The Squirtle Squad Appears!
Ashlyn couldn't stop thinking about the experience that she, Misty and Brock went through.
"I find it amazing that we ended up with some new Pokémon in one day." Misty smiled.
"I'm just glad that none of the Pokémon were terribly abused." Brock said.
"I'm just glad that Damian is getting what he deserves." Ashlyn stated.
Tesla and Lucario nodded.
"(I agree. Trainers like Damian shouldn't even exist)." Lucario commented.
Ashlyn was not only who was happy with the new Pokémon she got, but was also thrilled to have two out of the three Kanto starters; Bulbasaur and Charmander.
"Hey Ashlyn," Misty called out, "Has your mum received Roserade, Persian, and Yamper yet?"
"Yes she has," Ashlyn answered, "Prof Oak said that she fell in love with Persian and Yamper immediately and Roserade is very helpful in her garden."
"That was nice of you to give your mum those three Pokémon." Brock complimented.
"Well I figured mum would want some company around the house, since I'm not there," Ashlyn stated, "Besides I thought they would make great pets for her."
"Didn't you send Growlithe to your family, Brock?" Misty asked Brock.
"Yeah and the little guy is loving all the attention he's getting from my siblings." Brock replied.
Just then the gang felt the earth beneath them sink. Suddenly they all fell into a hole.
"Oww! That hurt." Ashlyn groaned.
"I landed on my head!" Brock complained.
"Who dug this hole?" Misty shouted.
"(It might have been Team Rocket)." Lucario suggested.
Five heads appeared over the hole and they all laughed.
"Hey that wasn't funny!" Misty yelled, "We could have been hurt!"
The heads just laughed again. Ashlyn climbed out of the hole, to see who the tricksters were. The tricksters turned out to be five Squirtle's, wearing black sunglasses. One Squirtle was wearing pointy sunglasses, while the other four wore round glasses. Ashlyn almost forgot about this episode. She should have been on watch out for their traps.
Ashlyn took out her phone:
[Squirtle, the tiny turtle Pokémon. It shelters itself in its shell, then strikes back with spouts of water at every opportunity].
'Wow first Bulbasaur, then Charmander and now Squirtle,' Ashlyn thought excitedly, 'How lucky am I.'
"Why don't we teach these jerks a lesson Tesla?" Ashlyn asked her other partner who nodded and jumped off her shoulder charging.
"Rai-chu~!" She called as she let loose a Thunder Shock straight at their leader, only for one of the followers to jump in front and take the hit instead. It fell over soon after.
"Squirtle Squirtle!" The leader said urgently to it before turning to glare at Tesla who only gave them a smug look.
"Squirtle." He ground out.
"Rai, Rai." Tesla replied in a cocky voice.
"Squirtle." He retorted, though he looked nervous as they faced off.
The pointy sunglasses Squirtle, which was the leader of the Squirtle's, stepped forward.
"Squirtle." Squirtle said, ready for a fight.
"Rai." Tesla's cheeks sparked with electricity.
Just then a siren was heard coming their way. The Squirtle's scattered very quickly. Officer Jenny appeared on a motor cycle.
"Hey did you kids happen to see the Squirtle Squad come through here?" she asked.
"Yeah we did see them but they took not too long ago." Ashlyn replied.
Brock went into flirt mode, "Officer Jenny what do you say we get some lunch? We discuss other matters later." He grabbed her hands.
Misty pulled his ear, "The only matter we're going to discuss is you!" she said pulling him away.
"...Anyway," Ashlyn looked back, "Can you tell us more about the Squirtle Squad?"
"Sure, why not come with me to the station? We'll discuss it there." Officer Jenny smiled.
"Okay." Ashlyn nodded.
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"That Pokémon gang calls itself the Squirtle Squad." Jenny said from where she sat behind her desk. She had taken the gang back to her station.
"Squirtle Squad?" Misty repeated. "I've never heard of a Pokémon gang."
"They're all Squirtle's who were deserted by their Pokémon trainers." Jenny continued.
"Deserted." Ashlyn muttered, her face falling into a frown. She was seriously starting to dislike the words 'deserted' and 'abandoned.'
