Illusions of Grandeur

by Kim Hoppy

Whatever happened to Ash while he was Shan? That's what his friends and family want to know, and he's finally going to tell them . . . The sequel/prequel to The Death of Ash Ketchum

15. Starring the Pokemon

Summary—We have a parting of ways for our little band.

A/N: Don't exactly care for this chapter, not for what happens, but how it was written. The characters all messed together. And my sister hates this chapter as well, but only because she didn't like the whole chapter-idea. But that is the way I saw the chapter, so if the ending is yucky for you, as it is for my sister, well, just know that I really like them as well.

The Hip Hop poem was written (well, spoken) by my friend Heather Giesen during lunch to prove that not a lot of thought has to go into a poem to make it cool, at least for a school homework assignment. (It was a point supported by all us lazy students. J ) And it is really cool when you say it with the right amount of pause. Or maybe it was just cool when she said it.

Chapter 15:

Starring . . . The Pokémon

"All right, kiddies, do we all look nice?" Miriam asked, inspecting the troupe.

"Miriam—" Ash started reproachfully, fixing his collar before Miriam would.

"I know exactly what ya are goin' to say, and it's all right! They're handin' out free food. They should know better."

"We weren't invited!"

The girls both crossed their arms and looked at him. "Point?" and "So?" were asked in union.

Ash sagged his shoulders, looking at the dance center where people were walking in. Okay, so it wasn't very likely that they were going to get noticed at the dance reception. Okay, so there was an adjoined bar next to in for the locals, and a nice beachfront, and the people probably milled between the rooms. Yet the whole point was that they weren't invited. He didn't even know the people.

"Ya look so cute when ya figure out it's helpless," Miriam cooed, messing up his hair. "'Sides, we already wasted how much dough buyin' these nice clothes. We can't afford to buy dinner."

"She's right," Shamin smiled, smoothing out her new, stylish pale-yellow pants. Her vest had a matching floral-type pattern, and Miriam had somehow hairsprayed Shamin's hair to stay up and put on touches of make-up. All in all, she didn't look half-bad, Ash admitted sheepishly.

He knew—well, he damn well suspected—the only reason Miriam wanted to go to the party was so she could buy the dress she was wearing. A sleeve-less pale-glittery light blue in color, the skirt portion was all wrinkly, while the top was smooth satin. (Okay, shoot him, he wasn't an expert on dresses and gowns.) Pyro was knocked unconscious on her shoulders, as usual, and she had all of his tails scooped up and over one arm. She truly was wearing a Ninetales shawl, a damn expensive one. Her hair was even puffier than usual, curled and something. Miriam had even dispelled her giant hoop earrings for a set of beaded ones.

It was pretty clear who would be attracting all the attention tonight.

"Pikapi?" Pikachu asked, sticking her head out angrily. She hated this. Pyro could stay out in the open and she had to hide in a pack. The many-tailed bastard. Oh, she was so tempted to shock him when she saw the trace of a smile on his fangs.

"It's not really fair to Pikachu. Pyro gets to stay out and she can't," Ash complained.

"They'll be so drunk they won't even notice her," Miriam smiled. "Now . . . let's party!" She paused in her stride. "And no drinkin' for ya two."

****

Ash helped himself to another plate of food, his fifth, eating a mini carrot as he did so. No one noticed that they were uninvited guests, or, if they did, they didn't care. He smiled looking around the hall. Pikachu's head was sticking out of his bag, rocking her head to the music. They had a DJ, and then karaoké, for when everyone was too dead-drunk that they wouldn't know what they were doing, as Miriam put it. Ash was only glad she wasn't up there. She said that she did have some standards. Ash bluntly reminded her that she had gone up and did Karaoke before, but Miriam brushed it off, saying that this was different. How, Ash wasn't quite sure.

"Hey, Kiddo, pass me the scoop, will you?"

A lanky blue-haired man smiled at his shoulder. "No problem."

The man scooped the potato salad generously. "Believe it or not, I hate this stuff," he chuckled. "My mom makes it the best ever."

"Not as good as my mom," Ash countered slyly. He had yet to meet the cook that could out-cook his mom.

The man paused and raised his eyebrow. "Really? Yeah right. What's your name?"

Ash momentarily debated about which name to deliver, but decided it best to play it safe. "Shan. You?"

"P.J." He rolled his eyes. "Ancient friend of the bride. We dated in High School."

"Oh," Ash said simply, looking away. Hopefully the guy wasn't going to ask how he knew the bride or groom.

"See you around, Shan."

"You too, P.J." Ash followed suit a few moments later, gathering his plate and walking over to his seat. "How you doing, Pikachu?" he whispered.

"Pi chu," she sighed, playing with her tail and looking longingly at the dance floor.

"I know. It is boring here."

She glared at him. "Pikapi, chu pika!"

"I'm not lying!" Ash defended. "The foods the only good part, and even then it's not that much." Pikachu still didn't believe him. "Hey, why don't we go outside? They've got a really nice set of climbing trees and stuff. GipSi's out there." Probably sleeping, Ash added. Despite his many—all right, not so many, because Shamin thought the whole Pokémon-going-in-a-Pokéball idea was mean and nasty and totally lazy, and they had gotten into a huge fight about whether or not Ash neglected his Pokémon—attempts to place her in a Pokéball, GipSi would only reside in there for a mere second. It wasn't that she disliked being in a Pokéball, such as Pikachu, but she saw no reason as to why she should go in one. The Squirrel Pokémon could keep up by the trees, easily trailing them. Once she had disappeared for a whole week, which placed the group into a nervous wreck. When she had reappeared, Pyro had nearly eaten her as punishment, for he had been on main tracking duty and had hence discovered he had more competition for Miriam's affections, as she liked "Checkers". (No one could really understand why Miriam had dubbed the nearly entirely black Pokémon that name, and she only called GipSi it once because of the questions that ensued.)

Pikachu shook her head. Ash wouldn't really understand. She wanted to have fun with people, not trees. Pikachu was very much a people-Pokémon. If she were cut off from human civilization, life would turn very miserable for her, indeed. "Chu."

"You want something to eat?"

"Pika pichu PIKA!" she screeched, and Ash almost fell out of his chair from surprise at her command.

"Okay, okay," he murmured, stepping away from his seat. If Pikachu needed some space, he'd give it to her. He knew—well, let's be honest, Ash, he berated himself, I can assume—how hard it was on her to be here and not to have some fun, to hide.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked onto the dance floor, almost instantly getting mauled one some of the crazier relatives. The lights spiraled around, and Ash carefully started to navigate towards Miriam, who, if it was possible, was dancing with five guys.

"Miriam, can we go now?" he whined, trying to slip through.

"So that's your name, Doll," one of the men laughed, already having a bit too much to drink.

"No, Blondie. I'm havin' fun!" She twirled.

Ash frowned. Well, Pyro didn't look like he was having fun. He looked sick, in fact. Maybe it was the heat, or the smoking, or the twirling, or the loud music, but the fox did not look like his usual cheerful self. "Come on, Miriam!"

Miriam gripped his hands and spun him in a circle. "Lighten up, Pokka Master!"

"MIRIAM!"

"Now ya be a good boy and take Pyro and go dance with Shamin or someone!"

"Bu—!" The fox was already shoved into his hands and he was pushed away.

Pyro lifted his head sickly. "Nine . ." he moaned, dropping it down heavily. It was a good thing he hadn't eaten anything. Make the lights stop, Mommy . . .

"I bet you want to go too," Ash muttered, walking back over to Pikachu to deposit the fox. The mouse looked positively delighted that the fox was sick.

"Chu pikach!

Pyro merely groaned and curled into a tight circled around the bag. Woe to the idiot who thought to steal this Ninetales shawl.

"Don't pick on him too much, Pikachu," Ash smiled. Pikachu grinned evilly.

"Pi? Pikachu pi ka?"

Pyro raised his head momentarily. "Ta," he spat. She laughed. Yeah, she would. Pikachu patted his head, shaking her head.

"I think I'll get some air, too." Ash smiled at the duo, then slowly made his way past the dancers and diners to the outside. He leaned against the railing. There was a group of people playing volleyball. Shamin was one of them. He sighed and leaned his head against his hand, watching as she attempted to spike the ball. The ball was mis-aimed and landed in the net though, but the green-haired girl looked pleased in any case. She laughed with the others on her team and moved over to her new position still in the front row as their server made way to score some serious points.

Ash couldn't help but notice that there were a lot of guys on her team. It was just a fact, a very obvious one, but one that he really didn't care for, should he admit it. Not that he would. Especially to her. After Ossature, he had gotten a little protective of her, so much so that Shamin had literally punched him and claimed she could take care of herself, and that the punch was to prove the point. And so Ash backed off, a little dejected for a reason that he didn't quite care to admit aloud. And then, almost as much as he had been protective of her, he did the one-eighty and started to ignore her, avoiding her a bit, but watching out at a discreet distance. Ash couldn't help but feel like a Pokémon watcher (or perhaps the toddler in the china shop): able to look but never touch. Not that he wanted to touch.

Damn, there were a lot of guys on her team. Weren't V-ball teams only supposed to have six players?

"Nice view, huh?"

"Hmm?" Ash asked, turning his head as a girl about his age leaned on the railing next to him. Her rather light lavender hair was tied in a loose high ponytail, and her puffy bangs looped over her hazel eyes. She was wearing typical flare blue jeans and a tangtop with a Jigglypuff set on it. It really didn't surprise Ash, for Jigglypuff were cute, even if they weren't well liked. "Yeah, I guess."

She smiled. "Wanna dance?"

He blinked. "What?"

The girl laughed. "There's a coalition of bimbos over in the corner trying to dare each other to come and ask you to dance, and I figured I'd better save you from them." She raised an eyebrow as she smiled.

Ash turned and looked over in the corner. True to her word, there was a group of girls giggling. A few waved and he turned and held his head. "Oh, God . . ."

"Scary, isn't it?" the girl sympathized. "So, you wanna dance?"

"I can't dance," Ash hissed. "I don't want to dance."

"Anybody can dance."

"Fine, then I can't dance good. I look like a lame Psyduck. I don't even wanna be here!" he moaned.

The girl pursed her lips together. "Psyduck aren't as bad as everyone thinks."

"Not all of them," Ash admitted. "But I knew one—" He stopped suddenly. "Never mind."

"You knew one what?" the girl asked, interested.

Ash looked at her in shock. She actually wanted to hear about Pokémon? "He couldn't even swim."

She laughed. "You're kidding me! A Psyduck that can't swim? Marzena would go nuts. Her Psyduck can do a triple axis on pure water."

"You know someone who owns a Pokémon?"

"A lot of people own Pokémon, despite all the regulations and paperwork and red tape. My brother said I might get one for my next birthday."

"Really? What about the doctoring? Isn't it expensive?"

"We don't get Pokémon that can be doctored without killing them, well, legally." She grinned evilly. Then she tilted her head. "You're not grossed out by this?"

"No! I love Pokémon!" Ash chuckled quietly.

"Well, there's a first," she laughed. "We'll have to swamp stories. Now, do you wanna dance with me, or do you want to go against them?"

Ash turned and leaned against the rail. "I don't even know your name."

"And I don't know yours, so is there a problem?"

He shook his head slowly, then paused. "I still can't dance."

She took his hand. "Come on. I'll teach you."

****

The sun was kissing the lake when Shamin jogged into the hall. "Hey, Miriam," she laughed, surprising the older woman.

"Eww, ya're all sweaty! Did ya win?"

"Miriam it was a friendly game. We didn't win. We kicked ASS!"

They high-fived. "Good job."

Shamin grinned. "Where's Shan?"

"Wasn't he with ya?" Miriam asked absently, waving at the someone as he walked by.

"No."

"Well, he's around, don't ya worry."

"I'm not worried. I'm going to go get something to eat, right?"

Shamin walked away, her head tilted in confusion. Now where the heck did he go? She quickly spotted and joined Pikachu and Pyro, and she was surprised that he wasn't by them. "Hey, Pikachu, do you know where Shan is?"

Pikachu tilted her ears. "Pi. Pikapi chu pikach." She pointed towards the back.

"Thanks." She pushed herself off the chair and went towards the door. He was probably sulking. Well, she was going to drag him out for a dance. Carefully Shamin pushed the door open, coming to see an empty area of lawn and beachside. So this was what was on the other side of the trees and fence. Yet her traveling companion was nowhere in sight. Even still, she stepped outside, letting the door swing shut, and started to walk down the walkway. A laugh started to drift into her ears.

"You're kidding me, right?"

"I kid you not." That voice was familiar. She walked faster until she ran up to a silt fence. And there, on the other side, was Shan and another girl lounging on the beach, shoes and socks off.

"So you're telling me you have actually seen a Ho-oh? And an Articuno, and an Moltres, and a Zapdos!"

"And Lugia," he added smugly. "I rode on him."

"You lie so bad!"

He laughed, jumping up and spreading his arms. "God, he flew so fast!"

"There ain't no way in 'H' you were ever on Lugia! It's impossible!"

"And I was once carried by a Aerodactyl."

"Lay off it."

"Hey, I was on the news with Lugia, and had my picture taken with that Aerodactyl. So there's proof!"

"You were the kid in that incident on those three islands! No way!"

He nodded.

Shamin blinked. He never told her about his past dealings with Pokémon, if only because she wouldn't listen. This riding on a Lugia sounded pretty cool and important for him. She slumped down and took out her Pokédex. Miriam, annoyed with the voice, had ordered Ash to fix it. "Tell me about those Pokémon, please." The lights blinked.

"Lugia—the Diving Pokémon: a powerful psychic type, Lugia lies at the bottom of the ocean. Seen once in recent times, Lugia gives off an enchanting call."

She blinked at the next picture of the blue bird. "Aricuno—the Freezing Pokémon: this legendary Pokémon of ice, once believed to be myth, appears upon snowy mountains to doomed travelers. The very air around it is as cold as ice, so riders freeze and are cut on its sharp feathers. This Pokémon is to be advanced upon with extreme caution.

"Zapdos—the Electric Pokémon: another legendary Pokémon, Zapdos must also be approached with extreme caution. Created of electricity, it flies above storms and delivers fierce thunderbolts to unfortunate targets. It is not suggested to be ridden." The bird, to Shamin, looked scary.

"Moltres—the Flame Pokémon: the last of the acclaimed legendary trio of flying Pokémon of the Orange Islands. Made of flames, the wings of this bird create spectacular displays of flames. It is the flame of the Moltres that lights the Indigo League flame every year. The flames, although hot, are, like other Fire Pokémon, not dangerous to Trainers it deems worthy." There was a brief skim of the flame being lit.

"Aerodactyl—the Fossil Pokémon: the once extinct Pokémon, Aerodactyl has been brought back into existence by the science of DNA. As ever dangerous as in its true era, Aerodactyl attacks its victim by going for the throat with its jaws." Shamin literally shuddered, seeing one of the created Aerodactyls attack a helpless Pokémon.

"Ho-oh—the Rainbow Pokémon: people state that this Pokémon is responsible for the rainbows of the skies and bring hope to those who see it." It was very pretty. Shamin wished she could have seen it.

She looked back over the fence at the two laughing teenagers, then stood up and walked back to the hall feeling utterly alone.

****

"There ya are, Blondie!" Miriam greeted. "Who's yar friend?"

Ash grinned, looking at his companion. "Jeez, I still don't even know your name!" he laughed, pushing the girl.

"Well, I seriously doubt yours is actually 'Blondie'!" she smiled, pushing him back so much that he lost his balance.

Miriam looked at the two, her lips squinched. "Well, who are ya?"

"Shauna. And you?"

"Miriam. I suppose it's nice to meet ya," Miriam shrugged. "And Blondie, ya goin' go up and do some Karaoke?"

"Not if you threatened me with a mating Urasring. Why don't you go up?"

