I want to advise that this story does depict a rather graphic, violent scene. If you are uncomfortable with violent scenes, then I do not recommend reading this story.
"So good to see you two have recovered," Giovanni greeted Butch and Cassidy. "I'm sure you're wondering why you're here." Neither said anything, spotting the half-empty bottle of whiskey. "You have a new mission."
"Yes, sir, what are we supposed to do?" Butch asked, unconsciously clenching his fists.
"You two were among the survivors… You were there when everything went to hell," he growled. Butch and Cassidy were shivering with dread.
"We understand," Cassidy answered, her voice quivering slightly.
"You told the doctors about an egg Mew teleported away. I want you two to find it and bring it back here."
"Right, we'll do our…" Butch started. He and his partner flinched when their boss slammed his fist into the desk, rattling the contents. Even Matori let out a small gasp, trying to keep her composure, her Meowth shooting their boss a silent snarl despite his shaking. Persian lowered himself, tail dipping low, ears flat to his head instead of sitting proudly.
"I don't want your "best," I want that damn egg!" Giovanni shouted.
"Yes, sir!"
"Cassidy, I want you and Matori to go down to the lab and see if they've located the egg's whereabouts."
"Yes, sir…" Matori began, stealing a glance at Butch, as did Cassidy.
"Leave!"
Both women let out a small whimper as they left, leaving the men alone. Persian and Meowth quickly slipped out, the former terrified by how low he kept to the ground.
Alone with his boss, Butch found himself shaking, trying his best not to crumble in front of him. But the fury in Giovanni's eyes, he'd never seen him like this before, and judging Matori's reactions, neither had she.
"I heard you took charge, is that correct?" Giovanni asked, his voice eerily calm.
"That is correct, sir. Thor was killed, and everyone was panicking. So, I started giving orders to try and regain control," Butch explained, feeling it wouldn't sate the man's rage.
"Yes, of course, you were trying. Yet, you still managed to fuck everything up!" Giovanni snarled as he made his way over.
"N-no one expected Mew to retaliate so violently!"
Butch barely had time to react when he was slapped across the face, sending him crashing to the floor. He held his cheek, tasting blood.
"Yet you still let it slip through your fingers, just like that," Giovanni spat, snapping his fingers for emphasis.
"No one would have expected it to blow itself up like some extremist! We were prepared to catch it, not fight like we're in some goddamned war!"
Butch instantly paled when realizing what he had done. He barely had time to shield himself before getting kicked in the ribs. His boss was livid, kicking him wherever he was vulnerable, even stomping on his back. The only thing Butch noticed was as painful as it was, nothing had broken. He knew he'd have bruises and some cuts, but given he had a mission to do, this was a light punishment. He wasn't sure if he should be grateful or not.
"Stand up!" Giovanni barked.
He did, knees shaking as he tried to steady himself when slammed against the wall, a yelp escaping him. Their faces were close enough for Butch to smell the alcohol. He did his best not to gag, eyes burning with tears he fought to keep at bay.
Butch couldn't help but wonder what had happened. Not only had his boss drastically changed, but Butch thought he was done with Team Rocket. He and Cassidy resigned and left to live their lives. He opened a bakery. His Pokémon were happy. He was happy. Then Matori's men came and ordered his return. He told them he was done, but they grabbed him and dragged him back. He tried to fight, but they overpowered and restrained him. His Pokémon were collected, some beaten when they tried fighting back. When he was brought back to headquarters, he found Cassidy and a handful of other former Rockets brought in. Most of them were a mess from resisting as he had done. He could only guess their Pokémon were in similar shape as his.
Butch snapped from his thoughts when a fist slammed near his head. He couldn't stop the whimper from escaping. He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for further abuse.
"I don't ever want to hear you back talk to me again. Do you understand?"
"Y-yes, sir."
"I hope we never have this sort of talk again." Giovanni tauntingly patted Butch's bruised cheek. When he pulled away, he gave a familiar wave to leave. Butch started to, doing everything in his power not to start running. Just as he crossed the threshold, he stopped when his boss talked again.
"You better find that egg, or else."
As if struck with a whip, Butch ran out of the office, barely shutting the door behind him. Walking as quickly as he could, he hardly focused on his surroundings. He only came back to reality when a hand landed on his shoulder. He spun, thinking Giovanni wanted to talk to him again, only to find a horrified Cassidy.
"Oh, god…" she gasped, seeing the bruises and split lip.
Before she could ask what happened, he pulled her into his arms, hugging her as tightly as he could. His whole body shook, unsure if he was scared or close to crying. She assumed both, slowly reaching her hand up to rub his back to help calm him down.
"Butch, what happened?"
"H-he's blaming me for the mission's failure," Butch hiccupped. "He's right. I should've done something that would have prevented this. I should have…"
"Don't." Cassidy pulled away to look him straight in the eye. "Don't you dare blame yourself. It wasn't your fault. You couldn't have foreseen the outcome. None of us could."
