Chp 21

	"So where is it?" Ashley asked as they stood in the map room the next morning. 

	"Right about..." Mystic looked along the floor, spotting the pink forest, and going a bit north of it to a large clearing with a few brown spots. "Here" She said. They all took a turn pressing their badges to the spot, Phantom going last. In turn, they one by one appeared in the town of Lovely Meadows. 

	Like the last time Mystic had been here, the town was overloaded with pink. But this time, the place was a lot more active. It was like a festival of some kind was going on. Numerous stands selling trinkets and knickknacks were set up, and paper lantern strings dotted the area. At the same time, the crimson and pink petals of the trees were blowing through with the wind.

	"Sheesh, have they ever heard of color variety? I mean, pink goes pretty good with my fur, but this is way too much." Ashley complained as she looked around. The crowds were also very thick. 

	"Wow, somethin' must be goin' on." Mystic said. "This place was dead when I came through. Come on, this way. You've gotta see this." She said, leading them to the well that went down into the cave. Once they, and a few other small pokemon, got on, it began to slowly lower. "Don't say anything about the dugtrio." She whispered. 

	"Uh, okay." Ashley said, not sure what she meant. Once they reached the bottom, the carbink from earlier was there, along with another tour group waiting to go up. They filled out, waiting a bit for more pokemon to gather, and then the tour began. 

	"This cave was once a large underground lake. The area is filled with crystals that emit fairy type energy, with a large concentration of them being located in this cave. That energy is suspected to be the reason for the large number of fairy types who live here, along with the color of the trees. Even though the lake dried up, the ground still contains enough fairy minerals to sustain the current trend."

	"This place is so sparkly!" Ashley exclaimed, looking around the glimmering cavern. Phantom said nothing, but based on the look he had, with the reflections of sparkles in his eyes, he felt similarly. 

	"Hey, c'mon, this way." Mystic said. They were at the rear of the group, and all the other pokemon were looking forward or up at the ceiling, so they were able to sneak off easily. They traversed the rocky and crystal covered surface of the cave with Mystic leading the way deeper in. 

	"Where are we going?" Phantom asked after a bit.

	"I saw this thing while I was here. We're almost there." 

	Ashley was last in line and staying quiet, as she ogled Phantom's sack whenever it was revealed by his walking. His thin tail didn't cover much after all. 

	"Right here!" Mystic said excitedly, dashing forward and around a corner. Ashley caught the hint, and ran past him to follow her. 

	"Wait up!" He called. When he rounded the corner, he saw both vixens presenting their pussies to him. "Oh... I get it..." He looked away, back the way they came. "I knew about this places reputation, but I didn't think... But you two are kinda sex crazy..." He said, looking down and fiddling with his paws.

	"Well, you gonna do anything?" Ashley asked, making a come hither motion with her tails. 

	"Yea, go ahead. No shame in having two ladies instead of one." Mystic chimed in.

	"Well... but... I'm not really... in the mood." He said, nearly whispering the last bit. "With all the bad news we've gotten, and everything, and we're in a really public place..." He said, still not looking at them. 

	"I guess you're right... Sorry, I didn't think about how you'd feel." Mystic said sadly. "Alright, we won't force anything on you." She turned and kissed him on the cheek. "Take it at your own pace alright? Just remember you got another girl waiting. And don't neglect me." She said with puppy dog eyes.

	"A-a-alright." He stammered. "Let's go back." He said. "I wanna see what they're selling at the fair." 

	"Hey, I have an idea." Ashley whispered after he turned away. "With how he acts, maybe he's a sub."

	"What?"

	"Like a bottom. Maybe he likes being dominated."

	"That doesn't sound too crazy... but we're not raping him. He's a nice guy. He did save my life after all."

	"Of course." She whispered sharply. "I'm not some monster." 

	"Then how about we celebrate the new house when it's done." 

	"Alright, it's a plan." She nodded.

	"You coming?" Phantom asked, coming back around the corner. 

