Catallia City

he gang was enjoying their new journey in the Johto Region; they had been to new places and they had seen new Pokemon that they had never seen before. Sometime after catching Stantler and Sentret, they had seen the elephant Pokemon Donphan and an owl Pokemon called Hoothoot. Ash was enjoying seeing new Pokemon every day. Right now the gang was resting in the Pokemon Center in Catallia City. Ash and Brock checked out Nurse Joy's Pokemon. Her Pokemon resembled a Chansey, but it was bigger and had a different hairstyle.

Ash looked it up on the Pokedex.

"Blissey, the Happiness Pokemon and the evolved form of Chansey. Anyone who takes even one bite of Blissey's egg becomes unfailingly caring and pleasant to everyone."

"So that means your two Chansey may evolve into this Brock." Ash said. Brock smiled; he liked the idea of having a Blissey.

Suddenly they heard a commotion outside.

"What's going on?" Misty asked.

They saw police cars driving down the road.

"Sounds like there's trouble." Brock said. "Let's check it out."

The gang followed the cars to where they were going and came to a house. The police were there and Officer Jenny was observing some coins on the ground. The gang ran up to Officer Jenny.

"What's going on?" Ash asked.

"There was a burglary here." Officer Jenny answered. "And this is the third house that has been robbed this week."

Just then she noticed Togepi and Growlithe.

"Oh hang on a minute. Are you four Ash, Tomo, Misty and Brock?"

"Yes we are." Misty said. "But how do you know our names?"

"My cousin in New Bark Town told me about you." Officer Jenny said. "She told me how you helped her deal with Team Rocket after they stole a Totodile from Prof. Elm's lab."

The gang felt proud.

"So who's the thief that's been breaking into houses?" Tomo asked.

"We don't know who it is." Officer Jenny said. "But whoever it is, he's imitating the Black Arachnid."

"Black Arachnid?" Brock asked. "Isn't that the famous cat burglar who lived here 100 years ago."

Before Officer Jenny could answer a green, yellow and black spider appeared on her shoulder.

"Hi Spinarak." She smiled. Misty started freaking out because Spinarak was a bug type Pokemon.

Ash looked Spinarak up on the Pokedex.

"Spinarak, the String Spit Pokemon. It lies still in the same spot for days in it's web, waiting for it's unsuspecting prey to wander closer."

"Wow." Ash said. "But I thought only Growlithe worked with the police."

"Normally they do." Officer Jenny said. "But here in Catallia City, it's a tradition to use Spinarak. You see back when the Black Arachnid was around, my ancestor Officer Jenny from eight generations ago used her partner Spinarak to catch the Black Arachnid and his partner Meowth using it's web. And ever since then my family has used Spinarak as their partner. To tell you the truth my Spinarak is a descendant of the Spinarak that helped my ancestor 100 years ago."

"That's a cool story." Ash said.

Just then a police officer gave a report to Officer Jenny. Apparently someone had received a warning from the Black Arachnid that he would come to steal from his house next at midnight tonight. Officer Jenny went to the house where the Black Arachnid said he would strike next. The owner was an old man.

"I'm glad you're here Officer Jenny." The old man said. "Here is the warning note I got from the Black Arachnid."

He showed her a card that he left behind.

"There's no doubt that the thief is imitating the Black Arachnid." Officer Jenny said.

The old man showed Officer Jenny and the gang what the thief was after. It was a silver trophy with pictures of some Pokemon on it.

"Don't worry sir." Officer Jenny reassured the old man. "We will catch the criminal tonight."

That night everyone got ready for the Black Arachnid. Officer Jenny's Spinarak set up it's sticky web traps, Ash sent out Heracross and Sentret, Misty sent out her Gloom and two Poliwag and Brock sent out his Weepinbell and Zubat. Tomo, his Growlithe and Misty's Togepi were sleeping in the Pokemon Center; Tomo was too tired to wait for the thief.

"Okay now we wait until midnight." Officer Jenny said. It wasn't easy for the gang to stay awake all through the night.

"Oh man." Ash yawned. "I'm going to bed when this is over."

"Me too." Misty added.

When midnight rolled around, there was no sign of the Black Arachnid.

"Do you think he was bluffing about this stunt tonight?" Ash asked.

"He could be." Officer Jenny said. "But we better stay on alert."

Suddenly all the lights went off.

"What's going on!" Brock shouted.

"We're not alone." Ash picked up on a unfamiliar scent in the room.

Just then everyone heard laughter.

"Who's there!" Officer Jenny demanded.

A light appeared and there in the middle of the room was a man dressed in all black with a mask on and beside him was a Meowth.

"The Black Arachnid!" Officer Jenny gasped.

"I have come here to claim what I seek." The Black Arachnid smirked. "Meowth use Pay Day."

A flurry of gold coins flew out of Meowth's charm and hit everyone.

After the flying coins stopped the lights came back on again, but the Black Arachnid was gone and so was the trophy.

"He might be outside." Officer Jenny said. She and the gang ran outside to see if he was there.

The Black Arachnid was outside and was about to try and get away when he was stopped by the gang's Pokemon and by Spinarak's web.

"Surrender Black Arachnid!" Officer Jenny shouted.

"Never!" He shouted and started to run through the garden to escape.

What he didn't know was that Misty's Gloom had hidden itself in the flower bed. As soon as he got near the garden wall to escape, Misty's Gloom popped out of the bed and covered him with her smell.

"Good job Gloom!" Misty cried out.

The Black Arachnid and his Meowth were overcome by the smell and tried to run away again. But before they got the chance, Officer Jenny's Spinarak appeared in front of them and trapped them in it's web like a fly.

"History has repeated itself." Officer Jenny smiled. "The Black Arachnid caught by Spinarak's web, just like 100 years ago."

"Except this time you received help from Gloom." Misty chuckled.

"Now let's see who's imitating the Black Arachnid." Brock said.

Officer Jenny removed the mask and revealed a young man with brown hair.

"I should have known you were responsible for this." Officer Jenny said.

"You know him Officer Jenny?" Ash asked.

"Yes I do." Officer Jenny nodded. "This man, Jeremiah is actually a descendant of the original Black Arachnid."

The gang was surprised.

"So committing crimes runs in his family." Misty said.

The police took him and his Meowth away while they were still stuck in Spinarak's web.

The next afternoon, the gang got ready to leave Catallia City. They slept in since they were up until midnight last night and now they were all refreshed and ready to go. Ash told Tomo all about what happened last night. Tomo was relieved that the thief had been caught. Before they left, Officer Jenny spoke with them.

"I can't thank you kids enough for all your help." She said. "And all the stolen items were returned to their rightful owners. If you ever want to become detectives, I'll gladly welcome you."

"Thanks Officer Jenny." Ash said. "But my goal is to become a Pokemon master."

"I want to become a water Pokemon master." Misty said.

"I hope to become a Pokemon doctor." Brock added.

"And I prefer traveling across the world with my big brother." Tomo finished.

"I see." Officer Jenny replied with a smile.

The gang bid farewell to Officer Jenny and left Catallia City.