Eevy was angrily mumbling something to herself under her breath as the group trudged along the street towards the park where they were to meet the Professors, Bill and Kurt. Every once and a while Professor Oak would turn and glare at one of their caped comrades. The one he eyed would pull his or her hood down in front of his or her face in return. Morty, Lisle and Chenille noticed, but the others didn’t seem to even question it in any sense.

"How much farther?" Eevy snorted as she kept walking, "I am quickly losing patience."

"We’re almost there, Eevy. Calm down," Brock noted, "It’s just up the road a ways."

Eevy growled a bit, "That’s what you said twenty minutes ago."

"Professor Oak," Professor Ivy walked out of the gate to the park, "You finally made it. Hello everyone. Oh-" she spotted Eevy and choked, "Hello, Evangelina."

"Ivy," Eevy stated plainly.

"Please, let’s go and meet the others," Ivy stepped away and let Eevy pass first, "Wow," she breathed as she watched Eevy walk.

Eevy was obviously mad, as everywhere she stepped she left a deep footprint and blooming flowers, "Let’s go," she growled.

"Eee," Misty moaned, "She must be really mad."

"Look!" Lisle choked, "Look at Medira!"

Medira was leaving the same effects in her wake as well, "If we’re going, let’s go," she muttered as she followed Eevy.

Jason and Lance swallowed hard, "Great," they moaned together.

Ivy and Oak dashed forward to get in front of Eevy and Medira. They walked to a group of six, sitting at a bench. Four in lab coats, one in a suit and one in a heavier shirt and pants. Oak tapped Foster on the shoulder and motioned toward Eevy. Foster swallowed hard and jumped to avoid her. Eevy stomped to sit where Foster had been and Medira slammed down beside her. Both crossed their right leg over their left and crossed their right arm under their left. They both flipped their heads to the right with an indignant humph and their eyes closed.

"Are you two alright?" Tracey asked, careful enough to stay back a few steps.

"Peachy keen," they answered together.

"Well then," Foster moved away a little more, "Ladies-" he paused and looked the four caped friends over as they turned away and pulled their hoods down, "and gentlemen…This is Bill, creator of the Pokemon Storage System and Kurt, creator of custom Poke’Balls."

"Charmed, I’m sure," Eevy moved her right hand from its crossed position and shook their hands, placing it directly back again.

"Lovely to meet you," Medira did the same, adding a slight laugh before hand.

"Would you please introduce us to your friends?" Bill asked in a smooth tone and stepped back, just to be safe.

"Yes," Eevy said flatly, "Sooney Shippou, Morty Hikoboshi, and Lisle Illusion. I am Evangelina Hikoboshi, she is Medira Kurayami and those four are Starla, Phantom, JP and Dragon."

"Dragon?" six of the eight unacquainted heads shot up.

"Anyway," Kurt interrupted as the Professors eyed the four, "We-as in Bill and I- would like to talk to you about some things."

"What kind of things?" Eevy narrowed one eye.

"Your Pokemon and Poke’Balls," Bill pushed in, "We’d like to hear more about them."

"Why not, Eevy?" Medira added, "They weren’t the ones what bothered us before and you don’t need to worry about any more Badges."

"What?!" Ash burst, "You already beat Taylor?!"

Eevy slightly snickered and pulled her bag around in front of her, "It was a blast," she laughed and opened the top, showing off all twelve Badges of the Gertan Rin expanse.

"I don’t believe it," Ash moaned, then one of his "genius" ideas hit him, "Let’s battle!"

"What?" Eevy leaned away, "Battle you? You’re actually challenging me?"

"I sure am! If I can beat somebody who beat Taylor, I can beat him too! I have eleven Badges to your twelve, so let’s go! I choose-"

"Forget it."

Ash immediately facefaulted, "Why not?! I’m a great trainer, I’m your friend, we could both use the experience, and I’ve even come close to beating you! Why won’t you battle me?!"

"My next battle is not with you," she stood up and shook her head, "My next battle is with the opponents at the Rainbow Metropolis Spectral Stadium. And maybe one or two with those idiot Team Rocket members along the way."

"But-"

"No, Ash!" she slammed the table, "I will not battle you! I have answered your question, now accept my answer!"

"I want to battle!"

"I don’t care! Leave me alone!"

"Oh, I get it. You’re scared you’ll lose. You’re afraid I’ll beat your award winning Pokemon."

