Chapter 9: Sounds of Silence

The creature yawned as it opened one purple eye furtively, finally awakening 
from its long sleep.  It rolled both eyes as they met with nothing but darkness 
as usual and the reptile opened the other eye to allow an adjustment.  Darkness 
was eternal in it's home, the only source of light from the pallid multicolored 
rocks that seemed to have a life of their own.  The sand near the banks of the 
black river was white, and reflected some of the meager light off it's shining 
crystals, but even that was barely enough to see by.

Stretching and yawning again, broadly, the creature rose from its makeshift nest 
and spread its dragon-wings, gliding gently to the ground for a refreshing swim.  
It plodded gently and carefully along the sand, enjoying the feeling of it 
against its hard scales and claws and folded its wings tightly against its 
sides.  His morning trek was interrupted however by something lying motionless 
in the sand, one end of it still in the black river.

Curiosity peaked, the little dragon inched forward, gasping at the strange 
object.  It looked living, as what he thought was the chest rose and fell in a 
regular pattern, but it didn't seem to be awake.  Upon closer inspection, he was 
forced to shake his head in disbelief, having to look even closer to confirm his 
suspicions.  Not only was it living, this thing had color!

Normally, everything in the caverns the dragon resided in was black, or shades 
of purple, and nothing he had ever seen compared to the thing near the banks of 
the river.  He sat on his haunches touching what he recognized as the head of 
the new creature, and found that it was soft and silky, a bit tangled, but it 
delighted the dragon regardless.  It shone in what little light there was and 
the dragon snickered in glee as he realized it was a deep cerulean blue.  
"Azure!  This creature has fur made out of azure!" he thought to himself.  He 
walked along the length of the creature, running his claw down it as he did so, 
soft white material, then more blue under it.  He frowned, the blue substance he 
felt was not the same as he had seen before, and he stopped to inspect it.  He 
put both claws into it, rustling it vivaciously until some came off into his 
claw and he nodded approvingly.  Feathers, he had seen those before.

The dragon began toward the end of the thing which was still in the water, but 
was stopped as it moved, groaning loudly.  He shrieked and dashed to the side, 
his voice resonating harshly against the black, iridescent stone, watching as 
the top half of the creature rose from the ground, hacking and coughing, water 
spilling from it.  It brushed the wet blue fur away and the dragon stared in awe 
as he saw the thing had eyes, and that they were a brilliant emerald green.  
"Emeralds!  The creature has eyes made of emerald and azure hair and wings too!" 
he cried excitedly.

The thing raised an eyebrow as it lay back down on the bank rubbing its temples 
ruefully.  "Great, now where am I?" it muttered in a distinctly masculine voice.  
"Y-You speak!" the dragon chirped.  The creature turned his head, still not 
bothering to lift it from the sand and raised an eyebrow at him.  "A dragon?" 
the creature inquired.  "Yes my liege, Draco the black dragon at your service oh 
wondrous jewel creature," he said bowing.  "Jewel creature?  Just plain James is 
fine with me Draco," the winged young man answered as he sat up.

Draco sat and coiled his thin tail about his hind legs regally grinning 
toothily, but still respectfully at James, who inspected him carefully, his eyes 
tracing over his coiled crests protecting the sides of his head with a dull 
black crystal in the center.  His entire body was lined with glossy black scales 
matching the bony horn-like helixes, and though he was much bigger than Riley, 
he still looked very similar, save for the fact that Riley was also very thin.  
His old friend back in Vertigo was more like a snake with wings than a dragon, 
and this thing looked the part of the image he had always had of dragons.  James 
grinned crookedly and smoothed his hair back as he surveyed his new 
surroundings.  "So, can you tell me where I am?" he asked offhandedly as he 
rubbed his temples.  

Draco nodded vigorously, standing on his haunches and clasping his claws 
eagerly.  "Oh yes, this is what most mortals call Shadowrun, named so for the 
shadowy river!" he said cheerfully.  James closed his eyes and smiled lovingly 
as he rose gently from the bank.  "Then I'm in the right place," he said as he 
brushed the white sand off his clothing and shook his wings and tail free of it.  
"So how'd you die?  Nobly in a battle maybe?  You do have a sword.  Or maybe you 
were murdered by an assassin!  Even better!" the dragon asked James.  He simply 
raised an eyebrow at the odd question and squinted his as he examined his body 
for any injuries, answering simply.  "I'm not dead."  Draco gasped sharply at 
this, touching his leg in utter amazement and awe. "Excuse me, but why are you 
here if you're not dead?" he asked cocking his head to one side thoughtfully.

James didn't answer him and blinked against the darkness, muttering something 
inaudible under his breath before proceeding away from the river and towards the 
darkness of the cave system, his boots making no sound on the soft sand.  
"James!  Wait!  Shadow will find you and kill you for sure!" Draco protested and 
the winged young man stopped.  "Shadow?" he asked, his interest perked.  "Yes!  
She is the beast that collects souls, but only lives lost here can be used to 
feed her power!  Otherwise they speed too quickly to the afterlife, and not even 
she has the power to stop them," he replied.

James smiled deviously as he understood finally why Jessie had been taken on the 
battle field, and why he was made to think she was dead, but his grin widened as 
his heart soared with love and hope again, knowing that Jessie was still alive.  
"Then she's just who I want to see," he said and began walking again.  "Wait!  
I'm coming with you!" Draco yelped and followed his companion into the black 
abyss of the vast system of intricate caves which not even he had traversed 
fully.

