AFTERMATH OF THE AFTERLIFE

JAMES

Another day, another chapter. These will be coming a lot quicker now, so I hope you're all ready.

I think from here on, there will be quite a number of similar conversations, because for example, a lot that James has gone through will be similar to what Jessie did. So there will be some scenes that were in Jessie's chapter, however they will be told from James' point of view, so it will still be a different story. It will probably be a lot shorter though because of the similarities between Jessie and James' life.

I'm starting to really enjoy writing this, and some of the reviews particularly from the 'legends' (they know who they are… J ) have been really complementary, so I hope I can continue that.

O.K, now tricky Rocket chapter number 2…

* * * *

I've tried to kill him you know. But I never thought I'd actually believe it.

Seeing Ash Ketchum lifeless, it just didn't seem right…everything that we've tried to do, everything he has got through…now, it seems so empty.

I saw Meowth hop to Jessie, as I finally wipe away the tears from my face, I could feel blood rising in my face, the emotion totally drained from me.

I saw so many people turning up for Ash' funeral, but I could only recognise the ones that mattered, the ones that cared for Ash Ketchum, not the Pokemon Master.

Considering how our lives were so different, it was hard to predict this worst enemies/best friends routine we'd eventually become.

This is my story.

* * * *

I was born into this world with a silver spoon in my mouth. As James Frederick Morgan. Oh god, I hated that middle name, my parents seemed that it would be fitting for a growing gentlemen.

From the moment I was born, the aristocratic society that my parents had seen as being perfect took into affect. For me, it was like eating chocolate ice-cream from breakfast to supper every day. At first I liked it, but I eventually began to detest it.

This didn't take affect at first. Being born with everything seemed like a real fantasy for me. During my earliest memories, I was being taught how to eat, drink, and to more advanced teachings of skeet, swimming and acting. At aged 8, I remember being taught at a correspondant school as my parents began to direct my life.

That was the problem. They were controlling my life, but never actually seemed to get physically involved with it. They weren't there for me…ever.

My parents owned many businesses worldwide. They owned many series of land to be sold at more than double the price at times. They were stock and shareholders of many top businesses. They were smart yes, but only in the world of business…and butting in with my life.

I guess that's why I always looked forward to the Kodomo No Hi or Children's Day every year. Because even my parents had to respect what was known as a child's tradition to do what they want all day. Whilst eating nothing but ice cream sandwiches may not have been what they wanted, it was what I wanted, because it was the only time I could do something that my parents deemed as 'silly' and get away with it.

Their rules and regulations made me not do anything that 'normal' kids would do at young ages. Hence why I was teased so much in the bicycle gang in Sunnytown. I couldn't ride a bike, I didn't take part in sports other than swimming and shooting, and I never got to meet their neighbourhood kids, thus, I never had any friends. The first friend I ever had was Jessie at Pokemon Tech, and that was when I was 15. Well, my first human friend.

Because of this, I was miserable a lot of the time. My parents couldn't understand why I was so downtrodden in such an 'established' environment. So, they decided that they knew best, and they had the best way to make me happy.

So what do they do? They get me engaged.

Now on it's own, that is bad enough, but when you are engaged to a homicidal psychopath named Jessiebelle, it is REALLY bad.

As my parents introduced me to her, my mind was panicing. I didn't really understand the terms of engaged, but when a) my parents explained it to me and b) Jessiebelle began to hang onto me, it meant only one thing.

I was in deep trouble. And I only had one thing which kept me going.

I said that I met my first human friend Jessie when I was 15. But one of the few good things that my parents had was a tradition of keeping a pokemon to keep the child under control.

Fortunately, Growly was anything like that.

Ah, I remember Growly as a pup. One of my few cherished memories of my childhood is taking care of him, and vice versa. My parents seemed to be a part of society to learn how to take care of your possessions, but for me, it was the most fun I ever had.

Growing up, Growly became one of the few times I ever even came close to being happy. With Jessiebelle chasing me all the time with an Oddish ready to use stun spore or sleep powder on me, it was a bit panicky. Sometimes, I just talked to Growly all night, crying into his warm fur, as I had no-one else I could talk to.

Finally, because of my unwillingness to get to know Jessiebelle and her whip (and not in that way please…), as we grew up, my bond with Growly was getting so strong, we were inseperable now. I used to hide in the doghouse. My parents may have overstretched it a bit, but they felt that the master's pet needed the best attention.

However, that came to a crashing halt one day…

* * * *

"James son, can you come here please?"

I was 15 at this time. I had spent many years learning how to be a gentleman, going to schools, and spending as much of my little free time with Growly. The rest of that time went to becoming 'closer' to Jessiebelle.

I knew that whatever they were going to say couldn't be good. The butler was there as well, so it felt like a real Noah's ark.

"James, we feel that you haven't really become a true gentleman like we wanted. After all, what we want is best for u…I mean best for you. So…" my dad had started, and my mother finished.

"…we've decided to enrol you in a respected Pokemon school, known as Pokemon Technical, in the Cerulean area."

I was stunned. ANOTHER school? At first, I seemed happy that I'd be away from Jessiebelle, but again, I felt being ready to do something I didn't want.

I was the son of one of the wealthiest families in the world, and yet the one thing I wanted I couldn't have.

Freedom.

Jessiebelle was a bit upset, because she couldn't get to know me a bit more, but felt it was for the best, to make her fiancé as perfect and knowledgable a gentleman as possible.

They felt that being around Pokemon would help brighten my horizon, and considering my attention to Growly, I should feel happy.

But you know that a child's first rule is to go against the parents against anything, especially parent's like these, who I always dubbed 'lousy'. They were smart yes, but only with their own politics and ideologies, not anyone elses.

