Chapter 4
*** Flashback ***
7-year-old Shane pulled his hoodie further over his head as he aimlessly walked the streets alone. He didn't know where he was going or what he was looking for, just that his parents and Meowth were not coming back home, and he couldn't get back home if he tried, not that he particularly wanted to.
Rounding a corner, the young boy found himself down a poorly lit, dingey narrow side street. He looked up, the buildings were tall and imposing, making the alley seem even more claustrophobic and scary. Shane took and deep breath and made his way through.
"Hey kid. What are you doing around here? You don't belong here! This is our turf." A young girl with dirty dark blonde hair styled in uneven bobbed pigtails stepped out from behind a corner. She looked about the same age as him, her eyes brown and dark. She donned a faded old black t-shirt, ripped tights under fraying shorts and big black boots that looked about 2 sizes too big for her scrawny legs and small frame.
The young boy's eyes widened. "Your turf?"
"Yeah me and the others."
Shane looked around. The dingy back alley was deserted, no sign of anyone else. "What others?"
"Well, um, it's kinda just me right now. But there are more of us around. Loads more. So don't try nuthin' funny!"
"Us?"
"Street kids."
"Well I'm not here to be funny." Shane frowned "I'm looking for my family. They left home and never came back. And now I don't know where home even is." The boy looked up at his surroundings seeing nothing familiar.
"Ha looking for your family. What a kid. I stopped that a long time ago."
Shane scrunched his face up slightly.
The girl continued "Why are you even looking for them? They should be looking for you. They don't care. Forget them."
Shane sniffed, before his green eyes steeled. "You're right. They don't care. I don't care!" With that the young boy kicked a nearby dustbin with everything he had. The can shook and the sound ricocheted around the silent alley. "I'm never going back."
The girl half smiled. This boy was alright. "What do they call you kid?"
Shanes eyes lit up. "My name is Shane. What's yours?"
A large rumble broke the moment. "Ah man. I'm starving." Shane looked down at his growling stomach. He'd finished his small supply of snacks off long ago and now his body was desperate for a solid meal.
"You like sandwiches Shane?" His new companion asked nonchalantly.
Shane shrugged. Right now, he liked anything.
"I know a great place. Come on." The blonde girl led him deeper through the urban jungle till they arrived at a small independent deli.
"Um I don't have any money. Do you?" Shane asked the girl, turning out his empty shallow pockets to drive the point home.
"No problem, I get a five-finger discount here." The girl grinned and winked.
Shane nodded and smirked back. His parents had taught him a few "life skills" over the years. He wasn't so naïve to the game.
"Follow my lead." With that the girl boldly stepped into the shop. Shane took a deep breath and followed.
Moments later the two were flying out the door, running full pelt down the street, bumping into dumbstruck onlookers as bits of cheese and lettuce and assorted sandwich filling flew from their pilfered lunch. The deli owner slammed the shop door open and shouted obscenities and threats at them, knowing running after them was futile, it was all he could do.
Shane looked back at the deli master. That man sure was mad, if they got caught, well he wouldn't like to think. He looked at his partner in crime, her face was self-assured, no sign of second guessing or fear. Shane smiled. Her confidence gave him confidence.
The duo looked at each other and burst out laughing. In that moment they were royalty of the streets. They were untouchable.
Rounding a few corners, feeling perfectly safe, the two sat down and eagerly started chowing down on their spoils of victory.
"Mmmm good!" Shane grinned, taking a huge bite out of his sandwich.
"Told ya." The girl beamed back. "Best subs this side of the river, no doubt."
"You called it." He took another mouthful. "You know." *gulp* "I think we made a really good team."
"We did, didn't we … OK I guess you can hang with me if you like, but you gotta keep up. I'm not a babysitter."
"Don't need one." Shane turned up his nose at the notion.
"Haha no, guess you don't. You were pretty good back there Shane; guess you do this all the time too huh?"
"No that was my first time, but my parents did give me a few pointers." Shane took a slightly angry bite from his sandwich and chewed loudly. "When they could be bothered that is."
"Must be nice." The girl responded thoughtfully. "I wouldn't know …"
"Don't you have parents?"
"Not that I remember. My earliest memory was in an orphanage, I got out as soon as I could though. Doubt they even noticed I was missing."
"So, you've always been alone?"
The girl became visibly miffed. "I am not alone! I told you, there's others. … There just not here right now."
"It's ok. I get it. I'm used to being all alone too."
