And I'm back with another chapter, I thank all those who sent me OCs, but I am sad to say that submissions are closed.

I thank everybody who reviewed the last chapter and hope they enjoy this one.

The Black Flareon: You'll have to wait and see.

666funtimes: I'm glad you're enjoying my work.

Unhappy Refrain: Yep, I'm sure he does, but I guess that's up to your imagination

Red Alfa: I'll take that as a compliment

Ghost132: If you say so

Disclaimer: Don't own Pokemon and probably never will.

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"Okay where do I start?" I asked, my response was a bunch of questions and rambles so tangled up I couldn't hear them.

"Are they always like this?" Howl asked next to me.

I turned toward her, "No, normally it's the other way around." I turned back toward the group, "Okay one at a time." I spoke in a louder tone. The grew silent and Silver decided to ask her question first.

"Maybe you can start with the girl standing next to you?" she suggested.

"Okay," I put my hand around Howl's shoulders and made a gesture with my other hand, "Everyone this is Howl." I removed my arm, "She'll be joining our little group so you might want to get to know her better."

Dagmar gave me a strange look, "How did you two meet?"

I shrugged, "She tried to rob me and I stopped her." I said in a nonchalant fashion. Everyone looked at Howl.

"If she tried to rob you why and how do you trust her enough to join?" Gabriel asked.

"I never said I trusted her." I saw Howl finch out of the corner of my eye, "but she seems to be somewhat reliable." I noticed Eclipse walk up to Howl, "Plus Eclipse seems to like her."

Howl kneel down, "Aren't you a cutie-pie." She said as she petted his white fur. Silver walked up to me, "Can I talk to you for a second?" she asked, I shrugged and nodded. She led me into another room. She turned toward me, "Seriously, why did you let Howl join?"

I shrugged, "I don't know, maybe she needed it." I didn't wait for her to respond, "Well I'm going to take another walk around town, I'll be back soon." I left the room. Gave a short good bye to everyone and went out the door.

I liked my new look, but it was giving me far more attention than what I was used to, especially from girls. I heard a familiar sound, "Absol," I turned around and saw Eclipse running through the crowds.

"Hey Eclipse, I thought I left you at the church building?" It wasn't my intention, but he seemed to be having fun with Howl.

"Not just Eclipse," Howl and Cale walked up, "Dagmar thought you could you some company." I gave her a questioning look, "Okay he found me to be quite exhausting and told me to take a walk around town, then I tried to get to know Silver, but she didn't really seem to like me for some reason. So I thought I'd try and find you. Good thing I decided to bring Eclipse with me." she gave me a small smile, but I didn't return it. I simply turned around and kept walking, "Hey wait up." She caught up and started walking beside me, "I talk it you're not much of a talker." She said as she brushed her black bangs out of her eyes.

Normally I would be a little more curious about Howl, I still didn't trust her, but there was something about her. I couldn't put my finger on it though, "Hey do you want to have some fun?" she asked. I turned towards her, my curiosity got the better of me on this one.

I really need to stop underestimating the power a girl can have, because the minute I agreed to whatever idea Howl had she started dragging me to Arceus-knows-where with very little struggled despite the height difference. When she started pulling me my hood fell down to reveal my face, "Howl where exactly are you taking me?"

She turned towards me, "Finally he speaks, and to answer your question. It's a surprise." Oh great, it'll be a miracle if my curiosity doesn't destroy me sanity before we get there.

As she was dragging me along I saw an older, and probably married couple looking at us, "Don't they look adorable together? They remind me of us at that age." I tried not to blush. Seriously they don't think that Howl and I are a- SLAM!

My thoughts were cut short as I slammed into a wooden post. The jolt separated me from Howl and I took a few steps backwards my hand going to my head and my thoughts seemed fuzzy, "Wolf are you okay?" when I didn't respond she held her hand up, "How many fingers am I holding up?"

"November?" I asked still a little dizzy. Why are there Staryu surrounding my head? I got over the dizziness quickly, but then blushed in embarrassment after I remembered what I just said. Howl gave a slight laugh.

"Maybe we should take a break." She said, I nodded and sat down at a nearby bench. I was rubbing my aching forehead, when something caught my eye. A girl about my age was walking toward a merchant stand that was selling small accessories like scarves, gloves, and other things like that. I didn't know who she was, but the way she was walking toward the stand told me one thing; she was going to steal something.

"Howl," I said in a hushed voice, "the merchant over there is about to get robbed."

She looked at the merchant, "Well are we going to do anything about it?" I shrugged, "Does that mean yes or no."

"Both," I answered, "Just follow my lead." I said walking toward the merchant stand, "Excuse me," I said getting the attention of both the girl and the merchant, "I just thought I'd tell you that there are thieves in this part of the city and judging from the look of your inventory." I said picking up one of the items, "This stand would be an easy target."

"And how would you know?" the merchant asked.

I smirked, "Because I'm pretty sure, your customer here is going to steal something from your stand. I said pointing to the girl. The merchant looked at the girl and laughed.

"Do you honestly think that this girl is able to steal from me and get away with it?" I saw the girl cringe, I understood it perfectly. She didn't like to be underestimated; just like me.

"Anybody can, we never know." I said, I stared deep into the merchant's eyes, he was starting to grow nervous, "But then again what if the thief is stealing from a criminal, does that make it justified?" I asked. The merchant was sweating bullets now, "Tell me good sir, how were you able to get your hands on such good quality items? I thought this kind of work was only found in the capital of Deroga am I right?"

The merchant was beginning to fidget, "Yes, but you see my wife grew up as a seamtress in Deroga, she makes my merchandise." I nodded, but I wasn't buying it.

