Celadon City

This is the city. The Rockets took our friends here.

+ Right…

This city is pretty big, it’ll take a long time to find them.

I think they were taken to one of the big buildings?

Makes sense, they weren’t using Pokéballs so they’ll need a lot of space.

I thought every human had Pokéballs?

+ Well, they’re expensive. I mean if someone’s looking to catch a whole herd of Tauros or something it’s going need a massive investment at the PokéMart.

We check out the biggest buildings in the city, first we managed to get into a massive and expensive looking apartment complex. Checking each floor in turn we find nothing out of the ordinary and no sign of the Rockets so far.

Reaching the top I notice the door to the only apartment on this floor is ajar, cautiously I peek inside. With no sign of anyone inside I step in and have a look around. There’s a visible layer of dust covering everything, nothing really stands out apart from a Pokéball on a coffee table. I tap the release and an Eevee pops out.

Wha? Where? How long? Who’re you?

+ I’m Cally and this is Joule.

Looks like you were asleep for a long time there.

I was getting lonely so I decided to hibernate.

+ Lonely? Don’t you have a trainer?

She died…

+ Oh…

Have you seen my brother? He was supposed to be here too but I couldn’t find him or his Pokéball.

+ I assume he’s another Eevee? What’s his name?

His name is Bob, I’m Eve by the way.

The only other Eevee we’ve seen is with Green, but I think that Eevee is female.

+ You think? I thought you could tell the difference because you’re a Pokémon too?

It’s different with Eevees, it’s not like the girls have a heart shape on their tails!

+ Oh, well I don’t think that Eevee was named Bob anyway. Sorry Eve.

Oh… I guess I’ll go back to sleep, then.

Wait, why don’t you come with us?

I can?

+ Sure you can!

The Rockets aren’t here, we should try the next building.

We head on over to the next big building, a department store. I check each floor and have a look at what’s on sale, I find one department that sells unusual looking rocks.

Ah, taken a liking to the Evolution Stones?

+ Evolution Stone?

Some Pokémon can only evolve when they come into contact with an Evolution Stone. Your Pikachu can evolve with use of a Thunderstone.

Get that thing away from me!

+ No thanks, but they do look kinda similar to a stone I found in Mt. Moon…

I take the stone from my bag and show it to the clerk.

Oh! It’s a Moon Stone! Those are rare! Well, rarer than a Thunderstone or a Water Stone.

Moon Stone? I’ve heard fables about them! Can I hold it?

+ Sure.

It’s happening!

Woah cool! So they work on Clefairy.

I’d like to see a horde of Zubats try to mess with me now!

Selene… why?

Evolving’s really not that bad, you should try it.

Never! I’ll never change!

I’m with you on that, it’s too scary!

We head up to the roof to get a better look at the city. A few other people are up here too, enjoying the view.

I’m thirsty! I wanna drink!

+ There’s a vending machine right over there.

I don’t have any pennies.

I go to the vending machine and get the cheapest drink on the list, Fresh Water, to my surprise two bottles drop down. I keep one and give the other to the little girl.

Thanks! Here, Imma teach one of your Pokémon a trick! You’ll do well with it!

Me?

Yeah, you!

The girl and Celene duck under a nearby café table for a moment.

That sure is cool, I’ll have to give it a try sometime!

You’re welcome!

Cally!

+ What’s up?

Down there!

I peer over the edge and look into the streets. I see a bunch of men in black uniforms enter a casino.

Rockets!

We rush down the stairs and make our way to the casino. The building is covered with neon lights and a massive sign in the shape of a rocket hangs over the front.

+ “Rocket Game Corner”

Subtle…

Inside is pretty much what I expected for a small casino, slot machines everywhere, but no Voltorb Flip tables. At the back I notice a crudely hidden hatch in the floor, nearby there’s a switch on the wall clearly labelled “Stairs”. I flip the switch and the hatch opens.

Below is a dingy looking basement, it’s very poorly guarded so I feel free to look around with impunity. I find my way down to a sub-basement full of cages, Pokémon are in some of them.

Who’s that?

I don’t know, it’s not dressed like the other Rockets.

She’s with me. Don’t you recognise me?

Beck?

You evolved!

You’re all here!

Minnie, you’re alive!

We’re gonna figure a way to get you guys out.

I’d have gotten us out earlier but I only have a headache and I’d need at least a migraine to break these locks.

I’ve got this.

Summer melts the locks with her ember attack.

We’re free!

I’ll burrow an escape tunnel to the surface.

Clive smashes a hole in the wall and digs upwards, tonnes of dirt and rubble spill into the room until sunlight can be seen shining from the hole.

The way is clear.

Oh no! The Rockets got me!

Someone grab Egon, he’ll take all day to escape!

Let’s go!

The Pokémon climb through the hole and make their way to the surface.

Beck, Minnie are you coming?

Sorry, we can’t.

We’re with a trainer now, you know how it is.

Well… I’ll see you around.

The Jigglypuff joins her friends, escaping to the surface. I hear footsteps approaching from a nearby room.

+ We’ve got company!

Prepare for trouble!

Make it double!

To protect the world from devastation.

To unite all peoples within our nation.

To denounce the evils of truth and love.

To extend our reach to the stars above.

Jessie!

James!

+ I already know who you are!

The weirdo Rockets!

Oi, we resembles that remarks, and you interrupted our motto!

