Uccelli magnifici cantano di amore eterno...
Per Vita
Part I
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" Defeated in yet another Pokemon battle with Team Twerp, the trio was launched into the air and landed painfully onto a small clearing of land located miles away from the battle scene.
Jessie sat up and tried to wipe the grass stains off her uniform, without much success. The expression on her face was that of pure anger. "Those damn twerps!" she screamed. "I'm sick of always losing!"
Meowth rose to his feet and rubbed his aching back. He looked toward the south, where an ancient dirt path led to unknown territory, and then to the north, where a thick forest lay. This was the same area where he, Jessie, and James had concealed their hot-air balloon. Realizing that the evening twilight would not last much longer, the cat sighed. "Guess I better go get some firewood," he said. "Why don't youse two make yourselves useful and find some water we can boil?" Without saying another word, Meowth vanished into the woods.
Jessie stood up, surveying the land. "That furball has no right bossing us around after what happened today," she snarled. She looked at James, who was on his hands and knees frantically searching the ground for a lost possession. "James, what the hell are you doing!?"
"You wouldn't have happened to see a 1947 vintage bottlecap, would you?" he asked. "It's the only one I have from that year."
Jessie's rage finally exploded. "You and your God damn bottlecaps!" she bellowed. "I take back what I said about Meowth because you're the one to blame for today's failure!"
"Jessie," James replied timidly, yet in a friendly manner, "what's gotten into you today?"
"Quit acting dumb! You know just as well as I do that you always screw up our chances of capturing Pikachu!" James was about to respond when Jessie stepped in front of him. He cowered under her fiery glare and menacing shadow. There was no stopping her now. "But all you can ever think about is those stupid bottlecaps of yours! You're absolutely useless!"
"Jessie, I--"
"Shut up, ignoramus! I've had enough! You're nothing but a liability to the team! You build mechas that are conspicuously flawed and always end up being destroyed in some explosive manner! The ones that you buy are exorbitantly overpriced and are constantly annihilated, too! You never ask my permission to spend our money and constantly drive us into debt! When it comes to food, you're the biggest glutton I've ever known! You whine incessantly, can't think for yourself, and are nothing but a nuisance!" Jessie took her eyes off James. "I don't even want to look at you! I cringe to think of the kind of life I could have! I could actually be successful! But look at me! What am I doing with my life!? You know, sometimes I think Meowth and I would be a hell of a lot better off without you!"
Absolutely crushed, James stared blankly at Jessie, who still refused to set eyes on him. An uneasy silence lingered between the two.
James finally spoke up. In an empty, dejected tone, he said, "I never realized you felt this way. Perhaps you would be better off without me."
"Yeah, maybe," Jessie scoffed.
"Then if that is the case," James continued, "I'll leave."
Jessie finally looked at him again. "Yeah, right," she replied. "And where exactly would you go?"
"I have a home."
"You wouldn't go. You know your parents would just force you to marry Jessebelle."
"I do. But I have nowhere else to go."
Jessie raised an eyebrow and smiled. "You can't be serious!"
"I am," James responded. "If my absence from Team Rocket means that much to you, then I'll leave. And if I have to marry Jessebelle... then I will." He proceeded to the Meowth-head balloon and gathered his belongings.
Jessie stared at him in wonder. "You're really leaving...."
After James had collected his few possessions, he walked up to Jessie. Without making eye contact, he said "I'm sure the boss will pair you and Meowth up with another partner as soon as possible." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a red rose. While placing it in Jessie's left hand, he looked up at her. His eyes were flat and expressionless. They had lost their entire natural luster, as if they had no reason to shine. "Keep this rose," James said melancholy. "I have no right holding it in my custody." He closed Jessie's hand onto the rose and began to walk down the beaten dirt path.
Jessie opened her hand and eyed the rose for a few moments. Suddenly, she hurled it onto the ground and called after James. "Fine!" she screamed. "Go ahead and marry the bitch! See if I care!" She watched him continue down the path until he disappeared out of view.
Jessie turned and slowly made her way over to a large boulder that was abnormally protruding out of the ground. She sat down and glanced at the rose she had tossed aside. After a few seconds, her eyes began to well up with tears.
Meowth returned from the forest, a large pile of firewood in his paws. "Where's Jimmy-boy?" he asked.
Jessie violently turned her head away from the cat. "He's gone," she snapped.
Meowth laughed and placed the firewood onto the ground. "Yeah, right. I bet he just went over into dem bushes to go to da bathroom."
"I'm not kidding," Jessie replied. "He quit."
