Sakura blossoms rained down from the trees on James and Meowth as they walked down the path, tangling in the former's hair as the wind blew. It would have been the perfect day according to James; if his guilt hadn't been weighing him down. Days had passed and their search(which Meowth had convinced James after a while to do) was going nowhere. A soiled glove here, an earring there
Meowth was chattering away, trying to get even a response from his human friend who looked blankly in front of him as he walked.
Dangit, James. Ya gotta snap outta it! It wasn't ya fault an'-
James grabbed Meowth by the scuff of his neck. He glared angrily at the scratch-cat pokèmon with a glare that would have killed him nine times over. Without a word, he threw him into the now tranquil river.
She's escaped?! a woman with short straight auburn hair stood up suddenly, knocking her chair over.
Yes, but it was all Xavier's fault! the green-haired woman stammered, looking for a scapegoat.
Never mind about Xavier, Katherine! You know that the test subjects are just humans trapped in a pokèmon's body. They have the same smarts as when they were humans and you go and alarm her! the woman screamed at her. The green-haired woman named Katherine cowered slightly.
Calm down, Sarah, a man around his mid thirties with a small brown goatee and small glasses restrained the woman. Katherine gave a sigh of relief. Sarah grunted and sat back down.
Not all is lost, the man continued. We still have the other two test subjects. And we can always ask the authorities to retrieve Jessie. They still buy that stupid
We love Pokèmon' Society cover after twenty years and would be willing to help us find our lost pet'.
Those two old ones are no use to us anymore! Enough. We still can't take any chances. What if- Sarah began.
-if the person funding your research decides to check up on your progress? a young woman stepped inside. The three scientists scrambled to their feet.
Ms. Jezebelle! all three exclaimed, not expecting their benefactor to show up at this point of time.
I am aware the little bitch ran away, Jezebelle started. And the fact that the experiment has been successful. You do realize that you have to get her back immediately? Jezebelle pointed the handle-end of her whip at them.
Of course! You're the one who handled all of our financial problems so you shall get what you need. May I interest you in some- the man started to gesture to the kitchen but a crack of Jezebelle's whip on the table stopped him in mid-sentence.
No and shut up, David. All I am interested in are results and I want that Jessie-girl back here before I come again.
When would that be? David stammered.
A few months time, and I expect to see the results! with that, Jezebelle left the three, stunned scientists.
Xavier was carrying a stack of papers and walking passed the room when he had overheard the elite scientists talking. Curious, he had eavesdropped on the entire conversation.
What a mess this is He murmured as he backed away from the opening door and watched Jezebelle take her leave.
*******
Meowth awoke to the pain in his head. The goldeen had flopped back into the river and he started rubbing his hurt tail. He heard voicesJessie's name was mentioned.
He peered through the bushes and saw a group of Dan'in members conversing in front of an RV.
So how did the kidnapping go for you? one Dan'in asked another one.
Crazy bitch she was. Put up a hell of a fight. I had to practically knock her out before giving her the tranquilizer.
So she's getting
I heard that she's up for some experimentation or somethin'.
The rest of the group started whispering comments between themselves. The leader of the group silenced them with a wave of his hand.
Come on, we need to plant the rest of her stuff and fake evidence where those idiot partners of hers will find it and so they'll give up that stupid search they've been doing for the past few days.
Meowth's eyes widened. Jessie was up for experimenting?! Then that would mean
James had to know.
*******
Jessie was confined to her pokèball after the biting incident. She didn't mind. It gave her time to think why there were so many gaps in her memory. But she was piecing the bits of the puzzle together, at last figuring out a few things. She knew she had been a girl named Jessiebelonging to Team Rocketwhatever that was
Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light! Team Rocket was evilbut who is Jessie? Was she evil?
Meowth,
dat's right! A talking Meowth? How is that possible?
We'll
never give up, you old hag! that's Misty...the
carrot top twerpat least I know I hated her
Get out of my face and don't come back, you witch! I hate you! You're just as much as a failure as your mother! Who was this angry man? Why is he yelling at me? Why was I so upset at his comment that I slapped and spat at him before running away? His face is not clear.as if I wanted to forget him
*******
Ash! You can't use a water pokemon against a grass type! Misty groaned as Squirtle was KO'ed by an Executor.
Ready to give up? the girl trainer asked. The Executor puffed up its chest to show off what strength it still had.
he reached for a pokèball.
Ash no! you dimwit! Charizard will never listen to you!
Hey, I was reaching for Flareon's pokèball!
But that thing nearly chewed your hand off, remember? Its just as obedient as Charizard! Misty nearly made Ash deaf.
Shut up, Misty! I know what I am doing! Ash threw Jessie's pokèball into the designated area. Misty sulked by Brock as Jessie materialized, once again surprised she had been called out.
Flareon! Flamethrower! Ash commanded. Jessie was confused. How was she supposed to use flamethrower if she didn't know how?! The Executor slammed into her side. Jessie flew ten feet before crashing down. She hissed as the pokèmon headed for another attack.
It leapt up and started trampling her. What kind of dumb trainer was this damn kid?! Executor stomped on Jessie's face, enraging her enough to her limit.
Jessie screamed. She rolled out of Executor's range, got up and pounced for the palm-tree-like monster, scratching and biting in a full-fledged fury, yowling all the while.
it seems real mad, Ash said to himself, sweatdropping. Panting, Jessie finally abandoned the executor, who was twitching with pain and defiantly unable to continue the battle.
*********
Meowth ran through the woods on all fours as fast as his paws would go. The information he knew could land him in deep trouble and possibly get him fired' by Giovanni himself. He had run upstream along the edge of the river until he found a bridge, crossed to the other side and turned around to catch up with James, who had been going downstream wise. His little feline heart pounded as he ran. Sakura petals fell all around him.
he called as the familiar boy came into view, still walking on the path by the river, towards the deeper part of the forest. But he was still too far from him for him to hear and respond. A sudden blow to his head from behind knocked Meowth out cold. The Dan'in member spoke into her radio.
********
Executor, return
Yeah! I won! Ash did his little victory dance.
The girl recalled her grass pokèmon and shook hands with Ash.
You are not unskilled. Are you willing to trade your Flareon for one of my pokèmon? I'll give you my shiny Gyrados for it, she said as they withdrew from their handshake and gave Ash half of her money.
No thanks, I've got great plans for this pokèmon, Ash politely declined the offer.
Ok. Well, goodbye and good luck with your journey. The girl picked up her knapsack and continued her own journey, going the way the twerps had gone through.
Ash picked Jessie up.
You and I are gonna be best friends! he said cheerfully. Jessie scowled and bit his hand yet again.