A/N: Hey you guys! Past Christmas, and you know what? I'm still writing! Actually, I started this Chappy at 7 AM on Christmas, so y'all can tell I'm serious about doing y'all justice.

Please R&R!

Rage: Is it just me, or is this fic more serious then When a Phoenix Interferes?
Wizard: You noticed too? I was just thinking that this isn't nearly as playful as the last one…

Giovanni: Maybe she's growing up.

Muses: (Silence) … Naw! (Shake heads)

Harry: Partridge in a pear tree! Why would you give someone that? And what the bloody hell is a friggin partridge? (Sways, falls down) ^Snore^

Wizard: Damn it! (Snatches empty carton of Eggnog from drunk eleven-year-old) Who keeps supplying you?

Harry: (Mutters in sleep) Purple pillow-stealing Watermelons… ^Snore^

Muses: O_o o_O wtf…

"Talking"

"Pokémon Talking"

Thinking

"PokeDex Talking"

"PokeGaze Talking"

"Egg-Reader Talking"

Chapter Fourteen

Harry smacked dust from his clothes as Seraphim sniffed around the burnt area of the Lab, his chain held by Ric and Thad both, just in case he decided to start running again. Lyn held Donner, though the baby Oddish wasn't too happy about it, making whimpering sounds and reaching his leaves towards Harry. Finally, the boy held out his hands, cooing soothingly to the baby when Lyn carefully handed him over.

"Hush, hush, sweetheart," he crooned, rocking back and forth. Immediately, the Pokémon calmed, and snuggled close, his toothless mouth locking on Harry's shoulder and gnawing happily. Harry gave him a bemused look as his shoulder was soon soaked in drool, and Donner gurgled happily, drooling some more.

"That's kind of cute and gross at the same time," Lyn said matter-of-factly, watching with a small smile. Harry chuckled and nodded, cuddling Donner gently, and kissing his forehead. Immediately, the baby giggled, and one of his six leaves curled down like bangs, and off to one side, covering the spot Harry had kissed and half of his left eye. Harry chuckled as it gave his Pokémon an amusingly Emo look.

"Harry!" Ric called; Harry and Lyn padded over, to find Seraphim holding a slightly charred patch of torn fabric. Frowning, Harry carefully knelt down and took it from him, turning it over in his hands…

His breath caught, when the red overlapping 'R's that were the Team Rocket signature blazed up at him, smudged with soot but otherwise clear. His face went hard and cold, eyes narrowing. Donner whimpered, leaves quivering, as he sensed the boy's mood change. Harry cooed soothingly and pet him after tucking the patch into his pocket and stood. His hand went out and rubbed Seraphim's head, scratching lightly at the base of the Houndoom's horns, getting a throaty rumble of pleasure.

"Thank you, Seraphim," he said calmly. "We have what we need, now. I have a few calls to make, but for now, we can get you back to Miss Autumn." Tail wagging slightly at the name, the Houndoom nodded, and padded away, his chain still help by Ric and Thad. Harry and Lyn followed to two boys, but all of them paused at the empty wall of class cases where the baby Pokémon had been. They were disturbingly empty, and the silence and absence was loud and echoing in its own way.

"Come on," Lyn murmured, touching Harry's shoulder. Nodding, the boy held Donner a little closer, then followed his friends out. They made it back to Seraphim's home in ten minutes, and Harry clicked his leash into place before knocking on the door to the house. Autumn answered and squinted/stared into Harry's eyes. Her smile had a feral edge.

"You found something," she murmured; Harry nodded, smiling. She grinned. "I told you my little angel would find something!" She laughed, and it sounded disturbingly like a cackle. Harry smiled, thanked her, and walked back to his friends, giving Seraphim a pat on the head as he passed. Quickly, he took Donner from Ric, who was struggling to hold the wriggling and anxious baby. Immediately, the Oddish calmed, and happily returned to gnawing on Harry's shoulder.

"Shall we go?" he asked with amusement; the others nodded. Harry lead the way out of the town, but ten minutes of walking later, his pokeballs both rattled and red light erupted from them. Alysha huffed at him, glared, and took to the air. Pirate swirled up onto his unused shoulder, and stared at Donner in fascination for a few minutes, then poked him with his tail.

Almost too fast to be plausible, the Oddish's leaves snapped over and smacked his tail, throwing the Pokémon off balance and nearly unseating him. Harry's free hand shot up and steadied the suddenly chittering Pokémon, petting his ruffled fur soothingly. Alysha flew over, her curiosity piqued, and stared at the newest member of Harry's family, flying next to him.

