The darkness had truly set in by the time the travellers had reached the sloping hillsides on the other side of Domina. Crossing the second half of the Champion’s Walk, Caley’s face fell as he looked at the human figures immortalised in stone - images of masterful trainers that had overcome the tasks set for them. He felt disheartened that his journey seemed to be turning out so hopelessly.

            “They succeeded…why can’t I?”

            “Their goals were a lot simpler than yours, Caley,” Rose explained.

            “Besides, you have challenges inside yourself to overcome” Denise added. “You have a power that a lot of those guys never had.”

            “That’s the thing,” the trainer sighed. “It’s a hindrance! I wish Cew had never triggered those psychic abilities…they’re more like disabilities.”

“It must have been done for a reason,” Denise remarked.

“And you’ll learn to control it, with time,” Rose agreed.

“I don’t have any time!” Caley snapped, before slumping onto the railings at the side of the bridge.

“It’s natural to feel doubts about such a big concept,” Denise explained, as she drew closer. “But you’re not alone…you’re with us.”

“We’re not going to walk out on you, however tough things get,” Rose told him.

“There’s no way I’m going to stand by and watch things fall apart, or my friends get hurt,” Adam announced, placing a fist valiantly to his chest. “My life started out all wrong, but I’m going to make sure it won’t continue that way.”

“Wow, Ad’…” Denise murmured in awe at her companion’s uncharacteristic behaviour. “That’s real noble of you.”

Adam turned slightly red upon hearing this compliment, but looked the other way so no one could see this. As a slight smile of renewed hope spread across Caley’s face the others looked over at James for added support. But he said nothing. His expression was blank and completely glazed over; a man immersed in his own thoughts. 

“You’re right,” Caley said. He hadn’t realised James was in such a state. “I can’t give up. It would be weak of me to back away.

 

All I’ve got to do is focus myself; forget my problems and focus on my task”.

 

Tentatively, the travellers set up camp; supplies were low and finances in an equally dire state, so dinner came in the shape of some dried crackers Caley had found in the bottom of his rucksack and warmth from a pathetically small fire fuelled by a few loose twigs the others had picked up from around the site. As usual, a pair of guards were chosen to keep a lookout while the others relaxed as much as they could, what with all the things playing in the back of their minds. James immediately volunteered with surprising enthusiasm, and Rose voted to accompany him – she was worried about her friend’s state of mind and lack of communication. This similar behaviour continued, deep into the night. Eventually Rose released her Pokémon to keep her company and the two watched with some concern as James gazed bleakly at the stars.

“Mrrow?” Sia asked softly, watching Rose’s sad expression.

“He can’t go on without those two, Kitty” the woman sighed, reverting to giving the Meowth the nickname she used when it was young. It was a sort of pacifying tactic for herself. “The bond is too strong…even with us beside him, there’s going to be things that keep drawing him back to his past.

All those memories – there’s too many to just throw away…”

“Mrrth” Sia nodded. Then suddenly she sat bolt upright. “Rro?”

“What is it?” Rose murmured anxiously. The Pokémon never answered, she simply dashed, full-tilt, into the thick darkness. With a frightened gasp, the woman followed, but James did not stir. Somehow the man’s emotion had rendered him lifeless – like a statue on the hillside.

 

 

***~~***~~***~~***~~***

 

 

Help me, Errol!

Hellllllp meeeee!

 

Gloria’s face appeared in the darkness, her soft lavender eyes filled with an irremovable desperation as she stretched out her arms towards Errol’s own, almost willing him to grasp it, to pull her back from the brink of certain doom. And Errol tried to. But he never could quite reach, leaving Gloria to somehow be dragged into nothingness, her screams piercing every reach of Errol’s conscience.

It was all my fault, he moaned, as he collapsed to the ground. She’d still be here if it weren’t for me! It was…

 

…ALL MY FAULT!

 

Yes it was…

 

Errol looked up. The towering countenances of Jessie and James leered over him, their faces obscured by the murky black atmosphere. Heartless grins played upon their faces as they stared down in an intimidating manner.

You aren’t a human… Jessie’s words echoed in cold succession through Errol’s head.

…you never will be, James concluded, without feeling. 

“But I…” Errol’s sentence ebbed out into silence as the two figures laughed callously. “I t’ought you’d see it diff’rently, Jimmy…” 

No answer came; the presences had vanished. Errol swung round and in his view there was Gloria once again, bound tightly to a conveyor belt that fed directly into the jaws of some maniacal creation of a machine. She struggled, but to no avail.

 

Help me, Errol! were her terrified cries.

Help meeeee!

 

At the head of the machine there stood Jessie and James once again, side by side with each of their hands placed upon a tall lever. Errol began to run, to try and save the figure that had seen him through some of the most difficult times of his life, but with each futile attempt he just seemed to be carried further away, as Gloria’s screams of agony were coupled with evil cackles of enjoyment.

 

“NO!”

 

<Errol! Wake up!>

 

Errol sat up on the damp grass, panting heavily, awoken from his slumber by the two pink, podgy paws of one of his Pokémon companions. The images were burning fresh in his mind but still; it had only been a foolish nightmare. Gloria was not lost to him forever, the sight of his future son was enough to confirm that. Errol hoped that Michael had at least managed to make it home safely, and his future self wouldn't be too hard on the boy for his unauthorised time-travelling.