Meowth didn't respond. He looked around the clearing. "Well, since I don't see no water here, guess I better get it myself. Luckily, I saw a nice-lookin' spring in da woods, so I'll just break my back for youse two, halin' water for da team so we don't die of thoist." The cat walked over to their hot-air balloon, frantically tore out every item in it, but produced only two pails. "Dere was three pails just yesterday! What happened to da other?"
Jessie was silent.
"At least we know Jimmy ain't markin' his territory in dis clearin'." Again, Meowth vanished into the woods.
Holding back inevitable tears, Jessie refused to move a muscle until Meowth returned.
The maneki-neko made his way back to the clearing, dragging the two pails-now full of fresh spring water-along the ground. "A little help?" he asked, slightly exhausted.
Jessie finally rose to her feet and moved the buckets closer to the firewood.
Meowth sat down and looked up at the sky. The first stars of the night were emerging out of the darkening blanket of twilight. With a smile on his face, he said, "Jeez! Jimmy-boy must be takin' a major dump or somethin' 'cause he still ain't back!"
Jessie slammed her fist on the giant boulder and screamed, "I told you he's gone! If you don't believe me, just look in the balloon!"
Meowth stared incredulously at Jessie. He got up and searched the basket of their hot-air balloon. "You're... right," he answered. "No bottlecaps, no roses, no nothin'! Where'd he go?"
Jessie finally began to break down. She couldn't fight her tears anymore. "James... he... quit...."
"What's da matter? What are ya cryin' for? What happened?"
Jessie fell apart. She sunk to the ground, drew in her knees, and covered her face. "We... had a... fight," she choked between sobs. "I was really pissed off... at him.... I hurt him... bad.... He left...."
"Ya must've hurt him pretty bad if he was impelled to quit."
Jessie only sobbed harder.
Patting her on the back, Meowth tried to console Jessie. "I'll tell ya what. First t'ing in da mornin', we'll go and find Jimmy. He probably went to his big luxurious mansion 'cause he ain't got nowhere else to go, right? And if I remember correctly, we ain't too far from it, neither. Den youse can straighten t'ings out."
Jessie lifted her head. "I don't think he'll ever forgive me. Not after what I said to him."
Meowth smiled. "Now if I know Jimmy-boy, he's a verrrrry forgivin' person. He'd forgive ya even if you flat-out condemned him to hell!"
"... He won't forgive me...."
Meowth moved closer to Jessie and wiped her tears. "I know how you feel about James," he said in a mellow tone, "and trust me on dis, he feels da exact same way. He loves ya like I ain't never seen love."
Jessie blushed and averted her eyes.
"Of course, he doesn't admit it directly, but it's definitely dere. And I t'ink it's pretty obvious dat you do da same t'ing. Hey, I might not be da smartest Pokemon in da world, but I sure ain't no Tracey Sketchit!"
Jessie managed to crack a feeble smile at Meowth's comment.
"Ya gotta trust me. Let's just forget about da fire tonight. It's not even dat cold. Da water we can use in da mornin'. What we need is a good night's rest."
"Thanks, Meowth." Jessie wiped the last of her tears; then she and Meowth unpacked the two remaining sleeping bags.
Jessie lay in her sleeping bag, gazing at the constellations above. She thought about the day ahead while listening to a symphony of Bug Pokemon play a lulling ballad. I wonder if Pokemon, even the more simplex ones, ever feel love, she pondered.
"Ya better get some sleep," Meowth whispered. "I've got dis feelin' dat you're gonna being doin' a lot of battlin' tomorrow."
*
James proceeded down the path, alone for the first time in, well, a long time. He made an effort to appreciate the sunset, but everything about it reminded him of Jessie-its colors, its beauty, its ability to solace. He couldn't think of her anymore. She didn't love him. She and Team Rocket were nothing but fond memories now. It was time to face the truth.
As the surrounding landscape grew more and more familiar to him, James noticed a large Pidgeot soaring above. It flew in an erratic pattern, continuously calling out for something. A smaller Pidgeot eventually came into view and joined the other. They locked talons momentarily, then flew off toward the south. They must be mates, James thought.
Pidgeot are one of the few species of Pokemon that mate per vita-for life. When a Pidgey evolves into Pidgeotto, it will reach sexual maturity and embark on the journey to find its life-long soulmate. It may take several months for a Pidgeotto to find its other half, and some won't even find theirs until after they have evolved into Pidgeot. But once that ideal partner is located, it is a commitment that lasts until death. There have been reports of Pidgeotto and Pidgeot that have died in the defense of the mates and others that have completely lost the will to live after their mates had passed away. It is a wonder why researchers are still baffled as to whether or not Pokemon can feel love.
