It took him 2.5 years to travel here... apparently... >>

[revolvingscott]

Rick emerged from the bus station to the blazing sun shine he had been dreading for the entire journey here. Steve came up behind him and clapped him on the back.

"Ok so is this you?" he asked, surveying the town from the small hill the station was planted on.

"Yeah this'll do me," he replied, surveying the town below him. "Thanks for the help getting here."

"No problem, it's always nice to have some..." Steve trailed off, his gaze hovering over Rick's lips, "Company... on journeys like this."

"Well I'm glad I could be of service," he said with a wry smile. "But I have to get going; I have business to attend to!"

And with that, Rick set off down the hill - he recognised Professor Elm's lab from exterior shots of it on PTTV and you absolutely couldn't miss the monstrosity as it loomed over the rest of the town. He could hear Steve shouting at him as he walked on, something about calling him, but didn't turn around. No, he had a job to do and that would require all his time and energy. Maybe once he got onto Team Rocket he could try and look for something else but for now he had to remain as single-minded as humanly possible. His mission right now was to steal himself some pokémon that he knew Elm looked after for trainers as they ventured around Johto and stuck to that rigid 6-pokémon only rule.

His mind pre-occupied with planning, he barely noticed that he had actually walked past the laboratory and doubled-back, hiding round the corner and peering through the window. He could see that there was a huge field around the back that was fenced off (presumably to keep him out) that seemed to house a huge array of pokémon all playing together and enjoying their lives.

"Steal Pokémon for profit. Exploit Pokémon for profit. All Pokémon exist for the glory of Team Rocket." He regurgitated to himself the words he had learnt effortlessly from his idol. "Shouldn't be too hard to get away with this one."

And with that, he pushed the already ajar window open and dropped into the lab, thinking to himself that there should really be some more security on the premises. Swiftly and silently he darted over to the door to the field outside. With very little time, he just grabbed the most immediately available pokémon he could see - a Budew, Ralts and Trapinch. Shoving them into Poké Balls he immediately left the way he entered and ran straight for Route 29 in case he had been spotted and was being chased.

Stopping to grab his breath under a Cherry Tree, he released the pokémon so he could finally get a better look at them. His suspicions were confirmed when he saw that two of them were ultra rare shinies! Excitement bubbling through him, he turned to the 3rd pokémon and realised it was a Trapinch. Although not a shiny pokémon, Rick was pretty certain Trapinch were rare in Johto so overall was pretty pleased with his haul.

The pokémon themselves didn't appear to be overly enthralled with him - the Ralts in particular seemed absolutely furious at being taken from his owner.

"Oh shut up," he said to the infuriated Psychic pokémon. "You're in safer hands with me than this..." He read from the tag the Ralts had attached to him, "Amelia, Alejandro."

He read from the other 2 pokémon's tags to check their names and then ripped them up - he didn't want to be caught by the IPF this early into his journey.

As he noticed that the other 2 pokémon didn't seem all that bothered about him (in fact, the Trapinch was trying to cuddle up to him), a sudden burst of white light erupted from his pocket and a Sableye stood in front of him, looking excitedly at him.

"WHO THE ***** ARE YOU???" he screamed, jumping to his feet and sending his three other acquisitions flying. He definitely didn't pick this pokémon...

"Eye... Sableye!" it replied, jumping up and down. He reached down and read the tag - 'Marius, OT: Unknown'.

"Did you sneak away in my bag?" he asked to which the Sableye jumped up and down, nodding furiously. "Ah... ok... that's... ok." Rick was NOT expecting to have pokémon want to travel with him - he thought Rocket subjugated pokémon and forced them into joining their team.

Although slightly frazzled, Rick noticed that time was moving on and he wanted to make it to Violet City as soon as possible - he'd heard that Team Rocket were recruiting from there and so was obviously anxious to get a move on.

"Alright lads, let's get a move on!"

With a small whimper from Brax and an indignant huff from Alejandro, he returned them and the Budew into their Poké Balls before turning on Marius, Poké Ball outstretched. Marius took one look at the ball and disappeared, reappearing on Rick's shoulder.

"What the-? What do you want?" he spluttered, flabbergasted.

The pokémon only hugged his neck and teleported to his other shoulder.

"Oh alright then, you can stay out but you're going back into your Poké Ball at Violet City!" he gave in. If he was being honest with himself, he was flattered that Marius had taken such a strange fondness to him but was also unwilling to be embarrassed by an overly affectionate Sableye in front of Sableye.

So the two set off together, Sableye occasionally teleporting off his shoulder onto nearby trees to scan for nearby pokémon but returning moments later, terrified of losing Rick. This was going to be one long journey.

[Tyger]

It had taken him 2 and a half years to travel here, apparently. 

Rick was taking his dear sweet time through New Bark Town. The heist had probably felt like it was taking forever, even though it was only taking a few minutes to steal more than he could chew. The quick movements of fingers grabbing Pokeballs and ripping up trainer tags seemed to take a month: each. Each little scrap of paper that hit the floor took a week, tops. The window needed to be closed, which would take about 6 months. Have you ever tried to close an old window? It isn't easy. The draft that was let in would probably have chilled the area forever, but thankfully, this only felt like reality. In truth, the heist went off without much of a hitch. Rick got the Pokemon he needed (and a few more, if you want to get technical) and was already out on the route before you could shake a stick at him.

---

As the shenanigans of Rick and his Pokemon began, a pair of eyes watched him from the shadows. Never before had the Easter Lopunny seen a person so 'fit' for an egg do something so horrid! The man had stolen someone elses Pokemon, and was now making his way as if nothing had happened! As appaled as the bunny was, it couldn't help but notice the way the Sableye hung around it with such affection. Even the Trapinch that was stolen seemed to regard the man with affection. Holding the orange egg in it's paw, Lopunny thought for a few moments before stepping out into the path. 

It eyed Rick for a few moments before pulling out a basket with multicolored eggs. Waiting for Rick to react, Lopunny then strode forward and gestured for him to hold out his hands. Afterwards, a bright orange egg was placed into Rick's hands. Lopunny stared into Ricks eyes for a moment, as if soulgazing to check and see if this boy was truly a decent person. Nodding as if reassuring itself, Lopunny patted the egg once more before hopping off into the brush, in search of other trainers. The gift would be for Rick to take care of and nurture. Just another passenger on his crazy ride. 


The Easter Lopunny has appeared to give an egg to Rick!
Rick received an orange egg!
The Egg has been placed in a vacant spot in your party.

---

Hoothoot sweltered in it's own rage as it watched the boy sneak out of the lab. First, it had never occured to Rick that he could have just asked Hoothoot to be it's starter! Then there wouldn't be any issues. Second, when the boy left, he'd clearly taken more than just one. That was just rude! What happened to common courtesy? Third. Hoothoot was itching for a battle, and with all this pent up rage, the thief looked like the best person to take it out on. Fourth, the dumb bunny had just presented him with an egg! There wasn't a better way to distract the boy from Hoothoots greatness.. With a screech, the Pokemon bounced from it's tree branch and onto the ground with an unceremonious splat. It's foot kicked around until it managed to get back up onto it, and it clicked it's beak and stared at Rick. It was obviously waiting for him to do something drastic, such as battle it. After all, he had just robbed the lab, so it only made sense. 

Wild Hoothoot (Level 7) Would like to battle!
Will you Fight or Flee?