Chapter 12

Change of Heart

Lying face-down on her bed in the darkness of her quarters, Julia wept incessantly into her pillow, crushed by the heartbreaking truth of the terrible act she had just committed. She often had dreams at night about the mother whom she never knew, but whose smiling face she still vaguely remembered. It was those dreams that kept her going in life: although she was greatly attached to the authority that belonged to her as an Elite Officer of Team Rocket, in her heart she always knew that the only and only thing she truly loved was the two arms that cradled her lovingly on that day, and the eyes of her mother which soothed her spirit as she stared into them. And to think that she just unwittingly condemned her own family to torment and possibly even worse…the guilt within her was simply overwhelming.

But after what felt like an eternity of bitter tears, Julia made a firm decision in her heart and got out of her bed, clenching her fist over her heart as the tears kept rolling down her face. She wouldn't lose the only family she had, to an organization and a tyrant who had lied to her and used her since the beginning. She couldn't bring herself to serve either any longer.

She wanted her life back.

She stormed out of her chambers, not even bothering to lock the door behind her as she walked with fire in her eyes towards Giovanni's office. As she walked straight across the reception room, the secretary stared at her in shock. All audiences with Giovanni were to be appointed through his secretary, regardless of who requested it, but Julia didn't care. She walked right up to his office door and turned the handle, pushing the door open with violent force.

Disturbed from his work, Giovanni looked up to see Julia, whose face was awash with tears and her eyes reddened with sadness and hatred as she made one angry puff of breath after another. "…So you have finally discovered the truth…" he said with ice-cool composure, placing his elbows on his desk and lightly resting his chin on his right hand, which lay over his left.

"You…monster…Why didn't you tell me…?" Julia spoke in a low growl, keeping her burning anger in check.

"Because, as you must already know, an organization as a whole is more important than any of the single individuals which it is constituted of. Also, you, like your mother, have developed to become one of the finest agents Team Rocket has ever seen. Your past had never been revealed to you, for the concern that doing so might hinder your…progress…"

Unable to keep back her emotions any longer, Julia screamed at him. "Progress? Is that what you call it? You took away my life and my family from me, just so I can make 'progress' in this organization?"

"You are one of the best officers in our Ranks, Domino. The end should well and truly justify the means by which you have become the superior agent you are today," Giovanni replied as he looked her right in the eye.

"Don't call me that anymore. My name is Julia Musashi. I want my family back, and I want them now. Release them. At once," she spoke in a more controlled tone, although the fire within her showed no sign of dying out.

Giovanni paused for a moment, before giving her a reply which would disappoint her. "As much as I understand what you are feeling at present, I'm afraid I cannot do that."

"…what?"

"I cannot release them at all. Doing so would prove to be…problematic," he stated.

"I don't care. I want them out of whatever hell-hole of a cell you've probably put them in. At least confine them in a humane place like their own quarters, instead of a cell," Julia demanded.

"My answer is final," Giovanni answered firmly, leaving Julia wide-eyed in terrible shock, "and that is no. Now, if you would return to your own chambers and have a good, long ponder about what has happened in the last hour, I'm certain that you'll be able to think more clearly on the matter…and make a wise decision about it."

Disgusted, Julia shot a final glare at Giovanni before leaving his office, shutting the door behind her. She placed her forehead against the side wall, throwing the palm of her hand against it as she cried. But then, as she heard the ringing of Giovanni's phone from within, she leaned against the door with her ear against it, determined to do all she could to save her family.

"Yes, what is it?" Giovanni said as he picked up his phone.

"There's rather distressing news, sir. It's about the Indigo Plateau and the other authorities," his secretary replied.

"Go on."

"According to our spies, it seems that they have indeed fallen for the ruse that the satellite launch will be hastened by two days. They are making preparations at a distressing rate. At the speed which they're currently organizing their forces, they may hinder our plans before we even have a chance to set them in motion. What are your orders, sir?" the secretary asked.

Giovanni initially gritted his teeth in distress, before coming up with a devilish plan as he smirked. "Leave things as they are within the headquarters. I have a plan – something that will put off our enemies and buy us time to complete our project. Although it may require a little…persuasion on our part."

"As you wish, sir. Signing off now," the secretary said, and the line was terminated.

