Glacia

The gang was taking a break today. Ash, Brock and Tomo told May and Max that Misty's birthday was the day after tomorrow and the gang agreed to send Misty a birthday present. But they didn't know what they should get her. May had suggested clothes and jewelry, but Ash said Misty had lots of those because she bought a lot of clothes and jewelry when they traveled together in the past. Max came up with the idea to get her Huntail, Gorebyss and some Clamperl as presents.

"That is a good idea Max, but Misty already has them." Brock said. "I spoke to her on the phone the other day and she told me that after returning to Kanto from the Mirage Kingdom she captured fourteen Clamperl."

"What a catch." Max said. "And I take it she evolved some of them?"

"She evolved two of them into Huntail and two of them into Gorebyss and the ten Clamperl are staying Clamperl because her sisters really like them." Brock said.

"So then that means Misty and her sisters have all the water type Pokemon there are in the Hoenn Region then?" Max guessed.

"Not exactly." Ash remarked. "They don't have Spheal, Sealeo and Walrein. Misty told me that herself. And they also don't have Surskit which is a bug/water type."

"Well Misty wouldn't want Surskit anyway." Brock said. "She told me she saw a Surskit before and started screaming. So Surskit's off limits. But she would definitely like Spheal, Sealeo and Walrein."

"Okay then, those Pokemon will be her presents." Ash said. "The question is where will we go and find them?"

"I know where we can go." Max said. "There's a cave north of Mossdeep City. It's called the Shoal Cave and Spheal live there."

"Okay then that's where we'll go." Brock said. "That's where we'll find Spheal."

"Speaking of Spheal, check this out." Tomo said.

He released a Sealeo from a Poke Ball.

"My Spheal evolved this morning."

"Wow that's impressive." Ash said. "It makes me say that a few Spheal will definitely make Misty happy."

So the gang took a boat to get to Shoal Cave. But when they arrived they saw the police standing outside the cave.

"There must be trouble." Ash said.

"Let's see what's going on." Brock said.

Ash asked a police officer what was going on and the police officer explained that there were reports of people causing trouble inside Shoal Cave. He also said that no one was allowed to enter the cave until the situation was resolved. The gang was disappointed especially since they wouldn't be able to get any Spheal for Misty's birthday.

Just then a pretty middle-aged woman wearing a purple dress came out of the cave.

"I don't believe it!" Max gasped. "That's Glacia. She's one of Hoenn's Elite Four and a master of ice type Pokemon."

"I wonder why she's here?" May asked.

"Probably to resolve the issue inside Shoal Cave." Ash said. "After all, Phoebe did the same thing at the abandoned mine because it was home to ghost type Pokemon. Spheal are water/ice type Pokemon, so that's the most likely reason Glacia is here."

The others agreed with him.

Just then Glacia noticed the gang.

"Excuse me." She said. "Are you kids by chance Ash, Tomo, Brock, Max and May?"

"Yes we are, but how do you know our names?" Ash asked.

"I heard about you guys and your Growlithe from Phoebe." Glacia said. "She also told me how you helped her protect some ghost type Pokemon from some selfish miners."

"I'm glad we were able to help at that time." Brock said.

"Well would you kids mind helping me now please?" Glacia asked. "I know you will be great help to me like you were with Phoebe."

The gang couldn't believe that Glacia was asking for their help.

"Let's do it." Max whispered to the others. "I would love to go on a adventure with Glacia."

"This way we can see what's going on in the cave." Brock whispered.

The gang agreed to go into the cave with Glacia. Even May agreed to go.

Glacia led the gang through the cave; she had been in Shoal Cave lots of times so she knew how to get through the cave without becoming lost. It was quite chilly in the cave.

"Do you have any idea what the disturbance in the cave is Glacia?" Ash asked.

"I have two guesses." Glacia said. "It's either because this cave is home to hundreds of Spheal or it's because of Shoal Salt and Shoal Shells."

"Shoal Salt and Shoal Shells?" May asked.

"Shoal Salt is a special salt and Shoal Shells are special shells. They can only be found here in Shoal Cave." Glacia answered.

"What exactly are these things for?" Ash questioned out loud.

"They are used to make Shell Bells." Max said. "They are special shell-shaped bells that have the ability to heal Pokemon that wears it after doing damage to a target."

"Wow, then that must be the reason for this trouble then." Brock said. "I mean, I think anybody would want to get their hands on something as special as that."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean they can cause trouble and disturb the Pokemon who live in the cave." Glacia commented.

The gang agreed and decided to concentrate on stopping the trouble happening in the cave.

The trouble in Shoal Cave was Jessie, James and Meowth. They were gathering up Shoal Salt and Shoal Shells and storing them in bags.

"Tell me, why are we in this cold cave gathering up salt and shells?" Jessie asked.

Jessie didn't like being in Shoal Cave.

"I told you already, we need the Shoal Salt and Shoal Shells to make Shell Bells." Meowth said. "The Shell Bells will be helpful to Team Rocket, especially when the Pokemon are fighting enemies."

"Meowth's right, Jess because Shell Bells have the ability to heal a Pokemon after they do damage to another Pokemon." James added.

"Oh fine, but can we hurry up a bit so that we can leave soon?" Jessie pleaded. "I can't stand being in this cave anymore."

