DISCLAIMER: I don't own Pokemon or Team Rocket. I own the name Rocket Four as well as the plot but I don't own any of the characters within the Rocket Four...
A Rocket Revenge
"Noodles! Come and get your noodles!" cried the blue haired man standing outside the Violet City contest hall. A young boy came running up to the stand with money clutched in his hand and a bright smile on his face.
"I'd like two coups of chicken seasoned noodles please." the young boy said with glee and the blue haired man turned to his compatriot in the stand resting behind him.
"Customer for two chicken flavored noodles." he cried out and the sound of a sizzling stove could be heard in the background.
"I got ya covered Jimmy. If you want a noodle slam, Meowth's your man!" cried the Meowth who was busy cooking the noodles with a healthy passion, very different from the strange and unbridled passion that had consumed him in his earlier years.
"Wobbuffet!" cried the blue Pokemon, popping out from behind Meowth. The young boy waited anxiously on tip toes while Meowth finished putting on the final touches to his noodles before handing them over to James. James handed them to the boy with a grin that could have spread across the entire Johto region.
"Here you go, young man. Enjoy our famous Blast Off Chicken Flavored Noodles!" James said, taking the cash from the boy and putting in the register. Ever since James and Meowth had taken to joining with Ash against their former boss the two had been living it large. Realizing that Meowth had a knack for making noodles the two eagerly realized they wanted to set up a noodle stand. Their biggest gigs were undoubtedly the leagues as well as any number of the Grand Festivals, but most often they would participate in different festivals around the regions and, more specifically, contests. James took a brief glance to the monitor outside the contest hall, as the contest emcee made her announcement.
"And congratulations to Wade of Azalea Town for winning the illustrious Violet Ribbon. And a great job done to all the participants in the Violet Town contest." the screen went blank and James sighed inwardly. Jessie had been hoping to win the Violet Ribbon, but as it turned out she had only come in a close second. That meant that he and Meowth would have to hear about it tonight; something that neither was looking forward too. It was true, of course, that James and Meowth, along with Jessie, mostly migrated around from contest to contest, now in the Johto Region and, while Jessie participated in Contests under the Pseudonym Jessalina, James and Meowth set up their noodle stand to rake in the dough. James faced the milling crowd and prepared to make a loud announcement.
"Closing half hour discount time!!" James announced to the crowd and all at once, people seemed to converge on their little stand and Meowth was swamped with orders. Still, the pressure of numerous customers longing for their favorite flavor of noodles was enough to make Meowth work his very best and before long, customers departed with their cup of happy noodles in hand. It was times like these that both James and Meowth were glad they had abandoned the life of crime they had led for so long. For one thing, James' Pokemon were even happier than normal (not that they were ever really sad). Carnivine had mastered Faint Attack which made him almost a jack-of-all-trades. Meanwhile, James had returned to Gardenia in the Sinnoh region to pick up Cacnea who had grown extremely strong under the tutor and who, as Gardenia had hinted, might evolve into Cacturne soon. It did bereave him that Chimecho was still sick but he had Mime Jr. to keep him company. Meowth on the other hand had the ability to branch out and master all his noodle-making skills. He said he wanted to advance to the level of noodle-sculpture soon.
A distance away, James noticed that the sun was beginning to set and he figured Jessie would probably be waiting at the Pokemon Center to complain about her latest loss. Not that she had anything to complain about, in the past year, Jessie had already accumulated five ribbons in Kanto, placed fourth at the Grand Festival and was now working on her fourth here in Johto. Regardless, Meowth cooled down the stove and stored all of his pots and pans away while James dismantled the stand. They quickly made a count of the massive amount of money they had made and then they set off. The Pokemon Center was certainly busy tonight, no doubt because of the contest and James was glad that he could now sleep there.
"And where have you two been?!" Jessie screamed as soon as they entered the Pokemon Center and the two of them cringed. Jessie was still as loud and domineering as ever.
"We was packing up Jess. We actually have a payin' job." Meowth responded with slight anger at Jessie's brashness. Jessie merely scoffed at the mention of this.
"Well, your noodle stand doesn't compare to my awesome contest beauty and grace!" Jessie let off a high pitched laugh at this and James rolled his eyes.
