A Lesson Well Learned


The steady echo of Demona's maroon pumps carried an almost rhythmic tune to them as she walked along a metal catwalk suspended high above a group of practicing fighters. Somewhere on Johto they were in a dimly lit warehouse, which was only part of the established base of operations for the western branch of Team Rocket. As instructed by her dear mother, the 'Doomess had begun the long and arduous process of furthering the iron grasp of their organization into this otherwise peaceful land; even though she had been there since her youngest son could speak, she had yet to make a visible impression on the people. A new scientific discovery would soon change that.

Breaking the steady rhythm of footsteps, Justin's barefoot jogging added to the noise of the area as he ran to catch up with his mother. "Ma! Wait up! I got somethin' to ask you!"

Demona stopped near a turn in the catwalk and glanced over the railing at the fighters below. "Look at them," she said, speaking to no one in particular. "Prime fighters, all at the top of their class. But just what makes any of them worthy of Team Rocket?"

Her son rolled his eyes as he approached her. "Will you quit it wit' da motivational speeches, already?" At her feet he threw a newspaper where the front page headlines read: Junior Champ Yields Not to Temptation. Underneath the bright and bold letters was a picture of May hugging her brother, with the Judge family standing nearby. "Look at this! Just look at it! The little brat's made a fool outta us, momma! The kid refused our offer, so why didn't we off her?"

"Justin, keep your voice down," the 'Doomess stated as she picked up the paper. "The refusal of one small Pichu is of no consequence to us, afterall, she is just a child. For the time being, tournaments are mere games to her. When she grows older and has more time to realize the severity of her career, it will take little convincing for her to realize that only we possess the resources to properly fund her efforts." She beckoned for him with a hand. "Now come here, son. I have an assignment for you."

The Houndoom's tail whipped the air behind him as he moved closer to her, then he leaned against the rail of the catwalk. "Now listen closely," his mother spoke. "According to the scientists, a certain karat amount of an Everstone in contact with a Pokemorph at all times can suppress natural evolution. I had several variations of the proper amount fashioned into delightful jewelry and trinket accessories."

"Great," Justin sneered, "so now you want me to stand on a street corner somewhere and peddle these gewgaws like some sleazy street hustler? I thought we had a whole division dedicated to that sort of thing!"

"Everstones are far from your everyday cubic zirconia. They give off a very special type of radiation that, in a constant amount, can keep a person from evolving." Demona turned to tread the length of the catwalk again. "Look below you, my son. What do you see?"

Her eldest peered down at the group of fighters who were moving in unison to their instructors command. "Wannabe's," he said with a grin, "grunts in the service of the great Team Rocket."

"Yes, but what separates them from us?"

"Hmm..." As he turned to follow her, he chuckled and made his reply. "Skill, intelligence, regality... I could go on, mother."

"Beauty." Demona neatly rolled the newspaper she held, then began slapping it against the palm of her left hand periodically. "Simply put, they lack beauty. Comeliness. Magnificence. These fighters may have attractive moves, but they are hardly attractive themselves."

Justin shirked his shoulders. "Not like they can do anything about it."

"No," his mother stated, "but we can do something about the next generation that comes along. Do you remember what it was like being in High School? Listening to the pathetic stories of all those charming youths who knew their fate was to become something hideous before graduation. There are so many of them out there, so many desperate souls who would be grasping at the chance to stay exquisite for as long as they should live."

The young Houndoom brought a hand to his chin as a picture began to form in his head. "So then, if we promise them these 'magical trinkets' that can keep them young and beautiful, they'd happily join The Team!"

"Now you're getting it." Demona turned to face her son. "I will give you a set to show off, but none to give away. Use your fine talents in salesmanship to reel in potential youths, Justin. But remember, only those with fighting skill will be accepted, so choose wisely."

His muzzle spread in a toothy grin. "Heheh, you got it, ma."


Up in his room, Kevin sat in waiting with Genkimono for Lesley to arrive with Jimoku. The two were not without things to do, of course. While they waited, they went through several rounds of Jump Skip Anarchy, a video game on Kevin's RecStation that used body movement to generate gameplay. He always played against Genki, since his friend's dance steps were too fast to be recorded by the console and he would always lose.

It wasn't until their twenty-second round of playing that Lesley knocked on the doorframe before entering. "Hey, guys," she said as she flopped down on the bed, "what's up? I see you're still playing Genki in a game you know you can win, Kevin."

"Why ruin a good thing," the Pikachu said as he turned off his console. "Where's Jimoku?"

"His grandmother decided to take him clothes shopping at the last minute, then they're gonna spend time praying at the shrine."

"So it's back to just us three for the day." He turned to the desk near his console and pointed to a folder of pictures. "Well, I got all the pictures for the family tree assignment in history. What about you guys?"

"You'restillworkin'onit?" Genki shook his head rapidly. "ManIfinishedthatthinginanhourthe samenightthatitwasassigned."

"The project isn't due for another two days, Genki," Lesley said with a frown. "Man, I haven't even started yet."

Kevin looked at her with a confused expression. "What do you mean you haven't started yet? What's wrong, can't find any photos your family will let you use?"

"Oh I've got plenty of photos." The Rattata's tail flopped against the footboard of the bed. "I dunno, guys. My heart's just not in this project." She sighed. "I don't know why they want to know anything about my family, anyway."

