A rather short oneshot. It's set right after the episode „The Fortune Hunters". Enjoy.

The Fortune Hunters – An Epilogue

Jessie and Meowth observed James sitting around the camp fire, hanging his head in shame. They could hear him heaving a sigh from time to time, angry at himself for having been convinced that the book „Pokémon Fortune Telling" would actually reveal the future. He had been obsessed with the idea of being a Moltres kind of person, the Pokémon he was assigned to according to his birthdate, but in the end, he had to realize that Butch and Cassidy had made things up and that the book served to lure young trainers in order to educe the Pokémon from their little hands.

„His dream of being the fearless and dreaded rogue connected to the legendary avian Pokémon popped like a soap bubble," Meowth remarked.

Jessie nodded in agreement and decided that she had to do something about James' despondency. She fetched her purse and unbagged a bottle of cheap champagne she had stolen in the nearby beverage store.

Jessie asked James to move away from the only blanket, sat down next to her best friend and poured some of the crystal clear liquid into a paper cup.

„Take it!" she held the cup under James' nose. The lavender-haired man reached for the drink and took a sip of the somewhat sweet champagne. Although she didn't like to function as a comment box, Jessie could feel that James had something on the mind.

„Let's do it quick and easy," she guzzled her strong brew, hoping that it would make James' lament more bearable.

„Tell me what's bothering you," she demanded, turning her face to James. He closed his eyes, taking another sip of his drink. James had to admit that the champagne wasn't exactly to his taste, but he didn't want to cause more trouble and contented himself with this plonk.

„I gained so much self-confidence thanks to this book. I felt strong, unbeatable, fierce and august, until our business rivals revealed that it was nothing but an invented manual to pinch Pokémon, it was nothing but a stupid joke," James complained. He begged Jessie to refill his cup, downing it in one gulp.

Jessie loathed that he would always sink into self-pity. Even after three cups of champagne he would still nag her about his miserable life and streak of bad luck. They reached a point where Jessie could no longer listen to James' complaints. He was the poor guy, he was the henchman, he was underpaid and overstrained, he never had the chance of promotion, he was sentenced to stray and perform almost impossible tasks to please the boss. Jessie would have liked to grab him by the scruff of his neck and shake him up, but she chose a different approach. She refilled her paper cup in order to give herself Dutch courage.

„You know what James?" she asked, laying a hand on his shoulder.

„What?" he wanted to know, staring into her lapislazuli blue eyes.

„I really enjoyed seeing you so tough and declaring yourself the ‚flame that burns brightest'. Your determined and intimidating performance. Even though that costume made you look ridiculous and I'm convinced that no one took you entirely serious, you definitely poured on the charm, that manlikely and intriguing charm," she walked her fingers up his chest, lifting his chin.

„You were ambitious and persuasive, I really believed that you were going to make short work of that blonde snipe and her sappy partner. I liked the new and intrepid James, the James that nothing or no one can ever throw off course," Jessie drew closer to her lavender friend, her lips almost touching. James appreciated her compliments and overtures. He didn't know if it was the champagne that made her talk like that, after all they had almost emptied the entire bottle and both felt squiffy, but relished the attention she paid to him.

„Tell me more," he requested, only a few inches away from her delicate and red painted lips. Jessie ran her fingers through his hair strand that was always hanging loosely in his face. Secretly, she wanted to put him to the test. She wouldn't tee off a brave and almost reckless young man by her side, but Jessie liked James the way he was, a hopeless chicken with a big heart. Of course, she would never admit it, she was way too proud to make the first step, but giving him a small hint was within the bounds.

„You appeared to be courageous and fully convinced of yourself, that was really attractive," she moved closer to his face, he could feel her breath on his cheeks, which gave him goose bumps.

‚Do it, Jess! Kiss me,' James thought, longing to taste her smooth lips, getting lost in a passionate kiss, an indication of his desire. He closed his eyes, but Jessie pulled away shortly before their lips locked.

„But anyways," she giggled, crossing her arms in front of her chest, „the book was a lie and you're still that pathetic guy!"

She stood up and stumbled over to their tent, smiling despite herself. Jessie didn't dare to look back, but she imagined James' bewildered facial expression at the moment. She opened the zipper of the tent, entered it and nestled into her sleeping bag.

James was still sitting around the camp fire. He didn't know what was happening. Did Jessie really like his new and bold manner or was it just the countless cups of champagne that made her act like that? Would she also like his timid, but warm-hearted side? The way he normally behaved? Would there ever be a second chance to find out?

THE END