AN: This chapter was updated/revised on February 20, 2020.
Deeper into the Time Slip
"In a way, I need a change
From this burnout scene
Another time, another town
Another everything
But it's always back to you."
OAR
Jay, Vileplume, and Delcatty shuttled Jezz into the shade of a kiwi tree but seeing as they were surrounded by nothing but orchard and meadow, Jay and Jezz's Pokémon folded after faring a scant distance. Tired and frustrated, Jay managed to convince Xatu to help them after much pressing. Within seconds of being impelled, Xatu teleported everyone in their party to the lobby of the Kiwi Mountain Pokémon Center.
Jay was relieved to be back, but the Nurse Joy in charge met them with looks of horror.
"Oh dear!" she exclaimed, running to assist Jay, who was struggling to hold Jezz up. "What happened?"
"It's hard to explain, but my friend here kinda passed out. His Xatu teleported us here," Jay replied.
"Oh…Okay…"
Nurse Joy summoned a pair of Chansey who then lifted Jezz onto the nearest couch. Nurse Joy checked his heartbeat, pulse, and temperature.
"I can call my neighbor who is an EMT to come look at him," said Joy. "As for you: I have questions."
"Oh, um, uhhh…sure, yeah, I-I can answer questions," Jay gulped.
"You must."
"Y-yes, Ma'am!"
"Mmmhmm."
As Nurse Joy left to find an ice pack and cell phone, Jay noticed kiwi trees, though most of the orchard and meadow had given way to grazing pastures, sheds, a training arena, and the Pokémon Center itself. The building looked the same to him. Jay wondered where everyone was. He didn't expect them all to be hanging around waiting for him, but he was surprised that Nurse Joy wasn't lecturing him about how wrong it was for them to run away. In fact, she completely ignored him while she tended to Jezz.
Jay chugged water, grabbed several kiwis from the basket on the coffee table, and sat on the couch parallel to Jezz. As he began eating, Nurse Joy turned to him with news. She placed her phone in her apron and coughed to get Jay's attention.
"My EMT friend will be right over. I need to know what you were doing when this happened," she told Jay.
"Uh, we were just hanging out and…uhhh…" said Jay, swallowing nervously.
"Was he attacked by something? Did he hit his head? Overheat? Forget to take a medication? Have a seizure or stroke?"
"He wasn't attacked, and his Vileplume caught him before he could hit his head, but we are both kinda dehydrated, hungry, and sleep-deprived…it uh, wasn't…I dunno…he just sorta fell over."
"You ought to know that it is irresponsible for young Pokémon trainers, or anyone for that matter, to travel in such a condition!"
"It was an accident. Jezz's Xatu teleported us. We were in Alola, staying here at the Kiwi Mountain City Pokémon Center and then we were teleported elsewhere. Um, do you know where my sister is? I should call her asap."
"I don't know who your sister is. Is she staying here?"
"Yes, I'm Jay, remember? I have the Togekiss, Meganium, Tauros, and a Yungoose."
Joy shook her head worriedly. "You have the wrong Pokémon Center. I never treated a Togekiss and I am quite sure I have never seen you or your friend before."
Jay was baffled. He was certain they were staying in the Kiwi Mountain Pokémon Center. He even remembered Lily and Logan mocking the name and their funny-looking logo. This was definitely the same building. Nurse Joy must be the one confused.
"I am 100% positive we were staying here," said Jay.
"I am 100% positive that I have never seen nor talked to you before," she insisted.
"But…but…no, that doesn't make any sense…We were definitely here!"
"May I ask for your full name?"
"Jay Paul Morgan."
"Jay Paul Morgan…Morgan…Sounds familiar. May I see your Pokédex?"
"I, uh, I sorta left it behind. We were teleported suddenly, and I didn't have time to gather any of my stuff. Even my Pokémon were left behind. The ones here are Jezz's."
"If your parents are Pokémon trainers, I can look them up in our database. I can't search for you in the database because you are clearly under the age of eighteen, and we don't put minors in the directory."
