Midsummer Nights
By Trish.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or Puck or anything by William Shakespeare. I do own the storyline, characters such as Lu, Flory, Callie, Poppy, Poptart. Chapter Theme Song – Behind These Hazel Eyes, Kelly Clarkson.
ooo
Chapter Twenty: Barely Hanging On
Trish completely froze at the sight of the attacking Pokémon. This was her nightmare come to life, after the Absol stalked her, it would leap for her with fangs gleaming. Not only that, but it brought back terrifying memories of the Hound.
So far, she had managed to suppress them, locking them in the farthest recesses of her mind. But now it all came flooding back, filling her with terror as she remembered the desperate dash for life across the moors. The final moments as she realised she was cornered and as the hellish hound was leaping for her throat.
As if reliving that night, she felt her lungs start to seize up and the chest start to tighten like a vice. The familiar warning signs of an asthma attack. Not again…
A sudden bright light filled her vision, blocking out the sight of the Hound leaping for her. Then Ash was there, holding her hand, and talking to her. She closed her eyes and heard a crack of thunder, and realised that Pikachu was using electric attacks against the threat.
The threat. Her best friend.
Jenn...Why?
:She is not herself: a calm voice flooded her mind and soothed her. Trish could feel the vice grip loosening and her lungs filled with oxygen. :Be calm, Trish, and Ash will fix this.:
Trish opened her eyes to see Espeon sitting at the foot of her bed, but it was the sight of the Absol backed into a corner by Pikachu and Charizard that struck her. Where had the dragon come from?
"I never leave home without him," Ash winked reassuringly at her, and Trish realised she must've spoken out loud. The Grand Master was still at her bedside, and for a moment Trish was taken aback by his humour before realising that it was a façade to keep her calm.
"What's wrong with her?" Trish's eyes filled with tears. "What happened?"
"I don't know, it's like she reverted like she did for the battle," Ash looked frustrated, "but we're not battling!"
The Australian blinked. "Reverted? What do you mean…?"
Just then the Absol directed an Ice Attack at Charizard, and thick ice formed around the big dragon's hind legs. The dragon rumbled and Pikachu readied another electric attack.
"Ash, that's not wise," Trish said quickly, blinking away the tears, "There's too much electrical equipment. She could short everything out!"
"Pikachu, no more electricity!" Ash called out, "Iron Tail!"
The little mouse complied and redirected the electricity into energy for an iron tail attack. Leaping into the air, the yellow mouse flipped and spun, aiming a suddenly iron hard tail straight at the Absol.
The Absol countered by hardening its scythe and using it to offset Pikachu's attack. It was like swordplay, and the two bounced off of each other. Charizard aimed a Flamethrower attack at the Absol, but a sudden green glow surrounded her and deflected the fire. Most of the flames died out, but a garbage can beside the Absol ignited.
"Did you see that!" Ash exclaimed, watching Charizard free itself from the ice. The Absol ran at the Charizard, and the dragon spun around, slamming the Absol with its thick flame tipped tail. The force sent the Absol flying towards one of the large glass pane windows.
"No! Jenn!" Trish exclaimed, knowing her friend was still in there. She went to ask Espeon to telekinetically grab the Absol, but the feral creature had another plan in mind. It used a Flamethrower to heat the glass, and the intensity of the heat shattered the glass seconds before the Absol went right through it.
Ash ran for the broken window, with Pikachu and Charizard behind him. He leaned carefully out the now open window, right in time to see the Absol vanish in a gleam of green sparks, while the glass rained down harmlessly into a stand of shrubbery. "Lu," the Grand Master breathed out, then his brow furrowed, "Jenn."
He turned around to see Espeon using a telekinetic grip to extinguish the flames. Smoke lingered from the scorched trash can, which had papers in it, and the wind from the open window whipped his hair around. Mahogany eyes settled on Trish, who was pale with fear.
"It was Lu, wasn't it?" Her softly asked question hung in the air.
Ash nodded, watching as Pikachu leapt onto the bed. He recalled Charizard, who looked smug at the hit he delivered. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say he had that planned all along. Maybe as a Plan B if Gary failed to win against us, or if…"
"Don't hold back, Ash," Trish said when the Grand Master fell silent. "What is it?"
He shrugged, "I was going to say, if Rudy failed, but I can't really say that I've even seen him at all these past few weeks."
"It's safer for him," Trish glared at the burnt garbage can. "If I see him ever again, he will be history."
"I'd better go. Do you want me to leave Pik with you?"
"So soon?"
"The others have to know about this, especially Puck and Callie."
Trish smiled weakly, "I'll be okay with Espeon here. I'm just…tired."
"Pik, you stay with Trish. Talk with Espeon if you need to communicate with Trish," Ash said gently, but firmly. No arguing would be allowed. He ran a hand through his thick hair. "This was completely unexpected. I don't even know where to start."
"You're not the only one at a loss," Trish reminded him. "My best friend just tried to kill me. I can't get over that." She sat up in her bed and clutched Espeon close to her.
Ash aimed Charizard's Poké Ball out the broken window, releasing the Pokémon with a no ground warning. The orange dragon flapped large wings and waited for Ash. "I'll send Drake over. Try to
stay calm, okay? I don't think Lu will try anything, but Pikachu and Espeon will guard you very well."
Trish watched the Grand Master leap out of the window onto Charizard's back. The two flew off and for a while Trish just stared at the sky through the broken window. The vertical blinds fluttered in the wind, which gusted periodically. Trish frowned, "Why hasn't anyone come to see what all the noise was about?"
:That's my fault: Espeon said sheepishly, :I set a barrier around the room just in case a hole was made in the wall. I didn't want Jenn to escape. I didn't think she'd escape through a window seven storeys up.:
"None of us did," Trish gripped Espeon closely and cried into the Psychic Pokémon's fur. Pikachu patted Trish's arm consolingly, as the door opened and a shocked Chansey walked in, then ran back out for a supervisor nurse.
ooo
"Now this is a surprising development," Lu purred as he watched his observation orb. "One I couldn't have planned better if I tried."
"What's that?" Rudy stepped closer to the orb, but saw nothing as the orb was created for Lu's eyes alone.
"Much as I thought, Gary Oak lost the battle," The evil Fae smirked, "Not only that, he is about to lose his position in the League and just about everything he has worked so very hard for. It is indeed a luscious thing, the taste of human despair."
"Hello, humans present," Rudy griped.
"At least one of you are human," Lu walked over to a large cage set against an outcropping in a back corner of the cave. "You, however, are not human, and you are not Absol. I created you. You are nothing without me."
"Actually, I'm the one that's going to kick your ass," Jenn growled at Lu, "I…"
"You are the one that just tried to kill your friend," Lu said with a gentleness that was belied by the emotionless gaze of his emerald green eyes. "I do not think that they will be too forgiving to you this time."
"…This time?"
"Of course," Lu showed Jenn a viewing orb, which showed an Absol jumping up at Drake with teeth bared. The Orange Crew Leader was trying to shove the Absol down, and the Absol knocked the dark-haired man down. "Now do you remember?" The orb winked out of existence as the Absol's teeth descended over Drake's throat. "He's still in the hospital even now and in a very serious condition. Trish will never forgive you for that."
