Jessilina Returns

Jessie, James and Meowth were incognito at another table within The Captain's Table, spying on Zach and Dawn as they had their date.

"Man between Lucario, Grimmsnarl, Eevee and Pikachu we'll have quite the haul to give to da boss!" Meowth exclaimed, stars filled his eyes as he envisioned Giovanni tossing Persian to the curb upon Meowth and his friends presenting him with the four powerhouses.

"I never thought I'd see twerps dating." Jessie commented.

"But Jessie, you thought the main twerp and orange haired twerpette had a thing for each other." James commented.

"When did I say that?"

"Years ago, back when they traveled together."

"Must have forgot." Jessie shrugged.

James watched as the two twerps ate and laughed, his gaze flickered between them before looking long fully at Jessie. "Jess, how come you and I never went out on an official date?"

"Because it's against Team Rocket code for us to date each other." Jessie spoke. Of course the boss was exempt, everyone knew him and Ariana were a thing for a long while with an on and off again relationship that spanned nearly two decades. There were even rumors that she had his child but anyone that suggested such a thing turned up missing the next day, quickly putting that rumor to bed.

James lowered his head. "What if... we ran away together?"

"And do what James? We're wanted criminals in at least six different regions, we got no money and your parents cut you off last year so we certainly can't go begging them for help." Though Jessie secretly planned to leave Team Rocket behind if she managed to win the Grand Festival, she'd become famous and get so many fashion deals that she wouldn't even need Team Rocket anymore! "We pretty much spend everything we make on mechs that Pikachu and the others blow up in a matter of seconds."

"We could... oh forget it." James sighed out while Meowth gave his shoulder a comforting pat.

"Don't worry, Jimmy. You'll get her." Meowth whispered.

"Wobbuffet..." Wobbuffet rubbed his other shoulder.

"I sure hope so." James breathed out.

"And then I saw this giant green Dragon Pokémon, it was incredibly large!" Zach exclaimed while holding out his arms. "I've never seen anything like it!"

"No way, that's the same color as that suit Nessa made for you." Dawn laughed while giving him a teasing look. "You're not trying to impress me again, are you?"

"No, that's just a coincidence. Look!" Zach held out his Rotom Phone, showcasing Rayquaza's picture in the 'seen' category.

"Well look who it is, Ash Ketchup's friend." Zach quickly hid his Rotom Phone upon hearing Chairman Rose's voice. Lucario's ears flattened upon reading Chairman Rose's aura, uttering out a light snarl.

"It's actually Ketchum." Zach corrected Rose while glancing at Lucario. "What do you want?"

"I've come to make a bargain," Rose snapped his finger causing Oleana to rush up with a large briefcase. It had come to Rose's attention that the only reason Ash kept coming back to Galar was because of Zach and Chloe. "I want you to take a dive against Kabu and drop out of the Galar League afterwards, if you do so then all this will be yours."

Jessie, James and Meowth whistled as Rose opened the suitcase, revealing stacks of Pokedollars. "There has to be at least two million!" Meowth exclaimed.

Zach looked at the money before looking up at Rose with disgust. "Hell no, I'm not doing this for money. I want to become a Champion!"

"Then take it and become a Champion elsewhere." Rose grinned while holding out the case. "You and that girlfriend of yours can buy yourself a nice home in Alola and live in comfort!"

"No means no." Zach waved his hand dismissively while turning his attention back to Dawn.

Rose stood there for a minute, his eye twitching as he tried retaining his calm. 'As annoying and stubborn as your father!' Rose inwardly growled. Rose swiftly turned. "Very well, I wish you the best of luck on your adventure."

"You're giving up?" Oleana asked as they walked away.

"No. We'll just have to find out a way to split the group up," Rose calmly spoke, flashing a fake smile and a wave to the local residents as they walked through the city. "He's quite close to that Cerise girl, if we can get her and Ash to fight then Zach'll likely choose to stick with her when she leaves the group and problem solved. Two birds with one stone! Ketchup and that Marnie girl have no reason to come here without them, we'll just 'fix the system' so all his World Championship matches happen elsewhere."

"How do you plan on doing that?"

"Oleana dear, you ask way too many questions. Don't worry about it, it's none of your concern!"

