SZ: Yo. Don't have time for idle chitchat, so disclaimer, then story! GT?
GT: No disclaimer! *drops the curtain*
Entry 010: Kajun Faycott once more. While we were still trying to find our way to Vermillion City, having spent ten days so far on the road since Ashton caught Bulbasaur, we stumbled upon an abandoned Charmander who had spent the last three weeks just staying on a lone rock. We managed to feed it something and built it a shelter for the incoming storm…and once we got to the Pokemon Center...we found Charmander's original Trainer Damien, who purposely left it there on that rock because, and I more or less quote, 'Was so weak, it couldn't beat the weakest opponents'. ...I wonder if, if I was asked, the others would let me performed SCIENCE on him...ahem!
Anyways...Brock and Tsubaki confronted him about this, and before anything else could be said, Nurse Joy ended it with a whistle...good timing too. I swear Brock looked like he was about to unleash Onix on Damien...speaking of whom, we learned from Nurse Joy that he and his gang have a rather nasty reputation, even going as far as taking other people's Pokemon as prizes in ante battles. Before anything else could be said, the baby monitor Brock had set up went off, letting us hear Spearow attacking Charmander. Ashton and Pikachu...went off almost immediately due to memories of their first day as Trainer and Starter. Makoto and Brock were quick in following as we assisted Nurse Joy in preparing for Charmander's arrival. Good thing too.
By the time Ashton, Makoto, and Brock returned with Charmander...he looked even worse than before due to the Spearow attack, his tail flame barely the size of a quarter. Nurse Joy and her Chansey were quick into getting Charmander into the ER. We waited long into the night, waiting on the results to see if Charmander was going to be okay. After waiting for another hour or so, we finally got confirmation from Nurse Joy that Charmander was going to be okay….the same could not be said for Ashton though since he seemingly caught a cold from the rain since he ran out without grabbing a raincoat.
He woke up feeling better a day later to learn that Charmander had left to go back to his rock to wait for Damien. ...A cruel 'trainer' Damien may be, but Charmander is indeed a loyal Pokemon. Luckily as we were leaving, I devised a play to catch Damien in the act with a recorder pen I bought from the gift shop in Misty's gym...Of course while we were waiting on Cherry-who Makoto sent out after I explained said plan to look for Damien along with Ash's Pidgeotto and Butterfree and Brock's Zubat-to return, Yuki ended up discovering a pitfall trap that was set up by Team Rocket. ...I am no longer surprised by this. Since we noticed the pitfall trap and attempted to go around, Team Rocket went with a plan B, IE using a rocket launcher that fired rubber balloons that caught both Pikachu and Berry and began to run off. Unfortunately for them, Makoto was in hot pursuit and showed her Beastkin strength to them. ...I know that it was wrong, but I was smiling the entire time I heard them scream for their lives.
They soon came upon Charmander's rock and James managed to catch Makoto in one of the rubber balloons as well. They attempted to get away once more, but Charmander stopped them with a powerful Flamethrower, which ended up free Makoto, Pikachu, and Berry, the latter two using Thunderbolt to send Team Rocket flying. As we were thanking Charmander for saving the three, Damien showed up to attempt to 'fulfil his promise.' Of course, during his gloating, he ended up confessing that he did abandon Charmander for being weak...with Charmander there to hear it all. Damien even had the gall to 'trade' Charmander for all of our Pokemon...honestly.
He soon regretted his 'offer' when he realized that we had two Gym Leaders with us...and their Starters let out for intimidation. Before Misty could have Starmie use Psychic, Charmander stopped them and walked over to Damien...before using Inferno-though in some regions, it's been referred to as 'Purgatory'-on him. And to add to Damien's pain, Officer Jenny had just arrived on the scene, thanks to me calling her beforehand during our stay at the Pokemon Center. After I presented the evidence to her, Damien attempted to get away...only to be attacked by a Growlithe and Arcanine Officer Jenny had on her. After his arrest, Charmander joined us as one of Ash's Pokemon. I do hope that things are easier for us on our way to Vermillion.
"WOAH!"
….Of course. I could be wrong…
"Okay, I think we can all agree that Onix is not allowed to practice Rock Throw nor Rock Tomb near rivers. Correct?" Kajun noted as she finished drying her hair with a towel.
"Iwar…" Onix hung his head in slight shame.
"Sandshrew sand," Terra patted Onix's side in reassurance.
"I'm just surprised Terra didn't freak out," Mai noted, seeing Terra dripping from one of the large splashes, "Guess AJ's Sandslash really inspired him to get stronger."
"Cheer up, Onix. I'm sure we can try other Moves," Brock assured.
"Ark…" Onix nodded.
"Okay, now that we have that settled…" Ash grinned before he and Noel went back to a pair of rods with lures in the water.
"And you two are fishing why?" Makoto asked as Berry, Pikachu, and Cherry were playing Tag using Quick Attack and Agility.
"I'm hoping to catch a Water Type," Ash replied as he held up his Net Ball.
"S-Same here," Noel nodded, fingering her own while Yuki was curled up on her lap.
"Oh?"
"Yeah."
"...Hey let me join," Misty spoke as she put her bag down and reached into it.
"Guess fishing is on toda….um….what is that?" Makoto asked, seeing Misty pulling out a fishing lure that looked like a chibi version of her.
"My special Misty Lure," Misty replied with a grin.
"..." Makoto just blinked a few times, '...Why?'
"Watch closely Ash. You're about to watch a real fishing expert at action," Misty grinned as she sat next to him, "If I'm lucky, I might even catch a Dratini."
"What's a Dratini?" Mai whispered to Kajun.
"A very rare Pokemon," Kajun whispered back, "They evolve into a Pokemon known as a Dragonite, which is known as a Pseudo-Legendary Pokemon due to the sheer power within it."
"...What type?"
"Dragon Type...come to think of it. Most of the Pseudo-Legends are Dragon Types," Kajun recalled, "In fact...some of the strongest Legendary Pokemon are Dragon Types as well…"
"Kajun, think about it later," Mai deadpanned, "We still need you in the here and now."
"Ahem. R-right," Kajun nodded, "Sorry about that."
"Kya!" everyone heard a yelp from Tsubaki, making them look to see the crimson-red head nowhere in site.
"Tsubaki? Tsubaki wh-" Mai began before she fell into something, "Ahh!"
"Mai, what happ-gah!" Makoto yelped.
"What the heck's going o-woah!" Brock yelped.
"...Oh dear," Kajun whispered, seeing holes where her friends were standing that, "Don't tell me we're on top of a Diglett tunnel...are we?"
"I'm not sure," Misty replied.
"Well can someone help us out of these things?! I...I'm itchy. Why am I so itchy?!" Makoto shouted from her hole, "...there's Poison Ivy in these holes."
"Speak for yourself! I'm covered in honey and feathers!" Brock argued.
"There's-Achoo!-Sneezing powder-Achoo!-in here!" Mai sneezed.
"...There's fur in mine. Why is there...this is p….panda fur…." Tsubaki whispered.
"I think you mean Pancham or Pangoro f-" Kajun began.
"KYA!" Tsubaki freaked as she quickly climbed out, a terrified look on her face.
"What the heck?" Ash blinked twice.
"Keep those horrid things away from me!" Tsubaki shouted as she hugged herself.
"...Oh dear...don't tell me…" Noel began.
"Squirtle."
"Hmm?" Noel blinked as she turned...only to come face to face with a small green Spider-like Pokemon, "..."
"...Spinarak?"
"KYAAAAAAAA!" Noel screamed as she ran away...only to end up falling in the hole Tsubaki had been in, pulling Tsubaki down with her.
"GET ME OUT OF HERE!" Tsubaki screamed.
"Something's up here…" Kajun whispered as she pulled out her Premiere Ball, "Hikari, use Confusion on anything that looks out of place."
"Ralts…" Hikari nodded as she came out. She began to scan the area for anything suspicious before she spotted something in the river...something turtle shell shaped, "...Ralts."
"There."
"Ralts…" Hikari whispered as she used Confusion.
"?!" the object in the water tensed as it was suddenly dragged out into the open, "Squirtle?!"
