By: Pro_V of Pokemon: The Hokubu & Nanka Trek
What happens when Eevy and crew hit the shores of the United States?
A/N: Geez…Trying to finish all this stuff before the end of the month is hard…Now remember: This is not a "What if…?" fic. This is to be held to the story, even if it seems kind of…Different.
WARNING! There's a mistake in the way the story runs here. Some may know it, and some may not. Just remember that not all of my work relies on the Pokemon series or the Specials or the movies or even the games. M'kay? Onward!
Part Eight: To trust or not to trust; that is the question…
Morty peeked silently through the small crack in his sister's door, watching her as she milled around inside. She sat on the edge of her bed and was placing something on the nightstand beside it. She reached into her back pocket, pulling out a matchbook and tearing one out. She lit one tall white candle, then shook the match out and used that one candle to light a sea of others surrounding a picture frame. He watched her place that candle in another tray, then drop like a rock to her knees. Clasping her hands together, she lowered her head almost to the floor and prayed. Her ever-curious brother leaned carefully on the door to listen.
"Dear Lord, why did you take him from me? Why did you take the man I love?"
Morty stepped away and breathed deep. He could sense her pain, the anguish that plagued her. Biting his bottom lip, he carefully pushed the door open. She didn't move, just continued whispering as he knelt behind her on one knee, locking his fingers together and leaning his forehead on his thumbs.
"Please watch over him for me. Make sure he stays safe and give him guidance. He always gave me the help I needed, so please do the same for him, since that I was unable. And please make sure he knows I still love him, and that I'm sorry for not being strong enough. And take care of Travis, Annri, and Logan too, because I know they all love him and that he loves them."
Morty resituated his position behind her, "Please take care of my sister, and take care of Lee for her. It's the one thing I know they both want; to know that the other is safe. And take care of his family and ours. I pray the Rainbow Winged Phoenix Ho-oh will not let our pleas go unheeded. We need you both now more than ever."
They both bowed slightly lower, then stood up and stood staring at the flickering candles as they slowly burned. Morty put a hand on his sister's elbow and leaned her over onto his shoulder. He pointed slowly at the picture behind the candles, which had a strange-shaped shadow projected onto it. They looked up at the window and spotted a ladybug, seated in the sunset's light. Its likeness beamed down on the frame of Lee's picture and Eevy buried her face in her brother's shoulder.
~~~
Eevy, still seated in her given spot on the bed, pulled her knees tight to her chest and covered her face, "I've never let those candles go out. Not even for a second. They burn for him, and always will."
She untwisted the cap from her water and took a sip, then shut her eyes and dropped her feet to the floor. She didn't even bother to look at anyone seated around her; she was already sensitive enough to their presence to know they were all just staring. She felt that they were all lost; worried, confused. How could Evangelina, the girl they'd known for over a year now, have been able to keep something like this buried deep under her skin, back in her mind where she was unwilling to let it out?
Ash stepped in front of her and stood there, looking down at her. She looked quietly up at him, watching him intently with tired, chilled eyes. He carefully put out his hand, which she slowly resorted to reach out and take.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, then grabbing her hand with both of his, "I didn't know."
She stared at him, almost as if she were ready to stand and hug him, then suddenly ripped her hand away, "I don't want your sympathy, Ashura," she narrowed her eyes, "You made it very clear you don't like what I am or what I was. Don't show me false remorse."
"Eevy!" Morty snapped at her, "Ash is trying to make you feel better!"
She shot him the filthiest of looks, which he promptly backed away from. A violent shutter ran through him, as her eyes had taken on totally different colors. Where they had been green, they were a very deep red. Where they had been blue, they were a sooty grey-black. She looked away and blinked, and suddenly her eyes were normal again.
"I'm really being as sincere as possible, Eevy," Ash told her quietly, "I understand now why it is you fight so hard."
"You've lost so much, Eevy," Misty whispered, crossing her arms, "We really don't want you to lose anymore."
"You're one of my best friends, Evangelina. None of us likes to see you being dragged down like this," Ash patted Pikachu as he sat on his shoulder, "You've helped me a lot. You've helped all of us. And all the while, you never helped yourself."
"For once in his life, Ashy-boy is right," Gary avoided Chenille's hand as she attempted to slap him, "You're too selfless for your own good."
"There's no such thing," Eevy murmured, crossing her arms around her waist, "Excuse me, everyone, but I don't feel well."
"Evangelina," Morty stood ahead of her, "Look at me."
She raised one eyebrow and did as he told her, "I asked to be excused."
Her brother ignored everything she'd said and just placed his hands on his hips, "For the last time, Evangelina. You did not kill him!"
Red and black melted down from the top of her eyes and she got quickly to her feet, "You don't know what you're talking about, Mortimer! If I had been careful; if I hadn't been staring at those stupid statues; if I hadn't been so overly cautious of Bear; he'd be alive right now! It's my fault!" she shoved him back, white and black boiling from the floor at her feet, and she shoved him back with every step she took, "I wouldn't have to sit here thinking about what could have been!"
"Yes, but would you have met any of us?"
The Champion Mistress froze, her eyes flickering back to their normal colors. She turned slowly around, looking back at the only person who still dared to sit behind her. He sat calmly on the bed, hands together in his lap, and a very calm look about him, though she couldn't understand how. She looked at him, then glanced back the other way.