The butler as always, simply carried me out to the limo, as my parents had already made a down payment, and the school semister was starting today. They left it to the last minute as always so I couldn't Sneasel my way out of it.

I decided, 'life sucks' get used to it.

I remember leaving in an over-dramatic fashion to Growly. My parents drove me up to the path in the Cerulean area where Tech was stationed. I had been very grouchy all the way, knowing that whatever I said wouldn't have really mattered anyway, but I had to make a case.

The case was closed quickly as the parents dragged me out and explained to the administrator about how who they were, that they had made a down payment, yada yada yada.

The building was impressive, but to be honest I'd seen enough impressive schools and architecture to last me a life time, and I was still only 15 at the time. The ages of Tech students ranged from 11 to lord knows. I know the girl Giselle was 14 when she entered and graduated at 16. The other one, Joe, he was 12 if I recall…but there were some 'mature students' as they were known which were in their 30s. Some still in the beginners class.

I'm not sure if Jessie has explained this, but our exams were for the beginners class. That's why we only lasted the year, rather than the 3 years (or in the smartest cases, such as Giselle or May, 2 years) it could take to get from beginner to intermediate to advanced.

Speaking of Jessie, it was the first indirect meeting between us. It was just a quick glance whilst struggling against the butler's iron grip, the administrator not caring because as long as the money was there, the student didn't matter.

I wouldn't realise how much that first meeting would turn my life upside down in later years…

* * * *

I can't stress the fact how miserable my life was initially at Tech. I started before Jessie because of her specialisation meant that she had to start 4 weeks later. So for 4 weeks, it was the worst time of my life…and believe me I already had plenty of those to last me a lifetime…

Tech has a strict no-bullying policy. No, let me rephrase that. They have a strict 'no bullying as long as the teachers don't see it…which is practically all the time…policy.'

My hair, my face, my dress…it was all items for being picked on. I guess no-one taught my parents the arts of self-defense either, because that was another thing I had conviently not been able to do, defend myself.

So many times when I came into class, I was shown with a swollen eye, cuts on my face, or my dress deshuffled and torn. And what did the bastards known as teachers say?

'Your look is not appropriate James, I'll see you after class…"

No compassion, no care, just self-image. I guess it was how I developed my own ways of the world, care for yourself, nothing else matters.

It was one of these regular beatings that led me to meet Jessie. Now I'm sure she has told you how me met, but the significance of the meeting was different from my persepective.

"Well, this pretty boy can't even know a Spearow's learned attacks!"

"I heard he in an arranged marriage!"

"What? The cissy!"

These were comment that I had to suffer every day. It wasn't long before I was on the floor again into the dirt.

Another problem was that everything was really damaging my confidence, and this was reflected in my classes. Answers that I knew, I generally stumbled over, and made me look really dumb. Just another reason for these true upper crust snobs to take their 'superiority' over me.

However, this time, the smiles would be wiped out.

"What the…OOF!"

I looked up and found one of the twerps (hey, it's a favourite word of Team Rocket, heck, it's almost tradition between us and Misty and her family…until…well…) fallen to the floor, a sore cheek from a flying kick from a radiant red head.

This was Jessie, making her debut in my life and heart.

I had seen Jessie a couple of times in classes, however, as I was usually away with my own misery, we didn't speak. She was a loner as well, and felt that things were similar with her.

After this, it was quite the polar opposite. Everyone (including myself) was scared of her…

"Who are you?" one of the scumboys said.

"Someone who doesn't like people who pick on people weaker than themselves…" I didn't particular like the term 'weak' although it was true, but felt now wasn't the time to explain that.

Jessie standing like she was queen of the world (a familiar pose for her), me looking up at a saviour. The guys had quickly shown their real colours, they can pick on me, but attacking a woman with this kind of danger was incomprehensible to them.

I was about to thank her, but sadly, she beat me to the punch….

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU WIMP? YOU COULDN'T STICK UP FOR YOURSELF BECAUSE OF THOSE IDIOTS!"

And that was Jessie being nice. Trust me, you don't want to know what she's like when she's nasty.

I was scared of this girl's power, as she lifted me up by the scruff of my neck. The rage in her eyes, the fact that I was someone weaker than her…

"Listen, you gotta stick up for yourself in front of idiots like that, because if you don't, you'll never survive in somewhere like here, there, or anywhere!"

Wow, that was unexpected. Oh well…I still remained in paralytic fear no matter what. I saw her practically turn her head in disgust as she dropped me. After breathing, I felt this was my only chance to actually have a friend here…

"W…wait…"

She stopped. That was a good sign. That meant she could listen to me. I had a big speech in my head ready to say, but all I could say was…

"Thank you."

When she turned, I was surprised to see what closely resembled tears starting to form in her eyes. Maybe this girl was human after all, and not just another bitchy redhead to bring her hell fire and brimstone to my world.

Although throughout the years, she has inflicted almost as much punishment on me as the twerps have, the wink and the thumbs up she gave me meant more than anything else in the world.

"Stick up for yourself."

I saw her starting to move, and I had to speak to her, I couldn't let this opportunity slide by…

"Wait…please…I don't want to be here. But…well…er…"

Hmmm…could have done better….but then again, seeing her hand come out for a handshake, I guess it did the trick.

"Sure."

I took it. My first human friend in 15 years. And it would be the person I would count on for most of the life…

* * * *

Dependance. It's a word that Jessie uses a lot, because at times, I feel that she is the only one I can depend on. In Pokemon Tech and Team Rocket, it certainly was true.

At Pokemon Tech, I learnt what I could, but to be honest, hanging around Jessie was the only education I was really interested in.

It was because all the things that my parents hadn't taught me, feelings of friendship, compassion, or just human feelings in general, were being explored by my relationship with one Jessice Furage.

