Chapter 5

Giovanni gazed around the lab. He looked down at the scientists as if they were bugs beneath his feet.

" What do you mean you didn't open the portal? " he growled threateningly. "I have been funding your pathetic attempts for 5 years, and once we have a break through you have the stupidity to tell me it was someone else? "

" Well, s-sir, we were nearly ready to do it ourselves… "

" I don't want to hear your pathetic excuses! I've been hearing them ever since this project started. We are the only group with the technology needed to cross dimensional barriers, or so you say. "

" W-we think it was caused by a freak accident, " whispered the scientist, sweat pouring down his face, eyes wide with fear.

" I don't care. Do you idiots have the PUC device ready, at least? "

" Yes, we do! All you need to do is get to the portal and turn it on. "

" Excellent. I may spare you yet. Prepare Mewtwo for transport. I want him at the site in 2 hours. "

Giovanni marched out, carrying a small device with him; the PUC. It was shaped like a gun, at Giovanni's insistence. He was a fan of the phrase " go with what you know ".

The scientist breathed a sigh of relief and turned to his work-mate. " Hey Tom, you think we should have told him about the break-in? "

Tom snorted. " Are you suicidal or something? If he knew that someone had hacked into our computers… besides, we still don't know who it was. "

" Maybe it was the creature. "

Everyone in the room laughed. " Ha! Simon, I never knew you had a sense of humour! The creature could never have done this. It's only an animal. "

" Oh really? " said an amused voice. " To me, you are just a human. And a pathetically weak one at that… "

Everyone in the room spun round, trying to find where the voice was coming from. If the speaker was who they thought it was, they were all dead. Unfortunately, none of them had ever seen Alien, and therefore never thought to check the air vents. What happened to the victims on Alien would end up becoming very relevant to them…

The vent exploded! Simon screamed as shrapnel was embedded into his face. No-one heard him. They were too busy screaming themselves.

Out of the vent crawled a deformed, cat-like being, eyes glowing an icy blue. It grinned maniacally at them, dreaming of what it would do to them.

" I felt so sorry about your work, " it said pityingly, " and how badly it was doing, so I decided to intervene. I knew Giovanni would be distracted by it. Maybe distracted enough to not notice a few, personal, ah, missing… "

" Y-you can't do that! " cried Tom in fear. " You're just a Pokemon, you could never mess with dimensional space! "

Mewtwo looked sad. " So, you think I'm just a puny genetic freak. No-one believes in my powers… I know! I'll show you my powers… "

The monster's eyes glowed blue. Tom felt afraid. He felt trapped, like the walls were closing in on him.

He gasped in shock. They WERE closing in on him!

He screamed hysterically. " No, you can't do this! YOU CAN'T DO THIS! "

His fellow scientists stared at him. He was screaming at nothing. Mewtwo grinned.

" I spend all this effort going into his mind and making him see his worst nightmare, and it turns out he's claustrophobic. But I'm sure the rest of you don't want to see my Phobia attack, do you? No, I'll show you my other powers… "

His eyes were no longer blue. They were black as a void. One human dared look into them and lost his sanity. The others didn't notice. They were too busy noticing all the computers explode into flame, and how Mewtwo threw them into the flames, and how their skin was burning off…

" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! And so these humans fall. And so the human race shall fall! The Age of Mewtwo has begun! And the only humans who could possibly stop me are stuck in another reality… "

Chapter 6

"…And that's why we're here, " finished Ash.

His new allies, Ash 2 and James 2, stared at him. " You/I went into another dimension to investigate, huh? " said Ash 2. " Why? "

" Well, er, because Officer Jenny asked us. "

" I personally think that's a brilliant reason, " sighed Brock dreamily.

" God, are you cracked? " yelled Ash 2. " You'd have ta pay me to go to a parallel universe! It's too dangerous! "

" Really, " smirked James 2. " I never saw anyone pay you to cycle off Sunny Town Bridge on a bike. "

Ash 2 went red. " Well…ah…I had a good reason! "

" Stop messing around! " snapped Ash. " My world's Team Rocket is here, and we have to find them. "

He walked off. James 2 stared after him. " What's up with him? "

Brock sighed grimly. " He's just upset about Misty. "

James 2 frowned. " Misty Waterflower? How does he know her? She's only 8. "

" In our world she's his age. She used to hang around with us when we were on a Pokemon journey. They seemed to be good friends. But it turns out she hated life on the road. She just left 1 hour ago. Ash needs some more time to get over it. "

" Tough break, " said James 2. " He may not get over it though. I know what it feels like t-to lose someone you love…and it never stops hurting. "

They looked at him. " Hey, you never told me about anything like that, " cried Ash 2. "

" There are things you don't know about me. Things I like to keep private. "

" Really? Like what? "

" Kid, do you actually know what " private " means? "

" Alright, alright! I can take a hint! I'll go talk to Ash… "

He walked off in a huff. Brock looked at James 2 questioningly.

