A/N: Be sure and read the ending notes! There's a small announcement!

Eevy flopped in the door of her parents’ house in Rose Town. Medira drooped in behind her, followed by most of the group who had originally gone and four others. Eevy walked into her old room, holding the door for Medira, then slamming it shut behind her. Morty shook his head, as this was pretty familiar to him. Tammy sighed and Greg yawned, as she usually wanted privacy when she closed the door that way. Ash, Misty, Brock and Tracey fumbled around for something to say or do to introduce themselves without Eevy around. A hand suddenly reached out Eevy’s bedroom door.

"Mom, dad," Eevy mumbled in a depressed tone, "That’s Ash, Misty, Brock and Tracey. Guys, this is my mother, Tammy and my father, Greg. Have fun," she closed the door again.

"Well," Tammy muttered, "What happened to them?"

"Nothing, mother," Morty mumbled, "Just very…odd…breakups. They’ll be fine in a couple of days."

"They don’t have a couple of days," Eusine poked in from his seat on the couch, "You’ve only got another five days to get to Rainbow Metro."

"AH!" a quick shout flew from the bedroom, "I forgot!" Eevy skidded out the door, "I gotta get moving. I gotta pack, I gotta train, I gotta strategize, I gotta eat, I gotta get a life," she drooped back down again, "Why me?!" she wailed.

Mizu smirked nervously, "He left again, huh? That’s too bad."

"It’s more than too bad!" Eevy pouted, "It’s absolutely horrible!"

"Stop your crying!" Yuu-Yuu suddenly snapped, "Do you want to walk into Rainbow Metro blubbering like a baby?"

"No," Eevy sniffed.

"Then straighten up, pack up, and ship out, girl! Cause you’ve got a long way to travel!"

"Yuu-Yuu’s right," Sooney put in, "You’re not going to let one guy destroy your life, are you?"

Eevy’s face hardened a bit, "No. No! I’m not. I’m going to pack. Then I’m going to eat. Then I will try to figure out a way to get to Rainbow Metro. And I will do it, and do it well."

"Good girl," Lisle laughed, "I thought we lost the real Eevy there for a minute."

"Now. To pack," she turned and looked back in her room, "This is going to take forever."

*^~^**^~^*

"Well, we’re off again," Eevy shrugged, "Bye, mom. Bye, dad."

"Don’t worry, we’ll be watching," Greg ignored the bawling Tammy who was leaning on his shoulder, "Well, your mother will be when her eyes aren’t filled up with water."

"Thanks for dinner, Mrs. Hikoboshi," Sooney waved and turned to leave.

Yuu-Yuu jumped in front of her, "Hold on! We don’t even know how we’re getting there yet!"

"I do," everyone spun to look at Eevy, "Are you thinking what I’m thinking, Morty? Eusine?"

The two she’d questioned looked to each other, smiled wide and turned back to her, "Frigate!"

"Uh huh! That little munchkin owes us a big one for helping him with that stupid paint job. Skiff had better be prepared ‘cause he’s got a whole team of people for that boat of his!"

"Skiff?" Medira questioned, "Why does that name not agree with me?"

"I don’t know," someone laughed from behind them, sending the whole group into the air, "Why does my name bother you?"

"Boy," Eevy laughed, "Skiff! Warn us the next time you pop up from behind!"

"Sorry!" he laughed, "You should see how high you jump when somebody startles you! Like a kangaroo on a trampoline."

"That’s not funny!" Lisle snapped, "Who are you, anyway?"

"Skiff Frigate’s the name and boats are my game. How’s it been, Eevy?"

"Just fine. It’s been a while."

"Uh huh. And I do admit I still owe you for helping me paint my boat, so I guess I could give you a quick ride to Rainbow Metro. You leaving now?"

"Sure are," Eevy paused, "If you can take us, anyway."

"Did I not just say I could? Let’s go on to the dock and we’ll take the Gladiola River on east to the bank of the entrance. It should take about four hours, I’d say. Unless the river’s clogged with other boats and Pokemon."

"Do we have to take the Gladiola?" Eevy whined, "Isn’t there another way in?"

"No!" Morty and Eusine shoved her from behind, "We’re going!"

"See you later, guys!" Ash waved, "I’ve gotta earn my Platinum Badge!"