"Oh!" Ash gasped as he looked at the orange/yellow-shelled, light-blue skinned turtle with a tail, "It's a Squirtle!" he quickly pulled out Dexter.
=Squirtle, the Tiny Turtle Pokemon. Squirtle's shell is a useful tool. It can withdraw into the shell for protection or for sleeping, and its grooved, rounded shape helps to reduce water resistance when this Pokémon swims. Squirtle can spray foamy water from its mouth with great accuracy= Dexter explained.
"Seems it likes to wear sunglasses," Misty noted, seeing a pair of round sunglasses on the Pokemon's face.
"Squirt…" the Squirtle said before spitting water at Hikari, causing her to lose her concentration as she dropped the Tiny Turtle Pokemon on the ground.
"...I get it now," Kajun realized as she helped Hikari up, "Theses holes are part of a prank this Squirtle set up."
"That is one resourceful turtle," Makoto noted as Brock managed to get out of his hole.
"Indeed...or rather...it had help," Kajun stated.
"Help? Wait..you mean…" Misty began before four blurs bursted out of the water and landed next to Squirtle, revealing four more, "There's more of them."
"Must be a gang," Mai guessed before spotting the one wearing the pointed sunglasses, "And I think that one there's the leader."
"A gang of turtles...Hey!" Makoto called, earning their attention, "Any of you named Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, or Michelangelo?"
"Squi…" one began before another elbowed them, making them shaking their head quickly in denial.
'Darn, so close,' Makoto thought.
"...I gotta catch one," Ash quickly spoke up, "With my very own Squirtle, Gary won't defeat me! Go, Pikachu!"
"Pi…" Pikachu began before something blurred past him, "Pika?"
"Squirt?!" one of the Squirtles freaked before the blur slammed into him, sending him crashing into the water.
"Heh...Bui bui…"
"...Squirtle…" the lead Squirtle frowned as he glared at the Pokemon that stood before them.
"Huh?" Mai blinked twice, staring at the orange weasel/sea otter Pokemon with blue fins on its arms, a split tail, and a single cream spot with a bit of head fur over the left eye.
=Buizel, the Sea Weasel Pokemon. It inflates its flotation sac, keeping its face above water in order to watch for prey movement. It swims by rotating its two tails like a screw. When it dives, its flotation sac collapses= Dexter analyzed.
"Squirtle squirt!" the lead Squirtle shouted at the Buizel.
"Hmph. Buizel bui," the Buizel scoffed a bit as she turned her head away, crossing her arms over her chest, "Bui bui...zel."
"Squirt?!"
"Bui."
"Squirt…!" the lead Squirtle growled before firing a spray of bubbles at the Buizel.
"...Buizel bui," Buizel deadpanned before she shot out, water completely enveloping her.
"That's Aqua Jet. It's like…" Kajun began before she noticed the Buizel's fist glowing an ice blue, "Oh?"
"Squirt?!" the other Squirtle freaked as the water around Buiel froze over, shooting right towards them as they barely jumped out of the way.
"...A combination of Aqua Jet and Ice Punch?" Kajun noted, instantly pulling out her notebook and began writing down in it, "Interesting."
"Squirtle, squirt!" boss Squirtle called before the other four blasted a stream of water at Buizel.
"Buizel…" Buizel deadpanned, about to attack before four other streams of water blocked the ones the four Squirtle shot, "Bui?"
"Buizel Bui!" a voice shouted before four more female Buizel jumped into the area, landing beside the first one as they glared at the Squirtles.
"...ooh. I think I see what's going on here…" Makoto spoke, "It's a gangwar."
"That's fine and all, Makoto, BUT GET US OUT OF THIS EVIL HOLE NOW!" Tsubaki shouted from the hole with the fur.
"Oh right! Sorry!" Makoto yelped as she ran over, hopped in, and jumped out with Tsubaki and Noel over her shoulders.
"Thanks," Noel sighed in relief before seeing the two types of Pokemon going at one another in a series of attacks, "Um...Wh-What's going on?"
"Apparently, a gang war between two kinds of Pokemon," Makoto replied as Yuki scurried over to Noel and was quickly scooped up by her.
"Oh...I-I see," Noel noted.
"Squirt/Bui…." the boss Squirtle and Buizel growled as they glared at each other...that is until they both heard a siren; they turned to their fellow Pokemon, "Bui/Squir!"
The eight freaked and quickly jumped into the river and shot off in opposite directions. The two leaders glared at one another before jumping into the river and shooting after their members.
"...Well...that was something…" Makoto noted just as the siren got louder.
"What's making that sound?" Misty pondered.
"My guess?" Kajun questioned, her eye twitching, "One of the impossible women." a blur shot by and skidded to a halt, revealing it to be a motorcycle with Officer Jenny on it, "Officer Jenny."
"Is everyone alright? Has any...wait," Jenny blinked, "Have we met before? I don't recall giving you my name."
"We met one of your family members a day or so ago."
"...Oh! You must mean my cousin that arrested that Damien kid I've heard about, "Jenny realized as she got off the motorcycle before seeing Brock's state and Makoto scratching herself, "Oh don't tell me…"
"Yup. Pranked us...pretty badly too…" Makoto replied, scratching herself like crazy.
"What was with those Buizel and Squirtle, Officer?" Misty asked.
"...Come with me to the station. I'll explain there," Jenny replied.
"...Okay."
"Any sign of da twoips?" Meowth asked.
"No, not yet," Jessie replied, looking through a pair of binoculars as the trio hid within a bush.
"...Well do ya see any resteraunts? I'm really starvin' here."
"Same here," James nodded, "It's been almost twenty-three days now since we were last in a city or town. I really miss the good take out places."
"Well what about all that pizza we've been eating?" Jessie asked.
"I'm getting sick and tired of pizza. And Meowth keeps ordering the ones with anchovies!"
"Not my fault dat dey're so salty and yummy!"
"...Well here's my response," Jessie said before whacking both Meowth and James with a large paper fan, "There. Now stop complaining and focus."
"...Can we at least order some take out?"
"Or maybe some tacos?"
"...Grr," Jessie growled.
*THWACK! THWACK!*
"Am I the only member of this team who thinks world domination is more important than what's for lunch?!" Jessie snapped as James and Meowth had a pair of bright red marks on their faces, "Now let's focus on what really matters and that's how we're going to capture the twerps' Pokemon!"
*Gurgle…*
"...After we find a place to get some food," Jessie frowned as she looked through her binoculars, "...Oh shh! I see the twerps now!"
"Uh, Jessie?"
"I know, I know. They're with an Officer Jenny," Jessie grumbled.
"And we forgot ta bring da dog whistle," Meowth added.
"...New plan. We wait for the twerps to finish things up, and once they're far away from Officer Jenny, we jump them and steal their Pokemon," Jessie stated before her stomach grumbled once more, "...But first, we find something to eat."
"And no anchovies!" James and Jessie snapped at Meowth as he opened his mouth.
"The Squirtle Squad and Buizel Band?"
"That's right. It's what both of them are known as," Jenny replied.
"I know that some Pokemon tend to gather together in large groups, but becoming gangs?" Tsubaki pondered.
"They were were all abandoned by their Trainers," Jenny explained.
"Deserted?" Ash started frowning.
"While the Squirtle Squad just likes playing pranks and pulling tricks on the whole town, the Buizel Band tend to perform sudden assaults on different places, more often than not ones where a lot of humans are around," Jenny replied, "...It's kinda sad honestly. If they had someone to care about them, they wouldn't have turned out to be as bad as they are. It's a real shame..."
"Any new developments?" Jessie asked as she approached James and Meowth, the two watching the police station.
"Well, it seems that Officer Jenny is showing them some photos. Can't really make them out fully, but I think it involves graffiti being done by a Pokemon," James replied, "Maybe a Smeargle?"
"Maybe. They are kinda rare," Meowth added, "...But enough of dat. Did ya get the food?"
"I did," Jessie nodded as she held up a picnic basket, "I got quite a few pastries and sandwiches, along with a few drinks."
"Yay! We're gonna have a picnic~ a picnic~!" Meowth cheered.
*BZZZRT*
The trio turned to see the Squirtle Squad, twitching and smoking under a sparking web. Ariados climbed down the tree he had been in.
