Midsummer Nights

by Trish

The third instalment to the Midsummer Series. Chapter Thirty Nine now up.

26. 25: The Innocent Can Never Last

Midsummer Nights

By Trish.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or Puck. Ashura the Mew belongs to Dragoness and borrowed with permission. I own the rest of the characters and the storyline. The chapter title comes from 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' by Green Day.

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Innocent Can Never Last

"Aiight," Jenn's voice floated out from her dressing room. "Ready for my grand entrance?"

"We've been ready for the past hour, Jenn!" Trish laughed. "What on earth are you doing in there?"

"Do we really want to know, Trish?" Shannon wisecracked.

The Australian looked thoughtful. "You're right, it's probably safer for the world not to know."

"Are you guys making fun of me?" the blonde's voice sounded sour.

Both girls feigned innocence. "Us? Why, would we ever poke fun at you?" Trish asked.

Jenn cracked open the dressing room door and stuck her head out to glare at her friends. "Yes, you would!"

"You're right, we would."

"That's better," Jenn pulled her head back and shut the door. "Now, do you wanna see the dress or not?"

"Of course we wanna!" Shannon sat up straight. "The sooner we see the dress, the sooner we can go to eat!"

Trish just grinned. "You're sounding too much like Ash."

"Jenn can't talk," Shannon pouted.

"Whatever!" The blonde stepped out of the cubicle and struck a pose. The halter neck dress she had on was deep purple in colour, fitted at the bodice and low in the back, before flaring out into a full skirt that reached her knees. The hem was decorated with crystal beading in a fleur-de-lis pattern. The material was soft and silky; when the blonde pirouetted, the skirt seemed to float on the air around her.

"It is gorgeous," Trish voiced her approval. "You look like a million dollars in that dress, Jenn."

Jenn sulked. "Only a million?"

Her friend rolled her eyes. "Okay, a trillion dollars then. That better?"

"Oh yes," Jenn then turned to Shannon. "What do you think?"

The younger girl's eyes widened. "Oh, I think that your look is absolutely priceless…"

Trish shot a look at Shannon. "Did you really need to inflate her ego any further?"

"Probably not!" Shannon laughed.

Jenn laughed along, "Yeah, you guys are a barrel of monkeys slapping their knees."

The two blinked in confusion. Shannon was the first to recover, "Translation?"

"We're funny," Trish said, after a short time.

Shannon shook her head, "Oh, well why didn't you just say so!"

"I did," Jenn brushed at the dress, "I'm gonna go get changed, then I shall buy this, and then we're out of here."

The blonde was faster at getting back into her regular clothes than into the dress. So fast that Shannon looked confused all over again, "You're so fast getting out but not in?"

"Aww nah," Jenn waved, "I was in the dress fast, too. I just had to figure out how to put my hair up."

"If I was home, I'd collapse in a faint," Shannon mumbled.

"Huh?" Jenn cocked her head and draped the dress over her arm.

"Nothing," Shannon sighed in mock annoyance, "Let's hurry so we can eat lunch."

A sales clerk, who'd been hovering off and on behind the two waiting girls, walked over to Jenn and took the dress from the blonde. "I'll start wrapping this up. Shall I use the card on file?"

Jenn nodded and the sales clerk walked to the front counter.

Trish arched an eyebrow at Jenn, who shrugged it off.

"They know me here," Jenn said simply and then followed the sales clerk. "Don't look at the shoes, don't look at the shoes," was muttered as the blonde walked quickly to the front of the store.

"Don't look at the shoes?" Shannon looked to Trish. "Do I want to know?"

"They have a small selection of her favourite shoes."

Shannon paused at a small vintage dresser, which had a pair of shoes on top. "Manolo Blawnick?"

Ahead of them, Jenn froze and slowly turned to them. Her eyes were wide and she waved the sales clerk to continue walking. She had also frozen in place, but at the blonde's wave, she continued on.

"What?" Shannon put the shoe down.

"I should've told you about the shoes first," Trish was trying to smother a laugh. "They're pretty sacred in here."

Jenn walked over to the vintage dresser and straightened the shoe. "Manolo Blahnik. Very, very desired shoes. Hell to walk in, heaven to look at, and each pair is designed to break the bank. Preferably Drake's bank."

Trish shook her head, "Probably, Jenn, but he'd know if you broke his bank with shoes."

Jenn grinned wickedly, "Never underestimate the power of a Goddess on a shoe binge."

ooo

Meanwhile, Puck was sitting on a park bench, soaking up the sun's rays as he enjoyed a quiet afternoon on his own. Mia had persuaded Callie to come with her and discover the delights of the mortal pastime of sunbathing on the beach.

Puck almost had a nervous fit when he saw his sister dressed in a black bikini. Surely she would be under siege from all those hormonal males on the beach. She could be attacked or kidnapped or raped or worse!

Callie managed to calm her younger brother down with assurances that she had a long sleeved over shirt with her and that she was more than capable of protecting herself against any lustful male mortal.

So Puck had taken himself off to the park, to a quiet little section which had a duck pond. There he could think and ponder their next move against Lu, and perhaps try to guess what his arch enemy's next move might be.

The chestnut-haired Fae was surrounded by a small group of ducks, quacking and shoving each other out of the way in a bid to get some of the bread crumbs he was throwing.

"Oh to be a duck," Puck sighed. "Without a care in the world but to feed and swim…"

"As long as it's not Psyduck," a familiar voice came from the right. Puck turned to see Ash walking towards him, Pikachu perched on left shoulder as usual, while a small Pichu clung to the other.

"I actually have a soft spot for those creatures," Puck admitted. "Through no fault of their own, they are clumsy and klutzy, much like myself."

"Aww, but you can fix that over time. Ask Pik here," the Grand Master grinned. "I was such a klutz when I started training."

'Piiiiiiiiiikkkkkkkka Pikapi,' the electric mouse put a tiny paw dramatically to her forehead.

"I wasn't that bad," Ash mock scowled at his furry friend. Pikachu just giggled. He turned back to Puck. "So what brings you here?"

"Just thinking."

"About Lu and his next move?"

Puck blinked. "How did you know that!"

"I'm psychic," the Grand Master joked then sobered. "Seriously, I think he's the one thing that would be dominating everyone's mind at the moment. He's getting more and more erratic."

"And dangerous," Puck shuddered. "I dread to think of what he might do next."

'His anger levels are building to great heights,' a bright and bubbly voice echoed in their heads. A familiar blue Mew appeared before them and did a lazy somersault.

"Long time no see," Ash greeted the Pokémon who changed hue to the normal pink.

'I thought Joanne would appreciate me being just a normal Pokémon for a while and not coming and going as I please,' the small Pokémon explained.

"You still causing her a lot of trouble?" Ash grinned.

The Mew blinked his big blue eyes. 'Me? Trouble? Neeeevah!'

"Sure."

Mew pouted.

"I just hope that whatever happens, I can defeat him," Puck sighed again. "I…I'm not sure if I can."

"Of course you can," Ash reassured him. "The time I first found out about being the Chosen One, it was at these very islands. Imagine being twelve and being told that you were the only one who could save the world."

Puck listened with great interest.

"Do you think that when I first heard that, that I believed that I could do it?" The Grand Master shook his head. "No way, I didn't want to go out there at all. I was so afraid of messing up and ruining everything. If it wasn't for Pikachu and the other Pokémon, the world would have ended."

"What did the Pokémon do to change your mind?"

"They told me they believed in me," Ash said simply. "That meant the world to me and there was no way I could let them down after that. So I just tried to do my best."

"But you saved the world, alright," Puck grinned. "I mean obviously since everything's still here."

"And so can you, my friend," Ash clapped a hand on his shoulder. "You just have to believe in yourself."

Pikachu hopped onto Puck's lap and gave the Fae a thumbs up. 'Pikkkkachu!'

'Mew!' the Psychic Pokémon giggled as he gently tapped Puck with his tail.

Puck smiled at all his friends. "Thanks."

"No problem," Ash chuckled. "Mom always said that a little encouragement never did anyone any harm and that everyone needs it sometime."

"Even Grand Masters?"

"Even Grand Masters."

Puck stared at the ripples in the water. "So what do you suggest we do, Chosen One?"

"I suggest that we get as much help in this fight as we can," Ash grinned. "Ashura?"

The cat-like Pokémon floated in front of him. 'Yes, O Chosen One?'

"I want you to go to Shamouti and talk to the Slowking there. Tell him to summon the Legendary Birds for a meeting. I'll meet with them and tell them what's been happening. Report back to me when you've finished."

'Aye, Aye, Sir!' the Blue Mew saluted sharply and vanished in a glimmer of sparkles.

Ash unhooked two Poké Balls from his belt and threw them simultaneously. "Espeon, Umbreon, I choose you!"

Twin flashes of light faded to reveal Ash's Espeon and Umbreon.

'Yes, Chosen One' the Umbreon barked.

"Go and get in touch with as many Pokémon on this island as you can. Tell them what's been happening, and tell them that if they should hear, see, or sense anything remotely unusual and evil, to contact me. Then come back to me and let me know of anything they say," Ash ordered them.

'Right Away, Ash!' The two Pokémon vanished.

Ash then threw another sphere which released Charizard with a mighty roar.

'I was having a good nap…' the orange lizard grumbled.

"Sorry to disturb you, pal," Ash looked apologetic. "But we need your help and I have a feeling that time is running out."

Charizard was about to make a sarcastic comment but refrained when he saw how serious his friend was looking. The big lizard had seen that look many times before, and that was each time that something or someone was in great danger.

'What do you want me to do?'

"Go find Drake and Dragonite and tell them that I'm bringing together all the Pokémon in the archipelago to help in our fight against Lucius. That Fae is evil incarnate and he will stop at nothing to destroy us. He doesn't care if the victim is human or Pokémon. If he destroys this world, it will be the Pokémon as well as the humans that suffer."

A glint of anger appeared in Charizard's eyes and Ash knew that his old friend would be one he could count on in the final fight if need be.

'Onto it, Ash.' The Fire Pokémon opened his leathery wings and with a single flap, took off in the air.

Puck looked at the Grand Master with admiration. "You know, I would never have thought of asking the Pokémon to aid us."

"It's their world too," Ash sighed, almost tiredly, "It's their right to be included in a fight that will decide the fate of the world."

ooo

"Now that was a satisfying lunch," Jenn sighed as she leaned back in her seat. "After a five second rest it's time for more shopping!"

"More…shopping?" Shannon squeaked in disbelief.

"Totally!" the blonde beamed and helped drag her friend to her feet. "We still have to get a dress for you, and one for Trish, and don't even get me to start at the whole looking at wedding dresses thing."

"But I don't like dresses…"

Jenn shrugged, "If I'm not wearing pants, neither are you."

"Chu are so mean," Shannon pouted and Trish just grinned.

"Hush, little Shan. I got you some cake."

"Chu-e."

Jenn rolled her eyes. "Shannon, there is nothing chewy about dress shopping."

"No," Shannon muttered as she was herded between Jenn and Trish, "Just a lot of aching feet."

"I know a store that has a fantastic foot soak."

"Oh, Lugia save me!" Shannon groaned, "I am not saying another word to you, Jenn!"

"Why not?"

"Because it'll just open another excuse for you to shop!"

Jenn grinned wickedly, "Damn right!"

ooo

Drake had just finished a training session with Dragonite and the others when the big creature looked up into the sky. 'Ash's Charizard is about to pay us a visit.'

The Orange Crew Leader glanced up at the sky and saw a rapidly descending winged figure. "I wonder what he wants?"

The Flying Pokémon landed gently, his wings beating up a small cloud of dust from the stadium floor. He rumbled a greeting to the other Pokémon before gesturing to Dragonite to come closer.

The two Pokémon talked animatedly for a few minutes, before Dragonite turned back to look at Drake.

'He says that he has an urgent message from Ash. Ash is gathering all the Pokémon in the archipelago to help in the fight against Lucius.'

The Orange Crew Leader nodded. "That's a great idea. We're gonna need all the help we can get. I don't know why we didn't think of it sooner. This is your home too." He turned to Charizard. "Ask Ash if he wants to hold a meeting to discuss possible battle strategies. All the Dragon Pokémon under my care are available for battle if need be."

The Fire Pokémon nodded and roared once before taking to the skies once more.

Drake turned to his faithful Pokémon. "Dragonite, could you go around to all the barns and sheds and talk to the Dragon Pokémon there? They look up to you, and they will listen to whatever you have to say."

'Sure can, Drake,' the orange Pokémon nodded. 'I have some hatchlings to save this world for.'

ooo

The girls were still shopping, of course.

Trish had found a sexy little cocktail dress in sapphire blue at Prada and the three friends were now in Giorgio Armani for Shannon's outfit.

"Why are we in such a hurry to get a dress now when the party hasn't been organised; nor the engagement publicly announced?" Shannon asked from within the dressing cubicle.

"Because a) if you haven't noticed, there are wicked sales going on, b) the party is such a given, and c) publicly announcing the engagement ain't nothin but a thang," Jenn said calmly.

"Okay, I understood the first two options, but not the last," Shannon sounded very confused.

Jenn rolled her eyes, "With how much of a celebrity Drake is, it'll be in the tabloids before long."

"Oh…But what if the dress code for the party turns out to be casual? Or beach wear?"

Jenn shook her head, "Trish won't have casual for her wedding and that leaves out dressing in anything you'd wear to the beach."

The dark-haired girl nodded. "That's right. It will be semi-formal. It's a good excuse to get all dressed up."

Jenn grinned broadly, "We'll be the centre of attention at this party!"

Shannon came reluctantly out of the cubicle. The red silk dress was simple but elegant, fitted at the detailed bodice and short sleeves that sat just off the shoulder. The skirt was fitted and ended a bit above her knees.

"Shan, you look great!" Trish exclaimed. "Ben will be bowled over when he sees you in this!"

The brunette blushed furiously. "Does my butt look big in this?"

"Nah," Jenn waved off her concern. "Your butt's so small that I can't see it."

"Really?" Shannon squeaked.

"Shan, it looks fine. No one is gonna be looking at your butt on the night anyway," Trish laughed.

"No one except Ben," the blonde added.

"Jenn!" The youngest girl turned scarlet.

"What? It's true," Jenn shrugged. "Let's go get this dress."

Shannon changed from the dress quickly and before the other two could so much as blink, she was standing in front of them with dress in arm.

"Wow," Jenn blinked in surprise, "Use magic much?"

"Never!" Shannon protested, "You should know how much I hate shopping."

The three were making their way for the registers when the first of the tremors rumbled underfoot.

ooo

The turquoise waters sparkled and glistened beneath them as Ash and Pikachu flew towards Shamouti Island for the meeting with Slowking and the Legendary Birds.

'This is such a great day to be flying!' Pikachu exulted. She loved the feeling of the wind through her fur and the way her long ears streamed behind her like banners.

"It is indeed," Ash smiled. "Isn't it, Charizard?"

