Chapter 6

When the bell rang, they filed out of the school along with the rest of the student body. By the time they reached the entrance, they were laughing along just fine, when Dawn noticed something,

"Hey, your car isn't here, Julie."

The idol didn't seem fazed, "Yeah, I decided to take a day off from my packed schedule to take a nice walk home instead."

"Julie, since you aren't too busy, why don't you join us today?" asked Gary.

"Join you?"

"Yeah," nodded Ash, "we're going shopping for our annual gathering in 2 months."

Her eyes lit up, "I would lo-"

There was a ringing coming from a Pokégear, nobody moved for a second trying to find out from whom it was coming from. It was when Julie started rummaging through her bag that the ringing became louder.

"I'm sorry, I have to take this," she said as she pressed the accept button and turned a bit away from the group, "Julie speaking…no, why?...umm," she grabbed a pokéball from her belt, "yeah, I have it with me…don't worry, I'll get there as soon as I can," and hung up.

"I'm sorry, guys, but I'm afraid duty calls," she said apologetic as she threw her pokéball up in the air and released her Arcanine.

"What do you mean?" asked May.

The Legendary Pokémon crouched down, allowing its trainer to sit on top of it, "There are some issues with a photo shoot session the magazine my father sponsors, so I have to go see."

"Why can't your father go instead?" asked Drew while Julie adjusted herself as her Pokémon stood up.

"My father is doing business overseas," she paused for a minute, "besides; it was my idea in the first place to have the photo shoot."

"Do you know how to get there?" asked Lyra.

"Yeah, don't worry about it. I've been here longer than it seems," her Pokégear started ringing once more, "I'll be there in a second," she answered before hanging up.

"Wouldn't it be faster to fly there?" asked Leaf as she took out her Wigglytuff.

"No, it's fine, Riley is more than fast enough."

"Are you sure?"

"Y-," her Pokégear rang again, this time her face had a look of annoyance as she answered with a smile, "I'll get there when I get there," she turned back to the group as she quickly wrote down something on a piece of paper and handed it to Leaf, "if you guys want, you can come see."

"Thanks," she answered, "but wouldn't we be in the way?"

"Nonsense," she waved her question away, "well I better get going before they call again," she motioned for her Pokémon to start moving.

"Wait! How will we contact you?"

"Ask Mr. President over there," she answered and stuck out her tongue at him.

They turned to Lucas who had a light blush across his features, he was about to reply to her remark when he saw her Arcanine become surrounded by a white and clear aura and left his sight of vision, "Extreme Speed," he murmured to himself.

"Well?" teased Leaf, "anything you want to tell us?"

"There is nothing to tell," he answered as he walked in front of them. The boys shrugged and followed him while the girls stayed a bit back and shared a look before walking alongside them.

The next couple of days, Julie didn't show up at school, at first they thought she must have been tired or didn't feel well, but soon it turned to weeks and were asked to visit her.

"So why do you think she's been absent for so long?" asked Ash as he led the group ahead with Pikachu on his shoulder.

"Don't know," shrugged Dawn as she looked at the address once more. Considering it was a Sunday afternoon, only Dawn, Ash, May and Drew were the ones that decided to go – or rather were the ones that lost in a round of rock-paper-scissors.

"Don't you think we should have already been there?" asked Drew, tired from walking around up and down the street, "my legs are tired."

"If I remember correctly, we all asked you to bring us in your car, but no," commented May.

He sighed, him and his big mouth, "Alright, alright, no need to remind me…"

"But Drew's right, shouldn't we have passed it already?"

"Uh, guys, I think we've been here the whole time," said Dawn who had stopped.

"What makes you say that?" asked Ash.

Dawn pointed to the black Iron Gate in front of them, "how about the fact that this is the entrance."

The three peered over towards where the bluenette was pointed, and let a "Woah." Over what seemed like probably a block away, the found the young idol's house – "That is not a house," said Ash.

"That's a mansion!"

"I say more of a hotel."

"Can I help you?"

"Ah!" they screamed, too astounded by the size of building to notice a young man with sunglasses around their age had pulled up in car next to them.

"S-sorry," said Dawn, "we didn't see you there."

He chuckled, "I can see that," he looked at them for a moment before saying, "I'm guessing you're here to see Julie?"

