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Hey guys! Once again, I am late... :( Trying to get a job for the summer... But all of you guys rock! I got more reviews in a month's span than any month previously. Thank you so much!

OBR- Sorry you were sick. I totally hate it, too. Glad Liam, Anita, and Apple could cheer you up.

Montimer S- I have a horrible habit of making terrible Pokemon puns and this is more or less my outlet. Glad you enjoyed that one! Sorry this kind of jumps around, but ah well. Liam doesn't want to do anything that might endanger the information he suspects he can extract from Anita. He's much more willing to compromise and wait than, for instance, Jamie. About the explosion... that happened- "Where the warriors and Ahigetric once stood, there were piles of ash." Though it wasn't very clear, Celebi protected them from the damage. I didn't make a big deal about the explosion because Hastings would be more focused on Abetzi and the baby. You'll have to wait and see about Styx. :) And finally, the psychotic killer is Jamie, though I suppose the "killer" part is definitely debatable. Yup, I like math sooo I'm an engineering major. If you like math, seriously consider engineering! Ok, done advertising that...

ChaosAngel4us- Yeah... so much for updating...grr at myself. But, yup, legionaries are pretty contriver.

Glaceon4us- Yeah, I went a bit without updating. :( However, if you're having trouble remembering, check out the AMAZING website my editor made for me: http:/sites (dot) google (dot) com/site/fieryapple/info It has character bios and brief chapter summaries.

Last Warrior- Yup, it is no secret that Apple likes Fiery. Nice clue finding on Fiery's return of her affections. :) You'll have to wait and see what happens with that. Interesting predictions. Though a semi-climax is coming up, it will be the first of many. And thank you! It's seriously an honor to have written someone's favorite fanfiction. :) Made my day.

EeveeInHeart- I love plot twists, too. A story's no fun if it's totally predictable. Thanks!

All of you- my readers, my reviewers, my editor- you're so awesome. I always look forward to revising and posting my chapters. Thank you so much for keeping me writing.

I apologize in advance for the end of this chapter. I swear, I'll do my best to get the next one out soon (early next month latest).

Previously on An Apple a Day:

Styx hires Erin to research Celebi.

Anita and Liam beat the Artemis Town prelim. Dustin is hurt and has to go to the hospital. He brings his posse. Dustin leaves his Pokemon behind to ensure Anita and Liam don't leave as well as make them clean up the damage done to the gym during the prelim.

Mel and Scary continue to read Professor Hastings' (Mel's father) journal:

Professor Hastings was taken back in time 15,000 years by Celebi. Hastings comes across a clan of people who worship Celebi who call themselves the Shiftry Clan. The clan uses a Gengar to immobilize a bear so it can be killed. Professor Hastings fights and catches the Gengar (Scary). The clan's "witch," Abetzi, is able to communicate to Hastings through Scary that the clan's land has been destroyed multiple times by Mew. The clan takes Professor Hastings' arrival as a sign that the clan will soon get their revenge for Mew's destruction.

Over a year later, Hastings has fallen in love with Abetzi, and she's pregnant. Abetzi, ghost-gifted, has the ability to see how living creatures can be killed. Celebi has her watch the clan's attempt to kill Mew as she gives birth to a baby. Hastings hears her say, "Divide the ashes, necessary… to kill—"

Celebi takes Hastings and the baby back to Hastings' present.

Meanwhile, in present day, Seth Hastings has been put in the same jail cell as Jamie Arkle, the assistant to the Master. Hastings is suspected of child abuse and withholding information about the whereabouts of Liam Mendol. Jamie plans to escape with Hastings.

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Chapter 41: (Act 2) Through

I dialed Erin's number for about the twentieth time. Voicemail. I left a message again. "Erin, it's Anita. Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to break Liam's syringe, and when he attacked me, I freaked out. I was still pretty freaked out when you visited, and I said some stuff I didn't mean. Please call me back." I hung up and glared at Liam, who lounged in the bleachers beside me. "This is your fault."

Liam looked at me coolly. "You broke the syringe."

"I didn't mean to."

"That has yet to be proved."

