The Palto Adventures

Part 3: Neo Team Rocket and The Petrified 
Pokemon

Kazuki woke up strangely refreshed. He felt like he'd had the best 
sleep of his life, and that's odd for sleeping on dirt all night. Even 
Chikorita was energetic! He thought it might have something to do 
with that strange pokemon he saw in the night, but dismissed it as a 
coincidence, and decided to go capture a pokemon or two. Him and 
Chikorita walked into the forest only a short while before running into 
a swarm of Ledyba. He popped out his pokedex to find some 
information. 

< Ledyba. > It said. 
< These bug type pokemon use their signature attack, Comet Punch, 
to pummel opponents while confusing them with Supersonic. They 
are usually timid and will run rather than battle. >

Kazuki put the pokedex back into his pocket. He really wanted to 
capture another pokemon, but this one would be tricky. 

" Chikorita. " He whispered. 
" Use a Sweet Scent on the Ledyba to calm them down, then a 
couple Razor Leaf attacks. "

Chikorita nodded and stepped out from behind the tree. The Ledyba 
were a little startled, but continued grazing some moss. Then 
Chikorita released the Sweet Scent, which wafted all over them! They 
dropped to the forest floor, overwhelmed by the smell. 

" Now! Kazuki cried. Razor Leaf! "

The Ledyba didn't even know what hit them, as the razor-sharp 
leaves chopped away at their semi-soft carapaces. One Ledyba 
escaped the Razor Leaves however, and started towards Chikorita! 

" Look out! " Kazuki yelled. 

The Ledyba readied his Comet Punch…

" Reflect! " Kazuki ordered. 

The Ledyba fell back to the ground, bruised up by his own attack. 
Kazuki watched as the other Ledyba shook off the Sweet Scent and 
flew away. 

" Well, I guess we captured a pokemon. "

With that, Kazuki threw the pokeball at the Ledyba, who was sucked 
up inside. The ball barely jiggled before the button on the front turned 
green, signaling a successful capture! Kazuki was happy that he had 
more than one pokemon, but realized a problem. He only had one 
more pokeball left, and the nearest pokemart was all the way back in 
town. He'd have to make sure the next pokemon he captured was a 
good one.

" Chik Chik " Chikorita cried.

" What's wrong, Chikorita? " Kazuki asked.

He looked up in to the sky to see the clouds forming. They were big 
and black, full of moisture. Before he knew it, the rain was pouring 
down, and that's when something strange happened. 

" Chikka! " Chikorita yelped.

All around Kazuki, trees were uprooting themselves and running in all 
directions! Kazuki figured these were no ordinary trees and pulled out 
his pokedex.

< Sudowoodo. > The pokedex announced.
< These strange pokemon mimic trees and their opponents attacks. 
They appear to have characteristics of grass pokemon and fighting 
pokemon, but are actually rock types. They hate the rain and try to 
find shelter in a downpour. >

" Sudowoodo would make a great pokemon partner! " Kazuki said.
" Lets try to find the biggest and strongest one, Chikorita. "

Kazuki watched as the pokemon scattered, and then noticed a 
strange Sudowoodo in the distance. This Sudowoodo looked different 
from the others that had been running by. While the other 
Sudowoodo were brown with green bushels, this one was gold with 
purple bushels! It sparkled as the rain ran off it. 

< That is a shiny pokemon. > The pokedex said.
< These are very rare, and exceptionally strong versions of regular 
pokemon. They will occasionally learn new techniques and have 
special traits. > 

" A Sudowoodo was good enough, but a shiny Sudowoodo! This is a 
great day. " Kazuki said ecstatically.

" Chik " Chikorita said, ready to fight.

" Only strong trainers can capture strong pokemon. " A voice rang 
out.

Kazuki turned to see Rival smirking sinisterly next to a tree. 

" I figured you'd be out here trying to capture pokemon, Kazuki, but 
there is no point in trying to get that one. " He said, pointing.
" That one is too powerful for you. " 
" It's way out of your league. "

Kazuki sneered back at Rival, angry at his remarks.

" I can catch it, and I will catch it! " Kazuki yelled.

" Not if I capture it first " Rival yelled in response.

The two started to give chase to the Sudowoodo, who was 
surprisingly fast for a rock type. They followed as fast as they could, 
before deciding to use their pokemon to fight it.

" Go, Bulbasaur! " Rival ordered.

