Notes: This chapter isn't necessarily based on any episode, though it obviously takes the place of episode 17 as the St. Anne aftermath.
(This chapter might be where I more noticeably start to deviate more from the original, though don't worry, we're still getting the remaining 5 gyms and the league.)
22: Mondo vs. Ash
"I'm hungry," Jessie complained, leaning against the tree, hand resting behind her head to cushion it as she looked at everyone else. Brock had just returned from whatever he'd been doing, Meowth was lounging a tree, and James tended a small fire. Nearby, the waves crashed. No one was present in the island around them, despite them having looked. It did seem they were on a deserted island.
"If you're so hungry, you can go try and find something for yourself," Brock said.
"Maybe later." Perhaps Jessie shouldn't have said anything at all, but she'd really been starting to feel it right then. She knew from experience that hunger came in waves, and will hopefully go away soon, if she ate some crap they found or not. Besides, she'd already been looking around, and seen pretty much all there was to see in the immediate area. Fishing was a possibility, but didn't seem worth the energy, at least for right then.
Maybe it would later. They'd already spent two nights there, no sign of rescue on the way. Besides hoping they'd be rescued, the rockets in particular had to worry about what they'd do when someone actually picked them up. It was likely they'd be noticed eventually - wherever this was, they could know wasn't too far from mainland, since the St. Anne hadn't traveled that far out. But if it was any kind of 'authority' that rescued them? Jessie and James were wanted, and would likely be arrested.
"Hey," Jessie called to Brock as he arranged some firewood. "What's she doing anyway? I thought we weren't going to let our pokemon out, to save them the energy." Jessie motioned over toward where Misty stood with her staryu staring out at the waves.
"The smoke from the fire hasn't attracted anyone, so Misty's trying an SOS," Brock said.
"Huh?" Jessie pushed herself up, walking over to confront the young girl. "Hey! What makes you think you're being of any use at all over here?" she asked.
Misty turned from her flashing pokemon to the rocket agent. "Staryu's technique is bright, even in the daytime. I'll have it and Starmie try at night too, but I think it could still get someone over here," she said.
"I think you'll just wear your pokemon out," Jessie chided. "And if they see lights, they'll just think we're fine."
"It isn't just lights! I'm sending an SOS, using Morse code," Misty explained.
"Who's going to know or care about that?" Jessie asked.
"Plenty of people do," Misty snapped, trying not to let Jessie distract her from her task.
The rocket woman stayed and watched, arms folded. "It's hardly an impressive show at all. Are your pokemon really, dare I say it, 'stars'?" she asked, shrugging.
Misty scowled at the pun, but still sought to answer. "Yes," she confirmed. "Both literally and figuratively. They're star-shaped, and some of the stars of the show back in Cerulean."
"Hm?" Jessie blinked. "The star of what kind of show? Pokemon can't even talk, who wants to see a show with them?"
"We have our own little performances, we have a sort of following at our gym," Misty explained. "You didn't hear about it back there."
"Maybe." Jessie put her hands on the back of her head, pacing away. "Who cares about a humdrum local gym's local shows anyway? When I get back into acting, I'll be a real star."
"You think so?" Misty asked in place of groaning.
"I imagine I'll have many adoring fans, cheering for me on top of a tall, magnificent stage," Jessie said.
"If we can even get off this island first. Keep going, Staryu! You're doing a great job!" Misty kept directing her pokemon. "Oh..." she put her hand up to shade her eyes, looking across the ocean. "I think I see someone!" she exclaimed. The both of them stared out, and after a few minutes it came into certain view, though it was still far away. "It is a ship! And they're getting closer!" Misty turned to Jessie. "Go get Ash, okay?" she said.
"What makes you think you can order me?" Jessie asked, turning away. "If you really want him, get him yourself."
"I just thought since you were the only one not doing anything. If he's here when this ship arrives, we can just leave. But just do nothing if you want," Misty turned away. "I'm gonna keep sending out the SOS to make sure they see us. Go, Starmie!" Misty released her other star-shaped pokemon. "Quick, Starmie, with Staryu! Get in unison! Shine that message as bright as you can!"
Jessie ended up looking for Ash since there was nothing better to do. It beat watching the kid be more productive than her, anyway. Besides, she already knew where he was, in a clearing, still pretending to be a trainer by running around with his pokemon. It wasted energy, but it seemed like brats like him really had an excess of it. Ash ran around, setting up makeshift dummies, while Pikachu knocked them down with quick attack. "Hey! Get over here, we have someone coming over to pick us up."
"Alright!" Ash exclaimed. "I knew someone would come, Pikachu. Let's get ready to go."
"Pikachu!" Pikachu called happily, running next to its trainer toward the shore.
"To be a pokemon with no worries," Jessie mused as she saw the pokemon's happy face.
"Pikachu?" Pikachu tilted its head as it looked up at Jessie.
"Someone's here, right? So what are you worried about?" Ash asked.
"Or just a little twerp again," Jessie muttered before she sighed, then increased her pace to keep up with Ash as he ran to their campsite.
Back on shore, Misty cheered her pokemon on, then moved her hands to direct them and help keep them in unison. Sure enough, the boat was getting closer and closer. It really was coming for them! Everyone else soon joined her, waiting for their rescuer to arrive. As the boat got closer, it eventually stopped, and a single person waved to them from the deck. A voice soon came over a bullhorn. "Hey! Senpai, is that you?"
'Senpai'? Misty was bewildered at the word until the rockets responded. "It's Mondo!" Meowth exclaimed.
"What luck! We're saved, and by a friend instead of a foe," James said.
Jessie shouted back at the boat. "It's us! Get over here and save us already!" Though she was as loud as possible, perhaps he couldn't hear them over the sound of the waves.