"Yes, a contest beauty and grace that managed to land you second place…" James mumbled out and immediately Jessie froze in mid-sentence and grabbed James by the throat, shaking him wildly.
"WHO TOLD YOU TO MENTION MY CONTEST LOSS?!!!!" Jessie screamed in anger and Meowth quickly leapt into the fray to pull Jessie off of the man who could be considered her best friend. Many people in the Pokecenter were staring at the trio but Jessie soon managed to calm down. "If that Butterfree hadn't managed to pull off a Solarbeam at that particular moment then I could have won."
"Either way jess, you did pretty good out there. And I've got leftover noodles to celebrate!" Meowth announced and James let both Cacnea and Carnivine out of their pokeballs. At the same time, Jessie released Seviper, Yanmega, and Wobbuffet came out of its own accord. All at once the group began to eat with a ravenous hunger.
"So, Jessie, where are we planning on going to next?" James asked, his mouth completely full of noodle. Jessie swallowed her own before answering her blue-haired friend.
"I was thinking of Goldenrod City as that is where the Grand Festival will be held and besides, it will be a double tournament there so I thought it'd be good to give it a try." Jessie announced with an ounce of smugness to her voice.
"And how!" James proclaimed. "Goldenrod would be a great sales opportunity too! After our recent spike in income thanks to the Silver Conference, we'll be really well off. We could take another vacation too!"
"I need dat vacation, my whiskers and claws need a manicure too." Meowth said. Jessie finished her food and quickly stood up, brushing off her clothes from anything that might have gotten on them.
"Well, we're setting off early tomorrow so I'm going to get my beauty sleep." Jessie said with a flick of her hair before she headed off. James turned to Meowth and Meowth nodded.
"Yeah, I know, we'd better sleep too…dat equipment ain't gonna carry itself." Meowth said. The two of them cleaned up after themselves and the Pokemon before returning to their own rooms for rest and relaxation. James fell asleep with the thought of how much his bottle cap collection could expand with their profit and all Meowth was thinking about was the profit itself that could now rival what was once Giovanni's fortune.
-RRRR-
Morning came and went and the three former members of Team Rocket were lazily floating in their Meowth-shaped balloon en route to Goldenrod City. This was the easiest and fastest way to travel after all. That was how they got form the Silver Conference to Violet City in less than a week. Not to mention it actually gave Jessie time to work on new appeals once she got to town and could seriously boost her ability in contests. Today was no different. Without the constant need to look for Pikachu and the former twerps from above, the balloon ride was often fairly lazy and almost enjoyable to an extent…although neither one of them really wanted to be cooped up with the others for hours at a time, which was the reason why they set down near a small stream around noon to get some water and have lunch. It was on a nice grassy plain, and the sun was shining quite nicely down on them allowing the perfect chance to relax and cook their lunch. Meowth was their designated cooker for the group and so he instructed Carnivine and Wobbuffet to get all the water while he made the fire. It didn't take very long and by the time both of the Pokemon had returned everything was ready to start cooking lunch. Only half an hour later the trainers and all their Pokemon were sitting around eating quietly.
"Meowth, I think you've outdone yourself again for lunch today!" James proclaimed after he had quickly finished his own lunch and Meowth smiled to himself while lying backward and staring at the blue sky and the canopy of trees up above.
"Dig it James, I've been working on a new recipe that will rake us in even more cash!" Meowth said as Jessie plopped her own self next to James and the three friends proceeded to look into the sky. "Ah, this is the good life!"
"One that'll be over soon." came a harsh voice from in front of them and a shadow blotted out the sun. Rather, more specifically it was two figures that came and darkened the space in front of them. Jessie opened her eyes a crack and saw none other than her oldest rival, Cassidy of Team Rocket. For a moment she scoffed it off until cold realization hit her and she stood up like a shock, James and Meowth (having also realized what was going) quickly joined her.
"Cassidy, what're you doing here?!" Jessie yelled indignantly and Cassidy sniggered loudly.
"And you Butchton!" James yelled loudly at which Butch had a look of severe displeasure come across his face.
"My name is BUTCH, NOT BUTCHTON! Why can't you people ever get it right?" Butch yelled, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
"Cause it's da face that everyone remembers. It's so ugly who cares about da name…" Meowth said matter-of-factly. "But we helped land you two bozos in jail so what're you out here for!"