"My parents are Jessie and James Morgan. They are upper ranked Team Rocket agents, so I'm not sure if they are in your database if it is only for civilian use. Maybe you should give Professor Oak a call instead. He can for sure confirm my identity."
"Team Rocket!? Oh my!"
"Uhhhh…Why are you surprised? There are a lot of Team Rocket people around here, staying at the mini-bases on Kamahele Island."
"Team Rocket bases are not present in this region. My good friend Officer Jenny has informed me of that. I know Jessie and James. They tried to steal from here! They and their talking Meowth. They had that motto, and then a young boy and a couple of his friends used his Pikachu and Litten to stop them. They were from Kalos…or something like that. You must tell me what is going on this instant!"
Jay had never been more confused. His parents hadn't robbed anyone since their second trip through Kalos, right before Annastasia was born. He knew they didn't do it. And the motto…they loved that dumb motto, but they never really use it anymore unless they were being silly. And why didn't she mention Lucy?
"You have it all wrong," said Jay. "My parents and Meowth aren't criminals! Well, uh, not anymore, anyway."
The Chansey duo returned with a stretcher and together they lifted the now half-awake Jezz onto it. The Pokémon rolled him into one of the rooms in the back. Nurse Joy turned to Jay with an intense scowl, furrowed eyebrows, and obvious glare.
"That simply isn't true, young man. I suggest you sit and wait here while I make a few phone calls. This is serious. And I had no idea these people even had a son! They look like they are in their early twenties," said Nurse Joy. "Don't move."
Jay huffed as he sat on the couch. The center had a cordless digital phone that he could likely use to call his family, but he had a feeling Nurse Joy would kick him out if he did anything more to disappoint her.
Xatu watched him curiously.
"I don't understand," Jay sighed. "Xatu, are we still in the past?"
"Xatu," the Pokémon replied, bobbing his head.
Jay huffed. "Well, we aren't too far into the past…Why didn't you take us back to the present?"
"Xattuuuu."
"Okay… can we get Jezz and teleport to our own time?"
Xatu shook his head. Jay groaned and rubbed his hands against his face.
"While we are waiting, can you at least show me a vision from the past, when my parents were here?" Jay asked. "I wanna see. Is that okay?"
"Xuu," the bird replied, bobbing his head once more.
Xatu stared Jay in the eyes. A moment later everything was foggy, but Jay could tell he was still in the lobby. It was like he was watching a movie but at the same time being featured. Suddenly there was a loud noise, and several people and their Pokémon literally crashed through the doors, causing glass to fly. Jay gasped when he noticed who they were.
"What is going on here?!" Nurse Joy demanded.
"Word on the street is that there are some rare Pokémon in here," a younger version of his mother responded. "And you, Nurse Joy, are here alone. If you don't mind, we'll be taking them."
"And we'll take them even if you do mind, because they help to put bread on our table," said James.
"And weeze really like de taste of bread," said Meowth.
"Wobba…fet!" Wobbuffet added.
"Who are you people?" Nurse Joy asked worriedly.
"We are Team Rocket!" his mother declared. "Let us introduce ourselves."
Nurse Joy and Chansey looked horrified. Jay had a feeling he knew what was coming next.
"To Prevent World Destruction!
To Protect World Peace!
To Pierce the Evils of Love and Truth!
Your Lovely, Charming Villains,
Jessie, James, and Meowth!
Together Traveling Passed the Stars and Into the White Tomorrow!
Give Up Now or Help Us Fight
That's Right!"
Jay cringed at the cheesy motto then watched his parents send their Pokémon to attack Nurse Joy's Chansey, Lurantis, and Wigglytuff. After a few minutes they had succeeding in grabbing about a dozen Pokeballs filled with Pokémon awaiting medical treatment. Then Ash and two girls Jay didn't recognize came running in through the broken glass door.
