Author Notes - Wherein I attempt to stay consistent in the way I write Meowth's accent, and probably fail.

CHAPTER FIVE - IT'S TOUGH TO ESCAPE FATE

James woke up early the next day. The same time he always got up. The way his parents taught him. Lucky for him, he didn't mind getting up so early. More time in the day. Sometimes, though, he wished he could stay in bed. The soft mattress and silky blanket were some of the only things he liked about this life.

He couldn't help thinking about that woman again. Perhaps she didn't have a soft mattress or a silky blanket, but she certainly had the right to sleep in as long as she pleased.

He let out a groan. The wedding was coming up. A few more days until what little freedom he already struggled to get was chopped in half.

Wanting to appreciate the time while he still had it, he climbed out of bed. Usually, he'd get dressed right away before a butler showed up to rush him along. Today, however, he got down on the floor and peered under the bed. The sight made him smile.

Meowth was still there, sleeping on his little bed. It had to be moved so no one could see it or him just by wandering in, but Meowth didn't seem to care. An abandoned Pokémon like him was probably just happy to have a bed at all. James's heart sank at the mere thought - leaving a Pokémon like that. He never thought he'd have a second pet, but he was glad to have one.

'Hello, little guy,' He said, quietly.

Seeing as the 'little guy' could talk, James hadn't really thought of a name yet. If Meowth wanted a nickname, he'd ask for one. James, taking his steps quietly, fetched the feline food from the closet and poured a bowlful of it. Had he been looking under the bed still, he would've seen Meowth's ears twitching.

He certainly saw, however, the way Meowth peeped his head out from underneath the bed. As soon as James set the bowl down, Meowth was devouring the food. In a matter of seconds, it seemed, it was totally gone. Which wasn't really a surprise. Feline Pokémon, like Delcatty or Sprigatito, were a little infamous for scarfing down their food. Combine that with going without a proper meal for potentially months, and, well…

'Hey Jimmy,' Meowth said once he was done. 'Ya rich, right? I mean, ya gotta be ta live in a place like dis! T'ink ya can buy me somet'ing better? Don't get me wrong. I'm glad ta be eatin' at all! But dis stuff is pretty cheap. If I'm gonna stay here, I wanna get the good stuff. Ya get it?'

James was in the middle of changing when Meowth made his request. Never had he met a Pokémon so demanding before. Then again, perhaps that was because this was the first Pokémon he met who could make demands.

'I suppose I could go down to the pet shop again…' He said, slipping on a 'casual' shirt.

'And I could come wit' you!' Meowth said. 'Dat way, I can tell ya exactly what I want!'

'A talking Pokémon would probably attract a lot of attention.'

'Not much more attention den ya 'casual' outfit. Besides, no one has ta know! It ain't hard sayin' 'meowth meowth meowth' over and over again.'

'Do you think you can walk around yet?'

Meowth laughed. 'O'course I can walk arou-'

In an attempt to demonstrate, he stood up on his hind legs. Not nearly as surprising as his ability to speak, since there were lots of bipedal Meowth in the world. But he had only taken one step before he fell back over onto the bed. James gasped and ran over to him to make sure he was okay, rather relieved to find the Pokémon looking just fine.

'Okay,' Meowth said. 'So maybe I'm still a little… wobbly. But I can still go wit' youse! I'd just need ta ride ya.'

'... Ride me?'

Meowth crawled around on the floor and climbed up onto James's leg. James, though rather surprised, stayed still long enough to allow the lethargic Meowth to climb onto his shoulder.

'Like dis!' Meowth said, slightly out of breath. 'Now I can go ta town wit' ya!'

James scratched the back of his neck. 'It might be hard sneaking you out the front door.'

'Den leave me at the back door and fetch me after! I t'ink dat'll work out just fine.'

'Well…'

And that was how James found himself back in Fuchsia City. This time, with a Meowth on his shoulder. He had suggested just catching the little guy in a Pokéball - even offering a Luxury Ball - but the Meowth insisted against it. Still, James brought the Luxury Ball with him. Just in case.

'Ya know, Jimmy,' Meowth said. 'Ya don't hafta buy somet'ing from the pet store. I wouldn't mind someti'ng from a café. Or a fancy restaurant! Or maybe a-'

'Remember,' James said. 'You're a Pokémon. If we don't want any attention, the last thing I should do is show up to a fancy restaurant with you as my date. Besides, a lot of fancy restaurants don't allow Pokémon like you in.'

'Well, at least get me a can 'a Remoraid or somet'ing! I'm more than a regular old Pokémon. Ya don't hafta feed me like one!'

