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Rocket History
By GuitarZoi02
Summary: A story concerning Jessies past. It is based on some rumors I read about, and I thought it would just make a cool story. The beginning is slightly humorous, but on the whole this is meant to be a serious story.
The day was bright, and Pidgies were chirping. All seemed peaceful in the forest, until
"Awwww, no! Its Team Rocket! Pikachu, electric shock!"
"No, Ash! Dont"
"PIKAAAA-CHUUUUU!"
ZZZZZZZZZZAP!
"AHHHHH!"
"WEEHOO, WEEHOO, WEEHOO" (Thats the ambulance)
*** a little later***
Jessie lay in a white hospital bed, a burn on her otherwise perfect face. An unconscious Ash Im-gonna-be-a-Pokemon-Master Ketchum was on the bed next to her. Soon, James and Meowth walked in with a dozen roses to brighten up the drab room.
"Where were you?" Jessie demanded angrily. "Theyve been sticking needles into me for hours, and they still havent told me anything! I could be dying and they dont care! Wheres that doctor? Hes going to feel the wrath of Team Rocket if he doesnt do something quick."
"Oh, Jessie, Im so sorry!" James wept. "Your beautiful face!"
"You should be sorry! Your stupid plan didnt work, and THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" Apparently, Jessie was not too weak from misery to whack James on the head with her infamous paper fan.
"I tought you came up wit da plan, Jessie," said Meowth. Only the timely appearance of the doctor, followed by Brock, Misty, and Pikachu, saved Meowth from being obliterated.
"Please young lady," began the doctor, "keep your voice down. Your brother needs his sleep."
"Do you even know who Iwhat?! My brother?!" Jessie looked thoroughly confused.
"Yes," chuckled the doctor, "you two dont look anything alike, but the blood tests dont lie."
"Youyou think thatThe Twerp is my brother?"
"Hes not?"
Everyone in the room stared at the doctor like he had just suggested that the sky was actually green and the grass was blue, or something equally absurd.
"Well, heh heh, this is very interesting. I will have to run the tests again and get back to you. Excuse me." And he left.
"Yeah, you better run," seethed Jessie. "Imagine, implying that I am in any way related to Ash, the nerve of him!"
***
"Thats awful! Thats horrible! ThatsI think Im going to be sick!" wailed Ash the next day when he found out about the doctors discovery. Team Rocket and Ash-tachi were standing outside of the hospital.
"Im afraid its true," said James.
"What are you smiling for?" demanded Jessie. "I need comfort, not mockery!"
"The doctor said it looked like you two had the same father." Brock looked at Jessie and Ash.
"My parents are divorced, and my dad lives in Viridian City. But I still think this is a mistake," said Ash.
"Theres only one way to find out. Well have to interview him," said Jessie.
"Well, what was your dads name? Cant we just see if hes the same guy?" Ash asked.
"I never met my dad. II dont really know anything about him," Jessie confessed. There was a moment of sympathetic silence.
"I cant believe he wouldnt tell me if I had a sister. Especially her," Ash said quietly.
"Who cares anyway?" asked James. "Lets just pretend we never found out."
"Dont you understand, James? I have to know where I come from. Even if I dont like it very much," said Jessie.
"Then lets get this over with," said Misty. "Whats your dads name, Ash? Well go ask him if he knows anything about Jessie." Jessie looked like she was ready to cry. She would have rather not told the twerps about her less than perfect past.
"My dads name is Giovanni," said Ash.
"Giovanni?!" Jessie, James, and Meowth fell over. Their legs began to twitch.
"Jess, you dont think thatThe Boss"
"I dont know," said Jessie weakly. "I guess Ill just have to go find out."
"Then lets go to Viridian City," said Misty.
"Guys, Id really appreciate it if you stayed here. Its kinda personal, ya know?" said Ash.
"What?!" shouted Misty.
"Thats okay, I understand Ash. Cmon, Misty." Brock led her away. "Good luck, Ash!" he called.
"Um, James, Meowth, I really think that I need to do this alone," Jessie told her teammates.
"Butbutbut Jessie! Were Jessie and James! We never split up!" James protested.
"But James, Ive always been a part of Jessie and James (the better part) and I need to find out who Jessie is when shes on her own."
"What will I do? Who will whack me on the head? Who will finish my puns? Who will say, Prepare for trouble?" James panicked.
