Midsummer Nights
By Trish.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or Puck. Ashura the Mew was borrowed with permission from Dragoness. I do own other characters and the storyline. The lyrics from the chapter title were taken from 'Far Away' by Nickelback.
ooo
Chapter Twenty-Six: Withstand All Of Hell to Hold Your Hand
"Dead girl walking. Watch out, dead girl walking."
It was the longest walk she had ever taken. The ever present voice in her head, which she'd strongly suspect to be Umbreon if the Dark Pokémon were the right type, droned out that line. It could have come from the fact that Jenn felt like she was a prisoner on death row, walking the green mile to her execution. She was grateful that her best friend was not psychic because if Trish knew what she was currently thinking, she'd be throttling her for an overactive imagination.
"Hey, up, dead girl walking."
Jenn had had enough, "Shut up, you stupid voice."
It listened to her for once, and began to play the new Mary J. Blige song, Be Without You. Jenn almost groaned, but didn't want Trish giving her any more odd looks.
She so did not want to face the rest of their friends. It was punishment enough to be hating herself, but she didn't think she could take it if everyone else did as well. Despite her tough exterior, inside she was really quite sensitive about certain things.
If Trish hadn't made that threat, Jenn would have refused to budge from her room. The sneaky Australian knew that the best way of making Jenn do something she didn't want to was to threaten anything Jenn owned that was electronic, or her jewellery or Pepsi.
The blonde could begin to imagine a more evil or crueller strategy than that; she just didn't think her kind, sweet best friend would be capable of threatening one. She knew that Australia was created due to British people dropping their criminals off there to let them fend for themselves – and really, didn't the British feel stupid for that. Now they had to pay to get into what the world considered a tropical paradise that they had once considered a continental prison – but she didn't think Trish would have soaked up any evilness.
Most of all, Jenn was not looking forward to facing Ash Ketchum. How would he react to her presence after what she did with him? Even though it turned out to be Rudy in magical disguise, Jenn couldn't really blame Ash for wanting to keep his distance from her. She had the potential to wreck his marriage and ruin his hard-earned reputation. She really was a walking disaster.
But Jenn didn't want Ash to stop being friends with her. It was bad enough that she couldn't have him as a lover, but if she couldn't have him even as a friend it would be heartbreaking. Apart from Trish, her conversations with Ash were guaranteed to brighten her day.
"You are still following me, I hope," her friend said without looking behind her.
"Yezzim," Jenn said dully.
"You sound like you're going to your doom," Trish chuckled. "Cheer up a little – no one's gonna kill you."
The blonde sighed quietly. How did Trish know what she was thinking? Maybe she should be a little more careful what she thought around her friend. Perhaps she is psycho…er psychic.
ooo
Trish led her friend to a large conservatory that was off to one side of the villa. Jenn could see tables laid out with sandwiches and drinks. Their friends were seated in the many cushioned chairs around the room.
All glanced up at the girls' approach, making Jenn cringe and want to hide behind Trish. Unfortunately her friend was considerably shorter than she was and didn't offer much shelter.
"Jenn's finally decided to join us," the Australian said briskly, shooting a warning look at the male members of the group. She walked over to where Drake was seated on a lounge, dragging Jenn with her before sitting beside him and pulling the blonde down next to her.
"Er…hi guys," Jenn said weakly. "Sorry about what happened yesterday."
To her relief, Ash gave her a warm smile. "That's okay, Jenn. You were tricked into doing it by magic."
Jenn winced inwardly at hearing Ash saying 'doing it' but managed to keep a straight face. "Yep."
"Sorry about what happened yesterday?" Chris said incredulously, "You make it sound like you went out for beer and came back with milk instead."
"Hush, Chris," Trish said warningly. "Another word from you and you'll be out on your Scottish butt."
"And for another thing, Skirt Boy," Jenn objected. "I don't drink, so I wouldn't be going out for beer in the first place!"
"For one thing, genius, it was an example. For another thing, and for the thousandth time, I don't wear skirts," Chris gritted his teeth. "They're called kilts."
"Chris, shut up and Jenn, stop with the insults," Trish ordered. "It's not helping matters at all."
They settled down, but not without a muttered grumble or two.
The Australian glared at both them. "Despite the fact that Jenn's constantly teasing you, Chris, you are not the one whose forgiveness matters in this instance. If anybody should count, it should be Ash whose forgiveness matters and it sounds as if he has already forgiven Jenn."
"I have," the Grand Master said. "With Lu messing things up, none of us here could say that we wouldn't have fallen for the same trick."
"Well…" Drake drawled. "I would hope that you wouldn't have fallen for it unless you have some identical twin that no one knows about!"
Everyone chuckled at that and it broke some of the tension in the room.
Jenn had managed to screw up the courage to speak again. "Anyway, I just wanted all of you to know that I am truly sorry for what happened yesterday. I never meant to get into trouble, but it always seems to find me." She turned pleading blue-grey eyes on the group. "Please, please forgive me, and I'll promise to not go out alone ever again."
Puck raised an eyebrow. "Promise, promise?"
"Promise," the blonde confirmed. "Besides, I don't think Trish is gonna let me out of her sight after this. She'll probably keep me on a short leash."
Chris brightened. "Really? So does that mean…"
"Chris, shut up," Trish growled at the Scot. "Jenn has apologised and Ash has accepted. She's promised not to go out alone again, so your suggestion is no longer an option."
"Chris had an idea?" Jenn wanted to know. "What was it?"
"For Puck to return you to your Absol form and locking you in a Poké Ball for your own safety until this is over."
Chris almost expected Jenn to glare at him, but he was most surprised when all she did was look thoughtful.
"Well, I'd be safe, even though it's a coward's way out," She brightened, "And then I could have my fire power back!"
"Forget the fire power, Jenn," Puck sighed out wearily.
"Yes, please forget about that," Trish said quickly before another argument could break out. "Jenn and I have something to say."
The blonde blinked her confusion and was momentarily distracted from fire powers, "We do?"
"We do," her best friend nodded.
"You two have stopped being friends and are going your separate ways?" Ben asked with hope in his eyes. He winced as Shannon elbowed him sharply in the stomach.
"In your dreams, Benji" Jenn retorted.
"I'd say it takes one to know one, but that would be ambiguous," Ben scoffed. "Or it would just fly right over your blonde little head."
Jenn just mock snarled at him.
"Anyway…You know about those massive fights the two of us have been having," Trish continued as if she had never been interrupted.
"Yes," Shannon winced. She was so glad that was all over.
"Well, they were all a sham."
"What?" everyone's eyes widened.
"You've all been thoroughly punked by us," Jenn grinned. "It was all an act."
"But…why?" Shannon pouted, a wounded look on her face. "Why couldn't you tell me or Drake? We were so worried about you two!"
"Look, Lu knows that Jenn and I are about the two closest friends in the whole group," Trish said calmly. "He knows that we can't get mad enough at each other to part ways, ever."
"So we figured that if Lulu was made to believe that T and I were at each other's throats and the group was splitting up, then he'd get overconfident that he could beat us, and he'd lay off on thinking up anything else that would be evil and possibly ending the world as we know it," Jenn continued.
The others blinked, with Drake saying, "Did you just read a script? That's the longest, yet most concise thing I have ever heard you say on your own."
Jenn just shrugged.
"When he finally does attack us, then he's going to be in for a nasty shock because we haven't splintered as a group," the Australian finished. "We couldn't tell you guys because we wanted it to look as real as possible."
