[X] My Assistant

[Living Arrow]

"Dodge it, Victor!" Darryn urged wholeheartedly. His Squirtle tensed up and started to move but the reaction time simply wasn't good enough.

Hidalgo's hooves rained down on Victor, slamming him straight into the ground where he became half buried in the grass and mud. The Girafarig jumped back and galloped in a wide circle before charging in for another attack. Darryn watched helplessly as his own Pokemon struggled desperately to get up from the ground in time to defend against the manic quadruped.

"Victor! Use your Water Pulse with both hands! Straight down!" Darryn cried.

The Squirtle gulped with apprehension yet still managed to throw his arms wide, palms down, and blasted out two powerful waves of water. Instantly, he was thrown straight up into the air right above the startled Girafarig. Twisting midair, Victor plopped down on Hialgo's back and gripped hard onto the Long Neck's horns.

"Reeeeeeee!" Hidalgo whinnied loudly, bucking hard to try and loosen the water type from his back.

"Do it, Victor!" Darryn yelled, his Tiny Turtle taking the signal... drawing back his head.... and slamming it down with all the force he could muster. The sheer force of the Skull Bash buckled Hidalgo's knees and the Girafarig fell, Victor still riding shotgun.
Like a demented and very angry balloon, Hidalgo's tail turned around and bit down on Victor's tail. The Tiny Turtle yelped with surprise, still clinging to the horns on the front head. Both heads proceeded to simultaneously pull away from each other, stretching Victor between them.

"Squiiiir.... taaaaaal....." Victor moaned as Hidalgo fought back from both sides like the clamps on a rack.

"Rapid Spin!"

Victor's unexpected move made the Girafarig cry under the reponsive pressure and in a flash both Pokemon were separated.

"Ice Punch!"

Hidalgo barely had time to blink before Victor appeared at the front head, delivering an icy cold uppercut to the delicate Long Neck's jaw that left him unconscious and frozen on the battlefield.

[Master Houndoom]

Jaima watched, in silence. He sat cross-legged, with his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped, fingers intertwined. His chin rested on his knuckles, and, besides his breathing and the odd blink, he made no moves.

Mercury stood next to him, on her feet, arms behind her, crossed, as if she were simply watching a very interesting scene in a play. She, too, did not move, but at the same time, she did not need to move to interact as Jaima and other people and pokemon did. So it was more pertinent to note that her mind reached no farther than her trainer and those she had a reliable link to, namely Shadow and Cassandra.

She also watched the other battles going on, watched as Victor and Hidalgo (who, when she'd reached out to sense him, was actually very very cute), gave their all in a pitched battle, and as Desertdancer, usually very passive, showed off the toughness and strength he always kept hidden.

Odysseus looked absolutely ashamed, as if he himself had done something to frighten Tuesday. Keeping mentally still, Mercury could still see it, in his expression, in his body language... it was a great lesson, one that she had learned before when, in Arasam, her emotional state had briefly blocked her powers, to learn to read the visible and audible signs of distress as well as the psychic signs.

Shadow, similarly, could see Odysseus' aura, and was showing Mercury a representation of what he could sense.

But Zorro had neither of these talents, only instinct and a bond with his trainer that was impressively powerful, and as the trio watched, Tuesday's fear ebbed, and though she was still disoriented, she allowed the water type to approach, and touched him, and finally pulled him into a hug. Zorro sagged in relief, and after a while, Tuesday looked up, looking shocked and self-conscious, still hugging Odysseus to her chest. She stood, loosening her grip slightly, allowing the buizel to turn in her arms, though he still hung there, his forelimbs hanging limply over Tuesday's arms, the rest of his body hanging below. He looked bemused, but relaxed.

"Um," Tuesday said, swallowing, then licking her lips.

Jaima smiled, standing. "You start," he said, winking, not trying to pretend that what had happened hadn't happened, but also not making a big deal about it.

Tuesday set Odysseus down, distracting herself by gingerly checking his tail, then stood, straight, and pointed at Tsunami. "Aqua Jet," she said, a tremble in her otherwise firm voice.

"Bide," Jaima gave his command as softly as he could, trusting that Tsunami had heard, who, by raising herself to her hind legs, indicated she had indeed.

The battle was back on.

* * * * *

Meiko chewed her lip. Something was happening over by Jaima, but she couldn't afford to look over. Desertdancer was doing well, but Dapit had managed to free himself of the sand tomb and Meiko was running out of tactics.

