Japanese Title: A Problem Solved? A New Rank Of Medium!
Translation: Ato Gimon Toku? Ato Nyuu Kaikyuu No Midiamu!
By: Pro_V
"Oh ow…" Peter sat up and spit out a shower of dirt, "That hurt. How the hell did that Psyduck do that? It wasn't even her Pokemon for cryin' out loud!" he brushed himself off and stood up, "I should have known she'd be prepared. But I wonder if that other one is ready for me. Kurayami should believe herself to be in no danger. Boy, is she wrong!"
*^~^**^~^*
"Can you hear them?" Jason leaned up against Lance's back, "What are they saying?"
"Would you shut up and back off?!" Lance pushed him away, "Your blabbering is making it too hard to hear!"
"Just let Will do it then."
"Even he can't hear them. He's tried before. Just shut up so I can listen!"
"What are we going to do, Bazan?" Eevy asked as she sat in her chair across the table from Kratos, "He's in the City."
"Yes, I know. I suppose you'll just have to keep either your Pokemon or one of the Elite-"
"No," Eevy's eyes narrowed as she cut him off, "My Pokemon will be more than sufficient. Thank you very much."
"It was only a suggestion."
"And a bad one."
"Yes, well. About your friend Medira..."
"What's he saying?" Jason poked his head up beside Lance.
"Would you knock it off?!" Lance spun around, hitting the doorknob with his elbow and opening the door by leaning on it.
Jason and Lance toppled in the door, "Ah. Ryujin. Peruwa. How lovely of you to drop in," Kratos half snickered/half growled.
"What are you two doing here?" Eevy's eyes narrowed.
"I was just leaving!" Lance jumped up and sprang out of the room.
"What about you, Peruwa? Why have you fallen in on us?" Kratos drummed his right fingers on the table.
Jason started quivering, as rapping his fingers was a sign of annoyance and utter exasperation, "Uh…Just wondering about…things…"
"We were just staring to discuss that when you flew through the door," Eevy pointed out and smiled wide, "If you ever want us to get anything done you've got to leave us alone."
"But I wanna know!" he whined and sat up against the wall, placing the soles of his shoes together and holding his ankles, "Can't I help at all? This is my problem too, after all."
Eevy rolled her eyes, "If you really want to help, you can go away."
"All right, all right. I'm going. I'm taking Medira around the City anyway," he huffed out of the room, "You call me if any new developments pop up. Got it?"
"Yes sir, Jason, sir!" Eevy snickered and saluted as he left, "What we need, Bazan, is a new position."
"A new position?" he turned his head questioningly, "By that you mean what?"
"Well. Minor Masters and Mistresses aren't allowed in the City full time and neither are regular Pokemon trainers. Workers in the City, like shop attendants and Nurse Joys and things are, but romance is not permitted."
"Correct," he nodded and gave her a commanding look, causing her to continue a bit more explicitly.
"What we need is a new position. A position better than Minor Masters and Mistress but lower than the Elite 4. A position with Elite perks and privileges but the formality of a PMD Minor Master or Mistress position."
"A new rank?" Kratos questioned, "For one woman? There's no point in that, Mistress."
"As time goes on we could add more to the line-up. Start a new League trend. It'd mean publicity."
That caught his attention like a magnet, "And just what would this entail?"
Eevy sat up with a huge smile, "A cloak."
*^~^**^~^*
"I wish they'd just make one little exception for little ol' me!" Medira snorted as she walked down the road beside Jason, "I can't take much more of the prolonged waiting!"
Jason slightly shook his head, "Look at it this way. Once they decide, they'll never have to decide again. It's a one shot deal."
"Which also means if they say no it's a permanent no," she pointed out.
"Good point," he muttered, "Now you see what you went and did?! I'm being all pessimistic now!"
"Well, don't be," she kissed him lightly on the cheek.
Two bright red eyes focused on the couple, "It's that a cute scene?" Peter hacked, "Lovey-dovey moment!"
"Wait," Jason put is arm out in front of Medira, "He's here."
"Who?" Medira cringed, "Who's here?"
"Rubeus," he turned to face her, "You've got to go, Medira."
"What? Why?"
"He's after we Elite. You'll be safer away from me. Go!"
Medira whimpered back a step, but did as she was told, "I'll be watching for you!"
"You're making this to easy for me, Peruwa," Peter stepped in front of him.