"It's not so that they know anything about you, Les, it's so that you know something about you."

"Trust me, Kev, I know everything I want to know about me, and some things I don't." Lesley sat up on the bed and reached for one of Kevin's pictures. It was of his grandfather, Jonas, a very handsome-looking Raichu in his younger years. "You guys are so lucky. In three years, Kevin, you'll get to be a nice-looking Raichu, and in five years, Genki, you'll get to be a decorated Furret." She sighed once again, spreading out over the blue blanket of her friend's bed. "In five years, I'll have to wear a bag over my head for the rest of my life."

Both boys looked at each other first, then her. "Whattheheckareyoutalkin'about,Lesley," Genki asked. "You'llturnintoaRaticate. What'swrongwiththat?"

"I'll be hideous! That's what's wrong with that!" Lesley grabbed the pillow from the bed and chucked it at him.

"Hey, you're messing up my attempt at keeping a clean establishment for once," Kevin whined as he caught the pillow. "Look, Les, don't you think you're overreacting a little? Sure, you'll have a thick, lazy tail, over-exaggerated overbite, and bad hair for the rest of your life, but it doesn't mean tha--" He suddenly found himself covering his ears to cushion the sound of his friend's screaming.

"You two are so clueless," the Rattata yelled as she hopped off the bed. "I'm going home now. Goodbye!" A slam of the room door marked her exit. Both Kevin and Genki were left in confusion, not understanding why she was so upset at having to evolve some day.

"Girls sure are weird," the Pikachu noted.

"Yougotthatright," the Sentret agreed.


The next day, Lesley's attitude had yet to improve. She ignored everyone, even rushing out of her house without meeting her family at the breakfast table. The youngest in a family of six, she was the last of her household to need an evolution. As far as she was concerned, sitting around the table with them was like sitting in front of five dreadful mirrors of the future. They had all become Raticates, and even her mother and sister looked horrible in her eyes. No one would ever understand the fear this young Rattata had for her future. She felt like the only person in the world who saw what was wrong with her species. Or was it she that couldn't see what was right? That thought never crossed her mind.


In school, Lesley wasn't as active as she normally was. She ran twenty seconds slower in Phys Ed, didn't raise her hand to answer difficult questions in Algebra, sat away from her friends at lunch, and didn't hand in her project in English. All of the teachers expressed their concern, but her answer to them was dodgy. "I'm just... not feeling well. That's all."

When the school day ended, she avoided her friends once again by going a different route. Instead of heading out the front of the building to walk Jimoku home, she exited from a side door and went around the back, heading towards the shaded sidewalk underneath the Goldenrod Magnet Railway. Sure, it would take her longer to get home, but then she wouldn't have to deal with the prying questions of three clueless boys. The further she went, the darker it seemed to get, and at the same time, the feeling of another presence grew more and more suspicious. Halfway through the rail system she stopped in her tracks, the fur on her tail bristling at the feeling of intense heat. There was someone there, and she had a good idea who it was. "If you're looking for a fight, Butch, try requesting it for once instead of pulling a sneak attack."

"Heheh, that sounds like my little brother, all right. But I'm afraid ya got the wrong firedog this time around, kid."

Lesley's body went stiff, her pack almost dropping from her shoulder. It would've been bad enough if it were that hyena-like pup who she could simply spray with her water gun to ward off, but no, this was his brother. His big brother, who, she reasoned, was here to exact revenge for their embarrassment last Friday. Out of the shadows the devil dog stepped, his hands in the pockets of a black leather jacket. Whenever he was up to no good he wore a narrow-eyed smirk on his face, and you can bet he was wearing it at that moment. The Rattata turned to confirm her suspicions, then matched his smile with a narrow-eyed frown. "What do you want," she asked with annoyance in her tone. From her scornful expression, any normal person might think that she was ready for a fight. Below the surface, however, she was two seconds away from bolting down the street.

"Did I say that I wanted something?" Justin's smirk remained as he took several steps closer to her. "Nah, I'm just out for a walk. Wonderin' why a certain lavender rodent is wandering the dark side of the north sector without her friends, taking a route she normally wouldn't."

"That's none of your business, Justin. Now leave me alone." Lesley turned to walk away, and wasn't surprised to find him suddenly standing in her path.

"Touchy, touchy," the Houndoom chimed, waving a finger in the air. "Why the sour grapes all of a sudden? You look like you couldn't get a date for the prom."

"Even if I could get a date, I'm not going to the prom, and it's not for another two months." Sneering, the Rattata moved to walk around him. "My mood is no business of yours, so why don't you just buzz off? Crawl back into the shadows you came from."

He shrugged, not bothering to get in her way this time. "Suit yourself. Just thought I'd carry a conversation with one of the locals." With his arms folded across his chest, he leaned against a support beam underneath the track and watched as Lesley stepped into the light of the afternoon. "The countdown eats away at you, doesn't it?"

She stopped once again. "What?"

"The countdown. To that moment, that second when everything will change for you."

Her eyes narrowed, and she kept her back to him. "That's none of your business."

