Midsummer Nights

by Trish

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

33. Chapter ThirtyTwo: Hold On

Midsummer Nights

By Trish.

Disclaimer: Pokémon does not belong to me, it belongs to Nintendo. Puck does not belong to me but to William Shakespeare. The storyline does belong to me.

A/N: Now you cannot read this story in parts to get a full understanding of what is going on. You cannot skip the parts with the Fae in them as they are a major player in this saga. Skip it and you will only have an imperfect understanding of the whole story.

ooo

Chapter Thirty-Two: Hold On

Jenn bounced between her wardrobe and her bed, taking clothes out and flinging them on the small sofa in her room.

Smiling, she plopped on the bed and lay on her back. "Isn't this exciting? We get to stay in a real palace! That's totally sweet."

"Yeah," Trish agreed as she hugged one of Jenn's stuffed animals to her chest. Trish, Shannon, Mia and Jaime were gathered in Jenn's room to talk girl's stuff without the boys around. "Never thought I'd see the day I'd get to stay in any palace, much less a Fae one."

"What do you think a Fae palace would be like?" Shannon asked. "I hope it isn't entirely made out of magic. I'd get such a fright if I went to sleep in a normal bed and woke up the next day on the hard floor!"

"I don't think so," Trish grinned. "While it sounds like the exact type of prank that Puck would pull, it's not wise if they want returning guests."

"Just think Mia," Jaime said excitedly. "You'll get to see a bit of Puck's world, where he comes from!"

"But will his family accept me?" Mia fretted. "I mean, human and faerie relationships? Not quite taboo but close."

"Come on, Mia," Jenn sighed. "Just about all of the relationships today aren't so traditional."

"I'm not talking tradition, Jenn," Mia shot back. "I'm talking different…species…almost."

"So he's got magic and you don't," Jenn shrugged. "Things like that happen."

"Yeah, but it's not as if I could just go out and buy some magic," Mia said. "It's not as easy trying to fit in with a magical family as a normal human family."

"True, but the important thing is what Puck thinks, not his family," Trish spoke up. "I don't think he cares if you're magical or not. He's been back home for the past two years and it's obvious that he's still as much in love with you as ever. If his family didn't like you for not being magical, don't you think he would have married some female Fae back home and never come here?"

"I guess," Mia flushed a little from embarrassment.

"Fret not," Shannon patted the girl on the back. "If Callie likes you, then I'm sure the rest of the family does. I bet they're all pretty similar."

Jenn sat up slowly before hopping to her feet. "The important thing we need to discuss is what everyone's gonna be packing to take with them. Are there going to be dinners and other shindigs we have to attend?" She frowned slightly. "What do you wear when you go and stay with royalty?"

For answers, the three Americans turned to look at the two girls who came from countries still within the British Commonwealth. Both Jaime and Trish blinked before Jaime pointed to the eldest girl.

"Ask her! I wouldn't know."

"Well I wouldn't know either!" Trish protested. "I've never been invited to meet the Queen. Not likely to either as I'm a bloody Aussie colonist."

"You should know," Jenn grinned. "You're supposed to know these sort of things." A sly glint appeared in her eyes. "After all, the British founded Australia out of love and treated the people so well."

"They did not! We started life out as a prison colony! Bloody Poms," Trish muttered.

Jenn grinned. Gets her going every time and the accent just gets broader when she says it. Score one for the Evil Goddess.

"So what would be the dress code be?" Shannon quickly changed the subject before Jenn could possibly goad Trish any further. She was not too sure whether Trish would come out with a stream of Australian Strine and they wouldn't know if she was insulting them or not.

"Oh I'd say dressy, semi formal," Trish thought. "Something like you'd wear to a garden party, which means no jeans."

Shannon, Mia and Jenn all drooped.

"But I like my jeans," the blonde protested. "And they're good to wear if we have to eat out in a garden."

"I know," Trish smirked. "But not good enough to wear in the presence of royalty."

"But I don't have many really really good clothes," Shannon fretted. "I mean I have good clothes but not that good if you know what I mean. Nothing fancy enough for going to a palace!"

"You just bought some new dresses, didn't you?" Jaime asked.

"Yeah, but they're evening dresses, not what I need," the brunette crossed her arms. "And I only got them because those two shopping fiends made me!"

The two eldest girls look wounded.

"We're only trying to help you," Jenn said bluntly.

"Yeah!" Trish chimed in. "After all, if you're gonna be dating Drake's younger brother then you have to be prepared to go with him to high society events where jeans are taboo."

"Unless they're designer," Jenn quipped.

Trish wagged her finger at the brunette. "You'll need a lot more dresses than just two."

"And we'll selflessly offer our help in finding you some," the blonde beamed.

"Oh noooo," Shannon buried her face in her hands. "I am so doomed….unless…unless we could perhaps borrow some clothes while in the Fae realms?" She looked incredibly hopeful. Anything to save her from shopping again!

Trish, Jenn and Mia exchanged glances. Only they had memories of Fae fashions. Jaime and Shannon hadn't been at the International Pokémon Convention two years ago when they met Puck's family. The two eldest girls had a taste of being dressed to the Fae nines then and it was not one they wished to repeat. At least not in public.

"Only if you want to feel half-naked, Shan," Trish shook her head.

"No, no, Trish, she won't feel half-naked," Jenn corrected her best friend. "She'll be half-naked."

"Oh yeah, that's right," Trish remembered. "You've heard of the phrase 'barely there'? That's what Fae fashions are like – see through to the max."

"Not a good look," Jaime shook her head. "Unless you've got a supermodel's figure."

Shannon slumped in defeat. "I guess we'd better go shopping then."

"You learn fast, Young Grasshopper," Trish smirked.

ooo

Ash and Brock reappeared in the middle of the vast lawns and landscaped gardens that was Drake's backyard.

"Will anyone hear us to let us in if we come in through the back?" Brock wondered. "It's a huge place and people don't usually expect visitors to come around the rear."

"We'll soon find out," Ash shrugged as he began to walk towards the villa. "I just didn't want to have to deal with the media just to get to knock on the front door."

"You could have just teleported inside," his friend pointed out. "With all your new powers you can do anything."

"Yeah, I probably could have," Ash agreed. "But I want to do things the normal way. That way people don't get freaked out and I get the added bonus of pretending that there's some semblance of normality about me. Even if there isn't."

"I wouldn't say you're a freak," Brock shook his head. "But I would say that you're unique."

"Perhaps you should have a word or two with Chris," Ash gave a wry smile. "His favourite saying lately is 'Freaky Chosen One thing.' He has no problems with saying that to me about me at all."

"So things that would never happen around other people, happen around you," the Pewter City Gym Leader shrugged. "It doesn't make you a freak. The fact that you have special powers doesn't make you a freak. Pokémon have special powers and they're not freaky, they're special."

"Aww, you're just saying that to get a New Year's bonus."

"Whatever works," Brock grinned. "But I do mean it."

"I know," Ash murmured. "That's what worries me."

Their presence was soon noticed by the guys who were in the great room. They were in the middle of having a Playstation battle, so Ben let them in.

"Is it over?" Drake looked away from the screen for a second to ask the Grand Master. He almost crashed his player into a guardrail. Drake grimaced and corrected his player back onto the road.

Ash nodded as he sat down on a sofa. "Yeah, it's all over," he said softly. "The lawyer is filing the papers as we speak."

"Did Misty try to resist signing them?" Ben wanted to know and since he wasn't playing, he could ask questions without killing his Zoom Deux player.

"At first she did," Ash explained. "But then she realised that there wasn't much she could do about it and that the best thing for us both would be to officially end the marriage."

"How are you feeling?"

"Kinda numb, kinda relieved," Ash said after a few minutes. "Hard to believe that your life can be changed by a single stroke of a pen."

"We're here for you, Ash," Drake told the man. "And you can use the holiday villa for as long as you want."

"Thanks," Ash smiled. "So where are Jenn and all the girls?"

"They're holed up in Jenn's room," Chris spoke up. "Girl talk, they said."

"Do you think they'd mind if I interrupted? I told Jenn I'd tell her when I got back. She volunteered to watch Pikachu for me."

Chris was about to say something along the lines of luuuuuurrrrve but he forgot all about it when Drake's car surged past his. As such, his focus was immediately back on track. Beating Drake at all odds would be priceless.

Ash sighed, as he had been unable to not hear Chris's loudly thought idea of luuuuuurrrrve. It wasn't that he had been prying. It was that Chris had been thinking, and projecting, as loudly as if he'd actually shouted the word.

The Grand Master stood up, nodded to Ben – who nodded sympathetically back – and walked over to the side staircase. He took the stairs two at a time and found himself in the upper hallway. Girl sounds, various shrieks, giggles, and talking, led him right to Jenn's room.

He paused outside of the door, raised his hand to knock, but paused again when he heard his name being mentioned.

"What are you gonna do once Ash is a free agent?" That was Jaime, who sounded very interested in a reply. But who would be replying?

"Nothing," It was Jenn, and Ash grinned. He knew she had a crush on him. It hadn't taken him being Satochu to see that. The girl might think that she was being sneaky about crushes, but really, she was as stealthy about guys she liked as Brock was about girls he liked.

Maybe he should've seen about getting the two of them together. Then he figured that it would be like trying to burn a candle at both ends. The two would still be looking at other people.

"You can't do just nothing," This time it was Trish, and the Australian sounded sly. "Why, that would be…unJennlike!"

"Maybe," Jenn said, "But it would be immoral to do something like that. The guy just got divorced, guys! That's kind of insensitive."

"You can't say you're not interested in him," This was Shannon. "He's rich enough for you!"

Ash was definitely interested in this reply. Sure he could theoretically try to peer into her mind, but he never wanted to be the sort of person to pry that intimately into someone's mind like that.

"Yeah, of course I like money and of course Ash is totally loaded, but," Jenn paused. "It's not about money with him. I'd like him even if he was broke. It's not the money or the position…It's just…him."

