Zach has a... complicated past. He doesn't talk about it. He came to the Hoenn Region to move on. Yet things are stirring in this usually calm region that may decide the fate of the world.

~DREAM~

His Zubat had just been knocked out by that kids' Charmeleon. Zach was getting desperate. "Go... Raticate! Use Bite!" He saw a slight glow near Raticate's mouth showing Raticate was using the move.

"Chameleon! Use Flamethrower!" Yelled the kid.

Chameleon opened its mouth and I saw the flame come out.

'Damn, how high is that thing's Speed?' I though to myself.

The Flamethrower engulfed Raticate. When the flames died out, we could both see my Raticate was knocked out.

"Damn you kid! Go on... get out of here! I yelled at him after returning Raticate to it's pokéball. I ran from the room, never looking back.

~DREAM END~

I wake with a start. I can't seem to ever get a full nights sleep these days. I guess one can never really come back from the dark. It will always be a part of you. One week after the kid beat me, I heard it on the Team's private radio channel.

~FLASHBACK~

My radio started buzzing, showing that there was a Team announcement. I turn to the channel and enter my access code.

"And now our Boss and Leader... Giovanni!

Giovanni was speaking to us? Something big must have happened.

"Listen. Listen here, and listen well. Team Rocket is over. We have been defeated for the last time. But more importantly, I have failed you all because of my weakness. For that I am sorry. Our dreams will never be realised. That is all."

'No. It can't be, it just can't. Maybe if I beat that kid this wouldn't have happened. I failed Team Rocket. I failed Giovanni.' My mind races after the announcement.

An hour later there is a knock at my door. I grab a pokéball. I won't go down without a fight if I could help it. I switch off the radio and cross the room. I open the door. "Yes?" My breath caught as I saw Giovanni at my door.

"I don't have long so I'll be quick about my business." Giovanni starts. I can only nod my head in acknowledgement and step back into my house so that The Boss can come in.

Giovanni walks in and sits on the chair closest to my back door. "The kid beat you." He says.

I look down in shame. "Yes."

"Doesn't matter. You and him are similar. How you raise your Pokémon is similar to his. There was a reason for my making you my second. How ironic is it for a Team renowned for their uncaring attitude towards Pokémon to have a second who cares?"

"The irony is not lost on me." I say automatically.

"Hmm. Go. Our fall was not your fault. You had in interest in the many species of Pokémon if I recall correctly. Go and follow your heart and dreams. Maybe we will meet again." With that he stood and walked out my back door. I catch his last words to me on the wind. "Never look back, I never did."

There is a note where The Boss was sitting. I walk over and pick it up. It read:

'Go to Prof. Oak. Tell him your story. Tell him the truth. He will understand.'

That next day I make the trip from Viridian City to Pallet Town. I tell the Prof. my story. He has a sad look filled with understanding. He makes my dream come true. He offers me the position of research assistant. I take it and begin my ten years of studying Pokémon under the world's greatest Pokemon Prof.

~FLASHBACK END~

I go to my closet and pull out a small black box. I open it and see the only thing it holds... my Team Rocket uniform. I failed Giovanni. All I ever do is look back. I see all my failures. I see all the pain and suffering I have caused by being a member of Team Rocket.

No more. I will change.