'Sure is, Ash,' the Fire Pokémon rumbled happily. 'Although…it would be much nicer if there wasn't such a weight on my back. I'm really feeling the effects of those pies you had.'

The Grand Master frowned and looked down at his toned physique. "Hey, I'll have you know that I only had one pie and that I have been working out a lot. In fact I worked out just this morning."

Charizard just chuckled. 'I know…I was just messing with ya.'

As they drew closer, Ash could see the faint outlines of Fire Island, Ice Island and Lightning Island appear over the horizon. These three islands were the home of the Legendary Birds Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos.

'Remember our adventures here all those years ago?' Pikachu chirped.

"Sure do," Ash gave a wry smile. "My life was never the same again after that. Every Pokémon knew I was the Chosen One. Now I know how Buffy the Vampire Slayer must feel…"

'Love that show,' Charizard sighed.

'We know,' the electric mouse smirked at her Poképal. 'Pikapi had to buy a new TV that time after you thought Buffy was dead and flamed the screen.'

'I can't help it if I get involved in television shows! It just shows how well acted it is.'

"There's Shamouti," Ash pointed out.

'Hold on, we're going in to land,' Charizard gave one roar before going into a gradual dive. The trio landed at the stone shrine, where Slowking was waiting.

The pink Pokémon was wearing his usual ruffle and a nice pair of khaki pants. "Greetings Chosen One. I received your message."

"Hey, Slowking," Ash greeted warmly. "I see you've got your pants on."

"I do. Quite fashionable, are they not?" the tubby Pokémon turned around for them to admire. "My brethren are very jealous as I have pants and they do not."

"Is everything ready before we summon the Legendaries?" the dark-haired Master asked.

"The orbs are in their places," Slowking gestured towards the shrine. Ash could see the three spheres sparkling with their internal energies.

"Good. The last thing we need is for the birds to get out of control."

Slowking produced a small modified version of an ocarina. He went to play it, but looked up at Ash.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Slowking calmly proceeded to play a few notes.

Seconds passed before Ash could hear shrill cries ringing through the air as the three giant avians left the three islands of Fire, Ice, and Lightning.

Moltres landed first, her flaming feathers wilting some of the tropical foliage at her feet. Articuno was next, freezing the grass at her feet. Zapdos was last and a wayward electrical spark landed on Articuno who shrieked.

'Hey, watch it, Sparky! That hurt!!'

'Oh it did not,' Zapdos preened his feathers. 'You're just a chicken..'

'Chicken! I am not a chicken!'

'Oh, chill out, Ms Prissy Ice Princess. You are too sensitive.'

"Children, Children…CALM down," Ash ordered. "Or do you want me to get Pikachu to fry some sense into you all?"

The three birds looked at the tiny electric mouse, who smirked as her cheeks sparked ominously. They gulped and settled instantly.

'We'll be good, Chosen One!"

"That's much better," the Grand Master sighed. "Now the only one missing is Lugia."

'You mean old Fish Face?' Articuno piped up before shrinking back at a glare from Ash.

"If you three don't behave, then the next time I organise a meeting of the Legendaries, I will leave you three out of it!"

The three birds grumbled a bit then settled down. Ash knew there was nothing they hated more than being left out of anything important.

Slowking played the melody Ash remembered from his first adventure at the islands. As they watched, the waters in front of Shamouti began to bubble and froth. A giant water spout erupted toward the sky and spun there for a moment. The sun shone brilliantly on it and droplets of water fell from the spout like diamonds. Then the spout dissolved harmlessly as mist to reveal Lugia hovering high in the sky with his wings outstretched.

'Bloody show-off,' Zapdos muttered to himself.

The Water Guardian landed next to Zapdos. 'Greetings to the Chosen One. What is it you wish to discuss?'

ooo

Back on Pummelo…

Misty wandered slowly along the boulevard, stopping to look in a few shops here and there. The redhead had become bored with sitting at home and decided to go out to amuse herself for a bit. So what if she looked like a beached Wailmer in her late stage of pregnancy, she was bored without Ash at home!

While he did have dinner with her every night, and he tried his best to have lunch as well, it still wasn't enough for Misty. Sure she knew that the demands of his job and this whole mess with this evil Fae meant that he was away for most of the day – but she was his wife and pregnant with their first child. Sometimes she wished that her husband wasn't so damn hardworking and responsible.

"Well, hello there, Misty," a familiar nasal voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned to see Gary Oak standing behind her. His hair was missing his famous spiky locks as the strands were cut short to his head. He wore khaki pants and a white polo shirt. A cocky grin was on his face and one hand stuck was in his pocket.

"Gary! What are you doing here?" Misty exclaimed.

"Just browsing to pass the time," the former Viridian City Gym Leader said. "Looks like you're doing the same. So where's Ashy-boy?"

"He had to go to a meeting," Misty said. For some reason she felt she should not tell Gary who Ash was meeting with.

"Ash always did like meetings," Gary rolled his eyes. "If I had a wife as beautiful as you, I'd be staying home and spoiling her all the time."

Misty looked around, "I'm sorry, Gary, were you talking to me?"

"Now, Misty," Gary said patiently, "Of course I was! I don't think there's any sort of hold against me talking to you."

"I'm just surprised that you're trying to hit on me so openly and trying to pretend like you're being nice to me," Misty said evenly. "And if you're going to even start some fool story about having a beautiful wife to come home to, I would make sure that Jenn wasn't around to hear it. I'm sure she'd have indulged that fantasy for you."

A strange look crossed Gary's face so fast, Misty wondered if she imagined it. Then a composed look was back on his face and Gary laughed, "It's a shame she's still trying to pass that fake story around. If I can speak honestly, the girl was too high maintenance, even for me."

Misty crossed her arms under her pregnancy ample chest, "What fake story?"

"Oh…you didn't hear the truth?"

Anger flared momentarily in Misty, "Gary, stop with the idiot tales! If you have something to say to me, then say it. Quit with the fake sincerity. Otherwise, you're just wasting my time and if you waste my time, then you're just going to end up pissing me off."

Gary's gaze flicked around them, and then he looked back at Misty. "Feel like getting something to eat?"

Warily, Misty looked behind her. She was very near a Burger Kingler fast food joint. "Fine," she said, "but you're buying lunch."

ooo

Jenn watched as Shannon paid for her dress, though a little reluctant at the $54.89 total, and as the sales girl wrapped up the dress the blonde felt the ground rumble. She looked over at the shop's entry doors and frowned.

"What's the look for?" Trish asked.

"We need to go," Jenn said softly. The back of her neck tingled even though the rumbling beneath her feet settled. Maybe it had just been a truck driving by and she hadn't seen it.

"If you're that hungry, you can go ahead without us. We'll meet up with you at Pichu Bell if you want." Trish chuckled. "You are so much like Ash! Thinking with your stomach!"

"I'll wait," Jenn said, "But it wasn't my stomach that got me thinking."

"She probably saw a boooooy," Shannon sang out, slinging her purchase over her shoulder. "And if she's not hungry, I am! It's been hours since lunch!"

As they walked out of the boutique, Jenn felt the rumbling again. "Do you guys not feel that!"

Trish led the way down the sidewalk, "Feel what?"

Jenn sighed, "Never mind. Maybe it's just me."

Shannon patted the blonde's arm reassuringly, "I'm sure it is, but don't worry. Once you get something to eat you'll feel better."

"How about Burger Kingler?" Trish asked.

"Pass," Jenn said without looking at the store, "I don't feel like eating flame broiled food. I know I at least want tacos."

The three were walking by a tourist kiosk when Jenn suddenly froze. Trish turned around and Shannon stopped to look back.

"Forget something?" Shannon queried.

Jenn frowned and looked around, then pulled her two friends into a nearby shop.

"Jenn, what in the world…" That was all Trish got out before the ground started to roll beneath their feet. People were screaming and trying to keep their footing, while information from the kiosk fell to the ground.

In the shop the girls were in, shoes fell from the shelves and customers dropped to the ground as well. Jenn, Trish, and Shannon took shelter under a wooden display table as more shoes fell around them.

Then, as soon as it started, the quake stopped. Jenn looked around and got up, and Shannon and Trish followed suit in stunned silence. The blonde looked at the shoes, quirked an eyebrow, and walked out of the store.

"Jenn!" Trish bolted after the blonde, with Shannon hot on her heels.

The blonde crossed the road, minding some cracks that had appeared, and stood at the railing that overlooked the ocean. She looked out over the water and then back at her best friends. "I think Lu was practicing."

"Yeah, I don't doubt that," Trish said, a little shakily. "But the question is, how did you know?"

Jenn gave a little laugh, "Residual absol tendencies?"

"Jenn! This is nothing to joke about!" Trish still looked pale.

Jenn looked at her with a sober expression. "Who said I was joking?"

ooo

Lu wiped his brow and sat down in a plush armchair. In addition to the amount of magic it took to pull up the tremor, the massive amount of concentration it took to sustain the tremor had caused the chair and all the furnishings in his cave lair to vanish.

Once he released the tremor, he had to rest before restoring his lair. Magicking up the tremor had taken a lot out of him. This foolproof plan of his would be a lot more taxing on him than he first thought. He had thought that an earthquake would end all his worries, as well as being amusing, but it was turning out to be a little more than he could orchestrate.

However, thanks to the fear raised by humans terrified by the tremors, his strength was quickly returning. Still, he would need to work on his mastery of nature spells a bit more. Maybe a huge earthquake would be the final piéce de résistance.

If that would not do the trick, as it were, then he would have to come up with something else.

ooo

Trish stared at her best friend for a moment and knew she was being deadly serious. "You mean…you still have some Pokémon in you?"

"I'm not going to suddenly sprout white fur and turn into an Absol, if that's what you mean," the blonde grinned, then frowned. "At least, I don't think so." She shrugged, "Anyway, I can't even say for sure how I knew that quake was coming. When we were in the store, I could feel a tremble, kind of like when a big truck drives by, but when we were walking, I could literally see things falling. And…"

"What?" Trish prompted.

"Uh, I saw a streetlight fall over and land on top of you two," Jenn said, looking a little pale, "And while everything I learned about premonitions, I learned from watching Charmed, I didn't think I should ignore it. Besides, too many weird things have happened with us for me to ignore it."

"Did you ever get that feeling when you were an Absol?" Shannon asked.

Jenn shrugged, "A couple times, but that was mostly during battles." She frowned, "With this though it was as if I could sense natural phenomena before it happened."

"Oooh, like how animals can seem to sense a storm coming before it hits," Trish understood.

"I think so," the blonde agreed.

"That's kind of freaky," Shannon shivered. "Not that you are freaky or anything like that," she added hastily.

"But just as well she did sense this," the Australian gave Jenn a quick hug. "We would have been injured if we had been outside when it happened."

"So what do we do now?" Shannon asked.

"I think we should go home and tell Drake and the others," Trish decided as she pulled out her cell phone to ring for their driver. "If it is Lu's doing, they need to know about it."

"What if it's not Lu? What if it was a natural event?" the brunette picked up her bag.

"I doubt it," Trish shook her head. "Pummelo gets hurricanes and cyclones, but it doesn't get earthquakes. It's not situated anywhere near any geological fault lines."

ooo

In Burger Kingler, patrons were picking themselves off the floor, including Gary and Misty. The redhead gingerly got to her feet and immediately checked her protruding belly. She had made sure to protect the baby from any falling objects by covering her belly.

"What the hell was that?" Gary gasped.

"It was an earthquake, you idiot!" Misty snapped, her nerves frayed by the experience. "What else could it have been!"

"Geeze, don't have a Miltank, Red," the chestnut-haired man muttered. "You okay?"

"I..I...think so," she looked herself over. "You?"

"I'm fine." He sat down at the table. "You feel like finishing our meal?"

"No, I think I better go home." She wanted to go home and have a good lie down and hope the shock wouldn't bring on the baby early.

"But you haven't finished…"

Misty slung her purse on her shoulder, "I don't feel hungry anymore. I need to get home."

The former Viridian City Leader reached for his wallet and pulled out a small card. "Here's my number if you get bored, toots."

"Don't call me toots," Misty growled but took the card anyway.

Gary sat back in his seat and watched Misty leave the restaurant. He smirked when the door slid shut behind her. I will have my revenge on you, Ash. You'll soon understand why it's not fair to publicly humiliate someone.

ooo

The chauffeur had just driven through the front gates of the villa, when the front door opened and Drake and Ben rushed out.

The girls got out to be enveloped in hugs, Jenn included. "Are you girls okay? That quake was really bad!" Drake hugged Trish close.

"Yeah we're okay," the Australian reassured her fiancé, "thanks to Jenn. She sensed the quake before it happened and pulled us to where we'd be safer."

The Orange Crew Leader hugged the blonde. "Thanks Jenn. Don't know what we'd do without you."

"Love me like that when your AmEx bill comes in next month," Jenn smirked as she bear hugged Drake back. "So you're finally admitting that I'm an indispensable and welcome part of your life?"

"Yeah, guess so," Drake grumbled good-naturedly, looking a little disturbed at the thought of his possibly maxed out AmEx card. "You're around for life now. There's just no way that you and Trish can be separated for too long. You two girls seem to find ways to get back together quite quickly."

"We are totally like sisters," Jenn grinned and stepped back, getting a better grip on her purchases. "Anyway, Trish just likes my company. Of course, who wouldn't like the company of a Goddess?"

"Were you guys okay?" Shannon asked the two men.

"Yeah we were okay," Ben shrugged. "The Pokémon sure kicked up a fuss beforehand though."

"You don't have to tell us that twice," Trish smirked, "Our Pokémon here kicked up quite a fuss as well."

"We are not amused," Jenn said, though she didn't look as annoyed as she sounded, "Yours are okay now?"

"Yeah, they're calm," Drake smiled. "How was shopping?"

"It was fantastic," the blonde looked satisfied. "I got the perfect dress for the engagement party, and so did Trish and Shannon."

"You got a dress?" Ben blinked at his girlfriend.

Shannon sighed. "I was forced into it." She poked her boyfriend in the chest with one finger. "Next time you'd better save me from these two shopping fiends. It was torture!"

"Oh so you enjoyed it that much?" Jenn teased. She turned to her best friend. "Hear that? She enjoyed it so much that she wants us to go again tomorrow!"

"What!" Shannon gasped, completely horrified.

"Oh yes," Trish nodded. "After all we haven't started looking for the wedding dress or the bridesmaid dresses yet, and that can take months!"

The brunette whimpered and leant against Ben. "Save me….they're determined to kill me through shopping!"

The younger Thayer blinked. "Well I don't think there is much that I can do to stop them taking you shopping…"

"You are so right, little Benny!" Jenn grinned and patted Ben on the arm. "There is absolutely nothing you can do to prevent us from taking Shannon shopping! All. Day. Long"

"I agree," Trish nodded. "There's nothing like a shopping expedition to promote friendship amid females."

