"ZOEY STONE!"

Sam, now twenty, her long black hair just down to her mid-back (she had decided to keep it semi long, instead of shoulder-length), and her eyes as purple as ever, practically blew her top that afternoon.

Steven and Phoebe were out attending an Elite Four party, leaving Sam in charge… and watching her three year old niece, Zoey. "Steven, you idiot, giving her a Beldum she can ride on isn't exactly great for the babysitter…" she muttered under her breath.

"Bye, Sa-sa!"

Sam narrowed her eyes at the little demon – cute little demon, who seemed to have inherited Phoebe's hair, Steven's eyes, and Phoebe's spirit – as Zoey waved at her from waaaaaaay across the hall. "Zoey, you tell Beldum to come back here!" she yelled.

"No! Fun!" Zoey complained, petting the Beldum on the head. "Beldoo fast!"

Beldoo, was the Pokemon's nickname, since it was the only way she could pronounce 'Beldum'. "Yeah, but you have to take a bath now, Zo," Sam said patiently. "And maybe if we finish early, I'll let you ride on Beldoo after that."

Zoey sighed. Zoey knew that Sam was to be respected. In her three-year-old mind, the people that were to be respected were… mama, dada, Sa-sa, and Gayee. (Gary) Sometimes, when Sa-sa's friends were over, she had to respect them, too. They were May-may (Mason), Ambee (Amber), Taz (Topaz), Jay (James), and Skee (Skye). And sometimes, there was Wawa (Wallace) and Nona (Winona)

Sam smiled at her niece as Beldoo floated closer, and she carried the adorable toddler down from her Beldum. Zoey had black, raven black ringlets of hair that were starting to grow long, like her mother's. Her eyes were huge and gray, and her complexion was like Steven's – kind of pale.

After Sam gave Zoey a bath, it was past three in the afternoon, but Sam kept her promise and let the two loose in the front yard. Sam agreed to let Beldum and her newly-caught Staravia have a race around the yard. Beldum was fast – for a Beldum, of course.

Sam let out her Staravia and Zoey's Beldum. "Me ride Stawee!" Zoey said, tottering towards Beldoo.

"No, no, no, no, no," Sam said quickly, and swooped down to wrap her arms around Zoey. "Beldoo and Staravia are going to race, and they'll be going too fast. You might fall off, Zo."

"Stawee (Staravia) won't fall me."

"Yes, she will," Sam ignored the annoyed look on her Staravia's face and on Zoey's face (Zoey looked so much like Steven when she did that) and firmly grabbed Zoey so she could carry her.

She walked over to the benches that Steven had placed in the backyard, and sat a very grumpy and temper-tantrum prone Zoey down next to her. "Who do you think'll win?" Sam asked.

"Beldoo."

Sam made a face. "Beldum's slow, Zo."

"Beldoo fast!"

"Staravia's faster."

"Beldoo fast!" Zoey insisted. Sam laughed, and turned to the two Pokemon, who were ready to race.

"Alright, guys. Just one lap around the backyard. Star, this could boost up your Quick Attack and your speed, alright?" Staravia nodded. "Ready…"

"GAYEEEEE!" Zoey squealed. Sam turned her head and saw Gary, (now twenty-one and older looking and mature) approaching the house. He smiled at them, and Zoey leaped off the bench and ran towards Gary, arms stretched out. He caught her with ease, and lifted her up so he could twirl her around.

"How's the little princess?" Gary cooed.

Sam walked up to him and smiled. "I thought you were in Mossdeep," she accused him.

"Mossdeep's just one Fly away from Lilycove, and I had to see you two," Gary smiled, and still carrying Zoey, bent down to kiss Sam gently on the lips.

"Gayee have present?"

"Hmmm." Gary pretended to think. "Nope, don't have one. But you can ride on Flygon today, if you want to."

"Gary!" Sam scolded. "I just told her she couldn't ride on Star, and now you think I'll let her ride your Flygon?"

"Me ride Flyfly (Flygon)!" Zoey said happily.

Sam gave Gary a classic 'now-look-what-you've-done' look. He shrugged. "I won't even let Flygon go more than two feet off the ground."

"Two?"

"Fine, one." He gave Sam an amused smile. "You're such a mom."

Sam stuck her tongue out at him. "Seeing as her mother dear isn't here at the moment, I have to act like one."

"Sure, sure. Hey, come on out, Flygon! Oh, and I did get her a little present. Something she can play with."

