Fire and Ice

By Maria Ruiz

---

"I love her."

There was a blow and a soft male cry. The young man with the blue-violet hair refused to fall. Leaning over on his knees, he panted, his muscles quivering with the effort of supporting himself. Raising his head slightly, bright, defiant emerald eyes gazed out from behind tangled strands of hair, which hung over his face. He would not give in. Never.

Above him, a man in an expensive red suit seemed to be hanging around casually. His clenched fist told another story however. Giovanni was not a patient man. Especially with those he considered to be utter fools. His practiced face revealed nothing, but James was watching every muscle in his hand and arm very closely.

"Do I care? She has something I want......and I intend to have it." He grabbed James roughly by the chin. "You will turn her over to me, boy. Or you will know a fate far worse than death." Steely eyes stabbed into James' bruised and bloodied face.

James just closed his eyes, hoping for death. They had already suffered a fate worse than death at his hands... If Jessie escaped from Giovanni, that's all that mattered now....

*****

Only a week ago, everything had been perfectly normal. The sky was blue, the weather was beautiful, and that stupid Pikachu had been right there sitting in the road. Like a wonderful present! Which was fitting, as it was Jessie's birthday.

"It's Pikachu!" Jessie squealed, pointing at the yellow rodent in the middle of the road.

James put his hand to his face, trying to get a better look, hardly believing his own eyes. "You're right! It is Pikachu!" He hugged Jessie. "This must be our lucky day!"

Jessie hugged back. "Very lucky! Of course, it would be, being my birthday and all."

Smiling James drew back. "Of course! You don't think I forgot did you?" Absently, he began rubbing her arms.

This wasn't lost on Jessie, who found herself blushing for some reason. "Well, you hadn't mentioned it all day...."

"Well, I..." James flushed in response to Jessie. He had something planned for her surprise party later, but didn't expect the subject of her birthday to pop up so early. After so long, he had finally dug up the nerve to tell her just how he really felt about her. Her birthday had seemed like the perfect day to reveal his secret to her, but now that the day had arrived, he was terrified. What if she didn't accept him? Would she hate him for it? Could they have the same friendship if she knew how he really felt about her? He sighed.

"James?"

His momentarily cloudy emerald eyes shot to life and saw Jessie looking at him curiously. She stepped back and put her hands on her hips. "You did forget, didn't you?" She grimaced and shook her head. "Really James, it's written all over your face."

Under that angry exterior, he could see she was hurt. He sighed. Give me a little more time Jessie.....then you can maim me for making a complete fool of myself. WHAP! A paperfan smashed into his head, sending him crashing to the ground. He rose groaning. Looked like Jessie wasn't wasting any time.

"James, stop spacing out, you're looking more airheaded than usual!"

Oh yes, he adored her.....ouch.

"What are you two morons doing!?" Meowth screeched, popping up between them. "That Pikachu's gonna get away!" He pointed to the Pikachu still sitting in the road.

Pikachu chose that moment to get to it's feet and start waddling away. "Pikaa...."

Team Rocket shrieked. "NOOOO!!!" In a cloud of dust, they rushed out and threw a net over the escaping Pokemon. When they finished scooping it up, they inspected their prize. Pikachu just sat in the net not minding a bit, grooming its fur.

"Um. Shouldn't it be putting up some sort of fight?" James said, shaking the net a bit.

"Yeah, it should be thundershocking us, right?" Meowth puzzled.

"And where are those stupid kids that always beat us up? Aren't they coming to rescue Pikachu?" Jessie looked around.

"This is weird!" James cried. "Something must be wrong! Maybe we should just put it back and get outta here!"

Jessie slapped a hand over James' mouth. "Quiet! We'll do nothing of the sort! Weird or not, Pikachu is ours now!"

"Pikaaachu." Pikachu nodded happily inside the net.

*****

Inside a little steel cage set on a wooden table, Pikachu sat contently, singing a little song to itself. Head in hand, James watched it with a look of deep thought. Something that made him look a little comical.

"So now that we have it, what do we do with it?"

"We give it to the Boss! This Pikachu is our ticket back into his good favor!" Meowth rubbed his hands together in excitement.

"Good favor!" The Pikachu chirped up.

Instantly everyone stared at it.

"AAAHHH!!! It talks!" They all yelped.

