Kanto Chapter 5 - Enter Team Rocket

In a nondescript building in Celadon City, two figures stand on separate podiums, one each side of a large cold metal room containing many members of the seedy villainous organisation known as Team Rocket.

A voice belonging to one of them boomed out across the crowd. "Creditable intel has come in that the Vermillion Gym has a new cadet trainer, a girl in the age range of 14-16. It is believed she could be the daughter of Master Ash Ketchum."

A mug shot type picture flashed up on the giant monitor of the world's greatest Pokémon Master.

"And Misty Ketchum, former Waterflower of Cerulean City Gym." Her image flashing up next to Ash's.

"As you know this man brought down our benevolent leader Giovanni." The image of the two trainers was replaced with the last known mug shot of the former Rocket Boss, then to an image of him fleeing the Viridian Gym.

"Causing him to disband Team Rocket and go into hiding. Fortunately, we took it upon ourselves to re-establish this fine organisation and restore us back to our former glory!"

All the members began to clap.

A new voice, the other figure standing high opposite the original speaker continued. "One of our biggest priorities, revenge on Master Ash Ketchum for all he has done to us. So far, our plans of gaining leverage have been unsuccessful and despite some breakthroughs we are no further forward in our efforts to bring him down than we were when we started. For this mission we are sending out our two best infiltrators in the field."

A spotlight appears on two individuals, lighting them up amongst the gathering of Rocket members. A Man and a Woman no older than 19years of age. The male has dark brown hair in the style of curtains, he's of average height and build and an overall unremarkable appearance aside from his bold green piercing eyes.

The woman shows off a slender yet mature curvy build with a straight, sharp bobbed cut hair-do dyed blonde in colour with dark roots and brown eyes donned with thick black eyeliner. Lips lush and painted ruby red. Both wearing black tops with a big red "R" on the front, the males uniform is teamed with white trousers, white calf high boots and white elbow length gloves lined with red. The female a mid thigh length figure hugging skirt, thigh length white boots trimmed with red and over the elbow gloves again white with the matching red trim.

" Shane, Thea. Your mission is to stake out the Vermillion Gym and the girl and conclusively prove or deny the validity of our information."

"It goes without saying this mission is of the utmost importance. This could turn the tide in our waging battle back to the top. Have no doubt we will right the wrong-doings against us, we will avenge our fallen leader. This will be our time! Team Rocket will rule once more! We will be united! Rocket United!"

More applause and cheering followed.

*** end flashback ***

Shane and Thea had been staking the gym out for weeks. Infiltrating the gym during its restoration disguised as builders, they had planted a few microphones and had the building bugged. They lived in the shadows, (well shrubbery) outside the building. Observing and recording the girl going about her daily life in Vermillion completely undetected and unseen.

They had heard a few conversations which seemed to point in the direction that this teen was the daughter of arguably the most famous family in Kanto, but nothing concrete enough for HQ to act on. It had to be positive, they couldn't afford to mess this up.

Then the day came. It happened, the video call they were waiting for, the loud voice of Misty Ketchum was unmistakable. "ASH! ….. Our daughter is on the phone." That was it. They had the visual and they had the audio recorded.

Amber Ketchum is the daughter of Ash and Misty Ketchum. Even better she was about to go off travelling around Kanto. ALONE. It was more than either could of hoped for.

"Oh wow, do you know what this means Shane?!" The woman clearly more enthusiastic than her male counterpart.

"Yes, no more camping out in these bushes." Some slight disgust apparent in his voice, as he peels a leaf from his black uniform and discards it to the ground.

"No, idiot. It means a promotion for sure! And a phat bonus! Oh, I will look so good in silver." Thea started to slowly twirl on the spot checking herself out, imagining herself donning a cute cropped silver jacket showing off her toned midriff and matching skirt. Piles of money and designer gear gathering in the background of her fantasy.

"How do you figure that exactly?" Shane replied, clear scepticism in his voice.