James realized that he was now on the estate property. Things hadn't changed much since he was last here. But even then, things hadn't changed much since he ran away over 11 years ago. He walked on, and the tremendous mansion finally came into view. James had forgotten how enormous it really was. Growly's 12,000 square foot doghouse lay right beside it, but when compared to the massive proportions of the main estate, it seemed like a mere Magikarp next to a mammoth Gyarados. At least I'll finally inherit the estate....
James reached the two front doors and hesitated before knocking. He leaned against one of the doors and swayed wearily, as if he were about to vomit. But he soon gathered his strength, turned around, and knocked. The doors opened slowly and revealed Charles Hopkins, the only servant who James was actually familiar with.
Hopkins' eyes widened. "My... God!" he exclaimed in his thick British accent. "Master James, you've finally come home! Come in! Come in!" He proceeded to lead James inside but abruptly turned back to face him. "Master, that red R on your shirt-what does it stand for?"
James shook his head. "Nothing," he said. "It's just a symbol of the past."
Without speaking another word, James walked through the doorway.
*
"I t'ink we're almost dere."
Jessie and Meowth had gotten up early that morning to find James. They just passed the main gate and were now on the estate property.
"What if we're too late?" Jessie asked nervously. "What if they're already married?"
Meowth sighed. "Who's gonna be havin' a weddin' at five in da mornin'? Calm down already, will ya?"
"I just hope we'll be there at the right time."
Jessie and Meowth continued toward the mansion. The Scratch Cat tried to lighten up their situation. "Imagine havin' dis piece of land as your front lawn! Jimmy-boy sure is one lucky--"
Jessie shot him a nasty glare.
"Sorry."
From out of the woods, two Pidgeot appeared together, one a little smaller than the other. Flying in a smooth, seemingly choreographed pattern, they positioned themselves and locked talons, engaging in a gorgeous aerial ballet.
"Are they... battling?" Jessie asked.
"Nah, dat's da Pidgeot's courtship dance." Meowth explained. "Dem two must be mates. Da Pidgeot use deir courtship dance as a kinda way of sayin' 'I love you'."
Jessie's facial expression softened. "Let's go, Meowth."
Per Vita
Part I
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" Defeated in yet another Pokemon battle with Team Twerp, the trio was launched into the air and landed painfully onto a small clearing of land located miles away from the battle scene.
Jessie sat up and tried to wipe the grass stains off her uniform, without much success. The expression on her face was that of pure anger. "Those damn twerps!" she screamed. "I'm sick of always losing!"
Meowth rose to his feet and rubbed his aching back. He looked toward the south, where an ancient dirt path led to unknown territory, and then to the north, where a thick forest lay. This was the same area where he, Jessie, and James had concealed their hot-air balloon. Realizing that the evening twilight would not last much longer, the cat sighed. "Guess I better go get some firewood," he said. "Why don't youse two make yourselves useful and find some water we can boil?" Without saying another word, Meowth vanished into the woods.
Jessie stood up, surveying the land. "That furball has no right bossing us around after what happened today," she snarled. She looked at James, who was on his hands and knees frantically searching the ground for a lost possession. "James, what the hell are you doing!?"
"You wouldn't have happened to see a 1947 vintage bottlecap, would you?" he asked. "It's the only one I have from that year."
Jessie's rage finally exploded. "You and your God damn bottlecaps!" she bellowed. "I take back what I said about Meowth because you're the one to blame for today's failure!"
"Jessie," James replied timidly, yet in a friendly manner, "what's gotten into you today?"
"Quit acting dumb! You know just as well as I do that you always screw up our chances of capturing Pikachu!" James was about to respond when Jessie stepped in front of him. He cowered under her fiery glare and menacing shadow. There was no stopping her now. "But all you can ever think about is those stupid bottlecaps of yours! You're absolutely useless!"
"Jessie, I--"
"Shut up, ignoramus! I've had enough! You're nothing but a liability to the team! You build mechas that are conspicuously flawed and always end up being destroyed in some explosive manner! The ones that you buy are exorbitantly overpriced and are constantly annihilated, too! You never ask my permission to spend our money and constantly drive us into debt! When it comes to food, you're the biggest glutton I've ever known! You whine incessantly, can't think for yourself, and are nothing but a nuisance!" Jessie took her eyes off James. "I don't even want to look at you! I cringe to think of the kind of life I could have! I could actually be successful! But look at me! What am I doing with my life!? You know, sometimes I think Meowth and I would be a hell of a lot better off without you!"