"They don't have a trainer so they just run wild and play tricks on the whole town!" Jenny explained. "It's really kind of sad because if they had somebody to care about them, they wouldn't be as bad as they are! It's a real shame." Officer Jenny lamented.
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The gang was back on the road to Vermilion. They decided to take a small break on a grassy bank near a river.
"I caught something!" Misty exclaimed, making Ashlyn sit up from where she was resting on the grassy bank. She stiffened when a Squirtle with round sunglasses popped its head out and proceeded to drench them all with a water gun. "I'm soaked!"
"Same here." Ashlyn replied dryly.
Tesla shook herself off quickly and leapt forward. "Rai!" She growled, her cheeks giving off voltage, but Ashlyn was quick to stop her.
"Wait, Tesla! Wet clothes conduct electricity!" Ashlyn shouted in alarm. Tesla stopped at that and gave her partner and her two frightened companions a sheepish look.
"Rai." she said sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head with one paw. The Squirtle laughed and hopped out of the water onto the road.
"That's enough of your mischief. Tesla go!" Ashlyn called. Tesla charged, but so did the Squirtle, withdrawing into its shell and spinning in the air, knocking Tesla into the air and into the river. "Tesla!"
A Goldeen jumped out of the water and dove back in from a distance.
"Oh! It's a Goldeen!" Misty called. "Watch out for its horn!" Misty warned.
Tesla popped up a moment later, shaking the water from her head, looking around in confusion. "Rai, rai? Rai rai."
"Hurry, Tesla! Get out of the water!" Ashlyn cried. Tesla took the urging and hurriedly began swimming to shore, but the Goldeen was gaining quickly. "Faster!" Ashlyn urged desperately.
"Tesla!" Ashlyn called in concern when the Goldeen used a horn attack and thrust her into the air. She and Lucario ran towards her and slid down the grassy bank, making it in time to catch her injured Pokémon. She was about to examine her but was caught off guard when a rope suddenly found itself around her arms and waist along with Lucario, making Tesla roll off her as she was pulled up.
"No! Tesla!" She turned to glare at the Squirtle that had tied her and her companions up, spinning quickly until the three were tied against each other. The leader Squirtle laughed from where he was standing at the forest edge. Another horribly familiar laughed joined him and out walked Meowth from behind a tree.
"You're not gonna Squirtle out of this one!" He taunted and Ashlyn vaguely wondered if that was supposed to be a play on 'squirm your way.' She couldn't tell.
"It's Meowth!" Misty called.
"I'm the Pokémon in charge here! Just wait 'til my human pets get back!" Meowth bragged at them, the trio tied to a stone inside the cave they were brought to. "Nye, nye, nye-nye, nye~" Meowth taunted in a sing song voice as he wagged his tail in front of Ashlyn's face. Ashlyn growled and retaliated by reaching her head out and biting his tail, hard.
Lucario smirked, "(Nice one, Ashlyn)."
Ashlyn smirked in satisfaction when he leapt up and yelped in pain, spitting out the fur that made it into her mouth and looking to the squad.
"Don't believe him, Squirtles! Meowth is a huge liar! Those humans aren't Meowth's pets! Team Rocket's just trying to trick you into doing their dirty work. Their whole job comprises of stealing and poaching strong and valuable Pokémon!" Ashlyn warned them.
"Squirtle?" The lead Squirtle inquired, tilting his head slightly.
"(It's true! They're nothing but a group of thieves)!" Lucario added.
"Quiet human!" Meowth leaped towards Ashlyn.
Ashlyn barely managed to dodge Meowth's deep scratch to her face, satisfied to see him bite back another yowl of pain from where his claws scraped against solid rock and turned to the Squirtle, his face composed already. Truly the best among liars.
"Who are you gonna believe, this human or a fellow Pokémon?" Meowth asked.
"Squirtle!" Four of them nodded in unison, obviously taking Meowth's side.
"Squirtle squirtle!" The one with raised hands enthused.
"Ashlyn, Tesla's in bad shape." Brock said.
She and Lucario looked over to where her partner was knocked out in a cage.
"You've got to do something!" Misty urged.
"We've got to heal Tesla with super potion before it's too late!" Brock continued.
