Today we find our heroes at a fork in the road, but which way is it to Greenfield?
"Okay, which direction from here?" Casey asked, as Ash pulled out his Pokegear.
"Let's see." Ash said. "Gah, dumb thing I'm not getting a signal!"
"Impossible, the only way you wouldn't be getting a signal is if the power station nearby had shut down completely." Molly said, causing the other two to look at her in surprise. "What, I read when I'm bored."
"Okay, so if the power station is down then we have do things the old fashioned way." Ash said, grabbing a Pokeball.
"Please tell me he's not leaving it up to chance." Casey groaned.
"Gligar to the skies!" Ash called out, tossing the Pokeball straight up as Gligar came out. "Gligar which way is the quickest to a town?"
"Gli!" Gligar said, pointing to the right side, before swooping back down, landing on the back of Ash's head.
"So we'll go to town, get directions, and be on our way." Ash said calmly, as he went down the right road.
"Can't argue with that, wouldn't even know how." Casey said, following Ash.
"Beats staying around here." Molly said, going to catch up with the others.
At the small town in the distance
"I'm telling you it's far too risky, we can't get anywhere near there without being attacked." A man in an orange vest and hard hat said.
"What's going on?" Ash asked.
"Let me guess, you kids are here to complain about the power outage too." The man groaned.
"Nothing to worry about folks, power will be restored very soon, I assure you of this." The other man in a worn suit said reassuringly.
"Doesn't sound like it, what's going on exactly?" Casey asked.
"We can't get to the main generator, it's being blocked by a group of wild Pokemon and none of us have strong enough Pokemon." The man said. "The mayor here believes we can just march right in and turn it back on."
"What if you can?" Ash asked.
"Nice idea and all kid, but unless you have something that doesn't mind fighting in the sewers, I don't see anyone getting near there at all."
"Does your guy's Pokemon center still have power?" Ash asked.
At the Pokemon Center
"I'm sorry Ash, our generator only gives enough energy for the medical equipment, all of our phones and transfer systems are offline." The Nurse Joy said.
"Hmmm." Ash said, trying to think.
"Ash, we aren't obligated to help, other people could come along with the right Pokemon with them." Casey offered.
"I know, but we're here, and I feel bad not at least trying." Ash said.
"But you did, and unless you have a backup emergency generator in your backpack, we don't have any other options." Molly said reassuringly.
"Molly, that's it you're a genius!" Ash exclaimed.
"Do you really have a back up generator in there?" Casey asked.
"No, but back at the start of my journey when I made it to the Viridian City Pokemon Center it lost power, but was able to be restored to full power by a bunch of Pikachu." Ash said.
"Last I checked you only have one though." Casey commented.
"And one is all that I need. Nurse Joy, do you have a way to power a transfer phone via Pikachu?" Ash asked.
"I believe we have cables for that in the back, I'll go look." Nurse Joy said.
"Alright buddy, can I count on you to give us power for long enough for this?" Ash asked.
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed assuringly.
A few minutes later
"Alright Pikachu, power it up." Ash said, before quickly making a call.
"Ahh, Ash hello there, where are you calling from?" Professor Oak.
"Sorry Professor, I don't have the time to chat Pikachu is powering the call, but do you think you can send over Muk?" Ash asked quickly.
"Mu Muk!" Muk exclaimed, hearing Ash's voice as he partially smothered Professor Oak.
"Of course, I'll send him right over." Professor Oak said, reaching for Muk's Pokeball.
"Come on, come on." Ash said, seeing Pikachu beginning to get tired as the Pokeball emerged on the other side. "Thanks Professor I'll explain later." Ash said as Pikachu ran out of energy. "Sorry about that Pikachu, thanks to you we can help this town now."
"Pi." Pikachu said, still exhausted.
"You know, we can stay here with Pikachu for you, he seems pretty drained." Casey offered.
"Thanks, that would be great Casey." Ash said, readjusting his bag. "I'll be back before you know it."
In the underground paths to the power station
"Alright kid, are you sure your Pokemon can handle this?" The worker from earlier said, leading Ash into the tunnels.
"Yeah, I doubt Muk minds bad smells." Ash said, grabbing the Pokeball. "Muk come on out!"
"Mu Muk!" Muk said, hugging/smothering Ash.
"Hey, it's good to see you too." Ash said. "But Muk, I need your help restoring this towns power, can I count on you?"
"Mu Muk!" Muk said, sliding back down off of his trainer.
"He must really like you." Molly said, carefully walking down the steps.
