Author's Notes:

Wish me luck on writing Team Rocket, guys and gals. I think you'll like the fate I have planned for them to keep them around the apartment building.

Vincent sat in the lobby of the apartment building, his head hung and being held up by his hands at the persistent haggling his sister figure-turned-girlfriend was putting up. While he wanted to step back quite a ways...quite a ways indeed, she wasn't one to take no for an answer...

"Come on, a little hugging, a little grooming, what's so wrong with that?"

He lifted his head and shot her his best deadpan before replying. Canterlot.

At that, she blushed through her fur. "Oh. Yeah."

There was a set of knocks on the front door, and the Kadabra turned from the Lucario in the lobby to the portal to the outside, his interest peaked. Yes? Who is it?

The doors were pushed open, and a small party of Pokemon walked in. First was a Leavanny, and the way it held itself broadcast both 'female' and 'trained warrior.' Vincent had been around Checkmate long enough to be able to pick up on that. Her arm-blades were just a touch on the larger than normal side, and she seemed to prefer to keep them close by her side, if not folded up entire.

The next was a female Pyroar with more than a bit of sand in her coat. Despite this, her mane held a shape similar to a crescent moon, with only a few strands out of place, the length nearly matching her entire body. She seemed to hold herself with an air of confidence while also giving a critical eye to the entire lobby and the 'mon in it.

After her was a Roserade, seemingly sapped for energy by the time spent outside. Once said grass-type stepped inside, however, it perked up and sighed. "Oh that's much better," the Roserade said, identifying itself as male from the tone in his voice. "It's so nice to step into an air-conditioned place after that ghastly trip through the desert. Even if it turns out to just be for a moment, it's a much-needed moment."

"True enough," the Pyroar said, "But let's see about securing lodgings here. We could do with a new base of operations in this new world, and this place seems ideal."

Falling back first onto the floor with a thud, an unusual-looking Meowth voiced his agreement. "Personally, I'll take the air conditioning. You two can try and sweet-talk the owner into letting us stay."

"Wobbuffet!" A Wobbuffet said as it too walked into the building, standing just behind the Pyroar.

Vincent gave the unusual gathering a critical eye before turning to Lucy. Why does this sound like the beginning of a really bad joke?

Lucy hummed and shrugged. "A Leavanny, Pyroar, Roserade, Meowth, and Wobbuffet all walk into an apartment building..."

But the Lucario and the Kadabra duck? Vincent finished with a chuckle before turning back to the gathered 'mon. So what brings you all here?

The Leavanny nodded and stood to one side, the better to let Vincent access her charges. "These four wanted escort through the desert to a safe haven in this city, and I proffered my services so long as they told me what I wanted to know." At that, she seemed to remember the question she'd asked them, and turned to the four behind her. "Speaking of, we're here now, so please. Where is Shredder?"

"In the griffon empire, serving under their Empress," the Pyroar said.

At that, the Leavanny twitched slightly, but the Roserade didn't seem to notice as he pitched his two bits worth in. "Yes, she's across the ocean, serving a mighty ruler."

The Leavanny twitched again and brought her arm-blades upwards, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "You mean to tell me that if I had walked in the other direction when we first met, instead of escorting you across the desert but going across the ocean instead, I could be with her by now?"

The Pyroar and the Roserade exchanged a look and gulped, but the Meowth spoke from his place on the floor. "Yeah, you could be. But then how would we have gotten through the desert? It was a joint effort to keep it from you until we got here."

At those words, the Leavanny smiled a small, dangerous smile, and took a single step towards the assembled 'mon. "You don't trick a member of Bishop and gloat about it to their faces. You're about to find out why," she said, raising her arm blades even higher.

At those words, Vincent turned to face her, his eyes glowing blue. You dare? In my house?

She had been about to reply when she heard, then felt, the room groan at the Kadabra's words. Sparks of blue energy jumped off his form, vanishing quickly once they were separated from his body. At the reaction she had provoked, the Leavanny decided to close her mouth and back up a step. Vincent nodded and turned to the four who had accompanied her.

Three of them had looked at the psychic with dropped jaws. The Wobbuffet had interposed itself between the Pyroar and the Kadabra, arms spread wide. "Wobbuffet?" it asked, and Vincent smiled and shook his head.

My apologies. I am still getting used to my strength. But let us make one thing perfectly clear, all of you.

Vincent looked back to the Leavanny before turning to the group and saying the next bit. Within these walls, the past is the past. Let it lie on Earth, forgotten. In this new world, we have a chance to remake ourselves, so we should. The first rule of my house is quite simple: you shall not attack another without just cause.