"Sounds like luuuuuurrrrve," Trish said knowingly.

"It does," Shannon said dreamily, but Ash knew she was thinking about Ben.

"Whatever," Jenn said, sounding bored. "I'll be right back. I gotta go get some chow for little Pikachu."

"She doesn't look hungry," Shannon said.

"Sure she is," Ash heard rustling ,and a murmured pi, and then Jenn said, "I'll be back. Don't try looking for my diary, Jaime, I don't have one."

It was then that it dawned on Ash that Jenn was going to go downstairs to the kitchen. Quickly, he wondered if he should stay where he was or to teleport down to the kitchen. He chose the second option and his surroundings blurred and reformed into the kitchen.

No one was in the kitchen with him and Ash was relieved about that. It was getting a little tiresome to keep explaining his newfound powers to the people around him. He ransacked the fridge and pulled out a can of Pepsi.

He'd just finished pouring the contents into a glass with two ice cubes when the blonde strode in with Pikachu. The electric mouse had perched herself on Jenn's shoulders and chirped when she saw Ash.

"Ash! You're back! I thought I sensed you."

Jenn frowned and said, "Weren't you in Viridian, like, for all day?"

Pikachu gathered herself and sprung from the blonde's shoulders. Jenn winced a little, as Pikachu had sharp claws, but said nothing. The yellow mouse snuggled in Ash's arms, and the Grand Master cuddled the mouse.

"Yeah," he said after a while. "I was."

Jenn shrugged and massaged the shoulder Pikachu had jumped off of, "And?"

"And what?"

"Are you fr…I mean, did everything go okay?"

"Yes, Jenn," Ash said wryly. "I'm a free agent."

The blonde reddened and quickly turned to the fridge. "I need something to drink."

Ash hid a grin when Jenn didn't face him until her cheeks lost the redness. "It's okay, Jenn, you can say it like that if you want. I won't take it the wrong way."

"What are you talking about?" Jenn put her can of Pepsi onto the counter behind her. "You make it sound like you're back in the dating pool or something and you want me to dangle a lure."

Pikachu looked up at Ash with a grin in her eyes, but she didn't say anything.

"What I meant was you don't have to be afraid to talk to me."

"I'm not afraid!" She grabbed her soda and walked back towards the hallway and the stairs.

"Did you come down here just for soda?"

Jenn froze and turned around slowly. "What?"

"You just came down, with Pikachu, so you could get a soda?"

Jenn's eyes narrowed. "You…weren't listening to us upstairs, were you? I thought I smelled your cologne in the hallway."

"Of course not!" Ash said lightly. "But it is time for Pikachu to eat."

"Uh-huh," Jenn said, "Well, since you're here, I bet she'd rather eat for you. Chow."

The blonde turned and flounced off.

"You think she said that as a pun or do you think she thought she was speaking Italian?"

"I think she thought she was speaking Italian."

"I thought so, too."

"You were in the hallway though. I could hear and smell you."

"I thought you said you sensed me."

"Pikapi, you have a distinct aura to you, that's true, but you're about as quiet as a Tauros in a crystal shop. Plus I could smell your cologne."

"I thought that would've worn off by now." He muttered and smoothed some ruffled fur between her eyes. "I put it on real early this morning."

"It is pretty distinctive."

"That doesn't explain how she could smell it."

"Leftover Absol ability?"

"Maybe." Ash shrugged, "You still want to eat?"

"You bet! I'm hungry."

ooo

Later that night, Ash was informed of the trip to the Fae realms for Lu's trial.

"Sure, count me in," the Grand Master told Puck. "There's nothing that would give me more satisfaction than to see Lu brought to justice."

"Oh, I could think of one other thing, Ash," Chris smirked.

"What's that?" Ash asked warily. He hoped that it wasn't going to have anything to do with Jenn. While he liked the blonde, very much, it was just far too soon to be even thinking of hooking up with someone new, even if Misty had already hooked up with Gary. As Grand Master, he was far more restricted in what he could do by public perceptions than she was.

"Punching Gary's lights out," the Scot grinned. "And don't even try to deny that you haven't thought about doing that. Because we all know you have."

"Well, Ashy will just have to wait in line for that," Jenn said darkly. "I still haven't got back yet at that putz for dumping me."

"You still going on about that?" Chris raised an eyebrow. "It's been months and months since that happened!! Let bygones be bygones."

"Excuse you, but no one dumps this American Goddess and gets away with it," Jenn tossed her hair back. "You wrong me and you will so pay for the rest of your life, or until I forget about it. Whichever comes first."

"Jenn," Trish said in a warning tone. "Don't you even tryand get it into that blonde head of yours to go after Gary again."

"Oh, don't worry, Trish," Chris said dismissively. "She said he'd get away with it if she forgot about it. Considering her skills with remembering, I'd say he's safe."

Jenn snorted, but Trish shook her head and kept on talking. "You've already got him back by defeating him in that Pokémon battle thanks to Ash and Drake. Plus haven't you forgotten what happened the last time you went after who you thought was Gary? You went down with the Titanic. Literally."

"I'm blonde, not stupid!" Jenn ignored Chris's cough of "Yeahright" and said, "There's no way I could ever forget that." Jenn winced and shuddered at the memory. "That was not how I wanted to visit the Titanic if I were ever presented with the chance.."

"If you don't want a repeat, then don't go after Gary."

"Yeah, but each time I was 'defeated' was totally because of Lu!" Jenn protested. "Now that he's behind bars for good, I could go after Gary and give him the beating he deserves with no problems. I mean, after all we've been through so far, what could possibly go wrong?"

"Don't tempt the Fates, Jenn," Trish raised an eyebrow. "Bad things happen to you when Gary is involved, even when by name only. Stay very far away from him and you'll be fine. Because next time Ash, Callie or Puck may not be able to save you."

Jenn grumbled and hugged a pillow to her stomach. Pikachu giggled and jumped up beside, patting a tiny paw on her arm.

"So who's going on this trip?" Ash asked.

"Trish, Drake, Jenn, Mia, Shannon and Jaime," Callie told him. "And yourself of course."

"Chris, Brock, and I can hold the fort while you guys are away," Ben spoke up. "You guys just enjoy yourselves."

"I wouldn't call testifying at a trial as enjoying yourself," Mia said sourly. "More like torturing yourself."

"Puck, just one question," Jaime piped up. "How is this whole travelling to another realm gonna work? In the books and movies, if you go to another world, time doesn't pass at all in the world you came from. Is this the deal?"

"It is," the chestnut-haired Fae nodded. When you come back here, no time will have passed since you left."

"Well, that kinda sucks," Jenn frowned. "No, wait, that's good. Right?"

"If you consider coming back to find that this world hasn't advanced ten or twenty years while for you it's only been three days," Trish looked smug, "Then yeah, I'd say that's good."

ooo

The day arrived for the trip to Elysium, and all bar Puck and Callie, were very excited, but also a little nervous. Last night, the two Faes had been subject to all sorts of questions and demands.

"Let me get one thing straight," Jaime had said. "You do know how to get us back into our own world don't you? I don't want to spend the rest of my life in a place where I can see men's dangly bits all the time."

"Hey, I got Trish and Jenn back from other dimensions okay!" Puck had protested before Callie gave a discreet 'ahem'. "Ah, I mean we got them both back."

"My suitcase better not get lost on our way to or from wherever we're going," Jenn warned with a raised eyebrow. "It's a limited edition Louis Vuitton case and I loves it to death."

The travellers had all gathered in the back garden of Drake's villa, with their small suitcases and carryon bags.

All were dressed smartly, for Trish had demanded to know exactly where they were going to end up in Elysium. "I don't want to be wearing t-shirt and jeans and then find myself in front of the King and Queen and the court in all their finery," she had said. "That would be utterly humiliating."

Told they were going to appear in the private chambers to meet the King and Queen, they had all dressed accordingly.

Drake and Ash were looking sharp in dark Italian tailored business suits made from the finest wool, crisp white shirts and ties.

Trish was attired in a slim-fitting dusty rose dress of georgette crepe, teamed with a white linen bolero jacket.

Jenn had begrudgingly conceded to wear a matching silk skirt and top outfit in deep lavender, but only after she was assured that it was a Dolce and Gabanna original.

Shannon was smartly and neatly turned out in a red dress with contrasting black accessories. "If I'm going to get dressed up, it might as well be in my favourite colours," she had said.

Mia, who also hated getting dressed up, was in a simple, yet elegant jade green dress which accentuated the green in her eyes. The brunette was not only dressing up for the King and Queen but also for the impending 'meet the parents' that was sure to happen soon after their arrival. Mia was so nervous about her appearance that she kept wanting confirmation from everybody every few minutes.

Jaime's choice was a plain belted linen dress with capped sleeves in pale pink and worn with matching pumps.

"Are we all ready?" Callie asked in her lilting voice. The two Faes were also dressed to meet the King and Queen, although they were attired in the latest Fae fashions.

Chris was trying, and failing miserably, not to ogle Callie's lovely curves. Puck noticed the Scot's attempts and scowled at him to let him know his brotherly displeasure. Not that Chris took any notice.

Ash looked around at the small group and got confirming nods. "I'd say so."

"Okay, I want you to gather together in a tight group," she instructed. "And make sure your luggage is right in the middle. We're going to put a transportation sphere of magic around you, and your surroundings are going to go all white and then reappear a few seconds later as the walls of the Palace."

As they watched, lilac tendrils of magic flew around them to form a perfect circle and flickered to form sheer 'curtains' that flickered brightly every few minutes. The backyard shimmered out of existence and was replaced by an all encompassing whiteness which was then replaced by the damask curtains and gilt edged furniture of a palace chamber.

Shannon was a little startled when she realised that they were not alone. Two glittering personages sat upon opulent thrones, the King and Queen of the Fae Realms. Jaime patted her friend on the shoulder to help calm her nerves. The brunette nodded her thanks.

