ACO, Part 9: Betrayal
RECAP: There has certainly been a change of events. Not only is Julia really Jesse, but she has also confessed her love to Brock! And now, she must go through the plan that she and James cooked up in order to capture Pikachu . . .
The following few days after Julia met up with James went by in a blur. Every time she would try to get Pikachu, her conscience would not allow her to go through with the plan, and her heart ached at the thought of betraying her beloved Brock. She volunteered to lead the group through the forest. This gave her a little extra time to think of different ways to get Pikachu alone. And since she was a member of Team Rocket, she had the forest memorized and knew certain paths and detours to take, which made them backtrack to Viridian.
"Shouldn't we already be in Pewter by now," Brock asked.
"Yeah, I think so," Ash answered. "Julia, are we lost or something? I know it takes a while to get to Pewter from Viridian when walking, but it shouldn't take this long. Especially at the pace we're going."
"For once, Ash didn't get us lost," Misty added. "No offense, Julia, but this is worse than any time he got us lost."
"Look, we're not lost," she snapped. She looked around and sat down on a log to think. "Trust me, I know exactly what I'm doing. It's close to noon, so let's just stop here and get our bearings together. I can't think with this headache that I've got."
"Your headache is about to get a lot worse," said an unmistakable voice.
"Oh no," everyone whined. "Not Team Rocket!"
"Oh yes, Team Rocket," Jesse interjected.
"Prepare for trouble!"
"And make that . . ."
"Will you two give it up already," Julia yelled, interrupting James. "We don't have time for you right now James, and especially not you, Jesse. Why didn't you just stay away?"
"You better make time for Team Rocket," Meowth said.
"Yes, because a beautiful woman should always make room for a handsome prince," James said, handing Julia a rose with a wink.
This only made Brock mad. "I'll show you handsome prince, James," he screamed. He threw a pokeball to the ground. "Go Onix! Use rock throw to get rid of these pests." In one fluid motion, Onix wrapped himself around Team Rocket and tossed them into the air. "Looks like Team Rocket is being tossed off again," the trio screamed.
Julia stared at the rose in her hand and threw it to the ground in disgust. 'So much for stalling for more time,' she thought as tears began to form in her eyes. 'I don't know how much longer I can do this.' She closed her eyes to prevent the tears from falling. She looked up from where she was sitting when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Julia, don't cry," Brock said. "I know you can't stand Jesse, but you shouldn't let her make you feel this way."
"What? You're friends with Jesse," Ash asked Julia.
Julia shook her head. "No, of course not. We used to know each other a very long time ago," she said. "But I'll tell you one thing. Jesse is a weak person who has no morals and can't make the right decisions." She stood up and began to walk away.
"Where are you going," Brock asked with concern.
"I just need to think . . .alone," she answered without turning around. "Don't worry, I'll be ok, and I'll be right back." She began to walk swiftly in the direction that Team Rocket had flown off in. Luckily, Onix did not throw them very far because she was able to find them in fifteen minutes. She walked over to James and pushed his with all her strength. This caused him to trip over Meowth, and fall to the ground. "James, what was the idea of what you pulled back there," she asked him angrily.
"I just wanted to get your attention. I haven't been able to get in touch with you," he said. "And I know how you don't want to blow your cover, so me and Meowth thought it would be a good idea to make a appearance."
"It looks like it worked," Meowth added.
"Well, I have had enough of all of this! I'll bring Pikachu tonight. Regardless if I can or can not get away from the others," she said. "We will have Pikachu tonight." She turned and ran back in the direction of Ash, Misty, and Brock. When they came into sight, she noticed they were all sitting around talking, and she slowed to a walk. Right away, she could tell something was wrong with Brock. "Brocky, what's wrong," she asked, running up to him.
"Nothing, now," he said. "You were just so upset and angry and it scared me, I guess. Don't run off like that anymore." Julia knelt down next to Brock and hugged him, but didn't say anything. 'I wish I didn't have to run away, Brock,' she thought to herself. "I'm glad you're back, Jules," he continued. "Please, tell me what's wrong?"
