"Pokémon Smugglers?" Ari repeated.
Officer Jenny nodded. "I'm putting the alert out to every Trainer in Cerulean City. Pokémon are disappearing and people could get hurt."
Ari couldn't tell if Misty or Brock was more devestated. Misty was a Cerulean City Gym Leader, and her home was being messed with. Brock had spent all day with Jenny trying to land a date, but she was preoccupied by the Pokémon Smugglers.
The three downcast Trainers sat around the Cerulean Fountain. Eevee drew closer to Ari.
"Don't worry, girl. I won't let anybody hurt you." Ari scratched Eevee behind the ears. "Officer Jenny didn't happen to mention where these smugglers operated from, Brock?"
"The police think the most likely option is a place called Cerulean Cave, across the river. She told me it's difficult to navigate, houses dangerous Wild Pokémon, and they don't have any proof. You'd have to be bold to set up base there," said Brock.
In other words, it's perfect, Ari thought, remembering her mother's teachings.
"Ari, don't," Misty said abruptly.
"I literally haven't done anything. Do you have a problem with me breathing?"
"I'm starting to. What I was going to say was that you shouldn't go after these smugglers."
She's onto me, Ari panicked. "Who said anything about going after them?"
"You didn't have to say anything. It's just the kind of reckless thing you'd do. I really don't fancy having to save your neck today."
"Misty has a point," said Brock. "We should leave the smugglers to wonderful, dedicated people like Officer Jenny."
"Get over her, Romeo, she's married to her job," Misty said. "Ari, I don't want to tell you again."
"You won't have to," Ari promised. Because you won't even know I'm gone.
That night, Ari waited until Misty and Brock were soundly asleep in their shared hotel room. Imploring Eevee to be quiet, Ari crept over to Misty's bedside. There was a problem she had to overcome - the river keeping her from Cerulean Cave. She didn't think it was wise to swim across, and, besides, her soaking clothes and the river's smell would be a dead giveaway. Ari had a solution; to 'borrow' Misty's Starmie.
"This is what you get for keeping secrets from me," Ari whispered spitefully. She was determined to hate Misty for holding out on her. The Gym Leader could've solved several tricky situations with her powerful Starmie. The only explanation that occured to Ari was that Misty wanted to see her suffer.
Ari left the hotel as quietly as possible, released Starmie from its Poké Ball, and convinced it to ferry her across the river. Only when Ari had recalled Starmie did she acknowledge her nerves. She was doing something her mother did almost weekly; that was quite a lot to live up to.
The cave had dark, cobalt walls and a dreary ceiling. The steady streams of water shooting past her feet were like dribbles of metalic paint. Wild Parasect skulked in the gloom.
Eevee was spooked when several Golbat raced overhead. Following a hunch, Ari went in the direction the Golbat had came from, eventually finding a section of the cave that was certainly unatural. The walls had been hollowed out and installed with iron bars to create at least a hundred cramped Pokémon cages. Among the captured Pokémon, Ari recognised species such as Spearow, Paras, Pikachu, Staryu, Bellsprout, Seel, Geodude, Nidoran, and - much to her indignation - Butterfree, Clefairy, and a single Eevee. The Pokémon's distress was obvious.
What infuriated Ari even more was her discovery of the culprits. Team Rocket. Not the trio she was familiar with, but a collection of Grunts in black uniforms. They appeared more competent and focused than Jessie, James, and Meowth, though Ari believed anybody adorning the organisation's insignia must've taken a few serious hits to the head.
There were five members of Team Rocket. They banged their fists against the cages to quiet roudy Pokémon, or else fiddled with stolen goods.
As one Grunt crossed the cave, Ari saw a vine snake across the ground, and trip him. The man looked around wildly, not seeing the vine speedily retreat behind a nearby rock. Ari and Eevee weren't the only ones observing the scene. By adjusting her angle, Ari could see a Bulbasaur lurking behind the rock.
