Lesson 28: I spy with my little eye

Understanding both Marron and Cheshire became easier every day. To the point I could no longer imagine myself being unable to comprehend Pokémon speech. They were capable of much more than just their names. Marron was a fluent user of sarcasm. The tiny serpent was always the first to offer his own unique opinion, his remarks often direct but nonetheless true.

Cheshire was the subtle one, he observed before acting and chose to hide his feelings until prompted otherwise.
Raisa was bright, quick to react like the electric type she was. We hadn't been together long enough to reach the understanding I had with my other two Pokémon but we were getting there.

Living side by side with these creatures proved to be more interesting than I had ever imagined. They too seemed to be puzzled by my own character traits. During a game of poker Marron had managed to expose me when I was bluffing not once but every single time. I didn't scratch my nose, or twitch my eye like Bianca did occasionally, no my bluff could be detected by looking at my shoulders, at least that's what Marron implied, if he's bluffing or yanking my chain I'm afraid I'll never be able to tell. He has the best pokerface I've ever seen in my life.

According to Cheshire I start reading my magazines from back to front, and I pull at least ten different faces while reading a single page.
Last but not least Raisa claims I talk during my sleep and once had a very interesting conversation with her about which taste better: apples or carrots.

Diagnosis: I'm a very strange person, who sucks at poker, reads books backwards, pulls a lot of faces and likes to have conversations about food. Marvelous.

You haven't told them? Marron asked as I made my way to the museum for my daily visit.

"I'll never hear the end of it." I hissed back at the Pokémon, shooing him from the top of my head so I could remove my cap. "Cheren will lecture me, Bianca will worry and after I died from their nagging my mother would ground my corpse for life…or death…or whatever."

Stuffing the white and pink hat inside my backpack, I pulled my long hair free, allowing it to fall loosely over my shoulders and back. The perfect disguise. "It's grown again. Have to trim it very soon." I muttered to myself before removing my sleeveless black vest and replacing it with a baggy grey sweater.

Should I decorate myself with some plants? Roll around in the mud and bark like a Lillipup?

I laughed and raised a brow, "Why would a Lillipup be covered in mud? That doesn't make sense ."

All that hair doesn't make sense to me. He hissed in reply, sneezing delicately when a long strand of my own hair tickled his nose during his descent from my head to my shoulders. Scales are much more….he hesitated and decided to go for handsome.

"Hmm… the shedding doesn't make much sense to me. No offence buddy." I said nodding politely at the receptionist sitting behind the counter.

Don't do that! What if she recognizes us? Marron hissed as he grabbed my head and turned it away from the museum staff.

"Stop your hissing it's very suspicious. And for your information, that last receptionist, the cow who gave my picture to security had red hair." I whispered through clenched teeth, "No wonder I got banned from the museum, you are acting as if you're about to stuff a fossil inside my backpack any minute now."

Yes and you taking pictures while standing next to a sign that says: No Pictures, had nothing to do with it. And you just had to touch that black stone didn't you?

"In my defense you were just as surprised as I was when that blackout occurred! You saw it, I just touched it, very innocent, no harm done." I replied, clearing my throat when a few people eyed me questioningly. They probably thought I was crazy for bantering with a Pokémon like that.

We walked past a group of tourists who were busy listening to one of the curators of the museum. He wore a white lab coat which reminded me of professor Juniper, behind him stood the remains of a Pokémon named Armaldo, apparently it
had gone extinct for hundreds of years.

You have to admit, Marron continued not bothered by the looks we were getting, that it was a rather odd coincidence.

I pondered on this as I took a turn and walked past ancient Pokémon sculptures, I had been postponing my rematch with Lenora despite what I said to my friends. Somehow that black stone kept bugging me, I could almost feel its presence buzzing in the back of my skull. Too deep in thought I didn't hear it when Marron started hissing warningly.

Hey Ashe. Snap out of it. Hellooooo? Come on where are the brakes on this thing! He hissed while tugging my hair as if they were reigns to pull me back.

Bumping into something massive –I really hoped it wasn't some antique relic – Marron flew headfirst from my shoulder. The person I had walked into was carrying a Pokémon with him too for I suddenly found myself catching a small black furred Pokémon.

Lemme go, lemme go you stupid human! You do as I say this very second or I swear I'll -

"Oh crap, I'm so sorry!" I panicked doing the only thing that popped into my mind which was dropping the wriggling Pokémon to the polished wooden floor. The fox came down with a loud thud."Oh no I didn't mean to do that either! I mean I heard of Pokémon trading – ahaha – but this is just…errr… taking it a bit too literally " Scratching the back of my neck I laughed stupidly. The boy I ran into mumbled something waving with a very pissed looking Marron.

She dropped me! N did you see what she did? Can't believe that violent woman dropped me! Zero growled angrily his fur bristling with anger.

Quit your yapping for Reshiram's sake. Marron snapped.

Wait a minute. N? I stopped my rambling and looked all the way up. Tousled tea green hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. Yep, definitely N. Should've realized after catching a Zorua… stupid brain…

Excuse me? Wanna say that again you dumb purse

"Hush Zero." N spoke handing me Marron who hung in his hands without even struggling, slender green arms crossed over his chest.

