Damian

After the hidden village Ash, Brock and Misty were trying to find Vermilion City, but ended up getting lost. Ash was currently checking to see if there were any Pokemon around, but he only found Spearow.

'Hmm, I might consider capturing it.' He thought.

Meanwhile Misty started to complain, due to the fact they were lost.

"Where are we?" She asked, irritated. Ash then looked at the map.

"Well, it looks like we're in the middle of nowhere." He explained. "But Route 24 will help us get to Vermilion City. And we seem to be going in the right direction."

Misty instantly perked up.

"Well then, let's get going shall we." She said.

Just then, she saw a dark shape on a rock and screamed.

"What's that?" Misty asked.

"Pikachu, go find out what it is." Pikachu hopped off his shoulder and onto the rock to have a look.

They saw a fox Pokemon with reddish-brown fur.

"It's a Vulpix." Brock said as Ash took out the Pokedex.

"Vulpix, the Fox Pokemon. At the time of birth, it has just one tail. The tail splits from its tip as it grows older."

"I'm going to catch it." Ash declared, taking out a Poke Ball. Brock then noticed something.

"Wait, Ash. This Vulpix doesn't look like it's in the best shape. Besides, I get the feeling this Vulpix isn't on this rock for no reason." Ash instructed Pikachu to ask Vulpix what was wrong. After Pikachu spoke with Vulpix, he informed Ash about what he heard.

"I understand." Ash nodded. "Pikachu just told me this Vulpix is waiting for someone to come back and retrieve it."

"So you think this Vulpix has a trainer?" Misty asked.

"Not sure." Ash replied. "If Vulpix said so, it probably does."

"Then we better let it's trainer handle it." They left Vulpix on the rock.

As they continued walking, Misty spotted a building in the distance. "Look the Pokemon center."

"Then that means Route 24 isn't far away." Ash said. Suddenly the rain started pouring.

"Run." Ash said. They headed to the Pokemon Center as fast as they could before they were soaked.

While they were getting warmed up at the Pokemon Center, Brock was having some thoughts.

"I wonder if Vulpix's trainer picked it up yet?" He asked. "Or maybe it's trainer just left it there and abandoned it."

"You don't suppose Vulpix would want to stay in the rain on that rock, do you?" Ash asked.

"I don't think so." Brock answered. "I'm sure it's trainer has come back for it by now."

Laughter interrupted their thoughts. A blue-haired boy that resembled a cowboy was sitting with a group of six other boys.

"Wow, you're the man Damian." A boy with dark brown hair said.

"Hey, didn't you have a Vulpix?" A spiky-haired boy asked.

"I did." Damian replied. "But it was too weak. It wasn't even able to defeat a Bug-Type Pokemon."

Ash, Misty and Brock shot angry looks at him.

"I don't like his attitude." Misty said.

"All Pokemon start out weak when they're first caught." Brock replied. "That's why if trainers work hard, Pokemon become strong."

"So what did you do with it?" The spiky-haired boy asked.

"Left it on a big rock out in the woods." Damian replied. Ash, Misty and Brock looked at each other in shock.

"I lied to it by saying I would come back for it." Damian had a smirk on his face. "It's probably still waiting for me as we speak."

He and the six boys laughed.

Ash, Misty and Brock became enraged.

"I can't believe this guy." Misty said. "Treating his own Pokemon like this."

Brock was angry. He got up from the table, went over to Damian and grabbed him by the collar

"Go & get it." Brock demanded

"Hey, lighten up, What's your problem?" Damian asked

"Oh, I'll tell you what's my problem." Brock said. "You lied to Vulpix and just left it out in this rain. You're a Pokemon Trainer and yet you treat your Pokemon this way? Unbelievable."

"What I do with my Pokemon is none of your concern." Damian replied.

"It is now." Ash stated as Brock let Damian go. "Because Brock and I are going to get Vulpix. Misty, you stay here and report this to Nurse Joy."

Ash and Brock grabbed their raincoats and ran out of the Pokemon Center with Pikachu by their side.

Vulpix was still waiting for Damian on the rock, despite the fact the rain was coming down quickly. Just then it heard rustling in the grass. A Spearow had come out and was staring at it preparing to scratch it with it's talons.

"Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Ash ordered. He and Brock had arrived just in time. Pikachu slammed into Spearow, forcing it to retreat. He then picked Vulpix up while Brock held the umbrella.

"Vulpix we know that neither of us are your trainer, but we're going to get you out of this rain." Ash said as they then ran back to the Pokemon Center.

Misty and Nurse Joy were waiting for them to return to the Pokemon Center. Both then burst through the door.