"Gary, please tell me you got her something that's probably an inanimate object…"

"Actually, I didn't get her something like that. Where's the fun in that?" Gary asked, grinning mischievously as the look on Sam's face became priceless.

Flygon, Staravia and Beldum had little Pokemon conversations with each other, chortling occasionally. Zoey raised her eyebrows at the sound of the words 'little present', and clapped her hands joyfully. "Gayee have present!"

"Yup," Gary said. "Lemme put you down, though, so I can get it." He gently put Zoey on the floor, and caught Sam's eyes. She had her arms crossed, eyes narrowed. "Oh, Sam. She'll be happy with this present. I promise."

Sam relaxed and smiled gently at Gary. Then she realized something. "Gary. You didn't get her a Charizard, did you? Or an Ursaring? Or a Gyarados? Or a Sharpedo? Or a – "

"Relax, sweetie," Gary said patiently. "I got her a Pokemon fit for a kid. I wouldn't give her something like a Gyarados. A Gyarados. For a two-year-old. I'm not ignorant, Sam." He laughed.

"Sorry for not having trust in you," Sam said, sighing. Gary grinned.

"I brought her one Pokemon that she can have, and a whole bunch of Pokemon playmates." He pursed his lips. "All in all, she can play with about seven Pokemon, a whole team."

"Seven? I thought you could only bring six with you," Sam said, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, you see, Zoey already has Beldum. That's one. I rode on Flygon going here, not exactly counted as my team. I pull the strings a little bit, there's no harm in that. Besides, I'll be one Pokemon less when I leave, and I'll have exactly six in my belt."

"You've thought this out."

"Oh, yes."

"Just bring out her little playmates, will you?" Sam rolled her eyes. Gary's eyes twinkled at the familiarity of the gesture.

"Alright… Budew, Tediursa, Igglybuff, Zigzagoon, Pichu, and Vulpix, come on out!"

Sam watched as six, utterly cute and fluffy and kid-safe Pokemon got out from Gary's Pokeballs. She watched Gary practically beam at them. "Where in the world did you get all of these adorable babies?" Sam asked, picking up the Budew and admiring it.

"I caught them all. I have a whole bunch of other kid-safe Pokemon for Zoey here, but I could only bring six. I'll bring more, if Steven agrees to breed and take care of all of them while I'm gone."

"If Steven agrees to breed and take care of the Pokemon, that'll mean it'll be me taking care of them." Sam decided to ponder a bit, and remembered her days when she worked part time in the Daycare center. "I'd love it!" she exclaimed. "Heck, you can leave all of them here!"

"Knew you'd love the idea," Gary said. "Alright, Zo, let me introduce you to these new friends of yours." Zoey, suddenly shy, toddled over behind Gary's legs, and peeked out to look at them. "This one's Budew. She's a grass Pokemon, and she'll be really pretty when she evolves. The little bear over there, that's Tediursa. Next is Igglybuff, then Zigzagoon, and Pichu, then Vulpix!"

Zoey went closer to Budew. "Boo," she said, naming it (or just pronouncing their names in the only way she could). "Tessa, Iggy, Zoon, Pich (pronounced 'peach'), Pixie?"

"Yeah, that's right," Gary said happily. "Pich is yours, Zo, your gift from me."

"Oooooh." Zoey studied the Pokemon, a quiet silence between them. She rose one of her hands so she could wave at them. "Hi."

The Pokemon beamed at her, and Zoey giggled joyfully. Star, Flygon, and Beldoo had neared the group, and Zoey pointed to each one of her new friends and introduced them. "Boo, Tessa, Iggy, Zoon, Pich, Pixie." She looked at the three older Pokemon and introduced them to the smaller Pokemon. "Flyfly, Stawee, Beldoo."

"Oh, that's so cute!" Sam smiled. "Zo, you go play with them." Zoey, however wasn't listening to Sam; instead, she was busy shaking hands with Tediursa. "Star, Flygon, you watch out for the babies!" As the older Pokemon nodded, Sam reached for Gary's hand and squeezed it. "You're spoiling her."

"I do it with good reason. I can't help but spoil her. Who wouldn't? She's the most adorable two year old I've met. And, not to mention, her aunt is also my girlfriend, who I love and adore even more than myself." Gary smiled slyly at her.