"Well normally it isn't. This week, however, it is." Once again Justin moved uncomfortably close to the Rattata, bending his head down so his muzzle was next to her head. "Y'know it's hard, when you can't talk about it with your family and friends. When you can't tell them how much you dread the deformities that they seem to think are normal. I understand, though. One day, you're decent enough to be seen in public, and the next, you're too horrible to look at yourself in the mirror. Just a frazzled, frayed, mutated creature who wouldn't get a date of she tried."

She would've run minutes ago had his words not rung so true. Everything he said brought tears to her eyes, because she was actually hearing those words for the first time. She did fear her evolution. She feared being hideous, monstrous, and unattractive. Thinking that way was the most selfish she had ever been but she couldn't help it. Living in a house full of people who were ignorant to their own ugliness hadn't helped her, either. Still, she tried to remain strong in that moment. She refused to purposely show her weakness in the presence of that conniving individual who dared to point out her faults.

"It's none of your business," Lesley repeated, speaking through gritted teeth, "now leave me alone, or I'll have you arrested for harassment."

"Wouldn't be the first time," Justin said with a laugh, then watched as she started to walk away. "Now, come on. You can't deny it forever! In five years you'll change into a Raticate, and then you won't be able to look at yourself in a mirror anymore! You'll be repulsed by your own appearance, and so hateful of yourself that you'll lock yourself up in a room and starve to death!"

"Don't be ridiculous!" She turned to face him. "I'm not suicidal, and I'm not embarrassed by my family's appearance!"

"Did I say you were?" The Houndoom smirked. "So if you're not embarrassed, then what are you? I saw the way your eyes glazed over when I preached truth in yer ear. You don't want to evolve!"

"I do too want to evolve!" The Rattata's stern expression faltered. "I just..."

"Just don't wanna end up the prime target for negative comments, ah? Heh heh heh, I know how that is."

"How could you. Your evolution turned out perfect." She swallowed her pride before speaking again. "Compared to mine, you look... handsome."

If it weren't for the fact that all this was part of his plan, Justin would have actually been flattered by her words. Still, he pretended to be so. "Really? Well, thank you for sayin'. But that still doesn't help you any."

Lesley sighed. "Nothing can help me. It's the way of the world. Almost every species evolves at some point, and I just happened to get stuck with the kind that starts out pretty, and turns homely later on." She started down the sidewalk away from the rail yard, her posture at a greater slump than before. "Whoever made the story about the Ugly Psyduckling never met a Rattata."

Now the time was right. Her morality was low, her guard down. Vulnerability rested in the palm of the devil dog's hand. "On the contrary, kiddo, evolution is not a definite thing, even for the likes of you."

The girl's eyes rolled as she kept right on walking. "Yeah, right. Look, I don't care if you point out the fact that I'm going to be ugly, just don't tease me by telling me I don't have to be."

"But you don't." Justin appeared in her path once again, holding one hand in the fold of his jacket. "What would you do if I said there was a way out of evolving? A way you could stay lookin' young and beautiful for the rest of your life?"

"I'd laugh in your face and call you a liar, which I am two seconds away from right now."

He chuckled. "You sure you wanna do that?" Withdrawing his fist from his jacket he held it out in front of her, then dangled an amber-colored stone from a thin, silver chain. The amulet twirled slowly as it hung from his grasp, its light catching the eyes of the young Rattata. Lesley had never been even remotely interested in jewelry before but for some reason, this particular piece seemed more than attractive to her.

"A... jewel?"

"Not just any jewel," Justin said as he held it up a bit higher, "an Everstone."

"Everstone." She unconsciously whispered its name. "I've... never heard of it."

"Of course not! It was recently discovered. Turns out this baby has magic properties. It keeps its wearer lookin' young as the moment they first put it on." While she was still mesmerized, the Hound gently slid the chain around her neck. "Touch it. Feel its power."

It was as if her desperation had taken over. Perhaps her heart wanted her to believe in the stone's power or she was too upset to think straight, but when Lesley placed her hands around the Everstone, it felt to her as though that impending hour slipped further and further into the future. For that brief moment, all her thoughts and fears about evolution became fantasy, and for the first time since she became aware of her destiny, her mind felt at ease. The burden had been lifted. Oh, how she felt alive! Then in that same instant, all the depression and worry came pouring back into her life as the chain was taken from around her neck and the amulet pulled from her grasp.

"Did you feel something," the devil dog asked with his jackal grin. "Did you like what you felt?"

What else could she say? "Yes." The word left her mouth so quickly it caused tears to gather in her eyes once again. How could she think this way? It was so selfish, so unlike her. But that stone... it made her feel so carefree! At that moment, her backpack dropped from her shoulder as she brought her hands to her face, wiping tears away in a vain attempt to conceal her crying.

Like the gentleman he was, Justin pulled a handkerchief from the pocket of his jacket and offered it to her. "Hey, it's okay," he said in a sensitive tone. "It's hard to admit the one thing that makes us Humanoid. At least now you see that life's bad hands can be shuffled back into the deck."

"But at what cost?" Lesley wiped her face with the handkerchief before speaking again. "What would I have to do to get that comfort?" Her eyes narrowed momentarily. "You... you can't tell me you're just going to give it to me without expecting some sort of payment or service."

The Hound laughed. "You're a smart little girl. Nothin' this precious comes for free, of course, but I don't think the price is that high for a skilled individual such as yourself."