"Is that what he died for?" Lance crossed his arms and wet his lips, "He died to save you so you could tell us, and him, that what he died for wasn't worth it? Is that what we're all worth to you, Evangelina?" he swallowed and looked to the side and back, "We're just the…Aftereffects of what he gave up to make sure you had a life to live? I'm sorry, Evangelina, but that's-"
"Not true," she finished, "You know I could never think that way about any of you."
"Really?" Eevy turned around to look at Medira, who was also staring her down, "Did you ever think that maybe you do it without even meaning to?"
Morty and Eusine turned and tugged Lisle and Mizu quickly out the door, then slowly being followed by Beth and Todd. Rachel left next, and marched away down the hall without so much as looking back. Sooney and Yuu-Yuu looked around a few seconds more before taking Tracey and Skiff's arms and also leaving. Brock scratched the back of his head, then slowly pulled the door open and disappeared as well. Gary and Chenille left next, then Richie and Kayla, and then Ash and Misty. Jason and Medira were next to go, and then very slowly Luri and Will walked out.
Eevy looked silently off to her side at Lance, who was still seated on the edge of the bed. He sat forward, his fingers linked together, and sighed. Raking his hand through his hair, he returned her stare with an identical one of his own. She quickly turned away, and his gaze dropped to the floor.
"I suppose you really do hate me now. And you have every right to," she whispered.
He looked back up at her and shook his head, "No…No, actually, I don't," he stood up next to her and smiled at her, "Evangelina…I could never hate you. I just want to know why you can't tell me the whole truth. Do you not trust me?"
"I trust you more than I trust my brother," she whimpered, covering her eyes, "But I'm too afraid of hurting you."
He bent down to look her in the eyes, pulling her sight up with his, "You hurt me more by lying to me."
"But I'm so scared of driving you off. I couldn't take losing you too," she murmured.
"…You don't even trust me enough to believe that I won't leave you?" his shoulders fell, and he felt as if they dropped right to his knees, "Oh, Eevy…"
"I didn't mean it like that," she rubbed her arm with the opposite hand, "I was afraid that if I told you all that, you'd never trust me."
He sighed, "Truth to tell, I don't know how much longer I can trust you."
She shut her eyes tightly, "Oh, God, Lance. Please don't-"
"But…" he interrupted, "I'll trust you as long as I can, and as long as you'll trust me."
She looked up and over at the slight smile he flashed, wondering what it was that made him so tolerant of the way she was. She willingly followed his guidance as he drew her closer and buried his face in her hair. A heavy sigh escaped each of them, and he placed a kiss on her forehead.
"I love you, Evangelina. And if you really know that and believe it, tell me the truth from now on, please."
"I will," she carefully edged away, "I know it's a lot to ask, but could I sleep alone tonight? I'd just like to have some time to myself."
He ran his fingers through her hair, "If you need me, I'll be on the couch in the front room," he settled his lips over hers, then sliding away and wandering around the corner.
Eevy watched him go, then proceeded to change her clothes. After emerging from the bathroom and watching down the hallway as Lance clicked off the television and laid down, she stepped over to the bed and flopped face-first to the pillow. She stayed there like that for a few moments, then rolled onto her back. From her back, she rolled to her right side. Then her left. Then she threw the pillow down to the opposite end of the bed and laid down there. Over the span of a little over an hour, she figured she'd tried about six hundred different positions to try and get to sleep. She finally sputtered and crushed the pillow down with her elbows, propping her chin up with her right hand and drumming her left fingers on the baseboard.
She sat up, slipping out from under the sheet, and placed her feet on the floor. She let out a long, breaking sigh and stood up, creeping around the bed and down the hallway. She stopped and jumped into a nook in the wall and peeked out, smiling slightly when she saw the way Lance had fallen asleep. One foot on the floor, one arm under his head, and the others up on the back of the couch as he snored away. Silently wondering how he could possibly sleep that way, she stood at the side of the couch and looked him over. He looked so crazy; so stupid the way he was sprawled there. He was too trusting and too understanding for his own good, she decided, but she loved him anyway.
She pushed his knee down, which sat him up slightly, and seated herself on the couch in what would have been his lap, had he not been flat-out like he was. His right leg fell down behind her and she snickered as he grunted subconsciously. Turning to face him, she sat up and kissed him directly. His one eye opened, then snapped shut as he held the back of her head and pushed himself up. She puffed her hair back with a quick breath when they separated and smiled when he looked at her blankly.
"What happened? I thought you wanted to be alone," he questioned, rubbing his tense neck.
"See, therein lies a problem," she smirked and wrapped her arms around his neck, touching her fingers to his tight muscles, seemingly nulling the pain and loosening them on contact, "I can't sleep without you anymore. I need you with me."
He laughed once, pulling her ankles around his sides, "In that case…You can have me."
She smiled sweetly and fell forward as he fell back, seemingly not noticing the ladybug that rested on the window, then quickly fluttered away.
*^~^**^~^*
How they wound up on the floor, neither Lance nor Eevy was quite clear, but it didn't much matter. It was morning by they time either of them realized it, and they didn't really bother to try and find out. Lance wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning back against the couch, and grinned as she rolled over to face him. She flicked his earring side to side in his ear and smirked.