The girl looked at Shane, their eyes met and didn't waiver. Each saw through the other's facades, but it didn't matter. They got it. They understood each other.
"You know you still haven't told me your name." Shane enquired, looking his new friend over and breaking the moment.
"Oh. Yeah. My name is T."
"T?" Shane raised an eyebrow. That was an odd name.
The girl blushed with embarrassment. "Well, I never really had a name, I was given the letter from my bunk, like the other forgotten kids. It stuck, so, I kept it."
"Hmm." The little boy knitted his eyebrows together. "Thea is a cool name. It works. I like it."
"Thea …" Her eyes glistened. "Yeah. It is a cool name."
With that the pair chomped happily away on their free lunch in a comfortable silence. Unknowing that they never had to be alone again.
*** End ***
Shane sat up on the grass and smiled softly at the memory. Meowth had left, leaving the youngster to be alone with his thoughts a while longer. He pulled up some dry grass stalks and began entwining and wrapping them, keeping his hands busy as he continued in his deep thoughts. His eyes sparked. Mind made up and with a new purpose, it was time to go back to the camp.
On his return, Shane spied a familiar wild mop of red hair. Amber Ketchum was sitting on the ground alone not far from the camp site. She was looking up into the sky, her thoughts a million miles away. The teenager internally cringed. Amber. I was so mean to her earlier, and after all her and her family have done to help … I better apologise. He took a deep breath and gingerly approached the girl.
"Hey Ambs."
Amber turned on hearing the familiar voice. Her eyes widened slightly.
Shane took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. It wasn't cool."
"Maybe, or maybe you're right. I am just a privileged spoiled kid. I have no idea what you've been through or what's going on. I had no reason to butt in." Her shoulders drooped.
"No, no, don't think that, honestly, I was just lashing out. The fact you haven't have a crappy childhood like me, doesn't make you less relevant. You've been a fresh breath of hope. I value you being here, honestly, I do."
"It's ok. I get it, really." The girl turned her back to look out over the horizon again. Her voice was completely unconvincing.
"I guess with everything going on, I'm a bit of a mess. I just don't know where my head is at." Shane sat down beside her.
"… Yeah. I get that …"
"So, what's bugging you then?"
Amber turned to look at the boy. "Bugging me? What makes you think that?"
"I can just tell." Shane shrugged. "To be honest you've seemed a little off ever since you arrived here in Galar really."
"What do you mean, you can just tell? You barely know me." The redheaded teenager frowned, not buying his words.
"Actually, I know you very well. After all I did kinda, sorta, stalk you around Kanto for the best part of a year." Shane scratched his cheek sheepishly, his voice went quiet as he trailed off the last part of his sentence.
"You did?!" Amber squeaked in surprised.
"24/7." Shane blushed with embarrassment and put his hand behind his head. "It was kinda a job requirement." He laughed nervously.
"Wow. So you were trailing me the whole time huh? I really had no idea …" Amber paled.
"You're a little ummm oblivious at times, but it's all part of your charm." Shane nudged the girl playfully. "So what's up?"
"It's nothing really, not with all that's going with you and your parents." Amber sweat dropped and waved her hands frantically. Dismissing the situation.
"Other peoples problems matter too." Shane rolled his eyes. "Plus it'd be nice to talk about something else for a change. So. What's going on?"
"Well ... Shane … Back at the Rocket Base, when I was trapped in that room … when you came in to rescue me … and then you …" Amber's face flushed red. She closed her eyes shut and blurted out what had been weighing on her mind. "Why did you kiss me?"
"Oh … that." Shane blushed in surprised and looked up at the sky. "Well, it seemed a good idea at the time." He looked back at Amber and smiled nervously.
"What?! A good idea at the time?! Is that all I was?!" Amber's cheeks reddened further and puffed out in anger.
"Hey come on! It was just a dumb kiss in the heat of the moment." Shane held his hands up in surrender. "No biggie."
"Not to me it wasn't!" Amber blurted out angrily. She paused and sighed. "… … It was my first kiss. Ever."
Shane's eyes widened at the revelation. "Oh…" He looked at the ground, his voice quiet. "And I stole it. Man, I'm sorry."
"You're sorry?" Amber narrowed her eyes.
"To kiss you without your consent. That was a real crappy thing for me do. I made a mistake, I'm sorry."
"So, you stole my first kiss and broke my heart … all on a mistake?" Amber pouted. She could feel her face reddening with embarrassment, tears threatening to spill over her eyes.
