Queen of the Darkness

Disclaimer: Do I really have to?

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"All hail Princess Eevee and Princess Absol!"

Karen and Corin look up from their board game. They are sitting at a patio table in Alisa and Aaron's back yard. When they see the two pokemon being led in by Lelia, they both burst out laughing. Both Eevee and Absol have beach towels over their backs like capes, and on their heads are what appear to be paper crowns. Lelia puts her hands on her hips and glares at her cousins.

"What's so funny!?" she demands. This makes them laugh harder, but they are trying desperately to stop. Their pokemon come over to see what is so funny. Lelia is incensed when they start cracking up. Poor Eevee and Absol start trying to get the towels off. Umbreon starts to act sympathetic and tries to help Eevee get her towel off.

"Where do you come up with this stuff?!" Corin finally gets out. Lelia is getting angrier by the second. Before the full fight can start Alisa comes out with a plate of cookies and some lemonade. She looks at the kids and pokemon laughing hysterically and at Lelia's red face. With a small grin she puts the tray down on the table next to the board game.

"I'm not even going to ask." She says as she heads back inside. Absol and Eevee have finally gotten the towels and crowns off. Eevee saw the cookies and goes up to Karen trying to get one. The first thing she tries is the innocent act. Karen grins.

"Human cookies Eevee," Karen says. "Not pokemon cookies." Eevee pulls out the full sad eyes. Lelia storms up and grabs two of the cookies. She gives one to Eevee and brings the other over to Absol.

"My mommy gives them cookies." She says. Karen just sighs. Corin is holding his sides. Lelia glares at him before going inside to tell Alisa she forgot the cups for the lemonade.

Later that day

Lelia is still mad that they didn't like the royalty act she tried earlier. She and Corin followed Karen back to the hotel to check out who her next opponent is. As Karen is checking out the board someone taps her on the shoulder.

"Yes?" Karen turns around. She sees a young boy, maybe a couple of years older than her, standing behind her. Corin and Lelia are watching him, not really sure if they should do anything or not.

"You Karen Oleke?" he asks. Karen nods. "Name's Andy Zelah. I heard you're the reason I'm still in the tournament."

"I don't follow." Karen says.

"Remember someone named Brina?" Andy asks. Karen nods. "Well, I was supposed to be his first round opponent."

"Threatened, right?" Karen asks. Andy nods.

"They knew about my mom's new Mantyke," he says. "The note I got said it wouldn't make it to its first birthday if I didn't throw the match." Karen growls.

"That's horrible." She says.

"Yeah. I didn't want to risk it, so I just forfeited." Andy grins at Karen. "Then I found out about what you did. They held a special match for the two of us that had to back out." He extends his hand. "So I'm your semi-final opponent." Karen grins as she takes his hand.

"I hope you will give me a good match then." She says.

"Don't worry. I intend to." Andy says. He looks at Corin and Lelia. "Friends of yours?" he asks.

"My cousins." Karen responds. Andy nods to them.

"You guys not in the tournament?" he asks.

"I just came back from one a couple of weeks before this started." Corin says. "I was over in Kanto." He gestures to Lelia. "She's too young." Lelia glares at Corin.

"What's with her?" Andy asks Karen. Karen grins.

"She's a little… um… upset with Corin and me right now." Karen replies.

"Is this one of those 'you had to be there' bits?" Andy says grinning.

"Sorta." Corin answers.

"Hey, I gotta go. I promised my mom I'd find out when the match was. I need to go call her." Andy says. "See ya Saturday! And good luck!"

"Good luck to you too!" Karen says. As Andy turns and leaves, she turns to Corin. "I never heard of a special match."

"They held it yesterday." Corin says. "I just heard this morning. They don't normally do it, but they said circumstances warranted it." Karen nods. Lelia is still glaring at the two of them. Karen finally sighs.

"If we get her an ice cream, will that make it better?" Karen whispers to Corin.

"I'll be surprised if it doesn't work." He whispers back. Karen grins.

"Hey Lelia, would you like a sundae?" Karen asks. Lelia immediately lights up.

"LET'S GO!" Lelia grabs a wrist from both cousins and drags them to the ice cream shop.