Lance and the Red Gyarados

he gang was getting closer to Mahogany Town.

"I can't wait to take on the gym in Mahogany Town." Ash said.

"I can't wait for a well-earned rest in Mahogany Town." Misty said.

The only thing was that they were slightly lost.

Suddenly Growlithe and Togepi started to faint.

"What's wrong?" Misty asked.

She checked Togepi all over.

"Togepi does look sick, but she doesn't feel sick; no fever or anything."

Just then Brock saw some wild grass and bug type Pokemon and they all looked sick.

"There's something weird going on around here." Brock said. "And I don't like it."

Ash, Tomo and Misty didn't like it either.

Suddenly a roaring noise was heard not far from where the gang was standing.

"What was that?" Tomo asked.

"That sounded like a Gyarados." Ash said. "And a very angry one at that."

"We better see what's going on." Brock said. "There might be trouble."

The gang came to a huge lake and then suddenly a red Gyarados burst out of the water. This frightened the gang.

"That Gyarados is shiny." Ash said.

Gyarados began swaying around in the lake.

"I think that Gyarados is sick too." Brock said.

"You're right Brock." Ash agreed with him. "And it looks like it's in terrible pain too. We should go and get some help."

The gang was just about to leave when three men approached them.

"You kids aren't going anywhere." One of the men, who seemed to be the leader said. "Especially since you've seen the Red Gyarados."

"Team Rocket." Ash growled after noticing the R sign on the men's vests.

"Since you kids know who we are." The man said. "All the more reason not to let you kids go."

The man sent out a Fearow to battle the gang. Ash sent out Flaffy to take it on. But as soon as Flaffy came out of her Poke Ball, she started to feel sick too. This gave the man a chance to attack with Fearow.

Just then Fearow was struck by a Thunder Wave attack. A man with red hair was riding a Dragonite.

"You kids get away from here." The man said.

The gang did as they were told and started to run away into the forest. The Team Rocket agents didn't want the kids to get away, but the man had his Dragonite distract the agents with Whirlwind, which blew the agents off their feet. Then the man left with Dragonite towards where the gang went.

The gang eventually stopped running and then the man and his Dragonite showed up. Ash realized that the man was Lance of the Elite Four and introduced himself. Tomo, Misty and Brock introduced themselves as well. Growlithe and Togepi stopped feeling sick, causing Tomo and Misty to feel relieved.

"What are you kids doing in the forest?" Lance asked.

Ash explained that they were on their way to Mahogany Town, but they got lost and heard the red Gyarados in the lake.

"That red Gyarados is the reason I'm here." Lance said.

"The truth is, I'm a member of the organization called the Pokemon G Men."

"I'm familiar with that group." Ash replied. "They travel the region arresting anyone that would abuse Pokemon and also arrest those who use Pokemon for evil intentions. Actually I'm glad a member of that organization is here. Team Rocket has been causing trouble in the Johto Region."

"I know Ash, that's why I'm here." Lance said. "There have been reports that Team Rocket has been performing an experiment here at the Lake of Rage."

"What kind of experiment?" Ash asked.

"I don't know, but it has something to do with that red Gyarados." Lance said.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Brock asked.

"No you kids continue onto Mahogany Town." Lance said, giving the kids directions. "Because of Team Rocket, this forest is too dangerous for you to be here. Leave this to me."

The gang carried onto Mahogany Town, not disobeying Lance.

Deep in the forest near the Lake of Rage, was one of Team Rocket's bases. It looked like a warehouse. The Team Rocket grunt from earlier who's name was Tyson, was talking to a scientist. This scientist's name was Dr. Sebastian and he was another scientist who worked for Team Rocket. Dr. Sebastian was calmer and more clever than Dr. Namba and he loved performing experiments that would make Pokemon stronger and would trap them.

"This experiment is still incomplete." Dr. Sebastian said. "The red Gyarados was the only Pokemon that evolved from it's previous form. That's why we need to catch it and examine it. Once the data is complete, the radio waves will be able to make all Pokemon evolve without fail."

"With that, we will have a very strong Pokemon army for Team Rocket." Tyson said.

"Unfortunately we don't have the equipment to capture the red Gyarados while it's on the lake floor." Dr. Sebastian noted.

"So that means we need to lure it to the surface and then catch it." Tyson said.

Just then a Team Rocket agent informed Tyson that Jessie, James and Meowth had arrived at the base.

"Great." Tyson said. "Those three will be the perfect bait to lure the red Gyarados out."

Jessie, James and Meowth were in a hallway of the base, waiting for Tyson to give them orders.

"What do you think Tyson wants us to do?" James asked.