She smiled back at him. For the past three years, everything had been heaven for her. She and Gary were just comfortable in their own little world, unconcerned about MARGE… or the Legendaries. Sam and Gary had also been journeying around the regions; Sam was trying to get all her badges, and succeeded.

"You know what today is?" Gary asked suddenly.

"Uh. Thursday, why?"

"You're right, it's a Thursday, but today, it's been three years since you've lost your Spirit Sage."

Sam was quiet. "You are one of the few boys who can actually remember dates like girls can." He nudged her playfully in the ribs, and laughed.

"It was important for me, though…"

"Important in what way?" Sam asked.

"Well… that day… I just realized that I was willing to sacrifice everything for you." He placed a finger under her chin, and tilted her head up. "And that was also the day I officially stopped worrying about imbeciles like Maxie ruining our relationship."

Sam smiled easily at him, and watched Sam playing with tag with all the Pokemon, Staravia and Flygon facilitating. "You're right. But… something worries me."

"Hm? What would that be?"

"Skye."

Gary was silent for the moment. Skye was the new Spirit Sage; how could he have forgotten? What was probably worrying Sam was that Skye hadn't been in touch with any previous Spirit Sage… besides Sam.

"Everything boils down to the fact that sooner or later, he's gonna suffer the same way I did. Only… he probably won't be able to let go of the Spirit." Sam looked down at the ground. "And I did that to him."

"Sam, we agreed, among the group, plus your brother and Phoebe and Wallace and Winona, that it wasn't your fault." He squeezed her hand. "And you yourself explained to us that it could have entered any one of us." Sam opened her mouth to say something, but Gary cut her off by pressing a finger to her mouth. "And, in the first place, did you ask to become the Spirit Sage? No. So, in the end, like we've explained to you again and again," he sighed, exasperated, but smiled at her with the smile she loved, "It isn't your fault, Samantha Stone."

She smiled up at him, then stood up on her tip-toes to kiss him on the lips. "You always make me feel better."

"SAM!"

Sam winced, and rolled her eyes at the voice. "Steven Stone, will I ever get any private time with you around?" she muttered under her breath, and turned around crossly. Steven and Phoebe were crossing the lawn, accompanied by a girl who looked about Sam's age, and strangely familiar. "You're home early."

Steven crossed his arms. "I had a feeling that my baby was in danger!" Steven said, bending down amongst the zoo of animals to pick up Zoey. "How can you just make out with Gary while my baby and your first and only niece gets attacked by wild Pokemon?"

"First of all, Steven," Sam said, narrowing her eyes and stepping away from Gary. "I am not making out with Gary, I am kissing him. Before you counter that, kissing is not making out, it's just, plain kissing. Secondly, those Pokemon I'm sure you're about to obliterate aren't wild, they're Pokemon that Gary brought for Sam to play with, and the Pichu is hers."

Steven rose an eyebrow in Gary's direction. "You gave her a Pokemon?"

Gary shrugged. "Ash's Pikachu and some other Pikachu mated, and when the egg hatched, Ash thought he could give it to Dawn, but she said no – and he asked me if I wanted the Pichu. I thought Zoey would love it, and she does."

Steven looked at his daughter, who was strangely silent. "So… you like electric Pokemon, do you?" Zoey beamed at him.

"Pich mine, she lellow (yellow) and cute."

"Okay, okay," Steven said hastily, smiling at Zoey. "Fine, baby Z, you can have her."

"Yaaaaaaay!"

"And the others?" Steven looked pointedly at the other small and adorable Pokemon, gathering around his legs.

"Well, Steven… I was thinking…" Sam sounded perfectly angelic now, "Zoey would love a life surrounded by Pokemon, and if I started a day care here, it'd just be perfect for her environment, and she'll grow up to love Pokemon as much as I do."

"So… you're going to stay inside all day… watching Pokemon that aren't yours… and have them run free in the yard?"

"Yup." Sam said. "Oh, please, Steven? Can I? You know I'll take good care of them all," Sam said, sounding more like a fourteen-year-old begging for a bunch of Growlithe, "And I grew up taking care of the Pokemon in the day care center in Verdanturf, so I have an idea on what to do," she said. "Pleeeeeease? It'll be like my job for the rest of my life!"

"Wait a second, wait a second…" the girl who looked familiar to Sam held up her hand to stop Steven from talking. "Are you Sam Garret?"