Shadow's malevolent purple eyes flashed excitedly as she felt Jessie's will to 
live falter, and weaken even more so than it had in the past few days.  Jessie 
screamed as Shadow projected another torturing image into her mind, which wasn't 
powerful enough yet to discern reality from illusion, and she was almost 
literally living her nightmares.  Shadow had reminded her painfully and 
poignantly of every hurtful event of her life, the first being nearly losing 
James in the dungeon of The Saffron building.   She had been able to distort it 
that particular one horribly, warping it so she saw her best friend die in her 
arms, weakening her spirit more so.

"Almost Jessie, give up and it'll stop, you can die and go on to the afterlife 
in peace!  All you have to do is give up!" the feline mused harshly.  The girl 
struggled hard against the shackles which bound her to the platform Shadow had 
set aside for her sacrifices, the crystal ball standing in waiting to gather the 
souls, moaning in mental anguish.  "Poor sweetheart, this one must be terrible 
for you!" Shadow said laughing heartily, "well the more painful the better!"

Jessie closed her eyes as she listened to the voice, refusing to give up just 
yet, but knowing she wouldn't last much longer without James to reassure her.  
For she knew nothing but the horrific visions that Shadow created for her, 
thinking it was an alternate dimension, or reality she had been sent to, not 
knowing she was in actuality a prisoner of her own mind.  "You know you can't 
live without James."  

Jessie squeezed her eyes shut harder at the mention of her long 'deceased' but 
still sorely missed friend for practically the fifth time that day.  "I can live 
without him!  I can!" she insisted, her words more to attempt to cheer herself.  
The tears threatened to fall once more and she shook her head to clear it, 
gripping her tangled and disheveled red hair between her fingers in 
wretchedness.  "Why the hell do you keep mentioning him?  Why not my mother?  
She's dead too you know!" she spat furiously.

"You can't live without either of them.  You know you can't go on, and they tell 
me Meowth isn't going to make it."  Jessie screamed, falling to her knees onto 
the floor, remembering the ill and dying Pokemon she had taken to the treatment 
center weeks ago.  He'd contracted a rare and deadly disease more common in the 
cat-type Pokemon and his health had slowly deteriorated.  She had paid every 
expense to attempt to save his life, but his health had been poor when he'd 
finally allowed himself to be taken and it was finally giving out.  "Why take 
Meowth too?  Do you have no mercy?  Why do you want me to die?" she sobbed.

The silence that followed was thick and malevolent, and Jessie raised her head, 
wiping the last of the tears from her cheeks as a vision came to her mind.  It 
was of a little boy, with shoulder length ebony hair, pearl white skin, green 
eyes standing out from it like emeralds on pure white silk.  He called out her 
name, and she was suddenly aware of a very familiar white power, surging 
somewhere in the back of her mind.  She felt the affection and memories attached 
to it, and put a hand to her mouth as she realized what it was, and what she 
remembered clearly from Aradain.  "James," she whispered, her voice wavering, 
"it can't be!"  The boy smiled at her, nodded approvingly, and disappeared in an 
explosion of white light, leaving her alone again in her mind.

Jessie closed her eyes, feeling for the energy again, breathing heavily with 
fear and hope.  "She wants me to die, because she needs my power!"  Jessie 
sensed the evil entity somewhere far away, choking on the foul thick presence of 
it, realizing its intentions through a psychic link.  "This isn't real!  James 
is alive!  And he's somewhere close!"  She screamed furiously and victoriously 
as she stood from her bed, clenching her fists as her eyes and body flared a 
valiant shade of deep purple.  "Shadow!" she shrieked the demon's name in 
challenge the purple aura deepening and beginning to rise from her limbs like 
famished and rancorous flames.

Shadow reeled backwards in terror as Jessie's tangible body lurched forward, 
screaming her name again as her real eyes opened wide with hatred.  Her hands 
turned over, fingers spread as far apart as they would go, eyes searching wildly 
for anything to focus on, but finding only darkness she dug her claws deep into 
the ancient stone, putting several deep lacerations in it.  Jessie screamed 
again, her eyes flaring an intense purple, her voice resonating loudly from deep 
within her soul and body.

Shadow bared her fangs at the surge of energy, hissing and cursing under her 
breath.  "Well, I didn't think that boy would be a problem, I underestimated 
him!  But that will change very, very soon!" she spat adjusting her charm that 
hung at her chest and turned over her shoulder, malicious purple eyes lowered to 
an abhorrent level.  She melted into the darkness, leaving Jessie to struggle 
against her psychically sealed bonds, and seeking out the young man that had 
been a thorn in her side for far too long.

James drew his sword apprehensively, pressing his back against the wall as his 
eyes searched fruitlessly for any dangers.  "God it's no use!  I can't see 
anything down here!" he groaned, "but I can't, and won't give up on you Jess."   
Draco cocked his head to the side in confusion, but slapped himself in the 
forehead as he realized James was not native to the darkness, and human.  
"You're going about it all the wrong way!" he said exasperatedly.  James 
directed his useless eyes down to where he heard the voice and sighed in 
repressed aggravation and frustration.

