EPISODE 49: A Moment of Truce!*

Winding roads, fresh markets, and a pack of people, this is no other than Slateport City. Because of our previous mission, I felt enthusiastic to explore this city and maybe try out some of their natural and organic delicacies. The clock has recently chimed to the ninth hour and I'm already in the twilight zone.

The city is famous for its market, carefully organized such as the poultry and meat separated from each other as such as fruits and vegetables. I have no interest in the market, however, since we have a trusty cafeteria. Despite this, one thing lulled me and that was the stack of my favorite orange juice. I never knew they were selling boxes of it here.

Because of how I love such a juice, I was tempted to buy a stack of it. I will be sharing this with Zeal since I noticed she loves it as well. After buying a stack I took one out to see if it is the real one and not some random copycat drink. It turns out it tastes one hundred percent like the juice in our cafeteria.

After a saunter in the market, I decided to check the streets next. There were no gyms so that means Logan nor the other trainers could be here. However, there is a battle tent in which I was interested to try. According to the mechanics, I had to rent a Pokemon- totally fine with me.

The Pokemon given to me was a Breloom, a Vigoroth, and a Sandshrew. I was able to pass three rounds of the battle tent competition but at the fourth, my rented Pokemon were completely knocked out immediately. Oh well, at least I get the opportunity to try something new for once.

Upon exiting the tent, I continued to amble around wherein I spotted someone familiar. Seeing her nearby, I quickly jolted to the alley, taking small glimpses behind the wall and observing what Jenny was doing in the city. She was somehow talking to an old woman, and according to my eavesdropping skills, the old woman was reporting something about a Team Magma and Team Aqua grunt.

Hearing her words, Jenny was put to an appalling expression. This means the Pokemon International Police is quite aware of the two lurking organizations. However, based on my analysis of Jenny's face, she seemed more appalled than usual. It was extremely intense as if something slapped her.

She then saluted to the old woman and walked towards my direction. Seeing her coming towards me, I immediately moved away and ran further down the alley in hopes she won't be coming to where I am too bad I am stuck with a dead-end behind me.

And just when I thought I'd have the number seven, Jenny tilted her head to the alley. It was at that moment when our eyes locked into each other.

"You again? I knew you were here and it looks like you had been causing trouble again. I met a trainer in the woodlands, he told me about you."

"Me? I barely did anything to that trainer. It was because of the earthqua-"

"I was talking about your time in the abandoned laboratory, what in the world does Team Rocket have to do it? I need answers now!" She yells aggressively, pointing her taser towards me.

"Whoa, whoa, calm down. Are you going to zap me with that taser of yours?"

"I will if I must." growled, Jenny.

"I really missed the times when you were rambunctious."

"And you should've never left the orphanage in the first place. No matter where you run to, you are still an orphan as I am too. Now, tell Team Rocket's purpose in here, or else I will arrest you for good." She warned aggressively, slowing pressing the trigger of the taser.

"We-we had some concerns regarding a type of serum so we were tasked to search for it."

"You mean this?" Jenny asked as she revealed a sample of the serum to me.

"What the? How were you able to get one of those?"

"Gambling."

"Mother always told us not to gamble. It looks like you had forgotten her words."

"Heh, mother also said not to join the infamous Team Rocket now look where we are? You can't run from your past, you know that."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say." I rolled my eyes at her.

"What does Team Rocket know about this serum?"

"It brainwashes people. That is all we know and nothing more. Also, Team Magma and Team Aqua somehow bought a ton from an organization established in Galar. The abandoned laboratory was one of their branches."

"Can you help me then?"

"Whoa, looks who's talking? I thought you said we were rivals."

"Look, I'm ditching the orders of the Pokemon International Police only to solve the case of my family. I want to know what truly happened to my father and sister, the only detail I have is that the serums were involved. Please, you solved yours remember?" She begged desperately. I can see it by the tears from her eyes, falling down to her uniform, and the way her hand trembled while holding the taser.

"Please..." she pleaded sincerely.

"Sigh, help you with what?"

"Team Magma and Team Aqua have been identified here in this city. Help me catch them please."

"Just this once and we are through."

"I promise. It is back to rivals afterward."

And from there another truce between her and me was born. We shook hands with each other, promising to help each other for one time only. Seeing her that desperate to know more about the loss of her family has stolen my sympathy. I know how desperate she is because never once did she ditched the orders of the detective, just now.