Revolutionary Girl Jessie

Prolouge : The Rescue
Episode One : Prince Jessie
Episode Two : The Duel


***Prolouge***

It was cold. The skies were crying and so was she. A little girl. Her parents were gone and she couldn't find them. She felt so scared, so alone. She found herself at a bridge. It would be so easy......so easy to relieve the pain........ She felt herself falling, falling to the water. Then, two strong arms were holding her and carrying her to safety. She had been saved. Tears fell from her sapphire eyes and he....her prince....gently kissed them away. He took her hand and pressed something into it. He told her in a smooth voice, that one day, when she was older, they would meet again. He then disappeared, leaving behind his sweet smell of roses. The little girl vowed to grow up like him and one day she would find him......her mysterious prince.

***Episode One***

"Good morning, Miss Jessie!"
Jessie waved to the group of girls.
"Good morning!"
They smiled broadly as they gazed at her. They admired everything about her. The way she convinced the teachers to allow her to wear her rose pink uniform (it wasn't so much the color, but the fact that it was boy's attire), the way she looked, the way her crimson hair twirled perfectly when she turned....everything.
"She's so cool!!"
"Too bad she's a girl."
Jessie hardly ever noticed how the girls adored her. She was always engrossed in her thoughts. She looked at the ring on her finger. It was the ring her prince left her when he saved her. She was always waiting, searching, for him. That's how she came to this school. Every year he sent her letters and the last one had a picture on the back. A picture of this school.....Ontori Academy.
"I'll be waiting...for this year, we will finally meet."
That was the message he had written. Jessie always thought of him, almost everything triggered her memory of him...especially the smell of roses... She felt her gaze wander over to the Student Council Private Rose Garden.
"The student council always gets special treatment here...it's so weird."
There was somebody there. A young girl was watering the roses and there was a guy talking to her. Suddenly, he slapped her, causing her to drop the watering can.
"Hey! What does he think he's doing?!"
The guy was raising his hand again, when another boy grabbed it.
Jessie sighed.
"Thank goodness."
"Jessieeeeee!!!!!"
A girl jumped up onto Jessie's back.
"We lucked out! We're in the same class again this year!"
"Valerie, you're heavy," Jessie groaned.
"Whatcha lookin' at...oh...Gary from the student council...what a cutie!"
"Gary? The guy with the spiky brown hair?" Jessie asked, referring to the one who had slapped the girl earlier.
"And the guy with the teal hair is the student council president, right? What is his name...Butch?"
Valerie stared at her.
"You recognize the student council president but you don't know a heartthrob like Gary, the council VP and kendo team captain?! You're so out of it, Jessie!"
"I just got here six months ago, remember? Who's that girl?"
"Oh, her. Misty Williams."
"Misty..."
"She's a gloomy girl...She's in the student council, but unlike the other members, the only thing she can do is take care of the roses. I think she's in our class."
"Is Gary going out with Misty?"
Valerie jumped off of Jessie, outraged.
"NO WAY!!! Butch may be a playboy, but serious Gary would NEVER go for a girl like her! They're just council-mates!"
Jessie smirked.
"I see...so that's your type, eh Valerie?"
Valerie turned red then hugged Jessie.
"You're just being jealous! Well, don't worry-I only have eyes for you!"
Jessie rolled her eyes.
"How thrilling...."

*********

"I apologize for calling this rather sudden meeting."
Butch stood at the fron of a large room.
"Cassidy...Ash...I wanted you two to be present as witnesses...When I deliver my opinion as the student council president. Gary Oak and his bride...come forward!"
Gary and Misty did so.
"Gary! We are chosen for the student council by the rules of the Rose Seal. But your violent treatment of Misty...debases all we stand for!"
Gary narrowed his eyes.
"That's not true! She's MY bride. How I treat her is MY business!"
Cassidy and Ash exchanged glances.
"His business..."they echoed.
"No! The rules of the Rose Seal are the will of World's End!" Butch yelled.
Ash nodded.
"We are merely duelists-granted a chance by World's End...a chance at greatness...or defeat."
Cassidy closed her eyes and frowned.
"You can't just interpret the rules to your liking Gary! You know that..."
Gary replied, "Hmph! I know nothing of the kind!"
"Gary..!" Butch warned.
Misty spoke up.
"I..I am his..for now, I belong to Lord Gary...so everything must be what he wishes. That is what I know."
Butch, Cassidy, and Ash were taken back. Gary smirked.
"So that's how it is with us. Later."
With that, Gary took Misty and left the room. Ash looked at Butch.
"What can we do? Should we let Gary do as he pleases with Misty?"
Butch frowned.
"Rose Seal laws must guide us. Gary may have his way with her--but only until someone else wins the bride. We'll turn a blind eye--until the next duel."

