Chapter 3

	"Ash, you are NEVER going to become a Pokemon Master if you don’t start 
rotating your Pokemon once in a while!"
	"Be quiet, Misty!"
	"Ash, Misty is right,” Brock remarked. “If you had worked with all of your 
Pokemon BEFORE the league games you could have beaten Harrison. Most importantly: 
you should really talk to the beautiful Liza about borrowing Charizard more often.”
	"Ah! Brock, you're supposed to be on MY side!"
	Misty swept her fingers recklessly through her short main of flaming-orange hair. 
Her eyes narrowed challengingly at Ash. "The league games have been over for WEEKS 
now. I don't think you have even checked on Charizard once since then! And you never 
would have beaten Gary without him. Of course, correct me if I'm wrong."
	Grumbling in defeat, Ash staggered a few feet in front of his two traveling 
companions.
	Brock and Misty exchanged desperate looks and then shrugged.
	"Look, there's Pallet Road," Brock piped up, his tone was smothered in 
melodramatic enthusiasm. "How about we deliver this package of super potion to 
Professor Oak and then go to your house Ash, I'm starving." 
	Ash nodded, then blurted: "Why did Professor Oak have to ask US to pick up this 
stupid package for him anyways? Doesn't he realize that THIS future Pokemon Master 
has better things to do than be his errand boy?"
	"Better things to do?!" Abruptly, Misty charged up to Ash and shook him 
violently. "Like what? Sit around and watch T.V.?!"
	"Ak!" Ash cried out in startled embarrassment.
	"Calm down you two."  Brock's level toned voice instantly drew both of their 
attention. "Professor Oak said he would have asked Gary, remember? But Gary is 
running late and hasn't arrived home yet."
	Ash flushed and mumbled: "Gary is probably out catching his 3,000th Pokemon! 
No, Gary is probably busy discovering a new Pokemon species. . ."
	"Oh, Ash!" Misty's irritated voice exploded. “I thought you were over this! You 
are so-"
	"Hey, what's that?" Brock’s voice was intrigued.
	Ash looked up from his feet to see what Brock was pointing at.
	There was a small Pidgey flying frantically towards them.  
	“Is it. . . carrying something?” Misty wondered out loud.
	“Yes,” Brock yelled. “Pokeballs!”
	Indeed the little Pidgey had belt of Pokeballs clutched between its talons.
	The Pidgey released the belt, letting it fall at Ash’s feet.
	Before any of then could ask another question, the Pidgey let out a relieved 
squawk and skyrocketed away.
	Brock, Ash, and Misty let their eyes examine the belt. It was brown, and made of 
costly-looking leather. Exactly six Pokeballs were adjoined. 
	Misty was the first one to bend and pick them up. "Someone must have lost their 
Pokemon,” she sounded genuinely worried. 
	Ash smiled thoughtfully. “Leave it to a good-hearted Pidgey to pick ‘em up.”
	"Not someone," Brock began, gingerly taking the belt from Misty’s hands, "These 
are Gary's Pokeballs."
	"Oh wow! Brock?” Ash queried, his expression spilling with wonder. “How do 
you know that?"
	"Because," Brock stated bluntly, "his name is stitched into the leather right here."
	"Oh."
	"Why would Gary leave his Pokemon all alone?"  Misty's face began to knot in 
anger. "That is VERY irresponsible!"
	Ash smirked. "Maybe after his loss he decided to give up on Pokemon all 
together."
	Misty smacked Ash upside the head for his comment.
	“Hey, ouch! I was just kidding, Misty!”
	"Will you two cut it out!" Ash and Misty both froze at the panic in Brock’s voice.  
Brock sounded nervous and almost . . . queasy. "I don't think Gary lost these Pokeballs. I. 
. ." Brock couldn't finish, his cheeks tightened as though he were about to become 
physically ill. 
	Brock strained the hand in which he was holding the Pokeballs up to Ash and 
Misty's faces. They both gasped at what they saw.