But even so, she was thrilled. She hadn't lost her skill. She had, yes, perhaps lost the edge to battling she'd honed in years of gym challenges and training in the wilds of Johto, but the skill itself was still there.

But now was not the time. Dapit had hit Desertdancer with Confusion, and it had done it's job right off. Desertdancer was stumbling around, blinking rapidly. He had yet to try an attack, but it was only a matter of time.

"Desertdancer, left!"

The sandshrew shook his head rapidly, then stumbled into a dodge. It was, contrary to the command, a dodge to the right, but it got the job done. However, he was out of position for a scratch attack. "Sand Attack him!"

<<Which one, dear?!>> he gasped, watching as the three umbreon's swimming in his vision rushed into him and slammed into him.

"Dig!"

Despite his confusion, Desertdancer had been raised in the desert, where, often, the only way to get away from a sandstorm was to dig into the ground. He leapt up, then dove into the ground, digging into it.

As he rose, hoping that he was, indeed, pointed toward the surface, he rose, his claws swiping to hit the umbreon from behind. But the umbreon wasn't there.

A cough sounded behind him, and as Desertdancer spun, Dapit charged behind him with a Sucker Punch that sent Desertdancer crashing backwards and into a wave of darkness.

Meiko gasped, and had to control her urge to run to him. She did drop to her knees when she reached him, stroking the top of his head.

"You did such a great job," she whispered, lifting him into her arms. "I'm so proud of you..!"

Meiko smiled up at Brone, a little sad, but ultimately having good feelings for the match. "Thank you for the battle."

[Umbrae Calamitas]

Odysseus glanced back at Tuesday with a wary eye. Had she really just asked him to do an aqua jet attack? When it caused her that amount of fear?

He considered denying her that, to save her the reaction she had just suffered, and him the guilt that he wasn't yet over. Zorro didn't agree.

"Captain," he said, giving an urging nod of his head, "go. Por favor?"

"Ye saw wha' i' did t' the lass," Odysseus nodded toward Tuesday, his voice harsh in response. "Yer askin' me t' force tha' on'er 'gain?"

"No." Zorro shook his head. "Mi hermana ask you, because she think she can take it. Mi hermana can."

Odysseus looked doubtful, almost fearful, but he glanced toward Tuesday to see her reaction. She was pale and her eyes were wide, but her jaw was clenched in a determined look and her hands were fisted at her sides, as though waiting for an attack. She was ready for this, he saw, and waiting for it to happen. Testing herself, like they all had to do at some point in time. Face their fears.

He sighed, reluctant, but understanding. "Fine, lass," he growled quietly to himself, tensing his muscles as he crouched low to the ground. "Bu' I won't be pullin' i' 'gain if'n ye reac' like ye jus' did."

Standing beside Tuesday, Zorro wearily glanced up at her face, his own mimicking her determination in a battle against exhaustion - one that he was trying desperately to hide from everyone, including himself. Failing in the latter, mind.

Gritting his teeth together, Zorro nodded sharply. "She won't," he said assuredly, as the buizel surrounded himself in water, and then exploded forward toward the marshtomp, leaving a crashing wave behind.

~*~

The battles, surprisingly, ended at about the same time. Hidalgo was left unconscious on the ground, but Brone gently probed the girafarig's mind. Within it, he could feel the roiling sense of excitement still lingering. There was a disappointed air, as well, but as he studied it closely, he found, to his pleasure and amusement, that it was not because he had lost, but because the battle - the game, as Hidalgo saw it - was over.

Dapit, on the other hand, was slowly relaxing now that his opponent was down. His black and golden fur had fluffed up during the battle, and he stood stiffly now as it began to relax and flatten itself back against his body. His eyes, glowing in the force of the fade, slowly returned to normal, and he shook his head roughly, glancing back at Brone.

"Tha' sheila's go' more fire in her blood than the ruddy lizard," he said sharply. He tried to look affronted when he heard Brone snort sharply in his head.

The boy in question had finally relaxed his hold on his cane and taken a step back to reorient himself. As he did so, however, the heel of his sneaker caught on a doubtlessly present rock in the middle of the field, and he tripped. Blinking in stupid surprise as he promptly found himself sitting on his bottom, with tall grass tickling his bare forearms, and he began to laugh.

