The two walked side by side, the halls thinning as the children began making their way to class.
"What should you have now?" May asked holding Pikachu tightly to her chest.
"I think PE. I don't have my kit though."
"Alright, I've got science, I'm not going. Are you?" She stroked the pokemon's nose through the bag smiling at the small sound he made.
"I can't. Not knowing that someone might take Pikachu. You found him now we're both going to save him. I won't let anyone take him. I'm beginning to form a bond I think."
"Good."
"And there's the underline, devastation to the ecosystem if he's somehow taken and bred." He gave a small smile to that shrugging his shoulders.
"Yeah, that's just a minor thing."
The halls were all but empty, just the occasional late child running past looking slightly panicked.
"Come on, I'm telling you that girl had it." A voice grumbled around a nearby corner.
"Quiet down, someone might be listening. If the girl does have it then we've got her for another few hours. This prison holds them till the afternoon." It was a female voice this time, and one that didn't sound too pleased.
"Damn" May cursed under her breath. He'd told, that voice the first one. It was the boy sitting next to her, she was sure. And he'd told, he'd told his friends who were going to take Pikachu from them.
"What?" Ash whispered leaning in close to her so they wouldn't be heard.
"It's him. He told."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I'm sure. Can you not hear what they're talking about? They're talking about taking Pikachu. They're going to try and hand him over to the government." Sure her words were having the desired effect she turned back to the conversation. Hoping they weren't found out now, she needed to know more or Pikachu may be doomed.
"Meowth, you're going to grab that bag. The boss deserves that pokemon. We've never had a newly hatched Pikachu before. Nor have we had one that wasn't a Pichu in the primary stages. That pokemon is special, the boss will definitely want to study it." It was a male voice that was speaking, and one that was familiar to both children.
Squinting as she tried to deduce who it was her eyes widened in pure horror. They'd found them. Pushing her body back she hit Ash, but she didn't stop, she made him move too.
"May" he hissed, not having realised who that voice belonged to. "I'm still listening."
"It's them, them from the woods. They've come to take Pikachu." Staring stunned he grabbed onto her arms and pulled her back. He didn't stop till he thought they were far enough away.
"What?" He hissed, how did they find them? "How?" He voiced his confusion, believing that May would know.
"I don't know. I think they must have followed us. That or this is a complete coincidence."
"There're no coincidences May. All this happens for a reason. I know." Nodding her head subtly she listened for anything else, but there wasn't anything. Silence.
"I think they're gone."
"Who's gone?" A voice asked from behind them. Jumping she span and stared at the three people before them. Two boys and a girl.
"Oh, uh, no one, just some people we're looking for." She stuttered, damn she didn't expect for people to find them. She'd prayed to be able to run away.
"Oh, maybe we can help. We're definitely not going to PE. I had to do physical education in the academy and I'm not doing it again." The girl muttered, running her fingers through her hair.
"No, uh that's ok. We're fine. Really."
"Alright, whatever you say." The three walked off, the smallest ones hand catching onto a strap on the bag in May's hand and yanking it from her. His small hairy arms wrapped around the bag containing the pokemon and the three ran.
It took a few seconds for it to sink it but as soon as May registered the space in her arms they were running after the three.
"Hey!" She yelled chasing after the snickering trio. "Give that back that's mine!" The small boy holding the bag dug his hand inside and grabbed onto the pokemon and dropping the bag.
"There you go, have the bag back, but this yellow guy is mine."
"No, you don't know what he is. He's mine."
"I know what this pokemon is."
Their steps faltered as they tried to stay on their feet. They knew?
"How do you know about pokemon? What do you know?"
"A lot more than you girl, I know this thing's a Pikachu and is far more dangerous than you know. I also know it belongs to the boss." An open window was quickly approaching the trio who dived out, sprinting with all they had to reach some hiding place.
Skidding to a halt they leapt out too, running after them.
The trio threw their disguises away, their original clothes crumpled from being trapped beneath the too small clothes.
"Hey! It's you three from the woods!" Ash cried, holding the empty bag in his hand having managed to grab it before diving.
"Took ya long enough." Meowth shot back, a grin on his whiskered face.
"We'll be taking Pikachu. The boss will be pleased with our success." Jessie added taking the pokemon from Meowth and sending a pointed look to James. Catching on he threw a poke ball behind his back.
