Elly and her Lucario made sure not to get too close to Frita and the Professor while they made their way through the city of Lumiose. They headed down the South Boulevard to the left, turned right to the Bleu Plaza, right again through Vert, Jaune, and Rouge Plazas, then up to North Boulevard and around to Magenta Plaza. As they passed through Autumnal Avenue, Elly checked her PokeNav. They had almost made an entire circle through the city! A pointless one, at that- Sycamore's lab was a short distance away from where they were now! She looked up at him. His nonchalant manner was a bit too perfect, as if he had another motive. Probably to flirt with Frita, but he seemed to have wisened up to attempting that with the Grand Champion.

Sycamore had suddenly turned right in the alleyway just before hitting Magenta Plaza, cutting Frita off. Elly stopped in front of a city map as she saw Frita knit her brow, turning her head slightly. But then she realized that the Grand Champion was instead focusing on the bright red awning that Sycamore was underneath.

"Why am I not surprised that Lysandre's cafe would have such a flamboyant color?" she asked her Lucario without moving her head.. It shook its head in agreement as they hung back, waiting for their pursuees to enter. A few seconds after the door closed behind Frita, Elly pretended to point at the cafe in suggestion to her partner, and they began to cross the street. Before they could, however, a young man stepped in front of them, cutting them off. He was holding a rose in one hand, and was extending it towards Elly.

"Bonjour, mademoiselle," he said, his voice a tad overconfident. "You look a little lost. May I 'elp you?"

"Actually, we've found our way just fine, thank you," Elly said, not moving. The young man chuckled and slightly frowned. Elly hadn't taken the rose he offered, so he merely put it in his inner coat pocket. She sized him up; four inches taller than herself, medium build, clean hair, white teeth (a bit too white for her taste), and a stubble beard covering an angular jawline. His eyes were bright blue, and looking at Elly right in her own. Judging by how his shirt fit, Elly deducted that this guy worked out a little… but not enough.

"Well, may I join you? I could non resist your beauty, so I 'ad to say 'ello and introduce myself! My name is Alphonse," the young man said, bowing.

"Uh-huh," Elly said indifferently. "Look, buddy, I don't mind the flirtation much, but your fake accent is just terrible. I suggest you try someone else who hasn't been in the city for more than 5 minutes." She began to walk past him, but he grabbed her arm rather forcefully. She froze, and Lucario growled immediately at him.

"I don't know who you are or how you figured that out, lady," the man said, his voice becoming his own. From what Elly could tell, this guy was from somewhere in Johto. "But one thing's for sure." He tossed a PokeBall in the air, releasing his Gengar. "You're coming with me," the Trainer said. The Gengar sneered at Lucario with its signature smile and leaned toward it, casting a shadow over it. However, Lucario's reaction was unexpected; it merely glared back with more ferocity, snarling. Gengar froze, unsure what to do.

"Now, you have one of two options," Elly said lowly, snapping the Trainer's attention back to her. "You can either leave us alone and walk away unscathed, or… limp away in a remarkable amount of pain. Pick your poison." Alphonse straightened up and took a step back. He looked down to see that her other hand was on the handle of her sword, and he gulped hard. He returned Gengar and fled, exclaiming in fear. Elly relaxed and smirked, as did her Lucario. She looked down to it and beamed.

"We still got it," she said, and strolled over to Lysandre's Cafe. She hadn't walked ten steps before hearing Frita bellow something she never thought she'd hear come out of a Grand Champion's mouth.

"GRANBULLCRAP!"

Elly and the surrounding passerby stopped and looked at the Cafe. While everyone else merely shrugged and continued about their day, Elly and Lucario dashed up to the front window and took cover out of sight from inside. She flattened herself next to the window, while Lucario crouched beneath it. It put one of its paws to the wall and closed its eyes. The four appendages on the back of its head rose as it read the aura within the Cafe. Elly peered in, being very careful to not be seen. She could see Frita staring down the garcon, as well as Sycamore, who was looking at her with a confused face. The garcon's face remained blank, bordering annoyed. Elly leaned back and crouched down, putting a hand to Lucario's shoulder. She closed her eyes, and she could instantly see what Lucario saw.

"What's going on?" she asked through telepathy.

"My drink had Seviper Venom in it!" Frita said from inside. Lucario's eyebrows rose.

"There's your answer," it said. "There's definitely something off about her aura, though, and I detected it before she drank it… it's unlike anything I've ever sensed before. I don't know what it is, either, but- hang on."

