Summary—Flashbacks are over! Yeah! Miriam attempts to kill Ash, and Tennis and Volley, a unique Espeon/Umbreon duo, make an appearance, with a servant from the Constellation League.
Note: A Zealot is a fanatic or devotee.
Chapter 18:
Ghosts
The transition from dream to wake was subtle, but, in a strange way, abrupt. The audience could easily feel that their minds were slipping from the images, but the initial shock from the change caused their hearts to speed up in any case.
It was dim outside the windows, meaning that they had sat for all of the afternoon. Each in his or her own right tried to recap all of the images that they had just seen, but it was impossible to remember. It was like they knew it happened and if someone told them what had, they'd say, "Yeah, that's right!" but it was impossible for them to simply come out and say what they saw without a prompt from another person.
Gary spoke first. "That can't be it," he said bitingly.
"It's not." The reply was muffled and quiet.
Mrs. Ketchum was the first to react, her motherly concern taking over. "Are you all right, Pumpkin?" she asked rushing to his side.
Ash was hanging his head between his knees, holding his forehead and temples in his hands and taking deep breaths. He looked up briefly to give her a reassuring smile, then returned to his position. "I'm fine, just . . . tired. It's hard to connect to a GipSi for a great deal of time. They're so hyperactive, and can't stay focused. Especially this one."
GipSi's cheeks puffed out in indignation. "See!"
"Explains the blurry picture," Gary muttered, although he truly wasn't in the comment.
The blond trainer sat up slowly, stretching. "Time for breakfast, I suppose?"
Misty blinked. "Breakfast?"
"It's morning," Ash pointed out.
They all looked at each other, surprised. All of them had been up all night, and none were not remotely tired.
"The trance is like a half sleep-half awake thing," Ash said, reading their minds as he stood. GipSi leaped onto his shoulder and up into his hair, curling into a ball as if to sleep. "Your heart-rate and breathing slows down like when you're asleep, and your mind sort of just hangs and absorbs the images."
"Interesting," Tracey commented as he jotted down some notes.
"So we've been up all night?" Gary asked. Ash thought about it, then nodded.
"In a sense, yes, I suppose." He paused. "Is your Umbreon all right?"
Everyone looked at Gary's Umbreon, who was shaking his head wildly.
"What's wrong, Umbreon?" Gary asked, suddenly doting over the Pokémon.
"Bree!" he snapped, blinking his eyes rapidly as if to clear his vision.
"Pikachu pika pikachu pi ka kapi," Pikachu said suddenly looking out the window in a worried manner while both Brock and Tracey went over to help Gary. "Pikachu!" she lamented.
"Impossible," Ash said dismissive, worry etched onto his face as he studied the Umbreon.
"What is?" Gary demanded.
Suddenly Umbreon's effects cleared, and he looked at his Trainer to say that he was all right.
"Maybe GipSi's psychic powers meddled with Umbreon," Tracey tried, seeing that the squirrel was watching them, eyes glowing.
Ash raised his eyes. "GipSi!" he scolded.
"See gippy gip see!" she squeaked back hotly and rapidly, tail twitching wildly. "See gi giip! See gippy gipipipee!" By that time she had scurried down nose-to-nose with Ash, glaring at him upside-down.
"What'd she say?" Misty asked.
"Do I look like I understand GipSi-nese?" Ash snapped, clearly agitated over the scolding. "Damn, they speak so rapidly." Even still, his lips were moving as he tried to understand. "Normally she speaks telepathically with me . . ."
"Chupikachu," Pikachu said, rushing over and starting to converse with the squirrel. After they finished, she looked solemnly at Ash. "Pikachu pika."
"Over-active imagination," Ash said slowly. "Is he okay, Gary?"
"Looks that way," Gary said slowly, running his hands over the sleek body. "What did your bloody rodent do to him?"
"Panicked," Ash said carefully. "I'm sorry. GipSi doesn't get along well with other psychic type?" It sounded like a question, like Ash was grasping at straws to find a plausible excuse. "I think you should go back outside," he said quickly, nodding his head to toss the GipSi lightly back into his hair.
She giggled inanely. "See, gippy gip."
"Why are her eyes still glowing?" Tracey asked.
Ash pretended not to hear as he grabbed his pack and dashed out the door, Pikachu at his heels. "We're going to eat at the café, Mom," he said by way of departing.
"All . . . right," she said, watching him leave with a worried expression on her face.
"Bree um," the Umbreon murmured, shaking his head again.
Misty frowned. "Mrs. Ketchum, would you mind—"
"Please do, Misty," Mrs. Ketchum said softly. "I'm sure he's fine, though."
"I'll come with you," Gary said, still wondering about his Umbreon. Nothing hurt his Pokémon and stayed unknown to him. He'd rip—painfully, if necessary—the information from Ash to find out. "Do you think you're up to coming, Umbreon?"
"Let him stay here," Mrs. Ketchum smiled. "I've got some of Brock's food pellets in the cupboard."
Seeing the Pokémon's eyes light up, Gary smiled. "Thanks."
"Come on, then," Misty said, heading towards the door. Gary was right behind her, and, with a nodded, Tracey and Brock followed.
****
Ash sighed, bent over the workbook and scratching a pencil over the papers. Figures danced down in columns, a final sum circled at the bottom. Pikachu watched him in approval, munching on some ketchup/syrup covered pancakes. "Ka?"
He gave her a smile, then sipped his apple juice. "I can't really decide which is harder. This or Pokémon Training?" He chuckled, starting on the next page. "I shouldn't have let this slip so far behind. I'm never going to get back on schedule."
"Chu pikachu ka pikachu chu," she grinned.
"I thought you were supposed to make sure that it didn't happen."
Pikachu shrugged, then looked around the café. "Pikachu pika pikachu kachu pika?"
"It doesn't really matter, does it?" he said lightly. "It doesn't. That part of my life is over."
"Chu," she disagreed. He made no comment, sighing. Pikachu shook her head, touching his arm gently. "Chupi pikachu pika, Pikapi." Ash shrugged, returning his focus to his workbook.
"So you say," he murmured.
He worked in quiet for a while, before Pikachu got his attention again, pointing to the familiar troupe girls. Ash sighed, quickly slipping the book into his bag and getting up to leave. They were really getting to be annoying, almost as bad as the damned reporters when he first came back. They had the nasty ability to knock on a door and have him open it looking like crap, camera ready. Even now a few reporters tried to get "the exclusive", but not got much further than his name. Ash could be very rude and very deaf.
For some reason, reporters seemed to think that having an alias and then the world suddenly finding out what your real name really is deserved front-page news. Ash disagreed, especially when it dealt with him. It was his life, and he didn't need some tabloid reporter telling the world it. Damn, that'd have been a great way for him mom to find out. Yet, of course, there were the articles that were printed that had maybe a grain of salt—if they were lucky—of truth in them. But Ash was pretty sure he hadn't spent the night with any of those girls, just as much as he was sure he wasn't in Riverdrop when he—well, not really him, as he was in Ziganka—got drunk and arrested. Ash knew his mom wanted to believe him over the papers, but it was hard on her. Almost everyone else believed them, and he had gotten a few stares when he did venture out, as well as a few tag-along reporters, which gave Ash no end of trouble. He valued his privacy a lot, as one sneaky tabloid reporter found out. Ash still thought that was poetic justice, sending a \l "Zealots" on the sneak. The little guy was probably still following the reporter, clutching the Psyduck-imprinted boxers to his chest and the look of absolute adoration on his so-ugly-it's-cute fuzzy face.
Of course, eventually the Zealots would return to Ash, always true to the first thing that caught his interest (and the fact that Ash was his Trainer), but that would be a long time in coming. Until then, the Zealots would make life absolutely miserable for the reporter. Ash personally knew the little guy had it in him.
Don't get Ash wrong, he had been the cover of a-many articles and magazines. It was obligation or something, he supposed, but he had been on nowhere near the numbers he should have been. The only reason he was on those was that over his travels he had befriended people that did become reporters. Todd instantly came to mind, with his camera and smile. Todd had actually knocked on the door—he didn't even have his camera up to take the picture when the door opened!—and asked Mrs. Ketchum very politely if he could talk to Ash. It turned out that his editor had found out that he had known Ash as a child and shoved the assignment on him, which caused a bit of friction between the two, for the photographer was scheduled to go to a tropical island with his ahem girlfriend for his vacation. The editor claimed he had no choice, for Todd Snap photographic abilities were the best, and they needed someone good to "get the scoop". Ash remembered frowning at the term. Todd then asked very plainly if he could merely follow Ash around for the day, get the task done, and get lost. He said was in too much stress, valued his legs, and didn't want to be chased by Pokémon to risk trailing Ash. The proposal intrigued Ash, for Todd was the first to actually ask for permission. Todd had been shocked at his peals of laughter, taking it as a no. Ash then said he'd be honored if he followed him around all day, as long as Ash never saw him. He wouldn't try to lose him, he wouldn't sic any Pokémon on him, he wouldn't kill him. Todd just had to stay out of sight, and, if Ash ever saw him, he couldn't take pictures for a full ten minutes.