"Weezing smokescreen"
The purple pokemon burst out, a thick cloud of smoke pouring from his mouth. Floating through open windows in the school and choking the running two.
Bringing their arms to their mouths they coughed, squinting in a desperate attempt to find them. Glancing to the side they could hardly see the other, their arms reaching out and clasping onto the other so not to get separated.
They could no longer run, the thick smoke making it hard enough to walk without tripping over their own feet.
"Pikachu!" May yelled, not caring if anyone heard her. She had far bigger problems to worry about than some children overhearing a name.
"Pikka pi!" It responded somewhere off into the distance.
"Damn, I can't see past my own nose." Ash felt in front of him as they slowly inched their way forwards.
"Nose? You're lucky, I can't open my eyes. Ash, we've got to hurry. Pick a direction and run. I'll follow." Nodding, despite her inability to see him, he chose a random direction, hoping it was away from school, and ran. His arm waved madly in front of his face, both to clear some smoke and assure him he wasn't blind.
The air was thick from the pokemon's smoke pouring out nonstop. But it was thinning, slowly but surely the trees and road were becoming tangible. And May was finally able to open her eyes and scour the road before her for the trio and her pokemon.
"Where do you think they'll go?" Ash asked, choking around the thin smoke.
"Somewhere not too far away. But not visible to others."
"Only place like that around here is the woods."
They shared a quick look. Debating whether or not to take the chance. They ran. No matter how slim the chance may be they had to try it. They wouldn't let them have Pikachu. It was their pokemon to protect.
They ran down the street, the purple pokemon still spewing smoke from its mouth in torrents as it chased after them. Only just realising they'd escaped.
They kept their hands locked, not wanting to risk being separated. They didn't have the time to look for each other. They had to get Pikachu.
The trio ran side by side towards the woods, their arms wrapped around the pokemon in a desperate attempt to cover it from the prying eyes of curious bystanders.
"Dammit Meowth. What's with the people?" Jessie snapped, expecting the cat, who was forced to run on four legs, to know.
"How should I know? I thought they were all locked up in prison for the day."
"Um, you two." James started, eyeing the rest of the people with sceptical eyes. "Maybe we shouldn't talk to Meowth."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Animals in this world don't speak. You shouldn't either." James informed, still looking around.
"Oh yeah. I mean meow."
Turning down a street that led towards the woods they glanced behind, catching sight of the smoke from Weezing floating into the air.
"We'll come back for him. Won't we?"
"Yeah, don't worry about it. We'll come for him once the boss had Pikachu. I'm sure he's smart enough to hide till we're back."
Jessie gave a pointed look towards James before taking his hand and motioning for him to grab Meowth.
"What're ya doin' Jessie?" Meowth asked appalled at the demeaning position.
"I can't be separated from you two. I'm not leaving more behind. One pokemon is enough. Let along an idiot and a cat." Not saying anything to the insult they closed together in small cluster and ran with all they had. Never had they imagined running from two children, but they weren't willing to make any sacrifices. Nor take any chances.
Pikachu was trapped in Jessie's arms, wriggling with all his strength to try and escape.
"Stop moving." She snapped, her arm tightening even more, crushing his chest. The pokemon kicked out with his feet, panicking more and more.
"Meowth. Make it stop!" She ordered, throwing the pokemon to the other.
"Hey, Pikachu." Meowth started. Jolting as he was bounced from James' steps. "Listen, stop movin' will ya? You're gonna hurt yourself. We ain't gonna hurt you. We're taking you back home. Just stay still. It'll all work out."
"Really?" The pokemon asked, staring up at him.
"I swear on Team Rocket." He held his hand up, trying to convey honesty.
"Who's Team Rocket?"
"My team. We're good people. Honest." Staring up at the cat he raised a brow, showing his confusion. If they were good what were May and Ash?
"But what about those two?" He asked, voicing his confusion.
"They were messin' with ya, honest kid. They were goin' to fatten you up and sell you on that black market you've all been warned about. Well, you ain't. You weren't born there were you? That's why you were tricked."
The Pikachu looked confused, but not a minute later realisation hit him. May, she'd been fattening him up. She was going to sell him.
"Thought you'd see sense, now keep quiet or they'll find us." Nodding the Pikachu held onto the Meowth, pulling himself closer and curling into a ball. Missing the sly smile crossing the hairy face.
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