewott declared, taking out his scalchops. They charged in together at the grunts and their Pokémon, ready to fight.
"What are your Pokémon able to do without their trainer?!" Proton questioned.
"Shouldn't you be worried about what's happening here?" Jackson asked, "Eevee, Quick Attack!" His partner leapt forward in high speeds, striking the floating ball, and knocking it back.
"Counter with Sludge!" Proton called out. Koffing recovered and shot a ball of poisonous sludge at Eevee, who got hit and was knocked out of the air, toppling to the ground. She tried to get up, but her body was exuding poison from it. "Heh. Guess you're in trouble." Proton smugly stated.
"Not really. Eevee, Refresh!" Jackson called out. Eevee's body glowed as she straightened herself up again. By the time the light died down, her body was cured of poison.
"Hmph! Just luck you had that move." Proton scoffed, "Koffing, hit it with Sludge again!" Koffing unleashed more goop of poison from its mouth towards Eevee.
"Dodge and get in with Quick Attack, again!" Jackson called out. Eevee launched forward, dancing around the falling sludge, before leaping in and hitting Koffing head on. "Now go into a Bite!" Jackson added, and Eevee responded by creating energy fangs in front of her open mouth, and chomping down on Koffing, causing an exposion that sent it flying.
"This boy is good." the old man noted.
"True. I wonder if he is a gym challenger?" the young boy asked.
Cyndaquil was just in awe of the battle, seeing both Jackson and Eevee in battle, fearless and strong. Meanwhile, Jackson's other Pokémon were able to fight back both the grunts and their Pokémon. He watched Ledian unleash a Mach Punch that knocked out a Rattata, Weavile using Icy Wind freeze up a pair of Zubat, and Dewott using Night Slash to take out a Magnemite, sending it flying into the grunt, knocking both out. This group was an incredible force, and Cyndaquil was enamored.
"Koffing, I won't let you lose! Use Gyro Ball!" Koffing started to spin around, a silver ring glowing around it as it spun, going towards Eevee.
"Eevee, run to the wall!" Jackson called out. Eevee responded by having the Koffing follow her towards one of the cave walls, with Proton questioning what he was doing. "Now, jump to the wall, and bounce high off of it!" Jackson followed up.
"I understand!" Eevee answered, leaping at the wall, and ricochet off of it, leaping high over Koffing, who crashed into the wall, stopping its attack.
"You gotta be kidding!" Proton gasped.
"Now, Swift!" Jackson ordered, and Eevee spun as she sent stars deluging down onto Koffing, who could not evade it, and got peppered by the attack. When it was finished, Koffing fell to the floor, completely beatened.
"Grrr... I didn't think you were this good." Proton growled, calling Koffing back to his ball. He then looked to see all of the grunts behind taken out, with Ledian mediating between Dewott and Weavile, the former irritated for not getting a rise out of Weavile, claiming he had done more than the latter.
"He beat them!" the old man exclaimed.
"Now, are you gonna be done here, or do you want me to take you out like those other guys?" Jackson asked, prepared to go into his fighter's stance.
Proton had a blood vessel pulsing from his scalp, gritting his teeth, before he closed his eyes and growling, "Fine, we'll retreat for now." He then pointed to Jackson as he growled, "But make no mistake, we may have have broken up three years ago, but that will all change with our true mission. Make no mistake, a small obstacle like you will be of no problem to us!" He walked past Jackson as he finished, "You're going to be very afraid for what is to come. Team Rocket, we're leaving, now!" With that statement, the Team Rocket grunts were able to gather each other up, pulling up those who couldn't move themselves, and left the cave.
"We aren't gonna stop them?" Eevee asked Jackson as his Pokémon gathered around him.
Jackson paused, before he stated, "If he caused more trouble, I would do something more. For now, leaving him without any way to fight back demonstrates how helpless he was against us. Either that or..." He thought back to his many times when he, Sonic, and his friends fought Dr. Eggman, and defeated his army, and sent him flying or retreating when his plans fail. "...or maybe old habits just die hard." Jackson finished, rubbing the back of his head.
Moments later, Ethan and Kris brought the police force into the Slowpoke Well. At that point, Jackson had freed the Slowpoke, and untied the two, who he learned were a Pokéball maker named Kurt, and the Azalea Town Gym Leader, Azalea. The police force began searching for any evidence involving Team Rocket, as well as take in any Team Rocket members they got their hands on.
"You were pretty incredible out there." Bugsy told Jackson, "I am very impressed by your capability to battle against Team Rocket like that. If only they didn't set up a trap against me, I could've done something about that."
"You are not at fault. If anything, I was more foolish by throwing my back out just coming here." Kurt grimaced, knocking a fist to his back to get the aches and pain away, "Shame I had to rely on such young folk to take care of things."
