Vile Pokemon Hunter

The day after the Wisteria contest...

The gang planned to head to Chrysanthemum Island. But there was no ferry service from Wisteria Town to Chrysanthemum Island. So they had to go to Camomile Island first and then take a ferry from there to Chrysanthemum Island. But once they got there they noticed trouble at the Pokemon Center. Nurse Joy was talking to some police officers and they started to scout the area. The gang ran over to Nurse Joy.

"What's going on?" They asked her.

Nurse Joy informed them that a evil Pokemon hunter named Clayton was on Camomile Island.

"I've heard of him." Brock said. "He's a really bad guy, always harming and trapping Pokemon. And the worst thing about him is he shows no mercy regarding those he hurts that get in his way, even people."

The others were not happy to hear that.

"You kids must be careful." Nurse Joy said. "And if you see Clayton, contact the police immediately."

The gang agreed to do that if they spotted Clayton.

So they decided to stay close to the Pokemon Center just to be safe and they released all their Pokemon for a break. May was thinking over what she should do for the next Pokemon contest and Brock and Max were checking their Pokemon out. Ash and Tomo were going to battle their Grovyle; Prof. Oak told them their Grovyle for itching for a battle so they had their Grovyle with them to battle.

"You ready Tomo?" Ash asked.

"As ready I will ever be." Tomo said excitedly.

But just the battle could begin Ash's Grovyle started to run into the forest.

"Grovyle what's wrong?" Ash called out.

"Something must be wrong if Grovyle is running off like that Ash." Tomo said.

"You're right, we better follow Grovyle." Ash agreed.

They followed his Grovyle into the forest. But once they found Grovyle there was a really nasty surprise waiting for them. A Tropius was lying on the grass next to a tree, seriously injured; there were a few bruises and a few cuts over it's body, but the worst part was there was a big cut across it's neck and there was blood. Ash and Tomo weren't happy and neither were their Grovyle.

"What on earth happened?!" Tomo gasped.

"Clayton happened." Ash said angrily.

He switched forms.

"What are you doing?" Tomo asked.

"I'll carry Tropius through the air to the Pokemon Center." Ash told Tomo.

He apologized to Tropius before lifting him off the ground and flying towards the Pokemon Center.

They went back to the Pokemon Center as fast as they could. When they got there they handed Tropius to Nurse Joy and informed her what had happened to it. Nurse Joy was not happy to hear about it's injuries and she and her Chansey took Tropius into the treatment room right away. While Tropius was being treated, Ash and Tomo told the others about Tropius and it's injuries. Brock, Max and May weren't happy to hear that, especially the cut on Tropius' neck.

"That's outrageous!" Brock shouted angrily. "It's bad enough that poachers use electrical traps and other nasty equipment like that. But injuring Pokemon with cuts and bruises and just leaving them to die is the worst!"

"I agree." Max angrily added. "We can't let Clayton get away with that."

"You're right and we won't." Ash said.

"You're not saying we are going to handle that guy ourselves are you?" May asked, worried.

"No we're going to team up with the police and take this guy down." Ash said. "Time for me to use my aura."

He closed his eyes and used his aura power to locate the poacher. Then he reopened his eyes.

"I found him." Ash declared.

"Where is he?" Brock asked.

"The forest a few miles from here." Ash answered.

"That settles it then." Brock said.

"May, you, Tomo and Max go and get the police. Ash and I will prevent him from escaping until the police arrive." May was worried about this idea, but she knew she couldn't argue with them especially in regards to protecting Pokemon. She told them to be careful and then she, Max and Tomo went to get the police.

"Let's go Ash." Brock said.

He, Ash and Ash's Grovyle ran into the forest to find Clayton.

In the forest...

A brown-haired man with a brown beard was walking around with a Ursaring by his side. He also carried a hunting gun in his hands. This was the poacher Clayton that the police were searching for.

"Keep your eyes peeled Ursaring." Clayton said. "There's bound to be good Pokemon around here to catch and sell."

Ursaring was as bad as Clayton was. Just then they came across a swarm of Primeape.

"Ah these Primeape will fetch a good price since they pack quite a punch." Clayton said. "Get ready Ursaring."

Clayton and Ursaring were just about to attack the Primeape, but then someone shouted.

"Hold it right there you!" It was Brock.

He and Ash came across Clayton just in time. Primeape heard the shouting and ran away.

"Grr." Clayton growled. "You kids stay out of my business."

"Forget it!" Ash snapped. "Not while someone like you is going around hurting Pokemon like that Tropius you left for dead."

"Humph that Tropius was way too weak for me to capture and sell." Clayton snorted. "It didn't put up a fight against my Ursaring."

Ash and Brock were enraged to hear this.

"Now Ursaring get those kids out of our way." Clayton said.

Ursaring stepped forward.

"Careful Ash." Brock said. "That thing is dangerous."

"So am I." Ash replied. "Let's go Grovyle."

Ursaring and Grovyle got ready to fight.

"Show that wimp your Slash Ursaring." Clayton said.

"Counter with Leaf Blade Grovyle." Ash said.

Ursaring and Grovyle slashed each other.

"Focus Punch, Grovyle." Ash said.

Grovyle punched Ursaring really hard, but Ursaring got back up and punched Grovyle with Hammer Arm.

"Give it up kid." Clayton snorted. "Your Pokemon doesn't stand a chance against my Ursaring."

"No way!" Ash exclaimed. "My Pokemon and I never give up against disgusting people like you!"

Grovyle roared in agreement; he didn't like what Clayton and Ursaring did to Tropius.

Suddenly Grovyle started to glow and evolved into a Sceptile.

Ash looked Sceptile up on the Pokedex.

"Sceptile, the Forest Pokemon and the evolved form of Grovyle. The leaves growing on Sceptile's body are very sharp edged. This Pokemon is very agile - it leaps all over the branches of trees and jumps on it's foe from above or behind."

The Pokedex also showed that Ash's new Sceptile now knew the moves Leaf Storm, Night Slash and Dragon Claw.

"Use Leaf Storm Sceptile." Ash said.

The seeds on Sceptile's back glow yellow and it released a barrage of light green glowing leaves from all around the opponent. Leaf Storm was a very strong attack and it defeated Ursaring.

Clayton wasn't happy that his Ursaring was defeated and pointed his gun at Sceptile. But before Clayton could do anything, a stream of fire appeared in front of him and forced him to drop his gun. The Flamethrower came from a Growlithe; the police had arrived with a pack of Growlithe.

"You're under arrest." One of the police officers said.

Clayton was immediately handcuffed.

"You're going to be in prison for a very long time." One of the officers told Clayton.

Ash, Brock and Sceptile went back to the Pokemon Center. May, Max and Tomo were happy to see they were all right. They were also surprised to see that Grovyle evolved into Sceptile. The police officers thanked the gang for their help and they promised that Clayton would never be released from prison. In the gang's mind; he didn't deserve to walk free among other people.

"How's Tropius?" The gang asked Nurse Joy.

"Tropius is no longer in danger, thanks to Ash and Tomo." Nurse Joy said.

"Since I carried Tropius through the air I better let it stand on it's own two feet." Ash went into the room where Tropius was.

"You're free to walk on your own and return to the wild." But Tropius didn't want to do that; it wished to stay with Ash out of gratitude for him saving it's life and it wanted to grow stronger. Ash was surprised but accepted Tropius's wish, so Tropius was now his.

After Tropius recovered, Ash sent him to Prof. Oak's lab to heal some more. He also sent Sceptile back to Prof. Oak's lab to help Tropius. Then the gang boarded a ferry to Chrysanthemum Island. Today was an eventful day for the gang.