Pokémon Mafia Tale Chapter 3

--The Story of a Grunt and the Pokémon Who Taught Him to Be a Trainer

Chapter 3: Incognito

Jake and the Pokémon had emerged from the sewage discharge pipe on Route 7 west of Celadon. Jake knew he had to get new clothes quickly, before word about his treachery spreads around town, so he carefully placed the baby Larvitar between some shrubbery in the woods. He turned to Zubat, a silent understanding passing between them.

"Zubat, Larvitar doesn't have a Pokéball, so I can't bring him into the city, keep an eye on him here. Make sure he doesn't wander off or attract any unwanted attention. Stay hidden, and I'll be back from the city as quickly as I can," Jake instructed.

Zubat chirped in acknowledgment, its wings rustling as it settled in to keep watch over the tiny Larvitar. Satisfied that Larvitar was in capable hands — or wings, in this case — Jake ventured toward Celadon City with the intention of acquiring new clothes to replace his conspicuous Team Rocket uniform.

As Jake hurried through the woods toward the city, the outskirts of Celadon City greeted him with wary glances from passing citizens. Fear of Team Rocket was palpable in the air, and Jake, still clad in his Team Rocket uniform, instinctively tugged at his hat, casting a shadow over his face as he kept his gaze fixed on the ground. The unease of the people around him only intensified his determination to blend in and avoid drawing unnecessary attention.

As Jake approached the town square, his destination—the clothes store—came into view. However, his attention was diverted by a brewing conflict between two tough-looking trainers, both with reputations in Celadon City's criminal underworld. The tension in the air was thick, and it seemed like the dispute was about to escalate.

One of the trainers, a burly man with a Steelix at his side, was visibly agitated. He pointed accusingly at the other, a sharp-dressed individual with a Scizor by his side. The words exchanged were heated, disrespect hanging in the air.

Jake recognized the faces in the confrontation—Gideon, the burly Steelix trainer, and Kaine, the sharp-dressed Scizor trainer. Their reputations preceded them in Celadon City's criminal underworld.

Jake overheard a snippet of their conversation.

Gideon, scowling, accused Kaine, "You messed with the wrong deal, Kaine! This was supposed to be a smooth transaction."

Kaine, cool and collected, retorted, "Your incompetence ruined it. I don't answer to you, Gideon. You're just a small-time thug."

As Jake cautiously entered the crowd to get a closer look, Steelix and Scizor were staring each other down.

Gideon, clenching his fists, growled, "You're playing with fire, Kaine. This deal was everything, and you ruined it!"

Kaine, a sly grin on his face, retorted, "Blame yourself for your incompetence, Gideon. I won't let anyone tarnish my reputation, especially not someone like you."

Gideon, consumed by fury, barked orders to his Steelix. "Iron Tail, now! Crush that bug!"

The massive Steelix swung its tail with immense force, aiming to strike Scizor. However, Kaine's Scizor, agile and strategic, swiftly sidestepped the attack, avoiding the crushing blow as Steelix's tail smashed into the concrete with a resounding crash.

Kaine, maintaining his stoic demeanor, calmly commanded, "Scizor, Slash!" With a glint of sharp metal, Scizor lunged at Steelix, the echoes of their clashing steel resonating through the street.

As Jake stood in awe, watching the intense battle unfold between Gideon's Steelix and Kaine's Scizor, a wave of nostalgia swept over him. The clashes of metal and the strategic maneuvers reminded him of his childhood days when he used to watch Pokémon League battles on the television at home. And the memories of watching his father battle.

In that moment, amidst the chaos of the street, regret tugged at Jake's heart. He pondered where he had gone wrong, reflecting on the choices that led him to join the ranks of Team Rocket. The contrast between the fond memories of his father's battles and the grim reality of the criminal world weighed heavily on Jake's conscience.

The intense battle reached a crescendo as Steelix's tail swiped at Scizor, sending it rolling towards the crowd where Jake stood. The spectators instinctively stepped back, creating a safe distance from the unfolding clash of powerful Pokémon.

As Scizor gracefully regained its footing, its red metallic exoskeleton gleamed in the sunlight, reflecting the surrounding chaos—the battling Pokémon, the scattered crowd, and the towering image of Steelix. In that brief moment, Jake couldn't help but be captivated by the sheer intensity of the battle and the striking visual spectacle before him.

Before he could fully process the scene, Scizor swiftly returned to the fray, lunging at Steelix.

