Chapter 36: Prepare for Trouble
Today was peaceful in the wonderful world of Pokémon. The sun ascended into the cloudless sky. Wild Pokémon were meandering through the grass, feeling each blade brush across their fur, listening to the calming sound of rustling behind them. A few approached a nearby bush, as a strange aroma tickled their nostrils.
Suddenly, it shook, startling the creatures, making them retreat into the tall grass, where they were blind to the naked eye. Jessie and James peered out from the bush, inspecting the dirt road in front of them. Despite their blunder the other day, Giovanni decided to give them one more chance. Their mission: to dispose of Sora and his friends.
But it wouldn't be easy. Especially after witnessing Sora and his friends hold their own against a legendary Pokémon. They knew taking an indirect approach would be ideal. With the next round taking place soon, they knew the group would arrive soon. So they dug a hole in the ground, and did their best to cover it
As Jessie and James looked around, they heard laughing from behind them, and turned to see Meowth on Jessie's cell phone, watching videos of Luigi and Pikachu's dance from the other day.
"Now dat's comedy!" Meowth said, in uproarious laughter, wiping the tears from his eyes. Jessie snatched the phone. "Hey!"
"Would you actually put those overgrown eyes of yours to use for one second and focus!?" Jessie asked, irritable. "Our job is on the line!"
"Are you sure those twerps are going to end up here?" James asked, appearing a bit restless. "Making this trap would be entirely pointless."
Meowth gave them a sly grin. "Whatdya mean? I ain't da one makin' it."
"You flea bitten feline!" Jessie said, furious, shaking the cat's shoulders. "For your sake, you better be right! Or you're losing that gold coin for a week!"
Meowth clutched his coin, dismayed. "Not dat! I just had dis polished! I swear! They always park their giant ship here!"
Their conversation was interrupted by a loud noise overhead. True to Meowth's words, it was the Labo ship. Team Rocket dove behind the bush to hide, and covered their ears from the engine's unrelenting growls. The pressure from the engine made the grass flail around like a panicked person. Soon, the commotion abated; they peaked out to see the ship's light decent onto the ground. Team Rocket retracted their heads into the bush, coming out the other side.
"Right on queue." Meowth rubbed his paws in glee. "Once da twerps fall into our cleverly placed hole, we'll have 'em right where we want 'em." His eyes radiated with joy. "Finally, I'll be top cat!"
He then revealed two puppets from his backside – each one was a shoddy recreation of him and Giovanni. One of the button eyes on the Meowth puppet, for example, was loose, dangling from a string.
Meowth made the Giovanni puppet talk: "Meowth, how'd you get to be the best cat in the whole wide world?" He then held up the puppet of himself, speaking in his own voice. ""Aw. Greatness just comes naturally, sir."
"Where does he keep pulling those things out of?" James asked Jessie, looking uncomfortable.
Jessie shook her head. "I stopped asking a while ago. So, why are we trying to trap them in a hole? Didn't we stop doing that gag ages ago?"
"Da author is way behind on da times," Meowth said, exasperated. "I mean, he threw in two Young Frankenstein references in dis fic. How is anyone supposed to know wha" –he glanced at the reader, and gasped in horror– "oh, my gosh: most of you just went to Wikipedia to look dat movie up. Have you no shame, author?!"
"They're coming this way!" James said in an urgent tone. "Hide!"
They dove into the bush again, and watched as Sora and his friends walk down the dirt path, partaking in casual conversation
"I can't wait to see what Pokémon we'll take on today," Sora said, stretching out his arms. The excitement was building.
"Think it another legendary?" Yoshi asked.
Luigi responded with a light tremble. "Hope not. I have enough trouble cooperating with Pikachu as it is."
"But I recall the two of you shaking hands last time," Isabelle said, perplexed.
"That was just a mutual understanding that we exist in the same space," Luigi said.
Sora rolled his eyes with a smile. "There are some days where I can never figure you out, buddy. Hedge mazes inspire to be like you."
"Very funny," Luigi said, sarcastic.
Team Rocket's breath was still, as if a heavy lid of anticipation covered their windpipes. Their bodies froze; not a single part moved an inch. All they felt was their erratic heartbeat spinning through their chest like a loop-de-loop. Sora and his friends stepped on the trap….
….and continued towards the coliseum. Team Rocket glanced at the spot in stunned silence. They stepped out from behind the brush, approaching the trap, incredulous of what they just witnessed.
"Well," James said, his expression blank from shock, "the laws of physics just suffered a mild concussion."
"I can't believe this!" Jessie said in anger. "So much time wasted. Those precious hours could've gone to a beauty! Great plan, Meowth!"
Meowth clasped his coin in fear. "Wait! I can fix dis! Clearly you bozos did something wrong."
Meowth ran over to the trap, scrutinizing every detail, trying to deduce the issue. It didn't appear to have sunk from the footsteps. He was staring at an anomaly that defied all logic – a riddle presented by existence itself that he must solve. Meowth placed a careful foot on the hole; it remained elevated. Vexed, he started jumping up and down on the trap.
"Meowth, you know that the hole will—"
"Let him go," Jessie said, smug. "Sometimes I enjoy watching Karma kick in."
Meowth felt a sudden rumble beneath his feet, and leaped away from the spot. A disgruntled mole Pokémon with brown fur unearthed itself from the ground. Protruding from its forehead was a giant blade; two more blades served as its paws. The mole glared at the hapless cat; its eyes were heavy from being deprived of sleep.
Meowth gulped. "My, what sharp claws you have. Hopefully not da better to impale me with, I hope."
The Pokémon delivered an uppercut to Meowth, sending him flying into the air. He soared so high that he became a tiny spec among the bright blue sky. His cries of anguish echoed throughout the forest, startling other Pokémon in the process. After a big yawn, the mole retreated into the hole.
James placed a mournful hand on his chest. "Pauvre, pauvre pussycat. To blast off by oneself is to meet a fate worse than death."
"He'll be fine," Jessie said, growing irked from being stuck in the middle of incompetence. "I have another plan to get rid of those meddlers."
With excited intrigue, James said, "Ooh. Lay it on me, Jes-sizzle."
Jessie's eye twitched; her patience with Meowth and James' bumbling was standing on the edge of a diving board, preparing to tumble into the water; which would result in a splash from her sharp tongue. Before another word was spoken, Meowth fell from the sky and landed on top of James. The two were spread out on the floor, in a complete daze. Mewowth rested on James' chest.
With a heavy sigh, Jessie grabbed James' legs, and dragged them towards the stadium. "Guess I couldn't ask for better idiots."
"I resemble dat remark," Meowth said in his muddled state.
"Ah, Sora," Professor Oak said. "Punctual as always, I see."
The group saw Oak over by the desk. Standing next to him was a young man that appeared to be the same age as Red. He wore a long-sleeved blue shirt and gray jeans. The boy had similar spiky brown hair to Sora, although his stood taller. Unlike Red, however, he didn't appear as cordial; his demeanor was prideful, filled to the brim with self-confidence.