" OK, spill the beans. Who did you lose? Your pet Growlithe? Parents? Jessie? "

James 2 blanched. " How did you know about Jessie? "

" Hey, in my world I have to deal with you and Jessie every day. It's obvious that you two have feelings for each other. Like me and Nurse Joy… "

" Uh, Brock? I hate to break it to you, but Joy doesn't like you. "

Brock grew angry and slammed James 2 against the wall. " You're lying! " he screamed.

" Look, how many times has a Nurse Joy hit you in the face? "

" Uh, a couple dozen? "

" Now, how many times has she tried to run away from you? "

" Again, a couple dozen. "

" Now, how many times have they fired a shot at you? "

" Hey! That only happened once! "

" Riiight. What does this tell you? "

" Uh, she loves me but is really shy? " grinned Brock hopefully.

James 2 screamed. " NOOOOOOOOOO! BROCK, GET IT INTO YOUR THICK HEAD! SHE DOESN'T LIKE YOU! "

Brock got very angry. " Why, you little-? "

He proceeded to grab James 2 by the throat and strangled him. He was then approached by a weasel-like lawyer.

" Mr Brock, I represent Homer Simpson! This is an illegal impression. Boys?"

Two huge Golems calmly walked over to Brock, calmly picked him up and calmly smashed his face into a brick wall.

" Finally, someone shut him up, " muttered James 2.

Ash walked through the alley, lost in his thoughts. Tears rolled down his cheeks but he didn't notice. He was too busy thinking about Misty.

He grew angry. She had expected him to change for her, even though she'd never said anything to him. How dare she… He kicked the wall in his fury, cracking it. Screaming, he threw a bin onto the floor, breaking it.

" DAMN YOU MISTY! " he screamed.

" Ash, get a grip! " cried Ash 2 worriedly, grabbing Ash in an attempt to restrain him.

" Get off me! " he snarled. He pulled his arm back and punched his double straight in the face.

" Gahh! " Ash 2 staggered back in shock. Ash suddenly realised what he'd done.

" Oh man, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to… "

" Shut up. Just tell me what's wrong. James 2 already thinks you're a nut. "

Ash laughed bitterly. " Oh yeah, him! Well I don't give a crap what he thinks. I don't trust him and I don't see why you do. "

" Hey! He may not be the smartest guy on the planet but he's my friend! I don't care about the relationship you have with your world's James, but mine…"

" …Is a filthy liar, " finished Ash. " C'mon, he hasn't told you about his relationship with Jessie yet, has he? "

Ash 2 was bewildered. " What about it? They're enemies. What's biting you?"

Ash sighed. " Really wanna know? "

" Yeah! Look, we're practically the same guy and if you can't trust yourself, who can you? "

" Well, I've got this friend, Misty. We've been together for a whole year, and always been there for each other. Now I find out that she hates this life, and me. She just left an hour ago. And I feel like it's my fault… "

" It is. "

Ash exploded. " Hey! I thought you were supposed to be helping me! "

" Hey, I'm only looking at it from her point of view! " apologised Ash 2. "Now, did you ever ask her what she wanted to do? "

" I…er…can't remember, " he said uncomfortably.

" That's the problem! She probably feels like you're oppressing her! The only way you two will make up is if you prove to her that you're not. "

Ash looked at his double in astonishment, asking, " how the hell do you know all this stuff? "

" Easy, " grinned his double, " that's how Gary used to treat me! Anyway, " he continued seriously, " if you want to be friends again, you'll have to talk to her. Talk to her maturely, not a yelling-and-swearing match. "

" I wouldn't do that! " protested Ash.

" Look man, I'm you. I know how you/I act and maturely isn't it! "

" Yeah, guess you're right. Thanks man, I needed that talk.

" Don't mention it. By the way, what where you gonna say about Jessie and James? "

" Erm…nothing, nothing. Anyway, we've got a mission to get to! Let's go! "

" Giovanni? Jessie here, " she barked into the phone. " We're coming back to our world and we have some recruits from this world. "

Giovanni gasped. " What? This is brilliant! You did something right! I should give you a raise…Who are they anyway? "

" Well, um, they're us, " she said, embarrassed. " From this world, of course."

There was a cold silence. " What? "

Jessie instinctively knew they'd screwed up. She started to think of ways she could shift the blame to Meowth.

