Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or Harry Potter

BloodyKitsune: So we're on chapter Thirteen, I am somewhat disappointed in myself for not getting it out a day sooner, but if you look at my profile you'd see that I finally began writing up the next installment of Calla's own journey. Anywhoo, we have a lot of drama in this chapter. I hope you all enjoy it.

Reviews:

Reaper1990: You'll have to wait and see. It will be when Aragorn believe he's worthy of evolving though.

saxlov: I have actually not decided on a relationship just yet. To be honest, the only reason we haven't had a Cynthia POV yet is due to the fact that she hasn't physically been in the story just yet. Once she comes into the story, I will definitely be giving our favorite blonde champion her spotlight. As for your other ideas, they're interesting and certain...ehem...Elites have secrets that they're keeping, Darling. You never know with Vali.

Chapter Thirteen

Sitting on Arwen's back as they 'raced' Ash's Blitzle, Vali giggled as the little zebra did her level best to keep up with them. She glanced over to where Rosie was happily playing with Noibat and Absol while subtly getting a gage of where the two youngest members of their pack actually stood. When dropping off Thorin, she had actually intended to grab either Balin or Irmo only for the Meganium to present herself as an option. After a bit of consideration, she had agreed with the promise to switch her out with Idril before they headed into Mount Moon. Admittedly though, she would probably grab Terra as well seeing as the Tyranitar had been giving her puppy dog eyes during the whole exchange.

As Arwen slowed to a stop due to Blitzle steadily falling behind, Vali ran her fingers along the Rapidash's neck earning a pleased whinny. They made their way over to where everyone was and Blitzle collapsed against Ash's side with a soft sound as she dismounted. Arwen nosed her and she quickly provided a tomato berry from her pack earning a pleased sound. Gary spoke as she began to rub down Arwen's legs, "How come you don't use a saddle with her?"

"I do," Vali had Arwen lift her leg and began to clean the hoof with a tool that Elrond helpfully provided, "Just not on easy terrain like this or when we're just going on short rides," She finished quickly and moved onto the next one, "The only time I ever use a saddle consistently is when I'm riding on unfamiliar pokemon. But the times I've had to ride on an unfamiliar pokemon are few and far between,"

"Anyway," Ash spoke up drawing Vali's attention to him for a brief moment before she refocused on Arwen, "Any ideas on how best to deal with Brock?"

Humming slow in her throat, Vali leaned slightly on Arwen's side as she trimmed Arwen's hooves carefully, "Seeing as I've never actually battled him? I can't give you true advice. If it were his father, I would have a bit of advice seeing as I've faced that man several times since my first gym battle."

"Really?" Gary looked at her in interest.

Nodding her head, Vali grinned a bit, "Partly to prepare for my Elite fights and partly to just test ourselves against his true team," She let out a laugh, "Bastard was a good fight," She mentally grimaced at the thought of what was going on behind public eye, "But the best way to prepare is to look up Brock's battles on his page. Study them thoroughly, you need to keep working on your strategies against Rock and ground-types like you've been. Fight as many trainers as you can."

"Right," Ash nodded his head looking like he was already running over the strategies he'd be using again.

"Now how about we actually go take a look at the museum?" Vali suggested earning a pair of excited looks, "I know you two have been holding back from going, so how about we take a look? I know they recently put in a new exhibit on ancient fossil pokemon and their links to modern dragon-types,"

Letting out a laugh as the two cheered, Vali returned her pokemon alongside them and they made their way to the museum. She paid the entrance fee and they stared to walk around with the boys almost racing about. They paused right before the Aurorus skeleton just as she had years before and Gary turned his head towards her while pointing upward. He grinned slightly, "I can't believe you got one of these, Sis!"

Laughing softly as her mind went to Khione, Vali nodded as Elrond grinned and Aragorn's chest puffed out as he radiated out a sense of pride. She spoke while looking up at the old fossil with a light smile, "Yeah, Khione is a practical goddess given flesh and bone. You two will definitely be meeting her properly soon enough."

"It'll be soo cool," Ash grinned at her before looking around them, "Hey, Sis, where's the exhibit you helped with?"

Smile turning into a grin, Vali pointed to one of the archways leading deeper into the museum, "This way, we've got to go into the section on ancient pokemon tied to volcanic areas."

Leading them into that area, Vali led them through the archway into an area that was almost completely dedicated to fire-types with a Hisuian Arcanine statute proudly acting as the center point. As she began to lead her brother's around the exhibit and explain various portions of it, a few people slowly started to join them only for more to gather until a minor tour group had gathered about. By the end of their exploration of the exhibit, they had gathered together a large group of people and pokemon. In the end, they had a minor photograph and autograph session that ended with everyone quickly being ushered away by their actual tour guides.