"People died because of me!"
"If not from you, then it would've been from someone else! Mew was going to take as many lives as possible. We're just lucky we survived. If you hadn't seen it wake up. If you hadn't called that retreat, far more lives would have been lost."
"People still died trying to run and hide from the blast. Almost nothing survived… How could it have that much power left after everything we threw at it?"
"I…I don't know."
Cassidy hugged Butch, her body shaking as badly as he was. They eventually pulled apart once calming themselves. She could see her partner still blamed himself, her blood boiling that their boss was making him carry it all. Butch did nothing wrong. He did what any of them would have done in that situation. The fact he was able to save anyone at all was a miracle.
It made her wish neither of them had been forced to return. She wanted to leave. Not because things were boring. She wants to leave because she doesn't want to go through this again. She doesn't want to watch Butch go through this. This wasn't the same Team Rocket when she first joined. It had changed, and not for the better.
"Or maybe it was always like this, and we were blind," Cassidy wondered bitterly.
"Did you get the egg's location?" Butch asked.
"They've narrowed it down. They should have a better idea where it is shortly."
"Oh…"
"It'll be okay. We'll find that egg and bring it back."
"I guess…"
Cassidy gave him a sad look as they walked over to the labs. She let him sit outside as she went in to see if there were any updates.
Alone with his thoughts, Butch slumped to the ground, covering his face as he sobbed. He couldn't get the memories out of his mind. The blood, the screams, burning flesh. Every time he closed his eyes, he was back there. Sleep was almost impossible without waking up screaming. Not even his Pokémon could comfort him. Most of them were going through the same thing. The only one remotely spared was his Meowth, who was left here because she wasn't a battler. He just caught her and kept her as a pet.
He cursed the gods for doing this to him, his Pokémon, Cassidy and her Pokémon. He wanted this to be another nightmare so he could wake up from it. He wanted to wake up back in bed to the smell of freshly baked goods. He wanted to look out the window and see Mightyena running laps around the yard, barking and playing with Hitmontop or wild Pokémon that came by. He wanted Meowth to jump in his lap while he read or watched TV, purring and kneading, sometimes meowing excitedly about her day, the other Pokémon responding in his stead.
He wanted his freedom back. He wanted his happiness back.
Rumors had spread that the legendary mirage was sighted in various locations across Kanto. Most of it came from trainers they spied on or from a few Rockets who swore they saw a glimpse of it. The better-trained members were sent out to determine if it was true or some hoax. After weeks of thorough searching, only one Rocket managed to confirm the rumors.
It was an accident. Some grunt that idolized the bumbling trio spotted Mew during a delivery. He tried to fight it when realizing what it was, yet it escaped as quickly as it appeared. The most he could do was get a photo as proof when he reported it. That photo was enough for Giovanni to send orders for a handful of his better agents to hunt it down. The knowledge that the picture showed it carrying an egg made the mission a high priority.
Butch and Cassidy were ordered to be part of the mission led by a large, muscular man named Thor. They begrudgingly agreed and got prepared to leave. Butch had asked Mondo to look after his Meowth while they were away. It took two months to get to their destination. They had to be inconspicuous to avoid being detected by police or members of the Pokémon G-Men. They also had to ensure Mew didn't take notice and flee again. They took cars, dressed as civilians in case they had to stop for supplies or were stopped by a ranger or officer.
When they reached the mountain, they left their cars parked in remote locations. A couple of grunts were left to guard them. They would alert the rest if someone came their way and say whether they were a threat or not. From there, they climbed, taking various trails that made the least noise so as not to alert their target. Hours ticked by before they almost reached the top, a few ahead signaling them to stop. Curled up by a river was the legendary mirage, Mew. It was lapping up as much water as it could.
"I can't believe it," Cassidy whispered. She couldn't believe her eyes. She was always confident Mew existed but never once thought she'd get to see one.
"Look at its tail," Butch whispered.
Wrapped carefully by the long tail was an egg.
"I wonder how we're going to get Mew without damaging the egg?" someone wondered.
Without meaning to, Butch answered, "Best course would be to prevent it from escaping right from the start. Then we keep it low to the ground so it won't get damaged if it drops the egg. We could even have some Pokémon ready to catch it."
"Good idea," Thor chuckled, patting Butch on the shoulder. He pulled out his walkie-talkie, setting it so all the hiding agents would hear him. "Alright, here's the plan…"
Repeating what Butch had suggested left the younger man stunned that his plan was being considered.
"And you can thank Butch for it," Thor finished. Butch barely held back a blush, not only having his name said right but not having his plan stolen by a higher-up. "I want anyone with psychic or speedy Pokémon ready to catch the egg if it's dropped at any point. But more importantly, I do not want to see a single damaging attack until I say so. We don't need a scrambled egg. If I see one person attack it, I'll have your hide, you hear me?"