"So what do you suggest?" he asked with an obviously irritated tone.  Draco sat 
back on his haunches, puffing a tiny coil of unseen purple smoke from his 
nostrils, searching the young man's soul.  He found there a mixture of strong 
and pungent feelings and emotions, most of them centered around a memory of a 
red-haired young girl.  "Well?" James asked impatiently.  Draco smirked and 
raised his eyes and practically watched James' face flush red.  "You're in love 
with someone, and you've come here to search for her," he mused deviously.

James drew back apprehensively, drawing in a sharp breath of consternation.  
"How?  H-How did?" he stuttered, unable to comprehend how the dragon knew what 
his purpose was.  "I can sense it within you, I, as does everything down here, 
have an array of psychic powers," Draco answered.  James nodded, and fingered 
his chin thoughtfully.  "So, how do I find Shadow and Jessie?" he asked.

Draco stood, bringing himself closer to James and illuminated the purple 
crystals in the center of the coils on either side of his head, casting a dim 
purple glow about the young man's feet.  "I can only provide so much light for 
you, you have to do the rest," he said.  James raised an eyebrow, confused not 
for the first time that day and raised the glowing white tip of the blade of the 
wind to his face.  It glimmered hopefully, but provided no more light to see by 
than Draco did, and though James was comforted somewhat by his sword, he still 
felt hopeless in the situation.  "I still don't understand," he said at length. 

Draco sighed, lowering his head in exasperation.  "See with your heart and not 
your eyes, seeing is never believing, especially not here, but a heart like 
yours James, is never deceived.  It is driven by true and unconditional love, 
which in this case, is stronger even than Shadow," he said quietly.  James 
nodded and understood.  He understood that he was never going to be able to rely 
on his conscious and rational mind in the caves, and he would have to rely on 
letting his love and connection to Jessie lead him.

James re-sheathed his blade and smiled warmly, motioning for Draco to follow, 
oblivious to the sleek form of a cat that darted behind a stalagmite, following 
him.  "Follow your heart, he says," Shadow mused, mocking Draco's words, "well 
his heart won't do any good when he watches it stop beating in my paw!"  She 
cackled viciously to herself and continued to follow, wondering just how far the 
young man could get.

Jessie was suddenly aware of a sharp pain as she struggled with her manacles, 
noting that she was pulling so hard they had bitten into the skin of her wrists, 
and she snarled in frustration.  "I've got to get out of here!  Shadow really 
will kill James if she finds him!  Concentrate Jessie!  You can break the spell 
on these!" she hissed through her teeth.  Her already purple aura deepened 
further until it was nearly black, illuminating the room so that everything was 
visible.  

The black river that ran toward the bottom of the stone pedestal, resonated 
against the iridescent black stone walls and lapped at the brilliantly white 
sand, creating the only noise besides the young woman's struggles.   Jessie drew 
in a deep breath, focusing her powers at the bonds and gritted her teeth as the 
powerful psychic spell fought back at her mind.

She shrieked as she felt it's black presence, but stood her ground, her purple 
aura fading slightly as she met with her adversary.  "No!" she screeched forcing 
it back with a surge of her power, and smiling at its wail of agony.  It receded 
as she directed another bolt of psychic energy at it, her right arm breaking 
free of the shackle, followed by her left.  

Jessie sat upright for the first time in the, what seemed like years, she had 
been under Shadow's spell, smiling broadly as she narrowed her eyes at the metal 
cuffs about her ankles.  They flared a brilliant purple as the mechanics of the 
ancient locks exploded with a flash of purple and tiny parts of the lock.  The 
metal strap about her waist exploded in flurry of metal parts as well, and she 
quickly swung her legs over the edge of the altar, noting she was still in her 
armor from the battle, and it still had the sword hole through it.  Wincing as 
she fell to her knees with fatigue, Jessie closed her eyes, but smiled, knowing 
that freedom and her friends were not far away.

She mustered the rest of her strength to stand, and gripped her still aching 
stomach as she staggered toward the river.  She leaned heavily against a joined 
stalactite and stalagmite, panting at the extreme difficulty of moving.  Her 
spirits lifted, however, as she saw that she had a clear path leading into the 
cave system, and using her psychic powers, could deduct the way out.  "Don't 
worry guys, I'm coming back," she said quietly and proceeded across the 
Shadowrun.

"Jaaaaames."  The winged young man leapt in fear at the sing-song calling of his 
name.  He drew his sword with shaking hands, pointing it uselessly into the 
darkness.  "Wha?  Who?  Who's there?" he called with a wavering voice.  
"Jaaaaaames!"  It was oddly jovial, calling his name again in an echoed, 
disembodied voice.  Draco tensed, pressing his scaled side into James' leg 
apprehensively.  "I don't like the sound of that," he muttered.  "Me neither," 
James replied.

The duo listened closer as it called James' name again, and he slapped a hand 
over his gaping mouth as he recognized the terrifyingly familiar tone.  "It 
can't be," he breathed.  He was answered by a bright flash followed by a faint 
purple glow from behind an iridescent black stone, pulsing warmly toward him as 
a shadowed figure stepped from behind it.  "I've been waiting for you James, I 
knew you'd come!"  The winged young man restrained his urge to rush forward into 
the arms of the figure, stepping forward cautiously.  It bore a terrifyingly 
familiar figure, complete with elongated cat ears and the thin whip-like tail of 
an Abra. "It can't be.  J...Jessie?" he ventured.