"Team Rocket! As soon as we heard the crash, we had a feeling it was you!" Ash exclaimed.
"Pikaaa!" Pikachu yelled angrily.
"Why do you always have to get in our way, jari-boy?" Jessie asked bitterly.
"Yes jari-boy, let us win every once in a while, it will add more variety to the show," said James.
"Ash, those people just called you a jari-boy!" his blond-haired, green-eyed, female companion exclaimed.
"Yeah, they do that," Ash replied. "Or twerp, brat, or nerd."
"We have to stop them before they take those Pokémon!" said his other companion, a girl with forest-green hair and wide viridian eyes.
"We will. Go Pikachu, you too, Litten!"
Ash released Litten, and together he and Pikachu went after Wobbuffet and some Bewear Jay didn't recognize. They battled for a few minutes, then Pikachu's electricity hit a water pipe and the trio and their Pokémon were blasted out of the Pokémon Center. Ash and friends approached Nurse Joy.
"Sorry about them. They followed me all the way from Kanto," Ash told her. "They steal people's Pokémon, but I usually help to stop them."
"We never had Team Rocket in this region before," Nurse Joy responded.
"Trust me, they are the only Team Rocket members here. They are obsessed with my buddy Pikachu. They are different from the other members of Team Rocket though, they mess up most of the time."
"Pikakpiii, pi," said Pikachu.
"Yeah: they're too theatrical."
"Thank you. Your Litten and Pikachu saved the day," Joy replied. "They almost got away with fourteen Pokémon," she replied.
"Anytime."
The figures disappeared and the room began to clear up from the fog. Within seconds, Jay was back in the present, with Xatu still looking at him.
"Well that was weird. I guess that happened about twenty years ago. It must have been before A was born because they were still fighting with Ash," Jay mused. "Thanks for that."
"Xuuu Xuu," Xatu responded.
Nurse Joy returned. "Well, young man. Jessie and James are long gone. You see that glass door? They broke it three days ago and I just had it replaced this morning. It was a terrible inconvenience. And they almost took over a dozen Pokémon. You should stay here. Something isn't right. Are those people really your parents?"
"Ah no. That was a joke. Those people are too weird to have kids. Right?" Jay responded. He added some awkward laughter in at the end. Nurse Joy glowered.
"I do not like it when arrogant, prankster trainers waste my time. I suggest that you two leave here as soon as your friend is able to walk straight," she scolded.
"Is he awake?"
"Yes. Our EMT said it was a seizure. It happens sometimes when people with his condition overheat. Also, I told him this, but you ought to remind him that he cannot let his medication get too hot or it won't work as well. That may have caused it too. If he rests, stays cool, and leaves his medication at home and out of the sun then this shouldn't happen again."
"Oh, um, Okay…"
"He is in room 123."
Jay padded down the hall until he got to room 123. The door was already cracked open. Jezz was sitting in one of the trainers' beds, drinking what looked like one of the protein shakes that his sister makes.
"We need to talk about something," Jay started.
"I know," Jezz replied, staring dismally into his shake.
"You are sick. Like my sister. You can't be under a lot of stress, or bad things will happen to you. And you can't walk around with your medicine. The heat will ruin it."
"I did not know. I never traveled in heat like this before."
"It shouldn't be a problem, because Xatu is going to help us, right?"
Jay turned to Xatu. The bird droned, refusing to give any more information.
"We'll find a way out," Jay said semi-hopefully. "We can fix this. I can't…I can't imagine…"
"…Being lost forever?" Jezz guessed.
"Yes, that."
"I can."
"You aren't technically lost if someone knows where you are, and we know where the other is."
"You are a good friend, Jay. I regret what I did."
"You don't have to regret it, because regretting is stupid. Let's move on."
"Thank you."
"Now can you tell me why you took A's bag?"
Jezz turned red. "I didn't steal anything."
"Your bag looks exactly like A's, and it has a mace in it. A mace. My sister is the only person I know who knows how to get her hands on a mace."