The Bug/Grass type opened her mouth for a moment before looking around and shaking her head. "Forget it. If you intend to protect them, then I'll just leave."

I wouldn't do that so quickly, wayward chess piece. Weiss would not appreciate it if you left a safe haven so soon after entering it.

The Leavanny paused and looked at the Kadabra before nodding slightly. The psychic then turned back to the foursome, who had lined up in front of him. Vincent walked to one end and began interviewing the Pokemon. Do you have a name?

The Roserade nodded. "I'm James."

...I'm assuming you were once human, then. Any others amongst you that once were?

The Pyroar nodded as well. "I'm Jessie."

Vincent turned back to the Roserade and nodded. Do you have any experience with your new body or gardening in general?

"Why yes," James replied with a bit of surprise, "I'm quite a good gardener. I get along very well with both plants and Grass-type Pokemon."

"You are?" Jessie questioned with more than a bit of curiosity.

"Of course," James said, turning to look at her. "Did you think I pulled those roses out of nowhere all those years?"

The Pyroar looked to the Meowth, and the two shared a look of shock at something they hadn't known about their friend.

"Why do you ask?" James said in the ensuing silence.

We have a rooftop garden that could use your expertise, then. That will be the way you contribute to the running of apartments, should you choose to stay.

The Roserade nodded once and smiled. "More than willing to help with something I'm good at," he said. The psychic nodded in turn and walked to the next in line, the Pyroar.

How good are you at controlling your new form, Jessie?

"Well, I can do a few of the more physical moves, but using my fire is an exercise in patience," the female Royal Pokemon said with a bit of a huff. The Meowth smirked before speaking up.

"Yeah, and you're so well known for your patience," he snarked. The Pyroar turned and swiped a paw just in front of his face, causing the smaller feline to flinch back, which in turn caused the larger one to snicker.

Well, if you're willing, Bit could probably find a use for you. Even if it is just for hauling things.

Jessie blinked and sighed before hanging her head. "I've done worse for a roof over my head...though not many come to mind. " She then lifted her head and cocked it to one side in curiosity. "Out of curiosity, where will this roof over our heads be located?"

The Kadabra idly stroked his mustache as he turned the question over in his head. Hmm...I'd like to keep you nearby, in case you need us...how about the fourth floor? Right in the middle of the house...and I'll put you on the side opposite of us, so you won't hear anything we'd rather you didn't.

"That sounds very generous," James said. "All in exchange for helping to keep this place running?"

As long as you do your best, you'll have earned that apartment. Vincent then turned to Meowth. And you...well I can tell right off the bat that you're not a normal Meowth. Most aren't comfortable being bipedal for any length of time.

In response, Meowth puffed his chest out and smirked, casting a glance at Jessie and James. "Five minutes, and this guy notices that I'm special. Why'd you only mention it rarely, huh?"

Vincent's ears twitched as he looked over the Meowth, his expression turning to one of disbelief. Did...okay, say something else.

Meowth turned back to Vincent, his head tilted to one side in confusion. "What do you want me to say?"

The Kadabra grinned a very wide and manic grin, one that unnerved Meowth just a touch. Enough to cause him to back up. Oh, sweet Xerneas, but you just spoke in English, didn't you? It took me a moment to make the distinction, but I did!

Meowth slowly nodded as he replied. "Yeah, I can speak English. What about it?"

Little Meowth, with your permission, I'd like to root around in your head for your language center. I promise to be careful.

In response to that, Meowth backed up and placed both of his forepaws on his cranium. James was at his side in an instant, holding the feline close with one arm while shielding him with a bouquet in the other. "Why do you need to root around in his head for that?" he asked.

"Yes, what's so special about Meowth's head that you have to look in it?" Jessie tacked on. Vincent sighed as he looked out to the city.

I'm not sure if you noticed, but the ponies of Las Pegasus and Pokemon...don't exactly get along. Even after the World Summit. The psychic then looked back at Meowth before continuing. A part of it could be because we don't understand one another. At least, not without a psychic or their magic nearby. I'm trying to come up with a design for a 'psychic chip' that will enable translation between ponies and Pokemon no matter the circumstance, but you...you've already bridged that gap. No need to reinvent the wheel, if you'll let me at your language center.

After a moment, Meowth walked out from James' protective embrace and walked towards the psychic, a paw on his chin, humming. "It's really that bad out there that you think you need to poke inside my head?"

