"I wonder where the twerp went?" James said to himself.
Just then, he heard a sound.
"Pika! Pikachu."
"Ah-ha!" James squeaked.
Quickly, he ran behind a bush and hid before Ash and Pikachu could see him.
Ash let out a yawn.
"Uhhm. I'm getting tired, aren't you, Pikachu?"
"Pika!" the Pokemon shouted happily.
"How about you, Meowth?"
"Me...owth..." Meowth said while looking at the ground.
Ash looked at him curiously for a few seconds before reaching out to pet him.
"Aw, cheer up, buddy."
Meowth swatted his hand away with a weak scratch attack.
"Ow! What was that for?" Ash asked.
Pikachu yelled and sparked its cheeks.
"Meowth. Meow." Meowth said, defiantly.
"Pika-Pika-chu!" Pikachu yelled.
The cat Pokemon winced as if bracing for an attack, then when none came, he looked around, sighed, and kept walking.
Is that Meowth? He looks absolutely miserable. James thought.
Ash turned around and scolded Meowth.
"You know, when people are trying to help you, the least you can do is be grateful," Ash scolded.
"Pika-Pi-Ka!," Pikachu shouted, apparently agreeing with his trainer.
"Meowth!" Meowth yelled.
James almost couldn't take it. It was taking almost everything he had to not jump out of his hiding spot, scold Ash, and rescue Meowth. He tightened his fist around his only Pokeball and seriously considered ambushing Ash at that moment.
What am I doing? My Pokemon can't beat that Pikachu, and what if I get blasted off and can't find his campsite again? James thought.
Reluctantly, James decided to put the Pokeball back on his belt and continue following Ash and Meowth. When he put the Pokeball back on his belt, though, the leaves shifted, making a rustling sound. James froze and stayed stock still once he realized his mistake.
The two Pokemon stopped and looked at the bush where James was hiding with curiosity.
"Pika. Pika?"
"Meowth. Meowth?"
Oh no. Did they find me? James thought.
"Come on, everyone, let's keep moving. Camp is only a little ways ahead," Ash said, oblivious to the commotion.
James gave a silent sigh of relief.
Back at camp, Ash had settled in for the night. Meowth was out looking at the moon, and Pikachu was still keeping an eye on him.
"Pika-pika," Pikachu said sadly.
"I-I guess they really aren't comin' huh?" Meowth said. There were little tears pricking the sides of the cat Pokemon's eyes.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said, shaking his head.
Meowth's small tears turned into big loud sobs.
"They, they said they would always be there for me. They said they would always be my friends," Meowth said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said. The little mouse Pokemon walked around and quietly stroked the cat Pokemon.
"Ah, that feels good. It reminds-it reminds me of when James used to brush me!" Meowth said, breaking into another fit of sobs.
"Pika Pika Meowth, calm down. It's okay," Pikachu said.
"You-you have no idea how much I miss 'em. They were the closest thing to a family I had!" Meowth said, tears still falling.
"Pika-chu Meowth? The closest thing to a family? I feel sorry for you if that's true," Pikachu said.
"Whadda mean you feel sorry for me if that's true?" Meowth asked.
"Pika-chu chu," Pikachu said.
Meowth yowled in anger.
"You know, I'm really tired of you insulting my friends. You don't know 'em like I do. You just think that because they sometimes do bad things they aren't capable of doing good things. Well, I'll have you know, I'm probably the worst out of that silly group of Team Rocket agents, meaner than Jessie, cattier than James, and they still love me," Meowth said.
"Yet here you are, talking with me instead of being with your 'friends.'" Pikachu said.
"I really don't like the way you said friends just now," Meowth said.
"I'm sorry, Meowth. It's just that maybe you should-"
Pikachu stopped talking and started angrily sparking his cheeks.
"What's wrong?" Meowth asked.
"I see Team Rocket!" Pikachu said.
"Which ones?" Meowth asked.
"The lavender-haired man...and I don't see the red-haired lady," Pikachu said.
Meowth's ears perked up.
"Ha ha! My friends! I knew they'd come back for me!" Meowth said. The cat Pokemon was almost dancing.
