Midsummer Nights

By Trish.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or Puck. Ashura the Mew is borrowed with permission from Dragoness. I do own certain characters and the storyline. The chapter title comes from 'Unwell' by Matchbox 20.

ooo

Chapter Twenty-Four: I'm not Crazy, just a little Unwell

Lucius woke up the next morning, feeling far more chipper than he had been in a long while. Ding, dong, the meddlesome blonde is gone, his heart sang. Finally, a part of his plan had succeeded without being ruined by either of his nemesis's, Puck or Callie.

The red-haired Fae sat down for a hearty breakfast of pancakes and syrup. As he chewed on his forkfuls, he relived last night's satisfying events. He took particular pleasure in the fact that Jenn had suffered most horribly before she died.

It was sweet justice indeed for all the pain and trouble she had caused him since her unfortunate escape from his clutches. Jenn had blabbed to Puck, Callie and that dratted Chosen One, Ash about his plans; and thus had foiled him. If it had not been for Jenn, Lu would have had been well along in his plans to ruin Puck and would have had at least one other death to add to his record.

The evil Fae chuckled as he thought about how Jenn's pathetic mortal friends must be feeling at this very moment. Sorrow at the passing of a dear friend? Or cursing her for taking her own life over a former boyfriend? Little did they suspect the real cause of her death.

Now it would easier for him to dispose of the remaining humans. They would never suspect, now that he had changed his tactics.

Just for fun, he decided to tune into their feelings – see how miserable they were. Lu focused on the Australian girl, Trish, who would certainly be upset over her best friend. His green eyes snapped open in horror when the feedback from her emotions told him exactly what he didn't want to know.

Jenn was alive.

Someway, somehow, despite all his precautions – the blonde had survived her ordeal. Dammit, she should have been dead! As stiff and cold as that iceberg that had collided with the Titanic.

Startled wingulls and taillows took to the skies as unearthly shrieks of rage echoed around the small deserted island.

ooo

Trish placed the brush down and looked over her work. She had offered to look after Kigali while Jenn was laid up in bed, and had just finished bathing and grooming the little absol.

Kigali yipped and licked the girl's hand, little tail wagging furiously.

"You're a little cutie, aren't you," Trish grinned as she fastened the velvet and diamante collar that Jenn had bought for her Pokémon around its neck.

The doorbell rang, and Trish picked up the little puppy and carried her with her to the foyer. She got the shock of her life when she opened the door to see Rudy standing there, a large bunch of flowers in his hand. "Rudy!"

The Trovita Island Gym Leader offered the bouquet to the gawking Australian. "Oh Trish, I'm so so sorry to hear about Jenn. I didn't think she was the type to take such drastic action."

A still shocked Trish blinked as she took the flowers. "What on earth are you talking about? Jenn's going to be just fine…"

Now it was Rudy's turn to be shocked. "What do you mean she's gonna be just fine…Lu said…"

The mention of the evil Fae's name snapped the Australian back to her senses and her dark eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute…you were there weren't you? Helping Lu get rid of Jenn…"

The Trovita Island Gym Leader gulped nervously and took an involuntary step backward. This was not going how Lu had planned. Jenn was supposed to be dead, and he was supposed to be able to go and comfort his poor darling over the loss of her best friend and win her that way.

Little Kigali looked hard at the human in front of her. Though still very young, she could sense that this human was not good. She could also sense the anger coming from the human that was holding her. The nice human was saying that the bad human in front of them had done something bad against her owner. The little Pokémon felt anger rising within her and the fur started rising along her back.

Meanwhile, Trish's emotions had undergone a full transition from shock to anger. She glared at the man in front of her. "How dare you show your face here, Rudy! You have the bloody gall to come here and offer 'sympathy' over a 'tragedy' that you helped to create.

"If you think that I would have been so distraught and out of my mind with grief that I'd go willingly into your arms…then you're more than ready for the lunatic asylum!" A low growl was heard from her arms but she didn't take any notice.

"But I love you," Rudy whined pathetically. "I'm the best man you'll ever have the fortune of knowing."

Trish looked disgusted. "You trying to make me puke? You're succeeding! You 'love' me – now that's a joke! After that stunt you pulled by spreading lies that I was having an affair with Danny. Thank you for putting me through Hell."

Rudy took another shaky step backwards.

The Australian smiled sweetly. "I really suggest that you leave the premises before Drake finds out…" She held up her left hand where the diamond ring flashed in the sunlight. "And my fiancé might punch the living daylights out of you."

The blood drained out of the Trovita Island Gym Leader's face, so white did he become. "What!" he croaked.

Trish looked down at the Pokémon in her arms. "Sic 'im, Little Kig."

The Absol puppy leapt down from the Australian's arms and assumed a fighting stance.

"Ice Beam."

Rudy's shrieks were heard clear down the street.

ooo

Jenn stared up at the ceiling for what felt like the ten billionth time. She was bored, restless, and itching for a fight. Being stuck in bed would've seemed like a sweet deal to her a week ago, but getting kidnapped by Lu and sent to a parallel dimension to face her doom on the Titanic had really ruined the idea.

She looked over at the IV in her arm and glared at it. If she knew how to pull it out without the fear of bleeding all over the place, she'd do so. Anything to get out of bed. She flexed her arm a little and winced when she felt the IV in her vein. There weren't many things that would make her feel like puking on the spot. An IV was one of them.

The partially closed bedroom door was nudged open, and a familiar tiny electric mouse scampered in and leapt up on the bed. 'Piiiiiiiika.'

"Heya, Pik," the blonde greeted the little 'chu. "Come to keep a bored Goddess company?"

"Hey, whaddabout me?" another voice revealed itself as Meowth entered as well.

Jenn was surprised. "Hey Meowth, what are you doing here?"

The Scratch Cat Pokémon grinned. "I came to visit Ash and Pik here. I'm watchin' all da kiddies for her while dis business is goin' on."

"Unca Meowth," Jenn teased.

"Dat's riiiiight!" Meowth puffed out his chest. "And prouid of it too."