Gazing down the hillside at the group of figures sprawled around a tiny point of light in a state of semi-consciousness, Errol heaved a sigh. Only half a mile away and still he could not bring himself to approach those who meant so much to him and he had searched so long for.

"What if Jessie was right?" he murmured anxiously.

<What if Jessie was right about what?> asked Li, with a concerned look upon her wide-eyed face.

“What if James don't accept me?” Errol reiterated.

“What if none of dem accept me? I couldn’t live wit'out at least one of my best friends…

 

I jus’ couldn’t…

 

Out of the night sprang a small creamy coloured shape, landing on Errol with ecstatic purring. It blinked its huge slitted eyes expectantly at him as Cory took a step backwards in sudden alarm. Errol stared at the Pokémon who was now kneading the folds of his trousers happily. After a second or so it stretched, yawned, and fell asleep on top of his legs while Li looked on with a snort of semi-jealousy. Errol sighed, and the misty look returned again.

“Not a care in da woild, eh?” he remarked to the sleeping Meowth. “Lucky you. I would do anyt'ing to get some of my old life back…”

 

“So would I…the ‘lack of being hunted’ aspect for a start.”

 

Errol looked up to see a tall figure in the shadows. With almost effortless movement, the woman slid towards him and arranged herself upon the grass. There was an immense urge to run, even though Errol was certain who his visitor was. 

“Rose?”

“Sia is rather attached to you.”

“Yeh, I guess” Errol blushed, and tried to remove the Pokémon from his front. She grinned at him, showing all of her sharp teeth.

“She don’t take to others so well, you must be something different,” the woman replied, flicking her golden hair over her shoulders. Errol gave her an anxious glance, but she was too busy to notice it.

<I know you!> came a sudden exclamation. Rose glanced across at the Pokémon who had been slouched beside Errol with folded arms and a pout of distrust. Now he was up on his feet with a look of realisation on his face. Rose returned the expression.

“That Pokémon’s voice is sure familiar,” she said. Errol frowned in puzzlement as Cory’s eyes creased up in joy.

<That lady helped me out,> he explained.

“Helped you?” Errol echoed in surprise, turning to Rose for some sort of acknowledgement. She shrugged.

<Back when I was looking for Li> the Pokémon continued. <She bought me a sandwich>

“Da little guy says you got him a meal,” Errol relayed to Rose. “Is dat right?”

A second passed, in which Rose mulled over the past days’ events in her head. Then she looked back at her companions with a slight gasp.

“Were you that boy in the café?”

Cory nodded.

“But…how…?” 

“Quite a trickster, dat kid.” Errol pointed out. “He can turn himself into whateva he touches. Doesn’t seem ta happen at night, mind you. His name’s Cory…bin travelling wit me evah since I left da HQ." The man motioned towards his other Pokemon companion at this point. "And dis is Li. She came along lookin' fer answers ta Mondo's issues. Taj knows why, though. Surely dat kid can sort out his own problems."

"Mondo?" Rose's eyes brightened in realisation. "That's the same Tisker from Pyra Laboratory?"

"Actually, yes," Errol blinked, a little surprised. Li glanced back at him expectantly.

<Well?> she began. <Aren't you going to introduce us?>

“Oh! My bad," Errol chuckled awkwardly. "Dis is Rose, she’s a good friend o’ mine.”

<Pleased to meet you> Cory smiled, holding out a paw respectfully. Rose took it, giggling shortly after upon the unexpected squishiness of the appendage.

“He says he’s pleased ta meet’cha," Errol relayed automatically. This was a habit he'd formed back from his own days as a Pokemon.

“The pleasure is all mine,” Rose smiled softly, giving the Copi a kiss upon the top of his head. Cory blushed at this, before sitting back down beside Li who rubbed up against the woman's legs as way of greeting. Sia frowned, but said nothing.

“What are you doing up here all by yourself?” Rose continued. “Surely you’d rather have some human company.”

“Not partic’larly,” Errol replied absently, smoothing out the wrinkles in his trousers. His mind was still recovering from the experiences that his previous dream had thrown up at him.

“But you’ve been following us about for so long! How come you don’t want to-”

“I jus’ don’t! Ok?” Errol snapped, causing Rose to back off slightly in surprise. He looked up at her expression of upset. “Dey wouldn’t accept me anyways…”

Rose took in a breath of realisation. She knew why Errol was so reluctant to reacquaint himself with the rest of the travellers, he desperately wished to reveal his true self and he was worried about how James’ reaction would be. A small smile had taken over at this point.

“I can’t blame you for wanting to be alone,” she sighed, motioning to the group seated round the glow of their tiny campfire. “I mean, travelling with that lot down there can be quite a difficult experience sometimes. We may have our differences, and our trials. But through it all, we’re still friends.

 

That’s what keeps us going.”

 

Errol watched Sia, Cory and Li reclining peacefully between himself and Rose, and swallowed back his tears. He could feel the urge to explain, to reveal what he had been hiding for so long. But this time, it felt stronger than before, too strong to just try and bury again like all those other times.

