SZ: Welp...we've had this chapter coming for quite a while now
GT: Indeed. It's a twist on a classic. So we hope you all enjoy!
SZ: Indeed! As usual we don't own jack squat aside from original content so let us begin!
Entry 044: Hiya! Makoto Nanaya back on track! So last time, we were taking a small break on our way to the next town to do a bit of light training and some more bonding with all our Pokemon. I don't know how Honey learned Rock Smash, but I love it!
Ahem...anyways, while we were resting and the boys were getting some water, we had a visit from a Farfetch'd that led Misty away since she wanted to catch it for some reason. However...while we were distracted, we got robbed blind! Our bags with our Pokemon in it were switched with bags full of rocks! Oh-hoh-hoh~! That thief was so gonna get it from me and Misty! ...At least...he was before this guy called Taron and his Galarian Pokemon Sirfetch'd got to him first. ...Farfetch'd and Sirfetch'd...Just...Sometimes, I just don't get Pokemon names, ya know? *hears something* Okay, okay! Moving on. Ok..so turns out the thief, who we learned is named Keith, resorted to stealing Pokemon from other Trainers because he thought his Farfetch'd was too weak…and he started a week ago. *sound of hand meeting face* Oi vey, the headache I got from that.
Yeah...apparently, calling this attack called Fury Cutter 'weak' is a bit of a sore spot for Farfetch'd and I gotta admit that while weak at first, seeing it cut through a rock was pretty neat. 'Course, we also got to see a battle between Farfetch'd and Taron's Corviknight after Sirfetch'd apparently insulted Keith's honor. And Corviknight...was a really big armored raven Pokemon..and hoo boy! Talk about a freakin' tank as it took a lot of Farfetch'd's Fury Attack and Fury Cutter combos, even with the critical hits he got in! Alas...he went down hard after some heavy Brave Bird Attacks from Corviknight….least Keith learned not to underestimate his own Pokemon and make sure he doesn't steal again….right after me and Misty gave him a boot to the head after he tried to pull that same trick on Misty again! After that, we finally got to a town and Taron, after we got our Pokemon healed up at the Center, took us to this old guy and his Abra that can Teleport all over Kanto. But, uh...yeah...one issue. Ya see, this old guy? He's old. And he's hard of hearing, apparently. Because when we said 'Cinnabar,' he heard…
"Cinnamon Town…" Makoto groaned, her face pressed down on the table of the Pokemon Center, "He heard 'Cinnamon' instead of 'Cinnabar.' And that last Teleport was the last one his Abra can do for a week..."
"It feels like our luck happens like this, huh?" Brock chuckled.
"True…" Tsubaki sighed as she was currently polishing the Egg she had received from Bill while Soren sniffed at it before panting happily.
"It does give us a chance to see some more sights, though," Mai noted, polishing her own Egg she had found in the canyon as her Shinx watched in curiosity.
"...Hey. When do you think those eggs are gonna hatch?" Ash asked out of curiosity.
"Hopefully any day now," Tsubaki replied, "We've made sure they've stayed safe, and nice and warm."
"You sleep with the eggs?" Misty deadpanned.
"What?" Mai blinked, "Uh...no. We just make sure to keep them wrapped up and secured so they don't fall over. That and both Raiden and Soren have been keeping a close eye on them."
"Shinx," Raiden mewled while Soren panted happily.
"...Ano, we know that Tsubaki's egg is gonna hatch into a Dratini, but…" Noel began as she and Yuki looked at the egg Mai was holding, "What Pokemon is gonna hatch from that one?"
"No clue," Brock replied, "For all we know, that egg was underground for as long as those Prehistoric Pokemon were. It may be a Kabuto, Omanyte, or even an Aerodactly." Mai's Pokemon all glowered at him, "...Maybe not an Aerodactyl?" they all nodded as they resumed watching the egg polishing.
"Oh! What if it's a really rare ancient species of Lapras!" Misty suggested, "Or even a Tentacruel!"
"That's impossible," Kajun spoke, pausing from reading her notes with Hikari and the Slowpoke she caught back at the Safari Zone, "Tentacruel is the final stage of Tentacool, so if anything it would be a Tentacool Misty...though…" she went back to her notes and began to write something down, "If it is a rare ancient species of Lapras…"
"Zor!" a paper folding fan whapped Kajun on the forehead before it turned into her Zorua, pointing a scolding paw at her, "Zor-Zoru-ua-Zor-ua-rua!"
"Oh thank you, Houdini," Makoto sighed in relief, the group unaware that they were being spied on by a certain Rocket trio.
"Ya heard dat? Dey're hatchin' a new Pokemon," Meowth quietly smirked as he, Jessie, and James slipped into the back.
"It could be a Dragonair!" James exclaimed.
