*~~*Chapter Twenty: Another Morning in Hell: Silver's Viewpoint*~~*

I awoke to not only the sharp burn of the overhead lights, but the sound of heavy snores resonating from my couch. With a groan of protest, I slowly sat up and peered over the edge of my bed. To my frustration, I found my apprentice sprawled out on the couch with her Typhlosion curled up just below her hand. The beast's flames were gone as it slept, its chest rising and falling in perfect time with its master.

"Ugh..." I felt my head pound once again as I slipped out of bed and walked over to my apprentice's side. With a violent shove and a quick jab in her side, I managed to wake her from her slumber.

"Nngh," She seemed to be in a daze for a few seconds before jumping to her feet and saluting me—despite the fact that I was standing here in my favorite silk robe and glaring at her with frustration. "I'm awake, sir! Good morning!"

"Shut your mouth." She seemed taken aback by my tired mumble. "Don't talk until I've gotten dressed, eaten breakfast and it's past nine in the morning. Otherwise, not a peep from you."

She opened her mouth to respond but instead slammed it shut and nodded. I simply rolled my eyes and jabbed the air towards the door.

"Go wait out there while I change, apprentice. Then it's straight to breakfast for you."

She gave me a nod before heading towards the door with clumsy feet. I frowned before rolling my eyes and heading for my dresser.

Time soon found us once again in the elevator, waiting for our floor with tired eyes and impatient stomachs. I glanced at my apprentice to find her nearly falling asleep on her feet, swaying back and forth for a few moments. I rolled my eyes and snapped my fingers, the action startling her out of that state and making her feet scramble to grab a firm hold on the floor.

"Wake up, apprentice! I won't tolerate you falling asleep in the elevator or frankly any other location!" I turned to her with a glare to find her rubbing her eyes quickly as if to wake herself up. "The next time I see it, I expect you to drop to your hands and knees and give me twenty push-ups!"

"Yes sir!" The call came out as a squeal of attention just as the elevator doors opened. I just shook my head with disapproval and walked out the doors, not even waiting for her to catch up.

The cafeteria was not as empty as our last breakfast run, proving to me yet again that I had accidentally slept in this morning and therefore delayed my apprentice's training. I frowned as the more early rising grunts gave me a salute as I passed by, rising to their feet in a wave of uniformity and saluting in perfect timing with the one before them. In the eyes of anyone else, this small act would seem quite amazing. After all, it's not every day that a group of one-hundered individuals can time their hails at the perfect time, making it so that I was constantly in a state of being saluted.

But all I cared about at this moment was getting something to fill the void in my stomach and to feed my most likely starving apprentice.

I slammed my fist on the counter with a scowl as my scrambling apprentice finally caught up to me, her eyes eagerly watching the kitchen doors for my chef. I waited for an excruciating two minutes before deciding to just call out the orders myself.

"Frederic! Get your sautéing rear out here and make it snappy! I'm late on my caffeine as it is here!"

The moment my words left my mouth, out burst the Kalosian-born chef with a tray in hand and a song on his tongue. I just glared as he placed the platter of Carvanha fillets and Tomato berries. I raised an eyebrow at his choice of fish but ultimately shrugged and decided that the lack of coffee was more important.

"And the coffee, Frederic?"

The man lifted a thick finger into the air and spun around with a grin, leaving my apprentice staring at the plate with questioning eyes.

"Sir," I looked out of the corner of my eyes to find her swallowing and cocking her head at the fillet. "What kind of fish is that?"

"It's Carvanha, you pest."

Her eyes widened before she gave it a pitiful whimper. "But I thought Carvanha was poisonous, sir..."

I rolled my eyes with a growl. "Not if it's been prepared properly, apprentice. Do you actually think I would waste my time in poisoning you at this point?" I looked at her with cold eyes as her hazel eyes seemed to gain some odd shimmer in them. "It would be an utter waste of my time to kill something I bothered to train."

She blinked for a moment before nodding with a small smile. I opened my mouth to speak but was cut off by Frederic smashing the doors open with his hip as he carried a cup of steaming coffee on a small platter.

