A giant crimson 'R' emblem framed the room. Cold and metallic; just as impersonal as the criminal gang it was purposed for. Harsh, fluorescent lights cast stark shadows on the two feline individuals that occupied the room.
Each stalked the other in slow, cautious circles, in the middle of a stage with a standard Pokémon battlefield's dimensions. One stocky and quadrupedal, with puffy ears, a coiled tail, periwinkle fur, and a nasty gaze. The other, smaller, slender, and purely by appearances, puny. He carried himself on two feet, like a human would. His strides were greater, in effort and number.
Neither's sharp, feline eyes drifted from the other. Like Purugly's tail, tension coiled and built, until it snapped. The larger cat lunged, bearing glowing claws for Slash. Meowth charged with mauve claws. Night Slash.
Meowth grit his teeth and pressed his weight into the stubborn claws that threatened to fell him. His claws were sharp and fine enough to hold, but he could feel the sturdy muscle of Purugly overpowering him.
With a predatory grin, Purugly saw this as well as he did. She hissed, and broke through Night Slash to send Meowth careening to the ground. "Purr!"
"Ack!" Meowth exclaimed, his back hitting the floor. But, there was no time to dwell on his soreness, or wounded pride, as he found himself, once again, in Purugly's shadow.
She pounced at him without pause or mercy. A faint outline of orange indicated Facade; with no status affliction to boast of, but it wasn't something Meowth wanted to be on the other end of, either way.
"Oh, yeah? Let's see how ya like this!" His prized claws snapped out of hiding, and he slashed at his incoming foe, repeatedly, and stubbornly. One certainly wasn't enough to stop her progression, but several slashes in a row made her hiss in pain, and pull back.
Purugly shook her face out; dealing with the mild sting. "You know," she remarked, "you'd have a lot more power behind your strikes if you moved on all fours. Like any feline is meant to."
"T'anks for the advice," Meowth spat, "But I'd rather not."
"Why? Spent too long living like a human?"
"I got my reasons. Don't really feel like talkin' about it." Meowth rubbed his arm, uncomfortable.
Purugly rolled her head, as if to shrug it off. "Fine. It's not my problem if you feel like being a freak."
Meowth flinched, as if he'd taken a mighty blow. His stomach turned at the word 'freak,' like it were an actual illness afflicting him. At any other time in his life, perhaps Meowzie would be at the forefront of his mind. The dame always out of reach who dismissed him as a pariah.
But, a more recent and perhaps equally poignant instance rang in his head, like a bell that had been struck right against his eardrum. The twoip that looked like he'd clawed his way out of a bin of movie extras. In the forest, he'd…
'You're a traitor to your own kind. A freak among Pokémon who takes up the guise of a tyrant!'
For some reason he couldn't quite piece together, that had hurt. Sticks and stones, sure, but it hurt. Quite like a Thunderbolt, actually. Perhaps not as potent as Pikachu's, but—
"Yeeeeowch!" Meowth yelped, as electricity rattled his every nerve, and made him spasm like a loose marionette. Purugly had struck him with a flash of gold, which he shook off. His fur smelled slightly burnt, but that wasn't the issue here. "The hell's your problem!? That was a cheap shot!"
"And we're villains, are we not?" Purugly scoffed. "Though… I suppose we are training." She stalked over, holding a paw out to the downed Meowth. "We save our dirtiest tricks for our victims."
Meowth blinked repeatedly in disbelief. Was she… actually showing kindness? "T'anks," he said, deciding not to look a gift Ponyta in the mouth. "I'll let bygones be bygo-"
SMACK. Purugly whacked him in the back of his head with her paw, making Meowth's face smack against the solid floor. Feint Attack. "—is what I would say, if I was a liar. Oh, dear. I guess I am."
Even though he was faced with the floor, Meowth could practically see her smarmy grin. He saw red, and flipped onto his front paws before swerving around to slice her with retaliatory Night Slash. "Why you, no good…!"
"Angry because I'm better at being nasty than you are?" Purugly taunted, after taking the slash. She retaliated with a Thunderbolt.
"You wish!" Meowth replied, and slung a barrage of golden stars at the lightning bolt's path. One after another, the explosive radiance collided with glimmering stars, and they neutralized one another.
Though, the sight of Thunderbolt and Swift colliding struck another, more recent memory for Meowth. He spaced out from the flashing gold, and reminisced.
His own Swift, somehow, matching and overwhelming Pikachu's Thunderbolt. He knew that it was sheer luck — no, not quite luck. It was the fruits of their carefully hatched scheme to ambush the wetlands, and leave the twoips woefully underprepared. Pikachu had been exhausted from his fight with James, leaving him easy pickings.
"This time, I win. Why don'tcha play nice, and come along wit' us? I was here for the Poison-types, but our favorite cuddly lil' Pikachu would be icing on the cake for Da Boss!"
Pikachu was hardly conscious to object or argue, but he did leave Meowth with one last thought to ponder.
"...I gotta know. Do you really feel good about doing all this? Trying to ruin people's lives?"
…Which, really, shouldn't have even made him flinch. He was a villain. Evil. Making mayhem and taking was his entire pride and livelihood. But, something about how bitter Pikachu sounded. How done with it all he was, compared to his and the Twoip's usual childishly heroic opposition. It reminded him of, well…
"Very predictable. That your only allies are thieving humans. You're not even a Pokémon."