"We need to get up," she told him groggily, "We've got a long way to travel today. And I have lots of people to face this morning."
He groaned and slipped down flatter, "Can't we just stay here a while longer?" he whined, pulling her chin up with both hands and kissing her, "I don't want to drive all that way."
"Mm…I'd love to, but we can't," she tugged his earring and sat up, holding his cloak closed around her shoulders, "We've got a lot to do. Plus I have a little surprise for everyone."
"I thought all your surprises were reserved for me."
"You only wish."
*^~^**^~^*
Eevy stopped, standing just outside the door of the hotel and choking back as everyone already out there ignored her. The only attention they gave her was when she first came out, and their eyes very briefly fell on the door to see who had emerged. She picked up her black bag, flinging it over her shoulder, and walked quickly to her car. Throwing it in the back, she slammed the door and leaned both hands on the top of the windows. Ensign looked at her from the door of one of the busses, then looked around at everyone else. Kayla started to turn toward Eevy, but Richie pulled her to turn her away. One swift smack, and Kayla was running over to Eevy's car.
"Eva, are you OK?" she asked, taking one of her friend's arms and pulling it down.
Eevy shook her off, "Don't touch me, Kayla," she snapped, pushing her out of the way with the driver's door as she opened it, "Don't even think about me."
Kayla stumbled back as the car roared to life and quickly backed up, then flew around the bus ahead of it and out onto the main road. She watched it turn the corner worriedly, but her expression suddenly changed. She turned around and threw her fists down to her sides.
"Look what you've done!" she barked, "Eevy is supposed to be your friend, and this is what you give her?! She's hurting! And you don't care! How could you do such a thing?!"
"The same way she's lied to us," Rachel spat, causing everyone to nod.
Kayla's jaw dropped, and a violent growl escaped her, "You're all disgusting!" she hissed, "You're more than disgusting! You're pathetic!" she tensed as she began getting angrier, "How could you take her and stomp on her like that?! She's gone out of her way for months, even years for all of us! And you pay her back by throwing her away when she needs us most! You're not friends! You're not even enemies! You're just greedy, helpless, selfish little demons!" she threw her arms into the air and smacked the back of the bus she was standing beside as everyone looked at her, "She's scared and worried and upset, and all you can think about doing is throwing her over your shoulder like a used tissue?! You're not even worthy of her friendship! You're not even human anymore! You're just leeches!"
She shoved through the gathering of everyone she'd just yelled at and stomped up onto that same bus. She followed along the center aisle, then crashed down in a seat, arms crossed tightly across her chest. She ground her teeth tightly against each other, wondering if somehow she'd manage to break them. Behind the bus, Lance sat in his car with his hand over his mouth, and outside, everyone else just looked at each other. Skiff turned and quietly stepped up on the bus, walking down to the seat and standing beside her.
"I've known Eevy just as long as you have, Kayla," he noted quietly.
"Yeah, then why are you being like this?" she growled, folding one leg over the other.
Skiff wrung his hands together, "I didn't have the guts to…Come out and say it like you did. But I should have. Eevy is my friend; my mentor in a lot of ways. It's not right of us to be doing this to her when she really needs us."
"Thank you," she nodded twice, "At least I know I'm not the only mildly intelligent person here now."
Slowly but surely, everyone began to enter the busses as Ensign directed them to. When Richie began to sit down beside Kayla, she quickly slid over to the outside of the seat, as did Skiff when Yuu-Yuu tried to sit, and both sat glaring out the windows as they stood there with no place to sit.
*^~^**^~^*
Eevy followed the bus she'd managed to fall in behind as it pulled off to make a quick pit stop. Leaning back in the seat, she let her eyes travel. Everyone on the busses was filing off, and once they were on the ground, they were standing in tightly woven groups and peeking over at her every now and again. In light of this, she shot them dark looks, which always caused them to look away. She knew they had expected her to get out, but why should she? To be ignored? No thank you. Then she noticed something strange. Skiff and Kayla…They were hanging back, leaning on the side of the bus. They looked up at her, and she looked up at them. When they smiled, she looked at them vacantly, then allowed a small grin to crack. When she did so, they ran over to her car window and leaned down.
"Oh, Eva…We're so sorry," Kayla reached in and hugged her neck, yanking her partially out the window.
"Really," Skiff nodded, "We shouldn't have been treating you like that; not even for a second."
"Thanks, but could you stop choking me? There we go," she yanked away and straightened the neck of her shirt. "But…Why aren't you…Hovering with those guys?" she pointed.
Kayla growled and didn't even bother to look up at them, "Because what they're doing isn't right. It's cold and cruel."
"And because we know you too well to be so angry with you for this," Skiff agreed, "If they want to act like infants, let them."
"But what about Yuu-Yuu and Richie?" Eevy asked.
"What about 'em?" they asked together.
*^~^**^~^*
As everyone filtered off at the next stop to eat or buy something or get a drink and the like, Eevy and Lance sat on the bench outside, looking up at the sky and clouds. She leaned over on him and sputtered slightly, catching his attention.