“I used to know this group of friends, called Jessie, James and Meowth…” Rose gazed to the air as her act continued. “They were so closely bonded together that not even the worst of fights could break them apart for very long. Then suddenly…something went wrong. Something so wrong that it caused the partnership to dissolve. They were such a happy team together. They all had an…emotional dependence on each other…

…I guess that’s why things got so raucous when one of them just…disappeared.”

“It…did?”

“Yeah. Jessie and James could no longer stand being together. James was so distraught at his best pal vanishing like he did, that he caved in on himself, and became like a shadow…hardly speaking, or eating.”

Errol snorted faintly in amusement. James, not eating? Now that was a scary thought.

“Meowth wasn’t always the most caring of Pokémon, but he was witty, individual, and very philosophical” Rose continued. “It was what I liked most about him, his ability to wonder about things outside his own scope of being.”

Errol raised his eyebrows at the thoughtful analysis.

“Didn’t ya t'ink it was weird…da way he talked?”

“No…” Rose looked up at Errol and there was a sparkle in her brown eyes. “In fact…he talked just like you.”

“A dead giveaway, huh?” the man chuckled half-heartedly.

“Of course” Rose winked.

 

“Plus you don’t look or move like any human I know.”

 

Errol dropped his head in relief. He was thankful in a way that he didn’t need to explain, but a little lost and worried because Rose knew what he had been hiding. And she had discovered it a lot sooner than he realised. Rose laid herself down with her face to the stars.

“I didn’t want to make you feel inadequate. I wanted to let you work things out.”

“Dat’s considrate.”

“So…why did you do it?” Rose asked slowly. Errol’s gaze returned to the moon.

“I jus’ didn’t fit in. Dat’s all. A Pokémon dat talks ain’t gonna fit in anywhere. I s’pose desp’ration drives ya ta doin crazy t’ings, don’t it?”

“Yes…it does” Rose nodded in acknowledgement, pulling herself upright and making Sia jump up hurriedly. “I’d better be going…James and the others will be wondering where I am.”

At the mention of his friend’s name Errol hunched his shoulders miserably.

“Ya won’t tell him, will ya? Don’t tell any o' dem.”

“Of course not” Rose replied, disheartened but still calm. “I’ll leave that choice to you.”

            The woman quietly wandered from the scene and Sia took one last wishful look in Errol's direction before scampering after her owner. The man picked himself off the grass, stretched subconsciously and exchanged looks with Cory and Li.  As he did so, Rose’s last words floated up to him on the breeze.

 

 

            “He really misses you, though…”

 

 

            “So you found Sia then?” came James' greeting, as Rose entered the firelight of the traveller’s camp. He seemed to have perked up a bit after his silent contemplation and was now chewing upon one of the crackers Caley had handed him before he had left to go on lookout duty.

            “Yeah…” Rose murmured, cradling Sia fondly in her arms. As the feline Pokémon gazed up, Rose noticed the longing expression in her wide eyes. It reminded the woman of the way Errol’s face had been just before she left him to his own devices.

            “That’s good,” James replied with a grin. “Thought you’d gotten yourself lost, with it being so dark and all. I was just about to come and find you.”

            “Merr Merreeow?” Sia pouted miserably. Rose sat down upon one of the logs that surrounded the campfire; the studied look returned once more.

            “You seem thoughtful,” Denise murmured. “Is there something on your mind?”

            “Yes," Rose nodded slowly. "But…it would be better if I didn’t tell you what it was”

            Sia threw itself over her owner’s shoulder in a fit of upset. But as she did so, the expression upon the Pokémon’s furry countenance brightened immediately and she stood bolt upright, jamming her claws into Rose and causing the woman to yelp. Everyone turned in the direction of Sia’s gaze just in time to see a figure emerge from the shadows, hands firmly shoved in pockets and a small companion by its side.

            “Errol!” everyone chorused in unanimous joy.

“Dat’s me…” came the uneasy reply. Errol’s glance had firmly alighted upon James. He returned the gaze, in a delighted but more puzzled way.

            “We really missed you…” Denise trailed off as she picked up on the strange exchanges of expression between the two guys. “Why are you staring at James?”

            There ensued an awkward silence. Rose had swung her expectant eyes upon Errol, almost willing him to confess his long-kept secret.

            “Dat buddy of yours, Meowth…” he began unsteadily. “He was a pretty lonely guy on da inside, he tried ta covah up his emotions wit a load of talk and bravado. But nuttin’ could hide da way he felt from himself. He felt shunned, inadequate…desp’rate.

            An’ ya know how I know all dis ‘bout Meowth?”

            All members of the group bar Rose and Caley shook their heads, their eyes as wide and round as saucers.

            “Because…I am Meowth. Dis was my attempt ta make me noimal like da rest of youse.

 

An’ it’s poimenant, so youse guys better get used ta it.”

 

            His revelation over, Errol crumpled onto the log beside James and placed his head in his own hands. Cory skittered over and clambered onto his shoulder to try and console him while Li watched anxiously from a distance. Suddenly it felt like revealing his secret had been a big mistake. Rose was smiling with her eyes in her admiration for a long lost friend’s bravery. Denise wore an enlightened expression of realisation and Adam showed a fair amount of astonishment upon his face.

James said nothing, but lifted his head up slightly to examine his friend’s new appearance as he sat there next to him. Errol winced as he saw the plain, cold gaze in the man’s eyes.

“James?”