Bede glanced at the two as he passed them in the street, his eyes narrowed as he glanced towards where they left. He stared at the restaurant for a solid minute before shaking his head as he walked away rather than warn his former friend.

"Good afternoon ladies, gentlemen and children of all ages!" Aiden exclaimed upon taking the stage at Hulbury Contest Hall. "Today is the start of Galar's fourth Pokémon Contest, we've got some of your favorites from the previous ones and some new ones too! We've even got a special entry from a top ranking Coordinator from Sinnoh's Grand Festival, course that was five years ago and she hasn't participated in a Contest since but she still has a small fanbase and demand!"

"Go Jessilina!" Meowth shouted from the audience.

"You can do it!" James shouted.

"Wobbuffet!"

"Team Rocket's here?" Zach asked.

"Yeah, they've been selling snacks in the crowd whenever you've participated in the Galar League and during Chloe's contest." Marnie commented. Her eyes widened as she looked towards him. "Blimey, I thought I was going crazy! You recognize them too?!"

"Of course I do, one's blue!" Zach pointed towards Wobbuffet.

"I don't see it." Ash tilted his head.

Dawn was silent for a moment before a lightbulb went off in her head. "Oh Arceus, was I really that ignorant?" She sweated, realizing Team Rocket wasn't even trying on a majority of their disguises.

"That was a great show, thank you Ms. Quinzel!" Aiden waved off a Coordinator. "Alright Chloe Cerise, you're up!"

Chloe took a deep breath as she walked onto the stage.

"Go Chloe!" Zach shouted out in support of his friend.

Chloe smiled up at her friend and waved before grabbing hold of two Pokeballs. "Oddish and Eevee, take the stage!"

"Eevoi!"

"Oddish!" The two cried out as they burst onto the stage.

"Oddish use Sweet Scent, Eevee follow up with Glitzy Glow!"

"Oddish!" A thick cloud of pink mist covered the stage. Contesta, Sukizo and Nurse Joy let out a deep sigh as they breathed in the lovely scent. Eevee let out a cry as several telepathic waves burst from her body, sending the sweet scent out amongst the crowd.

"Wow!" The crowd breathed out as the air above was filled with pink and purple dust.

Sukizo, Contesta and Nurse Joy smiled while displaying their scores; nine, nine point five and a perfect ten.

"An impressive job, Chloe." Aiden clapped along with the crowd. "Alright next up is Jessilina!"

"Go Jessie-er Jessilina!" James shouted out.

"Wobbuffet!"

"Knock the socks off of them!" Meowth shouted.

"Mimikyu, Yanmega let's put on a show!" Jessilina shouted as she threw a set of Pokeballs into the air.

"Mimikyu..." Mimikyu hissed as he burst onto the field.

"Yan, yan!" Yanmega cried out.

"Mimikyu, send me blasting off with Wood Hammer! Yanmega use Air Slash once I'm up in the air!" Jessie directed.

"Mimi..." Mimikyu gave Jessie a large whack with his tail, knocking her up into the air. Yanmega's wings fluttered as he sent out several gusts of wind that blew Jessie around within the air.

"Wheeee!" Jessie joyfully held up her arms as she flew about high above.

"Yep, that's Jessilina alright." Dawn commented while sweating lightly.

"She's still as crazy as ever." Ash commented.

Mr. Contesta, Sukizo and Nurse Joy nodded while giving Jessilina the scores of eight, eight point five and seven.

"Good job, Jessilina!" James shouted out.

"After those incredible performance battles, we're now at the finals!" Aiden declared. "Jessilina bested Ms. Quinzel while Chloe Cerise eliminated Seonhee, bringing us here where these two incredible Coordinators will clash for the first time ever. Will the old-"

"Hey bud, who do you think you're calling old?!" Jessie's face burned bright red with anger as she waved her fist at him. "I'm twenty six and in the prime of my life! You're the one who's old, your twin brother's ex is a literal mother!"

Tears could be heard from the crowd as Aiden's brother began crying. "Melony, please take me back!"

"I'm sorry miss, please don't make my brother cry." Aiden quickly bowed his head.

"So long as you don't call me old." Jessie pouted while crossing her arms.