Oak gestured towards the boy. "Allow me to introduce you to my grandson: Gary."
"It's Blue, gramps," the boy said, sighing. "Every single time."
"Sorry, sorry. I know," Oak said. "My memory isn't the best."
"You here to watch?" Yoshi asked.
Blue grinned. Sora noticed a competitive shine emanating on his face. Guess their love for battle was one similar thing they had in common. "You kiddin'? I'm here to get in on some on the action. If someone has the misfortune of placing first, they have to go up against me. I suggest droppin' out now to spare the humiliation."
"Ha! No way!" Sora said, bold. "We're gonna make it all the way to finals, beat you, and not even break a sweat!"
Blue raised a somewhat impressed eyebrow. "Heh, you got guts. But a runnin' mouth says less than showing me what you can do. Better be ready, kid. This cup isn't for the faint of heart. And my Pokémon don't have the patience for amateurs."
"Just you wait and see," Sora said, not letting his confidence waver.
"Well, don't keep me waiting too long. Otherwise this won't be fun." He turned his back towards the group. "Smell ya later."
Blue headed towards the arena, leaving an unpleasant aura in his wake. Sora felt like an uncomfortable lump of coal landed in his stomach; he was riled up from Blue's arrogance. But rather than toss the coal away, he piled more onto it, producing roaring flames of determination. His friends shared the same sentiment.
"He's a bit brash," Oak said, apologetic, "but he means well."
Luigi cracked his knuckles, excited to compete for a change. "Honestly, I can't wait to wipe that smug look clean off his face!"
"Ooh, me can clean it for you!" Yoshi said, raising an eager hand. "Yoshi have just the tongue for the job."
Luigi was about to open his mouth when Sora said, "You're wasting your breath."
"For once, you've made a compelling point," Luigi said.
Sora frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Sorry to interrupt," Oak said, "but the next round will be starting soon. There is an assemble of formidable trainers in this cup. Be sure to remain focused on your teamwork!"
"Got it!" Sora said.
After reuniting with Pikachu, the group headed towards the arena. Already Sora could hear the loud, incoherent chattering from the audience. Any moment they would escalate into cheers. Sora was fervent; some nice, clean fun. No drama, no Heartless – he could toss his worries into a locker for now, and they would never escape.
Unfortunately, three individuals spying on him were about to pry open the locker. They were ready to blast off again.
The first trainer they faced off against was interesting: she was a young girl with short black hair dressed in an animal costume. The fur was light brown; sewn to her backside was a long bushy tail with a cream-colored tip; and two long ears were attached to her hoodie. She had an ecstatic grin, as if prepared to display her Pokémon with delight, like being part of a parade.
Luigi gave a curious tilt of his head. "Huh. Didn't know they had Tanooki Suits in this world."
"Isn't she one of those people that likes dressing up as an animal?" Sora asked, with an inquisitive expression.
"Me think they called….'fuzzballs,'" Yoshi said, thoughtful. He realized something and turned to Luigi. "Ooh, me had no idea you and Mario were ones!"
Luigi blushed. "What are you talking about? We use our Tanooki Suits to fly through the air like a majestic animal of Japanese lore.
"Okay, you both lost me," Sora said, giving them a vacant stare.
"Hey!" the girl said, growing impatient. "How can I show off my fabulous, oh-so adorable Eeveelutions with all this yammering?"
Sora just seemed more bemused. "An Eev—what now?"
The trainer sighed in irritation; every word had ricochet off their ears as if they were made of glass. Perhaps a visual demonstration would suffice. She summoned four quadruped Pokémon onto the arena. Each one had a similar body structure, almost looking like a fox, but their outward appearance was vastly different.
The small brown one looked exactly like the costume the trainer wore: brown fur, long ears, and bushy tail (with a cream-colored collar). It greeted the audience with a friendly squeak. To the creature's left was a Pokémon that appeared similar, except this one had orange fur, a cream-colored mane, and an even bushier tail.
To the opposite side of the brown creature were two Pokémon with black fur and light blue fur. The audience cheered for the new arrivals, which pumped an air of satisfaction into the trainer's chest.
Even Sora seemed fascinated. "Whoa! Are these Pokémon, like, a family or something?"
"Sort of," the trainer said, smirking. She gestured towards the little brown Pokémon. "This is Eevee. Using various stones, they evolve into different types of Pokémon. I'm the undisputed Eevee fanatic! I have them all! And I'm going to go into extensive detail about each one!"
"Pi?" Pikachu asked in a flat tone; it sounded like he was saying, "What?"
Yoshi gasped in amazement. "Of course! She going to give long lecture to get us to forfeit out of boredom. Diabolical."
"I think you're reading way into this," Luigi said, narrowing his eyes at the dinosaur.
Sora summoned the Keyblade. "Listen, we appreciate your enthusiasm, but actions speak louder than words! Why don't you show us what they can do?"
"You know what," the trainer said, considering Sora's suggestion, "that might be less of a hassle. Okay! But you're gonna wish you wanted the lecture, because my Eevee team is unmatched!"
The group fought against the trainer's Pokémon. Pikachu fought against Eevee, whose speed prove to be a match for the mouse. Neither seemed to gain the advantage; it was like an invisible rubber band kept them from being too far apart. Sora dodged a stream of fire from the red Pokémon (named Flareon). The heat glided by his cheek; any closer and his skin would've made a fine snack for the hungry flames.
Yoshi found himself stumbling through a sheet of ice produced by the blue Pokémon (Glaceon). The dinosaur leaped onto his shield, turning it into a makeshift sled, and slid down the ice. Glaceon launched another ice attack, but Yoshi leaned left to avoid it. Then, he rammed his head into Galceon, knocking it back a great distance.
Luigi leaned his head back to avoid a sharp claw from the dark Pokémon (Umbreon). After landing, Umbreon opened its mouth to launch a dark energy ball. Luigi deflected it with his hammer, and countered with a fire spell. Umbreon leaped left to dodge the attack. Then, it tackled Luigi to the ground. The Pokémon tried biting at his face, but, thanks to some quick maneuvering, Luigi brought his hammer up for it to bite instead.
Summoning every ounce of energy in his arms, Luigi pushed Umbreon off, sat up, and used a Gravity spell to make it lean onto the ground. Luigi hurried over to knock the Pokémon into a wall with his hammer. While the Eevee team proved formidable, Sora and his friend's synergy seemed limitless – a giant mass that was incapable of waning before opposition.
Soon, they managed to defeat the Eevee team. The trainer ran over to her Pokemon, checking on each one. She was disappointed to lose, but proud of her team for attempting to push against the giant mass.
"You guys did great," she said. "Don't worry. Next time we'll be victorious. Clearly my status as an Eevee fan needs to ascend to the next level. Once it transcends time and space, I'll be the end all of Eevee fanatics."
