Japanese Title: Plans Of More Than One Kind! Finding Weaknesses In Everyone!
Translation Ichian no Ijou Ichi Shurui! Shuutoku Ketten In Banjin!
By: Pro_V
"I've got to hurry up!" Pietro growled to himself and to Paige, even though she wasn't really listening to him, "If I don't figure out what gets these guys down by tomorrow afternoon, I'm dead meat when I see Peter again."
"Loosen up," Paige stepped up behind him and started rubbing his shoulders and neck, "You'll do it, Pietro."
"Yes. Yes, I will," he grabbed her hands and swung her around and down into his lap, "Because I'm a Rubeus."
"A Red Rubeus," she corrected.
"Ah, yes. Can't forget that," he leaned down and kissed her, forcing his tongue into her mouth.
That was one of the reasons she didn't talk much. One was the fact she kept her mouth shut around Pietro and the other was the fact she had a good sized burn along the roof of her mouth that she'd gotten before she had her fire-proofing. He'd accidentally seared her mouth with his tongue the first time he'd ever done that. She never totally forgave him for it, or for numerous girlfriends he'd had while they were still dating. Not to mention the two affairs after they were engaged and the three after they were married. In all actuality, she hated and adored him at the same time. Kind of a Peter and Medira story gone too far. Way too far. She'd known about his little "side trips" before the fact. It kind of tended to get her attention when he'd ask permission first. Still, to her, there was something about him and she didn't really care anyway. It was really an escape from her mother and sister nagging on her to find a guy. Well, she found one all right.
He pulled back slowly and again pulled her shirt from her pants, "Well. We know that it's family for Peruwa and Sedna, it's the angel-girl and his siblings for Ryujin, it's lack of love for the younger Ryujin boy and it's fear of losing Sedna for Logos. We've been told not to bother Kurayami and the others are easy enough to pick up on, as they're not as strong as the Elite and the Champion. That Ashura boy's biggest weakness is his Pikachu and the Mistaria girl's is definitely that Togepi. Granite's is easy to see, as he flirts so much, and the angel-girl's is her Pokemon and Ryujin. That Sketchit kid is hard to figure out, but his girlfriend, the Shippou girl, hers are both him and her Meganium. And to think, I figured all this out in a mere two days."
"Good for you," Paige was still laid out in his lap.
"Thank you. Now, the Ghost Master's two biggest weaknesses are his sister and his girl. Illusion's is hard to pinpoint, as are Warren's and both the Mist girls'. The other Hikoboshi's is his girl; that's plain to see. The only lady Ryujin has good control over her emotions as well. As does the daughter of Professor Palm. The boat-boy's is most definitely his boats and the Palm girl. So, that leaves us with Sketchit, Palm, Warren, Illusion, both the Mist ladies, and the Ryujin girl. Not so hard, considering how easy it was to find the others'. Let's go and snoop a bit."
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Pietro was basically whistling while he worked as he sauntered down the hall with Paige right behind him. He'd safely established the weaknesses of the main targets; Eevy, Lance, Jason, Luri and Will, and of most of the guests filtering around the Mansion; Morty, Eusine, Ash, Misty, Brock, Victor, Sooney and Skiff. He was working diligently on the remaining few; Tracey, Yuu-Yuu, Rachel, Beth, Mizu, Lisle and Victoria. He was sure if he looked close enough he'd be able to pick up on just what would upset them, but he'd have to try hard and fast, as he was expected to ship out of the Mansion the next afternoon. Plus the fact, it was nearing Christmas quickly. It was less than four days to Christmas now, and there was something he didn't know about. He could tell something was being planned that even he couldn't pick up on. Whatever it was, he was vigorously hoping it didn't have to do with Peter, Paige or himself. Not that he wanted to keep Peter or Paige safe, but he needed Peter to get his money for this and Paige for obvious reasons. He and Paige wondered around for about ten minutes and finally stopped in the room with the tree. Mostly to pester Vic.
"Hello, Miss Ryujin," Pietro leaned over her from behind the chair.
"Oh, no. Not you again," Vic drooped, "Don't you ever go away?"
"Only after I get what I want, and I don't seem to have gotten it yet," he pulled her hair over her shoulder, "Give me what I want and I'll go."
"How about you go anyway or I'll remove something used in what you want?" she scowled over her shoulder at him, "Don't touch me."