James had a little trouble believing that Meowth was using his glorious gift just to complain. Though, upon thinking about it more, it made sense. Feline Pokémon complained enough with just the syllables of their name to work with. Imagine how much the average Purugly or Litten would whine if they could talk!

'Hey, wait a minute!' Meowth said. 'Ya still walkin' towards the pet store!'

'What?' James said. 'Don't you want feline toys?'

'Whaddya mean, toys?'

'Something like a ball of yarn or-'

'A ball of yarn?! Sign me up!'

James chuckled; Meowth was much more of a Pokémon than he cared to admit. His good feeling disappeared when he heard a sound. A quiet sound coming from a quiet part of town.

'Scra… scraf…'

It was a voice belonging to a Pokémon. A rather tired, lonely Pokémon by the sounds of it. James stopped walking, long before he reached the pet store, and looked around. There wasn't anyone else nearby; he was the only human who heard the voice. He changed his destination immediately and without a second thought, much to Meowth's chagrin.

'Hey!' The Pokémon said. 'Where're ya goin'? The pet store's dat-a way!'

'Don't you hear that?' James said. 'It sounds like there's another Pokémon that needs help.'

'Oi… If ya keep pickin' up every Pokémon that needs help, ya gonna need anot'er mansion.'

James paid him no mind, aside from a brief look. He wandered away from the bustling parts of the city and into the quieter alleyways instead. This situation felt strangely familiar. Just minus Jessie and plus a Meowth. Speaking of which, Meowth's ears twitched. When he looked behind him and James, he could've sworn he saw a flash of magenta off in the distance.

James came to a stop. Something was limping out from behind a trash can. It was a Pokémon he had never seen in-person before, but recognised from TV and magazines: a Scrafty. They couldn't be found in Kanto, and judging by its rough appearance and pained expression, it too had been abandoned.

'Oh my!' James said. 'Another one?'

'Scraft…' The Scrafty muttered. 'Scraft… ty…'

Meowth narrowed his eyes at it. 'Now dis seems suspicious. Two abandoned Pokémon in one town, two days in a row? 'Specially somet'ing like a Scrafty. I ain't trustin' her.'

'Now why would an abandoned Pokémon be suspicious? Unfortunately, it happens all the-'

That was as far as he got. He took one more step forward, and the pained expression on the Scrafty's face disappeared. Before James could react to that, she pounced at him with her hand glowing a dark purple. He had a single moment to comprehend what was going on before the Scrafty chopped him right in the throat.

He fell backwards to the ground, his behind and back hurting almost as much as his throat did. Rubbing his hand across his throat only made the pain worse.

'Woah!' Meowth cried.

The feline Pokémon managed to land on his paws as he was thrown from James's shoulder, but just barely. He could only stand on all-fours for a few moments, collapsing to the ground soon after. The Scrafty was grinning.

'Hey now!' Meowth said. 'What did ya do dat for?!'

Scrafty just chuckled. James gritted his teeth and opened his mouth for a powerful yell. For help? To scare off the Pokémon who clearly was just trying to trick him? It didn't matter. Nothing came out. Not even a yelp. There was a brief moment of confusion. It quickly became panic. His heart began to race. No matter what he tried to say, he couldn't say a word. He tried to let out a scream - still nothing.

'Dat Scrafty must'a used T'roat Chop on ya!' Meowth said.

Throat Chop… James had heard of that move, but never saw it in action. It was supposed to prevent other Pokémon from using sound-based moves for a short while. But it could work on humans too? Instinct drove him to scream for help. Not a sound.

Just as his panic was about to reach its peak, someone else emerged from behind a dumpster. A man. A man who must've been at least a head taller than James, with much thicker muscles too. He towered over James and made him shiver.

'Well, well, well!' The man said with a laugh. 'Looks like ya fell for the ol' 'abandoned Pokémon' routine, Rich Boy. When I saw you whisk that poor wittle Meowth away, I had a feelin' you'd make that mistake again. And, as a little bonus, ya brought me that Meowth too. A talking Meowth. Another victory for Clyde!'

The realisation of what was going on hit James like a truck. He looked back down at the Scrafty - she was grinning.

'Good goin', girl!' Clyde said, giving Scrafty a quick pat on the head. 'You did exactly what I told ya to. No use screamin' out for help now!'

James shuffled backwards as best he could, struggling to make his movements thanks to the pain in his throat. He tried screaming for help one more time, just in case. Still nothing. Meowth took another step forward, hardly making any progress at all.

'Your family oughta pay a good ransom to get you back,' Clyde said. 'I'll be rich! Now, let's make sure you won't fight back. Scrafty, knock 'im out with High Jump Kick!'