"Will the experienced overtake the young? We'll find out right here live at the Hulbury Contest Hall!" Aiden exclaimed while holding up his arms. "Chloe Cerise and Jessilina, you may send out your Pokémon whenever you're ready."

"Gourgeist and Inkay, let's show them we still got it! Not that there's any doubt of course!" Jessilina laughed while tossing two Pokeballs into the air.

"Oddish, Eevee you're up!" Chloe shouted while sending forward two Pokeballs of her own.

"Eevoi!"

"Oddish!"

"Gourgeist!"

"Inkay!" The four cried out as they took the stage.

"Inkay use Psybeam, Gourgeist use Bullet Seed!"

"Gourgeist!" Gourgeist cried out as she fired out seeds as if she were a machine seed. Inkay aimed his energy beam at the seeds, causing them to glow brightly as it flew towards Eevee and Oddish.

"Sizzly Slide!" Chloe swiftly ordered out. "Oddish use Acid!"

"Odd!" Oddish hurled up purple acidic liquid that flew above the attack, pelting Inkay and Gourgeist.

Eevee's body became coated in flames as she slid towards the incoming attack, the fire burned away the seeds but the psychic beam still hit Eevee. Eevee lightly flinched but resumed her attack, sliding directly into Gourgeist and Inkay.

"Gourg!"

"Inkay!" The two cried out while Jessie's score was cut down to seventy five percent, Chloe's was now sitting around ninety.

"Shadow Ball and Night Slash!" Jessie ordered out.

"Inkay!" Inkay cried out while firing off a ball of ghastly energy.

"Gourg!" Gourgeist slashed at Eevee while the ghastly energy ball exploded against Oddish as Chloe's score went down to seventy percent.

"Glitzy Glow and Mega Drain!" Chloe cried out.

"Eevoi!" Eevee fired off several telepathic energy waves while Oddish's body glowed a bright green as she began draining energy from Inkay. Eevee then let out a shriek as she slammed into Gourgeist, knocking her into Inkay and knocking the pair over like a pair of bowling pins.

"Ink!"

"Gour!" The two groaned as swirls formed within their eyes.

"No!" Jessilina cried out, dropping to her knees in disbelief as she couldn't believe she lost.

"Well what does she expect, she just came right here without bothering to practice or train." Meowth shrugged.

"It has been five years." James nodded lightly.

"Congratulations Chloe Cerise, you win and have earned the Hulbury Ribbon!" Aiden held out a blue ribbon that had faint white stripes outlined around it. Chloe took the ribbon and smiled as she turned to her Pokémon. "Alright, we got our second ribbon! Only three more to go!"

"Eevoi!"

"Oddish!" Oddish cheered out before a bright white light consumed her body, doubling in size and width while the plant atop her head grew and transformed into an orange flower that had a bit of a four odor to it. "Gloom, Gloom." The newly evolved Pokémon cried out.

"Gloom the Weed Pokémon, what appears to be drool is actually sweet honey. It is very sticky and clings stubbornly if touched."

"Way to go Gloom, you evolved!" Chloe beamed.

"Gloom."

"Eevoi!"

Chloe smiled at her team before looking to the crowd while performing a light bow. It had been a while since she caught something and with some Coordinators like Luna and Jessilina having multiple Pokémon, she'd need to catch some more to strengthen her routine so it wasn't just Eevee, Gloom and Vulpix. She wasn't sure what she'd catch just yet but she was sure she'd know them when she met them much like she had with the others. She wasn't like Zach and Marnie who deliberately sought out Pokémon they wanted, she was more like Ash who mostly went with the flow and caught whatever fate wanted him to catch. "Maybe I'll have a look around the Wild Area."

"You okay, Jess?" Meowth asked as she returned from backstage.

Jessie turned to hide her eyes which were a bit red. "Yeah, I'm fine."

James, Meowth and Wobbuffet looked at one another before looking back to her. "You ready to head back out?" James asked. "The twerp will be leaving for his next World Championship match soon."

"Yes, but I don't think we'll spy on the twerp this time, it's about time we welcome some new recruits into the fold. You and I are going to catch new Pokémon!" She exclaimed while pointing towards the southern exit.

Next time, Team Rocket finally get new additions to the team