Pokémon The Johto Journeys: Tough Enough

Chapter 3: Team Rocket Attacks!

                Ash and Pikachu dragged Shingo to the battle area. He protested the whole way as Misty, Brock, and Muramasa watched from the sidelines.

                “I told you, Ash,” Shingo said, crossly. “You don’t have a chance!”

                Suddenly, a loud crash followed by a scream drowned out Shingo’s complaints.

                “What was that?” Ash wondered.

                The scream came from the training center. A white Pokémon was lying in the grass, clutching Shingo’s laptop computer. A girl with red hair was pulling on the computer cord, trying to reel in the Pokémon. Behind her was a boy with purple hair. The boy and girl wore white uniforms with a red letter “R” emblazoned on the front.

                Ash knew the terrible trio. They were Jessie, James, and their Pokémon, Meowth—a notorious team of Pokémon thieves. Usually, they tried to steal his Pikachu.

                “Team Rocket!” Ash cried. He started to run toward them, but Muramasa’s Scizor was there in a flash. Scizor grabbed the computer cord in one claw and picked up Meowth in the other.

                “What are you three doing this time?” Brock demanded.

                “We want the data in that computer,” said James, the purple-haired boy. “We can use it to steal the best Pokémon in the world!”

                Jessie, the red-haired girl, frowned. “Enough chat. Let’s battle for it!” she screeched.

                Jessie threw two red-and-white Poké Balls. Arbok, a purple cobra Pokémon, flew out of one. Lickitung, a pink Pokémon with a long tongue, popped out of another.

                James threw two Poké Balls, too. Weezing, a purple Pokémon that looked like a cloud of smog with two heads, flew out and belched. Victreebel, a combination Grass and Poison Pokémon, hopped onto the ground. Then it promptly swallowed James inside its big bell-shaped body.

                “Here we go again,” James mumbled. Then Victreebel spit him out.

                Shingo ignored the dangerous-looking Pokémon and ran for his computer. Arbok lunged right at him, baring its long fangs.

                “Masamune!” Muramasa called to his Scizor.

                Scizor dropped Meowth and dashed in front of Arbok, knocking down the cobra Pokémon. Shingo had grabbed his computer and began typing furiously.

                “Team Rocket, eh?” he said. “That’s funny. I can’t find you guys in here anywhere.”

                Jessie and James forgot about their attack for a moment.

                “But we’re the world famous Team Rocket,” she said. “We must be in your database.”

                “Your data must be seriously flawed,” added James.

                Shingo stood up. There was an angry scowl on his face. “I’ll show you! My data file is perfect,” Shingo said. He threw out a Poké Ball of his own. “Go!”

                A large red Pokémon popped out. It was another Scizor, just like Muramasa’s.

                “This is Blade,” said Shingo proudly. “It’s faster, sharper, stronger, and lasts longer than Muramasa’s Scizor—and it’s never been defeated in battle!”

                Shingo knelt down in the dirt, with the computer on his lap. “Get ready, Blade,” he said. “After their first attack I’ll run a complete analysis on these trainers.”

                Jessie snickered. “You little dweeb,” she said.

                “We’ll teach you, techno-geek!” James taunted.

                “Arbok! Lickitung! Clean out his hard drive!” Jessie yelled.

                “Weezing! Victreebel! Tackle Attack!” shouted James.

                Meowth bared its sharp claws. “I’ll show him my Fury Swipes!”

                The five Pokémon began to charge forward.

                Shingo smirked. “Reaction speed, point three-four,” he said. “To Blade that’s like standing still.”

                Meowth, Arbok, Lickitung, Weezing, and Victreebel ignored Shingo and continued their charge.

                “Use Quick Attack!” Shingo told his Scizor.

                Blade began to fly in swift circles around the approaching Pokémon. Soon all Ash could see was a white light as the fast-moving Shingo became a blur.

                Then Shingo rammed into Team Rocket’s Pokémon. The impact sent the Pokémon flying toward Jessie and James. In a split second, the terrible trio and their Pokémon went soaring into the sky.

                “We’re blasting off again!” cried Jessie, James, and Meowth.

                “Excellent work,” said Muramasa.

                Shingo shrugged. “I knew I would win. The data predicted it,” he said. “So you see, Ash, I don’t have to battle you to know that you’re going to lose!”