"Easy. The target is going off on her own. All we have to do is follow her till she's in an isolated area, grab her and bring her in to HQ. The bosses will be so impressed we'll be made A+ agents on the spot."

"We best call this in then." The man went to grab his communication device.

"No." She put her hand over the equipment. Shane looked up at her puzzled. Thea met his stare. "We're not calling this in. They might view it as we've done our jobs, take us off the mission and bring in other agents to swoop in on our hard work and steal our glory."

"Ok ... so what's the play?"

The two started to discuss their plans, a rumble of thunder could be heard in the distance.

After saying their goodbyes Amber and Pichu were making their way down route 11. The small mouse riding atop his trainers' shoulder.

A thought struck her. I have no idea where I am going. I have no one telling me where I have to go, where I have to be, when I have be there. I can go where I want. I can do what I want. I am free.

It was a surreal feeling. Her whole life had previously been mapped out for her and now she was out on her own calling the shots. Ok first judgement call "I know a great spot for finding magnemite, Pichu. Surge showed me a nest, it's a little further up this road, not far, just past Diglett's Cave. Lets go!"

Lying flat down on top of the outcropping of the diglett cave - binoculars to their eyes - the two Rocket Agents were waiting for the approaching teen. Shane adjusted his setting to make the image clearer and the sight made him hitch his breath. He'd seen this girl many, many times over the past few weeks, but she was only ever in baggy cammo gear with pinned up messy hair, yelling out battle commands or mucking out Pokémon. Always sweaty and grubby.

But now it was like he was seeing her for the first time. Tight black daisy duke shorts showing off long lean legs and flattering her pert cute bum. A baseball style T-Shirt clinging to a slim waist and slight but defined developed curves. Boobs were maybe on the small side but definitely a handful and perky. Bright orange hair flowing around her shoulders and natural make-up free features with soft chocolate brown eyes and smooth pale skin.

She was cute!

Shane felt himself blushing, lost in his own world till he felt a sting around the top of his head, he looked to his glaring counterpart a slight growl under his breath.

"Get with it! Did you hear what I said? Come on she's going in this direction," Thea pulled up a map on her election device. "We'll jump her here on the way to the ocean. There's an area of dense forest where the path goes through. It's isolated, with limited visibility. The perfect spot." The blonde confirmed starting to make her way to the intended location.

As Thea started to move away, Shane took one last glance at Amber and then followed his teammate.

Amber and Pichu made their way to the magnemite nest. Encountering a few pidgey's and a rattata along the way, Amber finally spotted her prize. There by a rock, a small magnemite was levitating just above ground level, bobbing around the stone as if playing with the inanimate object.

"Ok Pichu" she whispered, "just like we practiced!"

The two jumped out "Pichu tail whip now!" Pichu swiped under the little flying magnet pokémon with his tail intending to disarm it a little, instead the magnemite flopped straight to the ground and didn't move. Was that really all it took? Oh well ... Amber slightly perplexed by its strong reaction to the attack, still wasted no time.

"Pokéball go!" She threw the ball straight at the pokémon, a red light pulling it into the device. It wobbled no more than two times and click.

"No … way … … We caught a Magemite! We caught a Magnemite! We caught our first Pokémon! Ahhh I can't wait to show Dad!" The girl was thrilled jumping up and down, singing the words and hugging the pokéball to her cheek. Pichu tilted his head to side.

"Wow Pichu that tail of yours must have some whack to it, you were great" she said beaming down at her still confused Pokémon. Not the type to dwell, Pichu soon picked up on his trainer's vibe and joined in on the celebrating "Pi Pichu!"

"Alright! Let's go on, the Silence Bridge is just past that forest area up ahead" The happy teenager started in the direction, oblivious to the impending danger, where two individuals lay in wait.

"Right here she comes, you know what to do right?" Thea whispered.

"Yes, and you've only had to tell me 100 times" Shane snapped back in a hushed tone.

"Well then no excuse for fucking this up then!"

