"Hey, it's Vulpix," James says. "I wonder how it got out."
"Wobbuffet!/This same way I did." The blue Pokemon appears out of nowhere, making everyone jump.
"Wobbuffet," Meowth says, "But how did he get here?"
"Woba. Wobbuffet./From my pokeball. It's right here." He shifts through the bush and holds up a belt.
"It's Jessie's Pokemon!" James exclaims, gently grabbing the belt. Jessie stays silent, careful not to alert Meowth.
"Then, where is she?" Meowth starts to get worried.
"I don't know, but it can't be good. We should split up."
"Alright, I'll take Vulpix. Ya get the blue blob." Meowth drags Jessie away before James can complain. After a moment, Meowth says, "So, have ya ever had a trainer before?" Jessie shakes her head. "The quiet type, eh? Well, don't worry. James is a good trainer. I'd never admit it, but sometimes I wish he'd capture me so no one else would." He misinterprets Jessie reaction as confusion, instead of betrayal. "Of course, I'm a free spirit. Always been and always will." Jessie looks away, confusing Meowth. "What's wrong? Oh, we're looking for another member of our team. 'Er name's Jessie and she has a real temper." Jessie glares at him. "She thinks she's the leader and we follow 'er orders, but . . . we're just scared she'd beat us up."
That was the last straw. Jessie growls and tackles Meowth, pinning him to the ground. "Take that all back before I glue that big meowth of yours shut!"
Meowth stares up under Jessie's paws. His eyes bulge out and he looks very surprised and afraid. Jessie notices what she's doing and sits up quickly. She tries not to look him in the eyes. "Jessie?" She risks a glance at him. "Is tha' really ya?"
She takes a big breath. "Yes."
"But how?"
"I really don't know."
"Why are ya a Vulpix?"
"I said I don't know."
Meowth's silent for a moment, then jumps to his feet. "We need to tell James!"
Jessie steps on his tail. "No, wait."
"What's the matta?"
"It's just . . . I don't want him to worry about me."
"But he thinks you're in trouble somewhere."
"I know, but I don't want him to make a big deal about this."
"Big deal? Of course it's a big deal! You're a Pokemon and he actually caught you!"
"You think I don't know that? I don't want to be a burden. Besides, Alpha said I might be able to protect him better as a Pokemon."
"Who's Alpha?"
"He's the AI in my pokeball. You never told us what pokeballs were like inside. You didn't even tell me why Wobbuffet can come out unexpectedly."
"It never came up. So, ya took the oath, eh?"
"Yeah . . ."
"Nice, so what's your plan?"
"My plan?"
"Yeah, what are you going to do? James is driving himself crazy lookin' for ya and you're just gonna stand by an' watch?"
"For now, yes. I'm waiting for the right time."
"And tha' is?"
"I don't know yet."
"What about your Pokemon? Will ya tell 'em?"
"Eventually. Let's just get back to them."
"If ya say so." Meowth follows her through the forest. They meet up with James and Wobbuffet searching frantically.
"Where could she be?" James says.
"Ey, James. Do ya think it's time to settle for the night?" Meowth says, the setting sun shining off his coin.
"Oh, hi Meowth. I guess you're right. I'm just worried is all."
"She'll be fine." They set out tattered blankets they found in a clearing. James returns Jessie and Wobbuffet into their pokeballs as they try to sleep.
"I can't believe I told Meowth," Jessie grumbles to Alpha.
"It is advisable to have a person to share your thoughts with in tough times."
"I had you for that."
"You've known Meowth longer. Plus, I'm a computer that can literally see your thoughts. Sharing is a better way of releasing your emotions. Speaking of reading your thoughts, there's a repeating thought in the back of your mind I would like to discuss."
"No way. I'm not getting into that sort of stuff!"
"Have it your way. Well, here is what you need to see at the moment." The screen shows James lying on his blanket, staring up at the stars. "I suppose you know what to do."
"He's just being ridiculous," Jessie argues. "He shouldn't worry about me. I can take care of myself."
"Is that what you think of him? About that thought in your mind . . ."
"Fine," she says quickly. "I'll do it." She exits her pokeball.
"Hey, Vulpix," James says simply, still gazing at constellations.
Jessie leans in closer to him and sees his eyes shining. Is he crying? She thinks.
James grabs her and pulls her warm fur closer to him. He points to a set of stars. "That's what Jessie looks like." Jessie glances up at the dancing lights. "You know, I miss her." Jessie looks at him in surprise, intently listening to his next words. "She can be irritable, but she's still my friend. I would always be there for her. I know Meowth thinks I'm over exaggerating, and she can obviously take care of herself . . . It's just, I don't know how the team will function without her. The last time she left, it went terribly wrong. She thought she fell in love with someone, so we let her be. We got defeated by a Pokemon poacher who took Meowth and all of our Pokemon. She came back to help. I keep hoping we didn't ruin her life. If she loves someone, then . . . we won't get in the way." James turns on his side to hug her to his chest. Tears start dropping onto her fur. He talks softer. "I'm really worried. If she's hurt, I don't know what'd I'd do. I never got to tell her . . ." He trails off as he falls asleep, all tensed up. Jessie licks a tear from his chin and he relaxes.
I never knew he felt this way. What does this mean? Does Alpha know? Oh, James. I'll be here for you. No matter what. Don't worry . . . Jessie also drifts off to sleep. Meowth, who was eavesdropping, closes his one open eye and smiles.