Rubbing the back of her neck with a sheepish laugh after the last person had left them alone, Vali looked at her brothers with an awkward smile, "Sorry about-"

"It's fine," Gary grinned at her, "It was seriously awesome to see just how much you knew about this stuff. And finding out that you'd put together this entire exhibit with only a little bit of help was cool!"

"It was interesting to see you flip-flop between being knowledgeable about fire-types to outgoing with people," Ash added earning an embarrassed laugh.

"It's not exactly easy," Vali's hand dropped as she grimaced, "I got lost in explaining all that stuff to you guys and didn't really register that we'd been joined by so many people," She flushed a bit at their startled expressions, "I really like fire-types and pokemon in general after all. It's easy to forget..."

"Wow..." Gary let out a laugh, "Our sister is a total geek,"

Snorting at that, Vali pulled him into a headlock earning a shout of protest as she began to nuggie him. Grinning as Ash laughed, She told Gary, "Not a geek, Brat. I just have certain priorities. You're the geek."

"Nu-uh," Gary protested as he wiggled against her hold.

"Yeah, you are," Vali tightened her hold just a bit, "Or do you not know the dex entries for the first three hundred pokemon exactly and the basic ones for the next two hundred,"

"I-well-Shut it!" Gary flushed darkly especially as Ash laughed at him, "Ash is just as much of a geek as I am! He can remember every bit of information about all the pokemon at Gramps ranch both past and present,"

Laughing lightly as Ash protested that, Vali released Gary after digging in her knuckles just a bit more. Grinning lightly, she said, "Alright, you two. How about we keep exploring the museum? And maybe go take a look at the observatory."

"Ooh I heard they have actual chunks of deactivated moonstone the size of a person's head in there!" Ash grinned as he looked at her, "We definitely need to go there,"

"Only after we see that one exhibit that Erika mentioned in her last email," Gary told Ash as they began walking with Vali following behind at a leisurely pace.

Leaning back against the railing as she watched Gary and Ash both grill the observatory manager, Vali answered her pokenav as it rang, "Hello?"

"Based on the photos that hit the blogs, you're at the museum with Ash and Gary?" Lance asked earning a hum of acknowledgement, "Seen anything off?"

"Nope," Vali waved at Ash when he glanced back at her, "Everything seems normal. Naz, Gladi, and Eli haven't reported anything though we're keeping a close eye,"

Smiling as she felt Aragorn lean against her, Vali bent down to pet him as Lance sighed in relief, "It almost seems like we're able to rule out the museum as a target. Almost."

"Yea-" Vali stiffen as she felt Nazgul run his paws along her back which was one of their silent signals, "Fuck me,"

"Vali?" Lance sounded started as Vali glanced around them and tapped Aragorn's shoulder in the signal that meant he needed to go stay with the boys earning a slight nod, "What-"

"Ash, Gary," Vali called out to the boys, "I'm heading to the restroom. Be back in a bit, Ari'll be with you until I get back,"

The two looked at her a bit started before nodding as Aragorn slunk his way over to their side earning a startled look from the Observatory manager. Heading to the nearby hallway, Vali headed not for the bathroom, but rather a closet. Closing the door behind her, she fucked with her pokenav as Nazgul came out her shadow and Elrond floated to peer at the frowning Gengar. Lance looked at her with a frown as his face became visible, "Vali, what's going on?"

"Naz?" Vali ignored Lance for the moment.

"Found a small group coming in the back, we didn't think much of it at first," Nazgul started as he fussed with his paws, "Then they went into the basement and we found more, Sis. A large group of em. Gladi says there a twenty, so..."

"They have the symbol we told you to look out for, right?" Vali asked earning a nod and she cursed softly, "Lance," She looked at him, "Twenty Rockets in the basement of the Museum. Who knows how long they've been there. Gladi and Naz only found them because of a small group that were coming in from the back," She looked up at Nazgul, "Were they in working clothes?" The Gengar nodded, "They were apparently wearing working clothes,"

"Shit that's how they've managed to stay undetected," Lance palmed his face, "Get the boys out of there, I'll or-ni so-th-g on o-r s-de to d-l-"

Groaning as the picture and sound on her pokenav were beginning to cut out, Vali told him, "I'll try, but it looks like those assholes are starting shit up. Hurry, Dragon-Boy."