"Why is it…That just three of the people I considered my closest friends have stuck with me?" she asked quietly, "Is it…Some kind of conspiracy? Is someone or something somewhere trying to tell me or teach me something?"
"Oh, I don't think so," Lance shrugged, "I think it's more along the lines that it's just new to them, and they don't understand."
She hugged him tightly, grinning as he put his arm over her shoulders, "Thank you, Lance. I really appreciate it."
A buzzer at her belt caused her to sit up and look down blankly. She pulled her cell phone from her belt and blinked twice at it, then flipped it open and turned on the mini-screen.
"Well-well-well…I thought I was getting misinformation when I got this number…But if it isn't Lady Bird herself."
All the air she'd taken in seemed to lodge in her throat, "Where did you get this number?"
The man on the other end laughed, "Well, that's a nice way to great someone you haven't talked to in years. And come on, it doesn't really matter, does it, Lady Bird?"
"Who is it, Eev?" Lance asked, leaning over her shoulder.
Eevy wrapped her hand around the screen and jumped off the bench to get away, laughing nervously, "Oh, just…A little call I need to take. I'll see you in a couple minutes," she turned and ran off down the sidewalk, leaving Lance puzzled behind her.
"Hey, what'd you do that for?" asked the caller, "That wasn't very polite at all, missy."
"I'm sorry, but I had to…Get to where there was better reception," she sweatdropped and smiled stupidly, "It's been a very long time. Are you doing well?"
"Oh, I'm doing just fine," he nodded, "And I hear you've made quite a name for yourself, Champion Mistress," he grinned crazily at her, "And you told us you'd never train Pokemon. I swear you're a pathological liar."
"I am not! And you'd better stop saying that or I'll hang up right now!" she snapped, "Why'd you call me out of the blue like this anyway?"
"We heard you were going to be speaking up in wonderful New York City later this week and I decided I'd call you," he leaned his chin in his hand, "Would you come visit us, Eva? Please? It's been so long, and we all want to see you."
"I don't know if I have the time," she murmured, "I've been going through a lot lately, and I don't know if I can get away long enough."
"Oh, Eva, don't say that," he pouted, "You're breaking my heart, Lady Bird. Please come. I'll buy you soda and raspberries. I'll even shave. Please?"
Eevy shook her head slightly, "If I get there and you've got that ridiculous beard…"
"Thank you so much, Lady Bird," he clapped his hands together, "Later today then?"
"Yeah, OK."
"Great! See you then!"
Eevy clipped her phone back on her belt and came back around the corner, "There you are," Lance waved at her, "I thought you ran off on me. Who called?"
"Oh…Just a call to confirm an appointment out on the edge of town…" she scratched the back of her head, "Listen…I'm taking my car out there now, so I won't be able to check in at the hotel for myself. Could you have Ensign do it for me?"
"Well…I guess so…" he shrugged, "You're not going to be out too late, are you?"
"No, I shouldn't be," she waved over the top of her car, "See you later!"
*^~^**^~^*
"Hey…I think we just passed our turnoff," Chenille pointed out, leaning forward to look back through the window, "Hey, yeah, we did."
"Steph, what's going on?!" Richie shouted up front, "We just missed our turn, didn't we?!"
"No, siree. We didn't," Steph smirked, "We're going on up this road a little farther."
The bus slowly took a left turn, pulling up in front of, what Gary referred to as, "One hell of a glitzy hotel."
The doors to the busses and the RVs opened and everyone filed out onto the sidewalk, looking all around in every direction as if astounded by what they were seeing. In all actuality…They were. It wasn't a skyscraper kind of hotel, but it was very pretty. Flowers and brick mostly. The doorman standing beside the entrance stood and removed his hat, bowing slightly while pulling the door open.
"We've been expecting you," he voiced, "Welcome to the Hotel Hershey. Please enjoy your stay."
Just after everyone was inside and the doors were closed, everyone grouped together and dropped their bags on the floor. The interior was bright and very well designed, and the woman behind the desk smiled at them. Everyone looked up, down, left, right…Every direction imaginable.
"You must be the Elite and their guests," the clerk called, causing them all to look down at her, "We've been waiting for you for quite some time. It's an honor to have you staying here with us."
"Wow…" Luri murmured, "Kratos sure did go out of his way for us this time…I wonder how much he spent."
"Oh, this wasn't planned by President Kratos, nor was it funded under his account," the clerk poked in.
"…Heh?" Will tilted his head, "Then who paid for it?"
The clerk clicked a few buttons and waited for a menu to load, "It says here that this was both arranged and funded entirely by the Champion Mistress…Two days ago."
Misty clutched Togepi closer, "You mean…She didn't even ask Kratos about this before she did it?"
"No…No it doesn't appear that she did."
Talk about jabbing a knife through your heart. Kayla and Skiff crossed their arms and nodded toward the others as they stood there, staring at the ground. The clerk watched this strangely, wondering what was going on, then excused herself to go and collect the room cards.
"Yeah…Now see what you did?" Skiff asked haughtily, "Eevy went through all that hell to get us here, and to surprise us, and you guys dumped a ton of bricks on her head. She even went over Kratos to pull this off, and she did it all on her own."
