I immediately checked my backpack to make sure I had whatever I'd need to clear the Well of Rockets for the next few hours.

A few Potions, as well as an assortment of other battle items I could use to keep my team in good shape between rounds. Not that I expected much from any of these people.

Again, before I went forward, I realized that by striking first, I was going against the methods of the Sprout Order by choosing violence before anything else. But this was different.

Rocket was dangerous, they had no business in Slowpoke Well doing who knows what to the Slowpoke down there.

It took me a moment, but I settled on knocking out both guards by the Well entrance first instead of just sneaking past them or challenging them to a Pokemon battle. These were criminals after all, I had no reason to play by their rules.

I went running up to them at full speed, and before the taller Rocket could react I spun and hit him with a modified Age Uke, or rising block. Instead it was a spinning strike with a forearm directly to the eye.

He gasped, falling.

Before his friend could draw a Pokeball, fight back, or do anything, I hit him with a simple Jodan zuki, a reverse punch directly to the face.

"What the-" one of them muttered.

Both of them staggered a little bit, and I followed it up with a knee to the chest and a backfist, as well as an elbow across the temple.

I looked at both grown men completely knocked out at my feet.

So much for them being tough enough to guard Team Rocket's operation down there.

I pulled aside their coats expecting to find black uniforms with the sharp red R, however they appeared to wearing regular clothes underneath.

This was actually a bit smart, if in fact Team Rocket enjoyed staying secret or operating from the shadows until absolutely necessary, keeping their subordinates in regular clothing or sworn to secrecy was a better option.

I wasn't a fan of stealing Pokemon, but I suspected the Pokemon on their belts to be the likes of Rattata, Koffing, and Zubat. Just the very basic Rocket Grunt style Pokemon that had nothing but brutality and no training.

I replaced the Pokeballs around their belts with empty ones, and then slipped the actual ones in small holes I had Growlithe dig around nearby trees.

Then, I removed the metal grille covering the top of the Slowpoke Well.

Growlithe whined a bit.

"You scared buddy?"

The pup merely panted, looking into the darkness below completely confused as to what we were doing or who were the men I attacked.

"Don't worry, it's all for the best." I promised when he followed me down the steps into the Well below.

…

There were two floors to the cave according to a small sign by the Slowpoke Well entrance, and it was a largely dark and empty cavern, where I couldn't see anything except for a small path made by lamps.

I was also surprised to see there weren't any wild Pokemon around the cave at all, nor a single Rocket from what I could tell.

"Hey you!"

I turned, a man of a similar age and appearance to the thugs outside began to run towards me. He released an Ekans that hissed sharply when it appeared, and spoke loudly again.

"How'd ya get in here? What're you lookin' for?"

"Uh." I couldn't come up with a very good answer.

Honestly, how did you tell someone you already knew they were stealing Slowpoke tails or something with no prior indication they were.

"Last chance kid, state your business or turn around and leave the way you came from."

I squinted in thought for a quick second.

"Growlithe! Attack!"

He then hit the Ekans with the best Ember I'd ever seen him use.

It quickly dawned on both of us that these Pokemon, were not like regular Pokemon. Rockets used Pokemon that were starved and abused, mainly to keep them desperate to battle and win at all costs.

They didn't realize that malnourished Pokemon with no training or real battling experience at all, didn't make for good fighters. This was technically Growlithe's second ever match, and he was running circles around this Ekans.

Ekans' Poison Sting, a simple bite from its sharp and poisonous fangs, missed Growlithe by inches, as he expertly dove around slightly, and then rolled aside.

When Growlithe stood straight up, he moved right back in with Bite, and latched onto Ekans for a quick second, released Ember at point blank range.

The purple scales of the Ekans were burnt clear black.

"Keep going!" shouted the Rocket grunt.

Why? Not only had it already lost, but it was completely hurt.

All it took was another simple but well timed Bite, and Ekans went down.

"Tss!" the Rocket recalled his Ekans with a grunt of frustration. "Let's see how you like this!"

Growlithe did in fact like it very much.

His Rattata was even less of a fight, too wild and unfed to really know how to spar. These Pokemon had potential, it's not like they would always be too weak to be decent. It's just that they fought with so much desperation and unrefined technique, that Growlithe was able to counter or dodge literally everything they did.

Without another Pokemon to use, the Rocket grunt just stood there awkwardly before I ran forward and knocked him out cold with a round kick to the jaw as hard as I could muster.

After he crumpled to the cave floor blank eyed, I again looked through his jacket, and nothing he wore or had with him implied he was part of Team Rocket.