The proposal interested Todd, and he asked why. Ash merely shrugged and said because Todd had decent manners.
The next day, Ash had been almost relaxed going about his day. (Todd said he had to go outside and do something, not just watch TV.) He knew Todd was somewhere, but he didn't know where, and it made it sort of a challenge to find him. It was like an "adult" game of hide-and-seek. Todd was good, although he did make a few slip-ups. He managed to fall out of the tree and almost landed painfully to the ground, but Ash's Gligar caught him and both laughed while Todd hung upside-down. (Ash had borrowed the camera to take a picture.) Of course, Ash didn't always speak when he saw Todd, mostly because he wasn't sure if he actually saw the photographer. Of course, when he saw the magazine, he knew that actually he had. It turned out most of the magazine was Todd's work—A Photographic Essay of Ash "Shan" Ketchum—and the story related the photos, with Todd's humor touching the words. In fact, Todd had even dug out pictures he had taken of Ash when they were kids. The last photo, though, touched Ash, showing the two of them together as friends with Todd signing a thank you.
He slipped out of the restaurant and started to walk at a fast pace down the street, slipping between alleys. Pallet wasn't that big, but it was possible to lose someone in it. Barely, but it was possible. And Ash had perfected slipping away from prying eyes over these past months.
"Pika?" Pikachu chirped at his feet, smiling and pointing to the cafe where their old friends were performing. Light music could be heard wafting through the air towards them. She looked up at him, eyes hopeful.
Ash chuckled. "Hey, you can go off. I'm not gonna stop you, you know."
"Chu chi pi, Pikapi," she stated, pulling at his pants leg. "Piiiii!"
A look of indecision crossed his face, the refusal on his lips, but Ash felt himself melting under her big Pikachu eyes. It was one of her secret, not-by-the-book attacks, and Ash loved her for it, except when she made him do something he really didn't want to do, of course. He sighed to the sky. "Fine. Whatever you want, Princess," he said and gave a phony bow.
"PI!" she said importantly.
"I'm not going any lower," he grinned, looking out into the street for trouble before crossing. Once inside the cafe, he quickly melted into the shadows while Pikachu scampered closer to the stage.
Carmen was up on the stage, playing a guitar while Sunflora, Bellosom, and Bellsprout weaved around. He briefly wondered when Carmen fell into a plant-Pokémon, who had more working for in in the Water department. True, she was no Marzena, but Carmen always seemed to mesh with Water. Daisy had been in plant. Of course, this was only in his obviously worthless opinion. Ash smiled. Her wardrobe had changed little, he supposed. She wasn't punk looking anymore, but she still dressed to the right . . . diagonal. Briefly he wondered what her real hair color was, but tossed it aside. It would have been like wondering but Pyro's age actually was.
"Hey, there." Ash jumped slightly, then smiled at the familiar strawberry blond.
"Daisy. Still silent as ever."
She crinkled her nose, taking off her hat and nodding towards the stage. "What do you think of them?"
"Surprised Carmen's taking them on, I suppose."
Daisy laughed, smoothing out her Jr. Miss shirt. Gone were the days of overalls and plaid for this girl. Ash missed it. "Awww . . . yeah. John backed out last moment. Claimed projectile vomiting. Actually, he got stone-cold drunk last night with Harris."
"Bad role models."
"I know. You should have seen me this morning." He gave her a look. The hardest thing Daisy drank was a near-overdose of NiteQuil in her cocoa when the flu came around. "I was the one who had to deal with the drunks."
He laughed. Daisy was exceptionally impatient with anyone drunk at three in the morning when she had been vividly dreaming of hunky, near naked model. "No details, please."
"Oh, I won't soil your virgin ears with what I did to them. But it was good. Or should I say bad." She grinned wickedly, and then more kindly. "Are you gonna come up one of these times? We could do our dance number, provided no deep dips?"
Ash stuck out his tongue in disdain. "Ehh, please, not up on stage again. I beg of you. I throw myself on the mercy of the . . . wait, strike that."
"That's right." She poked his chest. "We have no mercy! Mwah-hahahaha." She waved away her evil laugh. "I figured I had to ask. Darryl will if he catches you."
"Darryl won't ask me to do anything," Ash said dryly. "More like order. And if he gets Bobby on his side, Mew help me."
"Don'tcha know it. I won't tell them you're here though." Her nose crinkled again, and Daisy squeezed his arm. "Been nice seeing you, Ash. Don't be a stranger, okay?"
"Comes with the mystique, I thought," he teased, but nodded.
She grinned again. "Maybe you could at least come up for a flute solo. Crowd always loved that, you know." She was pleading, lightly. "Always good PR if we can get the Champ up with us."
"No promises."
Stepping away, Daisy smiled. "I'd never expect. See you around."
Ash watched her go, his smile slowly fading. He liked Daisy. Her and Avi, who was currently schooling in Kanto. They had never expected him to fold and follow. Daisy had never held it against him that he had lied to the group, to her. It was nice to just be taken in and forgiven.
He eyes went back to the stage as Carmen finished. Jules, Marzena, Sammy, and Jeromy were making it up, always with their lighter, more engaging songs. When they were together and playing, they never played elevator music, for a lack of a better term. If they played it, the audience watched and saw. The quartet never did something so moving it touched you—that was for solos or duets—but it entertained.
It was such an odd group of friends he had, Ash supposed. The Pokémon—they never had changed their name, despite their numerous promises to do so—was a island where he always went when he needed a break from Training. They were so different from him in most respects, but they held together and took his extra hands for a few weeks or month every year. Heaven knows what could have happened to him if there hadn't been this group in his life. He wouldn't have burned out, no, but something else would have happened.
He would have distanced, he supposed. Been unable to connect with anyone. Even with Shamin as his constant—or perhaps not so constant, considering she left him more oft than not to travel by himself when they reached a new level of bickering—companion, relating to people had become difficult in everyday situations. Even with company, Ash reckoned he had always traveled alone on his journey, some part of him unable to touch or be touched by someone else. Heaven knows Shamin complained about it enough—how he never let her help him, how he stopped talking to her even when nothing was wrong, how he never blended with people, how come he seemed so rude.
But he had tried, tried to keep the walls from building around him. He never knew why they built themselves up in the first place, but that they did. The more he worked with Pokémon, the less the human circle mattered, the less he could understand. Even now Ash could remember the feelings as isolation and alienation. When he won Indigo, God, he couldn't touch the people. Their cheers hadn't meant anything to him. It was all nothing, just . . . white noise in his ears, pressing from all sides, crushing so that he had to escape quickly back to the simpler world of Training.
The walls scared him, they did. It was scary to him, now, to admit that Pikachu was his closest friend, that he could relate to a Pokémon easier than to a Human.
Once, just once, he confided that to Shamin. He remembered her just staring at him for the longest time, blue eyes holding something. He knew he had hurt her deeply with that statement. She had always thought they were best friends to each other, more than that, and he delivered the crushing blow that he could relate more to Pikachu than to Humans. To her, in essence.
He remembered hearing her cry when she thought he had been asleep.
At the time thought, they had sat in silence, him staring at the fire, Shamin staring at him, Pikachu and Trigger asleep in the corner, sky bright with stars.
Shamin took a deep breath. "Ash, you don't really think that, do you?" she asked quietly, hardly above the insects of the night.
He nodded slightly, looking down at the ground between his shows. "I think I do," he whispered back, suddenly ashamed to have admitted it. It had just come out.
He heard her lips, could almost hear her force her lips into a quick smile. She set a hand on his knee and squeezed, and Ash looked up. "Do you know what the Gratema believe?"
Of course he hadn't. It was useless trivia. "No."
"They believe that everything, everyone is a Pokémon. The trees themselves, rocks, the sky, the sun, us."
"What a silly belief," he said, catching in his throat. He knew what she was trying to do, and part of him would forever be grateful to her.
