"Uh…" Will paused as he looked at the front door, "I think we’ve got a message."

Sure enough, in between the screen and main doors was an envelope. On the front was printed a Dragonite’s head, symbolizing that it was for Lance and no one else. Lance carefully plucked it from the door and opened it.

"Great," he moaned, "I’m in trouble now."

"What’s wrong?" Jason asked and tried his best to look over Lance’s shoulder, "Something’s up, isn’t it?"

"Yeah," Lance swallowed, "Kratos wants to talk to me. Alone."

Luri cringed, "Eee," she shook, "Alone with the pres. Not good."

"I’d better head over there and get this done with. It’s been nice knowing you," he was only half joking as he walked away.

"Good luck," Will nodded as Lance disappeared down the walk, "You may need it."

*^~^**^~^*

"You," Lance swallowed, "wanted to see me, sir?"

"Yes, I did," Kratos’ deep voice echoed, "And I still do. I’ve noticed some odd behavior in you lately, Ryujin."

"Odd, sir? What-"

"Did I give you permission to speak?"

"No, sir."

"I didn’t think so. Now, I heard about your little ‘chat’ with the girl on the bridge, in the stair well and outside her League residence. Then, I hear you calling her into the Stadium hall without my consent, and then I am informed that you fought with her and then allowed her to literally walk all over you! And to add onto that you then engaged in an unannounced and unqualified battle with the same girl! And LOST! What do you expect me to do with you now?! Not only are you growing hard with the competitors, but soft in battle! I have a good mind to kick you from the Elite!"

Lance’s fists balled shakily at his sides, "I am truly sorry, sir."

"Sorry won’t cut it anymore! You, Sedna, Logos and Peruwa have all been told about out of League relationships and so far only two of you have followed my orders. As far as I know, Peruwa hasn’t gone quite as far as you have. Now, I know you all are at that stage where you’re longing for someone to settle down with, but you know the reasons out of League love affairs are not permitted, do you not?"

"Yes, sir. I do."

"What are they?"

"They can slow the trainer down. They can give the trainer an ego. They can slow us down. They can distract both the trainers and us. They can destroy our training time, etc. etc…At least if we were both Elite, we could train together and so on and so forth."

"Thank you. At least I know you pay attention at one point or another. I’ve also noticed you’ve been acting a touch on the evil side lately."

"Evil?"

"Is there and echo in here?"

"Actually yes, sir. There is."

"…Be quiet…And yes, evil! Do you care to explain why?"

"Well…I guess I’m just worried."

"Now you’re "guessing" you’re "just worried"? Give me a straight answer!"

"I’m uptight and in a training rut, sir."

"That’s a bit better, but still not a clear cut answer as to why you hit her like that."

"How did you-"

"I know a lot more than you think. If you’re worried, which you are, whether you admit it or not, that’s understandable. But getting that violent with her is still not like you. You can tell me and I will not go to any extent."

"I’m worried about her safety, sir. I fear what Peter will do if she is Champion. I must admit, I’m a bit scared."

"Worried? Fear? Scared? Those aren’t words I never thought would describe you. It is good that you’ve admitted it though. When you’re afraid or upset you turn a tad violent?"

"Yes," Lance looked to the floor, "Ask my brother and sister."

"All right. That I can accept, but the battle and the romantic lapses are another story. The lovey-dovey moments I can forget, simply because I find it good to have you on the team, but that battle is a bit too much to handle. Plus the fact, you lost."

"I’m planning on putting in quite a bit more training. That is, if I’m staying."

Kratos took a long, deep breath, "In light of your recent loss, I will be assigning a Temporary Champion to pick up if you happen to lose."

"Temporary…Champion?"

*^~^**^~^*

"Well," Will smirked as Lance returned, "He made it back alive. How’d it go?"

"Not so good," he slumped down in the chair, "Listen closely, because I'm only going to say this once…"

*^~^**^~^*

Eevy looked thoughtfully into her cup and sighed, "Weird," she muttered, watching the rings in the drink flow, "Why did I challenge him like that? And how did he lose?" she blew into the drink to cool it down, "And how did I win?"