"Welcome, Mortals," The Queen said graciously. Her voice chimed like silver bells. "We offer our gratitude in return for your assistance in aiding Calliope and Puck in the capture of Lucius."

"Just their thanks?" Jenn muttered. "I wouldn't mind having a little monetary reward either."

"Jenn!" Trish elbowed her friend. "Hush!"

"But back home most people offer rewards for helping," Jenn whispered back. "Why can't the Fae?"

"Yeah, but what would you do with it? You can't use Fae currency back home," the Australian murmured to her best friend. "And it's not like there's a bank around that would convert it."

The blonde sighed. "I hate it when you're right."

King Oberon's eyes twinkled with amusement. "You must be the one called Jenn."

Jenn blinked. "Yeah, how did you know?"

"Oh, Puck has been telling Us all about you."

"All good things I hope," Jenn pointedly looked at the Fae in question with the unspoken promise of threats in her tone.

"Do not worry, my dear," the Queen laughed. "He's made you sound all so wonderful and of course you shall be rewarded with objects that you can take back home. We feel bad that some of you had to suffer so terribly at the hands of Lucius."

"As do I!" Jenn suddenly brightened. "It was simply horrible! The things he did…" The blonde bit back a theatrical sob that would've done Kate Winslet proud. "I don't know if I'll ever overcome it."

Ash held back on snorting his disbelief. The blonde was laying it on so thick that he wondered if the Queen or King was buying it.

:She is amusing Us, Chosen One.: It was the Queen and after a quick glance at her amused face, Ash also smiled. :We take no offence to her comical actions.:

That was a relief. The last thing he needed to explain to her parents was how Jenn managed to piss off the royalty of the Fae Realm. He just hope that the blonde had enough sense to know when she was close to crossing the line for the rest of their time here.

"Of course, you'll be scarred for the rest of your life," Trish rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

"Well, yeah!" Jenn nodded emphatically. "I've never experienced anything so distressing in my life."

"We appreciate the fact that you have agreed to testify against Lucius," Oberon said. "We realise that it will take enormous courage to revisit such painful memories, but it is necessary for the Court to hear his full crimes to ensure full justice is done."

"That's why we're here, Your Majesties," Trish said. "To make sure he pays."

"And he will," the King promised. "We're going to make sure that he can't ever do such things again."

"That's a relief," Drake said. "Because he caused enough damage as it is."

Oberon nodded and his gaze fell on the young woman who was standing next to his favourite Fae. "Puck, aren't you going to finally introduce us to your lady love who has so captivated your heart these past few years?"

Puck blinked. "Oh…yes, of course I was going to do that, Your Majesty." He took Mia's hand and led her to stand in front of the two monarchs. "Your Majesties, this is my girlfriend, Maria or Mia as she prefers to be called. Mia, this is King Oberon and Queen Titania."

Mia quailed inwardly under the scrutiny of those regal eyes and she hoped that her knees weren't knocking together from nervousness. Many unMialike thoughts flew through her mind. Is my hair okay? Is my make-up okay or did the mascara run making me look like a raccoon?

The King smiled kindly, "Pleased to finally meet you, Mia. Puck has told us so much about you the past few years. It's always been 'Mia this and Mia that…', I have never seen him so besotted with any girl before."

Mia blushed and looked at Puck who was equally red. Several snickers and giggles from their friends came behind them.

"It's n..nice to finally meet you too, Your Majesties," Mia finally managed to stammer out. "Puck's told me a lot about Elysium and I'm glad that I can be here."

Oberon grinned and winked at the girl. "Puck should think himself one very lucky guy."

"Puck," The Queen intoned, "Will you assist Savin with the mortals' belongings? They are to stay in the Southern Wing of the Palace."

"Yes, of course, My Queen," Puck bowed low and formally. "It would be an honour."

The group followed Puck and another Fae, this one a blond male about the same age as Puck, out of the large room.

"What about our bags?" Jenn asked with a raised eyebrow. "Aren't you getting some servants to help carry them? 'Cuz if my limited edition Louis Vuitton gets snagged by some sticky-fingered Fae then I won't be held responsible for my physical reaction."

Savin blinked and glanced at his fellow Fae. :Do all mortal females get violent over lost bags or just this one?:

:Just this one,: Puck sent back :Not only is she American but she's far too attached to designer goods.:

"Fear not, Jenn," the chestnut-haired Fae grinned at the blonde. "As my Lady Queen has said, we shall teleport your precious bag to the room you will be staying in."

"Oh good," Jenn sighed. "I really don't want to spend my time in a prison cell for hurting you."

"You're so thoughtful."

"Duh."

ooo

Finally they reached the southern wing of the palace and Savin pushed open the gilded wooden doors to reveal a large room with a canopied four poster king-sized bed, and Jenn could see another doorway leading off into an adjoining sitting room.

"This can be where you and Trish stay," Puck indicated to Drake.

"Thanks," the Orange Crew Leader smiled and took Trish's hand and led her into the room.

There was a following wolf-whistle and an "Oooh la la!" that neither of them had to guess who it had come from.

"Jenn, shut up," Trish said good-naturedly and gave a cheeky grin back at her friend before the door closed behind them.

"Shut up, Jenn, go away, Jenn." Jenn rolled her eyes at the door, then sighed with the patience of a saint. "A Goddess knows when her work is done."

"Yeah, especially when she tries to cover up the fact that she's not needed!" Ash chuckled from behind her.

"No one asked you, Chosen Dork!" Jenn stalked after Jaime, Shannon, Puck, Mia, and Savin. Her mild annoyance was tinged with a warmth that she and her hormones thoroughly knew of as "Hot Guy Alert!!!" She looked over her shoulder and saw that, sure enough, Ash was following them.

:Should we get the Chosen One to his room?: Savin asked Puck. :Or the blonde?:

:The blonde,: Puck answered fervently. :Definitely the blonde. At least we can talk to Ash. Jenn doesn't get far beyond hot guys, luxury sales, or raging parties.:

:What's a luxury sale?:

:Don't worry about that, Savin, please. It's far too hard to explain.:

"Aah, here we are," Puck said, pausing by a double door that was about four down from the suite that Trish and Drake had. He threw open the doors. "Ladies, welcome to your suite."

Jenn, Mia, Shannon, and Jaime oohed and aahed over the room. It was large, nearly as extravagant as Trish and Drake's, and felt warm and welcoming in a very posh way.

"Nice place," Ash said appreciatively.

"These will be your rooms for the duration," Puck said as Savin led the way in. He noted that the bags were securely situated in the centre of the round room. "The central room is the parlour. There are four rooms flanking the parlour, but you'll have to share the bathroom."

"It's not very large," Savin said apologetically. "I hope it will suit your needs."

The girls didn't need to worry about staking out a room. All four were identical in colour, layout, and size. They went to check out the bathroom and each girl gaped.

"Not very large?" Jenn eyed a suddenly blushing Savin. "Dude, it's frigging huge!"

And it was. A large triple vanity dressing area had four large sinks apiece, then there was a choice of a shower, Jacuzzi tub, or large round bathing tub that looked big enough to fit at least five people in it. Each of those three were in their own separate area that had a door for privacy. Off to the side were four toilet stalls that were made of glistening white marble.

"Puck, this is wonderful," Mia grinned.

"This is huge," Shannon breathed. "I think I'm in love!"

"It's incredible," Jaime agreed. "I can't believe it's all ours to use!"

"For the duration of your time here, it is," Puck said jovially. Then his tone went serious. "However, you'll need the relaxation after you each give your account of what Lu did."

"Do we get a masseuse?" Jenn asked. "That would probably help, too."

"You ask for far too much," Puck gave her a look.

"Yeah, Jenn," Ash said with a grin. "Don't forget, you're not the one that's royalty around here."

"No," Jenn said smugly, "I'm not royalty here. Here I'm a Goddess."

"Put a sock in it, Goddess," Mia said, coming to Puck's defence. "Geeze, I don't know which is bigger. This suite or her ego."

"That's such an easy question to answer," the chestnut-haired Fae smirked. "Her ego."

"Some people say ego, others say self-confidence," Jenn tossed her head. "There's no one better than yourself to keep you going and confident!"

"True," Shannon said. "Though Trish usually calls you a Goddess."

"Also being a Goddess, she's learned to compliment a fellow Goddess," the blonde smirked. "And I've trained her well."

Jaime rolled her eyes. "So where will you be staying, Ash?"

The Grand Master shrugged and looked at Puck.

"Ash will be a few doors down from you," he said before a sly grin spread across his face. "So you'd better keep all that talking and giggling down or else he won't be able to sleep tonight."

"We won't be that loud," Mia slapped her boyfriend on the arm. "We're in separate rooms anyway."

Puck grinned and led Savin and Ash back out into the corridor and another four doors down. "This is your suite, Chosen One," he opened the doors into another vast room.

Ash walked in and was relieved to see his suitcase sitting in the far corner of the bedroom.

"We will leave you to get settled," Savin bowed slightly. "Someone will come round to gather you and the others for a lunch with the King and Queen."

Ash nodded. "Thank you."

Puck waited until Savin had left and turned to Ash. "Ash, I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping us against Lu. You didn't have to help me at all, but you did…and at a great personal cost, too. I'll never forget this."

"Hey, I couldn't stand by and watch my friends and this world be destroyed," Ash shrugged. "Don't blame yourself for what happened with Misty. These things happen…some couples just grow apart and realise that it's no longer what they want."

"If you insist," Puck cocked his head, "Maybe she wasn't your true love."

"If she wasn't, I don't know if I want to find out what it's like to lose a true love," Ash shrugged again. "Anyway, I just want to unpack and catch a quick nap."

"I don't blame you," Puck smiled wryly. "Those girls are a handful."

"They sure are."

"Especially that blonde," Puck said. "She gets me tired just by being around her. I couldn't imagine being with her."

