Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of Pokemon, its characters, locations, or names. All of them, with the exception of the original characters and ideas, belong to Nintendo.

Credits: Luna and "the wanderer" belongs to me. Paran belongs to The Elemental Sorceress and Fox belongs to Shadow Fox 05.

AN: Yes, the identity of the stalker guy is revealed in this chapter! -evil laugh- As such, I feel the need to point out that this is, really, the first long story I am using him in. He has been in RPGs I'm in, but was usually played by a friend (who has an account here. Kage Kitsune, anyone?), and so...I'm...unsure of what to do with him. D: So I might end up doing heavy editing from this point onward as I get a feel of how he acts, talks, etc if it starts deviating from how he is now...or not. Depends on how I feel about it.

As for my lengthy absence from writing, I apologize for that. I also apologize for the fact updating is going to be slow. I'm in a never ending cycle of either not wanting to write and having no ideas, wanting to write but have no ideas, or having no ideas but wanting to write. Then there are the odd times I do write little shorties with my OCs, or write onto my original story, because writing fan fiction doesn't appeal at that time.

As for NaNo...well, I'll give you the details on that after the chapter. :)

Warning: This is going to turn out as having slash/shonen-ai/yaoi/etc.

- Chapter Three: Strange Arrival -

Smiling humorlessly, the blond-haired man unsheathed the dagger slowly, holding it up in front of his eyes. The blade was dull, dented, and looked like it had rust on it in some places. Tightening his grip on its hilt, he tore holes into his green cloak, using the dagger to cause tears and more holes in it. Looking over the mess that was formally his traveling cloak, he nodded. All it was missing was the dirt and dust of the road, and it would work for his plans.

Putting the torn garment on, he started down one of the hallways, darting into a door to check for one final time before he left. It was filled with several shelves, each one holding a single clear glass orb. Surrounding them were generators for the force fields that would be needed once the orbs started being filled...

Locking the door behind him, he started out of the building, his mansion. Glancing about to make sure no one had wondered in uninvited, he set off at a run, letting the branches of the bushes and trees tree at him without complaint, scratching at his face and clothes. Falling into a roll, he stopped short of another thorn bush. Blinking, he pushed himself up, and looked down at the newly dusty clothing he wore. "Good."

With a smirk of approval, he teleported.

- - -

Luna hummed, flipping the water in the bathtub playfully, as she took a slow bath. She had just spent a week in Indigo with Duplica, having to stay in-city as they were doing the tests on her for the Elements. It had all seemed dull to her, at best.

She had been made to go through personality testing, intelligence - that had even Ash wondering whether all the tests were necessary - along with testing for her physical activities. The main ones, however, were to delve into her being, the Psychic that had been assigned to her having to have her powers trained on the young girl the entire time. Luna had felt sorry for the poor woman, knowing quite a few people probably hounded her because of her ward.

When it was finished, Luna was glad to be back in her own bed and home, and with her own family. She had had fun with Duplica, at the times she wasn't locked up in an office with a 'crazy person' doctor as she thought of them, or with a 'teacher.' She had missed her stuffed animals.

There was a short knock at the closed door and it opened slightly, letting the dark head of her father peek in. "Already screwing around, huh?" he asked, "Couldn't wait?"

"I wanted a bath! Daddy, what do you want?" Luna shot back, flipping water at Ash as he sat down on the edge of the bathtub. She giggled, covering her face, when he flung a handful of the soupy water at her in turn.

"I just came up to tell you your mother had lunch ready. She'd probably be happier if you would get out of your makeshift pool and go eat." Luna took the towel that was tossed to her and climbed out, using it to pat herself dry. As she danced around the bathroom pulling her clothes on, Luna barely managed to miss tripping over her father's legs and the clutter on the floor. "Water all the way through."

Luna, about to run to the kitchen, turned back to look at Ash, who shrugged and smiled. "Why's it matter that a bunch of old kooks said I am more 'water' then the other Elements?" she asked, crouching down on the floor to listen.

"Oh, it doesn't. Not right now, at any rate, but it probably will later," Ash said, smiling slightly at the jab at the doctors that had been involved. When Luna jumped up and out the door, he let the little girl lead him through the house, and down the stairs quickly. Lunch was already set up on the table. He made a face; Misty was already digging in. "Not hungry at all, I see."

"Oh, shut your hole!" the Water Master snapped, swatting at the grinning man as he sat down. "You're no better! Sometimes I wonder if you chew at all."

Ash snorted. "I have to. Unlike you, I can't swallow a sandwich whole," he retorted, taking some of the chopped fruit ad dumping them on a plate. It was then he noticed that Misty was looking past him. He turned to see what had her attention; May was at the sink, staring out of the window, her mouth set in a fine line. "What's wrong?"

May shook her head, turning to look at them. Luna, her cheerful mood dampened, peeked out. "Who's that?" she asked, catching both Ash's and Misty's attention, "He looks a mess. Kinda how Daddy looks when he gets back from one of his extended trips."

Shaking her head, May pulled one of the chairs back and took a seat. "Be nice. He must be on his way to Indigo," she said, waving Luna over to start eating.

Ash frowned then, as the doorbell ring. As May rose to answer the door, Luna followed suit, pulling on her shirt. "I'll answer!" With a smile, May let Luna trot past and disappear into the hallway yelling, "I'm coming! Don't leave yet!"

- - -

Hearing the calls of the young child that he recognized as 'Luna,' the blond man stood waiting, his hands folded behind his back. The door opened slightly, and one green eye peered out at him. The owner of the eye blinked, and disappeared again, calling to someone in the house. "Mom, that strange guy we were looking at is here!"

