This is a long story... (Goes off to find caffeine) Review with questions peoples!

Chapter
Three
In which the poke'mon have a discussion on humans and Aliet has a dream.

The humans left the poke'mon alone. Scyther shifted uncomfortably. -Could I get some help here?- she demanded. -I would like to be able to speak when I CAN SEE YOU GUYS!-
Charizard moved to help her up. He hiked her to her feet, lifting her easily into the air and setting her down on the tiled floor. The fire type ignored her shouts of, -WATCH THE FOOT!-. She leaned on him, knowing he secretly enjoyed it. Who's the crafty one? she thought. Scyther is. Oh yeah.
-All right,- Charmeleon said briskly. -I'm bored in this stupid lab. I say we go outside.-
-Outside! Outside!- Growlithe darted around, barking, with his pink tongue hanging out. -We go outside!-
The team moved outside, drinking in the warm sunlight. Other poke'mon moved aside, and they sidestepped others. There was a certain degree of respect given to other poke'mon, even if their level was lower than yours. The group finally found a clear spot to stake out under a blossoming cherry tree. Ivysaur inhaled deeply, loving the sweet scent. -I wish there were cherries out...- she murmured. -That would make today perfect.-
-Right...- Charizard muttered. He never understood the grass type. He yawned, stretched and curled up beside the tree trunk, feeling the sun across his hide. -Mmmm... This is the life. No work, just eat and sleep.-
-And turn into a Snorlax,- Scyther teased.
-Although in your case,- Charmeleon stared at him. -I think it's too late.-
Charizard cuffed her over the head with his tail. She snickered. -So,- Ivysaur came back from her daydream. -What was the big deal with the Council this time?-
-Nothing much,- he muttered. -They just wanted 'Et to check on this Jha'ik convert.-
Charmeleon snorted, folding her arms over her chest. -Can't trust them. Did she let him in?-
He nodded, and she had to bite back the words that came to her. -'Et thought he seemed reliable enough,- Charizard yawned. -Just a kid, with only this little Shelder thing. No threat to Fslam.-
Scyther frowned, avoiding the fire types' gazes. -I thought Shelder was used a stone to evolve...- she murmured. -And Waterstone is cyanide to fire types.-
-The kid's an idiot,- the big fire type settled his head nonchalantly onto his foreclaws. -I don't even think he knows what a Waterstone is.- He chuckled to himself. -He got scared when I yawned.-
-Jumpy little guy,- Ivysaur commented.
The others nodded. -I still don't like it,- Scyther muttered. Her eyes rolled heavenward and she lifted her blades to the sky. -May the Rainbow Bird watch over the fool who lets Fire's-bane into that group of humans.-
Ivysaur and Growlithe giggled at the bug's theatrics. Scyther dipped her head in a bow, now half-smiling. She was serious about her concerns though. Anyone could see it in her face and nearly invisible, jerking head moments. Charizard sat up and moved nearer to her, trying to calm her down. -What's wrong?- he asked gently.
-I don't know,- she shook her head. -It just feels like this is wrong, in all senses.-
Charmeleon snickered. -That's just because you've been hanging around with fire types for so long,- the fire type cracked a grin, canine teeth flashing in the sunlight.
It was true. Scyther had been around the group longer than ever Charizard could remember. She wasn't Aliet's first, but she was the close second. But truth did little to comfort the bug now. She was fixated on making her point clear. -Stop laughing!- she snapped. Her blades swung up, silver specks throwing spots of reflective light all over the grass. -Listen to me! It isn't right and you can believe me if you want, or you can ignore me! I don't care which!- Scyther attempted to stand, but was foiled by her injured foot. She crumpled to the grass, yelping in pain and spoiling her fight stance.
The others were at her side quickly. -Move and let me breathe!- the bug demanded. When they didn't budge, she swatted at them with her blades. Now they jumped out of the way, shouting. When Ivysaur tried to wrap her vines around her, they were almost sliced to ribbons.
-Scyther,- Charizard tried gently. -I'm just gonna help you up... that okay with you?-
She paused, debating it in her head. -Fine...- she grunted. Her deep blue eyes reverted to the ground in embarrassment as he hiked her into a sitting position. She refused the gaze of everyone, although the flush in her cheeks was obvious.
Ivysaur and Charmeleon exchanged a knowing look. Ah, spring, the grass type thought, studying Scyther and Charizard's stances carefully. The season of love comes so very fast... heh.