*********

Jessie lay on the grass, gazing up at her ring.
My prince, she thought to herself. I don't recall his name or his face...but he smelled of white roses. I'll never forget his scent....
"Tee hee!"
Jessie's eyes sprang open and she found herself face to face with Valerie.
"What's that you're wearing? A ring! How pretty! Where'd you get it? It's not a gift from a guy, is it?"
"Some day...," Jessie said softly. "...this ring will lead you to me."
Valerie looked at her, confused.
"That's what my prince said when he gave it to me."
Valerie stared at her, then began to laugh hysterically.
The two of them walked into the school building and came to a bunch of people around the bulletin board.
"Hey, what's going on?"
A boy looked at them.
"Somebody's love letter is posted on the bulletin board!"
Jessie frowned.
"Love letter?"
Someone read it aloud.
"And I was dancing with you, Gary, in my dream. You were smiling kindly. It made me feel so happy."
Jessie ripped the letter of the board.
"You people are sick! Have you NO shame!?"
Valerie started to sob and ran off.
"Valerie?!"
Jessie chased Valerie to a tree where she was crying uncontrollably.
"Valerie...is the letter...is it yours?"
She didn't answer, just continued crying. Jessie's eyes narrowed.

*********

"I have no idea."
Jessie stood in the Kendo Team Training Room, hands on her hips, glaring at Gary.
"Of course it wasn't me. I threw the letter in the trash. I'm sure someone else just fished it out and posted it there."
He glanced at her and raised his practice stick.
"You think I care if it got posted? Such a dumb and amusing letter...is best utilized for the enjoyment of others, don't you think?"
He began to lower his stick, but Jessie blocked it with her hands. He stared at her in astonishment.
"What makes you think you can just..."
"Today! After school!" Jessie interrupted. "I challenge you to a duel!"
Gary's eyes widened as he saw the ring on her finger.
"I see...so you're next, are you?"
"Do you accept or not?!"
Gary smirked.
"All right. Sure. After school...I'll meet you in Duelers' Woods--behind the campus."
"Duelers' Woods?"

*********

Jessie stood outside the entrance. She reached for the handle on the large door and a single drop of water fell onto her ring. Suddenly, the doors slowly opened.
"Open? Just like that? I don't know how it works...but I'm going in!"
Jessie made her way through the thorns and the fog until she came to a flight of stairs. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she cautiously climbed the stairs. She gasped when she reached the top. There was a large stone field and a huge castle hung overhead.
"In the AIR? A castle...? Why is it floating like that?"
Gary stepped out behind her.
"Ahh. It must be your first time."
Jessie turned around to face him.
"What's with that? The castle, I mean."
Gary smiled.
"A mirage of sorts...Just think of it as a magic trick."
Gary looked at her.
"You puzzle me. I wonder, are there many others who've been given the Rose Seal, besides the council members, of course. Are there others like you...?"
"Given the 'Rose Seal'?"
Gary held up his hand. On his finger was a ring with a white band and a red rose imprinted on it. Exactly like the one on Jessie's finger.
"Yes, of course. This."
Jessie's eyes widened.
.....The ring.....?!

To be continued.

