Bonnie was the first to awaken in the Team Rocket camp. She got quite a shock and let out a small gasp as she turned around in her sleeping bag. In her groggy morning state she had briefly forgotten where she was and was surprised that instead of Serena being curled up in the bag next to her she found Meowth asleep making slight purring noises next to her, and in the other sleeping bag Jessie and James were snuggled up together, both all still fast asleep. Thankfully memories of the previous day were quick to resurface so the initial shock was short lived.
Bonnie tried to ease herself out of the sleeping bag without disturbing anyone. This proved impossible as the light sleeping Meowth awoke as he felt the material of the sleeping bad shift under him.
"Mornin Sunshine!," said Meowth a little too loudly.
"Shhhhh!" said Bonnie placing her finger to her lips and indicated the direction of the two other humans with her eyes.
"No Cacnea….." mumbled James as he stirred in his sleep, "Get them, not me." He then unconsciously wrapped his arms around the still sleeping form of Jessie. Jessie made a soft sighing noise and snuggled into the embrace.
All was quiet again, and it seemed neither of them were going to fully wake up at that moment. Bonnie stifled a giggle and the now cuddling duo and crept out of the tent with Meowth following.
"Come on, I don't care what they say, those two are so together!" commented Bonnie when both were a little way from the tent.
"I've been dinking dat for a few seasons now, but da writers don't seem to wanna make it canon," replied Meowth. Bonnie just gave a very confused shrug at this having no clue what Meowth was saying but decided to let it go.
Upon establishing that there was no food in either Bonnie's shoulder bag or the Rocket's backpack Meowth and Bonnie decided to make themselves useful and looked around for something to eat for breakfast.
Bonnie's leg still was reasonably sore, but only a short distance away she was fortunate to find some wild mushrooms growing within sight of the tent. She also found a bush full of Oran berries. She happily picked these and then with her arms full of berries and mushroom returned to the camp.
Meowth came back a little later and had his arms full of something else. Eggs!
"Where, did you get those?" asked Bonnie, "and how do you know there aren't Pokémon in them?"
"Relax kiddo. Dese happen ta be Pidgeot eggs and unlike other pokémon, flying bird types lay eggs all da time not just when dey is having babies. Plus it's not mating season anyways."
Bonnie still looked a little concerned, as this didn't prove that those particular eggs were OK, it just meant they could be. Meowth noticed this, sighed and picked up one of the torches from the previous night and shone it directly onto an egg so they could see a silhouette of the insides.
"See," he said, "no baby pokémon. Happy?"
"Very."
"Well, we've got da grub so time for da sleeping beauties ta wake up, don't ya think," winked Meowth with a grin walking back into the tent, extending his claws while he did so. Bonnie had a bad feeling about this.
From outside the tent, Bonnie could suddenly hear a variety of sounds and the yelling of such things as "AHHHHH!," "OUCH!" "WHY YOU LITTLE!" "#*$%!" "THE FACE, NOT THE FACE!"
Meowth was then sent flying unceremoniously out of the tent and landed face first into the dirt, evidently having received a hard kick off one of the people on the other end of his rather rude wake-up call.
Two very angry, very scratched up people then emerged from the tent and glared down at the scratch-cat who sheepishly while still flat of the ground from his landing pointed to the collection of food he and Bonnie had gathered. "Ummm… breakfast is ready," he mumbled into the ground.
XXXXXXXXXX
Soon enough all was forgiven and forgotten as the promise of food seemed to mend the situation fast. James relit the fire and with a frying pan started scrambling the eggs and frying the mushrooms. Jessie released all her and James's pokémon and allowed them to have some of the berries while making sure that she, James, Bonnie and Meowth got at least two each.
"Good show finding the berries and mushrooms," said James to Bonnie when they had all started eating.
"It was no problem at all," beamed Bonnie.
"Hey what about me? I found da eggs!" said Meowth.
" Mmmmmm yum, I do like mushrooms," continued James blatantly ignoring Meowth; perhaps the morning's antics were not quite as forgiven as it seemed.
They finished the rest of their meals, took turns of getting changed in the tent and packed up the campsite with very few words spoken between them. Apparently, Jessie and James weren't morning people, Jessie especially.
"So it looks like we simply need to get back on the path and continue in a northerly direction," said James looking over the map.
"Give me that!" snapped Jessie snatching the map away from him, "Remember today is MY turn to lead with the map." She studied it for some time and then pointed the direction out with her finger. " Alright everyone back on the path and then that way!"
"Ahh, yes, now that would be….north!" smirked James.
"Grrr, wipe that smug look off your face smarty pants," mumbled Jessie whacking James with the map and leading them all onto the path and up the steep incline of the mountain.
"How's the leg holding up?" asked Jessie turning her attention to the young girl as they walked up the inclining forest path. The child had been managing but as expected was visibly struggling a tad.
"Better than it was yesterday," commented Bonnie, "but I could probably use some kind of walking stick to steady myself."
"Say, no more, " said James, looking around to see if he could spot one of a decent size one nearby. He couldn't. He then called out Inkey out from his pokéball. "Inkay, the young lady requires a walking stick stat. Do you think you'll be able to find one and bring it to us?"