Words that, frankly, were more painful to ponder than the Thunderbolt that had zapped through him, out of the blue. Meowth was rattled and shocked out of his wandering, falling over in a soot-covered slump. "Ack…! Anothah cheap shot."
"That's your fault for being so lax. Or do you think the authorities will be so forgiving if they get past us?" Purugly walked past him, whacking the back of his head with her tail. "Don't tell me you're getting cold feet over the mission?"
"Of course I ain't!" Meowth defended, standing to dust himself off. "I just… got a lot on my mind."
"Well, if you're going to be this useless in training, then let's just call it a day." Purugly huffed, walking towards the exit to the training room. "I'd rather not waste my time."
Meowth considered a word of retaliation, but bit his tongue and followed after her.
Meowth still had plenty weighing on his mind, as he and Purugly walked down one of Team Rocket HQ's many corridors. He was so distracted, in fact, that he didn't notice a pair of legs walking his way before a shin bashed him in the face.
"Ack!" Meowth yelped, knocked on his rear. "What's the big idea!?" He complained, holding a paw over his now-bruised face. "Dis ain't a hallway for just you, so why don't you watch where you're… ah."
Meowth quieted when he spotted just who he was talking to. A sneering visage, with a sharp cut chin, Piercing emerald eyes showed not the slightest hint of humanity, and turquoise bangs framed his face like the horns of a devil. The feared executive, Proton.
Meowth wanted to smack himself for making such a blunder.
"I don't remember it being a pasture for mangy furballs to wander around on their own, either," he spat. "To think a Pokémon is just one rank under me… What a sick joke."
"Oi! Bite me," Meowth snapped, against his better judgment.
"You might want to watch your tongue." The lanky man muttered. His lower, almost sing-song tune gave Meowth the shivers; it was far more frightening than his loud, snappy threats. "...Or you might lose it."
Worse yet, was how Proton's hand lingered at his belt, and withdrew a small handle. With a flick of his thumb, a short, but dangerously sharp blade shimmered under the corridor lights.
"Y-y-y'might wanna watch where you're pointin' dat thing…!" Meowth stammered out. He prayed the Executive didn't notice that his legs were jittering. Knowing his reputation, and the smarmy, sadistic grin on his features, he surely did. "...Ahem. I don't think th' Boss would be too happy t' hear that there's infighting goin' on in his higher ranks."
Proton leered, his canines gnashing into an ugly grimace, before he swallowed his pride and continued to walk. "The only difference between you and that Purugly is that you can flap your gums." On his way past Meowth, he pointedly kicked his foot back to boot him onto the floor, face-first. A nasty cackle echoed through the hallway.
Meowth didn't dare move for perhaps a good minute; he felt too dizzy, perhaps, to even stand. His heart hammered in his chest, against the cool tiled floor. 'As cool as I tried t' play it there… I was one excuse away from bein' a dead cat…!'
"...My. For once, even I pity you."
Despite the backhanded remark, Meowth was surprised to hear an actual iota of concern in Purugly's voice. The shock was enough for him to pick himself up. "T'anks, I guess." He decided to do the smartest thing he could possibly do: continue walking like the whole thing had never happened.
"Being an annoyance isn't a crime worthy of an ugly death." Purugly excused, perhaps to herself, as she walked alongside him towards the elevator at the end of the hall, rather than ahead. A very rare protective display, from a Pokémon that mostly despised him.
"I nevah liked that guy."
"No one does."
Meowth coughed, and froze. Out of the corner of his eye, another mighty presence in Team Rocket rounded the corner… Well, perhaps mighty wasn't the word. Prestigious, perhaps.
A long face. Purple, poofy hair with an undercut on both sides, Half-lidded eyes and a slouched posture that both sparked many in-house rumors that they were born from use of illicit substances. The oddly harmless-looking Petrel.
The man that Jessie, James, and Meowth had found to be the most friendly among the Executives. But, that only gave Meowth so much comfort in what he'd overheard.
He cracked an amused smile, and raised a brow. "What. Think I'm gonna rat on ya? There's a reason he takes his lunch breaks alone." Whether it was because he was disliked or feared was up to interpretation, but Meowth had a feeling it was both. "Don't mind him. He's just jealous."
Meowth blinked several times in disbelief. "J-jealous…?"
"You and your buddies brought in tons of Pokémon for the operation, recently. He's just being pissy that you're overshadowing him." Petrel laughed, shaking his head with upturned hands. "Tell ya the truth, I'd rather see more of you and less of him, in this scene. Please, do keep it up."
"Uh… erm. Yeah. Thanks a bunch, Petrel." A bead of sweat rolled down Meowth's forehead. He couldn't believe the words he was hearing…! Had they really gained that much favor? Maybe from the most easygoing of the upper ranks, but still…!
Meowth collected himself, smiling with his arms folded behind his back. "Don't you worry ya pretty little head. We got big things ahead of us. Big things!"
The elevator rang, and the double doors slid open. Petrel took that as his cue to walk the other way, and take his leave. "You said it. Giovanni's really got his eyes on the prize, eh?"
