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Atop a large coniferous hill, beneath the glow of the rising sun, sat a most unlikely tripod of friends. Jesse, James and Meowth were, as usual, looking for something to steal. But they didn’t seem to be having much luck…
“James! Give me the binoculars. You’re not using them properly.”
“I bought them. They’re mine Jesse.”
“Hand them over!”
“Never!”
“Youse guyz ‘ave got ta stop fightin like dat. Da boss’ll ‘ave ar jobs!”
Jesse smoothed her hair down. “Fine! Only if he gives me the binoculars.”
“No way.”
“Dammit James. I won’t ask again,” she yelled as she raised the paper fan above his head. James ran away squealing. “I'm not going to come after you. Forget it,” Jesse called after him.
“You’re gonna go afta him, aren’t ya?”
“Yes.”
Jesse called his name for hours, searching through every inch of Viridian forest. But there was no sign of him. It would soon grow dark and she began to worry. “Where are you?” she whispered. “If you don’t come back, I’ll have no one to argue with.”
She walked slowly back to the balloon. Just as she turned a corner, somebody charged right into her. “Hey, watch it!” she snarled.
“Oh, I’m so incredibly sorry. Forgive me,” said the girl bowing slightly.
“Er, sure.”
“Many thanks,” the girl smiled. Jesse stared at her. She looked very familiar. “To make it up to you, please allow me to make you dinner.” Jesse’s eyes shone happily. Food!
When they reached the balloon, James had returned. Jesse greeted him with a paper fan to the head. “Ow!” he squealed. Then he looked at the girl. “Holli?” He squealed again.
“James!” she squealed back as she ran into his arms. “You remember me!”
Meowth had to put his paws over his ears. The squealing was just too much. Jesse saw the resemblance now. The girl had James’ hairstyle and green eyes. But her hair was purple instead of blue. “It’s great to see you!” James grinned.
“Is she your sister?” asked Jesse.
“Hardly,” said Holli. “I’m more like a stalker.”
“A stalker?” Meowth was unsure of this girl. She seemed a little too nice, and James was happy to see her, so she couldn’t be a stalker.
“Well not so much a stalker. Just a really big admirer of his.”
“She’s been my best friend since we were babies,” James began. “We were both rich. But my parents didn’t think her family was rich enough. They only had eight vintage cars. (!) That’s why I was engaged to Jessebelle instead. Holli helped me escape from her. We promised to always be friends. But the poor girl has quite a crush on me,” he concluded smugly.
“I don’t see why,” Jesse whispered to Meowth. James and Holli ignored them.
“I’ve accepted that James doesn’t feel the same way. But I can’t let him out of my sight. I couldn’t bear it!” She clasped James around the waist and twirled him around in excitement.
>big sweat drops on Jesse, James and Meowth<
“So instead I’ve modelled myself on him! I think dying my hair blue would’ve been going too far.” Holli flicked the loose hair in the middle of her forehead.
“Y’think? (!)” Jesse muttered, clearly agitated by the pretty girl draped around her friend.
“Oh Jesse don’t be so miserable. I’m making rice balls.”
“Rice balls?” Jesse’s eyes welled up with joyful tears.
“Hooray fa Holli!” Meowth shouted.
As the sun went down and christened the leaves of Viridian forest with an amber glow, James and Holli talked about their past. Holli had to remind him of most of it and as each memory came flooding back, he felt more and more at peace. The light of the sunset played with his hair, turning it a dark violet. Holli couldn’t help gazing at him in wonder. She had missed him more than she could bear to tell.
“I’ve followed your every move you know, James,” she said casually.
“Every move?”
“I left home too. Went to Pokemon Tech. Almost joined Team Rocket. I wasn’t bad enough. I’m too honest. But I’ve tried to keep my distance from you.”
“Why?”
She rested against his shoulder. “I guess I hoped that the saying was true. ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder’. Silly huh?”
He grinned, “Not at all. Its just that…”
She sat up sharply. “What? That bitch Jesse?”
He frowned “Don’t call her that.” Holli turned from him.
“If you think that highly of her then maybe you should –” Holli stopped herself. But James knew what she was going to hint at. He stood up and made his way back to the balloon. “Platonic. Look it up” he spitefully suggested. But she didn’t answer.
