With winter break, I've been able to stay on top of making a couple of future chapters. How fortunate. Hopefully, I should be able to get back into the groove of things, but if not, well, expect another three-month long (and possibly longer) hiatus until I can get around and update again.
I hope your Christmas holiday has been wonderful this year.
The week was nearing its close. There were still many battles left to be taken cared of for the third round as a good number of them have lasted up to quite the number of hours. It would not be too implausible to consider as the stronger and more persistent Trainers and Pokémon would be moving on to the higher rounds. In any case, though, the battles were too thrilling and exciting to end so quickly unless the Trainer was too serious to the point of wanting to move on to the next round as soon as possible.
In any case, the competitors that did finish their third round battles were free to either relax, pursuing leisure in some form or another, or continue training for the tougher rounds later on. A certain pair of Trainers opted to the former after one of them had finished her match and much to the other's initial reluctance in abstaining from training.
It was one o'clock in the afternoon. The lunch rush that typically began around noon had cooled down and there were less Trainers and tourists around the places to eat, mainly around the Pokémon Center and other small established restaurants nearby. The most popular choice among young Trainers to eat and hang out, the Meloetta Café, was settling down from the rush, allowing the aforementioned pair of Trainers to find room to get in and sit.
"You'll enjoy this place, Ash," Anabel promised, guiding the Pallet Town Trainer to the front entrance. "I've heard nice things about it from Lucy when she checked it out a while ago. She even mentioned she was planning on bringing a date here, too."
"… Meloetta Café," Ash mumbled, looking up at the higher structure of the building that was designed in the likeness of the Melody Pokémon's head in Aria Forme.
"You've been through the Unova region, so would it be safe for me to guess that you encountered a Meloetta?" Anabel asked, receiving a nod in response. The Salon Maiden smiled, grabbing Ash by the hand to lead him inside. "I hope you don't mind, but I'd love to hear more stories from your time in Unova and how you met a Meloetta."
The two of them went inside as from a fair distance away from the entrance, Brock passed by without even noticing them. His mind was preoccupied on how this meeting with Poké Ball Seven was going to turn out for the rest of his friends. The former member of Team Rocket had promised him that he would share his take on what had happened to Ash with him and the rest of his friends. Chances were that he was also going to attempt to retrieve Jessie and Meowth as additional witnesses to verify the authenticity of his story.
The others should be by the grass stadium by now, Brock thought, looking ahead in the direction of the desired location.
As he got around to the grass field stadium after walking past the rock field stadium, he found Misty waving him over. Standing alongside her were May, Max, Cilan, Iris, and Dawn, who had arrived back on the island earlier in the day. Brock noticed that she seemed to be in better spirits than from the last time she stayed around with them, but she was currently conversing with Iris about something.
"It's about time you showed up, Dr. Brock," Max jested, leaning forward with his hands on his sides.
"Max, behave," May said, slightly annoyed at her brother's attempt at wittiness.
"Sorry, everyone," Brock replied warmly. "I just finished healing a set of Pokémon from the last round. A lot of them sustained some pretty big injuries, but nothing too serious."
"It must be so awesome treating so many strong Pokémon with Nurse Joy," Max commented. "You've probably already treated Pokémon belonging to the Elite Four of all the competing regions."
"You're definitely the first person aside from Nurse Joy that I'd refer to in having my Pokémon checked on," Misty added. "I know Cilan and I barely made it to the fourth round, so we definitely have you to thank for taking care of our Pokémon, Brock."
"Cress also made it as well," Cilan mentioned. "He's certainly feeling the heat from all this delectable intense battling."
"Not to mention Dad making it, too," May spoke up, smiling alongside Max. "I was worried when his Slaking was down for the count, but returned the favor with his newly caught Kecleon."
"I helped take care of Kecleon before I left," Max claimed openly.
"I'm glad to hear that we've all made it this far," Brock remarked. "Forrest is worried for the fourth rounds, but no matter what, I'm proud of his achievements as one of the youngest Gym Leaders in the Kanto region."
"Well, excuse you," Misty derided with a mischievous smirk.
"Ahem, not including Koga's daughter or you, Misty," Brock chuckled as he faced one more person he needed to follow up with. "And Dawn, how has your week been? Did you win your Contest?"
"Sure did!" Dawn chirped up, immediately pulling out her newly won Ribbon. "Piplup and Mamoswine really deserve the credit for this victory."