The elevator closed behind Meowth and Purugly after they stepped in. Today was already proving to be something of a roller coaster for the villainous feline.
Double sliding doors welcomed Meowth and Purugly back to the Team Rocket trio's personal office; at first glance, it was a stark upgrade from the sorry excuse for closet space they'd had when they'd first returned to base after their Sinnoh excursion.
It wasn't quite triple the office space as three different administrators would receive, as Jessie, James, and Meowth were known to work as a unit, though it was at least larger than they'd expect for just one. Many computers and monitors lined the walls, with a variety of colorful graphics and information pulled up, as well as one desk sat towards the back of the room. (It wasn't as if all three of them would sit down to do paperwork at the same time, and really, how often did Jessie even actually end up doing it, in the first place?)
On the leisure end of things, padded, comfortable couches lined the other half of the room's perimeter, and a snack and soda machine were both lined up for ease of access, as well as a wide screen television.
(Alright, maybe those weren't budget-approved, but as long as they did their work, did it really matter?)
The office was well enough occupied for its size; Jessie and James' Pokémon had made themselves at home, all about; Wobbuffet, Seviper, Mime Jr., Carnivine, Yanmega, Huntail, Gorebyss, Breloom, Exploud, Mightyena, Cradily, Vespiquen, Nidoking, and Nidoqueen.
Most notable, though, perhaps, was that Jessie and James, themselves, were nowhere to be seen.
"Hey, uh, fellas." Meowth walked in, looking about. "I see all of youse, but where're Jess and Jim?"
" They said ssssomething about businesses with Dr. Zager." Seviper volunteered, coiled compactly on the couch. "But you were absssssent."
"I- we were running drills!" Meowth stammered, collecting himself with a stubborn huff. "It's essential work. I'm sure those two'll pull it together without me… hopefully. Maybe."
"I'd hope you didn't land yourself in trouble just for the opportunity to get smacked around," Purugly laughed to herself. "How unfortunate." Apparently, her sympathy had ended the moment they'd stepped into the elevator and out of Proton's earshot.
"Would you clam it, already!?" Meowth snapped back.
"Don't you think that's a bit insensitive?" Gorebyss, who floated lazily in a tank halfway filled with water, meant for herself and Hutnail.
"We was once clams, y'know." Huntail added, lurking at the bottom of the tank. "You was there. Don'tcha remember?"
"Honestly. I ought to punish you for your poor phrasing."
"D-d-dat won't be necessary!" Meowth sputtered. "Y'know what I meant! I was just-"
"Oh, relax, relax! I was only pulling your leg, as you land dwellers say." Gorebyss laughed to herself, to Meowth's exhaustion. He liked her fine, but she really gave him the creeps…
The feline sighed, shaking his head. "Nevermind any of that… Then Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dumb ain't here, huh? Then I guess everyone's just takin' the day easy."
"We already ran our drills, this morning," Nidoking replied. "Nothin' to do until the big day, otherwise."
"That's how it is!" Wobbuffet chimed, full of life and agreeable as ever.
"Well, then…" Meowth held a claw to his chin in thought. "Why don't we take the rest of the day off for a little R&R? Team Rocket style!"
"Team Rocket style? If that means getting blasted off, count me out!" Carnivine said. The older members of the group nodded along, though the more recent additions gave him an odd look.
"Not that, ya numbskull!" Meowth fired back. "I'm thinkin' the lot of us camp out. Grab some takeout, find a nice spot in the woods. Call it a, uh… a little mission to boost morale!"
For all of his troubles, today, Meowth was met with widespread approval and chatters of agreement from the entirety of the team. But, of course. He was a genius! His wisdom, indispensable.
"Now, that just leaves one question… What're we eatin'?"
"Pizza sounds good!"
"I want soba noodles!"
"Berries are fine, really."
"Sure, if you want to live like a peasant."
"SOME SICK BEATS."
"Not now, Exploud!"
"I could go for some takoyaki!"
"We're never going to agree, at this rate…"
"Never, never~!"
"That's how it is!"
As any large impromptu social gathering did, the camp-out plans took quite a bit longer than expected. A Team Rocket van — borrowed for practical use, of course — carried the large group to a nearby forest after stopping to pick up food, once that detail had been agreed upon.
It was a hassle, a huge one, really. But they finally made their way to a nearby forest, and sorted themselves into a clearing not far from the van. A few logs were chopped down for seating, courtesy of Seviper, while everyone took turns to retrieve food and drink — of, if they were rude enough, shove their way through.
While the majority of the group sat or hovered comfortably with theirs, though, there were a few team members who were running into… practical issues. Seviper, Huntail, and Gorebyss were left staring at the disposable trays full of food, and drinks, with no way to hold them.
Even Purugly and Mightyena could nudge theirs along the ground to where they wished to sit, and the former took both beverages in her spiraled tail to carry for the latter.
"...I see we have a problem, here." Gorebyss muttered, feeling awfully foolish.
"Are the lot of you landlubbers just going to sit there and leave us to starve?"
"Thisssssss issssss quite embarrassssssssing," Seviper grumbled.
Purugly looked over her shoulder, smirking. "Oh, dear. Do you want us to fetch you bibs, too?"
"Predators and terrors of the deep." Nidoqueen taunted, cackling afterward. "How the mighty have fallen, eh?"
