A/N: Hello, everyone! Welcome to this fic! This fic will be very long, and very dark. There will be explicit language, and rape, and violence. There will be character death. There will be angst, and, possibly, some fluff, too. I hope you all enjoy and, as always, don't forget to review!
Jessie runs as fast as her legs can carry her. Her heart hammers against her chest, and fear and adrenaline course through her veins. Ice-cold rain pours down from the dark, cloudy sky. Thunder crashes loudly, and lightning flashes brightly.
She's scared.
Terrified.
She knows that if she doesn't move faster, this will be the end. She will die. Just like them. Though there is nothing to live for anymore, for some reason, she still wants to live. She doesn't want to die. Not now. Not yet. She wants to keep living. She needs to keep living. For what reason, she doesn't know.
She can hear loud gunshots and loud, harsh yells coming from behind her. She knows who is behind her. Giovanni's men. The men he had sent after her. His order; shoot to kill.
How could this have happened? How could things turn out like this? How could it end like this? Doesn't she deserve a happy ending? Yes, she is a criminal, but she hasn't done anything that would warrant a death like this. Well… she doesn't think she has done anything.
She cries out when her foot gets caught on a loose root. She comes tumbling down, collapsing hard in the cold, wet mud. She begins to sob. God, is this the end? Is this really the end?
Suddenly, she hears a voice. An eerily familiar voice.
"Get her and go!" the voice orders to someone. "I'll handle them!"
Suddenly, she is being lifted up into a pair of strong arms. She looks up, and gasps in shock. It's Brock. Brock the twerp. She continues staring up at him, and he glances down at her, giving her a comforting smile.
"It's okay, Jessie," the twerp murmurs to her as he begins to run. "You're safe now. Everything will be alright."
She is too stunned to reply. She lets herself yawn as she begins to drift into a deep sleep, in the arms of someone she'd ever least expect.
She wakes to the sound of birds chirping. Warm ribbons of sunlight dance across the floor and her bed. She yawns, stretches, and jumps when she hears a soft knock at the door.
"You awake?" a soft, feminine voice asks. "I've brought breakfast."
"I'm awake," she answers, and the door opens, revealing the leader twerp Ash's mom, Delia Ketchum.
"How are you feeling?" the woman asks her softly as she places a tray on the bed. It's full of a bowl of warm oatmeal topped with blueberries and bananas, two slices of toast, an orange, and a glass of orange juice.
"Tired," she tells the older woman. "Sore."
"That's understandable," Delia replies. "You were in pretty bad shape when my son and his friends brought you here. It's a miracle that you pulled through the night."
"… Your son?" Jessie repeats, and the woman nods.
"My son Ash," she answers. "He was out with his friends fighting in the war, and ran into you. You're lucky they did. If they hadn't, you'd be dead by now."
Jessie nods, and picks up a piece of toast, though she doesn't feel at all like eating. She feels sick. She wants to throw up, but she forces herself to eat, anyways.
"What happened to you, anyways?" Delia asks curiously. "Where's your team?"
Jessie nearly chokes on the toast, but manages to stop herself. "We, uh… we got into a bit of a predicament."
"Oh," Delia murmurs. "Do you want to talk about it? It's understandable if you don't."
Jessie shakes her head. "I'd rather not ," she replies, feeling a sob crawling up her throat. Tears sting her eyes, but she blinks them away when she hears heavy footsteps racing up the stairs.
"Mom!" Ash's voice calls out. It's much deeper than it was when she last saw him years ago. He must have grown. "Mom! Is Jessie awake! Mom -!"
Delia chuckles. "Ash, honey, calm down," she murmurs. "Yes, Jessie is awake, but she's not feeling too good. I advise you to keep the questions to a minimum, okay?"
"Alright, mom," Ash says. He steps into the room. Yes, the twerp has grown. He's much taller, and more muscular. Upon seeing her, Ash gives her a tiny, soft smile.
"Hello, Jessie," he greets her with a small, almost shy, wave.
"Hello, twerp," she replies. She smiles. "I mean Ash."
Ash laughs softly. "So, Jessie… What's your story? Where are James and Meowth?"
The sob Jessie had recently felt coming up her throat breaks past her lips. Tears roll down her cheeks. "… They're dead, Ash! They're dead and it's all my fault!"