"No, it's not Ash. It's not." She blinked slowly. "What kind of Pokémon Master can't commune with every type Pokémon there is?"
He had to say it. "One that's real."
Her head shook, and she swallowed. She was trying not to cry. "One that's not trying hard enough," she whispered, eyes pleading.
Ash smiled sadly and shook his head, standing up. Shamin's hand fell away. "Good night, Shamin."
"G'night, Ash."
She had left two days later, to spend time with Miriam. Ash knew she hadn't told Miriam of the conversation. Miriam would have defiantly given him an earful, Pyro would have taken a mouthful. It had been nearly two months before Ash finally made it to the little troupe, another Trophy in hand, another scar on his back. Hugs had been passed all around, as was custom, and Shamin had looked at him with her eyes, silently asking the question. He had given some lame, feeble smile, she gave it back, then asked him to watch the show with her. Of course he had agreed.
You didn't turn away an offer like that.
The show was melancholy, different from the usual idea that the group dallied with. At first, Ash thought it was because of Jules, who had seriously liked more somber ideas, more classical, less dance club. At first, of course.
"This used to be my playground
This used to be my childhood dream
This used to be the place I ran to
Whenever I was in need
Of a friend
Why did it have to end
And why do they always say
Don't look back?
Keep your head held high?
Don't ask them why
Because life is short.
And before you know
You're feeling old
And your heart is breaking.
Don't hold on to the past . . .
Well that's too much to ask.
Live and learn
Well the years they flew
And we never knew
We were foolish then
We would never tire
And that little fire
Is still alive in me
It will never go away
Can't say goodbye to yesterday,
can't say goodbye
This used to be my playground
This used to be my childhood dream
This used to be the place I ran to
Whenever I was in need
Of a friend.
Why did it have to end
And why do they always say . . .
No regrets?
But I wish that you were here with me
Well then there's hope yet I can see your face
In our secret place
You're not just a memory
Say goodbye to yesterday, the dream
Those are words I'll never say, I'll never say
This used to be my playground - used to be
This used to be our pride and joy
This used to be the place we ran to
That no one in the world could dare destroy . . .
I wish you were standing here with me . . .
This used to be our secret hiding place . . .
This used to be our playground - used to be
This used to be our childhood dream
This used to be the place we ran to
The best things in life are always free
Wishing you were here with me . . ."
"Why?" he asked, looking at Shamin.
She looked back innocently. Somehow she had managed to perfect the look. "What?"
"Why this?"
"Didn't you read the dedication? 'For Trainers, in troubling times'?"
"You shouldn't have brought them into this?"
Shamin glared at him. "Into what? You're not the only Trainer that Life spits out. The world doesn't center around you, Ash." She raised her head. "And if I did, what of it? Friends keep you grounded."
Darryl had started to sing in the background.
"A trainer's life is hard
You're travel routes so far
Away from friends and family . . .
"You should go home, Ash."
"I will."
"Now. I'll help."
"No, it won't."
"Yes, it will. Trust me."
"You learn to sacrifice
Always ready to pay the price
But what you have to understand
Even heroes need a helping-hand . . ."
He wanted to say "I do", but what came out is, "I can't."
"Whatever you want, whatever you need
You know you can always count on me
There'll always be someone waiting
'Cause you're never too far from home
Where ever you go, whatever you do
You know we'll be there to pull you through
You know there'll be someone waiting
'Cause you're never too far from home."
Shamin pulled back. "Why not? Because I'm not a Pokémon?" she hissed.
"No!"
"If I turned into an . . . an Eevee you could suddenly relate to me better?!"
"You won't turn into a Eevee," he argued pointless.
"Then what? Huh?"
"We never had a doubt
You'd always figure out
Which way you're going . . ."
"I don't know what, Shamin!"
"You're supposed to be a Pokémon wannabe Master and you can't pick a Pokémon that could allow me to actually talk to you!"
"That's not what I meant!" He never could see Shamin as one Pokémon, an all-encompassing one that completely fit her. "You don't work like that!"
"So is that why Pokémon are so much easier for you, because they're simpler?"
His mouth opened, but no words came out.
"Be proud of what you've done
And the person you've become
But if you ever feel afraid
We're gonna help you find your way
Whatever you want, whatever you need
All of our love will set you free
You know there'll be someone waiting
'Cause you're never too far from home
You're never too far from home!"
"Is that it? Because you can figure out what Pokémon do, while people are too unpredictable?" Shamin demanded.
"No! It's not . . that . . ."
"Then what?"
Whatever you want, whatever you need
All of our love will set you free
You know there'll be someone waiting
You're never too far from home"
"I don't know, Shamin!"
Where ever you go, whatever you do
All of your dreams will soon come true
You know there'll be someone waiting
You're never too far from home
She looked at him, really looked at him. "Ash, what are you going to do when you have no choice but to either choose to go home or go off into the Pokémon life? Are you going to choose Pokémon over your mother, over your family, friends, over me? What are you going to choose?"
"You. You guys, of course! I can't . . . I couldn't just leave my mom, my dad . . ."
"But what have you been doing all this time!"
"Training!"
"Hiding! Ash, please, just go home."
"You're never too far from home . . . "
Ash looked at her hopelessly. "I . . . I can't . . ."
"That's my excuse," Shamin snapped. "Please, before it's too late, before you really, really can't! Please?"
" I . . .I will."
"Promise me."
"I promise, Shamin."
She looked at him. "You know I'd do anything for you, Ash?"
"Well, not anything, Shamin," he pointed out.
"Shut up. You do know, right?"
"Of course."
"Do the same for me, then."
"I will."
Her look said she clearly didn't believe him, but she dropped the subject and smiled, again the feeble, lame smile. He smiled it right back. And later they had taken hands and walked through the small city.
Ash folded back to the present as Daisy stepped up, smiling warmly, and PJ smirked at keyboard.
"Countless eyes are watching
In this our finest hour
It's time to realize the dream
Of who we really are
I'm gonna freeze this space in time
Rise to make the call
Cease the moment
Make it mine
And through it all
Straight as the arrow flies
I will run towards the finish line
With all the strength I've found
My feet won't touch the ground
I will scale the heights if I believe
The wings of faith will carry me
I'll go the distance just to reach
The arms I'm running to
I'll go the extra mile for you
I know it won't be easy
To make you understand
I want to take the glory
And put it in your hands
'Cause your the light that makes me shine
You're the hero in my eyes
Win or lose
Do or die
I am aiming high.
Straight as the arrow flies
I will run towards the finish line
With all the strength I've found
My feet won't touch the ground
I will scale the heights if I believe
The wings of faith will carry me
I'll go the distance just to reach
The arms I'm running to
I'll go the extra mile for you
(Go the extra mile)
In the end
(Go the extra mile)
I want to be able to say
I gave all of me
For the world to see
I would do it all again
I'd go the extra mile
Straight as the arrow flies
I will run towards the finish line
With all the strength I've found
(All the strength I've found)
My feet won't touch the ground
I will scale the heights if I believe
The wings of faith will carry me
I'll go the distance just to reach
The arms I'm running to
I'll go the extra mile
For you
Knowing it will be worth while
I will go the extra mile
For you . . ."
The entire song he had looked away. Shamin said that was her song, she sang it to him once, albeit poorly. He took a deep breath, suddenly feeling trapped. He had to get out, just get out and away before more memories plagued his conscience. In a blur, he felt himself leave the building, and outside Ash closed his eyes , leaning against a wall, breathing deeply.
"At least I kept my promise," he said quietly.
Within a few minutes Pikachu peaked out, have sensed that her Trainer had left. "Pi?" she asked concerned, and the concern was in no way relieved when Ash smiled down at her with that smile. "Pikapi?"
Ash smiled at her concern, but then thought about other things. By now the others would have left to come after and question him, so he could head back. His mother wouldn't interrogate him. There would be a sanctuary for a brief time.
"Let's head back," he sighed. Maybe he could get a few minutes of sleep before the others gave up. Before the memories returned.
****
"Wait!" Brock yelled, halting the hunting party with a jolt.
"What, Brock?" Gary asked, annoyed.
"Do you see Ash?" Tracey asked, scanning the area and trying to see whatever Brock saw.
"No," Brock got out in a soft, sweet voice, sniffing the air. "Better."
Misty slammed her hand into her head. "Let me guess. Jenny or Joy?" she demanded.
"Huh?" Brock murmured, then shock his head. "Neither. It's her."