I checked my watch. Almost eight p.m. Seriously, why couldn't Dustin's Pokemon let us leave? We'd finished cleaning the gym hours ago; everything was back in place, though the floor remained cracked as we had no way of repairing it. This was getting ridiculous. Clearly Dustin wasn't returning—

"We're back!" Dustin called. I looked up. Dustin hobbled through the revolving doors on crutches, his left leg in a cast up to his thigh. His entourage followed him—Tali, Styx, his Pokemon guarding the door, and… Jake? "I hope you two are prepared to be lose," he said, returning all of his Pokemon to their Pokeballs. When Dustin's Kecleon disappeared, my pack fell to the ground with a loud thump.

{It's late. Our plans will have to change a little,} I told Apple.

{Doesn't matter. This is it.}

Jake strode over to me, holding out his hand. "Good luck."

Remembering his habit of kissing hands, I didn't take his. "Have you seen Erin?" I asked.

Jake sat down on the bench. "No. And I wanted her to be my partner, too. I was hoping she'd be here."

Apple hopped onto my shoulder and I stood up, turning to Liam. "Ready?"

Liam rose. "I don't have the Ditto," he said, gesturing to the lack of Pokeballs on his belt. Right. The Pokemon Center nurses had taken them all for safekeeping after he was knocked unconscious. It was kind of sad that he hadn't said anything about them—if I woke up in a different place than I'd fallen asleep, my Pokemon would be my first worry. What had happened to make him not care?

Styx tossed a PokeBall to Liam. She had a bandage around her arm as well. "That's Sticky," she said, heading to battlefield sidelines. Guess she was reffing again.

Liam nodded. We walked to the side of the battlefield closest to the revolving doors.

Dustin stood in the center of the arena, resting on his crutches. "Heh, you guys didn't do a half-bad job. Course' I'll probably still have to replace half the floor."

"Come on, Dustin." Tali pushed Dustin lightly. "Let's do this, and then you're going straight to bed. You shouldn't even be battling." An Eevee hung from each of Tali's shoulders, sticking their tongues out at Apple when they thought nobody was looking. Apple was too preoccupied examining the gym floor to notice.

I sent my mind out to Splash and found him asleep in the vent behind the bleachers. {Splash! Get up!}

{Huh?} Splash yawned and stretched. {Can I leave now? There's a couple of mushrooms that smelled kinda cool right outside—}

{Not yet. Remember what you have to do?}

{Yeah, yeah. Just tell me when.}

I noticed my pack was still laying on the ground a fourth of the way across the battlefield and nearly smacked my head for not remembering it. I quickly ran over to it, Apple only steps behind. I reached in the pack and untied a pouch, then picked up my pack from the wrong side so it was upside down.

A light powder sprinkled over Apple. The bright powder Sparky had given to me. I controlled the flow of the powder psychically, keeping the sprinkle over Apple sparse and invisible to the eye. I walked a little ways with the pack slung over my shoulder, Apple walking with me to stay below the powder. When the pouch in my pack was empty, I tossed my pack into the bleachers. Apple and I returned to our positions next to Liam.

Styx announced, "This will be a two on two Pokemon battle. A Pokemon stepping outside the metal boundaries of the battlefield is equivalent to a Pokemon fainting. A team of two wins when both Pokemon of the opposing team are eliminated. Trainers may not affect opposing Pokemon."

"What's that mean?" I asked Liam.

"You can't use your gift to attack their Pokemon. For instance, you may not flood their minds with confusing images."

"But I can use telepathy?"

"Yes, but so can Dustin."

"What if I made a barrier for Apple to jump off of onto their Pokemon?"

"That would qualify as affecting the opposing Pokemon, as it has implemented Apple to have a physical advantage over her opponent she would not normally have."

"Sounds like you've done this before," I said, raising my eyebrows.

"Or I've actually paged through a gym leader database at some point in my life," Liam replied.

"Hey!" Dustin yelled. "You twits ready to stop chit-chatting, and start fighting?"

"Sorry, not all of us have to go to bed early!" I yelled back.

"I have a broken leg, give me a break! Doctor's orders."

"You're so lame. Get it, lame?"

Apple put a paw over her face. {Anita… oy.}

Styx grimaced. "One further reminder before we begin," she said. "You must abide by all nationwide battle regulations; including regulation thirty-six section four that states Dittos may only transform into a Pokemon present on the battlefield. Are all teams ready?"

