When Ash, Dawn, and their Pokémon returned to Saffron City, the siege's aftermath was still apparent. Entire blocks were forbidden, wrapped up in police tape and barriers, while investigations continued the morning after.
As soon as the group spotted an Officer Jenny, they quietly veered out of sight and into the crowds. Saffron was less crowded than usual this morning, but it was still a major city.
"Sheesh… this is real weird." Ash whispered to Dawn past his hand. "Having to duck 'em like this… you'd think we're the outlaws."
"We are," Dawn pointedly reminded, "after your little stunt."
"Aha, ha…" Ash looked off, blushing. He could have made the counterpoint that breaking in had been her idea in the first place, but the last thing they needed was more attention.
Speaking of attention, they'd arrived at the Pokémon Center. Through its sliding double doors, it seemed to be pretty barren. Trainers were either still sleeping, or out and about for the day, in the early morning hours. Given how many adults were on their way to work on the way here, it was probably seven or eight in the morning; they hadn't checked.
At the front desk, Nurse Joy looked up. It was hard to tell from a distance, but Ash and company quickly picked up on something peculiar; she looked completely exhausted.
"Good morning," she muttered, with bags under her eyes. "Welcome to the Pokémon Cent… you!" Standing more upright, she brushed off any grogginess to address the group. "Where in the world have you all been!?"
"Huh!?" Ash asked, taken aback. He looked to the left and right to confirm that there was no one she could be talking about but them. "What do you…?"
"There was a strict curfew in the wake of last night's events," Joy replied sharply. "None of you returned to the Pokémon Center after hours, and I don't think I need to remind you that ignoring that curfew is not only illegal, but a danger to you and your Pokémon."
"That's not what happened!" Dawn volunteered. "We were out when it all happened, but we were closer to the next route than the Pokémon Center, so we camped outside the city for the night!"
Ash made a mental note to thank Dawn for her quick rebuttal when they weren't under the third degree.
"Right," Joy acknowledged, not sounding remotely convinced. Rounding the counter, she looked everyone over with suspicion. "And is that why your Pikachu is dirtied and bruised…? And I could say the same for your… Lucario!?"
Ash winced, while Nurse Joy rubbed at her eyes.
"Either I'm seeing things from working overnight, or your Riolu not only battled, but evolved," she enunciated. The implications were piling up quickly, and the sharp, cutting glare of her blue hues said what she didn't have to.
"...Oh, yeah! We heard that things were going down in the city, so we thought we'd do some training to…" He was two seconds from admitting he'd want to power up to be able to handle it. Stupid. Stupid! "...to keep our minds off of it! It just so happens that Rosa, here, evolved this morning!" Turning, he forced a smile, patting the Lucario's shoulder.
"Ow!" Ash winced and hissed, feeling a jolting pain in his side when he turned. No doubt, Nidoking's tail had done it.
Nurse Joy's stare was sterner than ever.
"...Er, ehehe." Ash plastered on a grin, resuming the action. "...She actually evolved, this morning, when we woke up!"
~Riolu only evolve during the morning and day,~ Rosemary herself volunteered. She was suddenly grateful that she'd badgered Brock about that, a while ago. ~I didn't even see it coming! Pretty cool, huh?~
"...You are right about that." Nurse Joy sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Consulting the aftermath of that disaster has definitely left my mind foggy."
"I'd bet," Ash replied, halfway smiling. It seemed they were in the clear! "Saffron City's real lucky that you were on the job. I'm sure there were plenty of Pokémon who needed your help!"
"That's true; there were." Nurse Joy nodded. Reaching over the front counter, she picked up a mug of coffee, sipping from it. Her nose wrinkled up in disgust when she realized it'd gone cold. "A lot of Pokémon confiscated from Team Rocket members that'd been defeated by some vigilantes. In fact…"
Ash and Dawn alike swallowed heavily.
"I noticed that quite a few of them suffered from electrical burns." She enunciated, turning her attention right back to Pikachu
"Pi…!" Pikachu squeaked, looking at Joy like he was a Stantler looking into headlights. As soon as he realized he was, he guiltily looked away.
"You… don't say…!" Ash stammered out, wearing a smile that looked terribly nervous, no matter how hard he tried to keep a straight face. "I… sure hope all of them are alright!"
"I'm sure they'll all be in better homes, now! Ehehe he…" Dawn squeaked out. Obviously, she did mean what she was saying, but it didn't make her stomach feel any less queasy for the pickle they were in!
Nurse Joy answered in a dismissive hum, walking back around to stand behind the counter. The group of five watched her every step as she did so, caught in the suspense. "...Be that as it may, the vigilantes weren't identified, so I have no proof. But I would like to remind all of you to do what's wisest, and do what's legal. Now, if you'd like to hand over your Pokémon that were involved with your 'training,' that would be best."
"Of course! No problem," Ash said, placing Pikachu on the countertop. He recalled Rosemary to her Poké Ball, and handed it over as well. He felt grateful he'd only battled with them; the less time Nurse Joy had to poke around, the better.
"Thank you so much!" Dawn handed over only Houndoom's Poké Ball, for her part.
"Breakfast is almost over," Nurse Joy said. "I suggest you get to it, unless you'd like to train on empty stomachs."
"Got it," Ash and Dawn said in unison. "Thanks!"
Both of them rounded the corner into the cafeteria, and huffed heavy sighs while they sought out their trays. Luckily, only a handful of trainers were still eating breakfast; unless they shouted, they could talk safely.
"Well, that was… somethin'," Ash deadpanned.
"You're telling me," Dawn huffed, as she piled some pancakes onto her plate. "First that thing last night, and now this…!"
"'That thing?'" Ash asked.
Dawn shook her head. She didn't feel safe talking about it all, here.
Ash got the message, and opted for french toast and orange juice. To treat himself for last night's trouble, he poured on an excessive puddle of syrup. "And I still feel like shit."
But, the writing was on the wall; training was one thing, but if he revealed any injuries to be treated, he'd likely end up in the hot seat. He'd have to walk it off.
Suddenly, he missed the tough love from Mt. Silver's Nurse Joy.
"Let's just get to training, after we eat," Dawn suggested. "I have a Contest to win in a few days, and I don't plan to lose."
"Hah, right." Ash broke a smile; the first genuine one, since Rosa's evolution, that morning. "You'll have your fifth ribbon, in no time!"
Dawn was happy to leave the Center's stressful and oppressive interior, to step out into the fresh air and shining sun. Behind the building, a couple of battlefields were laid out, with decorative trees and shrubs insulating the grounds from the next block over.