"Good luck, Eevy!" Misty shouted, "Hope you get there safe!"

"Bye, everybody!" Brock called, "Train hard!"

"We’ll be behind you soon!" Tracey cried, "Good luck, everyone!"

"Thanks, guys!" Eevy shouted back, "Good luck, Ash! See you around!"

"Bye!" their mother waved, "Good luck!"

*^~^**^~^*

"Cool!" Lisle smiled wide, "Motorboats!"

"Actually, it’s going to take two boats," Skiff noted, "Can anybody else drive a boat?"

"I can!" Mizu stepped forward, "I love motorboats!"

"Great!" he threw her a set of keys, "Unlock it from the dock and pick who you’re taking."

"I’m taking Eusine, Lisle and Morty."

"I guess I get Eevy, Medira, Sooney, and Yuu-Yuu. Let’s get going," Skiff hopped off the dock and into the boat, "Come on," Sooney and Yuu-Yuu jumped right in, "You two getting in or what?"

"Uh…" Medira and Eevy whimpered.

"Oh, come on!" Morty laughed, "My little sister’s afraid of water."

"That’s not funny!" Eevy snapped and slid off into the boat, tipping it side to side, sending her into a latch around Skiff’s neck, "I HATE this river!"

"You’re fine! Please let me breathe!" Skiff pushed her off, "Air. As long as you don’t choke me, give me your hand," he pulled Medira down, "See, that wasn’t so bad…Uh…" he stopped at Eevy and Medira with their teeth chattering at the back of the boat, "You’re alright. Let’s go."

Eevy and Medira let out long shrill screams as he started the engine, "Stop it!" Sooney shouted, "You’ll be fine! It’s just water!"

"Evil water!" Medira shivered, "Evil, evil, evil water!"

Mizu started her boat from behind them with no problems, "I can’t get out until you’re out, Skiff."

"Alright then! Here we go!"

*^~^**^~^*

After about twenty minutes, Eevy and Medira’s screams had ended. They were both quivering at the front of the boat now, trying not to scream again. Yuu-Yuu had tried numerous times to strike up conversation, but she was always ignored. Skiff tried to ask about Eevy’s trip around Gertan Rin, but he too was completely ignored. Morty shouted various contests like rock skipping and stuff from the other boat, but all Eevy did was shake her head and Medira would slouch all the more. Mizu tried to ask Eevy some questions about the League and Medira about being a Gym Leader, but they just shrugged her off. Eusine and Lisle both got the cold shoulder when trying to chat as well. Sooney finally decided to try her luck.

"Eevy," Sooney started, "Are you still planning on trying to make me a Minor Mistress?" she ducked, just in case.

"Sure I am," Eevy mumbled, "I promised that, didn’t I?"

Yuu-Yuu smiled wide, "Yes, you did. Uh…What are you going to do when you meet the Elite 4?"

"If I meet the Elite 4 I’ll probably be to petrified to move."

"What about Taylor? Are you going to fire him if you get to be Champion Master?" Lisle called.

"I’m not quite sure what I’ll do with him yet. I think firing him would be a little too quick and not quite painful enough."

Mizu laughed wildly, "Good point! Will you introduce me to Luri?"

"Sure I will. I said I would and I will. Maybe I’ll bring you down to my match with her and you can meet her then."

Eusine took over the chat while Mizu sighed happily, "What about me? Are you going to make me a Mixture Master?"

"Absolutely. Why would I not?"

"You’ll have to answer that question later because we’ve got bigger problems!" Skiff shrieked, "Muk and Magcargo at eleven to two o’clock!"

"Oh no," Medira whined, "It’s that same ones from the Moss Bogs! Ki-ya! We’re all gonna die!"

"We are not!" Eevy suddenly snapped, "Skiff, head due east. No exceptions. Follow the river. I’ll take care of the ooze group."

"Are you sure?" Skiff maneuvered around a group of Muk.

"Doubting me? Go!" Eevy stood up, not remembering she was in a boat, "Sovo!"

Eevy quickly sat back down as her Espeon popped from the ball and sat in front of her, "Never stand in a boat!" Sovo snapped.

"Yeah," Eevy nodded, "Go! Novo!"

"Why are we in a boat?!" Novo cried, "And what are those doing here?!"