"Ooh, that covers a lot of area," Gary snapped. "We're looking for ASH! Stalk girls on your own time!"
"I don't stalk girls!" Brock countered.
"That's debatable."
Misty rolled her eyes and continued walking, silently wondering why God created men. Then suddenly she saw a flash of white under a bush, and a set of familiar red eyes looked out.
"Hey, look! There's a Ninetales!" Tracey said, interrupting the debate to jog over and look at the Pokémon.
"That's Miriam's Ninetales!" Brock yelled happily, figuring that it the Pokémon was around, so would his Trainer.
The Ninetales—Pyro, they remembered his name to be—slipped out from the bush and glared at them. "Nine," he snarled. Then his tails arched into a pattern.
"Did you see that!" Tracey exclaimed, almost near shock. "He can control all his tails individually!"
Pyro looked at him as if to say, No duh. And you're supposed to be the most observant of the bunch? He sniffed the air, seemingly upset that the trail went towards them and that he was wasted his time on a red herring as pointless as this one. He snarled to himself, standing up to walk away.
"Hey, there!" Brock called, running over the fox and kneeling in front of him. He received a fireball as punishment for getting in Pyro's way.
"Nasty little guy, isn't he?" Gary commented with a smirk. He was very surprised when a fireball went his way. "Hey, watch the temper!"
"Umm, Pyro?" Misty started hesitantly, seeing that the fox suddenly divulged his fangs to her. "Is Ash with Miriam?"
The fox snorted. "Ni," he answered, laying back his ears to glare at Tracey, who was trying to get a closer look. Then he arched an eyebrow at Misty, as if contemplating something. Whatever he thought seemed to satisfy him, for he suddenly started to jog away.
"I don't think I like him," Gary growled, fixing his hair again.
"How can't you!" Tracey exclaimed. "He's like a perfect specimen of Pokémon of that scale!"
Misty rolled her eyes. "Are you okay, Brock . . ." She trailed off, seeing that the elder was following the Pokémon. "Oh, god! Brock! We don't have time to talk to Miriam!" she yelled.
"Hey, maybe she's looking for him!" he countered. "Ninetales are excellent trackers!"
"He's got a point," Gary admitted.
"And we just happen to meet Miriam because of it," Misty sighed.
"Win some, lose some," Tracey smiled, sketchpad out and attempting to draw and jog at the same time.
"Looks like we're losing more than we're winning," Gary growled, and Misty nodded in agreement.
****
"Miriam! A pleasure to see you again!"
"Looks like Brock found her," Gary commented as they did a slow walk up the hill.
"Excuse me—"
"My, you are looking exquisite today! Not that you weren—YEE OW-CH!"
They saw the scene just as Miriam said, "Thank ya, Pyro." She was massaging the blood back into her arm, while Brock was currently nursing a bloody ankle and trying to appear harmless in front of the growling fox. She saw the others coming up. "Hey! Ya're Blondie's friends, right?" She looked ready to commit murder.
"Yeah, that's us, I suppose," Gary drawled. "Something wrong?"
"Oh, I think I jist got to talk to 'im and clear up this little point of his," she snapped. "Ya know where he is?"
"We're following your Ninetales because we figured he did," Misty explained. "Oh, and sorry about Brock. We have to get a leash for him sometime."
Miriam shrugged. "Pyro, ya know where the lyin' ass is?"
"Nine niii ales tale," he answered, nodding towards them but still glaring at Brock. "Tail nine nine ales ni."
"He's avoidin' ya guys?" Miriam questioned.
"Probably," Gary answered. Miriam nodded slightly.
"Good boy, Pyro. Let's go kill. No, not him!" she snapped, but a smile was on her face when Pyro jumped Brock. "Come alon'."
"Do you know where Ash is?" Misty asked.
"We have a good hunch," she replied tightly.
"So why do you want to kill Ash?" Gary smiled, watching Tracey help Brock to his feet and wondering if Pyro was going to have the honors. If he was, Gary wanted front row seats.
"I tend to get a wee bit upset if someone lies to me," Miriam said in a hard tone. "Especially 'bout what he lied 'bout."
"And what was that?" Misty asked.
"Not yar business," she glared. "He better have a damn good excuse, or be able to run very fast."
"Well, where is he?"
"Pyro reckons he headed back home. Makes sense. If ya're not there to bug him, why shouldn't he head back?"
The others looked at each other. It did make sense.
"Niii," Pyro growled, fur bristling.
"I know whatcha mean," Miriam agreed, eyes darkening. She made a fist.
****
"Pikapi," Pikachu called, looking out the window then running to the bath. "Chu pika pikachu."
Ash spit the water out in the garbage. "Huh?" he got out, wiping his mouth. Damn, almost.
"Chuka pi pikachu pichu kapi," she stated. Then she paused. "Chuka pika chukapika chu."
"Miriam never looks happy this early in the day," Ash yawned, smiling slightly as he moved out of the room to see the closing posse. Then he made a worried face. "Yee, this does not bode well."
"Pi," Pikachu agreed.
"I'll just avoid this, huh?" Ash grinned sadly, lifting the window up. "I do like living with all limbs attached."
"Pikapi," she said disapprovingly, stepping in front of him so he couldn't retreat. "Chuka pika chuchu."
He merely shrugged, slipping off the screen and leaning over to grab a tree branch. "I suppose you're right, as always." He hoisted himself through the window, moving Pikachu aside, who watched her Trainer in exasperation. He then swung over to branch, climbing down. Pikachu followed, shaking her head sadly.
Ash slipped down the tree easily, leaning against it so he could see the others approaching, but so they couldn't see him as well. Yep, Miriam looked ready to kill. What'd he do this time? Ash shook his head. It really never paid to run away from Miriam, or Pyro, but to just face them. Both enjoyed the Chase and the Capture. He who surrendered peacefully died less painfully.
Usually, he mentally added.
"Pika," Pikachu smiled, running down the tree and actually in plain sight of the others. She waved happily at them, rushing over.
"Rodent! Been lookin' all over for ya," Miriam smiled, kneeling down to pet the mouse.
"Chuka . . ." Pikachu said warningly, clearly stating that she knew exactly what for Miriam was looking for them.
"So where's Ash?" Gary asked, looking around intently.
"Chu—pikachu!" she yelped when Pyro gave her a mild fireball for lying. "Chu pikpika chu pikachu!"
Pyro growled. "Niii! Ninetales ni ales!"
"What do you suppose he's saying?" Misty asked Brock. Well, whatever it was, Pikachu didn't like it. Not at all.
"PI!" she sputtered, shocks escaping her cheeks. "Pi PIKACHU! CHUKA PIK—"
"NIN!" he snapped, going down into a defensive crouch. If it was a fight she wanted . . .
"Miriam! Call him off!" Ash ordered suddenly, coming out from behind his tree. He didn't want to see the two friends start a fight over something that was between him and Miriam, a fight that could very well escalate to deadly levels, given the loyalty, stubbornness, and power level the two Pokémon were at.
Miriam gave no such order, walking over to Ash. The others stayed back, knowing that this was personal, and the Pokémon stood poised, neither willing to make the first attack, but willing enough to continue the fight should the other start it.
"What is it, Miriam?" Ash asked, arms crossed over his chest.
He couldn't even blink when Miriam's fist headed for him, nor dodge it. And Miriam always had a powerful jab. Instinctively he leaped back and entered a stance he never thought he'd go into again, let alone against a friend. The others had yelled their surprise at Miriam's actual attack, not actually think she was going to try and kill Ash, rushing over to stop.
"Ya deserved that," Miriam spat before she started her attack anew.
Ash didn't deny it, but idly wondered exactly what Miriam thought it was for as he blocked and leaped back. He wouldn't attack Miriam. If she really wanted to kill him, so be it, but he wouldn't allow himself to attack her.
****
Pikachu was surprised at Miriam's attack, even more than the others. "PI!" she screeched, forgetting Pyro and rushing over to help Ash. Pyro stopped by leaping in front of her. "Get out of my way, Pyro!"
"Not on your life," he growled. "He has it coming for what he did."
"Pikapi did nothing!" Pikachu snapped, trying to get by him, but he nimbly blocked her way again. "Back off, PYRO! I'm warning you!"
He laughed. "Go ahead, Rodent. I eat things like you for breakfast."
Pikachu growled. "Wrong! You never ate things like me!" And she leaped, tumbling into Pyro and sending them rolling.