Blue eyes were wide, "No…I would have remembered something like that, and I remember that day. I jumped up on him and knocked him down, but it was play…"
"Silly Mortal, you cannot possibly think that is a real memory," Lu said in a pitying tone. Rudy came up behind Lu and the Fae caught sight of confusion on the mortal's face. Tapping into the human's thoughts, Lu could hear them clearly.
But that's not true, Jenn hasn't hurt anyone yet. A mental snicker. Except for Gary's career. I wonder if I can transfer to his gym and take over as Gym Leader…
:Do not be more foolish than is necessary, Rudy: Lu spoke curtly, :Simply aide me in feeding these lies to Jenn. It will make it easier to bury her human consciousness beneath the feral one. Then we can use her to take down the mortals one by one.:
:Not Trish:
Lu held back an eye roll, one of the habits he had picked up from his time on the mortal plane, :No, she is fundamental to hurting Mia, which shall hurt Puck, but the others are expendable.:
:Can I have Jenn? To humiliate her further? Please:
Lu did roll his eyes then, and waved his hand, :Fine, once I have her under complete control, you may humiliate her the way you do your own Pokémon.:
:Alright! Hey…:
But Lucius ignored the foolish mortal, for Jenn was belly down in the cage, her eye colour shimmering blue and red. He walked slowly closer, "That's it, mortal, just slip into the darkness. Let it hold you, let it punish you for your crimes against your friends. You are the one to bring the most harm against them. Not even I have done things as heinous as you have."
"What are you talking about?" The tone was sullen, but her head was still resting on her outstretched front paws. "I know I haven't hurt anyone."
"So tearing out Drake's throat does not count?" Lu murmured, "And…sending Trish into an asthmatic fit means nothing to you? She's in a coma, once again, due to you…"
"YOU LIE!" Jenn surged to her feet and loosened an enormous Fire Blast at Lu, who was a hands breath from the steel bars.
From her point of view, the large Fae was about to be engulfed in the flames, flames that danced as hot as the anger that burned in her stomach. It shocked her when the flames vanished as soon as they touched the bars. "What?"
"I know of the enhancements Puck gave you," Lu cocked his head. "Did you think I would not prepare for those? Your confinement is also enhanced with a magical field that neutralizes any effort of yours. And please, do not try calling for Puck. This whole cave has been reinforced against his magic."
He watched as she reached one large paw towards the bars, only to jerk it back when she was shocked. "Oh, did I also neglect to inform you that the bars are reinforced against physical actions? Silly me."
It was with great pleasure that he watched the former blonde sink to the ground. "That's right, surrender to the dark. I know that it calls to you, begs you to fall to it. Sleep is all it wants. I promise you, it shall not hurt."
"But I don't want to give up." A whimper escaped her throat, "I just won that match…"
Lu shook his head, "You did not win, your feral side won. Ash won. You did not win, and if not for that feral side, you would have lost. In a sense, you lost as completely as Gary did."
"Ash…"
Lu resisted a grin, watching instead as her eye colour mixed to a purple hue, "Ash has Misty, has Pikachu, has the whole League. What would he want with a mongrel like yourself? If you had suppressed your feral side, you would have lost the match. You would have disappointed him so deeply." Lu paused, "In fact, since it was your feral side that won, you did lose and Ash is disappointed in you. After all, it is only your feral side that he was impressed with."
Red tinged a great deal of the purple, which faded in spots to a sapphire blue, and Lu pressed on, feeding the blonde lie upon lie. It was showing a viewing orb of recent events that seemed to be the last straw. The only twist that Lu added was showing a flat-lining heart monitor, as a result of the critical shock of an asthma attack brought on by an attacking Absol.
Eyelids shut over red eyes in a faint, and Lu stood up, pleased with his handiwork. He threw a Poké Ball at Rudy, who barely caught it.
"What's this for?" The Trovitian grumbled.
"You wanted to humiliate her," Lu said loftily, "Have at it."
"You mean you…" Rudy whooped, "I can't believe it! The Ice Bitch is down and out!"
Lu smirked, and opened his mouth to say something when the cave was suddenly rocked by a quake. The two stumbled to hold their footing, and Rudy fell, dropping the Poké Ball. The red and white sphere rolled towards the cage.
"Fool! Grab that thing!" Lu roared as another tremor rocked the cave. "This is the last time I locate on a remote island!"
"What's going on!"
"It's those damned Faes," Lu snapped out, "Puck and Callie!"
"Actually, it's just me," A demure female voice rang out. Lilac sparkles announced Callie's arrival into the cavern. The chestnut-haired beauty looked around, and her gossamer gown shimmered. "Sorry I was late. My, Lucius, this is quite rustic for you."
"Is there not a volcano you can leap into, Calliope?" Lu ground out.
"No, not really," Callie said lightly, "But I will take my brother's mortal friend from you."
"I would love to see you try," Lucius said, then, as telepathy would be ineffective since Callie was highly trained in it, he yelled at Rudy, "Do it now, Mortal! There will be no second chances!"
Rudy leapt for the Poké Ball, which was in front of the cage.
"No!" Callie cried out, and flicked her hands, which caused the ground to rumble and shake. The red and white sphere started to roll away, but Rudy, who had regained his footing to run for it, tripped and fell, and his hand smacked off of the ball.
It rose into the air, through the bars, and hit off of Jenn's unconscious form. The act of being formed into red energy sent an adrenalin rush through the ex-blonde, and Jenn surfaced for a second, thinking, :Calliebefore everything went dark for her.
Lu roared with laughter as Rudy stood up, clutching the minimized Poké Ball. "Calliope, you have lost!"
Callie had paled and took a step back, but now she glared and said, "I think not, Lucius." She held out a hand, "To me, Poké Ball!" A lilac glow surrounded the Poké Ball in Rudy's clenched fist, and it reappeared in her open palm.
With a saucy wink, the female Fae waved her fingers at the two, "See you later, Lulu!" And with that she vanished.
For a couple of moments, the two stood there, dumbstruck. Then Lu screamed out his rage.
ooo
"So, one more time, because I really don't get it," Chris said, "Exactly what happened?"
"You're so cute when you act like you're silly," Callie chirped, then took a deep breath. She missed Jaime snickering at Chris, who glared at the young Canadian. "Lu told Jenn a bunch of lies, showed her a bunch of false images, and basically got her to believe that she killed Trish and tore out Drake's throat. Any questions?"
Drake, who was sitting in the back of the entertainment room of his large villa, gulped and rubbed at his throat. "I remember that day and she didn't even get near my throat."
"But I guess that's not what Lu got her to believe," Shannon said, rubbing at her temples.
"What happens next?" Chris asked. "I'm guessing we don't tell Trish about this."
"No, I think we should," a new voice broke in.
"Ash!" Callie ran over to the doorway of the entertainment room to greet the newcomer with a hug, much to Chris's chagrin. "I am so glad to see you, Chosen One. We need you very much."
"Yeah, I heard as I walked down the hallway," Ash grimaced, "This is quite a mess."
"You reached her once," Callie handed him a Poké Ball. "Do you think you can do it once more?"
Ash took a deep breath and looked at the Poké Ball. " I sure hope so."
ooo
Later that night, Ash sat on the veranda at his rental villa. He'd sent Misty to be with the others while he tried his best to reach Jenn. He sat on a comfortable chaise lounge and leaned back into the fluffy cushions. The view of the ocean beyond was comforting, and the darkness was enveloping and calming.