"Dat's a lotta Squirtles," Meowth noted.
"Indeed...which should be good to give to th-" James began.
"Bui bui."
"Huh?" the trio blinked as they turned to see the Buizel Band standing there, the lead one having her arms crossed.
"Bui buizel. Bui bui bui...bui zel."
"Meowth, what did that one say?"
"She said 'Ya better 1: give us da food or else, and 2; prepare for da buttwhoopin' you'll be getting for using a dirty tactic like dat."
"You're threatening us?" Jessie questioned as Ariados growled, "We're Team Rocket. We do the threatening here."
"...Buizel Bui?" The lead Buizel asked as the other four stepped up.
"Oh? And what will y-" Jessie began before she and the rest of Team Rocket were hit by a beam of ice-blue light, leaving all but the picnic basket frozen, "..."
"Buizel zel.." the lead Buizel nodded before using Swift on the web to free the Squirtle Squad.
"Ugh...Squir?"
"(Oi, idiot,)" the lead Buizel spoke up as one of the Buizel's in her group grabbed the basket, "(Care for a small truce for a quick bite to eat?)"
"(A truce? With…)" one of the round glasses-wearing Squirtles began before the pointed sunglasses wearing one covered his mouth.
"(Considering the electric fences those humans set up for their food-housing places recently, a truce will be fine)," the leader Squirtle replied.
"(Heh...good to know,") the lead Buizel smirked, "(Hope you're pretty hungry. The long haired human stopped by a bakery to get this, so the food inside is nice and fresh.)"
"(You're so cool and generous, big sis!)" the other four Buizel beamed.
"(Boss, do we have to?)" one of the Squirtle whispered.
"(We may be rival gangs, but they not only got us out of that spider's web, but are also agreeing to split the goods)," Boss replied, "(They didn't have to do that, but they are.)"
"(Hey, Boss, I have a permanent marker. Think if anyone here knows Scald, we can get the faces minus the mouth unfrozen to doodle on?)" another asked, reaching into its shell and pulling out a marker.
"(...You got a problem with that?)"
"(Knock yourself out. I know poachers when I see one. In fact…)" Big sis began as she looked at one of the Buizels, "(Think you could use Scald so we could join the fun?)"
"(Got it, big sis!)"
"D'oh...They're eating all the donuts and eclairs…" Jessie whined as Team Rocket watched the two Pokemon gangs eating their food from their frozen prison.
"They're drinking all the lemonade!" James added.
"Dis is cruel and unusual punishment!" Meowth cried before he was sprayed with water, "Gah!"
"(Shut it, big mouth,)" Big Sis ordered before taking a bite out of a rice ball.
"Now they're eating the rice balls and sandwiches…" James was on the verge of tears, "We gotta do something!"
"Hmm...Oh!" Jessie gasped as she got an idea, "Hey Squirtles, Buizels, how'd you like to do a little job for us?"
"?" the two gangs stopped for a moment to look at her.
"Those twerps you pranked earlier? Our boss would be very interested in the Pokemon that they have," Jessie explained, "He could very well make it worth your while if you helped us catch them."
"(...Nope. Don't trust humans, especially thieves,)" Big Sis answered.
"(Forget it. As if we'd help a bunch of losers like you,)" Boss added.
"What did they say?"
"They turned down Jessie's offer with da Buizel saying they don't trust humans, especially thieves," Meowth answered.
"Then make then trust us!" James demanded.
"Dats gonna be tricky," Meowth replied before smirking, "Ya actually got us all wrong. We're not thieves but Pokemon Rescuers. Dos twoips Jessie here mentioned? Dey're some big time crooks usin' innocent looks ta swipe Pokemon from deir homes."
"...Bui?" Big sis raised a suspicious brow at that while Boss looked at Meowth.
"Dat's right. Da Boss we work under sends us on important jobs ta find twoips like dem, get back da Pokemon dey pilfered, and take dem back to deir homes if they want ta," Meowth replied, "I was a rescue, ya know. Really cruel trainer who took me from home and made me learn ta walk and talk like a human ta sell as a sideshow, but da Boss saved me."
"..."
"My point is we're hopin' you could help us free those captured Pokemon from da twoips. What do ya say?"
"...Bui…" Big Sis scoffed as she stood up and began to walk off.
"(Hey! Where are you…)"
"(I don't trust wolves in sheep's clothing…)" Big Sis scoffed, her back turned towards Boss, "(You trust his tall tale there, then you'll be sorry.)"
"Ain't no tall tale!" Meowth argued, "Da guy would do all sorts of cruel punishments on me when I'd mess up somethin' like a word or start walkin' on all fours!" he shivered, "I still have da scars too...I still have da nightmares he'll be showin' up with a Charizard ta burn my front paws…"
"(...then show us.)"
"Eh?"
"(Show us these scars)."
"...Hey, you dere," Meowth looked at one of the Squirtle closest to him, "Can ya come over and unfreeze my left paw here? Ya can freeze me if I try a thing."
"...(Boss)?" the Squirtle looked at Boss.
"(Do it)."
The Squirtle nodded before blasting a stream of sizzling water at Meowth, letting the left paw up the elbow be unfrozen. Boss walked up with Big Sis and the two started to part the fur. Boss cringed, seeing a series of old scars beneath the fur.
'Da one time I'm glad dat happened ta me back in my youth…' Meowth thought.
"(...Guess you were telling the truth…)" Big Sis noted, "(...Fine. We'll help. But…)" she held her paw up as ice formed around it, "(If you so much as backstab me, you'll be frozen faster than a Water Pokemon hit with Freeze Dry. We clear?)"
"Crystal," Meowth replied, "Now can you unfreeze me? Da cold's making my scars ache."
"(...Okay then. Girls, let him out,)" Big Sis ordered.
"(Boys, you do the same,)" Boss added.
"None of you have really fished before?" Misty asked as the group were resting by the riverbank.
"Not really. Rivers and lakes are kinda, well, really rare where we're from," Makoto explained.
"Oh...well I could offer some tips to help you get started," Misty offered as she pulled out her fishing rod, "The key is patience. You have to wait for the exact time to reel in your lure."
"...What if something starts coming up to the surface?" Mai asked.
"Hmm? Mai, what're y-" Kajun began before the group spotted something surfacing before it sprayed them with water, "Gah!"
"Squir-heh-heh-tle…" one of the round glasses Squirtles chuckled as he floated there in the water.
"I'm soaked…" Makoto grumbled, grabbing her tail and shaking it a bit.
"Chipa…" Berry whined, her dress soaked.
"Pika-pika…" Pikachu began before Cherry put a paw on his shoulder, "Pika?"
"Olga," Cherry pointed at the others, soaked.
"Pi…" Pikachu cringed before Cherry whispered in his ear, "Pika!" he nodded before walking over to the water and dipped his tail in.
"Squirt?"
"Pika-pika...PIKACHU!" Pikachu cried out as he used Thundershock, sending the current from his cheeks and down his tail.
"Squirt?!" Squirtle tensed as he tried to swim away from the electric current.
*BZZT!*
...Only to end up failing as he floated there, twitching a bit as sparks came off him.
"Pika!" Pikachu beamed, holding up a 'V for victory' pose with his paw.
"Nice job, Pikachu! Now l-" Ash began before something shot out from the forest on the other side of the river, "?!"
"Buizel!" a female Buizel came roaring it as she headed towards Pikachu, using Aqua Jet.
"Pikachu, watch out!" Ash shouted.
"SHREW!" a spinning yellow ball slammed into the Aqua Jet, knocking the Buizel off course and crash into the water.
"Nice job, Terra!" Mai beamed as Terra spun to a halt by Pikachu, grunting while uncurling himself from ball form.
"Sand!" Terra gave a thumbs up.
"Bui…" the Buizel growled as she glared at the group, mainly at the trainers.
"...Is it just me, or is that Buizel glaring at us like we're the bad guys?" Makoto asked.
"Dat's because you are!"
"...Oh please don't tell me…" Kajun began with a groan before the group was suddenly tied up, "?!"
"Okay. We won't," Makoto deadpanned.
