@Scytherwolf; @Born;

Episode 71b: A Ghost of a Chance! (part 2)

Previously, on "Pokemon Moonlight Silver"...

Misty noticed Tintri and Ami had squeezed through the hole. "Uh oh...where did Tintri and Ami get to?

"They went through a hole that leads to the upper part of a room in the basement." Morty assured the group. "The room in question is not far from where you first enter the basement."

Ash swallowed hard as he followed Morty to a stairwell. Tintri...I hope you and Ami don't get into too much trouble!

"Wow...this place is like a maze..." Ash mused as Misty, Brock, and Morty wound through the old tower's many rooms in an attempt to find Tintri and Ami, who had both disappeared into a hole in the wall.

"Well, you have to remember that because of the fire, a lot of the support beams weakened and fell, making it so that venturing further than where we are now would be too dangerous." Morty explained.

"But what about Tintri and Ami?" Misty worried. "What if they are too far for us to safely explore?"

"There are other ways to find your friend's Pikachu and your Marill that don't require human skill." Morty assured Misty before addressing his Gengar. "Rocko...rally the other Ghost Pokémon here and help us find a missing Pikachu and Marill...the Pikachu's name is Tintri, and the Marill's name is Ami."

[Got it, boss..those should be easy names to remember.] the Gengar smiled before disappearing into the darkness.

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Back outside, Team Rocket followed the beeping of a radar-like device to the steps of the tower. "I thing we found something!" James cried as the radar-like device he carried beeped frantically.

"Personally, that fire breather that gave you this Itemfinder was a fraud..." Jessie sighed as James hurried onto the tower's rotted porch to claim another bottlecap. "We've been finding nothing but bottle caps."

"Yeah, all dat ting eva finds is junk!" Meowth was equally frustrated.

"Call it junk if you wish, but there is a collector's market for bottle caps, particularly for brands of soda, water, and juice that don't exist anymore." James explained. "Sometimes these caps sell for millions upon billions of credits.

He was about to say more when he spotted Ami emerging from a pile of rocks. "Well, well, well, look what we have here..."

Jessie gasped as Tintri emerged from the rocks moments later. "It must be our lucky day if the little electric rat comes to us for a change!"

"And with no twerps in sight!" Meowth was equally excited. He wasted no time snatching Ami, making her cry in fear and surprise.

[Let Ami go!] Tintri arrived moments later, sparking with anger as he charged a Thunderbolt. [Or I'll--!]

"Forgittin' somtin'?" Meowth warned Tintri. "If ya zap us dis time, you'll hoit Ami too, as she's a watta-type!"

Angry tears welled up in Tintri's eyes as he stayed his attack. Ami...I WILL rescue you! he vowed as Team Rocket dashed away, laughing gleefully all the while.

[Cry not, little one...I will go inform Sir Morty and your master what happened here.] a Gastly assured Tintri before warping away.

[Thanks...] Tintri mustered a weak smile as his tears shone with hope.

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[I have found the Pikachu and the Marill] the Gastly reported to the group. [However, before I could lead them back, two hoodlums with a Meowth had Poke-napped the Marill.]

"What?" Misty gasped.

"You did well, Tsuki, but this is indeed troubling." Morty replied. "Is the Pikachu still where you found him?"

[He is...this way.] the Gastly replied before motioning for the group to follow it.

"How can you understand what the ghost Pokemon are saying?" Ash wondered as he followed Morty and the Gastly through the ruined and cluttered rooms of the tower.

"Practice." Morty smiled back.

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Meanwhile, Team Rocket laughed joyfully as they made a break for the city entrance, with Meowth carrying Tintri and Ami. "At last, we have the electric rat!" Jessie was the most excited. "Imagine how the boss will handsomely reward us!"

Just then, all three Rockets tripped on something in the road, and went tumbling to the ground. 'did you trip me?" Jessie asked Meowth as she eased herself to her feet and dusted herself off.

"Nuh-uh...I tripped too, rememba?" Meowth replied.

"Well, I don't see anything we could've tripped on..." James mused as he examined the road for a moment.

About then, Rocko materialized before the Rockets, making them gasp in fear. [It was me dat tripped you lot...] he growled as Morty and the others arrived. [Ya got some 'splainin ta do, see?]

"Team Rocket!" Ash gasped.

[Give back dat Pikachu and dat Marill, and nobody gets hurt,'kay?] Rocko warned.

"You? Making threats? That's just asking for trouble..." Jessie warned.

