Chapter 4 - Team Rocket and Fan Service
Viridian City finally came into view.
The city itself was a little surprising. It was nowhere near the scale of massive metropolises like New York or Chicago, but the suburban sprawl of neighborhoods, industrial districts, and high-rise buildings still dwarfed anything I had seen in the Pokémon games.
Stationed right beside Viridian's main gates stood a lone police box, likely placed to monitor incoming travelers. The police box was lit from within, but I didn't see any sign of Officer Jenny. I frowned as I got closer to the police box to look through the window. I didn't think it had been mentioned in the anime, but I was pretty sure one of the manga had explained the gender dynamics at play in the Pokémon world. Why most of the important fields of work in the Pokémon world were dominated by women—from Officer Jennys in every town to Nurse Joys staffing every Pokémon Center.
It was because most men were like Brock's father, Flint. They tended to try and pursue riches and glory by becoming great and famous Pokémon trainers. But similar to aspiring Hollywood actors, the vast majority failed to achieve such lofty goals. The harsh truth was...not everyone had what it took to be a Pokémon trainer and more people failed than succeeded. Some men realized this early enough and were able to make a change of career, but others (like Flint) chased their dreams until the bitter end, becoming poor wanderers chasing battles and badges unable to integrate back into society. And when injuries or defeat piled up, those broken former trainers often had little to fall back on, having become adults with no skills other than the ability to throw a Pokéball, leaving them unproductive drains on society.
They were nothing but talk.
Unreliable.
Always dreaming of getting rich quick.
If people like that were allowed to be police, bankers, or doctors, cities would be filled with thieves, and hospitals would create casualties rather than cure them.
It was because of that widespread belief in this world that the most important and serious jobs in this country were handled by women.
Who was he to judge though? I was just another teenager wearing ragged clothes, stumbling into a city late at night to chase the very same dream. Hypocritical as it was, I didn't bother to think about the fact that I was just like those unreliable men, trying to become the one-in-a-million Pokémon trainer who would rise above the rest.
Unlike them, I was going to be the exception. The one-in-a-million who succeeded where so many others failed.
I trudged up Viridian's main street toward the Pokémon Center, my disheveled state drew little attention from the locals. Business owners closed up their stores for the night while restaurants bustled with families and young couples enjoying late dinners. No one gave my messy clothing a second glance. I knew how strange I must have looked, walking up main street scratched to hell and covered in mud. Yet no one seemed to care as I made way through the quiet streets.
Ragged appearances were clearly not unusual around here. Which actually made a lot of sense when I thought about it. In a world like Pokémon, seeing dirty and tired travelers was probably a common occurrence in most cities.
"YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!"
A female voice announced through intercoms placed all around the city. Being right under a streetlight with one such speaker attached to it; I caught every bit of the high frequency that allowed Officer Jenny's voice to be heard throughout Viridian.
I clapped my hands over my ears, wincing at the shrill ringing.
Officer Jenny's timing sucked!
"Our Viridian City radar sensors have detected an aircraft belonging to a gang of Pokémon thieves!" Officer Jenny's amplified voice announced. "If you have a Pokémon in your possession, exercise extreme caution and report any suspicious individuals to the authorities."
It took me a moment to realize what was going on. Viridian City was the site of the first clash between Ash Ketchum and Team Rocket. I looked up just in time to see an absurdly oversized Meowth balloon disappearing behind a skyscraper currently under construction.
I broke into a run toward the Pokémon Center.
Team Rocket was trying to steal injured Pokémon and despite my legs feeling dead tired from walking all day, I really wanted to help stop them!
Now that I was here, in this world where Pokémon were real and physical, I couldn't stand the thought of an organization like Team Rocket existing. Even if it was just Jessie and James, all the Pokémon they stole would be handed over to worse people.
I won't hurt them...much, I decided as the Pokémon Center came into view, its iconic red roof vibrant against the grey concrete structures around it.
I got to the Pokémon Center front steps and was about to sprint straight into the lobby, the glass entrance doors slid open and a pink blur suddenly ran right into my stomach. I stumbled back with a surprised "Oof!" but caught myself on the Pokémon Center's doors to keep from falling over.
I looked down to see what hit me. A pink Pokémon lay sprawled at my feet. I knew it was a Chansey right away, and she looked terrified. Her tiny eyes were wide with fear and the three hair-like outgrowths on each side of her head stuck out in every direction, standing on end.
"Hey, you okay?" I asked, resting a gentle hand on Chansey's head.