Out of nowhere, the sound of a high-pitched echo caught both their attention. "Lesley? I know you are here, please do not move." Jimoku appeared over the rail bridge in full flight, heading towards the dealer and his prey. What a time for such an interruption. Justin's muzzle parted in the form of a sneer as he recalled the powerful blow dealt to him by that little, winged terror. He would've snapped the child in half, had his mother not interrupted.

Since committing murder in front of a possible recruit would only have earned him more jail time, the Houndoom decided it was time for him to go. "Okay," he said, grabbing Lesley's attention, "here's the deal. You want the stone? You give my mother a call." From his pocket he pulled a small card, then placed it in her hands. "She'll fill you in on what you need to do."

The Rattata held the card up to her face so she could read the fine print. A calling card for Team Rocket. Kevin explained to her who they were after he 'rescued' his sister from them a few days ago. Street thugs. But if they were offering her this chance at happiness, could they really be that bad?

Her concentration was broken as Jimoku landed right next to her. "Lesley, are you all right?"

Startled, she looked forward to wave away Justin, only to find that he wasn't there. That Hound knew how to come and go without leaving so much as a fingerprint. "I'm... I'm fine," she said as she tucked away the card. "What are you doing out here, Jimo? You shouldn't be wandering by yourself."

"I could say the same thing about you," the Zubat said as he reached for her hand. "We did not see you at school today, and Kevin told me about you storming out of his house on Sunday. Is there something wrong?"

Leave it to Kevin to send someone else to handle his responsibility. "Of course I'm fine! Why would I not be?" Lesley took hold of her friend's hand and started walking.

"Please do not lie to me. I can sense that you are troubled." Jimoku frowned. "What were you doing talking to Justin Judge?"

She stopped in her tracks. "How... how did you know that?"

His ears twitched. "The same way I knew how to find you, Lesley. Echo location. Almost everyone has a distinct difference in their shape which causes sound to bounce off them a different way. That, and I could hear him talking to you about a stone. What stone?"

Her hand clenched tightly around his. "It's nothing. I'm tired of everyone asking me what's wrong. Can't you people mind your own business for one day?"

This time the Zubat's ears lowered. "I am... sorry. I will not pry any further." For a few moments they stood there in silence, then started to walk on, heading towards an alley near the side of the Radio Tower. "I hope you do not make a decision that you will later regret," Jimoku stated, then said nothing for the remainder of the walk home.


The house that crime built: This is where the Judge family called home. It was a lavish mansion just off of Route 38, surrounded by a field that took up several acres of cleared forest development. Only Demona and her eldest lived there with their many servants, which made it all seem like a waste of space. The youngest son stayed at his cousin's condominium while he attended school in the city. It was a well-guarded establishment, though, which made it the perfect place to hold meetings and functions for their branch of Team Rocket. Such a meeting was just letting out when Justin walked into his mother's office and took a seat in one of the plush chairs before her desk. "I've been workin' today, mama," he said as he swung his feet up on the desktop.

Just as quickly as they came up, Demona slapped the feet down. "Mind your manners, boy," she said in a huff, then relaxed as she sat back in her chair. "How many have you convinced today, hmmm?"

"Oh, a couple dozen, maybe. A Larvitar who didn't want to hit Pupity, a Doduo who didn't want a third head..."

The 'Doomess sneered. "Ugh. Such worthless additions. Mere children, I'm sure they all are."

"I'm just namin' a few, mom, and trust me, they're all worth the trouble. I've seen all of 'em in combat at some point in time, and I'd say they're all Team Rocket material."

"They had better be. I will not tolerate the presence of any unskillful, disobedient lout in my service."

"Well..." Justin placed his hands behind his head. "What about a skillful, obedient lout with a conscience?"

His mother narrowed her eyes. "I'll have none of that, either. Conscience gets you nowhere in our business, my son. I will not waste my time on even one person who thinks more with their heart than they do with their determination for victory."

"Come on, ma! Let me have this one bit of fun." He grinned. "I can't say that I appreciated being publicly humiliated last week, and I'm sure you didn't appreciate it, either."

"This much is true."

"Well then, if we're all going to feel better about that unnecessary ordeal, you're just gonna have to humor me for a day or two." Justin sat up straight, then leaned forward and placed a hand on his mother's desk. "A certain Rattata is going to call any minute now, and when that happens, I want you to give her your usual speech about dedication an' all that stuff." He sat back in his chair again, folding his arms across his chest with a casual smirk. "Hold nothin' back, ma. I made her desperate, you make her join and together, we'll make 'er quit, but never forget."

Demona's stoic expression pulled back into a devious leer as she picked up on her son's plan. "Oh Justin, it makes my black heart proud to see you concentrate so on the things that should matter most. The pride of our lineage, the fulfilling of our duty..."

"And the vengeance we so rightfully deserve to reap." Both Hounds chuckled darkly as they exchanged glances. In the history of Team Rocket, there had never been a parent and offspring pair so unified as the two. With his father dead, Justin's position as a business partner had been secured early for him and despite his affinity for street violence, he slid into the role quite nicely. He enjoyed making examples of anyone who opposed his family for even a second and it did his mother good to see at least one of her litter show potential towards leading their organization some day. Far be it that after decades of establishing Team Rocket as a world power, the place be left to Bernard who couldn't lead Mareep to a pasture.