"I'll say," Iris intervened. "May and I watched it on TV. You were really on fire out there!"
"So much it was actually scary," May mumbled as an afterthought.
"Oh, heh, I guess I had some 'additional' energy to use up for the battle rounds," Dawn self-consciously admitted, placing a hand behind her head. "Now that I look back, I was a bit rougher than usual in the finals."
"And that's an understatement," Iris surmised, shrugging. "What's done is done now, so no need to act like a kid about it."
"Everyone, we need to focus," Brock announced, bearing a somber expression. "We're looking for a certain someone around the grass field stadium at this time."
"Brock, you didn't even tell us who exactly we're looking for or what this person even looks like," Misty pointed out. "And why do you need all of us out here?"
"It was important for me to make sure all of us are back together for this," Brock explained, crossing his arms as he slowly walked from friend to friend to take their presence into account. "As for why we're here, this is our time to finally know what happened to Ash the past year."
"For real?!"
"You're kidding!"
"Interesting."
"Knew this was coming eventually."
"Why bother…"
Brock was met with various responses, which were mostly as he suspected, including Dawn's openly cynical output. He was glad that they still cared about their friend from Pallet Town, even though they have learned to put their concerns to the side for the sake of progressing in the Champions League. He was also aware of Dawn revealing her disheartening encounter with Ash and finding him with Anabel, who she claimed was a 'higher-up' that was forcing Ash to associate with strong and famous Trainers around the regions. It was a bit surprising for the Pokémon Doctor to hear that the Salon Maiden was with him, but Brock knew her enough that she wouldn't 'steal' Ash on purpose.
Once Agent Poké Ball Seven could be found, though, he hoped that the thorough explanations and sincere testimonies from the witness, or witnesses, would help Dawn finally understand what Ash went through.
As Brock concluded his musings, he noticed a small figure sticking its head out from the shadow of the grass stadium. Upon being caught, the figure appeared to have freaked out and retreated away.
"Hey! Wait!" Brock called out, running after the enigmatic little figure.
"Brock!" the others yelled, going after him.
They followed the Pewter City Pokémon Doctor around the grass stadium, passing a few confused people and Pokémon that they inadvertently bumped into on their run along the way. For a moment, Brock disappeared around the corner. Misty was the first to make it to the corner, discovering that he had stopped after making the turn. The others soon followed along, coming in from behind.
"Brock, what happened?" May asked.
"This smells of a mysterious recipe waiting to be tested," Cilan commented.
"We found him," Brock said simply.
"Found who?" Iris inquired, only to gape upon seeing him again.
The others looked over him and saw a man with light-blue hair in a very familiar, albeit youthful, style. He was dressed in a suave dark suit with a rose whose petals matched the color of his hair adorning the left lapel. His general appearance certainly emanated some sort of familiarity to his identity, but his eyes were masked by a pair of black sunglasses. This man stood with cool flair, by which the Mime Jr. standing on his right shoulder imitated with a pair of smaller sunglasses of its own.
"I am pleased that Mime Jr. found you young adolescents," the man greeted coolly. "I was thinking you got lost on the way here."
"This place is bigger than anyone would ever expect," Brock replied casually. "I'm glad that you came to uphold your end of the deal."
"Brock, who is this man?" Misty interrupted, skeptical of the whole situation concerning the stranger.
"You and I presume everyone else should recognize him by now," Brock answered before glancing back at the man with the Mime Jr. "I think you should take of your glasses."
"I've known that my past disguises were less than flawless, but if none of you have been able to piece this puzzle together by now, then does that make me the bigger idiot for chasing you all after all these years?" the man rhetorically questioned with a dark chuckle, slowly unveiling his true eyes while Mime Jr. followed suit.
"I guess I don't count since I already know who you are," Iris remarked under her breath.
The responses from the others, disregarding her and Brock, were to be expected. There seemed to be a mix of shock, disbelief, and hostility once Poké Ball Seven's true identity was made clear to everyone. The younger members of their group, especially, were prone to emotional lashing.
"James of Team Rocket?!" May exclaimed what mostly everyone was thinking at the moment.
"You're the one that called Brock and all of us here?" Cilan questioned.
"You're part of Interpol?!" Misty followed up.
"This has to be some trap!" Max concluded. "There's no way Interpol would allow you to join!"