Mondo's voice still replied over the loudspeaker. "Don't worry, senpai! I see you. Master Meowth too! Hang on, I'm coming!"
Misty started to panic as she took a closer look at the boat she'd attracted. On its side, there was certainly a bright red 'R'. Giovanni couldn't resist harassing trainers, even at sea? Misty took a step back. "Let's stay," Brock said, sensing her thoughts. "We can't run and no one else is around. We'll just have to deal with what happens."
After a few minutes, a jet ski headed their way from the larger vehicle. An adolescent boy wearing a Team Rocket uniform the same off white as Jessie and James's stepped off. "They said you were dead," he began, a wide smile on his face.
"As if." Meowth folded its arms, smiling in satisfaction.
"Not even the bottom of the ocean itself can keep us down," Jessie said.
"Of course not!" Mondo agreed, beaming back at them. "Now, let's get you back to the mainland. And your guests as well, of course. Don't worry, fellow trainers, we're here to help." Mondo addressed Misty and her friends specifically.
"Guests..." Misty repeated. It was all she could say, not sure what to make of this guy's sunny disposition. Rockets she'd come across before always tried to bully others, but he seemed to be nice, even to them.
"We'd appreciate it," Brock said. "I'm Brock, of Pewter City. And you are?"
"Mondo, of Viridian City," Mondo said.
"And I'm Ash, of-"
"Okay, enough!" Misty interrupted. "What's with this guy? You're in Team Rocket, aren't you?"
"Isn't it just cosplay?" Ash asked.
"No, I am indeed a member of the esteemed Team Rocket! I've been so for over a year now, and I hope to serve my team well in the future," Mondo replied, standing up straighter.
"So you're here to steal our pokemon?" Ash asked.
"Oh... No, no," Mondo assured. "Team Rocket doesn't steal any pokemon. We're here for the benefit of all trainers, because the advancement of all pokemon is to our own benefit. But we'd never, ever steal another trainer's pokemon."
"Do you think we're stupid? We see Team Rocket stealing pokemon all the time, or at least trying to!" Misty protested, but didn't end there, pointing at Jessie and James accusingly. "These two have tried to take our pokemon so many times already, like when they sunk us in their damn cruise ship."
"You can't blame that on us. I believe the captain was a bit demented," James defended.
"Maybe a real cruise ship trying to do something other than steal pokemon would have a real captain? It's still your fault we were even out there!" Misty shot back. "And-"
Misty stopped speaking as she saw Mondo's demeanor had completely changed. The young, self-declared Team Rocket member stared forward, his expression completely forlorn. "Oh dear," he said. "It's to my great regret what you've been through. I'm so sorry." Mondo certainly looked regretful, his lip subtly trembling as he met Misty's eyes.
"Well," Misty continued, calming down though she still glared the boy's way. "Yeah, maybe you should be sorry." She couldn't stay angry at someone who was trying to make up for what had happened.
"And of course, I am!" Mondo shouted dramatically, his face crumbling into a picturesque representation of regret. "But you must understand... The rumors..."
"Rumors?" Misty felt another sense of foreboding.
"Yes, you understand, there's a counterfeit Team Rocket going around... I know fully well that group steals pokemon... They care not for our reputation, just drag it through the mud!" Mondo shouted, anger obvious in his voice as he clenched his eyes shut. "Team Rocket just wants to help everyone in the world, and those bandits make it so we're persecuted! Now no one understands our true motives. They just pay attention to the counterfeits, and ignore our toils in helping the greater good... No one even knows all of our good deeds. But don't worry, we won't give up. We're still here to help."
At the end of his spiel, Mondo's great upset completely disappeared, and he simply smiled at Misty with the same over-happy enthusiasm he'd had when he greeted his fellow rockets. The words seemed so sincere that Misty would have fallen for his gaslighting, if not for all her previous experience with Team Rocket.
Ash actually did fall for it. "So, the real Team Rocket is good?" he said.
"Oh, yes, certainly!" Mondo assured.
This guy lied just as easily as breathing. Misty wasn't going to let it go. "So, Mondo, right? You realize that this group here-" Misty shrugged in Jessie and James's direction. "-is the 'counterfeit' Team Rocket. Or didn't you know? They're the ones on the wanted posters."
"Oh, you're right, they are," Mondo said, his eyes widening as if he just realized it.
Misty cringed. "You never noticed-"
"Don't worry, we'll be sure to turn them in once we get to shore," Mondo assured. "We'll save other trainers from these counterfeits! The real Team Rocket has nothing to do with any thieves or other bandits."
Misty grit her teeth, clenching her fists. "You just called them 'senpai' and were talking to them like they're your best friends!"
"Yeah, he was saying all that!" Ash realized, furrowing his brow and backing away from Mondo.
"You're all bandits! Team Rocket are criminals!" Misty accused.
"Calm down, guys. We're all getting back to shore together, remember? Anything else can wait," Brock said, getting between his younger friends and the Team Rocket agent that had brought the boat, waving his hands to calm them down.
Jessie sighed forcefully. "Don't bother with this group, Mondo," she said. "We know them pretty well by now."
"Is that right?" Mondo said, noticing the small yellow pokemon that approached the jet ski, sniffing it curiously.
"The girl's even on a first name basis with the boss," Meowth pointed out.
"How nice," Mondo said. He looked from Pikachu to his friends and then back again several times. "So, this must be the pikachu. Or isn't it?"
"The exact one, the pikachu that's most worth talking about," James confirmed.
"How wonderful," Mondo said. "You all can just be sure to take it to the boss once we're back."
"Pika?" Pikachu questioned, now paying more attention to the rockets.
"You're not taking my pokemon anywhere!" Ash shouted, also noting their plan.
Mondo ignored Ash, continuing the conversation with his fellow rockets. "If this pikachu is truly as powerful as you say, I'm sure it will surprise the boss enough to soften the blow from this devastating failure," he said.