"He's cute," she finally commented; Donner's leaves shot straight up at her voice, and he stopped gnawing at Harry's shoulder in order to turn and stare at her, green eyes wide (though they were only the size of a dime, and Harry noticed, idly, that they were totally green, with no pupils or whites). She cooed at him, and he burbled, his forward leaf flopping down to hide his face. He peaked around it, and hid his face again. Harry chuckled, smiling softly, and Pirate huffed.

"He's okay, I guess," he said, scowling. A giggle from his feet had Harry glancing down. Natasha stared up at the baby, eyes sparkling.

"He's adorable!" she declared, and Web chittered in agreement from where he sat, perched, on Lyn's shoulder. Chiggy called his distracted agreement, skipping around at Thad's feet and rubbing his head against his Trainer's legs, happy to ignore everything else. Harry smiled down at the Nidoran, though, and nodded.

"Thank you, Nat," he said; she giggled again and zoomed away to throw herself through the ruffles of grass. The walked for nearly an hour, everyone occasionally pausing to coo or play with Donner, before they reached Cherry Grove. Immediately, Harry went to the Pokémon Center, and beamed at Nurse Joy and Chansey.

"Hello, ladies," he greeted warmly, then shifted a sleepy looking Donner so they could see him. "We need you to check Donner over for us," he told them; Nurse Joy obligingly slipped out from behind the counter and gently lifted the baby Pokémon. Immediately, he began to whimper, leaves reaching for Harry as tears filled his pretty eyes. Harry cooed and stroked his leaves soothingly as the Nurse quickly and gently checked him over, then smoothly handed him back. Donner latched his mouth on his usual spot and went straight back to dozing happily.

"He's in good shape," Nurse Joy told Harry with an easy smile. "You can pick him up some formula at the PokéShop next door, and I believe that in two days, he should be ready for soft foods. Grass and water-types mature faster, though they usually live longer too, so that may influence him." She stroked his black-splotched leaves and smiled at Harry when Donner burbled in sleepy pleasure. "He'll grown to about the size of a bowling ball in the next week, and then he'll be ready to go into a pokeball." Harry nodded, thanked her, hugged Chansey, and left his friends in the cafeteria while he went to the PokéShop.

As soon as he walked through the door, he went straight to the BABY aisle, and started poking around.

"I've got toys and blankets," he murmured, lips pursed as he stared at the choices of formula, idly rubbing Donner's tiny back as he snored curly, snuffling in his sleep. There were five different types of grass-type formulas. Sighing, he plucked one up about poison/grass-types and stared at the back, where it had several names for which Pokémon could have it.

"Bulbasaur, Cacnea, Bellsprout, Budew… Oddish, there you go!" Harry smiled and grabbed a coupled of packets, as well as some soft food that wouldn't spoil before he could give it to Donner. Humming, he plucked up a couple more pokeballs and Potions, and smiled at the cashier as she rung him up. Handing over the money, he shifted Donner's weight carefully, and padded out the door.

"Hey kid!" A voice called; Harry blinked and turned to see a boy of about fifteen, with long red hair a bright blue eyes. He was scowling as he stomped over, and Harry couldn't help but think that he looked vaguely familiar.

"I want a battle!" The redhead snapped. "Right here, right now. I bet two hundred bucks that my Pokémon can beats your weak ones in no tie!" Harry blinked at him, sighed, and set down his bag. Letting out two sharp whistles, he waited as Alysha and Pirate flew/scrabbled over to him from a nearby tree. Alysha settled on the ground in front of him and hissed at the redhead as Pirate swirled up his Trainer's leg to perch on his shoulder easily. Donner gurgled, green eyes curious.

"My Pidgey, Alysha, will be your opponent," Harry drawled calmly, before crouching down and pulling out a packet of formula. Redhead sneered and tossed his own pokeball as Harry unslung his backpack and dug around. When the red light disappeared, a small green bird with large, angular purple eyes, small yellow, black, and red wings, tiny red leys, red tail-feathers, and a single red feather on its head stared contemptuously. Alysha fluffed up, eyes narrowing threateningly.