"He’s gonna get it now," Morty nodded.

"Listen, you little snot!" Eevy jumped forward, snatching Ash’s collar and pulling him up to eye level, "I’ve been scratched, scarred, bitten, beaten, stabbed, shot at, screamed at, fired at, grabbed at, jabbed at, swung at, snapped at, come close to drowning, chased, raced, poked and prodded. When you go through the hell I’ve gone through you can tell me about being scared. You’d just better back off!"

Eevy’s eyes burned a violent, bloody red as Ash quivered in her grasp. Her knuckles were white as she clenched the collar of his blue and white jacket in her fury. Her breathing was heavy and deep, although fast. She’d lifted him a few inches from the ground to meet her eyes, though he would have greatly preferred not to see those hot-crimson versions of the usual blue and green eyes that every guy liked to much. She shoved him away just as quickly as she’d grabbed him, pushing right back into Brock, who tumbled onto his back upon Ash hitting and falling on top of him.

They both sat up slowly with Ash murmuring a petrified, "Sorry, Eevy."

"Eevy, calm down," Dragon reached for her hand.

"Get back!" she snapped, slapping him away, "You know what I said before and I still mean it, so just," she paused and balled her fists, "Keep back!"

The tree beside them went up in flames, searing and disappearing in a matter of seconds. Everyone gaped and stepped back. The bench Sooney and Tracey had been sitting on snapped in two, sending both of them off and away.

"Eevy! Stop it!" Phantom shouted, "You’re going to hurt someone!"

She stepped away, calming the shaking and breathing hysterically, "I’m sorry. Really. Just some…Penned up pressure," she swallowed and took a deep, calming breath.

"You should calm yourself," Starla took her shoulders, "You could really hurt someone, namely yourself."

"I know. Come out, Vovo!" the Poke’Ball flew from her belt, slamming to the ground, "Well then," she brushed the hair from her face, "I’m sorry for that little irruption. I’ll answer any questions you may have, provided they remain in good taste."

"Uh…" Bill leaned away, "I don’t know."

"Don’t worry," Medira laughed slightly, "She won’t attack you if you don’t get her angry."

Ash just stood up and moved away from Eevy, "Yeah, and you saw what she did."

Kurt wasn’t even the least bit upset, "Under influences from many trainers we’ve seen that Eevees and their evolutions despise my custom Poke’Balls. We would like to see what your Pokemon think of them, as you have the Eevee evolutions and all six use my custom made Poke’Balls."

"I don’t guarantee you’ll get too far with them. They don’t really, uh, chat with anyone but me, but you can try your luck if you’d like. I choose all of you!"

"Must we come out again?" Sovo whined, "I was napping."

"I don’t feel much like talking," Novo yawned, "Sleeping, maybe. Talking, no."

"I’d much rather be resting for our next challenge," Lovo snorted, "I’m tired."

"I believe we’ll all agree," Zovo scratched his ear, "that we all would rather sleep."

"I just won a big battle," Yovo stretched, "Must I really sit and talk to them?"

"I don’t see why Eevy can’t answer the questions," Vovo scowled, "She knows how we feel."

"Boys! About-face!" the Pokemon turned around and sat obediently, "You’d better be nice and respect these people. Well…Bill and Kurt, anyway. Answer their questions and mind your manners. I mean all manners. Table manners, courtesy, sharing, speaking only when spoken to, listening quietly and not fighting with each other."

"Yes, mommy," they joked, "Ouch!"

"Don’t joke around! You’ve got a lot to learn about being polite, now get over there and be good!"

"Yes, ma’am," they bowed their heads and turned around to start listening.

"I wish my brother was that obedient," Eevy smirked.

"What does that mean?" Morty snorted.

"Ms. Hikoboshi!" Bill wailed, "Get him off me!"

"Ah! Novo! You let go of his pant leg! Let go! Let go, I said!"

Novo slowly released him, "He tried to pet me."

"Too bad," she turned him around and scowled at him, "Bad boy, Novo! I am so sorry, Bill! I really didn’t think he’d go that far."

"It’s no problem. I’ve been through worse," Bill shrugged and brushed off, "Including," he thought without actually mentioning it, "Being stuck in a Kabuto costume for hours on end."

"This one’s a nice little thing," Kurt sat petting Zovo, "He’s a nice little one, he is."

"I really wouldn’t call them little," Eevy shook her head, "They do not care for that at all."