"Or an Aerodactyl! Oh! Or a Miltoic or even a Legendary Pokemon!" Jessie added.
"Wouldn't it be a Dratini if it were a Dragonair's egg?" Meowth asked.
"Oh right...the Justice-loving Twerpette has that one if we heard right….still two really rare Dragon Pokemon wouldn't hurt!" James beamed...before pouting a bit, "Though we haven't' even succeeded in capturing Pikachu from those kids."
"Or any Pokemon dey got," Meowth noted, "We've managed ta get lucky in gettin' Ariados when dey didn't catch him, then all dose Beedrill and dat chunk of Moon Stone...but when it comes to gettin' da Twoips' Pokemon? Zip. Nada."
"But that changes today!" Jessie declared, "I have a plan to steal those eggs off of the two Twerpettes, one that is guaranteed to succeed!"
"So anything about a port town we can take to Cinnabar, or are we gonna have to take a plane there?" Makoto asked as the group was leaving the Pokemon Center.
"Hmm...I think the next town has a…" Brock began as he looked at a map.
"Hold," Mai spoke as she grabbed the map and turned it rightside up.
"Oh, that's better. Thanks," Brock thanked, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head, "Okay good. The next town has a boat we can take to Cinnabar, and it'll only take a day t-"
"Hello, everybody!" the group looked up to see a pair of women in polka dresses standing before them, kicking their legs up into the air, "We kick up our legz zo you can buy zome eggz!"
"..."
"Um...eggs?" Ash repeated, tilting his head.
"What...kind of Pokemon Eggs are they?" Misty asked.
"Why not try to hatch zem und find out?" the first woman asked.
"Buy zome? Please please please!" the second begged.
"Uh...no thanks. We already have two of our own," Mai muttered.
"Ohh! Can ve see it?!" the two women begged, "Please?!"
"We vill be sure t-"
"Question; Do you legit think we're idiots?" Makoto asked with a deadpanned look on her face.
"Eh?"
"This schtick is getting predictable," Makoto muttered.
"Makoto? What are you talking about?" Brock asked.
"Watch…." Makoto began as she took a deep breath, "Hag."
"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME, YOU COSPLAY LOVI-!?" Jessie began in her screech, losing the hat covering her eyes in the process, "..."
"Ack! Team Rocket!" Ash yelped, jumping back as Pikachu growled as his cheeks began to spark.
"...Jessie why?" James groaned once he dropped his disguise.
"...Screw it. Going with plan B!" Jessie shouted as she tossed the baskets of eggs she and James were carrying high into the air.
"What are y-" Mai began before she and Tsubaki yelped, suddenly tripping on something as they ended up dropping their eggs, "Ahh!"
"Prepare for Trouble!" Jessie began as she and James threw their dress disguises off.
"Make it Double!" James added.
"To prot-"
"NO!" Kajun snapped, making the two flinch, "None of that! Shame on both of you for even using that again!"
"Oh come on! What is wrong with our motto?" Jessie demanded.
"Yeah. We spent months working on making it," James added.
"For one, it contradicts what you're trying to accomplish. Second o-"
"Kajun not now!" Makoto shouted as she and the others began to search through the scattered Eggs, "Just...come help us find Mai and Tsubaki's eggs!"
"Oh...ahem. Right then…"
"Hey! Answer our question fi-and they're ignoring us…" Jessie groaned once Kajun joined the others.
"Rude…" James added before glancing at a waving Meowth sitting on Ariados with the eggs, "Well, if that's how they feel, we're out."
"Hmph," Jessie huffed as they ran off, leaving the group looking around the eggs.
"Was this one part of the two?" Misty pondered as she picked up a white egg with red and blue dots...before it 'hatched' and hit her in the face with a tiny pie on a spring, "..."
"All she needs is a flute and she'll be the pied piper," Makoto snickered as she picked up a white and blue egg with stars printed on it...before it blew up in her face, leaving it covered in soot and her hair and ears pointing backwards, "...ugh…"
Soren whimpered as he sniffed at the eggs as Raiden looked around. The two bumped into the other, making Raiden rowl and jump into the air before landing on Soren, making his nose press into the ground. On reflex, Soren sniffed and his eyes widened.
"Ruff!" Soren barked as he got up and ran off with Raiden giving chase.
"We have to hurry and find those eggs before they hatch," Brock noted in concern.
"Right. We can't let them get away with it," Noel nodded.
"More importantly, it's so that Tsubaki and Mai can be who the Pokemon first see," Brock explained.
"Eh?"
"You mean they need to Imprint on Tsubaki and Mai," Kajun noted, managing to avoid getting her face hit with ink from an egg she picked up.
"Imprint?" Ash and Misty repeated.
