Disclaimer - I stole some parts from the fic's inspiration - The Horse Whisperer
~~The Equicorn Whisperer~~ How he Rode AgainThe Boss rang again and again. But the butler always had an excuse for why James could not answer the phone; he was either sleeping or he'd gone somewhere. "I have the feeling you're avoiding me," Giovanni snarled (to no one in particular, although ultimately it was directed to James) after slamming the phone down for the last time. "It's time I made a personal visit." His Persian purred in agreement. "That Pokémon will be mine. Its ability to travel through time is essential to my plans for world domination." Butch and Cassidy entered the office. Cassidy said, "Sir, we have located Mr Morgan and his Pokémon. They are staying at the Hotel Celadon. We believe they may be taking part in the Pokémon Fun-Run."
"With the Equicorn?"
"We managed to steal the files from the race officials. He is riding the Equicorn." Butch handed the document to Giovanni. "James Morgan riding an Equicorn: 'Miyamoto'…" Giovanni grew pale. "Who is Miyamoto?" Cassidy asked.
"Er…just an old member of Team Rocket." He ordered the two of them to stay at the same hotel as Jesse, James and Meowth, in disguise, and to keep an eye on them. They left obediently. Giovanni chewed his pen top and stared at the paper in confusion. "How does he know of Miyamoto? Did Jessica tell him about…?" But he was sure she knew very little of what happened to her mother. Or perhaps he'd underestimated those three stooges that had been a thorn in his side ever since he hired them. He hired Jesse on the basis that he felt guilty about her mother. But why should he? He was only a child himself when she died. Giovanni now regretted the day he took his mother's place as head of Team Rocket. He was now going to have to kill, as his mother did before him, a member of his corporation. He hated that part of his job. He wasn't as ruthless as her. He remembered sitting in the helicopter, watching the avalanche engulf the mountain upon which Miyamoto was still searching for Mew. "Why did she have to die mother?" he cried. "That's not fair!" Madame Boss stroked his head. "Sometimes people know too much for their own good." At the time he was shocked by how cold she was. Miyamoto had been one of her favourite Rockets. Yet she had her killed for her own safety. Giovanni had much more respect for Madame Boss now that he was in her shoes than he had done before. "Mother…Madame Boss…whoever you are, guide me."
Getting James to ride the Equicorn hadn't been easy for Meowth and Jesse. They tried different approaches where Jesse was the 'bad cop' and Meowth was the 'good cop'. Meowth whined that he'd been the 'good cop' before (when they had tried to capture Dratini). Jesse hit him until he gave in. She was obviously a better 'bad cop'. So the next day, Meowth was nicer to James and attempted to coax him to be closer to Equicorn. Jesse stayed aloof and used reverse psychology. James was slowly persuaded to stroke Equicorn as she quietly grazed in the afternoon heat. She stayed perfectly still as she and Meowth previously agreed. James grew more confident and turned his Pokémon League cap sideways like a rapper. "Sure he can pet it, but he'll never ride it!" Jesse chuckled from her perch in the cherry tree. James ignored her. Jesse said, "Anyone could stroke a dumb old horse!"
"Shuddup Jess!" James' outburst startled Equicorn and she thundered away from them. She leapt and kicked in fury. Jess realised that she should've quit while she was ahead. Meowth ran over to Equicorn. She was still capering about and she almost landed on Meowth. Luckily she checked herself in mid air and missed him by a few inches. "Careful, Equicorn. Jim'll neva ride ya if ya act possessed!" Equicorn gathered her breath. Meanwhile, Jesse apologised to James. "My mother, Miyamoto, she used to use reverse psychology on me all the time. I was just trying to help."
"Well don't, Jess…I'm fed up of people helping me."
"Maybe if you accepted the help sometimes, we wouldn't keep trying to give it to you." He had no answer to that, except for, "I'll try again. If it'll make you happy." Equicorn saw them approaching once more. Meowth patted her leg and told her to try her best. The moment James came near her she reached up and snatched his cap off of his head and cantered away. "HEY!" The chase began. James vainly tried to grab his hat from Equicorn. She kept coming back to him and offering the cap and then running away again. Jesse and Meowth were in stitches watching them. Even James began to laugh and his laughter caused him to be even slower which made them all laugh even more. By dusk, James had ridden Equicorn for the first time and had named her after his best friend's mother and the greatest rocket who'd ever lived. Miyamoto the Equicorn – finally accepted into their lives.
James couldn't wait for the hotel's party in the Grande Hall. He'd bought a smart new suit that made him look spectacular, if he did say so himself. And so did the several female shop assistants that were drooling at him when he was trying it on. One in particular had said that his 'ass looked great' and this put him in a good mood. Meowth and Jesse were meeting him by the buffet table. They'd persuaded him to ride in the race and he had no idea how they'd done it. He knew he was a pushover, but this was ridiculous! James fiddled with his collar for several minutes before screaming in rage and politely requesting the woman staying in the room next-door to help him. She tutted at him and fixed his tie. "There you go. Are you off to the party?" He replied that he was. She said, "Oh, Hotel Celadon hosts some of the best parties. They're second only to the St Anne's. Marvellous 'do's' they have aboard that ship…" James interrupted her and apologised that he was going to be late meeting his friends. "Thank you for helping me." She waved to him as he hobbled down the hall. "Oh no," she cackled as her purple eyes gleamed with menace, "No, thank you James…"
