A/N: Hello everyone, I am back with chapter twenty - six of this story. here, we get some insight on how our trio is holding up.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon
Jessie, James and Meowth were annoyed. The bus they took from Fuchsia City would not take them the entire way to Crimson City. Instead, they had to make a stopover in Sable City were they currently waited.
"Why couldn't we have gone directly to Crimson City?" asked Meowth annoyed.
"No buses go directly there for Fuchsia." answered Meowth.
"It's not exactly the biggest city." mused Meowth.
"They don't even have a gym." noted James.
"Oh man, talk about sad." replied Meowth.
The two noticed Jessie hadn't said a thing.
"Are you okay?" asked James concerned.
Jessie snapped out of her daze.
"Just distracted." answered Jessie.
James looked up and noticed the local arena.
"That's where Bill and Cassidy ran their fake tournament when we briefly switched partners." noted James.
"I can't even remember why we were fighting to start with." noted Meowth.
"We failed to capture Pikachu...again." answered Jessie.
"But, at least we got one over on them by digging those holes they fell into." said James.
"Just like at the zoo in Fuchsia." added Meowth.
"I wonder what they're doing now?" asked Jessie.
"I never thought you'd have sympathy for Cassidy." confessed James.
Me either, but I'm seeing things a whole lot clearer these days." replied Jessie.
The three felt their stomachs rumble
"So7nds like we're hungry." noted James.
"I could eat." shrugged Jessie.
"I'm famished myself." said Meowth.
The three headed off for food.
"I saw a good pizzeria somewhere around here." said James.
The three wandered around a bit and found the pizzeria. They ordered two medium pizzas to eat. One for Jessie and the baby while Meowth and James should share the other. They could take out what they could eat. They got their food, paid and began eating. However, in between stuffing his face, James noticed Jessie still seemed distracted. She was eating, but there was something in her eyes that was worrying.
"Jessie, what's wrong?" asked James concerned.
"Nothing." answered Jessie.
"Please don't lie to me." requested James.
"I said nothing." growled Jessie.
James backed off, but Jessie let out a mournful sigh.
"I never thought this would be my life." confessed Jessie.
"None of us did." muttered Meowth.
"I always pictured bigger and better things for myself." continued Jessie.
Jessie had a slice of pizza.
"Not constant running around while being hunted." concluded Jessie.
"None of us could have expected this." shrugged James.
"I always had so little as a kid and I wanted better." said Jessie.
"I came from wealth and you weren't missing much." replied James.
"But you never lacked. You always had television, you could always buy plenty of food at the store, you never had to worry about having enough for heat during the winter." said Jessie sadly.
"But you know how shit my life was. I got out of their first chance I could." noted James.
"Your parents do suck Jimmy." stated Meowth.
"One time I purposefully got mud on the expensive rug just to piss them off." revealed James.
James and Meowth shared a hi-five over this.
"But the old saying is true: money can't buy you happiness." said James.
"Could have fooled me." sighed Jessie.
"You said that you never saw your life turning out this way." noted James.
"I guess I expected more out of life." said Jessie.
"Like what?" asked James curious.
"Not...this." answered Jessie.
James took another bite of pizza.
"Think about how much time we wasted chasing that twerp." said Jessie.
"It felt like over twenty years." groaned Meowth.
"We shouldn't focus on what ifs." said James.
"Yeah, we could be asking what if you married Jessabelle." noted Meowth.
"At least she got the message." sighed James.
"And I suppose she can't help us." mused Meowth.
"No way!" declared Jessie.
"It would be awkward and there's always the chance of my parents finding out." noted James.
"Of course." sighed Meowth flatly.
Meowth ate another bite of pizza when a thought crossed his mind.
"How are we paying for this?" asked Meowth worried.
"We had some leftover from when we worked for Christopher and a little that Annie and Oakley included to escape Fuchsia." answered Jessie.
"Good." replied Meowth in relief.
"But our funds are rapidly dwindling." said James worried.
"We've always gotten by before." shrugged Meowth.
Jessie became angered by this.
"But, not when we had a baby coming." said Jessie angrily.
"Okay sorry." replied Meowth surprised.
"What's wrong?" asked James.
"It's a combo of stress and hormones." answered Jessie.
James put his hand on Jessie's.
"We've got each other and that's a lot." said James.
Jessie chuckled.
"I swear I heard that in a song." said Jessie.
"Glad you're feeling better." said James.
The three finished and got to leave, but Meowth was slow to exit.
"Something wrong?" asked James concerned.
"No. Nothing at all." answered Meowth.
