A/N - I know, I suck at summaries, so I thought to myself what if Ash was only son of the Cerulean Gym and had Misty's sisters? Giovanni inherits Misty as his daughter during the AU and Brock is dealing with adult responsibilities his deadbeat parents thrown on him after leaving him to fend for himself and his nine younger siblings.
North Kanto
March 20th - 2:00PM
"You... You're not Giovanni's kid, are you? No, that can't be right. Giovanni's kid has red hair."
It was a bright day, not a single cloud in the sky to be seen. It was pretty hot outside (95 degrees factoring in the humidity) but it was the kind of weather that made Ash break out the tackle box and sit near a dock catching fish until late into the afternoon when everything started to cool off. He loved kicking off his shoes and getting his feet wet while his companion Pikachu joined him. His older sisters on the other hand Daisy, Lily, and Violet who helped look after their parents gym weren't too thrilled about his taste in pokemon.
Ash - So what if Pikachu isn't your first choice! He's still a pokemon! And besides I already have a Squirtle so who cares if the youngest son of the Cerulean Gym isn't training a bunch of water type Pokemon?
Daisy - Dad always called you the oddball for a reason. ಠ_ಠ
Ash - ಠಿ_ಠ
Water based pokemon this, water based pokemon type that, what was the point of being a pokemon gym leader anyways if he couldn't catch the other ones? He had a lot of other water based type companions like Staryu, Starmie, and Goldeen but Pikachu came first.
And besides lots of the other kids his age like Pikachu even if isn't a water type.
Lots of people loved Pikachu so why was Daisy always making such a big deal about it when it doesn't have to be?
Big sisters are always trying to find something to gripe about, that's what.
You know, stupid stuff.
Things siblings argue about no matter how dumb the subject is, but something different happened after he rode his bike out to the lake today.
A fiery red headed girl drove off with his bike a few hours after he sat down to fish. When he was ready to turn his mind off for a few hours and relax. When all he wanted to do was enjoy the early spring weather after waiting patiently for winter to finally end.
When life flourished again during the warmest months of the year.
At first he thought the girl was only a bike thief but it wasn't until minutes later he realized long after she had wrecked his bicycle, Giovanni's grunts were chasing after her.
Everything changed.
Kanto Region Hospital
7:00PM
The waiting room fell into a heavy silence after Giovanni had cut his parents a check to pay for the bike Misty had damaged after racing off with it. It was the least the gym leader of Viridian City could do but that wasn't what Ash really wanted knowing Misty was beaten up pretty badly after the accident.
It was what Giovanni wasn't saying that upset him.
Ash pauses for a brief moment. It was his mixed emotions regarding his daughter that fueled his hesitancy.
"Mr. Giovanni, I have something else I'd like to ask you." Ash says, speaking loudly enough so he may hear him.
"What is it?" Giovanni says, quirking an eyebrow at Ash's indignant glare.
"It's about your daughter, Misty."
"Misty?"
"Yes, Misty."
"What about my daughter?" Giovanni asks, folding his arms across his chest.
"I was wondering, after she gets better could we hang out sometime?" Ash says, after a moment.
"But you barely know who she is." Giovanni says, a touch defiantly. "I'm sure her mild head trauma will only complicate things between the both of you."
"A lot of strangers turned out to be my friends. Maybe Misty just needs a friend. Somebody that isn't from Viridian. I know she really wasn't lucid or anything after I visited her but I heard her saying something about her mother." Ash says, quietly, looking up to Giovanni's eyes. "but if she had someone my age talk to her, get to know her-"
"You'd think you'd be able to curb my daughter's rebellious streak?" Giovanni says, ending his sentence with a short depressive sigh.
"Well, why not give it a shot?" Ash says, bluntly. "Who knows how long it will be before you can safely escort Misty back to Viridian city after she heals up? Let me hang around. I mean afterall I am the son of a famous pair of water trainers Kanto city had ever known." The grin widened on Ash's face. He was rocking back and forth on his heels waiting for Giovanni to consider his proposal. "I mean what do you have to lose, sir?"
"At this point I guess nothing." Giovanni muttered to himself as he sank into his chair. He leaned back into his seat and closed his eyes. He needed a long moment to rest and to collect his thoughts as this chirpy young boy had managed to convince a crime boss he was trustworthy enough to befriend his only child.
-.-
Strength?
…No, my greatest strength you desired is your weakness…
The echoes of Mewtwo's words circled back into Giovanni's memories after he pulled up a chair to seat himself near his daughter's hospital bed. Misty was far too tired to open her eyes much less look back at her own father searching for any shred of recognition beyond their shared genetics.
They both remained in companionable silence for a few moments when a soft sound had attracted Giovanni's attention.
He wasn't sure if it sounded more like a sob or was it more like a sigh?
"Da-daddy?" Misty whimpered. Her eyes never opened, she sounded half asleep and scared. He noticed it was the kind of sleep where you languish after struggling to stir to consciousness. When your body is still beaten and worn out and your eyes refuse to open and return to those restless dreams.
When your body demands more rest to recover from its injuries.
Grabbing his daughter's hand that lay motionless and he would close his eyes in sadness before whispering. "I'm here."
Much to his own surprise Misty had weakly squeezed her father's hand back acknowledging his gesture of comfort.
"Daddy," Misty wheezed out. "Daddy is it really is you? I'm sorry, I'm sorry I ran off. I'm sorry I ever got angry." and her voice would give out again.
"Don't be." Giovanni says, softly.