She taught me a lot, in how to stand up for yourself? You think I learnt all my ninjitsu skills from a lot of classes? Yes, I learnt etiquette and modern dance, which help me learn the moves much quicker, but it was Jessie who taught me the basics of self-defense.

Back then, it was so much simpler. I learnt all my skills to defend myself…(of course with Jessie around, I didn't really need them…except to defend myself from her…), not to use for attack or for entrances for Team Rocket. TR was way back in my mind back then.

Jessie I felt though was a wayward spirit. My tutors had warned me many times to stay away from her, saying that my work was being affected, but if I did that, I was back to square one. She was my best friend.

My only friend now.

I missed Growly a lot, and told her a lot about him. Although this was Pokemon Tech, we rarely talked about pokemon. We enjoyed talking about how bad our lecturers were, and sometimes our lives. Jessie didn't tell me much about her past back then, understandable. However, after we confessed, she began to tell me about her life, which made me even more attached to her.

From this, came the infamous Koffing incident. I decided to get her a pokemon. Most of the Tech students had at least one pokemon, another reason why I was teased, that I didn't have one. However, unknown to me, that was about to change…

I had one problem. I had forgotten about her birthday last week…heck, she never mentioned it to me. The only reason I found out was from a date circle on her calendar, saying 'The day I was born.' I think for her, a birthday was simply another day of the week. Again, shows the different between our past, yet our lives were so similar. Miserable.

My birthdays were similar. My parents gave me plenty of gifts, but hardly any feeling in their delivery. My only good birthday was when I got Growly. But from then on, my birthdays usually revolved around cha-no-yu with Jessiebelle, in other words, a tea ceremony with a psychopath. My birthdays simply revolved around her will to train me into the perfect gentlemen.

It never really occurred to me then how Jessiebelle and Jessie looked so much alike. In fact, at times, they did act the same, well, in violence. However, at least Jessie beat em up for a) me being an idiot or b) because she felt like it. I think Jessiebelle got a sadistic enjoyment out of it.

Anyway, back to the pokemon incident. I think Jessie had already told you the conversation, but it was simply another aspect of our friendship. Although it was a late birthday, it was also an early Xmas and at last we had a pokemon.

We actually weren't bad trainers, despite our poison pokemon use. We actually won our fair share of matches, and in tag team mode, we won more than we lost, which proved that we were good as a team.

That partnership would last to this present day…

* * * *

Oh yes, the test.

The 'advanced' test would make or break our chance of becoming pokemon trainers.

At least that was the plan.

As I said, my tutors had told me that Jessie would be a problem in my grades. I guess after this night, they were right, but guess what? I didn't care.

Of course, going out was something I couldn't do when I was a child, to the park, no chance. As I got older, those chances become less and less, with the one person my age that I knew was a deathwish of a fiancé.

So, going out to parts unknown, a.k.a. a nightclub, was something that I had sincere doubts about.

However, Jessie had her ways…she can be very persuasive. Still is now I come to think about it…

Jessie as expected was a house of fire, an untamed wildcat ready to take the world by storm.

I certainly found her attractive in Tech, here she was more of a beauty, more sexual in nature than I ever knew, even more than some Tech uniforms they made us wear. However, as I saw her down alchohol quicker than Casey at an Electabuzz convention, I noticed nothing.

Whilst I sipped my juice, Jessie whilst energetic, was simply that. She was full of energy, but not doing anything with it. She wasn't hitting on boys, despite a few lecherous looks I noticed come her way. Eventually, she came to me.

"Hey there, what you got?" She saw my Pikachu pear juice and sneered. "What's up cissy boy, afraid of a real drink?"

With that, she slapped it out of my hand, and brought me a vodka and orange. "Now, let's start of slow. This should settle those taste buds, then we'll get on to the real stuff…"

Another first for me, the taste of alcohol. I noticed some of the guys a bit pissed off at me accompanying a beauty like Jessie, however, I didn't care.

Down the hatch.

It started with sips and a comment of 'bitter' but I steadily begin to drink. I guess of juice with alcohol, it tastes fine to me.

However, I knew there was more to that. And Jessie proved that to me, as she was starting to be red in the cheeks, looking a right yopparai, or drunkard.

The drink in her hand wasn't for her though…

"One biru!" She slurred as she handed me the beer. "We'll get you some sake if you manage to drink this…"

I looked at the frothy mixture in front of me. It certainly was different to green tea and prune juice that's for sure. I picked it up and looked at Jessie.

Without much warning, and surprising myself as much as Jessie, I downed the whole thing quickly.

I coughed once and belched out not bad. Jessie smiled.

"Keep 'em coming…"

After many hours of drink, dance and delights, the last thing I remember was passing out in the streets after about our third nightclub…and sleeping in a stream of my own vomit…

* * * *

The aftermath was obvious.

After screams, a late cab, an even later Jessie and James dragging their hung-over carcasses of what was left of the exam, and of course, the laughters of the other students seeing us scuffle.

However, this is what Jessie didn't tell you. I think it was better that I did.

As Tech came to an end, before the exam results were getting printed, we had freedom. And that meant a little revenge…

(FLASHBACK, NOT TOO LONG AFTER THEIR HALF-ASSED ATTEMPTED TO COMPLETE THE EXAM)

"Heh, well if it isn't the hung-over hang overs…" sneered one of the students that had been a main source of my misery for many years, A certain Nevik, a short spotted twat who thought he was better and smarter than everyone else.

He was with about 5 of his cronies, and they seemed to take delight in annoying the hell out of the lower and weaker students, whether physically and mentally.

Jessie wasn't with me at that moment, but throughout my Tech experience, she has been with me in mind and spirit. I wasn't the same 'weak pretty boy' that they had referred to me many times in the past. They were in for a surprise.

"Go away. I don't need to deal with you little punks now…" I said.

