Our heroes are on route 4, they have been here for 3 days now, this is because Roan had fallen ill.
"Are you feeling any better Roan?" Ash asked.
"A little better, but not completely," Roan replied.
"Do you think you have some energy to walk, at least until we get to Turffield?" Ash asked.
"Ash, you need to have a bit more patience, Roan needs to get better first," Chloe said. "Here Roan here's some soup," handing Roan a cup of soup.
"Thank you," Roan said.
"This soup will help you to get some energy," Chloe said.
"So as I understand it, my first Gym Challenge won't be happening anytime soon?" Ash asked.
"Ash be patient," Chloe said.
"I get it, Roan's health comes first," Ash said.
"Maybe tomorrow I'll feel a lot better, then we can get back on the road," Roan said.
"But for now, let's eat, lunch is ready," Chloe said.
"All right!" Ash cheered.
"Pi, Pika," Pikachu squeaked.
Ash, Roan and Chloe were now eating lunch with their Pokémon, Team Rocket was not far from their camp and was spying on them as usual.
"That lunch looks delicious," James said.
"I think the little twerpette made it, Jessie said.
"So not only does she know a lot, she's also a good cook," James said.
"I'm starving," Jessie complained.
"Me too, I'd like to eat some of that lunch," James said.
"Let's not think about that now, we have to think of something to steal that Pikachu," Meowth said.
"Well, we now have Hatenna," Jessie said.
"What can she do?" James asked.
"No idea yet, but I guess we'll find out soon," Jessie said.
Late that day, Ash was training his Pokémon, Chloe was preparing some things for dinner and Roan was in the tent taking a nap.
"I'm going to see if I can find some berries here," Chloe said.
"Berries?" Ash asked.
"For dinner," Chloe replied.
"Berries for dinner?" Ash asked.
"Pika?" Pikachu squeaked.
"It's a recipe from my grandmother and it's especially good for Roan," Chloe said.
"I wonder how it will taste," Ash said.
"I also made some tea for Roan, give it to him when he wakes up if I'm not back," Chloe said.
"I will," Ash said.
"Come Yamper," Chloe said.
"Yamp, Yamp," barked Yamper.
Chloe grabbed two baskets and ran off with Yamper to find berries. Ash continued training again.
Chloe found some trees not far from camp with all different berries; she picked two baskets full.
"Have you heard?" Asked a girl trainer.
"What?" The other girl trainer asked.
"A trainer has been robbed," the girl trainer said.
"Again?" The other girl trainer asked.
"Yeah, that's the 11th trainer robbed now," the girl trainer said.
Chloe had overheard the conversation and walked toward the trainers. "Excuse me, sorry I overheard some of your conversation," Chloe said. "But did you mention that trainers were robbed?"
"Yes, there is a thief here somewhere," the girl trainer said.
"Have you been robbed too?" Chloe asked.
"Mine have had some jewelry stolen," the girl trainer said.
"My wallet was stolen with all my money in it," the other girl trainer said.
"What about you?" Chloe asked the boy.
"I haven't been robbed," the boy said.
"Strange though, I've been here a few days and haven't noticed anything," Chloe said.
"Then you're lucky," the other girl trainer said.
"I'd be careful if I were you," the boy said.
"And what do you mean by that?" Chloe asked.
"Well, I see you have a Dynamax Band on your wrist, which a thief would certainly try to steal from you," the boy said.
"But you've been here a few days, How come you haven't been robbed yet?" Chloe asked.
"No idea, but if he tries he will have to deal with Calvin and his Meowth," Calvin said.
"Meow," meowed Meowth.
"That's not the same Meowth as Team Rocket's, let's see what we can find out," Chloe said as she pulled out her Rotom-Phone.
Meowth, the Galarian form, a Steel-type. Living with a savage, seafaring people has toughened this Pokémon's body so much that parts of it have turned to iron.
"I talked with one of the trainers who was robbed and she told me this is not the first time she has been robbed," the girl trainer said.
"She's been robbed before?" The other girl trainer asked.