High above, the moon was a thin crescent sliver. That was good, as too much light would decrease the chance of him reaching her. Though it had been a well lit night when he first tried this, at the time Jenn hadn't been lied into a feral oblivion.
He would also have a hard time getting through the restraints of the Poké Ball. Though the fields on the spheres generally kept the Pokémon inside calm, this wasn't truly a normal Poké Ball, as it was Lu's creation, though presently Jenn was pretty much a normal Pokémon. Callie had already removed any traces of Lucius's magic, but the rest was up to him. He had to prepare the rest of the day and well into the night, as Callie had given the Poké Ball to him early this morning, in order to calm his own nerves and focus his thoughts.
It was a lot like preparing for a battle, though it was a first for him to have to battle against a friend. It was a one on one battle. A battle of the minds. If they were still friends, Gary would have said it was a lost battle, as neither one were an intellectual match for the Great Gary Oak.
A flash feeling of guilt crossed him, but Ash banished it quickly. Gary was a whole different subject that he had to deal with by the end of the week. For now, Gary would have to wait.
With the ocean gently lapping the sandy beach beyond, Ash held the Poké Ball in his hands. He concentrated and felt the palms of his hands heat up around the sphere. Almost uncomfortably hot, the heat brought small beads of sweat to his forehead. Though his eyes were closed, Ash knew that his hands had separated and that the Poké Ball was hovering between them, held up only by the power of his mind, a power granted to him due to his destiny of being the Chosen One.
In his mind's eye, he could first see the night sky, then the ocean, then his own body lying on the chaise lounge with the Poké Ball being held suspended between his outstretched hands. Then his consciousness dove into the red and white sphere. The normal restraints on a normal Poké Ball were missing. That made things a little easier.
Once inside, he was surprised at the totality of the darkness that was contained in the ball. Usually there was a glimmering light that represented the resident Pokémon's type. Green for grass, red for fire, lilac for psychic, and a shade of black for the dark Pokémon.
This, however, was not a normal black hue. The shade of black he saw was an all encompassing velvet black that sucked at his core. He ignored the darkness, focusing instead on the power of the love he felt for his family and friends, and was able to find the small pinpoint of light that was Jenn.
He willed himself to that pinpoint and, on using his own energy to light the area, found Jenn, the human Jenn, lying on the ground and curled up in as tight a ball as she could manage. Ash shivered, as the 'air' was extremely cold. Jenn was dressed as he'd last seen her in shorts and a tank top, but her blonde hair was long and loose and covered her face.
"Jenn?" He saw her flinch away from the sound of his voice, and when he spoke he could see his breath. "Come on, I'm taking you home."
"I can't." The voice was small, pathetic sounding, and Ash steeled himself as the temperature felt like it plummeted ten degrees with her words. "I killed them. I saw it."
"No, you didn't," Ash countered, walking closer and crouching near her. "Come on, now…" He reached for her, but when he touched her bare arm, a green glow surrounded her and flung him back.
The light went with him, and darkness drifted around the blonde like a thick fog. "No you don't," Ash grumbled and stalked back, driving away the fog. He thought to call Puck or Callie, but decided instead to simply use his own powers as the Chosen One.
He gripped Jenn by her arm and forced her to sit up. Lu's hold, as that is what the green hue that surrounded her represented, struggled to force him back, but Ash used both his Chosen One powers and his own natural stubbornness to counter Lu. With a thunderous snapping noise, the emerald green field around the blonde shorted out and vanished.
Jenn slumped against him, and he cradled her in his lap. Brushing her hair out of her eyes, he gently slapped at her cheeks. She winced and squeezed her eyes, then opened them. Ash sighed in relief at the pure blue shade that he saw. She blinked and looked around. Her gaze bore up at him and in a fatigued voice, she said, "We should do this again some time."
Ash laughed half-heartedly, "Let's not, okay?"
"It's arctic here," she shivered, "Can we leave now?"
He nodded, "I'm going to vanish, but I promise, you'll be in warmth real soon."
Though reluctant to leave, he did. Returning to his own body was a light-headed experience, almost dizzying. He opened his eyes, feeling the warm humid night air on his cold arms. The Poké Ball dropped into his lap and he grabbed it.
No sooner did he touch it, when it opened of its own accord, and a white flash of light revealed Absol Jenn standing there with her head lowered and her eyes shut. For a moment, she was very quiet, then raised her head and opened blue eyes. "Can we find Puck now?"
With a barely suppressed cry of relief, Ash nodded, "Yeah. I know he's hanging around waiting to see if I was successful or not."
"I'm glad to say you were, but I want to be me again."
"Puck!" Ash called out. "I've got a little project for you."
The chestnut-haired Fae shimmered into existence, walking towards them onto the veranda. "I am so relieved you were triumphant, Chosen One."
"A little formal, aren't we, Puck?" Jenn sighed. "The heck, I don't really care. Please tell me you have the cure."
Puck exchanged looks with Ash, who nodded. "Alright, though you have to eat the flower."
"Make it look like a taco and I won't care what it is."
Puck shrugged, "Whatever milady wishes." The slender Fae held out his hands and murmured something in his native tongue. The melodic words seemed to glisten along his arms like water, down to his hands, and a plate materialized onto his outstretched hands, and a soft rolled taco appeared on the plate.
"I forgot I don't have fingers," she sounded distressed. "Uh…"
"Let me," Ash said, picking up the taco, which glimmered and sparkled like a living thing. "Here you go," he offered it to her, "Never tell me I don't give you anything."
"Wiseass," she muttered, before snatching the taco out of his hands and wolfing it down. "Delicious, Puck, I…" Words trailed off as she gasped and sank to the ground.
Ash looked up at Puck, whose brow was furrowed in concentration. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"Nothing I can't handle," Puck gritted his teeth, "But it would be helpful if Callie should help."
"Callie!" Ash called out, "Can you…"
The lithe Fae appeared in an instant, not even bothering with her usual flashy entrance, "I could sense your distress, little Bro. Let me help."
The two Faes stood side by side, shining with power. Ash looked away as Jenn was enveloped in a white glow, almost like an evolution glow, and though he wondered what an Absol could evolve into, he could only hope Jenn would be okay.
The glow faded and Callie crouched down, conjuring a lilac coloured blanket as she descended. "I'll take it from here, boys." In a flash, she vanished, taking the blanket covered Jenn with her.
"Think she'll be okay?" Ash asked out loud. "Jenn, I mean. Do you think…"
"I can wholly promise she has no paws or fur," Puck said dryly, "Though it would make for a great practical joke." His words were jovial, but it was obvious that the spell had taken a lot from the prankster.
"And no red eyes?" Ash joked.
"Not on my watch," Puck sighed, "At least, not any more."
"Have you seen Trish?" Ash changed the subject. "I left Pik with her…"
"I have," Puck nodded, "Drake felt that his beloved would be safer at his villa, and she was moved there under strict hospital rules. It seems they feel she may recover quicker in familiar surroundings."
"They allowed that?" He paused, "What about the room she had been in?"
"Espeon clouded their minds with a false story about wind gusts."
"Even though the glass was blown out and not in?" Ash asked wryly.
