It's time to take this fic into a new direction, in:
#51: Imperial Injustice
Both Team Rocket and Ash's teams wandered aimlessly around the city sidewalks. It was the following day after he fallout from failing to win the big cash prize on Hell's Kitchen.
"How far are we away from home again?" James asks no one in particular.
"About 50,000 miles, give or take," Paul responds flatly.
"Geez, are we even within any of the seven regions anymore? Like Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, or Alola?" Cassidy wonders out loud.
"I doubt it. I think we strayed far away from Viridian City a long time ago when this mess all started," Meowth comments.
"Okay everyone, since we are broke and penniless, we need to come up with a way to make some cash and catch a bus or flight back to our respective cities," Brock states.
"Ooh, why don't we try a temp agency of some sort? They should have some easy jobs for us to make a quick buck on!" Serena suggests.
"Easy for you to suggest that. We're nearly blacklisted from every type of job on the planet at this point," Jessie comments.
"Wow, didn't know you three were that much of a failure…" Butch says with a chuckle.
Jessie, James, and Meowth all spun around to respond to Butch's insult when Ash notices something in the distance.
"Hey everyone, what's that lying on the ground?" Ash points out.
It was a wallet. Pikachu hops off Ah's shoulder and goes to retrieve it, bringing it back for everyone to see.
"Hmm? Someone dropped their wallet? What should we do with it?" Cassidy asks.
James snatches the wallet from Pikachu and checks its contents, revealing a few thousand dollars' worth of cash within.
"Look at all of this money! I'd say we keep it and buy tickets so we all can get out of here immediately!" James suggests.
"But that's immoral! We should give it back to whomever it belongs too," Serena says.
"Immoral?! Not as immoral as you are partnering with Ash and his gang, going along with his scheme to casually give us grief this whole adventure!" Meowth accuses her.
"Just make a decision already, this arguing is pointless," Paul responds, arms crossed and getting impatient at everyone around him.
While both sides continue to debate on how to handle the lost wallet, Brock notices a cloaked figure in the distance.
"Hey everyone, maybe the wallet belongs to that guy over there," Brock points out to the tall man down the street, who was wearing a brown trench coat and matching fedora that covered his eyes.
"I don't know, he looks a bit shady…" Jessie says.
"Come on, it wouldn't hurt to ask. Besides, if it does belong to him, then maybe he'll give us a small reward or something!" Ash suggests.
"Okay fine, I'll go ask him," James says, taking the wallet and approaching the man from behind. "Excuse me sir, is this your wallet?"
The tall, mysterious man slowly turns around to James and glares down at him before giving him an evil grin. He then yells out in response.
"PICKPOCKET! PICKPOCKET! HELP, POLICE!"
"Huh?! James says in confusion, while the rest of the teams rush up to see what was going on.
"What the hell? What's this dude's problem?!" Brock questions.
Before anyone could make another move, several armed guards from all around the city emerge from out of nowhere and surround the proximity of our heroes. The head of these guards steps forward and confronts them all face to face.
"STOP! YOU VIOLATED THE LAW! Looks like you got caught in the act of thievery and you have no cash to pay your fine? Looks like I'm going to have to haul all of you jail!" the guard says aggressively to them.
"What?! This is ridiculous! We were just trying to return this wallet to its rightful owner!" Butch exclaims.
"Yeah, we're telling the truth, so back off!" Paul responds in an annoyed tone.
"There is no truth asshole, just your word against ours. And guess who the judge is going to believe? Now, come with us, NOW!" the guard intimidates as he twirls a pair of handcuffs around his finger.
As everyone was getting apprehended by the local authorities, the mysterious man who ratted them out was nowhere to be found.
Who was this man, and what was his motive in getting everyone arrested? Please review and stay tuned to the next chapter!