No response. It was as if the figure had once again been de-animated – not a muscle moved, the stare unblinking. Errol’s face became desperate.

“Jimmy? Say somet’ing…please…don’t do dis to me.”

The others watched in anticipation as James stood up slowly, his eyes still fixated upon the man beside him.

“I want to speak to you…” he intoned as he moved back into the darkness. 

“…alone…”

 

 

***~~***~~***~~***~~***

 

 

“Why?”

 

The next few minutes were spent in a deep penetrating silence. Neither of the companions spoke; they just sat and stared out at nothing.

James was in a state of shock. Errol couldn’t be sure whether his friend believed he actually was the Meowth he had shared so many of his past blighted years with, or whether it was the fact he couldn’t come to terms with the Pokémon’s transformation. Either way Errol couldn’t bear to speak – he felt that any more words would make the situation worse for them both. So they continued to sit, as still as trees in the night air.

“I shouldn’t have come back…” Errol murmured eventually. “I shoulda’ trusted my instincts…I shoulda’ known you would react da same way Jessie did.”

“Jessie?” James looked up at Errol in puzzlement. “Jessie knows you are like this?”

The guy nodded slowly. "At least she did. I dunno about now."

“But why?” James continued, almost despairingly. “Why did you do that to yourself?”

“I told ya already,” Errol muttered irritably. “I wanted ta be noimal. A Pokémon dat talks ain’t noimal”

“Maybe not…” James murmured.

 

“But he is special”

 

Errol stopped, as he watched James’ face.

“You’re not…angry wit me? Are ya?”

“It’s your decision what you do with yourself” James replied softly. “I have to accept that. After all, you’re still the same wisecracking, smart-mouthed Meowth on the inside, aren’t you?”

“Ya got dat right, Jimbo!”

“Exactly…that’s all that matters.”

“Den why can’t Jess see it dat way?” Errol murmured forlornly. James looked up at him and his face darkened in despair.

“I don’t know…I just don’t know. Maybe in time she’ll come to realise what I knew all along.”

“An’ what’s dat?”

 

“It’s the heart that counts in a person, not their face.”

 

For the first time that night the corners of Errol’s mouth turned upwards into a slight smile.

“Ya know, I’m lucky ta have a pal like you, James. I’m glad I plucked up da courage ta come back an’ explain.”

“I’m glad you did too” James replied. “After all we’ve been through, you couldn’t go and throw away a friendship like that”

Both the figures’ faces were beginning to brighten as reminiscence set in. Errol pointed a finger up at the stars.

“We used ta do dis sorta t’ing ev’ry night…all dose years ago” he remarked.

“Hmm” James nodded. “Lying under the beauty of the night sky, dreaming of wealth and prestigious acclaims. We were so single-minded and foolhardy back then. Those motives seem pointless now.”

“Dey weren’t completely pointless,” Errol reminded him. “If it hadn’t been for Team Rocket, we woulda never found each udda.”

James’ expression suddenly became distant - Errol had struck upon a sore point in his memory. As the man gazed up at the glittering lights in the dark expanse a solitary tear ran down his cheek. Errol looked down at the grass. He could feel his own passionate sadness welling up once more, his anger at Jessie’s ignorance and his upset at her unwillingness to understand. Just a few thoughtless actions on her part causing so much pain for himself and his newly-reunited companion. He placed a hand on James’ shoulder to try and comfort him.

“It’s not foreva, Jim. She’ll come around one day.”

“I hope you’re right” James sighed heavily, as he stood up to return to the camp. “For her sake, and mine. Let’s go and get some sleep now.”

 

“I’m wit ya on dat one, kid.”

 

Errol got to his feet to accompany his friend, and as he did so he noticed James was carefully examining the charm hung around his neck with an intent gaze. After a minute or so James patted Errol heartily upon the shoulder.

“It’s nice to have you back with us again,” he smiled.

“Didja miss me?”

“Miss you?” James smirked, swinging away from Errol in a reaction that was best described as theatrical. It was something Errol hadn’t seen in a long while, it made his face light up with relief at the knowledge that James’ true personality had never disappeared, it had just been dormant for some time.

“That is like asking “does Snorlax sleep?” or “do Oddish enjoy the sunlight?” he announced dramatically with his hand to the stars. Errol looked at him in confusion.

“Watcha gettin’ at, James?”

“The answer’s obvious! Of course I missed you!”

As Errol gazed warmly at his friend a look of shock passed over his face.

“I jus’ realised…we see eye ta eye now…”

“Literally!” James murmured.

“Dis’ is gonna take some gettin’ used ta,” Errol replied. “Least I won’t hafta crane my neck ta see ya anymore, Jimmy boy!”

“Or sit on my head," James grined. "Just one more question.”

“What’s dat?”

“Do I call you ‘Meowth’ or ‘Errol’?”

The figure chuckled lightly at this as he moved onward while fingering one of the loose strands of hair that fell across his scarred face.

“What do you t’ink?”

“Well I guess it would be kind of silly to call you ‘Meowth’…” James murmured in a half-embarrassed fashion as he strode alongside. There was a moment's quiet, in which one of the guys continued to snigger at the other’s innocent inquiry. James looked up again. “Why did you choose ‘Errol’ for your human name anyway?”

“Well, I…” the man couldn’t bring himself to unearth those particular memories again. There had been enough torrid recalling already that night.