15 years ago
Viridian Gym - Giovanni's office
"I will concentrate solely on bettering myself, and none other."
"Boss! What about your daughter?" Jessie says, before her eyes widened in horrified realization. "You aren't just gonna leave her behind? She needs a caregiver!"
"You heard what I said!' Giovanni screams. It's a sharp and focused echo that reverberates off the walls of the enclosed space.
"You know what I'm sure of!" Jessie screams back, matching her boss's frenetic energy.
"What?" Giovanni says, through tightly clenched teeth.
"Madame Boss wouldn't just give in after failing to capture Mewtwo and neither would my own mother," Jessie says, sadly. "Disband our organization? Even after your own wife gave her life to protect you from Mewtwo's attacks. This is how you honor her sacrifice?"
A brief moment of silence passes between them, Giovanni opens his mouth hesitant to speak, before Jessie would cut him off once again.
"My own mother abandoned me to pursue the capture of Mew. I was adopted and fostered by a new set of parents because she refused to return until she accomplished her mission. I'll never see my mother again, but at least Misty has you! Even someone as stone hearted as you are should at least be there for his child instead of abandoning her!"
Jessie was alone since childhood and was never able to pick up the shattered pieces her mother had left behind after her abrupt and traumatic disappearance.
And her heart ached.
Giovanni would soon understand he shared kinship along with Jessie.
It was a grief he could not swallow.
-.-
March 24rd - 3:20PM
"Blow me away Giovanni is the head of Viridian Gym?"
"Where are you headed off to?" Lily asks, studying her brother with sound judgment. "Did you finish your homework yet? Don't forget dinner might be a little late tonight but just be sure to come before six, okay?"
"I wanted to visit that girl again." Ash says, turning towards the door. You know the one who rode off with my bike?" He had paused before his hand had reached the door handle of the Cerulean Gym. He would peer back at all three of his sisters from over his shoulder.
"I'm guessing she must be super important," Daisy says, studying the pokeball she held in her hand thoughtfully, considering his answer. "After school lets out, you're always searching for some snacks to eat before dinner."
"So what's that supposed to mean?" Ash says, angrily.
"It's not really about snacking in-between meals," Violet says, after a moment. "It just sounds a lot like you have someone else is occupying that head of yours." she says, with a smirk. "I'm just saying it sounds a lot like how my friend April feels about this one guy at school and she's always writing his name in the margins of her notebook all the time."
"I'm just concerned about whoever she is," Ash says, trying to counter their argument. "She doesn't have any friends her own age so I thought…" his voice trailed away deciding to end this thought. He wasn't quite sure what else to add along with it.
"You thought what?" Daisy says, placing a hand to her hip.
"I thought maybe we could be friends, you know?" Ash says, in a small voice.
"The thing is we don't know too much about the Viridian City gym leader ourselves," Daisy answers with concern. "Whoever he is, he'll always be the mysterious gym leader who never lost a single match against a trainer yet."
But that's where all three of my sisters are wrong. I know more about the Viridian Gym leader than I bargained for after Misty managed to crash my bicycle. What they don't know about him is that he's also the crime boss of Team Rocket.
Team Rocket Grunt Jessie - What you doing just standing there call for an ambulance! She needs help!
Team Rocket Grunt James - I'll see what first-aid I can use to stop the bleeding. Meowth where is that first aid kit? We need a tourniquet!
Meowth - I'm coming! I'm coming! Gain way!
Ash - Team Rocket helping a civilian? That's funny. I thought grunts like you would much rather let someone die than call for help.
Meowth - I'd call it more of a privilege than anything. This girl is really special to the boss and even though he doesn't show it much he still wants her around, you know?
Ash - A privilege? I didn't think living was meant to be a privilege. I'm alive, I'm not responsible for living but I am grateful I have parents that care about raising me and my sisters.
Team Rocket Grunt James - That's the thing. Our boss doesn't normally use the hands on approach to parenting.
Ash - I get it now what you're saying she's the daughter of Team Rocket's leader.
Team Rocket Grunt Jessie - And you better keep your mouth shut about all this or else.
Ash - Or else what? I'm ten years old, most of my social life revolves around elementary school and training part time at my parents gym. I always wanted to go on a pokemon journey like Professor Oak's grandson but my parents want me to focus on my education instead of filling out a pokedex.
Team Rocket Jessie - …I can't say it sounds like your parents don't want the best for their son. Afterall you can't get a proper job without a high school diploma these days.
Ash - So is that why you're working for Team Rocket?
Team Rocket Grunt Jessie - ಥДಥщ
Ash - It was only a question. And besides it's not like getting a GED is something to be ashamed about. (・・；)
Team Rocket Grunt James - What's important is that we protect our boss's daughter from further harm.
Ash - This coming from the same people that steal pokemon. I'd never thought someone like you would have a conscience. A lot of Team Rocket grunts I've seen on the news are really scary and should be avoided at all costs. Why'd you guys get stuck with babysitting duty?
Meowth - That's none of yer business, pal.
Ash - What I do know about parents that care about their child. If I was the head of Team Rocket wouldn't it at least make sense to entrust their kid with someone who meets the bare minimum to look after a kid?
Team Rocket Grunt James - He has a point you know. I know a lot of men and women within the organization who are the anti-mothering and fathering types. People who have no business being parents. These adults who came from broken homes of their own just looking for someone like our boss to prove themselves to.
Ash - Sounds a lot like whoever the team leader of Team Rocket is must have hit the jackpot when he got saddled with you guys.