She's so beautiful when she's angry... the thought drifted through Charizard's head again. He wished she felt the same way. Maybe she did. But with Scyther, it was nearly impossible to tell. As far as he could tell, she was angry that he'd helped. He sighed and curled up again, head up this time, more alert. Charmeleon sensed his distress and moved to his side, leaning on him. She could feel his quick heart rate. The smaller fire type sighed herself, cursing inwardly. It was going to be a long time before that psycho female warmed up to the big lug she was using as a pillow.
As they talked, the sun sank low. No one had really realized that Aliet had been gone for hours, or how late it had gotten. No one except Ivysaur, who had dozed off several times and had been shaken until she woke up. At length, they got up-Charizard carrying a drowsy Scyther-making their way back to the house. Oak let them leave when their Trainer was home. It was pleasant out this evening, being not too hot or too cool. Little kids gawked at the sight of all the poke'mon strutting down the street as if they owned the town. The team usually loved to see the looks on their faces if they flamed or flexed. But tonight, they just wanted to get home as soon as they could. By the time they reached the house, Scyther was all but asleep, as was Ivysaur.
Aliet met them at the door. She smiled. "Good evening strangers," she joked. Then she sobered up when Scyther was set down. The bug leaned heavily on one foot, swaying. "Scy? You doing okay?"
Scyther managed to wake up enough to form a slurry reply. -Fine... I just need some sleep. Don't know why...- Her eyelids threatened to close. The group caught her as she threatened to topple over again.
"You've had a rather exciting day," Aliet moved to the side, allowing them to go past her and up the stairs to her room. "Plus you're injured."
-Save the talk, 'Et,- Charmeleon called down. -Scy just conked out. I don't think she's gonna wake up for a week.-
Aliet groaned. "I'll be right up!" she called up at the thumping sounds coming from her room. "Just wait a minute!" She ran into the kitchen and dug through the cabinets. Finally she found a deep bowl among the mixing and soup bowls. She stood up quickly, hitting her head on the slight overhang of the countertop. The girl fell backwards, hitting her back on the kitchen table. Ignoring the pain, she rose and filled the bowl with cool water, grabbed a towel and dashed back the way she'd come, cautious not to spill too much water.
She struggled with the door to her room for about half a minute before Ivysaur had the presence of mind to open the thing. "Thanks," she grunted and set the bowl on the desk beside the Magikarp.
-What's that for?- Charmeleon asked from her perch on the back of the desk chair.
"In case Scyther really does want to sleep for a week," Aliet knelt beside the bug, who was curled-up and asleep on her rug, a beach towel pulled over her like a blanket. She stroked Scyther's chin gently. She looked like a baby again... "If she does, then she'll wake up with a whopper headache; if I know my Scy."
Charizard nodded drowsily. -You know her,- he lay down curled around Scyther, head resting on his foreclaws again.
-Can't let her get overexcited,- Ivysaur agreed, sprawled out on Aliet's bed. -Wonder why.-
-Bug thing,- suggested Charmeleon dismissively. -C'mon 'Et! I'm hungry!- She jumped off the chair and scrambled up onto her Trainer's shoulder.
-Hungry! Hungry!- Growlithe barked until Aliet shushed him.
She took the small group downstairs again, and started scrounging up food. It wasn't until Charmander's squeal of delight alerted her that Aliet was even aware that food had been left out for her guys. There was turkey for the elder Char duo and Growlithe, salad for Ivysaur, and lastly, ground hamburger meat for her baby-who wasn't quite used to larger chunks of meat yet. Aliet divided up the turkey, asking Charmeleon to take her brother's share up to him, and set Ivysaur's salad on the floor for her. By the time she got to feed Charmander, Ash was already asleep, Mrs. Ketchum was getting ready for bed, and storm clouds were gathering on the nearly black horizon.
She washed the dishes from her team, pausing to stare out at the few stars that were left. It felt a lot later than it was. "The life of a Trainer," she murmured, and dried the salad dish.
No moonlight came in when she turned out the lights. Climbing the stairs, she was forced to rely on her drowsy baby's tail. Her room was lit in the same manner. The fires danced as the chars slept, unaware of her presence, throwing ghostly shadows across the walls. Aliet placed Charmander on her pillow and changed for bed. When at last she sank beneath the blankets, the Fslam was asleep instantly and gratefully. The skies opened up, pouring down rain and lightning onto the little house, but the occupants were sound asleep, and oblivious to everything but their dreams.
Outside, the lightning lit up a grinning face in the shadows outside the window.