Kayla snorted, "She's been worried, scared, upset, and hurt, and she still managed to do all this for all of us. And even after what you said to her, she didn't cancel it. We could be sleeping in the RVs and the busses right now, but Eevy put herself in the line of fire with Kratos to give us something. And yet…You don't appreciate it at all, do you?"
Skiff and Kayla thanked the clerk as they took their room cards and headed off to find the proper rooms, "They're right, ya' know?" Yuu-Yuu said quietly, "Everything they just said was true."
"Yeah…Eevy went totally out of her way to bring us with her," Ash fingered his hat in his hands, "And when she didn't feel well…We just…Ignored her."
"Pii-ka-chu…" Pikachu murmured, his ears dropping.
"She had to have paid extra to get us here, giving such short notice…" Jason turned his head away, "And Kayla's right; even after we were so cold to her…She still kept the reservations."
"I'd be surprised if by now she doesn't hate us all," Morty held his forehead, "She's my baby sister, and even I was being cruel to her."
"I've never done anything so brutal in my entire life," Sooney whimpered, her eyes filling up, "I can't believe the way we acted."
"She's done everything she possibly could for us," Richie sighed, looking up at the ceiling, "And we shot her down when we knew she really needed us."
"I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself…" Mizu rubbed her eye with the heel of her hand, "Even if for some reason Eevy does."
"For the record," Lance looked them all over, "I agreed with Kayla and Skiff from the start. She told us, over and over again, that she wanted to trust us. And then, just when she was starting to, you smashed into her like a wrecking ball on stained glass," he took the room card from the clerk, "And let me just go by saying this. That is the lowest, coldest, most infantile thing I have ever seen in my life," he looked over at the Elite and at Morty and Eusine, "You call yourselves her Elite? Her family? Her friends? Especially you three," he pointed between Morty and Eusine and Will, "It's pitiful. It really is," he turned and followed Skiff and Kayla, who had actually stopped to wait for him.
*^~^**^~^*
"So we hear you found yourself a new job."
"Yes. And I'm very happy with what I'm doing."
"I'm sure you are. Champion Mistress. Oh! We're so happy for you, Evangelina!"
Eevy smiled slightly, hands folded in her lap, and nodded once in thanks. They had talked about nothing but her since she'd arrived. It wasn't that she was getting at all annoyed with the conversation, but she definitely didn't want to totally tell her life's story to them either. She wanted to know what she'd missed with them just as much as they wanted to know what they'd missed with her.
"Have you been doing anything interesting with yourselves these past few years?" she asked finally, partially interrupting one of her three hosts.
"Oh, nothing about us could be interesting to someone like you," her only hostess reached out and patted the back of her hand, "With all the things you must have seen and done and the people you must have met."
"That reminds me," one of the two hosts sat forward, "Have you met anyone, Eva? You know it's what he wanted for you; to be happy."
Eevy looked up at him, then turned her gaze off to the side, "Yes, I've met someone. He's very special to me."
"Wonderful!" the hostess smiled.
"Got any pictures to show us?" the other, much taller, host asked as he sat a glass of soda down on the table.
Eevy hesitantly drew out her wallet and flipped it open. All three grabbed it and started flipping through the pictures. Eevy sweatdropped slightly, as she had only intended on showing them one or two, not the whole thing. She merely drank her soda and ate her berries.
"Lady Bird, there are all different people in here," the taller host grinned, "Don't tell me you dated all of these guys."
"No, stupid!" she waved a hand at him furiously, turning a deep pink and snatching it away.
"Then tell us about them," the hostess smiled, "Please?"
Eevy drooped; that face always made her do as she was begged, "Well, these are some of my friends. I traveled with them to earn my Badges," she folded her cloak open, displaying the twelve Badges of Gertan Rin, "They're Mizu Mist, Yuu-Yuu Palm, Sooney Shippou, and Medira Kurayami. Mizu and my cousin are married now; she's pregnant; and Medira was appointed first Medio Mistress."
"Looks like you're good friends," the host reached out and flipped to the next picture, "What about these people, Eva?"
"Those are the Elite," the other host noted, looking down at the wallet.
"Yes. Jason Peruwa, Lurianna Sedna, William Logos…And Lance Ryujin," Eevy nodded, a slight smile cracking across her face.
"Hm…You had a tone on that last one there," the taller host flipped the picture again, "And judging by this one, of just you and Master Ryujin, I'd say we know who the lucky guy is."
"Oh, Eva, he's adorable!" the hostess grinned.
"Hey…"
"Now don't be jealous, dear…"
"I see you're still wearing that ring," the second host pointed out, "Does Master Ryujin know…?"
Eevy's eyes faded, "Yes, he knows now. And he's very understanding."
"Sounds like just the kind of man you need," the hostess smiled.
Eevy smiled enough that she actually realized she did so, "Yes. Yes, he is."
She looked quickly off to the side as the grandfather clock by the wall chimed to hail five o'clock. If she didn't leave now, she'd never get back before it was pitch black outside. But did she want to leave? She could stay…And wouldn't have to face those "friends" again. But then…Then she'd be killing herself. They were friends, whether they acted like it or not. They were part of what she'd become, and had helped her be what she had never dreamed of being. They were part of her, in more and deeper ways than any of them realized, and she was part of them. She got quickly to her feet, standing at attention, and caused all three of her hosts to look up at her.