"Oh nuh-uh," Pirate growled, eyes narrowing as well. "You did not just give Alysha that look!" He growled and Alysha hissed. The bird snorted, and turned its beak away, disinterested. Harry finally found the blue bottle he was looking for, and poured the formula into it, adding some water from a bottle he'd packed. Standing, he shook it firmly, then popped the nipple into a whimpering Donner's mouth, having Pirate hold it while he pulled out his PokéDex and flipped it open.

"Natu, the Litte Bird Pokemon," it told him immediately. "Known for its keen ability in foresight and precognition, this bird-Pokémon and its evolved form, Xatu, are the preferred Pokémon for many psychics and clairvoyance's. Called the Seer Bird, this small pokemon is often very cautious and easily spooked. It has the habit of staring at something until it moves." Harry blinked, eyed the little bird, and shrugged, shifting his grip on Donner and the bottle.

"So, are you psychic or just happened to have a Natu?" He asked curiously; the redhead scowled.

"Does that matter?" he demanded; Harry blinked.

"Well, no, but I was curious, because I'm psychic and it's not every day I meet someone else like me." He shrugged, then cooed soothingly to Donner when he fussed, smiling gently. "Oh well, shall we start?" Alysha flared her wings and flapped harshly twice, making the Natu squint at the sudden breeze and dust that flew towards it.

"Use Psychic!" Redhead snapped; the small green birds eyes glowed psychic blue, and Alysha was soon outlined in the same color. Harry frowned, eyes narrowing as his lips pursed. Suddenly, he smiled.

"Alysha," he called; she continued to visibly struggle against the psychic hold. "Make as much noise as you can, and keep moving." Alysha hesitated, then struggled harder, opening her beak. Harry carefully covered the small holes that were Donner's ears, pressing one against his arm as he could only use one hand. The Pidgey let out an ear-piercing shriek, and Harry's own ears throbbed painfully. Pirate screeched and fell off of Harry shoulder, clawing at his suddenly pinned ears. Redhead cursed, hands snapping over his ears in pain; Natu lost its' concentration, and whistled in pain, hopping backward and shaking from side to side.

"Now Alysha!" Harry cried, unheeding of the small dribble of blood coming from his left ear, or that Donner's eyes were locked on it and his face, eyes wide. "Use Gust!" The Pidgey preformed a graceful flip in acknowledgment, then began to beat her wings furiously, until a small whirlwind of intense air was zooming across the ground to sweep Natu up into its grasp and send the small bird slamming into the ground. It staggered up with a moan of dazed pain, then shook itself firmly, wincing as blood dribbled from a cut above its right eye.

"Natu, use Confusion!" Redhead snarled, blue eyes narrowed with irritation.

"Natu," the bird-Pokémon said, voice a soothing male tenor. Eyes once more glowing blue, Natu focused intensely on Alysha, and a wave of invisible force sent her whirling away, to slam into the ground. She bounced once, twice, and rolled to Harry's feet.

"Alysha!" He cried, kneeling. The blood dripping from his ear began to roll forward down his cheek, ignored. He laid he free hand gently on the Pidgey, and she blinked her eyes dazedly up at him, confusion bright in her eyes. Harry smiled softly. "It's okay, sweetheart, you did wonderfully," he murmured, stroking her feathers gently. She stared at him, eyes slowly focusing, and they locked first on his eyes, then the slow-moving blood trail, then they scanned his face. Suddenly, her face seemed to harden, and she rolled away, and struggled painfully to her feet.

"Alysha?" Harry asked, remaining in his kneeling position. The Pidgey ignored him, eyes locked on her opponent. She hissed and threw her wings in the air aggressively, and began to glow.

"What the hell?" Redhead cried; Harry felt his eyes widen.

"No way," he breathed; no one noticed his friends, several townspeople, and Nurse Joy come running, drawn, finally, by the commotion. Harry's eyes were only for Alysha, though, as the glowing faded, and her much larger form was exposed.

"Pidgeotto!" she cried, then let out an aggressive hiss, glaring at Natu, whose eyes had gone very wide. Harry felt himself smile ferally and rose to stand on his feet. He nodded at his newly evolved Pokémon when she glanced at him, and both turned determined eyes on Natu and Redhead.

"Alysha, use Gust," the psychic said; the Pidgeotto lifted her much larger and stronger wings and flapped once, launching into the air. She then flew in a small circle and stopped, suddenly, and flapped twice.

Hard.

Two twisters, made up of highly condensed air, dirt, twigs, and pebbles flew towards the panicking Natu.

