Pokémon Journey: XYZ

Hey guys Paradox here and welcome to Chapter 114 and Chapter 31 of XYZ. As said before, this is another OC chapter that'll bring more history, pain and revelation. I'll say right now this won't involve Team Flare, probably just a mention or two. So with this, enjoy.


"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the game." - Randy Pausch


Chapter 114: The Writing's on the Wall

The group continues onto Route 22 after dealing with Team Flare and escorting Looker, Blue, and Green to safety. Two days later they were still traveling on Route 22 only to find how tedious the Route was. "Exactly how much longer until we get to Santalune City?" Ash asked. "About a couple of days. The forest leads to a mountain range we'll have to across over. I even heard a rumor of an ancient kingdom that precedes there, very famous." Rene said. "Well perhaps we'll rest there for a bit but first we gotta get through here." Drake said.

Hovering above them were the last members of a dead organization that was unknown to either three. Jessie, James and Meowth looked over the twerps ready to get the jump on them. "Ready?" Jessie asked. "What's the point?" James asked. "Yea, I agree with Jimmy here. We have been following the twerps since yesterday and we haven't found a golden opportunity to jump them and take their Pokémon." Meowth said. "Today's the day, I can feel it." Jessie said. "Sooo...same hell, different day." James groaned.

Meanwhile in a remote part of the forest where Pokémon, medium and small, pool around a small cabin. Walking out the front door was an older woman hobbling on a cane. The woman sighed but continued to do her routine. Setting up this haven, caring for the Pokémon, tending the garden to make sure food was plentiful. Of course the Pokémon particularly the grass types, helped her in that area. However her demeanor has a always had a stoic look. Her entire life had been nothing but an numerical roller coaster riding through a shitstorm. Now she spent the remaining half of her life making amends but more to make her forget the first half of her life then yes she will continue to suffer a different way.

The gang continues but once they ran out of road had to trek into the woods. "So once we across this forest we should be able to get to the mountain range." Serena said. "It'll be soon, but it'll be easy to get lost in this." Clemont said. "Come on, how many forests have we already traveled through already and you're worried about getting lost." Bonnie cried.

"I'd worried about something much worse then getting lost." Drake said. "What about rampaging Pokémon." Bonnie asked. "That would be worse then getting lost." Ash said. "Look over there guys." Serena pointed ahead to a small tan colored Pokémon with red spots and swirly eyes stumbling out of some bushes. "That's a Spinda." Ash pointed out. Serena was curious and took out her Pokédex to scan it.

"Spinda, the Spot Panda Pokémon, the chances of two Spinda having identical spot patterns is less than one in four billion."

"So each Spinda is unique on its own?" Serena asked. "Only appearance-wise." Ash said while the Spinda continues to wobble around, stumbling and almost losing its balance. "Haha, It walks silly." Bonnie giggled. "That's normal for Spinda. They move so wonky that it can confuse opponents." Drake said. "That's what happens when you stare too long." Rene added.

The Spinda acted as if it was drunk on booze and wandered back into the bushes. "Hey come back." Bonnie rush after it. "Bonnie, get back here." Clemont chased her down. "Guys! Come on, we're trying to get to Santalune City ASAP." Drake said as the gang ran after Clemont. "Why do I even try?" Drake asked himself.

"Bonnie! Wait up." Clemont huffed and wheeze. "Why are we doing this for one Spinda?!" Rene asked. "We're not, but we are doing this for a little girl's curiosity." Ash said. "Honestly a Spinda isn't much motivation to break away from our current task." Rene said. "Try telling Bonnie that." Serena said. "Come back little one." Bonnie giggled as Dedenne and Squishy hung along for the ride.

Finally running out of the shrubbery, the gang stumble into a nice open area of the forest that had a cabin set up. Around the cabin were kinds of Pokémon either playing or doing yard work tending flora and berries. "Talk about being one with nature." Serena said. "This is absolutely gorgeous." Rene commented. "I agree, and all the Pokémon are so cute." Serena added. "I guess the owner of this cabin really enjoys such a peaceful lifestyle." Ash said.

