Murkrow

Today the gang took a nice break by a stream. They were now heading to Olivine City, where Ash could obtain his fifth gym badge. Brock was settling up lunch with Misty's help, Tomo was playing with Growlithe and Togepi, and Ash was polishing his gym badges. Ash was excited about his badges; he already had four and needed four more to get into the Johto League.

"You certainly look happy when you're polishing your badges Ash." Misty said. She had been watching him the whole time.

"Of course I am Misty." Ash replied. "After all, I just need four more badges to get into the Johto League."

Misty couldn't argue with him there.

Just then Tomo saw something sticking out of a bush. They were black feathers.

"Hey, what's that?" Tomo asked Ash.

Before Tomo's question could be answered, a black bird Pokemon popped out of the bush.

"That's a Murkrow." Brock said.

Ash looked it up on the Pokedex.

"Murkrow, the Darkness Pokemon. Feared and loathed by many, it is believed to bring misfortune to all those who see it at night."

Ash gathered up his four badges.

"What are you doing Ash?" Misty asked.

"Hiding my badges. Murkrow love shiny things and steal them from people." He explained. "So I suggest you guys do the same, otherwise that Murkrow will take them."

After hearing Ash's explanation, Misty and Brock started to gather up all the shiny things so that they wouldn't be stolen. Except one shiny thing was still lying on the ground; it was one of Brock's little spoons. The Murkrow saw it, picked it up in it's beak and flew off with it.

"Hey give that back!" Brock shouted, running after it.

Ash, Misty and Tomo packed up the rest of the stuff before more of it was taken.

"Brock sure is upset over losing a spoon." Misty said.

"Well don't forget Misty, Brock hates it when someone or something takes his stuff." Ash said. "Besides you don't like it either when your stuff is taken."

"You're right Ash, I don't." Misty replied.

After picking all the stuff up, Ash, Tomo and Misty reunited with Brock.

He was now by a cliff and the Murkrow was standing at the top of it, with a big nest beside it. The gang noticed a lot of sparkles coming from the top of the cliff.

"That Murkrow must have taken things from other people as well." Misty said.

"Well I did say that Murkrow liked to steal shiny things." Ash added.

Brock took a Poke Ball out of his pocket.

"I'm getting my spoon back." He said, sending Golbat out to retrieve the spoon from Murkrow.

Once Golbat flew to where Murkrow's nest was, Murkrow saw Golbat and started to pick a fight with him.

"Use Air Cutter Golbat." Brock ordered.

Golbat opened his mouth and then light blue S-shaped energy disks flew out and headed towards Murkrow. Murkrow flew up to dodge the attack and then flapped it's wings as a cold wind blew out of them.

"That Murkrow knows Icy Wind." Ash recognized the attack being used.

The icy wind hit Golbat. Since it was a ice-type move, Golbat couldn't handle it. Then Murkrow's beak turned white and began to spin.

"Oh no." Ash gasped. "That Murkrow knows Drill Peck."

Murkrow charged into Golbat. Golbat took a lot of damage and then fell to the ground over the cliff.

"Golbat return." Brock said, returning Golbat to his Poke Ball.

"What should we do now?" Misty asked. "That Murkrow seems pretty tricky and with that Icy Wind move, it will tough to defeat with a flying type Pokemon."

"Which is why we fight it with non flying type Pokemon." Ash answered. He released Sentret from her Poke Ball. Ash informed Sentret about the thieving Murkrow and that he needed her to fight it. Sentret climbed up the cliff towards Murkrow's nest.

"Will Sentret be okay?" Misty asked.

"No need to worry Misty." Ash said. "I've used Sentret to deal with flying types before."

When Murkrow saw Sentret as soon as she reached the top of the cliff, it immediately picked a fight with her.

"Use Double Team Sentret." Ash said.

Sentret multiplied herself to confuse Murkrow. Murkrow started to peck at the copies.

"Use Swift Sentret." Ash instructed.

Sentret fired stars from her tail that proceeded to hit Murkrow. Ash then sent Chikorita out and told her to wrap her vines around the top of the cliff.

"Sentret may be in trouble." He said. "So I'm going to help her."

"Watch out for that Murkrow Ash." Brock advised.

When Ash reached the top of the cliff, he saw Sentret was alright and still fighting Murkrow. Murkrow began to use Icy Wind again.

"Quick use Flamethrower Sentret." Ash said.

Sentret blew a stream of fire at the icy wind, which instantly melted. Suddenly Sentret began to glow and grew into a Pokemon with a long body and tail.

"Furret." Ash gasped.

He looked Furret up on the Pokedex.

"Furret, the Long Body Pokemon and the evolved form of Sentret. It makes a nest to suit it's long and skinny body. The nest is impossible for other Pokemon to enter."

Murkrow began to fly over to Furret and peck her, but Ash took his Fast Ball out and caught Murkrow with it.

"Now this Murkrow isn't going to be stealing from anyone else." He said, returning Furret to her Poke Ball.

Ash looked at Murkrow's nest; there were little metal bells, knives, spoons and forks, pennies and a pair of earrings.

"Wow this Murkrow sure was busy." He said.

He grabbed Brock's spoon and the other shiny things then climbed back down Chikorita's vines. Then he told Tomo, Misty and Brock about Sentret evolving into Furret and his capture of Murkrow. He also showed them the things that were in Murkrow's nest.

"We better give these things to Officer Jenny." Brock said, taking his spoon back. "I'm pretty sure that someone is missing these."

And they did just that.

Afterwards, the gang continued their travels.