Chapter 2:

A Wooper of a Save

With the limited strength they had left, Nathan and Phillip pushed themselves up off the ground. They wrapped their Pokemon in their arms and ran for the Pokemon Center. The fresh smell of water and fragrant flowers kissed the two trainers as they dashed across the Cherrygrove City line. A loud announcement echoed throughout the city.

"BE WARY OF STRANGE TRAVELLERS. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF POKEMON THIEVES AND CRIMINALS THAT WOULD DARE TO HARM OUR PRECIOUS QUAGSIRE."

Phillip and Nathan dashed across the fields. They didn't care what obstacles were in their way, they were going to get their Pokemon healed. They barged into the Pokemon Center screaming for Nurse Joy. Nathan was the first to encounter her. Her arms crossed and she glared at Nathan as she scorned him for letting his Cyndaquil end up in such bad shape. Nathan dropped his head and clenched his right fist, he knew he was wrong in all of this.

"Please Nurse Joy, please just heal my Cyndaquil." He pleaded with her as tears began to shower down his face. Her demeanor softened and she felt compassion on him.

"I will do my best, but you have to be more careful. Pokemon are precious."

Phillip walked over to Nurse Joy and lightly touched her left arm and stared deep into her eyes. "Would you please heal my Tyrogue and Mareep as well. We suffered a terrible attack." She blushed and giggled.

"Absolutely! I'm on the case!" She shouted as she ran the three Pokemon to the back with Chansey by her side.

Phillip turned to Nathan and patted his back.

"Nathan… you should call your mom and let her know we've arrived in Cherrgrove City safely."

Nathan nodded in agreement. Moments later the phone rang and his mom was absolutely giddy at the fact that Nathan was calling her so soon.

"Oh my gosh Nathan! Your dad would be so proud! It took him twice as long to get to Cherrygrove!"

Nathan heard Professor Elm in the background.

"Is that you Nathan? Oh my! Phillip must be doing really great with you! Most trainers take much longer to get to Cherrygrove! You must have caught at least ten Pokemon by now! But how is that possible? I haven't received any Pokemon from you? Where are they? How many Pokemon have you caught already?"

Nathan laughed embarrassingly.

"None."

Phillip was standing in the background.

"Where is Phillip?" Professor Elm asked. "Is that you Phillip?"

"Yeah Professor, I'm here."

"What happened Phillip? Why hasn't Nathan caught any Pokemon?"

Phillip began to stutter.

"Well Professor… you see… what happened was…"

"What happened Phillip? Do I need to bring your mother over!?"

"That won't be necessary Professor. We ran into a situation, but we're fine, everybody is fine."

"How many Pokemon have you caught?" Professor Elm asked.

"Well I did catch a Mareep just outside town. It has a lot of spunk."

"Just like you. Good job. I know Mareep has always been one of your favorites."

"Anyway Professor, it was nice talking to you, but we have to go."

"You too Phillip. And take good care of Nathan."

"Pleeeee-aaaaaase!" Nathan's mom yelled in the background.

Nathan hung up the phone quickly. As he hung up the phone a teenage girl about Phillip's age with brown shoulder length hair, brown eyes and a purple and black hoody jumper and high-top sneakers kicked the door to the Pokemon Center open with a half-melted bike in hand.

"YOU TWERP! LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO MY BIKE!"

"Well… ACTUALLY fire did it, we didn't do it." Nathan snapped at her.

Clenching her fists and leaning in, her eyes filled with rage she began chasing Nathan around the waiting room. He hid behind everything he could and she threw everything she could pick up at him until he hid behind Phillip. Phillip stood between the girl and Nathan. His eyes widened and his hands were out trying to keep the girl from getting to Nathan.

"I'm really sorry about your bike Ms. That was my fault. Our Pokemon were injured, we were being attacked and it was the only thing I could think of at the time."

The girl stared deep into Phillip's sapphire eyes. Her knees began to get weak as she blushed and giggled, stuttering over her words.

"It's… it's okay."

"Thank you, miss, I promise you, we will get you a new bike as soon as we can." Phillip said.

"We will!?" Nathan yelled reeling.

Phillip elbowed him in the side as the girl shot a death stare at Nathan, who leaned back in fear. The girl looked back at Phillip and took a step back sticking out her hand and with a really big smile she introduced herself.

"My name is Kathy!"

Phillip shook her hand.

"Nice to meet you Ms. Kathy. My name is Phillip."

"And this is your brother?" Kathy asked politely.

The two laughed but before they could correct her, she saw Mareep and Tyrogue emerge out of the medical room.

Kathy shrieked with gladness.

"Oh my gosh are those Pokemon!? Can I meet them!?"

Nurse Joy approached Phillip with a smile.

"Your Pokemon are ready!"

"Wow that was fast! Thanks Nurse Joy!"

"It was my pleasure. They are really great patients, and you did a great job knowing their limits and protecting them from over exertion! Unlike SOME people." She glared at Nathan, who dropped his head down in disgrace.

Phillip approached Nathan and put his hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry, Cyndaquil will be alright, he's tough. I'll stay and wait with you."

"Me too!" Kathy shouted.

Phillip and Nathan looked at her surprised and confused. She looked down and drew circles on the ground with her toe.

"What? I love Pokemon. I just want to make sure Cyndaquil pulls through."

The group slept in the waiting room as they awaited Cyndaquil's recovery. Nathan was up all-night staring in the emergency room.

"I'm sorry Cyndaquil. I'll do a better job protecting you. This is all my fault. Even Tyrogue and Mareep were injured because of my bad decision. I won't let it happen again."