Sweat rolled down her face in cold rivulets. Her heart pounded furiously in her ears as fear pulsed through her. The dagger finally halted inches from her chest. The crone above her spoke in harsh tones to someone she couldn't see. With a start, she realized it was Charizard. The grotesque face moved away, bargaining with him about something. Water rushed into the room, drowning everyone except the old woman. The woman cackled manically until everything subsided into darkness...

The magic pressure built up in the room to a level almost too intense to bear. She felt Arcanine against her leg, absorbing and spreading out the power that rolled from her lips. The star inscribed outside the square she stood on shaped the massive volume of magic, binding it so it had no escape from those who brought it to life. There were other voices harmonizing with her alto, and wrapped throughout the verse was a high-pitched trill that never seemed to fade. Fire sprang up, dancing and separating into living shapes. The trill increased, forcing her to look up at the towering figure. The firebird spread its wings, seeming to encompass the whole world...

Another volley of dark energies blasted towards the already weakened shield before her. It shattered, allowing some of the energy to contact her legs. She cried out in agony, but the book in her arms scattered the darkness before any permanent damage could be done. The figure at the other end of the room paused, breathing heavily. "Bind your wounds, Fire Brat," it cackled. "I need a challenge." The ending had a nasty note.
She was reluctant to comply, even though the gashes screamed in pain every time she twitched. Finally, she ripped the ragged edges off her gown and bound them tightly. Her hands came away, coated in her own dark, red blood...

Aliet jerked awake, shivering and breathing fast. Her heart raced and sweat dripped into her eyes. She took several deep breaths, trying to calm down. It was still night; about three AM by her clock. She lay down, calmer now, staring up at her ceiling. Those were far from normal dreams she had watched. It seemed as if one day, they would... She lost the thought abruptly and a new one came. Warnings... Eatusur was said to ask Shie for messengers to bring dreams to those in great danger. Her heart skipped a beat, then settled back into a calm rhythm.
She slipped out of bed, almost wincing as her legs touched the carpet. That last dream had been the most real. She swore she could feel the blood actually running down her...
The girl shuddered and stopped thinking for a moment. She opened her window; listening to the drip, drip of the water off the plants in the garden. A clean, fresh scent of the earth after a rainstorm wafted up to her. Aliet inhaled it deeply. It was calming... as was the sight of the constellation "Eatusur's Bridge" above her. It was said that the long, sparkling band of stars was the path the fire god had taken after the war with Shietaor. The old tales told of the great fight in incredible detail. The star bridge led to Eatusur's Island, some said. She stretched, yawning. A new smell drifted on the wind. It was the scent that always foretold thunder. Aliet closed the window, pulling the curtain. She took a deep breath, sliding back into bed. The warmth welcomed her back. She shivered once, before drifting off again.