"Heh heh, I wouldn't be so presumptuous to assume such a case, little boy," James chuckled calmly, folding his sunglasses into his coat pocket. "People can change, you know."
"Please, you've chased Ash and Pikachu for the longest time, before my sister and I came along!" Max scoffed. "After all those losses we've handed to you over the years, you would've thought you'd change your ways! People can't change!"
"And yet how do you explain your young idol's new behavior and the fact that he hasn't gone out of his way to see you, hmm?" James retorted, folding his arms. "How else would you call that if it's not 'change'?"
Deep silence fell on all of them despite the lively activity going on around them concerning the Champions League. James remained unyielding of his last statement, even as it aided in reopening old wounds he had with the former 'twerps' as a member of Team Rocket. He noted that while most of them had varying degrees of depression over this sensitive matter, the blue-haired Coordinator from Sinnoh was taking it hard the most.
"That was a low blow, even for you," Max muttered in a threatening whisper, his hand inching closer to the portion of his belt that held his Poké Balls. "I'm taking you down and I'm going to−!"
"Max, enough!" Brock scolded with great authority, much to everyone's great surprise. Max was surprised that it wasn't May getting on his case this time. The oldest of their group was indeed serious right now. "You're claiming that James can't change, yet you try to prove to everyone that you're not the same little kid that traveled with me, your sister, or Ash. I suggest you take your words and ideals into better consideration."
"Okay… I get it," Max mumbled, having been shaken by the rebuke. "Geez…"
"And all of you, this is a serious matter that involves our friend, Ash," Brock continued, addressing the stricken youth and the reformed agent. "I came to this meeting with the purpose of understanding what happened to him if he can't tell us himself for one reason or another. Ash is my friend and I'm not going to abandon him, even if it means going to an ex-member of Team Rocket to learn the truth of why he's the way he is now. If you treasure the bond you have with him and want to help, please give this a chance." The Pokémon Doctor took a deep breath, calming both himself and the tense situation they're all in at the moment. His friends, though still unsettled by his reprimand, listened attentively. "I ask you to also give this man a chance. I have after much thought and consideration. It's up to you if you want to help Ash or not."
They all exchanged looks with one another, still harboring uncertainty in various forms and degrees. The words of their eldest friend struck and stung hard. Each had varying levels of maturity and showed said levels according to their reactions as Brock spoke. The more sensible in their group, though clearly shaken up, understood where the Pokémon Doctor was coming from while the lesser pouted and feigned indifference while still compartmentalizing the tough lecture into their selves.
"You're right, Brock," Misty finally spoke up a couple of minutes of silence, holding a fist close to her chest resolutely. "I was one of Ash's first friends next to you and Tracey and I'm glad to have met him, even if he wasn't the brightest of bulbs out there. He was still a good influence and motivated me to continue on my dream of becoming the world's greatest Water Pokémon Master. I'm with you."
"Count me in!" May exclaimed, bouncing back to her cheerful self. "Ash taught me so much when I first started out. He was the best mentor anyone can have! I'm going to return the favor and stay by his side no matter what!"
"I've only known Ash for a short time, but he's opened my palate for Pokémon and Trainer combinations to greater levels than what I was used to back at the Striaton Gym," Cilan commented. "To find a way to help Ash out would bring back that sweet taste I missed after all this time."
"It's only been a year, Cilan," Iris pointed out.
"A year or a year plus five, a lot can and has happened," Cilan replied. "I know you missed him a lot as well, Iris."
"I did," Iris lamented with a sigh. "Even if he did act like a little kid, all that time we spent together traveling around Unova and the Decolore Islands had to mean something to him. I know it meant a lot to me and you."
Cilan nodded back in understanding before all eyes fell on the remaining younger members of their group. Both Max and Dawn remained silent for personal reasons. Max was still the youngest out of them all and was still a budding Pokémon Trainer that saw Ash as his idol and main source of inspiration, refusing to let go the personality embedded in his mind years ago before they went their separate ways. This mindset also included on how he viewed other people he knew in the past, believing that they can't change no matter what. This was nothing more than a mental defense mechanism to help cope with the constant changes and transitions that came with starting a Pokémon journey.
