Something louder than an alarm woke Yellow up.
Her body tumbled to the floor, hovering over the limbo of dreaming and awake, as the young girl rubbed her eyes. It took seconds for her traumatic memories of the forest to crash over her, but Yellow shrugged it off in confusion.
What was that? It was shrieking right through her brain. Insistent, blaring, and dizzying. Her room glowed in red light, making her see flashes of fire and fallen Pokemon as shadows on the wall. Imprints of souls burned into the fabric of time and travesty.
However, loud banging on the door spurred her feet to move. Yellow bolted to the door, seeing Lancelot in his uniform.
Did he sleep in that thing? How did he get it on so fast? She opened her mouth to ask, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her out.
"We have to go to the safe room." He urged. "Hurry!"
"What...what is happening?" Yellow's mind was trying to click the events together, but part of her brain was still dreaming of happy times. "Why are you running?"
"Because we have to!" Lancelot barked. "Stop asking questions!"
Yellow covered her left ear, wondering if Ariana would punish her for being in pajamas. However, she felt a strong and alert presence behind her as her mind picked apart the heightened emotions around her.
Pokemon. Juggling and bumbling thoughts, like balls in the air, thrown about faster and faster. Shouts of pain, victory, and defiance reverberated across the hallways as the child felt her feet become weak.
A clash. Righteous in some, evilness in others.
Agents were running down the corridors as orders were bouncing off their uniforms. Like bugs in a crevice, they came in droves. A wretched, black mass poured out into more hallways, confusing Yellow even more.
Rockets were protecting their home. But against who?
"Lancelot, what…?" Her weak blubber died.
"It's the Special League Forces." Lancelot muttered. "They're coming to hurt us."
What was a "Special League Force"? Yellow knew Lancelot would not answer, but her head still turned to the sounds of Pokemon cries. It had been ages since she heard so many in a single place, not since Mother Forest.
"Lancelot. Amarillo."
Archer. He had appeared with a hint of frustration on his face. He glanced over at the children, appearing relieved that they were not taking ample opportunity to make this worse, and gestured to a nearby agent.
"Go to the safe room with Young Master Silver."
Disobedience wasn't an option in Lancelot's mind. "Yes, Master Archer."
Yellow learned one thing this early in the morning. When Archer ran, it meant something bad. When he bolted down a hallway with two Houndooms flanking him, it meant something big was coming to pass and he was intending to stop it.
The safe room wasn't far. Lancelot dragged Yellow through waves of hurrying agents, pushing aside a hidden panel to reveal a button. A stairway opened under the facade wall as Yellow was pushed inside.
For the first time, there were no Executives and agents to watch her every move. Yellow saw a dim room, surrounded by canned food and water, and reinforced with hard metallic walls. Vents for air were above them, giving them cool air to breathe into.
Three Pokeballs were set aside, all in different colors. Under each one were labels.
RHYHORN HONCHCROW DUGTRIO
Yellow peered a little closer at each one as Lancelot sat down on the floor to await his next order. Through the hard exterior, she could hear faint thoughts of the captured Pokemon, but it was difficult to make out what they were saying.
"Hello?" She said, wrinkling her nose. "Can you hear me?"
"They will not talk." Lancelot said, taking off his hat to twist in his hands. "They're not supposed to talk to us. We're not supposed to talk to them."
"Then why are they here?" Yellow countered, catching a bit of hair in her mouth as she turned around. "If they're not keeping us company?"
"Because they're supposed to protect us if they break in."
"Who is 'they'?"
"The League Special Forces, duh!" A fresh voice piped up, forcing the two to look. "They're here for me. And those are my father's Pokemon, so don't touch them. Only I can touch them."
Same red-headed boy from before, only this time, he was pairing his notorious scowl with a set of Sneasel-themed silk pajamas. Yellow forced a laugh to crawl back into her belly so she wouldn't offend the child, but the pajamas were becoming small on him.
Lancelot got up, bowing his head. "Gentleman Silver."
"Shut up." Silver barked, cherishing the dismay on Lancelot's face. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be out there protecting me? You're a terrible future Executive. I should tell Father to have you beaten for cowardice."
The girl crossed her arms. "Master Archer told us to come here."
"Well, when I'm head of Team Rocket, the first thing that's going is listening to Archer." Silver proclaimed, strolling to a food cabinet. "What does he know? He will not run Team Rocket. I am. He works for me. And why is there no candy? I told them to stock candy!"
Yellow darted a look at Lancelot, who seemed exasperated by the proximity of the incredible brattiness. The taller boy sat down again, twisting his hat once more than his eyes burned holes through his boots.
