Diglett

The gang traveled through a mountain forest.

"Once we're past these mountains." Brock said. "We should see Fuchsia City."

"And in Fuchsia City." Ash said. "I can get my sixth gym badge."

They were walking along the road when suddenly there was an explosion that made the ground shake.

"What was that?" Misty gasped.

"I don't know." Brock said. "But it came from the other side of that hill. We better check it out."

It was discovered that the source of the explosions was some trucks being destroyed by landslides and pot holes.

"What a mess." Brock said. "What's going on?"

"I'll tell you what's going on." A voice said, sounding irate.

It was a construction workman and he was red in the face with anger.

"It's because of those Diglett."

"Diglett?" Ash asked, taking out his Pokedex.

"Diglett, the Mole Pokemon. Lives about one yard underground where it feeds on plant roots. It sometimes appears above ground."

"God I hate those damn Diglett!" The workman shouted.

"Excuse me." Ash said. "But why do you hate Diglett?"

Ash didn't see anything wrong with Diglett.

"Because those Diglett continue interrupting our construction work." The man said. "Me and my men are trying to build a dam, but those Diglett keep getting in the way."

Suddenly some cars and trucks came up the road.

"Ah at last they've come." The workman said.

"They?" Ash asked.

"I've asked some Pokemon trainers to help me get rid of the Diglett." The workman said. "And if you want to help you're more than welcome too."

A trainer exited the red car. It was Gary Oak.

"Gary." Ash said, surprised to see his rival.

"Well if it isn't Ashy-boy." Gary said. "What brings you here?"

"I'm on my way to get my sixth gym badge." Ash answered. Gary chuckled.

"I've already got my sixth gym badge."

Ash felt annoyed by that; ever since he and Gary were children, Gary would always boast about being the greatest.

"So what are you doing here?" Ash asked.

"I have been asked by the workmen to help with the Diglett problem." Gary said.

"You need to get rid of the Diglett." The workman explained to the trainers.

"These bugs cause nothing but trouble."

"They're actually ground type Pokemon, not bug type Pokemon." Gary corrected him.

"I don't care what type they are!" The workman shouted. "I just want them gone!"

Gary kissed one of his Poke Balls and threw it to get a Pokemon out. But what happened next was weird; Gary's Pokemon came out and then went back into the Poke Ball. Gary tried again with another Poke Ball, but the same thing happened. It also happened with the other trainer's Poke Balls. What was even stranger was that the Diglett would give the Poke Balls back to the trainers.

Ash, Misty and Brock watched from the side.

"That seems odd." Misty said. "You think something is preventing the Pokemon from coming out of the Poke Balls?"

"I don't know." Brock said. "But something doesn't feel right around here."

After trying five times, Gary gave up and drove off in his red sports car. The other trainers decided to leave too. The workman got so angry; he tried to whack the Diglett with a sledgehammer.

The gang spent the night in the hot spring inn. When morning came around they relaxed in the hot spring baths.

"You know." Ash said. "Something about the Diglett got me thinking. This is probably a repeat of the Porta Vista incident."

"Are you suggesting that the site of the dam is where the Diglett live?" Misty asked.

"I am." Ash nodded.

"That actually makes sense." Brock said. "Besides the Tentacool bothered the workmen to protect their home. So the Diglett must be doing the same thing."

Just then Pikachu spotted a Diglett. The gang saw it too. They stepped out of the baths, changed from their swimsuits into their normal outfits and went to follow the Diglett. The workman was still trying to whack the Diglett with the sledgehammer. It was a funny sight. They followed Diglett to a mountain range and saw a lot of Diglett and their evolved form Dugtrio.

Ash looked at Dugtrio on the Pokedex.

"Dugtrio, the Mole Pokemon and the evolved form of Diglett. A team of Diglett triplets. It triggers huge earthquakes by burrowing 60 miles underground."

They saw the Dugtrio dig around and the Diglett were planting small trees in the ground.

"Wow look at this." Ash gasped.

"Yeah these small Diglett and Dugtrio actually created this whole mountain range themselves." Misty said.

"It seems you were right Ash." Brock said. "This mountain range is their home."

The workman saw the mountain range as well and realized his mistake.

"If my men and I build the dam here." He said. "We would not only destroy the mountain, but also the home of lots of Pokemon. I'm canceling this project and leaving the mountain and forests alone."

Ash, Misty and Brock were delighted.

Just then they heard laughter in the distance. It was Team Rocket; they wanted to capture all the Diglett and Dugtrio. Ash released Pikachu, Espeon and Vulpix to fight them. Jessie and James sent out their Pokemon. Instead of Ekans and Koffing, they had sent out an Arbok and Weezing; Ekans and Koffing had evolved.

Ash looked at the Pokedex.

"Arbok, the Cobra Pokemon and the evolved form of Ekans. It is rumored that the ferocious warning markings on it's belly differ from area to area."

"Weezing, the Poison Gas Pokemon and the evolved form of Koffing. Where two kinds of poison gases meet, 2 Koffings can fuse into a Weezing over many years."

Pikachu's Thunderbolt, Vulpix's Flamethrower and Espeon's Psybeam did serious damage to Arbok and Weezing. Then the Diglett and Dugtrio helped out by sending Team Rocket away with their Dig attacks.

After Team Rocket's departure the gang continued on to Fuchsia City. Just then Brock noticed a Diglett was following them.

"Hey, what's wrong Diglett?" He asked.

Diglett looked at Brock with a smile on it's face.

"I think Diglett wants to go with you Brock." Misty said.

"Is that true?" Brock asked Diglett. Diglett's answer was yes.

So Brock captured a Diglett and was happy to have obtained a new Pokemon.