Jesse was waiting for him. “Where were you then?” she asked, looking behind him suspiciously. To see if she was with him.
“Honestly Jesse, jealousy doesn’t suit you.”
“Is she sulking? About me? I don’t know what you see in her James.” Jesse scowled and crossed her arms in defience.
“At least she doesn’t hit me all the time!”
“I’m not talking to you if you’re going to be in a bad mood,” she said walking away. James felt even worse. Now I have two women mad at me, he thought. I’m too sexy for my own good.
The next morning, the four of them decided to find the twerps and steal Pikachu. Meowth complained that it was all a bit cliché, so they drew straws. Jesse won, and they set off to find Ash and Co. As they were about to leave in the balloon, the boss rang. Meowth answered the phone. After a few nods, ‘yes’s and ‘uh-huh’s Meowth hung up. “Da boss wants ta see James.” Holli clung to his arm fearfully. James looked at Meowth, then Holli, then Jesse. “I wonder why.”
James went into the headquarters alone. Holli insisted that she should join him. But she respected his wishes. Jesse and Meowth waited by the balloon and Holli decided to go look for a coffee machine. James was sent almost immediately into Giovanni’s office. The boss sat at his desk, stroking the sleeping Persian’s head. He got straight to the point. “James, you three have cocked up one too many times. I’ve realised that out of the three of you, you are the most dispensible. Perhaps Jesse and Meowth would work better alone and with the threat of unemployment hanging above their heads. You must leave Team Rocket.”
“But my friends…”
“If you won’t leave alive…”
“I won’t leave Meowth and Jesse!” he yelled.
“Then in the words of Ann Robinson…you are the weakest link, so goodbye.” The large metal doors to the side of James opened slowly to reveal Jesse and Meowth. James stared in horror; their eyes glinted evilly in the pale light. “That’s not them,” he whispered.
“Very good,’ Giovanni laughed, “You three are obviously close.”
James glowered at him. “What’s wrong with them?”
“Mewtwo came back to me. Like a faithful Growlithe. He is controlling their thoughts. To them, you are the scum of the earth. And they will destroy you.”
“Giovanni!” Holli pushed her way through the guards and ran to meet him face to face. “Let them go. Now.”
“Holli…” James gasped. She glanced to him, smiling warmly. Then her expression turned to steel as she turned to Giovanni.
“Jesse, Meowth!” he commanded. “Kill him.”
“Meowth, fury swipes!” Jesse instructed. He pounced forward claws out. James jumped away just in time. Meowth used his claws to stop himself from skidding along the cold steel floor, and charged again. James didn’t even see him coming. All he felt was the blood trickle down his cheek. The pain stung his eyes. Tears ran down his face and merged with the blood. Tears of sadness, not pain. He couldn’t fight back. He couldn’t fight his friends. Despite the onscreen arguments, they never raised a hand (or paper fan) to each other. Holli knew this. “Stop, Giovanni. Why are you doing this?”
“Because I can,” he chuckled. Holli watched as Jesse kicked James in the gut. He fell to the ground, wincing in shock. The tears welled in Holli’s eyes; she couldn’t bear to see him hurt. She knew she couldn’t get through to Giovanni. But perhaps she could bring Jesse and Meowth back to their side. “Meowth!” she called. He stopped briefly to look up at her. “Don’t you remember James?” Meowth ignored her. “Remember the time you were sick and he carried you 10 miles to the nearest Pokémon Centre?” his eyes flicked. She was getting through to him! “Jesse, who let you borrow the last of his hairspray?”
“James,” Jesse muttered unemotionally.
Holli went on. “Who does most of the digging? Who captured a Raichu for Jesse’s birthday present? Who bought Meowth a little jewel to put in his charm?”
James gazed at them with appealing eyes. Giovanni stood. “Oh please stop. You’re breaking my heart. (!) KILL HIM!”
But it was too late. Their memories had returned. Jesse collapsed into James arms sobbing. “Where am I?” she choked. Meowth sat beside them, looking at the floor in bewilderment. “See, Giovanni? Love is stronger than any psychic Pokémon,” Holli concluded with triumph. But Giovanni was smug.