Just as the mother and son's laughing fit wore down, the speaker on Demona's office desk buzzed with the voice of her secretary. "Ma'am, there's a Lesley Middleton on line three."

The 'Doomess looked to her son for confirmation, and the simple smirk that spread across his muzzle was all she needed. "Direct it to my office, Miss Dessey. I'll talk to the young lady."


For the rest of the week, things just weren't the same for Kevin and his friends. Lesley all but disappeared off the face of the planet, though they could've sworn at times that they caught a glimpse of her squirming through the crowded hallways of the school. Whenever they called her house, her parents wouldn't give a straight answer as to her whereabouts, giving the classic lines of 'she's busy,' 'she's not available,' and 'try back later.' It was quite unsettling, especially since they were mere weeks away from their first team competition and had yet to have a team meeting.

"Istillthinksomeone'skidnappedher. Otherwiseshewould'vecalledbynow." Genki's words were of no comfort to his friends as the three boys walked around the east quadrant. It was another Friday afternoon and at a time when they would normally be hanging out at Percy's, they were all searching for their missing teammate.

"Well someone had better have kidnaped her," Kevin said as he glanced in a dark alley, "otherwise all my worrying will be for nothing!" He lashed his tail in frustration. "I can't believe she's decided to have an emotional crisis three weeks from the Normal Badge Tournament!"

"People cannot choose when crisis will befall them," Jimoku said, keeping his ears open to the wind. "I do not think she has been kidnaped, either, or else her parents would have let us know. Perhaps she is just avoiding us, to give herself time to prepare mentally before the tournament."

"No way! She would've at least left me a message telling me to buzz off. This is so totally not like Lesley at all, and I hope she has a darn good explanation fo--"

"Hold it." Jimoku's right ear twisted to the southeast, and he stopped the others from walking so he could focus in on the distance sound better.

"What,whatdoyouhear?" Genki glanced back and fourth from down the street they were on to the standstill Zubat.

"I hear... voices."

"Well, duh," Kevin chuffed, "we're in a business area! People are doing business."

"Familiar voices, Kevin."

"Oh."

Jimoku stood listening for a moment more, then turned to run in the direction of the sound. "Come on! I think I may have found Lesley!"

"Slow down, Jim! You're going to run into a pole!" Both the Pikachu and the Sentret raced to catch up with their friend, trying to keep him from running into something or someone.


Four city blocks away, Jimoku had managed to pick up on the sound of Lesley being down-talked by Veronica, just outside a three-story building with tinted windows. Normally, the Rattata would be quick to slap the taste from the Vulpix's mouth, but under the circumstances that wouldn't be the wisest move she could make. "That kick of yours was a little disgraceful, you know. It needed to be higher. And your stance shouldn't be so shaky. You better learn to stiffen up more, vagrant, or you'll be looking at an early retirement from this team."

"Yes, ma'am..."

"Lesley?!" The high-pitched declaration of shock came from none other than Kevin, who was seeing one of the few things he never thought he would. Standing there with her posture imperfect was his best friend, wearing a black, sleeveless jumpsuit that had a red "R" sown into the chest. On each of her wrists she wore a bracelet that had small bits of the Everstone neatly pressed into them. Alone, those tiny pieces would be nothing more than fancy decorations, but with the amount of them she wore, all her primal needs for evolution were suppressed. Poor Lesley. It was vanity that reeled her into the Team Rocket trap, a truth she never wanted her friends to find out.

Fueling the fire that was building, Veronica turned to the boys with a sly smirk. "I was wondering when the three of you were going to catch on," she purred. "Guess you're not as slow as I thought."

"Lesley," Kevin called through gritted teeth, "what is going on here?" He motioned towards her outfit. "What is with the jumpsuit? Why haven't you been in school? And why are you letting the fan-tailed duster talk to you like you're an idiot?"

"School is for people who plan on leading something someday." The fox ran a hand through her mass of maroon curls. "Your friend has finally realized that her place is beneath us all, not next to us. Too bad you can't seem to."

"HeyVeronica," Genki shouted, "whydon'tyoucrawlbackundertherockyoucomefrom, beforeIgetforcedtoopenupajarofwhooponya!"

"I don't know what that twerp just said, but you better get him out of here before I call daddy out of his training session, and daddy just hates to be disturbed."

"Enough!" Lesley's voice rang out as she stomped a foot, grabbing everyone's attention. In that same instant she fixed a glare on Kevin. "I thought I told you guys to leave me alone!"

The Pikachu returned the glare. "Excuse me if we just happen to be worried because a friend, and a fellow fighting teammate goes missing! What are you doing wearing Team Rocket rags? You're supposed to be on my team!"

"Your team didn't have what she needed," Veronica added with a smirk.

"Shut up, Veronica," Lesley growled, her glare still fixed on her friends. "Look, guys, this is none of your business, so just back off!"

"Like heck it isn't," Kevin yelled back. "You've ditched us and you won't say why! We've got a tournament to sign up for in three weeks, still need to find a sixth teammate, and you're too busy having a mental breakdown to care!"

"I am not having a mental breakdown! I am not having a crisis! I am just taking a different path!"

"A different path to what? To destruction! What did I tell you about The Team, huh? Huh? They're evil, they're wrong, they're nasty..."

