Chapter 11: The Storm
Ash ran and ran Meowth was ahead of him now. The cat was running up hill and had slowed but this meant that Ash also slowed down. Stupid Pokemon Ash thought to himself why won't he listen to me? "Meowth!" he tried again. "Stop and we'll talk about this ok?"
"Not on your life twerp!" Meowth yelled back. He was nearing the top of the hill now. Ash commanded himself to run faster. If they ran too deep into the mountains then they would get lost and Ash might never catch up with Meowth.
Meowth was tiring and he knew the twerp was too. But if he stopped then the boy would catch him. Meowth was afraid and he wasn't sure why. It was not as if Ash meant to hurt Jesse? But still he ran on letting the fear take him over. Running uphill was tiring and soon Meowth knew once he was at the top he would have to rest. There were more woods so maybe he could hide in a bush or something. At last Meowth reached the top but he had slowed down considerably and Ash was gaining. Meowth ran through the woods trying to loose the boy but Ash was more determined and the fact that he was gaining spurred him on. Meowth couldn't run any further. He sank to the ground and waited for the twerp to catch up.
It was getting colder as Jesse and James continued to search for their missing friend. James hadn't spoken to Jesse in a while, as he was lost in his own thoughts. Should he try to kiss her again? Jesse seemed to want him too earlier but Mondo had interrupted that. Jesse had tensed up and part of James was wondering whether she had been relieved that Mondo interrupted when he did. Jesse was shivering now as a cold wind blew through the trees. Automatically James took off his jacket and offered it to Jesse. Smiling gratefully she took it and put it on. Then the walk became silent again. James was concerned about Meowth. They hadn't meant to forget about him but this fear of their being a would be killer in their midst worried him. And plus James had been overjoyed that Jesse didn't hate him and perhaps loved him like her loved her. "James?" Jesse said suddenly. The tone of her voice made James stop walking. "Yes Jessica?" he asked not realising until he had said it that he had used her full name.
"Nothing" Jesse lowered her gaze to the ground but James could see the crimson blush rising in her cheeks. "Jesse…I…"
"What is it James?"
"Never mind" it was James' turn to blush now.
Jesse took James by surprise when she leaned forwards and kissed him softly. So much by surprise that James didn't even react causing Jesse to pull away. "I'm sorry," she stammered.
"No!" James cried, "You just surprised me that's all"
Taking her into his arms James started off the next kiss. He expected Jesse's kisses to be soft again but they quickly became more passionate, her hands round the back of his neck holding him as close as possible as she kissed him. James concentrated on kissing his Jesse back equally as passionately forgetting about the matter of finding Meowth. Jesse pulled away first breathing a little faster than normal she looked adoringly up at James. "You don't know how long I have waited for that," she whispered leaning her head against his chest after speaking. "Me too" James replied softly putting his arms around her and just enjoyed holding her close to him. "I've always loved you" Jesse said after a few minutes.
James giggled and ran a hand through her hair. "What's so funny?" Jesse demanded thinking he was laughing at her. "No Jess its not you" James assured her "I was just thinking the same and that if we had just been honest from the beginning then we could have done all this sooner."
"You're right" Jesse sighed. "But I was afraid. I thought you would reject me"
"Me too"
"What now?" Jesse asked. They had still yet to find Meowth and it was getting dark. Jesse wanted to go back to the cabin but she was not going to leave Meowth out here alone.
"Come on" James said taking her hand in his own. "Lets walk a little further and see if he's here and if not we'll head back"
"What a first date huh?" Jesse commented ten minutes later.
James laughed and put an arm round her. "Its not exactly what I had in mind either Jess"
Again they walked in silence until it started to rain. "It's supposed to be summer," Jesse grumbled.
"Maybe we should head back?" James suggested unhappily. "I don't think we're going to find Meowth out here"
Jesse agreed with James but she didn't want to leave Meowth out here all alone. She shivered again despite the fact that she was wearing James' jacket. The rain had come on harder and Jesse was concerned that James would catch pneumonia, as he was just wearing a thin T-shirt and trousers.
"We'll go back," she decided. "Meowth will come back when he's ready"
They turned round and started out for the cabin but Jesse began to get a really bad feeling out this.
"James?" she said a few minutes later "Didn't we just pass that fallen log a minute ago?"
"I think so," James said. Then a bolt of lightening flashed across the sky followed by a clap of thunder. They both screamed and clung to each other as the rain became harder still.