Dustin, Tali, Liam, and I all nodded.

"Begin!"

{Okay, Apple, let me know when you're ready.}

{Roger.} Apple leapt off of my shoulder while Liam released Sticky, the Ditto I'd seen him test the Forced Transformation Device on.

"Ray," Dustin yelled.

"Cassie," Tali said. Both Eevees jumped off of Tali's shoulders, taking off towards Sticky and Apple as soon as their paws touched the ground.

As the only Pokemon released by a PokeBall and the only Pokemon having to transform, Sticky got a late start. I needed to buy Sticky some time. While my main goal in this battle wasn't winning, it'd still be nice. {Attract,} I ordered.

One of the Eevees stopped charging, looking at Apple as if her fur had changed to gold. {So beautiful.}

The other Eevee kept charging, making to dodge around Apple and hit Sticky. Apple matched the Eevee's quick attack, knocking the Eevee aside before Sticky was harmed.

The hit Eevee leapt backwards. {Cassie, snap out of it.}

Cassie. That was Tali's Eevee—a female. {Apple, use attract again on Dustin's Eevee, Ray. We can get them both!}

Ray charged at Apple, smirking. Apple was headbutted before she had time to move out of the way. {I don't like girls,} Ray said.

Cassie managed to drag her eyes away from Apple, frowning at Ray. {But she's so pretty—} Cassie shook her head. I suspected Dustin was psychically forcing back the attraction.

"Take Down," Liam ordered Sticky, now fully transformed. He was the only one on the field ordering attacks aloud, a severe disadvantage if you asked me. We'd talked about it briefly, and he was completely unwilling to let my "inane mind" wander anywhere near his precious brain again. "Anita, if you'd like to win this battle, I suggest focusing on the Pokemon that can actually attack."

Excuse me, I was well aware of what Ray was up to, but Apple had been hit hard. Arceaus forbid she should be given a second or two to recover.

Apple struggled to her feet as Sticky and Ray charged at each other. {You okay?}

{He didn't hit me hard enough. I wanted to reach the boundary line…}

{So try again. Cassie's closer to the boundary. Go for her. And don't faint on me. Seriously, that would ruin everything.}

Apple smirked, lowered her head, and ran at Cassie, racing around Sticky.

"Your tail, Sticky," Liam said. Sticky's tail lit up moments before the Ditto clashed with Ray. I realized with a start that if Sticky was using iron tail, she had likely picked Apple to transform into. It gave me a proud bubbly feeling in my stomach.

I thought Liam wanted Sticky to hit Ray twice—once with the Take Down and once with an Iron Tail. To my surprise, however, Sticky dug her tail into the ground. Using her tail as a pivot, Sticky faced Ray belly-up and turned his own momentum against him, throwing the Eevee through the air.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Apple make contact with Cassie. Cassie took the hit, but used Apple's attack to launch herself at Ray to prevent the Eevee from being flung out of bounds.

Apple was kicked backwards with an oomph. She rolled twice, landing on the metal boundary.

Perfect.

{Ready,} Apple said, still lying on the ground.

I pulled my psychic powers in, tight against my chest and then moved a single strand out, fully encapsulating Apple. This was my attempt at being discrete. I was banking on Dustin being too caught up in the battle to notice what I was doing.

Ray and Cassie had landed on the battlefield. Cassie stood over Ray protectively, releasing a guttural howl before Sticky could even prepare to charge. Echoed Voice, maybe. Or perhaps Round. These obnoxiously loud attacks were all hard to tell apart.

Whatever the case, this was my opportunity. I located Splash in the vent behind the stands. {Thundershock,} I ordered.

The metal that created the gym's borders were conductive. In fractions of milliseconds, the shock had reached Apple.

The bright powder sprinkled on Apple's fur lit up brilliantly. She was hard to look at. Ray, Cassie, and Sticky halted their attacks. I was surprised when Liam didn't order Sticky to keep at it, instead watching Apple with unblinking eyes.

Splash would keep up the electricity until I ordered it him to stop. This was the tricky part. I flexed the psychic outline of Apple, tightening it into a sort of barrier—a barrier holding the bright powder particles shaped like an Eevee. My practice moving dust and glass particles would pay off now.