"We don't have any super potion." Ashlyn replied absently as she stared at her panting Tesla, having trouble breathing.
"A shop in town sells some." Brock answered.
Ashlyn huffed in exasperation and looked at the Squirtle's pleadingly. "Squirtle, please let me go into town. I have to get Tesla a super potion before she gets worse!" Ashlyn begged.
The Squirtle only shook his head.
"Squirtle squirtle squirtle squirtle!" He replied as he shook his head no.
"They know you humans are just trying to get away!" Meowth translated.
"I won't abandon Tesla!" Ashlyn shouted. "Trust me, as soon as I buy the medicine, I'll come right back, I promise!" Ashlyn pleaded.
"Squirtle." he responded gruffly.
"Squirtle says promises are cheap!" Meowth translated.
"(So you really wish for a Pokémon to die? Here I thought that Team Rocket was heartless)." Lucario said.
"I'm begging you!" Ashlyn said shakily, tears forming in her eyes. "Please, let me help my Tesla." she cried, lowering her head as the tears fell, her shoulders shaking.
Ashlyn rubbed her eyes quickly once they let her go, sniffling. "Squirtle squirtle, squirtle squirtle," the leader pointed at Ashlyn.
"Da Squirtle says if you're not back here by noon tomorrow, the red-headed girl gets her hair died purple!" Meowth announced.
"Hey!" Meowth barely avoided Misty's kick. "Why you mangy little flea trap! Once I get out of here, I'm gonna wrap your tail around-" Misty ranted, but Ashlyn stopped her.
"Misty, don't worry. I'll be back, alright?" Ashlyn interrupted with a sweat drop. She stopped and nodded at her, completely assured. "I'll be back as soon as I can!" Ashlyn called over her shoulder as she ran out as fast as she could.
"(Good luck, Ashlyn)." Lucario prayed.
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"Of course, of course there's a dangerous looking bridge." Ashlyn muttered angrily to herself as she tread the bridge as quickly and carefully as possible, breaking four planks she tested by the time she reached the other side.
By the time she got to the abandoned looking western style town, she was worn out and struggling to catch her breath. She growled when she had to jump back before the door could slam in her face. She was ready to curse out whoever did it but clamped her mouth shut and stayed silent when she saw it was Gary. She did NOT want to deal with him right now so she quickly and quietly slipped into the shop to avoid him.
Ashlyn grumbled to herself as she hurriedly left a thank you note at the store counter. Yesterday when she was about to leave after buying the super potion, the shop owner stopped her and insisted she stay and rest for the night because she 'looked terrible' and seemed like she 'would collapse any minute.' Ashlyn really did try to protest, but the old woman would hear none of it.
"...wanna get rid of the Squirtle squad don't you?" A familiar voice sounded from the building next door, catching Ashlyn's attention.
"The flash powder will scare them out of town!" Jessie explained. "The floss is for our teeth." she added softly, and Ashlyn figured she didn't want to know. She ran out when she saw the Meowth shaped hot air balloon.
"I have to get back before them!" Ashlyn said urgently, about to take off running when Officer Jenny came screeching up on her motorcycle.
"Need a ride? You can explain it to me on the way!" She said, making Ashlyn smile in relief.
"Step on it, Officer Jenny! I need to get back before noon!" Ashlyn explained.
"Just hang on Ashlyn!" She exclaimed over the engine, only to gasp and screech to a halt when she saw the fallen bridge. It must have collapsed sometime after Ashlyn crossed it. She was just glad she wasn't on it when it happened.
"A dead end," Jenny murmured before taking off to the right. "Here's the secret entrance to the cave!" Jenny exclaimed when she led Ashlyn to it.
"There's not much room." Ashlyn said.
"The passageway's too narrow for an adult, but maybe you can squeeze through." Jenny replied.
"I'll do it." Ashlyn stated with determination before crouching to go in.
"Be careful, Ashlyn." Jenny cautioned.
"Ah, getting too dark for me to see," Ashlyn muttered as she reached for her belt. She clipped off a Pokéball and held it out. "Come on out Natsu." Ashlyn called.
"Char, char!" Natsu greeted happily.