"Was it really... That devastating?" James asked tentatively.
"Oh, yes!" Mondo confirmed, still with a smile on his face. "The worst in Team Rocket's history! You lost all of the prizes, and boss's investment cruise ship! He's furious, unfortunately!"
"Guess he would be," Jessie muttered.
"How could this happen..." Meowth pressed its paws against its head.
"Don't worry, Master Meowth," Mondo said as he leaned down and petted his pokemon friend. "You're all top agents. I'm sure you'll make it up to him quickly. This pikachu should be a good start."
Ash approached Mondo now, forcing him into the older boy's view and staring up at him defiantly. "You aren't taking my pokemon! Do you hear me?!"
Mondo looked down at Ash calmly before he laughed. "Do they really allow trainers this young?" he said.
"I'm ten!" Ash shouted.
Mondo ignored him. "What were you saying?" he asked, glancing at Misty. "That Team Rocket are all criminals and bandits? I wonder what criminals and bandits would do in a situation like this, if they wanted to take a powerful pokemon for their own."
Misty gasped while thinking of the possibilities, Brock folded his arms and said nothing, but Ash's demeanor remained unchanged. "They'd try and take Pikachu away, that's what they do all the time," the youngest present said.
"Oh, yes!" Mondo seemed to praise Ash for his response, grinning the younger boy's way. "Yes, they'd just take the pokemon they wanted. And then, the trainers, well, bandits and criminals could just dispose of them by leaving them here. Humans aren't pokemon, and enemy humans who talk about how criminal they are won't be useful to pokemon stealing bandits." Mondo shook his head.
Misty's hand froze rather than reach for her pokeballs. Maybe if she didn't bring her own pokemon out, this liar wouldn't think of stealing them as well. Though hating herself for these thoughts, Misty still stood right next to Brock and did nothing.
But Ash just smirked. "You want to take Pikachu, but you guys can't even beat me."
"Senpai, maybe you should battle this boy now," Mondo suggested. "Then we'll take the pikachu and go."
"Um, well," Jessie began, looking away.
"Senpai?" Mondo raised an eyebrow.
"That may not be the best idea," James said.
"But, surely you can both beat him?" Mondo said, his smile looking faker as he looked from Ash back to the other rockets, who wouldn't meet him in the eyes. "He may have a powerful pokemon, but he must not have as much experience as a trainer as you two. Go on, battle him, then we'll go."
Jessie and James still didn't take out the pokeballs to send their weary pokemon into battle. James looked at the ground, while Jessie stared out at the boat that might take them home. "Come on, if you two won't tell him, I will," Meowth said. As its partners frowned, seeming guilty, Meowth spoke. "Listen up Mondo, we weren't joking when we said this pikachu is ultra-powerful. Zero exaggeration. It even beat up that Vermilion gym leader's raichu, no problem."
"Oh," Mondo exclaimed.
"Pi." Pikachu laughed awkwardly. That raichu had actually given it problems of course, so there was at least a little exaggeration. How embarrassing to have Meowth speak of it so highly.
"So, these two? Yeah, maybe they could beat that twerp easy with a normal pokemon, but they haven't got a chance against Pikachu." Meowth shook its head. "So we aren't getting it, not unless it comes on its own." Meowth turned to Pikachu. "How about it, bud?"
"Pika, pi pikachu." Pikachu saw no reason to go with Team Rocket at all, as they'd discussed before.
"Aw, come on." Meowth frowned.
"Yeah," Jessie continued, looking back at Mondo. "It's embarrassing to admit as a trainer, but Pikachu alone could knock out all four of our pokemon easily."
"So let's just go back," James said.
"Hmph." Mondo smirked. "Well, it's your lucky day today, senpai," he said.
"Of course. It's good you're here, we'd be stuck on this island otherwise," James said.
"Or picked up by the cops," Jessie added.
"That's not all!" Mondo said. "Didn't you notice, I was able to say my 'fellow' trainers?"
"You did," Jessie said.
"Mondo, don't tell me-" James began.
"You were finally able to get a pokemon?" Jessie finished.
"I did," Mondo confirmed. His fellow rockets shouted congratulations. Mondo closed his eyes and took it in before he leaned down to meet eyes with Ash, taking out a pokeball. "And not just that. It's an ultra rare pokemon, with limitless potential. With its special abilities, it should be able to defeat even this pikachu."
Ash's eyes widened as he looked at the pokeball. "Wow," he said. "How rare? Where'd you catch it?"
Mondo stood back up and ignored Ash as Meowth spoke. "How'd you end up with a pokemon like that?" it asked.
"The boss must have recognized my efforts, and wanted to reward me," Mondo said. He grinned toward Jessie and James. "I'm sure he would have given it to one of you were it available during the time, so I'll just thank my luck as well. Now," Mondo paused, turning back to Ash. "Prepare for your defeat!"
Ash adjusted his hat and ran along the shore at an appropriate distance for a battle. "Pikachu, go! Let's battle!" he ordered.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu eagerly jumped in front of Ash. It had been a few days since any kind of battle. It was even hungrier for that than some food.
The other humans present and Meowth also made their distance. "They can get all kinds of pokemon if they just steal from everyone, huh," Misty commented, then turned to Brock. "Do you think Ash can win?"
Brock shrugged, and then shook his head. "I don't know. We'll have to see."
Mondo raised his hand the highest it could go before dropping it forward in an obviously unpracticed fashion. "Go, Ditto!" he said. The light flashed on the pokeball, and the pokemon released before the pokeball flung back into Mondo's hand.
A short blob of a pokemon appeared in front of the young rocket. "Ditto," it called.
"Wow. I've never seen a ditto!" Ash exclaimed.