She stretched her arms high over her head, basking in the temperate weather of late spring. Yesterday had been pretty horrible, but they'd come out in one piece, and it was a new day. She'd decide on a routine, dive headlong into training, and win that Contest!
"Dawn! Dude, is that you?"
"Dude?" Dawn made a face at the choice of words, and looked over her shoulder. The face she saw was quickly matched to the voice she'd heard, and her shoulders sank. "Oh, great…"
Maddox was approaching, grinning that big, oblivious grin as always. "Didn't think I'd run into you, here. That means you're in for the upcoming Contest, right? That rocks."
"...Yeah." Dawn decided on neutrality, today. He'd been a good sport last time, ultimately, even if he was annoying. And she wasn't in the mood to get worked up and upset again. "I'll be competing. That means you are too, then."
"For sure, for sure! Can't wait to duke it out again. So don't go losing on me!"
Dawn, to her own surprise, cracked a smile. "Oh, you know it. I'm going to win, so you're bound to fight me in one round or another!"
"Right on. But, forget that. Can you believe what went down last night?"
Dawn's expression soured. "Er… yeah. It was.. horrible."
"Those Team Rocket scumbags really left their mark. But, there are some real rumors going around." Even as his face soured at the mention of the thieves, a glint of mischief shone in his eye afterward. One Dawn was sure she didn't like.
"Rumors…?" She decided to play dumb.
Maddox, rather than be discreet, continued his streak of being anything but. "Dude, yeah! Word going around is, there were a couple of heroes who snuck in and fought off Team Rocket! Against the cops' orders, and everything!" He boasted excitedly, throwing his arms outward.
Dawn winced. Why was he being so darn loud about it!? "Y'know… If that's true, they're probably still on the lookout for those trainers. Officer Jenny was real strict about that curfew."
"Then we gotta make more noise! They fought The Man to do the right thing, you know? Then again…" Maddox frowned. "Don't know how I feel about 'em protecting big corporations… That's still The Man."
"I need to get back to training!" Dawn snapped, her face burning red. Why was he so, so stupid!? "I don't have time for this, Maddox."
"...Huh. Oh, yeah. Alright, Dawn. Later!" Completely oblivious as ever, the teenager jovially raised a hand to Dawn before turning to leave.
"Bye," Dawn curtly replied.
"Later!"
"Bye!"
"See ya!"
"BYE!"
It was only once Maddox was out of sight that Dawn gave up on her stubborn little shouting match.
Ash walked over with his hands on his hips, frowning. Pikachu looked just as sympathetic. "So, that was uh…"
"Not great," Dawn hissed, shaking her head. "Idiot. That was the last thing I needed."
~Dumbass,~ Rosa remarked flatly.
Ash frowned, shrugging his shoulders. "Well, people were bound to find out anyway, right? We really should've seen it coming."
"It's just… I don't know how I feel anymore about this," Dawn admitted. "About this Contest."
"About the Contest…? Dawn, what do you mean?" Ash asked. His brows rose in concern.
She leaned in to whisper to Ash. "You weren't there to see it, but last night…" Her words were hushed, and only for Ash and Pikachu's ears. She explained what occurred with Petrel. Him recognizing her keenly from her Contests. All the discomfort that came with it.
"...And I just… Ugh! I don't know," Dawn groaned. "I don't feel like standing out is a good idea, right now. Not to Team Rocket, and not to…" She looked back to the Pokémon Center.
The law.
"...Ugh. The idea of not wanting to stand out feels icky and weird," she said. "I almost regret…" She couldn't quite bring herself to finish her sentence, but the thought had slipped. Being impulsive came with repercussions, now, more than ever.
"It couldn't be helped," Ash reasoned. Even by the end of the night, he swore he'd heard Giovanni claim that the police were only just making advances toward the building. If they'd had to face the Executives, let alone Giovanni, Team Rocket certainly would have won.
He shook the unpleasant thought off. "Hey. Do you want to just skip this one? Try another Contest where you won't have to think about it?"
"...No." Dawn denied. It was probably the smartest thing to do, but her pride was fighting her on it. "This could be my fifth ribbon. If I win, we can lay low for a good while. It's better to crunch down now, and get it over with!"
"Right," Ash agreed. That made as much sense as anything else, and it was more in line with his own inclinations, anyway. "So, what're you gonna do?"
"I guess I could try to win without standing out too much," Dawn replied. The thought was so gross. But, their safety was more important. "I'm sure I can come up with an appeal that's not too… me." Again, gross.
Ash clapped a supportive hand on Dawn's shoulder, smiling. "Don't sweat it. You can show out and show off at the Grand Festival. This is just to qualify! You'll work it out."
Dawn, too, felt a touch lighter and smiled. "Thanks, Ash. You always know just the right thing to say."
Dawn spent the next short while brainstorming, drawing patterns in the dirt with a stick she'd come across. Empoleon hovered close, the two of them exchanging words occasionally. Naturally, Empoleon's mostly consisted of 'yes' and 'no.'
"I wonder what they're planning over there," Ash thought aloud, watching from his seat at a nearby picnic table. "She can't be using Empoleon, right? Not if she wants to blend in."
Pikachu shook his head. "Pi pika chu."
~Nope. And he didn't even argue it, this time!~ Rosa volunteered.
"Oh, yeah. You guys have much better hearing than me," Ash replied, rubbing his neck. "Forgot that."
"And that, to top it off, right at the end...I've got it!" Dawn cheered, standing up to pump her fist in the air. With her appeal devised, she grabbed one of her Poké Balls, and tossed it forth.
Clefairy appeared in a flash, standing before Dawn with a tilted head. "Clefairy?"
"Alright, Clefairy. You didn't get a chance to be in the Wallace Cup, but you're going to lead for us in the next Contest's appeal! Are you up for it?"
Clefairy's beady black eyes lit up with excitement, and the small danver twirled on the spot. "Fairy! Clefairy~!" It'd been quite a bit since her last Contests, and from what she'd heard through the team, they'd been a thrill! She was eager to show just how much she'd improved!
"Awesome!" Dawn cheered, pumping both of her fists in front of her. "Now, I've thought out an appeal for you, so listen closely." She wasn't quite so paranoid as she'd been back in Fuchsia City, so there was little need to whisper and cower from eavesdroppers.
But, her plan could be summed up into just a couple of sentences, much to Clefairy's dismay.