I found myself grinning at the blood-red mug as he set it down beside my breakfast. "Here you are, sir! One steaming cup of coffee, extra strong and bold just as you like it."

"Good." I lifted the platter off the counter with a nod and turned back towards the door. I had only walked a few steps when Frederic suddenly called out to me.

"Oi! Sir!" I looked over my shoulder to find him staring at us with wide eyes. "Your Persian was down here a few hours ago."

I raised an eyebrow as my apprentice stiffened beside me. "Alonso was here this morning?"

"Oui!" He nodded before straightening his long white coat. "He requested a breakfast of roast Farfetch'd and then carried it off down the hall. I thought you might want to know about it, sir."

I found myself growling as I recalled the distinct lack of mangy cat in my chambers this morning. What in the world could that cat be up to? Why would he order his breakfast and take it... It was then that I recalled another feature on this floor.

Alonso had taken his breakfast to the exact location we were heading.

The moment my apprentice finished her meal, we quickly headed for the tenth floor once again. I made sure to hurry us along, feeling the clock ticking away every precious second we could be using to train as he nearly ran down the hall.

I stopped as we found ourselves at the last door on this floor, the heavy black metal door blocking any of the sounds from the inside of the room from reaching the hall. I placed my thumb on the scanner and smirked as the locked clicked.

"Welcome apprentice," I swung the door open and smiled as her eyes grew wide. "This is the Combat Room."

I lead her inside of the room of shouting grunts and brawling individuals, watching on as the training members of my organization dodged and flung punches with a heated energy. I let my apprentice take in the sights as I scanned the room, searching for the traitorous feline.

There you are. I found Alonso waiting beside the farthest ring from the door, almost as if he was waiting for someone. Just what are you planning, pesky fleabag? I motioned for my apprentice to follow me as I headed towards the Classy Cat Pokémon, the girl scrambling after me with a squeak.

Alonso's tail swished for a few moments before he noticed me storming over towards him. He quickly leapt to his feet and dashed over to us, weaving around the practicing grunts and snaking his way around fallen fighters.

"Master!" He grinned as he headed towards us, my apprentice taking every step as if it were her last. "Master, you've arrived at last!" I frowned as he sat in mid-stride and slid to my feet. He looked up at me almost as if he were a simple Meowth again, his eyes gleaming with a lost innocence.

"Just what are you doing here, Alonso?"

He flicked towards the circle on the ground with a grin. "I was simply saving you the exact ring you used for your training, Master! I thought you might wish to use the same one again, so I came down here to reserve it."

I frowned as I recalled my first time in the Combat Room. At first, I was utterly hopeless and lost every fight. But, after a few all-night training sessions, I managed to become one of the best close-combat fighters Team Rocket had to offer. I glared at the floor as I found myself searching for a certain mark on the floor.

And there it is. I felt myself smiling slightly as I found a faded bloodstain on the floor. Ah, the splatter of my first victim's blood. I certainly messed that nose up with that punch. I'm certain that he ended up having to go to the Medical Wing for that one, actually.

I turned around to find my apprentice looking at that prized mark of triumph with horror. I frowned and shook my head.

And I'm certain that she'll leave a new mark on the floor today. One of her own blood.

"Alright apprentice," I slipped out of my jacket and purposely hurled it at Alonso's face. The Persian let out a muffled yowl of shock before finding himself stuck inside of the black fabrics. I turned back to my apprentice to find her giving me wide eyes of horror.

"It's time you learned how to handle yourself in a fight."

Author's Note: Look at me being all bold with my title here... I'm referring to the place, not using it as profanity. Let's face it, Team Rocket headquarters would be a living nightmare! So, I think the name is appropriate here.

I love seeing how hyped you guys are about Latias and Latios! It makes me really happy to see you all so excited! Alonso's up to no good again, most likely. Either that, or he expects Silver to totally pound his apprentice in the next chapter. Who are you rooting for in the next battle? Whoever may win, it's certain to be a thrilling match!

(As the author of this story, I feel I must tell you to be on the lookout for small details. Some serious stuff is on the horizon, and I'd prefer you guys tell me what you see and keep your eyes open for little clues. Nothing makes me happier than attentive, detail-finding readers!)