"So," Medira asked as she swatted JP away, "Who’s this Chenille person?"

"Chenille Farrago adopted one of my extra Eevee eggs a while back. She’s really nice, but a bit ditzy," Eevy answered.

"She’s a mirror of you!" Morty joked before Lisle cracked him in the back of the head, "What was that for?!"

"For being you," she answered with a sly grin as he puffed out his mouth and narrowed his eyes.

"You’re evil," he pouted.

"Yep!" she laughed.

Jason snickered under his breath, "Having girl trouble there, Morty?"

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Eevy, Lisle, Sooney, Medira and Starla asked together as Jason realized he was outnumbered.

He laughed with a toothy grin flying to his face, "Nothing," he squeaked.

"I thought as much," Starla snorted before they continued on their way.

As they entered Iris Town for the first time, a blue banner with yellow writing caught their attention. It was describing the Pokemon Breeders’ Society’s Convention that was going on all through the downtown streets. Eevy smiled as she saw the words Breeder of the Year Judging and also Pokemon of the Year Judging spread across the banner under the title. She looked to her right and saw a large blue sign with a bold yellow arrow on it.

"I take it we go that way," she pointed.

"Yeah, I guess so," Dragon said as the group continued along.

They reached a large blue tent with yellow letters over the door saying Judging Registrations. Eevy bolted in, grabbing her Breeder’s Card as she ran. She tripped a bit on a cord running across the floor and her Card went into the air. She reached to catch it but just missed. She muttered something to herself and reached to pick it up, slamming headfirst into someone who was also reaching for it.

"Ow," she rubbed her head, "I’m sorry."

"It’s no problem," whoever it was said, "Here’s your Card," he groaned.

"Oh, thanks," she looked up, "He’s cute," she mused.

"See you around!" he waved and walked away, still rubbing his head, "That hurt."

Eevy laughed slightly and watched him walk away, suddenly snapping back to reality and running to the desk, "I’d like to sign up, please."

"I’ll need your Card," a familiar voice said.

"Ah, a Nurse Joy," Eevy laughed, "You’re everywhere."

Nurse Joy gave a slight giggle, "Strange, isn’t it? Anyway, your Breeder Name is ProEeveeBreeder," she trailed off as she swiped the card, "OK then. This is your first year?"

"Yes, I just started out."

"Alright then. You’re number 27. Good luck!"

Eevy stepped away holding her ticket and card, juggling about six things at one time, "Let me help you with that," the same person said, snatching some things from her hands, "Got your hands full, I’d say."

"Yeah. First time."

"Well, I wish you the best of luck…uh…"

"Evangelina, but everybody calls me Eevy, and you are?"

"Zaine," he shook her only free hand, "If I could find my partner I’d introduce you to her too, but she seems to be off with Ash and the guys."

"Wait a minute. Ash? As in Ash Ketchum?"

"Yeah. He and his friends are hanging around here. Why? You know them?"

"Yes, they’re good friends of mine. Do you have any idea where I may be able to find them or a girl named Chenille Farrago?"

"I have no clue where anybody went. To tell you the truth I was searching for them myself when we slammed into each other."

"Yeah, sorry about that again."

"Who’s this?" Dragon asked from beside them, sending Eevy into the air, "Sorry, Eevy."

"This…is…Zaine," Eevy panted, "Zaine, this is Dragon."

"Good to meet you," Zaine shook Dragon’s hand, both gripping as hard as they could just to show off.

"Hey, Zaine!" Zaine was the one rocketing into orbit from that one, "So sorry."

"It’s fine…" Zaine gagged, "Susie, this is-"

"Eevy," Susie cut him off, "I’ve heard so much about you and your Pokemon. Brock tells me you’re quite the person."

"I’m sure he does," Eevy smirked, "Do you, by some freak accident, know where I can find a girl by the name of Chenille Farrago?"