Pyro bit hard, and Pikachu did the same as they tumbled. When both were away from each other, Pyro's ears were bleeding heavily, and Pikachu was favoring her mangled front paw.
"Stop it, both of you!" Misty screamed, talking to both groups, but more worried about the bleeding Pokémon.
"What's your problem!" Pikachu demanded as they circled.
"I have no problem."
"Why are you frinking attacking us!"
Pyro growled. "Don't even pretend you don't know why!"
"I don't! And neither does Pikapi!"
The fox growled, watching her with narrowed eyes. "I must say, you've become a far better liar—"
"I'm not lying!"
"—or your Trainer has lied to you."
"Pikapi would never lie to me!"
"Or, really?" he snarled. "Well, he had no qualms lying to me or Miriam!"
"We never lied to you!" Pikachu snapped. Now, instead of circling each other, they were glaring at each other with only inches separating them.
"Maybe you use the wrong pronoun, then!"
"What's this all about!"
And Pyro told her.
Pikachu blinked, sitting back hard. "Impossible! I was there! I saw it happen!"
"Liar!"
"Dammit, I'm not lying! I was there, so don't tell me I'm a liar when I plain as day saw it!"
Pyro growled, but backed up slowly. "And what are you saying? Someone pulling wool over both our eyes?"
"It's a trap, a trick!" Pikachu sputtered. "They know Pikapi won't go back without some kind of reason! But Pyro, we saw it! It's nothing but a lie!"
He shook his head, growling, ignoring the trickle of blood that had slowly been making its way down his lean muzzle. "First thing's first, but you've got a Hell of a lot of explaining to do!" Then he started to bound over to their feuding Trainers. Despite Miriam's wonderful ability to fight, Ash had managed to shove her to the ground, knee digging into her back and pinning her arms behind her back, and the others swarmed in closer.
Okay, so the fight was totally uncalled for, totally Miriam's fault, but NO ONE handled Miriam that way! Anger raging, Pyro leaped, Pikachu gripping his tails in a futile effort to hold him back when she saw how the fight had ended. Not again, she pleaded.
"Pikapi!" she yelled as warning as they drew closer.
Ash looked up just in time to see Pyro valet off the ground.
****
Misty could hardly believe her eyes, watching the two old friends fight. Miriam fought well, very well, in fact, and Misty knew that she'd lose against her if they were to battle hand-to-hand. And Ash, he definitely knew what he was doing, blocking and staying just out of reach. All that practice with Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan did serve a purpose.
Gary had tried to subtly yell at them to stop, and Tracey was nursing a bruised cheek from his attempt. Brock, well, other than the fact he could barely walk from Pyro's attack, was totally enthralled at Miriam's ability to move and didn't bother to stop it any more than by saying, "Ash, don't hurt her!"
Pyro and Pikachu both had stopped for the time, something Misty was glad for. Pikachu needed immediate medical attention, and someone had to stop Pyro before someone else needed his share of the attention. At least the Pokémon had more sense than their Trainers did.
And then Pyro saw Miriam's current condition. Misty could barely find her voice to scream as the fox leaped, snarling and sharp teeth bared.
"ASH!"
He ducked and rolled over to the side, and Pyro, with Pikachu still attached to his tails, sailed over Miriam, turning to face where Ash should have been. But the Trainer had planted his hands at the end of the roll and managed to flip backwards several times. He landed perfectly and stood poised for whatever could come next.
Pyro attempted to leap, but Pikachu held fast. "PIKA!" Then he turned on her, growling.
"Nine niiiiiii ales," he snarled darkly, and Pikachu very carefully let go of his tails.
"Pi ka," she got out, smiling apologetically.
Miriam pushed herself up, tossing back her hair with a careless hand. Pyro nuzzled her. "Look what yar bloody Rodent did to my baby!" she hissed, scooping the fox up.
"No worse than what he did to Pikachu," Ash said coolly as Pikachu ran over to him. "He did far worse, in fact," he said grimly, examining the wounded paw.
"Now would someone care to tell me why this even happened?" Gary demanded, taking it upon himself to take Brock's pack and shift for the bandages and Potions. He didn't get closer than five feet to Pyro, so Gary went over to Ash to take care of Pikachu.
"A basic Miriam All-Men-Deserve-To-Die?" Ash mused sarcastically, holding Pikachu so Gary could tend to the wound.
"At least one does!" she snapped back, holding a handkerchief to Pyro's ears.
"Pika! Pikachu pi Chuka pikapikachu pi pichu kaCHU CHU-PPPIIIIIIIIKAAAAA!" she yelled as Gary sprayed some disinfectant on her wound.
"Hold still, then," Gary said grimly, tying the bandage.
"What were you saying?" Ash asked calmly. Pikachu blinked at him. Was he even listening to her?
"Pikapi!" she lamented. "Chuka pikachu pi pikachu chu!"
Ash looked at Miriam. "So this is what this is all about?" He spoke so softly, so carefully.
"I don't speak Rodent," Miriam snapped. "But probably. And here's evidence, plain and simple." She produced a piece of paper from her pocket and waved it towards him. "Why the Hell did ya lie to me?"
"I never lied to you, Miriam."
"Excuse me, but is there this ring of conversation that just bypasses us completely?" Misty shouted. First she tried to kill him, and now they're having a pleasant chitchat! "What's going on?"
"Miriam made a mistake."
"I don't make mistakes," she growled. "Do ya know how much grief ya put me through with yar tale!"
Ash hung his head. "I can imagine, Miriam, but I never lied to you. How could you even think that I would about this?"
"And what 'bout this, huh?"
"Delay in the mail, maybe," Ash tried, then shrugged. "Anyway, it doesn't matter. It's too late."
Miriam narrowed her eyes. "That's some delay in the mail, I'll say. Why don't ya read the letter, huh?" She walked over and shoved the letter to him. Ash sighed and started to read it.
It was very quiet while Ash read the letter.
"Who do you suppose it's from?" Tracey asked quietly to the others. They all shrugged. It was just another mystery about Ash that they had to solve.
A sharp intake of breath from Ash drew their attention back. "That's impossible," he murmured.
"What is?" Misty demanded, hating the fact that she had no idea as to what was going on.
Ash crumpled the letter in his hand. "Is this some cruel joke, Miriam?" he demanded. "Because I'm not laughing."
"And neither am I!"
"Do you think I'm stupid enough to think this isn't a trick? Dammit, I told you I tried, all right? I tried. Fine, it was my fault! Are you happy! It was all my fault! But that's no reason to do something like this, Miriam! None!"
Miriam glared at him, and then gasped when she saw that he was crying. "Then tell me what it is?"
Ash torn the letter into tiny pieces, and when he looked back up, the tears were gone. "I'll find out soon enough. Damn, I know I will. And I will kill the one responsible for this, I promise," he said coldly.
They all looked at him in shock because of the conviction they heard.
****
"So you're Miriam?" Mrs. Ketchum smiled, always happy to meet one of Ash's friends.
Miriam smiled, taking the cup of tea offered. "Yep. Just passin' through, Mrs. Ketchum."
"Your Ninetales is very beautiful," she smiled, petting Pyro, who all but purred under her hand.
"Niii," he dripped.
"Chu pikachu?" Pikachu teased off-handedly, which caused Pyro to jerk out of his pleasure.
"Ales?!" he demanded incredulously. Pikachu merely smiled, pausing in chewing her biscuit. "Ninetales ninenine!" She laughed.
"Kapi chupichu." And then Pyro grinned devilishly.
"What was that all about?" Tracey asked Miriam as he drew the Pokémon. She shrugged, sipping her tea.
"I barely understand Pyro when he talks to other Pokémon, I'm sorry to say. I think he slips into a whole new language when he talks to Rodent, anyway."
"Well, what did Pikachu say, Ash?" Brock asked, icing his ankle and sitting semi-close to Miriam, as Ash sipped his tea. There was a faint smile on Ash's face before he answered.
"Nothing I can divulge that wouldn't cause me to lose my hand with the loss of Pyro's integrity," he said softly.
"Pyro doesn't need to lose that for ya to lose a hand," Miriam said darkly.
"Nor does it have to be Pyro that takes it." Ash sipped his tea quite calmly.
Everyone looked at Ash while trying to seem like they weren't. Mrs. Ketchum cleared her throat. "Would you like something to eat, Miriam?" She was already passing a plate.
"Thank ya."
