This was it, the day Jake had been waiting for. He had slept through the car ride to the train station, just as he had slept through the train ride to New Bark Town. Jake felt a sharp jab at his side. “Hey sleepin’ beauty! Wake up, we’re there.” Ben yelled right in Jake’s ear. “Could you possibly yell a little louder? I can still hear out of my right ear.” Jake said sticking his finger in his left ear. “Well we’re here. This is New Bark Town.” He said as the train pulled into the station. Not a whole lot had changed since the last time Jake had been there, with the exception of the railroad coming through. Many citizens had been against the railroad coming through because, they were afraid that it would attract too many tourists and looky loos. Not to mention Team Rocket. Instead the town remained the same since ten years ago when Jake came here on summer vacation to camp at the lake. Usually the small town was quiet, but today was different. Ash Ketchum was coming into town on an errand from Professor Oak and Rose Blackthorn was on her way in on the next train from Goldenrod. “So when’s Ketchum supposed to show up?” Jake asked scratching his head as they stepped off the train. “Dunno, could be any time today.” Ben replied absent-mindedly. “You mean I might be gone before he gets here?” Jake asked hopefully. “Doubt it.” Ben said. “I don’t wanna meet some air head who thinks he’s larger than life.” Jake said. “Don’t worry about it kid. From what I know about him, he’s very down to earth. You shouldn’t get any trouble out of him.” Ben said in an understanding way. “I guess your right.” Jake agreed reluctantly. Jake looked down at Rascal who padded along side of him. By the looks of the people in town Jake decided that Ash was already in town. They went to the pokemon lab where they were to meet Professor Elm. On the way they met an odd elderly couple and a very ugly kid. They claimed that the lady was a psychic and could tell Jake exactly what his Luxray was thinking, but Jake paid them no attention. “We don’t have time for cheap parlor games.” He said to Ben who gave Jake a funny look. “Besides I’ve seen pokemon get stolen like that before.” He added in a softer voice, as if revealing the real reason for avoiding them. He remembered back to all of the times someone had tried to steal Rascal. They walked into the pokemon lab. Jake was amazed by all of the books the laboratory had. “If this wasn’t a lab it could sure pass for a library.” Jake said to Ben who whistled in amazement. As they moved deeper into the lab they heard a person reading aloud but in a very soft tone. “…the Lucario is a rare species that can only be found in the Sinnoh Region.” Then without, making a sound he looked up. “Oh, hello. I didn’t hear you come in.” He smiled and held out his hand. “I’m Professor Elm, the official Pokemon Professor for this region.” Ben shook his hand, and said, “I’m Ben Cane; we talked on the phone a few days ago. And this is Jake Brooks, the boy that I need you to register into the Pokemon League.” Professor Elm adjusted his glasses. “Has Jake been registered in any other region than here?” he asked. “Yes.” Jake interrupted. “I was registered in the Hoenn League a year ago.” “Ok, that saves me a lot of work. All I need you to do is sign this trainer’s card…” Professor Elm said handing him an I.D. “…and enter your name into the computer.” He pulled the chair out of his desk so that Jake could sit down at the computer. After Jake did these two things, Professor Elm looked at him and said; “Ok now it’s time for you to pick your first Johto Pokemon.” He laid three pokeballs on his desk Jake picked up the pokeball that had a fire emblem on it. “I choose Cyndaquil.” He said without a second thought. He pushed the button on the center and released a porcupine-like pokemon. The flame quills on its back were retracted, which made him look very harmless. “Hey there little guy.” The Cyndaquil looked up at him, and cocked its head to the right. Then Cyndaquil jumped into his arms happily. “Looks like he likes you kid,” Ben said. “I think we should get you started off on your journey.” “Alright, sounds good to me.” Jake said. “Cyndaquil, return.” The pokemon turned red and disappeared into the pokeball. Jake stood up and turned and before leaving he said, “Thank you Professor.” Before he made it outside the door opened and a person walked in who was about Jake’s age, maybe younger.. He stood about five and a half feet tall, and wore a red and black baseball cap. Jake automatically knew who it was. “You must be Ash Ketchum.” Jake said in a friendly way. “I am, but who are you?” Ash stopped and asked. “I’m Jake Brooks.” Jake said “Ash Ketchum.” Ash turned and walked toward Professor Elm. “You said you have something for Professor Oak?” Ash said getting right to business. “Oh yes, my assistant uncovered it in the mountains, on Mt. Silver.” Professor Elm said as he opened a safe and pulled out a fossil. “It appears to be the wishbone of an ancient Lugia.” He turned and placed the Y-shaped fossil inside an iron case and handed it to Ash. “I think they can clone the fossil on Cinnibar Island.” “Thank you. Professor Oak will be very pleased.” Ash said placing the iron