Viridian Forest was a lovely, albeit a little creepy, wood. The trees were filled with many different kinds of pokemon, mostly bugs. These were the pokemon that were among the first to be caught by beginner pokemon trainers. They were also often the first to reach their final evolutionary stages, possibly even before their trainers reached Pewter City. Kakunas clung to tree trunks, caterpies inched through the dirt, and, occasionally, pikachus would scurry across the ground. The forest grew more and more quiet as late afternoon set in.
"We're lost!" TJ's voice shattered the quiet, spooking a few pidgeys from their nests. TJ and Aden came around another bend in their path, one of many since they entered the forest.
"We are not lost!" Aden defended. "I know exactly where we're going…" TJ stopped in her tracks, stomping her foot in a huff.
"That is what you said when we started!" she said. She looked up at what she could see of the sky through the trees. It was a dark orange color. She pointed up at it and frowned at Aden. "Look! The sun is going down! We have been wandering around in circles for hours! All because you said, 'I have only lived here my entire life; I know how to get through the forest with my eyes closed'. Ha!" Aden gave her a sheepish look.
"I meant that I've lived in Kanto my entire life." Aden told her. "I actually grew up on Cinnabar Island. B-but, I memorized the maps of the area! I was sure that…" TJ groaned in frustration.
"Of course," she said. "I would have to team up with a complete moron!"
"Hey!" Aden said, getting angry himself. "Do you want to lead? Be my guest!"
"Fine!" TJ took a few steps forward and looked around them. It was quickly becoming too dark to see more than a few feet and there were noises of unknown creatures waking. TJ swallowed hard. "Umm…" Aden crossed his arms and looked at her smugly.
"Not so easy, is it?" he asked. TJ shot him a death glare.
"No," she said. "I was just, uh…I was just gonna say that we should rest here for the night. It would be pointless to go on now; we won't be able to see well until morning anyway." TJ took of her bag and began pulling her sleeping items out of it. Aden rolled his eyes.
"Whatever you say, oh great leader." He began to unpack his own sleeping equipment. They set up in a small grassy area with there sleeping bags and pillows. It wasn't the most comfortable of situations, but it was all they had to work with, so it would do. As they lied down, TJ eyed the trees cautiously.
"Have you actually ever slept in this forest before?" TJ asked.
"Well, no." Aden replied. "But, plenty of people have. All trainers challenging the pokemon league have to pass through here. Don't worry; most of the pokemon here are harmless."
"Most?"
"Yeah," Aden said. "Basically everything except the beedrills. Beedrills are mean little buggers. But, if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone."
"Ok," TJ said, not entirely convinced. "I guess I'll have to trust you. What other choice do I have?" They fell silent again.
"Hey TJ?"
"Hey what?"
"What does 'TJ' stand for?" TJ didn't reply for a minute.
"Tara Jane." She heard Aden giggle in the darkness. "Stop it! It's not that bad!"
"No, of course it isn't!" Aden said, trying to stop snickering. "But, I would stick with 'TJ'."
"Thanks, I'm planning on it." TJ replied. They were quiet again. "Since we're asking questions and all," TJ started. "Why did you leave Cinnabar? And, why are you following me around? Don't you have better things to do?"
"I left Cinnabar after the volcano erupted." he told her solemnly. "My parents were caught up in the explosion. I was lucky to be alive."
"I'm sorry." TJ said.
"Nah, it's ok." he said. "You've lost your parents, too."
"Not like that." TJ said. "I never knew my mom and my dad died of an illness that I was almost prepared for. It's not the same as loosing them in a disaster."
"I guess." Aden replied. "I had studied fire pokemon in Blaine's gym since I was young. After the explosion, I was sent to the very farm that I received Mags' egg from. There, I studied some more until I finally left for Pallet Town with my egg. I wanted to put my knowledge to the test. I stayed in Pallet for a while, traveled to Viridian, and then to Vermilion via a guided tour of Diglett's Cave. Mags hatched about then. From there, I made my way north to Saffron and Route 7, where I had heard growlithe and vulpix could be found. It was on Route 7 that I realized Mags' strange move. That was when I started back the way I had come, heading for Pallet to ask Oak about it and then I met you."
