Author's Note: Cursedninetails: Thank you for the little talk show thing! Don't worry: the beginning to always boring for some reason. In a couple chapters, something big will happen that I have planned.

MidnightxPhoenix: You sure do hate suspense. Better get used to it. ;

Chapter Three: Two Problems Now

" Whoa. That's new!" Des exclaimed, staring at the poster.

Ashley shuddered, then turned around," A Dance at the Academy? That's great, just great!"

Des smiled," Oh buck up. Now you can ask Alec! I'm sure he doesn't have a date to go with!" he encouraged.

Ashley snorted, crossing her arms," He already has one, I bet. He's one of the most popular guys in the whole Academy! He'll be swarmed over by the other girls!"

Des shrugged," Well, the only way to find out is to ask him. And you're going to have to that yourself; I'm not doing it."

Ashley growled, continuing to lick her ice cream," I guess. But, what if he says no Des? I'll be so embarrassed!" She then smirked," But then again, I could always-" Ashley looked to her pokeballs.

Des shook his head," No Ashley. You can't control him. That just isn't right."

Ashley snorted," Why not? It would work!" she protested, slamming her fist on the ice cream table.

Des rolled his eyes," Because he'll never like you if you mess with him. Are you almost done?" he asked, his ice cream finished, now gnawing on the cone, easily ripping it to bits with his fangs.

Ashley nodded, taking a bite out of her cone," Yeah, yeah. Let's go already." Ashley stood up, throwing the rest of her cone away, Des eating his quickly, and both heading out the door, the jingling of the bells seeming to say goodbye, and come again.

As they walked up the street to a four way intersection, they looked at each other," See you tomorrow Des." Ashley said, beginning to walk away, her pigtails waving as she walked.

Des nodded," Goodbye," and walked down the other way.

Ashley continued to walk for about ten minutes, until she reached an enormous building, known only as Devon Corp. Ashley walked through the sliding automatic doors, and up towards the elevator. Going inside, she pressed one of the many, many buttons, and felt herself and the elevator move up. In a few moments, the doors opened, letting her out, she walked down one of the many hallways, to a door, numbered No. 45. Letting herself in, she closed the door.

Seeing no one in the apartment, she looked slightly confused. She then spotted a note on the fridge, and walked over, ripping it off the fridge. She read it aloud," Ashley. Currently working later than usual. Working on floor No. 27. Visit me if you like. Just don't annoy anyone, please."

Ashley smirked, then threw her backpack down on the couch, and ran out of the apartment, back to the elevator. " Floor No. 27. Jeez, there's like fifty floors in this whole damn place!" Going up, she tapped her foot until she heard a ping, then walked out as the doors opened.

The place she was in was obviously a laboratory, which Devon Corp. designed to test of their products. Everything seemed white: the walls, the tiled floor, and the tables. All the scientists wore white lab coats as well. Ashley passed through a doorway, and as she went through, a red light flashed on, then dulled off.

Ashley walked down to a table, noticing her Grandpa now, with his baldhead. Ashley yelled," Hey Grandpa! I'm here!"

Her voice was responded by a bunch of scientists shushing her. Ashley rolled her eyes, scowling," It ain't a damn library."

The elderly man turned around," Why, hello Ashley. Good to see you dear."

Ashley smiled meekly, then crossed her arms and frowned," Yeah, whatever."

Grandpa's face then grew serious," I got a call from Miss Roxanne. She said you were caught chewing gum again. Ashley, what have I told you?"

Ashley rolled her eyes," She said she wouldn't call you. She's a liar."

Grandpa shook his head," So, what's new?"

Ashley then looked at her fingernails," Oh, nothing, other than some stupid dance that's coming up on Friday."

" Friday? At the Academy?"

Ashley nodded in reply.

" Are you going to go with anyone?" Grandpa's eyes twinkled with delight.

Ashley snorted," No."

" Not even with Alec?"

Ashley looked shocked," How'd you-"

" Oh, Des told me that you liked him. He seems like a very nice boy from what I hear. Am I going to expect any grand-kids dear?"

Ashley growled, clenching her fist," Shut up."