Shannon looked a bit placated. "I guess you're right…"
"You know we're right," Jenn smirked playfully at the younger girl.
"That's actually very clever," Ash shook his head in admiration. "I wish I'd thought of that."
"Me too," Puck admitted.
The blonde tossed her hair. "I know what I'm talking about. I'm not always the plan wrecker upper."
"To her credit, she never blabbed, as is her usual want," Trish grinned as Jenn playfully hit her on the arm.
"That's so not nice."
"I know."
"So what were you two doing that time you were gone for three hours after dinner?" Mia inquired. "Obviously you weren't fighting."
"Duh much! We were shopping."
Drake groaned. "I should have known."
"Yes, you should have," Trish giggled.
"Yeah," Jenn agreed, "I mean, your credit cards knew, so you should have too."
Drake paled. "Please, tell me she's joking."
Jenn deadpanned, "Of course I'm most definitely not."
Drake looked worried until Trish reassured him, "She didn't use them, honestly."
Drake looked reassured, even though Jenn pantomimed swiping a credit card.
"If there was rehab for shopaholics, you two would need to be signed up straight away," Shannon moaned. "With you two, shopping could be a form of torture."
Her two older friends sulked. "That's not nice Shan."
"It's true," The brunette shrugged. "It's the way I am always tortured by you two."
"So does that revelation put a different slant on your view of Jenn?" Trish asked Puck and Chris especially; dark eyes daring them to differ at their own peril.
The Scot gulped as did the chestnut-haired Fae.
"Oh definitely," Chris said hastily. "If you only had told me sooner about this brilliant scheme of yours, I would have been much nicer to Jenn."
Mia mouthed 'Suck up' at him, which he ignored. Everyone's attention then focused on Puck.
"I guess so…" he said begrudgingly. "I would never have guessed it was all a scam for Lu's benefit."
Jenn looked smug.
"But in all my years, I have never come across anyone so annoying, so infuriating, like Jenn," the Fae added defensively.
Jenn gasped, "Hey!" But a warning glance from Trish had the blonde settling down.
"I could say that would be the pot calling the kettle black, Brother dear, but it would rather be more like the Puck calling the kettle black," Callie sang out. "Besides, I am quite vehemently certain that there are many, many mortals here and faes back in Elysium who would place you in the very same category, if not worse!"
Puck pouted. "I was never as bad as Jenn, nor as bad as you make me seem."
"No, you were worse," his sister giggled. "How many times has King Oberon or Queen Titania had to send me after you? And how many times have I had to fix up your messes?"
"Uh…"
"The worst times have been when you have been drunk in the mortal world, Puck," Callie continued. "You know that we Faes cannot tolerate alcohol at all…and the last time you were here, you caused utter bedlam!"
"We remember that!" a chorus of voices came from within the group. Ash, Drake, Trish, Jenn, and Mia had been present at the International Pokémon League Convention at Indigo Plateau two years ago where Puck had wreaked havoc.
Of course, Ash could remember an even earlier incident. Puck had magicked himself by accident to Pallet and proceeded to make merry with all the mortals that resided there. Ash found himself spouting Shakespeare which made him way too popular with the girls; Brock had fallen hard and fast for his mother; Misty was TOO nice and meek; and Professor Oak had been turned into a four-year-old.
"Okay, okay!" Puck cringed in his seat. "I'll admit that I have been more trouble than Jenn, but at least my intentions have always been good!"
"So have mine!" the blonde retorted. "I would never hurt my friends. Never intentionally."
"Jenn's telling the truth," Trish smiled at her friend. "She usually thinks of everyone else before herself."
Puck blinked. "I find that hard to believe…"
"So do my credit cards," Drake muttered.
Mia slapped Puck's arm. "Well believe it. Even I know that it's true."
"If everyone's done arguing," Ash cleared his throat, "We really need to get back to business."
ooo
"But why can't I have the glamour I want?" Rudy whined. "Haven't I helped you most faithfully and loyally, boss?" He was seated in his hotel room, with the remains of a room service dinner on the table before him. The Trovita Island Gym Leader had decided to contact Lu via telepathic link to ask him for his favour. If he could be made to look like Drake, he could get lucky tonight.
'Because…' Lu's patronising tone came through, 'putting a glamour on you for your own pleasure would mean wasting my power. Power that I need for practice purposes. Far more important than your foolish plans.'
"But…"
'Quiet Mortal! I will not be moved. Ask me again in a few days.' With that Lu's voice vanished.
Rudy sighed.
ooo
"Dragonite, Fire Blast!"
The row of Dragon Pokémon obeyed and sent a stream of fire into the air, casting flickering shadows around the Stadium.
Trish, Jenn and Shannon had to shield their eyes as the combined fire of ten Dragonites, along with the bright sunshine made things a little too blinding. The three girls were seated along the walls of stadium floor, watching Ash and Drake train the Gym's home-bred Dragon Pokémon for the battle against Lu.
As well as the Dragonite, there were rows of Dragonair and Dratini waiting to be commanded. There was also Vibrava, Flygons, Altarias, Kingdras, Bagons, Shelgons and Salamences. Shannon was goggle-eyed to see so many dragon types in the one place.
"I didn't know that they bred all of those here," she breathed, awestruck.
"Nor did I," Trish chuckled. "Oh I knew about the Dragonite evolutions but not about the other types. Makes sense though, Pummelo is famous for its dragons."
"You think Drake could spare one or two?" Jenn quipped. "I wouldn't mind one."
"You have to get on Drake's good side first," Shannon teased the older girl.
Jenn tossed her head. "I am always on Drake's good side."
"Except when you max out his credit cards," Trish grinned.
"I'll have you know that his credit cards have never complained," the blonde sniffed.
"Drake would beg to differ," her friend smirked.
"I'm sure he would," Jenn snorted. "But it's not like he can't afford it. He's so loaded that my whole monthly spending on a maximum level wouldn't even make the tiniest of dents in his little ol' moneybags."
"So true."
"Or maybe it's because the money's not being spent by the one he thinks should spend it," Shannon teased. "Jenn, you're spending all his money and his girlfriend isn't!"
"Well she should be," Jenn grinned and both looked at Trish. The girl in question shrugged.
"I like to buy things with my own money mostly."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure," the blonde looked bored. "But that's mostly what boyfriends are for."
The three girls had to cover their eyes again as the Dragonites let loose a Hyper Beam attack upon Drake's command.
"I wish I had a Dragonite," Shannon said wistfully. "I've always loved dragons and dragon pokémon. But they're so elusive that it's almost impossible to find a Dratini in the wild!"
"You could always try to persuade Drake to give you one," Trish suggested. "He's got plenty more than just those out there."
"Oh do you think he really would?" the brunette asked eagerly.
"No time to find out like the present," the Australian grinned and led her friends to the rows of Dratini. The small, lithe blue Dragon Pokémon cooed and sniffed their shoes tentatively.
"Ooooh they are just the cutest things!" Shannon squealed. "I absolutely adore Dratini!" The Pokémon cooed again and some of them nuzzled this very wise human. Who could not adore a Dratini with their big brown eyes?
"They seem to like you very much," Drake observed as he walked up to them. Ash was continuing to command the Dragonite. The Orange Crew Leader slung an arm around Trish's waist. "So what do you think about our Gym-bred Pokémon?"
"They're very healthy and well-kept," his fiancée smiled. "And they're just the cutest things."