"I took that. Everything else is mine though, I swear."
"And the medicine, is that all yours too? It looks like her medicine bag to me."
"…I borrowed some. I knew I would need it and I would be able to get some more easily. I was going to pay it forward."
"How do I know when you are true and when you are lying?"
"My vow is that I shall never lie to you again ever for as long as I live."
"I want so badly to trust you."
"If you haven't noticed, I am in a very vulnerable position right now. It would be illogical to lie anyway."
"Fine. Starting right now, I am holding you to your word. Don't let me down."
"I will not."
Nurse Joy returned with snacks and water.
"Help yourselves. You might be here a while, though I suggest you leave the moment you feel recovered," she told the boys.
"How do you feel now?" Jay asked when Nurse Joy was gone.
"…Depressed," he murmured. "But well enough to walk."
"I sorta sensed that you were depressed even before this disaster."
"I didn't realize it was something other people noticed."
"I noticed you have been spending a lot of time alone since we got here, or just quietly talking to someone. I didn't want to intrude but looking back I suppose I should've. Then we'd probably be home instead of stuck here."
"I do not have a home, not yet. You do, but I don't, and I don't think I ever had. I don't have birthday, or parents, or my real name, either. Don't act like I do."
"You changed your name?"
"Yes."
"But Rumika and A said that 'Jezz Tonaka' was your real name."
"Tonaka was my first legal name, I invented Jezz, and there is no proof that the name they handed me had anything to do with where I came from."
"But people don't just assign babies random last names."
"Yes, they do. It happens all the time."
"I don't think anyone who is helping you realizes this."
"Probably not…I screwed up this entire situation. It's true that I want them to know, but I don't want to tell them myself."
"Then I will talk for you."
"I don't know if that will help. The truth is that I really don't know if anything I am doing is helping or hurting or if anything, I do affects anything. I just want to be normal. I think that is all I want."
"Normal? There is no such thing."
"Yes, there is. You are normal. Amber is normal. Your sister—"
"Is weird, and so are all of our friends. I promise."
"You are saying that to make me feel better about myself."
"No. I'll prove it, give some examples. So…let's start with Takeshi."
"He is the most normal person I know."
"Takeshi is terrified of the dark. Watch him, when it is dark outside, he clings to Typlosion. When Typlosion was a Cyndaquil he would squeeze him so hard at night that the Pokémon could hardly breathe. Takeshi also has nightmares about the dark and sleeps with two flashlights, just in case one of them loses battery. He even wet the bed one time because he was too afraid to go outside to pee. And this was just last year! Takeshi is your age. Can you imagine? Now that is weird."
Jezz tried not to smile but failed.
"I suppose that is quite strange, nut I do not beleive it is as weird as me."
"I have more. Up until I was six years old, I really wanted to wear dresses, so my parents made me about fifty of them. I wore everyone at least twice, but my favorite one was magenta and purple, because it matched mine and Jocelyn's hair. I wore that one at least once a week. Everyone I met thought I was A's little sister. And up until last year, Soledad would dress up like her dad and after school we would sometimes go over the lab and make fake radio broadcasts together. We'd also play cops and robbers with Jocelyn, Will, and Nadia—Nolan and Lexi's siblings—and Soledad always made Will and I dress up like Officer Jenny. We still have the costumes, and mine still fits me."
Jezz giggled. "I thought Amber was making that up."
"No. And Amb, she is also weird. Weirder than you know. She is proud of most of it though, but that just reinforces how weird she can be. A can't talk on the same subject for more than ten minutes. She learned how to read by watching Yu-Gi-Oh! with subtitles, and sometimes when she says certain phrases, if you listen closely enough, you can tell that she copies their accent. She eats everything with her hands, even salad, and even if she has plenty of forks available, she still uses her hand as a second fork. She burps like ten times a day, and she, Lily, Logan, and Jocelyn sometimes have burping contests and they make me and Wobbuffet be the judges. And she sleepwalks, and two years ago while she was sleepwalking, she caught about twenty Rattata and Pidgey. She was very confused when she woke up the next morning. And she thought she was a lesbian until she was fifteen."