"She's good," Puck grinned, "The hospital set up some medical equipment, but not a whole lot."
"It might be safer for Trish to be there, especially with the arsenal of Pokémon Drake has around the villa." Ash scratched at his arm. "Is she doing better though? Medically, I mean."
"I believe she is doing far better than she knows," Puck brushed a strand of hair from his eyes. "But I think she thinks she isn't doing well, and that is what is holding her back from a full recovery. Does that make sense, Chosen One?"
"Well enough," Ash said, feeling a little uncomfortable at the title. "Now that Jenn's back to normal, maybe we can focus more on Lu. What he attempted today is unforgivable."
"What he attempted today was nothing more than a bitter attempt at revenge."
"He'll pay for it, for all of it," Ash said, gripping the railing and staring out at the darkness that was the ocean. "But for now, we rest and regroup. We can all use some sleep." He turned to the Fae. "Make sure everyone, but especially Jenn and Trish, get some deep sleep."
"Yes, Chosen," Puck grinned. "That will be simple."
ooo
The morning rays hit Jenn in the face and she groggily opened her eyes. With what had become a morning ritual, she woke by stretching her limbs, but it felt wrong this morning. She paused and gave a little shriek when she saw that hands were on the end of her arms, not paws. Sitting up quickly to inspect herself, the American was delighted to see skin, hands, arms, legs, feet, and shoulder-length blonde hair softly framing her face. Everything was as it should be.
"But the skin, too much skin showing," Jenn remarked at her complete lack of clothing. She managed to grab a nearby blanket, which was purple, as big as a comforter, and thick but cloud soft. She was able to wrap it around her just as Shannon stuck her head around the bedroom door.
"You're awake!" she smiled.
From her place on the bed, where she was sitting with her legs tucked underneath, Jenn beamed. "And human! I'm back, bay-bee, yeah!" Another head poked around the door, and this time it was Ash's.
"You're okay!" he grinned before rushing over and pulled a shocked Jenn in a tight hug. "I was so worried!"
The blonde relaxed her wide eyes and hugged him back, enjoying the feel of his strong arms around her. She always felt safe around him for some reason. 'Duh, J, that would be because he's rescued you a few times. Not to mention that you've been really close to him these past few weeks,' a little voice in her head said. It was funny how that little rebuking voice sounded a bit like her best friend at times. 'Well, unlike you, she is the smarter half.'
The thought of Trish brought back a flood of memories, especially of what happened last night. The blonde shuddered to think that she had actually attacked her best friend while in Pokémon form.
How could she have done such a thing? Especially when she knew how the ordeal with that Puppy from Hell had totally trashed her Australian friend's physical and mental health. And it is my fault, this whole damn thing! I shouldn't have chased after Gary. And even after Lu did what he did to me, I should've known that anything vaguely dog looking would send Trish right back bon voyage on the Coma Cruise.
Jenn leant her head on Ash's shoulder while the realisation washed over her like an icy cold ocean wave. The attack, especially the way Jenn remembered it, would not only have brought back paralysing memories of the pathetic puppy, but would also have been Trish's nightmare come to life. Trish had confessed to Jenn and the others that she'd been plagued by nightmares of Absols since Lu's attack, and had been utterly petrified when Jenn first appeared in Absol form.
The blonde fervently hoped that her best friend was alright. What if Lu was telling the truth about what happened? She pulled back a bit and Ash let go of her and sat beside her on the bed while Shannon pulled up a chair.
Could that redheaded jerk have been right about what I had done? The two people she really wanted to see, weren't there to put her mind at ease. Ash was totally great for hugging and comfort, but she had to be utterly certain that her friend and her boyfriend were okay. Hopefully Drake is at the hospital at Trish's bedside, and not in intensive care with his throat shredded. Of course it's not all that polite to hope someone is in the hospital, but it's better than the morgue. Hopefully, Trish is okay and not in a coma. Oh please be okay and bitching about how nasty and tar-like the coffee tastes.
She was more worried about Trish, for she felt confident that she had not harmed Drake that day. Trish, on the other hand, was in no condition to suffer another massive shock to her system. Could Jenn's attack have brought on another massive asthma attack, one that her friend might never recover from?
After a few minutes, she spoke up quietly. "Can I ask how Drake and Trish are this morning?"
"Drake's with Trish," Shannon informed her. "Trish suffered a bit of a setback last night…"
"So it is true!" the blonde cried out, interrupting the younger girl in mid-sentence. "That bastard was right! I did hurt Trish! Oh, someone suck me into a Poké Ball and wrap it in cement and drop it into the deepest part of the ocean!"
"Hang on," Shannon glared at her slightly. "For one thing, you can't fit into a Poké Ball anymore. And for another thing, didn't you hear me say 'a bit'?"
Jenn was about to reply when Ash put a hand on her arm. "Shan's right, you know. Trish did suffer a slight asthma attack last night as a result of the fright she got, but she's gonna be okay."
"Yeah, but it was my actions that put her back in that condition!" Jenn whined, then clamped one hand over her mouth, "I am far too used to whining like that." She clutched the blanket closer around herself.
Ash smiled gently at the blonde, "Espeon was there, remember? She quickly helped Trish get things back under control. She's just feeling very seedy at the moment."
"But Lu said…" the blonde looked down at the hand that wasn't clutching at the blanket. She clenched it into a fist. "I know it was real. I remember leaping at the bed, and being hit by Pikachu and Charizard."
The Grand Master gently lifted her chin so that she was looking into his dark eyes. "Listen to me, Jenn. Some things were true about the attack, but the important thing is that most were lies. Lu told you a line of bull a Tauros would blush at. He told you lies to get you to fall under his spell and complete your transformation into a pure Absol. You have not harmed either Trish or Drake."
"Really?" Jenn whispered. She desperately wanted to believe him, but Lu's words and images had been so life-like.
"Lu told you lies. It's what he does. He's evil," Ash repeated gently but firmly. "Trish and Drake are fine, and I should know because I was there on both occasions. You never mauled either of them. You did more damage to the hospital window than to anyone or anything." He then glanced over at Shannon. "In fact, after breakfast, how about we take you to see them for yourself?"
"Yeah, okay," Jenn paused, "You might be okay with this, but I need some privacy here, Satochu."
Ash's eyes widened in confusion, then he flushed. "Right, the blanket, which if it was like me, means there are no clothes under there. Uh, okay. I really should call and see how Mandy…er, Misty is, " Hastily, he stood, walked towards the door, stumbling over a black high heel. "I'll, ah, see you later."
The door closed behind him, and the two girls looked at each other before laughing.
ooo
I don't want to know. Jenn sighed. This is either going to be painful or embarrassing.
Oh, yes, you do want to know. A voice rang out clearly and haughtily.
Jenn groaned into her orange juice. She was arguing with her conscience about whether she should go ahead with visiting her best friend or not.
Shannon looked at her, "What's wrong?"
Yes, tell her how you were fighting with yourself, the voice snickered.
"Puhleze, like I've been able to drink orange juice lately?" Jenn covered jokingly, "It's so much better than I remembered."
"You don't want anything else for breakfast?" Shannon shrugged when Jenn shook her head no, "Okay, um, we'll go see her in…ten minutes good for you?"
