The Incredible Poke-Odyssey chapter 18

So Safari

Our heroes were now waiting in a line at the Safari Zone.  A fun park 
where you can catch and take home all the wild Pokemon you want. "I've 
always wanted to visit the Safari Zone", said Stella, "I've heard they 
have all sorts of rare untamed Pokemon that'd be perfect for any circus."

"And we could use some more Pokemon if we want to take on Team Rocket 
and Mewtwo", said Jenny.

"I just hope that warden has gotten over his gun kick", said Brock.

"Gun kick?" asked Cameron.

"Yes", replied Misty, "The warden here's an old triggerhappy cowboy.  
He almost tried to shoot Ash in the head.  Didn't you see that in your 
cartoon show?"

"Actually no", said Cameron, "They never aired the Safari Zone episode 
in the U.S. for some reason.  I believe it was because the censors were 
afraid that kids might want to imitate that warden and carry guns 
around too."

"Wow", said Bill, "I never knew TV could corrupt young minds like that."

"Which is why someone invented V-chips", said Seymour. "To block out 
anything that might be dirty or violent so kids won't try and copy any 
of that."

"That sure would make my job easier", said Jenny for she and her family 
were constantly tired of all these dirty minded crooks carrying guns.

"I believe parents should just sit down with their kids in front of 
their favorite shows and point out what's wrong and that they shouldn't 
do that", said Brock, "That's how I did it with my siblings and they 
all turned out great."

"If only my parents had taught my sisters the same thing while they 
were watching Melrose Place", sighed Misty.

"Group No. 23, you may now enter the Safari Zone", called out a pretty 
western accented voice from a speaker above.

"That's us", said Jenny as she and the others stepped through the door.  
They all came inside a big room that looked like a sheriff's station 
and found no one in.

"I wonder where the warden is?" asked Seymour.  Suddenly a huge lasso 
burst out of the darkness and snagged Seymour.  Then a sexy figure 
jumped out, tied up Seymour and brought him close to her.  It was a 
young lady with brown hair done in pigtails and she was wearing a 
cowboy hat and an old sheriff's suit.

"Howdy partner!" said the woman screaming into Seymour's face, 
"Catastrophe June's the name.  You're awfully cute, you know that?"

"Uh, thank you", said a nervous tied up Seymour.

"I think I'll mark my brand on you and make you my man!" smiled June.  
Seymour was about to faint, until an annoyed Jenny pulled him away from 
the woman.

"Hold it Miss Catastrophe June", said Jenny as she held out her badge. 
"If you want to mark this man, you'll have to go through me first!"

"Oops, sorry officer", said June who was now calm. "And sorry to you 
too cutie pie!" she said as she turned to a traumatized Seymour and went 
over and untied him. "I just like to add a little Tex-Mex spice to this 
world of Pokemon rounding."

"No problem", stuttered Seymour as he pulled out his inhaler.  And for 
the first time, Brock didn't go ga-ga for this particular kind of woman. 
"Uh, you wouldn't be related to the warden whom we met five years 
ago.  Would you?" he asked.

"You mean my grampaw?" asked June who showed them a picture of the old 
man with his little Dratini.

"You're her grampaw, I mean grandpa?!" asked Misty.

"That's correct youngin", smiled June, "But unfortunately he passed 
away a couple of years ago." She now said sadly, "He went to that big 
old Safari Zone in the sky." 

"We're sorry to hear that ma'am", said Brock.

But then she smiled again. "But that's all water under the bridge.  
Now I've taken over the family business and I'm the new warden of the 
Safari Zone."

"You don't carry any guns around, do you?" asked Brock nervously.

"Of course not", smiled June, "I'm more civilized than Grampaw." And 
she pulled out a mini crossbow and shot Cameron's hat off making it hit 
the wall. "Crossbows are more suited for a refined woman like me!  
Sorry, about that kid", said June as she went and got the hat, ruffled 
Cameron's hair and slammed it back on.

"No problem", said Cameron straightening out Ash's hat.

"Gee, you sure are a cute little buckaroo", smiled June as she pinched 
Cameron's cheeks very hard. "Have you come here to catch some cute 
little wild Safari Pokemon?"

"Yes we have", said Cameron whose cheeks were now numb, "If that's all 
right."

"Why sure it is", winked June, "Just as long as you pay $500 for you 
and your entire group."

"Guys", Cameron whispered to the group, "I don't have 500 bucks!"

"Sure you do", said Jenny, "Just check your Pokedex and push the green 
button with a dollar sign on it.  Cameron complied and on Dexeena's 
screen, the number $23,523 appeared.

"I have that much?!" gasped Cameron, "But how did I and where do I get 
it?!"

"Every time you win a Pokemon battle, you earn currency", said Seymour, 
"Your Pokedex knows when you've won a battle and it automatically takes 
whatever currency from your opponent's Pokedex and transports it to 
yours."

"Wow, just like in my Gameboy!" smiled Cameron who just realized he had 
more money than he ever did in his lifetime.

