StrangeFryingPan's Book of Pokemon One-shots

Mooks in the Limelight

AN: So this is just a short chapter that I managed to scrape out some time for. A story featuring the basic grunts of Team Rocket. After all, they aren't just target practice and free money for you and your team, they are human beings, each with their own lives and personalities. So ladies and gentlemen, let's see things from another point of view.

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Guard Duty

Somewhere out in the Kanto wilderness... wait, is it Johto? Unova- wait, I don't think Rocket has any presence in Unova. Uh Kanto it is! *ahem*

Somewhere out in the Kanto wilderness, there lays a dirt path, one of the various designated routes for Pokemon trainers to travel on. With no cars, artificial lights, or litter, this area is a pristine spot for wildlife to prosper. Grass as green as emeralds, trees with trunks tough as concrete pillars, and bushes absolutely bursting with fresh, ripe, berries. Wild Pokemon are absolutely everywhere, and of countless different species too. All in all, a prospecting Trainer's wet dream. (And a great spot to take your family and friends for a picnic or camping trip)

However, if one were to pay very close attention to the dirt path, they will notice a very faint path leading into the forest. It is extremely faint, matching with the color of the nearby grass, and so countless trainers pass by without ever noticing it. However, should anyone bravely decide to walk along that path, they will discover something sinister hiding behind the beauty of this forest.

Deep into the forest, there sits one of the few man made objects. It is a small building, just one story tall with an antenna sticking out the roof. There are no visible windows on it though slits have been cut into the walls so occupants can see outside. A few stray crates and chairs can be seen outside the building. Most striking however, is a large red R emblazoned above the door. The insignia of Team Rocket. They have built an outpost out in this forest! At the door stood a pair of grunts standing guard, both of them male.

Grunt 1 pulls out a device and looks at it. It appears to be displaying a live video being taken from the air. On the screen shows the image of a black haired boy, likely a Pokemon trainer, wearing a primarily red outfit. The grunt nods slightly and returns the device to his pocket, turning to his partner.

"Alright, he's on his way. We're gonna be the ones to take that annoying little brat down!" he says sinisterly.

"Yeah, yeah! I mean... right." Grunt 2 replied, not sounding as enthusiastic.

Grunt 1 raised an eyebrow, "You aren't having second thoughts are you?"

"Well I mean.."

'What's wrong?"

"Why are we so outmatched in the Pokemon department?" Grunt 2 finally answered.

Grunt 1 looks a little shocked, his eyes darting left and right. "Uh, what?"

"I mean," Grunt 2 says, gesturing to two Pokeballs hanging from his belt. "I have a Ratata and a Pidgey, like, how different is that from those weak-ass trainers all the way back in Route 1?"

"Well, I mean Pidgey can evolve into a pretty solid Pokemon right?"

"I'm not so much concerned about evolution when this damn thing belongs to the organization any ways!" Grunt 2 retorted.

"Alright alright, point taken." Grunt 1 replied. "But come on, we got cool outfits! At least we look badass battling right?"

"About this outfit." Grunt 2 pulled his glove off, revealing a red, swollen hand.

"Is... is that a bite or something?"

"Yeah! Some damn Zubat bit me and now my hand is swollen! I can't even hold a donut anymore!" Grunt 2 exclaimed in frustration.

Grunt 1 looks a bit nervous and sweat dropped. "Actually... we ran out of donuts. All we got left is the whole wheat bread."

Grunt 1 throws his hands into the air. "Great! First crap Pokemon, and now no donuts! What's the point of staying in this organization any more?!"

Grunt 2 looks behind him at the door of the building. "Honestly, just be glad you ain't one of the female members. They have it even worse in the clothing department. Try guarding in winter with exposed midriffs."

Grunt 1 points at the base, speaking in frustration. "Matt, there are two guys in there with 3 evolved Pokemon each, plus potions! Why don't we have that? Why doesn't everyone?"

Matt tries to think of an answer, "I mean, we're criminals Dan! We can't exactly go out and catch or train Pokemon ourselves you know? Gotta make do with what we're given. I mean, why do you think we're eating Ratatas and Raticates for food-"

"Well that might explain why mine doesn't like me..."

"- For that dry, stringy, and bland meat flavor? Besides! It's just one kid we're dealing with! How can a prepubescent boy clear out an entire outpost of dangerous criminals?"

Dan drops his focus to the ground, then back at Matt. "There's something else I've been wondering, Matt. This kid, who is he?"

"Just some kid. Cocky punk who thinks he can bring down Team Rocket!" he says, placing a fist against his chest.

"And HOW many of our bases has he cleared out?" Dan asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Um, bases? I guess 3..."

"Yeah, that's this month! What about last month?"

Matt looks a bit scared now. "Well they said seven, but that's impossible! I mean, what kind of fairy tale superhero can take down a base of like, 20 guys and do that again and again? That's just propaganda by the press to put fear in us!"

Dan shook his head. "Those bases still were declared out of operations by the boss! That's no lie! What if this kid is really as good as the rumors say? Like, what does he have that we don't?"

"Well, we have a lot more people!" Matt says confidently "He can't defeat us if we outnumber him. Besides, there's no way for him to heal his mons other than potions out here! He'll tire himself out fighting all of us."

"That kid swept the local Gym Leader's entire team with just one Pokemon!" Dan cried, showing an image on his phone, which reads "Traveling Trainer kicks Local Gym Leader's ass back to the Stone Age"

Matt's eyes widened as a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead. "My god... he's going to kill us all."

"Yeah," Dan nodded "and what are we going to do about it?"

A few silent seconds later, both grunts made a mad dash down the hidden path and into the forest, realizing it clearly isn't worth their time and effort to try and stop that child prodigy. Maybe they can find a less dangerous and more legal occupation...

The End

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AN: Sorry this story was really on the short side, and pretty crap. Real life is taking a toll on me, and I simply don't have time to write or even think of story ideas, and this was the closest thing to an "idea" I came up with. I wrote this just to give you guys something to read while I wait for the dust to settle. I'll write something better eventually. Emphasis on eventually. Well, until then, StrangeFryingPan out!