Standing outside a three story saloon was a young mare, covered in well worn clothes. Clothes so thin and ragged that they needed to be worn in layers, to keep the cold rain from freezing her bones. Despite the downpour, her body was on fire. She was grinning excitedly.

Peering inside the closed bar, her eyes were locked on a square screen, a bulky television, hanging from the wall near the door. Its monochrome pictures briefly flickered with static once in awhile. The distortions couldn’t blot out what drew the mare’s awe; a battle from earlier today, far to the north.

“Looks like Princess Flurry Heart is in a jam, everypony!” the fizzling announcer's voice declared, the image showing the troubled alicorn, looking over her fallen companion: A monster much larger than her, that could easily be confused for an orange fire-breathing dragon. “Charizard is down! The Princess only has one mon’ left, while our reigning champion stands with two! Can she make a comeback!? Find out, after a word from our sponsors!”

“Oh come on!” the mare cried out, the screen shifting to commercials. The sound of a mug hitting the counter made her flinch, seeing the eyes of Barkeep on her. He let out a deep chuckle, rubbing his coarse chin as he shook his head.

“Now now, Rain, the fight ain’t goin’ anywhere,” he said in an amused tone. That got a sheepish laugh from the mare, who started to slink from the doorway. “You can stay an’ watch, still gonna be a couple ‘til I leave.” She hesitated, but only for a moment, giving him a warm smile as she left the rain behind her.

She paused as her eyes met Barkeep’s mon’, a biped with stark white legs and torso, and green chest. Its features were sharp, especially the face and arms, its thin frame hiding a powerful physique. She looked to it, giving the mon’ a respectful nod, watching it mirror her action coolly. She may have been intimidated by it before, since it stood a head taller than her. The blue-hearted apron it wore and the broom it carried dispelled any such fears. She continued past, taking off her soaked hat. Its red eyes followed her, before it continued to sweep the area. If it was bothered by the rain she tracked in, the Gallade hid it well.

“Thanks, Barkeep,” she replied, giving him a heartfelt smile. He waved a dismissive hoof in reply.

“Equestria needs more Monster Masters!” an energetic spoke-stallion decreed, making Rainshine’s ears perk up, eyes flying to the monitor. She knew this commercial well, the passionate music it played making her heartbeat quicken, a fire lighting in her eyes as she slowly approached the tv. “So, I ask; do you think you have what it takes to become a Master?” he asked, making Rainshine give the monitor an eager nod, “Then sign up now, at your local Medical Center! For five hundred bits, you’ll be supplied with everything you need to get started! Your very own starting mon’. Twenty capture stones. A map of Equestria. Several basic healing sprays. A stylish, vintage badge case! And of course, our new, state of the art Monster Bestiary!” Rain’s body was brimming with excitement as the listed items flashed across the screen. She brought a hoof to her chest, feeling a small pile of bits pressed between.

She was almost there.

“So, sign up now! Take on the eight gyms, and become a Master!” In the subtitles, it read: Buying the Master’s Starter Kit doesn’t guarantee success. Limited quantity of starters per city. Act fast! The TV then switched to soundless static for a moment, before moving on to some inane commercial about horseshoe polish.

Rain’s body was shivering with anticipation. It hadn’t been easy. Five hundred bits was one hundred meals. But, all her work and hunger was about to pay off. She could hardly wait!

“What. An. Upset!” the announcer's voice cried out, making Rain’s eyes snap back to the screen. The camera was focused on the princess from the Crystal Empire, looking quite pleased with herself. “It seems Princess Flurry Heart’s held out on her trump card, and has caught Champion Starlight Glimmer, as well as myself, completely off guard~! The match is now tied!” Rain’s eyes widened as the replay was televised:

Flurry Heart’s next mon’ was just as large as the Charizard. A radiant blue sea creature with a rough, gray shelled back. A monster that seemed to come from an ancient time, sporting a long neck, the underside colored white, and atop its head was a stubby horn: Subtitles on the screen called it a Lapras - a water/ice typed mon’.