"You can hang out with the twerps friends. Brock can cook," Jessie suggested.
"FOOD?"
"Goodbye James! Goodbye Meowth! Ill see you soon! Dont miss me too much!"
***
"Well, here we are," said Ash. He and Jessie were standing outside of a large house. Giovannis house. Jessie tried to look nonchalant, but she really wanted to run away, back to James, and back to being carefree Jessie, Bad Girl of Team Rocket.
Ash knocked on the door. Security cameras followed his motions. After a moment, the door opened. A formidable man with black hair appeared.
"Ash!" Giovanni exclaimed. "I didnt expect to see you until Christmas!" Then he noticed Jessie. "What are you doing here?"
"We have something to discuss with you, Boss, sir, please," stammered Jessie.
Giovanni sighed. "I think I have an idea about the nature of this delegation."
He led them to a sparsely furnished living room. "Sit down," he commanded. The Persian rubbed up against Ashs legs, then went to go sit with its master. It ignored Jessie.
"Well. What have you two found out?"
"That we are brother and sister, and that you are Jessie s dad too," said Ash.
Giovanni nodded. "I had supposed I would have to tell you the truth eventually, Jessie. Ash, I am afraid you will have to leave now. Help yourself to anything you can find in the kitchen. There is a TV in the next room. This could take a while."
Ash gulped and left.
"I see that you, James, and Meowth have not had much success."
"No, sir, but were trying hard"
"Trying doesnt cut it at Team Rocket, Jessie. You know that."
Jessie tried not to cry. "Yes, sir," she whispered hoarsely.
"Let me tell you a story about two other Rocket members. This was back in the time when my mother, Madame Boss, ran Team Rocket. She was a tough leader, and we began reign of terror that is still going strong. Your mother, Miyamoto, and I were partners. We were good. We never once got caught, and we had great success in stealing Pokemon. But after a while, we started to feel like more than just partners in crime. When you are so close to someone for so long, you start to care deeply for that person. I think you know what I mean." The Boss gave her a look. Jessie stared at the ground.
"Yes, Boss."
"To continue. I fell in love with Miyamoto, and she loved me as well. My mother, however, had a rule against love. Rocket members were not allowed to marry. There is no need for such a thing in our world. She knew about Miyamoto and I and did everything she could to stop us from being together. We paid no attention to her, even though we knew that there would be serious consequences if we were caught. And then" He paused, perhaps unsure of how to go on. Jessie looked up expectantly. She knew what was coming next. The Boss started speaking again. "Miyamoto found out that she was pregnant. She did not want to get me into trouble, so she told no one. Who knew what kind of punishment Madame Boss would have for such a grave mistake? Then Miyamoto disappeared for a few months. I suspected what was wrong and went out in search of her. She didnt leave much of a trail, but I knew what clues to look for, and eventually I did find her. In the middle of winter, in a little shack. She had a red-haired baby with her. She called her Jessica. I wanted to help her raise the baby, but Miyamoto talked me out of it. I was being trained to become the next leader of the great Team Rocket, and I did not need a family to hinder me. I agreed to leave things as they were and went back to HQ alone. A few months later, Miyamoto returned to her job, but she couldnt take too much time away from her baby. Madame Boss sent me on a long mission to America. I did not have any way of knowing what was going on back in Japan. Later, I found out that my mother was making things very hard for Miyamoto. Her pay was cut, and she still had to support a child. She did not give up, though. She tried her best to be a good mother. Unfortunately for the child, Miyamoto was not only a mother, but a Rocket member. Everything else had to come second to her duty to evil. After six years, I found a way to get back to Japan, and to Miyamoto. We had one meeting, before my mother found out. I still remember Miyamoto, with her green hair and violet eyesBut I digress. Madame Boss realized that with Miyamoto in the picture, I would never be able to fully focus on my Rocket duties. So your mother was sent on a suicide mission to catch the rare and mysterious Mew. She protested, on your account, but Madame Boss remained stone cold. She knew how to efficiently run a criminal organization, and that meant disregarding petty human feelings. Miyamoto went to the north regions to search for Mew, and she was never heard from again. Later, I married Ashs mother in an attempt to disguise my ties to Team Rocket. Soon, she became useless to me and we got divorced. Miyamotos daughter was forgotten. No one cared about you, Jessie. I dont think that surprises you, does it? The only reason you are so caught up in yourself is because you know that no one else is, isnt it?" Giovanni smiled grimly and stroked his Persian.
