Their luck couldn't get much worse, Misty decided.
They had wanted to keep everything to themselves, contained in a sense.
That plan, however, had gone out the window when Gary arrived home early.
To which, they found themselves suddenly wearing a Stantler-frozen-in-headlights look, coming up with a quick explanation – all four of them talking at once.
"You all need to calm down," Melody eventually said, scratching Meowth behind the ears. "All your voices are combing into white noise."
"Melody!" Misty said, shooting the brunette a look.
"You sound like my sister when you do that," Melody grumbled, rolling her eyes. "Who is this guy to you all anyway?" Her blue eyes looked at the brunette standing in the entrance, a confused expression on his face, glancing from one to another.
"I'm Gary Oak," Gary said, as if Melody should have heard of him already. "Professor Oak's my grandfather; top eight in the Indigo League and runner-up in the Johto Championships," he said, listing his accomplishments quickly.
"That's nice," Melody said with a shrug. "Have you competed in the Orange League Tournament yet? No, I didn't think so," Melody shook her head as Gary remained silent. "Talk to me about Tournament's when you get those shell badges."
Misty shook her head, a grin appearing on her lips. "I think that's the first girl who hasn't fallen at Gary's feet . . ." she stage-whispered to Brock, who nodded.
"As if," Melody rolled her eyes. "Now, are we going to Cinnabar or not?"
"Who are you anyway?" Gary muttered under his breath, frowning.
"Melody Lino," Melody quipped, pushing herself out of the chair. "Resident of the Orange Islands, future musician, and – ugh – Festival Maiden of Shamoutti Island."
"Uh huh," Gary trailed off, tuning out the talkative brunette as he glanced at the other occupants of the living room. "Someone needs to fill me in here, considering some of you were officially declared dead . . ."
"Obviously, the reports were wrong," Melody said under her breath, flopping back down in the chair with a sigh. She got the impression they wouldn't be leaving for Cinnabar as quickly as she wanted too . . .
"It's a long story," Misty said, breaking the silence. "The reports on television got some of the information right," she started off, her fingers absently fiddling around with the straps of her backpack. "The St. Anne did sink with the five of us still onboard . . . the hole in the hull of the ship was caused by Charmander's flamethrower attack,"
Misty paused, remembering the deep water slowly claiming the ship, driving them further into the third-class area, their oxygen depleting. She remembered the feel of her ears popping from the pressure of being so far under the sea with no apparent way out. However, she knew she had to stay calm, her four companions being on the brink of what they could take.
"We fully intend to continue our journey," Brock interjected, Misty reliving what she had believed to be their last moments. "With the help of flamethrower and our water Pokemon, we managed to escape relatively unharmed and created a variation of a raft out of floating debris," Brock shook his head. "But, we unfortunately trespassed into a Gyardos's lair and well, we were swept away in Dragon Rage."
Melody scratched Meowth's ears subconsciously, having heard this story already. How many times did they have to explain this story? "Didn't you hear about in the news?" Melody said, raising an eyebrow at Gary. "It must have played in Johto news –"
"I didn't have time for that," Gary shook his head. "I was too busy capturing Pokemon and winning badges."
Melody shrugged, waving his comment aside. "But still, usually Pokemon Center's play the news 24/7 –"
"Anyway," Misty interjected, throwing a look in Melody's direction. "When I awoke, I was on Fiore Island. I was told I was found on a raft halfway to Sinnoh, after that, I became a Pokemon Ranger . . . I was on a case just north of Cerulean City when someone I knew from the past approached me."
"I woke up in Kanto," Brock said slowly. "However, I ended up getting a job as a chef aboard a Cruise Liner. I had a feeling something was missing, every time we docked in a port I was always researching events that happened before I awoke outside Hutber Port. I was actually approached by a Frontier Brain –"
"Which one?" Gary interjected, interested. "I went about challenging them while I was training for the Indigo Plateau – I managed to collect two in the month I had to wait," – here, Melody rolled her eyes; he sounded pretty arrogant – "I was planning on challenging the rest of them now."
"Lucy Harrison," Brock said. "I think she called herself the Pike Queen out near Saffron City."
"I don't think I have that badge," Gary said, reaching for his backpack. "I might have to go and challenge her . . ."
"As nice as this is," Melody interjected again, sighing as she stood up. "As much as we would love to stay here and chat, there are other things we really need to attend to. Can we not pause this reunion and pick it up later?"
Two hours later – finally, thought Melody – they were on their way.
Professor Oak had wished them luck, seeing them out of the lab.
Gary Oak had left them then, the brunette deciding he was going to head out for Hoenn to compete in their league. Melody rolled her eyes, sticking her tongue out behind his back, she was glad to see the teen go. His ego reminded her too much of Jessilina.