"Ah, don'tcha think you're bein' a little harsh?" Nidoking asked, before burying his face in a tray of yaki soba. "They're our teammates."
"You're so soft." Nidoqueen smiled, shaking her head in amusement. "It's a wonder we're even from the same litter."
"Oh, oh!" Vespiquen cooed, buzzing around the van in several circles. "Where are my manners? Shall I coronate each of you as royalty, and call in the troops to serve you? Some fine linen?"
Seviper's eye twitched in furor. "Lisssssten," he hissed, leaning into the bee's personal space. "If you want a problem, then you've cccccccccertainly got one!"
"Honestly," Gorebyss sighed, "this shouldn't be an issue. Were I still wild, I'd just drain the life out of my next meal closest to me, and I wouldn't have this problem."
Complete silence. The lot of the group — save, perhaps, Huntail — slowly turned their heads towards Gorebyss. Overwhelming discomfort blanketed the scene like a spell, and everyone scooted just a bit further away from the terror of the deep.
" Everyone, everyone!" The high, charming voice of Mime Jr. sing-songed, from near the campfire. The tiny imitator twirled, outlining himself in a blue glow. The same shine captured the food and drinks, lifting the lot of them with Psychic. "It's okay, it's okay! I've got you!"
The items were levitated towards three open spots around the campfire, left neatly for the trio.
"...My, what a useful move," Gorebyss cooed. "I might have to swipe it for myself. Thank you."
"Shiver me timbers! Thanks a million, little one." Huntail slithered over to his own spot, popping open the container with his teeth.
"Thanksssssssssss." Seviper granted, before joining them.
"Leave it to Mime Jr."
"Nice one, little man!"
"The MVP!"
For all of the animosity that could brew in a Team Rocket gathering, not one could bring themselves to begrudge Mime Jr. The tiny mime beamed, happy with his word. His powers brought a canned beverage closer for himself… before being snatched by Carnivine's vine.
"Ahhh, no ya don't, little man. Those're for the adults of the group," Carnivine lectured.
"Awww. But I am an adult, I am! I've been here longer than a lot of the group, now!" Mime Jr. pouted.
"Yeah, but you're still in your baby stage. And who knows what that stuff could do to a little one?" Carnivine shot out his vine, and traded the beverage for a can of soda to hand off. "Here, have this."
This seemed to satisfy the tiny esper, who took the cool can in his paws with shimmering eyes. "Have this, have this!"
The night of merriment continued. Perhaps it'd be difficult to capture every single moment, between over a dozen Pokémon. But, there were little snapshots of this gathering worth remembering.
One, perhaps, was Wobbuffet being absolutely pummeled, like a standing, spring-backed punching bag. Whollopped again and again at rapid speeds, bouncing back to standing up right immediately afterward. The Pokémon seemed totally indifferent to it, though, as Breloom punched away.
"Hey, Breloom!" Mightyena addressed with a tilt of his head. "Why don't you give Wobbuffet a break for the night, huh?"
"Aw, c'mon! He… doesn't mind!" Breloom replied between punches. "I've gotta be ready when the big day comes! Besides, it's cathartic!"
"That's— how— it— is!" Wobbuffet replied between punches.
The canine stared, his tail swishing absently behind him. A perplexed look gave way to a glowing smile, with his tongue hanging out. "Well, if you say so! I can't fault a teammate for doing their best. Keep up the good work!"
For a good short while, the hangout went on without incident. Teammates chattered, or gorged themselves silently (or loudly) on their meals. A few cans piled up, leaving a red flush in many present faces. It was a good time, but the lull had become… well, a lull.
It was too damn quiet.
"Sssssssssssso," Seviper started, swatting a can into the pile after puncturing and draining the metal container with his fangs. "I got a question for everyone. We've all had our run-insssssss with Ash and his crew."
"Ash? You be pulling my leg, right now. That scurvy dog has a name!?"
"I'd assumed he simply went by 'The Twerp,'" Gorebyss agreed. "Or, in Meowth's case, 'The Twoip.'"
"Not all of us follow that naming scheme." Carnivine shrugged his vines.
"There'ssssss too many 'Twerpssssss' to keep that going. Next time he findsssssss a group, they're going to run out of thingsssssss to call them." Seviper shook his head. "Not the point! We've all had our run-insssss with them where we almosssssst won.
…Well, mosssssst of ussssss do."
"So, you're askin' for our own tales with the Twoips, eh?" Meowth interpreted.
"That'sssssss the idea." Seviper nodded.
"Well, before Seviper steals every 's' outta the alphabet, I suggest we get started."
"Oh! Oh!" Carnivine piped up, bouncing a little. "There was that time I beat Dawn's Mamoswine in a Pokémon Contest! Not many can say they've done that."
"A Mamoswine? Not bad. Not bad at all," Nidoqueen praised.
"Oi, hold on. You were in a Pokémon Contest!?" Nidoking asked. "No one ever told me that."
"Of course!" Yanmega chirped, flying about in stylish circles while sipping from her drink. Although, after draining most of the can, her flying was a tad lopsided and clumsy. "Jessie's a decorated Pokémon Coordinator! We even made it to the Grand Festival!"
"She does regale those tales quite a bit," Cradily added. "Have you not noticed?"