Dawn, on the other hand, didn't fully understand Ash's relationship with Salon Maiden Anabel upon stumbling upon them the other day and allowed her emotions to cloud her immediate judgment. The biggest irony was that out of their little group that she was the one that wanted to reunite with Ash the most. Even if she did agree to hear James out and learn what happened to the Pallet Town Trainer the past year, she wondered if it would make a difference in bringing Ash back to them. He would still have the final say in the matter and Dawn was certain that she wouldn't be able to handle another rejection from him.
"So what do you two say about this?" Brock inquired firmly. "Dawn? Max? Will you be in this for Ash?"
"Well, I've got nothing left to lose or anything to do since I came back here," Dawn said, shrugging. Her mask of cynical, shallow indifference was starting to get on everyone's nerves. Her Piplup was the most expressive of their feelings. "This ought to be good."
"I still don't trust that guy," Max started, glaring down James. "But if he does know what happened to Ash, I'll give him a chance, provided that we don't get trapped by a pitfall."
"You have my word," James announced evenly, turning around and gesturing the group of traveling companions to follow him.
"They have a variety of desserts and sweet pastries," Anabel commented, ravenously eyeing the glass display of preserved small sweets. "They even have something for the Pokémon, ranging from Poffins to Poké Puffs imported from the Kalos region. Any treat caught your taste buds, Ash?"
"… I'm not picky," Ash replied while scratching Pikachu behind his ears. "… But I'm open to recommendations."
They were close to the front of the line of the counter. They needed to decide on their order in the next few minutes. Pikachu noticed that Anabel's Espeon was also eyeing a row of colorful Poké Puffs with a greedy look that nearly matched her Trainer's. It was safe to assume that those two each had a major sweet tooth.
"I think I'll get a cinnamon bun and try out the Liechi Berry juice," Anabel announced to the Sun Pokémon. "Find anything you want?"
While Espeon picked out a couple of appealing Poké Puffs, Ash made it to the front and placed his and Pikachu's order. He glanced back to Anabel as she took care of her Pokémon's order. He placed a hand on his cap and kept a fond smile to himself. He had offered to pay for her, but she insisted that she had more than enough to handle herself, given her position. Still, it would be courteous for him to pay. It wouldn't hurt him as he saved up plenty of money from his previous travels.
"… Excuse me," Ash spoke up.
"Oh, can I help you with something, sir?" the young cashier girl asked.
She was confused when the Pallet Town Trainer placed some additional money on the counter, all the more keeping part of his face concealed under the edge of his cap. Was this a tip or something else?
"… This is for her," Ash explained, indicating Anabel's direction.
"I understand," the cashier replied with a warm smile, pulling the money to the side of the register. "You're a really sweet guy paying for your girlfriend like this. I wish I can find a man like you."
Ash was caught off guard by the offhanded comment. Fortunately, his cap also covered the portion of his face that was starting to turn slightly red. He's heard of that particular word before, but he never imagined it being directed to him. He was finally growing older and it was time for him to understand the things Brock had been through, more or less.
As for the term the cashier used to refer to Anabel, Ash wondered the veracity of the idea. Would it really be too out of the blue for him to consider the Salon Maiden as not only a girl friend, but a girlfriend?
"You didn't have to pay for me," Anabel's voice echoed in his ears, snapping the young man out of his thoughts. Ash saw her mildly annoyed look before being pulled into a short hug. Pikachu and Espeon shared a look before leaving their Trainers to look for a free table "But I really appreciate the gesture. Thanks. I'll pay you back."
"… It's not necessary," Ash replied, pulling out of the embrace.
"I never said it'd be monetary," Anabel clarified with a cryptic smile and wink before letting the Pallet Town Trainer go and finding where their Pokémon went.
Ash was left staring into space and for the first time in a long time, he started to worry about his own well-being. Just what has he gotten himself into?
"It's finally settled," Brock concluded with the wiping of his brow. "Whew, it's tough being a mediator in times like these."
"Add that with your occupation as a Pokémon Doctor and you're basically a saint compared to the rest of us," Misty jested playfully. "But really, thank you for holding us all together like this."
"It wasn't really me who brought all of us together," Brock reminded with a warm smile. "We all share a friend who now needs us more than ever. He's getting closer and closer to his dream. It's only fitting that helping him reconnect with us would bring him to that dream. That was his promise before we went our ways after Sinnoh."
"I hear you."
James led them in the direction towards the small Pokéstar Studios building on the far side of the commercialized island center. Along the way, a few of them wondered how and why he would choose that particular location to explain himself as it was just as open to the public as everywhere else.
