The Start of the Un-FORTUNE-ate Aftermath

This morning I woke up a full half hour earlier than my alarm clock. That was thanks in part to a bad dream I was experiencing, where all these girls I had met all of sudden just went from being nice to becoming she-demons of sorts and grabbed me and were about to eat me when I finally woke up breathing heavily. Luckily it's only six thirty so not too bad.

After that I refused to go back to sleep so I left my bed cautiously so as to not wake up Pikachu and headed for my desk, with these girls now on my mind I had sort my thoughts out, and here's what I've got:

First Period – Coordinating

Friends – May, Dawn, Ursula, and Drew

Second Period – History

Friends – Serena

Third Period – Battle Class

Friends – Gary, Paul, Iris, Barry, Ursula, and Misty

Fourth Period - English

Friends – Iris, Drew, Paul, Brock, Dawn

Fifth Period – Math

Friends – Gary, Ursula

Sixth Period – P. E,

Friends – Misty, May, Dawn, Iris, Ursula, Serena

Seventh Period – Cooking

Friends – Brock, Serena

I noticed upon looking my schedule over that I shared three classes with Dawn, Iris, Ursula and Serena. Which was the highest amount of classes any of the girls could share the same class with me – unless they're obsessed to the point where they're adjusting their schedules just to spend time with me… Oh man that'd send Brock into a fit – wait a minute what am I talking about?! Not only that they all share gym class with me so if they were to ever duke it out over me in a class then gym class is most likely where they'll do so… ARCEUS IF YOU CAN HEAR ME I NEVER WANTED THIS HAREM. WHATEVER HAPPNENED TO BEING ALONE?! And didn't Leaf mention a seventh… Oh no…!

No, look back at the list. Out of all the girls only Serena shares two classes with me where none of the other girls are present, that would imply she'd have even more chances to try and win me over with… And one of them is cooking… Ooh. Then again, Ursula's the only one who has math class and if she's better than me she'll get some edge if she tutors me, but Serena could easily win my stomach, ugh what a pain this all is.

Not only that but I can only choose one of them to become my girlfriend, otherwise this feud will never end and worst of all I'll end up breaking some of those girls' hearts and I don't think that'll be something I can live with. Ugh, in the end I have to choose and it'll be my heart that'll choose the one. I heard an old saying that if you do what your heart says you can't go wrong, but the pressure is just so much knowing there'll be six or – Leaf said if I was lucky enough – four individual hearts I'll be breaking.

I had enough of thinking all of that and suddenly began to compile a list of pros and cons about each girl from what I've heard about them in passing.

Misty

Pros:

Able to take charge

Fiery determination

Is a tomboy, so I won't have to worry about any girly stuff

Cons:

That temper

I've heard she's beaten people up before

A girl has to be a little girly

May

Pros:

Gives me food and is a food lover herself, so we're alike

Seems to be a good mixture between a tomboy and girly girl

Our overall personalities just seem similar

Cons:

People say she likes to shop a lot

People say she can be over-dramatic and sometimes a crybaby when things go south

Apparently is a clumsy airhead?

Dawn

Pros:

She has a good sense of fashion and looks pretty (Wow, I feel shallow)

Good energy and spirit and drive (like me)

Naturally cheerful and likes to tease and flirt (That's shallow of me)

Cons:

Said to sometimes have a temper, but only if you really get her angry, never tease her about her part so it's said

Can get as girly as it can get

Apparently known to get easily jealous

Ursula:

Pros:

Hates math like I do

Fair determination and drive

She's pretty (I am so shallow)

Cons:

Has a mean streak

Takes losses real hard

Big jerk to Dawn

She's girly

Iris

Pros:

Knows how to have fun

Brave

Good determination

Cons:

People say she can be annoying

Not very mature

She's known to criticize

Serena

Pros:

An AMAZING cook, a good baker as well I've heard

Also cheerful and nice and just pleasant to be near

Like Dawn, very pretty (I yet again feel so shallow)

Cons:

Also said to be really girly

It's been said that she can be clingy

Sometimes known to complain about things she dislikes real heavily

This list as soon as I looked it over nagged me so hard, how can I judge these girls based simply on a pro and con list. These girls are all special in their own ways good and bad. So I tore up those notes and threw them away. By now it was seven in the morning so I woke up Pikachu, got washed up and took care of nature and went to go eat breakfast.

When me and Pikachu finished filling our stomach's we began to head out. I wanted to get to school early for once so I could hopefully run into Leaf seeing as she usually was early to school than most of us. But as I hurried along, a girl's voice sounded behind me. "Uh oh…"

"Pi-Pika…"

"Out of the way! Out of the way!" There running clumsily into view was yet another girl. She had blond hair that was brighter than Serena's, but like Dawn two strands either side of her head were sectioned, most notably the strands behind the ones close to her eyes, they curved upward, weird, a light green beret with white lining covered said hair. She sported some orange top that formed a 'V' shape of empty space that under her neck, he orange top covered a white dress with short sleeves.

