Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or Lupin the 3rd.

Summary: When Team Rocket's framed for stealing a priceless yet cursed gem while attempting to steal it themselves, Ash and Zoey must help catch the real thief and rescue Dawn. Some Pearl, Fireredshipping and Brock/Fujiko

The Case of the Hijacked Jynx Jewel

Chapter 1: Team Rocket's Jynx

It was late. The kids were in bed, the streets were quiet...peace along the nighttime in a small city. There was a museum which had a banner.

RECENTLY DISCOVERED! COME CHECK OUT THE COVENANT JYNX JEWEL! AVAILABLE TO SEE FOR THIS WEEK!

Inside, a security guard in a blue uniform was making the rounds, viewing the many treasures that were in the museum with a flashlight. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. He kept going on his rounds when three figures sprinted passed behind him. Feeling something from behind, he turned around and flashed the light. Nothing. Was it his imagination? He walked over to where he felt that notion. Suddenly, there was a pop. A mist of blue sprinkled around the guard who had a good dose of the powder. His eyes became heavy and quickly fell asleep. That's when one figure camouflaged in the darkness carried the snoozing guard away. "That was a brilliant sleep bomb you used, Jessie," the male figure praised. The other two figures revealed themselves also in black, one being no taller than the knees of the other two.

"We should have no more trouble obtaining the Jynx Jewel," the other tall one, sounding female, grinned. The three made their way through the now-unprotected museum.

"I can't wait to get my paws on that Jynx Jewel," the third member meowed. "I heard it's worth millions." There was one sign that led them to where the Jynx Jewel would be. Finally, the three were at the location. A pedestal stood in front. The flashlight shined the jewel...if it was there! There was no jewel. The three freaked. It was as if someone beat them to the punch.

"The Jynx Jewel! We've been had!"

"The jewel's gone!" If only they took the vanishing of the jewel in stride, the following wouldn't happen. The lights flashed on, illuminating the museum halls. The three were fished out of the darkness camouflage and exposed to be a blood-redhead female, a blue-haired male and a white cat with an oval gold coin in its forehead. They weren't alone. Plenty of blue police uniforms surrounded the three, including a turquoise-haired female who had handcuffs available. Busted!

"Team Rocket, you're under arrest for stealing the Jynx Jewel!" she announced. The three couldn't believe that they were being accused for the theft of the Jynx Jewel.

"We stole nothing, Officer Jenny!" the redhead argued. "It was gone before we could reach it!" It did sound like a plausible story. Jenny did not see it the same way.

"I'm also charging you with breaking and entering and battery on a civil servant." She might be referring to the downed officer who got smoked by the sleeping powder. No way the redhead could argue that. "Now, I can drop the charges if you come clean and tell us where the Jynx Jewel is located."

"I already told you, we stole nothing! Get it through your thick skull!" Is that anyway to talk to authority? Jenny wasn't deterred by that yell.

"You do realize who you're addressing, right?"

"I address whoever, however I feel like!" Talk about not caring. The officers escorted the steaming redhead and her tearful pair. The next morning, the news about the Jynx Jewel heist became pretty known throughout the city.

"The Jynx Jewel, the priceless but cursed jewel that was said to be discovered in a cavern on Iron Island, has been robbed last night," a brunette female reported for a news station. "Officer Jenny and her team of law enforcement officers made arrests. Jessie, James and a talking Meowth from a supposed branch of Team Rocket have been charged with breaking and entering, battery on an officer, burglary and felony trespassing. Reports depict that the three knocked out the security guard vie sleep powder bomb to reach the jewel. The three have strongly denied the allegations, claiming that the jewel was stolen prior to their appearance. There is little knowledge to what the Jynx Jewel contains and what curse had been bestowed." The museum was blocked off with yellow caution tape, including the area where the Jynx Jewel was suppose to be. Joining the investigation were three youngsters. One was a raven-haired young man. He wore a black spring vest over a white undershirt and a nice pair of relax fit jeans while sporting a red cap. The second was a brunette whose hair appeared to be a line of spikes. He wore a brown traveler's vest over a green t-shirt and brown slacks. The lone female was a blue haired girl who donned a black tank top blouse with a pink skirt and matching boots. Along for the ride was a yellow mouse with a lightning-shaped tail and a blue penguin chick. What business did they have?

"Not that I should argue, but this doesn't look like something Team Rocket would stoop to," the raven-haired motioned. Officer Jenny saw the three and creatures, feeling confident that help was available.

"Thank you for coming, Ash," Jenny greeted, more calm than last night. "Hearing from my third sister in Catallia City, I have confidence that you and Brock can recover the Jynx Jewel." On cue, the tanned teen made his approach, clasping his hands with Jenny's.

"Oh, we can retrieve the Jynx Jewel, but you're guilty of stealing my heart," he swooned. Ash and the other girl couldn't believe that this friend of theirs would be so brazen to make his approach on Jenny like so.

"Brock..." the girl moaned with a hand on her head. Ash crossed his arms, mulling at Brock and his hair-brain ploy.

"I had no idea that you were in the good cop/bad cop scenario," Jenny smiled. Wait a second...did Jenny enjoy that swoon? Something didn't fit. That's when a purple frog with orange ballooning cheeks showed up with glowing purple fingers. Jenny saw the frog with a smile, forcing the frog to stop the glowing fingers. Something that seemed really unusual along Ash's mind. Did this Jenny want Brock?