"Uhh should we disturb them because I really think we shouldn't." Clemont said. "Oh I'm sure we'll be fine." Bonnie cheeked out mainly because of all the cute Pokémon she wanted to stick around abit.

"Oh."

The group turn to see an older lady around her late sixties, her short, bobbed hair was grey with some lines of black, wearing a gardener's outfit complete with a red squared shirt, blue jeans all covered with blue overalls, brown work boots, gardening gloves, glassses on her eyes and a small sun hat.

The group look to see a scowl on the old lady's face. "What are you young folks doing on my homestead?" She asked but the group couldn't reply. "Well...I'm not getting any younger." She said. "W-we got lost." Drake came up with a lie. "Lost huh? Well if you're heading to Santalune City, the mountain range is 25 kilometers Eastward. You get past there, and you'll be in Santalune City in no time." The lady said as she attempted to leave. "Are all these Pokémon yours?" Bonnie asked.

"They wish, but no they're all wild." The lady haggled. "Now if you don't mind by leaving so that I can get back to my garden." The lady spoke as the group could hear her displeasure of having company on her property. Then by a complete idiotic chance, Ash's stomach growled. "Really?" Drake asked. "Are you surprise at this point." Ash defended. "Sounds like you didn't stuff your face enough at breakfast young'un." The lady turned around then paused.

"Come on in then, I've made some Oran Biscuits to snack on." The lady invited them into her cabin. The group was skeptical about a sudden invite but didn't want to be rude not to accept. "She didn't have to say it like that." Ash complain. "I don't know, you do pig out like a Swinub at a berry feast." Rene joked. "Hey!?" Ash yelled.

Inside was your typical cozy feeling for a cabin as the group settled in on the living space while the old lady set a plate of biscuits on the coffee table. "Dig in." She said. "Soo...it's just you living here alone." Drake asked. "I like the solitary." She said. "We never got your name." Serena asked. "Janet, just Janet." The lady introduce herself. "We thank you for inviting us in your home." Clemont said. "You don't have to thank me. Just finish the biscuits so you can be on your way." Janet said. "Before we depart, could I use your bathroom?" Drake asked. "*sigh* it's the first door to your left. No loitering." Janet warns. "You always this grouchy?" Bonnie asked. "Bonnie! That's uncalled for." Clemont scowls. "Unfortunately little girl, I am." Janet rephiles.

Drake walks out as the toilet flushes. As he was about to head back to the living space he notice the door to another room was slightly open and spots a familiar shade of red. "Essh, where is that wayward brother of yours?" Janet asked then left to the hall. "Wait what?" Ash asked. "What is it?" Serena asked. "Janet said brother." Ash said. "And?" Rene asked. "We never mention such thing." Ash said which the group was surprise.

Drake opened the door to see what was a trophy room that held mementos. But what Drake saw was much to his surprise and horror. On a portrait was the Team Rocket logo, several more held newspapers headings dating back before he was born, and even smaller ones held her with close friends and family, especially one of her with a younger familiar man.

"Find what you're looking for?" Drake turn to the door to see Janet angry with her cane holding it like a club. But Drake had an equal look of anger.

The group jumped when they heard Drake cry out in pain as he was being thwack back in the living room by Janet and her cane. "Damn it lady!" Drake yelled. "Didn't mommy ever teach it's wrong to go snooping on people property?" Janet mocked. "For people like you, I'd make an exception." Drake said. "Drake what's going on!?" Ash asked.

"What's happening is that until I saw that room is that now it makes sense. You're Janet Sakaki AKA Madame Boss, the founder of Team Rocket, Giovanni's mother." Drake said leaving the group shocked. Standing before him was former crime boss of what was one of the most powerful criminal organizations. "You got no right! Just who the fuck do you think you are!" Janet yelled.

"Ketchum." Ash and Drake scowled in union. Janet could only look between both brothers and grew more angry at the sight of her past life coming back to haunt her. "I figured as much. You, pretty much an exact fucking copy of...him. That asshole." Janet pointed at Drake. "Can you hold off on the cussing. There's are children present." Rene said while holding Bonnie's ears.