"All the way back on route 3, someone had stolen her shoes and then she found them back at another trainer's camp," the girl trainer asked.
"Was that trainer the thief?" The other girl trainer asked.
"No, because she had that very trainer's shoes on her feet," the girl trainer explained.
"Strange story," the other girl trainer said.
"Are the stolen things maybe in other trainer's camps?" Chloe asked.
"No, all the stolen stuff is just really gone," Calvin said.
"So maybe the thief from route 3 decided to strike here," the other girl trainer said.
"And take it up a level," the girl trainer said.
"So keep your eyes open and look out," Calvin said.
"I will, come Yamper," Chloe said.
"Yamper," Yamper barked.
Chloe and Yamper walked together back toward their camp. Team Rocket had followed Chloe and had overheard her.
"Oh no, another Meowth copy," Meowth said.
"Apparently, you're popular," James said.
"Nothing is better than the original Meowth and that Meowth is really ugly," Meowth said.
"I wasn't really interested in the Meowth, I was more interested in what the trainers were saying," Jessie said.
"They were talking about a thief," James said.
"And this thief steals things that could be worth quite a bit," Jessie said.
"So it's probably not the little twerp's Grookey," James said.
"I think it is that Galarian Meowth," Meowth said.
"And what makes you think that?" James asked.
"I don't like that ugly head of his," Meowth said.
"I know what we're gonna do," Jessie said.
"Let me guess, we're going to find out who the thief is?" James guessed.
"Indeed, but you'll never guess the next part of my plan," Jessie said.
"And when we find out who the thief is, we steal all the stuff he stole," Meowth said.
"Exactly," Jessie said.
Back at camp, Ash finished training and drank some water with his Pokémon. Roan came out of the tent and sat down.
"Did you sleep well?" Ash asked.
"Yes," Roan answered.
"Feeling any better?" Ash asked
"Going a little better now," Roan said.
"Chloe made you some tea," Ash said giving Roan the cup of tea.
"Thank you," Roan said.
"Did you sleep well, too, Scorbunny and Toxel?" Ash asked.
"Actually, they didn't sleep at all," Roan said.
"They probably watched over you then," Ash guessed.
"It's a beautiful day and they choose to sit in the tent with me," Roan said.
"That's because your Pokémon care about you, they want you to get well soon," Ash said.
"So this is what they call the bond between trainer and Pokémon?" Roan asked.
"Scorbunny," Scorbunny squeaked.
"Toxel," Toxel hissed.
Chloe and Yamper came back to the camp. "Hey," Chloe said.
"Hey Chloe," Roan said.
"I got the berries, I'm gonna start dinner," Chloe said.
"Berries for dinner?" Roan asked.
"Don't judge before you taste it," Chloe said.
Chloe put the berries down and started making dinner, a half hour later dinner was ready.
"Enjoy your meal," Chloe said.
Ash and Roan just looked at their food, Pikachu took a bite of his food and got a smile on his face.
"Pika," Pikachu squeaked.
"Do you like it Pikachu?" Ash asked.
Pikachu nodded his head. "Pikachu," Pikachu squeaked.
"Okay, let's try it then," Ash said.
Ash and Roan both took a bite of their food.
"This is tasty," Ash said.
"Eat all of it Roan, you will feel better soon," Chloe said.
"I certainly will then, this tastes good," Roan said.
"I have to tell you something," Chloe said.
"What is it Chloe?" Ash asked.
"While I was picking berries, I overheard some trainers talking," Chloe said.
"What were they talking about?" Roan asked.
"They were talking about a thief," Chloe said.
"A thief?" Roan asked.
"And they know about the thief from route 3," Chloe said.
"But that was Grookey," Roan said.
"And he's a wasn't even really a thief," Ash said.
"The trainers here think that the thief from route 3 came here and is now making his strike here," Chloe said.
"Grookey, Grookey," Grookey chattered.
"Oh Grookey I'm not accusing you, I know you didn't do it," Chloe said.
"Groo," chattered Grookey.
"What was stolen?" Ash asked.
"Jewels, watches and money," Chloe said.