"Just give your Pokedex to June and she'll subtract $500 from it and we 
can all have a rockin' fun time in the Safari Zone", said Misty.

"What'da'ya'mean by rock?!" grumbled June as she pointed her crossbow 
at Misty's forehead for this western girl obviously didn't go for rock 
and roll.  Misty just stood there silently sweating.

*      *      *      *      *      *

June had put Cameron's Pokedex into a credit card like machine, pushed 
a button, and handed it back to Cameron.  When he checked his account, 
the number now said $23,023.  Then June handed each member of the 
group, except for Bill, a box that contained a fishing pole, Pokemon 
food, rocks, and about 30 Pokeballs that were green with a letter S on 
each one of them.

"All right partners, here are the rules", said June as she pointed to a 
huge map on the wall. "Don't just memorize them, LEARN THEM!!! If you 
want to leave this fun place alive!" Everyone stood there silent with 
their ears wide open.

"Rule 1", said June, "Whenever you see a Pokemon in your sights, you 
can throw one of those special Safari Balls at it.  You can either 
distract it buy throwing food, or weaken it by throwing rocks at it.  
But you may not use your own Pokemon to battle and weaken it.  There 
are hidden sensors all over the Zone and if you even try to touch your 
Pokeballs, you'll get a nasty shock."

Cameron quickly frowned for he never had to experience electric shocks 
when playing in the Safari Zone on his Gameboy.  Except that time he 
tried to play it with wet hands.

"Rule 2", continued June, "You can only spend one full hour in the 
Safari Zone.  When your time is up I'll come by on my trusty jeep and 
round you all up."

"I just hope she doesn't lasso us while she's driving", thought Seymour 
nervously.

"And rule 3", said June, "You can explore any area in the Zone, except 
two places.  First is this lake on the east.  That's the home of 
Grampaw's pet Dragonair and her baby Dratini.  They're off limits to 
the public."

"I remember Dragonair and Dratini", said Misty, "How are they doing 
these days?"

"Well, Dragonair still a little sad about losing Grampaw", said June, 
"But she's doing fine and little Dratini's doesn't remember him too 
much so its pretty happy as a Cloyster."

Cameron really wished he could've seen the Safari Zone episode so he 
could have the full picture of everything that happened with Ash and 
the Dratini.

"And the second place that's off limits is this forest on the northwest 
side of the Zone", said June as she pointed to the map. "That there's 
the Unruly Zone."

"Why do you call it the Unruly Zone?" asked Stella.

"Because that's where we keep our unruly Pokemon", said June in a not 
so cheery voice, "Pokemon that have been known to KILL people!" 
Everyone gulped when they heard that four-letter word.

"You mean you have mad killer Pokemon in your zone?!" gasped Misty.

"Relax little lady", smiled June, "They're kept behind a barbed fence.  
I'd never let any unruly Pokemon run around free in the Zone.  I 
monitor the Zone all the time and if it looks like a Pokemon's about to 
give a customer trouble, I rush right on out there and apprehend them 
with my lasso, tie 'em up, and drag 'em off to the Unruly Zone."

"You mean the Pokemon right?" asked Jenny, "Not the customers."

June just smiled at Jenny's wisecrack and continued, "Other than that, 
go out there and have fun with your roundups!" and she pushed a button 
on her desk and huge doors on the left side of the wall opened 
revealing the wonders of the Safari Zone.  Our heroes stepped outside 
and marveled at the beautiful green grass and blue lakes and all the 
Pokemon roaming around free.

"All right everyone", said Jenny, "Let's all separate and do our best 
to catch some really strong powerful Pokemon."

"This is going to be fun!" said Cameron excitedly wondering what his 
sixth and final Pokemon will be.

"Remember Cameron", said Brock, "Professor Oak said he doesn't have his 
Pokeball transporter with him so the one Pokemon you catch here will be 
your last for now."

"That's okay", said Cameron, "I already got a great team of five with 
me and whatever Pokemon I catch I'm sure will be a welcome member to 
my team." And off they went in different directions.

Cameron heard something moving from a nearby bush.  He slowly 
approached it and out jumped a huge stag beetle with giant jaws on its 
head.

"Wow! A Pinsir!" smiled Cameron, "A bug type will be great on my team!" 
and he took out his first Safari Ball and threw it at the bug sucking 
it in.  Cameron watched as the ball started to shake around, but then 
it burst to pieces and Pinsir ran away into a small forest.  Cameron 
started to run after it but found Jenny in the forest instead holding a 
Safari Ball.

"I did it!" smiled Jenny, "I caught Pinsir!" Cameron frowned on the 
inside, but was happy on the outside that Jenny had another Pokemon to 
keep her Growlithe company.  Then he heard a loud snoring noise.  
Cameron followed the noise and found a small little rhino sleeping 
peacefully.