“Is that so?” he pressed a button on his desk. A machine reared up from behind him. “Win this task and I’ll consider your freedom. Task…‘Eeny, meeny, miney, mo’.” A beam of light came out of the machine. Suddenly the room was filled with Jesse, James, and Meowth projections. Three mechanical hands grabbed the real ones and put them in opposite corners. “Well, who here is real and who is a hologram?”
“Dat’s easy. Whoeva ain’t solid is a projection.”
“Sorry Meowth. They are as solid as this mahogany desk.” They looked around. All the fakes taunted them with cries of “I’m real, not him”, “Over here” etc.
“Let me guess,” said Holli. “These projections have the same traits as their real form and I’m not allowed to help them three.”
“Correct.”
“So there’s no point in shouting ‘doughnuts’ then?" asked a Jesse.
“WHERE?” all the James’s chorused.
“Luckily we Pokémon ‘ave a sixth sense.”
“More like no sense.”
“Jesse?”
“Over here.”
Holli groaned. “This is as confusing as the mirror sequence in that Bruce Lee movie.”
“I love that movie! We watched it last week.”
“That’s the real James!” squealed real Jesse. A metal hand immediately picked him out and brought him to the desk.
“Well done. Now for Jesse and Meowth”
“Hmmmmm,” James thought. “I know. Play along,” he whispered to Holli. “Hey Jesse. Holli just called you an old hag.”
Jesse leapt out of the crowd with an extremely large paper fan at the ready. “HOW DARE SHE!”
“That’s Jesse!” Holli bellowed in excitement. The three of them rejoiced, dancing in a circle. “How shall we lure Meowth?”
“With something round?” Jesse suggested.
“No,” said Holli. “The fakes may have your personalities. But they don’t have your memory. Think of something only Meowth would remember.”
“I once beat him at checkers.”
“Dats coz ya cheated!”
“Meowth?” A Meowth jumped out of the small gathering of Pokémon.
“Do ya really tink ya could beat me at checkas” James sweat dropped in shame.
“You did it.” Giovanni stood calmly beside them. “I’m impressed that you are Team Rocket. But you must still die.” He clicked his fingers and within seconds the room was filled with guards. One by one, they prepared to fire. James stood in front of the girls to protect them. “I’m not usually the man, but if you want to kill my friends you have to go through me.” Jesse was secretly impressed by his bravery.
“Fire a warning shot!” Giovanni demanded. A bullet snipered James right through the shoulder. He fell to the ground. Holli and Jesse tried to help him. Jesse held her silver top against the wound to stop the bleeding. Jesse, James and Holli held each other and closed their eyes as they waited for the next shot. Only Meowth stood his ground. Meowth stood with his feet apart and claws at the ready. Suddenly, he began to glow. His legs grew longer, his claws became shaper. His fur glimmered pure white as a flowing tail grew behind him. His front canine teeth extended to a foot in length and a golden mane took the place of his whiskers. “Meowth is rarer than we thought,” Holli cried with realisation. “ Few Pokémon skip a level in evolution. Meowth skipped being a Persian and is now a…Saber!”
Giovanni yelled in frustration. “So? No Pokémon can beat a firearm.”
“Saber can.” She smiled. “Saber, use ‘Death Star’!” Saber’s fangs radiated with such brilliance that everyone had to shield their eyes. No one knew what happened afterwards.
Jesse and James awoke in the balloon. James held his shoulder and cried in pain. He lent against the wicker side as Jesse inspected the injury. It had already been treated. She also noticed Meowth lying curled up beside them. “But I thought Meowth evolved!” exclaimed Jesse.
“He did,” Holli joined them with a cup of saki. “He is technically a Saber now. A Saber is a Time Pokémon. It has all the elements in its attacks and defence. No weakness, no flaw.”
Jesse snickered. “Doesn’t sound like Meowth to me!”
“Saber can manipulate time. So that’s what he did. According to the news, Giovanni is missing. I’m not sure what Saber did with Giovanni during the time lapse. I don’t think Meowth knows either”
“Why is Saber a Meowth again?” James pondered.
