Chapter Eight: Pikachu Makes His Appearance
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Pikachu twitched his ears, gazing at Jessie through the bars of his small cage. "Pikachu!" he said angrily, sparks flying from his cheeks. However, the cage was reinforced with rubber from top to bottom. Meowth crouched on top of Pikachu's cage, peering down at the electric mouse with a smug smile. "We got the twerp's Pikachu!" Meowth sang, poking at Pikachu with a claw. "Pika!" Pikachu sent a shock through Meowth and the Scratchcat Pokemon jumped to the floor. Jessie smirked and shook her head, walking over to the two. "Meowth, don't blow it!" she scolded, hands on her hips. "Don't jinx us! That's all we need is to lose Pikachu." Meowth stuck his tongue out and earned a swift kick from the redhead. Slumping against the wall, Meowth crossed his arms and waited for James to finish talking with Giovanni.
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The room they were in was white walled, with a very pale blue-white tile floor. The walls were covered with bookshelves containing magazines and the like, and a counter with gray sides and a blue-white countertop, where Pikachu's cage was placed. The videophone was in a small blue booth against the far left wall from the cage. The door was in the north wall, gray in color, slightly ajar. After a few minutes, James walked over to his team mates. His face was pale and he looked like he'd seen a ghost.
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Jessie blinked, waving a hand in front of James' face. "James? James? What did Giovanni say, James?" The blue haired boy blinked a few times, regaining his color and looking betweem Jessie and Meowth. "He wants the kid to bring Pikachu to him. He said, 'You goons can't be trusted with that much responsibility' and hung up." Jessie angrily turned to Pikachu, who glared up at her with small, black eyes. "Pikachu pika!" He shouted, and Meowth laughed and hopped onto the desk where Pikachu's cage rested. "No one's going to save you, little mouse!" he laughed, grinning at Pikachu through the bars of the cage. Pikachu sat up and clenched its tiny fists, sparks flying from its cheeks again. Meowth jumped back, avoiding the shock, and sat on the far side of the counter, staring at Pikachu like he was a plump Starly. Jessie and James argued briefly, and then stood at opposite ends of the room, silently fuming. Meowth shook his head at his team mates' behavior and went back to teasing Pikachu. Eventually Pikachu shocked the tar out of Meowth and the Scratchcat Pokemon slunk to the floor and stayed there for several hours.
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At last, John pushed the door open and strode inside. Growlithe and Espeon were at his heels, Lucario following a ways behind. "Well? Did you talk to Giovanni?" he demanded of James, who nodded and went pale again. "Yeah. You're in, kid." John grinned, turning to look at Pikachu. The electric mouse allowed sparks to jump from its cheeks as the boy bent down to examine him. "Lively, isn't he? When are you delivering him?" He straightened up and turned to the Rocket trio. Jessie, James, and Meowth looked at each other, then at the boy. "Well, um, Giovanni didn't say," Jessie said, the ceiling becoming extremely interesting. (Ooh, light bulbs!) James pushed his index fingers together and looked at his hands. Meowth crossed his arms, "You're delivering the twerp's Pokemon, kid." Jessie and James both pounced on their team mate, Jessie getting him in a headlock and James holding his feet and hands. John's eyes widened at their behavior, and thought about this information for a moment. "I can arrange that. I've already moved Ash and his girlfriend to the cell with the others." Lucario and Espeon followed, but Growlithe remained behind to ensure there was no killing of Meowth.
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After the trio calmed down and left, Pikachu was left alone. The electric mouse twitched his ears and tail, looking around the room. They had left the door open, much to Pikachu's advantage. He knew the newest member of Team Rocket would be back soon to deliver him, so Pikachu began to devise a way out. He couldn't shock anything thanks to the rubber. He attempted to squeeze between the bars, but they were spaced too closely for that. Pikachu stared at Growlithe, who had remained behind even after the trio left.
"Pikachu pika!" (Help me!) Pikachu pleaded, gripping the bars of his cage.
"Growl?" (Help you?) Growlithe tilted his head to one side.
"Pika pika pika!" (Get me out!)
"Growlithe, growl growl." (I'm not allowed.)
"Pikachu!" (Yes you are!)
"Growl?" (Really?)
"Pika! Chu, chu, pika!" (Yes! You aren't his slave!)
"Growlth!" (You're right!) Growlithe stood up eagerly. "Growlth growl?" (How can I help?)
Pikachu looked around quickly, and then gestured for Growlithe to jump up onto the counter. Growlithe obeyed and crouched before Pikachu's cage, peering in at the electric mouse curiously. "Pikachu!" He pointed to the lock of the cage. Growlithe gently took the lock between its teeth. It bit down and sent a tooth into the lock. He twisted his head, but it didn't unlock. Growlithe bit harder and yanked the lock off, setting it down on the counter, out of the way. "Pika!" Pikachu's eyes sparkled as the cage door slowly swung open. He bounced out, smiled at Growlithe, and hopped down and headed for the door. Growlithe jumped down and began to follow Pikachu.
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"Pika?" (What are you doing?) Pikachu questioned the tagalong, listening for sounds outside of the room. "Growlithe!" (I'm helping you! Right?) Pikachu nodded and motioned for Growlithe to be quiet. He peered around the door and into the hallway. It wasn't very long, but a door rested at each side. Pikachu turned to Growlithe, "Pikachu pika?" (Which door will take me to where Ash is held?) Growlithe tilted his head, thinking. He sniffed and trotted out into the hallway. He walked to both doors, sniffing insanely, and then went back to Pikachu and pointed with his nose to the door to the right. "Growlth." (That one.)
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Pikachu headed for the door Growlithe had indicated. He stared up at the doorknob, which was a few feet above Pikachu's head. "Growlth," (Allow me) Growlithe stood on its hind legs in front of the door, forepaws against the wood, nose pointed at the doorknob. Pikachu climbed up the puppy Pokemon's back and twisted the doorknob. The door opened, swinging away from them. Growlithe fell back to all four feet and Pikachu jumped from his head, "Pi-ka!" (Let's go!) The Puppy Pokemon eagerly followed the electric mouse, through a curved hallway that lead to stairs. The stairs curved and went downwards. Pikachu tackled them two or three steps at a time, while Growlithe followed more slowly. It didn't take the duo very long to reach the bottom. It was a hallway lit enough for someone to find their way through. There were a number of cells on each side. Pikachu began to get nervous. "Pika?" (You sure we're going the right way?) he questioned his navigator. Growlithe nodded confidently, trotting past empty cells and towards the back. "Growlth." (Positive.)
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Growlithe took the lead and lead Pikachu deeper into the jail. Eventually, they heard voices again. But they were more familiar. "Pika!" (Ash!) Pikachu sped up, seeing a light from a cell not far ahead. Pikachu halted in front of the cell, and Growlithe skidded to a stop as well. Pikachu gaped at the scene before him, causing Growlithe to be silent in confusion. Pikachu stared, too stunned to announce his presence.