He heard a distressed yip and managed to latch onto the consciousness of Dapit's mind and see himself from the umbreon's eyes as he continued to come closer and closer to the creature. He sighed. "I'm fine, Dapit. Do calm down."

Two of the pokeballs on his belt detached themselves with nary a thought and floated above his head. A red beam shot out at Hidalgo first, consuming the girafarig and returning him to the depths of the device, as Brone allowed a small link with the psychic equine's subconscious mind to assure him that a job had been well down. He felt a ripple of elation as he praise was recognized.

The second ball recalled an affronted Dapit, as Brone shushed him with a mental thought and assured him that he, too, had down a wonderful job. Though, he admitted, the umbreon could do with trying to have a little fun, rather than taking everything so seriously. It earned him the presence of a dark-skinned child on the psychic plane, who promptly stuck out his tongue, before slipping away.

Chuckling in amusement at his pokemon and his own clumsy predicament, Brone felt the presence of his first pokemon flash into existence behind him.

The kadabra teleported in abruptly behind Brone, reaching down with her long arms and hooking them under the boy's arms as she helped pull him gently to his feet. Brone stumbled for a moment, trying to catch his bearings in the darkness that was his whole existence. With a snort of amusement that replaced the embarrassment he otherwise would have been feeling, his held out his hand and telekinetically summoned his cane to him.

The white, red-tipped cane flew up from the ground and gently placed itself in Brone's hand, where he tightened his grip and placing the cane against the ground, found his equilibrium. With a soft sigh of relief that he didn't quite notice himself, he felt Cassandra remove her hands from his arms, but keep one gently against his back, as though comforting him, though he knew she remained in case he should fall again. They were all far to overprotective.

Brone smiled widely as he turned to Meiko and Darryn, his consciousness peering through Cassandra's eyes to ascertain that he wasn't speaking to a random space of air.

"Thank you both for the battle," Brone said sincerely. "It was a great deal of fun and I wouldn't say no to us possibly doing it again in the future." Cassandra glanced to the left for him, so that he could see that Tuesday's battle was ending. "Perhaps," he continued, as he began to walk carefully through the tall grass, using his cane for help, "we should go and see how the others have fared."

~*~

The battle did not so much rage as flow. The two water types danced back and forth on the waves of their own attacks - even those that did not consist of water. Odysseus' aqua jet, much to unanimous relief, did not cause Tuesday any great fear. The most that one could see when looking at her outwardly was a clenching of her jaw and a slight frown. But even that, then, was replaced by a slightly more relaxed expression a moment later, and the battle had continued undeterred.

Odysseus, despite his lesser evolutionary state, proved to be the more experienced of the two, at least for the moment. He continued to, after his worry for Tuesday was mostly quelled, compliment Tsunami on her attacks and to slightly suggest improvements which, much to both his pleasure and his detriment, were used on him moments later. Because of that, perhaps, the battle flowed on for longer than it may have, otherwise.

In the end, after Odysseus had flipped over a mud shot attack and landed behind the marshtomp, hitting her in the back with a water gun that sent her rolling through mud, Tuesday chose to call off the battle. Both pokemon were breathing heavily in exertion and looked tired, and she didn't want to faint either of them during a practice battle.

Also, though no one admitted it, she thought that she had probably had as much exposure to water attacks that she could take for the moment, but she had done at least that.

"Odysseus," she said softly, and the buizel, who was patting the marshtomp on the head and smiling at her encouragingly, leapt into a slide across the soaked and muddy ground that brought him to Tuesday's feet. He stood slowly before her to find she was smiling, and she hugged him again, despite the mud that coated his front.

"Thanks, Odysseus," she said, holding him tight. The buizel blushed a little at being hugged so tightly again, but he took it with pride and happiness. Both of them pulled away swiftly, though, and turned in surprise, when Zorro collapsed to the ground next to them.

"Zorro!" Tuesday cried.

The riolu whimpered softly, not in pain but at his own apparent weakness, and sagged in exhaustion finally, unwilling to stand up and try to pretend again. He yelped a little in surprise when Tuesday abruptly scooped him up in her arms and hugged him to her tightly, worried, of course, but finally, in a moment of peace, to realize that he was okay. After everything and her mind was back on the present, he was okay.

Zorro, so tired and yet so pleased by her happiness - even if it was a happiness that made her cry - didn't even argue when she told him that he was going straight to bed.

Bed, as it was, sounded perfectly fine.