Her eyes were ice cold brown. Hard and flat in anger and utter annoyance with this pest. It was now clear to Pietro what her weakness really was. Along with friends and family, it was her own safety and life. She had eyes just like her brothers'; showing exactly what she was feeling and exactly what she meant. She looked over to Paige, who shrugged and slouched, staring at the floor. Vic then returned her eyes to her side, staring evilly at Pietro.
"Go," she stated flatly, "away."
Pietro narrowed his eyes a bit, "Fine. I'm gone," he grabbed Paige's wrist and pulled her out the door, "That was simple. More simple than I thought. She does have strong will, but that's what shows her weakness. On to the next target!"
They continued wandering down the hall, meeting door after door. There were still only eight rooms on each floor, but some had more than one door. They passed one door and Paige stopped, jolting Pietro back.
"What? Why'd you stop?" Pietro stumbled as Paige stood staring in the one door.
"They're whispering," Paige started, "about something."
"Whispering?" he stuck his head over her shoulder, "What about?"
Two shadows stood in a dark room. One sat in a chair while the other leaned over the back of the seat. They stood in the computer room with only one computer on. No lights whatsoever. Pietro and Paige looked at each other blankly, then back into the room. The computer lit their faces just barely enough to see who it was.
"Do you really think we can pull it off?" Eevy whispered from Lance's left as she leaned over his shoulder, "I mean, will this work? They won't find out?"
"How would they find out unless you go flapping your gums?" Lance asked in the same low tone, "Just keep your mouth shut about it and they won't know a thing."
"Who won't know what about what?" Pietro cocked his head densely, "What do you think it could be?"
"I don't know," Paige answered with a shrugged, "Could be anything."
"If you really think we can do it," Eevy sighed, "I hope you're right."
"Yes, I'm right. All we have to do is have a chat with a certain someone. After that, it's all easy pickings," Lance started typing, "It's easy. You just have to act all nice and do what he says for a bit. Then you've already got one foot in the door. Then you ask and you're almost certainly going to get the other leg pulled in too."
"But he's kind of stubborn and this is a pretty big deal, you know. Do you honestly think we'll be able to get him to agree?"
He grabbed her chin and pulled her down, "I'm sure. Trust me on this. It'll work," he kissed her cheek, "Just trust me."
"This once, Lance. This once."
"What are they planning?" Pietro muttered.
Eevy shot up straight, causing Lance to jump, "What's wrong, Eev?" he purposely neglected the y and looked her over worriedly.
"Someone's listening," she whispered and turned toward the door, "And watching."
"Really? Who?" he looked around nervously, "Rubeus?"
"No. I don't think so, but I can't tell who it is exactly," she took a step toward the door.
"Oh, great!" Pietro shrieked in a loud whisper, grabbing Paige and spinning to face down the hall, "Come on! We've gotta hide!" he slammed the door beside them open and pulled her in, "Stay quiet and maybe she won't find us."
Eevy stepped to the door and pushed it open, "That's funny. There's no one out here. I'm sure there was someone here."
"You're absolutely sure you saw someone?" Lance leaned around her side and looked up and down the hallway.
"I didn't only see a shadow, but felt a strong mental presence too. There was definitely someone here."
"A strong mental presence? Will?"
"No. It was too weak to have been him. This was a mental presence like being able to read facial expressions and eye motions. Not mind reading and bending like he and I possess. I'm sure somebody was out here."
"Could it have been Rubeus? I mean, he can take on his shadow form and you said you saw one. He can probably sense movements and stuff too. You never know with that twisted lamebrain."
"It wasn't him. No way. I would have been overly sensitive to his presence. He wasn't here. But someone was. Maybe even a couple of someones."
"Come on. We've got planning to do," he grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the room.
Pietro looked left to right insanely, "That was way too close," he sighed and loosened a bit, "Way too close. She almost found us."
"She's strong," Paige nodded, "Powerful mind."
"Very powerful. She sensed our presences and she's only been feeling our energies for a few days. She grows accustomed to people and their feelings easily. She must have a very powerful bond with her Espeon to be that Psychically enhanced."
"Must be," she nodded.
"I still want to know what it is they were planning. Something to do with Peter?"
"Possibly."
"Something to do with us?"
"Maybe."
"Something with the Holiday?"
"Could be."
"Would you stop with the comments?!"
"Sorry," she cringed.
"Stop shaking! I'm not going to do anything! Come on. Let's get out of here and find that silly Sketchit kid."