For all I knew so far, these were just some very shady guys who liked hanging out in Slowpoke Well when they shouldn't be here.

The next Rocket grunt I found guarding the set of carved stone stairs that would lead to the actual Slowpoke Well below. I could actually hear the sounds the Slowpoke made nearby.

He saw me coming from a mile off and already released his Pokemon.

His Zubat was equally as terrible as his friend's, despite him giving the appearance he was a bit older and tougher than the guy I already defeated a bit far back in the cave.

When he drew his next Pokeball, he gave a small wail when I dropped him with a punch to the face. I checked, not that he had any other Pokemon left to use anyway.

I walked down the steps and could see a few men working on something, and I was unable to discern exactly what it was until I got close enough. And it was honestly disgusting.

Slowpoke tails could grow back I think, but that wasn't what bothered me. They, these men, one of whom had green hair and a black suit and tie, had put all the Slowpoke into pens. Separate from all the pools of water along the cave floor they used as a watering hole.

They were using a sort of guillotine like machine to slice off the tails of every single Slowpoke they could find. Several had already passed out or worse from all the blood loss having their tails removed created.

The fact that I could tell they had possibly murdered innocent Slowpoke just for profit was nothing short of infuriating to me. I was no fan of Slowpoke, but they didn't deserve death and suffering for their brethren just because their tails were so coveted.

I attacked without warning.

I released Teddiursa from his ball and set Growlithe on the other Rocket Grunt too as soon as I came into their eyesight.

The cave's only source of light was some old gasoline lamps anyway, I practically struck out of the darkness.

Teddiursa grabbed one of their Ekans they already had out by the neck and slammed it mercilessly into a rock nearby. I wasn't messing around here, I made that clear to him the second I let him out.

I was proud of Growlithe for having already noted how serious this was when he latched onto a Rocket Grunt's sleeve with his jaws and yanked him towards me. Defenseless, he ran straight into a back kick from me. With the wind knocked right out of him, I hit him with a knife hand to the temple and he dropped without a sound.

The remaining Grunt couldn't put up a fight. His leader, or boss of sorts in the suit merely watched with a bored and raised eyebrow as he drew a Rattata.

It was knocked out in seconds by Growlithe and then he merely covered up, bracing himself for the quick knockout I gave him.

"Useless." the man in the suit said, sneering over his subordinates lying on the cave floor around him.

"I suggest you run."

"Mm." he smiled, looking at me. "Not very monk-like now is it to threaten and beat people now isn't it?"

How did he-

"I know who you are Nico." he said. "Most of the Johto region does with your quick rise to fame. My true name is unimportant, but you can call me Proton."

I think I knew who he was. "You work for Team Rocket as some sort of officer."

"You can meet my bosses if you'd like." Proton offered, technically not denying it. "You show a great deal of promise, strength, and initiative. Showing little mercy to men twice your age."

"They deserved it, as do you. You're killing and abusing Slowpoke for a quick buck."

With surprising speed, Proton drew a Pokeball and released a Koffing in seconds.

The Poison Gas Pokemon hovered above the Slowpoke Well floor.

"Run child. Run before you get involved with forces and players well out of your caliber."

I was no coward.

Teddiursa ran to my side, and Growlithe's hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He appeared ready to destroy Koffing.

"Ember!"

"As you wish." Proton muttered tiredly.

Koffing was a bit tougher than any of the regular Team Rocket Pokemon from earlier.

It wasn't that quick or strong, but instead had a decent use of moves like Smog and Sludge. Growlithe was more than skilled enough to dodge these, but had trouble landing his own Ember or Bite.

Growlithe appeared ferocious though, he understood the severity of the situation the second he must've seen how a few Slowpoke weren't moving after having their tails removed.

It took some time, Proton giving plenty of orders to try to help Koffing land anything, but eventually Growlithe connected with a beautiful Bite right near the edge of the purple edge of Koffing's body.

Koffing groaned and fell a bit out of the air, and the second Growlithe touched the ground again, he twisted on his paws and smashed Koffing right into the ground.

"No! Koffing use-"

Growlithe used the quick stun he got on Koffing to follow it up immediately with the strongest Ember I'd seen him use. He bathed the Poison type Pokemon in enough flames to singe it completely black.

The calculated and technique enhanced rage Growlithe tapped into was something I didn't think he had. He was a very kind and obedient puppy, but he had listened to my words, and felt that this cave had something very twisted behind it.

I was truly proud he stepped up when I needed him to.