"Hey Natsu, could you lead the way, please?" Ashlyn asked.
"Charmander, char!" He agreed readily, turning and marching forward. They finally reached a dead end and Ashlyn saw some light coming through cracks around a stone and decided to try to push it out, succeeding after some effort and letting light stream through.
"Thanks Natsu." Ashlyn thanked as she rubbed his head.
"Charmander!" He enthused before Ashlyn called him back. She expertly leapt through the small opening, her eyes widening when she saw the cave was empty.
"They're gone!" She looked at the empty cage. "Tesla!" Ashlyn called as she ran out of the cave. "Lucario! Misty! Brock!" She ran out of the cave and was relieved when she saw Lucario, Misty and Brock to her left, Lucario holding Tesla.
"You guys!" She rummaged through her pocket as she ran to Lucario who knelt at her approach to gently put down Tesla, Brock and Misty doing the same as Ashlyn began to carefully apply the super potion, wasting no time. "I see you're still a red-head, Misty." Ashlyn said casually as she looked over Tesla in concern.
"Yup." Misty replied cheerily.
"The Squirtle Squad was bluffing." Brock said.
"They play tricks, but they'd never change a girl's natural hair color." Misty finished.
The Squirtle only laughed at that. A blast in the distance captured everyone's attention, but Ashlyn didn't bother looking away from Tesla.
"That blast was definitely Team Rocket." she announced.
"To protect the world from devastation," Jessie started, their hot air balloon lowering slightly.
"To unite all peoples within our nation," James continued, both of them holding lit cherry bombs in their hands.
"To denounce the evils of truth and love. To extend our reach to the stars above!" They said in unison.
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Squirtle squad, it's payback time for insulting Team Rocket!" Jessie proclaimed.
"Bombs away." the two declared as they finally dropped the bombs in their hands, only hitting some cliff side and sparse forestry. Ashlyn immediately knew that one was going to start a forest fire.
"Meowth! Carry Raichu up the ladder!" Jessie commanded as she threw down a rope and wood ladder from the air balloon.
"And the rest of you are in for a real blast." James joked, making Ashlyn resist the urge to roll her eyes, noting they had two more lit cherry bombs in their hands.
"Meowth!" Ashlyn looked down at the rising ladder in shock when she saw Tesla under Meowth's arm, looking back to the spot where she thought she was laying behind her. "Tesla!" That sneaky no good-Ashlyn ranted in her mind as she cried out to Raichu in concern. She still wasn't fully healed! They all raised their arms to protect themselves from the debris when Team Rocket dropped two more cherry bombs.
"Quick, run to the cave for cover!" Ashlyn instructed, all of them swift to comply.
"Squirtle! (Help!)" Ashlyn stopped just before she could go into the cave and turned back to see that the leader Squirtle had fallen on its back.
"Squirtle!" He cried in distress.
"Squirtle!" Ashlyn called in similar distress.
"Squirt-le-" he grunted, trying in vain to rock to his feet. Ashlyn sprinted for him as she saw Team Rocket drop two more bombs, diving to shield him with her body just before the bombs could hit the ground near them.
"AH! Ashlyn!" Misty shouted in concern.
"(Ashlyn!)" Lucario cried out.
Ashlyn winced once the ground stopped shaking and looked at the Squirtle under her in concern.
"Are you alright, Squirtle?" She asked softly.
"Squirtle...(You...)" he replied in a shaky tone.
"Here come two more!" Misty yelled in warning, not that Ashlyn could hear it. The debris that hit her left her body shaking and numb.
"Run for it, Squirtle. Don't worry about me." Ashlyn murmured, giving a shaky smile. Ashlyn yelped in surprise when Squirtle suddenly picked her up with a mighty cry, tears flowing down his face. "Wah! Squirtle!" She shouted, startled.
"Squirtle!" He cried. "Squirtle, squirtle squirtle, squirtle squirtle!" He chattered as he dodged the bombs and leapt to the cave entrance, the bomb he just dodged behind them propelling them forward.
"Look out!" Misty cautioned as she and the others held out their arms to catch the two, all of them grunting as they landed in a heap on the floor.