Clicking her pokenav off as the signal lost symbol flashed across her screen, Vali looked at Elrond and Nazgul with a stern expression. Elrond spoke as he crossed his arms, "We'll figure out how they managed to keep us from sensing their intentions later. For now, we work on getting the boys out alongside any civilians before protecting the museum."

"Agreed," Vali looked at Nazgul, "Naz, I want you and Gladi doing what you can to stall those assholes while we get everyone out," Nazgul nodded and took the hug she pulled him into with a grin, "Be safe, Bud. I don't want either of you more injured than needed,"

"We'll be careful, Sis," Nazgul grinned at her before disappearing into the floor.

"Onto our part then, I've already begun relaying what information we know and the tentative numbers of our enemies," Elrond said as they left the closet, "I will relay the same information to any Jennies, Ranger, or Ace operatives that appear after ensuring they're one of us. At this point..."

"We can't make assumptions," Vali grimaced darkly, "This is another Tenebris situation, isn't it, Eli?"

"It's looking like it," Elrond shook his head at the reminder of the traitorous Ranger who nearly cost them their lives in a poacher operation the year prior.

When Vali returned from the bathroom, Ash and Gary were highly dismayed to find out that they'd be leaving the Museum early. Glancing at Vali as she led them downstairs, Ash could tell something was off. The feeling that he knew to be aura from their lessons offered him a small amount of insight into other's emotions and he could feel a mixture of worry among other things radiating off of her. With that in mind as they reached the next floor, he asked, "Vali, what's going on? You seem...tense."

Ignoring the glance Gary threw his way, Ash focused on Vali and he was started to hear a soft curse leave her. Expression twisting just a little bit as the smile she'd worn as they walked down the stairs vanished for the briefest moment into a frown, she shook her head, "What? Ash, I-"

"Vali, please," Ash stared into her emerald green eyes and could see anxiety and indecision roll through them, "We're not little kids anymore,"

After a long moment, Vali sighed and looked away from him as they continued to walk, "You two need to get out of here alongside the other civvies. Some things came out, I can't say what, but a serious thing is about to occur. We're trying to limit as much exposure as possible."

"Vali?" Ash and Gary both breathed at the same time.

"League Business," Vali led them to the stairs and they started making their way down alongside more people, "Just trust me-"

There was a loud booming sound and Ash felt a burst of heat coming from down below as the stairs beneath them shook, Vali cried out something just as the world around them seemed to explode.

Rage and relief battled with one another as Elrond surrounded the stairwell in a strong enough protect to keep everyone within from dying, Vali pushed herself up with Aragorn's help as she moved to check on her brothers. A quick scan with her magic after carefully checking them over physically revealed that they'd just been knocked unconscious in what she assumed to be a bomb blast. Elrond spoke as she moved away from Ash and Gary, "I've called on whatever psychic's that can use teleport in the area of Pewter. They're already approaching the scene and will teleport all civvies out as soon as possible."

"Good," Vali spotted one of the aforementioned psychics appearing and nodded to the Alakazam that she'd seen at the gym, "Take as many as you can, my friend. You'll be rewarded well,"

The Alakazam nodded and quickly grabbed two of the most injured civilians before disappearing. It took about two minutes before the stairwell was cleared out with Ash and Gary being taken by an Exeggutor who nodded to her before disappearing. With them out of danger, Vali quickly released Eowyn and began making her way down stairs where more civilians were being taken out of danger. She had to duck out of the way as volley of Swift headed towards her and turned to find a Rocket man with a Voltorb standing there. Lips peeling back into a slight snarl, she glared at the man as he laughed, "Oooh, I heard that we had a special guest in the building, but I didn't know it'd be an Elite! Wowzers."

Raising her hand, Vali spoke as she snapped her fingers, "Take them down."

With a pair of barks, Eowyn and Aragorn rushed forward without a care in the world directed towards the fire beginning to rage around them. Vali released Balto as Eowyn took down the Voltorb with one well-placed Flamethrower while Aragorn went after the Rocket. Within seconds, the man was unconscious after a combined use of Baby Doll eyes and Confuse Ray alongside a not-so gentle knock to head with Iron Tail. Walking towards the man, she quickly returned the unconscious Voltorb before reaching into her bag for one of the many cubes that she'd hoped to not need. Pulling it out, she pressed it against his hands and watched as the man's arms, pokeballs, and entire upper body were encased in what looked to be solid steel.