"Yeah," answered Ash. The young man unlocked the doors to his car and opened to passenger side door, "Hop in, I'll drive you over there."

"But-"

"Don't worry about it," the group of teens looked at each other before silently agreeing to get in the car, Ash sat in the front while the girls and Drew sat in the back.

"My name's Michael," he introduced himself, "what are your names?"

"I'm Ash from Pallet Town, and this is my buddy Pikachu."

"Pika!"

"I'm Dawn from Twinleaf Town."

"I'm May from Petalburg City."

"And I'm Drew from LaRousse City."

"Hmm, so a native Sinnoh, a Kantonier and 2 Hoenners," he said to himself as they passed through the gates after he gave his information to the speaker on the side, "That's quite a variety."

"Yeah, we all met thanks to Ash," said May.

"I see," he peeked over to the raven-haired boy sitting next to him, "So how come you guys are visiting Julie?"

"She's been absent from school for quite a while, and the teachers have been asking why."

"So you aren't coming for your own accord?"

"We are," interrupted Drew, "but considering her position, we didn't want to bother her."

"I see," replied Michael before stopping in front of the entrance to the idol's home, "well here we are." He turned off the engine as they got out of the car, "Follow me so I can take to where Julie is," he said as he went to his trunk and took out a couple of take out bags.

The group walked down a path that led to the back of the mansion, from afar they could see many lighting equipment and people running around a section of the backyard near the shore of the small pond, "I've brought back lunch!" Michael yelled out to the people.

"And Cut!" said the Director, a voice that sounded familiar to the group, however before they could even peer over to the source of the voice, a woman in her mid-30s came forward and took the bags from Michael, "thanks again, for doing this for us, Michael."

"It's no problem," he replied and gestured to Ash and his friends, "these are Julie's friends, would you mind if they stay for a while?"

"Of course not!" she exclaimed, "I'm sure Miss Julie will be more than glad to have some company aside from us," and walked back towards where the crowd had been once. They followed her and saw Julie wearing a simple white dress with a small group water Pokémon surrounding her, when she looked up her expression shone, "Hey, guys, what are you doing here?"

"We could be asking you the same question," replied Dawn as she sat next to the young idol.

"Work," she answered and gestured at the Pokémon, "we're about to finish the last session but it seems our dear photographer thinks we're still lacking something."

"Any idea on what?" asked May as she sat on her other side, leaving the guys to sit next to them.

"Personally speaking, I believe there should be more people, since the theme is Friendships in Nature, but there aren't that many models that like to get wet," she pouted as she splashed the water with her feet. "So, we decided to include other types of Pokémon such as Grass and Bug," she patted a Leafeon that had settled its head on her lap, "but we don't have much of a variety of those either, I mean we barely have enough Water-Types."

Dawn's eyes sparkled with gleam, "I know someone that help you with modeling and Water-Types!"

"Really? Who?" asked Julie with a glint of hope in her voice.

"Misty!"

"Misty?" she asked.

"That's right!" exclaimed Ash, "She's trained to become World's Best Water-Type Master."

"Misty, Misty," she murmured to herself as pondered over the suggestion, "well, if she doesn't mind, I could really use her help."

"Awesome, I'll call her right now," said Ash as he took out his blue Pokégear and dialed Misty's number.

"But what about the Grass and Bug types?"

"Leave that to us," said Drew as he took out three pokéballs and brought out his Roserade, Masquerain, and Butterfree.

Dawn brought out her Piplup while May brought out her Beautifly, Wartortle, and Venusaur.

"Of course, Ash might have to go to the Pokémon Center to get his Pokémon," said Drew.

"Oh, if he wants he could use the transporter we have here at home," said Julie as she took out her feet from the water and dried them with a towel the Leafeon had brought and stood up.

"You don't mind?" asked Ash.

"Of course not," she answered, "it's the least I can do after you guys saved me," she put on a pair of white flats, "the transporter is right here," she said as she led them towards a small building nearby.

"What is this place?" asked Dawn.

"The Pokémon House," answered Julie as she opened pushed the door open. They were greeted by a pair Growlithe, "hello, little ones," she said as she patted their heads and walked on.

