FanFictioner144
TRio enthusiast
- Pronouns
- him/his/their
Summary
James has to escape from his fiancée, using all the help he can get from those around:- His beloved Growlie, determined to protect him at all costs;
- Jessie and Meowth, both preparing a questionable scheme to flee; and
- The twerps, who share the same goal of escaping from Jessebelle.
Notes
One of my more recent stories to feature a Team Rocket episode rewrite.When it comes to shedding light on James’s past, this episode clearly stands out for building up an impactful backstory. However, the characters around him remained largely underdeveloped, including his Growlie (to whom James waved goodbye unnecessarily) and Ash & company (who didn’t get involved as much in the plot).
Thinking about it, I wrote this fanfiction, aiming to add an extra layer of development for each character. While a few moments from the episode appear in the tale, most of its events are unique to it.
Oh, and there are a few secrets within this story, ranging from musical references to foreign words. Can you find them all?
Single Chapter:
James had fallen into Jessebelle’s trap, despite all the resistance he offered. And then, after an exhausting cat-mouse chase, he couldn’t do much but drop himself on the ground, his fate right ahead; the more his fiancée laughed, the less he held back his screams.As James shut his eyes closed, a familiar growl led him to reopen these, rewarding him with the sight of Growlie — his beloved Growlithe — standing by him. Before Jessebelle could get her Vileplume to react, Growlie quickly headbutted James away, carrying him through a window and away from the place.
After some run, James’s eyes met with Team Ash’s and Team Rocket’s not very far ahead. With that, Growlie slowed down abruptly, throwing a still shrieking James a few feet forward.
Jessie was the first to sprint in his aid. “James! Get up, now!” She incited, grabbing his arm and pulling him upwards.
Concurrently, Ash did the same for James’s other arm. “Are you alright?” He asked out of concern.
“Just a little more… ugh.“ James groaned as he got into a sitting position. Mere instants later, he swiftly stood up, gasping for air. “Thank you, thank you!”
“Haha, it was nothing!” Ash laughed.
Growlie swiftly stepped towards its master. “Roow row, Roow!” It cheered with a grin.
James squatted to pat its head. “You’re the best, Growlie,” He praised.
The two of them traded several giggles and wiggles of joy for a good few seconds, while Ash, his friends, Jessie and Meowth observed.
“Guess all’s good when it ends well, ain’t that true?” Meowth chimed in, placing both paws on his hips.
“Chaa.” Pikachu smiled.
“I’m not sure.” Brock shook his head. “It might not be ov-
“Jaaames, look behind you! It’s me~!” A sudden shout from Jessebelle echoed through everyone’s ears.
As everyone gasped in alarm, James and Growlie pulled away from each other. Turning around, they spotted the fiancée and her Vileplume fancily closing in, 10 meters apart from them.
“Leave me alone!” James yelled, backing away.
“Keep movin’!” Meowth panicked.
Each one of them, including Growlie, quickly began running through the grassy field, steering away from the buildings. A few glances back revealed that their pursuers grew more and more distant from them, a small alleviation compared to their limited breath for the run.
“No, my beloved, you are not running properly!” Jessebelle shouted in a high-pitched voice. “Come here, let me teach you the right way!”
“Viile-plumm!” Vileplume added, keeping up with its master.
“Steer away from us, you crazy woman!” Jessie retorted, clenching her fist in the air.
As they ran past a small elevation, however, an iron fence showed itself ahead of them. At that rate, they would be forced to full stop in just a matter of seconds.
“Great, just great!” Misty complained. “We’re trapped in here, while we get chased by a literal maniac!”
“And we can’t run forever, either,” Brock said. “We’ll have to face her soon.”
Upon Brock’s last line, Ash instantly halted his run. “Alright, we’ll show her, Pikachu!” He asserted, turning to face its friend.
“Pika-pikaa!” Pikachu bellowed, quickly turning its narrowed eyes to Jessebelle.
