Yes, I know bulbapedia says they are 25, but this story makes them 18. Deal with it or spam me in the comments. I really don't care.

I stared around. Headquarters was almost empty. Jessie was sitting next to Cassidy on the big couch, so I couldn't sit there. The only other person I know is Brendan, but he's snoozing in a chair. I sighed, slumping into the armchair closest to Jessie.

Yet my only female friend was still chatting with Cassidy. As always.

Those two never stopped chatting. The only moments I could ever spend some time with her was when we were trying to catch that stupid Pikachu and the others.

But of course, Ash has to ruin our plans every time. I wish there was another way to get rid of the brats. I guess, to do that, I'd have to catch a new Pokémon. But Wheezing is too bad to do any actual damage without getting totally busted.

With a loud sigh, I rested both arms on one side of the chair, and set my head on my arms. And Meowth is too stubborn. Way too stubborn. He would never let me use him to catch a new Pokémon to battle with.

I turned my slightly to the left to stare at Jessie. She didn't notice me. Maybe there's a way to get rid of Cassidy, though. She's always getting in the way of me and Jessie.

It took me a while to realize that Jessie was looking at me expectantly. "Er, sorry, can you repeat that?" I asked, embarrassment flooding over me.

"Ugh! Boys never listen. I asked you why you were staring at me."

Flushing immediately, I trembled. "Was I staring? Sorry, I was just thinking. I stare when I think. Yep, that's it." I gave a fake smile and a thumbs up.

Jessie stuck her tongue out at me and gave me a thumbs down in response.

Defaintly I stuck my tongue right back out at her, crossed my arms, and turned away. Even when I do get a chance to talk to her aside from our plans to capture Pokémon, she rejects me.

I drew my knees to my chest, laying my head down and trying not to groan. Why can't I get over this crush?

I opened my eyes with a yawn, stretching my arms and then climbing out of bed. Unfortunately headquarters didn't give us anything but counters, a coffee maker, couches, chairs, and a table, so I had to spend all of my salary on hotels. It was a good thing I found one that only costed thirty Pokédollars a night.

"I could stay here for three days and not have to pay a hundred!" I bounced on my bed, throwing my hands up. It was a thing I did. A lot.

I quickly got dressed and put a cloak over my outfit. I frowned when I realized there were no phones at the hotel. Guess I'll have to call from the Pokémon Center.

It was a good thing the hotel was right across the road from it, too. Dialing Jessie's number, I picked up the phone and waited for a response.

Seeing Jessie's face appear onscreen, I had to force myself not to smile. Her stunning looks almost dazed me. The way her eyes sparkled, and her gorgeous hairdo. It was almost too much to handle. For today's mission she had curled it and now she had long, flowy curls down to the bottom of her white tank.

I noticed that she was holding lipstick, and the makeup was only half-applied. "Sorry to interrupt you, but where did you say to meet?"

"YOU IMBECILE!" she practically screamed into the phone. "I SAID TO MEET AT THE POKÉMON CENTER! WHERE YOU'RE CALLING ME FROM!"

"Oh." I chuckled nervously. "Sorry about that."

Jessie continued applying her makeup, and I watched her, wondering if she was going to say anything else or just hang up.

I pulled the phone away from my ear, then saw her making "no" gestures with her hand. Too lazy to reach my arm back up, I set the phone on speaker.

"Just keep it on, okay?" she said. "I need to tell you before I leave so you know when to expect me. Also, do you have your costume?" She whispered the last part.

I nodded and pulled the cloak off a bit, revealing the sparkling white dress underneath. Jessie smiled. "I knew you would. You just love dressing up like a girl, don't you?"

"Hey, I'm a good actor!"

Jessie giggled. "You really are, James. Anyways, I'll tell you when I head out, so you'd better be ready."

"I should be ready?" I gave a smug grin. "Ash and his friends have no idea what they're in for."

I finished applying the last of my makeup, aware of James practically staring at me. "I'm going to head out," I told him, and, after he gave a nod, I hung up. Standing up, I grabbed my disguise and put it on over my Team Rocket outfit. I put my cloak on and then set out.

Once I arrived, I noticed a person in a cloak sitting in one of the chairs at the telephone, resting their head on their arms. I tapped the person lightly on the shoulder.

The cloaked figure turned. "Jessie! Hey! Didn't uh... Didn't see you there."

I rolled my eyes. "You were supposed to be ready at the door, not in here sulking like a depressed Slowpoke!"