"Probably wants us to guard something." Jessie said.

"Might be something top secret like experiments or equipment." Meowth said.

Just then Tyson came up to Jessie, James and Meowth.

"What are your orders for us, Tyson sir?" Jessie asked.

"I called you three here because I have a task for you." Tyson said.

He explained that there was a red Gyarados in the lake and they needed someone to lure the Pokemon to the surface of the lake. Jessie, James and Meowth were surprised to find out a shiny Gyarados was in the area.

"You can leave that to us sir." James said. "Our water type Pokemon will easily guide it to the surface."

"Good." Tyson said. "My men and I will take care of the rest once you bring it to the surface."

"Yes sir." Jessie, James and Meowth said at the same time.

Then they set off towards the Lake of Rage.

Meanwhile the gang was walking to Mahogany Town again, but Ash wasn't thinking about his upcoming gym battle now; he was thinking about the red Gyarados and Team Rocket.

"We should head back to the Lake of Rage and help Lance." He told the others. "I have a really bad feeling that the red Gyarados is in terrible danger because of Team Rocket. And I'm afraid of what's going to happen to all of the wild Pokemon around there."

Tomo agreed with Ash and so did Brock.

"If Team Rocket's experiment is successful, they'll harm not only the wild Pokemon around here, but everyone's Pokemon including our own." Brock said.

Misty started to agree with Ash too, so the gang headed back to the Lake of Rage to help Lance and the red Gyarados.

Back at the base, Team Rocket was preparing to catch the red Gyarados. Lance was at the base too. He knocked out a Team Rocket agent and stole his uniform to blend in with the other Rocket agents. So now he could find out what was going on without being noticed. Jessie and James were getting ready to lure the Gyarados to the lake's surface and had Chinchou and Cloyster out.

"Do you want us to fight the Gyarados sir?" James asked.

"No just lure it to the surface for us." Tyson answered.

"Roger!" James nodded.

Jessie and James sent Chinchou and Cloyster into the lake.

The red Gyarados was asleep on the lake floor, and it was still in pain. Chinchou and Cloyster swam to where the Gyarados was. Chinchou shined it's light very brightly over the red Gyarados and it was woken up. Once the red Gyarados was disturbed it got angry and intended to attack Chinchou and Cloyster. Chinchou and Cloyster swam up to the surface as fast as they could. As soon as Chinchou and Cloyster hit the surface, Jessie and James returned them to their Poke Balls and then the red Gyarados appeared.

"Our target is here." Tyson said. "Release the nets."

The Team Rocket agents fired a gigantic net which trapped Gyarados and then they released electric shocks at Gyarados. The red Gyarados became weak and unconscious.

"Capture complete." Tyson said.

"Good, now we take it back to the laboratory for further investigating." Dr. Sebastian said.

The gang then arrived at the lake and saw the red Gyarados in the net.

"It must be Team Rocket's handiwork." Brock said.

"Oh yeah?" Ash said. "Well they're not getting away with it."

He sent Croconaw out to help the red Gyarados. Tomo and Misty sent Totodile and Staryu out to help as well. Croconaw, Totodile and Staryu swam up to the net and tried to rip it apart to free the red Gyarados.

Dr. Sebastian and Tyson noticed the Pokemon and saw the gang.

"It seems those kids want to interfere with our plans." Tyson said angrily.

Lance saw them too and couldn't believe they had come back to the lake. Dr. Sebastian ordered his lab assistants to turn on his experiment, which he called the evolution inducement wave. Lance heard everything and stood by to see what would happen. The agents let off some sort of radio wave from the base all across the Lake of Rage. Totodile, Croconaw and Starmie became sick after hearing the wave and so did Flaaffy, Growlithe and Togepi.

"What's going on?" Tomo asked.

He, Ash and Misty returned their water type Pokemon quickly.

"I get it now." Brock said. "The red Gyarados and our Pokemon are all being affected by Team Rocket's experiment."

"But what experiment is it?" Tomo asked.

Before his question could be answered, the gang was caught by Tyson and his men.

"I'm afraid we can't have you kids messing with us." Tyson said. "So you will become our permanent guests."

Tyson and his men led the kids to Dr. Sebastian. The red Gyarados was being placed into a truck. Ash demanded to know what Team Rocket was doing with the red Gyarados. Dr. Sebastian explained about his invention, the evolution inducement wave and that it would make any pre-evolved Pokemon evolve immediately.

"As you can guess it worked on Gyarados when it was still a Magikarp." Dr. Sebastian said.

The gang couldn't believe their ears.

"How could you?" Misty demanded. "Controlling a Pokemon's evolution is absolutely against nature."

