Chapter 2: A Pokémon Emergency!
By the time Crash had seen buildings in the distance, it was already sunset. Crash was about to enter the city when a hand grabbed the back of his collar.
"Hold it right there young man! Just what do you think you're going with that Pokémon?"
Crash turned around to see a teal haired woman in a police uniform. The antsy young man turned around and yanked himself free to answer her.
"It's my Pokémon, and it's badly injured. I'm just taking it to the Pokémon Center."
"It is? Then show me your ID so we can clear this up."
"My ID? Ah, right!"
Crash digs in his pocket and pulls out his Pokédex.
"Oh, a Pokédex! This should clear everything up for me."
The policewoman snatches the device from the boy's hand and opens it. She begins inputting a code and after a brief moment, a robotic voice is heard from the Pokédex.
"Hello, I am Dexter. I am a Pokédex made by Professor Samuel Oak in Pallet Town and given to Crash Betchum from Pallet Town. My primary purpose is to assist Crash in catching, training and caring for any Pokémon he comes to own. If I am somehow lost or destroyed, I cannot be replaced."
"Well that settles it. Now weren't you saying something about your Pikachu needing to go to the Pokemon Centre?"
"Yeah, could you give me directions?"
"I'll do you one better, I'll take you there!"
The policewoman walks over to the mini garage and opens its doors revealing a motorcycle with a sidecar.
"With this baby, you'll be at the Pokémon Centre in no time."
"Woah, cool!"
"Just sit tight! And enjoy the ride!"
"Woah!"
As Crash rides off with the policewoman to the Viridian City Pokémon Center, a certain tomboyish mermaid was following not so far behind, carrying what seemed to be charred remains of a bike, yelling after him to wait.
A minute had passed after Jenny began driving to the Viridian City Pokémon Center. Getting a bit bored, she decided to continue their previous conversation.
"Sorry for stopping you earlier, it's just that we've been getting reports of stolen Pokémon and you're holding yours out in the open."
"I understand. Pikachu doesn't like its Pokéball, so with the chance it got, it got out and stayed out. But you were saying something about stolen Pokémon Officer-"
"Jenny, Officer Jenny. And yeah, that's right. Multiple reports say that a man with lavender hair and a woman with a curved hairdo have been stealing Pokémon all over town. If your Pikachu doesn't like Pokéballs, then you have to take extra precautions to make sure the same thieves don't steal it."
"Ok Officer Jenny. I will."
Sunset soon turned to dusk as they had neared the Pokémon Center.
"Ah, we're here."
"Great… Aren't you gonna stop?"
"Nope."
"Wait, what're you doing?"
"Hold onto your hat kid, this could get tricky! And I've never done this with someone else in the sidecar before."
"What was that last-woah!"
Jenny jumps the stairs to the Pokémon Center and skids to a stop in front of the front desk. An exasperated Nurse Joy is seen staring at the events unfolding.
"Jenny, I thought we had talks about this! No driving your motorcycle into the Center!"
"Sorry Nurse Joy, but it's a Pokémon emergency!"
Crash holds out a severely injured Pikachu.
"Please, you have to help my Pikachu!"
The pink haired nurse's eyes are directed to the small mouse. She nodded and immediately turned to her computer and began to type.
"I need a stretcher for a small Pokémon, stat"
Just then, a duo of egg shaped Pokémon, no bigger than Crash himself, walk out wheeling a stretcher whilst chanting "Chansey." They even wore the same hat that the nurse wore.
"Just place your Pokémon on the stretcher." Nurse Joy called out to the boy.
"O-ok." Crash replied, reluctantly placing his starter on the stretcher.
As the egg shaped Pokémon wheeled the unconscious mouse Pokémon away.
"W-wait, will my buddy be ok?"
"Don't worry," Jenny reassured, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder "Joy will have your Pokémon completely healed in no time."
"Though it will be a while until the procedure is done," Joy added. "and I do have one question."
"What's that?" Crash asked with uncertainty in his voice.
"Your Pikachu's condition is beyond what's even allowed in a battle, don't you know that if you wasted anymore time, it wouldn't have made it?"
"But we were attacked by a flock of Spearow and there wasn't much else I could do!"
