"What's taking him so long? They've been in there for an hour!" Iris yelled, stomping around the main lobby. "And why did we have to relocate here?"

"Hey, that's what Giovanni said. If he really is wiling to harm Ethan's friends if we don't do as he says…well…"

"Still! Between the four of us, we could have taken him! And then all of this would be over!"

"It really has been a while…I wonder if they still are even up there," Skyla said. "Maybe we should go check."

"Seems like a bad idea to me. We can wait just a little longer," Cilan said. He sighed. "I've got the feeling we aren't going to like the results of this meeting."

Wiggler let out a squeak but Ethan just shot a glare at him. "Hey, keep it down."

"Huh…I swore I heard that stupid balloon. No one could ever forget it."

Wiggler looked at him with a worried look but he winked at him. "No, I think we can use this to our advantage to be honest. I didn't want to confront them yet but if we can get them separated, I really like our chances."

Wiggler nodded and he stepped out from behind the nearby building. Sklya noticed him first and smiled. "Oh Ethan! So you really are okay! We were all worried about—"

She didn't get to finish as Wiggler let out with one of his glass shattering tunes. The three stumbled back covering their ears and it was Iris who recovered first. "Hey, what was that for—"

She didn't get to finish as Wiggler unleashed a hyper beam in her direction but she jumped out of the way before he could hit her. "How about you shut up you little brat."

"Brat? Who's the little brat? Why are you attacking us?"

He smiled. "You're gonna have to catch me before I fill you in. Or are you some sort of chicken who's scared of a guy who didn't even become the Champion of his home region?"

"W-what?"

"Ethan, what is going—"

"I was talking to the brat Champion you stupid red headed bimbo but if you want me to take you down first, I'm cool with that!"

"W-what is going on? Why are you acting like this?" Iris yelled. Cilan folded his arms.

"So is this what Giovanni wanted to talk to you about?"

"What, join Team Rocket? Why would you even join them?" Iris yelled. Ethan rolled his eyes and looked down at Wiggler.

"Could you blow them away? We're just wasting time with these posers."

Wiggler let out a squeak and began to suck in a bunch of air, causing him to grow in size. He kept growing and growing until he was at least 20 feet tall. He suddenly let out all that air out, blowing it all toward the three, blowing them away until he had blown out all the extra air and had returned to his regular shape. "Good job. Now that they've been separated, how about we track them down and nab their Pokemon!"

They ran into Skyla first, who had been blown away pretty far, a few blocks even. She was just beginning to recover when they showed up. "Ethan, what is going on?"

"What do you think is going on? I'm part of Team Rocket. You don't get to join Team Rocket by rescuing Meowths from trees or helping old grannies cross the street! You get it by stealing Pokemon."

"Steal? You aren't gonna still them!"

"Oh yea?"

"Yea, I'm gonna defeat you and make you come to your senses!" She said as she held out a Pokeball. Before she could summon it, Pitch flew out of nowhere and swiped the ball from her hands. "Hey!"

Pitch flew over to him and deposited the Pokeball in his outstretched hands. "That's one."

"How can you? Don't you know what will happen if you turn our Pokemon over to Giovanni?"

He yawned and summoned Chase. "Yes, he'll be able to roll over this stupid region and take over. You think I'm dumb or something?" He asked as Chase caused him to vanish. Her eyes grew wide and she looked around.

"Hey, where did you go? Why are you trying to hide from me?"

He walked up from behind and easily snatched away the remaining Pokeballs attached to her belt. She gasped and spun around but by then, he had walked back to his original spot. He snapped his fingers and Chase caused him to reappear, while catching her attention. "You really shouldn't be so careless Skyla. I just took them from right under your nose."

She glared at him. "What's gotten into you? You've never been this mean before!"

He placed them in a bag. "You know Skyla, I always took you to be pretty intelligent but I guess I was wrong. You really are nothing more than a red headed bimbo. Maybe you should get out of the gym business and take your talents elsewhere."