"I haven't either, no one's ever even brought one into the gym," Misty said.
"It's a little.." Meowth paused. "Ah..."
"It has no shape," James pointed out.
"It doesn't look powerful at all," Jessie commented.
"Just wait, senpai!" Mondo grinned. "Ditto, transform!"
Ash tensed up, realizing the battle had started. "Pikachu, quick attack!" he ordered.
"Ditto," Mondo's pokemon called, then started to glow as if just entering or leaving a pokeball.
"Pika?" Pikachu paused, then messed up its attack as it dodged the unfamiliar sight. It tumbled just a bit before getting back to its feet, then stared back at its opponent in shock. "Pikachu!" it exclaimed.
"It's a pikachu!" Ash shouted.
A mirror image of Pikachu indeed stood in front of it. It smiled mischievously with Pikachu's very own face as it crouched down, getting ready to continue the battle. "That's right," Mondo said. "No matter how powerful your pokemon is, Ditto can just copy it exactly! Ditto, thunderbolt!"
"Pi, ka," the ditto began, its cheeks sparking as it put its arms close together before it unleashed Pikachu's most powerful attack. "CHUU!" it called out as it did.
Pikachu cried out as the attack hit it. "Pikachu!" Ash called. He glared at Mondo. "Just copying isn't fair!" he said.
"I think it's quite amusing," Jessie said, chuckling as she folded her arms.
"Right, give Pikachu a taste of its own thunderbolt," James added.
"Pikachu, get ready to be a rocket pokemon!" Meowth cheered.
"Ditto, hurry up! Thunderbolt, again!" Mondo said.
"Pikachu," Ditto called in anticipation.
"It's not fair," Ash repeated, clenching his fists. "Pikachu, quick attack!" he ordered. His hesitation cost his pokemon, as Ditto's thunderbolt hit first, and the shocked Pikachu moved forward, again missing its target.
"Ash, stop it!" Brock shouted from the sidelines. "You're a trainer. Forget about making things fair. Anyone can use pokemon moves."
"Right. This attack isn't exclusive to even pikachu," Mondo said. "Ditto, thunderbolt!"
"Pikachu, double team!" Ash ordered, trying to follow Brock's advice and stay focused. Though Pikachu performed the technique on time, it was hit with the thunderbolt attack for a third time, and cried out in pain. Ash clenched his fists. "I don't think it's that easy to just copy someone anyway! Pikachu, you try thunderbolt!"
"Ditto, thunderbolt!" Mondo repeated, then grinned wider. "This should beat him," he muttered.
"Pika, pika." Pikachu jumped around. Electric attacks didn't have as much effect on electric type pokemon, but it had been able to beat Raichu with this attack. Could it defeat itself as well, after taking so many hits? Either way, it had to try. Pikachu glared at the rocket's pokemon, then began the attack, bringing up every bit of pent up anger and energy from the various plights of the last few days. "Pika, CHUUU!" it called loudly, completing the thunderbolt attack before its opponent could.
"Pi!" Ditto cried out in pain before it fell forward, returning to its default blobby state. It seemed to melt into the sand, certainly knocked out from the battle.
"Pika?" Pikachu stepped back in surprise. Was it really that easy to defeat itself? It had thought it was a little tougher than this.
"Ditto!" Mondo cried. He quickly returned his pokemon before it sunk too far in, then spoke to the pokeball. "You tried so hard... I'll take care of you later, okay?"
Jessie frowned. "That was easy... For Pikachu," she said.
"Mondo's pokemon got in three hits, but Pikachu defeated it in just one!" James observed.
"Maybe because Ditto doesn't really copy power," Brock pointed out.
"No," Mondo said, looking up from patting Ditto's pokeball in solace. "You saw it, it could use thunderbolt easily."
"Yeah, it can copy attacks, techniques, but not power." Brock shook his head. "Sounds like a trump card, but it's not really good to use one in battle. Don't get me wrong, I know there's powerful ditto out there, but they're very difficult to train. Most can't transform into pokemon that aren't right in front of them, and those that can default to the pokemon they see when they're actually in a battle. Then it's difficult to get practice with every single viable technique for every single pokemon you might run into. They can't perform the attacks with as much expertise as the pokemon they're copying, so they're inevitably weaker. Not to mention ditto seems to have a base strength no matter what pokemon it transforms into."
"Oh." Mondo gripped his pokeball closer as the reality of ditto training hit him.
"Well, at least you got a rare pokemon," Meowth consoled.
"Are they rare?" Brock mused, turning to Misty. "You didn't see any in the gym?"
"Not as far as I know," Misty said with a stilted laugh.
"Well, I saw a few. Trainers loved making them transform into Onix, but Onix quickly beat them, just like here with Pikachu. I think ditto might be less common, but I don't think they're rare. Most trainers just aren't going to catch one, given the facts," Brock concluded.
Mondo shuddered, pulling Ditto's pokeball close and almost hugging it. "It's fine, Ditto. You're a wonderful pokemon. We're going to be a masterful team."
"Now," Misty began, stepping forward to the rocket she'd just met with much more confidence. "It seems you're all really outmatched. Maybe we should just take your boat and leave you on the island."
"You wouldn't!" James exclaimed in dismay.
Misty stepped right to the edge of the water, staring out at the ocean. "You know I wouldn't," she said, glancing back at the rockets briefly. "But you all make it really tempting! Come on, Brock, Ash. We're going out there first." Misty called the names of her pokemon as she released all three. They ferried them out toward their destination, Pikachu riding on Starmie. On the boat were two other rockets, wearing the uniforms Misty was used to, the black ones with the pageboy hats.
The men were helpful enough, assisting Ash, Brock, and Misty into the boat with no troubles. "Are you alright, ma'am?" One rocket even went out of his way to be polite. "We're so sorry about what happened to you."