"What do you want, Rubeus?" Jason readied his Poke'Ball.
"Cool your jets, color brat! It's not you I'm after!" he fell to a shadow and bolted off after Medira.
"Oh shit," Jason turned and followed.
"Damn! He's following!" Peter snorted and kept up his pace, "He'll get past for sure!"
"That little rat is up to something!" Jason kicked his speed into gear, "And I'm not going to let him get away with it!"
Medira noticed it was getting colder and darker as a rush of heat whirled at her back, "No way! Why's he after me?"
"I'll tell you why!" a hissing voice was right on top of her, "Because you've seen the Beasts!" a shadow coiled around her, "Gotcha, Medira!"
Peter was just quick enough to catch up to her and snatch her, "Hey! Let me go!" Medira flailed, "Quit it! Put me down!"
"You're mine now!" he stepped backwards with her kicking and screaming, "Peruwa made it too easy! So, you want to be a Minor Mistress? First lesson! Live with pain!"
Medira's high-pitched scream caught Jason's ear, "He caught her! Damn!"
Medira was in too much pain to really speak, but thinking was still an option, "How's he doing this? His skin burns like acid. Why's he even after me?"
She went limp, causing Rubeus to snicker wildly, "Not quite as strong as I'd hoped. Oh well. She's still cute."
"Medira," Jason choked as he skidded to a stop, "What'd you do to her?!"
"None of your business, little munchkin!" Peter snapped.
"Let her go, Rubeus," his Poke'Ball was ready to go.
"Go ahead and try it," Peter snickered, "I can bake those wimpy Pokemon in an instant."
"Why not pick on someone of your own caliber; say, a slug?"
"Oh, you're so funny!" he wrapped his hand around Medira's neck, "One more comment like that'll earn you a dead girlfriend."
"You wouldn't dare!" Jason barked.
"Your friend the angel-girl said that same thing to me yesterday."
"Oh, you mean right before Psyduck kicked your ass," Jason snickered wildly.
Peter turned bright red, "Shut up!"
Medira opened her eyes and looked side to side, not daring to swallow or move, "What am I going to do?"
Jason noticed she was awake and made a slight motion to stay quiet, "What do you want her for?"
"Why should I answer you?" he eyed him up and down.
"I get it," Jason laughed, "You're afraid to try and fight Eevy. You're using her as a bribe. You don't even have a plan, do you?"
"I most certainly do!" he dropped Medira to take a retaliating pose, "Dammit!"
Medira jumped up and bolted behind Jason, "What's going on here?!" she bugged as she skidded to a stop.
"I don't know," Jason scowled, "You're all right, aren't you?"
"I'm fine," her face hardened, "But he won't be!"
"Ooh! I'm scared now!" Peter fake quivered, "What are you gonna do? Scowl me to death?"
"Go, Ultra Ball!" both released their Poke'Balls.
"All right, Sapphire! Look who's back!"
"Come on, Flamedance! Let's do this!"
"I can play that game too! Go, Rapidash! Time to get rid of them!"
"Go, Sapphire!"
"Go, Flamedance!"
"Go, Rapidash!"
"Fire Spin attack!"
All three Fire Spins shot forward, crashing into each other. They exploded in fiery fury, creating a huge cloud of hot black smoke. The explosion caught all Pokemon and their trainers, sending them all into a hacking fit. Medira and Jason recalled their Pokemon while the smoke stayed around.
"Get back to the Mansion and stay there," Jason shoved Medira away, "Go!"
Medira took off in the opposite direction as the smoke slowly started dissipating, "He'd better be all right," she muttered as she bolted up the walk and in the front door, crashing into Eevy.
"Oh! Medira, I was just waiting to talk to you-" Medira slapped her hand over Eevy's mouth.
"Just shut up!" she snatched Eevy's collar and dragged her down the hall, "Get everyone together and get your strongest Pokemon out, now!"
"What?! Why?!" Eevy choked as Medira kept yanking her along.
"Don't ask questions! Just do it!" she threw Eevy in the door of the dining room and pulled it shut, "We've got big trouble."
"Why?" Morty asked with his mouth full.
The door slammed open with Jason flying in and crashing it closed, "I think he's gone," he slouched up against the door.
"Who's gone?" Will swallowed.
"Just look here!" Jason snatched Medira's arm and held it out, "Does that answer your question?"
"Burns?" Lisle just stared blankly.