After putting the phone down, Giovanni silently walked to the door in suspicion that Julia might have remained behind it, listening in on his words. But as he opened the door, the corridor was seemingly empty, with not a hint of her in sight. He closed the door again, returning to his desk to oversee the final stage of the plans for the satellite launch.

Walking to the detention block, Julia's mind was racing with thoughts as she pondered the meaning of Giovanni's words as he spoke to the secretary. She knew that the only way he could possibly meddle with the preparations of the Indigo Plateau was to distort the information that was provided to them. She also knew that Jessie was the one who was providing the steady stream of intelligence to her friends, who relayed the message to the Pokémon League.

That was the answer.

'He's going to try and get them to contact their friends and feed them false information about the launch,' she thought as she bit her lower lip. 'I have to stop his plans…somehow…'

As she thought, she came across a large contingent of grunts who were guarding the detention block where the trio and her mother were definitely being held. Storming up to them, she spoke to one of the guards. "Let me through this instant. I want to speak with the prisoners."

"The Boss's orders, ma'am. He gave us clear instructions to let nobody apart from him see the prisoners," the grunt replied, seemingly fearless as he was unmoved by her demand.

"You dare speak like that to your superior?" Julia cracked as she slapped him across the face. "Now move aside this instant," she said as she began to walk towards the entrance, before four strong hands gripped both her shoulders and pushed her away. She fell onto the steel floor, her hair in a mess as her head knocked against her arms.

"Your duties require you elsewhere, ma'am. I suggest that you leave immediately," the guard spoke again, seemingly unfazed by the slap he received across the face.

Julia shook her head in disbelief and horror, as if her entire world was collapsing around her. She got up on her feet and sped down the corridor, her tears sweeping off the side of her face and landing on the cold metal floor below. But her resolve nevertheless remained: she would fight for the freedom of her family, even if it meant losing her own life.

For what seemed like hours, Julia remained in the darkness of a cargo hold room which was close to the detention block, fatigue and sleep an ever-present hindrance to the vigilance with which she was determined to wait for Giovanni's arrival. But then, just as sleep was about to overcome her, her senses shot awake at the sound of a familiar pattern of footsteps which approached from the far end of the corridor. She backed herself up against the wall, peering ever so carefully across the open entrance of the cargo hold to see Giovanni walk by, oblivious of her presence as he was accompanied by two guardsmen who walked on his left and right.

"I will see the prisoners now," Giovanni said to the guard who spoke to Julia earlier. "Remain here, and keep a constant watch on the surroundings."

"Yes, sir," the guard replied as he and his squad continued to maintain watch at the entrance of the detention block, as Giovanni and his two personal guardsmen entered. The detention block was a terrible place; all the lights were dim, a few of them flickering incessantly, the steel floors rusted and the contents of the cells barely hospitable. The steel bars keeping the prisoners inside were the only things which were noticeably in perfect condition, as they were designed to ensure that escape was impossible.

"Do tell me, all of you," Giovanni smirked sarcastically, "how comfortable are you in there? Rather charming accommodations, don't you think?"

All four of the captives were sitting together on the rusted steel floor of their cell. Looking up at him, Miyamoto narrowed her eyes as she held a fearful Jessie who was trembling in her arms. James and Meowth, on the other hand, didn't even look up, although the fear was evident in their eyes.

"What do you want now? Haven't you caused us enough pain already?" Miyamoto glared at Giovanni.

"No, dear Miyamoto. I'm afraid that this is only just the beginning," he replied with a sinister grin. "You see, I am in need of your services…think of it as another errand. A simple one, at that."

"And what is that?" Miyamoto spat back.

"As direct as ever, I see," Giovanni scoffed. "Very well, I shall get straight to the point. You see, in order to expose the four of you, I have had to see to it that many…extreme measures were taken, and the resulting repercussions were quite unexpected in scale. Your contacting that boy, who had constantly meddled with our plans in the past, has led to many unnecessary inconveniences in regards to the Indigo Plateau and the regional authorities. I'm certain you know where I'm going with all of this?"

"No. I won't do it for you," Jessie replied firmly as she glared at him with her left eye whilst her mother continued to cradle her. "I won't mislead my friends and play them right into your hands."