"Well, you broke my heart first." Shane admitted looking down at the ground. "I did have feelings for you. Genuine ones. And when I laid them out, you said you could never love a Rocket. I was crushed."
"I guess I did say that …" Amber looked away from the boy, ashamed.
"So, let me ask you now, deep down, do you have feelings for me? Really? Am I your number one?" Shane put his hand over Ambers, he gently grabbed her chin and turned her head to face him and looked her deeply in the eye.
Amber blushed hard, she closed her eyes and searched her heart. Seconds felt like hours as she breathed deeply in and out, going over everything that had happened between the two.
Amber opened her eyes and looked at Shane. "… No. I mean ... I don't think so? I don't think you are my number one. I honestly don't even really know how I feel about you. It's so new and confusing. I've never had anyone in my life before." Amber pulled away and bowed her head down embarrassed.
"I didn't think so." He smiled sweetly at her. "See I was confused and conflicted about you too, like a game of tug-o-war between my heart and mind. But when I think of Thea … well with Thea it's different. My feelings for her are clear and pure. Always have been. There's no reservation, or second guessing or complications. It just fits. And it works. She's perfect. That's how I know. She's my number one. I love her. And only her." Shane smiled warmly as he visualised his girlfriend.
"But … my first kiss …" Amber rolled back to the memory and slumped glumly.
"Was stolen." Shade added quickly. "And if my memory serves me correctly you didn't kiss me back, so it doesn't count."
"Doesn't count?" Amber raised her eyebrow.
"Nope. Your first kiss is when you give back and get back what you put into it with the person you really like." Shane nodded. "Not when someone crushes their lips onto your face."
"It is?" Amber smiled. Her mood lifting.
"Definitely." The older teenager nodded his head in certainty.
"I'll take that." The girl smiled softly, before sighing and looking to the sky. "I always had this fantasy that I'd meet my special person on my journey. We'd fall in love, get married and live happily ever after. Just like my parents. But I guess that hasn't happened …"
"Correct me if I'm wrong. Your journey isn't over yet, is it?"
Ambers eyes widened with realisation at the boy's comment. "No … it isn't …"
"Look, cards on the table. I'll always have a soft spot for you Amber Ketchum, that I can't deny. I'll always be your friend and look out for you and be here for you when you need me. I promise that."
"Only a friend?"
"That's all I have to give."
"A friend." Amber pondered for a moment before looking back at Shane. "I'd really like that." The teenager beamed. The two shook hands locking the agreement. "I'll always be your friend too, when you need me."
"Alright. Well, I need to go find Thea. I have something important to ask her. Coming with?" Shane stood up and dusted himself down and offered the girl his hand.
"Sure." Amber accepted his hand and pulled herself up off the ground.
The two walked off towards the base, both feeling a lot better in themselves. Closure was a beautiful thing.
Thea sat glumly, she was feeling rotten knowing what her boyfriend was going through, or maybe she didn't know what he was going through? That thought scared her even more. They'd always been in sync with one another, ever since the first day they met. Either way she felt useless.
I feel so helpless. Me and Shane have been through everything together. But this, I don't even know what this is. We've been alone and lost all our lives, but at least we were alone and lost together.
Thea thought back to when she was little. She remembered looking out of the orphanage window.
I was so lonely. Every day I kept waiting and waiting. The seasons changed, years rolled by and still I kept waiting. But no one ever came. Then when I was finally old enough, I escaped the orphanage, and I went on a journey. That's when I realised no one was looking for me, no one was coming for me, no one was waiting for me. So, I gave up looking. I resigned to being alone.
Then I met him.
Thea envisioned kid Shane. His beaming grin and dazzling green eyes almost hidden under floppy brown hair.
"Together forever, like a real-life Bonnie and Clyde."
She remembered them both as kids, laughing and smiling with each other, care-free, living day to day on the streets in oblivious joy.
All we wanted was to be found, to belong, to be wanted. But all we found was evil and darkness. Or rather it found us …
Thea pictured two black silhouettes that became colour. A woman with blonde hair and a man with teal hair both in black uniforms with big R's on the front. Cassidy and Butch.
Cassidy and Butch found us, or rather now I know they found Shane, I was just an optional extra that came with. We were recruited and moulded to fit their designs.
The two older Rocket Bosses then morphed down into teenage Thea and Shane in their Team Rocket uniforms.