"Chenille Farrago? She was the Breeder of the Year last year. I’d say she’d be in her tent, grooming at that new Eevee of hers. Boy, her two Eevees sure did give her quite the cute little baby."

"Govo’s got a baby?" Eevy flipped, "Oh wow!" she zipped past, "Thanks for your help!"

"Uh, yeah," Susie blinked, "Anytime."

"Wait for us, Eevy!" the group ran after her as she ran down the street.

"Come on, Chenille! Where are you?" she skidded to a halt beside a big, green tent, "That looks about her style."

"Sorry," a girl jumped in front of her as she went to knock, "Only authorized personnel are aloud in."

"I need to speak with Chenille!"

"I’m sorry, I can’t let you in!"

"What’s all the yelling out here?" Chenille stuck her head out the tent flaps, "Hey! Janet, lay off her! That’s the one who gave me Govo! You step out of her way!"

"Sorry," Janet hopped out of the way, "Go right in."

"Sorry about that, Eevy," Chenille pulled down an extra cover for the door, "It’s like this every year I’ve won. They huddle around me like some kind of celebrity or something. They’re driving me nuts!"

"S’Ok. So, where’s the new baby I wasn’t informed about?"

"Trust me, Eevy, I didn’t forget. It hatched on the way here and I just haven’t gotten to a phone that’ll actually work. This thing is useless," she waved her cell phone in the air and tossed it on the table.

"I know the feeling."

"Hey, Govo, Lenta, Vova!"

Govo and Lenta pranced out from behind another curtain. He was a lot bigger than he had been and looked extremely proud. Lenta had a longer tail than most Eevees that looked as soft as silk. She had soft little tufts on the tip of her ears and a curl on her forehead. A little girl Eevee hopped out behind them with a long tail and bright emerald eyes. At the base of each ear was a curl and at the tip of each was a three-way tuft that bounced as she walked. She sat down and wrapped the full extent of her tail around herself, which equaled about two and a half times around.

"Oh! Govo looks so good! Lenta is just so pretty! And that little baby Vova’s just the cutest thing possible!"

"Thanks," Chenille nodded, "That means a lot coming from you."

"Why’s that?"

"Are you kidding? You gave me Govo! You started what I hope we can make into the Ovo and Ova lineage!"

"Lineage?" Eevy whimpered.

"Well, yeah!" Chenille blared.

"Hey, Eevy! You mind giving us a hand out here?" Dragon called.

"Ah! I forgot about my friends!" she jumped to the door, "Hey! Let ‘em in!"

"Well, geez!" Janet backed away, "Let me know when I actually get to do my job!"

"Well," Chenille looked around the group piling into her tent, "These are new faces."

"Well, you’ve met my brother Morty. That’s my brother’s girlfriend Lisle. These are my traveling buddies Sooney and Medira. This is Medira’s closer than close friend JP, my Psychic trainer Phantom, the one who keeps the guys in-line here is Starla and that’s Dragon."

"Well," Chenille paused, "You gave a reason for everybody but him. You gave out the positions of relative, future relative, friends, teacher, somebody’s beau and boy-keeper, but what about, uh, Dragon?"

"Uh," Eevy choked, "How am I gonna put this?" she mused silently, "Um, Dragon is…Dragon is…" she looked around, but found no good answers, "My boyfriend!" she blurted without thinking.

Lance started coughing at that and patting his own chest. Luri, Jason and Will reached around and patted his back while Eevy had a half smile and a twitching eye. Lance let out one last quick heave.

"Boyfriend?" he questioned in a dry heave for air, "Boyfriend?" he choked, "Boyfriend?"

"Ahehe," was the only thing even remotely similar to a word that escaped Eevy at that point.

"Uh hmm," Chenille looked overly puzzled, "Right."

"Boyfriend?" he choked again as Chenille stepped out to get something, "Where in the world did you get that?!" he asked, snatching her shoulders and spinning her around.