"Um, James?" May asked.
"Please address me by my codename, Poké Ball Seven," James corrected without turning around to face her.
"Sorry, Poké Ball Seven," May resumed. "I just wanted to ask what we're doing here at this Pokéstar Studios branch-off building."
"It should be as plain as day to you by now that we're having our secret gathering inside," James explained, pulling the front door open and gesturing the others to enter. "I managed to procure a private meeting room here. Jessie and Meowth are also waiting for us."
"So you did manage to get a hold of them after all," Brock commented, allowing May to enter before he did. "How have they been?"
"You'll know when you see them again," James replied, waiting for the last members of the group to enter before joining with the Pokémon Doctor. "I'd rather have them explain themselves since our disbanding."
"I understand," Brock concurred.
It was then that James's Mime Jr. took the lead, leaping off its Trainer's shoulder and cutting through the staff members and visiting tourists lingering in the main lobby. The group followed the Mime Pokémon into a narrow hallway, ignoring the strange wary looks casted by the people around them. At least they were fortunate that none of them would go prying into their business.
Mime Jr. then chose the last door on the left as the group reached the end of the hallway, leaping up to the doorknob and giving it a good twist to unlock it. James went up ahead to catch his Pokémon once it swung off the now opened door. Mime Jr. resumed its place on the agent's shoulder while Brock and the others caught up with them by the doorway.
"Well, it's about time ya showed up," a rather impatient and scratchy voice complained from within the room.
"Don't get your whiskers in a twist, Meowth," a second voice, sounding bored and feminine, retorted. "We're here as a 'favor'."
"It's you guys!" Misty exclaimed, matching everyone else's shocked expression upon seeing them for the first time in a long time.
"Jessie!" Iris followed up.
"And Meowth!" Max finished.
"Dat's right!" Meowth interjected with a thumbs-up gesture. "Da gang's all here. At least, almost all of da old gang."
This was the first that any of them have seen Jessie dressed so casually outside of her Team Rocket uniform and various disguises. As for Meowth, he was actually dressed up with a blue shirt, a cylindrical white cap, and an apron that sported an imprinted image of a bowl of noodles. Outside from their attire, their countenances now, at least compared to their past unpleasant encounters, were different.
"I don't know why, but they seem to be… happy?" May shared while the others continued examining the other ex-members.
"You can say that," James answered, walking up next to the Petalburg City Coordinator. "We've all been happier since Team Rocket has disbanded and we all found new purposes in life."
"I wanted to say I was prepared for trouble," Jessie quipped. "But I never imagined it'd be like this."
"Let's make this feeling double, I've had my own problems in setting all this up," James responded.
"Oh, please, not the motto again," Dawn groaned while Piplup placed a flipper on his forehead.
"Some old habits die hard," Meowth remarked with a shrug. "Wat can I say?"
"But she has a point," James resumed, fiddling with his lapels as he went over to his former teammates. "Time is of the essence and I can't stay very long. Plus, we owe this young generation answers to their mutual friend."
"Speak for yourself, agent," Jessie scoffed. "I'm grateful for everything he did, but that doesn't mean I owe my everything to him."
"Then why are you here, Jessie?" Misty rebutted. "You caused so much trouble towards us and Ash. Honestly, we all have the right not to forgive you for all you've done, but of course, we're better than that."
"Consider it an act of generosity on my behalf," Jessie replied airily. "And dear Agent Poké Ball Seven remembers only so much that day when the ex-Boss and the rest of Team Rocket were taken down."
"Dat's Jessie's way of sayin' dat we're happy ta be here for you kiddies," Meowth intervened, stepping in front of the red-haired female to draw away tension. "I'm on break, anyway, so dis little reunion was a refreshing treat ta look forward to."
"I'm kind of curious, though," Iris spoke up. "We know James became an Interpol agent after the fall of Team Rocket, but what about you guys?"
"Yeah, what have you been up to?" Max asked.
"Dat's easy fa me!" Meowth chirped up. "You kiddies are lookin' at a top-notch noodle master. I went back to Sinnoh and got reemployed by dat plucky ramen-shop worker, Christopher. Pretty soon, his chain of noodle shops extended out to da other regions. Our noodles are a big hit, da best ding since sliced bread! I'm here on dis island ta represent and promote our noodles to da hungry travelas and Trainas during dis Champions League."
