Dawn going to school on foot didn't look forward to it at all. She'd rather be in a nice hot bed or hang out with Ash after the fights she had and being the one to pass along Ursula's birth right. May had joined up with her as usual sharing the sentiment and both girls looked tired after all the work they've done.
The city finally was cleaned up from the attack of the dead. They all had some good rest and fun in-between risking their lives and helping the police with some cases which made the force being able to rebuild while they did the heavy lifting. Their work appreciated all orders for their arrest were withdrawn apart from the ones that were out against who they fought.
Ash and his fellow protectors apart from Riley had to go to school once more though. May trudging along the streets the brunette struggled to see clearly. Weak on her legs she was in worse shape than Dawn. The brunette took more work on herself thanks to her relationship with the police. It weighed on her but she shook it off vowing not to rest till they catch the necromancer responsible for it.
"May! Deedee!" Hearing their names being yelled they turned around and saw a friendly face.
"Leona!" Dawn yelled as her childhood friend came running to them. The hot spring heir was bouncing with excitement.
"Did you hear about what's going on!? Incredible isn't it!?"
"What?" May asked her wishing she was more quiet.
"Everything! It's like we live in a comic right now! Superheroes, zombies, necromancers!" May and Dawn covered their ears over the noise. Leona noticing it asked the pair. The lack of rest gave them a minor headache but nothing some aspirin couldn't fix.
"You doing ok?" Leona asked worried for May and Dawn.
"Dad had duty that night and was at the station when it happened. Haven't slept at all."
"Oh my gosh! Is he alright?"
"He's fine. Bit shaken up but he's tough." It is what it is really. Norman doing the extra hours filling in some shifts he barely was home these days. Leona seeing May's pale face and baggy eyes the usually happy brunette slumped forward.
"You should've stayed home. You look sick." The fact she got out of bed was a minor miracle in itself. Leona would've just given up and called in sick.
"Scratch that. You look ready to collapse."
"It's been hard for all the families of officers."
Despite their best efforts some police officers died. A mass funeral will be taking place under the public eye honoring those who lost their lives in duty. May having a bond to some of those men thanks to her dad being a cop she took it personal that she couldn't save them.
"Go home already. You need sleep." Dawn told her. She was sure the principal will allow May to go as she was in mourning.
"What about school? I don't want to get behind on homework again."
"Don't make me get Ash and make him knock you out." Dawn threatening to get her secret boyfriend to put May under it would be a combined group effort for her well being. If not Zoey can jump in as well.
"No need to worry. We'll bring your homework once you've taken a nap."
"Go home or we'll beat you into a deep sleep." Umbreon threatened saying it's for her own good. Glaceon saying something along the lines off just listening to her sis. Dawn looked at Leona response which is non existent at the voices coming from the jewelry she and May wore. Any hope of passing Flareon to someone she actually likes gone Dawn face scrunched again.
"So Deedee. How are you doing?"
"Bit tired. Lyla has me working around the clock to try and get my mind off everything happening. Her office is one of the safest places in the city though. Tight security."
"So are you ready for cheer practice again? Despite you know who?" Even with May's absence the team is still big enough and Leona needed the exercise. The exercise heavy cheerleading no problem for Dawn since becoming Umbreon she kept an eye out for Ursula.
"Don't remind me."
Not seeing her 'enemy' yet Dawn thought maybe she skipped it too so she can train. Getting closer to her school it was all normal but Ursula waiting outside. She actively walked to Dawn and Leona with a smirk rivalling the bad guys she fought.
"Hello Deedee." Ursula said with a certain glee. Normally meant to insult Dawn, she did not bite unlike before.
"You seem happy for some reason." Dawn returned it knowing where it came from.
"Waking up another day better than you? Why wouldn't I be?" Ursula gloating in her new found abilities according to Dawn.
"Power already getting to your head? I should lay you out right now. You must still be dreaming. No universe exists where you're better than me."
"There's always an anomaly. And I'm the one. I suggest you all step aside and let me take point. From today I'm taking full captaincy of the cheer team."
"Not all of us have to wait for their birthright to fall into their laps so I suggest you temper that fire burning before someone puts it out."
Dawn hearing Flareon speak to her host hid it well. She probably bit off more than she can chew by promising she'd teach her rival how to be responsible with powers.
"Mmmph…" The redhead with curls scoffed. Ursula stomped away with only Dawn hearing the critique smirked but felt awful.
"What was that about?" Leona wondered as Ursula seemed more annoying than usual.