"Jesse I'm scared" James whimpered softly. Jesse released him from the fear hug and took charge.
"It'll be ok James. We just need to get to some shelter"
"But where?"
Jesse looked around she was sure they had passed a cave a few moments before. "Back this way" she said taking James' hand in her own. Jesse led them back to where the cave was. James looked even more frightened when he saw where they were supposed to sleep. "Jesse I can't go in there"
"It'll be dry in there. There is no need to be scared James" Jesse assured him. "Look I'll go first"
Jesse went into the cave followed by a nervous James. "I think its ok" Jesse whispered. They both sat down at the back of the cave listening to the storm raging outside. Jesse prayed that Meowth was safe wherever he was.
Mondo looked out of the window anxiously as the rain beat down on it. Where were his friends? Mondo wanted to go out and look but in this storm it would be unwise. He was desperately worried about them and prayed that they were all right. What Mondo didn't understand was why Meowth took off like that. Maybe the cat had remembered something. Mondo stifled a sob. He just wanted them back here safely. If anything happened to them then Mondo didn't know what he would do. Jesse's brush with death had frightened him more than he let on. Mondo often over heard his friends describe him as an innocent. In many ways that was true but Jesse and James did not know the full story of his life. Yes they were friends but there were some things that Mondo kept only to himself. He knew that bad things happened to the ones you loved. He also knew that you would get over it but if he lost his friends Mondo knew he would never be able to get over the pain. They were all the family he had and Mondo couldn't loose them too. He went back into the front room and slumped down on the sofa once again praying that they would be fine.
Ash knelt down beside the exhausted Pokemon. Meowth was on his side his pink tongue hanging out of his mouth as he gasped for air. The boy forgot that he was supposed to be trying to convince Meowth to keep quiet and opened his backpack and got out a bottle of water. "Here" he said pulling the Pokemon to his feet and handing him the water bottle. Meowth took it gratefully and drank. Ash smiled and also offered Meowth some of the Pokemon food Brock has made for Pikachu and his other Pokemon. Meowth also took that and ate. Only when he had finished did the two start to talk.
"You are pretty fast for a human twerp" Meowth commented. Even through Ash had helped him Meowth still stared at him through narrowed eyes. "Meowth please don't do this" Ash begged, "They'll destroy me"
Meowth shook his head "Yous really don't know us dat well at all do yous?"
"What do you mean?"
"Jess and Jimmy mean more to me dan anything in da world. I would never keep something like dis from dem"
Ash frowned he always knew that the three Team Rocket members had a close bond but he hadn't ever thought that they were real friends like he was with Misty, Brock and Tracy. Maybe there was more to Team Rocket than he thought.
"Yous have never thought about us like dat have yous?" Meowth asked. "But we have feelings just like anyone else. We laugh; we cry, we know how to love. We're not all bad twerp. We know when ta draw da line. Yous are just a child. Children have a clear view of good and bad so I really can't blame yous for dat. Yous look at our actions and say 'oh dare bad' just because we hafta steal to make a living. But have yous ever stopped and wondered why we steal? I didn't tink so"
Ash felt a little ashamed at this. It was true he did assume they were evil just because they acted bad most of the time but Ash did recall a few times when they had come through for each other and even helped him out too. "Jesse and James are not all bad. Dey just made some bad choices like we all do. No ones perfect twerp. But I can tell ya dis. Dey recognise dat you have a bright future ahead of yous. Deys don't want ta take dat from yous. Deys just deserve to know da truth."
Ash knew this was true but still he was frightened. Maybe Meowth was right? He would never speak so positively about them if he did not mean it. "What will they do if I confess?" he asked.
"Nothing" Meowth said firmly "Well dey won't go ta anyone in authority if dats what yous mean. Deys know what its like ta have dreams shattered. Deys wouldn't do dat too yous"
Ash nodded "I'll tell them then. I owe it to them, I'm sorry Meowth"
"Dats ok kid. We'd better get back dis weather is going to turn nasty" Meowth looked up at the dark sky as he spoke. Ash let him ride on his head like Pikachu did as they made their way back down the hill. By that time it was raining and thundering. "We should find shelter," Ash suggested.
After a little while they found an abandoned cabin. It was falling down and parts of the roof were leaking but it was shelter. Meowth curled up on top of Ash's backpack and quickly fell asleep.