"Calm down! Sovo, Psychic attack, now! Novo, Water Gun, now!"

"Go, Cloyster!" Mizu called, throwing her Poke’Ball off the edge of the boat.

"Go, Alakazam!" Eusine added his.

"Go, Haunter!" Morty and Lisle put out theirs.

"Go, Seaking!" Yuu-Yuu called.

"Go, Gloom!" Sooney added.

"Go, Blackstorm!" Medira released her Umbreon.

"Go, Farfetch’d!"

"Since when do you train Pokemon?" Morty called to Skiff.

"Since I started! Farfetch’d, go!"

The boat engines roared along the river while the Pokemon followed along behind, blasting the oncoming attackers. Skiff caught a rock, popping the boat into the air. Eevy’s bag flipped out and up, slamming back down in front of her. She grabbed it and put one arm through it, watching Novo and Sovo.

"The Muk and Magcargo are doubling up!" Sooney flipped, "They’ll never do it!"

"Return! Everyone!" the entire group called, recalling their Pokemon.

"Keep driving, Skiff! Don’t stop, Mizu!" Eevy shouted, "Go as fast as the legal limit will allow!"

"No problem!" Skiff and Mizu sped up to about twice their original speed with the engines now shaking from the pressure.

"They’re still coming!" Lisle wailed, flinging her arms around Morty, "We’re not gonna make it!"

"We will too!" Morty pushed her off, "Keep driving!"

"We’re getting close!" Skiff noted, "It’s another hour from here!"

"An hour at this speed would be about what?" Eusine questioned, "Still an hour?"

"About twenty-five minutes!" Skiff answered, "Give or take ten, fifteen minutes!"

"Step on it! They’re getting closer!" Medira begged, "I don’t wanna be a Muk lunch or a Magcargo snack!"

"You won’t be!" Mizu dodged a rock, "Not if we can just keep up this pace!"

"You’d better!" Lisle snorted, "Or I’ll get you both!"

"OK, OK!" Skiff waved his hand at her, "We’ll be fine, but I’m not sure the boats can take this!"

"WHAT?!" Eevy screamed, "They’d better, Skiff, or I’ll turn you into a scuff!"

"We’re almost there! Ten more minutes!"

"Go faster!" Medira growled, "I want to live to see another day!"

"We will, we will!" Mizu rolled her eyes, "Just don’t stand up!"

"No fake!" Yuu-Yuu snorted.

"There!" Skiff flipped, "There’s the entrance gate!"

"Hurry up!" Eevy freaked, "Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry!"

"I know!" he pushed her back, "I need air and space to breath!"

"Ah!" Sooney flew into Eevy’s back, "They’re right there!"

"Faster, Skiff! Move it, Mizu!" Morty shouted.

"If we don’t go faster we’re all gonna get eaten!" Eusine flipped, "Go faster!"

"I’m going as fast as I can!" Skiff and Mizu snapped in unison, "What do you want me to do? Fly there?"

"If it’ll go quicker!" everyone else spat.

"Here goes nothing!" Skiff veered to the left, coming to a screeching halt on the bank of the river, just outside the City gate, "Hurry up, come on, go!"

Mizu arced to a hard left, slamming into the bank beside Skiff’s boat and jumping out, "Come on!"

The Muk and Magcargo came to an oozy stop behind the boats. They knew better than to come on land in front of this place. This place was a place for many trainers, some of which may want to capture them. They turned tail and sludged away. Everyone fell to the ground to sit, sighing heavily and panting.

"Good driving," Lisle gagged.

"Thanks," Skiff and Mizu answered.

Eevy stood up and brushed off, "Well. Let’s go."

"Are you nuts?" Yuu-Yuu questioned completely seriously.

"After what we just went through?" Sooney drooped.

"What ever happened to ‘don’t let one guy ruin your life’? Well, don’t let a freak accident with Muk and Magcargo ruin yours!" Medira stood up.

"Let me tell you something," Eusine wobbled to stand, "Them chasing us was no ‘freak accident’. They’d been planning that for days."

"Fine," Eevy and Medira shrugged with Eevy continuing, "We’ll go alone then and you can just fight your way in," they both started walking away with everyone jumping up behind them.

"You coming, Skiff?" Yuu-Yuu asked as he brushed off.