"Everything will be fine," she said. "Come here, Pikachu." The electric-mouse pokemon jumped up in her lap and she gave him a hug. "I'm fine. It's just a shock to see Jesse face to face."
As late afternoon approached, the four friends sat to talk and eat a late snack. Julia sat and listened while the three argued over a map of the Viridian Forest. They were still trying to figure out where they were. She looked down at Pikachu, who was asleep in her lap. Silently, Julia stood up and slipped into the shadows of the trees.
Misty looked up and saw that Julia was no longer there. "Hey you guys, where did Julia go?"
Brock and Ash looked up from their map. "I don't know," Brock replied.
"I'll be right back, then," Misty said. "I'm going to go and look for her."
As Julia walked along, Pikachu began to stir. "Pika? Pikachu (What? Where am I)."
"Oh, you're awake Pikachu," Julia said. "Go back to sleep, I just needed to get up and stretch my legs." She sighed when he seemed to believe her story and closed his eyes again.
"Julia, wait up," Misty yelled after the girl.
"Oh great," she muttered. "Why did you have to be so nosey, Misty?" She quickened her pace again hoping that Team Rocket would show up soon.
"Julia," she called out again. Julia finally stopped and turned to wait for the girl. "Why didn't you stop when I called you?"
"Sorry, I didn't hear you," Julie lied. "Um, is something the matter? Is anything wrong?"
"No, I was just checking to see if you were alright. But I guess you are, since I found you," she explained. "I'll walk back with you."
"No, that's ok," she blurted out. "I'll be ok. Go ahead and go back without me. I'll be there shortly."
"Or not at all," James said from behind the two girls.
"James," Misty exclaimed as she spun around. "What are you doing here? Didn't Brock teach you a lesson earlier?"
"You could say that, but it always helps to have your partner by your side," he replied.
"Speaking of partners, where's Jesse? Don't you two idiots usually work as a team," Misty asked.
"She's closer than you think," he said. "You and your brain-dead friends are so dense, that you didn't even see through her disguise." James paused and looked at Julia. "Isn't that right?"
Misty looked from Julia, to James, and then back to Julia. "What is he talking about, Jules," Misty asked. However Julia did not say anything. "ANSWER ME," she screamed.
James threw out a pokeball. "Go Ditto," he exclaimed. "Transform." As before, the tiny pink pokemon transformed into a clone of Jesse. Misty stared in shock.
"Have it your way then, kid. We won't be the ones that will be hurt," Ditto said in Jesse's voice. It smiled as recognition crossed Misty's face.
"Oh my God," Misty said, turning to her friend. "If that's a pokemon, and it turned into Jesse, then that must mean you're . . . Julia, how could you???"
"It's double trouble time, guys," Meowth said. He took Pikachu from Jesse, and entrapped him in an electric-resistant bubble as the pokemon began to stir from sleep.
"I agree," James said. "Take it away Jesse."
"James, I can't. I won't," Jesse replied as she watched Meowth take Pikachu hostage.
"Ditto, return," James said, pointing the pokeball towards the pokemon. "Jesse, I don't want to have to report your incompetence to the Boss. You know what would happen."
Jesse swallowed her pride and squared her shoulders. "You're absolutely right, James." She turned to face Misty and pointed a finger at her. "Prepare for trouble."
"And I suggest you make it double."
"To protect the world from devastation."
"To unite all peoples within our nation."
"To denounce . . ." Jesse stopped. "To denounce . . ."
"Jesse, what's your problem," Meowth scolded. "To denounce da evils of truth and love."
"To extend our reach to the stars above," James continued.
"Jesse."
"James."
"Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light."
"Surrender now, or prepare to fight."
"Meowth, dats right!"
"You're damn right I'm going to fight," Misty said angrily. "Starmie, go! I choose you." She tossed the pokeball to the ground, and the star-shaped pokemon came out. "Julia, no, Jesse. Give Pikachu back to me, and I'll make up some story to tell Brock and Ash. If you don't, prepare to lose!"
James was about to say something, but Jesse raised her hand to silence him. "You may not think much of my now, but I'm good at what I do. I had everyone fooled, even myself. I couldn't give Pikachu back, even if I wanted to."