"We have to wait for the Masters to let us go." Lancelot said as if he was repeating a command. "Or we have to use the Pokemon to escape if it…"
His voice stopped as he wavered over the last few words. Yellow thought she could see a flash of wonder across the child's face, but worry replaced it.
"If the Executives die, blah blah blah!" Silver said, chucking a can from his sight. "Father would be alive. He is the strongest trainer in the world. Nobody can defeat Father; he said so. He hasn't handed out a badge in ages, not since before I was born!"
"What's a badge?" Yellow's interest piqued.
Silver rolled his eyes as he glared at Lancelot, shoving more cans to the floor. "Am I to be protected by the lot of you two? I'd rather trust the stupid Pokemon over there."
Lancelot fought to remain steady. "She's new and was in a forest. She knows nothing."
"Whatever. You're so good at giving information. You tell her."
Loud thumps above their heads. Yellow looked up, imagining what was going on. Her ears strained to hear, but the room was well-insulated. It must be by design, or the people above could hear them talking.
"A badge is for trainers who defeat Gym Leaders." Lancelot said, falling into the lines of textbook studies. "If you gain eight badges, you can face the Elite Four and the Champion, who are the strongest trainers in the world."
"Except they're not, because Father is." Silver corrected him, huffing. "But Father doesn't want to be Champion. So he's a Gym Leader. The best one. The hardest one. Nobody gets past him."
Yellow looked stunned. "All this for a badge?!"
"No! You really are dumb. Father only pretends to be a Gym Leader so he can be ahead of the League. Duh. He scouts the best trainers and if they lose, he keeps them or sends them away!" Silver said, finally finding a bag of sweets in the back. "Aha! I knew they had to be in here."
Lancelot threw Yellow a look to not get upset. He cleared his throat, raising his voice over Silver's rotten eating habits.
"Master Giovanni is very good at deceiving the League. They do not know he runs Team Rocket. They think Master Giovanni owns a shipping company. He has to pretend so Team Rocket can always be a step ahead." The older boy explained. "When Master Archer takes care of Pokemon trainers, he makes sure they never reveal the secret."
Yellow paused, watching Silver finish the bag in record time before her eyes widened. Her bottom lip fell open, making her shudder at the thought of serving him until she was old and useless.
"Your father is Master Giovanni?!"
"How could you not know that?" Silver snapped, insulted by her ignorance. "I am the heir of Team Rocket. That should be the first thing you're told. I will tell Father to make sure you know that from now on, as well as any other dumb recruits."
"Gentleman Silver, she hasn't been here long." Lancelot jumped in, packing on the placation. "Not even a month. She hasn't met Master Giovanni either. The Masters said we had to be quiet in here—"
However, the heir had the recruit in his sights now. Silver stormed over, yanking her loose hair to drag her towards him. Yellow screeched, trying hard to not fight back, but he kept tugging at her vulnerable underhair.
"Well, I'll shake the stupid from her brain! I'm the reason you're here, you dummy! You wouldn't be here if I wasn't so special!" Silver said, forcing Lancelot to come between them.
"Stop! Master Archer will be unhappy if you keep—"
"Shut up, Lancelot. Master Archer, Master Archer! You're a broken record. I can't wait to get rid of you." Silver cut him off before shaking her again. "Hey! Are you still stupid? Is it falling out of your ear or something?"
Lancelot wrenched Yellow away, butting in between them to keep Silver's hands off her. The poor girl rubbed her head as tender bruises developed on the underside. Hurtful, ugly boy! She hoped Team Rocket burned to the ground under his control!
"Master Giovanni said we have to be here." Lancelot reminded Silver, watching the other kid roll his eyes. "Three Pokemon, three of us. And every means to escape by air, ground, or running. Master Archer didn't make it up."
"Well, if it comes to pass." The heir shrugged, now directing his attention from torment back to gluttony. "I'm taking all three. You two can fend for yourselves."
Yellow glared at Silver's back, making Lancelot stop her. It reduced her protests to hurtful pouts as the older boy's stare burned through her skin. A subtle warning of not to toe out of line drove hard as Silver searched for something else to occupy his time.
"We're supposed to be his Executives?" A hiss. "That boy is way more mean! And he thinks we're dumb!"
"Master Giovanni said so." Lancelot maintained his composure, but Yellow could tell he wanted to vent too. "Silver is around our age; he'll mature. So Master Archer says. At least, Master Archer hopes he'll mature…"
Another thud, louder this time. All the children looked up with varying degrees of concern on their faces. Lancelot twisted his hat harder while Silver and Yellow were hiding a visible swallow. For a few minutes, it was tense before the childish antics continued.
Yellow felt her sleep clothes stick to her legs. It was getting hot with the cramped body heat. She debated about stripping down, but knew that Lancelot would raise hell about it. She fanned her cheeks as the two boys loitered around.