As soon as it appeared, it was raring to go. It cried out loudly, and the arena floor cracked in response, water erupting out from some mystical source. Glimmer’s mon’, a giant round rock with bulky arms, Golem, took the brunt of the waves surging towards it, being smashed into the wall like a pebble. The replay ended, marking Starlight’s mon’ being knocked out.

Now, Starlight looked to her opponent, looking impressed. She recalled her defeated ally, whom disappeared in a flash of light, the brilliance being drawn into a stone Starlight held. She pulled out her last capture stone, a spherical opaque rock with a sigil etched inside. She whispered something to it, before giving Flurry Heart a fiery look.

“Let’s finish this, ‘kiddo’!” Starlight Glimmer declared, pointing the stone towards Lapras. The sigil flashed, another stream of light shooting out of it towards the ground in front of the mare. The light grew, its blinding form quickly solidifying into a behemoth. A big blue tortoise, that stood on its hind legs. From the top of its shell, near its head, protruded two menacing water cannons: Blastoise, also a water type. It looked a little roughed up, no thanks to an earlier encounter in this mighty battle. “Blastoise, Giga Impact!” Starlight shouted confidently. Her mon’ didn’t hesitate, the very camera shaking as it started to charge forward. It started moving before Starlight even finished her command!

“Lapras, Thunder!” Flurry Heart said, sporting a determined smile of her own as Lapras started to crackle with electricity. Starlight’s ears fell at the sight. Before Blastoise’s charge could connect, he was swallowed in a pillar of lightning, making the recording flicker dark. Rainshine watched, hooves over her mouth in anticipation. The image flickered back on, showing Blastoise on the ground, out cold, smoldering and covered in burns. An eerie silence fell over the arena.

Starlight looked on in disbelief, eyeing to her mon’ in concern, before her shoulders sagged. She muttered something to herself, what it was, the tv didn’t tell. With another flash, Blastoise returned to its stone.

“Th- That’s it!” the announcer declared, “Flurry Heart is the winner!” The princess patted Lapras on the shoulder, before blushing at the roaring cheers the audience showered upon her. Rainshine was part of the noise, countless miles, and several hours away. The bar’s lobby was drowned out in her revelry.

As the TV started to replay highlights of the fight, Rainshine turned to Barkeep.

“Did you see that!?” she asked energetically, making the stallion nod.

“Suuure did.”

“Wasn’t Flurry Heart amazing!?”

“Of course. She’s a princess after all.”

“And now she’s a Master!” Rain then looked to her hooves excitedly. They wouldn’t stop shaking. “I’m going to be just like her! Starting tomorrow!”

“You didn’t steal a drink when I wasn’t lookin’, did you?” Barkeep asked in a teasing tone, making her shake her head.

“I have enough to—”

“Ahh, there’s my little boffet,” a husky voice spoke from the door, sending a chill down Rain’s spine. Like falling into a frozen river, Rain’s warmth instantly dissipated, her ears falling as she slowly turned around. At the doorway stood an imposing stallion, a scar cutting down his left eye. He moved to enter the bar, but was stopped by an opaque barrer. The stallion looked to Barkeep’s mon’, Gallade, which was giving off a faint pink glow, watching him dangerously.

“We’re closed,” Barkeep said simply, getting a slight scoff from the stallion.

“It’s okay,” Rain quickly assured, moving to the door, “I was just leaving.” Barkeep frowned at that, giving Slugger the old stink-eye.

“Slugger, if you even touch a hair on her—”

“Fret not, boffet and I are just gonna talk,” Slugger quickly replied. Gallade’s glow faded, letting Rain pass as she stepped out. She then turned around, giving Barkeep a small bow.

“Thank you for your kindness,” she said, giving him a rosy smile. He glanced to the side, before shaking his head, as if cursing the way things were. Slugger started to move away from the bar, and Rain quickly followed, eyeing the two capture stones he had on his saddlebags warily.