"A Rhyhorn!" smiled Cameron, "And it's sleeping too.  That should be 
an easy catch."  Cameron took out another ball and threw it at Rhyhorn 
sucking it in as well.  But Rhyhorn managed to escape from that ball as 
well and started to gallop away, right into Brock's path.  Brock threw 
his ball at Rhyhorn and caught it.

"Yes!" shouted Brock, "I caught Rhyhorn!" and he walked off.  Cameron 
frowned again.  He had forgotten how frustrating it was having certain 
Safari Pokemon run away from you in the game.  As Cameron continued 
walking, he hid behind a rock and saw a small two-headed bird.

"A Doduo!" said Cameron as he was about to bring out another ball, but 
then looked into his box.  He took out a piece of Pokemon food and 
threw it at the Doduo hoping that would distract it.  And sure enough 
it did.  Both heads were arguing and fighting over the food trying to 
pull it away from each other.

"I don't why they're fighting over it", thought Cameron, "Whatever head 
eats it will end up in the same stomach." And he took out a ball and 
threw it at Doduo sucking it in as well.  But Doduo broke out and ran 
away like the others.  And it ran into the path of yet another friend. 
"Oh happy days!" said Seymour as he danced around happily, "I caught 
Doduo!"

"I'm so happy for you", whispered Cameron sarcastically.

*      *      *      *      *      *

On the other side of the Zone, Team Rocket's balloon had landed right 
next to a huge lake. "There it is Reiko", smiled Jessie evily, "The 
famous lake that contains the legendary Dratini.  The one Pokemon 
that's missing from our great Poke-collection."

"But like the toothfairy that replaces infant teeth with currency, I 
always thought Dratinti's were make believe", said Reiko.

"Oh no, they're real", said Jessie, "And I remember I saw a cute little 
Dratini pop its head out of the lake.  That sure was a delight for me."

"But not for me if you remember!" grumbled James remembering the time 
he and Meowth went underwater in diving suits to find that Dratini.  
Jessie was so impressed when the Dratini popped its head out, she had 
stepped on the air pump causing both James and Meowth to almost die 
from lack of air.

"When are you gonna let that go?!" growled Jessie as she whacked James 
on the head with her fan, "I've mistreated you thousands of times in 
many ways!  That was minor compared to when I forced you to marry that 
mad woman Jessiebell!"

"Maybe I should've stayed with Jessiebell instead", thought James, "She 
handles her whip more gentler than Jessie's fan."

"Well anyway", continued Jessie, "Dratinis have been known to have a 
large varieties of attacks and powers.  If we can just catch it and 
control it, we'll have those rebels done in for sure!  Isn't that right 
Reiko?!"

"You are correct my Queen", said Reiko trying to hide her feelings for 
Cameron, "Oh Cameron-san", thought Reiko, "Being a Rocket would've 
been much easier for me if you hadn't dropped from the sky."

"Okay James", said Jessie, "Release the vacuum!"

"Right away Jess!" smiled James as he pushed a button and a huge vacuum 
tube emerged from the balloon and started to suck the lake dry.  
Suddenly, something started to shoot out of the water.  It was a long 
blue serpent with wings on her ears.  She started to look angrily at 
the three humans who were trying to take away her watery home. 
"DRAAAAG!!!" she growled.

"I can't believe it!" said Jessie excitedly, "That cute little Dratini 
had evolved into a Dragonair!"

"But I don't think its gonna act so cute right now!" said James as he 
nervously looked into the Dragonair's angry eyes.

"But it will be thanks to this!" smiled Jessie as she took out a 
bazooka and shot a multi-colored collar out of it.  The collar quickly 
clamped around Dragonair's neck and she suddenly floated there quietly.

"What did you do to it my Queen?" asked Reiko.

"I just snapped on a control collar", smiled Jessie, "Now this 
marvelous creature will do our bidding with no free will of its own.  
Watch." And she took out a tiny radio and spoke into it.  "Dragonair", 
she commanded, "Fly around in a figure 8 form!" Dragonair nodded her 
emotionless head and started to fly around shaping her long body into a 
number 8.

"Now spell Queen Jessie!" she commanded.  Dragonair then used her body 
to form those words in cursive.

"That looks quite painful", said Reiko.

"Don't worry about that", smiled Jessie, "Its too mesmerized to feel 
any kind of pain."

"Ooooooh!  Let me try!" smiled James as he yanked the radio away from 
Jessie and spoke into it. "Dragonair!" he commanded, "Spell, The Suave 
and Mighty King James!" Dragonair suddenly twisted herself around but 
became a huge blue pretzel instead.

"That was too much for it to spell you twit!" grumbled Jessie as she 
whacked him with her fan and took the radio away from him. "Dragonair, 
straighten yourself out would you?" she asked.  Dragonair complied and 
undid her pretzel form.  Just then, a small arrow hit their balloon 
popping it and sending it plopping into what was left of the lake.

"Just what are you sidewinders doing to my poor little Dragonair?" 
shouted June who had just drove up in her jeep while holding her 
crossbow.