"Ehhh…" Nidoking scratched his cheek with his claw. "...I honestly just kind of tune her bragging out."
"Well, then, you'd missssssssss out on the time that Carnivine and I almossssst defeated an Elite Four member!" Seviper boasted.
"Most impressive," Vespiquen lauded, "But that's not the bunch we're boasting our accomplishments with, is it? It doesn't count."
Seviper huffed. "Well, excusssssssse me."
"I, on the other hand," she chirped proudly, "managed to defeat that Pikachu and Swellow of his!"
"Was it Destiny Bond? I bet it was Destiny Bond," Breloom prodded.
"That's irrelevant."
"I did almost conquer that Pikachu," Cradily volunteered.
"Ya did leave him good and woozy for me to wallop," Meowth added. "So, t'anks for that!"
"I'm the worst enemy of anyone who battles using mobility. Unfortunately, those Thunderbolts…"
A wide and loud chorus of grumbled agreements and sympathies followed across the group.
"Oh! We did come close to bringing down that Infernape of his," Gorebyss chimed.
"Least 'till he became a walking inferno, he did," Huntail grumbled. "Thought I was fated to become Sharpedo bait, for a blink."
"Aw, you got to fight Infernape!?" Breloom groaned. "They should've brought me along!"
"Hah! Only to get incinerated?" Huntail jeered.
"Not the flames. For a contest in fists of fury! Don't you have a sense of honor?"
The scene became overwhelmingly silent… except for one; the lone Purugly.
"I believe you've picked the wrong group to ask that question."
"Well, comin' close to defeatin' Infernape, of all kinds, ain't nothin' to sneeze at. But, I can do ya one better." Meowth leaned back on the log he sat atop, wobbling a bit in his waning constitution. Still, he supported himself upright to look as cool as possible. "In fact! I made sure to save the best for last."
"Don't bluff," Gorebyss scoffed. "You've accomplished greater than everyone so far?"
"Now, that's a story I'll have to hear," Breloom said, leaning forward in his seat.
"I'm tellin' ya. Honest as this Meowth can be…! Which isn't very much, but bear with me, here." The feline smugly folded his arms. "There was one day where I was just about unstoppable… Nothin' could get in my way! Not Infernape, not the Twoip's Staraptor, not the Blue Twoipette's Togekiss… Not even Yanmega, Seviper, or Carnivine, here! I beat 'em all."
"ALL OF 'EM? YOU'RE FULL OF IT." Exploud loudly objected.
"There's no way," Breloom scoffed.
"Why were ya even fighting your own team?" Nidoking asked.
"He'ssssssssss right, unfortunately," Seviper corrected.
"Afraid I have to vouch," Carnivine added.
"Not my favorite of days," came the word from Yanmega.
"Bu… but… why? How!?" Nidokling stammered. One couldn't argue against the defeated parties vouching for themselves, but disbelief still hung in the air. "What coulda possibly made you that strong?"
"Oh, that? That, my fine poisonous friend, is simple." Meowth smiled to himself. He did love this tale. "It was the power of love."
"The power of… love, aye?" Huntail tilted his head.
"If you've ssssseen this cat ssssssimp, you'd get it." Seviper replied.
"Aye, indeed. It was the power o' true love guiding my attacks~. When my heart is in somethin', there ain't nothin' it can't overcome! Any friend, any foe! Any obstacle between a bold 'n valiant feline and th' object of his affections!" Meowth sang, as his face filled with a deeper shade of red. Maybe it was the inebriation, but matters of the heart certainly didn't help his complexion.
"...Huh. No kiddin'. Well, if everyone here is vouching for it, I've gotta admit. That is impressive!" Nidoking said. "Especially with the stories I've heard behind that Infernape."
"You've got to show me how you do it!" Breloom pleaded.
"A pretty unfitting story for a villain, overall," Purugly purred, stalking her way over to whack Meowth in the back of the head. "Even if that villain is a loud-mouthed street cat. That does beg the question, though… Who did you fall so hard for to make that happen?"
"Eh—!?" Meowth felt his entire being freeze over in terror, once the realization struck him. A slow, creaking turn tilted his head towards Purugly, his eyes wide, and pupils reduced to pin-points. "W-w-w-who…?"
"Yes, who. Not that I particularly care… But, this is good gossip. Especially if it has hero-slaying results." Purugly smirked upon seeing the terror on Meowth's face. She did so love tormenting and badgering him.
"Th-that… that ain't important!" Meowth croaked out. Cripes, his voice was cracking. He couldn't possibly spill that. Not knowing the answer — not right to everyone's faces!
"You do all want to know, don't you?" Purugly asked, tilting her head towards the rest of the team.
Cheers of agreement from the crowd rolled in, to Meowth's terror, whether they came out of amusement or genuine curiosity. It didn't matter which, to Meowth, as he sweated bullets.
"I-I guess… Humph! Fine!" Meowth hopped to his feet, his paws proudly stationed on his hips, and his chin held high. "I ain't no scaredy cat! I can tell all of ya's! No problem."
"...So, do it," Nidoking prodded.
"Starting to question that claim about not being a scaredy cat," Vespiquen giggled.
"...Agh, alright, already!" Meowth screamed. Folding his paws, he very pointedly looked away from Purugly. "It was… a, uh. Glameow."
