Chapter 21: More New Faces
Cynthia and Diantha had just knocked on the door when they heard a loud shout from the inside.
"Stone! stop holding me down I have business to settle with Frost."
"Ash do me solid and open the door will ya." came another voice.
Diantha and Cynthia looked at each other skeptically when Ash opened the door.
"Diantha, Cynthia welcome ah… where are your escorts." said the youngest Champion while opening the door.
But Cynthia's and Diantha's eyes were on the scene unfolding before Ash. What Cynthia saw was Stone holding a women with crimson red haired women on the floor in a armlock.
"Talk about a warm welcome." muttered Cynthia under her breathe.
Diantha ignored it and took Ash in a small hug while saying.
"Hey Ash it's been a while you've grown tall."
"I suppose I have how have you been Diantha." replied Ash while returning the hug.
"Just fine, mind if we continue this inside." replied Diantha.
Ash didn't say anything as he gestured them to come inside and once inside closed the door.
"Ember calm down Frost didn't come yet." said Stone while still trying to hold onto the rampaging women down.
The women in question stopped struggling and relaxed much to everyone's surprise and said
"Fine I'll stop now get off me." she jeered.
As Stone finally let go both of them stood up Cynthia realized the women was almost the same as her and Diantha on the other had checking out Stone head to toe.
"I am sorry for this unsightly behavior Champion's." Stone apologized while bowing.
(Wow I didn't expect him so be so well mannered.) thought Cynthia while Diantha took the lead.
"Oh don't apologize for such things, you must be this Stone guy I heard from Cynthia." she said while walking towards the hunk of a man.
"Yes I am it's a pleasure to meet you ma'am." he replied.
"Ma'am!, please call me Diantha." she almost screeched as she continued to eye Stone almost seductively.
"Ah….. okay… it's nice to meet you Diantha." replied Stone as he was getting strange stares from Diantha.
(Oh Arceus Diantha is back at it again, I better stop this.) though Cynthia as she intervened.
"Stone who is this with you?"
When asked this question Stone replied immediately
"Yes, she Steven Stone's escort her name is Ember, say hello Ember don't be rude." he whispered the second part to the women at her side.
"Hey." came as a short reply.
(Well she is less excited than before.) thought Cynthia while realizing something.
"Steven! is he here?"
"Nope he still hasn't come yet wonder whats keeping him." replied Ash while walking toward a sofa to settle.
"I even told him specifically to come." he added with a confused expression.
"Ember you were suppose to bring him with you where is he?" Stone asked.
"How am I suppose to handle such man child." she jested.
"You are his escort, where is he." said Stone.
"Oh pipe down he is still in her room whining like a kid, says he won't leave until she meets him alone." she said while pointing towards Cynthia.
Hearing this Diantha's ears perked up
"That man I swear, wait just a moment I'll be back in a second." she said as she left the room.
"What was that about? Why is he in your room when I told him to come here." asked Ash clearly oblivious.
No answer came for that question as Cynthia was now eyeing the new face in front of her.
(It's hard to believe she is a Ranger, if I hadn't known better I would have thought she was a model.) pondered Cynthia as she looked at Ember's face which she found rather attractive in a non sexual way of course.
"Hey Champion, where's Frost, I need to settle few things with that jackass."
Ember straight up demanded this with a rude voice.
(Well there goes my good impression of her.) thought Cynthia as she replied.
"He met with…. What was her name yes… he met with Rain while we were coming here so he stayed behind for a bit."
"I see so big sis got a shot at him first well at least he won't run away now."Ember replied while cracking her knuckles.
"Ember stop that you are scaring her." chimed in Stone.
"What so you mean aren't you mad at him for leaving all of a sudden like that." countered Ember.
"I was but he must have had a good reason to do it." replied Stone while trying to calm Ember down.
"I don't care if he has a reason he still will get a piece of my mind." Ember replied while calming down a bit but still in a haughty voice.
Cynthia and Ash who were witness to this said
"Um…. We don't quite follow?" as Pikachu who was previously in the kitchenette drinking ketchup had joined Ash on the sofa.