	"Yea, let's go back up. They probably got some cool stuff up there." Mystic said with a smile. 

	They made their way back to the lift, and stepped past the waiting guests, onto the lift. Mystic poked her head around the corner. "Going up." She told the dugtrio hidden behind a rock. He gave her a scowl but didn't move until she looked away. Then the rope went taut and the platform started to lift. Mystic tried to look down and see the dugtrio, but he was well hidden this time. 

	Once they arrived at the top, Ashley immediately jumped off the platform. "Never make me get on one of those again!" She whined. "I need something to calm my nerves." She said, before disappearing into the crowd in search of things to buy. 

	"Hope she doesn't spend too much..." Mystic said. "C'mon, let's see what we can find." She stepped off and Phantom followed her into the fair. Most of the stands were offering various foods, or souvenirs. Mystic stopped right in front of one. "No fucking way." She said in disbelief. The sign said "Fry Anything". She stepped up to it. "Can you really fry anything?" She asked excitedly. 

	"Yes you can." The lickitung behind the stall told her. 

	"But I don't have anything..."

	"We have some things. How about fried ice cream, or a banana?" 

	"But... you can't fry ice cream! It'll melt!" She said, sure he was just leading her on. 

	"Just watch." He turned around, and after a bit, and some sizzling, he turned to her, and handed her a tray. It had two things on it: a fried ball of dough and a browned banana. "Careful, it's hot." He said. She raised her head so he could scan her badge, and they moved on. 

	"Alright. Here goes nothing." She said. She carefully put a bit of banana in her mouth before biting. She let out an exaggerated moan and rolled her eyes up. "Oh that's good." She said with a full mouth. She held the stick over to Phantom. "Try this." 

	He gingerly took a small bite, chewed for a bit, and murred. "It's good but I think it'll give me a heart attack." 

	"And? Just eat it." She handed him the banana on a stick and went to take a bite of the ice cream. She bit through the warm doughy shell, and into the cold ice cream below. "This is good too. But I'm definitely gonna pay for it later..." She began mindlessly walking forwards while munching on her food. "Maybe we should get some candy and-" She turned around and saw Phantom was gone. Most of the pokemon around were her size or smaller, but she couldn't spot anyone that looked like him. "Oh well. How far could he have gone?"

	"Well hello again, miss." A joyful voice said. She turned her head to see a sylveon. "By the look on your face you don't remember me. Prince. We met a couple days ago. I wanted to say sorry for the way I acted."

	"What, trying to get laid?" She said with a fair amount of attitude. 

	"Yea... Really. Sorry. When I get... into the mood... I act different. I try not to be a jerk, but when the girls come around, it gets hard." He said, not intending the double entendre. When he realized what he said, he looked away. "Sorry again." He began to leave.

	"Hey! Wait." She said. "Thanks for that. There aren't too many nice guys around." 

	"You're welcome!" He said cheerily, putting on a beaming smile. His tail, and ribbons, waved happily as he walked into the crowd. 

	"Hey Mystic!" Ashley yelled. She pushed her way past the pokemon in the crowd and made her way over. "Here, I got you some cotton candy." She handed her a bag of it, with a string to carry it by. "And where's Phantom?"

	"I don't know. We got separated." 

	"PHANTOM!" She shouted.

	"What?! You can't just yell like that!" Mystic scolded her.

	"Why not?"

	"Cuz... you just don't do that in a public place." 

	"Well it worked." She said, pointing to Phantom, who emerged from the crowd, a blush on his face. Mystic looked around and saw that several pokemon were staring at them. "You ready to go back to Journey town? I think we got everything we need. Well almost." 

	"Yea, I suppose we could go home." Mystic said. They all pressed their badges and returned to the base.

+++

	"Grit!" Tyrant roared loudly when he entered the large room that held a large circular table, the conference room. The flygon raised his head and looked over, but he knew better than to argue when Tyrant was like this. "You need to get your ass to work!"

	"Doing what?"

	"Our profits have been dropping sharply since Journey town was lost. We need more dealers!" The tyranitar slammed his fist onto the table, leaving a dent in the steel surface. 