“Wait for me, honey~!” She praised, facing James. “I’m coming for you!”
“Aa-augh!” he shrieked out of despair, placing both hands around his head.
Frowning, Growlie stepped in front of James. “Rrr-row, row!” It barked at Jessebelle.
At the start of the battle, Ash pointed a finger at Vileplume. “Now, Electric Shock!” He commanded Pikachu.
However, a drop of sweat fell from its forehead. “Pii-ka?!” Pikachu uneasily doubted
“That’s our cue, Vileplume!” Jessebelle celebrated, clapping her hands. “Send them to sleep with Sleep Powder!”
“Vileplumm!” Vileplume cheered before releasing a brown powder from its flowery head, aiming at the opposing group.
“Pikachuu!” Ash cried, outstretching his right hand towards his friend.
In a split second, Growlie opened its mouth and barked a beam of fire at the powder. Under the flames, the particles burned right away, falling to the ground as a pile of ash.
“Don’t be a fool, Ash!” Misty yelled. “Electric Shock isn’t an attack!”
“Uhh, sorry, I meant Thunder Shock,” Ash apologized, then turning to face Pikachu. “Let’s try again, buddy! Use Thunder Shock!”
“Ka-pii chu!” Pikachu nodded, electric sparks throbbing from its cheeks.
“Don’t let it get through!” Jessebelle panicked.
“Pii-kaa-chuuuu!” Pikachu shouted, unleashing an electric flow at Vileplume. The resulting impact pushed the enemy backwards, making it ram into Jessebelle.
Gasping, she began sprinting away. “No! It’s not appropriate!” Jessebelle vociferated, shaking her body to let go of Vileplume. “I will call your parents for our own good, dear James! And get that beast away from meeee!”
Growlie howled at her, and then turned to James, waggling its tail. “Rooooow!” It rejoiced in front of him.
“Thank you, my friend.” James smiled.
“Row,” Growlie welcomed with a grin.
Concurrently, Pikachu jumped to Ash’s arms. “Pika-pi!” It cheered.
Ash returned its affection with a soft hug. “You’re the best, Pikac-“
“Jimmy-boy! Get yerself over here now, ‘cause we takin’ off!” Meowth’s voice overlapped Ash’s.
James, Growlie, Ash and his friends turned around, their eyes locking at a hot-air balloon, the burner already turned on. Aboard it were Jessie and Meowth.
“What’s happening?” Misty complained, frowning.
“Ahahah! Don’t you know what ‘planning ahead’ means?” Jessie laughed. “Oh, right, I forgot you twerps don’t do that.”
“What’re ya waitin’ for, Jim?” Meowth called, pulling a burner string to intensify the fire. “It’s either take or leave!”
For a moment, James watched the balloon finally getting off the ground, ascending at a slow speed. Out of the trance, he turned to Growlie. “Follow me, old friend,” He invited before running towards his teammates.
Growlie assented, making short jumps in James’s direction.
Meanwhile, Ash stiffened his posture. “Wait for us!” He demanded, starting a run as well.
With Growlie already on his left hand, James made a jump for it, quickly holding onto the green basket of the balloon. In a quick succession, his Pokémon bounced aboard, allowing him to use his other hand and climb it up — with his teammates’ help.
At that point, Ash halted his run, watching the balloon float out of his reach. “You can’t leave us behind!” He yelled.
“Just how low can you stoop, Team Rocket?” Misty accused.
Jessie raised her hands in the air. “How low?! That almost screams ‘Prepare for trouble’!” She recited.
“And you ought to know, we make it double!” James continued, swinging his arms.
An intangible shout escaped from Ash. “No, you don’t! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt Attack!” He ordered.
The sight of Pikachu’s flashes of electricity made each of the Team Rocket trio gasp, their heartbeats skyrocketing. Nothing could be said or done before…
…before Growlie jumped to the basket edge, throwing a fire stream at the electric barrage. In the end, both attacks collided, making a loud bang before being nullified into nothingness.