Leaving him there, Vali continued to move forward with her pokemon through the Museum as Elrond spoke, "The Jennies have arrived alongside two Ranger units and one Ace. They're currently outside trying to gather information and build a perimeter."

"Offer them information and keep our status current," Vali brought her scarf up as they steadily made their way into the areas where the fire was definitely a lot worse, "We're getting this done as fast as possible. I want to get my hands on whoever thought it was a bright idea to attack the museum when my brothers were inside of it,"

Growls of agreement came from her pokemon as their eyes glowed slightly with the anger filling them, Vali could feel her pokeballs that were filled shake in agreement save for that of Noibat and Absol's though knew there would be a time when the duo would come to understand just how important those two boys were. As another Rocket and their pokemon made themselves know, a dark grin slowly formed as the more bestial and feral part of herself howled for vengeance.

As Lance arrived on the scene with Karen and Will, he spotted the burning Museum and winced heavily wondering if Vali had been responsible for all of a moment before pushing that thought out of his mind. For all that Vali could get explosive when she was angry, she'd never harm an area that had such valuable artifacts. Seeing Will shudder out of the corner of his eye, he turned to him, "What's wrong?"

"Such anger, I can't remember the Princess being this angry before..." Will looked pale as his eyes went to the Museum, "Nor her pokemon,"

Breath catching, Lance quickly moved to where he knew those that were currently in charge would be. An aged Jenny stood with a pair of vaguely familiar Rangers that he was sure had worked with Vali a time or two. With them a very familiar Ace he'd worked with quite often stared at the Museum with a from on her face, the woman turned to him as her expression brightened. She saluted him, "Champion Lance."

"Captain Valt," Lance greeted her with a nod as the rest quickly followed her actions, "What's the status?"

"Elite Four Vali is currently within the Museum dealing with the Rockets as we speak. As far as we know, the Civvies were all completely removed even the dead," Captain Valt's expression twisted a bit as Lance grimaced at that bit of news, "From what we learned via reports from both Civvies within the Museum and outside, an explosion occurred about thirty minutes ago. Elite Four Vali's Alolan Raichu almost immediately began contacting all local psychic's able to teleport out any Civvies with the promise of a reward,"

"I'll ensure it's done," Lance promised and glanced at Will earning a nod showing that the younger man would see it done if he didn't have time, "And Vali?"

The grimace on Captain Valt's face deepened as she looked back at the Museum, "As we feared, Rockets were behind this attack and Elite Four Vali is facing them as we speak."

"Why haven't you gone in?" Karen asked in a not quite polite tone.

"The Empress and her team are on a war path, Ma'am," One of the Ranger's spoke up and Lance looked at the man, "Any reports inside are from her Alolan Raichu and they're all indicative of a war path. I can't be too sure as to what caused it, but the Rockets have definitely hit a nerve,"

"Or two," Will muttered earning a sharp glance from Lance.

"We're going in," Lance announced earning a few glances, "I want the Ranger and Ace teams ready to extract any captured Rockets. Will, you will secure the border with the Jennies. Karen, you're with me. We're backing up Vali,"

Nodding quickly as everyone got to work, Lance began moving towards the Museum with Karen hot on his heels. Making his way inside, he immediately pulled his shirt over his nose due to the large amount of smoke filling the air. Pulling out a breathing mask, he put it on as Karen did the same thing. They made their way past the flames and unconscious Rockets. Karen spoke as they began making their way into the basement, "They're not being that gentle with them."

Seeing as one man had a mangle arm and his hand was almost completely disconnected, Lance had to agree. He didn't blame Vali though as the Rocket's had harmed her brothers. He spoke as they stepped into the basement, "No, but can you blame her?"

"No, I'd be the same way especially with instincts like that," Karen laughed softly and Lance shot her a look of surprise, "I've seen her transform twice in those animal form of hers. Wasn't expecting it to be a Hisuian Arcanine though she's pretty damn beautiful as one,"

"When did that happen?" Lance asked as they carefully stepped over a pair of unconscious Rockets that had definitely been at Smaug's 'tender' mercies.

"Before she left for that shitty poaching mission and a couple months after she'd healed from it," Karen grinned a bit, "She was very loopy during the second and the first...I'd been coming back from a mission of my own,"

Shaking his head, Lance mentally promised himself to tell Vali about this later. As they heard roaring and shrieking up head, Lance's eyes widened as complete chaos and bloodshed came into view. Multiple Rockets were unconscious with some of them being mutilated just as the one in the hallway had been, the still standing ones were just barely managing it as they fought like mad against Vali's pokemon. Vali herself was fighting an overly large mocha-skinned man with a graying beard. With her eyes steadily turning into the fiery gold of her animagus form, Lance realized that she was about to give into her instincts especially as the room was steadily becoming hotter and hotter the longer they stood there.

