Operation Encompass

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Episode V- The Volcanobadge, Part I
by SPOT4
David jogged off down a road, toward the rising sun. He pulled the bill of his hat farther down in order to shade his eyes from the bright sunlight. He had been running like this for the last hour, it seemed. Any second, he was sure that his heart was going to burst. As he came to the crest of a hill, he hoped that it was the right road. He stopped for a second, regained his breath, and then looked out on the horizon. There was nothing, it seemed, for miles around. He trudged over to a tree, and leaned against it. "There has to be an easier way to get around." He felt a Pokeball in his pocket, and had an idea. "Ponyta, come out!" The ball clicked open, and a blast of white electricity revealed a white horse with a red mane and tail, which appeared to be flaming. David climbed on the back of the large Pokemon, and locked his arms around its neck. "Ponyta, let's go!" In a second, they were off, David yelling all of the way.
A while later, David was still hanging for his life on the back of his Ponyta. He reluctantly opened his eyes, and saw that they were headed toward a town, although he didn't know which. The Ponyta began to slow as they neared the city, and it came to a stop in front of the city's sign. David leaned over the Ponyta's head to see it. "Fuchsia City. Where adventurers come!" He looked around at the bustling city, full of trainers. "It's like a huge convention!" Trainers were running from shop to shop, trading Pokeballs, and battling right out in the street. David got off of Ponyta, and led it into the town.
A kid, running down the street, slammed right into him. David helped him up, and he looked up at him. "Sorry, Mister. Say, you don't want to trade, do you?"
David felt in his pocket. He still had that Spearow, and he usually wasn't the kind to use Flying type Pokemon. "Well, what do you have for a Spearow?"
The kid fished pulled a Pokeball off of his belt. "Wow!! A Spearow? I've tried forever to catch one of those!" He looked sheepishly at the Pokeball he was holding. "I don't have much, and a Spearow would really be nice. I know it isn't that great, but would you trade it for a Pidgeotto?" He pushed the Pokeball towards David.
David looked down at the little kid, and the kid seemed to really want this. He figured he might as well make that kid's day, and trade him. "Alright. A Pidgeotto will be just fine." They switched Pokeballs, and David pulled out his Pokedex to update it. "Say, uh,..."
"Todd."
"Alright, Todd, I'm David. Say, would you know where the city Gym is? I really need to see the leader right away."
Todd was still holding the Spearow's Pokeball. "Sure thing. It's right over there." He pointed toward a building a little ways away. He started walking down the street.
"Thanks. Nice talking to you." David put the Ponyta back into its Pokeball, and jogged over to the Gym. He walked inside, and looked around. He saw someone walking around in what seemed to be a ninja's suit on the other side of the room, and he started to walk towards him. SMACK! He slammed right into what appeared to be a glass wall. "Ow!"
The kid in the ninja suit turned and saw David, then dashed off. David turned left, and tried again. SMACK! Another wall. David heard a voice. "Appearances can be deceiving. If you want to find me, you're going to have to be more observant than that."
David turned around to try a different way. The ninja was standing there, but as quick as he was seen, he was gone. David took off after him. "You know, you could make this a lot easier! All I want is to ask for your help!" The kid wouldn't stop, and David was getting frustrated. He looked up, and decided that the glass didn't reach to the ceiling. He fished out a Pokeball, and tossed it into the air. "Charizard, go!" The dragon like Pokemon flapped its wings a few times as the electricity faded, as if it were streching after a long nap. David jumped onto its back. "Charizard, fly!" There was a strong beating of wings, and then they were hovering over the glass. David saw some movement on the far side of the room, and they took off to it. Nothing.
The voice sounded again. "Quite the resourceful one, aren't you? If you plan to catch a ninja, you have to think as one." David saw more movement to his right, and they turned to it. Nothing. "Come now, you can do better than that."
David saw some movement on both sides, but he didn't move. Instead, he thought. There was some movement to his left, but he turned to his right and shot down a corridor, to be rewarded by a flash of black cloth going around the corner. "Charizard, speed up!" He pulled out another Pokeball as they rounded the corner. He saw the ninja standing in the center of the hall, ready to fight, with sword drawn. David just kept on flying right at him, in a game of nerves. The ninja raised his sword to try to hit David off of Charizard. Just as he was about to strike, David tossed a Pokeball on him. "Think fast!" The ball exploded into a Growlithe, and it slammed the ninja to the ground. David jumped off of Charizard to make sure that the Growlithe held him there.