Misty shook her head in disgust. "I can't believe we fell for your act, Jesse. How could you do this to Brock? Do his feelings even matter to you?"
"Of course they do," she said softly.
"Then give Pikachu back," Misty pleaded. "Be a friend, but most importantly, be the girl Brock fell in love with."
Jesse shook her head and tossed a pokeball to the ground. "Go Jolteon."
"Jesse, please, think of Brock," Misty said again.
Jesse swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat. "Brock who," she asked with little emotion. She hardened her features before commanding her pokemon. "Jolteon, use pin missile." The pokemon obeyed and sent a shower of needles flying towards Starmie and hit him right on.
Misty ran over to her pokemon to check if he was ok. "You're a fool, Jesse. You would throw away your new relationships just to capture Pikachu?" However, she did not answer Misty. "Fine," Misty said coldly. "Starmie, harden. Now, use tackle attack.
"Jolteon, use your tackle attack," Jesse said. The pokemon flew at each other and, upon impact, were equally knocked backwards.
"Starmie, use water gun."
"Jolteon, agility."
Starmie shot out several blasts of water at Jolteon, but the electric pokemon easily dodged them. Jolteon then tackled Starmie unexpectedly and sent the water pokemon crashing into a tree. Starmie visually writhed in pain as his jewel cracked. "Jolteon, let's finish this," Jesse said. "Thundershock now!" Jolteon gathered electricity and sent the attack flying towards Starmie. As the electricity wrapped around Starmie's body, his jewel shattered, and he fell to the ground defeated.
"Heads up Jesse," James said as he tossed a pokeball to her. She caught it and threw it to the ground. Arbok emerged from the pokeball.
"Arbok! I'm so glad to see you," Jesse said. "Wrap attack that brat." Before anyone could even blink, Arbok had Misty wrapped in his coils. "James, you and Meowth escape with Pikachu, and I'll catch up to you. I need to talk to Misty." She watched as he and Meowth left. She then turned her attention back to Misty. "I really do wish that you hadn't followed. All of this would have been unnecessary."
"You would have just gotten away with all this had I not followed you," Misty shot back. Tears caused by the betrayal she felt rolled down Misty's cheeks.
"If it means anything to you, I never meant to hurt anyone," Jesse began. "I just wanted to make my boss proud for once." She pulled out a rag and a bottle of chloroform. "I hate to have to do this, but we need a head start. I'm sure the three of you will try to come and find Pikachu." She poured some of the liquid onto the rag and placed it over Misty's nose and mouth. However, she couldn't put up much of a struggle because Arbok had her wrapped tightly. When her movements ceased, Jesse told Arbok to release the sleeping girl. At that moment, she heard voices. "Lets' go Arbok," Jesse said to her pokemon as she turned to run. She found a good hiding place as Brock and Ash came into view.
"Where do you suppose they are," Brock asked.
"Oh no, Misty," Ash yelled. He rushed over to her side and shook her gently. "Misty? Misty wake up." When she did not stir, Ash checked for a pulse and sighed in relief when he found one. He noticed Starmie slumped on the ground, and ran over to the injured pokemon. "What in the world happened," he asked as he rummaged through his bag for some pokemon supplies.
"I don't know. Maybe Team Rocket . . . Oh no! Where's Julia," Brock asked. "JULIA," he yelled out loud, "WHERE ARE YOU?" The only answer was the echo of his voice in the trees. "Not only is Julia missing, but so is Pikachu," he told Ash.
"Team Rocket must have the both of them," Ash concluded. "But why didn't they also take Misty?"
"Well, they were always after Pikachu, and Julia did have some pretty good pokemon," Brock replied. "She had a Cloyster and a Rhyhorn. I don't know what other pokemon she may have had. That's probably why Team Rocket took her. If they took her . . ."
"I guess that the only thing we can do is wait for Misty to wake up and tell us what happened," Ash said. He looked at his friend and put a hand on his shoulder. "I can't say that everything will work itself out. But this will be resolved in the best possible."
Brock nodded in agreement, but said nothing. He sighed and looked at their surroundings. "I suppose this is a good place to camp," he said. "Let's collect some firewood and wait for Misty to wake up."
To Be Continued . . .