"Yes, I speak." The Pikachu nodded. "For I sense that I am now in the presence of the one I have sought for all these years."

"You sought us?" Jessie said incredulously. "Then why did you run from us all this time?"

"Wrong one. I am not the Pikachu you have been striving for. I am the servant of the Ice Princess. You may call me Pikablu." He took a bow.

The Rockets all sweatdropped.

"ARRGH! It's the wrong one!" James griped.

"Quiet James!" Jessie snapped and looked down at the Pikachu. "Who is this Ice Princess? And why is she looking for us?"

Blinking his bright round eyes, the Pikachu smiled. "The Ice Princess was the ruler of all Ice Pokemon hundreds of years ago. And she commanded them fairly with love and compassion. No one in the world could control Ice Pokemon as she could. And there has been none like her since her tragic death."

James blinked his emerald eyes. "So, a dead princess is looking for us? Why?"

The little Pikachu giggled and they watched as its yellow fur slowly faded into an icy blue color. "No. One of you is the Ice Princess." He turned his eyes onto Jessie. "As in the prophecy, I have found you reborn."

Jessie recoiled with a look of astonishment. "Me? A princess?" She laughed. "Well, of course....." Then she shook her head. "What am I saying, you're obviously out of your mind!"

Meowth peered closely at the blue Pikachu. "So, 'Pikablu', you're sayin' that nasty ol' Jessie is some sweet dead Ice Princess? Are you nuts!?"

WHACK! Jessie's fist slammed Meowth to the floor. "Shut up you!"

"So, if Jessie is the Ice Princess, what does that mean anyway?" James asked Pikablu.

"She will become the Ice Princess once more," Pikablu nodded.

"As nice as this all sounds, how do you expect me to believe this?" Jessie frowned. "Prove it."

"Yes yes! I will show you the power you must wield!" Pikablu raised his stubby arms into the air. As he did so, the temperature in the room dropped noticably, and frost could be seen forming around them. Shaking, they began breathing mist.

James quickly went to Jessie and put his arms around her. "W-What's happening?"

Jessie just shook her head quickly, trying not to show any fear. As a blast of icy wind suddenly gusted like a cyclone around the room, she clung to James, burying her face in his chest, trying to escape the cold. James held her tighter, turning his face into her hair, feeling her hands pulling at his back and Meowth pulling on his pants leg. Somehow, a blizzard was now raging around them, and if they were to open their eyes, they'd see nothing but whiteness.

It occurred to James that they might never have Jessie's party now, and he'd never get to tell her....

"Look! Look! There it stands!"

At the sound of Pikablu's squeaky voice, the Rockets slowly opened their snowlaced eyes to gaze through the snowstorm. Before their eyes, the blizzard flew away to reveal a magnificent crystal palace up on the hill. Their old surroundings had completely vanished.

"How....w-where?" Jessie stuttered.

"Your palace!" Pikablu proclaimed. "Where you shall rule again!"

Jessie's eyes widened. "You mean....this is all mine?"

"Indeed."

James, Jessie, and Meowth all looked at each other with big grins. "WHOO HOO!"

*****

Upon entering the magnificent palace, they found themselves in a huge room, and a ceiling-sized open skylight above them. Everything was prismatic, with rainbows glinting off of every crystalline surface. They all looked around in awe, except for Pikablu, who chose to groom himself at this time.

"Hey, didn't you say somethin' 'bout Jessie havin' power too?" Meowth asked, running his paw against a milky silk curtain.

"Yes," Pikablu nodded. "The Ice Princess shall call forth her guardian, the great ice bird, Articuno!"

Jessie and James looked at each other. "Articuno?"

"You mean a legendary bird comes with this deal?" Jessie said in disbelief.

"Yes yes! Call it forth!" Pikablu cried, overly hyper.

"How does she do that?" James asked, strolling about the room. Something about this all seemed familiar to him somehow. A small box on a shelf caught his eye.

"Simply call the Articuno to come to you. Now that the Ice Princess has returned home, it shall awaken to her call." Pikablu smiled, little hints of white lighting sparking from his cheeks.

Jessie looked over at James uncertainly.

"Just make it up?" James shrugged.

"Hmm...." Jessie thought for a moment. "Okay....Hereee Articuno, Articuno, Articuno!!"

Meowth and James sweatdropped at her.