"What is it?" Elly asked. As the garcon sent out a Scrafty, Lucario's vision turned to the bookcase at the other end of the room. A faint aura could be seen behind it, and it was getting stronger. It was bright orange on the outside, but on the inside it was a dark purple-ish-blue.

"Don't tell me," Elly said solemnly. "Please don't don't tell me it's him."

"It is, Elly," Lucario said, turning its head towards her. "It's that Lysandre character."

Elly let go of Lucario and stood up, taking care not to be seen as she retook her position beside the window. As she slowly looked in, she could see the tall man emerge from behind the bookcase; it was a secret door of some kind. He stepped silently into the room and stood in front of it, holding it to make sure it didn't make a sound while it closed. Frita and Sycamore had their backs turned to him, facing the Scrafty and a Liepard. The Scrafty was thrown into its Trainer after attempting a failed Low Kick. The next sound they heard was Lysandre's voice, booming so loudly that it rattled the windows, making Elly and her partner retreat. Lucario looked at her with a confused look.

"He seems to be genuinely concerned for Sycamore's safety," it said through telepathy. Elly looked at the window, as if to glare at Lysandre from where she stood.

"Psychopath," she muttered.

"There's more to it than that," Lucario told her, "but he's coming outside!" The two darted around the corner and leapt up the walls of the Cafe and the building beside it, leaping back and forth between each wall. They landed on top of the Cafe and watched Lysandre as he dragged the two goons out and over to Officer Jenny.

Elly whipped out her PokeNav again and sent Jethro a short text: Trouble at cafe. Frita poisoned. Lysandre's nuts; aura check not good. Approach Frita with caution, rather temperamental. Instructions on how to proceed, O Wise One?

She closed the Nav and watched Frita and Sycamore walk away, then opened it again as it vibrated, indicating Jethro's reply.

I'll handle Frita. Steven's recovering from his concussion, so we may have an edge there. I'll play it cool at first, so as not to indicate your presence. As for Lysandre…

Let Frita and Sycamore return on their own. Pursue Lysandre but DO NOT ENGAGE UNLESS NECESSARY. Report findings and await my word. Wise One out. ;P

Elly smirked at his reply and eyed the orange-haired man as he got into a car and drove off. She nodded to her Lucario and they leapt from rooftop to rooftop in pursuit, not letting him out of their sight.


Jethro closed his PokeNav and let out a long breath.

"What's up?" Valin asked him. Jethro glanced behind them to make sure no one was listening, then leaned towards his cousin.

"Something's up with Frita," he whispered. "I'm not sure of the details, but it happened at Lysandre's cafe. According to her and her Lucario, his aura indicates bad news. She said he's nuts, but we'll have to wait to hear back from her to figure out just how much. She's tracking him now."

"So what do we do?" Valin asked.

"Just play it cool until we can get Frita some help," Jethro replied.

"Do we tell her that Elly informed us?" his cousin asked. He raised an eyebrow and straightened up.

"Do you really think that's a good idea?" he asked. Valin thought for a few seconds and nodded his head.

"Good point," he agreed. He looked down to the pond, where Froakie was enjoying a good swim. "Are you sure you can handle this one, Jethro? I know how you can be with discipline and your emotions."

"Hey, now, I've been working on them," Jethro retaliated. "And I think I'm getting better!" Valin nodded in agreement as they both looked up. Frita's Pokemon had stirred, and all of them were facing the door of the terrarium, where Steven was standing. A few moments later, Frita herself walked through the door, a highly-annoyed expression on her face. Sycamore was walking beside her with a face of worry. Her Pokemon all ran over to greet her, and Steven took his headphones out to look at her. Jethro discreetly nodded to Valin, and they slowly made their way over to her.

"Are you alright?" they heard Steven ask. "What happened?!"

"What's wrong?" Jethro called over, beginning to jog.

"Frita's been poisoned!" Sycamore replied, clearly worried out of his skull. Jethro broke into a dead sprint, allowing his own worry to show on his face and in his body language.

"How many times to I have to tell you I'm fine before you just calm down and admit that I'm fine?" Frita growled. Valin slowed to a hurried walk, confused. Jethro noticed too; she seemed more irritated than before.