Get ‘em, Koffing!

+ Clive, you’re up!

+ Dig!

Smog!

Clive burrows underground, avoiding the noxious gas being coughed up by Koffing.

Try Smog again!

Clive bursts from underground and strikes Koffing, knocking it into a wall.

Meowth’s turn!

+ Slash!

Clive slashes as Meowth, clipping his whiskers.

Nyeh~ too sharp…

Go Ekans!

+ Dig!

Poison Sting!

Clive leaps back underground, dodging the poison needles Ekans is spitting at him.

Poison Sting!

Clive emerges from underground, catching Ekans by surprise when he grabs it by the tail and swings it around, slamming it’s head on the floor.

Annoying twerp!

Maybe we’d do better with those ghosts the boss was talking about. Have you got the scopes?

Got ‘em right here, Jess!

Then we’re off to Lavender Tower! Grab Meowth.

We’re blasting off again!

The odd Rockets quickly leave via the stairs. Intrigued to know their boss is near I head into the next room.

It seems I have a guest.

+ You’re the Rocket boss?

Let’s kick his ass!

So you want to fight me, little Wartortle? Go Onix!

+ Water gun!

Rock Throw!

Onix throws a large rock at Beck but it sails overhead and smashes into a wall. Beck responds by spraying water in Onix’s face until it passes out.

Go Rhyhorn!

+ Beck return! Go Minnie!

+ Vine Whip!

Horn Attack!

Rhyhorn charges at Minnie but Minnie trips it up with her vines and it sails face first into a wall, wedging it’s head there.

Go Persian!

Did that cat just sparkle?

+ Leech Seed!

Payday!

Persian flings assorted coins in Minnie’s face, Minnie launches a seed at Persian that sprouts on contact, wrapping little vines around Persian.

+ Poisonpowder!

Screech!

Persian makes a loud piercing noise while Minnie sprays powder in it’s face. The leech seed drains some energy from Persian and heals Minnie with it.

+ Vine Whip!

Screech!

Persian continues to make that horrible noise while Minnie whips at it with her vines. The poison takes hold and the leech seed continues to sap Persian’s energy.

+ Minnie come back! Go Selene!

Bite!

As Selene pops out of her Pokéball, Persian bites on her arm, but it’s partially healed thanks to the leech seed.

Time to use my new trick!

Payday!

Persian throws a bunch of coins in Selene’s face. Selene points her finger at Persian and a bright blue ray shoots from her fingertip, striking Persian it covers it in frost. Before Persian can recover it succumbs to poison and collapses.

You’re pretty good for a kid. But don’t think your victory here will stop me.

+ If your cruelty to Pokémon continues I’ll find a way.

Well said, but one more thing.

+ What’s that?

What on Earth is that behind you?

+ Huh?

By the time I look back he’d disappeared.

I can’t believe you fell for that.

+ Where’d he go?

Some sort of trap door escape tunnel thing.

I look around but all I can find are some crates that look like they’ve been stolen from the back of a truck. They’re addressed to something called Silph Co.

One of the crates has been busted open, inside are a bunch of weird looking goggles in what looks like retail packaging, some of the packets are empty. I read the description.

+ “If there’s something strange in your neighbourhood. If it’s something weird and it don’t look good. Then it’s probably a pesky ghost Pokémon up to mischief. The new SilphScope™ will allow the user to see ghost Pokémon in their true form, giving trainers an edge in battling them!”

Didn’t those Rockets say they were going to get ghost Pokémon?

Yeah, I’d rather they didn’t bother them, too. Not sure if ghost Pokémon are alive or not but either way they don’t deserve the treatment my friends got!

Lavender Town

We climb the tower once more, hunting for the Rockets.

I’m glad they made Pokémon sized scopes. Hopefully those ghosts look less scary in their real forms.

Are you a god?

+ Yes?

Oh, okay then. You’re here to deal with our annoyance upstairs?

+ The Rockets? Yeah.

Then I will show you the way, I am Gozer.

+ I’m Cally.

They call me Joule.

We reach the top floor to find the Rockets trying to nab Gastlys with nets. The Gastlys pass through the nets unharmed but they seem somewhat annoyed by this.

+ Hey! Stop that!

Prepare for trouble!

Make it double!

To protect the world from devastation!

To unite all-

We already tried the motto today, let’s just get ‘em! Nyaa!

+ Thunderbolt!

Joule zaps Meowth into submission.

Nyooow~

Go Arbok!

+ Joule get back! Go Clive!

So they’ve evolved, it’ll make no difference for me…

+ Dig!

Leer!

Clive burrows beneath the floor while Arbok stares at him.

Poison Sting!

Clive emerges from under the floor and uppercuts Arbok to the jaw.

Weezing go!

+ Dig!

Sludge!

Clive vanishes under the floor again while Weezing vomits noxious fluid in his direction.

Sludge!

Clive bursts forth from under the floor, smashing Weezing and knocking it into it’s trainers at speed, sending them all flying out of a nearby window.

We’re blasting off again!

Meanwhile, back in the Rocket Hideout…

We just got new orders from the boss.

What is it this time?

He wants more guards posted in the hideout. Also he wants the hatch switch to be more cleverly hidden.

I thought it was clever disguising it as a light switch. Plain sight and all…

He want’s something better.

Well we’ve got some spare recruitment posters hanging around…