"Hey," Medira slid onto the stool next to her, "You OK?"

"I’m fine, thank you," she didn’t look away from the drink, "Just thinking."

"Is that mug of tea telling you something?" Medira asked, trying to get Eevy to at least snicker.

"No," Eevy shook her head, "Though I wish it would."

Medira ordered tea for herself and looked back to Eevy, "Are you sure you’re alright?"

"Just fine, Medira," she took a sip of her tea, "Just fine."

*^~^**^~^*

"You know," Skiff chewed his gum, "You get to use six Pokemon from this round on."

"Yeah, I know. You’ve already said that about ten times," Eevy nodded, "We’ve got to get up there, Medira. See you later after I win, guys!"

"She’s acting a bit better," Eusine shrugged, "I hope she doesn’t let her temper get in the way of her battle today."

"You forget who you’re talking about," Morty cracked, "Eevy has a tendency to let her anger power her thoughts and creativity. She’ll probably do twice as well as she has since she’s so mad."

"The round seven battles are about to begin in Spectral Stadium!" the speakers called across the entire City, "If you’re getting seats, get them now because these are six on six battles and promise to be one walloping show!"

"He talks about them like their movies at a theater or stories in a book!" Lisle snorted, "I hate that guy."

"Yeah," Mizu added, "He isn’t exactly the smartest of all people."

The group filed in the eastern entrance, passing and waving to Medira and Eevy as they went. Eevy and Medira stood waiting for the announcement to head in while Morty fought for close to front row seats.

"The next battle is now to start on the Rock Field! Entering from the eastern gate are Rose Town, Nanka Trainer Evangelina Hikoboshi and her Arena-Side Coach Dogwood City, Nanka Trainer Medira Kurayami!"

"This Field is a lot different than the others we’ve faced," Medira mumbled to Eevy, "Those rocks make a big difference. If you break them you could get Berries or stones flying at you. Sometimes they’re your only chance at winning."

"I’ll do fine," Eevy reassured as the podiums rose up, "I beat Lance, did I not?"

"Yeah…I guess."

"The other half of this battle is entering from the western entrance now! Shard City, Hokubu Trainer Gloria Maia!"

"I saw you’re battle with Lance last night," Gloria smirked, "You’re good, but I’m better."

"Are you sure about that?" Eevy cracked back at her, "I’ve got more than just my Jolteon."

"I say we start things off with a nice pink Pokemon! Go! Ditto!"

"Easy victory. I planned for a Ditto long ago," Eevy mused, "I choose you, Sovo!"

"Alright, Ditto! Transform!" Gloria called as her Ditto transformed into an Espeon, "Oh my," Gloria snickered, "However will you tell them apart?"

"Easily," Eevy sneered, "Go, Sovo! Show them your Quick Attack!"

"Ditto! Agility!"

"Stop, Sovo! Use Swift attack now!"

Sovo started his Quick Attack but slowed and changed to a Swift. The gold stars ripped forward, slapping about at Ditto. Even Ditto’s stolen Agility attack couldn’t save it from Sovo’s more accurate than most Swift attack. Sovo stepped away as his attack ended, swinging his tail nastily in the air behind him, crouched down in the front.

"Ditto! Take Down!"

"Sovo! Double Team!"

Sovo multiplied himself ten fold, leaving Ditto in the center, searching frantically for the real one. Every time he caught a glimpse of Sovo he would disappear again. Sovo was snickering away at him as he watched the Espeon transformed Ditto try desperately to see him.

"Ditto! Use Foresight!"

"Sovo," Eevy smiled wide, "Bite attack now."

"Bite attack?!" Gloria bugged, "No way!"

Sovo and his imaginary clones jumped forward. Ditto flipped out as the entire group lunged at him. Only one connected however, from behind. Ditto shot into the air with Sovo clinging to his tail with his mouth. Ditto flopped down, oozing back to his pink self, and drooped into a puddle.

"Ah!" Gloria gagged, "Ditto! You did great. You’d better return," she looked up nastily at Eevy who stood with her right hand on her hip and the other down to her side, "Quite a defiant pose you’re in there," Gloria cracked, "Feeling cocky?"

