"Goodnight," said Ben.
"Goodnight," responded Tom and got into the sleeping bag, next to his Growlithe.

They got up at about 9 in the morning, ate something for breakfast and got on their way to Viridian City.

"Have you got any other Pokémon besides Rattata ?" asked Tom.
"Nope, but I want to catch a Weedle or a Ca..." he didn't finish, because he was interrupted by loud shouting.
"Hey, stop that"
"Stop? And why should I ?" said someone other. Tom and his Growlithe quickly ran towards the voices, leaveing Ben behind. They came to a clearing and saw a Vulpix covered with vines from a Weepinbell. The Weepinbell was sucking out it's energy. A young girl was standing near trying to end the suffering of her Pokémon, but the vines didn't let the beam of the Pokéball through. On the other side of the clearing was standing a punk-wannabe and was smiling. Tom ran to him to end the fight.

"Hey, let her Vulpix go"
"Ooooo, I'm sooooo scared." said the punk, before he got bitten by Growlithe.
"You will pay for that you sick puppy ! Weepinbell teach that jerk a
lesson." Weepinbell let the Vulpix and turned to it's new target. Meanwhile, Tom checked the Pokédex.

'#70 Weepinbell - Grass Pokémon
When hungry, it swallows anything that moves. Its hapless prey is melted inside by strong acids.'

"Weepinbell, Vine whip."
"Growlithe, duck it and then Bite." The vines missed barely. The Growlithe ran to the Weepinbell and bit it.
"Mwahahahaha, you must be MUCH better do defeat me." said the punk,
"Wrap him"
"Watch out," shouted Tom, but it was too late. The vines wrapped the Growlithe up, and the Weepinbell started to suck his energy out just like the Vulpix's. But Growlithe didn't give up. He was enraged. He bit out of the vines and was angry.
"It won't help you to bite now , end it with Razor Leaf Weepinbell" Leaves with incredible speed started to shoot at Growlithe.
"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" Suddenly fire bursted out from Growlithe's mouth, burnt all the leaves and hit also the Weepinbell, which fainted.

"What the..." said the punk taking his Pokémon and ran away.

"Wow, I think that was an Ember attack."
"Thanks Growlithe," said Tom and walked back to the girl. Only now he noticed how the girl looked like. She had long blond hair and blue eyes. She had a tank top and shorts. Her clothes were very similar to the ones of Misty.

"Is the Vulpix alright ?" asked Tom.
"Yes, I just need to get him to a Pokécenter," said the girl. Ben came to the clearing.
"What happend here ?"
"That's a long story, I will tell you later. Now we must hurry to the Pokécenter in Viridian City," replied Tom.

Later they finally arrived and gave Nurse Joy the weakened Vulpix. She quickly started healing it.

"Thanks for your help," said the girl.
"It wasn't just my help," said Tom looking at Growlithe.
"Yeah, thank you too," she said petting the rescuer. "My name is Crystal."
"I'm Tom, this is my Growlithe, and my friend Ben"

After Crystal's Vulpix was healed, they all went to a restaurant. While they were eating lunch, they talked about themselves.

Tom checked the data about Vulpix on his Pokédex and then asked
"What were you doing in that forest ?"
"You see, I was going to a gym to win a badge, when this punk ran into my way and wanted to give him my money. I didn't want to, so we battled. Then his Weepinbell wrapped my Vulpix and then you came and saved us in the last minute."
"So you want to win a badge ? Won't you join us on our trip to the Viridian Forest ? Right after the forest is Pewter City and if I recall correctly, there is a gym."
"Sure I'll go," said Crystal.

After a few hours they were in the forest.
"I suggest you do what you want and when it gets dark then we will camp here. So be at about seven here."
"Allright," said Ben a ran away to explore the place.
"What about you," asked Tom, "don't you want to catch something here ?"
"I guess so. See you later.", said Crystal walking away. Tom also wanted to catch a Pokémon here.

Later, Ben ran upon a Caterpie.
"Cool a Caterpie," he said while checking his dexter.
"Go Rattata and use your Tail whip" The Rattata used its tail and the Caterpie fell on it's back.
"Now Tackle" Rattata tackled the now upside down Caterpie and Ben threw a Pokéball at it. It shaked a little and then clicked, which meant that Ben caught it.

Meanwhile, Crystal was relaxing with her Vulpix on a clearing, when suddenly a Pidgey flew in her face. Crystal first didn't know, what's going on so she just tried to get it off her face. When she finally got the Pidgey on the ground she reflexivelly threw a Pokéball and surprisingly caught it.

Back to Ben, who wanted a Weedle and eventually after a few minutes of searching found one. After checking the Pokédex, he decided to try the Caterpie.

"Caterpie, Tackle and then String shot"
The little Pokémon tackled the Weedle and then covered it with silk. Ben threw a Pokéball and caught it.
"Alright now I have what I wanted, I can now relax."

Meanwhile, Tom was walking deeply in the forest. Suddenly a he heard a loud 'Bzzzzzzzzzzt' and right after that a loud cry,
"Why you little", a man's voice shouted. Tom walked closer and closer and he saw two people and a Farfetch'd chasing a Pikachu. The two were a boy and a girl wearing some kind of a white uniform with a red R on the shirts.
"Why does the boss want us to catch a Pikachu ? Why can't Jessie and James just catch that Pikachu that belongs to the little twerp?" asked the boy, already knowing the answer.
"I don't know, maybe because they are losers." replied the girl.

After checking the Pokémon on his dex, Tom walked from the bushes.

"Just who are you two and why the hell are you chasing that Pikachu?" They stopped and looked at Tom.

Suddenly a weird music started playing.

"Prepare for trouble"
"And make it double trouble"
"To infect the world from devastation"
"To blite all peoples within every nation"
"To denounce the goodness of truth and love"
"To extend our wrath to the stars above"
"Susan!"
"John!"
"Team Rocket, circling Earth all day and night!"
"Surrender now to us now or you'll surely lose the fight!"
"Farfetch'd"

"I don't what was that about, but leave that Pikachu."

"And how in the world are you going to force us ?" asked John.
"Maybe he wants to fight," said Susan almost laughing to death.

[Why is she laughing ?] Tom thought. [Ah, maybe they are just
crazy refugees from a mental institute]

"What is with you? Wanna fight ? Or are you scared ?" asked John.
"We'll see who is scared, Growlithe, I choose you !" he said in an Ash-style.
"Farfetch'd, it's your turn", said Susan, "Peck"
"Growlithe, Bite" The Farfetch'd pecked the Growlithe, which instantly bit it.
"Sand Attack"
"Ember"
This time was Growlithe faster and hit the enemy with his Ember. Unfortunately, for Team Rocket the Farfetch'd turned back, not aware of anything because the fire, and kicked sand at Susan and John.

Suddenly the Pikachu, which was watching this all, jumped near TR and hit them with its Thundershock. They quickly ran away.

"Good work you two! Hey Pikachu, don't you want to be in my team?" asked Tom.
"Pi Pikachu," nodded Pikachu.
Tom gave Pikachu an empty Pokéball. The ball opened for a second, then closed with Pikachu disappearing inside. Suddenly the ball opened again with Pikachu out.
"You don't like Pokéballs, do you ?"
"Pika"
"Allright you can stay out too, but don't run away okay ?"
"Pi Pikachu," agreeded Pikachu.

Tom looked around and noticed it was getting dark. He checked his watch. It was almost seven, so he returned to the place where they should meet. Crystal was already there, building her tent. Tom helped her and then built his own. Ben came a little later and he built his tent also. The tent openings were in a triangle. They made a little fire and ate something for dinner, discussing what happened.