"What's done is done," Joy sighed "but don't worry, your Pikachu is in capable hands."
"Please if there's anything I can do to help, just say it."
"You've already done enough, just let me take care of your Pikachu."
Crash nodded as Nurse Joy walked away into the operating room. He looked longingly at the unconscious Pikachu, still in the stretcher before the doors eventually closed. Minutes had passed and Crash was getting antsy. He paced back and forth, murmuring to himself in worry.
"Look kid, you need to calm down."
"I'm sorry but I can't. I'm way too worried about my buddy, he's hurt and I can't do anything about it.
"Look, Nurse Joy will make sure that your Pikachu gets all the medical attention it needs."
"I know, but I just wish I could help him somehow."
"Well you could start by paying for another bike!" An angry voice roared from the entrance.
"You're-"
"The girl whose bike you stole!"
Jenny looked at Crash, in surprise. "You stole this young lady's bike?"
Crash looked down and shuffled his feet in embarrassment. "Yeah, but I was gonna give it back."
The girl held the charred bike in one hand presenting it to Crash.
"If this is your idea of a joke, then you clearly don't have a sense of humor!"
"I obviously meant in one piece!"
"A bit too late for that now!"
"I'll pay it back. How much did the bike cost you anyway?"
"1,000,000,000 yen. Why?"
"THAT'S WAY MORE THAN I HAVE."
"What happened to 'wanting to pay me back someday' kid?"
"First, I don't have enough to pay for your bike. Second, I'm not gonna pay that much for a bike. And third, my name isn't 'kid' but Crash!"
"Firstly, what do you mean you're not going to buy me a new bike? You took it and you broke it, so you have to be the responsible one and buy me a new one! And secondly, my name isn't 'kid', but Misty!"
"Ok you two break it up. Crash, your Pokémon was in danger so I can understand why you did what you did, but refusing to replace her bike when you destroyed it is immature."
"But I didn't destroy it, Pikachu was-"
"It was still in your possession, was it not?"
"It… was."
"Then you're responsible for its replacement."
"Yes, Officer Jenny."
"Now if that's settled, I have to get back to my post."
Jenny ran towards her parked motorcycle and revved up its engine.
"Hope your Pikachu gets well soon. Bye!"
As Officer Jenny revved off, nearly crashing into the automatic doors, Crash sat down on a waiting bench with a bereft look on his face.
Misty took a look at the distressed boy and frowned. Even if he had trashed her bike, it was an accident, and he was clearly worried about his hospitalized Pokémon.
"Hey, it'll be ok. Your Pikachu's gonna be fine."
"But what if he's not fine. What if he doesn't make it and it's my fault for being a bad trainer?"
"Hey, everyone goofs up their first time. All you can do is dust yourself off and keep walking right."
"I guess… but I'm still worried about Pikachu."
"Why don't you take your mind off of Pikachu for a while. Isn't there anything else you could do while we wait?"
"Wait, what do you mean 'we?'"
"I don't trust you to keep your promise of buying my new bike, so until then Crash, I'll be traveling with you!"
Crash groaned. He didn't want to deal with Misty's rambling about him replacing her bike. So, instead of arguing against her, he decided it'd be best to just let her join and that would be the end of it. As he was mulling this over, Crash remembered something.
"Now that you think about Misty, I do have something I could do."
Crash stood up and walked over to a video phone booth and began to dial a number.
Back in Pallet Town, Delia was just finishing her shower, putting on a face mask as her video phone rang. Just as the phone rang, she quickly ripped off her face mask and whipped her hair back, causing the towel drying her hair to go flying behind her.
"Oh! Hai~ sweetie!"
"Hey mom. You seem happy."
"Of course I am! If you're calling me you must've made it to Viridian City right?"
"Well- yeah! Wait how did you-"
"A woman's intuition is sometimes right, but a mother's instinct is almost never wrong."
"Ok…?"
"Oh, this takes me back to when your father went on his journey too! It took him 4 days to get to Viridian City. I guess the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree, huh dear?"
"Maybe if you roll it down the hill."
"Oh don't get so discouraged honey, you're still green. I know that the longer you go on your journey the better you'll get. All Gyarados start as Magikarp, you know."