"Cut the crap," Jessie said as she hoisted herself on the boat without help. "They already know everything."
"That right?" the guy said, smirking as his polite facade fell. "Well, you all really messed up, didn't you? I wonder what the boss is gonna say to you!"
After everyone was on board, the rockets started back, mostly ignoring the 'guests' on board. The other rockets jeered Jessie and James, who shouted back their own insults before Mondo interrupted with pleasantries to stop the argument. When the port came into view, Misty sighed in relief, but somehow, the situation still didn't seem right. "I can't believe we got rescued by Team Rocket," she muttered.
"Like I said, Misty, the point is to make it back," Brock said.
Misty shook her head. "Well, it was their fault in the first place, so it's good they did something to fix it," she asserted.
When they arrived, the black-clad rocket grunts were suddenly polite again. "May I help you, ma'am?" one said, offering his hand to Misty as she was about to step on the dock.
"Sir, I'll carry your bag for you," the other said to Brock.
"Yeah, thanks, but I'm good," Brock replied, adjusting the straps on his backpack.
It was best to just get away from the rockets as quickly as possible. They had to find some kind of officer and report the various crimes that had happened. Though Misty had thought she'd have to go into the city, one was right in front of them in front of the dock, only a few steps away from the boat, seemingly having been waiting for them.
"You really found them," the officer said, looking from the pictures in her hand to Ash's group and back again. "Thank you!"
"Yes, ma'am," one of the unknown rocket grunts said. "We've been trying our hardest the past day, and we just came across them on an island."
"Thank goodness you didn't give up. The other search parties were about to, some of them did. I'm sure you're all relieved to be found!" The officer smiled at Misty specifically.
"Excuse me, officer," Misty began tentatively. The officer was one she recognized, so she was fairly sure it wasn't just another rocket liar. "You were working with Team Rocket?"
"They just volunteered their help. So all thanks goes to them," the officer informed.
"It's our pleasure!" Mondo exclaimed.
"I'm not thanking any of them," Misty began, turning around and glaring at the rockets. "They-" she stopped herself as she realized that Jessie and the other two that had been marooned with them were still on the boat. She turned back to the officer. "They attacked us! The other passengers are okay, right?"
"Yes, everyone else who was on board was recovered safely, except-"
"Didn't they tell you? Team Rocket attacked us, trying to steal our pokemon!" Misty exclaimed.
"Yes, those counterfeits. Weren't they who you saw?" Mondo said.
"Saw them? They're still on your boat!" Misty accused.
Mondo's confused expression looked genuine, while the other two rockets glanced away awkwardly. "Excuse me... There's no one else, we all got off," the younger rocket said.
"Jessie and James, right? You were just talking to them," Ash brought up.
"I'm not familiar with anyone by those names," Mondo began.
Misty just spoke over him, emboldened by both the obvious, disprovable lie, as well as having someone agreeing with her for once. "They're just lying!" she said. "The criminals that tried to steal from us are on board, officer. They're real Team Rocket members! They should be arrested."
As Mondo began rambling about 'counterfeits', the officer just ignored him, getting on a radio and requesting backup. When two others arrived, they got on the ship, everyone else staying on shore. They circled around on the deck, then went below. They eventually came back up, the initial officer shaking her head. "There's no one," she said.
"Like we told you," one of the rocket grunts said with a smirk.
"Oh, yes! Poor Miss Misty must be feeling ill, dehydrated perhaps? I'll happily provide you with more water if you require it." Mondo kept rambling about all the help he had and would offer them.
Not listening much to him, Misty went on board the rocket vessel without permission as the officers got off. Ash jumped and followed her, Pikachu not far behind. They searched the small area below deck, opening up everything, including spots that were certainly too small for two humans and a pokemon to hide. Misty shouted out in frustration as she realized the group certainly wasn't there.
"It's okay, Misty," Ash assured.
"Pikachu," Pikachu agreed, patting Misty's leg.
"They just escaped, but we'll just tell everyone what happened," Ash said.
Getting on deck, Mondo was waiting, a bottle of Misty's favorite soda in hand, held out in an offer to her. She'd mentioned she liked it when he'd offered drinks before. Right now the boy's courtesy was even more enraging than even the disappearance of the criminals. "Back off!" she shouted at Mondo. He stepped away, making room for her to get off the ship.
"I do hope you feel better, Miss Misty!" Mondo called after her.
"Rest up. Seeing stuff's not good!" another grunt added.
Misty tried to ignore them, finding it difficult not to cry, until Ash spoke up in her place. "Forgetting stuff's not good either!" the young boy shouted back. She smiled back at him, listening to the helpful officer's words on what would happen next before she led them away.
As the rescued group went away, Mondo began to pace the boat himself. "Senpai," he said, raising his voice slightly.
"Yeah?" one of the grunts spoke up, of course being Mondo's senior in Team Rocket as well.
"My heart was racing then," Mondo said, a grin on his face. "I thought they might be discovered! Where could they have gone?"
The other grunts began to look around as well, apparently also curious. Finally, one peered off the edge of the boat. "Hey," he said, nodding to the bottom. When Mondo and the other came over, they could easily see Jessie, James, and Meowth sitting miserably in the water.
"How ingenious! They looked over, so you must have been underwater," Mondo realized.
"Yeah," Meowth said, sighing which turned into blowing bubbles as it sank below the water. It swam furiously back to the surface. "You mind giving a guy a hand?"
"Yes, yes, of course," Mondo said. He and the others threw a rope ladder overboard. The exhausted group climbed up and soon rested on deck.
"I want to get as far from the ocean as I can," James whined.
"Perfect! The boss is waiting for you in a place that's not seaside," Mondo said. The water-logged rockets just sighed in response.
