"And that's why I collect . . ." James trails off. "What's wrong?"
Jessie and Meowth stare at the flames coming from his light blue hair. "You-your hair!" Jessie says, pointing.
"Huh?" James sees the fire and squeals. He reaches up, running his hands through the flickering fire. Confusion shows clearly on his face.
"What's wrong?"
"It's not hot," he says. "It's like it's just light. Feel it?"
He lets Jessie stick her hand through, but she pulls back quickly. "What are you talking about?! That stings! Even through my gloves." She shows him the burnt rubber.
"How?" He shows her his clean, shiny rubber. Suddenly, the fingers start to turn yellow and fluffy. He gasps as yellow feathers run along his arms and down his body. His eyes widen as he shouts, "What's happening?!" Right after his words, his mouth forms into an orange beak. As his heartbeat increases, he grows larger, fire flaming beneath his arms, which are now wings. He screeches when he becomes a large Moltres. After a squawking fest, he flaps his wings, taking off into the sky.
"Wait!" Jessie calls chasing after him "Meowth, what's wrong?"
"He's afraid and confused. He thinks we'll capture him for the Boss!"
"We'd never do th-" She shouts, then it cut off by a loud crash. James lands in a green forest. Flames lick up the trees, charring the bark. "James!" Jessie shouts, running into the fire.
"Jessie!" Meowth shouts from behind the flickers.
"James!" Jessie fights through the flames. The smoke enters her nostrils and she coughs from the burning sensation. "James," she says again, her voice cracking. She looks around. A ring of fire surrounds her. Suddenly, a strong, hot wind blows by. The fire moves on as a Moltres lands in the burnt clearing. He turns to fly away. "No, wait!" She runs to him. "Calm down!" He flaps his wings, ready to take off. "Don't go!"
Jessie hurriedly takes off her gloves, showing him her bare hands. "I don't want to hurt you! We'd never give you to Giovanni!" He pauses, looking between the sky and his friend.
Is she trying to trick me, he thinks.
She slowly moves closer. He backs up a little. "Calm down," she lowers her voice. She moves in closer, but this time he stays. "We want to help you." Jessie gently places her hands on his face.
She's being . . . gentle? The strong fire on his head calms down.
"James . . ." He sits down as she gently strokes his feathers. "You have beautiful feathers."
And she compliments me? Suddenly, it all fades away as James sit up in a different place. He looks around. Meowth sleeps nearby on grassy earth.
"Whew, it was just a dream," he whispers to himself.
"James, are you okay?" James looks up to see Jessie staring at him.
"Yeah, it was just a nightmare."
"Well, get back to sleep." She turns away, twirling an object in her fingers. He rolls over away from her and drifts back to his dreams. Jessie stares at the object. The bright yellow-orange feather shines in the moonlight.
So, was it a dream? ;)