"Why are you like this?" Jessie asked past the lump in her throat. Why did things have to be like this? Why couldnt she be a normal person with a normal family?
"Why am I so cruel, you mean? Because I have to be. I learned a valuable lesson from Miyamotos death. Loving someone can cause you a horrible amount of pain, and you get nothing in return. You know that, dont you Jessie?"
"I understand," said Jessie. She too had been devastated by her mothers death, and she had tried not to have those same feelings toward anyone else. James made it awfully hard, though. Sure, he was stupid, but he was just crying out for someone to care for him. Jessie wanted to be that person.
"Now you know your history. You are the daughter of two of the greatest Team Rocket members ever. That is one of the reasons I am so disappointed in you. What would your mother think if she could see all of your failures? You cant even take a little Pokemon from a ten-year-old boy! If your mother were alive, I believe she would disown you. If James is part of the problem, he could be easily disposed of. You do have potential, Jessie. You could be great, but I am getting tired of waiting. Do you understand what I am saying?"
"Yes, Boss." Jessie was doing her best to keep the tears back. All she could think about was how she had failed her parents. But she had to be strong. She had to show Giovanni that she could be a great Rocket member, tough and rotten to the core.
Then there was a knock at the door of the living room. "Can I come in now?" Ash asked.
"Yes." Giovanni continued to stare at Jessie, studying her. "At least I have one child who is good at Pokemon training," he commented dryly as Ash came in.
That hurt. To be insulted in front of her little brother. However, Jessie had been in enough verbal fights to know how to turn this around.
"Dont worry Ash," she said. "You still have time to learn how to be a good trainer." Jessie thought she saw Giovanni smile.
"Oh, Jessie," he said as she and Ash stood up to leave. "That rule about marriage and love still stands. Im sure you can see the benefits of such a rule. There are horrible consequences that come with loving someone. You and James would do well to remember that."
Jessie gulped and Ash appeared to be greatly amused. Then a thought occurred to Jessie.
"Boss," she asked, "whatever happened to Madame Boss?"
The Boss grinned evilly. "What do you think? Now leave."
As Jessie walked out, she heard Ash saying his good-byes to his dad, and she felt so cheated. Why did that brat get have all the good stuff? He still had his mom, and she wasnt a criminal. He had never had to live in a shack and eat snow instead of actual food. Why did she have to be the Rocket? Ash was such a stupid, spoiled twerp! Jessie huffed angrily and stalked down the road, not bothering to wait for her brother.
***
Meanwhile, back with the rest of Team Rocket and Twerp Squad
"Waaaaaaaahhhh! I miss Jessie!" James wailed loudly.
"Jessie better get back soon!" growled Brock.
"Maybe if ya give him another cheeseburger, hell shut up," Meowth suggested.
***
"Well, now that we know were brother and sister, maybe we should get to know each other a little better," said Ash. Jessie continued to walk on in stony silence.
"First, I was born. And thenwell, I cant really think of much to say," said Ash. "There was the time I got a cavity and I had to get my tooth drilled"
"What makes you think I care?" demanded Jessie.
"Gosh, Id think even you would be nicer to your relatives," Ash muttered.
"Just shut up, okay? Ive just had a very traumatizing experience!" Jessie yelled.
"Being my sister is a traumatizing experience?" Ash had no idea how close was to death at that moment.
Soon, the two realized that they would have to stop and camp out for the night. Ash unrolled his sleeping bag and Jessie curled up at the trunk of a large tree. Late that night, Ash heard Jessie crying quietly.
"I miss James," she sobbed softly.
***
"Oh, Ash is back!" Misty yelled the next day as Jessie and Ash walked into camp.
"Well, I for one am glad that Jessies back. James missed her so much, I didnt know what we were going to do!" said Brock.
"Yeah, Jessie missed James too," Ash said.
"I did not!" Jessie protested. No one really believed her, since she had her head buried in James jacket and they were clinging as they had never clung before. Then she remembered that she was a Rocket and she pulled away, leaving James even more confused than he usually was.
"So what did you find out?" asked Meowth.
"Jessie and I are (gulp) brother and sister."
Meowth rolled on the ground in a fit of hysteria. "Laugh while you can, cat. If you keep it up, Ill make sure you never laugh again!" Jessie warned. Meowth shut up.