"Hereee Articuno? What, is it a cat?" James snickered.

"Hey, watch it!" Meowth snapped. Just then, they heard it.

"Gyaaooooooo!!!"

Quickly slipping the small box he'd found on the shelf in his pocket, James hurried back over to Jessie. Around them, snowflakes were now falling. Meowth cringed. "Aw, not again..."

"It approaches!" Pikablu proclaimed, hopping about like a deranged rabbit.

"It's laughin'!" Meowth growled. "I'm beginnin' to think this is nothin' but a big scam! I'm takin' 'im out!"

Clinging to each other, Jessie and James lost sight of Meowth as the storm seemed to swoop down from the sky and pluck them up into the air. In the flurry of ice, Jessie clung tightly to James' neck, her legs wrapped around his body, listening to the strange cry blend with their screams. Somewhere far below, she could hear Pikablu laughing in his shrill way. She really wanted to hurt him.

In a shock of icy wind, all became clear. Looking down, Jessie saw blue-grey everywhere. She couldn't make out the sky or the ground. Wondering if she were dead, she once more became aware of James beneath her. Turning her head slightly, she saw James still had his eyes tightly closed.

"James..." Jessie whispered. "What are you holding onto?"

Hearing her voice, James opened one eye, then the other. "Only you...what are you holding onto?"

Jessie looked at him in surprise. "Just you.....so what..?"

James gulped and looked up. The back of his shirt was gripped in a pair of giant claws. Following them up, they found they were attached to a great blue bird Pokemon. James gasped in recognition. He knew this bird of legend... "Articuno!"

Trying to keep her grip, Jessie stared up. "Impossible! It's just a myth! A legend!"

"And you're a reincarnated Ice Princess who can call it up! It's real!" James was shaking in her arms.

"James, are you okay?" Jessie thought she could see his blue hair becoming even bluer somehow.

James shut his eyes. "I'm fine, just a little chilly is all. How about you?" Actually, despite the exposure, James was feeling rather warm. Jessie was completely entwined around him, and if it weren't for the situation they were in, he'd probably be enjoying it a lot more.

If she noticed or not, she gave no sign of it. Jessie looked very lost. "Okay...so if I tell the bird to go down, maybe it'll take us back?"

"Worth a try."

*****

Hours later, they had passed over the icy south completely and could see open sea ahead. Jessie was growing tired, so James had taken to carrying her against himself. The temperature had grown warmer, but there was still no sign of land or of stopping.

"Sit, stay, stop, heel..." Jessie sighed. She'd been pleading with Articuno for hours, but the bird wouldn't listen. "We should have left that Pikachu alone....this is probably some kind of revenge plot, and we fell for it."

"Wouldn't be the first time," James sighed as well. "At least Meowth escaped." He held Jessie's head against his shoulder.

"Or he's dead."

James stiffened against her. "I refuse to believe that."

Then Articuno gave it's strange cry again, loud pitched. Jessie and James turned and saw why. In the distance, land was fast approaching. Their eyes grew wide with hope. It was Cinnabar Island, dead ahead.

"There must be something this bird will listen to!" James shouted. "It obeyed you once, you should be able to do it again!"

"That's if we actually believe all that nonsense Pikablu gave us," Jessie grumbled. "James, don't be a complete moron. We were tricked!"

"Jessie, our only hope is that we weren't!" James cried. "Now think of something! We're almost to the island!"

Taking a deep breath, Jessie closed her eyes. "Articuno, I am your master! Take us down to that island!"

Jessie and James turned hopeful eyes to the ice bird. But nothing happened. They looked at each other tearfully. Hugging each other, they began screaming hysterically. "Take us down! Take us down! We don't wanna diiiie!!"

Suddenly Articuno gave a shrill cry and swooped down towards the island. The two Rockets looked up at the unexpected descent. "We're going to live! We're going to make it!" They both cried with tears of joy.

With a crunch, the impacted into Cinnabar beach. They were smashed into the sand beneath Articuno's feet. James groaned. "Could you get off....please?"

Articuno stepped off the two, grooming its wings. Jessie looked up at it with a sand-crusted face. "This bird is a pain..."

Looking just as sand-crusted, James looked up as well, balancing on his elbows. "I say we just cook it up and eat it. It's so rare nobody even knows it exists anyway," He grumbled.

