Chapter Fourteen: Returning Home

James and Meowth were forcibly marched into the building. As they had agreed, neither made any attempt to escape their captors using force. Their part in the plan was to distract the Order long enough for Butch and Cassidy to find and rescue Jessie. As much as Meowth hated to admit it, Butch was a good leader and even the cat Pokémon listened to him and, albeit a little grudgingly, agreed to the plan. It was up to them to get themselves out, Butch had also warned them. He and Cassidy were going to concentrate on getting Jessie out and they did not have time to think about James and Meowth too. Although this sounded cold and uncaring, Meowth knew that it was only sensible. Once Jessie had been freed, the Order would be looking for them and they could not afford to waste time searching for the others rather than escaping.

They waited, allowing the Grunts to march them up two more flights of stairs before James put the next part of the plan into action. He allowed himself to stumble on the last step and this invoked the anger from the man holding him. James winced at the rough treatment that he received in return but quickly recovered himself enough to continue.

"I don't feel so good," he whimpered, forcing himself to come to a standstill and then slump forwards, pulling the Grunt down a little way with him.

"Stop messing around," the man holding Meowth growled as James's captor dragged him to his feet.

"He's not messing around," Meowth spoke up when James stumbled again and this time the Grunt let him fall to his knees.

"Get up," a painful kick in his lower back followed this demand and James was not faking the grunt of pain that escaped his lips at this treatment.

"What's wrong with him?"

"He's sick. He was taken ill on the journey here," Meowth answered.

"Yeah right," the Grunt holding Meowth snarled out, "you're faking it."

"He's not. Where's your medical department?"

"Stop messing around," the Grunt hissed, as he flung Meowth down to join James on the floor. Seconds later the cat Pokémon heard the sound of a trigger being cocked. He froze as his gaze fell upon the weapon.

"What are you doing?" The Grunt who had been holding James demanded of his colleague. "We can't kill them."

The man smirked and Meowth shivered at the dark look in his eyes. They had been foolish to think that this would be easy. These were men whose ruthlessness had been cultivated especially for such a mission. Even Team Rocket wouldn't have pulled a gun on unarmed prisoners. At that moment Meowth felt certain that they were going to die.

"Yeah? Well who says we can't hurt them a little? They're being uncooperative after all."

The second made no objection to this and neither did the others and so all Meowth could do was brace himself for the pain.

He shut his eyes and winced against James but the sound that broke through the silence was not that of gunfire but a snarl of fury. Meowth opened his eyes again as James grabbed hold of him and pulled him back as the Grunt holding the gun was the first to fall victim to the attack. He screamed in pain as jaws fastened around his jugular. The carotid artery was severed and blood splattered the walls and Meowth felt some splashes on his face. The man died almost instantly but Meowth didn't even register the Grunt falling to the ground. The others turned to flee, terrified by the beast that was before them, but still it continued its carnage. It did not matter to it that they were leaving.

Meowth had to look away as, one by one, it caught them, although he knew that he would forever hear their screams. Then, as the last Grunt fell to its jaws, Meowth found it within himself to move. He struggled to pull himself from the almost suffocating grip that James held him in.

"Jimmy," Meowth hissed whilst the beast's attention was elsewhere. "We need to go before it decides that we're dessert. Jimmy?" He prompted when James refused to move from his position. His green eyes were wide with horror and remained fixated on the beast, even when it finally turned back towards them.

Its eyes were blood red and burned into Meowth's own as though he were staring into a fire but despite his terror, he still found himself standing between it and James. Yellow fangs dripped a sickening mix of saliva and blood and ragged strips of cloth and flesh hung from its canines. Its fur was dark but splashes of orange remained in places, as did the collar around its neck.

Collar?

Meowth felt James get to his feet but he made no attempt to run. Instead, much to Meowth's horror, he stepped around the cat Pokémon and towards it.

"James? What are you doing?"

The beast snarled out a warning when Meowth moved and he flinched backwards, feeling helpless as James continued his approach. He only paused when he was within arms reach and then he spoke. His voice was hesitant and very much with fear but also recognition.

"Growlie?"

Growlie? It couldn't be… could it?

At the utterance of its name, the fire in its eyes died and with that James reached out and wrapped his arms around its neck. "What happened to you?"

Cautiously Meowth dared to venture forwards and this time Growlie did not object to this. Staring at the Pokémon, Meowth found it so hard to believe that this monster had once been James's faithful guardian. Even after all that they had seen nothing compared to this. The virus was destroying everything and everyone that they held dear and Meowth knew that they couldn't let this happen. That they had to stop it no matter what the consequences.