" One of you is bad enough! Couldn't you have hired someone with brains? " ranted Giovanni angrily. " Just get back to the portal. "

He hung up. Jessie breathed a sigh of relief. She led the group back to the portal.

Problem was, Officer Jenny was there already.

" Damn! " swore Jessie 2. " What do we do now? "

" We could use our disguises? " suggested James ecstatically.

Meowth stared at him. " God, why are you so obsessed with cross-dressing? "

James blushed. " Well, ah, that's kinda a long story… Oh, all right! I do it because it annoyed Jessebelle, and since then it's become a habit. "

" You mean it's not because you're gay? " said Meowth, astonished.

" No! Where did you get that idea? "

" Well you act like you are. "

WHAAAACK!

" Shut your Me-outh! "

" We can't use our disguises anyway because they're back at the base, " grumbled Jessie. " I've got another plan though. What we'll do is- "

BLAM!

Officer Jenny fell to the ground, her chest torn and bloody. Brock 2 stood triumphantly, gun smoking, a smirk on his face.

" My God… " Jessie gasped.

" Hey, what's the big deal? " he asked. " I sorted out our problem didn't I? "

" That's not the point! The point is- "

" I understand the point, and I can tell right now where to shove it. "

At that, he walked off. The original Rockets stared at him in disbelief.

" The guy's a psycho, " stated Meowth.

" Try working with him for 5 months, " muttered Jessie 2.

They managed to get to the portal without further incident. Once they got there though, things started to get interesting…

Jessie was worried about the twerps being at the portal. She hated them but she didn't want Brock 2 to kill them. Briefly, she wondered where this world's James was. She soon found out.

Ash and the gang released their Pokemon, sending Pidgeotto, Zubat and Growlithe to look for Team Rocket. Since Ash had planned all this, they were unprepared for Team Rocket coming to them.

" Prepare for trouble! "

" And make it double double! "

The two Ash's spun round. " What the hell! " they cried in unison.

" To protect the world from devastation!

To slaughter all enemies in this nation!

To denounce the evils of truth and love!

To team up and conquer the stars above!

Jessie!

Brock 2!

Jessie 2!

And James the First!

Meowth! Slashing you down at the speed of light!

Surrender, for it's Meowth 2 you'll fight!

THAT'S RIGHT! "

Ash 2 sweat-dropped. " Great. Now the motto sounds twice as worse! "

" You said it brother! " called his double.

James 2 was oblivious to all of this. He was too busy wondering why he was standing over there, when he was standing here. But even that paled to the weirdness of seeing two Jessie's.

" Jessie? " he whispered.

Jessie stared at him. " James? "

" Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light! " giggled James.

" Great, you came to us! Now we don't have to find you, " said Ash.

" Oh, yeah? You're gonna wish you'd never looked for us when I'm through with you! " snarled Brock 2.

" Is that a challenge? " said Ash 2 icily, confidently smirking.

" Believe it twerp! " yelled Jessie drawing her Pokeball. " Team Rocket, attack! "

" GO LICKITUNG! "

" GO GEODUDE! "

" GO EKANS! "

" GO WEEZING! "

Bright streams of light burst out of the Pokeballs, materialising into formidable creatures. Ekans gave a sinister hiss. Weezing blasted poisonous gas at its enemies. Geodude clenched its fists, smirking. Lickitung tried to scowl but just ended up looking even cuter.

Ash clenched his fists. " This is it? "

Ash 2 grinned. " Ha! Pikachu will wipe all out on his own! "

" You use Pikachu then. I'll use the one thing they won't be expecting…"

" All right! GO PIKACHU! "

" GO ONIX! "

" GO SANDSLASH! "

" GO KRABBY! "

Jessie burst out laughing. " Krabby? You got to be kidding me! You expect to win with that? "

" Hey! Don't insult my friend's Krabby! " yelled Ash 2 angrily. " You're the one with the Lickitung! Jeez, could it possibly be any fatter? "

Lickitung heard this, and immediately started crying. Jessie got really angry. " Alright twerp! You just got yourself into the biggest battle of your life! "

" Then I'm taking Jessie 2! " called Ash.

The battle was joined. Normally Ash would have the advantage but his Pokemon choice was holding him down. Ekans kept avoiding Krabby's Vice Grip but couldn't land a bite because Krabby kept using Harden.

Jessie had already won. Lickitung was so pissed that it attacked before being told to, and knocked Pikachu out with a Slam attack.

James was losing to James 2. Sandslash's Sand Attack blocked every attack Weezing did, and then it would use devastating Fury Swipe attacks.

" Y'know, we don't have to fight, we could just talk about this, " suggested James 2.

" I'd love to, but if I do, Jessie will kill me. "

Brock was losing. Onix may have been stronger than Geodude, but Geodude kept using vicious attacks.

