The little Meowth had not stopped purring since Nanu got it. For the return trip home, it had been in its Pokeball on and off. The glimmering, reddish coat was beautiful to look at. He found himself bringing it out to look at it again and again. The Meowth herself had no complaints. She was happy for the attention.
Nanu had rarely laid eyes on a real, genuine Kantonian Meowth. His prize being shiny made it all the more special, though if it had been a typical Kantonian Meowth, he’d have hardly complained either. Maybe he should have gone looking for a normal one, but he hadn’t thought about that before he was heading home. Nanu spent little time in Johto. For him, he wanted to get in and get out without too much trouble. If he wanted a vacation, he’d do it another time. All Nanu wanted to do, really, was get home.
A few Meowth were congregating outside of the Po Town Police Station. They lazed underneath dry spots near the building, happy to enjoy the weather outside so long as they didn’t catch too much of the consistently pouring rain. Their ears perked up as they heard Nanu’s slow steps down the the stony path that led to the entrance to Po Town. When he came into their sights, the Meowth dashed towards him, mewling frantically. Nanu leaned down to pet their heads, muttering, “I’ve only been gone a couple’a days...”
The Meowth followed him inside as even more of his Meowth inside approached the door of the station. They’d all missed him, apparently. It was a rare sight to see all the Meowth together in one singular spot. Alolan Meowth were petty when it came to fellow members of their species. They created small groups for themselves and stuck to them rather strictly. But with Nanu having been gone, they could briefly forget such rivalries and defined groups to gather around and greet him happily.
Nanu shut the door, closing out the warm rains than poured outside. A couple of Meowth shook from side to side, water flinging everywhere and onto every Meowth in the vicinity. He approached the counter separating the front of the station from the back, spotting the small note from his house sitter, a former Skull grunt he’d paid to check on and feed his Meowth each day. It had been a tough job taking care of all the Meowth. They kept scratching him and he couldn’t tell them apart... Nanu had expected as much. They only really listened to him. He’d have to thank the young man later for all his efforts.
Nanu took Persian’s Pokeball from his belt and released her. The various Meowth approached Persian, licking and nuzzling her. Persian meowed at the various little kittens, happy for the amount of attention from them all. Nanu then turned to the small crowd of Meowth and his Persian as all of them stared up at him.
“Got a new friend for you,” he said to them, removing the Kantonian Meowth’s Pokeball from his belt. He released the ball in his hand, and in a flash of light the glimmering feline appeared. She brushed up against Nanu’s leg, purring loudly. A few Alolan Meowth stepped back. Most had probably never seen a Meowth that looked like her before. They seemed shocked, some even offended, at the sight of this new member of Nanu’s clan.
The shiny Meowth now noticed the presence of the Alolan Meowth and Persian. She seemed to take no notice of any uncertainty among the Meowth, and approached them with no fear, tail high in the air. Persian stared down at the new arrival, seeming to carefully appraise her. The Kantonian Meowth bound up to her and headbutted Persian’s chest, all the while still purring.
Persian's eyes were locked on the Meowth. She gently butted her head against the little Meowth in return, who stumbled back at even this force. However, the little one seemed undaunted and mewed loudly in response. The other Meowth approached then , slowly and reluctantly so, sniffing at the new Meowth. Persian had made it clear that she liked the new addition, and although the other Meowth still appeared wary, the shiny Pokemon would be accepted into a group, one way or another.
For the whole rest of the day, wherever Nanu saw Persian, he saw the Meowth as well. She laid comfortably atop of a sleeping Persian as if she were a simple bed. She trailed behind her, marching on like a little soldier. She watched curiously as Persian was fed a nice piece of fish and enjoyed her own, smaller slice alongside the Alolan cat. It seemed as though the new Meowth would make herself a part of the family with ease. He welcomed it wholeheartedly.