"My-my…talents?"

"Yea, the two of them in fact. I think we're done here, right Wiggler?"

Wiggler let out a calm and soothing tune, causing her to slump to the ground, asleep like a baby. He pat her on the head and looked up, in time to see Iris appear. "Hey!"

He turned and took off down the other way but he could hear Iris running after him. He looked up ahead and Pitch, who looked down at him. Ethan winked at him and the bird flew high into the sky while he stopped running and turned around. Iris came to a screeching halt and pointed a finger in his direction. "Well if it isn't the brat."

"I'm not a brat! You're the brat, for joining Team Rocket!"

"I think I'll be able to accomplish a lot more by working with them than I ever did with you guys."

She stomped her foot. "W-what? Are you crazy? How can you say that? They've bad guys anyway! They only exist to get defeated! Is that what you want to be, a loser?"

He chuckled. "They lose because they were fighting against me. Now I'm with them so I think their chances of winning have gone up."

She took out a couple of Pokeballs. "Not if I have anything to say about it. You're gonna find out why I'm the Champion!"

"If you're the Champion, the competition in Unova must be awful. You wouldn't sniff the Elite Four in Johto."

Iris tossed the Pokeball forward but Pitch snatched it out of the air before she could summon whatever she was about to summon. He dropped it in Ethan's hand, who only directed Wiggler to aim for her other hand. She cried out as she dropped the Pokeball before his attack could reach her. She wagged her finger at him.

"You think I'm finished? I still have one more Pokemon to go!" She said as she pulled a Pokeball out of her hair."

"Man I hoped you washed that."

"My hair is clean!"

"Yea that's what they all say. And then when they go to cut their Afros, you find all sorts of stuff, dollar bills, combs, maps, bugs—"

"What do you know?"

He glanced over at Wiggler who had begun to inch his way around and decided to keep it up. "All I know is that you're too busy worrying about being the Champion that I doubt you have much time for anything else."

"W-what?"

"I mean it's obvious that you really see you don't belong there. You're like all those other dragon trainers; they just use those Pokemon because they're rare and strong against so many other Pokemon. You only care about winning and your soul would be crushed if you lost."

Her eyes grew wide and even a bit watery. "What? You're stupid, what are you even talking about? You're just making stuff up! I'm not all about winning—"

"Then why do you always remind people that you're the Champion? Sounds like you're a bit insecure to me. I've known plenty of Champions but they hardly refer to themselves as one except for you. You? You're nothing more than a spoiled brat who's had everything handed to her on a silver platter. You don't know about hardship or trials because everything has come easy to you. Yet you act like you worked hard or have accomplished something in life. You know what Iris, you haven't."

"I-I—y-you're stupid! Why are you being so mean to me?"

He laughed as Wiggler leapt from behind and snatched her last Pokeball away before bouncing over to him. He took it and pat him on the head. "Because you deserve it. Go cry in a corner for all I ca—" he said before he suddenly caught a vine in mid air. Luckily Pitch had flashed him a warning or else he'd be hurting for sure. "So the queer finally made his…or her appearance. Or should I just refer to you as it?"

"You become pretty scary when you go evil."

Ethan suddenly yanked on the vine, pulling in whatever Pokemon Cilan had used to attack him. When he caught it, he saw that it was some hippie looking green chimp. "What do you call this thing?"

"Pansage."

"Hippie Chimp," Ethan said. Pitch flew down and snatched the Pokeball he had used to summon Pansage and summoned him back before flipping it to him. Ethan caught it and smiled. "So, got any more Pokemon on you? Elesa's outfit doesn't really offer you anywhere to store them."

He held up his hands. "Care to search me?"

Ethan folded his arms. "I'll just have Wiggler do it for me."

"What are you, scared?"

Ethan shrugged without looking at him. "Poor Iris doesn't need to be exposed to your nakedness."

"You made her cry!"

He chuckled. "Good, she needed it."