"I don't think so James....not anymore." Jessie tugged on his sleeve and pointed to the crowd gathering at the spectacle of the legendary ice bird. Some had taken out cameras and were taking pictures.

Flashes of extreme light coming from the cameras frightened Articuno. It gave a long call, flapping its wings and backing away. Despite all the trouble the bird had given them, James was worried. It looked as though the people would mob it completely.

"Stop!" James jumped out and shielded Articuno with his arms spread out. "Leave it alone!"

It was no use, the facinated people just kept on coming. Jessie ran over and pushed at the bird. "Get out of here! You can't let them take you!"

Meanwhile, the commotion on the beach grabbed the attention of two shadowy figures nearby. The female crossed her arms. "Well, isn't this interesting. Do you see what I see?"

The male figure nodded. "James and Jessie. And they've got a very rare looking Pokemon with them."

"Yes," Cassidy grinned. "It looks like the legendary Articuno! I don't know how those losers managed to get it, but they certainly don't deserve it. We'll need to take it off their hands."

Butch nodded. "With just a little love power..."

They both struck a pose. "Because we love power!"

Cassidy threw her hair back and watched as the crowd threatened to overwhelm Jessie and James, who were trying to protect Articuno. "And once we steal that Articuno, we'll have that power!"

Jessie was pushing at Articuno but getting nowhere. "Fly away! Get away!" She cried, but the bird refused to leave its master. Frantically it flapped its wings, threatening to freeze any who came too close. But it was clear there were too many people to fend off. And then....

"To infect the world with devastation!"

Jessie's head shot up and searched the crowd. "No...it can't be! Not here, not now!"

"To blight all people in every nation!"

James flinched at the ripped off motto. "NO! Anything but that!"

"To denounce the goodness of truth and love!"

"To extend our wrath to the stars above!"

"Cassidy!" The Rocket with strange yellow hair brust out from the crowd.

"Butch!" Rasped her partner, jumping out to her side.

Jessie and James groaned loudly.

"We're Team Rocket, circling earth day and night!"

"Surrender to us now or you'll surely lose the fight!" Butch thrust his fist out.

"That's right!" Cassidy grinned, doing likewise.

"Cate!!" A Raticate leaped up between them.

"That is so lame..." James mumbled.

"Shut up!" Cassidy growled. "Your Articuno is ours now!"

"The Boss is gonna love this!" Butch snickered as they both snapped on masks. Before Jessie or James could move, Butch threw a few pellets at them. In an explosion of smoke, everything disappeared. When it finally cleared, Articuno was gone, and Jessie and James were among the unconscious on the sand.

*****

Darkness.

He looked around himself. Why was it so dark?

"Arcane, blaze forth!" He commanded.

"ARC!" A burst of flame flew past, illuminating everything. The large Arcanine beside him breathed fire onto two torches on the other side of the room, keeping it lit.

"Thank you, Arcane." He gave the Arcanine an affectionate pat behind the ears. The young man glanced back. "Jareth, are you keeping up?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm right here." Another youth his own age climbed up behind him. Jareth shook the snowflakes from his shock of yellow hair. "I hate the cold," He muttered. "Kaji, let's just go home. There's nothing out here other than our own frozen fate!"

"Perhaps." Kaji crossed the room. "Don't you want to meet the Ice Prince?"

"Why? He's obviously not keen on visitors. And I say we just leave him peace...Kaji!?" He watched as his companion disappeared through the wall of ice. "KAJI!"

Beside him, Arcane snarled and leapt to action. "NINE!" The fire Pokemon threw himself at and through the seemly solid wall of ice. Jareth stared as Arcane disappeared as well. "Hey!" He took a look around and found himself alone. "Well, if that's how this is going to be..." He squeezed his eyes shut and rammed shoulder first into the wall. And through the wall.

WHAM! He fell headfirst onto a hard cold surface. "Ow." His head now ached slightly, and he raised a hand up to rub above his ear.

"Jareth? Is that you?" Kaji turned from Arcane to his fallen friend.

"Yeah. This place is just full of surprises," Jareth grumbled as Kaji reached over to help him up. "Now where are we?"

