AN: This chapter was updated/revised on July 23, 2019.


"Let's take a break. I need to eat something. Pikachu agrees," Ash told his friends.

Ash, Misty, May, Max, Drew, Clement, Serena, Iris, and Cilan and Bonnie had left Viridian City early that morning. Giovanni paid for them to take a train to Vermillion City, where Ash hoped to re-earn his Thunder Badge. They had spent all morning training.

"Pika pikaaa,' Pikachu confirmed.

"I'm up for a break," said Iris.

"Me too. You should let me handle the cooking since this is our last day traveling with you," said Cilan.

"I hope to see you at the Yellowstone Contest," said May.

"You will. After Iris gets her Thunder Badge, we're going to practice for it together."

"My cousins live out here. We are going to stay with them. They don't have enough room for everyone though," said Iris.

"That's okay. It's like we were saying before; it's easier to travel in smaller groups anyway," Ash replied.

"I wonder if Lt. Surge is as good as you when it comes to running an electric-type gym," Bonnie said to Clemont.

"Lt. Surge is tough, but you are both equally good gym leaders."

"I'm glad you think so. Lt. Surge is someone I look up to, even though he really intimidates me," Clemont replied.

"I'm sure you'll do great," said Serena. "We'll be cheering you on no matter what."

After lunch, Cilan and Iris headed to the Vermillion City Gym while the rest of the group went to the Pokémon Center. Misty and Ash decided to video chat with Delia.

"Hi, Mom," Ash said as his mother appeared on the screen.

"Hi, Mrs. Ketchum," said Misty.

"Pika chu chu," Pikachu said with a wave.

"Zuuu," said Azuril, mimicking Pikachu.

"How's everything going?" Delia asked.

"We just go to the Vermillion Pokémon Center and we are planning on going to the gym tomorrow," Ash responded.

"I saw the pictures you posted on Facebook. That picture of Mime Jr, Chimecho, Growly, Pikachu, Azuril, Acorn, and Aliyah was so cute that I printed it out and added it to the others on the fridge."

"Cilan took most of those. Starting today he and Iris are going to leave our group to travel alone for a while."

"Why's that?"

"Iris has to return back to Unova for a family reunion. Cilan is going to go with her. She wanted to earn her Thunder Badge first before heading over there," Misty explained.

"I see. How are you two doing? Misty, is Ash being nice? You should know that if he's rude I give you my full support if you want to wash his mouth out with soap."

"Oh, wow…"

"She's not being literal," said Ash. "I was rude all the time growing up and never once did she wash my mouth out with soup."

"He's great, Mrs. Ketchum; he's gotten a bit more mature since the last time we traveled together," said Misty.

"I wish I could be there to see it," she replied.

Ash's mother asked about each individual member of their group until she got down to Meowth, Lucy, Jessie, James, and Annastasia.

"I last spoke to them a few hours ago," said Delia. "They're at James' grandparents' home. James says that all four of them plan on doing the next contest. They sounded happy, but I think they miss traveling with you."

"I wonder how they will do without us around to motivate them," said Misty.

"I bet they learned a lot from you and maybe even you from them."

"There's nothing more motivating than having rivals," Ash responded.

"I don't disagree," Delia replied. "I have to go. I will be around tomorrow afternoon if you need to talk."

They exchanged goodbyes and hung up the phone. When Ash and Misty got back to camp, they resumed their training with Pikachu and Azuril—unaware that they were being watched.

XO

A slight teenager with crimson red hair and silver eyes crouched in the bushes. Two teenage Pokémon trainers, a male and a female, were having a practice battle. The boy used his Buizel to fight the girl's Corsola. A Pikachu and Azuril watched from the sidelines as the two trainers battled it out.

'This has to be them,' the girl thought. 'What other teenagers have a Pikachu and Azuril that won't stay in their Pokéballs?'

"Ahem!" the girl announced, making herself visible to the two Pokémon trainers. They jumped back in surprise.

"Oh, hello," said Misty. "We didn't see you there."

"I didn't see ya watching us," said Ash.

"Pika pika pi pika chuuu," said Pikachu. "I saw them but you were too busy looking at Misty to listen."

"Can we help you with something?"

"Are you Ash Ketchum?" the stranger asked.

"Yeah. I'm Ash, this is my partner Pikachu, Misty, and Azuril is Misty's partner."