As Thor began giving orders to specific groups about what they were to do, Butch looked back at Mew. Like Cassidy, he never thought he'd get to see one. However, his awe turned to concern when noticing something wasn't right about it. Mew was practically inhaling the water, noting how small it looked, ribs visible, patches of fur missing, and sores covering it.
"Cass," Butch nudged her.
"What is it?"
"Something's wrong with Mew."
Looking at the Pokémon, she noticed as well. "It looks awful. Do you think it's sick?"
"I think so," Butch said.
"Do you think it'll be right to catch it like this then?" Cassidy said, her voice lowering so only her partner would hear her.
"We don't have a choice," Butch said, lowering his voice similarly. "But if we can catch it, it can get help."
Cassidy chewed her lip, torn whether that would be the right choice.
Both jumped when Thor's booming voice shouted the order to attack. They fumbled for their pokéballs, releasing their Pokémon. Cassidy sent out Raticate while Butch sent out Mightyena. They ordered them to remain on standby while others ordered specific Pokémon to begin the containment. Mew hissed when seeing dozens of Pokémon appear with people in black emerging from the brush. It arched its back, making its emancipated figure more prominent than before.
"What is wrong with that thing?"
"Is it sick?"
"No shit, Sherlock, let's just hope it's not contagious."
As various grunts talked amongst themselves, they were taken off guard when Mew suddenly leaped at a Liepard. It began to rip and claw at its throat, the Pokémon and its trainer screaming. The woman could only watch in horror as her Pokémon collapsed. It was coughing blood, making horrible noises as it struggled to breathe. It seemed to go on forever before the Pokémon stopped thrashing, its panicked chest no longer moving. Finally, Mew pulled away, chunks of fur and flesh dropping out of its bloodied mouth.
"That can't be a Mew!" someone shrieked. She was shakily holding her pokéball, ready to recall her Pokémon.
"It is a Mew, you moron!" Thor snapped, seeing the psychic tuck the egg closer to the body, keening to it. "Shit, we can't attack with the egg that close."
As if reading his mind, Mew let out an unnatural-sounding snarl before energy wrapped the pink shell. Thor and the others quickly realized that it was being teleported.
"Stop it!" Thor shouted.
But it was too late. The egg was gone. It was an unseen loophole that the egg wouldn't have been bound by the attacks that prevented escape. As furious as he was, Thor turned to his men, seeing the couple of scientists that came with them already working on tracing the psychic energy. He grinned, knowing it would be quick to find the egg. However, without it present, they'll be able to focus on catching Mew. He barked orders, the braver members ordering their Pokémon to attack with all they had.
Butch and a few others were frozen, staring at the dead Liepard. Butch had never seen a dead Pokémon before. The sight sickened him. He found his hand shaking, his grip on Mightyena's pokéball so tight it hurt. His Pokémon kept a safe distance, equally disturbed by the Mew's brutality. Not wanting to risk his Pokémon, he recalled Mightyena and called out Cloyster. Not only can his Pokémon attack from afar, but the shell would keep it safe.
Despite the large numbers attacking, Mew dodged most of them. It used the ground and air to avoid devastating moves. In return, it latched onto a vulnerable neck, tearing the flesh apart with its fangs and claws.
"What the hell is going on? I said to attack it, not let it win!" Thor snarled as he called out his Aggron. "Slow it down with…" Before he could finish, Mew inhaled deeply, shocking everyone when a powerful Flamethrower poured out of its mouth.
Cassidy's and others' screams were lost over the Aggron's agonized screams as it was roasted alive. The steel plating that served as armor melted, its thick hide bubbling before bursting into flames. But it was more horrifying to witness the attack blasting through and around the Aggron, engulfing its trainer and several others nearby.
Agonizing shrieks and screams from the victims rang in the air, everyone scrambling to get out of the way. Those not caught directly in the flames were rolling around, trying to put out burning clothes. Others were dousing screaming Pokémon with water or nearly smothering them in tarps and blankets they grabbed.
Butch couldn't believe this was happening. The smell of burning flesh nearly made him vomit right then and there. He wanted to run but found himself rooted in place. Lips trembling, he hardly noticed himself shouting out an order to everyone.
"Kill it! I don't care how. Just kill that diseased monster!"
Whatever was wrong with it had to be put down before anyone else was killed.
Those who heard him didn't care who he was or his rank. They took it as an acceptable order. They would no longer show mercy. Even the Pokémon seemed to agree, no longer holding back their strength as they tore into Mew.
At some point in the chaos, a Scyther managed to get close enough to slash with a powerful X-Scissor. Mew screeched as it was thrown into the bloodied ground. Its small body was heaving. It gave them all a terrifying glare before it let out a hacking noise, letting its head drop, its breathing slowing down before stopping, its body no longer moving.
"Is…is it dead?" someone asked nervously, calling for his Pokémon to return.
"Damn right it is!" a cocky-looking man laughed. He and his Scyther walked over to it. "How's that, you little bitch? Not so tough now?"
