"I just can't believe it," Professor Oak said after the trio called up to tell him about what had happened. "I've known Felina for years… why would she do something like this?"

"I don't care why!" Ash blurted out. "I want Pikachu back!"

"Ash, please," said Misty. "We're all trying to help you and Brock get your Pokémon back."

"This whole thing is my fault," said Brock. "I should never have kept quiet when I found out about it the first time. But, no; I had to clam up, didn't I? Maybe I deserved to lose Vulpix..."

"Get a hold of yourself!" said Ash. "No one deserves to have a Pokémon turned into a monster, let alone lose one at all!"

"I know, but I could've stopped this from happening!"

"No one is blaming you, Brock," said Misty, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"She's right," agreed Oak. "And Ash is right in both points; no one deserves this, and we can concern ourselves with why Ivy did this after the Pokémon are safe. I'm on my way there."

He hung up.

"Think we should've told him about the Wish Stone?" asked Ash.

"I don't think so," said Misty. "Pikachu wasn't so big on telling us in the first place."

Before anyone could reply, Charizard emerged from his Pokéball.

"Something wrong, Charizard?" Ash asked.

"Pokéballs aren't soundproofed, you know," said Charizard. "I heard what Pikachu told you all, and I must say I doubted his judgment at first. But I heard what Ivy said about me… how you could ensure that I'd never disobey you again… and how you refused."

"Of course I refused, Charizard," Ash replied. "I'd never have anything like that done to one of my Pokémon."

"My… my old trainer would have…"

Ash recalled his chance meeting with Charizard's former trainer. It was after he had abandoned Charizard (who had been a Charmander back then) that Ash had befriended the temperamental dragon.

"Is that what took you so long to trust me?" asked Ash. "Did you think I'd be just like him?"

Charizard didn't answer at first.

"Forgive me," he said at last.

"Hey, it's alright," said Ash.

"I must make it up to you…"

"Don't be ridiculous--"

"…So I shall take you to Pokémon Square."

"You know the way?" asked Misty.

"That was where I was born," he replied. "And the Alakazam that Pikachu spoke of was a friend of mine back when he was an Abra."

"Charizard, thank you," said Brock.

"But I want you all to promise me one thing," said Charizard. "You shall not breathe a word of what you see to any other human."

The trio agreed.

Jessie and James, in the meantime paced the forest clearing, trying to come up with a plan to save Meowth.

"From what I could gather, she needs those transmitters to control the monster Pokémon," said James. "We have to somehow take the transmitter out of Meowth, after which we can at least try to reason with him. It may not be the same, but at least Meowth will be on our side again."

"How do we get the transmitter out, though?" asked Jessie. "Ivy's guarding those Pokémon. And if we try to battle her, she'll end up transforming all of our other Pokémon, too."

"Maybe not a battle… but something else," said James. "Something that would distract her long enough…"

"What kind of diversion would stop her from something she's obsessed with?" asked Jessie. "Weezing's Smokescreen?"

"No; she'd use those Venomoths' Whirlwind to counter it. But we could always run around and cause an uproar."

"James, don't be stupid…" Jessie began, but her eyes widened. "Hold on… maybe you're on to something…"

"Really?"

"Remember how she got so angry when we mentioned the boss?" asked Jessie.

"You aren't serious…?" said James, incredulously. "You're going to tell the boss what happened!?"

"Well… leaving out the details concerning Meowth, of course…" she said. "Think about it… He's going to come right by, perhaps with a squad of men in tow, with his eyes on those monster Pokémon…"

"That just might work…" said James, in amazement.

"Let's hope so…"

"But what about Pikachu and Vulpix?"

"I've been thinking about that," said Jessie. "I think it really tore the kid up when he saw Pikachu like that… maybe we can get one of the Rocket scientists to try to reverse it for those two and Meowth. If they can, we can give Pikachu and Vulpix back… you know… let them reunite and catch up… and after a week or two, we can try catching Pikachu again."

"You're the soul of generosity, Jessie," said James, with a roll of his eyes.