The ninja looked up into the fangs of the Growlithe, and put his hands up to take off his mask, sighing. "You're very good. Lucky for you I'm still just a ninja in training."
David recalled Charizard, and kneeled down beside his Growlithe. "Now, will you help me?"
The kid tried to stand up, but the Growlithe pushed him back down. "As soon as you get this dog off of me!" David recalled the Growlithe, and helped the kid up. "Welcome to the Fushcia City Gym. I'm Koga, the Gym Leader."
"I'm David, and I need your help."
"What brings you here?"
"It's a long story. I'll tell you later. To sum it up, Team Rocket has Encompass, and it's only one week before it's strong enough to use it."
"I think I heard about that in the news. Hey, didn't you and your two friends try to stop them?"
"It's in the news already?"
"Yeah. We've all heard it. Sure, I'll help. But first, you have to prove that you can stop Team Rocket." He walked over to a window, and pointed to what looked like a jungle surrounded by a fence. "You see that? That's Safari Zone, a theme park for Pokemon trainers only. There's an option to spend the night there. If you can spend the night, and come back in the morning, I'll help you."
"IF I come back in the morning?"
Koga tossed him a small envelope. "Here. I'll even pay it for you. Now hurry. The place is going to close in about an hour."
David walked to window as Koga stepped back. "You actually expect me to spend the night there?" No one answered. David spun around. Koga was gone. "Oh, great! All right, Koga! I'm going!" David walked outside, and ran into someone again. This time, it was David who fell over. "Oooff!"
Todd reached his hand down and helped David up again. "Sorry. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. You?" Todd nodded. "Well, then, it's off to Safari Zone. Koga wants me to spend the night there before he'll help me."
"Hmmm. That doesn't sound like Koga to me. Anyway, mind if I come along?"
"Not at all. I'd be glad for the company."
"Then let's go!"
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As the sun set, David and Todd were sitting along the bank of a pond in Safari Zone. Todd was fishing, and David was reading a book. David put the book down, and listened. He was sure he had heard something. He looked around, but didn't see any movement. Todd noticed David looking around. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. How's your fishing coming?"
"Not even a nibble so far. I think I'm going to give up on it and go after land..." Just as he finished saying it, the line shook, and almost dragged Todd into the water. David jumped up and held onto Todd, helpng him bring the Pokemon to the shore. A serpentine Pokemon landed itself on the ground, and started thrashing around. "Dratini! Dratini!" Todd whipped out a Pokeball. "Go, Safari Ball!" The ball absorbed the sea snake, but it poppped the ball open again. "Oh no! It's too strong! It's going to get away!"
David pulled out another Safari Ball. "Not if I can help it! Safari Ball, go!!" The ball caught the Dratini again, and this time, it held it in. "Yes!" David picked up the ball, and stuck it in his pocket. "I'll save this for Tony. He can use Water Types."
A large shadow covered them and they both looked up. Todd got excited. "A Fearow! Let's go! Safari Ball, go!!!" The Safari Ball hit the Fearow, but it escaped and flew into the jungle. Todd jumped up and grabbed his backpack. "Come on! It's under trees. I'll have a much better shot from there!" He took off, leaving David behind.
David ran after him, and caught up just as Todd was about to take another shot. Todd wound up and flung the Safari Ball at the Fearow. David watched as the ball rolled back and forth on the ground, the Fearow shaking it from inside. Finally, it stopped. Todd jumped down from where he had thrown the ball from. "Yes!! I got a Fearow!"
Todd got the ball, and put it in his backpack. David looked at his watch. It was still early in the evening, but it was already getting dark. He suggested that they find a place to bed down for the night, and Todd agreed. They stopped by a cavern near the main path, and got out their sleeping bags. The bush behind them started rustling, and a Flareon jumped out. It started growling at them, and jumped at Todd. "I think this cave is its home!"