"Are you two all right?!" Luri suddenly jumped up.
"We're both fine," Medira nodded.
"What? Who did what?" Beth flailed.
"Burns," Lance muttered, "From the fire charged Peter Rubeus, no doubt."
"Yeah," Medira nodded again.
"What?!" Eevy burst and jumped to Medira's side, "You're OK, aren't you?!"
"Geez, yeah!" Medira leaned away, "I'm fine! What's your problem?!"
Eevy started laughing, triggering blank looks from everyone, "What's all the giggling about?" Mizu looked her over.
"I want you to at least survive long enough to give you this!" she dug around inside her cloak pocket, "This is for you."
An indigo cloak was pulled from her pocket and flung out in front of her. Medira looked between Eevy and the cloak repeatedly. The rest of the group kind of sat there, staring blankly at Medira. Eevy was smiling wide, but Medira pushed the cloak down.
"No," Medira surprised everyone, "I don't want to be a Minor Mistress anymore. It's not worth it. I don't want a special title and I don't need one. It wouldn't help my predicament at all, so I'll just go on my way and train the way I do now."
Eevy smiled wide again, "That's good, because you're not a Minor Mistress."
Medira's head went up and to the side, "If not a Minor Mistress then what?"
"Medira," Eevy let the cloak hang over her arm, "I've made a lot of promises, most I intend to at least attempt to keep. This is the first one I'm fulfilling. You're not a Minor Mistress; you are my Medio Mistress now. Higher than Minor but lower than Major. I created this rank," she held the cloak up again, "just for you."
"Just for," Medira leaned away, "me?"
Everyone was pretty much frozen, but Eevy still spoke, "I know how much you want to stay in the City, and I know how much you would have wanted to be a Minor Mistress. Kratos thinks you can do this and I know you can."
"What would I be doing?"
"Well, for one thing," Eevy went to another pocket, "You'd be guarding this. The Shimmer Badge. No big deal, just for five select trainers each year to challenge you for it. The other would be hanging around the City, 'cause," she shrugged and shook her head, "that's where your Gym is."
"The Shimmer Badge?" Medira took it and stared at it, "It's mine?"
"Don't forget the cloak," Eevy snickered and shoved it into her hands, "A Mistress isn't a Mistress without it."
"So, I stay in the City?"
"Uh hmm. Or more precisely, here in Rainbow Mansion. Are you going to take the job or not?" Eevy put out her right hand.
"You bet! And thank you!" she snatched Eevy's hand.
*^~^**^~^*
"If that little rat hadn't gotten in my way I would have had that Kurayami girl by now!" Peter snorted, "But no! He's got to have some sentimentality with her! Plus that little Champion witch! Why is my life so hard?! Huh?!" he snapped at his Magcargo, "What did I ever do wrong to deserve this?!" Magcargo was getting ready to say something when Peter cut him off, "Don't you dare answer that."
*^~^**^~^*
Breakfast wasn't quite as silent as dinner a few nights before. There was some chatter between Eevy and Medira with Sooney and Mizu gabbing about ways to prove their Minor Mistress worth to Eevy and the Elite. Coy sentimental glances were shot from most of the group, including Ash and Misty. This, of course, excluded Lance and Eevy, who both watched their food more than ate it. Eevy finished eating, stood, and walked out.
"It's been four days," Entei scared her into a surprised spiral, "Aren't you ready to apologize yet?"
"Damn! Are you Beasts done scaring the daylights out of me yet?!" Eevy shouted louder than she should have.
"Do not curse around us!" Entei barked, "Now, why don't you go say you're sorry?"
"Let me think…No!" she snapped, "I'm not apologizing!"
"Why not?"
"Because I didn't start this. It's his own fault!"
"Oh, come on! He'd make good protection from Rubeus."
"I don't need protection from that joker!" she stomped, "I can protect myself when I need to!"
"Uh huh. Sure you can."
She turned to growl at him, but Entei had disappeared just as Raikou had, "At least say good bye before you do that!"
*^~^**^~^*
"Come on, Draco! Move it!"
"Get in there, Dewgong! Faster!"
"Move out, Xatu! Quicker!"
"Speed it up, Sapphire! Go faster!"
"Keep it up, Flamedance! Let's move!"
"Go for it, Vovo! Move out!"
"Look at 'em go," Beth muttered, "They're so fast I can't get a good shot."
