Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Rio looked at James. So this is finally happening, huh?

"What brought this on all of a sudden?" Rio asked anyway.

"It’s because of Jessebelle," James said with a pained expression. "Do you remember her, Rio?"

"Of course—I ran into her once when I was teaching Growlithe at your place. She’s quite beautiful. I heard you two are engaged," Rio said with a smile.

"Don’t even mention it—I regret my younger self’s stupidity so much. If I could go back in time, I’d stop myself from ever making that mistake. The thought of marrying her was pure idiocy."

"She’s terrifying—always telling me what I can and can’t do. She’s even worse than my parents. I hate being a gentleman more than anything, and she keeps forcing me to act like one. She even wants me to get rid of Growlithe and replace it with a Skitty."

James slapped a hand over his face, looking utterly defeated.

Rio sympathized. He understood James—a kind-hearted person at his core, but stifled from childhood, with everything dictated by his parents. He was expected to live according to others’ wills, with no room for his own thoughts. He wanted to rebel but felt powerless. If he actually married Jessebelle, Rio had a feeling James would snap one day, unleashing all the pent-up emotions from a lifetime of suppression.

James admired Rio precisely because Rio lived freely—even shutting down his intimidating father so thoroughly that the man would avoid him.

He remembered that in the original Team Rocket trio, one of the reasons James ended up partnering with Jessie was that she looked just like Jessebelle—same face, different personality. She didn’t force him to be a gentleman, which suited James perfectly.

"Rio—do you think I should run away?" James asked again, his eyes full of hope, clearly seeking validation from someone he respected.

"I feel like if I stay any longer, I’m going to lose my mind."

"If you’re that miserable, I support you," Rio said seriously. "I won’t be able to earn extra money from your place anymore, but I don’t think you’re wrong to do this. You’re living for yourself—not for your parents. As long as you won’t regret it."

James’s eyes reddened. Rio’s support and approval swept away much of his fear and guilt about leaving.

"I won’t regret it—I’m sure I won’t. I’d rather live in uncertainty than in a life of misery where I can see the ending. Even if I end up poor, I’ll accept it," James said, his gaze firm.

Rio patted his shoulder. "Then go for it."

"Yeah."

But then James heard something from Rio that made no sense: "Oh, and if you ever meet a Meowth that can talk, introduce me."

"A talking Meowth? Meowth is a Pokémon—how could it talk?" James was baffled.

"I said if," Rio shrugged. "I once had a dream where you were with a talking Meowth and a girl. So I’m curious."

"A dream where I’m with a talking Meowth and a girl? What did she look like?" James’s focus shifted immediately, his eyes lighting up—as if he saw it as a sign of his future wife, with the Meowth as their shared Pokémon.

"Uh... she kind of looks like Jessebelle," Rio said hesitantly.

James’s excitement deflated instantly. "Rio, that sounds like a nightmare. Can’t you wish for something better for me? Why would I ever end up with a woman who looks like Jessebelle? No way—absolutely no way. I’m running away to escape her. Unless I lose my mind or my memory, I would never do something that stupid."

James shook his head like a rattle, clearly terrified by Rio’s "dream."

"I didn’t say you’d get married—standing together doesn’t mean marriage," Rio laughed.

"Even in a dream, no! I’ll never be friends with anyone like Jessebelle—even if they just look like her. The moment I see one, I’m running the other way," James said firmly.

"Not even if they just look similar?" Rio raised an eyebrow.

"Absolutely not."

"Alright—we’ll see about that."

Rio shrugged and dropped it. He was curious whether James would remember this conversation when he eventually met Jessie and Meowth.

"I’m hungry—let’s order something."

Rio picked up the menu. At the center of the restaurant, the TV was replaying his Charizard’s three-Pokémon sweep.

"Unbelievable—contestant Rio’s Charizard one-shot Kiki’s Ninetales, making it the first in conference history to—"

The announcer’s excited voice filled the restaurant.

Meanwhile, in Vermilion City, Kanto, a young man in a cape arrived at the League office on a Dragonite. He was greeted by a similarly caped young woman.

"Brother—I can confirm now. The guy who hurt your Dragonite and Gyarados never actually called himself ’Goh’—it was a lie to throw us off." Clair, the Blackthorn Gym Leader, said with frustration.

"If it were true, we wouldn’t have searched four times in a year and found nothing. The only person in all of Vermilion City with the name Yukio Goh—’Goh’ for short—is a six-year-old kid. We’ve questioned him so many times he’s in tears, and his father is about to change his name."

She led her brother to a nearby restaurant to eat.

"We have to keep searching. He was so confident when he gave that name—it means he’s familiar with this place. Maybe he just doesn’t go by that name anymore," Lance said coldly, his eyes burning with desire for revenge.

"A year of searching isn’t enough—we’ll search for two years, three years if we have to. I won’t give up until I find something. He’s the first person to ever steal a Pokémon from me—I will not forgive him."

"Understood." Clair sighed. "I’ll keep at it."

Then Lance asked: "By the way—I heard someone else came here a few months ago looking for Yukio Goh too."