"Anyways, how is it do I find myself with the sons of the great Red Ketchum?!" Janet asked sarcastically. "Would you believe by pure luck?" Ash asked. "It wasn't exactly him that told us about you. It was our mother." Drake said. "And who was the lucky lady I pity very much?" Janet asked. "What is it with the sarcasm?" Ash asked. "Our mother's Deila Hanako." Drake answered.

"Really?...out of all the men in the world, she ended up with him!?" Janet asked. "Must be a really small world." Ash smiled. "Yea that psychopath you birthed double crossed her and tried to have her killed. She made the only choice she had." Drake said. "And that push her into his arms? You know she hated him with a passion." Janet said. "She'd mentioned that actually." Ash said. "Actually makes a great bedtime story." Drake added.

"Okay! Hold up, you're telling us that this is one of the most prestigious women in the world and you two are just cool with it?!" Serena said. "We never said we were cool with it." Drake said. "I'm honored young lady but that part of prestigious is behind me." Janet said.

"You were actually close friends with our mother." Ash asked. "Ah, your mother was one of Team Rocket's finest agents, the best I've ever trained." Janet smile. "Her and two others I heard." Drake said. "Yes actually." Janet's smile disappeared. "That hellspawn of yours and another woman." Drake pressed. "So your mother did mentioned this. I can just imagine how much you two know." Janet said.

"She also mentions how you left Team Rocket in disgrace." Drake said. "Actually, you really look like you've seen better days." Ash added. "Really, you two wouldn't know true pain if you two got hit by a truck. You don't know what I've gone through." Janet growled. "Is that why you're here? Receded from society?" Serena asked. "Maybe I just like solitude." Janet said. "Or maybe you just pluck one of your best friends/best agents from retirement, sent her on a sucide mission that she never return from, and that it left her only daughter an orphan." Drake guessed.

"...I'm really starting to hate your mom." Janet said. "Your not the only one who's lost someone. Look at our ragtag group." Ash said. "So each of your has lost someone?" Janet asked as everyone seem to nod. "Fine...I live with my guilt here and I'll do it until the day I die." Janet said. "And you consider that your punishment." Drake said. "More like my prison sentence." Janet said.

"And doing so you leave everything to your son." Bonnie asked. "Yea, no doubt that boy of mine has been running things rather stoic." Janet said. "Right to the very end." Ash said. "What does that mean?" Janet said. "We'll explain later but for now, can you tell us about the woman you got killed." Serena asked. "That's between family...and these two. But tell me what happened to my son." said Janet.

"Oh he's fine...he's just imprison." Drake smirked. "Wait, what." Janet asked shocked. "He made the mistake of trying to do some grunt work for the first time in his life, tried to destroy the whole world but we managed to stop him before he can do so." Ash said. "Well it sucks to be him." Janet said. "That's quite an odd thing for a mother to say about her son." Clemont said. "Look I'll admit even as crime boss and the day to day operations I had to supervise, the hardest job for a woman to do is motherhood. Giovanni was...unique."

"Neither of us would say unique to describe a psychopath." Drake said. "I...can't argue with that. Giovanni has indeed been a bit undermining while I was around on an intellectual level." Janet said. "You kidding, he'll make any kind of sacrifices no matter how big to get what he wants." Ash nearly yells. "And mom actually brought up how you at least ran things with a moral code you lived by, you at least let people in like her. Your son had neither of that other than shanking you if you look at him wrong." Drake added.

"I seee..." Janet was beginning to feel embarrassed. "I mean she mentioned you may have hated Pokémon and sold them for profit but you at least respected people." Ash said. "She wasn't wrong, by the way you fellas have some interesting Pokémon with you. Your Pikachu especially." Janet said. "Yea, Team Rocket has been after Pikachu since I started my journey." Ash said as he petted Pikachu's head. "I have no doubt. Just by looking it him, he would make a hefty buck then a wild Pikachu." Janet smiled which made Ash cringed.

"Oh just so you know, imprisoning him wasn't my idea. You have Lance to thank for that. I wanted to do much worse." Drake said. "So what stopped you?" Janet asked angrily. "To not put a friend's memory to mud." Drake said. "All your strength and struggle for a friend." Janet said.