This sort of arguing went on for what seemed like an eternity in the back of Jimoku's mind before he finally had enough of it. In a low but forceful tone he stated, "Kevin. Genkimono. Please, go home."

The bickering ended as everyone turned to look at the Zubat, not quite catching what he just said. "Huh?"

"Go home, Kevin. Take Genki with you. This moment solves nothing."

The Pikachu blinked several times, looking back and fourth between his best and his new friend. "But.."

"Home, Kevin." Jimoku spoke sternly for a moment, then turned towards the outlying street. "Lesley, please. Walk me home."

"Hey," Veronica growled, "she's got lessons to learn!"

"That she does, but not from you. Come, Lesley. Help me find my way, while I help you find yours."

She could never refuse the adult wisdom of her young friend. First she went into the building to grab her trenchcoat, then Lesley came back out, took the Zubat by his right hand and started west down the street.

Nearby, Kevin and Genki stood dumbfounded for a few moments before they turned to head north, talking an alternate route home. Veronica watched with narrowed eyes as both pairs departed, then smirked to herself as she took out her cellphone and made a call. "Hello, Justin? That's right. It'll all happen soon enough." The clap of the phone cover closing accompanied a look of smug satisfaction on the vulpine's short muzzle.


A sunset hue was cast over all of Goldenrod as the afternoon rolled on, giving purpose to the city's colorful name. As they walked along in silence, Lesley prepared herself for a fierce reprimand that would never come from her friend. It seemed as though he was waiting for the right moment to say something, which he was. That moment came when they were but a block away from the residential area. "I am sad that it took me so long to figure it out," Jimoku began. "If I had known earlier, I would have had all the right words to say."

"Right words about what," Lesley asked him. "What are you talking about?"

"Please, give me time to speak." His mouth frowned more than usual. "You are upset because your evolution will alter you in a way that you think is grotesque. Team Rocket has given you something that will hinder that evolution, in exchange for your absolute loyalty. Lesley, you have made a terrible mistake."

"I knew you were going to do this to me. Jimoku, in five years my life was going to change forever!"

"Everyone's life changes when they reach adulthood, wether they evolve or not. Appearance is the last thing you should worry about." He shook his head. "Why does this bother you so?"

"You just don't understand, and you won't understand until you get your eyesight."

"I understand a lot of things, with or without the ability to see. I know that the sky is blue, that a ball is round..."

Lesley frowned. "You only know these things because people tell you. For all you know, the sky could be purple."

"If that is true, then all the classes I have taken which have addressed the subject have been lying to me." Just outside of Jimoku's house they stopped. "The price is too great for this brand of happiness, Lesley," he stated. "You will find yourself being hurt many times because of this."

"But those pains will only be momentary, Jimoku. This hurt I feel now lasts a long time."

"And what hurt is that? The hurt of knowing what you will become, or the hurt of knowing what you are? You are ashamed of your heritage, of your destiny, and that bothers you. Instead of dealing with this shame, however, you have given into it, letting it trick you into thinking that you truly will be ugly when you evolve. Ugliness is best used to describe a person's attitude towards something, rather than their physical appearance, and I am afraid that at this moment, your attitude has made you quite grotesque." He pulled away from her, knowing the steps to his own front door. "You have made an unwise decision, my friend. I pray that you can live with it, or undo it without causing yourself further harm."

As the front door of the house closed, Lesley was left alone in the coming darkness of the evening. Jimoku had laid it on the line for her, and even though she didn't want to hear it, she was glad he did. It was the well-spoken truth of Justin Judge that made her desert her friends so quickly, and only the plain-spoken truth of Jimoku Tsuneni could bring her back. Tears gathered in her eyes faster than she could stop them and soon the child found herself running home, holding her hands to her face so no one would see her weep.


That night, Lesley locked her room door and refused to come down for dinner. The sickness in her stomach couldn't be satisfied by mere food. As she sat on the edge of her bed, she clasped her hands in her lap and concentrated on the jeweled bracelets about her wrists. They were magic trinkets, or at least that's what she called them. As long as she wore them she felt better than ever, but as soon as she took them off, she could feel the weight of the world sucking the life from her once more. But was this piece of life's youth worth the abuse and betrayal? She had abandoned the dream she and her best friend had been working on for years, just so she would be spared what no Rattata is allowed to avoid. This wasn't right and it wasn't her. Staring regretfully at the symbolic 'R' sown on her outfit, she reached out for the phone extension in her room and began to place a call.

"Hello? Yes, this is Lesley Middleton, and I'd like to schedule a meeting with Mrs. Judge. Oh, just go to the Dojo? She'll be there? Okay, thanks. Bye."


One of the East Quadrant's main facilities stood open late at night, catering only to members of Team Rocket. As a rule of the league, certain members had to be subjected to day and night training, so their endurance would be unquestionable when the time to test it arose. After having climbed out her window as well as stumbling through the back yard to avoid notice, Lesley braved the long walk to the Dojo and entered by way of authorization. To her surprise and fear, Demona Judge was waiting for her in the leather-cushioned seat of the small office in the back of the building, which she had to wander past three busy classes to reach. "Come in, child," the 'Doomess encouraged. "Please, sit down." Her jade-painted eyelids lowered halfway over her eyes as she regarded her visitor with a smile.