"Its weird though," said Ash thoughtfully. "I wonder why my dad never told me he was married before."
"He wasnt, you idiot!" Jessie screamed. James realized that everyone was in mortal danger of being bashed to death with a paper fan. He had to act quickly, smoothly.
"Hey, Jess, lets go get some food, okay? We can talk about this later, if you want. Bye, Ash-tachi! Thanks for the cheeseburgers!" James led Jessie away.
"Hed better be thankful. He and Meowth ate all our supplies!" groaned Brock.
***
As they walked along, Jessie explained her past to James. He listened sympathetically. He was bad (and dumb), but he was not insensitive. Jessie told him what it was like to be shown up by her younger, stupider, uglier brother. James held her. She told him what it was like to grow up destined to be evil. He let her cry on his shoulder. He understood what it was like to fail your parents, to be so much less than they wanted you to be. James, however, had given up trying to be what his aristocratic parents wanted him to be. He no longer tried to be a gentleman just to make everyone else happy. Jessie still fought to succeed. James knew she would never give up. She was like that. Gently, he kissed her forehead. Jessie started to cry harder.
"Whats the matter?" James asked worriedly. "Was I wrong?"
Jessie shook her head. How could she tell him about the warning The Boss had given her? On the other hand, how could she let this go on when she knew that The Boss would think nothing of killing James if he thought that it would teach Jessie a lesson? Everything was so complicated! She really wanted to love James, but she also knew that if she did, she would just be setting herself up for a big heartache.
Jessie sniffed. She did not want to hurt James, especially after her had been so nice to her. She would have to tell him carefully. Slowly, she pulled away from his embrace. "Dont do that again," she said quietly. She couldnt bring herself to look up at his pained expression.
"Sorry," said James. Now he felt stupid. Nothing he did was right in Jessies eyes. She didnt care about him at all. She only cared about herself. James sighed and looked up at the moon. The night could have been so romantic. The wind was blowing softly, and the stars shone bright. But no, he had to belong to Team Rocket. Villainy was one of those things that looked cool, but really wasnt as glamorous as you would think. Still, hed rather be a bad guy than a gentleman. Jessie was still his partner, after all. She couldnt do anything to change that. And hed always be her friend, even if she didnt realize it.
***
The next day, Team Rocket was back to concocting plans that were sure to catch Pikachu this time. Meowth noticed a certain coldness on Jessies part, but other than that it was business as usual. He wondered how long things would go on like that before Jessie broke down. Would she choose her loyalty to her father and Team Rocket or would she choose her loyalty to her best friend?
TO BE CONTINUEDWHENEVER I COME UP WITH A REALLY COOL ENDING, WHICH COULD BE A WHILE, SO BE PATIENT. THANK YOU!
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Rocket Remains
by GuitarZoi02
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or any of the characters. I dont own any of the Savage Garden songs. Please dont sue me; think of it as free advertising. And, this was the first real fanfic I ever wrote. Sniff.
Warnings: Im sorry, but this story is very sappy. It is based on the Savage Garden song "I Dont Know You Anymore." Affirmation is a great CD, so listen to it. I enjoy applying all the songs to Jessie and James. Anyway, dont expect to read about any great battles in this story because I dont care too much about Pokemon battles. And so, without further ado
"Jessie?"
"What now James? Youre always complaining. Now shut up and let me try to fix this stupid button!"
Jessie, James, and Meowth were in the mechanical Gyrados. They were about to blast off again, and they knew it. Jessie, however, would not give up. Shy stubbornly kicked and cursed the "abort" button on their homemade bomb, refusing to admit that Team Rocket had been beaten by that stupid ten-year-old and his electric rat.
"Never mind," said James, just as the bomb went off.
"Looks like Team Rockets blasting off again!"
***
Later that day, they sat in the woods. James had stopped being afraid that he would die. Hed been beaten, blown up, blown away, electrocuted, and attacked by just about every type of Pokemon there was. That included the rarest ones and ones that had been thought to be extinct. James had found that he had become almost immune to pain, and he and Jessie and Meowth seemed to heal from their wounds almost instantly. It was a good thing Team Rocket had a good insurance policy.
James looked at Jessie. She was beautiful. He spent every day with her. He had been her best friend sinceforever. And he still couldnt tell her how he felt. "Maybe over dinner, when shes happy, itll be easier," he thought.
