Day Care Center

Today the gang was heading towards Silver Town, it was somewhere between Saffron City and Lavender Town. There was a Pokemon contest being held there and Ash and May wanted to compete in it. Just then May noticed they had come to a farm.

"Aw I wonder if we can rest here." May said.

Suddenly two Voltorb appeared.

"Eep!" May screamed.

She was scared of the Voltorb.

"Those Voltorb must be guarding this farm." Ash said.

Just then a girl with reddish-brown hair came out of nowhere.

"You're right." She said. "Our Voltorb keep trespassers out."

She stared at Ash and May.

"I know you two. You're Ash, the winner of the Cerulean City contest and May, the winner of the Saffron City contest. I can't believe I'm seeing two Pokemon coordinators."

The girl, who's name was Nicolette introduced the gang to her parents Christopher and Jeannie. Christopher and Jeannie welcomed the gang and invited them to stay.

"What farm do you run here?" May asked.

"We are an egg ranch." Christopher said. "So we raise Pokemon eggs."

"Really?" Ash questioned. "Wow it would be nice to see Pokemon eggs again. The last time we saw Pokemon eggs was at the Torchic farm in Hoenn where there were Torchic eggs."

"You're right Ash." Brock said. "Seeing Pokemon eggs again would be nice."

"I'm happy to see you two here, May, Ash." Jeannie said.

Christopher explained that their daughter Nicolette wants to become a Pokemon coordinator too.

"We would like to get Nicolette out on her own Pokemon journey, but she doesn't want to leave the nest."

"Nicolette is stubborn." Jeannie said. "So she won't admit that she really wants to get out and become a Pokemon coordinator."

A while later Max was tending to May's Munchlax. Max liked Munchlax; it reminded him when his Snorlax was a Munchlax before it evolved and he captured it. Nicolette watched Max tend to Munchlax.

"Very nice." She said. "Okay then I would like to have a test battle with Munchlax."

"Munchlax belongs to my sister, so you will have to ask her." Max said.

Just then May came over to them.

"Hey Nicolette." She said. "Your parents just said that you want to become a Pokemon coordinator."

Nicolette blushed in embarrassment; she hated it when her parents discussed her desires with other people.

"I'm happy with just staying here and raising eggs on the farm." Nicolette said.

It was just as Christopher and Jeannie said; Nicolette didn't want to admit yet that she wanted to go on a Pokemon journey.

"But I do want to have a test battle against your Munchlax." May wasn't sure about that; Munchlax was still new and she hadn't really trained Munchlax that much yet. But Nicolette insisted to battle Munchlax and May agreed to battle.

So May and Nicolette got into position for their battle. Nicolette had a Vileplume and May told her Munchlax to get ready. Despite being new Munchlax did know a few moves. He knew Tackle, Lick, Metronome, and as a surprise, he also knew Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, Flamethrower and Solar Beam.

"Vileplume show them your Petal Dance." Nicolette said.

Vileplume shot lots of petals at Munchlax and it was hit by the petals. Unfortunately Vileplume was confused after using Petal Dance.

"Okay I must stay calm." May said. "Munchlax use Flamethrower."

Nicolette was surprised that May's Munchlax knew Flamethrower.

"Quick Vileplume dodge it and use Stun Spore." She said.

Vileplume managed to avoid being struck by Flamethrower and fired Stun Spore at Munchlax, despite being confused. Munchlax was now paralyzed and had trouble moving.

"Now use Bullet Seed." Nicolette said.

Vileplume fired Bullet Seed at Munchlax and the seeds hit it. Nicolette felt certain that she was going to win this battle. But May wasn't backing down.

"Munchlax show them what you are made of." She said.

Munchlax started to get all bulked up and then he charged at Vileplume and punched it really hard.

"Munchlax learned Focus Punch." Max said.

"Wow that's great Munchlax." May said. "Now let's use Solar Beam."

Munchlax gathered up energy and fired Solar Beam at Vileplume. Vileplume tried to dodge, but it was too late. Vileplume was struck by Solar Beam and fainted. Nicolette was disappointed with her loss, but she said to May that it was a good battle.