"Puck, I do hope that's not your unconventional way of trying to set me up with Jenn. I'm really just…not about to date anyone anytime soon. At all."

Puck held up his hands, "Okay, okay. I give. I just hate to see someone so recently dumped being so miserable and alone."

"I didn't know your name was Cupid." Ash grinned. "And, I'm not miserable and alone, though I was recently dumped."

"I wasn't talking about you, Ash."

"Who? Jenn?" Ash was puzzled. "She looks happy enough to me."

"I've caught sight of her a few times when she thought no one was looking." Puck said and walked towards the door. "She hides it well."

"She hides a lot well," Ash muttered, then shook his head. He had other things in mind right now, namely that nap. "I'll see you later, Puck."

The chestnut-haired Fae nodded, then left, gently closing the door behind him.

Though he really meant to unpack, Ash made the mistake of sitting on the bed. It was so soft and inviting that it was impossible to resist. He laid out on the bed and reached out for the light. Using a miniscule fraction of his Chosen One powers, he turned out the lights and shut the curtains, effectively rendering the room pitch black.

Within seconds he was asleep, heading towards the most restful sleep he'd ever had.

ooo

Jenn had just finished unpacking when there was a light knock on the door.

"Who goes there!" she called out. "Answer fast, for thou art crunchy and good with ketchup."

"It's Trish," came the familiar voice of her down under friend. "You're lucky that it wasn't one of the servants. They wouldn't know what to make of that statement."

"That's their problem," the blonde snorted. "Oh, you can come in."

Trish walked in and cast an appreciative eye around the spacious and opulent room. "Very nice, Jenn. Quite the accommodation fit for a Goddess."

"I thought so, too," Jenn grinned. "Even though it's not as roomy and grand as yours."

"Surely you're not complaining already," her friend raised an eyebrow. "We just got here!!"

"I'm not complaining," the blonde shook her head. "Just stating a fact." She sat down on the edge of her bed and bounced a little. "Awwyeah, this is so soft and comfortable. Like bouncing on a really soft cushion."

"The beds are nice," Trish agreed. "The nicest I've ever seen."

"Can you believe that we're staying in a real palace?" Jenn's eyes were bright. "This is just awesome."

"I can't believe that we're in another realm altogether," Trish grinned.

Jenn frowned, "I know. It's so weird."

"It's not too different," Trish said. "Other than being in a palace."

"Yeah, but…have you noticed how hot everyone is?" Jenn said this very seriously. "I haven't seen a single ugly person here."

Trish sighed and shook her head. "You are such a blonde."

"I know," Jenn tilted her head to the side, "But what does that have to do with anything?"

The Australian suppressed a laugh. "You're insufferable."

"Yeah, I know. What about all the hot guys?" Jenn waggled her eyebrows. "Think I can take one home with me?"

"Sure, Brock," Trish said dryly, "We'll just go down to the corner store and get one to go."

"They have that kind of place here!?" the blonde looked excited. "How do you know that?"

"No, of course I don't!" Trish laughed. "I've never been here before."

"But you just said…"

"I was just kidding, Jenn," Trish swatted her arm playfully before sitting down beside her. "So who do you think is hot?"

"That Savin dude is pretty hot," Jenn sighed. "I wouldn't mind him Savin me from anything."

"Oyyy…." The Australian groaned. "That was really feeble."

"I try," Jenn laughed. "So now it's your turn. Who do you find hot?"

"Well…," Trish thought for a little. "They're all very nice but I don't think any one stands out as particularly hot."

Jenn thwapped her on the arm with a soft cushion. "Whaddya mean that you don't find one of them really hot?!" She then sighed, "Oh right, I forget, you're all with the ball and chain thing to Mister Orange Dork. But that doesn't mean you can't have any fun, Trish. You can still look!"

"I know, I know," Trish grinned. "I have noticed that guys are hot here, honest. I just wouldn't jump any of them because they're not Drake."

"See, that's where you're no fun!"

Trish shook her head, "And I fail to see why you and Gary broke up. You're two of a kind."

"Keep that up and the Goddess will evict you from her temporary quarters," Jenn said with a mock glare. "And for the record, I dumped his ass."

"I know, I know," Trish grinned again. "Trash to the curb, and all that rot."

"And don't you forget it none."

"Never!" Trish stood up. "Now, let's go get the others and find out what's going on tonight."

ooo

Dinner was a private affair with just the King and Queen and Puck and Callie in the monarchs' private dining room.

As they were led in by two female Fae servants, the human guests were trying, and failing, to not gape with open mouths at the gilded mirrors and furniture within the room.

A long rectangular dining table of polished wood, that was covered with a snowy white tablecloth of the finest silk, stood in the centre of the opulent room. Large floral centrepieces of exotic flowers that none of them had ever seen before were placed at even intervals down the centre of the table.

"Wow, this is the ritziest place I've ever been to dinner," Shannon whispered to Jenn.

Jenn nodded as she gazed at the shiny silverware and china neatly set out before each seat. "Me too. It feels like something out of Pretty Woman."

"Let's just hope they don't serve snails like they did in the movie," the brunette shuddered.

The blonde grinned nervously. "Somehow, Shan, I think they serve something way ritzier than snails."

"Welcome, welcome," Puck greeted them as if he hadn't seen them in days, much less the few hours they'd all spent adjusting to the Fae realm. "If you will all find your seats as soon as possible, we can start dinner."

"Where is everyone?" Mia asked. "I thought it was us and your parents."

Puck flushed at that, "Uh, Mia, they'll be coming shortly. They had some last minute…stuff to take care of."

Callie giggled at that. Her brother made it sound as if their parents were off having a romantic interlude. Far be it for her to explain that their parents were being romantic in their own way. In other words, they were arguing pettily about foolish things. They would be down soon, though Callie was certain their mother would best their father at whatever the argument was about.

Mia looked uncomfortable at the answer Puck had given them and busily looked around for her name. She found it and frowned. She had been seated two down from Puck. Mia looked over at Puck with a question in her expression.

The chestnut haired Fae didn't miss the look by a long shot. :Please, Mia, forgive me. I couldn't change their minds.:

:I thought we were supposed to be expressing our love and letting them know how much we love each other,: Mia stood back as Jenn and Shannon walked by, busily looking for their names. :You haven't said one romantic thing to me since we all got here!:

:I know and I'm sorry, but things are a lot different here than you may have thought.:

:I know, baby,: Mia thought back, darkly and angrily:They're far worse.:

Whatever Puck was going to say, Mia didn't listen for. She was mad, dammit, and if she wasn't going to get a straight answer back – and from Puck no less – then he was sure as hell going to get the silent treatment from her.

Further down the table, Jenn frowned over at Trish. "This isn't funny."

"What isn't?" Trish asked.

"Yeah, what isn't?" Drake inquired daringly.

From across the table, Ash put in his two cents, "Yeah, is something wrong?"

The blonde took a breath and let it out slowly. Then she hissed at her best friend, "Some schmuck sat me across from Ash! That's not funny!"

Trish stifled a grin. For some reason, her best friend was being awfully touchy about being around Ash. She would have to tread carefully. "Oh, I'm sure they just made a mistake. You could ask Puck and maybe you can get your seat changed."

Jenn looked down the line at Puck, who was looking at Mia with soulful puppy dog eyes. Mia was ignoring him steadfastly and was talking with Shannon. "No, that's okay." She eyed the centrepiece, which was almost blocking her view of Ash, though not quite. "Maybe you can move the centrepiece over, Drake."

"Me?! Why me?!"

Jenn was instantly apologetic. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I forgot that one shouldn't ask the elderly and infirmed to move around heavy objects."

Trish did laugh at that, then instantly covered her mouth with a hand. "Sorry, hon."

Drake was about to say something when trumpets bugled the arrival of the King and Queen.

Puck motioned for everyone to sit down, and luckily enough, everyone had found their assigned seat.

The Queen sat, but the King remained standing.

"I know that all of you are probably hungry, so I'll keep this short and sweet," the King smiled. "Once again I'd like to extend a warm welcome to our mortal guests and so thought this informal dinner would be a nice way to settle in on your first night here. There will be a formal dinner and dance tomorrow night so the whole kingdom can show you their gratitude. Please feel free to treat our palace as your home."

Everyone clapped politely as Oberon sat down.

Jenn leant towards Trish. "This is an informal dinner?! I'd hate to see what they call a formal dinner!"

"I know!" Trish whispered back. "I hope the gowns we brought are good enough!"

"Yeah otherwise we're in trouble," the blonde was wide-eyed. "I'm not gonna trust a Fae's fashion sense."

"Me neither."

Further down the table, Jaime was trying to see where the waiters would be coming from.

"What do you suppose Fae food is like?" she whispered to Mia and Shannon. "I'm getting a little nervous over what it could be like. Is it very different from what we're used to?"

"I don't know," Shannon shrugged. "I can't imagine it being too different. So far, everything seems to be the same as in our world, only better."

Waiters bearing silver domed platters came out of swinging doors situated at the far end of the dining room and lined up behind each guest. With a single motion, they placed all plates in front of each person. Then again with a single motion, whipped off the covers to reveal an arrangement of prawns and scallops on lettuce leaves.

"Oooh," Jenn clapped her hands. "I love seafood." She was glad that the entrée came so quickly as it gave her an excuse to avoid eye contact with Ash opposite. While she loved seafood, she wasn't overly fond of prawns (she still wasn't sure what they were, even though Trish had told her ten billion times over), didn't know what a scallop was (other than knowing it could be a decorative edge on a dress), and really hated lettuce.

Ash glanced at her, making a note to ask the girl later why she was so obviously trying to avoid him. He was tempted to wave and say, "Hello, I'm right here," just to see what she'd do. But when he caught her glance and the blonde became so flighty that she dropped her fork in a noisy clatter against her plate, he decided not to.

Instead he reached out teasingly and bopped the side of her leg.