She stuck her tongue out, then thought about it. "Aren't Urasring very dangerous?"

"You have no idea." Ash laughed at a memory. "Read the signs."

"Urasring aren't that bad. They're so small," Shauna countered.

"I think you mean Teddiursa," Ash got out after a few moments of speechlessness. "Ursaring are like eight feet tall and mean."

"Come on, Folkies!" the DJ smiled, looking at the audience of dancers. "Someone's got to come up here!"

"I will!" yelled a voice near the back.

"Ah damn!" Shauna gasped with an embarrassed smile. "That's my brother!"

Ash watched as the person disentangled himself, and saw that it was P.J. (What a world of coincidences.)

"Hmm, not bad," Miriam gauged, watching as the man went to stand.

"Oh, that's disgusting!" Miriam grinned at her. "My brother!" Shauna shuddered, like most sisters, unable to see her brother as anything but a tormenter, let alone understand how a woman could actually want him.

"Hey, guys," Shamin spoke shyly, suddenly coming up. She had an ice cream cone and, the other two noted with surprise, Pikachu in a purse. "Miriam, your shawl got thrown up on," she stated in a way that said the shawl hadn't been so much thrown up on as the one throwing up. Who'd have thought Pyro would get sick of dance receptions? "I put it outside and I think it's doing better. There's a squirrel swinging on one of its tails, though."

"Ohh, that is a cute Pikachu toy!" Shauna murmured. "It's so life-like."

"It's actual Pikachu skin," Miriam grinned, pushing Ash jokingly. "One-hundred-percent real-deal. Careful, it might shock ya!"

"Knock it off, Miriam," Ash sighed, seeing Shauna's horrified expression. "It's not as bad as she makes it sound."

"No, it's worse," Miriam whispered. "That's actually an unregistered, ketchup-crazy Pikachu that could light ya up like a city if Blondie so commanded. He's a nut-job on the lose, so be careful." She winked an eye. "And he's got other even more vile little creatures than this one." She picked up Pikachu by under the belly, and Pikachu struggled to remain motionless.

I am the Stuffed Toy . . . I am the stuffed Toy . . . Chuka, put me down! . . . I am the Stuffed Toy . . . Oi, I knew I shouldn't have had that cake . . .

"Cute, isn't it? And dangerous!"

"Miriam!" Ash scolded, gathering Pikachu in a more comfortable hold and effectively covering her up so that it would be unnoticeable if she started breathing.

"Oooh, don't be so modest," Shamin grinned. "He's dangerous. Stupid, but dangerous. Now give me Pikachu back." She took Pikachu rapidly and plucked her back into her bag.

Shauna looked between the two women. "So, is this real Pikachu fur?" she asked Ash with finality.

He scowled at the two culprits, then sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "In the truest sense of the idea, yes. But it's not what you think . . ." He didn't get time or will to explain, for Shauna's glare snuffed any excuse—good or not—from his lips and P.J., after taking his sweet time to get up there, removed the microphone. He had the distinct impression that his two traveling companions had tricked him, whatever their reason.

"I see I am the bravest one out of all you chickens," P.J. chirped as the DJ, shaking his head, placed in the singer's song.

"More like idiotic," Miriam commented to Shamin and Shauna. P.J. overheard and looked at her curiously. She merely smiled her self-assured smile. "Can he sing?"

"Oh, you could say that," Shauna said with a dry sense of humor. Her brother smirked at her as he flipped the microphone on.

The music started up, a piano solo. "Hey, I know this song," Miriam murmured.

"It's his date-song. He plays it if he wants to ask someone to go out with him," Shauna sighed. Miriam snorted.

Instead of staying up on the stage where the words were displayed, P.J. strolled down. "M'Lady, you shall have to tell me if I can sing." Miriam crossed her arms, raising her critical eyebrow.

"Oh, she's gonna get him," Shamin muttered under her breath. "That was a damn challenge to Miriam." Ash nodded, interested to see how Miriam would handle this.

"Come out Virginia, don't let me wait.
You Catholic girls start much too late."

Ash and Shamin both covered their mouths to keep from laughing. Miriam had yet to start anything too late.

"Ah, but sooner or later it comes down to fate
I might as well be the one."

Miriam mouthed "no" to them.

"Well, they showed you a statue and told you to pray
They built you a temple and locked you away
But they never told you the price that you pay
For things that you might have done...
Only the good die young.
That's what I said!
Only the good die young, only the good die young!"

Didn't Miriam say that once? Ash wondered idly, watching as Miriam tried to weave away from P.J. Oh, but she was enjoying the attention, that smile on her face said that much.

"You might have heard I run with a dangerous crowd.
We ain't too pretty, we ain't too proud
We might be laughing a bit too loud—"

With impeccable timing, Miriam cut him off by tapping his nose—he had entered her bubble, as she had once told Ash—"Ah, but that never hurt no one."

It took P.J. by surprise, but he recovered quickly as Miriam bowed to her claps.

"So, come on, Virginia, show me a sign
Send up a signal I'll throw you the line." He wrapped on arm around Miriam, who coolly removed it.

"The stained-glass curtain you're hiding behind
Never lets in the sun,
Darling, only the good die young."

"Whoa, whoa whoa, I tell ya

Only the good die young, only the good die young."

"You got a nice white dress and a party on your confirmation."

"Did Miriam ever get confirmed?" Ash stage-whispered to Shamin.

"You got a brand new soul
And a cross of gold."

Shamin smiled at Shauna, nudging her. "She hocked it for the cash. It clashed with her ensemble." She spoke imitating Miriam, acting like such a thing was the greatest woe of the world.

"But Virginia they didn't give you quite enough information."

"Who's the one lacking in information?" Ash asked.

"You didn't count on me
When you were counting on your rosary, whoa whoa . . ."

"Does he really think Miriam is a golden-girl?" Shamin snickered. "Or is this just the song?"

"Both?" Shauna got out. The woman looked pretty clean-cut and well off.

"They say there's a heaven for those who will wait
Some say it's better—"

Again Miriam cut him off. "But I say it ain't!
I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints
The sinners are much more fun..." She wrapped her arms around Ash and Shamin, winking at both of them.
"Ya know that only the good die young."

P.J. crossed his arms. "Whoa, baby . . .
Ya tell me baby that only the good die young?"

She shrugged. "Only the good die young."

"You say your mother told you all that I could give you was a reputation."

That was too much for the three of them. Even Pikachu started snickering.

"She never cared for me
But did she ever say a prayer for me?
Whoa, whoa whoa . . .

"Come out, come out, come out, Virginia
Don't let me wait!
You Catholic girls start much too late
But sooner or later it comes down to fate!"

Miriam shrugged, wrapping her arm around him. "I might as well will be the one." Then, like she had done so many times to Ash, she shoved him away.

"Tell ya, baby, only the good die young!
Only the good die young!"

P.J. didn't bother continuing the ending portion, walking up to Miriam to shake the microphone under her nose. "Nice," he started. "Wanna go out?"

She smoothed out her dress innocently. "No."

"Really? That usually works," P.J. stated. "Why don't you go up?"

"I don't want to out-do ya," she said modesty, batting her lashes coyly.

"Madam, you have a long way before you do that."

"You don't want to get her started," Shamin interrupted.

P.J. looked at her, then Ash. "Hey, it's Potato-Salad boy!"

"Thanks," Ash said dryly, ignoring the girls' humorous looks.

"'Potato-Salad Boy'?" Shamin repeated. "Did you spill—OW! Pikachu! Oops . . ." She looked up from holding her hand, which Pikachu had bitten.

"Pikapi!" Pikachu squeaked.

"It's alive!" Shauna gasped.

"Shut up!" Miriam hissed, already ushering her trio outside.

"You didn't tell me it was alive!" Shauna got out, following them. P.J., less than suspiciously, followed as well.

"Stupid Rodent! What's yar problem!" Miriam demanded, once they were, more or less, out of sight. "Ya wanna get us thrown out?"

"Pikapi! Chu pikachu pika!" she rushed, almost hanging from her perch in the purse.

"Nine nitales!" Pyro growled, suddenly appearing above them, still green but peeved. GipSi was wrapped in one of his tails and struggling to escape.

"Jeez, Louise," P.J. muttered, looking at the sleek fox. Pyro glared at him before continuing.

"Tales ninenine ales, nine," he snapped, throwing his head in a general direction.

"Chu," Pikachu nodded.

"What is it, Blondie?" Miriam demanded, watching as Ash dug in his pocket for his Pokédex.

"Murkrow flock, probably coming to dine on the outside buffet," Ash said offhandedly, scrolling through the index.

"What's that?" Shauna asked.

"A Poképedia," Miriam said bored.

"Pokédex, Miriam!"

"Does it really matter? Whatcha lookin' up?" Miriam asked idly as Pyro leaped down and growled at P.J.

"I want to know what a Murkrow is, all right, Miriam? Pyro, don't you dare eat her." Pyro slowly lowered GipSi down to Shamin's hands, for he had been teasing her by snapping his jaws under her. "Here it is."

"Murkrow—the Darkness Pokémon."

Shamin shuddered. "I don't like this already."

"A Dark Pokémon of the flying sort, Murkrow is seen as a bad omen and is feared and hated by many people. They enjoy causing torment and leading many travelers to deadly ends. Appearing commonly after dark, they have attacks such as Night Shade, Pur—"

Miriam snapped the lid shut, catching one of Ash's fingers. "A Dark Pokémon? Like Evil?"

"That's a stupid myth!" Ash snapped, sucking on his finger. He didn't believe the theory proposed by many that a Dark Pokémon was necessarily Evil as well. "A Dark Pokémon is no more evil than any other. Dark Pokémon j—"

"Spare me the ideals," Miriam snipped. "We're out of here."

"We can't let the party get ruined!" Ash countered, hands on his hips.

"Ya didn't even wanna go."

"How do you even plan to save the place?" P.J. asked curiously, eyeing the still growling fox apprehensively.

"Take down the leader. The rest of the flock'll fold."

"Pikapi," Pikachu warned.

Ash rolled his eyes. "It should, then, all right?"

"How?" P.J. repeated.

"Flying are naturally weak against Electric and Rock. Well, we have an Electric-type."

"Pi!"

"Ales," Pyro pointed out darkly. "Tales tale ni nitale."

"One against thirty is not a fair fight," Miriam translated.

"Hey, Pikachu once took out a whole Spearow flock! And what's he know about fair, anyway?" Ash shook his head. "Look, I don't care what you say, Miriam, I'm gonna stop those birds." He held up a trio of Pokéballs between his fingers. "The food may have been bad, but I have to pay for it somehow. Right, Pikachu?"

"Pika!" she agreed, jumping to his shoulder.

Shauna's jaw had dropped. "How many Pokémon do you have?"

"A whole frinkin' stampede," Miriam sighed, turning her head to Pyro. "So what do ya plan to do?"

"Pikachu pika?" Pikachu interrupted, turning towards Pyro.

Pyro snapped his head at her. "Ales," he sneered, licking his fangs. He narrowed his eyes at GipSi, perched on Shamin's shoulder. "Nin?"

She flicked her tail importantly, raising her nose. "Si."

"I'm in, too," Shamin said, holding up her Pokéballs.

"Well, there's a short battle," Miriam sighed.

"No Trigger," Ash ordered.

Shamin pouted. "Why not? He's just as good."

"Because, I'm sorry to say, he's a handicap. It's not that he's not good, but he'd be begging off people more than helping. And we can't afford to watch only him. When you have more than one Pokémon out, they all need equal attention. So, no Trigger."

"He's right," Miriam agreed. Trigger would be the one to grab the tablecloth and take off running.

"Fine," Shamin snapped, slipping the Pokéball away.

"What are you three going to do, exactly?" P.J. asked.

"Ah, three?" Miriam questioned.

He shrugged. "Whatever."

"Intercept," Ash stated. "They're coming from the west bank, from the forest and meadow. We'll surprise then, then take them down, so keep your Pokéballs ready if you want one."

"What can we do?" Shauna asked excitably.

"Staying out of the way would be good," Shamin muttered under her breath.

"Just be ready," Ash grinned, whipping back his arm. "Go, Noctowl!"

The strangely colored bird flapped its wings and cooed as it fluttered above, looking at the group with its intelligent eyes.

"Noctowl, there's a flock of Murkrow coming up. Could you—" someone screaming interrupted him.

"Ya put too much time into this plannin'," Miriam drawled, watching as Pyro leaped up and into some trees. Already dark shadows could be seen over the trees. "They've come to us."

"Well, let's not kid around, then," Shamin grinned, throwing off her Pokéballs. When they recoiled up after the Pokémon's released, one managed to hit P.J., Miriam, and herself respectively, and the last rolled under a bush. "Oh, god. That's harder than it looks."

Hula, the Bellsprout; Angel, the Pidgey; Olly, the Oddish; and Chips, the Cubone; sat ready for whatever command they were supposed to receive. All were expertly cared for, and, if someone where to guess, they looked like they could hold their own in a battle, as if they had won several. Ash knew better. Shamin maybe be able to care for Pokémon, allowing them to have such a façade, (itself a rare feat,) but—if his Pokémon were considered graduated and making multi-millions of dollars—these guys were just preschoolers.

"Heracross, Chitorika, Bulbasaur, Cyndaquil, Totodile!" The Pokémon stood ready.

"You ever hear of over-kill?" P.J. asked.

"There's thirty of them," Miriam reminded as Ash organized the troops.

"Angel, you go with Noctowl. Ahh, yeah, you can come with me, Chitorika," Ash sighed. "You too, Olly. Heracross, leave Bulbasaur alone! Cyndaquil, go with him. Totodile, you go to by the waterfront and do your stuff. Hula, stick with Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur and Pikachu, just do what you got to do."

"Gippy?!"

"You too," Ash smiled. "We'll get their attention. Get going!"

Chips sniffed, collapsing to the ground in the ignorance. "Bone . . ." he wailed as the others took off.

"Shan!" Shamin scolded.

"What's wrong, Kiddo? We need you to get their attention!" Ash laughed, scooping the crying Pokémon up. "You think you can do it?"

He blinked his wide eyes, nodding.

"And ya know, he's terrible with kids," Miriam sighed. "Better get savin' them." She waved her arms in the general direction of the screams. "I still haven't had any—WHOA CRAP!" she yelled as Pyro leaped down on the back of a Murkrow that had been diving down upon them. The hold on its neck safely assured them that the bird wouldn't be flying again. "Give us a little warnin' next time!"

Pyro narrowed his eyes, whipping the feathers from his face and retreating back into the trees. Murkrow tasted disgusting!

"Dangerous little guy," P.J. muttered, touching the dead bird with his foot.

Ash gave him a look. "You have no idea." Then, still holding Chips, he ran off towards the Pokémon problem.

****

Guests at the party weren't quite sure what happened. One minute they had been eating cake, dancing around the fire, dancing in general, chatting, or doing whatever it is that they were doing. The bride and groom had been next to the cake, a towering thing, handing out more pieces to the guests when it suddenly exploded as figures of darkness flew through it, cake suddenly flying from the force of their wings.

Hair, noses of long length, coattails, long skirts, and hats were suddenly being pecked and pulled mercilessly at. A dozen birds resided on the tables, chowing down, while countless others chased the guests with a vengeance. A few braver (or idiotic) guests started to throw things at the Murkrow, thus angering the birds into new areas of rage.

"CUBONE!" came a sudden cry, and guests that could see say they saw a small creature throw a bone at the flock of birds. The bone curved into the sky in a wide arch, knocking several of the birds from their aerial perches. The bone returned to the paw, and the creature, after doing a taunting sort of jig, dashed off with the majority of the flock after it.

A yellow mouse suddenly dashed out from under one of the tables, and while the guests scrambled away from it, it released a large thunderbolt at five of the birds. As they fell, a set of vines suddenly caught them and the source, a moving stick and a lug of green, tossed them over the trees.

