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Message-ID: <31802asstr$996880202@assm.asstr-mirror.org>
From: "Nikolai Mirovich" <nikolai@nergal.org>
Subject: {ASSM} Cerulean Dreams (3-4) (Pokemon Fanfiction, Ff, Rom, Solo, Lt.Bond)
Date: Fri,  3 Aug 2001 19:10:02 -0400
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<1st attachment, "CD 3-4.txt" begin>


Cerulean Dreams (Chapters 3-4)

By 

Nikolai Mirovich


Author's Note: This is the second story in my series of Pokemon 
based fanfics. It continues the plot from "The Courier", but for 
the record, I'm not completely happy with it. But that happens; 
all I can do is make the third story even better! Anyway, there's 
many people I'd like to thank, but mentioning their names could 
get me killed, so I won't. Oh! And I'm preparing an FAQ for this 
series which should be at my ASSTR page 
("http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Nikolai_Mirovich") some time soon, 
so hopefully this ride will be less confusing to some of you.

Legal Stuff: If for some reason legal reasons keep you from 
reading this story (Ie: Your age is too young in your country to 
be reading such filth), I'm obligated to tell you to go away. Not 
that I think that'll stop you. And certainly not that I care who 
reads my stories, so long as somebody does! So, with out anymore 
of my ranting, on with the show!



Chapter III

It was early in the evening of the next day by the time the 
Western gates of Cerulean City were visible. Beyond them, the main 
road stretched out all the way out to Route 9, intersected by 
several dozen lesser roads, including the main North to South road 
that marked the easiest routes to the Gym and the South gate...

"Won't be long now," commented Miranda, taking the notepad off the 
dashboard and checking the small scrawled map she'd been given, 
"then we can drop off this junk heap. Apparently another courier's 
supposed to take it somewhere else after we're done."

"That's good," replied Misty, leaning back with her feet firmly 
placed against the dashboard, her arms hugging her legs, her head 
on her knees and looking bored, "I feel like we've been driving 
forever. And it would be nice just to walk around for a bit. See 
what's changed since I've been gone."

"It's worse in the Winter," Miranda told her, shaking her head as 
Nezumi ran down her arm from her shoulder and sat on the steering 
wheel in hopes of seeing what it was that the humans were all on 
about, "You almost never get to ride your bike anywhere, and you 
wind up walking. Mostly on snowshoes if you're up north, which 
always takes longer."

"No secret shortcuts that way?" inquired Misty, glancing over at 
Miranda with a sly grin.

"What?" inquired Miranda in mock defensiveness, the beginnings of 
a silly grin crossing her face, "I doubt that that farmer will 
even notice the those two or three stalks of corn we knocked 
over."

"Two or three dozen," countered Misty mirthfully, smiling as she 
shook her head at the memory, "And didn't the news report say 
something about 'cutting a path of destruction'?"

"Details, details," laughed Miranda at Misty's exaggeration. 
"Besides," she teased, slowing the truck's speed as they entered 
the city limits where Route 4 became Sea Breeze Way, "whose idea 
was it to pull the fire alarm so we could use the elevator that 
time at the Pewter City Museum?"

"Um, it was Nezumi's!" stammered Misty, looking around nervously 
and causing the rattata to glace over at her with an alarmed 
expression, making both humans laugh.

"She's just kidding," chuckled Miranda, scratching Nezumi between 
the ears in a reassuring manner, "Although you're lucky I'm not a 
literal person."

Misty smiled, leaning against Miranda as several familiar 
buildings slid by her vision as they traveled. "Yeah," she sighed, 
"Although it's too bad that security guard thought I was serious."

Miranda shrugged, turning the wheal as reached a street called 
Staryu Lane. "Well some people just aren't as laid back as they 
should be," she replied with a sudden shudder, "And we got the 
package delivered eventually. Although I never want to walk up 
seven flights of stairs carrying an eighty pound, sixty-five 
million-year-old femur EVER again."

"For sure," commented Misty, nodding in agreement before sitting 
up straight and squinting against the light of the setting sun, 
"Hey, is that it there?"

Miranda pushed her glasses farther up her nose and nodded. "I 
believe so," she said, quickly checking her map again, "Just have 
to find the service entrance now."

The old truck rattled, shaking unpleasantly as it slowed and 
turned into the restaurant at the end of the street's nearly empty 
parking lot. Glancing out at the two story building, Misty could 
see that the wall of windows that covered the front half of the 
restaurant were still covered in brown paper to conceal whatever 
last minute renovations were in progress. Above the door, a huge 
sign proclaiming "Ces Batards De L'autre Cote De La Rue" was only 
partially covered by a smaller sign that read "Opening Soon!"

The back of the building, in contrast to the friendly inviting 
whitewashed brickwork of the front, seemed rather dingy and dull. 
The ruddy coloured bricks the building was made of were already 
grimy from the exhaust fumes of several delivery vehicles, and 
dumpster they passed on the way to the loading dock was already 
brimming with dark sealed bags of unspeakable refuse.

