Midsummer Nights

by Trish

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

30. Never Forget What I Lost

Midsummer Nights

By Trish

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon otherwise I would have made them keep the original voice actors for the anime! I do not own Puck, and Ashura the Mew belongs to Dragoness and used with permission. I own the rest of the characters and the storyline. The lyrics for the chapter title belong to 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' by Green Day.

ooo

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Never Forget What I Lost

Many things happened at once. As a horrified Puck caught Mia as she crumpled to the ground, an enraged Mewtwo completely rendered Lu immobile through telekinesis just as Ash used his powers to knock the evil Fae unconscious. The pistol clattered on the ground before Charizard flamed it to scrap.

Trish grabbed a handkerchief and knelt down beside the fallen girl, pressing the material against the scarlet wound that was spreading rapidly across her chest as she barked out orders. "Jaime! Use Drake's cell phone and call the emergency ward! Tell them we've got a gunshot victim coming via teleport," She looked to Mewtwo. "Mewtwo, teleport Shannon and me to the hospital now!"

The Psychic Pokémon merely nodded before the three girls vanished.

Puck sat there, stunned and distraught. "Mia…."

Callie put a hand on her brother's shoulder.

"Mia…" he moaned his anguish before his gaze settled on the prone figure of Lu lying on the ground. He drew in a sharp breath. "I'm gonna kill him….I'm gonna KILL him!"

Puck lunged for his enemy only to find himself frozen in place. "CALLIE!" he yelled.

Callie merely glared at her furious brother. "No, Puck! I will not let you kill him! That's not going to help Mia at all and you know it."

"But he shot her! I can't ever forgive that!"

"Lu wasn't aiming for her," Ash gently corrected him. "Mia stepped in and took the bullet for you."

"But…why? I could have stopped it easily, there was no need for her to get hurt..." Puck was bewildered.

"Love," Drake said simply. "She did it out of love. She couldn't bear to see you killed."

The Fae buried his head in his hands. "And I can't bear to see her killed."

ooo

Mia was rushed straight into the operating theatre, and Trish and Shannon were left to wait outside and fill in the necessary forms.

"Hope she's gonna be alright," Shannon bit her lip as she sat beside Trish.

"Me too," the Australian frowned as she checked the admissions form to see if she had filled out everything that she could.

"How on earth did Lu get a gun?" the brunette was mystified. "I didn't think he would even know what one was!"

Trish shrugged. "He's been in this world for a while, perhaps he saw it on TV or something. Lu could have conjured one up by magic or maybe Rudy got it for him."

"Do you really think Rudy would have done that?"

"I don't know but he'd better hope for his sake that he didn't," Trish said with quiet menace. "Because if I come across him…."

Shannon nodded and said grimly, "He won't have a snowball's chance on Moltres' back."

"You've been hanging around Jenn, haven't you?"

Shannon smiled sheepishly, "Who hasn't?"

Trish just shook her head and sighed, "I'd better take these to the nurses station. I'll be right back."

Shannon watched her friend as she rounded the corner. Once alone, Shannon looked around the emergency room waiting room. There wasn't anyone else in the waiting room with her. A television sat on a wall mount in a high far corner. It was playing some Pierce Brosnan version of a James Bond movie. It didn't seem very interesting.

Three people shimmered into the room, and Shannon thought she recognized the method of transport as Mewtwo's. But when the people solidified she could see that it was Jenn, Chris, and Ash.

Shannon stood up and was immediately in full hug mode. She hugged each in turn and looked to Ash. It was the normal eyed Ash and not Golden eyed Ash, for which she was innately grateful. The Golden eyed Ash freaked her out and sent chills up and down her spine. Either Mewtwo teleported the three or Ash had a greater control of his powers.

The four sat at one of the round tables set in the centre of the room. There were magazines on it, along with some abandoned children's toys. Shannon rather thought they looked cheap, easily pulled from some dollar store, but knew they were the keys to some child's imagination.

Why am I thinking about toys? Shannon thought with amazement. Mia's on an operating table and I'm thinking about cheaply made kids toys.

"Has there been any reports from the doctors?" Ash asked from the chair next to Shannon's, breaking the girl's reverie.

"No," she shook her head, "I haven't heard anything. Trish just left to take papers back to the nurses. Information forms about allergies and previous injuries."

Ash nodded and a slight lull fell in the conversation, broken only by the sounds of a car chase scene from the television.

"Can't you just heal her?" Shannon asked hopefully.

"What?" Ash's eyes went wide for a second, then he shook his head. "I can't heal. It's the first thing I thought of, too, but I can't. Puck and Callie can only heal magical creatures."

"That's not very helpful."

Ash looked across the table at Jenn, "I can't change that."

Jenn glared up at him darkly, "Still not very helpful."

Ash almost shivered. Not even Misty had conveyed such emotion in one look. He had but one thought: If looks could kill, Jenn would be doing so left and right.

"What's your problem?" Chris said. "You had no reaction when Ash told you what happened to Mia and you said nothing from then till now, and all you do is bitch that he can't magically heal someone because it's beyond his abilities!"

"It's not like that," Jenn muttered.

"It sure as hell sounds like it," Chris shot back. "Maybe you should stop being such an ice queen and show a little emotion!"

Ash winced at the ice queen comment. It had been the one thing that set Jenn off before with Gary.

"Don't start with me," Jenn stood up and looked down at Chris, "You don't want me to show a lot of emotion, especially to you."

"Why? Gonna go all green and evil?"

Jenn turned to Ash, "Can you just send me back? I don't want to be here."

Chris shook his head. "You didn't have a problem with hospitals when Trish was in one."

"That was different."

"How!"

"I didn't piss off Lu enough to put Trish there. I pissed him off enough that he shot Mia."

Chris gaped. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!"

"It's not dumb!" Jenn shot back. "It's the truth!"

"No it isn't," a new voice broke into the conversation. Trish had come back into the room from the nurse's station.

"Oh come on Trish, you know it is!"

"I know that it isn't," the Australian said firmly. "You think that by taunting Lu, you got Mia shot, right? Well if you hadn't diverted his attention, neither Mia or any of us girls would have been rescued and we would all be dead."

Jenn remained silent.

"Lu is out to kill us all, regardless," Trish continued. "And let's not forget that Lu was not aiming for Mia, he was aiming for Puck. Mia stepped in front of Puck to save him out of her own free will. Jenn, you did not cause Lu to shoot Mia and that's the end of that."

"But I still pissed him off enough to shoot Puck!" the blonde protested.

"No you did not! Lu's ultimate aim has always been to destroy Puck no matter what he has to do to achieve it. He told me that when I was in Dartmoor. He would have tried to kill him anyhow, anyway."

"I guess you're right," Jenn grumbled.

"You know I am always right," her best friend smirked.

"That sounded too scarily like Jenn," Chris muttered. "You've been hanging around her for too long."

Shannon grinned, "We've been over that already."

Chris gave her a look that said, "Huh?" but Trish was already talking.

"Jenn, if you want to go, then you should," the dark-haired girl said. "The nurse said that Mia would not be able to be seen by us for a few hours anyway."

"I think I will," the blonde decided. "It's not that I don't care about Mia, it's just that I can't stand hanging around and doing nothing."

"I know," Trish said. "Just remember to switch on your cell phone so I can call you the minute we know anything."

"Okay," Jenn turned to leave but paused. "Does anyone know what the weather's like outside? Can I get back to the villa on my own or do I need to be teleported back?"

"The hurricane's long gone," Ash reassured her. "It was only sustained by Lu's magic. Now that Callie's disabled his magical abilities, it's run out of energy and so…it's gone."

"Okay, I'll see you guys later," Jenn gave her friends a quick hug before she walked out of the emergency waiting room. She walked down a short hallway before leaving the hospital and walking into bright sunshine. She blinked for a few minutes before her eyes adjusted to the glare. It sure was a huge change from the darkness of the hurricane earlier. "I should have brought my sunglasses," she muttered.

Jenn turned up a street, which had a short but steep grade to it, and sighed. She felt a little hurt that Ash hadn't offered to teleport her back or have a Pokémon bring her back, but squashed that hurt feeling with determination to keep her mind on other things. She knew that moping wouldn't heal Mia and it wouldn't make anyone happy.

"It's just a nice little twenty minute walk," She said to herself. "I hope. And anyway, it'll be good for me. Maybe I'll find a hot guy!"

As she walked, she observed the damage that the hurricane had inflicted on the island. Palm trees had sheared tops or were lying on the ground. Debris both natural and man-made was strewn everywhere. The bodies of small birds and animals that had not been able to survive the hurricane lay here and there, among glass fragments from building windows, leaves, and silt deposits left by the storm surges.

Most buildings and houses, Jenn was relieved to see, were still standing and mostly intact. Although here and there were ruins of houses or buildings that had not been built to withstand extreme weather conditions.

People were slowly emerging from storm shelters now that the all clear signal had been given from the authorities. Many were dazed and shell-shocked by the ferocity of the hurricane and the abruptness with which it ended.

Twenty minutes later, Jenn found herself at a small sea side shopping centre called Water's Edge. Jenn almost groaned, because not only did it mean she had been walking in the wrong direction, she was now at least a half-hour's drive (aka a forty minute walk) from the villa.

She sat on a sun dried bench that edged the section of the centre that separated the beach from the paved walkway. "See, now that's the problem with relying on someone who can teleport when you can't. You're not really going to remember to bring your ATM card, or credit cards, or cash."

Jenn scuffled her foot in the sand, which was dry on the surface and icky wet just underneath, and sighed again. If she called the villa via a collect call, Drake would tease and torment her for weeks. If she called the hospital and asked for Trish via a collect call, Chris would tease and torment her for years.

"That is, genius, if the phones are even working," she chastised herself. "So the best bet would be to suck it up and walk back to the villa."