"So, Ash, would you mind terribly if you told us all what is going on?" Gary asked sarcastically, inspecting Umbreon. Pyro had taken an immediate dislike to the dark Pokémon and had expressed it as only he could: painfully. Thankfully, Umbreon was beyond the level of starting a squabble, although Gary conceded it would have been terribly difficult for the Psychic Pokémon to actually fight back safely and by the rules. Pyro didn't play by those tactics.
Luckily, Mr. Mime had been out shopping.
Gary had been ticked that Miriam hadn't even told her Pokémon off. In fact, they had gotten into a fight about it, which only ended when Ash intervened, before Pyro. Gary had verbally expressed Miriam's lack of ability as a Trainer by way of a last word. Miriam had countered by saying she never was a Pokemon Trainer, nor would she ever be one. It was a profession suited only to unintelligent people "such as yarself."
"Yes, I would," Ash said simply, allowing a snickering Pikachu to climb onto his lap. "Don't even think about it."
"Ka?" she asked innocently. Ash looked at her sternly, and Pikachu conceded by stepping off and heading outside for a moment. Everyone followed her for a moment, wondering what was going on, but were brought back when Ash continued.
"I'm waiting for something, Gary, all right? If I knew, I wouldn't be waiting for it." He poured himself some more tea. "But I suspect it will be very loud and . . . unique, if I guess right."
"And what do you guess?" Gary snapped.
"I don't guess."
"Oh no, you just know everything, don't you?" Misty sneered.
"I didn't say that." He looked at the clock and sighed. "For the past few days, I've known something was going to happen. With the timing and GipSi's response, well, it can only be one thing for sure."
"GipSi's response?" Tracey repeated.
"Ya still have that lil' thief?" Miriam asked, almost delighted. She considered a work of Pride for her part in instructing—Miriam never used the word training when it came to her own dealings with Pokémon—the squirrel. "How is she?"
"Fine. GipSi has a strong mistrust with a pair of goof balls," Ash said, answering both questions in turn. "Do you remember those two Eevees I tried to give you some time back?"
"Ya mean dump off on me," Miriam corrected testily. Pyro suddenly started to growl. "Couldn't bloody train them, could ya? I told ya ya couldn't."
"Depends on how you view training, I suppose. I don't control them like I should, but neither do they totally disobey me. They tend to go wherever they want, but occasionally turn up, with trouble." His jovial attitude dissolved. "I left them to it in the Dark Mountains, because they liked it there." He spoke suddenly very bitterly.
Gary snorted. "And you call yourself a Trainer, abandoning them out there. It's dangerous!"
"I didn't 'abandon' them," Ash snapped, gripping the armrest and almost jumping out of the chair at the charge. "They wanted to stay, and I wasn't going to force those two to go if they didn't want to. I just wanted to get out of those mountains as quickly as possible. Oh, but they'll come back. They probably are back, just waiting to make their entrance. Don't take me wrong, I love those two rascals, but I won't waste my time trying to get them to listen to my every beck and call. I don't battle with them, although I probably should, considering their promise. If I did, I'd worry, but I don't. I just raise the two . . . very leniently."
"And how are two Eevees supposed to survive and get back to you?" Gary demanded, remembering Umbreon before he evolved. How much work could it be to train them anyway? he added mentally in a very savage tone.
"Gary's right, Ash!" Misty agreed. "That's was totally irresponsible!"
"If the Pokémon Leagues found out," Brock sputtered, "you'd be stripped of rank!"
"All your Pokémon would be confiscated!" Tracey added.
Support came from an unexpected source. "Have ya ever met these two?" Miriam demanded. Pyro snorted his agreement. "They're the Devil reincarnate! Damn, they're worse than Pyro, on a good day! I mean," she waved her hands vaguely, "we had to replace thousands of dollars worth of musical equipment thanks to those devils! And PJ broke his leg when those two pushed him down the stairs. And they did, too!"
"Don't worry about it, Miriam," Ash said lightly. "And they didn't push him. He tripped over them. And they were really sorry about that, too."
She snorted. "But they're talkin' about takin' away that title of yars!"
He shrugged. "I don't have a title."
"Officially, yeah, but I read those magazines—only because they have specials 'bout us in them, understand! Everyone knows ya're the next Master if ya'd only take the bloody test! Jeez, ya know how many articles they did when ya turned down the World League spot? Again, third year runnin'! Ya could win it all!"
"Thank you for the faith, but don't make any bets just yet."
"And you're not even worried!" Misty screeched. "All it takes is someone to report you to the Board."
"And then my case would come under inspection," Ash continued smoothly, totally uncaring. "And Tennis and Volley would show up, and, well, the building would have to be repaired."
"Your reputation would be ruined," Tracey pointed out. "No League would have you."
"Maybe you should wait until you actual meet the two before you judge my tactics," Ash advised, sipping his tea again.
Mrs. Ketchum was biting her nails in worry at what they all were saying. This conversation had gotten entirely out of hand. Ash couldn't be stripped of rank! And he did what was best for his Pokémon, she knew it. He wouldn't have changed that much from her sweet little pumpkin. No, no he wouldn't. "Are you sure you shouldn't be worried, dear?"
Ash raised his eyes, startled at the worry he saw. No, he didn't care what Indigo said about his tactics, no. He knew what he was doing, and he'd been to too many leagues to still have the falsehood that Indigo was the almighty great league, too many leagues that played by blood and treachery and lies. Ash was only grateful that his morals stood against the tests. Little did his family know that he had been called to the Indigo League about his recent baring of the soul. The representatives had been surprised at his cool, detached attitude as they read the demands made by some people. The demands were based upon the theory that since he had lied about himself, played a falsehood, given false information of the registration forms, and other numerous things, which led to the only solution that he should be removed from the League Hall of Fame, his winnings striped away. They had been surprised that Ash hadn't brought his lawyer along, and even more surprised when Ash stated that he never lied on his form. Dragging out the documents, Ash pointed out that he had signed his real name, using Shan as a nickname. His age, birthdate, his Pokémon, his number of years training were all accurate, and it was none of the League's business as to his training level, hometown, or participation in other leagues. Ash then clearly pointed out that he was qualified to the League by the rules. Plus, there was a line at the bottom that said to state information that he would be willing to have published—it did not say that it was necessary to answer all questions in the truth of Law. Lastly, Ash departed by saying that they could remove records of his winnings, he didn't damn care. But the sole fact remained was that he won. He won the Battles, and they couldn't change that.
"This is not about fame anymore."
"Not about Pokémon League rulings, Mom. Just about—" He was interrupted by an exceptionally loud sound from outside.
"PIKACHU!"
It was harder to gage who was faster, Pyro or Ash, as they ran out the door, everyone else on their tail. They ran into a cloud of smoke, and everyone coughed.
"It's been a while since you've seen out kind of trouble," a voice sang out.
Oh no, ran through nearly everyone's head.
"But now that we're back, you're in for it double!"
"Back to bring the world some devastation!"
"Back to scare people of every nation!"
"To annoy everyone we despise and love!"
"To steal the show from all above!"
The smoke cleared to reveal two figured back-to-back, arms crossed over their chests, clad in the Team Rocket grey uniforms. The dark-skinned woman had dark purple hair half tied into a ponytail, and the man had light-purple pageboy length hair. Both opened their eyes (red and dark blue respectively) and let out sinister smirks.
"Tennis!"
"Volley!"
"Team Trouble's here, all right!"
"Run away now, go on, take flight!"
And then the two broke out into giggles. "That was totally fun!" Tennis shrieked, gripping Volley's arms and jumping up and down.
"Let's do it again!" Volley said eagerly. "Except this time we blow something up!"
"And soar into the wild blue yonder!"
"All right, where's Pikachu, you two?" Ash demanded.
They suddenly looked of those in deep thought. "Pikachu . . . Pikachu," Tennis murmured. "Have you seen Pikachu, Volley?"
"I don't know, Tennis. I've seen lots of pikachu, but I don't know if I've seen Pikachu." Suddenly his outfit transformed, and he shoved a notepad under Ash's nose. "Could you please explain the Rodent in question?"
"Tennis, here, Live, bringing you up-coming coverage of the terrible disappearance of Pikachu. With me is her Trainer. Please, tell us what's going through your mind right now?" The microphone was shoved into Ash's face, barely missing his nose.
"Yellow, with red cheeks, uh huh, and long ears ending in black. And a jagged tail, you say, the base brown. Little, bit pudgy," Volley rambled on and on, jotting down the notes. "Don't worry, I'll have these posters posted pronto, Sir!" He displayed a blob that could look like a Pikachu, if you squinted really hard and the lighting was really bad. (Namely, if it was pitch black.)