As Miranda shifted into reverse and leaned out the window so she 
could line the back end up with the large square doorway of the 
loading dock, Misty grabbed her arm. "Look out!" she exclaimed 
pointing to the passenger side mirror.

"Oh, for-" began Miranda, breaking hard as she caught site of a 
figure running foolishly through her temporary blind spot and 
heading towards her side of the truck. "Z- Zack?!" she stammered, 
smiling broadly as the figure of a tall man with unkempt red hair 
leapt up onto the driver's side running board and grabbed hold of 
the door.

"Miranda!" he exclaimed, grinning like an idiot as the rattata 
gave an excited shout and leapt onto the windowsill, "Oh! Hey, 
Nezumi!"

"A friend of yours?" inquired Misty, leaning forward to see past 
Miranda and the excitedly babbling Nezumi.

"A friend?" laughed Zack, giving Misty a winning smile that seemed 
a touch on the crazy side, "I'm like a big brother!"

"More like a big bother, you mean," chuckled Miranda, leaning to 
see around see around him as she continued to back up, "So, what 
brings you here, Zachary?"

"Hey, that's 'Zack'," he corrected in what passed for a stern 
tone, but didn't quite make it, "Anywhat, I'm the lucky courier 
who gets the privilege of driving this heap down to Saffron after 
you're done with it. By the way, who's your friend?" 

Miranda gave a hint of a satisfied smile as she lined the back of 
the truck up perfectly with the loading dock. "Her name's Misty," 
the courier explained, glancing back and smiling at her, "Misty, 
this is Zack. He's a courier as well, but..."

"But...?" inquired both Misty and Zack, one with a leery tone, the 
other with a sly grin.

"But you're absolutely crazy!" Miranda exclaimed meeting Zack's 
wide blue eyes with her own version of his hyper attitude.

"Hey, I'm an insane genius," he defended, hanging onto the door as 
Miranda swung it open and hopped out.

"Well, it is true that your IQ is in excess of two hundred," 
replied Miranda in a neutral tone as she leaned back into the 
truck and pulled out her clipboard. 

"In excess of two fifty, you mean!" the male courier corrected, 
hopping off the door and giving a Nezumi a silly grin before 
walking around to face Miranda.

"So, if you don't mind me asking," inquired Misty, crawling across 
the seat and looking out at Zack, "Why are you a courier, and not 
a famous scientist or a teacher or something?"

Zack glanced over at Misty and shrugged melodramatically. "Must be 
the A.D.D," he laughed before standing taller on his toes and 
glancing down on an angle, "That and there's a surplus of mad 
scientists in Lavender."

Miranda smirked, glancing over her shoulder before doing a double 
take and smacking Zack's arm. "Hey!" she warned somewhat 
playfully, "Stop that! Those are taken."

Misty's eyes widened as she followed Zack's gaze down to where her 
shirt was hanging dangerously low in the front and quickly clasped 
her hand to her chest, moving her shirt to block his view. "Hey!" 
she exclaimed, blushing her way through several shades of red.

"Don't worry," chuckled Zack with a dismissive wave of his hand, 
"Just being a guy."

"You never look at me that way," teased Miranda, giving the 
service entrance an impatient glance.

"They said they'd be back in ten," explained Zack with a shrug 
before skipping topics, "And I would look, if you had anything to 
show!"

"That's it!" laughed Miranda, turning to face her fellow courier 
with mock severity, "Nezumi! Give Sparkles a taste of 'alacrity'!"

"Nez?" the rattata inquired from his vantage point on the open 
door, glancing around in confusion.

"Hey," his trainer inquired, her tone becoming serious as the 
small door beside the loading bay finally opened and a man in 
Chef's whites came out, "Where's Sparkles, Zack? You didn't sell 
her for three magic beans again, did you?"

Zack chuckled, shaking his head as the tall, stern looking man 
approached. "She's around here somewhere," he explained, giving 
the approaching chef a wide grin that was pointedly ignored, 
"probably asleep as usual."

"This is MY delivery?" the chef inquired imperiously before 
Miranda could comment.

"Yes, sir," she replied with a nod, holding out her clip board and 
a pen, "although some of your order may have been adversely 
affected by the cold. I noticed a while back that the seals on the 
doors are frozen shut, so there may be a freon leak."

"There is no culinary adversity that 'I' cannot overcome," the man 
replied, waving his hand dismissively as a small dark shape 
stepped out from behind him and rubbed itself affectionately 
against his leg, "all that matters is that the final preparations 
can begin."

"Cute, um, pokemon," commented Miranda, glancing down at the dark 
furred, long eared creature that stared back up at her with 
gleaming red eyes as she spoke.

"THAT is Salmonella," the chef explained, taking the clipboard 
from her without giving his pokemon a second glance, "simply 
ignore her and she won't bother you."

"Cute pokemon?" inquired Misty happily, hopping out of the truck 
and not noticing the hurt look Nezumi gave her as she scurried up 
behind Miranda, "What is he?"