I first enlarged the Eevee semblance, giving Apple room to transform within the glowing façade.

A strand of my mind was linked to Apple's. Although she was only transformed into her original form for an iota of time, I felt it like a waterfall hitting my skin. As Mew, her powers were amplified. My bright barrier prevented most of this power from escaping. I watched Dustin carefully, looking for any signs he'd picked up on the psychic disturbance. Dustin wasn't even looking at Apple though; he was whispering something to Tali.

I tugged at my barrier, pulling the tiny particles into their precise locations as Apple transformed once again. In my attempt to give Apple enough room to transform, I'd enlarged my barrier-Eevee too much so as I altered the barrier's form, I had to shrink it down some. Luckily, the bright light made the enlargement significantly less noticeable.

When Apple neared full transformation, my barrier grazed her fur and immediately disappeared. {Stop,} I ordered Splash. {Meet me behind the Pokemon Center in an hour.}

I felt Splash's agreement and turned my attention back to the battlefield.

Apple stretched her front paws out, her sleek fur shimmering in the light. She was showing off her new form.

Umbreon.

A sudden pride floated in my chest as I peeked at Liam. It had been Apple's idea—she knew from experience a transformed Pokemon was incapable of evolving. If Liam had created a device that could untransform Pokemon, surely he had done his research and knew this to be true. He could no longer suspect Apple of being Mew; with his own eyes, he'd seen Apple evolve.

It was strange, not being able to feel Apple immediately. Apple opened her mind, and I knew we could speak telekinetically, but not being able to sense her presence would take some getting used to.

{Too bad Dustin didn't come back earlier,} Apple said wistfully. {I could've been an Espeon and trashed these little Eevees with a mere thought.}

{Yeah, well, I can 'teach' you psychic at some point, and no one will be able to complain about you telekinetically bouncing other Pokemon about,} I said. {In the meantime, how about trying out some of that dark power you've inherited. Faint attack Ray.}

Apple disappeared from view. When Cassie and Ray didn't respond, I called, "What, we're still battling, right?"

"It's rude to attack when a Pokemon's evolving," Tali said.

Liam snorted. "Their Eevees know the attack, Wish. They've been recovering." Wow, Liam was sharing useful information with me. Must be some kind of record. "Sticky, transform into Umbreon."

"Oh, no problem, Liam. I'll deal with the opponent while your Pokemon takes its jolly old time to transform."

Apple appeared behind Ray and Cassie, who were standing side by side, perhaps trying to glare Apple and Sticky into fainting. Apple closed in—

And missed? Faint attack never missed.

"Sticky, move half a meter to your left," Liam ordered to the half-transformed Ditto. "Iron tail."

Sticky moved as commanded and suddenly, Ray erupted from the ground Sticky had just been standing on. Barely transformed, Sticky swirled her tail around and struck Ray across his belly.

"It was a double team illusion," Liam explained. "Cassie and Ray dug underground, but most of the battlefield is too dense for Dig to break through the surface. They can only come up where—"

"The surface of the field is cracked. I'm not a moron—"

{Ahhh! Uh, Anita. I'm in a hole.}

{Then get out! You know Dig.}

I felt a jolt as Apple was tossed out of the hole. She landed beside the hole on her back, and rolled over just before Cassie landed leapt atop of her. However, instead of pursuing Apple head on as I expected, Cassie jumped over Apple and sped her way to the center of the battlefield.

Though I thought Ray was at least a bit hurt from Sticky's attack, he also got right up and next to Cassie.

"What are they doing?" Irritably, I said, "If you'd open up your mind we could discuss this faster."

Liam ignored my comment. I put up a barrier to prevent Dustin and Tali from listening in. "They've finished assessing our battle skills and have concluded the optimum way to defeat us is to knock our Pokemon out with a single blow—Eevees have less stamina than Umbreons."

"Okay, but—"

Liam interrupted, "Order Sticky and Apple into the hole psychically." I ordered Apple, and told her to tell Sticky. I couldn't seem to connect with Sticty while she was an Umbreon—apparently, she didn't seem to know how to open up her mind while transformed into a dark Pokemon. Liam continued, "One of the Eevees will use helping hand to boost the other's power. The other Eevee—probably Ray, judging from the higher variety of attacks he's used—will attack with last resort."