At this point, it couldn't hurt, Vincent replied. But that can wait a little while. Not too long, though. His eyes then landed on their final compatriot, who had resumed standing nearby, merely watching the events take place.

And you...you intrigue me.

"Wobbuffet."

Mostly because you choose to say only your name. I'll have to have a proper conversation with you later. The Kadabra nodded and gestured for Lucy to come join him. My name is Vincent, and this is my companion, sister figure, girlfriend...call her what you will, it will likely fit or earn you a punch to the face. Her name is Lucy.

"Charmed," Lucy said. "If you're done with them for now, Vincent, I can show them to their apartment, and then Jessie and James to their workspaces."

Of course, Vincent said, turning to Jessie. Bit wanders the streets in the daylight hours, looking for parts for either his projects or mine, but at night he works in the basement.

The Pyroar nodded at the psychic's words as the group was led off upstairs. Vincent then turned to the Leavanny that had been standing nearby, listening to everything that had been said. "And myself?" she asked.

First, your name, wayward Bishop. Then I shall present your options as I see them.

She nodded and made a slight bow towards the Kadabra. "I am Lala, ranking member of Bishop in the mercenary guild Checkmate. Those four said they would tell me where Shredder was if I escorted them to a place of safety on the other side of the desert, and this seemed to be the first safe haven I could find for Pokemon in this city."

Hmm...I am sorry they took the actions they did, but I'll have them being productive members of society in no time, Vincent replied. Now, your options. First, you could leave to find this Shredder in the gryphon empire. Which promises to be a long journey, and you can't even be certain she'll still be there once you arrive.

"A fair point," Lala conceded. "Next?"

You could simply leave and strike your own path in this new world, but I get the feeling you won't.

She grinned and shook her head. "You guess right. You've met with Weiss, and said something about how he wouldn't be happy if I just wandered off."

Indeed not. I made him a promise that I would look after any chess pieces that found their way to me, and if you will permit it, I shall extend that promise to you as well.

Lala paused, seeming to consider the words of the psychic before nodding once. "I shall remain until Weiss returns to Las Pegasus. Beyond that, I cannot promise anything. What would you have me do to repay you?"

Merely help keep us safe, Vincent replied. As a member of Checkmate, your power is not to be underestimated. Individually, we can do amazing things. But together, we could do anything.

Lala smirked at that before looking around the lobby. "Don't suppose there's an apartment on the ground floor that's open for anyone to use, is there?"

Make yourself at home, the psychic replied, to which the Leavanny replied by nodding again and walking off. Vincent closed his eyes and accessed his link with Xavier, composing a short message of both a mental snapshot of Lala and text to go with it.

Teacher, Lala, Bishop, arrived in my home, escorting four other 'mon through the desert. Have a hold of her for now. Please advise.

That done, the Kadabra opened his eyes and sighed, sitting on one of the benches and running a hand through his mustache as the turned the situation over in his mind. I could have sworn there was a reason those names were so familiar to me...Maybe I just heard something like them in one of Bit's few news bursts.

Jessie, James, and Meowth arrived at the rooftop garden, panting and out of breath for the moment. "These new bodies can take quite a bit of punishment, but it's going to take a while before we can run any marathons in them," Jessie said.

James just gave a wordless grunt of approval with her sentiment, and Meowth pulled himself up, having caught his second wind. The moment he did, his jaw dropped at the sight of what was being grown in this garden. "Guys. Guys, you're going to want to see this."

Jessie slowly pushed herself up and turned to look at whatever it was Meowth had seen. "What is i-" she cut herself off mid-word as she too dropped her jaw. James managed to stand up straight again and glanced at whatever it was that had his teammates so captivated. The moment he did, he too couldn't look away.

Berries.

Rows and rows of Berry plants.

His mouth not only hung open, but salivated at the thought of so many Berries being grown here. He then frowned as a thought occurred to him. "How did they get a hold of so many Berries?"

Lucy shrugged and spoke up from her spot near the door. "Ask Xerneas, she's the one that brought them over. They're your charge now, James. Do you think you can handle it?"

James turned to look at the Lucario and nodded rapidly. "Oh yes, I can help with these...though if you intend to expand operations, I could probably do with an assistant at some point."

Lucy frowned but nodded. "Fair enough, I'll bring it up to Vincent then."

Once the Fighting-type had walked off, James turned to Jessie and Meowth, to find that they hadn't looked away from the large crop of Berries. "What are you two doing?"

"Do you smell that, James?" Jessie asked.

"It smells of earth and growing plants up here," the Roserade replied.

"Funny," Meowth said. "I smell...opportunity."