"But even nature can be beaten by science." Dr. Sebastian replied.

"You're not getting away with this." Ash said angrily.

"Complain all you like, but there is nothing you kids can do about this." Tyson smirked.

Tyson had the gang locked up in a prison cell in the base, while Dr. Sebastian and some grunts got ready to transport the red Gyarados to Mahogany Town. They had a hideout there and they planned to study the red Gyarados there.

"What do you need us to do?" Jessie and James asked Tyson.

"Guard the kids and make sure they don't try anything." Tyson commanded.

Lance was in one of the cars, listening to Dr. Sebastian's plans. Then the truck carrying the red Gyarados started to leave.

In their prison cell, the gang started thinking about what to do.

"We have to get out of here somehow." Ash said. "We can't let Team Rocket get away with this."

"I agree with you Ash." Brock added. "Their experiment to make Pokemon evolve is so wrong."

"But what can we do?" Misty asked. "We're locked up tight and our Pokemon are in no condition to do anything because of that machine."

Meanwhile Lance was contacting Officer Jenny in Mahogany Town. He told her about Team Rocket, their hideouts at the Lake of Rage and Mahogany Town and about the red Gyarados.

"I'll have my men ready to deal with Team Rocket." Officer Jenny said. "Thank you for contacting me about this Lance."

"My pleasure." Lance said.

He then drove to the hideout at the Lake of Rage to help Ash and the others.

Back at the prison cell Jessie, James and Meowth approached the gang.

"Why am I not surprised you three are here too?" Ash said.

"Just lucky, I guess." James replied.

"Now that you twerps are tied up, this is a good opportunity to grab your Pokemon." Jessie said.

"You're not taking our Pokemon anywhere!" Misty shouted.

"Sorry twerpette, but you don't have a choice." Jessie said. "Besides I have the gadget that can free you, but you aren't getting it."

"I beg to differ." Ash smirked. He used his psychic power to remove the device from Jessie's hands and then tore through the ropes before pressing a button releasing the gang.

"No way!" Jessie gasped.

"How did that happen?" James asked.

Jessie and James didn't realize that Ash had psychic powers. Ash released Dunsparce from his Poke Ball and had it use Glare on Team Rocket. Jessie, James and Meowth were paralyzed and couldn't move. The gang seized this opportunity to escape.

Lance then entered the area.

"I warned you kids not to come back to the Lake of Rage." He said.

"We're sorry Lance." Ash apologized. "But we have no intention of letting Team Rocket get away with their Pokemon evolving experiment. Or letting them continue doing cruel things to that red Gyarados."

"That's right." Tomo said. "We hate Team Rocket as much as you do."

"I understand." Lance replied.

He stared at the hideout.

"If we destroy this place, we can destroy Team Rocket's machine." He ordered his Dragonite to attack the hideout with Hyper Beam. The hideout was immediately destroyed by the attack.

"Team Rocket must be at their headquarters in Mahogany Town by now." Lance said.

"You guys take the car." Ash instructed. "I'll get to the base by air. Form Change Dragon."

Lance agreed with him and drove Misty, Tomo and Brock to Mahogany Town while Ash trailed them from the air.

Meanwhile Tyson, Dr. Sebastian and the agents arrived in their hideout in Mahogany Town. Dr. Sebastian took off in another helicopter to get some things ready for the red Gyarados. Just then Tyson received a phone call from Jessie and James, and they told him that the kids escaped as well as Lance destroying the hideout at the Lake of Rage. Of course Tyson was furious with the report and said that he will deal with the situation himself. One of his men told him that the helicopters were ready to transport the red Gyarados and then Tyson gave the command to start.

Meanwhile Jessie, James and Meowth who had recovered from their paralysis tried to think of what to do next.

"Should we go and help Tyson with that red Gyarados?" Meowth asked.

"I don't think there is any need because Tyson is strong and smart." Jessie said. "Besides I don't really want to go anywhere near that red Gyarados."

James and Meowth didn't want to either.

"I suggest we go to another area to find different Pokemon." James said.

Jessie and Meowth agreed with James's idea and left the Lake of Rage.

Meanwhile Team Rocket were flying away in the helicopters carrying the red Gyarados in the net. Just then the red Gyarados woke up and began struggling in the net, causing the helicopters to lose control. The evolution inducement wave was wearing off on Gyarados, so it was no longer weak. The pilots were having trouble controlling the helicopters, and then the red Gyarados made them fall into the river. Gyarados escaped from the net, attacked Team Rocket's warehouse and vehicles with Hydro Pump and started to swim down the river. Tyson ordered his men to go after it immediately.

