Disclaimer - I stole some parts from the fic's inspiration - The Horse Whisperer
~~The Equicorn Whisperer~~ How he Gave upJames threw the plastic leg in the air with his right hand and caught it with his left. The nurse smiled as he examined it and concluded that it wasn't the right shade for his particular skin tone. There was bitterness behind the joke. He felt that if he made fun of himself, this would be easier. But it was not. His entire leg itched. Even where there was no leg, he had an urge to scratch. His only escape was through his friends and family. Even the Twerps stopped by occasionally. Their chatter of the world he'd only seen through the window since the accident soothed his aches and itches. But once they'd gone, a tickle would again creep up his leg. It almost drove him mad. He stayed sane because of one thought; he would walk again. It wouldn't be the same, and it would take hard work and determination, but he was going to do it. Exercise made him stronger and he was soon hobbling along with a frame on his new prosthetic leg. As Jesse and Meowth cheered him on, he realised that one day they would go back to Team Rocket and leave him behind. A part of him had died that day. When Jesse took him to one side and explained about the situation between Giovanni and James' Equicorn he immediately refused to give it away. He was no longer an employee and therefore he had no reason to hand Equicorn over. "What if the Boss takes it out on us?" Jesse worried.
"I promise that he won't. Why don't you stay with me? You shan't be imposing." So Meowth and Jesse stayed with James and his parents. Jessebelle wasn't especially pleased when she heard of this arrangement. But they didn't give a damn.
One day, James limped into the middle of the field near the mansion. Jesse and Meowth hovered nearby. He was going to release Equicorn from its PokéBall. She wouldn't fly away as her wings were damaged and would not be better until at least half a year had gone by. There was a stable to the side and James was using his Growlithe to steer it into the stable. "Are you ready, Growlie?" The Growlithe barked to indicate that it was indeed ready. "PokéBall go! I choose you Equicorn!" In a red flash, Equicorn sprung from the ball and kicked and bucked and raced around the field. Jesse watched in amazement as James commanded Growlie and together, drove the Equicorn into the stable. "He's a natural," she breathed. Meowth raised an eyebrow. Was she…swooning? He soon forgot that idea as Growlithe ran under James and he fell on his back. She laughed until her stomach ached. "Why don't ya help Jimmy?"
"Because if we go rushing over every time he sneezes he'll think we pity him." Meowth understood. She was treating him as she always had. Badly. A low clapping interrupted them. Leaning on one of the fences was Lara and her Rapidash. "Y'all are pretty good wit' that there Pokémon." They stared at the floor; still feeling guilty from when they broke her arm to help Dario win the Pokémon race. "Wit' a lil practice, I bet y'all could win tha Pokémon race." James was about to mention his false leg that was cleverly concealed under his dirty jeans but Jesse cut him off. "I thought they banned it for being so dangerous."
"Nah, this is a new race. Jus' a bit o' jumpin' an' runnin'." Lara looked intently at Equicorn thrashing about in the stable. "That thing looks pretty dangerous. Maybe y'all should forget it." Lara backed away from the fence and hopped onto her Rapidash. "See ya 'round." And with that she galloped away. "Who does she think she is?" Jesse growled. "We'll train Equicorn, enter the race and win."
"No way," said James. "I can't." And with that he limped back over the field towards the comforts of a stifling home.
"He's such a wimp", Jesse sighed as she filled in the racing form. "Name…James Morgan. Age…22. Sex…doubt it. Pokémon…Equicorn." She handed in the form and the judge gave her a sceptical look. "I'm not James! He's a friend," she explained. His eyebrow remained raised, but he stamped her in regardless. Meowth tapped his foot impatiently. "Youse shudn't do dis. Jim'll be real mad." Jesse gave him an 'I know better' look and he left it at that. When Jesse told James he flipped his lid as Meowth had said he would. He paced up and down (as best he could) calling Jesse all the names under the sun. Even he was shocked at some of the things he was saying. "This is beyond betrayal! The only reason I'm keeping that fucking nag is so I can sell her on to Professor Oak. I have no intention of owning, let alone riding, that…that…BEAST!" he slammed his fist on the dining table and the glasses skimmed across the surface. Jesse fumed. "You give up too easily. You run away from all your problems. This time, I think you should fight."
"I think you should keep out of this." James indicated for her to leave but she wouldn't budge. He sighed, "I can't fight. There is nothing to fight for."
"Just…just…fight for yourself."