Grandpa laughed heartily," Okay dear. Anyway, I heard what happened today. Seems Alec accidentally hurt a Wigglytuff while fighting with his…his…"

" Mawile."

" That's it. Mawile. I heard that Wigglytuff could survive though. Might just have a few problems with hearing. Nothing bad though about that." Grandpa shook his head.

Ashley frowned," Yeah, but now, Alec's going to be so miserable. Everyone is going to blame him for it."

Grandpa shook his head back and forth slowly," I don't think so. It was an accident, after all. Sure, maybe they might pick on him a bit, but everyone will forget."

Ashley sighed heavily," Except that brat Serina McDonald."

Grandpa shrugged," Maybe. Well, you can go if you like dear. I've got work to do," He smiled warmly," Bye Ashley." He ruffled her hair.

Ashley put her hands on her hair, protecting it," See you later Grandpa," she said, walking out. She went through the doorway again, and the red light flashed on, and dulled off slowly.

" Well, what do you think?" A man asked from a computer, watching Ashley walk into the elevator, the doors blocking her from view.

A female voice replied," Seems like it. I'd never expect someone so young to be able to do this."

" She has the right stuff. Let's just talk it over with her Grandpa."

The female nodded," Right."

" You little!" Ashley yelled at Des, who was looking away, grinning. " Why'd you tell my Grandpa that?"

Des looked back at Ashley," Oh come on. He won't bug you that much. I just couldn't figure out anything else to say."

" What about the weather? Talk about that! Not about my crush damn it!"

" Sorry. Didn't think about that Ash. Let's get to school. The quicker we do, the quicker we get back home." Des said quickly, running ahead, his Flygon wings flapping as he ran, somehow making him move quicker.

" Oh get back here!" Ashley called after, running after Des at a sprint. " You better run, because when I catch up to you Flygon boy!"

Everyone was busy taking their seats in Mr. Mew's class, waiting for Mr. Mew, who was strangely not in the classroom yet, to come back from the hallway.

" What do you think Mr. Mew is up to now?" Des whispered to Ashley.

Ashley growled, smacking him in the back of the head," Almost forgot. That's for the little crush thing." But Des didn't seem very fazed by Ashley's attack. He simply shrugged it off.

" Damn tough Flygon skin." Ashley muttered, looking ahead to the front of the classroom, resting her head on her hand. She looked outside towards the door, seeing Mr. Mew's shadow along with Miss Roxanne's, easily noticed by her hair.

They seemed to be talking about something, and Mr. Mew continued to nod again and again. Mr. Mew then gave a final nod, and opened the door, pushing it open. Everyone immediately became silent as he walked in, looking towards where he had just entered, and gave a motion to come through," Class. We have a new student. Everyone, meet Amphie Johnson. Please come Amphie. Don't be shy."

Stepping through the door, the class, especially Des, was surprised. She looked much younger than the rest of them, a bit younger, probably a year, to Ashley. Her clothing consisted of plain jeans with a black top, and yellow and black tennis shoes. But the most noticeable part of clothing was the large beach cap on her head, the middle of it pricking up a bit. Her hair was noticeably long, reaching her hips, and was golden blonde with black streaks running through it. Not to mention, on her forehead, was a small, ruby colored gem. Her skin seemed to have a yellow tinge to it, and on her neck, were three black rings, going completely around. What was probably the most noticeable was a tail, yes, a tail, and if you hadn't noticed from the rest of her, an Ampharos tail, yellow with black stripes with a large ruby colored ball on the tip. Her eyes were mysteriously coal black, much like Des's. Around her neck hung a string, with a magnet attached to it. She looked around nervously, then spotted Des, and smiled, and her eyes lit up.

" Miss Johnson comes from Lilycove, which is all the way on the other side of the region of Hoenn. Correct Amphie?" Mr. Mew asked his new student.

Amphie looked to Mr. Mew, and nodded," Umm. Yes, I do."

Mr. Mew smiled warmly," Now, you may pick wherever you would like to sit."

Amphie nodded, and looked over the classmates. Her eyes then fell on Des and Ashley, Ashley busy chewing on gum and looking off at the ceiling, Des busy reading up on something. Amphie said," Can I sit next to those two?" she asked, looking to Mr. Mew.

