AN – Wow. This is the first story that is this long that I have ever finished. Welcome to the last chapter. I'm satisfied with the way it turned out, and I'm amazed with myself for being able to create such a thing – it is possible for me to write a chapter-fic. I want to thank all you readers for the wonderful journey we went on through this story, and I hope that you enjoyed it. Take care and happy reading!
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Black
Chapter 10: The Price of Freedom
It was a sunny day and a light breeze brushed through the trees of the forest. Everything seemed calm and quiet as if there wasn't a care in the world. But in this forest, three excited and anxious voices were discussing preparations for a dangerous and unacceptable act about to be committed.
"We've really done it this time guys," said Meowth. "Dis is da best plan we've evah had!"
Sitting between the three was an outline for a weapon of some sort. It appeared to involve explosives.
"I know! It's unbelievable!" James exclaimed.
"It's not that unbelievable," argued Jessie. "We were bound to come up with something good after all these years!"
"But something dis good – I mean, I agree wid ya, Jess, it's just, sometin' ain't right!"
"I suppose we did have a little help, and we also used all the knowledge we have to put it together, if you're saying that's not right, I understand, but all-in-all I think that for once we got something right. Don't fret about it."
She was thinking back to how the plan came to be. When they were passing through a town a little while ago, there was some sort of festival going on. There was dancing and fireworks and music. Her teammates and she had found themselves taken in by the celebration and only reflected later that they'd missed the perfect opportunity to do some thieving. That is where the concept was born. Why not create a weapon that became the ultimate distraction? While everyone was looking the other way, they could sneak in, do their business, and be gone with large bags of goods. They decided upon fireworks, but not just any type of fireworks, ones that would be enticing to more than just the eyes. They thought there must be a way to make each explosion create a melody, create music, lure people outside by its uniqueness. During their journey for the next few weeks, they found people along the way who could help them figure out how to construct such a thing. Of course, at those times they were pretending to be traveling actors and held back from doing any blatant illegal activity. Not only did they succeed in creating plans for such a weapon, but they were lucky to gain free meals and good hospitality as they went by.
James suddenly let out a tiny yelp.
"What's wrong, James?" said Jessie exasperatedly.
"The – the twerps! They're coming this way!"
"Darn! We haven't had enough time to set up our plan. It can wait though, we'll just have to try and catch Pikachu the old-fashioned way now!" Jessie led her friends up a tree, ready to pounce on the kids headed towards them.
A couple of children raced by, giggling as they played some game of tag. But Meowth didn't notice them even though he stared in their direction. He was deep in thought, reflecting the recent events. He sat on a bench outside the police building, in the center of the town which was recovering from the attack and kidnapping. He was waiting for the authorities to finish their inquiry, for the freedom that an afternoon on this sunny day could bring… or perhaps he waited for a freedom greater than that… freedom of thought, freedom of emotion, freedom from the guilt and pang in his heart for having lost his new friend…
"Hey, buddy," a soft voice spoke next to him as a large figure sat down. "How's it going?"
"It's alright, I guess," Meowth replied. "How're you doin', Jimmy?"
"To be honest, I don't know. These last few days have been a blur… a nightmare of a blur… but I feel like I'm waking up and I've never been more content in my life." Then as an afterthought, "And Jessie's been by my side since we regained consciousness. I actually think they were harder on her than on me…" James trailed off, a touch of darkness to his tone. "I hope that there isn't any lasting damage."
The sun's light was temporarily covered by a shadow as a cloud passed overhead. The two sat in quiet companionship and felt a light breeze brush by them. Then, regaining light, the sun emerged and the doors to the police department opened once again. Jessie, Cassidy, Butch, two Officer Jenny's, Officer Michael, Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Brock all walked out into the sun's glare.
"Are you sure? I mean, after what they did? Especially to you," Jessie was saying. "I can't believe you."
"What choice do I have, Jess? In the end, it's been the highest paying job I've ever had… well, at least when we weren't messing up," answered Cassidy. "Though, if memory serves me correctly, you had a hand in hampering our plans," she added with a smirk.
"You're welcome," Jessie said, grinning. "Those were the only times since we met the twerp that we succeeded at something."
"Well, you two certainly seem to be getting along," noted James, standing up. "Friends again?"
The two girls merely looked at him, smiles on their faces and glints in their eyes, not saying anything. But that was good enough confirmation for James, and he remarked, "About time."