She stepped fully into the purple light, the shadows unveiling her face slowly 
revealing the features and deep azure eyes of the woman James loved and had come 
to rescue.  He fought his urge to burst into tears of joy, rush to her and take 
her into his arms to hold her again and never let go, as something felt wrong to 
him.  It seemed too simple, like she had been merely wandering in the dark 
caverns waiting for someone to rescue her, and that was quite unlike the Jessie 
that James knew.  "Of course it's me James!  God I've missed you," she said 
stepping forward.

James took a hesitant step back, tightening his grip around the hilt of his 
sword and swallowing hard.  She seemed too calm and reserved to him, and the 
smug smile on her lips was suspicious and he drew back at the sight of it, 
needing proof of her genuineness.  "How can I be sure?" he asked carefully.  
Jessie continued walking to him, chuckling warmly as she rolled her eyes.  "Why 
are you so hesitant to believe?" she asked practically.  "I saw you killed, and 
I need proof it's you," he replied, tears threatening his ability of calm 
speech.

Jessie stopped, looking hurt and regarded her friend cynically, her pale skin 
rippling with blear light from the black river, and scowled at his disquietude 
to her.  "Okay fine, ask me something!  Only something you and I would know," 
she said at length, placing her claws on her hips, tail flicking with her 
swiftly shortening temper.  James looked away, hesitant to recall the events 
that had been very secretive and private between them, but knowing that neither 
of them had forgotten one second of the trial Giovanni put them through.  "When 
I thought I wasn't going to make it out of Team Rocket, I asked you to say 
goodbye, so you whispered one last message to me, and I swear I'll never forget 
what you said to me, what was it?" he asked, guilefully concealing an artful 
smile.

Jessie smirked, huffing nervously at the question.  "What kind of dumb question 
is that?" she asked.  "Answer it or I'll kill you, because only my Jessie knows 
this, and I know she'll never forget," James answered leveling his sword to her.  
She looked away, hand pressed in comfort against her chest, and James could 
barely detect a glimmer of light reflected in a tear falling from her cheek.  
She sniffed them back loudly, turning to James with a warm smile and wiped her 
eyes as she edged closer to him.  "Well, I knew you weren't going to die, but I 
didn't want to upset you, so I said goodbye.  I still wouldn't let you go 
though, not to anything James," she said, another tear sliding down her cheek.

James let his tears fall, gripping the hilt of his sword in fury raising it as 
he screeched in mental agony and angst, charging forward to drive it roughly 
through Jessie's chest.  She screamed in pain and crumpled under James strong 
thrust, slicing her claws open on the blade.  She looked balefully at him as 
they stood in stalemate, and her genuine expression of hurt caused tears to 
stream down James face, as it looked so much like he was actually stabbing his 
best friend.  She genuinely looked betrayed, and the mere thought of hurting her 
made James physically and mentally ill, and he was killing the distraction 
effort.  No matter how many times over he told himself it wasn't her, it looked, 
sounded and acted so much like his best friend, it felt like the actual exploit.  
He shook his head to clear his thoughts and glared bitterly at her, narrowing 
his eyes in utter contempt and malice.  "Wrong answer, Jessie never said 
goodbye, because she knew I was going to make it," he hissed.

Jessie slumped backwards to the soft sand, and James ripped his sword from her 
body with a hoarse cry of grief as it melted into a small black puddle, sliding 
with a sickening sound to the river.  "You're smarter than I thought you were!  
But the girl is mine," it hissed and James felt the color drain from his face.  
"S-she is alive," he muttered in disbelief as the black bane disappeared fully, 
falling to his knees, sickened at the fact he had seemingly just killed his best 
friend.  The genuine look of utter hurt and betrayal on her face still lingered 
in his mind, and he looked sown to his still clean sword resting gently in the 
white sand.

He drew in a sharp breath as he closed his eyes, tears sliding silently down his 
cheeks, and oblivious to everything but his sorrow.  He felt his object sliding 
farther and farther out of reach, and he began to believe what he suspected all 
along, and couldn't rescue his friend.  "I'm such a coward, I can't even get rid 
of a doppelganger without bursting into tears.  I can't do it, I'm so sorry 
Jessie," he whispered as Draco put a claw atop his thigh, "I still love you."

Draco had no clue why the winged young man was crying, cocking his head to one 
side thoughtfully.  "You just committed a valiant act James, it takes a brave 
man to kill the woman he loves, metaphorically of course," he assured him.  
James shook his head as his sobs abated and sighed, running a hand through his 
hair.

He couldn't bring himself to say aloud why he sobbed over it, but he knew deep 
in his heart the many reasons.  He often felt as if he were a coward, worthless, 
and stupid, as that was how his parents and Jessibelle had made him feel as a 
child.  They constantly told him how much they hated him and his ways, and no 
matter how hard he tried he would never be as good as they were.  He knew that 
they didn't love him, and the feeling of being accepted by no one but a Pokemon 
hurt James deeply.

He had been able to overcome it only when he had met Jessie, after his parents 
had sent him to Pokemon Tech in an attempt to reform him.  She accepted him for 
who he was, and had always allowed him to be himself.  He ran away from 
everything to be with her, and only in Team Rocket, even though they lived a 
hard life, he was truly happy.  "I should have known that Jessie was the only 
one who-" he paused, reflecting on what he was about to say and smiled.