As the battle raged on, Jake's attention shifted to the periphery of the scene. Positioned on rooftops and in alleys, Team Rocket grunts observed the spectacle, their presence a silent acknowledgment of their omnipresent eyes and ears in Celadon City.

Amidst the escalating battle, the wailing sirens of a police cruiser cut through the chaos. The vehicle screeched to a halt, and two stern-faced police officers emerged, their uniforms reflecting authority.

Officer Reynolds, a seasoned veteran, barked orders, "Everyone stand back! We've got a situation here." His partner, Officer Hamilton, swiftly released an Arcanine, a magnificent creature with flames dancing on its fur.

As the officers took control of the situation, dispersing the crowd and making arrests, Jake seized the opportunity to distance himself from the chaos and entered the clothes shop he came there for.

Meanwhile, in the quiet serenity of the forest, Zubat playfully interacted with baby Larvitar, nestled between the bushes where Jake had left them. Suddenly, Larvitar, in his curious waddle, began to stray away, with Zubat swiftly following, attempting to intervene in the baby Pokémon's adventure.

Just as they meandered further away from the foliage, the sounds of whistling startled the two Pokémon. Zubat and Larvitar turned their attention to the right, where a young bug catcher, his net hanging at his side, strolled towards them with a carefree demeanor.

The bug catcher's eyes widened in surprise as he spotted the unusual duo of Larvitar and Zubat. He halted in his tracks, "Well, I'll be! A Larvitar, here in Kanto! And a Zubat in broad daylight! That's not something you see every day," he exclaimed with genuine amazement, a wide grin spreading across his face.

Inside the modest clothes shop, Jake browsed through the racks, selecting a plain T-shirt and a pair of jeans to replace his distinctive Team Rocket uniform. To complete his undercover look, he added a nondescript baseball cap, which he pulled low to shield his face, as well as a backpack. The store clerk was nervous and confused seeing a Rocket grunt enter the store just to buy clothes but didn't ask questions.

After leaving the clothing store, Jake made his way to the nearby Poké Mart. He purchased a single Poké Ball and a potion. Ready to face the world incognito, he left the store and ventured back towards the forest where he had left Zubat and Larvitar.

The dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves as Jake returned to the secluded spot where he had left Larvitar and Zubat. To his surprise, he found a bug catcher kneeling beside them, offering a handful of Pokémon kibble. The Bug Catcher, with a friendly smile, spoke to Larvitar and Zubat.

"Hey there, little Larvitar! You must be hungry. And Zubat, enjoying the food, aren't you?" said the bug catcher.

Larvitar, munching on the offered kibble, emitted a contented growl. Zubat, wings flapping excitedly, seemed to appreciate the Bug Catcher's friendly gesture.

The bug catcher noticed Jake. "I found these two here, and they looked like they could use a snack. Hope you don't mind!". Jake, relieved to see Larvitar and Zubat in good company, responded with a grateful nod and said "No, not at all. Thanks for looking out for them.". The bug catcher replied "No problem! Pokémon are friends, after all. Oh, and by the way, I'm Benny, a bug catcher. What's your name?". Jake, maintaining his undercover persona, extended a hand in greeting. "I'm Jake. Nice to meet you, Benny."

Kneeling beside Zubat, Jake carefully sprayed the potion to heal the minor injuries from the previous night's encounter with Ekans. Benny, intrigued by Jake's actions, couldn't help but inquire. "Hey, Jake, what brings you and your Pokémon to this part of the woods?"

Jake, suppressing the truth, decided to present himself in a way he never had before – as a Pokémon trainer. "Oh, you know, I'm a trainer on a journey. Catching and training Pokémon, seeing the sights and all that. These two here are my partners in crime—uh, I mean, adventure."

Benny, with a spark of excitement, responded to Jake's revelation.

"A trainer, huh? That's awesome! If you're a trainer, then let's battle!" Benny said

Jake, caught off guard by the sudden challenge, hesitated. He wasn't used to battling on his own terms; in Team Rocket, he rode the coattails of the organization's reputation, avoiding direct confrontations. But a real trainer couldn't turn down a battle, so Jake reluctantly accepted.

"Uh, sure, let's do it. But keep it quick, okay?" Jake said as he used the potion on Zubat

Benny grinned as he pulled a Poké Ball from his belt. "Alright, Jake! Let’s see what you’ve got. Butterfree, let’s go!"

With a flick of his wrist, Benny tossed the Poké Ball into the air, and in a flash of light, a Butterfree emerged. Its wings shimmered in the sunlight, the patterns intricate and beautiful, fluttering lightly as it hovered before Jake.