Over by the lake, after several of the birds pushed the guests into the water, great geysers of water suddenly appeared and blew the birds away with such force that they were sent spinning.

Over the trees great mills of wind knocked the chasing fowl wildly into spinning circles. A flying mass of darkness, syrup dripping off its mouth, allowed a moving flame-thrower upon its head, roasting the chickens. On the ground in the trees, a similar thing was happening, only these birds wouldn't be getting up again.

Through the trees, vines lifted the same little creature that first angered the birds, allowing it to throw its bone.

All in all, it was a wild party.

****

A man was hiding under the table, cowering a fear. He watched as the creatures started to deal with the birds, whatever they were. People were still screaming, and others were cowering like him.

Suddenly a creature of all black appeared in front of his face.

"AHHH!" he screamed, leaping up to bang his head, causing all of the entrees in the table to fly off. "Stay away!"

The creature looked at him, tilting its head and blinking its enormous eyes at him. It chitted at him, coming closer.

"Stay away, you monster!"

Surprisingly, it did stop. With a twitch of its tail, it sent a nut in front of itself, which promptly went into its mouth. And another, and another, and another. The man blinked his own surprise that so many of the large nuts could fit in its mouth. Its cheeks were brimmed out to absurd proportions.

"Gwup?" it squeaked, blinking its enormous eyes again, then proceeding to pile up even more nuts and try to shove them in its mouth, even through there was no possible way in Hell they could get in there.

"Pretty stupid little thing, aren't you?" the man chuckled. The creature also giggled, and then did the impossible, shoving another nut in its mouth. The man sat and watched. The creature didn't appear to notice the other yellow mouse and vine-whippers behind it, totally enthralled with its nut building.

The man whimpered suddenly when one of the birds suddenly appeared. The black bird slowly advanced, lifting the cloth with its head to look into the little table-cave. The squirrel didn't notice, and slowly the bird started to walk forward. Its beak was spread, ready to clamp down on the tail—

What followed so fast the man was shocked. The tiny rodent whirled around and spit every nut out of its mouth straight at the bird's face. Then it circled the giant bird with shocking speed, banging the fowl with its tail. Its tiny claw—purposely or not—ripped feathers from the body, and the bird ran from under the table.

"Gippy ip si," the creature sighed, putting another nut in its mouth.

"Whoa . . ." the man muttered.

Suddenly the yellow mouse stuck its head in. "Pikachu!" it scolded the tiny black squirrel. It pointed outside. "Chu pika pikachu!" Then it waved at the man, and ran out. The squirrel, shoving another nut in its mouth, started to follow. Then it looked back at the man.

"Si gip," it smiled, waving good-bye and sending a nut over.

"I need a drink," the man muttered, picking up the nut to examine it.

****

The sprout of water blew the last of the Murkrow away, and the guests slowly started to emerge. The bride's ten-thousand-dollar dress was ruined, now only suitable for dish rages, and her hair was a mess. The groom was no better, and the DJ's music was totally destroyed. The food . . . well, no one was going to eat that.

The creatures that had appeared were nowhere in sight.

"Daddy, are you all right?" asked a tiny girl as her father emerged, a nut grasped in his hand.

"I'm fine, Honey. Fine." He tucked the nut in his pocket.

"Look at this place," wailed the mother of the bride, and the footer of the bill. "Blasted Pokémon!"

"Actually, some of them were kind of nice," someone got out, and a few agreed.

Everyone looked at the mess.

"Could I have another drink?" someone sighed, and a few people chuckled.

"I think I've been robbed."

The man sighed, surveying the guests and the hall. Well, it would be memorable, ha he ha. Oi, vey. He chuckled weakly. At least no one was a reporter.

"Mr. Mayor? Can I ask you a question?"

He spoke too soon.

****

Ash rolled over, hugging Pikachu and the blanket.

"Wake up, Sleepyhead!" laughed a voice in his ear.

He peeled apart his eye and allowed Pikachu to get lose. "Huh? What time is it?"

"6:30 in the AM," P.J. smiled, and Ash groaned.

"I just fell asleep three hours ago!"

"Five hours," the man corrected. "Get up."

Ash groaned, covering his head. "Pika," Pikachu agreed, nuzzling back up to him, and they recovered themselves. Somewhere down the hall someone knocked on a door, called for the dominators to wake up, then suddenly screamed in pain when a whoosh of fire appeared when the door opened.

"And don't come back!"

"What a stupid idiot," Ash muttered.

"Pi . . . ka," Pikachu yawned, her eyes fluttering.

They had lodged with P.J. and Shauna in their home. There were two extra rooms of choice, and Ash wouldn't be parting his any time soon.

They dozed off for some time, Ash was unsure for how long, but he was shaken. "Time to get up!" a chipper voice sounded. "Or else."

"Go . . . away," Ash ordered, yawning as he did so.

"Can't say I didn't warn you!"

Ash sat up with a start when the ice water hit him and Pikachu. "AHH!"

"PIKA!" He barely had time to roll off the bed before Pikachu could release the shock.

"Would ya shut up in there!"

"Are you trying to get me killed!" Ash demanded, sitting soaking wet as Shauna stood above him, toying with the pitcher and eyeing the smoking bed a little fearfully.

"I didn't think that was going to happen," she admitted sheepishly, shielding herself as Pikachu shook herself off, who growling and swearing bitterly in Pikachu-nese.

Ash ringed his bangs. "Do that to Miriam and Shamin. Go on, I dare you!"

"Pika!"

"Yeah, and get Pyro wet. I'll attend your funeral, I really will!" Ash added, standing up.

"Are you hungry?" Shauna asked, desperate to change the subject.

As if on cue, their stomachs sounded.

"Would you believe me if I said no?" Ash asked sheepishly.

"No. Get a shirt on and get downstairs. I'd say before your food gets cold, but its already cold."

Ash grabbed his shirt and put it on, then clipped his Pokébelt on. "Whatever. Come on, Pikachu."

They headed down the stairs. Trigger was already up and dining, and he leaped on Ash. "Down, buddy," Ash signed. "Good boy."

"He's hard to work with. He doesn't listen to us," Shauna complained.

"Well, he is deaf," Ash said gently, sitting down and petting the puppy's head. The girl's head snapped up, surprised. "He's perfectly workable. He just needs attention, and lots of it. There's a good boy."

"How many Pokémon do you have?" Shauna asked, slipping him a bowl of ice cold oatmeal. Ash made no complaint, starting to eat.

"Well, a couple dozen Tauros, but most of those are . . . at home," he said evasively. "Right now I have a Heracross, Noctowl, GipSi, Bulbasaur, Cyndaquil, Chitorika, Totodile, Muk, Kingler, Snorlax, and of course Pikachu. I've also had a Pidgeot, Charizard, Laparas, Butterfree, Haunter, Primeape, a Raticate briefly, and Squirtle. And I almost had a Togepi, but it had other ideas, right Pikachu?"

"Pi."

"You've had all those Pokémon?" Awe was in her voice.

"My mom's got a Mr. Mime, too. He was supposed to be mine, but he liked my mom better." Ash shook his head, trying to remove the memory of home. "And if you want to count Pokémon that followed me around, well, then there's a Jigglypuff. I never caught it though."

"A Jigglypuff?" Shauna's eyes were wide. "How cool."

Ash smiled at her, allowing Pikachu to lick some porridge. "If you say so."

"Jigglypuff are so cool, though!"

"Not nearly as cool as Geo-Dude," P.J. smiled. "Good morning. I see at least one of you is up. Oh, ahh-chie!" He gripped his knee in pain, and Ash could see the bandage.

Pikachu laughed. "Pikachu pi pika kachu ales, ka, Pikapi?"

Ash snorted. "Right."

"Very mean to speak when no one knows what you are saying," P.J. smiled, rubbing his arm. It must also be sore.

"At least he didn't bite you," he smirked.

"He wouldn't bite," Shauna laughed, pushing P.J., who laughed as well.

Both Ash and Pikachu froze. "Pi?

"What? Pyro, not bite? You're kidding!"

"Miriam wouldn't let him."

"Chuka pikachu ales!" Pikachu laughed.

Ash bared his arms. "Well, then, Pyro did not cause this, then. Just a Ninetales that looks remarkably like him. And his didn't cause this either," he added, baring his ankle. "Get a life, please. Pyro'd bite you as so as look at you. As Pikachu said, Miriam practically encourages him."

"She shouldn't do that," P.J. said lowly.

"You tell her that," Ash smiled, waving his spoon at him. Then he looked at the two. "Oh, he only bites people that deserve it. And me, but I guess I don't count. He prefers to torch others, lightly. Pyro's not all bad," Ash finished lamely. "He's just very territorial."

"Chu," Pikachu added solemnly.

"Well, what about Shamin's Pokémon?" P.J. asked, interested.

"What about them? Hula's the Bellsprout, Trigger's the pup, Angel's the bird, Olly's the walking perfume factory, and Chips' the Cubone."

"They look pretty good."

"They are pretty good," Ash said sharply. "Why do you want to know?"

P.J. blushed. "Well . . . we kinda have this idea."

"We?" Shauna repeated, confused.

"Not we we, but we as in the group we." P.J. folded his hands and looked squarely at Ash. "Kid—I can't even remember your name."

"There's a good start," Shauna smiled.

"Shan. What?"

"Look, I'd like to ask you a favor. And you owe us for the rooms, so bare that in mind, please," P.J. smiled.

Ash raised an eyebrow. "All right?"

"Me and Shauna are in this little group. Nothing much, but it pays the bills. We sing and dance and whatever. Okay?" Ash nodded. "The thing is, there's this big big audition thing coming up. I don't know all the details, I'm not Darryl, but it could put us up and over the top. The thing is, we got to be different. And tell me, what's the best way to be different?"

"To not be the same?" Ash tried.

"Yeah, sure. Close enough, Shan. Now what could be more different than using Pokémon? Huh?" P.J. grinned at the boy's blank look.

Slowly a picture was forming in Ash's mind. "Whoa no, no no no! I am not putting my Pokémon in danger of being confiscated by your pea-brained officials. None of mine are registered or 'treated', and they damn as Hell aren't going to be!" he yelled, standing up and leaning on the table.

"They won't get confiscated," Shauna laughed. Ash glared at her.

"Don't give me that."

P.J. held up his hands. "Easy, easy, Shan. Sit down, right. The whole thing is, that's the point. Yours are wild and exciting. And we have some Pokémon. Got a Ponyta in a stable. Thing won't let me touch it, so we have a problem there, but we have Pokémon. Little ones, but Pokémon."

"Right?"

"All you'd have to do is let your Pokémon be part of the show, maybe do a number yourself."

"Ha ha," Ash said weakly. "Look, guys, I'd love—well, wrong word, but I would like to help you, but, believe it or not, I have absolutely no say in it. Talk to Miriam or Shamin, not me. I'd like nothing more then head out to the next League."

They looked at him blankly, until Shauna blinked understanding. "Oohhh, one of those training thingies, right?"

"Ah, right." Miriam won't stick around. She knows very well I want to—oh damn, we're staying. Damn it, we're staying. I know it.

****

"All right, everybody out!" P.J smiled, unloading everyone from his truck. The trio leaped from the trunk while the siblings escaped the cab.

"Oh, nature," Miriam said, making a face. She was just getting used to the idea of sleeping in a bed, and she damn-Hell going to cling to that notion for a little while longer.

They were far in the country, a farmhouse over in one end and the stables in the other. The road was dirt, and trees were everywhere.

"It's about time you showed up!" scolded a voice, and a long blue-haired girl came riding up on a bike. "We've been waiting over an hour!"

"Sorry, Marzena," Shauna sighed. "We had to wait for the Sleepyheads."

"One of which is still sleeping," Shamin giggled, poking Pyro. He shook his head, creaking his eye open, then yawned, leaping down from Miriam's shoulder.

"Aww, he's so cute!" Marzena squealed, watching the fox stretch his many muscles and tails.

"Pika!" Pikachu complained, sticking her head out from Ash's pack. "Pikachu pika?" Marzena's eyes were as wide as saucers at her appearance.

"Ales, nine tales tale," Pyro grinned.

"Pika!" Pikachu yelled , jumping out to attack the fox. Both suddenly took off, Pikachu yelling the equivalent of "Take that back!" and Pyro's "Never!"

"Play nice!" Miriam laughed. "Rodent still can't take it," she smiled, nudging Ash.

"You were so right! They're perfect!" Marzena yelped.

"It gets even better, but let's get everyone together," P.J. smiled.

"Right!" Marzena took off on her bike.

"And we have to walk?" Miriam whined.

"I could carry you," P.J. grinned.

"I'll walk."

****

"This is Ginger, Darryl, Jeromy, John, Daisy, Kessie, Avi, Dave, Sammy, Harris, Carmen, Jules, and Bobby," P.J. introduced speedily.

"And this is Miriam, Shan, and Shamin," Shauna finished.

The trio looked at the crowd. "Hi," Ash said.

"Hello," Shamin squeaked.

"Hey," Miriam smiled.

The group nodded towards them, making their own words of greeting, and Ash started to survey the group.

Sitting from the rafters was Ginger and Kessie. They reminded Ash of Miriam, who figured that if you beautiful—of course, Miriam used this relatively, for she wasn't beauty's beauty, but beauty by attitude—you should flaunt it. Both were wearing dress of a more-or-less decent length, Ginger a deep red and Violet an indigo. In both cases, though, one color would suffice to describe their ensemble: Ginger was red, and Kessie was violet. Both of their wild hair—Ginger's seemed to be floating up—matched the color of choice. The only thing that didn't match were there eyes, both a cool blue. Ash had the feeling these were party-hardy kind of girls.

Under them lounging in the hay was Harris, blond and fit, but sort of detached from the group, and sitting next to him was John. Grey-haired by birth and just as fit, he observed the trio quietly.

Sitting on a bale of hay right in front of them was Darryl and Carmen. Darryl was most likely the oldest here, and the one in charge. Wild emerald hair and dressed in almost suit-attire, he looked serious, too serious to be with most of this group, yet he had one of those crooked smiles and eyes—the color no one can quite agree on—that set you at ease. Carmen, on the other hand, was direct opposite in most counts. Just as old, she was dressed as a punk. Her head was shaved except for a thick, wavy line of red/blue hair in the center, currently unspiked. With the same standards of earrings as Miriam, the jeans and shirts held strategically placed holes, and a chain worked as a belt around her waist.

Jules was sitting next to Marzena. White hair and a pale complexion, her narrow eyes surveyed them like the others. She was thin, and, compared to the others, her wardrobe was very sophisticated, wearing a long dress of probably silk or similar. Her hair was cut pageboy style, and she didn't seem to quite care that Ash was studying her, for she was doing the same to him.

Sammy was the boy with his hat on backwards, the baggy pants, and long shirt leaning against a pillar, conversing with Jeromy. Also one with white hair and a pale complexion, Ash guessed that he was Jules' younger brother. Jeromy hid his eyes behind tiny oval glasses and was dressed similarly to his friend, red hair a mess of static and low over his eyes.

Daisy—just imagine a country girl. Overalls and the stray hat over the strawberry blond hair. That was her. Daisy stood watching Avi and Dave. Dave was leaning back on a rafter, only saving himself from falling by gripping a rope. Avi, well, she was swinging on a rope over their heads, grinning all the while. She was the youngest, most assuredly.

The last was Bobby. If Harris and John were detached from the group, Bobby wasn't even part of it. Wearing a dark cloak with the hood drawn, Ash couldn't even tell his this person was guy or gal. The heavy boots and baggy dark clothes hid all traits of the person, and whomever Bobby was, the person must have been sweaty in the unusually warm May weather. Bobby wasn't even looking at them, resting on a few hale bales.

Darryl smiled at them. "So you guys are the ones P.J. was so excited about."

"We're here," Miriam responded lightly. "He's probably the one you want though. Eh, Blondie?"