"Molly, what are you doing here, I thought you were staying behind with Casey and Pikachu.
"I figured you could use my help." Molly said, holding her own Pokeball. "Mareep come on out and use Flash!"
The tunnels were illuminated, giving the group a clear idea of where they were standing.
"Alright, let's go, and try to breathe through your mouth." Ash warned, as he and Muk led the way through the tunnels from directions given.
They made their way through the tunnels slowly bit by bit as they grew closer to the power station.
"So what exactly are the Pokemon that are causing problems?" Molly asked.
"We're not entirely sure, just that there's a gang of them and any time we get close the water and sludge start moving like crazy." The worker said. "Right here, this is the furthest that we can get without getting attacked."
"Alright Muk, let's show them who's boss!" Ash said charging forward as a wave of sludge came at them. "Block it and use Sludge Bomb!"
Muk stood in front of his trainer, absorbing the blow before unleashing a flurry of Sludge Bombs at the assailants.
"Mareep give us some more light, use a full power Flash!" Molly called out, revealing a horde of blue Pokemon.
"What are they?" Ash asked, pulling out his Pokedex.
'Quagsire, the Water Fish Pokemon, a Water and Ground type. This carefree Pokemon has an easy-going nature. While swimming, it always bumps into boat hulls.' Ash's Pokedex said.
'Wooper, the Water Fish Pokemon, a Water and Ground type. When it walks around on the ground, it coats its body with a slimy poisonous film.' Molly's Pokedex explained.
"Ground types, just what I needed." Ash groaned.
"Ash, you handle the swarm of Wooper, I'll handle the Quagsire!" Molly called out, sending out Cyndaquil. "Mareep, Cyndaquil use Double Tackle attack!"
"Muk use Sludge Bomb!"
Mareep and Cyndaquil rushed at Quagsire, slamming into the blobby water type as Muk sent out a flurry of poisonous blobs, striking the swarm of Woopers, knocking them about.
"Ash, they don't seem aggressive, they seem scared." Molly said, noticing how they weren't pushing back against her Pokemon once they were behind them.
"So what are your ideas?" Ash asked.
"I have an idea, get Muk behind them!" Molly said.
"Alright, Muk you heard her, get on the other side!" Ash called out.
"Mareep, I need you to focus your Flash into one point." Molly commanded.
Mareep rung her bell, slowly walking forward, her tail illuminating a path.
"Come on we'll get you out of here, follow Mareep." Molly said, leading them from the substation as Muk created a wall to keep them from turning back around.
As Molly lead the group back out, the worker was able to get into the power station to turn it back on.
A while later back outside
"Finally, I can breath!" Molly exclaimed as the Wooper and Quagsire made their way out, lead by Mareep and Cyndaquil, with Muk on the tail end of the group.
"You did great Mareep." Molly said.
"Wow, I am really glad I did not tag along." Casey said, seeing the group.
"Yeah, maybe rushing into a sewer wasn't my best decision." Molly admitted.
"We were able to restore power, and hopefully they'll add a quicker way in." Ash said, stretching. "You did great too Muk."
"Mu Muk!" Muk said, smothering Ash with a hug.
"Umm, not to alarm anyone, but I don't think Mareep is doing okay." Molly said, seeing the electric type struggle in place for a moment. "Mareep, what's happening?"
"Maaa." Mareep bahhed before being engulfed in light.
"Mareep's evolving." Casey said in amazement as Mareep's figure began to grow and change.
"Flaaffy." The electric type said, standing up on it's two legs.
'Flaaffy, the Wool Pokemon, an Electric Type. It's fluffy fleece easily stores electricity. It's rubbery hide keeps it from being electrocuted.' Molly's Pokedex explained.
"Flaffy, you're amazing!" Molly exclaimed, hugging her Pokemon. "And we need baths."
"Haha, great to see your first evolution." Ash said happily.
Ash's Current Team and their Moves
Pikachu: Thunderbolt - Quick Attack - Thunder - Agility
Bulbasaur: Vine Whip - Razor Leaf - Solar Beam - Leech Seed
Gligar: Poison Sting - Sand Attack - Double Team - Wing Attack
Houndour: Ember - Bite - Smog
Totodile: Water Gun - Bite - Rain Dance - Scratch
Muk: Body Slam - Sludge Bomb
Molly's Current Team and their Moves
Cyndaquil: Ember - Tackle - Smokescreen - Cut
Flaaffy: Tackle - Thunder Wave - Flash