Nights Away From Home
Team Rocket was having a hard time adjusting to their new surroundings. Jessie had been scolding James about how she had been right when she had said that they should've left Ash behind.
"Now look where your foolish sentiments have gotten us," said Jessie.
"This is all your fault James," proclaimed Meowth.
James just sat on the cot thinking to himself that maybe Jessie was right.
"Why is it that we are being punished for helping another? Why did I have to involve Jessie in this. It was my choice to help the twerp, and now look where it's gotten us."
"James are you even listening to me?" Jessie yelled angrily.
"I'm sorry Jess. You were right we should've just left the twerp there. Now look at the mess I've gotten us into," said James sympathetically.
Part of Jessie wanted to comfort the poor broken man before her, but her pride to control and she said "Of course I was right. I'm always right."
"Now what are we going to do?" asked Meowth.
"Well we could try to escape," said James.
"And how exactly do you plan on doing that?" asked Jessie.
"What if we wait until they bring us something to eat and then we use the spoons to dig," James said.
"That is the lamest idea I've ever heard," said Meowth.
"Well why don't we try to get some sleep for tonight and we'll think of something in the morning," Jessie said as she climbed into the top bunk.
Tracey and Professor Oak had taken one room at the hotel while getting another adjacent room for Mrs. Ketchum.
"Now will you be alright Mrs. Ketchum?" asked Tracey.
"Thank you Tracey, I'll be fine."
"Well good night Mrs. Ketchum. First thing in the morning we'll be leaving for Mahogany town," Tracey said gently closing the door behind him.
Professor Oak woke up at 5 in the morning. He was used to getting up early to work with pokémon before sunrise. Tracey lay in the adjacent bed sound asleep.
"I'll let him sleep for now. We have a long day ahead," thought Professor Oak to himself.
He went out into the lobby, and walked over to one of the payphones. He grabbed the phonebook and skimmed through the yellow pages looking for a local bus station. He called around to several different stations listed in the yellow pages, but none of them were going to Mahogany town. He then tried several taxi services, but none of them would go all the way to Mahogany town either. He decided that the direct route wasn't going to work so he went to the front desk and got a map. He then called back one of the bus stations to find out that one of the busses that was leaving at 10 from the mall downtown, had a stop in a town near Mahogany town. Professor Oak figured from there they could take a taxi for a reasonable rate.
Mrs. Ketchum wandered out into the lobby in a zombie-like state.
"Good morning Samuel," she said groggily.
"Delila! You surprised me there. I think I found us a ride to Mahogany town, but we'll have to make a few stops along the way."
"That's good. I must see my little Ashie."
"Now Delila you really should go back to bed, you look like an absolute wreck. It won't do Ash any good if he sees you like this. Now come and well go back to your room."
Mrs. Ketchum and Professor Oak walked back to the room. He saw her into her room.
"Now don't worry. I'll come wake you at 9. We should have plenty of time to get to the bus. Sleep well," he said as he gently shut the door.
"The poor dear. Must not have slept a wink last night."
Professor Oak returned to the lobby. He returned to the phones and began calling around making arrangements for their stay in Mahogany, and making plans to do some field work while he was in the area.
The sound of footsteps echoed down the hall of the prison. The jingle of keys accompanied the clack of each step. James, Jessie, and Meowth lay in their cots sound asleep. The footsteps stopped in front of the door of the prison cell. James awoke to the sound of the prison door being opened.
"Who is it?" James asked sleepily.
"Just stay there, we've come for the cat."
"What do you mean?" asked James.
"I am Denise Witherspoon. I am with the Pokémon Rehabilitation Center. We have come to take your Meowth to a facility where it can be properly cared for."
"What?"
The guard walked in and grabbed Meowth. The startled Meowth, aroused from his sleep, clawed frantically at the guard.
"Hey what are you doing? Get your hands off of me."
Meowth clawed the guard in the face. The guard dropped Meowth and put a hand over the scratches that now lined his face.
Denise grabbed a small needle out of her pocket and stuck it into Meowth's back.
"Oww, now you've done it," Meowth said as he whirled around.
Denise took a few steps back.
"You think you can get away?" said Meowth approaching her. As he took a few steps forward he began to sway and spin. He soon tumbled face first to the floor.
Denise walked up and grabbed Meowth.
"Hey you can't take him," protested James.
"Back off!" said the guard raising his club threateningly.
Denise carried Meowth out of the cell. The guard followed behind slamming the cell door shut as he left.
"Meowth," called James as Denise and the guard proceeded down the hallway.
James watched out of the bars as they took away his long time pokémon, his long time friend.