Sora raised an eyebrow. "Y'know, some of these Pokémon trainers seem a bit too…"
"Loco en la cabeza?" Luigi asked, in a whisper.
Sora frowned. "I was going to say, 'a bit too passionate.' You're the reason why honesty isn't always the best policy."
"An accolade I'll proudly have etched on my trousers," Luigi said in a joking manner.
Sora gave him a playful punch in the shoulder. He always knew from the beginning that there'd never be a dull moment with Luigi and Yoshi. Like right now, how they were storming their way through the ranks of the tournament.
As the group continued ascending the brackets, they faced stronger foes that made their muscles tremble from the exertion; any second, they would explode into sweat droplets. A strange mushroom-like Pokémon called Shroomish chased Luigi around the arena, staring at him with a perpetual frown that would smear anyone's good mood with depressing black ink. No matter what Luigi did, the creature dodged his attacks.
"What are you, a Rotten Mushroom?" Luigi asked. "Get lost! And stop staring at me like that! I'd like to leave this arena with some of my self-esteem intact!"
Yoshi found himself facing a rock Pokémon that appeared like an Easter Island statue. The creature's most defining feature was its giant red nose; its eyes were closed, as if sleeping.
"Huh," Yoshi said with a perplexed look. "It kinda look like statue from Princess Daisy's kingdom. But it appear to have stuffy nose. Ew! Me no want germs! Haven't you heard of apples? They keep doctors out of business!"
Suddenly, an invisible force pulled his shield forward. The dinosaur held on for dear life. He heard his feet scraping across the ground as he moved faster, heading straight for the Pokémon, until crashing into it, toppling it over in the process. Yoshi sat up on his shield, and looked down to see he had pinned the creature to the ground. The audience cheered for his inadvertent victory.
Yoshi waved to the crowd with a confused grin. "Thank you. Thank you. All part of Yoshi's master plan." He tried removing his shield from the Pokémon's nose, but it wouldn't budge. "And now, to complete plan, me need a volunteer with a crowbar. Me clearly have so many layers to it."
Pikachu was surrounded by twin Pokémon: Plusle and Minun. They were bipedal creatures with cream-colored fur. Plusle had red marks on its ears, cheeks, and stubby paws; Minun had blue marks. The two discharged electricity from their cheeks, and circled around Pikachu, keeping their target in a sparking trap.
Pikachu tried attacking Plusle with a headbutt, but it used incredible speeds to dodge the attack. Minun rammed its own head into Pikachu's ribcage, sending him tumbling onto the ground. The mouse's vision was focused on the clear blue sky. A small blotch in the form of Plusle ruined the sky's perfect coat. Plusle curled into a ball and spun faster than a windmill in a hurricane. The little Pokémon formed a giant orb of electricity.
Pikuachu scrambled onto all fours and ran away before the orb slammed onto the ground. Minun appeared from behind Pikachu and shoved him forwards. Plusle smacked him in the face with its plus shaped tail. Before Minum could continue the assault, it was frozen in a block of ice. Baffled, Plusle looked to see who was responsible for freezing its possible; this prompted Pikachu to turn around, curious, too.
It came from Luigi. A light blue mist faded from his gloved hand. "Hey, we can't let you get beaten up. You're allegedly part of our team if I remember correctly."
Pikachu rolled his eyes with a smile at the joke. Despite them being as compatible as a cacophonous choir, their combined powers were able to overwhelm the twins; they crashed into the wall, slid onto the ground, and groaned in defeat. Their perfect synchronization had been splintered apart from an unlikely alliance.
As the audience cheered, Luigi and Pikachu gave each other an approving nod. Sora noticed this display of minute respect. They were starting to bond – this overjoyed him. Their team was cultivating into an impenetrable fortress that was impossible to overthrow. Sora saw victory looming overhead; he was so close to touching it with the tips of his fingers.
After making it to the finals, the group received a thirty-minute reprieve. They were in the lobby, reminiscing over their battles. A steady stream of adrenaline continued swerving through their veins, unable to apply the brakes. In fact, their conversations only accelerated the excitement. They couldn't wait to conquer the finals and face Blue. Shredding away the layers of his thick ego
Most of the audience had wandered outside the coliseum to purchase refreshments or merchandise. The hallways were deserted. Only silence kept them company, but was soon pushed aside in favor of reverberating footsteps. They belonged to a loving couple, who walked down the hall at a leisurely pace.
Saying these two were in infatuated with each other would be an understatement. They held hands with their fingers intertwined. At moments they would glance into the other's eyes; they were like two pieces of Velcro that were impossible to rip apart. Some say an influx of sugar pours into a person's ears when they start flirting. These two were the group's opponents in the finals.
"Surgarlumps," the woman said in a disgustingly sweat voice. "That Gonzales team sure is intimidating. Think we can win?"
The man pulled her into an overdramatic embrace that would make a Shakespearean actor transmute into a stump. "Oh, Beattledumpling. No amount of imitation can make our love falter. It'll be our greatest weapon against them."
"Yeah, you're right, Snuggle-berry ice cream." She kissed him on the cheek. "Love is absolution."
With lifted spirits frolicking the ceiling, they strolled to the end of the hall. Team Rocket walked out from behind the corner, startling the couple.
"Hi, we're cupid's non-union replacements," Jessie said in a formal tone. "We're getting complaints of too much lovey dove stuff. We don't have bows and arrows, but this'll do in shutting you up."
Jessie and James punched the couple, knocking them unconscious. With sharp, watchful eyes, they dragged the two off to a secluded part of the coliseum, preparing to execute their cunning plan.
Despite massive ringing performing cartwheels in his inner ears, Sora never tired of the boisterous cheers from the audience. His chest was inflated with encouragement. He felt like his feet had been lifted onto a podium. After his altercation with Riku yesterday, it was nice to be showered with unintelligible praise (although sometimes his mind was pelted by Riku's harsh words as if they were sharp pebbles).
He had to focus his concerns elsewhere. Mainly on becoming the championship. His team seemed unbeatable; he refused to let the curtain closes on their winning streak, leaving them in a dark, murky backstage.
"And let's get the finals underway!" the announcer said, speaking with unadulterated ardor. "Here we have up and coming fan favorite: Team Gonzales the 2nd."
Luigi placed both hands on his hips, radiating with pride.
Sora sighed at Yoshi. "I'll never get used to that."
The dinosaur nodded in agreement.
"Their opponents will be everyone's favorite couple," the announcer said. "Give it up for Lea and Jed!"
Their opponents walked onto the field. Immediately, Sora and his friends were interlaced in cords of disbelief. They thought the sun was flicking false images across their pupils. Jessie and James were dressed in Lea and Jed's outfits, holding hands in the most awkward way imaginable. They did their best to feign appreciative smiles for the audience. Meowth was ahead of the two, feeling an uncomfortable breeze stagger across his whiskers.