"So the Safari Zone has a new warden", said James, "And one with great 
legs too!"

"Why thank you", said June blushing as she lifted up her left boot. 
"But that still doesn't pardon you from what you're doing!  Draggie, 
take care of them with hyper beam!" But Dragonair just floated there 
ignoring June's commands.

"Draggie, what's wrong?" asked June, "Those rustlers are gonna take you 
away if you don't attack back!"

"Sorry little miss sagebrush", said Jessie evily, "But Draggies now our 
noble steed!  Draggie, zap her with thunder wave!" Draggie sent a 
thunder wave at June completely paralyzing her.  Jessie and James were 
too busy laughing to notice a tiny baby Pokemon bobbing its head out of 
the water watching its mother attack their poor master.

Reiko suddenly saw someone way out in the distance.  She took out her 
binoculars and saw who it was. "Cameron-san!" she gasped.

"What's wrong Reiko?" asked Jessie, "Have you spotted something or 
someone interesting?"

"I have!" said Reiko trying to think up something fast, "It could be 
one of the warden's deputies.  I'd better go and apprehend him before 
he brings back help.  If I can have your permission that is."

"But of course my dear", smiled Jessie, "Go off and cause all the 
misery and torment to your heart's desire!" 

"Arigato my Queen", said Reiko as she did a huge back flip out of the 
balloon and rushed off.

"I have to warn Cameron-san!" said Reiko running as fast as she could. 
"If that Dragonair gets a hold of him, he's done for!"

*      *      *      *      *      *

Meanwhile, Cameron was still having no luck at catching his sixth 
Pokemon and he only had 1 Safari Ball left. "I gotta make this last one 
count", he said with determination.  Just then a huge bunny-like 
Pokemon with large eyes suddenly came his way. "A Wigglytuff", said 
Cameron really determined to catch this one.  He threw a rock at 
Wigglytuff hoping that would weaken it, but Wigglytuff managed to whack 
it away with a doubleslap sending it right onto Cameron's head.  As he 
lied there on the ground with a bump on his head, he could hear 
Stella's voice shout out, "All right!  I caught Wigglytuff!"

A frustrated Cameron decided he should try fishing in the nearby lake 
hoping he could at least catch something powerless like a Magikarp.  
And sure enough, Cameron did catch something.  It was a tiny black frog 
with cute hind legs, a long tail, and a swirl on its stomach. "A 
Poliwag!" smiled Cameron, "This should be easy to catch", and just as 
he was about to throw a ball at it, Poliwag squirted water into 
Cameron's face knocking him onto the ground.  Poliwag then dove into 
the lake and swam to the other side where Misty was waiting there to 
catch it.

"Yes!" shouted Misty, "I caught Poliwag!!!  Oh, hi Cameron!" said Misty 
as she saw Cameron on the other side and started waving to him. "Having 
fun?!"

"Oh, I'm having a ball", said Cameron with a huge false smile. "I'll 
have my sixth Pokemon soon enough!" 

"Good luck", smiled Misty as she walked away.  Cameron sighed as he sat 
down on a nearby rock to do some thinking.  Then he saw a Rattata 
walking up to him.

"Well, this is my last chance", sighed Cameron as he was about to throw 
his last ball until the Rattata called out, "How many times do I have 
to tell you people that I'm nobody's Pokemon?!!"

"Oh, sorry Bill", said Cameron who now knew who it was. "It's just that 
I'm having the worst luck here while everyone else is stocking up on 
new Pokemon!"

"Welcome to the club", said Bill, "Can you believe I wasn't given any 
Safari Balls just because I'm now a Pokemon?  I could at least have one 
so I can catch me something small like a Caterpie so I can play the 
superior being with it."

Cameron smiled a little and then noticed a huge forest that was blocked 
off with a barbed fence. "That must be the Unruly Zone June had talked 
about", said Cameron.

"The place where she keeps her killer Pokemon", said Bill fascinated. 
"I bet I could slip under this fence and study how vicious and deadly 
these types of Pokemon are."

"You're not actually gonna do that are you?!" gasped Cameron.

"Of course not", laughed Bill, "I didn't get my Pokemon researcher's 
degree by being stupid." Just then a long pink tail with a rattle 
slowly snuck out from under the fence.  It grabbed Bill's tail and 
started dragging him in.

"What's going on?!" cried Bill, "Cameron, HELP!!" but then disappeared 
from under the fence and into the darkness.

"Oh no, BILL!" cried Cameron, "I've gotta do something!  But I don't 
have any way to get through these barbed wires!"

"You got me!" called out a Japanese accented voice.  Cameron turned 
around and found Reiko smiling at him while leaning on her sword like 
a cane.

"Reiko!" said Cameron nervously, "Bill's just been abducted by an 
unruly Pokemon!  Can you help me save him?!"

"Anything for you Cameron-san", said Reiko as he used her sword to cut 
through the fence leaving it open for them to pass through.