"Huh?" Kurt lifted his hand and saw two double-colored eyes glaring at him, "Uh oh."

"Don’t do it, Zovo!" Eevy snatched him away, "Don’t you bite him!"

"He called me little!" Zovo squirmed, "I am in no way little!"

"Calm down!" she put him on his back, "You can’t get so mad so easily," that was when it hit her she was telling them not to do what she had just done.

"Yeah, yeah," he crossed his paws, "Alright."

"Now, be good," she dropped him and stepped away, "No biting!"

"OK then," Bill got down and looked into Lovo’s eyes, "What do they call you?"

"Nicely," Eevy commented from behind.

"My name’s Lovo," he groaned, "I already know you’re Bill."

"Uh hmm. What type of Poke’Ball do you stay in?"

"I stay in a Jolt Ball from Johto."

"And what do you think of it?" Kurt leaned down next to them.

"S’Ok," Lovo laid down and chewed on a blade of grass, "Just like every other Poke’Ball."

"Eh," Bill and Kurt facefaulted.

Eevy snickered with her arms crossed, "I’d hate to say I told you so, but I did. These guys don’t care for idle chitchat."

"I noticed," Bill stood up, "What now?"

"Eevy! Let’s play!" Sovo jumped at her, "Let’s play!"

"We’ll play af-" Eevy smirked cleverly, "Let’s make a deal, boys."

"Deal?" the Pokemon leaned away.

"If you’ll listen to Bill and Kurt and do what they say until they’re done, I’ll play with you when you’re through."

"Hmm," the Pokemon glanced to each other, "OK."

They turned and sat silently in front of them, "I’m good," Eevy laughed.

"What are you staring at us for?" Will leaned away from the Professors, "What’d we do?"

"Don’t kid yourself," Foster leaned closer, "Logos."

"Ahehe, I don’t know what you’re talking about," the red on his face could be seen even with his hood.

"Oh, cut the act!" Pine snapped, "We all know who you are, so just admit it."

"I don’t have the foggiest idea what you mean," Luri smirked nervously.

"Come on, Sedna!" Palm jumped, "We know it’s you."

"Really?" Jason stepped back, "Who are we then? You don’t honestly think we’re the Elite, do you?"

"Actually, yes!" Elm shouted, "We most certainly do!"

"Why would the Elite be following beginning trainers?" Lance snickered nervously, "They’d have no reason to. Why would we be the Elite?"

"Ryujin, you’re being stubborn," Oak pushed in, "We already know who you are. Just answer us this, why?"

Will, Luri, Jason and Lance stood completely confused and annoyed, "We are not the Elite," Jason stated plainly.

"Really?" Palm narrowed one eye, "Well, your manner of dress, heights, builds and attitudes answer differently, Peruwa."

"Hypothetically, what if we were the Elite?" Luri snapped, "What would you do?"

"Probably anything you said," Ivy answered.

"But these four do have a point," Oak added, "Why would the Elite be following a group of beginning trainers?"

Lance looked over at Eevy who was petting Novo and talking to Bill. She noticed him and whirled to look away. His fist balled at his side in his upset. Medira turned away from Jason as he looked to her, causing him to slouch.

"There’s the reason," Lance suddenly answered, "Right there."

"I knew it!" Pine jumped, "I knew it! I knew there was something more than just a friendship brewing here!"

"What do you mean you knew?" Will’s eyes narrowed.

"Eevy allowed us to examine one of your letters," Elm had no idea how bad an idea it was to say that.

"WHAT?!" Lance’s voice thundered about the group as he jumped forward and grabbed onto Elm’s coat, "What did you rotten Professors read?! Where do you get off reading somebody else’s mail?! What did you tell her?! Why am I not killing you?!"

"Please calm down, Master Lance!"

"That’s Ryujin to you, ya’ little wriggler!"

"Let him go!" Luri pulled at his wrists, "Drop him! He didn’t do anything!"

"All we want to know is why you’re following them. We just want to be sure it’s nothing we need to worry about," Foster pulled Elm away.

"Nothing to worry about in any sense of the word," Will held Lance off, "It’s not really of your concern anyway."

"We should give you that, I suppose," Elm fixed his coat, "We’re sorry for angering you."

"You’d better be glad we are of equal grounds," Jason snorted, "Because if we were at all higher in the line of Pokemon than you you’d be fired right now."

