James's Chimecho
Chimecho (Japanese: チリーン Chirean) was the second Pokémon caught by James of Team Rocket during his travels through Hoenn, after Cacnea. Its voice actress in Japanese is Natsuki Yoshiwara (it has not yet appeared in the English version).
Chimecho was caught by James in the episode Fortree City's Feather Carnival!. In the episode, Team Rocket followed Ash and his friends to the Fortree City Feather Carnival. James remarked that he did not care for carnivals, and when asked why, he told a story of how when he was younger, he would ride past carnivals in his parents' limo, unable to attend. One day as he rode by, he saw a Chimecho for sale at a carnival; he instantly wanted it. Later that night, he ran to the carnival to buy it, but he was too late; the carnival was already packing up. He was very disappointed, missing his chance at getting what he called his "first love."
Later in the festival, James came across the Magikarp salesman selling strange-looking Chimecho. He was narrowly tricked into buying one, but it later turned out to be a Hoppip disguised as a Chimecho, and it flew away. Depressed by losing his chance again, James was instantly cheered up when a real Chimecho flew up to he, Jessie, and Meowth, using its Heal Bell technique on them. James asked Chimecho if it wanted to be his Pokémon, and it agreed, wrapping itself around his head in excitement.
James absolutely adores his Chimecho, and it is often seen out of its PokéBall either near James or being held in his arms similar to the way that Misty held her Togepi. It has a place in the Team Rocket motto after Wobbuffet. James refuses to put Chimecho in any sort of danger; thus, it does not battle. In Pokémon Contest! Lilycove Tournament!, Jessie borrowed Chimecho to use in a Pokémon Contest, where she subsequently abused it by grabbing it by the tail and pitting it against May's Combusken, ultimately using Double Edge, causing Chimecho to faint from recoil. Throughout the contest, James was extremely worried about Chimecho and expressed much discontent over its suffering. Another time, James whispered to Chimecho that it should have flown away when Team Rocket was about to stage an attack.
Chimecho's personality is quite cheerful and upbeat, and it is apparent that it cares about James very much. Since it does not battle, it rarely interacts with any of Team Rocket's other Pokémon, except during the motto when it says its line after Meowth and Wobbuffet.