"I think those experiences and quirks make a person unique."
"So do I. Get what I am saying?"
"I shouldn't have spent so much time in my head…"
"It's okay. And if you don't mind, I have a question about your name. You said you made it up. Why? You didn't like the name 'Jamie'?"
"Jamie was not my real name either."
"Oh. What was it?"
"It was a name that didn't fit me at all. I hated it, so I changed it to Jezz. I don't know why, I just felt like it."
"You 'just felt like it'? Was it too feminine?"
"Yes. I don't want to think or talk about it."
"Then, moving on: we need a plan to get back."
"I agree."
"Good…but it's not that good, because Xatu won't listen to us…"
"We can perhaps negotiate. Xatu is not always quite so horrible."
Jay glanced at him quizzically. "That isn't the way someone should think about their Pokémon. If a Pokémon doesn't like humans, it should return to the wild, not stick with them for the sake of harassment."
"Xatuu," Xatu asserted.
"I wish one of our translators were here."
"I wish I could go back in time and change my decisions," Jezz sighed.
"Wait… that's it. Let's do that! Duh, I should have thought about that before. Maybe Xatu can help us."
"It doesn't work like that. We are existing in the same space at the same time. Two of me, two of you. Right now, we aren't born yet, but if we fast forward several years, we will be able to see our younger selves, and interact with them too. We are in two places at once, essentially. We can't rewrite history."
'I wish that I could be in two places at the same time,' Jay thought. He had heard many people say that before. 'Be careful what you wish for...'
"Jay?" Jezz interrupted, dismissing Jay from his reflection. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. How do you know all of this?" Jay inquired.
"I've done this before."
"I should've known. Have a plan?"
Jezz shook his head sadly. "My only plan was to never return."
"We have to do something. Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny can't just go up to my parents and start asking them about their son who doesn't exist yet."
"Pardon?"
"I thought we were in the present when we first arrived. I told Nurse Joy about my family. I told her later that it was a prank, but I don't think she believes me. She seems a bit humorless for a Nurse Joy."
"If this offers you comfort, know that the past is already set. We cannot change any outcomes that weren't met to be. Everything will continue to fall into play, our births, our relationships, as well as the lives of everyone we know. Trust me. We can stay here if we want, and we don't have to worry about messing up anyone's life. At least, that is what the legends say."
"I suppose I have no choice but to trust you on this one. Moving forward, we're in this together, and we can't keep hanging out around here."
Jezz stood up. He started to place the water bottles and leftover snacks in his backpack.
"Then let's go," he suggested.
"Are you sure? Don't you feel dizzy and tired? You look really pale," said Jay worriedly.
"I do not feel great, but you are correct: we cannot stay here."
The Pokémon gathered close to Jezz. Jay grabbed onto Jezz's arm.
"Where are we going now?" Jay asked.
"I want to go to the train station," Jezz requested.
"Why?"
"It was my original plan. I have a place I must go."
"Then lead the way."
XO
Day 62 – Rita's Dream
After being on kitchen duty for the last two weeks, I was relieved when it came time to flip roles with my co-volunteer and acquaintance-friend Kira. Kira's role was to help the first through fifth graders with their schoolwork.
And the word going around preached that the new kid Jamie was asking for me.
I met Kira in front of the sign-in sheet at 8:00 am on that dreary Sunday.
"You're here earlier than usual," Kira noted as I took the pen from her.
I signed my name and passed it back.
"I have an extra-full day, wanted to get an early start," I told her.
"That doesn't make any sense," she contested.
"What doesn't?"
"You got here early to work an extra-full day…and weren't out late with Jose?"
"He left before sunrise…I kicked him out rather."
"Oh, Rita, you sure are an interesting person."
"Thanks for the compliment."
"I'm not sure if that was one."
"I'm sure it wasn't."