"Yes, we are a loving couple," Jessie said, trying a bit too hard to sound convincing. "Our love is unmatched. We are so in love that we draw spicy fanart of each other."
James grabbed her cheeks with one hand and puckered his lips. "Isn't she such an eloquent ray of sunshine?"
"Release your grip," Jessie said beneath her breath, "or I'll be hitting YOU in a place where the sun DOESN'T shin."
James did as to what she commanded, and resumed walking, not making any more eye contact. For the sake of his nether region. Sora shoulder's slumped as he and the others gave Team Rocket unconvinced stares.
Luigi buried his face in both hands. "Not these idiots again."
"Seriously!?" Sora asked, placing both hands on his hips. "Who are you guys trying to fool!? We know it's you!"
"Shut it, brat!" She cleared her throat, trying to not let her pretense slip. "Erm, I mean, of course you know who we are, sweetie. Doesn't the sight of our infatuation make you want to jam a unicorn's horn into your eye?"
Team Rocket was met with scowls from Sora's group.
"Huh," James said. "Maybe I should've dressed up as the girl. I would've probably fit into those clothes better."
Jessie glowered at him. "You better rephrase that sentence, honey, if you don't want to see how this relationship ends!"
"I think it's time to break da act," Meowth said in a flat tone.
"Most sensible thing you've ever said," James said.
With one complete swoop, Jessie and James threw away their disguises, revealing their Team Rocket outfits. Somehow, the clothes weren't torn in the slightest. Even Yoshi wondered how they performed such a seamless undressing.
James smirked and held up his rose. "It's time to break the hearts of every trainer in here."
"So they better prepare for trouble," Jessie said, pressing her back against James'.
"And make it double!" James said.
Sora moaned. "Do you guys have to do that every time? Couldn't it be something short and sweet, like, I dunno: Star light, star bright. We're Team Rocket, so prepare to fight."
"What kind of motto is that?" Jessie asked, unimpressed. "No imagination, I tell you."
James was thoughtful. "Hmm, it does have a catchy ring to it." He let out a high-pitched squeal upon getting slapped in the back of the head by Jessie.
"Don't you start!" Jessie said, angered. "Our motto is flawless!" She turned to Sora, irate. "For interrupting us like that, we plan to take you down as quickly as possible!"
"Is that why you're here?" Luigi asked.
"Dat's right!" Meowth said. "Da boss will reward us for taking you out."
Sora scoffed. "I doubt it. You guys wouldn't last fighting a bucket full of teddy bears."
"Oh, yeah?" James said, uprooting his confidence. "We'll show you that we're tougher than fluff!"
Meowth smacked his forehead. Never before has a sentence struck fear into the hearts of men.
The group heard panting, and turned to see Professor Oak hurrying over to them, fighting through the burning pain in his debilitated legs. "Not again! We made sure no suspicious looking people would make it pass security."
"Either Cloud was too busy brooding," Luigi said, "or these guys are ACTUALLY crafty." He grasped his stomach. "Admitting that is actually giving me an ulcer. Great."
"Leave it to us, professor," Sora said, summoning the Keyblade with a reassuring grin. "I don't mind an encore in kicking their butts."
Oak nodded. He had grown to trust them in times of danger. Whenever the coliseum was ventilated by a dark, noxious mist, Sora and his friends would evaporate it into harmless particles. He departed the arena, leaving the fight in their hands.
Jessie gave the group a smirk. "Confident little pests, aren't you? Well, let's see how fast we can make you second guess ever attempting to face us. Ready, James?"
"You know it, Jess!"
The two summoned Arbok and Weezing to the battle.
Sora looked disappointed. "Aw, these guys again? At least make this somewhat interesting."
Arbok opened its mouth, spewing out a large ball of green sludge. The group leaped back to avoid being splashed by its contents. A putrid smell emanated from the bubbling sludge, making Sora's nose hairs reel back in disgust. Before Arbok could try again, Luigi used a Blizzard spell to freeze the Pokémon's maw shut. It struggled to break free from the icy muzzle.
Weezing hovered over the group, preparing to dress the group in a toxic cloak of gas. Yoshi threw an egg to break the Pokémon's concentration. Sora leaped into the air, unleashing a diagonal slash on the Pokémon, sending it flying into Arbok. Luigi hurried over and knocked them unconscious with a swift swing from his hammer. Team Rocket stood in dumbfounded silence as they stared at the defeated Pokémon strewn on the ground.
"Well, at least they went down quickly," James said, trying to find a spec of optimism in a corn maze of disappointment.
"That just leaves one left!" Yoshi said, glancing at Meowth.
"You want a piece of me?" Meowth rolled up his fur as if they were sleeves, in a daring mood. "Fine. No one shreds some faces like Meowth!" He failed to notice Pikachu walking over to him. "I'm the mighty predator, and you're all my pray!"
Meowth felt a presence next to him, and turned to see Pikachu smirking at the cat. With a simple tap of the should, Pikachu zapped Meowth. The cat Pokémon collapsed onto the ground, fur ruffled and blackened. His dazed expression was upturned towards the sky, staring at the endless blue void.
Until it was covered by an annoyed Jessie. "I think the mighty predator overhyped himself. Stick to preying on cat food. Least they can't retaliate."
"This is getting old," Luigi said, exasperated. "Why don't you guys just quit? Humiliating yourselves is only going to make your time in jail more unpleasant."
James smirked. His confidence stood tall against the overwhelming pressure of defeat. "Jokes on you. We're quite proficient at humiliating ourselves already. However, I still have a trick up my sleeve."
He pulled out a golden Poké Ball from his pocket. Some people in the audience started murmuring to each other, fascinated by its unusual coat. Luigi squinted and noticed that it didn't reflect off the sunlight. Obviously, someone painted gold; to make it masquerade as a valuable item. However, Jessie and Meowth (who recovered from his embarrassing defeat) stared at it awe.
"Where did you get that?" Jessie asked, mesmerized. "Better yet, where can I get one? It's fabulous!"
"It belongs to that couple," James said. "With a striking gold color, this Pokémon must be amazing! Brace yourself!"
Sora and his friend felt rigid like a board. They didn't know what could lurk inside the ball, especially if someone went to the effort of painting it gold. Maybe it was manufactured to contain a Pokémon with unfathomable power that would turn this arena into a giant crater. They had to keep their guard from tunneling into the earth from fear (something Luigi wasn't against, however).
James threw the ball; it landed on the ground, opened, and unleashed a bright flash. Sora started leaning towards the light, eager to see this supposed rare Pokémon. His heart wanted to escape into his throat to witness the reveal. A fish with orange scales emerged from the light….and then plopped onto the ground.
Silence dispersed throughout the arena. Everyone waited to see what this Pokémon could do. And soon it unleashed a devastating attack….
…that involved it just flopping up and down.
The entire stadium quivered from uproarious laughter. Jessie's face turned bright red, in both embarrassment and anger. "A Magikarp!? Are you kidding me!?"