The group of teens saw that it really was a Pokémon House, it was accommodated for their needs. There a couple of rooms here and there with arch doorways along with a Pokémon food dispenser on one side of the wall. They saw a room full of the Eevee evolutions with a handful of Eevee, and in another a family of Arcanine with their litter. They continued down the hall until they entered a room with a doorknob, Julie opened it and allowed them to enter first. The only things in there were a medical station and the Pokémon Transporter.

"When you're done, please close the door, so the baby Growlithe don't wander in here," she said, "I'm going to go and tell them that we're expecting someone here," and left the room.

"Rich people sure are rich," said Drew as he looked at the equipment while Ash transferred his Pokémon to Professor Oak's lab assistant.

"It's at times like these that we have to remember we basically live in a different world from Julie's," continued Dawn as she looked at the pictures that hung on the walls of her and the Pokémon.

"Do you think they all belong to her?" asked May as she stopped at a group one.

"Probably," said Drew from behind her.

"Okay, done," said Ash. They left the room and made sure it was locked before exiting the house, although that was before the girls stopped and patted the cute Growlithe that followed them to the entrance.

"I wonder why they aren't outside?" pondered Ash.

"It's probably because of the photo shoot," answered May, "if those baby Growlithe wander here and there, it could delay them."

"Hey, Julie, I got my Pokémon!" waved Ash when he saw her talking to a familiar Orange-head, "Hey, Misty."

"Hey, guys," she greeted, her hair was down and reached her back, she had let it grow out after much persuasion form her sisters, she was wearing a similar dress to Julie but only in a baby pink.

"Great! And thanks again for doing this, Misty," said Julie to the group.

Ash send out his Bulbasaur, Bayleef, Sceptile, Torterra, and Snivy, his Pokémon looked at him weirdly, confused as to what was going on, "You guys are gonna help Julie out a little project," he explained to them.

The Pokémon turned to the person in question who said, "You won't really have to do much, just do what you would normally do when you are out in a space like this."

"Five minutes!"

Julie turned to Misty, "ready?"

"Ready!"

The group stood behind the crew as they prepared to take on the shoot again.

The two girls played around with Water Pokémon before the Grass-Types joined in on the fun, although Sceptile kept hidden on the shadows of a nearby tree. However that changed when a Vaporeon (they assumed it was Julie's), sprinkled t with a bit of its Water Gun and jumped back into the pond, making Sceptile follow after it for revenge. Before anyone knew it, they were having a full out water fight, Misty with the Water-Types and Julie with Grass and Bug-Types. At the end of the shoot, they were dripping wet.

"That's a wrap!"

The two girls were helped out of the pond by the staff and handed towels to dry off.

"Thank you," she said as she dried her hair.

"That was great!" said Dawn as she approached the two.

"Thanks," said Julie before she turned to Misty, "but this was all done thanks to you, Misty,"

"It really was no problem," she replied, "this is nothing when you compare it to what my sisters and I do back at Cerulean City."

"Still," said the young idol, "I'll have a payment sent to you when I have the chance."

"Well," thought Misty, "you don't really have to-"

"Please, at least so I can feel less guilty for taking away your Sunday afternoon."

"Alright!"

She turned to Ash and his friends, "thank you for letting us borrow your Pokémon, I'll also have them send you a payment for them as well."

"Thanks, Julie, but we're fine with it just being for free."

"Nonsense, besides they all look like they could use a bit of pampering," she said before a certain Pokémon ran past her.

"Woah!" she heard Ash say as he lay down on the ground, "Bayleef, come on!"

"Bay, bay!" replied the leaf Pokémon as it snuggled its snout towards its trainer.

"Aw, isn't that sweet?" commented Julie.

The Pokémon turned its head towards her, ready to glare but at the sight of the young heiress, it stopped and got off Ash with no problem and leaned in for her to pet it.

"Wow," said Dawn, "I've never seen Bayleef do that towards another female trainer before!"

"That's because Julie is a natural when it comes to Pokémon," said Michael from behind them with two robes, "here you go girls."

"Thanks," they replied as they tied them around their waist.

"What do you mean by a natural?" asked Ash as Dawn helped him up.

"You see, Pokémon are naturally attracted to her, it's as if she has this friendly aura around her that just brings Pokémon in."

"Umm, if you guys don't mind, you can come in so you aren't outside in this heat," said the person in question directing them to the entrance of the mansion.