"So, you are following me because you have nothing better to do?" TJ asked.
"Yes, if you want to put it that way." Aden said. "Actually, there is a little more to it, but…" His voice trailed off.
"What is it?"
"It's just," He sighed. "This is going to sound horribly cheesy, but the truth is that…I was lonely. I've had no one since my parents died and even putting up with you is worth the companionship."
"Thanks." TJ said flatly.
"You're welcome." Aden said happily. They grew quiet once more. TJ shifted, rolling over to face where Aden was lying.
"Aden?"
"Yes, TJ?"
"I'm glad to have a friend, too." she said. Aden smiled to himself. "Even if he is a moron." TJ added quickly before rolling back over and drifting off to sleep.
Far off and away, in the region of Hoenn, a large group of Rockets were hiding away in an abandoned warehouse just outside of Rustboro City. They had just received orders from their boss and sent word to their other members awaiting the next stage in their plan. Near Lilycove City, a Rocket Executive and two grunts walked through Team Aqua's headquarters. They were being lead by a Team Aqua Admin by the name of Shelly. They came to a teleport tile, which they each stood on and were teleported to a large room. There were a few computers and other contraptions, as well as a gated off area that was filled with sea water.
"Archie!" Shelly called once they arrived. A man stood from the computer he was working at. He was a large man that wore a goatee and the traditional Aqua head scarf, complete with their logo. "You have some visitors."
"Yes, I see that." he said. He held his hand to the executive. "Hello, I am Archie, the leader of Team Aqua. And, you are…?"
"Jess." she replied, shaking Archie's hand. "I am a representative of Team Rocket."
"Team Rocket, eh?" Archie said. He motioned to a table, at which he took a seat. "I've heard of you guys. You've been inactive for a while now."
"Yes, but we're under new management now." Jess told him. She followed him to the table, but, instead of sitting in her intended seat, she sat on the table itself. "And, he's got an eye on a new prize."
"Let me guess." Archie said. "Mew." Jess nodded and he chuckled. "Why am I not surprised? That's not a new prize, not for you. From what I hear, anyway."
"It is, considering his plans for it." Jess said.
"So, why have you come to us?"
"We have heard that you are also seeking the ancient pokemon." Jess replied. "And, instead of fighting over it, we would like to suggest a compromise."
"A compromise?" Archie said. "And, what would that entail?" Jess shrugged.
"Nothing major." she said, crossing her legs and leaning back on her hands. "Just a collaboration between our groups to catch the pokemon. Then, after our boss gets what he wants from it, we'll turn it over to you." Archie thought for a minute.
"How can we trust you?" he asked. "How do I know that, once you have the mew, you'll turn it over to us?"
"Ok, how about this," Jess said, leaning forward. "You can take the pokemon and use it for whatever purposes you have, and then give it to us. That way, it is us trusting you." Archie drifted off into thought again, his eyes looking at Jess, then at Shelly, and then back at Jess again. Shelly just stood between the two Rocket grunts, watching the negotiations.
"Ok," he said finally, holding out his hand. Jess shook it and leapt off of the table.
"We'll get in touch with you soon. I have to report your answer to the boss." Jess said, heading towards the teleporter to leave. "Oh." she said, stopping suddenly. She turned to Archie. "It may interest you to know that Team Magma is also beginning their search for the mew."
"Are they?" Archie said, intrigued. "Hmm, we must find a way to get to it first…" Jess smiled.
"There is a way." she said. "And Team Rocket is here to help." As Jess let Archie in on Rocket's plan to beat their rival, another Rocket Executive, Jay, was giving the same speech to Maxie, the leader of Team Magma, inside of Mt. Chimney. The first stage of Team Rocket's plan was unfolding seamlessly and they were sure that the mew would soon be in their hands.