However, I was almost a bit nervous. With the degree of ferocity Growlithe was putting into the match, I was wondering just what Proton would do to me or my Pokemon if we lost. Not that I blamed Growlithe for going this hard, the second Pokemon had probably died for this greedy and horrifically disgusting operation I had actually asked him to take these fights that seriously.

"Watch that Ember Raticate! Destroy this child's Pokemon!" Proton balled his fists. "Now!"

Proton switched out Koffing for Raticate and the match turned just as ugly.

Raticate was quick and furious, but lacked the technique and skill Growlithe had by miles.

Growlithe was timing Raticate so well, that he was able to just run away and Raticate's Hyper Fang had smashed its own teeth apart. By attempting to knock out Growlithe cold, Raticate did more damage to itself, when Growlithe dodged and bit directly into a large rock.

Its giant teeth had chipped, and enraged, Raticate went after Growlithe even harder for this. However as Raticate rushed Growlithe a second time, now, Growlithe released another Ember at point blank range as a counter.

The Fire type attack was so strong, even its poor eyes were burned.

Proton ignored the pained cries of his Pokemon.

"Get up! Raticate, get up! Now!" yelled Proton. "Get up and fight!"

I think Raticate was having trouble seeing anything at all after taking a fireball directly to the eyes, I'm sure some time in a healing station like those Pokemon Centers had would fix it right up. But still, this seriously unsettled me by how insistent Proton was that he hadn't really lost yet.

Proton patted his belt for another Pokeball, and must've realized he didn't have another one. I realized the same thing too, except sooner enough than him to walk past his injured Raticate.

And then I punched Proton in the chest so hard it made all the previous strikes on his associates look like love taps.

He dropped, clutching his side underneath his suit.

I kicked him in the face quickly, but not hard enough to render him unconscious I made sure of that.

He spun away across the cave floor, chuckling.

Proton wiped his lip, standing up slightly. "They're just Slowpoke, they're just Pokemon you idiot."

"They're not my favorite Pokemon, but what you've done to them is just-"

I again dropped him with a round kick to the stomach when he feebly attempted to throw a punch at me.

Proton laughed, wheezing and gasping for air. "Just what? Wrong? They're stupid, and useless. Even their evolved forms don't offer much of a sale. Slowbro, Slowking? You think anyone will give a penny for them? You think anyone will care? You think Pokemon are worth anything except profit?"

"So you think you're justified in what you did?"

"They're. Pokemon." Proton panted, sprawled out on the cave floor, looking at me. "Some of the weakest and dumbest of them all. I only use different ones because they're slightly easier to use to steal and hurt others."

"You're not justified at all, you'd never want one of your own legs cut off and sold for profit."

"Do it." Proton laughed, looking over at the horrific machine he used to cut off Slowpoke tails and nodded. "Do it kid, you'd become an even better officer in my operation than I ever could be."

I paused, refusing silently.

After I shook my head, I felt a bit saddened by the entire situation.

The only remorse I felt was that soon, I could walk out of this cave, try to forget this happened, and contact the League to come and arrest these people.

"Great work." a new voice said.

I looked over at the top of the stair case to the higher area of Slowpoke Well.

Someone had tied up the four Rocket grunts I breezed past and pushed them down the stairwell. They fell over each other and groaned in pain together, their captor slowly walking down the stairs.

He stepped into the lamplight, and I sort of recognized him.

I picked up Proton from the cave floor slightly and then elbowed him in the nose as hard as I possibly could to knock him clean out.

"I'll be taking it from here." the fellow teenager said calmly.

This was clearly Silver, slightly different from what I remembered of him.

He had clean brown hair, a very mischievous smile, black gloves and shoes, blue trousers, and a black jacket with red edges.

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"Taking it from here?" I asked. "What do you mean?"

"I mean you saw nothing here today. These pricks always have cash, I'll even split half of it with you."

"Cash?" I was still confused.

He pointed with a gloved finger. "You see that box over there?"

I turned and looked.

Near the cave wall, on a plastic white table with a computer atop it, was a tin box.

I heard Silver's voice as I turned and opened the box. "Some folks like to pay Rockets up front if they're desperate enough for what they can offer, or, they keep all the money they stole and earned with them at all times. Keeps the crews reliant on the boss for missions, but still self sufficient enough to extort whoever they can find."

I looked at all the cash in the box. Until now, I wasn't aware Pokedollars had a physical form to them, but there were tens of thousands worth of notes in the metal box. All told, well over a third of a million Pokedollars.

"I'll split that with you." He repeated, and I turned and looked at the mysterious kid. "Just, all you have to do is never tell anyone what happened here."

I couldn't do that.