"Well I'm bored," Jenn sighed. "I wanna get out of bed and kick some butt."

Pikachu just Looked at the blonde and waved a tiny claw. 'Pik-uh-uh-uh.'

'Dat means no way in hell,' Meowth translated helpfully.

"I know that," Jenn scowled. "I've taken a course in basic Pikachuese."

"Trish woint like it if you do get out of bed before you're recovered."

"I know that too! She never likes anything bad that I do."

"Maybe youse sholdn't be doin' anything bad."

"Aren't you calling the kettle black," Jenn arched an eyebrow, "Besides, it's not my fault bad follows me. I can't help it."

"Well, woid youse like it if it was da other way 'round?"

"It's already been the other way around," Jenn picked at her fingernails, "And no, I did not let her leap out of bed when she felt like it, but she was the one in a coma, not me."

Pikachu grinned and chattered away rapidly. 'Pikakapika pi chu pikachi cha.'

Jenn looked to Meowth, who had discovered a small stuffed Rapidash on the floor. "Translation please?"

Meowth smirked. "I thawt dat you knew basic Pikachuese."

"I told you basic. That was not basic." The blonde rolled her eyes. "Honestly, give me a break, Meowth. I'm a recently tragically befallen Goddess here."

"I thouit y'said bored."

"There's that, too," Jenn nodded. "So what did the Pik-ster say?"

The Scratch Cat Pokémon grinned. "She said dat Trish set your Absol on Rudey when he came ta offer sympathy on your death."

"What!" Jenn's eyes widened. "She didn't."

"She did," Meowth was smug. "Ash said dat youse could hear da guy screaming like a goirl all da way doiwn the street. And it's a big street."

The blonde punched a hapless cushion. "Dammit! I wanted to be the one to give Rudey a smack down!"

"You already did," another male voice said. Ash entered the room, carrying Jenn's lunch tray with him. The blonde had requested fish, deboned and lightly fried in butter sauce. The dish was accompanied by French green beans and julienne fries. Freshly squeezed orange juice, with no pulp, came in a tall glass.

The Grand Master set the tray down carefully on Jenn's lap before sitting in the nearby chair. "Drake said that you punched Rudy in the face when he came to see Trish not long after her ordeal."

"I forgot about that," Jenn sighed, then glared again momentarily. "I still owe him one for this."

"I'm sure Trish has been eager to get back at Rudy after all he's done to her," Ash grinned. "I'm sure she relished the moment."

"Definitely," the blonde chuckled. "She's been thinking about all of the possible torture methods she could use on him."

"How on earth he can still think he has a chance with her is beyond me," the Grand Master shook his head. "In all my travels, I've never met anyone who is quicker to delusions of love than Rudy."

"What about Brock?" Jenn grinned slyly.

"Ah, yes, well Brock is a little bit different. His obsessions tend to not last longer than ten minutes," Ash mused. "Or until he sees the next pretty girl."

"I guess so."

"But Rudy is a trip. He's been obsessed for two years now, right?"

"Yup," Jenn nodded. "Two years and he still hasn't got a clue that she hates his guts."

"Maybe she should take out an ad in the paper," Ash mused, "Or a billboard."

"Or a jail sentence," Jenn said. "Stalking, stalking, and more stalking."

There was a stretch of silence, at which Pikachu looked from Ash to Jenn. Finally the little mouse went to her best friend and poked him with a diminutive paw. "Pikapi, pika chu?"

"I haven't forgotten, buddy," Ash rubbed behind the mouse's ears.

"Forgotten what?"

"There were some things that came back with you from your ordeal," Ash said, looking at Jenn to take in her reaction. Her eyes widened a little, but she looked more surprised than afraid.

"What things?"

"There was a dress and some jewellery."

"Uh huh, like what?"

Ash could just barely imagine what she was thinking, "There was a hair pin, a necklace, and earrings."

"They weren't a dream then! There were so many diamonds," Jenn could hardly breathe, "Could you get them looked at to see if they're real?"

Ash raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Are you kidding me?"

"No, why?"

"The diamonds you were wearing were from an ordeal!"

"I earned them," Jenn shrugged slowly, "That's how I see it."

Ash shook his head, "You are one strange person."

"I know."

Trish walked into the bedroom with a satisfied grin and an equally satisfied Kigali in her arms.

Jenn smiled at her best friend, "Looks like someone had fun..."

"That felt so good," The Australian sighed contently, "It really is true that revenge is a dish best served cold."

"Ash, didn't you tell me that my cheekie pookie poops went after Rudy?" Jenn blinked. "I didn't know there was pie involved."

"It was just an expression," Trish rolled her eyes. "And one that had no mention of pie at all."

"Oh...I knew that."

"Sure..."

"Ash said that I still have the dress and the jewellery from the Titanic," Jenn switched subjects excitedly. "Did you keep anything from your puppy encounter?"

"Well, I have the dress, and the necklace," Trish admitted. "But I haven't been able to bring myself to use them."

"Because it reminds you of your ordeal?" Ash said gently.

"Yeah...I think if I did, I'd start to seize up."

"Well I wouldn't be seized at all," the blonde declared. "They're nothing more than proof that I survived. I took on Lulu and beat down his ass."

"Just barely," Ash raised an eyebrow.

"Hey," Jenn arched an eyebrow back at him, "Schematics, my dear Watson. Schematics."

Ash shook his head, "I think you meant semantics."

"You say potato, I say po-tato."

"Jenn, there are no similarities between schematics and semantics!" Ash looked incredulous. "It's like saying a potato is the same as a tomato!"

Jenn tilted her head to the side, "You do have a point, don't you?"

"You are completely insufferable."

Jenn beamed. "But you still love me."

The Grand Master sighed while Pikachu just giggled.

Trish laughed at the exchange. "You two are nuts."

Jenn beamed even more. "I try."

"You succeed!" her friend shook her head good-naturedly.

"Any doodles, Ash is gonna find out for me whether they're real diamonds or not."

"Why wouldn't they be real diamonds?" Trish was mystified. "If you were supposed to be Rose from the movie, they would be. She was dripping in diamonds!"