"By the way, Meowth will be treating you youth to lunch," James announced unceremoniously. "You really should try out his ramen noodles."
"Heh, not to fiddle wit my own noodle, but Jimmy-boy's right," Meowth continued, baring his catlike grin. "Today's meal will be catered by yours truly. Think of it as my way of makin' it up to you kiddies for all da trouble dat should hopefully be under da bridge now."
"Never thought Meowth, of all Pokémon, would be cooking for us," Max remarked.
"What about you, Jessie?" May inquired. "What have you been up to since you guys split up?"
"That's actually an excellent question, little girl," Jessie replied casually, leaning back on her seat. "Truth is I didn't know what I wanted to do when James, Meowth, and I went our separate ways. I tried out various odd jobs in the past, from applying as a Pokémon Nurse to playing around as a Coordinator."
"Wait, you tried out becoming a Coordinator?" May and Dawn simultaneously questioned.
"Long story," Jessie waved off. "So naturally, I did what any confused, but still beautiful young woman would do. I retraced my roots to find lost opportunities to make up for them. It turns out that I did pretty well as a Pokémon Nurse, even if I wasn't a Chansey or a Joy."
"So you became a Pokémon Nurse?" Misty asked with a raised brow.
"Nah, it was already too late for me to reapply for nursing school," Jessie rebuffed. "After all the traveling and experience in Team Rocket, I wanted to do something more exciting to make up for all the lost action while going on the whole healing Pokémon notion. That's when it hit me. I decided a traveling medic after much training and studying the past year."
"That kind of occupation would be really convenient for roaming Pokémon Trainers too far away from Pokémon Centers," Cilan commented. "That's really generous of you to donate your time to help Trainers refine and recuperate their Pokémon."
"I guess Jessie does have a heart after all," Max murmured, struggling to hide his cheeky grin.
"Oh, Max," May sighed, lightly placing a hand on one of her temples.
"Even the toughest woman would show her warm side to those she cared about," Brock stated, briefly glancing at James and Meowth.
"The medical training and resources were courtesy of Interpol after James managed to pull some strings for me, so you can say I'm also a part-time Interpol agent," Jessie added, ignoring previous comments and turning her head to the side for a side mumble. "… Just not an official one with a cool codename. So what can I say?"
"Sounds like you're finally doing some actual worthwhile things in life," Misty said with a smug, yet amiable smile. "At least you three have finally cleaned up your act."
"It doesn't stop for me there, sister," Jessie continued, holding up a wagging finger. "I still have my ambitions of making it big on the big screen, so let me leave you with this. Why do you think we let you here to this building anyway? It's because I also work part-time here in addition to being a traveling medic. I help these lovely directors and cast out with their filming and I land some star roles for future flicks. It's a win-win for me, basically."
"There's no way they'd just give away roles like that," Iris retorted. "Big star roles require talent and grace."
"Hey, when you've worked as a Team Rocket agent for as long as I have, you learn to adapt quickly to different roles to avoid suspicion," Jessie answered, grinning as she formed a 'V' with two fingers. "We've fooled all of you time after time."
"Don't remind us," Dawn grumbled, her current attitude catching even Jessie off guard.
"Hmph, what's up with you?" Jessie inquired. "Aren't you supposed to be the sweet ball of sunshine that always looks ahead with her head in the clouds?"
"She's just hung up on the boy just like the others," James answered, readjusting the rose on his jacket. "We really need to get on with this."
With a few wordless gestures, James motioned for everyone to find a seat in the room. There were a few foldable chairs on one end while at the far corner of the room, there was a pile of packed boxes filled with stage props that served as makeshift seats. They all formed a circle, with the former Team Rocket trio sitting together at the northern-dictated portion. The moment was tense with the idea of Ash's backstory from the past year about to be brought into the light.
"I think we're all ready to hear what you three have to say," Brock announced somberly.
"Very well," James answered with a nod.
"Geez, you all look so serious," Jessie quipped, propping an arm on her lap and lying her head in her hand out of boredom. "Does one guy really matter that much to you? You all are acting like he's passed away or something just because you haven't confronted him. That's just sad."
She was greeted by surprisingly spiteful stares from the majority of females and Max as a result of her rather blunt comment. Brock sighed while Cilan looked away, hoping for this temporary situation to diffuse itself quickly while thinking of a backup solution. Dawn, at the meantime, appeared to be sulking while unconsciously tightening her embrace on her Piplup, much to the Penguin Pokémon's growing discomfort.
