Like a Stone

Meanwhile, Misty and Brock had managed to get Ash to the nearest Pokemon Center, for the hospital was too far away to walk, and Ash was in great pain. Ash was sitting on a table in the examining room, looking at the X-rays and MRI's done on his damaged shoulder. "As you can see, Ash, you've fractured your right clavicle," Nurse Joy said. "I called a doctor from town, and he's coming to set your shoulder in the morning. For now, I can give you a sling. It's very important that you don't try to use your right arm at all. You could cause serious damage. I can also give you a pain killer that will help you sleep." She rummaged through her supplies and came up with a black sling. She gently put it on Ash. "If you need anything, I'll be on duty all day and all night."

Ash swallowed the pills Joy had left him. "A broken collarbone. This is just great." He looked out the window. "I'm right handed! What am I gonna do?*M
Misty sat in a chair by his side. "We can help you, can't we, Brock," she said. No answer. "Brock?" Brock had followed Joy into the lobby. "He's useless," she sighed.

James was sitting in a tree, looking through the window at Ash and Misty. Pikachu was sitting at the foot of the table, eating an apple that Misty had fetched for him. "It was all Jessie's fault that we lost Pikachu," James said, enraged.

"How is it her fault," Meowth challenged. "The boss paged her. She didn't do nothin'. Even a dope like you should see that." James whacked him.

"Why did she have to go," James said. He pulled a picture out of his pocket. It was one of his favorites: a picture of them in the bike gang days, wearing studded leather and wildly colored hair. He had met Jessie when they were very young. She was in his Pokemon Breeding 101 class at Pokemon Tech. She joined his study group. They got mediocre grades, just enough to get by. Then, the big exit exam came, which they failed miserably. They got the lowest scores in the history of the Tech. They had stayut aut all night partying before the exam, instead of studying. James' parents were embarrassed and ashamed of his failure, and wouldn't allow him to come home. Jessie never really had a family. Her parents and siblings were all too busy to pay attention to her. Seeing as there was no other way, they dropped out of school and joined a bike gang. Jessie quickly became a favorite among the members of the gang. Soon, their mean streaks took over, and, intrigued by Team Rocket, they signed up with the evil organization. Jessie had been by his side every day since they met. They were more than partners, they were best friends. He had always been in awe of her poise, beauty, and fashion sense... "And now she's gone," he said.

Ash's broken bone slowed his Pokemon adventures. He relied heavily on Brock and Misty for help. He had yet to challenge a gym leader since Jessie broke his collarbone. He was uncertain how he could be a whole person when his bone wasn't in one piece. The pain got to him too. He was reluctant to be helpless, but Brock and Misty attended to his needs without making him feel like an invalid. They had decided to go back to Pallet Town so Ash could recuperate at his house, with his mom. Ash fought it at first, but he missed his mom so much he gave in.

James wasn't far behind. He trailed them, along with Meowth, thinking of an appropriate plan to catch Pikachu. "Maybe if I catch it, the boss will be so impressed he'll promote me too," James said, more to himself.

"Why, so you can be with Jessie," Meowth razzed. James punted him.

"Okay, we can cut through Viridian, then to the forest, which will take us to Route 1, and that leads to Pallet," Ash said, looking at the map Brock was holding.

"Good," Misty said. "Let's go!"

"Pi-pikachu," Pikachu agreed.

James followed them all the way to Pallet. Meowth was nowhere to be found since James punted him. The silence gave him time to think. All he could see in his mind was Jessie. He remembered all their disguises, all their antics. When they were trapped on the St. Anne after it had sunk, she'd said, "I'll never leave you behind. We're a team."

"Jessie," he wailed, tears falling from his eyes. "You did! You left me behind," he yelled.

Ash sharply turned around. "What the--"

"Prepare for trouble," James shouted from the road.

The three friends looked at each other, puzzled.

"She burst my bubble," James said sadly.

"To exact revenge on she who hurt me
I'll show her how much of a man I could be
She'll be sorry she left me in the dust
She's broken my faith and my trust
James, the one and only
Team Rocket is now a one-man show
The emptiness I feel, you couldn't know."

James stared at Ash and Pikachu. "What was that," Ash asked.

"Jessie's gone," James said flatly.

"Gone?"

"Yea, she's been promoted."

"So, it's just you?"

"Yes." He hung his head. Nothing could fill his heart the way Jessie did. Not even getting revenge on his enemies by swiping Pikachu. "Why don't you just hang onto that Pikachu. Without Jessie, it's not worth it. Just never leave your friends behind." He ran down the road, sobbing.

Ash's mother had heard the commotion and came out to the road. "What on earth is going on," she asked. She saw her son and his friends. "Ash! You've come home! Oh, what happened?"

"Just a little accident, a broken collarbone," he replied.

"Oh, my baby," she said, smothering him. "Come home now. I'll make you all better."