"He killed her on the day we arrested him." Drake said, surprising Janet. "And the girl he killed happens to be my little sister." Rene added in anger. "Ohhh..." Janet said. "Which is why I agree with Drake that he deserves a grimmer fate." Rene said. "I'm sorry for your lose." Janet apologize. "The apple fell very far from the tree Janet, even for a former crime lord. You left your legacy in the mercy of a man like that." Drake said.

"Well with my wayward son in prison, there no doubt Team Rocket is gonna last much longer." Janet said. "Oh yea, we already beat you to that." Rene said. "What?" Janet asked but got cut off. Outside the sound of an explosion rocket the whole cabin. "What was that?" Serena asked. "I swear if those Pokémon are fighting in the garden, I'll tear each of them a new asshole!" Janet said as she march to the front door.

But rather than the Pokémon fighting, there was a giant Meowth robot with a vacuum trying to suck up Pokémon. "Kids, you might want to see this." Janet said. "What is it?" Bonnie asked. "Oh no." The group groaned in unison.

"Ha Prepared for trouble."

"And make it double."

"To protect the world from devastation."

"To unite all people within our nation."

"To announce the evils of truth and love."

"To extend our reach to the stars above."

"Jessie"

"James"

"Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light."

"Surrender now or prepare to fight."

"Meowth that's right."

"Wobbuffet."

"Really, since when did Team Rocket incorporate a jiggle. What is this, a quartet!?" Janet said angrily. "Today the day, we can feel it in our bones that we finally take your Pokémon." Jessie said. "You guys have had many, many, many days you kept saying that. Today will be no different." Ash said. "Besides, I thought you guys got the memo." Drake said. "What memo?" James asked. "Team Rocket is gone forever." Rene said.

"WHAT!?" Janet, Jessie, James, and Meowth said. "You guys are without a job, so there is really no point continuing these annoying reunions." Ash said. "N-no, I refused to believe it! You twerps will pay for your lies!" Jessie vowed. "Don't worry Janet, we'll handle this." Serena said as the gang prep their Pokémon to battle. "Na uh, nope. You kids are on my yard and the last thing I need is for you to create a mess for me to sweep. I'll handle this." Janet declares then steps forward.

"What the? Move you old bag!" Meowth said. "This old bag will teach you three how a real Team Rocketeer handles business." Janet smiles. "Just what do you know about us?" Jessie asked. "I'll show you." Janet said and with the call of a whistle, Janet had the remaining Grass types get battle ready and had them use Vine Whip to restrain the Meowth mech. "Meowth break free!" Jessie began to panic. "There's too many vines for the mech to get loose." Meowth struggled with the controls.

"Now let an old pro show you three how it's done in the old days. Rhydon let's go." Janet release her oldest partner in the Drill Pokémon. "Be a good boy and show these punks how we do business with Horn Drill." Janet smirked evilly as Rhyhorn rockets forwards with his mighty horn to the vulnerable robot. Team Rocket whimpers in fear as Rhyhorn got closer and connected his horn to the chassis, punching a hole in the armor.

The damage cause the mech to short out and remain immobile. "Controls are non-responsive." James said. "This rig is done." Meowth said. "Grr..get out, we'll face them head on." Jessie said as she pops the cockpit open. "Are you four done because I haven't felt this much excitement in these old bones for ages." Janet said. "You gonna pay for ever messing with the likes of us." Jessie said. "Uh huh, fellas do you mind?"Janet asked the Grass types as they restrain Team Rocket with vines before they can act. "In my days, we wouldn't pause our acts for our enemies otherwise such deeds we would deserve to have our asses kicked." Janet explained.

"What are you gonna do to us?" James asked. "Hmmm...Ketchum, you say that my former company is nothing but ashes correct." Janet asked. "I'll explain indoors." Drake said. "Then I suggest you four hear this story as well." Janet said as she had Team Rocket carried to her cabin.