Delia Ketchum led the trio through the small town, the townspeople out-and-about barely casting them a second glance. Delia offered a bit of small talk as they made their way towards Water Route 21, her conversation being mostly about the weather and the goings-on in Pallet Town. Melody assumed she was trying to avoid discussing her son, the town no doubt holding many memories.
"So, how far away do you think Cinnabar is from here?" Melody asked when the conversation fell silent.
"By a Pokemon . . . perhaps a couple hours?" Delia replied after a moment. "It's mostly a tourist resort now and most people take the ferry from Fuchsia City."
"A tourist resort?" Misty questioned, raising an eyebrow. "I know Seafoam Islands is nearby, but wouldn't trainers still need to go there; they can't compete without the Volcano Badge."
Delia shook her head slightly, stopping a few steps away from the Water Route, the water lapping against the small shore. "About four months ago, the volcano in Cinnabar Island erupted . . . they're still working on restoring everything there; except for the Pokemon Center, the Research Lab, and of course the beautiful beach front, there isn't much there."
"So, it's a tourist town, yet there's nothing there?" Melody shook her head. "Ugh, I thought it was going to be a crowded place I could lose myself in the crowd if Karol showed up."
"It's not like I knew the state of it," Misty grumbled, shooting Melody a glance. "What happened to Blaine then, Mrs. Ketchum?"
Delia shrugged. "Most of the townspeople survived Cinnabar, apparently Blaine and the scientist's predicted what was coming and managed to evacuate roughly eighty percent of the population, according to the reports anyway," She shook her head, glancing up at the sky overhead. "But, people still show up at the Indigo League with a Volcano Badge . . . so he must be out there, somewhere."
"Leave up to Blaine and his love of riddles," Brock said, staring out at the sea. "Somehow, I can see him leaving a riddle behind for trainers to use."
"I wouldn't be surprised," Misty sighed, shaking her head. "That's right up his alley."
Melody rolled her eyes, used to being ignored when her companions started to discuss something in the past or someone she didn't know. Glancing down at Meowth, who wasn't paying much attention, Melody grinned, pulling Kingler's pokeball out of her pocket.
"Come on out," she mumbled, the crab pokemon appearing on the sand moments later. The crab glanced at the people standing around it, not recognizing any of them as its trainer. Melody glanced at the small creature, raising an eyebrow. "You're a lot smaller than I thought . . ." she mumbled, kneeling down to its level, the crab scuttling away from her. "So . . . how am I supposed to surf with this guy?"
Her question brought the other trainers around, their gaze settling on her. "You just grab on to him," Misty said with a shrug. "But – avoid the claws!"
Melody stuck her tongue out at Misty, rolling her eyes. "No . . . I was thinking of sticking my hand in there to hold on."
"Now Kingler," Mrs. Ketchum said, hands on her hips as she looked down at him. "I want you to be nice to everyone here; they're working hard to bring Ash home to us."
Melody raised an eyebrow at Mrs. Ketchum, was she giving a Pokemon a lecture? She glanced momentarily at Misty and Brock, both who seemed to find this scenario comical.
"Ash used to always say you were pretty to-the-point with your lectures," Misty commented, calling forth her Azurill. "I should put you on the video phone with my sisters."
Delia let out a small laugh, smiling at the group before her. "You kids be careful out there," she said, the far off cry of Wingull's reaching their ears. "If you find out anything, no matter how small, keep in touch."
Brock nodded, taking the pokeball Misty offered. "We'll touch base with you soon."
"Ready, Melody?"
The brunette jumped slightly, Misty and Brock ready to go, the Pokemon – including Kingler – we're already in the water, awaiting further orders. Maybe it was just her imagination playing tricks on her, but she thought she heard her name . . .
"Yeah, I'm ready – let's go!" For added measure, she pumped her fist into the air. "Come on Meo–" she called over her shoulder. "Wait – where's Meowth?"
He was there a second ago . . .
# # #
"I can't believe it," Jessie grinned, looking at the additional pokeball attached to her belt. "That's the first Pokemon I've ever caught on my own . . . you and I make a great team Lickitung."
Jessie couldn't help but think about it as she left Viridian City – her life had gotten better after the catastrophe aboard the Saint Anne.
She was presumed to be dead – no longer did she have to worry about Team Rocket.
She had gotten to see a part of the world outside of the Kanto Region.
She had the chance to indulge in the spotlight she strived for as a child.
She realized that the Wooper she'd just caught was completely and only hers.
While she didn't know how to put it in words, she had realized what James really meant to her.