"But, Officer, they were victims, too." In another conversation, Ash was arguing with one Officer Jenny. "Isn't there some way…?"
"We can't turn a blind eye to the law whenever we feel like it. We're all supposed to obey it, even us on the police force, whether or not we think it is fair."
"But, the lawyers might be able to lessen the charges," said the other Jenny. "And I'll put in a good word for them… that stuff was horrible… and the way it took control…" she tapered off staring away now, remembering her experience from the previous day.
Slowly, all discussions stopped and everyone turned to face each other, the warmth of the sun heating up their faces. It had been a bit of a struggle when the back-up force had arrived, and many of the highest ranked Rockets had gotten away, including Giovanni. Mark, on the other hand, had been caught and was currently in lock-up waiting for a transfer and a trial. All the kidnapped citizens and the drugged Rockets had recovered from the 'potion', thanks to the quick work of a medical team, and also Nurse Joy's input. Some were lucky enough even to not suffer the biological battle that occurred when they regained consciousness, unlike the times that Jessie had done earlier in the week – the medical team had found a way to avoid that reaction by using their antidote as soon as it was created (with the help from Sherman's notes and lab reports left behind). They added to their medicine a compound that would enhance white and red blood cell production for a period of 24 hours, as well, so to assist each victim's body in its own self-recovery.
And this afternoon, the group that stood in a circle outside the police station enjoying the open air, were there to discuss the fate of the Rockets who had been used in the experiment.
"There is one other option," spoke up Officer Michael. "They could do some community service and agree to be monitored for a couple of months, as if on parole."
"But it would still have to go through the courts," said Jenny.
Butch sighed. "Officers, we're criminals, and we know it. It's just who we are. Cuff us now and take us to jail, we know we belong there."
"But you guys were used!" blurted out Misty, incredulously. "Not even you deserved to go through what you did!"
Butch faced her and said seriously, "Me and Cass were the ones who came up with the idea to turn Team Rocket's lowest into perfect little drones. I guess we had it coming back around to haunt us."
Misty became speechless to that answer.
"And besides," said Cassidy. "I think we're going to go back to Team Rocket, anyways. We'll end up there somehow or other. No one's gonna want to hire us with our criminal records, and we'll be starving like before, needing a way to earn cash. Plus, the attempt at the steal's what makes it fun!"
"What about you guys?" Ash asked, indicating Jessie, James and Meowth. "Are you guys going to go back to Team Rocket too?"
"Not on your life, kid," Meowth replied immediately. "I woulda been stuck in dat cage till I died if Psyduck hadn't rescued me! Dey didn't give a damn about me. And dey didn't give a damn about Black, eidder…"
"We're more than teammates, we're friends. I'm going to go wherever Jessie and Meowth decide," was James's answer.
All eyes turned to Jessie. "As I was saying to Cass, I didn't appreciate the way they treated us. I remember waking up some times barely able to acknowledge who I was… I want respect, and well, I know it's going to be hard, especially since stealing is a way of life, but, I want out too. James, Meowth, let's leave Team Rocket and never turn back."
They nodded, James with a huge smile glowing on his face as he gazed at Jessie. She blushed after a moment noticing his praising look.
There was a hesitation after this. Then Brock voiced his opinions.
"Officers, Team Rocket – I mean – Jessie, James, and Meowth are sort of like friends to us. We all know each other very well. And they haven't actually stolen anything in ages. Besides, they usually just try to steal Pikachu from Ash… call it more of a game. I don't think Ash is going to press charges."
Ash shook his head in agreement.
Jenny sighed. "Alright. Have it your way. I think that we can work that. But you three had better swear to not involve yourselves in any more criminal activities, understand?"
"You're letting us go?" James asked, surprised.
"Yes," came the response.
"We swear, Officer Jenny, we won't get inta trouble!" Meowth answered for the group, all three of them concealing half-smirks that they felt rising up within them for the freedom, the true freedom, they'd just gained. "I'm sure da skills we've used in da past to trick people will come in handy when we actually use dem to make a livin'. We could open a restaurant, or join a news crew, or sometin'… don't worry about us!"
"Well, since we aren't needed anymore, we'll be seeing you around!" exclaimed Jessie, and her trio began to walk. As she passed Ash, she whispered from the corner of her mouth, "Pikachu gets a head start. We'll be dropping by some time in the next few days to continue our 'game', have fun!"