[Living Arrow]

That evening, Team Rogue curled under blankets with mugs of hot cocoa in their hands while a fire crackled heartily in the gaping fireplace of DeBrody’s sitting room. Their eyes drooped wearily as they laughed and talked, recounting their adventures to the owner of the house and his nephew who watched on (well, metaphorically at least) with avid interest and more than a little disbelief.

Darryn smiled fondly as Brone remarked on how impressed he was with his little sister and saw, not for the first time, that Jaima wore the same expression. Clearly, a lot had happened between his friend and the young girl before they had reached him on Mount Carello and even more had taken place before then. It was shocking, actually, just what had transpired when they were given the opportunity to look back over it all – things that Darryn had never thought he would experience in a million years.

When the embers amid the grill began to fade, Darryn knew it was time to sleep. Tuesday had already dropped off and DeBrody was lifting her with utmost care and gentility to carry her to bed. Her faithful Pokemon, gathered about the rug she had been sitting on, followed in a sleepy stupour - even Ashleigh who seemed confused by his own lack of energy.

Brone used Tuesday’s exit as his own cue and bid the other three goodnight, Cassandra guiding him safely to the door.

Darryn stretched. “Well, I guess that’s me, too.” He yawned and blinked away the stars that appeared in his eyes. “’Night, guys.”

Jaima and Meiko offered their goodnights from under their shared blanket and Darryn made his way to his allotted room.

~

In the bedroom, Darryn didn’t have the energy to notice how beautiful the furnishings were or how plump and soft the bed was. Instead, he was judging how much space there was… how much room he would need… He had never done it before… But maybe he needed to…

“OK, everyone…” Darryn whispered, clicking his Pokeballs open one at a time. His partners all materialised in near quiet, somehow aware that it was late despite being in their Pokeballs since the sparring that afternoon. “We’re all sleeping out tonight.”

Lady’s ears twitched violently as Darryn’s Pokemon smiled and quietly arranged themselves close to him as he rolled under the duvet. Zulu and November pushed themselves up against the side of the bed – taking most of the floor space of the entire room between them. November’s flames dimmed slightly as she rested her head on Zulu’s thigh.
Bravo fluttered to the windowsill, perching facing into the room to keep watch over Darryn as Romeo, Lady and Victor piled onto the bed.

Darryn let himself drift as the greedy fingers of sleep grabbed at him from the dark, making himself as aware of his Pokemon companions as he felt possible. Their emotaglows bathed him with a light that he rarely saw in them but often saw in Jaima’s Pokemon – they were really happy. For the first time in a long time, Darryn smiled as dreams stole his thoughts from the waking world and he accepted sleep.

[Master Houndoom]

Meiko had laughed when Brone tripped, but offered to help him up. His Kadabra, Cassandra, made the motion a futile effort, but she sensed (hoped? been shown?) a level of gratitude from both of them. Her lips drew into a thin line. Psychics were not the nosy terrors she'd been told they were, but sometimes, they were a little smug and condescending.

That was all she needed, some smug seer looking into her brain.

And giving advice.

And giving advic-- HEY!

Meiko fought to keep her reaction from being physical, but since she had little experience speaking with psychics, she could not express her annoyance psychically, and so had to settle for a clenched fist and a huff of breath from her mouth.

Forgive the intrusion. I don't usually do this, but I have recently been dealing with a bit of a psychic problem, and, frankly, I need the rest. So please, let me help you, or at least cheer you up a bit.

Meiko huffed again. She already felt guilty for dumping her problems on Darryn, and was still unsure about how this resurfacing problem would affect her relationship with Jaima. She hadn't told him yet, and here she was, about to dump her problems on someone she hardly even knew.

See, it started like this, she began, clenching her jaw. She told the whole story, but tried not to make the act sound as horrible as she felt it was.

Brone was not fooled.

What happened to you was a horrible experience. While I can't help you deal with it more admirably than you have already, I have advice; Quite simply put, Jaima is not Toshiro. You should not fear that he will act the way Toshiro acts. And, have confidence in yourself. You know some warning signs now, if Jaima turns out to be like Toshiro, you have options, and you will see it coming.

I don't want to spend all this time wondering if Jaima's going to hurt me!

She felt more than heard the chuckle. Then, Meiko, you have more faith in him than you believe you do.

Meiko blinked, focusing on the battle, which was coming to a close, and thinking about these words. Her heart lifted. Thank you. And stop being so smug!