"Yes, but you should still respect your elders," Oak pointed out.

"Heaven knows you’re older than us," Will smirked, triggering an evil look from each of the Professors, "And you should still respect Masters," he added.

"That’s true too. Are we on a level playing field now?" Palm asked carefully.

"I suppose," Lance crossed his arms, "But there is one thing I want to know. How did you know us?"

"Your nicknames. Starla was what Luri called herself when she was little, according to Lorelei. JP are Jason’s initials. Dragon is kind of obvious and Will is the only one left without a nickname so he must be Phantom as you are always together," Pine answered.

"Always together?" they asked together, staring at each other.

"Yes. Whether you admit it or not you are all very good friends. You care about each other," Ivy smirked a bit.

"Me care about them?" each one looked over the other three, "You must be crazy!" they shouted as they turned away and crossed their arms.

"That’s what Ash and Misty used to say," Oak pointed out, "And look at Logos and Sedna."

"Uh…" Will and Luri looked to each other blankly, "That’s different," they answered together.

"Uh huh, yeah," Foster nodded, "What’s going on between you two," he pointed between Lance and Jason, "and those two?" he pointed between Eevy and Medira, "I though out of League relationships were forbidden."

"They are," Jason looked off to the side nervously, "Why do you think they don’t know who we are?"

"It doesn’t seem to much matter at the moment anyway," Lance added, "There isn’t really much of a friendship, let alone a relationship, at the moment."

"I’m sure they’ll come around," Ivy reassured.

"I hope so," Jason stared at Medira who kept scowling at him.

"I hope you’re right," Lance at least got a small smile now and then from Eevy.

"So," Bill looked to Lovo again, "It’s just OK? No special comments or anything of the like?"

"Not really," Lovo rolled over on his back and sprawled out, "It’s just another Poke’Ball."

"Have you ever been in a regular Poke’Ball?"

"Yeah. Before the day Eevy got her Red Badge I was in a Poke’Ball."

"Was it any different?"

"A little," Lovo rolled over on his stomach only to discover Bill was laid out in front of him with his right elbow on the ground and his chin in his hand, "Why are you on the ground in that suit?"

"I find it easier to get to know a Pokemon by speaking to them at their own level. Now then, please, how was it different?"

Lovo looked puzzled for a moment, "Well, the Jolt Ball is a little more soothing."

Even the great Bill didn’t quite get that, "Soothing?"

"Yeah. The Poke’Ball was just plain metal and junk, but the Jolt Ball makes me feel different, more at home in a sense."

"Maybe a special chemical in materials he uses," Bill looked like he was thinking of something, though he was quiet.

"Hey, are you going to play with us later?" Sovo pushed in from the side, "Or are you going to be a stick in the mud like Kurt will?"

"I’d be more than happy to play with you, but in a little bit. Sit down here and talk to us."

"OK," Sovo sat down next to his brother, "What’s ya’ question?"

"Your brother tells me the special Poke’Balls make you feel more at home, right?"

"Good way of putting it. Sure, you could say that."

"More at home in what ways?"

"Uh," Sovo looked around, "There’s more of a natural feeling to it. Like this, for example," he pulled on Bill’s tie clip, "Just because this looks like a shamrock, doesn’t mean it really is and just because a Poke’Ball may seem like our home doesn’t mean it really feels that way."

"And it smells different too," Lovo added.

"Smells different?"

"Yeah. Regular Poke’Balls smell like plastic and metal but special Poke’Balls have a pretty, calming perfume smell to them. A nice, relaxing smell."

"So that’s what it is. Thank you, boys. You’ve helped a lot," he stood up and brushed off, walking to Kurt.

"No problem, any time!" Sovo called, "I like him, don’t you?"

"Yeah, he’s cool," Lovo nodded, "I hope he plays with us later."

"Gather around, everyone!" Kurt shouted after Bill had explained his theory, "Bill may have some news!"

"Well, Lovo the Jolteon and Sovo the Espeon have just helped immensely. They were telling me about a smell inside the Poke’Ball. A natural smell from inside the berries and other materials Kurt uses in the construction of the custom Poke’Balls. So it’s not really the name of the ball, it’s the scent inside it that effects how your Pokemon like it. Basically all trainers have to do is find out what their Pokemon likes the smell of and spray a perfume or spray inside the Poke’Ball. It just so happens that all Eevy’s Pokemon got lucky when they got their Poke’Balls and got the right scent every time."