***Episode Two***

Gary motioned to Misty, who was now dothed in a long, flowing red gown and a golden tiara.
"Misty! Prepare us!" He called.
Misty went up to them, two roses in her hands. She placed a green one on Gary's breast pocket, and a white one on Jessie's.
"The one whose rose is knocked is knocked off loses," Misty explained, seeing Jessie's confused look.
This scent....It's almost exactly like his...Roses...
Misty smiled warmly at her.
"Good luck to you."
Gary slapped her.
"What is WRONG with you?!" Jessie yelled.
He ignored her.
"What do you think you're doing?! Wishing someone besides me good luck?!"
Misty looked at the ground.
"I'm sorry, Lord Gary."
Jessie looked at her.
"Are you crazy? Look at what he does to you...!"
Misty shook her head.
"Lord Gary is my master- the current victor of the duel. He has the right to do whatever he wants with me."
"What?! You mean he's not your boyfriend?"
Gary grinned slightly.
"Shall we get started?"
"All I have to do is win, right?" Jessie asked, more to herself than to anybody else.
Misty stood between them and brought her hands together.
"Sword or the Rose...the power of Kojiro that sleeps within me...answer to your master and show yourself now."
A sword handle seemed to appear at her breasts and flashes of light lit up the area. Jessie shielded her eyes.
"What's this? Another magic trick?"
Misty leaned back into Gary's arms as he reached over and pulled out his sword from her chest.
"The power to revoluntionize the world!"
Jessie blinked before she moved out of the way as Gary leapt at her. She retaliated pushing away with a tremendous force. The two fought feriously.
"Hmm! You're pretty good. For a girl. You think you're the prince- here to rescue the poor princess?"
He laughed as his sword broke her practice stick.
"You presume too much..."
Jessie stared at the sword in astonishment.
"Y..you mean...that trick sword...is REAL?!"
"Heh. Such a silly girl! I can't believe a duelist challenged the sword of Kojiro with the bamboo practice sword!"
"Kojiro? What are you talking about?"
Jessie began to feel a twinge of panic as she realized he had a real sword and could much more to her than knock off her rose.
He's serious...the student council...they're all insane!
"Don't you know about the sword of Kojiro?"
"I don't know anything- not about Kojiro or duelists or ANY of this!"
Misty took a step closer to Gary.
"Lord Gary?" She asked. "It looks like she really doesn't know."
"Shut up! You're MY property! Keep QUIET!"
Jessie glared at him.
"How dare you call a girl your 'property'?! The one who drops their rose loses, right? Well, this match isn't over YET!!"
Gary raised an eyebrow.
"I see...so you still want to keep going with that stick of yours?"
Jessie blushed, embarassedly.
"Um..well,...uh I..."
He smirked.
" If you really want, I could stain that white rose with your blood-in just one strike. Would you risk your life against me, Prince Charming? Is saving your princess worth the price?"
Jessie touched the rose on her chest.
He smelled like this white rose....my prince! When I was little...and he saved my life...and banished all my sad tears. He said..so much sadness borne by such a small child. If you do not lose your noble heart..this ring will lead you to me. Man or woman...it doesn't matter! One of strength and nobility is always a prince.
"So you want to keep going?"
Nearby, Butch was watching the duel curiously.
Gary stared at his suddenly confident opponent.
"You're crazy. But you're serious? Well, in that case..."
Misty gasped and covered her eyes as Gary's blade headed for Jessie's chest. Jessie waited until he was an inch away from her rose before she hit his chest with her stick, knocking the sword out of his hand...and the rose off his body. The sword flew into the air and landed straight into her hands. As soon as she held the sword a strange shadow circled her and it seemed to take the form of a man.
"What is that?"
Misty's eyes grew wide and she gasped.
"KOJIRO!!!!"
Jessie groaned.
The scent of white roses...something engulfing. me....moving me! And the smell...of roses..it's exploding!
A blinding white light fell over them, then vanished.
"What was that light? I've never seen such a...." Gary stopped, losing his speech.
Butch spoke.
"The sword of Kojiro...activated for the first time? Could this fabled Power of Kojiro that everyone desires..?"
Jessie stard at the sword.
"I don't get it! What's going on? What's with the sword?!"
She handed it to Misty.
"Here."
She turned to go.
"Tell me...what's your name?" Butch queried.
"Jessie Parker," she replied quickly.
He smiled at her.
"Jessie Parker. I could be falling for you."
She looked at him, frowning.
"Don't get cute with me! This isn't the time!"
All I want to do is get out of this place!
Without a word, she turned and ran out of the woods. Once she was out, she mentally kicked herself.
"Oh no! I forgot about Misty! I hope she's all right..."

To be continued.