Jenn shrugged, "You never know. I always figured Lulu would be a cheapskate. Come on, have you seen where he lives? In a cave! A bare, stinking – and by stinking I mean smelly – cave with zero in the way of furniture. The Goddess was totally uncomfortable there."

"Uh…Jenn, when you're kidnapped, you're not meant to be comfortable," Trish pointed out. "Lu hates all of us, so he's not going to go out of his way to be nice to you."

"I don't see why not."

Her best friend rolled her eyes. "You never do."

"…Hey."

ooo

Lucius paced the floor of his cave like a caged tiger. His emerald eyes seethed with anger, his cheeks were flushed and hectic.

He couldn't believe that he had failed yet again in his bid to rid himself of those pesky mortals. They had no power, no magic to aid them - they had no right to defy his will!

The red-haired Fae clenched his fist. It was all because of that damn Puck and that wench sister of his, Callie. They would be the ones crying for his mercy by the time he was through.

ooo

The group had gathered in Jenn's bedroom for a brain storming session.

Jenn sighed, "I just want this freak caught before anyone dies, or worse – gets stuck in a publicly socially humiliating experience."

"You really need to get your priorities straight," Ben said, "There's nothing worse than dying before your time!"

Jenn narrowed her eyes, "I know you haven't been turned into a Pokémon and gotten yourself dropped into a battle against your ex-boyfriend only to win and really piss him off and then get turned back into your bootylicious self and then fast forward to being tricked into thinking some moron you really hate looks like your pissed off ex-boyfriend and getting shoved off a balcony to fall into the past only to have an evil fairy make it look like you jumped and killed yourself via a drop to a car park etcetera till now, so I know you don't know what you're talking about."

There was a short stretch of silence.

Ben's eyebrows furrowed, "I can't…I just can't even continue to try to decipher what she just said. It's giving me a headache."

"I'm just trying to figure out when you had a boyfriend, Lil Bro," Drake joked.

Ben sobbed loudly, "I told him I'd never let go…never…let go…"

Jenn glared at him. "Brute."

"Tart," Ben smirked back.

"When I get better, you're toast." Jenn settled for glaring at the younger Thayer.

"As much as I enjoy the banter," Ash said calmly, "We need to get back to business."

"Amen to that," Trish agreed, as she snuggled against Drake. "Dealing with Lu has been a never ending nightmare."

"It's been a nightmare, that's for sure," Ash scratched Pikachu behind the ears. The diminutive mouse was perched on his shoulders and leaned into the scratch with a slight purr. "But it'll end."

"It just has to," Shannon said quietly, then laughed a little, "I don't want to sound rude, but I don't want to be next! I'm not as strong willed as Jenn or Trish."

"Now, hon," Ben reassured his beloved, "You shouldn't mix up strong will with being extremely stubborn. Trish is strong willed; Jenn is so stubborn she makes a mule look amenable."

"If I didn't need this pillow, I'd so throw it at you," Jenn said warningly. "Show you amenable."

"I quiver with fear," Ben said wickedly. "Completely quivering."

The blonde glared at Shannon. "You, you need to keep that puppy of yours on a tight leash!"

The younger Thayer widened his eyes. "Hey! I am not a puppy!"

"Whatever, Benji," Jenn smirked.

"You know I don't like being called that nickname," Ben grumbled. "It's bad enough that Drake insists on teasing me with that ridiculous name, I don't need the rest of you getting on the teasing wagon. It makes me sound like some small harmless dog."

"And that's exactly the reason why I insist on calling you that," the blonde smiled evilly.

"I guess you'd know all about what name would make someone sound like which sort of dog."

"There's gonna be a time when you realize that I did not want to be a dog, okay?" Jenn snapped defensively. "It's not like I joined up with Lu and asked for it. Lu could've turned me into any number of different Pokémon, so shut up, Benji."

Shannon broke into a fit of giggles, causing her boyfriend to glare at her. "Hey, you're supposed to be supporting me here."

"I know, I know," the brunette forced herself to calm down. "But you forget that I've know Jenn longer than you, and she always makes me laugh." She paused then grinned. "Besides, I was just visualizing you as a fluffy puppy and you looked soooo cute!"

Everyone snickered as Ben flushed tomato red. He went even darker when Shannon kissed him.

"It's Puppy Love!" Drake teased causing matching shades of red in both. "Puppy love, it happened so fast…"

Jenn caught up on the song, "He got kissed and fell flat on his ass. Puppy love, driftin' away."

"I just can't get a break," Ben sighed.

Puck coughed to get everyone's attention and ended the impromptu musical. "We're getting off track here everybody. If we don't work out a way to stop Lu, then the next time we get together will be at one of your funerals."

That sobered everyone up immediately.

"You're right," Drake said after a moment's silence. "You're absolutely right."

"The best thing to do is to take it step by step," Callie said. "We must go through everything that has happened so far and try to remember every single detail."

"That is definitely too much hard work," Jenn joked. "My brain is already strained."

"Too right," Ben smirked and immediately got hit with a small stuffed Rapidash from the blonde.

"Dare you disrespect the Goddess!"

"Oh he dares," Trish said dryly, with a look at the younger Thayer. "But Jenn, you have to admit that you left yourself open to that one."

Jenn sighed. "I don't want to agree that you're right, but I will say that I blame it on my recent polar swim."

"It was wide enough to let the Titanic through," Drake nodded. "And sideways at that."

"Enough, okay!" the blonde glared at the Orange Crew Leader. "I get it already. She was right and you were right, and I really hate it when you're right."

Drake just looked smug, while Trish smacked at her fiancé's arm. The dark-haired man smirked. "Well you're just gonna have to learn to put with me being right more often as Trish is going to marry me."

Jenn mock scowled at her best friend. "You should have listened to me, y'know. Getting chained to such an old guy when you could have someone way hotter than he is. I could've found you a hottie. I totally have the best taste in men."

Trish didn't know whether to laugh or choke at the statement. "The best taste as in what? Some hybrid between the super arrogant and the unobtainable?"