David pulled out a Pokeball. "It's a good thing we're allowed to bring these along for defense! Let's try you out! Dratini! Go!!" The white electricity subsided, and the fluffy Flareon faced off against the serpentine Dratini. The Flareon breathed in, and blew out a rage of flames. "Flar-e-ON!!" David called, "Dratini, Surf!!" The tiny sea snake shot water out of its mouth, putting out the flames, and then dowsed the Flareon, pushing him back. The Flareon was angry now. It charged at the Dratini, getting ready to tackle it. "Dratini, Wrap!" The Dratini flew at Flareon, and wrapped itself around it, choking the Flareon. David and Todd watched as the Flareon began to lose strength and breath. It looked up at them with its weak eyes. "Flar-e-onnn," it moaned. David waited a second longer, and then pulled out Dratini's Pokeball. "I can't stand it anymore. Dratini, come back!" The Flareon flopped to the ground as the Dratini around it was absorbed. David pulled out another Safari Ball to try to catch it, but it looked so pitiful just laying there. David decided to help it into its cave, and then leave it there to heal. It looked up at him, and whined, "Flareon! Flareon!" David and Todd started to walk away, and the Flareon followed them. It seemed to want David to be its trainer. David turned around and knelt on the ground, and the Flareon dashed to him. "Flareon! Flareon!" David carried it in his arms as they walked on.
The found another place to sleep, and the Flareon fell asleep beside David. Todd and David woke up while Flareon was staring a bush, growling. "Flareon, what's wrong?" It simply kept on growling. David got up from his sleeping bag, and Todd watched from where he was.
A shadowy form emerged from the bush, laughing. "To protect the world from devastation, unite all peoples within our nation, to denounce the evils of truth and love, to extend our reach to the stars above, Sarah! Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light! Surrender now or prepare to fight!" She walked into the moonlight, holding a Pokeball. "You miserable trainer! Did you really think you could beat me to the Volcanoebadge? You'll not win tonight! Arcanine, go!!"
By now, David and Todd were up and ready to fight. As the huge dog-like tiger emerged from the ball, David called out his Pokemon. "Flareon, go!!" The fluffy, fox-like creature was tiny in comparison to the Arcanine.
Sarah started off. "Arcanine, let's bury these guys! Dig!!" The Arcanine shot down into the ground, and Flareon began looking around for its enemy. "Flareon!" it whined.
David saw the ground begin to crack underneath it. "Flareon, get out of the way!" Just as the Flareon stepped off of the ground, the Arcanine blasted up through it, barely missing his quarry.
Sarah stomped. "Ooo! That's it! Arcanine, Take Down!"
The Arcanine lumbered toward Flareon, jumped, and charged from the air. "Flareon, Counter!!" The tiny Flareon jumped up to meet his enemy, and caught it from underneath, slamming it into the ground. The Arcanine moaned and got up, angrily slashing at the Flareon. "Flareon, Fire Spin!!" The little Flareon inhaled, and shot out rows of flame. "Flar-e-ON!!" The fire surrounded the Arcanine, and circled up around it. The flame subsided, and the Arcanine flopped over on its side.
Sarah pouted. "Arcanine, return!" She pulled out another Pokeball. "You may be able to win the battle, but I'll make sure that you don't win the war! Ninetales, go!!" The huge fox brushed its nine tails around as it came out of the Pokeball. "Ninetales, Flamethrower!!" The Ninetails blasted fire at David and Todd.
David got up off of the ground where he had jumped to avoid the flame, and called, "Hey, watch out! You're supposed to fight with the Pokemon! Not us!" Then he saw the look in Sarah's eyes. "Todd, grab your backpack! Flareon, return!" Todd jumped up, and dodged another flame, igniting some nearby bushes. Flareon was still facing off against Sarah. David ran over and grabbed it just as raging flames exploded right where the Flareon had been. David caught up with Todd, and they started running down the main path as they realized it was getting hotter. David looked around. "The whole place is on fire! She must have started a blaze! We've got to get out of here!"
Todd stopped and reached into his backpack. "I can help us there! Fearow, go!!" The giant crane-like bird flapped its wings as it came out of the Pokeball. "Fearow, carry us to safety!!" The bird flapped a few times, and picked them both up in its claws. David held on tight to Flareon, and Todd directed the bird. "Let's head toward that mountain!" The bird turned toward the mountain in the center of the park.
David looked down and saw a rage of flames. "That fire is spreading fast! We've got to do something about it!" Then he saw a trail of flame headed straight for the mountain. "She's following us! Look down there!"