Mostly because the severity of the crime of possibly killing Pokemon for money was too big to ignore. Especially if this was in fact Team Rocket according to him.

"So." I said to the sort of stranger. "You want me to ignore everything that just happened here. For a ton of money?"

"Just about." Silver crossed his arms. "I was waiting for an opening all night until you came along."

"And you didn't bother to help?"

"You didn't seem to need any." he shrugged slightly. "Last chance. Take your cash and go, or I'll have to make you leave."

I weighed my options for a moment.

Lie to the authorities for this person I just met, or do the right thing. What happened in this cave couldn't be swept under the rug, I wasn't that kind of person, and what happened here too...wrong.

"Before we do this, I have to know. What is your business with these people?"

Silver leaned back in exasperation and sighed, rolling his eyes. "Really?"

"Tell me." I said calmly.

In the blink of an eye, Silver had drawn a small Pokeball from his pocket and expanded its size with a click of a button.

"They owe me a great deal."

"How much?" and how did he know so much about Team Rocket?

"More than you can imagine," he said very calmly.

Silver tossed the Pokeball and released a Zubat.

I took a quick glance at Teddiursa and Growlithe.

Both were completely fine, they hadn't even been scratched a tiny bit throughout the entire night.

"Go get him Growlithe."

He barked.

Silver was standing near the bottom of the entrance of the staircase, probably to prevent any Rockets from sneaking off. I saw him tie up Proton too with the others while he let Zubat begin fighting Growlithe.

Because at least in the beginning, he didn't need any orders.

Team Rocket didn't exactly have a fighting style.

I learned this early on, every single Pokemon Trainer had their own flair when it came to battles.

Gold favored patience, strategy, and timing. His Quilava was supposed to cut off the ring as much as possible and then start striking as hard and fast as he could, gathered strength, then attacked again. I myself focused on timing as well, trying to teach my Pokemon to attack in ways and from places that maximized the effectiveness of their strikes, generally through karate.

But Team Rocket just seemed to make all their Pokemon desperate to win their fights by abusing and starving them. This reflected in their battling, as there was little to no technique or style behind each move, just brutality, desperation, and wildness trying to overwhelm their opponents with raw force.

Silver was the first Trainer I'd met, whose style was a perfect balance between the wild and brutal nature of Team Rocket, and the strategy and finesse Pokemon Trainers had.

His Zubat was equal parts smart and brutal, it would zip around the air of the cave.

Silver was smart enough to teach his Zubat how to use echolocation, staying quiet in the darkness of the cave before striking.

It became almost impossible for Growlithe to land a strike, it could only use Ember to light up where he thought Zubat was, before narrowly dodging, or directly taking Leech Life or Bite.

"Supersonic!" shouted Silver.

Growlithe barely dodged the rings of high pitched sound Zubat swooped out of the darkness to release like a bomber plane.

Zubat was quick enough, and the flapping of its wings in the darkness quiet enough, that it could be anywhere at all times within the cave. And Growlithe couldn't see it.

And when he struck from the darkness of the cave, Growlithe could barely react in time.

However, Growlithe was able to barely time Zubat with a well placed Ember. The puppy tucked into a ball and dove forward just as Zubat appeared.

Its Wing Attack almost shaved off a bit of Growlithe's fireproof pelt as Growlithe tucked out of the roll, and a small fireball it shot from his mouth hit Zubat in the back.

"Yeah!" I said proudly.

Zubat wavered a bit out of its flight path, before soaring back up into the darkness.

Now Growlithe knew he had slowed down his opponent a little, and I ordered quietly.

"As many Embers as you can! Light up the cave wall!"

He didn't give Zubat a chance to recover from the slight burn on its back. The entire roof of the cave was then covered in a series of red fireballs, and when one got close enough to Zubat to reveal where it was, Silver spoke.

"Poison Fang!"

Zubat's jaw opened and it began to dive.

Growlithe moved aside at the last second, and then Zubat crumpled against the cave floor. It seemed to recover from the self inflicted blow for a moment, but then Growlithe explosively launched forward and caught it by the neck with a Bite before it could flutter off.

Zubat wailed sharply, and then Growlithe just overwhelmed it with repeated Bites.

"Return." Silver said without a shred of emotion.

Growlithe was still releasing Embers by the time Silver wisely recalled Zubat, not letting up the fight for a second. I'd have to commend him later for taking this match as seriously as he should've.

I watched as Silver didn't even hesitate to throw out his next Pokeball, from what I gathered, because it was likely his last.

"Areeef!"

The Grass Pokemon pawed the ground slightly, rolling its neck.