Shannon clung to her boyfriend in desperation. "But you two don't just go shopping for a few hours and that's it. You two would shop all day and night if you could!"

"Actually, we have done that, haven't we, T?" the blonde looked at her best friend.

"Yeah, it was that time when all the guys were out camping. We went to a 'shop til you drop' event at the mall," Trish remembered. "That was fun…"

"So when did you finally drop?" Shannon asked. "I'm almost afraid to ask…"

"Not until nine the next night," Jenn said proudly. "We fuelled ourselves on food and Pepsi. Trish had coffee. We were totally wired, though for me it was more from the actual shopping rather than all that Pepsi I had. Soda caffeine has, like, no effect on me. It's totally the weirdest."

"You don't say," Drake mused.

"They're scary," the brunette whimpered as she rested her head on Ben's shoulder.

"Very scary," her boyfriend agreed.

The group went inside and sat down in the lounge room. "Does Pummelo usually get any earthquakes?" Shannon asked.

"Never, " Drake shook his head. "Hurricanes and even cyclones, yes. Earthquakes, no."

"We thought it could be Lu's doing," Trish explained.

"Wouldn't surprise me in the least," the Orange Crew Leader muttered. "He must be losing patience and getting desperate."

"So you gonna to get everyone together and have a brainstorming session or what?" Jenn asked.

"Already arranged." Drake informed them. "Though Ash will attend via conference call. He spoke to Misty and she's rather upset over what has just happened, so he thinks it's best if he stays home with her."

"Why don't we just go there?" Jenn asked.

"It's probably wiser for them to be alone. Added people in Ash's villa, plus what just happened, could result in an early delivery," Trish said. "The shock alone could bring on the baby early if they're not careful."

"Baby, schmaby," Jenn waved it off.

"I bet Ash is hoping that's not the case!" Ben grinned. "Do you think he'd be able to handle a home birth?"

Shannon poked him in the ribs. "Don't be mean, mister. I'd like to see how you handle a birth, let alone a home birth!"

Jenn gave a wicked grin. "Aww, Ben! Are you hiding something from us? I didn't know you could have babies!"

"Miss Oblivious!" Trish rolled her eyes but chuckled lightly, "Don't tell me that you two are considering babies already…"

The two in question went beet red. "NO!" the brunette squeaked. "My parents would kill me! Actually they'd kill BEN first, then kill me!"

"And I really really don't want to die yet," Ben muttered.

"I'm sure Mom and Dad don't want you to either, Lil Bro," Drake said.

"I swear we haven't done anything like that yet! Honest!" Shannon waved her hands frantically.

Trish laughed and patted her friend's arm. "Calm down girl. We're not roasting you over your love life. What you two do is your own business."

"You're not going to tell my parents?"

"Of course not! Besides there is nothing to tell!"

"Oh yeah…" A sheepish grin.

ooo

"So are we sure that the earthquake was Lu's doing?" Ash's voice came through the surround speakers in Drake's conference room. A 60 inch plasma screen was responsible for broadcasting Ash's face, and the group could see he was in a similar room.

"It is my other villa," Drake had said nonchalantly. "So of course there's a mirroring conference room."

The group had gathered in Drake's spacious conference room to discuss this latest development.

"Pretty sure," the Orange Crew Leader answered. "While we don't have any physical proof that the earthquake was natural, I know for a fact that the Orange Archipelago doesn't get earthquakes."

"Yeah," Trish agreed "That quake was so sudden, so random. Plus there were no aftershocks."

"That's true. I've enlisted the Pokémon to help," the Grand Master informed them. "I've spoken to the Legendary Birds and they've agreed to help. Umbreon and Espeon spoke to as many of the local Pokémon as they could and they've told me the local Pokémon have agreed to let me know if they sense or see anything unusual."

"My Dragon Pokémon are readying for battle if need be," Drake said. "The gym subordinates have instructions to train them in battle strategies."

"Callie and I will be able to combine our magic with the Pokémon to make them more powerful," Puck added. "That should be enough to overcome anything Lu throws at us."

It was then that Mia spoke up. She had been quiet until now, just holding Puck's hand like a lifeline. "It's great that you guys are joining with the Pokémon and all; but what do the rest of us do? What can we do to protect ourselves against anything Lu does?"

"She's right," Shannon nodded. "I mean we don't have any magic or special powers to use in our defence. And two of our number have almost died because of what he'd done."

All of them looked to the two non-mortal beings in their midst. Puck and Callie exchanged glances.

"Nothing much you can do, except be extra careful and not go anywhere alone," Puck shrugged. "I suppose we could give you some special talismans to wear. They won't give you magic powers but they will offer you some protection."

Jenn snorted "What good is that? No offence, and by no offence I mean that I totally question your abilities, but neither of you have been good at detecting Lu's next moves. Why should we trust in some lucky charm you make?"

"That's not fair," Chris came to the Fae's, though mostly Callie's, defence, "They've helped in bringing both of you back to safety. That has to count for something."

"Yeah, it counts for shutting the barn door after the horses have escaped," Jenn snapped back, "Think on that, Chris, and not whether or not Callie has the hots for you as much as you do for her. I've seen more butt kissing from you to her on this trip than I've seen at Mardi Gras last year, and that was a lot of butt kissing in the Big Easy."

The group fell silent at that.

"That was really uncalled for," Chris said in a low tone. "But if that's how you feel, then maybe I'll go out until you all figure something out."

"No, you know what, I will," Jenn said, standing up. "I've got some things to do anyway."

"Jenn…" Trish started.

"I just need some fresh air, okay?" Jenn walked to the door, "Besides I have a guard of my own. I'll be fine, if that's what you were worried about."

"Oh, trust me, we weren't," Chris said breezily.

The blonde flipped him the bird before leaving the room, closing the door gently behind her.

"Anyone else want to see her turned back into an Absol?" Chris asked cheerfully, "At least then we can lock her up in a Poké Ball when she gets too bitchy like that."

Ash and Drake were raising their hands along with Chris until Trish glared at them. "She's had a tough time, okay? I can understand her being a little touchy."

"She was on a cruise," Ben said, "Until it sank."

"Into freezing cold water," Shannon lightly smacked her boyfriend's arm, "And almost drowning."

"Silicone floats," Chris muttered, then rolled his eyes at the bewildered looks he was getting, "It was a joke, people. A joke."

"Jokes like that will cost us the closeness we have as a group," Trish said, "And against Lu we are more powerful as a group."

"Trish is right," Ash sobered up, "If Lu manages to divide us as a whole, then he's won the war. We might as well just sign over the world to him."

"What do we do?" Ben asked.

"Right now, we plan. There's not much else we can do," Ash shrugged and then looked at the two Faes. "You two should start to work on those talismans. Make them so that they can be worn without being seen. That way Lu can't have them removed."

"I could power them so that a magical creature like Lu couldn't touch them, physically or magically," Callie offered.

"Excellent thought," Ash agreed, "However Lu could have someone like Rudy grab them and pull them off."

"True," Callie murmured, "I'll get to work on that. Brother, have you any thoughts on them?"

Puck frowned in thought, "I could magic them to look like simple pieces of jewellery but to protect its bearer whence magic is being used against that person."

"Moderating the power levels," Drake nodded his interest, "That's brilliant."

"Yes, I am, aren't I?" Puck said mischievously,

"You jerk!" Mia slapped his arm, then leaned against him, "But I love you that way."

"Of course you do," Puck kissed her gently on the forehead, "Of course you do."

ooo

Jenn was sitting on a bench in the landscaped gardens when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw Trish walking up to her.

"Hey, mind if I sit down?" the Australian asked.

The blonde shook her head mutely and the two girls sat side by side in companionable silence for a few moments before Trish broke it.

"You know, what you said in the meeting earlier was really unfair and uncalled for." Jenn opened her mouth to protest but her friend put a hand up to stop her. "I know you've had a tough time, and I can completely sympathise with that, but that's no excuse for what you said and how you said it. The group pretty much thought you were being a total bitch."

Jenn was taken aback. The gang thought she'd been a bitch? "What I said was totally the truth."

"No it wasn't and you know it. Chris may be irritating at times, but he doesn't deserve such a underhanded insult from you."

"Well I don't take back what I said about Puck and Callie," she growled. "They say they're so powerful, but they come off as totally hopeless. It's not even just my own thoughts. It is because of those two that the rest of us are involved in this mess. Puck pissed off Lu and now he's after us because we're friends with Mia and the best way to hurt Puck is to hurt Mia which means to hurt us!"

"You could just not be friends with Mia."

Jenn was oblivious to Trish's warning tone, "I'm sure they can't predict things but they know Lu so it's slightly possible that they may have known he would have grabbed us, especially after he grabbed you. Lu completely humiliated me by turning me into a freaking Pokémon. At least he could've made me something cool instead of everyone's worst nightmare. Then I almost died on the Titanic! The Titanic! I might not have minded being there, because I really wouldn't have minded, but not when it's sinking!"

"Yes, but they found you and saved you." Trish said patiently, "You can trust them."

"Actually, I kind of think I have the best reasons not to trust them."

"While you are right about the first two points, I think you are forgetting something very important," Trish raised an eyebrow.

"Oh yeah? What."

"If you hadn't been so hot-headed and snuck off each time, those things may not have happened. The first time, you snuck off to Hamlin to confront Gary when you told us you were going to Kumquat. The second time, you lied to Ash about going shopping when you were really going to Club Mystique to confront Gary, or so you thought. Both times we were only able to save you because someone spied on you!"

"So you're saying that they were my fault?"

"Jenn, you have got to admit they were more than partly your fault," Trish said evenly.

"Well it still shouldn't have been allowed to get this out of hand," Jenn shot back. "You have no idea what I've been through because of Tinkerbell and his evil plans. You're too lucky and caught up with being engaged to know."

"Is that what this is really about?" Trish's eyes blazed, "You're just jealous that I'm engaged and that Chris and Callie are interested in each other? Are you going to bring the others in to it, too?"

"It's not like that," Jenn gritted her teeth and took a breath. "You guys are just the ones who are obvious about it all."

"Now that's just ridiculous!" Trish laughed, "When one gets engaged, it's not something one hides! And when someone is out to date someone, you don't hide that either."

"Well it was humiliating to be a Pokémon. You can't say you know what that's like."

"No, I really can't say that I have, but Ash certainly knows."

"Yeah but he at least was a Pokémon that everyone loves! That water was cold too, T, really cold. It wasn't like having a thousand knives jammed into every available inch of skin," Jenn shivered at the memory. "It was more like millions. That's not something you'd know about or even understand."

"Take that back about not knowing or not understanding, Jenn. That's a damn lie and you know it." The Australian's eyes darkened. "The Hound at Dartmoor was no laughing matter. It wasn't out for a fun run or a little pat on the head, it was out for a pound of flesh and I was its provider! You try running for your life while suffering from an asthma attack. That's like your chest being squeezed shut with a steel vice!"

Alas, the blonde was getting too wound up to notice. "It's like I'm the only one who was really tortured by Lu. I mean, yeah, you were chased by a dog and that sucks, but I was in ice cold water for a long time. That showed me something, Trish. Lu's too strong and too sneaky to be pussy footing around. No one's doing a damn thing to stop him! There's nothing more being done other than talking about what to do about him. No one seems to lift a finger until something bad happens."

"Oh come OFF it, Jenn!" Trish finally lost her temper. "Who shoved a pole up your ass!"

Jenn was so shocked, her jaw dropped.

"I know you've been through a lot and not long recovered; but let's get some perspective here! You're not the only one who's suffered under Lu! You are NOT the only one who's nearly DIED! I've suffered because of Lu too, first with the incurable illness, then the public humiliation of that fight with Drake, and he's tried to kill me at least twice! And after the Hound I was all but dead, that I had to make a choice between living or dying. I've got two up on you in terms of being harmed, but do you see me going around and being a bitch to everyone about it? No, you don't."

The blonde was silent.

Trish sighed and calmed down a bit. "Look, I know you're chafing at the bit to go and kick some butt over what happened to you; but you've got no hope in hell against Lu on your own. If Puck and Callie, who have loads of magic that is natural to them, are having this much trouble against Lu, what do you think you can do? You have no magic, natural or unnatural, at all. For another thing, you're wrong about Lu. They are more powerful than he is. They are trying their very best and this is the thanks you show them?"

Jenn still said nothing.

Trish sighed again and stood up. "The only way we are going to defeat Lu is through our closeness as a group. Our power comes from within, and together we are more powerful than Lu. He knows this and will try to divide us. If you're gonna be like that, we might as well give up now and let Lu destroy the world. Do you really want that to be on your conscience? You need to apologise to everyone so we can get back to business." The dark-haired Australian left to go back inside.

Jenn sighed as she heard the door close. There was no way that her friend was right. She wasn't being a bitch, she was just being brutally honest. "Everybody's lost but me," Jenn murmured a line from a favourite movie, "But if I'm the only one who's prepared to get out there and do something about it, I'd better get some back up."

Of course, none of her Pokémon were high powered warriors. She had a varying assortment of cute fuzzy creatures. Her Absol wasn't at a high enough rate and neither was her Umbreon. "Not like she'd help anyway," Jenn muttered, "She'd probably just lead me right to Lu and have a smile on her face as she did it."

She kicked a stone with her foot. She wasn't as foolish as her friends to be trusting in those hopeless Faes. "Not with my life. I trust no one but myself with my life. If they want to trust them, go ahead. I'm not going to worry about them if I hear about their tragic end on the six o'clock news."

At least that's what she tried to tell herself. Pride demanded that she keep up the anger schtick a while longer.

ooo

"How did it go?" Drake asked his fiancée as she came stalking back inside.

"Terrible!" Trish growled as she plopped down beside him on the couch. "That girl just makes me SO angry sometimes. I am NOT talking to her for a good long while."

Shannon and Mia looked at each other with raised eyebrows. This had to be serious, Trish and Jenn hardly ever argued. And if they did, it was over in a matter of minutes.

Drake looked hopeful. "So does that mean that you're…."

"No, that does not mean she is moving out and that does not mean I'm gonna be looking for a new best friend!" Trish didn't let him finish.

Ben blinked. "But you just said that you weren't gonna be talking to her for a good long while…"

"I'm not, but that doesn't mean we're not friends anymore!"

The younger Thayer shook his head. "Women. I'll never understand them."

Shannon whacked him.

ooo

"This may turn out better than I thought," Lucius purred as he witnessed the recent events through a viewing globe.

He snapped his fingers as he lay back in his recliner and the globe vanished into thin air. "Divided amongst themselves, that group is helpless against my powers. That damn Trish is far too smart; she figured out the whole thing. But Jenn…foolish blonde, she is aiding me in my plans without knowing. Pride goes before the fall, as the saying goes…"

Lu put his hands behind his head and relaxed. "As long as she keeps on being foolish, my plans may very well succeed."

ooo

The next day, things were rather awkward. Both Trish and Jenn were taking great pains to not talk to one other, which made breakfast rather weird for Drake.

