Disclaimer - I stole some parts from the fic's inspiration - The Horse Whisperer

~~The Equicorn Whisperer~~ How he Lost her

                   She was the first thing he saw. The beautiful white and gold decorations: streamers, balloons, tables, chairs, cutlery – they weren't in the same league as Jesse. Her long crimson hair was up tonight in a tightly wound bun with only a few ringlets allowed to cascade across her face and down her shoulders. Two golden chopsticks adorned the hairstyle and the actual bun was held in place with white and gold clips and scrunchie to match the room. Her dress was pure white and enhanced every delicious curve of her body. Her jewellery was simple in compliment to the dress. Just earrings, one ring and the necklace James had given her for her last birthday. Never, thought James, had she looked so beautiful. He suddenly felt ashamed. For years they had strived for physical perfection. She had achieved the goal but not he. His stump began to itch and he wished to not scratch it, in fear that he might feel exposed in front of all of these strangers. Deep down a part of him was saying "How ridiculous. They'll only assume that you're scratching your leg, you twit." But the part of him that was on the surface was crying to escape from the many probing eyes that surveyed him and then turned away to continue their original tasks of looking at their owners' friends. Jesse and Meowth went to greet James. He forced a smile and told Jesse how wonderful she looked and remarked on Meowth's cute gold bow. "Jess made me-owth wear it," he grumbled. James fumbled for an excuse to leave the party but Jesse started to drag him onto the dance floor. "Jesse, I don't -," protested James. But Jesse pulled him into the middle of the hall and he soon loosened to the beat and was dancing with as much vigour as everyone else.

                Meowth decided that it was best to leave the humans to their own devices and he snuck away to visit the Equicorn, or as she was now known – Miyamoto. As he journeyed closer to the paddocks he sensed humans and he kept to the shadows. He soon approached Miyamoto's paddock and to his surprise he saw two of the guests at the hotel capturing the Pokémon in MasterBalls. "Poachers!" He ran to the back of the paddock and crawled in through a hole. "Miyamoto?" he whispered. She whinnied quietly in response. "I'll go get da humans." She trotted toward Meowth and lowered her head to speak to him. "There's no time. I'm going to try to fight them."

                "You're brave."

She nodded, "Thank you, but just in case I get in trouble, I think you should go get some humans. The guests will want to fight for their Pokémon anyway." Meowth scurried away as fast as he could. But just as he thought he was clear of the poachers he lost his footing and fell into a deep pit. He tried to scramble up the sides but they were too steep. "Only Team Rocket wud dig a pit loike dis," Meowth said. The two poachers walked to the edge of the pit and laughed at the captured feline. "You're half-right," said the male poacher in a deep, hoarse voice. Meowth gasped. "Butch an' Cassidy?"

                The music had changed from a swing to a slow setting and Jesse and James became slightly uncomfortable. To dance like that would seem weird, but it would be worse to turn away from one another. Both their feelings would be hurt. It was then that James realised that Jesse was stood on his fake foot and he burst out laughing. Jesse was bewildered at first, but soon she realised what was funny and she apologised and they danced as if it was the most natural thing in the world to them. The rapport between them had been restored: by his false leg of all things! Jesse drifted in her subconscious by their gentle swaying and unknowingly sang along to the song, "Nami yurare yuuhi odoru, hohoenda 'Matta ashita' tte, shiokaze yorisoi shibaraku yasumou, tatakau yuuki ga afurete kuru kara…*" The song matched him perfectly. Did she understand the true meaning of her song? It described the setting sun, which seemed to be a finality: but its lasts words were a promise that it would return from its slumber. She fiddled with his hair, which had been tied back loosely, and murmured sleepily, "…James?" His heart stood still in anticipation of what she had to say. But before she could say anything, a loud explosion destroyed the west wall and the sound echoed around the hall as the guests stampeded to the opposite side of the room in a panic. "Let's infect the world with devastation!" some woman said.

                "And blight all peoples in every nation?" some rough-voiced man said.

                "If you really want to!"  Cassidy laughed as she approached the frightened guests. Butch followed with poor Miyamoto trapped in the DarkBall that he held in his hand. The other trainers' Pokémon were in PokéBalls in the sack in his other hand. "Give me a hand Cassidy!" he panted. She clapped sarcastically. He was clearly unimpressed. "Just get Jesse and Meowth," huffed Butch. Jesse tightened her grip on James arm when she heard that. Cassidy sauntered over to James and poked him in the chest. "Now that we have your Equicorn we no longer have any qualms against you." She turned to Jesse. "But you must come back to Team Rocket." Cassidy grabbed Jesse's arm and the moment she did so, Jesse's other arm moved to punch Cassidy. But Cassidy was too quick and twisted Jesse round so that her back was against Cassidy's front and her arm was bent along her back between them. James tried to help but Cassidy was across the hall in seconds. Jesse was no weakling and struggled violently in Cassidy's grip. Butch came to her aid and handcuffed Jesse. "JESS!!!!!" All James could do was holler after her as Butch and Cassidy's Raticate balloon floated away. "They've got our Pokémon!" the people murmured amongst themselves. "Dey've got Miyamoto!" Meowth yelled to James as soon as he reached him. "They've got Jesse too." James whispered. Meowth was taken aback. "Dat means dey're afta me-owth az well! We gotta do summit!" James pondered. Everyone else muttered, "We should get Officer Jenny" or "Where's the manager? He'll know what to do."

"I've GOT IT!!!!!" James hurrahed. He explained to Meowth, "There's only one thing that can stop the forces of evil!"

"Comprimise?" Meowth offered unwittingly.

"Well…sometimes. But not in this situation. No…this calls for…"

"Da Ghostbustas?"

"Dammit Meowth! Shut up!"

James felt highly ashamed as he grovelled to the Twerps. But the moment Ash heard the words "battle", "Boss" and "impossible" he grabbed his gear and headed towards Viridian City. James tagged along meekly. Meowth advised Ash on what Pokémon Giovanni usually used and his favourite moves. Those who have played the game will know that Nidoqueen's Earthquake and other such attacks are frequently used in his battles against his opponents. Totodile and Chikorita would easily thrash Dugtrio and Rhydon. Pikachu would beat anything else that might crop up eg Persian. James remained quiet and useless. "Are you okay?" Misty asked. He nodded. She offered him Togepi to hold but, sensing its evil powers, he refused politely. The Twerps went through the front entrance to battle Butch, Cassidy and Giovanni. James and Meowth knew where Jesse and Miyamoto would be and therefore went in through the side entrance. It was very dark but Meowth could see easily. James kept close to him. "Dere's da engineering room." They slowly opened the door and saw a small shaft of light from a tiny window above the boiler cast its faint glow across the sack filled with PokéBalls and part of Jesse's hair. She had huddled into the foetus position with her arms bound tightly together. "Jesse?" James called. She turned her head slowly. "James?"

"Yes, Jesse. It is Meowth and I."

She sniffed, "My new dress is ruined…" They gently laughed at her. "Dat's ar Jess!" They untied her hands and she stood shakily. "I'm gonna kick Cassidy's ass!"

                "No, don't worry about it." James told her that the Twerps were handling Giovanni. "We've got other business." He picked up the PokéBalls and the trio left without being seen.

* Taken from the song 'Umi' or 'Sea'