"We'd better be careful Reiko", whispered Cameron, "There are supposed 
to be lots of killer Pokemon roaming around free in this forest and we 
won't be able to use our own Pokemon to battle them either."

"But like the Pinsir that loses its jaws for life but still relies on 
its front claws for slash attacks, I believe a skilled ninja like me 
will be able to handle any killer Pokemon", said Reiko proudly.

"Look over there", said Cameron as he dragged Reiko over to a huge tree 
and they hid behind it.  They saw an Ekans, a Scyther, and a Ninetales 
gathered around a table shaped stone getting ready for a feast.   
Ninetales was breathing fire under the stone table, Ekans was shaking 
salt on the food, and Scyther was wearing a tall Japanese chef's hat 
and was sharpening up its huge claws ready to do some slicing and 
dicing. Cameron suddenly saw what the main course was. "BILL!!" he 
shouted.

Sure enough, it was Bill.  They had him tied to the table with a 
plastic apple stuffed in his mouth.  He was shaking and sweating 
nervously hoping that sweat would ruin the taste of diced Rattata.  
Just then, all three of the killer Pokemon heard Cameron shout out 
Bill's name.  They looked up and saw the two teenage humans.

"Oops, my bad!" said Cameron realizing he just sealed his and Reiko's 
fates.

"And I thought I was the bad one here", said Reiko as she saw the three 
running, flying, and slithering up to them.  Reiko tried to pull out 
her Pokeballs but got a nasty electric shock causing her to yelp. "What 
just happened?!" she demanded.

"Oh great", moaned Cameron, "June would have to put sensors in this 
part of the zone as well!"

Reiko took out her twin katanas and tried to defend herself against 
Scyther's sharp as steel claws.  It was pretty tough for her for this 
huge mantis had the skills of a ninja as well.

Ninetales started shooting embers from his mouth ready to make Cameron 
feel the burn.  Cameron quickly pulled out his water bottle and started 
squirting water at the huge fox making it back away for fiery Ninetales 
were truly weak against water. "H20", he smiled, "How I love those 3 
little digits right now!" Just as Cameron thought he had Ninetales 
beat, he suddenly dropped his bottle for something had coiled itself 
around his torso.  Cameron looked in fear into the scary eyes of Ekans 
while it tasted Cameron's face with its long forked tongue.

"Cameron-san!" cried Reiko who wanted to help him, but couldn't for she 
was still battling Scyther.  That distraction gave Scyther the 
advantage to knock away Reiko's katanas and use one claw to pin her to 
a tree making her unable to move her arms.

Just as Ekans was about to constrict Cameron, Scyther was about to 
slash up Reiko, and Ninetales was about to roast the still restrained 
Bill.  A loud trumpeting sound was heard.  The three killer Pokemon 
suddenly shook in fear as they let go of their prey and ran off into a 
darker part of the forest.

"Are you all right Cameron-san?" asked Reiko.

"I'm fine", said Cameron as he went over and untied Bill, "How about 
you Bill?" he asked.

Bill finally managed to bite through the huge apple and replied, "I'm 
okay, except that I'll know have the taste of plastic apple in my gums 
and I hate apples!  Even artificial ones!"

"What do you suppose made those three scoundrels run off like that?" 
asked Reiko.  And suddenly she found out what it was.  A new kind of 
Pokemon Cameron had never seen before had charged out of the darkness.  
It looked like a small elephant with sharp tusks and skin that looked 
like rubber.

"What is that thing?!" asked Cameron as he aimed his Pokedex at it.

"DONPHAN, the armor Pokemon", replied Dexeena, "Since this is a newly 
discovered Pokemon, I cannot give you any other data on it.  I hope we
can still be friends though."

"Wow!" said Cameron amazed, "I wonder if this is one of the new Pokemon 
that'll appear in those Gold and Silver games I keep hearing about?"

Reiko had no idea what Cameron had said, but got herself ready to 
attack as the Donphan slowly walked over to them wondering what it was 
gonna do.

"Maybe I can frighten it away with my leer attack", said Bill as he 
leapt in front of Donphan and pulled his eyelids back trying to make 
a scary face.

"HA!" laughed Reiko, "There's no way that kind of attack will frighten 
away a big Pokemon like that." But she was wrong.  Donphan stood on its 
hind legs in fear and started trumpeting a loud, "PPHHHAAAAANNN!" It 
then galloped away making loud stomping noises causing Cameron, Reiko, 
and Bill to fall down. "Then again, what do I know about the fears of 
Pokemon?" said Reiko.

"Never underestimate Bill power!" smiled Bill proudly.

"I always thought the stories about elephants being scared of mice were 
just myths" thought Cameron but then remembered that this was a Donphan 
and a Rattata.  They watched as Donphan ran across something black and 
then stopped. "PPPHHHAAAANNNN!" it trumpeted as it looked like it was 
sinking in that black stuff.

"I must've scared it into a tar pit", said Bill.

"Good", said Reiko, "That gives us a chance to escape.  Come on 
Cameron-san." And she tried to drag Cameron away but he just stood 
there.