Once settled, Drake slap the old newspaper of Team Rocket's downfall on the coffee table. "It happened a little over two weeks ago. We arrested the last of the executives and top agents." Drake said. "This is a long shot but does that also include Cassidy and...whats-his-face?" Jessie asked. "Butch, yes them as well." Drake answered. "Yes, guess that means no more ceaser salad and peach moisturizer for that bitch." Jessie happily growled, knowing her lifelong rival is caged.

"That may also apply to you guys, like we said you guys are now out of a job." Ash said. "Which means no more expensive toys for us to break." Rene said. "No more taking Pokémon." Bonnie added. "And no longer such a caviler lifestyle for you three to annoy us with." Serena said. "Time to make a grown up decision guys. Either keep doing what you're doing and face a similar fate as your former colleagues or finally make something of your lives." Drake said.

"Why offer us a chance?" Meowth asked. "As much as you guys annoyed, we also recall such history when we had to work alongside each other. You three are more burden then evil." Drake said. "We owe our boss our allegiance." Jessie said. "You mean that lousy disgraceful son of mine who is sitting in a cell? It's a damn shame he didn't recognize such loyalty, or any redeeming qualities because all he care are results. If you three were born in my time you would had better fare in my command." Janet said.

"Wait, your the Boss's mother. The OG Madame Boss?" James asked. "The one and only, but such titles are nothing but history now." Janet said. "We heard stories around the company. Some good, some bad." Meowth said. "That's a matter of perspective. I once ran the greatest crime syndicate the world had ever seen. We employed the brightest minds, gathered the strongest muscle, created limitless resources to aid in our operations. We had brought a region to its knees, our enemies feared us but also at the same time...respected us for our efforts." Janet said.

"Only because 'a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.'" Drake said. "Exactly, we had no room for error in getting to bed with the adventure. I valued hard work, diligence, loyalty, respect. The morals I'd held back in the days that I imply in running a business. It worked out better than I thought. But I committed the moral sin that no crime boss should crossed, I got too close." Janet said.

"But its a sin you enjoyed." Clemont said. "That I am paying for kid, but you're right. Everybody needs friends." Janet said. "But why walk away?" Jessie asked. "*sigh* I lost someone...you remind me of her missy. When you said you owe my son your allegiance, I saw a similar resolve. Compassion, headstrong, loyalty." Janet said as she stand to walk over to her makeshift chimney where several portraits hung. "You said your name's Jessie correct?" Janet asked, rubbing a certain frame.

"Aye."

"Huh, no doubt short for Jessica correct? You must've have used many aliases but never Jessica right?" Janet asked. "How'd you know?" Jessie asked. "Tell me about yourself, your childhood." Janet requested. "What's the point? I was a ward of the state, lived in several foster homes until I finally settled in one. I wasn't much on school, joined a biker gang for awhile until I found my calling as a nurse. When that didn't work out, that's when I joined Team Rocket where I vowed to make it a place to finally belong in." Jessie said.

"I see...it went full circle and now I blame myself even further." Janet said. "What are you talk?" Jessie asked. "Tell me? Do you know this woman?" Janet asked as she handed Jessie the frame containing the photo of an attractive woman in an elite Team Rocket uniform. "She's...almost looks like me." Jessie gasped surprising everyone in room excluding Janet. "I had no doubt. You are just as beautiful as your mother Jessica." Janet said, adding more shock to everyone.

Jessie study the frame closely. This was a photo of her real mother. "Who..was she?" Jessie said. "Miyamoto, one of the finest agents Team Rocket ever had, and a very dear friend." Janet smiled as Jessie sat back down and began to cry. "So that's your mommy?" Bonnie asked. "I was there the day you were born. I was proud, and like any good friend. I gave your mother an out of Team Rocket so she could devote her life to you. With support of course." Janet said.

"B-but..what happen to her. What happen to my mom!?" Jessie asked desperately. Janet turn sad and decide to reopen more of the wound. "I got greedy. We got reports of Mew located on Mt. Silver, there was no one else I could've trusted and I...never wanted to call her back unless I had no other choice. So I made a call. Your mother accept because...'anything for my bestest friend.'" Janet began to sob. "Miya left but...she never return. Body never found and as such I...destroyed a thing most precious to me and...made a little girl an orphan." Janet said as Jessie sobbed until James offered comfort on his shoulder.

