This story was updated/revised on April 26, 2020.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon
Dear Nanny and Pop-pop,
Sorry for not writing last week. Jessie had another performance, and as I mentioned before, it is a group effort to get her ready. I hope you are all doing well. I wish we were closer, but we have no choice but to stay in Kalos for a while. I don't want to cause you any anxiety, but I know you always watch the news for the regions in which we are traveling. I want to explain some things before you see our faces on Kalos television. Like, I said, do not worry, and give me a chance to explain.
I guess the best thing to do is to start from the beginning.
I suppose it started last week. It was just a typical day, Saturday, I think, We were camping out near Kiloude City, and we were spending the day at the mall. I sat in waiting area outside the changing rooms inside this huge clothing store while Jessie tried on various outfits. Meowth was napping by my side and Wobbuffet was busy putting away the dresses and shoes that Jessie had already rejected.
"James, is this dress enough, or should I add the bolero?" Jessie asked as she came out of the changing room.
I stood to get a closer look, observing the dress from all angles, with and without the bolero. Normally I hated these shopping sprees, but Jessie has learned to cool it over the years. I don't mind shopping and giving her my advice as long as we can keep the trips to under four hours and stay under the budget. Besides, if she got an outfit she felt confident in, she would be more likely to win at the Pokémon performances, and that would benefit the whole team.
"I think it looks better without a bolero," I decided. "Unless you think you are going to be cold."
"Nah, I will be moving around on stage," she replied.
Jessie's eyes shifted away from mine and I could tell she was looking at something behind me. I at first thought it was Wobbuffet, but I was mistaken. It was a man. He walked away quickly when he saw me.
"Do you know who that was?" I asked, annoyed that he was spying on us like that and then ran when I noticed him.
"No…" she answered, her eyes still staring at the space where he stood.
"Um, so if you want to change, I will return the bolero."
"I'll wear this one out."
A slick smile on her face.
"Fine," I sighed.
Jessie knew I had a talent for removing those locked tags that sprayed ink on the clothing if you tried to remove the tag without seeing a cashier. She turned so her back was facing me. I reached down her neck and felt around until a felt the tag in my hand. I pulled it up and with a small metal pick, the perfect amount of force, precision, and a little bit of luck, I was able to get the tag off without a single drop of ink spilling on the brand-new dress. It wasn't the first time we pulled this stunt.
Just to be clear—I'm not super proud of this—but at least this was righteous in the sense we were stealing more from a major corporation and not from a small business.
We couldn't afford a dress like that at the moment; thus, we were without a choice.
I applied the same technique to the bolero and to the wrist scarf she snuck into her palm.
"Thanks doll," she said playfully, patting me on the head like a child.
Jessie proceeded to pull at Meowth's whiskers until he woke up, and then the four of us left the store. Meowth complained, Wobbuffet refused to return to his ball, and my stomach growled while Jessie led us back to camp. When we got back, Jessie stripped down to her bikini and lay out for a tan, despite it being only 65 degrees, and Meowth drooled over the stove while I cooked us lunch.
"Excuse me, Miss?" I heard an unfamiliar voice from behind the tent, over where Jessie was 'tanning'.
"What do you want?" Jessie responded in her classic rudeness.
The man lowered his voice and a could hardly hear what they two of them were saying over the cackling fire and our Pokémon chatting in the background. I told Meowth to go check to see what was up while I took care of the food. He scrambled into a bush and peeped at Jessie and the stranger. I sighed again, because I didn't mean for him to spy on her, I meant for him to go talk to them.
Five minutes later, Jessie came back to camp. Meowth jumped out from under the bush and acted natural. She didn't suspect that he had been watching her.
"I'm going for a walk," she announced.
"Before lunch?" I asked.
"Yes."
She pulled a loose skirt and tank top over her bathing suit. Wobbuffet handed her the bolero we had swiped.
"Does dat mean I can eat yer portion?" Meowth asked.
"No way!" she replied. "You'll have to save it for me. I'll eat it when I get back."
Jessie and I normally went out together and rarely ventured out on our own.
This is when my anxiety began.
"When are you coming back?" I asked.
"I'll be back before nightfall," she replied.
I must have made a noise or had a look on my face because she placed her hand on my shoulder and said.
"I'll be back soon. I promise."