"We're not raising them to be cute," Drake rolled his eyes. "We're raising them to be strong and healthy Pokémon. Cute should not be a factor when buying a Pokémon."
Shannon just looked smug. "It is for women. Women are more likely to buy Pokémon that are cute or nice looking. Do you see any of us with non-cute Pokémon?"
Drake mentally ran through the inventory of assorted Pokémon that the girls had. Trish had her two Growlithe, an Espeon and a Pichu. Jenn also had two Growlithe, a Pichu, an Umbreon, and an Absol. Shannon had two Growlithe. All cute and fuzzy creatures, with none being particularly fierce looking.
He sighed. "You're right. You've all got cute fluffy creatures."
"Of course I'm right," Shannon grinned.
"Oh don't you start sounding like Jenn," Drake groaned. "I swear that girl is contagious. One of her is bad enough without having her infecting the rest of you to be acting like she does."
"I am not contagious," Jenn snorted. "I'm just very infectious."
"I think you mean influential," Trish grinned.
"Neither is anything good," the Orange Crew Leader teased before Trish whacked him.
The blonde blew a raspberry at him.
"So did you guys just decide to have a look at the Pokémon or did you want something?" Drake grinned.
"Well actually…" Trish drawled. "We were hoping that you would be the sweetest man on the face of this Earth and give us a Dratini each."
Drake's eyes widened. "Each?"
"Yeah, each," she smirked at him. "Love me, love my friends."
"Babe," Drake looked over at Shannon and Jenn, who were each staking out a Dratini, "That's a lot of love."
Trish just arched an eyebrow at him.
Drake groaned inwardly. Shannon had sought out what he knew to be a gentle, yet protective Dratini, while Jenn had gained the attention of a Dratini he personally thought to be a handful.
It could be amusing, the Orange Crew Leader thought, if not hilarious to see if the girls can handle such lively Pokémon. Plus they only get more lively once they evolve. It could be very fun to see them realising they've bitten off more than they can chew.
He looked to Trish and smiled, "I don't mind if they don't. And by they, I meant the Dratini."
She brightened immensely, "Really? You don't have any problem with it?"
"Of course not."
"Oh, Jenn and Shan will be totally geeked about this!" Trish grinned. "You'll be their most favourite person in the world!" She hollered to her two friends, "Hey gals! Drake has just agreed to let you have a Dratini each!"
Shannon's eyes lit up like a kid in a toy store. "Really?" she squeaked.
"Yeah, really?" Jenn echoed. "You're not just kidding around, are you?"
"Would I punk you on something like this?" the Australian feigned insult.
"Maybe, maybe not," the blonde allowed. "But I wouldn't put it past Drake!"
"I never tease someone when it comes to my pokémon," the man in question protested. "I'm really letting you have a Dratini."
There was a delighted squeal as Shannon ran up to the Orange Crew Leader and engulfed him in a huge hug. "I love you Drake! You are the bestest!" she squealed again. "I've always wanted a Dratini!" Drake hugged her back with a grin, before Shannon blushed and stepped back. "Um…I mean I love you like a brother of course."
"Of course," the Orange Crew Leader put her at ease. "You were just over-excited, that's all."
"That's our Shan," Trish giggled as the girl turned beet red.
Jenn grinned as she sauntered up to Drake and gave him a bear hug. "Thanks, Drake, old bean. Maybe you're not so bad after all."
He rolled his eyes, but hugged back. "Gee, thanks Jenn."
"You're welcome."
"So have you decided on which one you'd like?"
The two girls nodded.
"I haven't even had a look yet," Trish said sheepishly.
"Wait, let me choose for you," Drake winked at his fiancée. "I'll pick out a really good one." For upon further reflection, he decided that having fun seeing Trish cope with an unruly Pokémon was probably a bad idea. Not only was she his wife-to-be and it might be detrimental to their relationship, but she might cause him grievous bodily harm.
"Okay…" Trish looked doubtful. "But will you pick the right one?"
"Don't you trust me?" Drake looked wounded. "I wouldn't give you a Pokémon that doesn't like you."
"I know," the Australian agreed. "It's just that I would want to be sure of your choice first."
"Then come with me." Drake took her hand and they walked along the row of Pokémon together. Ash was now training the Dragonair, so Dragonite joined his trainer and girlfriend.
"How about this one?" the Orange Crew Leader stopped at one Dratini who was curled up asleep. "He's a real happy little creature."
"He sure looks it! He's practically passed out in the sun!" Trish looked at the Pokémon when she felt something against her leg and a contented coo. She looked down to see a Dratini nuzzling against her leg and looking up with big brown eyes.
She bent down and picked the critter up, cradling it in her arms. "How about this one?"
Dragonite rumbled something to the Dratini, which squeaked happily. The big Pokémon then whispered in his trainer's ear. Drake grinned.
"What did he say?" Trish asked.
"He said that this little Dratini has taken a shine to you and wants to be your Pokémon," Drake explained. "This particular Pokémon is a fast learner with a beautifully even temperament."
"How does Dragonite know all that?"
"I oversee all the Dragon raising in the Archipelago, so I knew as much as he did. However, she's his daughter," Drake grinned. "Plus she's like that. The gym subordinates have nothing but praise for her."
"Aw, aren't you a good little girl?" Trish grinned at the Pokémon who licked her under the chin.
"You want her?"
"Sure do!" She placed the Dratini back on the ground and gave Drake a tight hug and a kiss. "Thank you so much! You'll be getting so thoroughly thanked later."
The Orange Crew Leader grinned. "I like the sound of that."
Jenn and Shannon walked up to them and Trish stifled a giggle. Shannon had her Dratini cuddled in her arms, while Jenn had let hers coil over her shoulders like a stole.
"Uh Jenn…are you sure you want that particular Dratini?" Drake enquired.
"I chose him, didn't I." It wasn't a question and Jenn looked at him squarely.
"He's very feisty," Drake said cautiously, "So far he's been a real handful for the trainers. You think you can deal with him?"
"Oh psh, Drake," Jenn reached up and scratched the little creature's throat. "Of course I can."
"He doesn't listen to commands very well."
"Like Pokémon, like Trainer, but I'm sure there's a reason for his non listening ability," Jenn said confidently, "Maybe he's just a little lonely or maybe he's constipated."
The others blinked at that. Drake was the first to recover.
"It's your time," Drake said, "But…"
"Ah, but nothing!" Jenn grinned, "At any rate, you sound like you're challenging me."
Drake looked from the blonde to his fiancée, "Uh, not really…"
"Challenge accepted," Jenn nodded, "I'll show you one confident and eager to listen Dratini."
"Maybe we should hold off with any challenges for the moment," Trish stepped in quickly. "For one thing we just got the Pokémon so we need to spend time with them first. Secondly and more importantly, we have a homicidal Fae out to destroy the world. We need to be training together, not issuing challenges."
"He challenged me first," the blonde protested.
"I did not!" Drake retorted.
"Whatever."
"We need to get their Poké Balls, " Trish said, getting them back on track. "Get them registered with the League…which means that we need names."
"Hmmm…" Shannon pondered.
"How about Ovaltini? Martini?" the Australian suggested with an impish grin.
"OYYYY!" the brunette groaned. "You and your puns. If I had something, I'd throw it at you."
Trish beamed. "You know me. Gotta pun 'em all."
More groans. "You are insufferable," Drake put an arm around her and drew her close.
"But you still love me," she smirked.