"...And, that'll be it!" Dawn clapped her hands together, surmising the appeal. "Once we practice, we'll be good to go!"
Clefairy wore an increasingly more sour and disinterested expression. When Dawn finished, she'd tilted herself away from Dawn, giving her a sidelong gaze. "Cle-fairy."
"Clefairy…?" Dawn frowned. "You don't think that's good enough? Then, what do you want?"
Clefairy responded in a way perhaps only Clefairy would. She lit Dawn up with a dazzling Shock Wave!
"Aiiie!" Dawn yelped, jolting about until the brief attack wore off. after a moment of sitting stunned, she shook herself off. "Clefairy…! What did you do that… for." Blinking, she digested what always came next after a bad shock. feeling around for her bangs, she was horrified to find that they were jagged, every which way. When she retrieved her pocket mirror, worse yet, it was sparkling!
'Dee-dee' lived on.
"Pol! Empol! Poleon!" Empoleon squawked, waving a flipper about at Clefairy. The tiny, pink mountain dweller argued back in her own, high-pitched chirps.
"Dawn!" Ash called out, running over to check on his girlfriend. "Are you good?"
"No need to worry! I'm just… A little crispy and in need of some conditioner." Dawn sighed, while she desperately tried to brush her hair back into place. "Look, Clefairy… I know that appeal isn't the most exciting thing out there. We're trying not to attract too much attention, right now. I'm sorry."
Clefairy chattered a few sour notes back to Dawn. She still didn't sound particularly happy.
"I know this isn't what you want, but we're trying to stay safe…" Dawn hummed in thought.
Then, an idea struck her; when Ash'd left Torkoal out of his battle with Janine for Rosa, he'd promised a place in his next Gym Battle! In the end, that'd worked out perfectly!
"Hey, I know!" Dawn said. "I'll promise you a better show in the future, okay? Whether we win or lose, you'll get next dibs on the appeal you want! Okay?"
"Clefairy…" Clefairy shook her head. Her eyes were cloudy; as if there was something that'd still gone unsaid. But, Dawn wasn't the keenest to reading someone too deeply. All she could do was listen. Clefairy pulled herself together and agreed. "Clefairy!"
"Thank you, Clefairy!" Dawn smiled, exhaling in relief. "I promise, we'll bring out your real charm, next time around! For now, let's impress this audience, anyway!"
Two more days of training and practice followed before the Saffron Contest arrived. Dawn, Clefairy, and her other superstars had trained hard to do their best… but, somehow, not stand out too much. It was foreign to them, but Dawn was never a quitter.
The appeals were well underway; mostly face that Dawn didn't quite recognize. After several, though, a familiar, doe-eyed brunette with yellow and black clothing and a bow to match - surely an intentional choice to mirror her partner - entered the fray.
"Now, put your hands together for Paige! Let's see what this electrifying little starlet has for us, today!" Lilian narrated as she always did, introducing the girl who bounced her way onto the stage.
"O-kay! Let's give them a Pika-pika-peek-a' your power, Pikachu!" Paige giggled, spinning to toss her chosen Poké Ball forth. Pikachu emerged, somersaulting forth. "Use Double Team!"
"Pi! Pika! Pi-ka-pi-ka-pi-ka!" One chant of Pikachu's three syllables turned to several, and then to a dozen. Paige's Pikachu multiplied into many clones, running around in a coordinated circle in the center of the stage. It was a cute little Pika-stampede!
"Piiii-ka." Pikachu said, leaning forward in Ash's lap.
"Right? That Double Team is much better than the last one," Ash said. "Paige hasn't been sitting on her laurels, since the last time we saw her! But, I wonder how the rest of the appeal will go."
"Now, use Sweet Kiss!"
Each of the Pikachu running in a circle skidded to a halt, standing and facing towards the audience. Each of them folded their paws over their muzzles, and then threw their arms outward, blowing a kiss! Pink and red hearts flew in all directions; a little love letter to their onlookers!
Much of the audience cooed and cheered, overcome by the sugary sweet gesture.
"Pikachu is giving her greatest regards to all of us, here in Saffron City! How cute!"
"Now, back around!" Paige called.
Each of the Pikachu turned towards one another, with hearts still floating about.
"...And use Nuzzle!"
Each of the Pikachu ran towards one another, leaping facefirst! All of their cheeks met, igniting a myriad of golden sparks and static. The cute bonanza erased all of the Double Team copies, leaving just the original rodent in the aftermath.
Paige beamed, throwing her arms out. "Now, use Thunderbolt!"
"Piiikaaaa… Chuuuu!" Pikachu shrieked, letting a Thunderbolt loose in all directions. Its bolts zapped away at the floating Sweet Kiss hearts, popping them in a shower of pink and gold.
Paige and Pikachu bowed, as the crowd worked up into a cheer.
"There are certainly some similar beats to her other appeals, but I think it's safe to say that Paige has polished her skills and Pikachu's charm plenty! Let's give them a big hand, while we get ready for our next contestant!"
"You were awesome, Pikachu!" Paige praised, twirling her way backstage with her partner in her hands. Caught up in their excitement, the brunette had no idea where she was going, and her back bumped into Dawn.
"S-sorry!" The girl sputtered, turning around. "I wasn't looking where I was… Oh. Dawn." Her exuberance quickly dried up, and she managed a nervous smile. "It's… nice to see you. Eheh."
After she'd been demolished in their last encounter in Celadon, one could easily guess that Paige would feel discouraged, running into her as competition.
One could guess, but Dawn was not that one. "It's great to see you, too! That appeal of yours was really cute. You and Pikachu have definitely gotten better!"
Paige's expression was now one of surprise, her cheeks flushed. "O-oh… Thank you! We've been working real hard at showing everyone Pikachu's charm. Everyone should see her the way I do!"
"Pika-chaa~!" The Pikachu with the heart-shaped tail agreed, waving her paws.
Her answer was admirable, but it was also a sobering reminder for Dawn. "...Yeah. Everyone should see your Pokémon's true charm." The light in her eyes dimmed; something even Paige seemed to notice.
The girl frowned. "Dawn? Are you okay?"
"Huh? Y-yeah!" Dawn denied, nodding a few too many times to be convincing. "It's… Oh, look! The next appeal is about to start!"
"Up next, is the loud and proud Maddox!"
Mild, polite applause rang, but was quickly deafened by a niche, rebellious bend of the audience when the heavyset punk ran on stage. Grinning, he called his partner with a backhanded throw. "Alright, Slowbro! Let's rumble!"
