To everyone's surprise, after a series of efforts and attempts—and at the terrible cost of destroying the pomelo trees and fruit on three whole islands—Ash, Misty, and Tracey finally managed to defeat the Snorlax and let Ash catch it in a Poké Ball.
Naturally, the three of them earned Miss Nanny's gratitude and newfound respect. Ash especially was over the moon after she took his hands and showered him with praise.
Of course, since they had helped Miss Nanny and solved a major problem, some necessary thank-you gifts and a free, lavish dinner were only to be expected.
But!
Early the next morning, when Ash returned to the first island of the Seven Grapefruit Islands, feeling refreshed, the three of them were even more surprised to discover that—
Almost all the remaining pomelos on the first island—that is, the grapefruits—had been picked clean. And besides Annie's little Mew, the Mythical Pokémon with Psychic powers, the ones doing the picking had been none other than Team Rocket's Jessie, James, and Meowth?
"This..."
"How could this be?"
"This is hard to believe..."
Misty had been wearing an incredulous expression ever since they'd returned. When she saw Jessie, James, and Meowth carefully carry the last basket of pomelos over to Annie, then watched the little Mew put it away with its "psychic powers" before the trio hurried off to their submarine and made their escape beneath the waves, she asked as if she were dreaming:
"Annie!"
"How did you manage that?"
"You actually..."
"Got Team Rocket to help you with your work?"
Yes. In Misty's experience, those three detestable Team Rocket members had no redeeming qualities at all. They did nothing but keep at their wicked schemes and spend all day plotting to steal Ash's or someone else's Pokémon.
Sure, they'd never actually