"Well..." Kaji cast his eyes towards the vast ice cavern before them. It was huge, larger than most palaces he had ever seen. It was fairly dark where they stood, but beyond the alcove, the cavern was brightly lit. The prismatic glow appeared to come from the very ice walls. Though Kaji noticed fancy ice lamps that curled away from the walls and large crystalline chandeliers suspended from the ceiling. The rest of the cavern appeared bare, except for many ice formations large and small that occupied the area.

"Looks like we're in the right place." Jareth stared.

Kaji ventured in, lightly touching one of the ice sculptures. It was in a corkscrew shape, and spiraled high into the air. "Yes. This is definitely the Ice Palace."

Arcane trotted past him, sniffing around the statues. Jareth watched him go. "I hope that mongrel doesn't get it in his mind to flame anything in here. We could be flooded out of our lives."

"You worry too much Jareth," Kaji gave a wave of his hand and continued walking along. "Arcane isn't anywhere near that irresponsible." He was so busy with his nose in the air looking at the sculptures, that he never noticed the small figure that walked out of the base of the central piece.

"Excuse me. WHo are you and why do you trespass on my domain!?"

Kaji had been busy admiring the gigantic Articuno sculpture in the middle of the room when he heard the angry female voice. It was as clear and cold as the ice in the room. He looked down from the ice Articuno with it's spread wings, down to the base of the statue. There stood a woman wearing a long flowing white and blue robe. Her hair was equally long and flowing. She was watching the prince with narrowed eyes. Kaji looked around for Jareth, but he could only see Arcane from his position.

"I'm sorry miss, I didn't mean to trespass. You see, I am the great Prince of Fire Pokemon, Kaji. And I've come with my friend to meet your master, the Ice Prince." Kaji swept back his black cape and gave a small bow. "Could you be so kind as to tell me where I could find him?" He noticed the girl's pale complexion flush a bright pink. Flattered no doubt to be addressed in such a way by a prince of his high order, he smiled to himself.

"Come with me," The girl finally answered stiffly, her face turned away to the floor. Then she abruptly turned around and walked into the ice statue again, disappearing through it. Kaji gave it a curious look.

"Stay here with Jareth," Kaji commanded Arcane. Then with a confident step, he followed the girl into the statue. And proceeded to slam his head against the solid ice surface. He went sprawling back onto the icy floor.

Arcane whined as Kaji regained his footing. "Must have done something wrong," He muttered, and tried again, much more carefully this time. This time he found no resistance, and he walked through easily.

In a blink, he found himself in another dark corridor. Just ahead of him, the girl stood holding a glowing blue orb in the palm of her hand. She looked upon him with irritation.

"You should look into having that thing fixed," Kaji frowned, rubbing his forehead.

"It works flawlessly," the girl huffed. She started down the corridor, and Kaji quickly followed before he was left alone in the darkness.

"So...what's your name?" Kaji tried to fall in step beside her. The narrow walkway made it impossible, but he could get a good view of her up close. He was surprised at how flawless her skin was. Her beauty was much like that of the ice sculptures he'd seen earlier. Kaji smiled at the luck of the Ice Prince.

"Kori. My name is Kori." She answered coolly. If she was aware of his eyes fixed on her, she gave no indication of it.

"Kori. That's a pretty name." Kaji nodded. Kori stopped and lightly flung the glowing ball of light into the air. It scattered into countless glittering particles of light, darting around until the relatively small room lit up. Kaji took his eyes off Kori long enough to take a look around.

"Cool." It looked like the sort of room one might find in a palace, though cozier than he was used to. Kaji went up to one of the bookcases in the corner and tapped on it's icy surface. "Kinda wet though, isn't it?"

Kori had settled down on one of the sofas. She held her hand in her lap, and he couldn't see her face through her hair. "Not really. What is your business here, truly?"

Kaji had given up trying to pull a book from the frozen bookcase. He turned towards one of the icy sabers hanging from the wall. "I told you, I'm here to meet the Ice Prince. I hear he is a very mysterious and powerful Pokemon master, and I would like to make his aquaintance." He drew the ice saber from the wall and turned it over with his wrist.

Kori narrowed her eyes at her guest. "Prince Kaji, would you please sit down? It is difficult to speak when you are up and around like that."

"If that would please you."

"It would." Kori bit her lip when Kaji chose to sit on the sofa with her. He was so close she could feel his body heat. The following silence was terrible.

