Hoenn, Outskirts of Rustboro City
"Who knew there'd be so many PTCG fans even in Hoenn!"
James grinned from ear to ear, clutching the cards he'd just won from a schoolkid. "Getting to play cards while on a mission? Perfect!"
"Such childish games," Jessie scoffed.
"Yeah, yeah, James is so immature, meow!" Meowth added.
"You two just don't appreciate its charm!"
As their usual bickering continued, their communicator suddenly buzzed.
Instantly, the trio snapped into the same solemn demeanor they reserved for Giovanni.
"Executive! What are your orders?"
The screen flickered to life, revealing a young man whose looks could rival Steven's and outshine Raihan's. A Gengar floated beside him, its expression serious.
"Are you three alright?"
"Alright? Meowth?" Meowth scratched its head. "Nothing's happened lately, meow!"
"Something has happened! I gained another kilogram, and it's all Meowth's fault!" Jessie shrieked.
"Don't bring up irrelevant things, Jessie!" James broke into a cold sweat.
Jessie's eye twitched. "You're calling this irrelevant?!"
Watching their usual antics, Natsume let out a relieved sigh.
"Good, you're fine... Hoenn's been unstable lately. Poachers have been spotted."
"Stick to the city for now. Hold off on missions for a while."
After all, they were his subordinates—of course he'd worry.
And if he was being honest... he didn't want them to release Arbok and Weezing.
But that wasn't his call to make.
Since the incident hadn't happened yet, nipping the problem in the bud was best.
With Lance on patrol nearby, the poachers wouldn't stand a chance.
"My only concern is these three idiots charging headfirst into trouble..."
Natsume frowned, glancing at his own team.
Truthfully, Team Rocket loved Pokémon just as much as Ash did.
That was exactly why they'd recklessly challenged the poachers upon seeing the injured Ekans and Koffing.
"Gengar?" Noticing Natsume's silence, Gengar stretched its mouth into a silly grin, trying to cheer him up.
Hoenn wasn't far. Natsume smiled. "I should go."
"After all... I am Team Rocket's Mentor!"
...
"Poachers around here?"
Jessie scratched her head. "James, what do you think?"
"Team Rocket's 'Rainbow Initiative' does prioritize taking down poachers," James mused.
"By playing dirty, we can clean up a bunch of Pokémon without lifting a finger!"
"And if we hand them over to the Executive, meow..." Meowth's eyes sparkled.
The three "model employees" exchanged glances and grinned.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, a Fearow's harsh cry echoed through the forest.
The trio stood atop a slope.
"Why are we still using pitfall traps?"
"Because they're the cheapest!" James lowered his binoculars. "But I don't see anyone around..."
"Poachers hide well. We just have to wait—"
Mid-boast, Meowth slipped and tumbled down the slope.
"Meowth! You okay?!" Jessie and James rushed after it.
"Oww..." Meowth rubbed its head, then blinked at the camo tarp before it.
When it yanked the tarp aside, revealing a cage of battered Ekans, its blood ran cold.
"You were caught by poachers? Abused?"
Meowth translated their whimpers, then clenched its paws. "Don't worry! We'll help!"
It lunged at the cage—only to be blasted back by an electric shock.
Jessie and James caught Meowth, glaring at the bars.
"That current hurt them badly, meow!" Meowth seethed.
"What kind of outsider tortures Pokémon like this?!" Jessie growled.
"Right?" James winced at the injured Ekans. "Let's just... free them?"
"Great idea!" Jessie's eyes lit up. "The Executive might even reward us!"
"Arbok..." Her own Arbok teared up. Jessie patted it gently. "I know. These are your friends. We'll save them!"
"Arbok!" It nodded fiercely.
But neither Acid nor Sludge Bomb made a dent in the cage.
As they prepared another attempt, a Fearow swooped down, slamming into Arbok.
A jeep roared up moments later.
A green-haired man hopped out, gun in hand. "What do you think you're doing with my prey?"
"Scum like you give Team Rocket a bad name!" James shouted. "Weezing, Sludge Bomb!"
But Weezing hovered motionless, staring at another cage on the jeep—filled with injured Koffing.
James sighed. "...Those are your friends too, huh?"
"My turn." The poacher, Rico, smirked. His submachine gun spat fire.
At the same time, Fearow dive-bombed Meowth.
"Don't underestimate Team Rocket's elite!"
The trio dodged with uncanny agility while ordering Arbok and Weezing to counter.
Rico sneered. "Fine. I'll just hand your Weezing and Arbok to my client too!"
"Over my dead body! Arbok's my beloved partner!" Jessie roared.
"Meowth, Fury Swipes!" James barked.
Meowth lunged, claws raking Rico's right hand.
The gun clattered to the ground. Rico pulled out a Poké Ball with his left, snarling. "You asked for this!"
"Go, Pupitar!"
The armored Pupitar tanked the hit, eyes mocking.
Rico whirled toward Meowth, now clawing at the cage.
Electricity crackled. "Those bars are high-voltage, idiot!"
Battered but grinning, Meowth gasped, "After Pikachu's Thunderbolt... this is nothing!"
Rico's pupils shrank.
Meowth endured the shock, wrenching both cages open. The captive Koffing and Arbok fled.
"You'll pay for this, Team Rocket!" Rico spat. Pupitar slammed Arbok away—then erupted into white light.
"No way..." Jessie and James croaked.
The crimson-eyed, scale-armored Tyranitar that emerged was a far cry from its usual self—twisted by its trainer's cruelty.
