Michio and Surge took their spots on the competitors' platforms. Because his regular was off duty, Surge asked for an official.
"Logan, how about you be the judge?" Lily suggested.
"You know how to officiate a gym battle?" Lucy asked her son.
"I never did before, but I wanted to try," he responded. "Lily, are you sure you don't wanna do it?"
Lily sighed. "Just go for it."
The Purrloin nodded and turned to Surge. "I can be the judge."
"Come on up," he replied.
Logan eagerly jumped into the judge's seat. Both Maya and Lily smiled at him without his noticing.
"Ready?" Surge asked.
"Sure," Michio shrugged.
"Michio thinks so important, doesn't he?" Jessie muttered. "I hope he fails."
"You weren't this bitchy a few seconds ago," Annastasia remarked. "I already told you he's good. You don't believe me?"
"She just doesn't want Scarlett to be stronger than Ash's Pikachu, because that would mean that she wasted all that time chasing Ash's when there was another one out there that was better," said Lucy.
"Come to think of it that time is still wasted no matter what happens now," said James.
"Yeah," Meowth added sadly
"Pup pup pup!" Lil-G yapped, pointing at Jessie and then to Annastasia. "Pup!"
"Quiet yous! Weeze already know about dat," Meowth told the Lillipup.
"What do you know?" Annastasia asked Lucy and Meowth suspiciously.
"Stop, Lil-G. Who do you think fed and played with you while Annastasia was still in diapers?" Jessie said to the puppy Pokémon, who replied by sniffing her again and whining.
"Dat'd be James," said Meowth. "Its nothin, Lil-G, don't worry. Now shut yere trap sos dat weeze can pay attention ta dat Pikachu."
"Why are you freaking out, Lil-G?" Annastasia as she patted her head. "Are you afraid of getting shocked? That won't happen because we're on rubber bleachers."
"Lilli lup, Lillipup!"
"She says dat she doesn't want Jessie to get hurt because—"
Meowth was interrupted by Lucy, who covered his mouth with a paw. "She just doesn't want your parents to get shocked because…they already spent so many times getting shocked by Pikachu in the past, and she thinks that this Pikachu is just as strong. So, unlike those other competitors, she thinks Scarlett is going to really, um, give them a shock."
"She'll shock them figurately but not literally," said Annastasia. "Ah, another pun…"
Lil-G growled, annoyed that Lucy translated her wrong.
"Don't worry, Lil-G, any electric attacks that come this way will be deflected. Besides, my mother wouldn't do anything risky, right, Mom? At least not when it involved someone else."
Annastasia glared at her mother. Jessie glared back then turned away.
'Someone told her…Meowth probably…or she just figured it out. Urgh. I'm not in the mood to deal with this right now,' Jessie thought to herself.
"You okay?" James said as he waved a hand in front of her face.
Jessie grabbed his arm to make him stop. "Let's just focus on the battle."
Lil-G returned to Annastasia's lap from which she eyed Jessie while everyone else watched Scarlett fight Surge's Magnezone.
"Five minutes and almost a dozen moves in and Scarlett still hasn't taken any attacks," said James. "She's avoided every single one."
"Speed's her best stat," said Annastasia.
"Scarlett, combination 6," Michio instructed.
She flew towards the Magnezone, Quick Attack her intention. Immediately after landing that critical hit, she smacked it with Iron Tail. Then she dug underground.
"No way!" Meowth protested. "She can use Dig!?"
"Yep," said Soledad. "I was equally surprised. Wait to you see her Thunderbolt."
Scarlett shot out from the ground, hitting Magnezone with rocks, soil, and her own body. Before Magnezone could rise, she defeated it with Thunderbolt.
"Whoaaaa," said Logan. "Magnezone is unable to battle! Round One goes to Challengers Michio and Scarlett!"
"Yay, Scarlett!" Jocelyn cheered with her little red pom-poms. "That was amazing! You're so fast! Yay, Oniisan!"
"Flaaaa feeee!"
"I never saw a Pikachu so fast. You rock, Scarlett and Michio!" Tamaki hooted.
"Wow. I gotta get Pip to that level," said Amber.
"Pichu pi!" Pip cheered.
Everyone else clapped and cheered, even the Morgans.
"Dat was intense," Meowth gulped. "She's stronger den de twerp's Pikachu."
"We can't' know that for sure," said Jessie.
