CHAPTER 9: The traitor cat

A long time had passed since Emolga joined the group. Oshawott was still happy by having a female to relate, and possibly to get a mate. After that incident with Simisear, Oshawott heard from Axew that Snivy had saved them from being attacked by the giant Pokémon, and that Ash and company went to help them, Oshawott was unconscious all that time. The dragon also told that, it seems, there was a dispute between Iris's Emolga and Ash's Snivy, but everything was solved sharing an apple, for the time being. He swore that there was a very big tension in the air when they are together. He also told some minor details that weren't of much relevance.

Oshawott, after what his partner told, he was a bit intrigued. The fact that Snivy was the first to help them was incredible for him. He hadn't noticed that facet from Snivy before. The water type was a little bit impressed by her. He felt a bit of admiration for his teammate. Maybe she wasn't a bad Pokémon after all.

Emolga also put her part to calm the situation with Simisear. His girl was very brave to face a bigger Pokémon than her. That made him feel more love to her. Axew told that the electric-flying type wanted to escape and left behind her companions. Oshawott didn't want to believe him, she was very good to do that. It may be a lie from a little kid like Axew.

He was also surprised that there was a conflict between Snivy and Emolga. For him, how could have a dispute between the coldest partner of the group and his kind and cute future mate? Well, they helped control Simisear, the otter had to owe them by having saving his skin, but at least they could understand each other sometimes.

He gained more interest for Emolga, because Oshawott hadn't enough courage to flirt with the coldest companion of the group. And about the supposed bad things what the sky squirrel did, he didn't care absolutely. He was going to win her heart no matter what.

Oshawott learned many things during his journey through the Unova region, and had lived many experiences and overcame fears; for example, the one about not knowing what to do when he lost his scalchop, and the fear of not opening his eyes underwater. Every time he became stronger with the passing of time.

After several days, Oshawott noticed that Meowth from Team Rocket had been fired of the organization and was wandering alone through the region. He felt a bit sorry for him, a bit, because the otter hadn't a lot of trust on his words, but anyway, he wanted to believe him. He thought he wasn't going to get into trouble, he hoped.

Ash, Iris, Cilan, along with Meowth were walking calmly in the forest. The cat Pokémon from Team Rocket started to talk about various things, which he was going to help the trainers in all. The problem was they weren't one hundred per cent trusted by his words, he had made a bunch of bad things in the past, but the Pokémon swore that he had turned on a new leaf.

When Meowth was thanking the trainers by giving him the benefit of the doubt, he felt a crash that came from his back that put him on the ground. When he opened his eyes, noticed that it was Pokémon who had trampled him on. One who seemed like a cat, but purple colored, with a feminine voice, and cute and elegant aspect. The Scratch Cat Pokémon fell in love with her completely. Cilan, meanwhile, was scared by seeing that Pokémon. Ash scanned it and realized that it was a Purrloin.

Cilan was still in state of alert. His companions asked him what was wrong with him. It turns out that the cook had a bad experience with a Purrloin before, he didn't want to give more details about what happened.

Meowth asked lovingly to the Devious Pokémon why she had in such a hurry, and she said that she asked desperately for help. The trainers asked to the ex-Team Rocket grunt what Purrloin said, and Meowth told what she said. Cilan had no trust on the purple cat Pokémon, but the creme-colored cat had all his trust on her and he was going to help her with her problem.

In the sky, a flock of Tranquill appeared that was going to attack the trainers. The birds used Gust and they had to stand against the strong winds. Ash took Oshawott out, who was thrown by the wind and lately caught by Ash, and he used Water Gun at the bird Pokémon. He used later his Pikachu to electrocute them, and they left from there.

Everything came back to normal, while Meowth was recovering from a blow with a log that went flying by the wind to his head. He continued saying nice things to Purrloin, and she thanked those lovely compliments. Oshawott wanted to say hello the purple cat Pokémon. Just by her turning around, Oshawott fell madly in love of her like Meowth. In a gentlemanly way and flirty way, he introduced himself, saying that he was a strong and kind Pokémon that helped other in their problems, and that he was going to protect her from anything from that moment on, and other cute and lovely things. All the time he was blushing by her, believing himself to be a gallant. For some reason he forgot completely the existence of Iris's Emolga. It seemed that the otter got a better candidate than her.

Meowth didn't like that he had competition to win Purrloin's heart. He and Oshawott had a little argument for her. They exchanged one or another offensive words. The otter thought: 'No, Purrloin is gonna be mine, not yours, scoundrel cat.' It had never seen Oshawott behaving so jealous with other that wanted the same girl like him. He would do everything to take out his competitor for the purple cat's love.

Afterwards, they went on the banks of a river. There, Purrloin told what happened with the Tranquill, saying that was about to take food that belonged them and they mistook her for a common thief. Cilan didn't believe her anything what the purple cat said, and Ash questioned if she had really stolen the food. That made Oshawott very angry and he used Water Gun at their faces. They fell on their back and a backpack also fell with Sitrus Berries in it. The water type didn't think such a pretty Pokémon could do such cruelty act.

Purrloin was watching the berries that were loose on the ground. Oshawott, meanwhile, apologized to her for his trainer and Cilan's ineptitude. Iris had the same idea for the purple cat Pokémon, she understood why Meowth and Oshawott were charmed by her. That cute tail, those cute oval-shaped eyes. According to her she was a perfect Pokémon to have in her Team, while the gym leader was very disagreed with her.