Her revelations also revealed that her opinion and consistent need to search out the twerps reminded her of her own childhood – constantly shoved aside, ignored, and looked down on – which fuelled her desire to be recognized by them, by everyone.
Was that why she strived for the spotlight, flourishing on her morning show?
No longer was she tied down, the pressure's of society bearing down on her, molding her in a certain way.
All in all – it call came back to one thought in her mind.
She was free.
Grinning as the realization formed in her mind, Jessie couldn't help but sigh, a heavy weight finally removed from her shoulders.
All she had to do was meet up with Melody in Cinnabar and then she could . . . could what? What was it she really wanted in life?
The thought made her ponder mid-step . . . she was free, but she didn't know where James was, or if he had survived the sinking? However, she closed her eyes, shaking her head to dispel the thoughts plaguing her mind.
Melody had sounded frazzled on the phone, her thoughts were all out of sorts, her train of thought impossible to decipher. Had Melody found someone from her past, could she have possibly connected with James?
She could picture Melody flashing around some unflattering picture of her, but . . . she shook her head. No, how would Melody even manage to connect her to the Kanto Region?
"I can't believe I actually agreed to come all this way for her," Jessie said, shaking her head. Had her and Melody even gone a day without fighting back at home? "I wonder what my viewers would think if they saw me like this . . ." She trailed off, her mind bringing forth an image of Danny.
"Lickitung," Jessie said, smiling slightly at the creature. "Can you believe that if Melody hadn't called when she did, I would be engaged . . ."
She had left so suddenly, she'd never even given Danny an answer. She shuddered, remembering his gaze on her through the entire show, trying to catch her eye. But, instead she ran away, something she was used to.
When things got too tough, Jessie disappeared.
She had to wonder though, if she hadn't suddenly pictured James as her past chose that moment to resurface, what would she have done? Would she have said yes? Holding her hands out before her, she glanced at her ring-less finger, frowning.
"I would have said yes," she finally decided on. During that year, she had finally found a place, a person that accepted her for what she was. "But if James is truly dead . . ."
Would she return to Shamoutti Islands? Could she let her real self disappear and return to the life she had built on no memories? Would she be able to forget everything again and erase the memories of James, Team Rocket, and her past?
"Ugh, this is too deep for me!" Jessie shouted, twinning her hands in her hair out of frustration. "I can't deal with all this right now, come on Lickitung!" Jessie shouted, her feet quickly moving her to a run.
"Licky!" the Pokemon replied, starting out after her.
Up ahead, Jessie could see the break in the forest, Pallet Town just ahead. Without slowing her pace much, Jessie scanned the small town located some fifty feet away from the forest, nestled between the hill and the Water Route that led to Cinnabar.
"We made it," she said, the sun peeking out over the horizon, casting long shadows across the land. "Thanks for your help, Lickitung," Jessie turned on her heel, smiling slightly as she pulled out the pokeball. "Please return and have a rest now."
She had managed to talk her way off Shamoutti, into Kanto, and away from Karol's watchful eye – and it was all for this upcoming moment.
Taking a deep breath and squaring her shoulders – Jessie nodded to herself. There was no going back now, she thought as she started down the worn path leading into Pallet.
As she descended the slope, Jessie didn't spare many glances at the picturesque town around here, a majority of the houses decorated with small picket fences sectioning off their front yards. The only thought that came to her mind: So, this is where the main twerp came from?
However, she kept her eyes trained forward, Water Route 21 glinting in the sun, beckoning her. She caught sight of Oak's lab to her left – a place Team Rocket wanted to someday take over – but shook her head, that didn't concern her anymore.
Halfway through the small town, Jessie reached for the sunglasses perching atop her head – she didn't want to be recognized by those opening their door for the morning paper or to let their Meowth out.
I wonder what ever happened to him? she thought idly, knowing the cat pokemon couldn't swim.
Turning her attention back to the water route up ahead, Jessie paused, catching sight of a couple figures on the tiny beach. Slowing her pace slightly, Jessie watched them with narrowed eyes, her hand reaching back for Wooper's pokeball.
She had no reason to wait for them to leave, she hadn't done anything wrong.
"I'm only going to Cinnabar anyway," she said to herself as a reminder. "It's hardly a big deal."
With Professor Oak's lab behind her, the houses seemed to be placed further apart; obviously she was now out of the main part of town. She smiled slightly, no wonder the twerp had seemed so different, there was next to nothing here.
Upon passing the last house that separated the town from the Water Route, Jessie found her pace slowing, stopping in the shadows of a large grove of trees.