“I wasn’t expecting that one,” Jessie commented, staring blankly at Growlie.
“…” James nodded without a word.
“Way to turn the tables, Growly!” Meowth praised before jumping to the edge as well. “Ya seen it, twerps; that’s the wheels fallin’ off for ya!”
“Not so fast!” Ash retorted in an equally loud tone. “Pikachu, give it another sho-“
“Ash, stop!” Brock urged at the last second. “Attacking them won’t help us here. Let them go; we’ll…”
However, Jessie, James and Meowth could no longer listen to their nemeses, given the increasing distance between them. That meant the twerps no longer posed a threat...
No, wait! Jessebelle no longer posed a threat to them. What a pain reliever! No more mad woman trying to take James away by force! Plus, with his beloved Growlie aboard the Team Rocket balloon, he felt like the most euphoric one from the quartet. Nothing could take his joy away!
“Woo-hoo, we made it!” James triumphed, his eyes glinting with happiness.
“Woah! I’ve never seen you so eager, James!” Jessie exclaimed with a soft smile.
“Thank you!” James returned an even larger grin.
Smiling at its master’s happiness, Growlie nudged his boot. “Row roow!” It contributed to the joyful atmosphere.
James tilted his head to look at the Pokémon. “Growlie…” He began, his smile fading away. “You left home to stay with me. Don’t you miss your old life?”
Growlie stood slightly higher. “Row?! Roow, row row ro-oow Roow!” It barked in a determined tone, pointing a paw at its master.
“Hahah, I kinda figured that out!” James laughed, squatting to look at his friend face to face.
As the two of them giggled, Meowth placed both paws on his hips. “Ahem, as if Jimmy’s mushy feelings wer-“
Jessie swiftly moved her shoe to block his mouth. “Quiet, you!” She demanded, soon retracting her leg.
In a moment, Meowth’s cheeks turned slightly green, his head spinning dizzily.
Meanwhile, James shrugged at the scene. “Anyway, friend. Since we’re now together, would you accept me as your trainer?” He offered, moving a hand to his pocket to grab a Poké Ball.
Growlie tilted its head at the object, then backing away from it. “Rrow?” It doubted.
“Don’t worry, it’s just a Poké Ball,” James explained. “It won’t hurt you.”
“Rowww!” Growlie dissented with a shake of its head.
From the sideline, Meowth — already back to normal — stepped in. “Hey, dontcha’ see he ain’t gonna let no sphere trap ‘im in?” He snarled, folding his arms. “He’s got a sense o’ pride just like me, n’ nuttin’s gonna take these two wild Pokémon’ freedom away!”
James slowly returned the Poké Ball to his pocket. “Oh, I’m sorry,” He apologized.
Snorting, Jessie came closer. “Where has your eagerness gone, James?” She questioned. “Come on, make this your day!”
“Yeah, I got it,” James stated, returning his look at Growlie. “It’s not everyday that we get a new friend… and I couldn’t leave you behind after what Jessebelle said about you.”
“Row,” Growlie cheered, a grin rebuilding itself at its face.
“So… welcome to the team, friend!” James greeted.
Growlie jumped out of excitement, cheering at its new friends. A few woofs of joy escaped from its mouth as it rounded the trio several times.
Amidst the eagerness, Meowth giggled along. “Who woulda’ thought we’d survive a literal nightmare n’ get the better of the twerps, all the same..-“ He chimed in, although a pause turned his face paler. “Oh, naw! We forgot the golden prize, Pikachu!”
James winced. “I’m fine with that. Anything over getting married with her.”
“Y’er kiddin’, right?” Meowth complained further. “We got a reputation to seal! We gotta U-turn n’ make our way back to the twerps! What’re ya waitin’ for? C’mon, no time to waste in this…”
As Meowth spoke, Jessie directed a smirk at James. “Are you thinking the same?” She asked in a whisper.