Mr. Mew looked a bit nervous, but nodded," Sure Amphie."

Amphie smiled meekly, then walked over to them, sitting down beside Ashley," Hello. I'm Amphie Johnson, as Mr. Mew already said."

Ashley stared at Amphie," Okay. You a pokemorph or what?" Ashley asked.

Des glared at Ashley," I'm Desert, but please call me Des. And this is Ashley."

Amphie nodded," Oh. Hi. Pokemorph? Umm, yes." She looked down at the floor sadly.

Des asked," What's wrong? I'm a pokemorph. A Flygon one, at that. The wings, fangs, eyes, claws, the works. You're an Ampharos, right?"

Amphie seemed to perk up," Yeah. You're a Flygon? Wow. That means you can fly."

Ashley snorted," If he wasn't so fat, he could." Amphie seemed to giggle, and Ashley became uneasy.

Des narrowed his eyes," I can fly. I just don't, because then I would leave you behind. And that's not very nice, now is it?"

Ashley rolled her eyes, then leaned back in her chair," Well, Mr. Mew is starting class now. Take out your notes Des," she teased," You always do write down notes for no reason anyway."

Des growled, then grabbed his notebook from his desk," Anyway, Ashley, are you going to ask him or not?"

Ashley narrowed her eyes," Shut up. I don't want to. And you can't make me."

Amphie asked," What's going on?"

Des explained," Ashley likes a boy, and there's a dance on Friday, so I keep bugging her to ask him. I mean he couldn't be taken yet."

Amphie nodded, then looked around, not listening to Mr. Mew's lesson plan," So, who is it? Is he here, or in a different class?"

Ashley narrowed her eyes, and was about to reply, but Des said quickly," He's over there. Second row, first seat on the left."

Ashley slammed her hands on her desk, no one noticing, as she began to twitch, she muttered," That's the SECOND person you've told now."

Amphie looked over to Alec," Oh. I see," she giggled," He's kinda cute."

Ashley said flatly," Okay then. Well, I'm still not asking him."

Des asked," Come on Ashley. Do you really want some other girl to get him instead of you?" he then added," I know how much you like him."

Ashley frowned, thinking," Well, I know I don't want Serina to get him. I mean, she must be pretty pissed at what happened yesterday."

" What happened yesterday?"

" Long story." Des and Ashley said in unison.

Amphie nodded," Oh. Okay," she said to Ashley," Just ask him then, before some other gets hold of him, okay?" she smiled warmly.

Ashley growled," If both of you shut up, I will ask him after class! Now keep it down."

Amphie and Des looked to each other, grinning.

" Hey Ashley. You wanted to talk to me about something?" Alec asked, out in the hallway beside the door.

Ashley was blushing hard, but trying to cover it up," Umm. Yeah. I was just wondering…" she looked towards the door, seeing Des and Amphie peering through, she grimaced, shooing them away with her hand, stomping her foot. Des and Amphie quickly disappeared, but when Ashley turned back, they reappeared.

Alec asked," Yes?"

Ashley put her hand behind her head," I was just thinking, do you want to-to go to the d-dance with…me?" she asked, then quickly looked at the ground, blushing scarlet red, as she held her breath.

Alec frowned," Oh. I'm really sorry Ashley. I wish you would've asked me earlier. But Serina already asked me." Alec shook his head," I don't like her, but I figured I had to go with her, after the Wigglytuff incident to sort of make up."

Ashley seemed surprised, almost as though she would've expected him to reply yes. She then said miserably," Oh."

Des and Amphie looked at each other, frowning.

" Tough luck." Des said sadly.

Amphie nodded, frowning.

Alec tried to cheer her up," I'm really sorry Ashley. Must be two things I've messed up now."

Ashley sighed," Oh. That's okay. I was expecting it."

Alec tried to smile," But I'll still see you there, right?" he asked hopefully.

Ashley shrugged," I guess. Umm. That's all I wanted to ask.

Bye now." Ashley quickly walked off.

Alec watched as she ran off," I'm sorry Ashley." He mumbled, then walked in the other direction away.