"See ya."
"See ya."
We went our separate ways through the spacious yet idle building. That was typical for this time of day. But I knew Jamie would be awake. The kid was nonstop, and I had a hunch he'd be in his room reading, writing, or both.
When I reached his room, I knocked on his door three times, with a two-second pause between each one.
"Come in!" he called.
"I've been here for years and no one ever suggested a 'knocking code' before," I said as I opened the door.
Jezz was putting away his journal.
"Rita!" he gasped. "You never come this early. I thought you'd be in the kitchen until four."
"We rotate jobs here. My job now is to discipline y'all," I replied.
"What iniquitous act have I committed?"
"It's sarcasm, Jamie. You are going to have to get used to it."
He nodded and blushed.
"It's my turn to help you with the academic stuff—if you need me," I continued. "Kira told me you're kinda a 140-plus IQ genius, extra impressive considering you're not in real school. She was learning more from you than you from her, and that's a compliment."
"You have my appreciation for your generous words," he replied.
"Good. So, I came by because I knew you'd be awake. I figured if you wanted to do something special, now would be the best time to do it."
"I very much appreciate this, by do you not ever grow tired of me?"
"Yes, but no until the end of the day."
"That was sarcasm, yes?"
"Sorta. So, how's your reading, writing, studying, whatever, thing going?"
"I wish to read for at least most of today; I have fallen behind on my consumption goals for this year thus far."
I observed the cover of the book on his bed, beside the journal with the chartreuse-colored cover and bland saffron designs. It looked like another How-To book.
"You plan on catching up on your manuals?" I asked.
"Indeed," he replied. "I want to know how to build a shed."
"Why?"
"Because I will someday need my own place to live."
"Most people prefer flats, condos, trailers, or houses."
"I will never have enough money for a house or any such shelter."
"Not with that attitude."
He seemed downer than usual. Weird as usual, but also gloomier. Despondent and dejected, even.
"You might grow up to be rich," I said. "Then you can live in a house bigger than you've ever seen before. Anything's possible."
"I'd just like to have this information just in case," he replied.
"Well, you can read all day, or we can go to that soccer store you like."
His pupils expanded as he gazed up at me.
"The Worldwide Soccer Shop?" he questioned.
"Yeah, that one," I replied. "It's a half hour away. We can take the bus, it comes at 8:45, but if you'd rather stay here and read that stupid manual—"
"No, I want to go! Oh, my apologies, I did not mean to raise my voice."
"Np."
"Please Rita? Even if I can't buy anything, I still want to go and look at all the merchandise."
"I have a rich friend and borrowed some cash from her. You can get something, but you only have twenty minutes to get ready. We have to walk to the bus stop. I have to be back to assist the other kids by eleven, and today is the only day I don't have to go to my real job."
"I only need a few moments to prepare myself."
I could hear the jitters in his voice as he talked. It was as if I was taking him to Disney World or the moon. I was about to open the door to leave, but Jamie had already started to dress. He flipped on one of the t-shirts I had given him when he first arrived three weeks ago and tied up his shoes, which used to belong to Jay.
"You mean you only needed a few seconds," I sniggered.
"I am motivated," he explained.
"No kidding. Let's get you some food and then head out."
Jamie was obsessed with that soccer store. I sat down and read a magazine while Jamie spent almost two hours admiring everything the place had to offer. They let you try on different cleats, and Jamie had never worn cleats before, so he spent an hour doing that. There was also a room where you could kick soccer balls into a huge net and test them out. He did that for the second hour. He actually had some skill. He told me about the soccer book he read, and how it taught him how to kick, but I still don't get how the first time his toe tapped a ball he managed to kick it all the way across the room, which was about the length of a football field, and directly into the middle of the large net on the other side. And it was more than beginner's luck. He did it repeatedly.
"You are easy to amuse," I commented as we walked out the door.
"This was one of the best days of my life," he confided. "Thank you for the cleats."
