Pokemon

Control Freak: Another Story

By Lucky_Ladybug

Notes: The characters are not mine and the story is! While re-watching Control Freak, I decided I wanted to see what would happen if the mask had started to corrupt Jessie a la the One Ring instead of it just being that she was on a power trip. So this is an alternate retelling of that episode, and an alternate location. Crystal Rose of Pollux helped with some plot elements. There are a few brief references to James being possessed in my story A Dangerous Mind, but that past incident really doesn't have any bearing on this story. I hope it won't bear too much similarity with a story someone wrote many years ago that followed a similar premise of Jessie being corrupted by the mask. I never read it, but I was aware it existed, and now I can't remember its name or the author's name to make sure mine is different. So in case anyone reading this has read that old story and notices similarities, they are purely coincidental!

It was a pleasant late-autumn day and Ash and his friends were traveling along the coast. Everything had been peaceful for some time when a strange sight in a vacant lot on the outskirts of a sweeping metropolis caught their attention. Tents and trucks stretched in all directions, as well as people dressed in khakis.

"Wow, what is this place?" Ash blinked in confused surprise.

"It looks like an archaeological dig," Brock remarked.

"In the middle of the city?" Ash exclaimed.

"It's not something you see every day, but it happens," Brock said.

"I hope they're not digging up any more ancient Pokemon cities with giant, warring Pokemon," Misty worried.

Togepi trilled.

"Pi-Pikachu," Pikachu commented.

"Well, let's go over and find out!" Ash exclaimed. He ran ahead before anyone could stop him.

Misty sighed. "We might as well go too," she said in resignation.

"Yes! Let's!" Brock cried. He tore past Ash to get in the lead.

Misty was not pleased. "Only a pretty girl could get Brock moving that fast."

Togepi chirped.

"Make that two pretty girls," Ash remarked.

Misty stopped and stared. There were indeed two young girls coming up some underground stone steps. One held a strangely carved face mask, while the other held a long staff with an orange orb at one end. And one girl looked familiar.

"Eve!" Brock greeted. "I never thought our paths would cross again! What are you doing here?"

The teenage doctorate holder blinked in surprise and then smiled. "This is a pleasant surprise!" she exclaimed. "We are discovering another ancient civilization. I'm happy to be able to share our discovery with old friends. Everyone, this is Tierra. She is a colleague who has been helping me. Tierra, this is Ash, Misty, and Brock. They were with me when Pokemopolis was discovered."

"Hello," Tierra smiled too. "I'm glad to meet all of you."

"Hi," Ash and Misty echoed as they came up on either side of Brock.

"Pika!" said Pikachu.

Togepi chirped.

Brock was in Heaven. "Hello!" he declared. "Eve and Tierra. What beautiful names and girls to go with them!"

Tierra was more interested in something other than Brock's swooning. "You were really there when Pokemopolis was discovered?" she gushed. "That must have been amazing!"

"It was something else, alright," Ash said as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.

"To say the least," said Brock.

"So what kind of ancient civilization used weird stuff like that mask?" Ash wondered.

"I hope it's not like Pokemopolis' creepy artifacts housing giant Pokemon," Misty shuddered.

"Not at all," Eve said.

"Rather than being an ancient civilization, per se, this seems to be the site where a renegade vodun priestess lived with her followers," Tierra said. "We found some old writings that date back to when this area was called New Amsterdam. This priestess crafted this mask and staff and claimed that she made them under the instructions of her 'friends from the other side.'"

"Other side of what?" Ash blinked.

"The veil that separates mortal beings from the supernatural," Eve said. "Her 'friends' were dark spirits."

Misty cringed. "That's . . . really not good."

Brock frowned. "I didn't think voodoo existed in this part of the world during the time this was New Amsterdam. Let alone renegade voodoo."

"It's a dark chapter in history that was lost until now," Eve exclaimed. "This is an incredible find!"

"And with what we're learning, I can see why it was lost," Tierra said. "Someone must have buried these things hoping they would never be recovered. The mask can be used in conjuncture with the staff to control Pokemon. According to these writings, the priestess could control any Pokemon within the city limits."

"Whoa. Really?!" Ash stared at the staff with wide eyes.