"What last resort?"

"The attack last resort. There's a high probability that Dustin and Tali will utilize double team to confuse our Pokemon. With Sticky and Apple underground, there are only two directions from which Ray can attack."

On the battlefield, several pairs of Eevees did indeed appear.

"But if Sticky and Apple are underground, that means the attack will for sure hit."

"Sticky is certainly capable of taking hits," Liam said haughtily. "Did I make the incorrect assumption Apple is as well?"

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Order #25 for Marcus Ingblot. I peeled the sticker off of the wrapper and it stuck to my fingers. I rolled my fingers until the adhesive on the sticker made the ink forming my name unreadable. I wiped my hand on the underside of my armchair and unwrapped my cheeseburger, letting the thick meaty smell waft over the fancy keyboard in front of me. The room usually smelled sterile—this was more pleasant.

I leaned back in my swiveling chair and glanced at the giant screen above the keyboard. The screen was showing its "normal" display, which meant it flickered through a series of images including a map of Acceber, a list of people and Pokemon, and a bunch of statistics I couldn't begin to guess the meaning of.

You'd think if Team Glop'emm could afford this fancy-shmancy tracking computer, us lackeys who did the real work would be paid better. I'd been working for Team Glop'emm since my mother kicked me out of the house and then kicked the bucket, leaving her life savings to a charity for homeless children. If I could talk to the dead, I'd ask her why she didn't leave her life savings to a charity for her homeless son.

So I was forced to live by the measly wage provided to all Team Glop'emm lackeys. Well, I was better off than some lackeys. I knew people in high places. People who paid me something a little more than the typical wage for sitting by this lousy computer and frying the hard drive if something funky came up on the screen—

The computer beeped loudly. Something funky came up on the screen. A funky green dot.

Guess I had a hard drive to fry.

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Arrogant asshole.

Liam was willing to let Sticky or Apple just take a hit from a ridiculously powerful attack. Well, that wouldn't happen on my watch.

{Apple, Dustin and Tali don't know you can use dig so this'll only work once. Dig a hole from the center of theirs, and curve around to dig just below their hole, close enough to their hole that it'll collapse when an Eevee comes rampaging through to attack you,} I ordered Apple.

{On it.}

"So what's the advantage of purposely trapping our Pokemon in a hole and allowing them to get hit?" I asked.

"While Dustin appears adept at using his borrowed psychic gift, and indeed has enough natural power to make his psychic prowess a true threat, in reality he has little experience. He's only battled with this psychic gift against Tamara Lilac, and is unlikely to consider the repercussions of relying on telepathy when battling against two dark Pokemon."

"So we're cutting off the Eevees' communication with their trainers. You could've just said that to begin with."

The pairs of Eevees danced around the field. I supposed I could probably locate the real pair psychically, but it didn't matter; we knew what was coming.

{Alright, Apple. Liam snotty-pants here has a good point. Once the ground collapses beneath Ray, make sure you stay in physical contact with him. You should be able to outlast an Eevee—bite down, use iron tail, do whatever it takes to make your opponent faint while holding onto the little fur-ball.} I contemplated telling Sticky to do the same, but if the hole didn't collapse for some reason, it would ensure that Ray ran into one of the Umbreons, and Liam did say Sticky was capable of taking the hit…

{And make sure to tell Sticky to stay in physical contact, too,} I said, settling into Apple's mind as she waited. Just as Apple barked the orders to Sticky, Ray crashed through the ceiling of her hole, flailing. While Ray was cornered, Apple barraged with a series of iron tails.

Minutes later, she climbed out of the hole carrying an unconscious Ray by the scruff of his neck.

Styx looked at the field uneasily. Perhaps she was unsure if she should declare us the winners.

"Where's Cassie?" Tali asked. Dustin muttered something about stupid, unreliable psychic powers. I didn't say anything, but looked at Liam. He frowned, watching the hole Apple had climbed out of.

"Cassie!" Tali yelled. Ouch.

I put a finger in my ear in a futile attempt to stop the ringing.