Slowly more came over, though others stayed back. Then, finally, it began to sink in that many of their comrades died. A few began to cry at the carnage, while others walked over to the remains to examine their kill.
"Giovanni's going to be pissed," another muttered.
"Pissed or not, it had to die, for its sake as …" Butch stopped in midsentence, eyes widening in horror when seeing the Pokémon's eyes opening, a dangerous glint shining. "Retreat!" he screamed, already running, recalling his Pokémon as did others.
Heads turned, confused by the terrified order. Some noticed Mew stirring, realizing the danger and ran. Others didn't, ignoring their panicked comrades or deciding to follow without knowing why.
Before anyone could react, the half-dead Pokémon's body began to glow, realization dawning on those too close to run. An explosion rang through the air, the immense power released, tearing everything around it apart. The shockwaves sent various people and Pokémon airborne, many still scrambling, landing well enough to keep running. Others were too dazed, caught in the blast as it continued to grow.
Butch continued to run, having grabbed Cassidy's hand, refusing to let her go. He couldn't lose his best friend. He could hear others following, not daring to look behind.
"It's catching up!" a woman screamed, tripping over a rock, engulfed in the light, body incinerated.
"We're not going to make it!" Butch screamed internally, realizing no amount of running would save them.
He scanned for something that could protect them, eyes landing on several large boulders, screaming for everyone to run behind them. The second they got there, the blast struck hard but didn't press any further. Realizing they were safe, Butch laughed before quickly blacking out.
When he woke up, he found himself in the hospital wing. He learned he had been in worse shape than he initially believed. He recalled being thrown from the shockwave, recalling something breaking after hitting a tree. He broke not only his leg but also several ribs. In addition, his arm had snapped in several places, though thankfully not the arm he used to take Cassidy's hand.
Whether or not he wanted to know, he learned there were other survivors, Cassidy amongst them. The ones who hid with them were in similar shape, a very small handful somehow surviving the explosion. He shuddered, not wanting to know how bad off they were, torn between hoping they survived and hoping they died. He could only imagine the number of skin grafts they'd need for the burns. If only he had tried harder to convince more to retreat, not to get near the body. Maybe if he had, more would have survived, and more wouldn't be in such horrible shape.
During recovery, Butch overheard people talking about the area being scoured, some higher ranks disguising it as a ranger mission to clean the scene up. But, from how powerful the Explosion was, Butch was confident anyone near it had been incinerated. Butch was grateful his Pokémon were okay, as were Cassidy's.
However, despite that brief relief, Butch suffered constant nightmares from the mission. He would scream and cry, thrash, almost rebreaking his healing bones if doctors didn't sedate him. Some days he couldn't bear to eat, either refusing or, if forced to, often throwing it up. It got worse whenever Mew came up in conversation.
There was no way he could ever look at or think of Mew the same way ever again. Not after this, and he doubted others would either.
Butch felt a hand grab his shoulder. Looking up, he found Cassidy kneeling to check on him. It pained her to see her friend like this. Sitting down next to him, she pulled Butch into a firm hug, their heads resting on each other's shoulders.
Cassidy's injuries weren't as severe, suffering only a broken wrist, so she was discharged a little sooner, allowing her to deal with the rumors and gossip of what happened. Some thought of Butch as a hero for saving as many as he did. Then there were others who blamed him for trying to take charge after Thor was killed. Those people infuriated her. Cassidy often screamed at or picked fights with them when hearing her friend being bad-mouthed.
She visited Butch when she could. Seeing him lying in bed, either fast asleep due to medication or left curled into a ball after falling asleep on his own, tears fresh on his face. Dark circles were visible, knowing he wasn't getting good rest, though it's not like she was either. He often shook, sometimes worse, hinting he must be having nightmares. When he was awake, he was the farthest thing from relaxed. He was tense, almost skittish at any loud noises or certain smells sending him back. Cassidy knew it was bad, suffering much of what he was going through, yet she felt it might be worse for him. He was the one to make the order to kill Mew instead of ordering a retreat sooner. He'd said it multiple times, sometimes sobbing hysterically, tearing at his hair as he berated himself for the lives lost.
Whether true or not, Cassidy couldn't be angry or upset with him. Mew was dangerous and, for all any of them knew, might have pursued them if they tried running. How many more could have died being hunted by a diseased Pokémon, and such a powerful one no less? Having it blow itself up wasn't much better, but that was the outcome, and they had to live with it.
At one point, one of the higher-ranked Rockets spoke with her about switching partners, a file with Butch's name in his hands. She knew it was because of the nightmares and how traumatized he'd become from this mission. But it wasn't like she nor anyone else who survived was much better. So, she declined the offer. But, if she had to be stuck in Team Rocket, she would at least be with her best friend and support him as much as he'd support her.
