Argh! I don't remember what happened! It all just happened so fast! I clutched onto my little Azurill as I tried to protect it from the poisonous fumes in the air, I choked coarsely, trying to back out of the toxic cloud. Other people around me, were in the same state.
I backed up some more, before I felt someone run and trip onto me, causing us both to fall. The man grunted at the impact, and I let out a little cry, because he was heavy. I immediately pushed the guy off, he was squishing Azura, my Azurill! I swear I heard a Pikachu yelp as well.
"Jimmy what do you t'ink you're doin' layin' around! We gotta get goin'!" I heard this voice, and suddenly a small hand grabbed my arm and started pulling me. The man that collided with me, was on all fours, choking on the fumes.
"W-Wait!" I tried to speak, but only inhaled more fumes. This person is very short, because I found myself crouching while running. I didn't try to fight them, perhaps this kid will lead me away from the fumes.
A door up ahead opened, and a woman stood there, beckoning before running out. The kid ran out after her, still pulling me along. As soon as we were outside that room, we were running along the deck of the ship. The woman, swiftly jumped off the railings and landed in a basket, held up by a hot air balloon in the shape of a Meowth's head. I didn't get a clear view, but the kid pulling me, followed her up. That's when I realised, the kid wasn't a kid. It was a Meowth! Incredible.
The woman huffed and let off a ladder for me. "Hurry up and get in James! And don't forget Pikachu!"
Her shouting didn't give me a chance to think this over, I grabbed the ladder and climbed up, Azura clutched onto my shirt with her mouth. I made it into the basket, and the balloon started to fly off at a fast rate. I sat against the side of the basket, panting.
"I didn't t'ink we'd get away! Dis looks like we're takin' Pikachu to da boss after all! Nyehahah!" The Meowth laughed, rubbing its paws together schemingly. The woman let out a high pitched laugh, and placed both hands on her hips.
"I'm surprised your plan worked this time, Meowth!" They both smirked and looked at me. They flinched, before pointing at me harshly.
"YOU'RE NOT JAMES!"
"Aa-aahh! N-No! I'm uh, I'm Florence!" I quickly replied, trying to find my words. Their stares were intimidating.
"How did you get on here!? And where's James!? The imbecile!" The woman snarled.
"Y-You told me to get on!" I answered quickly.
"Hmm.." Meowth scratched his chin for a moment, before lowering his ears. "Methinks.. I grabbed the wrong person.." Meowth climbed up on the edge of the basket, and looked back down to the ship in the distance, with binoculars. Both the woman and I looked as well.
A man with purple hair stood on the deck, flailing his arms around while shouting.
"Meowth! You little screw up!" The woman hit the poor little Meowth over the head.
"I.. I'm guessing that's James..?" I asked.
"Yes! And he should be here, not you!" She hissed. "Now get off this balloon! This is Team Rocket property only!"
"G-Get off!? You expect me to jump off from this high?! What are you mad!?"
She seemed to groan at me, then she huffed and almost spat at me when she spoke again. "Fine! We'll kick you off when we land next!"
"Th-that sounds good to me!" I said quickly, trying not to cause a fight. "But um.. you're forgetting your friend down there.. wait! TEAM ROCKET!?" I screamed, I looked at her, then the R on her low cut shirt.
She smirked and laughed somewhat evilly. "That's right brat! Don't get in our way."
I slowly stepped to the other side of the balloon, away from her.
"Get da extendable arm out!" The Meowth exclaimed. The woman folded her arms.
"Why do I have to do everything!? Do it yourself you stupid feline!"
Meowth grumbled and pulled out a small control box. It pressed a button and out came a huge expandable arm, it reached all the way down and grabbed James, then pulled him up onto the balloon.
"You guys left without me!" The man pouted.
"Where is Pikachu!?" The woman hissed, after scrutinising him. The guy, James, put his hands up in the air defensively.
"I.. I dropped it.."
"You dropped our Pikachu!?" Meowth jumped up and scratched him across the face, using fury swipes.
"Ow ow!" He whined.
I looked over the edge of the balloon, looking for this Pikachu that he 'dropped'. I couldn't see anything, but a huge body of water way below. I shivered at the sight. I turned back to the trio in front of me, Azura was scared, she hid beneath my low cut shirt.
"I.. didn't get to grab my luggage.. or my other Pokémon.." I mumbled. Azura lowered her ears and gave a sad look.
"Who is that!?" James demanded. I jumped and backed up.
"I-I'm Florence!"
"She's a stowaway!" The woman growled.
"Hey! I'm no stowaway! You told me to get on..!"
"Don't talk back to me, brat!"
"J-Jessie, calm down." James said. "The last thing we need right now is you two fighting."
"Don't you dare speak! You made us fail our mission, James!" Jessie snarled.
"Um.. d-don't mind me at all! I'll stay nice and quiet, for the ride. Then, after we land, you'll never have to see me ever again!" I said. "That's the deal, right? Jessie?"
"It's miss Jessie to you, punk!"
"Why is she here, Jess?"
"Meowth here, grabbed the wrong person!" Jessie growled.
"It was a genuine mistake! I swear!" Meowth pleaded.
"But not as big of a mistake as you screwing up, James!"
I watched as the three continued to bicker at each other, so I sat in the corner holding Azura. I sighed. "It's going to be a long ride." I told her, she nodded in response.
"Azu azu."