I TRIED TO TURN TEAM ROCKET INTO GOOD GUYS WITH MECHAS AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY T-SHIRT

[feistytrader]

but hey at least I'm an evil team heir

it only cost me all my friends

Comments

[feistytrader]

Mostly. My dad's in charge, but I have plenty of authority as the heir.

[Months ago, he'd seem a lot more upset about it. Now? Whatever. He can't spend the rest of his life thinking about what should have been.

Besides... Everything is going well in Johto.]

Enough authority to stop them from ever hurting a Pokémon again.

[viridianhealer]

I... ah...

[It makes sense. If the leader is someone that's a good person, then...]

Are you sure they aren't hurting others?

[feistytrader]

I'm making sure of it. [...Maybe a couple of people have gotten hurt, but it's no one to care about, and it's definitely better than how they were doing before.] I'm not gonna try and say Team Rocket has a spotless record, but they're not doing half of the terrible things they were before.

[viridianhealer]

...If... if you're leading them, then I trust you. But, Silver... are you going to be okay?

1/2

[feistytrader]

[...Is he going to be okay?]

[feistytrader]

[...Well, yeah. I mean, he still has his doubts sometimes, but he has Gold and Crys with him, and they're even doing something that everyone will be able to enjoy.

And he has his father.

And things... Things aren't that different from him. A little more stressful, a little more responsibility and leadership... But can he truly call that bad?

He doubts it sometimes, but... For the most part, things feel right.]

I'll be okay. [...] Let me get this place cleared out and stable again. Even you trust me, I want to prove that something good is coming out of this.

[viridianhealer]

If you can help save Viridian Forest... then I'll help. Team Rocket did this damage in the first place, I guess it's right they clean it up.

[feistytrader]

[...It's strange. He thought Yellow would put up a bigger fight. Guess his biggest challenge really will be Green and Red...

...She doesn't think less of him, either. That's... That's good.]

Yeah. I agree.

[viridianhealer]

[She has a lot of faith in her friends. And Silver didn't seem to want to change sides, or hurt people - what reason does she have to distrust him?]

When would we be doing this?

[feistytrader]

Whenever you want. We could start tomorrow morning, if you want.

[viridianhealer]

Yeah. I can get ready... the local Pokémon will be ready and will stay out of the way, if I spend tonight telling them.

[feistytrader]

If you could give us a list of Pokémon native to the area, we can avoid catching those too.

[That might make things go more smoothly.] Don't push yourself too hard, okay?

[viridianhealer]

Um, yes, okay... most things native here are below level ten... it's mostly the caterpie line, weedle line, pidgey line, some spearow and some pikachu...

[feistytrader]

[Common Pokémon and some Pikachu. Got it.

He lets out Honchkrow.]

Then I'll be back tomorrow morning.

[viridianhealer]

Y-yeah, okay... I'll be waiting.

[She looks apprehensive, but Silver would never betray her, right...?]

[feistytrader]

[Of course he wouldn't.

He returns the next morning with a bunch of grunts! ...And Archer. Archer in something a little more suited to roughing it in the forest all day than a white suit.]

[forprofit]

[Yep, it'll be black clothes again for today. This is why he prefers desk work over field work, but Silver asked, so...]

Do you have everything you need, Silver? I brought extra potions and pokeballs, just to be safe. And if you need anything like water... [Are you sure this was a good idea]

[viridianhealer]

[Yellow's tired, but... wow. That really is Team Rocket, and a guy doting over Silver...]

Um, Silver...?

[Soooo wary]

[feistytrader]

I don't need anything, Archer. You'll need those potions more than me.

[Unlike yesterday, there's a bright big red R where his pocket is was. No hiding that he's part of Team Rocket today.]

Morning. You ready?

[forprofit]

[What's that supposed to mean?]

Yes, ready.

[viridianhealer]

Right, the Pokémon in the forest say that they're ready, too... Silver?

[She's a bit wary, Silver's acting really different in body language, and she's not quite sure how to handle it...]

[feistytrader]

[He nods briefly- his body language relaxes for Yellow, but only a little.

Then he holds himself higher again to keep his air of command.]

Our mission's simple today. You've already been briefed and given Pokégears that have the area you need to cover mapped out.

If we work efficiently, we should have this place clean of Pokémon that don't belong here long before sunset. I'm rewarding whoever catches the most Pokémon something special tonight.

[Everyone gets into position and ready! While there were plenty of conflicted feelings before, just about everyone has come to love Silver, the heir- and these grunts are the ones that Silver trusts the most, after all.]

Then get started. [And out go the grunts! The clean-up begins!]

[forprofit]

[Something special reward from the heir can do-]

Yes sir. [AND HE'S GONE. He throws out Houndoom's pokeball and flips open the pokegear to see...well, that's a lot of ground to cover. Is this mapped right?]

[viridianhealer]

[Oh... there they go! Ahh... Yellow turns her attention back to Silver.]

Silver...? I... um... I have to ask... um...

[She's a bit sheepish...]

[feistytrader]

[He should probably get catching, too- huh?]

Yeah?