Chapter VIII: Professor Oak
"So, who is this professor, anyway?" Gatomon asked. They had to move around Viridian City in order to reach Pallet. Since Meowth was certain that his daring theft had been discovered by now he insisted on moving under the protection of the trees, which made for a long walk.
"Oh, when it comes to anyting involving Pokémon Professor Oak is da authority," Meowth said. "He loves Pokémon an' he is the smartest human I know of."
"So he's sympathising with Team Rocket?" Gatomon asked.
"Not at all," Meowth answered. "He really hate's 'em. Dat's why we're going dere."
"Okay," Gatomon said. "I think."
A low hum was heard in the air. As it grew in strength, Meowth quickly pulled himself and Gatomon into a shrubbery. A helicopter appeared over the forest, sweeping back and forth as if it was looking for something. Meowth and Gatomon kept themselves hidden the best they could, and soon the chopper left.
"A chopper!" Meowth said. "Boy, are dey after Meowth!"
"Then we better hurry," Gatomon said. "The sooner we get to this professor the better."
The walk took the entire day, since they had to hide for several choppers swooping by. When they arrived at Pallet they were both hungry and tired.
"Professor Oak's house is right ova 'dare," Meowth said and pointed.
"Let's just hope he'll help us," Gatomon said.
Professor Oak's day had been nothing out of the ordinary. Most of the Pokémon in his custody were taking their naps, and he himself was just about to prepare a nice meal to himself.
"Were did I put that frying pan?" he said, searching through his entire kitchen. He finally found it and was just about to open the fridge when he heard the doorbell.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"There are two Pokémon outside, one Meowth and one Unidentified," his computer informed him.
"A unidentified?" he said. "Outside my house? O'boy! This must be my lucky day!"
He rushed over to the door and opened it, still holding the frying pan.
"Hello, my little friend," he said. "I'm so glad that you…" his eyes suddenly fell on Meowth.
"Hello," Meowth said nervously and winked with his paw.
"You!" Oak shouted and raised the frying pan over his head. "How dare you come here, you lousy Team Rocket lackey?"
"Wait!" Gatomon hurried to say. "He's not all bad! He has left Team Rocket and we need help!"
"Ha, sure!" Oak said. "How much did he pay you to say that?"
"But it's true," Meowth said. "Look, Professor, Meowth knows we had our differences, but if yous don't help us we're done for!"
Professor Oak looked down on the two cats and slowly lowered his frightful weapon.
"I'm going to regret this," he muttered. "Oh, all right, you two can come in."
"Oh, tank yous!" Meowth cried happily.
"But don't try any tricks!" the professor said. "Or you will meet the wrong end of my frying pan!"
Gatomon found that the professor indeed was a kind man who cared greatly for Pokémon. He had a huge number of them in his house, but claimed that they all belonged to different Pokémon trainers from Pallet. His fascination about her only grew when he learned that she was indeed not a Pokémon but a Digimon, but unlike Giovanni and the rest of Team Rocket he saw her as a living, intelligent being with the right to her own freedom. He listened carefully to their story while eating a late supper, which they both happily gobbled up. When they were finished, Professor Oak spoke.
"A very intriguing tale," he said. "I seem to have misjudged you, Meowth. Please except my apologies."
"No problem," Meowth assured him. "I wouldn't trust Meowth either."
"But tell me, can you help me get home to my own world?" Gatomon asked.
"I wish I could tell you yes, my dear Gatomon," Professor Oak said with a sad smile. "I really do, but I've specialised in Pokémon to the point were it has become my life, and I know very little about inter-dimensional travel and alternative worlds."
"Oh," Gatomon said and looked down on her plate. "I… I understand."
"But…" Oak said, as if he suddenly remembered something. "All hope may not be lost yet."
"What're ya thinkin', Prof?" Meowth asked.
"I'll tell you in the morning," Professor Oak said. "It'll be a long shot, and I'll have to call in a few favours but there is someone…" he seemed to be lost in his thoughts until he returned to the present. "Well, you two must be very tired. I reckon neither of you want to sleep in a Pokéball?"
"Now way!" Gatomon frowned.
"No tanks," Meowth said and shook his head.
"Then I'll see if I can't arrange some kind of beds for you," Oak smiled. "Come on."
Later, Gatomon came over to the large basked were Meowth was to sleep that night. The Pokémon sat up when he noticed her.
"I never apologised properly for what I said before," she said. "Look, I'm sorry for calling you a traitor and all. I didn't realise how much you sacrificed just to help me."
"No, yous were right," Meowth said. "Meowth's never done anything ta be proud of. Ya made me remember a very important ting; Pokémon aren't evil, they just do evil tings sometimes."
"I don't understand," Gatomon said.
"Yous made me realise dat I couldn't go on pretending I don't have feelings for others dan myself and my team. Meowth had been tryin' to be human for so long he forgot dat he's always been Pokémon."
Gatomon smiled. "Hey, we're friends, right?"
"Yeah, we are," Meowth said and returned the smile. Gatomon had sudden impulse and reached over to hug Meowth tightly. Meowth blushed slightly but returned the hug. When they let go, both felt a little uncomfortable about the situation.
"Well, sleep tight," Gatomon said.
"You to," Meowth said.
Gatomon returned to her own bed and Meowth lay his head on his pillow and smiled. Sure, he was hunted by Team Rocket, had a fortune offered for his head and if the organisation ever got to him he would suffer a fate that would make Marquise de Sade's most exquisite method of pain and suffering look more like a sharp reprimand, but somehow he felt too good about himself to worry about that.
"Maybe dis good-guy stuff isn't dat bad after all," he muttered before falling asleep.