The bird placed them gently on a cliff of the mountain, and then returned to the Pokeball. David saw a stream nearby running down the mountain, and had an idea. He pulled out a Pokeball. "Dratini! Come out!" The serpent flopped out of the ball. "Dratini!!" He put the snake beside the water and instructed, "Dratini, I want you to go get all of your friends, and start putting this fire out! Hurry!!" The Dratini nodded and shot down the slope on the stream. "Dratini!!" He then turned to Flareon and pulled out a Pokeball. "Flareon, return!!" The little fox avoided the red blasts of electricity. Apparently, he wanted to stay out and help. "Flareon, if you stay out here, you're going to get hurt! Now return!" He connected with one of the hits, and put the Pokeball, still rumbling from the Pokemon, in his pocket. He looked back out over the flames. Now the flames were coming right up to the mountain side. "I hope Dratini can make it though that!"
Suddenly, Sarah, riding Ninetales, blasted around the corner of the cliff. She slowed, and began walking towards Todd and David, pushing them nearer and nearer the edge of the cliff. "You should have never crossed me. I take no losses, and you will never beat us. Team Rocket is destined to become the rulers of the world, and there's nothing you and your little friends can do about it!!"
David checked his step. He almost fell right off the edge. "Aaagh!" He waved his arms wildly to balance himself, and Todd pulled him back. "Whew. Thanks."
Sarah turned Ninetales toward Todd and commanded, "Ninetales, Flamethrower!!" The flames lanched out of Ninetales' mouth and toward Todd.
Todd dove out of the way and almost rolled off of the cliff. He went to grab a Pokeball out of his pocket, but it put him off balance, and his legs fell over the side. "David! Help me uuuaaaahhhh!!!!!" Todd let go with one of his hands by accident, but was still holding on with the other. "David!! Do something!! Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!!"
David ripped out a Pokeball just as Todd's other hand let go of the rocky edge. He launched the ball toward the ground far below. "Charizard, go and catch Todd!!!" The dragon roared as it sped towards the falling Todd. "CHAR-I-ZARD!!!! It swooped under him just as he was about to crash through the treetops. "Yes!! Great job, Charizard!!"
Todd directed Charizard back toward the mountain, but David waved him off. "It's too dangerous!! Go for help!!!" Todd nodded and flew off towards the town. He turned back to Sarah.
She was smiling cruelly. "We have unfinished business, and if I hurry, I can finish it before help and that miserable Todd arrives! It will look as if you committed arson, and died in the attempt of setting the whole place on fire. Nice and easy."
David smiled this time. "But you have to remember, Todd saw the whole thing!"
She shrugged. "It's his word against the fire inspectors and the other authorities."
David stomped. "He's a witness!"
She pointed a finger in his face. "He's a young boy! And they, especially Pokemon trainers, can be kidnapped fairly easily." She stepped closer, and he backed up against the edge of the cliff again. "You have tangled with the wrong people, David. It's too bad you didn't join Team Rocket when you had the chance." She put her fist pack to punch David. "Goodbye."
As she got ready to punch, the ball in David's pocket exploded, launching Flareon into Sarah's stomach. "FLAREON!!" She flew over against her Ninetales, and landed on the ground. She got up, looked down at the fox, who was flaming with anger. She stepped toward David, and a blast of flame engulfed her foot. "FLAREON!!!" She stomped out the flame on her foot, and put her hand in the pocket of her suit. As she withdrew a gun, she said, "There's more than one way to take care of a Pokemon like that!"
She aimed at Flareon, who was still guarding David for its life. David saw the gun and charged Sarah. "No!!!" He grabbed her arm and wrenched the gun away from her. He threw it over the cliff, where he was sure that he was going to end up just a second ago.
She turned and pulled a flip, slamming David down on his back, knocking the wind out of him. A helicopter whirred overhead. She looked up and scowled. As the rope ladder fell to her, she looked back down at David. "You have proven worthy to live to fight another day. But so shall I. Remember, whenever you least expect us, Team Rocket is there!!" She grabbed onto the ladder, and soared away into the night sky.
David sat up slowly as he began breathing again. His eyes fell on Flareon, who was rubbing itself against David. David picked it up, and hugged it. "Thanks, Flareon.You've done well." The Flareon's ears pricked to the sound of fire trucks and ambulances whining down the street. David stood up and looked in the direction of the road. He saw steam rising from most of the forest. The fire had been put out. Some splashing nearby suprised David. He looked over, and the little Dratini crawled out of the stream. "Dratini!!" David went over and picked it up. "Good job, Dratini!! I'm proud of you, even though I'm not usually a water trainer. I guess you guys come in handy now and then, huh?" The Dratini sort of giggled. "Dratini!"
David turned around again, and took in the view.