"Skyla looks like she's been kicked in the gut!"

"What a shame."

"Why are you acting like this? I understand maybe being forced into joining but you're making it seem like you enjoy it!"

He laughed. "You think I'm being forced? I offered to join them! I wasn't forced into anything so why shouldn't I enjoy myself! I got tired of teaming up with you guys, nothing was ever done. We would get something accomplished and then Team Rocket would just roll over and undo all of our hard work. If it were just me, Team Rocket would be done with!"

"So why don't you do it by yourself?"

"I'm impatient. Besides, I got to saw what they had to offer and I liked it. At least I can get some respect this way! No one respects me after all I've done before!"

"P-People respect you!"

He laughed. "Whatever man. Or girl," he said as Wiggler returned to him. "Well Wiggler says you're clean so we're out of here! Maybe get some better Pokemon next time! Some that doesn't suck as much!"

They left Cilan and Iris and walked into an open intersection while he chuckled. "Man I tell you, this Team Rocket stuff is a lot easier than I thought! It's like taking candy from a baby!"

Wiggler out a squeak and he nodded. "Yea, we haven't had to do a single Pokemon battle and yet we've already defeated two gym leaders and the Champion, in record time. Let's see what they think about that!"

"E-Ethan?"

He turned to see Marlon, Homika and Jasmine walk down a different sidewalk, just as Skyla ran in from another way. "Hey, stop him! He just stole all our Pokemon!"

"I take offense to that one bimbo. Stealing would imply I actually tried. We just took them, get it right," he said with a smug look on his face.

"What the f***? What's gotten into you Ethan?"

"Nothing…and everything."

"What is that supposed to mean? What are you even talking about? Why aren't you making any sense?"

He shrugged. "Frankly my dear, I don't give a d***. Well actually I do because all three of you have something I want…Pokemon!"

He suddenly pulled out a gun and pointed it in Homika's direction. Her eyes grew wide as he pulled the trigger, showering her with a large spray of sparkle dust. She realized what he had done and her face turned bright red. "Are you trying to make a fool of me?"

"You do that by yourself," he said as he tossed the toy guy aside. He took out a Pokeball and summoned Bolt, causing her to jump back and scream. "Itsy bitsy little spider, gave the rocker a scare."

"How about you get that thing away from me?"

He held out his hand. "Pokemon first, and then we can talk. Maybe, if I'm feeling generous. So far, I haven't today."

Homika backed away but Bolt only crawled forward. She didn't look like she was about to hand them over and he sighed. "Ethan…what's gotten into you?"

"Pure evil. And it sure is a lot more fun than being a goody two shoes; at least you get stuff done. And you don't have to spend time with a moody rocker with a foul mouth and an even worse attitude!"

"H-huh? What are you saying?"

"I'm saying shut up and hand me over the Pokemon!"

Bolt shot some electrical silk at her leg, causing it to go numb and for her to fall to the ground. Before either Marlon or Jasmine could step in, Pitch zipped down between her and the others, mainly as a threat. "Ethan, how about you explain yourself?"

"Explain myself? I already did, multiple times. You guys should be ashamed of yourselves. You were able to clear out an entire city of Team Rocket grunts and yet one new guy is able to swipe all your Pokemon with ease!"

He walked over to Homika and knelt down next to her as he searched for her Pokeballs. "This is some sort of trick, right? You're only working with them because they forced you too, right? Please tell me—"

"I asked to join, get it right."

"W-what? How could you?"

He pet her on the head as he got to his feet and put her Pokemon in his bag. "Because I can. Time for you to get yourself a new boyfriend to abuse."

He walked away and glanced at Wiggler. "Ethan…I hate you. I wish I had never met you."

"Yea, whatever. Wiggler, just use Hype Beam on her. I'm sick of seeing her ugly face," he said.

"Ethan, no!"