"Is that really of your business?" Eevy smirked, "Call your next Pokemon."

"I choose you! Gligar!"

"Gligar," Medira nodded, "OK."

"Keep at it, Sovo," Eevy gave a toothy half grin, "Go!"

"You can do it, Gligar!" Gloria shouted, "Go and show them your Poison Sting!"

"Fight it off with a Barrier and Light Screen attack!"

Sovo’s pink bubble of Psychic energy roared around him in one swift shot. The needles of the Poison Sting connected with a glass shard sound and clunked to the ground with the same noise. Gloria growled slightly, not remembering that her Espeon could do that.

"Gligar! Use your Toxic!"

"Sovo! Agility now!"

Sovo jumped away with Gligar flying after him. The Toxic zipped to the ground behind him as Sovo ran faster. Gligar then started in with a Fury Cutter, swinging once and missing. A second time and missing. The third was a direct hit into Sovo’s back. He cried out nastily with a tough shriek. Eevy shot up straight, not letting on the fact she had felt that too. The Fury Cutter hit twice more, affecting both Sovo and Eevy. Sovo took one step forward and coughed. He looked to Medira and then to Eevy and fell to his right.

"Ah!" Eevy wailed, "Sovo! I think you’d better return," she looked up at Gloria who was congratulating her Gligar on his ‘wonderful win’ as she called it, "I choose Novo!"

"Gligar," Gloria called, "That one’s a really good opponent. Watch yourself closely and you should be all right. Sludgebomb attack!"

"Novo, Water Gun it away!"

Novo let out a rush of water into the Sludgebomb as it flew toward him. The water pushed it away and off to the side where it exploded into a puddle of sticky goo. Novo stepped forward twice and hesitated back once.

"Cut attack!"

"Contact Tail Whip!"

Novo back-flipped forward, swinging his tail up and over and colliding with Gligar’s head. Gligar cried and flipped backward, skidding on the ground on his back for a moment. He stood up and bounced into the air for a retaliating Faint Attack. Novo jumped away and shot a Bubblebeam into his side, sending him zipping into Gloria’s platform with a long stream of fizz flying from his side. He flopped down and spit out a bubble with a slight moan.

"Gligar!" Gloria cried, "Poor thing. You tried your best, return. Go, Shuckle!"

"Shuckle?" Medira raised an eyebrow before toppling over in laughter, "What kind of decision is it to use a Shuckle in a League battle?!"

"Hold it there, Medira," Eevy halted her laughing fit, "She’s got something planned. You can see it on her face."

"You bet I do!" Gloria cackled, "Shuckle! Sandstorm attack! Small damage to pay for beating on the opponent."

The sandy funnel cloud tore forward, ripping and tearing past the boulders around them. Some burst into rocks and added to the torturing pain in the twisting sand. Novo hissed in pain as he was pulled into the attack and beat upon by the flying silt and stone. The tornado threw him up and out, slamming him into one of the large bedrock boulders on the field, which exploded and shot sharp stones into his back. Novo rolled off and fought to stand. His legs collapsed underneath him, sending him back down.

"Oh," Eevy breathed sympathetically, "You had better take a good long rest. I choose you now, Lovo!"

Gloria choked, "That’s the one she used against Lance," she muttered, "Keep your focus up, Shuckle!"

"Go, Lovo," Eevy said in a calm and dry voice, "Take Down attack."

Shuckle stood with nothing to do and nowhere to go to save himself. Gloria was screaming to him to get out of the way, but he was too petrified by the evil looking Jolteon flying towards him to go anywhere. Lovo slammed into him, popping him up into the air. Shuckle pulled himself inside his shell, cowering inside as he flew towards the ground. He landed with the sound of a rock hitting concrete.

"Great hit, Lovo!" Medira cheered, "Now try shocking it, Eevy."

"Yeah," Eevy nodded, "Lovo," she pointed to Shuckle, "Thunderbolt."

"Shuckle! Get up and get away!" Gloria freaked.

