Ash Ketchum sits alone in his office at the Team Rocket base in the Johto Region, but he is not alone. Jimmy is with him again and he tells Ash about Ritchie's latest doings here in the base. So far it seems that Jimmy has been secretly gathering a large amount of followers here at the base. Ritchie seems to want to take the main HQ by force, but so far he has only gotten at least ten members of the junior branch to side with him. Ash then states, "I see. Good work Jimmy and keep it up. I want to know exactly what he is doing 24/7. Although I need you to do another favor for me Jimmy. Round up all the junior grunts that I brought on board. The ones most loyal to Giovanni and to me as well." Jimmy will get right on it, but first Ash has to ask Jimmy something else. He wants to know exactly where Jimmy's loyalties lie within the organization. Jimmy has to tells Ash that he isn't loyal to Giovanni, he's only loyal to Ash. It was Ash that brought Jimmy on board and while Giovanni has been fair with him, that doesn't mean he shows any true loyalty to him.
Ash then states, "Is that a fact? That's good because that's what I wanted to hear from the start. You see Jimmy, I have big plans for Team Rocket of my own and unfortunately they don't include Ritchie. He was ready to betray our leader and that means that he could do the same thing to me. Giovanni has been a fair and respectable leader, but it is time for a change. Under my rule, Team Rocket will be number one and every other Pokémon Region will fear us, as well as bow before us. First things first though is that we need to get rid of Team Magma and Team Aqua. Then the Sinnoh, Unova, and Kalos Regions will be next and if there are any teams there that can pose a threat to us, then they will either be allowed to join us, or they will be destroyed! Got me?" Jimmy does indeed understand and sides with Ash 100% and further decrees that he'll begin gathering those that are loyal to Ash. Ash says that he can do that himself. All he wants Jimmy to do is continue his surveillance on Ritchie, which Jimmy shall obey his commanding officer.
Jimmy leaves Ash's office and intends to follow Ritchie per Ash's instructions and it seems that Ritchie is heading towards the Hoenn Region himself. Jimmy sneaks into the jet that Ritchie is heading to Hoenn in, but he isn't alone. He's taking two of the junior grunts with him and it's that girl Casey and the young fire Pokémon lover Egan. Jimmy has to say to himself silently, "What are you up to Jimmy and what's Casey doing here? She's suppose to be away in Hoenn investigating Team Aqua. I wonder what he's planning?" Jimmy hid away in a compartment in the jet and he can hear everything that Ritchie is saying to his two lackies. Ritchie intends to actually meet with Team Aqua instead of infiltrating the organization as it was originally planned. There is something truly sinister going on around here and Jimmy is going to get to the bottom of this at once. The plane is being flown by automatic pilot, so it's clear now that Ritchie wants to keep this trip a secret even from Ash it seems.
Ritchie looks at the jet's CPU and it seems that they are arriving very soon at their destination. The plane lands and from what Jimmy can see, it looks like they are landing outside some ruins. Ritchie, Casey, and Egan exit the plane and there are Team Aqua grunts there as well and their commanding officer Shelly. The two groups meet face to face with Jimmy hiding in the bushes, so he can hear what they're talking about.
Shelly: I wasn't expecting a group of kids to meet us here.
Ritchie: We're more than a bunch of kids I assure you Shelly.
Shelly: Fine then let's talk business.
Ritchie: Good then I'll start. You know why I brought you here correct? I know of your turf war with Team Magma and I'm here to end it.
Shelly: How?
Ritchie: By working together of course. If we work as a team then Team Aqua can be the only criminal team in Hoenn. Your plans will go uninterrupted and the Hoenn authorities will be helpless against you.
Shelly: All well and good kid, but do your superiors know that you're here?
Ritchie: No and after today I'll be in charge of running Team Rocket. Ash might be my partner, but unfortunately I won't need a partner anymore once things start going my way.
Jimmy heard every single word, but so did Ash, as Jimmy has some spy gear that relays all the way back to the Johto base. Ash has to say, "So you intended on betraying me too Ritchie? You just can't trust anybody can't you? Fine well it's a good thing I already intended to get rid of you as well. Return to base Jimmy. Now." Jimmy obeys and plans to sneak off back to the plane, but he makes a ruckuss in the bushes, which Casey hears. She summons forth her Meganium and commands it to use its vine whip on those bushes. It obeys and Meganium has Jimmy in its thrawl. Ritchie demands to know what Jimmy is doing here and so does Shelly. She wants to know if this was all an elaborate trap to destroy Team Aqua and Ritchie decrees it wasn't. Jimmy was commanded to follow Ritchie since he knows that Ritchie intends to betray their leader Giovanni, but more importantly just admitted to wanting to betray Ash.
Ritchie then says, "So Ash isn't as stupid as he looks huh? Too bad actually. I always intended to double cross him and take the power for myself, but it looks like I should have actually brought him on board after all. Alright now get rid of him Casey!" Jimmy is then flung through the air and into the the strong ocean current. Ash managed to see that all and he isn't going to stand for such insolence. Ash exits the Johto base, then summons forth his Skarmory and then commands it to take him to the Hoenn Region. It obeys his master and so then Skarmory takes Ash strait to the Hoenn Region with no stops at all.
Back at the meeting place, both Ritchie and Shelly continue their negotiations with one another. Both seem to have come to an understanding that can benefit both Team Aqua and Team Rocket equally. Shelly and Ritchie soon shake hands, but their deal is soon stopped when Ash finally arrives. He leaps off his Skarmory and then returns it to its Poké Ball.
Ritchie: Ash? You're here? Listen I can explain all of this. You see...
Ash: Stow it traitor. I already know.
Ritchie: Really? So what are you going to do now? Are you going to try and take us all down on your own? You are dumber than you look.
Ash: Of course I didn't come here by myself.
Ash snaps his fingers and soon the meeting place begins being swarmed by Team Magma agents. He explains that before Ash came here, he made a transmission to Team Magma and told them of a large gathering of Team Aqua agents would be. Although before they arrived, the grunts fished Jimmy out of the water. He is aching for a rematch and is quite cross at being thrown into the ocean. The Team Magma grunt in charge's name is Tabitha and he knows Shelly quite well. He personally couldn't wait to see her again and Shelly has to say the same about Tabitha. Ritchie has to ask where Ash got all these Team Magman grunts together.
Ash: It's easy. I personally contacted their base before I arrived. The whole enemy of my enemy concept right Ritchie?
Ritchie: You're not going to win this one Ash. With you out of the way, I'll march to Team Rocket HQ and demand that Giovanni hand over the organization to me!
Ash: That isn't going to happen. Not in a million years! All of you attack now!
Soon a battle between two once good friends and both Team Aqua and Team Magma go underway. However who will be the winner?
TO BE CONTINUED...