"But she sure is something special," said James. He looked to Annastasia. "You think he and Scarlett really make a good team?"
"I say they're perfect for one another," she replied.
"I choose Ampharos!" Surge announced.
"Combination 12!" Michio commanded.
Scarlett sped towards her opponent, used what appeared to be Double Team, then disappeared underground.
"Scarlett must know a lot of those combinations," said June. "I wonder if it is hard for her to remember all of them."
"She seems confident up there. She and Michio probably went over it daily," said Lexi. "Or nightly, rather, since I never saw him train during the day."
After taking damage from the Dig attack, Ampharos tried to hit Scarlett with both Stomp and Thunder Punch but was unsuccessful. Scarlett scurried underground again, and the moment she arose, she landed a sneaky Fury Swipe attack on her unsuspecting opponent.
"No way!" said Meowth. "Dat Pikachu's doin Fury Swipes! Not even de twerp's Pikachu did dat!"
"And thus far she's used eight moveslots," said James. "There's no denying that's impressive."
"Wow, look at that," June sighed. "Scarlett's amazing."
"She's a legend."
"One of the most impressive Pokémon I've ever seen."
"I want a Scarlett on my team."
"You said you didn't like battling."
"Well, it can sometimes be fun."
"She's on fire!" Jocelyn screamed. "Go electric-types!"
"Flaaaaa!"
Scarlett's attacks were not only successful but artful. The way she flowed through each move made it look like she was putting on a dance. The others watched with envy.
"I know. I don't think I ever saw a Pokémon look that focused before," said Nolan.
"I certainly haven't," said Lexi.
"She's beautiful," Jay sighed.
"She moves like a flying-type," said Amber.
"Or a fairy-type."
"Now finish this," Michio told Scarlett.
Scarlett leaped at Ampharos one more time, feinting a Headbutt but used Thunderbolt instead. Ampharos was declared unable to battle.
"This round goes to Scarlett and Michio!" Logan announced. "Again."
"Good work. I haven't seen an opponent this powerful in years," said Surge. "Next I choose Mareep."
Michio scoffed. He wasn't' sure what a Mareep was but he knew immediately that it wasn't even a full-grown Pokémon.
"That's the pre-evolved form of Flaafy!" Jocelyn gasped.
"Flaaaaa!"
"I wonder why Surge went from using Flaafy' fully evolved form to using its pre-evolved form," said June. "Soledad, do you know?"
"Maybe it's got something Ampharos doesn't," said Takeshi.
"I agree," said Soledad. "Nothing else makes sense."
"Scarlett, use combination 11," Michio instructed.
Scarlett used Feint, which Mareep avoided. Scarlett attempted to use Thunderbolt but the attack had zero effect on Mareep.
"Mareep's ability must be Lightning Rod," Soledad gasped. "Hitting it with electric attacks makes it stronger."
"I hope Michio realizes this," said Takeshi. "If not Scarlett's gonna go from impressive to impressed and not in a good way."
"Assist!" Surge instructed.
"Finish up that combo!" Michio commanded.
Scarlett used Barrier, Toxic, and Double Team with nearly a second between each move. After Mareep's Assist move turned out to be Light Screen, Scarlett countered it with Quick Attack.
"Scarlett knows so many moves and moves so quickly and I'm never gonna be nearly that amazing," said June.
"I think with practice you will," said Takeshi. "Michio's a lot older than us."
"But I've never seen a Pikachu like that before. I wonder how he trains her…"
Mareep was poisoned, confused, and exhausted. Its attacks hit the floor, walls, and even itself while trying to get Scarlett. Scarlett was burned from the fire of an Assist move but was otherwise well to fight.
"Go Michio! You can do it!" Jocelyn cheered.
"Flaafy Flaaa!"
"Come on, Scarlett!"
"You're the fastest Pokémon in the world!"
"You're amazing!"
"The dude still has two Pokémon," Tamaki noted.
"Yeah, even if Scarlett doesn't make it, he still has others he can use—he's definitely getting this badge," said Takeshi.
"Are you allowed to only use one Pokémon the entire time?" Benny asked.
"Absolutely," Soledad replied. "But it's unlikely."
"Unless you're Michio," June sighed.
"It's not over yet."
Scarlett's Iron Tail combined with Mareep's Assist move Volt Tackle. Scarlett came out on top.
