Author's Note

The trio of friends will soon learn that Team Rocket resurfaced in Johto.

10. Down the Well

The trio of friends were shocked to be confronted by Scorch. In the beginning, he stole a Pokémon from Professor Elm. Now, he's ready to pounce on Apple Bloom and her friends.

"You're going down, you farmer hick!" Scorch growled. "Get her, Zubat!"

A Zubat came out, ready for battle. Apple Bloom quickly reacted. "Let's go, Mareep!"

Mareep came out, refreshed after being given some medicine. Scorch is not impressed. "Zubat, strike with Wing Attack!"

Zubat's wings started to glow. Apple Bloom reacted quickly. "Mareep, use Thunder shock!"

Mareep fired a blast of electricity at Zubat. When it was defeated, Scorch recalled it and made his next choice. "I'll take care of your prissy little friend then. Go, Gastly!"

Out came a Gastly. Remembering what she learned back at Sprout Tower, Sweetie Belle stepped up. "Come on out, Totodile!"

Totodile danced happily. Scorch thinks this is easy. "This will stop your dancing! Gastly, use Night Shade!"

Gastly fired a beam of black energy. Sweetie Belle reacted. "Dodge. Then, use Bite!"

After avoiding the Night Shade, Totodile clamped down on Gastly. When he saw Gastly faint, Scorch got shocked.

"I forgot!" Scorch said with surprise in his voice. "Dark moves like Bite are effective against Ghost types!" He recalled Gastly and made his next choice. "This should outclass that Totodile of yours. Go, Croconaw!"

Out came a bigger version of Totodile. The girls got surprised as Apple Bloom pulled out her Pokédex.

Croconaw, the Big Jaw Pokémon and the evolved form of Totodile. The Pokédex said. Once it clamps down with it's jaws, it's impossible to escape.

Scootaloo steps up. "Not so fast, Scorch. Chikorita, let's rumble!"

Chikorita comes out. Scorch just laughs. "What can that little runt do?"

"More than you think." Scootaloo replied.

"Croconaw, use Water Gun!"

Croconaw fired a stream of water at Chikorita. Scootaloo reacted to it. "Dodge it!"

The Leaf Pokémon ran away from the water. Scootaloo gave it another command. "Now, use Razor Leaf!"

Chikorita whirled the leaf on his head. Then, it fired a barrage of leaves at Croconaw. This shocked Scorch a lot as he recalled his Pokémon.

"Time for me to go." Scorch said. "I'll never misjudge you dames again."

The red haired bully soon left. After the girls recalled their Pokémon, they were approached by a gray haired man wearing a deep blue karate gi and sandals.

"Pretty good skills you girls have." The man said. "Maybe you can help me."

"Is that so?" Apple Bloom said. "How we can we help?"

"My name is Kurt. I make Poké Balls from nuts called Apricorns. But, I have to make my way down Slowpoke Well first."

"Why is that?"

"The criminal organization, Team Rocket, have resurfaced here in Johto. And, they're causing trouble in the well!"

Kurt went down a big well in the center of the town. Apple Bloom and her friends followed her. Sweetie Belle then saw something white in the back of Kurt's house.

"This must be an Apricorn Kurt was talking about." Sweetie Belle said to herself. "I'll save this for later."

The girls soon went down the well. They then saw Kurt on the floor.

"Ouch!" Kurt yelped. "My back hurts. I guess I won't stop those thugs."

"You rest for a while, Kurt." Scootaloo said. "We'll handle this."

The trio investigate the well. Soon, they see people in black outfits pestering the Slowpoke in the area. This made Apple Bloom mad.

"Hey, you thugs!" Apple Bloom called out. "Leave this well and these Slowpoke now!"

"As if, you brats!" One of the thugs replied. "Get them, Rattata!"

A bunch of Rattatas popped out, ready to attack.

"Scootaloo and I will handle this." Sweetie Belle offered. "Come out, Weedle."

"You too, Wooper!" Scootaloo added.

When the girls' Pokémon came out, the thugs thought that these are pushovers. But, between Weedle's Poison Sting and Wooper's Water Gun, the Rattata fell. Another thug came out. "This'll stop you. Go, Koffing. Use Poison Gas!"

A vicious Koffing came out to blow noxios gas at the girls. But, Apple Bloom brought out Quilava to stop him. "Quilava, knock out that gas bag with your Flame Wheel!"

Quilava rolled into a ball, flamed up, and struck Koffing good, the thug recalled his Pokémon and called out to his men. "Retreat!"

The thugs soon left the well. Kurt watched them from the surface.

"Looks like those girls chased those thugs out of the well." Kurt said. "I need to reward them. And, I figured out how."

Later, after leaving the well, the girls were looking around a forest full of Apricorns.

"There sure are a lot of them Apricorns." Apple Bloom said. "Each of the colors represent a different kind of Poké Ball to be crafted."

"So I heard." Sweetie Belle added. "Black represents Heavy Balls, Blue make Lure Balls, Green Apricorns make Friend Balls, Pink represents Love Balls, Red develops Level Balls, White Apricorns make Moon Balls, and Yellow stands for Moon Balls."

Scootaloo realized something. "Hey, Sweetie. You already found a White Apricorn, right?"

"You're right."

"Let's find some ripe Apricorns," Apple Bloom said, "and each pick one."

So, the girls look around to find good Apricorns to pick. Soon, Apple Bloom picked a Blue Apricorn, Sweetie picked a pink Apricorn, and Scootaloo picked a Green Apricorn."

"We got some good Apricorns." Apple Bloom said happily. "Let's bring them back to Kurt."

"Yeah." Scootaloo added. "Then, he can make some Poké Balls for us."

Meanwhile, in Kanto, Rumble and a Pikachu we're wrapping up their gym battle in Cerulean City.

"Okay, Pikachu!" Rumble called out. "Use Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu unleashed a bolt of lightning to strike a Starmie. Soon, the ten armed Pokémon soon fainted as it's jewel flashed.

"Starmie is unable to battle." Daisy acting as referee announced. "Pikachu wins. The winner of this gym battle is Rumble!"

After recalling Starmie, Gym Leader Misty approached Rumble.

"You proved to me that you understand Pokémon well." Misty said proudly. "You shall now receive the Cascade Badge."

"Thank you, Misty." Rumble said. He then placed his badge in his case. "Two down, six to go."

End of Chapter 10

APPLE BLOOM
Quilava
Pidgey
Sentret
Mareep

SWEETIE BELLE
Totodile
Weedle

SCOOTALOO
Chikorita
Bellsprout
Wooper