"I held back Pupitar's evolution for a reason," Rico gloated. "To crush do-gooders like you!"
"Tyranitar, Giga Impact!"
Jessie and James paled, scrambling back in terror.
Wobbuffet, still far from its future "god-tier" status, was knocked out in one hit.
Despair crept into their hearts.
Yet Jessie and James remained calm.
"Go, Arbok." At the forest's edge, Jessie tossed a Poké Ball. "Take your friends and run."
"Weezing too." James smiled. "I'd never hand you over to scum like him!"
Weezing and Arbok exchanged glances, then shook their heads frantically, tears welling.
Another explosion rocked the ground. Tyranitar's roar was deafening.
"Just go!" Jessie screamed.
"Run as far as you can! We'll hold it off, meow!" Meowth clenched its fists.
Tears spilled as Weezing and Arbok hesitated.
Rico and Tyranitar closed in.
"Leaving? Not a chance!"
Tyranitar's body glowed white as it charged.
Jessie and James shared a look, then nodded.
Arms spread, they stepped between their Pokémon and Tyranitar—and shut their eyes.
But the pain never came.
Meowth cracked an eye open.
Before it stood a snow-white Sirfetch'd, shield raised against Tyranitar's bulk.
Despite the size difference, Sirfetch'd smirked, even sparing a glance back.
Its bushy brows lifted as its eyes sparkled.
My lance fights for those who cannot!
"Th-this is...?" Jessie and James gaped.
"Made it."
Leaves rustled overhead. A handsome trainer peered down from the branches like some jungle ambusher.
"Good thing your communicators had GPS."
"EXECUTIVE?!" the trio shrieked in unison.
"Save the tears for later."
Natsume's gaze sharpened.
"Executive is pissed."
CLANG!
Sirfetch'd parried Tyranitar's strike, its leek lance a blur.
Close Combat!
Five rapid hits later, Tyranitar staggered back, howling in pain.
Rico paled—then froze as icy breath ghosted over his neck.
"I'm a wild battle specialist too." Natsume's voice was deadly calm. "Gengar, Shadow Punch."
"Gengar! (σ;Дσ;)"
THWACK!
Rico folded like paper, flying meters before crumpling.
"Keep him alive." Natsume's tone brooked no argument. "Sirfetch'd, Detect!"
CLANG!
The same move that had blocked Giga Impact earlier now set up Sirfetch'd's counter.
Leek at its hip, Sirfetch'd struck like a swordsman—
Leaf Blade!
The slash carved into Tyranitar's belly.
Critical hit! Super effective!
BOOM!
The colossal Tyranitar crashed to the ground.
Team Rocket gulped in unison.
The ruthless wild battle tactics... the ice-cold commands... the last-second heroics...
Jessie, James, and Meowth teared up, speechless.
Behind them, their battered Arbok and Weezing grinned goofily.
"WE DID IT!" The trio hugged their Pokémon, bawling.
Natsume tossed the half-dead Rico to a newly arrived Officer Jenny, who saluted sharply before addressing Team Rocket.
"What now?!" Jessie tensed.
"We're law-abiding citizens! Honest!" James sweated.
Jenny eyed their Team Rocket uniforms... and smiled. "Thank you for your help apprehending these poachers. I'll ensure the League recognizes Team Rocket's contribution!"
"...Huh?" The trio blinked.
"Told you," Natsume said, arms crossed. "Team Rocket's legitimate now."
They stared—then swarmed him.
"EXECUTIVE! (｀Д｀)"
"Hey—no hugging! And don't wipe snot on me!!"
Later...
With the poachers in Lance's custody (and in for a world of pain), Team Rocket was all smiles at the police station—Weezing and Arbok safe and sound.
Not only were they not arrested, they'd even earned a commendation banner.
Natsume's eye twitched.
Why does this remind me of that "Master of Healing" flag...?
Outside, Lance chuckled. "You came all this way just for them?"
Natsume didn't hesitate. "I don't do regrets."
Lance studied him, recalling Team Rocket's recent "Rainbow Initiative" and today's heroics.
Maybe public perception was shifting...
"Honestly?" Lance mused. "With Team Rocket around, the League might actually improve."
Natsume said nothing.
Team Rocket could never operate openly. But like the mafia, there'd always be...
"Outlaws."
"Kingpins."
Godfathers.
"Some seek wealth. Some seek survival. Others just love Pokémon but can't be Trainers."
Lance glanced at his cape.
"I've still got a long way to go..."
Natsume scratched his head.
At the end of the day, none of that mattered.
His people? No one messed with them.
"Heh heh." Jessie, James, and Meowth emerged, banner in hand, grinning like fools.
Spotting Natsume, they brightened—then shrank back at Lance's glare.
Natsume laughed.
With this wrapped up, it was time to go home.
But... he glanced skyward.
Since when could Sirfetch'd use Leaf Blade?!
Was it mad about the leek pot?!
"Sirfetch'd~" The Sirfetch'd polished its lance, expression serene.
That Tyranitar was SO scary~!
Almost got turned into roast duck!
Today...
...was another day Sirfetch'd fought to avoid the dinner table!
Nearby...
Jessie and James gazed at their Poké Balls, grinning.
Somewhere along the way, their loyalty had shifted...
From the suited boss to the kind-eyed young man who'd saved them.
"If we catch Pikachu... and give it to the Executive..."
"It'd be the perfect thank-you!"
"He'd love an adorable Pikachu!"
The trio cheered in unison:
"FEELIN' GOOD~~!"
"Wobbuffet~!"
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