"Pi?!" Pikachu gasped, about to run over and help the group before the Squirtle from before knocked him into the water, "Cha!"
"Pikachu!"
"Qwil…" poking out of the water nearby was a round dark-green and lime-green Pokemon with spikes covering its body, puffy lips, and a flat rounded tail.
"Oh no...it's a Qwilfish!" Misty's eyes widen, "Pikachu, watch out for its poisonous spikes!"
"Poisonous spikes?!" Ash exclaimed.
"PI?!" Pikachu exclaimed before his cheeks sparkes, "Pika…"
"SQUIRT!" the now-recovered Squirtle shouted as it fired a Water Gun at Pikachu, sending it into the air towards the Qwilfish.
"Qwilfish!" Qwilfish shouted as it jumped towards Pikachu, its quills starting to glow with poison.
"Ah! Terra!" Mai called out, pausing in her struggling with the ropes, "Rapid Spin, hurry!"
"Sand!" Terra nodded before a beam of blue energy slammed into him, freezing him solid.
"Terra, no!"
"Qwilfish!" Qwilfish roared as it crashed into Pikachu, causing him to cry out as he crashed back onto dry land, hitting the block of ice that was Terra before falling flat on his face.
"No..Pikachu!" Ash cried out, struggling with the ropes as he tried to free himself as the remaining gang members of the two gangs gathered with the two there.
"Squi squi squi…" one of the Squirtle chuckled...right before one of the Buizels' smacked him upside the head, "Squi!"
"Bui buizel bui!"
"...Squirtle!" the Squirtle freaked, realizing the mistake he made.
"Hey relax…" a voice spoke up as Meowth walked out of the bushes, "Once we get to someplace safe, we can heal it."
"...Of course it would be them…" Kajun noted, annoyance in her tone.
"Cram it, Poke-thief," Meowth ordered.
"Th-thief!?" Kajun exclaimed.
"Well that's the pot calling the ke-" Makoto began before Meowth scratched her, "Gah! Why does he always go for the face?!"
"Because you thieves deserve no less," Meowth replied, "Now let's carry these thieves off!"
"Squi/Bui!"
"Okay, while my partners are gone, I'm in charge here!" Meowth called out as the group was tied to a rock in a small cave, "When they get back, we'll be sure to take all da Pokemon dey stole from deir homes back to where dey belong!"
"So that's it…" Kajun whispered, "Team Rocket convinced them we're thieves and they're rescuers."
"Sneaky…" Makoto frowned.
"...Pikachu's in real bad shape…" Noel whispered, looking at the cages that housed Pikachu, Yuki, Berry, Cherry, and Terra.
"And Terra's not moving at all," Tsubaki adding.
"He's under a rare condition called 'Frozen,'" Brock explained, "When a Pokemon is 'Frozen,' they can't move at all. If it isn't treated in time, the condition could reach his vital organs and cause them to fail."
"...And Pikachu was hit by a Poison Jab from Qwilfish," Kajun whispered, "...We need to get a Full Restore to heal them both before it's too late."
"But...we don't have any," Ash spoke up.
"Then our best bet is one of the shops in a nearby town," Kajun stated.
"In town…" Ash whispered before looking at the Squirtles and Buizels, "Listen, you gotta let us go into town. If we don't get that medicine, Pikachu and Terra might not make it."
"Bui-bui-buizel bui? Buizel-zel," the leader of the Buizels replied.
"Allow me ta translate," Meowth spoke, "Big Sis says 'So ya can go git yer backup and get us all? Not a chance.'"
"Trust us. We're not trying to deceive you," Mai tried to reason, "As soon as we buy the medicine, we'll come back. Promise."
"...Squirtle Squirtle…"
"Boss says promises are cheap coming from thieves," Meowth translated.
"We're not thieves! Team Rocket are thieves!" Makoto argued.
"Stalkers as well, especially since they do so to a boy no older than ten," Kajun added.
"Pot callin' da kettle black," Meowth countered, "Dey even go after baby Pokemon."
"Oh you little…!" Misty growled.
"I'm begging you…" Ash whispered, tears forming in his eyes as he hung his head, "Please trust us…"
"Bui?" Big Sis raised a brow as she walked forward.
"Careful dere, Big Sis. Dat's one o' deir special tactics. Dem tears are Krookodile Tears," Meowth warned.
"They're not fake!" Mai argued, tears also in her eyes, "Pikachu and Terra are dying! If we can't get a Full Restore for them soon…"
Big Sis looked over at the two. She frowned at seeing the small cold patches on Terra's form before slapping the back of one of the Buizels.
"Bui! Bui-bui-zel-ui-el!?"
"Bui! Bui-bui-zel-buizel-zel!"
"BUI?! Buibuizel-zel-zelbui-zel!"
"Bui…" the member slumped in shame.
"Bui Buizel! Bui!" Big Sis ordered.
"...What is she…?" Mai began before she and Ash were untied.
"Bui bui zel zelbui…"
"Big Sis says she'll let you go to get the Full Restore one one condition," Meowth translated, "She goes with you to keep a close eye on ya both."
"Squirtle Squirtle Squi…"
"And Boss says if ya don't come back by noon tomorrow, the red headed tomboy gets her hair died purple, and the cosplayer loses her tail," Meowth added.
"MY TAIL?!" Makoto exclaimed.
"Chipa~!"
"Emol~"
"...Did dey just call yer tail 'deir house'?" Meowth asked.
"They like it in there," Makoto stated, glaring dangerously at Meowth, "And you so much as touch my tail furball, I'll…!"
"Why does she just lose a prop while I get my hair turned into an eggplant?!" Misty demanded.
The Squirtle Squad and Buizel Band shared looks. It seemed to them that the tailed one hadn't said anything about it.
"Bui buizel…" Big Sis ordered as she began to walk out the cave.
"She said 'Come on, you two,'" Meowth translated.
"Bui zel zelbui."
"Oh, and 'You girls keep an eye out on the Meowth,'" Meowth translated further before blinking, "Wait, what?"
"Bui-buizel-zel?" Big Sis raised a brow before snorting, "Buizel."
"No no! No problem at all!" Meowth raised his paws up in defense, 'Shoot...don't tell me she's seeing through da lie.'
"Don't worry...we'll be back," Mai assured the group.
"Squirtle, squirt~" Boss waved as one of them held up a bottle of purple dye and another a pair of scissors to prove they had the materials.
"...We'll be back in a flash!" Ash shouted as he and Mai ran out the cave, Big sis following after them.
'...Even if dey do make it back, we'll be long gone…' Meowth thought.
"Okay! The town should be this way!" Mai spoke as she and Ash ran out onto a dirt road, Big Sis following them.
"Faster! We gotta get there, th-gah!" Ash gasped as he tripped over a rock, sending him crashing into the ground, "Ow…"
"Ash!" Mai gasped as she ran over and helped him up, "Are you alright?"
"I'm...fine," Ash grunted, "But we gotta keep moving. Pikachu and Terra need that Full Restore fast."
"...Bui…" Big Sis whispered as she carefully watched the two.
Ash gulped. Before them was an old, weathered-down bridge, the wooden boards littered with holes. Mai put a hand on his shoulder.
"Just don't look down," Mai advised.
"Bui?"
"If you're asking about if we're really going to cross this bridge, then yes, yes we are," Mai replied, "It's the quickest way to the nearest town."
"...Bui…" Big Sis slowly nodded as they began to carefully make their way across the bridge, making sure not to rock it or anything.
"Just be careful, Ash…" Mai whispered.
"Yeah…" Ash slowly nodded, "Just...don't look down…"
"That's riAIGHT!" Mai yelped as the board she was stepping on broke.
"Huh? M-woah!" Ash yelped as the board he stepped on broke.
Mai grunted as she used the bridge's ropes to pull herself back up before grabbing onto Ash's extended hand from where he was holding onto the rope. She helped pull Ash back onto the bridge. Big Sis decided that getting on the rope was a better idea than on the boards.
"Okay...a bit more careful?" Mai advised.
"Y-Yeah…" Ash agreed before they heard the sound of rope breaking, "That was the ropes, wasn't it?"
"Yep," Mai replied.