Ash would have preferred it if Miriam hadn't directed the attention towards him. Suddenly all of the eyes, even Bobby's, were focused on him. "Thanks, Miriam."

"So whatcha got?" Ginger asked.

"Huh?"

"For Pokémon," Kessie laughed, swinging her legs. "Why else would you be here?"

"Well, there's lots of reasons . . .," Ash started.

Daisy stopped watching Avi and Dave. "What kind of Pokémon do you have that we could use for our act?" she said in a soft, patient voice.

"Oh, well, for attention, I got just the one," he smiled, reaching behind his back and withdrawing a Pokéball. The group was silent, watching him. "Totodile, I choose you!"

"No, duh!" Shamin said, rolling her eyes as the crocodile was released. Instantly, the Water Pokémon started his trademark jig.

"To ta!" he smiled.

"What can it do?" Marzena asked, interested.

"He," Ash corrected. "Totodile, give them some of your moves."

The toothy grin widened. "Dile!" Then, doing his starting jig, he released his water gun, making designs that had taken him ages to get just right. He continued to dance around until he was next to Jeromy and Sammy. Both slightly backed away, Ash didn't fail to notice with a frown, as if they were afraid of the Pokémon. When Totodile suddenly released a mild water-gun at Sammy, the boy screamed in surprise. The aim was true, and all Totodile did was remove the hat. He set in whirling above their heads for a few moments until, satisfied, he let it drop onto his head. It landed crookedly, but Totodile didn't care.

"TOTO-Dile!" he said, closing his eyes.

Applause did not instantly appear from the watchers, although Ash, Shamin, and Miriam (lightly) did clap.

"Good job!" Ash congratulated, kneeling next to the Totodile.

Totodile, on the other hand, looked confused as he moved the hat back so that he could see. That was some of his best stuff, and they weren't even amazed! "Di?"

The audience watched, still silent, for several moments. It was Bobby who broke the silence. "Not bad." The voice was soft. Then he (or she) clapped lightly, hands also gloved. Bobby was only one who made such a movement.

"Interesting," Carmen agreed.

Totodile took off the hat. They didn't like it. Carefully, he went over and returned it to Sammy. "Dile?"

Jeromy nudged the hat-less boy, who took it carefully. "T-thanks," he got out, setting the cap on. "You . . . you did good." He smiled crookedly at the crocodile.

"What else ya got?" Avi asked, swinging above, watching as Ash recalled Totodile. Her shoes were damp.

Ash felt hesitant to continue the show. He knew Totodile's feeling had been hurt by the cold treatment, and he really didn't want to allow his Pokémon to be used as props, as it seemed now that that's how they were going to be used. "You know," he started, placing the Pokéball back. "If you're going to use Pokémon in your act, there are few things that definitely need to change. At least if you're going to use my Pokémon."

"Excuse me?" John asked, throwing back his head.

"What's wrong?" Shauna asked softly.

"Isn't it obvious?" Shamin sighed. "I know jack-diddly about Pokémon, but I know for a fact that that was damn good show for Totodile. And you didn't even care! You hurt his feelings."

"It's a Pokémon. They don't have feelings," Dave countered.

"Oh, Pyro, Pyro, where for out thou, Pyro?" Miriam grinned at the two.

"Whoa, keep that devil back!" P.J. ordered.

Ash shook his head. "I really don't care—okay, I do," he corrected when the girls looked at him. "It's none of my business how you use your Pokémon. Each Trainer to their own. But I will not let my Pokémon be treated this way, as props for a little show. It's demeaning and totally cruel, and they won't like it one bit."

"Why you pompous little brat," Ginger snapped. "You have no right—"

"I have all the right!" Ash yelled back at her. "My Pokémon, my responsibility. And I have better things to do than put my Pokémon through this kind of treatment."

"They're just stupid Pokémon," Jules snipped, fixing her dress.

Ash tightened his lips. "Maybe, then, but they're my stupid Pokémon. I'm sorry, but I can't help you."

"Well, then," Darryl said coldly, standing up. "Okay. It was nice meeting you."

"Wish I could say the same." Ash turned.

"Hey, Kid," interrupted a voice. Bobby leaped down from the bales.

"Yeah?" Ash turned ever so slowly.

"You're over by Ziganka's way, aren't you?"

Ash snapped back, a pit in his stomach. "And what makes you say that?" he demanded, trying to stay calm, running his hand through his hair, examining the blond hair as if it had changed back to raven-black. How did he (or she) bloody damn know that?

"You are, aren't you?" Bobby whispered, coming to stand directly in front of him. "I've seen your face, so don't lie." Ash backed up without thinking, almost seeing behind the darkness of the cloth to a face from horror.

"I never said I wasn't," he got out, braver than he felt. Damn, where was Pikachu? "What's your point?" He fingered a Pokéball nervously. Not to order attack, but as a diversion. If the words come out . . .

The cloak shrugged. "I'll make you a deal—"

"Don't ya even go there, buddy," Miriam growled, suddenly stepping between the two. "Ya say it, and ya won't be breathin' too long to repeat the request."

"Is that a threat?" the cloak asked, amused.

Shamin looked at Ash, who, to her, looked a mite pale. "What was that all about, Shan?" she whispered.

"Nothing."

Miriam crossed her arms. "Warnin', definitely a warnin'. Don't go there."

"And what are you going to do to stop me? My nails?"

"Umm, Bobby, I would stop while you're ahead," P.J. interrupted. "Just let them go. We can't use them."

"'Use them'?" Shamin mouthed to Ash.

"Hey!" Avi interrupted, breaking the fight. "What are those?" She had climbed to the ceiling and was looking out of window. "They're running around outside with the Ponyta!"

"The thing's lose?" Ginger demanded, jumping down and out the door.

"Again?" Kessie wailed.

The group quickly shuffled past the trio, but Shauna stayed. "Sorry, guys," she said softly. "They really don't get it, and we're kind of frazzled. The gig's next Saturday, and none of the Pokémon are working."

"Big surprise," Shamin snapped. "I wouldn't listen to you if I was a Pokémon."

"Let's go get Rodent and Pyro," Miriam decided, glaring at the girl. True, she had done nothing, but her friends had, and that made her just as guilty. And it would be best if they all just left as soon as possible, for privacy's sake. "And then get lost."

"Second the notion," Shamin said, and both girls marched outside.

"Look, I am sorry," Shauna said to Ash's back as he walked out.

He paused and looked back at her. "Yeah, me too," he said bitterly. Pokémon and his safety threatened in the same hour. "Maybe you should figure out that Pokémon are just like you, not some things in a story or something to do your bidding."

He walked out angrily.

****

Pyro, out of breath, ran into the tiny stable and under a box. Doesn't Rodent ever give up? he panted.

Pikachu appeared only a few moments later. "All right, Pyro! I know you're in here!" she announced.

He slinked back to the wall and carefully started to slither up the miscellaneous objects, ready for a tackle. She wasn't ready, totally. Suddenly he stiffened, starting to sniff the air.

"There you are!" she yelled, starting to climb up to his height on some of the bales.

He tilted his head. "Don't you smell that, Rodent?"

"What, you cowering in fear?" she taunted.

"Not in your lifetime. No, the scent, idiot."

This is some diversion, Pikachu thought. Pyro was trying to buy himself some time, to get his breath back. It was quite clear to Pikachu that she was in far better shape than him, whether it be by her youth (which is debatable, since Pyro never spoke his age) or that she actually stayed fit. Yet, Pyro would never stoop to such an attempt. It was so . . . childish and stupid. She sat back on her hunches and sniffed. Actually, she didn't have to sniff. Her ears picked it up. "What is it? GipSi?"

Pyro shook his head, walking slowly. "No, she's in Blondie's pocket, asleep. Won't be up for hours. This is something"—he sniffed deeply—"bigger. Let's check it out."

Together, on opposite ends of the building, they started to head for the sound/scent. Pikachu saw it first, as her angle allowed her to see what Pyro couldn't. "It's a Ponyta!"

"That all?"

Pikachu leaped down and over to the stall of the sleeping Pokémon. "Hello?" she said tentatively.

"It must hurt to sleep with that on," Pyro commented from his ledge, looking at the reins that tied the horse to the pole. There was plenty of rope, Pyro admitted, but he didn't care for any kind of bondage. With a definite snap, he closed his jaws around the rope and gnawed through it.

The sound woke the Ponyta, and she raised her head quickly. "Who are you?" she demanded, flames firing. Pikachu leaped back, but Pyro watched the display as an appreciative audience.

"Very nice," he spoke smoothly, instantly causing the flames to lower. Pikachu groaned. He was using that voice. He always pulled that voice when he wanted something. Once Pikachu had been stupid enough to give him a bite of her chocolate bar, and the thief had taken off this the whole thing. She made a point never to listen to him when he used that weapon. "What is your name?"

"Ponyta," the Ponyta spoke, studying the fox.

Pyro arched his back. "No, that is your species. What is your name?" he drawled.

"Pyro, some Pokémon are named like that," Pikachu reminded him. He had very Shamin and Miriam views on names.

The fox snorted. "You are not named 'Ponyta,'" he said in a snide voice. "Think of a better one."

Ponyta stood up. "My name is Ponyta!" she snapped, stomping her hoof. "It is what I am called!"

"You're also called a fire hazard."

"Pyro, be nice to her: Don't talk to her. Hi, I'm Pikachu."

"She means Rodent."

Ponyta looked at her. "Which?"

Pikachu sighed. "Both. Rodent is . . . a term of endearment." Pyro snorted. "Do you want to go outside?"

The pony looked undecided. Clearly she did, but she didn't. "I can't."

Pyro stood up. "Yes you can. You can do whatever you want. Get a little backbone!"

"Pyro . . ." Pikachu started out warningly.

"I'll get in trouble."

"So?"

Ponyta shook her mane, looking at the rope. The War of the Wills raged.

"Just for a little while," Pyro smiled, his fangs glistening. "You reek of stable. Haven't been out in days, I'd wager." The pony nodded.

Pikachu perked her ears. Days? That was a long time not to be outside. "Maybe you should come outside. To play."

Ponyta stomped her hoof. "All right!" Then, with unsurpassed speed, she bolted out of the barn.

****

Pikachu gripped Ponyta's ears as she leaped over another fence. "Can you go faster?!" she asked, delighted.

"She's going fast enough!" Pyro yelled from his back perch, tails, claws, and teeth gripping for all they were worth.

"Yes!" Ponyta laughed, spinning in a fast circle. Both riders went flying. "Sorry . . ."

Pikachu rolled on the ground, laughing, while Pyro shook himself. "Look, Ms. Wind Racer! I ain't tied down, so you slow up!" he snapped, jumping back up.

"You can't race the winds!" Ponyta laughed, trotting, Pikachu alongside. "They're too fast and free!"

"Then stop trying! And don't walk so jerky! I'm trying to rest."

"I'm trotting, not walking," she corrected with a neigh, halting to allow Pyro to get comfortable. Then she stiffened. "Uh oh . . ."

"What?" Pikachu asked, looking to where the Ponyta was.

"I have to go back in the barn," Ponyta wailed, shaking her head wildly, watching as several of the group started to run towards her. "I don't want to!"

"Then don't!" Pyro laughed with a smile. "You run faster than any Trainer. And you can torch them!"

"Pyro!"

"I can't hurt them! They're Trainers!" Ponyta agreed.

The fox leaped down. "Well, I could deal with them easily," he grinned, looking through his tails at them. "Just say the word."

"No!" Pikachu yelled.

"Not the word I was looking for, but it'll do!" Pyro laughed, releasing a Flame-Thrower towards the running people. They instantly stopped and ran the other way.

Ponyta laughed, stomping her hooves. "Neat!"

"That's all you can say?" Pyro grinned. "Give it a whirl!"

She shook her head wildly, laughing all the while. "No, no!" She suddenly pranced off, dancing the horse-way.

Pikachu shook her head, looking at Pyro. "You shouldn't have done that!"

"Ah, jeez, look at her. She's having fun. Her Trainers had her cooped up there for so long. And I'm not going to let them stick her back in the dark, little Rodent. So deal with it."

"Pyro!"

Pikachu knew he was right, more or less, but this wasn't exactly good Pokémon behavior, although it was fun.

Ponyta gripped her tail. "Play?"

Pikachu smiled and nodded happily. Well, it wasn't like Pikapi was going to get terribly mad at her. And she could always blame it on Pyro.

****

She lazed on Ponyta's head while Pyro semi-dozed on her rump, tails dangling. They had been out over three hours, and all attempts by the Ponyta's Trainers to replace her back in the stable had been fixed by Pyro. Pikachu could plainly see that Chupi, Chuka, and Pikapi were watching them, uncaring as the Trainers asked for their help. Pikapi and Chupi had released all of their Pokémon a little over an hour ago, and Ponyta had chased Trigger helplessly. Right now the puppy was dead to the world, sprawled under a tree. Chitorika, Bulbasaur, Olly, and Hula were amusing themselves with grass topics, Cyndaquil was sunning himself with Cubone, and Noctowl and Angel were flying overhead. Kingler was swimming in a river, and Totodile, seeing a fun opportunity, was jumping on the sleeping Snorlax. Muk, well, it was very funny watching him try to hug the Trainers. Heracross was busy deplenishing the local trees of their sap and the two Tauros Ash had kept milled only a few feet away from Ponyta, chewing quietly.

It was a very nice day.

Lying on her back, Pikachu watched the group of Trainers. Most, now, had settled to watch Pikapi's Pokémon. Bulbasaur and Chitorika sent razor leaves and vine whips at each other, trying to see who was the better Grass Pokémon. (It was very typical of the two as of late for some reason. Olly and Hula had easily been knocked out of the competition.) Cubone had clobbered Totodile when the crocodile had tried to steal his bone, and the two then proceeded to run between the legs of the Tauros, who merely continued to chew thoughtfully.

Pikachu noticed when Pikapi suddenly started towards them, Muk at his heels. The Pokémon instantly greeted him once he reached them, but Ponyta took an apprehensive step backwards.

"Huh, what?" Pyro got out, lifting his head. He yawned. "Oh, it's him."

"Don't worry. Pikapi's nice," Pikachu comforted Ponyta. "Hey, Pikapi!"

Ash grinned at Pikachu and Ponyta, stopping about five feet away, hands in his pockets. "Hey there. How ya doing, you guys?"

Pyro leaped down, yawning. "I should fry you."

"Pyro!"

Ash reached into his pocket and withdrew an apple. "Hungry?"

"Don't take it. It's a bribe," Pyro advised.

"If you are, better take it before Snorlax smells it." Already the blob's nose was sniffing. "Want it?"

Ponyta shook her head.

"Okay." Ash arched his arm and threw the apple at Snorlax. Just as the apple would have passed over the sleeping giant, Snorlax sat up, (causing Totodile to go flying,) opened his mouth, swallowed the tiny morsel, and fell back asleep. The ground shook and Trigger yelped awake. Once he saw Ash, he barked and jumped up. "Hey, Pup. Go to Shamin."

After picking up the signs, the puppy dashed off. Shamin had something for him to eat!

"So I bet all this was fun for you, huh?" Ash grinned, leaning against a tree. Ponyta backed up, flames coming up. "Well, I'm glad for you. They deserve it, the whole lot of them."

"You can trust Pikapi," Pikachu smiled.

"Can I?" she asked Pyro.

Pyro shifted his tails in thought. "Well, depends on what. I, personally, wouldn't trust him with my life, but that's me. But if you're going to trust someone, he is your best bet. Very sad, actually."

"You can," Pikachu repeated.

Ash wasn't even paying attention, watching the Grass types try and figure the better, when Ponyta nuzzled him. "Hey, you're a friendly girl, aren't cha? Yeah, ya are." He ran his hands over her long nose gently. "Such a pretty thing, too. Bet you ride like the wind."

