DUELING CUPIDS As Ash and his friends head to Mauve City, a familiar trio of evildoers watches them from the branches of a tree, using their binoculars.

"Well well, this is *very* interesting," said Jessie.

"Yeah, the twoip's finally got himself a girlfriend," said Meowth.

All three lowered their binoculars. "I'm kind of disappointed, actually," said James. "I always thought he'd go for that redheaded twerp first." Jessie started growling angrily.

"I kinda had my heart set on de gym leader's kid myself," said Meowth.

"I'm not talking about *that*!!!" Jessie roared, making her teammates flinch. "Did you see the way the twerp got so distracted by that girl that he kept sending out the wrong pokemon?"

"You're right," said James.

"So, what does dat mean?" asked Meowth.

"It means," said Jessie, balling her fist, "if he keeps getting distracted by little miss sunshine, we'll have a perfect opportunity to catch Pikachu!"

James face-faulted. "You've gotta have a better plan than that, Jess. Remember there's three other twerps who will gladly keep an eye out for us."

"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet popped out of his pokeball to agree, landing between Jessie and Meowth.

Jessie frowned. "You're right." Then she brightened. "But... I think I know a way we can help those twerps out, and still get Pikachu."

"Help them out?" asked James and Meowth, confused.