"Um, Jessie?" he asked timidly.
"This is all your fault!" she accused. "If I was by myself, I would have that Pikachu by now! You and Meowth just get in my way."
"Im sorry," James whimpered. No one else said anything for the rest of the night.
Everything was fine the next day. Thats the way it always was. Jessie was angry most of the time, but she and James never fought for very long.
As they sat in a tree watching for an unsuspecting passer-by to rob, Jessie remembered something.
"What was it that you wanted to tell me yesterday?" she asked.
James took a deep breath. He pulled out a rose and handed it to Jessie.
"I love you, Jessie," he said.
Jessie nearly fell out of the tree.
"What!" she screeched.
"Oooh la la!" giggled Meowth. "Jessie and James are in love. I cant wait to tell the Boss!"
"Youll do no such thing, you idiot. Were not in love!" And Jessie whipped out her paper fan. Meowth did fall out of the tree.
"James! We cant be in love! Were denouncing the evils of truth and love, remember? What will people think?"
"I dont care what people think as long Im with you."
"What a dumb thing to say! Dont you know theres no such thing as love?"
"But I thoughthow do you explain how I feel if theres no such thing as love?"
"Theres a lot of things about you no one can explain. Besides, love is just something someone made up to make people like us feel bad. Oh, dont cry!" Jessie sighed. What a wimp James was. What a cute, sweet, wimp. "Stop it!" she told herself. "All his "love" talk is getting to you." Jessie had found out a long time ago that caring about people was stupid if you wanted anyone to respect you.
Thankfully, at that moment Jessie spotted a person walking towards their tree.
"Everybody ready?" she whispered.
James sniffed. Jessie glared at him. How dare he make her feel guilty about something that wasnt even her fault? If only he wasnt such a spoiled cry-baby
***
"Im leaving," James announced.
"Huh?" Jessie, James, and Meowth were back at TRHQ. Jessie was admiring herself in one of the many mirrors in their apartment. Meowth was eating, and James had just walked out of the bedroom.
"What do you mean?" Jessie asked.
"I mean I cant be part of this anymore. Im not getting anything out of it. So Im leaving. Ive decided to go back to Mo- my mom and dad."
Jessie and Meowth stared at him.
"What, like quit TR?" Meowth asked.
"Yes. So goodbye." James was having a hard time not crying. He couldnt believe what he was saying. Jessie had just hit him too many times. It wasnt worth it.
"But James" James had never seen Jessie so pale and shaken. "Maybe" he thought. But he stuck with his plan.
"Goodbye, Jessie. Maybe youll be able to be a better team without me."
"But the motto. What about the motto?" she asked, panicky.
"The motto?!" James thought. "Her best friend is leaving and shes worried about the stupid motto? Shes worse than I thought. I wish she would say something to make me stay."
"Change the motto," he said out loud. "Goodbye Meowth. Good luck guys." James picked up his suitcase and left.
*** 1year later (more or less)***
Jessie sat in an ice cream parlor, celebrating her latest successful heist with a chocolate milkshake. Meowth sat beside her in the booth, purring. Since James had left, Jessie had become the first TR member to go solo. Well, she had Meowth, but he wasnt exactly like a human. The Boss had offered her other partners, but none of them would have been like James. Besides, Jessie and Bob just didnt sound right.
"Uh oh," said Meowth. "Here comes trouble!"
"Make it double," Jessie thought unconsciously.
"What do you mean, Meowth?" she asked.
"Cassidy."
Jessie looked up sharply. Sure enough, there was that snob who called herself beautiful. "Shes not even pretty!" Jessie thought. "How did she even get into TR in the first place?"
"Helllloooo, Jessie!" Cassidy said brightly.
"Go chase cars or bury bones or something," Jessie said darkly.
"My, my, arent we in good mood today?" said Cassidy sarcastically.
"I dont know about you, but my good mood left as soon as you came in."
Meowth could see that things were going to get ugly quickly, so he slipped off.
"Well dont worry Jessie. Ive got just the thing to cheer you up. I guess you havent heard the news?"
"What "news"?" asked Jessie suspiciously.
"The news about James, of course. Everyone at HQ is talking about it." Cassidy studied Jessie to see what effect Jamess name had on her.
"Yeah, so?" Jessie tried to keep her cool, but she was dying to hear about James. She missed him like she would miss her arm if someone cut it off.
