Prologue

The shiny black taxi sped down the main road, sunlight glinting off the red R painted on its side. In the back seat, the young, crimson-haired girl was tossed from side to side as the taxi raced down the road. The reckless driving only added to Jessie's nervousness and excitement, the Butterfree in her stomach turning cartwheels as the cab careened around a sharp corner. She nervously rubbed one of her beautiful green earrings, her good-luck charm. Jessie still remembered the day her mother had given them to her, right before leaving on that fateful mission. The reassuring voice of her mother echoed through Jessie's mind as the taxi sped on.

My darling Jessie, she had said. You know I don't want to leave you, but maybe this will be the start of a better life for both of us. Then she had handed Jessie a small, wrapped package, giving her a warm hug. Please don't forget me, my darling… you know I'll always be with you in my heart.

Then Jessie's mother had left, bright violet ponytails bouncing as she walked confidently to the Boss's office. Turning around one last time, she gently blew a kiss to her daughter, then vanished from Jessie's life forever.

Blinking away a tear, Jessie rubbed her earring again, thoughts of her loving mother still on her mind. "Don't worry, mama," Jessie whispered, "I'll make you proud of me."

Jessie still couldn't bring herself to believe that she was on her way to Pokemon Tech, the most exclusive training school in the world. Of course, "exclusive" was just a fancy word for "expensive", and Pokemon Tech was universally known as an elite school that only millionaires' kids had the benefit of attending. At least that's how it usually worked.

However, there were a few opportunities for less-wealthy trainers to become enrolled. Every year, the Team Rocket organization would send one lucky kid to the elite school with an all-expenses-paid scholarship. After graduation, it was assumed that the scholarship winner would apply for Team Rocket membership; then he or she would automatically start off in Class A, the rank of Black Rockets.

Jessie had never dared hope she would actually win the scholarship; the whole thing just seemed like some wonderful dream. The odds of her attending the most exclusive Pokemon academy in the world were absolutely astronomical, especially since she had grown up in near-poverty.

Suddenly, Jessie lurched forward as the Team Rocket taxi slammed on its brakes. Snapping out of her reverie, she gazed out the window to see the towering walls of the legendary Pokemon academy.

"'S your stop," grunted the driver, his face obscured by the shadow of his black hat.

Jessie grabbed her single suitcase and pushed the back door open. "Thank you," she said, stepping out of the cab and closing the door behind her.

The driver immediately took off, racing back to Rocket Headquarters for his next assignment. He was half-embarrassed that he had been ordered to drive the kid to the school. After all, ferrying kids to school was hardly in his job description, even if he was a Rocket grunt.