"What can I say. I know what I want," The blonde shrugged. "Any diddles, my guy needs to be able to support the lifestyle I require."

"The lifestyle you require means you have to snag a celebrity," Ben shook his head.

"You say that like I couldn't do it," Jenn's blue grey eyes flashed at the challenge.

"I say it like I know you can't do it!" Ben cocked his head to the side, "Just look at your previous attempts!"

Jenn grit her teeth, "Gary was just untrainable."

"Oh, if he could hear you now," Ash laughed. From his shoulder, Pikachu shook her head and sighed out a soft, "Chaaa…"

"I don't think he meant Gary," Drake said. "There was Cole, Zane, Darius…"

Ben ticked names off his fingers, "Julian, Thierry, Adam…"

"And let's not forget the great Leonardo DiCaprio debacle," Puck added.

"Oh, let's," Jenn said, and her narrowed gaze promised death to whoever defied her. "And how about you guys and gals leaving me to some privacy." She turned her malevolent stare to Ben in particular, "You're giving me a headache."

"We are!" Ben gaped, "You…my head…you…"

"There, there," Shannon patted Ben's shoulder, "It'll be okay."

"But she…"

"She may be impossible, Ben, but we are in her room," Ash led the younger Thayer from the Goddess's domain. "And when you're in her territory, you'd better leave when it's safest."

"But…"

"Don't argue with the Grand Master, Lil Bro," Drake rebuked gently. "Apart from Trish, he knows best on how to handle Jenn."

ooo

Jenn waited until the footsteps died away down the corridor before lying back down and hugging a stuffed velociraptor to her chest.

As much as she didn't want to admit it, Ben's remark that she couldn't get a celebrity boyfriend, let alone a normal boyfriend, cut deep.

Apart from Jaime, she was the only one of her female friends without a boyfriend. And she hated being constantly reminded of the fact.

Trish had managed to catch the most eligible bachelor in the Orange Archipelago, and one of the sexiest men in the entire Pokémon League – hook, line and sinker.

Mia had Puck, and even Shannon, who was so shy and reserved that she never said boo to anyone, had managed to snag Drake's younger brother.

What was the hell wrong with her that she couldn't get one? In her opinion, there was nothing wrong. She was tall, slender, blonde, and had a sparkling personality. Everything a guy could want, right?

She wished she knew how Trish managed it. Compared to the American, the Australian was more of an introvert. Not one for showing off or comfortable in the limelight, Trish was very quiet. Sometimes too quiet as Jenn often told her. Yet she was now engaged.

Maybe I am a bit too picky in my tastes when it comes to men, Jenn mused. Gary, Drake, Ash, Leo…they all have one thing in common. They're all unobtainable. The break-up with Gary was not for lack of trying on my half, the damn moron couldn't keep his fly zippered shut!

She flipped over on her side, glad that the stupid IV had been taken out. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to relax enough to get some sleep. Maybe a nap could snap her out of this boyfriend funk.

ooo

"I don't know about the rest of you, but this whole mess with Lu has ruined my appetite," Mia sighed as she toyed with her food. They had gathered in the dining room downstairs for lunch.

"I'm more worried about Jenn," Trish stated as she took a sip of water.

"Nothing new about that," Chris grinned. "Jenn is always a worry!"

"Chris! That's not very nice!" Shannon slapped the Scot on his arm.

"Well it's true," Chris defended himself. "Every mess Jenn's been in so far has been due to her own actions."

"Almost every mess," Trish corrected. "The first time she was kidnapped by Lu, it wasn't due to anything Jenn did."

"No, just that she's irritating enough to get kidnapped," Chris smirked, then dropped the smirk at Trish's glare.

"Anyway, before I was interrupted," the Australian continued the glare directed Chris's way. "I'm worried about how Jenn's coping with all that's happened to her. She's been through so much…"

"You've been through more than Jenn and you seem to have coped okay," Jaime interrupted.

"You know that Jenn would dispute that," Trish grinned. "And I would have to agree. I haven't been kidnapped by Lu or turned into a Pokémon. Besides, we're different when it comes to dealing with issues." She shrugged, "Jenn keeps her problems to herself and bottles it up. Whereas I wear my heart on my sleeve and will rant to friends. Jenn isn't that comfortable with confiding. It's just the way she is."

"Do you think she's not doing well?" Shannon asked timidly.

"I don't know," Trish admitted. "If you asked her, she'll say that she's fine. Jenn is strong, but after what she's been through, no one is that strong that they can cope without support."

"That's true." Drake agreed. "How about you two have a nice long talk later? You seem to be able to get more information out of her than anyone else."

"That's a good idea," Trish nodded. "I'll do that."

"Besides, you know she'd never miss an opportunity to tease you about what an 'old' guy you've landed yourself," Drake gave a wry smile.

"You're only a year older than me," the Australian gave him a kiss.

"Jenn would place great emphasis on the word 'older'," the Orange Crew Leader sighed.

"Don't let it bother you," Trish patted his arm. "You're not marrying Jenn after all."

"No, but I'll have to put up with her for the rest of my life," Drake smirked. "She is your best friend."

Trish whacked him. "That's mean!"

Drake just grinned, "Get out of here. You have a best friend to weasel information out of."

ooo

Tired of pacing, Lu magicked up a black leather recliner. He sat in it, but took no notice of the butter soft leather. He was far too engrossed in thinking about the wretched mortals that had so far evaded what seemed to be certain death.

How do they do it? Everything I've thrown at them, they have avoided. Not completely, but in the end, they have evaded the death I had so carefully plotted for them, the Fae snorted to himself, This is quite annoying.

There was only one thing left to do. He'd have to gather up every magical resource he had available to him and take them out in one glorious event. An end so methodical and thorough that there would be no way to avoid death's grim touch.

He would blow up Pummelo Island and kill all who resided upon it.

ooo

Later that night…

Jenn was idly flipping through the latest edition of People Magazine when Trish entered the room, followed closely by a butler. Both were laden with trays covered by silver domes.

"We come bearing food," her friend announced before handing one of the trays to Jenn.