"Er, well, I was, before. That was my foster family I was living with… but how did you know?" Sam looked closely at the girl, and tried to remember where in the world had she seen her. The girl was about Sam's height, had wavy hair that was a shocking red, not orange red, but red-red that was down to her waist and had unusually bright blue eyes. She was wearing a white tank top underneath her red jean jacket whose sleeves were between her wrist and her elbow, and for her pants, she wore white slacks and black flats for her shoes. That was when she remembered. "Erin Hunter!" Sam shrieked and went over to Erin to give her a hug.

Erin laughed. "It's been a long time since I've seen you, Sam…"

"Yeah!" Sam looked closely at her old friend. "You're so pretty now!"

"Well, it's you who has the boyfriend, not me," she chuckled. "Anyway, what are you doing here, Sam Garret?"

"Actually…" Sam smiled sheepishly at Erin. "It's Sam Stone."

"Stone?" Erin gaped at Sam, then Steven. That's when she suddenly made the connection, and noticed the slight similarities. "Oh, so you're Steven's little sister! He was telling me that he had a little sis that was my age, and I didn't think it was you!"

Sam turned to Gary, and Steven and Phoebe, all of the three who were looking a little confused. "Erin and I grew up together, actually she lived in Mauville while I worked in Grandpa's daycare center. She used to come help me all the time with work, or left a few Pokemon around, just to help with the business." She smiled warmly at Erin. "I remember you used to have a favorite among your Pokemon… was that a Charmander?"

"Well, Chari is a Charizard now, and yeah. She's kind of my favorite, my baby." Erin grinned. "Before you ask what I'm doing here, though, I think you should ask Steven."

Sam looked questioningly at Steven. "Erin's replacing Drake on the Elite Four."

"What? Oh, did something terrible happen?" Sam asked, concerned for the fatherly figure of the Elite Four.

"He's just retiring," Steven assured her. "It was actually supposed to be Mason to take Drake's place, but he didn't want the position, so… next in line is Erin. She won the Hoenn League." He smiled at Erin. "I've never seen such wonderful tactics."

"Well, I guess she combines her contest skills with her battling skills, right?" Steven nodded at Sam's guess, and she grinned. "Erin's really good at both. I used to be so jealous of her when she stopped by…"

"But now I'm just a humble boarder in your house," Erin said. "Steven's lending me a room while they get things settled up in the Elite Four, and he wanted me to battle against him, anyway." She shrugged. "So, anyway, what's the dirt on your boyfriend?"

"Erin!" Sam blushed furiously.

"So you're denying that he's your boyfriend?" Erin grinned wickedly.

"No!" Sam said. She let out a huge breath, annoyed, but still happy at her reunion with Erin. "I…" she laughed a little, and looked up at Gary. "I love this guy. I love him so much that my heart could just explode with my feelings for him."

"It's more than that, isn't it?" Sam looked in surprise at Erin, who was looking at her with a sudden wisdom in her eyes. "I know about your Spirit Sage story, Sam… and I believe there's more."

"You're right," Sam said. She walked towards Erin again, and hooked her arm in the red-heads, and the two started talking. Steven smiled at the two, and gestured to Phoebe and Gary.

"Let's leave those two alone for a while." Steven carried Zoey into the house, and looked displeased when all little Pokemon started a parade following them. He ignored them. Once they were inside, he set Zoey down, and she toddled over to her playmates.

"So… how did the meeting go?" Gary asked, sitting in one of the comfy chairs in the Stone household.

"Boring agenda," Phoebe commented. "Except for when they introduced Erin to the whole Elite Four's and the gym leaders." She grinned evilly. "Roarke loved her," she said smugly.

Steven laughed. "Erin didn't seem to care though. Anyways, we talked about the new fourth member of the Elite Four in Hoenn, and a few other things, like rotation of gyms and such… but that rarely happens. You're right, love, it was pretty boring."

"Any interesting agenda?" Gary asked.

Steven and Phoebe were silent, so of course, Gary knew that there was something interesting on the agenda. "Well… we talked about Sam and Skye."

Gary was silent. "What about?"

"Skye's safety. They don't want what happened to Sam happen to Skye. Once was just too much for them." Phoebe sighed, and slumped down into a chair next to Steven. "We debated for like… three hours on that subject."

"Did you come up with a conclusion?" Gary asked.

"You're not going to like it," Steven told Gary. Gary narrowed his eyes. Steven sighed. "They're thinking of sending Skye somewhere else faraway for him to master his Spirit just in case the same thing happens."

