Playing with Rockets
I wonder just what these three very "suspicious" characters were doing in such a difficult place to witness such masterful spying. I'm impressed to the point that I'm surprised I saw them. I guess I'm just that good. Yeah right. I walked back up the stairs to the front of the Pokémon center and walked around to the side. I wasn't being quiet at all or anything. I wasn't sneaking or trying to cover my lightly heavy steps and yet I was able to sneak up on them without even an attempt to be stealthy. I saw two human characters as a single Pokémon with them out of its ball.
Curious.
"The boss might promote us if we pull this off Jesse," the only man on this team of three giggled in a very feminine way. It was a little strange but not unfamiliar. I've read about girly men in my crime books and different clubs and the like they work out of for funds. They simply dress up in strange outfits and talk to people which sounds easy if you ask me. Maybe I should try it one day if I get the chance. I could go without the voice though. Most older men I hear don't sound like that.
"Indeed. So let's hit it tonight and steal of these pokémon James," the woman named Jessie smiled evilly as she said exactly what manner of criminal activities they have planned on top of when. These guys aren't good at the whole stake out thing if they talk about their plans in the open like this. I contemplated whether or not to be a hero and tell them not to but I'm not that ignorant. I could call the SOB's in the area on top of this but decided against it just to see where this goes. If they are this fresh then more than likely their little plan will end in failure.
"Meowth, I can't wait," the Meowth… talked? A pokémon just spoke!? This is a talking Meowth. Not pokémon talk either but human talk. Wow that's amazing. I want to capture this guy but first I pulled my pokédex out and pointed it at the meowth. My Pokédex brought up the meowth and to my surprise I didn't see a pokeball next to its status. It's wild so that means its not in any registry. That makes it fair game then. I could use one a pokémon that can speak that's for sure, because even though I can understand some pokémon I can't understand all of them. Training a walking and talking meowth could be interesting and with human level intelligence it will be much easier to predict.
"How many pokémon do you think are in there Jesse?" Jame almost purred as he examined the room.
"A ton," Jessie giggled in a sickening sweet tone like a evil princess.
"Ohhh, that's a lot," said and sounded genuinely amazed at the sheer amount mentioned. Is this guy serious or joking with her?
I walked around them and stood in the middle and looked inside. The pokémon storage room for the pokémon that all the trainers in this city wished for the center to hold for them while they tour the city. I'm sure mine would be there as well if they weren't injured or with me like Ace.
"At what time are we doing this eh?" The meowth asked the two humans.
"I'd say around 6. 6 is a good time. I can get my hair done before the big cash in." Jessie rubbed her outlandishly long hair gently.
These two are idiots, its official. I can't call a pokémon an idiot that's domesticated so the problem is the humans here. I want this meowth though and I normally take what I want when it's free game. I leaned down grabbed the back of the meowth's neck. Like I saw in my book I just need to poké its throat, knuckle its stomach, and then chop its head all in sequence while holding the back of its neck to cause its nervous system to short out depleting the brain of air for a couple seconds. "What h…" I did the three strike move and the meowth went limp in my grasp in under four seconds.
"Crap it worked."
"What worked meowth?" James asked and I grit my teeth at that slip.
I cleared my throat and said, "my plan to take over the world heheh," in my best impersonation of the meowth. They seemed to buy it too.
"Someday we will and team rocket we reach out to all the regions," the pretty lady laughed evilly. Team rocket? That larger 'evil' pokémon stealing organization that works through concentrated channels of organized crime? These three are part of this? Wow they must be at the bottom of the barrel.
I leaned back up with my prize in hand and walked down the hill back to the street and left the two to their devices.
"Plrrp?" Ace groaned. "I know but I couldn't resist. I mean a pokémon that's meant to walk on all fours that instead prefers to walk on two and speaks human is too much to resist. I'm an opportunist and you know this." I held the meowth like I would a bag of groceries and walked off to the streets of the city. Being in the country still I found few cars in use and a lot of people walking. Some eyes came my way no doubt drawn to my "bag" and its lifelikeness. I'm holding it like it's a bag despite the way it quivers. Its easy to write it off as the movements the bag makes as I swing it.
"Plurrp."
"I don't know if I want to it capture first. I can only have a team of six and if I have you and Pikachu that means I have only four slots left. I need a water pokémon , a psychic type, a fire type, as well as a grass type."
"Plpp pllurp," Ace asked and I pulled out my Pokédex to show him.
"According to the map on my pokédex the first gym is Pewter City gym which is a rock gym. You and Pikachu will be at the disadvantage the entire time so it's best I get my hand on a water or grass type before I get too far, you got that? Even though I don't need a normal now this one is too much to give up... You up for a pokémon battle?" I asked my friend
"Plurp." Ace said while turning his head away from me.
"Come on. You know what Lucario would say if he asked you or me," I reminded the bird type.
"Prrp." Ace sighed.
"Good now lets do this." I stopped by a small play ground where I saw come other kids hanging around. One was waving a pokéball around looking smug. They noticed me as I walked up and grinned at me. They whispered amongst each other then nodded.
