Coming back here was a mistake.

Mieka, four years to the day she left, was standing in front of the orphange. Brutus looked around from behind her legs. She sat down, her legs dangling over the short edge on the hill that overlooked her childhood home. Should I go inside? She looked towards Brutus. Even though she couldn't talk, he seemed to understand her. He nuzzled her then layed beside her. I thought not. She sighed. It was still there. It was still standing. It still was raising kids to become...who knows what. What had she done? She had joined Team Rocket. That was it. She was working for an organization that treated her and Brutus badly, and made them do insane amounts of grunt work. She guessed that was why she was called a 'Rocket Grunt'.

She wanted to be a trainer, get gym badges, travel, explore, catch more pokemon, and just...live. And she wanted to have everyone in her way have to bow down to her. Every stupid officer that bossed her around would feel her wrath one day. But that day was not today. She felt nostalgic. She had come back for no ther reason than to...breathe the air and look at where she used to be. I remember it being smaller. Brutus met her eyes and cocked his head at her, then looked around, still confused. Well not for you! You didn't grow. She smiled. Mieka only smiled in the presence of Brutus. Her stomach grumbled loudly, causing Brutus to lick her hand. He must have been hungry too. They had come a long way. She pulled out her turkey sandwich, and some pokefood for Brutus. He dived right into it, while Mieka chewed slowly, pondering what to do next.

Maybe they should go back to the Headquarters soon. She never asked to leave, though she felt she shouldn't have to. She wasn't leaving Team Rocket. Sighing again, she took another bite.

The sandwich was done, and Brutus looked content. Mieka knew it was time to go. She didn't want to be here anymore. Now...where to go? Goldenrod City was a mecca for Team Rocket. She would have to take a ferry from Canalave City to Vermillion City. From there, she would be on her way.

She packed up, and looked down at Brutus. Well, let's go. He popped up and walked beside her, heading into the afternoon with a full belly.

(Continued on: A Trip to Goldenrod)