"Dis soap opera drama has gone on long enough," Meowth grumbled, appearing to be agitated by all of this tension. "Oi, Agent Jimmy. Will ya get on wit the show? I wanna−."
The Scratch Cat Pokémon's ears seemed to be suddenly alert. Piplup and Axew, who was hiding in Iris's hair the whole time, also appeared to have tensed up. Before anyone asked or did something out of panic from the Pokémon's behavior, Brock was quick to the draw by holding out an arm to gesture to everyone to remain calm.
"What's going on?" he asked in a low tone.
"We got ourselves an eavesdropper," Meowth growled, clearly looking displeased as he extended out his claws. "Agent, take dis trash out!"
James accepted with a nod before sneaking close to the doorway with his Mime Jr. trailing behind. He got to the doorknob and prepared to turn and pull. His little partner stood an angle away, forming a Psybeam attack in its tiny hands to ambush the intruder. The blue-themed Interpol agent prepared a countdown with his free hand, starting at three… two… one…
"Now!" James commanded, yanking the door open full force.
A body tumbled forward with a surprised shriek, having caught sight of Mime Jr. about to attack. Being quick on her feet during threatening moments like these, she allowed herself to fall to the floor before jetting forward by the propulsion created by the tips of her boots. She tackled into the Mime Pokémon before it had a chance to fire its Psybeam. The both of them rolled into the circle, the identity of the eavesdropper fully exposed.
"You've got to be kidding!" Iris groaned, fighting the urge to slap her own forehead. "Georgia, what are you doing here?!"
"G-Get off me!" Georgia yelled, conveniently ignoring her rival's grievance while prying the rowdy Mime Jr. trying to use its Tickle attack on her. "What's with you people?!" Once she placed the Mime Pokémon at arm's length, she then noticed the cold, weird stares from everyone around her. Though she felt really self-conscious at the moment, the Dragon Buster attempted to play it cool. "… Hi."
"Alright, talk," Iris demanded, leaving her chair to kneel down and confront Georgia face-to-face. "Why are you here?"
"Does it matter what my business is to you?"
"We're in the middle of something important, and you just happened to come barging in just like a kid. Of course your business becomes our business!"
"Okay, so I happened to spot you and your friends following some official-looking suit to the Pokéstar Studios building and I just happened to follow along because I happened to be curious on what you guys were up to," Georgia rebuffed, forcing herself forward and pushing the Dragon Trainer back, foreheads pressed against each other, before baring an eerily calm look. "Is that so wrong?"
Freaked out by this turn of events, Iris pulled back, allowing Georgia to fall forward clumsily face first into the floor. James came around and helped her sit up, but kept a hold on her. Iris continued looking down at the Dragon Buster contemptuously before realizing that she really couldn't hold this against her, no matter how heinous her intrusion was.
"Fine," Iris relented. "If you must know, we're here because these guys know what happened to Ash after Unova."
"Really," Georgia said, sitting in a more comfortable position despite being kept in James's grip. "I want to hear this too. I care about Ash, maybe not as much as the rest of you old-timers, but I do have a soft spot for him."
"Hmm…"
"So what's the final word?" James asked, looking at the observers for the decision on dealing with their unexpected visitor.
"Let her stay."
All heads immediately turned to the person who announced the decision. It was all the more alarming to find out it came from the very last one they would expect would give the answer to let Georgia stay. Iris maintained a neutral expression as her eyes darted side to side, meeting with everyone else's surprised glances. The Dragon Buster herself was stunned by this turn of events, even as she was released from James's hold.
"Iris…"
"Look, you're free to do as you please, but right now, I want to listen to what happened to Ash," Iris clarified, taking her seat. "If you really want to help, then stop acting like a kid and let Poké Ball Seven share his story."
Georgia said nothing else, but kept an indignant look towards her rival. She certainly did not like being subjected to a lecture from her, of all people, but she knew when to fold and not cause another scene like her abrupt entry into their meeting. Georgia found a vacant spot in the circle on the floor and crawled there while maintaining some nuance of dignity.
"Well, now that we've shaken out our nerves and are hopefully less on the edge," James began, rubbing his hands together. "Shall we begin?"
"Yes," everyone answered.
