15: To Slateport

Steam filled the tiny hallway bathroom as Terry stepped out of the shower stall drying his wet hair on a towel. Waking up earlier than usual, Terry had taken the opportunity to use the bathroom first. Wrapping the towel around his waist, Terry wiped the steam off of the mirror as he viewed himself in it pondering what they should do next. With the holidays coming up within the next month or so, Terry felt that they should stop by home before heading out any further, but there was no rush. With that settled his thoughts turned to other idle wonderings as he finished his morning routine.

Huh… I suddenly got abs. I guess all that walking has started to pay off. Terry thought to himself suddenly distracted by his newly discovered physique. Prodding his torso with a finger, Terry ginned to himself feeling his male ego swell. Naturally the next step was to start posing in front of the mirror showing off his muscles. Distracted by the image in the mirror Terry didn't notice that the bathroom door had opened.

"Wah!" *slam!* A sudden and high pitched scream followed shortly by the sound of the bathroom door slamming caught his attention.

"Was that May?" Terry wondered with his arms still flexed above his head. Dismissing it with a shrug he dressed and left the bathroom letting the next person use it.

Passing through the hallway Terry walked past the daycare's playroom, waving hi to the early children and pokekits he headed straight into the living room. Inside the room he spotted May, Soot, Emy, Luna and Karis gathered around the TV, the others must have been either still asleep, working or in the bath.

"Good morning everyone." Terry greeted, noticing that May jumped from the sound of his voice, shaking Soot as she sat next to May on the same couch. Feeling the urge to tease her Terry said with a smile, "What's wrong May? You got a fever or something?"

"Of course not!" May yelled falling for his goading like usual.

"Then how come your face is so red?"

"T-that's your fault!" she exclaimed. "You left the bathroom door unlocked! And why were you flexing your… muscles…"

"How long were you standing there?!" Heat bloomed in his cheeks when he learned she caught him doing something embarrassing. His face reddened further when he noticed that all of his Pokegirls had turned their attention from the TV to the two of them. Both May and Terry could feel their faces burning.

"Ah, Soot that's hot!" May shouted when Soot, wearing a petulant scowl, plopped herself down in May's lap.

"A-anyway what I do in the bath is my business." Terry continued when he couldn't stand the questioning stares anymore. Is it just me or is Soot glaring at me more than usual?

"Alright settle down you two, the movie's starting." Karis chided the pair.

"What movie?" Terry asked just happy to change the subject. He walked behind the couch his Pokegirls were sitting to get a better look.

"It's one those classic romance movies." Emy answered standing next to Terry, and asked on the side, "Why didn't you lock the door?"

"The lock is broken." Terry's face grew troubled, "Harold said something about going into town to buy a replacement lock later."

"Again? How come he doesn't just stock up on stuff like that?"

"I think he said his shopping trips are the only exercise he gets nowadays." Terry shrugged, turning to the TV and after watching the opening credits Terry said. "I remember this one. It's not too bad."

"You've seen this movie before." Emy asked, fairly surprised that he would have.

"Yeah. Even before we moved dad was always away with either giving a speech or starting up his gym, so most of the time mom and I watched movies when we were together. Since she usual made the final decision I learned to appreciate romance movies pretty early on."

Two hours passed quickly and the ending credits began to roll.

Emy dabbed her eyes on a tissue and said with a trembling smile, "That last part always gets me."

"Yeah, that last line when their on the bridge together is good one." May sniffed, blowing her nose noisily into a tissue. Even Soot's perpetual scowl had softened.

"What about you Terry." Even cool and aloof Karis's eyes were red as she turned to him. "Did you- …Are you crying?"

"N-no!" Terry's voice betrayed him as he quickly turned away. Just as she opened her mouth to tease him about it, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" Terry announced, practically running out of the room. Making it to the door in record time Terry coughed into his hand making sure his voice wouldn't embarrass him again. Answering the door he greeted the deliveryman on the other side.

"I have a package for uh… Terry." The man said looking down at the package to get the name. When Terry confirmed it was him, the deliveryman quickly handed the small hand sized package over to him, "Please sign here."