"...Buizel," if either know how to speak Pokemon, they'd know Big Sis just uttered a curse before they began to fall down into the river far below them.
Mai managed to grab the two, bringing them close, while her back was facing towards the river below.
"Bui?" Big Sis blinked a bit in surprise at this...before tensing as she saw a few piranha-like Pokemon splashing a bit in the water below, "?!"
"GAH!" Mai and Ash screamed at seeing them.
Ash groaned as he and Mai were using tree branches they found to limp into the town. Big Sis grumbled as she followed them with her own walking stick, the trio sporting bite marks all over their bodies.
"'Found only in saltwater' my left foot…" Mai grumbled as Ash put Dexter away.
"At least there weren't any Sharpedo…" Ash groaned before spotting a store up ahead, "That's it! That's the place!" He quickly ran over to the front door, reaching for the handle before it...oof. Slammed right into his face, "Gah!"
"Ah! Ash!" Mai gasped as the one who opened the door walked out of the shop.
The figure was a boy around the same age as Ash, wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt with dark-orange trimming on the ends of the sleeves and bottom of the shirt. He wore blue pants with brown sneakers on his feet and a green and yellow necklace. His red hair was spiky while he sported an annoyed look. Ash groaned as he fell over, swirls replacing his eyes.
"Stupid place...Didn't even sell any special Pokeballs…even had the nerve to pull guns on me. Paranoid much?" the youth muttered before he noticed Mai staring at him, "...What?"
"You just opened the door on my friend's face," Mai frowned as Big Sis used her stick to poke at Ash's unconscious form.
"Friend?" the youth raised a brow before he looked down, "...Oh hey. If it ain't Ashy-boy. Heh. Should've figured he'd be face down in the dirt."
"...Ashy-boy?" Mai repeated as Big Sis fired a Water Gun in Ash's face.
"Gah! I'm up! I-" Ash began as he shot up, looking around frantically before he spotted the red haired youth, "...Gary."
"Ash," the youth smirked.
"Gary?" Mai repeated, "...Wait a second...You're the one who wrote that Ash stinks on that sign to Cerulean City!"
"Oh?" Gary raised a brow at that as he looked at Ash, "You were at Cerulean?"
"That's right! I got two Badges and five Pokemon to prove it too!"
"Heh...I got six badges and caught forty Pokemon," Gary countered.
"What?!" Ash gawked.
"Forty?" Mai repeated.
"That's right. Quick Balls and Timer Balls really come in handy ya know," Gary nodded before looking over at Mai, "So, who're you supposed to be?"
"His friend."
"Oh...well why not ditch him and come with me?" Gary offered, "You'd be great as one of my personal cheerleaders."
"Che…?!" Mai gawked before scowling, "No way! No how!" she helped Ash up, "I prefer to fight then cheer someone else on."
"Oh...eh. Whatever," Gary waved her off as he began to walk away, "Smell ya later, Ashy-boy!"
"...Now I'm starting to see why Samurai didn't pull out Golisopod on the brat," Mai muttered.
"Bui…" Big Sis couldn't help but agree with her as she glared at Gary.
"Grr…" Ash growled a bit.
"...Let's forget about Gary for now...We need to get that Full Restore," Mai advised.
"...You're right. Pikachu and Terra are counting on us," Ash nodded before the two ran in.
"We need Full Restore! Please!" Mai called before tensing as everyone in the store aimed guns at them, "?!"
"You're not with those thieves that robbed us earlier, are you?!" the store owner demanded.
"N-no! We're not thieves!" Ash yelped.
"...How do we know you're not rude like that one boy who passed by here a few minutes ago?"
"I wanted to sock him the face because he wanted me to be one of his cheerleaders," Mai deadpanned.
"...So you're really not with him, or this Team Rocket group that robbed us?"
"No we-wait, what?"
"They came here earlier demanding some bombs and floss," the store owner explained, "Said they were gonna use the bombs to chase the Squirtle Squad and Buizel Band out of town for good."
"?!" Big Sis's eyes widened from where she was peeking into the store from.
"Wait! Stop!" a voice called before Officer Jenny ran in, moving between the two and the guns, "Drop those right now! Neither of them are with Team Rocket!"
"...Okay then...Sorry about that," the store owner said as everyone in the store lowered their guns.
"Good. Now..." Jenny began as she looked at Ash and Mai, "What're you two doing here?"
"We need a Full Restore to heal our Pokemon," Mai explained, "They're in critical condition right now, and we need to hurry."
"How many are hurt?" Jenny asked.
"My Sandshrew is Frozen thanks to an Ice Beam and Ash's Pikachu is Poisoned by a Qwilfish," Mai replied, earning a cringe from Jenny.
"You're going to need one for both," Jenny noted, "We'll get them and I'll take you to where you need to go on my bike."
"Thanks, Officer Jenny," Ash nodded.
"Bui…" Big Sis growled as she sat against the wall outside, clenching her paws as her eyes narrowed. She knew those people weren't to be trusted, especially that Meowth. Her eyes then widened a bit, recalling what those two had in mind, "?!"
"Good. The bombs are set," James smirked as he and Jessie finished preparing a whole box worth of bombs, "These should be enough to scare both the Squirtle Squad and Buizel Band."
"And during the confusion, we'll snatch every single one of the twerps' Pokemon," Jessie added before looking over the basket of their Meowth balloon, "Heh. I'm glad we don't need a bridge."
"True. That bridge on our way to town looked like it was going to break down," James nodded.
"...A dead end…" Jenny frowned, looking at the broken bridge as Ash, Mai, and Big Sis sat in the sidecar.
"We don't need to climb down, do we?" Ash asked as Big Sis began to pet her tail, having previously been in one of those Pokemon's mouths.
"No...I know a shortcut. Hold on," Jenny advised before she revved up her bike, turning and driving off at high speed, "...So...Why do I have the leader of the Buizel Band in my bike?" the three looked at her, "With how many complaints I've gotten, I can recognize any member of either gang."
"It was to keep a close eye on us," Mai answered, "Team Rocket tricked her gang, along with the Squirtle Squad, convincing them we were thieves."
"I see…" Jenny noted before stopping before a large rock wall, "There's a shortcut right here, but I can't really fit in it."
"With how small it is, Ash and Buizel are probably the only ones that can go through," Mai noted, looking down at her chest with a frown, 'One of the times I wish I was still a boy...'
Big Sis sniffed in the entrance before nodding and going into it, poking out to motion for Ash to follow, "Buizel-bui."
"...You hurry and go in, Ash. I'll try and find another way around," Mai stated before looking at Jenny, "There is one...right?"
"There is another shortcut, but...well…"
"...Well, what?"
"It's through an Ursaring nest."
"...Ash, Dexter please?"
"Huh? Oh, sure," Ash replied, pulling Dexter out and looking up the name.
=Ursaring, the Hibernator Pokemon and the evolved form of Teddiursa. Ursaring lives in mountainous forests, sleeping in treetops and gathering food throughout the day. While it is skilled at climbing trees, it gathers food by snapping them and collecting whatever berries or fruits fall down. It will mark trees bearing delicious fruit in its territory with its claws. Ursaring's sense of smell can distinguish any aroma, and as such it can find food buried deep underground or in streams. Ursaring is highly protective of its young, and has been shown to become more aggressive during mating season= Dexter explained.
"...Please tell me it's not the latter," Mai asked Jenny with a slight gulp.
"No, no, no. Mating Season's not for another week," Jenny assured.
"Buizel!" Big Sis growled in annoyance, pointing at the tunnel and Ash while stomping a foot in impatience.
"S...sorry," Ash gulped as he began to climb inside the cave, "I'll see you on the other side, Mai."
"Be careful, Ash," Mai said as she ran off to the side.
Ash nodded before the two went off deeper into it. A bit into the cave, Ash started to lose vision in the dark while Big Sis was keeping a good sight still.
"It's getting too dark for me to see," Ash noted before reaching to his waist and opening a Pokeball, letting out Charmander.
"Bui?!" Big Sis tensed.
"Char?" Charmander tilted his head.
"He's not here to fight you. I just couldn't see any further," Ash quickly explained.
"...Bui…" Big Sis muttered as she lowered her arms.