"Huh," James said. "I thought that was a corpse for a second there."
"Good job at having enough forethought to actually CHECK what was in dat Poké Ball," Meowth said, stinging James' ears with a sarcastic tongue. "Stupidity seems to dictate every decision you make, huh?"
"Shut up!" James said, snapping back at him. "I'm sure this Pokémon can do something!" He turned to Sora's group. "Are any of you allergic to fish?"
While bewildered by this whole revelation, the group shook their heads in response.
James sighed. "Well, I'm spent."
The force of James' inane words made Jessie and Meowth fall onto the ground.
"Gotta admit," Sora said with an amused grin, "these three would make a good half time act."
Jessie stood up, insulted. "We're not here for your entertainment! You should be intimated by us! This isn't fair!"
Irate, she kicked Magikarp. This irrational decision would lead to her being forever stalked by a lifetime of regret. The Pokémon's entire body was covered by a white glow. Everyone watched with gapping mouths as Magikarp's body morphed into a long, serpentine creature that towered over the entire stadium.
The glow faded, revealing its massive blue, overlapping scales. Unlike the previous form's vacant, harmless stare, this Pokémon opened its furious jaw, revealing four pointed teeth. It let out a deafening roar that distorted the sky. The audience's jovial mood had been struck by a lightning bolt of panic. Without a proper trainer, this Pokémon (called Gyrados) could run rampant.
"Oh, come on!" Luigi said, aggravated. "Why can't we ever have an easy fight!?"
Gyrados remembered how it came to be; a small, lingering ache made its scales tremble in irritation. Its sharp, furious eyes were set upon Team Rocket. Specifically, Jessie.
"I think you hurt its feelings," Meowth said, overcome with fear.
Trying to quell the Pokémon's animosity, Jessie said in a pleasant voice, "Hey. That was my bad. You know how we humans can be: overemotional. Ain't that just the funniest thing you've ever heard?"
It roared straight in their faces.
"I think the joke escapes him," James said.
Using its tail, Gyrados knocked Team Rocket into the air.
"We're blasting off again!" Jessie and James cried together.
As they disappeared into the horizon, Meowth bellowed, "Who saw dat commiiiiinnnnggggg?"
"Good riddance!" Yoshi said, relieved. Luigi poked his shoulder and motioned him towards the towering Gyrados. "Oh yeah. There still him."
Gyrados tried biting at the group, but they rolled away just in time.
"Okay!" Sora said. He was somewhat excited. "We're finally gonna have a fight on our hands!"
Luigi gave him an incredulous look. "Sometimes his sanity is cause for concern."
Gyrados swung its tail at Yoshi, who blocked it with his shield. However, the force was strong enough to knock him into a wall. Gyrados opened its maw, summoning a spiraling orb of water. Aquaphobia clutched at Yoshi's limbs, preventing him from moving. Before Gyrados could attack, Luigi leaped into the air, swinging his hammer into its cheek. Although distracted from the strike, the Pokémon held the water in its mouth, faced Luigi, and unleashed a stream upon him. Luigi felt like he had been hit by a boat; the force was incredible. His nose and ears were filled with water.
He crashed into a wall, collapsing onto the ground. His body struggled to move; it had been locked behind a crate of pain. While Gyrados was distracted, Pikachu managed to leap onto its back; to Gyrados, it felt like an irksome bug. The Pokémon squirmed around, hoping to make Pikachu lose his balance, but he held on for dear life. Pikachu unleashed his Thunder attack, which did cause minor damage. Gyrados was able to fight against the surge rummaging through its scales.
Sora noticed that Gyrados was weak to thunder, and helped by casting his own spell. Gyrados roared from the increase static flow. Its muscles convolved from the overwhelming takeover of electricity. But the Pokémon's force of will proved to match the combined surge. Opening its maw, Gyrados unleashed a burst of wind that knocked Sora into a wall; the back of his head was hit with a sudden jolt.
Sora felt like his brain rattled inside of his skull. The world started veering into different direction. He fought to hold onto consciousness. Meanwhile, Gyrados was able to throw Pikachu from its body, sending the little mouse tumbling onto the ground. The large Pokémon turned to Luigi; he would be its first victim.
Gyrados opened its mouth again; small, orange circles started spinning around inside, forming a ball of energy. A sudden, harsh wind rushed through the coliseum. Luigi noticed the energy growing; he was starting to recover, but found standing to his feet difficult. But his accelerated, nervous heart rate was in perfect working condition.
Pikachu noticed Luigi was in trouble. No one else would make it to him in time. There wasn't even a sliver of hesitation; he ran right for him.
"Pikpi!" Pikachu shouted.
Gyrados fired the beam; time crawled to a halt as Luigi's vision was filled by the orange beam. Then, he felt something rough push against his shoulder, knocking him away from the blast.
With time still listless, he turned to catch a glimpse of Pikachu taking the full blast. His body was paralyzed again – this time from absolute horror. He watched as the mouse's limp body fell onto the ground. Adrenaline burst through Luigi's numb limbs, allowing him to make a dash for Pikachu.
Sora had recovered just in time to witness the whole ordeal. His chest tightened in absolute dread. He felt nauseous. From where he stood, Pikachu's body was lifeless, unresponsive – a shell that spilled its soul onto the floor. Sora and Yoshi hurried to their friend. Luigi looked over Pikachu: his fur was disheveled, covered in black marks. Some were soot, while others were large, purple bruises.
Luigi was overwhelmed by so many emotions. He couldn't believe this was real. After all the times they bickered, showing clear distaste for each other, Pikachu risked his life. This made him feel worse.
He held the mouse in his arms. There was a faint glow in Pikachu's eyes. "You…saved me…"
After giving Luigi a warm smile, he fainted. Panicked, Luigi pressed his fingers against the mouse's neck. At first, nothing. Luigi's body shook in agitation. He felt himself shrink into a remorseful seed, wanting to be secluded inside it. But then, a light pulse pressed against his fingers. A huge sigh rolled out of his mouth.
The others arrived. Sora was in a state of panic. "No, no. This can't be happening! Are you alright? Please, answer me!"
"He's alive," Luigi said in a reassured tone, "but is going to need help right away." Their conversation was interrupted by a roar. It instilled a quiet rage in Luigi that grew louder. He lowered Pikachu, gripped his hammer, and turned to face Gyrados with unrestrained resentment. "But he's not the only who's going to need help! Yoshi, get Pikachu out of here!"
Yoshi nodded. He glanced at the wounded mouse, trying to fight back the tears in his eyes. Sora placed Pikachu on the dinosaur's back, and he left to seek medical attention. The Gyrados stared Luigi in the eyes, undaunted from his fury. Sora had never seen his friend in such an enraged state. It motivated him to push his worry aside, and fight to prevent Pikachu's sacrifice from being in vain.
"This one is for the mouse!" Luigi said.