"Aren't you two going to say anything to each other?" he asked.

"Sure," Trish nodded.

Drake sighed in relief.

"Jenn, could you pass the butter?"

"If you pass the cream cheese."

The Orange Crew Leader just shook his head.

ooo

By late afternoon, Shannon couldn't stand it anymore. Her two closest friends not on speaking terms? Unheard of! And she was stuck in the middle, being close to both of them. She felt like she was trying to converse with two brick walls.

The brunette knocked on the door to Jenn's room.

"Identify yourself and the Goddess may allow you to enter," the blonde's voice came.

"It's Shannon."

"Entrez vous."

The brunette walked in to find Jenn sprawled across her bed, book in hand. Shannon chose a nearby chair to sit on.

Jenn didn't look over. "What up."

"When are you and Trish gonna apologise to each other?" Shannon asked. She winced a little at her bluntness but Jenn didn't seem to mind. Shannon knew that being blunt was something the blonde both respected and excelled at. A statement that was never truer than the present as Jenn's bluntness was what caused the argument between she and Trish.

Jenn flipped a page. "Age before beauty."

"Huh?"

"She apologises first."

"What was said, exactly?"

"She said that I should apologise to everyone because what I said was out of line and unfair." Jenn recounted, without taking her eyes from the pages of the book. A romance novel, Shannon realised, paranormal from the looks of the hot guy on the cover who was holding a fire ball in his hand. "Then she said that it was more than partly my fault that what happened to me happened because I snuck off both times. Then she said that I wasn't the only one who had suffered and nearly died, so there was no need to be bitchy to everyone."

"Well," Shannon said carefully. "Trish is right in a way. You did sneak off both times without telling anyone and so how could you be protected. And she's also right in the fact that she suffered too. Although…," she hastened to add, "yours is more recent and therefore still traumatic." She was always afraid of unintentionally making someone angry by what she said; especially when they were already mad.

Jenn sat up with a sigh, "I'm not being bitchy. I'm just saying what everyone is thinking and not saying."

"I hardly think anyone cares about whether Chris is ogling Callie too much."

"I really don't think anyone does either, but that's not really the point."

Shannon sighed internally. Figuring Jenn out was extremely difficult. She wasn't sure how Trish hadn't blown up at the blonde sooner! "What is the point?"

"Everyone is being completely unfair," Jenn complained. "All I meant by what I said was that we need to stop being focused on ourselves and get moving with closing the proverbial net in on Lu."

"Why didn't you just say so?"

"I did," Jenn defended herself, "In so many words."

"You may as well have been speaking Swahili then," Shannon shook her head, "No one thinks that what you said is what you just told me about what you said." Shannon blinked and shook her head, "I mean…"

Jenn waved her off, "I know what you meant. It's not like you were speaking Swahili."

Shannon felt her cheeks heat a little, "You're really weird."

Jenn shrugged, "It comes and it goes." The blonde stretched back out on her bed and resumed her book reading. She turned her back to her friend.

Shannon rolled her eyes, then continued. "But you know we're gonna have to resolve our differences if we are to defeat Lu. As a group we can combine our faith and our Pokémon with Puck and Callie's magic and defeat him. He knows that."

"Yeah, that's what Trish said, too."

"You know she's right."

"I don't see why I should have to put my life in the hands of those two Faes," the blonde said darkly. "Actually, I'm not putting my life into anyone's hands but my own."

"I don't see any other option," Shannon thought out loud. "You can't just leave and go home…"

"I know," Jenn interrupted her, "I already considered that."

Shannon blinked, "You did?"

"Sho nuff, shawty" Jenn said and flipped another page, causing Shannon to wonder if the blonde was even reading the book, "But Lu's so insane he'd probably follow me there and I'm not even about to put my family into danger."

"Well, you can't do it alone," Shannon stated firmly. "None of us humans can do it alone. We have no magic to combat anything Lu throws at us. You know that, Trish knows that, and Lu knows that. In fact he'd be rubbing his hands with glee if he knew about this fight."

"I'll apologise."

Shannon blinked again. That was it? A blow up of epic proportions was solved just by civil conversation? It couldn't be that easy. Nothing about Jenn was that fast or easy. Now Shannon was convinced the blonde wasn't reading the book.

Jenn was silent for a few seconds, then flipped another page. "I've only got one requirement."

"What?" Shannon asked warily.

"I don't want a lucky charm," the blonde looked over her shoulder and Shannon shivered at the wicked look in Jenn's blue-grey eyes, "Tell Puck I want my fire power back."

Shannon blurted out, "Why not just ask for the world!"

Jenn laughed, "Puck already gave Mia that. I figured a little fire that I already had ain't no thang."

"If that's all," Shannon gulped and stood up. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have someone else I need to talk to."

"If you're going to see Trish, and I'm very sure you are," Jenn sat up and looked back at Shannon, "Tell her I'll meet her at six at the Cliffside Pichu Bell."

"Anything else?"

"Just shut the door on your way out," Jenn said and returned to her book.

As Shannon did that, she was sure that Jenn really was reading the book.

ooo

"She what!" Puck was flabbergasted.

"I'm just the messenger," Shannon said meekly. "Please don't turn me into a mouse or anything."

But Puck walked by her towards a window. The two were in an upper room that had an awesome view of the ocean. Callie was there, as was Mia and Ash; the three were sitting at a table set up against the wall. There were four roses in front of the female Fae along with four daggers. A large black cauldron sat in the direct centre of the room. A magical fire was under the cauldron, heating the contents but not affecting the wooden floor beneath it.

Puck shook his head, looking infinitely weary, "I'm beginning to think Chris had the right idea."

Ash raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

"Chris was right?" Mia looked from one guy to the other, "About what?"

Ash snorted his amusement, "Having Puck turning Jenn back into an absol and locking her in a poké ball until this is all done with."

Mia burst out with a laugh, then clapped a hand over her mouth. "Sorry," she dropped her hand, but still grinning, "It's just a funny idea."

"Yeah and tempting." Puck sighed.

"Now, Puck," Callie said warningly.

"Callie, she pretty much barked up the wrong tree, pun intended," Puck said back, "She did insult you. I'm surprised you're not more upset."

"I'm not about to let a human get to me like that," Callie said smoothly, and waved her hand over one of the roses, turning it into a delicate looking solid gold rose that was no bigger than her pinky finger. "I've learned to not let my emotions get the better of me." She nodded at the golden rose and it lifted into the air and began to spin slowly. "Otherwise, she'd be an absol, locked in a poké ball, encased in cement, and dropped into the ocean until this is over with."

Shannon eeped while Ash grinned.

"You are wicked, Sis," Puck said with a chuckle.

"I'm just really good at what I do," she explained, while golden sparks appeared and swirled around the rose, quickly forming into a delicate gold chain. The newly completed necklace gently lowered to the table.

"We're not getting lovely necklaces, are we?" Ash asked.

"No, I was thinking more along the line of cufflinks."

"Callie…no offence, but cufflinks…" Ash broke off as Callie laughed a gentle chiming laugh. "You were kidding, weren't you?"

"Of course, Chosen One!" The ethereal Fae calmed down and in seconds looked as if she'd never laughed. "You and the other males will have an armband. The climate is warm enough to wear short sleeves to cover it, or to go sleeveless if you so wish."

"Nice choice, Sis," Puck said appreciatively.

"I'm sure," Callie said breezily. "But what will you do with that obstinate human?"

"Do?" Puck sighed as he sat on the wide window sill. "I don't know if there is much I can do about Jenn. That girl is so stubborn that she makes an ox look good in comparison. I don't know how Trish has managed to put up with her for so long without losing her temper all the time."

"Sometimes we wonder the same thing," Shannon exchanged grins with Mia. "I only wish that it hadn't happened now, not when we need both of them onside."

"Well, Jenn did say she was going to apologise over dinner, didn't she?" Mia queried.

"Yeah, that's what she said," Shannon shrugged. "But it seemed kind of funny and an abrupt capitulation to such a major fight. It didn't seem like a Jenn thing to do."

"Since when has Jenn ever been consistent?" Ash raised an eyebrow. "She's so unpredictable that she changes whims every few minutes. She's worse than a weathervane."

"True," the brunette sighed. "I just hope that those two don't have a blazing row over dinner or else we're sure to hear that one or both of them have gone over the cliffs!"

ooo

Six o'clock came, and true to her word, Jenn was seated at a table in the Cliffside Pichu Bell. She chose a table by the windows, which afforded a good view of the ocean and the gradually darkening horizon.

The blonde was gazing at the view when a scraping of the chair opposite alerted her to her friend's arrival. Trish quirked an eyebrow in greeting as she sat opposite. "Shannon gave me the message to meet you here."

"Good," Jenn nodded. "So…do you think we managed to pull this off convincingly?"

"The whole blazing argument?" Trish tilted her head slightly. "I think so. We've definitely managed to convince our friends that we're at each other's throats. I think that Shannon and Mia are getting quite worried, to be perfectly honest. I don't see why Lulu shouldn't be fooled."

"I hope so!" the blonde scowled as both rose to head to the counter to place their orders. "Do you have any idea of how much effort I had to put into this? I had to call on all my acting skillz. I almost broke down laughing only about a billion times. They know as well as you do that I couldn't get mad enough at you to ditch you. I mean, c'mon, everyone knows that I'm just the sweetest-tempered Goddess there is."

Trish rolled her eyes. "Ever the benevolent and mild-mannered Goddess you are."

"Well, duh!" The two girls shared a laugh then placed their orders.

Once they had collected their meals and sat down, Jenn took a sip of her Pepsi. "How much longer are we gonna have to go on with this?"

Trish shrugged. "I don't know."

"It's fun, but I don't know how much longer it can go without looking way beyond fake. Like earlier, when Shannon knocked on my bedroom door," Jenn shook her bangs out of her eyes, "I grabbed that book you let me borrow. Which, FYI, kind of sucks."

"Really?"

"Yeah but only a lot."

"Gee, thanks," Trish said dryly. "Pray tell, why does it suck so much?"

"He gets the girl but loses all his super powers in the end," Jenn griped, "That's so not cool."

"Spoken from personal experience?" Trish grinned.

"Recent!"

"I just bet. So, do you think we could drag it on for at least another day?" the Australian took a bite out of her soft taco.

"I'm game if you are," Jenn said. "But can we make it look believable?"

"I'm sure I can find some way of keeping you mad at me."

"Okay," Jenn drawled out, though she seemed to be perplexed.

Trish smiled at her friend's absent-minded moment. "The longer we carry this on, the more believable it would be to Lulu."

"You think?" She paused to take a bite. "You don't suppose that he's watching us right now through some kind of viewing thing?"

Trish thought for a moment, "Nah, I don't think so. I mean he can't be watching us 24/7 can he? Besides, I think he's arrogant enough to believe that we can't possibly trick him, being mortals and all."

"Yeah, I think you're right."

"Surely Callie and Puck would tell us if we were being watched…"

Jenn shrugged as she took a sip. "I would hope so, but given their track record so far, I wouldn't be putting any money on it."

"But if you won't accept one of these talismans they are making, how are you going to defend yourself?" Trish questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"I would like to say with my Pokémon," Jenn sighed, "Except that my team consists of cute and cuddly Pokémon. Two Growlithe, a Houndour, an Umbreon, and an Absol. Since I don't battle, I don't really train them, ergo, none of them are particularly high powered. Umbreon is more likely to betray me or direct an attack at me than to help me."

"Now, Jenn…"

"Trish, I would not put it past her to either take me right to Lu or take him right to me," Jenn snorted derisively, "So it looks like I'll have to accept one of these magical hickies – though I did ask Shan to tell Puck to give me my fire power back."

"I'm not sure he's likely to grant that wish."

"It's not like I don't know how to use it," Jenn sighed again. "It would be nice though. I'd never be scraping around for a match."

"You don't smoke!"

"No, but I light candles!" Jenn beamed, "And think of what a pick up line that could be."

Trish burst out laughing.

"What!" Jenn looked puzzled. "Girls pick up guys as much as guys pick up girls."

"I know!" Trish settled down, "I was just imagining the kinds of things you'd say!"

"I just bet," Jenn snickered and spoke in a coy voice, "Is it hot in here or is it just me?" Then she spoke in a deeper voice, "Babe, you're on fire." Then in her own voice, "I'll light your world." Then in the deep voice, "No, you're really on fire…"

The two laughed for some time before sobering up. "He still won't give it to you though. You know that, right?"

"I can hope," Jenn said wistfully.

"Jenn…"

The blonde sighed, "Faes are such cheapskates."

"Jenn!" Trish laughed. "That's not nice."

"But it's true!"

"Maybe just stick close to Ash," the dark-haired girl mused. "He was able to defeat Lu's magic and bring you back from being an Absol, single-handedly because he is the Chosen One."

"Being recently single, I really do like that thought," Jenn said seriously, "However, I'm not as sure that El Preggo would react to that. She already thinks that I'm some sort of hooker who's trying to lead Ash away from their happy home."

"And how do you know that?"

"Duh, I was a Pokémon."

"Not a psychic one," Trish pointed out. "You were a disaster…I mean, dark Pokémon."

"Disaster, that's right," Jenn mused, "I should've directed a disaster her way." She snapped her fingers, "Silly me, I forgot. She's Misty. She's already a walking disaster. The Fates obviously wanted me to appear to Ash to warn him of Misty. I was obviously too late."

Trish snickered, "Way too late. Like several years late."

"Yeah well when I was there as an Absol, Misty spoke way evilly of me," Jenn shrugged, though it was apparent to Trish that whatever Misty said, it still hurt her friend, "I mean, there's been squat to suggest that I've been after Ash or to destroy their happy home. Hello! He's a married man with his first demon spawn, I mean, child on the way. That makes him totally off-limits."

There was a lull in the conversation as each finished their meal. They sat, thinking, after the food was gone. Or rather, Trish thought while Jenn eyed a well muscled guy leaving the building.

"Or maybe Drake can lend you one of his Dragonite or Dragonair until this is all over," the Australian finished her soda.

Muscle guy forgotten, Jenn leaned forward eagerly. "That would not even begin to cover making up for possibly not giving me my fire power back, but it could be totally awesome! Do you think he would?"

"Sure he would! Especially if I order him to," Trish smirked. "He's pretty well trained and if he doesn't agree…well…I have my ways."

Jenn sat back, a slight grimace on her face, "If it includes handcuffs and a whip, I don't even want to know."

"Like you didn't go there with Gary."

Jenn rolled her eyes, "He never gave me a chance to."

"True, maybe it's just as well with all those sexual diseases he probably has."

"Eww," the blonde wrinkled her nose, "That's so gross. I just ate! I don't want to see it again! And anyway, I'd definitely have had to kill him for that."

"I think you want to kill him now, regardless."

"Well I don't think anyone would miss him," Jenn snorted.