After the battle was over, the gang was given a tour of a barn where Pokemon eggs were kept. There were shelves of Pokemon eggs everywhere."

"Wow so many." May said. "Oh I wish I had a Pokemon egg of my own. I consider Ash lucky because he's had Pokemon eggs before."

"That's true." Ash admitted. "And having a Pokemon hatch from a egg is great."

"Same with me." Tomo said. "My Smoochum hatched from a egg when I received her."

Christopher explained that most of the eggs belonged to trainers who asked them to look after the eggs and the rest were theirs.

"We have two eggs that will hatch soon." Jeannie said.

There was a green egg with red, yellow and black markings; it was a Natu egg. The second egg was light red with dark red patterns; this was a Vulpix egg.

"Wow I want to see them hatch already." Max said.

Tomo noticed that there were two eggs on the side. One was a Smoochum egg and the other was a very light grey egg; it was a Castform egg.

"Are these yours too?" Tomo asked.

"Oh no these two are put up for adoption." Christopher said. "We got a phone call yesterday and a man and woman asked us if they could adopt one Pokemon egg each and we agreed. The pink egg with yellow markings is for the woman and the light grey egg is for the man. They'll be coming here later to pick them up."

"What about your Voltorb?" Max asked.

"Don't you worry." Jeannie said. "We told them that Voltorb were guarding the ranch and we told the Voltorb that people were coming today. So they won't attack them."

What no one knew was that the man and woman that were going to pick the eggs up were Jessie and James. They wanted to steal Pokemon eggs from the ranch, but Jessie and James insisted on receiving an egg first. Right now they were standing outside the ranch.

"So what's our plan for stealing all the eggs in the ranch?" Meowth asked.

"Simple Meowth." Jessie said. "While James and I go in there to collect our eggs, you will sneak in and hide yourself wherever the eggs are. And then when it's night time you grab all the eggs and meet us back at the field. Got it."

"Sure, but I won't be able to grab them all by myself." Meowth said.

"Not to worry." James said. "My Mime. Jr and Chimecho will help you carry the eggs with Confusion."

"Got it, well leave it to me then." Meowth said.

"Come on James, let's get ready to pick up our Pokemon." Jessie said.

"Let's." James replied.

That evening the gang had just finished dinner with Christopher, Jeannie and Nicolette.

"That was delicious." Brock said.

"I'm glad you liked it." Jeannie smiled.

Just then there was a ding dong on the door.

"Ah that must be the man and woman who are here to collect their eggs." Christopher said.

"Nicolette wash the dishes while your dad and I give the man and woman their eggs." Jeannie said.

"Okay mom." Nicolette said.

While Christopher and Jeannie went to do their work, the gang helped Nicolette tidy up. May talked to Nicolette again about her desire to travel to become a Pokemon coordinator, but Nicolette insisted that she didn't have the confidence to do it.

Meanwhile Jessie and James were talking to Jeannie and Christopher. Jessie and James were in normal clothing and tied back their hair; they didn't want anyone to know who they really were.

"We thank you for letting us adopt a Pokemon egg." James said. "We love caring for baby Pokemon."

"Especially really cute ones." Jessie said.

"Our pleasure." Christopher said. "And I pray that you will raise the Pokemon lovingly."

Christopher and Jeannie led Jessie and James into the barn where the eggs were. Jessie and James were amazed with how many eggs were in the barn. Meowth was secretly following them and he had Chimecho and Mime Jr. with him. They also saw the eggs.

"Come on you two, it's hiding time." Meowth said.

Meowth, Mime Jr. and Chimecho hid themselves by the shelves where no one could see them.

*'Now we wait to strike.'* Meowth thought.

Jessie and James got their eggs, thanked Christopher and Jeannie and left.

"Now we wait by the field for Meowth to deliver the eggs to us." James whispered.

"All those eggs will be great for Team Rocket." Jessie said.

When night fell Meowth made his move. Christopher and Jeannie were in their examination barn taking care of the Natu egg and the Vulpix egg.