Sora unleashed his spiraling beam attack. Gyrados braced itself, catching the attack with its hard scales. Luigi charged the head of his hammer with electricity, jumped onto the edge of the bleachers, leaped off them, and slammed it right on Gyrados' head. The Pokémon screamed in pain from the combined force; its face slammed into the ground.
Sora also charged his Thunder spell through the Keyblade, ran straight at Gyrados, and unleashed his devastating combo attack. The Pokemon was defenseless from each sharp, electric strike. Once Sora delivered the final blow, Luigi ran over and used his fire uppercut to knock it upward.
Then, the two entwined their weapons, and shouted, "THUNDER!"
A giant bolt of lightning struck Gyrados; it was overwhelmed from the massive pain. Unable to grasp for any energy, it collapsed onto the ground. The battle was over. They had obtained victory. The audience erupted into an uncontrollable geyser of cheers and applauses.
But there was no reason to celebrate. The noise had been subdued by grief. Sora and Luigi stared at the spot where the little mouse had been laying. To quote the old saying: "There's no I in team." A cliched, yet effective ideal that had held the group together in this tournament.
But there's no team without Pikachu.
Sora's leg jittered as he tried to release the nervous tension in it. He and the others were in the waiting area of The Pokémon Center – a facility for sick and injured Pokémon. It was devoid of people. They sat in silence. On occasion, a news reporter would chime in on TV about current events. Sora tried focusing on anything else; the ceiling fan spinning in a clockwise motion, the magazines with colorful covers on the table, or the reporter droning in his ears.
Nothing worked. That image of a bruised and battered Pikachu played on a constant loop. He glanced at the others: Luigi looked sick. He was pallid, glancing at the floor. His hands were clasped together, jerking up and down in a rapid motion. Yoshi wrapped a comforting arm around Luigi's back, looking forlorn. Isabelle tended to her journal, trying to keep herself busy.
Time seemed to be taking a leisurely stroll. How long have they been waiting? Sora felt like he was being dragged back and forth across the room, on his stomach – the nervous pangs grew like a wart.
"Man, what a way to spend our day off, huh?" Sora said, trying to clear the uncomfortable air.
"He going to be fine," Yoshi said. Whether to himself or the others, Sora wasn't sure.
Luigi's expression remained stuck in a state of apprehension. His blue eyes remained fixed on the ground. "I hope you're right. If something happens to…"
"Don't think that," Sora said in a firm tone. "We shouldn't assume the worse. I feel bad enough as it is."
They were startled by the sudden sound of a mechanical door opening. The group turned to see a nurse wearing a light pink outfit (the left shoulder part of the outfit was colored white) enter pushing a miniature hospital trolly. Resting on the trolly, covered in bandages, was Pikachu. Everyone sprung from their seats and hurried over to check on the little mouse.
While frail and exhausted, Pikachu was awake. He gave the three a faint smile, happy to be in their company.
"Easy, now," the nurse said. "He isn't in the best condition." She gave a reassuring smile. "But he's expected to make a full recovery."
The group thought they were going to collapse from the overwhelming relief. Things would have never been the same if they lost Pikachu. They would see no reason to compete anymore. Victory didn't matter if not everyone could share in its delicacies.
Sora lightly stroked Pikachu's head. "You're somethin' else, little guy. I'm so glad you're going to be fine."
Yoshi licked Pikachu's face. Isabelle was amazed by the mouse's resilience; if it wasn't for the 'world order,' he would've fit right in with the group. Luigi approached Pikachu next. Words struggled to squeeze into his throat. He had been rude to Pikachu since the beginning. Now, he saved his life. Guilt had been strapped to his conscience.
"Pikachu, I….I just…wanted to say…well," Luigi said, uncomfortable.
Pikachu responded with a warm smile, and licked his nose. Emotions started to swell in Luigi's body. Tears started forming in his eyes. He responded to the loving gesture by brushing his fingers across Pikachu's cheek. Sora placed an arm around Yoshi; the two smiled at each other, elated that Luigi and Pikachu were bonding.
Their team had just hit a huge growth spurt. Obtaining the championship title seemed guaranteed now.
"Well, it seems like Pikachu is doing fine." Everyone turned to see Professor Oak strolling over to them, experience the same assuagement the others were feeling.
Sora grinned. "Yep. Forget these legendary Pokémon – this little guy's the real deal. Couldn't ask for a better teammate."
"It would appear so," Oak said. "He has been an asset in your crusade. Colored me impressed. This is probably not the most appropriate time to ask, but would you be willing to face Blue soon? He has another engagement somewhere."
Sora looked disappointed. "Sure. But what about…?" His eyes trailed off towards Pikachu; the match wouldn't be the same without him. Their team was incomplete. Sure, Luigi and Yoshi were his most cherished allies, but the tournament was different. He had fun with them, plus Pikachu. It wasn't fair that he would miss out on the excitement – to bathe in the cheers of the rambunctious crowd. His team felt…incomplete.
Pikachu noticed the indecisive game of tennis bouncing in Sora's eyes. He gave Sora an approving nod.
"You…want us to face him now?" Sora asked.
Pikachu nodded again.
"Pikachu sure?" Yoshi asked.
"Pika!" Pikachu said in a happy tone.
"That sounds like a yes," Luigi said. "Is that alright, Professor?"
"Don't see why not," Oak said. "But, if you make it to the next round, I expect him to be in tip top shape!"
Sora's joy had returned. There was no need to worry anymore. The only thing on his mind was erasing that pompous smile from Blue's face. The others found themselves enfolded in his enthusiasm. They shared his sentiments, and were not going to lose.
"You got it," Sora said. "Come on, guys! Let's win this one for Pikachu!"
Pikachu was happy to be alive. He would've hated to miss being a part of this incredible team. No. An incredible group of lifelong friends.
Free from worry, Sora's ears guzzled the pleasant sounds of applause from the audience. How he missed feeling uplifted, like a proud flag waving in the air. Ahead of them was Blue, standing with his arms crossed, once again donning that arrogant grin.
"Well, lookie who decided to show up," Blue said in a condescending tone. "Hope you boys are prepared for your first and only loss in this competition. I'm not one to disappoint the crowd."
Sora's confidence stood firm before Blue's own. "Oh, you've got it backwards. After we win, the crowd's going to convert."
"Heh, that tongue of yours doesn't miss a beat, does it?" Blue said, smirking. "Good. I can't wait for it to shut after this is over!" He pulled out a Poké Ball "Time to meet your maker! Go, Blastoise!"
Blue tossed the ball, and out came a giant blue turtle with two silver cannons attached to the top of its shell. It pointed them right at the trio.
An uneasy, nervous feeling gurgled in Yoshi's stomach. "Huh. That Pokémon look familiar."
Blastoise launched a stream of water from its cannons. Luigi dove onto his stomach. The gurgling splashed faster in Yoshi's stomach, transforming into a panicked typhoon.
