I'm not really gonna say anything at the moment... because I'm bound to explode at the universe if I do... so I'll just remind you all that the Twerpette Trio account is up, and thank those of you who've reviewed this, brought the original "Human?"'s reviews to nearly 75, and are actually reviewing Eeveelutional. Now onto the story before my willpower completely collapses.
Ash smiled watching Misty walk beside him as they headed off after the girl named Vixie. He shoved the wallet that he'd picked up, that had her trainers license inside, into his jacket pocket. There was something else in the pocket already though... he pulled it out; a crumpled note, written in fancy script, with another, less readable, note folded inside it. As he unfolded them and read them, he realized exactly how long it really had been since he'd last worn his once-trademark jacket./p
Human? If Only…
3-Naka naka (Through anywhere)
Lyra of Destiny
Ok, so only about a month in reality, but these were the notes that Tracey and Brock had left when they'd both gone off to... wherever, probably home, one that morning, the other that evening... Only they hadn't been able to reach either at their homes, and had expected that Tracey was still in route and Brock was off training... he glanced over the notes again...
"Dear everyone,
Thanks for letting me stick around for so long, but I think it's about time I got back to my own life, and stopped bumming off Professor Oak. There's been enough new pokémon discovered lately, that I'll have plenty to see, but I'll come back and visit! Good luck at the league, and with Misty, right Ash? Later,
Tracey"
Ash folded it back up, and read the other one...
"To Ash, Misty, etc.,
Well, looks like you two don't need me around anymore, and my job is done, so I'll see everyone around. Things are probably getting chaotic back home again anyway, so it's probably best I go. I'll try and swing by the stadium while you're in the league finals, Ash. And stay out of trouble you two! I don't feel like being a godfather anytime soon!
Brock"
Ash rolled his eyes and shoved that letter back into his pocket as well. "Like we'd name him the godfather anyway," Ash said smugly. "Now, now, get any ideas and I'll be forced to pull something drastic," Misty teased, knowing he'd just been looking at the letters again.
"Like what?"
"Tickle you?" Misty suggested, staring off at the sky innocently. Ash stared wide eyed at her for a moment.
"You wouldn't dare!"
"You wanna bet on that?" she laughed, and started chasing him down the street. Anyone passing could have easily mistaken them for best friends, brother and sister, or even just a normal pair of rowdy teens, chasing each other down, in the midst of some fight or just simply a game of tag. That was the true wonder of their relationship; Misty was now nearly 16, and Ash was 14, but they were still children at heart... Their relationship had different extremes as well, and although they still argued commonly, it was even more of lovers spats then it had been in the past, and everyone who knew them knew the problem could be solved by a simple kiss. And although they often seemed childish in their ways, that was only the public face of their love. They definitely had a more passionate side, and though they had not gone to any true extremes, they knew and trusted each other enough that they would, if given the option, commit that act nearly as readily as they would simply sit in each other's company, enjoying a night's silence.
They both halted their chase, winded, and collapsed against a wall, sharing a kiss and ignoring the strange glances they were receiving from passerbys. And then something caught their ears....
"Ash, did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"Sounds like someone crying..." Misty stood up and turned around, to look around the corner and into the alley. There, sitting curled up in to a ball on the ground, was a young girl, with blue hair, blue jeans, and a purple sweater.
A pokéball hung on a chain around her neck, and she held it in her hand as she buried her face in her other arm, crying softly. "Hi there... hey, are you alright?"
Misty said softly, kneeling by the girl's feet.
The girl sniffed and wiped her nose before looking up at Misty. Once she looked at her, her eyes enlarged greatly in surprise. "But you... you're... Hi, Misty!" she smiled, standing up. Misty did the same quickly. The girl only came up to about her shoulder... she was probably about 12... she smiled again and gave Misty a large hug.
"I'm sorry, but do I know you little girl?"