"Oh, because it's always me? Never you? Remember the time at Mount Moon?"

"Shut up and keep your mind on the mission!"

Amber stopped in her tracks, a pensive look on her face. The two hidden Rocket members held their breath. Why has she stopped? Did she hear us? Has she seen us? Does she suspect the trap?

"Magemite come out." A red light appeared and formed into the pokémon. "Mag ne mite."

"Hey Magnemite, I'm sorry if we hurt you, Pichu's tail attack must have been stronger than I thought. Are you feeling ok?"

"Mag"

Amber looked it over. No obvious signs of injury, it looked fine. "Ok great, you want to travel with us a little bit?"

"Mag"

Two breaths nearby were let out simultaneously. Ok almost time to attack.

The trio carried on walking towards the unknown danger. The duo bending their knees slightly in anticipation. Amber and her Pokémon had reached the middle of the small forest path, and out the bushes leapt …

A wild Raticate!

"A Raticate! Ok Magnemite this is your chance."

The Raticate used sand attack disturbing the field of vision.

"uggh I can't see anything… Magnemite use sonic boom!" As the trainer and her pichu shielded their eyes from the offending sandstorm, the little magnet pokémon shivered in fright, emitting a small weak wobbly little wave from its body.

Oh, this opportunity was too perfect. The Rocket duo leapt out at their intended victim, coincidentally the same time the wild Raticate decided to leap up and use a strong tackle attack on the floating magnemite. Both of the offending parties collided into each other, the impact sending the Rocket agents flying back into the dense forest area and the raticate a hard fall to the ground.

The sand subsided and Amber opened her eyes again revealing a knocked out raticate.

"Oh Arceus! Magnemite! You're amazing! You knocked out an evolved Pokémon with just one attack! Wow two amazingly strong Pokémon from the get-go, I'm so lucky!" Amber gushed. Or maybe I really am just that good trainer a little ego creeped in to the rookies head.

"Mag...ne...mite?" the little Pokémon was at a loss over what had just happened.

"Up ahead, I can see the sea! I know how we can get some great training in on the way to Lavender Town."

The travelling three carried along the path, totally unaware just how close they had been to danger. The two Team Rocket members lay just meters away still too dazed and winded to move. "Ugggghhhhhhhhhhhhh"

Amber, Pichu and Magnemite came out the forest and gazed upon the ocean. Ah the sight never failed to take her breath away. The sun was high in the sky and reflecting off the water like a second sky. A shoaling of magikarp jumping out of the water.

Beautiful.

Along the boardwalk hoards of fishermen sat, waiting for their lines to tug. She made her way to waters edge removed her backpack and sat down in the sun, her Pokémon followed.

Ah I don't have a fishing rod Amber thought sadly. It was a hobby her Mother had taught her. Usually she found it boring and a waste of time, but sitting down here and seeing all the other trainers out there fishing, made her want to join them. It also could bring up some great pokémon to battle.

"It's such a beautiful day for it too, type of day the Pokémon will be biting for sure." Amber mused out loud. She took in more of their surroundings, just out of the way of their intended route stood a lone house.

Over a short period of people watching, she observed a few trainers go in and out. Hmm wonder what the deal is with that place? "Hey guys have a little rest in your pokéballs" she recalled the two into their balls, readjusted her backpack on and made her way towards the small building.

Amber made her way inside, it was a nice inviting little house with antique furniture and lots of fishing gear. "Have you brought me a magikarp to view?" Amber turned to face the owner of the voice, it was an elderly gentleman with kind eyes.

"Uh no, sorry I don't have one. Oh wait! Is that why the trainers come in here? To show off the magikarp they've caught?"

"That's correct Miss."

"Oh cool ... but ummm why?"