So it was a good thing she'd put on her sneakers this morning instead of the Blahnik sandals she'd thought of wearing.

However, she'd only gone as far as the edge of the shopping centre before she heard low whimpering. It was coming from the private enclosure behind the shopping centre, where deliveries were made and garbage was collected by a waste management service.

She paused and sighed for the third time. Then she walked over to the enclosure and found a break in the decorative wooden fencing. The blonde could look in and when she did, she didn't see anything. At first, that is.

A Mightyena limped into view and Jenn could see that it was dragging its hind right leg in a way that looked very painful. The blonde shook her head as the Dark Pokémon sidled up to the fence. The break was about waist high and was just enough for her to be able to stick an arm through.

Which, of course, she wouldn't be doing. Wounded or not, a Mightyena was still a Pokémon not to be messed with. They were just as unpredictable as its bigger Dark relative, the Houndoom.

"Sorry, pal, but you'll have to wait for someone to come rescue you," Jenn said, though feeling a bit reluctant when she started to walk away. Not only would her Pokémon probably not be happy if she rescued another Pokémon, she had the feeling Drake wouldn't want another Pokémon tearing through his villa.

The Dark Pokémon made a high pitched whine and Jenn froze in her tracks. Her shoulders tensed as she turned around. She felt a little guilty when she saw that the shaggy Pokémon had stuck its muzzle through the hole in the fence.

"Oh, by someone coming to rescue you, I didn't mean me!"

The Pokémon whined again and Jenn looked to the sky, then back down to the Pokémon.

"You can't do this," She told herself as she walked back, "You really shouldn't be doing this."

The Mightyena pulled back when it saw her walking back and Jenn saw that the Pokémon had no shelter from the blazing sun. She knew that Dark Pokémon hated intensely bright sunlight. She'd hated it when she was an Absol, so she could emphasise very well with this Pokémon, who was storm injured to boot.

Jenn shook her head, "Trish is gonna kill me for this." But the blonde set about to find something to break into the fence.

ooo

The group were quietly chatting among themselves in the waiting room when the surgeon who had been operating on Mia came in. Instantly everyone was on their feet and regarding the doctor with anxious trepidation.

"Mia's going to be all right," he gave a tired smile. "And she's a very lucky girl. The bullet just missed her heart by millimetres. As it is, she'll be a very sick girl for a while and we've moved her to intensive care. But she's going to make it."

"Thank goodness," Trish sighed in relief before hugging Shannon. "I don't know what I would told Puck otherwise!"

"Me neither," Ash was also relieved. Recalling the Fae's fury soon after the shooting, he was glad that no one would have to find out what a crazed Puck was capable of.

"By the way, where is Puck?" Chris asked. "I thought he would have been almost glued to Mia's side."

"Callie sedated him," Ash explained. "He was getting…a little out of control and irrational."

Then his thoughts flashed back to what had happened. How Puck had gone insane with anger over Mia's death, destroyed the Stadium and half of Pummelo before Ash and Callie could bring Puck back from the brink of insanity, and then petition Celebi to reverse time and all the damage wrought by the anger brought on by what Lu had done. When Celebi had told Puck that Mia had to be shot in order to appease the Fates, Puck managed to plead for a severe injury instead of death.

He remembered what had happened, as did the two Faes, and he could clearly see the sight of a huge crater where the Stadium had been. He survived, protected by his powers, as had Trish and Shannon as they had Mewtwo teleport Mia's body to the emergency room in a futile attempt to save her. Drake had also survived, having left to go take care of matters at the villa. The others hadn't stood a chance.

He remembered the sight of Chris and Jaime's broken bodies. He hadn't even been able to find anything of Jenn. The Chosen One smiled grimly, "Just a little."

ooo

Half an hour later, Jenn had managed to bring the injured Mightyena to the nearest Pokémon Centre. She'd carried it slung carefully over her shoulder in a modified fireman's carry. While it wasn't as heavy as she'd have thought a full grown Mightyena would be, it was bulky enough to be awkward.

The Nurse Joy on duty looked about to collapse in an exhausted heap due to the amount of injured Pokémon she had to take care of. She was lucky enough to have a small group of Chanseys that were only too willing to assist.

While the Dark Pokémon was being treated, Jenn asked if she could have change to use the phone, promising to pay it back as soon as possible. Coins soon in hand, she walked to the nearest video phone and dialled the villa. The Orange Crew Leader picked up on the first ring.

"Jenn, what's going on?"

Jenn was counting herself lucky (and somewhat ruefully – that Pokémon really slowed her down!) that the phones were even working. "Nice to see you too, Drake. Why yes, I'm doing just fine."

"I'm sure you are," Drake said, looking a little annoyed, "But have you heard from the others?"

Jenn started to shake her head, then looked at Drake in the eyes, "I don't know what's going on because I started to walk back to the villa a couple hours ago."

"A couple of hours…" Drake looked surprised, "I didn't know you walked that slow."

"I didn't," Jenn blew at a hair that fell across her eyes. "I mean, I don't walk slow. I just got side tracked by an injured Pokémon."

"Okay, Ash, what happened?"

Jenn glared at him, "Shut up, Mary Poppins."

Drake's eyes widened, "Mary Poppins! Where did you pull that from? It makes no sense!"

"Yeah, well I'm on borrowed dime here. When this money runs out, I don't have any more."

"Okay, fine," Drake sobered up, "What happened with Mia?"

"I don't know," Jenn said uncomfortably. "I left before any doctors came out about her progress."

"I'll head over then. See how they're doing over there."

"You're not going to do twenty questions about why I'm not there?"

"Don't get defensive, Jenn," Drake said calmly. "I'm not going to grill you. I know how uncomfortable hospitals make you."

A voice sounded on the loudspeaker, "Will the trainer of an injured Mightyena, ticket number g23, please report to the main desk. Your Pokémon is ready to be picked up."

"Uh, I gotta go, Drake."

"A Mightyena?" Drake arched an eyebrow, "I thought you went for the cute and cuddly sort."

"This one found me."

"They usually do," Drake shook his head then said, "I'll see you around. Do you have your cell phone?"

A little muscle twitched around Jenn's eye and Drake laughed.

"You have it with you, don't you?"

Again, the twitch.

"Bet it's on silent, too."

"Actually it's on vibrate," Jenn ground out as she reached into the back pocket of her jeans. She pulled it out, saw that there were four missed calls, a strong signal bar, and cursed.

"I'll call you later." Drake signed off.

Jenn stood up and put her phone into her front pocket. She'd put it on a loud ring once she got outside. She handed the nurse her ticket and couldn't help but to feel better when she saw the Mightyena looking healthy and whole.

"No broken bones," the nurse said, "Which he had. His hind leg was broken and he had a slight concussion. He's fine now though and ready for you to take him home."

"Okay," Jenn said, looking at the Pokémon as the Mightyena bounded over to her. He sat at her feet and leaned against her. He looked up with bright brown eyes.

"Don't you have a Poké Ball for him?"

"Uh, no, I don't."

The nurse tsked, "You really should. It would have been far easier for you to transport him here when he was injured."

"It sure would have," Jenn muttered, "Oh well, come on."

They walked out of the Pokémon centre and into brilliantly bright sunlight. Jenn looked down and saw the Mightyena flinch a little. She scratched his head behind his ears reassuringly, "Don't worry. It can't hurt you. Not really."

The Pokémon looked up at her and panted.

Jenn took in the lolling tongue and rolled her eyes, "Oh that's real attractive."

The blonde had to admit that the wolf-like Pokémon made for a great travelling companion. Though there weren't many people on the road, those that weren't dazed and confused, she felt a lot safer.

The walk back to the villa seemed short in comparison to the walk from the hospital. Getting to the Pokémon centre had made the trip considerably short. While climbing over or around downed palm trees, the blonde was surprised to see that they were soon at the beginning of the private road that led to the villa.

Jenn stopped and looked at the Mightyena. "Um, I really enjoyed helping you and I'd like to thank you for the safe walk back, but this is where we part ways."

The Mightyena looked confused, "Ena?"

"Yeah, see, it wouldn't be fair to take you in just because I saved you. I'm sure you've got a trainer or family somewhere." The blonde shrugged, "It was fun though. You know, after you weren't at the edge of death. Maybe I'll see you around."

The Mightyena sat there and watched as the blonde walked away. It watched until long after she disappeared from sight. The Pokémon huffed out a sigh and got up. After giving itself a quick shake, as if right out of a pool of water, it trotted up the road after her.

ooo

A nurse informed the waiting group that Mia was conscious and asking to see them. As she led them down the corridors to the intensive care wing, she gave them strict instructions.

"You can only stay for thirty minutes, no more. You must not get her excited or over-emotional as it could set her back in her recovery. You cannot hug her yet as the wounds are still fresh and have not yet begun to heal."

"Is there anything that we can do?" Chris whispered to Shannon who just grinned.

The nurse finally came to a stop outside a room. "She's in here, and remember you've got thirty minutes."

They filed in quietly to see Mia awake and lying quietly in the bed, as pale as the white sheets she lay on; hooked up to countless machines and IVs.

Trish was thankful that Jenn wasn't here to see this – she knew how much hospital and hospital equipment freaked her friend out.

Mia opened her mouth to say something but no words came. The brunette tried again and her voice was weak and hoarse. "Puck….how's…Puck?"

Trish took her hand and squeezed it gently. "He's okay, Mi. Lu didn't hurt him at all. Callie just is staying with him while he gets some rest."

Mia managed a smile. "Good…that's all…that matters to me." She winced a little. "It…hurts so much."

"The doctors say that it will hurt like this for a few days but you can have some painkillers to help you sleep," Ash said.

"We'll leave you now, Mia, so you can get some rest. I promise we'll be back tomorrow with Puck."