"You're not wrong there."

ooo

Back at Drake's villa, Shannon, Drake, Ben and Mia were waiting for the girls to come home.

"I'm getting worried," Shannon admitted as she sat down next to her boyfriend. "We haven't heard a thing from either of them."

"It might be a bit early to start worrying, Shan," Drake spoke up. "The fact we haven't heard from Trish and Jenn could be a good thing. It could mean that they're actually talking and getting along, instead of fighting."

"I sure hope so," the brunette sighed.

ooo

The two girls in question had left Pichu Bell and had wandered along the street to a nearby shopping mall. They found a bookshop and were currently browsing along the shelves.

"Oooh you totally have to read this one, T" Jenn grabbed one paperback from the shelf and handed it to her friend.

Trish looked at the cover with a raised eyebrow. A barely clothed dark-haired man with rippling muscles was holding a bosomy dark-haired woman in a state of near undress in a very compromising position. "Why do I have to read it?"

"Because the Goddess demandeth it! It's much better than the book you lent me," the blonde grinned. "I read it and totally loved it and I know you will too. And the totally best reason for last…"

"And what is that?" her friend was wary.

"The heroine has your name, Trish!" Jenn beamed.

"What? I don't believe you," the Australian scoffed.

"Lookie!" Jenn opened the book and jabbed down at a word. "See? It says Trish."

Trish peered closer. "So it does."

"It might give you ideas," The blonde said cheekily.

"Do I even want to know what you mean by that?" her friend rolled her eyes before she gasped suddenly, "Oh no! Look at the time!"

"What?" Jenn looked over her friend's shoulder, looking towards the doors leading out, "You have a carriage that's gonna turn into a pumpkin or something?"

"No, you nitwit!" Trish tapped her watch, " It's 9:30! We've been gone for three hours! Everyone must be beside themselves!"

"Only if they've discovered cloning!" Jenn laughed it off, "Besides, time flies when you're having fun. They know that."

"But we're not supposed to be having fun!"

"I forgot," Jenn sighed, "So we save the flying time for another day?"

"Yup."

When they arrived back at the villa, they paused at the front gate.

"You'd better go in first," Jenn told her friend, "I'll hang here for another ten minutes then go in."

"What are we mad at each other for?" Trish queried, "Same old thing or something new? You could say that I gave you a diet Pepsi and you gave me decaf sludge."

"Uh..." Jenn frowned as she thought, "Let's just stick with me being stubborn about not trusting those two faes."

"Works for me."

ooo

The group were relieved to hear a key turning in the front door; however their smiles faded when they saw the angry look on Trish's face.

"What happened?" Mia asked.

"Jenn is the most stubborn, most infuriating person I know," the Australian fumed.

"We knew that," Drake said dryly. "What else?"

"She's still refusing to trust Puck and Callie," Trish said. "I've tried to tell her that she's got no hope in hell against Lu on her own, over and over. But will she listen? No."

"So you've been arguing for over three hours?" Ben spoke up.

"Oh yeah. You know how Jenn gets when she's all pissed off," the Australian dropped her keys back in her purse.

"Not to mention how you get when you're the same way," Shannon added with a sly smile.

"So would you if you had to deal with Jenn in one of her moods," Trish huffed before she left the room to go upstairs. As her footsteps died away, the rest were left looking at each other.

"That went well," said Mia.

Ten minutes later, the front door opened again and Jenn stormed in and upstairs without so much as a word.

"I take that back," the brunette said. "It went very well."

"You have a strange definition of 'well'," Ben grinned.

ooo

Trish had not long sat down on her bed when her cell phone beeped. Fishing the device out of her purse, she grinned when she saw it was a text message from Jenn.

Hey T – think we fooled 'em?

She quickly sent a message back. Don't know. Hope so!

They'd bettah! The Goddess is totally bored in here!

U just got there.

So? I are bored.

Nut.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard that, I'd be richer than Ash.

ooo

The next day, Lu checked through his viewing globe and was beyond delighted to catch the two mortals in the midst of another loud and long argument in the backyard.

"This is better than I thought," he murmured to himself as he watched the blonde shout out something which really annoyed the raven-haired girl. "The two who have the strongest bond out of all of them, are slowly breaking apart. They will be much weaker for it."

The red-haired Fae chuckled and with a flick of the wrist, dismissed the globe. A worn, tatty looking book appeared in his hands. It was a manual on nature spells, a holdover from his days as a young student fae. If he was going to pull this off successfully, he would have to study more.

Lu sighed. Studying had never been a strong point of his.

ooo

Shannon and Drake were staring in disbelief at the scene before them. Trish and Jenn were still arguing and both seemed determined to drag out everything and anything to fight about. It had started, as usual, over Jenn's continued stubbornness on not trusting Callie and Puck. It had degenerated into a slanging match over the most trivial things.

"You gave me a frigging diet Pepsi!" Jenn screeched, "It's the most inhumane thing anyone, and especially you, could ever give me! It's poison! That's like giving chocolate to a dog!"

"I guess you'd know that better than any of us!"

"That is SO not fair of you!"

"Well neither is giving me DECAF coffee!" Trish shouted back. "That's just brown toxic sludge! No one who hopes to live gives me that rubbish!"

Both onlookers had their eyebrows raised. "Is it just me or does it look like they're trying to argue about anything just for the sake of arguing?"

"If they are, then I really think they're scraping the bottom for things to argue about," Shannon whispered to the Orange Crew Leader.

"Definitely."

"I SO GIVE UP ON YOU!" Trish flung out suddenly, "YOUR STUBBORNNESS IS KEEPING YOU FROM SEEING THE TRUTH!" and went storming off into the house.

The two looked at Jenn, who glared back at them before she stalked through the archway leading towards the garage.

"Shouldn't you go after Trish?" Shannon looked at Drake.

"And get my head ripped off?" the Orange Crew Leader shook his head, "I don't think so."

The brunette rolled her eyes, "And here I thought you were supposed to be a big, brave Orange Crew Leader."

"I am extremely brave, Shannon, but I am not suicidal."

"But Trish is very upset," Shannon protested, "She'll need comforting. You're her fiancé and it's your job to go and comfort her when she's not happy."

"I think I'll let her calm down first."

"Chicken."

"You go to her then," Drake smiled evilly.

"Me?" Shannon squeaked out in terror, "Oh no! She'd eat me alive!"

"Taking back that comment about being chicken?"

"Yup!"

"Great."

There was a pause, then Shannon said, "You could go after Jenn and make sure she doesn't take off. Again."

Drake shook his head, "For reference, please see the 'I'm not suicidal' note."

"You're right," Shannon frowned, then shook her head, "So do you think we should just let them settle it on their own?"

"If there's anything to settle," Drake mused, "Something about this fight doesn't seem right."

"Because they're fighting at all?" Shannon asked, then a shocked look came over her features, "You don't think they're under a spell, do you?"

"Nothing like that," Drake said, "I have a feeling it may be something less complicated than that."

ooo

After storming inside, Trish had gone straight upstairs to her room, grabbed her purse, keys and phone; went back downstairs and out the front door. She had reached the end of the street when her phone rang. "Hello?"

"T, it's me" Jenn's voice came. "Is the coast clear?"

The Australian looked behind her. She couldn't see any familiar faces following her. "I believe so."

"Aiiight," her best friend drawled. "The Goddess shall meet you at Pika Hut at the main mall."

Trish laughed. "You have a thing for meeting at food places, don't you?"

"Yah, well I'm hungry. And arguing always makes me hungry."

"Too much like Ash."

"You always say that. I'll see you there in fifteen minutes."

ooo

It was a pleasant walk down to the main mall; the sun was shining and a gentle breeze ruffled the palm trees that lined the boulevard. Trish quickly reached the establishment in question and sat down on the bench outside to wait and indulge in her favourite pastime of people watching.

Watching all the different types of people, both local and gawking tourist, she found herself musing over the fact that maybe she shouldn't really worry about what she wore so much. There were as usual some clothing horror stories out there. Then again, being a bit in the public eye with Drake – she did have reason to worry.

Trish wasn't exactly looking forward to the news of the engagement being announced to the press, not after her recent treatment over the 'affair' by said press. Not that she'd be able to stop it, as Drake was the number one celebrity in the entire Archipelago. It was just something she'd have to learn to live with.

She sighed and watched the bustling throngs of people. Pummelo was a really nice place to live, the atmosphere was relaxed and the people were always friendly. The only thing that was marring the experience was that damn evil Fae.

Trish hoped that Callie and Puck would be able to bring down Lu once and for all and soon. Until then she would not let herself become too excited about her future.

"Are we gonna get somethin' to eat or what?" a familiar voice asked from behind her. "I am so on the starving bandwagon."

She turned with a grin to see Jenn standing there. "Okay, Ms Stomach. Let's go get you some food before you waste away."

The two friends entered Pika Hut and sat down at a booth in a quiet corner. Jenn ordered a personal pan sized pizza with no sauce and extra cheese.

"Knew you'd order that," Trish smirked before she placed her order.

"It doesn't take a psychic to know how much I hate sauce," but Jenn grinned to soften any harsh edge to the words, "It takes away from the cheese flavour."

Their drinks were brought a few minutes later; Jenn waiting until the waitress was well out of earshot before speaking. "Did you see the look on Drake's and Shannon's faces earlier? I wish I had my digital camera to catch it all for blackmail later. It took a lot to not bust out laughing."

"It was priceless," her friend agreed. "They must think we've completely flipped."

"Don't they think that already?" the blonde smirked and sipped a bit of soda. "I'll be glad when today is over and we can start hanging around together again."

Trish raised an eyebrow. "What do you think we're doing now?"

"But this is hanging on the sly," Jenn grumbled. "I just want to be able to hang with my best friend whenever I want and drop around the malls and beaches."

"Tomorrow we can," Trish reassured.

"Good," the blonde sighed. "While it's been fun an'at, having to act like this as if it's real sucks."

"It is a bit of a bummer."

"Plus I'm so with the ouchy fingers from texting you all the time," Jenn laughed as their orders were brought to the table. "Playstation and my Gameboy did not prepare me enough."

"You flooded my inbox," Trish grinned, helping herself to a slice of pizza.

"I had a lot to tell you!" Jenn defended herself. There was a lull in the conversation before the blonde asked, "You think everyone's gonna be mad when they find out we punked them?"

"Shannon would probably be more relieved than mad," her friend mused. "And anyway when she gets mad, it's not very scary at all."

"Yeah, she's even more unscarier than you are."

"Is that even a word?"

"It is now. Call it a Jennism and be done with it."

"The rest won't be mad, not when the fights are in aid of a good cause – the defeat of Lu."

They ate in silence, and when they had finished, they paid their bill and left.

"So how are we going to tell them we resolved this?" Trish asked as they stepped into the bright sunshine.

"We slugged it out a la Buffy meets Xena?"

Trish rolled her eyes, "In a realistic manner."

"What's not realistic about that? You're Buffy and I'm Xena."

"I always pinned you more for a Lara Croft."

"You could but I have not the cleavage for it," Jenn sighed in mock exasperation. "Or you can just say we met up, had lunch, and ran our credit cards through the gauntlet that is the Grande Pointe Shopping Centre."

Trish looked thoughtful, "There is that. I like it."

"The guys always enjoy joking that I can be bought for an expensive item," The blonde glowered, "And let them joke, for one day I shall exact my revenge for all their mockery."

Trish looked over at her friend. The blonde had a glare on her face that had people walking around them in a wide berth, "I think maybe you had too much soda."

"Too much," Jenn looked over at Trish, "Or not enough?"

"Uh-huh, well shopping as a cover sounds good to me." A pause. "We'd better go shopping then."

"Just to add to the realism."

"No other reason."

"Nope, none indeed," Jenn looked smug. "None at all."

ooo

When the girls got back, they found Drake sitting in the living room doing work on his laptop. The Orange Crew Leader glanced up with a raised eyebrow. "Well, I can see that you two didn't kill each other."

"Our friendship has totally been mended," Jenn informed him. "There's nothing that a good lunch, a good talk and a bit of shopping can't fix."

Drake rolled his eyes. "Of course not."

"So if you've been hoping that I'm gonna vanish out of T's life like some bad dream, think again," Jenn smirked. "I'm here for good."

"I knew that already," he grumbled good-naturedly. "The whole 'you are a bad penny' thing hasn't escaped me."

"Good, just so you know that," Jenn swung her purchases over her shoulder. "Aiight, I'm gonna go and put these things away, then I'm gonna read for a while."

"See you in a little while," Trish grinned as she sat down next to Drake. The dark-haired man switched off his laptop and shut it before looking at his fiancée.

"You two weren't really fighting, were you?"

"Whatever do you mean?" the Australian feigned innocence.

Drake rolled his eyes as he draped one arm around her shoulders. "You can't fool me with that "Miss Innocence" act, sweetie."

"Darn, and here I was hoping," Trish grinned.

"That whole fighting with Jenn thing just didn't seem right," the Orange Crew Leader continued. "You two hardly ever fight, if at all; which makes this whole thing seem so strange."

"We can fight," Trish protested. "Jenn and I don't see eye to eye on everything, as you well know. We're two different people."

"Yes, but that's a rare occurrence, if at all." Drake grinned and kissed her softly. "C'mon you can tell me about it. We're going to be married, there should be no secrets between us."

The dark-haired girl smiled. "Of course not…and you're right. The fights have all been a big sham."

"Glad to hear that, but why?"

"We thought that it would help to deceive Lu into thinking that our little group is at odds and get lazy with his preparations for whatever he plans to do." Trish explained. "If that happens, then he'll be in for a nasty shock when we make our move."

"That's really quite brilliant," Drake mused. "I wonder why nobody else thought of that.."

"No one can match the natural genius of Jenn and myself, that's why," Trish laughed.

"Egotism does not become you," the Orange Crew Leader grinned. "You really spend too much time around that girl. It's not healthy for you."

"I know, but I enjoy her company. She's fun."

"I'll give her that."

"There's nothing you can do about it."

"I know…"

"I have a theory…"

"About what?"

"Why you two act like this."

"Do tell."

"You two really like each other, like siblings – but you just don't want to admit it!"

"Honey, you really ought to read something other than psychology books." Drake said dryly, "The day that blonde is like a sister to me, is the day I give her my best Dratini."

Trish affected a hurt expression, "So you like her in some other way?"

Drake was shocked for a second before catching the teasing glint in her voice. "You wicked girl. You really have been spending too much time around Jenn."

ooo

Misty paced around the living room of the villa she and Ash were using. She was glad that Drake let them use it, and she really loved the area, but there were some things going on that were making her uneasy. She wasn't sure if the unease was imagined due to her whacky hormones, or if something really was going wrong.

She thought that the odd feelings may have been due to the absol that Ash had taken in a couple of weeks ago. Knowing full well that it was not only a stray but a disaster type, Ash had reassured her that nothing would go wrong. And true to his word, nothing had gone wrong while the absol was around. However, it was odd that not soon after the absol was gone (and as mysteriously as it arrived), that Misty would be found by Gary and then experience an earthquake.