"If something hatches and you're the first person it sees, it'll see you as its mother and/or father," Kajun explained, "Such as the case of Yuki and Noel."
"E-Eh?" Noel blinked twice as the Alolan Vulpix mewled while rubbing her head against her Trainer before both yelped when the egg Noel picked up burst into tiny plastic Ariados, "Eek!"
"So...how do we hatch these things anyway?" Jessie asked as the trio were hiding out in a log cabin.
"Honestly, I'm starving more than curious," James admitted before Jessie swiped the frying pan and whacked him with it, "Ow!"
"We're not cookin' them ya idiot!" Meowth snapped as he swiped the eggs, "Besides, I'm gonna hatch 'em."
"You?" Jessie asked in disbelief.
"Hey, I've been takin' care of watchin' Bewear when she's doin' stuff," Meowth argued, "I picked up a thing or two on carin' fer things smaller den me."
"Such as?"
"Easy..." Mewoth began as he put the eggs down before curling up around them, "Usin' my body to keep them nice and warm."
"Well, she does like to keep us close at night and it does get pretty warm when she does," Jessie noted.
Later on, Meowth scarfed down his bowl of rice while keeping the eggs in his lap with his tail wrapped around them for good measure.
"You're still holding onto them?" James asked.
"Of course I am. If I let them go, my little eggs will cool off and won't hatch," Meowth replied, "And after dinner, I'm gonna treat them to a nice hot bath and tell 'em a bedtime story."
"...Oh! You're gonna boil them!" James beamed before yelping when his face was scratched up, "Ah ha!"
"Boil?! I said I'm gonna hatch 'em, not eat 'em, ya lunatic!" Meowth snapped, holding onto the eggs defensively.
"What's wrong with you today?" Jessie questioned, "...You didn't drink that water that Maractus offered before we left Alola, did you?"
"What?! No!" Meowth snapped, "If I hatch them then da Pokemon inside will imprint on us, den we'd have ourselves two more Pokemon to own, or give to da boss. It's a win-win scenario here!" he snuggled the eggs, "Ain't day right, my whittle eggy-weggys?"
"...Did both of you drink that water?" Jessie questioned, slowly raising a brow.
"NO/Maybe," Meowth and James replied respectively, causing Meowth and Jessie to look at James.
"...What? It was good."
Unaware to the trio, Raiden were peeking in through the window as he stood on top of Soren.
"(Found them..but the Meowth is intending on hatching them,)" Raiden noted as he hopped off Soren's back.
"(Oh, that's just mean! Those Eggs are Alpha Tsubaki and Alpha Mai's Eggs!)" Soren growled.
"(Indeed. They belong to our Pride..not theirs,)" Raiden nodded before looking to the side, seeing a trail of eggs down the road, "(We are thankful this Pride is not very bright.)"
"(You said it. This Pack is very stup-BONE!)" Soren yipped as he pounced on one of the eggs with a bone print on it...before it 'hatched' and whacked him with a fake bone, making him run back over to Raiden, "(Ah! Bad bone!)"
"..." Raiden brought a paw to his face.
"Yeesh. You'd think they'd learn not to leave a trail," Makoto muttered as she and the others followed the trail of dropped fake eggs.
"They were probably more focused on getting the eggs and not thinking it over like they did with what went down with Mikey and his siblings' Evolution Party," Misty noted as she looked at Horsea's Pokeball.
"Most likely," Tsubaki nodded, "Still...we better hurry. I can't help but worry what those idiots are gonna do with the Eggs."
"Knowing one of the idiots, he'll probably suggest cooking them or something," Makoto muttered, making Tsubaki tense as she began to move faster while sending out Izayoi, "...I think Tsubaki is gonna go Mama Braviary on them…"
"No, that'd be Mai since she has one," Misty noted, seeing Mai easily keeping up with Tsubaki with Ventus's Pokeball in hand.
"I'm more worried Tsubaki will forget Izayoi's a Pokemon and use her like an actual sword," Noel noted.
"Huh...I never did look up Izayoi on Dexter," Ash admitted as he pulled it out and looked up Honedge.
=Honedge, the Sword Pokemon. Apparently this Pokémon is born when a departed spirit inhabits a sword that was used to kill the spirit that now inhabits it. If anyone dares to grab its hilt, it wraps a blue cloth around that person's arm and drains that person's life energy completely. The true body of Honedge is the blue gem on its body= Dexter informed.
"...Nobody let Tsubaki grab Izayoi!" Makoto panicked as their faces began to pale.
'Because of course she'd name the soul-stealing Pokemon after the soul-stealing sword!' Kajun thought with an eye twitch as she and the others gave chase.
"I swear if they touch a single shell on it, I am gonna do things that'll make them regret chasing after us," Tsubaki whispered with a frown.