Mia nodded before closing her eyes to get some much needed sleep.

Outside the hospital the group were met by Drake, the Mews, and Mewtwo.

"How is she?" the Orange Crew Leader asked.

"She's one very sick girl but she's alive," Trish informed her fiancé as he hugged her.

"That's a relief," Drake smiled. "What say you guys to some lunch back at the villa?"

"Sounds good to me," Chris grinned and the three Psychics teleported them back into the main foyer of the villa.

Footsteps were heard before Jenn came down the stairs, having heard their voices.

"Hey guys," she greeted before she was enveloped in a tight hug from Ash.

Taken by surprise, Jenn hugged back. Ash was not what she would call a hugger, unless it was Pikachu or his mom. But she made no comment as she sensed there was some underlying need, a sort of desperation in the embrace. As if he didn't want to let her go, as if he was afraid he'd lose her if he did let her go.

"Oh…okay, well that's nice," Jenn laughed as she hugged him back. When he didn't let go, she laughed a little again. "Um, Ash, I kinda need to breathe."

"Sorry." He let her go with a little reluctance and stood back. While the group discussed Mia's condition, which was stable, Ash's mahogany dark gaze was constantly on Jenn and it made her more than a little uncomfortable. Jenn excused herself and walked into the kitchen, unaware that Ash had followed her.

She checked her fly, which was up, then with the back of a metal spatula she checked her teeth and nose, which were free of any embarrassing things, then sighed with a little annoyance, "So what the heck was that all about?"

"Nothing very good," Ash said from behind her.

The spatula fell onto the counter with a clang as Jenn whirled around. She felt her face flush, "Would you people stop doing that!"

"What?"

"The sneaking and the scaring!" Jenn raked a hand through her hair, "Geeze, it's enough to make me go grey!"

Ash smiled a little wryly. "I don't think there's any real harm in explaining that hug."

"Oh, no," she tossed her head and leaned back against the counter, "I'm really hoping you're not going to say you're secretly crushing on me. Cause, like, you know. You're all with the ball and chain thing."

"Nothing quite that simple," he said, "Do you believe in time travel?"

"Yeah, but if you're gonna tell me you're from the future, I'm gonna hurt you if you don't give me winning lottery numbers."

Ash laughed, "Good old normal you."

"As opposed to what? Evil mutant me destroying the world?"

Ash sobered up. "As opposed to dead you."

The embarrassed flush vanished as Jenn paled, "What?"

"Lu killed Mia. He didn't wound her." Ash took a deep breath, then crossed mental fingers that Jenn wouldn't fear Puck. "Trish and Shannon teleported Mia to the hospital, but before they did, Puck knew that Mia was already dead. There was too much blood."

"You call this no real harm in explaining that hug? Are you mental!"

"Jenn, it didn't end bad for you guys in the end."

"Mia…But…you said time travel and I know that she's not dead," Jenn protested, "You fixed it?"

"Yeah, with help from the others, but it wasn't just Mia that died."

"That hug…You mean that I died, too, don't you?" Her voice was low and almost calm, but her blue-grey eyes were wide.

"And Chris and Jaime," he shrugged. "We found them, but you were in the Stadium and Puck kind of blew that, and you, to smithereens."

"Well that was really blunt." The blonde fell silent for a while and Ash was worried that she may have gone into shock. "Jenn, you okay?"

She turned a calm gaze to him, "Me? Oh sure. I'm just glad I heard all of that. I think." She paused then shrugged. "Actually, I'm really glad I watched all those episodes of Charmed. I never would've thought a TV show like that could prepare me for real life."

"You're not going to be all weird around Puck, are you?"

"No more than usual," she joked, then settled when she saw his serious look. "Come on, Ash, I'm not going to patronize him or anything. I'll behave if he does."

"That's what worries me," Ash said, "I'll leave you now."

"Okay." She watched him turn to leave and she called him back. "Ash?"

He looked over his shoulder, "Yeah?"

"Thanks for turning back time and unkilling me."

"It wasn't just me."

"I know. I'll send cards or…something. I mean, what can you say about something like that."

Ash gave a little smile and left the room.

Jenn sank onto the bar stool at the centre island and stared out the huge windows over the sink that provided a great view of the ocean. Then she got up and went out through the French doors that were in the breakfast nook. Suddenly, she just wanted to walk along the beach and feel the soothing warm ocean waters. Quietly, she slid the door shut and walked down the palm frond littered walkway.

ooo

Ash rejoined the group, but didn't feel as if any big weight had been lifted by the timeline he'd revealed to Jenn. Instead of finding the group still talking about Mia, he found them all staring at him as if he was something dangerous. The quietness of the group was a direct opposite of what he'd walked out of and he instantly knew that they knew.

"How much did you hear?"

"Only enough to make me realize that I can probably work a lot of favours out of Puck without any kind of hassle," Chris said it with a shaky voice.

Ash sighed. "You don't have to be afraid of him."

"Easy for you to say!" Jaime squeaked out, "You weren't killed by him!"

"He didn't mean to," Ash defended the Fae. "And time was reset."

"Yeah, until the next time someone hurts Mia," Chris said. "We don't have the sort of magical defences that you do!"

"I don't think he'll do it again," the Grand Master reassured him. "He was so horrified by what happened that he had Callie place a countermeasure spell on him to keep anything like that from happening again."

"Hope it works," Jaime muttered nervously.

"Me too," Drake agreed. "I didn't think that Puck was capable of such…violence."

"I don't think anyone knew," Trish shivered before Drake put an arm around her. "Funny what love can make people do…"

"It's scary," Jaime hugged a pillow to her chest.

ooo

Callie sighed as she watched over her sleeping brother. The battle with Lu and her brother's subsequent psychotic episode had really taken it out of him. The drain of magical powers had left him totally exhausted.

It had been two hours since Puck had fallen asleep and Callie had managed to catch an hours shuteye herself. Feeling a lot better than she had been, she sat next to her brother's bed and mused on what had just passed.

Like the others, she had been completely surprised by Puck's reaction to Mia's death. Callie had been the most surprised – after all this was Puck, her lovable, bumbling baby brother. Puck, who always meant well even if he did play pranks. Puck, who could never hurt a fly.

He hadn't hurt a fly. He'd simply killed three of his human friends and had the potential for killing scores more of other mortals. He had the potential to make what Lu attempted to be child's play. It was a side of him that she never dreamt possible. A vengeful, almost demonic Puck whose misery induced sole intent was to destroy everything.

The destruction of everything, all because of loss of the human girl he loved. Callie had never realised until now, just how deep and how strong her brother's feelings were for the young mortal girl who had captured his heart, nor how deeply Mia loved her brother. Mia loved Puck so much that she was willing to die for him.

The female Fae shifted slightly in the chair. She was thankful that the Chosen One had been there. Despite her skilful powers, she was certain she would not have been able to bring Puck back on her own.

Callie was amazed even more at how forgiving Ash was towards Puck after they had brought him back from the brink. Even after he found the bodies of two of his friends and despite the anguish she'd seen in his eyes after finding no trace of Jenn.

Even more than amazement was relief that Ash hadn't gone off the edge at what her brother had done. Callie knew how much the humans that had died had meant to the Chosen One. Fear had coursed through her at the thought of all of his powers. What Puck had done was a drop in the proverbial bucket compared to what Ash could do with a mere thought.

Ash had shown considerable restraint, though it was obvious that the knowledge of his friends' deaths had deeply pained him.

"How's sleeping beauty doing?"

Callie smiled. As the mortals said, speak of the devil. The lithe Fae turned to see Ash leaning against the open door frame. "Puck is sleeping deeply. I made sure that he will not wake until he has healed."

"He took damage?"

Callie gave a graceful shrug, "Only emotionally."

Ash nodded his acquiesce. "That can be as destructive as physical damage."

"How are the others?" Callie wondered. "I know they know what Puck did. How did they take it?"

Ash shrugged, "As well as they can, I guess. It's not easy to accept that someone you trust could hurt you. Or kill you."

"And how are you doing?"

"I'm fine." He snorted. "Considering what happened."

"You are not tired?"

"A little." He paused, seemed to consider something, then asked, "Is it normal for there to be side effects to what happened?"

Callie frowned prettily, "The time travel?"

"No," Ash shook his head, "The battle. Me accessing my powers. I…" He paused when he seemed unable to find the right words.

"You left a door open," Callie smiled knowingly. "Yes, it is normal. Younglings back home are constantly bemoaning when a power overwhelms them. What is it that troubles you?"

"It's telepathic, I think. When I think about someone, I know where they are and what they're doing. If I concentrate hard enough, I know what they're thinking."

"Aah, telepathic location." She smiled again. "Do not worry about it. You are not omnipresent, just psychic."

"But can I turn it off?" Ash sounded a little frustrated with his new talent. "Or close that door?"

"You could, but given the trouble your friends get into, would you want to?"

Ash laughed, "They're not that bad, Callie."

"I know." Callie smiled. "I just wanted to get you to smile."

Ash smiled at the Fae's thoughtfulness. No harm was meant by her words; only an attempt at humour. She really needed to work on it.

"Humour me, Chosen One. Let us see how good this talent of yours is."

Ash looked at Puck, who looked just shy of being in a coma. "We won't disturb him?"

"Nothing outside of Mia walking up to him will," Callie said ruefully. "Tell me what the group is doing."

Ash closed his eyes, thought on them, and could see them in his mind. "Trish and Drake are discussing dinner plans with Shannon. Jaime is playing with Pikachu. Pikachu is trying not to shock her. Chris is going into the kitchen for a drink."

He opened his eyes and saw Callie staring at him.

"One more?" She prompted. "You forgot about Jenn."

"Oh yeah," Ash flushed a little and went to close his eyes.