"Did Croagunk avoid using Poison Jab on Brock?" Then why would Croagunk side by Ash? That's when without warning, a blond with glasses in a police uniform approached the group.

"Chief!" he called. The group turned to the blond, including Jenny.

"Officer Hamby, have you gathered the logs?" Jenny requested. Hamby brought out a clipboard with some important items.

"Yes, ma'am. The electricity was cut at 1:15 last night. During that time, there were two guards on duty and one had gone to his rounds to make sure nothing had been touched when the Rockets used the sleep powder bomb. The other guard tried to radio, but when there was no answer, he used his cell to contact you and turn on the reserve power." That's when he removed a photo from the clipboard and handed it to Jenny. "However, Ash may have a point about the Rockets being wrongfully accused of taking the Jynx Jewel. We found a photo of the site attached toward the camera. From the pat-down, neither of the three were in possession of a camera." This would mean that Ash was correct about Jessie, James and Meowth being framed.

"I see. Good work, Hamby." Hamby wasn't done.

"There is one more item of business. The department has hired an inspector and personally, I'm a little fearful of him." What could that be?

"Are you sure this is where the one in charge of the caper case?" grumbled an older man. Everyone turned to a grown dark brunette male wearing a light brown trench-coat and fedora hat. The slinky figure also had sideburns and was a few inches taller than Jenny. Other than those sideburns, he was clean-shaven.

"Are you the inspector the department hired?" Jenny requested.

"That's me, alright. Inspector Zenigata, ICPO. I came since I heard that a certain thief was hanging around these parts." He seemed a little apprehensive about looking into the investigation.

"You mean you already know who stole the Jynx Jewel?" Ash questioned. Okay, Zenigata. What's your take?

"It's obviously that damn scoundrel, Lupin. He's always going after the treasures in one fashion or another." So, there was a new suspect on the prowl who may have taken the Jynx Jewel. Ash stood forth, ready to aid the inspector.

"Dawn, Brock and I can help with the investigation, Mr. Zenigata," he proposed. Zenigata scoffed at Ash's request to help him, almost acting like Ash was purely joking.

"Kid, don't get so worked up about it. You leave the hijinks Jynx Jewel to me." Ash frowned greatly. Shot down by an inspector for trying to help. "Don't get the wrong idea. I'd rather see the safety of kids become first priority." In a sense, Zenigata was looking out for Ash.

"He's got a point there, Ash," Dawn backed Zenigata. "You're a Pokémon trainer, not a detective in homicide cases." Ash's frown lowered more, feeling betrayed by her.

"Dawn, not you too," he whimpered. Sorry, Ash. Hamby was right there to support Ash.

"Inspector Zenigata, Officer Jenny hired Ash in the first place counting on the on-field work he performed for a sister of her's," he explained. There's a glimmer for Ash...only to be denied by the fedora.

"Hambone, this is not a child's game we're working on," the good inspector downgraded. Ham...bone?

"Hamby, sir."

"Whatever. We can't do too much to overlook the thievery of one individual." Ash was denied heavily and began to walk out, his mouse and Croagunk by him. Dawn chased after Ash, her penguin chick in her arms. They exited the museum, still feeling dejected.

"I'm sorry, Ash," she pleaded innocence. "But there are those times where sticking our noses into a situation won't help, if not make it worse."

("Dawn's right, Ash,") the penguin beaked. Ash shook lightly to the apology. Maybe he was denying the attempted forgiveness.

"I should be the one apologizing," he replied. "I mean, I'm the one who got interested when I heard about the jewel in the first place. Curiosity got the better to know what I was trying to see." Dawn seemed to understand what Ash was going through. "Still, I would feel a bit better clearing Team Rockets' names from this caper." While it did sound rather noble, Dawn had doubts that Team Rocket would be free on the news of finding the real culprit.

"Even if you save the robbery charges, there's still so many other charges like countless attempts of alleged Pokémon kidnapping, unlawful arrests and who knows what else," she listed. "I would be outraged if all they get is a slap on the wrist." At least, right?

"That slap on the wrist being a year in the prison." Someone wanted a long prison sentence. That's when someone else came onto the scene.

"For you, Ash, three years should be considered light," a new female suggested. Ash and Dawn turned to a young redhead with sunglasses in her short hair. She wore a maroon sweatshirt under a tan vest and jeans. Ash and Dawn were surprised to see this new girl.

"Let me guess, Zoey," Dawn pondered. "You're here for the Jynx Jewel, too?"

"Well, yeah. I've been wondering why it's called the 'Jynx Jewel' in the first place, less know why someone would take it if it's cursed." Right, it was mentioned in the news report that the Jynx Jewel had a jinx on whoever handled it.

"That's right," Ash remembered. "There was a curse mentioned. I wonder what the curse could be?"

("That's the real mystery,") the mouse squeaked. This conversation and investigation aren't going anywhere.

"How about we go and check on Team Rocket," Dawn suggested. The other two nodded before heading out to the police station. The case has opened and right now, the pool of suspects are filling. What was the Jynx Jewel, what curse did it possess and why would someone take it?

TO BE CONTINUED...