"Hey you!" I stopped as one kid walked up to me with a grin. "I see you got a pokémon there."
"Yeah," I said nonchalantly but on the inside I'm a little eager so see Ace kick some butt.
"Wanna battle?" He smirked at me.
"Sure." I faced him.
"Oh Trey's gonna beat you loser!" One of his friends yelled at me.
"He's undefeated!" Another cheered.
'First time for everything,' I thought to myself.
"You know the rules right?" He asked me. How could I not? This is a gamble for the lives of our pokémon as well as our money. Most days that's all a pokémon battle really is. I rose my pokédex and showed him the amount I'm willing to lose. He just sneered. "Make it three." I smirked on the inside and nodded. "Let do this then!"
The kids stepped back away from his and this Trey kid and me. Trey picked one of the three balls on his side and threw it. "Go rattata!"
I looked down at the small little rat and shook my head. My god this will be easy. "Ace your up."
"Prrp!" Ace leapt from my shoulder and glided to the middle.
I looked down to the meowth and grinned. I slapped him awake. "Huh? What? Ow my head hurts." I reached into my pocket and pulled out a piece of candy. "Here this will make you feel better." I unwrapped it and placed it in his paws. I say he because his voice sounds took too deep an octave to belong to a female cat. I looked between his legs for a moment. Yeah, male.
"Oh, thanks twerp." My eye twitched. The meowth threw the candy into his mouth and chewed. Not swallow but chew. Interesting. This cat is more humane than I thought.
"GO!" I heard from one of the other kids and the battle began.
"Ratata use tackle."
"Beh!" The rat ran towards Ace with the aim to tackle him.
"Gust," I called. With a strong flap of his wings wind picked up and barreled towards the rat. It stopped in its place and flew back away. "Use peck!" Ace flapped his wings and shot towards the ratata and pecked hits head and then its leg. My Ace has seen more action than any pokémon Trey has. The ratata began to panick.
"Ratata use tackle!" Trey yelled in desperation.
"Ace back up." Ace flapped back but suffered the tackle but at half strength, maybe less. With the ratata right in front of him now it was time to end this. "Use gust." With many flaps of his wings Ace created a gust of wind again that sent Trey's ratata flying until it hit the ground unable to move.
"Ratata!" Trey ran up to his pokémon and looked him over. "Man, you did well buddy. Here," he pulled out the pokéball and placed his pokémon back inside. One down and two to go.
"Ace return." Ace flapped his wings back to me and landed on my shoulder. I turned to the cat and smiled. "Meowth I want you to fight next."
"What!? Who are you?" Meowth yelled.
I squat down and grabbed to top of his head. "I'm in no mood for back talk," I said making my own version of Mean Look with my vision turning red. Hang around enough pokémon and you begin to learn a couple new tricks. Hang around a Lucario and your aura can even shift the color of your eyes. In my case it's red before their original black.
The meowth shivered but still shook his head. "Where Jessie and James?"
"Not here now get out there." I picked the meowth up by the neck and tossed him into the center. Is this cruel? Yes. Do I care? No doesn't even come close.
"A meowth huh? I got this next. Go Sentret!" Next is this one huh? This should be easy for a meowth to take on and by the looks of it he has scratch and bite. The means he's above the level of this thing I'm sure.
"Meowth you ready?"
"Wait I didn't sign up for this!" The Meowth yelled whilst turning to me and consequently turning his back to hip opponent.
Trey grinned. "Sentret use tackle." Sentret shot towards Meowth with its tail. "Yahhh!" The cat pokémon suffered a tackle directly to the back. I winced at the impact. That had to hurt.
"Plurp."
"Nah he's got this. Get up meowth. Do you want to be that rodent's machamp bag?" The meowth growled and climbed to his feet.
"Use tail whip," Trey commanded his sentret.
"Meowth jump up."
"Don't tell me what to do…!" The sentret used their tail as their main appendage and with a strong whip that carried the lash sound as well meowth was sent reeling back from the whip attack to the body. The damage is minimum but the pain that follows is enough to drop the guard of anything. That's the only reason in the books all it says is "lowers defense" under this attack. Meowth stepped back and nearly fell to a knee.
"Meowth roll left!" Without hesitation he did just that. The sentret attempted another tackle but failed. Meowth had the rear flank but he was still suffering from the whip attack. Regardless he need to fight back and soon. "Use scratch."
"Y-yeah," he grunted and whirled around. He scratched the back of that rodent with his razor sharp claw scoring a critical. The back is a sentrets weakness for their front is hardened from bashing through trees and nuts all day. It shows as the sentret fell off its tail to all fours.
"Tail whip!"
"Meowth dodge." The meowth was reveling in his successful hit too much to notice and whip attack to his body again.
"Tackle," Trey ordered and his pokémon followed it. Meowth was sent back again from a desperate tackle attack from sentret. Meowth fell to his paws.