"Drake," Trish slanted a look over at the Orange Islands Leader, "Time for nummy later."

Drake looked confused and Ash hid a chuckle behind a bite of lettuce. He'd try to get the blonde's attention later.

ooo

They had just finished the entrée and were waiting for the main course when Puck and Callie's parents, Helena and Demetrius, arrived.

"Many apologies to your Majesties for being late," Demetrius bowed low. "My wife and I had some business to attend to."

"That is quite okay," Titania smiled. "You're here now and that is all that matters."

The parents smiled and took their places between Mia and Puck. Mia trying very hard not to show her displeasure at being parted from Puck and smiled with as much genuineness as she could at his father who sat down next to her.

"Nice to see you again, Mia," Demetrius smiled. "It's been a while since we visited your realm."

"It certainly has," the brunette said politely. She wondered if this was all a ploy to show her that Puck's mother did not approve of him having a mortal girlfriend. She looked over at Helena, but couldn't figure out if the cool look was approving or disapproving. Mia felt at a loss and poked at her meal.

Jenn was another who didn't really enjoy the dinner. Sure, the food was delicious, but she was so nervous about being seated opposite Ash, that she was unable to relax and enjoy herself. The blonde refused to make eye contact with him, and would only talk to either Trish or Drake.

The Australian kept giving her odd looks and tried to include Ash in the conversation, only to give up when Jenn repeatedly refused to join in. Trish then gave her a pointed look which clearly said, We're gonna have a talk about this later.

Jenn sighed with more than a little apprehension. She had the biggest feeling like she'd done something wrong, only she hadn't done anything. She looked down at her plate, but the food had suddenly lost all of its appeal. The blonde desperately wished that dinner would be over.

ooo

Half an hour later Jenn was back in the sanctuary of her room and very glad of it. At least here she could relax and be herself. She lay flat across the bed on her stomach and pondered on how messed up things were.

Her reprieve was short-lived when a knock came at the door, followed by "Jenn, it's me."

The blonde sighed inwardly and then called out, "Yeah."

She heard the door swing open and shut, and light footsteps coming across the floor before the end of the bed depressed a little as her best friend sat down beside her.

"So, you mind telling me what all that was about at dinner?"

"No," Jenn shook her head, while refusing to look at Trish. "Because you're mad at me and I didn't do anything wrong."

There was an audible sigh. "I'm not mad, Jenn…just really confused, that's all. Just a few days ago you were complaining that you weren't allowed to hang out with Ash as a friend, and now you're acting like he has leprosy or something so awful you can't even talk to him, let alone just make eye contact."

Jenn winced a little. "Is it that obvious?"

"Obvious? It's so obvious that everyone noticed it! And I'd be surprised if Ash wasn't a little offended by your behaviour. Why is it that all of a sudden you can't stand to be in the same room as him? Did he do something really horrible to you, because why are you so afraid of him? You are never afraid."

The blonde shoved her bangs away from her eyes and sighed. "I just…I like him. I really like him. I could just about forget about Gary over Ash."

"…Just about forget about Gary?" Trish slapped the blonde playfully on her upper arm. "You idiot! You should've gotten over that wanker ages ago!"

"Hello, I was the loyal one in the relationship. My love burns like an eternal flame!"

"Then it's time you put a cap on that fire," Trish said dryly. "Move on, Jenn. Gary has."

"That's cold," Jenn glared at her feet, "And for the record, I'm not listening."

"It's about time that you did," Trish said wisely. "And it's time that you realize that there's someone out there who may care about you in a way that Gary never could."

"I know that I don't have to ask who," Jenn covered her eyes with both hands, then sat up and rested her hands on her knees. "But I just don't think anything could develop between me and Drake, no matter how often he teases me."

Trish's mouth gaped for a split second, "You are impossible!"

"I know," Jenn said sadly, "That's what Drake says all the time."

"Ash cares about you."

"Well he can't." Jenn looked away. "He can't."

"Why not?" Trish was surprised. "It would be such a romantic ending to all of the drama that's gone on between you! From rolling around in the surf, to taking care of him when he was a Pikachu and then when he returned the favour when you were an Absol."

"It just wouldn't be right."

"Jenn, come off it," Trish said sternly. "Do you know how sad he was when he first saw your doppelganger laying on the ground with a crushed skull?"

"He was?"

"Yes, but don't go on thinking that it was romantic," The Australian shook her head. "Honestly, you're so masochistic at times that it drives me nuts."

"I'm not macho," Jenn said. "I might be a little dramatic, but I'm not macho."

"You know what I mean."

Jenn sensed that the time for joking was done with. "I know what you mean, but Ash can't be interested in someone like me."

"I don't see why not."

"He's the Grand Master! He runs the Pokémon League!" Jenn looked away. "He's a huge celebrity. Him being interested in me would be like Mariah Carey trying to hook up with Chris."

"See, that I don't think he'd mind!"

"And I don't doubt it for a second," Jenn said. "But can you see the analogy here? A huge celebrity falling for one of us non-celebrities just isn't something that happens in real life."

"It could," Trish said wisely. "Drake proposed to me. I don't see why Ash wouldn't eventually do the same for you."

"Because he just wouldn't," Jenn shrugged. "He just got divorced for one thing. For another, his Freaky Chosen One powers would soon figure out that I'm only after him for his money."

Trish gave her a dry look.

"Okay, okay, I was kidding." Jenn sighed. "I do like him and I think it's more than he's a hot guy."

Trish smiled smugly. "See, I knew it."

"Easy for you to say," Jenn picked at her fingernails.

"Not as easy as you might think."

"Huh?"

"It's not all a piece of cake, Jenn," Trish explained. "I'm not as calm about Drake's celebrity status as you must think."

"Then I'm thinking wrong all the time."

"Possibly," Trish shrugged. "But it's hard to deal with Drake being a celebrity. He's the head of the Orange League and I have to make sure I project the right image as his bride to be. I have to make sure I don't get caught by the paparazzi and have them spin it into some false story. You saw how easy it was for a fake story to almost take down our relationship in flames."

"Yeah and that's almost as scary as dealing with Lu."

"It is," Trish nodded, "But I hope you realize that it can be dealt with. You can, eventually, have the happy ending you want. You just have to fight for it."

"I know," Jenn said. "I just think this isn't the time to be rushing in to something."

"Of course it isn't," Trish said. "You need to give the media and the public some time to accept the divorce of the Golden Couple."

Jenn gave her friend a withering look. "The Golden Couple?"

"That's what they called them."

"What and ever."

"If there's one thing that Hollywood has shown the world, it's that a couple can successfully hide a budding relationship," Trish stood up and stretched. "You can make it work, but only if you want to."

"Thanks, Yoda."

"Anytime," Trish rubbed her neck. "You should come with me. Puck wanted us to all meet down in the Great Hall within the hour."

"What for?"

"Something about getting ready for the preliminaries of the trial." Trish looked a little apprehensive. "He said that the trials in the Fae Court aren't the same as the trials in our world."

"What do you think he meant by that?"

"I don't know," Trish shivered. "But he looked really serious."

"Puck being serious? Really serious?" Jenn frowned worriedly. "That isn't good."

"Tell me about it. Well, come on then."

The blonde stood up and followed her best friend. "You do know that I was kidding about Drake, right?"

"Yeah, Jenn," Trish opened the door and ushered her friend out. "You're the blonde, not me."

"That's right," Jenn said, passing by Trish. Then the friendly insult dawned on her. "Hey!"

The door closed behind the girls, leaving the room in darkness. Then, in a corner of the room unnoticed by the girls, a figure emerged from a hiding place against the wall. There was a small chuckle, then a glimmer of sapphire blue, and the room was empty of all living things except for a small potted plant on the marble windowsill.

The leaves of the plant trembled and became still in the room that had no breeze.

ooo

Puck and Callie were waiting for the group in the Great Hall, grave expressions on their faces. After waiting for the group to settle after gawking at the huge floor to ceiling windows and the large paintings and portraits that adorned the walls, the Faes got down to business.

"Lu's trial is set to begin in five days time," Callie began. "But we wanted to let you know exactly what you are in for now, so you can have time to prepare and adjust."

Trish, Jenn and Mia all glanced at each other uneasily. This didn't sound too good to any of them, especially at the suggestion to prepare and adjust.

"Each of you will be allocated one day each to give your evidence," Puck continued. "Trish is scheduled to go first, followed by Jenn, Mia, and Ash the last one of all."

"What's the big deal? There can't be a huge difference between Fae trials and our trials." Jenn said in an uncharacteristically quiet tone. "I mean, all it could be is us telling a big room of people what happened to us. Right?"

Puck shook his head. "How I wish that was the way we did things here, because it would be so much easier for all of you. No, what the Court is going to ask you to do, is to relive your experiences through your memories."

"What?!!" Trish blanched. "Puck, you can't send us back to go through that again! We almost died!"

Drake wrapped an arm around her waist and held her close.

"You're not going to be sent back to other dimensions," Puck tried to reassure the girl. "Rather, the Court will tap into your memories of those incidents and place you there that way, so that they can fully appreciate what you went through because of Lu."

"So just what the hell are you talking about?" Jenn said, barely able to hold back her anger. "What is going to happen? Tell us exactly what's gonna happen."

"Well…" Puck looked at his sister, who nodded reassuringly. "You'll be approached by the Court Mage. He will place a talisman around your neck. It's a pendant shaped like a dragon's head that is held by a chain of pure silver. The talisman will do most of the work for you. All you have to do is give it access to that part of your memories."

"The talisman will activate once you focus on that memory." Callie added in. "You needn't think consciously on the memory, nor must you hold your focus on what happened. Your brain, your subconscious, has flawlessly remembered everything that happened, everything you saw, and everything you felt. It will project an imagery of the following events."

"It will almost be like being in a hologram that fully surrounds you," Puck said. "You'll smell the same scents you encountered, feel the same air temperatures, and hear the same noises."