"I might as well. My boats can’t go anywhere right now," he pouted along behind her, thinking of his precious, now mutilated, motorboats.

*^~^**^~^*

Most of the group was getting fed up with the line, but Eevy and Medira seemed unfazed. It was wait a few minutes, take two steps, wait a few minutes, take two steps…Over and over and over again. It had been about two hours since they got there and they were finally next in line. Eevy flopped in front of the gate and opened her bag. The gatekeeper took the scanner and scanned each Badge. Each one made a slight beep, but one sent off a buzzer.

"Oh dear," Victor moaned, "Seems this Badge is chipped."

"WHAT?!" Eevy whipped the bag around, "OH NO!!"

Sure enough, the tip of the Red Badge was chipped off. Eevy made whimpering and choking noises, trying to figure out when that could have happened. Then she remembered when her bag had been thrown into the air and slammed down on the boat. Victor aroused her attention again.

"Sorry, but I can’t let you in with a chipped Badge."

"What?!" Mizu pleaded, "You can’t do that! Most of us saw her win it! You’ve got to let her in!"

"You’d better let her in or else!" Medira threatened.

"Or else what?" Victor scowled, "Move out of the way of I will call security."

"Go right ahead!" Morty snorted, "Can I vogue for it? I’m a Gym Leader."

"Not of the Red Badge you’re not. Sorry, out of the way."

"Hold it a minute there," someone caught their sight from beside the building, "Let me see that Badge."

"What are you doing out here?" Victor stared at him.

"Give me the Badge," the guy’s hand stretched out towards them, showing a dark blue cloak and coat.

Eevy gagged suddenly, "B-b-b-but you’re," she started quivering, "You’re," she quickly put her head down and handed him the Badge, "Excuse the interruption, Master Ryujin."

"No interruption at all," he smirked and studied the Red Badge, "Looks legit to me," he threw it to Victor, "Let them in."

"But I-"

"I said," he reached and pulled his brother to eye level, "let them in," he dropped Victor and glanced to Eevy, musing away silently, "I can’t believe she made it here already. Not even a day’s worth of traveling. Then this little pipsqueak of a brother of mine plays Mr. Big and tries to keep her out. Little weasel. But her," Eevy was too busy scowling at Victor as he punched on the keyboard to notice how intently Lance kept glancing at her, "She’s so beautiful. I can’t let this little rat keep her out. No way," he let his sight travel from head to toe and back again about a dozen times, "She’s just perfect. She’s got a long way to go, but I know she’ll do it. She’s just got to. If she doesn’t I don’t know what I’ll do," she then noticed his traveling eyes, sending him in a frenzy to look away and sent her into an embarrassed smile.

"Uh huh," Victor quivered and stepped away, "Go! Hurry up before I get in trouble!"

Eevy snatched the Badge from his hand, "Thank you," she snorted, "I thank you, Master Ryujin."

"Thank you, Master Ryujin," the others echoed and bowed behind her.

He turned and waved backwards to them, "No problem," he started walking away, "Call me Lance. I look forward to when we may battle."

"Uh huh," the group’s heads wobbled up and down.

Victor stuffed Victoria to take the Badges and ran up behind Lance, "Why’d you make me do that?! I could get in a lot of trouble, ya’ know!"

"You will not. I saw her win that Badge. She’s probably the most well earned trainer competing."

"Saw her win it? What in the world does that mean?"

"She used to be on PKMN TV. I watched the Gym match. Would you please stop interrogating me?"

"Oh," Victor snickered as he walked away, "Lance likes a beginning trainer. Cute."

"That was not something you see every day," Lisle commented, "Master Lance Ryujin helping out a beginning trainer. Freaky."

"Uh hmm," Skiff nodded, "That’s really weird."

"Oh well," Medira shrugged, "He got us in, didn’t he?"

"Yep," Eusine stopped and looked side to side, "Where’d Eevy go?"

"There she is. What’s she doing?" Yuu-Yuu cocked her head.

"An old trainer tradition," Morty answered, "Supposedly if you stop and light a candle at the Elite Icon and wish hard enough that you’ll win you’ll have better luck."

After sitting and staring at her candle for a good ten minutes, Eevy stood up and bowed slowly, "I wish I will do my best," she mumbled, "and nothing less," she turned around and shrugged, "Never know! It might work!"

