Part 2
"Oh, dear!" Professor Oak said. "Are you sure it was one of my sketches and it was the Pikachu and Celebi one?" The male officer looked at him.
"Yes." He said, and nodded. "I'm really sorry, Professor." Oak frowned.
"Oh, I see."
"Don't worry, Professor." Tracy said to him. "We'll make sure that you will get your sketch back."
"That's right." Todd agreed. "Whoever stole your art will not get away with this. We'll make sure of that." He turned to Officer Jenny. "Officer Jenny? Is it alright if we take a look at the security camera with you?" Jenny looked at him.
"Of course, I'm sure the museum curator won't mind. Let us go and ask." And so, they went to find the museum curator.
As they went, Tracy noticed Oak frowning.
"Professor?" He asked, concerned. Oak sighed.
"I knew I shouldn't have agreed to put my art on display." He said. "It's my fault."
"No, Professor." Tracy said to him. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have pressured you. You were unsure about this, but I persuaded you. I shouldn't have done that and for that I'm sorry. I should have known that thieves might want them."
"Don't feel too bad, Tracy." Oak said. "Your heart was in the right place, Unfortunately, as you can now see, things can go wrong."
"I suppose."
"Don't do this, guys." Todd told them both. "You guys could not have possibly known that this was going to happen. The most important thing is that we catch the thief and bring back Professor Oak's drawing." Tracy and Oak both looked at Todd.
"You're right." Tracy agreed. "We can't mope about this forever. It isn't the professor's or my fault."
"You are a really bright young man." Oak complimented Todd. He smiled. "Thank you for brightening this curmudgeon's spirits." This time, Todd smiled.
"Sure thing, Professor. Glad that I could help."
"The sooner I get my drawing back from that no good thief, the better." Both Todd and Tracy nodded in agreement.
"Agreed!" They both said at the same time.
Jenny and the others went to the front desk and Jenny told the man at the front desk that they wanted to talk to the curator.
"Allow me to get her real quick." The man told Jenny. "You all just stay here. Jenny nodded as the man walked away.
Moments later, the man came back with a woman wearing all red.
"My name is Scarlett Strokes." The woman introduced herself. "And I am the curator of this wonderful museum." Todd and Tracy introduced themselves. Scarlett looked at Tracy. "Professor Oak tells me that you are his assistant. Is this true?" Tracy nodded.
"That's correct." He said.
"And Tracy is such a terrific assistant." Oak put in. "I'm so glad I have him. I wouldn't know what I would do without him."
"Oh, stop it, Professor!"
"No, no, I'm serious, Tracy. You help me out a lot. I really appreciate it."
"Well, I'm flattered. I really like my job and taking care of Ash's Pokémon while he's away on his travels, as well as other people's Pokémon, making new friends, human and Pokémon alike."
"And it's Tracy that convinced me to display the sketches here that I did as a kid."
"Really?" Said an impressed Scarlett. She looked at Tracy. "You made the right call. Everyone loved them!"
"I knew that they would!" Tracy said. "The professor was so talented when he was young."
"And he still is with his poems." Todd added.
"Yeah, he is!" Tracy agreed. He then frowned. "It's just too bad that the one that he cherished the most out of all of them got stolen." Scarlett frowned too.
"Yeah, it is too bad. This is the first time in the museum's history that one of the art pieces got stolen."
"In speaking of which," Oak began. "I would really love to see the footage on the security camera."
"And Todd and I really like to watch too." Tracy added. "If that's alright with you."
"Of course it's alright." Scarlett said. "If it means putting the jerk who stole from my museum behind bars." She then frowned. "But I'm afraid you won't see much."
"How come?" Todd wanted to know.
"Come and I'll show you." Scarlett said and led them to the security room.
They all gathered in the security room in front of a single computer to watch what had happened the night before.
"We have all of the rooms in this museum." Scarlett began. "As well as 2 to 4 security cameras in each and every room. "But as soon as you'll all see, we didn't get much footage. The professor's art piece was stolen in the temporary art exhibition room which got recorded on security camera number 25. Now, watch the footage carefully." Looking at a list of security cameras on the computer screen, Scarlett highlighted camera number 25, clicked on it and pressed the 'enter' button. The screen played the footage and the exhibition room that Oak's drawings were in last night were now on the screen. Scarlett fast forwarded it to the time right before the crime happened. There, on screen, was the woman that wanted Oak's drawing. Oak pointed this out.
"Hey!" Oak pointed out. "I saw her! She was the woman asking for my sketch last night."
"Did she steal the drawing?" Tracy asked out loud.
"I bet she did." Todd said. "Why else would she be looking at the sketch in the room after hours?