Silver's Pokemon was a Bayleef, which made sense. Gold was given Cyndaquil, Crystal Tododile, and Silver had gotten the last one, a Chikorita, but how exactly, I didn't know yet.

What I did know, within under a minute, that Bayleef was easily the best Pokemon I'd ever gone up against, except for Blue's Blastoise.

Bayleef had Zubat's strategy, speed, and timing, but along with multiple times more raw power and a far larger moveset. Bayleef didn't have to move an inch, in fact it merely hopped out of the way when Growlithe attempted Ember again.

I was proud of Growlithe, this was his first day really battling anything significant, and he had done excellently.

The moment when I realized Bayleef's Vine Whip completely outmatched Growlithe, pinned him to a corner and allowed Bayleef to easily Tackle him against the wall, I recalled him.

He had plenty more fight in him, but I knew it was going to be a matter of time before he lost.

The sheer difference between how easily Bayleef could land its own attacks, and how impossible it was for Growlithe to even get close to landing his made it clear. He had no chance, not this early on in his development anyway.

"Getting tired already?" scoffed Silver.

Even with a type advantage I knew Growlithe was going to lose. Vine Whip wasn't even that good of a move, but Bayleef had utterly overwhelmed my Growlithe with it in seconds.

"You're up buddy."

Teddiursa stopped watching from near my leg, walking forward.

"Vine Whip again!" shouted Silver.

Teddiursa had his work cut out for him, the only reason he didn't struggle as hard as Growlithe was just due to experience.

Even though he was used to fighting Grass types like Bellsprout for weeks at Sprout Tower, Bayleef was something else entirely.

Because Bayleef was just so much smarter and faster than anything he, or even myself, had faced. Bayleef also possessed more precision and strength behind its attacks than anything my team had faced in a real battle.

Bayleef would spam Vine Whip attacks, using too many razor sharp vines for me to count to pin Teddiursa down. And by the time he was almost done with running forward, Scratching them out of the way to put Bayleef in range of his claws, Razor Leaf bodied him.

I had gotten paper cuts before, but the severity, size, and number of razor sharp leafs Bayleef unleashed was astounding, I could only imagine what it was like getting hit with dozens of paper cuts at the same time. Bayleef appeared to summon a windstorm worth of bullet like grass and blow it right at Teddiursa.

Teddiursa had no room to dodge, not enough time to block, and his pelt was shredded to pieces.

Even if he evolved during this battle, Teddiursa wouldn't win this.

Teddiursa almost fainted after this one attack, but stayed in the fight just barely. This was the first time I saw Teddiursa fought as if he had something to prove, taking the Razor Leaf personally.

Teddiursa was quick enough to land Faint Attack, and what looked like Slash from afar, I couldn't tell from how fast he timed it as a counter against Bayleef's Tackle, but ultimately, it didn't matter. Because Bayleef was able to recover any damage Teddiursa landed on it with Synthesis.

Silver didn't even have to say anything when Teddiursa finally found his footing and began to connect with his claws. Teddiursa had to pause to catch his breath, and Bayleef seemed to lean its head back, release glowing spores from the ring of leaves around its neck that floated in the air, and then healed any damage to its body Teddiursa had scratched away.

I think I might actually lose this, because Gold was the only person to ever actually reach Vigoroth on my team during a real match. And his Quilava was already too injured to really continue.

Bayleef was able to counter the next combination of attacks Teddiursa sent his way with a simple Poison Powder, and I knew it was there that I lost.

Bayleef repositioned, and let Teddiursa's energy slowly drain away under its poison, as the poisonous spores Bayleef released slowed down Teddiursa, and sapped away his strength.

Even if Teddiursa was now able to land cleanly, which was incredibly difficult even when at his fullest strength, poisoned, it was even harder somehow.

The second I saw Bayleef easily set up Reflect, making Teddiursa's claws miss, and merely knocked Teddiursa away with the leaf on the front part of its head as a Tackle, I recalled Teddiursa.

He was fighting a losing match with no way out there.

I still technically had Growlithe, Teddiursa even could still fight despite all the hits he took, but there was almost nothing they could both do.

I immediately sent out Vigoroth.

"Oro!"

Bayleef and Silver didn't seem fazed by the Roar of an announcement Vigoroth made when he made it onto the field.

Then, I realized just how badly I needed to win this fight.

If I lost this match, I would have to leave. Silver was too powerful of a Trainer to lie to and tell the authorities, the Pokemon League needed him to help take down Team Rocket, or at least not be completely unwilling to work with them in every sense.

Lying after I left would cement that. He was not an enemy I wanted to make.