Landing before Maddox, Slowbro shook the stage with his weight. "Sloowwww…" His short fur was pristine, shining with a healthy salmon glow. He wore two silver rings pierced in his right, helix-shaped ear, and despite his heavy entrance, seemed entirely oblivious to the setting.
"Use Surf!"
A rumbling tidal wave started under Slowbro's feet, carrying him leisurely above the stage. Surf's crest then launched Slowbro high above, into the shine of the spotlights.
"Now, use Water Pulse!"
A rapidly growing orb of water appeared below Slowbro, shimmering under the stage's lighting, as if it were a self-contained pool on a bright summer day.
Gravity brought down Slowbro, soon after. He landed on the Water Pulse belly-first, making the orb squish and distort to cushion his fall. Water Pulse returned to its original shape, bouncing Slowbro back up. He flipped carelessly through the air, landing on his rear before bouncing again.
"Look at Slowbro go! He's bouncing on that Water Pulse without a care in the world! How cute!"
Water Pulse sustained several more bounces, before Slowbro carelessly landed with the spiked end of Shellder jabbing into its surface. It popped and collapsed, leaving Slowbro to fall right through.
The audience gasped in worry. But, they had nothing to fear; Slowbro landed on his feet unharmed. Water Pulse's broken structure caved in afterward, and Slowbro was doused in the shower from above.
Despite it all, the Water/Psychic-type looked completely at ease; like he was clueless that anything had happened to him at all!
The mist showering him was highlighted by the spotlights about the stage, miraculously forming a rainbow that arched over the Pokémon's head.
Slowbro yawned loudly, completing the scene.
"How cute! Slowbro completed what looked like a total misfire of an appeal, and came out looking all the more zen for it! I'd say that's a wrap, from the normally loud and destructive Maddox! Let's hear it for these two competitors!"
"W-wow! That appeal was super cute!" Paige cooed, watching the appeal wrap up on the monitor. "Slowbro just didn't have a care in the world!"
"Yeah, it was cute," Dawn agreed. Whatever she thought of Maddox, she couldn't deny talent. "I'm surprised, though."
"Surprised?" Paige tilted her head. "Why, Dawn?"
"It's just, Maddox… His style, as far as I've seen, has been very loud and rowdy. All about 'sticking it to the man,' whatever that means. This feels so… calm."
"Ha, you're a riot, Dawn!" That loud and grating voice shouted in Dawn's ear, before a large hand slapped jovially against her back. Naturally, it was Maddox.
Dawn's face burned red, and she spun around, balling up a fist. "Listen, you-"
"Not having a care in the world is fighting The Man. The rest of the world doesn't matter to Slowbro. He just rolls with the punches and lives his way. That's pretty punk. He's just like me."
Dawn wasn't sure which was more sobering; the fact that Maddox was never mad because he was like his Slowbro, or the fact that he had a very good point. He was showing authenticity, beyond all preconceived expectations of him, and it worked. His Pokémon was shown for who they were.
She dropped her hands, and sighed. 'I hope I can manage to show mine off the same way…'
"Up last, but definitely not least, is Dawn! Please make your way to the stage!"
"...Well, looks like it's my turn," Dawn said, holding her Poké Ball.
"Good luck, Dawn!" Paige said.
"Let's see what you're made of!" Maddox cheered.
Dawn had started walking, and paused momentarily before continuing on. "...Right. Thanks!"
"Now, it's Dawn from Twinleaf Town, who's fresh out of winning the second annual Wallace Cup in a row! Let's see what she has to offer us, today!"
Dawn was halfway into running onto the stage when she was announced. She winced at the fanfare that she'd normally bask in. 'Did you have to make such a big deal of it!?' Frowning, she shook off her doubts, and spun, slinging her Poké Ball into the air. "Clefairy, spotlight!"
The spinning capsule opened at the latch, calling Clefairy directly into the stage's literal spotlights. "Clefairy~!" Clefairy struck a jubilant pose. Though Dawn couldn't see it, Clefairy's expression was that of a service worker's smile; visibly present, but only skin-deep.
"Use Magical Leaf!"
A bouquet of glimmering, emerald leaves popped into existence before Clefairy, and wide gestures of her arms tossed them to the air all about her. Highlighting her pristine pink fur with a green glow before scattering about.
"Now," continued, waving a palm towards the floor, "use Gravity!"
"Cleee-fairy!" Clefairy raised her little claws, and a pink, mysterious aura surrounded her. Like Dawn, she gestured her paws towards the floor. A mysterious force washed over the stage, and enacted the move's namesake. Every shimmering leaf fell to blanket the arena in its glow.
"It looks like Clefairy's standing in her very own flower bed! How cute!"
Parts of the audience cooed at the sight. It wasn't particularly loud, or full of awe like her last few appeals had been, Dawn thought, and Lilian's descriptors weren't the most outstanding. Her pride suffered, but she felt safer for it. It was time to wrap this up.
"Alright, Clefairy! Meteor Mash!" Dawn cried.
Clefairy held up her right paw, coating it in a lustrous combination of silver and cyan. The power of the stars was within her grasp; the one bit of consolation for her, in today's appeal. Fluttering her wings, she did her best to spring off the ground, despite the gravity. It only pushed her several feet off, but that was enough.
She came down, and punched the very center of the stage. Cosmic forces collided with the earth, and sent a ripple through the bed of Magical Leaf, not unlike water's surface being disrupted by a splash. Shimmering sparkles rolled along the stage, and little colored star bits bounced off in every direction.
"Wow! It's as if Clefairy brought the starry skies, right down to the stage!"
With their appeal executed, Dawn and Clefairy bowed.
"Let's give a big hand to Dawn and Clefairy, for their dazzling show!"
"Well, that was solid! Dawn's sure to move on to the next round, now," Ash cheered from the stands. He was happy for his girlfriend, but his smile was fleeting. "But, still…"
"Pika-Pika," Pikachu replied.
"Yeah. Dawn looked all-business about it, like she wasn't having fun. And, Clefairy… Maybe it's because we know her, but I hope the judges didn't notice."
The tiny fairy had moved skillfully, but without… oomph? Passion? He knew for a fact that she wasn't terribly interested in the appeal. "Clefairy… I feel bad for her. I hope she gets the chance to show off the way she wants to. Especially after how much she's helped Empoleon."
"Pika-chu."
"Thanks for your patience, everyone! Our judges have decided who will advance to the battle rounds! Please turn your eyes to the closest display screen, and you'll see our competitors!"