"I'm afraid I must be going now," she informed them, "It was most magnificent seeing you all again."
"Aww…Do you have to?" the taller host pouted, "It was really good seeing you again, Lady Bird."
"You've grown up so much, Evangelina. You've become a beautiful young woman with prowess to spare," her hostess grinned, holding both of her hands.
"Thank you."
"You know you'll always be the little girl we never had, Eva," the host nodded, "And I think you've done just as it was wished of you, and maybe even a lot more."
"Thank you too."
"Promise you'll come visit us again?" asked the hostess.
"I'll try my best," Eevy nodded, tying her cloak around her shoulders, "Thanks for inviting me."
Eevy quietly made her way to the door and out onto the porch. Looking up at the late afternoon sun, she put her hands in her pockets and headed down the steps. There was a lot she'd missed with them that they hadn't told her, but they were just too selfless and caring to let it be known. She sighed and shook her head, reaching for the car door handle.
"Lady Bird!" she turned around as the taller host came tripping off the porch, "Hey…"
"What the matter?" she asked worriedly, "Is something wrong?"
"No. Well…Not really," he looked her over, "It's just that you're not quite as…Spunky as you used to be. And I'm a little worried about you."
"I have plenty of spunk," she replied, narrowing one eye, "But I'm not a teenager anymore. I've learned how to restrain myself."
He laughed quietly, then stopped very suddenly, "Lady Bird…Lee would be proud of you."
Eevy gripped the top of the car door, "I've been told that before. But I'm not really sure if it's true."
"I know it is," he nodded firmly, "He loved you, Eva. And I know he'd be so happy with the way you've grown up."
"He'd be happier if he were alive."
"That's enough of that," he snapped, "Lee died for you. You didn't kill him. Stop thinking you did," his scowl softened as she turned partially away, "I love you, Evangelina. I don't like to see you like this. So stop, please? For me?" he grinned stupidly.
She looked over at him and smiled slightly at the dumb look he had acquired, "OK."
He smiled brightly at her, then waved one hand and headed back to the porch, "I'll call you sometime."
"I hope so," she waved back, pausing as she started to get in the car, "Travis?"
"Hm?"
She let one quick smirk crack, "Thank you."
"No problem."
She watched him head back into the house, then turned and started to get into her car. She stopped, turning quickly to her right and looking down the road. Parked there, in the center of the street, was a pitch black Jaguar. And leaning against it was a figure clad in black, bearing bright red hair. She stepped back, turning to that side and tensing.
"Oh, now don't be so jumpy," Rubeus grinned, looking up at her, "I'm not after the Tanabata family. Unless, that is, you piss me off."
Eevy grunted as the Crystal Bell hanging down inside her shirt began to vibrate, "What do you want?"
"You know the answer to that already," Rubeus grinned, "I want you dead."
"And you know the answer to that already," she retorted, "You'll never get it."
"Well, that's not nice," he laughed wickedly, rubbing the back of his head as he turned to face her head on.
His hand slid down the back of his neck, slowly drawing out a dagger from the hood in the back of his cloak. Eevy stood staring at him, arms crossed. There was something of interest to the spirit within the Bell. It had vibrated. Something was going to happen.
"You're awfully quiet," Rubeus noted lowly, "Something the matter…Ladybug?"
The Champion's eyes widened, and she swung her arms behind her back, yanking a Glock from each holster behind her, "You have no right to call me that! How do you know that name?!"
"Oh, I have my ways," he snickered, tipping his head, "Now why are you aiming those at me? You know if you kill me now, you and everyone else part of your precious White Council…Will die," he watched in great satisfaction as her left lip arced up, "Or maybe is it that you're not afraid to kill those…Who do not respect you?"
"You son of a bitch," she bared her teeth angrily, "You've found an informant somewhere, and when I find him, I'll kill him and stuff him down your throat."
"You'll have to live long enough to try," swinging his arm up from behind him, he let loose a straight, flat knife, which spun right toward her.
With no time to react, and feeling quite stupid for not suspecting something like this, Evangelina was unable to duck. The piercing blade slid right through her throat, and her eyes went wide upon being struck. She stumbled left, then right, then fell to her knees. Both her guns dropped in front of her, and she collapsed. Rubeus removed one of his gloves and rubbed his fingers on his shirt.
He laughed evilly, stopping beside her and nudging her with his foot, "Hm…Not so threatening now, are you?"
When her right arm reached out and grasped his ankle, he could have sworn his heart came right up in his throat. He kicked her off, tripping away from her and raising his right arm up in front of himself. The Champion Mistress got to her hands and knees, then reached up and yanked the blade from her neck. She shot him the filthiest of looks, and it actually caused him to tremble.
"Those eyes," he shook to himself, "Those are the most unholy eyes I've ever seen in my life. They're even more inhuman than mine."
The coal and flame eyes that stared back at him were nothing compared to the shock that hit him as her neck began to grow back, drawing its blood back through the skin before reforming, "Pitiful," came an evil voice from deep in the Champion's throat, "When you try and kill someone, you'd better make sure they're really dead the first time. Otherwise, they can have a real bad way of coming back to bite you on the ass."