“Heard you had a good haul today,” he said simply, making her glance to the ground, ears still low. “Whatcha lookin’ down for? A good haul makes me happy, and when I’m happy—”

“Everypony’s happy,” Rain quickly finished. Still, she hesitated. He stopped, giving her a calculating look.

“Rain…” he said slowly, his horn glowing as he picked up one of the stones.

“I- I know,” she quickly assured, reaching for her bits. She glanced to the side as she gave him the small pouch, which he quickly opened and counted.

“Twenty bits?” he asked in a dangerous tone.

“Th- That’s all of it!” she assured, making him glower at her.

“Pretty sure I said ‘good haul’. Where’s the rest?”

“There isn’t any more,” she replied, still avoiding his eyes. He took her in for a long moment, before letting out a long breath as he pocketed the bits. Rain let out a small sigh.

“Check her,” he said coldly, her breath catching in her throat as he released one of his mon’s from its stone. When the light cleared, a mangy hyena, Mightyena, stood before Rain, its black and gray pelt growing slick from the drizzling sky. Rain’s heart skipped a beat, her scarred ear starting to ache as she took an immediate step back from the canine. “Scared as always,” he said with a small chuckle. The mutt started to sniff her, its muzzle brushing close over all of her rag’s pockets. Rain closed her eyes, her chest aching. She wanted to run, the echoes of howls from her past making her legs tremble.

Mightyena let out a short sneeze, turning back to its master, giving a small whine.

“What’s in them pockets?” he asked, making her glance up to him. “Show me.” She didn’t hesitate, quickly pulling out what made the canine sneeze. A collection of rotten apples and pears. Slugger gave her a disgusted look. He stepped towards her, radiating a promise of punishment, but he paused, glancing back the way they came. His eyes met Gallade’s, who was intently watching from the saloon’s doorway. “Tch. Next time you get a good haul, you better deliver,” Slugger spat out. “Let’s go, Pooch.” The mon’ let out a small huff, making Rainshine flinch, before it followed its master. Rain’s eyes followed them as they left.

She stood there for a minute, her body a frightened mess. Seeing the sad look in Gallade’s eyes pulled her from her stupor, the sounds of howling in her mind dying down. She slowly turned around, head hanging low as she made her way home. Her chest was feeling lighter than she liked.

She didn’t get very far, before she became aware of a strange light. A pink and green glow, coming from above. She paused when she took it in. In a small patch of clear sky, shined the stars, veiled by an aurora. Down here in Dodge, such a sight could only be seen when the Crystal Empire was in celebration.

Watching those curtains of light in that small part of the sky brought back the battle she’d cheered for, a smile growing on her lips. Her purse may have been empty, but her pockets were still full.

The skies had cleared of clouds, revealing more of Flurry Heart’s auroral victory. Rainshine was humming a happy tune to herself, skipping between ice cold puddles without a care in the world. Slugger’s encounter was a small memory now, compared to the princess’s triumph.

Rain had been rooting for the princess the whole way. She watched all the battles that were televised, from all around Equestria, up to and including Flurry Heart’s climb up Victory Road. One day, Rain was going to battle the princess. There wasn’t a doubt in her heart. That day seemed closer than ever!

Reaching the river, she stopped at the wide stone bridge. After making sure nopony was in sight, she ducked down off the road, slinking beneath the path and out of sight. Going where no street lamps lit, she relied on the moon and aurora to find her way. After peering into the bridge's shadow for a moment, she made out the tell-tale box she called home.

Rotting, abandoned planks of wood had been wedged between the ground and the roof that was the bridge above. Wrapped around these planks were blankets and plastic bags that made make-shift walls. Pushing aside the rags that made the door, she was greeted with the familiar smell of brine and mud.

“Goo, you here?” she asked, getting silence in return. She tilted her head, wondering if her temporary roommate had moved out.

“Mee?” a familiar voice croaked, making her turn back towards the river, which was running higher than normal. From what city light trickled beneath the bridge, she could make out a faint glimmer of the mon’. It slunk up to her, its body slug-like, but rounder, like a ball. A pair of horn-like antennae were perched over each dimpled eye. It looked at her, its watery body wiggling side to side eagerly.