"Yes, Pietro," she sulked out the door after him.
They kept walking and stopped at the front door, spotting Tracey and Sooney sitting on the porch railing. Pietro motioned to be quiet and yanked Paige along behind him. They ducked below the window and stared out the bottom section of the glass while listening.
"Do you have any new sketches, Tracey?" Sooney asked as she sat on the railing.
"Nothing really good," Tracey slightly moaned, "Just some quick ones of the Christmas trees."
"Why are you always putting your own sketches down? I think they're all great! All except that one that Jigglypuff scribbled all over," she snickered, "Come on. Let me see," she pulled the sketch pad from his hands, "These are beautiful, Tracey!"
"No. I've done better," he looked off to the side and reddened, "You know that."
"Maybe, but these are still great, Tracey. I think they're really pretty. Really."
"Thanks, Sooney," he smirked nervously, "But I still wouldn't call it my best work."
"Well, this is a surprise," Pietro whispered, "The Sketchit boy fears he doesn't do well enough at the things he loves. Now there's an easy weakness to play on. So very easy. Now let's move on," he grabbed Paige yet again and pulled her stumbling down the hall behind him, "I do, however, still wish I knew what those two were planning."
"I really don't know, Pietro!" she shrieked as he kept pulling.
"Yes, I know that, as you don't know much of anything, do you?" he snapped.
"I guess not," she whimpered, then thinking, "I married you, didn't I?"
"Here, little trainers. We're looking for you. Where'd they all go? They just disappeared or something!"
"Doubtful…"
"Excuse me?" he turned and glared into her eyes, dark black pupils eating away at even her dark brown eyes.
"Nothing…" she murmured and looked away.
"I didn't think so," he puffed smoke at her face and turned around to keep walking, "There's one now! It's the Illusion girl. But she's not alone."
"Boohoo," Paige muttered low enough that he didn't hear.
Lisle sat in the library and yawned as she read a book, "Ghost Pokemon strategies are lame when you're not actually performing the tasks in the book."
"I know that," Morty mumbled, "But you're the one who wanted to look through the books in here. I wanted to sit and talk."
"I know your idea of talk, Mortimer," she scowled over the book, "And I'd rather be reading."
"Well, thanks a lot."
"That's not what I meant, and you know it. I need strategies. Your strategies, they're great. Mine stink. I lose nearly every battle I'm in."
"That's not true!" he jumped up and ran to the chair next to her, "That's not true at all!"
"Yes it is. When have you ever seen me win a battle that wasn't against some beginning trainer or Team Rocket?"
"Lots of times!"
"Name one!"
"Uh…There was that kid from New Bark Town. He'd been training for a month for our Gym and you kicked his butt like no tomorrow!"
"Morty, his Pokemon was injured before hand. I had a huge advantage."
Pietro turned and nodded to Paige, "Illusion's problem is self doubt. This is getting easier by the second! These people really are sad when you think about it."
"Uh huh," she nodded three or four times.
"Let's go. There are a few more to look into. But, I still wish I knew what those two are hiding."
"I know, Pietro," she rolled her eyes and shook her head.
They started walking yet again, continuing down the hall. Pietro was still pondering what Lance and Eevy's secret could be and was getting tired of trying to guess. Paige was just trying to forget she had any part in this. Trying to figure out what she'd tell the cops when she knew she and Pietro would get caught. Again. They always did get caught; thanks to Pietro's big mouth and that stupid tattoo. He used it to show off, therefor wearing cut-sleeved shirts in public; after and even during their little adventures into volts and safes. Once a Rubeus, always a Rubeus, as the mark lives forever. She regretted letting him talk her into getting one, as it made her look a lot more bold and adventurous than she really was. Sure, she performed in hold-ups and blow-ups, but she wouldn't ever be some kind of daredevil. Marrying into the Rubeus clan was daring enough. Paige was the quiet type; not daring to speak unless spoken to or unless she saw some kind of serious reason to comment. Pietro, on the other hand…Pietro had a big mouth to blare about their heists from the night before or for that night right in the middle of a crowded bar. When he was completely sober, nonetheless. In all truth, he was like a twenty-four hour drunk without ever touching a drop of alcohol. He certainly was forward enough and had all the manners of a barfly anyway. While others referred to him as rude and disgusting, she simply used the terms loud and different. For some odd and positively inexplicable reason, she was crazy about him, which is actually pretty scary when one thinks about it enough.