"Thank you, ma'am," the Rattata stated in a petite voice, keeping her head slightly low. As she sat herself down in the unstylish orange chair before the desk, she almost brought her knees up to hug for comfort, but at the last moment she stopped herself and attempted to maintain dignity.

"So, what brings you to my grand establishment at this hour of night, hmmm? Isn't there a school of some sort you must attend in the morning?"

Lesley chuckled nervously. "Uh, no, ma'am. Tomorrow's Saturday."

Demona thought for a moment. "Oh yes. The weekend. A time of recreation for youth of all ages, like a vacation every week." How lazy of society, she thought, to give any child a moment to do anything but learn. Her elbows came to rest on the desk between them, at which time she leaned forward and bridged her hands together. "So what can I do for you?"

That agreeable exterior of hers would've been enough to soothe the Rattata's nerves had she not a strange feeling of danger building. "Mrs. Judge? I'm... really appreciative of the opportunity your organization has presented me with, and I'm glad to know that there truly is an easy way out of evolving for those of us who can't seem to avoid it." She glanced down at the bracelets on her wrists. "Unfortunately, I'm going to have to resign from The Team." At that moment, a strange chill came over the room, an uncomfortable breeze that chilled the child to the bone.

"Oh really? How unfortunate, indeed." the 'Doomess's expression remained as regally pleasant as ever, even as she sat back in her chair and placed her hands in the lap of her jade skirt. "You showed great promise in many instances, Miss Middleton. I am truly sorry to see you go." Her head tilted ever-so-slightly. "Any particular reason for your leave?"

What could she say? 'Sorry, I'm quitting the most organized fighting league for friendship?' No, that would have been pathetic. And so, the child merely shrugged her shoulders. "It's... a matter of principle, I guess. I just... don't think that this is the answer I was looking for."

"So I see. You came to me, desperate to save yourself from your own evolution, and now are leaving because you've had a sudden change of heart." The smile retracted from Demona's muzzle. "Well I can't say that I'm not disappointed," she smirked, "but I do understand. You are young, and you will endure several follies that you will learn from." One hand moved from her lap to tap the desktop in brief, rapid succession. "Do you have your uniform with you?"

To Lesley, this was going far better than she had hoped. When she had left her house to come make her plea, the child expected first to be told no, then to be taken somewhere and punished for such thoughts of disloyalty. With a hesitant smile, she reached into the fold of her trenchcoat and pulled out the black jumpsuit which she had taken off before sneaking out. It was folded in a neat square and had a black beret completing the stack. It would've completed the child's outfit as well had she worn it at all. "Um, I didn't have time to wash it before coming out here... sorry."

"That is quite all right," the 'Doomess said as the uniform was set on the desk before her. "We burn any outfit that is returned to us unaccompanied by a member. They are made to only fit that one person, after all."

"Eh-heh, right."

"The jewelry?"

Lesley took one final glimpse of the bands she had given up so much for, then worked to pry them off her arms. It was always easier to put things like that on than it was to take them off, just as it was easier to get into trouble than get out of it, or so she was told. This bit of trouble seemed quite easy to get out of, leaving only a reconciling with her loved ones to deal with. The bracelets came off her wrists with only a bit of trouble, and then were added to the stack of returned items. "Um, what about my contract? Do I have to sign it off or something?"

Demona linked her hands together and brought them to rest on the stack, pulling it closer to her. "Yes, my dear, but there is the matter of a small payment to be dealt with, first."

"Payment?" Well she didn't expect this. "Um, how much? I don't have a lot money on me right now, but..."

That chill from earlier resurfaced as the devil dog chuckled. It wasn't her normal chuckle of amusement, however, it was a more sinister one that held a deeper, more dangerous meaning to it. "Your charity is appreciated, but unnecessary. I have far more money than I can keep up with most of the time." Her smile fell once more. "Team Rocket asks for a different form of payment."

"D-different... form?" What other form could there be? Lesley did not wish to find out but she was going to anyway. At that moment the room temperature seemed to rise several degrees, and out of the shadows behind their mother's desk, the pair of Justin and Bernard stepped forward where they could be seen. All three members of the Judge family had a glint in their eyes that screamed malice and without it having to be put in words, the child knew what was going to happen next.

"You see, my dear," Demona continued, "all official members of Team Rocket sign a contract in blood, stating their loyalty, devotion, and soul-giving to our organization. You were just made to sign in pen for a very good reason."

Grinning dangerously, Justin finished his mother's speech. "We planned on takin' the blood outta yeh in our own manner." He cackled as he punched his left fist into his right palm. "Don't worry, it'll only hurt tonight. Then you won't feel anything for all of eternity."

The 'Doomess held up a hand. "No, Justin, there shall be no death this evening. We want our guest to learn from this experience, and take her lesson with her to share with others." Her muzzle pulled back in a smirk. "Besides, we can always save the death part for if she decides to report this incident as anything more than a random mugging. A child shouldn't be wandering the streets at all hours of the night, anyway..."

The hyena-like cackling of Butch accompanied the pair of boys as they advanced on the fear-stricken Rattata. She didn't know how she could've been foolish enough to think that this would end easily. All she could do then was close her eyes and pray to the Legendaries that she pass out before too long.


"Let us through, let us through! We wanna see Lesley!"

"YeahmoveityoubigPrimeape! Ourfriend'sintheresomewhere!"