"So if a Pokemon were to like the scent of raspberries the trainer would scent the ball with raspberry spray? It’s ingenious!" Ivy shouted.

"Thank you, Ms. Hikoboshi," Bill stepped over and took her hand, "You’ve helped a lot," he kissed the back of her hand, "More than you know."

"Oh," she blushed, "Thank you."

"Thank you, Ms. Hikoboshi," Kurt shook her hand, "This will help our research extremely."

"Anytime, Kurt," Eevy smiled as he walked away.

"Are we forgiven yet?" Foster whimpered as the other Professors stood cowering behind him.

"Remember what you said in Cutter Town, Eevy," Morty said carefully.

"The past is the past," Lisle concluded.

"Hmm…I’m not sure that should apply in this case," Medira mumbled.

"Me neither," Eevy snorted, "I don’t think they deserve to be forgiven."

"Please?" Foster whined, "We haven’t told a soul and we haven’t even spoken about it sense then until now."

"Hmm," Eevy and Medira looked at each other, swerving their eyes to look at the Professors now and then, "I suppose," they answered, putting out their hands.

"Thank you," Foster sighed, shaking their hands, "I have to be going now. Lots of things to do."

"I believe the same goes for all of us," Ivy shook their hands, "Thank you, Eevy."

"Hey, wait!" Sovo cried, "Hey! Bill! You said you’d play with us!"

Bill paused and turned around, seeing a droopy expression on the Espeon’s face, "I did, didn’t I?"

"Please?" the Pokemon turned out their bottom lips.

"You can go on ahead without me. I’m going to stay here for a bit," Bill waved the Professors and Kurt away.

Vovo’s stomach made a not so pleasant noise, "Eh he," he snickered, "I guess I’m kind of hungry."

"I’m more hungry than I am playful," Zovo whined.

"I think he’s right," Yovo scratched his ear.

"All you think about is food!" Eevy snapped before her stomach mimicked her Eevee’s, "Eh…Ahehe he."

"And you were yelling at them?" Sooney smirked.

"Well, I suppose I am a little hungry."

"They’re just like Ash," Misty commented with a scowl from Ash.

"I guess we could go get something to eat," Medira shrugged.

"I have a summer home here in Iris," Bill answered, "We could go there."

"You wouldn’t mind?" Brock questioned, "We don’t want to intrude."

"After they way you’ve helped me? Not at all. You’re welcome to stay the night if you’d like."

Medira smiled wide, "A real bed," she sighed, "I’m in!"

"Count us in too," Tracey smirked.

"Then let’s go."

*^~^**^~^*

"The ladies can take these rooms and you guys can have these," Bill opened a few doors.

"Thank you, Bill," Eevy thanked him again, "For this and for dinner."

"It’s no trouble," Bill waved a bit, "Good night, everyone."

"Good night, Bill!"

"Who sleeps where?" Medira scratched her head.

"There are four rooms, so I say girls take two and guys take two," Tracey answered, "There are seven guys and six girls. Three girls to a room and four guys and three guys to the others."

"Eevy, Medira and Starla can take one and Lisle, Misty and I can take the other," Sooney suggested, "Ash, Brock, Morty and Tracey can take one and Dragon, JP and Phantom can take the last one."

"Alright then. We’d all better get some sleep," Luri gave Will one last quick smile and walked into her assigned room.

Medira followed silently, looking back at JP, then dashing in the door, "No. No. No. No. No!"

Ash, Tracey, Brock and Morty went to their room obediently, "Good night!" they called just after closing the door.

Misty, Lisle and Sooney stepped in their door and all leaned out together, "Night, everybody!"

"I don’t know what you’re all staring at me for," Eevy snorted at Lance, Jason and Will, "No amount of chattering from any of you three will change my views or feelings. Good night, gentlemen," she stomped through the door and slammed it shut behind her.

"But I- but I- but I-" Lance stammered.

"Stop jabbering at yourself," Will took his wrist, "Get some sleep. You can talk to her again in the morning. That goes for you too, munchkin," he took Jason’s wrist in his other hand and pushed them through the door, "Get some rest."

Saying Goodbye

Notes

o_O Please don't ask. I don't really know myself...I put Bill and Kurt in this whole weird mix simply because I did. I figured; why not? They're fairly important characters in the game and show, so...Now, onward to the next chapter!

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