"Open." Callie said. "Keep your eyes open. If you need to close your eyes all the time to do this, you'll train yourself to be dependant on that."

Ash nodded, "And if we're ever in battle again, it'll work against me."

"There is that."

Ash sighed and focused on Jenn. "She's walking along the beach." He frowned. "There's a Pokémon running at her and it doesn't look friendly at all."

He looked worried, then vanished.

Callie sighed and looked down at her brother. "I suppose I should have warned him that a power like that could have the side effect of teleportation."

ooo

For Ash, his surroundings blurred, then reformed into the beach area he'd just seen mentally. Jenn was right in front of him, mid-stride in the act of walking towards him, looking at him with a surprised look on her face.

Well that means that Pokémon will be right behind me, he thought quickly before turning around to see that he was right. The canine Pokémon was in mid-leap, with its target being Jenn, and Ash reacted instantly. He pulled her down and to the side, landing on top of her to protect her from the aggressive looking canine.

There was a moment of silence, broken only by the gentle lapping of the ocean against the beach, then Jenn said, "Again, Ash, I really like breathing."

Ash looked down at her and flushed, "Sorry." He got up and looked around for the Pokémon, who was sitting behind them on the beach, looking very amused. "You weren't going to hurt her, were you?"

The Mightyena shook its head and its tongue lolled out in mid-pant.

"You may be the chosen one, but you're a dork." Jenn chuckled, then said, "Help me up, dodo."

Automatically Ash held out his hand and helped her to her feet. The blonde swiped sand off and shook her head. "I'm going to have sand in my hair for days."

Ash had the thought of all of the sand falling from her, hair and all, and it did. The blonde squeaked a little sound of surprise.

The corners of Ash's mouth quirked in amusement. "No you won't."

She shook her head in amazement, "You are really enjoying this power trip, aren't you?"

Ash just smiled again, though he had the thought of, Not really, though it sure beats the time trip.

"You know, I'd say thanks once again for saving me," Jenn said, "but I gotta take points off for the landing. I have a feeling I'm going to have a couple bruises. You weigh a ton."

"And here I thought I hid it so well," Ash smiled, "You want me to try to heal that? I probably could."

"Nah," Jenn waved him off, "I don't mind a bruise or two. Besides it's nothing compared to what you already healed me from." She looked around him at the Mightyena. "But you…I know I told you to scat."

"Ena," it said simply.

Jenn looked at Ash, "Translation, oh mighty one?"

Ash grinned at that. "He said that he wanted to stay with you."

"Oh did he?"

"Yeah. As a matter of fact, he was worried about you."

"Oh he did, did he?" Jenn raised an eyebrow, "And what else did he say?"

Ash moved a little closer, a small enough move that Jenn didn't notice until he was right next to her. "That he's glad to see that you're safe and that there isn't anymore danger."

She frowned a bit, "Ash, there's always danger." She stared down at his hands, which had somehow managed to rest on her waist. "And sometimes it's right in front of you. You should tell him to watch out."

"I'm sure he can watch out for himself."

"That's cute," Jenn shook her head slightly, "but he's going to be getting out of a comfortable zone if he isn't careful. " She looked down at the Mightyena, who looked mighty annoyed at being mistranslated. "His trainer might get really pissed."

Ash stepped back and watched the blonde walk back towards the villa. The Mightyena gave Ash one last annoyed look before loping after Jenn.

He sighed with mixed frustration. "Smooth move, Chosen One."

ooo

Dinner was a group effort that night. Drake and Ash set up the outside barbeque to grill chicken, lamb chops, and steak. Shannon tossed the salads while Trish and Jenn were in charge of desserts. Jenn had decided that chocolate silk pie with Oreo crust was just the thing to celebrate the defeat of Lu, while Trish's choice was a mango swirl cheesecake.

"Mango killah," the blonde teased her best friend as the Australian peeled and diced the mangoes in preparation.

Trish just rolled her eyes. How many times over the years had she heard that very phrase? When she cut into the soft flesh of the fruit, Jenn emitted a high pitched squeal to give voice to the dying mango.

"Ewmigawd! She's chopping me up!"

The Australian put down the knife and grinned at Jenn. "Nut."

"No, Trish. That's a mango." The blonde sighed patiently, "If you still can't tell, then you shouldn't be eating them."

Trish just rolled her eyes and kept on slicing the fruit.

Meanwhile Chris and Jaime were busy setting the table.

"Puck's not going to be here is he?" Jaime asked nervously.

"I don't think so," the Scot answered.

"Good," she sighed with relief. "I just don't know if I'd be comfortable around him at the moment. If ever."

"I agree," Chris said as he set the wine glasses in front of each table setting. "I mean I know he didn't mean to do it, and time was reset…but what if it happens again?"

"Let's hope not," the Canadian shivered as she put a napkin for each plate down.

ooo

Finally everything was ready, and the friends all sat down to dinner. Jenn seated herself between Trish and Shannon, though she failed to notice that she didn't quite escape Ash's gaze as he sat down directly opposite her seat.

Drake raised his wineglass. "I think a toast is in order…To the end of all the troubles with Lu, to Mia's survival, and to look forward again to the future." The last he said with a smile towards Trish and she grinned back.

They all followed suit and drank in salute. Jenn, however, sputtered at her beverage, which was supposed to be 7-UP, instead of the Cristal that everyone else was drinking.

"Chris! Soda, not alcohol!" Jenn glared at the drink pourer, who looked satisfied with himself.

"It's not my fault that you can't smell the difference." Chris shrugged, "Besides, it's a hell of a lot better than that soda you wanted."

"One of these days, Chris," the blonde said warningly.

"Oh, I'm so scared," he said teasingly, "What's the worst you can do, anyway?"

"I'll give you soda instead of beer!"

Trish had enough, "Dinner, no bickering!"

"Hear, hear!" Drake chimed in.

ooo

The next day, as people began to return to the island, the cleanup process began. Drake held an open air meeting in which he told the public that they all had to work together. "That is how we're going to get through this. As a community."

Teams of humans and Pokémon worked side by side to restore the island. Machop, Machokes and Machamps helped with the removal of concrete slabs and trees, as did the Gym's Dragonites.

A group of Scythers helped chop the dead trees up into planks for the builders, while Fire Pokémon acted as welders with the metal workers. Electric Pokémon provided portable electricity for all the equipment.

The group were all pitching in too, helping to clean up the mess and debris. Jenn was in her element. She always loved working outdoors, in the fresh air and with the warm sun on her back. Who wanted to be cooped up inside an office?

Another reason why she enjoyed the outdoors, was the fact that she had a wicked amount of guy candy to look at. The blonde got an eyeful when both Ash and Drake stripped down to their shorts in the heat and worked bare-chested.

Jenn almost drooled as she beheld this man candy feast and stopped what she was doing to appreciate it a bit more.

"I'd be careful to keep a good grip on that rock," Trish advised with a grin as she worked beside her friend. "Otherwise your foot may come to regret it."

"What rock?"

"The one you're about to drop," Trish said dryly.

"Oooh, right, that rock." Jenn shrugged, "I thought you meant the Rock. The hot actor dude."

"The one that was a wrestler first?"

"That's in the past," Jenn said, "Everyone has a shady past."

"Even you?"

"Oh yes, dating Wanker Oak counts as shady," the blonde quipped as she adjusted her hold on the rock before putting it in the nearest dumpster bin.

"What about me?"

"Easy. You're a serial mango killah. Just how many poor defenceless mangos have you sliced and diced over the years?"

"Oy."

ooo

Callie was just about to doze off in her chair when a voice called her name. "Cal?"

She opened her eyes to see Puck looking at her from his bed. She sat up straight. "Puck! How are you feeling, Little Bro?"

"Much better than before," he said as he struggled to a sitting position.

"Great," Callie nodded. "Now how about we go see the others?"

"NO!" Puck was white as a sheet. "I can't! They all hate me and want to kill me for what I did! I can't go out there and face them!"

"Puck, what are you talking about!"

"Don't try to tease me, Callie," Puck said sadly. "I know that they know about how Ash had time reset."

Callie stiffened. "I hadn't realized that you heard."

Puck winced, "I was unconscious, but I did hear everyone talking. Worse yet, I could sense what they felt."

"Such as?"

"Fear. Jaime's in particular. Her fear of me is immense." Puck sighed. "That girl wouldn't hesitate to dress up a growling Houndoom in play clothes, but she fears me like nothing I can even put into words."

"Surely you must know that they forgive you."

Puck shook his head. "Only as a collective whole. Individually, there is fear, and in some there is anger." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I cannot face them."

"What about Mia?"

The human girl's name made Puck wince. "I know that she did it selflessly, even though I could have healed any damage. Even though I know, it doesn't set things right for what I inevitably did."

"You know that you could not have lived without her." Callie shrugged with a graceful roll of her shoulders. "If you had reacted differently, if you had cared less about her, would you still have nearly caused a cataclysmic event?"

"Probably not."

"Do you realize that these events and what brought you to this moment could very well pave the way for a very long future between the two of you?"

Puck shrugged, though the movement was not nearly as graceful as his sibling. "What of it? Even should Mia heal – and I will see to it that does – to her mortal friends there will always be the underlying fear of 'What will Puck accidentally do to us the next time he loses it?' that will float around in their little mortal minds."

Callie cocked her head to the side, "We could offer a means to them to forget about it. We could modify their memories, much as how time modified the knowledge of their deaths."

Puck looked doubtful, and when he spoke sounded even more doubtful. "I suppose we could."

"But not without Ash's input," Callie said quickly, "And that of the others."

Puck nodded. "Yes. I wouldn't want them to have an ingrained thought that it wasn't their choice."

His sister held out her hand. "How about we go and talk to them about it? You know that you can't hide from them forever."

Puck hesitated. "I don't know…"

Callie grasped his hand in hers and squeezed gently. "I promise that I won't leave your side the entire time."