"Charmander, can you lead us through this dark cave?" Ash asked the fire lizard.
"Char!" Charmander nodded with a happy smile before taking the lead, his tail acting as a light for them to follow.
"Thanks, buddy," Ash thanked before Big Sis poked his leg, "Huh?"
"Bui?" Big Sis softly asked, having seen signs of malnourishment in the Charmander.
"...Are you asking why Charmander's thinner than other Charmander?" Ash asked, earning a nod, "...This guy that had him abandoned him on a rock for weeks with no food or water just because he didn't want to train him."
"...Bui…" Big Sis noted.
"Oh, and you don't have to worry about his old trainer returning. He got arrested for what he did."
"...Buzel…" Big Sis nodded.
"Be patient, guys. As soon as dose two thieves get back, we can finally heal dese two so we can take dem back to dere rightful homes," Meowth's voice echoed from within the cave.
"That's Meowth," Ash frowned.
"Bui…" Big Sis growled, her eyes narrowed as ice formed on her paws.
"We should be getting close t-" Ash began before Big Sis ran ahead, "Ahh! Wait up!"
With Mai, she was carefully and quietly running through the forest, trying her best to not wake any of the large brown bear like Pokemon resting within the area.
'I think Dexter forgot to mention how tall these things were!' Mai mentally exclaimed before shaking her head, 'No, no, Mai. Stay focused..you need to hurry back to where the others are...and expose Meowth for his lies.' she froze as one turned over, facing towards her while snoring, '...And survive not waking up these big guys…'
"Ursa…" the large bear grumbled a bit in its sleep, scratching its nose a bit as Mai snuck past it.
'Okay...so far so good...just gotta make sure I don't end up waking any o….I almost walked into that right there,' Mai thought, almost completely out of the area.
She froze when one of them got up, yawning not even a few feet away from her. The Ursaring stood up fully, opened its mouth, and...fell over on top of another Ursaring, snoring.
'...Oh thank Arceus that was close…' Mai sighed mentally as she resumed her silent run, reaching for the exit before she ran out of there like a bat out of hell.
'...Mmm...Where are Jessie and James already?' Meowth thought impatiently, tapping a foot impatiently.
"Bui…" the Buizel that had used Ice Beam on Terra mumbled as she put a paw on Pikachu's head...before yelping and spraying her paw with a Water Gun.
"Bui-buibui?" another rolled her eyes, looking up from her game of tic-tac-toe with one of the Squirtle Squad.
"Bui...buibuizel…"
"Den why do ya keep doin' it if ya know you'll burn yer paw?" Meowth frowned.
"M-maybe she's just concerned," Noel suggested.
"Quiet you," Meowth ordered, "Or do I have t' cut up dat face of yours, thief?"
"You touch one hair on her and I'll tear that charm off your head and stuff it down your throat," Makoto threatened with a frown.
"Gah! Not da charm!" Meowth freaked at that.
Boss stood at the mouth of the cave, looking at the sun in the sky, "Tle...Squirtle-squirt?"
"Huh? Uh...Sunset, I think," Meowth replied.
Boss nodded before going back to watching the sun.
"So...I never did get my question answered," Makoto noted.
"...Really? You're really doing this?" Tsubaki deadpanned, "Now?"
"It's a legitimate question, Tsubaki!" Makoto argued.
"Ugh...why do I bother…" Tsubaki sighed.
"Hey~!"
"Hmm?" Misty blinked for a moment, "Did you hear that?"
"That sounded like Ash," Brock noted, "But where…?"
A nearby rock on the wall shook. After a few more shakes, Ash grunted as he fully pushed it out of the wall...and onto a Buizel's tail.
"?! BUI!" she yelped, tugging until she got her tail out and hit it with an Ice Beam, "Bui…~!"
"Sorry…" Ash apologized as Big Sis walked past him.
"Oh yer back. Where's da tall twoipette? Did sh-" Meowth began before Big Sis punched him hard in the face with Ice Punch, "Gah!"
"Bui/Squi?!" the Buizel Band and Squirtle Squad gawked at that as Meowth flew into the cave wall.
"Bui! Buizel-bui!" Big Sis informed, "Buizel-zel-zel-buibui-zelbui!"
"Squirtle?!" Boss exclaimed.
"What's going on?" Kajun asked as Ash began to undo the ropes.
"Team Rocket's gonna come here to chase off the Squirtle Squad and Buizel Band with bombs," Ash explained, "And we got the Full Restores for Pikachu and Terra."
"Oh thank g-WAIT, WHAT?! BOMBS?!" Makoto exclaimed.
"Yeah," Ash nodded before his eyes widened, "Shoot! Mai's got the Full Restores!"
"...Where is she?" Misty asked.
"She went through a-"
"Oi~!" everyone looked at the cave entrance to see Mai running up to them, panting as she stopped before the entrance, "I...I'm...I'm here…"
"...Where we-" Tsubaki began
"Shortcut...through...an Ursaring...nest…" Mai panted as she pulled out two bulky white bottles with a green liquid in them, "But...no time for details."
"Buizel Bui/Squirtle Squi!" Big Sis and Boss ordered as the Squirtles and Buizel's ran over to open the cages containing the group's Pokemon until…
*BOOM!*
"Ahh!" Mai yelped as an explosion knocked her forward, causing the Full Restores to fly out of hands.
"Ah!" Ash gasped as he jumped to grab them, barely catching them before landing flat on his stomach.
"Squirt~!" the Squirtle that had been playing with the Buizel cried, having been so close to winning when Ash had done that.
"The heck was that?!" Makoto demanded.
"To Protect the world from Devastation!"
"...I shouldn't have asked," Makoto deadpanned as Team Rocket flew into the area.
"To Unite all people within our Nation!"
"...I really dislike this motto. Really, I truly do," Kajun frowned.
"To denounce the evils of Truth and Love, to extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!"
"James…"
"Squirtle Squad, Buizel Band, it's payback time for what you two did to Team Rocket," Jessie stated as she and James held some bombs in their hands.
"Here we come with the explosions and you'll be right in our pocket!"
"...Tell me they're not making variants of their motto…" Kajun nearly groaned in annoyance.
"M-m-m-Meowth d-d-dat's right!" Meowth shivered, part of him frozen from the Ice Punch.
"Bombs away~!" Jessie and James smirked as they threw down the bombs, the area rumbling from each explosion the bombs caused.
"Are they serious?!" Makoto gasped, "Are they trying to chase the Squirtles and Buizels away or kill them?!"
"Meowth, get those cages up here!" Jessie ordered as she tossed a ladder down.
"And grab the rest of the twerps' Pokemon before they get a chance to send them out!" James added.
"R-r-rig…" Meowth began before Yuki sneezed in her cage, a Powder Snow completely freezing him in a block of ice.
"...So much for that plan…" Jessie frowned before pulling out a Pokeball, "Ariados, grab the cages and Meowth with String Shot!"
"Ariados!" Ariados cried out as it formed and landed on the rope ladder.
"Squirt!" Boss shouted before his squad fired Water Gun together at Ariados.
"Koffing, use Sludge to block it!" James ordered.
"Koffing~!" Koffing shouted as it sprayed sludge at the Water Gun.
The two attacks collided, disrupting both of them and sending puddles of water and sludge about. Using the opportunity, Ariados fired a series of webbing at the cave, grabbing the cages and Pikachu before pulling them up to it. Ariados tossed them up into the basket before grabbing Meowth with one last webbing.
"Toodles~" James waved as they pulled the rope ladder up.
"Ah! Pikachu!" Ash called out as he ran out of the cave just as Team Rocket threw down two more bombs.
"Darn it… We can't catch up to them while they're throwing those bombs…" Kajun whispered.
"What do we do…?" Noel asked.
"I don't know...w-"
"Buizel!" Big Sis growled out as she ran ahead, dodging the bombs as she began to use Aqua Jet.
"Wow! She's fast!" James yelped.
"Just keep throwing!" Jessie ordered.
"Gh! It's like a live round drill at the academy," Makoto cringed.
"Live round drill?" Misty repeated, her eyes widening as she looked at the Beastkin.
"Nevermind. Everyone, back in the cave!" Makoto called.