"Now me know!" Yoshi said, terrified. "It like little water turtle!" He looked at his friends. "Me gonna miss you guys!"
Yoshi started to run, but Sora stopped him. "Wait! We need you! This isn't the time to pull a Luigi."
"Yeah," Luigi said, in surprise agreement. "Don't pull a…" he realized what Sora had said. His expression narrowed. "Y'know, there are other examples of cowardice in the wide world of space!"
Yoshi turned back to Sora, agitated. "Bu…but…me hater water."
"I know," Sora said, placing both hands on the dinosaur's shoulders. He gave him an encouraging smile. "You gotta look past that. We're here to have fun, but it's important we train, too. Gotta overcome our weaknesses, ya know?"
Yoshi's eyes dropped towards the floor. "Me not sure."
"I promise I'll be right here," Sora said. "I won't let the water touch you. Okay?"
Yoshi's courage pushed through the endless tall grass of his aquaphobia until he found the light. He could always trust Sora; there was never an uncertain blur smeared on his words. It raised his confidence, and made him strive to fight harder.
"Alright," Yoshi said, his fortitude reforming like clay. "Me try!"
"Try faster!" Luigi said in an urgent tone. "Look out!"
Everyone moved away from another stream of water. Blastoise charged for straight for the trio. Sora brought his blade downward, but the Pokemon retracted into its shell, spun like a top, and deflected the attack. Since Sora was caught off guard, this gave Blastoise ample time to stand up, and throw a punch.
Sora recovered just in time, bringing his blade up to block. The force from the punch was strong enough to make him stumble backwards. Upon regaining balance, he noticed the inside of Blastoise's cannons glowing bright. While not a water attack, whatever it was would be just as, if not more, devastating.
Blastoise fired two energy beams at the boy. Yoshi leaped in front of Sora and caught them with his shield. The two struggled against the beams; they were sliding backwards. Luigi hurried over, leaped into the air, and delivered a punch to the Pokémon's face. Blastoise stared at him, unfazed from the knuckles pushing against its skin.
"Aw," Blue said, feigning sympathy. "You left an indent on his nicely defined cheek bones. He's not too happy about that. Has a modeling career to maintain."
Luigi gulped, leaped onto the ground, and upturned his head to see the Pokémon giving him a vicious glare. He let out an exasperated sigh.. "Why are giant turtles the bane of my existence?"
Blastoise prepared to ram its head straight into Luigi. He leaped over the Pokémon, landing behind it, and swung his hammer towards Blastoise's vulnerable tail. Sensing danger, the Pokémon retracted into its shell. Then, it spun again, ramming right into Luigi's stomach, knocking him across the arena.
After standing up again, the Pokémon saw Sora run towards it carrying both the Keyblade and Yoshi's shield. Blastoise launched another stream of water. Sora braced himself with the shield, taking the full blast. He pushed against the stream, walking towards the Pokémon. Blue gritted his teeth at Sora's persistence. He wouldn't be bested by some nobody. Once, he was considered a Pokémon champion….
…until his greatest rival snatched the title away from him. He refused to experience loss again. Blue commanded his Pokémon to unleash a bigger stream. Harsh splashes of water slapped Sora in the face, but he held his ground.
"Yoshi, now!" Sora shouted.
Yoshi wrapped his tongue around one of the cannons, and pulled it towards him, making Blastoise lose its balance. Sora conjured Thunder into the shield, ran at the large turtle, and delivered an electric punch with it. This time, Blastoise reeled back from the pain. Blue was at a loss for words. Some random kid was overcoming his strongest Pokémon!? This had to be a nightmare.
Sora spun around, charged the Keyblade with Thunder, and slashed across the Pokémon's stomach. It stumbled backwards, struggling against the surging pain. Blastoise pointed the cannons upward, firing water into the sky. A huge downpour descended straight for Sora. He leaped away just in time, and retaliated by throwing the Keyblade at the Pokémon. Blastoise retracted into its shell again, deflecting the blade. Luigi hurried over, and, using his hammer like a golf club, sent the shell spinning into a wall.
The audience felt the powerful force from the bleachers. It only made their excitement for the match soar above the clouds. Blastoise stood up, dizzy, staring at a spinning room. Sora created an ice patch underneath the Pokémon's feet, making it slip onto to the ground. Taking the opportunity, Yoshi jumped onto the bleachers, leaped off them, and delivered his butt stomp onto Blastoise's chest.
Despite the protective shell, the Pokémon gasped from the sudden release of air; it was like being hit with a bowling ball. Regaining control of its sense, Blastoise retracted into the shell again, and spun around like a fast, uncontrollable carousal, until Yoshi went flying onto the ground.
Blastoise ran over to the dinosaur and tried slamming its fist on top of him. Yoshi brought his shield up to catch it. The Pokémon tried attacking with the opposite fist, only for Yoshi to roll away this time. Luigi swung his hammer right into Blastoise's cheek. Ignoring the sudden, painful indent scrunched against the bone, the Pokémon retaliated with a headbutt, knocking Luigi backwards.
Its focus shifted to Sora, who stood ready, gripping the handle of his blade with both hands. Blastoise became furious with them. The aches that rattled through the Pokémon's body was a sign of weakness, something it considered the ultimate offense. Blastoise refused to continue being paraded around a conveyer belt of humiliation. Its mind always played one single track: obtaining victory.
And it shared that track with one other person: Blue. He gritted his teeth in frustration; the feeling of defeat would not emerge again, remaining trapped beneath his incredible skills as a trainer.
Blue commanded his Pokémon: "Use Hydro Pump!"
Water started building inside of the canons, trembling in trepidation from the power. But Sora didn't exhibit any fear; his confidence would not fail about like a nervous buoy before the tidal wave. He waited as excessive water poured from cannons; they shook faster, preparing to burst like pipes.
Sora took his chance by unleashing a Thunder Spell into the canons. Upon contact with the water, it sent a powerful surge throughout Blastoise's body. It screamed in pain, unable to resist the electrical grip squeezing out every ounce of energy. Sora finished the job with his spiral attack, which resulted in a minor explosion upon impact.
Blue gaped for a long time; so long that his jaw became numb. He wanted to believe that the overwhelming visual commotion had deceived his eyes. But that wasn't the case – the eyes only speak the truth. Once the smoke cleared, he saw Blastoise paralyzed from the pain. The Pokémon tried to move, but it was entangled in vines of fatigue; soon, they released their grip, and Blastoise collapsed onto the ground. The audience cheered for Sora and his friend's victory.
"No way!" Blue said, still in disbelief. "I lose to these punks!? What is life!?"
"Luigi, Luigi. Oh yeah," Luigi said, performing a victory dance. "Number one!"
Yoshi leaped into Sora's arms, and the two spun around together, laughing in excitement. They won their second tournament. An incredible sense of pride filled their chest like jugs. It was hard to describe the euphoria that pranced around their heads. In the beginning, they were rookies – underdogs that had to prove themselves. Now, they were true contenders.