"And how do you feel about this tragedy?" Tennis asked Tracey.
Tracey looked at the woman. Wasn't Tennis supposed to be an Eevee?
"He's speechless, folks."
"Where is Pikachu?" Ash repeated.
Tennis and Volley filed in, standing at attention. "We'll find her, Sir!" Volley bellowed.
"You can count on it! HEY LOOK! IT'S PYRO!"
"Don't ya even touch him!" Miriam shouted, scooping up the growling fox protectively. "Blondie!"
"We just want to pet him!"
"Hey! You pulled my hair!" Misty yelled, pointing at Tennis.
"Did not!" Volley retorted. "I did!"
"Ohh, that looks like it hurts! Can I touch it?" Tennis asked Brock, trying to grab his wounded ankle.
"Whoa! Cool necklace!"
"Back off!" Gary snapped, reaching behind for his Pokéballs. But they were gone! "Hey, where'd they go!"
Tennis suddenly started juggling, and gee, guess what the balls were. "Hi, lady!" she smiled at Mrs. Ketchum. "Hold these!" And suddenly she transferred the flying Pokéballs over to Mrs. Ketchum, who could only grab two and let the rest drop hopelessly. "Ahh, too bad. More practice!"
"Look at the Umbreon! Ooh, pretty pictures! Draw me!"
"No, me!"
"Ahh . . .help," Tracey got out as the two surrounded him.
"Blondie! Would ya knock them out or somethin'!" Miriam ordered as Tennis tried pulling one of Pyro's tails and avoid his fire, and Volley decided to start tormenting Umbreon by chasing him around Gary.
"Where's Pikachu?" he asked again, still very calm. "Or I'll do something drastic."
They ignored him and his warning, starting over to Mrs. Ketchum's garden, which was just ready for Winter.
"Hey, stay out of there!" Mrs. Ketchum ordered shakily. All of next year's flowers would be ruined if her garden was brought under their hands. "Ash!"
Ash let out a trilling whistle, and suddenly both Tennis and Volley froze. "What the!" GipSi shimmied down a tree, eyes glaring at them. "Why you! Just wait until we're out of here!"
Ash cleared his throat, walking in front of them. "Now . . . where is Pikachu?"
Tennis and Volley both met each other's gaze without moving, as they couldn't, growling, and attempted to nod. And suddenly a mass of yellow started to fall from the sky, and Pikachu's yells filled the air. She headed for the ground at bone-crunching speed, but was stopped gently at the very last inch.
"Now let us go!" Tennis ordered.
"Please, Trainer!" Volley added, dripping with I-deserve-pity. Ash was not fooled, although he nodded towards GipSi. The eyes extinguished, and the two dropped. The squirrel chittered with disapproval, then returned back to her perch in a hollow, curling back asleep.
"Nice to see you two again," he smiled.
"Ka!" Pikachu spat, climbing onto his shoulder.
Tennis and Volley stuck their tongues out at her.
"I thought you said they were Eevees!" Gary snapped.
"We were!" Tennis countered. "But we're special!"
"We're unique!"
"Ya're a headache!"
"They evolved, or de-evolved." Ash grinned at their looks.
"They're a psychic type now?" Tracey asked, making a sketch of the two, who started to pose. "Remarkable, having the ability to project the illusion around them. They must be at a high level."
"What are they, Umbreon or Espeon?" Gary asked, suddenly very interested. It was rare to meet another Umbreon or Espeon, and two was even greater. His Umbreon looked at the other two critically, think along the lines of, You can't be serious! They're like me? They must have been twice removed or something!
"Both."
"Which is which?" Brock asked, coming closer.
"Based on my observations, Tennis would be the Umbreon, due to the dark hair color, which matches an Umbreon's fur color. And Volley would be the Espeon, for the same reason," Tracey concluded.
Tennis and Volley looked at each other. "Really?"
"You don't know?" Misty asked. They shrugged.
"Actually, not quite, Tracey," Ash interrupted. "Tennis and Volley are very special. Could you put down the form and show off your normal selves."
Tennis and Volley both loved the grant of more attention, and promptly their human forms dissolved, revealing two Eevee evolutions. Yet none that any of the other Trainers had seen. Tennis, although the color of an Umbreon, was missing the yellow circle spots that were on Gary's Umbreon. The large ears and tail were also different, more Espeon-ish in form. A red diamond shaped dot sat on her forehead, matching the eyes. Volley, on the other hand, held the light purple color of an Espeon and the yellow markings of an Umbreon, although instead of circles, it was more like yellow, misshapen blobs. His ears and tails closer resembled a Umbreon's, and tiny dots like freckles dotted his nose.
"What are they?" Brock asked.
Ash shrugged, kneeling down to scratch both their ears. "An Umbreon/Espeon hybrid, I suppose."
"And how the Hell did you get that?" Gary demanded.
"They kind of evolved at really weird time. The sun was going down, and Volley started to evolve. It wasn't like a normal evolution, though. It really weirded me out, I'll tell you. It took far longer than it should have, finishing when it was the sun was half down. And then Tennis started a few minutes later—I guess not to be outdone—and she stopped evolving when the sun was down." He smiled, looking at the others sheepishly. "I guess they're something like Twilight Pokémon, you know, between Sun and Dark."
"Do you know how rare they are?!" Tracey screeched.
"Gee, tell us, Tracey," Misty snapped sarcastically. "Out of all the Eevee Psychic evolutions I've seen, I have only seen these two like this. What is their actual Pokémon name?"
"They can't talk," he sighed, quickly drawing back his hands as the two butted heads. "Mutes. They could speak as Eevees, but I think that under the conditions of their evolution, they lost the ability. But they are very strong psychically. Yet they're irrational and easily distracted." Neither Pokémon took any terrible insult to the remark. Indeed, they weren't even paying attention.
"Obviously. No one misses hearin' them anyway," Miriam sniped. "They don't appear to have gotten any better behaved, either."
"They get worse, depending on the time of day. But they do have a plus side. You should reconsider taking them." Ash grinned at her, but Miriam shook her head.
"Why? What can they do?" Misty asked.
"Anything that'd give them attention," Ash chuckled, standing up, as the two rolled around. "But they love the stage." Then he looked at the two troublemakers. "All right, back to business: what are you two doing here anyway?"
"~Visiting?~" Volley asked, releasing his hold on Tennis' ear and disentangling themselves.
"~You're not happy to see us?~" Tennis twirled, looking at him from over her shoulder.
"Tala kicked you out?" Ash suggested.
"~NO!~" It was obvious that Tala, whoever she was, had.
"~It was very boring there~," Volley snapped. "~We're weren't kicked out.~"
"~No way!~"
"They're great on subtle," Gary commented to Misty.
"Kinda like how Ash was."
Pikachu started laughing from Ash's shoulder. "Chu pikachu pikapika pichu!" Ash's lips twitched into a smile as well.
"~She was a mean lady!~"
"~She made us clean! And behave!~"
Miriam grinned. "I like her already."
"Tell me, was anything strange going on in the temple?" Ash asked quietly. They both shook their heads. "Why were you thrown out?"
"~We weren't—!~"
"Why?" Ash repeated in hard tone.
The two Twilight Pokémon narrowed their eyes at Ash, and everyone gasped when a ring of energy surrounded him and Pikachu. Ash stood, arms crossed over his chest, and simply looked at the two rebels. And slowly they brought down the energy, unable to go through with the threat to their Trainer.
"~We don't know, all right!~" Tennis snapped, stomping her paw.
"~They told us to get out and go back to you.~" Nothing registered on Ash's face. "~And not to tell you—~" Volley stopped.
"Not to tell me what?"
The two looked at each other, and everyone could see that they were conversing between themselves, and arguing about it. "~We don't know what,~" Volley admitted.
"~They just told us not to tell you something. We, um, didn't hear exactly what.~
"Of course not," Ash muttered. He looked around the yard. "I don't suppose it would have been possible for anyone to follow you?"
"Pi?" Pikachu sputtered. "Chu pikachu pi chupi!"
The two Pokémon in question looked just as shocked at the question. "~What she said!~"
"~No one but no one can follow us!~"
"Only if you know they are following you," Ash muttered under his breath. "How about trailing you, then?"
"~No!~"
Gary literally rolled his eyes along with Ash. These two definitely didn't lack in self-assurance. "And why not?"