"Interesting, and what's your wife's name?" I asked. I could feel Howl smiling behind me.

The merchant fumbled over his words, "Uh, well h-h-her name is L-Lydia."

"I thought Lydia was a Skyridge name, but I wonder if your wife would appreciate that you're cheating on her, there's no ring on your finger." I said with a smirk and the merchant was terrified, "I wonder how the city officials would like to know that one of the merchants is smuggling items from Deroga."

"No please, don't turn me in. I'll do anything you want," I smirked.

"I think my memory can be altered, that is you provide the proper incentive." I said holding out my hand. The merchant put a bag of coins in my hand, "It's beginning to become foggy." He put a few more bags of coins in my hand making a small pile, "I think if I concentrated I'll still remember." I held up my other hand and he put a considerably large sack in my hand the coins clinking as the weight of the bag made my arm sag. "What was I doing again?" I asked sounding oblivious.

"You and your girlfriends were on your way, I was just giving you directions." I nodded and winked and started to walk away.

"C'mon girls," I said and the footsteps behind me said they were following me.

When the merchant was out of earshot I ducked into an alley and Howl and the other girl followed me. there was a little silence before I started to laugh, "Mew, was that fun or what?" I said and the girls giggled a little. I weighed the bags in my hands, before peeking inside one of them, "Whoa I must've scared him good, look at this load." It was then that I remembered Howl and I were with a stranger. I looked over to examine her.

She had a petite form with a fair tan, she was about the same height as Howl, but your curves were more balanced, okay Wolf try not to stare too long. Her face was slightly round giving her a younger appearance. Her hair went to her chin, well her bangs were at least they went to the side and framed one side of her face, the rest of her hair was shorter and layered. It was the color of… how do I explain it. A dark cherry red/brown? Her eyes were the color of dark amber and had a rebellious look to them. Her outfit was… interesting. She was wearing a shirt that was tight against her body, with the sleeves going down ¾'s of her arm and was light lavender in color. Her shorts were similar with them tight against her legs, trying not to stare, and were grey in color. She was wearing a loose white vest and a matching scarf tired around her waist as a makeshift belt.

"So who are you?" I asked her.

"Ceriza Stella, but I prefer Riza." She replied, something about her was confusing, but before I could examine further Howl jumped in.

"I'm Howl and this is Wolf." She said introducing us, "And this is Eclipse and Cale." I looked down at the two dark-types completely forgetting they were there. Cale gave her a welcoming bark, Eclipse eyes her with suspicion.

"Do you pull stuff like that often?" Riza asked. I shook my head, but didn't say anything, "How did you know I was going to steal something?"

"After nearly six years of travelling, you pick up a few things," I said.

Howl rolled her eyes, "Great, Wolf is back to normal." Riza giggled a little and my cheeks burned with annoyance.

"Just because I grow quiet," I said in a low voice, "It doesn't mean I'm normal." I turned away and started to walk away. I heard a sigh, probably from Howl, and Howl's footsteps followed me.

"Where is he going?" Riza asked behind me.

"When it comes to Wolf," Howl started, "You never know." I didn't bother commenting on that.

"Come on Howl, we should get back to the others." I said still not looking back. Howl followed me leaving Riza alone to do Arceus-knows-what.

"Okay do you have something against the human race or something?" Howl asked me as she caught up, I looked at her giving her a curious look, "I mean, you looked like you were having fun. Then when you realize we're with a total stranger, you close tighter than a Clampearl in hibernation."

I turned away and my eyes felt icy, "What you don't like it that I can't get too close to people?" I asked, she seemed to shut up about that. She didn't speak for a little while and I began to feel bad, "Look I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."

She gave me a weak smile, "Don't worry about it." She was hiding something, and somehow I'm going to find out what.

We walked into the church and were immediately greeted by Dagmar, "You two were gone for quite a long time. I take it you two had a lot of fun?" I gave a vague nod and walked away. Eclipse followed behind me and I walked towards Gabriel, who was watching over our gear.

I put the bags of money next to my bag and turned away when Gabriel spoke up, "How did you get so much coin?"

"I had a bit of fun with one of the merchants." I said.

"You didn't steal it did you?" I shook my head, "Oh so you threatened him?"

"He was a criminal, he just gave me a little incentive to keep quiet." My response was a small smack on the back of my head and a slight laugh.

"Your little stunts are going to get you into serious trouble someday." He said and walked away.

"I'm being careful… if I wasn't I would've been caught years ago." I said mumbling the last bit. Nobody here had to know, neither will they know… I would never trust somebody that much.

"Wolf?" Silver said walking towards me when she noticed I was standing by the gear, "Are you alright?"

I shrugged, "When it comes to me," I started, "Even I don't know anymore."

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful and night came pretty quickly. Gabriel gave us our seating assignments and his Gardevoir, Serena cot us ready and even tucked us into bed. A natural mother that Pokemon was.

She seemed to pay more attention to me, which sort of made sense since Gardevoir was said to be the Embrace Pokemon, she could probably sense the emotional turmoil going on inside my head. "I'm fine, no need to make so much fuss." I told her. She gave me a slight pat on the head and glided away. I closed my eyes and fell asleep quickly.

I woke up hours later in a cold sweat. Why is it always that one? I sat up and rubbed my face, then I noticed that Howl was sleeping a considerable distance from everyone, even Cale. Confused and a little curious I walked over and saw even though she seemed peaceful, she looked a little lonely as well. Making a decision I climbed into the bed next to hers and fell asleep for the second time that night.

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And that's a wrap, hopefully this chapter was satisfying to your taste

I thank Nicky Azure for sending me Ceriza 'Riza' Stella.

It might be a while until the next chapter, so try to be a little patient for now.

This is W. R. Winters signing off