Wiggler let out a short cry before unleashing a beam of light, which hit her square in the face and caused her to slump over. Jasmine gasped while he chuckled, which soon turned into full-blown laughter. "Oh quiet. I'm not even finished yet—"

Before he could answer, his phone rang. He grumbled as he answered it. "Hello?"

"How are things going? Have you captured some of their Pokemon—"

"Too easy. I only have Marlon and Jasmine left. I've already taken care of everyone else."

"So fast?"

"Well unlike your other execs, I don't bother with battles. I just take their Pokemon away and am done with it. Makes things faster and more efficient, don't you think?"

"I'm pleased. Once you are finished, meet me at the Pokemon League. We can talk further there."

"Of course sir," he said before Giovanni hung up. He put his phone away and smiled. "Now…back to you two—"

"If you want my Pokemon that badly, you can have them." Marlon said as he flung them at Ethan, who caught them in his open bag. "I don't know what's gotten into you but—"

"But nothing. Glad you were so generous. Now to find Jasmine and I can be on my way!"

They hurried away while Wiggler squeaked at him. "Yea, yea. I know I'm not real popular right now. They'll live. Maybe if we're lucky, they'll drag out some more Pokemon and then we can have some real fun! I've been shocked at how easy it is! I really thought they were gonna make me work!"

He came to a stop in front of the Pokemon Center and frowned. "Where is Jasmine? She has to be around here somewhere. I wish Giovanni hadn't called, she got away while I was distracted!"

He turned and began to walk down a nearby alley. He strode past the back door of a restaurant but just as he did, he stopped and walked back over to the door before yanking it open. Jasmine tumbled out and he grasped her by the wrist. "Ethan!"

"Nice try. You learned that little trick from me. Maybe you should try it on someone else!"

He let her go and she stumbled back. She grabbed her wrist. "E-Ethan…why are you doing this?"

"Less talking and more handing over of the Pokemon."

"No, we need to talk! What have you done? You've stolen everyone's Pokemon, alienated almost everyone in a matter of minutes and you even tried to seriously harm Homika!"

"Glad you noticed."

"Ethan, what's gotten into you? Why are you doing this? Please tell me!"

"I don't owe you a thing! The only thing you owe me is your Pokemon. Now hand them over," he said as he outstretched his hand. She looked down at it.

"And what if I don't? Are you going to try and harm me like you did to Homika?"

"I was actually merciful to Homika. I'll save my worst for you. Perhaps turning you in to Team Rocket for starters—"

"Ethan, no! You wouldn't do that!"

"Wouldn't I? It looks I'll be going to, unless you hand over your Pokemon. Or are you willing to fight me? A fight might be fun, the others rolled over like dead fish in a store. I might get rusty!"

She shook her head. "I can't fight you."

"Oh?"

She suddenly held out her hands, pressed together at her wrists as if she were handcuffed. "If you're really joined Team Rocket and left us, I won't fight you. I can't. Something tells me that this is all for show, you've been forced into this—"

"Sorry but I asked to join. I'm tired of working with you guys and not getting anything done. Especially with you. You know what I really think about you?"

She began to back away. "Ethan…"

"I think you're a spineless, meek little girl who lacks a heart for anything. You take care of that weak and sickly Ampharos out of nothing more than routine. You don't know how to care for anything because you haven't in your entire life. You even use steel Pokemon to make up for the total lack of spine you have."

Her eyes grew wide and she hung her head as a tear ran down her cheek. "You don't…mean that, do you?"

"I said it, didn't I?"

"E-Ethan—"

"And because you're so emotionally weak, you'll ask to come with me because the idea that someone you believed in, someone that you loved…could be turned this way…it crushes your entire world, doesn't it?"

"Y-you're right. I don't know what to do now…if this is what you have to do, then just kill me now."

"Ah…" He said, not able to think of anything else to say. Was she really serious? He had never seen her this defeated before, never in his life and it chilled him. He and Wiggler exchanged a look. Had he over exaggerated his betrayal just a tad much? "Well…"

She looked at him with a slight smile. "You can't…can you?"