Pyro snorted. "Understatement of the year. And go figure, Blondie made it."

"Let him ride! Show him how fast you are!" Pikachu grinned deviously in Ponyta's ear.

"Try and buck him off!" Pyro laughed, having overheard. "Face first into the ground! Do it! Do it."

Ponyta looked at the boy, who stood there smiling at Pyro. "What's so funny, fox?"

Pyro winked at Ponyta. "Do it. He won't care."

She neighed, whipping her mane, and trotted over. Then she gave her horse-smirk at Ash. This was going to be so easy.

"Gonna let me ride?" Ash asked, leaping up. "Bare with me. I haven't ridden in yyyyeeeeeeeeaaaaaarrrsssssss!"

****

The group watched as Ash rode the Ponyta.

"God, he got on the thing!" Marzena gasped. None of them had been able to do that. None of them had been able to keep from getting burned. Well, except Avi. For some reason, the curious child had been able to pet and care for the horse with ease.

"Look at her go," Sammy muttered, watching as the horse easily jumped the Tauros.

"He's actually staying on!" John countered.

P.J. crossed his arms. "I told you guys, this kid knows what he's doing!" he said smugly.

"I wanna ride," Avi sighed, standing on the railing. Daisy was directly behind in case she fell.

"Darryl, listen to this kid," P.J. continued. "He got next to that thing without getting burned by it. By the horse either. And look at the Pokémon! Just think what he could do with helping us with ours. Look, if you wanna win, I say wall the pride and ask the kid for help. Do what he says."

Carmen arched her eyebrow. "Are you suggesting—"

"Do you want to win or not?" P.J. interrupted.

They were all quiet. "I hope the kid has a cheap fee," Darryl sighed, rubbing his forehead.

****

"Are ya all right, Rough Rider? Need some more ice?"

Ash groaned, trying to fix his seat. "Shut up, Miriam. Ahhh ow . . . I will kill those two." For some reason, Pikachu and Pyro had been avoiding him, and Ash damn-well suspected why.

Shamin grinned, sipping her Coke. "So what do they have?"

"All together? A Ponyta, Psyduck, Caterpie, two Pidgey, Venonat, Diglett, a baby Onix—idiots actually thought it'd stay that size!—a Goldeen, and, whoo, Zubat, Mareep, Sunflora, Bellossom, Marrill, and they just bought an Igglybuff. Fifteen they got to get to know and trust, and vise versa." Ash groaned.

"Are they all as hopeless as the Ponyta?" Miriam smiled, stirring her tea and looking around outside the window. Blondie had ordered all the Pokémon outside and they had to groom and deal with every single one of them. The baby Onix was curled around Harris' arm, only about as long as Pyro was. She snickered at the thought of when the Onix was going to be 28, 29 feet long and over 400 pounds heavy. "Cuz if they are . . ."

"No, no, thank God. The Pidgeys are okay. They can already do tricks. Goldeen too, although it needs to get some nutrients in it otherwise it'll faint before it can do five loops. The Sunflora and Bellossom are all right, provided Daisy deals with them. Mareep refuses to work with Marrill and Psyduck and Sammy and John, but she likes Carmen. Venonat and Caterpie are hiding somewhere, and Diglett is picking on the Onix. Zubat hates being out in the daytime. I haven't seen the Igglybuff yet." Ash covered his face. He should just leave. It'd be best. Miriam even said so. She'd even said that he had to get to the next League, which set him especially suspicious, but he couldn't leave the Pokémon with Trainers like this. That was almost related to Pokémon abuse.

"Ya found this all out after an hour?" Miriam asked. He nodded hopelessly. It had been long and hard. The Trainers were nice to their Pokémon, but it was like being nice to a lamp for them. The Pokémon were just there, and, as the saying goes, "Out of sight, out of mind . . ." He had to go ground up. "Oh. Well, ya got yar work cut out for ya, then."

"Oh, yeah," Shamin piped up. "Kessie told me to tell you that you have to be up at eight tomorrow for your practice."

Ash peaked though his fingers. "What practice?"

"Didn't Miriam tell you?"

"No, she didn't. And I don't want to hear it either," Ash whined covering his ears. "Don't say it, don't say it, don't say it!"

Miriam easily pried the hand off. "I volunteered us to be part of the show!" she grinned wickedly. "Ya get to do a dance number!"

Ash slammed his head into the table. The show was in just over 10 days, and they still had to fix half the show. I'm going to hate this. "Why?" he moaned.

"I don't want ya just dealin' with the Pokémon," Miriam said simply. Truth be told, she didn't quite believe that everyone in this lot couldn't get the Pokémon to do decent attacks. (Well, minus the young girl, Avi, and Daisy, for the most part.) Worst lie in the world. Why, Miriam knew for a fact that she could order Blondie's Pokémon around, and most didn't even like her. (She'd made the fire one start a fire when Pyro caught his cold. It didn't like her, but it listened.) Well, Miriam didn't care that some might be able to deal with the Pokémon. She one only worried about one, and that one she'd deal with personally. But best to play it safe and keep him groups that she could trust. "Isn't good . . ."

****

"All right, do you have any experience?" Kessie asked.

"What do you think?" Ash asked dryly, rubbing his eyes and yawning. The Igglybuff wouldn't go to sleep, and some genius decided to stick it with him last night. That person was going to die. Painfully. Briefly he wondered if Togepi was that annoying. If it was, Ash was glad Misty got stuck with it. Let her have every single baby Pokémon that cried and didn't want to sleep and was hungry and spit on him and pulled his hair and nose and eyelid and lips and was just so damn annoying!

"Hmm, yes."

"No. I have no experience making a fool of myself on stage."

Kessie grinned. "Okay. Can you dance?"

"No."

"Can you sing?"

"No."

She blinked her eyes. "Man, you are screwed. You still got to dance, though. Let's started at the beginning." She pointed down. "This is the floor and your feet walk on the floor."

Ash groaned.

"Am I going to fast for you?"

****

"Ya look exhausted," Miriam said with false pity, thus waking Ash up from his light doze.

"Go . . . away, far away. I hate you. A lot," he muttered, curling back into a ball. "I can't walk, I can't sit, and I think the Igglybuff, uh, BonBon threw up in my hair."

"Look at the plus side! All the stuff ya can put on yar resume!" Miriam looked around the room, raising her eyebrow.

"You're enjoying this," Ash stated, eyes still closed.

"Of course, Blondie. It's makin' ya miserable." He chuckled weakly. "Ya gonna get up?"

"No," he responded with a slight moany whine.

"Well, I was gonna go get some ice cream."

Ash peeked out. "Can I get a triple scoop of chocolate with sprinkles and whip cream and those little cookie bits?"

"Do I look like a waitress?"

"Yes."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that." Sighing, Miriam gripped him by the arm and yanked. "Come on!"

Ash fell from the couch. "Fine . . . fine, coming! Let go! This hurts!"

They stole P.J.'s truck, and Miriam coasted down the road at out twenty miles over the limit. Ash slumped down in his seat, ready to sleep again.

"Why the Hell are ya so tired?" Miriam smiled, looking over at him.

"Last night I had to get Zubat to get his loops right. We made the deal that we'd practice at night if he did the show during the day. He is such a pain in the neck, I almost sicced Noctowl on him, but they won't let me. And then BonBon used my head as a trampoline. I don't know how Professor Oak can deal with so many Pokémon at once."

"He's not exactly trainin' them, is he? Just carin' for them," Miriam pointed out. "Big difference."

Ash made a sound of affirmation, and smiled. "At least they like their Trainers, and they Trainers are liking them. They just had to spend time with each other." It always amazed him how willing Pokémon were to accept their Trainers. For whatever the reason, a Pokémon after capture would welcome their new Trainer. The psychology behind it was still in the works, and many scientists dedicated their lives and professions to understanding exactly why Pokémon did this.

"That's what everyone has to do." Miriam turned onto the highway.

He stretched. "You seem to be having fun. Yesterday you and Ginger got in that fight." It seemed Miriam was only happy if she made someone else's life miserable.

Miriam grinned. "She can't tell her left from her right. What can I say?"

"Sorry would have help."

She sniffed. "I don't say those kind of words." Miriam turned the wheel until she was at the parked into the small café. "Come on. We got to get back before the practice."

"We don't have to."

"Ya're so cute," she cooed from outside the truck.

Ash slid out of his seat and slammed the door shut. "You, too, Miriam."

She grinned at him, entering the building. The restaurant was empty, Ash found out when he entered. Miriam was already up by the counter ordering the very stereotypical banana split.

"Why did you want ice cream? Isn't that really fattening?" Ash asked once his order was taken.

"I didn't want it. But I figured ya did. Ya been killin' yarself, Kiddo," Miriam smiled softly. "Best if ya got away."

Ash stared as the bowl was set in front of him. "I don't need to get away," he muttered, picking up a spoon and poking it.

"Don't play with it. Eat it," she scolded, ever the hypocrite, picking at her own. "Yes, ya do, anyway. Ya don't sleep. And don't give me the BonBon excuse."

"That's all that it is." He never could lie, and he knew that Miriam could tell he was lying now. He didn't sleep because he was slightly worried, and he didn't sleep when he was worried. Bobby knew something about him, that much was obvious. Knew the full score, most likely, by the words spoken. Ash was waiting for the drop, though. It would be coming soon.

"Whatever." She took a bite. "So what are ya doin' with the Pokémon?"

Ash smiled, eyes sparkling. "I've gotten it so Avi can ride the Ponyta, doing tricks. I couldn't keep her from doing them, actually. But I don't really know what'd going on after that. All they have me do is help them with the more difficult things. I hardly even see my Pokémon." Ash chuckled weakly. "And Kessie's complaining because I can't even get my minute dance right."

"I've seen this. Poor, poor Daisy can barely walk because ya step on her feet so much."

He shrank. "I don't try. Why can't they just use one song? I mean, you don't need one of those mixes of songs for a show."

"Hey, Carmen and Harris and whomever put a lot of work into those scores. And they're good," Miriam chided him. "They need to tell the judges that they're good in everything. Sides, one requirement is original music."

Ash frowned at her. "Why'd you even volunteer me?"

"Ya need experience."

"In dancing?" Ash asked darkly.

"Girls like guys who can dance." Ash choked. "They do," she said coyly.

"You know," he snapped, spitting the food out into a napkin. "I don't need your help in . . . in that, all right!"

Miriam grinned wickedly, watching him blush ferociously. "Whatever ya say." She twirled her fork through her whip cream. "Ya know, Blondie, we've known each other over a full year now."

"So?"

"I've wasted a full year of my life baby-sittin' ya, with ya bein' a dorky little brother and all. Very dorky. I just want ya to know ya can tell me anythin' ya need to, right?"

"And what would I have to tell you?" Ash asked curiously.

Miriam smiled. "Absolutely nothing. Blondie." She put more emphasis on the nickname than usual. "Come on. We got to get goin'."

"But I haven't finished—"

****

Shamin leaned against the fence, head on her arms, watching the sun set. It was beautiful.

"Very pretty, isn't it?" She turned rapidly, startled, to see Bobby strolled up, Zubat fluttering above. She didn't fail to notice the bandage on one of its ears and smiled inwardly. The upstart bat finally received lessons of importance. She hadn't witnessed it, but she had heard the scuffle. "Sorry to have startled you."

"No problem," Shamin smiled, looking back at the sun. She saw Pikachu playing with Chitorika, loops and moves practiced.

"Your boyfriend trains his Pokémon well. Very well. He's done wonders with ours, also." She chuckled as the Zubat chipped helplessly. "Or at least something like that."

"That's Shan," Shamin smiled, a slight flush in her cheeks at the term. Truth be told, though, she considered just going back to "friend." In her mind, they weren't a very good couple because neither of them did anything in terms of romance. Shamin, well, she was too damn shy, and she had no idea what went through a guy's mind about this stuff. "So what are you doing for the show? I never see you dancing or whatever."

Bobby sighed, leaning against the railing. "I'm not in any of the numbers, well, on stage. I run effects and choreography. It's me that suggested the Pokémon idea, although not like this. Just a small thing. That's why we caught the Pidgeys. You know, like a magic number. P.J. blew it out of proportion. He thinks too big for himself, but he's a great salesman, and boy, did he sell it to us." She chuckled humorlessly.

Sounds kind of familiar. "Oh."

"Well, someone's got to do play director. Can't bloody image the others running the show."

Shamin looked at the cloak. "If you don't quite mind me asking, why do you always wear the cloak and gloves? Image?"

"No, no. Nothing that stupid."

"Then what?"

"What do you know about . . . Shan?" Bobby sounded interested, Shamin couldn't help but notice.

Shamin frowned. "Well, what do you know about him? You rattled him when you said he was from Ziganka. I thought he was from some city called Pallet Town. That's where all his letters go."

"Pallet Town?" Bobby repeated, curious.

"It's where his mom lives. He writes to her all the time."

"Really?"

"Yep. Usually he writes maybe twice a month, but sometimes more."

Bobby suddenly looked beaten, the shoulders sagging. "Oh."

Shamin nodded. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason."

She frowned, disliking it when someone opened the can and didn't at least tell her what was in it. "Well, so why do wear that cloak?" Shamin repeated.

Bobby sighed, slowing peeling off her gloves. Shamin was suddenly horrified. The skin was red and blotchy, scar tissue from burns. She looked on as Bobby lowered the hood. Most of the hair, a deep raven-tinted purple, was gone, showing only burned scalp. The face itself was like the hands and scalp, except for a small arch along the right cheek and eye. The left eye . . . or lack of, Shamin gulped, had but on socket, and the right, the skin was peeling down like the face was melting, and eye was terribly red. The face looked like a Freddie Krueger mask, only all too real. Shamin truly tried to keep her face neutral, but her mouth was dry.

"What happened?"

The face smiled crookedly, just as rapidly replacing the hood. "Minor explosion," the hoarse voice cackled, no longer whispering. Shamin briefly saw a deep, wide scar across her neck.

"Minor?"

"Well, I could have died," Bobby replied. "It doesn't matter how it happened, but it happened. I always figured that maybe I could get some plastic surgery once I got the money. Part of why I joined this little group. I knew Darryl and Carmen from school, and, well, I guess they took pity on me," she said snippety, sarcasm deep.

"Well, I . . ."

Bobby chuckled. "But hey, there are more ways to get money, you know. Sweepstakes, contest, lottery, rewards, whatever," Bobby continued almost shamefully. "I thought your friend could help me."

"Shan? How?"

"I mistook him for someone else," Bobby sighed. "There's a reward out for him. Big reward. It wouldn't pay for the whole surgery, but it'd be a start."

"Maybe you can disguise him as the guy. Tape his mouth first so he can't blab, though. Got the worst conscience in the world," Shamin laughed. "Then take the money and run. There's a Miriam idea."

Bobby laughed. "Actually, I planned to blackmail him into helping, help us win, then call up for the reward anyway. Then I'd end up with both areas of money."

"What's the kid's name?"

"Ketchum, Ash Ketchum."

Shamin laughed. "What a dumb name! Ketchum. Ash Ketchum!"

"What?" demanded a startled voice.

"Oh, hey, Shan," Shamin grinned. "Where'd you go? They cancelled the practice until tomorrow, and I was going to tell you."

"Well, that would have come in handy before Miriam got the speeding ticket," he frowned. He licked his lips nervously, trying to sound calm. "So what's this about Ash Ketchum? Friend of yours?"

"No, nothing," Bobby said shortly. "What did you want?"

Ash rubbed the back of his head. "I just saw you guys talking . . ." Yeah, he had, and wanted to know about what. And then he had heard him name. "Practice tomorrow?" he said, changing the subject.

"Ten in the morning."

Ash blinked. "Zubat's okay with this?"

"Yeah. Foxy-Woxy convinced him the error of his ways," Bobby smirked, nodding towards the wound.