case in his back pack. “No problem at all Ash, we’re always happy to have you.” Professor Elm smiled. “Will you be in town for long?” “Probably not. Professor Oak has a lot of work for us when we get back.” Ash said jerking his thumb at the door. “Okay then. Take care of yourself Ash.” Professor Elm waved to him. Ash turned and headed to the door. Jake who had stopped and watched, was now walking beside him. Jake’s apprehension was now replaced with a realization. Ash Ketchum was just like him. Just a kid trying to be the best. “So you’ll be on your way back to Pallet Town then?” Jake asked. “Yeah, probably.” Ash replied, as he opened the door. Jake nodded, “Well I guess I’ll see you around then.” “I guess so.” Ash said, and then turned and walked away. Jake turned and walked in the opposite direction. Rascal walked beside him looking around cautiously. Jake had an uneasy feeling about his surroundings. They made it all the way down Main Street, when they heard a voice come over the city-wide PA system. A female voice said: Citizens of New Bark Town! A robbery is taking place at the pokemon lab. A curfew is in effect as of now. Anyone caught on the streets will be arrested immediately!” People began murmuring amongst themselves. All eyes turned toward Jake who apparently was the only stranger in town. Jake started back toward the pokemon lab. “We were only five blocks away. How could someone have robbed it that quickly?” Jake said to Rascal who ran with him. Then Officer Jenny pulled up on her motorcycle. “Are you Jake Brooks?” she asked. Jake took off his hat, “Yes Ma’am.” “Chief Cane is in trouble!” She said as Jake ran around to the side car and climbed in. Jenny’s tires squealed as they sped away, with Rascal effortlessly keeping up. Jake tugged on his hat to keep the wind from grabbing it. “What kind of trouble?” He yelled over the roar of the motorcycle’s engine. “They have him pinned down in the town square, along with Rose Blackthorn.” She replied. Jenny squeezed on the brakes and the motorcycle squealed to a halt. She swung her leg over and got off of the bike. Jenny and Jake were at a restaurant just outside of the town square where Jake could hear a lot of commotion. They peeked around the corner to see that Ben and Rose were behind a police car, with pin missiles raining down all around them. Jake’s eyes followed the silver pins all the way back to their source. An Umbreon stood on the rooftop of a building using Pin Missile. Jake thought quickly, then turned and grabbed one of the wooden tables outside of the restaurant. He used it as a shield as he ran across the plaza to the car that Ben and Rose were using for cover. “What’s she doing here?” He asked. “I’m a pokemon trainer. This is where trainers register for the year.” She said as the left front tire of the police cruiser deflated. Her expression had “DUH!” written all over it. “Ok, so you have a right to be here.” He said. Then he turned to Ben, “But why do you have a police car? You’re the chief of Olivine.” Ben looked at Jake. “I umm, commandeered it.” Ben turned and looked through the passenger side window. “I think Rascal can use Thunder Wave, and paralyze that Umbreon, but I’ll have to distract him.” “No, I’ll distract him.” Jake said taking out a pokeball, with a lopsided grin on his face. He looked at Rascal, “When Ben gives you the signal, you use Thunder Wave on that Umbreon. Got it?” Rascal acknowledged with a growl. “Go Rapidash!” Jake opened the pokeball letting out the horse pokemon. He ran up and swung himself up on Rapidash’s back. “Let’s ride!” “Oh no.” Ben said quietly. “What?” Rose asked. “He’s smiling.” He put his head in his hands. “Is that bad?” “It’s never ever a good sign.” Ben said. Rapidash’s hooves clopped on the asphalt in great bounds. The Umbreon turned its attention away from the police car and on to Jake and Rapidash who were riding around the plaza. As the silver pins began to rain down all around Jake and Rapidash, Jake heard Ben yell “Now!” Rascal jumped up on the hood of the police car, and unleashed his wave of electricity. The Umbreon was caught off guard, and dropped to the roof, paralyzed as planned. Jake heard a male voice yell “Return!” and then a female voice yelled “Go, Espeon!” Jake and Rapidash rode around to the back of the building, where they came to a stop. “Rapidash, use Bounce.” Jake said quietly so the thieves were not alerted. Rapidash jumped high into the air, with Jake holding on tight, and landed on the rooftop where the thieves were at. The roof cracked under the pressure of Rapidash’s landing. A male and a female were on the rooftop. They both whirled around when Jake jumped off of Rapidash’s back and yelled “Hey!” They both wore Team Rocket uniforms. The female had flowing blonde hair and blue eyes. And the male, Jake recognized to be none other than the trainer who challenged him in the Olivine Diner two days ago. He had jet-black hair as black as his uniform, and black eyes to match. “Billy, he’s so much cuter than you described him to be. And those pale gray eyes are to die for.” The girl said to the male. “Can we keep him?” “Well Bonnie, I guess I didn’t have a woman’s perspective.” Billy replied to her. “You two