"Haha they may not be everyone's cup of tea, but magikarp are my favourite pokémon, I just love how everyone writes them off as a useless pokémon that can't do anything but splash around, but if you raise them right they grow to be one of the most powerful pokémon you can get. Yep love me a good underdog story and my dream is to see the world biggest Magikarp. I give a small token of my gratitude to anyone who brings in a decent size to show me, but sure enough no one so far has beaten this monster. Not even close"

The man points to a grainy old photograph of himself in his younger days with another trainer, a girl who looked oddly familiar with long brown hair sporting a white felt hat, both smiling with pride holding a gigantic magikarp.

"10kg that baby weighed, caught along these banks she was, by Kanto Champion, Leaf. But I've seen bigger out there yes sir. Back in my youngers days I was out there on Silence Bridge fishing alone, minding my own business, when suddenly out jumped the biggest magikarp I will ever see! Twice the size of this here one Leaf caught I reckon." The man held out his arms and hands out at a distance apart to help visualise the size of the pokémon. "Sadly my rod just wasn't powerful enough, the line snapped and Pokémon got away."

Leaf! Everyone in Kanto had heard of Leaf, she was crowned Pokémon League Champion of this region a few years before her father, but then she just sort of vanished from the scene and wasn't heard from again. Rumour has it she had stepped down from competing and had dedicated her life to finding and catching the worlds most powerful Pokémon. Juicer gossip, it was also said she'd had a bit of a fling with Gary Oak, but it was never confirmed.

"Here I keep pictures of all the ones over 8kg." He pointed Amber to the wall of fame and straight away she saw it. Sure enough there amongst all the pictures was her mother in her younger days. Side pigtail, beaming smile holding a decent sized magikarp with the fisherman.

"Hey that's my mom!" Amber pointed. The old man squinted at the picture and then back at the girl, and repeated the process.

"Oh! So your the youngest Ketchum kid? Yeah I see the resemblance, like your old man." Amber deadpanned. The man carried on "My my, we see your Father, Mother and Brother blasted all over the news and the internet. They really are everywhere, like the royal family of Kanto. Not so much of you though. We were all wondering if you actually existed." with that the man laughed.

Amber couldn't help but pout, the old man didn't notice.

"So now you know, I'm sure a trainer of your calibre will be having a go at making my dream come true."

"Well I would sir, but I don't have any fishing gear on me."

"No fishing gear?! My what would your Mother think? Here take this" He handed over a rod and a special lure. "This isn't just any rod it's a super rod, nothing but the best to catch the best Pokémon. Can't have history repeating itself."

"Ah wow cool! Thank you sir! I'll do my best and bring you that Magikarp."

"I'm sure, you have fishing in your blood my girl. I sense it."

Optimistic, the girl made her way out with her new fishing gear. However one problem became apparent very quickly, the banks were filled with fishermen and trainers trying their luck to catch the biggest magikarp.

There overfishing and scaring off the pokémon she thought sadly. Making her way down the path trying to find the perfect spot was becoming a task in itself. After a time of trying different locations the girl slumped down in the middle of the path.

Fed up she released her Pokémon for a bit of support.

"Oh guys this is pointless. There's no room to fish." She sat on the floor, chin resting on her hand. Pichu climbed on to her shoulder and patted her head. Magnemite floated around her. Floating? That's it!

Attaching the rod to a very confused Magnemite she commanded her Pokémon "Magnemite float over across the sea."

The pokémon did as it was commanded and sailed over the fisherman's heads.

"Ok Magnemite a little further out … … more … ok, bit farther out ... yeah that looks good. Ok stop there. Now drop the line down." The Pokémon nudged it's body and the lure plopped into the water.

"Now Magnemite use Sonic Boom! Bring the Pokémon to the surface!"

"Mag ne miteee" the Pokémon let out it's small attack causing ripples in the water.

"Good idea Magnemite, no need to use too much power! Again Magnemite, keep going, just like that!"

The Pokémon let out wave after wave. Water pokémon, mainly magikarp started to appear at the top gasping for air. After many many failed attempts at looking for a magikarp that looked a little beefier, it happened! An absolute mammoth came up! Oh yes! This is it! "Magnemite Thunder Shock!" The magikarp used a splash attack, Magnemite froze and the attack sent the magnet pokémon and it's fishing rod, flying back towards it's trainer on the shore.