Ari locked eyes with Bulbasaur. The little Pokémon glared at Ari, almost challenging her. Bulbasaur's intense gaze was hardened, even loathful. He clearly held contempt for humans. Ari could recognise that Bulbasaur was trying to calculate how she would threaten him. Bulbasaur forced his eyes back onto Team Rocket's activities, and Ari understood; he was here to free the smuggled Pokémon. He wouldn't harm her unless she presented a direct threat.
Unfortunately, Eevee wanted to greet Bulbasaur. Ari had to hold her Pokémon back; Bulbasaur, spooked by the commotion, fired his Razor Leaf in Ari and Eevee's direction.
The Grunts heard the leaves fire. "What was that?" One asked.
The man Bulbasaur had attacked earlier neared Bulbasaur's hiding place. The Seed Pokémon revealed himself, knocking the Rocket Grunt away with another Razor Leaf.
The Grunt drew a Poké Ball. "Want to join our collection, runt?" He sent out a Drowzee. Ari watched as Drowzee aimed Psywave directly at Bulbasaur.
"Brock!"
Brock was awoken abruptly by Misty's tantrum. He had been having a good dream, too; Jenny had taken him on a moonlit motorcycle ride.
He looked up blearily. "Misty, it's the middle of the night."
The Cerulean City Gym Leader's face was fierce and stormy. Brock noted how, even in anger, Misty's face had a pristine quality.
"Ari's gone," Misty informed him.
Brock sat up, trying to downplay his concern. "You seem more angry than worried."
"Because Ari isn't the only thing that's gone! The brat took my Starmie, and I bet it was just to get at me!"
"And I bet it was to get across the river," Brock reasoned. "We need to tell Officer Jenny."
Misty smacked him with a pillow. "Will you please get your mind off of women and help me here?"
Brock nursed his face. "No, we need to tell Jenny because Ari's gone after those Pokémon Smugglers. You know that the only thing across that river is Cerulean Cave. If there really are criminals operating in there..."
Worry flashed in Misty's eyes; Brock chose to believe it was for both Ari and Starmie.
They found a restless Officer Jenny in the police station. Brock informed her of the situation. Jenny was so visisbly exhausted that Brock wanted nothing more than to comfort her.
Jenny sighed. "I suppose your friend could've chosen worse timing. A member of Interpol is schedueled to arrive any minute to help perform a raid."
Right on cue, the door was flung open, and a women entered. The first thing Brock noticed was her height - the woman was uncommonly tall. Despite appearing to be nearing her forties, she was clearly active, and Brock couldn't help but pay attention to her youthful, expressive face - it reminded him of Ari's. Her volumous black curls spilled over her trenchcoat. Her hazel eyes held impressive ferocity, but Brock could picture them in a kinder form.
"Agent Sunni, reporting for duty," she announced. She scanned the faces of everybody else in the room, and groaned, "What happened now?"
Ari refused to stand by while Bulbasaur took a Psywave. She jumped in front of Bulbasaur, taking the attack herself. Eevee pushed Ari to help her back up.
Drowzee's Trainer recovered from his shock. "What are you, it's Trainer?"
"No. Bulbasaur doesn't need a Trainer, because it clearly has more decency than you five." Ari spat at the man's feet.
The Grunt turned red. "I'll teach you some respect, little girl. Drowzee, use Psywave."
"Eevee, Swift!" The Moves met in the middle of the room. "Quick Attack!"
"Vee!" Eevee dashed foward and tackled Drowzee's stomach.
"Use Disable." Drowzee's eyes flashed as a strange aura covered Eevee. Ari recognised from matches she had watched that Eevee wouldn't be able to use Quick Attack for a while. Drowzee threw Eevee away with Headbutt. It would be hard to close the distance again without Quick Attack.
Drowzee raised its Attack with Meditate. Eevee's Tackle was intercepted by a second Headbutt, and Drowzee raised its arms to reduce the damage from Swift. A powerful Psywave came towards Eevee, who braced for an impact that never came.