"Don't give up meowth. Keep pushing and… I'll buy you a shiny souvenir." Meowth are known for their selfishness and love for attention and shiny things. This seemed to get his attention but it wasn't enough. "I'll get you some fish as well." Bribery can get you a long way with one of these things. Instead of throwing rocks at it it's best to throw money.
"Tackle!" While on all fours the sentret rushed towards the meowth. One more tackle and that it for him. Meowth looked ready to move. "Don't move," I said and waited. Meowth tried to look at me. "Keep your eyes on your opponent!" The inner Lucario in me came out and like him I blasted my aura at the pokémon commanding it to follow my orders to a key. Meowth turned his eyes back to sentret and rose his paws up as if to eat the attack. "Spin to the right!" Like a matador against a rouge tarrus the meowth spun and the sentret shot right past him.
"What!" Trey yelled and I grinned. "Bite its tail and brace." Meowth went for that tail and clamped on just as the sentret was about to pass fully. The sentret cried and lost energy in its legs. It fell to the ground. "Jump and used scratch attack on its back."
"Right," muffled with is mouth full.
"Sentret move, hurry," Trey cried but it was too late. Critical hit to the back with a scratch attack. The Sentret cried as it flopped on the ground and then went still once it landed. Meowth landed with a couple scratches but he won and it was over.
"Yes," I whispered. "You see Ace I told you not to worry." Meowth cringed as he limped back to me. He even held his arm sort of stereotypically. "Good job meowth. You did well." I pat his shoulder
"Yeah… whatever." I picked up the meowth and pat his head with a smile on my lips. "You did awesome meowth. Just rest and I'll take care of you in a moment. I placed the Meowth down and faced Trey awaiting his next pick. He returned his sentret to its ball and glared at me. He reached for his last pokémon and threw the ball.
"Ratata go!" Another ratata. This will be easy.
"Ace take it out."
"Prrp." Ace returned to the center and glared down the second and final ratata. I got this in the bag because this ratata is another basic I'm sure he caught in the forest not too long ago. It looks weaker than the other two he used before.
"Tackle attack." The ratata bolted towards Ace.
"Peck," I relayed to my pidgey. He's fought many ratata and knows where to hit them. Ace is much faster than that ratata as well and it shows. Ace flapped to the right and slammed his beak into the ratata's side. The ratata made a gargling noise as it fell to the side after losing its footing. "Gust." Ace kicked up and blew the rat away from it towards its trainer.
"Ratata!" The ratata struggled to stand up.
"Tackle." Ace shot and tackled the rat head to head pushing it back to the ground out for the count. We won though a little unfairly. This meowth isn't really mine after all. He's still "wild" so to speak. Ace flew back to my shoulder and I picked up meowth and placed him under my arm.
"Dang," Trey kicked the ground in frustration.
"Wow, the new kid won?"
"That pidgey is so cool."
"That meowth can talk! He must be a pro." Or this kid is just an amateur. I rose my pokédex to him and pointed at him. The kid grumbled and did the same. I heard my pokédex make a generic money sound. More money to add to the account.
"Next time I gonna beat you. My name is Trey! What's yours?"
"Ash," I answered lightly.
"Ash huh? Well next time we battle, I'll win." I doubt that but you never know. I smiled and walked away. That was easy.
I noticed meowth licking his wounds like a human would by applying pressure to the areas which wasn another interesting I characteristic he has. I walked back to the meowth and picked him up to cradle him in my arms. I pat his side and pat his head gently with trained smile in my lips. "Good job Meowth."
"Kid you suck," the meowth growled at me than struggled a bit forcing me to sit him down.
"Calm down," I said to the pokémon but had to step back away from his scratch with those sharp claws of his. He got my hand and made me grit my teeth in discomfort. Ace's aura turned red from rage and I had to place my hand on his head to keep him from killing the meowth for that. Meowth glared at me and I stepped back up to him but with my hands up protectively. I saw a bit of red on my hand and frowned. A scratch at most so I just bandages and not stitches.
"Calm down! Who are you and why did you force me into a battle. I'm not a fighter I'm a lover and appreciater." The meowth ranted and I listened closely as it described itself in broke and yet full detail once I pieced it all together. This one is one of a kind with a very heavy northern accent. Prof. Oak will pay a hefty sum for him I wager. In the mix of his rant I placed my hand on top his head and slipped down to caress his cheek. Meowth froze and then purred just like an animal should. I'm relieved it's not fully domesticated. "Don't worry meowth I'm gonna get you that food so just be patient." With that I headed to the first place I picked him back up and left the playground to find with meat to sell.
"Man this is good." Meowth said from his seat as he gripped a slick of meat in his hands and chewed into it. I waited as he ate and juggled his shiny new necklace. "You a man of your word twerp. I can't believe I doubted you." I rolled my eyes at the cat and just waited for him to finish his food. He finished in no time and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"You're very human like," I commented on when I noticed this use of plates, napkins, and a fork. He washed his paws in the bathroom as well when he asked me to take him. His table manners are not the best but the fact that he has them is a little scary. Can any other Pokémon emulate this meowth? If pokémon became more human than monster I wonder what would happen. A happy sigh from the pokémon brought me out of my thoughts of this.