"Let me tell you, Im so happy that he found someone who treats him like an equal and not like pet Pokemon or something. I hear theyre very happy together," said Cassidy smiling slyly.
"What are you saying, Cassidy?" Jessie demanded.
"Well, James got married! Some red-head named Jessiebelle."
"I thought he hated her!" exclaimed Jessie.
"We all thought he loved you," Cassidy told her.
The two girls stared at each other, Cassidy confident, Jessie livid.
"Youre lying!" Jessie seethed.
"I am not! I cant believe youre so jealous, Jessie."
"I hate you!" Jessie yelled. She ran out of the store.
Cassidy looked perfectly smug as she finished the of Jessies milkshake.
***
Jessie flung herself down on the bed in her small hotel room and sobbed. She never would have guessed that it would hurt so much to be completely alone. Abandoned. Again. Stupid, stupid pride. A year ago, shed thought that the only things she had were pride and beauty. Those two things had brought her up from the slums and into the high-class world of TR. Shed forgotten that James had been with her too. Shed had James too. "I had James, and I made him leave! Why didnt I tell him I was sorry? Why didnt I ever tell him how much a part of me he was?" Jessie cried all night. Later, Meowth came in and curled up next to her.
"Do you miss J-James, Meowth?" she asked.
"Sure," said Meowth, "but think of all the success weve had."
"Yeah, well Jamess got all that money now that hes married that snob."
"Maybe hell remember his old friends, huh? Maybe send us a few thousand bucks?" Meowth asked hopefully.
"He hates me! He should hate me. Everyone hates me. And theyve got good reason to. Just wait, Ill give em a couple more!" Jessie got up and grabbed her bazooka. "Cmon Meowth, lets go rob an orphanage or something."
***
After that, Jessie went on a major crime spree. She took Pokemon, jewelry, money, anything and everything. She even got a few write-ups in the paper. But it didnt help. She still didnt feel right. She felt as though one day the misery would be too much and she would just die.
Then it happened. She had to see him. As she dialed his number, she wondered if he had changed. Did he still love donuts? Did he still love to say the motto, secretly, when no one else was listening? Would he even talk to her after what had happened?
Ring. Ring. Ring. A strange voice answered the phone. "Hello, James residence," it said.
"Thisthis is Jessie. I want to speak to James," Jessie said nervously.
"Just a moment, please." And before she could hang up, James was on the line.
"Hello?"
"Hi. Its me, Jessie. From Team Rocket." Did he remember?
"I know. I remember. Jessie."
Silence for a minute.
"So how are you?" he asked.
"Im fine," she answered. "No Im not!" her mind screamed. "How are youand Jessiebelle?"
"Belle and I are doing very well, thank you. Hows Meowth?"
"Fine. He said he misses you."
"Oh. Well, I miss him too."
"So."
"So."
"Oh, I called to see if you wanted to get together sometime? We havent seen each other in a while," said Jessie.
"1 year, 9 months, and 15 days," James thought.
"Thats a fine idea," he said out loud. "How would you like to stay in town next week?"
"That sounds good. How about Thursday?" she asked.
"Im sure that would be just fine."
"OK then. Good. Ill see you Thursday."
"Thursday. Wellgoodbye Jessie."
"Goodbye James." And they hung up, but their thoughts were still connected.
"Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now or prepare to fight."
***
Jessie wore a disguise on her way to visit James. She normally enjoyed it when people recognized her, but the Officer Jennys were getting annoying. Jessie had had a few close calls lately, so she stuffed her tell-tale hair under a baseball cap.
Jessie kept walking until she came to an old gate. Old, but well-kept. Jessie tore off her disguise, revealing the same old TR uniform underneath. She didnt think James or anyone in his household would turn her in, and if he did, then what was the point of anything? Jessie walked the long path to the front door of the most gigantic building shed ever seen. It was even bigger than when shed last seen it two years ago. Jessie took a deep breath and banged the heavy knocker.
A stiff-looking man in black opened the door.
"Yes?" he said.
"Im here to see James," Jessie said confidently.
"Very good. Follow me, please."
Jessie stepped into an enormous, glistening marble hall. A majestic staircase spiraled up three floors. It was an awed Jessie who followed the butler into a living room that was larger than Jessie s whole house had been. There was a roaring fire and lavish, comfortable furniture. And in one of the chairs sat James.
