Chapter 3-Replacement Alison chased Raticate for ages. The only time she did catch up with him was when a Scyther trapped him. Alison tried to instruct Raticate to attack, but he just started to run again. The Scyther was startled by the sound of wild Pokémon and it fled. Alison called and called but Raticate was no where to be seen. She thought she saw him twice. The first time she heard something in a bush and sent Chikorita in to try and flush Raticate out. Chikorita refused, being too weak to battle anyway. Alison retrieved her tired Pokémon and searched herself. A flurry of claws jumped out and dashed away. Alison fell backwards in surprise and a whole swarm of Beedrill buzzed passed angrily. The Meowth from the bush was long gone by then. The second time she thought she saw her escaped Raticate was when a trainer was battling nearby and tried to catch a Pokémon. Alison heard the familiar cry of Raticate and rushed forward. A wild Raticate fled into the undergrowth. The other trainer was furious and challenged Alison to a battle. She denied and walked on. "Raticate!" she called for what seemed like the hundredth time. "RATICATE!" "This who you looking for?" said a familiar voice from behind her. She spun around to see Jason behind her. "Jason!" Alison said in surprise "huh...RATICATE!" "Yup." Found him lying hurt in the bushes. "I thought you were a 'good' trainer!" he said raising his voice a little "how could you let Raticate get into this state!" "I didn't!" she replied defiantly "he escaped. I've been looking for him for hours" "...Sorry...I didn't realise" Jason said his voice softening. "Come on. I'll take you and your Pokémon to Viridian. It's not far. Jason and Alison walked in silence for a bit. The trees towered above them and they kept glancing at Raticate. He had fainted in Jason's arms. "I'm really sorry" Alison said at last. "Don't be" Jason replied "I shouldn't have given you Raticate. He's a big handful for a trainer like you...with no badges I mean" A long silence fell again. When they reached Viridian Pokémon Centre, they sat at a table and Jason got drinks from a vending machine. They sat together and waited for Raticate to be returned to them. "Why did he run away from you?" Jason asked sipping Coke. "Dunno" Alison replied "I needed him to battle a Gyarados. He just ignored me. He put himself back in his Pokéball and when I went to pick him up, he just burst out." "Is that when he ran away?" Jason asked turning to look at Alison again. "Yeah" she said, sighing. Just then the doors burst open and a boy of about seventeen ran in. He wore dark glasses and a black cloak. Hi hair was long and reached his shoulders. He threw three Pokéballs into the air and headed towards the counter. "Don't move losers!" he shouted "give me your Pokémon or this guy gets it!" with that he lunged and Jason, grabbed him and ordered his Arbok to stand guard. Alison ran forward and grabbed one of her Pokéballs. "Phanpy! I choose YOU!" she shouted as she threw the ball. The newly healed Phanpy stood to attention on the counter, waiting for the word to attack. "Roll Out attack" Alison instructed never taking her eyes off the cloaked kidnapper. "You really think you can stop me!" he spat. "Jolteon! Pin Missile" the bright yellow, spiky Pokémon jumped forward emitting a sharp cry. Thousands of small, white, glowing needles shot from Jolteon. They struck Phanpy. "Return!" Alison said producing Phanpy's Pokéball. "Alison!" Jason shouted, "try this!" he threw a Fast Ball to her before being gagged by Arbok's tail. "GO!" Alison ordered. A small brown fox-like Pokémon emerged from the special ball. "Eevee!" Alison exclaimed. Jason managed to break free of Arbok's tail just long enough to order his Pokémon to obey Alison. "Quick Attack!" was the order Alison gave. The Eevee gave a cry and charged forward. Jolteon was taken by surprise at this sudden attack. He was sent sliding backwards off the counter. He lay on the floor motionless. The stranger scowled "useless" was all he said but the last of his three Pokémon, a tough looking Nidarino dashed forward and attempted a Horn Attack. Eevee dodged. "Counter Attack!" Alison called to the small creature. Eevee took advantage of the Horn Attack and countered it. Nidarino was defeated. The stranger must have known he was beaten for he disappeared with his Pokémon in tow. "Thanks" said Jason, patting Alison on the back. "That's alright" she replied shyly. "It was nothing, really" "You and Eevee make a great team" Jason continued "say, why don't you replace Raticate. You can keep Eevee if you want!" ***