"Natu, use-" Redhead started to cry, but the winds were faster then any move he could have called out, and first one, and then the other snatched the small bird-Pokémon up, spun it around a couple dozen times, and sent it slamming forcefully into the ground to bounce and roll away. Alysha landed a few feet away and silently walked over to stand towering over the barely-conscious Pokémon. Leaning down, she firmly, but gently, pecked it between its large, tilted eyes, and they immediately rolled back into its head as it fell unconscious.

With a smug cock to her head, Alysha ruffled her feathers, turned, and strutted back to Harry, who beamed and cooed at her, running his fingers reverently through her thicker, more resilient feathers. Redhead scowled and recalled his unconscious Pokémon with angry, jerky movements.

"This isn't over, midget!" Redhead snarled, angrily tossing another pokeball. "Go, Seal!" the red light flashed, and when it left, an adorable white seal-Pokémon sat on the dirt, with a small horn on its head and bright, baby-blue eyes staring up at Alysha curiously. Immediately, the Pidgeotto turned, walked over to Harry, and sat down. She ruffled her feathers, and began to preen, resolutely not looking in the opposing Pokémon's direction. Harry stared down at her, confused, and she gave him an irritated look.

"The cuteness is deadly," she muttered, then ducked her head under her wing and pretended to sleep. Harry stared, then looked at Pirate, who shrugged.

"It's a female thing," he decided, then swirled down Harry's body (tickling Donner with his tail on the way down) to stand on his tail a few feet away from the Seal. Seal cocked his head, tongue sticking out adorably, and Harry felt his heart melt a little, barely resisting an 'aw!' moment.

"Pirate," he called, "use tackle!" Immediately, the squirrel-like Pokémon was bounding forward, and slammed into the Seal without restraint. It squealed and went rolling, turning back onto its belly and shaking itself, before its once doleful and innocent eyes narrowed into furious slits. It then proceeded to swear up a blue streak, making Harry's eyes widen and a hand shoot up to cover Donner's ears once more.

"Hey!" He cried. "There's a baby over here! You do not use such language infront of young children!" He scolded, glaring at the Seal in outrage; it eyed him in disbelief, then promptly told him to do something that is physically and anatomically impossible, which made Harry's cheeks flush. Pirate, on the other hand, was snickering.

"Good one," he congratulated; Harry's eyes narrowed.

"Pirate," he said ominously, "I am taking away your ribbon for three days for condoning such language infront of your nephew." The Sentret choked and clung to his ribbon, eyes huge with horror, chittering wordlessly in alarm. Harry gave him a stern look, and the chittered quietly as his ears pinned, and his shoulders hunched. Angry, sulking, he turned dark eyes and blame on his opponent. Launching forward, he slammed into Seal with yet another tackle, then lashed him with his muscular tail for good measure.

Shaking his head, Seal righted himself and glared at the Sentret in irritation and outrage. They growled at each other aggressively, and Pirate chittered in an insulting tone, without actually saying anything. Seal let out a series of sharp cries, barks, whines, and croons in the same tone, only he did say something. Many things, actually, none of which Harry would ever repeat, and some he'd never even heard before. It's safe to say that he made sure that Donner was at least temporarily deaf for the rest of the battle. He distracted the baby Oddish with his bottle, which was happily, if sleepily, received.

"Use Watergun!" Redhead snapped at his Pokémon in irritation, obviously frustrated. Immediately, the Seal inhaled deeply, and a gush of water burst from his mouth, slamming into Pirate's round body and sending him flying. "Now, use Headbutt!" The Seal barked once, and bounded towards the sputtering, soaked, and dazed Sentret, who was chittering darkly as he swiped at his eyes.

"Pirate," Harry called urgently, "use Tail-Spring!" He ordered.

"I've never heard of that move before," Thad murmured to Ric and Lyn, who smiled conspiratorially.

"Harry's really good with making different kinds of moves that work well with a Pokémon's unique type or species," the girl murmured into the blond's ear as they watched avidly. Pirate, still temporarily blinded by water, hesitated only a millisecond, then he screwed his eyes shut even more, and rose up onto his tail, before twirling down on the appendage, until it resembled a tightly twisted corkscrew. Seconds before Seal would have hit him, he released the tension in his tail and body, and was flung sharply into the air as if catapulted. Harry cheered, and Donner let out a sweet laugh, gumming on the nipple to the now-empty bottle.