"Hone…" Izayoi 'nodded.'
Soren sniffed the air and his tail started wagging, "(I smell our Pack!)"
"(Hm...I think I hear them coming as well,)" Raiden added, his ears twitching as he looked up at a nearby ledge.
"Makoto, I am serious. Drop. me. now," Tsubaki ordered as the group came over it with Tsubaki's arms restrained behind her by Makoto.
"You are not using Izayoi as an actual sword," Makoto stated.
"I was not going to use her as a sword," Tsubaki argued.
"Your twitchy hand trying to reach for her says otherwise," Makoto deadpanned.
"(She does know you'll suck her soul out if you do, right?)" Houdini asked, sitting on Kajun's shoulder.
"(How rude. I would not do that to milady)," Izayoi huffed.
"(Oh! I think I see big brothers Raiden and Soren!)" Yuki gasped as she began to nudge Noel's arms a bit.
"Hm? What is it, Yuki?" Noel pondered as Yuki began to pointed with her paw, letting Noel follow it to spot the puppy and cat on a pile of logs, "Oh! So that's where you two went!"
"Hmm?" Misty blinked as she and the others looked down, "Oh! I-"
"Shh!" Brock quickly hushed her, "If they're here, then Team Rocket might be here as well."
Raiden began to speak as Luca nodded, "Raiden says that Soren caught their scent and they ran after them here. Meowth is planning to hatch both eggs so they Imprint on him." Soren began to yip, "And James apparently drank water offered by a Maractus. ...He seriously drank that water? He'll be acting weird for a few days."
"A mar-what?" Makoto raised a brow.
"A cactus Pokemon that secretly spikes water it offers with some of its 'sweat' that causes hallucinations as a prank," Kajun explained.
"...I d-"
"Apparently James suggested eating the eggs at one point."
"I wasn't being serious about that!" Makoto quietly gawked.
"We're going to need to distract and get the eggs," Brock noted as he looked at Houdini, "And I think I have an idea. Ash, think Gengar would be up for a prank?"
"(I heard 'prank!' What's going on?)" Gengar asked, popping out of his ball on Ash's belt in excitement.
"(The eggs got stolen by Team Rocket and we're getting them back)," Houdini replied.
"(...Yes...)"
"Good morning, my wittle eggy weggies," Meowth smiled as he was carefully polishing the two Eggs, "Another beautiful day for us t-" he paused when James put a plate of food before him."...what's dat?"
"Your scrambled eggs!" James beamed before his face was smashed by a frying pan.
"I TOLD YA TO LAY OFF THE E-G-G-S!" Meowth snapped, hugging the Pokémon eggs close with his hand and tail while his other hand had said frying pan.
"...Okay nevermind…" Jessie whispered as she pushed her breakfast away, not wanting to incur Meowth's wrath, "...How close are those eggs to hatching anyway?"
"I've been feelin' them move around. Dey might be ready t' hatch today," Meowth replied.
"Sweet!" James beamed as he shot up, "Can't wait to see wh-" he tensed when he felt it...a sudden chill going up his spine, "...wh….what was that?"
"What w-" Jessie began before she soon felt the chill as well, "...Meowth…"
"Brrr…! Who turned on da A/C?" Meowth demanded, holding the eggs closer before they yelped when the glass on the windows turned black, causing the natural lighting to vanish.
"Ah! The light switch!" James yelped as he started to get up before yelping when the ground shook and made him fall over.
"What's going on!?" Jessie exclaimed as the three hugged each other in fright.
"Heh….heh….heh…" a voice chuckled, making the trio tense up in pure terror, "So you like to steal eggs, do you? You think you are thieves of the dark? Oh you poor souls...you have yet to see what is truly in the dark~"
"Ulp!" the trio gulped before Jessie yelped and jumped up.
"What happened?!" James asked.
"Something jabbed me in the butt!" Jessie replied.
"Don't worry, my eggies...Meowth will protect ya," Meowth whispered as he looked around rapidly before yelping as he shot up into the air, "Somethin' licked my back!"
"...s...something...is coming…" James meeped as a dark portal began to form on the ground, a figure beginning to rise up from it.
The figure seemed to be made of the darkest shadows. So dark they seemed to pull in on the darkness around them. A jaded red collar jutted out of the dark mass alongside two long, thin arms ending in large jagged claws that twitched with anticipation. Its head was obscured...or rather...it was made of a pure white smoke with a lone, sharp blue eye visible within the left side of it.
"...James...what...is that" Jessie nervously asked.
"...d….d...d...da….dar….dar...dar…." James wheezed out in pure fright, completely losing all color to his being, "Dark...rai…"
"Darkrai? As in...da Mythical Pokemon that can put ya into an eternal nightmare induced sleep Darkrai?" Mewoth greatly paled.