"Okay."

ooo

The friends were taking a well-earned break from the clean-up back at Drake's villa. The butlers had set up a lavish lunch on the tables out on the back patio with bread rolls, roast chicken pieces, sausages, salads, and drinks.

Jenn sniffed her glass of soda suspiciously before seating herself next to Trish. The blonde sighed happily. "All that work has made me so hungry that I could eat like a Snorlax!"

"Oh, the things to say about that," Chris sighed.

"If you can't say anything nice…" Trish trailed off mock-warningly.

"Yes, momma bear," Chris said, "I promise to be good."

"Good."

"Though the things left unspoken about her actually working or how she eats more than a Snorlax or Ash put together…"

Jenn's eyes flashed. "You know, I am here."

Chris smirked. "Trust me, your ego does not go unnoticed."

Trish glared at both of them. "Children, behave yourselves or do I have to send you to your rooms without any lunch?"

"I'll behave if he does," Jenn said. "Cuz he started it."

Jaime giggled. "Gee, Trish. Just think, when you start a family, you'll be a great mom thanks to all the practice you've had with those two!"

Chris and Jenn just glared at the Canadian.

It was halfway through lunch when Callie and Puck appeared in a shimmer of light. Puck squirmed at the sudden silence that greeted their arrival. The tension was so thick that he felt as if he could cut it with a knife.

The reaction to Puck and Callie's sudden appearance was as if someone had just tossed a box full of grenades onto the table with all the pins pulled. With the exception of Shannon, Trish, Drake, and Ash, the others pushed away from the table so fast that the chairs they were sitting in flew back.

With a motion of her hand, Callie froze the fleeing mortals. They froze in mid-stride and were gently lifted into the air and brought back to the table. Jaime's reaction was one of horror. She gasped out, "Callie's gone evil, too!"

"I am not evil, Jaime," Callie said patiently, "And neither is my brother."

Indeed, Puck looked more horrified that his mortal friends had run from him, than Jaime did in the fact that Callie was telekinetically holding them in the air.

"I am so truly sorry that what I did had happened," Puck blurted out.

"Puck, you should wait for them to sit down first." Callie said, then lowered the humans to their feet. "Can you promise you will not run?"

"Oh sure," Chris said earnestly, "While we're at the whole not running thing, I'll just have Jenn paint a bullseye on my back. I can do the same for her and Jaime."

"Chris," Ash said warningly, "Puck's sincere about this. Trust me, I know firsthand."

Surprisingly, Jaime was the first to speak up. "I trust him." The Canadian looked Puck squarely in the eyes and nodded. "I do trust him."

"Well I don't trust him," Jenn said firmly. "But I will trust that Ash and Callie can keep him from doing anything stupid."

"I agree with Jenn," Chris said, which surprised the blonde. "Oh, don't go writing it in your journal. It's a once in a lifetime thing."

She rolled her eyes. "My heart aches."

Chris just smirked.

Callie looked on the verge of rolling her eyes, but she released the humans from her magical grip. She was pleased when, instead of running, they sat in their chairs, which Puck had put back in place.

"How's Mia?" Shannon asked nervously.

"It's okay, Shannon," Puck said reassuringly, "You won't be hurt for asking about her. Mia's doing fine. She'll be released later tonight."

"But how?" The brunette was surprised.

"I healed her," he shrugged, "And I sort of bonded to her, magically, so I know when she's hurt."

"You can do that?" It was Ash's turn to be surprised. "I didn't think you could do that. Mia's human."

"We're not married, Ash," Puck said, "If anything, the bond is more of a guarantee that she won't be hurt enough to die. Ever."

"She's immortal?" Trish asked, wide eyed.

"No, death will come naturally and eventually to her," Puck shook his head, "But if she ever is hurt or ill, my magic will heal her. Unless, of course, it's a potentially mortal wound or illness. If that happened, my magic would heal her as best as it could, and after that it would keep her alive until I could reach her."

"Magical life support?" Drake asked.

"That's a great analogy," Callie smiled, "Perfect, actually."

"We still haven't gotten to the part where you killed us." Jenn said icily. "Mind it much if I remind you that you vaporized me?"

"Well me and Jaime were all busted up," Chris said, "I'd imagine that's a worse way to die."

"Enough with the death!" Trish said firmly. "We need to work on making sure that Lu is tried and sentenced."

Jenn grinned evilly, "So we're still talking about death?"

"I second that," Jaime said, and Chris nodded his agreement.

"Well we're not," Trish blinked, "At least us humans aren't. Callie and Puck are."

"I am, too," Ash raised his hand.

Chris nodded. "Freaky Chosen One thing."

"Uh, yeah," Ash shook his head. "I really need to work on a new tag line for that."

"No you don't," Chris grinned, "This is far more fun."

Ash just shook his head again, unable to keep a serious tone to anything in this conversation.

"If it's all good for you guys, I think Jaime and I are going to go out and see what stores are open," Shannon said, standing up from the table. "I promised I'd go help her pick out some cute little outfits for Pokémon."

Jenn shivered, "You know that's cruel, don't you?"

"No," Jaime giggled, "But I guess you'd know first hand!"

"Only in my nightmares." The blonde said it with a smile, to take the bite out of her words.

Drake signalled for the waiters to clear the tables, then stood up and offered his hand to Trish. "Come on, I have some stuff to show you, too."

"Oh really?" She asked it teasingly as she took his hand. Trish stood up and looked to Drake. "What is it?"

The Orange Crew Leader looked smug. "That's a surprise."

"That's tmi, okay?" Jenn looked annoyed. "If it's all cool with y'all, I'm going out."

"Gee, need a bodyguard?" Chris asked.

The blonde shot him a look. "I'm fine on my own. But you could go along with Shannon and Jaime. They might need someone to hold packages, and that's so totally a guy's job."

"Yeah, that would have been just what I was trying to get out of."

Shannon and Jaime shared a laugh as they dragged the unfortunate Scot out the door with them. Drake ran after them to offer them a ride in the Hummer. Trish followed after looking at her best friend.

"I'll be fine," Jenn waved off her friend's concern. "I'm just going to stick near the beach. You know my favourite haunts."

"Nice choice in words," Trish said wryly, then walked out after the others.

Jenn remarked softly, "Yeah, I know."

ooo

The blonde walked out of the villa and into the late afternoon sunlight. The sun would set in a few hours, but as it was, it cast long shadows on fallen palm trees, new sand dunes, and various debris that had been overlooked in the cleanup process.

"We sure could use some more help," Jenn muttered. "Drake did say that people would be coming back tomorrow. Hope they're all ready to work."

She'd just made it down to the beach when she heard a familiar panting. Jenn looked over to see the Mightyena sitting on a small rise over the beach. She shook her head at the sight of it. "I really wish I knew what the heck you want."

The canine huffed a sigh and flopped down on the beach grass. With a shrug, Jenn wandered over to the small rise, which stood about six feet high to slope down gently to the beach. There she sat on the sand and rested against the slope.

The wind whistled by her, fresh and cool off of the ocean, and it sent a shiver along her arms. Just hours ago there had been a raging hurricane. Lu was at the peak of his insanity.

Puck had…killed them.

Jenn drew her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She rested her chin on her knees and let out a sigh. While she was noisy and had a wild comedic streak when she was around her closest friends, she was innately a quiet person when she was alone.

It was now that she really felt alone.

Tiredness overwhelmed her the longer she watched the gentle incoming waves and she curled up on her side. There were no Pokémon along the shore, other than the Mightyena above her, and with that strange Pokémon she felt a sense of safety.

She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

ooo

"Think we should worry about her?" Ash watched Jenn as she walked off and out of sight.

"I hardly think so," Puck snorted, "She'll be fine."

"Yes, I think she will be." This from Callie. "The Mightyena is a guardian. He will protect her."

"A what?" Ash was confused.

"He is like a legendary, but not," Callie explained. "There is a reason why she found him. It will be explained in due time."

Ash looked at Callie. "But not now?"

She shook her head, a movement that sent her hair tumbling over her shoulders. Ash decided Chris would've been a puddle of goo at the sight.

"Oookay," The Chosen One felt a little confused, but decided that thinking on it would only result in a migraine. "What next?"

"We have to bring Lucius back to our kingdom," Callie said. "Given a little time, that will be easy. The hard part will be keeping him contained until we can."

"You can't just send him back now?"

"It's not that easy, Ash," Puck sounded tired and looked it. "We have to raise some power to open a Gate back. It would even take more magic than we have now to even contact someone in the Courts."

"Couldn't I help you guys out?"

"I would not suggest it, Ash," Callie said gently, "If you try to keep using your powers, you could burn yourself out."

"But what about those powers I can't turn off?" Ash felt frustrated. "Aren't those tapping into that?"

"Not really. They're pretty much latent natural abilities you have. They're not necessarily powers, per se." Puck said. "What you did with the battle, that was your powers at full untapped scale. You're not using that now."

"No golden eyes." Ash said. "No Freaky Chosen One thing going on."

"Uh…no." Puck looked at his sister for help.

"What my brother is trying to say is that you would only be able to help us out, to share your powers, if you tapped back into your Chosen One powers."

"Why can't I do that then?"

"It's more like why you shouldn't do that." Puck said. "Too much quick accessing of that power could burn you out. It could kill you. You need to rest and recuperate."

"But I feel fine." Ash protested. "I doubt it would kill me to try."

"Well don't," Callie said, uncharacteristically short. "We need you alive, not dead. Besides, it would be no fun explaining to your wife that you died like that."

"…Wife…" Ash's eyes widened. "Misty…"

"What's wrong?" Puck asked, feeling a string of panic. Please say he hadn't hurt the Chosen One's pregnant wife!

