Prologue
Midnight. On a hill rests an old tavern. It is almost in shambles, and the paint chips away bit by bit. But some people don't care where they are as long as they can have a good beer. The bartender silently washes empty mugs, while loud chatter and swearing fills the room. Piano music softly plays, and a poker game draws people to watch. Smoke from cigarettes wafts in the air and floats out the door. The light in the room is not that bright, since there is only one bulb hanging from the ceiling.
This is where the lowest life-forms on earth gather. This is where the bums, sleazes, and villains come to drown away their troubles and compete with each other in a good arm-wrestling match. One man's junk is another man's treasure, so it seems. This is a shaky pub to most men, while it is a palace for the rest.
On this night, a hooded figure enters the room. The face nor costume of this person can be seen, but the tenseness in its body tells the rest that they are not happy. The figure walks up to the bartender.
"Gimme something...Sour. I've had a rough night!"
"Yes, sir...At once!" The bartender reaches for a glass, but the person bangs their fist on the table.
"Sir? I'm no 'sir'..." The hood is thrown off and there stands a young woman.
"Do I look like a man to you?" She grabs the bartender by the collar and lifts him at least two inches off the ground. Her teeth gleam, and her dark, purple eyes harden.
"N-No, ma'am!" the bartender replies, his voice shaking with fear the entire time. "Please...P-Put me down." He is thrown out the door.
"Where the hell are my brothers?" the woman asks herself, as she tosses her bushy brown hair out of her face. "They promised they would be here..."
A man approaches the woman. "Hey, baby! What might a pretty little thing like you be doing in a place like this?"
Her eyebrows twitch. She socks the very forward man square in the jaw. Then she kicks him in the place where it hurts most. "Don't you try hitting on Bloody Mary ever!" Many of the tavern's inhabitants slowly move to the back of the room. The woman brushes off her hands and throws off her hood and cape. Underneath is a big, red 'R'.
Someone gasps. "She's part of Team Rocket!"
"We gotta get outta here!" another screams.
"I've heard their Boss is no picnic," the first person says. "We'll all lose our Pokémon!" There is a scramble of feet and soon the woman is left alone in the room.
"I may have a good reputation," she says to herself. "But not everyone from Team Rocket is as intimidating as I." She walks around the bar table, grabs a mug, and pours herself a glass of beer. She would have to wait until her brothers came to give them the bad news.
Chapter 1 - "Traitor in the Midst"
"Jack, I'll never let go! Never!"
Jessie sat in her room watching 'Titanic'. She was clutching a Pokéball-fabricated pillow and bawling her brains out. "Gosh, this is so sad!" she cried as a tear fell on to the pillow. "Jack deserves to live! Why can't that awful sleaze Cal die?" Then, she thought for a moment. She was a villain rooting for the good-guys. That wasn't right. She wiped her eyes, jumped up on her bed, and waved around a few fans with little 'R's on them. "Go Cal! Make Rose love you!"
There was a knock at the door. "Hey you...Meowth!"
Jessie groaned as she opened the door. "What do you want, Meowth?"
Meowth growled at her. "What are you doing in here? We've got work to do. Ever hear of a Pokémon called 'Missingno?'"
Jessie wasn't listening. Her eyes turned back to the movie. "Oh...But I hate Cal. Jack is so much more suave and daring..."
James burst in. "WHO'S suave and daring?"
Meowth and Jessie both got sweatdrops while James grew little veins on his forehead. "A person in da movie," Meowth sighed. "She's not even listening to Meowth..."
James walked over to the TV. "Huh?" He saw a man float to the bottom of the ocean. "GACK! That's the man who you compared with me?!?"
Jessie's eyes sparkled. "Yes..."
Meowth and James fell over Anime-style.
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Down the hall from Jessie's room was James' room. Even farther down the hall was a group of other Team Rocket members' rooms. Farther still was a little group of five doors, all very close together. Each door had a little '5' inscribed on it, as if it were carved with a pocket-knife. Inside one of the rooms, through the middle door, shouting could be heard.
"You incompetent fools! I waited for you for three hours last night. Where in the Pokéball were you?"
Standing in front of four young men was a beautiful woman. She had dark, purple eyes and wavy brown hair. All five of them wore similar Team Rocket attire. The men in black pants, black shirts, white gloves, and white boots. The woman wore a black shirt, a black skirt, long white gloves, and boots, and round black earrings. All the shirts had red 'R's on them. You could say their outfits were exactly like Jessie's and James', only inverted.
"We're sorry, Mary," one man said. He had pointy purple hair and black eyes. He was the only member of the group that wore a barret-like black hat with an 'R' on it. "We kinda got held up."