"Pika." Pikachu gulped. That didn't sound good either.

"Finally the people rebelled and ambushed her . . . or tried to." Tierra frowned. "She defeated them all by controlling their Pokemon and declared herself unstoppable."

"That's horrible!" Misty exclaimed.

"There's more to the story on this next page, but it's so faded we've been having a hard time reading it." Tierra nodded towards a table, on which several yellowed and tearing sheets of paper were each displayed in glass frames.

"From what we can make out, her dearest friend had noticed a negative change in her ever since she had put on the mask," Eve said. "Beyond that, we're not sure what it says." She set the mask and staff on the other side of the table.

"I'm sure you'll work out exactly what the rest of the paper says," Brock said.

"I wonder if I wanna know," Ash remarked. He poked the staff. "Do you think it's really true? About controlling Pokemon?"

"I don't know," Tierra said. "I'm not going to put on the mask and find out, even in the interest of science."

"Oh," came a smooth and familiar voice from behind them. "I'll be happy to do that for you. But not in the interest of science!"

Everyone spun around.

"I know that voice!" Misty cried.

"There's no mistaking it," Brock agreed.

Two of the workers at the dig site were standing before them with matching smirks.

"Team Rocket!" Ash burst out.

"Prepare for trouble," Jessie purred.

"And make it double," James added.

"Will you guys can the motto already?!" Misty scowled. "We all know it by heart."

"I could say it in my sleep," Ash said.

"Well, I've never heard it." Tierra blinked. "What's going on here?!"

"Big trouble," Misty groaned.

As usual, Jessie and James were not about to can the motto.

"To protect the world from devastation!"

"To unite all peoples within our nation!"

"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"

"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

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

"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"

Meowth somersaulted onto the table and snatched the mask and staff. "Meowth, that's right!"

"Hey!" Ash protested. "You can't take that stuff!"

"It's not like it even belongs to anybody anymore," Meowth said.

"It was going into a museum!" Eve cried.

"Now it's going to Team Rocket." Jessie reached out, taking the mask from Meowth. It was intricately carved in bronze with a fearsome and colorful face. "I'd say it suits me perfectly."

"Well, it looks almost as scary as Jessie does," Ash quipped.

Jessie snarled. "You won't be laughing when all of these Pokemon fall under our control, twerp!" She applied the mask with a flick of her wrist and then only her eyes and mouth were visible. With a smirk, she grabbed the staff and twirled it before pointing it at Pikachu and Togepi.

"You can't do this!" Misty yelled indignantly.

Togepi's eyes went blank. He jumped out of Misty's arms and waddled over to Jessie with a trill. Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder to follow suit.

"Pikachu!" Ash wailed. "You can't let her do this! Come on, Pikachu! Fight it!"

But Pikachu went to Jessie's side with only a vague, "Chu . . ." in reply.

"They're mine now." Jessie sneered.

James and Meowth both looked to her with a start.

"Yours?!" James said in disbelief.

"We'd be takin' them to the boss!" Meowth exclaimed.

"He didn't want Togepi anyway," Jessie said. "And after Pikachu has caused us so much humiliation, I think it's more fitting that we keep him. Don't you?"

James frowned. "I think maybe you should take that mask off, Jessie. I don't recognize you from your words. And your eyes have started to glaze over. It's not an attractive look for you."

"You dare to question me?!" Jessie took a step forward, clutching the staff in both hands. "I was always the only one with brains and guts enough to be the leader!"

James stepped back, hurt flashing through his eyes. "Jessie . . ."

The younger kids watched, stunned.

"What's happening to her?" Ash wondered.

"What a power trip." Misty frowned.

"I am afraid it may be the mask," Eve said. "Remember what we translated from the parchment!"

James looked over with a start. "What did you read?!"

"That there was a negative change in the priestess's personality from the moment she put the mask on!" Tierra said. "If you care about your friend, you'll get it off her!"

Jessie abruptly swung the staff in a horizontal arc and knocked James to the ground before he had time to react. "If you do, I'll know you don't care," she snarled.

Meowth's jaw dropped. "Jim!" He scrambled to the dazed boy's side. "How could you do that to your best friend, Jessie?!"