" Go, Chikorita! " Kazuki ordered.

Bulbasaur and Chikorita appeared before Sudowoodo, who wasn't 
very happy about having to fight.

" Bulbasaur, use the Poison Powder! " Rival commanded.

The purple spores cascaded over Sudowoodo, who was totally 
unaffected by the attack.

" No! " Kazuki protested.
" Poison attacks won't affect rock types! "

Sudowoodo took advantage of Rival's loss of concentration and Low 
Kicked Bulbasaur. The pokemon was thrown violently in to a tree.

" Bulbasaur, Don't let that petrified punk take you down with a cheap 
shot. Get up and fight! "

Bulbasaur rose, a fiery rage burning in his eyes. He leapt forward, his 
muscles tense and sweat beading on his forehead.

" That Bulbasaur is powerful. " Kazuki said to himself.
" That Low Kick should have K.O.ed him. "

" Bulbasaur, Vine Whip! "

" Chikorita, Razor Leaf! "

The attacks raced towards Sudowoodo, who blocked both with a 
Karate Chop! He counter-attacked with a Rock Throw. The purple 
bushels hardened and became stone-like in texture. They fired off his 
hands like rockets!

" Look out! " Kazuki screamed.

The two pokemon tried to leap out of the way, but were bombarded 
by the rocks. Bulbasaur returned to battle, while Chikorita lied down, 
breathless.

" Don't let Bulbasaur battle anymore, Rival. "
" That Sudowoodo is way too strong. "

Rival drowned Kazuki out and ordered his Bulbasaur to attack.

" Use the Wrap attack! " He ordered.

Bulbasaur fired his vines out, ready to strike Sudowoodo. Before they 
connected, Sudowoodo began to glow, focusing on the incoming 
attack.

< Mimic. > The pokegear said.
< This is Sudowoodo's signature attack. It copies the opponent's 
move. >

Just before the vines hit Sudowoodo, the newly regenerated bushels 
thinned out like clay and fired towards Bulbasaur's vines! The two 
sets of vines were lashed together in the middle of the battlefield. 
Sudowoodo swung his long, purple vines up and down, making 
Bulbasaur lose his footing! 

" No! " Rival yelled.
" Not the Seismic Toss! "

The pokemon was thrown high in to the sky, almost out of sight. He 
came crashing down and was returned to his pokeball.

" No pokemon is worth this much trouble. " Rival questioned.
" You can try and catch that thing if you like. "

Rival ran away towards the outside of the forest. Kazuki was left in 
the clearing with the shiny pokemon. The air was so filled with 
tension, that it was hard to breath.

" Chikorita, Sweet Scent! " Kazuki yelled quickly.

Chikorita lifted her leaf to expose the under-side. The pink powder 
floated threw the air to Sudowoodo, who dropped to the ground. 

" Now, come on out, Ledyba! "

The ladybug pokemon appeared and got ready for its first fight. 
Kazuki pointed to the downed Sudowoodo. 

" Ledyba, use a Supersonic, followed by the Leech Life! " Kazuki 
ordered.
" Chikorita, use the Razor Leaf, and if Sudowoodo fights back use the 
Reflect technique. "

The pokemon went to work, dishing out major damage. Sudowoodo 
tried to fight the two pokemon, but the combination of Sweet Scent 
and Supersonic made it hard to connect with Karate Chop. When 
Sudowoodo was weakened enough, Kazuki called Ledyba back. 

" Now Chikorita, try a Vine Whip! "

Chikorita focused hard, and two of the tiny seeds around her neck 
jotted out in to vines. They curled around Sudowoodo, who didn't 
even know what hit him.

< Wrap attack. > The pokegear said.
< This attacks keeps the opponent at bay while dealing damage. >

Sudowoodo was trapped, unable to execute the Karate Chop or Low 
Kick.

" Now it's time for another capture! "
" Pokeball, Go! " Kazuki yelled.

Chikorita's vines fell limp as the Sudowoodo was sucked in to the 
pokeball. The ball rested in the grass, jumping around excitedly. 
Kazuki watched as the button on the ball changed from red to green! 

" Yes, I captured Sudowoodo! " Kazuki cried.

He and Chikorita ran towards town. Kazuki couldn't wait to show his 
mom and Sage Lei. 

