Ponymon - Battles Are Magic (Indigo Collection Volume 1)

Ash and Misty walked through Route 1, avoiding any further dangers of Wild Ponymon. They managed to get to Viridian City before sunset. As they walked over there, an officer named Jenny was giving an announcement to all the citizens. "Attention everypony, I know you're all worried about the latest robberies, but please be on the lookout for anypony acting suspicous," she said. She then saw Ash and Misty walking to the Ponymon Center. "Hold up!" she said running up to them. Ash gasped and stopped.

"Ash, you act like you never seen an officer before," Misty said.

"Sorry, but there have been a lot of robberies in this city from a bunch of Ponymon thieves," Jenny said to Ash.

"What kind of Ponymon thieves?" Ash asked out of curiosity.

"They call themselves Team Rocket," Jenny explained. "They steal rare and valuable Ponymon for profit."

"I'm not one of them, I'm just a Trainer looking for the Viridian City Ponymon Center. My Pikachu is in critical condition after a battle with a bunch of Spearow."

"Oh, well I'll give you two an escort to that center right away." She walked ahead as Ash and Misty followed.

It took a few minutes to get to the Ponymon Center. Ash and Misty walked through the doors. "Thanks a lot," Ash said to Jenny before walking in.

"You're welcome," she replied before walking off.

Ash walked up to the front desk. A pink pony named Joy came up to greet him. "Welcome to the Ponymon Center. How are you doing on this fine night?"

"I'm actually in a bit of an emergency. My Pikachu is in critical condition," Ash replied.

"How critical are we talking?" Ash opened up Pikachu's Ponyball and the tired and weak Ponymon came out in a flash of white light. Joy gasped. "You got here just on time." She pushed a button to call out a stretcher. Her Ponymon, Chansey, came into the room with one. Ash turned on his Ponydex.

"113 - Chansey is a Normal Type Ponymon. A rare and elusive Ponymon that is said to give happiness to whoever finds one. First one met: Level 23."

Pikachu was placed on the stretcher and was sent to a healing room. "Your Ponymon will be healed momentarily," Joy said smiling before exiting the room.

Misty had a nervous feeling about Team Rocket. "Ash, if this Team Rocket is what that officer told us, do you think they'll try to attack this Ponymon Center?"

"Don't be silly," Ash said calmly. "They're probably in another city or something."

The computer's phone started ringing. Ash quickly went over to it and turned it on. "This is Ash. Who's calling?" The screen switched to Professor Oak's back.

"Hi Ash, this is Professor Oak. Don't you recognize me?"

"I don't actually. I don't remember seeing the back of your head." Oak panicked and quickly switched cameras.

"Sorry 'bout that. Your mom called asking me to see if you made it to Viridian City on time."

"Well, I'm here Professor."

"Well, yeah. You called here, I answered the call, and here we are."

"I made a small side bet with Gary to see if you caught one Ponymon other than Pikachu today," Oak said in a silent manner. "I bet 1000 bits if he was wrong about you not being able to pull it off."

"Money isn't everything Professor..." Ash said facehoofing himself. The Professor sighed. "However I did see four different Ponymon today."

"Excellent, you've done well on your first day Ash." His doorbell rang. "It was nice talking to you Ash, take care." The camera turned off. Ash could faintly hear him say, "PIZZA TIME!"

"I don't think I'll ever understand you Professor..." Ash walked back over to Misty. "I wonder how long the healing is going to take, Misty."

"I'm sure it'll end before you know it," Misty replied.

BEEP!

Nurse Joy came out with a healed up Pikachu on her back. "It turned out your Pikachu was low in Defense Power. I got it back up to base level with the right medication."

"Thanks Joy," Ash said, returning Pikachu to its Ponyball.

A siren started sounding as Jenny came onto the intercom. "Your attention please! Our radars have caught a glimpse of a balloon of two Team Rocket members! If you have a Ponymon out, return it to its Ponyball!"

On the balloon the two members started making comments on what she said. "I didn't know the security was strong here," said the red pony.

"And how dare she treat us like we're criminals!" the purple pony added. He turned his head to the red pony. "Let's show them the true wrath of Team Rocket!"

"Ekans, Koffing, attack!" The two threw two Ponyballs. They broke the glass and opened up when they hit the ground. Ekans and Koffing appeared as white light and then solidified. Koffing created a smokescreen which filled half the air in the center. Ash gave an unsatisfying look.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" he demanded.

"Don't be frightened little colt, allow us to introduce ourselves," the two said in unison before starting their motto.

"To protect Equus from devastation, to unite all ponies within our nation. To denounce the evils of truth and love, to extend our reach for the stars above. Jessie. James. Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light! Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"What do you two want?" Ash asked.

"We're here for the Ponymon within this center for our plan," James replied.

"Well you're not taking my Pikachu!"

"Pikachu? Ha!" Jessie taunted. "We're not interested in that little electric rat."

"You don't understand! This is a hospital for sick Ponymon!" Joy said.

"Yeah, but a few gems could be found within all the rest. Ekans, grab Nurse Joy!" Ekans lunged forward. Joy quickly dodged. "Keep following her Ekans!" Ash quickly motioned Misty and Joy to follow him. They ran to where the Ponyballs were stored to hide.

"Emergency Transport to Pewter City is active," the computer suddenly said transporting the unguarded Ponyballs.

"We must save the Ponymon," Joy said. Ash and Misty nodded in agreement.

James's Koffing suddenly blew the door open. "We have you now," James said smiling at himself. "Do you surrender or will you fight?" Jessie walked to the left side of James.

"You'd give up now if you were smart," Jessie added.

Ash's eyes narrowed. "It's time," he said as he got out Pikachu's Ponyball. "Pikachu, I choose you!" He threw Pikachu's Ponyball and Pikachu came out.

"Koffing, smokescreen!" James ordered. Koffing suddenly emitted smoke into the air making Pikachu, Misty, and Joy start coughing. "When Smokescreen is used, your Ponymon's evasiveness lowers. Now Koffing, Tackle!" His Ponymon tackled Pikachu and it suddenly got paralyzed.

"Alright, Koffing's paralyzed!" Ash cheered.

"Koffing, get up." Koffing tried but couldn't move from it's status effect. "What!?"

"That rookie's winning!?" Jessie added.

"Pikachu, Thundershock!" Pikachu sent out a lightning bolt which zapped Koffing and the cohorts. Koffing started lighting up like it was about to use Explosion. The Team Rocket Cohorts started panicking.

BOOM!

Team Rocket was sent flying out of the Ponymon Center. "That Pikachu is pretty powerful," James said.

"Let's try and catch it next time," Jessie replied.

"It's time Team Rocket blasted off!" James finally called out to Ash.

"You may have won this round but we'll be back!" Jessie finished.

Twinkle!

"Goodbye!" Ash and Misty called out after seeing Team Rocket disappear.

Pikachu breathed heavily after the battle. "Pikachu, return!" Pikachu was sent back to its Ponyball.

"Thanks so much for saving the Ponymon Center," Joy said smiling at Ash.

"You're Welcome," Ash replied.

Ash and Misty left the Ponymon Center with the sun starting to rise. "Take care you two! Good luck on your journey!" Joy called out.

Ash and Misty made it safely to the enterance of the Viridian Forest. Ash had a few questions to ask Misty. "Hey Misty, why are you following me around?" he asked.

"I want to help you on your journey to be a Ponymon Master," she replied.

"A Ponymon Master...?"

"You didn't think about entering the Ponymon League?"

"WHAT!?"