“Goo! You should have seen it! Princess Flurry Heart beat the reigning champion!” she said excitedly, making the blob tilt its body to the side curiously. As Rainshine started to rehash the entire battle, she fished through her pockets. The smell of rotten fruit started to permeate the air as she cleared out her catch, leaving her moldy, squishy wares on the ground. Goo approached the fruit eagerly, but Rain raised a hoof.

“Eat slowly Goo. Some of these come with a prize,” she warned, making it blink at her for a moment, before gingerly licking up a pear into its mouth. It suckled on it for a moment, before spitting out a small bead. Rain quickly caught the slime covered artifact, dropping it into a bucket of water, revealing the golden shine within. “There’s ten total. Find them all and you get a prize!” she exclaimed, getting an excited giggle from the mon’ as it went to work on the remaining fruit. Once it spat out the tenth, and final gold bit, she pulled out a banana peel. It let out an energetic cry, jumping onto Rain before she could give it its reward. Its weight almost knocked her over.

“Goo- be careful!” she said, letting out a small laugh as it slurped the peel from her grasp. It suckled on the peel, rubbing its cheek against hers, before letting out a grateful coo.

“Yeah, you’re welcome,” she replied, rubbing slime off her face, before counting out the bits she’d saved from Slugger. It wasn’t as much as she’d liked, but it was better than nothing. She eyed them for a long moment, before looking to her home. Soon, she’d be saying goodbye...

Her hooves trembled briefly, before she let out a small sigh.

“Oo?” the mon’ asked, getting a laugh from the mare.

“It’s nothing,” she assured, entering her home, roommate still on board. Walking past a collection of abandoned magazines, she went straight for the pile of hay and rags that was her bed. Nestled in the corner of her home, she shifted the pile from the wall, revealing a small, cracked box. She popped it open, placing her hoof-full of bits in. After closing it, she hugged it, feeling just as energized as earlier. She doubted she’d be able to fall asleep anytime soon.

“Goo, after tomorrow, I’ll have enough!” she said excitedly, making the blob bounce up and down energetically. “After tomorrow... I’ll be able to say goodbye to Dodge,” she added, less enthusiastically. She then took a deep breath, before looking at her things. Even in the dark, she knew where everything was:

The pile of knick-knacks and broken toys. The collection of magazines and news articles. The line of gifts from former ponies like herself, resting near the top, where the roof and ground met. She took it all in, memories, most of them good ones, washing over her.

It almost didn’t seem real. Like this was all a dream. That the days after tomorrow would just be like any other. She had four hundred and ninety five bits. After tomorrow's ‘work’...

“Hey, Goo?” The mon’ looked at her curiously. “Want to come with me?” she asked. It simply tilted to the side, falling off her back with a splort. She had to guess that wasn’t intentional, since it landed on its face. Rolling over, it eyed her for a moment, before slowly slinking outside. She let out a small laugh. “I get it. You like wet places, after all.” New Appleloosa was far removed from wet.

Nodding to herself, she hid her cache. And, after casting off her soaked clothes, she laid down, trying to let sleep come over her. The returning patter of rain could be heard over the sounds of rushing water outside. Noise that was closer to a lullaby for her. Sounds that drowned out the rumble of ponies crossing the bridge above. A melody that carried her to her dreams...

“Oom!” -slurp-

Rainshine snapped awake, spitting and coughing, slime all over her face.

“What the hay Goo!?” she spat out, trying to clean her face off as she felt the mon’ give her a gentle push.

“Ooom. Oooom!” Thankfully, her clothes were still a little damp. Her face clean, relatively speaking, she looked to her roommate. He was nudging a slime slathered box towards her. It looked like a newer version of her bit box, only this one sported an attention drawing red R centered on top.

“What’s this? From you?” she asked, eyebrow arched. Goo simply shook its head, pointing with an antenna towards the exit. She pushed the rags aside, seeing the the first rays of sunshine breaking over the marsh to the east. There was nopony in sight. “It was just sitting out here?” she pressed, getting an agreeing nod. She frowned at that, wiping off some of the slime, before opening the mystery box.

