"Alright—cut the nonsense and start talking. Otherwise…"
Grey cleared his throat.
Primeape raised its arm, power flooding in.
It hammered the ground with a single punch!
The earth didn't quite quake, but a long crack split open.
If that had hit a human body…
"Boss! Those little punks in Team Rocket are mining Moon Stones in Mt. Moon! We only split off to chase a Clefairy and a Riolu—we didn't do anything else!"
The big guy flailed as he spoke, clearly rattled by Primeape.
Grey narrowed his eyes. "What else?"
"That's… that's all."
The fat grunt shook his head, then hurried to add, "But Officer Jenny in Pewter City already led a squad into Mt. Moon. I figure the main force is swinging this way, then trying to slip into Cerulean."
"Yeah? How many?"
Grey pressed him for details.
The big man thought a moment. "Dozens at least, not a hundred. A junior admin's with them. Before I left I heard him on the phone—sounds like the Rocket crew inside Cerulean will coordinate from the other side."
"B-big bro, that's really it. Please have a heart—let me go!"
He scrambled up and held out both his and the skinny guy's wallets to Grey.
"You trying to bribe me?"
Grey arched a brow but didn't take them.
He was a Gym Leader now. Even if his dojo wasn't in the official rotation at the moment, it had been. He was, at least in spirit, public duty.
And he had plenty of scores with Team Rocket already.
"Raa-lts!"
Ralts clambered onto Grey's head and wagged a tiny finger at the big man, who looked one breath from dropping to his knees.
Wee-ooo, wee-ooo—
Sirens grew from far to near.
"Alright—tell it to Officer Jenny."
As Grey listened to the sirens behind him, he stepped aside.
"You called the cops?!"
The big man's eyes almost spat fire. He ground his teeth; nails dug deep crescents into his palms.
He sucked a few breaths and snapped a hand toward his belt.
"Knock Off."
Grey's voice was quiet.
"Raa~"
Ralts had already felt something off. Dark energy sheathed its pale palm, bristling with malice.
It sprang down and slammed its hand into the big man—
black light flashed, the hit landed clean.
The dark shock flared inside him; pain buckled his grip. The Poké Ball slipped from his hand and rolled away before he could even bark a command.
"Well, well—planning a sneak attack, were we?"
Grey chuckled, strolled over, and locked both grunts' Poké Balls.
The patrol car rolled up. Officer Jenny hopped out with her Growlithe and took in the two Rockets on the ground.
"Officer Jenny, I'm Grey from the Fighting Dojo—and the one who reported it. These two are Team Rocket grunts. They tried to snatch these two wild Pokémon, but I put them down."
Grey showed his ID.
Jenny checked it, then saluted. "Gym Leader Grey, thank you for your contribution to Cerulean's public safety."
"Hey, Trainers should help. No thanks needed."
Grey waved it off, casual.
Cash hitting the account was what mattered; gratitude was optional.
"Oh, right—Officer Jenny, do you know where I can buy a Dawn Stone?"
He asked suddenly.
Ralts would be evolving soon. After it became Kirlia, he'd need a Dawn Stone to evolve it into Gallade.
No harm prepping early.
"A Dawn Stone? I don't think Kanto has a vein for that evolution stone. Try the League's official site and see if anyone's selling."
Jenny thought for a moment and offered that.
Grey nodded. He'd check when he had a minute.
"What's a Dawn Stone look like?" Green asked as she rifled through her bag.
"Color's kind of like emerald, with a white glow inside."
Seeing her rummage, Grey actually got his hopes up.
He pulled up a picture on his phone and held it out. "This one. You got any?"
"How would I have that?"
Green produced a lipstick, swiped on a few coats, and smacked her lips.
Grey: …
And here he was, getting his hopes up!
"Heehee. Consider it payback for all the big talk you fed me earlier."
She tucked away the lipstick and laughed into her hand. "Alright, I'll keep an eye out later. Remember—you pay a finder's fee~"
"Mm."
Grey turned to Officer Jenny. "Those two said Rockets hidden inside Cerulean will coordinate with the Mt. Moon force. You should get ready."
"Their numbers aren't small. If they flood into the city all at once, panic's guaranteed."
That wasn't idle speculation. It was Grey's read based on Cerulean's situation.
Cerulean had already been hit before.
Nugget Bridge out on Route 24 had been occupied so long they were practically working nine-to-five.
A private home had a hole blown through it, and the homeowner's TM for Dig was snatched in the street.
Bottom line: Cerulean's police strength was too thin.
If his Fighting Dojo were based here, you think we'd still be dealing with Rocket nonsense?
We'd bag them the same night.
"Gym Leader Grey, what do you think Cerulean should do?"
Officer Jenny asked for his take.
With Cerulean this underpowered, if Rocket poured in fast, they might as well rename the place Sin City.
"My view: send part of your team back to hold the city; leave most in place. Then you drive us straight to Mt. Moon."
Grey paced as he laid it out. "Pewter's already committed a squad into Mt. Moon. Between Rota up north and Cerulean to the east, Cerulean is the obvious exit."
"And like we said—the Rocket crew inside Cerulean plans to sync with them. On Route 4 they've got a lot of ways to move, but all of them point to one thing: getting into Cerulean."
"At that moment we punch through with the car—we'll cut down the bulk of them on the road. Any who slip through? They're still headed here."
"That's where your ambush comes in. The rest will be a rabble. Not worth fussing over."
Clap, clap, clap!
Applause broke out.
Some folks didn't quite follow the details—
—but it sure sounded badass.
More clapping trickled in from the rear.
"Spoken like a true senior, Grey. If we follow your plan, Team Rocket will be wiped out in one sweep~"
A familiar, flippant voice.
Grey turned—and the look on his face said, "Of course."
Daisuke.
And a whole squad of Team Rocket grunts behind him!
//Check out my P@tre0n for 20 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[email protected]/Razeil0810
TN: Simple question for you readers: What is/are your favorite Pokémon? Mine are the Slowpoke family