"Uh," she brought her hands up to shrug, "I don’t know. It was the first thing that came to mind and it just…came out."

He slapped his hands to his face, "I don’t believe it," he sat down in a chair next to them, "I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it!"

"Chenille," Eevy called, "Can I borrow this tent for a few minutes. I need to speak to someone, alone."

"Sure can!" Chenille walked out the door and motioned to the extra door as a reminder, "I gotta get moving anyway. See ya’ later!"

"You’re gonna get a lecture," JP taunted.

"Knock it off," Medira snatched his ear and pulled him out the door, "unless you want one too."

"Let’s go, Morty," Lisle pulled him along, "See you!"

"Bye, sis! Watch yourself!" Morty disappeared out the door.

"Bye!" everyone else said together as they left Dragon sitting in the chair with Eevy scowling down at him.

"Why’d you get so mad at me?" she asked as she pulled the extra door down.

"What’d you mean why?" he bugged out, "You called me your boyfriend!"

"So what?"

"What’d you man ‘so what’? Are you nuts?! Do you know what that says?"

"That we care about each other?"

"Other than that! It says we’re close. Like…close-close."

"It does not," she flicked his nose, "Taylor was my boyfriend, thanks be to heaven he’s not anymore, and we were never close-close."

He narrowed one eye, "Uh huh. Well, I don’t care about that flipped out wiggler. Now, you know I’d like nothing more than to show you who I am and to stay with you, BUT, I can’t and you know that too. You’ve never seen my face, therefor you are not my girlfriend and I am not your boyfriend."

"Uh huh," she stepped over, "And what was Dart Town?"

"Dart To-" he stopped, "Oh, that…"

"Yes, oh that. Well?"

He trembled a bit, "Uh," he searched for an answer, "Uh…"

"I thought so," she stepped back and opened the door, "Whenever you get over yourself, I’ll be with everyone else. Find us if you want me."

He slapped himself in the face, "Stupid, stupid, stupid," he mumbled to himself before remembering he had something unbearably important to tell her and got up to follow her, "Eevy. I’ve gotta tell you something."

"But I go up in-" she was cut off as he pulled her to the side.

"It won’t take long," he yanked her to the side of Chenille’s door, "After the show, I’ve got to leave," he paused as her jaw flew open, "All four of us do."

"Why?" she begged, "You can’t go. You can’t go!"

"I have to. I’ll probably have enough to deal with as it is. I’m sorry, but it is the way it is."

"You’re not sorry," she pulled back and scowled, slowly shaking her head, "You never were, even when you left before Dart. Go ahead and leave! See if anybody cares!"

"But, Eevy, you just said-"

"Yeah, I know what I just said and I take every word of it back!"

"You’re just too blind to see what I mean. I have a job to do. A big, important job and I can’t leave that behind me for anything."

"Not even me?"

"Not even you. I’m sorry."

"Don’t even try sucking up! It won’t work! I’m going to enter that contest and I don’t care if you’re here to see me win or not!" she stomped off to wait her turn with him growling in the corner.

"You told her, didn’t you?" Will leaned over to him.

"Yeah. She didn’t take it quite as well as I had hoped."

"No fake," Luri whispered, "Jason, have you told Medira yet?"

"Uh…no," Jason slightly whimpered, "Not just yet."

"The longer you drag it out, the less notice she’ll have and the madder she’ll be," Will noted.

"Yeah, I know."

"Better tell ‘er!" Will shoved him forward, slamming him into Medira.

"Watch it!" Medira snapped, pushing him away.

"Not my fault," he turned and scowled at Will who had a huge smile across his face, "I’ve got to tell you something very important."

She narrowed one eye, "What?"

"Uh…It’s like this…" he searched for a way to word it that she wouldn’t mangle him for, "After the show…We’ve-That is, I’ve got to leave again."

"Huh?" her head went down in depression, "No way."