"The only thing they could connect us to was being at the Team Rocket base at the time of your infiltration. All other evidence was erased." Cassidy said before letting off a wild screech of laughter that made James want to cover his ears.
"Yeah, so we managed to only serve a year in jail. When we got out a month ago, we were contacted by a man called Rocket One of a group called the Rocket Four." Butch said with his own sneer on his face to rival that of both Jessie's and James'. "We joined the group at the promise that we could make leadership. First, we had to try and Ash Ketchum but he slipped away from us."
"Score one for da twerps!" Meowth yelled out and Wobbuffet screamed its name in agreement with its feline friend. James now had a smirk on his face.
"That's right! We're clean and legit now." James yelled out. "Why do you think we turned on Team Rocket! Because of the boss, who we so adored, we got blasted off almost every day and sometimes twice a day! So we realized that if you can't beat 'em, you join 'em and so we did."
"Even you got blasted off by the twerps every time you faced them, Cassidy!" Jessie asserted and Cassidy once more cackled loudly, causing the three former members of Team Rocket to seize up.
"So, we noticed." Cassidy said with a snarl; a quick revert from her high-pitched laughing. "So, we got a new job from Rocket One: cut up some loose ends and he meant that literally. You, Jessie, know things about Team Rocket, no matter how low you were. So you're a liability to the group. Raticate, go!" Out of Cassidy's pokeball emerged a snarling Raticate. Jessie looked toward Seviper and James toward Carnivine while returning their remaining Pokemon to their pokeballs.
"Carnivine, Bullet Seed!" James ordered and the Bug Catcher Pokemon leapt forward, firing grassy bullets at Raticate who was peppered with the shots while Cassidy and Butch grimaced.
"Seviper, Poison Tail!" Jessie ordered and her loyal snakelike Pokemon threw its glowing purple tail, nailing Raticate in the stomach. Raticate flew backwards and hit Cassidy and Butch, sending them sprawling backwards. "Your Pokemon is pathetic Cassidy!" Jessie taunted to her rival who got up and brushed herself off. She rounded on Butch angrily.
"Why can't our Raticate beat their Pokemon?!" Cassidy yelled as Butch got up heatedly. But instead of Butch answering it was Meowth, both of the Rocket Four operatives turning towards their former compatriots.
"Dat would be because we've actually trained in the past year so dat Jessie could win lots of contests and become famous!" Meowth answered with a very smug look on his face. Cassidy glared and began to step forward when a harsher voice came from above.
"You two are more pathetic than I thought!" the voice said and as Jessie, James and Meowth looked up they saw the blonde haired form of Domino descending from a parachute and landing gracefully on the ground. But to the three former Rocket operatives she looked different. More haughty, more assured. Without another word spent she tossed a pokeball into the air and from it emerged a Houndoom. However, it didn't look like any Houndoom they had ever seen. It's eyes were alight with a menacing purple glow, and while that glow flickered occasionally, as though an electrical current were being distorted it looked more vicious than any Houndoom in the world. "You can't even deal with the losers…"
"Jess, get out of here!" James commanded in a harsh whisper; every contour of his face scrunched up in indignation. Jessie turned to her companion with a wild look on her face.
"Why?!" Jessie asked, wondering what would prompt James to make such a statement and she briefly saw Meowth extend his claws.
"You have a contest to get to Jess!" Meowth said with stiffness in his voice, indicating that neither the blue haired trainer nor her Pokemon friend were going to back down on this. "And besides…I don't like the looks of dis situation. So if anyone's going down wit a fight it'll be me and James!" Jessie began to have tears well up in her eyes.
"You'd do that…for me?" Jessie asked with a choked voice, surprised at the bravado her friends had mustered just to let her get away safely.
"Yes! Now go, Jessie! You're more important than us so go!" Jessie nodded sadly and returned Seviper to its pokeball before she began to run off but she looked back to see James and Meowth staring down Domino. Her fist clenched. She didn't know where James and Meowth had gotten such idiotic bravery, especially with that Houndoom on the playing field…but she wouldn't let it go to waste. James, Meowth, hold on tight and I'll get you soon…And Jessie ran off.