He was being only partially sarcastic; in truth, he had come to see capturing Pikachu as somewhat of a game… an expensive, excruciating game, but a game nonetheless. And he knew that Jessie felt the same way. Maybe that's why they always ended up losing; subconsciously, they didn't want the game to end. But Ivy had gone about it the wrong way, he realized. Capturing Pikachu was one thing. Brainwashing and turning it into a monster was something else—something that disgusted him. He didn't even want to think about that happening to his beloved Growlithe.

"Let's call the boss," Jessie said, and the two went in search of a pay phone.

Meanwhile, Charizard had led Ash, Misty, and Brock to the nearest portal that led to Pokémon Square.

"Everyone's staring at us…" said Misty.

"Of course they would," said Brock. "I'm willing to bet some of them have never heard of humans."

"Hey, Charizard…?" asked Ash. "Is that the Alakazam we're looking for?"

"Indeed he is…"

"Greetings, my old friend," said Alakazam to Charizard. "You look well."

"Nice to see you after so long," said Charizard. "How is Larvitar?"

"Oh, fine. He's a Tyrannitar now."

Ash cleared his throat as quietly as he could.

"Ah, yes… Alakazam, this is my trainer and friend, Ash, and his companions, Misty and Brock."

"I thought your trainer was that nasty-looking fellow…" said Alakazam. "No matter… but they really shouldn't be here."

"Please, Alakazam," said Ash. "My friend's Vulpix and my Pikachu have been stolen and turned into monsters--"

"It was my fault," said Brock. "I should've told someone about--"

"Will you stop!?" hissed Misty, grabbing his ear.

"We need the Wish Stone… or a piece of it… to reverse the damage," finished Ash.

Alakazam studied them.

"Your intentions are pure; that is obvious," he concluded. "However, I do not believe you are aware of how powerful a mere fragment of the Stone can be. Therefore, I shall accompany you to Wish Cave."

Before Ash could thank him, Alakazam had already used his Teleport to transfer all of them to Wish Cave.

"Wow, he's good…" commented Misty.

"Be on the lookout for shards of crystal resembling opals," instructed the psychic creature.

"You mentioned that we are unaware of the powers of the Stone… exactly what did you mean?" asked Brock.

"The Wish Stone is the discarded cocoon of a Pokémon known as Jirachi. And traces of his mystic powers remain in the cocoon he sheds. However, the cocoon and its shards have no mind, so if one utters a foolish wish in its presence, it will be granted. Worse yet, a wish granted by the Stone cannot be undone, so I implore all of you to mind what you say here or wherever there is a piece of the Stone nearby."

"Right."

"Do you honestly expect me to believe you idiots!?" Giovanni yelled at Jessie and James.

"But it's true, Sir!" insisted Jessie.

"She's transformed Pokémon right before our very eyes!" added James. "Even Meowth--"

"Quiet!" hissed Jessie.

"What was that, James?" asked Giovanni.

"Even… even Meowth saw it…?" he offered.

"Indeed? And where is Meowth?"

"He… stayed behind…" said Jessie.

Giovanni's eyes narrowed.

"Exactly what was the name of the one behind this?" he asked.

"I believe the twerps said she was named Felina Ivy," said Jessie.

The line went silent.

"Sir?" asked James.

"I see…" said Giovanni. "I'll be over there as soon as I possibly can."

Jessie hung up the phone with a sigh.

"That was close," she said. "But at least we didn't lie…"

"I wonder why he suddenly believed us when you brought up Ivy…" James thought aloud.

"Who cares?" she said. "The diversion is on its way here. I wonder what the twerps are up to. It'd be nice if they had a backup plan…"

"What happens when the boss shows up and sees Meowth like that?" asked James. "He's going to be livid…"

"Sorry to say this, but he might consider it an improvement," said Jessie. "Why else is he coming here? He wants those monster Pokémon for himself."

She shuddered involuntarily, and James knew why; both of them were wondering why on earth they were working for a person like that.

"What if he doesn't want Meowth changed back?" Jessie asked. "Oh, James… maybe this was a bad idea…"

"Well, you know the twerps," said James, trying to reassure himself along with Jessie. "They're not taking this sitting down. Maybe the diversion will help them in their plan to change them back."

"There must be something else we can do to help…" she sighed.

"Go back to Union Cave and cause an uproar?" James offered again.

Jessie couldn't help but smile slightly.

"Let's go."