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The day had started like many others had in the past. The three had woken up, eaten breakfast, and went on their way to catch Pikachu.
James was the one who came up with the plan. They would set up a decoy of a female pikachu and when the little yellow rodent came to investagate, they would catch him, and take him to the boss.
They set the trap in a clearing near the edge of an old quarry. In their mind, the plan was almost certain to work. They had even made the cage out of rubber-coated metal.
Around noon Misty, Ash, and Brock were walking down the path near where the cage and decoy were rigged. As they walked, some thing caught the eye of Pikachu, who promptly wandered off. "Pika-pik?" he exclaimed and shyly walked up to the wooden female.
Pikachu realized as he neared, that this was not a real Pikachu. But, as he moved to get out of the clearing, the cage slammed down around him. He gave a yell of fear and surprise. Ash and the others ran to his side, finding him caught.
Laughter came from the tree line and Team Rocket stepped out."You fools fell right into our trap." James said, a rose in his left hand.
"That's right"Jesse said as she chorteled. "Now we have your Pikachu, and there's nothing you can do about it!" Meowth stood at their feet, his laughter having more of a hissing sound.
"Oh yeah?" Ash asked, clutching a poke`ball in his right hand. He flung it out, "Charizard, I chose you!" The lizard dragon croutched on the ground before Ash, "Charrrr" it growled. "Charizard, Flamethrower!" It obeyed, shooting flames from his mouth at the bars. The rubber melted like the wax of a candle, exposing the bare metal underneath.
Ash yelled again, "Pikachu, thundershock!" Around them was a growing smell of ozone as the air crackled with electricity. A tourent of energy hit the group of three, sending them in different directions. James and Meowth sailed over the canopy, while Jesse went the oppisite way, towards the quarry.
Ash and the others picked the lock of the poorly made cage and escaped with Pikachu before his captors could return.
James and Meowth regained conciousness a short time later. James groaned and rubbed his head, still dizzy from the landing. He dreaded what Jesse would do to him. It had, after all, been his idea. When a quick search of the forest around them did not turn up Jesse, the two started to worry.
The clearing was empty as well, and the nearby stream showed no sign that she had been there. As Meowth shreaded through the undergrowth, James walked along the edge of the quarry, fearing what he may find.
Several minutes later he found what he had feared the most. Jesse, still, at the bottom of the slope. For James at that moment, everything slowed down. He went down the edge of the ravien and to her side. As he neared he heard her breathing, pained and shallow.
"Jesse" he whispered and placed one hand on her shoulder.Hot tears welled up in his eyes, and burned his cheecks "No, not Jesse," gently he turned her over.
Down her left side was a deep slash, and her face was so very, very pale. She drew in a breath sharply and opened her eyes. "James..." she said softly. "Don't speak, save your breath." He lifted her up and held her gently in his arms. The white shirt she often wore was stained with the crimson of her blood.
He carried her up the steep sides of the quarry and layed her on the grass. From the backpack besides him he took a cloth and pressed it to the wound. The bleeding slowed, and soon stopped. Still she was not out of danger. Shock could set in at any moment, and infection was a very real problem.
A hospital was in the next city, but if she had to travel that far in her present condition Jesse would never survive. Instead he took her to an abandoned shack that they had passed hours earlier. To James the walk seemed like the longest one he had ever taken.
His heart ached at every moan of pain that she made, and it was then that he realized how much it would hurt not to have her around, and that he loved her.
He put his hand to her forehead. She had a fever, and it was high. Digging in the backpack he found a wash cloth, which he dampened in cold water and placed on her head.
James knew he could not let her see him cry. But while she slept he broke down. Quietly he whispered "Please don't die Jesse, don't die, I...I love you." He put his head in his hands and cried.
That whole night he didn't leave her bedside. Keeping a candle light vigil he changed her bandages and kept her temperature down.
Her fever broke the next morning. She opened up her crisp, blue eyes and looked into his. That night had brought them closer than anything else could have. The two people had converged into one soul. And both knew how much they loved each other, needed each other.
As the weeks passed and Jesse regained her strength, the three started to catch up with Ash, Misty, and Brock. They laughed more and fought less, knowing now that life was a gift, and that it could still hold the joy and wonder it did when they were young.
Several days later, their paths crossed again, but they were ready. When Ash and they others saw Team Rocket, they were stunned. That they could still live after the blast they had been given mystified him and his ilk. But that did not stop Misty from being quick on the draw. "Starmie, bubblebeam!"
"Arbok, go, wrap attack!" Jesse countered. The two creatures faced each other. The Starmie attacked first, but the Arbok quickly dodged the move. Then, in one swift movement, the great cobra wrapped its body around the Starmie's. Its power dropped until it fainted.
Pikachu ran out in front of Ash "Pika-Pik!" it yelled, issueing a challange. "Wheezing, go." James yelled in response. Again two pokémon met in battle. This time Wheezing went first.
"Smog attack!" He roared. The noxious cloud surounded the Pikachu, blinding him as it had done once before. Then, the Wheezing tackled him, knocking the little mouse to the ground, and knocking him out.
Jessie picked up the uncouncious Pikachu. Ash raised the ball containing Charizard over his head. "Don't," James said, "don't even try it."
Ash and the others stood in disbelife. "Why not?"
"Simply, we will win, and we will win because we have learned the love and respect one needs to be a trainer."
Ash, Misty, and Brock stood, mouths agape, as Jesse and James walked arm-in-arm into the sun set, with Meowth trotting merrily besides them.