Author's Note

Team Rocket are back in business. And, Apple Bloom and company are off to stop them.

25. Mahogany Madness

The trio of friends made their way to Mahogany Town. But, when they arrived, they noticed a bunch of creepy looking characters wearing black outfits with big red Rs on the chest area.

"Team Rocket everywhere." Scootaloo noticed. "I thought Diamond Tiara helped crush those guys."

"Well, apparently these guys are making a comeback here in Johto." Sweetie Belle added.

"I know." Apple Bloom said with disgust. "They're even blocking the path to the Mahogany Town gym."

As they heal their Pokémon at the Pokémon Center, they heard a couple if thugs talking.

"The boss' plan is working." One thug said. "Our experiment has great results."

"Yeah." The other thug added. "Like these Magikarp at the Lake of Rage."

Look up a map of Johto, the girls learned what the Lake of Rage is along Route 43.

"We know where to go." Apple Bloom said. "Let's head for this Lake of Rage and see what's goin' on."

Leaving Mahogany Town, the girls went to Route 34. And, they made their way around a guard house. This way, they won't pay a Team Rocket guard one thousand Poké Dollars to go through.

"One thousand!" Sweetie grumbled. "Even I think that's outrageous."

Not looking where she's going, Scootaloo bonked into a tree, and a strange looking pine cone fell down. Apple Bloom took out her Pokédex. "That's a Pineco."

Pineco, the Bagworm Pokémon. The Pokédex said.It hangs from a tree to ambush its prey.

Scootaloo calls for her Wooper to battle this Pokémon. "Wooper, use Water Gun!"

Wooper fired a water spray at Pineco. It was a great hit. It knocked Pineco into a tree. Seeing a chance, Scootaloo threw a Poké Ball, and captured the insect Pokémon. "Cool. Now, I caught a Pineco."

Suddenly, Wooper started to glow. Sweetie Belle noticed it. "Looks like Wooper is evolving."

Soon, Wooper grew into a blue creature with arms and a beaver type tail. Scootaloo got excited. "Wow! Wooper evolved into a Quagsire."

Apple Bloom's Pokédex came alive. Quagsire, the Water Fish Pokémon and the evolved for of Wooper. In the water, it leaves it's mouth open and waits for its food to swim in.

Soon, the three girls arrived at a beautiful lake. They wonder why it's called the Lake of Rage. Suddenly, a large red serpentine creature rose up and roared.

"It's a Gyarados!" Sweetie gasped as Apple Bloom got out her Pokédex. "This one looks different."

Gyarados, the Atrocious Pokémon. Said the Pokédex. This Pokémon is often mentioned in disaster stories.

"You're right, Sweetie Belle." Apple Bloom said. "Gyarados is usually blue. Not red."

The group suddenly heard a male voice. "Dragonite, use Thunder Punch!"

Suddenly, a powerful looking dragon type critter struck the Gyarados with a fist full of electricity. A man with red spiky hair soon made his move. "Ultra Ball, GO!"

The ball connected to Gyarados and absorbed it. The tprider then caught the Ultra Ball. "You are safe now."

As he lands, Apple Bloom studies this dragon.

Dragonite, the Dragon Pokémon. The Pokédex said. Not usually aggressive. But, it can unleashed attacks if provoked.

Apple Bloom approached the rider. "I think I heard of you. You're Lance of Kanto's Elite Four."

"Now, Johto region champion." Lance replied. "I came to Johto to stop the mechanizations of Team Rocket."

"I though some friends of ours helped take down that criminal organization." Sweetie Belle figured.

"Yes. But, those fiends decided to make their reappearance here in Johto. They're using radio signals to disrupt the Magikarp here at the Lake of Rage."

"That's why we saw a red Gyarados." Scootaloo said with anger. "We got to stop them!"

"How?" Apple Bloom asked. "We don't know where they're hiding out."

"I hear there's a hidden base in the Mahogany Town item shop." Lance informed. "Time to stop their operations here."

"We'll accompany you."

"Thanks, friends. Let's go."

The crew returned to Mahogany Town, and entered the Item Shop. After defeating the Rocket grunt, they entered a secret stairway. They see a few statues, but are very suspicious. Soon, they found switches to turn off, to make sure no more guards show up.

"Now, to find that machine, and shut it off." Apple Bloom said.

After battling more guards, they had their Pokémon healed by Lance. They them broke into an office. There, a black haired man saw them.

"So, you discovered our hideout." The man said. "I'm an executive of Team Rocket. We are making our comeback. Remove them, Koffing!"

Out comes a purple ball with a skull and crossbones. Apple Bloom had her Pokédex study it, Koffing, the Poison Gas Pokémon. It agitated, it will explode.

Sweetie Belle stepped up. "Let's go, Snubbull."

Snubbull pops out. The executive isn't impressed. "Koffing, use Sludge."

Koffing blew poison blobs at Snubbull. Sweetie Belle reacted. "Dodge. Then, use Headbutt!"

After avoiding the Sludge, Snubbull rammed her head into Koffing. Seeing his Koffing dizzy, the executive recalled it and brought out another Pokémon. "You're up, Murkrow!"

A big black bird came out. Apple Bloom had it studied. Murkrow, the Darkness Pokémon. They like to fly at night, looking for shiny things.

"Time to strike at you." The executive said. "Murkrow, Night Shade!"

Murkrow unleashed black energy. Scootaloo rushed it. "You're not hurting my friend, creep. Come out, Quagsire. And use Water Pulse!"

Quagsire came out and blasted Murkrow with a stream of water. When the executive saw his Murkrow getting dizzy, he recalled it and called for his last Pokémon. "You're up, Gloom!"

Out came a flowery creature. Apple Bloom used her Pokédex to study this plant. Gloom, the Weed Pokémon. If it feels threatened, it will unleash a terrible stench.

Apple Bloom then stepped up. "It's my turn. Let's go, Pidgeotto!"

Pidgeotto flew high. The executive strikes fast. "Gloom, slow that flying Pokémon with Stun Spore!"

As Gloom unleashed a cloud of stun spores, Apple Bloom reacted. "Dodge. Then, use Wing Attack."

Pidgeotto flew fast as it's wings glowed white. It struck Gloom hard. The executive recalled Gloom, and started to run off. "We'll meet again!"

As soon as the executive was gone, Lance and Apple Bloom shut down the machines that affected the Magikarp at the Lake of Rage. Later, Apple Bloom and her friends are at the Pokémon Center.

"Lance said that he'll keep an ear out for anymore Team Rocket activity." Sweetie Belle said.

"At least with those gadgets turned off," Scootaloo added, "there won't be anymore Red Gyarados."

"And, Team Rocket left Mahogany Town." Apple Bloom said happily. "Tomorrow, I will have my Gym battle. And hopefully, win my seventh badge."

End of Chapter 25

APPLE BLOOM
Typhlosion
Pidgeotto
Sentret
Ampharos
Drowzee
Poliwag

At Prof. Elm's Lab
Scyther
Sudowoodo
Miltank

SWEETIE BELLE
Croconaw
Beedrill
Snubbull
Sunkern
Togepi

SCOOTALOO
Bayleef
Weepinbell
Quagsire
Machop
Pineco