"Scarlett did it!" Logan exclaimed. "Victory goes to Challenger Michio of Alola and his Pikachu Scarlett!"
"No fair!" Jessie, James, and Meowth cried in unison. They got up from the bleachers to head over to the trainer platform.
"You," Jessie said accusingly, pointing at the Pikachu. "What drugs are you taking?"
"Pika, Pikachu pi pi!"
"She says dat she only takes allergy medicine," Meowth translated. "Weeze better take a look at dat bottle!"
"Scarlett's not on drugs," Annastasia told her parents. "I told you: Michio's a good trainer and Scarlett has incredible power. It shouldn't be a surprise that they won."
"But Surge's Pokémon's levels are supposed to be catered to the opponent," said James. "What's Scarlett's level?"
"Fifty-five," Michio replied.
Half the kids gasped. Their starters were all still under level thirty-five.
"My Mareep's at seventy-eight," said Surge. "Magnezone and Ampharos are both sixty-two."
"And Scarlett still won," Soledad said as she reached for her phone. "I'm documenting this."
Surge awarded Michio the Thunder Badge.
"I don't come across trainers like you often," said Surge. "When that Pikachu reaches level one-hundred, come back for a rematch. I'd like to see how it does against my Level 100 Mega Ampharos and Electivire."
"Maybe I will," Michio retorted.
"We should ask Professor Oak where he orders his Pikachu," said Jessie. "Because I don't see how the world's two most powerful electric rats could have possibly come from the same lab by coincidence."
"Pichu, Pichu pi!"
"Don't forget about Pip," said Amber. "He is really strong too—and he's from Professor Oak."
"Interesting…" said Jessie.
"Anyway, do you all want to take a break?" Annastasia asked her friends. "I'm sure Surge needs one, and I need to take some time to catch up with my family."
"This sounds like a good time for lunch," Lexi replied.
"Yessss," said Amber. "I'm starving!"
"Ditto," said Jay.
Jessie, James, Meowth, Lucy, Lily, Logan, Jocelyn, Benny, Tamaki, Rita, Annastasia, Michio, Jay, Amber, Soledad, June, Takeshi, Lexi, Nolan, and all of their Pokémon convened at the picnic tables in the gym's back yard.
As they ate, everyone talked about their adventures, except for Annastasia, who was trying to have a quiet conversation with her parents.
"It must be strange not having Alex around after watching him for so long," she remarked.
"Two days and we already miss him," James sighed. "But we've been very busy getting the house settled and such."
"We are really sorry about your grandparents," said June, who was sitting behind him. "Annastasia and Jay told us that they were really special to you."
"They were. This is certainly a big turning point in my life."
"Annastasia probably already told you this, but we don't expect you all to come to the funeral," said Lucy. "It's one-hundred percent up to you."
"I'd like to go," said June. "She was the first person to show me how to nurse a Pokémon. She helped me to discover my dream. I'm sad she won't get to see me grow up to become a real nurse. But I want to go to the funeral because I would wrong inside if I didn't."
The rest of the group was now paying attention to them.
"They taught me a lot about the different types of Pokémon and made me realize that fire and rock-types are my favorites," said Takeshi.
"I remember that time they came into our kindergarten class to teach us about healing Pokémon," said Soledad. "That's one of my favorite childhood memories."
Soledad put her arm around Jay. Amber mimicked this.
"We'll all go," said Soledad.
"Us too," Lexi said as she looked to Nolan.
"And me," said Rita. "Duh."
"Oniisan, are you coming?" Jocelyn asked Michio.
"Well, yeah, of course," he responded.
Everyone except for a few people in the know seemed a bit shocked by his response.
"Seriously?" said Jessie.
"Why?" Soledad asked. "Don't you hate being around strangers?"
"And having to talk to people?"
"And being sympathetic?"
"You guys are harsh," Tamaki told his friends. "Sure, the dude's shy, but geeze…"
"So, what if I go? If you don't want me to I won't," said Michio.
"No, no," said Jessie. "You're invited. Just don't be an asshole."
"I'll hold my breath."
Everyone talked about different things while they continued to eat their food. Michio left for a walk. Scarlett stayed behind for once, opting to sleep on Bleu instead so that she could rest after her rough battle. Annastasia followed him, and no one noticed but Lil-G, who trotted behind her as usual.
