Ash and Pikachu ran down the hall confidently.
The young Pokemon trainer thought this was going to be an easy mission.
"It's Ash and Pikachu to the rescue!" Ash said.
"Pika! Pika!" Pikachu said.
Pikachu put his nose to the ground, like a Growlithe.
"Do you smell those stolen Pokemon, buddy?" Ash asked.
"Pika!" Pikachu yelled.
The little mouse Pokemon sprinted down the hall, following the scent.
Pikachu stopped at a wall.
"Pika...Pikachu..." Pikachu said while pointing at the wall.
"There?" Ash asked.
"Pikachu,"
The little mouse Pokemon nodded its head.
Suddenly, a shadow moved.
"If you're looking for the stolen Pokemon, I suggest you give up now," a man in the shadows said.
"Who's there?" Ash asked.
"Prepare for trouble..." a Rocket grunt growled.
"...and make it...uh...how many of us are there?" another grunt asked.
Then, Ash heard what sounded like someone getting hit in the head.
"Ow!"
"Stop asking dumb questions!"
"Quiet! We don't need no fancy motto to prove who we are anyway! I don't know who started all of that!" another grunt said.
"You're right! Besides, we already have a motto! The original is best, am I right, guys?"
"Steal Pokemon for Profit!"
"Sell Pokemon for Profit!"
"All Pokemon exist for the glory of Team Rocket!"
Ash heard a whole group of people laughing.
"Always go with the classics! It brings a tear of joy to my eyes,"
"Oh yeah, well pretty soon you're going to crying, but I doubt they're going to be tears of joy," Ash said while looking around the room to find the source of the voices.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu yelled in agreement.
One of the taller grunts stepped out of the shadows.
"That's big talk from such a little boy," the grunt said.
The other grunts laughed from behind the shadows.
Suddenly, the tall grunt produced a master ball and called out a Pokemon.
"Go, Zapdos!"
The legendary thunder bird Pokemon appeared and stretched itself.
Ash looked at it in shock.
"How on Earth?" Ash asked in a tone of voice that was a mixture of fearful and angry.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu said.
More grunts stepped out of the shadows and took out Poke Balls.
"You ain't seen nothing, yet! Go, Magmar!"
"You, too, Scyther!"
"Don't forget Primeape!
"Ha! Ha! Grimer, join the party!"
"Tackle 'em, Tauros!"
"Go get 'em, Gastly!"
"You're next, Gengar!"
"Don't disappoint me, Graveler!"
"Get in there, Cloyster!"
Ash and Pikachu were soon surrounded by Pokemon of all types, sizes, and levels. Ash looked at the crowd of Pokemon and started shaking.
"Hey...t-this isn't fair!" Ash yelled.
"Ha! ha! We're Team Rocket; we never play fair!" one of the grunts shouted.
"It's practically our motto; weren't you listening?" another grunt added.
"We'll see who'll be doing the crying now. Zapdos, thunder!"
Ash looked at the Pokemon and his mouth hung open.
This is bad. Ash thought.
The thunder bird Pokemon began charging and then threw bolt after bolt of crackling electricity at Ash and Pikachu.
Ash fell on the ground, narrowly dodging a thunderbolt.
"I can't believe this!" Ash said, visibly frustrated and angry.
"PI-KA!" Pikachu yelled in anger.
"Nah Nah, you give up kid?" the tall grunt asked.
"Never!" Ash yelled from his place on the ground.
"Pika! Pi-Ka!" Pikachu yelled
"Have it your way. Everybody, attack at will!"
Ash looked up and saw the wall of attacks headed right for him. Ash winced and braced himself, dodging at the last minute.
The Rocket Pokemon growled at him and the grunts laughed.
"Pikachu, I-I don't know what to do," Ash said, his voice breaking.
It was very rare for Ash to cry about anything, especially a Pokemon battle, and, when he did, it wasn't something to be ignored.
"Pika!" Pikachu yelled.
The little electric mouse Pokemon, with its cheeks sparking, ran full force toward the thunderbird Pokemon.
PIKACHU!" Pikachu yelled.
The little mouse Pokemon shot thunderbolt after thunderbolt at the electric bird Pokemon.
"Ha! ha! You're just making it stronger!" a grunt mocked.