"The red Gyarados must not escape." He said.

Meanwhile Lance, Misty, Tomo and Brock were still catching up in the van. Ash wasn't far behind in the air. Suddenly they saw the red Gyarados swimming down the river.

"It must have escaped from Team Rocket." Brock said.

"That's good to know." Misty said.

Lance drove the car near the red Gyarados and stopped it, as Misty, Tomo and Brock got out of the car.

"I think the red Gyarados is heading to the town." Brock said.

Gyarados was roaring like crazy and firing Hydro Pump everywhere.

"That Gyarados is out of control with rage." Lance said.

"We need to follow and stop it, otherwise Mahogany Town will be in danger." Ash said, flying after the red Gyarados.

The others agreed with him and so did Lance. Lance released his Dragonite to help.

Lance, Misty, Tomo and Brock were about to run after Gyarados, but Tyson and his men showed up. Tyson intended to deal with Lance for destroying the lab. He ordered his men to continue going after the red Gyarados. Misty, Tomo and Brock took off on foot after the red Gyarados leaving Lance with Tyson.

"You will pay for meddling with my plans." Tyson said.

"Those who cruelly force Pokemon to evolve like you deserve to be stopped." Lance replied.

He got his Dragonite ready to fight and Tyson released two Fearow to battle.

Meanwhile Tyson's men caught the red Gyarados in a net and shocked it. Ash and the others arrived on the scene, and Ash tore through the net with his claws. The Rocket grunts planned to take care of them, but the red Gyarados woke up and sent the grunts flying with Hyper Beam.

As soon as the grunts were gone, the red Gyarados continued swimming down the river and kept on firing Hydro Pump.

"Gyarados is really angry. I can feel it." Ash said.

"It's because of Team Rocket." Brock added. "I mean they forced it to evolve from Magikarp and they've kept on tried to capture it for experimentation. So it's no wonder it's so angry."

"Yeah, it's Team Rocket's fault that the red Gyarados is like this." Tomo said.

"What should we do?" Misty asked.

"We follow it." Ash answered.

He took flight and Misty, Tomo and Brock pursued it on foot.

Back with Lance and Tyson...

Tyson ordered his Fearow's to fight Dragonite with Fury Attack. Lance ordered Dragonite to dodge and attack the Fearow's with Wing Attack. Dragonite dodged the Fearow's beaks and then struck them with Wing Attack.

"Use Hyper Beam Fearow." Tyson said.

"You too Dragonite." Lance replied.

The three Hyper Beam attacks collided with each other.

Then Tyson ordered his Fearow to use Agility and Peck at the same time. Thanks to the speed boost from Agility, the two Fearow were able to hit Dragonite with their Peck attacks.

"Dragonite use Twister." Lance said.

Dragonite created a strong twister with it's wings and then the two Fearow were hit and trapped in the twister. The two Fearow fainted after the twister dispersed. Then suddenly Officer Jenny and her men arrived on the scene and arrested Tyson.

"You've caused enough trouble around here." Officer Jenny told Tyson.

Lance was relieved that Tyson was now going to jail and then he went to see if the red Gyarados and the kids were all right.

The red Gyarados continued swimming towards Mahogany Town. Ash produced a Fire Dragon Roar to stop it in it's tracks.

"Sorry, but there's no way you're making it to Mahogany Town." The red Gyarados glared at him.

He then took off, luring it away from the town, prompting the red Gyarados to give chase.

"Now what?" Misty asked.

Lance had the answer to Misty's question.

"I'll fight Gyarados now and capture it." He said.

The gang was surprised that Lance was going to fight the red Gyarados, but Ash nodded and stood behind the others.

"Save the Gyarados from it's misery, but try not to hurt it too much." He said.

Lance nodded. He had Dragonite attack the red Gyarados with Thunder Wave to paralyze it and then ordered it to use Twister. The red Gyarados was hurt by Thunder Wave and Twister. The red Gyarados fought back with Hyper Beam. Dragonite dodged the Hyper Beam attack and then it's used his own Hyper Beam against Gyarados. The red Gyarados fainted afterward and Lance captured it in a Poke Ball.

"Take good care of it Lance." Ash said.

"I will." Lance replied. "And I will help it get over it's rage, sorrow and pain. And we will become friends."

The gang knew that Lance was the right man to take care of the red Gyarados.

After Tyson and his men were arrested, Officer Jenny thanked Lance and the gang for their help, and then she left to continue her investigation. Lance and the gang said goodbye to each other and then Lance rode off on his Dragonite back to the Pokemon G-Men headquarters. The gang then headed to Mahogany Town.