Rite of Passage – Janine blossoms

This was a Big Day, a very Big Day. It started in the predawn gloom as Sabrina, Millie and I stumbled in the dark over the crest of Ice Island. It was up to me to lead us to mom's hut and it was all too easy to get turned around in the thick lush forest on a nearly moonless night. We needed to backtrack several times. Each time made me more upset and angry with myself.

Sabrina noticed this and tried to comfort me, "Janine, you are doing your utmost.  Don't be so unhappy, we will get there in good time and your anger will not make us arrive any sooner."

"Thanks but no thanks," I muttered. "Let me do this my way – I just wish it wasn't so stupid."

Sabrina looked gravely at me, but said no more. Millie looked between us, smiled at me and said, "You're doing a good job kid. This isn't easy."

It sure wasn't. Not only was I delaying our warning to mom, but Jessie was lost. I hated to admit it, but I missed her strident can-do attitude and she had saved my skin on the east shore on pure reflex. Perhaps she lay behind us bleeding her life away with a bullet in her that had been earmarked for me.

I suddenly recalled a key landmark Mondo had told me about – a large boulder with a cleft top and a small palm tree in the crack. And there it was! "I know where to go now!" I said triumphantly and pushed ahead quickly.

We broke into the hut clearing a little before dawn. The sky was turning ever so slightly blue grey and birds started to pipe in the trees. A noctowl hooted mournfully in the distance – for some reason it made me think of Jessie.

I walked up to the door, hesitated for a moment looking back at Sabrina and Millie, and knocked loudly. I could hear mom stirring inside, the door opened. She had her glasses on, a dressing gown wrapped around her, and her hair looked a bit wild. Mom regarded me serenely and said, "Well, it's good to see you Janine. Will you be staying long?"

I have trouble understanding how mom can be so cool and collected even when she ought to be completely surprised. "Uh…Hi mom, I've come to give you some news that can't wait." I looked over my shoulder following mom's gaze, "Oh yeah. This is Sabrina Natsume and Millie Misako, I wouldn't be here without them."

"Ah," mom said, "Koga has written to me about you Natsume, you are every bit as striking…and young as he intimated. We must have a talk sometime."

"It can wait," Sabrina said ominously, "Are you at all aware of a Team Rocket operation about to descend on these islands?"

"I knew they were around. I can divine the telltale signs of their presence. I am not surprised, the organization has a keen interest in the Legendary Birds."

"We're here to stop them," Sabrina stated.

"I think altering events on Thunder and Fire islands might prove difficult, but I expect their greed dictates a complete sweep. If we can protect Articuno we might be able to disrupt Team Rocket's plans for the other Titans as well," mom suggested.

Sabrina looked sharply at mom and her mysterious smile. "You are a telepath are you not?" she asked her eyes widening slightly.

"Of course and so are you. I can see it in your eyes. You have the gift of second sight, and much more. Even without Koga's description I can tell you are extremely powerful and well trained – far better endowed than I. Am I right?"

Sabrina's cheeks coloured and she averted her eyes, "Yes, I suppose so. No wonder Koga found us similar, especially our eyes. Millie here has the gift too."

"Well that's an advantage I did not know we would have, perhaps there are some things we might do to affect events on the other islands," mom said a little more brightly. "Come in we have a lot of planning to do in a short time." She looked at me, "Will you be coming in too dear?"

"In a minute," I half-lied, I wanted some time to myself. "Um…Mom? Do you think I might have your 'gift' too?"

"It's hard to say, you need something to reveal it to you – an insight in a battle or a clear recognition of a mental link with a Pokémon or person. The first time I noticed I had the skill was when I first battled your father. I was a girl about your age. After the battle I could hear your father's frustrated swearing at me as I looked at him and I realized his mouth wasn't moving. He was keeping it to himself because he was trying to be a gentleman. I had to laugh as I could tell he had mixed feelings because he also found me very pretty," this was the first time I had heard mom's version of the story. "To fully express such a talent you would need to work with an adept. The ability is very useful in Pokémon battles." Mom turned to go inside, "Please do come in when you feel ready."

"Thanks mom, I will," I said smiling wanly at her.

I sat on a rock in the meadow in the golden morning light and pondered the last few days. I was evolving from an outsider at an uncaring institution into a cog in a team of strong and talented women. I had fallen under the spell of my first serious crush. I had lost a friend before I truly understood she was a friend. As I began to ruminate upon the missing Jessie I looked up to see the subject of my thought emerge unsteadily out of the woods.

"Jessie!" I shouted and sprinted over to her clamping my arms around her middle. "I was so worried about you!" I cried.

Jessie almost fell backward from the force of our collision, "Whoa kid, um…Janine. Is this any way to treat a harpy?"

"Nope, this is the way I thank you for looking out for me when bullets started to fly. I wish your sense of direction was as good as your reflexes. You had me worried there," I laughed.

Jessie threw her arms around my shoulders and lifted me off the ground in a bear hug, "It's nice to feel wanted Janine. How's your mom?"