"So the thief goes more for valuables," Ash said.
"Grookey only took stuff from trainers and put it with other trainers," Roan said.
"Grookey is a prankster, not a thief," Ash said.
"Grookey," Grookey chattered.
"Let's just put everything in the tent tonight, less chance of anything being stolen," Chloe suggested.
After dinner Ash and Chloe went to do the dishes and a few hours later they all went to sleep.
The next day everyone was up early and had already finished breakfast.
"How are you feeling today Roan?" Chloe asked.
"I feel a lot better, think I can go for a walk today," Roan said.
"Probably because of Chloe's berry curry," Ash said.
"And a little exercise might be good for me," Roan said.
Calvin and a few other trainers walked into camp.
"Leaving already?" Calvin asked.
"Yeah, we were about to," Ash said.
"You're not going anywhere," the girl trainer said.
"What are you guys talking about?" Chloe asked.
"That Grookey over there is a thief," the other girl trainer said.
"What, my Grookey is not a thief," Ash said.
"Yes, he is, I heard you guys say it when I walked by your camp," Calvin said.
"Grookey is not the thief, "Ash said.
"But he was the thief from route 3," the girl trainer said.
"That's different," Ash said. "Grookey did that…"
"So you admit he was the thief over there?" Calvin asked.
"He's not the thief," Ash said.
"Once a thief always a thief," a boy trainer said.
"Tell us Grookey, where's our stuff?" The girl trainer asked.
"Grookey shook his head. "Grookey," Grookey chattered.
""Show us where you're hiding!" The girl trainer demanded.
"Speak up you dirty thief," another boy trainer said.
"Grookey," chattered Grookey.
"Get him," the girl trainer said.
"Grookey!" Grookey chattered.
"Hey, leave him alone," Ash said.
The trainers ran towards Grookey and he began to run away as fast as he could. One of the trainers wanted to grab Grookey, Pikachu used his Thunderbolt and this startled the trainer and Grookey managed to get away, he jumped up and disappeared in the trees.
"That Grookey can't be far," the girl trainer said.
"Let's look for him," the boy trainer said.
"You're not rid of us yet," Calvin said.
Calvin and the other trainers left the camp.
"What was that?" Roan asked.
"They think Grookey is the thief," Chloe said.
"And they're going to hunt him down," Roan said.
"Grookey!" Shouted Ash.
Ash kept shouting Grookey's name, Team Rocket was hiding further away and spying on Ash and his friends and so had heard and seen everything.
"From the looks of it, the trainers here think it's Grookey from the little twerp the thief," James said.
"Could it really be?" Jessie said.
"No, I don't think that Grookey is the thief," James said.
"But everyone else does and now he is on the run," Meowth said
"I feel a bit sorry for the little twerp and Grookey," James said.
"So do I," Jessie said.
"I'm sure he didn't do it, his innocence must be proven," Meowth said.
"Yeah," Jessie said.
"And only if the real thief is found," James said.
"Then our mission has changed somewhat," Jessie said.
"To find the thief but for a different purpose," Meowth said.
A few hours later and it was already night time. Ash and Pikachu were still searching for Grookey.
"Grookey where are you!" Ash shouted.
"Pika, pika!" Pikachu cried.
"Grookey come back! Grookey!" Ash said.
"Ash, come you can't stay up all night to look for Grookey," Chloe said.
"I have to find Grookey," Ash said.
"Ash, it's gonna get cold tonight, you're gonna get sick," Chloe said.
"I feel sick already, the fact that Grookey is all alone," Ash said.
"Poor Grookey must be feeling terribly scared," Chloe said.
"He's being hunted, of course he feels scared," Roan said.
"And that's why I have to find him before the other trainers do," Ash said.
"They won't hurt him, I hope," Roan said.
"They might be mad at Grookey, but they won't hurt him," Chloe said.
"That anger is unjustified, Grookey is not the thief," Ash said.
"I know that. I know Grookey is innocent," Roan said.
"We have to convince the other trainers of that," Chloe said.