Inside, I could hear shouts and crashes. Team Rocket must already be ransacking the place. Chansey's eyes blinked open. Her eyes darted around warily before settling on me.
I gave her what I hoped was a reassuring smile. "Don't worry," I patted the pink Pokémon's head. "Shinx and I are going to take care of Team Rocket, okay? You just wait here."
After a tense moment, some of the tension left Chansey's body. It wasn't fully relaxed, but no longer on the verge of panic at least.
I looked down at Shinx. "Get ready to use Thunder Shock," I said with a grin. "We've got the element of surprise, so let's use it."
Shinx's fur started crackling like a live wire as we burst through the doors.
"Hey! Stop right—"
The rest of what I was shouting died in my throat because holy fucking shit, I was staring at the most perfectly sculpted ass I'd ever seen in my life. The two perfectly round cheeks belonged to Jessie from Team Rocket, who was striking some dramatic pose that had her white mini-skirt stretched so tight it looked ready to bust at the seams.
I'd grown up watching Jessie on TV, but no animation or cosplayer could compare. Seeing her in person was something else entirely. 2D does NOT do this woman justice, I thought, actually pinching myself like some horny teenager. Which... fuck, I guess I technically was now. I'd always had a thing for her in the show, but in the flesh? Pure fucking temptation. She could've made a eunuch stand at attention.
James must have seen him out of the corner of his eye because the blue-haired man turned around and whined, "Another twerp?"
I completely ignored him because Jessie had turned around too, and fuck me, my eyes didn't know where to land. That excuse for a skirt rode low on her hips, revealing every inch of her toned stomach. But it was her crop top that really had my attention. The poor scrap of fabric was fighting a losing battle trying to keep her full, perky breasts contained.
"Hey!" Jessie snapped her fingers. "Stop staring, twerp!"
"Then stop looking so damn good!" I shot back, rolling my eyes. What did she expect walking around dressed like that? Of course people were gonna stare!
"Is the twerp hitting on you?" James asked.
"I think he is," Jessie said with this predatory smile that did things to me. She glanced down at the Pokémon curled near her feet. "Ekans, why don't you teach him some manners?"
That snapped me out of my hormone-induced stupor real quick. What the fuck was I doing getting distracted by her of all people? She was Team fucking Rocket!
I glared at the large snake-like Pokémon. Ekans wasn't very long, a little shy of maybe six feet, but it was thick. And not pool-noodle thick, either. More like, couldn't slither through a car tire without a rim thick.
Huh, I guess Pokémon really do take after their trainers, I thought, my eyes drifting back to Jessie. Because that snake definitely wasn't the only thick thing in this room.
Jessie sneered as she caught him ogling her body again and gave a disdainful scoff.
"Ekans, squeeze that little pervert until he pops!"
The snake launched itself across the pristine lobby floor of the Pokémon Center, its fangs bared and holy shit those things were way bigger in person than they looked in the show.
"Shinx, Thunder Wave!"
The little electric-type's fur crackled as she released a wave of paralyzing electricity. Ekans slithered around the attack with terrifying grace, closing the distance faster than I could blink.
"Wrap attack!" Jessie ordered, still smirking at me.
"Get out of the way!" I yelled, but Ekans was too quick. Its muscular body coiled around Shinx before she could react, squeezing tight enough to make her cry out in pain.
"That's what you get for being a pervert," Jessie taunted, hands on her curvy hips.
"Thunder Wave again!" I ordered. "Point blank!"
Shinx's entire body lit up with electricity. Wrapped up around her, there was no dodging. Ekans seized up, its coils loosening just enough for Shinx to squirm free.
"Now hit it with Tackle!"
Shinx slammed into Ekans' head, sending the paralyzed snake flying across the room. It crash-landed at Jessie's feet, its yellow eyes narrowed into angry slits.
Jessie's furious eyes fixed on Sam, her voice dripping with venom. "You little brat!" she hissed.
"Ekans, use Poison Sting now!"
Ekans reared up and launched a barrage of poison-tipped glowing purple needles from its mouth.
The poisonous barbs flew at Shinx…and me!
Shit! I reacted on instinct, throwing up my arms to protect my face. It was still going to hurt like hell, but at least I wouldn't lose an eye.
What I didn't expect was for a shimmering blue shield to appear. Ekans Poison Sting attacks bounced harmlessly off the shield.
What the fuck? I wondered staring at my hands. This... this wasn't supposed to happen. Not yet, anyway. I'd watched every episode of the anime multiple times, and Ash didn't discover his Aura powers until way later—during that whole mess with Lucario and Mew. At this point in the timeline, he didn't even know what Aura was!