Her heart skipped a beat at its contents. A small collection of basic capture stones, a map, a hoof-band with another R on it, and a letter. She eyed the stones for a moment, their sigils dull and unlit. She glanced to Goo, before slowly closing the box, only taking the letter.

“What’s all this then?” she asked, unfolding the letter.

My fellow pony! Tired of being taken advantage of? Tired of the cold nights? Of being looked down on? Of not having fun in the sun!? Tired of the ever looming threat of the monsters that have invaded our world?

Of course you are! I know I am! Well, you don’t have be in pain anymore. I We, Team Rocket, welcome you with open hooves. With us, together, we can work towards a common goal. An Equestria where nopony will be taken advantage of. Where everypony can sleep in the safety of warm beds, free of worry of the next Legendary Monster to darken our skies!

Will you help us reach these lofty goals? Help us protect the world from devastation?

My care package should be proof of our genuine interest in your membership. It’s a gift! No strings attached, you can refuse if you want. But, I’d make me really happy it if you joined!

As a member of Team Rocket, you’ll be free- No, we will enable you to see all of Equestria! You’ll never go hungry. You’ll be safe, with your fellow team members. Like family!

So, we I ask of you, humble citizen. Will you join us? Will you help us? Will you do what we ask of you? Will you reap the rewards we offer? Will you be our sister?

I’m eagerly looking forward to welcoming you.

Blast off with us, to the stars!

~JJ - Team Rocket.

Rainshine closed the letter, unsure how to feel about the offer. It wasn’t like she was being offered help. More like a job, or companionship. But, they wanted her to join them?

She’d never heard of this Team Rocket before. Was it a trick, or was it genuine? She couldn’t deny, the offer had some appeal, but there was that inkling of doubt. What if it was like her relationship with Slugger, only bigger?

She then frowned. The letter didn’t say when or where she could meet its author.

“Oom?” Goo asked, pulling her from her thoughts, making her shake her head.

“It’s nothing. Just an invitation.” One she didn’t really need, considering her plans. She then eyed the box for a moment...

Well, no point letting those capture stones go to waste. Taking the stones, and after getting her things together, she left, glancing over her shoulder. “Later Goo!” she let out, getting a parting blurp from the mon’, as she went to ‘work’.

The stones were gone, each given away without a passing thought to any passerby that gave her a smile. It took a while to part with all of them, not that she could blame them. She reeked of trash, and there was no downpour to hide the smell today.

Rainshine was used to it. The smell. The stares. It didn’t bother her in the least. Honest! It’s not like she could help it anyway. To make bits, she had to go digging in dumpsters. Today’s dive ended with a collection of trinkets: Abandoned silverware, books, and other things any pony could sell. Guess their owners were too well off to do anything besides lazily tossing the treasures.

Granted, most trash was trash. After the time it took to find it all, and pawn it off, she was fifteen bits richer. But, the day was also drawing to a close.

Thankfully, the Medical Center was open 24 hours. So, theoretically, she could buy the Master’s Starter Kit at any time, and she saw no reason to wait. Though, it may not be a poor idea to wash in the river first...

Like before, she was humming a merry tune as she made her way back home, the sun having set half an hour ago. The sky was still aglow with Flurry Heart’s victory, which drew Rain’s eyes. She was practically home, when she noticed the pony standing at her doorstep.

Her heart skipped a beat as Slugger noticed her.

“Oh, look who returned,” he said, turning towards her with a dangerous grin. Rain took a step back, her gaze darting between him and her home. “Eyes on me, boffet,” he said, a flash from one of his stones summoning Pooch to his side. Rainshine’s eyes widened with the dog’s arrival. “Rain, Rain, Rain. Did you think of leaving without telling me?” he asked, getting a confused look from her. He levitated a small chest to his side, its red label visible even in the low light. “Running off to join a gang? In my city? Rain, that hurts my feelings—”

“I wasn’t- I’m not going to join them,” she insisted.