"PIKACHU!" Pikachu yelled.
"Scyther, end this silly show!"
"Scyther, Scy!"
"You too, Magmar!"
"Mag-mar!"
Soon, all of the Rocket Pokemon were chasing Pikachu, leaving Ash room to escape.
While Pikachu was keeping the grunts and their Pokemon busy, Ash crawled to an unoccupied part of the room, out of danger from Pokemon attacks.
"Hang in there, Pikachu. I don't want them to hurt you," Ash said.
"Pika Pi!" Pikachu yelled.
The little mouse Pokemon narrowly dodged blast after blast of electricity, then he countered with his own.
"Ha ha! Thanks for the extra voltage, idiot. Now, Zapdos, discharge!" the grunt mocked.
The thunderbird Pokemon released a huge wave of electricity that scattered all around the room. Grunts and their Pokemon took cover.
"Ha ha ha!" the grunt laughed.
Pikachu was caught directly in the line of fire and took the full force of the electric attack. There was smoke and debris everywhere. Ash feared the worst.
Worried more about his buddy than what Team Rocket could do to him, Ash rushed to Pikachu's side.
"Pikachu, are you okay?" Ash asked. This time, his voice was breaking and he was sobbing.
"Oh ho! Look who's crying now!" one of the grunts in the shadows mocked.
"Does da wittle boy need a tissue? How about we twy ta call your mommy?" a grunt mocked.
Ash winced and growled. Ignoring the taunts, he let more tears fall.
"Chaa!" Pikachu said.
"Hold on, buddy, I've got some potions outside, all I need to do is get you there," Ash said.
Ash was still surrounded by grunts, but he was too worried about his fallen buddy to be concerned about Team Rocket. The young Pokemon trainer cradled his fallen Pokemon in his arms and ran toward the exit.
Suddenly, someone grabbed him by the shoulder.
"...and where do you think you're going, crybaby?" one of the grunts asked.
"P-please, Pikachu's hurt!" Ash said, wiping away fresh tears.
There was more laughter from the onlookers in the shadows.
"Pikachu ain't gonna be the only one hurt when we're done wit you,"
"Yeah, kid, where do you get off dissing us?"
"Don't you know we're one of the most powerful evil organizations in the world?"
Ash spat at the man holding him and then kicked him in the shin.
"Ow! You're gonna pay for that!"
Another man grabbed Ash.
"You're all just a bunch of low-down crooks!" Ash said.
The boy thrashed and bit the man holding him.
"Why you little..."
Ash managed to fight his way through and get away, or so he thought.
"Heh heh! See you never!" Ash said.
Just then, someone grabbed Ash; he felt cold metal against his head.
Just then, Officer Jenny pulled up, found Meowth, and started talking to him.
"We received a 911 call from a Meowth; this better not be some kind of prank!" Officer Jenny said.
"It's certainly not a prank officer! Look around!" Meowth said.
"Leave it to me, Meowth!" Squirtle said.
Squirtle motioned to Officer Jenny and then took off.
"Squirtle! Squirtle!"
"What? I think he wants us to follow him," Officer Jenny said to the other officers.
"Meowth Meowth," Meowth said, motioning to the officer.
"Squirtle!"
"Come on. This way," Meowth said.
The two Pokemon led Officer Jenny to the back of the building, where Bulbasaur was holding Butch and Cassidy.
"I don't believe it! Team Rocket? So this really was an emergency!" Officer Jenny said when she saw the two crooks tied up.
"Squirtle Squirtle!"
"Meowth Meowth!"
"You seem to know what you were doing, Meowth," Officer Jenny said.
Meowth purred at being scratched under his chin.
Officer Jenny got out her radio.
"I need backup now. We've got two of the most wanted fugitives in the region here!" Officer Jenny said.
"Be sure to spell my name correctly, officer. It's Butch, B-U-T-C-H," Butch said with a smirk.
Cassidy hit him-hard.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"The boss will have our heads when he finds out we failed this mission, Biff! It's not time to make jokes!" Cassidy said.
"It's Butch, and what do you want to do about it now? I'm just happy someone finally came. These vines are cutting off my circulation!" Butch said.
Cassidy hit him again.
"What? At least in jail we get three square meals a day and a phone call," Butch said.