"Yes way. That’s the sad part. It’s amazingly and depressingly true. I don’t want to go and neither does anybody else, but we have a job to do and we can’t let it fly any longer than we already have."

"So you’re just going to leave without even trying to stay?" she stepped away, "You rat! You over-sized, emerald-eyed rat!"

"Why are you mad at me? What’d I do?"

"What’d you-What’d you do? I don’t believe you! I honestly do not believe you!"

"It’s not that I want to leave, but I’ve got a lot to get done in the next few days and it’s going to take a while."

"Fine then. See if anyone really cares where you go or what you do, because I sure as he-heck won’t," she turned and tromped away, steaming at a mile a minute.

"Meow, hiss, hiss," Will commented, "She got angry."

"No really?" Jason spat at him, "Good idea, moron! You just killed my relationship!"

"I killed it?! What’d you mean I killed it?! You’re the one who said it like that! You’re the dork that didn’t tell her sooner! It’s your fault more than it is mine!"

"Bull! You’re the idiot that persuaded me to tell her! You’re the one who shoved me into her and you’re the one that made that damn deal with Kratos! Don’t try and tell me I’m the one who screwed this whole thing up!"

"You ungrateful little monster! I help you out with Kratos and you get all lovey-dovey on me and then when we have to meet the conditions you loved me for you bug out on me! This is all your fault for being so stubborn!"

"Stop fighting!" Luri burst, "You’re both losing your sanity! Calm down! We’re all to blame here. None of us can really be called fully responsible for all this. We just have to let it go for now."

"Yeah," Will grunted, "Whatever."

"Yep," Jason snorted, "I suppose."

"Well," Lance groaned, "I guess."

"Thank you," Luri loosened up, "Eevy’s going up soon. I’m sure she’ll want you there, even if you did just tick her off."

"The next number is number 26. Last year’s Breeder of the Year, Chenille Farrago."

There was quite a round of applause as Chenille came out carrying Vova, Govo and Lenta. Eevy was ecstatic as the judge checked the Eevees over, even if they were competition. She heard the familiar sound of stopping boots behind her and stepped away, knowing exactly who it was. She gripped the side of her pants with her hands as hard as she could, keeping the burning of holding her crying in to herself. Dragon reached out and pried her hands from their locked positions and pulled her back the two steps toward him, squeezing her hands to loosen her up. She pulled away, but he wouldn’t let her go. She closed her eyes and watched the ground, trying to forget he was there, but he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back, laying his chin on her right shoulder.

"I’m sorry," he whispered, "I really am sorry."

"Don’t listen to him, don’t listen to him," she thought, trying to push the fact he was there away, "He’s not worth the trouble. There’ll always others. But…not like him. Not like Dragon. What’s up with me? Why am I so nuts over this guy? He’s just another guy looking for a good time and a shot at me, but for some reason he’s just so perfect."

"Please listen to me," he mumbled to her, "I’m only going to say this once before I leave. I love you, Eevy. With all my heart and more. If I had my choice, I’d take this hood off right here and now and stay with you until the very end of time. The horrible part is that I can’t. Would you please forgive me? This one and only time and I’ll never ask you to remit me again."

"We’ll talk about it later. A lot later. It’s my turn up there," she forced herself away and walked up the stairs after she was called, "Let’s come out, everyone!"

"Eev!"

"Esp!"

"Umb!"

"Flare!"

"Jolt!"

"Vape!"

"Well now," the judge walked over and started examining each of the Pokemon, "What a lovely group. Each one has a very distinct color…"

Medira watched with a huge smile as the judge kept nodding at every detail. A hand grazed her right arm and she stepped to the left to avoid it, but met an arm. The green cloaked arm wrapped around her own and pulled her back. She tried to step away but he held too tight. She swallowed and clenched her teeth, trying to ignore him. He leaned his forehead on her back, holding both her arms between his. She tightened up as he put his arms around her waist and locked his fingers together.