"You bet I do," he murmured and kissed her on the forehead.
"Awwwwwww" Shannon cooed. Jenn just rolled her eyes.
The Grand Master walked up to them with Pikachu in her usual place on his shoulder. "Hey, Drake, I think that we should call it a day. It looks like there's a huge storm brewing."
They all looked up and saw that the sky had grown dark grey and heavy with cloud cover. A damp wind blew, ruffling Pikachu's ears like banners.
"Sweet!" Jenn said excitedly, "About time a good storm came up."
"You're way too excited about that possibility," the Orange Crew Leader decided. "We'll tell the gym subordinates and workers to start moving the Pokémon back into the sheds." He talked to all three girls. "You'd better get back to the villa. We'll see you there."
The two men walked off, leaving the three friends. The girls picked up their newest Pokémon and looked at each other. "Let's go," Trish said, walking off towards the exit. "We don't want to get caught in the storm."
"Aww, sure we do," Jenn sulked, "It could be fun!"
"You're still a disaster!" Shannon teased, "Especially if a storm gets you excited!"
ooo
An hour later, Jenn was standing at the large windows of Drake's villa, watching intently as the storm howled outside. The glass was so streaked with rain that she could hardly see outside, and lightning and thunder crashed every few minutes.
"Jenn, would you please move away from the window?" Trish pleaded with her friend. "The wind is so wild that something could crash through and you'd be hurt."
"I'm fine. I do this all the time," the blonde said nonchalantly.
"That's what worries me.," Trish said, "I know all about you watching tornados from your windows at home."
From the corner of her eye, Jenn saw Ash giving her a look that spoke volumes about not getting Trish upset about the blonde's welfare. She bit back an annoyed sigh, especially since the storm was just picking up volume and creating some wicked lightning, and joined her friends. They were gathered in the living room, which was central to the villa, to wait for the storm to pass.
Ash was playing cards with Shannon, while Drake and Trish were seated on the sofa, flipping through photo albums. She settled herself down by Ash. "I hope everyone else in the gang is okay."
"They are," Drake reassured them. "Mia rang to say that the rest of them are holed up in your villa."
"That's a relief," Jenn sighed.
"What have you girls decided to call your Dratini?" Drake asked.
"I'll call mine, Clio," Trish said.
"Mine's called Kazul," Shannon grinned.
"Ooh, does that mean you can be dressed smart or kazul?"
Shannon groaned and threw a pillow at her friend. Trish just grinned.
"I'll call mine Tamu," Jenn decided. At the looks she got, she looked puzzled. "What?"
"That's not a word!" Drake complained.
"Yeah it is," Jenn defended her name choice. "It means trouble in Swahili."
Trish stared, gape jawed, "Since when do you know Swahili?"
"Duh much," Jenn rolled her eyes. "I do watch Animal Planet. One program named a cheetah cub that. Actually he had a sister named Tabu, which means sweetness, but my Dratini looks like a trouble maker."
ooo
Twenty minutes went by, with Jenn taking a little nap whilst the others joined in on a card game; Trish and Drake having abandoned their photos. Drake had just won a hand when Jenn woke up, blinking sleepily.
"It's still storming?"
"Yep," Ash said, laying a card face down, "Still going strong."
"Almost like it's sitting on top of us!" Shannon exclaimed.
"That doesn't seem right." She bit her lip. "Do you think it could be Lu? I don't remember hearing anything about any storms."
"Could be. I'll check the paper," Ash grabbed the newspaper and flipped open to the weather forecast. "Nothing wrong with the weather forecast," he said after scanning it. "Everything's supposed to be fine and sunny until the weekend."
"We're not the only ones experiencing it, are we?" Jenn asked. "I mean, not to ask a stupid question, but did you check the news on TV? I'd feel really stupid if this villa and ours were the only ones going through this storm."
Drake and Ash looked at each other, Shannon and Trish doing the same. "We haven't," Trish admitted, while Shannon looked sheepish.
"Oops!" The brunette said bashfully.
Trish grabbed the remote from the table they were playing cards on and turned on the set. Changing the channel to a news station, the breaking news story, which looked to be an hour old, was currently in the throes of a system of storms that seemed to be converging on Pummelo Island.
"…and after narrowly missing Navel Island, who only experienced minimal damage, the storm has settled in a steady path for Pummelo Island," The newsperson, a blonde woman in a studio, looked professionally at ease, "With the warm waters of the Archipelago fuelling it, this storm may very well grow into a Category Five hurricane. We'll be back after a short commercial break to speak to Micah in the weather centre for more information on this year's super storm."
"Do we really care about Micah in the storm centre?" Jenn said it teasingly though she looked as shocked as the others.
"I kind of think so," Drake took in a breath, "And I hope that thing swings out to sea and dies."
"Something about this storm doesn't feel right," Jenn said strongly, "Lu's gotta be behind it."
"You absol-utely sure about that?" Shannon cracked.
"It's not just that, though there are some intuitive feelings of impending disaster," Jenn said absently, "But I know weather and this storm feels completely wrong."
"As long as you know that fire power couldn't help you here," Trish warned.
"Au contraire," Jenn arched an eyebrow, "It could come in very handy. What if we needed to keep warm or roast marshmallows?"
"Oh sure, marshmallow roasting is a very good reason to have Puck give your fire power back to you," Shannon teased.
"There are some things that you should give up on, Jenn," Ash said gently.
"Ashy-boy, in the wise words of Jack Dawson, I'll never let go."
"Him?" Drake made a face, "He died."
"Yeah cuz he froze to death," Jenn said bluntly. "But if he had fire power, then he'd inherently have had a higher core temperature."
A particularly loud rumble of thunder sounded close to the villa and the wind picked up again. Rain lashed at the windows and Drake looked worried.
"You have to stop watching the Fantastic Four movie," Trish noted to the blonde, squeezing Drake's hand in reassurance, "Don't worry, hon, things will be fine."
"So I watched it once or twice or ten times," Jenn said breezily, "It's not about that, it…"
"What?" Drake looked even more worried.
"Can't you feel it?" The blonde had stood up and walked to the windows in the other room.
"There she goes again with the freaky," Shannon looked worried, and the group rose to follow the blonde.
"Trouble is," Trish said, "She's been right."
"Now if only she can pick winning lotto numbers," Drake joked, "She could lay off my cards."
"Guys," Jenn pointed out the window, "We got a lot more important things than me allegedly spending Drake's money. That kind of rumbly feeling I felt but didn't mention? It had a reason for being rumbly."
Drake looked out of the window and almost gasped. Trish and Shannon took care of that for him, while Ash pulled out his cell phone. "What's the phone for?"
"I have to get Misty out of here as soon as possible," Ash looked grim. "Along with the rest of Pummelo Island and whoever else is in this thing's path."
"That'll be impossible," Drake shook his head. "You're talking the evacuation of millions and that's on known islands. There are smaller islands with people who have never left them."
Ash shrugged, "They don't know Lu."
Shannon eeped, "You think it is Lu?"
Ash gave a bitter little laugh, "A hurricane that pops up out of nowhere that's gaining power and growing massive while it's on a direct path to Pummelo? Oh yeah, I really think it's Lu behind it all."
The group turned from the window and the sight of the ocean pounding the beach.
ooo
Ten minutes later…
Puck and Callie had gathered the rest of the group from the girls' villa to Drake's. Puck and his sister had reassured the Crew Leader. They could set a barrier around both villas, if he so wished, to protect them. While they could not do the same for the islands as an entirety, as the use of that amount of power would leave them with naught against Lu, it was the least they could do.