{Geeze, tell the woman to pipe down,} Apple said, dropping Ray. {Sticky and Cassie are both unconscious down there.}

"Apple says both Sticky and Cassie are knocked out," I related. It was another ten minutes before Apple tiredly dragged the other two Pokemon out of the hole and Styx declared Liam and me the winners.

Dustin wobbled over to us while Tali released Dustin's Zangoose to carry Ray and Cassie to the Pokemon Center.

Before Dustin reached me and Liam, Jake came up behind us, putting an arm around each of our shoulders. "Exsighting battle, guys. Did you hear me cheering?"

Liam removed Jake's arm robotically, not showing the display of disgust I was expecting. He stared blankly at Sticky for several moments before returning her to a PokeBall.

I ducked under Jake's arm. "Didn't hear anything. Actually, I forgot you were here."

{Or, alternatively, our ears are still ringing from Tali's yelling,} Apple said. {I don't know how any of you can actually hear clearly after that.}

"Listen up, pipsqueaks," Dustin said, pointing a crutch in our direction. "It's been a great honor battling you, yadda yadda, you've inherited a great responsibility, yadda yadda, learned something about teamwork, yadda, and I now present you with the standard badge."

Dustin's Aipom climbed up over Dustin's shoulder and around his extended crutch. When had Dustin let that guy out? The Aipom waved his tail at us, showing two shiny disks in his tail… palm. Abruptly, he whipped his tail around, sending the disks speeding our way.

I winced as a disk hit my shoulder and fell to the ground.

Liam, of course, caught his.

I bent over and picked up the badge. {It looks like a miniature CD. I bet if you play it, you'll hear Tali's horrible yelling,} Apple commented.

I turned to Liam smugly. "You know, we wouldn't have these if I had listened to you and allowed Apple to take Ray's hit. Then both of our Pokemon would've been knocked out."

Jake peered over Liam's shoulder excitedly. "You know Liam, you're not really collecting badges. If you don't need that one…"

Liam dropped the badge and crushed it with his foot. He spun around and walked silently out of the gym.

Jake's eye twitched.

{Well, I call this a successful day,} Apple said. {You won a badge by one-upping Liam, I "evolved" into Umbreon, Liam can no longer suspect me being Mew, and Jake's been left heartbroken.}

I nodded, allowing myself a small smile. {Only one thing could make it better. Making up with Erin.}

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Due to the nature of Celebi's abilities, it is unknown whether there exist multiple Celebi or a single being. Professor Joshua Feldman speculates…

I yawned. I'd already browsed three books with similar opinion based speculation. I turned the page.

Typically, a green flash of light accompanies Celebi's appearance or disappearance from one space-time realm to another—

Really? That's what they were calling the present now? Space-time realm?

I closed the book and put it on the shelf. I looked at my watch.

Crap, almost two in the morning.

Guess time flies when you're researching time traveling Pokemon. Anita would be done with her gym battle…

I felt a little guilty for missing it. But I was supposed to be mad at her. Ugh, why was it so difficult to stay mad at a friend? Every time I thought back on our conversation in the hospital room, somehow I ended up thinking her reactions were understandable. I shook my head. I'd talk to her tomorrow.

I got up, tucking the most promising book under my arm. I checked the book out on one of the self check out machines; the librarian was asleep at the front desk, drooling over a thick book.

Outside, I contemplated releasing Griffy and riding back to the Pokemon Center, but it was a nice summer night. Plus, the streets of Artemis Town were watched over by a team of Noctowls put together by the gym leader and his sister; it was safe to walk.

Celebi. I wondered why Styx was interested in the legendary Pokemon, if it even existed. Time traveling seemed a bit far-fetched to me, but then again, so did a girl with Pokemom powers.

I'd looked up dates of supposed Celebi-sightings online. There was actually a website that listed the dates and locations Celebi was seen, only accepting sightings with "photographic" evidence. The earliest photograph was of a blurry wing somewhere in Jhoto. It was hard to even see the wing—it was taken before the time of high quality, color photography. The latest photograph was of a green light over the ocean, taken less than a week ago in Cape Caution. In fact, we were in Cape Caution at the time.

Actually, three of the forty-three photographs were from Cape Caution. Maybe there was a fanatic up there or something.

Ah well, I couldn't put much stock in the photographs; it was likely many of them were altered digitally.