The first place Ash, Misty, and Brock were brought to was the hospital. Ash wanted to go to the pokemon center, and insisted on Pikachu going their itself while even while he went elsewhere. Brock and Misty agreed it was a good idea, handing their own pokemon to be taken over, but Pikachu didn't want to go, and that caused another issue.
When Ash finally convinced it, they made it over to the hospital, going separated and each going through their own checkup. When Misty was finished, she went to the lobby, annoyed at the whole situation. Ash came out, and then Brock, and just as they were about to leave, the officer approached them, keeping them tied up with a variety of questions. They recounted the events, and identified Jessie and James from pictures.
Since the officer was apparently done talking to her, Misty took a seat on the chair, almost relaxing before she saw someone entirely unexpected come in the front door.
He seemed annoyed with something, though that wasn't unusual compared to the last times Misty had seen Giovanni. He went to the front desk, seemingly forcing a smile as he spoke to her, nodding in response to what the receptionist said. Maybe he was there for someone in his family. She didn't feel like confronting him then anyway, but wasn't about to bother anyone during a time like that.
"We're about done," the officer said, bringing Misty's attention back to those closer. "I do have one more piece of news for you... About your pokemon."
"Butterfree, Pidgeotto, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle," Ash rattled off the names of each of his missing pokemon with a smile on his face. "You got them?"
"Yes, and your two," she nodded to Brock. "We found someone to take care of them. They're a bit out of town. Tomorrow, we'll give you a ride-" the officer began.
"We're going there right now!" Ash declared. For once, Misty could agree with his impulsive decision. Ash and Brock's pokemon must be worried, or at the very least, miss them.
"Excuse me."
Everyone turned their attention to the man Misty had decided to just pretend not to notice that day. Did he really have the nerve to show up in front of his victims? Indeed, he was here. Giovanni nodded at the officer. "These are the three that were missing?" he said.
"Yes, sir," the officer said. "And this," she said, turning to Misty and the others. "This is Giovanni. He provided a lot of help with searching for you."
"Yes. I don't know if you recall, but I believe we've met," Giovanni said, specifically meeting eyes with Misty.
"You know this guy, Misty?" Ash asked.
"Yeah," Misty said, turning her head away to feign disinterest before glancing back Giovanni's way. It was going to be his mistake to come to see them, and right in front of the officer, at that. This situation could, should, and really would be his downfall. "So you were looking for your underlings out there?"
Giovanni's brow furrowed as he tried to force a smile. "She must be referring to the counterfeits," he said to the officer.
"Yes, sir," the officer confirmed. "They identified the two from photos."
"But even if you call them counterfeit, they're your underlings, aren't they?" Misty accused. She stood up to face the man. "You're the boss of Team Rocket, the one that nearly got us killed trying to steal some pokemon!"
Giovanni glared her way. Ash raised an eyebrow, looking on with interest while Brock folded his arms, stepping back. It seemed a while before Giovanni finally broke the silence. "Listen to those accusations," he said.
"They're the truth," Misty said, sitting up straighter. As she peered at the officer, the woman seemed hesitant, causing Misty's confidence to waver. She was still angry enough to argue. "It's because of you-" she began.
"Do you realize how serious the crimes you accuse me of are?" Giovanni began stoically. "Just speaking them can be harmful. I went out of my way to ensure your recovery. Where's your appreciation that you're still alive?" The rocket boss was shouting once he'd finished.
Even though she'd decided to speak up, hoping this man would be arrested and carted away to face justice, Misty had to cringe at his harsh voice. Memories of getting accosted by the rockets when she was alone after confronting him came back, along with getting attacked on the St. Anne, and even in her own home in Cerulean Gym. Despite wanting to, Misty found she couldn't say anything else. It didn't seem anyone was on her side.
Was that really true? As Misty remained silent, Brock stepped forward. She relaxed. Would he speak up, finally? Brock knew she hated Giovanni, but she hadn't really ever talked to him about what he might do, personally. Now she'd find out.
"The people who attacked us on the St. Anne were all wearing Team Rocket uniforms," Brock spoke the plain facts.
"And just to confirm, it was the people in the pictures?" Giovanni said.
"Yeah, the ones you-" Misty began.
"Just yes or no is fine," Giovanni interrupted.
Misty turned to Brock, thinking he'd probably back her up, back the truth up.
But Brock just nodded calmly. "Yes, sir. That was two of them, anyway," he said.
"Yes, I've heard there were more. They have allies, how unfortunate," Giovanni said. "But I assure you, no one in the true Team Rocket would ever associate with them."
"Is that right? I don't know much about Team Rocket," Brock said. "But thanks for your help. We were in a tight spot."
"We gladly offered our help," Giovanni said. With Brock's response, he appeared to relax, then turned to the officer. "The truly young ones don't understand the nature of the situation. It's too complicated for them."
The officer nodded to him. "Yes, sir, I understand. I also thank you for doing your best here and helping this group."
"The two wanted criminals are still missing, hm? Perhaps they didn't make it. Though any loss of life is unfortunate, it might be first the best. Let me know if there's anything further I can do to assist your investigation." After getting a polite nod from the officer and Brock, Giovanni turned and went out the door.
"He sure seems like an important person," Brock commented.
"What makes him so great?" Ash asked. "He's not really Team Rocket's boss, is he?"
"He funded the St. Anne's return voyage. I'm sure that made him particularly concerned for the passengers," the officer explained.
The inane conversation went on. Misty could snap at Ash that of course he was the Team Rocket boss, that Giovanni had admitted to as much, though not his and the organization's crimes. She might also bring up that it was quite the coincidence that the 'real' Team Rocket boss had the 'fake' Team Rocket show up on a voyage he was personally funding. She might also just scream out her frustration that people had to be trying in order not to see it all.
