So anyway...
I saw three nuns in a row walk into a bar.
They yelled, "Ow! Ow! Ow!"
On with the story!
National Suicide Hotline Number : 1-800-488-3000
A house divided can never stand.
"What happened," I groggily woke up.
"You fainted Ms. Jade," Margret patted my head with a damp rag, "because you pushed yourself and ran out of energy again."
"How embarrassing," I groaned, seeing there was some more soup near by me, "they're not giving me special treatment, are they?"
"I offered my services to this household in exchange for letting you stay," Margret sighed, "but they refused saying that it was no trouble at all."
"I'm not comfortable with that," I grabbed the soup before Margret had a chance to do it herself, "I'd rather sleep in the car."
"Then I shall offer it again," Margret stood up to leave, "but short of disaster, I don't think they'll accept."
"Wait," I grabbed at Margret's dress, "is Tyrone back yet?"
"You've been asleep an hour or so," Margret shook her head, "but they haven't returned yet."
"And I'm sure, Paki is waiting for me somewhere, right?"
"No, he disappeared when we-"
"I'm back," Paki shouted from outside, scratching at the glass door.
"It's unlocked," Margret wondered, "why doesn't he just come in."
"Just go let him in before he breaks something."
Margret left the room to open the door.
I'm not surprised that I could hear the two of them.
This place was as small as the Bondell's burned down home.
"Paki, you're a mess!"
"Please let me in. I need to get Jade these."
"Give them to me," I heard Margret swipe something, "get yourself cleaned off before you come in here. We're guests in this house, so act like it."
Margret came back steamed, carrying some kind of weed.
"This is a first," I laughed, "I've never seen you that shade of red before."
"But you didn't see him, Miss Jade," Margret sat down waving that weed in the air like a fan, "He was covered head to toe with so much grime that I almost didn't recognize him. Mud covered feet, torn jeans, discolored skin, holes in his shirt and all of it topped off with twigs and leaves in his Muky purple hair. Oh, and he was holding this stinking weed like it was a bouquet of flowers."
Margret ended her rant by throwing the plant into the fireplace. Margret then went to the kitchen (which was literally behind the couch I placed myself at). She really didn't want to be near the weed. I took a few more spoonfuls of soup before I got up to examine what Paki had brought.
"I think I recognize this plant," I said brushing it off, "It is. It's a revival herb."
Mother had shown me once. Revival herbs are miracle workers that can instantaneously recover Pokémon and bring them back to full health. The only draw back was the awful taste and smell of the plant. It wouldn't work at all on humans, but Paki wouldn't know that. They're also a very rare plant to find in the wild. He must have looked everywhere for one. But why would he…
"AHHHH, PAKI," Margret zipped to the window, forcing it open, "What are you doing in your birthday suit!"
"I'm not wearing a suit," Paki shouted back.
"That's the problem," Margret turned to make sure I wasn't looking out the window, "put your clothes back on!"
"But they're dirty!"
"Don't look Jade, it's indecent."
…nothing I hadn't seen before…
"You did a great job today, kid." Gary frowned patting his son's head. Derrick was taken aback. He hasn't been treated like this since his grandfather was still alive (and that's saying something).
"Thanks, but…," Derrick paused, he wasn't sure how Gary usually treated Tyrone.
"(I'm still concerned…)," Nemean growled, "(You may have mastered one or two tricks as a Shishá, but this is a Pokémon Battle. Leo's the one who will do the actual fighting.)"
"I know," Derrick wasn't concerned, he knew Tenma's battle styles better than anyone. All Leo would have to do is follow his orders.
"Well, whatever you've got planned," Gary stopped at the edge of the trees, seeing the burnt down farm house, "you can't do it if you don't get enough rest before the battle."
"Yes sir. Good night, dad," Derrick waved as he walked 'home' alone.
Derrick and Nemean were used to this by now. Gary would say good-bye, get in his car and leave before they got 'home'. Then Nemean and "Tyrone" would sit together reviewing their day. This time, however, Nemean stayed behind to say good-bye much more personally to his son.
"Guess this is the end, daddy," Norma happily smiled with Gary's face.
"(I guess so…)," Nemean sighed, "(He does miss you.)"
"Can't you let him out, for just a second?"
"(No, I'm too old now)," Nemean shook his head, "(but since you're in control, could you try to explain to Sera that it wasn't my fault with the fire.)"
"I think that she already knows, Pop."
Nemean turned his head away from his son. Not just because Norma had already switched back, but because he didn't want Gary to see him pout.
"I suggest that you just apologize to Ma."
"(It ain't my fault.)," Nemean growled, "(Plus wasn't it you who decided to have me declared dead?)"
"What's done is done," Gary smirked, "Nemean helped rescue the kids and you're dead."
"(Or I could just change back now and make you a dirty little liar.)"
"Don't kid yourself, Pop."
"(You could at least humor me, you kno…)," Nemean stopped to sniff the air.
"Something wrong, Pop?"