James stood up.
"Good afternoon, Jessie," he said formally. "You do remember Belle, dont you?"
"Oh, yes, of course. Good afternoon," said Jessie with all the charm she could muster for the woman who had married her best friend. Jessie glanced at her and realized that Jessiebelle was going to have a baby. She didnt know what to say. She couldnt say what she was thinking.
Jessiebelle smiled. "Hello, Jessie. We h so glad you could come. Please, sit down."
"How was your trip?" James asked.
"Just fine. This is a lovelyhouse," Jessie said.
"Wheres Meowth? Didnt he come?"
"No, he decided to stay home. He said to tell you hello though. So whats new with you?"
"Well," James looked at Jessiebelle and smiled. "Were expecting our first child in two months."
"Im happy for you," said Jessie, but she really wasnt sure how she felt. She wanted James to be happy, but she didnt want him to be happy without her. "It looks like you guys are doing pretty well."
"Yes." Silence for a moment.
"Would you like to see the gardens?" James asked Jessie. She could tell he was proud. His voice cracked at the end of the sentence, just like it used to when he got excited about something.
"Id love to," Jessie told him.
James smiled again. "Are you coming, Belle?"
"Ah think Ahll just rest heah. You two go on."
Jessie was surprised. Jessiebelle was rather the jealous kind. But maybe she knew that Jessie and James were no longer partners in anything save memory, and too many bridges had been burned for anyone to survive the crossing.
James held the door for Jessie as they left the mansion. As soon as she stepped outside, Jessie was overpowered by the scent of roses. It was almost too much. She looked at James to make sure he was really there.
"I see they finally made a gentleman out of you, James."
"I was always a gentleman, it was just that no one realized it." He looked down at her, seeming to say, "Dont you feel terrible about mistreating a gentleman?"
"James, Im sorry"
"Dont apologize. Leaving TR was the smartest thing I ever did. And you, Jessie, you taught me what really matters in life. Money and appearances."
That wasnt the James Jessie had known. Hed always been the sentimental one, unlike everyone else at Team Rocket.
"But James, I think, no, I know I was wrong."
"Stop! Ive just figured life out, and youre going to tell me Im wrong again." He studied a red rose.
"Just, please, let me apologize, James. I never meant to make you leave. I miss you so much." Jessie felt tears run down her cheeks and she couldnt say anything else.
James started to say something, but he stopped. He knew she was crying, but he couldnt say anything. He was married. He was a billionaire. He was happy. Happy not being a part of Team Rocket, a part of Jessie and James.
"Hows Meowth?" James asked, because he couldnt think of anything else to say.
"Hes fine, but we miss you." Jessie sniffed. "You were a great addition to the team, James."
"Thats funny. I thought I was an idiot."
"I never meant that, really"
"Lets talk about something else. Please."
They walked past rose bushes and daffodils and violets. Jessie wondered how many times James and Jessiebelle had walked this path together. When she had calmed down a bit, Jessie asked, "Hows Growly?"
"Oh, I sold it."
"You sold Growly?! I thought you loved him!"
"It bit me," James told her.
"Why? It was really sweet when I saw it."
"Too sweet. It was always following me around and annoying me. So I kicked it, and it bit me. Sounds like a familiar story, huh? But enough about me. I saw where you made the ten most wanted list. How does it feel?"
"Not as good as being a millionaire, Ill bet."
They said little else on the way back to the house. Before they went in, Jessie put her hand on his shoulder and searched his emerald eyes.
"Do you think wed have been happy?" she asked.
"I told you, I dont want to talk about that!"
"Answer me!" Jessie demanded, sounding more like her usual self.
"No. Someone had to change, and, oh, I dont know! Im not in TR anymore. Its behind me and I intend to keep it that way. I dont think we should keep in touch, Jessie." He looked away so she wouldnt see the tears in his eyes.
"Doesnt Team Rocket mean anything to you anymore?" Jessie pleaded for a small scrap of forgiveness.
"No." James couldnt believe what shed done to him. Jessie was making a fool out of him again. "At least this time Im not in a dress," part of his brain thought. But he would not cry. "I dont care, I dont care," he told himself.
"Fine. Fine. I guess Ill be going then," Jessie said firmly. So James didnt care. Well, neither did she. At least, she wouldnt care until she was all alone. Then she would care a lot.
Jessie walked toward the gate with her head held high. "Ill make it," she thought.
