The familiar grass parted, and out stepped one skinny, one fat.
Uniforms, big red R on the chest—might as well have worn "Team Rocket" across their foreheads.
From their chatter it was clear: pull this one last job, then ditch Kanto and flee overseas to Unova.
"Clef—"
Clefairy trembled, curling up tighter in Green's arms.
Green noticed the wounds along its body were glowing faint purple. Bubbles burbled up around its head, eating away at its skin.
Poisoned, obviously.
"Here. For the poison."
Seeing this, Grey tossed over a Pecha Berry.
Then he tilted his head, listening to the movement outside.
"Weird. Those two little Pokémon sure can run. Little-Bro Chubs, let's sweep the area. No way they made it all the way to Cerulean!"
The skinny one bared his teeth at the bearded, barrel-bellied partner.
"Mm. After this run, we're washing our hands of it," the big guy said softly, gazing at the skinny one. "Then we'll run off to Unova together. It's open there—they'll accept us."
They stared into each other's eyes, fingers practically about to intertwine.
"…"
Grey and Green traded a look.
Not puking on the spot took discipline.
"I feel like they owe us damages for emotional trauma," Green muttered, like her eyes had been polluted.
"Agreed. Not great for a kid's development," Grey said, rubbing his eyes. He glanced at Riolu. "In a second, rush the skinny one with Quick Attack."
"Rio."
Riolu nodded, itching to move.
Too few fights these last day or two—it was pent up.
Right now it just wanted a strong opponent to vent on.
Preferably one with stamina—
otherwise they'd crumple in one round.
The two Rocket members split up, each flanked by a thick, heavy rat.
Two huge incisors jutted out front, chittering.
[Pokémon: Raticate]
[Level: 22]
"So weak…"
Grey exhaled and loosened up.
A common street rat like that against a trained Riolu wasn't a guaranteed win.
And besides—
we're in the brush, they're out in the open.
Advantage: us.
"Little bro, I'll check over there," the skinny one said to the big guy, then headed straight for the shrubbery where Grey was hiding, Raticate in tow.
Tap, tap, tap—
Boots came lightly over packed dirt. Riolu rolled its shoulders—ready.
"Go!"
Grey's whisper cut sharp.
Riolu coiled like a serpent and blasted out, wind rippling in its wake.
Sensing danger, the skinny one stumbled back and shoved Raticate up front as a meat shield.
But Riolu was too fast.
A white flash crossed Raticate's vision—before it could move, the skinny one's scream ripped the air.
"AAAH—!"
The big guy thundered over, eyes wide at his partner flung across the path and the Raticate nearly flattened by a single hit.
"Who are you?"
He narrowed his eyes while the Raticate at his side flexed its claws.
"Just a helpful Trainer passing by," Grey said, stepping out of the brush—little "Mio"-chirping Riolu still perched on his shoulder.
"Mio~"
The little one squeaked, eyes squinting like crescents.
"Just you two? If that's your trump card, surrender now."
The big guy sneered.
A violet gas Pokémon slipped up from behind him, congealing an uneven sphere—ghostly power boiling inside.
Fwoop—
Shadow Ball fired like a bowling ball, angling toward Riolu just as it slid to the side!
"Huh. Pretty smart," Grey said, rubbing his chin at the Haunter.
"Heh, that's— Haunter, cover me!"
The big guy's lip curled—
then a streak of fire knifed in from the flank!
It was Combusken, never recalled to its ball.
With Speed Boost rolling, it moved in a blur—afterimages trailing—and the glare of the flame was blinding.
Haunter had only started to rake out a claw when Combusken's kick sent it flying!
No pause—Combusken's second kick drove straight for the big guy!
"Raticate!"
He roared, calling the rat to intercept.
The big-toothed Raticate gaped its jaws and lunged to bite, white light coating its teeth—pouring everything into that strike.
This'll do it!
That's what flashed in Raticate's eyes.
It might lose in speed, but nobody out-bit its bite.
Result—
"Rio!"
Riolu blitzed in from the side, smashed an elbow into Raticate's ribs, and sent it tumbling—
—then followed with a flurry of metallic-lit punches to its head!
With the screen gone, Combusken's kick landed square on the big guy.
Boom!
Fire flared; he sailed three full meters.
Close as it looked, if he weren't so heavy, he'd have flown even farther.
Both Rocket grunts were out on the spot.
Grey dragged the pair together and had Green send out Wartortle.
A burst of Water Gun splashed right in their faces.
"Glrk—"
The big guy sputtered awake first, coughed out a lungful, then focused.
"Alright," Grey said, squatting with a half smile. "Talk. Everything. No holding back."
"Y-you do realize we're Team Rocket? If we don't report in, they'll send people looking for us!"
He bared his teeth, gut out, trying to scare Grey off.
"Exactly why I'm asking you," Grey said, showing a line of white teeth as he let Breloom and Primeape out. "Or would you rather learn about the iron fist of love first—and then talk?"
"Heh, you're hilarious, boss. I'll tell it all, play by play. I'm the story guy in Team Rocket, promise—won't skip a thing!"
The big guy folded instantly.
To prove his sincerity, he even sat on the skinny one and declared with conviction, "I never liked being in Team Rocket!"
"I hate Team Rocket the most!"
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