We find our heroes training near Cerulean for a rematch with the three sisters from
the Water Gym :

"Growlithe !"
"Vulpix !"
"Ember attack !" cried Tom and Crystal in unison.
The two fire-type Pokémon focused for a second, then let out a stream of fire
from their mouths, setting the camp-fire.
"Thanks you two, now we can finally grill a chicken", said Ben.

"Hey, I thought I said you were training !"
"Yeah whatever."

And so our heroes set up a camp for the night, instead of training.

***

"Hey Crys, why didn't you try your luck for the Cascade badge ?" asked Tom after
finishing his meal.
"Well...seeing your Pikachu lose to a water Pokémon was kinda shocking, you now..."
"Pika will win the next time ! At least I hope so ...."
"I think we should train before the rematch." said Ben, looking at his friends.
"I guess you're right. We'll train tomorrow from the morning. But we need some sleep
first." said Tom, as he slowly stood up and walked into his tent. "Goodnight you two."
Crystal also got up and walked into her tent. "Goodnight"

Ben sat there for a while, thinking about the way he wanted to win at the Cerulean Gym,
then dragged himself into his tent.

Later, around midnight, Tom woke up. He couldn't sleep, because of the thoughts he had.
He quickly put on his waistcoat, that was similar to the one of Ash Ketchum.
Sneaking out of the tent, not trying to wake his Pokémon or friends, he got to a big
rock, that was near their camp. The rock was as big as a Rhyhorn and was next to a
river. The river headed into the city, providing it with fresh water. Tom sat on the
rock, having a nice view of the blue-colored city at night.

[I wonder, why I lost at the gym? From the TV and Proffesor Oak I *surely* know that
electric-types have an advantage against water-types. Their attacks are super effective
against the water-ones. But then, why did my Pikachu lose to a Cloyster ? If it lost to
water, what could it do against ground or rock-type opponents ? Have I failed as a
trainer ? Haven't I trained Pikachu properly ? Should I give up my Pokémon quest ?]

Tom was confused. Did he want to end it ?
Then suddenly, he felt a friendly hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see Crystal.
Her long blond hair, which wasn't in a ponytail now, gently glimmered in the moonlight,
almost like if it was golden. Her eyes shone like two topases.

"What's the matter ? Why are you up this late ?" asked Crystal softly.
"Crys, do you think I should give up ?"
Crystal was a caught a little unprepared for a question like this, but quickly got out
of it. "Why do you think you should do so ?"
"Well, with Pikachu lose and all that stuff..."
"Only because of that ? You shouldn't see it from that point of view. You should
take it, that the Cloyster was very good prepared. And I think, that you underestimated
it, just because it's weaknesses. You shouldn't do that to things in general, because it
will turn out that they are not like that and then you will have a hard-time life."
"You know that you sounded just like the narrator in the Pokémon anime ?"
"What ?"
"Oh nevermind. Thanks Crys !"
"Anytime."
Tom leant against Crystal. "I don't know, what would I do if I didn't meet you."
"Who knows ?"

They talked on about different things for about two hours, when they heard a faint cry.
"Heeelp !"

"What was that ?" said Tom jumping on his feet.
"We better check it out," said Crystal starting to run towards the source of the voice.
"What about Ben ?"
"He doesn't need to know about that, let's go !"

Two figures could be seen in the dark forest, as Tom and Crystal ran. They eventually
stopped at a clearing. Puzzled about the cry, they didn't notice some figures sneaking
behind them, until one of those figures stepped on a fallen branch and broke it, making
a cracking sound.
"Who's there ?" Tom asked turning around, only to meet with a club. His view faded
into darkness, that started to surround him and he instantly fainted.

***

The pain. The horrible pain he felt. He thought his head would soon explode. After
at least a half hour he opened his eyes. The first thing he noticed was, that he now
wasn't on the clearing. Instead of it, he was in a smaller room, with a little light
left. He nervously looked around, until his eyes found, what they've been seeking for.

"Crys, are you allright ?"
The girl slowly opened her eyes, whispering a quiet response : "I think so. What
happened ?"
"I don't know." Tom tried to move, but he couldn't. Then he noticed another thing - they
were both tied up. "What's with these ropes ?"

"Allow me to explain." said a taller person, coming out from the shadows. The silhouette
was getting clearer to identify. Tom distinguished a black uniform, with a big red R on
it, long brown hair, white gloves and boots. Finally he realized who was the human
standing in front of him. It was one of those Rockets, the female one, Tom encountered
in Pewter. They tried to steal the Pokémon of all the people there, using a Jigglypuff
for putting them to sleep first. "I'm glad to see you again," said Cassidy.
"I think you remember me too," said another person, walking out from the shadows.
This one was also tall, although it looked a little more muscular. It was Butch.