"Very easily." Jessie haughtily flipped her hair over her shoulder and sprang into a Jeep. "Come on, Pikachu, Togepi."

The Pokemon jumped into the Jeep with her.

"And what about us?!" Meowth demanded.

"Well, get up and come on," Jessie snapped.

James shook the cobwebs from his mind and stumbled up, hurrying into the Jeep. "Jessie, you need to give me that mask," he said. "It's changing you."

"So? Deal with it." Jessie barely waited for Meowth before revving the engine and speeding out of the dig site. "We're going to the heart of the Big Apple to take control of every Pokemon in the city!"

James looked back over his shoulder at the younger kids and the archaeologists. Unbridled fear shone in his eyes.

"We've gotta go after them!" Ash cried. "They've still got Pikachu and Togepi!"

"And the mask and staff!" Eve moaned. "If she takes control of all the Pokemon in New York City, this entire area is doomed!"

"But isn't it only supposed to work in the part that was once New Amsterdam?" Misty asked.

"It's hard to say," Tierra said. "Maybe the stipulation about it working in the city limits means that its range is expanded to include the entire modern city now."

"That . . . would not be good," Brock frowned.

"But even if it's only the part that was New Amsterdam, that is still filled with hundreds of Pokemon who will all fall under her control!" Eve exclaimed.

"We need to try to translate the rest of this paper!" Tierra said. She sat down at the table. "There may be a clue as to how to get that mask off of her."

"Can't James just get it?" Ash frowned. "I know he didn't make it so far, but he'll keep trying. And he's right there in the Jeep with her."

"You underestimate the power of that mask," Eve said. "I am afraid it already has a very tight hold on that girl. Please, go downtown and try to keep track of her. We will stay here and try to translate this paper."

"Okay!" Ash ran for a Jeep Brock was already getting into and starting up. Misty chased after them.

"I hope they'll be alright," Tierra said grimly. "But more than that, I hope that girl's friends will be alright."

Eve looked to her in surprise. "What do you mean?"

Tierra tapped the first line they had been struggling with. "I think this line talks about how the priestess reacted to her friend telling her the mask was dangerous. And I recognize the character for extreme danger."

"Then we had better work fast," Eve declared, slipping in next to her friend.

"Extreme danger?" Ash frowned. He looked from the archaeologists to Misty and Brock. "But . . . Jessie would never hurt James or Meowth really bad. Would she?"

"Everything we saw her do is what we've already seen she's capable of, even knocking James down with the staff," Misty said.

"Except for when she said she planned to keep Pikachu for herself," Brock reminded them. "That wasn't like her. Even James and Meowth were shocked."

"Well . . . I guess the mask's making her greedy then," Ash said. "But we have to get Pikachu back in any case!"

"And Togepi!" Misty nodded.

Brock took off in the Jeep. "I also remember the way James looked back at us as they were driving off." He frowned. "He knows something's very wrong and he's honestly afraid. And whether that fear is for himself or Jessie, I don't know."

"I know I'm sure afraid for New York right now," Misty said. "They don't know what they're in for!"

"Neither do we!" Ash retorted.

"But we will soon," Brock said grimly.

xxxx

Jessie clenched her teeth as the Jeep flew over the road and towards the heart of the city. Her feelings were crashing over each other and making very little sense.

What had she been doing? Somewhere in her mind she knew that she had been insulting and even physically harming James and Meowth. She had never wanted to do that again. What was wrong with her?

Nothing was wrong with her. She was awakening to her new powers. There wasn't room for James and Meowth too, not when they weren't accepting of those powers. She had thought they would be happy for her and support her, but they weren't and didn't.

She had always wanted to be important, not just cast aside as a miserable misfit of society. James and Meowth had understood that and had even felt the same. They were a team of misfits together. Yet . . . now it felt as though their understanding paled before that of this mask. It saw right into her soul. It knew how she was feeling and it had a solution.

That was ridiculous, though. It was a mask. It couldn't know anything.

But it did.

James and Meowth wanted her to give up everything and go back to the existence of a failure. Was it so terrible that she didn't want to return to that life? The staff was her chance for a better future. It could control all the Pokemon in town! There was no way she was going to let it out of her possession. It was leading her to power beyond her wildest dreams.

