Let's go Pikachu! Part 2

Rocket Hideout - part two of the short stories edition

Everyone fell silent. Even the baby Pokémon stilled.

Bellis furrowed her brows. "You’re certain?"

I nodded. "I saw them teleport right before the explosion. We might’ve taken down their hideout, but Team Rocket isn’t gone. Not yet."

Blue scowled, clenching his fists. "Tsk. That guy just doesn't quit, does he?"

Lillie bit her lip. “Then… what do we do?”

I looked at them all, my chest tightening. I didn’t want to drag them into this. It was my fight. My responsibility.

" Saur."

I turned to see one of the other baby Pokemon, Bulbasaur, cross his vines. " Saur."

" I know, Bulby. I know."

" Beeeeelsprout!"

I looked at the Bellsprout. " Well, now, you're all a stubborn bunch."

" Geez, wonder where THAT came from." Blue muttered, rolling his eyes.

Nini looked at me, worried. " Nido!"

Then a white light surrounded Nini.

I scooted back. " Uh.... Nini?" I asked cautiously. " Are you.... Okay?"

When the light disappears, Nini was no longer a Nidoran.

She was a Nidorina.

I gasped. " Oh my goodness you evolved!"

I grabbed her, whooped, and spun her around. " You evolved Nini you did it! I knew you could do it!"

Nini looked quite proud.

Bellis frowned. " Well that's odd."

I stopped spinning her and turned to Bellis, bringing Nini close. " Why's that?"

" Nini only hatched a few days ago. It shouldn't have evolved this early."

Lillie grinned. " Unless she wants a certain someone to catch her."

I looked at Nini. " Where are they, Nini? Where's the person you want to catch you?"

Nini gave me a flat look.

I blinked. “Wait… me?”

Nini huffed, flicking her ears before nudging my hand with her nose.

Lillie giggled. “I think that’s a yes.”

Blue smirked. “Looks like you’ve got yourself a new teammate, Mia.”

I stared at Nini, then at the others. “But… she’s wild. And she just evolved. What if she wants to stay with her friends?”

Nini’s answer was immediate—she stomped her little paw against my chests and gave me the most unimpressed look I’d ever seen.

Bellis chuckled. “I think she’s already made her choice.”

I slowly pulled out a Pokéball, still hesitant. “Are you sure about this, girl?”

Nini responded by booping the ball with her nose, triggering the capture herself. The Pokéball barely shook before clicking shut.

I held it up, stunned. “Huh. That was… fast.”

Pikachu crossed her arms. “Pika pika.”

I laughed, tossing the ball in the air before catching it. “Welcome to the team, Nini.”

The baby Pokémon cheered, bouncing excitedly around me.

Paulo grinned. “So, what now?”

I looked at my new Pokéball, then at my friends. The battle with Giovanni wasn’t over. Mewtwo was still out there. But at that moment, with my team by my side, I knew one thing for sure.