"I felt hollow after what I've done. I push for my retirement sooner and left everything to my son then I took a one way plane to here and I would never look back." Janet said. "But you left Jessie behind." James asked. "There was a contingency for that should anything happened to Miya but never worked. Jessica, did you know your mother had picked a godmother for you in the event of her death?" Janet explained.

"Wait a minute, this was something my mother told me once." Drake began to put the pieces together. "So she did tell you, your godmother Jessica was your mother's greatest rival/closest friend and it just so happens its the mother of these boys." Janet pointed to Ash and Drake who were shocked. "I was meant to be sent to live with these twerps?!" Jessie exclaimed.

"You know about this?" Ash asked Drake. "Kinda, mom never did mention a name of the girl Miya birthed. Only that she never saw her since the day she was born." Drake said. "Are you kidding me!" Jessie yells. "Yes, Delia would've raised you alongside these two, if the foster system had been more diligent but I suspose it didn't help because your mother perished without leaving a will." Janet explained.

"So Jessie is our godsister? Jeez what a small world." Ash groaned. "Wait, your mom served with my mom in Team Rocket?" Jessie asked the boys. "Yes, but we are not getting into that." Drake said. "This is quite a cluster pile." Rene said. "You said it." Bonnie agreed. "This is starting to be a little bit too much to comprehend." Serena mentioned. "Imagine how I feel." Jessie pointed out. "Is there an end point to all this!" Meowth asked.

"Yes, Jessica I sincerely apologize for how your life turn out. I'm proud you grew to be an independent beautiful woman, but your mother turn from Team Rocket to raising you so you wouldn't experience such a life sucking work environment." Janet said. "Wait, you're saying you regret creating Team Rocket?" Meowth asked. "*sigh*...living in a place like this, all the time you have now to think. I revised my entire life up to this point to see what I had left behind. Do I have regrets? Yes...a lot. Like I created a great crime empire dedicated to extorting the lives of Pokémon. Living with them now, helping them and vise versa. I realize just how much pain I cause to the world and to the people around me."

"So ironically yes, I do thank you for burning a dark legacy I left behind. For imprisoning my son because he deserves it and for reuniting with the daughter of my closest friend." Janet said. "Even if it was all pure luck." Clemont said. "And you being mother of the year." Drake said. "And Jessica I'm sure the last thing your mother wanted was for you to be in Team Rocket but that no longer seems to be a problem because Team Rocket is gone. Which means you could be anything you want to be." Janet said.

"But I have tried many things, and many career attempts but neither of them worked out." Jessie said. "Are you kidding? Over the years we've seen you three masquerade under many kinds of jobs. Chefs, doctors, street performers and so on. As much as I hate to admit it but Team Rocket's basic training actually gave you three some workmanship skills. Now you just gotta put it for betterment of society." Drake said. "Perhaps, I mean even here I was a Performer with the twerpette."

"YOU WERE!" The group cried.

"Yea, You twerps never noticed. I went by the alias Jessiline." Jessie said. "No, we didn't." Serena said. "You mean to tell us with all your combined intelligence and magic powers, you never deduce who I was!?" Jessie asked. "Wait I just realized, back in Hoenn and Sinnoh were you also a Coordinator?" Ash asked. "You just notice that too!? Sheesh for godbrothers you two are idiots." Jessie grumbled. "We never deduce that. You'll just that good at masquerading for all these years." Drake argued.

"It's no wonder how we managed to get the jump on you guys after all this time." Meowth said. "Okay, let's get back on track. You don't have to figure out the rest of your life right now dear. Take your time and this time you'll have a mother figure along the way." Janet smiled. "Well...for now could I stay with you for the time being? I would like to know more about my mother." Jessie said as Janet agreed. "You three are also welcome to stay here though I hope you don't mind sleep on the floor." Janet asked.

"We don't, now I just gotta figure out my life plan." James said. "Well it shouldn't be hard considering you come from money." Jessie said. "Oh yea." Ash remembered upon James's former lavish lifestyle. "I keep forgetting Jimmy here is a Riche Rich." Meowth played. "Well like her, that's a life I left behind for independence." James said. "Speaking of which, James doesn't your family have an estate here in Kalos?" Drake asked. "We have at least one estate in every region. That's how wealthy my parents are. But there's no way I'm going anywhere near it." James said.