A few hours later Tyrogue woke up Phillip. It was time for their morning workout, and Tyrogue had significantly more energy because of the treatment he received. Phillip rolled over as Tyrogue nuzzled Phillip awake. Phillip opened his eyes and laughed.

"Okay Tyrogue, let's run."

Tyrogue pointed to the Pokeball that Mareep was in. Phillip called Mareep out.

"Do you want to run with us Mareep?"

Mareep nodded in agreement. Phillip looked back to see Kathy sleeping on a bench and Nathan collapsed at the foot of Cyndaquil's bed.

"He really loves Pokemon." Phillip said to himself.

Almost an hour later as they were running another announcement echoed throughout the city.

"ATTENTION THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER QUAGSIRE KIDNAPPING. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION AT ALL PLEASE REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY."

The three of them darted along an isolated valley near some woods overlooking a river. Mareep urged Tyrogue and Phillip to descend into the valley to drink some water. As the three of them sat down to drink Phillip spotted some odd tracks. They all followed the tracks into a well-hidden area. Mareep heard a Pokemon cry in the distance and ran towards it with Tyrogue with Phillip right behind them.

As they journeyed into the depths of the well-hidden area they encountered several Quagsire chained together carrying rocks. Phillip quietly called Mareep and Tyrogue into their Pokeballs while he snuck around deeper into the area. As he peered around a corner he saw two teenagers, a few years older than him with whips and bad attitudes. The guy had green hair down to his shoulders and a white jump suit with a red R on the chest of it, and the girl had long purple hair down to her waist with a white skirt and matching jacket with a red R on the chest.

Every time they cracked the whip they would yell at the Quagsire. The Quagsire seemed to not care and just followed the direction of the whip. Phillip burned with rage, he knew that Quagsire were historically naïve and simple and these two people were taking advantage of them. Phillip wanted to jump out and attack the people but knew that he was outmanned and that it would be a bad idea.

As Phillip tried to figure out a plan a couple of Wooper popped out of a crevice next to him catching him off guard. His cry drew the attention of the two people.

"Go check that out Brett!" the girl yelled as she pulled her whip back.

Phillip knew he was caught, and the eyes of the Quagsire said they were exhausted and he couldn't bear to leave them there. One of the Wooper tried to direct Phillip's attention to the neck of the Quagsire. Phillip was surprised, Wooper and Quagsire were known for being empty headed, but this one seemed to have a sharp mind. As Brett neared his hiding spot he ran out to unchain the alpha Quagsire's neck.

"Betty! We have an intruder!"

Phillip dived at the lead Quagsire's chain to unlock it.

"Zubat! Go!" Betty cried out.

A Zubat came flying at Phillip until the intelligent Wooper dove in front of it to take the brunt of the attack, and all the chains fell off the Quagsire. They all began to stampede towards the water, many of them just missing the Wooper that sacrificed itself for Phillip. Phillip ran in and out of the Quagsire stampede trying to make his way to the injured Wooper. As the last of the Quagsire was gone a Spinarak jumped in front of Phillip.

The Wooper rolled over and fired a Water Gun attack at the Spinarak. It bounced off of it, but the impact bought Phillip enough time to pick up Wooper and run after the Quagsire with him. Phillip ran in the middle of the stampede while they all made their way in the direction of the Pokemon Center. Brett and Betty were hot on the trail of the stampede knowing that they were about to be caught.

As Zubat and Spinarak did a duel attack Phillip called out Mareep and he leapt out of his Pokeball and fired a Thundershock that knocked them back. The race continued as Phillip, Mareep and the Wooper drew near to the Pokemon Center. Nathan dashed out of the Pokemon Center with his Cyndaquil ready to battle. Kathy stepped out next to Nathan and sent out an Abra. She tried to command it to attack, but it was confused and she had to call it back.

Nathan ordered Cyndaquil to do an ember attack and singed Zubat weakening it. Phillip handed Nurse Joy the Wooper before he ran back out to meet Brett and Betty. Zubat and Spinarak were double-teaming Cyndaquil overwhelming him. Phillip sent out Tyrogue.

Cyndaquil and Tyrogue attacked together knocking Zubat and Spinarak into Brett and Betty. As they were stunned Phillip ordered Tyrogue to Tackle them and follow it up with a Seismic Toss. He spun the four of them around in circles before launching them high in the air. Together Brett and Betty shouted as they were flying.

"TEAM ROCKET IS BLASTING OFF!"

They flew far away as Officer Jenny pulled up on her motorcycle. She introduced herself to Nathan, Kathy and Phillip, congratulating them and thanking them for finding all of the kidnapped Quagsire.

While Team Rocket was floating down the river they were talking to each other about their encounter.

"That Phillip is an exceptional trainer." Betty said.

"We should try to recruit him. He could take us far." Brett responded

"And the boss would love that Cyndaquil, it is quite strong." Betty said.

The sound of a waterfall was in the distance. The two Pokemon thieves tried to swim against the current unsuccessfully. They screamed as they tumbled down the waterfall.

The group stayed at the Pokemon Center until Wooper fully recovered. Officer Jenny took Wooper back to the wild while the group followed to say their farewells. Wooper refused to go into the wild. He wanted to stay with Phillip. Phillip knelt down next to him and asked him if he would be willing to battle so that he could catch him. Wooper nodded, excited that Phillip wanted to earn him.

Phillip sent out Mareep to battle Wooper.

To be continued…