"Why did you say I wouldn't like it?"

"Sam's going to go with him." Phoebe waited tentatively for Gary's reaction. Gary was surprisingly calm, and silent, when Phoebe realized he was waiting for them to say that he was coming too. "Alone."

"Why?" Gary asked. "I'm just as good of a bodyguard as any other person! Why can't I go with her?"

"Sam has to concentrate on teaching Skye the right way to use his powers. They don't think that's gonna happen if you're there," Phoebe said gently. "At least, if it makes you feel better, a whole lot of other gym leaders and members of the Elite Four voted against it and wanted you there – including Steven and I."

"Why should it make me feel better if it isn't actually gonna happen? I thought Steven was a good teacher," Gary said accusingly in Steven's direction.

He held his hands up, as if surrendering. "I told them, I told them I could teach Skye. I even had a reasonable argument about that. I told them that Sam wasn't even able to control a Spirit Sage, and she wasn't the proper teacher, and that I could properly teach him."

Gary waited for Steven to continue.

"And… they said that a proper teacher has to have proper experience."

"Who is 'they', exactly?" Gary asked, raising an eyebrow.

Steven hesitated for a second. "Agatha seems to be heading that group. Under her are Falkner, Clair, Koga, and the more serious leaders and Elite Four members. The ones who are all for me to go are the younger ones, headed by me, and Phoebe, Flannery, Roxanne, and Misty spoke out against Sam's teaching Skye."

Phoebe sighed, and looked at Gary. "Agatha and the others don't have anything personal against you, Steven, or Sam. It's just that they really, truly think that Sam can help Skye. They think it's the best solution, and we can't do anything about that, Gary…" she leaned back in her chair, and looked truly sorry.

"Erin voiced out a big subject about that though, and she made sense. She said that having two Spirit Sage's in one place was bound attract the attention of friend and foe, so they needed protection, which would be in the form of you, Gary." Steven nodded towards Gary. "Unfortunately, they countered that by pointing out that Skye could call on any Legendary Pokemon he pleases."

"Idiots," Gary grumbled under his breath. "Him? And Sam? Alone? For how long?"

"A couple weeks, months…" Steven shrugged, knowing he was treading on dangerous ground – where there was sure to be a Gary Oak tantrum coming up. "But it all depends if Skye's a fast learner."

"He better be," Gary growled.

Phoebe smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Gary. Skye knows that Sam's off-limits. He's not the same person as before."

"All the same, I wish he'd get a girlfriend."

(-)

Erin sighed happily as she and Sam sat outside on the grass, which had a perfect view of the ocean. "You are so lucky, Sam!"

"Yeah…" Sam smiled. "I guess I am. Gary's a really nice guy. And he's everything I could ask for. It's like… he was made for me."

"Oh, that's true love alright," Erin teased, poking Sam in the ribs.

"Well, what about you?" Sam asked, raising an eyebrow at her friend. She watched as the laughter in Erin's eyes slowly faded.

"Actually… I don't… I don't have the time for things like that," Erin said stiffly.

"Oh, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Sam said hastily, knowing she had hit a spot. "I'm sorry."

"You didn't know," Erin said, smiling. "Really… it's okay."

The two were silent for a while, the kind of silence that was comfortable between two close friends. "Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"Gary… he's… he's everything to you… isn't he?"

Sam, surprised at the sudden question, looked at Erin. "Well. Yeah." She smiled as she said it.

"What if you lost him?" Sam looked at Erin, and saw the saddest expression she had ever seen on her friends face. "What would you have done?"

"If… I lost him?" Sam was a little confused. "Well, I… I'd never get over it," Sam admitted. "I lost him once; remember that. I lost him for three years, and I almost lost him three years ago. It was like… I had ripped out my heart." Sam closed her eyes, remembering the exact feeling. "It was like I was leaving, but I left everything important to me behind. Everything that mattered to me… was gone."

"I know exactly how you feel," Erin said, quietly. "The pain… the heartbreak… the sadness… it hurts… doesn't it?"

"Erin," Sam said, concerned. "Do you need to talk to me about something?"

Erin shook her head quickly. "Sam, I'm really sorry. I'm not… ready… to talk about it yet. Really."

Sam nodded slowly, wondering what on earth could've happened to her friend.