Anyways these details I took better note of later, cause she tripped on a stone and rammed right into me, send me into some sprinklers.

"Ahh! I- pff!" I opened my eyes and realized I wasn't actually drowning and stood up, soaked. Pikachu had jumped clear before she made contact so he was okay. The girl was on her knee's breathing heavily, why the heck was she running anyways? I was about to offer my hand to help her up, but she stood up easily.

"Oh dear! I am so-SO sorry" she gushed, bowing hear head multiple times. "Are you okay mister?"

"Um… Yes, don't worry about it, just a little wet, nothing that can't be dried up by itself," I replied. "Why are you in such a rush?"

"Rush? What are you talking about?" She asked, as if she had been running for no reason. "I- OH! Sorry, have to get to school, I promised a teacher I'd help her set up for today. Bye-ee!" And she took off running, I was stunned.

"Oh!" She called, looking back. "The name's Bianca!"

"Ash!" I called back, she gave a nod of acknowledgement and continued off in a cloud of dust. "Um… That was odd wouldn't you say Pikachu?"

"Pika…"

I wandered the halls for a bit trying to look out for Leaf, as I turned a corner however, there near the end was my target, and so to was a familiar angry ginger… Man, she looks pissed.

"Your stupid 'fortunes' are always screwing me over Leaf!" Misty shouted. "It's like you're purposefully saying these things are going to happen because you want them to happen!"

Leaf looked perfectly calm as she dealt with her. "I have no influence over the future, I can only see what will happen. It is only you who can manipulate if what I see will happen or not, besides, what if these bad things lead to something good eventually?"

"Oh?! And what is ever so good about having verbal fights with my sisters, people egging our gym, salinity issues in our tanks and getting a paint bucket poured onto me!?"

"Perhaps Misty that's nothing more than karma," Leaf said plainly, holding her hands up. "Keep in mind you were mean to a lot of people over the summer. Maybe this is all a sign to change your ways."

Misty looked ready to snap but calmed down. "Well, things weren't so bad this week. One of those fortunes you relayed to me did come true, I did meet the boy of my teenage dreams. But why can you not tell me if it works out or not?! Please Leaf, he's perfect!"

"No can do," Leaf said immediately. "That's for me to know, and you to find out. You simply have to do your best to win his affections for you. 'Cause, you're not the only one…"

"You have to be joking with me you meanie!" Misty whined and turned where we made eye contact; she winked at me and waved at the same time. Curses she's making me feel all red now…

I waltzed awkwardly up to Leaf, unsure of what to say. But Leaf gave me a kind of sadistic, all knowing smile, spine chilling… "If you're here to ask me which girl you're getting, then I'm still not telling."

"Damn it."

"But assuming off of that look I'm guessing you have several other questions am I right?"

I sighed, "Tell me, in this harem is there a second blondie in it who goes by the name Bianca?"

"Why yes, met her?"

"Ran literally into me, explains why my jacket's still a little wet. Anyways you said that today they'll be trying to get my attention. Um, how bad is the competition going to get?"

Leaf laughed hysterically but not maniacally. "Throughout all of it there'll be a lot of good and bad moments for you. Some of these girls will be more jealous or aggressive about you than others. It's bound to be a rad emotional roller coaster. But alas, such is the price you pay when you're loved by so many girls."

"But I didn't even ask for any of this…"

"Ash, listen to me," Leaf replied. "Everything, everything happens for specific reasons. And in the end you may come out of it all a better person as well as learn more about yourself. Besides, in the end isn't there a great prize in the end? A beautiful girl to call your own?"

"Okay, your wording there makes me out like a creep but point taken. I guess yeah it's alright, to get a girlfriend right?" Pikachu gave me a sympathetic look.

"See? Now, you best go and start to know these girls yourself if you want a better idea of what they're like. Now, go and mingle why don't you?"

"In terms of this fortune of mine you seem way smarter than what a normal teenage girl should know about romance," I said warily. "Not saying girls are dumb at all, but you give me this strange vibe like this a play you wrote out but won't tell anyone about it as it replicates itself in real life."

Leaf merely smiled at this and started walking away, "Bye Ash, I'll tell Gary you said hi…"

"Um… Thanks? I suppose…"

I made it to coordinating before anyone else got there, luckily May too was early so we shared snacks together. I was the one who brought them today, as a thank you for the chips and cookie from yesterday. The chocolate pretzels I brought disappeared quickly, well, no thanks to me in fairness.

There was one left, we both reached into the bag, our hands touched, May was red alright, also with fury though. "I-I… I touched it first!"

"We reached for it at the same time," I argued. "And besides, aren't they my pretzels?!"

"But you intended to give them to me as a thanks," she retorted.

"Ugh, fine, it is just one pretzel," I conceded.

May pumped a fist victoriously and chewed that pretzel up, she… Almost looked cute doing it, and her smile of content left me all red, greeeaaaat….

"Anyways," May began, licking her chocolate covered fingers up, "tomorrow I'll bring snacks."

"What is this?" I chuckled, "a back n' forth thing?"

