AN: Pokemon and all its properties belong to Nintendo and Gamefreak. I am not doing this for money, just for fun. So have fun, darn it! NOW! Grrrrrrrr. And please review!
All the Shades of Evolution
Chapter Two: The Monster of Pearl Lake
"Alex! Grrr! You're never around when I need you!"
My head fur was currently rebelling against me with great passion. No matter how much effort I put into it, I could not corral the wild tangle of leafy curls and knots. "I should've paid more attention …" I grumbled, missing my sister's gentle care with my hair.
A curt knock sounded at the door. Leaving the poor hairbrush dangling from a length of my head's foliage, I went to answer it. "Hi, Ruby," I said glumly, greeting the tall Sylveon standing there.
Ruby blinked at me a few times, taking in the state of my fur. "Well, don't you look … special." 'Special' was putting it mildly. My babysitter was quite the diplomat.
"Help me, please," I whined.
Ruby nodded hesitantly. "I can only try."
"Stoppit," I said sourly, but I smiled. Ruby always teased me about my fur and stuff. She was older and had a lot of experience fixing Eon's hair. Ruby gripped the brush in her feelers and gritted her teeth. "I think your brush is mad at you," she commented. But soon after, my hair fell neatly into place. Ruby's precise manipulations tamed the messy mass in no time.
"Whew," I breathed.
"It's good, but we can do even better. Which bow would you like?"
There was a spill of bows all around my paws. I owned bows in over twenty shades. I usually just wore one that went with my mood, but I couldn't even decide on that right now. I pointed randomly. "That one."
Ruby plucked the aqua-blue bow off the ground and fixed it squarely in place in front of my right ear.
"So," she said in an overly-casual tone, "where are you going?"
I responded in the same tone. "Eh, nowhere. Pearl Lake. Or whatever."
Ruby's prismatic eyes grew large. "Ooooooooh! How romantic."
She knew she was making me blush, and I knew she knew it, so I blushed even more.
"Who's the lucky Eon?"
"Jake."
Ruby gave me an even look, and waited. "That's it? 'Jake'?"
"Um, he's a Flareon. From school. Y'know. We go to school together. And stuff."
"Well, best of luck to you," Ruby said, her eyes twinkling.
My brows furrowed. "What do you mea-?"
"Now, now! Go, or you'll be late!" Ruby fairly well shoved me out the door without my feet touching the ground. I turned to ask her what she meant about the luck, but all I got was a door to my face, and a muffled, "Bye now," from the other side.
"Well, guess I'm going then," I said. I didn't need luck.
**********TRANSITION***********
I was approaching the waters of Pearl Lake, taking in the late evening breeze, when I realized that the lake was pretty big, and I had no idea exactly where along the shore Jake wanted to meet. Several couples dotted the pebbly sands as I walked around, avoiding the gazes of most, nodding acknowledge to others that I knew in passing. This went on for about five minutes, as I was left wondering where in the region Jake was. Passing one of many comfy, lakeside diners, I spotted some dark brown and red fur. 'That's probably Jake!' I thought.
Running closer, I saw that the mass indeed resolved itself into Jake The Flareon. I had just come into audible range when I realized he was talking. To someone. That wasn't me. The corner cafe table was partially covered by a large parasol, but even in the half-shade, I saw what looked like a svelte, creamy blue body with perfectly-coiffed fur. Oh, come on.
You know how some things just make you cringe? Claws on a chalkboard, metal scraping metal, that one patch of fur that just won't lie down no matter how hard you brush? Yeah, that's what happens when I hear Crystal's voice. Whenever she opens her mouth, it just makes everything in life a little less lively, less fun, less … everything. Like a Rain Dance on a Sunny Day, like some bloc stuck in your teeth. Why was she even here?
" … and she was like, 'Don't be a Ditto'!"
I heard Crystal's shrill, stilted laugh. Glaring at the shadows, I saw Jake yukking it up. That wasn't even funny, I thought. Ditto's are way smarter than you. As I watched, I realized that Jake and Crystal were busy enjoying a Lum and Babiri berry smoothie. One smoothie, two straws. That's not even a good flavor. Crystal was perched on the edge of her chair, front paws clasped in awe, while Jake sat lounging, half his limbs hanging over the chair's arms. Pff, I never liked those chairs.
Crystal was leaning forward, her tail tickling Jake's forearms, saying, "And you will not believe what happened next!" at Jake's smiling face, when I started trudging away. I didn't even want a smoothie.
My trudge turned into a trot, and then finally a sprint. I couldn't get away from there fast enough.
The lake was wide and deep, yet still on the surface. Away from the Vaporeons swimming and Jolteons running, I found an old log in a quiet spot, and sat heavily. The setting sun didn't reach me. It felt like the lake spray was on my face, but then I realized there wasn't any breeze. Those were tears rolling down my fur. Stupid pollen. Stupid bug types. I am not crying. I am not.
I pulled my dropping head leaf across my eyes tightly.
"Lily?" I heard a gruff voice behind me. "Are you okay?"
I turned around to face the voice. Stifling a sniffle, I simply stated. "No."