* * * * *

<<Ye've got to lead more if you expect to catch me, lassie!>> Odysseus chortled, dodging yet another mudslap from the marshtomp. Tsunami scowled. His trainer may have ordered a water attack or two, but hers had not. Instead, he left her, it seemed, to her own devices. She understood, however. He could better learn what she could do if he saw her doing it.

She sent a mudslap ahead of him, and managed to graze him. He laughed again, nodding. <<That's the way, lass, a little practice and ye'll be hittin' them faster'n me smartly! Now, aim amidships and ye'll get a better eye for it!>>

The battle continued this way, with Tsunami firing at the faster buizel, until she noticed he began to slow. His rear legs shook as he crouched, waiting for her next attack, but Tsunami shook her head.

Before the buizel could protest, Tuesday called for the match to end, and Jaima agreed. Tsunami walked back to Jaima, glancing at Odysseus. She smiled, and called back, <<Work on your stamina, my friend! I'd like to keep practicing with you!>>

* * * * *

After Darryn had gone to bed, and Tuesday had been carried to hers, Meiko had watched the fire, holding her half of the quilt tightly, leaning against him. Jaima felt tense, swallowing, and was about to head to his own bed when Meiko cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry, Jaima."

Jaima blinked down at her, but she was still watching the fire. "I haven't been fair to you. Not... um... not the night we arrived, and not now."

Jaima's heart sank. He could almost hear what was coming; Meiko would be leaving, to go home, or would, at least, tell him she just wanted to be friends.

Meiko's hand searched and found his, and pulled. He allowed her to take it, to lead it where she wanted, because a little contact with her hand was all he had hope to have. He found himself blinking again when she wrapped it around her waist, not quite looking at him. She was blushing, quite brightly.

"Someone in my past... um... really scared me. I'm still... I thought I was over it," she complained, then composed herself. "With the stress of the attack, I guess..."

"I pushed too much-" Jaima started, but Meiko's eyes on his silenced any further temporizing.

"You... I..." she sighed, her nostrils flaring, which Jaima had always found cute in her. "I don't think you did. And even if you did, you haven't tried anything since. I mean... we've been under this blanket for a while, and you jump whenever your hand accidentally brushes my knee!" It was true. He did, indeed, make every effort not to touch her more than he had to. "And I did that."

"No." It was Meiko's turn to stop short in her self depreciating speech. "I mean, I'm holding back because you said to take it slow, not... not because you... you know..." he trailed off weakly.

Meiko smiled, a small, sad smile. "Jaima, that's what I mean. You're proving yourself, in small ways, that... that you're not going to do what I was afraid you might do... so... so I don't want to worry about it anymore, and I don't want you to worry about it anymore... and I..." She stopped, looking into his eyes, and huffed, annoyed with the temporizing and the talking when actions would speak so much louder than her words.

"Kiss me."

Jaima blinked, then leaned down and kissed her cheek. Meiko rolled her eyes and grabbed his ponytail, lightly enough not to hurt him. "No," she said, and kissed him, thoroughly, deeply. She kept it going until Jaima relaxed, and then kept it going some more, deepening it. At first, it annoyed her that he was not responding, and then, with a happy jolt, she realized he was, but allowing her to set the pace. Finally, with air becoming an issue, she pulled away, looking at him in an odd mixture of triumph, wonder, and mischievous glee.

"Just... let me set the pace for a little while..."

With that, she got up and went to the door. She stopped there, not turning to face him. Her knees were already weak. "Just... so you know, I'm not trying to be a tease... um... I just..." she blushed and giggled. "I just need to follow my own advice and take things slow."

"Oh," Jaima said, his voice husky. "I... I didn't think..."

"That I was a tease?"

"At all... that was a... spectacular kiss."

"Yes," Meiko said, looking over her shoulder and smiling like the skitty that ate the spearow, "yes it was."

She walked to her room and opened the door. A pair of sharp clacks stopped her short, and she found herself looking into the glaring eyes of Rockclaw. Her own eyes narrowed. They stared at each other for a moment, then, with a sharp clack, Rockclaw reached over to the belt on the table in her room and pushed the button to recall himself into his pokeball.

Meiko suppressed a shudder, gathering things for a shower, stopping only to wish Jaima, who had just gotten to his doorway, goodnight.