Meanwhile Glacia and the gang were still walking around the cave.

"This is weird." Max said. "We have been walking in this cave for a while now and we haven't run into any Pokemon. Not even one Spheal."

"You're right Max." Glacia said. "Pokemon are always roaming around these parts. But now it's too quiet in this cave; something is not right."

Just then Growlithe started to run ahead in front of the humans.

"Ah when Growlithe acts like that, it means something's wrong." Ash said.

"Yeah let's follow him." Tomo added.

When Glacia and the gang caught up with Growlithe, they had a nasty surprise waiting for them. They saw dozens of Spheal and all of them were paralyzed.

"Oh my gosh!" May gasped. "What on earth happened."

Brock checked on one of the Spheal.

"They've been paralyzed by Stun Spore." Brock said.

He revealed some Stun Spore powder on his hand.

"So whoever did this must have been a grass type Pokemon." Max suggested.

"Yes, but what should we do about the Spheal?" May asked.

"I know." Ash answered. "May, is Skitty with you?"

"Yes I do, why?" May questioned.

"Release her and tell her to use Heal Bell." He said.

May had no idea what it was going to do but she did as she was told and told her Skitty to use Heal Bell. Skitty's body glowed a bluish-green and then Skitty released a greenish-blue wave from her tail towards all the Spheal. The Spheal were soon cured of their paralysis.

"Wow, so the move Heal Bell can cure paralysis." May stated in surprise.

"Not just paralysis." Ash remarked. "Sleep, poison, frozen and burned as well."

"Ash is right and the move Refresh can do that as well, except it doesn't cure sleep or being frozen." Brock added.

"I am happy to see some trainers who know how to treat Pokemon." Glacia smiled. "But we need to find out who did this."

"I agree, before any more Pokemon in this cave get hurt." Brock retorted.

Ash then began sniffing the Spheal.

"I know who's responsible. Let's go."

Meanwhile...

Jessie, James and Meowth had filled up ten bags full of Shoal Salt and ten bags full of Shoal Shells.

"Can we leave now? I'm tired from all of this." Jessie complained.

"Yep, we can leave now." Meowth said. "We have plenty."

Jessie sighed to say thank goodness. Suddenly Glacia and the gang arrived.

"Figures you three are here." Ash rolled his eyes.

Glacia asked who the trio were and Max explained that Team Rocket was a criminal organization that stole Pokemon from people and other places. Glacia was not happy to hear that.

"I take it you three are responsible for paralyzing the Spheal." She questioned.

"Those annoying pipsqueaks were in the way." Jessie said. "So we paralyzed them to keep them out of the way."

"Your behavior is unacceptable." Glacia said. "I will punish you both."

She sent out two ice type Pokemon to deal with Team Rocket; a Glalie and a Walrein.

"Team Rocket's in trouble now." Max told the others.

He was right; Glacia ordered her two Pokemon to use Ice Beam on Team Rocket and Jessie, James and Meowth were frozen solid. Tomo sent his Sealeo to help out.

"Sealeo use Stockpile three times and then use Spit Up." He said.

Sealeo did that and when he used Spit Up he shot out a powerful beam of light from his mouth. Jessie, James and Meowth were shot out of Shoal Cave, leaving the Shoal Salt and Shoal Shells behind.

Glacia was grateful for the gang's help.

"What should we do all with all the Shoal Salt and Shoal Shells?" Max asked after noticing the twenty bags.

"Ah we can take it to the people who make Shell Bells." Glacia said. "And they can sell the bells to trainers."

"Let's go and see how the Spheal are doing now." Brock said.

Everyone agreed and when they got back to where the Spheal were, the Spheal were all healed thanks to Skitty's Heal Bell. And to everyone's surprise, one of them had evolved into a Sealeo.

"This is great to see that all the Spheal and Sealeo are okay." Ash said.

"Yes, but it was thanks to you and your idea using Heal Bell Ash." Glacia said. "I wish there was some way I could thank all of you."

"Well the only thing we want is to catch some Spheal." Brock replied.

He explained that their friend Misty's birthday was coming up and they wanted to give her some Spheal because she loves water type Pokemon.

"I see, well since your friend loves water type Pokemon so much I'm sure she would love and care for the Spheal." Glacia smiled.

Just then the Sealeo and eight Spheal walked over to the gang and the Sealeo spoke up.

"I know what this Sealeo is saying because I've learned to understand ice type Pokemon." Glacia said. "It's saying that it will gladly be your friend's Pokemon and it wants you to capture the eight Spheal beside it because they're it's siblings."

The gang agreed with Sealeo's request and Ash caught the Sealeo and Brock, Tomo, Max and May caught two Spheal each. As Ash's Sealeo and Tomo's two Spheal were going to Prof. Oak and Max and May's Spheal were going to Prof. Birch, they had to make sure to call them and tell them about sending the Pokemon to Misty.

Soon Glacia and the gang left Shoal Cave and they told the police what had happened. The police were happy to know that the disturbance had been taken care of and they thanked Glacia and the gang. Now it was time for the gang to leave.

"I thank you kids again and I wish you all luck on your journey." Glacia said.

"It was a pleasure to meet you Glacia." Ash said.

So the gang said goodbye to Glacia and left Shoal Cave by their boat.