Shivers played up and down her spine, raising gooseflesh over her bare arms. She rubbed her arms briskly and sighed. She sat on one of the bar stools that were lined at the centre island in the spacious kitchen area.

She wanted to go home. What had started off as a nice relaxing vacation was beginning to give her the creeps.

A skittering of claws on tiles preceded the entrance of Pikachu into the kitchen. 'Pikachupi!' the mouse greeted cheerfully, before running by to check on her little family.

"Hey Pikachu," Misty smiled after the tiny creature.

Ash entered the kitchen a few minutes later, dropping his jacket over a nearby chair. He greeted his wife with a tender kiss on the lips. "Hey, Mist."

"How did the League meeting go?"

"Good," he poured himself a glass of water and sat down beside her. "The League's setting up a brand new competition for next year."

"What, another League?"

"No, nothing like that. It's going to be a face-off between the champions of the Indigo, Orange, Johto and Hoen competitions," Ash explained. "It's more of a fundraiser tournament. Plus all of the proceeds are going to be sent to the foundation for disadvantaged and disabled Trainers."

"Does the winner get anything?"

"They'll get a nice trophy."

"What about money?"

Ash shrugged, "There's prize money but it'll go to a charity of their choice."

Misty wrinkled her nose. "It's a good idea and all, but there doesn't seem to me to be much incentive for the champions to participate."

Ash laughed and gave her kiss. "Seems that way, doesn't it? Believe it or not, the suggestion to make the donation to charity came from the champions themselves. Their input has been sought the whole way and they really want to do this."

"That's noble of them," Misty smiled, then couldn't resist adding, "Unlike some other champion I know…"

"Hey, I'll have you know I've given back plenty to the community!" her husband protested. A wounded look spread over his handsome features.

Misty laughed and kissed the pout off his face. "Just kidding. I know you have, sweet. You've given back far more than you've received." She groaned a little and slowly stood up. "Can we move into the living room? My back is killing me."

They sat down on a sofa and Misty sighed in relief at the pressure being taken off of her spine.

"So what have you been doing all day?" Ash asked as he idly played with her hair.

"Nothing much, just thinking about things…"

"Care to share?"

She was silent for a moment before turning to Ash with a very serious expression on her face. "I want to go home to Indigo Plateau."

"What?" Ash was so shocked that he spluttered out the first thing on his mind. "I thought you were enjoying it here."

"I was," Misty said. "I'm not anymore. Too many strange things have been happening for me to feel comfortable here. Things like what happened to Trish, then there was that stray absol, and right after that there was an earthquake!"

"I don't think that the Absol had anything to do with the earthquake."

"Yes it did! It's a Disaster Pokémon for crying out loud! All you have to do is consult the closest Pokédex or six-year-old! Absols only appear before a disaster and that means something really bad is going to happen!"

"Hon, that's with a wild Absol. That one was tame and had a trainer. I just offered to train it for a while," Ash reassured her. He thanked his lucky staryus that Jenn wasn't around to hear Misty's comment.

"Let's go home," Misty shivered. "Let's get away from this place as quickly as possible."

Her husband sighed. "I can't do that."

"Why not?" Misty looked him squarely in the eyes. "Is being here for the League more important than your family? This is your first born, Ash, there's no going back! You can never have another first born. If something happened to me and I lost the baby…I…I don't think I could bear that!"

"Mist…" Ash thought quickly. He hadn't been telling her about Lu and his threats simply because he hadn't wanted to stress her, yet it was turning out he was stressing her regardless. "There's something I haven't been telling you."

Misty's blue eyes widened, "It's Jenn, isn't it? You've been seeing her behind my back!"

"W…what?" Ash stuttered, "Of course not! It's not that at all!"

"Really," Misty said flatly, "You've spent an awful lot of time in her presence lately. How am I supposed to know if you're 'with' her or not?"

"Because I'm your husband," Ash took her hands in his, "I take my vows very seriously. Have you ever known me to break a promise?"

Misty clenched her lips together in a tight line.

"Misty, have I ever broken a promise to you?"

Finally she sighed out irritably, "No, you haven't."

"And haven't I proven myself ever faithful to you?" Ash squeezed her hands momentarily, "Remember those girls who stalked me while we were engaged? I stayed faithful to you even though some of them were very persistent."

Misty sighed, "I'm hormonal, okay? I'm not used to being so emotional all of the time. One second I'll be ready to cry at the drop of a hat and the next I'll be ready to take down a Primeape with my bare hands."

"Then I'll take this uncertainty as a pregnancy thing," Ash said cautiously. "Fair enough?"

Misty consented, "Fair enough." She bit her lip, wondering if she should tell Ash about Gary. She looked up into his mahogany brown gaze and decided to not tell him. As the League Master, he surely had more than enough to worry about. "Why don't you go call out for some dinner, okay?"

"Sure," Ash got up, "You want me to order from the usual place."

She nodded, "Yes, please."

He left the room, walking for the kitchen area, and as soon as he was gone, Misty pulled Gary's card from her pocket. She toyed with it, beginning to tear it in half, when she saw Gary's face in her mind.

"Here's my number if you get bored, toots."

In Misty's mind, Gary's tone of voice wasn't demanding and the words didn't insinuate anything crude. It was how she remembered him last speaking. As a friend. After being rivals for so long, then becoming friends for these last ten years, it was a shame they were now rivals again. Something big had gone down between them and Misty wasn't so sure it wasn't due to Jenn.

She remembered what Gary had told her about Jenn. That the blonde was manipulative and greedy, and those were two qualities Misty had already seen first hand. There had been some time between first entering Burger Kingler with Gary and the consequent earthquake, and in that time Gary had filled Misty in on some of the mystery that Ash refused to share with her.

In reality, Gary told her, he had been the one to walk in on Jenn in a compromising situation at Club Mystique, not the other way around. Jenn had also, on occasion, tried her hand at seducing Ash. Misty did not have a hard time seeing either of those, especially the second, as being true.

What she did have a hard time believing, was Gary's hushed comment that the stray, yet trained, absol wasn't an absol at all. Gary had told her it had actually been Jenn, who had been transformed by an unknown entity.

"It was funny to see the disastrous bitch she always was on the inside, was now reflected on the outside," Gary had told her.

The words had resonated coldly through Misty. The Absol that had been in their home, the one that had shaken ocean water from her coat on Misty and Ash, had been Misty's number one rival for Ash. She'd gotten angry, remembering the few nights she'd found the absol cuddled against her husband in their bed. She shared that information with Gary, who hadn't looked surprised.

"Sad, isn't she?" was all he had said. Misty had to agree, though when she brought up the subject of the match between Ash and Gary, the former's blue eyes sparked with anger.

"Another unfair subject," Gary had said, and he had been about to say more when the earthquake had hit, and all talk was set aside in a heartbeat.

After the quake was over and Misty had been insistent about leaving, Gary had said one other thing before giving her his card. "I'm leaving, Misty. I'm going back to Pallet."

That news had surprised her only a little. What little of a reputation Gary had here was in tatters, which was why she'd been so surprised to see him in public at all. Apparently, Gary was going back to see what was salvageable with his grandfather. Though there was talk that Gary had pumped up his Umbreon with some sort of steroids, Gary had denied it to her. "We're talking about Jenn as an Absol trying to fight against a natural born Umbreon. Of course they'd fabricate some lie so she could win. There'd have been no other way for them to win."

Misty snapped back to the present when she heard Ash walking back to the living room. He was still on the phone with the take-out people, talking loudly and cheerily. She had just enough time to stuff the card into her pants pocket before he walked into the room.

"Want a side of breadsticks, hon?"

Misty nodded brightly, "Sure, sweetie."

He gave her a grin and a thumbs up and left the room.

Misty sighed and leaned back against the couch. She was seriously considering bumming a ride from Gary back to the mainland. It occurred to her then that Ash hadn't told her what he'd been keeping secret from her and in a second she figured it didn't matter. What would happen, would happen. She had no control over anything but her own destiny.

She listened to the sound of the ocean filtering in from the open windows and felt the warm salty breeze on her bare arms. Despite the lure the ocean has always held for her, she didn't feel safe.

And the ocean always made her feel safe.

ooo

"Jenn, for the last time," Puck said through gritted teeth, "I will not give you back your fire power."

"But it's mine!" Jenn whined, "I know how to use it!"

The blonde had barged in on the two Faes, who were in the northern wing of Drake's villa where they were creating the protection talismans. She'd spent the last ten minutes trying to win her case for getting back the fire power she'd had as an absol.

"It's not yours, never was yours, and never will be yours," Puck had never felt such irritation in his very long life. "Fire is not yours to command!"

"He-llo!" Jenn waved a hand, "Sagittarian here. Fire is in my nature."

"She's right, you know," Callie mused, "She's a natural hot head."

"You're not helping, sister," Puck ground out.

"Yes, she really is," Jenn said with a thankful look to Callie, "Oh come on, I promise to be responsible with it!"

"No," Puck said with a final tone to it, "And that's my final answer."

"Really?" Jenn looked crestfallen, "I'll take whatever talisman you're making, as well."

"That's about all you're going to get," Puck looked at her pointedly, "No matter how many times you ask me for the fire, you're not getting it."

She looked hopefully at Callie, who shrugged gracefully, then at Puck, who glared at her. The hopeful look changed to a slightly quivering lip, then flashed to anger in seconds. "Fine, whatever you say, Legolas."

Puck's eyes widened and Callie laughed. He brushed a hand through his long, loose locks, "I'm not blond!"

Jenn simply flipped the bird at the Fae before leaving the room, slamming the door behind her.

"Humans are most unpredictable," Callie mused while putting the finishing touches on Trish's talisman. "Too emotional."

"Too everything," Puck growled, "I can't believe she called me that."

"Oh, I don't know. He was quite handsome, for a human posing as an elf."

"If you like the sort that look like they swing either way," Puck shook his head, "She's trouble through and through."

"And Chris's idea…"

"So seriously considering it."

ooo

Rudy was walking down what was considered the main street of Pummelo Central when his boss sent him a mental command.

'Rudy, I have a job for you to do.'

'Sir?' Rudy paused by a small boutique that sold pens and pretended to window shop.

'That meddlesome blonde is headed your way. Her bond with her friends is weak and now is the time to strike.' There was a pause, 'I will be watching, just in case she is not easy to sway.'

'Sway? What do you mean by that?' Rudy looked at one pen. Twelve hundred dollars for an onyx and mother of pearl inlaid pen. Ridiculous.

'Stop looking at that pen and concentrate! Go down the street to the park on the corner of Beach and Spring streets, and sit on a bench under a tree. I will make it so that she walks right to you.'

Rudy's eyes widened at the curtness but he complied with Lu's orders. He walked down the street to a small corner park that had a fountain in it and sat on a bench under a broad leafy tree.

He didn't wait long before he saw the blonde. The decorative short sleeves almost reached her elbows and fluttered in the wind as she stalked. They almost looked like wings, however she looked ready to skin someone. He groaned inwardly when she spotted him.

'Do not fret, Mortal,' Lu's voice wound like a snake through his mind, 'I have cast a glamour upon you.'

'Why?'

'The blonde may be easy to deceive, but even she would not talk directly to you.' There was a slight pause, to which Rudy felt a slight chill pass over and through him. It only lasted a second, but left a tingling sensation over his skin. 'When she sees you, she will only see one person. No one but she will see you as him.'

'Who do I look like?' Rudy asked quickly. The blonde was walking slowly towards him, a take out cup from Pichu Bell in hand.

'More importantly, who you sound like,' Lu sounded satisfied, 'Say hello to the dumb blonde, Ash Ketchum. And don't forget one important thing. Unlike you, Ash actually has a spine. Try not to screw up.'

The link to Lu was broken so suddenly that Rudy almost jumped. As it was, he was surprised to see that his clothes had changed. He had been wearing khaki pants and a black t shirt and black loafers. Now he was wearing a black tank top, blue jeans, and a pair of sandals. Save for the platinum wedding band on his left hand, the Grand Master had no fashion taste at all. At least the toe nails were manicured.

"Ash, what are you doing here?"

Rudy looked up, "Just hanging around. You look upset. What's wrong?"

The blonde rolled her eyes before flopping onto the bench beside him, "Those stupid Faes."

"Oh?" His interest was definitely piqued. "What about them?"

'Yes, what about them?' The sudden return of Lu wasn't unexpected to Rudy. The moment Jenn said the word Fae, he was expecting Lu to reconnect.

"Well…" She took a sip of her drink, looked around, then turned to face him, "You know how I was an absol, right?"

"Couldn't possibly forget."

"Kay, so, I asked Puck if he'd give me my fire power back. I figured since I already had it, that it'd be no thang and I could just rehave it, you know?" the blonde took a breath, "But he said, no, no, we're making these stupid talismans and they'll protect you from Lu. You're not getting your fire power back."

'Talismans, hmm.' There was a pause, then Lu said, 'Ask her if she knows what kind of protection it gives.'

'You don't think Ash already knows?'

'Just ask! Impertinent human!'

"What…"

"I mean, those stupid things only activate when danger is near," Jenn blurted out angrily, "But if I had fire power, then I'd have protection at all times. It's so stupid to have something that looks like jewellery be protection!"

"And he won't give an active power to you." Rudy mused thoughtfully, then repeated what Lu quietly said, "What if you had something the Faes didn't know about?"

"Huh?" The blonde looked confused, "Like what?"

Again, Lu murmured in Rudy's mind, and again, Rudy repeated it.

"A protection tattoo?" Jenn looked uncomfortable. "I don't know about that. Tattoos involve needles, don't they? My sister got one and she said the needle was all eew."

A warm breeze washed over them and Rudy got to his feet, "C'mon, what do you have to lose? I know the best tattoo parlour. They don't even use needles." Rudy felt a tingle on his left upper arm, the side of him that Jenn hadn't seen. Lu mentally confirmed the tattoo. "See? Even I have one."

Jenn looked at the tattoo appreciatively. "That's gorgeous!" It was of Ho-oh and the colouring was so intricate that it almost looked alive.

Rudy flexed his arm and the bird moved with the muscle. 'I could really get used to this form, boss.'

'I'm sure,' the reply came dryly, 'Now get a move on it. I don't want to use up all my powers on holding this form on you. Walk down Beach street to Hidden Cove Way. There will be a parlour there facing the ocean. You can't miss it.'

"You ready?"

Unease filled Jenn's eyes, "I'm not sure. Those are kinda permanent."

'She has no idea,' Lu said smugly. 'Not to mention that it will give me access to hearing and seeing what she does.'

'What do you mean by that? Can't you just use a viewing globe?'

'Idiot! Of course I can! But I cannot gain access to the inner sanctuaries where the Faes roam. Their magicks rebound all of my viewing orbs. If, however, I have magic imprinted onto one of those allowed inside, then I can gain access to everything they see and hear.'