"J – Jessie?" Ask says carefully, watching the girl succumb to sobs. He feels awkward just standing here, watching the one who had once been his enemy break down. So, he walks cautiously towards her, and wraps an arm tightly around her shoulder.
"… Shh, Jessie," he murmurs, somewhat awkward. "I'm sure it's not your fault. It's not like you, um… killed them. Right?"
"I might as well have!" Jessie cries. "What I did was just as bad murder. I deserve to be punished. I deserve to be put in prison."
"Don't say that, Jessie," Ash says softly. "I'm sure it wasn't that bad…"
"Yes it was!" Jessie continues to sob. She pushes Ash weakly away. "Go away! I don't need your fake comfort!"
Ash growls. "Fine, then," he hisses, and walks away, towards the door. "If you want to be a bitch, then be a bitch all you want. But, don't expect anyone to treat you decently with that kind of attitude."
With that, Ash exits the room. He slams the door loudly shut, which startles Jessie, and causes her to burst into more sobs.
That night, Jessie feels strong enough to get out of bed. With Delia's help, she walks down the stairs and into the warm kitchen. Ash and the twerp troop are gone. Off fighting, Delia had said.
Delia leads Jessie to the table, and helps her sit down. Jessie watches as the older woman prepares warm, soothing tea, before handing her a cup.
"What's going to happen to me?" Jessie asks fearfully. "Giovanni wants me dead. And, he will do anything to make sure that's how I end up."
"We'll think of something, dear," Delia murmurs softly, patting the younger girl's shoulder comfortingly. "I promise, nothing will happen to you. You're safe with us."
"Thank you, Miss Ketchum," Jessie whispers. "And, tell Ash that I'm sorry for snapping at him. I was just... upset."
"Oh, it's alright, dear," Delia says. "I'm sure Ash forgives you. He forgives easily."
Jessie nods, and both women jump when the door swings open.
"God, it's raining cats and dogs out there!" a familiar twerpish voice complains.
It's Misty, the orange haired twerp.
"In the kitchen, Misty, dear!" Delia calls, and Jessie hears the younger girl walk into the kitchen.
"Jessie?!" Misty screeches upon seeing her long time foe. Jessie gives her an awkward forced smile.
"Hello, twerp," she greets. Misty glares.
"What are you doing here?" Misty growls. "Trying to steal Pikachu again? Well, too bad, 'cause Pikachu's - !"
"Misty!" Delia scolds, and Misty's cheeks heat up in embarrassment. Misty bows her head in apology.
"… Sorry," she mumbles. "I… I just am not used to seeing you without your team trying to steal… P – Pikachu…"
"Well, it's only me," Jessie replies darkly. "And, you don't have to worry about me trying to steal anything. I'm no longer in Team Rocket."
"What?" Misty asks. "You're not? Why? You'd better not be lying, or else I'll –"
"Misty!" Delia scolds again.
"… Er, sorry," Misty mumbles, blushing again. "I'm just… cautious. Since, you know, Team Rocket is what started this war. I don't trust anyone who is or used to be in that team. Especially after what they did to P – Pikachu…"
Jessie's eyes widen. "What they did to Pikachu?" she repeats, and Misty nods, tears sparkling in her eyes. "If you don't mind me asking, what did they do to Pikachu?"
"They… They… killed him!" Misty cries before bursting into tears.
Jessie's eyes widen further. "They… what?"
Misty narrows her eyes. "You heard me!" she snaps through her sobs. "Don't make me repeat it!"
"… Sorry," Jessie murmurs. "I'm just… shocked, even though I know I shouldn't be. Especially after what happened with J - James and Meowth…"
It's Misty's turn to look shocked. "What happened to them?"
"Our boss… he… k – killed them. B – Both of them… "
"Oh, god, Jessie," Misty whispers as she watches the older girl burst into a fit of sobs. Misty and Delia both walk over to her, and engulf her in a strong, warm embrace.
"I – I didn't even get to say g – goodbye," Jessie continues to sob.
"I'm so sorry, Jessie," Delia murmurs, as she combs her fingers through Jessie's long, tousled hair. "I'm so, so sorry. If there is anything I can do for you, dear, all you need to do is ask, okay?"
Jessie nods, and succumbs to the warmth of the two females holding tightly onto her. Soon, she is drifting off into a deep yet troubled sleep, dreaming of a better tomorrow.