	  It was mostly dried and a rusty brown color. The crusty, clumpy blood clung to 
the Pokeball in Gary's first belt slot. The blood was caked over the word Blastoise -- 
which was carefully written in marker around the circumference of the ball.
	"Is that . . . blood?" Ash already knew the answer.
	Brock swallowed tensely, and then steadied his expression. "We have to get these 
Pokeballs to Professor Oak now!" 

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	"Arc! Arc! Arcanine!"
	"Please Arcanine," Ash whined as he knelt down beside Gary's prized Pokemon. 
"You need to calm down." 
	Ash carefully stroked Arcanine's heated fur. The legendary fire Pokemon was 
clawing at the inside of Professor Oak's back door. He wanted to go out side. . . no doubt 
to search for Gary.
	Brock walked quietly over to Ash and joined him in comforting Arcanine. "Gary's 
Arcanine sure does love him."
	Ash glanced up at Brock and sighed, "I know . . . his Nidoking feels the same 
way." 
	Ash and Brock both looked into the next room. Misty sat on the floor rubbing 
Nidokings back. The huge purple Pokemon had an empty forlornness etched within his 
eyes. 
	Togepi was curled into an oval on the coffee table. The baby egg was resting -- 
oblivious to the grave situation around It. Misty wished Gary’s Pokemon were that naive. 
It was heartbreaking to see them so depressed.
	Ash ground his teeth in frustration. "What could have happened to Gary that was 
SO awful too make his Pokemon act like this?"
	Brock shrugged sorrowfully as an answer.
	Just then a wearied Professor Oak staggered into the living room. He was 
followed by a distressed trio: Gary’s Blastoise, Scizor, and Magmar.
	The Professor gaped up at Ash -- terror crippled his usually placid features. "I just 
got off the phone with Officer Jenny. . ."
	Misty came into the room to hear the news.
	"Officer Jenny is positive that Gary has become a victim to that lunatic Pokemon 
trainer thief."
	Brock and Misty gasped.  
	Ash shuddered. This trainer thief was all over the news these days. Yesterday 
someone had captured Lieutenant Surge of the Vermilion Gym. And early this morning 
Ash had heard that the Elite Four’s Will was snagged. But these were all famous 
Pokemon trainers . . . why was Gary on this abductors list?
	"Officer Jenny said that Gary's situation is much different from the other missing 
trainers," continued the Professor. "Gary is the FIRST victim whose Pokemon managed 
to escape. . ." His gaze wandered toward the restless Arcanine. "Oh. . . I only wish they 
could speak and tell me what happened to my grandson. . ." The Professor covered his 
face with trembling hands. Misty walked over to him and lay a consoling hand on his 
shoulder.	
	Brock stiffened and leaned against the wall. "I thought these kidnappers only 
seized experienced Pokemon trainers . . . why Gary? He is a Pokemon researcher now."
	The Professor looked up, his face held both a glimmer of pride as well as a spark 
of horror. "Officer Jenny told me that a few of THE most promising young and upcoming 
trainers have been swiped . . . including your friend Richie, Ash. Gary’s goals in the field 
of Pokemon may have changed, but the fact that he is naturally am excellent trainer has 
not."
	Professor Oak picked up Gary's belt and squeezed it near his heart. "If I had not 
run a test on that blood myself I never would have believed it was Gary's. . ." The 
Professor turned to Ash earnestly, “Officer Jenny also said that she is almost positive that 
all of the missing trainers are still alive. She thinks that who ever kidnapped them must 
need them for something. Maybe for ransom, who knows? The point is they are worthless 
dead.” With that The Professor sighed and exited the main room.
	Blastoise groaned mournfully as he shadowed Professor Oak down the hall.
	Ash pulled Pikachu onto his lap and trembled. 
	When they had first given the Pokeballs to Professor Oak he had run a DNA test 
on the blood to confirm that it truly WAS Gary's.