She put her Pokeballs in a small purse and left, ordering Wobbuffet to stay behind. When she had walked a good distance away Meowth jumped onto the rock next to me and waved his paw, indicating that he wanted to whisper something in my ear.
"Jessie's goin out on a date," he said.
"With who?" I asked.
"Some guy wit bright red hair."
I didn't know anyone around our age that had bright red hair, but I did know who Meowth was talking about. It was that man from the store. She left with the guy who was spying on us.
"What did he say?" I asked.
I didn't like the idea of my best friend running off with some stranger, especially some guy who was watching us but was too creepy to come say hi to me.
"He asked Jessie if she was married," Meowth replied, giggling a little. "She obviously said 'no' and den he's like 'well den maybe weeze should go out'. Jessie got all red and den agreed…That's 'bout it."
"Did they mention where they were going?" I asked.
"Why, yous wanna follow her?"
"No, but if it gets dark and she still hasn't returned, I want to know where to start looking for her."
"If she wanted yous ta know where she was goin, she woulda told ya."
I didn't have any intention of following them—I would never intrude on her privacy like that. But it bothered me that she didn't tell me.
"She don't need you ta protect her," Meowth continued. "She's tougher den yous."
"I know that. But the three of us are a team and we need to know where are members are at all times," I responded.
"Yeah, well I'm still more worried about yous getting hurt by a stranger den Jessie."
I pushed a plate into his paws.
"Just eat your food," I said.
XOXOXO
Jessie returned four hours later, about five minutes until sundown. She was alone. I was waiting for her by the fire while Meowth was out hunting.
"Wobbaaaaaa!" yelled Wobbufet. He ran up to Jessie and hugged her when he saw her coming.
"Hey Jess," I said, disguising my worry.
"You finished eating?" she asked, sitting down next to me.
"No, but dinner is ready if you want some."
"I saw the fleabag on my way here. He was looking for bugs to eat. Disgusting".
"I suppose it 's just his instinct."
"You sound sad. What happened? Did the fleabag call you names again?"
She took an enormous bite of the onigiri I made, then poked me playfully in the ribs. I couldn't help but smile.
"Nah, I was just bored," I replied. "I didn't expect you to be gone so long."
I felt guilty as soon as the words left my mouth. I sounded needy, and I didn't want to make her feel bad for going out on her date. She had every right too. I was just answering her question honestly, it's true that without her around I get lonely.
"I didn't think I would be gone long either," she responded with her mouth still full of food. "Sorry."
"It's okay. So…Meowth…he told me that some guy came along and asked you out."
There was no point in pretending I didn't know. She could often read me like a book and on those times when she couldn't, she'd still suspect something wasn't right.
"I hate when he spies on me," Jessie grumbled. "Well, it's true, I had a date. I was going to tell you anyway."
"I figured. So who was that guy? Do you know him from somewhere?" I asked.
"He has been to my last few performances. He says that he is a 'big fan'. He has been watching me and cheering me on since my very first performance".
I never saw this guy before, but then again, as time went on Jessie was accumulating more and more fans. We knew the names of almost none of them, and they just seemed to blend in with the crowd. Though I wasn't positive, he could have been there all along without any of us noticing.
"Well, he has good taste," I remarked. "Do you like him?"
"It has only been one date," she replied. Then she blushed. Not only blushed, but blushed from embarrassment. "I don't know that much about him yet."
"Then what did you do in the almost five-hours you were gone?"
"Probably not what you think."
She took a long time to say the next part.
"What's up with you?"
"With me?" I felt accused. "Nothing!"
"You're so bothered. Is it because of this or something else?"
"Um…something else…"
"Such as…?"
"Oh, nothing big. It's…um…bottlecap-related."
"Bottlecap-related. Sure."
I laughed—more like coughed—as she put her now-empty plate into our wash bin.
"He's handsome," she said mildly. "But he didn't even kiss me."
'you're telling me because…?' I thought.
I realize that despite my five years of letters, you don't know Jessie as well as the Pokémon on our team and I do. Jessie tends to get infatuated with handsome guys, whether or not they showed interest in her. Usually she lets go easily, especially if that person is blatantly uninterested, but other times it's harder. At least she wasn't obsessive over this guy.
I wasn't in the mood to deal with that again. Not so soon after the Dr. White incident I told you about.
