Chapter 13: Smoke and Chaos

The air inside the Pokémon Center felt thick with the tension. I sat in the corner, eyes flicking over the dim room, my back against the cold wall, and the faint hum of the healing machines filling the silence. Bulbasaur sat at my feet, its eyes half-closed but alert. Pidgey, perched on my shoulder, shifted its weight, talons pricking through my jacket. I winced but didn't move. Something was wrong. I felt it in my bones, the same instinct that had kept me alive in my previous life. 

The door to the Center creaked open just slightly, and I caught the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps. My muscles tensed, but I kept my breathing measured, controlled. Don't give anything away. 

Behind me, Misty snored softly, oblivious. My red jacket was draped over her shoulders, her mouth slightly open. Ash lay nearby, curled on the floor next to Pikachu, both of them knocked out after a long day of travel and battles. 

I wasn't going to wake them. Not yet.

The steps got closer, each one deliberate, as though the person knew I was already on edge. My hand twitched, fingers brushing against a Poké Ball in my sling bag. Bulbasaur's vine twitched subtly, sensing the shift in atmosphere. I swallowed hard, eyes narrowing as I finally spoke, my voice low but cutting through the stillness. 

"Who are you?"

Silence.

I leaned forward, scanning the shadows, trying to spot the source of the footsteps. The figure stood just out of reach of the light, eyes gleaming in the dark, watching. Waiting.

"Attention, citizens of Viridian City—an unidentified aircraft has been detected in the vicinity. Please remain indoors and alert!" Officer Jenny's voice crackled over the loudspeakers outside. 

My pulse quickened. This wasn't just a bad feeling anymore—it was real, and whatever was coming wasn't small.

The roof above me exploded in a shower of debris. Instinct took over, and I threw myself over Misty's unconscious body, shielding her from the falling rubble. Two Poké Balls hit the ground with heavy thuds, the impact sending a shiver through the floor. Koffing and Ekans emerged from the broken ceiling, their smirks twisted in the flickering light. Koffing released a thick cloud of SmokeScreen without hesitation, the room swallowed in a suffocating black fog.

"Pidgey! Gust!" I snapped, the command rolling off my tongue before I even realized it. Pidgey flapped its wings furiously, the smoke swirling into a cyclone. Slowly, the air cleared, and I stood, pushing Misty back into her chair. My eyes darted around the room, searching for that shadowy figure. Gone. Of course. 

A heavy thud sounded above us, followed by a familiar voice, dripping with arrogance.

"To protect the world from devastation…"

Oh, no.

"To unite all peoples within our nation…"

Team Rocket dropped through the hole in the ceiling, Jessie and James landing with theatrical flair, their stupid grins plastered on their faces. Meowth leapt down last, landing lightly on its feet, tail twitching.

I didn't move. Didn't flinch. 

Jessie took a step forward, raising her chin smugly. "Give up now, little boy, and we might not have to make you cry."

I tilted my head, my eyes locking on Meowth. I ignored the rest of Team Rocket completely. "Hey, Meowth," I said casually, the hint of a smile tugging at my lips. "You a wild Pokémon?"

Jessie froze mid-pose. James blinked, confusion washing over his face. 

"Can I buy you?"

The silence was deafening. Even the Koffing seemed taken aback. Jessie's sneer faltered, and James's jaw dropped. But Meowth… Meowth's fur bristled, tail flicking with irritation.

"I ain't for sale!" Meowth spat, his eyes narrowing. "I don't belong to nobody, especially not some brat like you!"

I raised my hands in mock surrender, that smirk of mine deepening. "Fair enough," I said. "Thought I'd ask."

Misty stirred behind me, her eyes fluttering open. She took in the scene, her mouth hanging open for a moment before she cursed under her breath. "What the—?"

Ash groaned, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. Pikachu's cheeks sparked with electricity as it noticed the intruders, its tiny body vibrating with anticipation. 

"Great, more trouble," Misty muttered, climbing to her feet, her gaze shifting to me, then the wreckage.

Jessie wasn't amused. Her sneer returned, cold and cutting. "If you won't surrender, we'll have to make you!" She jabbed a finger forward, her voice ringing with condescension. "Koffing, use Smog!"

A thick, poisonous cloud billowed out, darker and thicker than before. I coughed, covering my mouth with my sleeve. "Bulbasaur, Vine Whip!"

Bulbasaur's vines lashed out, slicing through the smog, smacking Koffing back before it could react. 

"Pidgey, Gust!" I shouted again, and Pidgey was ready, the wind tearing through the smoke, leaving the room clear once more.

Jessie and James weren't grinning anymore. Their faces had twisted into something closer to panic.

"This kid's no joke!" James hissed, looking around for a way out.

"No way you're leaving now," I growled, stepping forward. "We're not done." My fists clenched, ready to end this.