"Even though you're a ghost, we'll still make the pain double!" James agreed.

"To protect the world from devastation..." Jessie began.

"And unite all peoples within our nation..." James smiled, twirling a rose in his hand. Ash just watched and growled in annoyance at the familiar motto he, Misty, and Brock had heard a million times before:

"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"

"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket! Blast off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth! Dat's right!"

"You heard the Gengar, just give back Tintri and Ami!" Ash was unfazed from hearing the Rocket motto for the umpteenth time.

"I'll give ya sometin' ta tink about!" Meowth retorted before leaping onto Ash, making him stumble backwards into the grass by the road. Before Ash could attempt to get up, Meowth leapt onto him, delivering a volley of Fury Swipes.

Jessie smiled as Ash's cries of pain echoed into the air. "Nice work, Meowth..."

"We kin make a break for it while the twerps play docta!" Meowth smiled as Brock arrived to clean and dress the many scratch wounds on Ash's arms and face.

"Rrrgh...I demand a duel to pay you guys back for hurting me!" Ash roared, mostly out of anger, but also out of pain from Meowth's attack. "You'll pay for taking Tintri!"

Jessie was about to answer before Meowth interjected "Yanno--every time we try ta battle da twerps, we end up losin' badly ta them. I tink runnin' for it's a better idear."

"Good point! Let's go!" James agreed before the Rockets made a mad dash for the city entrance.

"Come back here! No one takes our Pokemon and gets away with it!" Ash and the others were not far behind.

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"Rocko! Rescue the Pikachu and the Marill!" Morty commanded as the group hurried to try and catch Team Rocket.

[Okay, boss!] Rocko replied. But he stopped in his tracks when he found that Jessie and James had summoned Arbok and Weezing to block the grop from catching up. But Rocko just grinned and warped away.

"Where'd Rocko go?" Misty wondered as Arbok and Weezing looked around, confused. She smiled as Rocko appeared behind them, and knocked them into a nearby thicket.

[Now that the hoodlum's Pokemon are taken care of, now ta deal with dere masters!] Rocko assured Misty before warping before the human Rockets and Meowth [Hold it!]

"How can people who are Pokémon trainers steal other peoples' Pokémon?" Morty asked as he joined Rocko and the others. "Answer me that."

Minutes seemed to tick by like hours, but when Morty figured that Team Rocket was not going to talk, he told Rocko "Use Night Shade to free the Pokemon."

[Comin' up!] Rocko smiled before firing two black beams at the packs holding Tintri and Ami, breaking them free!

A Haunter and a Gastly caught both Pokemon and brought them to Ash and Misty. [Here you go...] the Haunter grinned as he gave Tintri to Ash.

[She's a little banged up, but okay.] the Gastly assured Misty as she delivered Ami to Misty.

[You okay, Ash?] Tintri asked, concerned by the many bandages all over Ash.

"Yeah...Meowth got me good back there." Ash replied as he gently hugged his companion.

"Ami...thank Arceus you're okay!" Misty was equally happy to see her Marill again.

The group watched as Arbok and Weezing dove for Rocko, only to crash into the ground as Rocko warped away.

"Arbok, try to Wrap up that Gengar!" Jessie commanded as Rocko reappeared in the sky...only to balk as Arbok only wrapped thin air!

[Missed me!] Rocko taunted as he reappeared by Morty's side.

"Let's end this, Rocko...show them your Shadow Ball." Morty commanded.

[HAAAAAAAAAH!!!!] Rocko growled as he formed a massive ball of dark energy and hurled it at Team Rocket, sending them flying into the sky with a ping.

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"Wow...Shadow Ball's pretty powerful!" Ash gasped when he saw the crater that the Shadow Ball had created.

"I hope that crater spurs you to be careful during your match, now that you know what your opponent is capable of." Brock warned.

Morty just smiled. "We could have our match right now, but I imagine that you three and your Pokemon must be tired from a long and adventurous day."

"You're right...resting up will make it a better battle." Ash agreed. "Since we both will bring our A game!"

"All right...I will see you in the morning." Morty replied before departing.

"Ash...you sure you know what you're getting into?" Misty asked as the group started towards the Pokemon Center.

"How do you plan to handle someone powerful enough to make a crater in the path?" Brock was equally concerned.

Ash, however, was unusually calm as the three travelers made their way into the Pokemon Center. "I do have a plan to beat Morty...but as to what it is, you'll just have to see tomorrow!"

To Be Continued...