Somewhere there was only the ticking of a crystal clock. Kaji leaned back on the sofa. Thunder was probably mad as a Beedrill, wherever he was. He glanced down at Kori, who seemed to be deep in thought. He considered accidently putting an arm around her, but then thought better of it. "Where is the Ice Prince anyway?"

Kori closed her eyes and clenched her teeth. "I, Sir, am Kori, Princess of Ice Pokemon. If you wish something of me, please speak your business."

Kaji stared at her, and she stared back. He flushed a bright red and turned away with a deep frown. "My apologies, Princess. I-I didn't know. He stood up and gave a sweeping bow. Kaji felt incredibly foolish, and at the moment all he wanted was to leave. "I have done your grace a great wrong, and now I shall collect my companions and take my leave of you." He turned to leave.

Kori also stood. With a delicate hand, she swept her hair away from her face. Watching him go, she couldn't help but admire his beauty. It had been ages since she had seen another human being, and he was nice to look at, if a little on the slow side. She wrung her hands. She felt more comfortable alone though. It was best for him to take his people and leave. She gave him one more good look.

"Prince Kaji!"

There was a tug on his sleeve. Kaji blinked. Kori had attached herself to his shoulder, and was now drawing him back. "Princess, really, I've been enough trouble!"

"Think nothing more of it," Kori suddenly smiled shyly. "I guess I really should have told you. But I rarely have visitors... I would like if you would stay for awhile more."

Still feeling his own bruised pride, Kaji was slow to respond. "Well...I suppose if you wish it, Princess. Though I really should find my friends before they cause you any damage around here."

"I shall send for them," Kori smiled, producing a tiny silver whistle from her sleeve. She put it to her lips and blew a single sweet note. A loud crackle followed, and there was a small explosion of snowflakes before them. When it cleared, a blue Pikachu sat blinking at them.

"Pikablu, find Prince Kaji's friends and bring them to us," Kori commanded.

"Pika! At once, Princess Kori!" The little blue thing turned and scurried off down a crystalline corridor.

Kaji stared after it. "Strange creature that is..."

"Pikablu, a most unusual ice/electric Pikachu," Kori explained, pulling him to a couch with a smile. "He was near death when Articuno found him and brought him here. Since then he's become a good friend to me."

"Articuno....your legendary bird, correct?" Kaji sat down on the couch with Kori again. "The Ice bird."

"Yes." Kori's hand drifted up and down Kaji's upper arm unconsciously. "I don't know exactly what happened, but Articuno somehow changed that Pikachu into what Pikablu is today."

"The legendaries are mysterious creatures," Kaji's eyes drifted down to where Kori was caressing his arm. He swallowed, trying to ignore it.

"You command Flareon, do you not?"

"Moltres, actually," Kaji grumbled, slightly insulted at her lack of knowledge. "There's a big difference."

"No need to get pulled out of shape about it!" Kori dropped Kaji's arm and pulled away. "I meant Moltres. But I'm an expert in ice Pokemon, not fire Pokemon after all!"

"Considering that fire Pokemon can reduce all your precious ice Pokemon to puddles, you would do well to know everything you could to give you *some* chance of saving your Pokemon." Kaji smirked.

Kori gave him an icy glare. "You *do* command Flareon as well, right?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then I was correct." Kori smiled smugly.

Kaji fumed quietly as the princess went ahead. He hurried after her before he was left too far behind.

***

"James?"

"Jessie? Where are you?"

"Here with you. I can't see a thing."

"Me either." James felt Jessie's hand on his chest. He took it, dreading the thought of being separated from her in the darkness. "I had the strangest dream though..."

"Me too. Must have been whatever we were gassed with." Jessie gripped James' hand harder and pulled him up. "I wonder where we are now."

"Must be some sort of dungeon..." James reached for his belt. "At least they didn't take our Pokemon."

Jessie felt along the rough, cold walls for an escape. She led James behind her. Although she wouldn't show it, she was feeling a little panicky. James' warm hand in hers was reassuring.

"So, you're finally awake." A lamp on the wall burst to life. "I hope you like your new room, because you're going to be there a very long time." Cassidy laughed through a hidden sound system.

Jessie looked around. They were surrounded by stone walls that disappeared into a black abyss above. She stood and kicked at the walls. "Cassidy you can't keep us in here!"