"I'm afraid you don't have much choice in the matter. You will call him again, and tell him precisely what I want him to hear," Giovanni said, and the two guardsmen behind him aimed their rifles at the four of them. All of them remained unmoving and unfazed, as Jessie lifted herself out of her mother's arms and spoke back to him with brave eyes.

"We don't care anymore about your taunts and threats. We won't betray our friends."

"Hmph. Quite impressive, I must say," Giovanni scoffed, and curled the fingers of his right hand in and out behind his back. The guardsmen lowered their weapons again at this gesture. "Perhaps you require a different method of persuasion?"

"Whatever you say or do, the answer will be no," Jessie said firmly. Unfortunately for her, Giovanni had other ideas.

"Oh, I believe otherwise. You see, not long after you first reported back to me at my office following your extended period of absence, and also due to your new relationship with James, I concluded that the only logical place where you could've remained out of my notice was at his family estate. Therefore, I secretly ordered a squad of spies to maintain a close watch on the property – and all whom reside in it. They remain alert, and ready to execute whatever order I give them. Now…what shall it be?" he cruelly smirked.

All of a sudden, the courage faded from Jessie's eyes, replaced by pure fear. Her children meant the world to her, and she couldn't bear to see any harm come to them. She and James exchanged terrified looks, before James looked down with a heavy heart and she finally ceded to Giovanni's demands. "Alright, Giovanni…you win…I'll make that call."

"Jessie, darling…you can't possibly mean to-" Miyamoto spoke softly to her before she was cut off.

"I have no choice, mom…I can't take the risk of putting my children's lives at risk," Jessie exhaled sadly, gripping the part of her uniform which lay over her heart.

"I'm very glad that you decided to see things my way. Now…" Giovanni smiled darkly, and then clicked his fingers. The warden unlocked and opened up a nearby case which contained all of the four prisoners' belongings and then brought Jessie's communications device over, handing it to Giovanni, "…you will tell your little friend exactly what I am about to dictate to you…"

(At Seafoam Islands' beachside)

(Ash's POV)

With Team Rocket's satellite launch merely days away, our training intensified seemingly tenfold. Charizard and Garchomp were going at each other at close to full force, whilst still taking care to avoid any chance of injury. Sceptile and Infernape were practicing their Leaf Blade and Mach Punch attacks against one another. Pikachu, Squirtle and Bulbasaur were practicing a series of attacks aimed at providing one another covering fire, and all my other Pokémon were out doing training exercises of their own, individually or in groups. The only exception was Snorlax…what could I possibly say about him? But even though he was persistent in being a sleepyhead, I knew I could count on him when it mattered.

"Ash, don't you think your Pokémon are going at it a bit too hard?" Misty said as she walked over to me from behind, coiling her right arm with my left. "I know the battle's gonna be fierce, but they should really take a short rest."

"Don't worry, Mist. They know what they're doing," I assured her, placing my free hand on her arm. "Besides, it's not the battle with Team Rocket that worries me the most. It's what's gonna come afterwards."

"What are you talking about, honey?" she asked, looking confusedly at my eyes.

"I still remember what Julius told me years ago, soon after I freed him from Apothes' control. He said to me that Apothes has the power to possess people, using them as his host by sealing a fraction of his soul within them. It's him that worries me. If we fail to stop Giovanni and Team Rocket's schemes, everything is done for. We have to do our best to overcome a small evil as quickly as possible, so that we can focus on the greater task at hand," I explained.

"Don't worry, Ash. I know you'll pull through in the end; you always have, and you always will," Misty placed her hands gently across my back, smiling warmly as we faced each other. "It's just that sometimes, you need me there to be with you to save your butt. Still, I gotta say I'm impressed! I mean, foresight? From you? I never thought that to be possible!" she joked, teasing me.

"That's pretty mean of you, Mist," I laughed. "I can be smart when it matters, y'know."

"If only you could've been like that during our adventures together. How many dangerous encounters with wild Pokémon we had because of your stupidity, I'll never know!"

"Hey, in my defense, quite a few of those 'dangerous encounters' ended up with me catching some of my strongest Pokémon – like my Primeape!" I retorted.

"You're just lucky that you don't wear those caps of yours anymore," she squeezed my cheek. "Otherwise, you'd be raging and complaining all day as you try to get it back from him! …Not that I'm complaining about it, mind you. Sometimes, your stupidity can be a great source of amusement!"