Jenn carefully placed the tray in her lap before eyeing the other tray curiously. "While you guys always say that I have an appetite like Ash's, I really think that two dinners are really overdoing it."

Trish took the second tray off the butler and thanked him. The man bowed slightly before leaving the two girls alone. "Actually, this is my dinner, not yours. I know you couldn't eat two dinners even if you tried."

Jenn blinked. "So you're not having dinner with the others?" She lifted the cover and grinned when she saw that it was chicken, done just the way she liked it.

"Obviously not, if I'm sitting here with you," Trish grinned as she settled herself down in a comfy leather armchair near the bed. "We are going to have a nice best friends chat."

Jenn inwardly cringed. Was this the 'I'm gonna yell at you later' talk brought forward by a few weeks? I thought she was gonna wait until I got better…

"No, I'm not gonna yell at you," Trish said calmly as she cut her chicken up. "I told you that will come later when you're all better."

"Oh goody," Jenn rolled her eyes.

"This is just so we can talk about things…"

"Things?" the blonde raised an eyebrow.

"Like your ordeal," Trish stated simply. "I'm interested to know if there were any similarities between ours. If we can find a common thread, it will help Callie and Puck no end."

"Okay…"

"Plus I also want to know if you are happy with the engagement with Drake or not," the Australian looked at her friend. "You seem to be going on at him a lot about being 'old' when he isn't."

Jenn looked taken aback, "I don't think it should matter, but of course I'm happy you're marrying Drake!"

Trish smiled, "I'm glad to hear it!"

"I mean, c'mon, the guy's as old as the hills," Jenn looked smug, "Who else would take him?"

"Oh like you wouldn't!"

Jenn looked thoughtful for a moment, "You're probably right. I would take him." She nodded, "I bet he knows all sorts of things. How to train Dragonite and stuff, and how to build things."

"Build things?" Trish searched her memory but couldn't once remember Drake looking at a hammer, much less picking one up.

"Sure," Jenn shrugged, "I hear he knows how to build one mean Ark."

"Jenn!"

"Whaaat?"

"He's not that old."

"He's not that young either," Jenn said, "He's no spring chicken."

"Neither are you!"

"Yeah," Jenn sobered up and sat back against her pillow, "But with Lu, I don't think there are any connections from mine and yours."

"Really?"

"Uh huh, I think he got real creative this time. Maybe there were too many people and it threw him off."

"I'd say," Trish said dryly. "More than fifteen hundred people are a lot more than me and a demon hound."

"Then there was Danny."

Trish's eyes got wide, "What!"

"Or a Danny look a like," Jenn shrugged, "I'm still not sure what. He kept calling himself Jack. I hope he got to safety."

"Jack?" Trish raised her eyebrow. "You were being mistaken for Rose from the movie version weren't you."

"Uh huh, I was wearing the exact same dress as well as the Heart of the Ocean" Jenn nodded.

"I hate to say this," Trish began slowly. "But if he was Jack and it was running true to the movie, then no he wouldn't have survived. But since he looked like Danny instead, then maybe he did."

"I hope so," the blonde sighed. "He was really nice and helped me. If it wasn't for him I would have been lost."

Trish tapped her plate with her fork. "I wonder why he looked like Danny instead of Leo? Unless…" she looked keenly at Jenn.

"Unless what?" Jenn asked warily.

"Unless it was because Lu tapped into your subconscious and found out that you really like Danny and therefore made Jack look like him!"

"I think you've been reading too many psychology books," Jenn retorted, trying to ignore the fact that her friend was probably right.

"Well why else would Jack look like Danny instead of Leo?" Trish gave a cheeky grin, which Jenn knew meant her friend was up to no good and was determined to milk it for all it was worth. "Methinks someone likes Danny Boy very very much!"

"And what makes you think that?" Jenn griped. "I like lots of hot guys. It could have been any one of them. Maybe Lu was in a hurry."

"In a hurry to get rid of you, yes," Trish agreed. "But we're really digressing from the point here."

"You know what they say," Jenn smirked. "Digression is the spice of life for people who cook in glass houses."

"Uh…right, but back to business. The methods that Lu snatched us by were different. I was taken while reading a book. You were lured to a restaurant."

"Maybe he figured he could catch me off guard," the blonde shrugged. "It worked."

"You also had a double created whereas I didn't."

"I guess he thought no one could rescue you, but he knew better when it was my turn and wanted to make absolutely sure no one could find me." Jenn sighed, "I can't say for sure. I'm not psychic."

"He almost succeeded too," Trish grimaced, "Lu would have if it hadn't been for Ash getting Gengar to follow you. We would have had no idea where you had gone and no idea where to start looking. You would have been dead for sure!"

"I know," Jenn winced.

"You know you really don't need the Powers That Be to provide you with a guardian angel," her friend mused. "You have your very own guardian angel in Ash."

"What makes you say that?" the blonde tossed her head. "The Goddess can take care of herself."

Trish just arched a dark eyebrow. "So that explains the fact that Ash has been the one to save you from almost every single scrape you've got yourself into so far?"

"Just pure co-inky-dink that Ashy's been around when I need help."

"Pure co-inky-dink, I think not," Trish smirked. "If that was the case, then why wasn't he around when I was taken by Lu?"

"Lu's timing, much like the rest of him, sucks." Jenn smirked back.

"According to you, yes," Trish rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "But again with your habit of digressing…how are you feeling? And don't give me that 'I'm fine and aiiight' business because I know you're not."

The blonde briefly toyed with the idea of not telling her friend but decided against it when she saw the determined look on her face. Jenn was familiar with that look, one that said Trish was not going to budge until she found out.

She sighed. "Aiiight, so there's something bothering me." She tilted her head slightly. "Actually, there are a lot of things bothering me. How long do you have?"

Trish speared a bean with her fork. "For as long as you want."

Jenn sat back against her pillow. "First of all, there's Gary."

Her friend raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"I really don't understand what went wrong there. Why did he dump me for some slut who raised her skirt for him? I was his for two whole years and the commitment I felt towards him meant nothing to him." The blonde angrily stabbed a defenceless piece of chicken. "He was my first serious relationship and I worked goddamn hard at it. He said he loved me and I bought into it, hook, line, and sinker. I can't figure out which is worse. That he lied or that I bought it."