Bulbasaur had destroyed Psywave with Razor Leaf, aiding Ari in the fight. Was he simply repaying Ari, or had he developed respect for her? Ari thought she saw Bulbasaur smile; the sight reinvigorated her.
"Eevee, use Swift!"
Eevee defeated Drowzee with a bombardment of stars. The Grunt growled as he called Drowzee back into its Poké Ball. Before he could retaliate, another Grunt tapped him on the shoulder and pointed.
The cages swung open. Bulbasaur had picked the locks with his vines throughout Eevee and Drowzee's Battle. The smuggled Pokémon escaped, even the dark cave providing more freedom than their cages.
Bulbasaur glowered at the Grunts, daring them to strike back. They were more than happy to comply, unleashing a Weezing, Rattata, Raticate, Grimer, and Sandshrew.
Ari and Eevee stood between Bulbasaur and Team Rocket. "You'll have to get through us first."
The Pokémon preparied to attack.
A majestic stallion Pokémon Ari had seen many times before impeded the attacks. Ari was familiar with the Rapidash species, and quickly realised her savior was indeed her mother's Rapidash. Rapidash dished out heavy damage to all the Rocket Pokémon with his Fire Blast.
To Ari's great relief, Rapidash's Trainer wasn't far behind. She hadn't seen her mother in around two months.
Sunni strode past Ari to present her badge to the Grunts. "International Police! Withdraw your Pokémon, and place your hands up!" She boomed. Behind Sunni were Officer Jenny, Brock, with Onix behind him, and Misty, who had a temper more terrifying than many Pokémon.
The Grunts resigned themselves to their fates, allowing Jenny to handcuff them.
"What are you all doing here-," Ari began. She was cut off when her mother strangled her in a hug.
"When they told me your name, I was so worried," Sunni said. Unexpectly, she laughed. "I should've known not to be. You never fail to surprise me in the best possible way."
"Thanks for the save, mama."
Sunni bent down. "It's been a long while since I last saw you, Eevee." Eevee joyfully sniffed Sunni's hand. "And does this Bulbasaur belong to you?"
Bulbasaur didn't retreat from Sunni, likely because of how Ari's mother had beat Team Rocket into submission.
"No. Actually, we just met." Ari recounted what had happened to Sunni, Misty, and Brock.
"Sadly, there are plenty of Pokémon with a fear of humans," Sunni said. "But if you want my opinion, this Bulbasaur understands you want to protect vulnerable Pokémon. He might even want to help you."
"Do you mean...?"
Ari's question was answered for her. Bulbasaur smiled cheerfully, rolling onto his back. Ari's Poké Ball hit his belly, quivered on the cave floor, then clicked.
"I Caught a Bulbasaur!" Ari celebrated. Sunni smiled proudly.
While Sunni recalled Rapidash, Misty held out her hand. Ari returned Starmie's Poké Ball. Ari thought Starmie deserved to see some use after Misty had neglected to use it to solve their problems earlier during their Journey. Ari almost said that, but held her tongue with Sunni present.
The Team Rocket Grunts were detained at Cerulean City Police Station. Officer Jenny thanked Sunni for her help.
"I'm just doing my job," Sunni said.
Sunni asked Ari for a private word before she left.
"You need to be careful with Team Rocket," Sunni implored.
Ari smirked. "They haven't done much to warrant that."
"Ari, I'm serious. Interpol have been on their trail for years. Their Pokémon stealing and smuggling would be enough, but we're getting wind that they're planning... something. Just keep your guard up."
Ari couldn't help but feel Sunni was hiding something more than the usual 'classified information'. Regardless, she shook hands with Sunni, who wished her the best before departing on Fearow.
Ari returned to her hotel room with Eevee, Misty, and Brock, hoping for a long sleep before resuming her Journey with her new Bulbasaur in tow.