"We just can't leave that poor Donphan in that sticky situation", said 
Cameron, "We shouldn't've been in the Unruly Zone to begin with and I 
can't let it pay for my disobedience."

"But that's supposed to be a killer Pokemon!" said Reiko, "What if we 
save it and it starts attacking us?"

"I don't think it tried to attack us", said Cameron, "I believe it was 
just wanted to take a closer look at us."

"And I was the one that frightened the poor thing away", said Bill, "We 
should help it, after all it did save us from those three hungry 
barbarians."

"Very well", sighed Reiko as she, Cameron, and Bill ran over to the pit 
where all they could see were Donphan's trunk.  Cameron grabbed onto 
the trunk while Reiko grabbed onto Cameron while Bill grabbed onto 
Reiko's pants leg trying to pull Donphan out of the pit.  But the tar 
was too strong and the more they pulled, the deeper Donphan started to 
sink.

"My ninja strength seems to be failing me!" said Reiko, "I must
remember to punish myself for slacking."

"Maybe strength isn't what we need for this", said Cameron as he looked 
at his Pokebelt.  He quickly touched a Pokeball and got a huge electric 
shock.  But no matter how painful it seemed, he wouldn't let go of his 
Pokeball.  He managed to yank it off his belt and release a Pokemon.  
Then the shocking stopped while Cameron fell to his knees.  

"Cameron-san!  Are you all right?!" asked a worried Reiko. "Why did 
you do that to yourself?  That seemed extremely painful!"

"It was", said Cameron in deep breaths, "But there are some things you 
just gotta do in the name of Pokedom.

"I agree", said Bill thankful that he and Reiko went into these 
dangerous woods to rescue him.  They all looked at the Pokemon that 
Cameron had released.  It was Slowking.

"Slowie", said Cameron, "I need you to use your psychic powers to save 
that sinking Pokemon over there.  Can you help it?"

"Slow", said Slowie in a big dopey smile as he started glowing a bright 
color and Donphan was immediately lifted out of the pit and onto the 
safe green grass.  It seemed okay except that it was covered from head 
to toe with gooey black tar.

"Thank you Slowie", said Cameron, "Can you also wash it clean?"  Slowie 
squirted water all over Donphan until it was as clean as a shiny rubber 
tire.  Then Donphan slowly walked over to Cameron and wrapped its trunk 
around his waist.

"Uh oh", said Reiko as she was about to pull out her sword until Bill 
called out, "Wait Reiko, I don't think Donphan's going to hurt 
Cameron." She looked up and smiled as Donphan was hugging Cameron 
gratefully while little pink hearts floated all around them.

"Your very welcome", smiled Cameron as he patted Donphan's rubbery 
head. "You don't seem like an unruly killer Pokemon at all.  In fact, I 
don't even know why June put you in this place.  But would you like to 
join my group and be with other friendly Pokemon?"

"Phan!" trumpeted Donphan while smiling.  Cameron smiled as he took out 
his last Safari Ball and sucked the huge pachyderm in. "All right!" he 
shouted proudly, "I now have Donphan.  My six Pokemon team is finally 
complete!"
 
"Congratulations Cameron." said Bill. "I'd congratulate your Donphan 
too but it might run away again if I did that."

"You definitely earned it Cameron-san", smiled Reiko as she went over 
and kissed Cameron on the cheek again while he turned a bright red. 

"Thank you Reiko." said Cameron in a goofy smile. "And don't worry.  
I won't tell Jessie and James what you did for me and Bill."

"Oh no, I forgot!" gasped Reiko, "Jessie and James have just captured 
and taken control of a Dragonair and they're planning on using it 
against you and your friends!  You have to find your comrades and get 
them all out of here fast!"

"Will you be coming with us?" asked Cameron.

"No, I'd better stay here and patch up the fence I just tore apart", 
said Reiko, "Now go!  Before those Rockets find you!" and she karate 
chopped the stone table in two telling him to obey her.

"Uh, okay!" said Cameron in a shocked voice, "Thank you for warning 
us!" and he gave Reiko a quick kiss on her cheek and he and Bill ran 
out of the Unruly Zone.  Reiko just stood there in a wonderful trance 
at what Cameron just did to her.  Just as the same Scyther was about 
to sneak up behind her.  But luckily, Reiko was able to turn around and 
happily kick it back into the darkness "Ah, the magic of love!" she 
sighed as she skipped out of the zone, took out her katanas and used 
them as knitting needles to patch up the barbed wire fence.

*      *      *      *      *      *

Meanwhile, our heroes had gathered at the same spot where they all 
separated from and were telling each other what they caught. "All I 
caught was a Poliwag", said Misty.

"I caught me a Wigglytuff and a Tauros", said Stella.

"I got a Doduo and a Paras", said Seymour happily.

"I got a rock!" said a discouraged Brock.  Everyone looked at him 
funny but then Brock just smiled and said, "Just kidding!  I got me a 
Rhyhorn!" and everyone laughed.

