A Rat for Team Rocket - Ch 2

After a few hours of floating around under Meowth's giant head, the trio were beginning to get tired, hungry ... And bored.

"Okay Jess, so where are we going again?" James asked. "All I can see are trees."

"You idiot, you're the one who said you knew the way!" Jessie yelled, smacking him. "Get out your stupid cards and look!" James nodded, grabbing his cards from his pocket once again, flipping through them.

"This says that Pikachu are usually in ... Where's the Trophy Garden?" He looked at Jessie, who shrugged. Meowth raised a paw, pulling on James's pants leg. "You have any clue, Meowth?" James asked, looking down.

"We're close to it! Just land here!" Meowth said happily. Jessie grabbed him by his neck, holding him up to eye-level.

"And just how do you know that?" She asked, obviously annoyed. Meowth pointed down.

"'Cause dat sign down dere says Welcome to Trophy Garden?" He replied. Jessie dropped him, the ScratchCat Pokemon landing hard on the basket floor. "It's okay, no need ta thank me or anything ..." He muttered. By now, Jessie and James had begun to land the balloon, softly hitting the ground moments later. The three climbed out of the balloon basket, looking around.

Like Meowth said, there was a sign telling them that this was indeed the Trophy Garden, but something looked amiss.

"We're in someone's backyard!" Jessie yelled. "The house is right in front of us! This can't be the right place!" Indeed, there was a huge mansion standing before the team. However, no one seemed to hear them arrive. Jessie looked at James, who was once again looking through his cards.

"No, this is the place, Jess." He said. "All Pokemon in this garden are fair game to any passing trainers." Jessie smiled, grabbing a Poke Ball from her pocket. The three looked around, seeing nothing but tall grass that drifted in the wind.

"Dere's nuttin' here!" Meowth said, standing on his toes and browsing the area. "At least, I don't hear nuttin' ... Wait a sec!" He said, looking around frantically. Jessie's eyes lit up, watching the cat Pokemon search.

"You found something, didn't you?" She asked happily. Meowth nodded, dashing towards the grass with Jessie and James (and, for some reason, Wobbuffet,) behind him. "What is it, Meowth? Where's our new little Pika-Pal?"

"Um ... Jessie ... I don't think this Pokemon's what we're looking for." James said. Jessie looked, seeing that Meowth was getting stared down by a rather large Staravia - And it looked angry to see him. Weren't birds supposed to be afraid of cats?

"Get out of there, Meowth!" Jessie yelled. Meowth nodded, turning to run back towards them, but was stopped when Staravia's claws stepped on his tail, holding him in place and causing him to land face-first on the ground. James looked at Jessie, holding a Poke Ball in his hand.

"I guess we have no choice, huh?" He asked. Jessie nodded, putting the empty Poke Ball away and grabbing another. She tossed the ball, James following with his own.

"Seviper!"

"Mime Jr.!"

Jessie and James shouted for their Pokemon as they appeared. Both Mime Jr. and Seviper stared at the bird Pokemon, prepared for battle. However ...

"Staravia! Starrr!" Before they could move, Staravia flew away as fast as it could - Almost as if it was scared. Mime Jr. and Seviper blinked, seeing Meowth with a very satisfied look on his face, claws barred.

"Don't mess with Meowth!" He said, chuckling and retreating his claws. Jessie and James exchanged glances, both shocked. Meowth never, ever wins battles. Ever.

"Not bad, Meowth." Jessie said, walking past the cat. "Try being that good next time you'd actually be useful." Meowth glared at her, grumbling under his breath and following. "Now are you going to find us a Pikachu or do I have to get a lawn mower and destroy all of this grass?"

"I told ya, dere ain't nuttin' here." Meowth replied. "That Staravia just flew in from da forest. We ain't gonna find nuttin' else."

"Pika?"

Jessie and Meowth both froze, turning around to see two black-tipped yellow ears poking out of the grass. James and Mime Jr. approached the two.

"Jessie, what did you- OW!" James was cut off by Jessie kicking him in the leg, knocking him to the ground. "What is it?" James asked angrily, standing back up. Jessie pointed to the two twitching ears that were coming closer. "It's a Pika-"

"Shut up!" Jessie whispered, smacking a hand over James's mouth. "I can see that!" She looked down, seeing a shivering Meowth. "It's not that kid's Pikachu, calm down." She said. Meowth nodded, although his body didn't agree with this and continued to shiver in fear.

"Jessie, if we just stand here it'll run off." James said. He looked at Mime Jr. who looked back up, giving a nod. "Mime Jr., use Teeter Dance and make sure Pikachu doesn't go anywhere." James whispered. Mime Jr. nodded, beginning to sway back and forth. The dance caused Team Rocket to sway in time as well, but that wasn't a problem - Their mission was a success. Out of the tall grass came a swaying, tranced Pikachu.

"Dere it is! Catch it!" Meowth exclaimed, pointing at the electric mouse. However, the Teeter Dance was still in effect, so as soon as he regained control of his movements, he lost them almost instantly. James looked down at Mime Jr., shaking his head. The little Pokemon ceased the dance, bowing. Finally regaining their own movements, Meowth and Jessie began to approach the Pikachu - Completely forgetting that it could move now, too.

"Pikachu, you're our ticket up the Team Rocket ladder!" Jessie said, grabbing a Poke Ball. "Go, Poke Ball!" She yelled, tossing the ball at the Pikachu ... Who simply smacked it with its tail, knocking it back into Jessie's face. She glared at the Pokemon, clenching her fist. "That does it! Seviper, use Poison Sting!"

Seviper jumped out from behind Jessie, opening its mouth and shooting purple poisoned needles at the yellow Pokemon. It was a direct hit - The Pikachu fell to the ground in pain, obviously poisoned. Meowth barred his claws, watching the mouse Pokemon in case it decided to try standing up - It didn't. Meowth and Seviper looked at Jessie, who had a very determined smirk on her face.

"Go again, Poke Ball!" She yelled, tossing it. It gently landed on the Pikachu, opening up and forcing it inside, landing on the ground. The button began to glow a dim red, shaking back and forth. This was the part the Team was worried about.

1 .. 2 .. 3! Pikachu was caught!

"I caught Pikachu!" Jessie said happily, holding up the Poke Ball. "Wow ... I didn't think I'd ever get to say that." James and Mime Jr. danced happily behind her, Meowth staring at the ball in her hand. Jessie looked down at him. "Something wrong?"

"Dat was too easy." Meowth said, crossing his arms. "I know ya don't look a gift horse in da mouth, but dat was way too easy." Jessie growled at this, punching him in the head.

"Don't jinx it!" She yelled, leaving a large swelled bump on the Pokemon's head. "Just be happy we caught the thing!" With that, Jessie placed the ball in her pocket. "That's step one complete! Now ... What's step two?"

"We train it and make it as powerful as the twerp's Pikachu?" James piped up, he and Mime Jr. looking at her. Jessie nodded, the three walking back to the balloon. Although she wouldn't say it, something was bothering her - Specifically, what Meowth had said.

That really was way too easy.