" Onix, Rock Throw! " ordered Brock desperately.

Brock 2 just grinned coldly. " Geodude, Explosion! "

The living boulder charged, grabbed its opponent's head, and blew up.

" ROOAAAAR! " Onix fell screaming, his face covered with blood. Geodude re-materialised and stood over its opponent, smirking like its trainer.

" Onix! NOOOO! " wailed Brock, quickly returning his Pokemon. He turned towards his double in a mad fury. " You freak! What are you trying to do? "

" I'm only trying to win, " said Brock 2 innocently, his Geodude grinning psychotically.

Jessie knew that the longer they stayed fighting, the more chance there was of the cops turning up. The battle was showing no signs of stopping. The twerp's double was already summoning his Butterfree, James was getting Weezing to use Explosion attacks and Ash had switched Pokemon and was using Bulbasaur. There was only one way to get out of this…

Sighing heavily, she turned to Brock 2. " Get your gun out. "

He grinned. " Glad to see you coming round to my way of thinking! "

Whipping his gun out as quickly as an Ekans, he started firing at Brock! Brock swore and dived out of the way. Luckily only his left arm had been hit. The others weren't gonna take any chances though.

" Run for it! " screamed James 2 urgently.

" All right, they're on the run, we can go now! " ordered Jessie 2.

" All right, " grumbled Brock 2, " but if they come after us again, I'm aiming for the eyes. "

He went through the portal first. Big mistake. James 2 had been watching them, and saw his chance. If he could get to Jessie 2 before she went into the portal, he might be able to talk to her and convince her to quit Team Rocket. He ran forward.

Ekans noticed him. Wanting to protect his master, he unleashed a Poison Sting!

James 2 felt something jab him in the stomach. Wincing, he looked down at the stinger embedded in him. Already, the blood oozing from the wound was turning black. He was engulfed by pain, a million knives jabbing into him.

He did the only thing he could do. He screamed.

" Oh my God! " gasped Jessie 2. She had to get him treatment, otherwise he might die. But she couldn't stay here…

Grimly, she returned Ekans, who was standing proudly over his victim, and carried James 2 into the portal with her.

" Oh, *$^ ! " swore Ash angrily. " Now what do we do? "

" We have to rescue him! " cried Ash 2 defiantly, running after the Rockets.

" Wait! " yelled Brock. " What about our Pokemon? They need to get healed up. And we still have Pidgeotto, Zubat and Growlithe running around. "

" OK, " said Ash, strategizing, " I'll go with Ash 2, you stay here and get our Pokemon healed. Once they're done, go through the portal after us. "

" Right! "

Ash ran off with Pikachu, through the portal…

And into someone's nightmare.

Chapter 7

The whole place was a psychedelic nightmare. Swirls of colour were splattered all over the place and kept changing colour. The edges of this place seemed to stretch into infinity, and they could move anywhere as if there was no gravity.

" So this is what your world looks like, huh? " grunted Ash 2.

" No way! If it did, I would have died long ago from vomiting up my guts. "

Ash 2 looked around, but couldn't see Team Rocket. " Crap. Where the hell are they? "

Ash shrugged. " What're you asking me for? Ask the author. "

Ash 2 grinned. " Of course! " Then he frowned, looking at Ash oddly. "Huh?"

" Never mind, let's just find the Rockets. "

Giovanni glared at the team with barely disguised contempt. " This is all you have to bring me? " he growled, stroking his Persian. " A poisoned doppelganger and your own parallel forms. I knew I should've used Butch and Cassidy. "

Jessie clenched her fists. She hated being compared to Cassidy. Ever since they were kids, they'd been compared. Cassidy had money, a strong pet Pokemon, friends… in short, everything Jessie never had. Even in Team Rocket, Jessie had never been promoted and was permanently stuck in the Whitelighters, the beginners' team. Yet Cassidy went straight the top, just like her childhood…

" With all due respect, sir, these two are very capable agents and - "

" Spare me, " groaned Giovanni. " I don't want to know. These losers aren't worth the bother. "

" Hey! " yelled Brock 2. " Who are YOU calling a loser, Blofeld! "

" What did you call me? "

" Look freak, I didn't come all the way into your little LSD-inspired fantasy just to get insulted. I came here for the money, and the power. Obviously, you don't deserve me. In fact, you probably don't deserve to be the boss of your screw-up TR imitation. "

Pulling out a Pokeball, he casually tossed it to the ground. And emerging from it…

" MACHAAAAMP! "

" Whoa! " cried Meowth. " Wish I was like that! "

Meowth 2 snorted. " What, and have four arms? Think of all the deodorant you'd need! "

" Machamp! " cried Giovanni. " There're intruders around here. Eliminate them. "

" CHAMP! "

Chapter 8

James 2 lay on a sick bed, eyes closed. His breath was raspy and his face was frozen in a painful grimace. Jessie 2 just watched him, as she had been for an hour already.

