Again, I am sorry that this chapter took so long. Maybe I should just apologize for this and all future chapters now, just because the gaps are so long. If you want me to blame something, I blame my re-addiction to a fandom and my severe writer's block. If you don't want me to blame anything, I can't apologize enough. Seriously. And, without further interruption, I bring you Chapter 20: Fresh Start!

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Jack's POV

Man, was I tired. Why was I waking up now? It wasn't even sun up, something that made me groan. Someone was yelling outside of the door. And, what was worse was that Mudkip, Greg and the mutt were still fast asleep. Apparently they weren't hearing the bloody humans arguing, curse them. They were going to get a better sleep than I was...

But, now that I was awake, I was also curious. I'd probably give the humans a piece of my mind as soon as I got out there. It was easier than I thought it would be too, seeing as Alexa seemed to have left the door open (she wasn't in the bed so I knew it was her who had opened it). As soon as I left the room however, even while rubbing one of my eyes I could see that Idiot was arguing with Alexa. Greeeeat.

"Alexa, I seriously don't think that you should keep going so soon after that experience! What if Team Rocket comes along and targets you again?"

"Dad, take a chill pill! I can take care of myself!"

"Like you did at the gym? I'm worried about you, Lexi..."

"Well stop being worried! I'm not going to get into trouble like that again!"

Famous last words, I thought with a smirk as I shook my head, closing my eyes so I could only hear Idiot's aggravated sigh before a clapping sound was made. He had probably smacked his own forehead before he started talking again, "Lexi, you always get into trouble. I guess it's because you're becoming a teenager now..."

"If I'm becoming a teenager then stop treating me like a kid," I opened my eyes in time to see Alexa pouting childishly at Idiot, something that made me snicker. Come on, it's kind of contradictory isn't it, to pout like a child to prove that you're more mature than that? "I'm not going back home. I'm going to continue trying to become a trainer. And the first thing I'm going to do tomorrow is catch that Houndour."

"What if Houndour doesn't want to stay?" I was getting bored with the conversation at this point, especially since it seemed to have quieted down. I almost wanted to go back the sleep, but the feeling in my stomach was telling me that I'd need a midnight snack first. So, where else would I go but the kitchen of the Pokémon Center?

That said, I went in. And found one of those big metal things Trunk called a 'refrigerator'. Unfortunately, even if the damn handle was in reach, that door was too heavy for me to open. Hmm... What can I do to get that food?

I blinked and saw something on the counter. After jumping up onto it I saw that it was this big round thing with a handle on the end. I could probably use the thing to open the fridge. So, what else was I to do but try and tug it off?

Big mistake.

Not only did I fall with the big round end landing on top of me (and trust me that alone hurt like a bitch) but lots of loud clattering was all around me as I saw more similar objects with handles falling around me, one with a really deep hole falling on top of my head. And now there was ringing in my ears, a groan leaving me. It was dark now. And then, I heard footsteps rushing towards me, the familiar voice of Nurse Joy gasping, "Is that a pokémon? Hey, what are you doing in here?"

"I'm trying to get a bloody midnight snack," I had no idea where the human's voice was coming from but I shouted out anyway. Soon enough the big round thing on my head was removed and light flooded into my eyes. More light than there was before. Someone must have hit the light switch on the way in, and when I blinked I saw the blurry images of the nurse and her assistant Chansey in front of me. And then, the nurse reached over and picked me up. My head still throbbed and hurt but this was enough to get my attention, "Oiy! Put me down so I can get some food already!"

"Take it easy... What were you doing in here?" Right, humans couldn't understand pokéspeak for the life of them. Which of course was very very annoying... But, my stomach growled then. If nothing else it helped the human understand what I wanted, "Oh, you're hungry. Next time, just find me or Chansey and we'll get something for you okay?"

Finally, I was getting some bloody food. With a big grin I saw the dish of pokémon food being put in front of me and jumped into it, devouring it within seconds. Satisfied, I let out a bit of a belch which caused both the nurse and the other pokémon to giggle, "I take it that was good?"

"Good enough for a midnight snack, but I'm gonna go to bed now..." I stretched my arms over my head then, hopping off of the counter and waving to Nurse Joy and Chansey. I heard them cleaning up the kitchen but really I didn't care about that; I just wanted to go back to sleep now.

"There you are! Don't scare me like that Jack!" Suddenly I was picked up by Alexa, blinking up at her, "When I went back into the room I saw that you were gone. Did Dad and I wake you up?"