"There! Two of the girls!" Pietro snatched her wrist and swung her around his side and into the wall, "I don't think they saw us. Why weren't you paying attention?" he spat as he kept glancing in the door.
"I…don't know," she whimpered.
"Stop whining!" he growled and squeezed her wrist tighter, "Just pay attention and listen!"
"I stink at this!" Beth smacked her head on the table, "I really, really do!"
"So you can't play Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters very well, that's OK," Rachel skimmed her hand, "You'll survive. I'll put Silver Fang in attack mode."
"Oh, man! My card's toasted! You're cruel! I'm never gonna get this!" she tossed her cards onto the table and smacked her forehead on the edge, "This stinks! I can't do anything right!"
"Sure you can. You can do a lot of things right. You beat my Baby Dragon with your Summon Skull. That's good."
"Ooh! I beat a card monster! How exciting! Do you know how many jobs I've lost because I can't take a good snapshot? Too many!" she muttered into the table.
"I'm not quite sure just what it is they're doing, but that give me her weakness," Pietro snickered, "Works for me!"
"I can't stand to see you like this!" Rachel sighed, "Just learn to focus. Focus helps for everything. From photography to using the Time Wizard. It's really easy when you get right down to it. What's not easy, for me, is seeing my friends all wilted and depressed like you are, so perk up!"
"There's weakness number two!" Pietro laughed lowly, "Failure for the younger Mist girl and friends for Warren. Simple enough. Now then, onward to the next victim!" Paige stepped to the side and started walking, but he ran and grabbed and pulled her anyway, "Come, my love! Just a few more!"
They started walking again until they heard, "Great job, Pichu! What a great attack! Come on and send out another one!"
"All right then!" Skiff called and dug around his belt, "Let's see you beat Doduo!"
"We can take him! Right, Pichu?" Yuu-Yuu looked down to her left at her Pokemon.
"Pichu pi chu!" Pichu cheered and ran forward.
"OK, Doduo! Use your Fury Attack!" Skiff called.
"Pichu! Launch a Fury Thundershock!" Yuu-Yuu shouted.
Doduo ran in, pecking wildly about with both its beaks. Pichu jumped forward, shooting shot after shot of electricity. Unlike most Pichu, Yuu-Yuu's could usually keep from shocking itself and, unlike most Doduo, Skiff's could usually keep from fighting between its heads. Both Pokemon charged forward, Doduo slamming into Pichu and throwing him away.
"Pi cha pi!" Pichu whimpered as he flew away.
"Oh! Pichu, no!" Yuu-Yuu shrieked as her Pichu hit the ground and bounced twice, "You can do it, Pichu! Come on and stand up!"
"Pi chaa," Pichu cringed as he forced himself to stand, "Pi cha-cha!"
"Yay, Pichu! Use your Tail Whip!"
"Go, Doduo! Use your Rage attack, now!"
"Give it a full strength Charm attack, Pichu!"
Doduo hit Pichu head on, slamming it back a few steps, but he jumped forward again, Headbutting the two-headed bird back again. Pietro and Paige were actually getting into this for some odd reason.
"Great job, Pichu!" Yuu-Yuu called, "Doing great! Now go in with a Sweet Kiss!"
"Don't let it confuse you, Doduo! Stand your ground and hold your concentration!"
The Sweet Kiss pounded Doduo head-on, but it didn't seem to faze him at all. He stomped forward and came down with a Drill Peck. Pichu skillfully dodged with a jump to the side. Yuu-Yuu cheered and Skiff slightly growled.
"All right now, Doduo! This has gone on long enough! Finish this with a Tri Attack!"
"Don't let it intimidate you, Pichu! Use your Thunderwave attack!"
The loop of thunder zipped forward and wrapped around Doduo. The Twin Bird Pokemon cried out nastily and shrieked wildly. Skiff stood stunned as the lightning whirled around his Pokemon. Yuu-Yuu shouted happily and readied the finishing blow.
"Great job, Pichu! Now finish it off with another Thundershock attack!" she jumped.
The Thundershock spiraled along, connecting with Doduo at lightning speed. The bird cried out and tipped around, shrieking and screeching painful cries of defeat. Yuu-Yuu jumped for joy and Pichu called out happily. Skiff nearly fell face-first to the ground as his Doduo's beak got slammed into the dirt. He sighed and pulled his Poke'Ball from his belt.