He laughed. "You think I'm some sort of psycho? What would I gain from killing someone who could be a useful ally to Team Rocket?"

"You will really turn me in?"

He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her close. "You bet Toots."

"Don't you dare call me that," she said, looking as if she would spit in his face. It only made him feel even better, the more she hated him, the better.

"I'll call you whatever I like. Now come on, I'm sick of wasting time here with you losers!"

Along the way to the Pokemon League, they stopped by Mistralton City. They looked to be progressing nicely after the attack by Team Rocket but they still had awhile to go. "Ethan…what are we doing here?"

"I think I have an idea."

"No, stop. This is going too far, what are you trying to accomplish?" She asked as she pulled at his sleeve. He pulled away from her.

"I'm with Team Rocket, what do you expect? For me to help the rebuilding effort?"

"No, please stop this! You don't have to do this!"

He smiled at her. "I can and I will. What are you going to do about it? Are you gonna stop me? You don't have it in you to do it!"

"I can stop you—"

"Too bad I already stole your Pokemon from you," he said. She gasped and began to search herself before coming to the harsh realization. "Told you. I'm a lot faster than you are," he said as he tapped the side of his head.

His phone rang and he answered it. "Hello?"

"This is Archer, have you got what we wanted?"

"I am actually in Mistralton City. I already have all the Pokeballs you wanted. It was a cinch! I was just about to stir up a little trouble here in Mistralton."

"Mistralton? Hmm…just what kind of trouble?"

"Trouble. Also see if I can track down any pesky trainers that could hinder Giovanni's plans and take care of them."

"I appreciate your eagerness but forget that. Just get back here with those Pokemon and then we'll decide what we want you to do next."

"Of course, whatever you say."

"Very well then."

He hung up and shrugged. "Guess what Toots, it's your lucky day! They want me back at the League so we get to skip out on troublemaking today."

"Stop calling me that. Ethan, what's happened to you? It's like you've become a totally different person!"

He pulled her along. "We can talk and walk. Actually I don't have time for your talking to be honest with you."

"What's…gotten into you?"

"What is it, talk like a parrot day? I swear I keep hearing that same question over and over again!"

"You're not listening to me!"

"Good."

She suddenly got free of his grasp and stepped in his path. He stopped walking and she folded her arms, stern look on her face. "They threatened to harm us…. you're friends and family, right?"

"Wrong. I offered to join them. They didn't have to threaten me at all!"

"You're lying."

He leaned forward and grinned. "Oh you can tell? Face it, the guy you thought you knew, turned out to be someone totally different!"

"You're still the same person!"

He laughed and began to walk past her. "You don't know what you're talking about. I took you to be smarter than that!"

She grabbed him by the arm but he twisted away. He returned the favor and twisted her arm around her back causing her to cry out in pain. "Ethan…" she said before swinging her foot back in an attempt to kick him but he just moved his leg out of the way. "So…so this is what's its come to. You're willing to hurt me."

He pushed her away. "Go away. I didn't tell them I have a prisoner so you're free to go. You're just wasting my time with your constant whining and begging."

She stumbled backwards, before rubbing her wrist. "You—"

"I hate you. I never liked you—"

"That's not true."

He chuckled. "You just keep telling yourself that you insecure, spineless, insignificant—heh, why waste my time on you? You aren't worth my time," he said with a sneer as he walked by her.

He didn't get very far before she caught up to him again. "You again? Can't you take a hint already?"

"They have that threat over your head."

"No."

"That if you don't do as they say or let us interfere in their plans, that they'll harm your loved ones."

"Sorry but no."

"And you don't want to drag any of us into it."

"Now you're just making stuff up. You really are pathetic, how many times do I have to insult you to get you to see the light?"

She grabbed him by the arm and made him face her. "Hit me."

"Hit…you?"

She pointed at her jaw. "Punch me right across my face. I don't think you can harm me. If you're willing to do that, then I'll believe what you say."