James remembered why he loved her and his smile broadened as his eyes drifted to 
his tail sprawled across the sand to his side, taking a long feather into his 
hand.  It reminded him of her, and how she always told him and reminded him that 
he was a wonderful person, and he was much better than anyone in his family.  
Being with her gave him a sense of family and love he never had before, but as 
they grew older together, he was forced to deal with feelings for her he wasn't 
aware of as a child.  He'd finally embraced them, knowing that he loved her with 
all his heart, and he stood swiftly, brandishing his sword menacingly toward the 
darkness.  James knew deep inside of him that everything Jessie had always known 
and reminded him were true and his soul felt renewed, his lust for the adventure 
and to rescue his soul mate burning brightly behind hopeful emerald irises.

Draco looked on as a light, yet unfelt wind caressed James' face, tossing his 
shoulder length hair and feathers affectionately and he backed hesitantly away.  
He smiled broadly and re-sheathed his sword, spreading his wings lightly to 
greet the essence of his inherited power.  He drew in a deep breath, and 
unannounced, started off along the path he had chosen, motioning for Draco to 
follow.  "Come on Draco, let's go."  The dragon smiled to himself as he followed 
the young man, knowing he'd just defeated a few personal demons, but the worst 
were yet to come.

Shadow's scream of fury resonated shrilly above the gentle rush of the river as 
she returned to find Jessie gone, as in her incarnation of her, she's broken the 
psychic link to her mind and hadn't known she'd escaped.  She was able to track 
the girl's location with the link, and she had to have Jessie there physically 
to establish it.  Now that it was broken, Jessie would be nearly impossible to 
find in the great labyrinth that Shadowrun had carved out centuries before.  
"Blast that wretched girl!" Shadow fumed, black fur bristling with anger as she 
surveyed the demolished manacles and deep claw marks on her stone.

Her lips curled in a smug snide smile, however, as she noticed the prints of 
Jessie's boots showing obviously in the sand betraying the path she had taken 
for her.  "Of course, there's always the old fashioned way," she mused placing a 
paw in the nearest footprint.  "So you want to play hide and seek little girl, 
well let's see how you fare against me!" she hissed, her body shimmering a 
brilliant purple.

She closed her eyes as it dissipated, liquefying into the black gel she had been 
after James had killed her replication of Jessie, and slid into the river.  
Shadow recoiled, reserving her energy as she picked up Jessie's trail of 
indiscrete footprints in the white sand.  Once she had a clear idea of which way 
they went, she unleash the energy she had stored in a lightning bolt of pure 
purple energy, surging through the black water unseen, a merely mental smile 
broadening as she honed in on her victim.

The pounding of her own heart was the only thing audible in Jessie's ears as she 
ran blindly down the passageway lit only by a small ball of energy she had 
created for that purpose.  She directed it in front of her, illuminating 
grotesquely the features of the rocks and shore of the roaring river currents.  
"I gotta find a way out of here!" she hissed to herself as she disturbed a small 
gathering of black lizard-like creatures.

She could feel the familiar presence of Shadow in the back of her mind, which 
only caused her to run harder, the utter terror the driving force behind her 
flight.  "You can run, but you should have known you couldn't hide!" she heard 
Shadow's malevolent hiss and stopped in her tracks.  The voice had been right 
next to her, and Jessie backed away as a sudden feeling of foreboding twisted 
her stomach.  "No, no not her again!" was all she could manage, her eyes darting 
about for any sign of the beast, but as if to spite her, as soon as her eyes 
drifted to the water at her feet, it erupted with the vague figure of a feline.  
Jessie's eyes widened in terror as the muzzle, mouth open and teeth bared 
formed, it's legs preceding it with the leap.  Jessie watched as the claws 
unsheathed from the malevolent paws outstretched for the kill, her shriek of 
terror resounding loudly as the feline descended upon her with a malevolent 
yowl.

Jessie felt the weight force her to the stinging sand and keep her pinned, much 
to her dismay, as the aqueous form took the shape of the loathed entity.  
"Shadow!" she cried furiously.  Shadow rippled with purple as she materialized 
fully, merely laughing in spite, and the charm bearing the symbol of the mind at 
her chest glowing brightly.  "Having fun?" she asked stepping off of Jessie as 
she lifted her with her powerful abilities of psychic mastery.

The young woman found herself unable to answer, her throat suddenly constricting 
of it's own accord and glared daggers from flaming purple eyes toward the cat.  
"I'll just kill you now!  Sure your spirit will flee, but I have Rill at the 
exit to catch it for me!  You're never leaving this place alive," she hissed.  
Jessie lost the struggle for air, her movements slowing with the lack thereof as 
she gripped at her throat uselessly.  "No!  I can't lose!  Not now.  Not when 
I'm so close!" she thought to herself as her vision clouded with points of white 
light.  "Jessie!  No!"  A sharp cry was just audible over the sound of the rush 
of blood in her ears and was followed by the enraged Shadow's cry of pain.