"I got me a Pinsir, a Cubone, a Nidorino, and a Nidorina", smiled 
Jenny, "But I might have to get the Nido's fixed if they want to live 
together with me."

Just then Cameron and Bill ran up to the group completely out of breath. 
"Hey guys", smiled Misty, "What's wrong.  Been chased by a tiny little 
Dratini?"

"It's much worse than that!" panted Cameron, "We've gotta get out of 
the Zone fast!"

"But we still got ten minutes left here", said Seymour. "There's still 
plenty of time to catch some more Pokemon."

"Yes, please stay!" called out Jessie's voice. "We would love to do 
some more catching."

"And all of you look like fine catches to us", said James as a smoke 
bomb landed and when it cleared.  Jessie and James were now standing 
in front of them saying their motto as usual.

Jessie: "Team Rocket blasting off at the speed of light!"
James: "Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"DRAGONAIR!" said Draggie who suddenly plopped down right behind Jessie 
and James.  Cameron took out his Pokedex again and aimed it at the serpent.

"DRAGONAIR, the dragon Pokemon.  The evolved form of Dratini", replied 
Dexeena. "A mystical Pokemon that exudes a gentle aura.  Has the 
ability to change climate conditions."

"Well well", smiled Jessie, "We originally came here to catch this 
Dragonair."

"But we'd have no idea that we'd be catching some rebels as well", 
continued James.

"Hey, what are you guys doing with the Safari Zone's Dragonair?!" 
demanded Brock.

"With the help of this radio in my hand at that cute but uncomfortable 
collar around Draggie's neck.  This beast has become our loyal servant.  
And we'll show you'll just how loyal it is.  Draggie!  Use thunder wave 
on them like you did to your former master!"

"DRAAGGG!" shouted Draggie as she released her thunder wave on our 
heroes making them completely paralyzed so they couldn't run away or 
fight back.

"Nice work Draggie!" smiled James, "Now we'll be able to take them back 
to Rocketville with no resistance at all.  And I truly hate resistance.  
It's a hard word to spell!"

"I gotta do something!" thought Cameron as he tried to move but 
couldn't.  He tried hard and he was able to put one finger up to a 
certain green Safari Ball on his belt.  And the electric sensors didn't 
shock him for he was already thunder waved.  Out popped Donphan ready 
to defend his new master.

"What kind of Pokemon is that?" asked Jessie.

"I think I saw something like that after I came back drunk from the 
Rocketville bar one time", said James, "Only it was pink."

"Well whatever it is, it's definitely missing from our collection!" 
smiled Jessie, "Draggie, thunder wave that Pokemon as well!" Draggie 
sent out yet another thunder wave attack, but it didn't effect Donphan 
one bit.

"It must be its rubber skin that makes Donphan immune to electric 
attacks", smiled Cameron, "Okay Donphan, use your uh, eh, well, Gee, 
I don't know what attacks you have."

But Donphan knew.  It quickly spun around and changed itself into a 
huge rubber tire.  It then sped at high speed getting ready to squish 
Draggie flat.  But Draggie quickly flew up in the air out of Donphan's 
path and it ran over Jessie instead. "Wow", said Cameron, "Donphan 
would be useful if a 4x4 ever has a flat tire."

"Jessie, speak to me" cried James as he peeled Jessie off the grass 
like a sticker in an album. "This is one way to keep my trim figure!" 
said Jessie in a flat voice.

James quickly rolled up Jessie like a scroll and watched as the huge 
rubber tire kept leaping up and slamming into Draggie countless times.  
James found the radio that Jessie had dropped before she got squashed 
and picked it up. "Come on Draggie!" said James, "Don't let that third 
wheel defeat you.  Strike back with your slam attack!"

"DRAAAGGGG!" shouted Draggie as she slammed her strong tail right onto 
Donphan's head causing it to fall on its back knocked out with a huge 
rubber bump on its head.

"DONPHAN!" cried Cameron.

"So much for your last minute guest rescuer!" laughed James. But then 
another guest rescuer suddenly leapt into the picture.  It was a 
smaller version of a Dragonair.  It looked at the huge serpent and went, 
"Dratini?"

"Oooooh, a Dragonair and a little Dratini as well!" smiled James.

"You mean my Dragonair and Dratini you varmint!" called out a voice.  
It was June.  She was now free from the thunder wave effects and she 
had her crossbow ready with an extremely itchy trigger finger.

"Oh, hi there", said James, "I see you've brought me yet another rare 
Pokemon as a gift.  And I know just how to thank you too.  Draggie, 
blow this cowchick away with your hyper beam!"

Just as Draggie was about to take a deep breath, Dratini flew up in 
front of her shouting, "Dratini, tini, tini, tini!" with tears in its 
eyes.  Draggie suddenly stopped for she knew who this Dratini was.  
It was Draggie's baby. "DRAGONAIR!" she cried as she gushed out tears 
causing the collar around her neck to short circuit and crumble off.