'Scraft!'

Scrafty jumped into the air and prepared herself to deliver a mighty kick directly to James's head. As white energy gathered around her foot, James closed his eyes and braced for impact. No shouting for help. No escaping an attack like that. All he could do was wait for impact.

'ARBOK, USE HEADBUTT!'

James's eyes shot wide open. That voice. It couldn't be. Could it? A split second later, an Arbok soared over his head and delivered a powerful headbutt directly into the Scrafty's body. She went flying backwards until she smacked into a garbage can hard enough to knock it over.

'What the-?!' Clyde yelled.

Meowth gasped and smiled. 'The goil is back!'

James shuffled around and could hardly believe the sight that was before him. Right there, standing at the entrance of the alleyway, was none other than Jessie. Donning the clothes he had bought her the day before. He'd recognise that fiery magenta hair and blazing blue eyes anywhere. And she looked furious. Arbok too. Seeing her brought a smile to his face. He tried to call out her name, but stopped smiling when he realised he still couldn't talk.

'W-Who are you?' Clyde stammered. 'And why do you care?'

'I happen to know this man,' Jessie said. 'And I know that he doesn't deserve whatever horrific treatment you're doing to give him. Arbok, use Wrap on him!'

'O-On me?!'

'Chaaaaaar-BOK!'

Arbok wasted no time and wrapped Clyde up in his powerful tail. If Arbok really wanted to, he could've crushed that man's bones. Even steel drums were no match for him.

'Now,' Jessie said, putting her hands on her hips. 'Are you going to let this man go?'

Clyde didn't say a word, merely trembling under the might of Arbok's tail. Petrified that the giant reptile was going to bite him.

'I said,' Jessie said, getting right up into his face. 'Are you going to let. Him. Go?'

'A-Alright!' Clyde cried. 'I'll let the guy go! I can't imagine why you care so much…'

Jessie snapped her fingers, and Arbok immediately let Clyde go. Just in case the guy tried anything else, Arbok stood between him and James. Who was finally realising just how terrifyingly large that snake was.

'Scrafty, return!' Clyde said, holding up an Ultra Ball.

The Scrafty disappeared in a flash of red light, and Clyde booked it from the scene as fast as he possibly could. Jessie watched him disappear into the distance, only moving from her spot when she was certain he was truly gone. She picked up Meowth and let him ride on her shoulder before moving onto James.

'You really were sheltered,' She said. 'Weren't you? Wandering into a strange alleyway with nothing but a weakened Pokémon who can barely even walk is a naïve mistake.'

Despite her words, she still helped James get back onto his feet. He opened his mouth to say literally anything, but still nothing was coming out. The relief on his face quickly turned to panic once again.

'I t'ink dat Scrafty hit 'im wit' a T'roat Chop!' Meowth said.

'I can see that,' Jessie said. 'I once got hit by it myself. Fortunately, it doesn't last long.'

James may have been unable to speak, but the look of 'are you sure?' in his eyes was unmistakable.

'I understand that it must be kinda scary,' Jessie said. 'But it'll wear off any minute now. Just keep trying to talk until something comes out.'

James wasn't sure if she was right, but he listened. She was right about the Meowth, after all. Over and over again, he murmured to himself. At first, still nothing. Then, he let out a small cough.

'My… my name is James…' He murmured, and gasped. 'I can talk again!'

'See?' Jessie said, grinning like he wasn't about to panic a minute ago. 'Nothing to worry about!'

'Dat was lucky, Jim!' Meowth said. 'If dis goil didn't come back, ya woulda been ransom fodder right now!'

'You should thank your lucky stars, James,' Jessie continued. 'I only came back because I realised too late that my Arbok and Wobbuffet didn't get a chance to say goodbye. And Yanmega's goodbye wasn't very good either. If I wasn't there to keep you safe, who knows what would've happened to you!'

She still hadn't recalled Arbok back to his Pokéball, and now the big snake was looking directly at James. The pattern on his belly may have been intimidating, but the look in Arbok's eyes was so cute that James couldn't find it in him to be scared. Arbok slithered forward and rubbed his face against James's chest, letting out a little 'chaaar'. Okay, now James could find it in him to be scared.

'You… y-you've trained your Pokémon really well,' He said. 'H-Haven't you?'

Jessie grinned. 'It's nice to have someone recognise it for once. You don't hang out with the same Pokémon for years and not get good at ordering them around.'

'Ya better not start orderin' me around,' Meowth said, unimpressed.