A very awkward silence followed… save for the occasional snicker from the peanut gallery.
Meowth, himself, felt a cold sweat plague him like the harshest of winds. He didn't dare look back. 'Gosh, why'd I have to go an open my big Meowth? Dis is humiliatin'...!
For Purugly's part, she stared blankly at the smaller, scrawnier cat. Blinking, occasionally. Although she didn't quite notice, after her drink, her cheeks sported a faint dust of red, only barely showing through her white and periwinkle fur. Ironically, the cat got her tongue.
"Heh! I take it that didn't quite work out for ya. Given that you're here." Breloom jeered.
"WHAT WENT WRONG, HUH? SHE DUMP YA?" Exploud blurted out with all the subtlety of a damn foghorn. Meowth wanted to walk over and throttle her… But, he was already in the hot seat, with what little dignity we had left.
"I didn't get dumped, ya overgrown fungus!" Meowth shouted back, blatantly lying.
"You kinda di-"
"What happened was," Meowth continued, interrupting Carnivine, "In the midst of our fight to defend our right to be togethah, Glameow evolved… into a Purugly."
"Ah, so, you found that not your fancy and dumped her?" Vespiquen chirped, not helping whatsoever.
Meowth swore he could feel Purugly's eyes boring into the back of his skull. "N—no! I mean… Yeah, but! It wasn't nuttin' as shallow as that! Not from Meowth!' He crossed his paws over his chest. "It just so happened she turned into a big, lazy snob, I can roll with appearances, but I value myself more highly than t' stoop to that!"
"...Hm. She sounds like a poor specimen. Who knew you had standards?" Purugly acquiesced, When Meowth finally dared to look back to her, given he hadn't been torn to ribbons yet, she wore something of an amused smile. It took him aback.
"Yeah, well y'know." Meowth sing-songed, bashfully twirling one of his whiskers.
"It's a shame that that useful power is so fleeting. Might actually come in handy if it weren't behind that laughable mental block of yours," Purugly jeered, back to getting his goat.
"Ack! Laughable!?" Meowth fumed, swiveling around clumsily on one foot to shove himself into Purugly's personal space, glare and all. "I'll have you know that-"
"Well, we won't have that worry anymore. There's a new Purugly in town to fit the bill." Yanmega taunted, only very slightly bitter that Meowth's last boast had included taking her down. She might've shot Meowth a look with one of her six eyes.
The jab left the two felines, who had been just about nose-to-nose, speechless. Petrified. Mortified, even. Rather than acknowledge each other, they turned their eyes on Yanmega. And, if looks could kill…!
"Awwww. I'm all out of soda!" Once more providing a save, this time completely by accident, Mime Jr. sullenly shook his can towards the ground. A few droplets of soda and fizz hit the dirt, but little more.
"Aw, ain't that a shame! I'll go 'n get ya a new one, myself! Nope, don't even try to object, no need to thank me, your good buddy Meowth's got you covered, don't touch that dial!" Meowth spat out in a definite case of motormouth, blazing past the rest of the group to grab Mime Jr. another can.
In his mind, he was eternally grateful for the excuse to get the hell out.
The mortifying exchange from minutes past, luckily, had faded into obscurity. Lively chatter, now teetering on drunken banter, depending on the parties present, kept any lulls in conversation from drifting back to the scene that Meowth had inadvertently made.
He was glad for that, certainly. The heat was off him, and he could enjoy the warm campfire, the sounds of his teammates, and the gentle chirping of far-off nocturnal Pokémon. Polishing off the last of his yaki soba, his belly was full, as well. But… with all of that considered, why did he feel so glum?
A veritable storm cloud might as well be hovering over Meowth's head; raining on his parade with hard-to-place feelings that just told him, for some reason, that he wasn't supposed to be having a good time, right now. Perhaps, that he didn't deserve to.
"Meowth?"
"Eh!?" He'd been sitting on a log, slumped over, springing up to attention when he heard his name. Mime Jr. was standing before him, with a tilted head and a frown. "I'm, uh… I'm here. Wassa matter, junior?"
"You don't seem very happy, no you don't. What's wrong, Meowth? What's wrong?" The tiny mimic took one of Meowth's paws, jostling it.
…Of course. He was a Psychic-type. He could probably sense the negativity about Meowth as if it were visible to the naked eye. Meowth huffed. "Dun' worry about it. I'm a-okay, Meowth!"
"...You don't say your name like that unless you're nervous." Son of a gun. Called out.
"Look. Just go have a ball, alright?" Meowth pulled back his paw, clumsily patting Mime Jr. on the head. "It's grown-up's business."
"...Hey, uh. I think Mime Jr. might be right, Meowth." Carnivine tilted his wide head. Unfortunately, he'd caught on. "What's the matter with you?"
"Nuthin's the matter!" Meowth snapped back. "Mind your beeswax."
Vespiquen tilted her head. "What was that about bees?"
"Figure o' speech," Yanmega explained. Both of the Bug-types had been hovering around one another in patterns, it seemed. "Now, don't tell me you got that beat up over that joke of mine-"
"It's not about the joke!" Meowth shouted. He then swallowed, realizing that the entire group was now staring at him. He meekly poked his paws together, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I just… got somethin' on my mind, is all."