Cassidy growled.
Squirtle answered her with a water gun to the face.
Meowth stood in front of Officer Jenny and the two criminals and started trying to explain the situation.
"Meowth, Meow, Meow, Meowth!" Meowth said angrily.
"If I didn't know any better, I would say that Meowth was trying to talk," Officer Jenny said.
Just then "bang!"
Everyone froze.
"That sounded like a gunshot!" Butch said.
Officers, keep an eye on these two, and make sure they don't escape. I'm going to investigate.
"Meowth!"
"Squirtle!"
"I hope Ash is okay!" Squirtle said.
"Wait up!" Meowth said.
The sound Ash heard made him freeze in his tracks. Fear gripped the young Pokemon trainer as he realized what was happening.
"Wait! Is that a-a gun?" Ash asked. The terror in his voice was evident.
There was more laughter in the shadows.
"I can't believe this kid! Of course it's a gun!" a grunt taunted.
"What? Did you think we were playing some kind of game with you?" another grunt asked.
The evil laughter rang in Ash's head, and he fell to his knees sobbing. Team Rocket's intent was now clear to Ash.
Ash stopped fighting and clutched Pikachu tightly.
"Well, buddy, it looks like...this is it," Ash said.
"Pikachu..." Pikachu said weakly. The little Pokemon was quivering.
Just then, a Growlithe tackled the man with the gun and freed Ash and Pikachu.
Officer Jenny's voice rang out.
"Stop! in the name of the law!"
Ash ran toward the voice.
"Officer Jenny, boy am I glad to see you!" Ash said.
"Release that boy and his Pokemon, now!" Officer Jenny said.
The grunts just laughed.
"Oh yeah? Who's going to make us do that?" a grunt said.
"Go, Growlithes!" Officer Jenny commanded.
"Growlithe!"
"Tie 'em up and seize their Pokemon and weapons!" Officer Jenny said.
The Growlithes followed orders and tied up a few of the visible grunts.
Suddenly, though, the tall grunt from before stepped out of the shadows.
"Uh-uh-uh, no you don't. Greet our visitors, Zapdos!"
Officer Jenny looked at the Pokemon emerge from the Poke Ball and stared in disbelief.
"Zapdos! The legendary bird Pokemon? In Team Rocket's hands? I...I can't believe it!" Officer Jenny said.
"Enough, chatter, Zapdos thunder, fry 'em to a crisp!" the grunt said.
"What now, Officer Jenny?" Ash asked.
"I... don't know! I wasn't expecting this!" Officer Jenny said.
More laughter rang out.
Meowth and Squirtle approached the scene.
Pikachu, thunderbolt!" Ash ordered with a tone of uncertainty.
The boy didn't really know what to do.
Pikachu, as weak as he was, tried to comply, zapping it with another electric attack.
The Zapdos crackled with the electricity and let out a weird cry.
"Ha ha! I told you you're only giving it more power!" the grunt said.
Suddenly, Meowth's eyes sparkled with realization.
Hmm...that's odd. That Zapdos's cry sounds just like the mechanical Pokemon I and my team build. Wait a minute! I bet that's it. Meowth thought.
The cat Pokemon made his way on to the battlefield.
"Meowth, you'll get hurt!" Pikachu warned.
"Oohh, for once I've had it with Team Rocket and their dirty tricks. You idiots, that thing's mechanical!" Meowth shouted.
"What's with that Meowth?" Officer Jenny asked.
"Squirtle?"
"Pika?"
"Growlithe?"
"It looks like Meowth is trying to tell the Pokemon something!" Officer Jenny said.
"All someone needs to do is hit it with a good strong tackle attack and it'll burst wide open! Then you can work on the real Pokemon!" Meowth said.
"Pika!" Pikachu yelled, nodding his head, and looking at Ash with that look he got in his eyes when he had an idea.
"What is it, buddy?" Ash asked.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu yelled
Quickly, Pikachu got on Squirtle's back.
"A water type? You must be crazy!" the grunt said.
Ash gave a confident smile.
"We'll see how crazy I am," Ash said, a new burst of confidence exuding from him.
Pikachu and Squirtle charged up to the Zapdos as fast as they could go.
"Pikachu, Squirtle, do what you need to do!"