	Actually seeing the results on the laboratory computer screen was difficult to 
accept. But, it was undeniably Gary’s DNA.
	Ash peeped over Pikachu's yellow head at Brock and Misty. "Gee, you guys . . . if 
this kidnapper is targeting young trainers with potential I had better be on my guard, 
huh?"
	Brock and Misty swapped irked looks. Misty glared at Ash with pity.
	"Ash!" she screamed. "I REALLY DON'T THINK YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO 
WORRY ABOUT!"
	Ash grumbled a bit to himself and walked into the living room. He climbed up 
onto The Professor’s couch with a retreating Arcanine and Pikachu.
	Brock followed and flicked on the television.
	The news anchor appeared extremely serious.
	"This is Angi Porter reporting live from Cerulean City."
	Curious, Misty poked her head in the televisions direction.
	"The three Cerulean Gym leaders, all sisters, have been kidnapped by the 
infamous Pokemon trainer thief." 	
	Brock and Ash sucked in a tense breath. Misty burst in front of the television set; 
shaking her head in disbelief.
	The news anchor continued, "Apparently, the three young women were abducted 
only hours ago. Neighbors claim that sounds of a fierce Pokemon battle were emitting 
from the Gym Leaders residence."
	 Suddenly the reporter touched the microphone ear piece in her hair and nodded. 
"This just in: Cinnabar Islands Gym Leader, Blaine and Sabrina - the leader of the 
Saffron City Gym - have just gone missing. Though details are sketchy at this time-"
	Realizing Misty's alarm, Brock quickly shut off the television and raced over to 
aid his friend. He wrapped his arms around her trembling body.
	"No," Misty was nearly in tears. "No. . . my sisters. . ."
	"Shhhh, it will be ok," Brock soothed, stroking her hair gently. "I am sure that the 
police will find all the missing trainers, your sisters included."
	Ash scratched his head in despair. He could not believe he was seeing Misty - the 
head-strong, fearless young woman - on the verge of tears. His heart ached with 
sympathy for her. He desperately wished that he could be more sensitive like Brock. But 
all he could manage for her was a weak attempt at a smile. Then he sunk deeper into the 
couch cushions longing for nothing more than to go over to Misty and enfold her in his 
arms . . . to assure her that everything would be fine.
	After a few moments Misty collected herself, and Brock released her. Sniffling a 
little she thanked him.
	"You . . . ok, Misty?" Ash inquired timidly.
	He half expected her to scream at him for asking such a stupid question. But 
instead she smiled weakly and nodded.
	Brock was facing the wall, his hands curling in and out of fists. "This has gone 
too far!" Brock clenched his jaw. "Someone has GOT to get to the bottom of this trainer 
heist."
	"But the police haven't found anything yet. . ." Ash pointed out.
	Brock's expression was distraught. Then, suddenly, his facial cast shifted to one of 
deep thought. "As beautiful and talented as every Officer Jenny IS, she has her divine 
hands full of cases to solve right now. . ."
	"Brock what are you getting at?" Ash asked.
	Brock raked his fingers through his raven-dark main of spikes. "Let's go back to 
the spot where the Pidgey dropped Gary's Pokeballs. Maybe we can find something. . . I 
dunno, some CLUE as to what happened to him."
	Ash jumped to his feet. "Great idea, Brock!"
	Misty looked unsure. "Umm. . . you guys. . .?"
	"What is it, Misty?" Ash and Brock asked in unison -- they were always saying 
things at the same time.
	"Well," She began matter-of-factly. "shouldn't we leave this to the police? We 
really should not fool around with the crime scene."
	Brock shook his head. "Misty, as I said: the exquisite police have no spare time! 
Once they finally manage a free second to investigate Gary's disappearance the culprit 
could have returned to the scene of the crime and destroyed any remaining evidence."
	Misty sighed. She still seemed uncomfortable with the idea, but she grabbed her 
backpack and said: "Lead the way."