Cassidy inwardly growled at the injustice. Not only did they have their new lives ripped away, but the second they were both checked off, Giovanni chose them to retrieve that stupid egg. It was like a sick joke. She could hardly think about Mew without breaking into a cold sweat. Yet, as uncomfortable as it made her and knowing how much it distressed Butch, they had to complete the mission. Giovanni wasn't afraid to strike them. Butch's injuries were a confirmation. She even recalled the poorly concealed bruises on Matori's cheek. She pitied the woman, hoping he wasn't hurting her any worse.
Without a word, Cassidy got to her feet, Butch following. He didn't have to ask to know it was time to leave.
Arriving in Cerulean City, Butch and Cassidy stopped to restock some supplies before going towards the infamous Cerulean Cave. To think that one of the most dangerous locations was where the egg had been sent. Nevertheless, they were careful sneaking in, avoiding the guards that patrolled the area. Not only was the damp cavern filled with dozens of powerful Pokémon, but it was like a labyrinth. Very few people went in as a result. Any markers left behind had worn down, forcing them to make new ones.
"It should be around here," Cassidy said, not too worried about whispering.
Butch had called out his Mightyena, letting it and her Sableye scope around to look for the egg and alert them of any dangerous Pokémon.
"Maybe it got crushed?" Butch joked bitterly.
Cassidy spun around, staring at him in horror. "You can't be serious? I know what Mew did was horrible, but this one's just a baby!"
"We don't even know if it's disease-free! It could be rotting in its shell as we speak," he stated angrily.
"We still need to find it."
"And what, bring it back? That'll make the boss happy," Butch laughed.
"Do you want a repeat if it is sick and hatches?" Cassidy snapped, paling when seeing how scared he looked. "Butch… I…I didn't mean…"
Instead of yelling, he turned on his heels, taking off down a tunnel. She shouted, trying to catch up, hating how much faster he was. Not even their Pokémon could keep up.
"Dammit," she cried, falling to her knees. The Pokémon gave her a sad look, nuzzling into her gently.
Butch continued to run, only stopping when his leg ached. He leaned against the wall, trying to take some weight off, cursing Giovanni for not letting him have more time to recover. He might have been discharged and considered field ready, but the doctor agreed he needed more time because he had broken his leg. Even Cassidy's wrist still bothered her. He noticed her wincing and rubbing it when she used it too much. Thinking about her, he loudly cursed himself for running from her as he had. He knew she was right. He didn't want anyone else to go through what they did.
"Shit!" he shouted, kicking a rock as far as he could. He went white when the ground began to shake, rumbling noises echoing around him.
He couldn't muster a scream as he started to back away when a giant Graveler appeared, realizing the rock must have hit it. It was huge, almost as tall as him. He doubted he could beat it with Cloyster. Even with a type advantage, living in a cave likely gave it some resistance with the underground rivers. The Graveler let out a roar, charging for Butch. He ran as fast as he could, jumping over rocks and debris, desperately looking for a place to hide, hoping it wouldn't see him when he did.
As he leaped over various rocks, Butch felt his world slow when his foot caught in a crevice. The bone snapped, and he screamed as he collapsed to the ground, twisting it further. Grabbing the injured leg, Butch let out a strangled cry, realizing he was going to die. He felt the ground around him shake as the Graveler got closer. It leaped over some rocks with surprising agility, finding its fallen prey trying to desperately crawl away. A snarl escaped its mouth as it lunged for the man, intending to kill him.
Butch closed his eyes, bracing himself for the inevitable. Nothing happened, and then he flinched at the sound of something large and heavy hitting the ground. Opening his eyes, he saw the Graveler going in the opposite direction.
"C-Cass?" he called out, hoping she was nearby.
Part of him hoped it was her that chased it away, not something worse. His blood ran cold when hearing a familiar cry, only higher pitched, a pink blur zipping around him.
"Mew!" it squeaked out, finally landing in front of him, blue eyes staring.
Butch uttered another scream, throwing himself backward, struggling to escape the Pokémon. He tried to stand, only to fall, gripping his leg in pain. The little Pokémon cocked its head to one side, confused by his response. It attempted to get closer, mewling softly, jumping when he started screaming.
"G-get away! Get away from me!" he begged, backing away as best he could until he hit a wall, leaving him feeling trapped.
He curled into himself as much as he could, sobbing for it to go away. His mind flashed back to the diseased Mew. The sights and smells returned, causing him to hack and cough, his lunch coming up before he could stop it. He didn't care how pathetic he might look. He cried, wanting to return home, cursing Giovanni and Team Rocket for ruining his life.
Mew blinked in confusion, unsure what was going on. It could tell the strange male was scared but wasn't sure why. It made that bad Graveler go away, so why is he still scared? It tried to approach, but he continued to recoil, making himself as small as possible.
Saddened, Mew pulled away, ears and tail drooping. Was he scared of it? Why would he be scared? Did another like it hurt him?