Shuckle refused to leave his shell as Lovo lit into him with a Thunderbolt. Lovo’s attack stopped and he cocked his head at the shell in front of him. He walked to where one of the rocks from Novo’s battle had been and started digging. He dug about a two foot hole, walked over, picked Shuckle’s shell up, and dropped him in the hole. He then proceeded to start burying him with the audience laughing as hard as Niagara Falls crashes.

"Hey!" Gloria jumped, "Knock it off! Leave my Shuckle alone!"

"Lovo," Eevy scolded, "You let him go."

Lovo looked at Eevy with a pouty face but stepped away long enough for Gloria to recall her Shuckle, "Shuckle, return! Big bully!" she snorted at Lovo who gave a dog-type shrug, "Here’s one you can’t beat. Go, Onix!"

"Doesn’t she know Jolteon learn a Fighting- type attack?" Medira mused, "Or is she fooling with us?"

"Lovo," Eevy called her Pokemon’s attention, "Electric- attacks don’t work on Ground- types so don’t try that. Listen to what I say and take it in. Now start out with an Agility!"

"I thought as much," Gloria snickered, "Slam!"

Lovo started out his Agility perfectly, tearing towards Onix’s left side. The appearance of a tail slamming down in front of him halted that idea. He sat down while running and skidded to a burning halt just before ramming into the hulking rock body flopped down in front of him. He looked up and cringed at the huge rock face staring at him. His ears drooped to the sides of his face as a surprise Iron Tail swung at him.

"No, Lovo!" Eevy cried as Lovo was thrown away by the swinging tail.

Lovo bounced along the ground on his back, slamming to a stop and hearing, "Onix! Dragonbreath attack, now!"

"Dragonbreath?!" Medira flipped, "Watch out, Lovo!"

The Jolteon struggled to stand, fighting with all his might. Just as he got on all fours, the Dragon attack plowed his left side. He skidded back to his right, slamming sideways into Eevy’s podium. The Dragonbreath continued hitting him into the platform and finally died down. Lovo flopped off, stumbling to his left, then his front, then right, and finally falling to his right, crying and hissing at the same time.

"Poor thing. You’d better take a long rest," Eevy recalled her Pokemon, "I’ve got Zovo, Vovo and Yovo left. What should I use?" she mused silently, "I choose you!"

"A Fire- type against a Rock/Ground- type?" Gloria cocked her eyebrow, "Whatever. Go, Onix! Use your Rock Throw!"

"Zovo, Flamethrower!"

Zovo let out a rip of fire towards the oncoming boulders. The fire pushed the rocks back, holding them off. When Zovo halted his attack, they simply flopped straight down, yards from their target. Gloria drooped and Eevy smirked.

"Onix! Use Earthquake!"

"Zovo! Throw yourself into the air with a Fire Spin!"

Zovo looked down, firing his Fire Spin onto the hard stone of the Rock Field. He flew into the air, spiraling with the spinning of the fire that propelled him along. Onix’s Earthquake thundered through the arena, causing Eevy, Gloria and Medira to hold the bars of their podiums to stay up. Onix looked up as Zovo flew downwards. The Flareon surprised everyone by landing on Onix’s head.

"Zovo! Good!" Medira cheered, "Good job!"

"OK, Zovo!" Eevy smiled wide, "Fire Blast!"

"Onix, no!" Gloria wailed.

Zovo launched his fire into Onix’s eyes. The Rock Snake roared in pain and flung his head side to side, throwing Zovo away. Eevy’s Flareon was thrown across the arena and slammed down in front of her podium. Onix flailed for a few moments before also falling. Both Zovo and Onix were taken from the line-up.

"You did great! Return!" Gloria called, "You deserve a rest."

"You did such a good job, Zovo. You’d better rest," Eevy cried, "I choose you, Vovo!"

"Alright then," Gloria grinned, "Miltank!"

"Miltank?" Medira cocked her eyebrow, "I’m not going to laugh after that stupid Shuckle."

"OK, Miltank. It’s time for a battle! Get ready!"

"Let’s go, Vovo! Take that dairy dingbat out! Show them your Take Down!"