"I'm feeling more like a Diglett lost at sea."
"I am not letting any son of mine talk like that! You've got this honey, and remember. You can do anything with enough hard work and willpower! You got that?"
"Yes ma'am, I understand."
"Good. And did you change your underwear like you promised?"
"Mom, it's still the same day."
"Just making sure honey! Love you."
"Love you Mom!"
The call ends and Crash breathes a sigh of relief, feeling more relaxed. Misty approached him curiously.
"So how'd it go?"
"Just my mom being a mom."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, but what do I do now? The operation still isn't finished."
"Well, you could always-"
"Whoa! What's that?"
Crash turned his head and saw a mural of 4 Pokémon.
Though three of them had pictures of bird Pokémon, one had a picture of a dog Pokémon that Crash immediately recognized as an Arcanine. Crash noticed that one of the murals looked similar to the bird Pokémon he had seen on Route 1 after the storm had passed. Crash continued to look at the murals with great interest until a shrill ringing sound was heard.
Crash immediately ran over to the video phone to see who was calling him. The phone immediately answered itself and a voice called out.
"Oh, Crash. It's good to see you."
"Professor Oak?"
"Yep, it's me. Your mother had told me that you had reached Viridian City."
"Yeah, I sure did."
"And by the looks of things you've had quite the adventure too!"
Memories of his misadventures on Route 1 began to run through Crash's mind. But all he could manage was a nervous smile as he replied "You could say that."
"I'll be honest my boy, I've had my doubts about you handling your Pikachu, but when Larry bet me 1 million yen that you wouldn't be able to catch a new Pokémon by the time you made it to Viridian City, I had bet my 1 million that he'd be wrong.
Crash, remembering his failed captures, gave the Professor a weak smile.
"Well, money isn't everything Professor."
Oak was shocked at the realization that Crash hadn't caught any new Pokémon. He hadn't expected Crash to not catch a Pokémon on the first route of his journey. The elderly man hangs his head in silence.
"B-but, I did see a rare Pokémon Professor."
Oak looked back up at the boy.
Crash points to one of the murals. "It looked something like this. It had a yellow crest on its head, and some plumage on its tail feathers."
Oak stared at the young man before bursting into a fit of laughter. "Ahahahahhaha! My boy! I'm touched that you want to make me feel better, but at least make your story a bit more believable."
Crash, who was offended and a bit hurt, replied "But I really saw it Professor, it left behind a rainbow trail as it flew overhead."
Oak, still not convinced, answered back. "Crash multiple researchers like myself have studied Pokémon for years, and yet that Pokémon's existence is still just a myth."
"But I really did-"
A doorbell sounds from Oak's side of the video call.
"Oh, that's my Smoked-tail pizza. Talk to you later Crash! And good luck on your journey!"
Crash sighs. "Well that could have gone better."
"Everything OK Crash?"
"Misty? Where were you when I was talking to Professor Oak?"
"I was letting you have your space to talk to Professor Oak, so I decided to check into the Pokémon Center for tonight. It's already 10:40."
"10:40?!" Crash ran to the nearest window, seeing that it was getting late. "Wow time flew by fast."
An intercom suddenly sounds as Nurse Joy's voice calls out.
"Crash Betchum, please report to the front desk. Crash Betchum, please report to the front desk."
Crash rushes to the front desk, hoping to hear news about his Pikachu.
"Nurse Joy, is my Pikachu gonna be ok?"
"Don't worry your Pikachu's fine. The procedure was a success. It just needs a rest in the Recovery Room."
"Oh, that's good." Crash exhaled, somewhat exhausted but happy.
"It's a good thing you brought it here when you did."
"The Pokémon Center is a blessing, isn't it?" Misty chimed in.
"Sure is!" Crash smiled.
"Would you like to accompany your Pikachu to the Recovery Room, Crash?"
"Would I ever!?" Crash grinned as he walked over to the stretcher the mouse Pokémon was resting on.
"I'm coming too!"
"Misty?"
"I'm not letting you outta my sight again!"
"Is this about your bike?"
"OF COURSE IT IS!"
"Misty," Crash groaned. "We can talk about this later, but I need to be by my Pokémon's side."