"No problem. I think it's a good investment, especially if you are going to be playing in the junior league," I replied.
Jamie's smile drooped and his voice fell to a whisper.
"I cannot do that," he murmured.
"Why not?" I asked, perplexed.
"Because they won't let me play on the boy's team."
"Oh no, that's not true." I braced myself, this is why I was here. Not to shop, but for this. "Jamie, no one is going to stop you."
"But if they find out…it will be humiliating…I would not be able to cope…"
"I won't let them find out." I truly meant it. I wasn't going to let people tread on my kid. "I'll stick up for you, so stop whining."
"I am not whining, I am saying that I looked online, and the application to join the team makes you give them your address. They are going to know I am staying at 'Foster's Home for Imaginary Queers'."
Jamie adopted my pet name for the place. How cute.
"I'll tell them that you are a furry," I said offhandedly.
His face scrunched up.
"Ew, don't say that!" he whisper-exclaimed.
"Don't judge, Jamie," I chided, even though I was joking when I made the suggestion. "If they don't accept you onto the team, I'll go down there and teach them a lesson."
"I wonder what I would do without you."
"You'd suck, because you'd have no sense of humor."
"No! Rita, that is a lie."
"Partial lie."
I spent the rest of the day helping the kids with their work. Most of them went to the local public school. Others, such as Jamie, preferred having class here. It was seven days a week for about three hours per day. It was the same work as the public schools gave, but there was no bullying or any shit like that. Jamie was the top of his class, and his test score beat the records of even the most elite private schools in Kanto and beyond. The kid could have gone to college for free, but he didn't stick with us. He disappeared a few months after I bought him the cleats, and he left them behind, right on his desk, next to a picture that Kira took of the two of us together. There was no note. I decided to make it one of my life goals to return those cleats to their rightful owner.
XO
Rita sat up in bed.
"Shitttt," she hissed when the movement aggravated her already sore ribs.
Ralph, Zorua, and Annastasia's Altaria were sleeping in the chair next to her bed. Her watch read 1:00 am.
'When is Ralph going to leave me alone?' she thought.
Zorua lifted an ear then opened her eyes. She yapped happily when she noticed Rita watching her, then jumped into her lap, causing Rita to swear aloud. Ralph rubbed his eyes and looked over to her.
"Yo, Rita, I need to sleep too," he mumbled.
"I didn't ask you to stay," she pointed out. "Why are you here?"
"Mariana left."
"And…?"
"And I didn't want to leave bae all alone."
"Bae? Who do you think you are, calling me 'bae'?"
"I think that I am someone who is a bit more significant than the dirt on your boots."
"You're almost there."
"Hey, I could be working and making some cash to feed my empty bank account, but I'd rather be here with you. Doesn't that mean something?"
"Not to me."
"You're too proud."
"And you aren't? You are sitting here at my bedside like you are some kind of prince or hero. I know you are only procrastinating on getting all your shit together back in that cabin; you don't want to do it alone. You need me there to get it done."
"That is partially correct. I have other reasons."
"…"
"I like you, Rita. Isn't that obvious?"
"Yes, but it doesn't mean much."
"What do you want me to do, leave? I don't think that is what you want."
"I just hate the feeling of being…weak."
"Get over it."
"I can't. This sucks a lot. There's someone who needs me out there and I broke my promise to him. I promised to call him every night, if he didn't call me first, and I haven't spoken to him for two days."
"Someone on the side?"
"No. Nothing like that."
"Hm. I'm going back to sleep. I'll be gone in the morning, so don't worry about it; soon I won't bother you any longer."
"Ralph, don't—oh never mind."
XO
Day 63
The next time Rita woke, it was 10:00 am, and several people were standing outside her door. The knocking woke her up, and when she answered the door, her parents entered, accompanied by Maya.
"Mom, Pop, what's up?" Rita asked her parents.
"We're sorry we couldn't come sooner," said Touko. "We tried. We're relieved to see you're not too beat up."