"Miltank! Stomp it!"

Vovo charged forward, the crowd cheering at a mile a minute, obviously remembering his battle from the day before. His Take Down connected with Miltank’s right shoulder. Miltank swung, slamming Vovo to the ground and Stomping down on his tail.

"Kiya!" Vovo shrieked and bounced into the air, "My tail!"

"Great shot, Miltank! Now show him your Body Slam!"

"Vovo, Agility now!"

Miltank’s hefty body rammed the ground, but no Vovo. She stood up and looked around the entire arena blankly. There was absolutely no sign of him, at least not to her. Vovo was there, just invisible to Gloria and her. Eevy watched Vovo skid around the confused cow.

"Miltank! Icy Wind! Fill the arena with ice!"

Miltank started up her ice attack, frosting the ground with a think blanket of ice. Vovo stopped in his tracks and blew on his freezing paws to warm them. He looked over at Miltank and took his chance with a Skull Bash attack. Miltank leaned back and retaliated into him with a Fire Punch. Vovo cried out as he flopped away. As he hit the ground, the ice around him melted, revealing some of the arena.

"OK, Miltank! Earthquake!"

"Vovo, look out!"

The Earthquake shook the Stadium, sending Eevy and Medira to the ground. Gloria stood as if to be unfazed and Vovo was popped into the air. Eevy choked at the sight of her prized Eevee flying through the air, shrieking painfully. Vovo slammed to the ground, slipping back about three yards before coming to a painful halt in the middle of the arena. Eevy’s heart stopped and Medira could hear her inhaling short, quick, gagging breaths.

"V-Vovo," Eevy choked, "My baby," she stumbled to the bar, holding with one hand, "I don’t believe it," she slipped to her knees, still holding the bar in one hand, "How could that thing beat Vovo?"

"Eevy," Medira pulled herself up with the edge of Eevy’s platform, "Do you want to quit?"

"No," Eevy snapped, "Vovo, I’m proud of you. Take a rest. I choose, Moon Ball!"

"We can beat that easy," Gloria boasted, "Go, Miltank. Thunder Punch!"

"Yovo, you’re my last chance, but I have faith in you. Go! Quick Attack!"

Yovo Quick Attacked into Miltank’s oncoming fist. He took the thundering hit but popped the attack back into Miltank’s face. Miltank stepped back and turned around, rubbing her nose where she punched herself. Yovo jumped back, hissing wildly.

"Yovo! Hurry! While it’s still recuperating, use your Faint Attack!"

The Umbreon lunged forward, crashing into Miltank’s back. The cow flailed on one foot momentarily and flopped down face-first onto the ground. Yovo again attacked, but this time with a Pursuit. Miltank coughed once as Yovo hopped up and down on top of her back. Yovo skidded away as Gloria flipped at the sight of her downed Miltank.

"Ah!" Gloria wailed, "Great job, Miltank. You’d better return now."

"Super battling, Yovo!" Eevy cheered, "Great!"

Gloria looked up at Eevy with a nasty scowl and an evil grin, "Translate this name. Go, Hebi Bushi!"

"Hebi Bushi…" Medira muttered, "If I’ve learned anything from you, Eevy, I’d say that means snake warrior," she paused, "Snake warrior?!"

"You’re right," Eevy nodded, "It does mean snake warrior."

"You’re good," Gloria snickered, "Hebi Bushi is my strongest Pokemon."

"Dexter2," Eevy grabbed at her Poke’Dex, "Analyze!"

"Pokemon number 24. Arbok."

Eevy looked away from the Poke’Dex for a moment, "Arbok. I should’ve known by the name. Keep going, Dexter2."

"Poison. Breeding groups of Ground and Dragon. The evolved form of Ekans. Evolves at level 22. Found on routes 3, 4, 26-27, 42, Mount Silver, 57, and Moss Bogs. Mostly a nocturnal Pokemon. It is rumored that the ferocious warning markings on its belly differ from area to area. Transfixing prey with the face-like pattern on its belly, it binds and poisons the frightened victim. With a very vengeful nature, it won't give up the chase, no matter how far, once it targets its prey. To intimidate foes, it spreads its chest wide and makes eerie sounds by expelling air from its mouth. General Status…OK. Hit Points…250. Attack…200. Defense…160. Special Attack…140. Special Defense…170. Speed…180."

