"So this Ninetails is the center of your new plan?" Jessie asked.

Giovanni nodded from where he stood beside her, "That’s right. I’ve seen what this Pokémon can do, and I think I know how we can use its powers to our own advantage."

Ninetails watched the man and a woman up on a balcony above her. She recognized the woman.

"as you can see, the Pokeball seems to have tamed her, as we hoped." Giovanni said, "Jessie, she now sees you as her trainer, I’d assume, since you were the one who caught her."

Jessie gulped, "Umm, Ninetails, good Pokémon…" she cooed, "How are you?"

Ninetails looked pleased to see Jessie, "Nine!" she yapped.

Giovanni led Jessie down the stairs to Ninetails, who sat placidly on the tiles. Jessie tentatively patted Ninetails, who half growled, half purred. Giovanni smiled, "This Ninetails is our ticket to the world."

"How, exactly?" Jessie asked, as Ninetails rolled over onto her back to let Jessie scratch her stomach.

"She can command armies of Pokémon with that howl of hers." Giovanni said, "there’s an ancient prophecy that a cursed creature will open the portal to another world. If we can harness her, that kind of power will prove quite useful, don’t you think?"

"How do you know the creature is Ninetails?" Jessie asked.

"Engraved into one of the tablets was a drawing of a Ninetails. That must, of course be the creature."

"Yeah, I can see that." Jessie said, "Where do you think Ninetails came from?"

"I don’t think, I know." Giovanni said, "She was created by us. We exposed her to an element stone which we found, but we thought it had no effect, so Ninetails was released. It was after that time that we found out about the prophecy, and realized our mistake of letting her go free."

Jessie nodded slowly, "But how did you hear about that prophecy?"

"it was written in some sort of hieroglyphics on stone tablets." Giovanni explained, "They were discovered by archeologists on a dig about a week ago. It was after Ninetails was set free. It took four days for scientists to decipher what the tablets said. They were written in the same language as the tablets found about Pokémopolis."

Jessie stopped petting Ninetails, and looked at her hand. It was covered in a fine film of blue dust, "What’s this stuff?" she asked, "Does she have dandruff or something?"

Giovanni shook his head, "That white dust is one of Ninetails’ attacks. Confusion powder, we call it. We did some tests on Ninetails the day you caught her, and the results were fascinating."

Jessie changed the subject briefly, "I spoke to my partner today." She said, "You knew about it, no doubt?"

"Yes, I was informed." Giovanni said, "What about him?"

"Well, doesn’t he need a partner? Or will he just work alone?" Jessie asked, "I mean, I can’t be his partner anymore, can I?"

"No, you’re right about that." Giovanni said, "The fact is, I don’t see it necessary to waste time finding him a new partner. He will have to work alone, for now at least."

Jessie shrugged, "He’ll be fine, I’m sure."

----------------

four figures walked along a path through the woods near Saffron City. The girl with light brown hair walked closely to the oldest member of the foursome, a tall young man with dark brown hair and a dark complexion.

"Well, usually they find us." Brock said, "They come in their stupid hot air balloon, and,"

"say that motto!" Krystal finished, "Yeah, I know who you mean! Is Jay really with them?"

"Yeah, she was helping them in one of their plans." Ash said grudgingly, "She did that dumb motto with James."

"Then Jessie came out of hiding and grabbed Pikachu." Brock said, "It was one of their most original plans, I must say."

Ash cried out excitedly, "Look you guys, smoke! There must be a campfire ahead. They must be there."

He pointed up, and sure enough, everyone could see wisps of smoke rising through the trees.

Misty sweat dropped, "Do you really think we should just burst into their campsite?" she bit her lip, "They are our enemies you know."

Krystal waved her hand in the air, "Don’t worry, we’ll just find Jaycee, and then I can speak with her."

Brock was thoughtful as they walked, "Krystal, how do you know Jaycee anyway? did she fall from the sky too?"

Krystal grinned, "You never know."

James tried hopelessly to start a fire, after incalculable attempts from Jaycee.

"Damn it." James said under his breath, "Where’s Jessie when you need her?"

Jaycee sat placidly near him, playing with the gold locket around her neck, which hung from a delicate gold chain. James stood up from where he crouched and approached her. She snapped the heart shaped locket shut, and eyed him, "So, what if we just eat stuff straight out of cans as usual?" he suggested, "Cooking is too hard."