Ash was a bit startled by this, but he smiled and waved them goodbye with the others. Those three really did have big hearts when it came down to it. He knew they'd only be chasing him out of habit, and as Jessie had said, stealing was a way of life. It would take them a while to adjust to the change, and as they did so, they could harmlessly attempt to capture Pikachu every now and then. He wondered if they wouldn't even hand him back Pikachu if they succeeded.
Ash turned around to see Officer Jenny and Officer Michael handcuffing Butch and Cassidy. The two Rockets smiled, with a somewhat lingering sadness in their eyes.
"You guys going to be ok in jail?" Misty asked tentatively.
"We'll be great," stated Butch. "It's not like we haven't been there before, and – no offense to your security measures and defense skills Officers – it probably won't be long till we break outta there anyway."
"And a jail is so much more liberating than the 'potion' that ripped our minds from our bodies," Cassidy added. "We're not going somewhere where we'll be trapped. We're going to freedom. And hey, being in the hands of the law will give us a break from Team Rocket. Call it a 'vacation'."
Misty smiled sadly to them as they were taken back inside the police building. Ash, Brock, Pikachu, and the other Officer Jenny were still there with her.
"I want to thank you kids," Jenny spoke. "Without you, we wouldn't have been able to save everyone that we did. It was really a brave thing of you all to go through that. Oh, and Haunter also acknowledges your help. He's been treated and is back to perfect health, by the way."
The kids muttered some approving replies and Jenny left for inside as well.
Mindlessly runny a hand over his bandaged and bruised arm, Ash got lost in thought. Everything that had happened seemed to take so long at the time, now flashed by in images in a rush. One memory suddenly stood out to him, as he thought of the Boss Rocket. "You'll see it from my point of view one day." Confused about the Boss's attitude towards him, Ash contemplated it a little more, to no success in comprehending. Then, he let it slide by him, with everything, ready to move on, perhaps get a start on his next adventure.
"Well, it's over, I guess," said Misty. "You good, Brock?"
"Never better!" he stated cheerfully. "They treated me right away and I didn't feel a thing! It was like I'd had a nap and woken up to find a goddess leaning over me, checking that I was alright… ah… so lovely…"
Misty sighed shaking her head, exasperated and relieved at the same time.
"Ready to go?" Ash piped up.
"Yah," answered Misty. "Where're we headed?"
"Dunno, don't care. Just as long as we leave this town and get out in the field again, I'm all good," Ash said happily. "And, I wouldn't say no to a battle, either."
"Pika!" Pikachu agreed, and the four of them headed out of the town, following a path in the direction of the sun.
"I suppose we did have a little help, and we also used all the knowledge we have to put it together, if you're saying that's not right, I understand, but all-in-all I think that for once we got something right. Don't fret about it."
Jessie, James, and Meowth walked along, hearts, minds, and souls feeling lighter than they had in years. They had stopped on the town's edge before leaving to hold a little ceremony and say a few words for Black. Meowth was especially grateful to the other cat for the sacrifice he'd made, and he would never forget it, as long as he lived. After their ceremony, they left. They spent some time discussing what their futures would look like. They weren't ever going to go back to Team Rocket, and some serious lifestyle changes were needed. At one point, they thought of planning their next Pikachu capture attempt, but they weren't really into it. And then they wondered what had happened to the brilliant idea they had had, to use fireworks and music in combination. But because of the blur of the past few days, they concluded that it was all a dream, never having come up with something that great. However, it gave them an idea – being traveling actors did sound like fun, even if it was just a start-up for a little while.
Meowth was the only one who knew the truth. And he wasn't going to share it with his friends. The plan they had was successfully created by the scientists who stole it, and it had been transformed into something far more devastating than the distraction it was meant to be. They didn't need to know.
The trio's conversation changed into idle chat. At the moment, they wanted nothing better than to enjoy each second for what it was, forget the past, forget the future, and just exist. If their encounter with Black had taught them anything it was that life was short, you always had a choice, and it was worth it to spend your time doing something you loved instead of living for the paycheck. The sun was setting, but the darkness of the coming night was not an enemy; it was the beginning of a new life for each of them.
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Fin
-)Golden Lunar Eclipse(-