"Jessie." James turned to Jessie with a brilliant smile. "Don't you get it yet? The operation is already over!"
"Operation?" Jessie looked utterly bewildered. "What operation? What do you mean, it's over?!"
"Why, of course-" James drew the words out before throwing up a hand with a flourish. Several grappling lines dropped from the ceiling in front of them as he announced loudly, "-our grand operation to steal Pokémon!!"
"Our grand operation to steal Pokémon?!" Jessie was stunned. "When did we come up with that plan?! And my battle isn't even finished yet!"
Even as she spoke, the remaining time on the five-minute countdown ran out. This meant that, although Wobbuffet had not been defeated, Jessie had lost under the rules because her appeal points were nearly gone, far lower than Squirtle's!
"No!" Seeing the three red crosses appear at the judges' table, Jessie burst into tears and reached out desperately. "My Saffron Ribbon...!!"
By then, the host, Lilian, had realized what was happening.
Like the three judges and most of the audience, she had initially assumed this was an extra performance the production team had added at the last minute!
Only after hearing the director's frantic denial through her earpiece did she realize something was wrong.
"You-!"
She had just spoken, intending to stop them, when several children ran onto the stage!
Looking closer, she recognized the children she had seen accompanying May during yesterday's stage rehearsal-her friends!
Now she was even more confused.
What were these people here for?
While she stood at a loss, Ash leaped onto the stage, strode up to the Team Rocket Trio, and demanded loudly, "Team Rocket! What are you doing here?!"
"Twerp." Meowth glanced at him. "This has nothing to do with you this time! Stay out of it!"
As he spoke,