* * * * *

Jaima woke with a smile, checked his poketch, and sighed. It was much, much earlier than he'd thought it would be. He padded out of his room, dressed, still, in his tank top and shorts, and looked around.

He met DeBrody in the kitchen, and cleared his throat. "Sir, do y-"

"DeBrody, Jaima, call me DeBrody."

"DeBrody," Jaima started again, "do you have a phone I can use? I want to call my sisters in Johto." Realizing how it sounded, he raised a hand, waving it frantically. "I'll pay the charges, of course..!"

DeBrody chuckled. "Down the hall to the left, take a right at the first open door. And take your time, Breakfast will wait."

Jaima found the office easily, put in his access code, and dialed the number to the pokecenter in Goldenrod City. It was one of the few numbers he remembered by heart, as he'd have to make arrangements for purchases from the Department Store through the pokecenter, as one had to have a medical or scientific permit to do so, and Professor Elm was usually too busy to make arrangements.

The familiar face of the Goldenrod Nurse Joy smiled at him. "Jaima! It's been so long since you've ca- Oh my goodness, you're in Furoh?!" The number display must have told her.

"Yeah, I'm finally taking my journey. How are you, Nurse?"

"I'm very well, actually. I assume you're calling for your sister?" Jaima blinked at her, and she smiled. "There aren't a lot of Kuonjis, even in Johto. I'll patch you to their room"

The scene changed after Jaima thanked the nurse, and he was treated to an empty room. Blinking, he leaned closer, hearing music and a familiar voice singing softly, "That's what you get when you let your heart win..!"

Jaima grinned. "Natsume! Oi, Natsume!"

A surprised face appeared on the screen, wreathed in cyan colored hair. Jaima could see the top of a dark blue waitress uniform hanging from her shoulders, but was prevented from asking when she screamed in delight.

"Tou-kun! Mariko, Mariko, hayukeshite!" She grinned at him, straitening the alice band in her hair, dark blue, like the dress. Still speaking in Japanese, she leaned forward. "<How are you doing, Daddy? We've missed you!>*"

"<Don't call me Daddy!>" It was said without heat, more automatic, and Natsume smiled at him. Ever since they were old enough to go to school, and he would walk them there or pick them up and walk them home, they called him "tou-kun", which was a mix of Father and a familiarity one would not show with their father. Before he could go on, Mariko popped her head in. She had allowed her hair to grow longer while Natsume had kept hers short, but here was no mistaking her face. Unlike Natsume's waitress costume, she was wearing the outfit of a store clerk. She smiled, and, for a moment, seemed overcome with emotion.

"Tou-kun," she sighed, wiping her eyes. "<Did Natsume already say we've missed you?>"

Jaima smiled softly at Mariko. "<She's mentioned it. What's wrong, little sister?>"

Natsume rubbed Mariko's back, and Mariko closed her eyes. "<I lost a gym battle. So...>"

Jaima waited. It was, he found, the easiest way to get the facts, by waiting instead of assuming. Natsume, however, seemed to understand that Mariko was too embarrassed to go on. "<We're staying in Goldenrod to save up a little money, until Mariko can rechallenge.>" The implication was not lost on Jaima. Natsume had not lost her match. That was, Jaima believed, for the best. Mariko could, at times, be a little cruel, especially with her twin, but Natsume was more reserved.

Mariko glanced back at Natsume, then looked at Jaima. "<I told her she didn't have to wait->"

She was cut off by a tut. "<We're traveling together, of course I have to wait,>" Natsume said, as if that ended it.

Jaima smiled at Mariko's uncomfortable look. "<Miko-chan, losses happen. OK? It's not a sign that you're a bad trainer or that your pokemon are bad.>" Mariko's eyes narrowed, but Jaima didn't flinch.

"<How did you know that's what I was thinking?!>"

"<Because he's a smart big brother,>" came a voice from behind Jaima. He turned and looked, and couldn't help but smile. Meiko walked in, bending low to allow the girls to see her. The looks on Natsume and Mariko's faces went from commiseration and sadness, respecitively, to delight.

"You did it," Natsume shouted in English, and Mariko laughed, wiping her eyes.

"She told us she would."

The four chatted, briefly, and Natsume's attention was caught by something passing by the door, spied between Jaima and Meiko. Meiko looked back, giggled, and turned back in time for Natsume to ask, blushingly, "Who's that..?"

"Darryn," Meiko responded. "He's travelling with us!"