"...Well? Spill it." Nidoking goaded. "We're listenin'."
The cat heaved a sigh, after a hiccup. His first temptation was to yell again, until everyone decided his problems weren't worth the hassle. Opening up, frankly, had never been his strong suit. But, the long night out and the warmth in his cheeks coaxed a fraction of the truth out of him.
"Agh… It's just… Team…" Team Rocket, he wanted to say. "...The lot of us. D'ya ever get a bad feelin'? Like, a hunch that we're ruinin' lives?"
"Ruining lives…?" Nidoqueen grunted, tilting her head. "We're villains. Isn't the big man's whole goal world domination? That's the goal, right?"
"Dont'cha brag about being evil, and what not?" Nidoking prompted.
"I mean… Yeah! Sure. World domination 'n all 'at is the dream. All the wealth, power 'n mayhem… We'll have even da toughest of da tough under our thumb!" Meowth folded his arms behind his head, smiling with contentment. Cognitive dissonance was a very powerful thing. "I mean, just… Stealin' other Pokémon from where dey belong. Y'ever stop and t'ink about that?"
There had to be something odd about what Meowth said, because it managed to bring total silence, if only for a brief moment. Whether he'd sparked thought, or if what he'd said was just plain stupid, he had no idea, but either one made the cat feel uneasy.
"Aye… I wouldn't bet one coin that we belonged where ya took us from, though, would you?" Huntail was the first to speak up. "If anythin', I'd say our lives did a complete turnaround, for all your schemin'!"
"I can't disagree," Gorebyss cooed. "You 'stole' us, certainly. But from a trainer that, as I am now, would have left at the bottom of the Slateport Bay."
A sentence that sent chills down Meowth's spine, and as the remainder of the group distanced themselves from Gorebyss, he was sure he wasn't alone. Gorebyss was terrifying. "Ah, yeah, uh… I guess ya ain't wrong. He was a first class creep. We couldn't stomach you couple o' Clamperls bein' treated like junk!"
"We owe ya our lives, matey." Huntail agreed. "An' you gave him his just desserts, if I recall!"
"Heh! Yeah… Left a whole report to Officer Jenny." Meowth folded his arms. "Lil' numbskull probably lost his license. Serves him right!"
"Ya did the same thing with the poacher who was after me? Didn't cha!? I'm pretty sure you did!" Mightyena yipped, as his fluffy tail wagged behind him.
"Left the loser hogtied 'n ready to get taken downtown. Heh!" Meowth flicked his whisker with a hum of pride. "Still… I dunno how I feel 'bout sidin' with the law, more than once."
"I don't get it," Breloom grumbled. "Do you want to be a villain or not!?"
"Of course I wanna be a villain!" Meowth defended. "I am a villain! I jus'... Wanna be sure we're a righteous evil, y'feel me? Conquer the globe without regrets." Frankly, he didn't even know what he was saying, right now. Why he was thinking any of this. Life was so much easier when he didn't have a conscience!
"Well, think about it. None of us have had any issues, being part of Team Rocket!" Carnivine chirped. "...Aside from that short time Ariana held us for ransom, 'till you got your act together, but you sure busted us out of it!"
"We're no different from any other team," Seviper added. "Unlesssssss you count all the crimessss."
"Even for all the times we got blasted off," Yanmega chirped, "for Jessie? I'd really do it all again. She gave me her scraps even when we were all on the brink of starvation."
"And she didn't even feed me when dat happened," Meowth deadpanned.
"Blasting off, blasting off agaiiiiin~!" Mime Jr. cooed, hopping into the air for a backflip; clearly imitating their many tragic failures.
"Now, pause," Nidoking grunted. "All those times you lot talked about 'blastin off.' You weren't pulling our leg? Those were real!?"
"IT SOUNDS RIDICULOUS." Exploud gave her very loud two cents. "HOW'D YOU ALL EVEN SURVIVE!?"
"How? Who knows." Meowth shrugged. "Hapened t' us on a daily basis, 's all I know."
"It was practically tradition," Carnivine added.
"Earnestly," Vespiquen carried on, "I quite like our arrangement. Rather than being a queen, ruling so many Combee, I get to serve a queen of my own! It's a foreign experience."
"What Team Rocket does is no different from my life after escaping my old trainer," Purugly argued. "Simply survival of the fittest. Taking what you need and what you want. Now, those among humans who show no shame in truly hurting us? That sickening brat you lot allegedly had," she nodded a head towards Gorebyss and Huntail, "and Team Rocket's less… savory members. Proton," she named bitterly. "...That's what I consider 'true evil.' Or, whatever it is you want to call it."
"And, who cares about them!?" Breloom shouted. "If we keep rising in the ranks, then people won't even matter anymore! Leave 'em in the dust!"
"E-eh!?" Meowth exclaimed, sweating. "H-hold on 'ere, just a minute…! Yer' sounding a lil' mutinous, there!" Dethroning the higher-ups!? Now, he was beginning to understand what'd had James so nervous.
Though, maybe he just quietly feared the idea of someone hearing them…
"Maybe it's my age… But, I don't quite see the quandary." Cradily, who'd mostly been quiet, finally decided to speak. "Our mission feels quite familiar to the little I recall from eons ago. A simple competition for resources. Our pack bands together to hunt, and thrive."