"Oh, he's grown a spine…it's probably still yellow. Well then, what do you expect from someone who has grown up taking classes of dance and fashion…a true cissy in every respect…"

Even then, my knowledge of fashion was on a par with Jessie's. I guess my habit of crossdressing was the fact that I knew so much about women's as well as men's fashion. A lot of people thought I was gay (even Jessie) because of this knowledge. Trust me, that is a huge deception that I have used many times to deceive the enemy.

And today, this group of bastards was the enemy which needed to be eradicated.

"O.K, you think I'm a cissy. Let me show then one of my cissy dancing moves…"

I stood on tip toe, and span in a pirouette, like in ballet. The group of snobs were laughing, totally not expecting this. The next thing that came they didn't expect either.

I stopped and kicked Nevik in the head from the pirouette, sending him flying a few feet.

I smiled as the other guys started to back away. As a group, they had no fear when dealing with me as a 'weakling.' As soon as I showed some strength, they backed down, even in a large group.

I realised about 5 seconds later that the main reason they were backing down was that Jessie was behind me.

"You ruined my dramatic moment!" I mock screamed.

Jessie laughed. "Sorry, but I guess all that martial arts has helped you a bit."

"Oh well…" We both headed towards my tormentors, who took off in a hurry. They're were no rules, no teachers or tutors to protect them now, they couldn't hide behind any rocks.

Team Jessie and James were in the house…

* * * *

….sadly, we were booted out of it quite soon after.

Whilst my onslaught was my most violent proud moment, Jessie's was the incident in the dean's office as we both left our mark on Pokemon Tech, maybe not on the intellectual level, but definitely in a way saying 'don't mess with us.'

So, it was onto Sunnytown, shunned from all forms of society.

From the move to the bike gang, my contact with my family is the main point of story, as I don't want to retell too much that Jessie has already said.

Anyway, as you probably guess, they weren't exactly too thrilled when their son had flunked Pokemon Tech. They found out via letter from Tech when their son had neglected to write or e-mail them since…well, since he started. Mainly because they didn't do the same right back at me.

I'll talk about my wedding with Jessie at great length later, and how I had to get myself out of the arranged marriage with Jessiebelle, but they had learnt about Jessie from the Tech Dean, how her wild spirit may have dragged their son to the depths of degradation. Obviously, they weren't pleased, and needed to find their son immediately. However, they had two problems.

They were useless at technology and; They hadn't kept any photos of me since I was 8.

So with just posters around Kanto of an 8 year old tyke instead of a 16 year old rebel, they would have zilch luck for over a year. Which was good news for me.

Now, Sunnytown. At first, I felt an outcast again, like in Tech, this time because of my inability to ride a bicycle. Again, parent duties never allowed me to do anything a normal child would have.

However, thanks to our reputation from the Tech incident, and Jessie (surprisingly) sticking up for me, I managed to get in. My nickname of 'Little Jim' may have been demeaning, but it meant that I had a chance to be expected, and gradually, I did.

One guy in particular seemed to look up to me, a guy by the name of Chopper. His mohawk haircut and large height made him a contender for intimidation, but surprisingly, he looked up to me. It was the first time I really felt like I was part of something, and that other people were taking notice of me.

He said that I had a lot of guts to change my lifestyle from preppy rich boy to out and out street thug. Also, the guts to admit that I couldn't ride a bike was actually more respected than ridiculed around here, and he volunteered to be my gang buddy as Tyra did to Jessie.

So in shock horror, I made my second true friend, and my first male friend.

Now, to quote a rather famous shenanigans in the US, I did not have relationship with that young man from Bunk B3 in Sunnytown. I knew that many of the gang members thought that I was gay, and made comments now and then. I was frightened at times thinking that they could force me against my will…(something that I found out later that Jessie had the horror of coming through), however both Jessie and Chopper defended me more often than not. As I struggled through the gang, Jessie had her own problems with Cassidy Sun, another gang member.

I never knew Cassidy, hardly saw her, that's why I didn't recognise her when we 'reunited' in the breeding centre scam a year or so later. However, I wouldn't have been too surprised if to quote Jessie 'she was the one that started the rumours.' The reason that Chopper knew I wasn't born on the same side of the fence, was simple.

He was the first person that I told to that I was in love with Jessie.

I guess then it was more of an infactuation rather than true love, but it was certainly the first time I felt for someone more than I felt for myself, and definitely in the romantic context. Chopper understood whole heartedly. He admired Jessie a lot, he and Tyra were the only ones who called us Jess and Jim, rather than our other nick names. It was quite a friendship bond, and when me married, we weren't surprised that the other half of us four, Tai and Copter as we called them, were also deeply in love and married.

Heh, I guess holding emotions was a trait amongst gang members…or bitchy redheads…(i.e. female twerp…)

Anyway, the petty theft and damage that we were doing was certainly another stage of life that I had to accept. Again, at first, I certainly wasn't up to it, however again, Jessie's powers of persuasion came into play. I accepted that I wasn't the same person pre-Tech, I knew that my life had taken a new change, and I needed to follow the route that I had set myself on.

It was without remorce that I remember sabotaging a rival gangs rumble using my skeet shooting skills to an advantage with their basic weapons.

It was one of the reasons why I eventually became respected. Jess and I were certainly a good team, with our own individual skills. Jessie could lead her heart straight into combat, wielding her chain and martial art skill to dazzling affect. And anything that hadn't been obliterated in her path, I finished off quickly from long range. People realised that we were special, and began to really respect us.

Plus the fact that I could cook a decent meal for everyone when the time came by made it hard for me to be hated…hey, I took cooking lessons as well in my times, just because I don't like the places my parents sent me doesn't mean I'm not good at them….or that I don't know how to take advantage of my skills…

Our reputation was built, now we needed to continue it.

