The next morning, the two of us are standing side by side on a small ship that will soon be heading out into the ocean. We're not the only passengers on board. There are three weeping teenage girls – Misty's older sisters, Brock's ten younger brothers and sisters and their father, and…oh no…
A tall, expensively-dressed, dark-haired man steps out of the limo that has just pulled up to the dock.
"Giovanni," I whisper as I move closer to Samuel.
"I hope this nonsense doesn't take too long," Giovanni snaps at his driver. "I have to be back at the gym by one." Scowling, he slams the car door and he and his Persian stride up the gangplank to the boat.
Samuel notices my fear. "What's wrong, Delia?"
"Giovanni," I stammer. "I didn't think he'd be here."
"But two of the passengers were Team Rocket members," Samuel reminds me.
"Yes, they were," answers the head of Team Rocket as he comes toward us. "And even though they were by far the most incompetent members of Team Rocket, they were still Team Rocket members nonetheless." Realizing whom he's talking to, Giovanni stares at me for a moment and then smiles in recognition. "Hello, Delia. It's been a while."
"Giovanni," I nod, trying not to look at my former lover.
"Why are you here?" he asks, intrigued at my presence.
"My son," I reply shakily as I feel the tears coming on. "He was one of the passengers."
"My condolences," Giovanni replies, although I can tell from the tone of his voice that he's just saying it to be polite. He's not really interested in what happened to Ash. Impatiently, he looks at his watch and frowns. "I hope this doesn't take too long."
That's it. I can't contain my anger any longer. "You don't care, do you, Giovanni?!" Surprised, Giovanni looks up from his watch. "Damn it, Giovanni, at least have the decency to mourn for your son!"
Giovanni stares at me in horror. "What…what did you just say?"
"Ash was your son, Giovanni! Yours and mine! I was pregnant with him when I left you and Team Rocket!"
The color drains from Giovanni's face. "You…you were…?"
"Yes, Giovanni, it's true," Samuel replies as he places his arm around my waist.
"Why?" Giovanni asks as he stares at me with stricken eyes. "Why didn't you tell me, Delia?"
"Because I wanted to leave everything that had to do with Team Rocket behind when I left you. I never told Ash that you were his father. And I was afraid that if you found out the truth, you would come after me and take Ash away."
"And now he's been taken away from both of us for good, hasn't he?" Giovanni replies contemptuously. Angrily, he motions to his Persian and the two retreat to the far side of the deck.
"Are you all right, Delia?" Samuel asks as he helps me into a nearby deck chair. I'm shaking so much that I can barely stand.
"I'll be all right, Samuel," I smile slightly as the boat begins to move.
A half-hour later, the boat comes to a stop over the final resting place of the St. Anne and its remaining passengers.
"Goodbye, Misty," Daisy, the oldest Waterflower sister, sobs as she tosses a pink rose into the sea. Her other sisters, Violet and Lily, do the same.
Brock's father says nothing, but tosses what appears to be a Boulder Badge into the water. The younger brothers and sisters of the deceased boy, some of whom are too young to understand what's going on, fling a variety of items into the ocean – a bunch of hand-picked wildflowers, a handful of brightly-colored rocks, a small stuffed teddy bear, a book, a drawing, and various other personal items that remind them of their brother.
I hold my breath as Giovanni approaches the rail. He removes a flower from a memorial wreath of red roses shaped like the letter "R".
"A small token of gratitude for having died in the service of Team Rocket," Giovanni says grudgingly as he drops the wreath overboard. Then I watch curiously as he studies the single rose in his hand. "Addio, il mio figlio," he says softly as he drops the final rose over the side of the railing. With a last glance in my direction, he returns to his place on the other side of the deck.
And now it's my turn to say goodbye. Slowly, I approach the railing.
"'Bye, baby," I say as I let go of the mass of red and white roses that are shaped like a Poké ball – Samuel's idea. In the center of the bouquet is a small yellow rose for Pikachu. "Sleep well, sweetie. I'll see you again someday soon." I start to sing the lullaby I used to sing Ash when he was a baby.
"Hush, little baby, and don't you cry…Mommy's gonna buy you all the pretty Ponyta…"
I can't continue. I'm too choked up from the lump forming in my throat. Blinded by the tears welling up in my eyes, I stumble back to my place on the deck. Samuel takes me in his arms and holds me tight while my sobs join those of the other passengers on board.
To be continued…