	"You know how Hearth feels about that." 

	"You think I'm scared of that runt!?" He fired an ice beam near Grit, causing him to flinch. "We need money. So do your damn job!"

	"I don't take orders from you. If you have a problem, take it up with Hearth." 

	Tyrant stepped around the table and walked up to the flygon. Suddenly, he swept his arm through the air, taking Grit by the neck, and slamming his head down on the table. 

	"I suggest-" Grit started, but a ball of blue energy hit Tyrant and sent him flying away. 

	"Enough!" Hearth growled. He had entered the room while neither was paying attention. "I've got a plan. Both of you just relax until I say so." 

	"But, we need money! We're hemorrhaging! And on Carver's front, we haven't brought in any new merchandise!" Tyrant argued.

	"We have to lay low. If everything is exposed, no one will buy anything. We're better off now than we would be with no cash flow. And it's not about the money."

	"For you maybe." Tyrant muttered.

	"Whatever. Just wait until it's the right time." Hearth said. "Grit, if he does anything, you have permission to defend yourself." 

	"Right boss." Grit said.

	Hearth turned around and left the room. He walked down the hall slowly, as his form was more accustomed to going on all fours. He walked past a few other rooms, until he came to the front door, and left the building. On the edge of the island was a tall pokemon, watching the sunset. "How's it going?" He asked.

	The pokemon turned his head and looked down at him. "Don't act like we are friends. We both know why I'm here, and why you still live."

	"You may think I'm evil, but I have a reason for all this. Why not just enjoy your time here?"

	"Because we are prisoners. Just leave me. I won't do anything so long as she..." 

	"And we won't do anything either. As per our agreement." Hearth pat the taller pokemon on the back. "Perk up buddy. One day, you'll understand why. Or not." He turned and left him to his sunset, going back inside to take care of dinner. 

	A short while later, he entered the 'cell block'. It had prison bars, blocking the doors and windows, though they did little to hold in the occupant. The inside was furnished like a lavish, royal bedroom, with many extravagant pieces: Velvet chairs, a silk canopy bed, ornamental curtains, and large pictures of the original owners of the mansion, along with their 'children', though the pictures were old, faded and dusty. Numerous antiques, such as fancy plates, and vases, and a fireplace decorated the place, along with a beartic skin rug. Currently the fire was lit, and the prisoner was sitting in front of it, lazily playing with her tail, holding it above her and batting at it. 

	"Dinner's here." Hearth said. He set the platter down on the table and took the lid off, allowing the smell to waft through the room. 

	"Thanks." She said, rising and moving to sit down and eat. "How is he doing?" 

	"You have a one track mind, you know that?"

	"Well I love him. Have you ever loved someone?" She asked in her innocent sounding voice, a tone she always had, despite her intelligence. 

	"He's fine. He misses you."

	"Can I see him?" She asked, setting down her fork and looking at him seriously.

	"I'm sorry, but no. We have a good reason for this. I know it's hard, but please forgive me." He said, patting her on the head before leaving. 

	"One week."

	"Reaper? Good." Hearth said, not even looking around for him. "Do it ASAP. I feel like something is coming. Like a storm is brewing."

+++

	Hunter and Marie were sitting in his office. "So, where is he?" Hunter asked. 

	"He said he'd be here. Why, what are you planning?" 

	"I'll say when he gets here."

	Marie sighed. "You know how I hate surprises."

	"Well, I'm here." Flare growled, opening the door and coming in. "What is it?"

	"Take a seat." Hunter offered.

	"I'll stand. My scars ache if I sit down too long." Flare said, walking next to them and standing next to the desk, on the side, between them. 

	"Alright. I don't know how much Marie told you, but we believe the Blade has resurfaced as the Shadow. We've been hunting them down with the help of a few local teams, but... I'm about to blow the lid off of everything. If this works, and I think it will... Chaos is about to come back. I'll need you both at your best. This could end up in another war."