"We're back with Vulpix." Brock said as Nurse Joy ran over to Ash and Brock.

"I'll take Vulpix while you two rest." She said, taking Vulpix out of Ash's arms.

He and Brock removed their raincoats and sat down by the fire.

"It's a good thing you two got there in time." Misty said. "Or that Spearow would have badly injured Vulpix."

"Where's Damian?" Ash asked.

"He stepped out not too long ago." Misty explained. "But Nurse Joy informed Officer Jenny about what he's done."

"That's good to hear." Ash said. "I get the feeling he mistreats his other Pokemon as well."

For the rest of the night Vulpix rested in the operating room while the gang slept on the couches that were near the fire. The next morning they went to the operating room to see if Vulpix was alright.

"Don't worry." Nurse Joy said. "Vulpix has been fully recovered."

"Finally, some good news." Ash said, happy that Vulpix was feeling better.

"But what about Damian? What if Vulpix goes back to him?" Misty asked worriedly

"Well, that's a choice Vulpix has to make." Nurse Joy said.

As Vulpix laid in the operating room the gang left the Pokemon Center.

"I'm still curious what Vulpix will decide to do." Brock said. "Damian did mistreat it very badly."

"You're right, Brock." Ash agreed. "But Vulpix is still loyal to him, that's why it's wondering which decision it will make."

Brock nodded in understanding with a smile on his face.

Just then Misty felt the ground slightly sink beneath her feet.

"Something doesn't feel right." She said. Ash and Brock went over to Misty to see what was wrong before they fell into a hole.

"What is going on?" Ash asked.

Team Rocket appeared in front of them.

"What do you want?!" Misty shouted.

"Your Pokemon of course?" Jessie smirked.

"Well, you can forget it!" Misty shouted.

Team Rocket then pulled out some sort of vacuum device.

"This will suck up your Poke Balls." James said.

"Vul!" A voice called out.

Team Rocket turned and saw Vulpix.

"What do you want?" Meowth asked.

"Vulpix Vul Vul." Vulpix demanded.

"It's saying leave these people alone."

"Why you little-" James grumbled before saying. "Go bother someone else and mind your own business."

"Vul!" Vulpix said as it shot fire from its mouth at Team Rocket which caused them to run away.

After the gang climbed out of the hole.

"Thanks Vulpix." Brock said gratefully.

"Well I'm glad to see you're fully recovered." Ash said. "You're a very strong Pokemon."

"I second that." A voice called out.

The gang turned and saw Damian

"What do you think you're doing here?" Ash demanded.

"I'm here to get Vulpix, just like I promised." Damian replied.

"What are you talking about? You're the one that abandoned Vulpix in the first place." Ash said.

"You're right." Damian said in agreement. "And because I did, he became a lot tougher."

"Well, we're not letting you take Vulpix back!" Brock said. "Because it's clear that you don't treat any of your Pokemon with love and care. Heck, you don't even deserve to call yourself a Pokemon Trainer."

"You got that right." A voice said.

They turned and saw Officer Jenny who went behind Damian and cuffed him.

"I received Nurse Joy's report about you. So not only are you going to prison; but you are going to be stripped of your status as a Pokemon Trainer." Jenny said as she confiscated all sixteen of Damian's Poke Balls and handed them to the gang.

Back at the Pokemon Center Nurse Joy sent out the remainder of Damian's Pokemon. He managed to capture a Growlithe, Meowth, Tentacool, Shellder, Seadra, Psyduck, Vaporeon, Graveler, Rhyhorn, Ponyta, Weepinbell, Sandslash and Lapras.

"It seems that all of these Pokemon are okay." Nurse Joy noted.

"I'm glad that none of them were terribly abused." Brock said, relieved.

"The thing is, what do we do with them?" Nurse Joy asked.

Ash took Brock and Misty to the side.

"Why don't we take them as our own?" He suggested, whispering to the others. "I mean, they're too well trained to be released into the wild. This way we can keep a close eye on them."

"That's a great idea." Brock agreed.

"Nurse Joy, we would like to take in the Pokémon." Misty said

"Very well, I just know that they will be taken care of." Joy smiled

The gang chose what Pokemon they wanted. Naturally Misty chose all the water Pokemon. Ash selected Ponyta. Meowth and Weepinbell were also chosen as well.

Finally Brock chose Growlithe, Graveler, Rhyhorn and Sandslash.

The only Pokemon left was Vulpix. Ash walked towards it.

"Hey Vulpix, do you want to travel with me?" He asked.

"Vul." Vulpix nodded.

"I trust that all of these Pokemon will be taken care of." Nurse Joy told the gang smiling.

The gang said goodbye to Nurse Joy and went on their way.