Tears filled Mew's eyes, seeing his injured leg and other cuts and scrapes on his body. It couldn't leave him like this. That Graveler could come back or something much worse. Looking around, Mew hoped to find something friendly to help him.
Butch's sobs began quieting, sounding exhausted before seemingly stopping. Mew carefully hovered closer, wondering if he had fallen asleep somehow but found him merely sitting and staring blankly. It was scary to see, further worrying the Pokémon of his state and increasing its need to help him.
It flew a bit away, making sure not to lose where he was. It had to find him some help. After some searching, Mew heard a sound, recognizing it as a female voice. Perking up, Mew flew to the source, eventually finding a woman and a couple of Pokémon. It flew straight into the woman's arms.
"Mew!"
Cassidy almost screamed when a pink blur slammed into her chest but stopped when bright blue eyes blinked at her. Sableye and Mightyena were growling, the latter sounding closer to a whine. She couldn't believe she had found a Mew. It had to be the egg they were looking for. The size seemed right, and the timing couldn't have been better. Looking closely at it, she didn't see anything wrong with it to hint it was diseased. But she couldn't be sure without having it examined. Looking at the Pokémon, she gave them a somewhat concerned look before holding Mew to them.
"Does it look okay?" she asked.
Sableye and Mightyena seemed unsure of her request, sniffing the small Pokémon. Mew giggled before surprising both with tiny licks on their faces. Immediately, Mightyena's tail began wagging, looking more relaxed as it gave a gentle lick back.
Feeling better by their responses, Cassidy held Mew closer to her. "Okay, now that I found you, I have to find Butch."
She gently stroked the small Pokémon's head, feeling it pressing into her gloved hand, purring happily. Cassidy couldn't help but give Mew a worried look, though. She had heard the screaming earlier, recognizing it as Butch's. It sounded like he was being chased, but she was certain it wasn't because of Mew. She heard and felt the ground shaking. Instead, something else was pursuing him, which worried her greatly. She hoped he was okay. She tried to follow his voice, but there were so many tunnels to take, and the sounds echoed off so many walls that even Sableye and Mightyena couldn't figure out where to go.
"Mew!"
Cassidy shouted when Mew wriggled out of her arms, floating in front of her. It zipped around her a few times before flying a couple of feet away before stopping. Then, it would look back with a hopeful expression.
"You want me to follow you?"
"Mew!"
Chewing her lip, she decided to follow. She watched it fly quickly ahead, stopping periodically to ensure she and the Pokémon kept up. Now and again, it would fly over, grabbing bits of her hair or a sleeve to try and urge her to walk faster. It was hard to do that, large cracks barely visible even with a flashlight. She had to walk over them and any large stones and debris or risk twisting or breaking something. Looking around, she found a lot of it looked recently made, her stomach knotting up.
"Butch!"
The second Cassidy saw him, she ran to his side, wrapping her arms around him tightly. Sableye and Mightyena hurried over, worriedly pacing around them. Mightyena's tail was wagging anxiously. Cassidy could feel Butch shaking in her arms. Looking him over, she saw the cuts and scrapes before her eyes fell on his ankle, seeing it was twisted in a way it shouldn't be, making her feel sick.
"Butch, it's okay now. You're okay," Cassidy reassured. She grabbed the sides of his face, making him look at her. He looked so broken, hoping whatever had happened hadn't made the damage permanent.
After a few minutes of pleading and talking, Butch seemed to focus before blinking, seemingly coming back from wherever he was.
"C-Cass?" He sounded so tired.
"Oh, thank god!" Cassidy sobbed, the tears she fought to hold back falling. She hugged him tighter, almost forgetting about his leg until he hissed in pain. "Butch, what happened?"
It seemed to take a moment for Butch to recall what had happened before paling, then looking somewhat ashamed. "I…I pissed off a Graveler. A really big one."
"Did it hurt you?"
"Well, not exactly… I think I broke my ankle on some fallen rocks when I was trying to escape, but it didn't attack me."
"I heard you screaming, but your voice was echoing everywhere. I couldn't pinpoint you. Even Mightyena and Sableye were having trouble."
"I'm sorry for running off. I'm such an idiot!" Butch shouted, angry tears forming. He stopped when Mightyena moved in close, licking at his face.
"It's okay. Everything will be okay. But where did the Graveler go?"
"It got thrown by a psychic attack…"
"A psychic…"
Cassidy glanced at Mew, seeing it hover not too far, beginning to piece things together.
"Was it Mew?"
Hearing his breathing hitch a little, she rubbed his back, trying to calm him down. After a couple of minutes, waiting until he was calmer, she repeated the question. She had to be sure.
"Y-yes…"
"Then it saved you. Mew saved you! It led us back here to find you."
Butch snapped his head up, staring at her with wary eyes. "Don't joke around like that. There's no way…"
"Mew!"
He stiffened when the psychic flew towards them, squeezing itself between their bodies, blue eyes not leaving his brown ones. He wanted to run, to scream, anything to get away but stopped when he saw something glistening in its eyes. The Pokémon was crying because he was crying. Then, something clicked, starting to see Mew for what it was, not what its parent had been.