Michio stopped when he got to a cherry blossom tree. The flowers were gone, as it was far past the blooming season, but the red bark still distinguished it from other varieties of oak, maple, and birch that existed in these parts. He slumped down next to it and closed his eyes.
"This is familiar," Annastasia said as she joined him on the ground.
Michio opened his eyes to gaze back at her.
"How?" he asked.
"The first time we talked we were in a similar situation. You were talking to my family and friends and then they said something that set you off so you left and found a cherry blossom tree to sulk under. And I followed you,"
"This isn't a cherry blossom tree because it doesn't have flowers on it."
"It's still is, and it's beautiful, even without the ornaments, wouldn't you agree?"
"I suppose."
"Besides, it doesn't have any flowers on it because cherry blossoms only bloom in early April, then after a few weeks, the flowers die off. I can tell it's a cherry blossom tree by the bark."
"Fascinating…"
"Why're you grumpy all of a sudden?"
"The usual angst."
"Maybe you should get a Togepi."
'She's always so random,' he thought to himself.
"Why?" he asked.
"They supposedly bring good luck and happiness to people who treat it kindly," she responded. "That is probably why they are so rare. Jay was really lucky for getting one. But since you are supposedly a keeper of rare and expensive Pokémon, maybe you'll get one."
"Maybe."
"I appreciate that you are coming to the funeral. It means a lot to me."
Annastasia placed a hand against the side of the tree to help stabilize her as she stood up. The moment her palm touched the bark, several cherry blossoms sprouted from the tips of the branches.
"Am I hallucinating, or did you see that too?" said Michio.
"I don't understand," she said as she reached for a flower. "This is definitely real."
A mysterious Pokémon came up from behind them. Michio and Annastasia turned to meet him.
"It's the power of aura," said Lucario. "When your touch promotes healing, it's because your aura is particularly strong."
"This is the third time this week you've popped up out of nowhere," said Michio. "Are you always watching?"
"Not watching—keeping track."
"My aura gave this tree another burst of life. That's why I after I touched it, I got this draining sensation," said Annastasia.
"Your aura was transferred."
"What do you mean?" Michio asked.
"After I touched the tree, I got really tired all of a sudden. It's the same way I feel after each vision," Annastasia explained. "I must've transferred by energy, my aura, to this tree accidentally."
"Yes," said Lucario. "But the reason I'm here is because we have items to discuss."
"I will be going now…." Michio said as he started to walk away.
"I can tell you want to stay. I can read aura, which means I can see your true feelings."
"I don't like that."
Michio leaned back against the tree and pouted. He hated Lucario and the Pokémon knew it.
"What do you want to tell me?" Annastasia queried.
"You said that you feel drained of energy after each vision you have. That's because the visions are the fusions' way of taking your aura," Lucario replied. "All fusions have psychic abilities, so they don't even need to be physically near you to accomplish this. They can do it from afar, and as long as they have Night Stones in their possession, they will be able to create more fusions. They have been creating more and more, which is why would have been getting even more of your aura drained and the visions have been getting more frequent and intense."
"So, the fusions are creating more fusions," Michio inferred. "And they're stealing Annastasia's aura in order to do it. Great."
"As long as the fusions have dark, ghost, or psychic abilities and the Night Stone, they can make use of the Night Stone and fuse other Pokémon. If they can do that, then they can drain aura and become more powerful as well."
"Just my aura?" Annastasia inquired.
"Yours is thousands of times more powerful than most others despite your lack of training."
"What makes her aura so special?" Michio asked.
"It's a random selection. Other aura guardians throughout the ages do not seem to have anything in common, though we do know that when the fusions attacked Annastasia's mother prior to her birth, they accidentally transferred their power. That power mixed with her natural aura and multiplied. As an adult, both her aura and the fusion's aura became very strong inside of her, and it started to take over her mind and body, which is why she has the visions. The only way to overcome it is to find a way to calm and control both auras inside of her. If she does that, and she will be able to end this."
"Which is why my father says calming the fusions will make my visions go away, why fighting them is no use, and why I might be the one to who needs to confront the monster fusion," said Annastasia. "I finally get it. Lucario, did you know this the whole time?"
"No; It all came together when you touched that tree."
"You lost me," said Michio. "I was actually following up until then."
"That proved that your natural aura still exists within you. You still have that power, which means you can stop the fusions. With a little practice, you can bring peace to them all. Now it is even more important that you come with me."