"Jimmy?" He spoke again once James finally pulled away from the dog Pokémon. There were tears in his eyes but he held them back. They had to remain focused on why they were here.

"We need to go. We need to carry on with the plan. Jessie is counting on us, Jimmy."

"I know," James replied although he took a few seconds more to gather himself. "You'll help us, won't you Growlie?"

The Pokémon stepped up to James's side to affirm his agreement. Even after all that he had been through, Growlie was still loyal to James alone. In some ways, Meowth knew that this only made it harder for James knowing that the Pokémon had killed for his Master. Before the virus had taken hold, Growlie would have defended James but would never have killed another human. Only a small part of who Growlie had been before remained and Meowth could sense that the bloodlust also muddled the dog Pokémon's thoughts. He was on their side for now but Meowth secretly feared what might happen should this change.

Yet he kept his fears to himself for he could see how difficult James was finding this. He was only just hanging on, anyone could see that, and Meowth only hoped that he kept it together long enough for them to save Jessie and get back home.

You will see that it's all true, mark my words, Jessie

Jessie had remained undisturbed since Cassidy's visit. For hours she went over and over what the other woman had said and still it had failed to sink in. Jessie wanted to dismiss her words as lies but she looked so different from the Cassidy that Jessie knew. She seemed older than simply a year and Jessie didn't know what to think at all.

I eventually discovered what he was really up to but by then it was too late. I was already in too deep. You know what the ultimate price for betrayal is. Nanba promised to protect me from Giovanni's wrath but in the end even he begun to suspect something.

Unsurprisingly the most conceivable part of the story was that Cassidy would betray the Boss. She had only ever been out for herself and Jessie had no trouble at all in accepting this. Cassidy would do almost anything to save her own neck. She did, however, have trouble imagining that even Cassidy would want to help create a world without Pokémon. It went against everything that Team Rocket stood for and Jessie couldn't believe that anyone, even Nanba, would go that far. After all, he was a scientist – albeit a fanatical one – and his life's work had been dedicated to making Pokémon stronger, not developing a disease to kill them.

Then how do I explain everything that has happened?

There were so many doubts and Jessie just didn't know how to answer any of them. Then again her thoughts turned to James and Meowth. Where were they now? Had then been told the same story?

Meowth and the rest of your Pokémon succumbed to the virus and eventually you and James were caught. I am the only one left now

Jessie shuddered at the recollection of this statement. She didn't want to believe this at all. She just couldn't accept that in a year's time everyone that she cared about would be taken away from her.

When you get back to the present you must talk to your Cassidy. You must convince her to sell Nanba out to Giovanni. If she doesn't then all will be lost. This future will be realised and then you will all die

Or perhaps she was simply in denial? For years she used to believe that Miyamoto hadn't died, that it was a terrible mistake and that one-day her mother would come back to her. Jessie hadn't wanted to be alone. Then she had met James and Meowth and they became her family. They were all she had and she couldn't imagine ever being without them.

You see, I'm the key to everything

Cassidy had always been conceited and self-centred, not to mention arrogant and Jessie considered that this was showing through now. Should she be speaking the truth then they would not all be here surely? Why would this Megumi bother to do so if Cassidy was the only one with an important part to play?

No… what 'Cassidy' had told her was nothing more than a fantasy; there was no virus, Jessie tried telling herself although this suddenly didn't sound convincing in her own mind.

Shouts from further down the corridor from where she was imprisoned drew Jessie from her thoughts and moments later she also heard the sound of an alarm ringing upstairs.

Butch and the others are coming to get you

No matter what else was happening, Jessie somehow knew that James and Meowth were responsible for the chaos that was going on above her head and that they wouldn't have abandoned her. Hope again sparked inside of her. However, this hope almost died as soon as it had been relit when she heard guards approaching. Over the noise from above, Jessie only heard snatches of their conversation but their intention was clear; orders had been issued to move her.

Jessie moved to the back of her cell as the first one opened the door. There were two of them and they both appeared very much afraid.

The man who opened the door was the one who stepped inside and reached out to grab her. Jessie didn't give him the opportunity and he yelled in pain when her fist connected with his jaw. Stunned and not expecting the blow, the man fell back against the wall and enabled Jessie to dodge passed him. The second cursed and also moved forward to try and stop her. However, Jessie's eyes were better accustomed to the darkness and she managed to evade him. She grabbed his left arm and twisted it round behind his back before pushing him into the first man who was only just recovering himself enough to go for her again. The two of them slammed back into the wall, thus giving her an opportunity for escape.