So was the mask. The longer she wore it, the more she knew it was just right for her. If it wasn't that it was impossible, she might even say it was molding to her face shape, transforming into something that would fit her and only her like a glove.

Still, impossible or not, she knew she had been hearing a strange voice in her ears and in her mind ever since she had held the mask, before she had actually put it on. Now that it was on, the voice had only increased in its intensity and demand to be heard, even though its voice had not raised. She didn't always like what it said, but something about its hypnotic tone prompted her to listen. And although she wasn't fully aware of it, it also prompted her to think and act.

"Why do you travel with these two?" it was asking now. "They've proved they're not valuable and they don't care about you getting your desired power."

"But they've always been my friends," Jessie protested.

"Friends are weighing you down. The only way you can be with all your power is if you get rid of them and focus only on me."

"No!" Jessie snarled. "They're my friends. I'd rather have them than . . ."

She trailed off. She'd rather have them? Why? They certainly weren't helping this situation. If anything, they had made it worse, causing her to second-guess herself and insisting the mask was bad for her.

They were just worried about her, though. . . .

Were they? Or were they just power-seekers themselves, trying to get the mask and staff for their own gain?

Yes, that had to be it. Everyone was really only out for themselves, after all. She had learned that all of her life. No one truly cared. No one. . . .

James and Meowth did. They always had.

"You invited me in and put me on," the mask was saying now. "You're a good person. The best. And you deserve all the good fortune that is to come to you because of me."

"I like the sound of that." Jessie smirked. "I've lived as an outcast all of my life. I want to be special and important. I want to show everyone that trifling with me was always a mistake!"

"And you will," the mask said. "As long as you cast your friends aside. They don't really want what's best for you or they wouldn't want you to give me up."

An inexplicable sadness swept over Jessie at this proclamation. Even with the level of corruption the mask had already brought to her, she didn't want to believe it. But as it seeped its evil deeper into her skin and continued to warp and twist her very heart and soul to its treacherous designs, she started to.

". . . That . . . makes sense," she mused at last. "I'll give them one more chance, but you're probably right. They're not looking out for my best interests."

"Of course they're not," the mask whispered. "Only I am. Only I. . . ."

"Jessie?" James' voice broke into the eerie conversation. "Jessie, are you alright?"

Jessie started back to the present and glowered at James. "Of course I'm alright. I'm better than alright! Don't you understand what these artifacts are going to do for me?"

"I understand they're taking you away from us," James said.

"Yeah!" Meowth exclaimed. "You're gonna keep the Pokemon for yourself, just like the Iron Mask Marauder! And you're actin' out with us again. Knocking Jimmy down was just messed up!"

"I'll do whatever I want to him . . . and to you," Jessie snapped. "If you're not with me, you're against me. And you don't sound very 'with me' right now!"

"Jessie, we're always 'with you,'" James retorted. "We've never abandoned you and we never will. You know that by now. But you're letting that mask take over all of your thoughts! If you don't stop, you're going to be abandoning us!"

"That's just as well," Jessie shot back. "I don't need either of you clowns. I caught Pikachu without you! That's what this mask has done for me."

"The mask and staff caught him, Jessie," James answered. "You were just the vessel."

Meowth had shrank back, crushed by Jessie's heartless words. "You don't need us?" he whimpered.

"Oh, Meowth, don't fall for it!" James scolded impatiently. "That's the mask talking!" His eyes narrowed. "It's like when I was possessed . . . or when you were mind-controlled. . . . Only in this case, I'm afraid there's one key difference that changes everything."

"What's that?" Meowth quavered.

"Jessie willingly put the mask on," James said, gazing at their friend with haunted eyes. "She didn't know what she was in for, but basically, she invited the evil in. And when it has that kind of hold on her, I'm afraid it's going to be much more difficult to get through to her enough that she will cast it aside."

Meowth swallowed hard. "So . . . what're we gonna do?"

James gave a heavy sigh. "Right now? Just wait and watch. And not give up. I'll never give up."

Meowth stared at the tall skyscrapers of Manhattan looming high above them. "Well . . . unless we want Jessie to claim the Big Apple as her kingdom, we're gonna havta think of somethin' to get through to her fast." He gulped.