'Like a computer virus or legal loophole,' Rudy thought admiringly at his boss's foresight. He frowned, 'But what about when she's sleeping or in the can? That's kind of sick.'

'I will not be watching every second of her day, fool. Even I am not that ill-hearted.'

"Ash? What's up?"

"What?"

"You were frowning," Jenn cocked her head to the side in a manner that reminded Rudy very much of her absol form. "Why?"

"No particular reason," He shrugged, "So you want a protection tattoo or not?"

Jenn winced, "Is it painful?"

"Nope."

"Free?" Jenn grinned sheepishly, "I didn't exactly bring any money with me."

He looked at the soft drink cup in her hand and she looked down and laughed, "Ah, not anything more than what I've already spent. I only brought five dollars and of that I have a whole seventy-five cents."

Rudy said it without thinking, "I'll cover you."

"Oh really?" Jenn winked at him.

"Well…I mean…" Rudy was flustered momentarily. No one had ever asked that kind of question with that sort of look.

"Don't worry about it, Ashy," Jenn dropped her drink into a trash can and hooked her arm around his. "Let's go find this place."

ooo

It only took fifteen minutes before they came upon the tattoo parlour. From the outside, it looked almost like a beach shack. Painted sapphire blue, it had shutters and a fake palm tree outside its doors. A pink flamingo was stuck in the sandy area in front of the floor to ceiling front windows.

"This is some place, Ashy," Jenn said, "Kind of beach tacky."

"Sure is," Ash said dismissively. It looked to Jenn like he was about to laugh.

They walked to the front door, which was wide open, and Jenn froze. Ash was walking ahead of her, but pulled to a stop as they were still arm in arm. He looked back, "What's wrong?"

"I…I can't do this!"

"Of course you can. If I can, you can."

"But…needles!"

With his free hand, Ash gestured to a sign taped to the front door. Written on it was, "LASER SHOP! NO NEEDLES!"

Jenn looked at Ash sheepishly, "Okay, okay, you win. You know I can't say no when you're around."

"I'll have to keep that in mind," Ash murmured, and Jenn flushed when he looked her over.

She walked by him and flicked his left hand, "Keep that ring in mind, too, buster." But her tone wasn't as harsh as her words, or the flick, had been.

Ash rubbed at his hand, "Yes, ma'am."

The door closed behind them and if anyone passing by saw the shop, all they saw was an empty lot, with a pink flamingo stuck in the sand where a building once stood.

ooo

"Where is she?" Trish snapped, fighting the urge to pace in the foyer. "I thought you said you could get a fix on her."

"Yes, if she responds to me calling her," Puck said equally snappy, "But I must have really pissed her off because she's ignoring me."

"And she's got her phone turned off," Shannon walked into the living room, cordless phone in hand. "Sorry, Trish, but every time I call, I get her voice mail."

"I know I should just count to ten, but I'm really mad," Trish said slowly, "Puck, just when did she leave the villa?"

"About an hour ago," the Fae admitted. "I had told her…"

"Yes, yes, the fire power, I know," Trish broke in, "You're sure she didn't say where she was going? Maybe to catch a movie or shop?"

Puck shook his head, "No, nothing like that at all."

"And my idea…" Chris trailed off.

"Chris," Trish said warningly.

"Actually, Trish," Callie said gently, "We already have four in favour of it."

"What?" Trish's eyes widened, "I can't believe you people were thinking about it!"

"She is being a little…flighty lately," Ash said gently. "It's getting hard to keep tabs on her."

"Well you can't just…just do that! It's not right!"

"It's safe," Puck said, "She won't be putting herself into danger or ruining plans."

Trish crossed her arms, "She doesn't ruin plans."

Puck raised an eyebrow, "She went after Gary twice. The first time definitely ruined a plan."

"Okay, so the battle wasn't in the plans, but it did get Gary out of the way." She looked to Ash apologetically, "Sorry, Ash, but it's true."

"I know. I can't let personal emotions get in the way," Ash nodded in understanding, "Only, neither can you, Trish."

Trish looked around her and saw her friends nodding in mute agreement. "I don't believe you people! This is absurd."

"Absol-utely," cracked Chris, who was elbowed by Shannon, who was closest.

"We give her one last chance," Trish conceded, "If something goes wrong, but only if it is her fault, then I guess it would be safest for her."

"Oh yeah!" Chris cheered, "Let's hear it for the Chrismeister!"

Just then, one of the front doors opened and Trish and Shannon ran to see who was coming in. The others followed the two to see if it was Jenn or not.

Indeed, closing the door behind her was Jenn. The blonde turned around and blinked in momentary confusion at the people she saw behind her. She looked to be mentally counting the people. Trish, Drake, Shannon, Ben, Puck, Mia, Callie, Chris, and Ash were all there.

"Did I miss a party or something?" Jenn asked with more than a little confusion in her tone. She frowned when she saw Ash. "Uh, Ash, hi. Nice clothes."

Ash looked down at his outfit, which consisted of a black t-shirt, black pants, and black boots, with some confusion. "Thanks, I think."

The two Faes were looking at her with perplexed expressions.

"Okay, what's up with the Geek Patrol?" Jenn looked at Puck and Callie pointedly.

"Hey, that's neither nice nor fair," Puck defended himself. "But let's not get into another pointless argument."

"Okay, Legolas, I'm sorry," Jenn said in a scathing tone, "What's wrong? Someone get your tights in a bind?"

"Jenn!" Mia snapped, "Enough, okay? I'm about ready to throw my vote in with Chris, too!"

"Huh?" Jenn rolled her eyes, "Whatever. You people are weird." She eyed Ash, who was closest to her other than Shannon and Trish. "You," she pointed to the Grand Master, "Come here."

"Why?" He looked at her suspiciously.

Jenn stalked over to him, causing Shannon to dart out of her way, and jerked up the left sleeve of his t-shirt. Nothing. She paled a little, but released him and walked towards the dining room.

Trish ran after her best friend, who walked through the dining room to the kitchen, "Where are you going?"

"Hungry, gotta eat." The reply floated back.

Trish and Shannon caught up to the blonde, who was shoving a cold barbequed chicken leg into the microwave. After turning the machine on, she turned to see her friends. Trish was giving her a pointed look.

"What? I used a plate."

"Not that," Trish said calmly. "Did you bring your phone with you?"

"No," Jenn shook her head. "It's in my room charging. I had it off."

"You were supposed to bring it with you whenever you went out of the villa."

"I didn't go far!"

"Puck couldn't get a hold of you."

Jenn looked to Shannon, who nodded. "It's true," the younger girl said. "Neither could Callie."

The microwave beeped and Jenn turned back and took the chicken out. She set the plate on the centre island, then turned back and reached up for a glass in one of the cabinets.

"What's that?" Trish asked flatly.

"What's what?" Jenn asked without turning around. Instead she got a soda from the fridge and a couple of ice cubes from the freezer. She dropped the ice in the glass and was about to open the soda when Trish grabbed her left arm. "Let go!"

Trish ignored the almost panicked tone in her friend's voice and pulled up the short sleeve. "What is this?"

A patch of gauze about the size of her cell phone was taped to her upper arm.

"It's nothing," Jenn jerked her arm out of her friend's grip.

"Where were you for the past hour and a half?"

"You've got to be kidding!" Jenn sounded annoyed, "I went for a walk after Pucky wouldn't give me my fire power."

Trish arched her eyebrows and called for Puck. He and Callie flashed into the kitchen, and Drake, Ash, and Mia followed soon behind.

"Yes, mi'lady?" Puck asked, while still looking at Jenn with an off gaze.

"Truth freeze, if you please."

"Oh, Trish, you have gotta be kidding me!" Jenn left her food and drink where they were on the centre island and started backing towards the French doors that led to the outer patios. "I didn't do anything wrong!"

"Then why are you backing away like you're gonna run?"

"Because I am!"

"Puck, I said freeze first, then truth spell."

"I didn't do anything yet. She really told the truth," Puck turned to his sister. "Can you freeze her? I have a bad tendency to blow them up instead."

Callie laughed a little, but complied. She waved her hands once at Jenn and the blonde froze in mid-stride. Only her head was free from the spell, and she glared at the Faes. "You people seriously suck."

"And you shouldn't be keeping secrets," Callie said lightly. "It's not safe to do so in these times."

"I know that, but this isn't exactly something I want known to everyone."

"Like what."

Jenn levelled a glance at Trish, "If I really wanted you to know, then I'd have told you."

"Then know that I'm only having Puck do this because you won't tell and I have a feeling it's really bad news," Trish shook her head. "Honestly, sometimes I think you need GPS tracking."

"Ready?" Puck asked.

Jenn gave a pleading look to Ash, who merely shook his head.

"Give it a go," Trish said.

Jenn squeezed her eyes shut as Puck recited the incantation. She felt a touch of cold fall over her head like rain and then nothing. She opened her eyes to see Puck and the others watching her and she felt relief that she didn't feel any different. "Dealing with you Faes is the weirdest thing I've ever gone through."

"I thought you did a truth spell," Trish said sidelong to Puck, who was standing next to her.

"I did," Puck said back, "That's just how she really feels."

"How can you tell?" Shannon asked, genuinely interested.

"We can see a shift in her aura," Callie explained, "It's not normally visible to us except with the truth spell. Then we can see a bit of a golden glow around the person. Once we're done, the glow fades."

"Since this is all very boring, can we just get on with it?" Jenn asked, obviously being very careful as to how she said things. "I would like to eat before it's time for breakfast."

"If you insist," Trish said brightly. "How about telling us what happened after you were talking with Puck about your fire power."

"Despite the fact that I'm a fiery Sagittarian, fire is apparently not mine to control. So if you could please not phrase it like that, I'd be real happy with it," Jenn said quickly. "As for what happened, I went down the stairs, remembered I forgot to plug in my phone, went up the stairs, down the hall, into my room, grabbed my charger…"

"Skip that," Drake interrupted. "Go right to after you left the villa."

"I walked down to the city centre, intent on going down to the public beach."

"Why?" Shannon asked. Ben walked up behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Because that's where I had a bunch of happier times and being surrounded by all this lovey-dovey mush was getting me down. Plus I love the ocean, so it's not really that hard to figure out." She took a breath, looked longingly at the soda still in the can, and said, "I never got there. I was walking towards it when an accident happened right in front of me. It didn't really phase me and it didn't look like anyone was hurt and I went down a back street. A Rhydon was stuck in one of the alleys so I had to go down one that took me away from getting to the beach."

"There was an accident earlier," Ash confirmed, "Between a bus and a tourist rental car. No one was hurt and everyone went on their merry way. I hadn't heard about the Rhydon though."

"Well you're not Mister Omnipotent then, are you?" Jenn bit at her lower lip. "I really hate this."

"At least she didn't say impotent," Chris smirked.

"No, I'm reserving that for you," Jenn grinned. "And I meant that."

"It's a shame one can't beat up on girls made helpless by magic," Chris countered.

"Mmhmm," Jenn said, "Anyway, on with the torture session. Even though I'd rather chew my own arm off to get out of this trap."

"Where did you go then," Trish prompted.

"I ended up at that little park down on Beach and Spring streets. I was okay with that, cuz it's on the way to the beach," She frowned, "But then I met up with Ash, who was sitting on one of the benches there."

Everyone looked to Ash in surprise, though Ash looked the most surprised. "I wasn't there," he shook his head, "I was having lunch with Misty. We ordered take-out."

Jenn bit her lip at that and squeezed her eyes shut. Oh crap, move on to another subject! I'm going to be mind blowingly evil to Misty if they ask anything like that! And with what happened after this, I'm doubly in deep caca!

Instead, she heard Trish ask, "What happened at the park?"

The blonde opened her eyes and it was as if she could see double. The park and what happened was layered over her friends and Drake's kitchen. She told them about talking with Ash, discussing the talismans, and then agreeing to the tattoo.

Trish's eyes widened, "Oh you did not!"

Chris laughed, "If that ain't the oldest trick in the book, I don't know what is."

"Well excuse me, Mister Perfect!" Jenn shot out angrily, "But it looked pretty realistic to me! And who am I to say no to getting a tattoo when Ash seemingly had one?" She clamped her mouth shut, even though it was obvious the magic wanted her to say more.

"As you opened the door," Trish said cautiously, "I could've sworn I heard someone else out there with you."

"That's because you did." Jenn blurted out, her breathing becoming as laboured as if she'd run a mile. "Ash was there."

"And?" Drake prompted. The whole group was leaning forward for more, though Ash was looking quite mortified. "What happened then?"

"We kissed, a lot," She bit at her lower lip so hard she just about drew blood, but she could not resist the magic. "Just like we kissed after the tattoo."

Ash groaned in embarrassment, but the others looked at their blonde friend gape jawed.

"How could you?" Trish squeaked out, "You know he's married!"

"Hello! He was so coming on to me first!" Jenn said defensively, "I just figured I'd go with the flow."

"That's so wicked," Shannon breathed, "I can't believe you'd…" She looked to Ben, and clutched his arm, which was hooked around her waist.

"Oh puh-leze," Jenn said dismissively, "He's so not my type. He reminds me of Ben Affleck and that's like so no way territory."

"And Drake?" Trish asked evilly. She was enjoying this truth or dare session, with a heavy emphasis on truth. "What about him?"

"He's far too old," Jenn said, "Way too old. That's like Callista Flockhart dating Harrison Ford old."

"And Puck?" Mia asked quickly, grinning at Puck.

"How many times must I call him Legolas before you guys get a clue?" Jenn sighed, "Other than looking like a brunette version of that fairy elf…and also he's even way older than Drake."

"Enough!" Puck waved his hands, cancelling the effects of the spell. "I have really had enough."

Finally free, Jenn shook herself and rubbed at her arms. "You people suck." She brushed by Shannon and Ben and went up the stairs that were in the kitchen. After a few seconds they heard her door slamming shut.

"You don't think we took it too far, do you?" Shannon asked tentatively.

"Not in the least," Trish said firmly, "Other than knowing every guy except Ash is safe from Jenn…"

"We never got to me," Chris said nervously.

"Don't worry, Chris," Ben said somewhat sarcastically, "I'm sure she finds you just as no way as me or old like Drake. Well, not old since he's older than we are, but it's sure to be along those lines."

"So, other than knowing all of our men save Ash is safe from Jenn," Trish said, "We know one more thing. Lu has done something magically with Jenn. Not that I'm very much surprised. She seems to be the most disillusioned with magic and therefore doesn't see it as easily as we do."

"Now what?" Drake asked. "If she's got some magic tattoo, what happens?"

"Callie and I will research it," Puck said, "If it's what I think it is, it should be easy enough to get rid of."

"What do you think it could be?" Mia asked.

"A spying tattoo," Callie said, "Something with which Lucius can see and hear everything that she does."

Shannon's eyes widened, "That means he could have seen what we just did!"

"No," Callie shook her head, "The bandage was still on. There's a time period between application until it is ready to use. Usually around an hour or two."