"…I thought that 'promising to love, honor and care for one another' was a part of our wedding vows? In this case, emphasis on 'honor', much? You're not doing much 'honoring' right now, y'know, Mist," I joked, purposely putting a blank expression on my face.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Mr. Pokémon Master. There, is that all better now?" Misty giggled.

"Thanks. Much better, now," I smiled.

"…Idiot…" she chuckled back and kissed me as I returned the gesture. Just then, my Pokégear phone began to ring in my pocket. I reached down and took it out, revealing the caller to be Jessie.

"It looks like they've got something more to tell us," I said. Misty nodded and we broke contact as I answered the phone. "Hi, Jessie. Is there something more going on?"

"Uuh, hi, Ash. There's been a change of plans over here at Team Rocket's HQ. Apparently, the newly announced launch date for the satellite was a hoax, aimed at revealing the locations of the regional security forces spread around Kanto. The launch is going to take place on the original date," Jessie said to me, albeit with a slight tremor in her voice.

"Jessie, are you alright? Why is your voice so shaky? Are you safe?" I asked, concerned for them all.

"Yeah, we're all fine here, Ash!" she insisted, still sounding nervous. "It's just that the launch date of the satellite is getting so close, and we can't help but feel on edge here."

"Well…okay then, Jess. Take care of yourselves," I said, still not totally convinced. The line then ended on the opposite side, and I held the phone in my hand as I thought.

"What did she say, Ash? Is something wrong with them?" Misty asked me out of worry.

"She said that the satellite is going to be launched on the original announced date, instead of the new one which got us all in a frenzy. Still, I've got a bad feeling about this…Jessie's voice kept on shaking while she talked to me: she didn't do that at all before just now," I said, looking out at the ocean.

"You don't think…they could've been…do you?" she placed her hand over her heart in panic.

"I can only say that I hope they haven't been, Mist," I answered, then quickly dialed the number for the Indigo Plateau. "Hi, Claire, it's me, Ash. I have to talk to Lance. It's serious news."

(Team Rocket HQ Detention block)

(3rd-person narrative)

"It's…it's done…" Jessie murmured, dropping her communications device onto her lap after the call ended. She was too emotionally shocked to even cry, simply looking down at her knees knowing that the act she had just committed would only lead to problems for their friends. Her children would also still be at danger, so long as Team Rocket's spies were keeping watch on the estate.

"Well done, Jessie. I am glad to see that you were able to make a rational decision on the matter. That will be all," Giovanni said, then turned his head slightly towards the warden, who took back Jessie's calling device. He then gave a small wave of his hand to the two guardsmen who were again pointing their firearms at the prisoners, and they lowered their weapons and withdrew behind him.

"You've got what you came here for. Now what do you intend to do with us?" Miyamoto scowled.

"Oh…you will see in due time. I don't wish to spoil the surprise for you," Giovanni smirked as he walked out of the detention block. He then stopped to speak to the leader of the squad which was keeping watch on the area. "At midnight, destroy all of their personal effects which have been confiscated from them. Take them out to the canyon and deal with them as necessary. I trust you will handle this without any issues?"

"Yes, sir," the squad leader nodded.

"Good. Make sure they can never be found," Giovanni said, and then walked away down the corridor taking the same route that he came by. Little did he know that Julia, with her heightened senses, overheard everything he had just said to the squad leader and was looking to foil his plans and save her family.

(Later, close to midnight)

"Get up. On your feet. It's time to go," said a gruff voice as the iron door of the cell swung open as strong hands grabbed each of the four detained individuals, bringing them brutally up on their feet. All of them had been exhausted from their ordeal, resting peacefully before being violently jolted from their sleep.

"Hey, what gives 'ere! What's goin' on?" Meowth complained.

"Shut up and come quietly. We're under orders from the boss," a guard grumbled as they began to march them out of the cell. Three Rocket grunts then removed the case containing their belongings from the locker, and proceeded to destroy everything inside.

"Hey! Those are our stuff! What are you doing?" James yelled, swinging his shackled wrists about.

"You won't need them at all where you're going," another guard puffed. "You're going to die."

"What?" Jessie exhaled almost inaudibly as panic struck her deep.

"You will come into the canyon immediately. The boss expects this to be taken care of promptly," one of the guards grabbing her by the arm declared.