If they won the tournament, a large thumbprint of their accomplishments would be marked on this world. They would become legends – a title Luigi would gladly flaunt in front of everyone back at home. It would show that he was just as important as his brother. Even right now, his confidence parted the clouds from its sheer volume.
Sora walked over to Blue, who had recalled his Pokémon. He tried to hide the disappointment on his face (and was doing a poor job at it, too). Losing was a rare feeling for him. At times, it was hard to cope with the idea. But he had to remind himself that defeat is a part of life – that it imprints experience, which will cultivate into more victories.
"Hey, good game, man," Sora said, walking over to him with a friendly smile. "Your Pokémon gave us quite a workout."
Blue crossed his arms, frowning. Sora was a bit uncomfortable, at first. He had no intention of upsetting him. But he soon relaxed as Blue smirked, and the two shook hands.
"Thanks," Blue said. "I'm not exactly a graceful loser."
Sora made his famous grin. "Could've fooled me."
"Oh, you're a riot," Blue said, sarcastic. "But I'll admit: you three are adequate together."
Sora raised an eyebrow. "Just adequate?"
"Take what you can get," Blue said. "Don't give out compliments like candy."
Sora chuckled. "Fair enough."
"Will you promise something?" Blue asked. "If you make it to the championship round, beat Red good. I'm not the only one who has to lose."
Sora couldn't help but let out a soft scoff. A memory from his island creaked open like a wooden door. "Let me guess: you're his rival, right?"
"What are you, psychic or something?" Blue asked.
"No," Sora said with a sentimental smile. "I just know from personal experience."
"Whatever. Best of luck. Don't let me down. Smell ya later." He took his leave from the arena.
Blue's ego was enveloped in a block of ice: hard and cold on the outside; prideful and arrogant on the inside. But it's what made him strong – what kept his confidence afloat during an intense match. Sometimes we need to remain obstinate when facing opposition; otherwise, we'd crumble from the pressure of battle. But, if you squint at the block, you can see a soft – albeit small – feather.
Sora could tell that, deep down, Blue was a decent person; he just didn't show those feelings often. Still, Sora would keep his promise to defeat Red. Why not? It was his goal, too. But reaching it would be treacherous, like trudging through thick mud. Training would make the struggle less tedious. Perhaps some more time with Kraden would help.
Luigi and Yoshi walked towards Sora, ready to join him in continuing the celebration.
"That was good!" Yoshi said, looking relieved. "And me didn't get wet once." Until he stepped in a puddle. The aquaphobia switch let off a loud click in his ears. "Get it off! Get it off!"
Yoshi wiped his foot on Luigi's overalls. "Hey!"
Sora shook his head. Yep. Off to magical bootcamp they go.
The sun reached the top of the sky, glancing down on the world's scalp, witnessing a breeze brush through its grassy hair. On occasion, Pokémon would emerge from the grass, feeling the omnipresent heat slide across their fur, and then retreat into the thin grains, finding salvage in the form of shade. Today was gorgeous.
But it wasn't for Jessie, James, and Meowth.
They found themselves stranded in a large open field, among the blooming flowers and wild Pokémon. It didn't matter where they were right now. Failure had cast a shadow over them; it was even bigger this time. They were fearful of their boss' outrage. Already they could hear it pinch against their ears like a stag beetle.
James pulled out his cell phone, let out a quivering sigh, and dialed Giovanni's number. He winced in fear upon hearing the click of it answering. Giovanni sounded annoyed already, as if he had been interrupted from something important. The conversation was off to a fantastic start, James thought.
After swallowing nervous salvia in his throat, James recounted their defeat to Giovanni. Every sentence was like stepping on hot embers; it was painful to hear the words come out of his own mouth.
As expected, Giovanni was furious, and James stomach started to sink from the weight of each sentence. "I granted you a second opportunity, and look what happened? You made our entire operation about as intimidating as a bouncy castle occupied with bunnies!"
Jessie and Meowth could hear the harshness of Giovanni's voice reach them, too; they appeared discouraged.
"Please, sir," James said. "Give us one more chance. We'll reevaluate how our team functions and come up with a solid plan."
"No," Giovanni said, his loud, angered voice ringing in James' ear. "My patience with you three has run out! Failure is something I will not allow to persist! You're done! Afflict your blunders on some other organization!"
He heard the phone slam, and then, silence. James lowered it, and faced the other two, crestfallen.
"Bad news?" Jessie asked.
James struggled to form the appropriate words. It was difficult. He thought he was about to spew lies. But they were the truth, something he didn't want to believe.
"It's over for us," James said with a heavy heart.
The three sat in silence, absorbing the devastating news. Only wild Pokémon responded with dour chatter, which echoed throughout the vast field. Processing their termination was difficult. Team Rocket had become a part of their identity; in an instant, it was taken away, leaving them as white, empty canvases.
"How can I go on after this?" James asked, despondent. "My dreams have been smashed to pieces."
"I know how you feel," Jessie said. "My life was devoted to Team Rocket."
Meowth lay in the grass, curling himself into a ball, depressed. "It's not fair. I just wanted to be loved. Why is dat so hard for me? Maybe dat's da way it's supposed to be."
His mood sunk into the soil, where it wanted to reside, and never see sunlight again. But Jessie excavated it by stroking the back of his oval shaped head.
"You know that's not true," Jessie said with sincerity. "Why are we still with you, then?"
Meowth sat up with a brightened expression. "You…you won't leave Meowth?"
"As much as we quibble," Jessie said, "I care for you two. No one else has left such a positive impression on me like that. Your passion to do wrong – it keeps me smiling."
"And the way you keep me in order – I feel like it helps me focus," James said.
Jessie rose to her feet with exuberance. A small dirt road was painted on the empty canvas. "Exactly. It's the end of Team Rocket, but not the end of us! We'll forge our own path! Wherever it leads to, there's no need to worry; I'll have you two idiots by my side."
"Good ol' Jesse," James said, chuckling. He rose to meet her gaze, which glistened with a positivity. "Alright. I'm ready to follow you!"
Excited, Meowth jumped onto her shoulders. "Me too! Lead da way!"
"No free riding!" Jessie said, placing him back on the ground. "You have to work just as hard as us."
"Fine. Fine," Meowth said. "Suppose that'll make you happy."
Jesse extended her hand to James. "Ready to find our future?"
If you asked James that a few months ago, he would be terrified to answer. At the time, he was alone. Nothing mattered to him more than Team Rocket. It was his life – his everything. He walked on a set path. Now, it appeared disoriented, muffled in a fog of uncertainty. He was afraid to walk through it alone. But he would never have to, not when Jesse and Meowth were by his side.
"You know it!" James said as he grabbed her hand, cheerful.
The three left the field, ready to forge their own tomorrow.
A/N: Special thanks to VISION-KING for the idea of including the Eeveelutions. You rock, dude!
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