"Hmph!" Misty pouted. "Fine, I'll just wait out here. But don't forget, we will settle this later! Got it?"
Before Crash could answer, he was cut off as Officer Jenny made a PA across Viridian City.
"Attention! Our Viridian City radar sensors have picked up an aircraft matching a description of the same one used by notorious Pokémon thieves. If you are in possession of a Pokémon, exercise extreme caution."
Outside of the Pokémon Center, a Meowth designed hot air balloon was floating overhead, seemingly containing 2 people. One was a woman, with burgundy colored hair that seemed to defy gravity with the way it curved. And her accomplice was a man with short lavender colored hair.
"Guess we woke up this sleepy dump." The woman inside said.
"And how dare they act like we're criminals? They should be more welcoming of Team Rocket!" The man growled.
"Well, we'll just have to teach them then!"
And behind them a Meowth stood upright and began speaking.
"Meowth! And once we snatch all their Pokémon, they'd all know who's da top cat!"
"We know Meowth."
The two Rocket grunts pull out Pokéballs, and call out their Pokémon.
"Ekans! Koffing!" They both called out. '"Attack!"
The Pokéballs break into the Pokémon Center from a small glass window and open, revealing their contents, an Ekans and a Koffing, the latter which began polluting the air.
"What the- a Smokescreen?" Called out a startled Crash.
"Don't be frightened, little boy." A female's voice called out.
"Allow us to introduce ourselves" A male's voice continued.
"To protect the world from devastation," the female voice said.
"To unite all peoples within our nation." The male voice added.
"To denounce the evils of truth and love." the female voice continued.
"To extend our reach to the stars above." The male voice finished.
"Jessie." The woman said. "James." her partner in crime continued.
"Team Rocket! Blast off at the speed of light!" Jessie posed.
"Surrender now or prepare to fight!" James posed as well.
"Meowth! DATS RIGHT!" Meowth jumped in.
"What?" Crash asked.
"He doesn't get it, does he?" Jessie chucked.
"Get what? You guys aren't making any sense." Crash continued.
"We're here… for the Pokémon!" James chimed in.
"Then you're not taking my Pikachu!" Crash shouts, shielding Pikachu from the Pokémon thieves.
"Pikachu? Why would we want that electric yellow rodent?" Jessie asked mockingly.
"We only desire rare and valuable Pokémon." James added.
"Which doesn't describe your Pikachu at all! Meowth." Meowth snickered.
"Why exactly are you here?" Nurse Joy questioned. "This is a healing center for weak and injured Pokemon."
"Which is why we're here!" Jessie smiled. "Who knows what Pokémon diamonds we'll find in the rough."
"These Pokémon aren't yours to take!" Crash snapped.
"Actually they are." James said, not taking the boy seriously.
Crash growled, "You guys are really starting to bug me."
"We're beginning to bug him, he says." Jessie said to the rest of her cohorts.
"Meowth! Then let's squash him like one!" Meowth grinned.
"Koffing, attack!" James called out
"You too, Ekans!" Jessie demanded.
The Poison Gas Pokémon charged forward, letting out toxic gas as it flew forward.
Crash, Nurse Joy and Misty nearly end up being hit by the Koffing's Tackle attack. Meanwhile Ekans lunges at them, but hits the front desk computer instead. The two Poison types begin to chase them. Crash and co. run down a hallway, managing to get away from the pursuing Poison Pokémon. The light in their room cuts off as they enter.
"What happened to the lights?" Misty asked.
"Looks like they cut the power," Joy answered. "But don't worry, we have our own Pika Power."
The lights cut back on as Crash and Misty turn to see a circular treadmill run by multiple Pikachu.
Crash and Misty look on in amazement.
"We have to save the Pokéballs!" Nurse Joy called out as she began to push buttons on a console.
"Initiating emergency Pokéball transfer."
"This is the Nurse Joy of the Viridian City Pokémon Center, we have an emergency situation, transporting Pokéballs."
"This is the Pewter City Pokémon Center. Downloader online. Ready to receive Pokéballs."
However as some of the Pokéballs were being transported, Koffing broke through the door, knocking down some of the Pokéballs as it charged in.