"Dexter2," Medira pulled out her own Poke’Dex, "Give me a list of the potential moves, natural, egg and Machine, that Arbok has the capabilities to learn."

"Pokemon: Arbok. Natural moves: Wrap, Leer, Poison Sting, Bite, Glare, Screech, Acid and Haze. Egg moves: Pursuit, Crunch, Beat-Up, Slam, and Spite. Technical Machine moves (TM): 02, 03, 06, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19-21, 26-28, 32, 34-36, 44-46. Hidden Machine moves (HM): 04."

"It’s got a pretty wide range of attacks," Medira moaned, "Those TMs offer a long list of types."

"Alright," Eevy nodded, "Thanks. Yovo, its just you and me now. Go! Use your Tackle!"

"Show him your Wrap attack!"

Yovo make the mistake of Tackling straight into Hebi Bushi’s Wrapping tail. Hebi Bushi coiled around Yovo as he tried to pull away. Yovo pulled and flailed against the choking pressure of the Arbok’s tail.

"Hebi Bushi! Use your Bite attack!"

"Yovo! Duck!"

Yovo’s ears went straight up as he pulled himself down into Hebi Bushi’s twisted tail. Hebi Bushi chomped down on his own tail, sitting for a moment before he finally realized what he did and his eyes started to water. He flipped into pain mode and unwrapped from Yovo. As he de-coiled, the tip of his tail smashed Yovo’s face, leaving the now signature Ovo scars.

"Hebi Bushi! Don’t let him get away with that! Use your Sludgebomb!"

"Yovo! Agility!"

Yovo jumped away as the glue like acid splattered about the arena, melting what was left of the ice from the battle before it. Yovo slipped to his left, bracing himself on Gloria’s podium and pushing off for a backwards Take Down into Hebi Bushi’s side. Hebi Bushi and Yovo both flew backwards, slamming to the ground. Yovo jumped up an away, but noticed Hebi Bushi wasn’t getting up.

"What?!" Gloria bugged, "Get up, Hebi Bushi! Get up!"

"He can’t," Medira snickered, "He’s caught in his own attack."

"He’s stuck in that goopy gluey glop you kept shooting through the match," Eevy smirked, "He’s stuck fast with the Sludgebomb and Toxic attacks you kept throwing."

Hebi Bushi flailed and pulled, hissing and desperately biting at Yovo who sat just out of his reach, snickering. Yovo stood up and stepped back twice, ran and Headbutted Hebi Bushi as hard as he could. Hebi Bushi rolled ever so slightly, but was elasticized back and flung back and forth in the rubber/glue he was planted in. Yovo started in with a Pursuit.

"Hebi Bushi! Glare at it! Hurry up before it gets to you!"

"Yovo, switch to a Quick Attack now!"

Hebi Bushi wasn’t fast enough to trap Yovo in his paralyzing stare. Yovo plowed with all his might, head first, and sent Hebi Bushi flying back into Gloria’s podium. He slipped down and landed on his side, slowly flopping to his stomach with a cough. Yovo cocked an eyebrow.

"Was he supposed to be strong?" he suddenly shot up straight and fainted on the spot with Eevy running to him as he mumbled, "Ow," into the dirt.

"Yovo!" Eevy ran and stopped on one knee beside him and picked him up, "Yovo, you did great."

"Did I really?" he muttered.

"You sure did," Medira knelt down next to them, "You did really well. Especially with that last Quick Attack."

"Thank you," he smiled a bit as Eevy recalled him to his Poke’Ball.

"Congrats, Eevy," Gloria smirked sadly, "You were really good. I can understand how you beat Lance now. Good luck."

"Thanks, Gloria," Eevy waved and turned to the left of the Stadium, "Thanks, everybody!" she called to her group, "Thanks so much!"