He and Wiggler exchanged a look. "I'll do whatever I have to do to make you hate me."

"You'll—" she began to say before he stepped forward and took a swing. He stopped it midway and turned away from her.

"Didn't I just tell you to go away?"

"E-Ethan…"

"You know what my plan is Jasmine? I'm gonna work my way up the ladder and take over Team Rocket. Then and only then can I get to his super powerful dragon and deal with it. He's no longer interested in waiting for me to get strong enough, now he wants to just get things over with."

"Oh."

"So you see what's gonna happen right? I'm going to have to become more hated, more of a villain. That way my former friends will grow to hate me and they won't try to help me or anything."

"Ethan…"

"That's why I want you to leave me alone. We have this. We'll take them out from the inside and prevent Giovanni's plan from succeeding. Just leave it to us!"

"By yourself? By yourself?"

She strode forward and grabbed him by the collar, lifting him off the ground by an inch or two and slamming him into the side of an abandoned building. He looked over at Wiggler but before Wiggler could help, Jasmine kicked him away. "Jasmine, I think—"

"No, you listen! Do you think you got anywhere in life by doing things by yourself? Do you?"

"Ahh…well—"

"You wouldn't have become a trainer with Crystal's help. You would have never even left the safety of New Bark if it weren't for her! Did you help defeat Team Rocket by yourself in Mahogany? Did you?"

"W-well no. I was helping Lance and—"

"Go away Wiggler!" She yelled, causing the puffball to back away, something he had never seen before. "That's right. And what about Goldenrod? Did you do that all by yourself? Huh, did you?"

"Well—"

"No! Again you had Crystal helping you out and eventually even Whitney lent a hand. You see Ethan, anytime you try to do things by yourself; you screw up or come short. Yet when you work with people, you can do amazing things. Tell me, how well did you do in the Pokemon League Championship?"

He glared at her and she smiled. "What? Are you saying me and my team—"

"And what about now? You think your little act did any good? If anything, it'll only motivate Homika and the others to gather together and be even more dedicated to stopping Team Rocket. And your little plan will shatter—"

"That's why I have no choice but to become the villain. If I can break their spirits…somehow—"

"Ethan, by the time you've broken everyone's spirits, how do you know you'll even be the same person you claim to be? You're approaching a dangerous slope and you could soon end up like all the rest of Team Rocket."

"That's not true!"

"Is it?"

"S-so what are you telling me to do? To just give up? I can't! If I don't…everyone I care for will be dead"

"No…you can't just give up. We'll figure something out."

"We?" He asked as she release her grip and allowing him to set his feet on the ground.

"Yes…we. You think I'm just gonna let you do this alone?"

"Ahhh well—" he said as she reached up and put her hand on his cheek. "I just don't want you to get dragged into this. That's why—"

"Ethan, I don't care. We'll get through this; we'll figure something out. I'm not going to let you go off and self-destruct like this! I—" she stopped herself and suddenly turned away. He and Wiggler exchanged confused looks.

"W-w-well…I guess I'll let you tag along! Just think of this as my act of mercy!" He said as he winked at Wiggler, who seemed a bit amused. She didn't answer him at first and he folded his arms. "Umm…something bugging you?"

She shook her head. "I-I'm going to stop lying to myself."

"You aren't making any sense."

"How can I make sense when I know I'm crazy?"

He and Wiggler could only look at each other confused. "Well okay…while you talk to yourself…well you can talk to yourself while we walk. We still have a while before we make it to the Pokemon League. I don't want to make it seem like I'm trying to keep them waiting," he said with a chuckle. "Besides, I think we can come up with a way for me to be playful while still—"

"Ethan…" she said as she turned and walked toward him. He backed away and found himself back against the wall of the building. She intertwined her fingers with his and pressed herself against him. He reached behind, freeing his fingers and hugged her. "I…"

"Thanks for sticking by me and well knocking some sense into me. I guess even I need it from time to time!"