"What do you think you're doing?!" demanded James through the radio. 
"We're giving you the opportunity to become a mean lean death machine 
and you're throwing it all away over parenthood!  I demand you to 
attack something!" Then both Dratini and Dragonair looked fire-eyed at 
James.

"Uh, you're free from that collar now!" said James nervously, "So you 
don't have to attack if you don't want to!" and he ran away carrying 
the flattened Jessie with him.

"How about showing us that beautiful hyper beam of yours Draggie?" 
smiled June.  Draggie smiled as she charged herself up and let loose a 
powerful beam blasting it at Jessie and James sending them flying into 
the sky.

"Look's like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" they shouted as they 
flew up higher and higher until they landed safely into the floating 
balloon that Reiko had just repaired.

"My Queen", said Reiko as she saw the flattened Jessie, "What has 
happened to you?!"

"She's feeling a little tired right now", said James, "Do we have an 
air pump on this balloon somewhere?"

"Just this one", said Reiko pointing to an air tank, "But I don't think 
it would be wise to use this one."

"But remember Reiko", said James as he took it and put the tube into 
Jessie's mouth. "I'm older than you so I know what's wise and what's 
not." And he turned the valve pumping air into Jessie making her unflat.  
But unfortunately, James put too much air and Jessie started blowing up 
like a blimp, even bigger than the balloon they were riding in.  She 
quickly grabbed onto one of the ropes so she wouldn't float away.

"James you idiot!" she shouted in a squeaky voice, "You've filled me 
up with helium!  I look like something that came from Macy's!!!"

"Oh dear", said James nervously and then looked at the huge Meowth 
shaped balloon above and the blown up Jessie behind him. "This balloon 
team is missing one member!" said James as he started pumping himself 
up with helium and floated right next to Jessie with a big smile. 
"Don't I come up with great ideas Jess?" he said in a squeaky voice 
also.  Jessie just punched him but got her fist caught for it went deep 
down into James's face.

"Like the older man who thinks he has wisdom in him", sighed Reiko, 
"He realizes he's just a windbag with nothing but hot air in his head."

*      *      *      *      *      *

June had just refilled the lake and smiled as she watched Draggie and 
her baby slither back into their watery home.  Then she saw our heroes 
watching Cameron put a large bandage on Donphan's head. "There you go 
Donnie", he smiled. "I'll always be there for you like you were for me."

"Phan!" smiled Donnie as he hugged Cameron extremely tight with his 
trunk.

"Can you love me a little less sometimes?" asked a blue-colored Cameron.  
Donnie complied and loosened his grip.

"That sure is a cool Donphan you now own Cameron", said Misty.

"I've never seen a Pokemon quite like it", said Brock.

"I've heard about Donphans from my old colleagues", said Seymour, "But 
I'd never thought I'd see one myself."

"I'd bet a Donphan would be a great addition to my circus", said Stella 
imagining herself putting her head under a Donphan's huge foot and then 
squashing it flat.  Stella immediately popped her thought bubble and 
shook some sense into her head.

"I recognize that Pokemon", said June in a serious voice. "It started a 
ruckus all over the zone the other day!  I had to capture it and take 
it to the Unruly Zone.  You didn't go in there after I specifically 
ordered you not to, did you?!" she asked as she pointed her crossbow 
up to Cameron's head.

"I had to!" said Cameron nervously, "Bill was in trouble and I had to 
save him."

"He's right", said Bill as he jumped in front of June. "Then that 
Donphan came and saved us all from a bunch of savage killer Pokemon.  
I don't think he's really a killer at all."

June slowly approached Donnie and he looked at June with warm friendly 
eyes.  She smiled as she stroked Donnie's trunk. "I guess you're a 
pretty decent Pokemon after all", she said, "But I still don't know why 
you caused all that confusion in the Rattata village."

"I think I know why", said Cameron, "Donnie seems to have a fear of 
Rattata's.  He only caused that confusion because he was scared."

"Is that so?" asked June.

"And I'll prove it", said Bill as he jumped in front of Donnie and 
said, "How do you do Donnie?"

"PPPHHHAAANNNN!" cried Donnie as he jumped into Cameron's arms causing 
him to fall down.

"Hey, take it easy big guy", said Bill as he handed Donnie a peanut.  
Donnie slowly took it from Bill and munched on it happily.  He then 
picked up Bill and started hugging him tightly.

"Okay, I'm glad you've gotten over your fear of me!" said Bill who was 
turning from purple to blue.

"I guess you were right", smiled June, "Okie dokie Cameron.  Donphan 
is yours to keep."

"Thank you", said Cameron happily gasping for air for Donnie was still 
sitting on him.  Donnie smiled as he kissed his new master on the cheek 
with his trunk while everyone laughed.

TO BE CONTINUED

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Well, Cameron finally has a six Pokemon team.  But will this good team 
be able to stand up against the bad Rocket team?  Stay tuned for the 
next chapter to find out! ;)