Four figures stood there, every once and a while glancing out at the early morning water before them. For a moment, Jessie wondered how cold the water would be. She noticed one of the figures stood apart from the others, pointing out across the sea at something they couldn't see. One of the figures shook their head, long hair going in every direction, as they stood up, brushing the dust off their jeans.
"Wait a . . ." Jessie mumbled, the lone figure turning back, speaking to the Pokemon who sat beside her. Jessie blinked; her expression froze in place as the Pokemon stood up, the sun glinting off the charm on its head. "It can't be . . ."
Melody grinned, glancing from her pokemon to another pokemon just out of Jessie's sight. "It's a Meowth," Jessie said, watching the scene on fold before her, her eyes widening as the cat Pokemon stood up on it's hind legs. "It's my Meowth."
Meowth was alive . . . the cat had survived.
If Meowth survived, could she hope for the best?
She glanced back at the beach, Melody kneeling down, looking between a Kingler and two other figures. Following Melody's glance, Jessie took in the appearance of the two other figures.
". . . It's the twerps . . ." she blurted out.
She hadn't expected to see them standing there.
She shook her head. Melody had found Meowth. Somehow, Melody had crossed path with two of the twerps. After a moment, she noticed Pikachu as well, perched on a middle-aged woman's shoulder. It was more than she had ever expected to see.
Blinking, Jessie focused her attention back on the small group, taking note that neither Ash Ketchum nor James were within the small group. She assumed the woman with Pikachu was Ash's mother, the resemblance between them evident.
Suddenly, the reason Melody sounded so distracted and vague on the phone was evident.
"Yeah, I'm ready – let's go! Come on Meo– wait, where's Meowth?"
Jessie's head jerked up, Melody's loud voice breaking through her train of thought.
What Melody said was true; the beach was suddenly devoid of one cat Pokemon.
The greenery around Jessie rustled, a light breeze rolling off the Water Route. Then, "Is dat you, Jessie?"
Jessie jumped at the sound of the familiar voice behind her, her heart beating wildly against her ribcage. Bringing a hand to rest over it, Jessie turned on her heel, blue eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced at the surroundings.
"It tis you, ain't it?" Meowth said, appearing from around the trunk of a tree. "You was never dat good at bein' quiet," he added, shaking his head. "It'd only be you's who'd be callin' dem the twerps anyway."
Jessie shook her head, her grip on Lickitung's pokeball loosening. "How are you here?"
"Dere's a lot to explain," Meowth hedged, staring at the dirt underfoot. "Dem twerps know more 'bout it, you's need ta get out dere."
"Mewoth!" came Melody's voice, hands cupped around her mouth. "Come on, get out here! I know you hate water, but seriously . . ."
"Sometimes, she sounds like ya," Meowth said, nodding in Melody's direction. "Tis no wonder ya didn't get along."
Jessie remained silent, glancing as the Orange Islands native called for Meowth, the twerps staying where they were. Jessie rolled her eyes at that, of course the twerps wouldn't wait time looking for Meowth.
But, above all else: did she want to see the twerps again? That wasn't what she had in mind when Melody phoned her.
Team Rocket was the reason why the Saint Anne sunk. After the initial takeover, both the crew and passengers were set on getting rid of them, to the point that they didn't realize the Saint Anne was drifting off its preordained course. Within a few minutes, the Saint Anne left the protective harbour of Vermillion, the water choppy from the storm hitting Fuchsia City.
Without a doubt, she knew they would blame her. If only her and James hadn't set their sights on the twerps Pikachu, those three wouldn't have been caught up in everything. She glanced down at Meowth – had he just said something? – idly thinking that she could grab Meowth, vanish back into the shadows. and surely, find James on her own.
"Seriously, does the water freak you out that much?" Melody's voice said, cutting through Jessie's thoughts. It registered that Melody's voice was much closer now.
"Jessie . . ." Meowth said, knowing what the look on Jessie's face usually meant.
The bushes separating them from the sight of those on the beach rustled, bringing Jessie's thoughts back to the present. Casting a glance over her shoulder, Jessie paused; the brunette no more than five or so feet away from them.
"Thank god for that charm on your head," Melody said, the sun having glinted off the charm moments ago. Pushing her pigtails back, her hat askew, Melody paused, noticing Jessie. "Jessilina," she said, surprise etched on her face as she shoved her hands in her pockets. "You're early."
# # #
A/N –
This was the hardest part of the story to write so far.
Since Jessie and Misty/Brock were enemies in the show, I found it hard to write a way in which they could be in the same scene together and not want to fight over some trivial matter. I stared at a blank screen for about three days, rewrote the ending scene about five times . . . and I'm still not too happy with it, but it still manages to throw them together.