"I dunno," she admitted, looking up at Misty sadly. "I think you do... but I know you! You're Misty, and you traveled with Tracey!" Ash and Misty looked at each other and shrugged, stumped by the little girl's strange comments.
"And you would be...?"
"Oh, I'm Martha, his, um, cousin!" she smiled. "Yep, I'm Martha Urima! I'm here with my friend Vixie Konoro... but... I ran away..." she admitted shyly. "I bet she's looking for me, but... I don't know, where she is..."
"Well, we have this misfortune of being neighbor to her, and her Smeargle," Ash grinned. Misty elbowed him gently. "What? There's green paint all over everything! Not to mention that exploding package in the mailbox two days ago... I just *know* her Delibird put it there..."
Martha, by this point, had begun giggling heavily. "I'm sorry," she laughed, "That's actually, um, my Smeargle... I'll tell him to tone down his drawing a little bit... but so you know where she is? Can you take me there?" she pleaded, her pale blue eyes shining.
"Uh..."
"I guess we can... we were sorta, um, following her down here, in the first place, to find her and give her back her wallet. But, I guess we lost track of her..."
"That's an understatement, if there ever was one..." Misty mumbled, playfully batting the side of his head. "C'mon, we'll get you home."
"Really? Thank you so much!" she smiled and took both their hands. Ash and Misty glanced nervously at each other. Martha was obviously about 12, but she acted *much* younger... not to mention, having a kid standing between them made them both extremely nervous...
**********
"Ah, thank goodness, they found her..." Celebi smiled, flying over to the next building. "I just wish my powers were stronger this far from the forest... I could have found her much more quickly... but now, the challenge is to find Vixie, and tell her that Martha's ok... but that shouldn't be too hard. After all, this is just the pokémon league village," it stopped near a pokémon center, thinking it saw the Gijinka girl's characteristic pink hairdo through the crowd. "How many girls with pink hair can there be in this town?"
For Celebi, it would be a long night...
**********
"Ah, lookie how cute the little couple is with their happy little family…"
"Brock, just leave them alone!" Tracey wacked the back of his head in irritation. "Besides, that's Martha they're with."
"That's her?!" Brock stared out the window at the little girl who was thanking their friends and running up the stairs to the building. He attempted to rub the back of his head, but was unsuccessful in reaching it. "Dang, why'd you have to hit me so hard? And my heads probably all green now…" Tracey started laughing at him. "But it can't look as weird as you. I mean, a bandana *and* a beret? Where do you come up with these things?"
"Hey, Brock!! Tracey!! I'm back, finally!" Martha smiled, running up the stairs. "Hey, how are you guys?" she picked up Tracey and hugged him. Logically, this scene should have been reversed, but somehow it just made more sense this way at present moment… "Oh, And I promised Ash I'd tell you that you need to stop painting everything, ok? He and Misty said everything was green over there. And boy, do Vixie and I owe you a talking to," she looked at Brock sternly. "You almost fried Ash's arm off!"
"What? What'd I do?"
"Martha?! Martha?! Oh, you little brat, if you weren't so cute I'd spank you for running off like that!!!" Vixie came running up the stairs and joined them. "You should be very thankful for being where you are right now. Your trainer got us how we are, and I'm paying for the room and board here." She looked down at Martha, who was about to start crying. "Ah, man… why does your species have to be so dang'd cute when they cry? Now put down Tracey and come give me a hug…"she sighed, hugging the young girl. "But if I find out you're just using a charm attack on me, I'm gonna have to get drastic!"
"But I'm super effective against you!!" Martha stuck her tongue out at the older girl.
"Sigh… Brock, did you ever think you'd hear this conversation?"
"Sadly… yes. But not in English."
people, *SO* sorry that this one was incredibly short... my compu went screwy, and is doing the actual HTML formatting, so I really don't feel like writing more quote symbols and paragraph indicators out today... I'll make it up to you all next time, I promise... just please, review! Ja ne to heiwa *bow*.