" Uhhh… " He groaned, eyes opening. He stared at Jessie 2 in confusion.

" W-where am I? "

" Don't ask, it's too complicated. The digest version is that you're in another world. "

" Damn. How'd I get here anyway? "

Jessie 2 sighed. " I brought you here. You were poisoned, and I just couldn't let you die. " She suddenly became angry. " Damn it James! What the hell were you trying to pull? You might have died! "

" I don't care! " he yelled. " It doesn't matter as long as I can save you. "

Jessie 2's eyes grew huge, anime-style. James 2 was burning with embarrassment after telling her his secret fantasy. No-one said anything. They just stared at each other.

She broke the silence. " W-what'd'ya mean by ' save me ' " she stammered apprehensively.

James 2 was uncomfortable. " Well, y'know, " he said awkwardly, " save you from Team Rocket. To save you from this whole goddamn world you're in. "

Jessie 2's face darkened. " Maybe I don't want to be saved, " she whispered angrily.

" Why wouldn't you? " he asked, bewildered. " You, stealing peoples Pokemon? Breaking their hearts? That's just not like you. "

" James, that was back when I was into power rangers, " she said, exasperated.

" Hey! I still watch that! "

" James 2! That's not the point! The point is you're expecting me to act like I did when we were 10. That was 7 damn years ago. "

" So? I haven't changed that much. I haven't sold my soul. "

" Bastard! " she screamed, slapping him in the face. " You have no idea what I've been through since then! "

He stared at her. " Well, I want to know. C'mon, just tell me what happened. "

" You know what happened in Pokemon Tech. You know what Jessebelle did to me. " Jessie 2 gulped, trying to fight back the tears that always came when she remembered those days. " T-then we flunked out and you were taken back home. I couldn't go back. I didn't have a home. My mum was dead. "

James 2 flinched, tears in his eyes. " Oh God Jess, I had no idea… "

" Yeah, well you do now. I didn't want to disgrace my mother's memory. She'd left me all her money so I could go to the Tech. So, determined to be something, I set off for Pallet Town to become a Pokemon Master. I ended up staying in a bike gang instead. You have no idea how fun those times were. The freedom, the respect… "

She closed her eyes, remembering her old buddies. Tyra, Chopper… But they were obscured, erased by the sirens and the blood. Her lip quivered.

" We were arrested by the police. W-we were trying to get away, a-and they shot us down. Tyra was shot trying to help me escape. S-she died in my arms… "

She burst into tears. James 2 was shocked that anyone could go through that. He felt he had to say something to Jessie 2, but he didn't want to say the wrong thing. So he just held her, comforting her.

She sniffed, her head buried in his chest. She pulled herself together and started to continue.

" So all my friends were dead and I was only 13. " she muttered sorrowfully. "I couldn't get a job or anything, so I just lived on the streets, scrounging around in bins like a goddamn Rattata. It wasn't all bad though… " She smiled sadly remembering meeting her street friend. " I met Meowth. "

" Meowth? "

" Yeah, Meowth, human-talk and all. Turns out he'd learnt our language just so he could impress a girl Meowth he fancied. She loved him for it. She left her owner, he left his gang and they travelled the streets together. He had told me it was the happiest time of his life. Then a Pokemon trainer came along and captured Meowzy. In one instant his entire left had fallen apart. He never trusted humans after that, and it took me months before we became friends. "

James 2 was bawling by now. " Oh God, that's so sad! I always that of Meowth as just annoying but now… " He wiped his eyes. " But how did all this make you join Team Rocket? "

" Be patient! " she snapped habitually. " Now where was I? Ah, yes, the streets. Basically we decided that the world didn't want us to live normal lives. So we decided ' screw the world, I'm outta here ' and went to the only job that would take a 15-year-old and a Meowth: Team Rocket. "

" So it was just for survival? " said James 2, relieved. " Never anything bad? "

" No! Well, Meowth had an idea that by stealing Pokemon, he might find his Meowzy. Sometimes that's all that keeps him going. "

James 2 sighed sadly. " So I guess you're not gonna leave then? " he muttered, looking at the floor.

" I just can't. "

BLEEEEEEEP!
BLEEEEEEEEEEP!

BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

" Emergency! " called Giovanni over the intercom system. " We have a Code 8 Twerp infestation! All personnel report for battle immediately! "

" What? " screamed Jessie 2. " How the hell did they get through the defences? "

He decided. He had to help his friends. There was nothing he could do for Jessie 2 anymore anyway…

He leapt out of the bed, landed in a heroic pose and collapsed instantly.

The fortress was dark. Somehow, it gave the feeling that something was watching them from the shadows. The heroes looked around nervously.

" This was too easy… " mused Brock. " Team Rocket is planning to conquer two alternative realities. They wouldn't make their base so easy to break into. "

" Maybe they're slack, " suggested Ash.

" No. They can't afford to let us in. Unless this is all a- "

BLAM!

" …trap. "

Ash and his double lay lifeless on the floor, their eyes widened in horror.

" Ash! Ash 2! C'mon, get up! This isn't funny, guys… "

Both Pikachu lay on the ground crying, nudging at their trainers as if this could bring them back.

" Guys? " Brock whispered.

" They're not dead. "

" Huh? Who's there? "

Brock 2 stepped out of the shadows, smirking. He twirled a gun in his hand. "I woulda offed them but Giovanni wants them alive. "

" Piiii… " snarled Pikachu, cheeks sparking, eyes showing fury.

" Hey, rat-boy… "

" Chu? "

" Check out my web site! " grinned Meowth 2, firing a net at them.

The Pikachu's were caught instantly.

" ' Check out my web site '? " grimaced Meowth. " That is so old… "

" Hey, I live on these one-liners! "

" Whatever! Just run for it! "

" No! " cried Brock. " Come back with Pikachu! "

" They ain't you're concern, freak, " said Brock 2, " after all, if you went, who'd protect their tranquillised trainers? "

" Why are you doing this? " growled Brock, bewildered. " Why did you join Team Rocket? "

Brock 2 grinned. " Ah, a flashback! Well, basically I did it 'cause I was fed up looking after my bratty siblings while dear ol' dad spends all his time catching Pokemon. "

Brock frowned. " So? I went through the same thing and I'm not a Rocket. "

" Yeah well, you took the boring way out. I decided to choose a job that fitted me. Dad complained but not for very long. He had a graveyard appointment. "

" You killed him? "

Brock laughed. " Man, you're slow! I just can't believe that on your world, I become such a twerp. It's so sad. "

" Yeah? Well you can forget your crime career. I'm not letting you and your friends conquer either dimension. I rather die than let you take one step into my world. "

" Aww, what's da matter? " mocked Brock 2. " Scared for your ickle friends?"

" I saw what you did to your world's Misty. I won't let you attack mine. "

Brock 2 grinned. " Oh yeah, Misty Waterflower! The kid with the Starmie. It was great fun robbing her. And I managed to get some more fun outta her too…"

Brock frowned. " What does that mean? What are you- Oh God. " His eyes widened in disgust. " You didn't- "

" Maybe I did. Maybe I didn't. " He grinned madly. " What'cha gonna do about it? "

" What I'm gonna do… " Brock snarled, " is KILL YOU! "

He charged forward, punching Brock 2 in the face! Brock 2 countered with a kick to the groin! Then he pulled out a Pokeball.

" Geodude! Finish off this freak! "

" DUDE! "

Brock bared his teeth. " So, don't wanna fight me man-to-wanker? OK. I chose you, GEODUDE! "

The 2 Geodude faced each-other, fists clenched. They stared into each-other's eyes, daring the enemy to move. Brock broke the silence.

" GEODUDE, TACKLE! "

Geodude charged! Brock 2 just grinned.

" HARDEN! "

The evil Geodude became as hard as rock. OK, harder than a rock. His opponent just banged its head.

" Geeo, " he moaned, getting a Psyduck-style headache.

" C'mon Geodude! You can beat this Rocket! Use your SEISMIC TOSS! "

" Geodude! Fight it with your Seismic Toss! "

The combined Seismic Tosses knocked both fighters out.

" Whoa! What are the chances of that happening? " gasped Brock incredulously.

" Grrrr… GO AERODACTYL! "

" ZUBAT, GO! " he countered.

Brock 2 grinned. " Hey, using a flying Pokemon! Smart move. There's just one little problem…

" Yeah? What's that? " Brock frowned.

" Aerodactyl is strong against Flying types! Now, Aerodactyl, use your Whirlwind Attack! "

" Aero! " it croaked angrily, unleashing a powerful gale that sent Zubat crashing into the wall!

" Oh yeah? ZUBAT, CONFUSE RAY! "

" Zuuuuu! "

Nothing happened. Brock 2 snorted contemptuously. " That didn't do anything! Ha! And now, I'll finish you off with HYPER BEAM! "

Aerodactyl grinned, its mouth crackling with energy. It unleashed its power… and blasted itself in the face!