“It’s a long story, James” he replied after another long silence.

 

“Maybe I’ll tell ya sometime”

 

 

***~~***~~***~~***~~***

 

 

It was eight in the morning, and a peaceful scene could be found amongst the grasslands of Tatto. Most of the travellers had sprawled out in a variety of fashions about the burnt-out campfire; Rose had one arm behind her head while the other covered her face and Sia dozed peacefully beside her. James and Errol, having arrived somewhat later, had arranged themselves in an amusingly careless manner.  James sported a rather wide grin on his slumbering features, and was drooling heavily while lying nearby, Errol's appendages were spread in a uniform fashion and twitched every so often with strange random murmurings under his breath.

            Cory, on the other hand, had not chosen the best of places for his nap. He happened to be a young-minded Pokémon and was not aware of the rules governing personal space. Therefore he had draped himself over Denise’s legs and fallen into a deep sleep. Now this wouldn’t have been such a bad concept had Copi not unknowingly morphed into his human form a minute before Denise awoke.

A piercing shriek broke the stillness of the morning air, sending the travellers into a panicked flurry. Caley and Adam dashed down the hillside from sentry duty to find Denise staring, almost manically, at the teenage boy who was only half-awake and still slumped heavily on her feet. Upon seeing this spectacle, Adam leapt in with his own personal brand of rescuing by beating the guy about the head with his fists.

“Adam!” Rose blurted, as Errol cried out in horror and leapt between the two figures.

“Get out the way!” Adam snapped. ”Leave this to me! I’m gonna save Denise from this weirdo stranger!”

“He’s not a weirdo!” Errol exclaimed angrily, as Li trilled in equal frustration and the boy cowered in terror behind them both, rubbing at his bruised eye with his right hand. “An’ he’s not a stranger!”

“Well, I’ve never seen him before” Adam retorted, attempting another lunge at the figure. Errol grasped at his shirt and yanked him backwards with a nasty scowl while Caley looked on in silence.

“I have to admit, I’ve never seen him before either,” James shrugged. “You know this kid, Errol?”

“And what was he doing lying on me?” Denise cried, causing the boy to wince apologetically.

“Cory hasn’t brushed up on his social skills yet” Errol pointed out.

“What do you mean?” part of the group frowned in confusion.

“He means that this ‘boy’ happens to be a genetic Pokémon called Copi,” Caley concluded, having studied another Urudex entry for the past moment or so. The tone of his voice indicated some hesitancy over the information he had been reading. “A specie composed of Ditto, Sableye and Espeon DNA.”

"Ditto, eh?" Rose became intrigued. "At least that explains the human appearance and lack of speech."

To prove this point, Cory reverted back to his original shape before stepping forward and holding out a paw in apology. Denise took it in her hand, a smile beginning to creep back onto her face. 

“Well I’m glad that's cleared up,” she remarked. “Just stay on your own part of the turf from now on, ok?”

 

 

The figure blushed, and nodded.

 

 

            Caley invited Adam to accompany him on searching for some breakfast to disperse the tension between him and Cory. While they did so, the others sat about quietly awaiting some nutrition to reach their stomachs. Errol listened to his own gurgling and thought wistfully of the last time he had consumed anything edible.

            “Right now I’d settle for the smell of some food,” James groaned, looking at his friend. Then his expression became studied. “Hey…is that stubble on your chin?”

            Errol raised his eyebrows and then consequently lifted his hand to his face.

            “Oh yeah…” he murmured. “Well, t’ink about it, Jim. I’m a human guy now, I’m gonna get stubble jus’ like youse do.”

            “Me?” James felt at his own chin and recoiled his hand in shock. “It’s been tha-that long already?”

            “Uh-huh” Rose sighed. “You’re in bad need of a razor.”

            Denise turned her head and withdrew a tiny breath of nervous realisation.

            “I-if he looks in such a state, then how do I look?”

            “Oh!” Rose exclaimed, scrabbling for her compact mirror. Errol looked on with an expression that conveyed he couldn’t see what the fuss was all about. Upon retrieving the precious object, Rose let out a cry of upset at her reflection.

            “MY HAIR!”

            Then she promptly broke into a fit of sobbing, while Denise glanced at her reflection in Li's shiny outer casing. Cory blinked at such a display and Errol continued to frown with puzzlement. James, on the other hand, looked as if he was about to explode. For the past few minutes, the corners of his eyes had been slowly creasing up in what was bound to be an impending outburst of emotion.

            There was one thing most Rocket members (even Ex-Rocket members) couldn’t stand. That was being visually unsatisfactory. And James couldn’t hold his feelings about the matter in any longer. Errol lifted his hands from his ears to see his companion had crumpled to the grass and was pounding it harshly.

            “This is the end!” he wailed. “The end! The end of my dignity!”

            “That’s it!” Denise snapped. “I need some shampoo, and I need it now!”

            A temporary silence ensued, in which the girl took the time to compose herself a little more.

            “Sadly, we are sorely lacking in the money department,” she added, with a sigh.

            “This ragged look just isn’t me!” Rose whimpered, the pitch of her voice rising with her anxiousness. “Surely Caley has something we could use!”

            “Yeah…” James added. “Where’s he keep his essentials?” 