"I'm not gonna sit and wait. I'm gonna find him," Ash said.
"Ash it's dark, Grookey is fast and he's using the trees, you can't find him this way," Chloe said.
"But what am I supposed to do?" Ash asked. "The other trainers can't find Grookey before we do."
"As soon as it's daylight we'll search, but we have to be well rested," Chloe said.
Ash knew Chloe was right, so he decided to go to bed anyway, but he couldn't get to sleep easily, knowing Grookey is alone somewhere.
Somewhere in the woods was Grookey was walking, he heard voices and quickly climbed the tree, he jumped from branch to branch, until he stopped and lay down.
"Grookey," Grookey chattered.
Grookey had tears in his eyes, all he wanted was to return to Ash, he wiped them away, closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
The next morning, Ash, Roan and Chloe were up early and in the woods looking for Grookey.
"Grookey!" Ash shouted.
"Grookey please come back!" Chloe shouted.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu cried.
"We know Grookey is not the thief," Chloe said. "But then who is the thief?"
"Maybe it's Team Rocket," Roan guessed.
"No, it's not them," Chloe said.
"And what makes you think it's not them?" Roan asked.
"This thief hasn't been caught yet, If Team Rocket the thieves they were discovered within a day, two days tops," Chloe said.
"They're not exactly the most subtle of thieves," Ash said.
"You could say that again," Roan said.
"Hey, that's an insult," Jessie said as she and her fellow teammates appear from the bushes.
"Team Rocket," Ash, Roan and Chloe said in unison.
"I'll show you my skills," Jessie said, as she threw her Pokéball. "Go Hatenna!"
"Hat," Hatenna cried.
Roan grabbed his Rotom Phone from his pocket and opened his Pokédex app. "What kind of Pokémon is that?"
Hatenna a Psychic-type, Via the protrusion on its head, it senses other creatures' emotions. If you don't have a calm disposition, it will never warm up to you.
"How is it possible that Hatenna is on Team Rocket's side?" Roan asked
"Enough with the insults, let's go ahead and fight, Jessie said.
"Go Scorbunny!" Roan said, summoning his Scorbunny.
James grabbed Cramorant's Pokéball. "Now Cramorant," James said.
"Come on Yamper we're going for it," Chloe said.
"Prepare for trouble", Jessie said.
"And make it double," James said.
Both Roan, Chloe, Jessie and James got ready to fight, but Ash stepped in, before the battle could began.
"Stop. We don't have time for this, we gotta find Grookey," Ash said.
"And the thief," Meowth said.
"How do you guys know that?" Chloe said.
"We know everything," Meowth said.
"We also know that your Grookey is innocent," Jessie said.
"And that's why we want to help you," James said.
"You want to help us?" Chloe asked.
"But you're the bad guys," Roan stated.
"We may be the bad guys, but we also have a heart," James said.
"Exactly, it's not fair for an innocent person to be found guilty," Meowth said.
"We also have standards," Jessie said.
"I don't know what to say," Chloe said.
"Let's go find Grookey," James said.
"I'm still gonna be watching you guys," Roan said.
Ash, Roan and Chloe now joined Team Rocket in their search for Grookey, but after looking for him all morning, they still couldn't find him.
"Where is Grookey?" Ash asked.
"He must be hiding around here somewhere," Roan said.
"Maybe we should try a different approach," Chloe suggested.
"What do you suggest?" Jessie asked.
"Grookey is scared," Chloe stated.
"I know, that's why I want to find him, he's my Pokémon, my friend," Ash said.
"I guess there's only one way," Chloe said.
"What's that?" James asked.
"We have to find the real thief, I think that's the only way that Grookey will feel safe to come out again," Chloe said.
"I think the little twerpette is right," Jessie said.
"Okay, but how do we find the real thief?" Roan asked.
"Let's just go back to camp, standing around here won't get us anywhere," Chloe said.
Ash, Roan, Chloe and Team Rocket began heading back to camp, passing another camp on the way. Out of the tent came Calvin with his Meowth. Calvin grabbed his bag from the tent and from his bag fell something that looked like a necklace. Meowth picked it up a gave it to him.