"Stop lying to yourself, Frita, you're poisoned," Jethro said as he slowed to a walk again. "No one's ever 'fine' when poisoned. Now, please, let me help an old friend out and don't fight this. I know you get irritated when everyone frets over your health when it's nothing you don't think is serious," he said as he knelt next to his backpack and began to dig through a certain pocket, "but believe me, this is more serious than you're treating it." He procured a few Pecha Berries from the pocket, and pulled out a medicine bowl and a grinder as well. He zipped the pocket back up and went into the Medicine one, picking out a water bottle. With incredible speed and skill, he ground the Berries into a paste and put some of it on two fingers. He stood up and walked over to Frita. "Now Frita, please," he said, looking her right in the eyes, "let me help. Leave this stuff on your face for a few minutes until the poison has completely dissipated." He extended his hand to apply it to her cheeks, but she leaned away from him and took a step back. She glared him right in the eyes and he stopped, a confused and slightly hurt look on his face.

"I'm. Fine," she growled, taking a couple more steps back. "I don't need your Pecha Berry paste." Jethro sighed and looked at Steven, hoping he'd help calm her down somehow. He shook his head and looked back to her for a minute.

"Frita-" he started, but she cut him off.

"I said I'M FINE!" she bellowed. She stomped her foot, shaking the building and shattering one of the floor tiles. Steam shot from her nose and her eyes lit up like fireworks. Her shoulders were hunched in a defensive position and she was almost snarling. "I'm fine."

Jethro took a few cautious steps back, unable to quite comprehend what just happened. Steven- surprisingly calm- walked over to Jethro's backpack and pulled out a few more Pecha Berries. He brushed them off on his shirt and handed one to Frita, who glared at him.

"Here," he said. "They're sweet. I know you love sweet things." She looked down at the berry and back at Steven before slowly taking it. Her eyes dimmed and she seemed to calm down some as she took a bite. Jethro sighed with relief and put a hand to his forehead.

"I was going to ask you to give her the paste instead of me," he said to Steven, "but you have known her for a much longer time than I have. I should've asked your advice first." He looked down at his fingers and licked the paste. The taste wasn't naturally Pecha Berry at all! He stuck out his tongue in disgust and scraped the paste on the edge of the bowl, smacking his lips. "I forgot… I had some Nomel Berries mixed in this thing last time. Didn't wash it out beforehand," he said. He spat the paste out of his mouth and poured some of the water bottle out into the bowl, washing it out.

Frita finished eating the first berry and eyed the other one in Steven's hand. He calmly handed it to her, and she began to nibble on it, her expression somewhat softening. She walked over and sat down on a bench, munching away, staring off into space. Sycamore walked over to Steven.

"Is that normal?" he asked quietly. "Because I feel like that was inhuman."

Steven looked over at him. "It's not the first time I've seen her act like this," he said. "But that is most definitely not a normal human ability, Professor. When was the last time you shattered a marble tile and shook a building by stomping?"

Sycamore nodded. "Fair point," he admitted. "I thought that was extremely odd. And the steam…"

"Even for as long as I've known her, I've never seen her do quite that. And is it just me, or did her eyes actually…y'know…glow? As in 'nightlight in the dark' glow?" Jethro asked lowly as he and Valin approached them. "I know she can be incredibly defensive, especially of others, but…to behave like that when offered help? To me, that just seems...illogical. Rash. Slightly inhuman, actually, like you said, Professor. Like some kind of wild Pokemon backed in a corner, afraid and snarling to keep any chance of harm from coming near."

"To be fair, she was poisoned," Valin said. "That can cause some people to act erratically."

Steven nodded. "She acted this way the last time she was poisoned too," he said, crossing his arms. "However, I've seen her act out like this when she's not poisoned as well. When she gets her feelings hurt she'll push everyone away, literally. She'll throw things, too. Things no ordinary human could lift, to try to scare everyone off."

Jethro looked at him in shock. "It's a good thing I'm not her bodyguard or anything, I could never handle that correctly," he said. "Is there anyone who can calm her down, or does everyone just evacuate and wait for her to do it herself?"

"Only people she completely trusts," Steven replied. "Myself, though Keith and Wallace are both better at it than me. Given time she'd probably trust you enough too." Jethro nodded and smiled a little. Keith? he thought to himself. I know I've heard that name before… Why the heck does that ring a bell? Steven's face suddenly turned to shock, and Jethro followed his gaze over to Frita, who had curled up on the bench to go to sleep.

Her long coat hung to one side, giving the four men a clear view of her back. Running down it, and apparently starting from her shoulder blades, were two good sized stone ridges. They weren't very high though, and were actually almost flat. Poking out above the waistline of her jeans was a stubby little tail with one tiny ridged bump on it.