There was something comforting about hearing Cradily speak, Meowth thought. Perhaps it was the impression they left of unbothered ancient wisdom. A voice so far away from their modern problems, at his heart.
"My fossil was stolen, you say. Yet, I've found myself new kin, thanks to you. Kin that values one another, and from all the tales I've heard, shares their suffering as well as their triumph. If we amass success… Well, then, all the better to share with one another."
"Hm… Yeah! Yeah, y'know, you got a point, there, Cradily!" Meowth exclaimed. "We can take, and take, and take for ourselves! Sit on a pile o' gold, the lot of us! If we jus' keep deliverin' for the Boss, and get on his good side…!" Meowth's eyes twinkled, like the many, many stars blanketing the skies. "And, what's to stop us from bustin' a few cruel heads along the way? Any Pokémon swiped from rotten people who ain't us, is one more victory for Team Rocket!"
"More for us, and less for them!"
"We'll be a whole army!"
"All for Jessie and James!"
"For the boss!"
"That's how it is~!"
Although he'd gone in feeling quite the opposite, Meowth was glowing. "Gee… Look at that. I came in feelin' all sortsa doubts, 'n those doubts rallied everyone 'n boosted morale!" The villainous veline smiled to himself, smugly cupping his chin with his paw. "I guess it just goes t' show that my genius ain't got no bounds~."
And, now that morale was boosted… He had an idea. "Guess what, team?" Hopping up from where he sat, he walked a clumsy stride back towards the van. "The lot of ya's warmed my heart, 'n rallied us towards speedy success. So ya know's what we're gonna do?" He grabbed onto the ledge to the interior, and yanked himself inside, only to pull out a laptop.
Rapid taps at the keyboard ended up pulling a holographic projection of the screen, for all to see. With a few more taps… There was a video file visible! "We's gonna celebrate, with a Team Rocket classic sing-along! I bet most of ya's 've never heard this baby! Are ya ready?"
Without further ado, the high quality speakers started to deliver on a booming bass.
Old and new members alike shared a look of curiosity. For those more musically inclined started moving to the beat.
"Prepare for trouble!"
"Make it double!"
"Prepare for trouble!"
"Make it double!"
"We'll be the richest rogues of all time!" Huntail decided to lead, suave and enthusiastic.
"Creators of a grand design~!" Gorebyss sang a happy note, twirling on the spot.
"I'll be the king," Nidoking followed, naturally.
"I'll be the queen," Nidoqueen added.
"I'll be the joker," Meowth sang, as he was meant to. "...of criiiime~!"
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie…!"
"James…!"
"Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now, or prepare to fiiiight~!"
"That's right!"
"TEAM ROCKET'S ROCKIN!"
"Talkin' trouble, walkin' trouble, double trouble, big trouble's gonna follow you~!"
Exploud made for a fine amplifier for the high notes, while the group did their best to keep up with the words rolling onto the screen. As foreign as the song was, everyone seemed to fall into place for the fun!
"We're gonna capture Piiiikachu~!"
Yanmega and Vespiquen hovered in circles, seemingly having recovered from their inebriation earlier. A well-placed Silver Wind showered the scene with glimmering, but ultimately harmless spores.
Seviper, being the other contest specialist on the screen, bounced into the center of the action to swing a fuchsia Poison Tail through the air; dispersing the glimmering winds with tints of purple, all about.
Nidoking, for the next round of 'Double Trouble,' may have misunderstood, and swung a mighty Double Kick towards the ever-stoic Wobbuffet… only for the sentient punching bag to swing right back and launch him with a potent Counter!
Flying through several trees, Nidoking groaned, landing in a heap of lumber.
"...Oh, dear." Vespiquen hovered over, peering at the wreckage.
"Ergh… So that's what they meant by a blast-off."
"We're Team Rocket, and we fight for what's wrong."
"For mayhem and madness, and rare Pokémon."
"I'm so gorgeous~!"
"I'm always the man~."
"YOU'RE JUST THE PLAYERS IN MY MASTER PLAN!"
Melody and merriment carried into the night, and rallying cries for their success had turned to song and dance. While his very own lines took a backseat, Meowth sighed happily, taking a short walk away from the fun he'd orchestrated, with his paws behind his back.
Where was he headed…? Well, towards the woods that bordered the clearing. Free of any prying eyes, Meowth looked… Oh! His sharp, feline eyes were staring right at the reader!
"Well, it's been a real blast, hasn't it? T'anks to all of youse for tuning into this story; and especially this chapter in the lives of your favorite no-good criminals; Team Rocket! But, don't flip the waterworks on me; you got nothin to fear! Because there's always the next book!"
The feline grinned, popping one of his sharp claws into view. It glimmered ominously from the distant light of the campfire. "That one's gonna have plenty of Team Rocket for your reading pleasure. Those Twoips better watch out; and that Pikachu, too!"
"Oi! Meowth! Who're you talking to, over there!?"
"...Eh? Nobody in particular." Meowth waved his paw, returning to the life of the party, as music and lyrics echoed through. One book was about to close, and with it would come the beginning of another. "Wait up for Meowth!"
"LOOKS LIKE TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAIIIIN~!"