And I couldn't stay either. Without any Pokemon to battle his Bayleef, Silver could literally just tell his Pokemon to just pick me up and dump me outside the Well.

"Hey."

Vigoroth looked over his shoulder.

This was the first time I ever said this.

"Go all out," I ordered simply.

Vigoroth seemed to think about this for a moment, and then looked across the cavern floor at Bayleef with a nod.

Then, the match began again.

It took about three seconds for Bayleef to realize Vine Whip was pointless.

Vigoroth had Teddiursa's experience with Bellsprout and then some, not to mention it was so much faster and stronger that it had dodged a single pair of vines to use its claws with Slash against Bayleef's head.

Reflect barely saved it in time, and Bayleef flew away, its Vine Whips helping it to reposition just barely.

Silver looked thoughtful and then began to order. "Keep your distance, use Razor Leaf!"

There. At least melee-wise, Silver realized Vigoroth was much too fast and strong to challenge on even ground.

"Block! Whatever you do, don't get hit with Poison Powder!" I said.

Vigoroth tried taking cover behind small boulders, but Bayleef's Razor Leaf was so strong it actually split them apart like they were made of paper mache.

Then Vigoroth turned, and I saw his body glow a bit brighter for a moment, taking the full brunt of the tremendous blow like it was nothing. Sometimes my Pokemon were nothing short of amazing.

He was learning Endure during battle.

Vigoroth wasted no time, realizing when the storm of leaves were done blowing at him to start attacking. He flew through the air, throwing Fury Swipes, roaring. Making the ground shake when he landed in the spot Bayleef was before it dodged, Vigoroth turned and Roared again.

The Roar was so loud, I felt a few pebbles fall, shaken from the Roar, and hit the ground from being embedded in the cavern roof.

Bayleef didn't even blink at this, nor did Silver again, and they continued to battle it out.

Bayleef made Vigoroth cover up again with a long range Razor Leaf, to attack again. The long green leaf blade on the top of Bayleef's head glowed green for a moment, and then it rushed forward in a Tackle. This was a bad idea, because it and Silver should've known attacking Vigoroth at close range would never work.

But it did.

As Vigoroth tried Slashing away, but Bayleef already activated Razor Leaf again, not giving Vigoroth nearly enough time to raise his guard and use Endure, or even remotely block.

He ducked aside to protect his head as he angled out, but the rest of his body was not so lucky. The wind Razor Leaf created as well as the leaves, were so strong that Vigoroth was actually forced to slide back a little, the rest of his body heavily sliced up in tiny bits all over.

Ignoring the clear amoutn of damage this made, Vigoroth then dug his claws in, and burst forward like a track runner. As fast as the counter Vine Whip was, it didn't matter, Bayleef was flying backwards. It was able to duck its head out of the way of an overhand Slash, but its flank wasn't so lucky.

The hit to the side was so strong, Bayleef was sent soaring off its legs its Vine Whips tethered to the walls of Slowpoke Well for extra mobility snapped off, crashing into the cavern wall behind it.

"Great job! That's what I'm talking about!" I shouted.

"Oro!" Vigoroth nodded, Roaring again.

A few rocks crumbled and fell around Bayleef in the rubble it created, but it gave Vigoroth enough time to use Endure again when Bayleef split apart all the cave that collapsed around it with a furious Razor Leaf. When Vigoroth lowered his guard and then chucked a rock straight at Bayleef's face when it repositioned elsewhere along the cave wall, it didn't matter, Bayleef used its Type advantage by just lowering its head. The rock split directly against the leaf on its face.

That leaf was just as sharp as all the leaves Bayleef could use with Razor Leaf it appeared.

Vigoroth could tell Bayleef was starting to heal with Synthesis, but gave it no time to complete the move, forcing Bayleef to dodge a Slash so powerful it split apart the cave wall like it was nothing.

Even battling at half strength having landed a significant strike each, both Vigoroth and Bayleef appeared evenly matched.

Vigoroth could just Slash or Endure anything that was close enough to touch him, and Bayleef had such tremendous mobility with Vine Whip, and such great use of Reflect it could also just block anything close to it. However, there were a few small moments where Bayleef was fast enough to slip in a few bits of its Razor Leaf before Vigoroth could use Endure.

Vigoroth had smashed about three different Reflect shields apart with ease, but each time he did so, he just let Bayleef counter with Razor Leaf, or slip away out of its claws.

As hard as it had been, I had certainly landed more hits on Bayleef as the fight continued.

Vigoroth was connecting with both claws, using Slash and Fury Swipes in split second openings Bayleef created in the middle of an attack or while dodging.

