"i'll be out of your hair in a second."

not literally, but close enough. his blaziken sweeps across the room, making quick work of the nidoking with BLAZE KICKS before charging straight for the sleeping drednaw.

looking over at the officer and the other civilians, theo smiles.

"team rocket here. we're just trying to help."

Andrea Vaneau Oliver Shrakes

☉

Andrea didn't stay upset at Oliver's patronizing attitude for that long. Soon, she was positively enthralled by the sheer spectacle of Dragonite and Nidoking fighting, trading powerful blow after powerful blow. "Wow... So this is what a true Pokémon battle is supposed to look like." She muttered in a mixture of awe and admiration.

It was all topped off by Blaziken barging in and finishing off both the Nidoking and the Drednaw with its signature attack. Then, the good samaritan announced himself as a member of the notorious Team Rocket, much to Andrea's confusion. "You're here to help? But... I thought Team Rocket were the bad guys." That's what her parents had told her anyway, thus she never questioned it.

"Finally, some help I can actually rely on!" Mr. Banks rejoiced, marching up to Theo and firmly shaking his hand, just like he had done to Oliver earlier. "Words cannot express how thankful I am. My brother owns a bank in Kanto and tells me that business has never been better since you lot took over. I don't believe the League's propaganda for a minute!"

"T-then why did you ask for the League's protection?" Andrea pointed out. Now she was even more confused. Despite the situation apparently being resolved, her two Pokémon stared warily at this newcomer that Mr. Banks was currently fawning over.

Oliver Shrakes THEO BECKETT

☉

"you heard wrong, young one."

theo takes a moment to shake mr. banks' hand, feigning a smile that only looks to add on to the man's clear favoritism.

by now, anyone else that haven't left the bank are drawn towards the interaction between them. through the hushed voices, one of them clearly says: 'i think that's theo beckett! isn't he a wanted man?'

some of them even start filming on their phones.

"arrest me if you want, ranger. just know that it's thanks to rocket that the situation here has been resolved."

and as he says that, the drednaw falls as well, thus ending the battle.

"what the league failed to do."

Andrea Vaneau Oliver Shrakes

☉

Theo Beckett? A wanted man? Was that true? The lines between hero and villain were blurred, as the day was saved by a member of what was supposedly a criminal organization, while the baton-wielding ranger was threatening to beat him within an inch of his life in front of dozens of civilians... who were recording everything on their phones.

Needless to say, Mr. Banks did not appreciate the harsh accusations thrown at his bloodline. "I beg your pardon! The Banks' have never once been loan sharks! Our interest rates are nothing short of reasonable!" The clearly corrupt banker retorted. "Don't worry, young man. I'll hook you up with a good lawyer. It's the least I can do for you." He then told Theo, having by now firmly sided with Team Rocket.

Andrea, on the other hand, wasn't sure whose side to take, simply being stuck staring at the whole exchange like a Deerling in headlights. Hearing that Team Rocket were Pokémon poachers, Chomper had bared his fangs, and was angrily growling at Theo. The small dragon's mind at least hadn't been swayed by his vigilante act.

Oliver Shrakes THEO BECKETT

☉

the moment the handcuffs appear, a few from the crowd start to show their distaste. boooooo! and the likes. natural reactions to be expected.

"kanto is thriving, and so too will hoenn."

he says to no one in particular.

still, before leaving, he looks back at Andrea Vaneau — a young mind and soul destined for greatness, perhaps. only time will tell.

"everything is not as black and white as they make it out to be."

he smiles.

"it's nice to meet you."

Andrea Vaneau Oliver Shrakes

☉

Oliver might have been on to something. How come this Rocket member had shown up at the exact time a robbery was taking place? How had his Blaziken knocked out Drednaw - a Pokémon that boasted a quadruple resistance to its signature attack - so easily? And what about the Alakazam that had shown up briefly and was nowhere to be seen?

All of these questions didn't matter. Theo was being arrested by the hard-boiled ranger, much to the dismay of some onlookers who saw him as the underdog. Andrea, still conflicted, especially after what Theo had told her, didn't do anything to stop this outcome. Interfering hadn't worked out in her favor in the first place. "It was nice meeting you too, sir. Goodbye..." The dragon-costumed girl waved sadly, calling back her Aggron, and picking a still rattled Chomper up in her arms.

Meanwhile, Mr. Banks opened the door to the vault as Oliver had requested, but he was none too happy about the whole turn of events. "How typical... The League finds a scapegoat to take the blame, while the real criminal is still on the loose." He grumbled under his breath as he let Weepinbell out, putting a handkerchief over his mouth to protect himself from the lingering Sleep Powder spores.

Oliver Shrakes THEO BECKETT

☉