"That's what we thought too." Scarlett stated. "But watch what happens next." They all looked back at the screen. The lady looked directly at the camera, then all around. Seconds later, she took out a Pokeball and called on her Pokémon. An Octillery popped out. She pointed at the camera and called an attack order. The Octillery looked at the camera and the octopus-like Pokémon let out a Mud Shot attack. Mud splattered and covered the camera. The screen turned into static as the footage was now lost. Tracy, Professor Oak. Officer Jenny and Todd all couldn't believe what had just happened. Scarlett turned to them.
"Camera number 25 is now broken because of this lady and her Octillery." Scarlett informed them. Todd got angry.
"I bet she didn't want anyone claiming her as the mastermind behind this and that's why she ordered her Octillery to use Mud Shot on the camera. Not only did she steal precious artwork, but she also broke a very expensive camera! Ugh; that woman is so despicable!" Scarlett turned to him.
"Calm down. She may not be the only one at fault here." Todd was confused. So were the others.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Right before the camera broke, someone else can be seen, but just the person's one side." She replayed the video. Then right as before the mud splattered all over the camera, someone else could be seen, but only part of them was on camera. Tracy, Todd, the professor and Officer Jenny all gasped.
"Professor?" Tracy wanted to know. "That person, whoever it is, do they look familiar to you?"
"Yes." Oak stated. "I believe so. But I can't place on who it is." Todd thought about this.
"Hmmm, it has to be one of the people that tried to give us money in exchange for the sketch, but who?"
"Hmmm, yes. Who indeed?"
"This is quite a mystery all right." Tracy put in.
"Even if we do find the culprit," Todd chipped in. "How can we find him? How can we find the woman and her Octillery? They may be miles away by now."
"You may be right on that, Todd." Oak agreed. He then frowned. "I may never see that sketch ever again. Pity. I really liked it. It was one of my best works and my absolute favorite to draw." This time, Tracy grew mad.
"No, Professor!" He said. They all looked his way. "I won't let you do this to yourself. You can't give up like that. The professor I know will never give up! You will get your childhood drawing back! I promise you that."
"But, how are we going to do that, Tracy?" Todd wanted to know.
"I like your confidence." Prof. Oak told his assistant. "But Todd's right. How are we going to get it back? We don't know where to start."
"We must do something! I came to be your assistant to help you, not with just the lab and the Pokémon, but with any problem that comes our way! When I was with Ash and Misty, there was no problem too big that we couldn't solve, and the same will be true with this one. I'll make sure of it!"
"We're not going to give up." Officer Jenny told him. "It's too early for that. There will be news on this on TV, online and in the papers. Everyone will soon know of this robbery and someone hopefully will come forward with information about this."
"And I will appear on those broadcasts whenever they need me and answer all of the questions that are asked of me." Oak stated. Scarlett looked at the professor and smiled.
"That will be very nice of you, Professor." She stated. "And a big help." She looked at Tracy and Todd. "You all can go home now. If we find anything new or need you for TV or radio, we'll give you a call."
"I really appreciate all of what you all are doing for me." He took a bow. "Thank you very much."
"No." Scarlett said. "Thank you." She looked at Tracy and Todd too. "Thanks to you two as well."
"The professor has been my idol ever since I was little." Tracy began. "So, to help him get his childhood drawing back and to make him smile again, I'd like nothing more."
"Same goes for me." Todd agreed. "I may be more into photography, but art is art and it should always be respected and preserved for generations to come. The culprit will not get away with this. Justice will prevail; it must!" They all nodded in agreement, And so, they all said their farewells, and Tracy, Todd and Professor Oak all left the museum. Everyone that was there before was now gone. As they walked, Professor Oak noticed the expression on Tracy's face.
"Don't fret, Tracy." Oak assured him. "It's like what you said. We can't give up on this and won't. Ash won't like that. There is no problem too big that we can't solve. And like what Todd said, justice will prevail; it must!" Both Todd and Tracy smiled.
"I'm not worried." He told the professor. "I know we will get to the bottom of this no matter what."
"I agree." Todd put in. "As terrible as this may be, we will find a way. I have been with Ash, Brock and Misty and we always have found a way. And we will for this too."
"We just need to have patience and see what comes up." Oak told them. "I know waiting might not be easy, but we must if we want to know the outcome of all of this. I'm sure all of the interviews we do coming up in the next few days will be a huge help in our search." Todd and Tracy smiled again.
"True, waiting will stink and we will want the answers now." Tracy agreed. "But patience will be good for us in the long run. Like art, it can never be rushed."
"You're right about that." Todd also agreed. "It might take days, weeks, months or even years to get your sketch back, but it will be solved, one way or another."
"Let's hope it's sooner rather than later."
"Yeah." The two then laughed as they and the professor continued to the lab.