Jaima blinked, wondering why, suddenly, Natsume was blushing, but she quickly changed the topic of conversation. When the call was over, both girls seemed happier, if rushed, worried they'd be late for their jobs, but only after making Jaima promise to call once they reached Petropolis.

[Umbrae Calamitas]

If one thought about it, it was strange that Tuesday hadn’t noticed that Zorro had awakened from his coma until he collapsed beside her. Even when she was interacting with him, she hadn’t fully comprehended that he was all right. There was too much excitement and too much fear, all rolled up and chucked into that single battle with Jaima that her mind simply hadn’t taken the time to process it. After all, Zorro was okay, so she hadn’t really needed to think about it, even to acknowledge it.

She realized this fact only when there was the fear of it being taken away again, though his legs gave out purely from exhaustion and nothing more. Shadow had told him that he wasn’t ready – was strong enough, yet – to practice sparring. He hadn’t realized that the simple act of running out to Tuesday, of trying to calm her, would be enough to exhaust him so thoroughly, but he was clearly not fully healed yet – that would take time.

Tuesday had carried him back into the house, the battles done. This time was better than the last, though, because this time Zorro was merely tired, and this time, he was still conscious. Even if he did choose to spend the time poking an annoyed Tempest as she sat on Tuesday’s shoulder, it was still better – even the pikachu would admit – that this time was different.

Sitting and drinking hot chocolate by the fireplace after dinner, the riolu had fallen asleep in Tuesday’s lap, only a few minutes before she did. DeBrody carried Tuesday to bed, but Tempest had told Mercury, when she heard her mental giggle, not to say a word about carrying the recalled riolu’s pokeball in her paws as she trotted after DeBrody down the hall.

But that was hours ago and Tempest had long since fallen asleep with the rest of them. With Tuesday lying half on her side, her Lugia plushie clutched to her chest, Tempest was curled up at the girl’s shoulder. Her ears twitched lightly every time Ashleigh snorted, his tail paws jerking and twitching as he dreamed. He lay across the bed, halfway up, stretched out to his full length, with Tuesday’s legs propped up over his back. Her weight was nothing to him and the natural heat of his body kept her warm.

Ashleigh’s tail whipped up and slapped Zorro across the face. The riolu snorted in his sleep and stretched but did not waken. He lay sprawled out like a starfish, his head tucked against Tuesday’s side, his mouth open as he snored softly, drooling profusely out of one side of his mouth. As Ashleigh’s tail whipped up again, he snatched a hand out and slapped the tail away before kicking a foot at the air and falling deeper into slumber.

At this point, Odysseus, sitting on the windowsill with his back against the wall, cracked an eye open and glanced at the bed. He smirked at the sight of the lass covered in a blanket of pokemon, but his smile faded slightly when he glanced at the floor. He sighed.

Dante was there, curled up around the pokemon egg, his tail close to it and keeping it warm. He was asleep, but there was an expression of grim acceptance on his face. Odysseus had seen nothing but that on his face since their confrontation. While the others were inside drinking hot chocolate, Odysseus had taken the charmeleon aside and decided that now, more than ever, was a good time to tell him to buck up and stop being just a jackass.

Needless to say, he didn’t take it well.

Fighting a fellow water type who doubted her own abilities and felt she needed to go easy on her opponent because they had a broken tail? – that was hard in comparison to battling a cocky fire-type angrier than a spanked primeape. Odysseus didn’t send the lizard into unconsciousness, but he did drive him to the point of staggering, of gasping for breath, and of asking the sorry question of “Why? Why are you doing this?”

Odysseus had done little more than explain to him that he needed to grow up, that he needed to see things as they were and not just because he wanted them to be that way because it made things easier.

He'd left then, and Dante had come in on his own time, with that expression of grim acceptance. He didn't look at Odysseus once, not even to glare at him.

The buizel was still trying to figure out if that was a good thing or not.

Ashleigh let out a sudden snort and raised his head. Opening and closing his mouth sleepily, he glanced behind him, at the floor, and then stood up. Tuesday let out a groan as her legs dropped to the bed and she was forced to reorient herself, which merely worked to wake her up. She mumbled something incoherent, yawned, and then blinked at Ashleigh. "Whaa-uh..." She was interrupted by a yawn.

Ashleigh jumped to the floor and walked over to where Dante was on the floor, sitting up and staring down at the egg, which was shivering and shaking, with cracks appearing in it.