"Can't I?"

"The Boss is going to come looking for us, and when he does he'll find out you stole Articuno from us!"

"You're delusional if you think he'd waste time looking for you," Butch's voice made the sound system crackle. "And even if you did get out of there somehow, who do you think he's more likely to believe? Bumbling idiots like you, who can't do anything right, or outstanding Rockets like us? Besides, do you really think he'll care?"

James shook his head. "None of you will ever be able to control Articuno..."

"We'll see about that!" Cassidy snapped.

"Have a nice life....what's left of it!" Butch chortled. He was briefly joined by Cassidy before the sound was cut off.

Then there was silence. Usually Meowth would say something at a time like this, but since he was missing, there was nothing. Finally Jessie and James looked at each other.

"We're gonna die!" They both cried.

***

"I don't wanna die!"

Meowth scampered back and forth on the mirror-like floor. It had been hours since Jessie and James had been taken away by Articuno, and he was becoming nervous. Happily oblivious to his fellow Pokemon's fears, Pikablu sat on a nearby table setting up icy dominoes.

"You won't die. You're perfectly fine. I'm more concerned with what has become of the Princess and her friend. They've been gone so long..." A troubled expression crossed the blue Pikachu's face for a moment, then disappeared with a bright smile. "But the princess always was a bit impulsive. Just join me in a game of dominoes, everything will be just fine, you'll see!"

"I don't wanna play dominoes! I want to know where Jessie and James are!" Meowth jumped up onto the table, upsetting Pikablu's dominoes with a crunchy crash. "Get me outta dis freezer right now before I makes you my next frozen dinner!"

Pikablu gave Meowth an icy glare. "How rude."

How rude... Meowth suddenly felt dizzy.

***

"How rude."

Pikablu grimaced at the blonde human who had him clenched tightly between his hands, shaking him.

"What have done with Kaji, you mutant furball!?" His anger and fear rising, Jareth shook the Pikachu harder. The answer he received was a jarring shock through his body. Shaken and smoking slightly, Jareth threw the Pikachu away from himself.

"As I was trying to tell you before you so rudely seized me, your master, Kaji, is in the company of my Mistress, the Princess Kori. It's against my better judgment, but I have been instructed to guide you to the chambers where they are currently residing."

"Breathe, rat, it will do you good," Jareth fumed, restraining himself from further attacking the irritating little Pokemon by smoothing back his hair with both hands. "And Kaji is *not* my master. I am Jareth, Prince of Electric Pokemon. And if you *dare* try that again, I will show you what real electric power is."

Pikablu cringed visibly.

"Is the Pikachu giving you trouble, Jareth?" Teased Kaji. The fire Prince had walked up from behind, with Princess Kori on his arm.

Jareth jumped slightly and turned around. "Don't sneak up on me like that!" He noticed Kori. "Did you...? Oh wait, you must be the Princess Kori that fuzzball was telling me about. Hmm...I didn't expect you to be a girl."

Kori huffed. "Yes, that seems to happen a lot. Maybe I *have* been in here too long..." She looked from Jareth to Kaji. "I know, why don't I show you around my kingdom? There's lots of ice...and snow...and some water even!" She smiled excitedly.

Kaji and Jareth looked at each other uneasily. "I dunno," Jareth mumbled, before finding Kaji's hand roughly covering his mouth.

"We'd love a tour," Kaji smiled. He gave Jareth a slight nudge with his elbow and leaned his head towards Kori hesitantly before removing his hand. "We may have gotten off on the wrong foot, but I'm sure we can make the best of it..."

"Hmm..." Jareth narrowed his eyes suspiciously as Kaji led the way, his arm close around the waist of the giggling and bright-eyed Kori. He wasn't sure why, but he had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

***

"I...think I'm gonna be sick."

Pikablu looked up from his dominoes. "I'm sorry. If you're going to be sick, please remove yourself from the table first."

Stumbling backwards, Meowth fell from the edge of the table. He landed so hard, that the silvery surface beneath him cracked into thousands of lines, ruining the perfect sheen. He leaned over it with a groan, holding his head.

Despite of all the fragments, he could see his own reflection in the floor surface. Meowth squinted at his image. There was something strange about it, yet he could not determine what it was. It was his own face, and there was nothing different about it, other than it looked on the ill side. Then it suddenly occurred to him that it felt as though he were seeing himself for the first time. He gingerly put a paw to his face.