* * * *

You can take Jessie out of the fire, but you can't take the fire out of Jessie.

When she sets her mind on something, she can really be demanding.

I heard the scream of her and rushed to her cabin, where Tyra was already there helping out her roomate.

"What's wrong?" I said, really hoping that this was serious this time, rather than the last time she screamed for breaking a fingernail (When I laughed, she countered by breaking my nose…)

"James, we got to be careful, the water here has been contaminated, and Jessie nearly burnt her eyes with this stuff…" Tyra explained.

I saw Jessie covering her eyes with a towel, but I could feel the rage of her aura coming out. It was like something second nature that I could feel whenever Jessie got pissed.

I sensed the desire, and I knew something was up, but I was afraid to ask.

The last thing I expected was that she wanted to leave.

"Are you sure Jessie? I mean, we've quickly become favourites with everyone here, what would leaving here accomplish?" I said, not really wanting to leave, but also considered about my friend and crush.

"But James, what have we really accomplished here?" she said.

"Huh?" I said, confused about what she meant. Fortunately, she was here to explain to me.

"We've become mini-legends here, yet in what? A bit of vandalism and theft, some rumbles of some gangs…it's hardly stuff that we really want to be know us to throw two fingers at Pokemon Tech…or your family is it?"

She struck a nerve. And she had a point. I quickly listened in.

"I'm not sure what happened, but I'm pretty sure someone wants to make my life a misery here, and I have a good hunch who and why…but…"

I would always listen to her.

"…I think it's time we moved on. Move to the big leagues. Start to live true life. We are Big Jess and Little Jim after all…" she said with a smile.

"I guess…but…" I started, but put a finger to my lips.

"I explain to them. I'll miss Tyra a lot, but I think we need to do more with the life we've got James."

I nodded, a bit sad that I'll be leaving the gang, but a bit happy that I'd still remain with Jessie.

* * * *

Like with Jessie, Chopper was upset that I was going, but respected my decision. We wanted to prove to the world rather than just a small area, and the best place was Celadon.

Long story short, life wasn't exactly being cracked up to be.

With little to no experience working (One of my favourite phrases when I'm trying to get out of something is 'Jessie, I don't know the first thing about work…'), finding work even in the largest city in Kanto was like finding a weedle in a haystack.

With scrapes of food and sleeping on the floor outside, Jess and I only had one alternative.

To turn our one experience we seemed good at to our advantage.

That experience being crime.

Our petty thefts in Sunnytown were more for intimidation, what we were doing in Celadon was for survival.

I was very apprehensive, because I had a feeling that we'd get caught easily. However, my knowledge of lock picks becames indespensible as we managed to realise which places were less secure and easy to take the pickings.

As we managed to get away with it, our confidence grew and grew. Confidence would become over-confidence though, as we decided to go for a big one.

The Celadon Gym.

It was a mistake that would initially cost us our freedom.

(Celadon flashback)

"Got it…" I said, as the window lock came down. Jessie with black velvet gloves slid the window across, and as agile as ninjas, the two of us landed down with ease. After locating the area of the funds, we went to crack the safe and explore the vast riches of the Celadon Gym.

That's what would have happened if we forgot one small thing.

This was what really happened…

We jumped down, landed perfectly…and straight in the middle of an alarm.

"A trap?" I said.

"Ridiculous, we never get c…" she started, but suddenly, blasts of sleep powder came from the grass pokemon gyms defense systems.

"….aught…" she said, before deciding to take a quick nap. Not long after, I followed her into dozyland.

* * * *

Waking up inside a cell wasn't exactly the vision I had when thinking that theft was the key to all survival. Inspecting the prison bars for the first (but definitely not the last) time, I felt that everything we'd gone through had been for nothing.

Jessie was miserable inside there, we hardly said a word. I didn't know if we could survive in prison, but I felt that this was the beginning of the end.

Technically, it was, because it was because of this that the beginning of our career as Team Rocket agents began.

Again, as Jessie had already explained this, I'm not going to repeat anything she had said. Thanks to some TR interference, we escaped the prison, and found ourselves face to face with who we would call 'boss' a lot. We also met Meowth at this time, but we didn't know he'd be the receiving end of many times being blasted off…

The training wasn't that hard considering our already formidable skills in both martial arts (Jessie) and my shooting skills. Probably why at least in this early stage, we were seen as the cream of the crop.

The training did something else to me as well, something I didn't like. It began to change my thoughts and personality. It seemed like all the hatred from my parents, Jessiebelle, Pokemon Tech, it was all flooding back into me, to prepare myself to being a member of Team Rocket. My 'wimpy' persona vanished for the time being, as I trained myself to be the baddest boy on the planet.

Our own pokemon skills had improved consideringly since Pokemon Tech as well. Our pokemon worked well as a team, just like Jess and I. It wasn't too surprising that we were promoted within 6 months of getting there. As Rocket Elites, we finally went on missions, and with a boss' pokemon to boot (and we'd do a few boots to Meowth to say the least…of course, he was just as vicious…)

Our reputation was starting to get frightening, as we saw the poster of us near the Pokemon Centre in Viridian City. My vanity had also come up, as I finally began to see myself as better than everyone else that I knew.

Fortunately (or unfortunately), a meeting with a certain young twerp and his electric pokemon literally shocked sense into me, more so every time we met them.

* * * *

I guess now is a good time to talk about Ash. Yes, I hated him a lot at times. Not just because he was always the cause of ruining our 'brilliant' schemes, but because he had everything he wanted. He had a dream, a family, a true life, a life that I wanted.

I know Delia Ketchum quite well now, and I so wished my mother was like that. Sweet, kind, a bit embarassing but hey, a true parent should embarrass their child once in a while. My mother didn't embarrass me, she used me.