Jenn set her glass on the table and stood up. Dressed in a pair of shorts and a tank top, the blonde ran a hand through her hair, "Yeah sounds good. Tell ol' Drakey to have the limo waiting."
"The limo?"
"Okay, fine, the Hummer will do if the limo's in the shop," Jenn walked out of the kitchen, muttering about how fortunate Trish was to snag such a piece of hotness.
"She doesn't know?" Ash walked into the breakfast room with a cup of coffee. He sat across from Shannon, in the chair Jenn just vacated.
"Nope," Shannon shook her head, "and I didn't get a chance to even try to tell her."
"I know this villa is huge, but tell me that wasn't the direction Trish's room is at."
"Nah," Shannon waved her hand, "It's in the opposite direction, by Drake's. Trish didn't want Jenn's room close to the one Drake has, what with her little pinchy phase."
Ash winced, "I remember that. I am ever so glad she worked out of that one."
ooo
Back in her room, Jenn looked around. Things looked so much stranger now after being only four feet tall. What caught her attention was something sitting on her bed. It was a Poké Ball, with a post-it note stuck to it.
Plopping down on the bed, she read the note, which was in Ash's messy scrawl.
Figured you may want this as a souvenir. It's unusable, even on you, but try not to get someone mad enough to try!
Ash
With a smile, Jenn minimized it and wondered if she could tease Drake by wearing it on a neck cord like he did with Dragonite's. She got up and walked over to her dresser, placed the little sphere into the top drawer and closed it.
The blonde leaned against the dresser and sighed heavily. Trish's impending reaction troubled her more than she let on, and in her mind she had played out several scenarios ever since Ash said she could see her friend. Jenn wasn't worried about seeing Drake, since she was pretty sure that tall dark and handsome was alright.
Oh, he's fine, and not just in the way that you usually imply.
"Would you shut up!" Jenn groused, "You are annoying me!"
Well you insulted me, so shut up yourself and consider this payback.
Jenn shook her head. "That's it. Someone just ship me into a nice padded room. Lu has won since it's obvious I've gone insane."
Stop being so over dramatic, the voice sounded annoyed. Would you like to see me, to know that you're not crazy?
"Sure, that'll be swell," Jenn said sarcastically, "While you're at it, why not…" She broke off as a small dark creature suddenly flashed into existence, and her eyes widened in shock. "Umbreon!"
ooo
"Come on, Jenn, let's go!" Ash stood by the doorway and called down the hall Jenn had vanished to. "Honestly, she used to be so obedient."
Shannon looked momentarily shocked, then she laughed, "If she heard you saying that, you'd be in so much trouble!"
"But it's true!" Ash defended himself. "She was one of the best Pokémon I've had around in ages."
"Okay, now you're lucky you don't have Pikachu or Charizard around," Shannon grinned, "Or else I think they'd enlighten you to how unwise that statement is!"
Suddenly, a small Dark Pokémon darted into the breakfast room and took refuge behind Ash's legs. To Shannon, it appeared to be laughing. Jenn ran into the breakfast room soon after and she came to a screeching halt.
"I swear to any and all Pokémon you may hold in some high and lofty deity like position, that if you try getting in my mind one more time…"
"Jenn…" Ash said slowly.
"No, really, Ash, this little pervert got in my mind and made me think I was fighting with myself!"
"It's not that, Jenn," Shannon took a step back.
Jenn rolled her eyes, "What? Did my hair turn absol white? Did I grow a tail?"
"No," Ash said calmly, "But your hand is on fire."
"Oh, come on, like I wouldn't have felt that!" But she looked down at her hands, and sure enough, the right one had a small fire merrily dancing on her palm. She stared up at Ash, "Puck screwed up! He made me a mutant!"
The Umbreon laughed from behind Ash's legs and Jenn lunged for it, and was barely restrained back by Ash. "Down, Jenn!"
Jenn gave the Grand Master a dirty look, "That's not funny." She stepped back anyway, and waved her right hand, trying to put out the flames. They stuck like glue, and the fanning only encouraged them to grow a bit. "And I'll have you know it's not like I stepped back to obey you, you know."
"Oh, the memories," Ash gave a false sniffle.
"Say any more and you are in for some serious punishment," Jenn glared at the man.
'And by serious punishment she doesn't mean the Misty type!' Umbreon grinned slyly.
Both Ash and Jenn turned beet red, while the blonde glared daggers at her hysterically giggling Pokémon. "You little wretch!"
Umbreon poked out a little pink tongue. 'Nyah.'
"I wonder if I can get someone to trade with me," Jenn muttered. "Oh Puck! Get that cute lil Fae butt of yours in here now!"
The chestnut-haired Fae materialised and then blinked. "Did you just say that I have a cute butt?"
"No, I said a cute little butt."
Shannon chuckled. "Just be glad that Mia did not overhear that comment, Jenn. You might have been thumped Puerto Rican style."
The blonde tossed her hair. "That's not very nice, Shan. Would I ever comment on a friend's boyfriend like that?"
"You just did!" Shannon laughed out.
"So what did you bellow for me for?" Puck interrupted. "I was busy…" It was then they noticed that he was dressed in a chef's uniform.
"Who you cooking for?" Ash asked.
"Mia," the Fae sighed, the love hearts almost visible in his eyes. "As they say, food is the way to a woman's heart."
"I thought that the saying went 'to a man's heart'" Shannon blinked.
"Man, woman, who cares?" Puck waved a spatula. "If the stomach is happy, the rest of you will be happy. Humans are mainly governed by their stomachs."
A low rumble was heard which built up to a loud growl. All three humans looked down at their stomachs then at each other and looked rather sheepish. "Heh...synchronised stomachs," Shannon giggled.
"I rest my case," Puck laughed. "But you've all digressed. What did you call me for, Jenn?"
"My flamin' hand!" the blonde waved it in front of the Fae. "While I think it's really cool and potentially helpful for when I have to face a ton of snow and cold weather once winter comes, I think you forgot to extinguish my fire power."
The chestnut-haired Fae stifled a grin. "Oops, my bad." He waved a slender hand. "There you go."
Jenn smiled as the flames flickered out completely. "Well, there goes any future career as a super heroine."
"Or a portable campfire," Ash laughed.
"Puck! Give it back!" Jenn reached out towards the Grand Master threateningly, "I have a weenie to roast!"
ooo
After a breakfast, which Jenn thoroughly enjoyed after being deprived of hands for so long, Ash suggested that they go to see Trish and Drake.
The blonde gulped slightly before nodding once. "Sure, is Drake going to send a driver to get us?"
"No, we're just gonna walk."
Jenn's eyebrows shot up. "You've got to be kidding me! That's a totally long way to the hospital. A Goddess like myself will not walk ten miles."
Ash just shook his head. "We're walking. Now follow me, I want to show you something."
ooo
Curious, Jenn followed her two friends up one level and down a couple of corridors in the villa. "I hope you guys know where you're going," she joked. "This place is so huge that you need a map just to get to where you're going!"
"Oh, we know exactly where we're going," Shannon assured her older friend.
By the time her two guides turned right and pushed on a partially open door, Jenn was confused. When she walked into the room and saw Trish lying in bed there, surrounded by medical equipment, with Drake sitting bedside, she froze.
Ash, who was walking behind her, bumped into the blonde. "Hey!"
