Chapter 2
It was a pleasant day in Kanto as Jesse, James and Meowth entered the grounds of James' grandparents "cottage." After several minutes of navigating their way through the complex, they eventually found the main entrance and rang the bell. They had to wait a minute but eventually the door was opened, on the other side was James' Nanny, a pleasant old lady. "My dear James!" She exclaimed with delight, "Grandmother and grandson are finally reunited." "It's been too long nanny" James replied graciously. "And I see you've brought your two friends along again" she continued. "That's right, the same old gang." "Hello Madam, how do you do?" Jesse responded formally.
"I'm doing well thankyou young lady, but much better now that James is here." All of a sudden, there was a flash of light coming from Jesse's bag: it was one of her pokemon coming out, and she didn't have to guess who: "Wobberfett!"
"Oh", nanny was startled and began to lose her footing, but James was there to break her fall. "Thankyou James, and who is this blue, blubbery friend of yours?"
"That's Jesse's Wobberfett, he's being travelling with us for a long time now, and he has a habit of coming out of his pokeball."
"And speaking at inappropriate times" Jesse added. Wobberfett seemed saddened that he had caused trouble, as he began to rant: "wobber-wobber-wobber", "it's ok big guy" Nanny assured him, "Would you like to come in and have some lunch?" "Wobber-wobber" he responded cheerfully, while Jesse and James politely agreed to come in.
Once inside Wobberfett no longer had to shield his eyes from the harsh sunlight. Jesse, James and Meowth sat down on the couches placed in the front lounge room, where the windows were drawn to keep the harsh, early summer sun out. Wobberfett has wandering around excitedly. It seemed fascinated by pretty much everything, from the antiques, to the fine cutlery and jewellery, but most of all it seemed fascinated by the pictures hanging on the wall of James as a boy, taken during his childhood visits to the mansion. As was the case this time around, he always went during the summer, which in James' mind, added to his fondness of those childhood memories, as they were not only good times, they were usually sunny ones as well.
When they were certain that Nanny has nowhere nearby they began to discuss their plan. "Ok" Jesse began, "so we're just going to stay for a day, maybe two tops, then we'll leave with your Chimecho and the rest of the Pokemon that are in good enough shape, and we'll catch a ride to Azalea town in Johto where the twerp and his Pikachu are staying at the moment." Meowth nodded in approval.
"Why's Ash in Johto?" James inquired.
"Because he's gone there to celebrate the big twerp Brock's 18th birthday. Apparently it's going to be a pretty big party."
"The big twerp, eighteen already" James lamented, "they grow up so fast" he looked on the verge of tears.
"Hey" Meowth screeched, "don't go soft on us James, this is our best chance ever of getting the Pikachu, this time we have the element of surprise because it's been so long since we attacked them last." He slapped James to make sure the message sunk in. "Ouch" James squealed. "Is it really that important?" James continued, "would our lives really be any better? I don't think so, especially not with the times I fear are coming upon the world now."
"What times?" Jesse enquired, "the world looks pretty calm to me, at least it was when I woke up this morning."
"Well I'm afraid it's unlikely to last."
"Why James?" Jesse and Meowth were both pressing him now. James wanted so badly to let someone know what he had overheard at team rocket headquarters the week before, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it: "Um…nothing, just a feeling I get, the way we're using up the Earth's resources that's all." They both stared at him in stunned disbelief.
"Since when are you an environmentalist" Jesse responded mockingly.
"Yeah" Meowth chipped in "Mr I grew up in a huge mansion, who's got this so-called cottage which could house about a thousand people, since when is the suffering of the world such a big deal to you?"
"I think you're both being prejudiced and unfair, but regardless, times change, and there are some things no man or pokemon can escape, no matter how privileged."
They began to hear footsteps: it was Pop-Pop. "Pop-Pop" James exclaimed, it's good to see you again.
"Hello there James and team-rocket" the old man responded, "long time no see." He then put his arms around James and greeted him warmly, but James got the sense that he was not entirely thrilled to see them. "Now James" he continued, "I hope your friends don't mind if I steal you for a few minutes, there's something I would like to talk to you about."
"No problem Pop-Pop" James responded nervously, as his grandfather led him upstairs to a private room. James feared he had somehow overheard part of their conversation, although he was almost certain he had been too far away to hear anything to incriminating.
His grandfather showed him into a large study, with crimson carpets, a large fireplace, and portraits of the family's ancestors hanging on the walls. In the middle of the room were two armchairs, opposite one another. He offered James the one further from the fireplace. "What would you like to discuss with me Pop-Pop?" James asked inquisitively.
"To know what you're going to do with the rest of your life" he replied in a fairly harsh tone. James began to feel ashamed. "Ok I know I haven't been a great success like my forbears but I guess I still don't know what I would like to do…I guess I'm still trying to figure it out."
"Well the clock's ticking." After an awkward pause, he spoke again: "look, I'm not trying to be mean about it James, you know how I feel about you, and I'm not trying to put an unrealistic amount of pressure on you, but you're not a kid anymore, in a month you'll be twenty nine, and next year you'll be thirty. Life has to begin at some stage. These next few years or so could be some of the best of your life, the time where you can still enjoy your young age, but more importantly begin to step into your destiny, you've got a lot to offer, you just don't seem to be able to see it yet."