“Well, of course not. I’ll make sure of that,” he assured, grabbing his other stone, pointing it towards her home. Out appeared a large bird, half as big as a pony. It wore a cloudy white body, crowned with a fiery orange head and feathers; a Fletchinder. Heat radiated from it, small embers of fire licking its wings as it let out a small chirp.

“Wait!” Rain shouted, panic stricken. She stepped forward, but froze in her tracks when Pooch mirrored her. Her ear started to ache, the sounds of howling clawing at the back of her mind.

“Oh. So you do want to stay?” he said with a grin, making Rain’s thoughts freeze up as he turned back to her. “Alright. Say it. Say you’ll stay, and I’ll just let it all slide.”

“I- I’m going to stay—”

“That’s right. And you’re gonna keep finding knick-knacks, and giving me your prize, with a smile, like always.” She glanced to the side.

“Like always…”

“Very good,” he said smugly, toying with his bird’s capture stone with his hooves, before looking to the winged mon’. “Burn it.” Rain’s mouth fell open, feeling like the world was falling out from beneath her, as the bird’s feathers burned brighter. “Ohh Rain. You were always a terrible liar.” The bird flapped its wings towards her small home, and under the dry safety of the bridge, it was prime tinder.

Her legs trembled as her home was bathed in fire. The glow, the heat, the smell, and the silhouette of the canine before her paralyzed her. The wolves were howling. “You’re not going anywhere, my little boffet.” She couldn’t hear his words. “Right, Pooch?” he asked, making the Mightyena’s head lower, letting out a small growl as it stepped towards her. She did hear that. The wolf’s approach made her snap into action, her body an unbound spring, making a mad dash towards the river. Her pursuer let out a nickering snarl as it chased after her.

Pooch let out a pained yelp, being knocked to the side. Rain glanced back, seeing the mutt laying on the ground, a dark bipedal monster half its height standing between Rain and him. The new mon’s fur was black, besides a bright splash of pink on its head, the tips of its ears. Instead of a puffy tail, it had a small spread of feathers, a vibrant pink that matched the ears.

“Who dares!?” Slugger asked, looking back to the city.

“Mwaha ha! I dare!” a bright mare in black clothes decreed, a spotlight shining on her from out of nowhere. The odd sight made Rain stumble in confusion. Everypony stared dumbly at the mare for a moment, a moment her mon’ took advantage of. “Prepare for trouble!” Her mon’ came to her side, pressing its back against its master as it folded its clawed arms.

“En snes is sneasel!” the mon’ let out proudly, making its master falter.

“Y- Yeah, that sounded terrible,” she admitted, immediately getting an irritated look from her mon’. “Ohhh, this isn’t gonna work after all!” she added distressingly, eyeing her companion, who was giving off an unsettling aura. “I- It’s okay, it’s not your fault!” she insisted, blushing as her Sneasel looked away, disappointment written on its face.

Rain glanced from the odd display, her eyes falling to the fire that was her home. The bird eyed her warily as she approached.

“Tch,” Slugger let out, Pooch coming to his side while the Team Rocket pony was distracted. “Scorch! Blow away what’s left, and deal with Rain.” The bird squawked at its master’s order, taking to the sky. With its wings, it assaulted what was left of her home with a strong gust. Rain looked on, the image burned into her mind as fiery wood, rags, magazines, and treasures were scattered into the river, the embers quickly being taken downstream.

She galloped to what remained of her foundation, oblivious of what was going on around her. It reeked of burnt trash. The air was hot. Goo was nowhere to be seen, and the bits she’d gathered were gone. Those thoughts raced through her mind over and over, before it all came to a crashing end.

Scorch plowed right into her, and despite being smaller than the mare, the bird sent her sprawling. Her world flickered white, the sound of howling still ringing true as she slid to a stop.

“Gooomy! Goooomy!” a familiar voice cried out. Rainshine blinked, her vision blurry as she spotted her roommate, fishing itself from the river, giving Scorch the most intimidating glare it could. The bird eyed the intruder with an annoyed squawk, as glowing embers continued to swirl silently around its wings.