"Hey, yourself!" Jenn hissed at him, trying to shove her way by him out of the room. When Ash held her still, she glared up at him. "You could've warned me!"
"And perhaps have you run off, like you're trying to do now?" The familiar accented voice rang through the room.
"Well, you see, I could've worn something nicer," Jenn said weakly. She gulped when she saw Espeon curled up on Trish's stomach, especially as the lilac coloured animal turned its gaze on the blonde. Pikachu popped up from where she'd been sleeping on the girl's other side with a friendly chirp.
"Don't be silly," Trish said, "And stop looking at me like I'm on my deathbed. I'm doing just fine now that I'm in exceptionally fine surroundings. Plus Puck and Callie set up wards to guard against Lu or Rudy, or anything that evil creature could think to throw at us."
"I just…wasn't ready for this."
"Jenn, you're never ready," Trish chided her friend. "You're a procrastinator."
"…"
"I rest my case," her best friend chuckled. "Come on in, I won't bite."
"So you're not mad at me?" the blonde ventured, rather timidly. This was probably the third or fourth time this vacation that she had done something to upset Trish. She couldn't remember the last time she had managed to risk the wrath of her best friend so frequently. So far she had managed to escape unscathed, but you never knew when you were pushing your luck.
The Australian smiled. "No, I'm not mad at you, Sis. I know that it was Lu's doing, and that if you could have stopped it yourself you would have."
"Oh you'd better believe it!" Jenn was quick to agree. "I'd never hurt you or Drake. At least not on purpose."
"That and the fact that everyone knows that it is almost impossible for me to stay mad at you," Trish laughed. "For some reason, it just doesn't happen."
"Cause I'm a Goddess and everyone loves me," the blonde grinned saucily.
"Well I can think of at least two who don't," Shannon reminded her. "You wouldn't be welcomed with open arms by either Gary or Lu."
"They don't count," Jenn snorted as she moved into the room and sat down on a chair near the bed. "So what are you doing here instead of in the hospital, Tah? I thought you were such a wonderful patient that they wouldn't want to let you go."
"You're making it sound more like a resort than a hospital," Trish said wryly. "I'd like to see you put up with the food and coffee for a few weeks."
"No, I'll leave that up to you, Dear Tah. You know how much I hate hospitals, and besides coffee is way unappealing."
"You're such a pal."
"I'm totally your best pal!" Jenn beamed.
Drake cleared his throat. "We're getting off track here…"
"We're in no hurry, are we?" the blonde looked confused. "There are no visiting hours here, or are there?"
"No, but Trish does need to rest," Ash said.
"After what happened last night, I thought it would be safer to move her here," the Orange Crew Leader continued. "Makes it easier for me to keep an eye on her."
"I bet that's not the only reason why," Jenn said slyly. "Was Drakey jealous of all the attention she's been getting from all those hot male doctors?"
"Don't forget the interns!" Shannon added with a laugh.
"Right!" Jenn beamed, "And the interns!"
"No!"
"Hey, I'm not complaining about being moved here," Trish interrupted. "I wasn't about to stay there another night with the window broken."
Neither would I, Jenn thought, if I had a totally hot boyfriend who was loaded and willing to look after me. She looked around at the pointed looks sent her way. "What? It wasn't my fault. Well, not completely."
"No, not all of it," Drake chuckled.
"But don't you still need medical treatment? While I'm sure that Drake's bedside manner is totally top notch…" Jenn smirked as the two in question blushed. "I don't think he's medically qualified."
"The doctors are still coming to check on me twice a day, in fact you missed them by a few minutes." Trish reassured her friend. "And I have a little emergency buzzer to press if I get into serious difficulties. I'll be fine."
"Besides the Absol attack makes it about the third attempt by Lu to try to kill Trish."
The dark-haired girl's eyes widened. "Third attempt? When did the second one happen?"
"Not long after we rescued you from the Hound. Lu tried to take you out with magic late one night when no one was in the room. Luckily Mew was around and threw up a psyshield around you."
"Mew?" A raised eyebrow.
"Now, T, we know you're not feeling like yourself after vacationing in Coma Country for so long, but if you want some milk, just say so," Jenn reached over and patted an arm. "You don't have to sound like a kitten."
"You knew what I meant!" the Australian rolled her eyes. "Why do I bother with you?"
"Because I'm a-mew-sing?"
"OY," everyone groaned, and Shannon picked up one of Trish's stuffed bears and threw it at the blonde.
Jenn sulked. "Respect is not being given to the Goddess as it should!"
"Not with those bad puns you won't," Ash shook his head from where he was sitting.
'Piiiika' the electric mouse agreed.
"So, Lu's tried to kill me three times?" Trish breathed. "Why? What have I ever done to him?"
"You did knee him in the balls in Dartmoor," Shannon pointed out.
"That was after he brought me there to kill me," the Australian huffed. "And I'd do the same to any guy that suggested I should be his mistress."
"Even me?" Drake waggled his eyebrows.
"Consider yourself lucky I'm too tired to make a repeat performance," Trish glared at Drake.
"She loves me!" Drake feigned a swoon, "She really loves me!"
"They always say that you hurt the ones you love," Shannon grinned.
"I dunno about that," Ash said with rueful smile. "I think Misty just likes the hurting part."
"How do you put up with that?" Drake enquired.
"I have a cache of aspirin stashed away," the Grand Master explained. "And I've always warned Misty that if she does me any serious damage, its gonna end up in the papers. That stops her every time."
"Luckily for you!" Shannon quipped.
"And the press wonder why I send them flowers and chocolates every year, thanking them for my continued health and wellbeing."
"So that makes them your best friends?" Trish grinned.
"You bet!"
"So, Jenn, how does it feel to be human again?" the dark-haired Australian asked her best friend.
"Absol-utely fabulous!" Jenn quipped, only to be pelted once again. This time by a pillow and a teddy bear.
"You really worry me sometimes," Trish shook her head. "Thank heavens that you managed to emerge from this mess relatively unscathed."
"I have been in quite a few haven't I?" the blonde smiled sheepishly.
"A few? You're almost as bad at getting into trouble as Ash is."
"I'm not that bad," the man in question grumbled. Pikachu just giggled.
"Admittedly, you're not as bad as you were when you were younger," Trish conceded.
"Hey, I'm not as bad as Ash was!" Jenn protested. "Ash got into all those scrapes because of his temper and his big mouth…" she trailed off and reddened as she realised the hole she was digging herself into. "Er…I should totally shut up now shouldn't I?"
"Yes…" her best friend drawled with a raised eyebrow. "You were saying, dear Sis?"
Open mouth, insert foot and whole leg, the blonde moaned inwardly. Le sigh.
"We do care about you, that's why we worry," Trish said gently. "Promise me that you'll try to keep your impulsiveness in check and think before you open your mouth? Promise me that you'll keep out of trouble from now until the end of the vacation?"
"I guess that's not asking too much," Jenn grumbled.
"I didn't think so either," her friend teased. "But seriously, I have my hands full worrying about you as well as trying to get better."
"Yeah well, I have my hands full too worrying about you!" the blonde retorted, then smiled sweetly. "In fact, I was thinking just now that I might stay here with you and Drakey."
Drake blinked. "You're welcome to do so but…why?"