Lilian's narration, heard throughout the Contest Hall, was followed by a bracket of eight appearing on all available screens. In the first bracket was Maddox, and immediately after him, Dawn!
"In the first round!?" Dawn exclaimed.
"Haha, alright!" Maddox laughed, shooting the girl a grin. "Don't hold back on me, Dawn."
"Please," Dawn smirked. "I never hold back."
In the background, Paige celebrated, as she was placed in the final bracket.
"Allllright, everyone! We're opening up the battle rounds with a very strong start, with Dawn pitted up against Maddox! These two fought once before, in the recent Fuschia City Contest, where Dawn pulled out a tight win! Will Maddox even the score, today…? There's only one way to find out! So let's get busy~!"
"Pachirisu, spotlight!" Dawn cried, slinging her Poké Ball forth.
"Chi-pah~!" Pachirisu cried happily, landing opposite of Maddox.
"Raticate, let's rumble!" Maddox slung his Poké Ball, calling a large and ferocious Raticate.
"Rrrraticate!"
"A Raticate… Alright, Pachirisu! Use Super Fang!" Dawn ordered.
Pachirisu sprinted towards Raticate, lunging at her foe with great haste. Her two incisors began to glow, and grew several times their normal size; ready to chomp down.
"Hyper Fang!" Maddox countered.
Raticate closed the distance to Pachirisu, and his very own pair of chompers got a shimmering upgrade. His Hyper Fang smashed into Super Fang; the sound was as if two blades had just clashed together, and the imagery was just the same!
Reaching an impasse, both Pachirisu and Raticate backed off. Dawn and Maddox's points suffered a slight drop.
"Use Flame Wheel, Raticate!" Maddox called.
Raticate wrapped himself up into a pinwheel of flames, blazing a path towards Pachirisu.
"If you're using Flame Wheel… Pachirisu! Let's show off our Rolling Spark!"
"Chi!" Pachirisu dashed forth, alit with her usual buzz of blue electricity. Subsequently, she tucked her entire body into her tail, forming a spinning, spiked wheel that mirrored Raticate's Flame Wheel.
"Pachirisu imitates that Flame Wheel with her very own dubbed 'Rolling Spark!' Let's see how they stack up!"
Raticate raced straightforwardly, while Pachirisu executed several cutesy bounces on the stage floor. The two wheels collided, grinding and bashing against one another in a show that sent sparks and embers flying about. Each pushed for dominance, before disengaging again.
"Wow! Raticate and Pachirisu are meeting each other, note for note, blow for blow! This is a rowdy rabble between rodents, everyone! What will come next?"
Pachirisu slid back towards Dawn, shaking the sparks and embers off. "Pah!"
Dawn's eyes darted to the scoreboard, where hers and Maddox's points hadn't dropped much. They seemed to be even, after two stalemates.
"Alright! Look at them, fighting it out! I love it!" Maddox laughed, with his hands on his hips. "Let's see if Pachirisu's got more fight in 'er, Raticate. Use Swagger!"
Raticate answered by snarling at Pachirisu, turning his chin up at her, as a furious red aura surrounded him. Glaring down at the punier Squirrel, he goaded her on with a motion of his paw before laughing. Did she really think she stood a chance, at her puny stature!?
Pachirisu was an expert at not having a care in the world. Unfortunately, that didn't translate to the magical mechanics of Pokémon moves, and she was successfully provoked. Steaming red, she kicked her little feet and squeaked at Raticate. She said in some very rapidly paced, and no uncertain terms that she'd give him a nasty shock and then some!
"Oh, no…!" Dawn exclaimed, as she recalled the effects of Swagger, as Flint had described them, when Ash was battling Brock.
'Swagger is a really nasty maneuver. It provokes a Pokémon into a fit of rage, raising their attack power, but it confuses them, too. They may be stronger, but it makes them all the more likely to hurt themselves!'
"Oooh, and Pachirisu is now confused, thanks to Swagger! Raticate sure looks cool, provoking her, too!"
Meanwhile, Dawn's points took a small hit.
"We can't afford to just sit here," Dawn muttered. "Pachirisu! Super Fang!"
Pachirisu's fangs once again sharpened to perfection, and gnawed… on the arena floor. Pachirisu was angrily chomping down on the stage underneath her, blindly taking out her frustrations. The audience began to laugh at the display.
"Oh… ahaha… oh, oh my! Paha-chirisu is… Certainly having a moment!" Lilian narrated, doing her best to keep her professional composure.
Dawn slapped a hand over her face, which was red-hot with embarrassment. "Oh, Pachirisu…!"
Dawn's points dropped to three quarters full.
"Man, I was hoping for a good fight," Maddox complained. Then, he shrugged. "Let's win this, Raticate! Use Sludge Bomb!"
Raticate spat a machine gun volley of explosive muck towards Pachirisu.
'She's confused… but if she'll chew away at anything, maybe she'll still listen to her instincts!'
Dawn thought to herself, and banked on her hypothesis. "Pachirisu! Run!"
Dawn's gamble was right on the money; Pachirisu immediately began to dash about. Even her movements were erratic, it made it all the more difficult for Raticate to snipe her. A majority of the explosive sludge was avoided. But unfortunately, one less bomb hit Pachirisu, sending her tumbling.
"Pachirisu!" Dawn exclaimed. "Are you alright!?"
Pachirisu's snow white and baby blue fur was dirtied, but she quickly collected herself, standing and shaking her head. "Pa-chi-ri!" She was of a sound mind, again!
"It seems Pachirisu is free of her confusion, but not after suffering a Sludge Bomb! She and Dawn are quite lucky for her quick-footed tendencies!"
Dawn watched her points hit two thirds, grimacing. "If they're going to give us that power, we might as well use it… Pachirisu! Rolling Spark!"
"That's more like it!" Maddox replied. "Use Flame Wheel!"
Once again, the two rodents rolled and crashed into one another. This time around, though, sparks were kicking up wildly under Raticate; he was starting to lose ground against Pachirisu's Rolling Spark.
"That Swagger seems to be paying off for Dawn, after all that trouble! Pachirisu is overpowering Raticate!"
'Now's our chance,' Dawn thought to herself, beaming. It was time to show off a new combination she'd been polishing. "Pachirisu! Add in your Sweet Kiss!"
The rolling orb of blue lightning started to emanate flashes of pink. Bouncy, static-bound hearts escaped the clash, floating through the air before popping into pink and blue shimmers. But, the little lightshow wasn't all.