Jenn interrupted him. "Puck, that's not good in everyone's case! I went swimming in some really cold water. You can't possibly expect that I'll agree to reliving that!"

"And I almost died from an asthma attack!" Trish looked panicked. "I won't go through that again."

"Relax, people!" Puck tried his best to reassure them. "You don't necessarily have to relive everything."

"It's true," Callie said, after seeing all the dubious looks. "After you initially show the trauma that Lu subjected you to the talisman, you do not have to relive it. You can shut your eyes to turn from it and it will not affect the powers of the talisman. It will still project the dangerous times you went through."

"So what you mean," Ash said thoughtfully, "Is that the talisman only needs to get a tiny foothold into the memory to fully project every little detail?"

"Yes," Puck looked and sounded relieved. "That's exactly it."

"Better load up on blankets," Trish teased Jenn.

"Yeah, well you better grab a steak," Jenn grumbled back. "At least that'll give the dog something else to chase after."

"I hate to be contrary to such a considerate idea," Puck said light-heartedly. "But nothing will be affected by anything you do now."

"So you mean it'll be like a time loop?" Jenn looked puzzled.

"Kind of," Callie said, "You're on the right track."

"Oh quick," Drake looked around. "Someone get me to the lottery store because I need to buy tickets. The day Jenn is on the right track is the day that all my numbers will be picked."

"Drake," Trish said warningly.

"No, don't worry about it, Trish," Jenn said. "I think what he was really looking for is a Bingo card like all the other old fogies have."

"Hey!!" Drake protested.

The Australian sighed. "Look, I know you two can't help it, but would you quit with all these insults between you until after this trial is over? Honestly, I feel like I'm dealing with two kids at times."

"We're only playing," Jenn said teasingly. "Aren't we, Drake?"

"It's all in good fun," the Orange Crew Leader agreed. "No real harm is meant by it, except perhaps to one's pride."

Trish gave him a dry look. "Which is exactly the reason why you and Jenn shouldn't continue teasing each other. You're proud and Jenn's pride is the size of Texas."

The blonde sniffed a little haughtily at that.

"Guys, we're getting off track here," Puck interrupted. "Are you guys still okay with testifying, now that you know what's in store?"

"I guess so," Trish said begrudgingly. "If it wasn't for the fact that I want to see Lu suffer for what he did to me, then I wouldn't do it, no." She sighed. "Just…give us some time to get used to it, then I think we'll be right."

ooo

It was about one in the morning when all were asleep that something strange happened to the potted plant on the windowsill in Jenn's room.

The plant shivered and trembled before disintegrating into a swirl of sapphire sparkles, which reformed to reveal a tall, muscular blond Fae by the name of Cormac.

Cormac was Savin's older brother and the darling of his parents' eyes. He had taken a fancy to the blonde mortal who had come with her friends to testify against Lucius at his trial, and what Cormac wanted, Cormac got.

Then he had overheard a conversation between his younger brother and Puck which piqued his interest.

"Savin, I need you to do me a favour, pretty please?" the chestnut-haired Fae asked

"What is it?"

"You know those mortals who came back with me? The blonde girl, Jenn, and the Chosen One?"

"Yeah, what about them? She's kinda scary," Savin shivered.

"I want you to help me play matchmaker to those two," Puck beamed.

"Oh no," Savin backed away, palms raised. "I don't want to get involved in your madcap matchmaking schemes! Look what happened the last time you tried to play matchmaker. You stuffed it up!"

"Just at first," Puck pouted. "Then I got it right. It was all because of that damn flower potion. This time will be different, Savin. There will be no need for a potion because I know that they both happen to be attracted to each other anyway! They're both just too stubborn to admit it."

"I dunno, Puck," Savin sounded doubtful.

"Oh come on Savin, this time I can't mess up! They're both destined to be together."

There was a sigh and Cormac knew that his brother had given in.

"So what do you want me to do?"

"Just pretend that you're interested in Jenn. She thinks you're kinda cute anyway. Just dance with her at all the balls and pay lots of attention to her so that the Chosen One gets jealous." Puck's excitement was growing as the plot unfolded. "Then I want you to pretend to have your way with her, and Ash will come to the rescue of Jenn and all's well that ends well.'

There was no way that Cormac was going to lose to a so-called Chosen One.

He vanished and reappeared a few doors down, and looked down on the slumbering Chosen One.

A sinister smile crossed his face and a web of sapphire magic descended over the Grand Master. As Cormac watched, the man's form glowed brightly before shrinking and morphing – until there was a small yellow ball of fluff slumbering on the bed.

The Fae grabbed the Pikachu, who woke up with a surprised squeak, and threw him into a small woven basket which he slammed the lid shut and slid the latch closed.

'Pika!!!' the basket shook furiously.

"Sorry, pal," Cormac sneered as he invoked a glamour to surround him so that he looked and sounded exactly like Ash. "But no one is allowed to deny me anything, and I want that lady friend of yours that you like so much. And there is nothing that you can do about it. Night, dude." He slipped into Ash's bed and went to sleep

Inside the cage, Ash swore softly in Pikachuese. How on earth was he going to get out of this one? He was a Pokémon again, he had none of his Pokémon friends to assist him, and no one would be able to understand him save for Puck, Callie or perhaps Drake.

But then again…this Fae was stupid enough to turn him into the one Pokémon he had been before and knew best of all. Praying that he'd be able to recall everything that Pikachu had taught him, he set to work gnawing a hole in his prison with his razor sharp teeth.

He made a face at the rope. If he got rope fibre stuck between his teeth, he was gonna be so pissed.

ooo

Jenn woke up to find herself sleeping on her stomach. Sleep was gradually replaced by the dawning of an unfamiliar weight between her shoulder blades. She reached up over one shoulder and blindly felt fur.

Ohmigawd, she thought a little frantically. If something I ate here gave me fur on my back I will so kill Puck. And then Lu because it's all his fault we're even here in the first place.

Then she felt the fur move and she realized that something was sleeping on her back. She worried that it could be some cute looking Fae creature that would suddenly show fangs or claws as soon as she moved. She decided that she'd have to move anyway to get up, so she cautiously slid the unknown creature off of her back and rolled out of bed.

Standing up, she could see that there was a familiar shade of yellow laying on her bed. She squinted and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. A Pikachu? Jenn distinctly remembered Puck telling her that Pokémon didn't exist in the Fae realm at all.

"So how is there one here now?" she wondered out loud. The sound of her voice woke it up and it looked up at her with an expression that said it was as half-asleep as she was.

"Pika pichu," it said, then shook its head at the sound. It looked very awake and upset all of a sudden and Jenn took a step back in alarm.

"Don't go shooting off any electricity," Jenn warned it. "I've experienced it already and I didn't like it the first ten times, I didn't like it when I was an Absol, and I don't want to experience it again."

The Pikachu looked at her with an expression that seemed to be a mix of 'what the hell' and 'whatever.' It got up, tangled its back right leg in the blanket, shook it off, and hopped over to the edge of the bed. "Chu, pi pi! Pi Pikapi!"

"That's so cute," Jenn giggled. "You sound just like Ash's Pikachu!"

The Pikachu sighed and its ears laid along its back.

"You won't shock me if I pick you up, will you?"

The Pikachu looked up at her and shook its head.

"Cutie!" Jenn picked up the Pikachu and studied it. She frowned. "You almost look…familiar." She shook her head and laughed. "What an idiot I am. Of course you look familiar. You're a Pikachu. I've only seen about a billion of them."

There was a knock on her closed bedroom door, followed by Trish's voice. "You up yet?"

"Yeah, I'm up."

"Well come on. Me, Jaime, Shannon, and Mia are going down to the Great Hall for breakfast."

"I'm not dressed yet!" Jenn rolled her eyes. "You guys been up for hours already or what?"

"Only a half hour," came the smug reply. "And if you can be dressed in ten minutes, you can come with us."

"Oh thank you, generous one," Jenn said. "I'll be there. Hang on." She put the Pikachu back onto her bed. "I don't know if I should bring you or not. I don't want you to get in trouble." She frowned. "However you got here. Maybe you're one of Pikachu's line and you snuck in Ash's duffle bag."

She shrugged, "At any rate, I gotta go get dressed!" She turned around and darted over to her luggage, which was still not fully unpacked. "Let's see, how about this." She pulled out a red shirt and blue jeans. "You think this will look okay?"

The Pikachu cocked its head to the side and shrugged.

Jenn's eyes narrowed. "You must be a male Pikachu. Only a guy, no matter what species, would shrug when a girl asked questions about clothes. Just for that, I gotta do this." Jenn reached over and pulled the flat sheet over the Pikachu. She chuckled at the movement beneath the cover. "Give me five minutes to get dressed. You'll have enough air for that."

ooo

From beneath the blanket, Ash sighed patiently. Jenn really was such a blonde. He could hear rustling and resisted the urge to sneak a peek. A moment passed and he pulled the blanket until he could see out. Unfortunately, she'd already finished getting dressed and was walking back towards him.

"Naughty boy," she said teasingly. "You're bad, but it's time for breakfast. Are you one of Ash's?"

The irony wasn't lost on him. He nodded his head since, technically, he was one of his since he was him. He decided he'd just give himself a headache thinking along those lines and focused on other things. Namely, how he could communicate with anyone. Jenn and the girls were out of the question. None of them had any experience with Pikachus, so none could begin to understand the minimum of Pikachuese. He had to talk with Puck or Callie.

"Well, come on with me," she said and scooped him up. "I guess I can find Ash at breakfast and let him know you snuck along."

Anger coursed through him and static electricity sparked his cheeks.

"Hey, come on," Jenn said and sounded a little scared. "I really don't want to experience any electricity this early in the morning."

Ash could sense the fear from her and forced himself to settle down. Facing the Fae that took his place, that stole his identity, would clear things up. He could find Puck or Callie and telepathically talk with them. Then they could expose the Fae for a fake Ash, get on with the trial, and then get back home.