Jessie raced for the open door and almost collided with a third person. She cried out when the third person grabbed her round the shoulders. Angrily, Jessie attempted to pull herself free of her captor and was taken completely by surprise when he let her go of his own accord.

"Butch?" She was unable to conceal the surprise in her voice upon realising who her 'captor' was. "Where are James and Meowth?"

Butch appeared to be almost as equally surprised that she was halfway to freedom without his help and it took him several seconds to speak. "They're creating a diversion so we can get out of here."

Jessie hesitated as Butch turned to exit the cell. She couldn't really fathom just what was going on at all. Why was Butch helping her? Since when did James and Butch even get along yet alone work together?

"Jessie, come on," Butch snapped, "we haven't got long before they send more guards down here. We need to get out. Now."

"What about James and Meowth?"

"They'll meet us outside of the city. Come on!"

The urgency in his voice was undeniable and Jessie knew that, no matter how much she hated him and Cassidy, she had little choice but to trust him.

"Where is Cassidy?" Jessie asked as an after thought as they broke into a run.

"I don't know. We got separated."

"She probably didn't want to come down here to help me," Jessie commented to this.

Butch shrugged, "She wasn't that keen on the journey here," he allowed at length.

"Journey?" Jessie questioned, "She's been with you for the whole time?"

"Yeah," Butch answered, "why?"

I know you are not likely to believe me but we are one year into the future

"No reason," Jessie replied as a chill ran through her as once again she recalled Cassidy's words. She had spoken the truth; it was all becoming clear to Jessie now. A world without Pokémon… a world without everyone she cared about… Jessie forced down the lump that had formed in her throat with a steeled determination not to let this happen no matter what.

The grunt tensed after he finished issuing his report, as though he were expecting his Master's wrath to come down upon him at any given moment. Indeed, Nanba felt such fury. After all, the incompetent 'head of security' had not only failed to stop the former Pokémon from killing two dozen of his men, but he had also let the prisoner escape. The head of security had added that he had killed the creature responsible in the end but Nanba wasn't going to allow that to be his saving grace.

Fury, Nanba thought scornfully, there was not a word in the world that could describe his emotions now. He was shaking in rage and it took all the will in the world for him to retain his composure. He should have known that ex-Rocket agents were fools and would allow such mistakes. What he didn't understand was how the most inept agents in Team Rocket history had managed to successfully infiltrate the Order's base to begin with. Of course, the head of security had given his reasons but it was such a well-used trick by now that Nanba wouldn't have thought that his grunts would have fallen for it. Apparently he was wrong.

Once again, he could see his accomplishments disappearing right before him and this added to his panic. Butch and the others would be on their way back to Larchwood by now and once Megumi returned them to the present then all would be lost here. Nanba would be powerless.

"Shall I send a team to intercept them?" The head of security was questioning him now, eager to make up for his very costly mistake it would seem.

"No," Nanba shook his head. "Order your men to kill on sight."

"Master," the woman seated on the leather sofa in the corner of the office protested as the head of security made his leave. "You cannot kill them. You don't know how such an action would affect us."

"You're right," Nanba acknowledged, albeit gradually. "Bring present Cassidy back here but kill the others. Cassidy is the only one who is vital to the Order's mission."

The man nodded and left without hesitation this time. The woman seated behind Nanba did not leave, however. Instead she got to her feet and edged towards him. "I don't like it," she admitted quietly, "we don't know how this will affect anything. Surely it would be in our best interests to spare them all?"

At this, Nanba felt his fury ignite once more and he whirled around to face her. "Don't think I have forgotten your own failings, Cassidy. You were supposed to help intercept them and instead I learn that you were confiding in Jessie the secrets of our mission. Were it not for your past loyalties I would have had you killed. As it is I am being most generous by sparing your worthless life."

To his utter shock, she reacted with venom that he hadn't seen in over a year. "Do you think I care for my own life? Everything and everyone I ever cared about is gone, you saw to that remember?"

Her anger took Nanba aback but he hurriedly masked it in time to retort, "That was not my doing but your own. You chose this path, Cassidy, and do not forget that without me you would not even have this. Now get out before I change my mind about sparing you."

"Then kill me. I have nothing to live for now anyway."

Nanba held her gaze for a moment before turning away to signal that he would not continue this argument any longer. Despite his words, he could not bring himself to kill her and she knew this too. After a few minutes Cassidy brushed passed him and exited the room thus leaving Nanba alone with his thoughts once more.