Drake told them to go ahead with the barrier. He had enough on his plate to worry about. First thing he did was to have his family and any other relatives brought over to the villa, along with the household staff and their families. With over one hundred rooms, there was plenty of space for everyone, without being squashy.
Once that was taken care of, Drake took himself to his study. He planned to study the operations manual on national emergency situations; fully expecting the authorities to ring any minute to ask him to give the order to initiate proceedings.
While Puck and Callie erected the barrier, the girls busied themselves by helping the staff start to stockpile provisions ready to take down to the villa's basement storm shelter.
Ash had managed to contact Misty at their rental villa. "Honey, you need to pack your bags and get out of here as soon as possible. It's not safe," he urged.
"You don't think I know that?" Misty said shakily. "I told you that something really bad was going to happen!"
"I know."
"I'm already packed and ready to go," she informed her husband. "Are you coming with me?"
"Misty…I can't. I need to stay here and help."
"What?" Her voice was panicked. "You have to come back with me. I need you!"
Ash ran a hand through his dark locks in frustration. "Myst, I would love to come back with you, you know that. But I just can't leave Drake here to deal with something on a scale like this by himself."
"Hurricanes are a natural phenomenon for him! He lives on an island chain where hurricanes happen all the time. He's used to dealing with them."
The Grand Master took a deep breath. "This one isn't natural, hon. It's Lu's doing."
"Lu!" Her tone was almost hysterical. "Then you are coming with me, now."
"I can't," Ash said as gently as he could. "I can't leave the rest of my friends to face such a powerful foe alone. As the Chosen One, I have a chance of beating him."
"Oh for once can't you just forget about being a frigging superhero!" Misty screamed, in tears. "I'm your wife. Don't I and the baby count more than your friends?"
"You and the baby mean everything to me, you know that."
"Well if you cared, you would be going back with me now!" she retorted. "The baby needs a father, not a dead hero wannabe."
Ash gritted his teeth at that, "Misty, if I leave and Lu wins then there won't be a world left for the baby," he said firmly. "Please listen and trust me. Go back to Indigo or Pallet. I will come home to you, I promise. You know that I've never broken a promise to you, ever."
"Ash, there are some things that promises can't cover," Though she tried to sound calmer, she failed. Her voice hitched, "I just can't believe this is more important to you."
Ash took a deep breath, owing up Misty's reaction to pregnancy hormones, and said, "I can get Will to send his Alakazam over to bring you home."
"Don't bother," Misty said, "Will's probably too busy anyway, training in some spooky decrepit corner of that maze under the Plateau."
"The maze isn't that bad."
"Ash, it's a freak show that sends more kids to a shrink than anything in the world."
"I've installed escape ropes at every…" He shook his head, "Listen, the important thing is getting you out of here."
"I've already got a ride out," Misty said coldly, "I was just about to call and confirm a ride out."
Ash's eyes widened, "What? Who are you going with?"
"That's none of your business," Ash heard a suitcase snap shut. Misty's voice sounded even colder than before, "But maybe if you weren't so busy with fairies you might have seen it."
"Seen what?"
"I have to go, Ash. I still have to get some things from downstairs," She paused, "I'll see you whenever you get home."
"I love you, Misty."
"…I love you too, Ash."
She hung up then and Ash stared at the cell phone in his hand. He flipped it shut and slid it in his jeans pocket. He had an instinctive bad gut feeling, but it didn't feel related to Misty's safety.
ooo
The chefs (along with Brock who had come to see Ash and Drake soon after the storm hit) were cooking up mountains of food in preparation. Some of the meals would be taken to the designated storm shelters to feed the people who would be moved there as soon as it was safe.
The authorities were in constant contact with Drake, Ash and the national storm warning centre. The declaration of a national emergency situation had not been made yet; all of them wanting to be certain as to what they would be facing before telling the people.
All signs pointed towards an enormous hurricane with the potential to reach a Category Four or Five, brewing a few thousand miles to the north of Pummelo and in direct line to hit.
Drake, Ash, and the girls were gathered in Drake's study. A large map of the archipelago was spread out on the large executive desk; the site of the hurricane's origin marked with a black felt tip pen. The Orange Crew Leader was currently on a conference call linking the national weather centre, the police and emergency services.
"Calculations of the wind speed have led us to predict that it will be at least three to five days before it hits landfall," the expert from the weather centre said over the speaker phone.
"Three to five days," Drake exhaled loudly. "….is that enough time to work a full-scale evacuation to get everyone off of Pummelo?"
"It has to be," the Head Officer Jenny said grimly. "The reports I have indicate that many people are leaving already by plane or Pokémon. Boats are out of the question, since all vessels are currently grounded in the harbour."
"The airport won't be able to cope by itself once we make the official call to evacuate," the Orange Crew Leader shook his head. "We're going to have to gather together as many high level Psychic Pokémon as possible to teleport groups of people out."
Ash made a notation down on a pad. "I can contact Will, Karen and Sabrina to lend their Pokémon. They won't mind helping out in an emergency." He paused. "What about large Flying Pokémon? They can fly people out and easily avoid the path of the hurricane."
"True," Drake nodded. "I've got Gengar and the Gym's Dragonites to use."
"I've got Espeon, Charizard, Pidgeot and…um…." the Grand Master ticked off on his fingers before hesitating. "Um…and whoever else I have in my collection."
"Got so many Pokémon that you can't remember them all?" Drake grinned.
"Yeah…you could say that."
"That'll teach you not to specialize," the Orange Crew Leader chuckled. "At least, specialising mainly in Dragonite evolutions means that I only have three to remember – Dratini, Dragonair and Dragonite."
Ash just shrugged. "I just like all Pokémon…"
"Back to matters at hand," Officer Jenny coughed to get everyone back on track, "will you allow the police to forcibly evacuate people from their homes?"
Drake was silent for a few moments. "I don't really like the thought of forcing anyone to do anything against their will, but I also don't want to have any deaths on our hands. Deaths that can easily be prevented." He sighed. "I will allow the use of force to evacuate to be exercised at the officer's discretion. If they don't want to leave and they have adequate shelter, I guess you can't make them."
"When was the last time Pummelo was hit by a hurricane of this size?" Ash enquired.
The Orange Crew Leader looked at a notepad. "I looked it up, and last time was sixty years ago. Way before any of us were born."
Jenn looked like she was about to make a quip about that until a glare from Trish silenced her. Now was not the time nor place to be wisecracking.
"What was the aftermath?" Officer Jenny asked.
"Seventy percent of homes were destroyed, sixty percent of infrastructure, and 400 lives lost," Drake informed them. "I don't think it needs to be said that I am not wanting a repeat of those statistics or worse."
Ash tapped the notebook with his pen. "If the worst comes to the worst, is Pummelo set to cope financially with the costs?"
The Orange Crew Leader leaned back in his executive chair. "I can tell you with confidence that money will be the least of our worries. There's plenty in the national bank flowing in from the League, plus money from tourism and taxes to cover reconstruction costs with plenty left over."
"What about the other islands in the Archipelago?" Trish spoke up quietly. "What about all the other people on the sea that may be in the path of the hurricane?"
"All we can do is give the general order to evacuate to as many islands and ship routes as possible. However, there isn't much else we can do for them. Pummelo alone will be a mammoth problem without anyone else added to it."