Finally, we were wanted. Or at least we thought we were, turns out we wasn't …
Thea remembered the confrontation at the Celadon Head Quarters. How Cassidy and Butch turned on them. Shane, Thea and the others were all just fodder. The revenge fuelled duo would stop at nothing to get revenge on Ash Ketchum and his family.
Thea's mind then went to Amber Ketchum. The pretty young red head with the famous parents and everything going for her.
She was wanted. Maybe she still is …
Thea blinked back tears.
"It was completely irresponsible of you Cara Liss, and you know it!"
"There's nothing irresponsible in taking risks Foster! That's the whole part of science!"
"No science is taking calculated risks! Not running off on nonsense and hatterene dust!"
Amber and Shane walked in on Foster and Cara Liss arguing over their latest failure with the fossil revival. Thea was sat away from them resting her chin in the palm of her hands looking gloomy. She perked up on seeing her boyfriend approach and ran over to greet him.
"Shane! Are you ok? I was worried about you!"
The two embraced.
"It's ok, I'm ok." Shane held her shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. "Thea, I … Huh?" Shane looked down. Thea's heart scale necklace catching on a button on Shane's jacket, entangling the two.
The light reflected off the scale. Shimmering a pastel rainbow.
Amber caught sight of the trinket and smiled softly. Pretty … hey wait!
*** Flashback ***
"Oooooh pwetty!" A young Amber watched her mother getting ready for rare date night with her father. The red haired beauty took out a beautiful heart scale necklace and put it around her neck, finishing her outfit. It began to shimmer all shades of the rainbow across it's surface.
"What that mama?"
"It's a heart scale sweetie. Your daddy gave it to me as a pre-wedding present." Misty looked down at the jewel and smiled warmly.
"Why does it shine like a wainbow?"
"Well, a heart scale is a very precious item, each a one of a kind. They are scales shed by the pokémon Luvdisc, but they are very rare and special to come across. It's said when in the presence of true love, the scale softly shines all the colours of the rainbow and holds a magical power within."
"Magical power?"
"Yes, no one knows exactly what, just that when it's fuelled by true loves desire, it's magical essence releases and anything can happen."
"Woww." Amber looked at the item dreamily. "Is it weally magic?"
"Well, your Daddy is actually taking me out dancing tonight, so yep anything can happen." Misty winked playfully.
*** End ***
"A true loves power, that gleams and shines. … THAT'S IT!" Amber cried out.
Foster and Cara Liss paused their argument. Shane and Thea paused their reunion, all looking at the girl, a clueless expression across their faces.
Amber walked over to the teenage couple and untangled the heart scale from the dumbstruck duo.
"My mother told me all about heart scales when I was little. She said when fuelled by love they shimmer like a rainbow and hold a magical power within. Just like this."
"And you believe that?" Foster raised a cynical eyebrow. "It sounds like fluff from a fanfiction."
Amber nodded. "I did, when I was a kid. As I grew up I figured it was just a silly story my mother romanticised. But now with the prophecy, in this moment." Amber looked at the rainbow shimmer across the scale. "It has to be true!"
"Of course!" Cara Liss thumped the palm of her hand. "The prophecy! It all makes sense!"
"But … you made that up?!" Foster despaired with his fellow scientist.
"Only the parts that didn't rhyme!" The eccentric woman defended herself. Foster fell to the floor.
Shane still holding Thea close, narrowed his eyes. He sighed. "Ok. Well despite my best judgement." He smiled and nodded "I'm up for doing this." He turned to his girlfriend. "We have no reason not to try, right?"
Foster stepped in to be the voice of reason "But you know likely the item will dematerialise during the process. Are you ok with that? I appreciate how precious and rare a gem these are. I don't want you kids left even more disappointed on a long shot."
"No this will work. I know it will" Amber smiled confidently at Thea and Shane. "It just has to."
Thea looked down at her precious heart scale. Was this really the key? Or was Amber just jealous and trying to ruin her sentimental gift from Shane? Thea shook her head and dismissed the thought. Now was not the time to be selfish. She took the precious token of affection off from around her neck and gave it to Cara Liss.
"Alright! Let's give it another try team!" Cara Liss's voice boomed out across the camp to no one in particular. "Bring the rejuvenation machine!"
Camp workers brought up the heavy machinery on Cara Liss's urgent request. The rickety machine booted up and began whirring.
The scientist began prepping the machine. Her face dropped. "The heart scale it doesn't fit in."
