I returned all my Pokémon to their Pokéballs, and faced Team Rocket.
"So just how strong is that Rapidash of yours?" Jessie asked, scooting closer.
"Oh, quite strong." I replied.
She seemed to snicker about something.
"... Don't even think about stealing her." I narrowed my eyes.
"What? Nooo.. no no. You've got it all wrong, you see~"
"I don't trust you.." I swung my bag over my shoulder, and turned around, ready to walk away. "Now if you don't mind, I'm gonna go grab some food. See ya."
"F-Food?"
"Hey wait!" The three of them followed me back to Lavender Town, it took about an hour. I gave in and agreed to buy them a meal, they were such a sorry bunch, I sort of felt sympathy towards them after hearing how much they suffer from starvation, and being pushed around by Ash and his friends.
I had just enough money to buy a buffet for the four of us, and we ate happily. (Did I mention they were in disguises?)
"This is very kind of you~" Jessie chimed. She has seemed a lot nicer since eating, perhaps her grumpiness came from her hunger.
"Yeah! Such kindness! We'll forever be grateful!" James sang.
I couldn't help but smile. "You three seem alright."
"It's been such a long time since we had a decent meal like this!" James said, gulping down more than he could chew. It got stuck in his throat, and he started to choke and pound his chest.
"A-ah!? James? Are you okay?" I asked.
He bashed the table with his hand, gripping at his throat with the other. I quickly stood up to assist, when suddenly a Wobbuffet popped out of nowhere, and tripped me. "Waaaaabba~"
James forced the food down his throat, and coughed as he gasped for air.
"Get back in your ball, you!" Jessie hissed, returning the Wobbuffet.
After a few moments, James returned to normal, and continued scoffing down food, until there was none left.
"That was a great meal!" James complimented, rubbing his stomach.
"Sure was." I agreed.
"It's getting late." Jessie grumbled as she turned her attention outside. "James, you did remember to pitch our tent, right?"
"We had a tent?"
Facepalm.
"Wait, tent? So you guys sleep outside all the time too?"
"Yes, we don't exactly have anywhere to go." Jessie replied, irritated.
I checked my wallet. "Hmm.. well I was gonna check in to a motel, I guess I could afford a three-bed room."
"You'd do that.. for us?" Meowth asked.
"Yeah.. it's alright." I replied, I guess I was starting to get attached to these guys. They weren't such bad people after all.
To the motel we went, and managed to get the last room with three beds. Once I unlocked the door, my eye twitched. On one side, there was a double bed, and on the other side was a bunk bed.
"Ahah!" Jessie strutted inside, and sat on the big bed. "This will be my bed." She said, crossing one leg over the other. I shrugged and put my belongings on the bottom of the bunk bed.
"Then I'll take this one, I guess."
James had no say, he had to sleep on the top bunk, whether he liked it or not.
I placed Azura beside my bag, while I went and showered in the small bathroom attached.
I dressed into my pyjamas in the bathroom, and dried my hair roughly with the towel before walking back out into the main room. James had found the mini fridge, and had already eaten all the cookies provided.
"The milk is past it's expiry date!" He complained.
Meowth, who was drinking the milk from the bottle, spat it out on James. "What!?" He spat again, and wiped his mouth.
"Hey! This is my good disguise you little furball!" James wrestled Meowth on the floor. I looked at Jessie, she was perming her hair in front of the mirror. I decided not to interrupt her.
I laid down on the bed, and the bed frame squeaked, showing just how old it is. Azura snuggled beside me, and I smiled. I eventually fell asleep.
I was rudely awoken in the middle of the night by a beeping alert noise. It sounded familiar. I reached down under my bed, and pulled out my phone. The screen was so bright, forcing me to squint my eyes. It was a text message, from an unknown number. It read something about new phone or new pocket or something, I had to look away from the screen before I read it properly, it was just too bright. I looked over the dark room, and saw Jessie sound asleep in that double bed, and saw James' hand hanging off the top bunk of this bed. I had no idea where Meowth was, probably sleeping on the floor somewhere, or the rocking chair. I closed my eyes with my phone still in my hand, and fell asleep instantly.
BANG. My eyes shot open, I sat up immediately, and hit my head on the planks of the top bunk. "Ow!" I rubbed my forehead. "What was that.."
The room was well lit, it was morning already. I winced and looked down at my phone in my hand. 3 Unread Messages. I shrugged and switched it off, and threw it down into my bag. But it hit the floor instead. "Huh..?" I looked down at the floor, then under my bed. "Where's my bag..?" I looked up, Jessie wasn't in her bed. I got out from the bunk bed, and looked up top. James wasn't there. I looked at the rocking chair, Meowth wasn't there. I looked at Azura, staring towards the door. I turned around and looked door, it looked like it had been slammed shut. "So that's what that noise was.." I blinked a few times. "Wait... did they.. steal my bag?!"
I ran to the door and kicked it open, and saw the trio running along down the street, carrying my bag!
"What!?" I glared. "I shouldn't have trusted them!" Forget everything I said about feeling sympathetic and friendly towards them! They're criminals! Dammit! I grabbed Azura and ran after them.