"You don’t need wishes or luck to do good!" Sooney butted in, "You’ll do great anyway!"

"Where are we supposed to go now?" Mizu looked back and forth.

Eevy slightly laughed, "You guys can go where you like. I have to go get my stuff."

"I’m going to the Exhibit Hall!" Mizu grabbed Eusine’s wrist, "And so are you!"

"We’ll be wandering around," Morty walked off with Lisle close behind.

Sooney ran to the front gate to wait for Tracey and the group and Yuu-Yuu stood nervously in front of Skiff, "Hey! I know!" she snatched his wrist, surprising him a bit, "Let’s go to the Library!"

"No need to pull me! I can walk on my own!" Skiff wailed as she dragged him along.

"What about you?" Eevy turned to Medira, "Where are you going to?"

"I’m staying with you. I think we could both use the company," Medira answered, "You mind?"

"Not in the slightest bit," Eevy sighed as the two headed for the League Pokemon Center.

*^~^**^~^*

As usual, it was the same music as in every Pokemon Center in every city that caught Eevy and Medira’s ears as they walked in the door. The sight of yet another Nurse Joy really got to them, as it usually did. Medira again started thinking of the possibility that the Joys could be clones. She whispered this to Eevy, triggering loud laughter that aroused the Nurse.

"Can I help either of you?" she asked in an overly confused tone.

"Oh," Eevy snickered, "Yes, I came to compete in this year’s tournament."

"May I please see your Poke’Dex?" Nurse Joy punched away at buttons on the Poke’Dex and computer, "Breeder and owner of all twelve Badges. Impressive," she continued pushing buttons and jabbering to herself, "Alright then. I’ll need you to synchronize your watch and Poke’Dex with that clock over there on the wall," she waited for Eevy and Medira to fix their watches while she fixed Eevy’s Poke’Dex, "Your first match is with Miss Marci Antoni on the Water Field. You should be sure and be there about ten minutes early. It’s scheduled to start at precisely two o’clock in the afternoon this Friday."

"So I have three days to think. That’s good," Eevy turned to Medira who nodded agreeably, "Is there anything else?"

"Yes. How many people in your group will be staying in the City?"

"Uh…" Medira thought, "There’s the five original girls, Skiff, Lisle, Eusine and Morty. Nine."

"Pretty big. All right then. Will anyone be sharing rooms?"

"I’ll share with Medira," Eevy noted at Medira’s nod, "Eusine with Mizu and Morty with Lisle. The other three girls can share."

"Skiff gets his own room?!" Medira snorted sarcastically, "Eww. Anyway, that would make five rooms all together."

"Alright then. Down the street and take a right and then your third left. You’ll come to a large white building. It’s impossible to miss. Your group’s going to get rooms twenty through twenty-four," she threw them five different keys, "Fight amongst yourselves about who gets which."

"Thank you very much, Nurse Joy," Eevy and Medira turned and started to walk away, bumping into someone and stopping at the sound of falling Poke’Balls.

"Oh!" the girl said, "I am so sorry!" she gathered up her Poke’Balls and Eevy’s, "Oh. Your Poke’Balls are so pretty."

"Thank you," Eevy brushed off and took her Poke’Balls, "I’m sorry…um…"

"Marci. Marci Antoni," she smiled and shook Eevy’s now stunned arm, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, it’s just. You’re my first opponent!"

"I am? Oh. So you’re Eevy. What a coincidence. I wish you the best of luck, even if you are my opponent."

"Yeah, same here. Good luck, Marci," she waved as the girl walked by.

"Good luck, Eevy!" Marci continued walking, "See you Friday!"

"Oh man," Eevy drooped, "I was really hoping not to meet her until Friday."

"It’s alright! You’ll beat ‘er anyway!" Medira assured.

"Yeah!" Eevy and Medira started walking to find everyone wherever they may have gone to in the City.

*^~^**^~^*

"WHAT?!" Eusine and Morty bugged out together, "What do you mean we’ll share rooms with them?!"

"I thought you would," Eevy smirked nervously, "There’re two beds. You’ll live," she turned and walked down the hall.

"But-but-but-but," they stammered together, "I won’t do it!"

"You…won’t?" two separate whimpers came from behind them as they spun around.