"Mother…I don't want to die like this…not without seeing my babies grow up," Jessie turned to her, teary-eyed.

"You had no choice, my darling. It couldn't have been helped in any way," Miyamoto insisted, trying her best to calm her daughter in what would surely be their last moments together.

The grunts then proceeded to push and shove the four of them forward, as they struggled in their shackles. But just as they were heading down the corridor which led to a back exit to the canyon, all of them stopped and looked around as the light that shone directly above them started to flicker and waver.

"Hmph. Those stupid light circuits are going haywire again. Those techs really need to pick up their standards," one of the grunts complained.

"Keep going, men. Move 'em out," the leader said. But then, the two grunts at the back who were pushing James and Meowth yelped out in pain, and collapsed in paralysis onto the floor. All the other grunts who remained standing were suddenly in a panic, looking around frantically for what could've hit their squad mates. The leader then looked at the part of the floor which was directly above the flickering light, barely making out the figure of what appeared to be a rose.

Without any warning, another rose came flying towards them, creating a puff of thick smoke shortly after dropping in front of them. It took barely a few seconds of distraction for all the grunts to be neutralized by the swift strikes of their unknown assailant, as they hopelessly flailed about in the smoke. After the grunts dropped unconscious, the four captives felt two outstretched arms which guided them out of the corridor and into a cargo room.

"Who…who could've…" Jessie murmured in between coughs, feeling that the shackles on her wrists had been released as she brought her head up and opened her eyes to see the person who had just saved them. Her vision was hazy after the brief exposure to the smoke but soon cleared, to behold none other than Julia looking at her.

"I'm…I'm so sorry for everything I've done to you all," Julia whispered, looking down in shame. "If I had only known the truth, then I would've…"

"It's alright, my darling. Everything is fine, now. We're a family again, at last," Miyamoto comforted her younger daughter, kissing her on the forehead as they embraced one another. Julia looked over her mother's shoulder to see her older sister looking back at her with slight conflict in her eyes: ever since the events at Mt. Quena years ago, they had been hostile towards each other, but the recent turn of events produced a form of sisterly love for Julia within Jessie. Finally, deciding to let go of all the things that had happened in the past, Jessie joined with her mother and sister in a hug, feeling at peace for the first time in weeks.

"As much as I am joyed for you all, what happens now?" James iterated. "How will we get out of this place?"

"I have an idea," Julia said, handing her mother a key she took from the unconscious squad leader. "I can take control of one of the helicopters in the hangar. The four of you, use this key to exit the HQ through the back section the grunts were leading you down earlier. Head out into the canyon until you see a deep crevasse, and wait close to the ledge of it. I'll pick you up from there."

"Sounds like a plan ta' me! Let's go wid' it!" Meowth chimed.

Shortly after they separated, Julia approached the entrance to the hangar control room, using her passcard to gain access. Inside were a few personnel working the night shift, as one of them turned from his station to speak to her. "Elite Officer Domino, may I help you with something?"

"I need to take a helicopter for a scouting mission. Open up the hangar doors," she said flatly.

"What kind of scouting mission are you speaking about?" the worker asked.

"I need to check on the movements of the Indigo Plateau, as well as the regional authorities. It's vital that I do so, so that we can determine whether our little interrogation exercise earlier on in the day has worked or not."

"Certainly, ma'am. I'll confirm and register your usage of the helicopter in the database. You are now given access to craft number KGH-407. We look forward to receiving a report from you, soon," the man replied, and Julia promptly headed to the lift on the left-hand side of the control room, which took her down to the hangar floor.

'I have to succeed in this,' she thought, biting her lower lip. 'If I don't, then our entire family will be put at risk a second time. And this time, there won't be escape for any of us…'

(End of Chapter 12)

A/N: My exams will be over in three days' time, so I'll finally be able to get back to writing more regularly now. I hope to get this story finished in around four more chapters at the most.

I've also made some progress on the plans of my other (non-Chosen One saga/Pokémon) stories, including my Knights of the Old Republic oneshot which I aim to expand and turn into a chapter-story of its own, and also a Yu-gi-oh Abridged fic. I might write those after I finish this book, to give myself a mental break from this series, but I'll definitely get to writing Book IV soon after that.

Please leave your reviews. : )