Jethro covered his mouth to keep from gasping too loudly. He put a hand on Steven's shoulder and squeezed his eyes shut. His head swam with questions and answers at the same time, and he eventually got his bearings again. "Please tell me I'm dreaming," he muttered. He opened his eyes, his face solemn. "There's gotta be a Darkrai or a Hypno around here somewhere, and this has got to be some kind of...illusion…" he trailed off, hanging his head. How did he not figure that out…?

"'Fraid not," Sycamore said, staring at Frita's back with the rest of them. "I see it, too. She's got a tail and stone plates on her back."

Jethro half heartedly glared at him and said, "Thank you, Captain Obvious." This earned him a dirty look from the Professor as he walked over to Frita to examine her back, Steven right behind him. They crouched down to observe the stone plates sticking out from her shoulder blades.

"I thought her shoulder felt unnaturally hard," Jethro muttered. "And even when I gave her that back rub last night, her shoulder blades seemed...well, I thought they were her shoulder blades poking out." He put a hand to his mouth and shifted his weight, his head starting to swim again. Steven put a hand on her back, and after a minute his eyes widened. He grabbed her now limp wrist and put two fingers to it.

"How…?!" he asked aloud.

Sycamore stood, looking at him. "What's wrong?" he asked. Steven turned back to him, completely flabbergasted.

"She's not breathing, but her pulse hasn't changed at all," he said. As he finished, he put her arm back down and frowned. "And she's ridiculously warm."

"So we were pretty much on the mark with 'inhuman', it seems," Jethro muttered. "So what exactly is she, if not human?"

Sycamore looked up at him. "That seems to be the question of the hour. I'll go down to the library and see what I might be able to dig up based on her reactions to things." He walked to the terrarium door, looked at Frita one last time, and left. Jethro began to pace.

"Alright, so she has extra strength, reacts to poison in an inhuman way, her eyes freaking glow… I can't believe I didn't think twice about her hard skin," he said after a while.

"Hey, it's not your fault," Steven said. "After all, I've known her for the longest time out of the three of us," he motioned to himself, Jethro, and Valin, "and she kept it a secret from me for all that time!"

"She's pretty good at keeping herself at a low profile enough to pass as a human," Valin observed, "and yet able to convince people that her actions are merely the result of a fiery personality."

"True," Jethro admitted, "but the way she sleeps has me thinking...what if it's a form of stasis? I mean, she hardly reacts to anything when she's out, and if she keeps the same pulse while having a high body temperature… then I don't think she has a regular human heart." He stopped cold in his pacing and looked at Valin. They both had the same looks; they could tell something was coming.

"I think we have company," Steven said, looking up. Jethro and Valin looked up as well, and could see a strange helicopter approaching from above. Within seconds, a large group of people infiltrated the terrarium, all of them wearing large sunglasses and the same ridiculous red-orange costume design. Jethro and Valin both drew their swords, taking defensive positions in front of Steven and Frita as their Pokemon ran to their sides.

"Valin?" Jethro asked.

"Yeah?" his cousin replied. Jethro glanced at him.

"These the guys you were talking about earlier?"

Valin nodded. "Yeah, these be the ones."

Jethro turned his attention back to them. "Figured as much."

The grunts released every Pokemon they had, sending them all into battle against the entire group. Steven unleashed his own Pokemon and stood beside Jethro and Valin.

"If you want anything, you'll have to go through us!" he bellowed.

"You've got three Champions standing between you and whatever it is you want, folks!" Jethro roared. "You're biting off more than you can chew!" The newcomers unleashed a barrage of attacks, throwing up a huge cloud of dust at them. Jethro side-stepped in front of Steven and tapped the armor on his shoulder. A small force field appeared around them, preventing dust from getting in their eyes.

"Nice touch," Steven said, admiring the blue energy around them.

"I tinker in my spare time," Jethro smirked. The dust cleared, and Jethro straightened up, deactivating the force field. There was no one there. All the intruders had disappeared. "Don't tell me. I know," he said, returning his Pokemon. He looked up slightly and slumped his weight on one leg. "That was all a diversion and something's gone, right?" Steven looked at him like he was speaking an alien language, and then turned around. His eyes widened and he barreled out of the front doors, his fists clenched in fury. Jethro and Valin followed him out and looked up and down the street, but the goons seemed to have disappeared into thin air.

"They took Frita!" Steven shouted.