Absolutely crushed, James stared blankly at Jessie, who still refused to set eyes on him. An uneasy silence lingered between the two.
James finally spoke up. In an empty, dejected tone, he said, "I never realized you felt this way. Perhaps you would be better off without me."
"Yeah, maybe," Jessie scoffed.
"Then if that is the case," James continued, "I'll leave."
Jessie finally looked at him again. "Yeah, right," she replied. "And where exactly would you go?"
"I have a home."
"You wouldn't go. You know your parents would just force you to marry Jessebelle."
"I do. But I have nowhere else to go."
Jessie raised an eyebrow and smiled. "You can't be serious!"
"I am," James responded. "If my absence from Team Rocket means that much to you, then I'll leave. And if I have to marry Jessebelle... then I will." He proceeded to the Meowth-head balloon and gathered his belongings.
Jessie stared at him in wonder. "You're really leaving...."
After James had collected his few possessions, he walked up to Jessie. Without making eye contact, he said "I'm sure the boss will pair you and Meowth up with another partner as soon as possible." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a red rose. While placing it in Jessie's left hand, he looked up at her. His eyes were flat and expressionless. They had lost their entire natural luster, as if they had no reason to shine. "Keep this rose," James said melancholy. "I have no right holding it in my custody." He closed Jessie's hand onto the rose and began to walk down the beaten dirt path.
Jessie opened her hand and eyed the rose for a few moments. Suddenly, she hurled it onto the ground and called after James. "Fine!" she screamed. "Go ahead and marry the bitch! See if I care!" She watched him continue down the path until he disappeared out of view.
Jessie turned and slowly made her way over to a large boulder that was abnormally protruding out of the ground. She sat down and glanced at the rose she had tossed aside. After a few seconds, her eyes began to well up with tears.
Meowth returned from the forest, a large pile of firewood in his paws. "Where's Jimmy-boy?" he asked.
Jessie violently turned her head away from the cat. "He's gone," she snapped.
Meowth laughed and placed the firewood onto the ground. "Yeah, right. I bet he just went over into dem bushes to go to da bathroom."
"I'm not kidding," Jessie replied. "He quit."
Meowth didn't respond. He looked around the clearing. "Well, since I don't see no water here, guess I better get it myself. Luckily, I saw a nice-lookin' spring in da woods, so I'll just break my back for youse two, halin' water for da team so we don't die of thoist." The cat walked over to their hot-air balloon, frantically tore out every item in it, but produced only two pails. "Dere was three pails just yesterday! What happened to da other?"
Jessie was silent.
"At least we know Jimmy ain't markin' his territory in dis clearin'." Again, Meowth vanished into the woods.
Holding back inevitable tears, Jessie refused to move a muscle until Meowth returned.
The maneki-neko made his way back to the clearing, dragging the two pails-now full of fresh spring water-along the ground. "A little help?" he asked, slightly exhausted.
Jessie finally rose to her feet and moved the buckets closer to the firewood.
Meowth sat down and looked up at the sky. The first stars of the night were emerging out of the darkening blanket of twilight. With a smile on his face, he said, "Jeez! Jimmy-boy must be takin' a major dump or somethin' 'cause he still ain't back!"
Jessie slammed her fist on the giant boulder and screamed, "I told you he's gone! If you don't believe me, just look in the balloon!"
Meowth stared incredulously at Jessie. He got up and searched the basket of their hot-air balloon. "You're... right," he answered. "No bottlecaps, no roses, no nothin'! Where'd he go?"
Jessie finally began to break down. She couldn't fight her tears anymore. "James... he... quit...."
"What's da matter? What are ya cryin' for? What happened?"
Jessie fell apart. She sunk to the ground, drew in her knees, and covered her face. "We... had a... fight," she choked between sobs. "I was really pissed off... at him.... I hurt him... bad.... He left...."
"Ya must've hurt him pretty bad if he was impelled to quit."
Jessie only sobbed harder.
Patting her on the back, Meowth tried to console Jessie. "I'll tell ya what. First t'ing in da mornin', we'll go and find Jimmy. He probably went to his big luxurious mansion 'cause he ain't got nowhere else to go, right? And if I remember correctly, we ain't too far from it, neither. Den youse can straighten t'ings out."
Jessie lifted her head. "I don't think he'll ever forgive me. Not after what I said to him."
Meowth smiled. "Now if I know Jimmy-boy, he's a verrrrry forgivin' person. He'd forgive ya even if you flat-out condemned him to hell!"