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"No more Squirtle Squad! The towns gonna give us medals and make us heroes!" Jessie crowed.
"Not so fast!" Ashlyn proclaimed from the cliff face.
"Who said that?!" Jessie shouted as they looked to the source, seeing Ashlyn, Lucario, and Squirtle standing side by side.
"Weren't they-, Didn't they-, How did they-" the terrible trio said in unison.
"Squirtle, Water Gun attack, now!" Ashlyn encouraged.
"Squirtle!" He nodded in agreement, shooting a hole in their balloon with his precise aim and making James drop Tesla when the basket they were in jarred. Ashlyn ran down the steep cliff face and crouched before making a high leap in the air, catching Tesla safely in her arms. Lucario jumped and caught Ashlyn in his arms.
"Gotcha!" She said as Lucario landed gracefully on the ground. Then he set her down on her feet. "Use Aura Sphere, Lucario!"
Lucario summoned up an Aura Sphere and launched towards Team Rocket's balloon which caused an explosion and sent them blasting off.
"TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" The trio cried as they became a speck in the distance.
Ashlyn stared at the full on inferno in concern.
"A fire!" Brock called as he and the others came upon them. "The blast must have set it off!"
"If it keeps burning, the whole town could go up in smoke!" Jenny shouted in concern from where she screeched to a halt behind them.
"Don't worry, Jenny, I've got an idea," Ashlyn turned to her with a reassuring smile, making her look at Ashlyn curiously. Ashlyn turned to the Squirtle squad. "Listen, if you guys work together and combine your water guns, you could put out the fire." Ashlyn suggested.
The five smiled and nodded, organizing quickly and making swift work of suppressing and snuffing out the start of the forest fire, the others looking on in amazement.
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"And so, we gratefully award this certificate to the Squirtle Squad!" Jenny announced happily as she crouched to hand the paper to the leader, who accepted it gracefully, the townspeople cheering and clapping on the sidelines. "Thank you for saving our town from the fire!"
Ashlyn watched as the townspeople put on black and white fire fighter uniform robes on the Squirtle who looked very pleased with them. Ashlyn took pictures of the cute scene.
"Because of your skill and bravery, we proudly appoint you the town firefighters!" Jenny proclaimed.
"Squirtle!" The leader crossed his arms and grinned with pride.
Ashlyn took one more picture of the organized and assembled Squirtle Squad firefighters.
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Ashlyn and Lucario smiled as they watched Tesla skip along the path, happy that she was all better again.
"Hey Ashlyn, that Squirtle is following us." Misty said, capturing Ashlyn's attention.
"Squirtle! Squirtle~!" He called out to them, making them stop and look back to see the leader of the Squirtle squad without his uniform, but still wearing his cool shades.
"Would you like to come along with us, Squirtle?" Ashlyn invited with a warm smile.
"Squirtle!" He enthused, taking off his shades and revealing sparkling red eyes, obviously excited at the prospect.
Ashlyn laughed and kneeled down, holding her arms open, as Squirtle ran to her.
"Squirtle squirtle squirtle, squirtle~!" he exclaimed as he jumped into her arms.
"Welcome to the team, Squirtle!" Ashlyn greeted happily.
"Squirtle (I'm glad to be on it)." he replied in satisfaction.
"Guess we've got a new Pokémon!" Ashlyn enthused.
"Rai-Raichu!" Tesla agreed wholeheartedly.
Lucario nodded, "(Indeed)."
"You're so lucky, Ashlyn!" Misty jokingly whined, making Ashlyn laugh, Squirtle joining in.
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Pokémon on hand: Raichu (Tesla)(F), Lucario (M), Rockruff (M), Pidgeot (F), Clefable (F), Sandshrew (M), Pokémon Egg, Bulbasaur (M), Shiny Charmander (Natsu)(M), Squirtle (M)
Prof. Oak's Lab:
Boltund (M), Shiny Gyarados (Rory)(M), Scyther (F), Nidoran (M), Nidoran (F), Butterfree (M), Mienfoo (F), Glaceon (F), Leafon (F), Shiny Rapidash (Comet)(M), Scorbunny (M), Gengar (M), Fennekin (F)