At that moment, James cut such a heroic figure that Jessie, unaware of the truth, saw him in a whole new light. Meowth bared his claws again, the three short whiskers by his mouth twitching as he gave a wicked grin. "Scared now? Then hurry up and hand over your Poké Balls."
"Wahahaha!!"
All three of them burst into wild, triumphant laughter.
Perhaps it was just an impression, but they sounded rather like schoolchildren who had called in their parents after losing a fight.
But just then!
"Hey, Vanton. We meet again. You really don't know when to give up, do you?"
Accompanied by that flippant voice, Jack strolled out of the woods. He raised his index and middle fingers together in a salute toward the sky, flashing his pearly whites in a brilliant smile.
In the end, victory in this round belonged to them.
"Hey! Aren't you being a little too—" When Jessie saw that the newcomer was completely ignoring Team Rocket, her hair practically stood on end with rage. James and Meowth quickly pinned her down and covered her mouth. "Mmph! James, Meowth, you—"
Sweat covered James's forehead as he rubbed his hands together and bowed with an ingratiating smile. "Ahaha, we were just joking with these three little bra—beautiful young ladies. Ahahaha."
He cast a terrified glance at the pairs of vicious, blood-red eyes that had suddenly appeared in the Forest. With all his experience, he immediately recognized them as utterly enraged Pokémon.
Meowth was also edging backward as subtly as he could. He could clearly see the Simisage, verdant, monkey-like Pokémon, perched in the ancient trees. Their teeth were bared and their faces fierce, their green tails lashing back and forth and shaking leaves down all over the ground.
Not only that, but an astonishing wave