"You only have one set of parents young man. Best not take advantage of them." Janet said. "They were somewhat overbearing and sometimes negligent. On top of that, I was part of an arranged marriage that I didn't want." James argued. "Well...not all parents are the best. I mean look at me right?" Janet joked which everyone chuckled at. "So we should probably begin to depart soon." Drake said. "I agree, you kids want to get as far ahead before dark." Janet said.

The group then walks outside and prepare to leave. "So you're sure you four want to stay?" Drake asked. "Positive, just until what to do in the future." Jessie said. "Speaking of future, you guys ever figure out what those red dudes in shades are planning?" Meowth asked. "You mean Team Flare? We already got them in a bind. Now the next move is there's." Ash said. "Seems every region has its share of evil." Janet said.

"The writing's on the wall really. Those seeking to do harm will only face retribution." Drake said. "But they face a Ketchum or two and if I know a Ketchum, they never give in." Janet said. "Learned it the hard huh." Drake smiled. "By the way, I never got around asking but how is your mum?" Janet asked. "She's fine, happy and has a Pokémon help her care for the house." Ash said. "And I already regret asking, but and your dad?" Janet said. "We wouldn't know. He left us when we were little." Drake said. "Huh, that sure doesn't sound like him. That's why you agreed with me when I called him an asshole." Janet said.

"Well he is one. He didn't stop Team Rocket, we did. He didn't stop your son, we did. He didn't care for his family, we did." Drake said. "Well I see you're a real chip off the old block. I can certainly hold a grudge on him, even hate him but you two. Don't hold hate against him because sons need a father figure as much as a mother is their special lady." Janet said.

"Very motivational Janet, but perhaps we will never cross that bridge. I certainly wouldn't." Drake said. "You got serious daddy issues you know that." Janet said. "So everyone tells me." Drake said.

The group waves goodebye to Janet and the now former Team Rocket members. Now closing a certain milestone in their lives both them and Team Rocket. Meanwhile the group precedes to Santalune City. "Well we're back on track." Clemont said. "Today has been quite eventful then most." Serena said. "You're telling me. We met mom's oldest friend and dad's greatest adversary. Jessie is our long lost godsister, and they finally agreed to buried Team Rocket behind them." Ash said.

"But seriously...you never deduce Jessie as a secret Pokémon Performer and Coordinator?" Rene asked. "Blending in was always their specialty." Ash said. "Or perhaps Jessie was right about you two being idiots for never finding out." Rene said. "Then I guess we all are for never finding out." Ash said. "Yay, we're all idiots!" Bonnie cheered much to the other's reaction. "That's not something to cheer for Bonnie." Serena said.

"Regardless, we should be happy for them and on top of that relived that they won't annoy us anymore." Drake said. "On another matter, they did mention how confident they are in us against Team Flare." Serena said. "It won't be easy. Like I said, 'the writing is on the wall' for that matter. I first thought of it when I thought things were gonna go south when we met Janet." Drake said.

"Guess we just misjudged her character after all these years." Ash said. "I suspose, but for now let us continue onward." Clemont said. "I agree, all the way to the Kalos League." Ash cheered with Pikachu as the group finally made it out of the woods and headed to the mountain range. First Santalune City and then Lumiose City for the the Kalos League as the Journey continues.


Done guys, but man this one was kinda difficult to write that landed me with a serious case of writer's block. I was going for an emotional feeling with some anxiety added on this. I hope I fulfill that in this chapter. So we introduced Janet as Madame Boss (the name I came up as she was never given a proper name in canon.) Additionally, Jessie, James and Meowth finally get some closure and close a chapter of their life.

So next chapter is...you guessed it, the beginning of the Kalos League, and next chapter I'll explain my plan on handling the next chapters pertaining to that.

I apologize for holding off, and I still welcome creative comments on these chapters. They mean a lot to me so don't feel to hold back. That's all, this is Paradox signing off. Goodbye.