Chapter 14: Two for one

A black hearse drove slowly down the street with the Team Rocket Agents following behind it. They all stopped at the open grave to where four Beta Agents, two being Brock and Ash, lifted the casket out of the back of the vehicle then slowly walked over to the grave.

They rested it on top of the hole, a thin cloth attached to a machine held the coffin up while a picture of Melody, in her uniform saluting, rested on top of it. The damage to her body was so server, that a closed coffin memorial was approved.

Giovanni gave a speech while the Agents stood on his right and left, lined up standing up straight. His speech consisted of how Team Rocket lost not only an Agent, but a great Captain as well; saying she was like a daughter to him and how her lively personality affected us all.

During this time, Ash's friends would notices no matter how serious he looked; they could tell he was doing his best to hold back his emotions from pouring out.

Giovanni then finished with his speech with announcing how her picture will be placed proudly in the DIA section of the Team Rocket Organization. From there, seven Beta Agents stood in a single line holding old fashion muskets, Misty and May being two of the selected. "Ready," the new Captain of the Beta Unit, Koga, announced, "and fire!"

They all fired at once, the sound of the gunfire caused Ash to flinch. The memory of him pulling the trigger which killed his Captain flashed into his mind.

"Ready," Koga announce once again, the Beta Agents position their rifles high in the sky, "and fire!"

Another seven bullets are fired at once, another flash entered his mind; he knelled by her lifeless body and cradled her still warm body in his arms, feeling the life in her quickly disappearing.

"Ready," Koga announced for the final round, "and fire!"

The last firing felt to linger in the air longer then the first two to Ash; he remembered how his old uniform was soaked in her blood. From there, only his friends noticed the small stream of water, moving down his cheeks.

Then as everyone started to leave, just before they lowered the coffin; Ash placed the small seashell flute he bought for her the first day they met on top of it as he said his final goodbye.

Six days later, Giovanni sat at his desk, the loss of Melody started to quiet down around the Organization. He rested comfortably in his chair, gently swirling the drink in his hand while a satisfied smirk graced his face. "Well, that was easier than I thought it would be. Maybe the rest of the Lovers will be that easy to wipe out."

Just then, he heard a knock on his door. "Come in."

Koga walked into the room, holding a clipboard in his hand. "Hopefully I am not disturbing you, Giovanni."

He shook his head while a gentle smile now graced his face. "Not at all, Captain Koga; I'm hoping that you like your new position as Captain of the Beta Unit."

"Yes I do, sir; even though I acquired this position under grueling circumstances," Koga replied.

"Yes, but you deserved it none-the-less. Has any report on Duplica's whereabouts been filed?"

"No, there hasn't been any information on where she has been since Melody's death. It is rumored within the Unit that she is away because of the emotional stress."

"Well, whatever it is, she is awall and will be court-martialed when she is found," he replied, putting on a serious mask, "now, how may I help you?"

Koga flipped through the paperwork. "Well, I just wanted to inform you to the psych reports on the Agents who witnessed the previous Captain's death. From their mandatory sessions with the head psychiatrist, Dr. Joy."

"Ah yes, how are those Agent's doing?" Giovanni asked, sounding concern yet amused by this news.

"All of the five agents seem to be taking it rather well, except for one Ash Ketchum," he flipped over three pages, scanning the information with his eyes. "It was even rumored within the Unit that he and Melody were on dating terms for the week prior to the event."

Giovanni's eyes went wide from that news as the glass in his hand started to shake. "That cannot be, how can something like that get by in this Organization?"

Koga didn't know how to make of Giovanni's sudden outburst, but carried on with his report. "It is still unsure how; the two must have kept it quiet while within the Organization."

"Has he said anything during his psych evaluation about these rumors?" Giovanni asked, his voice a little calmer but still suspiciously nervous.

"Well, he hasn't confirmed nor denied this allegation and seems to always change the subject when it comes to it."

Giovanni took a deep breath then slowly exhaled; the ice in his glass tapped the edges as he took a drink. "I see. Tell Dr. Joy to ask about it more, I want to know if this allegation is fact or fiction."

"Yes sir, it will be done."

"Now you should get back to your Unit, and on your way out please inform Lieutenant Norman that I need to speak with him."

Koga saluted. "Will do, Giovanni," he said, walking out the door.

A serious look came upon the leader of Team Rocket's face. Hopefully she didn't tell him anything or my plans might have hit another snag.