Without even looking at Karen as he released his team who'd been briefed by his personal psychic, Lance darted towards where Vali was fighting. He barely heard his team darting to join Vali's or Karen doing the same as him. Practically tackling Vali, he jolted as a gunshot echoed through the room. Vali fought against him for all of a second as he froze slightly before she stilled as her eyes cleared when they caught sight of him. Voice roughed, she murmured, "Lance?"

"We will talk later," Lance quickly pulled her up and barely managed to jerk them out of the way as another shot echoed through the air.

"I-Fuck," Vali shook her head and he saw instinct warring with thought, "When did-"

"Just a few seconds ago, we need to deal with this guy," Lance pulled her to him, "You going to focus?"

"I-" Vali breathed out and smoke actually left her lips, "Yeah," She looked towards the man with a glare, "You got an idea, Dragon-boy?"

"Left and right, middle?" Lance offered earning a snort.

"Basic bitch," Vali teased earning a snicker from Karen as he rolled his eyes.

"It works," Lance darted to the right as Vali took off to the left earning a loud grunt from the Rocket.

Dodging around as bullets were shot towards them, Lance mentally grinned as Vali launched herself at the Rocket and managed to curl around the man's shoulders. With a move that would have made Surge proud, she twisted them about and managed to upend the man as her body slipped under him out of the way. Lance quickly disarmed him once he was down and tossed the gun up which Smaug happily reduced into liquid metal that 'unfortunately' dropped right back onto the Rocket earning a shriek of pain. With a slight grunt, Vali knocked the man out.

It took only a few more minutes for them to take out the rest of the Rockets and quickly put them in capture cubes. By then the Ranger and Ace teams had arrived, Lance quickly fended them off making the excuse that Vali needed to be debriefed. Leaving the burning Museum that was now being put out and reinforced by various pokemon under the watchful gaze of League members, they headed to the Plateau where Vali and her team were taken away to be examined by their medical staff. Two hours after that, Vali joined him in his office to be debriefed.

Gesturing to his couch after getting the basic information that he needed, Lance told her, "Lay down, you look like hell."

"I feel like shit," Vali flopped on his couch with a soft groan sporting a pair of scratches on her right cheek and a deep one on her left arm, "Using my energies to keep from inhaling too much smoke on top of keeping myself from shifting in the middle of it..." She closed her eyes, "How bad do you think this is going to be?"

"With you on vacation and the fact these are Rockets, we can sweep a certain amount under the rug," Lance leaned back against his chair, "Especially with them actively committing a terrorist act and killing ten civilians,"

"But..." Vali looked at him tiredly.

"You are in trouble," Lance said sadly earning a nod, "We can't sweep two of those Rocket's injuries under the rug. While none of your pokemon are at risk of being taken away, Princess, they did undoubtedly make it so two of those men will never be able to function normally again,"

"So what's the punishment?" Vali asked with a frown.

"As this is the first incident of such violence," Lance ignored the snort that Vali let out, "And given that they were terrorists, You'll be paying a settlement out to both their families if they have one,"

Blinking a bit, Vali grinned a bit, "Almost had me worried there, Dragon-boy. How much do I owe?"

"A quarter of a million, each," Lance answered making Vali wince.

"Shit," Vali looked a bit pale, "Though do able. Anything else?"

"An apology," Lance held up a hand as Vali went to protest, "You just have to apologize for causing such a devastating injury. Nothing else,"

Grumbling a bit, Vali nodded, "Fine though if anyone knew what those Elrond had drug up from those bastards minds they'd be happy we did it."

"I have no doubt," Lance's tone was bland.

As Vali got up while she fiddled with her pokenav, she walked over to him, "I'll wire you the money and let ya figure it out."

"Sounds good to me," Lance rubbed his face tiredly, "I'm assuming the boys were caught in this which is why you'd been set off,"

"Bingo. My scans said they were fine, but you know I can be wrong," Vali held out her pokenav and he took it to sign his name where it needed to be before handed it back, "I'll head back once at least Eli and Balto are good to go. I'll probably bring along a couple of the others for a bit,"

"A good plan," Lance heard his dex ding though didn't bother to pick it up, "How are you other than tired, Vali?"