So Pyro hated the midnight practices as much as everyone else. "Oh. Well, see you tomorrow, then. Night?" He backed up slowly.

"Night," both of them said simultaneously.

Ash turned and started to walk back, looking over his shoulder like a scared rabbit. What the Hell was that about? His hands wrung nervously.

****

Pikachu leaped onto Ash's bare shoulder as he brushed his teeth. "Pikachu pika ka, chu?"

"Yeah, long time no see is right," Ash grinned. "How ya doing?"

"Pi," she shrugged, grinning.

Ash spit the paste out, then looked in the mirror for a long time at the face that looked back. Ash never considered himself a vain person, and hence never took much time to look in the mirror. (The latter was mostly because he'd have to fight for his life to get a minute alone with the mirror and/or bathroom with his companions.) He didn't have time to care about his appearance, and mirrors in the middle of the forest were indeed rare. So he did a near blink in surprise at the person who looked back.

Did he really look like that?

His hair needed to be re-dyed; the roots were dark again. He always let that slip him mind. His hair grew faster than he thought, and once Shamin—they must compete for the Dunce Award, Miriam muttered—had asked if his hair really was blond. He'd asked what gave her that idea, and she said his hair was growing out and it looked like crap. His hair also needed to be cut. His bangs were long enough to be scooped into the ponytail, but rarely did they stay because they weren't quite that long. Ash frowned, fingering a tress that rested at the side of his face. All this hair and he still didn't shave. Somehow it didn't seem right, especially at his age.

Yet his hair really didn't bother Ash. He knew it was long. What surprised him was his face. He looked . . . older. Well, he thought with satisfaction, he was almost fifteen. One five. Hard to believe he was just thirteen (and a half, he added mentally,) when he left. His fourteenth had past almost unnoticed while he travels, and his next was a little over month away.

He had a deep tan over his face, which suddenly sprinkled a lighter color over his neck, chest and arms, for his turtleneck blocked the sun. He had happily changed into the short-sleeved shirt as of late, or, sometimes, no shirt. It was a circumstance that had ensued an interesting conversation between him and the girls about toplessness, to be sure. Miriam had offhandedly commented that women couldn't go topless while men could, and Ash had countered without thinking—he had been busy doting over Chitorika—that it was because they couldn't. Shamin had then coyly asked why, and Ash had ended up blushing (which Miriam noticed pasted all over his chest like a thermometer on the rise) as he tried to babble and stammer the two reasons why to the entire female audience. He found he couldn't, and finally just asked rather harshly if they'd like it if girls could go topless too. Miriam said—so deadpan and serious, without even smiling—not really, but that'd it'd be nice if men wore "bikini tops" for "modesty's sake," and then threw one of her bras at him. Ash remembered hearing all of them laugh when he caught it, looked at it horrified, dropped it, and fell backwards over some roots. For some time afterwards he didn't go topless, case Miriam should be serious. (He hadn't noticed her bra wouldn't fit him.)

In any case, Ash looked at himself. His face had thinned out so that his cheekbones were more defined, and it did something to his face alone. His deep brown eyes rested on something besides babyfat, and arched over them were eyebrows that had gotten thicker. The chin was more defined, the nose was still there, the ears—well, they were hidden by hair. True, he won't be able to get a drink without getting carded—he still had the boyish look about him—but he could at least get into the bar. He made a crooked smile. He wasn't half-bad.

Not at all.

Pikachu tilted her head, watching as Ash studied himself in the mirror. He acted like he was looking at a stranger. Pikachu almost laughed aloud. How could he be surprised at his own reflection? "Pikapi?" she asked, looking at the mirror while he smiled.

"Hmm?" Ash asked, turning his eyes to look at her image in the mirror. "What?"

"Chu pika chuka pikachu," she smiled, poking him teasingly.

"I know what I look like," Ash half-lied. I just didn't know I looked like that. He set the tap running and bent down to wash his face in the cool water, leaving Pikachu to have to grip his hair to stay upon his shoulder.

"Chu pikachu!" she scolded while he groped for a towel.

"Sorry," Ash grinned though the towel, standing up. With one last smile at the mirror, he gripped his shirt and left the bathroom.

"Finally," Jeromy snarled, storming past him roughly. "There'd better be hot water left this time!"

Ash dropped his mouth to counter. It wasn't like he was in there long. Five minutes tops, and he hadn't even showered. (He had last night.) Then he snapped it shut and looked down the line of the men in the line. Sammy was standing, crossing and uncrossing his legs, trying to convince John or Harris to changed places with him for he "really has to go!" Darryl was standing, agitated, next in line. His seniority of the group gave him no bathroom rights.

"I tell you, you've got to find a place with more than two bathrooms!" P.J. grumbled, arms crossed. "I'd rather drive forty-five minutes to here from my place than wait in line to take a dump!"

"Then do it!" Darryl snapped harshly.

"Why do the girls get the bigger bathroom?" Sammy whined from the end of the line.

Dave approached, rubbing his eyes sleepily as he escaped his room. Then he saw the line. "Ah, crap!"

"Watch your mouth!"

Ash smiled, walking away. "Thanks for waking me up, Pikachu." It was really worth waking up early if it meant he didn't have to wait for the bathroom.

"Pika," she grinned.

"Come on, John! I'll give you five bucks! I really have to GO!"

"Make it thirty and you got a deal."

"JOHN!"

****

Bobby sat on the fence holding the clipboard and studying the chart. BonBon sat next to her, but it found that every time it tried to get onto the lap, a hand slapped it away less than gently. It was slowly getting the impression that it was very well liked here. The rest of the group mingled in front of them, and Ash felt out of place. What exactly was he supposed to do now? His Pokémon around him were more at ease than he, and Ash struggled to keep his composure.

He had been rather ticked to find that he could have played his flute, which, he noted almost surprised, he hadn't touched for over a month. Miriam had neglected to tell them that he could, and now it was too late. Bobby was already harassed, having had to rewrite most of her chart, and Ash didn't want to talk one-on-one with her. Miriam managed to weasel herself into a position of playing a minor improved sax intro (because, Ash theorized bitterly, she couldn't actually read music). Shamin managed to be an understudy for any girl dancer, which meant she didn't know how to do anything, Ash surmised. (What an idiot.) Jeromy was the male understudy, and Ash toyed with the idea of breaking his leg to get out of this whole deal.

Ash sighed and looked around the group again. Most everyone here was someone related to at least one other person, and that person somehow tied to Darryl, Carmen, and Bobby, whether they be friends, relatives, or whatever. From what he had gathered, their little troupe was a bit of an entertainment biz, and not quite this big usually. This time, though, the younger relatives—normally, this was just Darryl, Bobby, Carmen, P.J., John, Harris, Kessie, and Ginger—came along for the ride. Kessie, Ginger, and P.J. were the main vocals, although John was supposed to be able to sing well, and the others dealt with the music (by writing or playing respectively) or managing the gigs. The extra people here only managed to ruin their carefully laid hierarchy of command, and left the many for want of a task, as the plan was exceedingly true to the original group.

Chitorika rubbed up against his leg. "Chitco!" she spoke happily, interrupting his thoughts.

Ash grinned, bending down and twirling her leaf around with his finger. "You having fun, huh? All you guys?" The whole group, especially Totodile but minus Snorlax, nodded with excitement. It was fun, this mock battling. Of course, they hadn't been able to get GipSi to follow orders. She mostly resided in the trees and watched the excitement with sparkling eyes, but did venture down when John juggled during his freetime to entertain himself. The juggler blinked in surprise every time one of the balls that should have landed into his hand didn't.

"Talking to the critters again, I see. Fine sign of insanity, that is," Daisy smiled, almost limping over. "A nut who can't dance. I get all the luck." She lowered herself to the ground, breathing relief when her feet were up in the air. Bulbasaur rubbed against her, and Cyndaquil curled into her lap.

"I didn't step on your feet that much," he said defensively, sitting down next to her.

Daisy smiled, talking off her hat and leaning back in the light. "I have weak ankles. Sometimes they just give out on me. I'd rather help Jeromy and Dave with effects. Now my back, that hurts because of you. You don't have to dip-de-dip me so deep."

"You're taller than me," Ash smiled.

"And what's that have to do with it?" Daisy laughed, pushing him roughly. "Height isn't a factor. Control is." Daisy sighed, wrapping an arm around him and holding him close. "But you shall owe me a foot massage when this is all through." Ash opened his mouth to protest. "And don't say you can't, because I've seen you massage your Pokémon when their muscles are sore. And it looks like it's nice."

The Pokémon all nodded. Ash took great pride in knowing how to ease the pain of Pokémon, having even taken classes in the area. They thoroughly believed that if their Trainer couldn't become the World's Greatest Master Pokémon Trainer, then he'd sure to be the World's Greatest Pokémon Masseur. He was that good under their critical gaze. It was something they'd brag about to other Pokémon.

Ash smiled hopelessly. "We'll see," he sighed, closing his eyes and wrapping an arm around her, allowing himself to rest his head on her shoulder. It was a nice shoulder.

"All right, team!" Darryl yelled loudly.

"We're two feet away! You don't have to yell!" P.J. laughed.

"Get serious! The gig is tomorrow! Two in the afternoon!" Carmen scolded, punching him in the arm so hard that P.J. winced and rubbed his arm to send the pain away. "So just shut up!"

"Easy, you two!" Harris sighed, looking up from the baby Onyx, which had unofficially been dubbed his and ChaCha. "We can't afford any casualties."

"I think Carmen'd win," Avi grinned.

"Of course she'd win," John agreed.

"Living proof that girls kick butt," Kessie smirked.

"Girl," P.J. corrected dully. "You couldn't beat me up."

Darryl hung his head hopelessly. "Guys, please." No one paid him that much mind, a few continuing their aimless chatter.

Bobby crossed her arms and swung her leg impatiently. "Hello! Would you asses get your asses in gear, please!" she yelled in her grating voice, slamming the chart down on the fence. "I did not spend my nights preparing to lose! So shut up and line up!"

Miriam nudged Shamin. "I think I like her," she smirked. Shamin had related the story of Bobby over to her, and Miriam had felt the responsibility for Ash lessen. It was, though, to her, very ironic that Bobby should believe herself wrong when she was so right.

No one actually moved, except Ash, who did jump up at the command. Bobby always yelled when she was stressed, and she was a ticking time bomb.

"Pika?" Pikachu questioned, looking at the group confused. You don't just stop practicing! You keep on going otherwise you don't win! "Chu pika?"

"Nine," Pyro yawned lazily, standing to stretch.

"So are we going to practice or not?" Darryl demanded harshly. It would be better if they saw him as a leader to be obeyed and not just listened to, the obeying part optional.

Ginger looked up from her nails, sitting sidesaddle on Ponyta. "We know what we're doing, Darryl. We don't have to practice. It'll just mess up our nerves."

"As accustomed to walking in and messing up because we haven't practiced as much as we should have," he countered dangerously.

"Darryl, we'll do fine," Jules protested. "We don't need to practice anything. We've already got it prefect. Bobby even said so."

"My views of perfection can change," Bobby muttered.

"I say we put it to a vote," Dave suggested, jumping up from the fence. It caused Avi to lose her balance and fall, but Daisy quickly caught her and both tumbled to the ground. "Oops, sorry. I say everyone in favor of going back to bed raise their hands." His instantly went up.

"It's ten in the morning," Darryl snapped, glaring as the mass majority of the main group raised their hands.

"Pika . . ." Pikachu said warningly to Pyro, whose tails were raised just a little higher than usual.

He glared at her. "Nine ale ta," he snipped, but his tails lowered.

"Pii," she said sarcastically, crossing her arms. Pyro merely looked insolently at her.

"All those opposed?"

Darryl, Carmen, Bobby, and Avi raised their hands, although impressionable Avi probably just raised it because they did.

Pikachu raised her paw as well, then looked up at Ash. "Pikapi?" she said sweetly, setting her tail on his shoe. She knew he hadn't voted previously because he didn't really think he had a choice in the matter. Shamin and Miriam also hadn't taken part in the voting because they saw it as not being their place. He sighed and raised his hand obediently, not seeing how one more vote would help the matter anyway. In all totality, even though not everyone had voted, those for returning to bed out-numbered those who opposed.

"Well, let's count!" P.J. laughed. "One . . . two . . . three . . . four . . . five. We w—"

"Pikachu!" Pikachu interrupted, pointing to herself.

"Ya didn't count Rodent," Miriam smiled. "Or the rest of them."

The group suddenly looked at the Pokémon. Ash's Pokémon, following his and Pikachu's suit, had also raised their miscellaneous paws, wings, and vines. The other Pokémon, following their example, had also raised their appendages. In ended up with every single Pokémon—except Pyro, Snorlax, and BonBon—voting with the five humans.

"I think we win, P.J," Carmen grinned, wrapping an arm around the man's shoulder. "You don't have to count them."

"That's . . . that's not fair," he muttered. "They—"

"Are as much the show as us, so line up!" Bobby ordered. They did so.

Pyro blocked Pikachu's way. "Ine ales, Ninetales!" he accused.

She batted her eyes coyly. "Pi?" Then, laughing, she ran over to Ash.

****

"More wood, more wood!" Kessie cackled evilly, causing Shauna to break out laughing as she looked at the towering mass.

"Why don't we just light the forest on fire?"

"Because Smokey won't like that!" Dave grinned, depositing even more wood on the fire. "'Only you can prevent forest fires!' Oh, no, BonBon!" He quickly grabbed the baby, who planned on removing a stick from the bottom of the pile. "Here! You take her." He passed the pink ball over to Shauna, then shuddered. "Too . . . cute."

"Yes she is," Shauna giggled, rubbing noses with it.

"I love her so much!" Kessie agreed, ticking the pink ball. "All the guys hate her!"

"Because she's annoying," Ash growled from his seat on a log. A few of the guys agreed, taking time from their precious marshmallow gambling to show their dislike.

"I'll raise you two pink ones."

Ginger appeared with the lighter fluid. "Save us some marshmallows, boys," she growled, stealing one of them.

Darryl sighed. "We should be getting a good night's sleep," he repeated.

Marzena laughed. "Ease up. We are relaxing with a big old bonfire. We'll sleep on the way down. Now, Ginger, light it!"

Miriam shook her head, crouching next to Ash with Pyro on her lap. "I never was a bonfire-kind of person. They're all pyros." Pyro snorted at the statement. "I didn't mean to insult ya."

Ash sighed, watching as Ginger doused the pile with the fluid. He never actually bothered to build bonfires either. Brock always yelled at him for throwing too much wood into the fire for no reason, for they couldn't spend all night keeping it going. It was a waste of wood. Misty deemed it childish, although she always threw in an extra stick when Brock wasn't looking.

He covered his eyes when it suddenly turned ablaze, towering high into the sky. Miriam literally fell back to avoid the blast of heat, having a grip upon Ash's arm and bringing him with her. Ash ended up half on and half off the log at an uncomfortable angle, but he was better off than Pyro. The fox had rolled up and over Miriam and now was shaking himself, recovering wounded pride, although no one truly saw his fall. Had it been anyone other than Miriam who caused his fall, they would receive painful retribution for his humility. They should have expected the heat wave. But Miriam he could over-look. Blondie had distracted her, and hence it was his fault.

"We are movin' this log back," Miriam grumbled as Ash helped her back up, eyes squinted to protect them from the light. Yet, despite her complaint, she made no motion to do so.

"Marshmallow?" Shamin asked, appearing with a bag of marshmallow, which she had pilfered from the gambling men. They had yet to notice, too busy arguing about the worth of the melting ones. After all, you lost some of the value every time you touched them, the goo stuck to your fingers and all.

"Those are disgustin'!" Miriam shuddered, allowing Pyro to curl back onto her lap. "Like pillowed chalk."

Ash raised on eyebrow, taking a handful and popping all of the them in his mouth, then entering the difficult task of chewing them all.