"(No, we just have a few more guest at our temporary home.)," Nemean began the short walk back to the neighbor's house. He didn't lie to his son, but there was something about one of the scents that bothered him. He couldn't quite put a finger on it. He recognized Jade's and that Exeggcute of hers just fine, but there was the scent of another Pokémon. One that he recognized, but could not quite remember where from.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Sarah. We-," Derrick stopped when he saw who was sitting on the couch waiting for him, "Aneki?"
Lucky for him, the mutt took control for a bit.
"Tyrone," Jade sighed, it looked as if she was wrong, but it was better to play along, "did ya miss me?"
"Of course," Tyrone tackled Jade, his tail waving behind him, "I wanted to see you so badly."
"Okay, down boy," Jade pushed him off of her, "I need to talk to you."
"Yes Aneki," Tyrone sat on the ground like an obedient puppy waiting for a treat. This didn't make Jade happy one bit.
"Please don't tell me that you've been acting like this the entire time that I was gone."
"No," Tyrone put both of his fists in front of him, "I've been working hard to become stronger. I have a big match with Tenma tomorrow and we've been training all week."
"So nothing's weird happened that I should know about?"
"Define weird," Tyrone frowned at Jade.
"Never mind," Jade sighed, now convinced that her worries were over nothing. Well, about Derrick at least, "Why are you picking a fight with Unc… with Tenma."
"I didn't," Tyrone lowered his head, "They were going to kick Karen out of school if I didn't agree to the fight. And I…"
"Have no clue what you've gotten yourself into," Jade sat back down on the couch, "I've seen what he can do."
"Don't worry Jade," Tyrone took out Leo's Pokéball, "We worked out a strategy for us to win."
"Did you know that the Black Ninetales is-"
"Don't worry about it," Tyrone interrupted Jade, trying to explain, "Leo's Flashfire can nullify most of his attacks and-"
"No, it can't," Jade shouted, "that Ninetales's fire is not like a normal fire. It's part of his lifeforce. Water can't put it out and even Slugma can't stand up to it. If you send Leo out there he will die."
Tyrone fell silent. Derrick had heard enough. He comforted the metaphysical Growlithe as they switched control. He forced the legs to stand up, towering over Jade. One could see his emotion draping themselves throughout his aura. When he started to speak his voice was so low and ghastly, one would think that he was one.
"Did that Son of a Bitch send you here," Derrick glared deeply at Jade, "Is that why you were gone for so long?"
That action alone was able to rekindle Jade's fears into full realization.
She didn't let it phase her for more than an instant.
"For your information, Derrick," Jade now stood on her two feet, "he didn't. I want nothing to do with that monster."
"He's not going to take me back," Derrick jumped back, looking around to make certain that there weren't any 'traps' around him.
"You really think that's what I want," Jade got in close to slug Tyrone, "You can go to hell for all I care, just give me back my frien-"
Jade stopped. Derrick turned to see that it was because she spied Nemean at the door. Derrick wondered how much he had heard.
"(Oh, please. Don't stop on my account.)," Nemean turned around, but only to sit at guard at the door, "(But try not to burn this house down as well.)"
Jade lowered her fist. Derrick lowered his guard.
The two of them were now forced to put up a truce.
He was going to fight Tenma alone and Jade could do nothing to stop him.
"(So why are we here again?)," I asked Phineas.
"(Pops says that Ms. Kay is the expert when it comes to the Legends of Golnar.)," Phineas hopped his way up the stairs. I was having a little more trouble doing that, so I decided to take the stone sidings as my path. It had to be less tiring than hopping from step to step. I refused to be carried by anyone, even Brandy if he were here.
"(And she's the one taking us because…?)," I looked up at our caretaker for the night.
"(Karen has nothing to lose if she borrows you.)," Phineas skipped, "(Rio and Blare will cover for you, so hopefully she wont have to worry about being caught to begin with.)"
"(Sorry, I'd just feel a lot more comfortable if Brandy was here.)"
"(Brandy has to get back to work.)," Phineas looked back at me, "(We're just lucky that no one's been dumping anymore bratty Pokémon with my sister.)"
"(Who are you calling bratty?)"
"(Trust me, you're an angel compared to the brats at the daycare.)," Phineas suddenly looked down the steps.
"(What is it?)"
"(Sorry, thought I saw someone.)," Phineas scratched the back of his head, "(It was just a shadow.)"
"(You sure…?)," I had a bad feeling all afternoon. I'm not sure if it was just because Brandy wasn't here, or if it was because of what Mew had said. (Ironically, there was no reason for me to see Ms. Kay. In a way, my mother had already helped to confirm Mew's claims.) Anyway, I had a strange feeling like I was being watched all afternoon.
"(If you're worried about Youko then listen…)," Phineas paused. It didn't take me too long for me to figure out that Phineas wasn't going to say anything else. I didn't understand what he was trying to tell me, by not telling me. Phineas was able to figure that on his own.
"(If you listen carefully, you can still hear the background noise of every Pokémon out here.)," Phineas backflipped up the last few steps, "(If there was even the slightest bit of danger they'd run for the hills.)"