Ash ran and ran Meowth was ahead of him now. The cat was running up hill and had slowed but this meant that Ash also slowed down. Stupid Pokemon Ash thought to himself why won't he listen to me? "Meowth!" he tried again. "Stop and we'll talk about this ok?"
"Not on your life twerp!" Meowth yelled back. He was nearing the top of the hill now. Ash commanded himself to run faster. If they ran too deep into the mountains then they would get lost and Ash might never catch up with Meowth.
Meowth was tiring and he knew the twerp was too. But if he stopped then the boy would catch him. Meowth was afraid and he wasn't sure why. It was not as if Ash meant to hurt Jesse? But still he ran on letting the fear take him over. Running uphill was tiring and soon Meowth knew once he was at the top he would have to rest. There were more woods so maybe he could hide in a bush or something. At last Meowth reached the top but he had slowed down considerably and Ash was gaining. Meowth ran through the woods trying to loose the boy but Ash was more determined and the fact that he was gaining spurred him on. Meowth couldn't run any further. He sank to the ground and waited for the twerp to catch up.
It was getting colder as Jesse and James continued to search for their missing friend. James hadn't spoken to Jesse in a while, as he was lost in his own thoughts. Should he try to kiss her again? Jesse seemed to want him too earlier but Mondo had interrupted that. Jesse had tensed up and part of James was wondering whether she had been relieved that Mondo interrupted when he did. Jesse was shivering now as a cold wind blew through the trees. Automatically James took off his jacket and offered it to Jesse. Smiling gratefully she took it and put it on. Then the walk became silent again. James was concerned about Meowth. They hadn't meant to forget about him but this fear of their being a would be killer in their midst worried him. And plus James had been overjoyed that Jesse didn't hate him and perhaps loved him like her loved her. "James?" Jesse said suddenly. The tone of her voice made James stop walking. "Yes Jessica?" he asked not realising until he had said it that he had used her full name.
"Nothing" Jesse lowered her gaze to the ground but James could see the crimson blush rising in her cheeks. "Jesse…I…"
"What is it James?"
"Never mind" it was James' turn to blush now.
Jesse took James by surprise when she leaned forwards and kissed him softly. So much by surprise that James didn't even react causing Jesse to pull away. "I'm sorry," she stammered.
"No!" James cried, "You just surprised me that's all"
Taking her into his arms James started off the next kiss. He expected Jesse's kisses to be soft again but they quickly became more passionate, her hands round the back of his neck holding him as close as possible as she kissed him. James concentrated on kissing his Jesse back equally as passionately forgetting about the matter of finding Meowth. Jesse pulled away first breathing a little faster than normal she looked adoringly up at James. "You don't know how long I have waited for that," she whispered leaning her head against his chest after speaking. "Me too" James replied softly putting his arms around her and just enjoyed holding her close to him. "I've always loved you" Jesse said after a few minutes.
James giggled and ran a hand through her hair. "What's so funny?" Jesse demanded thinking he was laughing at her. "No Jess its not you" James assured her "I was just thinking the same and that if we had just been honest from the beginning then we could have done all this sooner."
"You're right" Jesse sighed. "But I was afraid. I thought you would reject me"
"Me too"
"What now?" Jesse asked. They had still yet to find Meowth and it was getting dark. Jesse wanted to go back to the cabin but she was not going to leave Meowth out here alone.
"Come on" James said taking her hand in his own. "Lets walk a little further and see if he's here and if not we'll head back"
"What a first date huh?" Jesse commented ten minutes later.
James laughed and put an arm round her. "Its not exactly what I had in mind either Jess"
Again they walked in silence until it started to rain. "It's supposed to be summer," Jesse grumbled.
"Maybe we should head back?" James suggested unhappily. "I don't think we're going to find Meowth out here"
Jesse agreed with James but she didn't want to leave Meowth out here all alone. She shivered again despite the fact that she was wearing James' jacket. The rain had come on harder and Jesse was concerned that James would catch pneumonia, as he was just wearing a thin T-shirt and trousers.
"We'll go back," she decided. "Meowth will come back when he's ready"
They turned round and started out for the cabin but Jesse began to get a really bad feeling out this.
"James?" she said a few minutes later "Didn't we just pass that fallen log a minute ago?"
"I think so," James said. Then a bolt of lightening flashed across the sky followed by a clap of thunder. They both screamed and clung to each other as the rain became harder still.