I turned my PokeTech off of silent and noticed the screen read, Thirty-two new messages. Thirty of them were from Anita. Two were from Jake. Oy.

Just as I gathered the inner strength to listen to the first message, a pair of glowing purple eyes appeared in the short-cut ally I was about to take. Way to freak me out, Anita. Yes, I hope you heard that, but if you did, GET OUT OF MY HEAD.

"Geeze, Erin, I'm not even in your head and I heard that," Anita said, stepping forward. She was wearing her pajamas—a large t-shirt and shorts covered in mini Eevee icons.

"Gave me a heart attack," I muttered. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, let's see. Someone here's been missing for hours. I decided to track you down psychically before having to ask Dustin for help."

It's sad that it's gotten to the point that I don't question Anita's abilities anymore. Somehow I'm not even surprised she can locate me psychically.

"Hey, where's Apple?" I asked.

An Umbreon stepped out of the shadows. Its eyes were a raspberry red—there was the barest hint of violet in those eyes. "Apple evolved?"

Anita grinned. "Yup. You missed a pretty sweet battle. I got a badge." Anita's smile wavered. "Um, about earlier… I'm sorry. Liam and I have a kind of difficult time getting along, and we were under a lot of stress, and you don't know the whole story, but at the time it seemed like keeping him knocked out was the only solution. I may have overreacted."

"I'm sorry, too. I didn't know the whole situation, and maybe shouldn't have judged so quickly."

We nodded to each other. Anita turned around and we continued down the ally in the direction she'd just come from, with Apple trotting lightly in front of us. I figured Apple would evolve soon; she clearly adores Anita.

"So what were you doing in the library?" Anita asked.

"I've got a new job. Styx hired me to research Celebi."

Anita stumbled, caught herself, and turned to me, wide eyed. "Celebi? Why?"

I shrugged. "No clue."

"Celebi, huh. Find anything cool?"

"Nope, not yet. Mostly just a bunch of garbage about recent sightings. There was even one right by us last week when we were in Cape Caution. Can you believe it?" Apple snickered and Anita chortled. "Am I missing something, guys?"

Anita waved a hand. "Nah, its just that Apple doesn't believe in Celebi… kinda an inside joke type thing."

We turned a corner, stepping out of the ally onto an empty road. Well, empty except for the Hoothoot in the trees. "So are you and Liam on okay terms?" I asked. "I'm surprised he battled with you."

"I don't know. He broke the badge Dustin gave him and stormed out of the gym. We were supposed to talk after the battle, but he disappeared for a while. I finally found him sulking in the Pokemon Center lobby, glaring at anything that breathed. I decided not to bother him. I think he's waiting for Styx to heal that Ditto of his. When I left, he was still in the lobby, but at least the rest of the lobby's empty now so he can't scowl any poor trainer to death."

We reached the stairs leading up to Artemis Town's giant Pokemon Center.

Anita stopped. "I should probably warn you, Jake is planning on kidnapping you tomorrow morning so you can be his partner for his gym battle."

I sighed. "Guess Griffy'll have to sleep by the bed—"

A sudden green flash of light illuminated the Pokemon Center's glass doors.

Anita and I looked at each other for a moment, then raced up the stairs.

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

"Miss Teal, I'm in need of a new Forced Transformation Device." The Master's voice crackled through the walkie. As if I didn't already have enough to do tonight.

Somehow the hard drive of the Master's precious Mew-tracking computer had failed. The whole back of the computer was smoking by the time one of my underlings had the sense to unplug the damn thing. Obviously there was a short circuit somewhere, but it'd take a few hours to find the short and see the damage it caused.

I couldn't tell the Master that though. I'd be fired in a heartbeat and probably killed in two.

"We still have the original prototype here, sir," I said. "I can have Tal teleport that one to you or if you're willing to wait a few days, I can whip up another one."

If I thought the Master was capable of expressing the emotion of regret, I would've sworn I heard a sigh through the walkie-talkie's static. Probably the wind. "Keep the prototype; we can't lose all of that valuable information, but I would appreciate receiving a replacement device as soon as possible."

"Of course, sir." I hesitated. "And sir, about Sticky? I thought perhaps…"

"I'll send Sticky back as soon as I hang up. Will that suffice?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then goodnight. Master out." I hooked the walkie to my belt.