"Pikachu...don't get your hopes up, Meowth; they're probably just here to try to steal me," Pikachu said.
Meowth looked over at Pikachu and frowned at him.
"Meowth?" James shouted.
"You hear that? They're here for me!" Meowth said.
"Be careful. I don't trust them," Pikachu said.
"Well, I do," Meowth said.
"Meowth, are you here?" James asked.
Meowth bounded down the hill he and Pikachu were on and jumped into James' arms.
"Meowth! I-I thought I would never see you again!" James said as he pulled him into an embrace. Tiny tears were pricking James' eyes.
"Meowth. Meowth," Meowth said, nuzzling against him.
"Do you-do you want to come back with us and be Team Rocket's Meowth?" James asked.
Meowth nodded his head.
"Is-is everything okay?" James asked.
Meowth shook his head.
"What's wrong?" James asked. There was a look of concern in his eyes.
"Meow. Meowth," Meowth said. The Pokemon then opened his mouth and pointed to his tongue.
"Do your...teeth hurt?" James asked.
Meowth shook his head and sighed.
"Can you still talk?" James asked.
"Mo," Meowth said while shaking his head.
"Oh, I see," James said.
"Meow. Meowth, Meowth but just because I can't talk anymore doesn't mean I'm not the same Meowth. Please, please, don't abandon me," Meowth pleaded.
James noticed tears in the Pokemon's eyes.
"Meowth, are you crying?" James asked. The lavender-haired Team Rocket member pulled the little Pokemon into an embrace.
"It's-it's okay, Meowth. We'll get through this together old friend," James said.
"Meowth Meowth," Meowth said, hanging his head.
James looked Meowth directly in his slit cat eyes.
"Listen, you're our friend no matter what. You're the same to us, whether you can talk or not.
"Meow Meow?" Meowth asked.
"Yes, I mean it!" James said, guessing at what Meowth was trying to say.
"Meow Meowth? Are-are you sure you aren't going to just leave me in a box at headquarters if you get tired of me?"
Meowth looked at James with pleading eyes. This felt like-fear? James must have read it clearly in his expression.
"We won't abandon you. I promise. I'll-I'll learn how to speak Pokemon if I have to," James said.
Meowth wrapped his arms tightly around James' neck.
James laughed a hearty gleeful laugh.
"To be honest, I-I kind of enjoy you like this; you're usually not this expressive," James said.
"Meowth," Meowth said.
Pikachu was a little confused about what he was watching. It seemed like a happy reunion with a human and a Pokemon, but he just wasn't too sure. It didn't feel wrong exactly. The only issue is Meowth was trusting his life with members of Team Rocket. Just the thought gave Pikachu chills.
The little mouse Pokemon studied the scene and wondered what he should do. Should he trust Meowth's clouded judgment and this human's often insincere words? If this were any other Pokemon, he'd warn it to stay as far away from Jessie and James as it could, but this was their Meowth, albeit a different version than what they were used to...
That's what bothered Pikachu; he imagined what life would really be like for Meowth once they got him back to their base and decided he wasn't worth anything because he couldn't talk. He'd probably go wherever unwanted Pokemon go, and that probably wasn't a nice place. Pikachu shuttered.
With only a little hesitation, the mouse Pokemon leaped in front of James, cheeks sparking.
"Pi-KA!" Pikachu warned.
James shrieked and backed away.
"Pika...Pikachu!" Pikachu yelled.
"Look, I just came here for my friend is all. I don't want any trouble," James said.
"Pikachu?" Pikachu asked.
"Meowth?" Meowth yelped still in James' arms.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu shouted again, sparking its cheeks.
"Meowth? Meowth? Hey! What gives, Pikachu? You said you'd let me leave if they came back for me."
"Pika! Pikachu Ash hasn't traded you back. Let me wake him up and let him know."
"What's he saying, Meowth?" James asked out of habit.
"Meowth Meowth," Meowth tried to explain.
James listened intently to Meowth's chatter wishing that he understood what Meowth was saying.
He then shook his head and sighed, "Oh yeah, I forgot."
