Part VI
By: GrowlitheGal

“Out with the losing…”

“In with the winning!”

Team Rocket was really on a roll. They had successfully captured Pikachu, defeated their competitors Butch and Cassidy, and bagged a rare Arcanine belonging to the Chief of Police. Jessie and James had even bagged Pokemon for themselves, which had later evolved. Could things possibly get any better?

“Could things possibly get any better?” asked James.

“Who knows?” Jessie responded. “We’ll see as soon as we get these Pokemon to the Boss.”

“PIKACHU!!!!” cried Pikachu from inside the bag that Meowth was holding (Meowth had finally found rubber gloves with three fingers).

Meowth sighed. “I totally agree wit’ you, Jessie. However…we better get to ‘da Boss soon! I’m havin’ trouble keepin’ ‘dis Arcanine in ‘da pokeball.”

Meowth was standing on a pokeball, presumably the Arcanine’s.

“Stop complaining, Meowth!” said Jessie.

“Jessie’s right!” said James. “This is no time to complain.” He closed his eyes and smiled. “Especially since we’re going to get a…”

“A bonus!” said Jessie and James at the same time. They began dancing around happily, singing. “A bonus, a bonus, we’re gonna get a bonus!”

Meowth sulked. “I’d be happy to rejoice wit’ you…” he mumbled. “But I kinda got my paws full at ‘da moment.”

Jessie stopped dancing and looked out the side of the Meowth hot-air balloon.

“It’s time to get our bonus.” She said, pointing to the Team Rocket Headquarters, which was just below.

“Finally!” said Meowth.

“Now, to find a parking space.” said James, gesturing to the Headquarters parking lot below. The parking lot was filled with many helicopters, all bearing the symbolic red “R” of Team Rocket. A short distance away was a private jet, reserved for the Boss.

“There we go.” Jessie pointed to a small space in the corner of the lot.

“Aw, we always get that spot!” whined James.

“Oh, shut up.” said Jessie. She whacked him in the head with her fist.

“That really does hurt, you know…”

“Hmmm…’da Pikachu hasn’t put up much of a fight for a while. Neither has ‘da Arcanine.” Meowth said.

“They probably realized that an attempt to escape from clever villains such as ourselves would be futile.” Mused James.

“Thank you very much, Einstein.”

“You’re welcome.”

************ “Enter password.” Buzzed the mechanical identification box at the headquarters’ entrance.

“Um….what was the password again?” asked Jessie.

“We haven’t been here for so long, I guess we forgot.” replied Meowth.

“I’m hungry.” said James.

“Well, how are we supposed to get in, then?” asked Jessie, getting agitated.

“I’m really hungry…” continued James.

“How am I supposed to know?” shouted Meowth.

Jessie and Meowth kept arguing, and James’ stomach kept growling. Finally, when James couldn’t take it any more, he walked up to the identification box and typed in “meatloaf”.

The door to the headquarters slid open.

“I’m heading to the cafeteria.” James stated. He disappeared inside.

Jessie and Meowth stared after him for a few minutes. Then, they ran in after him, shouting.

“Wait for us!”

************

As soon as Jessie, James, and Meowth stepped out of the headquarters’ cafeteria, they heard an announcement on the loudspeaker.

“Meowth. Jessie. James. Report to the Boss’s office immediately.”

“Well, this is it.” said Jessie.

“Time to go get our bonus.” said James.

************

When they entered the big office, the back of their Boss’s chair was facing them.

“Sir?” asked Jessie. “You requested to see us?”

The chair swiveled around. The Boss looked irritated at having to deal with his three lowest ranking team members.

His Persian glared at Meowth. Meowth glared back.

Finally, the Boss spoke. “You three had better have a good excuse for returning to headquarters.”

“We do, Sir.” James held up the sack containing Pikachu.

Jessie held up the pokeball with Arcanine inside.

Meowth smirked at the Persian.

Jessie and James placed their loot on the Boss’s desk.

The Boss stared at the pokeball and sack in disbelief for a few seconds. Then, he reached for the sack and opened it.

“WHAT’S THIS?!” he yelled, holding up the empty sack.

Jessie, James, and Meowth stood there, shocked.

The Boss opened the pokeball. Nothing came out.

“GET OUT!”

*************

Meanwhile…

“Pika pi!” Pikachu said joyously as it leaped into its trainer’s arms.

“Pikachu, you’re back!” Ash said through happy tears.

“What’s that behind it?” Tracey asked.

“It looks like an Arcanine.” said Misty.

“There’s something around its neck.” said Tracey. He walked up to the Arcanine. “It’s a collar.”

“Who does it belong to?” asked Ash.

Tracey read the collar inscription aloud. “This Arcanine is property of the Orange Island Chief of Police.”

“We should contact Officer Jenny, then!” said Misty.

“Okay!” agreed Tracey.

They ran off to the police station, the Arcanine tagging at their heels.

The Arcanine was returned to its rightful owner, Pikachu and Ash were reunited, and Team Rocket, well, you’ll see in part 7 of “For the Best or For the Worst”!