But she was just tired of not being listened to. Brock had seemed to listen to her at times, telling her he understood, just maybe she'd picked a bad time. But if the aftermath of a major crime with so many witnesses wasn't the time to take Team Rocket down, when was? It seemed like people were never going to be willing to listen and stand up. They'd always just hide like cowards, until it was too late.
And Brock was just the same as the rest of them.
Meowth had been pacing when they'd first arrived in the hotel. It was eager to see its boss, and pleased to be let into his personal suite, but he hadn't been there. Jessie and James initially stood at attention with the anticipation of how the boss might react to the bad news of the past few days, but eventually slumped over on the couches, even dozing off at times in their true exhaustion.
Meowth might have dozed off once or twice as well. It thought it heard the boss call it once, but that was likely just a dream. Eventually, the door really did swing open, but it was only Mondo. "The boss is here! I heard him in the lobby!" Mondo announced happily.
"Thanks for the warning," Jessie said, standing up from her slouched position on the chair. James and Meowth stood at attention next to her. Before Mondo could leave, their boss entered.
"Hmph. So you lot really are alive," he said blankly.
"Yeah, boss. It was really tough. I didn't think we'd make it at times, but I was trying my best for you," Meowth said.
Giovanni glared down at the pokemon coldly. "Is your best really this poor?" he asked.
Meowth froze, noting his two partners' feet shuffling. "I'm sorry we messed up," it said.
"You did what?" Giovanni said.
"You know. A little blunder, it happens here or there," Meowth said with a grin.
"Do you have any idea how difficult this cover up has been?!" Giovanni shouted. Meowth slumped down, but stopped itself before it went and hid. It should have nothing to hide from the boss, after all. "Unfortunate attention was shone our way. If you fools died it would be one thing, but then there was those children the media kept going on about. Recovering them has been a nightmare."
"I'm sorry, boss," Meowth said, its voice shaking.
"As you should be," Giovanni said. "The destruction of the ship was secondary to the fact I wasted so much money on it just to come away with zero pokemon."
"Oh, wait," James said. He and Jessie went in their pockets, taking out the pokeballs they'd rescued from the sunken St. Anne.
"We do have these pokemon from those trainers," Jessie said.
"That softens the blow, though barely," Giovanni said. "Put them on the table." Meowth whimpered even as Giovanni sat down and relaxed. "Mondo," the rocket boss barked to the boy who seemed to be considering leaving the room. "Wait until it's completely dark, then get this group back to base with you. Make sure they aren't seen, especially not here."
"Yes, sir!" Mondo agreed.
While its human partners eagerly left the room with Mondo, Meowth paused, looking back at its boss. The man stared ahead as if its formerly cherished pokemon weren't even there. Wasn't he even going to say anything else?
"Meowth, come on," James goaded in a low voice. They all left without a word.
When Misty woke in the soft bed, quite the difference from previous nights, she wasn't even sure what time it was. Opening the curtains and looking out, the sun shone through the window. It seemed to be mid-morning. The particular pokemon center that had taken care of Ash and Brock's nearly stolen pokemon was by the ocean. Misty had let them have their reunion once they all arrived, and just gone to sleep. Would everyone else be awake yet?
Sure enough, Ash was. She found him out in the open in front of the pokemon center, surrounded by all six of his pokemon. Bulbasaur and Charmander huddled next to him. Pidgeot perched nearby. Squirtle stood at a distance, chattering away next to Pikachu with a wide grin, while Butterfree hovered over the group, flying over their heads repeatedly. Ash himself sat on the ground, handing them out Brock's pellet food one by one, laughing and talking to them as he did. Misty had to smile. Of course he'd have a reunion like this. He was a good trainer, and all of his pokemon honestly adored him.
"Oh, morning Misty," someone asked from next to her.
Despite feeling happy to see Ash, Misty had a sinking feeling at seeing Brock. She snubbed him by not responding, but he didn't appear to notice, just walking toward Ash with the apparently freshly made pokemon food. He did stop right before he reached the group, turning around to face Misty. "Oh, yeah, go talk to Nurse Joy. Your family was trying to contact you," he said.
Her family? Misty ran inside without hesitation as images of her mom and dad came to mind. Her dad would often comfort her when she'd gotten upset. Her mom would joke about her problems, but in a way that often cheered Misty up. Which one had called? Maybe both. How long had it been since she spoke to them? If they'd heard about what happened to her, they must have been very worried. Hopefully they wouldn't be worried for too much longer.
"Nurse Joy-" Misty began once she approached her.
"Oh, Misty. Did you get enough rest?" the nurse asked.
"Yeah," Misty confirmed. "Thanks for letting us in so late," she added.
"Of course! Both you all and your pokemon had been through so much. I was happy to."
"Thanks again," Misty added. "But, um, Brock said... He said my family called!"
"Oh, yes, I just spoke to them just now! I'll give them a call right back for you."
The nurse pressed the button to return the last call. Misty grabbed the receiver, her anticipation growing as she listened to the ringtone. "Hello?" someone answered.
"Mom?" Misty said to the voice at the other end.
"Oh, Misty, that you?"
Oh. As the person on the line spoke, Misty realized it wasn't her mother at all, it was Daisy. "Yeah," she confirmed, clenching her fist as she felt a tightness in her chest. She hadn't talked to her parents in months, or seen them at all for over a year, why was she suddenly getting sad about it?
"Mom is... Yeah, you know Mom. She's not here. She called us after she found out the news, she's doing fine and happy you're okay."
"Right," Misty groused. Right as she did she picked up her head and realized the mistake of her attitude. It wasn't her sister's fault that she wasn't who Misty wanted to talk to right then. Besides, she should be happy to hear from family at all. "I'm sorry I worried you..."
"No way! We knew Misty would rise like a... What's that bug that always survives stuff?"