" Ha! In your face, and in more ways then one! " laughed Brock. " You shoulda known that Confusion attacks are usually invisible. And everyone knows they make your Pokemon hurt themselves. "

" Damn! " snarled Brock 2. " That does it! Time for you to meet my secret weapon… SLAUGHTER GO! "

He threw an UltraBall, grinning insanely. It exploded, releasing a terrifying Pokemon!

Its skin was blood red with shadow black markings. Its head was like that of a Scyther, but with made, snake-like eyes. Its claws were like that of a scorpion, its insectile wings sharp as blades, its feet ending in a spiked claw. It screeched its name in bloodlust.

" HASSAMU! "

Brock gasped in fear? " What is it? "

" This? Oh, this is Slaughter, my Hassamu. " Brock 2 said casually. " It's the evolved form of Scyther. Very rare and very lethal. "

Brock did some quick calculations. This Hassamu was a Bug element, so it would be weak against Fire elements. However, this thing looked a lot stronger than his Vulpix. He have to use a Confuse ray to upset the Hassamu, then use Fire Spin. Working out his strategy, Brock called out Vulpix.

" Vul! " it cried cheerfully.

Brock 2 smiled. " Slaughter, ASSASSINATE! "

" HASSA! "

It flew straight at Brock! It started to Slash at Brock, ripping his flesh, making his blood flow out, causing unbearable pain…

" ARGGHH! "

" Vulpix! " Vulpix screamed, trying to stop Slaughter and failing miserably.

Brock had given up. He just stared at Vulpix, blasting at the Hassamu, tears streaming down her cheeks. He looked at Brock 2, just standing there laughing, and felt vaguely angry.

Suddenly, the light! It shined so brightly, like lightning. So this was what dying was like…

Except was this dying? He saw on the ground the fried bodies of Slaughter and Brock 2, a Pikachu standing over them proudly. Ash looked at him with concern.

" Good thing we came around when we did, " said Ash 2. " A few more seconds and he'd be dead. "

" I have some Super potion in my bag, but I'm not sure if…"

" Don't talk like that! We're gonna save your friend and get the sicko Brock 2 put in jail! I swear it! "

They used every drop of Super Potion on Brock, watching as it healed his wounds. Brock groaned in pain: Potions healed wounds but couldn't stop the pain.

" Man, I'm so glad to be alive… " he wept. " I really thought I was gonna die… "

" Vul… " said Vulpix sympathetically.

" Lithe! " barked James' Growlithe urgently.

" Oh no, I nearly forgot about James 2! " said Ash 2. " You guys stay here, I'll go get him. "

" No. " Brock snapped. " I've got my own personal score to settle with Team Rocket. "

" DAMN IT! " screamed Giovanni. " You stupid furballs! You were supposed to capture the Pikachu's! "

Meowth and Meowth 2 stood before him, smoking from electric burns.

" They sorta chewed holes in da nets and den shocked us. "

" Blast it! The twerps will be here in 2 minutes and we don't have a strong enough defence! "

" Permission to run away screaming like a baby, sir, " said James.

" Permission refused. We have only one option left: Plan B. "

" What's Plan B? " asked Jessie 2.

Giovanni grinned. " I'll show you. "

He pulled out 5 Pokeballs. Each one was marked with a ' ! ' symbol.

" Inside these are 5 Level 100 Pokemon; Porygon, Rhyhorn, Gyarados, Muk and Magmar. They are trained to exterminate everything they see. "

" Except for us, right? " grinned Jessie.

Giovanni frowned. " What? No! They attack everything they see apart from me. Perfect for exterminating troublemakers. Bye now. "

He walked off, carrying his Persian. Behind him the Pokeballs opened, releasing demons in mortal flesh.

" W-w-what do we do know? " whined James.

" Running would be a good idea, " remarked Meowth 2.

" MAGMAR! "

Flames blasted everywhere, destroying everything in the room.

" No! I'm too gorgeous to die! " screamed Jessie frantically.

The whole team ran out, screaming hysterically. The Muk plodded after them, cursing its flab.

" What happens if they're faster than us? " Jessie 2 asked Meowth.

" I kinda think we die! "

The fortress was rocked after blast after blast tore through the walls. The heroes/twerps looked uneasily around.

" Sounds like the Rockets are having a party, " remarked Ash timidly.