"Well I learned how to speak…" He told me his story. It was really… wow. I don't know how else to explain it. He's a city cat that learned to speak like a human and walk like a human by impersonating human beings. He learned to become human and alienated himself from the rest of his kind because of it. I found it amazing that a pokémon like this was able to do this. But this left me a question that needed to be asked.
"How did you get roped up with Team Rocket, especially those two you were with. They're not the brightest by the sound of it."
"Jessie and James? Naw they're not that bad. How did you knock me out anyway and take me?" The pokémon growled.
"I hit the pressure points in your body and then carried you away. They didn't really notice me do it," I said honestly. "I really think you can do better than stick with those two Meowth." I worded carefully to begin the capture process like in my games. I have to get doubt into this mind before I can do anything.
"They're my team and I have to beat that stupid per…" The meowth stopped and looked away from me. I didn't quite catch that but it sounded like he was going to say a name. Maybe a pokémon he's crossed with.
"You got replaced," I guess from what I heard.
"Mind your own business kid," the meowth scoffed at me with a very heavy northern city accent.
I rose and eyebrow at the kid bit and sighed. "Listen meowth, I want you in my team." The meowth coughed out his drink. I leaned out of the way of it in time and leaned back up. Ace shot up to evade and landed back on my shoulder when I came back up.
"Have you lost your mind?" The pokémon shouted.
"A couple times now but that doesn't matter. I see you as valuable and because you have human trends I decided to ask you first but if not I'll capture. You're labeled as wild meaning I can capture you so I leave this to you meowth. You can come willingly or you can try to escape." The meowth's eyes widened in realization of what his position really is right now. He grit his teeth and looked around for the exit and winced once he noticed how far we are away from on. I grabbed a booth in the very back with him opposite of me and furthest from the door for a reason.
Ace glared down at the cat ready to tackle him. "Plrrrp prrp," Ace taunted, daring the cat to bolt it.
The meowth winced and I couldn't blame him. Ace threatened him on top of that taunt and it sounds like Ace is out for blood. "Come on this ain't fair. First you steal me away, force me to battle, and now threaten me."
"That's funny coming from a pokémon that's wild and travels with Team Rocket; A known criminal organization bent on world domination." The meowth visibly flinched. "You could have ran at any time during the battle as well and I wouldn't have stopped you." Another hit. "And I haven't threatened you in any way. That's Ace at most. I just said you can try to escape." Another hit and just like that meowth slumped. "You should have seen something like this coming meowth. You can talk meaning you can understand humans and pokémon alike and translate. You're not that weak either and can take a beating which is good. You're labeled as wild so your fair game. Any trainer would want you and see where they can take you. I'd like to see it myself and I think with that duo you won't get far."
"But… But my dream," he cried and I grew more curious. He's on a mission for something it seems.
"As I said before, you're fair game, and if I don't capture you someone else will and I don't want that. I can feed you, take care of you, train you to make you stronger, and if you don't like being in your pokéball you can stay out of it all you want. I want you though and I'm giving you a choice. Please make it." The meowth seemed torn between two worlds. I've made pokémon shiver and run away from me with just a glare and that's when I don't care. Right now I wanted something and I'll do what I have to get it.
"Meowth there you are!" Meowth looked up and looked to be full of relief.
"Jessie! James!" I glanced back and saw two people still dressed in black walk up to my booth. This got complicated and fast.
"Meowth where have you been?" Jessie demanded to know. "Because I could be getting my hair done for this coming job but I have to look for you instead."
"Jessie you don't need to be like that?" James tried to sooth his partner's rage
"He ran James," Jessie brushed off his hand from her shoulder to glare at the meowth.
"I didn't run off! This runt kidnapped me?" Meowth pointed his paw at me.
"What kid?" Jessie said with her hands on her hips. "That one," meowth pointed at me again, "the one right there."
I waved at the two team rocket members. "Hey. You're a really pretty lady," I complimented the woman with a bright smile as if happy to see this goddess before me.
"Ah ain't I," she grinned with a flourish of her hand through her ruby red hair. God that's long.
"Jessie don't fall for his Sweet Talk!" Meowth yelled and I glared at the cat that instantly sat back down.
"This kid took you? Right from under us as well? I don't see that happening meowth," James said in his own form of sense making. A normal kid doesn't steal pokémon under the noses if criminals but I'm not normal. Stealing is what I do sometimes if it's a matter of life or death. I've stolen a couple spearow eggs once or twice to eat the next morning.
"So these are the friends you were looking for huh meowth. I'm happy I helped you find them and that you had such a pretty girl friend with you," I acted the part of a good and kind samaritan which they bought like I did a golden clock not too long ago. I still feel like a fool for getting it.
"What?" He exclaimed.
"Aw," Jessie pinched my cheek. "You're a sweet kid with an eye for true beauty," she said both complimenting myself and herself at once. What an egotistical lady to toot her own horn like that.