"She's…" Ash tilted his head down and closed his eyes. "She's with someone." He tilted his head to the side as if listening to something only he could hear. Ash's head snapped up and his eyes blazed with fury. "She's with Gary!"

Callie sighed. Not another angry hormonal male.

ooo

Back on the beach, the guardian Mightyena looked down at the human he was watching. She was pale and looked stricken. He didn't have to use his powers that much to know she was having the nightmare to end all nightmares. He didn't dare wake her though. That would kill her.

ooo

In the town centre, where the majority of the shopping plazas were, there was a group of people searching in vain for an open shop. Shannon and Jaime were in the lead, with Chris trailing behind. After him was Drake and Trish, who hadn't split from the group. He had assured her that the surprise could wait until the shopping trip was done.

Trish suspected that there was no surprise. It made her a little grumpy.

"Guys, I think it's obvious that nothing is open," The Australian said curtly.

"Just a couple more stores!" Jaime said happily. "Then we can go."

"But nothing is open!" Chris said glumly. "This place has a busted out window!"

"You know, you're lucky there isn't any looting," Trish murmured to Drake. "There is a lot of expensive merchandise here."

"No one would dare," Drake said confidently.

"Uber confident." Trish teased him.

"What can I say?" He flexed a muscle, "People love me too much to do something so stupid."

Trish snorted her mirth.

ooo

Jenn looked around nervously. She knew she was in the Stadium, in the room where she'd been on the couch during the battle. The room was pitch dark, as the power had suddenly gone off a few minutes ago. The room was under the Stadium's walls, in the middle of one of the outer rings of the underground warren.

She also knew that the last body slam she'd heard was a few moments ago, right when the power had gone off. A strange feeling filled her. Sort of déjà vu and horror all at once. She knew that she had to get out of the Stadium as soon as possible, but she couldn't find the door.

A sudden high pitched whine tore through her and she dropped to the concrete floor and pressed her hands to her ears. An intense pain filled her head and she wanted to pass out from the pain.

Fear filled her, but not for herself. Tamu. Where was the little dragon?

Then she felt a rumbling noise and saw a glow from her left.

The door was right there all that time!

She went to walk towards it when two things happened at once.

The door was blasted off of its hinges and into the room, flying right over her head.

The roar of fire that swallowed up the hallway beyond didn't, but she didn't get a second to amaze at the vast pain that accompanied the fire because the brilliant white light that followed the flames eliminated any thoughts of anything.

There was no fear for Tamu.

No pain at the fire.

Just…nothing…

With a hoarse cry of pain, Jenn woke and looked around frantically. There was no fire, no underground Stadium room, and no pain, but the blonde could not resist the urge to run into the cool waters of the ocean.

She ignored the thought that her outfit would be ruined or that the tide was coming in, because the water was so cool and refreshing that it washed away the dream she'd just had. She didn't even realize she'd wandered out to the point where she had to tread the water until she realized the sandy bottom had dropped from under her a while ago and she was treading water.

Jenn went under the surface for a moment before kicking up to the surface. She treaded the water, glad that she wore denim shorts and a tank top and her purple Teva sandals instead of her boots. The fear and horror quickly gave way to feeling idiotic at being scared by a nightmare.

"Even though it felt so real," she breathed against the water. For a second she closed her eyes, but snapped them open when she saw the fire surrounding her again. It was not the gentle fire she'd commanded as an Absol, but an angry fire of despair and rage.

Realization dawned on her. Could that have been her death that she'd endured when Puck went mental and lost his temper? That it wasn't a dream, but a memory.

Something nudged her side and the blonde shrieked. A gentle whine reassured her and Jenn looked at the Mightyena swimming beside her.

"What? I save you and now you save me?" She asked, feeling relieved when the canine did his best to nod. "Good, because I'm not sure I could swim back."

She felt more than a little embarrassed when she looked at the shore line. They were pretty far out. "I can't believe I didn't notice the damn tide."

The Mightyena gave a little huff that sounded amused.

"Glad you're so amused," Jenn said, but smiled. "Can we go back? There's a steak for you, if you want."

"Ena!" The canine said enthusiastically, then swam in front of her and looked back over its shoulder.

With a small shrug, the blonde wrapped her arms around the large Pokémon's neck. Effortlessly, the Pokémon swam for shore, powering through the water as if borne to it. They were at the beach in seconds and after stepping from the waves, Jenn shook her hair then wrung at her shirt as best as she could.

"Getting rid of water from an ocean swim was a lot easier when I was an Absol," Jenn muttered. She gave up on squeezing any extra water from her outfit. "C'mon, Benji, let's get you a steak."

The Pokémon followed after giving a powerful shake that poofed out his fur in a manner that said he was nearly fully dry.

Jenn gave a little half-envious shrug before leading the way up to the villa. As she approached, she felt a shiver of something dance over her arms, raising the hairs on her arms and the back of her neck. From her side, the Mightyena gave a low growl and glared at the villa.

"You feel it too, huh?" Jenn shivered. "I hope Puck hasn't gone mental again."

ooo

The others in their group felt it too. Trish shivered suddenly and felt the goose bumps rise along her arms.

Chris shot her a look. "Are you cold?"

"It's not the cold," the Australian said in a low tone. "Don't you feel that?"

"Feel what?" Jaime asked.

"I felt something," Drake frowned.

"I did too." Shannon also shivered. "Maybe it was something like a cold front?"

"Or maybe," Drake said, "Maybe it was something like a surge of magical power."

"That's exactly what I mean," Trish said.

Jaime looked worried, as did Shannon. "You don't suppose Puck went crazy again?"

"No…" Trish shook her head. "Someone more powerful than Puck."

ooo

Callie and Puck were staring with frightened eyes at an angry Chosen One.

Ash had never been so furious in all his life. Thanks to his new telepathic powers, as soon as Callie had mentioned his wife, his thoughts had located her. The scene he could see in his mind was Misty kissing and cuddling with Gary in bed and the former Viridian Gym Leader was stroking her back.

The Grand Master had never felt so betrayed. Here was his wife, his wife, who had vowed at their wedding to 'forsake all others' and she was in bed with another man. And not just any other man, but his former friend!

Pikachu was worried. If Ash lost his temper with his new found powers, who knew what would happen. The small electric mouse ran up to her friend and tugged on his pants leg.

'Pikapi, don't! No one wants a repeat of what just happened with Puck!'

"Well Puck wasn't cheating with Misty!"

It was at that moment, Jenn walked in with the Mightyena at her heels. Pikachu bounded up to the girl for help.

"Geeze, Pikachu!" The blonde rubbed at her bare arms, trying in vain to quell the tingling feeling running over her skin. "Drop the electricity!"

"Jenn, it's not Pikachu doing that," Callie said cautiously, "It's Ash."

Jenn looked over at Ash, who still had angrily glowing eyes. "So what flipped your psycho switch?"

Ash spat the words out as if they were poison. "Misty is currently having sex with Gary."

The blonde's eyes widened and the Grand Master could sense a flash of hurt run through her.

"Wow…that was something I didn't see coming." Was all she finally said. She frowned and said, "But isn't she, like, a billion months pregnant? That's really nasty."

"SHE'S MY WIFE!" Ash roared, and every lightbulb in the room exploded in their sockets.

"Oh get over it, Ash," Jenn rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed, and leaned against the wall, "Gary was my boyfriend, but you don't see me blowing up lightbulbs."

Unaware that he wasn't physically touching her, Ash's power reached out and shoved Jenn against the wall she'd leaned against. The blonde gasped out in surprise, and Callie and Puck stood behind Ash. Their own magic swirled around them visibly.

"Did you happen to notice that I'm currently dripping wet, Ash?" Jenn asked coldly.

"So?"

"So it's because of you and Puck that I am," Jenn ground out, "And right now all I really want to do is go upstairs and take a shower and get into something warm and not smelling of the ocean."

"I thought you loved the ocean."

"Yeah, I do, oh bitter one, but not when I had to go jump in it because I felt like I was on fire." Jenn thought back on the nightmare and did her best to send it to Ash. All of the terror and pain that she remembered feeling. The hopelessness and panic. "So you know, we all have our own drama to deal with. I don't care about yours right now, so why not drop the poor me thing?"

Ash staggered back and put a hand to his forehead. "God…I'm sorry…" The palpable tension vanished as if it had never been there.

Free from the telekinetic hold, Jenn stepped away from the wall and walked by Ash. She looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Next time you want to have a tantrum, remember it's not all about you. With the power you have, you either remember about us little normal mortals and think about what you can do to us, or…or…go jump in the ocean, mighty dork!"

With that she stomped off, forgetting about the Mightyena at her heels.

Puck snickered, "Schooled by the blonde."

Callie glared at him.

"What!" Puck asked with surprise. "He did get schooled. She completely showed him up."

ooo

Dinner that night was rather unpleasant, due to the visible tension between particular members of the group. Jenn was pointedly ignoring both Ash and Puck, Chris was keeping his distance from Puck, which only irritated Callie. Jaime was keeping her distance from them as well.

This made things rather uncomfortable for Drake, Trish, and Shannon; especially since they had no idea what Ash had nearly done or why Jenn was giving him the ice queen treatment. Puck and Callie had told them that Ash had been responsible for the unpleasant sensations they'd felt while shopping, but would not tell them the reason behind his anger.

"That is up to him." And that is all that Callie or Puck would say on that subject.

It was when the two waiters, the only ones from Drake's personal staff that had requested to stay behind, came to clear the table for dessert that the final straw came for Trish.

"Okay, that's quite enough!" The angry Australian stood up and glared at those gathered at the table.

Her friends froze in their motions: Chris was about to drink, Ash was talking with Puck and Callie, Jenn was glaring at Ash and Puck, Jaime was talking low with Shannon and Drake.

"Uh…what?" Puck asked, clearly confused.