"I suppose so…" she conceded but didn't sound too happy about it. Jenn patted her friend's hand, she knew that the one thing that Trish hated most was not being able to do anything to help.
Drake sat up decisively. "Okay, I want everything to be in place for a general evacuation by tomorrow afternoon at the very latest. When I make the call, I want the transition of people to go as smoothly as possible. No hiccups or problems if at all possible."
"I'll call Will and the others right after this," Ash pulled out his phone.
"Good," the Orange Crew Leader turned to address the experts from the national storm warning centre. "Guys, I want you to keep tracking this bugger as closely as possible. I want regular updates on position, speed, and intensity." They nodded.
"You've all got my number. The moment everyone is ready, let me know and I'll make the call."
ooo
Jenn and Shan went to the kitchen to get themselves a snack, while Trish went upstairs. When the two girls went in search of their friend, they found her seated on the floor in her room, playing with her Pokémon.
It appeared that Clio, the newest member of her Pokégang, was already accepted by the others. The Dratini was playing hide-and-seek with Hamlet, Espeon and Pepita. Ophelia was on Trish's lap, getting a much appreciated tummy scratch.
"Hey, T," the blonde greeted before plopping herself down on the floor. Pepita squeaked and hopped into her lap. Shannon sat down on the bed.
The girl looked up. "Hey Jenn, Shan. What brings you two here? I thought you had gone to stuff your faces."
"We've already done that," Jenn blew a raspberry at her friend who grinned innocently. "We wanted to see how you were doing."
"I'm fine, you know that," Trish dismissed her concern with a wave of her hand which Ophelia licked lazily.
"No you're not," the blonde retorted. "You were so quiet during the end of that meeting that I thought you fell asleep. I know that means that you're upset." Her friend did not answer, which meant that she was right.
"Okay, so I am a bit."
"Drake can't save everyone in the archipelago, you know," Shannon said gently. "You shouldn't get upset at him for something that is physically and logistically impossible."
Trish sighed and cuddled Ophelia close to her. "I know…it's just that it sucks majorly. You know how I hate to see anyone get hurt or killed."
The brunette nodded. Her eldest friend was first and foremost a humanitarian, concerned for the welfare of her fellow human beings, no matter where they were in the world.
Jenn patted Trish on the back. "Don't worry, Trish. Drake and Ash sound like they have things under control. They're going to get as many people out as possible. Anyone who stays gets what's coming to them."
"Jenn!" Shannon squeaked. "That's not very nice."
The blonde shrugged. "No, but it's true." She placed Pepita back on the floor before heaving herself off the floor. "Aiight, how about Shan and I fetch our monsters and come back here so they can introduce themselves and stuff?"
Trish's eyes widened, "And stuff? When there's that outside?"
Jenn shrugged again, "Hey, we'll be here till the very end so why not just act like it's any other day?"
Trish and Shannon looked at each other, then at Jenn. "I guess you've got a point," Shannon finally said.
"I've got many good points," the blonde grinned and dusted off her pants. "I'll be back in a minute or so. Shan, you want me to bring your lil sweeties up here for you?"
The brunette nodded. "Yes please, the Poké Balls are kept in a little padded basket on my dresser."
"Aiight, I'll be back."
ooo
When Drake and Ash entered the room an half hour later, they found the three girls on the floor surrounded by a tangle of furry creatures. With six Growlithe, an Espeon, an Umbreon, an Absol, two Pichu and three Dratini – it made for a very boisterous gathering.
The Fire Puppies, especially, were having the time of their lives; romping around and chasing each other around the room. Little Kigali was alternately joining in or trying to hide on Jenn's lap and snuggle her head under the blonde's arm.
The two men took in the absolute bedlam and grinned. Pikachu and Poptart leapt down off Ash's shoulders to join in the fun.
Drake sat down on the bed while Ash took the nearest free chair. Trish managed to extract herself from the wriggling furry pile and sat down next to her fiancé.
"Welcome to our funhouse," she quipped. "You guys finished what you had to do?"
The Orange Crew Leader gave a tired smile. "Yeah, we're going to get things to start rolling first thing tomorrow morning."
"So what up?" Jenn asked.
Drake hesitated. "I was thinking that perhaps… it would be best for you girls to leave Pummelo as soon as possible…go home maybe until all this is over."
The three girls blinked, looked at each other and then looked at Drake, then answered as one. "No way!"
"Girls, listen to me please," the Orange Crew Leader held up a hand. "The safest place for you at this time would be back home with your families. I'm sure that they're probably all worried sick about you right now and wanting you to come home. They would never forgive me if something happened to any of you. What's more important is that I would never be able to forgive myself if one of you were hurt or killed." He squeezed Trish's hand. "Especially you."
"I'm not leaving you," the Australian said firmly. "I'm not going to leave you to face this all alone."
"Don't even think of trying to tell me what to do," Jenn glared at Drake, "I'll do the exact opposite and not even care about what you think."
"And if they're not going then I'm not either!" Shannon vowed.
Drake narrowed his eyes, "I'm the authority here, girls, not you. What happens in Pummelo…"
"Stays in Pummelo!" Jenn cracked and looked over at Trish, who had swiftly glared at her friend, "Oh come on. It begged to be said."
"What happens in Pummelo is a duty that falls directly onto my shoulders," Drake went on, obviously trying to keep his temper in check, "Not Ash's, not the police, not anyone's but mine."
Trish softened at the tone and the words. She knew that Drake had a lot of responsibility, but the emotions that flooded through her made her realize that he cared about their safety more than he was able to show.
"I'll go," Trish said softly.
Jenn, who was in the middle of firing off a retort spun on her heels, "What!"
Drake and Ash looked equally surprised. Shannon gaped at the Australian, while the Pokémon all halted their play. Kigali sat by her mistress' feet and leaned against the blonde.
"You cannot be serious!" Jenn's eyes were wide. "Lu is all of our problem! We need to be here to. . ."
"To what, Jenn?" Trish asked gently, "We do not have high level Pokémon as Ash and Drake do. We do not have magical powers like Puck and Callie do. We do not have abilities to speak with the Legendaries and other Pokémon as Ash does."
"So what, you're saying we're just a bunch of Willows and Xanders?" Jenn frowned, "No, wait, Willow was at least a witch."
Trish shrugged, "That's sort of what I'm saying."
"It would be best, then," Shannon looked sad, "Even though I don't want to go, I will if it's the best thing to do. I wouldn't want to get in the way."
"Then you're going to have to do something irrational with me," Jenn said flatly, "Because I will not go. Lu has done too much to me to not justify a fight from me."
Drake considered Chris' idea and shook his head, "Jenn, you have to go."
"I will not!" Jenn said stubbornly. Kigali, unsure of what was going on, gave a little growl of unease.
"Then I'll have no other choice. Well, there's one but it's not morally proper," Drake said, "If you won't go when I ask you nicely, then I'll have to banish you from Pummelo and have you forcibly removed."
Ash could see a variety of emotions course over the blonde's face, from shock, to anger, to something a little conniving. 'Oh please, just go!' The Chosen One thought fiercely.
"You could've just had Puck give me my fire power back and none of this 'forcibly removed' would be necessary," The blonde air quoted Drake's words and crossed her arms over her stomach.
Ash sighed. Of course it wouldn't be that easy with her.
The group groaned as one, Trish being the first to recover. "Jenn, for the love of Lugia, will you just give up? Not just on the fire power, but on leaving!"