James and Meowth, meanwhile stared down Domino who had the most wicked of smirks on her face. Carnivine growled loudly and Houndoom bared its vicious fangs. Behind Domino, Cassidy and Butch stood cowering. They had no idea she was actually nearby and had come to check on their progress. That could only mean one thing. Domino was truly determined to finish James and Meowth off once and for all.
"Hey, Rocket Freak!" Meowth yelled angrily. "No one calls us losers but us, ya dig!" Domino sniggered. James stepped forward angrily.
"What are you laughing at? We'll stop you cold! Carnivine, Vine Whip!" James yelled and Carnivine quickly obeyed, vines shooting forward while Meowth ran alongside them.
"And you can try some of my Fury Swipes!" Meowth screamed while running at the Houndoom, his claws glinting malevolently. Domino smirked.
"Dodge and use Iron Tail on the ground!" Domino stated coolly and Houndoom obeyed, leaping into the air and then slamming its tail to the ground hard. Dust rose and obscured Houndoom from sight, meanwhile blinding Meowth who stepped back. "Now, Flamethrower!" Houndoom opened its maw and from it emerged a jet black stream of fire that seemed almost impossible and unreal. Nevertheless, Meowth twisted to avoid the flames and he did so, only snagging the tip of his tail. Carnivine, however, was consumed by it and James quickly called it back. The dust cleared as soon as Houndoom landed.
"Dat was only a tickle! We Meowths got nine lives!" Meowth asserted wildly and Domino just giggled creepily. "What, ain't ya gonna say somethin'!"
"So naïve…you're such idiots. How Giovanni ever let you work for Team Rocket is beyond me…oh, well, time to waste the remainder of your lives then." Domino said with a theatrical sigh.
"Hey, no one messes wit Team Rocket, ya hear?!" Meowth said with a sneer while James threw his next pokeball out, Cacnea emerging from it. Cacnea quickly tried to hug James but James dodged it and told it that this was no time for hugs. Domino's face now turned into one of rage.
"You don't get it. We are Team Rocket!" Domino said while ordering Houndoom forth.
"Cacnea, show them your Drain Punch!" James ordered and Cacnea ran forward, a green swirl of energy surrounding its arm as it aimed towards Houndoom. Houndoom attempted to dodge it but Cacnea punched upward viciously and nailed Houndoom, the Pokemon flying backward but soon it was on its feet. Cacnea and Meowth were running toward it and Domino snapped her fingers and Houndoom once more issued forth a bellowing of flames. This time, neither Pokemon were so lucky as they struck Cacnea and Meowth, pushing them back with brute strength until the flames forced them onto James and quickly consumed the entire group. Domino giggled as the group burned. Though when the flames receded, James and Mewoth got up, James returning Cacnea to its pokeball.
"How have you not quit yet?!" Domino said in shock as the two of them, though now battered and burned began crawling their way over to Domino.
"We're Team Rocket…we…never…quit." James asserted before he couldn't crawl anymore and collapsed. Domino's face was snarling now and she grabbed a red-colored pokeball from her belt.
"Then I guess its time to make Team Rocket blast off for the final time!" Domino said. And although her voice seemed calm, James and Meowth's tenacity made her angry inside. She tossed the pokeball into the air and from it emerged Rayquaza, roaring loudly. "Rayquaza, Hyper Beam!" James and Meowth looked up in fear as orange colored energy accumulated in Rayquaza's mouth. The two quickly held onto each other, fearing the worst and then the blast hit, the two of them flown away from the camp site…never to return. Domino quickly returned Rayqyaza to the pokeball before turning to Cassidy and Butch. "Some help you were."
And Domino walked off calmly.
Author's Note: I know…a short chapter but one that was necessary. For one thing, I wanted to show that Team Rocket is a part of this. But this chapter is more important for four reasons: 1) What just happened to Jessie, James and Meowth, 2) A certain description which you may want to pick out, 3) How cruel the Rocket Four are and, 4) The fact that the Rocket Four have captured Rayquaza. That's all for now though folks, however, I promise that Ash makes a return to the chapter scene next chapter as he continues his training. Until then, PLEASE REVIEW and Dare to Be Silly.