Chapter 30:Burned Down Schemes

Early the next day, Brett and Betty stood a few hundred feet away from the Burned Tower. They looked out and saw two men with beards and gees that looked like pajamas standing at the front entrance.

"Are they guarding it?" Brett asked.

"This is where he said to meet him." Betty said.

"Easy enough."

Brett called out Spinarak. He whispered some orders to Spinarak. Spinarak crawled away in the dark of the morning air. Within seconds Spinarak dropped on top of the two guards and stung them paralyzing them and causing them to drop to the ground. As the two guards dropped a Zubat flew up next to them and cast Hypnosis on both. While the guards were passed out Brett and Betty snuck into the tower giggling.

As they climbed the tower, they saw several Rattata in a corner trying to avoid detection. Brett held in a shriek. The tower was eerie, as if ghosts were all around them. When they finally arrived at the top there was a man neatly trimmed purple hair and a black suit on. Under his suit jacket he wore a black shirt with a large red R on it. There were a couple more members of Team Rocket around him. He was giving them orders and pointing in different directions. He looked over and made eye contact with Betty. A smug smile stretched in the corner of his mouth.

"My dear sister. It's nice of you to finally join us. Stay with me. Burt-"

"-B-Brett… sir."

"Whatever. I need you to go downstairs and do something about those infernal Rattata."

Brett stood up straight.

"I'm sorry… are you giving me grunt work?"

The man glared at Brett.

"Was I not clear in my instruction? Do something about those Rattata. Unless of course you would like me to call the boss… I'm sure he'd love to talk to the guy who hasn't done anything of relevance for him in almost a year. Have you even caught anything other than that spider of yours?"

Brett glared back. He knew his position in the ranks of Team Rocket. He looked at Betty. The man called out to her.

"Betty, go over there."

Betty shook her head and followed orders. Brett bit his lip and headed back downstairs. He called out Spinarak and approached the family of Rattata. He was mumbling about how below him this job was. As Spinarak approached the Rattata they fled leaving one behind. Brett was shaking. He took a step closer. The Rattata was paralyzed by fear. Brett went to order Spinarak to attack, but he tripped over a loose board in the dark tower. An empty Pokeball rolled out of his pocket. The Pokeball rolled into the Rattata. Rattata decided to stay in the ball. Brett caught a Rattata, even though he was terrified of rodents.

Meanwhile, Phillip, Kathy, Nathan, and Ashley were leaving Grandmaster Achamp's dojo.

They bidded their farewells, Phillip thanked Achamp and Orleena for their help. They walked for over an hour when the Burned Tower came into view. Phillip immediately recognized it from his vision in Ilex Forest. Without saying anything he took off. Before Kathy, Nathan and Ashley realized what happened Phillip was lost in the distance. They sprinted to try to catch up.

At the entrance of the Burned Tower there were two guards and Officer Jenny. Phillip jumped through the middle of them and darted into the tower, thinking nothing of it. They tried to catch him. Before any of them could get into the tower they were stopped by Officer Jenny and the two guards. Officer Jenny shouted at the them.

"What mischief are you two kids up to!?"

Nathan stopped in his tracks and shouted back.

"Two!? There's three of us!"

Nathan and Ashley looked around. Kathy was nowhere to be found.

"I'm very capable of counting kid! There are only two of you here! And you can't go into the tower! This is an active crime scene!"

Nathan was confused. He looked everywhere and could not find Kathy.

"What the!?"

Ashley looked at Nathan, just as befuddled as he was.

"Maybe we lost her in the run?"

Officer Jenny stood with her hands on her hips staring at Nathan and Ashley.

"You have some explaining to do kid."

While Phillip was in the tower, he darted up the stairs. He was in the middle of an empty room looking lost. He could tell people had been there. Suddenly he sensed a dark presence surrounding him. He turned around quickly. A giant smile hung in the air. Phillip jumped at first. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them the giant smile had two other a spherical Pokemon surrounded by purple gas was on it's left and to the right of the smile was another purple gaseous Pokemon with triangular eyes and a long tongue.

Phillip jumped back and then realized what he was looking at. Courage welled up inside of him. He reached in his bag to grab Charlie, Delta and Mareep.

"If that's how you want it."

A voice echoed through the room. He paused and listened more closely. He could hear foot steps coming from behind him and he threw out his Pokemon as he turned.