Stone sighed as he looked over towards Cynthia and Ash as he said.
"We are not allowed to talk about it openly."
(Are all Ranger's so strict with info) thought Cynthia annoyingly.
Ash on the other hand was about to complain when the door opened revealing Diantha and behind her a very very obedient Hoenn Champion.
"Welcome back Mr. Stalker how did your brilliant plan go for you?" jeered Ember.
"…." no reply came from Steven but Diantha on the other hand said
"Don't waste time talking to him he won't speak a word until everyone's here, isn't that right?" she added while looking at Steven with a sharp gaze.
Everyone excluding Ash who was busy concentrating on his seat for some reason gulped at the intensity in the women's gaze as Steven nodded frightfully.
(Makes you wonder what she did?) thought Cynthia in her mind.
"Now thats done , mind explaining why are all of us called here?" Diantha asked.
Stone who was kinda scared of Diantha a second ago composed himself and replied
"I Frost just told me to gather everyone here for what he called an informal intoduction."
"I see…. Wait Cynthia isn't he the guy you went on a date with in the morning he is your escort isn't he." Diantha said carefree.
This caught everyone's attention in the room even Ash who was concentrating on the sofa as he said
"Hold on a minute Cynthia and date?" Ash added.
Stone who already knew about this trip not date from Frost himself was calm but Ember and Steven on the other hand were glaring at Cynthia.
"I wonder why I couldn't get hold of him in the morning, he was out dating another women how dare he when I am around." Ember said with voice laced with poison still continuing to stare at Cynthia.
Steven was also about say something but was shushed by Diantha.
The room was so stoic that Cynthia could cut the room's tension with a knife.
(Dammit Diantha you couldn't keep your mouth shut for little longer, could you.) she thought as she began her explanation to all the people present in the room.
"Ahem.. firstly it wasn't a date, we were just getting to know each other."
Stone chuckled softly as he replied
"And how did that go for you, I presume he was not a very open book to read even on a day trip with him. "
Cynthia was about to reply but was interrupted
"And how is that different from a date I want details." demanded Ember angrily.
Looking at the angry women in front of her Cynthia thought
(She seems rather fond of Frost, I could use this to my advantage.) as a wry smile appeared on her face.
"Ember if you want details you gotta share something." she added.
"What do you wanna know?"
"Tell me about you guys relation with Frost and I'll share my little trip with him." Cynthia offered.
Diantha and Ash had already realized Cynthia's intentions with this and sat on the sofa waiting for the show to begin. Steven on the other hand wanted to know more about the guy who tricked him and took Cynthia out in the morning.
"Alright that's fair but I can't tell you everything so I'll only go as far as our relation with him." replied Ember unable to contain her curiosity Stone's sad expression went unnoticed.
"Go on ahead." added Cynthia as Ember began her story.
Shortly after with Frost and Rain
Both were walking toward Ash's suite after there little reunion when Rain spoke
"You know Ember is pissed at you."
"I know but I don't blame her, BTW did Stone tell her how he feels yet."
"Nope."
"Really wow and I thought three years was enough time." Frost added while entering the lift.
"I mean their story was a bit of fail but the other two had better luck than them." Rain said with a smile.
"Really! speaking of them where are they I heard their flight got delayed."
"I received a text from both saying that they have reached Lumious an hour ago so they could be here anytime." added Rain while walking out of the elevator.
Both of them reached the door of the suite and as Rain opening the door Frost prepared himself for Ember's rage but once the door opened nothing happened much to his surprise as he saw many people just sitting around each other listening to Cynthia contently.
Cynthia was the first to notice his presence as she said
"What took you so long Frost or should I say 'Squad Leader". with a satisfying grin on her face.
Author's Notes:
Wow that took longer to write than expected well considering that my original draft was very poorly written it was expected. Anyways this chapter should give you a better perspective on my OC's true nature and abilities along with a little bit of character development for the rest of the gang. As always I hope to guys enjoyed don't forget to follow and review (your views on the story are always appreciated) and I will see you guys soon.
PEACE