From the very beginning, Maen and Launce had no illusions about keeping all the Rocket members contained. Their goal wasn't to defeat them outright—it was simply to interfere with Lt. Surge's battle long enough to tip the scales in Zapdos's favor.
Once that was achieved, they planned to retreat immediately.
After all, Zapdos's appearance wasn't something that could go unnoticed. The residents of Cerulean City and the local authorities had likely spotted the raging storm by now, and the Pokémon League would soon send reinforcements.
As for Surge's earlier confusion about how Haunter had infiltrated the machine's defenses—it was actually quite simple.
The moment Maen released Haze, Haunter had already turned invisible and stealthily moved toward the machine.
The Shadow Balls that had been fired in the smoke weren't from Haunter at all. They had been launched by Maen himself to create a diversion. Meanwhile, Launce had taken to the air on Charizard, launching a simultaneous assault to ensure that Surge and his Magneton were too distracted to guard the device.
"Maen, the plan was a complete success! We should leave now—the League's forces should be arriving soon," Launce called out, grinning as he sat atop Charizard.
"Wait," Maen replied, rummaging through his backpack. "I have a little farewell gift for Lt. Surge."
Launce raised an eyebrow, watching as Maen pulled out a small canister adorned with a Gengar logo.
Before Launce could ask any questions, Maen tossed the can toward the battlefield, specifically toward the area where Zapdos and Surge were still fighting.
"Alright, let's go!" Maen urged, jumping onto Charizard's back.
Launce hesitated, curiosity evident on his face, but there was no time for questions. He signaled Charizard, and the fiery dragon took off into the night sky.
From below, the Rocket grunts could only watch helplessly as the two trainers vanished into the distance.
---
A New Problem Arises
After a long flight, the duo finally landed in a dense forest, well beyond the reach of Team Rocket's pursuit.
Launce, unable to hold back any longer, turned to Maen.
"Alright, spill it. What did you throw back there?"
Maen smirked. "Oh, that? Just Haunter's favorite snack."
"…Snack?"
"Jie?!"
A shocked voice echoed from the shadows.
Emerging from his hiding spot, Haunter floated into view, looking utterly confused. He stared at Maen for a moment, then immediately dove into his backpack and began frantically searching.
A few seconds later…
He froze.
His snack can was gone.
o(≧口≦)o
┭┮﹏┭┮
Realization struck.
Haunter turned to Maen, his eyes welling with tears. Then, without a word, he tossed the backpack aside and hid inside Maen's shadow, sobbing.
Launce stared in disbelief.
"…Did you seriously just make a Ghost-type cry?"
He had never seen a Haunter—a Pokémon known for pranks and mischief—look so utterly heartbroken.
Maen, you absolute villain.
---
Back at the Power Station
Meanwhile, at the power station, neither Zapdos nor Surge had paid any attention to the small can Maen had thrown.
The relentless battle between the legendary bird and the Team Rocket Executive continued, with powerful attacks lighting up the stormy sky.
The stray energy blasts from their battle eventually struck the canister, shattering it in mid-air.
The moment it broke, a thick black mist poured out, slowly dispersing into the air.
Unlike the earlier Haze attack, this mist didn't obscure vision or interfere with the battle in any significant way. It simply lingered in the air, unnoticed by both combatants.
Surge didn't even spare it a glance.
"That brat must've thrown it just to distract me."
Ignoring the mist, he refocused on the battle. Zapdos was already injured from previous attacks, and he was confident that he could capture it before the League's reinforcements arrived.
"Weavile, use Ice Punch!"
Surge barked out the order, his eyes gleaming with determination.
Weavile hesitated for a moment but then obeyed, gathering blue energy in its claws before dashing toward Zapdos.
However, Surge noticed the brief hesitation.
He clenched his fists in irritation. "Tch. This is why I hate using borrowed Pokémon."
Unlike his own trained Pokémon, Weavile wasn't truly loyal to him. It was simply following orders out of obligation, not trust.
Still, as long as it carried out his commands, he didn't care. Once Zapdos was captured, Weavile would be expendable.
But then… something unexpected happened.
As Weavile charged forward, it suddenly sniffed the air.
A strange aroma filled its nose—something incredibly enticing.
Even more tempting than the highest-quality energy cubes it had ever eaten.
Instinctively, Weavile turned its head, momentarily forgetting its attack.
Its Ice Punch fizzled out.
Surge's eyes widened in fury.
"Weavile! What are you doing?!"
Weavile ignored him.
It was fixated on the source of the scent—the remnants of the black mist still floating in the air.
Zapdos seized the moment.
With a thunderous screech, it gathered an enormous amount of electrical energy.
A tree-trunk-thick lightning bolt tore through the sky, heading straight for the distracted Weavile.
The Dark-Ice Pokémon felt the static in the air a split second before impact.
By the time it realized what was happening, it was too late.
BOOM!
The thunderous explosion sent sparks flying in all directions.
Weavile was blasted backward, its entire body scorched by the lightning.
Its fur was singed black, and its limbs trembled from the shock.
It barely managed to stay kneeling, but the severe burn marks and smoke rising from its body made it clear:
Weavile was no longer fit to fight.
Surge's face twisted with rage.
He had been so close.
Without Weavile, his remaining Electric-types had no real way to hurt Zapdos.
Victory had slipped through his fingers.
And it was all because of a snack can.
Maen, wherever he was, had just cost him everything.
Surge cursed under his breath.
As much as he wanted to continue the fight, time was running out. The League's enforcers would arrive soon.
With no other choice, he gave the order.
"Team Rocket! We're retreating!"
The mission had failed.
But he would remember this night.
And Maen would pay for it.
---
Back in the Forest
Maen, still apologizing to Haunter, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
"…Why do I feel like someone's cursing my name right now?"
Launce just sighed, shaking his head.
"Probably because you deserve it."
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