"Held up?" the woman asked. "Jack, do you know what I went through last night? I was 'held up'!" She pulled out a long stick. On one of the ends of it was a chain. The chain contained a scary looking spiked ball. This also had an 'R' on it.
"Mary!" another man with black hair tied in a short ponytail cringed. "Put that thing away!"
Another man with blonde hair and brown eyes blocked his face. "Siblings shouldn't hurt each other!"
Mary laughed, pleased that she frightened the men "Siblings ALSO shouldn't keep each other waiting..." She put her weapon down. "Listen, brothers, I've got weird, yet terrible news."
The four brothers watched their sister and sighed with relief after she put the ball-and-chain down. "What is it?" asked Jack, the first brother.
Mary's face hardened. "You know that idiot Jessie? The one who gets all the good jobs and always messes them up?"
The final man, although looking more like a young boy nodded. His green hair bounced and his green eyes twinkled. "Oh, yeah! Isn't she the one going out with James? And isn't James the guy you like?"
"TACK!" Mary exclaimed angrily, swinging at the boy with a clenched fist. She hit him in the stomach and knocked the wind out of him. "You are the youngest and least strongest of us, brother-dear. How would you like to have your heart shown to you?"
The young boy gulped. "N-N-No, Mary-san. I was just trying to see if I got the right person. Team Rocket is so big, you know..."
"We know, Tack. We know..."
Tack got a sweatdrop. "Would it have been better if I had said, 'Oh, yeah! Isn't Jessie the one with the only talking Pokémon?'?"
Mary smiled. "That's much better, Tack..."
"Tell us what happened," the black-haired man said eagerly.
"Don't be so excited, Mack," Jack said. "This isn't GOOD news..."
"No, it isn't," Mary groaned. "Anyway, I overheard Jessie talking to James a couple nights ago..."
"She was just going to get a good look at James that evening," Tack whispered to the blonde-haired man. He laughed.
"What's so funny, Zack?" Mary questioned.
Mack and Jack laughed as Zack and Tack got huge sweatdrops. "Nothing," Zack replied.
"Zack, you're the third oldest!" Mack laughed. "You're twenty years old and you act Tack's age."
Zack growled at Mack. "Tack is sixteen! I'm not stooping to his low. Besides, you're only eighteen. What makes you think you can boss me around?" The two glared at each other.
Jack looked at Mary and she looked back. "As the two eldest, we're the most mature."
Mary sighed and a little mushroom cloud popped out of her mouth. "Being twenty-four ain't easy."
"Twenty-one's no picnic either when you're first considered an adult and you have brothers who act like children."
Zack, Mack, and Tack glared at Jack. "Hey..."
"CAN I FINISH WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY?!?" Mary yelled at the top of her lungs.
A very meek "Ok..." was heard.
"Ok...I heard those two talking. It seems Jessie is part of some royalty called the Moon Kingdom. She's not a villain at heart!"
"WOT?" the brothers gasped.
"I don't know the whole story, but it looks as if Jessie is a real Princess. Her...That ugly bitch, of all people! Something must be done about her..."
The brothers all nodded in agreement. "If she really is good, then she could give away many of Team Rocket's secrets. We've got to get rid of her." The brothers nodded again. Team Rocket didn't tolerate traitors.
Chapter 2 - "Of Pokémon and Men"
The fresh summer breeze surrounded a beautiful park. The park was a lush green place, with flowers and birds enveloping the area. Two young people walked in the park. They were a sweet couple, and everyone passing by could tell these two were happy together.
"Darien! Look at that beautiful, red flower!"
"It is beautiful, Serena. However, its beauty cannot compare with my Queen's."
"Oh, Darien...You're making me blush."
Darien and Serena laughed. They were so happy together, just as they were on the Moon Kingdom in the Silver Millenium and just as they would be in the Future of Crystal Tokyo. They walked arm-in-arm through the park down little passageways and paths. They stopped to feed some ducks at a nearby pond with the leftovers of some bread Lita had made. Lita had assured them they were welcome to take it since she was going to make another loaf this evening. They were everything a couple should be. They loved each other and were willing to sacrifice anything, even themselves, if it would benefit their partner.
Darien smiled. "I haven't felt so much love since our last visit to the Moon Kingdom."
Serena felt a little hurt. "Darien, that was over two years ago! I thought I had been giving you all my love..."
Darien cut her off by kissing her. When they stopped, he replied with, "I meant that we've been really busy and haven't had much time to be alone together."