"Inkay," affirmed the psychic Pokémon giving a small salute with one of it's larger tentacles before floating off the side of the path and into the denser forest to look. The squid-like Pokémon returned in no time at all using it's psychic powers to help it carry a decent sized walking stick to Bonnie.
"Thanks ,Inkay," said Bonnie happily taking the stick from it.
"Inkey. Ink!"
James took out his Pokéball to recall Inkay, but Inkay dodged the red beam that came out.
"Would you like walk with us for a bit old chum?" asked James.
"Inkay," affirmed the Pokémon rubbing itself against the mans face affectionately.
James chuckled stroking the creature.
"Awe, it's so cute when your not using it to fight us," said Bonnie.
"Yes, Inkay does seem to have a certain charm about it," said Jessie watching James who was now cuddling it in his arms as if it were a baby.
"WOBBUFFET!" yelled the blue blob who had decided to free himself from his pokéball.
"Unfortunately, not the same can be said for all of our pokémon," the woman sighed quickly to returning the patient pokémon that often tried her patience.
"Do you ever go into your pokéball Meowth? And which one of these guys is your trainer anyway?" asked Bonnie.
"I am far too intelligent for either of these doofuses ta train me!" said Meowth proudly brushing his paw on his chest. "If anything I should be da one training dem!"
"Meowth is a bit of a free-spirited individual and is technically speaking a wild Pokémon," explained James.
"Yeah I'm WILD, so you better watch out, grrrrr," growled Meowth, prowling around on all fours in an attempt to look fierce.
"Yes, your so wild Meowth, especially when you whine about not getting your fur brushed and your charm polished daily," commented Jessie sarcastically rolling her eyes.
"Oh, I see and yes your very wild Meowth" giggled Bonnie. "Squishy is a bit like that too. I don't own Squishy but he travels with me…..well a least he used to," sighed Bonnie who never did find Squishy who was the reason she had got lost in the first place.
"You sure dat little green thing is even a Pokémon?" inquired Meowth.
"I'm not sure really… Squishy is just a Squishy. What he is technically is doesn't matter to me."
Xxxxxx
After walking for a few hours with very few rest stops Team Rocket and Bonnie got a distinct feeling that they were being watched.
At first, it was just a feeling which all felt, but none of them voiced so as to not cause a panic. Later, rustling sounds were heard not too far away, and there was no more sense in ignoring the feeling.
"It's da Ursaring! Get ready to run!" whimpered Meowth jumping onto Jame's back and clinging to his shoulders for dear life.
Despite Meowths suggestion, the humans stood still in fear.
"Whatever it is, it's coming closer," whispered Jessie.
Sounds of a creature approaching became louder, but still, the source remained concealed. The trio of humans, having regained their ability to move continued on their path silently and steadily hoping whatever it was just happened to be near them but wasn't actually following them. Inkay floated quietly next to them glancing into the forest cautiously while doing so. The sounds indicated that the creature was indeed stalking them.
"I'm frightened!" said a tearful James, who couldn't take the stress anymore.
"Me too," said Jessie before they launched towards each other in a classic fear hug with little Bonnie somewhat uncomfortably smooshed in between them.
"Who would've thought we'd end up as Ursaring chow?" cried Meowth still clinging onto James's back. Inkay had hidden in Jessie's hair at this point.
"Ummm, guys?" said Bonnie her voice muffled as she was being squished between the two adults, "You know it might not be Ursaring right?"
"Really?" said the Rockets in unison pulling out of their tight hug for a moment breathing a sigh of relief. Bonnie was just relieved that she was able to breathe again.
"Yeah, well, we can't see the creature so it could just as likely be a pangoro, abomasnow or maybe even a pack of mightyena."
"Dose options ain't much better kid," groaned Meowth.
Audible footsteps of what sounded like a rather large Pokémon has once again started in the meantime, once again in their general direction.
"That's it, I refuse to die here," decided Jessie. "On, three, two, one…go."
"Looks like Team Rockets blasting off again!" they screamed in unison, although instead of flying through the air as Bonnie was accustomed to seeing they were blazing up the forest path on foot taking her along for the ride having each grabbed her under one arm causing her to drop her walking stick in the process.
Eventually, they couldn't physically run and further and near collapsed onto the group at a fork in the path.
"I….think…. we…. lost it…" said Jessie between taking large gasps for air.
"I…think …you… might be…right," concurred and equally exhausted James as an exhausted Inkay who had been flying at full speed next to them rested on the ground, against his side.
Just as they started feeling safe something jumped out of a nearby bush.
"Ahhhhhhh!," the Rockets screamed both human members automatically shielded the child with their bodies and put their arms over their heads.
Bonnie bravely peeked out of the tight huddle at the supposed threat and soon felt a rush of glee and relief.
"Squishy!"
Authors Note: When squishy was following them it was in its dog-like form, but when Bonnie see's it, it is in it's most recognisable travel size form. Next update may take longer than previous ones as tomorrow I'm headed to Japan for a holiday. YAY