Jake hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright, Zubat, it’s up to you."

Zubat flapped its wings excitedly as it took position in the air, facing Butterfree. Jake swallowed hard—this was his first real battle outside of Team Rocket, and he already had a sinking feeling about how it would go.

"Zubat, use Leech Life!" Jake commanded.

Zubat swooped toward Butterfree, its fangs glinting as it aimed to sink them into its opponent. But just as Zubat closed the distance, Benny smirked. "Butterfree, dodge and use Confusion."

Butterfree effortlessly veered to the side, avoiding the attack entirely. Its large eyes glowed with a soft pink light, and before Jake could react, a pulse of psychic energy slammed into Zubat.

Zubat let out a sharp cry as it was hurled back through the air, spinning out of control before crashing into the dirt. It didn’t get back up.

Jake blinked. "Wait, what?!"

Benny laughed, recalling his Butterfree with a chuckle. "Yeah, sorry, man. Butterfree and I have been training together since I was a kid, we're stronger than we look, right?"

Jake sighed, kneeling to check on Zubat. "Yeah, no hard feelings," he muttered, though the loss stung more than he wanted to admit. He had never considered himself a real trainer, and this just confirmed how outclassed he really was.

"Tell you what," Benny said, clapping Jake on the shoulder. "You seem like a cool guy. I was just on my way to my buddy's cabin. Why don’t you come with me? We’ll get some food, and you can tell me more about how you ended up with a Larvitar. That’s a pretty rare Pokémon, you know."

Jake hesitated for a moment as he emptied the potion on Zubat, but then nodded. "Yeah, alright."

Benny smiled. "Cool. Let’s go."

As they walked through the woods, Jake carried the small Larvitar in his arms while Zubat, having recovered, perched on his shoulder. Benny chatted easily, talking about his travels and how he and Nick met during a trainer’s tournament a few years back. Eventually, Benny glanced curiously at Jake. "So, what’s the story behind that Larvitar? You don’t see many of those around here."

Jake’s grip on Larvitar tightened slightly. "It’s… a long story."

Benny picked up on the hesitation and didn’t push. "Fair enough. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to."

The two eventually reached a clearing where a rustic cabin stood next to a cliff edge. A small river ran beneath the cliff nearby, the water flowing peacefully under the midday sun. As they approached, the door swung open, revealing a short, stocky young man dressed in a white martial artist’s robe. He looked to be a year or two younger than Jake, as did Benny. His face lit up with a broad smile.

"Benny! Took you long enough!"

Benny laughed. "Yeah, yeah. I had to stop and pick up a stray along the way." He gestured toward Jake. "Jake, meet my best friend, Nick."

Nick stepped forward and extended a hand, which Jake shook. "Nice to meet you, man. Come on in—we were just about to eat."

Inside the cabin, the air was filled with the rich aroma of food cooking. A small Machop sat on the couch watching TV but immediately perked up upon seeing Benny’s Butterfree. The Fighting-type Pokémon leaped to its feet, excitedly rushing over to greet its friend. Butterfree fluttered down, and the two Pokémon began playing.

Jake, Benny, and Nick moved into the kitchen, where a pot of stew simmered on the stove. "You guys hungry?" Nick asked as he stirred the pot.

"Starving," Benny said. "We’ll help with whatever’s left to do."

As the three of them worked together to prepare the meal, Zubat and Larvitar tentatively approached Machop and Butterfree, curiosity flickering in their eyes. The two Pokémon paused their play, looking at the newcomers. For a moment, there was hesitation—but then Machop grinned and gestured for them to join in.

Zubat hesitated before flitting forward, while Larvitar, after a brief glance at Jake, took a cautious step forward. Soon, the four Pokémon were chasing each other around the room, laughing in their own way as their trainers watched from the kitchen.

For the first time in a long while, Jake felt normal. Like maybe, just maybe, he could be a real trainer after all. Jake cracks a few jokes and they can't stop laughing together, they quickly become friends.

Meanwhile, back in Celadon City, the news of Jake’s betrayal had reached Team Rocket’s ears. Victor, his face a mask of cold fury, stood in the boss’s office, receiving his orders.

"Find him," the boss said, his voice low and menacing. "And when you do, make sure he understands the price of betrayal."

Victor nodded, his Persian glaring at him from the corner of the room. "It will be done, boss."

The hunt for Jake had begun.