The next morning, Jessie jerks awake as she hears a voice. "Wake up, ya two! The twerps are here!"
James sits up quickly, knocking Jessie to the ground. "Sorry, Vulpix." He rubs the sleep from his eyes and Jessie tries to shake her head to wake up.
"Hurry," Meowth says, "this can be Vulpix's first battle." Jessie looks up and he winks.
"You're right." James stands up. Jessie follows reluctantly. They peek through a bush to see the kids training peacefully.
"Prepare for trouble." Meowth exits the bush, reciting Jessie's part of the motto.
"And make it double." James joins in.
"To protect the world from devastation."
"To unit all people within our nation."
"Meowth."
"And James."
"Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light."
"Surrender now or prepare to fight."
"Vulpix!" Jessie jumps in and Wobbuffet lifts her onto his head.
"Wobbuffet!"
"Team Rocket!" The kids shout in unison.
"They have a Vulpix," Clemont says.
Before the kids can respond, James says, "Vulpix, Flamethrower."
"Vulpix!" Jessie shoots a line of fire out of her mouth and the kids duck.
"Go, Talonflame!" Ash shouts.
"Talonflame!" His Pokemon spreads its wings.
"Ah ha!" While Ash was distracted, Meowth grabs Pikachu in an electronic-proof container and hurries back behind James. Pikachu shock the cage to no effect.
"Pikachu! Talonflame, use Razor Wind!" Ash commands and the bird slashes its wings though the air, creating sharp currents of wind.
Jessie quickly dodges the blow and waits for James. "Use Flamethrower again." Talonflame spins around the move and chuckles. "Alright, Double Team." Jessie stares back at him. "Don't know that, huh? Now what . . ." Jessie quickly dodges an unexpected Flame Charge.
"Do I have to do everything myself?" Jessie mumbles as James scratches his chin in thought. Before they can react, Talonflame swoops closer with a Steel Wing. Instead of dodging to the side like it expected, she jumps onto its back.
"Oh no, Talonflame. Try to shake her loose!" Ash says.
Talonflame does several twists and turns midair. Jessie holds on tight, wrapping her body against its to keep from soaring off. Before Talonflame can level off, a fire grows in her mouth. They are both engulfed in a cloud of flames from her Ember. Talonflame crashes into the ground with a groan, and Jessie tumbles into a somersault. She lands at James' feet, shakes the dizziness from her head, and leaps up. A few burn marks cover her fur.
"Woah," is all James can say.
A voice is heard. "Greninja, go!"
Jessie looks up to see the frog racing towards her with a Cut. She zips through his legs before he slashes out a chunk of grass. He turns around and his arms and legs start to glow blue. Jessie moves in with a Quick Attack. Both moves connect, sending them sprawling backwards. She lands on her feet, but the weariness is showing through her heavy breathing.
"Greninja, Double Team!"
As he starts to appear in multiple images, Jessie says, "Great, I don't know the move and it's coming back to bite me." Her tail glows white and she spins around. The Tail Whip knocks out five, but she gasps for breath. "There's too many of them!" At Ash's command, multiple Water Shuriken surround her, hitting dead on.
A pain jolts through her body. She loves water and snow, however, she's now a Fire-type. Before she can think, the world goes black.
"Jessie. Jessie, wake up! We have a problem . . ."
She slowly opens her eyes to see the darkness of her pokeball. "Alpha?"
"Good, you're awake."
"What's . . . wrong?"
"For one, you were just in a fierce battle. Nice job for the first shot, by the way."
"I don't know. It just came naturally, I guess."
"Yes, trying to impress you-know-who. However, it would be wise to stay away from battling for the moment."
"Why? I'm fine." She tries to stand up, but stumbles.
"Here. I can help with that." A levitating potion appears and sprays her lightly. Jessie opens her mouth to speak. "Before you ask, Pokemon Centers are the main source for healing. I can just help keep the pain at bay for a short while."
"But why shouldn't I battle?"
"That's . . . complicated. It seems you lose part of your human memory each time you battle, evolve, etcetera."
"My memory? But I don't feel any different."
"Well, do remember these two?" A picture appears on the screen of a woman with yellow hair and purple eyes and a man with green hair and brown eyes.
"No, should I?"
"Yes. This is Butch and Cassidy. You've been rivals with Cassidy ever since you joined Team Rocket."
"Well, they couldn't have been that important if I forgot them that easily."
"Correct. However, it will only get worse. While you were unconscious, I did a few calculations." A chart pops up. "There are five main memory sections in your brain. The smallest section was Butch and Cassidy. Next, will be Team Rocket. Then, your childhood and Miyamoto. Then, all of your Pokemon you've encountered, including Meowth. Lastly, you will forget . . . James."
"But, why? Wouldn't he be my trainer?"
"Yes. You will most likely remember everything you've done as a Pokemon. You just won't remember what he's done for you."
"You're smart, so, how can we fix this?"
"I am sorry. This entire situation is a mystery to me. It should be impossible for a human to be a Pokemon, much less be caught in a pokeball."
"So, it's hopeless?"
"I'm afraid so."
Poor Jessie . . . :'( I'm sorry. I've only written another sentence beyond this. I'm also working on "Don't Dwell on the Past" and my artwork.
There is a painting to go along with this section of the story (James isn't on the ground, but I still think it looks cool). It's on my deviantart.