Lips pulling into a tired grin, Vali's head tilted to the side, "I'm fine, Lance. I barely even got a real scratch on me as you heard the doc say. Out of everyone, I was in the best sha-"

Lance quickly got up and pulled her into a hug. Stiffening for all of a second, Vali shook slightly as she hugged him back. He spoke as her head laid against his chest, "Don't lie to me, Princess. You're absolutely exhausted and hurting. It's taking everything in you not to go into the holding cells of those Rockets and kill them where they stand. Both for harming your brothers and your pack," He felt the warmth of her tears as they hit his shirt, "I'm not someone you need to hide from. You know that, Vali. You can talk to me just like with Steven,"

"I know," Vali's voice shook and it was like a hot iron to his heart, "I just...worrying you...worrying anyone isn't something I want to do, Lance,"

"You're mine to worry about, Vali," Lance pushed as many emotions into his words as he could without outright saying the ones he'd been wanting to for so long, "You're my Elite, my best friend besides Steven, one of the few people I can count on to not judge me, and one of the few lights in my light that I'd be completely devastated without,"

Hearing her breath hitch as he let that little bit slip, Lance almost cursed before deciding that it was alright. If he accidentally said something, it was fine. It would give him a chance to see how she reacted. Vali pulled away from him and he let her. She stare up at him with teary eyes and moist cheeks, "Lance? What-I don't-"

Heart beating just a bit faster, Lance spoke softly, "I worry about you because you're someone that I care deeply for, Vali. I'll worry about you no matter what," He reached up and wiped away her tears, "So don't keep quiet around me about things that bother you, alright? You're my Fire Empress, my princess, my firecracker," He dropped his hand with a smile, "Seeing that light of yours dim even a little bit hurts, I don't want that at all."

Seeing her cheeks flush as she looked away from him was adorable, Vali spoke as she rubbed at her eyes, "I-you-" She shook her head, "I suppose I'll try to talk with you more about the stuff I normally share with Steven."

"Good," Lance grinned a bit, "Are you hungry?" He chuckled as Vali's stomach answered for her with a loud rumble and she dropped a hand to it with a slight scowl, "How about we get some food from that little café down on the west side? The one that has Kalosian stuff."

Vali perked up a bit, "Sure."

As they left his office and he caught sight of Karen leaning against the wall outside of his door, Lance's eyes narrowed at her. She scoffed at him and quickly moved to wrap an arm around Vali's neck with a slight smirk, "Yo, Puppy. That was some serious shit back there."

"Yeah," Vali grinned weakly at the silvery haired woman, "Do you want to come eat with us? We're heading to the Kalosian café,"

"Sure, I love their food," Karen shot a grin towards him as he scowled at her, "I'm surprised you didn't eat with the boys,"

Shaking her head with a sigh, Vali stuck her hands into the pockets of her jacket, "The plan was to eat after our Museum day and well, you see how well that worked out."

"Well there's always another time," Karen snapped her fingers, "Ya know, you could always teleport them to Celadon after they win that Gym battle of theirs. They have tons of awesome restaurants,"

Laughing softly as she nodded, Vali glanced back at him and Lance quickly offered her a smile as he moved to walk beside her. Vali left them to go grab a few pokemon which no one could blame her for and Karen turned towards him. Scowling at her, he hissed, "What are you doing?"

"I was about to ask you," Karen crossed her arms, "Why haven't you told her yet, Lover Boy? Scared?"

"Never," Lance growled as part of him reared up at being called scared.

"Than tell her," Karen eyed him with a frown, "You had a good opportunity-"

"When her brothers were just injured and she had to deal with the fallout, yes it was perfect," Lance hissed with a glare, "And you say I don't have tact,"

Scoffing at him, Karen flicked her hair over a shoulder, "If not now, you need to tell her soon. Shit like this just proves that I-"

They both fell silent as Vali walked out with her Furret on her shoulders and Pyroar walking behind. Closing the door behind herself, she grinned lightly, "I'm ready."

"Good," Karen smirked at him before looking at Vali as they started to walk again, "So Puppy, find anyone interesting on your little trip so far? Ya know, flirt with anyone? Maybe even go on a date?"

Stiffening at that, Lance glared at Karen before glancing at Vali as she shook her head, "Nope. I'm pretty much focused on the boys after all. I've been busy helping them train," He smirked a bit, "Though I'm pretty sure one of the guys that were at the ice cream shop were flirting with me...I think."

Eyebrow twitching as Karen snickered, Lance decided to tune out their conversation. He definitely needed to talk with Steven about confessing to Vali and soon because this wasn't not going to do at all.