"What are you doing here? This is no place for vagrants."

Phillip made eye contact with a young man withclothes of black and purple. He had shoulder-length golden-blonde hair that was being kept away from his face by a wide headband that matched his scarf. The three Pokemon reappeared behind the young man. The young man looked a little closer at Phillip.

"I know your eyes."

"And I know you… Morty."

The young man took a step back.

"Have we ever met?"

"No. My name is Phillip."

"Aw… of course… your- "

"-Yeah. He's my dad."

"Well… Phillip… why are you here? There have been break ins here recently. Some of my own trainers were taken out by these intruders."

"I had nothing to do with that."

"I figured. But the question still stands… why are you here?"

"I've seen this tower before."

"Many have. It's legends are well known."

"But I was there. When this was a golden tower. There were two birds fighting over it. I saw the lightning strike. I saw Suicune, Entei and Raikou when they were born. And then there was a massive dragon overlooking all of it."

Morty's jaw dropped.

"You're a seer!?"

"No… I don't have the same gift as you."

"So how did you come to see this?"

"We were in Ilex Forest. A storm came. I saw a shadow of a mysterious Pokemon. Then I was teleported to the scene of this tower. Followed by the scene of… something else…"

Morty gasped.

"And this happened in Ilex?"

"Yes."

"You saw Celebi?"

Phillip's defenses dropped.

"Who is Celebi?"

"Celebi is the time travel Pokemon. If it revealed something to you, you are fated to be here indeed."

Phillip glared at Morty.

"I control my own fate."

Morty laughed and then recalled his Haunter and his Gastly. Gengar came to his side.

"I once thought as you do Phillip. Would you be willing to assist me in my investigation?"

Phillip relaxed and recalled Delta and Charlie. Mareep came to his side.

"What's the mystery?" Phillip asked.

"There have been odd signs and sounds here as of late. The Gastly that live here have woken me up on many occasions for comfort. I'm not sure what it is, but I believe some sort of dark plot is afoot."

Phillip approached Morty.

"Lead the way."

The two of them scaled to the top of the tower. They encountered a few Gastly along the way, but they seemed to know Morty and didn't do anything. They found little clues on every floor suggesting that people had been there, but nothing to confirm why they were there. Once they reached the top Phillip caught a glimpse of a dog looking Pokemonwith short, black fur and a red underbelly and muzzle. He and Mareep took off to follow it. They arrived at the edge of the Burned Tower in front of a man with neatly trimmed purple hair and a black suit on. The dog Pokemon spewed fire in front of them creating a wall of fire to stop them. They jumped back.

Morty arrived. Gengar cast a shade of darkness and night that covered the fire putting it out.

"You must be the one causing all the trouble. What are you up to?"

The man with the purple hair began to laugh and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Oh… Gym Leader Morty. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I imagined we'd run into each other sooner or later."

Morty clinched his right fist.

"Oh yeah? And why is that?"

"Well… my people tell me you have a fascination with Ho-Oh and the Legendary Beasts. It was only a matter of time before your interests interfered with Team Rocket's business."

"And what business is that?" Phillip shouted.

"How dare you interrupt me you mongrel!? Do you even know who you are talking to!?"

"A prissy little boy that I'm about to help send to prison. I've dealt with two of your people constantly, already."

"Is that right?"

The man began stroking his chin, analyzing Phillip.

"Aw yes… you must be Phillip. My sister mentioned that she tried to recruit you. If not for her bumbling fool of a partner she probably would have succeeded."

Morty stepped towards him.

"My patience is wearing thin. Who are you?"

The man laughed again.

"Ah yes… My name is Ludwig. I am one of the three lieutenants of the Johto division of Team Rocket. Both of you meddling in my business has slowed down my plans."

"That seems unfortunate for you." Phillip said.

Ludwig glared and snarled at Phillip.

"Enough of this disrespect! Take Down attack Houndour!"

Houndour, the black dog that Phillip followed, emerged out of the shadows and charged at Mareep. Phillip gasped. He dove onto Mareep and rolled out of the way holding him. Morty yelled at Ludwig.

"What a cheap tactic! I will bring you down!"

Ludwig laughed.

"I don't play by your menial rules seer."

He threw out a Pokeball. Haunter emerged. Haunter and Houndour were surrounding Phillip about to engage in a two on one attack.