Privately Trish thought it was because Gary Oak was just a total jerk. What she said was, "I honestly don't know, Jenn. But it wasn't because of anything you did. He just can't be tied down to one girl."

"Well I'm not doing it again," Jenn crossed her arms over her stomach, "If I get into another relationship, it's not gonna be a serious one."

"You can't mean that!" Trish fiddled with her ring," You'll find someone some day. Maybe sooner than you think."

"If you think I'm going to hook up with Danny out of shared emotional trauma, you're wrong."

"I didn't mean it like that," Trish said, then frowned, "Actually, I can't remember when we last spoke to him."

Jenn also frowned. "Neither can I...no wait, actually I can. Last time we saw him was not long after you came back from the Coma Cruise."

The Australian gave her a wry look. "You make it sound as if being in a coma is like going on some luxury cruise instead of a life threatening condition."

"Like it isn't?" The blonde grinned cheekily. "Anything that lets someone lie in bed and do nothing has to be like they're on a relaxing cruise in the Bahamas."

"So you think this is not similar to a Coma Cruise?" Trish rolled her eyes when she saw Jenn shake her head.

"Nah, this is just a temporary setback," Jenn said, "Besides, I haven't been sleeping as long as you'd been."

"Anyway...I'm not saying you should hook up with Danny just because his double helped you in the ordeal," Trish resumed, "I'm just saying that you shouldn't give up on love just because of one rotten guy."

"Yeah, a bitter aftertaste can turn someone, namely me, off to baring their soul to someone they thought felt similar for...oh...life." The blonde grumbled and punctured another piece of chicken.

"You really have it in for that poor chicken, don't you?"

Jenn frowned, then laughed, "Yeah, I really do. At least this isn't leaving a nasty aftertaste."

"You mean like diet soda?"

Jenn shuddered, "Don't ever try slipping me that again."

"You say it like it's a drug in a drink!"

"Pretty much, yeah."

Jenn was referring to Trish's revenge on Jenn just a month ago. She'd given the blonde a diet Pepsi in retaliation for Jenn giving Trish decaffeinated coffee.

"What can I say?" Trish shrugged nonchalantly, "You deserved it."

Her best friend was aghast. "You don't really mean that! No one deserves to be given diet soda. It's both inhumane and cruel."

"So is giving someone de-caffeinated coffee!" the Australian retorted. "What's coffee without the caffeine? Nothing but brown liquid. And the whole reason we drink coffee is for the 'kick-start' we get from the caffeine! How else do you think I manage to be so perky in the mornings?"

"You got lucky last night, of course!" Jenn teased, causing her friend to blush.

"Jenn!"

"What?" Jenn shrugged. "It's not as if it doesn't happen."

"True," Trish conceded. "But that's not the answer I was going for!"

"You know me," the blonde smirked. "I live to make things dodgy."

"So true…" the Australian sighed as she took a sip of her drink.

"Besides, I was just trying to help out by giving you decaf."

"How so?"

"It's not healthy for you to be drinking that nasty stuff three times a day, every day," the blonde scolded. "Caffeine is a drug y'know."

"Thus says the girl who loves Pepsi," Trish rolled her eyes. "So I get high on coffee beans. Hardly a great danger either to me or society."

"Oh but it is a great danger," Jenn nodded solemnly.

"Oh? To Whom?"

"Duh, to me," the blonde grinned. "A perky you in the morning is way hazardous to my health."

"If you weren't eating, I'd throw something at you."

"Neener, neener," Jenn poked her tongue out at her friend.

"Why do I put up with you?"

"I'm lovably insane."

"Insane, yes. The other part I'll have to think about."

"Hey!"

Trish just grinned.

ooo

Downstairs, dinner was proceeding pleasantly with conversation ranging across all different topics. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable with everyone enjoying themselves.

Well, almost everyone.

Mia was unable to enjoy the dinner, choosing to eat her food in silence. The teenager's inner turmoil over the recent events preoccupied her mind. While the vacation had started out with such promise, it had quickly turned into a living nightmare. An evil Fae, horrible accidents, close friends in peril: it read like the script of some Hollywood horror movie.

Only for her, it was all too real. The brunette couldn't shake the feeling of guilt over everything that had happened. It was because of Mia's relationship with Puck that Lu was going on a murderous rampage. To hurt Puck, Lu would hurt Mia. To hurt Mia, the Fae was targeting her friends.

Her two eldest friends, Trish and Jenn, had suffered greatly at Lu's hand; almost dying in the process. Despite all of this, both girls were managing to deal with it a whole lot better than she was!

Mia didn't like to admit it, but she was a nervous wreck. She kept glancing over her shoulder every few minutes to see if she was being followed. The sight of long red hair on a man filled her with horror. What little sleep she did have, was plagued with nightmares.

She had to put a stop to this madness soon for the sake of her friends and herself. Had to stop it before one of her friends actually did die and before she went insane.

But how could she stop it?

A little voice in her head told her the easiest way would be to break things off with Puck. Once she had ended the relationship, her friends would be safe right? But somehow Mia knew that Lu was too hell bent on revenge to just suddenly quit.

Besides she didn't want to give up Puck. Not after she finally had him back after two long years apart. She loved the chestnut-haired Fae more than anything in the world; she couldn't just give him up.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Puck's voice broke into her inner ranting.

Mia blinked before smiling at her boyfriend. "Oh, I'm just thinking about everything. How I wish this thing with Lu will end…"

Puck squeezed her hand gently. "Don't worry, Mia. Callie and I will stop him once and for all. And with the Chosen One on our side and with his sway over the world's Pokémon, there's no way that we can't win."

Mia hoped he would be right.

ooo

Jenn and Trish had finished dinner and were chatting about clothes when Drake poked his head around the door. "So how are my two favourite gals doing?"

"Oh so now I'm one of your favourites?" Jenn rolled her eyes. "Figures. It's only when I face certain death that you call me a favourite."