However, within a second, Bayleef started moving far faster than it used to before, and then I remembered Bayleef's ability I'd read from the Pokedex. Because of Overgrow, Bayleef's Grass type moves were far more effective when reaching the last third of its potential battling energy.

So as hard as it had been until now, taking two of my Pokemon, and a little over half of Vigoroth's health, Bayleef was now even stronger.

Its Razor Leaf now almost made Vigoroth blow over entirely, the wind created in the leaf storm powerful enough to make me raise my own hands and squint.

Even with Overgrow, Bayleef's Vine Whip still wasn't an effective attack against Vigoroth, he was just too experienced from all the practice at Sprout Tower when it came to dealing with it. But the degree of speed and mobility Bayleef had with Vine Whip, using the vines to tether to different parts of the cavern while attacking or dodging, was almost impossible to deal with.

Vigoroth was caught flush in the middle of an attack, trying to go for another one of his jumping Fury Swipe attacks launching through the air, but Bayleef had repositioned itself so fast used Razor Leaf to blow him away, countering at just the right time.

The cuts all over Vigoroth's arms, legs, torso, and a bit of his face told me Bayleef and Vigoroth were both easily on their last legs.

Vigoroth looked exhausted, tired to the bone, from how hard he had to push himself, how many times and how hard Razor Leaf had landed flush. I was still amazed he was able to keep fighting.

"Finish it! Finish it now Bayleef!" yelled Silver.

Bayleef leaned back slightly and then roared, mustering as much energy as it could to bellow and release the strongest Razor Leaf yet.

I then did something I hadn't tried until now. "Attack Vigoroth! Use Slash!"

"Oro!"

Because Vigoroth started moving just after the Razor Leaf began, the first few leaves missed him, forcing Bayleef to change its trajectory. Until now, I had refused to let Vigoroth attack and only block, by the sheer number and sharpness of the leaves.

But now, Vigoroth created his own opening. Timing a space through the leaves with how fast he could explode forward and launch across the cavern.

Razor sharp leaves missed his face, chest, and legs by half an inch in some spots, and then in the blink of an eye, Vigoroth connected with a Slash directly to the face.

Bayleef couldn't duck or Vine Whip away in time and its red eyes widened.

Silver didn't react at all when Bayleef got rocked with a claw straight across the head and then it went stumbling backward.

Bayleef was on shaky legs, trying to stay standing and then it collapsed.

Silver tilted his head slightly, waiting to see if Bayleef would rise up again.

"It gets up, wail on it," I said. "Fury Swipes, nonstop."

I wondered if Vigoroth would've been able to throw a single Slash after all this anyway, but I admired Vigoroth's grunt of acknowledgment regardless.

Vigoroth was panting, more tired than I'd ever seen him when Silver recalled Bayleef.

He didn't even look at his Pokeball when he made it smaller, clicking the button on the front of it, and tucked it away. "You want to be such a goody two shoes? Fine. Do whatever you want with all the money and Rockets here, I don't care."

It dawned on me how pointless this entire confrontation was.

"Why don't you." I tutted. "Why don't you help me? To help me take down Team Rocket within the law? The Pokemon League could use you. You could be an amazing Trainer."

"The work I'm doing is far more important than a stupid badge or trophy, or being called a champion. I thought you'd realize something like that as a monk." I realized he knew who I was from the articles of me online. "You're better than I'd heard of, but still disappointing in your goals."

Silver then turned and walked up the stairs of the cave without another word.

And then I'd wondered if I could train Pokemon besides Normal types as well as Silver had raised his Bayleef. Because that was the closest I'd ever come to losing a match, one more Razor Leaf and Vigoroth actually would've lost.

Proton and the other Rockets hadn't moved this entire time. I saw that Silver had tied the rope around them too tightly to let them so much as twitch.

It was time to announce this to Pokemon League, that Team Rocket had returned.

…

An Officer Jenny, who I was surprised did in fact exist here, was outside the well in a squad car.

"I'm telling you, I'm not a Rocket, I work in an independently organized group of-"

He grunted when Jenny shoved him in the back of her car. "Yeah I don't care." she said in a sharp voice, she slammed the door shut.

Professor Oak had been sent from Pallet Town the moment I had told the authorities what happened. He was Red's mentor during his entire rise to fame, and the Pokemon League had given him the position of managing and containing any Team Rocket related activity.

Bugsy and a few other Trainers tasked with the safety of Azalea Town appeared as well, speaking sternly to, or rather, lightly interrogating the criminals I had apprehended down in the cave.

Oak and a League official were speaking to me.