"I'm talking about the animosity around this table!"

"Puck started it," Jenn said snootily.

"I don't care!" Trish blurted out. "What he did was erased. Time was reset. Can't you let that go!"

"Hello! He killed us!" Jenn snapped back. "You and Shannon weren't killed by him, but all Ash had to do was let Puck slide just a little longer. Just a little longer and he might have killed you, too. And for what? Because his lady love died for him?"

Puck bristled and glared at the blonde, but said nothing.

"That's not fair," Trish defended the Fae. "You'd have done the same thing for the ones you love."

"And again with the HELLO! I don't have any powers, magical or otherwise, that could enable me to kill people because I've got the ability to blow things up without a care!" Jenn said. "Like exploding poor defenceless lightbulbs!"

Ash sighed his annoyance.

"Okay, I agree with her," Chris said, "Everything except the lightbulb thing, because I don't know where she pulled that from."

Trish blinked, at a loss, "But…"

"No, Trish," Jaime said, "It's scary to know that someone you call a friend could kill you without any effort at all. If I had my choice about it, I'd wish that he could wipe my memory clean of ever having heard Ash saying that at all."

There was a lull in the conversation, broken only by Callie saying, "There is that option."

"What?" Jenn looked surprised.

"It's something we were going to bring up after dinner," Puck said wryly.

"You can make them forget it?" Ash asked.

"Those that want to forget," Callie said. "If it's affecting your daily life, then you can have one of us help you erase those memories."

Jenn narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, right, and chance having us ending up like I did after I was forced to take those nasty pills. I don't think so."

"I'll take it," Jaime said quickly.

Beside her, Shannon nodded. "I want to forget, too. I hate thinking I'd have to be afraid of you, Puck."

"Do you swear that I won't end up quoting poetry or cooking for the masses?" Chris asked warily. "Because if I do, I'm not going to be real happy about it."

"No," Callie reassured him – and the others. "Nothing will be done to you that you don't agree to."

"How will you do it?" Trish asked.

"We'll take you to the entertainment room and have you sit in comfortable chairs," Puck said. "Then we'll use our magic to manipulate your memories. All that will be done while you're in a trance state. You'll wake up the next morning not remembering anything of what I'd done." He choked that last part out. It still affected him. "We'll put in the memory of the group of you celebrating the victory over Lu. Then everyone just fell asleep here, be it from too much drinking or simple exhaustion."

"I like that," Jaime said with a reassured smile. "Thank you."

"Well I don't like that!" Jenn exclaimed.

"Jenn, it's for the best," Ash said gently.

"No, Ash, it isn't." Jenn was firm on the matter. "I remembered what I did for a reason. If I forget, then what? Anytime something bad happens, I get one of the Faes to sugar coat it? Life's full of tough things. You either learn from them, and grow from them, or you keep on expecting life to be easy."

"I'll pay you to do it anyway," Chris said, smirking.

"And if you do," Jenn cast a glare towards Chris before looking at Ash, "I will never forgive you for it."

Chris scoffed at her. "How will you possibly know if you don't know anything went wrong?"

"He's got a point, Jenn," Trish said gently. "Just let Puck do this and things will be okay."

Jenn arched an eyebrow. "Need I remind you of those Fae Prozac?"

Trish squirmed a little, but didn't let go of her point. One that was shared by, so she felt, the more saner of the group – which would be all but Jenn. Her 'twin' was a little nutty most times, but it was how the blonde was. Though they loved her for it, there were times when her stubborn impracticality got out of hand.

This was clearly one of them.

"I have to agree with Chris," Trish said simply. "You can't remember what you never knew happened."

"I'll know." Jenn stared at Ash. "I'll know it by the look in your eyes anytime you look at me. You'll always wonder if I'd remember someday."

Trish sighed softly and wondered if all Americans were so headstrong or if it was just the blonde.

"Jenn, he completely disintegrated you," Jaime said, then flushed at the way the words came out. Nothing worse than reminding someone of how they 'died.' "I can't even imagine what that must've felt like."

"I can," Jenn said archly.

"You sound like you're proud of it!" Chris said, then looked confused. "Wait, you remember it? But I thought there was a rewinding of time and all that crap."

"It's not always text book perfect," Callie murmured, "Sometimes there are…issues."

Jenn directed her next question to Puck. "If you do make me forget, I'll forget everything that happened since the battle, right?"

"Yes," Puck felt uncomfortable at the direct question and look. "I don't see what that has anything to do with…"

"I'll forget about the dream, but I'll also forget how this Mightyena came to be all hitched to my side." Jenn scratched said Pokémon between his ears. "I won't know where he came from."

Chris snorted, "No one knows where he came from."

"Wow, I so know that," Jenn shook her head. "But what I mean is that he'll still be here, unaffected by your little mind melding, and when I wake up I won't know jack about him at all."

"I can always translate for him," Ash said it absently, "So can Meowth."

"Uh huh," Jenn arched an eyebrow at him and sounded a bit smug, "Just like you did on the beach?"

Ash coughed and quickly took a long swallow of his mixed drink.

"Okay, the beach thing is questionable, but what about the exploding lightbulbs?" Chris asked with some exasperation. "Are you two going to let us into your little secret or are you just going to let us draw our own conclusions?"

"Well whatever you'd think would be wrong," Jenn snorted.

"Then why don't you share?"

"I just short-circuited some lightbulbs that's all," Ash said quickly before the blonde could say anything. He didn't want the rest to know about Misty's possible infidelity until he had proof.

"Oh okay," Drake shrugged. "I thought it was due to some power surge."

"It was," Jenn arched an eyebrow allusively. "Just call it a power surge to someone's head."

Ash flushed at the harsh words and the rest were taken aback.

"Jenn! That's not very nice!" Shannon looked shocked. "And it's not very fair either! So Ash lost a little control over his powers. He's the Grand Master but he only got his powers a couple of days ago. You can't expect him to have mastered control in such a short space of time."

"It should be natural for him to 'master' them." Jenn did air quotes. "It's in the title, isn't it?"

Trish raised an eyebrow. "I seem to remember a certain human-turned-Absol who took a few weeks to master her new powers. And I also remember same said Absol tried to kill me and you don't see me being all bitter."

"That was different."

"Do tell how so." Chris said dryly.

"For one thing, I've never had powers so I wasn't used to having them. As for the attack, I was under a spell." Jenn defended herself. "C'mon, Ash, you talk with Pokémon all the time so shouldn't you be used to powers already?"

The man in question shook his head. "Before the battle with Lu, I had no powers, psychic or otherwise. Being able to communicate with Pokémon is natural."

"It's different with Puck," Shannon continued. "Puck was born with his powers so he's had them all his life to master. So he really had no excuse." She gave an apologetic smile toward the Fae. "Sorry, Puck."

Puck waved his hand, red with shame. "No need to apologise, Shannon. It had to be said and it was the truth."

"I know that the final decision about getting your memory wiped is up to you, Jenn," Trish said, getting everyone back on track. "However I think that you should get it done, if only for your own good."

"What good will it do for me to forget?" Jenn asked. "If no one remembers, then what's gonna stop either of them going mental next time? Huh?"

"Well it wouldn't be you, that's for sure. And anyway, Ash, Callie, and I will remember," Puck said in a firm voice. "That will be enough to ensure there won't be a next time."

"I still don't get why it would be good for me to forget."

"Then tell me why it would be good for you to remember, if this is how it makes you feel and act," Trish rebutted gently. "There's no good reason why you remembered. You're one to hold a grudge and hold it all in and stew on it. That's not healthy, it's only going to make you bitter and twisted. You're going to end up like Lu."

"Trish!" Jenn gasped. "That's a horrible thing to say! I don't stew on anything!"

The Australian shrugged. "But that's what happened to Lu. He obviously stewed and stewed over what Puck did to him that he got all bitter and twisted and hell-bent on revenge."

"Yeah, that happened to Lu, but I'm not Lu! We're two different people."

"You still know how to hold a grudge. What's to say you won't hold a grudge against this?"

The blonde was silent.

"This is going to eat away at you inside," her best friend warned. "You know how sick you get when you get too stressed and your insides are in a knot." She paused and turned to address the group in general. "I think we're losing sight of who really is to blame here. Yes, Puck should not have done what he did but there is another person who has done more damage to everyone and everything than Puck and Ash put together and I don't see you tearing into him."

"Think people, who has constantly tried to kill people without a thought, who couldn't care less that he destroyed the world all for the sake of revenge? Lu. He was the one who started it all, save your animosity and hate for him."

"Then I'll save all the stew for Lu," Jenn said, "But I will not give my permission to have my memory wiped. Some things can't be solved with magic and I'm tired of people messing with my mind."

"I agree with you." Chris said sincerely, shocking Jenn.

"What!"

There was a similar wave through the group.

Chris shrugged and tapped at his head, "You gotta protect what's left. You know?"

Trish sighed and knew this was a losing battle. "If you genuinely decide to keep those memories, then you cannot ever discuss them with anyone who does get their memories wiped. Got it?"

"Clear as Cristal." Jenn held up her hands, "And before you say anything, I am being serious. It's just that keeping me one hundred percent serious is impossible."

"Yeah, we kind of figured that out," Trish said wryly.

The blonde grinned. "Aw, but you love me for it."

"Don't be so sure about that," Chris teased.

Jenn just flipped him the bird.

"Hands up all those apart from Ash, Puck and myself, who want to have their memories wiped?" Callie asked.

Everyone raised their hands except for two people, Jenn and…Trish.

The blonde blinked at her best friend. "I know why I'm not, but not why you're not."

"To make sure things are kept in perspective," Trish said. "Everybody else is too closely involved to be objective. Someone needs to be able knock any nonsense on the head if it arises."

"But won't it be too stressful for you? Didn't you just say that it would be better to forget?"