"Thank you." Terry accepted the package and shut the door as the deliveryman left, I don't remember ordering anything. Did Karis get a hold of my card again? Terry thought to himself. Walking back into the living room Terry called out, "Hey Karis your order just arrived."

"I didn't order anything." Karis said showing a confused look before a smile stretched across her face as she remembered something. "But, I think it might be Luna's though."

Terry turned to Luna who was just looking down with red showing through her shadowed face as she felt everyone's attention turn to her. She slightly nodded when Terry held up the package asking if it was hers. Handing it over to her Terry stared at her curiously, "What did you order?"

"A-umm… Well…" She started and stopped both embarrassed and unsure of what to say. "Since the holidays are coming up and everything, so… I thought about getting everyone's gift early."

"Can we open it?" Terry asked. Luna nodded handing the package back to Terry. Pulling out a pocket knife Terry cut the seal and opened it, pulling out two rectangular slips of paper Terry read the writing on the first one. "'Two Tamer's tickets to the Three Ring Circus show in Slateport this weekend, admission one tamer and up to six Pokegirls per ticket.' Whoa, that's a pretty nice gift Luna. Thank you."

A smile pulled at the corner of her lips as she looked up at him from under her petals. "And… I'm sorry about having to use your card to pay for it all …but you don't have to worry about that since I've been working more and saving up ….s-so I can pay you back…" Trailing off she fidgeted in her seat.

Does she think I would get mad about her using my Tamer's card? It's not her fault, despite Wattson's efforts Pokegirls are still not allowed to buy even groceries without a tamer with them. Terry thought feeling a twinge of anger. Smiling Terry said "Let's not waste these tickets and head out to Slateport today. I'll go get everyone else ready."

Half an hour later, Terry was standing next to the door in the reception room of the Daycare with Calisto as they waited for the others to get ready. As he was watching Calisto quickly burn through the last chapter of her of her newest book, Terry felt a slight awe at her reading speed; he just bought the five hundred page book three or four days ago.

"Ahh, If only there was a real Sir James." Calisto said dreamily as she closed the book and hugging it to her chest.

What's with this irritation? Am I… feeling jealous of a literary character? Terry wore a troubled expression as he watched Calisto sigh happily in her dream land. Just as he was thinking this a high pitched and catchy tune rang from his pocket followed by a low buzzing sound as his pokedex vibrated.

"Hello?" Pulling out his pokedex Terry activated the call app on it.

"BROTHER!" the sudden, distinct and overly energetic voice roared into his ear, causing him to flinch back as if he was struck by a physical blow. After nearly dropping the pokedex he brought it to his other, undamaged ear as the voice continued. "How have you been?"

"Is this Ron from Verdanturf town?"

"Hey! You remember me!" Ron's ever cheerful voice filled Terry's skull. "You also remember what we talked about right? Well, I found something really good. Tell me where you are and I'll bring it right over."

"I'm outside of Mauville, but you don't have to-"

"Okay I'll bring it right over!"

"Wait! Hold on Ron, you don't have to bring it to me; I'll just pick it up when I pass through Verdanturf next week. Besides we were just about to head to Slateport today."

"Don't worry! Then I'll just meet you in Slateport." *click*

"Wait… what? No, Ron you don't have to drop it off I'll pick it up myself. …Ron? …Are you there?" Hearing nothing but a busy signal Terry closed his pokedex and sighed, "That guy has too much energy."

"What was that about?" Calisto asked as Terry pinched the bridge of his nose trying to relieve the slight headache that suddenly sprang up.

"In all honesty, I don't know. I remember him promising to give me first pick on some gems or something, but he was kind of drunk at the time. We'll just have to find out in Slateport." As he waved his hand dismissing the issue, Emy and the others entered the room ready to leave, and after a brief good bye the two tamers and their Pokegirls departed.

By the time the sun set, Terry and May's group had fund themselves still half a day from Slateport they stopped to make camp by the side of the road south of Mauville. Since the weather was warm enough to not bother them, Calisto and Mara were out enjoying the mild winter weather while sitting next to Emy and Luna as they relaxed taking in the last rays of sunlight. Dart ran through the camp holding a red feather and laughing as she flew away from a pissed off Soot; May ran after them trying to calm her alpha down. At the edge of camp away from everyone else was Karis sitting under a tree gazing up at the clouds with an unreadable expression. Sitting off to the side Terry was cooking dinner for everyone with the help of Lei.