He was right, Serena thought. Much had happened in those years since she had first met Jessie and they had seen their full past. Reenie had gone home after an incident with a Pegasus named Helios. Luna and Artemis had discovered they were meant to be. Many new friends and foes had arrived. There were the Outer Senshi. They were new Sailor Scouts from the Outer planets of the solar system. There was Alex and her sister Michelle. Both of them were Sailor Scouts. Alex was Sailor Uranus, and Michelle was Sailor Neptune. There was Susan who was the mysterious Scout, Sailor Pluto. Last, there was little Holly who was evil. Still, she had been turned good. Now, she was Sailor Saturn, the youngest Scout since Reenie had left. Of course, Serena's same friends Amy, Lita, Raye, and Mina were still great friends and Scouts. They were always around in a tight spot. Yes...A lot had happened. Now, she was finally alone with Darien. Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. "This...Park..."
"What is it?" Darien asked.
"Can't you see? This was the same park where we first met Jessie, James, and Meowth..." Serena's eyes wobbled.
"Oh..." Darien said. "You're right."
"I wonder what has become of them," Serena thought aloud. She hadn't seen her good friend for two years.
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Speaking of Jessie, James, and Meowth, Team Rocket was making their way to visit their Boss. "What does that old bag want now?" James groaned.
"Jessie quickly covered his mouth and looked around frantically. "Shhh! He has cameras around everywhere," she whispered. "He could have heard you!"
Meowth got a big sweatdrop. "Well, it won't be Meowth's fault!"
When they entered Giovanni's lair, the door slammed behind them. The room was pitch black, like it usually was when he was around. His chair had its back faced to them.
"You called, sir?" Meowth asked.
"It's about time you three showed up. I've been waiting five minutes!"
"Yes, sir..." Team Rocket murmured. Did he expect them to be there in less than a minute?
"I expected you to be here four minutes ago!"
Guess so.
"What seems to be the problem, sir?" Jessie asked.
The chair swiveled around and Giovanni faced them. He had a huge cigar in his mouth. It was the first time Team Rocket had EVER seen him smoke. "Well, I'm glad you brought it up, Jessie," he sneered. "It actually has to do with you..."
Jessie gulped. James and Meowth looked to Giovanni, to Jessie, and back to Giovanni again. "But why did you need James and Meowth, sir?" Meowth questioned.
Giovanni sucked in on his cigar. Then he blew it out into James' face. James coughed. "You two? I just wanted your partner to be humiliated..."
Jessie got little veins on her forehead as Meowth and James snickered silently. "Dat's easy...We ALWAYS humiliate her."
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James and Meowth were moved to the very back of the room so Giovanni could speak with Jessie, man to woman. "Jessie, I've been getting complaints."
"Complaints, sir?" Jessie's hands were at her side, but she couldn't help the fidgeting.
"You know Mary, don't you?"
"Bloody Mary?"
"Yes, that's right."
"I believe so. I've never really talked with her that much."
Giovanni took another puff on his cigar. "She's told me that she doesn't think you're doing your job."
Jessie let her eyes wander. She couldn't dare look Giovanni in the face. With all the Ash goof-ups she had never won, it was a surprise they were only bringing it up now. "But, sir..."
"Mary thinks you're not pulling your weight around here." He leaned foreword a bit. "Just how many Pokémon have you snatched in the past month."
Jessie counted on her fingers. "Total...James and I got...Three."
"THREE?" Giovanni fumed. "And what were they?"
"...A Level five Pidgey, a Level three Weedle, and a Level ten Butterfree..."
Giovanni fell over Anime-style. He was not impressed at all. "JESSIE!" he yelled as fire surrounded him. "Team Rocket should be better than that!"
"Yes...I know, sir..."
Giovanni settled down a bit. "I've always thought of you and James as my best Rocketeers." Funny Anime tears fell down his cheeks. "Now, Mary will be proved right. I don't want that..."
Jessie got a sweatdrop. "Of course not, sir. I don't really want Mary to be right, either."
"Good..." Giovanni grinned. "So try harder. I want my star-pupils to be you two!"
Jessie beamed. "Yessir!"
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Outside, Jessie, James, and Meowth were discussing Jessie's little chat with the Boss.
James' eyes wobbled. "We're his stars!"
Jessie got stars in her eyes. "I always knew we were great."
"True geniuses are never appreciated!" They both glared at Meowth.
Suddenly, they heard a 'Hello,' come from across the hall. There stood Bloody Mary, weapon and all. She walked straight up to the trio. "So, Jessie,. have a nice talk with the Boss?"
Jessie groaned and looked as if she would strangle Mary. "Actually, it was okay..."
But Mary ignored her and walked right up to James, throwing her arms around him. "Hey there, James. How are you?"
Jessie got more fumed.
James innocently replied. "Uh, well I guess I'm okay. How 'bout you, Bloody Mary?"