"Grab those Pokéballs!" Nurse Joy shouted at the young trainers.
"Uh, got it! Crash fumbled, scrambling for any Pokéballs he could get his hands on.
"This is war, we have to battle them if we want to get anywhere!" Misty shouted
"Ok! Pokéball go!" Crash grabs a nearby Pokéball and throws it revealing the Pokémon inside to be a Pidgey. But before the Pidgey could react, Ekans glares at the Pidgey, scaring it back into its Pokéball.
"You think that thing can beat us?" Jessie asked in a mocking tone.
"No, but this will!" Crash countered by throwing another Pokéball, but the ball drops to the ground, opening and revealing nothing but its interior.
"What? It's empty?" Crash gasped, exasperated.
"Yes, some of them are empty." Nurse Joy frowned
"Now she tells me." Crash sighed. "Ok, I have a great feeling about this one!" Crash throws another ball, it opens and reveals a Rattata. The small rat Pokémon is immediately scared back into its Pokéball by Ekans.
"I have a great feeling too," James mocked "that this'll be a great heist."
Misty, having had enough of the shenanigans, stepped up, and pulled out her own Pokéball.
"Crash, you grab Pikachu and get outta here. I'll deal with these clowns."
"Oooh, pretty big words from such a little lady." Jessie mocked.
"You're right about the pretty part, but no amount of compliments will stop me from stopping you."
"Hear that Jessie, the girl thinks she's pretty."
"Yeah James and I agree. I do think she's pretty. Pretty pathetic"
"Grr I'll show you! Goldeen, I choose you!"
The ball opens up, revealing a Goldeen flailing about. Jessie and James look at the goldfish Pokémon in a mix of confusion and feeling insulted.
"Goldeen, return." Misty calls back her flailing fish, leaving Team Rocket bamboozled.
"That's her best shot?" Jessie asked.
"If so, she's all washed up." James answered.
"You know as well as anyone that not a lot of aquatic Pokémon can battle on land. I was just warming up."
"Warming up?" Crash questioned.
"Get Pikachu out of here, now!" Misty ordered.
"Got it!" Crash complied, wheeling the unconscious Pikachu out the room.
"Ekans, Koffing. Don't let him escape!" The two Rockets ordered. The Poison Gas Pokémon and the Snake Pokémon immediately begin giving chase to the ten-year old. Crash wheels the stretcher, with the Rocket Pokémon right behind him.
Crash makes it back to the lobby, but trips over the charred bike that Misty left behind. The bump was enough to wake up Pikachu, who sits up and sees that its trainer is cornered by an Ekans and Koffing. Pikachu immediately starts to shout at the top of its lungs, despite its weakened state. Then a swarm of Pikachu began to appear from the Pokémon Center balcony and dog pile on Crash's Pikachu.
They then discharge a large amount of Electricity at Team Rocket, with some of the energy being inadvertently lended to Crash's Pikachu.
Meowth, who managed to dodge in time, steps forward.
"Never let humans do a cat Pokémon's job, that electric rat is toast!"
Crash stepped back as Meowth came close. Pikachu turned to Crash and attempted to communicate his plan to his trainer.
"Pika, Pika, Pika, Pika?" (Hey Crash, I need more power, can you help with that?)
"Huh? 'Pika Pika'?"
"Pika." (Yep)
"Pika-Pika Power?"
"Pika!" (Yes!)
"So you want," Crash paused in amazement. "you want more power!"Crash rushed over to the destroyed bike and began pedaling, despite the bike being upside down.
"Eh, what's going on?" Meowth asked.
"Let's just say me and Pikachu are gonna 'generate' a little surprise for you, Meowth. One you'll definitely be in 'shock' for." Crash smiled.
The bike's light began to glow as Crash pedaled harder.
Team Rocket could only look on in horror as they realized what the boy was doing. Pikachu hopped onto the bike and using the extra energy from the bike, fired a Thundershock towards Team Rocket. The electric attack was so powerful that the gas Koffing was spewing out began to ignite and caused an explosion. As Officer Jenny approached the Pokémon Center she saw the entire Pokémon Center light up.
"Too late to stop the criminals, but just in time for the fireworks." Jenny joked.