Snickering, he put on a faint smile when the brunette that was May opened the door, as she scolded the child for being rude. "Be nice, young lady!" she finished, before turning to him, "Hello, sir, how can I help you?"

"Miss, I've been traveling quite a while, and have some injuries and the like to be taken care of. Seeing this house, I thought to ask if I might perhaps stay, so I can clean them and get patched up?" he asked, as the child's head appeared from behind May.

May looked him over, noticing the torn cloak and clothes, before smiling. She didn't feel like there was anything 'off' about him, and it appeared no harm could be done. "Well, I could do better then that, but names are needed first!" she said, getting a laugh out of him.

"Let me oblige you then! My name's Faysal Zennz." May nodded, swinging the door as open as it would go, and stepping back. Luna followed suit, keeping her head down.

"Please come in." she said, "We're having lunch right now, so if you'd like something to eat before taking care of what you need to, you can come into the kitchen with us."

"That is alright. I would rather clean up before doing anything else." Luna jumped at the chance.

"Come with me! I'll show you the bathroom!" She took Faysal's hand, and started away with him, pulling on his arm. May covered her mouth to stifle the giggle that bubbled up as her daughter chattered on to the stranger. She was met with curious stares from Misty and Ash as she entered the kitchen again.

"Who was that?" they asked in unison. May stood behind Ash, wrapping her arms around his neck. She knew immediately that the news wouldn't be taken lightly.

"Oh, just that man I saw outside. He needed a place to stay for a bit, so I said he could stay here." Ash looked disapprovingly at her, his eyes turning dark and dull. "It'll be fine, I didn't see anything with him that could pose a danger."

May frowned when Misty shook her head slowly. "Is he just a wanderer, a trainer, a Master….?" she questioned.

"As it so happens, I am a wandering Ground Master." They jumped when the male voice piped up. Coming up beside the standing woman, Faysal dipped his head. "Faysal Zennz."

Ash narrowed his eyes. He felt May untangle herself from him and start kneading the muscles in his shoulders and upper back, her nervousness showing clearly in his mind. Faysal met the stare, unblinking, and rose his hands up, his manner nonthreatening. "I don't mean anyone any harm." he said, "I just need to rest and take care of my wounds."

"Hm. Sit down?" Ash indicated one of the empty chairs, the gesture that was meant to be polite seeming more hesitant, his eyes staying the slits they had been in. Luna cheered happily, going back to her own spot. Faysal took a seat, humoring the child when she put her hand up for a high-five by meeting it. "What happened to put you in such bad shape?"

Faysal held back a grin, as he started spinning a story to answer their questions.

- - -

"Something isn't right about this guy," Ash said, running a hand through his hair. Pacing around the room, his eyes went wide in frustration. May took hold of his wrist to stop his nervous movements, and pulled gently. "We don't even know who he is!"

"Ash, just stop." He looked at her, sinking down onto the edge of the bed. May folded her legs under her, pulling the ribbon out of his hair and letting it drop onto the comforter next to her. "When I was at the door I did a mental overall scan, and nothing came up. He was telling the truth about what Element he has, and its obvious he's been out for a while, since I doubt anyone in their right minds would injure themselves just to be here of all places."

"That's the thing, I don't think he is in his right mind," Ash commented. May pulled her fingers through his hair, listening quietly as he talked. He tilted his head back. "Something about that guy…Faysal whatever…is just striking me as wrong."

"You're being paranoid," May said, running her thumbs down his spine. Ash frowned, twisting to look at her. She shrugged, having no answer for the questioning gaze, and continued her rubbing. "None of the others have had any complaints. Even Fox had nothing against him, and that's something to say about it."

He shook his head. "Still, something is wrong, and I know it." Nudging her away, Ash pulled his legs up, and swung himself around. "Why can't any of you see it?"

It was May's turn to frown. She looked at him exasperatedly. "Just give him a chance, will you? Whatever you're sensing might not even be as bad as you think it is. That happened with Ryder and you, remember?"

Ash smiled, nodding. When he had been injured shortly after Luna had been conceived, Ryder and his family had taken care of him while he recovered. It had been the daughter, Fidelity, who had found him when he had been out under the tree. Her father had not been pleased with housing a random stranger. "Fine. Just don't start looking for any miracles now."

- - -

Luna blinked, as a heavy hand fell on her shoulder. "You shouldn't be listening at door locks, should you now?" a slightly deep voice said.

She looked up at Faysal, who had an eyebrow raised questioningly. He had changed into new clothes, and had cleaned himself up and been healed for the most part. There were still scratches remaining, and some light scars were left behind. "Oh…um."

"I am sure they would not appreciate it, little one." Luna looked away, before narrowing her eyes in a fashion that was so similar to her father, her thin pink lips in a pout. Faysal tensed, preparing for the verbal onslaught he expected from the ten-year-old.

"I'm not little." The quiet protest mildly surprised him, as Luna slipped past and into her own room down the hall. He watched her go, before starting off for the guest bedroom with a smile. It was late, and he had many things to do…

- - -

AN: Aha. Now for NaNo. I really didn't do so hot for it. I was fine up until a week or so into it, when my family kept wanting to intrude on my time, cramping my writing time, and then making me fall behind farther and farther. By the time I was at the last week of writing, I'd given up altogether of finishing it. I'm not sure what my word count is...I'm still working on getting up to 50,000, just to say it is my longest fan fiction. Regardless of how drawn out I have to make it. XD