"Exactly," she said with a wink, it was then Dawn came over, she waved to me and May before leaning on our table in my direction.

"Hey, how are you today Ash?"

"Great so far, any day where I can eat is a good day for me."

Dawn eyed me up a little then, "So, I'm guessing the way to your heart is through your stomach themn?"

Woah, talk about subtle Dawn! "Um, sure… I guess you're right," I said awkwardly.

"Too bad I'm only good at poffin's though," Dawn admitted, sweat dropping, "my Pokemon certainly enjoy it though. But it's not a treat for humans."

"Oh! Oh!" cried May excitedly, "I know! I'll speak to my counselor about joining a cooking class for seventh period! Want to join me Dawn?"

Dawn shook her head, "I'd love to, but I really need that study hall time, besides, I have my job at the maid café to worry about."

"You… work at a maid café?" I choked. Jeez, the thought of Dawn in a maid's outfits making me blush.

"Yup!" Dawn chirped. "It's always really fun to dress up, you should drop by some time. They just built one here in Pallet, a block or two away from the school. No way you could miss it. If you come to visit me I'll even give you a special discount for becoming my friend."

Something in her voice already tells me she wants to be more than my friend. Leaf was definitely right. Oh Arceus. "Thanks, Dawn. I promise I'll drop by some time then."

"Can't wait," she said, winking playfully.

"Ugh," I groaned as I sat down in my history class. I looked around in boredom and caught sight of Serena. She stared back at me and smiled.

Then, she started walking over and she sat down in the seat next to me since the guy who sits with me wasn't here yet. "Hiya!"

"Hey," I greeted half-heartedly.

"By the look on your face, it seems to me like you don't enjoy this class all that much."

I snorted. "I don't understand why we have to learn about a bunch of dead stuff."

Serena shivered. "It's all kind of creepy to me. Ms. Erika just says we need to learn about the past so we don't make the same mistakes, but I don't think I'll ever find myself starting a great Pokemon War or

anything like that..."

I nodded. "Plus, the way she teaches it all is just boring. I like Ms. Erika and all, but...this class...ugh..."

"I know what you mean. But I think I dislike gym even more. I don't like running and I'm not very fast either. I'm not all that athletic, period. I always hate our warm up session, running laps for ten minutes. Because I'm so slow, no one runs with me and it makes me feel so lonely. I wish I could join that brunette and bluenette who are usually walking, but they seem like such close friends and I'm a little worried we won't get along."

"Do you mean May and Dawn?" I asked, she nodded. "You have no need to worry. They're really nice. Especially May. I'm sure they'd love having you to talk to. Your personalities would probably match pretty well, so you should go talk to them. And maybe I could join the group too. I'll run when there's someplace I want to go honestly, but otherwise I'd probably just walk."

Serena giggle, it was kind of adorable. "Thank you, Ash. I feel a bit less alone now. Well, class is almost starting, so I should get to my seat, but it was really nice talking to you. See you in cooking class!"

And with that, she skipped off to her seat. I sighed, automatically bored again now that there was no one to talk to. This would be a long class period…

Because today's Thurday we have lunch right after second period so food here I come! I, as usual get another huge plate of food for myself and a big bowl of Pokémon food for Pikachu. Another huge wad of money to pay for said food. And then...all of the sudden...five girls come along and try to drag you to their tables and you desperately try to get away from them, before finally suggesting all six of you sit together at one table, to which they reluctantly agree. Man, was a turnaround.

All five girls smiled at me. The girls were getting along so far, and all seemed like it would go well. That is - until Misty spoke up.

"So...all of you are Ash's friends?"

Each of them nodded and agreed and Misty nodded back. "Well...how did you meet him?"

"I was introduced to him second period," May answered. "We sit next to each other."

Dawn nodded. "I also met him second period when May introduced us."

"I met him during lunch," Iris piped up.

"And I met him in the hall before sixth period," Serena said.

"Oh," Misty chuckled. "So that means that I saw him first. Because we crashed into each other before the first class of this school year could begin."

"So?" Dawn spat at her.

"So," Misty responded. "I was his friend first, so he should be sitting at my table."

"Here we go," I sighed.

"Pika..."

Arguments broke out between the girls and I carefully slipped away, rushing out into the school yard in search of Leaf. She smiled as I desperately ran to her.

"Those girls are crazy!" I hissed. "They're at each other's throats! I wouldn't be surprised if I found some of them dead when I get back there, and of all things I had to leave my precious food behind!"

"I'm sorry?" Leaf replied. "I...can't really help you with that little situation. But I can answer any questions about your future you might have."

I sat down in the grass in front of her. "What do I have to do to calm them all down so that they can be friends? How's that?"

Leaf held out her hands and I placed mine in them. She closed her eyes and went through with her seeing-into-the-future process. She opened her eyes and snickered. "You aren't going to be able to attract their attention unless you do something stupid..."

"Like what?" I asked nervously.

"You could twerk," she suggested.

"You're kidding me," I snarled.

"Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle."

"I hate you right now y'know?"