"Ursula stepped out the wrong side of the bed. A stacked bed today it seems." Dawn much more mature headed inside school to start her day. Cheer practice was going to be a chore for certain.
Ash getting the stuff from his locker he felt his phone vibrate at a text he got. Dawn the sender it said she met Ursula and she was as 'charming' as ever. Grabbing what he needed for school he slammed his locker shut. Knowing what's going to happen he just sighed at her text and leaned with his head against his locker in frustration.
"The sisters should've listened. Wonder how Flareon is coping."
"Rough time?" Hearing the voice of Brock he had Gary and Barry with him.
"Hey guys." He stood straight again missing a guy apart of this little entourage.
"Know Paul isn't much for socializing but where's Kenny?"
"He still doesn't want to talk to you. I've heard you stole his girl. Not cool." Gary said. Even if Dawn patched up things between them Kenny was still jealous of Ash. Not knowing how he will respond if he saw him again and make a scene he stayed out of Ash's way.
"I'm going to fine you!" The hyperactive blonde coming to the defense of his teammate another shut him up.
"Not here Barry!" Ash thinking they made for good entertainment out of his 'hobby'.
"So how was the party? Must have been wild with no parents." Ash asked the three.
"The party didn't go through. None of our parents would let us leave the house during "the night of the dead." The papers labelling the event it quickly became a term among Veilstone population. Ash being in the thick of it wearing some wounds under his clothes tried to lift their spirits.
"Tough luck. If it cheers you up my days were worse. Tired from moving boxes around. Mom's friend had more stuff than I thought and she came this close to whipping everyone after what happened at the police station. My back is killing me since then and if it wasn't for mom I'd sue her for child labor."
"Maybe you can make it to the next party. You need to get out more momma's boy." Gary teased him drawing a tiny bit of ire from Ash.
"Not like I can make it. When is it?" Barry quiet for long enough spoke up.
"Since the party didn't go through we have some cash left. We're thinking of holding a BBQ…"
"URGH…" Ash blanked out at the mention of warm food. Normally he'd love a good steak or some ribs to chow on but with the impeding inferno on legs approaching his life he wished to cool down. Dawn's earlier message on Ursula making things worse.
"You ok?" Brock saw his irritation growing.
"Just not in the mood for anything hot at all."
"Things got a bit hot for you this weekend? Was the stove still on when you tried to lift it?" Gary joked again at his supposed stupidity while Brock kept studying Ash. He has his doubts about his classmate before but he loved to get a look at Ash's body for injuries if he truly is who he suspected to be. Ash's personal life had too many question marks for Brock's liking.
"I was lifting a box that said fragile. Turns out it was your ego."
A long and exhausting day of school finished Dawn and Leona were ready to practice the routines for the upcoming basketball game with the rest of their teammates. The girls apart of the squad gathering in the Gym were ready to finally get started again. One of them asked if someone came up with a new routine fir the upcoming game and as the rest of the day indicated Ursula took point.
"I have one but I doubt anyone else can it. It's not worth showing then." Bragging about her agility Dawn countered.
"You're saying that because you can't pull it off."
"Then be amazed." Ursula got up from her spot and began cartwheeling and flipping all over. Everyone amazed but Dawn who was getting frustrated at the redhead flaunting her powers. Ursula needed a lesson in humility or she might compromise the entire secret of the earrings in her first couple of days as Flareon.
"Show off."
"Then return it. Don't let her show you up." Umbreon whispering softly so the newcomer didn't hear her. Ursula finishing her routine grinned knowing nobody can touch her. Dawn got up from her spot and took her pompoms pushing Ursula aside taking the floor for herself.
Summersaulting and tumbling the way Ursula did before Dawn did her best to hide the full agility but beat Flareon as well. Leona seeing her childhood friend perform didn't know she could do that.
"Alright Dawn!" Leona and the others cheering her on Dawn jumped with a grin in front of Ursula. Seems she still had most of the team on her side and if a vote was held they'd kick out Ursula.
"Beat that."
"Darn that Deedee! I'll just have to show her up in something she'll never be able to do."
"You really have an ego problem. Get ready for it to be bruised."
Dawn hearing the fire spirit talk hid her response. The team congratulating her Dawn needed to keep close eye cause so far neither she, Umbreon and Flareon were impressed. After practice she texted a teammate of hers so maybe they can do more with the annoying and disrespectful classmate cause Dawn had spend enough time with the new Flareon for one day.
I know it's been a bit but writing just wasn't on my mind. My holiday season was freaking miserable and it seems my Decembers are cursed for some reason. I'm behind on things so this will be slow for a while.
See you around.