At this she gently put me down and looked haunted, "She's fine, as inscrutable and wise as ever. You look as if you'd seen a ghost," I added when I noticed her expression.

"In a way I have. I found Articuno's lair," she said softly.

"Then I guess we'd better get inside to share that," I urged putting an arm around her and giving her a gentle nudge in the direction of the cabin.

It would not be safe detailing our plans before we actually put them into action. I wouldn't want anyone to read them and tip off Team Rocket. After all there's someone here who might spill the beans out of sheer honesty.

Mondo stalked into the clearing in front of the house at mid-afternoon and called my name. "Janine! I knew you couldn't resist coming here, so I am here to help you protect your mother and assure your friends do not interfere with mine."

I emerged with the others. I couldn't help feeling relieved and happy to see Mondo there. That was no secret with mom, Millie and Sabrina there. "Well Mondo," mom said smoothly. "I see you have met my girl. It would be a mistake to underestimate her simply because she finds you handsome and enjoys your company."

Mondo looked at me and turned crimson, "You do?"

I was flustered too and looked accusingly at mom before returning to Mondo. "Nobody can hide strong feelings around mom and Sabrina. Mom's right, just because I have a soft spot for you does not mean I'll let you stop us from disrupting Team Rocket's plans."

Mondo recovered a bit and looked at me with determination, "I did not come here to be rebuffed so easily. I could simply go back and inform Team Rocket of your opposition but I understand you consider it your duty to prevent me from leaving here. I have a small wager on my freedom to do my own duty and warn my superiors."

"How do we know you haven't already told 'em?" growled Jessie.

"He has not," Sabrina said. "What Cassidy Yamato said to Janine has profoundly upset the lad."

"Quite so," Mondo said quickly. "I still have my duty to Team Rocket but I propose to battle Janine two-on-two with Pokémon. If I win, you shall release me. If Janine wins I shall willingly remain your prisoner and will not interfere with your plan."

"Why Mondo, you little Galahad," Jessie laughed. "You're putting your divided loyalties on the line aren't you?"

"Is it not my right?" Mondo said indignantly.

"An honourable Rocket, how novel," my mother murmured. "Well, I suppose we could allow you to return to Team Rocket if you defeat Janine. It will increase our risk but decrease our honour to deny your offer."

Everyone looked at me, I sighed, "Okay Mondo I'll battle you. What Pokémon do you choose?"

"I have only two, Gullabull, my tauros and Fax, my ditto. With what shall you fight?"

My thoughts raced, the tauros might be tough, but I could fight a strong normal type, but ditto would be like attacking a reflection in a mirror. "I choose muk and jynx."

"Very well," Mondo bowed his head respectfully.

"As a former Elite, I shall referee," mom said.

Mondo and I squared off in the short grass of the clearing, "Go muk!"

"Go ditto!"

I made a quick decision, "Minimize!"

"Playing hard to get, eh?" Mondo grinned, "Transform!"

I licked my lips, "Ice punch!" I commanded and winked at mom.

"Ouch!" Mondo exclaimed, "Ice Punch right back at ya!" but ditto missed.

I sighed, it was time for my dirty trick, Muk return! Go jynx!"

"Hmmm," Mondo mused, "Sludge!"

Jynx was hurt but managed to avoid getting poisoned, "Psychic!" this time I winked at Sabrina.

Down went the ditto, "Go tauros! Use scary face!"

Jynx was slowed by her fear and became an easier target, "Psychic!"

That tauros was tough, it was still standing after a vicious blast of psychic energy. "Take down!"

Jynx fainted, but tauros health hovered perilously low after the recoil hit, "Go muk!"

"Rest," Mondo commanded.

Tauros went to sleep and recovered, this was trouble. I couldn't afford an attack when the beast awoke but now it was time to attack, "Sludge!" and then "Ice punch!" In spite of the damage tauros refused to faint. The bovine awoke with a menacing bellow. I swallowed, "Minimize!"

"Take down!" tauros missed.

"Sludge!" a direct hit and the beast was poisoned.

Mondo made a quick mental calculation and shouted "Take down!" again. Tauros struck hard, my muk was nearly in a swoon, but as I looked at my opponent I realized the combination of poison and the recoil had finished his powerful but stricken Pokémon. I collapsed to my knees and covered my face with my hands.  I had won, but the strain had made me burst into tears of relief.

Mondo was quickly at my side, "You are not only beautiful but skilled and determined!" he enthused. "Thank you for helping me make up my mind!"

I looked into his sincere eyes and threw my arms around his neck, weeping on his shoulder. "Oh my! Miss Janine, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, and so are you," I sobbed.

"Okay you two break it up!" barked Jessie. "Time enough for that later. Come along prisoner, we've got a plan to execute." She winked at me.

Sabrina extended a hand to me, "I think he wanted you to win Janine, but he wasn't going to make it easy. Congratulations, this was a battle you had to win."

"Thank you Sabrina," I said smiling warmly at her, "It's time to get ready for the rest of Team Rocket."