"Good, but before we can continue, how much do you know about your friend?"
"Well, isn't it obvious that he's been through a lot that it made him shut out others?" Misty proposed.
"I think he's asking why Ash is acting like that, Misty," Max clarified.
"More or less," James replied. "It sounds to me that you all have been paying attention to his new behavior. Have you also noticed his battling since this tournament began?"
"He and his Pokémon have gotten stronger and more aggressive in their battling," May noted.
"The main question is how Ash got that strong in over a year since leaving us behind," Cilan pointed out. "His new battle style is raw, yet refined… potent, yet super flavorful… unpredictable, yet reserved… strategic, yet very creative…"
"He also has a Marowak that we've never seen before," Dawn finally shared, recalling Ash's match against Katie.
"That's right," Iris agreed. "I know all of Ash's Pokémon from Unova and he shared with me and Cilan the ones left at Professor Oak's lab he caught from the other regions. That Marowak must definitely be a new addition."
"Hmm, you kids are providing a perfect place for me to begin," James admitted. "Those particular details, about him becoming stronger and having a Marowak, are pretty important."
"How so?" Georgia asked.
"We can deduce that Ash left us in the Decolore Islands to get stronger," Cilan suggested.
"You're very close, Connoisseur," James replied. "While Jessie, Meowth, and I were still in Team Rocket and trailing you through those islands, we discovered through you that he returned to Kanto. We then made the assumption that he went home."
"And you still pursued Pikachu, didn't you?" Max followed up, sounding unimpressed.
"Looking back, those times we attempted to catch Pikachu weren't exactly the greatest moments in our lives," Jessie admitted penitently.
"Moving along," James intervened, giving a fake cough after. "A month or so after we returned to Kanto, we found out that he was training at Mt. Silver, where our whole organization was stationed."
"Team Rocket Headquarters was located in Mt. Silver?" Misty repeated for clarity.
"After the failure of Operation Tempest in Unova, among several other failed projects, Team Rocket lost much funding and resources, so we were forced to hide away in Mt. Silver to recover from those losses," James explained. "The new plan was to make use of the powerful wild Pokémon living in the harsh environments of Mt. Silver and create a new army to rise again."
"And Ash got entangled with your affairs while training on Mt. Silver," Brock concluded, remembering his and James's first discussion from the past week.
"Wait… so Ash got involved taking down Team Rocket?!" Misty voiced out. "Without even telling us?!"
All the other girls, excluding Iris, who already knew from the first encounter with James, as well as Max and Cilan, were taken back by the abrupt revelation. Dawn, especially, looked guilty. She was aware that Ash went through a lot, but she didn't consider the problem to be the magnitude of taking down an entire terrorist organization like Team Rocket on his own. Granted, the news reports claimed that Dragon Champion Lance was the one who led the downfall of Team Rocket with the help of his 'nameless' apprentice, but still…
Misty did bring up a valid point, though. Why didn't Ash share the fact that he tangled with Team Rocket for the final time? He would know full well that they would worry about him and would do anything to help him. Maybe it's because he didn't want them to be involved with the danger of facing Team Rocket as public enemy number one? Dawn continued pondering heavily over this matter if it would lessen the blow his rejection did towards her heart. She felt May's comforting hand on her shoulder, bringing her attention back to the circle.
"That's jumping ahead of the story, but yes," James confirmed. "However, aside from us ambushing him to take his Pikachu, we pushed him over the line after one last thing Executive Proton did to him during our confrontation."
"What was it?" Dawn spoke on impulse, breathing anxiously through her mouth.
"He ended a Marowak."
And now Ash's friends are getting up to speed on what has happened to their dear friend. This is just a brief recap from the flashback arc, but of course, modified from the trio's point of view. Next chapter, I will say that they will share the full story of Ash's confrontation of Giovanni and disbanding of Team Rocket, with Ash and Anabel's first date going on at the same time. Short and simple.
I wasn't sure how to go about doing Jessie as Meowth seemed perfect to return to his one-time ramen noodle chef job, so hopefully her new path is plausible now that she's also straightened out. I believe that in spite of her acerbic and vain personality, she's just as capable as James is in pulling herself together and becoming competent. After all, here it just took her longer to find something better to do while James and Meowth were quick to their new occupations.
Time to measure up my writing abilities! Please review!
L-ater!
And have a Happy New Year 2015!