Amber ran through the fishermen and trainers who had gathered at the sight, gasping in awe at the size of the fish pokémon.

She leaped into the air, catching her pokémon and the rod and landing into the water with a big splash. Coming upto the surface, Magnemite in her arms, she coughed and spluttered, then turned her attention to Magnemite.

"Oh no, Magnemite are you ok?" She looked at her dazed Pokémon.

"PI PI PICHUUUUU! PI PI CHUUUUU" Amber heard the sound of her pokémon on land, crying out, so she looked up and saw the giant magikarp hurtling towards them. Oh no! Automatically she closed her eyes and turned her face waiting for the impact.

Unknown to Amber, under the water also making a speedy headway towards her happened to be two inconspicuous divers, donning all black scuba gear with a big red R on the chest. It was Thea and Shane back for round two, they had been circling the waters waiting to make their move.

*** flashback ***

"Easy! We've seen which lure the old man gave her, all we do is wait for it to plop in the water, tug on it, she'll think she's got a bite and then we pull really hard, pulling her into the water and in the confusion, we tase her with these and swim away!" Thea handed a Rocket designed hand-sized taser-like weapon to her a partner as they donned their scuba gear and slid into the water unseen.

"This is the dumbest idea I've ever heard." Shane retorted treading water.

"No! Your Magikarp Submarine idea gets that award! Now shut up and follow my lead. It's going to work! She's sat just over there I'm sure she'll cast a line soon" Thea dived under the waves.

*** end flash back ***

As if she was actually in the water! Even better! Devices in hand ready to zap Amber into a temporary paralysis or maybe unconscious with the help of the water boost, the Rocket agents reached the girl and lifted their armed arms up to strike but just as luck would have it.

"Magikarpppppppppppppppppp!" Encased in flashes of yellow, the giant fish got fried! With it's last frantic flailing it smacked the two team rocket agents hard and sent them hurtling across the sea, skimming like stones and out of slight.

Huh? Amber opened her eyes and blinked a couple of times. "What … what happened?!" She looked across the water to see the feinted fried giant magikarp bobbing on top of the water.

"Magnemite! You did it!" She exclaimed and hugged her Pokémon close. "Ok let's catch it! Pokéball go!" The Magikarp was sucked into the ball and clicked. No wobble as the ball floated on the waves.

"Mag...ne...mite?" The little Pokémon just looked up as its trainer utterly confused.

"Pichuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!" Pichu relived was jumping up and down on the bank, Trainers and fishermen gathered behind him cheering.

Walking past the applauding trainers, Amber made her way to the house, a pokéball containing her prize in the palm of her hand. She made her way inside the small house and was greeted by the old fisherman.

"So you've caught a magikarp for me to see? Ok lets get it weighed."

Amber nodded and released the monster fish. The fisher man was at a loss for words. "Why this magikarp it's … it's nearly 2meters long! I can't ... I can't believe it, it's my dream." The man had tears of happiness in his eyes. "18kg! It's a monster! Wow what a great Pokémon for you."

Amber shook her head "No." Amber placed the ball into the old fisherman hand. "This was your dream, you can keep it. I know you'll do right by Magikarp and raise it well. Oh and here is your rod back too."

"No, no you keep the rod, you've earned it and my gift to you here please take these." He handed over some nestballs and a small compact disc with the number "18" written on it. It was the TM for Raindance.

"Thank you sir, but it really was all down to Magnemite here. It's actually the one who fished it out the water."

"Is that so, well then it's only proper..."

So gaining a fishing rod and a new handy move, Amber waved the elderly fisherman goodbye. Sun setting behind her as she made her way north towards Lavender Town, leaving behind a legend and photograph of an aging fisherman, a giant magikarp and teeny tiny floating magnemite holding a fishing rod.