"Meow," Meowth meowed.
"Hopefully no one saw anything," Calvin said.
"Meowth," Meowth meowed.
"We made our move here, Meowth," Calvin said.
"Meow, Meowth," Meowth meowed.
Ash, Roan, Chloe and Team Rocket had heard and seen everything and knew that Calvin and his Meowth were the thief's.
"So he is the thief," Ash said.
"I knew it, I knew that ugly head had something to do with it," Meowth said.
"We have to stop them before they get away," Chloe said.
Ash, Roan, Chloe and Team Rocket ran towards Calvin and his Meowth and surrounded them.
"Don't move you thief," Ash said.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Calvin said.
"Drop the act, we know you're the thief," Ash said.
"Everyone here thinks your Grookey is the thief, so they certainly won't believe a word his trainer says, Calvin said.
"They'll believe us," Ash said.
"Go Scorbunny!" Roan shouted.
Roan summoned Scorbunny and he was ready to fight, out of nowhere Grookey appeared and jumped in front of the Meowth of Calvin.
"It's Grookey!' Ash said.
"Grookey," Grookey chattered.
"Meowth," Meowth meowed.
"Scorbunny go help Grookey," Roan said.
"Scorbunny" Scorbunny squeaked.
"Groo, Grookey," Grookey chattered.
Scorbunny nodded his head and took a step back. "Scor," Scorbunny squeaked.
"Scorbunny what are you doing?" Roan asked.
"He is taking a step back, this is Grookey's fight," Meowth explained.
"We're going for it Grookey," Ash said.
"Grookey," Grookey chattered.
"You're not going defeat me," Calvin said.
"Yes, I'm and If I win you give back all the things you stole," Ash said.
"And If I win, I get away with the stuff and that sweet Dynamax band of yours," Calvin said.
"Don't it Ash," Chloe said.
"You're on," Ash said.
"Let's begin," Calvin said.
"Grookey, use your BRANCH POKE!" Ash commanded.
"Grookey!" Grookey chattered.
Calvin gave Meowth a command, but Grookey was faster than the Meowth and hit it with his attack.
"Well done Grookey," Ash said.
"Meowth doesn't give up and uses SCRATCH!" Calvin commanded.
Meowth ran towards Grookey, ready to attack, Grookey managed to dodge the attack.
"Grookey you use SCRATCH!" Ash commanded.
Grookey used his Scratch and scratched Meowth's face.
"Meow," Meowth cried.
"Come Meowth you can do better than this, we are not going to lose this," Calvin said.
"Oh yes you will, it's over for you guys, that's goes this fight and the thefts," Ash said.
Grookey went on the attack again and defeated the Meowth. Calvin retrieved Meowth back to his Pokéball and wanted to run off, but was stopped by Roan, Chloe and Team Rocket, so he couldn't escape
An hour later, Calvin had returned all the items he and his Meowth had stolen to the trainers. Team Rocket had left Ash, Roan and Chloe, but they weren't far and were watching everything.
"Thanks for finding our stuff," the girl trainer said.
"No need to thank me, it's all thanks to Grookey," Ash said.
"Grookey," Grookey chattered.
"Thanks Grookey," the girl trainer said.
"And we're sorry for accusing you," the other girl trainer said.
Grookey smiled and nodded his head. "Grookey," Grookey chattered.
"So what shall we do now?" Roan asked.
"How about we have breakfast," Ash suggested.
"Good idea," Chloe said.
Ash, Roan and Chloe were all thanked by the other trainers and returned to their camp.
"Glad to see this solved this one," Chloe said.
"Yeah, but we owe a little bit to Team Rocket, too," Ash said.
"Apparently, they're not as evil as they pretend to be," Roan said.
"You know, I think you're right," Chloe said.
I'm especially glad that Grookey is back with me," Ash said.
"Grookey!" Grookey chattered.
Grookey has been proven innocent and the real thief has been found, thanks to Ash and his friends and also with the help of Team Rocket. What other surprises and adventures await our heroes?