Author Note: I did say I won't be posting a Chapter today, but that doesn't mean I won't be posting an Interlude.

"To all of you that are here, I congratulate those that help us make it this far." Giovanni is currently making his speech on the stage. "If it were not for them, we would not be here. So let us celebrate their victory!" Giovanni then raises his glass. "For the future of Team Rocket!"

"FOR THE FUTURE OF TEAM ROCKET!" Every single member yells out.

"Way to hype the party I guess," I say to myself. " I mean I get it, we all work hard and deserve a reward."

"...Cu..." Gazing off into the distance, Cubone subconsciously responds to my comment as he's smoking his weed while sitting on a pile of marijuana. "...bone..."

"Yeah, you too." He probably doesn't hear me but it's the gesture that counts.

What? He deserves it. Even though he didn't do any of the work, I don't want him to feel left out.

"Hey! Gade! My man! There you are!" Wobbling toward me, Petrel slings his arm over my shoulder. "Come on! Let's join the party!"

"Thank you, but no thanks." I reject his offer. "I don't like crowds."

"Aw! Don't be such a Grumbull. Cheer up!" Petrel then hands me an unopen beer can.

"...I guess I could enjoy it for a bit." Taking the beer can from Petrel, I open it up and take a sip. It tastes like- well... beer.

"That's more like it!" Chugging his drink, Petrel immediately collapse onto the floor and fainted from overdrinking. "Eh... heehaw..." ...Maybe not so much.

Taking a bit more sip, I look over the distance to see Nidoking dancing around with another Nidoqueen, trying to impress the female. I can't tell if it's working or not since both of them are clearly drunk but if it gets him laid, then I guess.

"Now it's time for our honorable mention. May Gade please enter the stage?" Choking on my drink, I spit out the remaining content as my name is called.

Hold up. What the fuck- ...spotting on the corner of the stage, is Proton smiling right at me. Oh, that son of a Mightyeena.

"Is Gade here? If so, may he please enter the stage?" Right, they're still calling me.

Fuck it, might as well.

Entering the stage, I am met with many sets of eyes looking right at me. If I were to say that I am not uncomfortable, then I would be lying. It is my first time saying something in front of so many people after all.

Taking the mic, I prepare myself. Here goes nothing.

"Hey!" I begin with an introduction. "As a lot of you know, my name is Gade, and I'm sure that some of you hate me." Yeah, no sugarcoating there. "In fact, I think I can spot a few of those faces right now. There's Jerry, the guy I punch. There's Gary, the guy I insult. There's Jim, the guy I take the moonstone. There's Denni-" Holupwaidaminutehere? "JIM!?" I do a double-take just to make sure that I wasn't seeing things. "THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"

"Hi, Gade! Long time no see!" Jim responds back with his cheery expression, completely ignoring my shock. "I join Team Rocket! Isn't it neat?"

"Wha-" HoldonHoldonHoldon. My brain is trying to process things here. Is Jim actually being real? "You know what? C'mere. Up to the stage, you go!"

"Me?" Jim points to himself.

"Ya! Who else! Come on!" I gesture for him to get up here.

Making his way toward the stage, I offer my hand for Jim to take. He grabs my hand and I pull him up. "So!" I give him the mic. "Introduce yourself!"

"Um... Hi! my name is Jim. I'm 13 years old." That last part gets a few gasps from the crowd. Yeah, that's my reaction too. "I'm from Viridian City and-"

"Ok, that's enough." I interrupt Jim. "Now tell us, how did you end up in Team Rocket?"

"Oh! ...Well, it all started at the Nugget Bridge." Oh boy. I think I know where is this going. "I was doing my things like any normal trainer would. Y'know, battle trainer, taking on gym challenge." He continues. "And then I saw Gade wearing a full black uniform with a letter R on his chest and I was like, whaaaat? That can't be him, right? Turns out, it was actually him!"

Before Jim could continue, I swipe the mic out of his hand and ask. "So let me get this straight, you decide to join Team Rocket because... you saw me?"

Handing him the mic back, Jim answered. "Actually, no. It was more than that." He begins to explain. "I saw a video of you battling against Lance on the S.S. Anne and I was like, that was so cool! And then you revealed yourself as a member of Team Rocket and I was like, that was really cool! And then you shot that mini-rocket thingy and I was like, THAT WAS SUPER COOL!" Jim is now fanboying on me really hard.

"Ok ok, I think I get it now." I put both of my hands up and gesture for him to calm down. "So I inspire you, that's it?"

"Yup!" Jim responds with a big smile. Just what the hell did I bring myself into.

"Wow uh... ok. Yeah, I'm just gonna end the speech right here and uh... good work everyone." Placing the mic down, I leave the stage with Jim following behind me. But before I could make my escape, Proton just have to be there to rub it in.

"Nice speech." Proton smugs.

"Shut up."