When he got back, the town was totally deserted. He looked in to the 
empty windows as he passed by each building. The few cars that 
were in town were stopped in the middle of the street, abandoned by 
their owners. Kazuki was trying to think of a reason for the town's 
people's sudden disappearance, when a loud noise startled him. It 
had come from the square! He ran to the fountain there to see that 
same strange gentleman he'd seen the other night standing next to a 
Growlithe. He turned to see Kazuki staring.

" Ah, it looks like I missed one. " the man said.

Kazuki leered at him angrily.

" Where is everyone? " Kazuki questioned.

" I don't think it will matter. "
" You'll be with them in a short while, after I beat you in a pokemon 
battle. "

The man held up a small, liquid-filled syringe. He proceeded to prick 
the Growlithe, which instantly evolved in to an Arcanine. Kazuki could 
literally see the heat rise off its fur.

< Arcanine. > The pokedex announced.
< This pokemon runs as if on wings, practically gliding over the 
ground. Arcanine can learn the most powerful fire attack, Fire Blast. >

" Liquefied Fire Stone. " The man jested.
" Courtesy of top Neo Team Rocket scientists. They are much easier 
to come by than the real thing, and it gives the patient a " Rocket " 
touch.

Kazuki could tell what he meant about the " Rocket " touch. The 
newly evolved Arcanine had a disturbing fury in its eyes, much like 
Rival's Bulbasaur.

" I'm gonna have to battle with pokemon that are strong against fire 
types. " Kazuki thought to himself.

< You have only one pokemon strong against fire pokemon, 
Sudowoodo. > The pokedex informed.

" I'd better use that potion. " Kazuki thought.

He released Sudowoodo, who was obviously tired. He sprayed the 
potion over his body and he began to perk up.

" A shiny pokemon? " The man said excitedly.
" I'm sure to get a promotion from the boss if I bring in a shiny 
pokemon! " 
" Arcanine, Crunch attack! " The man ordered.

Arcanine ran forward at an incredible speed and chomped down on 
Sudowoodos torso. He was lifted up and brought back to the 
gentleman's side.

" Now, time for the Rocket Ball. " The man said.

He pulled that same strange ball from his sleeve. He laughed at 
Kazuki.

" The Rocket Ball can capture an already captured pokemon! Another 
gem from Neo Team Rocket! "

" Sudowoodo, Mimic the Crunch! " Kazuki commanded.

Sudowoodo leapt up, and gnashed the man's hand. He screamed in 
pain and dropped the Rocket Ball. Kazuki took the opportunity to 
swipe it up from the ground.

" Now I'm in control! " Kazuki chuckled.
" Sudowoodo, Rock Throw! "

The bushels pummeled the Arcanine. He fell at his trainer's feet.

" Arcanine, No! " 

Kazuki threw the Rocket ball at the trainers Arcanine! He was 
transported in to the ball, which didn't even jiggle. 

" Now for a taste of your own medicine. " Kazuki said.
" Arcanine, Flamethrower! " 

Kazuki threw the Rocket Ball on to the battlefield. It opened just as 
the gentleman started to run away. The enormous Arcanine took in a 
deep breath and bathed the man in flames! He ran in to the woods, 
smoldering all the way. When Kazuki had just started to follow after 
him, he saw the man take off in a big, black rocket balloon. He yelled 
back at Kazuki.

" You'll pay for disgracing the honor of Neo Team Rocket! My 
colleagues and I will have our revenge!!!!!!

After unlocking the City Hall, Kazuki found all of the town's people 
inside. He noticed that Sage Lei was helping to untie everyone.

" Sage Lei, how did you escape from the ropes? " Kazuki asked.

" I used my Exeggutor's Razor Leaf attack to cut my ropes away and 
started to help everyone else out. Where have you been? "

" I came in to town to see my mom, but I had to fight some Neo Team 
Rocket member before I could find you guys. " He said.

" You fought that Neo Team Rocket member and won? " He said, 
surprised.
" He was the punk that trapped us in here. He totally cleaned out the 
pokemon storage room, full of pokemon that were ready to be de-
programmed. I have to admire your skills though. You doubted 
yourself at first, and I doubted you as well, but you obviously have a 
knack for pokemon training. "

" Thanks. " Kazuki said.

After a short reunion with his mother, Kazuki decided to leave the 
Ancient forest in order to start collecting badges. He had along way to 
go, but he knew it would be worth it. He said goodbye to his friends 
and walked off in to the woods once more, with Chikorita by his 
side…