"I know," James said softly. "But at the moment, I don't know what it can be."

"Pikachu," Pikachu mumbled.

James turned to look back at him and Togepi. They were sitting on the back seat of the Jeep, their eyes still blank. And beyond them, following the Jeep, were countless other Pokemon of all kinds. James' jaw dropped.

Meowth turned to look too. "Wow. Jessie really does have the magic touch with this stuff." He blinked. "It's too bad this ain't legit."

"Well, it's not!" James snapped. "'This stuff' has given some sort of dark magic touch to her personality. That's what we have to break through!"

Jessie started to laugh. "Just look at all these Pokemon!" she exclaimed, gesturing at the rear-view mirror. "And this is merely the beginning. Every Pokemon in the city will come to me! And I think one with such an important gift should be more than a priestess. I will be a queen! Yes . . . Queen Jessie the First. And the city's Pokemon Center will be my castle!"

"What?!" James gasped, sitting up straight in the seat.

"What better location? All the Pokemon there will obey me, and I can use the Pokeball Transfer System to bring Pokemon from all over the world to me!" Jessie reached over, tapping into the Jeep's GPS unit to get directions to the Pokemon Center.

Meowth watched her warily. "So, uh . . . if you're gonna be a queen and all, are you gonna have anybody in your court?"

She sneered. "Why, of course. Two jesters. The both of you!"

James flinched. "That's not funny, Jessie."

"It's not meant to be," Jessie countered. "I'm dead serious. That's all you are to me."

James clenched his teeth. "I know that's not true. Maybe in the past you could have made me believe that, but not now, after you've shown repeatedly that you care. That mask is twisting you into a person I don't know. But mark my words, Jessica-I'm going to get you back. I won't give up until I do!"

"Well, lots of luck, Bozo," Jessie jeered. She sped around a corner, the Jeep careening to the left side's wheels before landing on all four again.

Meowth dared to look up at James. In spite of his words, it was obvious that Jessie was hurting him. "Jim?" he asked softly.

James pulled Meowth close, petting his head. "I guess this is similar to how Jessie felt when I said horrible things to her when possessed," he said quietly. "It's only fitting that I experience what it's like."

"It's not the same thing!" Meowth retorted. "And not just 'cause Jessie invited the evil in or whatever. The stuff you said, most of it was stuff that needed to be said, stuff you were thinkin' deep down. You called Jessie out for treatin' us rotten. You really made her take a long, hard look at herself and she started tryin' to treat us better.

"What's goin' on now, well, Jessie's just bein' cruel. This stuff she's saying don't need to be said! And it's not even how she really feels . . . I hope." Meowth looked down.

"It's not how she really feels," James insisted, his voice fierce. "It can't be!" He hugged Meowth as a refuge from the insanity. "We're going to save her, Meowth. Somehow, someway!"

"Yeah? And it'd better be quick." Meowth clutched James close. "We're almost to the Pokemon Center."

James looked up as the large, domed building appeared in the Jeep's windshield. "Heaven help us." He shuddered.

Nurse Joy hurried out through the doors as Jessie parked. "What's going on here?!" she exclaimed in disbelief and anger. "Why are all these Pokemon following you?! Don't you realize some of them could have been run over in traffic?!"

"That wouldn't have happened." Jessie jumped out of the Jeep, brandishing the staff. "They are all following me because I am their queen! And I'm taking over here, Sister!"

"What?!" Nurse Joy took a step back, but her eyes flashed with indignation.

James gave her a sheepish look. "We're terribly sorry about this. . . ."

Meowth nodded. "See, Jessie put on this cursed mask and it's makin' her act funny."

He shrieked as the staff crashed into him and sent him flying into James. "Neither of you respect me!" Jessie snarled.

James looked up at her from where he was now sprawled on the sidewalk with Meowth. "We respect our friend," he said. "You're not her. But I know she's still in there, somewhere!"

Jessie shoved the staff's orange orb against James' throat. "Think again," she retorted. "I'm the only Jessie there is. If you can't accept me as I am, I don't want you around anymore." She pulled the staff back and straightened.