"... He won't forgive me...."
Meowth moved closer to Jessie and wiped her tears. "I know how you feel about James," he said in a mellow tone, "and trust me on dis, he feels da exact same way. He loves ya like I ain't never seen love."
Jessie blushed and averted her eyes.
"Of course, he doesn't admit it directly, but it's definitely dere. And I t'ink it's pretty obvious dat you do da same t'ing. Hey, I might not be da smartest Pokemon in da world, but I sure ain't no Tracey Sketchit!"
Jessie managed to crack a feeble smile at Meowth's comment.
"Ya gotta trust me. Let's just forget about da fire tonight. It's not even dat cold. Da water we can use in da mornin'. What we need is a good night's rest."
"Thanks, Meowth." Jessie wiped the last of her tears; then she and Meowth unpacked the two remaining sleeping bags.
Jessie lay in her sleeping bag, gazing at the constellations above. She thought about the day ahead while listening to a symphony of Bug Pokemon play a lulling ballad. I wonder if Pokemon, even the more simplex ones, ever feel love, she pondered.
"Ya better get some sleep," Meowth whispered. "I've got dis feelin' dat you're gonna being doin' a lot of battlin' tomorrow."
*
James proceeded down the path, alone for the first time in, well, a long time. He made an effort to appreciate the sunset, but everything about it reminded him of Jessie-its colors, its beauty, its ability to solace. He couldn't think of her anymore. She didn't love him. She and Team Rocket were nothing but fond memories now. It was time to face the truth.
As the surrounding landscape grew more and more familiar to him, James noticed a large Pidgeot soaring above. It flew in an erratic pattern, continuously calling out for something. A smaller Pidgeot eventually came into view and joined the other. They locked talons momentarily, then flew off toward the south. They must be mates, James thought.
Pidgeot are one of the few species of Pokemon that mate per vita-for life. When a Pidgey evolves into Pidgeotto, it will reach sexual maturity and embark on the journey to find its life-long soulmate. It may take several months for a Pidgeotto to find its other half, and some won't even find theirs until after they have evolved into Pidgeot. But once that ideal partner is located, it is a commitment that lasts until death. There have been reports of Pidgeotto and Pidgeot that have died in the defense of the mates and others that have completely lost the will to live after their mates had passed away. It is a wonder why researchers are still baffled as to whether or not Pokemon can feel love.
James realized that he was now on the estate property. Things hadn't changed much since he was last here. But even then, things hadn't changed much since he ran away over 11 years ago. He walked on, and the tremendous mansion finally came into view. James had forgotten how enormous it really was. Growly's 12,000 square foot doghouse lay right beside it, but when compared to the massive proportions of the main estate, it seemed like a mere Magikarp next to a mammoth Gyarados. At least I'll finally inherit the estate....
James reached the two front doors and hesitated before knocking. He leaned against one of the doors and swayed wearily, as if he were about to vomit. But he soon gathered his strength, turned around, and knocked. The doors opened slowly and revealed Charles Hopkins, the only servant who James was actually familiar with.
Hopkins' eyes widened. "My... God!" he exclaimed in his thick British accent. "Master James, you've finally come home! Come in! Come in!" He proceeded to lead James inside but abruptly turned back to face him. "Master, that red R on your shirt-what does it stand for?"
James shook his head. "Nothing," he said. "It's just a symbol of the past."
Without speaking another word, James walked through the doorway.
*
"I t'ink we're almost dere."
Jessie and Meowth had gotten up early that morning to find James. They just passed the main gate and were now on the estate property.
"What if we're too late?" Jessie asked nervously. "What if they're already married?"
Meowth sighed. "Who's gonna be havin' a weddin' at five in da mornin'? Calm down already, will ya?"
"I just hope we'll be there at the right time."
Jessie and Meowth continued toward the mansion. The Scratch Cat tried to lighten up their situation. "Imagine havin' dis piece of land as your front lawn! Jimmy-boy sure is one lucky--"
Jessie shot him a nasty glare.
"Sorry."
From out of the woods, two Pidgeot appeared together, one a little smaller than the other. Flying in a smooth, seemingly choreographed pattern, they positioned themselves and locked talons, engaging in a gorgeous aerial ballet.
"Are they... battling?" Jessie asked.
"Nah, dat's da Pidgeot's courtship dance." Meowth explained. "Dem two must be mates. Da Pidgeot use deir courtship dance as a kinda way of sayin' 'I love you'."
Jessie's facial expression softened. "Let's go, Meowth."