Jaycee nodded, "Yeah, sounds fine."

James pointed to the locket nonchalantly, "Um, what’s in the locket?"

"It’s just a locket." Jaycee said lamely. She held it up, "look, it’s got a rose engraved on the front. Cool huh?"

James nodded vigorously, "Yeah, sure is." She looked at her craftily, "Can I see it?"

Jaycee sweat dropped. She didn’t want to give it to him, but when he looked at her like that…one eyebrow raised slightly, beautiful green eyes shining, "Uh huh." She said absentmindedly, slipping the chain off over her head, and handing the whole thing to James.

James grinned, and after a brief struggle, opened the tiny heart shaped locket. His smile turned to a look of puzzlement, then embarrassment, "Oh." He said, "It’s…me."

Jaycee came to her senses, and took the locket back, "Well, I put it in there when I first got the locket." She said sheepishly. She could still remember cutting the tiny color picture of James out of a magazine article about Pokémon: the first Movie. She slipped the locket back on, "You don’t mind do you?" she asked.

James was leaning closer to her, and Jaycee sensed hyperventilation welling up inside her, "I don’t think I mind so much now." James said softly.

Jaycee tried to speak. She opened her mouth, but her voice box wasn’t working.

They were suddenly interrupted, "Jaycee?!" cried Krystal, "Oh my god, you’re really here!"

Jaycee grudgingly drew away from James to face the voice. Her mouth fell open, and she remembered how to speak, "Krys?! Oh my god, Krys, you’re here too!"

The two friends ran to each other, then stopped short and started talking. James looked a little dazed. Ash, Brock and Misty just looked at him. he smiled sheepishly, sweat dropping.

"Jay, I can’t believe it! I found you!" cried Krystal.

Jaycee grinned, "So, you found Brock, huh?"

Krystal smiled coyly, "Not like you found James."

"Yes, well, I learn from the best." Jaycee replied, buffing her nails on her dress. She frowned, "How did you get here?"

"How did you?" Krystal asked, "As far as I know, you’re still in a coma back home! But I found your note, and I knew you must have somehow come here."

"A coma?" Jaycee repeated, "So I’m not dead over there?"

"Nope." Krystal replied, "you’re stable, but I guess as long as you’re here, you’re not gonna wake up."

"So, how did you manage to get here? It was just a fluke for me." Jaycee said.

Krystal grinned, "Oh, it was easy enough. You know, full moon, chanting, candles, picture of Brock. And also dead luck. A fluke." She shook her head in disbelief, "I still can’t believe I’m -we’re- here!"

Ash, Misty, Brock and James all watched silently as the two friends reunited.

Brock spoke, "Gosh Krystal, you really aren’t from around here are you?"

James ignored him, "So, Krystal is from the same world as you, Jaycee?"

Jaycee nodded, "Yep, she’s my best friend. She was the only reason I had for even thinking about not coming." Jaycee said. She turned to Krystal, "Now you’re here everything will be perfect."

Krystal nodded, "Yeah, I mean, I wanted to bring you back with me, but I’m thinking of staying. I mean," she spoke in a quieter tone, and gestured to Brock, "Just look what I get to look at here!"

"You disgust me." Jaycee said, shaking her head.

Misty frowned, "Why isn’t Jessie here?"

"Yeah, doesn’t she camp with you guys?" Ash asked.

James grew sad, "Jessie, isn’t my partner any more." He said softly.

Krystal’s eyes grew wide, "Jaycee, you bumped her off! How’d you manage that? I guess it’s worth it now, cos you get Jamesey boy to yourself now."

Jaycee shot her a death stare, "No, I did not. Giovanni has made her his business partner."

"Oh, the boss guy." Krystal said, nodding.

"I take it you watch the show too?" James asked Krystal, "And I guess you’re obsessed with Brock?"

Brock stepped forward, not half understanding the conversation, "Well, many are." He said.

Krystal shrugged, half ignoring his question, "Do you guys wanna get something to eat? I’m starving."

Jaycee and James both nodded, and Meowth stirred on his branch, "Food? count me in! can we have a picnic?"

Everyone agreed this was at least the cheapest option, especially if they combined their supplies. James didn’t even mind having to eat lunch with the Twerp Patrol…much.