James jumped up, holding Meowth in his arms. "I'll never accept you this way!" he snapped. "And if that turns you against me, then so be it."

"So be it indeed," Jessie sneered. "There is one thing I want from you." She pointed the staff at him. "Weezing, Victreebel! Come out!"

James' Pokemon emerged from their Pokeballs. Their eyes immediately went red as they fell under Jessie's control.

James stared in horror. "No, Jessie!" he cried. "Don't do this!"

"I've just done it." Turning away from James and Meowth, Jessie pointed the staff at the Pokemon Center. "Come out! All of you!"

The ground soon shook and thundered as all the Pokemon inside the building barreled towards the front doors. Nurse Joy had no choice but to leap out of the way. "What is this?!" she demanded. "Why are all the Pokemon obeying you?!"

"Because I am their queen!" Jessie cackled. "I told you! And I'm claiming this Pokemon Center as my own!"

The last Pokemon to leave were the Chancey. Nurse Joy stared at them. "Not you girls too!" she cried. "You have to wake up! Don't you remember me?!"

The Chancey looked to her. "Chancey," they said in matter-of-fact unison.

Jessie sneered. "Throw her out."

Nurse Joy screamed as her beloved Pokemon lifted her off the ground. "Put me down!" she wailed, kicking out at them. "Chancey!"

Then she was flying. James ran forward, barely managing to catch her in time.

Jessie took the opportunity to run for the front doors. "Now I hereby claim this Pokemon Center for Queen Jessie the First!" she declared. "So long, suckers!" She darted through, followed by her army of Pokemon. The doors slammed shut after them.

That was the scene when Brock pulled up in the other Jeep. He stopped, staring at the sight of Nurse Joy in James' arms and both they and Meowth gaping at the doors. "What's going on here?!" he demanded, leaping out of the Jeep in one motion.

Nurse Joy snapped back to the present and jumped down to the sidewalk. "Some crazy girl ran inside and took all of the Pokemon with her!" she exclaimed. "Including all of the ones who were at the Center!"

"No way!" Ash yelped. He and Misty dashed over too. "And was Pikachu there?!"

"And Togepi?!" Misty added.

"They were both there," James said forlornly. "Jessie's been almost completely taken over by that mask."

"She took Weezing and Victreebel and kicked us out," Meowth said with a nod.

"I wonder why she didn't control Meowth." Misty blinked.

"I'd like to think it's because some part of her doesn't want to put him through that again," James said, "but I don't know if that's true."

Misty glowered at him. "Well, one thing's for sure. You've really done it this time! None of this would have happened if you hadn't decided to take the mask and staff!"

James' shoulders slumped. "I know."

"Jessie was the one who wanted 'em," Meowth said. "We just went along, but somethin' felt wrong about the whole deal. I didn't wanna see a bunch of Pokemon get controlled against their will. Not after I know what it's like."

"Then why did you go along?!" Misty shrieked.

Meowth's ears drooped. "I guess I was hopin' that they didn't really have any power and we could sell 'em to a museum or a collector or somethin'. Besides, once Jessie gets an idea in her head, nobody can do much to stop her."

"And that's even more true now," James said.

"Nevermind all this!" Nurse Joy interrupted. "We have to stop her!"

"First we'll have to get inside," Ash pointed out.

Brock looked to James. "You're probably the only one of us who has any real chance of getting the mask and staff away from Jessie," he said.

"She's disowned me," James retorted. "I don't think anyone has much of a chance. But I'm not going to give up. Yes, I've been planning all along that I'll be the one to get them away from her. Maybe if the rest of you can serve as distractions, I can sneak up on her."

Brock frowned. "So basically we'll all be bait."

"No, that's not what I meant!" James cried, waving his hands.

"Well, we have to go in there anyway," Ash said. "It's the only way to get Pikachu and Togepi back."

"And to help Nurse Joy," Brock relented.

"James is probably taking the worst risk," Nurse Joy said in concern. "To even think of getting so close to that girl! . . ."

Meowth looked to her with surprise. "But Jessie would never really hurt Jim. Not even the way she is now."

"I hope you're right," Nurse Joy said.

Misty sighed. "Alright, everyone. Let's work out the details of our plan and get in there!"

Everyone concurred.