	"Well this time, leave me out of it." Flare said.

	"What?!" Hunter said, his normal attitude shattering. "But... you know what they're doing is wrong, and we have a duty. We have to save the world again! Please. I can't do it without you. We've been together since you were just a charmander..."

	"Dammit, haven't I given enough!?" Flared roared right at him, smoke leaving his nostrils. 

	"Flare... please..." Marie said quietly.

	"No. No babe..." He shook his head. "I'm done. I'm just an old and battered lizard. I can't keep this up. I'm not as strong as you." Flare said, his voice cracking a bit. He cleared his throat. "I'll help you out around here, but no more big fights. You're welcome to go off and do whatever needs done, and I'll hold down the fort." He walked over to the door, his tail flame very small and dim. He put his hand on the door. "See ya." He said, then left.

+++

	"Ughh," Mystic groaned, clutching her stomach. 

	"I told you that stuff wasn't good for you." Phantom said, standing over her with a worried look.

	"I'll make it, and it was totally worth it." She said, though from her gurgling belly and the way she was writhing on the floor, he wasn't sure. 

	Outside, the sky was dark, and thunder was beginning to get louder and more frequent. 

	"I hate storms." Ashley complained. "I can never sleep during them. And I also hate people who eat my cotton candy while I'm not looking." She glared at Mystic.

	"Totally worth it." She groaned. She rolled over onto her back, still clutching her tummy. She wrapped herself up in a cocoon of her tails and began to rock side to side gently. 

	While Phantom was trying to help her, Ashley got up and started the water in the tub, on cold. After it filled, she jumped in, splashing water onto the floor. The water immediately grew even colder with her presence, almost as if someone had dumped ice in. She shook, stirring the water and getting the dirt out of her fur. As she did, a few very small bits of ice moved through the water. A cold bath to her was like a hot bath to Mystic. It just felt better, so she allowed her body temperature to plummet. She even began to see her breath. When it was just right, she sighed in contentment and began splashing water up into her face. "We're getting a bigger tub too." She said. The tub they had was barely big enough for two. 

	"We don't really know what they're going to build... We didn't make plans or anything." 

	"Anything'll be better than here." She took a mouthful of icy water and spit it across the room, splashing the both of them. Most of it got on Phantom, but a little hit Mystic, sizzling on her fur and causing her to yelp. She was too concerned with her own body to chastise her sister however. 

	"Hey Zys." Ashley said. Zys was near the window, leaning against the wall. His eyes opened when she called his name. "Can you understand me? Nod if yes, shake your head if no." She demonstrated.

	He nodded and let out a short buzz.

	"Okay, then do you understand what I'm saying? Nod and jump if yes, shake your head and sit for no." She only demonstrated the first part. He stood for a moment, and then shook his head, and nothing else. She closed her eyes. A little bit later, Zys raised his arms. "Ha! Knew it!" Ashley suddenly said. "Zys doesn't understand english, but he can like read our thoughts or emotions or stuff. And that's why he can't talk. Zys, can you like speak telepathically or anything?" 

	He shook his head and buzzed. Everyone went silent for a while.

	"I really hope Hunter's plan will work..." Phantom said out of the blue. "What if we can find and rescue every pokemon that was kidnapped? The only thing we'd have to do then is find their base." 

	"I really don't think it will be that easy." Ashley said. "It'd be nice, but you know, something always goes wrong." 

	"But just think how much of a victory this should be. We could save hundreds of pokemon. Just think of the freedom!" 

	"Not to be a debby downer, but if they've all lost their memories, than what's gonna happen? They'll be all confused, just like Mystic was."

	"Yea, but that's better than what they're currently going through." Mystic chimed in, still hiding in her tails. "And with the way we're doing it, we can return them to their families."

	"And if we find the main base, maybe we could make whoever did it undo it." Phantom said. "What's wrong?" He asked when he saw the look on Ashley's face.

	"I just... I dunno, I fell weird. Maybe it's the storm, but I feel like something bad is gonna happen."