"What do you want from us ?" asked Tom, worried.

"That's quite simple. First, we'll take away all your Pokémon.
That's what we always do."
"Second, we will left you for our scientists as laboratory rats, for the trouble you got
us in." Butch turned to Cassidy. "Hey Cass, I think those mad nerds said something about
a morphing project. You know, the one where they'll try to add a Pokémon DNA into a
human and vice versa."
"Yeah, I think you're right. But if I recall corectly, the previous experiments with the
testing subjects went a little wrong. I think that the humans' heads exploded, and their
flesh melted, or something like that." remarked Cassidy. Tom gulped.
"But I heard, that now they know what wasn't right. They came with a new method. It's
claimed, that it's safe now." Butch grinned.
"Well anyway, see ya later !" said Cassidy walking away.
"Maybe," added Butch. The two started laugh histerically, while walking away from the
room.

***

"Ring ring ! Ring ring !"
A girl was interrupted by a cell-phone, when she was reading. She quickly answered it :
"Yes ?"
"Hello, it's me." Jessie said into the phone.
"Jessie ? What's up ?"
"We -got- another Pokemon for the Boss. That Eevee, which you suggested."
"And ?"
"Thanks for the tip ! Oh and by the way, do you know that Butch and Cassidy captured
two prisoners ?"
"So ?"
"The two are probably going to be used in the morph-project. Just thought you wanted
to know."
"Thanks Jess !" the girl said, as she quickly jumped from the seat and ran out of the
door.
"Hello ???" Jessie asked. "You still there ?"

***

The door in the room, where the duo was, opened, allowing a little light to get there.
Two figures in white lab-coats stepped in.
"So here are our rats....uhh I mean subjects," the first one spoke. He had a injection
in his hand, and took a sample of Toms blood. The second one did the same with Crystal.
"I hope you're allright, so we can finally progress on our project !" the 1st scientist
grinned.
"Rest good !" added the 2nd one. "We need you to be fit !"
With that, they both walked away, leaving the room dark again.

***

Tanya almost *flew* on her purple bike to the hidden TR base. She stopped in front of
the gate, quickly passing her ID trough the electronic-alarm lock. As fast as she could,
she ran into the main building. Passing the lobby, she got into an elevator and pushed
one of the many buttons, that said
"Science section".

***

"Are you afraid Crystal ?"
"Not while I'm with you..." she smiled, a little fatique.

Suddenly, the door once again opened.
"So it's time..." Tom whispered

A girl in a black trenchcoat with purple hair quickly went into the room.
"No time to talk. My name si Tanya." she said, untying the two. "If you want to live,
follow me !"

Tom looked suprised at the rescue. He quickly snapped out of it and helped Crystal on
her feet. The three now went through corridors that should led them out.

"Wait ! What about our Pokémon ?" asked Tom, stopping Tanya.
"You mean these here ?" asked Tanya, holding 4 Pokéballs in her hand.
"But how..?"
"That's a company secret," she said, grinning.

Suddenly, two Rocket guards burst around the corner. Tanya quickly dragged the Tom and
Crystal in a nearby closet. After the Rockets disappeared around the next corner, the
trio once again started running to the nearest exit. Without any other complications,
they finaly made it to the camp.
Ben sat there, worried.

"Cheer up fellow !"
"Huh ?" Ben looked around to see his companions, with a Rocket by them. "Where were you
?
And who is that fancy girl there ?"

After long minutes of talking, after the release of their Pokémon from their balls and a
good lunch, Tom finally got to the end -
"And with her help we escaped."

"And who exactly are you ?" asked Crystal, turning to her rescuer.
"Sorry gal, but I can't tell you that, or else I would be in trouble. For now, I'll just
tell you, that I'm Tanya, and that I'm your friend. And that I gotta go now." with that
she turned around, and started slowly walking away. "I have a feeling that we'll meet
again soon."
"Thanks for the help Tanya !"
"Don't mention it." and with that, she disappeared in the shadows of the forest.

"Strange girl, but very nice." remarked Ben.
"Well, we better prepare on the gym-fight that is tommorow."
After a while the three started to train for the rematch.

Meanwhile somewhere in the forest, Tanya walked along with her Pokémon, now out of their
balls. "I hope I'll meet them soon. I think that- Ring ring ! Ring ring !" she was
interrupted by her cell-phone the second time this day.
"Hello ?"
"Uh, Tanya ?" sounded the familiar voice of Jessie........