They three left and head to the Pokemon Center. They had trouble until they saw how small and inconspicuous it was. It seems the lack of a gym was partially to blame. The checked in for the night and got settled. However, James couldn't help but notice something seemed to be bothering Meowth. After Jessie had fallen asleep, James caught Meowth sneaking out of the room and followed him. Meowth went outside and looked at the moon.
"Something wrong?" asked James.
Meowth jumped into the air before crashing down.
"Geez, you scared me out of my fur." sighed Meowth.
"I know something is bugging you." stated James.
Meowth laughed nervously.
"I don't know what you're talking about.
"Come on." said James.
"Nothing is bothering me!" declared Meowth.
James took a second to think.
"Maybe a different strategy." thought James.
James held his hands up.
"Okay. I believe you." said James.
"Good." replied Meowth relieved.
"But, I can I hang out here with you?" asked James.
"I guess so." answered Meowth.
James joined Meowth in looking at the moon.
"It's beautiful." mused James.
"I can't help but think of Meowzy." confessed Meowth.
"The girl who broke your heart twice." said James surprised.
"Part of me will always pine for her. It's stupid, but I can't help it." explained Meowth.
"Love makes you do crazy things." shrugged James.
Meowth chuckled.
"Yeah, it does." agreed Meowth.
Meowth took a deep breath.
"James, I'm leaving in the morning." revealed Meowth.
"You can't be serious!" exclaimed James.
"I am." replied Meowth firmly.
"Why?" asked James surprised.
"It's time." answered Meowth.
"Remember when you quit Team Rocket because of how strong our bond was?!" asked James outraged.
"Yeah." answered Meowth flatly.
"Was that all a lie?!" asked James.
"I meant it." said Meowth.
Meowth shook his head.
"This isn't an easy decision for me Jimmy." said Meowth.
"Tell me what this is about." demanded James.
"It's no big deal." said Meowth.
"Of course, it is!" declared James.
"Look, you don't need me around." stated Meowth.
"What are you..." began James.
James remembered earlier.
"Does this have to do with money?" asked James.
Meowth winced giving James his answer.
"I don't get what your concern is." said James.
"We don't have much money and you don't need me taking up space." said Meowth.
"Is that what this is about?" asked James.
"If I wasn't here, you wouldn't have to worry about me." answered Meowth.
"Meowth, you are not taking up space." stated James.
"We're barely scrapping by!" cried Meowth.
"That won't last forever." state James.
"When will it end?!" asked Meowth.
James couldn't answer.
"Exactly." stated Meowth.
The two heard movement. They looked back to see Jessie.
"You're a dumbass." states Jessie.
"What are you doing here?" asked James surprised.
"I wasn't asleep. I was trying to sleep, but you two left so I followed you." answered Jessie.
Jessie was clearly uncomfortable.
"You need to sit down." said James.
"Whatever." replied Jessie stubbornly.
Jessie turned her attention back to Meowth.
"I don't know when, but this will end." said Jessie.
Meowth shook his head.
"But we won't break up!" snapped Jessie.
"But..." began Meowth.
"No buts!" cried Jessie.
Meowth was taken aback.
"We are a team and teams do not better abandon each other no matter what!" exclaimed Jessie.
Meowth was speechless.
"Besides, you can work with us. You always have." added Jessie.
Meowth began to tear up.
"Team Rocket forever." said Jessie.
"Um..." began James.
"You know what I meant." groaned Jessie.
"How about, the three of us forever." proposed James.
Jessie rolled her eyes.
"Whatever." sighed Jessie.
"The three of us forever." said James.
"The three of us forever." said Jessie.
They both looked at Meowth.
"The three of us forever!" cried Meowth.
The three went back to bed and left the next morning. They got on their connecting bus and departed from Sable City. Feeling better, the bus ride seemed to zoom by and at they at their destination. They arrived in Crimson City and exited the bus with what little they had. Crimson City beautiful with cherry blossom trees in the main park, but also small compared to major cities in Kanto.
"This could be a nice place to settle down." mused James.
"First, we need to find Gertrude." noted Jessie.
"Ane how are we going to do that?" asked Meowth curious.
James pulled out a small slip of paper.
Annie and Oakley gave me her address." revealed James.
"And why didn't you tell us that earlier?!" asked Jessie demanding.
James gulped.
"I...um..." began James.
"Never mind." groaned Jessie.
James let out a sigh of relief.
"How you holding up?" asked Meowth concerned.
"The sooner we'll get there the better." answered Jessie.
"And we'll get there together!" declared James.
"Yeah! All for one and one for all!" declared Meowth.
Jessie rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile.
A/N: That's where we'll end this chapter. A bit more laid back here with some development before things pick up again. Next time, the three meet Gertrude once more. Please review.