"Payback and Bite attack!"

Both Houndour and Haunter charged at Mareep. Houndour ran into a purple fist that appeared out of nowhere. Houndour let out a yelp as he was sent rolling backwards. Mareep jumped over Haunter, leaving cotton spores behind him. Morty's Gengar appeared between Houndour and Mareep. The cotton spores attached to Haunter. As he moved the spores grew. Ludwig grinded his teeth.

"You idiots will not stop me from summoning the Legendary Beasts."

Morty stopped.

"What are you trying to do?"

Ludwig laughed.

"Do you idiots realize the power we can have over the Pokemon world if we can control time? No of course you don't. You all are small minded, not like my boss. He sees far beyond any of us can. While you children live in a world of "friendship with all Pokemon." Team Rocket exists to preserve the human world using Pokemon."

"I guess we'll have to stop you then." Phillip said.

"Thundershock attack Mareep!"

Mareep jumped up and fired a powerful electric attack at Haunter. Haunter was already being slowed by the cotton spore attack. Mareep's attack rendered him almost motionless.

"Take down attack Houndour!"

Houndour charged at Gengar. He went through him.

"For someone who owns a Haunter you don't seem to know too much about ghost Pokemon. Most of your attacks won't work on ghost Pokemon."

"Hypnosis Gengar!"

Gengar fired a powerful Hypnosis attack that put both Haunter and Houndour to sleep.

"Finish them off with an Electro Ball attack!"

Mareep's electric ball barreled towards Haunter and Houndour. A quick light hit Houndour and Haunter. They returned to their Pokeballs as Ludwig soared away on a ladder attached to a helicopter.

"Let's finish this some other time." Ludwig shouted while laughing. "I have what I need."

Phillip ran to the edge of the tower chasing after him.

"Coward!"

Ludwig was flying east away from the tower laughing. Phillip was grinding his teeth as he watched the helicopter fly off in the distance. Morty ran up to Phillip. They both watched the helicopter until they could no longer see it. Phillip turned to face Morty.

"Well done, Phillip."

"What do you mean? He got away."

"You were blindsided and double teamed. You and your Mareep survived, and you prevented Ludwig from causing any more harm to the Pokemon that call this tower their home."

Phillip's demeanor calmed down as Morty's words sunk in.

"And as a thank you Phillip I present you with this Fog Badge."

"I can't accept this. I didn't beat you in a fair match."

"But you did defeat a Haunter in a fight for what is right. You showed a level of cunning, tact and character that few have. I would be honored for you represent this gym as a winner."

Phillip hesitated. He didn't feel as though he properly earned it. He meditated on Morty's words a bit longer as Morty approached him.

"I won't take no for an answer. You helped me stop a heinous crime to my friends in this tower. It is the only way I can truly thank you."

"Fine… but I want a proper battle at a later date."

Morty stuck his hand out as a smile spread across his face.

"Deal."

The two shook hands. They walked down to the tower floor where Morty and Phillip met up with Nathan, Ashley, and Officer Jenny. Phillip was confused as he looked around for Kathy. He asked Nathan.

"Where's Ka- "

"-Halt trespasser!" Officer Jenny interrupted. "You can't just run into a crime scene!"

Morty emerged from the tower. Officer Jenny made eye contact with him.

"Master Morty!? Don't worry we are arresting this young man."

"There's no need to do that. I would not have succeeded in my investigation without him."

Officer Jenny stepped back and put her hands on her hips.

"Explain yourself."

Both Morty and Phillip gave their statements telling Officer Jenny everything that occurred. Officer Jenny grunted with frustration.

"That Team Rocket! They're always up to no good!"

"This seems like something far more sinister. I don't think the Gastly and Haunter that live in this tower would have warned me if it was some small crime." Morty suggested.

"We will look into this further."

Officer Jenny departed. Phillip looked back at Nathan and Ashley.

"Where's Kathy?"

Morty gasped and his eyes widened.

"Kathy!?"

"I'm right here!"

A shout came from behind the group. The whipped around to see Kathy wearing her hair different with fresh new purple clothes. Nathan shouted at her.

"Where have you been!? We looked everywhere for you!"

Kathy ignored Nathan and approached Morty.

"Hello cousin."

Phillip, Nathan and Ashley gasped.

"COUSIN!?"

To be continued…