"Come on meowth lets go. We're wasting our planning time." James sighed.
"But… but…" Meowth tried to get out.
"Now," Jessie glared at meowth. "Later cutie," Jessie winked at me and walked out. "Let's go meowth," she tone shifted from soft to annoyed fast. "You too James lets go."
"Ah, yeah okay Jessie. Wait for me." I gave meowth a look and smiled at him. He glared at me looked away.
"You have nice friends," I joked with a small snicker. "You have a whipped guy and lady with an ego the size of this city. You choose that over me?" I shook my head and stood up next.
"You don't understand?"
"I don't have to meowth. Just know that there's always a better path and I believe it's the one you're in control of. If not who is really living your life?" The words from Lucario have stuck with me for every moment of my days and now I have a reason to pass them on.
"Meowth!" We both heard and the Pokémon booked it out the door.
"Prrp plrpp."
"I know Ace but I'm patient. We'll be seeing them later today anyway so it doesn't matter."
I walked out the little restaurant with my hands behind my back to stretch on my shoulders. I need to find more pokémon trainers to battle while I have the chance. Ace is strong and listens to commands well like always. That was my first time against a trainer's pokémon instead of the common wild one. One was fresh out the wild and his strongest had to be that sentret. Where did he get that?
I visited the mart here and got a couple complementary potions and a couple pokéballs as well which is cool. Saves me the money of buying them. I contemplated on whether or not to buy a new backpack but decided against it. The one's here are too expensive even after the eight or so pokémon trainer battles Ace and I have been through today. Ace is tired by this point from all the pokémon he's faced up against and the sun is beginning to go down. I decided to turn in and return to the pokémon center for now. Good news is that Ace learned quick attack and man is he fast now.
I walked into the center up to the counter and waved at the chansy. "Can you heal Ace here?" I placed him on the counter for the chansey to look over. Nurse Joy was nowhere to be found, Thank God. Ah well.
"Chansey chansey."
"Sorry but I can't understand you?" I don't speak normal type that well. Flying and bug pokémon aren't hard to understand but normal types on the other hand, it takes a moment for me to make sense of their gibberish. Chansey more than likely saw me talking to Ace and got the idea I was one of those humans that can understand pokémon. I can but only to a point that's why I wanted that meowth. Chansey picked up Ace and took him away. A moment later another chansey that was a little thinner arrived with a platter in hand. On top was Pikachu looking better than before. "You look good Pikachu."
"Pi." Pikachu jumped off the platter to the counter in front of me.
I pat him over the head a little happy he didn't electrocute me just now. "You look much better Pikachu but how do you feel." The Pikachu just stared up to me. It was a little awkward but I held his gaze with my own for now. "Pikachu I want you to come with me if you're willing." I reached for his pokéball and sat it down in front of him. Pikachu stared at the pokéball for a moment.
"Pi pi pika." I didn't understand that well but what I could make is a question. "Place" in the question as well. "I will conquer the pokémon league and complete the kanto region pokédex. I want you to help me do this. I want your strength."
"Pika." Pikachu looked toward his ball and back to me. "You can stay out of your ball Pikachu. I won't force you in." Pikachu glared at me and I nodded again. "I'll help you find what your looking for as well. I haven't forget our deal." The pokémon nodded and tapped his nose to his pokéball. He slipped inside easily. I picked up the pokéball and pressed the button. Pikachu shot out the ball a second later on the counter like he was before. I placed his ball back on my belt and reached for him. He looked guarded still but let me pick him up and place him on my shoulder. "Let's take a moment to rest. Had a long day today huh?"
I walked over to the couches in the lobby and fell down on top of them. Pikachu climbed off my shoulder to my side. I picked him up and placed him in my lap instead and pat his fur. Pikachu made a couple happy noises from this. I closed my eyes and rested a bit.
They say knowledge is half the battle but Lucario says that a battle is a battle of knowledge not might. If you know your opponent you can defeat them. That's one reason I've read books on pokémon and studied my fair share of them. You have to know the critical vulnerabilities of your foe in order to get the proper angle on him or her. I was told to never hit girls but Lucario told me it doesn't matter. An opponent is an opponent no matter the age, size, or gender. I didn't hit Misty because she's a girl and not an opponent yet.
Night has fallen and I opened my eyes to a darkened pokémon center. The sun was gone and I felt a bit alone in the center with just Pikachu keeping me company. I checked my Pokédex for the time. I've been asleep for four hours it seems. I good rest. Pikachu was awake and laying down calmly on my lap. "Hey Pikachu," I said as I rubbed and pinched pikachu's cheeks. "This center is going to be robbed by these three simpletons so if you can I need you ready to battle. I know you just got healed and all but I need you ready for when it happens. From what I saw it's a guy and girl. One had long red hair and the other blue hair the reaches his shoulders.
"Pika."