"Medira," he mumbled to her from her back, "I am truly, truly sorry."

"He’s not there, he’s not there," she mused, "There’s no reason to care about this guy. He’s nothing special. I feel like screaming, but I can’t. Or is it that I won’t? There are many more fish in the sea, some better than others. Why do I think this guy’s the catch of the day? What’s so amazingly perfect about him that I see and the Beasts don’t?"

"My love, please listen to me," he whispered, "Now if not ever again. I’ve never actually said this to your face, but I guess your back will have to do for now. I love you, Medira. More than life itself. More than my Pokemon. More than anything. I’m sorry I have to go, but life isn’t always as fair as one would hope. Please don’t be angry with me."

"This discussion has ended for the time being. I’m sorry, but I’m done talking about it for now."

"Well then," the judge cleared her throat and scanned the group of Pokemon in front of her, "I suppose I’ll award the places now."

"Come on, Eevy!" Sooney waved.

Someone poked Sooney in the back, causing her to spin around, "Hey, Sooney," Tracey waved nervously, "How have you been?"

"Oh," she reddened, "Just fine, thanks. You?"

"Fine," he mumbled.

"Well…Where are Ash, Misty and Brock?"

"They’re around somewhere."

"Oh…" she trailed off, "You want to watch the contest with me?"

His face turned beat red, "Sure," he dimmed a bit.

"Great! Come on!" she grabbed his hand and ran to the front row.

"Third place for the Pokemon of the Year award goes to Chenille Farrago and her male Eevee, Govo."

Chenille’s face was about half lit with a third place award, "Thank you," she bowed briefly, accepted the ribbon, and stepped away.

"Third place for the Breeder of the Year award goes to partner breeders Zaine and Susie for their Ninetales and Vulpix."

Zaine and Susie stepped up and each took a ribbon and small trophy, "Thank you very much," they bowed and stepped back.

"Second place for the Pokemon of the Year award again goes to Chenille Farrago, now for her baby Eevee, Vova."

Again, Chenille repeated her actions of before, "We’ll win yet," she mused as she backed up again.

"Second place for the Breeder of the Year award goes to Chenille Farrago for her three Eevees, Govo, Lenta and Vova."

Chenille immediately facefaulted, "Second?" she whimpered as she took her award and ribbon, "Second?"

"The title Pokemon for the Pokemon of the Year award is Vovo of Evangelina Hikoboshi’s roster."

"Did you hear that, boys?" Eevy smiled wide, "Vovo won!"

"I won! I won! I won!" Vovo sprang into the air, catching jealous looks from his sons.

"I chose this little Eevee because of its unique personality. So close to a human’s it’s almost eerie. Its eye color is absolutely impeccable and its fur is amazingly soft. It’s common to find a female with such rich fur and colors, but in male Eevees it’s very rare. This Pokemon has obviously been well taken care of. What it loses in the scars it makes up for in brilliance. Congratulations."

"You go, Eevy!" Morty flailed from the back of the crowd.

"Woohoo!" Lisle shouted.

"Great job, Eevy!" Ash burst from an unknown location.

"Yeah, Eevy!" Misty added.

"Come on, Susie! Come on, Eevy! Boy, I don’t know who to root for…" Brock trailed off.

"Thank you very much," Eevy tapped Vovo’s head, "Say thank you."

"Thank you," Vovo smiled wide, triggering laughter from the crowd.

Vovo got a royal blue collar and ribbon while Eevy got a trophy and her own ribbon, "The last award is the award for Breeder of the Year."

Chenille pouted, as she knew she couldn’t win. Susie and Zaine fidgeted nervously as they waited. Eevy simply sat, trying to push Dragon out the back door of her mind.

"The winner of the Breeder of the Year award for this year is a first year competitor, Evangelina Hikoboshi of Rose Town, Nanka."

Eevy shot straight up and the Ovos perked into the air, "We won," they mumbled together, "We did it!"