"Have we met before?" Misty inquired.

"We have definitely never met. I'm looking for Jessie and James. You are traveling with them, right?" the girl asked hopefully.

"We were, but not anymore."

"Is there somewhere we can talk privately? I don't want anyone to overhear us."

"Um sure. We can go back to my room," said Misty. "No one is around the dorms during the day."

"I will follow you there."

Misty and Ash led her to the Pokémon Center. She looked like she was about thirteen or fourteen years old. They noted the crimson hair that stopped at her waist and her pearly gray eyes. They couldn't deny that she looked like Jessie—but how could she when Jessie had no other relatives?

After a silent ten-minute walk back to the bunks, Misty, Ash, and the girl sat down on the floor.

"My name is Rumika Winchester," she began. "Jessiebelle's younger sister."

"You mean that you're a Winchester?" Misty gasped.

"Whoa…" said Ash.

"Why are you here? Why are you looking for Jessie and James?"

"I need to help them. They're in danger," Rumika responded.

"What kind of danger?"

"I will get to that if you give me a chance to explain...First, I'm not just Jessiebelle's sister. I'm also Jessie Tonaka's cousin."

"Jessica Tonaka as in the Jessie we know?"

"Yes."

"Whoa…she never told us that she and Jessiebelle were related," said Ash.

"I figured they were since they look so much alike…but never asked about it," said Misty. "I also figured since she never brought it up, she probably didn't want to talk about it."

"Jessie doesn't know it and I doubt my elder sister does. It has been kept a secret for a long time."

"You need to explain more. How come Jessie doesn't know that she's related to you?" Ash asked. "And how does that put them in danger?"

"My mother, Kyoko Winchester, is Miyamoto's identical twin sister. Miyamoto was Jessie's mother. She was assumed dead after she disappeared on a mission to find the legendary Mew when Jessie was eight years old."

"Your mom never told anyone that she had a sister who joined Team Rocket?"

"Exactly. Miyamoto ran away because she hated living in my grandparents' house. It was a huge mansion. From what I understand she didn't like being forced to act lady-like. She had to always dress nice and could not play or do anything fun ever. She was punished a lot when she broke the house's many rules. When she was punished, she was treated harshly. They beat her and neglected her, sometimes for weeks at a time. When she was still a child, she ran away."

"That's what happened to James," Misty whispered to Ash.

"She was a 'disgrace' to the family, so she was immediately exiled. After living on the streets for three years, she returned to the mansion, but they turned her away. She had no choice but to join Team Rocket since it was the only job she could get that would give her training and housing."

"How do you know all of this?"

"I've been searching for answers for years—digging up our family history and spying. During one of my investigations, I ran into some of Giovanni's detectives. We exchanged notes. That is how I found out about Jessie. I have to tell her what I know about Team Firestar and the Morgans."

"Right now, she is in Silverville, at the home of Paul and Linda Morgan. She is there with James Morgan and their daughter, Annastasia. But you can tell us, too; we're allies."

"I know. It's...complicated."

"I bet we can handle it."

"…Giovanni doesn't have the whole story yet. I plan on telling him everything I know, but I wanted to be the one to explain things to Jessie."

"What can you tell us?" Ash asked.

"Team Firestar isn't dormant. I believe the Winchesters and Morgans hired someone to hurt Jessie and James."

"Why?"

"Jessie made a lot of people upset when she testified against Team Firestar. Something like that isn't forgotten. Because of her, the entire gang empire collapsed. They would have taken over all of Kanto, Johto, and beyond if she didn't stop them. If no one on their side intervenes, then both the estates of my parents and James' parents, as well as all their accumulated assets, will go to them. That's billions of dollars—everything to Team Firestar."

"Are you saying that you think someone is after them right now?" Misty asked.

"I'm saying that they have a lot of people that want them dead. I don't excatly know who. My guess is that it will be just a bunch of randomly hired assassins."

"We should warn them immediately before they hurt them or—"

"Annastasia," she and Ash said together.

"Rumika, you need to contact them," Misty said nervously as she rummaged through her stuff. She handed her phone to Rumika. "Her number is in my contacts. Please call her now."

"She won't believe me; I need to see her in person."

"You can video chat on this phone."

"We need a bigger screen. I want her to see that I am with you two. I bet she trusts you."

"We can use the computers in the lobby," Ash suggested.