"E….eternal...nightmare?" Jessie paled at that.
Darkrai's eye narrowed before its smoky head twitched and twisted until it rose up...and up...and up further, exposing a massive maw with dozens of rows of razor sharp fangs. With a roar, it lunged at the trio who let out a massive terrified scream...before collapsing, foaming from their mouths. Darkrai stopped before nodding...and then going up in a puff of smoke, revealing a snickering Houdini. Meowth's shadow twitched before a laughing Gengar popped out of it while Izayoi emerged from the floor.
"(And that's how we roll!)" Gengar cackled as he picked up the two eggs.
"(The Phantom Trickster has not lost his touch!)" Houdini laughed as they rushed out.
"(Did we do good?)" Yuki asked, Horsea floating beside her on the blue sparkles from the Water Seal her PokeBall had on it.
"(You two were great! Nice touch on freezing the ink once it hit the windows. Made it far more colder)," Gengar winked at the two.
"(That was my idea to keep it in place longer!)" Horsea beamed.
"(We got the eggs. That's all that matters)," Houdini stated, "(Good touch on the poking them through the floor.)"
"(Thank you)," Izayoi thanked before her tassel patted Yuki and Horsea, "(And excellent job, both of you.)"
"(Thank you, Ms. Izayoi!)" both beamed as Gengar skipped over to Tsubaki and presented the Dratini egg to her.
"Oh thank Arceus it's safe," Tsubaki sighed in relief as she took it.
"(And one for you!)" Gengar beamed as he bounced over to Mai and held the egg up between her and Misty.
"Thanks," Mai thanked as she leaned down to grab it…
*crack*
...when cracks began to form on the top, "!"
"Ah! It's hatching!" Misty gasped.
"So soon?!" Tsubaki gasped before she noticed her Egg gaining some cracks, "?!"
"...I was kidding on them hatching together, too!" Makoto groaned.
"Make sure that they see you two first before anyone else," Brock warned.
"Oh, right," Mai nodded as more cracks formed on just the top of her egg while Tsubaki's egg shook with more cracks forming with each shake.
After several shakes, the egg in Tsubaki's hands hatched, letting the eggshell remains fall to the ground. In her arms, roughly as big as Soren, was a Dratini. It opened its big eyes to see Tsubaki. It let out a happy squeak as it nuzzled into her.
'...' Tsubaki stood silent as she gave a mental squeal, quickly regaining her composure...before she began to softly and carefully hug the small Dratini, "Hello little one...I'm so glad to meet you finally."
With Mai, the top of the egg cracked open, revealing a soft cream 'egg' inside of it. The middle of the 'egg' rose up, splitting into five spikes that seemed to make a 'crown' for it. More cracks formed on the egg before two tiny arms and two little feet popped out of the cracked areas. Misty looked at them before her eyes widened.
"Ah...Mai, I think that it's facing…" Misty began before two tiny black eyes opened...looking at Misty, "...me…"
"...Togeprrri~"
"Aaaand it just called Misty 'Meema,'" Luca noted, his paw meeting his face while Mai slumped and Ash took out Dexter once more.
"(For the record, I did not know it was facing the wrong way when I gave it to her!)" Gengar quickly defended himself.
=Togepi, the Spike Ball Pokemon. Originally believed to be a Normal-Type, recent evaluation has discovered that it is actually a Fairy-Type Pokemon. As its energy, Togepi uses the positive emotions of compassion and pleasure exuded by people and Pokémon. This Pokémon then stores up feelings of happiness inside its shell, then shares them with others. A proverb claims that happiness will come to anyone who can make a sleeping Togepi stand up= Dexter informed.
"...tini?" Tsubaki's Dratini blinked as they looked over at Togepi, who looked over at it for a moment.
"...Oh! I think we're seeing them become friends," Brock guessed.
"(They did hatch at the same time, so...it's li-)" Pikachu began.
"Oh~ That was horrifyin'..." Meowth's voice groaned from inside the cabin, "...Wait. Where's my eggs?!"
"So should we run and make them look stupid or fight them and make them look even more stupid?" Makoto asked.
"Wait. That sounded like the cosplaying twerpette!" Jessie snapped as the Rocket Trio poked out of the cabin, "Ahh! And the eggs hatched!"
"Weren't yours in the first place, old lady!" Makoto argued, "You should try getting baby Pokemon the legit way! Makes these magical moments actually mean something."
"YOU…!"
"I took care of dose eggs carefully so dese two numbskulls wouldn't' eat them!" Mewoth argued, "I kept them warm, bathed with them, slept with them...dose eggs belong to me!"