Team Rocket was sent flying back into their balloon
"Imagine dat! A top cat like me losing to a hospitalized rat!"
Meowth grumbled.
"That Pikachu's power was incredible enough to send us flying like that." Jessie painted.
"You're right." James moped.
The three grunts stood up in realization.
"And such a powerful Pokémon-" Jessie continued.
"Is such a rarity among even common Pokémon like that Pikachu-" James said slowly.
"And dat means-" Meowth continued.
"THAT PIKACHU IS PRIORITY NUMBER ONE FOR US!" Team Rocket roared in excitement. But as they all stood up, the balloon popped, sending into the horizon.
Once morning came, the Viridian City Nurse Joy contacted her sister to see if the Pokémon she had transferred were OK.
"Don't worry sis, the Pokémon you transferred are all fine." The Pewter City Joy smiled.
The Viridian City Joy breathed a sigh of relief "That's good to know, sis. I've also sent the Trainers and Pokémon that helped me here, on their way to you. It'll probably take a day or two at most."
"Ok, thanks for the heads-up. See ya later sis."
"Good bye." Viridian Nurse Joy sighed.
"I know that sigh Joy. What's the matter?" Jenny asked
"I wonder if they'll be ok Jenny." Joy frowned.
"Don't worry, Joy. From what I've seen, those kids can handle themselves."
"Well I hope you're right Jenny."
Outside of Viridian City, Crash is marching down Route 2 and entering Viridian Forest. Misty was slowly trailing behind, looking behind herself and then looking forward.
"Y'know Misty, you could always just wait for me to pay you back."
"N-n-no! I'm not running. You can't fool me Crash Betchum!" Misty said, hyperventilating. "Whether it be… a herd of charging Tauros or…. an enraged Gyarados… will keep me from reminding you what you own me! Got that!?"
But as she finished, Crash had already walked several feet.
"Hey, get back here right now!" She called out. Quickly rushing to Crash's side
"Oh there you are Misty, I was worried that you stayed behind. See Mark, I told you she'd come back."
Puzzled, Misty asks "Who's Mark?"
"Oh right, I didn't tell you." Crash replied. "Well, when Pikachu sent Team Rocket Blasting off, I said 'wow, that's gonna leave a mark, huh buddy.' But I realized that could be what I call him, so that's how Markus Voltsy came to be!"
Misty had her cheeks puffed up. "Pfft- hahahahahahahaha. Markus Voltsy? That is the most ridiculous name I have ever heard of!"
Crash pouted. "Well I'm proud of it. And Mark likes it too, right buddy?"
Mark looks away as if saying 'you don't want my answer to that.'
"Hmph well at least I like it." Crash crosses his arms as he marches into Viridian Forest.
As Crash and Misty make it into Viridian Forest, Misty is continuing to laugh at Crash's naming abilities.
"Is she still laughing?"
Mark turns back to Misty clutching her gut as she falls to the ground, flailing her legs. Mark turns back to Crash and shakes his head, with Crash giving a big sigh.
"No, it was hilarious! Y'know Crash, if being a Pokémon Master doesn't work out, maybe you should consider a job as a comedian."
"Yeah, right." Crash rolled his eyes, unamused.
Crash began walking around scanning the trees for any Pokémon.
Misty approached Crash and asked "What are you doing?"
"Well Misty, if you want to know, I'm looking for my next Pokémon."
"Good luck with that, maybe you and Mark will catch- AAAAAH!" Misty cuts herself off as she jumps in fright and immediately clings to Crash
"Misty what the matter?"
"B-b-b-b-b-b-b"
"Buh- what?"
"BUG!" Misty shrieked.
Crash looked at where she was pointing and his gaze fell on a Caterpie, staring back at the two children.
"Alright!" Crash pumps his fist and dashes towards the Caterpie, inadvertently knocking Misty and Mark off him. The Caterpie was alarmed at the speed the human was going, so much so it couldn't process what happened next. Crash stopped within 3 yards of the Caterpie. The Caterpie stared at Crash, and Crash stared back. Crash, without looking away, grabbed an empty Pokéball from his belt and prepared to throw it.
End of Chapter 2