Hesitantly, he reached his hand out, the Pokémon seeing this as it flew closer, rubbing against the fingers before nuzzling the whole hand. While he couldn't feel the fur, he felt the vibrations from the purring, hearing it even.
Cassidy could hardly believe her eyes seeing her partner pet the legendary Pokémon after so many nightmares.
"Butch?"
"Yeah?"
"Nothing, I'm just glad you're safe now," Cassidy sighed, feeling a smile beginning to tug at her lips. "We need to get out of here and get you to a hospital."
"Right," Butch sighed, glancing at the Pokémon.
He knew they had to bring it back, but he wasn't sure if he could go through with it. This little Pokémon saved his life. It brought Cassidy to him, snapping him out of his nightmares. Not only that, but it was just a baby. Could he really hand over a baby to his boss to do god-knows-what to it? But he couldn't leave it here either. There was no way it would be able to survive in this place.
Taking a deep breath, he gently brought the small kitten into his body, letting it curl against him happily. The tears have long stopped, the purring growing louder than he imagined. It was so tiny, almost swallowed up by his hand. He wondered if it might have hatched too soon.
Having been distracted, he jumped when hearing a pokéball opening. Butch looked up, surprised to see Cassidy with a Rhyhorn gently nuzzling against her thigh.
"When did you get a Rhyhorn?"
"I kinda found her shortly after you took off," Cassidy answered with a nervous laugh. "Come on. You can ride on her back. It'll be easier and safer than trying to walk."
Knowing she was right, Butch set Mew down so he'd have both hands free. He hissed when he was helped to his feet, trying not to put too much weight on his ankle. Then, as quickly as he was standing, he half flung himself onto Rhyhorn, the Pokémon giving him a concerned look. Cassidy helped him sit straighter, his injured leg propped up as comfortably as possible so it wouldn't get bumped too much. Once he settled, they made their way for the exit. Mew flew back into Butch's arms, purring away. Cassidy stayed next to him to ensure he didn't fall off. Sableye climbed onto Mightyena's back, the dark type not bothered by it.
After a few hours, they found the exit. Their next obstacle was evading the patrolmen, having to move extra carefully. With their luck, it was dark, making it easier to slip past the guards and cross the water without being spotted. The moment they were back onshore, Butch was back on Rhyhorn's back, and they marched back to town. Still in their disguises, it would be easier for them to get help. When they got near the city, Butch convinced Mew to hide in his bag, giving it to Cassidy. They were barely in the city when several people spotted them, noticing their ragged state and realizing Butch had been injured. It wasn't long before an ambulance came to pick them up, taking them to the hospital for treatment.
Several days passed before Butch was allowed to leave. He had on a cast but was given crutches to move around in. A nurse pushed him outside in a wheelchair once he was discharged. Cassidy had come around to pick him up in a car, helping him in. Once he was safely seated, the nurse bid them farewell.
Grinning, Cassidy reached around to the back of the seat, bringing Butch's bag up front. She proceeded to drop it on his lap, enjoying his confusion.
"What happened?" Butch asked. Whenever she smiled like that, it wasn't often a good sign.
"So, remember when you had Mew hide in your bag?" Butch nodded, allowing her to continue as she started the car. "Look inside."
Not getting what she was talking about, Butch opened his bag. He couldn't see Mew, wondering until he spotted a pokéball near the top. It couldn't have, could it?
Gingerly picking up the ball, he pressed the button, surprised when it opened, releasing something from within. Briefly blinded, Butch blinked a few times to focus, finding Mew sitting on his lap with a big smile.
"Mew!" it greeted him happily.
"What the hell?"
"It got inside it at some point. I'm surprised we didn't hear it," Cassidy joked.
"Maybe it happened when I was getting my ankle fixed up?" Butch grumbled, staring at the ball and Pokémon.
"Maybe… Butch?"
"Yeah, Cass?"
"You know, once we return to headquarters, we'll have to hand Mew over, right?"
"I know… But I don't want to…"
"But the boss…"
"He'll probably kill me, I know. But I honestly don't care anymore. Mew's just a baby. It isn't like its parent… It isn't sick, right?"
"I was able to bribe a doctor so it could get looked at."
"And?"
"Mew's one hundred percent healthy."
Butch couldn't help but smile in relief, watching as Mew looked around as far as he allowed it. However, the smile faded when thinking about the Pokémon's possible fate.
"What am I going to do with Mew, though?"
"Are you positive you don't want to turn it over to the boss?"
"I am… Who knows what Giovanni would do to it? You said it yourself. Mew saved me… I…I don't think I could live with myself if I betrayed it like that."
"Yeah, I get it," Cassidy said with a small smile. She was relieved to hear him, having not wanted to give up the little Pokémon either. "So, what do you want to do then? We could find someplace it'll be safe and release it or send it to someone trustworthy to look after it."