"Oh…thanks N." I said as I took my Pokémon from his hands, refraining from touching his skin.

He froze, green eyes narrowed. "You know me?"

I frowned, had our collision rattled his brain or something, he'd seen me only a week ago?

"Errr… N? It's me, Ashe? Ashe White" I whispered hoping that my full name might ring a bell, seriously how many girls did the guy know, was it that difficult to even remember my name? "I tackled you once…not that it matters."

He doesn't recognize you with that hood on dummy. Marron suggested helpfully yanking my hood off with his vine whip.

The green haired teen sprung back as if shocked by an electric type. "A-Ashe?" he gasped pointing an accusing finger in my direction nearly stepping on his Zorua's tail during his retreat. It was kinda funny.

I smirked. "Guilty as charged, but please don't yell my name like that."

Fiddling with the strange bracelets around his wrist, N opened his mouth, closed it again and started staring at me.

He's a weird one isn't he. Very jumpy, heart rate is going through the roof right now.

"Why am I not allowed to say your name?" N asked hesitantly, "It's a pretty name, I like it. Ashe Wh—hmmp!"

"Shhhh." I hissed using my free hand which wasn't covering his mouth to bring my index finger to my lips. N's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates, a faint pink colour flooded his face and for a I second I worried I was choking him. Sitting by his feet Zorua started barking angrily until an amused Marron copied my move on him.

"Just don't say it right now."

His brow furrowed, wordlessly asking me to explain myself. Searching my mind I decided to appeal to the childish side of his personality. It wouldn't be hard, the guy was an overgrown kid anyway.

"I'm playing a game." I said, laughing inwardly when his eyes gained an intrigued sparkle, it made him look oddly cute.

"I'm an uh…detective right now, so people can't know my name. You get that?" I asked, waiting for him to nod before removing my hand. He scrutinized our surroundings with a serious look before bending closer, "If I can't use your name then what should I call you?" he whispered already completely wrapped up by our "game".

Marron pulled a pained face, the snake was just dying to say something. Thank the legendary Pokémon I had decided to keep Cheshire in his Pokéball, the feline would have a field day. I stifled a giggle. "Sherlock Holmes of course. And since you are my accomplice that would make you Watson."

"Sherlock Holmes is a boy's name."

"Yeah so? My real name is kinda boyish too."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Don't try my patience Watson." I joked giving N a retaliatory elbow in the ribs.

"Outch! Ashe, that hurt!"

The last thing I saw was a silently cursing N plastering his hands over his mouth again. Only seconds afterwards the museum became pitch black and an alarm started wailing.

"Oh no! no no no no no!" N panicked covering his ears, "Forget I said that! I didn't mean it!"

A very familiar and very agitated Watchog sprinted past me, it's stripes alight with a fierce glow that hurt my eyes. Lenora came running after it, her frizzy hair even more wild looking.

"What the hell?" I gasped moving towards the agitated gym leader who grasped my shoulder tightly.

"Lenora, what happened?" I asked raising my voice to make myself heard above the blaring alarms and panicking visitors.

"Robery. Thieves." She replied, barking some instructions at a few staff members. "It's that blasted Team Plasma again. They stole the skull of our Dragonite fossil. It's a complete skeleton, do you know how rare that is? I warned the security team about them, but no they were more worried about visitors taking pictures. IF I GET MY HANDS ON THOSE THIEVES!"

At the sound of Team Plasma I promptly returned Marron to his Pokéball, not taking any risks. "You better do the same." I told N who stood there, his face oddly calm.

"What can we do?" I asked unaware of Zorua's snort when I said 'we'.

"They can't be that far. The skull nearly weighs two hundred pounds ,when we procured it a bunch of Machamp had to haul it in. So that leaves them with two options. Return to Accumula City or Pinwheel Forest. I truly suspect they did the latter. The forest is huge, and provides cover."

"Then I'll go and look for them there." I said, heart beating rapidly with excitement. My detective game had become reality.

"I will inform the police, and contact Burgh, he knows that place better than anyone." Her dark eyes moved towards N and stayed fixed on him, "Be careful Ashe, those Plasma people won't hesitate to hurt you." She said before running of.

"Well Watson…you up for an adventure?" I asked turning towards the tall teen with my hand on my hips.

Exchanging a glance with the snickering fox at his feet the tall teenager seemed to hesitate. "Ashe.." He started once again using my name, "I have to tell you something, you see I...My father... he's..."

"Aw come on N, you are way too old to be worrying about your parents." I said cutting him short, "You wanted to be friends right?"

Now that caught his attention.

Cheeks tinged pink the teen started babbling at a rapid speed, the words kept tumbling over each other, the guy just kept talking and talking, assumingly never pausing to catch his breath. I managed to grasp the main message though. N truly wanted to be my friend, if he understood what it meant to have a human friend anyway. Maybe my ears were playing tricks on me but I could have sworn I heard the words "Pretty" and "Kind like you a lot".

"Okay as your friend -" a dazzling smile appeared on his face when I called him that, "I am telling you to trust me on this and asking you for help."

Hi guys! Worked really hard to add yet another chapter! hope you like it. As always I would really appreciate reviews and a visit on my fictionpress profile(!)

~adsini