"It's hot."
"Get used to it." Lancelot replied, taking a seat near the entrance. "We might be here for a while. We have to be on alert in case something happens."
Boom!
The walls shook.
"Like that!" Silver trilled, waving his arms wildly at the two. "Well!? Do something! Don't be lazy and stupid! I'm going to release one of Father's Pokemon!"
Lancelot hopped to his feet. "Gentleman Silver, don't! We know nothing! We haven't gotten a signal or—!"
"You are my future Executive, act like it!"
Silver hit the front button on the far left Pokeball and in a flash of light, a giant horned beast appeared. Plates that covered the body shifted and cracked with movement. Yellow stepped back, filled with the Pokemon's thoughts.
"Must... obey... obey Master... Master is…"
"Yellow. Yellow, move." Lancelot ordered, his voice quivering. "Slowly. Don't be sudden."
The girl had a mind flash of the Pokemon from her handbook, but the nameless image froze. She couldn't remember more than that. Was it a friendly Pokemon? Aggressive? Was it going to hurt them?
Plates on the Pokemon groaned as the powerful bones moved. Every part of the creature felt confused, as if someone trapped it, reliving something repeatedly. Yellow could feel tension, fear, and hurt boiling under the Pokemon's rough exterior.
"Trapped... I'm trapped... small...protect... Protect Master… small..."
In her moment of puzzlement, Yellow stepped forward and the Pokemon took it as a challenge. The massive horn reared, belting out a roar that shook the children into a frightened state before barreling towards the girl.
"Jump, stupid! Jump!" Silver called out.
Her knees couldn't move. Arms were a thousand pounds. Yellow was sure there was a scream in her ruined throat.
"Protect... destroy. Destroy!"
This plated monster was going to kill her! Yellow threw her hands up, trying to defend herself against the impact. However, a hand grabbed her and pulled her out of the way before the beast could collide headfirst into her.
Crash!
A new dent in the far wall behind Yellow. In a single flash of light, the Pokemon disappeared.
The girl's feet felt numb as blood rushed everywhere, trying to make sense of her balance and heartbeat. How was she alive? That Pokemon was massive and…
"Perhaps I should have left you an attendant."
A smooth, clear voice she hadn't heard before. One soaked in ruthless elegance and precise command. The deep undertones sat on the surface of their words as if they were calling upon the earth to crowd around their feet.
Yellow looked up, seeing a very tall, slender, dark-haired man stare back at her. Unlike anyone she had seen before, this man wore a tailored black suit with a white turtleneck underneath. The nefarious "R" symbol stitched to his breast and red diamond cufflinks on his sleeves.
His face had scarce wrinkles around his eyes, giving an appearance of regal wisdom and energetic youthfulness simultaneously. The black hair slicked back, showing off a pertinent widow's peak. It surprised Yellow that given the slim physique, strength bubbling under the surface, especially with his powerful grip.
In a moment, he gave a humored smile as he released her from his grip. She could see the Pokeball in his hands, wondering how that got there from across the room.
Silver scrambled first, running towards them. "Father!"
"Son." He greeted, much warmer than she expected. "I see you released Rhyhorn. Fortunate we could take care of the intruders early; you all might have gotten hurt."
The heir didn't care, wrapping his arms around the closest leg. "Father, you're home! I grew stronger! Father! Father! I have to tell you something!"
His father patted him on the head. "Silver. Remember what I told you. Take care of your subordinates first."
Silver threw a look at Yellow. "She started it. And Lancelot was useless."
That made the other boy stiffen. Yellow grasped the severity of the situation, feeling her spine lock into place. Everything they had taught her about bowing and respect flew from her mind like a bird from a nest.
This was the one. The famed Master Giovanni before her in the flesh.
And he had to rescue her from death.
Giovanni chuckled, pulling the boy off his leg. "Silver. Had you not overreacted, you would have been fine. These Pokemon pick up on fear; showing it reveals your hand. Now. Act like a leader and hold your head up high."
Silver groaned, wiggling his head before hugging his father again.
"Master Giovanni."
Archer and Ariana appeared from the entrance, taking in the scene. Yellow thought with how her back was so straight, she would crack in the middle and fall apart. Lancelot shifted his feet into a submissive standing pose, lowering his head.
"Everything is fine." Giovanni said, rubbing his son's back. "A little hiccup with the Rhyhorn that I left behind. Take Silver to his bedroom."
"No!" Silver insisted, grabbing at his father's suit. "I wanna stay with you! Take me to your office! Father!"
"It's early and you need sleep." The boss assured him, turning to Archer. "Take the other two out. Check Amarillo for wounds. I may not have grabbed her in enough time."
