The next morning we decided to head out into the woods to look for Pokemon. We were less likely run into Jesse's supposed father that way, and we weren't really in the mood for stealing anything, at least not with our usual flair.
We looked all morning without results until Jesse saw a Growlithe standing under a tree. For a moment we couldn't believe it was wild, but there was no one around and it didn't look as if it had been groomed and petted by a trainer.
Jesse turned to me. "I feel like I should give it to you, James."
I was surprised by her generosity but I shook my head. "Someday I'll get mine back."
Jesse smiled and called out Arbok. Arbok had been gaining experience, but it still had trouble defeating this Growlithe. Eventually the wild pokemon did weaken and Jesse was about to call it into her Pokeball when we heard a disturbance behind us.
"It's Team Rocket," said a voice that could only be Misty.
Ash, Misty, and Brock came toward us. "What are you doing, stealing someone's Growlithe?" asked Brock.
"We aren't stealing it!" shouted Jesse. "We found it wild!"
"I never heard of a wild Growlithe around here," said Ash.
"Does it look to you like it has a trainer?" replied Jesse.
"It looks to me like it's been in a fight with an Arbok," said Brock. "Pokeball, go!"
And he captured the Growlithe before anyone could stop him.
"We're not going to let you get away with this!" I yelled. Arbok was too weak for another battle, but Jesse called out Soonasu and I called out Weezing and Victreebell. We couldn't resist the opportunity to recite the motto, but we rushed it.
Ash of course turned to Pikachu and said "Thundershock," but for once Pikachu just wouldn't do it. He began an elaborate explanation that none of us could understand. Ash backed away. "Maybe they really didn't steal it? Pikachu doesn't want to attack."
Brock wasn't convinced. "He just remembers that time he belonged to them."
Misty got angry, "He never belonged to them! Ash forgave for me for... loaning them Pikachu so why can't you? But I'm sure they stole that Growlithe."
Brock grew quiet, but he called out Onix and Vulpix. Misty, who evidently didn't feel any need to trust us, called out Staryu. I was hoping Psyduck would show up instead, but no such luck, and in a matter of seconds we were blasting off into some trees.
This happens to us all the time, and Jesse usually takes it well. But the humiliation of having our Pokemon stolen by Team Twerp was too much for her, and she looked ready to kill them with her bare hands. I had to convince her to calm down. "If we couldn't beat them then, we can't beat them right now. Let's eat something instead."
She hit me then. While I was still rubbing my head, a figure appeared in the trees.
"My dear Jesse," he said. "Sorry to have to meet you in such awkward circumstances. Surely you remember your father?"