The three of them left Misty's room and headed towards the lobby, where there were several video phones lined up against the wall.

"We need to use a video phone for a private conversation," Misty told Nurse Joy.

"You can use my video phone in the back; no one will bother you back there," Joy responded.

XO

Jessie and James were napping on the porch, Annastasia was asleep in the house, Lucy and Meowth were off doing their own things, and the rest of their Pokémon were either resting or playing in the forest.

"Jessie! James!" Linda called out the window.

"Huh, what?" James yawned.

"What is it?" Jessie sighed, keeping her eyes shut.

"You have a video call!" said Paul. "It's important!"

"Coming!" James called back.

Acorn and Aliyah followed James and Jessie into the house.

"Hey, Twerpette," Jessie sighed into the phone. "What do you need?"

"There's someone here you need to speak with," Misty said as Rumika stepped into the view of the camera.

"My name is Rumika," she announced. "I have to warn you about something."

"Ahh...okay...warn us about what?" James asked.

Rumika repeated what she had told Misty and Ash. When she finished, the former Rockets started at each other in disbelief.

"So…" said Jessie, trying to comprehend the reality. "My mother ran away just as…"

"…I did," James finished.

"I had family that I never knew about. Rumika, how did it take so long?"

"I told you it took almost all my childhood and I had little to go of off and almost zero evidence that you existed."

"At least now we know why you look so much alike," said Ash trying to fill the awkward silence.

"She did what James did. I can't believe it," said Jessie. Then she looked up at them, rage building inside of her. "This better not be a joke!"

"Everything I told you is true, I swear," Rumika replied. "When we meet in person, I will show you the documents I've acquired and that'll be your hard evidence. For right now, you just have to believe me."

"I believe you," said James. "It makes sense and it fits. But who would come after us? It can't be Team Firestar since they've been disbanded."

"There are dangerous rogues out there."

"Have you spoken to Giovanni?"

"Not directly. He knows I exist, but I thought I should talk to you before I talked to him."

"But Giovanni can protect you, right?" Misty asked Jessie and James.

"If he can't I can't imagine who else would be able to…Giovanni is struggling to hold onto agents. So many people are leaving Team Rocket," said Jessie. "That's a sign that TR's not as strong as it used to be, but once we get those assets settled that all should change."

"So far, Giovanni hasn't been able to stop agents from leaving," James added.

"They aren't leaving by will; they are being forced out by Team Firestar and their threats," said Rumika.

"I can't believe I never knew about this. And that... I'm related to... her..." Jessie said with disgust.

"I am actually very surprised by the strong resemblance between you two. The only main difference is the eyes. Jessiebelle's eyes are black holes."

"Annastasia isn't safe," James said worriedly as he turned to his partner. "We have to do something right away."

"Your grandparents said that this is one of the safest places in the world; this place's security system here is one of the best in the world."

"I don't think we should move until Giovanni tells us to," said Rumika. "Where you are now may be the safest place anyway."

"What about us?" Misty asked. "We were involved in that trial too; do you think people will target us?"

"They are only interested in Jessie and James. You are your friends aren't at risk."

"I'd you say so…"

"Where are you staying?" James asked Rumika.

"I have been on the run since my sister and parents were arrested. I have been following this group for a few days, but before that I spent most of my time on the streets, staying at a Pokémon Center whenever possible."

"You can stay with us," said Ash. "We have plenty of food and can help you out. We have lots of Pokémon so it will be safer than being on your own. Do you have any Pokémon?"

"Two Beedril, a Seaking, and Torkcoal."

"Or you can come here," James suggested.

"I cannot afford a train ticket to Silverville."

"We can purchase a ticket and email it to you."

"In that case, I will make myself ready to join you."

"Excellent. Bye, Rumika."

XO

Jessie and James talked told Paul and Linda about Rumika the first chance they got.

"I can't believe this," said Paul. "Crazy…she ought to come right here."

"We already invited her," James replied. "You're sure it's okay?"

"All guests of yours are welcome," said Linda.

"Then I'll order her a ticket immediately."

James pulled out his device and began searching for cheap train tickets. Jessie concentrated on Annastasia, who was dozing in her arms.

"This is good news, Hun," Linda told Jessie. "You have family you didn't know existed."

"It would be great if I didn't have people out there trying to kill me," Jessie replied grimly.

"As long as you are with us, you will be safe."

"I'll try to believe that."