What does it matter if I love Butch? Whatever the other Cassidy said, she knew deep down that it was already too late. She couldn't align herself with Jessie and the others. They already hated her and after Jessie told them what she did in this world there would be no going back.

Cassidy was already alone.

Cassidy sat alone in the car, her hands gripping the cold steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles whitened. She had not given much through to Butch or the others when she left the city behind but now, as alarms wailed in the distance, she felt concern and worry creeping up upon her again. And shame. She had just let Butch to go in there alone. Gods what was wrong with her?

What am I becoming?

After the confrontation with her 'future self' all Cassidy could think of was getting as far away from Silph as she could. She hadn't even considered going to help them. She had left them all and there was no going back from this.

"I'm really sorry that you received a demotion but it's really not that big a deal. I'm sure you can make it up again, after all Giovanni-"

"A demotion? Is that all you think it was?"

"Just what did they do to you?" Cassidy whispered out loud. Hearing her own voice speak these words was sobering and she was stunned as she struggled to blink back tears. Cassidy felt as though the whole world was falling down around her and there was nothing that she could do. She couldn't accept what she had been told; she couldn't even go back to Silph to help the man she loved! She wasn't used to feeling this way at all. She was used to knowing exactly what she had to do and then getting on with it. Things had always been so straightforward and now everything had changed.

If she accepted what she had been told then Cassidy knew that she had to turn from the path that she was on but to do this would mean that she would have to admit her part in the events that had caused this future to come about. How could she tell them what she had done? She couldn't, Cassidy knew. If she chose to accept what the 'future Cassidy' had told her then she knew that she was on her own. Butch could never know what her part in these events was.

Of course she could ignore what she had been told. She could dismiss it as a delusion and this entire journey as nonsense. Deep down Cassidy knew that this was her merely trying to escape the truth but it was such a temptation for her. Cassidy had never cared for her less than law-abiding life, but what her future self had told her sickened her to the core and she desperately wished for it to be an untruth.

She exhaled softly at this indecision and slowly closed her eyes. She didn't want any of this. She just wanted things to go back to how they were before, to when she and Butch were a team.

"Hey this is no time for you to take a nap!" A voice yelled and drew her from her thoughts. Cassidy jumped, as the passenger door was pulled open. James climbed in and was swiftly followed by Meowth. The cat Pokémon appeared shaken to say the least but James looked almost distraught. He didn't say anything to Cassidy and it was Meowth who asked her if she had seen Jessie and Butch.

"No," Cassidy shook her head. It must have been her own vulnerable state but she felt some compassion at seeing James so upset. Disgusted with herself she crushed this feeling before it had time to manifest.

"Okays, I think we lost them, Jimmy," Meowth turned to James again. "You go with Cassidy and get away from the city. I'll go back and look for Jessie and Butch. There's a dirt track just north of here. I'll find Jessie and Butch and meet you there."

James hesitated slightly before seeing sense in Meowth's plan and nodding in agreement; after all the city would be crawling with agents from the Order by now and the cat Pokémon would have a better chance at getting around unnoticed than James would.

After Meowth departed, Cassidy wasted no time in putting the car in gear. She had no intention of getting caught, not if what her other self had said was true. The idea of anyone, especially Jessie or James, knowing of her part in all of this sent a shiver through her and Cassidy knew that whatever happened she was on her own.

She found the track that Meowth had referred to without any trouble but she parked the car off-track a little with just a view of the road. Once the engine was cut the silent reasserted itself between them.

Despite herself, the silence was making Cassidy feel uncomfortable and all the doubts and fears that she had managed to crush previously began to surface again.

Then what do you want me to do?

Change it. When you go back to the present you must or else this future will become reality

"What happened in there?" Cassidy asked at length, "Are you hurt?" She added when she noted the splashes of blood on James's clothes.

He looked up, a little sharply as though he hadn't been expecting her question. "No," he shook his head after a few moment's pause, "it's not mine."

"Then who's?" Cassidy began but James distracted her from her question by opening the passenger door and moving to get out of the car. "It would be safer to wait inside the car," Cassidy pointed out.

"I…" James broke off and shook his head, "I just need some air."

What the hell had happened to freak him out so badly? Cassidy wondered to herself as she watched James move a little away from the car. It was almost pitch black outside, the only light coming from the opposite end of the road.