"Return, Doduo. You put up a fine battle and deserve a good rest," he looked at his Poke'Ball sadly, "You're still getting better though and you fought well."
"You were great, Pichu!" Yuu-Yuu started running for her Pokemon, who was cheering, but he fell and planted his face firmly in the ground, "Pichu! Oh, are you all right?" she cradled him, "Pichu! Say something! Even a chu will do!"
"That battle must have taken a lot out of him, whether he showed it or not. Poor thing must have wanted to keep going even though he was tired."
"Oh, Pichu!" Yuu-Yuu started crying a bit, "I'm never going to be a great Pokemon trainer if I can't tell when my Pokemon are tired. Eevy can tell just by glancing at them how her Pokemon feel, but I can't even see pain on my Pichu's face when he's staring right at me. All I really want to do is learn to be a good trainer and have my Pokemon care about and respect me, but I'll never do that if I can't train my Pokemon well enough to see when they're hurt."
"You can't really believe that, can you, Yuu-Yuu?" Skiff stood over her and looked her over sadly, "You're a great trainer. You were out there cheering your Pokemon on even when he was starting to lose and you won anyway."
"But Pichu could have gotten really hurt. I don't think I could bear that."
"Well, it seems this one's weakness is both that Pichu and non-belief in herself as a trainer," Pietro muttered, "Another easy one to play on. Come on, Paige. We've only got one more to figure out, and compared to these guys, she should be a piece of cake," he grabbed her wrist yet another time and pulled her along, "Where is Miss Mizu Mist?"
"I don't know!" she called up to him, "Really!"
"Ah, she should be easy to find compared to that psycho-psychic and the ice witch."
"Maybe."
"Hold on," he stopped and held her back, "I think I hear her. But I don't think she's alone."
They crept along the hall and crouched outside one of the doors on the third floor, "Are you sure I look all right in this, Eusine?" Mizu scanned her dress, "You're absolutely sure?"
"Yes, Zumi," he rolled his eyes and shook his head, "How many times do I have to tell you that before you listen?"
"I don't know. Six, seven, maybe eight. I just don't trust my own eyes when it comes to picking out a dress."
"Well, don't trust my eyes either, 'cause it ain't the dress I'm looking at."
She spun around and shrieked, "Stop that, Eusine Hikoboshi! You need to be truthful with this kind of stuff with me."
"Are you honestly that worried about how you look?" he stood up and crossed his arms.
"Well…Kind of…I want to look good," she paused, "for you."
"Please don't think you have to dress up every second to make me love you," he shook his head, "It's not always how you look that matters, Zumi-uh-Mizu."
"Thanks a lot," she murmured.
"Well, it's all too plain to see what this woman's problem is. She's worried about her physical appearance. Its funny," Pietro's eyes flew up and down Mizu, "She's really pretty. Not quite as tempting as the angel, but nonetheless."
"If you say so," Paige gagged.
"You know that's not at all what I meant, Mizu," Eusine held her shoulders, "I meant that you don't always need to primp yourself up to get me to love you. Zumi, I love you more than anything. I did the second I laid eyes on you at Daffodil Gym. I never said anything until I found out it was meant to be. But I really do love you, Mizu. My Zumi."
"Thanks, Eusine," she said lightly, "Thank you."
"Come on, Paige," Pietro tapped her shoulder, "Let's go start getting ready to leave tomorrow."
"Be right there," Paige stood in the door and frowned at how very much in love Eusine and Mizu were, "I wish Pietro was like that."
"Let's go, Paige!" Pietro threw his arms around her waist and pulled her down the hall, "We've got work to do. We're supposed to be out the day before Christmas Eve and what's today?"
"The twenty-second, Pietro!" she shrieked as he picked her up.
"So that makes tomorrow…?"
"The twenty-third."
"And Christmas Eve is…?"
"The twenty-fourth."
"That means we have to leave tomorrow. I certainly hope Peter is…happy with the results."
The Next Chronicle:
Holiday Havoc
Notes
OMG...Damn Microsoft Word 2000 makes the HTML files all screwed up, so guess who now has to make all of the HTML for TAA manually. *dies* That's it; I'm sneaking in and using dad's computer when I have to upload all those huge Special Editions. *covers move with hand* Um...Bye!
*^~^*Pro_V*^~^*
-=O~Her Pokemon~O=-