He let Jenn hold him in her arms and forced himself to behave. The blonde walked to the door and into the central room. Trish, Jaime, Mia, and Shannon all gave identical squeals of "A PIKACHU!" and rushed over to see him. Even though his cheeks were already Pikachu red, he could feel a blush steal over him anyway. After all of the spotlighting the divorce gave him, it was nice to have some positive attention.

"This is one of Ash's Pikachus," Jenn was saying. "I think he snuck into Ash's duffle bag."

"Oh you poor thing!" Shannon cooed. "You must be starving!"

"He's so cute," Mia scratched him between his ears.

"How did he know you were here?" Trish arched an eyebrow. "You sure that isn't Satochu?"

Ash felt his heart jump.

"Trish, puh-leze!" Jenn scoffed. "Don't you think I'd know if Ash was a Pikachu? You think I'd fall for that one again?"

Trish snickered and Ash silently agreed with the Australian's sentiments.

Jenn pulled him away from the petting hands. "Anyway. I know I'm hungry and I think this little guy's hungry, so we're going to lunch."

Mia chuckled. "Don't you mean breakfast?"

"Whatever!" Jenn pulled open the door and made a right.

"You're going the wrong way!" Mia called out.

The blonde reappeared, walking by the door with her nose in the air and holding a Pikachu with a strained look on his little face.

ooo

Breakfast was an affair as opulent as dinner the night before. The girls were clustered at the far end of the main table and were being served lavishly. Platters of food, pitchers of drink, and baskets of toasted bread were spread out all around them.

"What is this?" Callie walked into the Great Hall. "We have a little Pokémon visitor?"

The Pikachu's head whipped around and the little creature ran over to the female Fae. It stood before her and began to chatter excitedly.

Callie crouched down and shook her head, "I'm sorry little one, but I don't speak Pikachu."

It stared at her with a fierce look and Callie waited for it to do something. "Did you want to say something?"

The Pikachu looked stunned, then turned around and trudged slowly back to the table.

"Aww, you poor thing," Jenn got up and walked over to the Pikachu. She picked it up and walked back to the table. "Come on and sit with me."

The blonde sat back on her chair and held the Pikachu on her lap. She leaned over and got a small dish and filled it with pieces of fruit, especially apples, but the Pikachu ignored it.

"Have you ever known a Pikachu to ignore apples?" Shannon asked with concern.

"Nope," Mia said over toast and scrambled eggs. "Then again, I don't really know Pikachus."

"This one is really odd," Trish agreed.

"C'mon, people," Jenn rubbed the Pikachu between tense shoulder blades. "He is right here, you know. I'm pretty sure he can understand what we're saying."

"What who's saying?" Puck had teleported into the room right behind Mia. He gave her a hug and a kiss on her head. "Do we have another visitor?"

The Pikachu once again became excited and he jumped off of Jenn's lap and darted over to Puck. All the while, he chattered incessantly to Puck.

Puck looked uncomfortable. "I'm sorry but…I don't understand what you're saying."

"That's what I said," Callie murmured over a slice of watermelon.

The Pikachu stared up at Puck with determination in his little brown eyes. Once again, there was a shake of a Fae head. "What?"

Again, the little Pikachu trudged back to Jenn and hopped up on her lap. He sat back and closed his eyes.

"I think he's meditating," Shannon whispered loudly.

Jenn looked down at the little Pikachu. "I think you're right."

"A Pikachu?" A new voice broke into the room. "How did one of those get here?"

Jenn yelped as a shot of electricity coursed through her. The Pikachu jumped off of her lap and darted towards the newcomer.

"We think he's one of yours," Trish said. "That he snuck into your duffle bag."

Jenn saw that the little Pikachu had a slightly angry air to it and she called out a warning, "Ash, look out!"

The Pikachu froze at the name and that gave Ash a chance to grab the little Pokémon by the scruff of its neck. Try as it may, and it did, the little Pikachu couldn't move.

"What's going on?" Ash growled out angrily. "Who the hell are you?"

:You honestly didn't think I'd let you shock me, did you? You should feel honoured. It's not just anyone that Cormac the Magnificent choses to become,: Cormac's silky mental voice chided Ash. :Think on it, Chosen One…: The term was said scathingly. :I put a freeze on your ability to speak with anyone in English, Pokémonese, or telepathy. Face it, dude, you're stuck like this forever. Or however long Pikachus live for.:

Ash's heart rose in his throat. No one could understand him…in any way? There had to be a way to communicate with them.

Cormac walked over to Jenn and gave her a sultry look. "Here you go," he put Ash the Pikachu into Jenn's lap. "I think he likes you."

Jenn's jaw dropped. "You're giving him to me?"

"Sure thing, doll," Cormac…Ash…said. "I think you can take good care of him."

:And it'll be so tormenting to you, Ash. I can't think of a better way to make you suffer.:

Ash felt his spirits drop, then perk up a little. The Fae said that he couldn't communicate by spoken word or telepathically. He never said anything about writing what he wanted to say. Ash picked up a cube of apple. The day was suddenly looking up.

"Oh look, he's eating the apple now," Jaime noticed. "Maybe he just wasn't that hungry."

Ash nibbled the apple while wistfully gazing at the lavish spread that was on the table just out of his reach. What he wouldn't give for a piece of bacon or toast. The smell was tantalizing and driving him nuts. Why does everyone think that Pikachus only eat all fruit, he grumbled internally. I know for a fact that Pik is partial to a bit of yogurt and cream cheese.

He had to think and think carefully about his next move. Hopefully he would be able to alert everyone as to who he really was through writing it down. If not then he would have to hope that the jerk who stole his identity would slip up in some way.

Ash noticed that Trish was shooting small glances every now and then at the impostor Ash and then back at him. Perhaps he could try to convince the Australian of his true identity before he tried to communicate with anyone else. After all, she had unknowingly hit the nail on the head with her assertion that he could be Satochu. Again.

And if anyone can convince Jenn about anything at all, it's Trish, Ash grinned to himself as he reached for another cube of apple.

Drake walked in to join the group for breakfast, having gone for a morning work out in the palace gym and a shower. As the Orange Crew Leader sat down beside Trish, he noticed the Pokémon.

"Hey, I didn't know Pikachu had come along with us," he grinned.

"It's not Ash's Pikachu," Jenn informed him as she stroked the Pokémon's soft striped back. "And it's a boy Pikachu."

"Oookay," Drake looked at 'Ash'. "So is this one from Pikachu's first litter? Her mate is that Raichu, right?"

"Uh…yeah," Ash nodded quickly. "The Raichu that lives next door in Pallet is the father and this one is just one of two babies she had by him."

Drake gave the Grand Master an odd look, a look that was not missed by the suddenly happy little Pikachu on Jenn's lap. "No, Pikachu's mate is Katrina's Pokémon and they live on the Indigo Plateau. Heck, if I know that, you should know that."

"And Pikachu had more than two babies for her first litter, she had six," Trish then added, also giving the man an odd look.

"Ah…well, it is still early in the morning," Ash waved it off. "I didn't have a good sleep last night."

But the Australian wouldn't let it go so easily in her mind. Things were just very strange. The sudden appearance of the Pikachu, how it went to find Jenn of all people, and it was not sticking around Ash at all, it's refusal to eat apple at first and Ash's strange behaviour.

The Grand Master never called any female, 'doll'. That was more of a Gary thing. And the fact that he seemed to have forgotten his favourite Pokémon's first litter was quite extraordinary. After the birth, Ash had been going on like a proud father, reciting and showing off every single one of the Pichus to all who would listen.

ooo

Cormac cursed himself. The power rush of being a so called Chosen One was going to his head. He was so busy trying to get the mortals' minds off of the mystery Pikachu that he was ignoring Cormac's Rule Number One of stealing forms.

Never let your guard down.

With his magickal Fae abilities, he didn't just assume a form, he became the form. He knew most of Ash's memories and thoughts. He had to in order to convincingly become who he had stolen. He also knew the man's fears and how to use them against him. Ash didn't know that, though.

Quickly, he grabbed a plate and loaded it up with what resembled Ash's favourite foods, and got a mug of coffee just as Ash liked. He sat down and started eating voraciously, just as Ash would. He didn't sweat that Callie and Puck, both of which were stronger magickally that he was, were in the room. He had perfect trust in his powers of form stealing. It would not waver unless he messed up and did something unAshlike.

Which was probably the result of the looks he'd been getting. He peered into Ash's memories and knew that the Chosen One wouldn't just give away one of his Pokémon, not unless he really liked the person he gave one to.

And he could tell that Ash really liked Jenn. He couldn't fault the mortal. The blonde looked to be very promising in mating and he could see into her heart, as all Fae could, and he saw that she was genuinely a good person. She was very much like Ash. It was sickening. But it would be her shortcoming. She would never see it coming and in the end she would be easy to take advantage of.

Very easy, indeed.

ooo

Trish and Drake went for a short stroll in the palace rose garden after lunch, and the Orange Crew Leader noticed that his fiancée had been rather preoccupied ever since breakfast.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked as he led her to a marble garden seat.

"Oh, I'm just finding today to be very weird so far," Trish smiled at him as they sat down.

"Like Ash's memory lapse?" Drake raised a dark eyebrow.

"That's just one of them," the Australian confirmed. "And the fact that he called Jenn, 'doll'. That's not like him at all. That's more what Gary would do." She sighed. "Unless I'm just reading too much into it as usual."

"Maybe he's just stressed out at the moment," the Orange Crew Leader shrugged. "He's had to save the world and just got divorced. It's a lot of strain on the poor guy."

"Maybe," Trish allowed. "Then there's that odd Pikachu that just appeared. Puck said that there were no Pokémon to found in the Fae world, and here one appears."

"Jenn said it was one of Ash's and that it probably snuck in his duffle bag."