'She's telling me because she wants me to know,' I resolved.
"So, I guess he asked you out again," I said.
"Yep, but I declined," she responded, stretching and yawning as she did.
Surprise, relief, then curiosity.
"There was just something about him," she continued. "You know what I mean?"
I knew exactly what she meant; she was feeling a little of what I felt that first time I noticed him watching us.
Jessie looked down and rubbed the back of her neck. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, as if she was going to add something, but she was really just upset.
Instead of using the buck in her hand to put out the fire, she placed it on the ground and moved closer to me.
"It feels a little like rejection, doesn't it?" I said as she rested her head on my shoulder.
That plus camping out for so long plus this incident was probably getting to her. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her into a side hug.
We stayed like that until Meowth came back.
"Are yous two gonna take a bath?" he asked, scrunching up his face in disgust, pretending that we reeked.
"In the morning," we replied together, too tired to do much else.
Jessie and I took off our day clothes and folded them for the night. We stayed up reading and listening to music before nodding off, Meowth curled by our feet.
At around midnight I could have sworn I saw a shadow and heard someone curse. Jessie was still asleep next to me and Meowth hadn't budged since he fell asleep one hour previously. I carefully removed Jessie arms from my chest (she often had dreams that involved grabbing, beating, or hugging me in her sleep) and I got up to look around. No one was in sight, so I shrugged it off. I went back into the tent and passed out a few minutes later.
The next morning, we headed straight for the hot springs, which were about a thirty-minute walk from our camp. They were private springs, the best place to bath. It was expensive but we made a habit of sneaking in to these things. We simply had one of our Pokémon distract the manager while Jessie, Meowth and I bathed in luxury. It worked every time.
"See, dis water is de kind of water dat Meowth approves of," he announced as he slid his body into the pool.
Jessie and I routinely bathed together, which wasn't as weird as it may sound. We weren't really embarrassed around each other, and we both liked having someone there to wash our backs. Neither of us trusted Meowth to do it. After we scrubbed the two days' worth of dirt and sweat off our bodies, the three of us closed our eyes and relaxed.
"Uh oh," Meowth said suddenly. "I tink we're in trouble."
"What?! Are you saying that someone is coming?" Jessie demanded. "Crap, Wobbufet is usually good at distractions"
"I'm saying dat someone's already here", he replied, his ear's perking up in alert. "and it don't sound like Wobbufet or de manager of de springs."
I shuddered involuntarily. It was just like last night. Was someone watching us?
"Let's get out of here," Jessie said.
She stood, wrapped a towel around her, then threw some to me and Meowth.
"Don't botha, dey're gone now," said Meowth.
"Are you positive?" Jessie asked.
"Yup."
"If some creep is peeping on us and you don't say anything, I swear to god I will—"
"—Chill! Nobody's here. Dey left. Let's go back ta relaxin."
Meowth closed his eyes and eased deeper into the water, but Jessie and I couldn't let this go.
We later enjoyed a breakfast of wild berries and some peanut butter we had left over from the convenience store we robbed—shopped at—last week. We tracked the twerp. We weren't going to focus on stealing Pikachu today, as Jessie and I were too sore from the last encounter, but it was still good to know where he was for next time.
We did manage to catch some of those Kalonian Vanillite though. Jessie and I almost kept one for ourselves, but they were so annoying! We sent them to the boss the moment we had a chance. As usual, he was not very pleased with us when we called to tell him about our latest catch. Something about them not being 'rare' enough for him.
I'm still angry at the boss for holding Mime Jr and Carnivine from me, but I was too afraid at the moment to ask for them back. Last time I asked the boss was outraged and said that he needed us to gain experience by learning to capture and train wild Pokémon for ourselves. He said that is what made us successful in Unova. Anyway, I am rambling. But these are the thoughts I was thinking when it happened.
Later that afternoon, I was alone at camp: Jessie and Wobbuffet searched for a public restroom while Meowth and Inkay napped. I heard footsteps but before I could turn around, someone hit me, hard.
The force of the punch to the back of my head caused me fall over, but I didn't hit the ground. He grabbed my shirt and just as I opened my eyes to see who was attacking me, he hit me again, this time breaking my glasses and giving me a black eye.
I yelled something like 'stop' or 'help' but it was pointless—he kept on attacking. I fought back, and after what seemed like forever, I managed to apprehend my attacker. I felt victorious.