"I don't get how she's going to do this. She shows up to that monster fusion's den, has a pleasant conversation with it, shakes its hand and then everyone is peaceful?"
"Annastasia would first have to practice using her aura. She has very little control over it now. Then we would have to go to the Tree of Beginning. Mewtwo and those two Mew can bring her there, which is why we need them to be part of this. Without them, the Tree would see us as intruders and try to dispose of us. Once we get to the heart of the tree, she will face the monster fusion."
"Last I heard, the monster fusion was in Obsidia," said Annastasia. "That's about fifty miles north of the Tree. It was attracted to the Night Stones native there."
"It was, but now it's dwelling in the heart of the Tree of Beginning. You will need to train properly or else die trying to figure out how to connect with it. If you are not prepared, the monster fusion will just take over your aura completely, and you will have nothing left."
"And the only reason it wants my aura is because it thinks I'm strong?"
"You are strong," said Michio. "Everyone who knows you know."
Lucario continued as if Michio hadn't spoken.
"One of the main reasons you are so strong is because it accidentally transferred part of its aura over to you, back when it was a weapon and not a Pokémon," Lucario responded.
"Because in essence, the monster fusion is the living version of an assault weapon. Specifically, one that I have encountered before," Annastasia concluded.
"Yes. And since there is no way of luring it out of the Tree of Beginning, we must confront it there."
Michio groaned, still annoyed that he was largely being ignored in this conversation. "Why would this thing choose to go inside a fucking Tree?"
"You two sure have a lot of questions," Lucario noted.
"This is a lot to handle."
"I suppose. Where were we?"
"The fucking Tree of Beginning."
"The Tree of Beginning is where the monster fusion and its army are residing. Team Rocket cannot invade the Tree because anything that is not a Pokémon will be attacked by the Tree itself since it is will be seen as an intruder. Mewtwo can create a small shield to protect humans from the antibodies, but most other Pokémon attacks will not have an effect unless it is an aura-based attack that only a Lucario, Mew, Mewtwo, or Ditto can use. Annastasia will enter the Tree and use her aura to communicate with the monster fusion while we protect her from the antibodies and try to prevent the Tree from becoming infected and dying. One of our main priorities will be making sure the Tree doesn't die. Annastasia's main priority will be safely communication with the monster fusion through aura. We know from the fusions in custody that if she can project her aura onto this Pokémon, then it will be obedient to her."
"She can manipulate it."
"I don't know if that is the best word to use, but that is part of the concept, I suppose."
Michio turned to Annastasia, who was nodding along, trying to process everything Lucario was telling her.
"You're seriously doing this? Alone?" he asked.
"After training, I'll be prepared," she said confidently. "And I won't be alone."
"You will have me to help you," said Lucario.
"Did you tell all this to my parents yet?"
"No. I thought you should be the first to know. It will be challenging to convince them that this is necessary."
"I know."
"That is all I can tell you for now. Do you have more questions?"
"Not yet."
"Annastasia, what the fuck did you just sign up for?" Michio asked.
"I know it's ridiculous, but I don't have a choice."
Her Pokémon moaned with anxiety, clearly agreeing that this was likely too tall an order.
"You always have a choice," said Michio. "It's like you said: you can always run away."
"I never said that."
"The first night of our journey, you said that there is always a choice, and sometimes life just gives you shitty, unfair choices and you have to pick the least shitty one."
"Admittedly that sounded better when you were the one in the shitty situation and I was in control."
"You're still in control, you still have the power to make my life a living hell, in more ways than you even know right now. But if you stick this through it might not be so bad. I didn't run and I don't regret anything because it's all led back to us."
"I will leave you alone," Lucario coughed. "Annastasia, I will come for you the day after your great grandparents' funeral. I will communicate everything I told you of importance to your parents, so don't worry about explaining everything to them. I know you will do the right thing and not run away."
"Thanks," Annastasia sighed.
"Farewell."
Lucario left, passing Rita and Zorua on his way. They made their way towards Annastasia, Michio, Scarlett, Bleu, and Lil-G, who were stuck in place, still processing that turbulent conversation.
"I was wondering what you two were up to, thought maybe you were sneaking away for another secret date," said Rita. "Lucario must have been discussing something important. Were you talking to him this whole time?"
"Zo zo."
"Um, secret date?" Michio questioned.
"There was no secret date; Michio and I were speaking with Lucario since last we saw you," said Annastasia. "I will tell you about it later. I have a headache now."