"I picked these Pokemon because they all share one important trait. That of inner strength. Yes, these Pokemon have amazing colors, beautifully clear eyes, and soft fur, but they also bear the scars of many battles lost and won. Each one shows a different mark. The Eevee holds those on his eye and ear. The Jolteon’s chin is cut straight down the left side and one in his right ear. The Flareon bears a slice at the top of his front left leg and one behind his right ear. The top of the Vaporeon’s head it scraped and his chin is cut in three different directions. The Espeon’s underbelly is scraped and his leg shows signs of once being broken. Finally the Umbreon shows the most damage, even outdoing the Eevee. Its stomach is scratched, his left ear has a cut extending its full length and his back right thigh bears a bright bruise. These Pokemon have been through a lot and still they keep their cool. I award them and their master this year’s title because they’ve earned it."

Eevy couldn’t breath, "Well boys, you did it!"

"Thank you, Eevy," Sovo rubbed up against her with each of his brothers and Vovo repeating after us, "For helping us win."

"Aww," Eevy ran her hand along Sovo’s tail, "You did this on your own."

"No way!" Novo burst, "You helped a lot!"

"Did not."

"Did so."

"Did not!"

"Did so!"

"Did NOT!"

"Did SO!"

"Now do you see what I meant by a personality close to a human’s?"

*^~^**^~^*

"I won, I won, I won!" Eevy said in a loud whisper, "Ha, ha ha, ha ha! I won, I won, I won!"

"Would you please stop that?" Morty begged, "It’s getting annoying."

"Eevy! Hey, Eevy! Wait, wait for us!"

"Oh, Ash. I forgot you guys were here," Eevy stopped and turned around, halting her group.

"Congratulations, Eevy," Misty smiled, "You guys did great."

"Thanks," she looked to their side, "Hello, Zaine. Susie."

"How do you know them?" Ash stared between them.

"Brief introduction. We just met your friend Chenille too."

"Hi, Eevy. I’m really happy you won, but I still wish I could have beaten you," Chenille whimpered, "But your Pokemon are great."

"Thank you, Chenille," Eevy smirked, "What’s the rush anyway?"

"We’re going to see some people and we wanted to know if you wanted to come," Brock pushed in.

"All depends on who those people are, now doesn’t it?" Medira cracked.

"Professors Oak, Ivy, Elm, Foster, Palm, and Pine along with Bill and Kurt."

"Professors?" Eevy steamed, "I’ll pass."

"But Kurt and Bill want to meet you!" Tracey called after her as she started to walk away.

"Don’t be stupid," Eevy snapped, "It’s a trick so they can question me some more and I’m not going to deal with it."

"I assure you, it’s no trick."

"Ah!" Ash zipped into the air, "Pro. Oak," he panted, "Where’d you come from?"

"I was on my way to meet everyone else when I saw you over here. Now, I promise this is no trick."

"And why should I trust you?" Eevy snapped, "You want to know more about Dragon," her arm flew to her right side, "There he is, ask him."

"I am in a lot of trouble," Lance mused, "SO much trouble it’s not funny."

"That’s all fine and dandy," Oak mumbled, "But Bill wants to meet your Pokemon and Kurt wants to see the Poke’Balls you use. Please, Ms. Hikoboshi."

Eevy stood scowling as she tried not to flip out. Too bad she forgot what happens when she gets upset. She wasn’t quite as enraged as she had been and she wasn’t really trying, but the tree beside her still rocked back and forth and a few flowers and trees grew. She calmed down and held her head.

"Fine," she growled, "But I hold no responsibility for what happens if you get my Pokemon angry. None at all."

Pokemon & Poke’Balls

Notes

Whee! This was odd! Now, I'm afraid, I literally have nothing to say. So...I shall leave you on your way...But congrats to Eevy and the Ovo boys!

*^~^*Pro_V*^~^*
-=O~Her Many Pokemon~O=-