"What?" I was taken back by this and looked up following Pikachu's paw. I saw the meowth and sighed. "Are you kidding me?" They'are actually sneaking in through the front entrance and actually succeeding. These two give thieves a bad name. "That's them." The pokémon center by this point was mostly empty and full of starter pokémon for the most part. I'm trying to wrap my head around why they decided to do this here of all places but stopped out of fear that the strain would cause my brain to ooze out my ears like in some books I read.
"Pika."
"Ow." I pulled my hand back from Pikachu's cheek and blew on it. "That hurt."
"Pika."
"It's fine." I pulled off the bandage around my hands to the pale skin underneath. "It was about time I took these things off anyway." Even though these bandages are pretty comfortable. I might just wear bandages for now on just because I can. Maybe around my arms and neck. These could help against bites too. Its hard to bite through fabric versus skin. Then again I could just buy a Pro-jacket. I need more money than I have right now for that state of the art microfiber jacket but it would be worth it. Even a charmeleon would have trouble biting through that without losing fangs, or so the ad said. I rested my head back and waited. "I'm sure if these people are smart enough to come through the front they'll exit the same way as they came in. I closed my eyes again.
I heard a noise loud enough to get my attention and opened my eyes. I looked around and found a couple people tied up around the lobby and I'm sure many more in the back. I yawned and stretched my limbs before getting ready to stand up. Suddenly Ace flew out the door to the hallway towards me. He was looking much better after a couple hours rest and myself as well. I dozed off during the robbery I guess. I looked around and saw something orange next to me. "Misty?" She was asleep as well next to me by the looks of it. When did she get here? I sighed and looked around a bit and the lobby appeared to be empty. I looked down and saw that Pikachu was missing. "What the…" Suddenly the roof above me collapsed down in front of me. "
"There it is!" James came barreling out the back from the same hallway Ace came from and a large basket appeared from the ceiling. Like it went through the city and collapsed it sending rubble every which way.
Misty woke up with a start. "Huh? What happened?" I climbed up to my feet and looked around for Pikachu and saw him sleeping on the floor on his back. He woke up as well sparking his cheeks.
"You kid!" James pointed at me dramatically. "Give us the pidgey."
I stared at him with the most annoyed look I could give. "Ace tackle him." Ace rose off my shoulder and impacted with James stomach. "Uhh!" He fell back from the 15 pounds of unbridled pidgey fury plowing into his chest at high speeds. He's lucky I didn't give the command for quick attack. Ace flew back away from James and landed back onto my shoulder. "If you want Ace come and take him," I said simply.
"What the heck going on!?" Misty shot up to her feet.
"A robbery by he looks of it."
"A robbery? Of all the Centers why this one?" I shrugged for I don't have an answer. Maybe it's just my bad luck.
"Can you head to the back and free the captives? I can take care of this guy." I looked at James as he struggled to stand up from that blow. "You sure," Misty asked and I nodded. "I got this." With that Misty nodded and ran to the back witha pokéball in handleaving James and I alone.
The basket from below came down more with a large tube attached and a basket of pokéballs attached to metal arm. Within the basket was the woman from before Jessie who looked down at me in anger. "James, where's that shiny?" She yelled down at the down'd man and he pointed at me. Jessie must have read the situation because those eyes of hers glared down on me. "How dare you kid' Do you know who we are?" Jessie yelled at me.
"You're Team Rocket," I stated. A poor excuse of them as well.
"Exactly we are Team Rocket." James said as he climbed up to his feet. Suddenly they did some sort of speech or something. I was left standing in awe at the spectacle and have to admit it's impressive. They somehow made special effects and fireworks in the background during. Like the Pokérangers they stuck a pose. I have a feeling they got this from them and I found it funny. These guys are so harmless its not even funny.
"So surrender your pokémon or face our wrath," Meowth yelled.
"How about this," I walked up in front of them and crossed my arms. "We have a pokémon battle here and now. You win and you can have my pokémon and the ones you stole without a fuss."
"Why do that, when we can just take them," Jessie declared with an evil smirk that improved her looks if you asked me. She rose a pokéball and throw it. "Ekans go!"
"Pikachu you're up," I said down to him when I heard this pokémon's species. The large snake appeared below their hot air balloon glaring at me menacingly.
"Koffing go!" James said next. Two poison types while I have a flying normal and electric type. Not a bad mix but I wish now I had a psychic type right now.
"Ace you go as well and give pikachu support."
"Plrrp!" Ace flew off my shoulder and floated up above Pikachu. A double battle huh? Not really all that popular now a days because of the increased concentration and strategy needed to hold one successful. If they're initiating a double battle right off the bat then my must be confident in their teamwork. Maybe I overestimated these two because with a pokémon each I'm at the disadvantage seeing that I have to split my focus between two pokémon instead of one like them. I can see that this will be a good exercise for myself and my pokémon to test our teamwork against these two who are adept in it. I'm not sure if we'll win but I'm confident we got this.
"Ekans use wrap!"Jessie ordered from her pokémon which struck me as nonsensical. That's not smart against a flying or the "electric mouse" pokémon I have. The likelihood of getting Ace with that move are low with his speed and range. Pikachu would just electrocute her pokémon point blank. Maybe there's some strategy in this with a plan they are hatching this is only the first move afterall.
