Some time later, the group (including Jasmine, as she was part of the group now) was sitting in the Pokémon Centre. No one was saying anything, just fidgeting, not knowing what to say. Riley was looking particularly fidgety, occasionally glancing in the direction of Jasmine, looking scared when he did. She couldn't blame him. When she had introduced herself to the group, he had turned pale very quickly. Thankfully, he hadn't said anything, or there would have been a lot of difficult things to sort out. She waved the thought aside, as it had never happened. Focus on the present.

She decided to break the ice. 'So, uh, where are you going next?'

Oh, we are going to Chocovine Town, where my next contest is held!' exclaimed Dawn excitedly.

'That's cool! Good luck then!' replied Jasmine

'Thank you!' said Dawn.

Suddenly, the adverts on the wall mounted TV stopped rolling and Sinnoh Now was back on air. The voice over guy introduced the presenter, Rhonda. The group turned to hear what she had to say.

'Breaking News!' announced Rhonda, 'A flu epidemic has spread from Sandgem Town to Chocovine Town! Those towns have locked down under quarantine to prevent a further spread and no one is allowed in or out.'

The group turned to look at each other.

'Well, I guess Chocovine Town is out of the question.' Said Brock, pretty much stating the obvious.

'So where do we go now?' asked Dawn.

'Well, there is a direct ferry from here to Snowpoint City, but it won't be for a few days. Do you want to wait here for it?'

'Yeah, sure!' Ash and Dawn replied in unison.

Meanwhile, while they were talking, Jasmine sat listening to them, concentrating on Ash. If it was him, then, when would it happen? It was a dangerous time for this. And Riley was concentrating on her, wondering just who she was and just what was happening.

That night, after a hearty dinner that Brock cooked for them all, the group all lay fast asleep in the Pokémon Centre rooms. All, except one.

Jasmine wasn't sleeping, but sitting at the desk in the room tapping away at her laptop tirelessly. Lucario slept soundly, curled up at the end of the bed.

She was very, trying not to fall asleep, but slowly failing. Every now and again, she would emit a small yawn and her eyelids were drooping more by every minute that passed. But she couldn't quit now, she was onto something.

Suddenly, there was a sharp knocking on the door.

'Huh,' she wondered, 'Who would be up at this time of night, let alone wanting to talk to me?'

And then she realised who it would probably be.

And she was right.

Standing at the door was Riley.

'Oh, it's you.' She said, 'I kinda figured this would happen.'

We really need to talk.' He replied, letting himself in.

She wondered what to say.

She invited him to sit on the bed, being careful not to disturb Lucario, and sat on the chair at the desk. She checked the computer screen once before turning to face him. Nothing new, she would just have to keep waiting.

'Start explaining, what's going on?' stated Riley as soon as he sat down.

Jasmine smiled shrewdly. 'Well, everything happens for a reason, and Fate and Destiny chose this path. This was meant to happen.'

Riley blinked.

Jasmine sighed. Typical males.

'I mean, that you weren't meant to stay here, you are meant to go with Ash. This would have happened anyway, but I just sped it up, for the need of our purposes.'

'Our?'

'Later.' She replied as she waved the question aside. 'I mean, I need to go with Ash too, so, yeah.' She concluded.

Riley still didn't get it.

'I really should explain myself, huh?' she sighed, annoyed by the stupidity of men, 'You see, I'm-'

She was cut off by a beeping sound from her laptop. She turned around to see what changes there were.

She was delighted.

The laptop had done exactly what she wanted.

'Yes!' she shouted, 'Yes, Yes, YES!' Then she realised Lucario was still asleep, and she had just woken up.

'Huh? What's going on?' he asked.

'Wait, your Lucario can TALK?' Through TELEPATHY?' shouted Riley in a complete state of shock.

'Stop stating the obvious.' Lucario and Jasmine said in unison.

'Okay, this is WEIRD,' Riley rambled on, 'what is going ON?'

But no one was paying attention to him now.

'I can't believe we finally found it!' Jasmine gasped, giddy with excitement and happiness, 'We can finally do something!'

'Shall we prepare?' Lucario asked, eyes shining.

'Yes! Yes, Yes!' she shouted. She rushed off to pack up her bag, Riley still dazed on the bed.

But when Lucario glanced at the laptop screen again, he noticed something else. He shuddered when he realised what it was.

'Wait! Look!' He pointed frantically at the screen. Jasmine stopped and came to look. Her eyes immediately flashed to worry, anger and fear.

'No,' she said, 'we've been here too long. They're coming.'

'What? Who's coming?' said Riley, who still had no idea what was going on.

'No time,' she said frantically, 'We have to go NOW. Go wake everyone and –'

But she didn't get to finish her sentence. Just then, the window shattered and a black arrow burst through. Out of reflexes, Jasmine raised her hand to it and there was a blue glow. A sky blue barrier formed around her, the arrow bounced off harmlessly, the tip splintering when it did. When she lowered her hand, the light and barrier faded and disappeared.

Riley gasped in shock and awe.

'Wait! You're a… you're an… Aura Guardian?'

She gave her weird smile. 'Took you long enough.'

Suddenly, a rain of black arrows poured in from the smashed window. She swatted most away, sometimes quickly plucking one from the air and hurling it back through the window, hoping to strike whoever was attacking.

'And this is why we have to go now.' She concluded.