Iris had the idea of wanting to catch her to raise her. He took out a Poké Ball and threw to her, but the throwing was interrupted when Meowth put in front of her. He received the shot in the head and went inside the Poké Ball. Everyone was scared by the act. The object rocked calmly, until the Scratch Cat Pokémon went out from there, tired of doing too much effort. It was very uncomfortable for him.

Meowth didn't want that his pretty Purrloin was caught by a Poké Ball, because his heart needed her to stay free. He came closer to Purrloin to tell her shyly if she wanted to go out with him, while he held a bouquet, but Oshawott pushed Meowth away and took the flowers to declare his love to the purple cat. The crème-colored cat didn't like that and went towards him to hit him. The bouquet was in the air and fell on Purrloin's paws. She said in a seductive way while they saw her after the fight. "I'm available for you two, handsome lads," and she winked in the end.

That made the otter and the cat faint on their back from deep love in the heart that beats frenetically. Later, Purrloin left with the flowers in her paws to other place, without first saying goodbye to the humans. Leaving the two infatuated Pokémon unconscious on the ground.

After Meowth and Oshawott came back to normal. Purrloin ran towards the trainers desperately. She said that she had a pal who was trapped in a deep and dark cave and she needed help of them. As good gentlemen that they were, they were going to help, but the arguments for the purple cat continued. Ash and Iris also were going to help, except Cilan, who didn't trust Purrloin yet, and said that he was going to wait in the same place. The rest went to the cave to rescue Purrloin's pal.

The path was difficult to cross, they even had to climb a steep cliff. She said that there was a little left to arrive. They arrived the cave and entered, it seemed to be an abandoned mine. The path was dangerous and narrow, so Meowth took Ash's backpack and continued. They were able to reach a very old and abandoned excavation area. Purrloin said that her Pal was trapped down there and they needed to go down through some scaffolds to rescue it, but they had to put the backpack on the ground.

Ash, Iris, Oshawott and Meowth went down through the trembling and dangerous platforms until they noticed that Purrloin wasn't with them. They saw her with the backpack in her possession. She said see you later, and she had the food and had done with Meowth and Oshawott. All this time she had been lying. And she left the place with Ash's backpack with the Sitrus berries.

In a desperate attempt from Meowth to go up, the scaffold collapsed and they fell to the center of the excavation. Everyone fell on the dirt. They were okay, but they didn't know how they are going to go up. Just then, Cilan and a woman arrived who said she is the Purrloin's trainer. Thanks to Meowth's translations, everyone was able to understand what happened to the Pokémon.

Previously, the woman, called Misha, had exited her house for a while and her Pokémon never saw her again, she thought that she had abandoned her for days. The cat noticed that Misha had a bandaged arm by an accident and took many days to come back home, which Purrloin wasn't there. The woman said she was sorry, but the Devious Pokémon didn't believe so much on her words.

Without noticing, Meowth and Oshawott were sinking in the dirt, including Ash and Iris. They were in danger. Cilan took a rope and threw at them and they grabbed it tightly. Misha also wanted to help, even if she had an injured arm. They pulled with force to take them out from there, but the floor that they were collapsed and fell along the others. Purrloin ran quickly towards the exit for something, while the others tooled out Snivy, Excadrill and Pansage so they can pull the rope. Little by little Oshawott and Meowth were sinking completely, until the rope couldn't resist anymore. Everyone got sunk in the dirt. But, fortunately, a flock of Tranquill came to take them out from there. All because Purrloin asked for help to the Tranquill that she stole the food.

When they exited the cave, everybody said thanks the Wild Pigeon Pokémon and Purrloin for saving them, and that she was sorry for thinking that Misha had abandoned her.

Meowth and Oshawott also were grateful for her. The otter didn't know what to said, because the cat with the amulet was stealing his words. It may Purrloin had ticked the Tranquill off before, but everything changed when she asked for help to them. She was a good Pokémon after all. The two of them were charmed by the purple cat. Oshawott, meanwhile, thought what could do. He liked to be with her, although she had an owner. Maybe spend a quick romance with Purrloin. It may be. But seemed that it was a goodbye more than anything else. The better would be confess his love for the female cat and, if he was lucky, and that his trainer allowed it, he could be with her.

Afterwards Meowth asked a little favor to Misha and his Pokémon, with a leg on the ground and a bouquet, he said: "Come on, baby, don't say maybe! Please go on a date with me and make me a happy Pokémon!" Oshawott also proposed to her, with a bouquet as well, saying as the opposed to what Meowth said: "No, go out with me, please!" Purrloin was observing the flowers of the lovers, until she finally said happily: "I'm sorry."

The two were very doubtful, what did she mean with "I'm sorry"? And later Misha cleared the thing. She said: "You see, Purrloin is a guy."

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(Seconds of silence)

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AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! ! !

Meowth and Oshawott were completely shocked. Just then, Purrloin said also happily: "I'm sorry, guys." The two couldn't believe it, all this time they were flirting with a male Purrloin. How couldn't they notice before? They said to themselves: "Well… it was too perfect to be real." They hadn't other option than settling for leaving with empty paws.

And so, ended a tale an unrequired love for both Meowth and Oshawott with a male Purrloin. The otter was really embarrassed by all what he had live in that moment. 'It was too perfect to be real,' he had that phrase stuck in his mind. He felt a little bit disappointed for not getting a mate that day. Maybe he could win another female's heart later, or giving another chance to Iris's Emolga. Who knows? Just time will tell.