She suddenly pressed against him more and locked lips with him. He didn't have time to think or react. It felt as if on one hand, she had sucked the life out of him and yet it was one of the best feelings he had. She pulled away and he began to slump to the ground. Actually he fell straight on his butt, which kind of knocked some sense into him. Wiggler squeaked in amusement and he shot him a dazed glare. She knelt down next to him and grasped him by the collar. Was it time for round two? Or would he even be able to survive round two? Certainly a way to go out. "Ethan, I love you and I don't care what happens to you but I'll always care about you."

"Even if I became as bad as Giovanni?"

"You won't become as bad as Giovanni because I love you too much to let that happen. I won't allow it. If you became like him, it's because I wasn't around to stop it."

"Ahh well…but you can't—"

She pulled his face close to his. "I can't what? Join you in Team Rocket?"

He nodded. "I mean…you're a gym leader. You can't be a part of a criminal organization…they'll revoke your status as a gym leader!"

She touched her nose with his and giggled. "You think I'm defined by my status as a gym leader. Do you recognize me by the fact I'm a gym leader or that I'm me?"

"I…ah…"

"There's more to me than just being a gym leader," she said. She pulled back and tugged on the red ribbon of her dress. She untied it and in the process, he saw what she was doing as she took off a small metal clip that had been hidden by the folds. She held it out to him and he looked down at it, "This is the badge certifying me as a gym leader."

"Yea but—" He began to say before she got to her feet and flung it off in a random direction. "Jasmine but you love being a gym leader! I can't let you—"

She knelt in front of him and smiled. "I didn't let you do anything. I made my own decision. You're stuck with me until the end. No not the end…for good. What do you have to say about that?"

"I…ahh…well…" he said before noticing part of her dress slumping a bit down her shoulder. He reached over and straightened it up. "I guess I don't have anything to say."

They didn't get too far the rest of that day and found themselves sitting on the edge of a wooden pier at the edge of a large lake, bordered by a bunch of tall grasses. "Drat, we didn't make much headway."

"You didn't think about stealing a ride to the Pokemon League?"

"Steal?" He said as Wiggler let out a squeak, shocked as well at her suggestion. Jasmine chuckled.

"Ethan, we're villains now. You don't become a part of Team Rocket by rescuing Shinx from trees or helping little old grannies across the street! You become a part of Team Rocket by…how did it go again?"

"I don't think there was a second part."

She nodded. "Yes, I think you're right. So…how will we go about getting to the top of Team Rocket?"

He tapped his foot against the post. "Well…I guess we'll have to do everything they ask of us. And nothing more."

"I really don't think you have to kick Giovanni out to get close to that Pokemon, I'm sure there's another way. Perhaps if you are able to please him on a mission, you could meet with him in person."

"Well…yea. That might happen. Hopefully exceeding his expectations doesn't mean something terrible."

"Weren't you listening to me before? I'm not gonna let you go that way. We'll find a way or…"

"Then—"

"If you're telling me to abandon you at that point, I won't. That's the last thing you need. We'll get through this, okay?"

He nodded and she pat him on the shoulder. "Yea."

"Good. Now come on, don't we still have a long road ahead of us? You better get a good night's rest!"

He snorted. "Who are you, my mom?"

"Don't make me kick you."

He laughed as he grabbed a rock and flicked it across the water. Wiggler picked up one himself but ended up only flinging it into the water, causing a splash. He laughed as Wiggler looked annoyed and searched for another rock. He heard footsteps approach and prepared himself for that kick. "Hey, that dumb ol' cabin has one bed! I'm gonna be sleeping on the floor anyway so I'll just stay out here a bit longer."

"Huh, I'm not heartless! I'll make sure you have some warm and soft bedding

Wiggler let out a squeak and he laughed. "With what? You don't have a Fire Pokemon."

She reached down and put her hand on his hat, messing up his hair as she did. He swatted at her and she moved away. "Stop being so silly Ethan."