"Not if you kidnapped them!" Makoto argued, before blinking a little realizing how maternal that all sounded, "Also...are you like a Boy Meowth or a girl...your voice doesn't make it very clear…"
"Imma boy!" Meowth barked.
"But you sounded so motherly...I mean...I'd have expected that of the guy who's dressed as a woman before…" Makoto muttered, somehow finding a way to now insult all three at the same time.
"Oh that's just hurtful! I wanted to make an omelet w-" James began before flinching when Izayoi was aimed right at him, "GH!"
"You even touch them, I will send you to the afterlife personally," Tsubaki threatened in a VERY serious tone while Dratini tilted their head in confusion at what was going on.
"Same," Misty added, holding Togepi defensively in one arm while having her hammer out
"See? Now that's maternal," Makoto spoke up, "And you just unintentionally crossed a line, like when you said a bad word in front of your mom."
"GH?!" James tensed further at that.
"(Seriously, did he drink water offered by a Maractus or something)?" Gengar asked.
"He did," Meowth replied, glaring at James, before Gengar cracked up at that.
"If I were you three, I'd retreat and not bother us, otherwise…" Kajun began as Pikachu, Raiden, Berry, Mary, and Cherry's cheeks sparked while Koko's eyes glowed, "Understood?"
"Not without those two…" Mewoth hissed, extending his claws as his tail poofed up
"...Well, I warned them," Kajun shrugged nonchalantly, "Zap away."
"Wait, what?" Jessie blinked twice.
"Thunderbolt!" Ash, Makoto, Mai, and Noel called.
"AHH NO!" Jessie and James freaked before Meowth leapt out, "Meowth?!"
"GIVE ME MY BABIES!"
*BZZZZT!*
"Gyahahahaha~!" the trio yelped as they were electrocuted.
"Not..giving..up!" Meowth grunted out as he stomped forward as best he could.
"Meowth has become very determined…" Mai whispered.
"I think he's as obsessed as a Bewear after giving someone honey and a hug," Kajun compared as she put a finger on Ash's shoulder, "Hikari, if you please."
"Kirl…" the shiny Kirlia replied before putting a hand on Kajun's leg and another on Tsubaki's before the others barely grabbed Ash, Tsubaki, or Kajun as she used Teleport, leaving just the trio.
"...ow…." James and Jessie groaned, coughing out bits of smoke as they twitched.
"My...e-e-e-e-eggs…" Meowth groaned out, glaring at where they had been.
"So….that happened," Makoto muttered, breaking the silence between the group as they were back at the Pokemon Center.
"We still stopped them from getting Togepi and Dratini," Ash noted.
"Only downside? Only one looked at the one who was taking care of them," Brock replied as he glanced over at where Tsubaki and Misty were having the newly hatched Pokemon checked on and then over at where Mai was petting Raiden as Noble sat in her lap while polishing his bone club as Ventus, Terra, and Aqua stayed near her.
"(That's life, I suppose)," Aqua shrugged.
"(It sucks, though. I mean, Mai took good care of that egg and it all goes to waste because it was facing the wrong way)," Terra sighed.
"(You're not blaming a baby, are you?)" Ventus questioned.
"(Heck no! I'm just saying it sucks)," Terra argued.
"(Least they got the egg back...that's all that matters,)" Celsius spoke, laying near Mai's legs as she yawned a bit, "(Plus...can you imagine what would happen if those three had raised those two?)"
"(...no. Oh Arceus no,)" Noble shuddered before looking up at Mai, "Cubone?"
"Ah, I'm alright, Noble," Mai assured, patting the Cubone, "A bit sad, but...a bit relieved, too."
"Gla?" Celsius asked, raising her head a little.
"Well, there's Terra, Aqua, Celsius, Noble, Ventus, and Raiden," Mai counted, each one looking at her, "If I ended up getting Imprinted, that'd be seven Pokemon and Trainers can only carry six at a time."
"Bone?!" Noble panicked before hugging Mai's shirt, "Bone! Cubone-bone!"
"Easy now, Noble," Mai assured, petting his head again, "Like I'd leave any of you like that. Besides..." she looked over at Misty tending to Togepi, "I know Misty will take good care of Togepi."
"So how did things go with the check up?" Makoto asked as the two walked over.
"They're both healthy, but…" Tsubaki looked down at her now-sleeping Dratini, "Nurse Joy said that Vale has something in her."
"Huh? What do ya mean?" Ash asked.
"Do you see this tiny dot on her?" Tsubaki asked, moving her Dratini a little to show a tiny dot on her body that they had to squint to see.
"Kinda hard to see it. You wouldn't even be able to see it if you weren't looking for it," Makoto admitted.
"It's a sign of Pokérus," Tsubaki explained.
"Pokérus?" Noel repeated.
