"Meoooow!!!"
Meowth's fate… was not a good one in the end.
The forest echoed with a single, ear-splitting scream.
"Huh? James, did you just hear Meowth?"
Jessie suddenly lifted her head and asked.
"I think I heard something… maybe? I'm not totally sure if it was Meowth. Anyway, I just want to hurry up and find my Inkay and Weezing! I have no idea what's happened to them—sob sob… Especially Inkay! It's barely been with me any time at all. I just caught it when we arrived in Kalos!"
James' face was a picture of theatrical agony, his imagination already running wild with disaster scenarios.
"What if… what if they've been attacked by some super strong Pokémon in the forest?"
He tilted his head back toward the sky, picturing it clearly: a fiery Pyroar passing by and blasting poor Weezing with a full burst of flames—
BOOM! A massive explosion!
"Noooooo! Weezing! I only just got you back, and now you're leaving me again!"
And then his thoughts turned to Inkay.
Inkay was a Dark/Psychic-type.
What if it ran into a Vivillon? Or a Florges? Or even a Aromatisse?! Oh, Arceus forbid!
James clutched his head—he couldn't let his brain keep going down that road.
"Idiot!"
Jessie didn't bother with any comforting. She simply smacked James so hard it knocked him straight out of his fantasy world.
One slap later, James was back in reality, dazed and blinking.
"Pay attention to what's around us—watch out for—uh!"
Jessie didn't finish her sentence—her foot caught on something sticking out of the ground, and she went down hard.
Crack crack…
The ground split open, and up popped a Pumpkaboo.
It had a pair of lantern-like eyes—legend said that in ancient times, people would use the glow from those eyes as streetlights on dark nights.
"Pumpkaboo!"
The little ghostly gourd blinked left and right, as if trying to figure out what had just happened.
"Pumpkaboo, huh? Ghost/Grass-type. Jessie, you haven't caught any Kalos Pokémon yet. If only Arbok were here—you could take it down easily," James said regretfully.
Jessie didn't waste a second.
"Who needs a battle? Watch this! Go, Poké Ball!"
She hurled the ball straight at Pumpkaboo's head.
"That's not how this—"
Thunk!
The ball clicked, and the capture was successful.
James froze.
"…That worked? Seriously?!"
Instant karma—face slapped at the speed of light.
"Roaaaar!"
Before they could bask in the absurd success, a fierce roar echoed from nearby.
They rushed forward to check—and there was Arbok, squaring off against a Pangoro.
Behind Arbok stood Weezing, Inkay, and Wobbuffet.
"Arbok!" Jessie cried.
"Roooar!"
Before Arbok could say more, Pangoro launched a powerful Arm Thrust!
The four Pokémon were sent flying right toward Jessie and James.
The two humans got bowled over, but quickly scrambled to recall all four into their Poké Balls.
"Jessie! James! Help me, nyaaa!"
Another scream drew their attention—Meowth was dangling from Ash's hand by the scruff of his neck.
"Pancham! Pancham!"
Beside Pangoro were two small Pancham—the same ones who had run off earlier after bumping into Meowth.
Now, seeing Ash approach, the two immediately clung to Pangoro, bawling their eyes out and telling him they'd been bullied.
Oh, that was it.
Nobody messes with his kids. Pangoro's temper flared instantly.
He began striding toward Ash's group.
Jessie and James exchanged a look—then grinned.
They'd thought Pangoro was coming after them, but no—if he took care of the twerp first, then Pikachu would be easy pickings!
Perfect!
They decided to sit back and enjoy the show, ignoring Meowth for the moment.
Meowth, still hanging from Ash's grip, also caught on—his face curled into a sly grin.
This could be the perfect chance to grab Pikachu and finally get revenge on the brat!
And then… there was no "then."
Because the "then" was Ash suddenly swinging Meowth like a cannonball—
—and hurling him directly at Pangoro.
The poor panda didn't even have time to raise his guard before Meowth's skull smashed straight into his forehead with full force.
Pangoro collapsed instantly.
Ash had just… well, let's just say it wasn't a formal capture.
Ahem.
Froakie, Fennekin, Chespin, and Bonnie's Dedenne all stepped forward, glaring at Team Rocket.
"Froa!"
"Fenne!"
"Ches!"
"Dede!"
The sudden wave of battle-ready baby Pokémon sent Jessie and James into a panic. They snatched Meowth and bolted like their lives depended on it.
Sunlight streamed through the forest as their silhouettes vanished into the distance—leaving behind only that familiar cry: "What a rotten feeling!"
The Pokémon glanced at each other—and burst into laughter.
Ash and the others couldn't help laughing too.
"Pancham, ~~cham…"
The two little Pancham were stunned. Seeing their protector knocked out cold, they began to cry.
Ash waited until they had learned their lesson, then used the power of the Aura to communicate with them.
Meanwhile, Clemont fed Pangoro some berries, restoring his strength.
When Pangoro woke up, he seemed ready to fight again—but the two Pancham, now realizing their mistake, rushed in to stop him and apologized.
With that matter resolved, the group continued on toward Cyllage City.
By afternoon, they finally emerged from the forest, stepping onto a wide road.
BEEP BEEP BEEP!
A deafening car horn blared behind them.
A rugged off-road vehicle roared past—at the wheel was a burly middle-aged man, and in the passenger seat sat a massive Diggersby.
"Outta the way! Move it, all of you!" he shouted.
Ash reacted instantly—pulling Serena into one arm, scooping Bonnie up with the other, and yanking Clemont out of harm's way.
The vehicle sped past—hotly pursued by a motorcycle.
It was Officer Jenny, in charge of the local area.
The road was bumpy, and as the off-road vehicle jolted forward, a large crate tumbled from the back.
From inside came faint cries of Pokémon.
Pokémon Smugglers.
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T/N:
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