The smell, the pain, the howling. It made her reach out towards the slug-like monster, uttering a four letter word she hadn’t spoken since she was a filly:

“Goo. Help-” she winced as the mon’ looked at her, immediately giving her a determined look. Scorch sent its fire out, bathing Goo completely. Everything hurt, her eyes welling up with tears as Rainshine tried to get to her hooves, eyes locked on where Goo stood. When the fires passed, all that was left was a black silhouette of the mon’. The bird let out a happy chirp, before fluttering back in surprise. The charred shell before it slowly crinkled off of Goo, only its slime burned. The slug looked none too happy.

Rain blinked as Goo’s cheeks puffed up, before the mon’ spat out a series of large bubbles. They flew with surprising speed, catching Scorch off guard. The first in the stream hit with a loud pop, the air shaking, the impact sending Scorch back a foot. It couldn’t avoid the remaining bubbles, being struck time and again, before falling to the ground, down, but still conscious. Rain looked at Goo in surprise, the mon’ sticking out its tongue towards the downed foe.

“Nothing but talk!” Slugger shouted, snapping Rain from her daze. Looking out from under the bridge, it looked like her savior wasn’t faring too well. Slugger’s mon’ looked injured, moving with a limp. Its master stood at its side, glowering at the Sneasel, who was reluctant to approach. There was a clear hoof-mark on Sneasel’s face. The Team Rocket mare looked somewhere between distressed and pissed off.

“Ch- Cheater!” the mare exclaimed, before her eyes locked with Rain’s, “Come on, Rain, bail us out!” she pleaded. Rain blinked at her words, eyeing the ground for a moment, before frowning. The comment prompted Slugger to turn around, discovering Scorch’s fate.

It was the distraction the Rocket mare was looking for. The spotlight still held in her magic, she charged towards Slugger, slamming the light right on his head. Rain blinked in surprise, Slugger stumbling away from his mon’. Pooch turned towards the attacker.

“G- Goo! Do that bubble thing!” Rain shouted, pointing towards Pooch. Goo didn’t hesitate, firing a line of bubbles. And alarmed tweet made Rain’s breath catch in her throat. Scorch flapped up, getting right in the path of Goo’s attack. She put a hoof over her mouth, her heart aching as the bird suffered the entire barrage, being sent flying past Slugger, striking the ground, no longer moving. Slugger put a hoof to his head, clearly bleeding, as he eyed Scortch.

“Tch,” he let out, “Pooch, return!” The Mightyena disappeared with a flash, returning to its capture stone. Without further ado, Slugger turned and ran, his eyes glowering at Rain as he did. “This isn’t over, boffet!” His words were heavy, making Rain hold a hoof over her heart as her eyes followed him. She didn’t doubt him for a moment. When he was far out of sight, she let out the breath she’d been holding. Slowly, her ears fell, as she turned to the burnt husk that was her home.

It was all gone. Not even a scrap to keep as a momento. She knew she’d be leaving it behind to go on her journey, but the idea that it’d be waiting for her when she returned was one she found comforting.

But, why would she return?

As she considered this, the Rocket mare quietly came to her side.

“Um, really sorry about your house,” she said, levitating the portable- broken spotlight into her saddlebags. “I, I didn’t think he’d actually do it. I mean, if I did, I wouldn’t have used the spotlight- I’m just- Sorry.” Rain simply looked on, not an ounce of blame in her heart. “...I guess you don’t want to join now.” The mare added, her ears falling.

“I- I just lost my home,” Rain replied quietly.

“Yeah. That happened,” she said, making Rain frown, “I- I’ll just, leave you alone now,” she added, giving a weak smile. “Come on, Sneasel.” Her mon’ looked at Rain for a moment, as if trying to size her up, before following its master, who was leaving Rain behind. Rain’s gaze shifted to the river, taking in its sounds as she settled her thoughts.