"Of course," Trish said, "It's been about two hours since she's been gone."

"We're coming awful close to that deadline," Shannon agreed.

"Or already gone beyond it," Ash said. His face was still a little red with embarrassment, but he stepped forward, "And I don't like the thought of someone walking around looking like me. What if he was seen with her by someone with the tabloids?"

"She wasn't," A new voice broke in from the dining room entrance to the kitchen.

The group spun around, but Ash was the first to recognize the girl and the Pokémon on her shoulder.

"Hi, hope you guys didn't mind," The girl waved hello, "But he was really insistent that we get here as soon as possible. He teleported me in."

"Joanne," Ash said with surprise, "Mew."

The lithe Pokémon did a back-flip and, to the surprise of the others, stayed hovering above the girl's shoulder. 'Hello, Chosen One.'

"Anything to report, little one?" Ash asked the Pokémon.

The Mew arched an eye ridge in mock annoyance, "I haven't been called little by anyone in about twenty minutes."

"My apologies," Ash said courteously, then looked to its trainer, "What about Jenn?"

"I thought it was odd to see her down by the beach with a strange guy," Joanne started, "Until I saw who she was with. Then it got really odd."

"Down by the beach?" Trish looked confused.

"Yeah, those little shops down by Hidden Cove Way," the girl said, "Anyway, I saw her go into this area between two shops and vanish. Mew let me know that she'd walked into a dimensional slip, only to her it looked like a shop."

Mew confirmed this with another back-flip.

"He's getting more confident," Trish looked to Drake, who hugged her, "Lu is."

"When they walked out, they were holding hands and kissing," Joanne looked to Trish, "I hate to have to say this, but was your friend drinking or anything?"

Trish found the question odd, "No, why?"

"Because…because it was who she was with." Joanne looked disgusted, "And kissing and hugging."

"Who?" Mia asked, fear tingeing her voice.

"She was with Rudy."

Trish paled, while Shannon looked ill.

"Oh, she's really gonna hate herself in the morning," Chris laughed, then looked around and pointed to the chicken leg Jenn left behind. "Anyone gonna eat that?"

ooo

Jenn was lying on her bed, mentally berating herself over what had happened when there was a soft knock at the door.

"I HATE you people!" she yelled, not caring who was on the other side of the door. "Please go away!"

"No you don't," a familiar accented voice said. "And no we're not."

Jenn opened her eyes to see that Trish had obviously ignored her threat and entered the room with Callie and Pikachu in tow.

"Dare you defy the Goddess and enter her domain without permission?" she growled as she sat up.

"Oh always," Trish had a disarming grin on her face as she sat down beside her. "Especially when my best bud is upset and lives are at stake."

Jenn shifted to a more comfortable position and Pikachu took advantage of this to jump on her lap. The blonde glanced at Callie. "What's she here for? To humiliate me even further?"

"No," Callie shook her head. "I'm here to do something about that new tattoo of yours."

"New? It's the only one I have. Besides you can't do anything!" Jenn sighed. "Tattoos are totally permanent and this will forever be a visible reminder of how my impulsivity makes me stupid."

"We have to do something about this one, Jenn. It's a magical one that enables Lu to spy on us," Trish explained. "We can't let it remain on you any longer or it will become active."

"Spying? It's not good enough I have a ton of spy ware on my computer, but now it's on me!" Jenn's eyes widened. "That jerk! That's the sickest thing I ever heard of! And I've heard a lot of sick things!"

"It won't scar you," Callie reassured her. "I can do a spell that will remove it from you without any scarring."

"Well that's sweet," A hopeful look. "There isn't any pain involved, is there?"

"No pain."

"Aiight…" the blonde reluctantly held out her arm. "Please, get this thing offa me."

Callie held her palm a few inches away from the bandage, and a warm lilac glow soon surrounded the area.

"That feels nice," Jenn sighed, "You could make a fortune if you opened a health spa."

A few minutes later, the bandage and the tattoo had vanished, leaving smooth unblemished skin in their place. Jenn examined her arm carefully then beamed at the Fae. "Thanks Callie Allie! I take back what I said before – you're a real peach!"

The female Fae just smiled before leaving the room, closing the door gently behind her.

Trish looked at her friend sympathetically. "Sorry about the truth freeze."

"No you're not," Jenn grumped as she hugged Pikachu. "And…to tell the truth…I'm kinda glad you did it. I never would've fessed up to something like that and no one would know until something big was going down."

She gritted her teeth. "How could I have been so stupid? I got taken in again by Lu! After everything that's happened to me, a normal person would've thought I'd know better than to go anywhere alone. Is it even safe to be in my own room? Can I even go to the bathroom and not have it known by Lu!"

"You weren't completely to blame," Trish tried to soothe her.

"C'mon, Trish, I know what they're saying down there," Jenn rolled her eyes, "Oops, she did it again!"

"You were misled into thinking it was Ash, someone you could totally trust."

"I didn't just trust him, T-vizzle, I kissed him," Jenn reminded her friend. "And I know full well that Ash is not just married to Misty, but that it could hurt his reputation if we were seen together. I just…right then, right there, none of that mattered. I didn't care at all. It made me happy."

"Jenn…how do you really feel about Ash?"

Jenn narrowed her eyes, "Nuh-uh. I'm not going to spill that much. There are still some things about myself that I want to keep guarded."

"Do I need to ask Pik to buzz you?" Trish warned and Pikachu's cheeks glimmered in reply, "Besides, I'm your best friend. I'd never betray your confidence."

Looking as if she was deeply considering her friend's words, Jenn played with the fur on Pikachu's head. Just when Trish was going to give the command, the blonde spoke.

"Let me just put up a disclaimer here. You or the rat spills what I say, and it's curtains for the two of you." She took a breath, then said, "For me, he's the perfect guy. He's what I want but can't have. I mean, c'mon, that ring is kind of obvious. I've always enjoyed hanging around Ash. Some girls don't find someone they like enough to be more than friends with, let alone find someone like that to marry."

"Drake's like that," Trish said in a dreamy tone. "It's easy to share anything with him."

Jenn grinned at Pikachu, "Let's not ask what they share."

"You're nasty!" Trish chuckled.

"Yeah I know," Jenn said, serious once again, "But with Ash, it's like we have a real connection. He understands me more than any other guy has, and he's a blast to be with. I know that he's married and I know that he's totally off-limits and you know I'd never break up a marriage."

Pikachu looked up at the blonde with sympathy brimming in her big brown eyes. Jenn gave a small smile and softly stroked the striped back. "It's been really hard you know. Being dumped like trash by a guy you thought loved you, and then to top off the cake, you realize that you have feelings for a guy you totally can't have. And let's not get into the subject that has all your friends around you being happy in their smooth sailing relationships…it's not fair."

Trish said nothing but grasped her friend's hand in a gentle squeeze. She had never really thought on how hard it was for Jenn to see her and Drake, Shannon and Ben, Mia and Puck together. How left out and lonely she must be feeling. Trish vowed silently to herself to be more considerate of Jenn's feelings in the future.

"He was totally flirting with me, Trish," Jenn continued. "So when he started kissing me, I thought it was okay to kiss back. It was a chance for me to experience a little happiness for a change. It's not enough that I'm unlucky in love, but that I also get duped every time by the enemy. Savvy?"

"I understand, Jenn."

A puzzled frown crossed the blonde's features. "By the way…if it wasn't Ash, who was the Ash double?" Her puzzlement increased when her best friend did not answer at first but crossed the room to bring the small trash can near the desk over to the bed. "What's that for?"

"I think you might need this after I tell you."

Jenn looked wary. "Who was it?"

"Rudey."

Trish had to suppress a grin as her friend gagged.

"There are not enough trash cans in the world for that! Ohmigod! That's sick and I'm not talking sic as in awesome!" Her blue-grey eyes were wide with horror. "Are you telling the truth, T? You're not punking me, are you?" She sounded very hopeful. "Oh please tell me this is some huge Puck inspired joke."

The Australian raised her left hand solemnly. "I swear that I am telling the truth. Joanne and her Mew dropped by to say that they saw you kissing Rudy."

The blonde grimaced. "So…they didn't see Ash at all?"

"Nope. Besides Ash was at home with Misty having take-out. They saw you disappear into thin air and then reappear with Rudy – which is why they came to see us."

"Oh, Lugia," Jenn moaned. "It's not enough to be duped by Lu again, it had to include Rudy as well!" Pikachu just had time to hop off her lap before the girl rushed into her ensuite bathroom and closed the door. Gargling sounds soon floated out.

Trish looked at the small Pokémon beside her. "I think she's gonna be in there for a good long while."

'Pikaaa.'

"Pik, could you stay with Jenn and make sure that she doesn't do anything to herself?"

Pikachu nodded.

ooo

Trish came back downstairs to find the group (including Joanne and Mew) gathered in the living room.

"How is she?" Shannon asked anxiously.

"Totally hating herself," Trish informed them as she sat down beside Drake. "Well she was hating herself already before I told her that it was Rudy instead of Ash. Now she's hating herself even more."

"Poor Jenn," Mia sympathised. "Do you think it was wise to leave her alone like that?"

"Pikachu's staying with her. I told her she could shock some sense into her if necessary."

"Does she have any sense?" Puck asked dryly. "I swear that blonde causes more trouble than any other human I've known. She falls for Lu's tricks every single time – tricks that anyone else would see through!"

"That's not fair, Puck!" Trish defended her best friend. "I can admit that she has caused more problems than most. I mean, she's Jenn. But she can't be blamed for being tricked into thinking that Rudy was someone that she knows, trusts, and loves!"

Ash flushed at the last word. Trish looked at him apologetically. "Sorry Ash, but it's true. Jenn said that the guy looked exactly like you, down to the clothes, the wedding band, and the voice. How was she to know that it wasn't you?"

"Still and all," the Grand Master sighed wearily, "She was impulsive."

"That's our Jenn," Shannon giggled, to which Trish nodded with a smile.

"Ash, if you said jump to Jenn, she would ask how high," the Australian said. "Of course, she would deny it if you asked her – that girl has just about as much pride as Gary has ego – but I know it's the truth. Jenn would do almost anything for you."

"I can understand that, because I would too…" Joanne said dreamily, before flushing under everyone's gaze. She fiddled with the hem of her shirt.

"Anyway, Puck you have to be more understanding towards Jenn. If Lu magicked someone to look like Mia – you would be there in a heartbeat. And don't say that you would know it was a fake because you wouldn't. You would be blinded by love."

The chestnut-haired Fae looked at his girlfriend beside him, then sighed. "I guess you're right."

"I know I'm right," Trish smirked.

"You're sounding too much like Jenn," he groaned.

"Ohmigawd, girlfriend, you have noooo idea!" Ben falsettoed.

"Totally," Drake grinned widely.

"You're impossible!" Trish snapped, but grinned all the same. "But I love you for it!"

The Orange Crew Leader gave a Cheshire Cat smile. "Of course; why else would you be marrying me?"

"For the money?" she grinned cheekily.

Drake rolled his eyes. "Far too much like Jenn."

ooo

Rudy settled back against the couch in his hotel room with a satisfied sigh. He had never had so much fun in his life. Jenn had really thought he was Ash and was completely willing to go along with whatever he said. If only Lu had allowed him to keep the glamour a while longer, he might have been having a very interesting night in bed.

The Trovita Island Gym Leader sighed again. Then again, he didn't really want Jenn, did he? To him, the ultimate prize was the blonde's best friend, Trish. However, she did not want to have anything to do with him. And she was now engaged to his rival.

If only Lu could apply the glamour to him as Drake, then he could trick her into thinking he was her beloved. As Drake, he could then wreck their relationship; hopefully driving the Australian girl into his arms as Rudy.

Maybe he would ask Lu tomorrow. After all his loyal service, didn't he deserve to have some rewards?

ooo

"Jenn…you have to come out of there."

"Don't wanna."

"You can't stay inside your room all day."

"Yes I can! You can't make the Goddess do what she doesn't want to do."

It was the next day, and after learning that Jenn had asked for breakfast in her room, Trish had gone up there to try to coax her out.

"It's a beautiful day outside. You should get some fresh air."

"I've got the French doors open. That lets in a lot of fresh air."

Trish sighed. "You still punishing yourself over what happened?"

"Duh!" came the anguished grumble. "I can't face the others after what happened! Not only will they think I'm totally stupid, but now I've been corrupted!"

"But the tattoo's gone…" Trish was confused.

"I always thought I'd be corrupted by being tricked into drinking myself drunk by some hot guy," she mused, then wailed, "Not the tattoo! By Rudey! I was grossed out enough to use up two bottles of Scope. I can't even begin to think of what the others think of me."

"Jenn…it's not as if you slept with him."

"Shut UP!" Jenn growled out. "Don't make me puke my guts out! The very thought is sick!"

"But you didn't do that, so quit the hysterics would ya?"

"Hello, am I not speaking English?" Jenn groaned. "I almost did do that!"

Trish blanched. "Oh no…"

"Way," the miserable voice answered. "He did look like Ashy boy. Rudey started to ask me to go back to a hotel room, but he changed his mind all of a sudden. I refused anyway cause I knew I had to get back to you guys."

"Jenn, stop being so hard on yourself. The fact is that you DIDN'T do that, so no one's gonna hate you for it. Most importantly don't hate yourself for it."

The door opened and Trish could see the French doors were open. The blinds over the room's windows were also spread wide, which was the direct opposite of what Trish thought she was going to see.

"Well what were you expecting?" Jenn snorted, "Dolls hanging by their necks, all the curtains blocking the sunlight, and a voodoo kit sitting out on my desk?"

Trish shrugged sheepishly.

The blonde looked a bit tired and her hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail. "I'm fine and I won't be dressing Goth and spouting angsty poetry any time soon."

Trish sighed, "That's a relief."

"That it's obvious you were considering it worries me," Jenn said calmly. "Besides, you know I have my methods of revenge."

"That's what concerns me."

Jenn just rolled her eyes.

Trish grabbed her friend by the arm, "Now come on with me. You've got some people to face."

"I so don't want to," Jenn baulked. "And you know you can't force me to go down."

"I know," Trish glared at her friend. "You're as stubborn as a mule and twice as thick headed."

Jenn cleared her throat.

"Okay, fine, a Rapidash. Satisfied?"

"Kinda." She looked down at her outfit, an orchid colour velour Juicy Couture track suit.

"Oh for Pete's sake…"

"Trish, I don't want his sake, " Jenn said patiently, "You know I don't drink."

"Well no more pausing," Trish pulled her friend and took the blonde by surprise, "You're coming with me or I'll delete all your saved Playstation games."

"Trish!" Jenn looked aghast. "That's criminal!"

"Then follow me," Trish said with an evil look, "Or else the games get it."

Jenn gulped and followed.

To be continued….

ooo

Author's Note: First posting for 2006! It will be 6 years this year that I've been writing and posting on this site.