Author's Note

Next stop on the way to Goldenrod City, a Day Care center.

12. Adopting an Egg

After escaping the Ilex Forest, the trio of friends made their way down Route 34. This is the path to Goldenrod City and Apple Bloom's third gym battle. On the way, they encounter a bug catcher who unleashed a purple bug with red eyes and antenna. Apple Bloom pulls out her Pokédex.

Venonat, the Insect Pokémon. The Pokédex said. It's large round eyes can see anything. These eyes are often used as radar.

"Let's go, Pidgey!" Apple Bloom calls out.

Pidgey pops out and flies proudly. The bug catcher looks at it, then laughs. "That little Pidgey can't defeat my Venonat!"

"Never underestimate a Pokémon by it's size." Apple Bloom informs.

"That's a lot of bull. Venonat, use Psybeam!"

Venonat fired a beam of psychic energy. Apple Bloom quickly reacted. "Dodge that! Then, use Wing Attack!"

After avoiding being hit, Pidgey's wings start to glow. Then, it flew fast to strike at Venonat. Seeing his Venonat out cold, the Bug Catcher recalled it and ran away fast.

"That'll teach him not to bad mouth Pokémon." Scootaloo said.

At that moment, Pidgey started to glow. The girls watched Pidgey grow bigger. Seconds later, a Pidgeotto stands.

"Now, I have my own Pidgeotto!" Apple Bloom cheered.

"Here's a chance to catch another Pokémon, AB." Sweetie Belle said. "I spotted a Drowzee."

Apple Bloom soon saw a yellow tapir type creature. She studies this Pokémon.

Drowzee, the Hypnosis Pokémon. The Pokédex said. If you have any bad dreams, this Pokémon can eat them to make them go away,

After recalling her Pidgeotto, she calls on Quilava. Drowzee soon tried to use Hypnosis. But, Apple Bloom was quick. "Quilava, use Smokescreen!"

Quilava blew smoke on Drowzee. As the Hypnosis Pokémon recovered, Apple Bloom struck fast. "Okay, Quilava. Use Flame Wheel!"

The Volcano Pokémon rolled fast and struck Drowzee. Apple Bloom quickly took out a Poké Ball and threw it. It connected to Drowzee and absorbed it. After a few shakes, the Poké Ball clicked.

"I caught a Drowzee!" Apple Bloom cheered as she hold up her Poké Ball.

Soon, they heard somebody clapping. It was a kind old lady wearing a red shirt and crimson long skirt.

"That was an impressive capture, young lady." The old woman said.

"Thanks." Apple Bloom replied. "It's been a while since I caught a Pokémon."

"You handled that beautifully. By the way, my husband and I run a day care center in this area. How about visiting us?"

"Good idea. Lead the way, miss."

The kind woman leads the girls to a small house where she and an elderly man wearing a sky blue polo shirt and long grey pants were taking care of many Pokémon. Along the shelves are many different eggs.

"My husband and I let two Pokémon who are opposite gender to stay here." The woman explained. "When the trainers come back for their Pokémon, sometimes an egg is included."

"An egg?" The girls said in unison.

"That's right." The man said. "As you can see, these eggs are beautiful. If you carry an egg for a while, it'll hatch into a Pokémon."

Just then, they heard a dark female voice. "Attention, Day Care workers! Hand over those eggs!"

"Who was that?" The woman asked.

"I think we know." Apple Bloom replied.

The girls poked out, and saw the vicious Chrysalis with her Spinarak on her shoulder.

"So, Cutie Mark Crusaders." Chrysalis said with a dark tone. "We meet again."

"Chrysalis!" Scootaloo gasped. "What are you doing here?"

"What does it look like? My crew and I are here to invade this Day Care center and steal those eggs!"

At that moment, a group of hooded figures showed up. This frightened the girls.

"Now, step aside." Chrysalis demanded. "We'll be taking what's ours!"

One of the hooded figures summoned a giant bee. Chrysalis pulled a fast one on Apple Bloom. "Spinarak, use String Shot!"

Spinarak fired strong silk at Apple Bloom. This was like deja Vu to her.

"Not again!" Apple Bloom gasped.

"That'll make sure you don't use that Pokédex, you brat!" Chrysalis said roughly.

At that moment, another hooded figured arrived. He soon removed his cloak to reveal a lime green skinned man with orange hair. He wore a dark green shirt, black pants, and white sneakers.

"Thorax?" Chrysalis gasped.

"That's right." Thorax replied. "How dare you attack a young lady like that?!"

"I love disrupting a trainer's travels. And, we're here to take those eggs from that old couple. Attack!"

The bee was ready to strike with it's forelegs. Sweetie Belle stepped up. "Oh no you don't. Come out, Totodile! Use Water Gun on that Beedrill!"

Totodile came out and blew water on the menacing insect. This scared Chrysalis quite a bit.

"Let's carry this girl and make her our prisoner." One of the hooded Changelings said.

"No time!" Chrysalis said nervously. "Recall that Beedrill and let's get out of here!"

The Changelings recalled their bee and ran off. After scattering into different directions, one of the hooded Changelings look back at Thorax as he frees Apple Bloom. "Good work, my brother. I'm looking forward to accepting you as our king again."

Meanwhile, Apple Bloom was tearing up. "Drat them Changelings. They wouldn't let me study that Pokémon."

"Don't worry, Apple Bloom." Thorax comforted. "You'll get over this." As he turns to leave, he turned to Sweetie Belle. "Looks like your Totodile is evolving."

Everybody watched as Totodile glowed, then grew. Soon, a Croconaw stood where Totodile was.

"Now, I have my own Croconaw!" Sweetie Belle cheered.

Soon, the old man came out with a container that has an egg in it.

"We wish to thank you for saving our Day Care center." The man said. "We would like you to have this egg."

Sweetie Belle was given the egg. "Thank you. I will take care of this egg with honor."

This made the girls smile to see Sweetie Belle with a possible new friend. Soon, the girls continue their travels to Goldenrod City and Apple Bloom's third gym battle.

End of Chapter 12

APPLE BLOOM
Quilava
Pidgeotto
Sentret
Mareep
Drowzee

SWEETIE BELLE
Croconaw
Kakuna
Egg?

SCOOTALOO
Chikorita
Bellsprout
Wooper