(or Account of a Visit from Team Rocket)
by Andrea Hartmann
Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the estate
Not a creature was stirring, not even Raticate.
The black marker scribbles on faces and hair
Showed proof Jigglypuff had been recently there.
The gang was there also, Ash Ketchum and Brock,
And Misty, who woke at the chime of a clock.
"It's midnight!" she realized. "Hey Ash, get your cap!
Let's go open presents, not lie here and nap!"
Then out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
They glanced outside, wondering what was the matter.
And then out of the building they flew like a flash,
With Pikachu perched on the shoulder of Ash.
They scarcely believed what they saw in the snow -
It was eight tiny Stantler, lined up in a row!
But instead of a sleigh, rising up to the south
Was a hot air balloon like the head of Meowth.
"We want you twerps' presents, so prepare for trouble!"
"And since it's a holiday, let's make that double!"
As Jessie and James were reciting their rhyme,
Ash declared "Let's just get 'em - they're wasting our time!
Go Bulbasaur, Tauros! Go Squirtle, go Krabby!"
Then Misty joined in with her Staryu and Starmie.
But when one ball opened, she cursed her bad luck;
"I wanted my Starmie, not stupid Psyduck!"
"We aren't finished yet!" Jessie exclaimed in shock.
"You dare interrupt us? Go get 'em, Arbok!"
"Right on!" James agreed, as he called forth his Weezing.
"And let's do this quickly - my fingers are freezing!"
As per her command, Jessie's Arbok used Leer;
And Ash cringed as Krabby fell victim to fear.
"Now it's my turn!" James cried, as his Weezing took off,
Using Smokescreen and Smog to make everyone cough.
"We're winning! We're winning!" Jess cheerfully sung.
"Now we can't be defeated - I call Lickitung!"
But Tauros used Take Down, and Squirtle used Bite
And Lickitung clearly was out of the fight.
"Uh oh," James whimpered, "that didn't go well!
The one who can win this is you, Victreebell!"
He should have known better, for things now looked grim -
Instead of the twerps, Victreebell attacked him!
Still, Arbok and Weezing were holding their own,
And pretty soon Psyduck was fighting alone.
So when Arbok used Wrap, the fight would have been through
But Psyduck's eyes glowed with a strangely blue hue.
Then Team Rocket's Pokemon's hearts filled with dread
(Except James' Victreebell, which was eating his head).
A Confusion attack left them all stunned and reeling,
And Jessie and James thinking twice about stealing.
"It's useless!" James groaned, and he ran off in fear.
"Let's try this again when that duck isn't here!"
"I agree!" Jessie said, as they reached the balloon.
"Ta-ta for now, twerps - we'll get Pikachu soon!"
The Meowth-shaped balloon began rising, quite slow
Because of the Stantler all harnessed below.
"They're getting away!" Misty cried. "Ash, let's stop them!"
The boy smiled and nodded. "We may as well pop them."
Up above, the two robbers breathed sighs of relief,
Until Ash's command: "Bulbasaur, Razor Leaf!"
And we heard them exclaim, flipping end over end,
"It looks like Team Rocket's blasting off once again!"