"Is this...me?" Meowth's eyes widened, and he abruptly shut his eyes and turned away. A strange depression suddenly overtook him, though he didn't know why. What was wrong with him? And strange memories that were not his own continued to pierce his thoughts. Too disoriented to walk upright, Meowth bolted away on all fours.

"I'm not waiting anymore!" He caught a glance of Pikablu's surprised expression as he went. He was certain the Pikachu had done something to him, and probably Jessie and James as well. Blizzard or no blizzard, he had to escape!

***

It was cold. And wet. Jessie shivered and drew her arms tighter around herself. Half asleep, she pulled herself this way, and that, searching for James' warmth. Nothing but cold stone met her. She frowned, and opened her eyes. There was no difference from before she had opened them. She reached out with her hands.

"James? Where are you?"

The only answer was the sound of cold stone grinding against wet stone, and low heavy breathing. Then the sound of water moving gently.

Jessie swallowed. "James? Is that you?" Slowly, she moved towards the sounds. Finally her hand came to rest on something warm, and she felt a it spasm at her touch. Then it relaxed into a steadier, rhythmic movement. Jessie put her arms around James' torso. "Are you okay?"

Drip...drip...drip.

Drip.

Jessie could just visualize the water sliding from the whisp of hair that hung in his face. She also felt the water fall from somewhere above, pelting her randomly, then falling to the puddle they were standing in. She winced at the thought of her good leather boots being soaked, and in dirty water, no doubt. She shook James.

"James, answer me! Don't leave me alone in this place!" The worry was rising through the roughness in her voice. She could feel him trembling. "Speak, or I'll...!"

"I'm okay." James finally whispered. "I just feel so strange."

"Strange? How?"

"I'm not sure. But I *have* to get out of here Jessie. If we don't save Articuno..." There was sniffling sound.

Drip...drip...drip.

Jessie didn't feel any falling water. "I know James. But don't lose control of yourself! It isn't doing us any good!"

"I-I can't help it, Jess. I feel like I'll jump out of my skin if I don't get it back!" There was the sound of scratched stone. "It's scared Jess....It's scared!" His voice rose to a high pitched wail.

Jessie felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. She had heard James cry before, but nothing like this. The sound was eerie. She pulled back slightly. "James..."

"Jessie..." James breathed. "There's something else..."

"What?" Asked Jessie, though she was a little afraid to do so.

"The dream I had earlier... I'm still having it. Even when I'm awake, the dream keeps coming to me, not just what I remember, but the dream itself is continuing when I'm awake. And it seems so real... Jessie, what's going on?"

"What is the dream about?"

James turned in her grasp. "An ice princess."

Jessie was momentarily silent. "And a fire prince, right?"

Suddenly, there was a snap, and there was a small halo of light around the two. James held a small flashlight in one hand. He had a haunted look in his eyes. Jessie nearly withdrew from the beam of light they shared.

"James?"

As she had expected, James' face was streaked with tears, and his blue hair was wet and matted. Yet, though it was still James, something in his face struck her powerfully. She *knew* that face. The thought struck her as being strange, since of course she knew that face. It was James. And yet... It wasn't.

"Jessie?"

THWACK!!!

"OWWW!" James flinched under Jessie's paperfan as she snatched the flashlight from him.

"Stop being all spooky, and help me get out of here!" Jessie snapped. She was angry at herself. She'd nearly allowed James' panicky delusions get to her...

"Well, I did manage to get one of the stones loose down here," James sighed. Jessie directed the flashlight down to where James was indicating. A large stone had been pryed away from the wall, making a hole almost the right size for them to crawl through. "But I don't know if it'll get us out of here."

"It's a chance we'll have to take." Jessie began pulling at another stone. "C'mon, help me widen it!"

James leaned down to help. "Sorry we never got to your birthday party, Jess," he sighed.

"You owe me," Jessie grunted. "With all this insanity, you're more than excused."

James nodded and sighed inwardly. He had been so looking forward to it. Now along with the party, the declaration of his true feelings for her was post-poned as well. The strange new turmoil of his mind intruded once more, and he tried to put all his effort into helping Jessie move the stone.

***

"Don't open your eyes yet, Kori."

It was a bright