Bertha

Today the gang was heading to Lake Valor for the Sinnoh Grand Festival. Right now they had arrived in a town. Trouble was brewing under their noses.

Cassidy and Butch were there as well and setting up another plan to steal Pokemon.

"So Cass, what are we going to do this time?" Butch asked.

"I'm not sure." Cassidy admitted. "I mean, it's no good using the old fake Pokemon day care or things like that; that plan is too old now. Not to mention Bertha of the Elite Four is here."

"Hey, maybe Bertha is our key to success." Butch said.

"You're not thinking of stealing her Pokemon, are you Butch?" Cassidy asked.

She knew that was a stupid idea.

"Of course not. I'm not an idiot." Butch said. "Maybe we could use something or someone Bertha holds dear. That would make Bertha surrender while we nab other people's Pokemon."

"Now that's a more sensible idea." Cassidy said. "But how will we do it?"

"It just so happens, I've learned something about her family." Butch smirked.

While Cassidy and Butch were going over a new plan, the gang met up with a trainer named Roland. Roland was ten years old like Dawn and his first Pokemon was a Magby.

"Your Magby looks cool as well as cute Roland." Dawn said.

"It sure is." Roland nodded. "I must admit though, I can't wait until it evolves into Magmar and then Magmortar."

"Ah that will happen sooner than you think as long as you take good care of Magby and train it well." Brock said.

"Brock's right." Ash replied in agreement. "And anyway you should make more memories with Magby while you can. Once Magby evolves it won't go back to being a Magby."

"Ash is right." Dawn added.

Roland started to see that Brock and Ash were right.

"I take it you four have evolved some of your Pokemon right?" He asked.

"Lots." Ash replied.

"Just a few." Dawn said.

While Roland was talking to the gang, Cassidy and Butch were peeking on Roland.

"Ooh the brats are here." Cassidy growled. "So Butch, who are we dealing with?"

"It's that boy with the twerps." Butch said. "I heard he's a relative of Bertha. I'm sure she would pay handsomely if something were to happen to him."

Cassidy was starting to see the point.

Roland was now done talking and had to get back home because a great-aunt of his was visiting. The great-aunt of course is Bertha of the Elite Four, but the gang didn't know that yet. This was when Cassidy and Butch decided to strike.

"Well Magby, as soon as we get home let's do some practicing." Roland said. Magby agreed with that idea.

Suddenly a car came up to Roland, then Butch exited and quickly grabbed him placing him in the car. Cassidy proceeded to drive on. Magby, who had been left behind saw everything and decided to go for help.

At that time the gang had just finished having a snack.

"Oh hi Magby, what's up?" Ash asked. "And where's Roland?"

Magby started talking worriedly.

"Magby just said that Roland had been taken by somebody and they drove off in a hurry." Ash said.

"You mean Roland's been kidnapped?!" Dawn gasped.

"We better tell Officer Jenny right away." Brock said.

"Excuse me, but has something happened?" A voice asked.

The voice belonged to an old lady wearing a smart white coat and a brown scarf around her neck.

"Hey, aren't you Bertha of the Elite Four?" Brock asked.

Bertha quickly shushed him.

"I do not like being called that." She said, slightly irritated.

"Sorry." Brock apologized, nervously.

The gang was surprised they were meeting Bertha, but this was no time for introductions.

"Someone's been kidnapped." Dawn explained.

"Oh that's bad." The woman said.

She turned to Magby and asked it to lead her to where it happened. Magby showed everyone where Roland was kidnapped and pointed in the direction where the car went.

"How are we going to find Roland at this point?" Dawn asked, worried.

"Nothing my Gliscor can't help with." The woman said.

She released a Gliscor.

"Gliscor I need your help finding my great-nephew." She said.

"Roland's your great-nephew?!" Dawn gasped.

"He is a son of one of my nephews." Bertha replied.

Gliscor flew up and started using Screech in the area.

"I take it it's using it's radar ability to seek Roland out right?" Ash guessed.

"Correct young man." Bertha said. "You seem to know a lot about Gliscor."

"I have one myself." Ash said, smiling.

Soon Gliscor came back.

"Did you find Roland?" Bertha asked.

Gliscor nodded and then started talking.

"Oh no. Gliscor is saying the car has left this town and is in the woods nearby." Ash said.

"Oh great. How will we catch up with them now?" Dawn groaned.

"I can help with that." Bertha said.

Bertha owned a SUV and she drove the gang to the woods; they had offered to help.

"Keep your eyes open for a car kids." Bertha said.

The gang kept their eyes peeled. Suddenly Tomo saw the car.

"There it is." He called out.

Then Bertha drove over to where the car was.

At this time Butch and Cassidy had parked their car in the middle of the woods and right now they had Roland tied to a tree.

"Just wait until Bertha hears about this!" Roland shouted.