Lieutenant Norman walked into Giovanni's office. "You wanted to see me, Giovanni?"

"Yes, please sit down," Giovanni insisted.

Norman pulled out a chair across from Giovanni and sat down. "Now, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

Giovanni swirled the drink in his hand. "As you know, the death of Melody has done emotional damage to this Organization."

"Yes, she was a great Agent, not to mention the youngest to be promoted to Captain in the history of Team Rocket."

Giovanni chuckled. "Yes, that is true; but with the upcoming project we must get the agent's minds off of this dark time to have them ready for the mission, not to mention the annual Team Rocket Ball is at least another two weeks away."

Norman rubbed his chin. "Yes, that is true; not to mention we need to introduce the new rifles and armor to the troops."

Giovanni snapped his fingers. "That's it, we can bring up the new armor and weapons in a fashion show."

Norman looked puzzled by his boss's suggestion. "I'm not sure I follow."

Giovanni stood up. "Think about it, with a fashion show we can bring up the spirits of the troops and at the same time reveal the new weaponry; killing two Pidgeottos with one stone."

Norman thought about it and nodded his head. "That might work, when should we have it up?"

Giovanni sat down at his desk. "I would like to have this ready as soon as possible, so possibly in three days."

Norman stood up. "I will have the sign-up sheets ready by the end of the day for troops who wish to participate."

"Excellent; let's get these troop's spirits up," Giovanni replied, raising his glass up in a toast.

"So, Ash," Dr. Joy asked, writing on her notepad while Ash rested on the couch, "how are you dealing with the death of your Captain?"

"I relax on top of the roof of the Organization," Ash replied in a calm tone.

"Oh, why do you rest there?" she asked.

"I would always relax on the roof of my house when I would want to be alone; it's just something I would do to clear my head."

Dr. Joy nodded her head and scribbled a few lines on her pad. "It is very common for someone to seek a place to be by themselves after a tragedy such as that. But you should be more open with your friends; even though I am not aloud to disclose any information about what they have said I can at least say they are very worried about you."

"I know they are, but its just when I joined Team Rocket all I thought I would be doing is eliminating Poke'mon, but," his breathing started to get heavy, imagines of Melody's torn body started to flash before his eyes, "I never thought, I would have to do that."

"Not many agents do, but you have to remember there was nothing you could do to help her and what you did was better then her suffering till the end," Dr. Joy comforted.

He rolled over. "I know, but it still doesn't feel good to do."

"That is normal, but it also makes me wonder," she tucked a strand of her hair that was in her face behind her left ear, "did you two have a closer relationship then business?"

Ash then looked at his Rocketdex. "My hours up."

She adjusted her thin frame glasses and looked at the clock. "Oh my, so it is. We will have to pick this up next session; will the same time tomorrow work for you?"

"Yeah, that sounds alright," he replied in a depressed tone, walking out of the room.

As soon as the door closed, Dr. Joy walked over to her desk. There she picked up the phone and dialed it with her index finger. It rang twice and Giovanni's voice asked. "Did you find out anything?"

"No, he is very defensive when it comes to that subject; but in my opinion, he has no idea who she really was."

A satisfied chuckle could be heard over the line. "I suppose so, because he probably wouldn't be with us if he did."

"I do not understand, Giovanni; even though he is Akio's son, why is it so important that he stays with us?" Dr. Joy asked.

"In due time, Dr. Joy; but for now, keep a close eye on him and his friends," Giovanni ordered.

"It will be done, sir," she replied, hanging up the phone.

Ash walked down the hall with his hands in his pockets and his head hung down. "A-Ash?" a quiet voice spoke, barely even loud enough to get his attention.

But he turned around to see May standing behind him; a worried look covered her face. "Are you, alright?"

He took a deep breath and then exhaled with a small smile on his lips. "Yeah, I'm ok. So what's up?"

She stared down at her feet, watching her hands rub each other as she looked back up. "Never mind, this probably isn't the best time."

She was about to turn around. "It's ok, May; just tell me."

She could feel her hands starting to sweat, her mouth became dry, and the words she wanted to say kept getting away from her. "Well, I j-just wanted to ask, what I mean is if you don't have one already, if well, if you still were interested, would you go to the Team Rocket Ball with me," she said, but then added in shock, "as friends! I mean," she calmed down, "just as friends."

Ash was a little stunned from this question, unsure himself of what to answer it with. But he just replied with. "Well, if it is just as friends, I don't see why not."