Air once again rushed into Jessie's lungs as she was dropped from suspension and 
landed hard into the sand.  A fierce war cry resonated against the unforgiving 
black stone and Shadow recoiled, stumbling to the side as if from a blow and 
fell in front of the psychic young woman, a very familiar blade protruding from 
her slick black chest.  Jessie struggled into a kneeling position, gasping at 
the wing and wind-like dˇcor upon the sword and looked up to see a winged 
silhouette pull it from the lifeless form of Shadow.  He had a fierce determined 
scowl on his face, and didn't notice her reach out to him as if her were an 
angel, or some ethereal being.  "Oh my god, James!" she cried joyously as she 
realized it was the actual being, and not a mental projection from Shadow that 
stood in front of her.  

He looked up, and mirrored her smile briefly, but was forced to back away at the 
cruel hiss from the wounded cat.  "Jess stay back!" he answered as Shadow 
begrudgingly lifted herself from the ground, the black ooze that was her blood 
streaming from the wound and down her foreleg to the ground.  She glared 
hideously at the man who had ensanguined her, baring her bloodstained fangs 
menacingly.  "You are more trouble than you're worth boy!" she hissed opening 
her mouth as a ball of crackling energy gathered between menacing fangs.

James held his ground, holding out his still bloody sword in a challenge.  
Shadow's slick black fur stood on end as she fired the bolt of magic, howling in 
pain and fury.  The winged young man lowered his eyes at the beast, deflecting 
her blow with his sword, sending it hurtling back into her slashed chest and 
slamming her lithe form against a tall outcropping of rock.   She lay motionless 
for only a moment, before unsuccessfully attempting to stand to assess the 
situation, crumpling back down to the ground with mew of pain.  "I cannot fight 
in my condition now, that boy is strong!  I have completely and utterly 
underestimated him!" she thought to herself, and realized she could no longer 
hold her ground against his fierce battling tactics.  James was extraordinarily 
excellent at handling his nimble blade, and both feline and human knew it.  "I 
must take time to heal myself, but I will be back, I cannot be defeated by 
mortals such as the likes of you!" she sibilated and glistened with a bright 
purple light.

James held his sword rigid as she disappeared in a brilliant flash of purple 
sparks, leaving only the puddle of black blood.  He waited a few moments in the 
silence, blinked in confusion, and when he was certain the beast would not 
return, drove his bloodied blade into the sand to cleanse it.  He shook his head 
at the life fluid staining the perfect white sand as he turned his loving smile 
to his beloved for the first time in months, opening his arms to welcome her 
into them, knowing that at last he had found what he had suspected all along.  

Jessie let her tears of joy fall, accepting the invitation and rushing into 
James' arms, both of them falling to their knees in the sand with a mutual meek 
cry of hope, tears and joyous, elated laughter.  James cried tears of pure 
ecstasy and euphoria at holding Jessie again, and after he had the satisfaction 
of feeling her tangible form in his arms, he took her shoulders, pushing her 
away slightly to look upon her face.  "Is it really you?" he asked, his voice 
still wavering with tears, "Jessie?  My Jessie?" 

"Of course it's me James!  God I could have sworn you were dead!" she cried, 
still sobbing as she threw her arms about his neck again, and this time, James 
could not and didn't even make an effort control his sobs.  "Jessie!  Oh Jessie, 
Jessie!  I thought I'd lost you forever!  I thought Rill killed you!  I'd given 
up hope!" he wailed.  He cried harder than he had when she had 'died' burying 
his face into her neck as he held her tighter, never wanting to let go again.  
"Shadow showed me your death, and I thought you were dead too!  James I never 
want to be without you again!  I never want to be without any of my friends 
again!" Jessie cried in response.  "Me?  I thought you were dead!  Oh god Jessie 
you have no idea how much I missed you!" he cried kissing her furtively on the 
cheek.  She didn't notice the display of affection through her wracking sobs, 
oblivious to everything but the joy of seeing the friend Shadow had seemingly 
killed again.

"James you have no idea what that monster did to me!" she sobbed, clutching his 
shirt in her claws tightly.  James closed his eyes, forcing his lips to say what 
his heart protested every day since the incident.  "I know Jess, she used Team 
Rocket didn't she?  Jess it wasn't real!  She used your own mind against you!" 
he said through his own tears.  "It was so real though!  It was if I was there 
again.  B-but she twisted it all around, you...James you died in my arms!  Just 
like my dreams!  I lost you forever and I thought my life was over," she cried, 
"over before it really even started."

James was touched at her notion that her life would be worthless without him and 
resisted the strong urge to tell her that he loved her right then and there.  If 
he did so, it might seem as if he was merely consoling her, or perhaps she would 
think that his emotions were false because of being newly reunited.  He didn't 
want to risk her taking it the wrong way, and she didn't need to complicate her 
already dazed and confused mind with taking her feelings for him into 
consideration.  He also found himself at the same situation he had been in each 
time he'd tried to tell her how he felt, too afraid of what she might say, and 
in her emotional state it could be heartbreaking.  He made a silent vow to 
himself, to tell her once and for all how much he loved her, when she had rested 
and been back in the company of friends.  Then he'd do exactly what he'd told 
Jasper he'd do, and this time, he would do it for real.

The duo sat in each other's arms for what seemed like hours, time melting into 
pure bliss as they felt their missing halves again part of their lives.  James 
rocked Jessie gently as their sobs abated, smoothing her hair soothing with his 
hand.  He reveled in their mutual ecstasy as he could again touch the silky 
crimson mane and hold her tightly, feeling his life and soul become one again.  
He had felt like half of himself had been absent, and his life had been empty 
and meaningless if he couldn't share it with her.  Of course he had grown much 
closer to Ash and the rest of his friends, but his deeply rooted love for Jessie 
and her being his best friend in the world had made him feel dead himself.