She’d have to start saving up again. Five hundred bits, washed away without a care. Perhaps if she told Slugger, he wouldn’t have burned it down. Perhaps if she were a better liar, he wouldn’t have suspected anything. Perhaps if she had more backbone-

Something nudged her, making her look down to Goo. Her heart skipped a beat. The mon’ had her box in its mouth, looking at her expectantly.

“You- You- Sticky devil!” Rain exclaimed, scooping her friend into a hard hug. It blushed, nearly losing hold of the box. The embrace was short-lived. Rainshine grabbed the cache, and Goo eagerly let go. Her heart froze, seeing the solid R on the case.

Those bits she gathered were part of the river now, and nothing short of winner’s luck would bring it back to her. Goo looked on happily, oblivious of the fact that it was the wrong container.

She stared at it for a long moment, running her hoof over the R. It was stark red, like passion. A color she liked.

“H- Hey, wait!” she shouted, the Rocket member’s ears perking up. She glanced back, a hopeful look in her eyes. “If- If I join, can I be able to become a Monster Master?” she asked, catching the mare off guard.

“Uhm- Don’t see why not!” she quickly replied, turning towards Rain. She then tilted her head. “I mean, getting to the gyms could be tricky, but there’s no rules against it,” she quickly explained. Rain’s face started to lighten up. She got on her hooves, giving the box to Goo, who quickly picked it back up in its mouth.

“Goo, you want to come with me?” Rainshine asked. The mon’ didn’t even pause to consider it. It nodded eagerly. Smiling, she stood tall, looking to the recruiter- Her eyes caught the still form laying in the grass behind them, her ears falling at the sight. “I’ll sign up, but I’ll need a healing spray.” The Rocket mare smiled at that, nodding as she pulled one out.

“Yes. Of course! Welcome to Team Rocket, Rainshine!” she said, giving one of the heartiest grins Rain had ever seen. She couldn’t resist matching that smile.

Team. She was part of a team. She didn’t quite understand what that meant, but, it sounded kind of exciting. She took the spray from her, walking past her. Without further ado, she used it on Scorch. The recruiter blinked at that, before giving Rain an oddly proud look. Still the spray didn’t seem to do anything. Scorch wasn’t moving, a fact that was starting to make Rain’s chest hurt. The mare came to Rain’s side, whose eyes had started to tear up.

“Eheh. You need to use one of these first, silly!” the recruiter said, levitating out a small crystal over Scorch. It cracked, breaking into shimmering dust that swirled around the mon’. Scorch’s wings twitched, making Rain’s breath catch as it slowly opened its eyes. It looked to the ponies, before hopping on its talons. It looked a little confused, before eyeing Goo. It frowned, and with a flap of its wings, took off, and hastily flew out of sight.

“Um, thanks,” Rain said, blushing. “What was that?”

“Revive crystal~,” she replied, sounding a little bothered. “Looks like you’ll need a tutorial class!” Rainshine tilted her head at that, before giving her a small smile.

“You’re JJ, right?” she asked, getting a wide-eyed reaction from the mare.

“I- That’s right! I’m Jumping Juniper! JJ for short!” she replied. “Come on! I bet you’ll look cute in uniform!” she exclaimed, walking past Rain, into one of the alleys lining the river.

“R- Really?” Rain asked, letting Goo onto her back, before she followed after.

“Bet my hat on it!” J.J. replied.

“Umm, thanks, for taking care of Slugger.”

“Don’t mention it~” JJ replied, “It was well worth the spotlight.” Rain couldn’t help but grin at that.

As they left the river, Rainshine glanced back to the bridge, one last time. She recalled when she first found the spot. How she made it her home. Now, it was vacant, and she was moving on to something greater for it. She set her eyes forward, her first destination clear:

New Appleloosa’s gym…

Author's Notes:

This story is planned for quick progression. (but not necessarily quick updates.)
Hope I've managed to catch your interest, as there's a lot of fun ideas I have in mind for Rainshine and JJ's adventure.
If not, well, thanks for reading anyways! And a shout-out to Llyrisviel, for help with editing this chapter.