Jessie, James, and Meowth stood dumbstruck, their eyes wide with shock.
"Did you see that? That...that twerp just pulled off a Pokémon move!" Meowth sputtered incredulously.
I wasted no time taking advantage of the situation. "Thunder Shock, Shinx!"
Shinx unleashed another wave of electricity. Ekans had no chance to dodge the attack, convulsing wildly as a second Thunder Shock hit it with full force.
Jessie's face twisted in rage, which somehow made her even hotter. What the fuck was wrong with me?
"Don't just stand there!" she shouted at James. "Help me!"
"Right!" James said. "Koffing use Sludge attack!"
The floating repugnant Pokémon belched out a foul stream of vile brown goo, filling the air with its nauseating stench. I dry heaved as the noxious spray of slime invaded my senses and left a repulsive taste in my mouth, like rotten eggs mixed with sewage. My stomach churned as I resisted the urge to vomit.
Before the battle could continue, shouting down the hall caught my attention.
"I'm sure Chansey went this way! We can't let Team Rocket get her!"
Running down the hall was blatant fan service. Misty came first in her yellow crop-top and cutoff jean shorts. Behind her, Nurse Joy in her nurse habit was practically bouncing with each step. The dangerously short skirt she wore barely covered her thighs, revealing shapely legs and teasing as if with one wrong sudden move she'd be giving everyone a show.
"Chansey!" Nurse Joy cried, rushing past me to kneel next to Chansey who was still huddled fearfully by the entrance.
Things are starting to get out of hand, I thought as I looked around the lobby. If Jessie and James started double-teaming Shinx with Ekans and Koffing, we wouldn't be able to protect Nurse Joy, Chansey, and Misty whose water Pokémon wouldn't be much help.
Fuck it!
I reached down to my belt and grabbed Gyarados' Pokéball. It was risky, but I was muddy, tired, and really wanted a shower. And if Gyarados didn't listen, I'd just recall him.
"Go, Gyarados!"
The massive serpentine beast erupted from its Pokéball. Gyarados' towering aquatic form filled the lobby. Six hundred pounds of scale, muscle, and primal fury filled the space. Its mammoth jaws opened with a room-shaking roar that rattled the windows.
I heard a high-pitched shriek and saw Misty jump behind Nurse Joy. Right, didn't she used to be terrified of Gyarados?
Across the lobby, all the color drained from Team Rocket's faces at the sight of my massive Pokémon.
I looked over my shoulder at Nurse Joy and Chansey. Nurse Joy looked so worried for her Pokémon, I wanted to do something to calm her down. Despite its clear power superiority against Team Rocket, releasing a Gyarados in the lobby of her Pokémon Center wasn't calming.
Thinking fast, I shouted, "Don't worry, Nurse Joy! I already called Viridian's Gym Leader for backup! Gyarados will keep Team Rocket busy until he gets here!"
Jessie and James went even paler at the threat. "G-g-gym leader?" James stuttered. He looked at Jessie who had already made up her mind.
She pulled a Pokéball from between her breasts (her skin-tight outfit didn't have pockets) and tapped Ekans on the head, recalling the snake Pokémon in a beam of red light.
"James, I think it's time for us to go."
"I agree! Koffing, use Smokescreen!" James ordered, looking relieved they wouldn't have to battle a Gyarados and a gym leader.
Koffing unleashed a thick Smokescreen of poison gases. I coughed as the toxic smog filled the lobby.
By the time it cleared, Team Rocket was gone.
I wasn't happy about letting any members of Team Rocket go, but it was just Jessie and James, so I wasn't too worried.
"Is everyone okay?" I asked, looking at Misty, and Nurse Joy.
"The Viridian City gym has been closed for weeks," Nurse Joy said, still shell-shocked at the attack.
Yeah, because Giovanni is out being the leader of Team Rocket, I kept that thought to myself. No one but me knew the Viridian City gym leader was also the leader of Team Rocket. Giovanni had been running Team Rocket for years, and I didn't think I'd be able to take down the organization with an anonymous tip. Besides, telling the authorities wouldn't be nearly as satisfying as messing up Giovanni's operation myself.
I was going to enjoy messing up that guy's life.
So instead of saying anything about that, I just smiled at Nurse Joy and shrugged.
"Team Rocket didn't know that."
Was gonna wait to reveal that characters have been aged up, but with how this chapter turned out figured it'd be best to let everyone know now.