Drake mock-pouted, "You're always one of my favourites."

"Really?"

"Sure you are," Drake hugged Trish close, "Right up there with root canals and training temperamental dragons."

Trish slapped at his arm, "Drake!"

"It's true though," Drake sat next to his fiancée, "But I do have good news."

"You just saved a ton of money by switching your car insurance to Geico?"

Trish frowned, "That's such a silly commercial line."

Jenn shrugged and Drake continued, "No, but it seems that the good doctor has pronounced your little blonde friend fit enough to be up and about."

"No more IV crap?" Jenn looked hopeful.

"That's right," Drake said, "And you can get back to scheming against Lu with the rest of the big kids."

"He's so thoughtful."

ooo

Now that Lucius had made up his mind to get rid of his enemies in one glorious move, the red-haired Fae had to decide on the method. He had ditched his original idea of blowing up the island of Pummelo. While ensuring the demise of all his enemies, it wouldn't offer the death that he wanted. He wanted his enemies to suffer as much as possible for all the problems they had caused him.

Lu pondered his options. He wanted their deaths to be as painful and long drawn out as possible. A blazing inferno? No, that wouldn't do. Earthquake? Not all would die. A volcanic eruption? Unfortunately there were no volcanoes to be found anywhere in the Orange Archipelago. The red-haired Fae lay back on his leather recliner and closed his eyes. He'd have a nap and think on it.

ooo

Ash sat down on one of the plush leather armchairs in the guest room he occupied in Drake's villa and flipped open his cell phone. Glancing over at the bed, he could see Pikachu curled up in a small ball of yellow fluff, fast asleep.

He hit the speed dial button for his home, Misty answering after a few rings.

"Hello? Ketchum residence."

"Honey," Ash greeted warmly. "It's me."

"Ash!" Misty gasped. "How are you? Are you keeping okay?"

The Grand Master grinned. "I'm fine, hon. You did see me earlier for lunch today, remember?"

"Oh," there was a pause, "so I did."

"And you say that I have a shocking memory."

"Yeah well, I have an excuse. I'm pregnant. Pregnant women get forgetful."

"How is the baby?"

"More active than ever," his wife sighed. "I swear that he or she is rehearsing for a dance routine in there. Feels like they're tap-dancing on my liver all the time."

Ash winced in sympathy. "That must be painful."

"Not only painful but annoying. I have to go to the bathroom every few minutes it seems!" Misty complained. "Plus I'm sure I look like a bloated Snorlax, I'm huuuuge! My back aches and my ankles are swollen…"

"Anything else?"

"Oh yeah, after this one comes out, I'm never letting you touch me again," Misty vowed. "Pregnancy is no fun."

"If that's what you want, honey," Ash said, careful not to possibly antagonise her any further.

Misty sighed. "So when are you coming home? I miss you."

"I miss you too, but I'm afraid I don't know."

"Why not? It's not as if this Fae Freak has done anything since Jenn," Misty pouted.

"No but his attack on Jenn shows that he's become more erratic and dangerous. His next attack could strike anyone at anytime." Ash said gently. "I can't risk either you or the baby by moving back home. You're too important to me to lose."

"I suppose so," his wife sighed. "I'm going to go to bed now, I'm absolutely exhausted."

"Okay, you take care of yourself, sweet. Love you."

"Love you too."

ooo

The next morning…

Trish and Drake were in the middle of breakfast when Jenn came bounding into the kitchen.

"The Goddess awakes!" the Australian girl greeted as she sipped at her coffee.

"You know it," Jenn agreed as she grabbed a bagel and cream cheese from the fridge. "Plus, I've planned out what we're gonna do today."

Trish raised an eyebrow. "You have?"

The blonde sat down next to her friend and proceeded to slather cream cheese over the bagel. "Can we quit the echoes? I have. After breakfast, you and Shannon are at my mercy."

"For one thing, you have no mercy. And another thing, whatever it is, it can't be anything good when the three of you are involved." Drake smirked before Trish hit him.

"Do you want to be punished?" she mock threatened.

The Orange Crew Leader waggled his eyebrows. "Depends what the punishment is."

"Puh-leaze!" Jenn rolled her eyes. 'I'm trying to eat here. Don't make me puke."

"If you puke, you have to clean it up yourself," Drake said evenly.

"That is no way to treat a Goddess."

"Guys, guys," Trish interrupted them with a laugh. "As much as I enjoy the bickering, we're getting off track here. Now just what is it that you have planned for today, Jenn?"

The blonde beamed. "Duh, much? Shopping, of course! I haven't been able to go shopping since that little polar swim."

Drake's eyes widened in horror. "Shopping! You are not using my titanium card! It hasn't recovered from your last shopping escapade."

"Oh come off it, Drakey," Jenn patted his muscular arm. "You have oodles of money in your little bank accounts, and hello, I said accounts as in more than one. You can totally afford it."

Drake just sighed.

"Besides, there's no time like the present to begin looking for dresses for the wedding!" the blonde sounded smug.

"What?" the Orange Crew Leader blinked. "But we haven't even set a date yet…"

"Doesn't matter. The wedding is already figured out."

"What do you mean?"

"Drake, every girl has her dream wedding worked out by the time they're eighteen," Jenn informed him. "You should know Trish is no exception."

"Yup," Trish nodded. "We have the dress, the flowers, the venue, the reception, and the bridal waltz song all worked out."

"By the time you're eighteen?"

"Uh huh."

Drake shook his head in disbelief. "You have got to be kidding me…"

"Is this the face of someone who'd kid you?"

"Not really," Drake said.

Jenn grinned.

"It's more like the face of someone who'd max out my near limitless titanium cards," Drake gave an evil grin, "but not someone who'd kid me."

Jenn rolled her eyes, "Drake, all you have to do is to get suited up and turn up on the day, otherwise I'll kick your butt to hell and back."

"Hang on," Trish interrupted. "Wouldn't that be my job if that happened?"

