Author's Note

Sweetie Belle will soon have a new friend to keep her company.

3. Pokémon Friends Join the Trio

After resting in New Bark Town, the Cutie Mark Crusaders resume their journey. After their rough encounter with that young man named Scorch, the girls are very concerned.

"I wonder if Scorch is one of Garble’s flunkies." Sweetie Belle said.

"What makes you say that?" Apple Bloom asked.

"With a name like Scorch, he sounds like he would hang out with that creep."

"I don't think so." Apple Bloom said. "Garble is a roughneck. But, he's not that mean. Don't forget, he and his friends are seeing a school counselor to curb their attitude."

At that moment, they saw a small brown bird. Apple Bloom happily took out her Pokédex. "It's a Pidgey."

Pidgey, the Tiny Bird Pokémon. The Pokédex said. These Pokémon can find their way back home, no matter how far away.

Apple Bloom feels that it's time to catch it. "Let's go, Cyndaquil!"

Cyndaquil comes out, and her back flares up. Apple Bloom is ready. "Okay, Cyndaquil. Use Tackle!"

Cyndaquil ran fast and struck Pidgey. The bird then kicked the ground.

"Look out!" Sweetie Belle called out. "That Pidgey is using Sand Attack!"

The sand came close, but Cyndaquil dodged it. Apple Bloom tried another move. "Okay, Cyndaquil. Use Ember!"

Cyndaquil blew a fireball at Pidgey. As the Tiny Bird Pokémon recovers, Apple Bloom takes out a Poké Ball. "Poké Ball, GO!"

The Poké Ball connects, and absorbed the Pidgey. The girls watched the Poké Ball shake. Seconds later, it clicked. Apple Bloom picked up the Poké Ball. And, she is very happy. "I caught my first Pokémon!"

Everybody cheered for their friend. She pets Cyndaquil, congratulating her for a job well done. Scootaloo then saw a brown creature looking above the grass. "Hey! I think that's a Sentret!"

Apple Bloom points her Pokédex at the Pokémon. Sentret, the Scout Pokémon. It uses it's long tail to rise up and look out for danger.

At that moment, Sentret rushes in to attack Cyndaquil. Apple Bloom reacted quickly. "Cyndaquil, use Smokescreen."

Cyndaquil blew a cloud of smoke to blind Sentret. As Sentret tries to see through the smoke, Apple Bloom quickly threw a Poké Ball to catch it. After a few shakes, the Poké Ball clicked.

"Good work, AB." Sweetie Belle applauded. "That makes it two Pokémon you caught."

Just then, they heard a mean male voice call out, "Come back here, you little beast!"

They soon saw a small blue alligator type creature run by them. Apple Bloom used her Pokédex to study this critter. Totodile, the Big Jaw Pokémon. Even though it wants to be playful, this Pokémon can accidentally hurt someone with it's jaw.

They saw somebody run into view. It was a blond haired young man wearing a safari hunter outfit.

"Hi, sir." Sweetie Belle greeted. "Need help."

"I don't need help." The young man said cruelly. He then grabbed Sweetie Belle by her shirt. "Not even from dames like you!"

He gave her a big slap in the face and ran off. The girls are shocked that somebody would do that to a lady.

"What a creep!" Scootaloo said.

"I'll say." Sweetie Belle added rubbing her face where she was slapped. "I hope that Totodile got away."

At that moment, the Totodile crept up to the trio. Sweetie Belle soon felt Totodile rubbing on her leg. She picked it up gently. "Are you okay, Totodile?"

The little critter was sad. Scootaloo looked at it with concern. "I'll bet that creep hurt it."

"What'll we do? We're still far from Cherrygrove City ."

Apple Bloom has an idea. "Let's set up camp to comfort this Pokémon. Besides, the sun is setting."

Later, it was night time and tents were set up. Apple Bloom watched her three Pokémon munch on food she brought along. Meanwhile, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle checked out the Totodile.

"Do you think Totodile will be okay?" Scootaloo asked.

"He looks tough." Sweetie replied. "This Totodile looks like it's just scared."

As Sweetie Belle held on to Totodile, this little Pokémon felt love from this young girl. The next morning, the girls packed their tents and are ready to get back on the road.

"It's too bad that Totodile left us." Sweetie said sadly, "I would love to be it's trainer."

"I would think so too." Apple Bloon added. "I think each of us has a good way to take care of Pokémon."

"You're right, AB. That's what helped Diamond become the Kanto Region Champion."

Just then, the angry young man stepped out to confront the trio. He's as angry as ever.

"Okay, you miserable dames!" The fellow said. "WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THAT TOTODILE?!!!"

"Nothin'." Apple Bloom answered. "He took off knowing that it's going to be okay."

"We comforted it and made sure it wasn't upset." Scootaloo added.

"You are IDIOTS!!!" The young boy shouted. He then turned red with extreme fury. "Pokémon are just to be used as tools for us humans! They do whatever we tell them! All of this talk about care and raising them is a lot of NONSENSE!"

"Nonsense?" Sweetie gasped. "Taking care of these critters is the best way to raise Pokémon."

The boy shook with rage as he rushed in to injure the girls. "SHUT UUUUUUUUP!!!"

Suddenly, something bit him in the butt. It turned out to be Totodile who then blew water in his face. The young fellow was then grabbed by a patrolling Officer Jenny.

"Well well." Jenny said "If it isn't Harry the Heinous Hunter. This guy like to find Pokémon, capture them, then hurt them before he let's them go." She then slaps handcuffs on him. "He's a disgrace to trainers everywhere."

As Officer Jenny takes Harry away, the girls felt relief. Totodile then went up to Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo figured something. "I guess Totodile wants to be with you, Sweetie Belle."

Sweetie looked at Totodile. "Is that true? You want to be with me?"

Totodile jumped happily. Everyone watched proudly as Sweetie Belle picked up the Big Jaw Pokémon. "Now, I have a Pokémon friend."

This is a great moment for our noble trio as their journey continues.

End of Chapter 3

APPLE BLOOM
Cyndaquil
Pidgey
Sentret

SWEETIE BELLE
Totodile