"I can't do that," Jenn grinned, "I wouldn't be me if I gave up like that." She looked to Drake, "If you force me to leave, I'll just borrow Merlin again and come right back."
Drake shook his head, "Merlin and his brethren are under lockdown," he said dryly, "You couldn't get to him or any others without passing a palm scan and a retinal scan."
"Wanna bet?" the blonde crossed her arms.
The Orange Crew Leader raised an eyebrow. "If you break in to the Pokémon sheds, then I will just have to let Officer Jenny throw you into a prison cell and be charged with break and enter and attempted Pokémon theft. I'm sure that your parents would be thrilled to hear about that."
"They won't like it, but at least I get to stay," Jenn countered.
Ash rolled his eyes. "Honestly, Jenn – why can't you be more like Trish and go along with it? Lu's done more stuff to her than to you, and you don't see her all fire and brimstone. She's definitely not on a revenge kick like you are."
"Then you don't know Trish as well as I do," she smirked. "She's never been the kind to be vengeful and the day she is will be the day the world ends."
"Which may be in a few days if Lu manages to succeed," the Grand Master said in a sober tone. That managed to quieten even Jenn.
"Look Jenn, we all know that you're itching for a fight with Lu," he continued gently. "But you have to understand the extreme danger you're placing yourself in by staying here. You don't have any magic and you don't have any powerful Pokémon."
"I know that, genius," Jenn snapped back irritably.
"You'd be extremely vulnerable to anything Lu throws against us."
"You have a point to this monologue, don't you?"
Ash sighed patiently, "We'll give you two days maximum to reconsider your decision and that's it."
Jenn mock curtseyed, "Thank you ever so kindly, milord." Then she spun on her heel and left the room.
ooo
Jenn heard Trish and Shannon walking after her and the blonde slowed her fast walking to a slow stalk. Choosing to dodge into the spacious laundry room to her right, she waited for them to enter the room. When she did, the blonde rounded on her best friend. "What are you smoking to think of leaving? Because I'd like some. I don't understand you two!"
Trish remained calm. "It is in our best interests, in everyone's best interests, for us to leave. We'd only be in the way."
"That's true," Shannon nodded.
"But before that, you said that you weren't gonna leave Drake to face this alone," Jenn was confused. "Don't you love him enough to stay?"
"Jenn, I love him more than anything in the world, which is why I will be going," Trish explained. "Believe me, I don't want to go, but he's already under so much stress that I don't want to add to it by staying when he's so afraid for my safety."
"I'm not going."
Trish blew out an exasperated sigh, "Honestly, girl! I am just about ready to take Chris's idea to Puck and say that Drake and Ash approved it, and I'm sure they are just about to as well!"
"At least then I'd have something to defend myself with other than my trusty ITEO babies."
Shannon sighed gently. This was getting very uncomfortable. She really hoped her best friends were not fighting, fighting. Maybe it was another ploy in case Lu was spying on them.
Trish smiled thinly, "You would have your fire power but I'd make sure you were kept locked up until it was all over!"
Jenn's eyes widened, "That's unfair!"
"And you've been behaving unfairly."
Jenn bristled at that, "I have not! All I want is to make Lu realize how unfair he's been."
"So it's not about revenge?" Shannon asked.
"No."
"And it's not about your wounded pride?" Trish queried.
Jenn paused before saying no and Trish shook her head. "I think it is about your pride," the Australian said softly, "And that's never a good way to go about dishing out paybacks. Your pride would ignite your temper and you'd end up flying off the handle and into the way and end up getting yourself hurt. Your temper would blind you to rationalized thought!"
The blonde began to protest, but Trish held up a hand. "If you did somehow get powers other than an ITEO weapon, you'd have to act as part of a team. I know you Jenn, and you do not do team work very well. You like being a loner far too much."
"That's only partially true," Jenn protested weakly.
"If you had a power or even if you were temporarily changed, you'd have to listen to someone in charge. You like to control situations, even when they're beyond your ability."
"It's not as if I've always gone against every rule or person in charge."
Shannon stifled a grin, "What about sneaking out to get back at Gary?"
Jenn reddened, "I was curious."
"About what!" Trish laughed, "How soon you could get caught by the bad guys?"
"It wasn't supposed to end that way," Jenn grumbled.
Trish sat at the folding table, and the other two did as well. Taking seats opposite of each other, "What was supposed to happen?"
Jenn shrugged, "I didn't think that far. I figured I could find him and then go from there."
Trish stared at Jenn, "You went under a false story and ended up confronting your ex and you didn't have a plan other than when you saw him?"
"That's about right."
"That's probably about the worst reason for you to stay here, then," Shannon said gently, "Have you thought of what would happen if you stayed to help Ash and Drake?"
Jenn shook her head, "Not really."
"But you want to stay anyway?" Trish asked, "It sounds like a pride issue."
"It may be that. I have been real vocal about staying," Jenn took a breath, "But it's grown to be more than that. I just feel like I should be here. Can't you understand that?"
Trish and Shannon both shook their heads, "Not really," Trish said. "While I am very concerned about Ash and Drake, and Callie and Puck, I'm also worried about my own safety."
"Me too," Shannon said, "If I was hurt or killed, my parents would be devastated."
"I second that," Trish said, "Plus what of our Pokémon? They'd be distraught beyond belief."
"And what if those four already have a plan in mind," Shannon added, "They could have a whole strategy that doesn't include you in any way, shape, or form."
"I'm selfish, I know," Jenn said, "But I don't care. I have to be here. I can't not be here in person to see this end. The suspense would kill me."
"Lu could kill you!" Trish was beyond exasperated.
"Lu's tried and I've survived. You've survived!"
"That doesn't make you immune to him," Shannon spoke up, "He got you once before and once after the Titanic debacle!"
"I'm not the only one to have been continuously duped by Lu," Jenn protested. "Uh…am I?"
"Can't say that I have been since that run in with the Puppy from Hell," Trish said evenly.
The blonde sulked and crossed her arms.
"In fact I think that having been duped at least twice more by Lu would make you even more vulnerable and susceptible to his magic," Shannon stated. "He could throw anything at the group and you would be the first to fall."
"I would not," Jenn said resentfully.
"Jenn, I hate to say this, but you are probably the most vulnerable of us all," Trish said gently. "Lu will be out to make sure that no one survives this time. What if you were killed? What then? What about your family? How would they feel? How would I feel?"
The blonde was silent.
The Australian took this as a sign to continue. "How would little Kigali feel if you were killed? She was abused and mistreated by her former trainer, and anyone can see how she clings to you and needs a bit of mothering. She would be completely devastated."
"Plus she's only a baby still," Shannon joined in. "She gets so scared so easily – it's not fair to keep her in such a frightening situation. Kigali needs to be somewhere calm and peaceful."
"Well…." It was obvious Jenn's resolve was weakening. When it came to the welfare of animals or Pokémon, she could never do enough to reassure them.
"Do it for Little Kigali," Trish coaxed. "Please?"
"Fine, I'll go," Jenn waved a hand in surrender. "But it's only because of Kigali. If it wasn't for her, I'd stay."
Shannon cheered.
"You people suck," Jenn stalked out of the laundry room, "And you're still going to have to drag me out of here."
ooo
A lone figure stood on the cliffs, impervious to the drenching rain and howling winds. On closer observation one would have seen that the figure was smiling widely.