"You've got a better swimming pool than we do," Jenn said with a deadpan expression.
"Jenn, we don't have a pool," Shannon said in a quizzical tone, "Though we do have a lovely tennis court."
"So like I said, you have a pool, Drake," Jenn tossed her hair, "And you've got your own private beach."
"Which makes me wonder why I have a pool," Drake mused.
"You've got more money than sense?" Trish's eyes twinkled.
"Hey, that's not very nice," the Crew Leader pouted to which his girlfriend just laughed before kissing him on the cheek.
"Just kidding. You just want to be able to go into the water whatever the weather," she squeezed his hand gently.
He squeezed back then grinned at Jenn. "So you're only here staying here for the pool, huh?"
"Uh huh," the blonde stretched lazily. "Well, that and the fact that I gotta keep an eye on you and T here. Who knows what shenanigans you two could get up to?"
"Jenn!" Trish gasped as she blushed furiously. "I'm a sick girl here!"
"I know," Jenn grinned smugly.
"You're lucky I have nothing to throw at you," Trish glared, "And besides, I don't have enough energy to stay awake for most of the day, let alone even think about doing that…"
"I wouldn't even think of doing that while she's so sick." Drake blushed. "I mean, that's sick."
"Well, I still should keep an eye on Tah here," Jenn shrugged. "She acts like she's a total angel, but I know that she can be a real imp."
"Who me?" the girl in question looked as innocent as she could be.
"Yes, ewe," Shannon stuck her tongue out at her eldest friend. Trish pouted.
"I'll help," Ash offered with a grin. "Since I'm staying on here at Drake's for a while."
"You are?" the blonde blinked. "But don't you have your own ritzy rental villa?"
"I do, but after all that's happened, there's reason to believe that I could be a target too. I can't put the lives of Misty and our unborn child in danger. And since Callie and Puck put wards around the whole place, and the with arsenal of high level Pokémon Drake has guarding the place, I think this is the best place for me to be."
'Oh, well this is going to be enjoyable,' Jenn thought to herself. 'Not only do I get to stay in the lap of luxury, but I also get to spy on two totally hot guys.' The thought of seeing either Drake or Ash in little black swim trunks almost made her drool.
"You leaving all your Pokémon to protect Misty?" Shannon asked.
The Grand Master nodded. "All except the main team of Pikachu, Charizard, Bulbasaur, Feraligator, Meganium, and Espeon."
"Charizard came in handy last night," Trish remembered.
Jenn snickered, and Trish glared in exasperation. "You know what I meant!" Trish defended herself. "Your mind is more in the gutter than Chris's is."
"I calls 'em as I see's 'em," Jenn drawled out, then frowned. "Um. That wasn't very grammatically correct."
"Let's get back on track," Drake shook his head, smiling, "About Charizard being helpful, Ash."
"He was," Ash agreed. "I never go anywhere without him." There was an indignant squeak from beside Trish. "Or Pikachu."
'Pika.' The electric mouse looked satisfied before snuggling next to Trish and having her fur gently stroked.
"The Charizard Express card. For a flaming good time, don't leave home without it," Jenn joked.
"OY," Shannon threw another bear at her.
"Hey, that's not beary nice!" the blonde snatched the bear before getting hit by it. "You're completely un-bearable, Shannon."
"Someone get that girl out of here," Trish gasped while fighting a fit of the giggles. "She's hazardous to my present state of health."
"I am not a health hazard!" Jenn sulked. "That's totally not nice, Tah."
"Consider that payback for your earlier comments," her friend retorted. "It's hard enough for me to breathe normally without you making it worse by making me laugh so much!"
"They do say that laughter is the best medicine," the blonde said innocently.
"Yeah, well whoever said that, never took asthmatics into account."
ooo
The afternoon was spent with Jenn grabbing some essential stuff of hers and Trish's from their villa and taking it to Drake's.
The Orange Crew Leader stared in disbelief at the number of bags Jenn had piled up in the marble foyer. "All this is essential stuff!"
"Of course it is!" The blonde placed both hands on her hips. "You can't expect Trish or me to survive without our hair care products, our beauty products, our styling tools, our…"
"Drake," Ash grinned, as Jenn rattled on. "You shouldn't be so surprised at this. You do have two younger sisters after all."
"Yeah, but they don't live here."
"Oh, stop tetching, Drake," Jenn crossed her arms. "You've got one hundred rooms in this villa. I think you can totally spare one or two."
"Well yeah, I can," Drake said as he watched some of his hired help walk into the foyer. "You know, for your luggage," he muttered, then asked, "But what about you?"
"Whaddya mean, what about me?" Jenn glared at him. She walked forward, but froze when she found herself held back. She looked up at Ash, who had an innocent look on his face, as his hand gripped her shoulder to hold her back. "Remove your hand before you lose it."
Ash reddened, "I just didn't want you to…you know…go after Drake like that."
"Like what?" Jenn rolled her eyes in annoyance, "I was just kidding."
"Just kidding?" Ash snorted, "Your eyes flashed red!"
"They did?" Jenn gasped, then grinned. "That is so cool! I mean, that is so not cool because I know that you are so completely teasing me. Aren't you?"
"Got it in one," Ash said, then looked over at Drake. "She's sharp as a tack, isn't she?"
"Shrewishly!" Drake laughed, then directed his staff. "Edward, your crew can take the black bags to the east wing. Ah, the blue room. And Mirabelle, why don't you take those white ones with the crazy colours on it to the west wing. Jenn, don't complain, I know you won't want to be woken up by the sunrise. Give her the copper room."
"The blue room, the copper room…So many colours, Drake," Jenn raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you're not trying to tell us something?"
Drake glared at the blonde, "Do you want the dog house?"
"No," Jenn said saucily, "I'm sure you'll need it if you tick off Trish."
"Long walk, short pier," Drake said calmly. "I have one of those down at the beach. I know you enjoy the beach."
"Guys! Come on!" Ash stopped Jenn's retort in its tracks. "While the staff and I are fully enjoying this verbal tennis match, we've got a lot of stuff to do today."
"Okay fine," Jenn said, then followed Mirabelle and her small crew.
Ash stayed with Drake, and the two watched the blonde and all of the luggage vanish around the corner. The Grand Master was about to say something when Jenn shot back her retort, "And they're not crazy coloured bags! They're Louis Vuitton!"
The two males were at a loss momentarily. Ash looked at Drake, "I guess she had the last word."
"Not for long," Drake said dramatically. "This. Means. War."
ooo
The next day was so gorgeously warm and sunny that Jenn decided that she would treat herself to the ancient ritual of sun worshipping. She dressed in a black two piece swimsuit, slipped on a pair of designer shades, and went down to the private beach. She sprawled out on a deck chair and sipped on an ice-cold soda. A butler stayed in the shade of a small beach hut that reminded Jenn of an oceanfront concessions stand, and the man promised to bring out refills as she wanted them.
'This is the life of a Goddess,' she thought lazily. 'To laze around on a private beach, with a servant to cater to my every whim. Makes me wonder if I can swing it so that I can stay here permanently.'
A sudden coolness was felt across her body and the blonde cracked open an eye to see a shadow across her midriff. "I know I didn't finish that drink all that fast. Did it go flat already?"
"I don't think so, but I can get you a fresh one if you really want," a familiar male voice said lightly.