That changed when I noticed the dagger in his right hand, poised to stab me right in the stomach. From that angle he could stab me mercilessly. I let go and backed up, still eyeing the knife.
"What do you want?" I coughed.
"Don't talk," he ordered. "Or I'll make this more painful than need be."
Without my glasses or contacts, I couldn't see straight, but my situation was clear.
My attacker had black hair and dark eyes. He didn't look familiar and I couldn't think of anyone who would want to kill me.
He lunged at me. Seconds later, I had a hot, searing pain followed by wetness and pulsations in my side. He pulled the knife out, pushed me back, and I landed on someone soft. I rolled over immediately and matched eyes with one of my closest companions.
Meowth had been fast asleep under one of the towels from the hot springs. After he saw the fear on my face and the wound in my side, he sprung to his feet with teeth and claws bared.
He fury swiped the guy and wrestled the knife from his hand.
I honestly can't remember much after that.
I know now that Meowth was successful in his endeavor to protect me.
I was in more pain than I had ever known, and I recall holding my hands to my side and hoping that Meowth realized that humans were more vulnerable than Pokémon.
Everything else until my recovery were flashy visions.
I had a fleeting vision of Jessie kneeling down next to me. She took off her bolero she was wearing and used it to cover up my wound. Wobbuffet handed her the towel that Meowth had been using as a blanket and she wrapped it snuggly around my waist. Someone forced me to sit up. Then, according to my teammates, I passed out too.
I was dreaming about being attacked by a gang of Vanillite when I awoke suddenly. Confused, I looked around at my surroundings. White walls, beeping machines, a hospital gown, an IV in my left arm, and two chairs hosting my two best friends and my only Pokémon.
"Inn!" Inkay squeaked happily as I noticed him looking at me. He was blurry, as I no longer had my glasses, but I could tell he was glad I was awake.
As I hugged Inkay I looked over at Jessie and Meowth. They both looked back at me and gave me half-smiles.
"Yous scared us," Meowth started. "I mean, without yous round, we woulda had to carry all dat stuff back to HQ on our own."
"Not to mention the boss would have blamed us for your death," Jessie added.
She was joking, but I could tell she was crying at some point. Her face was still a little red and she rubbed one last tear from her eye just to make sure they were all gone before I noticed.
"Inn," Inkay repeated, this time handing me my contacts.
"Thank you," I said as I popped them in. "So…can anyone explain why some stranger tried to kill me?"
"Yous mean yous don't know who dat was?" Meowth asked.
"No…should I have?"
Then I realized that the situation was probably even more confusing for Meowth and Jessie than it was for me. Meowth was sleeping and Jessie was just walking back to camp when they found out I was stabbed by some man. I guess I just hoped they would have some answers for me.
"Can you leave so I can talk to James alone?" Jessie asked Meowth.
"How come?" he whined.
"Just leave or you are going to end up with your own hospital bed!"
"Geeze, I'm leavin."
Meowth slammed the door and Jessie rolled her eyes. I looked at her in confusion, waiting for her to explain something to me. She took my hand. Then, to my surprise, she burst into tears and pulled me into a hug. I didn't really know what to say, so I just hugged her back, even though it was physically painful. Then I begged for her to let go, as it hurt to have her on top of me like that.
"It was that fan guy," said Jessie.
"Fan guy?" I repeated, initially not understanding.
"Just let me explain…and don't interrupt…and don't tell Meowth."
"Agreed."
"The person who attacked you was the guy I went out with yesterday. His name is Timothy. He must have gotten jealous or something after I rejected him for a second date."
"Why would anyone be jealous of me?"
She gave me that raised-eyebrow look that meant something like 'isn't it obvious?'
"You can tell me anything," I added.
"Well…" she replied. "Before he asked me out, I told him I was single. He seemed very interested in my life, so I told him about you and how we travel together. I obviously didn't mention Team Rocket, but I did talk about our partnership. After I said no to a second date, I guess he was spying on us. That must be who Meowth heard in the springs. He probably didn't like the idea of us in there together. I guess he though if he got rid of you…problem solved."
"Oh."
This wasn't the first time suitors had backed away after seeing our partnership, but no one had ever tried to kill one of us off.
"This is my fault," she sighed. "Shit, if it weren't for me, you'd be fine right now".