" Whatever it is, it can't be good. "

" AAAAAAIIII! " screamed the Rockets, crashing into the twerps. " We're all gonna die! "

" I rest my case. "

" We have to run! " screamed James. " Giovanni let loose psychotic Pokemon! They'll kill us all! "

" Whoa! " cried Brock. " Giovanni! He's your boss? "

" Uh-huh. "

" Oh my God. The world's richest Gym Leader is the head of Team Rocket! I never saw that coming! "

" Yeah, well I see a Rhyhorn coming! " screamed Meowth! " Move it! "

The Rhyhorn charged at them, missed and tore through the back wall. The fortress fell apart, leaving the humans exposed to the psycho Pokemon.

" Pikachu will take 'em! " cried Ash. " Right Pikachu? "

Pikachu handed Ash a piece of paper. " Chu. "

" Huh? A resignation notice? "

" Mumumumuk! " cried Muk, unleashing a Sludge attack. It hit Pikachu 2 directly in the chest!

" Pi! "

It was a one-hit knockout. And the other Pokemon were preparing to attack…

" RUN AWAY! "

James 2 kicked his way out of the rubble. One minute, walls and ceilings. The next, a cave-in.

" Growlithe! "

" Huh? Hey Growlie! You find me! "

" Lithe! " Growlie licked him happily.

" Hey Growlie, is that a Magmar over there basting everything that moves? "

" Growl. "

" So why are we standing near it? "

" Lithe? Growlithe growl! "

" Yeah, lets run! "

It was mayhem. The Pokemon were attacking everything, including each other. Jessie 2 ran, trying to reach the exit for this pocket dimension.

Something hit her from behind!

" Whoa! "

She turned round, to see Porygon!

It had once been a weak friendly Pokemon. Then Giovanni had captured and trained it. It was now a bionic killing machine.

" Porygon! "

" Oh, God, please don't kill me, please don't kill me, please don't kill me… " she wept in fear.

Porygon grinned maliciously. It snapped its head back and unleashed a Tri Attack!

James 2 stared in shock. That monster was gonna kill her!

He didn't think. He just did.

" NOOOOOOO! "

Jessie 2 opened her eyes. She blinked, gasping in shock. She was alive! But how? No one could have survived that Tri Attack. The Porygon had gone, it would only have done that if it had killed its target.

It was then that she noticed the blood. And the blue hair…

" Oh God NO! "

James 2 lay in front of her, chest busted open by the Tri Attack. He had sacrificed himself for her. She looked down at him. Growlie was nudging him, trying to get James 2 to wake up. Jessie 2 stroked the puppy, tears streaming down her cheeks. She took James' Pokeballs: they would need a new owner.

She looked down at his face. It was that of a lion's. His eyes glowed with defiance, defiance against evil, defiance against death and defiance against Team Rocket. She knew what she had to do.

" I will do what you wanted, " she whispered. " I will quit Team Rocket. I will try and become the innocent you loved. "

She stood up. She saw Giovanni watching as his Pokemon attacked her allies. And she was overwhelmed with hate.

" Growlie, TAKE DOWN! "

" GROWLLLLLLITHE! "

He charged into battle to avenge his master. The Gyarados tried to attack and was burnt into unconsciousness. Growlie kept running, watching as Giovanni became afraid and tried to run…

Giovanni was slammed to the ground. The PUC fell out of his pocket and broke into pieces.

" Noooo! " he whined. " Without the PUC this dimension will cease to exist! We'll all be sent back to our worlds! "

And then the world turned dark.

Ash awoke in Pallet, back at the portal. Brock was with him, as was Pikachu. Jessie and James were absent. Officer Jenny was handcuffing Giovanni.

" But I'm innocent! " he protested. " I have no connections with Team Rocket!"

" Oh really? So why do you have a TR membership card, blueprints for Rocket weapons AND an autobiography called " Boss of Team Rocket " ALL IN YOUR WALET? "

" Ummmm… they were planted there? "

The heroes stared at this spectacle. " If he gets arrested, then Team Rocket is finished! " cried Brock ecstatically. " It's all over. "

" Yeah, " agreed Ash, " it's over. Now all I have to do is figure out what to do about Misty… "

Ash 2 lay on the streets of Pallet. He had pikachu with him, but where was James 2? Could he be-?

He choked. One of his best friends was gone forever. Now his Pokemon Journey meant nothing. Not if his friend wasn't there with him.

Yet he knew he had to keep on going. His friend wouldn't have wanted him to give up on his dreams, and so he wouldn't!

It had been 3 months since the dimensions incident. Jessie 2 stared at the sky, remembering.

Around her ran young Pokemon, happy and carefree. Meowth 2 lay sleeping next to Meowzy, whom he'd finally found. James' Pokemon were still sad, but getting used to the fact that he wasn't there.

She had put her skills to good use and had founded a centre for abandoned Pokemon. It was named " the James Kojiro Pokemon Centre ". It had been named so that her world would forever remember the brave man who had shown her the way to redemption.