“It has all the elements. It’s a fire, electric, normal etc type. And it can use all attacks. It is using Ditto’s attack ‘Transform’. I think it feels more comfortable as a Meowth.” She concluded with this deduction and finished her saki with one gulp. Jesse and James understood. Meowth had never wanted to evolve. Yet he did it for them. Jesse kissed his forehead. “Thanks, you little freak.” She whispered affectionately.
That afternoon after Holli had re-bandaged James’ arm, she went to fetch some food for dinner and for the morning. James was enjoying the sun. He didn’t bother to put his shirt back on. Jesse found herself staring at his pale chest. He breathed in…out, in…out.
“Do I…?” she remembered his display of protectiveness yesterday. Was it over her, or Holli? She didn’t want to know either way. Why spoil their friendship? Meowth watched her. He couldn’t believe that the fiery Jesse he knew so well was afraid. They both wondered what James was thinking. His thoughts were on earlier that day. When Holli had been tending to his wounds, she’d asked him a question. His answer to it was ‘yes’. How would he tell Jesse? He didn’t know how she’d react. She might be pleased. Or she could avoid him forever. If she were a true friend she would not do that, he figured. And she was a true friend. Despite their occasional quarrel. It was now or never.
“Jesse?” he called. She flinched. What does he want, she thought. She sat next to him on the grass and they watched as a swarm of Ledyba flew by. “Jesse, Holli asked me something earlier.” Jesse panicked. Holli had cut to the chase. She may well win James. “My answer was ‘yes’. The question was…”
Jesse stood up, “Oh I know all about you two! Flirting from the moment she got here! Disgusting! You practically shagged her in front of our eyes! Go ahead! Marry her. Do what you want!” James grabbed her arm and pulled her back to the ground. The gesture caused him to wince slightly. He used his other hand to steady her chin as he kissed her forcefully. Meowth decided to make a hasty exit. After a while, she pulled back. Breathlessly he explained, “The question I said ‘yes’ to was ‘Do you love Jesse?’” She blinked tearfully. She reached out with her hand and ran it across the side of his face. She felt his hand brush the underside of her arm and stroke her face as she had stroked his. At his touch she closed her eyes and blindly let his fingers trace a delicate path from her temples to the corners of her mouth. When his fingers reached her lips she parted them and let him tenderly explore their rim again. She felt the flat of his hand travel down her side and over her hip to her belly. He felt her quake and held her more tightly to him, burrowing his face to find hers, feeling the tears of relief that streamed on her cheek and smoothing, soothing them with his lips. Afraid that Meowth or Holli would return; they retired to a cave; the usually cold stone had been warmed by the July sun. James reached out and drew her to him to kiss her again. He felt her hands on his bare chest. Jesse closed her eyes and thought, there is nothing but this. No other time, nor place nor being than now and here and him and us.
Holli would not return, and James knew why. She knew exactly what James wanted even from the start. James knew he would never find someone as understanding as her. He turned to Jesse. She lay along his body, nestled in the shelter of his arm. He could feel her breath on his skin. The palm of her right hand lay on his chest above his heart. He lay quite still so as not to wake her. Maybe he was afraid to. He hoped Meowth would not come looking for them. He kissed her hair and found himself wanting this moment to last forever. She soon stirred and they both journeyed back to the balloon. Jesse seemed surprised that Holli left. Meowth said she brought back the food and left two notes for each of them.
Jesse’s said simply this:
Look after our James
James’ was longer:
Dearest James,
Your friendship means so much to me. I was so lucky to have you nearby once again. Not many have the chance to be in your presence for so long. You change your mind often, you always have. But this is one decision that I know is final. I cannot be disappointed for myself, just happy for you. A true friend would be. Sayonara.
Holli
XXX
James felt contented. Holli was never one to be bitter. He would let himself concentrate on other things now. He decided that they should all put together what little money they had. “Why?” said Jesse. “Surely your parents will give you the inheritance when we’re married.”
“Married?!” James squealed.
Jesse raised one of her trademark paper fans. “Are you saying YOU WON’T COMMIT?” Meowth shook his head as Jesse chased James around the forest, demanding the finest of rings. “Doze two will neva grow up!”