Miriam and Shamin both looked at him in disgust.

"Whah?" He picked a marshmallow out with his fingers.

"You do have a big mouth," Shamin said shaking her head, picking out her own marshmallow.

"Oi, I'm gonna be sick."

The group sat around the fire, chowing on marshmallows or making lighted torches with them, whichever the person preferred. Some of the lesser "there" members danced idiotically around the fire, in crazy chants and dances, their bodies only shadows to the watchers.

"I would like to recite a poem!" P.J. announced. Darryl groaned, but the others looked at the man intrigued.

"I think I know it," Jules drawled. Kessie and Ginger both nodded, and in chorus, they started to say:

"I once knew I girl from Nan-tuck-It!—"

"There are children here!" Carmen snapped.

Kessie nodded. "Oh, we know. Look at him."

P.J. ignored the comment. "I wrote this poem myself. Drums, if you please." Harris looked at his friend from under his bushy brows. "Dr-ums . . ."

The percussionist sighed. "This is going to be one of those stupid coffee-house poetry things, isn't it?" he asked, trying to suppress a shudder. He had worked there for a bit during High School, and the ideas of poetry still made his blood run cold.

"Cool!" Kessie said. She loved those poetry gatherings.

P.J. cleared his throat and nodded at Harris, who obliged to do a drum-roll on a log. "I call this poem . . . Hip Hop." He paused, then spoke solemnly. "Hip." The tap of the drum.

"Hip Hop." A longer drum-roll.

The voice was dead-pan. "Hop Hip-Hip." The drum-roll.

"Hop Hip." Again with the drum-roll, shorter, to match the syllables.

"Hip Hop." A flip of a drum-roll.

P.J. grinned deviously.

"Bo-ing!" he intoned perfectly, like a spring heard in so many cartoons.

A few laughed helplessly, and even Darryl and Carmen bared a mutual, exasperated grin. P.J. bowed.

"Pikachu, Chitorika, you both look like idiots," Ash grinned, still amused by the "poem", as the duo appeared, both smeared with lipstick in some crude attempt to look wild and primitive. He didn't know where they got such immaturity from. Certainly wasn't him.

And, as he looked around, he had a sneaking suspicion as to where or whom it was from.

The Pokémon grinned and nodded, suddenly leaping upon their Trainer and rubbing their cheeks against him, spreading the make-up onto him.

"Ah, knock it off!" he laughed, pushing them aside. He rubbed his cheek, hence smearing the paste further and deeper.

"I think ya're more of a rosy beige," Miriam yawned, somewhere between bored and tired. Pyro had fallen asleep behind her boots, ears bent in such a way as to block the racket as best they could. He twitched his nose but did not wake as Pikachu and Chitorika took to applying make-up powder upon him. Chitorika helped by giving a very mild dose of Sleeping Powder to the fox. No sense in taking stupid risks without due precaution, as she saw it. Pikachu agreed.

"What are you two doing?" Ash demanded, bending down to look level at them, but not noticing the two hiding something behind their backs. Due to the poor lighting, he did not notice their mischief either. "You leave Pyro alone. The last thing we need is him chasing after you guys in a bloody rage."

They smiled innocently at him, walking away backwards so he did not see the evidence. "Pi, Pikapi."

"Chi."

He followed them with his eyes, wondering about their actions. "Those two—"

"The fire's dying! Put more wood on it!" Dave yawned, blinking his eyes sleeping. He was laying next to Avi, herself unconscious.

"Is there anymore wood?" John asked, looking up from his game with Harris, the only two who remained still in combat.

"No. P.J. put the last armload on," Jules smiled.

Darryl stood up. "Then that means—"

Ginger interrupted. "Let's have one of the Pokémon zoom it up! For their fun, not so they exhaust themselves," she stated as Ash prepared to object.

There were four Fire-types to choose from—Ponyta, Pyro, Trigger, and Cyndaquil. Unfortunately (or fortunately) Trigger was with Bobby, who flat-out, even panicky, refused to even go near or look at the bonfire brigade. Ponyta was dead to the world next to the Tauros, and Pyro, no idiot was going to wake him up if he didn't want to be woken up.

"What do ya say, Cyndy?" Ginger grinned, picking up the Fire type.

He sighed at their immaturity, then looked at Ash, who's motion said that it was up to him. "Quil." Rolling his eyes hopelessly as he was set down, Cyndaquil took stance and glared at the fire. His back erupted into flames and he blew, instantly setting the fire into the sky with a towering height. The Trainers looked at him in awe, the shadows splashing across their faces in ancient dances that were apart of his acidic blood.

The fire was blown large and beautiful, and the heat was immense, engulfing them in a cloud. A few of them complained—it was hot enough in the June air, they didn't need help sweating, but Cyndaquil ignored them, intent on destroying the last logs.

It was a great surprise when the fire suddenly doubled in size that even Cyndaquil backed up in surprise.

"Cyn?" he murmured, the sounds of the Trainers beyond his ears. He blinked in surprise when he saw the familiar set of red eyes stare through the fire. "Quil qui cyn."

Pyro stood erect, the fire dancing around in his paws and tails, unable to burn him. Cyndaquil blinked in surprise, for you had to be at a high level for such a thing to happen, even for a fire Pokémon. He merely ignored the statement and licked his lips, bored, and watched as the fire lowered.

"Quil, cynda."

Pyro cocked his head, then blew a tiny fireball towards the fire, alighting it anew.

Cyndaquil bristled. He knew how Pyro was, but that was no excuse. Insult to name . . .

"Cynda . . ." he growled. Pyro merely grinned and bowed his head, in acceptance or otherwise.

****

Miriam nudged Ash. "Yar little fire Rodent got insulted, I think," she grinned, watching as Cyndaquil sparked a great fire at the fire, blazing it anew. Pyro countered lazily.

"Your fox looks . . . different." He glared at Pikachu and Chitorika, who smiled sheepishly.

"I won't tell him." Miriam whistled, watching the silent dual. The others had also settled to watch, intrigued. "Cool battle."

"It's like they did in the Orange Islands," Ash smiled. "I used Water type to see which was better trained."

"I didn't need a synopsis."

Shamin frowned. "I think Pyro's going to win."

Ash sighed. "I wouldn't doubt it. Cyndaquil is way below his level for this kind of battle, and his tactics aren't the best." He didn't sound ashamed to admit it, but saddened.

"My baby is so cool," Miriam cooed.

The unofficial battle continued for many minutes, Pyro in all his calm acceptance and cool display, Cyndaquil in growing anger that this wasn't even weakening the opponent in the slightest. It was his anger that Cyndaquil, usually calm and levelheaded, if lethargic, blew his fire with more vigor, more brilliance, more power.

The logs were long since been destroyed, the fire only powerful by the steady stream of Ember attacks.

"This is a Pokémon battle?" Harris murmured.

"More or less."

"Wow," Jules muttered. "No wonder they outlawed it."

Ash frowned and looked at them, but didn't say anything to counter, suddenly drawing his eyes back to Cyndaquil. He started to stand up. Enough of this foolishness. The last thing he needed was for Cyndaquil to Faint on him.

"Chu, Pikapi," Pikachu murmured, grabbing the hem of his pants and shaking her head.

"Chit ko, cho it," Chitorika added.

Ash looked at them, then back at Cyndaquil, settling back down. His lips were in a fine line. "If you say so."

There was a sudden collective gasp that went through the audience, and Ash blinked as the soft glow enveloped Cyndaquil.

"What's happening?" someone demanded.

"Cyndaquil's . . . evolving," Ash murmured, looking at his little shoulder Pokémon. "You knew."

They didn't reply, watching as Cyndaquil slowly grew and changed, metamorphosing into Quilava. The new Trainers, even Miriam and Shamin, had never witnessed a Pokémon evolving and were stunned into silence, eyes and mouths little O's.

Quilava threw back his head and left out a giant Ember, then blew back at the fire. Pyro watched as calmly as he had before, no expression on his make-up covered muzzle, and did not continue the Battle. Instead, he turned and trotted over to Miriam and curled up onto her lap.

"Hey . . . Quilava," Ash grinned, kneeling down next to his Pokémon and petting it, letting the fire dance through his fingers. "Good job."

"That's cheating," Miriam muttered, petting her fox but studying the Fire-mohawked Pokémon like everyone else.

Darryl cleared his throat. "This isn't going to mess up our performance, is it?"

The silence dropped a few more notches, and everyone looked nervous.

Ash smiled and chuckled quietly, looking at Quilava's eyes as the Pokémon himself laughed quietly. "No."

****

Darryl looked at his troupe with a very serious look on his face—even more serious than usual. A clipboard was in his hands. "All right, guys."

They all waited patiently. Darryl and Carmen always took care of all the paperwork, but the duo had suddenly called an emergency meeting once they got to the Hall.

The pen was poised over the paper. "What's our name?"

Miriam collapsed from her seat. "Ya guys never even thought of a name?" she demanded, shocked. "I thought ya had a business."

"We've decided that name is not very good," Carmen said deadpan, and several of the members nodded in silent agreement.

"What were you called?" Shamin asked, fixing a bow on Trigger.

"That's not important," Kessie smiled. "Right now, we got to think of a new name!"

Almost instantly the younger members started to call out names, most which couldn't be differentiated from the next one. Darryl held up his hands.

"Quiet! One, the group is not going to be called 'P.J.'s Peanut Butter!'" He glared at the man in question, as it was the only suggested title he understood.

"I like it!"

Carmen crossed her arms. "I think—we think it's best if the name doesn't have any of our names in it, since no one is really the leader." Most of the people nodded, although some looked dejected.

"So, any suggestions?" Darryl asked again. "One at a time."

Ash looked around, surprised that no one offered his or her immense wisdom in the naming process. It seemed that a lot of the suggested names had someone's name in it.

Bobby cleared her throat, leaning against the frame. Everyone looked at her. "We want something daring, something that says Us."

"Yeah?"

"Something . . . taboo, perhaps."

"No X-rated crap," P.J. reminded. "Naughty, naughty."

Bobby's hood moved towards him. "Shut up and get your mind out of the gutter. I was thinking something dealing with Pokémon. Since we are using them and all."

"Makes sense," Jules nodded.

Ash started to go through all the Pokémon-related words he could think of in his head. Pokéball, Poképed—dex! Damn you, Miriam and Shamin.

Darryl looked around. "Simplicity is best. How about The Pokémon?"

Simple was right, although that didn't make it the best. Miriam gave a small snort along with Kessie and Ginger.

"We don't have time for this. Just put it down," Harris sighed.

Darryl shrugged. "We're The Pokémon"

"Name subject to change," Carmen added, seeing the disappointed looks.

Miriam shook her head. "Next time think of the name before ya come to the competition. God, even in the Tunnels we knew better than that."

Shamin looked at her. "We had names?" Miriam gave her a withering glare while Ash tried not to laugh.

****

Ash sat on the fence watching as the sun set, dazing more than actually watching. The performance mellowed in his head, but he didn't give it much thought. He thought they did rather well, and would have done better if the audience hadn't acted like scared rabbits and sat poised to flee throughout the entire thing. And the judges shouldn't have reacted so harshly when GipSi sat on their shoulders.

Needless to say, they hadn't won the competition. Yet they hadn't totally lost either. Aside from being disqualified for a "technical" reason, Carmen thought they had been a big success. Ash was mighty suspicious of that grin she wore, as was everyone else. They had practically been tomatoed and thrown out, except no one wanted to peeve the Pokémon. Yet Carmen informed that that there had been an agent of sorts out there, and he was willing to give them a try. Apparently the man knew something about Pokémon and thought their act interesting.

Ash had been slightly apprehensive of this. The only people on this side of the world that were interested in Pokémon were members of Team Rocket. It had been a rather interesting ploy to have GipSi distract him long enough for both him and Pikachu to rummage through his briefcase looking for anything that might denote Team Rocket. Ash found, much to his surprise, papers that said the guy used to be a judge for Indigo.

GipSi hadn't made the ploy last long enough, and Ash had gotten caught in the act big-time. It was only through very quick explaining that he justified his actions, saying that only Team Rocket was into Pokémon here and he wanted to find out if the man was a member.

The agent, Dr. Jonas, had looked at him very critically. "Really?" he intoned.

Ash frowned, stepping back. "Yes. I've seen them." And more, he thought bitterly. "Besides, no one deals with Pokémon here."

"You do. Your friends do."

"I'm not from here, though. And my friends, I have a very interesting influence, I suppose. Two weeks ago their Pokémon wouldn't let them touch them."

"Really?" he repeated again.

"Pi!"

"Were you really an Indigo Judge?"

Dr. Jonas nodded, sitting behind the desk and indicating Ash do the same. "For about ten years, but I have been promoted to other areas." He gave a wry smile, stating "promoted" wasn't exactly the word to use. "Ever been to the League?"

"Yes," Ash said before he could stop himself. "I competed."

The agent's eyebrows raised. " You did? When?"

Ash kept his face blank. "A few years ago, before I moved out this way. I'm training now. In the spaces between training anyway," he corrected at Dr. Jonas' questioning stare. "We were suckered into stopping to help." Shut up, Ash. You're going to slip.

"What place did you get?"

"Twenties or something. I don't remember. I made a dumb mistake and lost under my last Pokémon." Okay, so he lied a bit. Ash hoped his face didn't show it.

"How old were you?"

"Ten."

"Pretty good, then," Dr. Jonas smiled. "So you know of Team Rocket?"

Ash and Pikachu both gave him a look. "You could say," Ash said dryly. "I used to have constant run-ins with a pair—Jessie and James. Kept on trying to take my Pikachu."

"Pikapi," Pikachu murmured her warning, and Ash bit his tongue.

"The fact is," Ash continued before Dr. Jonas could speak, as the surprise at the sudden proof that he was telling the truth was written on his face, "I know Team Rocket is active over here. They just don't get enough press. There's a Center in Cornflower, underground base. I know." He spoke in a way that didn't leave room for discussion.

"And don't doubt you know," Dr. Jonas murmured. "How do you get to the base?"

He remembered the kids living down there. "I can't tell you."

"Why? Are you a member of Team Rocket?"

Ash made a cruel smile. "I suppose you could say I'm wanted for a member. I escaped."

"What a coincidence."

"PIKA!" He barely had time to gather Pikachu in his arms before she released the shock to the insulting agent. "Pikapi chu pikachu pi!" the mouse spat, cheeks sparkling.

"Ease up, Pikachu. He probably didn't mean it," Ash said darkly, clearly stating he knew better as he stood. "Dr. Jonas, I don't care if you believe me or not. But it would be exactly like Team Rocket and their Leader to use Trainers with dreams to meet their goals."

"I assume you've met the Leader as well?" Dr. Jonas said, a bemused smile on his face.

Ash took a step back. "As a matter of fact, I did. And you wouldn't believe me if I told you who he was."

"And who, pray tell?"

"One of your Gym leaders."

Dr. Jonas stood up like a Rocket. "You lying little—" Ash had already left.

Ash sighed, banging his heels against the wood. That was a big chance, but it felt . . . good to have told someone, even if the man didn't believe him in the least. Well, he couldn't blame the man. Ash wouldn't have believed it either, but he knew it was true. And so did Miriam and Shamin, but they'd keep their mouths shut. Ash, no, he had too much of a conscience and too little wish to remain breathing.

The only small favor for it was that Dr. Jonas still agreed to work for them, although he especially glared at Ash.

Indigo . . . it had been a long time since he had tried there. Maybe, maybe he should go back. Ash bit his lip in thought. That was a big risk, going back. Team Rocket was ever-more fluent in that land, people knew him from his early travels, his mom . . .

He shook his head, looking back at the sky. Yet he had to go back. It was a League, one he hadn't won. It was a risk, Ash admitted, but he was going to make it a calculated risk.