"Run fast until you're right below it, then, I'll jump up and slam it!" Pikachu said.
Squirtle nodded his head.
Pikachu and Squirtle continued with the plan.
"I hope they know what they're doing, Ash," Officer Jenny said.
"Pika!"
"Squirt!"
"Ha ha! That Squirtle's a sitting duck! Zapdos, thundersh-"
Before the grunt could give the full command, Pikachu shot up like a rocket and tackled it at full force. The thunderbird Pokemon shattered, and bits of metal and paint scattered everywhere.
"Wha?" the grunt said with surprise.
Meowth laughed.
"Now, you know what to do!" Meowth said with an evil chuckle.
Ash smiled.
"Everyone, attack that trainer!" one of the grunts ordered.
"No, you don't!" Officer Jenny said, "Growlithes, make this a fair fight!"
"Growlithe!"
Before the other grunts could attack, they were assaulted by a wall of fire blasts that left most of their Pokemon severely weakened.
"Now, for the coup de gras," Meowth said, motioning to Pikachu.
"Pika!"
"What is it, buddy?" Ash asked.
"PIKACHU!"
"Squirtle!"
Pikachu and Squirtle combined their attacks to give Team Rocket the shock of their lives. The remaining Pokemon fainted, along with most of their trainers.
"Ow! Stop it! It burns! It burns!" a grunt that was still conscious yelled.
"Whoa!" Ash said as he looked at the fainted grunts and their Pokemon.
Just five minutes earlier, Ash and Pikachu were wondering how they were going to get out of what seemed like certain doom. Now, the Team Rocket grunts that threatened them were lying on a heap, unable to battle, some probably even in need of medical attention.
"I can't believe it! Young man, you are an exceptional Pokemon trainer with exceptional Pokemon!" Officer Jenny said.
Ash tried not to blush.
"...especially this Meowth! How did you train such an amazing Pokemon?" Officer Jenny asked.
"Well, you see..." Ash said.
Meowth looked at Officer Jenny and Ash, shook his head, and sighed.
"Do you realize that without your Meowth calling the police, we probably would have never showed up? Team Rocket would have still been carrying out this operation, and trainers might have never gotten their Pokemon back? Young man, your Meowth is a hero!" Officer Jenny said.
"Except I don't belong to these dweebs," Meowth said.
"Aw, Meowth, just enjoy your fifteen minutes of fame, already!" Squirtle said.
"Yeah, you don't see any of the other Pokemon making a fuss," Pikachu said.
Meowth looked at the happy crowd of people and Pokemon and sighed.
I really wish Jessie and James were here to celebrate with me. I feel like such a traitor, but...I guess it is my celebration still!
Without another word, Meowth leaped into Ash's arms and licked Officer Jenny. Everyone laughed and cheered.
"Just don't tell Jessie and James," Meowth said.
Ash and Officer Jenny were making their way back to the front of the building.
"If we hurry, we might be able to beat the news crews who probably want to interview all of you," Officer Jenny said.
Ash turned to Pikachu and whispered something in his ear.
"Wow, buddy, I never knew Meowth could be so much help to the team; I think we should keep him," Ash said.
Pikachu looked at Ash with a sad expression.
"What's wrong, buddy?" Ash asked.
Now was a good time to break the news to Ash. Pikachu went up to a fainted Team Rocket grunt and started pointing at his uniform and making gestures to Ash until it seemed like Ash understood.
Pikachu watched his trainer's face become serious as he accepted the facts.
"I kinda knew that already, Pikachu," Ash said.
"Pika? You did?" Pikachu asked.
"Of course, Meowth's a Pokemon, how can he have pockets?" Ash asked.
The young trainer was hilariously confident in his interpretation of Pikachu's "speech."
Pikachu did an anime fall then sighed and tried again, this time pointing at the big red "R" and back to Meowth.
"Pikachu! No, Ash, not 'pocket.' I said 'rocket.' Meowth wants to go back to Team Rocket!"
"What? Meowth wants to go back to Team Rocket?" Ash said.
Pikachu and Meowth nodded.
"...but...but why?" Ash asked.
"Am I missing something here?" Officer Jenny asked.
Ash put his hand behind his head nervously.
"Nothing Officer!" Ash said.
"Meowth!" Meowth said with a wink.