Rita noted the cherry blossom tree. Her Zorua barked a few times at the few flowers that occupied the tips of the branches.
"How strange," said Rita. "Talk about a late bloomer! It's nearly the third week of July and there are still cherry blossoms on this tree! I never saw such a thing."
"It's incredible," Annastasia said as she gazed at the flowers.
Rita tossed a blossom to Annastasia. She caught it and looked back at her friend, who was now looking at her and Michio.
"I know they are your absolute favorite. You picked a good place to talk," said Rita. "Come on, Zorua."
"Zoooo zo," the Pokémon responded, following Rita back to the picnic area.
"Do you want to go back?" Annastasia asked.
Michio lied back down on the grass underneath the tree. "Nah. It's comfortable here."
Annastasia lied beside him. Lil-G, who was had also laid down, got up and crawled onto her stomach. Bleu let them use his fluff as a pillow.
"Piii, Pikachu," Scarlett told Michio.
"Fine," he replied.
"Chu."
Scarlett climbed onto Michio's stomach and lay down. He scratched behind her ears.
"So, you speak Pikachu," Annastasia commented after a few minutes. "And you love her now more than ever."
"She's not half bad," Michio responded. "And I understand her now."
"Weird—that's precisely how I feel about you."
"Pikapi," Scarlett chirped, nodding towards Annastasia.
"Does this aura thing make you able to understand Pokémon?" Michio asked. "Literally?"
"Maybe," she yawned. "But it's like Lucario said: I still have a lot to learn about aura."
"Lili," Lil-G sighed as she licked Annastasia's hand.
"Tarrrrrr," said Bleu.
"I wouldn't go after a monster fusion without you two," Annastasia assured them. "Michio, remember when I was having a vision and Scarlett zapped me out of it?"
'Impossible to forget,' Michio thought to himself.
"Yes," he replied.
"At first I thought it was the electricity that did it. But that couldn't have been it, because I told that to my papa and he said that he tried that one time already with his Raichu. He had his Raichu gently shock me and it did nothing. Later I realized it was because Scarlett and I have the same aura. Even right now I can tell. Hers is just not as powerful as mine because it was never corrupted by the fusions. While I have two auras inside of me multiplying, she only has her natural aura, and hers is the same as mine originally was supposed to be. When she bolted me that one time, she transferred some of her energy over to me. It gave me the power to overcome the vision."
"Does Lucario know this?"
"Of course. He is the one who helped me to see it."
"He didn't say anything."
"He wanted me to come to that conclusion on my own; that's how he is. He wants his mentees to do the legwork."
"So, both of you have to face this monster fusion…Scarlett has to be involved too."
"That would be up to her. The point is communication, so it can experience peace, and that peace can be transferred to all the other fusions. Scarlett can help by transferring some of her energy to me like she did that one time before, but it isn't required. She might not want to put herself in danger like that."
"Pi Pikachu pika," said Scarlett.
"She seems to want to be involved," Michio observed.
"We don't have to worry about this yet, we still have other things to take care of," Annastasia told the Pikachu.
"Chuuuu," she replied softly.
"Anna-chan!" a voice called from a distance. "And grumpy Alolan guy!"
"Is your dad going to keep calling me that?" Michio groaned.
"Perhaps," she replied.
"We're going for ice cream!" Jocelyn exclaimed.
"Flaafy Flaaaa!"
"Move it!" Lily demanded as she and the others entered their view. "Or none for you!"
"You go with your family and friends, I'm staying here," Michio murmured to Annastasia.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Pikachupika?"
"I want to spend some time alone," he said dismally, fingering one of the cherry blossoms.
"Do you want us to get you anything?"
"Nope."
He turned over onto his side. She stood but kept her eyes on him.
"I'll see you later," Annastasia said as Scarlett leaped onto her shoulder and chanted into her ear. "Scarlett wants to come with me."
"Okay," he half-heartedly responded.
"Where's Michio?" Soledad asked as Annastasia joined the group.
"Napping," she answered.
"You tired him out?" Jessie asked incredulously. "I'm proud."
"He said to go on without him."
"Hmmm. What does he want?"
"Just time."
XO
IN THE NEXT CHAPTER:
· Some sweetness for you all to Take-n (it's a pun lol, inspired by the god-awful pun that was left in reviews) *jk*
· Another evolution
· James meets Maya