Jenn looked up to see the Grand Master standing to the left of her chair, hands in his pockets and with a half grin on his face. She then reddened when she realised that she was semi-naked save for two thin pieces of material, even though it was Versace, in front of the man she had a massive crush on.
"Uh no, that's fine," she glanced over at her half full glass sitting on the table on her right. "I thought for a moment you might be the butler coming with a refill."
"A refill, huh? I can see that you've settled in here just fine," Ash grinned. "Unfortunately, I'm not the butler. Disappointed much?"
"No!" she squeaked out while wondering whether she should make a grab for her cotton shirt and sarong and cover up. Unfortunately, the said items were just out of reach. "Uh, can you hand me my stuff over there?"
The dark-haired man passed them over to her. "Do you need to go somewhere?"
"No, but I think I should be a little more decently dressed," Jenn shrugged on the light coloured shirt, "For one thing, you're the Grand Master, and for another thing I doubt you'd appreciate the quality Versace brings to a good bikini."
Ash laughed and sat down on the deckchair, forcing the blonde to scoot over a bit. "You can drop the formalities with me, Jenn. It gets a bit tiresome hearing 'Grand Master' all the time and being treated so formally. It's nice to be treated as just plain old Ash Ketchum sometimes."
"Old is right," Jenn snickered.
"Hey, I'm only a year older than you!"
"That's right. Older," the blonde smirked.
Ash rolled his eyes. "How does Trish put up with you?"
"You're sounding like Drake," Jenn grinned. "She just likes me. Who wouldn't?"
"It's either that or she's on some strong medication."
Jenn frowned. "Hey, were you just insulting the Goddess?"
"Why yes I did," the Grand Master smirked. "In return for the insult you so kindly gave to me. Anyway we're friends right? Sharing is caring you know."
"I'd rather you shared something else," the girl muttered. "I can't exactly wear a diamond studded Absol collar in public."
"Oh, but I do have something for you."
"Huh?"
"Remember that female Absol puppy that you rescued from its abusive trainer?"
"Like I could forget!"
"Last week, Tangelo's Nurse Joy spotted the boy and called in Officer Jenny. He was hauled before the Orange League Tribunal today."
"I hope they totally threw the book at him!" Jenn growled. "That bastard was going to throw the poor puppy into the ocean so Sharpeedos could eat it!"
"Don't worry, they did," the Grand Master reassured her. "I was sitting in on the hearing. They gave him a life ban from Pokémon training and confiscated any Pokémon he had."
"Good! What's gonna happen to all of them?"
"New owners have to be found for all of them but one," Ash paused as he fished out a small red and white sphere from his trouser pocket. "I've decided that the Absol puppy should go to you." He handed the sphere to Jenn.
"Thank you," Jenn said humbly. "I have Absol-utely wanted one of these!"
"Oyyyyy."
The blonde grinned, maximised the sphere and threw it, "Poké Ball, go!"
The ball opened, releasing the red energy which reformed into a very small Absol puppy with a thick black zigzag mark down its spine. The puppy looked at Jenn, then raised one paw hesitantly with a soft whimper.
"Here girl," Jenn coaxed gently, showing the Pokémon her open hands. The puppy's tail wagged a little before it took a few hesitant steps towards her. It sniffed her hands before gently licking it with a small pink tongue.
"That's a good widdle girl," the blonde crooned as she scratched gently behind the ears. "I'll take great care of you. No swimming in the ocean for you unless you want to."
The Absol's tail wagged even harder and it leapt up onto her lap and started giving her face a tongue bath.
Ash grinned. "I think she's taken to you."
Jenn gently hugged the puppy and smiled as it settled down on her lap. "Y'know, somehow I don't think that Trish is going to be too thrilled over this. Ever since the Incident, she has issues with any dog that's bigger than a small stuffed toy."
"Drake and I talked about that," Ash nodded. "And we figured you could use this puppy to help her get over her fear. Since this Absol is only a baby, it hasn't had time to develop any killer or feral instincts yet. It's just like any other young domestic canine. We need to help Trish get over her fear of large dogs otherwise she's never going to want to step outside the house."
Jenn eyed the puppy, which had abandoned Jenn's lap to curl up on the sand under the chair, taking refuge in the shadow cast by the chair. "I hope my own Growlithe will be okay with me taking her in."
"They'll be fine," Ash said reassuringly, then he looked out over the ocean. "It's a gorgeous day out."
It was, with an almost steady breeze coming in off the ocean, which carried the salty fishy tang of the water with it. The sand glistened white from the strong rays of the sun, and the occasional Pelipper frolicked around with a few sea gulls from the mainlands.
Jenn stood up and the puppy lifted its head, then stood to sit by her new mistress's feet. The blonde tied the sarong around her waist and fingered the Poké Ball. A stray cold breeze seemed to twirl around her and the puppy whined low. She narrowed her eyes, then recalled the puppy. "I think I'm going in now."
"So soon?" Ash asked, "Didn't you just get out here?"
"Yeah, but, I just don't feel all that safe with Lu still on the run," Jenn shrugged, grinning quickly, "You know?"
Ash stared at her for a second, with her body in a profile against the ocean as she walked by him and things seemed to go into slow motion. She turned her head to look at him, and for a brief second, Ash felt cold air and saw a different scene surrounding Jenn. A dark star lit sky, white fireworks, and screaming not unlike that in the Stadium during the match.
Then he blinked and the sun was hot on his shoulders and head, and Jenn was waving a hand in front of his face, "Earth to Ketchum, anyone home?" She poked his shoulder. "If people think I broke the Grand Master, I'll be in real trouble."
He snatched her hand and kept from being poked again, "One, those nails are sharp, and two I told you not to call me the Grand Master."
"Oh good! You're not broken," She looked over at the butler, who was walking over with a concerned look, and waved him off, "He's okay, I think he just dozed off." Then she muttered, "For a few seconds."
Ash stood, rubbing his arm where she'd poked him, "That really hurt."
"Aww, poor thing," She tucked the Poké Ball in the waist of her sarong. "I've been worse."
"How so?" Ash asked, "And shouldn't you put that someplace safer?"
"I've been "poke" balled, for your information, though I think you already know that quite well," Jenn teased, "And I've carried lots of cell phones like this and never lost one of them." She tossed her hair, "Besides if I put it in the pocket of this shirt, I'd need a second one for the other pocket or I'd look lopsided."
Ash stumbled on the transition part from sand to slate walkway, "Uh, you could always let me carry it."
Jenn pretended not to see his stumble, sipping the soda she still carried, "Nah, you already have a couple on you. Let's not give you too much to hold."
Ash froze at that, "You did not just say that!"
Jenn flounced around and pointed at his waistline, "I meant the ones on your belt, Mister Grand Master. Where's your mind slumming at?" She grinned before walking off towards the back patio of the villa.
He could almost hear Pikachu teasing him, and he rubbed at his eyes. "Where is my mind at these days?" He looked back at the ocean, and watched a Wailmer surface, then vanish. The butler had closed up the stand, and was walking towards the deck chair Jenn abandoned with a sand rake.
Suddenly, it was a little too bright out.
ooo
To be continued…
Author's Note: When two people have visions, it usually doesn't bode well for one of them. Then again, it could be the result of too much sun. :P