 He thought back to the poem as he held her tighter to his chest, recalling the 
part about rescuing a soul from the shadows. He hadn't rescued just Jessie, he'd 
saved himself as well, he had saved one soul, as he and Jessie made up the two 
halves of it.  He felt a sense of security at having her back, and knowing that 
he had been determined enough and courageous enough to take on a powerful being 
and win her back from it made him feel like he had finally defeated all the 
demons and scars of his past.  He knew in his heart he would be able to brave 
telling his one true love how he felt, and knew also his life would forever be 
complete.

The void Jessie had left when she had been gone from James' life had been filled 
once again, and James finally felt truly happy.  He closed his eyes as Jessie 
cuddled closer to him, nuzzling her face into his neck affectionately, but was 
forced to open them at the small sound from the black dragon who still sat on 
his haunches by James' erect sword.  "I hate to be the emotional tear-jerker 
reunion crasher, but you really need to get out of here," he muttered gesturing 
toward the river.  James nodded and draped Jessie's arm around his shoulders, 
standing and assisting her to her feet as well.  "Come on, I hate to break this 
moment too but we do really have to get out of here," he said.  

Jessie nodded, standing still as James retrieved his sword, and let him lead her 
as he started after the lead of the dragon.  Her vision danced and sparkled with 
a thousand points of white light at the exertion, stumbling slightly as the 
winged young man attempted to help her along the path.  She stopped, holding 
onto her friend for support, but gradually losing the battle with gravity.  "I 
feel terrible, like I've been drained of my energy completely," she muttered, 
suddenly recalling exactly how much she had used her psychic powers that day, 
"actually, maybe I have."  She fell to her knees as a wave of dizziness overcame 
her, putting a hand to her forehead and James was instantly at her side, 
compassion evident in his every motion.  "Jess?" he inquired, concerned as he 
stayed with her on the ground, "you okay?"

Jessie closed her eyes, making a mental check of her body's energy and power 
level, which had dropped dramatically after breaking her bonds and running.  
"I'm not that great yet, I used all my energy and power," she whispered 
ruefully.  "Can you get up?" James asked.  Jessie sighed and lifted her eyes to 
his, tacit communication passing between them.  "I don't think so," she replied, 
settling involuntarily into James' arms again.  "No, come on Jessie!  We've got 
to get you out of here!  You've got to get up!" he encouraged, assisting her 
futile efforts to stand.  She slipped on the slick snowy white sand instead, and 
fell back into James' arms growling to herself in frustration.  "Come on, try 
again, don't give up!" James pleaded as he futilely attempted to lift her again.  
She winced in pain and motioned for him to let her down, easing gently into his 
embrace.

 "I won't give up, but I just don't have the strength!  We have to find another 
way," she mused, lowering her eyes deviously at James.  He saw the look of 
mischief behind the azure irises and smiled as he recalled the walk they had 
taken in the forest so long ago.  "I know you can't weasel out of this one!  I 
know you can pick me up," Jessie said with a smirk.  "Yes, yes I can," James 
replied scooping her gently into his arms.

Jessie smiled as she wrapped her arms about James' neck, coiling her tail about 
his waist for stability as he lifted her thin figure with ease and turned back 
to the dragon at his feet.  "So Draco, how do we get out of here?" he asked.  
Draco tossed his head over his shoulder, indicating to follow as he explained.  
"The river flows from outside, if we follow the current the opposite way, 
eventually we can trace it back to where you came in," he answered.  James 
nodded in agreement, and silently followed the dragon's path.

They meandered along the shore of the black torrent, watching it steadily 
increase in velocity, spewing white foam against the shimmering black rock.  The 
colors danced as they were caressed by the water and the pleasant sound of its 
rushing current echoed cryptically soothingly against the acoustic rock.  If it 
hadn't been occupied by an evil demon, they would have thought the sea cave 
beautiful and harmonious.  James sighed and looked down his friend to find her 
eyes shut, lips curled into a small smile with her still overjoyed persona and 
kissed her forehead tenderly as he realized she'd fallen deeply asleep in his 
arms.

Draco smiled at him and chuckled, wishing he could be there when James finally 
told Jessie he was in love with her and turned back to the path, and nodded in 
approval as he noted the small point of light at the very bottom of a small wall 
of rock.  "This is where I found you, this is where you came in, it's where 
you'll get out," he said motioning toward it.

James nodded and shook Jessie gently, waking her from her slumber.  She blinked 
sleepily, her eyes searching for something to focus on, and panicked slightly, 
but relaxed when she felt herself still in James' arms, tightening her grip 
about his neck to force herself closer to him.  "Hey Jess," James whispered 
tenderly, "think you can hold your breath for a while?"

Jessie opened her eyes fully at the statement, shaking her head to ensure she 
had heard correctly.  James' serious tone and expression assured her he was 
genuine in wanting the knowledge.  "Hold my breath?  Why?" she asked.  James 
didn't answer, but motioned to the flickering point of light that seemed miles 
below the surface of the water which meant freedom for them.  Jessie gasped, but 
acknowledged what he was hinting to her and sighed.  "Great," she groaned.  
"Yeah I know but it's the only way out of here," James answered.  Jessie smiled 
at him reassuringly as he set her gently on the sand, letting her keep her arms 
around his neck for support, turning to Draco.

