The Journey Continues

The Journey

"What, you're leaving already?"

"I'm actually a pretty busy person, you know."

They say when one journey ends, another begins. Whether that be coming home from Sinnoh to go straight to Kalos the next day, graduating from university and starting a job you're way overqualified for, or even just finishing a game and moving onto the next, the transience of life affects us in one way or another. Ultimately, time cultivates every story, no matter when you planted it, and eventually it'll cultivate the ones you plant in their place.

"Say, Ash, congratulations on the victory, by the way." His former rival smiled, and gave his thanks. It had now been 6 years since Ash Ketchum beat Gary Oak at the Silver Conference in Johto, and now to see him having beaten Leon and become world champion, Gary had nothing but pride for his fellow Pallet town prodigy. "So now that you're the world champion, what's your next step?"

Ash was caught off guard, having not really any idea how to answer that question. His friend just smiled, turned around, and continued crossing the bridge they were standing on. "I'll see ya around!"

Ash didn't know exactly where he was going yet, but he knew one thing for certain: it wasn't over.

Returning home, he figured the best course of action was to stay around Pallet for a few days and decide his next move. After all, there was his mother and all his Pokémon here, neither of which he saw particularly often. Some time off, if you will. He thought he deserved that much. He looked at the new pair of shoes his mum had bought him: these shoes were practically calling him to a new adventure.

The next morning, he sprinted out the house, quickly letting Delia know he was off to Viridian Forest. This was the site of many core memories of his, having met some of his oldest friends there.

Speaking of old friends, what he hadn't noticed yet was the faint rustling in the grass beside him. They made their way blissfully through the rays of sun piercing down through the canopy, unaware of the imminent threat.

"I can hardly believe that I'm back 'ere. At least I'm not a waiter anymore..." This distinct voice belonged to the one and only talking Meowth that science has so far found. It's a shame it fell into the hands of Team Rocket, otherwise our understanding of Pokémon language may be much more developed.

Mumbling to himself, Meowth missed what was right in front of him. There was a sudden crash that Ash somehow still didn't notice, and the cat Pokémon found himself between the two people he was escaping.

"Such a hard forehead, it could only be..."

"Such a grizzly temperament, it could only be..."

"James."

"Jessie."

Here's the recap: After the last failed attempt, Team Rocket started doubting their very purpose as a trio, and very emotionally decided to part ways. Of course, their ways weren't apart for long, and they found themselves all working at the Team Rocket cafeteria, maintaining their squabble. Unfortunately, that's even worse than chasing fruitlessly after a Pikachu for 9 years. They all had to get out of there.

Meowth was tearing up. "Look! We all had the same idea!"

Jessie gave a satisfied sigh. "It looks like our unstoppable drive to capture the twerp's Pikachu has united us again."

"I wouldn't be surprised if we carry on doing this until we retire," James chimed in. "Now let's go get him!"

Jessie, James, Meowth, and Wobbuffet all joined their hands. Team Rocket was back in business.

Ash was just enjoying the ambiance of the forest, finding his way to a small clearing, before he heard someone from his left. "Gourgeist, Bullet Seed!" Suddenly, a barrage of baby trees caught him off-guard. A net sneakily approached and captured Pikachu, dragging it back to the perpetrators of this chaos: people who Ash knew very well.