"Alright guys, dig in!" Ash said, setting down the food bowls before getting out of the way of the group of hungry Pokemon.
"Hey, sorry about lashing out earlier." Rosa said, walking over to Lacey.
"It's alright, I get where you were coming from. I'm glad Elliot has friends like you and Ash though." Lacey said.
"Even though I lost horribly?" Rosa asked with a laugh.
"Yes, even with that." Lacey responded.
"Hey Braviary are you going to join us?!" Ash called out into the skies. He knew his flying type was nearby, but it was probably enjoying the open fresh air.
"Relax Ash, just as the earth is an open expanse to a ground type, a flying type has reign over the sky." Clay said.
"That's very poetic." Ash admitted.
"Read it off a fortune cookie." Clay admitted. "So you're hoping to challenge me to a gym battle I hear."
"Yes sir. It would be my fifth badge, but I'd rather not do it today, if that's alright." Ash admitted.
"Of course it's alright, we should enjoy this weather while we can." Clay said with a chuckle.
As if on cue, a few raindrops fell on Lacey and Rosa, then on Elliot and Porygon2.
"That's strange, it was just clear a minute ago." Ash said, noticing the clouds.
"What's that, a twerpish complaint I hear?" A woman's voice called out.
"Sorry to rain on your parade, but you and your friends are our ticket to a big payday." A man's voice said.
"Team Rocket!" Ash exclaimed.
"That's right twerp!" Meowth said, rushing towards the group with Palpitoad and a Whirlipede.
"It that Pokemon, talking?" Lacey asked.
"Yeah, he's part of Team Rocket, a bunch of thieves!" Rosa said. "They tried to kidnap me!"
"Hey we're no thieves, we're the good guys, getting these troublesome fighters outta this pristine park." Meowth said.
"Oh sure and who would believe that. Pikachu use Iron Tail!" Ash called out.
"Where are those two who spoke earlier." Clay said, trying to solve the other mystery.
As Pikachu leapt at Palpitoad who was causing the rain, his tail was blocked by a scalchop.
"No." Ash said.
"That's right Twerp, we got a new member on our team. See Dewott here ain't too big a fan of yous lot either, considering how you didn't rescue and then forgot all about him, so no he's an official member of Team Rocket." Meowth said.
"Dewott they're deceiving you, they're the bad guys!" Rosa exclaimed.
"Dew Wott!" Dewott exclaimed, throwing both of his scalchops in wide arches, hitting something that sprung a net up around Servine, Riolu, Darumaka, Larvesta, Herdier, Minccino, and Excadrill.
"Pikachu break the net with Thunderbolt!" Ash called out.
"Not so fast. Palpitoad subdue with Mud Sport!" James called out.
Pikachu was quickly covered in a thick mud, nullifying his electric attacks.
"We'll be taking these dangerous Pokemon somewhere far away from this park now." Meowth said, as he grabbed Pikachu before leaping onto the net, being lifted by Team Rocket's balloon.
"Braviary, where are you!" Ash shouted.
"Onix grab that net!" Clay said, along out the rock snake as it extended itself, grabbing onto the net.
"Dewott my new pal, be a dear and remove the problem Pokemon." Jessie said kindly.
"Dew." Dewott said, grabbing a scalchop.
"Pika Pi!" Pikachu tried to argue, as the mud around him hardened.
"Porygon2 break the net with Ice Beam!" Elliot called out.
Porygon2 flew up towards the net as the two scalchops launched, striking him and Onix on the heads, freeing Team Rocket.
"Bra!" Braviary said, flying towards the balloon, aimed right at the net.
"Meowth do something!" Jessie exclaimed.
"Doing it!" Meowth said, sending out an electrified net that entangled Braviary up into it.
"Brilliant work!" Jessie exclaimed.
"Dew! Dewott! Dew!" Dewott argued.
"Oh relax, we ain't the bullies, they was attacking us remember." Meowth reminded.
"Dewdew Dewott Dewott Dew!" Dewott argued.
"Oh yeah, well last I checked there were five of us and only one of you." Meowth remarked.
"Dew!" Dewott said, grabbing his scalchops.
"Meowth what's Dewott doing?" James asked.
"He's not happy that we attacked the twerps Braviary with that electrified net." Meowth said.
"Well we didn't have another plan to take down and snatch such a powerful Pokemon!" Jessie pointed out.
"Dewott!" Dewott said, tossing a scalchop out the side of the balloon, before leaping forward, and breaking Pikachu free from his muddy imprisonment.
"Oh no." James said.
"It doesn't matter, we still have all the other…". Jessie said, noticing the cut net being levitated by Porygon2.
"Bra!" Braviary cheered, tossing Dewott's other scalchop back to him.
"Dew." Dewott said, as he and Pikachu hopped onto Braviary.
"Meowth what'd he say?" James asked.
"Good luck." Meowth commented as a razor shell sliced right through their balloon.
"It looks like we're blasting off again!" The trio cried.
Back on the ground
"Dewott, thank you, you saved everyone." Ash said.
"Dew." Dewott said walking off.
"Dewott wait! You don't have to go out on your own." Ash said.
"Dew." Dewott said, turning around.
"You can stay here and join us, be with Servine again." Ash offered.
"Dew." Dewott scoffed before continuing his leave.
"Do you think he'll be okay?" Rosa asked.
"He just was tricked and almost helped the very thing he swore against, I think he just needs some time to heal and recover from that." Clay commented. "Ash, as for our gym battle, how would you feel about having it tomorrow?"
"Sounds good to me Clay, I'm looking forward to it!" Ash said.
Later that night, outside the city
"Dew?" Dewott questioned, hearing a roar in the wind, calling for him to head north. "Wott." Dewott said in certainty, diving into the river.