The little dragon smiled warmly, holding a claw up as he sensed what James was 
about to do.  "There's no need to thank me James, it's really nothing!" he said 
closing his eyes happily.  James chuckled and helped Jessie to the edge of the 
river, followed by their scaled companion.  "Why don't you come with us Draco?" 
Jessie asked quietly.  James brightened and nodded in agreement.  "Yeah!  You'd 
be a great addition to our little family, now that's complete again," James 
added squeezing Jessie's shoulders affectionately.

Draco sighed and hung his head.  "My place is here, among my own kind, but 
perhaps someday we can meet again!" he suggested brightening.  Jessie and James 
smiled.  "I'd like that Draco, until then take care of yourself," James said 
reverently.  "I will, and you two take care of each other," Draco replied 
deviously.  "We will," Jessie said cheerfully, delighting James.  He chuckled 
warmly, both at the kindness of the little dragon, and in rapture that Jessie 
said she wanted to take care of him and wanted him to take care of her, and 
turned back to the river.

Drawing in a deep breath, James edged slowly in, wincing as he felt his wings 
soak the water quickly.  "Okay Jess, on the count of three, we'll go, and 
whatever you do don't let go of me," he said.  "Right," Jessie answered 
nervously.  They proceeded cautiously until the black water reached their chins, 
and the light was just visible directly in front of them.  "Okay, one.  Two.  
Three!" James cried, both of them inhaling deeply before disappearing below the 
surface.

Draco watched sadly as the streaks of red and blue disappeared, his stature 
drooping as he realized again his fate of never being able to leave Shadowrun.  
"Good luck together, my friends," he whispered mournfully and turned over his 
shoulder, walking back to the small nest he called home.

James closed his eyes against the black water, tightening his grip on Jessie 
apprehensively as he struggled toward where he knew the point of light was.  He 
prayed silently that they could hold on, opening his eyes to attempt to see.  
The black water was murky, and unforgiving against his vision, but he could 
vaguely discern the features of the passageway to the outside world.  The light 
grew bigger, and brighter in magnitude, and James swam harder as he felt his 
body losing the battle with air swiftly.

Jessie felt her body grow weak with fatigue and lack of oxygen and power, and 
found she could no longer retain her grip on James, letting go listlessly.  Her 
lungs forced an attempt for air, releasing what little they had left with the 
underwater gasp and filling with water.  Jessie wrenched free from James as she 
fought to clear her choking throat, and James stopped the instant she slipped 
from his grasp, pressing his slowing wings into his body as far as they would go 
to swim after her.

Jessie let herself drift, her oxygen supply finally running out and allowing the 
water to claim it's former space.  "If I can't make it, I hope James can," she 
thought as her mind clouded and knew no more, unconsciousness claiming her.

Though James' lungs screamed in pain for air, with one last forceful stroke he 
reached Jessie, knowing she was too weak to hold her breath as long as he could, 
and there was little time left for her if he couldn't get to the surface 
quickly.  Catching her by the waist, he began along the path again, his heart 
racing and using precious oxygen as he watched the light spread until a tangible 
surface was visible.

It glimmered cordially at him as James used the last of his strength to break 
the surface, gasping for air with a spray of water that caught the light of the 
waning sun.  His attention immediately turning to Jessie, he raised her above 
the water but realized he urgency when he noted she was no longer breathing.  
"James!  You made it!" he heard the excited voice of Jasper cry out as he hauled 
Jessie's lifeless form onto the bank of the river.

He laid her down gently on her back, smoothing her hair away from her face 
affectionately as he heard Jasper clamber down the small cliff to join him.  
"Jessie?  Can you hear me?" James pleaded slipping two fingers beneath her chin.  
He exhaled in relief as he found a pulse, but breath still didn't come for his 
red-haired friend.  "Jessie!" Jasper breathed, "she is alive!  You were right 
James!"  James nodded silently and contemplated what to do.

He'd been trained in emergency procedures while still in Team Rocket, but he 
found himself with only one option.  Hoping Jessie wouldn't awaken and take it 
the wrong way, he bent down, pinching her nose shut as he pressed his lips to 
hers.  Jasper looked on in horror as she remained inert, and put a hand to his 
chest apprehensively.  "Come on Jess!" James encouraged, "breathe!"  

He bent down again, but as soon as his lips touched hers, she lurched forward, 
hacking the water from her lungs loudly.  "Jessie!" James exclaimed, catching 
her as she fell backwards.  She spit the rest of the water from her mouth and 
opened her eyes, looking up to James lovingly.  "James, I-" she trailed off, 
almost ashamed of what to say.  James' heart skipped a beat as he leaned closer 
to her.  "What is it Jessie?" he asked quietly.

She closed her eyes, wrapping her arms about James' neck as he helped her sit 
up.  "Please tell me," he pleaded.  "I...I," she stammered weakly.  James held 
her tenderly, awaiting what she was about to tell him eagerly.  "You can tell me 
anything," he assured her, stroking the back of her head.  She pulled slightly 
away from his embrace, gazing into his eyes longingly.  "I think I'm gonna be 
sick."