(-)

Flap… Flap… Flap…

Altaria and Skye were flying high above the city of Fortree now, a backpack clutched in Altaria's talons, and a light blue sling bag worn by Skye. "Almost there, Altaria," Skye said. "I wonder what's it gonna be like… spending all that time with Sam…" he mused. "No, she's with Gary," he reminded himself. "Besides, she's almost like a little sister to me, now," he said, trying to reassure himself.

Beneath him, Altaria rolled her eyes. Her master had been on a few dates, but none of them lasted enough for the second date. And she also knew that the only person who had actually he had actually shown an interest in (besides Amber, of course) was Sam.

"I know what you're thinking, Altaria," Skye said begrudgingly. "But, it's more of a little sister love or something! Not… not… crush-crush love, you know?"

Altaria snorted.

(-)

Erin and Sam were getting close to the house when a large shape blocked the sun from behind their backs. Shocked, both of them turned around and saw Skye and Altaria about to land. "Skye!" Sam smiled hugely and waved at him, knowing he would see her.

"Skye…?" Erin asked, more to herself then to Sam. "The current Spirit Sage?"

"Yeah," Sam said. "He drops by every so often, it's almost like he's another brother," she continued, continuing to look up at Skye and Altaria.

Altaria landed a few feet away from Sam, and Skye leaped off Altaria. "Hey, Sam!" He held his hand up in a greeting. "Just some news: James just won the Grand Festival in Kanto," he smirked. "Topaz wasn't kidding when she said that James was an awesome coordinator." He returned the quick hug that Sam offered.

That's when he saw Erin, standing behind Sam, curiosity glinting in beautiful blue eyes that contrasted against her fiery red hair in a good way. He stepped away from Sam, and looked at her for a long time. Then he smiled, uncertainly, and said, "Hey."

"Oh!" Sam grinned. "Skye, this is-" she stopped suddenly when she saw the look in Skye's face. Her grin quickly turned into a smug look. Love at first sight isn't exactly a cliché anymore…

"I'm Erin Hunter," Erin smiled at him, and he noticed the dimple in her right cheek, and the whiteness of her teeth. "I'm the new addition to the Hoenn Elite Four."

Skye wordlessly held out his hand. "Skye. Storne. I'm… the new addition to the generations of Spirit Sages," he said lamely, but was relieved when she grasped his hand and laughed.

Sam, on the other hand, had disappeared into the house.

Erin sighed a bit at Sam's departure, but made no move to walk away from Skye. "I've heard a lot about you," she said, continuing the conversation. Skye's hand dropped, and he looked at her, curious. "You've played a big part in rescuing Sam… and from what I heard, you also helped to her downfall in the earlier parts…"

"I was blind," was all Skye could say, and it was true. Erin looked at him for a long time, and was convinced. She smiled up at him.

"You're a really nice guy," she blurted out, and turned a little pink with embarrassment. "Wait – what I meant was that, you… er…"

He laughed, and this time it was Erin who noticed something – the way he laughed made her feel a little light. "Let's look for Sam and the others, alright?"

(-)

Sam happily leaped into the seat next to Gary, and the latter wrapped an arm around her. "Where's Erin?" Phoebe asked. "Did she leave to do something?"

"Actually, she's…" Sam smirked. "Talking with someone who fell for her the first time he saw her."

"Ooh, who?" Steven asked. Sam giggled. Her brother was such a matchmaker sometimes.

"Skye."

"Oh, so he's here," Gary said, in an offhanded tone. But Sam heard everything she needed to hear in those four words.

"Here we go again with the jealousy," Sam said in a sing-song voice. But she smiled reassuringly and kissed his cheek. "Don't worry, Gary, I'm always yours."

Gary smiled at that, but looked at Steven. "Tell her?"

"Fine, I'll do it, though." Steven said. "Sam, your services are needed."

"Huh?" her eyebrows furrowed together in thought. "What are you talking about?"

"As you already know, Skye is the new Spirit Sage." Sam rose her eye and nodded slowly. "And, just like what happened in your case, we don't want a near-death scenario to happen."

"Who is 'we'?" Sam asked, making air-quotations.

"All Gym Leaders and members of the Elite Four in all regions." Steven waited for Sam to nod, and when she did, he continued. "We want you to teach Skye how to control his powers."

"WHAT?" Sam threw her arms up. "I couldn't even control it when I had my powers, and now you want me to teach Skye? He's as good as DEAD if I teach him!"