The poor woman is suffering so much now, even with that lovely Hale girl for company, she has seemed to lose a part of herself.

I saw Brock head down. They seemed more like brothers than friends at times Ash and Brock. I didn't say anything to him, but I acknowledge that his aura was one of complete blackness.

Misty…she was silent. Understandable. Her eulogy was heart-breaking and I guess she could hardly do anything else now.

I suppose it's hard to see Ash as an enemy…especially considering the many times we've worked together.

Before we became friends I suppose, we have worked together. On the St. Anne (and you don't ignore Misty's instructions at your peril…), and to stop Butch and Cassidy on the Orange Islands. However, there is one time where when we worked with Ash, it was really uplifting.

Shamuti Island, the middle of the Orange Islands, and the middle point where the legendary pokemon Lugia subsides.

I remember the moment which defined both me and Ash' love lives. First, that girl, Melody (Twerp 4's wife out of interest) teased Misty about getting married, and Jessie made one of her comments. I then came out with something with the lines of 'That's the kind of trouble, I stay out of.'

I know that some people thought I was gay for saying something like that, I think it was more in relation to Jessie. I didn't want to get involved with her, simply because she would kill me! However, Meowth then countered with…

'Youse two don't need the opposite sex because you got each other…'

In a moment that Ash and Misty would have been proud of, we both denied it with lightning speed. However, enough about embarrassing ourselves, it was probably our best and worst moments of our lives.

Yes, we actually saved the twerp.

It was weird, when we wanted to be heroes for a change. Seeing Ash hog all the glory made us want some of it, so using one of our few unison smart ideas, we combined the helicopter spin with our lifeboat, and created an ice version of a speed boat

To this day, we're amazed it worked.

We managed to get Ash, and head to get that ice sphere. However, eventually, the three birds had cornered us. We were holding onto Lugia's tail for dear life. However, we knew that we were slowing them down (Jessie needed to cut down on the desserts…not that I would ever tell her that), so in probably the most noble thing we have done in our life, we attempted to sacrifice ourselves so that the world could be saved.

And I did it without fear, and with a smile on my face.

Linking hands with Jessie, and hugging her as we fell to my doom, I almost confessed to her, however Meowth interrupted us and we plunged to the icy death below.

However, what I felt was a cold wetness.

A sharp pain but nothing major, as we realised we weren't dead. We swam up to see thousands of Pokemon gathering around so that the chosen one could regain peace around worldwide.

Yes, I admit I had a small think of actually capturing the pokemon, but felt with the world at it's knees, we needed to be a bit more respectful. At least we were still alive.

Since then, we've continued to be a thorn in Ash' side, yet it was more a hallow chasing now. Sometimes we get moderately successful, until Ash and co. eventually stop us.

I guess all these constant failures hadn't gone unnoticed by the boss, but he really couldn't be bothered with a trio of losers.

I know that eventually he did cut our pay when he didn't hear from us in a while, which was soon after me and Jessie had finally confessed our love.

Of course, not only had he cut our pay, he had tried to cut our lives as well…

The avalanche incident is something that makes your life flash before your eyes. For me, there was nothing of interest so it flashed quickly enough, enough to get Jessie out of the way from a state of catatonia, and for our pokemon to just about hold it off.

I never actually mentioned how I got my Victrebell. Well, I got it from the Pokemon League Admission Exams. You could actually buy pokemon there and with Jessie having two (Likitung at the time), I felt I needed one. So, with a discounting savings, I managed to buy it. The next place I put it in B&C's breeding centre, hoping to tough it up. It did evolve, however, let's just say that it likes me a little two much…

However, back to my main point. Our pokemon saved us, and then I saved Jessie. I still didn't know much about her past, so a certain incident that happened when she was younger wasn't told to me.

I had no idea about that, however as I took her clothes off, trying hard not to go all red at the sight of her. My idea was simple. To stop her dying of hypothermia, she needed warmth.

And the best kind in this situation is human warmth.

I took of my wet uniform and for the first time, I was sleeping with Jessie. I remembered all our pokemon trying to help out as well, and I wouldn't have surprised if Victrebell shot a little sleep powder just to help us. However, in 3 years of joining Team Rocket, it was the most peaceful sleep I had ever had…

* * * *

I woke up first, and I didn't want to risk what Jessie might do. Heck, we've been through plenty of life or death situations before, and she still beats me around like god knows what. I remember Deliberd hoping onto my shoulder (it was kind of like the unofficial mascot of Team Rocket) as I began to try and make a fire.

Emergency matches were needed and Deliberd hits the end with it's beak to start a flame. I smiled as Victrebell shot a few leaves down for me, and I slowly held the flame to light it.

Weezing shot a tiny bit of sludge to help the flame spread as Victrebell shot a surrounding bush round the fire so it wouldn't melt into the ice. All our pokemon were always ready to help us, no matter how many times we had been blasted off.

I began to make breakfast. I had a small supply of eggs with me, whenever we actually got the chance for a free meal, such as the Wobbuffet Festival, I usually stuck some of it in my Team Rocket uniform (don't ask me where….) and it was time for a bit of breakfast.

As I was cooking, I smiled as Deliberd was being a bit obvious in expressing it's hunger and also in brightening my day my hitting a spare twig across the metal pan I used for cooking.

It was also the sound which arose the devil's angel, or in my case, Jessie.

And it was also the moment where Team Rocket would be non-existent in our minds. I had my uniform on admittingly, but Jessie would soon change that.

Our conversation was one of brief words (mainly because she left her bag with no clothes on…embarrassing herself a bit more, not that I minded…) and I expected the worst when she slapped me.

Kissing me however, I was totally unprepared for.