Pachirisu's combination overwhelmed Raticate, smashing into him, electrifying him, and throwing him on his back. She flipped backwards towards Dawn, landing to strike a cute pose.
"What a beautiful use of Sweet Kiss, in that Spark combination! Dawn showed some serious power and glam… oh, and what's this!? Raticate also seems to be confused!"
Raticate's fur was singed, and he'd just been toppled, but he was back on his feet… barely. Red in the face and hearts in his eyes, he stumbled about drunkenly. "Raaha… cate~!"
"It must be the effect of that Sweet Kiss! Dawn does what she does best, and wraps function into form!" Lilian narrated, as the punk's bar was now half-empty.
Dawn smiled to herself. With Raticate immobile, this was her chance. She threw a hand excitedly to the air, wrapped up in the moment. "Pachirisu! Use Thunder!"
"Pah-chiiii~!" Pachirisu tensed, and pressed her tiny paws to her cheek pouches. Summoning her mightiest charge, she shot a blue pillar of lightning towards the ceiling. It arched over, sending wild, nasty lightning bolts to strike at the stage. Among them all, its greatest prong found an off-guard target: Raticate.
"Alright! There it is!" Ash exclaimed, slapping his hands down on his knees in excitement. "I was wondering when she'd bust Thunder out, after training for it!
"Pika-Pikachu~!" Pikachu cheered, hopping up and down in Ash's lap with joy. After putting time towards helping Pachirisu master the move, he couldn't help but feel pride! What an execution!
"With Raticate confused… she must've used Sweet Kiss, planning for that, all along!"
"Ooooh, a nasty Thunder attack! A powerhouse move like that is a first, from Dawn's Pachirisu! And our Sinnoh starlet saved it for the perfect moment!" As Lilian narrated, Maddox's points sank down to a third of the way full.
Meanwhile, Raticate groaned, sitting back up. Suddenly, he recoiled, and electricity danced over his coarse fur. He cried in irritation; he was suddenly numb!
"And, to make matters worse, Raticate is paralyzed! Is it all over for Maddox, today!?"
"Is it all over!?" Madox echoed Lilian's sentiments, with a twitch of his brow. "You're saying a lot, counting my pal Raticate out. We're just going to fight back, even harder!"
It was the first time she'd seen Maddox legitimately irritated since speaking to Glenda, Dawn thought. He sure had very specific set-offs… But then, so did she. Moreover, she was beginning to see what he was testifying to.
Raticate, despite his paralysis, looked furious. Overpowering, angry red emanated from his entire form, while he screeched angrily to the heavens. With his body in poor condition, his power surged.
Dawn gasped. "No way! That's…!"
"Oooh, it looks like Raticate has activated Guts! Pachirisu's Thunder put him in a bad way, but he very well may be back with a vengeance! With just two minutes left on the clock, it's anyone's guess who will win this battle!"
Raticate's intimidating show of his ability knocked Dawn's points down to half.
"Use Super Fang!"
"Hyper Fang!"
Pachirisu and Raticate charged and lunged at one another, gnashing their sharpened teeth violently. Pachirisu pressed her momentum into Raticate, having the speed advantage from Raticate's paralysis. But, she just couldn't quite parry his incisors.
Red furry bubbled around Raticate. His Guts showed their worth, and he chomped down on Pachirisu, striking her down.
Dawn gasped in worry. "Pachirisu!"
"That Guts has made the difference! Swagger gave Pachirisu a slight edge, at first, but Raticate's power and mass have put Maddox back in the driver's seat! But… Oh! Upon a second glance, neither of these Pokémon are looking too good, folks! It's a drag-out battle, with a minute and a half on the clock!"
Lilian had been right, Dawn noticed; both Pachirisu and Raticate were scuffed up and breathing heavily. Furthermore, hers and Maddox's points were resting about even, around a third full.
'There's no time left, and they're both worn out… We can't risk just overpowering them. We need to settle this decisively.' Dawn thought to herself, before the bulb went off. "Pachirisu! Sweet Kiss!"
"Chi… chi-chi-chi~!" Pachirisu held her paws over her mouth, and blew several kisses at Raticate. Pink hearts fluttered towards him, aiming to lull him into a state of confusion.
"That's not gonna happen a second time, Dawn!" Maddox shouted back. "Sludge Bomb!"
Raticate was stiff and sluggish to move, but a projectile attack didn't require that much movement. He pelted the coming hearts with purple sludge, stopping them in their tracks.
The sludge even coated the bouncing hearts, recoloring them with an oozing, eerie purple!
"Oh, radical! Raticate put a stop to that Sweet Kiss, and gave it his own cool coat of paint! I've never seen a combination like this, before!"
Dawn grit her teeth, as her points fell into a margin that could easily be chipped off with one more mistake. 'I can't say I saw that coming… There's got to be an out! Super Fang, Sweet Kiss, Spark… Thunder!' The girl's blue hues widened. She could see the play unfolding before her mind's eye.
"Pachirisu! Thunder!"
Upon Dawn's command, Pachirisu unleashed a pillar of lightning towards the ceiling that she only wielded with so much control. The attack wasn't aimed squarely at Raticate, but it didn't need to be. Lightning bolts struck away at the stage, scorching several spots before Dawn's plan came to fruition.
Thunder struck the poison-coated hearts, igniting deafening explosions, one after another. Raticate was caught in the crossfire of a loud, and explosive finisher; Maddox couldn't even be heard over the commotion.
When the dust settled, Maddox was out of points. Subsequently, Raticate was laid out on its back.
"Wow, wow, WOW! Raticate is unable to battle, and Maddox is fresh out of points! Meaning the victor of this round is Dawn!"
Dawn smirked. She had her victory plan. As soon as Maddox gave her an opening, she'd light this… field… up. The whole thought, actually, gave her a very uncomfortable reminder.
"Hey, hey… I think you might even be topping me in the pyro… Er… Pyrotechnics department… You're ah… real ruthless for a hero… "
Dawn stood like a Stantler in headlights. 'Battling with poison and explosives like that…What if they hear about it!? What if Ash and I end up in danger because I'm battling like Team Rocket!?"
Maddox gave her no more time to linger in her thoughts. "What're you waiting for, Dawn? Let's finish this!" The punk punched forward. "Raticate! Flame Wheel!"
Raticate fought past his paralysis, and scorched the floor before him.
"Pachirisu…!" Dawn raised a hand. It was trembling. "...Use Spark!"
