"Jessie!" James scooped his friend up and whirled her around. "Are you hurt? Are you ok?"
"Flare…" Jessie smiled weakly. James looked to Meowth.
"She says dat she's ok," he translated.
"Jessie-sempai! We are so glad!" Mondo cried out with joy, his heart fluttering.
James laughed with happiness; still whirling his life-long friend around and then pressed her close to his chest in a great big hug. Jessie suddenly found herself unable to breathe until he finally let her down when she nipped him. Hungry, she walked over to Mondo who gave her some lunch after she pawed the food basket.
"Well, she's fine an' dandy, so whatta we do now?"
"We should cover some ground; put some more distance between us and any other Rockets. Maybe I can settle down, get a house, Jessie can be a pet…" James started. Jessie scowled at him and stomped on his boot in her usual fashion, which James didn't even feel. Noticing this, Jessie turned away from the group, deeply upset.
"You know…we should get Jessie back to herself. She's just not happy as a pokèmon," Meowth said. Mondo nodded in agreement but he knew that James would not set a foot near his former fiancée. He asked aloud how they could do so. Meowth could only shrug his shoulders but his feline eyes focused on James. "James…" he started with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"What?" he started but he saw Meowth's calculating gaze and shook his head violently. "Oh, no. I am NOT going near that witch for anything!"
"Not even for your long-time friend?" Meowth asked.
"Sempai, I think you are very unreasonable. Jessie-sempai's condition cannot be helped unless we get information-," Mondo started.
"Then you go get it! I am not going anywhere! Why do you need me?!" James sat down. A second later he knew why they needed him to get the information and perhaps the cure. James caught himself being selfish again. His facial expression softened and one of sorrow replaced the one of fear and rage. He felt the locket within his pocket and knew why he had to do it. "…I am the only one whom she's after and the only one who knows his way…is that why? So it's my fault after all…and I can't live my life with that kind of guilt."
Meowth nodded without comment. "So, what's the plan?"
James bent down and fastened the locket around Jessie's neck where it belonged. He looked up at Mondo and started announcing his plans.
"I should go alone to Jezebelle's manor near the Seafoam Islands to get information. After all, I am probably the only one she is after…and…" James stuttered for a moment before continuing. "You told me that you, Meowth, were sought after by those two Grunts, Terry and Clark. Mondo- I think you told me- that no one suspects you (Mondo nodded that this was true). Thus I believe that Meowth should stick with Mondo who would hide him well and I shall go alone to that witch's house," James breathed heavily, knowing what responsibility he had upon his shoulders.
"James…what about Jessie? Does she come with me too? I'd be more than happy to keep her at my cabin along with Meowth," Mondo replied, already knowing the answer. James shook his head.
"No. Hiding one pokèmon might barely get by. You know as well as I do that having more than two personal pokèmon is prohibited in Team Rocket. Meowth would be easier to hide because about everyone knows about your love for cat pokèmon like Meowth. You can easily say that it is your Ditto in Meowth form or that you traded your Ditto or Taruos for a Meowth of your own. In any case, suddenly having the possession of a blue-eyed Flareon is a dead giveaway for the occasional Rocket who wanders into your cabin without knocking," James said.
"Then what are you planning to do, Jim?" Meowth asked. Jessie finished her lunch and hopped over to James' side. James knew what she was thinking and pushed her gently away.
"No, Jess. You can't come with me. That would be even more obvious than this." He showed her the handcuff, which was still attached to his wrist. It was impossible to get it off now. Jessie scowled and used flamethrower directed at his arm. James yelped and drew his hand quickly to see the cuff fall off. Apparently, Jessie's boosted power came with the knowledge of some of her attacks. She had only aimed at two places of James' handcuff, which enabled it to fall off. Gaping, he stared at Jessie who looked at him smugly. James rubbed his free wrist and composed himself. "Thanks, but you're still not coming with me, Jess. I know you want to get back at Jezebelle but you'll put us in even more danger."
"FLARE!" Jessie jumped up and down. "Flare! Flareon! Flare!"
"Jess…we's just rescued ya from da Labs. Xavier can't help us anymore; he's al'eady helped to rescue ya an' just left befores ya woke up," Meowth explained to Jessie. She uttered more angry barks. "No, we're not gonna abandon ya, Jess."
"I've made up my mind. Jessie, you're not coming with me," James said.
Who ever made you in
charge you-…!
"What did she say, Meowth?"
"Who evvaa made youse in charge…err…Ah prefw'r not ta translate da rest, James…"