Lu stood on his deserted island and observed his swirling masterpiece with delight. This would ensure his victory over his archrival, he just knew it.
The rising level of fear from the mortals in the Archipelago was giving him renewed strength and vigour; and as his strength grew, so did the intensity of the hurricane.
A satisfied grin came over the Fae's face. After he wiped out his enemies, then he would be free to overtake the world. Once that had been achieved, then Elysium would fall…and Puck and Callie's sacrifice would have been for naught.
ooo
Later that night, Drake found Trish in her bedroom. A suitcase lay open on the bed with neat piles of folded clothes beside it. Her Pokémon were all loose. Clio was dozing in a small coil on a chair, Hamlet was giving Pepita rides, Ophelia was chewing on a Kong, and Espeon was asleep.
"How's things?" he asked as he sat on a free part of the bed.
"Okay," Trish smiled as she folded a shirt neatly. "We finally managed to convince Jenn on the wisdom of going."
"You did?"
"Yeah, but it was a psychological battle and a half," she chuckled. "I've never met a more stubborn human being than Jenn."
"I definitely agree with you on that." He paused. "I'm sorry about snapping at you girls earlier."
"No need to apologise," Trish soothed him. "You're under so much stress at the moment. We understand."
"I don't think Jenn did," he muttered.
"Oh she will, you know how she likes being difficult."
"Truer words have never been spoken," he grinned in spite of himself.
"I know," the Australian smirked back as she went to grab more clothes from her wardrobe.
"I don't really want you to go."
Trish stopped what she was doing and sat down beside him. "I know; and I don't really want to leave either. But it's for the best, and hopefully it will only be for a little while…"
Drake smiled and squeezed her hand. "I just don't want to risk losing you, or seeing Lu hurt you again. I love you more than anything in the world."
She smiled and kissed him. "Just promise me that you'll take care of yourself. While I know you'll take good care of the others, I don't want you to forget yourself. I want to come back and marry you, not bury you."
The Orange Crew Leader put his arms around her and hugged her tight. "I promise if you promise to do the same."
"Promise," her voice was muffled against his shirt.
"Stay with me tonight?" he whispered into her hair.
Trish raised her head and smiled at him. "You need never to ask."
ooo
Jenn was reading in her room, sprawled on her bed, when Ash walked in. Kigali yipped in delight and proceeded to jump like a coiled spring at the Grand Master's legs.
The blonde looked up. "Who gave you permission to enter my domain?"
"I did," Ash grinned. "It is a free world after all, and last time I checked, this villa and all its rooms belonged to Drake."
Jenn mock-scowled at him. "You know what I mean."
"And you know what I mean." The Grand Master sat down on the end of the bed, Kigali taking possession of his lap.
"Uh…yeah." She earmarked her page and put the book down. "So what did you want?"
"Just to say sorry for earlier. I know you didn't like what I said, and perhaps I shouldn't have made it sound like I was ordering you around."
The blonde shrugged. "Like you said before, it's a free world. I accept your apology, but Ash, I'm not as nice as you are. I'm not going to apologize for what I said."
"Fair enough, I suppose," Ash shrugged. "I heard from Trish that you've decided to leave with them."
"Yeah, but it's only because of my little baby cheekie poops on your lap that I agreed to go at all," Jenn said pointedly.
Ash sighed softly and it was then that Jenn noticed how tired and drained he looked. "You understand that we want all of you out of here only because Drake, and to a lesser degree, myself, is already under so much pressure with overseeing this mass evacuation. Things would be a lot more bearable if we knew that all our friends and family are out of harm's way."
"I know," Jenn sighed, frowning slightly as she searched for words that would best describe what she was feeling. She didn't think she'd succeed, and decided to just spit it out. "It's just that it's so unfair that Trish and I don't get to help lay the smackdown on Lu when we're the ones who have suffered tons. We're the ones who have every right to be there. Maybe we don't have magic or even powerful Pokémon, but we could help command the Pokémon you're going to use. We're fast learners. Even though T may pick it up faster than me, but we could do it if you'd just let us!"
"Yes it is unfair," Ash agreed as he stroked Kigali's soft fur. "But can you also understand it's because the two of you have suffered so much that we don't want you to suffer any more? Do you know how many times I thought we'd lost you forever? I've never felt so relieved as when you finally woke up."
Jenn was little surprised at this. She'd always thought that Ash had only ever saved her because of a sense of obligation being the 'Chosen One'. She never really understood that term. The Chosen One: Saviour of worlds, lives, and programmer of vcrs.
"Jenn?"
"Huh?" She blinked out of her contemplation.
"Just checking to see if you're still there," he chuckled. "You kind of zoned out."
"It comes and it goes," She shrugged, then turned back to the conversation, "So why'd you guys tell us to go and not people like your wife?" she looked at Ash pointedly. "I thought you'd be more insistent on her leaving and not us."
"Misty has already left," the Grand Master said gently. A grim smile flitted over his face as he remembered her last words to him on the phone.
"What? With who?"
"She wouldn't say."
"Oh," Jenn frowned, "Maybe it was with James."
Ash looked startled, "No, he left already with Jessie, Meowth, and some of the others."
"Okay." A silence stretched, short and choppy before Jenn said, "Maybe with Lugia?"
Ash stifled a snort, "Come on, Jenn. He's got better things to do."
"Yeah, you're right," Jenn nodded, but still appeared to be seriously considering who Misty left the Archipelago with.
Ash was about to get up to leave when Jenn spoke yet again.
"Maybe it was with Suicune."
'This girl is mental,' He rubbed his temples with his fingers, "Jenn, you can't be serious."
"Why not?"
"Because Suicune is not going to take Misty to the mainland."
"It's a Water Pokémon right? She's got that connection with them."
"Suicune isn't…Jenn, I can't have this conversation right now," Ash shook his head, "I really don't need another headache on top of the one I already have."
"Aww, I'm sorry," Jenn said apologetically.
"Don't worry about it," Ash waved her off, "Just don't try to think on who gave Misty a ride to the mainland."
"Consider it forgotten," Jenn grinned.
ooo
Pallet.
Misty finished towelling her hair dry and sat down carefully on the bed. The first thing she had done after Gary had dropped her off at home was to unpack and have a shower.
She had never been so relieved to get home. Misty couldn't understand why; she loved being in the Orange Archipelago, surrounded by the ocean she loved. The other time she had encountered hellish weather was back when her and Ash were teenagers; when a collector's greed brought an ancient prophecy to life. That time it had not worried her in the slightest.
'But things are different now,' she thought to herself. 'I am older and pregnant with my first child. I could never put my child in danger.'
She had her priorities right. Unlike Ash, who was willing to put his life at risk to save the islands from some evil Fae. Misty couldn't understand that. What did it matter to her husband if the Orange Archipelago was completely devastated? They didn't live there, and she was sure that Orange League would soon be up and running again. Plenty of countries around the world suffered terrible natural disasters and recovered. Without Ash's help.
While Misty knew it was unfair, she couldn't help comparing her husband's recent behaviour with that of Gary. Gary had been friendly and attentive to her needs, while Ash was too busy helping with the League and with the fight against Lu.
Gary had offered to bring her home to safety. Ash had refused to come with her.
Misty sighed again. She was beginning to think that Gary was the better man.
ooo
To be continued…
Author's Note: Things are getting rather hairy here. In honour of Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Week out here, I ask that those of you who have not read it, read and reviewBroken Wings. As the motto says, "Care for today, hope for a future."