Inner Peace

By Mandy Owston

"Oh no, you don't!" cried a female voice from the doorway. Ivy turned around and cursed under her breath. A sudden flash of lightning from the front door revealed an entire army of Officer Jennies and Growlithes. "You're under arrest for kidnapping, attempted murder, and violation of the Pokemon Professors' Code of Ethics. You have the right to..."

"What are you doing here?" Ivy demanded, through gritted teeth. "You have nothing on me."

"My second cousin, the Jenny of Mandarin Island, traced an emergency phone call she received earlier today," explained one of the identical officers. "This was the only building the call could have come from, so she sent out an emergency call for all local police to investigate the area. We've heard everything, there's no point in resisting further."

"Oh no?" asked Ivy, smiling smugly. From within her robes she produced a small remote. "If any of you make another move, I'll push this. Before I started my Society here, I placed explosives throughout the entire building, all controlled by this little detonator." The professor laughed demonically before calmly continuing. "If I'm going down, I'm bringing everyone else with me... that includes these worthless rats," she gestured to Ash, Misty, Brock, and Team Rocket, "my Society Children, as well as you. You have to ask yourselves whether arresting me is worth all that waste. The choice is up to you, of course."

The lead Jenny gritted her teeth. "Keep your guard up, everyone. One false move and we rush her."

As a loud clap of thunder shook the room, Meowth slowly opened one eye, painfully regaining consciousness. The small cat gasped as he watched the twisted Professor smile, resting her index finger on the shiny red button of the detonator, still holding the gun in her other hand.

"You see?" she asked smugly, "I've thought of everything. I'll have my true peace... one way or another."

Meowth's quick mind raced as he desperately tried to devise a plan. He had to get that detonator away from Ivy before she could push the button. But how could he do that when she was still aiming a loaded weapon at his friends? He glanced back at the group huddled on the floor in fear: Jessie and James were still in each other's arms, Brock was trying to keep Misty from panicking, and Ash was protectively cradling the unconscious Pikachu in his arms.

Meowth sighed to himself. Nobody could do anything to stop Ivy... nobody except a clever cat. Too bad I don't feel so clever today, he thought. Think, Meowth! I gotta do something... But Meowth's attacks were useless at a distance. Bite, Scratch, Fury Swipes... they all involved physical contact with his opponent. If only I coulda learned Pay Day! he thought angrily. Then I could throw a bunch of coins at that nut job... an' get us all outta here!

Suddenly, an idea flickered inside Meowth's mind. Even though he had never been able to make money appear when he tried using Pay Day, there was a chance that part of the attack might work. He cautiously reached up to his forehead and began wiggling his glittering golden charm. It budged slightly. Fueled by desperation, Meowth pushed harder, ignoring the pain throbbing through his injured body. After a few endless seconds, the charm came loose in his paw with a soft popping noise.

One shot... dat's all I got, he thought, trying to ignore the deafening pounding of his own heart. Taking a deep breath, the feline squinted his left eye shut, lining up the shot. If this missed... it was all over. He quickly tried to push this thought from his mind. Think positive, Meowth! he thought angrily. A large drop of sweat rolled down the cat's temple as he hurled the golden charm with his last ounce of strength, and collapsed to the floor again.

Another flash of lightning from the open doorway lit up the charm with a brilliant sparkle as it sailed through the air. Meowth looked up anxiously as the golden object sailed through the air, as if in slow motion. After what seemed like an eternity, the charm struck Ivy's hand... the one holding the detonator.

Distracted, the mad professor involuntarily glared in Meowth's direction for a second. But a second was all the time the police needed. In an instant, Growlithe's Take Down attack knocked Ivy to the floor, sending the remote spinning across the floor. One of the officers rushed over and confiscated it immediately as two other Jennies ran forward to apprehend Ivy.

As she was dragged to her feet, Professor Ivy glared daggers at Ash and his friends, then turned to Team Rocket, fiercely staring at them with open, unveiled hatred.

"The world's most miserable criminals." she snarled. "Don't you think for a second that you'll get away with this! You haven't seen the last of me! I'll make you pay..." she vowed in a hoarse whisper as the Jennies dragged her off.

"Eh, tell it to da judge!" retorted Meowth, smiling smugly as he watched the police place Ivy into the back of a squad car. "You shoulda known, you don't mess wit' da Rockets!"

"That's right!" yelled Jessie and James, watching the car drive off.

Meanwhile, Brock was tending to Pikachu's injuries, carefully spraying Super Potion on the small electric mouse, as Misty recounted what she knew of the story to several police officers. As she led them back to the main amphitheater, where the unconscious Lorelei was, Ash approached Team Rocket, a slightly embarrassed look on his face.

"Um, Team Rocket?" he began, looking down at the floor. "You- you really helped us out back there. If you hadn't had that antidote for Pikachu. I- I don't know what..." Blinking back a tear, his voice trailed off as he crouched down and addressed Meowth.

"Meowth... uh... this belongs to you." Ash stretched out his hand and produced the golden charm. Noticing a dirty spot where it had hit the floor, the boy quickly polished the shiny object on his blue jacket before gratefully handing it to the cat.

Meowth smiled. "Heh... thanks, kid."

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