As quickly as they could, Kevin and Genkimono dragged Jimoku through the busy halls of Goldenrod's Summer Bellossom Hospital, where they had been told their friend was. Earlier that day, the poor child was found laying in a pile of garbage in one of the many back alleys of the Eastern Quadrant. A righteous beating had been given to her by the diabolical children of Demona Judge, leaving her body quite battered and broken. The doctors wouldn't even say to her parents how bad off she was, though they were quite confident she would pull through. The cruel Hounds were not without the mercy to let a person live past an arduous beating, especially if that person were to learn something from it.

The steady beep of a heart monitor was all the noise that was being made in room 205, where Lesley lay barely awake in a hospital bed. Her forehead was wrapped in gauze and the fur under her right eye bulged as a sign of swelling. She also had visible cuts along her cheeks, and a brace around her neck. Her left arm was in a full cast while her right hand had a brace over it. Other injuries had been dealt to the Rattata, but they were mostly hidden by her hospital gown and blanket.

Around her bed the child's family stood, each member talking about how glad they were that she was alive. Having to lie to them about what really happened made her heart ache but she could do nothing about it. Before she lost consciousness, the Judges made it very clear what would happen to her or her loved ones if she spoke out.

"Feel lucky you have a family to be blackmailed with," she remembered Justin say. "Otherwise, we'd kill you now and be done with it."

Her family. She had earned new respect for them, indeed. They would love her no matter what she looked like, and besides, she was going to end up looking like them. Then she had her friends to consider. No doubt Kevin would take this opportunity to tell her an 'I told you so.' She would be glad to hear it, though. Anything to remind her that she was alive.

No sooner had she started thinking of them than her friends burst into the room, turning to slam the door quickly after. They had managed to intrude on more than eleven resting patients before finding their way to Lesley, and just outside the door stood several angry nurses and attendants. Struggling with the knob, Kevin quickly poked the lock into place, then spun around to look at the occupants of the room. "Les! Oh man, are we glad to see you!" The three boys rushed to her bedside.

"Are you boys in some kind of trouble," Mrs. Middleton asked as she looked at them.

"Uh..." Their explanation was interrupted by the sound of pounding fists and yelling personnel.

"We'll go talk to the attendants if you three want a moment alone with Lesley," Mr. Middleton said, then ushered his family towards the room door.

"Thanks, sir," Kevin called, turning his sympathy on his best friend. "Oh Les, look what they did to you! I hope your family's gonna press charges and have those jerks locked away!"

The Rattata shook her head gingerly. "No, they're not."

"What?!"

"Whynot,Lesley," Genki asked her, "Thoselosersshouldhang!"

"Because," she answered, "they don't know it was the Judges who beat me up. They don't even know that I joined Team Rocket."

"Aren't you going to tell them," Jimoku asked next.

"I can't." Her eyes began to tear. "Demona and Justin, they... they threatened to have my family killed if I said anything about it."

The Zubat frowned. "They are without conscience, this Team."

Kevin pounded a fist. "Rrr! We can't let them get away with this!"

"It would do us no good to raise a commotion, Kevin. People like the Judges do what they want because they can afford the legal coverup."

"It's just not fair! They've crippled our team, and almost crippled my best friend!" The Pikachu made strangling motions with his hands. "Man, if I could just get my hands around Butch's neck, I'd shake him 'til that pea-sized brain fell out his head!"

Lesley smiled as much as she could muster, lifting her good hand to her friend. "It's okay, you guys. Really, it is." Her gaze fell to the cast on her left arm. "I should have never let myself fall into that trap. I knew Team Rocket was no good, I just... I just couldn't stand the thought of evolving." She chuckled dryly. "Right about now, though, I'll be happy if I live that long. I guess, in a way, I kinda deserved that beating for being so stupid."

While her eyes closed she heaved a heavy sigh, running that last statement through her mind over and over. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Her concentration was broken by the three-fingered hand that met her own. Squeezing gently, Jimoku reached his other hand into the breast pocket of the vest he wore, then said, "Here, I want you to have this." From the pocket he pulled a picture and set it face-down on the bed where she could reach it.

"...What's this?" Her hands went for the picture and she lifted it to her face, then with a gasp, set it down once again. It was a picture of a young Golbat, perhaps in his early twenties, sitting at a normal photo shoot. Golbats were among the many Pokemorph species who were not known for their beauty. Even though the stranger in the picture was dressed for success, and wore his 'cutest' smile, it did little to make him look more presentable.

"That is what my father used to look like, before he married my mother," Jimoku pointed out. "That is also what I will look like, when I turn eighteen. How does it look to you?"

"Well, uh..." Lesley bit her tongue.

Nosy as ever, Kevin picked up the picture and took a peek for himself. "Gah! I'm surprised the camera lense held out long enough to take this," he said, holding it out for Genki to see.

"Wowee," the Sentret chirped, "Thatisoneheckofanuglymug!"

"Give me that!" Lesley snatched the picture from them, then winced as she settled back on her pillow. "Jimoku, your father looks very handsome in his suit." Her mind seemed highly relieved once she said those words and meant them. "Thank you."

The Zubat smiled. "You will always be beautiful to someone, Lesley. That someone need only be yourself."

"Thanks again, you guys." Together the four friends hugged, sighing in happy unison.