A large smile appeared on her face, but quickly hid it. "Alright, hope you pick out a good suit."

He chuckled. "No problem, I can find one at my house."

Later after dinner, Ash walked alone down the halls back to his room; seeming a bit more cheerful then before. "Hey, Ash," Misty's voice called out, "wait up!"

He stopped to see her run up to him. "Hey there, Misty; what's up?" Ash asked.

She stopped by his side. "Ah nothing, it's just we haven't talked in a while; hopefully you're not still sore about me winning your first paycheck."

He shook his head. "Nah, I'm over that now. It seems to be the more badges you have the more you get paid," he said, revealing to her his paycheck and her mouth went wide. "Now, with all of this extra cash, what should I do with it; maybe an all you can eat ice-cream buffet," he replied with a satisfied smirk on his face.

She put on an innocent mask. "Oh Ash, do you want to bet if you can out shoot me this time? You have gotten better and I wouldn't be surprised if you..."

Ash chuckled. "Yeah right, I learned my lesson the first time. This one is all mine."

She frowned childishly and turned her back to him. "Fine then," but her eyes focused on the Fashion Show poster. "Oh, what is this?"

Ash looked a bit surprised as he looked at it too. "It seems to be a Fashion Show, as a way to reveal the new weapons to us."

"That was a rhetorical question, Ash," she snapped back, "I mean, who would sign up to this willingly?"

"Well obviously not you, little sis; unless you want the audience to lose their sight."

Misty grinded her teeth to the sound of that voice, oh how she despised that voice. Her head turned to face her sister, Daisy, to also see that her other sisters, Lily and Violet, standing in front of her, wearing business uniforms.

The three giggled. "Don't tell me the runt is thinking of signing up for a Fashion Show," Violet commented.

"No way, someone as scrawny as her in a Fashion Show, that's a joke in itself," Lily added while the three shared another giggle.

The sight of her sisters made her hands form fists. "Let me guess, these are the sisters you told me about?" Ash asked defensively.

"How could you tell?" she asked in a dark tone, her teeth continuing to grind from the sight of them.

"Oh, no way!" Violet stated out in excitement, placing one hand on her cheek and the other pointed at Ash, "is that, Ash Ketchum?"

"No way," Lily replied, "what would the son to a great agent like Akio be doing with a runt like her?"

"Well, it is true," Ash replied nervously, "I am his son."

The three girls let out a sequel of excitement as they rushed over to him, purposely pushing Misty away to do so. "No way, I can't believe it's really you!" Daisy exclaimed.

"Is it true you took on Gravelers single handed with only a fire and an ice rifle?" Lily asked.

Violet then ensnared his right arm. "Oh Ash, wouldn't it be great to take me to the Team Rocket Ball?"

"Oh no way, Violet," Lily exclaimed, grabbing onto his left arm. "He is going to be taking me."

"That is where you are both wrong, sisters," Daisy replied smugly, wrapping her arms around his neck from behind, "because he will be taking me to the Ball."

Misty grew aggravated at the sight of her sister's' actions, always being pushed to the side of them. But then, before her mind could think, her body pushed them to the side and she wrapped her arms around his. "Sorry, but he has already agreed to take me to the Ball."

Her three sisters were as shocked as Ash from this statement just as her mind started to catch up to her body's actions.

Daisy placed her hands on her hips. "Oh is that so, little sis," she looked at Ash with playful eyes, "but if you start to get bored of the runt, you can always ask me out anytime. Come on sisters, the spa closes in three hours, we must make the most of our time."

The three walked off; and as soon as they were out of sight, Misty released Ash and pleaded to him. "Please will you take me to the Ball, it's just after doing that my sisters will probably humiliate me if they find out I lied. I will even pay you back the money I won from the bet. Please, I'm just asking this one favor."

He waved his hands in front of himself. "Alright, I will take you to the Ball."

She smiled in relief and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," then she released him, to let his lungs fill back up with air. She looked at her Rocketdex. "I probably should be going now, see you tomorrow."

She ran off down the hallway; but just then, a disturbing fact hit him. "Oh wait, I already said I would take May to the Ball," streams of regret started to fall down his eyes. "And I thought I had a problem before."

To Be Continued

Strange how something with such a dark beginning can have such a humorous ending. Well who will Ash go with to the Ball: the tomboyish Misty or the joyous May? What will happen when they find out they are taking the same guy? Will there be a cat fight any guy would enjoy to see? Read and Review to find out.