"Huh? Are you saying I'm like a cockroach?" Misty demanded. Her sister laughed, and Misty became annoyed, but it was their job to tease each other. They talked a little more about current events at the gym, as well as Misty's travels before the other two sisters got on.
Finally, Daisy took the phone away from Violet. "Sorry little sis, a challenger's here! We are really happy you're okay though."
Misty said good-bye before she got on her swimsuit and went outside. How could they be so close to such a nice beach without taking a visit? Misty stopped by the front where Ash was before leaving. "Ash, want to go swimming?" she asked.
"Um, no," Ash said firmly, raising his eyebrow.
He didn't need to say any more. Maybe it was a little strange Misty would go back to the ocean after what had just happened, but she had always loved it there. "You keep training then, I'll see you later," she said.
"Wait."
Before Misty could dash away, Brock stood up, returning his pokemon as he spoke to her. "Hey, I don't think I'll go in, but I'll gladly come with you," he said.
"Okay," Misty said curtly, turning around. Brock again didn't notice she was giving him the cold shoulder, even if it wasn't enough that she'd outright reject hanging out with him.
Once they actually got to the ocean he didn't even notice she purposefully wasn't talking to her, he just looked around at the older girls in swimsuits. He even tried to talk to some, but shied away like a weirdo without saying much. Misty walked a little ahead of him before she spotted the man.
He had bright, wavy hair, and swim trunks that featured a wave pattern. He was also a little pudgy and had started to bald a little. Misty ran as fast as she could to greet her father. He must be there to see her after she'd been in a shipwreak. Just like her, he couldn't resist a visit to the ocean, so he'd gone while Misty slept in. "Dad!" she called as she came closer.
The man turned around, his face completely different to what she'd been expecting. He gave her a dubious look before going on his way with two boys that were probably his sons. No, of course her dad wouldn't be here. Even if he wanted to be, he probably wouldn't be able to travel here that quickly.
"Misty, what's up?" Brock asked as he caught up with her. "That's not your dad, right?"
"Shut up and leave me alone!" Misty shouted at the coward that had let Giovanni lie right in front of them.
"Woah... Did something happen?" Brock asked. "Maybe it was-"
"It wasn't Dad, so just forget it!" Misty snapped. "It wasn't..." Misty found herself fighting back tears, then failed. She trembled as she tried to control herself, wiping them away to destroy any evidence.
"Want to go sit down?"
Even if she'd decided she was too angry at Brock to give him any mind, he was the only one there with her, so Misty ended up following him to the ocean side, sitting in silence as they watched the waves. He didn't say anything, and neither did he. The silence was what she needed, though she eventually decided she wanted to talk. "Is your family friends with Giovanni?" she asked.
"What?" Brock began, his tone implying shock at the question. "No. Of course not. We don't have time to make pals with any other gym leaders, really. It was different when I was younger, but-"
"So you would be if you had the time?" Misty asked.
"No, not at all... I'm pretty sure he'd as bad as you think," Brock said sheepishly. "Better to stay away from him if you can."
"So that's why you let him get away with all this like a coward? You're scared?" Misty accused.
"You aren't scared of him?"
Brock met her eyes as he asked the question. He seemed to accuse her, see right through her. Of course she'd felt fear when the man had shouted at her. Was he saying she was a coward as well?
"Because," Brock eventually continued after Misty didn't answer. "If you're not, you should be. Only dumb kids aren't scared of dangerous things. Like a little boy that runs into a sinking ship, maybe."
Misty barely hid a laugh at the jab at Ash, though of course the two of them had followed right after. She bit her lip and pushed her hands in the sand as she tried her best to put back on a serious face for the next question. "So, we don't do anything? Just let him get away with everything?"
"You ever heard of the expression, 'pick your battles'?" Brock said. "We knew it was Team Rocket. We saw that Mondo guy with the obvious cover story, so it's crystal clear to me that Jessie and James are part of the group. But we don't have the proof to make it that clear to somebody else."
Misty sighed. He could be right regarding that. She'd been so eager she hadn't thought that others hadn't seen as much as she had.
"Eventually, he'll slip up," Brock continued. "Someone's going to stop him. Maybe it'll be you, maybe someone else. Just know that I'll be there to help, if it's needed. In the meantime, don't let him or anyone else keep you down."
Misty sighed again, this time in an attempt to invigorate herself. "Alright!" she said. "If Ash is training all day, I'll swim all day."
"Don't let me stop you," Brock said with a smile.
Misty ran to the waves, taking her pokeballs out of her bag as she did. "Starmie, Staryu, Goldeen!" she shouted as they were released into the ocean. "You had a good rest, right? Now we get to play all day!" Her pokemon did start to play, going through the waves and underwater, coming up and splashing Misty, playing hide-and-seek with her and others. At first she got stares, but then others asked to join in, including some with their own pokemon. The games were even more fun played together. Misty put her best into them all, determined to get out all the enjoyment she could.
Nothing was going to ruin her day.
End notes: I guess this chapter also takes the place of episode 37 by introducing/featuring ditto as a species. Duplica, though I really like her, won't be appearing here... This story is already going to be hella long without trying to do justice to every once-appearing character of the day, even if I limit it to just the ones I like, so many will be cut moving forward. Again, everyone who was included was for reasons. I did write a two-shot with Duplica and Mondo interacting some time ago titled Imposter, if you're sad about no Duplica here or just want more Mondo and/or Ditto. Hahaha, oh Mondo. He was definitely a little shit in this chapter. Still love him though, in fact he's my favorite here of any time I've written him.
After posting 3 chapters in a week (not to mention 22 in 3 months) I'm going on a [definitely temporary] hiatus for a few weeks. We're about a third through this story. Exactly 50 chapters remain if I don't add/delete any.
Next chapter: Brock vs. Muk