"Koffing use tackle," James ordered from his Koffing and it shot towards Ace whilst Ekans aimed for Pikachu. They must aim to split my focus but still a fly battle with a flying type isn't smart as well. Ace has the advantage over his poison type though speed and agility alone. Might as well use that against him.
"Ace fly up and use gust on koffing and Pikachu take the attack." Ace flapped his wings and blasted the Koffing back just as it was moments from hitting him. The winds are a little weaker indoors but it worked well enough. "Tackle attack!" Ace tackled the staggered Koffing back even more.
"Koffing use tackle," James ordered from his pokémon and t recovered fast enough and hit Ace head on and push him back. Ace felt that, I can tell. That koffing can take a beating it seems and hit hard. It's defense is higher than Ace's so I'll have to soften it up then. By this point Ekans reached Pikachu and had him in its wrap. Pikachu cried at the uncomfortable attack.
"Kid's not bad but forgot his other pokémon," Jessie taunted.
"No, I didn't," I shook my head at the woman. "Pikachu thundershock."
"Piikaaaa!" The room lite up as the Ekans took point blank lighting at every inch of its body that covered Pikachu. Pikachu's attack came to an end and Ekans wrap loosened enough for him to slip out. I smiled as Pikachu climbed out with a shine in his eyes. "Tail wipe those eyes Pikachu." Pikachu rose up and wiped its hard lightning rod of a tail down on the eyes of the Ekans causing little damage but a massive effect to stagger it back enough to leave the perfect opening for Ace.
James must have noticed this because he shouted "Koffin used smog." The koffing blew out a toxic cloud to encase Ace but I wasn't worried.
"Ace, quick attack on Ekans." Pikachu leapt back away from Ekans and from above Ace came down and tackled the back of Ekans head taking it down to the ground. The smog covered the ekans just as Ace flew by.
"Plrrp!"
"Gust." Ace flapped his wings and the smog attack was pushed back enough to stop it cold to block my field of vision but not cover my pokémon .
"James your smog hit my Ekans!"
"Sorry. The twerp is better than I thought and I thought that it would help."
Once the started to argue like this it was then I realized that these two don't have good teamwork that's apparent. They didn't plan but acted more than anything as if they are rookie trainers using pokémon as if they're toys. They didn't press any of the advantages they had and used very inefficient move sets against me. I wonder what they plan to do now though."Meowth get in there!"
And there's my answer.
"What? Me?"
"Yes you," Jessie commanded before throwing the cat out the basket of their hot air balloon into the center.
I heard the sounds of something kicking another and that thing falling to the ground. The smog cleared enough for me to see the field now. Ace relented on his attack. "Both of you come back to the center in front of me." Pikachu and Ace came over to me and stayed ready. Pikachu glared back at me. "Sorry but Ekans is faster than you and if you wanted to hit it, it had to be on you." Pikachu huffed and turned back to the front. The Ekans took the most damage and you could tell. That smog attack left it burning from the poison mist that got into its wounds. Jessie cringed and rose her pokéball up.
"Ekans return. Go meowth do something." I reached for a pokéball and grinned at the meowth. "Plurrp!" Meowth winced fearfully but didn't back down. The koffin stood before us while a little haggard but still floating up.
"Koffing use tackle." The koffing attacked and I shook my head.
"Pikachu use thundershock." The Koffing flew back when the lightning hit the poison type directly. Like it was covered in blasting powder the pokémon "blasted" back into the basket and fell to the ground.
"Come back Koffin," James said sadly.
I smiled at the meowth. "Pikachu."
"Pi!" Pikachu charged up to finish off the meowth. "Come back." Pikachu looked back at me. "Pika pika pi." I shook my head. Pikachu came back despite his opposition at the shake of my head and climbed up to my shoulder when I leaned over and placed my hand down. I pat his head with a smile. "Good job though. You did great Pikachu." I pinched his cheeks earning a happy noise from him.
"Jessie, James I can't beat him."
"Its one bird you can do this." Meowth knows he can't. He's not a fighter. He's a talker.
"Ace use quick tackle." Ace fired at Meowth.
"Ah no!" Meowth took the hit and flew back into a wall.
"Use tackle." Ace flew back and tackle Meowth into the wall again but seemed to keep going. He pecked and scratched the cat in the face and arms that rose up to protect said head.
"Meowth! Twerp tell your bird to stop," Jessie yelled at me. I shrugged and called Ace back. Meowth was stuck on the wall panting just barely standing.
I rose my pokéball. "I win Team Rocket now return the pokémon and give me my prize." I wanted money but I have the feeling they don't have any.
"Yeah right kid there's no way we'll do that." James sneered at me.
I glared at James. "Ace used quick attack on that bag and once he's clear Pikachu lite them up." Ace shot at the bag and sliced through it with his beak causing all the stolen pokémon to fall down. "No the pokémon!" Pikachu jumped from my shoulder and lite them up. The attack was weak from discharging most of this power on that snake but it was enough to pop their balloon. In a very humorous way they flew away. I think they yelled "it looks like team rocket is blasting off" but I may be wrong. Too bad they didn't listen. I was starting to like them.