"Now, use Tackle!" the psychic cried, kneeling and digging through the backpack that still rested at his feet, pulling out a green gummy-ring and giving it to the baby after managing to pull the bottle away. Pirate landed on his still corkscrewed tail and launched himself viciously through the air, slamming into Seal. The white water-type barked as it went flying, only for another spring-loaded tackle to send him rolling again…

And again…

And again…

"That's enough, Pirate!" Harry ordered sternly; the squirrel-Pokémon reluctantly stopped attacking, sides heaving as he waited, tense, on a tightly screwed tail. Seal rolled slowly upright, took a breath to most likely say something that doesn't bar repetition and promptly passed out. Pirate snorted and sprung into the air, executing an impressive back flip, and landed nimbly on his tail, relaxed and watchful, between Harry and Redhead. Redhead growled and recalled the unconscious water-type. Then he stared broodingly at Harry for a few moments, before stalking forward. Pirate growled but scampered out of the way, swirled up Harry's shoulder, and perched protectively on the eleven-year-olds shoulder. The two boys eyed each other, then Redhead stuck out a hand.

"You're strong, for a midget," he stated with clipped politeness. "My name is Gavin Kale. My mother is Giovanni's cousin, Martina Giovanni, now Kale. She sends her regards," he added belatedly; Harry blinked slowly. "And don't think that just because we're technically some kind of cousin means that I'll go easy on you next time, brat!" Gavin snapped, blue eyes blazing brightly with arrogant determination. "I'll just have to work my weak Pokémon until they're strong, and then I'll hand you're your scrawny a-" Harry clamped a hand over his mouth with a scowl and pointed look to the sleepily blinking Donner.

"No cursing in front of impressionable children!" he hissed darkly, scowling. "And stop calling me midget!" He pulled his hand away and used it to shift Donner into a more comfortable position. Gavin snorted, sneered and turned away.

"See you around… Midget," he sent Harry a smug smirk, and sprinted into the nearby woods, disappearing from view, red hair and all.

"Weird," Harry muttered, shaking his head, then turned stern green eyes on Pirate. "Give me the ribbon, Pirate," he said, tone brooking no argument. Reluctantly, the Sentret took off his sash-like ribbon, then hugged himself miserably, feeling naked. Harry folded it neatly and quickly, one-handed, and slid it gently into his pocket. "You'll get it back in three days, Pirate, no worries. Just remember, I don't tolerate bullying or cursing, especially in front of babies and small children!" Pirate huffed, stared at the psychic's pocket longingly, and nodded with a grudging sigh. He slid down Harry's body and tapped the button on his pokeball, disappearing inside. Harry shook his head, stroked Alysha's new head-feathers when she lifted her head, coming, now, to his sternum.

"Excellent work, Harry!" Thad called as the Trouble Twins and Nurse Joy trotted over. Harry smiled at them, and it became bemused as Nurse Joy began to quickly check Alysha over. When she was finished, she turned her gentle, busy hands on Harry, and began to peer at his ears worriedly.

"How's your hearing in this ear, Harry?" she asked, concerned; Harry frowned, considering.

"It's… a little muffled, now that I think about it. Why?" He asked; she silently scraped her fingers lightly against the skin of his cheek and just below his ear. Her fingers came away smeared in blood. Harry pursed his lips, observing the blood thoughtfully.

"Well," he finally said, voice dry. "That's not good, now is it?" Nurse Joy gave him a concerned look.

"Lets get you back to the Pokémon Center, so I can look you over, shall we?" Harry nodded, and they all headed back with a sleeping Donner and a bored Alysha, who decided to stay outside and fly around the town.

With Giovanni…

Giovanni stared blankly at the notes he'd jotted down while reading dozens of reports and documents. The answer to how to save MewTwo was right there, in plain writing. But…

"It can't be that simple," he said for the thirtieth (or was it hundredth?) time. All the information was there. All the equations, algorithms, facts, and variables had been added in. Every sentence, number, and line taken into consideration. And still it seemed too simple…

Too obvious.

Sighing, the billionaire rubbed his eyes and began to once more go through the information, painstakingly rewriting everything he'd alredy written… four times.

Because, honestly, who would think that the answer to saving MewTwo, the answer that would have kept the Mews from extinction (or, well, near-extinction) would be something so… ordinary?

A/N: CLIFF-HANGER! Lolz, R&R to see what happens next? O_o o_O I'll be waiting!