In the back of his mind, Ash wondered, worried if his friends would be coming along. He knew Miriam liked it here; she liked acting and all that jazz, and here she was on the doorstep to achieving her dream. And Shamin, well, she seemed to prefer a life-style that offered comforts—like living in a house. Ash ran a hand though his hair, thinking. It wasn't like he needed them to travel with him, but he liked the company, a lot. Human contact offered something Pokémon did not. And he liked the girls. They were like sisters . . . or something.

The sun was further down on the horizon, ready to bid him goodnight. Ash slouched in his stance. Tomorrow, tomorrow he would leave, alone or not.

"Good-night," he murmured, slipping down to the ground and into his sleeping bag. Above his head, Noctowl hooted his response.

****

Ash set his pack down and looked around the quiet house. It was early—everyone was either still asleep (this was their first sleep-in day) or being quiet in their lodgings—so he found it no great surprise that no one was around to greet him. Trigger was sleeping on a chair, having chewed some shoe to shreds. Whomever he slept with probably kicked him out.

Ash started up the stairs, wondering about Pikachu. Oh, he was sure she was fine, but Pikachu rarely liked to sleep in. It wasn't her nature, and she'd be bored silly in a closed-up room—and considering some of the sizes of the rooms, he couldn't blame her. (Almost 90% of the rooms here had been transformed into bedrooms of some sort.) Pikachu was too polite to actually wake the person up. Yet to his great surprise, he encountered Pyro coming down the stairs.

"Good morning, Fox," he whispered with a smile.

Pyro looked at him lowly, hardly baring to show his usual I-Hate-You-But-Am-Starting-To-Like-You-So-Don't-Push-It snarl. He merely sat heavily on the step and glared down.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Ash asked, genuinely puzzled. He sat down a step lower—its a little known fact that Ninetales like to be higher than other creatures—and, at great risk of limb, set on hand on the fox's flank. He managed a small grin. "You didn't even bite me."

The Ninetales looked at him in a method that said such a thing could easily be remedied.

"Is Miriam all right? Shamin? Pikachu?" He knew he got one of the names right, for Pyro bristled. Miriam wouldn't have tossed him out, Pyro cared not for Shamin or her words, and he enjoyed the battles between himself and Pikachu, so Ash was at a small loss as to why his friends would cause the haughty fox upset. "What's wrong?"

The eyes narrowed, and Pyro spat fire at him. It was a small burn, one that was of more effect to keep small than to deliver, and Ash ignored it as much as he dared, lest he damage Pyro's pride further.

"Well, if you're not going to tell me, I'm talk to Miriam, and she'll get it out of you. Or even Pikachu." Ash grinned slightly, standing. "If you're up, then that means so is Miriam."

Ash paused. Now that was weird. Miriam up before the crack of noon? Pyro looked at him, watching him piece it together.

"I see," he muttered. "Clever boy."

Pyro had too much pride to actually ask for help, but he knew how to ask for it without asking for it.

****

Ash knocked on the door as Pyro slipped in. "Miriam?" He didn't dare stick his head in, for fear of what he might see.

"What are ya doin' up?" Miriam asked, pulling the door open more.

"I think I should be asking you that!" Ash grinned, slipping in and jumping onto the ever-small bed. It gave a decisive moan, then decided it would break later. "You're the one who's up early."

Miriam frowned at him. "I'll have ya know I can wake up before eight AM. God forbid, I can wake up at six."

"God forbid," Ash repeated laughing, watching as Pyro curled up on the sill and looked at him, a patient gleam in his eye. "So what are you doing up?" he asked, sitting Indian-style with his hands on his knees.

"Packin'," Miriam smiled, pointing towards her packs.

Ash blinked slowly. "So . . . you're not staying?" Part of him had already accepted that she would be staying, and now that she wasn't, it set his mind back a few steps.

She looked at him in surprise. "What?"

"You're not staying?" he repeated. "I thought you'd stay. You did want to be famous. You could get it here."

Miriam looked at him. "So ya're that desperate to get rid of me?" she asked with false remorse, a small smile on her face.

He shook his head, although he knew she was just teasing. "No. I want to get rid of Pyro, not you." Both of the Trainers smiled at the fox's snort.

"Can't image why."

He could have just let it drop. After all, he didn't want Miriam to stay either. "Miriam, don't get me wrong, but why aren't you staying?"

She set her hands on her hips. "I don't want to stay, Blondie."

"I can take care of myself."

"Right, and I'll call to that and raise you twenty." She spoke like to response to a bluff in a poker game.

He blushed at her tone. "I could. I don't need a babysitter and the Devil on my back."

Miriam took seat next to him. "Yes, ya do," she said deadpan.

"You're as bad as my mom," Ash accused. "Except she let me go out alone. So why not?"

Her lips tilted up slightly, as if deciding she had to give him some excuse. "Ya know the problem, Blondie. I'm not exactly part of this little troupe. I'd be intrudin'."

"That never bothered you before." Ash took a deep breath, then forced the words out. "Miriam, I really think you should stay, if only to make sure these guys smarten up about Pokémon."

"Ah, yes, and I'm just the scholar to do that," she said sarcastically, pushing him hard and standing up to pet Pyro lovingly.

"Better you than nothing," Ash countered, then he sighed. "Miriam, really, you're going to give up your dream to baby-sit me?"

Miriam laughed. "My dream?" she chuckled. "Don't be so up with yarself, Blondie. Bein' famous and singin' and dancin' are different things." She shook her head and clicked her tongue. "Idealist."

"But you could be famous with this group!"

"Ya do have a lot of faith in this ragtag team," she smiled, then shook her head. "I'd be buttin' in, Blondie."

"They'd welcome it! You're good." He ducked his head under his arms as she swiped a pillow at him. "You are!"

"Ha!"

Ash grew serious, deciding to play another card. "Besides, you know Team Rocket members."

Miriam paused and looked at him. "Excuse me?"

"You really just trust Dr. Jonas?" Ash asked suspiciously.

"Ya picked up a Suspicious Bastard Trait!" Miriam crowed in obvious delight.

"I'm serious!" Ash snapped.

She quieted. "I know ya are. So ya think he's with TR?"

Ash shook his head. "Doubt it, but then again, I didn't think a Gym Leader'd be the head of the world's biggest crime circuit."

"It's the little surprises that make life worth-while."

He ignored her retort. "Look, you may scoff at what I say about Team Rocket, but its true. And I don't want these guys to fall prey to them."

"How noble," Miriam said sarcastically. "So you leave me behind to baby-sit this group?"

"I'm not asking you to do that, Miriam. I'm asking you if you really want to follow me around like some puppy-dog."

That got Miriam, and she straightened up stiff as a board. Pyro even growled at the insult.

"That hurt," she stated almost approvingly, walking over to a tiny vanity and picking up the brush.

"Do you?"

"If I'm a dog, then I'm the Alpha, the Leader, Blondie."

"I'm sorry." Ash looked at her. "Miriam, why did you even decide to follow me anyway? You said it was to be famous."

She waved the brush at him coyly. "Shamin did, not me."

"Well, why, then?"

"Because I wanted to," she grinned. "The Tunnels were borin', and I knew the guys would think I had somethin' to do with yar disappearance. Best to get out and avoid the Big Guys."

"So you left to save your own hide?" Ash grinned, calling her bluff.

"Maybe," she replied, her smile self-assured, as always. Miriam could win a Poker game on bluff alone, except for the little fact that she liked cheating. Added edge to the game.

Ash sighed, standing up. "Miriam, I just don't want you to do something you'll regret."

She tilted her head, placing her earring in the ear. "And I suppose ya know what that's like," she murmured.

He barely heard her, but he did. "Miriam, I don't need you to watch out for me, and I'll hate myself if I was the one that ruined your dream. Don't laugh! I'm serious. Yeah, I did a lot of dumb things, things I regret, but I can't change that." He shook his head. "Just think about it, okay? I know that might be a little difficult for you, but—"

Pyro bit his ankle before he knew it, and Ash figured he had made one insult too many.

"Cute, Blondie," Miriam smiled, setting in the other earring.

****

Pikachu stuck her head in on Pyro, who was lounging on a window seat and staring outside. She slowly started to creep in, hunched back, then—

"Don't you even think about it."

She relaxed and smiled, leaping up next to him. "I thought you might be losing it," she teased.

Pyro turned his head slightly to look at her, eyes narrowed, but didn't comment. His tails twitched. "Leaving soon."

"Yep, we are! Have to get training again!"

The fox gave a derisive snort. "If that's what you call it."

She sighed, shaking her head. "What's wrong?"

He paused for a moment. "Tell me, Rodent, in your finite"—Pikachu frowned at him—"wisdom, do you really think all of us leaving for this training"—he spat the word out—"is for the best for all of us?"

Pikachu tilted her ears quizzically. What was Pyro getting at? Did he think their Trainers should split up? She had never thought of that. Pikachu was still content in the idea that they would travel together . . . well, not forever, but well, forever. "What do you mean?"

"I really think Miriam and Shamin are totally cut out for this training, don't you?" he said sarcastically. His eyes looked at her. "Maybe it's just me, but I think they'd have a better life if they stayed here. They don't care to Train."

She doubted it was just him. Damn him, why did Pyro have to do this?! Could he just accept things and not change them for the better? Suddenly she paused in the thought. She had never noticed it before, but suddenly Pyro and her Pikapi were a lot alike. Pyro, despite all his complaining, nagging, whining, ego, pride, mischievous nature, and everything, cared about Pokémon, if only because he was one. He always made sure Miriam and Shamin had fun, not only because he was loyal to Miriam, but because he understood that they were trekking in the wilderness as well. They had a right to something just as much as her Pikapi, even more so because they weren't benefiting themselves. She sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I guess so. Do you think Pikapi . . ."

"It doesn't really matter what he thinks. Blondie is an idiot, but . . ." Pyro paused, then continued, " . . . but he's not blind."

Pikachu didn't actually care to know what he meant, looking at him intently. "Well, what do you think is going to happen?"

****

Ash set the phone back down, then looked at Shamin with a broad grin. "Three tickets, cruise-line extreme."

She jumped with excitement. "Oh, cool! First-class and everything?"

He nodded. "Of course! Miriam wouldn't have it any other way, you know."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Shamin gave a small jig, then paused. "You think Miriam'll actually come along?"

He feigned his stupidity. "What do you mean?"

"This is like her dream!" Shamin gushed. "She could be famous, and don't pretend you didn't think it. I can see the lie on your face, Shan!"

Ash smiled. So he wasn't the only one who thought that. "Well, you go talk to her. Maybe you'll stay as well." He bit his tongue the second the words were out.

Shamin's mouth dropped slightly, and then she glared at him, taking the remark to heart. "Maybe I will. I'm going to go talk to Miriam anyway."

****

He avoided the eighteen other people the bustled around the place, hiding outside. Him and his big mouth! Just like everyone said, it got him in trouble.

Ash sighed, then looked up at Pikachu in the tree above him. "I am an idiot, you know that, Pikachu."

"Pi," she smiled down, and he frowned at her.

"You weren't supposed to agree with that," he muttered, crossing his arms.

Pikachu chuckled from her perch, sliding down and resting onto his lap. "Pikapi, chu pika Chuka pi Chupi. Chu pika chu pi," she reassured.

"That's not the point, Pikachu," he sighed.

"Chu?" she asked quizzically, tilting an ear. "Pi chu, ka?"

"It's . . ." He looked at her eager face awaiting his explanation, then sighed, petting her ears. "Nothing. Never mind."

She shook her head at him but did not press the matter further, allowing her Pikapi the privacy and space he needed. He had been sitting out her most the morning, avoiding meals, mostly eating a bit of his rations. She had stayed with him.

"There ya are." Ash and Pikachu both jumped as Miriam came riding up on the Ponyta sidesaddle. "Been lookin' for ya."

"Really?"

She slid down from the pony, then recalled it into a Pokéball with a careless attitude. And, just as careless, she tossed it to Ash. "They wanted me to give ya that."

"What?" Ash asked, staring at the Pokéball. "Why?"

"She likes you. Don't question gifts. It's rude."

Ash slid the Pokéball into his belt, hoping this wasn't a gift given without permission. That would be just like Miriam. "Thank you, Ms. Courteous."

She set her hands on her hips. "Blondie, we got to talk."

"About what?"

"I know."

Well, there was a broad statement, full of many possible insults. "Are you staying?" he asked casually, as if uncaring.

Miriam paused, then nodded. "Yeah. Carmen asked me to. Well, actually, Carmen asked me to ask ya to stay, but I told her that ain't gonna be very likely, and P.J. suggested I stay since Pyro was already a hit with that Dr. Jonas. He was goin' on and on about miniature Ninetales bein' rare. I wanted to sic Pyro on him, but it was bad timin', I thought."

"Miniature Ninetales are rare," Ash murmured, saddened at the admission. "What about Shamin?"

"Oh, she's goin' with ya," Miriam grinned. "First time on a cruise-liner, she ain't passin' that up any time soon. I was tempted to stick around for that same reason, ya know."

"Especially with me paying, I suppose. We'll write, of course."

"I want pretty postcards," she drawled, raising her eyebrow at him. "Did ya know she talked to me about the exact same thing ya did?"

"I thought she might," Ash agreed, running a hand through his hair.

"She was a better convincer than ya were, ya know."

"Well, I don't actually want you to go."

Her face softened at the admission, but only for a second. "Shammy doesn't want me to stay here either, but she still did a better job. And now back to the original subject. I think it's time we level with each other."

"'Level'?" Ash repeated dumbly. Miriam smiled, then dug into her pocket. Ash watched as she withdrew a folded and battered up square of a paper, then tossed it at him. He carefully unfolded it and kept an extremely blank look on his face as he read his name on the missing poster, saw the reward circled many times over. "So . . . you knew the whole time?" he got out in a soft whisper.

Pikachu looked up at Miriam as the woman nodded. "Most of the time, anyway," she corrected.

"Big reward," Ash said dryly, folding the paper back up.

"Tell me bout it, Ash."

He winced at his name. "You never turned me in?"

Miriam waved a hand. "Don't get all guilt-ridden and gushy with me, Blondie. I went through a damn lot of conscience screamin' to come to that decision, and it wasn't easy. I hated myself for a long time, but hey, what are friends for."

"You still consider me a friend after I lied to you all this time?"

"Blondie, what makes ya think me and Shammy haven't been lyin' to ya?" Her eyebrow raised at his expression. "I don't care that ya lied. Ya had good reason. Heaven knows I wouldn't trust me with a reward that big. I forgive ya."

He smiled. "Thanks."

"But Shammy . . ."

Panic edged into his voice. "You told her?"

Miriam shook her head. "Not my place. But she's not goin' to be too happy, I tell ya."

"Why d—?"

"Ya'd better tell her," Miriam continued, ignoring him now. "Shamin can keep her mouth shut if she has to, ya know."

Ash blinked suddenly as Miriam stuck her hand out. "Consider this our parting of ways, eh, Blondie?"

He took her hand, shaking it. "Hopefully not for long."

She gave a small smile. "With my luck, it won't be nearly long enough. Pity now ya decide to actually give us a treat for transportation."

Ash grinned, then sudden choked on a lump in his throat. With a great speed, he jumped up and hugged Miriam tightly, so much that she took a startled step back. "Thanks for everything, Miriam."

She hugged him back. "Ah, Blondie, I told ya not to get all gushy. Now my clothes are all wrinkled! Rodent, ya get off my boot!" she scolded, as Pikachu clutched the position in her own little hug.

"Chuka, pikachu pi ka chupi!"

"Timmy can stay down that well!"

"She didn't say that, Miriam," Ash reprimanded. "And that's getting really old, you know."

Miriam frowned at him, then, like a childish three-year-old, pushed him to the ground. From his perch on the ground, rubbing his sore bottom, Ash could distinctly see Miriam's superior look and heard Pikachu squeal with laughter.

"Maybe this parting won't be long enough," he muttered.