"What are you?" he asked, backing quickly away, "You are not the Champion Mistress, and you are not the spirit of the Bell."
"I am a product of you," she hissed, "I am the result of Sekinetsu's meddling in the first Prophetic running," she looked right through him, "I am what could be considered a very dark side to Evangelina, and to Amatsubikei. You created me when you soiled the spirit of the Bell with your filthy mouth, and now the creature turns against her creator."
"I…I don't believe you," he backed quickly up to his car, "I don't know what you are, or just where you came from, but I sure as hell didn't make you!"
"You're more of an idiot than I remember," she shook her head, "I never said you created me personally. I was created by the soul that lives within that ridiculous human body of yours. You are vessel to Sekinetsu, Dark Master of the Prophecy, are you not? Ask him sometime just what I am," she smiled nastily, bearing what Rubeus could only call long, serrated fangs, "I will now return control of this physical vessel to Evangelina."
All it took to banish whatever that was from Eevy's body, seemingly enough, was blinking. She stared at him blankly, wondering what in God's name he was staring at. He was incredibly pale; more so than usual. He reached quickly into his car and drew out some kind of gun she couldn't identify.
"What the hell did you just do?!" he asked frantically, "What the hell kind of mind tricks did you just play on me?!"
"What are you talking about?" she asked after quickly picking up her guns, "Have you lost your mind?!"
"One of us has, but it isn't me!" he barked, hands trembling, "I've never seen anything so demonic in my life! Whatever it is that just spoke through you, it's darker even than me!"
She tilted an eyebrow, then shook her head, "You're nuts!"
"Whatever it is inside you, I'm not letting it live! Now not only you will die, but Amatsu and that thing will die as well!"
"Hold it right there!"
Both Rubeus and Eevy looked around, and Eevy's eyes found the source first, "…Ensign…?"
"Who is that pointy little man?" Rubeus asked plainly, cocking an eyebrow.
"Hm…Never seen him before. Let's both shoot him," Eevy smirked, turning toward Ensign as Rubeus did, guns held out.
"HO! Woah!" Ensign threw his arms above his head, "I've been sent with a message for you, Mistress Hikoboshi!"
"We don't have time for this crap," Rubeus grunted, cocking his gun.
"Hold it," Eevy trained one Glock back on him, "You shoot him and I'll shoot you."
"You shoot her and I'll shoot you," Ensign put in quickly, pulling a long back gun from a side holster.
Rubeus looked between them, "Either way, I'm going to shoot you both, so let's make it quick, hm?"
"What's the message, Mr. Treaty?" Eevy asked, her eyes locked on Rubeus, though her hearing was on Ensign.
"It's from your cousin," he told her quickly, also watching Rubeus, "In a quote, the exact message was Mizu is kinda-maybe-sorta having the baby. And they want you there."
"Yeah, right. Like how?" Eevy bared her teeth as Rubeus grinned nastily, "If you even think about going near any of them, Rubeus, I'll break your legs."
Rubeus grinned slightly, "Oh really?" he turned his total attention to her, "Do you really think that little poindexter over there can stop me? He doesn't even know what we are."
"I know that you are the Demised Fire Master Peter Caliginous Rubeus," Ensign hoisted up his gun and narrowed both eyes, "I also know that you are the Light and Dark halves of Ho-oh's Prophecy," both Eevy and Rubeus turned on him at that, and all he did was smirk, "That's right. I am the only mortal Guardian of the Prophecy. See, I'm not just here for nothing. I was sent here by President Kratos to ensure something like this didn't happen."
"You're lying," Rubeus spat, now unable to decide who he was aiming at.
"I am?" Ensign tilted an eyebrow, "Then how do I know that Sekinetsu Rubiyaku lives on within you?" he watched as Rubeus shuttered violently, "Ooh…I think I just proved my point."
"Yeah, the point on the top of your head anyway," Rubeus snorted, spewing smoke from his nose, "I don't have time for this."
"And like I do? I've got someplace to be!" Eevy grumbled.
"Mistress Hikoboshi…" Ensign glanced off at her, "Go and see to your cousin and the others."
"But…Ensign, you-"
"I can handle Master Rubeus on my own," Ensign smirked as Rubeus growled, "Don't worry."
Eevy looked between both Rubeus and Ensign, then started packing herself in the car, "Where do you think you're going?!" Rubeus spat, turning on her.
"If you fire that gun, I'll blow your head right off! And because I'm mortal, it won't affect how long the Prophetic Council lives," Ensign's eyes showed an incredibly deep anger, "The rounds in this gun are mercury charged, so don't try and think you can just melt them away."
"Ensign," Eevy leaned out her car window, "…You're still annoying."
All Ensign did…Was grin.
*^~^**^~^*
The hospital elevator flew open, and not because it was fast on its own. Eevy had raised a hand and thrown it open. She tripped out into the large, white hallways, then attempted to sense where her friends were. She trampled down the hallway, apologizing to all the new mother's she tore past. Tripping around the corner at the end of the hallway, she slowed to a stop.
"Good Lord," Will looked her over from head to toe, "What happened to you?"
She merely glared into him, and he quickly moved away. Squeezing between all those who stood between her and the room, she pushed the door open. Eusine quickly turned to see who had entered, and immediately brightened when she came in. Even so, it didn't take him long to turn up his nose at her.