"Hey, we're just glad we were able to do anything." Ethan stated, "I'm glad it all worked out."
"All thanks to our teamwork." Kris noted.
"You guys did a great job." Jackson told the pair, "This was a well-executed plan!"
"Hey, I'm just amazed you took out a Team Rocket executive!" Ethan exclaimed, "Man, I would've wanted to win that battle."
"Still, what he said in the end does concern me." Kurt noted, furling his brow, "They claimed that this won't stop them from their true mission. What that is, I have no clue."
"Me neither, but we'll leave it to the police to handle it from here." Jackson responded, smiling, "Still, it felt good to act on my hero's instincts again."
Just then, Jackson heard a voice call out, "Um...excuse me." Jackson looked down, and saw the Cyndaquil that got tossed by Proton approach him nervously.
"Oh, it's you again." Jackson noted.
"A Cyndaquil? But why is it here?" Ethan asked.
"It ended up being taken along with you, old man Kurt." Bugsy recalled.
"Yes. This little one is very unusual." Kurt stated, "It came falling from the sky in a ball of light not too long ago, within my Apricorn orchard. I don't know where it came from."
"That's a very unusual story, sir." Kris stated, "Pokémon don't just fall out of the sky like that."
Jackson bent down to the Cyndaquil, Eevee hopping of his shoulders again. "I can understand you, so explain to me how that happened?"
"I don't know myself." Cyndaquil answered, "My memory of before I arrived is a complete blank. But...everything in me is telling to go with you."
"Go? With me?" Jackson echoed, surprised.
"Yes. Plus, I was so amazed at your ability to battle." Cyndaquil admitted, looking a bit starry in its slit eyes, "I want to be strong, so I don't get taken by any evil people like that again!"
Jackson couldn't help but smile a bit at this. It almost reminded Jackson of himself, where he wanted to be a far better person than his father, so he decided to become a hero like Sonic, Tails, and all of his friends.
"I think that would be a great idea, Jackson." Kris told the trainer, who stood up to look at her.
"Yeah. If my Quilava can do so awesome with me, then I bet he would be fantastic with you!" Ethan acknowledged.
"I do not know what is going on, but it seems to me like this Cyndaquil is wanting to join you, young man." Kurt stated, "Who knows? Maybe you are the reason he is here."
"You sure, sir?" Jackson asked Kurt.
"Hey, don't dismiss his offer." Bugsy told Jackson, "Kurt's not one who just gives anything away for no reason. Besides, consider it a reward for saving the Slowpoke and the town."
Jackson looked to Kurt and Bugsy, to his companions, who nodded in approval, before looking back at Eevee, who stood with Cyndaquil. Eevee nodded in approval, wanting to have Cyndaquil as their companion.
Finally, Jackson took out a Pokéball, kneeling back down to Cyndaquil again. "If that's what you want, then I am all the more willing to have you as part of my team. Let's get stronger together, buddy."
"Thank you!" Cyndaquil answered, poking the button on the ball with his nose, causing it to open up and suck him in. After a couple shakes, the ball clicked, signaling the capture.
"Congrats, Jackson!" Ethan told Jackson, "Now you and I both have them! But mine will always be better!"
"Yeah, we'll see." Jackson responded, looking at the ball, before pocketing it.
"By the way..." Bugsy interrupted the moment, getting the team's attention, "Are any of you here for a Gym battle?"
"Yeah. All three of us are, in fact." Kris stated, indicating herself, Ethan, and Jackson.
"Well, you're gonna have to wait till tomorrow. I gotta get my Pokémon recovered." Bugsy told them, looking to Jackson, "And if you don't mind, I would like to challenge you first."
"Sure! I'll rest up myself and my Pokemon. Then, we'll give you a powerful battle!" Jackson told him, "Don't hold back because I saved you. I want to earn my badge fair and square."
"Of course! I am a gym leader, after all." Bugsy responded, raising a hand to Jackson, who took it, and they shook. Today, they rest after stopping villains. Tomorrow, their Gym battle awaits.
? ? ?
In another plane of existence, two Pokémon of large proportion were watching through a small light as Jackson was shaking hands with the gym leader. These two were none other than Dialga, the Legendary Pokémon of Time, and Palkia, the Legendary Pokémon of Space.
"Arceus told us to send that Pokémon from our land of old to now. Is this really wise?" Palkia questioned.
"It is as Arceus decides." Dialga answered, "Besides, even if the future isn't what it will be, the action is very miniscule. But if the future does involved this child in the conflict, then it will become a necessary strength for him in order to defeat the evil. We just hope that his will can become strong enough to take it on."