1.Ash's Story (Part 2: Johto)

Chapter 11: Zephyr Wind

Falkner's Gym rose above Violet City like a tower built for the sky. Wind moved around its blue roof and open platforms, carrying distant Flying-type cries over the streets. After Sprout Tower, the height no longer surprised me, but my first Johto Gym still tightened my stomach.

Violet Gym waited at the end of the street. The first Johto Gym Badge was inside, making the League road ahead feel suddenly real.

Pikachu watched the roofline from my shoulder. Togepi rested awake in Lillie's arms, while Chikorita pressed close to my leg and lifted her leaf toward the breeze.

"I won't fear it either," Chikorita said, her leaf trembling once before she held it steady.

I crouched and brushed her head gently. "I know you won't."

Lillie heard her and smiled. "You sound very determined, Chikorita."

"If Ash is walking into his first Johto Gym," Chikorita replied, "then I am walking in too."

Before we reached the doors, two people in white coats blocked us. Their clipboards were too high, their smiles too wide, and James's fake mustache was already peeling.

"No challenger may enter!" Jessie announced stiffly. "We are from the Pokémon Bureau, and every Pokémon must be inspected before entering this facility."

James nodded solemnly. "Especially rare, famous, or very yellow Pokémon."

Meowth leaned around James's leg in a tiny white coat. "Dat means da Pikachu inspection starts now."

Pikachu flattened his ears. "They are lying badly again, and their story makes no sense."

"They're not as smart as they think they are," I said, reaching for a Poké Ball. "Heracross, we can't let them take Pikachu!"

Heracross burst out and landed between us and the fake inspectors. James recovered from his surprise by producing a jar of thick golden sap.

Heracross froze at the sight of it. "That smells wonderful."

"No," I warned. "It is not time to eat."

James dropped the jar onto the stones, and Heracross lunged. He caught it with both arms, popped the lid free, and buried his face in the sap.

Reisa stared at him. "That is one way to stop a rescue."

Heracross lifted his sticky face. "I am helping after I finish this."

"That is not helping!" Pikachu shouted.

Team Rocket tore away their coats. A mechanical arm shot from a balloon basket behind the Gym sign, caged Pikachu, and yanked him off my shoulder.

"Pikachu!" Lillie cried as Togepi squeaked and threw both little arms upward.

Togepi thrust both arms toward the rising cage. "Bring Pikachu back!"

Pikachu slammed against the bars, sparks snapping around him. "I can break this, but the cage is carrying me too high!"

Jessie laughed as Arbok dropped from the basket, hood spread wide. "Prepare for trouble from above the first Gym!"

"And make it double, with a splendid view!" James added.

A shadow crossed the street. A man in a flight suit leaned beneath a wide glider, with Pidgey perched on its frame. The glider dipped, and Pidgey launched.

"Now, Pidgey!" the man called. Pidgey hooked the cage handle with its claws and pulled hard, swinging it away from Team Rocket's mechanical arm just as the glider cut between the balloon and Gym roof.