"Squirt!" Boss called, causing Ash to turn to see that one of the explosions had knocked Boss onto his back and unable to get up.
"Oh no! Squirtle!" Ash gasped out as he ran over to the knocked over Pokemon, quickly shielding him just as a bomb went off on the ground.
"Oh no! Ash!"
"Bui?!" Big Sis gasped, quickly looking to see what happened before she was hit with an Electro Web from Ariados, "BUI!"
"Ah!" Mai gasped as electricity began to course through Big Sis before she began to fall to the ground, "Oh no…" she whispered as she ran out to go catch the injured Buizel.
"Mai, what're you…?!" Tsubaki began as Ash ran out to go shield Boss from Team Rocket's incoming bombs, "Ash?!"
"Buizel/Squirtle!" Mai and Ash called out as the former quickly caught Big Sis while the latter quickly shielded Boss Squirtle just as the bombs exploded.
"Ash/Mai!" Misty and Noel exclaimed in worry before the smoke of the explosion settled down, revealing the two bruised and dirtied, but keeping Big Sis and Boss covered.
"Squirtle...Are you okay?" Ash groaned.
"You're not hurt...Buizel?" Mai asked, cringing a bit in pain.
"Squir...tle…" Boss groaned weakly as he looked at Ash.
"Bui…" Big Sis whispered, looking at the bluenette with one eye open.
"Ahh! Here come some more!" they heard Misty gasp out.
"Save yourself, Squirtle...run for it…" Ash groaned just as Team Rocket tossed some more bombs down.
"Buizel...please run…" Mai begged, wincing in pain as she tried to move, 'Darn it...I...I think I twisted my ankle in that explosion…'
Big Sis and Boss just stared at their respective human that shielded them. After a brief second, the two managed to pick up the humans with Boss crying.
"Squirtle~!" Boss shouted as the two began to run for the cave.
"Ahh! Wh-what're y-?" Mai began before Big Sis stopped and used Scald to propel herself further towards the cave, "Ahh!"
"Squirtle~!" Boss cried out as he jumped ahead just as the bombs went off, propelling him and Ash further as they crashed into the others.
"That's the last of them," James said as Team Rocket ran out of bombs, "Any sign of them?"
"Not that I can see," Jessie replied as the two looked around, Ariados even crawling out of the basket and under it to look around from the bottom.
"Well...At least we took out their leaders," James noted.
"Which means no more Squirtle Squad and Buizel Band!" Jessie grinned, "The town's gonna name us heroes for this!"
"Not to mention we got the twerps' Pokemon," James added.
"D-d-d-da Boss is g-g-g-gonna be so h-h-h-happy wit' d-d-d-da rarer ones…" Meowth stammered, still frozen in the block of ice.
"Which will give us a nice juicy promotion!" Jessie beamed, "Overall, a very good day for Team Rocket!"
"Indeed. Now let's hurry back to t-why aren't we moving?" James blinked.
"Ari…"
"Ariados?" Jessie pondered as James let out Koffing to look under the blimp before it floated back up.
"Koffing~"
"Meowth, what did Koffing say?" James asked.
"H-h-h-h-he said d-d-d-dat da b-b-b-balloon's glowin' a-a-a-a-and A-a-a-ariad-d-d-dos is t-t-t-tangled up in da g-g-g-glow and we-we-webbing…" Meowth stammered.
"Huh?!" the two humans of the trio raised their brows.
"Hey! Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber!" the two looked over at a nearby cliff to see Ash and co standing there, Hikari out as she used Confusion to hold the balloon in place while Needles and Butterfree were using String Shot to keep Ariados pinned to the underside of the basket with a Confusion from Butterfree to help keep him pinned.
"Weren't they…?" Jessie gawked.
"Didn't they…?" James gulped.
"H-h-h-how did t-t-t-they…?"
"Squirtle Squad…"
"Buizel Band…"
"Care to do the honors?" Mai and Ash offered, the latter being helped stand by Tsubaki.
"Squir/Bui…" Boss and Big Sis grinned before holding their hands up, "Squirtle/Buizel bui!"
"Squirtle/Buizel!" the eight other Water Types nodded before firing a combined Water Gun at the balloon, tearing a hole just under the left paw and near the mouth.
Team Rocket yelped as the sudden impact made the basket shake enough to cause the cage with Pikachu and Terra on the top of it to fall off.
"Come back here!" James yelped at the falling cage and Pokemon.
"I got it!" Makoto shouted as she jumped and grabbed the cage before landing on the ground, grunting a little from the landing, "There we go."
"Ralts…" Hikari ceased her attack, letting the release of air from the balloon's hole send Team Rocket about in the sky.
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again~!" Team Rocket wailed as the released balloon went off into the distance, becoming a twinkle in the sky.
"I swear that's becoming a running gag at this point…" Makoto whispered before she smelt something burning, "...Oh don't tell me…"
"They started a fire with those bombs," Mai frowned as everyone ran over to the squirrel Beastkin.
"If it keeps burning, the whole forest could burn up," Noel whispered with wide eyes.
"...And the town is in that direction…" Mai whispered with wide eyes.
"Hey~!" the group looked to see Jenny driving up to them, "You need to get out of here right now before the fire spreads even further."
"...Wait. I got an idea," Ash spoke up before looking down at the Squirtle Squad and buizel Band, "Squirtle, Buizel, if you all combine your water attacks, you could put out the fire."
Big Sis and Boss shared glares at one another. After a second, the two nodded before shouting at their members. Moments later and the Water Types began to start attacking the forest fire. Not a single flame was missed as the two Water Type groups doused the fires until there was nothing left of the forest fire.
"And so, we gratefully award this certificate to the Squirtle Squad and Buizel Band," Officer Jenny spoke as she handed a certificate to Boss and Big Sis, their subordinates behind them intermingled with each other, "For your skill and bravery, we proudly wish to appoint you the town firefighters."
"Squirtle," Boss grinned while crossing his arms over his chest.
"Buizel," Big Sis smirked.
"Huh...imagine that," Makoto said as the group was amongst the crowd, "They went from the town delinquents to being firefighters in one day."
"This world is confusing," Mai mumbled under her breath.
"W-well...at least we got our Pokemon back, and Pikachu and Terra are feeling better," Noel spoke as they began to walk out of town.
"Pika-pika-pi~" Pikachu skipped ahead as Terra was carrying Geodude like a training weight while following Pikachu.
"I'm surprised at how well you're acting, Ashton," Kajun noted as she looked at the young trainer, "I mean, didn't you want to capture a Squirtle?"
"Yeah...But there'll be a next time. I'm sure of it," Ash replied.
Misty looked over her shoulder, "Uh, Ash? I think your 'next time' is right now."
"Huh?" Ash blinked as the rest of the group looked over to see Boss walking up to the group, along with Big Sis as their subordinates followed behind them, tears welling up in their eyes as they each held signs, "Squirtle? Buizel?"
"...Bui," Big Sis spoke as she looked over at Mai, "Buizel Bui zelbui."
"...Call me crazy, but I think Buizel wants to go with Mai while Squirtle wants to go with Ash," Makoto spoke up.
"Huh/eh?! M-me?!" Ash and Mai gawked a bit.
"Squirtle," Boss nodded as he took off his sunglasses to show his large, reddish-brown eyes.
"Buizel," Big Sis nodded as she moved the tuft of hair covering her eye aside.
"Squirtle/Buizel~!" the other Squirtle and Buizel cried out as they raised their respective signs, as if wishing their bosses luck.
"But, if you two come with us, who's going to lead your teams?" Mai asked.
"?!" Boss fell over with wide eyes while Bis Sis pointed at the Buizel that had been playing the game on the dirt in the cave with a Squirtle.
"(Wait. You seriously didn't think of who to choose to lead your team in case you leave?)" Big Sis asked Boss, an amused smirk forming on her lips.
"(Hey! We just roll with life!)" Boss argued.
"(I'm not hearing a 'no.')"
"(Why you…)" Boss's eye twitched as he made strangling motions with his tiny hands.
"(Uppup. No cursing. There's a child present,)" Big Sis smirked, using one of her tails to point at the sleeping Yuki in Noel's arms.