"Lisle! I-I-I-I-"

"Mizu! Uh-um-uh-"

"Don’t even finish your stupid excuse!" Lisle snapped, "I’ve had just about enough of your attitude, Morty, and frankly, I would adore it if I never had to put up with you again!"

"I don’t even want to here your dumb reasons!" Mizu spat, "Your excuse for this wouldn’t be any better than those for your gambling problem! Get a life and stay out of mine!"

"I-I-I-I-I didn’t mean it the way it sounded, Lisle! I swear!"

"That’s not what I meant, Mizu! I really didn’t mean it like that!"

"Do the men in your family always have this much trouble with women?" Sooney whispered to Eevy.

"Hmm," Eevy thought about it for a minute or two, "Actually yes. It’s usually us girls that have the easy time," she started laughing as Yuu-Yuu and Sooney facefaulted with Skiff snickering beside them.

"Why does that not surprise me?" Yuu-Yuu moaned.

"I really, really, really didn’t mean it!" Eusine and Morty whined in unison.

"I don’t care," Mizu and Lisle both turned away.

Morty bolted up behind Lisle, "What? What do you want from me?"

"I want the truth!" Lisle snapped and scowled straight through him, "Do you love me or not?" she emphasized each word.

"The same exact thing goes for you!" Mizu growled, "What about you? Do you actually love me or don’t you?"

"Of course I do!" they answered again in unison.

"Then say it!" Lisle stomped forwards a step, "Say it to me!"

"If it’s true tell me!" Mizu barked and stepped up, "Say it!"

"They have a point," Medira interrupted, "I’ve never heard either of you actually say it. Whine it when they threatened you, yes, but actually sit and say it, no."

"Is that really your problem?" Morty put his hand on Lisle’s now shaking shoulder, "Is that what this is about?"

"Uh huh," Lisle whimpered and dropped her head, "You never have actually told me."

"Is that what’s up with you too?" Eusine turned toward Mizu but stayed back, "Is that really what’s been bothering you?"

"Yes," Mizu whispered, "I’m afraid you’re just in me for kicks."

"Don’t even imply such things!" Eusine snapped, "Never would I even think such disgusting things!"

"If that’s what you’re thinking too, don’t," Morty shook his head, "Because it’s not true."

"Then tell me!" Mizu and Lisle whipped around and got right in Morty and Eusine’s faces, "Say it."

"Uh…I…" Morty swallowed hard, "I-I love you, Lisle Illusion."

"Morty!" Lisle attached herself to Morty’s shoulders, "I love you too."

"Well?" Mizu slightly snapped, "What about you?"

Eusine nodded to himself, "I love you, Ms. Mizu Mist."

"You didn’t even hesitate!" Mizu shouted, flinging her arms around Eusine, "I love you!"

"Glad that’s worked out," Skiff sighed before turning and bumping into Yuu-Yuu, "Sorry!" he jumped away.

"How old are you, anyway?" Yuu-Yuu narrowed one eye, "Twenty? Twenty-one?"

"Boy, are you way off!" Skiff laughed, "I’m fifteen."

"You look a lot older."

"Doesn’t he?" Eevy commented, "He looks like he’s about my age but he’s actually quite a few years younger. Seven years, actually. He acts a lot older too."

"Yeah," he waved her away, "That’s from hanging around your brother too much."

"Uh huh, blame him."

"I’m not blaming anyone."

"Sure sounds like you are to me," Yuu-Yuu jumped in, "Other than his bad habits, what did he teach you?"

"Like what?" Skiff whimpered and leaned away.

"Did he tell you how to kiss?"

"I…don’t know."

"Let me find out," Yuu-Yuu jumped and kissed him somewhat lightly, jumping away again, "Um…You’re OK."

Skiff blinked a few times, "Uh, yeah. Thanks, I think."

"OK! Enough!" Eevy pulled the giggling Yuu-Yuu away, "We all need to get some sleep. We’ve got a lot of planning and training to do in the next few days."

"Uh huh," Medira nodded vigorously, "Can’t have a tired group trying to train for the League, can we?"

"Let’s go," Morty pulled Lisle along, "I’ll share a room, but not a bed."

"Same here," Eusine dragged Mizu behind him, "Maybe in a few years."

"Tomorrow, the real training begins," Eevy looked out the window up at the silver moon.

Biggest Battle Yet

Notes

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