James watched her go. "Maybe Ill never see her again," he thought. "I cant let her leave without"
Jessie shook her head. "I cant believe we didnt"
She stopped when she heard James run up behind her. She turned around, and her eyes lit up.
"Prepare for trouble?"
"Make it double!" They grinned.
"To protect the world from devastation!" Jessie yelled, striking a pose.
"To unite all peoples within our nation," said James, producing a rose out of thin air and looking modestly at the ground.
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above."
*JESSIE* *JAMES*
"Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now, of prepare to fight!"
They were silent for a moment.
"Thanks, Jess, I needed that."
"No problem, James. Good luck in everything."
"You too. Give me a call if you wind up in jail; Ill bail you out."
"Thanks, but I wont be needing it."
"Well, tell Meowth hi for me."
"Sure. Bye."
"Bye."
James watched her leave, feeling relieved. Relieved about what? He wasnt exactly sure, but he knew that he was also sad. He wasnt romantically in love with Jessie, it was more like they were just connected somehow, and it was something you couldnt get rid of. No matter how many lies you told yourself. James also knew that he probably wouldnt ever see Jessie again. It would be less painful that way. Like hed said, TR was behind him. Now he could go back to being a gentleman.
***
The years passed. James fortune continued to grow, as did his family. James and Jessiebelle has three more kids besides the first one, who was named James, Jr.. The kids were spoiled and snotty, just like their parents. The exception was little James, who showed signs of sensitivity that worried his father. He did not want his oldest son to be what he himself had almost become, what he had been before he left Jessie and Team Rocket. Sometimes, though, James wondered if the happiness he had known back then was really as ignorant and undignified as he tried to believe.
Jessie became the most feared member of Team Rocket in history. She became Giovanni s right hand woman and had a lot to do with training new members. Meowth died of Pokemon old age. Jessie wrote James a letter telling him how Meowth had lived a full, happy life. They both cried, alone, not only for Meowth, but for the way things used to be.
Then Jessie started to get tired of taking orders from Giovanni. She formed a following of her own and made plans to take over TR. But The Boss found out.
***
James and Jessiebelle sat at the breakfast table. James was reading the stocks and his wife had the front page of the newspaper.
"Oh, look dahlin!" Jessiebelle exclaimed. "Its your friend from Team Rocket. What was her name again?"
James looked up sharply and grabbed the newspaper. The headline read, "Notorious Pokemon Thief Found Dead." James couldnt believe what he was reading. There was a picture of Jessie, beautiful Jessie, looking confident and evil, and on the inside page there was of Jessie, James, and Meowth together. The article explained how Jessie had been found in her apartment, shot in the back of the head. It went on to describe all the horrible crimes that she had committed. There were no suspects in the murder.
"Giovanni, that " James couldnt think of a word bad enough. He turned to Jessiebelle. "He killed Jessie, I know it! Why would he do that? And nobody cares. Nobody but me. Im the only person who ever cared about her after her mother died, and I left her! This whole world, my whole life, is so messed up!"
James ran out into his garden and ripped a rose away from the others. Then the sole surviving member of Team Rockets terrible trio paid a final tribute to his dead teammates, his friends.
"Prepare for trouble!" James yelled at the sky, tears streaming down his face.
"And make it double! To protect the world from devastation! To unite all peoples within our nation! To denounce the evils of truth and love! To extend out reach to the stars above!"
"JESSIE! JAMES!"
"Together forever!" Then James threw his rose down and ground it into the dust, still crying and saying, "Meowth, thats right!"
After a moment he looked back up. "Im sorry, Jessie," he said. "I always knew. I always knew, I just didnt believe. I was wrong when I thought you didnt love me."
James Jr. had seen the whole thing. "Are you okay, Dad?"
James put his hands on his sons shoulders.
"If you love someone, tell them," he said. "Theres nothing wrong with that. Whats wrong is living only for money and power. You dont belong here. We cant give you anything. And dont join Team Rocket. Its not for people like you."
"But Dad"
"For heavens sake, James, run away! Run away!"
James Jr. took off but stopped when he got to the gate and looked back.
"Go on!" his father yelled.
James ran.
THE END (Cry, darn it!)
There you go. I hope this story made you cry. If you thought it was too corny, and you laughed, thats OK too. I just hope it was entertaining for you. I sure had a lot of fun writing it!
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