            “Uh…guys?” Errol raised a hand in protest as Denise and James edged closer and closer to Caley’s yellow rucksack. “Don'cha t'ink youse should wait until da trainer kid retoins before doin' dat?”

            James snorted as he unzipped the front pocket. As far as he was concerned, his state of appearance was far too dire to even consider waiting.

            “It must have grown at least two inches in the past few weeks,” Rose murmured weakly, clutching at a tuft of her honey-blonde hair with some distress. “Now it looks terrible. I need a haircut.”

            “We all need a haircut,” Denise sighed, as James began tossing items carelessly from the inside of the rucksack, left right and centre.

            “He’s gotta have a razor…he’s just got to have a razor!” he muttered under his breath. Errol just stood there with his mouth open, speechless as his friend scrabbled through the contents on the grass. He hadn’t seen him this frantic since a bunch of Murkrow stole his once-prized bottle cap collection.

            “Caley ain’t going ta be pleased wit' dis,” he mumbled, while Cory bit his lip.

 

            “About what?”

 

            It just so happened that as Errol spoke, Caley and Adam had reappeared. Their arms were bare of anything nutritious but their faces were now aghast with shock at the scene that lay before them.

            “What’s going on?” Caley nearly squeaked. “What are you guys doing and why does James have my bag on his head?”

            Everyone swung round at this point to see that their friend had indeed emptied the entire rucksack and used it to hide his face.

            “I’m not letting anyone else see this despicable monstrosity!” he grumbled in muffled tones. 

            “Jus’ overreactin again” Errol thumbed in James’ direction.

            “I am not!” the man snapped.

            “What exactly is this all about?” Caley began slowly, folding his arms and gazing patiently round the group.

            “We need our essentials!” Rose blurted out in a completely uncharacteristic manner. “Look at my hair…just look at it! I need some shampoo!”

“I need a razor,” James stated in monotone.

“Pff. I don’t know what all the fuss is about,” Adam remarked, rolling his eyes. Errol shrugged his shoulders in agreement, which caused Cory to giggle somewhat.

“Well, I’m afraid you’re not going to find anything like that in there,” Caley replied. “I ran out of those things a few days back.”

“We know that now,” Denise sighed, prodding at the objects scattered on the grass. Rose just pouted forlornly.

“Since we haven’t had the money or the time to stop at any place to buy anything I just had to get by,” the trainer continued.

“Well we can’t get by any longer!” James exclaimed from under the folds of the bag. “You’re just going to have to find a way to get some essentials, one way or another.”

“But that’s impossible!” Caley told him. “The only way I could obtain such items is by stealing them!”

 

“St-stealing?”

 

The others could tell by the sudden pitch alteration in James’ voice that darkened thoughts had begun to cross his mind. Errol rapidly came to the rescue.

“No way, Jimmy” he said sternly. “Dere is no way on oith you’re gonna go back to dose habits…not while I’m or any of da others are here.”

James visibly shuddered, as he recalled the countless disasters those sort of actions had dragged him into.

“You’re right,” he murmured, after a short silence. “I’m not that desperate.” At that moment in time his stomach happened to gurgle, rather disagreeably. “Well, did you at least get something to eat?”

“Nope,” Adam grunted, holding out his empty hands, though it was obvious James couldn’t see them.

“Not a berry, not a fruit of any kind,” Caley sighed. This caused another wave of misery to cascade upon the group.

“I’m sure youse guys have been gettin’ roun’ dis somehow” Errol pointed out.

“We’ve been mostly relying on Sia’s Pay Day ability for our money” Rose explained. “But she can only do it once a day. And our food supplies have shrunk so low that she hasn’t the strength to attempt such a move for a while now.”

“We just can’t stand about thinking of a solution,” Caley told them. “We’ve got to keep moving…those Elites are bound to have escaped from that net and they’re not going to stop until they capture us.”

There arose some assorted mutterings.

“Well I’m not going to rest until my hair gets a decent restyle for one” Rose announced, getting to her feet.

“I’m game,” Adam remarked simplistically.

“Any place dats got food is good fer me,” Errol grinned.

“We’ll just have to think of a solution to our problems while we’re travelling,” Denise agreed.

“Can I at least keep the bag?” James asked quietly. Caley glared semi-threateningly in that general direction, before swiftly removing his rucksack from the man’s head, leaving a bemused, dishevelled countenance with its unseemly ruffled bluish hair and unshaven face exposed to the eyes of his companions.

“No. I need that for carrying things.”

James whimpered to himself as the others began to wander toward the next point on the horizon. After a second’s contemplation the guy decided to tag along somewhat reluctantly, muttering in broken tones under his breath.

“This day is just getting worse and worse…”

 

***~~***~~***~~***~~***

 

 

            None of the travellers were completely sure how they arrived in Mayni City - one moment they had been trudging wearily along a dirt track listening to their stomachs (and James) grumble intermittently, next minute the towering concrete and swirling dust of an urban atmosphere surrounded them, bombarding their senses with the noise and movement of a busy mid-morning on the streets.

            This morning seemed to be particularly active. As the group continued to walk they noticed a crowd of jostling, overexcited bystanders blocking the path some distance ahead of them. They all seemed to be clustered directly outside a lavishly decorated building, waving their arms and chanting in a continuous and persistent thrum. So many voices in complete syncopation meant the new arrivals had great difficulty deciphering what the crowd was coming out with.