Eusine rolled his eyes, "Don't you have someplace to be?"
"No."
"Great…"
"That's good for today, Vovo. Come on back," Eevy knelt to await her Eevee's return.
"Eevee eev!" Vovo sprang into her, shoving her over.
"Come on, Vovo. Let's go," she stood and let Vovo ride on her shoulder, "Let's go get some lunch."
"Hey! Eevy!" Medira skidded up behind her, "Can we have lunch with you?"
"You and Jason? Yes," she spat her tongue out at Lance, "Come on. We'll eat somewhere in the City then go and visit your Gym."
After she was turned away, Lance returned the gesture, "Same to you," he muttered, "Snippy little witch."
Luri laughed a bit from behind him, "Faces and comments like that will get you nothing and nowhere."
"Well, she deserves it sometimes," Lance murmured.
"True, in a way," Will nodded.
"She seems to care about that Eevee more than me," Lance grumbled.
"The Eevee never lied to her," Luri pointed out with crossed arms.
"That's not funny!"
*^~^**^~^*
"What do you think?" Eevy stopped and looked off to the side, "Does it suit your standards?"
"Whoa," Medira stopped dead and blinked with her mouth hanging open, "That's my Gym?"
"Yep. That's yours."
"It's huge," she whimpered.
"Is it all right?"
"It's perfect," she breathed.
"What exactly will she be up to?" Jason pushed in, as Medira was now in no condition to ask.
"Well, what happens is each year Kratos and I will choose five trainers. Those five trainers will be invited to compete here in Prisma Gym for the Shimmer Badge. Of course, Medira is considered higher than a Gym Leader, but not quite as high as you Elite, but she still remains in the City."
"And…?" he awaited one important detail.
"Romances are permitted," Eevy nodded and rolled her eyes, "That was the main problem this fixed."
"You are great!" Jason flipped, "Thank you!"
"You can thank me by actually training now and then. It tends to help your chances of winning."
"Ah, I've been shot," Jason joked, slapping his hand over his heart and stiffening straight up, "You're so cruel," he fell over backwards.
*^~^**^~^*
"OK," Peter muttered, "OK. That could work," he continued his sad attempts to devise his next plan, "But maybe not. What kind of person never drinks?!" he cracked his knuckles, "If this doesn't go into alcohol, it won't work!" he tossed the vile into the air, "It'd be even better if that other one would take a drink too, but I might not be so lucky. The last two times I tried were a total bust, but anything can happen. Magcargo was just perfect for this task. I really do surprise myself sometimes. Of course, I'll be an even bigger surprise to the unsuspecting residents of Rainbow Mansion."
*^~^**^~^*
Eevy sat on her balcony railing, taking in the scene even though her eyes were closed. She heard someone fight to open the door and knew just by the way it opened that it wasn't Lance. He didn't have any trouble getting it open. Her hair whipped back in the wind as someone stepped up beside her. In fact, it was two someones.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Luri sat down next to her.
"Yeah. Not a sight I expected to see," Eevy looked up and swung her legs down.
"You didn't think you could make it?" Medira sat down at her other side.
"No. I didn't."
"Then you're a dope, Eevy," Luri slightly snickered at the evil scowl Eevy acquired.
"Eevy," Medira started, "Why won't you forgive him?"
"Because he doesn't damn well deserve it, that's why!" Eevy suddenly burst.
"Are you ever going to forgive him?" Luri asked anxiously.
Eevy was dead quiet for the longest of times, "No."
"Eevy, I forgave Jason," Medira pointed out.
"Which I still can't figure out why."
"Because I love him more than anything else alive. He's the greatest guy I've known. With or without shadowed faces and aliases."
"He told me that if I forgave him that one time back in Iris Town I'd never have to forgive him again. Well, guess what. I'm not forgiving him ever again!"
"Eevy," Luri started, "Please don't be this way. He loves you so much, Eevy. You can't honestly say you don't love him."
"I can and I most certainly will," Eevy looked down at the floor.
Luri and Medira stood up with Medira continuing to talk, "You know, Eevy, one of these days you'll change your mind, and when you do, you'll thank everyone who helped to change it."
"Whatever you say, Medira. Whatever you say."
In The Next Chronicle:
Deadly Drinks
Notes
No real notes this time...So I'll see you at the end of the next chapter...
*^~^*Pro_V*^~^*
-=O~Her Pokemon~O=-