"Okay Chimecho and Mime Jr. it's time to get to work." Meowth said.

He found a lot of empty egg containers and filled them all up with the Pokemon eggs. Then Chimecho and Mime Jr. carried all the containers outside with Confusion. They ran as fast as they could and then Meowth saw the room where the Natu and Vulpix eggs were.

"Ah those two eggs are hatching now. Well I better grab them." He said.

He fired Swift at the window and it broke, then he jumped into the barn and took the eggs.

"Hey come back here!" Christopher shouted.

But Meowth vanished from sight.

Nicolette and the gang then entered the barn; they heard Christopher shouting.

"A Meowth broke into the barn and took the two eggs that were close to hatching." Christopher said.

"That was likely Team Rocket's Meowth." Ash said.

He explained to them that Team Rocket stole other people's Pokemon.

"We must get the eggs back quickly." Jeannie said.

Suddenly they heard an explosion.

"That was the Voltorb." Nicolette said. "Let's hurry."

Meowth, Chimecho and Mime Jr. met up with Jessie and James. They were back in their Team Rocket uniforms. The Voltorb had been defeated after Jessie's Loudred knocked them out.

"Good work." Jessie told Meowth. "Time to leave."

They placed the eggs into a big plastic box that was tied to the balloon and got the balloon flying.

But then Nicolette, her parents and the gang ran up to them.

"Hold it right there Team Rocket!" Ash shouted.

"Hey look at that." Nicolette said.

Everyone saw the plastic box with the Pokemon eggs inside.

"Return those eggs at once!" Nicolette said.

Growlithe wanted to attack the balloon, but he couldn't. If the balloon was attacked, then the eggs would be damaged.

"We need a Pokemon that knows Stun Spore." Ash said. "Team Rocket will be paralyzed but the eggs won't."

"Leave it to me Ash." Nicolette smiled.

She released her Vileplume and ordered it to use Stun Spore. Team Rocket was paralyzed.

"Now Petal Dance." Team Rocket was surrounded by a storm of petals and it cut the ropes that held the box of eggs.

The Pokemon eggs fell out of the box.

"Catch the eggs!" Christopher shouted.

Everyone ran forward and they caught all the eggs, even the Vulpix and Natu eggs.

Team Rocket saw what just happened.

"We better leave before they take our Pokemon eggs." James said.

Jessie agreed; she didn't want to lose her egg and neither did James.

Meowth agreed as well even though they didn't get any new Pokemon for the boss. James released his Weezing, told it to use Smokescreen and they left in a hurry.

"This is the first time in ages that we've stopped Team Rocket without making them blast off." Brock said.

"Yeah, but at least they didn't get away with the eggs." Ash commented.

The next morning...

The Vulpix egg and the Natu egg hatched into a healthy baby Vulpix and Natu. Christopher and Jeannie were relieved to see the baby Pokemon hatch safely.

"I've decided." Nicolette said. "I am going to go on a journey, capture more Pokemon and become a Pokemon coordinator."

Christopher, Jeannie and the gang were happy to know that Nicolette will proceed with her dream of becoming a Pokemon coordinator. It was now time for the gang to leave, but before they did so Nicolette and her family had a surprise for May. Nicolette presented a Pokemon egg in a container to May.

"Hey that's an Eevee egg." Ash said.

He remembered when his Eevee's were eggs.

"This is to say thank you for helping save our eggs and for giving me confidence on what I really want to do May." She said.

May was delighted and accepted the Eevee egg immediately.

"I can't wait for Eevee to hatch." May smiled.

Then Christopher held the newly hatched Natu to the gang.

"I would like it if one of you took the Natu." He said. "This Natu has a lot of energy and I think it will be happy with one of you since you kids are Pokemon trainers."

"Can I have Natu?" Tomo asked.

"I've always wanted to have a Natu and evolve it into Xatu." He said.

Everyone else saw nothing wrong with that so Tomo kept Natu.

The gang left the egg ranch to continue heading towards Silver Town, leaving Nicolette to begin her Pokemon journey.