Well, it took me forever but I got this episode done. Just.

Episode 137: Weird Reward

"What was that all about?" I asked, getting a chuckle from the ghost.

"You'll have to find that out yourself. I'm not supposed to reveal the future to you."

"But it is happening right now."

"My memory serves that you find out what it was sometime later, I can't quite recall how much later or I would tell you. Give you something to look forward to."

"Yeesh, you haven't changed. Even though you are dead," I sighed.

"Well, you can't let something as small as being dead get in the way of your fun. If you died and went to the afterlife, wouldn't you keep on fighting? And being chased by every homicidal female around."

I felt myself blushing again; I don't know why that kept happening to me. But it was embarrassing, which only seemed to make it worse.

"Yeah, I saw that little moment you and Scarlet had too. Just imagine her reaction if someone told her," the Mew laughed.

"I hate you," I muttered in reply.

"You do realise that I can read your mind, right?" Ghost Mew laughed, "So I can tell that you are lying. You enjoyed it, just admit it."

"I did not!"

"You are a bad liar; it is as plain as the blush on your face."

"Fine, maybe I did. A little."

"Better."

I suddenly remembered the others; Scyther always woke up at the crack of dawn so he would have noticed my absence.

"Oh shit, what am I going to tell them?" I burst out, getting another chuckle from the ghost Mew, "stop laughing. This is serious!"

"Well, you obviously can't tell them that you were dragged into the void between times and saw them all get shot. Then had to kill yourself, before finally having a moment alone with Scarlet untill Mew and a dead Mew bailed you out and got into a scrap with a time travelling fairy."

"I knew that," I sighed, "but they are going to want a proper explanation."

"And you suck at lying, right?"

"Yeah. I can't just beat my way out of this one."

"Well, let me handle it. Close your eyes."

I was confused but did as the ghost said. I felt like a prat standing there with my eyes closed and nothing happened for several seconds. Eventually I got bored of standing like that and opened my eyes, gawping when I found myself back outside.

"Teleport, real handy," ghost Mew laughed as he appeared beside me.

"So why did you make me close my eyes?"

"Because I wanted the dramatic effect. And so I could prepare a little thank you present for waking me up in that Rocket base."

"And this present would be?"

"look at your paws."

I glanced down, at first not believing what I was seeing. I checked the rest of my arms and legs, but it was true.

"You turned me blue?"

"Navy blue, if you want to be precise. And yeah, you never liked being orange. So I turned you blue. Plus, it gives you an excuse for your absense."

"What kind of excuse explains the fact that I am fucking blue?" I yelled.

"Well, you spent all night getting it dyed."

Then the ghost vanished and I heard someone yelling my name.

"Oh shit," I muttered before dashing for the outskirts of the town, hoping that no one would spot me.

It didn't work, just as I reached the tree line I heard someone say 'what the hell?' and give chase.

"Fuck!" I yelled, breaking into a full sprint and shooting through the undergrowth like my whole life depended upon it. Well, technically, it was. I could hear people laughing in my head already; it was enough to send me into a blind panic. Then I realised that I was being completely unlike myself.

"What the hell am I doing?" I muttered, skidding to a halt, "anyone who laughs at my colour can get a fireball to the face. I might look a little different, but I'm still me."

"Flame? Is that you?" Came the call, which brought the fear back.

"Of all the people to spot me, it had to be Pika," I cursed, turning to flee.

"Come on, I can see your tail flame flickering," she called.

'Shit, cornered. Nice going tail, another fine mess you have gotten me into,' I mentally swore, 'if I get out of this intact, I am finding that ghost. And killing it. Repeatedly.'

I turned towards her voice, just in time to see her come around from behind a tree. I managed to fake a smile but, when she spotted me, she fainted on the spot.

"Hello to you too," I grumbled as I headed over and picked up the Pikachu, before heading in the direction of the Center, "next time, can you please faint at the sight of me a little earlier? You are bloody heavy."

I somehow managed to navigate my way through the trees and back into the town. Finding the rest of the gang in the center of the town, looking around. Scyther, naturally, was the first to spot me approach. Even he couldn't hide the shock of my sudden colour change, although he recovered fast and hid behind his usual blank expression. Squirt, true to form, burst out laughing and had to dive clear of a fireball (which was, luckily, still its normal colour)

"What the fuck happened to you?" Fervo asked, managing to keep a strait face.

"Well, I couldn't sleep and went for a walk," I lied, using the first thing that popped into my head; "I crashed out and woke up a while ago, like this."

"That must have been why there was an explosion," Scout suggested, "I know I'd be a little angry at changing colour during the night."

"I think he looks cool," Blacky added, which was a relief. He was too innocent to lie, so I actually listened.

"Thanks Blacky," I smiled, "now, can someone take this Pikachu off of me? She's heavier than she looks."

As Squirt took Pika off of me, I flopped down to the floor and caught my breath. I was tired; it had been a long night. Longer than any of the others realised, one that had spanned several years at least. At least everyone was too busy talking about my new scale colour to notice my exhaustion. Well, everyone except Scyther. Nothing got past that ninja.

"How long was Flame asleep for?" He asked, looking suspicious.

"Not long, I'd been exploring most of the night," I lied again. I only hoped that it worked.

Scyther glanced down at me, before nodding.

"Maybe Flame should get some rest," he suggested, "it must have been quite a night for you to be so calm about the dyed scales."

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," I replied before closing my eyes right there and falling asleep instantly.