James shoved his hand on my mouth. "Shh! People are listening," he reminded me. With a nod, I grabbed his hand and forced it away from my mouth.

"You could have tried a gentler approach for that."

James shrugged. "Sorry."

Aware of a few people looking at us weird, including Nurse Joy and some trainers waiting for their Pokémon, I added to him, "I think they already heard us. Thanks for making a big ruckus."

James groaned, slumping. I nudged his shoulder. "Your costume is showing!"

He quickly fumbled around under the cloak, and the white disappeared. I sighed, looking around to see some confused looks. I groaned. "Oh, James, you've got everyone in the Pokémon Center looking at us!"

"Heh-heh. Sorry, Jess."

"Anyway, where's Meowth? He's supposed to be here, too."

James shrugged. "Haven't seen him."

"Man, you two are blind." Both of us turned around. Meowth was approaching us.

"Meowth, where's your costume?" I seethed.

"You were supposed to be wearing it!" James added.

"Oh. Whoops. I guess I'll put it on, then." That's when I noticed he was wearing a backpack. He took it off, grabbing a dress and a makeup kit. James walked over and grabbed the makeup kit while I watched them. It was hard not to laugh at James applying makeup to his face and Meowth putting on a dress.

I took my cloak hood off and both boys stared at me, mouths wide and eyes sparkling. I glared at them. "GET BACK TO WORK!"

Now I was sure everyone in the Pokémon Center was staring at us. I noticed some people were looking at me in awe. Particularly the boys. I tried to ignore them and turned back to James and Meowth, who were both ready. "Quick James, let me do your hair. Where's your hat?"

James pulled a white fedora out of his cloak. I smiled. He was always prepared. Resisting the urge to blast out our motto, I said it in my head. Our motto was the best.

Prepare for trouble. And make it double. To protect the world from devestation, and to unite all peoples within our nation. To denounce the evils of truth and love. To extend our reach to the stars above. Jessie! James! Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light. Surrender now or prepare to fight.

Ash and his stupid team have no idea what they're in for. Free tickets to a private jet ride? Of course they'll buy it.

As I fixed James' hair, I made sure the style made him look like a female. He put his hat on and took off his cloak. "I am prepared to be a woman!"

"JAMES, YOU STUPID IDIOT! PUT THAT CLOAK BACK ON RIGHT NOW BEFORE ASH FINDS US!"

He squirmed around and grabbed the cloak, shoving it on. I crossed my arms.

"Well, now that you've seen mine, can I see yours?" he asked.

I grumbled, but took the cloak off. The Boss had given me a blue and white dress to wear along with a white fedora. The dress was different than James'. His was pure white and mine had blue highlights along with gray frills at the bottom, and a blue belt separating the tank from the skirt.

James, Meowth, and the other boys in the center obviously couldn't tear their eyes away. I knew I looked stunning. The Boss said it had cost him a fortune, but it would be enough to catch Brock's eye, which wasn't surprising.

I knew Brock had a soft spot for girls he thought were cute, and by the looks of everyone around me, it wasn't hard to tell how he would feel about me.

Once I put my cloak back on, James shook his head as if trying to clear it. "Should we head out?"

"Oh, most definitely. I know where the gang's headed."

I grabbed the Pokéball that belonged to my Weezing. I had tried time and again to catch a new Pokémon all day, but I had still failed. Throwing Weezing's Pokéball near the Dodrio, I yelled, "Weezing, go!"

The Dodrio screeched and scratched Weezing. "Weezing, tackle attack!"

The Pokémon did as told. "Quick! Smokescreen!"

The Dodrio swung its heads around, screeching. I smiled. "Pokéball, go!"

I held my breath as the Pokéball twitched, once. Twice. Three times, and... "I caught it! I caught another Pokémon! Weezing, you're the best!"

"Weezing."

Now I have three Pokémon. Jessie has two. Wait until she hears about this! "Oh, Jessie!" I called. She was on this mission with me. I heard a rustle in the bushes as I picked up the Pokéball.

"What is it, James? Why are you so off track today? And where's your costume?"

"I caught a Pokémon! And I took mine off until we're ready. Where's yours?" My teammate had her Team Rocket suit on instead of her fake outfit she was supposed to be wearing. The same goes for me.

"I did the same. Wait, did you say you caught a Pokémon?"

I tossed the Pokéball. Dodrio emerged.

Jessie gasped. "Wow! You're so lucky. I wish I had another Pokémon."