"Yeah, but why did it only appear this morning? Wouldn't it have popped out not long after we got here? We've been here a full day. It would have had to eat. Plus there's the fact that it went straight to Jenn and not Ash. Something's very strange here."

ooo

Back in the palace, Puck was helping to arrange the decorations for the night's festivities, when he was stopped by Savin. The blond Fae was looking rather pensive.

"Puck, have you seen my brother anywhere today?"

"Cormac? No, sorry," the chestnut-haired Fae shook his head.

"Mum and Dad are getting a little worried. They haven't seen or heard anything from him since last night," Savin explained.

"I wouldn't worry too much," Puck reassured the younger Fae. "He's a grown man. He's probably gone off visiting or something like that."

Ooo

After lunch, the girls went back to their rooms to begin preparing for the ball.

Jenn especially wanted to look her best, mostly because Ash seemed to be paying more attention to her. After breakfast, she had spent the entire morning in the company of the Grand Master. It was perfect…or as perfect as it could be with a little Pikachu who absolutely refused to leave her side the entire time.

It was a little weird, because last night had seemed so stilted, but this morning things felt a little easier. Maybe it was the presence of the strange little Pikachu that helped. She wasn't sure what was going on, but there was something about Ash this morning that made him easier to talk to.

The blonde had hoped that the electric mouse would have the good sense, heck any sense, to go off and leave her alone, especially since she would have had time alone with Ash, but he didn't. There was a set defiance in the small Pokémon's expression, as if he had been daring them to try and make him leave.

The Grand Master had tried to shoo it off a few times but the Pikachu's cheeks had sparked dangerously and Jenn begged the man to leave the mouse be. While Ash may be virtually shock proof after all these years with Pikachu, Jenn certainly wasn't, and there was no way she was having her carefully straightened hair frizzed by electricity.

Jenn carried the Pokémon into her room and placed him on the bed.

"Listen up, tiny, and listen good. I have a dance I've got to get ready for so I don't want any funny stuff from you," she told him. "Trish said she'd be over in a half an hour to help with styling my hair, and I need to be dressed by then."

The Pikachu looked at her and then over at a small desk near the door. He hopped down off the bed and darted over, making a mighty leap to land on the chair.

Jenn looked at him with amusement. "What the heck are you doing?"

The small Pokémon hopped up onto the wooden desk and picked up the pen that was lying on a small writing pad.

The blonde's eyes widened and she moved quickly to remove the pen from the Pokémon's grasp before it could do anything with it.

The Pikachu blinked and chattered angrily.

"This is my favourite pen!" Jenn waved the hard sapphire blue pen warningly. "I don't want you chewing it up."

The little mouse sighed and slumped on the table.

Jenn took a look at the depressed looking mouse and sighed. She placed the pen on the dresser and grabbed her dress from its hook on the side of the wardrobe. "I'm gonna go get into my dress. Do not go for that pen."

Ash waited until the door closed before making his move. Luckily, he had plenty of experience in a Pikachu body so he knew how to use it to his advantage. Using his sharp vision, he judged the distance between the table he was on and the dresser. Not far away at all.

It was easy, almost too easy. He went to grab the pen, but paused to study the words on the side. Ash choked back a laugh. This was her favourite pen?! Shaking his head, he grabbed it in his jaws and leaped back over to the table.

He could hear the sound of the dress, which was a long silvery grey silk confection, rustling and he figured he didn't have a whole lot of time left. He didn't waste any time in getting the pen into his paw, which actually held a pen quite nicely, and wrote his note. He'd just finished writing it and setting the pen down, when the blonde came out of the bathroom.

Ash was almost stunned by what he saw. Jenn had chosen a snug fitting dress that had a slight train in the back. It had silver beads strategically placed around her…uh…well, the beads were up top.

"I hope you listened to me," Jenn walked over, then groaned. "No, you didn't listen to me." She grabbed the pen and glared at the teeth marks that Ash really had tried to avoid placing. Especially on that pen.

The blonde sighed, "Okay, fine, so maybe you just don't want to listen. Not like you'd be the first to not listen to me."

Ash grabbed the paper and rustled it at her.

"Oh, cute, you wrote me a note," Jenn sighed. "Time to look at some chicken scratch."

Ash felt smug. His handwriting, even as a Pikachu, didn't resemble chicken scratch in the least.

"This is even neater than mine," Jenn looked at him over the top of the paper at him. "You wrote this?"

Ash nodded emphatically. Finally someone would listen to him!

"And you think you're Ash?"

Again, he nodded.

"Oh, that's good! You almost got me!" Jenn laughed, "Jenn, it's Ash, some fae turned me into a Pikachu. Tell Puck immediately." She looked over at him. "So, Satochu, nice to see you being short and silly again."

Ash sighed with relief. "Thank Lugia."

"I didn't even speak Pikachuese when I was an Absol, but that sounded really suspicious." The blonde stormed for the door to the central room. She flung it open and yelled for Trish.

Moments later, Jenn was followed by the Australian. "Jenn, what is it?"

"Trish, I'd just like to tell you that this was probably the best joke anyone has ever played on me."

Ash felt his heart drop to his feet. She didn't believe him!

"Jenn, what are you talking about!"

Jenn gave her friend the note. "I mean, this was a great touch and all, but I think you need to give him back to Ash. I should've known that Ash wouldn't really give me a Pokémon like that."

Trish looked from the note to the Pikachu with something bordering on disbelief. "Jenn, I didn't play any prank on you."

At the same time that Trish and Jenn were talking, Ash put his two cents in and tried to get Trish's attention. He tried to talk to her, hoping against hope that he could at least get through to the Australian.

Finally Jenn had had enough. "ASH, WILL YOU SHUT UP!"

There was near deafening silence. Jenn stared down at the shocked Pikachu with a horrified look on her face. "I mean…I just…"

She fled the room, leaving behind one surprised Pikachu and one confused friend.

Trish winced and sighed. "I think we'd better find Puck."

Ash perked up a little at the words and cocked his head at the Australian, pointing first at the note and then at himself. 'Pikachu pika Pikapi?'

Trish looked at the note still in her hands and then at the Pikachu with the pleading brown eyes. "It's really you, Ash isn't it?"

Ash nodded emphatically. "Pika!!!"

"I thought something was strange!!" The Australian grinned. "You didn't strike me as being a normal Pikachu at all."

Ash cheered happily. "Pika! Pikachu!' Finally, someone believed him! He was right in trying to focus his efforts on Trish. Drake's bride to be was one smart and sharp cookie.

"How the heck did you end up like this, again?" Trish wanted to know. "Was it Puck?"

He shook his head, picked up the pen and wrote one word on a piece of paper before waving it at the girl.

Trish walked over and took it off him. "Cormac," she read. "Who the hell is he?"

Ash shrugged.

"Wait…he must be the one who's pretending to be you," Trish realised. "But why? I guess we'll find out after we find Puck," she said as she picked him up. "Luckily for you, I had finished getting ready half an hour ago!"

It was then that Ash noticed that Trish was indeed, dressed up and glamorous in an off the shoulder ruby red gown with crystal beading around the neckline, which fluttered and shimmered with every movement. Her raven tresses were swept up in a stylish do, with a red rose pinned just above her left ear.

"Now don't you tear the dress with your sharp claws," she warned him lightly. "This wasn't cheap and Grand Master or not, if you ruin this dress, then you'll be a Pikachu fur stole."

Ash gulped and made sure to keep still.

"Let's get Drake first then we'll find Puck."

ooo

After Jenn had run out of the room, she realised she had nowhere else to go but to the dance. She sighed and smoothed down her hair. I guess the fancy hair styling will have to wait until the next dance, Jenn grinned ruefully. Cuz I am far too proud to walk back in there. Plus it's just too odd to think that Ash could be a foot tall…again.

As she walked towards the Grand Ballroom, her mind retraced over what had just happened.

The note was no joke, no playful prank pulled on her by Trish. Jenn refused to believe that the Pikachu could be a transformed Ash. She didn't want to believe, because that would mean she had been duped. Again. And that thought was unbearable. It was bad enough that most people thought she was a dumb blonde, but to be proven tricked again by the same transformation would really make her look dumb.

No, this has to be a joke. I would know if Ash wasn't the real deal, she told herself silently. Plus, I would know better than anyone else if someone had been turned into a Pokémon since it had happened to me. It wasn't that bad being an Absol, but the possibility for romance was negative zero.

It just has to be a prank Puck is playing on me, she convinced herself. Having a Pikachu writing a note was all a set up and nothing more than that. I spent the whole day with Ash and he hadn't done anything weird or out of character.

"Jenn!" A familiar male voice broke into her thoughts. "I've been looking for you."

She looked to see the Grand Master standing in the doorway to the ballroom, looking suave and handsome in a tuxedo.

"Ash!" she greeted the man shyly. "You look really nice tonight."

"And you look extremely beautiful," he said as his approving eyes roved up and down her figure.

The blonde blushed and looked at the polished marble floor while her face cooled down. Maybe Trish was right when she said that Ash cared for her. Maybe tonight would see the happy ending she had been craving.

A hand came into sight, a familiar hand, and Jenn looked up to see Ash offering his hand to her. "Shall we enter the dance in style, m'lady?"

"You bet!" Jenn grinned. Then she felt stupid for even considering that Ash could be a Pikachu again. He was here in all his tall, dark, and handsome glory. She brushed away her fears of being publicly seen with him. There was no paparazzi here, no one to report to Ash's fans that he was seen with her at a dance, and no one to care if she would be romantic around him.

Screw what everyone thinks, she thought dreamily. I'm in for the night of my life.

To be continued….

ooo

Author's Note: Many apologies to the readers of this series for the very long delay in updates. A combination of family problems, a new intensive job which is now over by the end of this month and general procrastination. Everyone suffers from that from time to time.

But I haven't exactly been idle writing wise. I do have a few chapters in their raw format up my sleeve.