"(...Curse Arceus and making hatchlings so innocent…)" Boss muttered, "(Oi! Mikey! You're in charge!)"
"(WHOO!)" the Squirtle that had played with Big Sis's successor cheered.
"(See? Was that so hard?)"
"(I will get you back for this…)" Boss frowned before running up to Ash.
"(Yeah yeah…)" Big Sis rolled her eyes as she walked up to Mai.
"Welcome to the team, Squirtle!" Ash beamed.
"Guess we both got new Pokemon," Mai noted as she looked down at Big Sis, "Hmm...what should I name you though….Aqua sound okay to you?"
"Buizel," Big Sis nodded after a moment of thought.
"Guess this means Ash now has all three Kanto Starters," Brock noted as the two squads left, their former leaders waving to them, "That's something you never really see any Trainer accomplish."
"Pikachu, Butterfree, Pidgeotto, Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle…" Kajun listed off, "That's a pretty balanced team right there, Ashton."
"Yeah...Heh. I'm so excited!" Ash beamed as he shot up, "Come on guys! The faster we get to Vermillion City, the better! Gary may have six badges and forty Pokemon, but I have all three Starters!"
"(I LIKE THIS KID!)" Squirtle beamed.
"(What have I gotten myself into?)" Aqua blanched.
"Don't...make...any...sudden...moves…." Jessie whispered as she, James, and Meowth were in the middle of the area where the Ursaring were resting.
"Just...move...slowly…" James whispered.
"Not...a….sound…" Meowth gulped as Team Rocket slowly tip toed, making sure not to wake any of the Ursaring, "Just...a little foither...a-"
*SNAP*
"?!" the trio froze as they looked to see James had stepped on a stick.
"Ur…" an Ursaring growled nearly before rolling over, snoring.
"Phew," the trio sighed in relief.
"AH-CHOO!" Meowth sneezed loudly, the bloodshot eyes of all the Ursaring snapping opening from the loud sneeze.
"...oh no."
"URSA!" the Ursaring roared out as they all shot up, firing Hyper Beam into the air as they charged at Team Rocket.
"Professor Kajun's Pokemon Corner!"
The curtain rose once more, revealing Kajun in her labcoat while Hikari was on the table with Ash's Squirtle and Aqua, the latter looking around in slight confusion. The former...was doing a series of hammy poses.
"Hello, everyone. Welcome to another session of Pokemon study," Kajun greeted, "Today's subjects include Ash's recently obtained Squirtle and Mai's recently obtained Buizel, which she nicknamed Aqua. First, let's talk about Squirtle and his traits. Hikari?"
"Ralts…" Hikari nodded as she pressed a button, causing a screen to go down and show multiple shots of Squirtle.
"Squirtle, known as the Tiny Turtle Pokemon…"
"SQUIRT?!" Squirtle exclaimed as Aqua snickered.
"...is one of three Starter Pokemon normally given by Professor Oak to new Trainers," Kajun explained, ignoring the outburst, "When born, a Squirtle's back begins to swell and hardens into a shell. At first, the shell is rather weak and could buckle under just the poke of a finger, but quickly hardens that a poking finger just bounces off."
"Ralts…" Hikari pressed a button and a simulation of Squirtle swimming was shown.
"Squirtle's shell is not merely used for protection. The shell's rounded shape and the grooves on its surface help minimize resistance in water, enabling this Pokémon to swim at high speeds," Kajun explained, "The fact that the front part of the shell resembles an old coin is merely a coincidence."
"Squit…" Squirtle smirked at that.
"It could be that coins used in older times were based off the shell, even," Kajun went on, "Perhaps even the shells themselves were used as currency."
"Tle?!" Squirtle began to release a cold sweat.
"Heh...Buizel…" Aqua joked a bit at that.
"Ralts…" Hikari pressed a button and a simulation of Squirtle using Water Gun and Bubble were shown.
"Squirtle are capable of producing various attacks from their mouths, such as Bubble and Water Gun," Kajun went on as the simulation showed Squirtle hide in his shell and fire a Water Gun from one of the holes, "When in danger, Squritle can retreat into their shells to fire attacks from any of the openings for their head, arms, legs, or tail. They can even use this to move around faster by firing water from one of the openings, acting as a booster of sorts."
"Squirtle!" Squirtle beamed.
"How this happens is rather interesting. Normally, water loses its jet coherence shortly after it leaves a jet nozzle. It seems that Water Type Pokemon and even Pokemon that are capable of learning Water Type Moves have a unique property to their spit akin to Super Water," Kajun explained.
"Squirt/Bui?"
"Super Water, and yes that is its name, is a soluble polymeric chemical that acts like a seemingly series of molecular spinal columns that conjoin water together to keep the water's jet coherence for a much longer distance," Kajun went on, "According to Berkeley Chemical research, a jet of infinite length is possible utilizing Super Water but tests have remained inconclusive at this time. But that is for another time. Now let's move on to Buizel."
"Ralts…" Hikari nodded as she pressed another button, causing the screen to change to multiple images of Buizel using various moves.
"Buizel, known as the Sea Weasel Pokemon…"
Squirtle began to laugh before Aqua 'accidently' smacked him in the rear with her tails.
"The yellow 'collar' that Buizel have are actually a unique air sack that can act as a floatation device once they inhale deeply," Kajun explained, "Buizel do this so that they can keep their heads above water to watch for prey. The split tail of a Buizel can act as a propeller of sorts for both water and, surprisingly…" the screen showed a Buizel hovering with its tail, "...the air."
"SQUIR?!" Squirtle gawked.
"Yes. Apparently, the split tail is capable of letting a Buizel hover in the air for a few moments at a time," Kajun nodded, "There are a few gender differences between male and female Buizel. Males have two spots on its back and slightly...pudgier. While females have a single spot and much more slimmer and fit. That is because female Buizel are the hunter/gatherers in groups of Buizel. You could compare it to a pack of lions where male lions stay at the cave or rock formation that is their home while the females go hunt."
"Ralts…" Hikari pressed a button and showed a river.
"Buizel are often found in freshwater locations, such as rivers, streams, and lake," Kajun continued before it changed to a Buizel using Aqua Jet, "Scientists have observed wild Buizel and found that one of the first things that adult Buizel teach their hatchlings is Aqua Jet. Perhaps they do this to help their hatchlings survive in the wild. Speaking of Aqua Jet..." she looked over at Aqua, "I would still like to know how you were able to use both it and Ice Punch at the same time."
"Bui?" Aqua blinked, starting to get a bit uncomfortable with how Kajun was staring at her.
"True, using one after another is feasible, but at the exact same time? How is that possible? You'd freeze the Aqua Jet with you inside of it," Kajun noted, "How were you able to master it?"
"Bui…" Aqua began to slowly back away from her.
"Hikari, restrain Aqua!"
"BUI!" Aqua freaked as she ran out of there via Aqua Jet.
"Get back here!" Kajun called as she ran after Aqua with Hikari, leaving a hysterically laughing Squirtle as the curtains fell.
SZ: Whew...this took a few weeks to finish, but hey. Life somehow catches up to ya.
GT: Eeyup. Real life and other stories.
SZ: Eeyup. Also some new games and stuff, but moving on.
GT: That's right. Hope everyone enjoys the chapter.
SZ: Yup, and be sure to leave a review if ya can. Tune in next time for the next chapter of Pokemon Remix Hearts. Until then, I am Seanzilla115…*nudges GT*
GT: Why'd you nudge me?
SZ: Your turn man…
GT: *shrugs* I guess I'm GammaTron. And I say Read and Review and we bid you adieu.
Ash Ketchum: Pikachu [Starter], Butterfree, Pidgeotto, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle
Misty: Goldeen, Staryu, Starmie [Starter]
Brock: Geodude, Onix [Starter], Zubat
Makoto Nanaya: Berry(Pachirisu) [Starter], Needles(Kakuna), Cherry(Emolga)
Noel Vermillion: Yuki(Alolan Vulpix) [Starter]
Tsubaki Yayoi: Luka(Riolu) [Starter]
Mai Natsume: Terra(Sandshrew) [Starter], Aqua(Buizel)
Kajun Faycott: Hikari(Ralts) [Starter]