Eevy turned her attention to the moving shadow in one of the viewing boxes. Lance was standing with his hands behind his back, staring down at them. He gave a quick, flirty smile and a light nod, causing her to growl in anger. She snorted and turned to leave. Medira looked up and spotted Jason motioning to her in a similar manner, and also huffed away. Jason and Lance drooped sadly, even though they knew it was really their fault in the first place. They also knew that Eevy was going to have an even tougher time becoming Champion now that the new temp was in place.

*^~^**^~^*

"Why did he have to put in a new Champion?" Lance grumbled, "What a gyp. I used to be the strongest, but no. Now we’ve got him on our tails. Again."

"I don’t want a new Champ," Luri moaned, "Unless it’s Eevy. That guy bothers me."

"Yeah, Luri’s right," Will groaned, "He doesn’t really qualify anymore. At least, I don’t think so."

"You’ll believe and go along with anything she says," Jason muttered, "But I’m still with you. He should put more trust in us."

"Yes, but after the things he brought up when I was talking to him, be glad that’s all he did," Lance sighed, "I brought it on us and I’m really sorry."

"Not your fault," Jason shrugged, "I get the strangest feeling he’s planned this for a long time, just by the way you said he said it."

"What makes you say that?" Luri questioned.

"Well," Jason started as he leaned forward, "Lance said Kratos played it in slowly and real smooth like. Do you get what I mean?"

"I think I do," Will actually agreed with him for once, "He sort of cut and copied it into the very end of the conversation, like he was saving it for later."

"Exactly," Jason continued, "I have the notion that he’s been looking for the right time to play it in and Lance just gave him the perfect time to drop it on us."

"He did kind of put it in right after he asked a question that I was really expecting a retaliate answer to," Lance sat up, "I bet he had been waiting for a good long time."

"I can almost guarantee that’s the situation," Luri looked around at the other three, "He’s just been awaiting a bad move from one of us and Lance gave it to him, no questions asked."

"Yes, and there’re two more things that bother me," Lance scowled at the floor.

"What’s that?" Will watched him intently, waiting to see why he was so thoughtful all of a sudden.

"He told me he heard about all the times I was with Eevy, but we were completely alone. I made sure of it. On the bridge, it was so late no one else was out. In the stair well, it was totally empty and there are no security cameras there. The kiss outside where they’re staying, I can understand he heard about that and the battle was kind of hard to keep from him, but the bridge and stairs are hard to explain."

"That’s very true," Jason nodded.

"Stair well?" Will’s eyebrow went up, "I don’t even want to know."

"This from the guy who was having the time of his life in the viewing box of Spectral Stadium," Jason looked to his left at Will with his right eye narrowed and his chin in both hands and his elbows on his knees.

That comment caused an embarrassed and speechless expression to appear on Will’s usually stern and expressionless face as he cleared his throat, "What’s the other thing that’s bothering you?"

"I think I know," Luri broke in, "He said something about knowing a lot more than we think. Is that it?"

"Yes," Lance nodded, "He acted like he knew everything we’ve done in the past few weeks, but that’s near impossible. Unless he has a stool pigeon out there somewhere who’s been watching us and knows who we really are."

"Nobody knows," Luri shrugged.

"Yes," Jason jumped, "There is one. Grahaem Darkeen."

"The Dark-type Minor Master from Shrapnel City?" Will asked, "He knows?"

"He knows who I am, at least," Jason reddened, "I snapped at him during the race in Dart Town and he caught a glimpse of my eyes and connected the emerald shine to my true identity."

"Yes, but did he connect you to us?" Will’s eyes widened suddenly, "Wait!" he jumped up.

"Whoa!" Luri, who had been sitting beside him, tipped away as he stood up, "Calm down!"

"No! It might have been Grahaem, but there’s someone else who knows who we really are!"

"Really?" Lance looked side to side, "Who is it?"

"Not it," Will scowled out the window, "They."

Battling Buddies

Notes
It 'tis late! Noooo! Uh...Anyway...Heh. Before you even think you know what's in the next chapter...It probably isn't what you think, but you'll just have to get over there and read it, ne?

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