"Here try this." Terry said offering Lei a taste test of the meal. "What do you think?"

After scrunching her face up as if in deep thought she gave him a huge smile and announced, "It's good!"

One could almost see the sparkles around them as Terry replied with a blissfully happy and airheaded smile. Emy sighed as she watched this scene feeling a headache start, getting up from her spot she walked over to Terry and said the one line all men instinctually fear. "We need to talk."

Feeling the icy grip of fear run down his spine he mechanically nodded and asked Lei to take care of the rest as he followed Emy to a distance away from the others in the camp. When she turned to face him Terry apprehensively asked, "What's wrong Emerald?"

"What's with the formality? You're not in trouble." She said while crossing her arms, an unreadable expression on her face.

Oh crap, she's pissed. Terry thought suddenly feeling like he was in the middle of a mine field. Deciding it was wiser to just shut up and wait for her to tell him what was wrong he kept silent and focused on her. She didn't keep him waiting long.

"Master, do you remember what the alpha's duties are?" Not waiting for him to respond she answered for him. "It is to lead and keep the peace in her tamer's harem. But there is another unspoken duty she has to do, and that is to keep her tamer in line. And it is this last one that I wish to speak to you about. It concerns your treatment of Lei; you have been spoiling her too much almost like a daughter."

"That thought kind of makes me uncomfortable." Terry said grimacing a little when she said daughter.

"Okay, princess. But the fact still remains that you have been coddling her."

"I don't really think that I have been treating all that differently." Terry said offering a weak defense.

"Really you don't?" she said raising an eyebrow. Shit! Wrong move man, Terry silently cursed himself out. Emy continued on, "Let's take a look at yesterday. When Grandma asked her do some chores you elected to do them for her, despite her protests."

"Well it looked like she was struggling with them."

"The only thing she struggled with was the laundry, she could do everything else." She said shooting down another feeble defense. "And just this morning we left an hour late because you decided to let her sleep in despite knowing that it would make this trip into a two day one if we left late. We even stopped and made lunch only two hours into the trip, after taking countless breaks on the way here."

"Well, she was tired… and stumbling…"

*sigh* "The point is, there is a fine line between doting and spoiling. Spoiling someone is not always good for them." Emy sighed exaggeratedly signaling the end of her lecture.

"Well it's just that she has this…," Terry rolled his hands trying to find the right words, "this ability, or something. When you look into her eyes your defense falls, your brain goes to mush and you can't help but want to spoiler her."

"So you think she's doing it on purpose?" Emy said raising her eyebrow again.

"That's the thing. I don't think she's doing it on purpose. It might be her aura of cute subconsciously activating."

"If you know what it is then just resist-" Emy began but was interrupted by a pulling at her coat sleeve. "Who is-? Lei?"

"Emy please don't be mad. Whatever it is I'm sure it will be okay after we get something to eat, so can you help me finish dinner?" She asked looking up at Emy with big eyes.

"Lei, I not… mad… and, I still need to talk with Master about… umm something…." Emy felt her resistance begin to crumble as she looked into Lei's eyes. "A-alright, I'll go."

Lei happily smiled as she pulled Emy along behind her. "You can just resist it right?" Terry couldn't help but comment when he saw her being dragged along, which earned him an angry "Shut up."

Maybe the problem will calm down after Lei feels a little more secure; she did just get out of… there… less than three days ago. Terry pondered as he sat next to the fire watching Emy and Lei finish making the evening meal for them all.

After the meal had ended everyone pulled in close to the fire to escape the cold, even Karis got out from under her tree, but as usual still lingered out of the circle. Terry prodded the fire trying to coax a little more heat from it.

"By the way Terry, what happened to Tansy?" Soot asked seeming like it had been bothering her for some time. "May asked me to look for her but, I couldn't find her anywhere. And when we were leaving, I didn't have enough time to ask you about it till now. You were the last one to see her, right?"

"T-Tansy?" His body shook from the mention of her name. While wearing a stiff expression Terry forgot to take the stick out of the fire and answered her. "Why were you looking for some flowers …and does the gender of the plant matter?"