Ariana thought they had shot her with that statement. "What did Amarillo do?! Giovanni, I promise it will..."
"She did nothing wrong." Giovanni cut her off, shutting up the woman. "Silver released Rhyhorn by mistake. Quite a stupid creature and must have thought she was an enemy. Good to know if something would go wrong. I suppose I can get rid of this one and train another."
Yellow stirred at the thought. Get rid of a Pokemon? Get another one? These were living beings, not toys! She stepped forward, balling up her fists.
"It's not the Pokemon's fault!" She proclaimed, seeing everyone but Giovanni freeze. "He was trying to protect us and got confused! You shouldn't put a big Pokemon in a tiny room! Or in tiny balls!"
Lancelot looked like he would faint. Archer squinted his eyes and Ariana looked horrified. Silver buried his head into his father's suit, watching the scene unfold like it was entertainment. However, Giovanni laughed.
"Are you an advocate for doltish Rhyhorns, Amarillo? He almost killed you, but you want to be his savior?" He teased, wild in his amusement. "That is turning the other cheek to an extreme level, hm?"
Yellow frowned. "He didn't do anything wrong. He would have protected us but he got confused because he felt trapped."
"Ah. How very simple it seems." Giovanni said, making the woman dash towards her student.
"Ariana, you didn't mention that dear Amarillo was quite intuitive. Only that she bit people and turned around in battles."
"She has her moments." Ariana's nails dug into Yellow's shoulders. "Giovanni. I assure you, she will lose this attitude. In days. Hours, even. It's only been about one or two weeks, at least since you've been gone!"
The boss rubbed his chin. "It was foolish of me to leave right before bringing Amarillo here. She has substantial power. Mother Forest was right about keeping her secret. Had others found her before I did, she would have been a threat."
Yellow perked up, but the nails dug harder into her shoulders. Mother Forest? Giovanni knew about Mother Forest? Now more observant and less afraid, she zeroed in on Giovanni's posture.
Power. Great, tamed, and beastly power emanated from him like a swelling geyser. Stronger than hers, stronger than Lancelot's. Mother Forest granted the boss of Team Rocket her power? Giovanni was a child of the forest too?
Ariana forced a smile. "Yes. She's very special. I'm sure she's an apple of... whatever tree's eye. Much stronger than Lancelot."
Now the other Executive tutted. "It's not a contest. Lancelot has gifts we have yet to uncover."
"Regardless." Giovanni said. "Contact Petrel to come back to base. We stopped the forces this time, but we'll need to do more to prevent this from happening again. Make quick work of the survivors. I have phone calls to make."
Silver tugged at his father's suit. "Take me with you!"
"No, Silver. Go back to bed." Now his father was much more firm, shutting up the brat. "Archer. Take Silver back to his room. Ariana, when you finish here, dispatch teams to clean up the mess. Petrel will have his work cut out for him for some time."
With that, Giovanni left. Ariana waited a second before smacking Yellow across the face. The girl whimpered, feeling blood come out of her bottom lip, before the Executive grabbed her chin.
"You never tell Master Giovanni how to handle his Pokemon." Ariana snarled, shaking her. "You are fortunate he found your little remark amusing. You are unfortunate, however, because I didn't. You will not like what is coming."
"But it's true!" Yellow insisted before getting smacked again. Her yelp made Archer turn to forlorned Silver.
"Come, Young Master Silver. Lancelot. Clean this mess up before your tutoring. We will discuss your inability to control high-pressure situations later." Archer said, guiding Silver out.
Lancelot bowed his head before getting to work on cleaning up the scattered cans. Ariana glared at Archer's back before coming up with a mental reason to smack Yellow for a third time. The young girl felt her balance come undone, dizzy from the strikes.
"Clean this up. I will come get you in ten minutes. During those ten minutes, I do not want to hear, see, or smell you being disobedient." Arian snapped, storming out. Yellow rubbed her head, bitter as Lancelot put one can back on the shelf.
"I didn't do anything." She mumbled, leaning against a shelf to pick up a can.
"You stood up for a dumb Pokemon in front of Master Giovanni." Lancelot reminded her. "You don't stand up for dumb Pokemon in front of Master Giovanni."
"Silver threw cans everywhere and released a Pokemon!"
"He's going to be the boss one day. Master Archer said he was going to carry Master Giovanni's legacy." The boy said, sighing. "And we're to serve him and Team Rocket. Forever."
Yellow squinted at a can label, unable to direct her anger elsewhere. The cut on her lip stopped bleeding, but she had a metallic taste in her mouth to contend with. Her tongue ran over the wound, feeling the pain ebb.
"I wish Rhyhorn hit me." She said.
The shock of saying such a thing settled in moments after.