"What?!" The group chorused. "No …" Shane's shoulders drooped.
The scientist's eyes twinkled. "There is another way."
"I really don't like the sound of this …" Foster sighed.
Once again, the crowd gathered around the fossilized Jessie and James, hoping to see a real-life miracle. Tracey stood eagerly, sketch book in hand. Leaf rolled her eyes but smiled. The man was a goof. But loveable one.
"Ok Drizzile kid. You'll have to physically hold the scale in front of the beam." Cara Liss pointed at Shane.
"Woah! Woah. No. This has gone far enough! We don't know what the process could do to him?!" Foster waved his arms, this was getting seriously dangerous.
"That does sound pretty out there, Doc. Are you sure about this?" Leaf stepped into the fray. She'd seen the devastating effects of playing around with this technology before. She didn't care to see it again.
"Don't worry it will be perfectly safe. If there's one thing in excel in, it's math. Now you stand … here. Ok." Cara pulled Shane and positioned him in front his parents and began moving his limbs, posing him like a model. "Now hold the thingy … exactly … here." The mad scientist began feverishly pointing around. "The beam will hit here on the scale, if will refract off and hit the rocky people … here and errm here."
"Her math betta be better dan her language skills." Meowth deadpanned.
"I don't know about you Jess, but now my brain feels like a spirograph." "I'll let you know when my head stops spinning James."
Shane walked in front of the two fossilized Team Rocket agents as directed.
"Here we go again Jess …" "Good luck son. See you soon. One way or another …"
Thea wringed her hands with worry. She was so nervous for Shane but didn't dare show it. He needed her full support.
The machine booted up and whirred, it fired a beam at the heart scale which then bounced off and hit the rocket rocks just as Cara Liss had predicted, but as always nothing happened.
"I guess now we wait hours again?" Leaf arched an eyebrow. Shane sighed, his hope once again waning.
"That … didn't seem right." Amber frowned and pushed past, walking over to Shane. She looked at the heart scale. It's rainbow shimmer had gone. "It isn't shining."
"Not shining?"
"Hum yet it was before. We're missing something. Missing a piece maybe? Like with my fossil … it's incomplete!"
Cara Liss grabbed the item and looked it over. "Hm Chimchar kid is right. It just doesn't seem as magical as before."
Amber grimaced at the new nickname.
"Oh honestly! Magical? For f" Foster snapped, ready to give his colleague another solid piece of his mind, but Cara Liss walked past him, completely blanking him. She looked over the scale.
"As I suspected. The scale is cold. Lifeless. Like Chimchar said, we're missing a piece and I think I know what it is. Ginger, you said the scale needs the power of love to work." Cara pointed at Amber whom nodded. Cara then looked directly over at Thea. "By itself the scale is loveless. It needs the love the wearer holds. Your love. It won't work without you as well, dye job. You'll have to hold the scale in the beams path too."
"This all seems a little farfetched." Tracey frowned, whilst furiously sketching the scene.
Shane stepped forwards in protest. Of course, he was willing to give anything a try, but he couldn't gamble on Thea's safety too.
"Let's do this." The blonde teenager stepped forwards towards her beau.
"What? But Thea!" Shanes eyes widened.
Thea shook her head softly and closed Shanes fingers around the heart scale and clasped hers on top. "If there's even the slightest chance it will work then we must take it. I couldn't have it any other way. Risk or no risk. We're in this together. As always."
"Thea …" Shanes eyes widened and glistened. He embraced his girlfriend in a gentle loving hug. "With you by my side, I know it will work."
The scale shimmered.
Meowth jumped up on the young man's shoulder and put a paw on the heart scale "You're not alone anymore Shaney boy. Meowth loves ya, an always will. You're my human. I'm your pokémon. I'm wid ya to da end."
A soft pastel rainbow aura surrounded the trio.
"Meowth …" Shane smiled warmly and petted the cat pokémon. "And you're my pokémon. We're ready!"
"Alright. This might actually work! Ok start the machine!" Cara Liss signalled, and the fossil machine booted up. "Good luck, mopey kid, dye job kid, mouthy cat. We're rooting for ya."
"Might?!" Foster squeaked out in alarm, but it was too late. A laser beam launched out hitting the heart scale Shane, Thea and Meowth all held. The beam deflected off in two directions catching both the fossilized Jessie and James. Engulfing them in a rainbow aura.
The laser cut off and the machine booted down. Had it worked?