Pachirisu didn't question her trainer, and charged. Highlighted by blue, she met furious red and orange. Electricity and fire collided, duking it out, until…!
Ding!
"That's a wrap! We are out of time! Now, let's take a look at what our judges have to say…!" Lilian drew out, building anticipation for the consensus on the large screen. Pachirisu and Raticate disengaged, turning their eyes, as well, to the results.
Dawn and Maddox's points looked practically even. One would have to squint… But, Dawn's face shrunk and slid off the screen, while Maddox's took over with just a sliver of his points left.
"...It looks like Maddox is the winner!"
While the crowd's cheers rang, Dawn couldn't help but notice that they sounded just a bit anticlimactic. As she recalled Pachirisu, she wasn't sure if that made her feel more frustrated, or less alone. Uncharacteristically, she didn't even think to address her opponent, as she returned to the Contest Hall's corridors.
"...Now let's gear up for our next match, and hope it's just as exciting!"
Frustration bubbled under her steps, that sounded so loud. Her pride hassled her for essentially throwing a battle, while her better judgment knew she'd had a good reason. She wouldn't judge herself for feeling angry; she had the right. She'd just quietly fume, because making a little too much noise had gotten her in this situation in the first place.
"Hey, sister. The hell happened, out there?"
Dawn didn't feel a big, calloused palm on her back, this time. She only heard Maddox's voice, and winced. "...You won, that's what. It happens, right?" Dawn turned around, folding her arms over her chest. "Besides, it was pretty close." That was how she justified it to herself.
She expected his raucous laughter, and for his words to brush right off his shoulders, like his Slowbro's Water Pulse. But, that oblivious, dare she say charm of his, was entirely absent. He just looked unimpressed.
"Don't give me that crap, dude. You held back. You got a fire in your eyes any other time I look at you. Today, right at the end? They were empty." The wideset teenager shook his head. "Not coming at me swinging, when you could've? That is not punk."
Dawn clutched a hand over her torso. His words had been like a visceral blow, when she was already down. She wanted to show him that fire, and scream his head off. To tell her what was really bothering her. That she'd been handicapped. But, god forbid he figure out what she'd really been up to that night, and shout it from the rooftops…
Dawn did what she hated most. She grinned and bore it. "Guess it was… just an off day…! Ehe-heh!"
"Yeah, whatever, man." Maddox frowned, and walked on, forcing Dawn to step aside.
She watched her rival leave, and sighed heavily.
"There you go, Dawn. Pachirisu is fighting fit!" Nurse Joy chimed, as if reading off a script. A single Poké Ball sat in the tray on the countertop.
"Thank you, Nurse Joy." Dawn took the ball, and tapped the button in the center.
Pachirisu spawned in a flash of light, standing on Dawn's arm. The Elesquirrel seemed to notice Dawn's somber mood, and tilted her head. "Pah?"
"Hey, Pachirisu… I'm real sorry we lost. I know I screwed it up for both of us."
"Chi…" Pachirisu hummed. She sounded disappointed, if only for a moment. Immediately afterward, she took to running circles around Dawn's shoulders. "Chi-chi-chi-chi~!"
"It seems that Pachirisu isn't terribly bothered," Joy observed.
Dawn winced. After the past few days of odd looks the nurse had given she and Ash, she felt awfully paranoid around her. But, she was right. "...Yeah. That's my Pachirisu," she laughed nervously.
"Ring-ring-ring! Phone call! Phone call! Ring-ring-ring! Ring-ring-ring!"
That awfully annoying chime interrupted the conversation, coming from the video phones on the other end of the room. One of the screens was requesting a call.
"...Oh! I'll get it!" Dawn volunteered, happy to take any opportunity to slip away from this Nurse Joy. "Don't bother abandoning your station, ehehe!" Dawn waved her off, running to the video phone. Surely, whoever they planned to reach was somewhere around here, and if it were for Nurse Joy, she'd just leave her to it…
Dawn tapped the 'accept call' button, and it caught her completely by surprise. "Mom!?"
"Hello, Dawn." Johanna's face appeared on the monitor. Behind her, their very own living room.
Dawn pushed back her nostalgia, and focused on her mother's tone. She sounded less than thrilled. "...Hey, so. I guess you saw the Contest, huh?"
"I'm afraid I did," Johanna replied. "It's a shame, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it… stinks, but Mom," Dawn replied, frowning, "why did you call? You said yourself that I should rely on my friends when I run into trouble. It's just a loss!"
"That may be true," Johanna acquiesced, "and you should be able to climb the hill of disappointment on your own merits. But, I can't help but feel… worried. You didn't just lose. The expression on your face… wasn't ordinary."
Dawn flinched. "You could see that through the television!?"
"I am your mother, you know," Johanna teased. Her smile looked less-than-convincing.
"Aw, Mom… There's no need to…" Dawn stopped mid-sentence, and sighed. She was in a rut. She felt lost, and frustrated. Least of all about this Contest, but the events of several nights prior. She wondered if her mother had seen the news, yet. Surely she had…?
"...Alright. There is a need to worry," she admitted. Looking back to Nurse Joy, she swallowed heavily. How would she possibly talk about this, without outing herself!? She was on a public phone, with their greatest worry (at the moment) almost within earshot.
"Perhaps you'd like to tell me how this Contest made you feel?" Johanna prompted. Now, Dawn couldn't be sure, but she had a strong feeling that Johanna knew. She was framing the conversation in a way that she could talk about it, at least somewhat freely.
Dawn really did love her mom.
"...Yeah. Right. I feel like… I've gotten myself into trouble with my rivals, lately. They've really been on my case and giving me a hard time. So, I, well… Stood up to them! Gave them what for. Which I don't regret, but… I know they have their eyes on me, and they'll be gunning to defeat me harder than ever. So I guess it got into my head today, and I didn't want to show my hand… Not to let them know what they'll be… up against…?
Dawn cringed internally at this whole metaphor. This sounded like the stupid worries she was having before the Wallace Cup! And, half of it didn't really make any sense… How were you supposed to talk about dealing with a criminal organization in Contest terms!?
"I see, I see… I think I understand, dear." Johanna sipped from a cup of tea to collect her thoughts. Her brows knit upwards in a show of worry that Dawn rarely saw. She was troubled. But, as tactful as ever, she held her cards close. "Well, in my opinion, Dawn, you should stay true to yourself. I've known you your entire life. You're a hothead. I never could stop you from jumping into fights with your rivals, no matter the circumstance. It'd be a fool's errand to try."