I was initially in 'state of shock' mode and going to faint. However, the warmth of our bodies in this ice cave removed the fog from my mind and I kissed her back. I remember the only times we really were physically close (apart from when she kicked my ass) was when we were cowering in fear and clung onto each other. This type of clinging I could get used to.

Even when Meowth ruined the moment with one of his usual comments, it didn't stop us finally let the cat out of the bag so to speak with our feelings…

"I love you Jessie. I guess I knew you were a unique find when we first met all those days ago in Pokemon Tech. I just didn't realise how special. Throughout my life, me having a girlfriend was a scary thought. You saw what I went through with Jessiebelle, and that other girl who wanted me to be a fiancée, it was fear for being controlled, however, despite your attitude, I knew deep down that you really did look out for me, and no matter what happens, I'll continue that."

Those were my words. Her words weren't as long winded, but they did the same job.

"I love you James."

This kiss blazed with passion, and I knew from then on, our lives would never be the same again.

* * * *

So Team Rocket was no-more for us. We had been presumed dead in the avalanche, and I guess Giovanni didn't want to bother with a couple of losers anymore.

So, we decided that we needed to start really looking for work. We once again returned to a small 'business' of salesman and snack vendors using our own created recipes. If we tried something like being mercenaries for hire, I think the boss would have found where we are. The money was enough to get buy, and heck, we finally managed to afford to get some decent new clothes, to prove our brilliant taste in fashion.

The twerps? We had no reason to have a problem with them. In fact, after we were 'retired' from Team Rocket, we never saw them. Our health insurance policies finally got a break from all the injuries we had from blasting off, it also gave us a chance to properly train our pokemon.

However, our paths couldn't be hidden forever. The paths of three common enemies at one point would cross.

The path of Team Rocket, Team Twerp and two former employers coming for their back pay…

…or should I say pay back.

* * * *

And this was the first time we saved the twerps or teamed with them without any links to Team Rocket. Both parties were as surprised as each other when we showed up with their motto, and my threat to Botch (I refused to call him by his 'proper' name), yes, we condemned ourselves to death. However, amazingly, we had one card up our sleeve.

And he was the twerp…sorry, his name was Ash Ketchum.

He helped us. A lot. He managed to make us live in Pallet Town, under security (as it is the hometown's Elite champ lives here) and he also got our names cleared and got us jobs as hackers.

Our dream of becoming restaurant owners hadn't diminished either, and thanks to Brock and Delia, we were shaping up to be the best of the rest.

However, my remaining story comes from two key moments of my life. The first was the takedown of Team Rocket, and the second, my marriage to Jessie, which meant a trip to my parents.

TAKEDOWN OF TEAM ROCKET: JAMES

Jessie has already told you of the story between us and Butch and Cassidy. And yes, I nearly did kill them because of the suffering that we, in particularly Jessie, had from being involved in the Team Rocket organisation. After the story of her mother, her rape, and how her mother was killed, I certainly was understanding where the aggression was coming from.

However, we had one more flower to remove from our sides.

And we knew she'd be on the top floor, with the higher ranks trying to stop anybody coming within the boss' escape route.

However, I felt that Ash would be the one to stop that.

I remember being held close to Jessie as Butch & Cassidy were unconscious, taken away.

Jessie's old friend, Mondo, was taken away, a bit more happier than I'd thought. His son, Mondo Jr. wasn't nearly as happy. He had blood, bruises and looked like an extra from Reservoir Growlithes. I guess his daughter had given him a few things to remind him that she existed…

I saw many people as I came down who I once had tried to steal pokemon. Yet, they had all came here for the common bond of taking down Team Rocket.

I was very proud to be one of those people. And for the second time of my life, I was a true hero.

* * * *

However, there was one more stage to this story. Well two really.

First, me proposing to Jessie.

It was during our opening to our restaurant, yes, we've only actually been married a few years, Misty and Ash married a few months after us, mainly because we wanted the money first.

And as the opening in Pallet Town commenced, with Ash first in the queue, his fiancee Misty giggling at how Ash' appetite had grown with his now 6 foot and quite muscular physique, it was time.

"Attention please! Attention please!" I called over as most of the town as well as many from neighbouring Pewter and Cerulean, had come. After the shutdown of Team Rocket, everyone involved had become heroes in some form of another, and we were no different. This time, we were famous for a good reason.

"I'd like to welcome you all to the debut of the first J&J restaurant, if it isn't J&J, then blast off and go away!" A few giggled at my light hearted attempt at humour, but today, I was all business.

"Now, we have the head of the Elite, Ash Ketchum here, as well as esteemed guests, Misty Waterflower, Gary Oak, Delia Ketchum, Lance Turom, Lorelei Prima, Bruno Santana…and many others that I can't remember…"

As the speech ran down, and people (especially Ash) ready to enjoy, he helped us with advertising, although poor Brock couldn't be here because…well…you know already. He's here at the funeral now, a new man, and it's good to see that. After all, we all changed in one way or another because of one formerly dense pokemon master.

However, it was time to end my speech.

"And to finalise…I have something important to say to my partner in crime…"

Jessie turned surprised. That wasn't in Meowth's script (now you know where the poor attempts of humour came from).

"Jessica Furage, we've know each other for a very long time. We are both 25, young and hopefully successful. However, it isn't enough."

I bent down and went on one knee. A platinum oval ring was in front of her and everyone especially Jessie gasped.

"Will you m…"

I didn't even get to say the words as Jessie had glomped me.

"Yes, yes, I DO! I DO!"

Wow. Jessie like a mad schoolgirl…huh, wait, she said yes?

And lo I became a mad schoolboy….as the crowd were amazed that these two young entrepreneurs were acting like mad children.

Of course Ash had to interrupt the moment.

"That's great guys…but can we eat?"

