Angel sat against a tree, legs bent at the knee. Arms circled her legs, allowing her head to rest on her hands. Atop her lap lay her knapsack, so she could feel if someone tried to take it from her. Wetness dribbled down her left arm. With a Spoinkish sound, she jolted awake, and wiped drool from her mouth. A quick glance around showed nobody within distance to have seen, and she let out a relieved sigh. It would have been so embarrassing being caught doing that.

It had been hours since Team Rocket left, meaning it should now be safe enough to head back to Vermilion City. Not that she wanted to, by any means. Since she knew that by doing so, she was likely to end up getting arrested. But Giratina was certain Jenny's help would be needed. And truly. A few days in a cell would be a small sacrifice for the better of Pokémonkind.

Ugh! It was times like this Angel wished she knew how to ride a bike. Travel between cities would be so much quicker. Still boring as hell, but hey. The boredom would only last half as long. Maybe if things went well, she'd see about purchasing a custom trike to get around with.

Walking slower than usual, it took her half an hour to reach Saffron City, and then another four hours to reach Vermilion City. The streets were busy with people heading home from work. She thought about taking a seat at one of the benches by the Café and waiting for the crowd to thin out. But nope. It was actually where most people were heading. Oh, how she wished she could have some downtime.

Making her way through the masses as best she could, she headed to the Pokémon Center. She was almost there when she heard sirens, and a glance to her left showed Jenny pulling up to the building. For a few split seconds, Angel freaked, thinking her presence had been detected. But she need not have worried, for her friend ran straight inside, releasing her Houndoom on the way.

She considered giving aid, but she hesitated. Not only did she have no clue what was going on, but she also didn't want to be seen as a threat by trying to play the hero. More sirens sounded, and again, she looked to the road. This time to see two more officers pull up, summon an Arcanine and Mightyena, and rush inside as well.

If she waited for this to be over, she could probably get in, transfer the Pokémon to her father, and get out before Jenny ever knew she was there. Unfortunately, she had a strong feeling that Giratina was correct. And even if she wasn't, Angel couldn't just let a years-long friendship end like this. They should at least try to work it out.

After taking a deep breath, she approached the Poke Center. As she made it to the door, it opened, revealing the three Officers leading two people in handcuffs. Their perpetrators were both males, slightly younger than herself. One wore fire-themed clothing with an "M" sewn into the middle of their shirt. The other wore water-themed clothing with an "A" on their shirt. It wasn't that difficult to figure out that they belonged to Teams Magma and Aqua.

Jenny paused at the sight of Angel. Her eyes widened as she gasped loud enough to cause her fellow officers to look at her, silently asking if she needed help. Jenny waved them on and remained in the doorway.

From behind Angel came a different siren sound, and she knew without looking, that it was the transport car arriving. A minute later, Jenny still hadn't moved from the open doorway, which prompted Angel to speak. "That's a lotta warm air you're letting escape."

Her friend moved slightly, allowing the door to close. "If I had known this was going to be a Team party, I'd have brought some cake," Jenny spoke the first part conversationally, then hissed the next in a range barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here? You must be crazy to return, knowing what I have to do now."

Angel nodded, then shrugged. "I understand that you gotta do what you gotta do. Just allow me to do something really quick." She took a step, preparing to enter the building, but Jenny stretched out an arm, blocking her way. "Let me pass. I'm transferring some Pokémon to my father to prevent Team Rocket from acquiring them."

"Really?" Jenny crossed her arms beneath her breasts, a clear sign that she didn't believe a word. Her foot moved slightly, another silent statement. One that said: 'My arms may be crossed, but if you try to get inside, I can and will take you down.'

Knowing that Jenny wasn't going to let this go, Angel motioned her to an area away from the entrance so they could speak without being overheard. She sat down on the Poke Center garden's retaining wall and took a deep breath. "You were right."

"Naturally. About what?" Surprisingly, Jenny followed, taking a seat beside her.

She turned to Jenny. "Team Rocket. Have you heard about the Shadow Pokémon that have recently been discovered? Most likely. News is spreading rapidly. Anyways. I was told to steal something from Saffron City that related to Shadows. No clue what it was, or what all it did, but I didn't show up at the rendezvous point."

Beeping sounded, and Jenny raised her finger, signaling her to wait while she responded to a call on her walkie-talkie. "Go for Jenny."

"This is Officer Mike. We've found the Swanna suspect trying to break into the Bank of Kanto."

Jenny looked to Angel, and her eyes went up and down over her body as if making sure that the person beside her was the real thing. "How did you make ID?"