"For you to forget, not me," the Australian grinned. "I'll be okay. Don't forget that you're talking to a military history and war buff here. I'm used to death and destruction on a large scale. Uh…only when it has to do with battles of course."

"And you call me crazy," Jenn rolled her eyes.

"She's right though," Ash said thoughtfully. "We're all too closely involved. In time, our memories could become distorted."

"Never thought of it like that," Drake said. "In that case, I'll opt out as well."

"What for?" Trish blinked. "I said I'll be fine."

The Orange Crew Leader slung his arm around her shoulders. "I know, but you'd like some company, admit it. Besides, should worst come to worst there'll be two against three."

"You're so sweet," his fiancée gave him a kiss on the cheek.

ooo

The next day was glorious and warm. The servants were just clearing away the breakfast dishes when a loud knock came at the front door.

"I'll get it!" Trish was the first to rise from the table and walked out to the main foyer, followed by the ever-curious Shannon.

Unlatching the door, the dark-haired Australian swung it open to reveal a large crowd of people gathered on the porch and front lawn.

"Hey, there," Ben said with a grin. He gestured to the crowd behind him. "We're back and we're all here to help put Pummelo back on its feet."

The two girls gaped and saw all the old faces in the crowd. Ben, Mr and Mrs Thayer, Becca, Liana, Joanne, Erina and Flory, Karlie and Tracey, Dana, Richie, Danny, Cissie, and Luanna.

Shannon squealed and hugged her boyfriend tightly as Trish just smiled. "Oh wow! Drake will be so pleased. How about you all go around to the back and we'll put you to work?"

ooo

Later that night, Ash excused himself, saying he needed to take care of some business. Locking the door to his bedroom, the dark-haired Grand Master sat down on his bed, cell phone in hand.

He needed to find out if what he had seen through telepathy was true or not. Was Misty really cheating on him with Gary? Or had the battle with Lu poisoned his mind with evil thoughts?

Puck had suggested Ash teleport to Pallet to see for himself. He ruled that out pretty quickly, since he didn't trust that he wouldn't lose control of himself if he found it to be true.

What Jenn had said, hit home. Now that he had his full powers, he could obliterate anything and everything with a single thought. What happened to the lightbulbs was proof enough and that scared him.

If Puck losing control was bad, he would be ten times worse. Callie and Puck had informed him that he was far more powerful than they and Lu combined.

The Grand Master thought back to another time he had been present when someone tried to end the world. Mewtwo. Until Mewtwo had been brought to his senses by Ash, the cloned Pokémon was ready to end the world with little thought of anyone else.

Ash didn't want to end up like Mewtwo, Lu or Puck.

Ash needed someone he could trust to verify what was going on in Pallet. He had received a text message from Brock that he was in town to visit Delia, the Professor and Tracey. Brock had a spare key to Ash's house and he could always depend on Brock. Except when there was a pretty girl around.

The Grand Master focused his thoughts on Misty and his vision soon showed that she was kissing and cuddling with Gary. His stomach twisted in a knot and he had to force himself to be calm.

Dialling Brock's cell phone, he soon had the Pokémon breeder on line.

"Hey Ash, how are you?" Brock was pleased to hear from him.

"I'm fine, thanks. How are you?"

"Good, good."

"Brock, I was wondering if you could do me a favour?"

"Sure, ask away."

"You've got a key to my house right?"

"Right."

"I want you to go over, let yourself in, and see if Misty's okay. It's been a few days since I've heard from her and I'm a little worried."

Ash could hear the concern in his friend's voice. "Yeah, sure, of course! Do you want me to go right now?"

"If you wouldn't mind."

"Ash, I'd never mind." There was a pause, then, "Uh…never mind that. I'll go over right away."

The two hung up and Ash sat on the bed with nothing to do but to wait.

And wait.

And wait.

While he waited, Ash tried his best to focus on anything other than his wife. He listened to the birds chirping outside of his window, but that made him think of the gardens his mom tended to so well, which got him to think of how Misty loved the roses there, and that made him think of how the red in the roses brought out the fire red in his wife's hair.

He tried to focus on the excited and cheerful voices outside. There were reunions right alongside of planning with cleaning up. Only that made him think of the parties that had been given in the backyard of his mom's house. Parties that had Misty partying alongside him, a drink in one hand and a smile on her face.

The Grand Master gritted his teeth and felt like anything other than a Grand Master.

Regardless of what he tried to think of, his thoughts went right back to Misty. His stomach tightened in knots as he waited. He knew he could cheat and think of his wife. Think about how Brock had just looked at Gary's Porsche with some confusion just as the Pokémon breeder unlocked the door.

No! Focus, Ash, focus!

A sudden banging on his door startled Ash and the lightbulb in the bedside lamp exploded with a popping noise.

"I thought you weren't going to kill anymore lightbulbs, Ash!"

Ash winced at the voice and shook his head. "You're notorious, Jenn. Everytime you're around, a lightbulb shatters."

"Gee, and here I thought it that was everytime a bell rings an angel gets her wings."

"Actually, it's his wings," Ash said wryly.

"The stone age was left behind millions of years ago. Let's call it equal opportunity angels." There was a pause. "I'd try the door again, but I know it's still locked. You coming out of there anytime soon? We've got a lot of people all up in a tizzy to see you. Something about being the Grand Master and defender of the world as we know it."

Trust the blonde to make light out of any situation.

"Sorry, Jenn, I'm expecting a phone call." Ash thought quickly then unlocked and opened the door with his thoughts. "Come here for a second."

The surprised blonde walked into the room and jumped a little when the door gently closed behind her. "I think it's still acceptable to open doors with hands."

"It is," Ash said with a grin, "But that was much more fun."

"Uh, yeah." She shrugged, "Whatcha want?"

"Your silence."

"Huh?"

Ash held up the phone. "Brock is checking on Misty. He's going to call any second. I trust him a little more than my powers at the moment."

Jenn looked ashamed. "Ash, I'm sorry about all that went on the other day. I was just scared."

"You and me both." He held up his hand to her when she was going to say something. "Hold that thought."

A heartbeat later the cell phone rang to the tune of Mambo Number 5. Ash quickly answered it. "How is she?"

Brock sounded a little choked up. "She…she's…um…busy…"

"She's with Gary, isn't she?"

There was a long pause.

"She was, wasn't she?" Ash shook his head, "Brock, you can tell me."

"How did you know?"

The corner of Ash's mouth quirked, "Chosen One thing."

"Recent? Anything to do with that hurricane?"

"Now who's the genius?"

Brock sighed long. "Ash, I'm so sorry, man. I…I couldn't get out of there fast enough."

"You weren't hurt, were you?"

"Only my eyes and my pride." Brock said. "I am really sorry."

"Hang on a sec, okay?" Ash covered the phone with his hand and looked at the blonde. "I've got to go take care of something real quick. Don't breathe a word about this thing with Misty to anyone or you will be a mute Absol for a very long time."

With that, the Grand Master vanished and took his cell phone with him.

Jenn blinked in shock and surprise a couple of times, then shook her head. "I think I'm going to go back to bed."

Hoping Ash could hear her, she sent what she hoped was a telepathic message, 'You'd better not do anything stupid like end up killing me and ten billion others. I'll haunt you relentlessly.'

All she heard in reply was a laugh from Ash.

Oooh, there were times when he really tweaked her goose. Instead of going back to bed, the blonde left the room to go find Trish to let her friend know that Ash had flown the coop. Only…since she couldn't tell Trish the truth, Jenn had to think of a cover story.

ooo

"He went where?" Trish looked confused. "Jenn, I don't get it."

"Well, the Pichu Bell here is totally demolished, so he offered to go get some food for us from the mainland," Jenn resisted the urge to scuffle a foot in the dirt. Her friend's glare was that suspicious. "I'm not sure when he'll be back though."

"And you said he teleported?"

"It's the best explanation I have to describe vanishing in front of my eyes."

Trish shrugged. "Okay. I'll go let Drake know and he can relay a message to the people in the media room."

The group of people the Australian was referring to were the mass of people who had arrived this morning. They were currently waiting for Ash inside the media room at the Stadium. It was the only room big enough to use that had the telecommunication equipment needed.

Normally used to hold teleconferences and the like, it was currently being used as a mock staff meeting area. It was the impromptu-turned-command centre for sending out people and Pokémon to help with the clean up and eventual rebuilding. Puck and Callie had offered their services for the rebuilding after they had taken Lu back.

Until then, the two Faes had to keep constant vigilance over Lu. They were regathering their magic, recharging the battery as it were, to a level useable to inform their people in their kingdom as of the capture well as to transport Lu back.

Jenn breathed a silent sigh of relief as she followed Trish out of the room. Thank Lugia that her best friend had bought the story without further question. The blonde was never a very good liar; a fact that Trish knew very well. Ooooh Ash, you are so gonna owe me for this!

ooo

Brock had not long hung up from the phone call before there was a shimmer of light and Ash appeared in the room.

The Pokémon breeder was so startled he jumped a little. "Geeze Ash. You could have given me a little warning."

Ash looked apologetic. "Sorry, Brock. I'm just not used to all these new powers yet. I think of a place then I'm just…there."

"So how long have you had this new talent?" Brock was curious. "Since the hurricane or have you always had it?"

"Just since the hurricane."

"So should I start calling you Superman?" his friend joked.

"Nah," Ash shook his head. "Chris has enough fun with me being the Chosen One. Let's not give him any more ammunition, okay?"

Brock chuckled then quickly sobered. "So…what are you going to do about Misty and Gary?"

The Grand Master smiled grimly. "Confront them, right now."

To be continued…

ooo

Author's Note: Keep an open mind when reading stories. Things do not always work out the way you want them to in the real world. Same with stories – flaming just because it doesn't have the pairing you want is not mature at all.