"Just call me, Mary," Mary said soothingly. "Well, I'd feel a lot better if you joined me in my room this evening for dinner..."
"Dinner? As in, food? I'm starved!"
Mary smiled. "Yeah, me too. We could have a lot of fun together, you and I..."
"Fun? As in a game of Marbles?"
Jessie was getting tired of this. She walked up to the both of them and grabbed James by the collar. "Games are not what she meant by fun, James!"
"Oh, but there are MANY games that you can play with two people."
"Yeah!" James exclaimed. "I like 'Go Pokémon'!"
"Not today or any day, Mary," Jessie growled. "Come Meowth! Come James! The Boss gave us work to do and we've gotta do it." She marched off dragging James with her.
Mary's eyes seemed to flash red. "Some other time, then."
Meowth looked up at her. "Meowth wouldn't bet on it, sista. Dose two are inseparable!" Then he scratched her clear across the face. "And Meowth'd rather James go out with Jessie dan you, got it?" He walked off after Jessie and James.
Mary rubbed her swollen cheek. "Then, this truly means war..."
Chapter 3 - "Filing Fun"
"James, you are such an idiot sometimes!" Jessie yelled. "Bloody Mary was inviting you into her room for...For...For God knows what!"
"What?" James asked.
"Nevermind..."
After a couple seconds, Meowth joined them. "Dat girl has really got a problem," he sighed.
Jessie nodded. "And she's got some nerve, too!" Imagine! Some lousy woman trying to steal away HER James. That had to be stopped...
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"Outta my way you ignorant ox!" Mary growled as she pushed over a Team Rocket member in her way. She was moving at a very fast pace, heading to a destination. Mary pulled out a communicator. "Jack! Jack! Come in."
There was a slight bit of static and then her purple-haired brother appeared on the screen of the pocket-sized communicator. "Yo, sis! What's up?"
"Meet me in the filing room...And step on it!"
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Serena leaned against the tree where she had stood atop two years ago and introduced herself to Team Rocket. A small tear trickled down her cheek. "She probably hasn't even thought of me since we said good-bye," she thought. Serena remembered that sad day when she and Jessie sat in her room talking. Serena had begged her friend to join her side. Jessie wanted to remain with Team Rocket. She didn't blame her. After doing one thing all your life, it was hard to change. So much had happened in the course of those two days.
"Serena!" Darien said as he joined her. "What are you thinking about?"
Serena smiled and shook her head. "Oh, nothing. Just my life."
Darien hugged her close. "Don't worry. Everything always turns out right."
Then she buried her head in his shirt and sobbed. "But not for the bad-guys, Darien! Nothing good ever happens for them."
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Bloody Mary pulled open a drawer and started rustling through a few vanilla-colored file folders. "Let's see here...J...J..."
Jack was also looking. It was pitch black in the room and they were using flash-lights. "Hey, B.M., if you come across my name, tell me!"
"Dolt! We're not looking for you. We're looking for Jessie..." Then she came across one folder and pulled it out.
"Is that it?" Jack asked. He saw Mary get big red hearts in her eyes.
"Mary?"
Mary sighed. "It's James'..." She clutched the folder to her breast.
Jack pulled out another folder and whacked Mary over the head. "I thought we were looking for Jessie's!"
Mary quickly shoved James' folder back into the file-cabinet. "Yes...Yes...You're right!" She began searching frantically again.
Suddenly Jack pulled out another folder. "I've got it!" he shouted triumphantly.
"Quiet!" Mary whispered as she joined Jack. "The boss might hear us." She snatched the folder out of Jack's hand. "This may have the key to bringing her down..." She opened the folder and read everything inside it. There were all of Jessie's statistics; Sex, Age, Eye-color, Hair-color...Yet...
"Any info?" Jack asked.
Mary threw the folder on the ground. "Nothing! There's zero-information in here about her past-life."
"I doubted there would be," Jack grumbled.
"What?"
"Mary, obviously, do you think Team Rocket knows about Jessie's Past as a Good-guy? Sure...There's you, me, our brothers, Meowth, and James. Why would they have that in her file?"
"You're right, Jack. For this one, we've gotta go right to the sources."
"But who ARE the 'sources'?"
"For one thing, there's Jessie."
"I'd doubt she would give us anything."
Then Mary grinned mischievously. "But I suppose I could get something outta James..."
Jack groaned. "Yeah...More than information..."
"SHUT UP!" Mary said as she punched him. Jack checked his nose. It was bleeding. "He's not that smart and could easily be persuaded to help us."
"I gotcha," Jack moaned as he held his nose.
"C'mon!" Mary said as she grabbed Jack's arm. "We gotta get outta here before we're caught."
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