"So all the Slowpoke I found, are they alright?"

"They're in dire condition, some of them lost enough blood to need to spend some time in the nearby Pokemon Center." said Oak. "I made sure the rest will be able to grow their tails back in a few months."

I frowned. "So did any of them, die though?"

Oak's silence was enough to tell me at least one probably did.

"There was nothing you could've done kid." the League official muttered. "The Slowpoke we found were already bleeding out for hours before you found them."

"I hope Proton rots in jail for what he did." I shook my head.

"Why didn't you call me sooner?" asked Oak.

I wondered if I should include Silver in my report.

"What?" Oak noticed my tiny bit of silence.

"Someone showed up wanting to deal with the Rockets himself without telling anyone."

"What was his name?" asked Oak.

I sort of already knew but wasn't sure. "He didn't say."

"What did he look like?"

"About my age, a little older. He had a Bayleef, and wore mostly dark clothing, brown hair and eyes, a bit gloomy."

Oak and the League Official looked at each other.

"Who was he?" I asked.

"No one's ever known his true name. The orphanage he was from just called him Silver," Oak said. "I'll have to let Professor Elm know he's just been spotted."

"Why?" I said.

"He claims Team Rocket stole Elm's Chikorita for him instead of him stealing it himself. Either way, he's resisted any attempts we've made to question him."

I was confused. "So he's technically a criminal?"

"Since the stealing of Elm's Pokemon is under vague pretenses," said Oak. "Being the most severe of his so called crimes. He isn't a criminal, at one point he helped facilitate a great deal of Pokemon trades. Somewhat illegal exchanges, but nothing too nefarious to warrant an arrest."

"I battled him, he said he wanted me to pretend nothing happened down there in the well in exchange for money."

Oak shook his head kindly with a smile. "You've done well tonight Nico, er. Aside from calling me much later than I'd hoped."

"But I have so many questions, what is Silver's history with Team Rocket?"

"That's classified." said the League official. "With the rise of these Teams in almost every region we know of, Team Rocket is the problem of the WCPL and all the local authorities working with it."

Oak and the official muttered to each other and then the other man walked off.

Oak turned to me. "I thought I told you not to face Team Rocket alone."

"Other than Silver showing up and saying so, I'm not sure if this was actually Team Rocket."

"Team Rocket refuses to allow any evidence of their operations trace back to them," explained Oak. "If we hadn't handled this the way we did tonight. You could've made some very powerful enemies Nico."

"I wasn't going to let Bugsy deal with them and wait for them to show up, I'm challenging him soon. And I knew I could've dealt with them on my own, and I did."

"You got lucky," Oak warned. "As you must've noticed Team Rocket has no rules, they have no morals, no desires, no goals beyond power and profit. They do not show a hint of empathy towards anyone, even children."

"So then what about Silver?"

"Don't worry about him, he's the League's problem, not yours. I've already told each Gym Leader in Johto and Kanto alike to keep an eye out for him and to apprehend him if necessary if he refuses to reveal what he knows of Rocket."

"What's up with his Bayleef anyway?"

Oak put his hands in the pocket of his white lab coat. "It started like a Chikorita like any other, Elm raised it personally since she was a newborn. Soon after Gold and Crystal won the Youngster lottery, Elm's Chikorita disappeared. We confronted Silver when he was battling with one just like it, but he's refused to say anything about the incident besides blaming team Rocket for it."

"Wait, then it was Rocket who stole it?"

"We'll never know. The incident even put Elm into a great deal of scrutiny over the security of his lab. Right now, the press will be asking all sorts of questions, mainly as to how it's even possible the League allowed Team Rocket to reorganize at all after Red dismantled it entirely." I wanted to say more but Oak interrupted me. "Go get some rest Nico, you've been battling criminals all night."

I had, it was sunrise now.

"These things are my responsibility. I almost lost Red once, I refuse to lose Trainers of generation after his either." said Oak with a tired smile.

"Yes Professor."

I nodded to him and then left back towards the Pokemon center.

Silver was more skilled than any other Pokemon Trainer I'd ever met, at least those who were just starting to build their teams. His Bayleef alone possessed more speed, power, technique, versatility, and timing than any other I'd seen except for those at the World Championship level.

He came closer than anyone else to knocking out my Vigoroth, and pushed him to go all out in order to defeat Bayleef.

Bugsy might not seem like that much of a challenge with the natural talent Growlithe possessed, and how fast he was learning to fight from actual matches. But I knew that Whitney wasn't going to be as easy as Bugsy, and battling someone like Silver really reminded me just how seriously I needed to start taking training my team again.