Tuesday crawled to the edge of the bed, successfully waking Zorro up when she slipped and fell on him,, but then they were both peering over the edge of the bed at the hatching egg.

Tuesday yawned again. "Are we gonna have omelettes...? Oh wait- oomph!" She toppled off of the bed and rolled into a sitting position next to the egg. "Well... I'm awake." She yawned widely. "Sorta." She reached out and picked up the egg, holding it gently as more cracks appeared in it. A piece of shell fell off and clattered to the floor, breaking into small pieces, and a small head peeked out, wet fur matted down, but ears sticking straight up.

Pure white ears, and large crimson eyes that blinked in innocent confusion at Tuesday. A tiny mouth with a little pink tongue opened and the creature let out a tiny "Eeeeeeee," and twitched her ears.

Tuesday giggled and reached out, picking the creature up. She kicked the egg with her tiny feet and it cracked and fell open. Tuesday cradled the small pokemon in her arms and studied her. "You're an eevee," she said, as though she needed to explain this, "but you're an albino." She leaned down and bumped her nose lightly against the eevee's, causing the dog-like pokemon to let out a giggle-like purr. "Let's go see what the others think about you, ruby-eyes."

Zorro was, surprising, the first one out the door, followed by an excited Ashleigh. Tuesday heard barking and a familiar "Oh no! You're not going to lick me again are you, Ashleigh?", but then Zorro was back. He had a rather expensive looking shirt with him, which he had tied around his neck by the sleeves and was now wearing as a cape. Tuesday raised an eyebrow at him. "That's not Darryn's, is it, Zorro?" The riolu gave her an innocent smile and dashed off again. Tempest rolled her eyes.

DeBrody was making breakfast when Tuesday reached the kitchen, still dressed in her pajamas, which had Latios and Latias flying all over them. He glanced over at her from flipping a pancake and raised an eyebrow at the eevee in her arms. "Brone said something about there being a new addition to the family this morning. Have you picked out a name, yet?"

"Eowyn." Tuesday blushed and ducked her head.

"Lord of the Rings," DeBrody said approvingly. "Good choice. It's a bit strange, though, that she was born as an albino." He frowned. "What are you going to do?"

"I was hoping you would look at her," Tuesday said, glancing down at Eowyn. "I know she just hatched and I'm a little loathe to leave her, but I'd like to see what you have to say. I know albinism can cause some problems. If you can't, I could send her to Professor Oak. I know you're busy an I-"

"Tuesday!" DeBrody chuckled. "I'll take a look at her, keep her under watch for a few days. Then I'll send her to Professor Oak. He can transfer her back to you." He smiled. "How's that sound?"

"Good," Tuesday said, and then frowned as she glanced at the frying pan. "You're burning that pancake, Uncle DeBrody."

"Son of a crap!"

~*~

"You can call me any time if you have need," Cassandra spoke quietly to Mercury. "I dwell in constant partiality on the Psychic Plane, so you will always find me there. Do not hesitate to contact me, if you even wish for conversation."

"Thank you," Mercury whispered.

"Tuesday, would you stop worrying, please?" Brone smiled at his younger sister reassuringly. "You have more important things to worry about."

"I hardly know what they are, so why worry? You, on the hand, need someone to fret over you."

"I think I see some grey hairs."

"Funny." Tuesday rolled her eyes. "Brone... be careful, okay?"

"Of course." He tapped her chin. "You best get going. Your family is waiting for you."

Tuesday glanced behind her, where Jaima, Darryn, and Meiko were waiting. Everything was packed up and they had set out to leave after breakfast. Tuesday didn't want to leave, but then she also did, and Brone was encouraging the latter. DeBrody stood nearby, holding Eowyn.

"Get going, Tuesday. Time waits for no man."

Brone smirked. "It would wait for her, if she really wanted it to." He nodded at her. "Go on. I'll see you later."

With a grin, Tuesday grabbed the strap of her bag and dashed toward her friends.

Brone stood watching her go through Cassandra's eyes, and even DeBrody, who had no psychic abilities, could feel the waves of sadness rolling off of him. Cassandra sighed softly and put a hand on his shoulder.

"We shouldn't just stand here and let them walk into this blindly. It's not fair for them to face this alone."

"They'll be all right, Brone." Cassandra hugged him from behind, closing her eyes as she leaned her fox-like head against his. "Have faith."