After finishing his call with Professor Oak, Ash took Ralts for her check-up. The results were perfect; everyone was in peak condition.
"Great news, everyone is healthy and strong," Nurse Joy said with a smile.
"Of course they are! However... you guys over there! Who are you?!" Ash suddenly turned and pointed toward a corner of the lobby. Two voices whispered back from the shadows.
"No way? Is he talking to us?"
"Did we get spotted?"
"You two are morons, meow! We're totally busted, meow!"
"Go, Koffing! Use Smokescreen!"
Thick black smoke began to billow through the center. Ash stared blankly at his own Meowth and then back at the smoke. "Hey, Meowth... tell me you don't have a long-lost twin brother who talks?"
His Meowth was equally stunned. "No way, Boss! I taught myself how to talk, meow!"
"Fine... use the blower and clear this out."
"You got it, meow!"
Ash's Meowth pulled out a gadget, pressed a button, and it transformed into a high-powered industrial blower. The gust of wind sent the smoke swirling away, revealing three figures coughing and gagging.
"Cough! Idiots, we got hit by our own trick!"
"I didn't expect a fan that big!"
"You two are hopeless, meow!"
Listening to the three of them bicker like absolute morons, Ash felt a massive headache coming on. "Who are you people?"
That question was like flipping a master switch. Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and the theatrics began...
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
"Meowth! That's right! meow!"
Ash was completely floored. Especially looking at the other Meowth. What the hell is going on? Is there a glitch in the universe? Two talking Meowths?
"Uh... excuse me," Ash interrupted. "Talking Meowth, did you happen to come from Hollywood?"
The Team Rocket Meowth froze. "N-no, meow. I'm from somewhere else."
"Then how did you learn to talk?"
"I studied from books and listened to people, meow! Wait! Why am I answerin' you?! I'm here on a mission to impress the Boss and get back into his inner circle, meow!"
Ash nodded slowly. So it's just a bizarre coincidence. But once he confirmed they were actually part of a criminal organization, his attitude changed.
"Alright. I've heard enough. You're useless to me now."
Ash adjusted the brim of his hat, and his aura became terrifyingly heavy.
"Hey, Jessie... I got a bad feeling about this kid..." James muttered, sensing the sudden change in the air.
"Me too," Jessie agreed, sweating. "Let's strike first! Ekans, go!"
"Charmander, hit 'em in the face with Ember, then use Scratch!"
Ash tossed his Poké Ball, and Charmander materialized. Hearing the command, Charmander let out a burst of flame that singed Ekans' face, sending it into a panic. Before it could recover, Charmander lunged with glowing claws and sent the snake flying.
"My Ekans!" Jessie cried out.
"Koffing, use Smog!" James shouted desperately.
Thick poison gas filled the area, obscuring Charmander's vision.
"Charmander, get down!" Ash commanded. Charmander dropped flat to the floor, narrowly avoiding Koffing's Tackle attack.
"What?!"
"Glare!"
Charmander locked eyes with Koffing, its fierce gaze paralyzing the floating Pokémon with fear.
"Send it flying with your tail!"
"Char!" Charmander's flaming tail slammed into Koffing like a baseball bat. Koffing was down for the count.
Seeing their Pokémon defeated so easily, the trio realized they were in over their heads.
Meowth: "I think we should probably leave, meow..."
Jessie: "Great idea, Meowth."
James: "You're a genius, Meowth."
As they turned to bolt, Ash—having had his Meowth clear the rest of the gas—looked at them with eyes that seemed to glow with a faint, dangerous red light.
"Don't leave yet. I haven't properly introduced myself."
"...We're doomed..." The trio said in unison.
"As thanks for being a warm-up for Charmander, I'll give you an express flight out of here! Pikachu, Railgun!"
"WHAT?!"
"Pika... CHUUUUU!!!!"
Pikachu pulled out a small metal coin, flicked it into the air, and pointed a tiny paw toward the trio. As the coin fell into alignment, a massive, concentrated beam of golden electricity erupted with the force of a cannon.
BOOM!
The Team Rocket trio vanished into the sky behind a trail of light.
"We're blasting off again!"
"Phew. Suddenly, I feel much better." Ash watched them disappear, feeling an odd sense of cosmic satisfaction.
His Meowth looked at the horizon. "So there really is another talking Meowth. The world is a weird place, meow."
"The world is huge, Meowth. Anything can happen. Nurse Joy, I'll wire the money for the repairs! I've got business to attend to!"
"Good luck, Ash!" Joy called out as he left.
Ash walked out of the Pokémon Center and headed straight for the heart of the city—the Viridian Gym.