"I'm sure you'd like to think that, and please, feel free to do so," Jenn reassured her. "But I would also get to join in the fun, because you are my best friend and I let no one hurt my best friend." She tilted her head slightly. "Besides, knowing you, you wouldn't give him the butt-kicking he deserves. You're far too soft-hearted, which means that I have to do it for you."

"You're far too cheery about that," Drake said wryly.

The blonde beamed. "All I'm doing is fulfilling my duty as a best friend."

"As long as you don't try to turn Trish into another version of you," the Orange Crew Leader raised an eyebrow. "I love her just the way she is, thank you very much, and don't need you to be a bad influence on her."

Jenn smirked. "It's far too late to do anything about that. Don't forget that I've known Trish way longer than you have."

"I'm so scared."

"You should be, you old geezer."

"I'm not that old!"

"Sure you're not," Jenn shrugged, stood up and turned to leave, then looked back, "Oh, Drake, once you want to give up the original plans to Noah's Ark just let me know. I mean you should remember them since you sketched them up." Oblivious to the ultra annoyed look that darkened Drake's glare, Jenn waved as she left the room, "Be ready in a half hour, T-diddy!"

"I did not build Noah's Ark."

"I know, sweet," Trish gave Drake a hug.

"She's no spring chicken, herself."

"She really isn't."

"Make sure she doesn't get my credit cards."

"I'll have Dragonite guard them."

"That girl is really asking for it."

"She sure is."

"Don't suppose you could find another best friend could you?"

"Nope."

"So I'm stuck with her?"

"Afraid so."

"Damn."

ooo

"So tell me why are we going shopping again?" Shannon complained as the three friends were driven to the mall by Drake's chauffeur. Trish had chosen a sleek lined black limo. Even though it was a bit conspicuous it would hold all their purchases, and with Jenn fresh out of danger, she knew the blonde would take out any frustration on mid-season sales.

"Hello, because I've been tortured and I want to relax."

"So why are we going shopping?"

"Because there's nothing more soothing than picking up new shoes, purses, jewellery, and clothes."

"I notice clothes are on the low end of that list," Trish said in an amused tone.

Jenn nodded, "When you know someone who knows someone who knows something about a Manolo Blahnik sale, then you have shoes first and clothes last."

"But whhhhy shopping?" the brunette whined. "I hate shopping!"

Trish patted her youngest friend's hand soothingly. "Awww, come on Shan, shopping isn't so bad when you're with friends."

"I suppose."

"I promise we'll stop for a piece of chocolate cake," the Australian coaxed.

Shannon perked up. "Really?"

"Really."

"Okay, I'll be quiet."

"We're gonna have lots of fun shopping for the wedding and the engagement party," Jenn declared.

"What engagement party?" Trish blinked.

"Trish, you have to have an engagement party. It's not just the perfect excuse to flaunt that rock of yours," Jenn said, "You also get to show off all your designer dresses."

"But I hate dresses!" Shannon grumbled.

"You are not wearing pants to my wedding and neither is Jenn," Trish stated firmly. "None of my bridesmaids will be wearing pants!"

"Which would be a complete and total regret if not for two things."

Trish turned to Jenn with a wary look. "Which is…?"

"One, I've totally been on a survivor's diet of 'Ohmigawd I'm gonna die!'" she ignored her best friend's annoyed look. "Two, not only have I got Manolo Blahnik on my radar, but Vivienne Westwood is also having a sale. The perfect dress will be there."

"And you know this how?" Shannon asked. The confusion in her voice was palpable.

"I'm a shopping goddess, of course."

"Of course." Shannon rolled her eyes good naturedly. She should've expected that.

"Her powers include a heavy discount radar, super strong arm strength, and the power of flight."

Jenn looked at Trish with momentary confusion. "Huh? Flight?"

"Yeah," Trish laughed, "You've obviously never seen how you practically fly down the mall when you see a store you like having a sale."

"Duh, I'm not omnipheasent. I can't see myself."

"That's omnipresent," Shannon corrected the blonde. "And even if you were, you still wouldn't be able to see yourself."

Jenn grinned, "If you say so! How about telling the driver to hurry up!"

"You heard her, Jake," Trish pressed the intercom button, "To the mall!"

ooo

Lucius sat on a cliff facing the ocean. He watched a pair of birds wheel over the ocean's gently rolling surface and frowned at them. He narrowed his eyes at them and lazily swiped his hand at them. Some sort of whale breeched the surface, sprang out of the water, and swallowed the surprised avians in one bite, before slamming back down into the water. A roil of water was the only marker of the whale.

The red haired Fae sighed. That had only taken the edge off of his desire to destroy. He hadn't been doing much lately that could be considered successful, though he blamed the humans he had recruited to do his bidding. While Rudy was a little stronger and a little more resourceful, Jaime had not done well at all. That Puck had saved the human really angered Lu. He could have at least destroyed the girl. It would've made him feel better about things.

He stood up and turned, instantly vanishing and reappearing in the cavern he'd magicked out of the extinct volcano. While watching the ocean, he had gotten an idea. Puck and Callie would team up and then come after him. Their powers combined would surely result in his capture and detainment. Then they would all go back, where he would be facing the High Fae Court. His sentence would be determined by those on the high court. The most merciful decision would be death. The worst would be to strip him of his powers and make him mortal.

He'd sooner die than become mortal.

Therefore, if he wanted to get his revenge at all, he would have to plan and carry out something soon. He doubted if Puck and Callie would wait long to make their attempt to apprehend him.

As he had watched the ocean, an idea had formed. Alone, he was not as powerful as his two enemies combined, but he could use what resources surrounded him. While he did not care if mortal eyes fell upon him in his plans, he realized that the fear that powered him and enhanced his skills could be drawn from the mortals if he gave them something to fear.

And the one thing that any creature living along the sea feared, other than the temperament of the ocean, was the weather that surrounded them. He would call up the greatest tempest the island of Pummelo, and thereby the entire archipelago, had ever seen and it would obliterate the islands and anyone on them.

To be continued…

Author's Note: Many thanks to Jenn and Shannon for all their support and help in my attempt at a writing career. Don't know what I'd do without you!