"See?" Gary said. "She doesn't even want to teach him!"

Steven sighed. "But Sam…"

"No!" Sam said firmly. "I'm not going to do it! I'm not going to each him the wrong thing! You can tell the other Gym Leaders to just stick that suggestion up their-"

"It's already decided," Steven said testily. "You're so hard-headed."

"Well, I must get it from you, then," Sam snapped back.

"Sam…" Phoebe said gently. "Steven and I and other gym leaders and members of the Elite Four really wanted Steven to be the one to teach Skye. We were just… outnumbered."

"Well, this sucks," Sam said. "Does Gary get to come, too?"

"Er…" Sam looked at Steven, and saw the answer in his eyes.

"Great. Just great. Sticking me and Skye on some random island alone, with no one else, is just the worst idea I've ever had." Suddenly, she narrowed her eyes. "Steven?"

"Hm?"

"When am I leaving?"

Steven blinked. "Uh…"

"Steven, when. Am. I. Leaving?"

Steven couldn't answer.

"I'm leaving today, aren't I?" she screeched. "That's why Skye's here, right?" she scowled at Steven. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was waiting for the right time to tell you," Steven protested.

"Oh, so when was the right time?" Sam mocked. "When we're about to board the plane or something?"

"Sam," Steven said, voice stern. "Even though I'm not your father, I'm technically in charge of you and-" he was stopped by the smug look on Sam's face. As he had known her for a while, he knew that that had to mean trouble. "What's with the face?"

"You can't make me."

"What are you talking about, of course I can!"

"I'm twenty years old, Steven…" Sam said, smirking. "Technically, I'm a full grown adult that can make her own decisions."

Steven rose his eyebrows. "You're right."

"Annnnnd… I choose not to go," Sam said, crossing her arms over her chest, smiling smugly.

"Well, Sam, wouldn't you want to help Skye?" Phoebe said gently. "He is your friend, after all…"

Sam was silent, trying to think of something that would twist this situation into something in her favor… and she got it.

Steven watched her smile grow wider and wider.

"Do you know who else is above the age of eighteen?" Sam asked him. "Gary, Mason, James, Topaz, Amber… and I want Erin to come along, too."

"Sam…" Steven rubbed his temples. "Even though you're legally an adult, you still give me the same migraine you'd give me when you were fourteen."

"What's she talking about?" Erin's face popped in the door, still as cheerful as ever. "A trip? I wanna go, I wanna go! Oh, it's the one where she has to train Skye? We can go? YAY!"

"Why…" Sam said, looking strangely at her friend, "Do you seem so perky today?"

Erin practically bounced over to Sam, and whispered in her ear. "Skye's a really nice guy, Sam," she giggled. "Are you sure he's single?"

"Single as Zoey is, Erin!" Sam exclaimed, happy for her friend – and Skye. "And you get to spend a heck of a lot of time with him if you go!"

"I'm in," Erin said immediately.

"Oh, boy…" Steven muttered. He turned to Gary. "I don't have to ask you if you want to go to, hm?"

(-)

Of course, Topaz, James, Amber and Mason said 'yes' right off the bat, and when Agatha heard about their plans, she knew they were right and she was outnumbered.

Sam was ecstatic as she packed her things.

(-)

KAT IS BACK! :D and with the sequel to Just Being Purple! Oh, I never thought I'd be typing this into my computer, but here I am! Wheee!

Anyways, for any new readers out there who are reading the sequel without reading Just Being Purple first, you'll either have to read it, or go on through the story without understanding what half of it actually means.

And if I even try to make a five-sentence paragraph just to summarize Just Being Purple right now, you all will just end up being CONFUSED.

And I made Ash's Pikachu mate another Pikachu! :D if you didn't notice, I specifically didn't tell who was the boy or who was the girl.

Is Pikachu a boy or a girl?

Anyways, I'd just like to announce something:

NOT ACCEPTING ANY MORE OC'S. Some of you guys submitted OC's for me that I told you would be in the sequel. And I'm keeping my word on that. Then I just realized that… whoa. That's a lot of extra characters.

I would like to thank one of my dearest friends, a girl who I call my ANIKI, because she posted the last two chapters and the Epilogue for me when I couldn't. LOVE HER TO BITS. (lamatz, aniki!) she was my classmate in my second year of high school. Just sharing… ;)

So… (I missed doing this, believe me)

Ja~