Car headlights

"James, get back in the car!" Cassidy shouted but no sooner had her words of warning left her lips did the gunfire start. She threw herself across the passenger seat, flattening herself down as much as she could to shield herself from the bullets that rained down around her. One struck the car door and another shattered the windshield. Then, as quickly as the gunfire had started, it ceased.

Cautiously, Cassidy dared to raise her head. She couldn't see anything outside of the car aside from the headlights from the other vehicle. She didn't know how many grunts from the Order were outside but Cassidy knew that she couldn't stay here. She had to take a chance and escape before they killed her.

She lingered for just a few moments more before opening the passenger door. As she did so, a yell went up from one of the men. Cassidy wasted little time in getting out of the car and making a run for the woodland nearest her. She was surprised that they didn't start shooting again and seconds later she heard them pursuing her.

Outside of the city it was almost pitch black and she could barely see her hand in front of her face. Her clothes caught on brambles and it was only by luck alone that she managed to weave in and out of the trees. Behind her she heard the grunts cursing as they attempted to follow her. However, their voices were getting further and further away and Cassidy knew that they were losing ground.

Just a little further…

As she processed this thought she felt a pair of arms encircled her and she was pulled forcibly from her path. A hand clamped down over her mouth to muffle her cries and Cassidy felt herself being pushed to the ground. Almost instantly, as she got over the shock, she began to fight attack against her attacks but much to her surprise they released her.

"Shhh," a familiar voice warned and Cassidy felt her face warm in embarrassment when she realised whom her 'captors' really were.

Despite herself, Cassidy broke Meowth's glare and pushed herself into a sitting position. Butch moved back a little way from her at this movement. He hardly looked glad to see her and Cassidy felt herself wince as she recalled their confrontation. She hated things being this way between them and desperately wished that she could put everything right between them. As it was she didn't even know where to begin. There was so much that needed to be said and Cassidy didn't know if she could bring herself to say any of it. Not after everything that had happened.

"We heard gunfire," Butch stated, keeping his voice lowered as the grunts' moved further away again. "What's going on?"

"And where's James?" Jessie demanded. She didn't look very glad to see her either, Cassidy thought and surprisingly she took comfort in the fact that some things never changed.

But in the same heartbeat, Cassidy realised that she had completely forgotten that James had been with her. In her panic all she had thought of was escape and hadn't given him a second thought at all.

He'd been outside the car when the Order had started shooting at us…

"We were separated when the gunfire started," she answered, her tone defensive despite herself.

"You left him!" Jessie exclaimed furiously.

"That's low, even for you," Meowth added with just as much venom in his voice. Even Butch appeared disgusted with her and Cassidy had to swallow once or twice to force down the lump that had formed in her throat. She would not allow herself to get upset over this. There was no way she could have reached James without getting herself killed, she tried to console herself with.

And if he's been killed…

"He's probably hiding around here somewhere too," Butch said in an effort to dispel the horrible atmosphere that befallen them. "Once we're sure the grunts have gone we'll go back to the car and look for him."

Meowth nodded, although the cat Pokémon's expression remained very much troubled, whilst Jessie turned to Cassidy.

"If anything's happened to him, I'm holding you responsible," she warned.

It was twenty minutes or so before they deemed it safe to go back to the car and it was the longest twenty minutes of Jessie's life. Seconds seemed to stretch into hours and she felt as though she were going to break at any moment. Just when she and James were so close to being reunited… the thought that something might have happened to him was tearing her apart inside and once Butch decided that it was safe for them to go back, Jessie had ignored his warnings for caution and had practically raced back the way that Cassidy had come.

Had the situation been different, Jessie would certainly not be looking to Butch for leadership but her concern for James outweighed any rivalry with Butch and Cassidy at that moment.

Jessie was the first of them to reach the track and almost immediately her gaze fell upon the figure slumped up against the side of the car.

"James?" Jessie ran to him and Meowth was not far behind her. Jessie wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into an embrace. As she did so, she felt him wince against her and she automatically pulled back to face him.

"What's wrong?" Jessie asked immediately.

"Nothing," James forced a shaky smile at her concern, "it's just a scratch, Jess."

"Don't try to tough it out, it doesn't suit you," Jessie countered to this and gently led him to the back of the car. Whilst they had been talking, Butch and Cassidy had cleared the glass from the windscreen out from the front half of the car.

Jessie opened the rear door and told James to get in before also following suit. Meowth climbed in behind her, the cat Pokémon was unusually silent and this shook Jessie more than she let on. Even though she still had so many unanswered questions that she wanted to ask, she knew these all had to wait for now. James was her main concern at the moment.

Butch flicked the internal lights on so that Jessie could see just what was wrong.