"The hair matches the description. How would you like us to proceed?"

"Bring her in for questioning."

"Yes, ma'am."

Upon ending the call, Jenny looked to Angel and gestured for her to continue her story.

"I was on my way to Lavender Town, where I planned on sending some Pokémon I'd caught to my father. As well as the items I'd taken from the Silph Company. Could have sworn I went inside the city, but the next morning, I awoke sleeping under the roots of a tree outside. Actually, before waking, I had a strange dream of a Giratina speaking to me. She warned me of a possible future if Team Rocket got their hands on enough Shadow Pokémon."

She paused, waiting to see if Jenny had anything to say yet, but her friend shook her head. "Well. The notorious trio of Team Rocket walked by not long after I awoke. We had a discussion, and they agreed to help me."

"Help you with what?"

"Oh! I probably should have mentioned in the beginning that two other members of Team Rocket had assaulted me not long after I left here, and took Ebony. That's what Jessie and James had agreed to help me with. Getting my darling back."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Don't worry. As soon as possible, I'll put out the word for a stolen black Sableye. One way or another, we'll get Ebony back."

"Thank you." Angel placed a hand atop Jenny's, and then continued speaking. "Anyways. Flash forward to almost back to we're almost to Saffron City, and the two who stole Ebony from me found us. Jessie, James, Meowth, and I, well, I guess we kind of became friends. They would have helped me then, but they didn't want to happen to them what had just happened to me."

"What was that?"

Angel had to take several deep breaths before she could answer. "Giovanni thought my missing the rendezvous was me stealing from him or something. I've been blacklisted from Team Rocket. In order to keep myself from getting into a one-against-four fight that I knew I stood no chance of winning, and from putting those I care about at risk, I gave them what they wanted."

"You what?!"

Jenny's raised voice caused Angel to flinch. "It was my best option! Besides, they didn't get all of it. I managed to hide two vials from them. And no, I'd rather not give them to you. I don't know what they're for. Team Rocket wants them really badly, and, no offense, but if the Silph Company can be stolen from, what chance do you have against a retrieval team?"

"Aaand considering I work in the station you'd be locked in; how does it really matter who holds on to it? The same level of security is at the front desk and your cell as it would be to the evidence room. Well. There is slightly more security there, but not enough, according to you."

"Touché. Also. In that dream, Giratina told me to come back here and find you. She seemed to think I would need your connections if I planned on stopping Team Rocket before they were capable of creating new super-powered Pokémon using the DNA of the Shadow Pokémon. That's why I'm here now. I'm hoping to work with you. Against Team Rocket."

For a while, Jenny remained silent, processing everything. Finally, she stood and faced Angel. Her eyes were already welling with tears as she reached into her back left pocket and pulled out a pair of handcuffs.

Before Jenny could speak, Angel interjected. "Please. I have three Shadows with me. I need to transfer them to my father so he can figure out how to help them. They'd be safe from Team Rocket in his lab, what with his multi-layered security system."

Jenny shook her head, her bangs moving cutely with the motion. "I can't. Those are evidence."

Angel leaped to her feet. "How can you say that? These poor creatures were tortured by Team Rocket! They trusted me to get them the help they need! Surely you can't be so heartless as to risk them being stolen back to be tested on some more?"

"Don't." Jenny's voice broke, and the tears now fell freely from her eyes. "You know my hands are tied. I can't bend the law whenever I wish. Doing it even once would be opening the door to a slippery slope. I love you like a sister, and I would do absolutely anything for you. But regardless, I'm going to hold you accountable like everyone else. Not even my real sister would get special treatment. Now, please. Turn around and lace your hands behind your head."

"Why?"

"Are you really going to continue to make this difficult on me?" Her eyes narrowed slightly, showing her impatience and frustration.

"No, I mean. Why do you ask people to do that? You're just going to take my arms, and reposition them so my hands are against my lower back. So why not just ask me to put them there and save you the trouble?"

Jenny blinked and then laughed. "I never even thought of that. If I happen to remember, I'll ask my superior the next time I'm in her office. Funny as that may be, I'm still going to have to ask you to cooperate."

"Yeah, yeah. I know. But at least I got you to laugh." Angel turned around, hands already in the proper position. She tensed as the cuffs encircled her wrists. Not because they were too cold or too tight. But because she suddenly realized that she wouldn't be able to hide this from her father. And he was going to be mad when he found out. She'd just have to do her best to make sure her name never appeared on record.