"It's not your fault," I said. "It was guy. And…I have a confession…"
"A confession?"
"I noticed that guy watching us at the store we visited the other day. The boutique. He turned away when he saw me. Red hair—Meowth said that this 'Timothy' person you went out on a date with had red hair, and that's how I linked them. I heard him again, in the middle of the night, but I didn't say anything and he eventually left. I should have told you."
"Well, there is nothing we could do about it now except sue that bastard for everything that he's worth."
I closed my eyes. I was too tired and sore to even think about standing, so if we were to sue anytime soon, Jessie would have to go in alone.
Jessie moved to make me more comfortable. I was able to relax more.
"What exactly did he do to me?" I asked. "…and what happened after I passed out?"
"I finished covering your wound with what I had while Meowth called an ambulance while I hid all our Team Rocket stuff. The ambulance only took a few minutes to arrive. We told the doctors and police that he attacked you and that you managed to knock him out right before passing out. We left out the part about our Pokémon attacking him, we don't need anyone to know about that part. Anyway, we stayed with you, I told them I was you wife, and Meowth was our pet so that they could let us in. They took you to the ICU and ran a bunch of tests. You got three broken ribs, a broken arm, a concussion, and it is going to take a while for that wound in your side to heal. The doctor said that despite all that, you were lucky though, since if that stab was only a few more inches to the left, you would have been killed no doubt. Oh, and you have a black eye and need another pair of glasses. You have been asleep for about six hours."
"You'd think I'd be less torn up with all that experience blasting off."
"Well, we have gotten used to having the parachutes ready."
Someone knocked on the door and Jessie called to asked who it was.
"It's me!" a scratchy voice replied. "If yous two done actin all love-love in dere, I'm bored and would like ta come back in."
Jessie got up and let Meowth in. He plopped onto the bed. A doctor followed behind.
"Your friend here told me you were awake," said the doctor. "Smart Meowth, he is"
Meowth looked at me and Jessie proudly before curling up on the windowsill and taking a nap.
"I just got up a few moments ago," I told the physician.
She asked me a bunch of personal questions about my health and then checked my vitals. She said I'd have to stay a few days so that they could monitor my health.
I was bummed. Not only was I stuck here being poked and prodded by strangers is lab coats, but Jessie and Meowth would have to work harder to pick up my slack. My teammates never liked having to do that.
After she left. I turned to my friends.
"I already told de Boss what happened," said Meowth.
"What did you say?" Jessie asked.
"I told him some psycho attack James, and when he didn't believe me, I sent him some photos."
"Thanks," I mumbled sarcastically.
"At least we have an excuse," said Jessie.
"He still wants us to go to work dough. He says dat it's a shame but dat don't mean we can spend a week just sittin around waitin fer James ta get better," said Meowth.
"Then let's get to work. James, you don't mind if we leave, right?"
I sorta did mind, but I knew that they were just going to get bored and cranky here. Hospitals sucked for everyone; visitors included. So, I told them to go on ahead and to call me later tonight.
I didn't have to worry because three hours later, the two of them returned will all types of stolen goodies. The three of us enjoyed a forbidden picnic before we drifted off to sleep. I supposed the hospital staff didn't mind them staying the night, after all, Jessie had told them that the two of them were my closest family.
So that is it. Now I am healed and everything is back to normal. We ended up not suing the guy, since apparently, they would have to do a background check on us, and Jess and I would surely fail that. He did go to jail though, so I am not worried that he is going to attack me again. Please don't worry about me. For now, on I am going to always keep my Pokémon close to me.
I hope Chimecho is doing well. Tell him that I said hi and that hopefully we can visit soon. I know we will be returning to Kanto soon and we will stop by so you can meet our other Pokémon. Please take care
Hugs and Smiles,
Little James.
AN: Thank you for reading! Please review if you have an opinion to share and if you want to check out some of my other fics. Peace and love:)
Trivia:
Kiloude City is the only city or town in Kalos that has not been featured in the anime or the Pokémon Adventures manga.
Name origin of Kiloude City: derived from agilawood and oud, alternative names to agarwood. In Japanese, this is called Kinan City, and the name is derived from the Japanese words for 'agarwood' and 'south'.
This fic is loosely based on a fanart by Buchichu on Tumblr.