“No doubt.” James returned the smirk.
“Huh?! What’s that strange look in yer eyes?” Meowth interrogated, a few drops of sweat falling down his face.
In a whoosh, Jessie and James advanced to grab Meowth’s arms, lifting him up and towards the balloon edge.
“Naw! Youse can’t yeet me out like that! We’re a team!” Meowth screamed, squirming under their grasp. “Look, I-I’m sorry for all I mighta’ said-”
“See you later!” Jessie and James declared in unison, throwing Meowth away from the balloon.
Screaming, he looked down to see a sparse forest several meters below and nearing. “Meow, not the price I get paid for doin’ my comic relief! I demand better job security!” He panicked, swinging his arms all around. “Looks like Meowth’s blastin’ off agaaain!”
Watching him fall, Jessie placed both hands on her hips. “Ha! Let that teach him a lesson!” She gloated.
James, on the other hand, glanced a frowning Growlie, who in turn nodded in understanding. After thanking it with a soft smile, he turned to look at his partner. “I can’t believe that he was fine going back there!” He cried.
“No, in no world would we return to that estate of yours,” Jessie claimed, turning her hair around. “Our freedom goes beyond their money.”
“You know what that means, right?” James asked, extending his hand towards her. “Double trouble time, Jessie.”
A smirk formed on Jessie’s lips as she unfolded her arms. “Sounds great to me, James.” She took his hand.
The duo held hands in a gentle, yet firm, grip, giggling at each other’s presence. After all, rejoicing at their freedom not only gave them purpose, but also strengthened their camaraderie. For all Jessie and James knew, they were promised a long, though rewarding, journey from which they could only win in their hearts.
Watching the duo, Growlie began wowing to the skies, letting out many long, low-pitched noises of appreciation.
••••••••••
Ash and his friends stood outside of the estate gate, while Jessebelle and butler Hopkins worked to lock it.
“You are no longer welcome around our estate,” Hopkins declared with his megaphone. “Now go away and never come back!”
Frowning, Ash and his friends walked away from the gate. Each of them (except Pikachu, who simply shut its eyes) had their hands covering their ears.
“How could you let my beloved James escape from me!?” Jessebelle complained, tears falling down her eyes. “I can’t stand people like you! Go, go! And I’ll remind you, that’s not the right way of walking away from a lady!”
A few seconds later, Ash, Misty and Brock uncovered their ears, their distance from Jessebelle and Hopkins far enough to allow them a relieved breath.
However, the situation was in no sense alright; Jessie, James and Meowth had earlier left Ash and his friends behind, forcing them to wait until eventually being expelled from the estate. Listening to the complaints from James’s family wore out the young trainers completely.
“Ugh, Team Rocket had to leave us hanging at the worst moment!” Misty scolded, clenching her fist.
“I know, right? They’re simply the worst!” Ash added.
“Chu,” Pikachu snorted, its eyes narrowed.
On the other side, Brock’s posture remained composed. “Hmm… it’s still kinda weird that James had everything — money, stability, a family,” He pondered, “but he chose Team Rocket over all that.
Ash tilted his head. “How’s that any strange?” He questioned. “He was just a coward who wasted a rich life!”
“I don’t think money mattered to him,” Brock replied, shaking his head. “If anything, he sought freedom from a strict life. And he found it in Team Rocket, with Jessie and Meowth.”
“Hmph! Even so, picking a life of crime was a horrible decision!” Misty asserted. “He should’ve known better to pick something else.”
With that, the young trainers quieted down and carried on their journey, with Pikachu silently following from behind. Even though Team Rocket stayed true to their evil nature, James’s past shed light on his current life. And while Ash and his friends could care less about them, they learned that every villain had their beginnings.
So what about Jessie’s and Meowth’s origins?