Meowth sighed and looked at the ground.
"Cheer up, we'll-we'll figure something out," James said, patting the cat Pokemon reassuredly.
Pikachu, who was still standing there sparked his cheeks.
"Pika chu move out of the way, Meowth," Pikachu said.
"Only if you promise not to hurt my friend; he didn't even do anything to you this time!" Meowth said.
"Ka-chu," Pikachu said, nodding his head.
Cautiously, Meowth stepped away from James and started to follow Pikachu.
"Meowth? Where are you going? Don't-don't you want to be with us?" James asked.
Meowth turned around and nodded his head.
"Then, why are you leaving?" James asked, pleading in his eyes.
"Meowth..."
"Pikachu..." Pikachu said, shaking his head.
James sat down on the ground crying as he watched his friend walk away.
"Do you know how badly we hurt Jimmy's feelings just now?" Meowth asked.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said indifferently.
Pikachu went to Ash's tent and tried to wake him up.
"Oh...Pikachu? What's going on, buddy?" Ash asked.
"Pika Pikachu...Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu yelled.
"Team Rocket? Here?" Ash said, alarm in his voice.
Ash quickly got dressed in his Pokemon battle attire, complete with a Pokebelt with four Pokeballs, one belonging to Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and a Great Ball belonging to Meowth.
Meowth quietly pattered into Ash's tent, feeling kind of like an unwelcomed guest. There were tears in the cat Pokemon's eyes.
"What's wrong, Meowth?"
"Meowth! Meowth!" Meowth yelled in frustration.
"Pikachu, can you translate?" Ash asked.
"Pi-Pik-Pikachu!" Pikachu yelled.
Ash had a confused look on his face.
Pikachu ran up to his Pokebelt, unlatched Meowth's Pokeball and let it fall onto the ground.
"Pika-pika-Pikachu..." Pikachu said.
Ash removed his hat and scratched his head.
"So...two words...sounds like "charade"...starts with a "t"...tcharade? ...oh trade!" Ash said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said, nodding his head.
"Okay...second word..."
"Pi Pikachu..."
"Okay, sounds like 'rocket'"
"Pik" Pikachu said shaking his head.
"Okay...is 'rocket?'"
Pikachu nodded his head.
"Pi Pikachu..."
"Team Rocket?"
"Pik,"
Ash's expression darkened a bit as he continued to try to figure out what Pikachu was trying to say.
"So...Meowth wants me to trade with Team Rocket, huh?"
Meowth picked up the Pokeball that fell on the ground and pointed to himself.
"Oh, Meowth wants me to trade him to Team Rocket?"
"Pik," Pikachu said.
"Normally, I'd say no, Meowth...but...if that's really where you want to go..." Ash said.
Meowth nodded his head.
"First time I think I've ever had a Pokemon I caught tell me they want to go with Team Rocket," Ash said dryly.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?" Ash asked.
Meowth nodded his head.
Ash sighed.
"It's up to you, and if that's what you want to do, that's what we'll-"
"Pika Pika Pikachu Ash, I'm not sure about that. Do you think he'll be safe there?" Pikachu asked.
"It's his choice, Pikachu..." Ash said.
"Cha...I guess you're right," Pikachu said, shaking his head.
"Meowth I'll be fine. Jessy and Jimmy wouldn't hurt me," Meowth said.
"Pikachu...Meowth, from my perspective, that statement couldn't be more false, just think about what they try to do to me on a pretty regular basis," Pikachu said.
"Meowth that's different. You're a prized battling Pokemon, and..." Meowth said.
"Pika, the only difference I see is one of us could communicate with humans and was therefore seen as a valuable tool," Pikachu said.
Meowth folded his paws and stuck his nose in the air.
"I don't care what you say, I want to go back to Team Rocket!" Meowth yowled, claws out.
"Okay, you two, let's break it up," Ash said.
"Pikachu,"
"Meowth,"
Ash stared at Meowth, hoping he wasn't making the wrong decision.
Author's Note: So, what do you think about the newest chapter? I'm open to revising it if the story didn't go where you expected it to or if I think of something better. As always feedback is appreciated.