Arbok stopped showing love to James and redirected his affection to Jessie instead. While his show of love to James was soft and gentle, he rammed Jessie's body so hard that she nearly toppled over. There was a very brief moment where rage flashed upon her face. But only briefly. She returned the gesture with a friendly smile and a little pat on the head.

James witnessed this simple act of love between a trainer and her Pokémon - a duo who had just saved his skin - and he decided right then and there what he wanted to do. He took a deep breath and spoke without regrets.

'IwantyoutohelpmebecomeaPokémontrainer!' He blurted out.

He said it so quickly that Jessie didn't understand a single word he just said.

'Um… what?' She asked. 'Something about wanting to become a painter?'

James blushed, but went for a second (slightly slower) go. 'I want you to help me become a Pokémon trainer!'

Jessie's eyes went wide. 'You do?!'

The more Jessie gave him that shock-eyed expression, the more James regretted blurting it out. But there was no backing out now.

'Please,' He said. 'If something like that happens again and you're not around, I want to have a Pokémon I can train to protect me.'

'I…' Jessie stammered.

Jessie, on her part, still couldn't believe he was asking this of her. It had never happened before. And why would it? Most people who witnessed her Pokémon skills were usually her victims. Or the police.

'What about your Growlithe?' She asked, trying not to look as flustered as she felt. 'Isn't he already yours?'

James shook his head. 'His Pokéball belongs to my parents. Not me. He's meant to be a pet. They'd never let me take him with me on a journey. I… I have a Carnivine, but he's all the way in Sinnoh. And he's always too busy chomping on my head to listen to me anyway. But if I had a Pokémon of my own that I could train, then I'd have someone to keep me safe! And…' He paused. 'And someone who would always be there for me.'

'Boy,' Meowth said. 'Dat's a little pat'etic.'

'Shut your Meowth!' Jessie shouted.

Meowth flinched. 'I mean, it is! Makes it sound like he ain't got no friends or somet'ing.'

James's expression immediately fell. And Meowth immediately realised that he screwed up.

'Look, ya rich!' He said. 'I t'ought someone wit' as much money as youse would-'

'Alright, James,' Jessie said, mostly just to shut that Meowth up. 'I'll help you.'

'Y-You will?' James said. 'But… But you'll be set back even more.'

'You want to be a Pokémon trainer, and I'm going to help you. Looks like you'll need it, if you like wandering into obvious traps.'

Jessie wasn't sure how James was going to react, but she certainly wasn't expecting what he did do. James hugged her. And it wasn't just a quick hug either. He threw himself against her body and wrapped her up tighter than Arbok ever had. It was so sudden and unexpected that Jessie forgot to return it. Never before had she been hugged by someone else other than her own Pokémon. Not since she was a child, anyway.

'Hey!' Meowth cried, almost falling off. 'Watch it!'

She raised her arms to push him off, but couldn't quite do it. James, merely by giving her a grateful hug, filled her with a strange warmth she couldn't explain. A warmth she didn't want to push away. The embrace lasted only a few seconds, and Jessie found herself missing that warmth when it was gone.

'Thank you!' James said, sounding the happiest he had all day. 'I know you just want to be on your way, so I wouldn't be upset if you said no, but I'm so glad you said yes! Now, I'm going to be a real Pokémon trainer!' He paused and stopped smiling. 'Wait… how do I even start?'

'That's a pretty easy answer,' Jessie said. 'In order to be a Pokémon trainer, you need to have, wait for it… a Pokémon. Seeing as Growlie isn't really yours and Meowth here doesn't even want to be caught-'

'Not even if ya paid me,' Meowth remarked.

'You'll have to catch something of your own. And in order to do that, you'll need a Pokéball. I've got plenty that you can borrow.'

'Oh, that won't be necessary!'

James pulled out a Pokéball from his pocket and pressed the button to make it grow to full size. Jessie gaped at it - it was a Luxury Ball. Because of course it was. She should've expected that, instead of something 'common' like a regular Pokéball.

'And the best place to find a nice, easy Pokémon to raise,' She continued. 'Is in the forest.'

Author Notes - Originally, the Pokémon I planned for Clyde to use was going to be something big like a Rhyperior, a la referencing 'A Fork in the Road' yet again. But then I thought it'd be more interesting to have a Pokémon use Throat Chop on James, and Scrafty was my favourite choice from the batch.

If you want to go by the 'Lady and the Tramp' comparison, this chapter equates to the scene where Lady is attacked by vicious dogs and Tramp comes to her rescue. James is probably going to be rescued by Jessie quite a few times, actually. But don't worry. Odds are, he'll get a chance to repay her for it. And I don't mean with money.

Next chapter is going to detail James's search for his 'perfect Pokémon'. You might be able to guess what it's going to be.