A hall of laughter came about, as did we, after we kissed. People applauded us as we finally got the first layer of food, a Kingler supreme which after Ash approved whole heartedly, we finally got to work with our staff (yes, we hired staff, the Pokemon League had lent us some of their best cooks for us, and would pay them for the first couple of months after then we should be O.K to take care of things for ourselves.)

However, to marry Jessie, I had to confront the one thing I was more afraid of more than anything.

My parents…and her.

* * * *

When I was tricked into returning to the house, it was one of the few instances that I knew more than Jessie (hence why I called them imbeciles). However, it was a moment that me and Jess probably got closer together on that nice quiet hot air balloon ride (and hearing the twerps running away for a change…)

However, seeing Growly was a close second to being happy. It saved me from that horrid Vileplume and the even more horrid Jessiebelle…

This time however, I wasn't a coward.

I remember leaving the restaurant in Jessie's hands, saying that this was something I had to do on my own.

With my 6 pokemon at hand (again, thanks to Ash), I drove our van to the outskirts of Fuschia City…to face my worst fears.

The knocking of the door was like entering a giant's castle, you don't know how afraid you are going to be.

As it opened, the butler, still there after all these years, opened it.

When he saw me, he instinctively went to grab me to take to my parents. However, I jumped back, quick as a cat and stared at him.

"Where are my parents?"

The butler got the message. "Master and mistress, young master James has finally come to see you!"

The parents hadn't changed much to say the least, even though it had been 8 years since I had seen them. I noticed the 'dog house' next store and although I wanted to see Growly again, I had to do this first.

"Mom. Dad." I simply said.

"Young James, you have grown so much…" my dad said.

"…you are such a gentleman now!" my mom said.

"I guess you are good enough for your fiance now!" my dad said even more excited.

I sighed. 8 years and hardly a word or tear concerned. I guess they were concerned for themselves first. I had kept Growly hear for their protection, but I guess they didn't deserve his compassion.

I heard my mom call for Jessiebelle, as I readied myself for this moment.

The Jessie look-a-like yet is nothing like her, bounded up and saw her fiance waiting, ready for her. Well, at least in her eyes. In my eyes, I saw a tramp being set up.

"Ah, my darling fiance has finally come back to me!" she said. "And this time you won't get away!"

Her whip came out in a second. In half a second I jumped out of the way.

"Victrebell, show how to whip it in real life!" I shouted.

My plant pokemon had been trained better now, and didn't fancy a chewy blue snack every time it came out. It's whip crashed Jessiebelle's hand and disarmed her. Jessiebelle was shocked.

"Vileplume, stop this horrid thing!" she said.

Said Vileplume shot it's stun spore, but Victrebell used a reflect. I smiled as the spore affected all four humans and one pokemon. All paralyzed, I smiled as I walked up to them.

"You said I'm a proper gentleman now mom…" I said.

I slapped Jessiebelle.

It stunned them…more than the spore.

"I'm not a gentleman. I'm not your gentleman. I am James Kojiro Morgan, engaged to Jessica Musashi Furage…" I showed them my ring for proof. "I run a restaurant business, I am happy. And now…"

I ran to the door of the Growly manion. Victrebell razor leafed the door, and within seconds, a fully grown Arcanine was there.

I was a bit stunned of it's evolution, and saddened because I always remember my lovable Growlithe.

However, it didn't seem to forgot me one minute. It jumped on me and licked my cheek, and despite his much bigger body weight, I laughed and hugged the dog pokemon as master and pet had returned, closer than ever.

I knew that Growly would get along with Jessie, they were both firey and dangerous. However, I took one last look to my parents.

"I always thought that Growly would take care of you. Now, it's my turn to take care of it."

Growly hoped into the back of the van as I turned one final look at my past.

"Goodbye."

* * * *

And so it is.

My parents left me alone. They finally realised they couldn't have the sun they wanted after all these years. I became truly free.

Our restaurant blossomed into many franchises in all three main islands, and me and Jessie are happily married. No plans for children yet, I'm not sure that Jessie is the mothering type…

I glance at Ash' mother, Delia and her adopted daughter Molly Hale. I realised that I was in front of the coffin now.

My eyes began to shed. Tears were rare for me, but for Ash I would shed them.

I have been through a lot with the twerps for many years. As enemies, acquaintances, helpers, friends. Friends. Now I have lots of them.

My first friend in human and pokemon world, Jessie and Growly, started my true life.

I saw Meowth head back to the Pokemon Pen. God knows what Pikachu is feeling, it's little heart has probably broken many times over.

I said my final words.

"Ash, you and I, at times we were our worst enemies. However, seeing you like this, it's…just…not right…'

I couldn't say any more. I turned and left my present.

A single red rose.

It was the symbol of Team Rocket that Ash had known so well. Whether enemies or friends, it was the link that kept us together.

I guess that was all he had now. God bless the twerp's soul.

* * * *

Whoa…that was very difficult to write.

I think it is hard to try and write a story on both Rockets perspectives because many event of course are going to be similar. Which brings me to the fact that I'll probably in one chapter (the Giselle one) do three short stories (one for Giselle, one for Sabrina and one for Molly Hale) and I may do that with a few other characters which I won't have as much to say. Mind you, this was still fairly long so I'm not complaining.

Next chapter;

DUPLICA

The youngest ever action heroine, the young winner of the Pokemon Acting Contest. The youngest to open up the Johto League Ceremonies. All of these accomplishments have meant nothing in this day, as her surrogate brother, her Ashy-boy, has been taken from her.

Take a journey through the diary of the ditto master, as her life is explained as the true explanations of her family are revealed, and her own role in the Team Rocket takedown. And also, her marriage to Todd, her friendship with Misty and a crush on Ash that simply won't go away…

Look forward to this, see ya!