"No not a flower. You know Tansy, Lei's sister." Soot said scrunching her brow into a questioning scowl. "What's wrong with you, you're sweating bullets."

"I have no idea of what you're talking about. Lei's sister is fine." Terry wiped his brow with the hand holding the stick, causing Emy and Calisto to cry out in panic as the fiery hazard nearly burned all three of them.

Emy snatched the stick from her tamer and tossed it into the fire before he did some damage with it. She turned to Soot, "We were hoping to avoid that issue since we had to explain it to Lei already, but I'll explain it again since I returned to my ball just before we left, and Terry… well he seems to have repressed most of the memories associated with the mansion."

"The fire seems to be getting low; I'll just go get some more fire wood." Terry said rapidly and practically ran away sensing he didn't shouldn't stick around to hear this story.

"Luna, go with him and make sure he doesn't hurt himself." Emy ordered after a slight sigh, and began her explanation.

Master had just left the mansion after going back for Calisto and Luna. Luna was resting in her ball while Master was carrying Calisto like usual when he noticed Lei's sister standing off to the side in front of the fountain. Master walked over when she called out to him.

When he approached her he asked about what had happened to Veronica-

"Victoria." Soot interrupted correcting her.

"Right, Victoria." Emy continued.

-Master asked what had happened to Victoria, and Lei's sister only replied with a vague "She already moved on." Which looking back it should have been obvious what she meant by that. After that she just grew quiet and looked off towards Lei and the others as they were leaving the mansion. As you know only May was there, since you all were resting after that fight. He asked her what was wrong when he noticed the depressed look. She looked at with a sad smile and told him that she was worried about Lei and that she regretted that she could not go with her.

"What do you mean?" Master asked her looking for an explanation. Lei's sister just ignored him and continued as if speaking to herself while continuing to look at the empty mansion.

"Ghosts are actually really sad existences, I think. They can only stay if they regret something strongly enough, doomed to play out their last moments over and over again. Even if they are aware that they are ghosts; that awareness will only last for a little bit, falling back into the same loop they escaped from. And when they finally do find peace or happiness they disappear." She turned to him and asked, "It's almost cruel don't you think?"

Master couldn't say anything, and neither could Calisto and I. As we felt the heaviness of her question, then Master said something that I feel earned him a few points. "I don't know about other ghost but Addison and the others stayed behind because they loved Lei and wanted make sure she would be alright. And even though it didn't really work out like they probably would have liked, they were able to watch over her until she could move on."

She seemed to smile a little and said something like "I guess you're right." Then she turned to Master and said goodbye shortly before evaporating in front of us like smoke. After she disappeared Master just stood there silently, so much that I went to go check on him and found that he had fainted while standing. When I shook his shoulder to wake him up he ended up falling backwards nearly crushing Calisto under him.

"I thought I was going to die." Calisto said nodding.

"That's because you're nothing but skin and bones. You need to eat more so you can handle something like that that." Soot said turning her usual glare to Calisto causing her to hide behind Emy. *Smack* May hit Soot on top of the head with an open hand as reprimand for her comment. "The Hell! What was that for?!"

"Don't just say something so rude!"

Emy sighed while pinching the bridge of her nose, taking the interruption as a sign to end the story.

While May and Soot were arguing Terry returned to the camp carrying a bundle of branches for the fire with Luna in tow. Spotting Karis Terry decided to go and check on her.

"How's the arm?" Terry asked after catching her attention.

"All better. Thanks to the miracles of modern medicine it's just another ache and pain now." She rolled her arm to show that it was fine.

"You aren't going to join the rest of us next to the fire?" Luna asked.

"Umm, no it's fine." She rubbed the back of her neck, and gave them a reassuring smile "It's plenty warm over here for me. So you guys can go back, I'll be fine."

While walking back to the fire Terry looked back and saw she was wearing the same distant look as before. When she noticed him looking back Karis gave him her usual elegant and playful smile. Terry sat down and joined the others around the fire but the look still bugged in the back of his mind.

End of chapter 15

Author notes

Sorry about disappearing for so long everyone but, I got swamped by my classes. The next chapter will probably take as long as this one did. As always let me know what you liked and what you didn't.

Numbershooter

Wish me luck on my finals everyone.