"Thanks, I hope we're not intruding," said May as she followed her.

"Not at all," she smiled. When they entered, they were greeted by two rows of maids bowing to them, "Excellent work today, Lady Julie."

"Thank you," she said as if it was the most normal thing in the world, "Carly, I hope you wouldn't mind bringing over some snacks to the tea room."

"Of course not," replied a maid with blonde hair, as they dispersed back into their daily activities.

"Mikey, I hope you don't mind being a guide while Misty and I change."

"Not at all, Julie," he answered, "right this way, ladies and gentlemen."

The four followed the Michael, through a couple of hallways until he directed them into a certain room. It had wooden tiles with beige walls and light green curtains that accompanied the tall windows.

"We can wait here for Julie and Misty until they get here."

The group awkwardly sat down in the seats presented, no one knowing exactly what to do or say.

"So, umm, Michael, how did you come to work for Julie?" Asked May.

"Oh, I don't work for Julie," he said as he finally took off his sunglasses, "Julie's my little sister, or rather stepsister."

Dawn gasped, "Wait! Doesn't that make you Michael Starlight! Julie's lead guitarist in her band?!"

"That's right, Dawn."

"Then why-"

The door opened suddenly and three figures stepped in, "Michael, do you have any idea where Julie might be? We've been looking for her," said the person with lavender hair.

The Ash, Dawn, May and Drew stood up from their seats faster than the speed of light, "Team Rocket!"

"Twerps!" said the trio shocked to notice them.

"What are you doing here?!" asked Ash as his friends grabbed their pokéballs and Pikachu let out sparks of electricity from its cheeks.

"Ah hold on a minute!" said Michael as he stood from his seat, "These people are good!"

"No they're not!" said Dawn, "They go around trying to steal people's Pokémon!"

"Wait but-"

"If it's a battle you want, it's battle you'll get," said James as he grabbed his Carnivine's pokéball.

"That's right if you twerps make even the slightest move we won't hold back!" said Meowth as he braced himself, ready to use Fury Swipes.

"What's going on in here!" said a voice from behind Team Rocket.

"Ah! Team Rocket!" exclaimed Misty as she put herself between Julie and them, her Psyduck's pokéball in her hand.

"Wait-!" Michael tried to intervene.

"Julie stay back, they are criminals that have been trying to steal our Pokémon since as long as we could remember, they might be trying to steal your Pokémon and money as well!"

"Hold on a sec-!" said Michael as he true to step forward but the tension between the two was too much.

"In case you haven't noticed, little girl, we are here for something much bigger," said Jessie as she reached behind her.

"Why you-! Pikachu!" exclaimed Ash as he motioned Pikachu to dash towards the villainous group.

Julie ran around Misty somehow, and put herself between her friends and Team Rocket, "Stop! They aren't here to steal anything!"

"Don't be ridiculous! Why else would they be here aiming for something big?" asked Drew, his hand itching to send out his Absol.

"He's right, crooks such as those don't change so easily!" agreed May.

"Besides, as far as I can remember they have always been trying to steal Pikachu from me!"

"And we're not going to let them harm you!" said Dawn as her hand clutched her Bunery's pokéball.

"Enough!" said Julie as she finally grabbed their attention, "I know they were a part of Team Rocket sometime in the past, but now they are the designers of the upbringing clothing line called Roquet," she eased her tense protective posture. "The pictures we took were merely sample shots of what would be used in their magazine. They are the ones we sponsor! And I'm not going to let you hurt our best designers!"

The five relaxed their stances but narrowed their eyes as they saw passed Julie and to the 'former' Team Rocket. From what they could see, Jessie had cut her hair and was wearing simple, fashionable clothes that they could have sworn were for women in pregnancy.

It was then that they noticed that James had stood rather protectively in front of her. His hair was long and in a low ponytail, along with a rather simple black shirt and a pair of jeans that oddly seemed to make him look as if he belonged in a magazine.

They finally turned to the last member of the trio.

The Scratch Cat Pokémon still had its long claws out ready for action, however they noticed that for the first time ever, he was wearing a gray had that covered its ears and a simple set of clothes that they knew for a fact came from Dawn's time as a Poké Stylist.

'What...is...happening?' They all thought at the same time.

I swear, I thought I had already published this o.o

Please review.

~Karie