Away from the Pokemon Center, Quickie wandered aimlessly along the streets. The sky was clouding over, a chill wind wafting through the town. She turned down a deserted side street and kept walking, eyes on the ground. She had to figure out a way to rescue Mewtwo, but how? She was just one person, she had no Pokemon, and the others were dealing with far more pressing matters. She couldn't even help fight off Obsidian due to Team Rocket!
Quickie slumped down on the curb and heaved a sigh. "I'm sorry, Mewtwo..." She took off her glasses and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I couldn't protect you, I couldn't get to you in time... Now, you're gone... And I had to go and try and be a hero, only to get myself hurt, so I couldn't even help Sapph..." She sighed again. "I'm sorry... I'll find you... somehow..."
"Mrrreow?"
Quickie snapped her gaze to her left, where a scraggly Meowth had begun to approach. The Pokemon stopped, sat, and cocked its head to one side. Quickie gave it a sad smile. "Hey, lil guy... Sorry I'm bumming you out... had a rough day... lost a good friend..."
The Meowth pawed over and rubbed against Quickie's leg. Quickie smiled and reached down to scratch it behind the ears. The Meowth purred and looked up at her. "Mrrreow?"
Quickie shrugged and pet the Meowth. "You know just what to say..."
"Mabel's taken a shine to you," a voice from a nearby porch announced. Quickie turned to see an older woman sitting on the porch, watching something on a portable TV. "That Meowth's been hanging around here for a month, now. We think someone dropped it off. Real friendly, but we ain't taken it in, yet. So, the neighborhood feeds it. You got any Pokemon?"
Quickie shook her head. "I had... lost mine today..."
"At that commotion earlier at the Center?" The woman frowned, but her gaze remained on her TV. "That's a damn shame, lemme tell you. I seen the cops going by, heard sirens an' everything. Real big mess. Said there were civilian casualties, too. Lots of rare Pokemon stolen."
Quickie nodded. "I tried to stop them... but failed." She looked down at the Meowth, who looked up at her and mewed.
The woman shook her head again. "It's a damn shame, really. Seems like it ain't the only thing Team Rocket's up to, lately," she paused and finally looked at Quickie. "Say, you from Saffron City?"
"Yeah," Quickie nodded, suddenly dreading that question, "why?"
"I think this concerns you," the woman turned up the volume.
"--police in Saffron City are investigating a sudden fire at Saffron Sushi, a local business. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this point, as firefighters are on the scene, containing the blaze. The restaurant was closed for the season, and thus far, no injuries are reported. We will continue to update you as we receive more information..."
Quickie was on her feet. "No..."
"Mreow?" the Meowth rubbed against her legs and looked up at her.
"You say your Pokemon was stolen, huh?" the woman turned the volume back down. "Well, Mabel there likes you. If you're gonna get your Pokemon back, you'll need help. Mabel's kept the Ratatas down round here. Kicks some Growlithe butt, too. Ninja Meowth, my son says." she nodded. "You'd better take her."
Quickie was hesitant, but she soon bent and picked the Meowth up in her arms. The Pokemon purred and rubbed against her. "Thanks." She smiled. "Guess I'd better be off." She turned and headed back up the street.
"You be careful now, dear," the woman called after her, "good luck."