"Sorry but we're not scared of her. It is her that should be scared of us after we take her Pokemon." Butch smirked.

"Yes especially since we have you here to persuade her." Cassidy said.

Roland was getting angry.

Just then Bertha and the gang arrived; they saw Roland tied to the tree.

"You two." Ash growled.

"You know these people?" Bertha asked.

"They're members of Team Rocket; a criminal organization that steals Pokemon from people." Tomo answered.

"What did you kidnap Roland for?!" Dawn demanded.

"Simple. All we want is Bertha's Pokemon." Cassidy answered.

"Since this boy is a relative of yours Bertha." Butch said. "I suggest you calmly hand over your Pokemon to us; that way you'll get the boy back in one piece."

The gang was shocked to hear Cassidy and Butch were using Roland as bait.

Suddenly Cassidy and Butch were hit by some sand. It had come from Bertha's Gliscor.

"Now Gliscor cut the ropes." Bertha said.

Gliscor used it's claws to cut the ropes and Roland was now free.

"Bertha!" Roland cried in delight.

"Are you alright?" Ash asked.

Roland was just fine. Cassidy and Butch weren't happy to have their plan foiled and they sent out their Pokemon Machamp and Swampert to attack.

Ash was just about to call out one of his Pokemon, but Bertha stopped him.

"I'll deal with these people personally for kidnapping my great-nephew." She said, angrily.

Ash stepped aside while Bertha sent out a Golem. Team Rocket smirked; because they were using Machamp and Swampert, they were convinced they could defeat Golem because it's a rock type Pokemon. But they were wrong.

"Swampert, Water Gun." Cassidy ordered.

Golem passed through the water easily with Rollout and tackled Swampert really hard.

"Machamp, Dynamic Punch." Butch ordered.

Golem easily countered it with Mega Punch.

"Wow, look at that!" Dawn exclaimed.

She was amazed with Golem's strength.

"Bertha isn't an Elite Four member for nothing." Brock said.

"Now Golem, use Hyper Beam." Bertha instructed.

Golem fired a Hyper Beam and Team Rocket was sent flying with their Pokemon.

Bertha and Roland were grateful for the gang's help.

"I wish there was something I could give you to show my gratitude." Bertha said.

Ash then spoke up.

"If you'd please Bertha, I'd like to have a battle with you." He said. "I want to take any chance I can to battle strong trainers. So please say yes."

Everyone was surprised by Ash's request, but Bertha agreed.

"If that's what you want young man, I accept your challenge." She said.

The truth is, she liked Ash's brave and bold spirit.

Ash and Bertha got ready to battle while the others stood on the sidelines to watch. Roland was excited to see his great-aunt battle. Bertha sent a Hippowdon out to battle and Ash sent Torterra out. Everyone knew grass type Pokemon had a type advantage over ground type Pokemon, but with Bertha being a member of the Elite Four Torterra was in for a rough time.

"Leaf Storm." Ash told Torterra.

Hippowdon dodged it using Dig. Torterra started to get worried as he had no idea where Hippowdon was.

"Stay calm Torterra and remember what Venusaur taught you." Ash said.

Torterra then calmed down and started thumping the ground hard with his two feet.

"That's Superpower." Brock said. "Torterra is using it to get Hippowdon to come out of the ground."

"Must be something Ash's Venusaur taught him." Dawn said.

Hippowdon emerged from the ground due to Torterra's thumping.

"Hippowdon, use Iron Head." Bertha said.

Hippowdon charged towards Torterra with Iron Head.

"Counter it with Superpower Torterra." Ash ordered.

The two Pokemon tackled each other with their attacks. As Hippowdon was stronger than Torterra, it took a lot of damage.

"Let's not give up Torterra, use Energy Ball." Ash said.

Torterra fired an Energy Ball and this time Hippowdon was hit, but it didn't do a lot of damage like it normally would. Hippowdon was a very strong Pokemon.

"Fire Fang Hippowdon." Bertha said.

Hippowdon bit down on Torterra with Fire Fang before it could do anything. The attack was painful for Torterra. Then Hippowdon tackled it with Iron Head. Torterra fainted from the attack right away. Bertha had won this battle.

Ash tended to Torterra and told him he did well battling Hippowdon.

"I have to say young man." Bertha said. "You and your Pokemon certainly showed an impressive way to deal with things when you are in a tight spot in battles."

"I have been in tough battles many times before." Ash replied. "And thanks to them I learn new things."

Bertha could tell that Ash would be a greater Pokemon trainer than he was currently in the future if he kept on working with his Pokemon. Roland was impressed with how Ash battled his great-aunt and vowed he will work hard with Magby so he can become a great Pokemon trainer too.

Today was an exciting day; the gang got to meet Bertha of the Elite Four and Ash got a chance to battle her.