"How are you feeling?" N asked.
"Not that bad. I'm angry though, being stuck here," Rita answered. "Hey, Maya, I didn't expect you to come by."
Maya handed her a box of chocolates that she had carried in a small satchel.
"These are from the Morgan family," she told her. "Annastasia meant to bring them over yesterday, but she forgot them at home."
"Thanks," Rita replied. She opened the box. "Want some?"
"No thank you," Maya responded sweetly.
"Rita, we'll be right back. We are going to talk to the doctors about getting you discharged," said her mom.
"I'll be here," Rita said as they got up to leave.
"Have you been lonely here?" Maya asked.
"Mostly. They won't let me leave until I can take fully deep breaths without using a nebulizer."
"Oh, I see. We saw your friend Ralph this morning. He stopped by the bungalow."
"No way? Seriously? What did he tell you?"
"Nothing you should be concerned about. I believe he wanted to let us know that you were okay, and that he was going to go back to work for a bit. He seemed worried that you'd be all alone."
"He's so full of himself."
"I thought he seemed sweet."
"He thinks I will be reduced to tears if I am left alone."
"I don't like the human phrase 'reduced to tears'. There is nothing wrong with crying. I think that your partner only wanted to make sure you were okay. I wouldn't say he is 'full of himself', as you put it." Maya responded.
"You are a sweet cat. So, why'd you really come?"
"I saw the box of chocolates. I heard Annastasia say yesterday that she wanted to give them to you. I decided that I could be a help to her if I took care of it before she noticed that she forgot. She has been very stressed out lately, as you know."
"I know she's busy, but are you saying she's more stressed than usual?"
Maya remembered that Rita didn't know about Jezz yet, and Annastasia wanted to wait to tell her.
"I would rather have you talk to her," Maya responded.
"Okay...What else did Ralph say? Tell me word-for-word," Rita requested.
"I don't recall everything verbatim, but I do remember that he said he was sorry that he had to get back to work, and that he didn't want you to become lonely in this hospital. It seems you are concerned for him."
"I don't want him making an ass out of himself. He is horrible at using words and he can embarrass me."
"I think he was eloquent. Are you afraid of losing him?"
"You know what kind of person I am."
"I think that you are many types. You have many sides, I can tell. May I offer some advice?"
"Advice?" Rita never got advice from a Pokémon before, but Maya was more than an average street Meowth. "Sure, go for it. I can always use more wisdom."
Maya smiled shyly. "I think you should let others see your brave heart."
Rita was nearly speechless. "You think that I…"
"…need to give yourself more credit for the things you do in secret."
Rita thought about the dream she had. As far as she could understand, volunteering at Spectrum was the only virtuous thing she ever did. Sure, she stood up for her friends and was a good older sibling and daughter, but that was probably not what Maya was talking about.
"Can I ask what you mean by that?" Rita inquired.
"You already know," Maya replied.
Rita didn't expect this from Maya. She always liked her, but never thought her so wise and caring as she did in this moment.
Rita's parents returned to the room.
"I will leave now," Maya told Rita.
"Bye. Thank you, Maya," Rita said before the Meowth walked out the door. "I'll try hard to use that advice."
XO
In The Next Chapter:
- Train Ride
- Jezz discussed the Kapules
- Rita and Haku chat over lunch
Trivia:
- In the beginning of this chapter, Jay and company pull Jezz into the shade of a kiwi tree whilst he is incapacitated. Kiwi trees symbolize 'good fortune and the blessing of a prosperous future', according to multiple sources, including a favorite of mine: universityofsymbolism dot com. I didn't point out this symbolism in the first version of this story but wanted to bring it up now in case anyone was interested and/or didn't notice this.
- The motto Jessie and James recite is a translation of the show's original Rocket Gang motto from Japanese to English.
PS: In case you are wondering why some of the dreams and/or flashbacks are in first person while others are not, it is only because I like presenting the story in different ways. That's all for now. Thanks for reading:)