"What the heck did you roll in?" he asked, pointing to her, "You're…Bloody. And you smell like grease."
"Don't ask," she muttered, "Is everything all right?"
Eusine pointed to the bed he stood next to, and Eevy looked across the room at Mizu, "Evangelina, you have a second-cousin."
Eevy looked back at everyone now gathered in the doorway, then stepped closer. Looking down, she slowly smiled at the purple-grey eyes peering up at her. Eusine grinned as well, as he liked the way she smiled at them. She looked truly at peace somehow. The baby reached an arm out to her, and suddenly she was very distant, and moved quickly away. She wouldn't hold him. She couldn't. She wouldn't even touch him. God knows what kind of influence she'd have on a baby that small. She either ignored or didn't notice the sadness hanging over everyone around her. Mizu frowned deeply, then sat the baby up.
"Evangelina, this is Kenta Hiro," she noted, then pointing to Eevy, "Kenta, I want you to meet someone. Someone very special to me. She's a very brave, very beautiful young woman, with a sweet heart. You can always count on her for anything, Kenta. I know, because I've always been able to. This is your second-cousin, Eevy," she smiled wide at Eevy, "Hold him, Evangelina."
Eusine leaned back against the wall and nodded as Eevy carefully inched forward, taking the baby from Mizu's arms. Lance leaned over on his arm as it rested on the doorframe, watching silently as Eevy looked down at her second-cousin for the first time. She brushed the baby's hair away and kissed his forehead.
"Hi, cutie," she smiled, "Did you know you have a very nice mommy?"
*^~^**^~^*
Eevy sat in the waiting room of the hospital, just down the hall from Mizu's room. While sending numerous emails, she attempted to shake the feeling she was getting in her spine from everyone staring at her. They'd asked her time and again what had happened to her, and yet she ignored them. She'd just stare at them for a second or two, and then walk away. She looked quickly up over the top of her laptop as she noticed she was being surrounded.
"What do you want?" she grunted.
"Evangelina…We're so sorry…" Luri murmured, wrapping her own arms around her waist.
"We really didn't mean to be so cold," Rachel whispered, causing everyone to nod.
Eevy remained in the same position, typing away, "You're only saying that because you feel guilty for doing those things because you found out I'd made you a place at the Hotel Hershey," she turned quickly to them, "You disgust me. Fake friends making fake apologies."
"It's not fake, Eevy!" Sooney shrieked, covering her eyes.
"You have to believe us!" Yuu-Yuu cried, holding her heart.
"I don't have to do a damn thing you tell me," she retorted, moving to her feet, "And I find no reason to even consider doing so."
"Eevy, I swear, we didn't mean any of the things we said and did," Ash reached for her hand, but she pulled it away before he could take it.
"You disappoint me," she said quietly, "I truly had it in my heart I could trust you and that you were my friends."
"But…But we are," Gary whispered.
"No, I'm afraid you're not," she dropped her head, "Not anymore."
"Eevy, this isn't fair of you," Chenille pointed out, "We accepted your apology for hiding that from us, and now you-"
"You accepted because you found out I did something extra for you!" she gnarled, pounding the table in front of her and actually bouncing her laptop around, "You're not friends! You never were! You saw that I had potential and used me as a ladder to get where you wanted to be! And once you found out I had a past I had problems with, you decided I wasn't worth your time! It's repulsive!" she clenched her teeth, "I do not want any of you serving on my Council!"
Everyone gasped, backing away from her, "You can't mean that!" Jason shouted, "You need us!"
"I don't need anyone like you," she started to throw her things in her bag, "I had enough of this kind of bloodsucking abuse with Taylor Andiron. I'm leaving now. I'll be gone before sunup tomorrow to get a head start, so I doubt you'll see me in the morning, if you see me at all."
"Eevy, please don't do this," Medira covered her mouth and eyes, "God, Eevy, no."
"Evangelina, you have to understand where we were coming from when we did what we did," Will put in.
She slammed her laptop shut and dropped it back into her bag, zipping it up and turning away from everyone else, "I don't want your stupid excuses. And I don't want your apologies," she started walking away, using her hand to call her cloak to her shoulders, "And I already told you I don't want your fake sympathy either. About right now, all I want from any of you..." she stepped into the elevator and looked back at them, eyes burning black and red as the doors slid shut, "Is to be left alone."
*^~^*Part Eight: End…*^~^*
A/N: Wow…Eevy's a psycho. o_O [Kinda like…You?] *glares* Anyway, more on the whole eye change/personality change thing later on. ^__^* And yeah, there's quite a bit of OOC stuff here, but it'll be explained. Well…There should only be 2 or 3 more chapters to TAA USA…So…Wish me luck!
*^~^*Pro_V*^~^*
.:O=Usagi-chan=O:.
*))~Itachi-chan~((*
-=O~The Other Pokemon~O=-
Next: Special Edition: TAA USA: Part 9.
TAA Pokemon Of The Month: October 2003: Misdreavus
And I still don't own Pokemon. Don't own Glock either. Or Jaguar or anything to do with it. Geez…I wonder how many times I'm gonna say this. oO