"Pllp prrp." I heard from Ace and turned my attention towards him.
"And where are you going," I said to the Meowth that was trying to crawl away. I walked up to him and crossed my arms.
"No." He begged. "I don't want to be captured."
"You and every other pokémon in the world my friend." I leaned down with the pokéball in hand. "You'll die if you don't get help meowth and this center only helps if you're in the system or can pay. I can't pay." I drew my eyes to the small trail of blood on the floor. The meowth crawled with its good arm the best it could but from the peck in his side I can tell he will bleed out soon.
"Please kid don't I… I don't wanna die." I felt sad for the meowth. Left by this team and alone to be taken by me. Ace had it in his mind to kill meowth for scratching me and disobeying me before. It was my intervention that saved his life or what's left of it. "Please." I dropped my pokéball onto of the meowth. The meowth turned into red data and sucked into the ball. The ball shivered a bit as I waited until the red light dimmed. My pokédex lite up.
"I caught a meowth." I picked the ball up and placed it at my side. Walked to the captives in ropes and gags over their mouths with my knife out. I cut the ropes and helped the nurses up with a smile on my lips.
"Thank you so much!" On woman wrapped her arms around me and hugged me. I returned it with a hum as response. I helped a few other of the captives and a few trainers in ropes as well. Team Rocket did a decent job with knots and making sure no one could get in the way. I guess since I was in the corner in the dark I wasn't noticed at all which is convienent.
"What the heck is going on here!?" Right on time Nurse Joy, in a night gown, showed up with a glare that could punch a hole through steel. Her eyes flowed around her ruined lobby before settling on me. "What happened?" Her voice was unusually calm and frightening. I felt like I was moments from dying myself. I explained to her exactly what happened from me sitting down and sleeping to the battle that happened. Nurse Joy listened to me calmly and then rubbed her head when I finished. "Thank you for saving the pokémon but couldn't you have taken it outside?"
"They came through the roof. Its not my fault they did this."
"I know… damn it!" She looked at the hole in her roof. "Chansey!" The pink pokémon ran out the back instantly and stood at attention for her. "Take his pokémon and get them back to full health." I gave her the pokéball with meowth in it. Pikachu and Ace followed the Chansey on their own. "As for you and you?" Nurse Joy directed this towards someone other than me.
"M-me?" Oh yeah Misty is here isn't she? I forgot about her.
"You will both file a report just when that damn Jenny gets here!"
"Yes ma'am," we both said.
"Good now… just wait over there." Captain Joy pointed to the couch and I was on it in seconds. Misty was right behind me. Captain Joy stomped towards the back and even kicked her own door down. "Get these pokéballs back on the shelves." A bunch of nurses that didn't look like Captain Joy, including the ones I saved, and other workers came out the back, ten in total I think, and started to pick up the balls. A team with the pokémart insignia on their shoulders showed up with machamps and got to work on the roof. Officer Jenny arrived and took our statements and complimented me on my bravery. When I asked for a kiss I got one on the cheek. I didn't see that coming and honestly I was just acting like Old man Oak does sometimes. I didn't think it would happen. That's the first time a girl kissed me other than mom. It felt… nice. The roof was repaired in over three hours when the team got here.
"You were pretty good for a beginner Ash," Misty said. "Have you battled before?"
"In a way." I fought against Lucario, other pokémon, and the boys in my town many times so I'm no stranger to conflict. When it comes to giving commands I just have to envision myself in their place with their powers and it becomes easy. Having fought overwhelming odds before with Ace it's not hard to transition to another pokémon.
"You managed a double battle your second day. That's unreal. Most professionals have trouble with double battles." That's because they don't understand the difference between a regular battle and a double battle. I've seen shows of battles and their attempt at double battles and its much like Jessie and James collaboration. Faulty and frail. It devolves from a battle or sport to pointless animals trying to skin each other alive. "Not you though. You did awesome."
"Thanks Misty. That's nice to hear at least once." Misty smiled at me before looking back to the front at the pc's across the room. I closed my eyes and rested my head back. Its night time and I'm tired. Today was a really eventful day.
"Oh yeah, one more thing." I felt something land in my lap. Something heavy. I looked to see what she threw at me and marveled at it.
"My pack." She got my hiking pack for me and even stitched it up. "Misty you're amazing." This was the nicest thing a girl's done for me. It had to be pretty heavy as well and yet she carried her gear, my gear, and her bike her over hours of hiking. She's strong for a girl. "I know I am," she giggled. I placed my pack down and leaned back. I closed my eyes and smiled. "Today was a good day."
A/N: And then the world was changed forever. Wonder where this might lead now with such a sudden shift in the universe. Then again it's one out of many. Tell me what you think of this chapter either through reviews or PM. I'd appreciate some feedback and maybe a couple ideas.
Thanks for reading and please review