"Just a scratch, huh?" Meowth commented quietly. The entire arm of James's shirt was stained red. Judging from his reaction, even James himself hadn't realised just how bad it was and he paled at the sight of so much blood.

Jessie swallowed hard to force down the panic that she felt bubbling up inside of her and she kept her tone brisk and almost business like as she took a closer look at his wound. The bullet had lodged itself in his right shoulder and with no exit wound Jessie knew that he needed to get to a hospital to have it removed. He had also lost a lot of blood although the flow was slowing now. To be sure, Jessie tore several strips off the bottom of the jacket that James wore to fasten a makeshift tourniquet just under the wound to stem the blood flow further.

Whilst she had been doing this, Butch had already started the car and they were now well on their way away from the city. Jessie only hoped that they weren't pursued. Judging by the tense silence, her companions were hoping this also.

"Is he okay?" Cassidy asked at length, breaking through the quiet.

"He's fine," Jessie snapped.

"No thanks to you," Meowth added darkly.

"It's not her fault," James said quietly but this only made Jessie angrier. Even though they were rivals, Cassidy shouldn't have left him.

"Can we apportion blame later?" Butch put in more than a little irritably and Cassidy shot him a look that Jessie could only define as gratitude. "We need to get back to Larchwood as quickly as possible otherwise we're going to be trapped here."

"Trapped here?" Jessie asked, feeling a stab of fear lance through her at these words. "What do you mean?"

Meowth sighed at this, "Where do you want me to start?" He asked.

"You took your time," were the words that greeted them as Butch parked the car up outside of Megumi's home.

On the journey they had filled Jessie in on what had happened and she had, surprisingly, accepted it without too much protest. The drive back had been mostly uneventful. They had to take a small detour around Lavender Town as the Order were still looking for them but Butch had kept to the back roads and this caution had paid off. For most of the journey he had thought of nothing else but getting home and now that it was actually going to become a reality he felt his stomach tightened into knots at the thought of the path that lay ahead of them. If they didn't find out just what their part in the Wild Fire Order was then this future would become a reality.

He had questioned Jessie as to what had happened to her whilst she had been taken captive but she had been evasive and insisted that they had told her nothing. Butch was pretty sure that she wasn't telling them the truth and this worried him more than he let on. With both teams back together, the segregation between them was becoming apparent once more and Butch had feeling that once they were back in the present he was going to have trouble getting them to work together. Especially Jessie and Cassidy.

On the journey the others had looked to him as the leader and out of all of them Butch was of the opinion that he was the best person for the job. Jessie and Cassidy would clash and James just wasn't cut out of the responsibility. However, Butch wasn't so sure that any of them would look to him once they were back home.

As he got out of the car, he noted that James was relying on Jessie for support. His shoulder had been giving him some trouble all the way back to Larchwood and Butch knew that he had to get it looked at as soon as possible. Surprisingly he hadn't complained as much as Butch thought he would although it was obvious that he was in pain.

Now, as Keiko made her way down the steps towards them, Jessie immediately, without introduction, stated that James needed to see a doctor.

"You can't do that here," the blonde shook her head, "it's too dangerous. You'll have to wait until you're back in your own time."

"And how long will that take?" Jessie demanded. It was obvious that Keiko didn't appreciate her manner but the younger girl said nothing further to this and instead addressed Butch. "You're lucky you got here when you did. She hasn't got long left," her voice wavered slightly at this last part although Keiko managed to force down her emotions and ushered them inside.

Megumi was still confined to the bed and looked a lot worse than she had done when they left. Even Jessie's angry expression faded when she saw the other woman lying there so ill. Yet Megumi managed to smile at their approach.

"All of you… together," she stated softly, "I'm glad."

At this she tried to sit up and Keiko darted forward to help her. Keiko's expression was full of affection and she held her lover gently whilst knowing that her time was almost coming to an end.

"Did you learn all that you needed to?" Megumi asked next and Butch knew that he couldn't tell her the truth. The two of them were sacrificing everything and he had to be able to at least give her some hope.

"We did," he confirmed. "We can stop all this."

Megumi smiled, "Then my death shall not be in vain."

A silence befell them at this and Butch was at a loss as to what to say. What could one say in a situation like this?

"Well then," it was Meowth who finally answered, "let's get this show on the road. Team Rocket finally gets to protect the world from devastation."

Megumi let out a small laugh at this. Meowth's optimism was catching and Butch wondered if they just might do it after all.

To be continued in Book Two: Future's Dawn