caused a lot of trouble today, and coulda got somebody killed.” Jake interrupted. “Excuse me if I’m not all broken up about that.” Billy said. “I also want what ever it is that you stole from the lab.” Jake added. “Sorry cutie, no can do.” Bonnie said with a malicious smile. Rascal jumped up and joined Jake, and Rapidash. “Well, I guess we’ll have to fight you for it then.” “Fine, you’ll lose.” Billy glared at Jake. “Bonnie, stay out of this, I have a score to settle.” He took out two pokeballs, and unleashed Golem and Pidgeotto. “Golem, use Rock Throw. Pidgeotto, use Hyper Beam.” “Rapidash, use Horn Drill. Rascal, use Hyper Beam.” Jake called to his pokemon. Rascal and Pidgeotto’s Hyper Beams caused an explosion in between them, as they met half way, and Rapidash used its horn to drill right through the rocks that were thrown at Rascal. Their battle was interrupted by the sound of sirens, screaming down Main Street. “Billy, I think it’s time we cut our losses and get out of here.” Bonnie said, grabbing Billy’s arm. “Yes, perhaps you’re right.” He looked at Jake. “We’ll finish this later cowboy.” Billy returned his pokemon and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a tiny capsule and slammed it on the ground. Smoke erupted instantly. When Jake looked up they were gone. Ben and Rose suddenly appeared over the edge of the roof. They had come up the fire escape. “Who was it?” Ben asked. “It was Team Rocket. A pair of villains callin’ themselves Billy and Bonnie.” Jake looked around. “There’s more, Billy’s the one I fought in Olivine day before yesterday.” “Where’d they go?” Ben asked. “They disappeared; Billy had some kinda smoke bomb.” Jake answered. “Just like the robbery yesterday.” Rose chimed in. “Right.” Jake agreed. That night Jake threw his bag down on the bed in one of the spare rooms in the Pokemon Center. “I’m sorry Jake, but they can’t let anyone go until they’re sure Billy and Bonnie do have the fossil.” Ben said. “I even heard Ash Ketchum was nearly robbed by another pair of thieves who were after the other fossil.” “So, explain to me what Professor Elm told you about the fossil that Billy and Bonnie have.” Jake said. “Well, he said that his scientists uncovered two fossils. One was the Lugia’s wishbone which Ash has, and the other was one of Lugia’s lower vertebrae.” Ben explained. “What do ya think they’ll do with it?” Jake asked. Ben scoffed. “Probably sell it.” “You don’t think they could clone it do you?” “It’s a possibility.” Ben said. A possibility that neither one of them wanted to consider. “With Lugia at his command, Giovanni would be unstoppable.” Jake went down into the lobby where he found Ash healing his pokemon. A Pikachu was with him that wasn’t with him in the lab. “Hey.” Jake said to Ash. “Hey Jake.” Ash said back. “I heard that you had some excitement today.” “Yeah, nothin’ that Rascal and me couldn’t handle.” Jake said looking down at Rascal. “I heard they came after you too.” “Yup, but Pikachu put ‘em in their place.” Ash chuckled. Ben and Rose stood across the room, just out of ear shot of Jake and Ash. “I can just see the rivalry between them.” Ben said. “They seem perfectly normal to me.” Rose said to Ben. “You just watch them further down the line. Sooner or later, they’ll have to find out which one of them is best.” Ben replied. Veridian City Giovanni sat in his dining room eating dinner alone as he did most nights. He was just cutting into his dessert when he heard a vehicle pull into the circle drive. A butler came into the room. “Master Nikolai is here to see you sir.” He announced in a stuffy voice. “Send him in, and fix him a plate.” Giovanni motioned toward the kitchen. “Yes sir.” He walked into the living room then, came back and announced “Master Nikolai, sir” He then walked into the kitchen. The older man sat down at the end of the table, on the left corner, and a Luxray with a scar across his left eye curled up at his feet. “I bring you great news.” Nikolai said. His Scottish accent reminded Giovanni of his grandfather. “The agents you allowed me to borrow have reported back that they have one of the fossils.” The butler brought out a serving tray with a silver cover on it. He set it down in front of Nikolai and removed the cover. “It looks great.” Nikolai said as he picked up his fork. “Nikolai I want you to create a super clone of Lugia, instead of just a copy.” Giovanni said finally. Nikolai stared at his plate and smiled. “I thought you learned your lesson with Mewtwo.” He looked up at Giovanni. “Never have a minion that’s more powerful than you.” “I can end this partnership, just as easily as I started it.” Giovanni said. Nikolai stood up. “Know that if you try to back out of our deal now, I will break you into so many pieces that they’ll need a dust pan to pick you up again. Then I’ll take Team Rocket for myself.” The Luxray jumped on the table. Its menacing gold and red eyes gleamed. “No I think you can do with just a normal legendary pokemon.” Nikolai said. Giovanni glanced over at his Persian, who was ready to back him up. “Fine, do what ever you want with the clone.” After Nikolai left, Giovanni spoke to Persian. “I’m starting to think this deal is getting worse all the time.”