A lone Smeargle saw the sketch from the outside of the window of a house he passed by. He was admiring it, appreciating its beauty. He liked the sketch and wished he could talk so he could congratulate and ask questions to the human who drew it. He was about to walk away when something on the TV nearby caught his attention. The TV was playing the news and it showed the picture of the sketch with the word 'missing' underneath it. It then flipped to the interview of Professor Oak talking about the missing sketch. Smeargle pondered about this, wondering if the sketch and the professor's lab were connected somehow. He knew the lab. He passed by it sometimes on his morning constitutionals. Somebody shut off the TV. The Smeargle decided to go to the lab and ask.
Outside the lab where all of the Pokémon were, Smeargle saw one of Ash's Tauros and walked over to the bull-like Pokémon.
"Can you answer my question?" Smeargle asked. Tauros looked at the Smeargle.
"Depends." He said. "What do you want to know?"
"I just saw one of the humans that works here on the magic box somewhere not far from here." Tauros was surprised.
"You're kidding!" Smeargle shook his head.
"No, I'm not. It then showed a human's drawing of what looked like a Celebi and a Pikachu sleeping against a tree. Know anything about that?" Tauros shook his head.
"Sorry, I don't." Smeargle frowned.
"Okay then. Sorry to bother you." Smeargle was about to head off when Tauros spoke up.
"Although, the professor and his assistant both did look kinda sad when they gave us our lunch." Smeargle was shocked about this.
"Really? Why?"
"Don't know. They are usually happy when they feed us. They were trying to fake being happy for the other Pokémon, but I could tell that it was all an act and that the two were miserable. Then a whole swarm of humans came by with weird equipment and the professor and his assistant talked to them. They then left after a while. It was really strange."
"I bet. Anything else?"
"Nope! That's all I got."
"Okay. I'll see you around I guess. I pass by here on my morning walks to help refresh my mind."
"Okay. You do that. See you!" Smeargle was about to go off again when a voice spoke up.
"Wait!" The two Pokémon then looked and saw that it was a nearby Sandslash. Sandslash walked over to them. "I heard everything, and I might be able to help."
"Really?" Asked Smeargle. "How? What info do you have?"
"Well, one day when the assistant was feeding us, he said that he found one of the professor's old sketchbooks, whatever those are, that he did when he was young. And you know what?"
"What?"
"He mentioned one of the sketches he did was of a Pikachu and a Celebi and they were sleeping against a tree." Smeargle gasped.
"No way!" He said. "I've seen that exact drawing!" Both Sandslash and Tauros were surprised.
"Really?" Sandslash asked. "Are you sure? The exact same?" Smeargle nodded.
"I'm sure of it!"
"You know," Tauros began. "Talking about a Pikachu reminds me of my trainer's Pikachu. But he must like my species more because he caught 30 of us." Sandslash turned to him, shocked.
"Wait. 30 of your species? Why?" Tauros looked at him.
"Don't know. But he caught me and the others in what the humans call 'the Safari Zone.'"
"I just can't believe he caught 30 of you guys. That's insane!" Tauros nodded in agreement.
"It is. It almost feels like it never even happened, but it did. And you know what else? The Pokéballs he caught us in weren't your typical red and white Pokéballs. They were green, so they were special."
"I hate to interrupt this conversation." Smeargle put in. Sandslash and Tauros looked at him. "But something tells me that the drawing was stolen. Now, I love painting, and I know for a fact that if my masterpiece was taken from me, I'd be devastated. So, I'm going to go get that sketch, and come back here to bring it back to its rightful owner." Sandslash smiled.
"I'd think that's a great idea. The Pokémon professor will appreciate that very much. Thank you!" Smeargle smiled back. He then looked determined and ran off.
"Good luck!" Tauros called out after him.
"Yeah!" Sandslash called out as well. "Good luck!" Sandslash looked at Tauros. "Care to tell me about this trainer of yours with the Pikachu?"
"Sure thing." Tauros said to Sandslash and began to explain everything.
Smeargle went back to the house with the stolen art. He pondered to himself. Hmmmm, how am I going to get in? He then hatched an idea. The Pokémon went to the front door and knocked.
Smeargle ran to the lab while holding onto Professor Oak's drawing. Tauros nodded to the other Tauros and together with Sandslash, they all did their Pokémon calls. Professor Oak, Tracy and Todd, who had been invited to the lab for lunch, came outside.
"What's all the commotion about?" Oak wanted to know. He then saw it was Smeargle. "A Smeargle?" Tracy then noticed Professor Oak's drawing.
"Professor!" Tracy said. "Look!" Professor Oak saw it and couldn't believe it.
"My drawing, but how?" Todd smiled.
"I think maybe it found the sketch, and somehow knew that it was stolen. It came here to give it back to you, Professor. Oak smiled. '
"I think you might be right about that, Todd." Smeargle gave the sketch to Oak. Oak grabbed it from the Pokémon. "Why thank you, Smeargle." Tracy smiled.
"My, that's so thoughtful and kind." He observed.
"It sure is." Todd agreed. They then heard a shout.
"Give back that drawing, you Smeargle!" They all looked at who had shouted and gasped.