Johanna sighed, and took another sip from her drink to collect herself. Being a mother required a lot of strength. "Do what your artist's heart suggests, and all you can do is be mindful of the cards you show on the Contest Stage, and how it affects your Pokémon." Finally, she managed a smile. "Do you understand, Dawn?"
"...Yeah." Dawn smiled back, albeit weakly. "I think I do. Thank you, Mom."
"Good," Johanna replied. "Do you have any plans for what you'll do next?"
"Yeah. We'll be heading to Viridian City now, for Ash's final Gym Battle."
"That sounds wonderful. Do send Ash my good wishes for that, won't you?"
"I will. Goodbye, Mom!"
"Goodbye, Dawn." Johanna said, and the line cut off.
Dawn sighed, leaning against the barrier between that video screen and the next. Then, she blinked twice. "...Oh, crud, I forgot to even tell her about me and Ash!"
"What about me and you?"
Dawn yelped, startled, and spun around. Ash, Pikachu, and Rosa now stood in front of her. "Sheesh, Ash… Don't go scaring me like that!"
"Aha, sorry!" Ash apologized, rubbing his neck with a sheepish smile. "...Hey, it looks like the finals are about wrapping up, now." He directed his attention to the monitor in the lobby.
Maddox's Slowbro was up against Paige's Pikachu. Even her Thunderbolt seemed to only tickle him, but a potent Water Pulse laid the poor Electric Mouse out flat. The round ended in the punk's favor.
"So, he won…" Dawn clenched a fist.
Ash frowned. "You alright, Dawn?"
"...Yeah! No need to worry," she replied.
"Now, you know that's when I worry the most."
Dawn properly cracked a smirk, shoving Ash's shoulder. "I think that's quite enough focusing on me."
"For a change," Ash tacked on.
"Anyway, mister," Dawn hissed, and pushed him towards the sliding glass door at the Pokémon Center's entrance. "It's about time you took the spotlight, for your battle!"
"Hah, you're right!" Ash caught his footing, and grinned. If Dawn had brushed off this mishap, he certainly could, too. He reached for the brim of his cap, adjusting it. It was time to show his strength… No. To polish it, and become even stronger. "It's about time to show you guys, and myself, that I've got what it takes… When I win at the Viridian City Gym!"
Meanwhile, at Rocket HQ…
Jessie, James, and Meowth walked with a spring in their step. Excitement and anxiety made every one of them move with the utmost haste across the premises, from their very own office to Giovanni's abode.
Even the dirty looks from Ariana and Proton couldn't distract them, though they had noticed that Archer was awfully absent since the big mission. Rumors circulated about one of the Twerps' Pokémon bruising his ribs, but the toothpaste-haired Executive had refused to tell anyone which one it'd been, for some reason.
"I wonder what the Boss wants with us," James thought aloud, cupping his chin with his thumb.
"Ya t'ink he wants t' take the recent failure out on us?" Meowth asked, shuddering afterward.
"Eep! I sure hope not… Good things never come of being under his ire," James squeaked.
"Would you two shut up!?" Jessie snapped. "That kind of pessimism is exactly what kept us at the bottom of the pecking order for so many years…Remember, we weren't the ones who screwed up. If anything, he must have realized that we're overall the most reliable!"
"Ya know, when ya put it like dat, y'got a point, Jess." Meowth agreed, grinning. "Maybe he's got good t'ings in store for us, for holding up the front lines!"
"Oooh~! A bonus, maybe?" James giddily speculated.
"Ah, I can see it now…" Meowth sighed, drifting off into one of his patented Boss Fantasies… before Jessie snatched him by the ear. "Meeeeowth! What's your problem!?"
"Daydream later," Jessie hushed, "business now."
They were now outside Giovanni's grand double doors, settling the argument in Jessie's favor.
James took a deep breath, and parted the double doors. As usual, the team leader's room was starkly dark, with the exception of blank, static-peppered screens flashing behind his luxury chair. He stepped inside, and flinched at the loud 'slam' of the doors shutting behind them.
Jessie, James, and Meowth awaited their boss's lead. For what felt like a painfully long time, though, they endured silence, beyond the rapping of Giovanni's fingertips along the arm of his chair.
"...Ahem," James coughed meekly, "sir, have you considered a change in ambience for this room? They say that long-term exposure to this sort of lighting can be bad for your eyesight-"
"You three," Giovanni spoke over him.
James quickly shut up.
The giant of a man stood, his arms still folded behind his back, which faced them. "As much as it pains me to admit it… You've been remarkably successful as of late. My wager investing in you seems to have been a wise decision. For all the blunders that occurred under Augmented Rocket… It's astonishing to say that none of them were yours."
Jessie, James, nor Meowth even dared to speak over him. Where was he going with this?
"While we have retrieved some of the rudimentary technology from Silph, we were largely embarrassed. I will be taking some time to orchestrate Team Rocket's next big return to glory. In the meantime, I have little to ask of you… That is, in the grand scheme of things."
The shadowed figure picked up a remote, and clicked several buttons. The many screens behind him lit up with recordings of long hallways, and corridors. "Executive Ariana was competent enough to retrieve a few of the security tapes, before evacuating the Silph Company."
The recordings that played, the trio noticed, all had something in common - all of them featured a rather old friend of theirs.
"It's Pikachu," James muttered, eyes widening.
Pikachu could be seen demolishing Archer's team, one Pokémon at a time, while Ash shouted commands. On another monitor, he fought alone, terrorizing Ariana and a number of grunts.
Finally, there were a few moments of footage where a Nidoqueen crashed through a wall, smashing into the opposite end of a hallway. As she staggered back to her feet, a yellow blur passed her, and launched her back the way she'd come.
"That little pet project of yours," Giovanni hissed, "has been painfully brought to my attention. No longer just a marvel of competitive battling, and defiance of basic evolution… but a tangible problem for Team Rocket."
Jessie, James, and Meowth swallowed heavily.
"...But, while it did embarrass us, I like to believe that every setback comes with its own opportunity, if one knows where to look." Giovanni reached for his desk, and picked up a glass of whiskey. He swirled its contents, and drank from it. "That sort of power withers away in the hands of a foolhardy child. I would like to think… that in different hands, it could be so much greater."
Jessie and James gasped, while Meowth leaned forward with excitement glimmering in his eyes. "You don't mean…!?"
Giovanni turned to face them, grinning. "Your original objective… has come back under consideration."