"It's some sort of virus that Nurse Joy said helps Pokemon grow well," Tsubaki noted, "She said that Vale must have got it from another Pokemon that had been near her egg."
"So it's a virus that helps the Pokemon that's infected?" Noel summarized, tilting her head.
"A beneficial virus," Kajun noted, "Interesting."
"...Wait. So it's a contagious yet beneficial virus?" Makoto blinked.
"That's what Nurse Joy said," Misty replied as Togepi chirped happily in her arms.
"I wonder what moves they can use," Ash pondered as he pulled out Dexter.
=This Togepi knows the Moves Charm and Growl along with the Egg Move Present= Dexter informed =This Dratini knows the moves Leer, Wrap, and the Egg Moves Extreme Speed and Water Pulse=
"Oh?" Kajun blinked at that, "Well now...interesting. A Dratini with Extreme Speed."
"Why's that interesting?" Ash asked.
"Because a Dratini with Extreme Speed is considered incredibly rare and hard to obtain outside of Johto."
"Could be one of Vale's parents was a Dragonite or Dragonaire from Johto," Brock suggested.
"Possibly," Kajun nodded.
"Seems you learn something new everyday," Mai shrugged.
"Yeah yeah, so...you guys got names for the little guys?" Makoto asked.
"Vale," Tsubaki deadpanned.
"I think I'll keep calling her Togepi," Misty noted, earning happy chirps from Togepi, "Oh, you're just so cute~"
"Well hopefully sh-" Makoto began before she spotted something, "...psst. Don't look now, but Dumb, Dumber and Dumbest are trying to pull the disguise routine again."
"Hmm?" the others blinked as they turned, seeing Team Rocket spying at them from a nearby table while dressed as waiters.
"...That was a fast recovery," Mai whispered.
"They're persistent," Brock noted.
"And I'm uncomfortable leaving the town without the elder and his Abra being ready to Teleport us to Cinnabar," Kajun noted.
"Same…" Tsubaki whispered, holding Vale defensively.
"...Hmm…" Makoto pondered for a moment, "...I got it. We do to them what they're trying to do to us…"
"Eh? You mean disguise ourselves?" Mai blinked.
"Eeyup."
"Could...we get a few more details, please?" Tsubaki replied.
"They love disguising so much? Then we disguise ourselves so they don't know who they're following," Makoto replied.
"One issue," Kajun whispered as Cherry and Berry popped out of Makoto's large, bushy tail.
"I got some ideas...but it means no more hiding in the tail till we lose em." Makoto looked at her Pokemon, "Just for a bit okay, and then you guys can go back." she smiled.
"Emol/Chipa!"
"But what kind of…" Ash began before Pikachu held up a poster Makoto handed him, "...Oh, I get it."
"Trust me. They're so stupid...this can't possibly fail," Makoto smirked.
"Only because that's true," Tsubaki sighed with a small smile.
"...Okay. Da moment dey step out, we spray 'em with concentrated sleep powder, den grab my babies, and we leave!" Mewoth hissed as he, Jessie and James stood outside the Pokemon Center.
"Okay, Meowth, I'm all for cockamamie schemes as much as the next guy...but this just seems...unstylish…" James spoke up, "Also potentially dark."
"Says da guy who suggested eating the eggs," Mewoth growled.
"Yes, but when I say dumb stuff it's likeable…" he pouted.
"I will Fury Swipes you so bad, you'll need stitches for da stitches if ya don't shut it," Meowth hissed.
"Now it's becoming unhealthy…" Jessie whispered before the doors began to open, "Oh! Here they come!"
"Start spraying dem! N-" Meowth began.
"Woah! Is that a talkin' Meowth, or one of dem ventriloquist Pokemon I've heard about?"
"?" Team Rocket blinked when they looked ahead at the group of people dressed up as Pokemon.
"...da h-ahh!" Meowth yelped as he was picked up by the girl dressed up as a Greedent.
"Hmm...don't sees a voice box or recorder, so it must be a ventriloquist Pokemon!" she noted before looking at Jessie and James, "So which of youse is the talented ventriloquist dat can throw dere voice?"
"Naoyako, please don't start…"
"Oh come on, Kayabi. It's a legitimate question, ya knows?" Naoyako said to the girl dressed as a light-grey female variant of a Corviknight, "Youse agree wit' me right Tana, Mollie?"
"Oh oui. I am being ze curious about it as well," Mollie-a girl dressed as a Delphox- nodded as she moved some of her hair aside.
"Hey hey! Put me down ya crazy chick!" Meowth snapped as he struggled to get out of Naoyako's grip.
"...I don't know, Naoyako…" Tana-a girl dressed as a Hydriegon-spoke as she used one of her 'heads' to speak, "Seems like one of those automatic toys with a recorder inside…" she then raised the other 'head,' "No kidding. Plus I bet its feet smell."
