Chapter 7: The Hated Boss's Comeback
In Po Town, life was more dreary than usual for the ragtag bunch of misfits calling them Team Skull. Ever since The Alola League had wrapped up, Guzma had retreated into his room, completely withdrawn from the world. Without his leadership, the grunts were lost. Sometimes they might go out and try to steal Pokemon, but most of the time they couldn't even muster up the courage to do even that. Eventually, Plumeria lost her patience.
"Guzma, come on out."
"I don't wanna."
"Guzma, I'm serious! You can't stay in there and feel sorry for yourself your entire life."
"Watch me."
"Guzma, if you don't open this door right now, so help me I will-"
"Alright, fine! Geez, can't a guy get a little privacy in here?"
Begrudgingly, Guzma opened the door, his signature scowl plastered all over his face.
"Happy?"
"Do I look happy? Come on Guzma, lead this team! They're lost without you!"
"Yeah boss, we can't do nothing right!"
"What's our next plan?"
Guzma snorted, grabbing his jacket off of the couch he had thrown it a month ago.
"The plan? The plan is I'm done! Team Skull is over, caput, donzo!"
"What? Boss, you can't mean that!"
"Yeah man, we're a family!"
"Guzma, get back here! We deserve an explanation!"
"I'm going for a walk. If you're still here when I get back, maybe I'll give you one."
Before anyone could say anything, Guzma stormed out the door, not even flinching as the rain soaked his clothes. He didn't care where he went, he just had to get away from there. Away from the people he had failed...
After what felt like hours, Guzma found himself on the outskirts of Malie City. Still mad, he kicked a can across the street, hands in his pockets while he muttered to himself.
"Stupid Plumeria, stupid Tupp, stupid everybody. Why do they even follow me? I can't do anything right."
It was all that kid's fault. The stupid kid from Kanto with the Pikachu. Oh, how he made his blood boil!
"Grr, next time I get my hands on that kid i'll...i'll...oh, what's the use!"
Defeated, Guzma plopped down on the bench, just letting the rain soak him even more as he wallowed in his misery.
"Face it Guzma, you're no good to anybody. Just like your old man always said..."
"HELP!"
Jolting up, Guzma saw a little girl, no more than 6, crying a few feet away. Concerned, Guzma walked over to her.
"Hey kid, what's wrong?"
"I...I was walking home with my mommy, and then it started to rain, and all of a sudden this swarm of Beedrill come and attack us, and in our panic I lost her, and now I'm all muddy, and I...I JUST WANT TO GO HOME!"
Guzma flinched as her volume spiked, before reassuringly patting her on the shoulder.
"Alright, come on. Let's go find your mommy."
"R-really? You'll help me find her?"
"Yeah. I may not be the nicest guy, but even I can't ignore a kid crying for help."
The girl immediately jumped up, throwing herself around his midsection.
"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"Can't...breathe..."
After she had told him where she last saw her mother, Guzma gently guided the girl back there, making sure to cover her with his jacket so she didn't get wet.
"Sarah! Sarah!"
At last, they saw a woman in her 30's running around, desperately calling out for someone.
"That her?"
"Yes! Mommy, over here!"
The woman, seeing her daughter running toward her, breathed a sigh of relief before hugging her as tightly as she could.
"Sarah, thank goodness!"
"I'm sorry, I was scared and..."
"No, I'm sorry. I should've made sure I could see you before fleeing. Are you alright? You're not hurt are you?"
"Just wet and muddy. That man over there helped me find you!"
Her mother walked over to Guzma, making him flinch. At first he thought she was going to slap him, but instead she gave him a big hug too. Apprehensively, he returned it.
"Thank you so much for helping her. She didn't give you too much trouble, did she?"
"Nah, she was a good kid. You two stay safe, alright."
"We will. Come on Sarah, let's get you home."
"Ok, mommy. Thanks, Mr. Guzma!"
Guzma smiled and waved to them as they left. Despite being completely drenched, and probably having a cold, Guzma felt warm inside. He never thought he'd say it, but it felt good to help other people. Maybe...just maybe...he wasn't a failure after all.
"Where is he? He's been gone for hours!"
"I hope he's alright?"
"Don't you guys get it? He's ditched us, gone AWOL. He's not coming back."
Plumeria glared at Tupp, shutting him up real quick.
"Guzma would never do that. He may be insensitive, but we're his family. And he would never abandon his family."
As if on cue, the door flung open dramatically, and in strutted Guzma.
"Guzma, you're back!"
"Are you okay?"
"Is Team Skull still disbanded?"
"Disbanded, are you kidding me? We gotta stick together, man! But that walk taught me something. We need to get our act together, cause otherwise we're not getting anywhere in life. So as of right now, Team Skull is going on the straight and narrow, you follow me?"
The three grunts nodded in fear, making Guzma smirk.
"Good, now get some rest. I want you all up first thing tomorrow morning, you hear?"
"Sir, yes sir!"
The grunts scattered, making Plumeria snicker at their ineptitude. Guzma reared on her, shutting her up.
"What're you laughing at? That goes double for you!"
With that, Guzma stormed off back to his room. Plumeria smiled.
"He's back."