"Jesse I'm scared" James whimpered softly. Jesse released him from the fear hug and took charge.
"It'll be ok James. We just need to get to some shelter"
"But where?"
Jesse looked around she was sure they had passed a cave a few moments before. "Back this way" she said taking James' hand in her own. Jesse led them back to where the cave was. James looked even more frightened when he saw where they were supposed to sleep. "Jesse I can't go in there"
"It'll be dry in there. There is no need to be scared James" Jesse assured him. "Look I'll go first"
Jesse went into the cave followed by a nervous James. "I think its ok" Jesse whispered. They both sat down at the back of the cave listening to the storm raging outside. Jesse prayed that Meowth was safe wherever he was.
Mondo looked out of the window anxiously as the rain beat down on it. Where were his friends? Mondo wanted to go out and look but in this storm it would be unwise. He was desperately worried about them and prayed that they were all right. What Mondo didn't understand was why Meowth took off like that. Maybe the cat had remembered something. Mondo stifled a sob. He just wanted them back here safely. If anything happened to them then Mondo didn't know what he would do. Jesse's brush with death had frightened him more than he let on. Mondo often over heard his friends describe him as an innocent. In many ways that was true but Jesse and James did not know the full story of his life. Yes they were friends but there were some things that Mondo kept only to himself. He knew that bad things happened to the ones you loved. He also knew that you would get over it but if he lost his friends Mondo knew he would never be able to get over the pain. They were all the family he had and Mondo couldn't loose them too. He went back into the front room and slumped down on the sofa once again praying that they would be fine.
Ash knelt down beside the exhausted Pokemon. Meowth was on his side his pink tongue hanging out of his mouth as he gasped for air. The boy forgot that he was supposed to be trying to convince Meowth to keep quiet and opened his backpack and got out a bottle of water. "Here" he said pulling the Pokemon to his feet and handing him the water bottle. Meowth took it gratefully and drank. Ash smiled and also offered Meowth some of the Pokemon food Brock has made for Pikachu and his other Pokemon. Meowth also took that and ate. Only when he had finished did the two start to talk.
"You are pretty fast for a human twerp" Meowth commented. Even through Ash had helped him Meowth still stared at him through narrowed eyes. "Meowth please don't do this" Ash begged, "They'll destroy me"
Meowth shook his head "Yous really don't know us dat well at all do yous?"
"What do you mean?"
"Jess and Jimmy mean more to me dan anything in da world. I would never keep something like dis from dem"
Ash frowned he always knew that the three Team Rocket members had a close bond but he hadn't ever thought that they were real friends like he was with Misty, Brock and Tracy. Maybe there was more to Team Rocket than he thought.
"Yous have never thought about us like dat have yous?" Meowth asked. "But we have feelings just like anyone else. We laugh; we cry, we know how to love. We're not all bad twerp. We know when ta draw da line. Yous are just a child. Children have a clear view of good and bad so I really can't blame yous for dat. Yous look at our actions and say 'oh dare bad' just because we hafta steal to make a living. But have yous ever stopped and wondered why we steal? I didn't tink so"
Ash felt a little ashamed at this. It was true he did assume they were evil just because they acted bad most of the time but Ash did recall a few times when they had come through for each other and even helped him out too. "Jesse and James are not all bad. Dey just made some bad choices like we all do. No ones perfect twerp. But I can tell ya dis. Dey recognise dat you have a bright future ahead of yous. Deys don't want ta take dat from yous. Deys just deserve to know da truth."
Ash knew this was true but still he was frightened. Maybe Meowth was right? He would never speak so positively about them if he did not mean it. "What will they do if I confess?" he asked.
"Nothing" Meowth said firmly "Well dey won't go ta anyone in authority if dats what yous mean. Deys know what its like ta have dreams shattered. Deys wouldn't do dat too yous"
Ash nodded "I'll tell them then. I owe it to them, I'm sorry Meowth"
"Dats ok kid. We'd better get back dis weather is going to turn nasty" Meowth looked up at the dark sky as he spoke. Ash let him ride on his head like Pikachu did as they made their way back down the hill. By that time it was raining and thundering. "We should find shelter," Ash suggested.
After a little while they found an abandoned cabin. It was falling down and parts of the roof were leaking but it was shelter. Meowth curled up on top of Ash's backpack and quickly fell asleep.