76Hey, this is my first fan fiction. I've had this AU in mind for a long time, and now I'm going to put it down on the table. Just to note, this story does contain spoilers for Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky/Time/Darkness. It will be told in Meowth's POV, primarily, but there will be cases where I switch.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or any of its games in any way, shape, or form.
Prologue part 1: Reflections
Oh no, not again!
The twerps figured out our machine again. I thought for sure that a shockproof and fireproof freeze blaster would do the trick, but they soaked it and the machine froze itself.
"Pikachu, use Volt Tackle!"
Oh, crud…
"Pika-Pika-Pika-PIKA-PIKACHU!"
*BOOM* "Looks like we're blasting off again!"
As we fly over ocean, I start to worry about our landing, but James pulls out a remote. Huh, must be the new device I heard them whispering about. He pushes the button, and after a bit, the balloon floats up with a big net coming out the trap door. It lines up and catches all three of us before dropping us off in the basket.
The blue-haired, half-time genius held up the remote proudly, "See? I told you it would be a good idea, Jess." The woman in question responded with a scoff, "Alright, for once something you thought of actually worked." This, as always, started an argument between the two lovebirds, which I tuned out to do some thinking.
Man, that's the third one in two weeks. Our funds are running low, and we've already been cutting down on meals. What are we doing wrong? How are those twerps always one step ahead of us? Why…Whoa! Hold it boy-o, when did you start asking yourself "why"? But… thinking about it, my life ain't always been about the "why", more about the goal. Maybe it's time I put more thought into this word. Maybe…
"MEOWTH!"
"Eh, what is it?" For some reason, Jessie was scowling down at me.
"WE were just thinking about our next course of action."
"Oh, sorry 'bout that. Guess I'm a little tapped out from the flight. Think I'll take a catnap and talk wit' you two later"
"Oh FINE, we're going to look for a place to land."
"Okay, you do that." I walk off to a corner of the basket and curl up to doze, but something that Jess says gets my attention after I closed my eyes.
"Why are you even a member of this team"
?!
"if you're not going to contribute to planning."
I don't know why, but I continued to pretend being asleep so I could think about what I just heard.
There's that word again. Why? I suppose that the reason why I joined Team Rocket is that I wanted to become rich and powerful to win Meowzee's heart, but that plan hasn't exactly panned out well. Even if I still COULD win her heart, this course ain't exactly turning a profit. So why am I still here?
…
Maybe I stay 'cuz of Jessie and James. After all, I've had several chances to leave, but I always turned them down for the sake of the "friendship" that we seem to share. It may also just be a part of my nature. Even when I was just a stray who wandered the streets of Tinsel Town, I went into a gang. Birds of a feather flock together, as they say. Does that mean that, no matter what, I'll always be pulling this shtick? Being a part of a gang that has nothing to do but steal?
This is starting to get a little too complicated. Think I'll actually sleep for a bit and go for a walk later. There should be a very nice full moon tonight.
-Two hours later-
"Meowth, it's time to wake up."
Blue hair? Oh, it's James. "Hey Jimmy, what time is it?"
"Firstly, for the last time, stop calling me 'Jimmy'." He said this with a slight scowl, but his face softened again, "Secondly, it's around sunset, and Jessie is trying to convert what's left of our rations into something edible."
"So… you're here to get my last will and testament?" I quipped.
James shuddered a bit at what Jessie could POSSIBLY make out of an onion, two apples, some freshwater and a nearly expired can of sardines.
Despite this he looked over his shoulder and whispered, "You know as well as I that she would kill us if she heard this conversation. Just be ready, and then we're going to sleep. We have an early start tomorrow."
Dinner wasn't actually that bad. (Probably 'cuz Jessie didn't actually try to cook anything.) We each got a slice of onion, two apple slices, a sealable cup of water and four sardines. When it was time to hit the hay, I just curled up with my eyes closed and waited until I heard mumbling from Jessie and light snoring from James. Then I got up and went for a walk on the forest path. As I had thought, there was a full moon shining down on a partly cloudy night.
Ah, I love the moon. It calms me down and helps me think.
Now I can think about what I wanted to earlier. What was it again? Ah, right, I was thinkin' about why I joined Team Rocket. Do the reasons I had back then really apply even now. I don't have a chance in Hell of winning Meowzee over anymore. I've made no progress of earning money for my own gain, but is THAT even a real reason now? I was happy being a simple chef at that noodle restaurant, until I found out that Jessie and James were in trouble goin' after that rare Metagross. That's right; I always went back for Jessie and James. We've been thick as thieves ever since our days at the academy. But why did I join in the first place again? Oh yeah, I left Hollywood in a rage after Meowzee rejected me. I was looking for a way to get rich, so I joined Team Rocket. But those goals can no longer be won. What was my goal once I joined Team Rocket; the boss's approval?
"I'm sick of your constant failures."
Yeah, that REALLY went well. So… why am I still here? Money? We've lost more of it than I can count chasing that one Pikachu. Ah, Pikachu, the reason we go through so much grief. But why do we keep going after him? Surely there are other Pokémon to go after?
"We're only interested in rare and valuable Pokémon."
But it's not like that one group of twerps is hunting US down. If we just stepped carefully we could probably dodge them and get some successful operations done. Why do we always hunt THEM down? It's not like we ever come close to catching Pikachu. Man why are we so weak?
"Why are you even a member of this team if you're not going to contribute to planning?"
Hey, I help. Who thought to make the freeze blaster fireproof as well as shock proof? Oh, right, it was James… Well in battle I… Can I do anything besides be the mascot? All I know is scratch, fury swipes, and bite. I couldn't even learn faint attack, much less pay day… Earlier today I was thinking if it was my destiny to always be in a gang, stealing from others.
…
"Any time you feel like offering inspiration?" I said out loud to the full moon in the sky which had started to tip more to the horizon instead of being right over my head. "Great, just great, now I think I'm talking to a floating hunk of space rock.
As I said this, a shooting star flew right across the sky, streaking across the moon and fading to my right.
"Whoa! I'm sorry I doubted you Moon!"I closed my eyes and thought of what to wish for
I wish... I wish I could do something else wit' my life.
Then the realization hit me like a pack a' Golems. The only one that can make that wish come true… is me.
So, first chapter! There's not much action in this one, but it's more about Meowth thinking about what he's doing and why, hence the title of the chapter. Next, Meowth having had such an epiphany will start to put it into motion next chapter! Please review to let me know how I'm doing; I'm open to constructive criticism.