            “Sounds like ‘bra’” Adam suggested. The others shot him sceptical glances.

            “Trust you to think of that” James sniffed haughtily.

            “Well what do you think they’re saying, sponge head?” the boy retorted.

            “I don’t know!” came the irritable reply.

            “It sounds more like ‘rock’ to me,” Denise spoke up while Li craned her neck curiously.

            “Hmm” Rose mumbled. “Now what could possibly sound like the two things that you heard?”

            “Bra…rock…” Adam ran the sounds over his tongue.

            “Braa…ock…”

           

“Bruh…ok”

 

It was at that split second that both the pupils of Errol and James’ eyes contracted in alarm.

“Say dat…again” Errol murmured slowly. Adam raised his eyebrows at him.

“Bruh..ok. But that’s not a wor-”

“Say it faster,” James urged.

“Bruh-ok”

“Faster!”

“Brock! And I really don’t see the point of this,” Adam muttered, putting his hands on his hips.

“Brock?” Caley questioned. Errol and James nodded in unison.

“I get it!” Denise smiled. “They’re chanting someone’s name!”

“And not just anyone’s name” Rose remarked thoughtfully.

“Surely it can’t be the same guy,” James whined, looking slightly upset.

“Knowin’ our luck, Jim, it most likely is,” Errol replied, rolling his eyes. Cory tapped on his shoulder.

<Who's Brock?> he asked.

“Brock jus’ happens ta be one o’ da twoips responsible for causing one o’ da biggest dents in my psyche since a certain Pokémon told me I was a ‘freak’,” Errol explained.

“Yeah,” James nodded. “I’ve never had my ego trampled so much in my life. Not since the time one of the more boorish students at Pokémon Tech dragged me down the longest corridor in the place, threw me in the pool then made me scream to everyone that was watching my humiliation that I was a useless failure.”

“Oh, how awful” Denise shook her head in disbelief. Adam opened his mouth to say what was possibly another cutting remark, but thought better of it when he noticed the stern expression Caley was giving him.

“Dat was a while ago, mind you” Errol shrugged.

“You mean you’ve forgiven him?” James squeaked in disbelief. “After all those three did to us?”

“He was just a kid” the figure remarked knowledgably, with a careless glance at his nails for a second. “Besides…you can’t say we didn’t desoive it at da time”

A small smile spread across James’ face.

“You know, Errol? Sometimes you’re too wise for your own good”

The man chuckled modestly, but said no more.

“You’re right though,” James said softly, almost guiltily. “We weren’t the best behaved of guys back then, were we?”

“Da past, Jim” Errol reminded. “It’s da past now.”

James nodded silently, as the rest of the group looked on in solemn acceptance. It was like the pair of figures had become encased in their own bubble of reminiscence; exchanging glances that only they knew the reason for. The others decided it best to let them sort things out between them. But the outside world wasn’t going to stand for it, as it was about to give the men a vicious kick back into reality.

Well actually it was more like a trample. As the panicked figures of Caley and his companions leapt in every direction James and Errol looked up to see what looked like, at first sight, to be a growing cloud. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be yet another throng of people, charging to meet the already-numerous crowd in front of the building.

Sadly neither Errol nor James managed to escape their rubber soles and pointed heels in time. As the cloud passed, the travellers picked themselves up, brushed themselves down and turned to view what damage had been done. Adam bent double with laughter as his sight lit upon the crumpled figures shuddering on the tarmac.

“Hey look!” he snorted. “It’s pavement kill!”

“Shuffp” James slurred, as Errol struggled to remove the little black grains from between his teeth.

“That’s not funny,” Denise muttered in Adam’s direction.

“I wish I knew what everyone was so manic about,” Caley said wistfully, leaning down to pull James to his feet. “Whatever it is it has something to do with a guy called Brock.”

<Something's going on down there> exclaimed Cory, pointing at the crowd. <Those people are all hanging around outside that building! I wonder why...>

“I say we go and find out, fer da kid’s sake,” Errol grinned.

“I say we don’t…for my sake” James retorted grumpily. “Some of us still need to get spruced up.”

 

“Hey, I dunno why you’re waitin’ round 'ere then, buddy.”

 

Everyone swung round to see the statement had come from a small square-faced man that had poked his head from the doorway of a small shop a little way up the street. James glared accusingly at him.

“And who asked you to poke your nose in?”

The guy simply shrugged. He wasn’t taken aback one bit by James’ harsh reaction.

“Well ‘scuse me fer tryin’ ta be ‘elpful” he remarked. “But you kids should try followin’ the mob, hm?”

“And what if we don’t want to?” James snapped, as Errol grinned apologetically for his friend’s behaviour.

“Oh, you’ll want to” the shopkeeper replied with a wink in Rose’s direction. “From the looks o’ things you’ll all want to.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Adam exclaimed, insulted. The man pointed his podgy finger over at the throbbing crowd at the end of the street.

“Down there 'appens to be an ‘ighly acclaimed salon,” he said. Immediately James stood upright.

“Did you say ‘salon’?”

“Sure did, buddy,” the man nodded. “The best salon in the ‘ole city, is that one. Owned by some guy…calls ‘imself B.A ‘arrison. Not from 'round these parts, you can tell by that accent of ‘is. Same as yours, in fact.”