"Excuse you?!" Meowth snapped.
"Mmm…" a man dressed as a Golurk grunted out.
"Noro is right. Behave," a girl dressed as a Venomoth spoke up before motioning to the boy dressed up as a Lycanroc with his hood down, "You seem to be annoying Chet."
"They're not...just bored, Katoy," Chet muttered, "...Probably not as bored Fwomy is right now…"
"What is going on?" James asked, utterly confused.
"I...I don't know…" Jessie whispered, "L-listen. We're sorry for bugging you. Just...why are you people dressed like that?"
"Oh, ya don't knows? There's a big ol' Pokefan shindig goin' on nearby and we're making our ways over," Naoyako explained, "We's in a big ol' contest. Best costume fer a Pokemon wins a big ol' shiny ribbon."
"Da. And we is aiming to wining zis contest," Fwomey-a girl dressed as a Sharpedo-nodded.
"So unless youse headin' dat way too, then mind movin' aside?" Naoyako asked as she put Meowth down.
"...uh...sure, I guess," James nodded.
"You...have a good day," Jessie added as she and James moved aside.
"Thank ya kindly," Naoyako thanked as they walked past.
"Well...that happened," James whispered.
"Whatever...and my feet do not smell!" Meowth snapped, "...Wait. Da twoips must still be inside!"
"Meowth...think rationally for a m-"
"CHARGE IN AND GET THEM FER MY BABIES!" Meowth declared as he rushed in.
" Dangit Meowth!" Jessie and James exclaimed as they rushed in.
"Hand over da Dratini and Togepi now!" Meowth's voice could be heard from the Pokemon Center once the doors closed, "Does are my babies and I will take 'em back by force!"
"Officer Jenny, we have a possible robbery with a rabid Meowth on the premises!" Nurse Joy screamed.
"Rabid?! I...wait wait wait! I AIN'T RABID!" Mewoth panicked.
Meowth then blinked and turned around and looked up to see a Machamp with a nurses cap. Mewoth moved to say something in his defense...only for him to literally be grabbed by the face. What followed was the Machamp wrapping Meowth in a straight jacket and leaving him bound and helpless for the authorities to pick up.
"We may need to get these two tested as well."
"Wait, what?" James and Jessie blinked before wheezing when the Machamp grabbed them, "...Please be gentle."
"I still can't believe that worked…" Kayabi sighed as she took her helmet off, showing that it was, in truth, Tsubaki.
"Told ya they were stupid," Naoyako..or rather Makoto grinned, "Also good job with the accents Misty, Noellie."
"I'm surprised how good Mai's ventriloquist act was," Brock noted as he took his helmet off.
"Eh heh...well, my mom used to do that with me when I was a kid, so...genetics," Mai sheepishly chuckled.
"I'm just glad we avoided them without having another pointlessly action packed battle," Noel sighed.
"I'll say. Also…" Makoto then frowned as she motioned to her costume, "Who got the Greedent costume?"
"I still say that it fits you perfectly," Kajun giggled.
"Seriously, I am not a dummy that hides berries in my tail," Makoto argued.
"Chipa?" Berry poked out of her tail.
"Mol?" Cherry followed up.
"...Pfft…" Ash forced back a laugh, "Y...You kinda do…"
"What's tha...ah...oh!" Makoto realized while slumping a little, "Okay...yeah. Guilty~"
"Least I know Togepi is safe," Misty whispered as she opened her backpack, letting Togepi poke her head out and chirp happily at her.
"Hopefully that Meowth gets over this creepy maternal phase…" Makoto muttered, "'Cause I can not keep dealing with that each time they bother us."
"Hmm...It could be he was projecting upon the eggs due to abandonment issues in his own upbringing," Kajun noted, tapping her cheek in thought.
"...You've been reading psychiatry books again in the centers, haven't you?" Mai asked.
"Maybe...it was Confucius' suggestion."
"Your Slowpoke?"
"Correct."
"Wow...they all have issues, don't they?" Makoto muttered.
"At least they have each other," Noel shrugged.
"True…" Ash nodded before taking out the map, "Now let's hurry to the next town...hopefully w-"
"Wait!" Misty exclaimed as she took the map, "...Oh my Kyogre...I can't believe I nearly forgot!"
"Forgot what?" the others asked.
"The Princess Festival is in the next town!"
"Princess Festival?" they repeated.
"(Oh why do I feel this is gonna be something hectic?)" Pikachu whispered to himself.
SZ: Well that was a twist eh?
Z0: I feel like I'm with Pikachu.
GT: Agreed.
SZ: Aye...well, nothing too extravagant to end it on, so hope you all enjoy it and read adn review folks!