(A/N So, apparently the last chapter was short… this one is too. Whoops)

Chapter 35 .:. Old Habits Die Hard

Due to the success of our mission, Ariana insisted that we take a break before our next assignment. I was actually excited by the idea. I didn't want to go back to Team Rocket so soon.

The first thing I had done once getting on that boat was take the bed and fall asleep. The theft mission had been exhausting. I had managed to run across some interesting Pokémon while we were in Sinnoh, though. My eye had caught an adorable feline Pokémon. It was blue and black with a yellow star shaped tail. I decided that if I saw one when I wasn't nearly so exhausted, that I wanted one.

After waking up, I realized I had a decision to make. I pulled out my Pokegear and clutched it in my hand, debating whether or not to call Javelin's uncle. He had told me I could come back to his house after my "visit with my relatives" but at the same time it seemed strange to stay there without Javelin or Sparrow there.

I tucked the Pokegear back into my bag and decided I would think about it. I had a day long trip on this boat and I had other things I could do. I made my way out of the cabin and headed to the mess hall, hungry. On my way there, a young boy's gaze got caught on me.

When I noticed his eyes boring into me I turned and glared right back at him. "What?"

His eyes dropped down to the Pokeballs on my belt. He soon pulled out his own Pokeball and said, "I'm bored, I want to battle you!"

"We're on a cruise ship, you do realize that. Right?"

"I don't care!"
"This is so random." I was about to turn away when he shouted, "Battle me!" I let out an annoyed huff and threw Seadra's Pokeball to the floor, letting out my water type. "Fine, let's see what you can do! But you better lose fast, I was on my way to eat!"

Seadra stretched out its fins and I noticed the Dragon Scale I had given it to hold, clenched tightly between its regular scales. I was right when I had said it was too big to be a Seadra's scale. I had no idea what Javelin had been talking about.

"Alright!" the boy exclaimed. "Finally! Go Shinx!" he threw out his own Pokeball and out popped the black and blue Pokémon I had noticed when he had been escaping Sandgem Town. My eyes widened on it. I need an electric type Pokémon so badly to fix my team's weakness to water types.

"Seadra, Twister!" I commanded and it sucked in air into its snout, before releasing a huge tornado that picked up the little Pokémon and launched it into a wall where the tornado broke apart into bursts of wind.

"Shinx, discharge!" the other Pokémon reared itself back as it made a huge charge of electricity before slamming its front two paws into the ground, launching the current through the ground towards Seadra. My Pokémon leapt into the air and fired a Hydro Pump at the other Pokémon, who was sent flying backwards, not expecting the move. As I felt the last of the electrical current makes its way into the ground I leapt back, shocked.

I was impressed. Usually a discharge was unnoticeable to the trainers, no more powerful than a shock of static electricity from a doorknob. The fact I had felt the shock and had jumped from it, meant that not only did it spread far from its point of contact, but it was strong. This little Pokémon had lots of electricity stored in it. Was that normal for its species, or was this a stronger one?

"Tackle!" the boy commanded. I was completely distracted and didn't notice as his Pokémon slammed into mine, launching it into a wall. For a Pokémon a bit more than half the size of its opponent, that Shinx had caused my Seadra to leave quite a dent in the wall.

I felt the same creeping urge I'd had when I had first seen my Arcanine as a Growlithe in his posh mansion, as I had watched it tackle into furniture and break it down and burn things in its excitement. I was watching a strong Pokémon that I knew I deserved. It had been almost five years since I had stolen Growlithe. And he had been in a lifestyle completely unsuitable for him.

I stared at the Shinx as it tried to bite my Pokémon, only for Seadra to use Dragon Rage and launch it away. The Shinx seemed to be enjoying itself, and his trainer seemed to be a good match for him.

I had already pulled off my biggest heist since I had begun my life of theft. I had selfishly stolen so many valuables and Pokémon already in my life. Was I really ready to steal a Pokémon, not out of concern, like with Growlithe. Not out of need, like with Eevee. But out of pure selfishness?

Frustrated and unable to decide, I barked at Seadra, "Brine, now!" I wanted to watch this Shinx go down and get back at this boy for causing me this dilemma. Why did he have to challenge me? The Shinx was lifted up by the barrage of salt water from my Seadra and fell unconscious before it hit the ground. Seadra let out a pleased snort, glad to have proved his strength.

"What?" the boy dashed over to his Pokémon, "How could you have lost! You're an electric type, it's a water type! You should have won!"

"Don't blame your Pokémon for your failure. I'm just the better trainer." I stated as I recalled Seadra back to his Pokeball. "But you are right, it should have beaten Seadra." I smirked as I watched anger draw itself onto the boy's face.

"I'm a great trainer! You're just full of yourself! I should have won!" He pouted, "Let me see your Seadra. You must have given it something to make it so strong!" He held his hand out obnoxiously, as though I had to give him the Pokeball simply because he demanded it. I pulled my arm back, wondering who he thought he was. "C'mon, you're not showing me because you know I'm right!"

"Watch your mouth kid. I don't trust a brat like you with my Pokémon. Give me your Shinx and I'll let you look at my Seadra. He nodded vigorously and put his Shinx into a Pokeball before handing it to me. We made the trade and the Pokeball with Seadra in it immediately bust open, revealing that Seadra was glowing. My jaw dropped. Could Seadra evolve?

It changed into a much larger Pokémon, nearly as tall as the boy. Its snout thinned and two elegant fins broke out from the gills on its cheeks. I stared at the new Pokémon, amazed. I noticed the scales of the Pokémon were the same as the one I had given my Seadra to hold. Had one of the scales of this Pokémon triggered my Seadra to become it? Had Javelin known that? Was that why he gave it to me?

"Whoa! A Kingdra!" the boy stated, impressed. "Now, if this thing had beaten my Pokémon, I'd have understood." He recalled my newly evolved Pokémon into its Pokeball when the boat suddenly stopped moving, causing me to lurch forward.

An intercom came on, saying, "We have now arrived in Vermillion City. Next destination, Olivine City."

"Sweet!" the boy tossed Kingdra's Pokeball to me and ran off toward the exit of the ship. I simply remained still holding two Pokeballs in my hands. How could he have forgotten that I had his Shinx?

I stood where I was, waiting for him to come back.

He didn't.

I looked down at the Shinx's Pokeball and stared at the unconscious Pokémon. I shook my head, wondering what kind of a trainer could forget about their Pokémon. My hand clenched tightly around the Pokeball, as I was reminded of the negligent trainers I had met that led me to my life of crime in the first place.

I clipped the two Pokeballs to my belt, waiting for the ship to head to Olivine.