The two blinked over at him. "~We're not talking to you!~" they screeched, eyes flashing. Gary felt the hair on his head rise, and a great pain started in the back of his head, which only got greater and greater. He fell to the ground, clutching his head, and could feel the others swarming around him.
It was a Godsend when the pain stopped. Umbreon was nuzzling him terribly, whining (which Umbreon never did). Gary, ignoring the others' demands if he was all right, turned so he could sit heavily on the ground massaging his eyes and temples, trying to regain his bearings.
"~We didn't do that!~"
"~We didn't! We just wanted to scare him!~"
"~He has no right to talk to us!~"
"~We didn't hurt him!~"
"SHUT UP!"
When Gary could open his eyes and pushed the others out of his way, he saw Ash standing there with the two Pokémon hanging in his hands by the naps of their necks. It was a dangerous hold on a large and heavy Pokémon, possibly choking it, but that didn't hit Gary first. What did was that Ash was mad. No, he was furious. No, enraged. No . . .
Well, we'll just stick with plain mad.
The others had never seen Ash angry during his return, and never had he ever in his entire life for any reason been angry like this for any of them. It was like a cloud had crossed over his face, contorting with his features. Ash looked dangerous, and the Pokémon were cowering in his grasp.
"~We didn't . . .~" one of them started in a dreadfully quiet voice.
Ash glared at the two, silencing any reprieve. "That was very . . . naughty," he hissed through clenched teeth.
"~But!~"
"I don't as Hell care why you did it. I told you never to use it. Never!" Ash growled. "But if you ever, ever attack another thing in that manner, I will personally make sure you won't be able to ever again. Do you understand me?" His eyes showed the actual meaning of the threat, and that it wasn't a threat.
Both attempted to nod, and it was only then that Gary noticed that they actually were hanging. And when they were dropped without compassion, both curled into tiny balls and looked at Ash with shaking eyes.
"~We didn't do that, Trainer,~" one whispered. "~We're good Pokémon.~"
He narrowed his eyes. "Very debatable," Ash spat, and they cowered. "This better be the last time you ever threaten a person."
"You should feel thankful they did, otherwise your friend would be in a coma. Or worse."
Ash froze. "I thought you said you weren't followed," he said softly to the two Pokémon after several slow minutes. Then he bent down and started to pet them gently. "Sorry, guys. My mistake." Tennis and Volley both looked up at him with the small sense of forgiveness. In reality, they were supposed to have been punished for the fact that they did attack Gary (which they had been told not to do several times before, but chose not to listen to), they couldn't hold a grudge against Ash to save their lives, and already the actual fear from the punishment was slipping from their minds.
"Only you would see punishing disobedient Pokémon as a mistake." A man was strolling up the road, wearing black pants and a black long-sleeved shirt, brown hair looped in the back of his head.
"The punishment was too severe for their goof, Dmitri," Ash growled, turning to face the man, fist clenched. "You, on the other hand, deserve something for attempted murder."
Dmitri laughed. "Those who only attempt murder just need more practice. And I wasn't going to murder your friend. I have no reason."
"I could probably give you one, you bastard," Gary spat, getting shakily to his feet to glare at the man.
"Pichu!" Pikachu spat, pushing herself against Ash as if to protect him. Dmitri grinned sardonically.
"If you must know, I didn't follow your little pets. They were thrown out a week after you left, and just now they come to you. It was dreadfully hard and boring to keep up with them, in any case."
"So ya decided ya might use me?" Miriam growled, allowing Pyro to slip from her arms and prowl in front of her.
"You know, that would have been so much easier, but alas, no. You never crossed our minds."
"And who are you?" Misty demanded.
"Gym Leader, right?" Dmitiri asked, pointing toward her. "Very obvious. Just as who is a breeder, watcher, owner, and Trainer." He nodded towards each of the others at their appropriate title.
"Which is why you chose to attack Gary," Ash snapped. "Testing the ability or some crap like that. What you want?"
"'Some crap like that'?" Dmitri repeated, appalled. "Ash, you should know that the ability of a Trainer is the prime test of Pokémon training. Weaklings shouldn't be allowed to attempt it."
"Weak?" Gary sputtered. "Excuse me?"
Dmitri mistook the statements. "Oh, don't worry. You passed."
"Pokémon are meant for everyone," Brock countered.
"And you'd allow someone like them to battle?" he countered, pointing to Miriam and Mrs. Ketchum.
"And what's wron' with us?" Miriam snapped, ready to tell Pyro to sic him.
"Just ignore him, Miriam, and keep Pyro back," Ash advised with a growl, preparing to leave. "He doesn't know what he's talking about anyway."
"Oh, I don't?" he mocked. "I do know what can happen to an inexperienced Trainer who battles in the Constellation League."
"Forced to battle," Ash corrected. "By League rules."
"That's what happened?" Miriam demanded, shooting her glance back at Ash. He avoided her gaze, and Miriam found that her gaze shifted towards Dmitri, who nodded. "Ya mean . . . that was murder!" she got out. Suddenly, she gasped. "Oh, god, what did—"
"Miriam, no. Don't," Ash ordered quietly.
She gritted her teeth and advanced on Dmitri. "That was bloody murder!"
"Don't be so short-sighted. That was a Battle." Pyro literally leaped, but was suddenly held in the air when Dmitri raised his hand, tossing the fox back to Miriam.
Miriam clutched Pyro, holding him back from another attack. "Ya . . . ya're sick. No wonder Blondie booked it out of there!"
"What are you talking about?" Misty demanded.
"Private matters, Cerulean Gym Leader of the Indigo Division," Dmitri conceding said, mocking the title he gave her. "Proceeding at other Leagues are none of your concern. It is, in fact, Death to speak of the Constellation League procedure to those not associated with it." He spoke to Ash specifically.
"Pikapi chu pipi kachu chu!" Pikachu spat. "Chu pika!"
Dmitri raised an eyebrow at the name Pikachu called him. "It was just a reminder."
"Ka!" Ash suddenly scooped her up and held her close, as if thinking Dmitri had something planned.
"Sounded more like a threat to me," Miriam agreed darkly.
"What do you want, Dmitri?" Ash interrupted, rubbing the back of his neck and shoulder irritably as Pikachu shimmied up his arm. "I'm not going back. I won, so there is no need for me to."
The man smirked. "Oh, isn't there? I believe that the other Trainer here has wished to battle at some of the Leagues you have gone to, hasn't he?"
Ash literally paled. "You wouldn't dare."
"We would," Dmitri greased.
Gary knew they were talking about him, as did everyone else, save maybe Miriam. He had made no great secret that he wanted Ash to tell him about the Leagues ever since he had heard about them, or at least give him some direction as to how to get there. "What are you talking about?"
"How would you like to compete in the Greatest Pokémon League ever?" Dmitri grinned. Gary stood unconvinced, and could very plainly see that it wasn't in his best interests to accept.
"I think you are delivering some false advertisements with that claim," he drawled.
"I don't think so."
"~We do,~" Tennis and Volley laughed, coming up to stand in front of Ash. This bastard had gotten them in loads of trouble, and they were going to make a point to put of bucket of oil and feathers over his door or something when they went back.
"~It was very boring.~"
"~And the bathrooms sucked.~"
"~And there weren't any food courts.~"
"~And I couldn't get any autographs.~"
"And that makes a great Pokémon League?" Dmitri sneered.
"Hell yeah," Miriam sneered, glaring at the man. A twisted smile played on her face. "Don't pay to go if they don't solve at least three of those four things."
He glared at her. "In any case, Trainer," he said, purposely ignoring Miriam's triumphant look when he couldn't waste time (or, as she saw it, think) of a comeback.
"The name's Gary Oak."
"Whatever. You should consider coming."
"To bring Ash along? Think not."
"Oh, he wouldn't be under contract to come. Just yourself and your Pokémon."
"Excuse me, but why have you been looking for Ash?" Mrs. Ketchum demanded in a polite tone.
"It is merely League proceedings. And personal ones."
"Such as?" Ash asked sarcastically.
Dmitri looked around at the group. "Maybe such things are best discussed in private." And he snapped his fingers.
POKÉDEX
Zealots—the Following Pokémon:
Zealots are notoriously annoying followers. As soon as they seen something—anything—that sparks their interest, they never stop following it until something else gets their interest. Some get very aggressive in following, while others can be shy and reserved. Yet they enjoy shifting through personal belongings and "adoringly idolizing and embracing" their items, rarely returning the stolen goods. (They don't see it as stealing.) \l "ZealotsReturn"