"Well, I have got some pretty big shoes to fill."
"Listen, I don't care about any of that family legacy stuff- your father and uncle have always been more concerned with that nonsense-, but I'm looking at you as an individual, and the potential I see in front of me. Start becoming a man and showing other people what you have to offer and stop messy around like a kid playing mean pranks on children and stealing their pokemon."
"Well we don't do that as often these days, although I should mention it is sometimes a requirement of our line of work."
"Then maybe it's time you found a new line of work, and as for you not stealing as many these days, I think we both know that's a lie."
"What do you mean?" James retorted.
"I think we both know what I mean. You think I'm silly boy" he giggled callously, "Let me guess, you and your crew came here not only hoping to get Chimecho back, but also to steal the other pokemon your grandmother and I are taking care of, at least the ones that are well enough to be of any use to you." James didn't respond, he had been caught, but the most devastating part for James was when his grandfather began to shake his head in disgust. He felt he had to say something to justify his actions. "I don't want to do it, but those two can give me so much grief."
"Well grow a backbone for once James!" Or if you can't manage that than perhaps you should show them the door, so to speak. Besides, I don't think that team rocket is any good for you, and I'm sorry I didn't say it last time, then maybe you wouldn't have wasted another three or more years of your life." James was on the verge of tears now. "I'm only saying this for your own good, sometimes we wander down the wrong path and it takes a little more than just a few words to get us back on the right course. If your friends really mean that much to you, than you've got to start being more authoritative, telling it like it is you know. I know you've got a good heart James and a lot to give, but you need to start being wiser when it comes to selecting your friends."
"You don't understand Pop-Pop, it's not what you think it is. People seem to have this idea that if only I wasn't associating with Jesse, Meowth and team rocket, that I would be a really good guy, but that's not how it is, I make my own choices and my own mistakes. But yes, I will think about leaving team rocket, for you Pop-Pop. The truth is, this past week I've already been considering leaving, but Jesse and Meowth are my best friends, and I'll always be loyal to them as long as I have breath."
"That's what I love about you James, your honesty, passion, and above all your fierce loyalty. I just wish sometimes that you could associate with better people that's all." With tears streaming down his hairy face. "Don't worry, we'll sort something out won't we" he concluded, as he came over to James' armchair, giving him a big bear hug. James just sat there with a sombre expression, before replying with a formal: "of course Pop-Pop, as you wish."
"That's my fine young man" he replied enthusiastically.
With that, they both left the study, and went down to meet the others.
They found Nanny in the large kitchen, where Jesse was always tucking into her lunch, while Meowth and Wobberfett were eating pokemon food. James brought Inkay out and invited him to eat, which he seemed more than happy to. "James your Nanny is the best cook, you've got to try out this chicken."
"Yes I know Jessie, I know all too well. Thank you so much for all this Nanny" he said warmly to his grandmother as he took his seat to eat. But I think we should be going by nightfall, that's if Chimecho is ready to go."
"Oh Chimecho has been fine for a long time now, I think it had almost given up on you ever returning, but I kept telling him you would be back. I'll take you up to his room after lunch, he'll be so excited to see you."
"But I thought we were going to stay one night James?" Jesse pressed.
"Well unfortunately I've checked the flight schedule and we won't be able to catch our flight to Johto tomorrow if we stay the night. There's no one who loves Nanny and Pop-Pop and this cottage more than I do, but I'm afraid that's the way it's got to be."
"What are you lot doing in Johto" Nanny asked.
"On holiday of course" Jesse answered. "All team rocket members get one holiday a year, and this is ours."
"Speaking of that James, have you thought about making an honest lady out of the beautiful Jesse here?" James was completely embarrassed. "No, Jesse and I aren't like that Nanny." Jesse had her own thoughts on the issue, but it was a far more encouraging response than the one he gave last time his grandmother had asked him that question, when he said he would rather die.
"I don't know my sweet little James" Nanny pressed, I get a feeling there's something special between you two." There was an awkward silence for some time afterward.
When lunch was ready, Nanny led them up to a bedroom on the third level of the mansion. The room had windows on two sides and on one side looked out to the front courtyards and gardens of the estate, as well as the front gate through which they had earlier entered. Lying in a small bed in front of that window was Chimecho, which was just as James remembered it. It appeared asleep but when James approached the bed it began to move around and when it saw James its eyes lit up: "Chime-Chime-Chime!" it exclaimed. James' eyes began to fill with tears, Chimecho was always one of his favourite pokemon: "Chimecho, I love you" he exclaimed wrapping the little bell-like pokemon in his arms, and beginning to cradle it gently. His grandparents had tears in their eyes as well. "That's the James I remember" his grandfather said softly.
"I told you he never left us" his wife responded, "you just need to know how to bring him out."
"Right."
Late that afternoon, they all said their goodbyes as James, Jesse, Meowth and Wobberfett strolled out through the door they had entered only hours earlier, this time with Chimecho on James' shoulder. As they exited the front gate, James looked back at the home where he had spent most of the happiest days of his life and declared: "From this day onward I'm going to be somebody, somebody who I can look at in the mirror and not be ashamed of."
"Yeah, good luck with that you purple haired scallywag", Meowth responded sarcastically, patting James on the back. "That'll be the day."
"Yes…it will be", he replied.