"Yeah, but I got free food out of it," I shrugged and got myself comfortable in Alexa's arms. At least I wasn't getting yelled at for the mess in the kitchen... I really wasn't in the mood for another lecture and I was too tired to hear it anyway. Soon after I got withdrawn into my pokéball, which was probably to keep me from wandering around again. Just as well, I was too tired to really give a damn about wandering around the Pokémon Center again...

"I see you managed to get yourself out of trouble. I'm glad things went well in at least one area of the world," Damn it all, Jirachi had come to visit me. I was far more than too irritable and tired to deal with yet another annoyance...

"Go to hell. I'm trying to sleep."

"Fine, I will. By the way, your cousin is doing fine and is back in the Kanto Region with his trainer, where he belongs."

"Yeah yeah yeah, interesting news, but I'm still trying to sleep off the bloody day," I grumbled before snapping my eyes shut and rolling over. Maybe if I pretended she wasn't there anymore she'd go away...

"That won't work and you know it, Jack," It pissed me off even more when she laughed at me, but finally she said something that made me grin a bit, "I'll see what I can do about you getting to see him in the future, but for now just relax and enjoy yourself again. Good night."

With those two heavenly words the star pokémon finally left, leaving me to sleep in peace. At long last, a restful night without anymore dreams and interruptions...

You can go now. It's not going to get any more interesting here, for a few hours anyway.

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Kirlia's POV

Daylight, at long last, shone around me as I was let out of my pokéball. It seemed like I was the only one allowed out for the moment though; that bastardous Treecko wasn't anywhere to be seen and I couldn't spot Mudkip either. She was a little irritating, acting perfect and all, but she wasn't too bad for the most part... It was really Jack who bothered me most of the time. But I'm sure you all know that and about my plans to eventually kill him slowly and painfully, right?

Moving along, I spotted my trainer and smiled when she reached down to pat my head. It was good to see her again, although she didn't seem as big as she used to be. I guess it was because I evolved and got bigger myself. But, what was important was that my trainer had said something about breakfast. And then, I spotted the rather full dish in front of me and realized just how hungry I was. Throwing around an idiot grass lizard with your telepathic powers can do that, you know.

Soon after I finished the plate, letting out a rather satisfying belch after. It tasted too good!

"Hey, Kirlia! We're going to battle Houndour, come on!" Houndour. That made me freeze in my tracks. He was the pokémon... Him and his sister... They had...

"Kirlia? What's the matter?" I nearly jumped when Alexa kneeled in front of me, my face growing hot before I shook it off. I couldn't change what had happened. But, I still wanted to get revenge... At the same time I knew I was targeting the wrong pokémon. Houndour did it because he was forced to; it was probably at the threat of his own life. I could understand it on some level but... I still couldn't forgive him for it.

I floated after Alexa and when we finally got outside, I saw that Houndour was sitting there as if he had been waiting for us. And, unfortunately enough, Jack was waiting beside Greg on this weird wooden seat thing... What was it? I didn't know, but really I didn't care at the moment. What I did care about was the order that I heard from the human girl beside me, "Kirlia, leave Jack alone for now okay? I'm going to use him to battle against Houndour."

I'll get you yet, the venomous thought drifted through my mind as I glared at the lizard pokémon, but he blatantly ignored me as he hopped down. I decided to take his place and floated up onto the bench, slowly releasing my telekinetic hold on myself so I could rest on the wood. Greg stared at me for a second but seemed to think nothing of it and turned back to the imminent battle in front of us. I focused on the two pokémon too, not entirely sure of just who I wanted to lose more. I decided to root for Houndour in the end, seeing as he didn't insult me on a regular basis.

My resolution was only fuelled more when Jack turned to me and smirked, "Oiy, hope that you're ready for the bloody mutt to travel with us as well, Girlia!"

Whether or not he had said that by accident, he would pay! I was about to begin pulverizing him when Greg put a hand on my head. I blinked and glared at him before I could hear Alexa speaking again, "Kirlia, I don't know what he said but chill out! You can train with him later, all right?"

Satisfied with the notion that I would actually be able to beat on the idiot later with no one to restrain me (not to mention the brief look of fear in his eyes at the notion of Alexa actually allowing it), I sat back down and just simply relaxed, feeling Greg taking his hand off of my head. I'd beat on him too, but he didn't have the balls to call me stupid names after the first time he made that mistake. Heh.

I was brought back to the field when Alexa nodded to Houndour, "Don't go easy on us! We're ready this time! Go, Jack!" With that, I knew that there would be an interesting battle before us.

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Woo hoo, the first update I've had in two months! I hope you enjoyed that chapter, short as it is, and I promise you that I WILL be better about updating! You can count on it! For now, I have to go, so keep reading and you should see chapter 21 coming soon!