I looked around the lab, at the humming computers and their empty chairs. I didn't know where my two assistants had scampered off to, but I'd need to find them. I sighed, walked over to a glass display next to the row of computers, and pressed my thumb to the display's DNA scanner. The glass retracted, and I pulled the Forced Transformation Device prototype out of the display, careful not to disrupt any of our other technologies under development. I pressed my thumb to the DNA scanner once more to close and lock the display.

As I exited the lab into the hall, I smelled traces of smoke lingering from the tracking computer accident. Abruptly, I decided some fresh air would do me good. I'd been in the lab basement for over three hours—the smoke was starting to tickle the back of my throat.

I took the elevator to the main level and wound my way through Team Glop'emm's offices to the building's back door, which exited into the Drape Town's gym. I thought about how good it'd be to have Sticky back as I opened the gym door. Sticky was a quick learner—more than I could say about half of my assistants. Sticky'd be able to help me sort out this mess—

There was a young man standing in the doorway, clad in a tattered black shirt and jeans. My eyes darted from his wild, black hair to his green eyes.

"M—master?" I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen the Master's face. This teenager had to be the Master though, it wasn't just his eye or hair color—it was his stance, the way he casually moved himself to lean against the door, the determined glint in his eyes—

But I had just spoken with the Master. Why would he appear here? "Sir, I just talked to you on the walkie. How are you here?"

The young man stared at me.

He had to be a phony. I flipped the switch of the FTD prototype on, and before I could contemplate the repercussions of my actions, I zapped the man.

Nothing happened.

He was Master Mendol.

"Bu—but how are you here?" I unhooked the walkie from my belt and held it between us. "I just heard your voice through this—"

The Master plucked the walkie talkie from my hands, inspecting it in the light. "It seems, you've been deceived…"

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Apple evolved into Umbreon.

Yet another Pokemon to strike off the ever-shrinking list of potential Mews. Rita had proven that it was physically impossible for a transformed Pokemon to evolve.

Anita was not Mew. Apple was not Mew. Assuming the FTD worked before Splash destroyed it, Splash was not Mew. Supposing Erin's testimony of Fiery's evolution could be trusted, Fiery was not Mew.

If any of these evolutions had somehow been faked, if Mew had somehow transformed instead of evolving, surly Rita would have informed me. The tracking device would've picked up the signal.

She would have told me.

Right?

I fingered the walkie talkie. Maybe I should call her back now…

No, calling her would imply that I had forgotten to ask during the prior call. The Master is not allowed to forget. It would show weakness. I would call in the morning.

Still, it now seemed utterly unlikely that any of Anita's Pokemon were Mew. Which left me where?

Could there be any truth in what Anita had told me? Was she actually "running errands" for the legendary Pokemon? Anita often exemplified a fierce loyalty to her friends and Pokemon; if she was truly loyal to Mew, she would not have given me that information. What did that signify?

Regardless, I'd need to get a full story out of her eventually.

For now, I needed to think, reevaluate the situation. What would be the best way to force Anita to tell the truth? Back her into a corner?

I paced the Pokemon Center lobby. It was empty and the lights were dimmed.

I heard the door behind the front desk to the operating rooms squeak open and looked up. Styx stood in the doorway, a PokeBall in hand. She yawned. "Sticky's good to go," she said, holding up Sticky's PokeBall.

"I appreciate you staying up to heal her," I said.

Styx laughed and tossed me the PokeBall. "Believe me, it wasn't for your sake." She turned around and waved her hand loftily at me as she exited back through the operating room doors. "Good luck."

A peculiar woman, that one.

I moved my hand to pocket the PokeBall—

There was a just the tiniest change in the air, a light aroma of flowers. I spun around and found myself face to face with Celebi. I blinked in surprise.

The green fairy dropped a piece of paper in my hand. It read: I have a proposition for you. Open your mind if you're interested.

I watched Celebi, contemplating my chance of success in destroying this legendary Pokemon and the consequences of either failure or success.

When Celebi did nothing but flutter above the counter for a full minute, I warily opened up my mind.

{Liam Mendol, would you like the opportunity of a lifetime? Would you like to travel back in time and save your cousin?}