"(Show-off.)," I snorted to myself.
When we made it to the front door. Ms. Kay had opened it before Karen had a chance to knock.
"Good evening Karen."
"You have to tell me how you do that," Karen smiled.
"I'm not sure myself anymore," Ms. Kay laughed back. She then sniffed the air for some reason, "Do you smell honey?"
"No, why?"
"Maybe it's just my imagination," she stepped out of the way, "Please come inside. We have a lot to talk about."
"How dare she," Buddy growled to himself from behind a tree, "No one's allowed near Milkshake. How much is she paying the school board?"
"Combee," a trio of Bug Pokémon fluttered nearby.
Two others were fluttering closer to the house and the last one was tucked away on his belt. These were the only Pokémon that Buddy could raise without a problem. Any others would be neglected, malnutritioned and/or otherwise would runaway. In turn, they were also very loyal to him. Despite him being a 'charity heir', Buddy also had one unique special privilege. He was allowed to carry a full set of Pokémon. You'll see why later though, even if you can't already guess.
"I wanted that Torchic," Buddy dug his nails into the tree bark.
"Bee," Buddy's Combee were honestly concerned for their master. He didn't normally act like this.
"Nothing against you guys," Buddy turned around and pet one of them on the head.
He stopped when he spotted something. It was nothing special to any naked eye.
Heck, random Pokémon have thought that the thing was human garbage.
To Buddy, however, he saw something special, like gold. He was drawn to it.
"What is that," he slowly walked over to the thing.
The little bit that stuck out of the ground seemed like an ordinary cloth. The rest of it was buried underground. Stepping closer to it only made him desire it more than he wanted anything else. What was the cloth connected to? Temporarily obsessed with the thing, he started digging on his own. He only found more of the cloth. He kept digging until he was in an almost trance like state. He only stopped once when one of his Combee bumped him gently, reminding him that they were still there.
"Oh," Buddy only had a little more to go, "Combee, use Gust."
The Combee positioned themselves and happily did as their master asked of them. The winds that they caused loosened the thing, it flew into the sky. Their master desperately grabbed at the thing that had been flipped into the air. Once the winds died down, Buddy had his prize grasped in his clutches. When he examined it, he saw it as nothing more than a regular sack. Sure there was a golden tie to the sack with an emblem of a fat man holding a fan. That however was the only part of the thing worth any normal monetary value. Without it, one wouldn't think twice about it. He took a small look inside. He wouldn't believe what he saw. The sack had much more room in there than it looked like it should.
"(It's about time you found me, Hotei.)," a red spirit formed itself within Buddy's line of sight, "(you're not Barry Hotei… Who are you?)"
Thank you now please review.
Warning: Upgraded Founders List…
Decedent: (1) Unknown
Owner: Unknown
Artifact: Unknown
Partner: unknown
Species: Unknown
Power: Unknown
Decedent: (2) Aiku Family
Owner: Unknown
Artifact: Hammer/Mallet
Partner: unknown
Species: Unknown
Power: Unknown
Decedent: (3) Bisha Family
Owner: Principal Manny Bisha
Artifact: Spear
Partner: unknown
Species: Unknown
Power: Unknown
Decedent: (4&5) Jiro & Fukira families
Owner: Unknown (called: "Pink")
Artifact: Scroll
Partner: Dargais
Species: Unknown
Power: Is able to see and draw out the future, but doing so will cause a great amount of strain to the body. Under normal circumstances, the user must give up an equivalent amount of their life. But when combined with the Gourd of the Fukira family the life exchange is essentially canceled.
Decedent: (4&5) Fukira & Jiro families
Owner: Unknown (called: "Blue")
Artifact: Wine Gourd
Partner: Celtnis
Species: Unknown
Power: Accelerates healing in exchange for an equivalent of memories. Say you break your leg (which normally would take a month or two to heal), then you lose the memories that you have of the past month. If a body part is irreparable naturally then it can not be healed. Where as if they need a day to "rest and recuperate" like "Pink" would then they'll lose a day's worth of memories.
Decedent: (6) Zaiten Family
Owner: Bernice Zaiten (aka "Benny")
Artifact: Sitar
Partner: Ignu
Species: Chattot
Power: Is able to manipulate sound in order to "confuse" the minds of Pokémon and essentially control them. (Much like the Pied Piper, except more out of annoyance than enjoyment.)
Decedent: (7) Ebisu Family
Owner: Eddie Ebisu (called "Ebisu" by elder members)
Artifact: Fishing Rod
Partner: Loumirako
Species: Relicathe
Power: Water summoning and manipulation. Loumirako is able to battle using the streams of water that Eddie summons. There is no known side effect for using this relic's powers as of yet. Where ever the water comes from, it clearly also returns there when Eddie is finished borrowing it.
Decedent: (8) Hotei Family
Owner: Buddy Hotei
Artifact: Sack
Partner: unknown
Species: Unknown
Power: Unknown