"I don't know…" Butch whispered as he scratched behind Mew's ear.
It let out a sad mewl, not enjoying their conversation. Stretching itself as much as it could, Mew gently pawed at Butch's face. Succeeding in getting his attention, it gave him a pitiful look, mewling again.
"Is something wrong?" Cassidy asked, noting how quiet her partner's become.
"I don't think it wants to leave," Butch answered, giving the Pokémon a sad look. "Why would you want to stay with us? We're not exactly good people."
"Maybe Mew senses something about you? It does seem to really like you," Cassidy muttered softly. "You've changed a lot since we first left Team Rocket."
"So have you."
"Guess I have, haven't I?"
"We have to get out of Team Rocket," Butch stated.
"I know, but how? Giovanni forced us to return. I don't think he's going to let us leave like last time."
"That's because he's getting batshit crazy. I don't know what happened since we left, but he's not the same."
"But how could we get away. It's not like I can turn this car off to a random destination. He would find us. He did it before." Cassidy's voice trembled, gripping the steering wheel tightly as different thoughts trickled into her mind. They couldn't go back to their homes and restart their businesses. But where else could they go where Giovanni wouldn't guess or bother to look? But if they stayed, they wouldn't be safe. If they refused or lied about finding Mew, who knows what Giovanni would do to them.
The rumors of members and Pokémon disappearing, being used in horrific experiments... Cassidy didn't want to think they'd be true, but could they be next if they were? Looking briefly at Butch, she knew he must be thinking the same. He'd also heard the rumors, and Giovanni seems to have it out for him, so he could be in greater danger.
"Mew…" Mew could feel their fears, small body shaking as it curled into Butch's lap.
Both were silent, thoughts of what to do running through their heads before an idea popped into Butch's mind. It was a crazy idea, though, knowing Cassidy would say it's insane.
"We could try to find a way to connect with the Pokémon League and request protection from them. So long as we provide enough information, the champion's sure to grant it."
"Are you insane? If we did that, we'd certainly die!"
"I know, but it's the best I could think of."
"Even if we go there, there are agents in the League. If we're not careful, word will get back, and Giovanni will send out hitmen."
"I know…"
"Butch, if we do this…"
"I know we're dead if we screw this up."
"And if we don't, we're likely going to be dead anyway," Cassidy sighed before smiling. She was scared yet determined. "So why not pick the more exciting way then?"
"Cass…" Butch whispered, a smile forming. "Thank you."
"For now, we'll have to return to headquarters. We need to make a believable report to bide us some time."
"Maybe we could request a mission to attack the Oak Ranch again?"
"Really?"
"Why not? The professor probably has connections with the League. So he might listen to us if we beg him for help."
"That makes sense. The old man wouldn't have become a professor without making connections," Cassidy added with a slight smirk. "But how do we avoid drawing suspicion if we attack the ranch?"
"Make a false arrest? Make it look like we got caught and arrested then sent flying."
"Well, it could work, but we should still iron things out before moving ahead."
"I know, but it's a start, right?"
"A start for a new beginning. A real beginning."
"What do we do about Mew, though?"
"Keep Mew in the ball for now. We'll rent a hotel before we reach the base and teach it how to use Transform. Then, we can have Mew look like something you'd catch. I mean, I caught a Rhyhorn. Maybe you could have it look like a Golbat or a Ditto."
Butch liked the idea, hoping the plan would work as he looked at the small Pokémon. He gently pets it again, watching as it relaxes into his hand, starting to purr again. It was a comforting sound, reminding him of his Meowth. Maybe he could have Mew look like a baby Meowth? It'd make it easier for him to keep it safe by leaving it with Meowth since she's his pet.
Settling on the idea, Butch relaxed, allowing himself to drift to sleep. Mew curled up into a little ball to nap as well. He couldn't help but wonder. As much as he cursed his fate, he knew it was the kind of wake-up call he and Cassidy needed. Leaving Team Rocket because they were bored might have helped, but after recent events, they wanted to leave and escape the madness.
Taking one last look at Mew, Butch felt certain its presence was a sign of redemption. It simply had to be when he recalled the stories he heard dozens of times as a child. Mew only wants to be near pure-hearted people. He and Cassidy weren't pure-hearted, but they realized they weren't truly evil either. They still have morals. They still have compassion. They have regrets and carry guilt for the things they've done. Having Mew gives him hope that all isn't lost.
I wanted to try and work on something that would have psychological trauma, such as PTSD and depression. I hope that I've done a decent job writing it.
For anyone who might be curious why I chose Mew or the outcome leading to its death, Pokemon are still animals. They are intelligent animals, but still animals. As such, they would be just as susceptible to diseases as the animals in our world are. As for what Mew had, I'll leave that to your imagination.
I would also like to thank keeperofthecottage from AO3 for beta reading this.
I hope you enjoyed reading.