AG006: Difference between revisions

Ash and company are moving towards [[Rustboro City]], but May isn't happy.  Wanting another break, she slows down, and everyone decides to take another break.  However, when she leans back onto a tree, she discovers that the tree bark has been torn in many places.  Speculating as to what is going on, Max suggests that a Pokémon battle had taken place.  Ash seemed to agree, but later discovers part of a net embedded into one of the trees.  Meanwhile, Max discovers that a Pokémon Center is nearby, and Brock proceeds to lead everyone else there.

Arriving at the Pokémon Center, they meet [[Nurse Joy]].  Before Brock can make his moves on her, May, believing that it is the same Nurse Joy from [[Oldale Town]], tries to greet her, but is surprised when Nurse Joy does not recognize her.  As Max tries to tell her that Pokémon Centers are run by a family of (nearly) identical-looking Nurse Joys, [[Officer Jenny]] and her {{p|Growlithe}} appear to ask whether Pokémon had recently been admitted to the Pokémon Center, due to the activities of a poacher, named Rico, nearby.  As Max also explains to May that Officer Jennys are also (more or less) identical, Ash presents Officer Jenny with the part of the net that they had found.  Officer Jenny, with a lead on Rico, then asks Ash and company to return to where they had found it, and everyone leaves the Pokémon Center in haste.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket are on a hill overlooking the Pokémon Center.  As they plan to trap Ash and company when they return (using their "patented pitfall trap"), Meowth slips and rolls down a hill.  At the bottom, he finds a tarp covering a large object, and uncovers that it is a cage full of {{p|Ekans}}.  Learning that the Ekans had been caught and abused by a Pokémon poacher, Meowth tries to free them, but find that their cage is electrified.  At this point, Jessie and James (riding {{TP|Jessie|Arbok}} and {{TP|James|Weezing}}) arrive.  Outraged at how the Ekans are confined, Jessie orders Arbok to use {{m|Acid}} to free the Ekans, but Arbok is reluctant to attack (due to itself being once an Ekans and feeling compassionate for its own kind, Meowth claims).  After being reassured that the Ekans will not be harmed (with the intent to take the Ekans in themselves), Arbok once again begins its attack (with Weezing throwing a {{m|Sludge}} to help).  However, before they can attack, they are themselves attacked by a {{p|Fearow}}.

The Fearow's trainer then arrives in a jeep.  Introducing himself as Rico, a Pokémon poacher, he explains that the Ekans were his.  Per his client's wishes, he is to poach {{type2|Poison}} Pokémon (including the cage full of {{p|Koffing}} he has in tow), with a bonus for every evolved one he can get.  He allows them to leave unharmed - if they left Arbok and Weezing to him.  Having gone through so much with Arbok and Weezing (James claiming that the two were like brothers), and motivated by the Ekans and the Koffing, they refuse, and Arbok and Weezing prepare to defend themselves as Rico then orders Fearow to attack.  Fearow easily dodges Arbok's {{m|Poison Sting}} and Weezing's {{m|Smog}}, and lands a {{m|Fury Attack}} on both.  When Fearow tries to finish off Arbok with a {{m|Drill Peck}}, however, Arbok catches its beak with a {{m|Wrap}}.  Just then, Rico withdraws Fearow for a {{p|Pupitar}}, who proceeds to use {{m|Sandstorm}} to send Team Rocket flying.  Claiming that Arbok and Weezing were too weak for their efforts, Rico leaves to poach more Pokémon.