"So go catch one," I suggested.

She shrugged. "It won't be too hard with Lickitung. But I need to find the right Pokémon..."

Just then, I spotted a Kakuna clinging to a tree. "What about Kakuna? It evolves into Beedrill, which is a really good Pokémon."

Jessie nodded. "Pokéball, go!"

The Pokéball hovered as the Kakuna was transported in. It shook. One. Two. Three... And it stopped. Jessie picked it up.

"I have a Beedrill!" I smiled as Jessie danced around. After a while, I could no longer resist the urge. I grabbed her hand, dancing around with her.

"I have a Dodrio!" I shouted. Jessie smiled.

"We have new Pokémon! We have new Pokémon!" we cheered. Jessie let go of my hand, tilting her head to look at her Pokéball.

"I need this Kakuna to evolve. I challenge you to a Pokémon battle!"

"I challenge you to a Pokémon battle!"

Ash turned around quickly. That was Jessie's voice, from Team Rocket.

"Well, then, Jess, I accept. Anything to help us both get stronger."

And James, too.

"THIS BATTLE ISN'T TO HELP YOU. IT'S TO HELP ME! I NEED THIS POKÉMON TO EVOLE RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!" And Jessie again.

"Did you guys hear that?" Misty asked.

Ash and Brock nodded. "I heard it," they said simultaneously.

"Should we check it out?" Ash asked.

"I've never seen Team Rocket battle against each other before," Misty added.

"Then let's go," Brock suggested. And they set off, easily following the voices.

"Weezing, go!" James said, throwing a Pokéball. Ash watched as the purple Pokémon emerged.

"Kakuna, go!" Jessie threw a Pokéball, and out came the Pokémon.

"Jessie has a Kakuna now?" Misty asked. "That could be really bad when it evolves."

"Kakuna, use harden!"

"Weezing, use smokescreen!"

Ash turned to his friends. "Beedrill is a very dangerous Pokémon."

"Kakuna, use harden!"

"Weezing, use tackle attack!"

Team Rocket kept shouting different attacks, except Jessie only used harden. After a while, they were both slumped and panting, and Weezing looked tired.

"Look!" Brock exclaimed. The others turned and stared as Kakuna began to glow.

"Uh oh," Ash murmured. "She's got a Beedrill."

Brock frowned. "It'll only be harder to defeat them now. Pikachu may need some leveling up."

"I don't think Pikachu is even the least bit effective. Bug resists electric types," Ash lamented.

"Well, I could use Onyx. Rock is good against bug, right?"

Ash nodded. Misty wasn't listening, her eyes set on watching Team Rocket.

Beedrill emerged from Kakuna's shell. Jessie and James both gasped. "Wow! I didn't know it could just do that," James said.

"Me neither," Jessie responded. "Ha! I have a Beedrill! I have a Beedrill!" she chanted.

James called back Weezing and pulled out another Pokéball. "Dodrio, go!"

"He has a Dodrio now?" Misty whispered. The giant bird began pecking at the Beedrill.

"Beedrill, poison jab!" The Beedrill's stinger stabbed Dodrio, earning a screech from the bird.

"Dodrio, scratch it! Scratch it 'till it burns!"

It screeched again and leapt at the Beedrill, clawing it with its talons. Beedrill fainted.

"W-What?" Jessie's eyes were wide. "The Boss will be so disappointed! I can't believe you beat me!"

"Hey, just be glad we're on the same team."

Jessie nodded as she called back her Beedrill. James smiled. "Nice work, Dodrio. Come back now." He zapped the Pokémon back into its Pokéball, then turned to Jessie.

"Well, thanks for helping me evolve my Beedrill," the woman said.

"Thanks for helping my Dodrio level up."

Ash and Brock had started another conversation, but Misty was watching the team, debating whether to burst in or not. Jessie and James just stared at each other.

Misty tapped both of her friends on their shoulders. "Anyone else see the tension between those two?"

Ash stared closer. "Yeah."

"I definitely see it," Brock answered.

Everyone sat or stood in silence for a while, until finally Jessie spoke up. "We need to get back to our mission."

James nodded, and Jessie walked away. James crouched down, pulling out a Pokéball. He stared at it, only making Ash more curious. "Oh, Weezing, what am I going to do?"

"James!"

"Coming!" The Team Rocket member raced away.

Ash, Misty, and Brock all exchanged a glance. "What was that?" Misty asked.

"I have no idea," Ash said, "But I'm going to find out."