“I gets da feelin’ he’s definitely da squinty-eyed, spiky haired twoip we all knew an’ loathed,” Errol murmured.

“Anyways…” the shopkeeper continued.

 

“Jus’ so ‘appens that this Brock fella’s offerin’ 'alf-off all ‘is services taday.”

 

It didn’t take a genius to predict James’ next action. As Errol turned his head to see why his friend hadn’t spoken, his mouth dropped open as he saw the guy had taken off and was now running at top speed down the street, towards the source of excitement.

“GET OUT THE WAAAAAY!” he yelled at the top of his lungs. “EMERGENCY CASE COMING THROUGH!”

The shopkeeper chuckled to himself as the rest of the group groaned undeniably, and ran off to catch up with him. Errol managed to reach James’ side, just as James had reached the perimeter of the crowd.

“Wait a sec, Jimmy,” he protested, grasping a hold of the figure’s shoulder.

“I haven’t got a second!” the man exclaimed. “This needs immediate attention!”

“Listen”, Errol pulled his friend round and gave him a stern glare. “We haven’t got da money fer dis. You’re not gonna die jus’ cause ya look a little rough aroun’ da edges.”

“A little?” James hissed, making the people at the back of the crowd turn round. “I look like I’ve been dragged through a forest tied to the back of a stampeding Rapidash! I need some serious attention!”

“Yeah…to your brain,” Adam snorted.

“I DIDN’T ASK FOR YOUR OPINION, MICROBE!” James exploded. Errol withdrew a tiny gasp. For a split second it looked as if the man’s eyes had flickered red. Adam had noticed it too; he yelped and promptly moved away as James struggled to catch his breath. The crowd started to shuffle back upon hearing such a display.

“Better let this guy through,” one person murmured nervously.

“Sounds like he’s gonna have a heart attack,” a small child piped up, and was hurriedly hushed by a parent. Soon there was a noticeable opening to the entrance of the salon, and James had no second thoughts about storming straight up it to the front doors and banging on them so hard that the panes rattled.

 

“LET ME IN!” he bellowed

“LET ME IN, LET ME IN, LET ME IIIIIN!”

 

Caley, Rose and Denise arrived at the back of the throng to see Adam looking visibly shaken and Errol blushing with embarrassment. 

“What’s going on?” Rose inquired upon seeing their faces.

“He’s crazy,” Adam muttered, staring at the pavement.

“He’s desp’rate,” Errol sighed, as James’ shrieks echoed through the air. Caley ignored the glares from the crowd and made his way toward the hunched figure at the door, still pounding slowly on the glass. But before he could get there, a shape appeared on the other side of the door and began unlocking it.

“About time,” James muttered, lifting a hand to brush back the part of his hair that had fallen over his eyes as the door swung open.

“Can’t you read the sign?” the figure in front of him exclaimed, equally irritably. “It says clo-

…ohh…

 

…James?”

 

The figures were now face to face, staring at each other with some disbelief.

“So it is you,” James remarked with raised eyebrows. He seemed to calmed down by this time.

“Certainly is,” Brock nodded as Caley and the others arrived in quick succession. “Well, it was last time I looked, heh heh. Tell you what, you and your friends better come in where it’s more private, don’t you think?” 

The crowd began to murmur discontentedly. That was until Brock stepped out of the doorway and addressed them.

“As for you wonderful customers, you may come in early…this once,” he announced.

“You sure that was a good idea?” Denise asked cautiously, as the people began streaming for the entrance. Brock grinned at her expression.

“Of course it is. My assistants shall take care of business and there is a big enough waiting room for everyone.” He motioned for the group to come inside, then turned back to James. “Your friends can stay here…chill out a little.

 

We’ll talk someplace quieter, away from all the people.”

 

“You seemed to have got yourself a nice little setup here” James remarked, as he followed Brock up a velveteen clad staircase toward the upper floor of the salon. Errol followed close behind; he was curious to hear of the occurrences since their last meeting.

“But what happened to the breeder thing you were going to do? And what happened to those other tw- I mean, kids that you hung around with?”

Brock smiled, but Errol and James could tell it was more one of sad reminiscence than anything else.

 “Well…time changes things…and people,” he murmured. "I kinda became tired of the constant travelling and wanted to settle down. And well...the Pokémon Breeding business didn't quite take off for me.”

Brock wandered into the luxuriously carpeted lounge and spread himself in a careless manner upon one of the leather chairs there, motioning for James to do the same. The man sat down reluctantly, while Errol kept himself concealed in the doorway and Brock leant forward to open the door of a mini fridge that stood upon a coffee table in front of him.

"Drink?" he asked, waving a can of Pippi brand soda. James tensely shook his head, causing his host to chuckle and sweatdrop in the process.

"Hey, relax James," he smiled. "I know you’ve changed too. I'm guessing you must have got tired of the whole criminal deal.”

“Well I…” James began, somewhat caught out by what felt like an accusing statement. But Brock didn't give him a chance to respond.

“I'm glad to see that!" he exclaimed, patting James heartily on the back before casually opening his drunk. "I guess Meowth and Jessie must have not felt the same way as you. It's a shame, I thought you were real close.”

"We are!" James spluttered angrily, leaping to his feet but catching himse