Both Ash and Ritchie have returned to their base in Johto where they now plan to infiltrate both Team Aqua and Team Magma. Ash decides that their strategy should be that they send in one of their grunts to each of the teams. However they must be ones that Ash and Ritchie can really trust. Ash already knows who he intends to send and it's his second in command Jimmy. He shall infiltrate Team Magma to learn about their plans, while Ritchie can send one of his agents to infiltrate Team Aqua. Ritchie decides to send the girl Casey who is obsessed with the color yellow and similar colored Pokémon. Their goals are simple, which is to infiltrate both teams and without fail. Ritchie then has to say to them, "Just so you know, if your cover is blown then you're on your own. So you better not get caught or you might as well turn in those uniforms you're wearing right now." Those are pretty strict and very high standards, but they shall obey Ritchie without question. They are each give copies of the uniforms worn by Team Magma and Team Aqua now.
On the other hand however, Ash wishes to talk to Jimmy alone, so he asks Ritchie and Casey to leave his sight for now. They obey him and so then Ash talks to Jimmy about how long Jimmy has been in Ash's employ. It's been close to a year now and Jimmy is grateful that Ash brought him into Team Rocket. Jimmy has so many new and powerful Pokémon that he has never lost a battle. Not against other trainers and certainly not against any police officers who have tried to arrest him. Ash has to commend Jimmy for his confidence, but warns him to not let it go to his head. Ash then has to tell Jimmy, "Listen Jimmy, you've been my most loyal enforcer ever since you came here. I must tell you something that could shake the very foundation of this building. My partner Ritchie intends to betray us all. He wants to overthrow our leader and make himself ruler of Team Rocket. That is unforgivable Jimmy and so I want you to keep an eye on him.
Jimmy then tells Ash, "You can count on me sir, but how will I complete my mission on the Team Magma case if I have to watch him?" Ash can send another agent in Jimmy's place, but still intends to make it look like Jimmy went on the mission. Jimmy salutes Ash and promises that he shan't fail Ash and leaves Ash's office. Ritchie enters the office and asks Ash what he talked to Jimmy about, but Ash makes up some story about the Team Magma mission. Ash then further states that he wants Ritchie to over see Casey and Jimmy's departure, which Ritchie shall at once. Also Ash tells Ritchie that he is tired and wishes to retire for the evening, so he wishes to be left alone. Ritchie is going to turn in as well, right after he over sees Jimmy and Casey's leave. With Ritchie gone now, Ash locks the door to his office and then begins to talk to himself. It seems that he has plans for Team Rocket of his own and they don't involve Ritchie or Giovanni in the least.
He tells himself, "Ritchie, Ritchie, you've been like a brother to me as well, ever since we've been partners. However you had the right idea when it came to who should rule Team Rocket. Giovanni has been like a father to me, but it is time for some new and fresh blood to take over. However since you were so quick to betray him, then I fear that you'd betray me as well and I cannot have that. So my friend I am afraid that you have become a liability to me and to this team. There will be someone who will take over Team Rocket and that someone is me! I'm going to rule Team Rocket on my own and I will make not just Kanto, Johto, or even Hoenn, but every single region in the world shall be mine. All will bow down before Ash Ketchum! I'll unite all people in this nation and reach to the stars above. Look out world because here I come. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Ash seems to now have some diabolical plans of his own and they don't involve Ritchie.
Their alliance and friendship is now in jeopardy as both pint sized punks have different plans of world domination.
TO BE CONTINUED...