"An umbreon," explained Zack, a strange nervousness entering his 
voice, "It's what happens when eevee's get too close to moonstones 
at night. Frightful little things. No offence, though, eh!"

The chef glanced over at Zack with a bemused expression as the 
muffled sound of the truck's rear doors being forced open could be 
heard from inside the building. "They're really not that bad Mr. 
Jones," he explained patiently, letting slip a hint of a German 
accent, "But I can see that Salmonella's presence has scared away 
your little abra. My apologies. However, once the truck is 
unloaded, you can be on your way. Good evening, couriers."

Miranda scowled as the man roughly handed the clipboard back, his 
signature nearly illegible and headed back to the safety of his 
culinary realm. "Creepy," she commented, watching the umbreon 
follow along at his master's heels, pausing only to give the group 
another sinister glance before disappearing through the small 
doorway.
 
"Not cute at all," added Misty disappointedly, standing just 
behind Miranda and shaking her head as the metal door swung shut 
and locked securely into place.

"Darkness types are like that," said Zack, his voice sounding 
distracted, "They give me the creeps in ways ghosts can only dream 
about."

Misty and Miranda turned in time to see the courier close his eyes 
and concentrate with all his might. He held his hands out before 
him, joining them together to form a small platform as beads of 
sweat formed along his brow.

"What's he doing?" whispered Misty, taking Miranda's arm as she 
approached from behind.

"He's psychic," Miranda explained as Zack gritted his teeth, "He's 
just probably arguing with Sparkles again."

After a tense moment, a small flash of light lit up the gathering 
darkness, and an abra appeared in Zack's open hands. "See," her 
trainer assured her as she glanced over her shoulder, "It's gone. 
No need to worry."

Misty smiled and waved politely at the abra, who turned back to 
her trainer before slouching and snoring loudly. "I just have no 
luck with cute pokemon today," the girl commented, as Zack 
chuckled at his now soundly sleeping little bipedal vole.

"It's not you," he assured, "Sparkles sleeps more often than not. 
The funny thing is, is that she only snores when she's pretending 
to be asleep. Well, I'd best help you ladies get your stuff 
together and take off. It's getting dark, and they're almost done 
in there I think."

"Just about," agreed Miranda, turning to face the spot where the 
truck seemed to become part of the building as somewhere inside 
someone dropped something heavy and cursed loudly, "But are you 
sure you can't stay 'till morning? And there's a festival going on 
this week you know."

Zack shook his head wearily. "Naw, they want this bucket of bolts 
down in Saffron by mid-afternoon, so I'd best get my butt in gear. 
Need any help getting your bikes?"

"Only if you're offering," replied Miranda, a knowing smile 
crossing her face.

"Hey, I need the practice," chuckled Zack, moving around to the 
front of the truck where the two mountain bikes had been secured 
to the carrying rack.

"And you like to show off," Miranda added, taking Misty by the 
hand and leading her around to the front.

"Ra," agreed Nezumi with a nod, leaping onto Miranda's shoulder as 
she walked past while Zack put Sparkles down on the hood of the 
truck.

"Hey, watch it, cheese breath," chuckled Zack, stepping back and 
holding out his hands dramatically as he concentrated on the 
several bungi-cords that kept the bikes attached, "Or for my next 
trick I'll levitated you to the moon."

"Rat, ra," the rattata replied dismissively, causing Zack to 
chuckle even as several of the cords moved of their own accord and 
sprang loose. 

"You hear what he called me?" the psychic chuckled, closing his 
eyes to maintain focus.

"You've been called worse," assured Miranda, smiling at Misty's 
amazed expression as her bicycle levitated off the rack and 
floated down to the ground, "Besides, he only insults people he 
likes." 

Zack's smirk became a laugh, and Miranda cringed as her bike 
dropped to the ground before crashing into Misty's with a series 
of unpleasant clattering sounds. 

"Sorry," he said with a smirk as the others cringed.

"Oh, I'll just bill you later," Miranda sighed, moving to fetch 
their backpacks from the truck.

"Hey, don't you have a bike?" asked Misty as she hurried over to 
help Zack balance the two fallen bicycles.

"Somewhere," the man replied with a reminiscent smile, "But I 
haven't hauled it out of storage since Pesto evolved."

"That'd be his pidgeot," explained Miranda, hauling out the two 
backpacks, "Just be sure to say no if he offers you a ride."

"Hey, he flies better than your Uncle used to drive," chuckled 
Zack, brushing his hair from his eyes and snatching up the keys 
Miranda suddenly dangled in front of him, "Which reminds me. 
You'll never guess who's in town!"

"My Uncle?" guessed Miranda with a mirthful tone, walking over to 
her bike and pushing back the kickstand.

"Aw! You guessed!" laughed Zack in mock disappointment, "How'd you 
do that? You must be psychic!"

"Ha, ha," replied Miranda dryly, smiling warily as Zack made his 
chuckling way into the driver's seat, "And don't forget to do a 
'walk around' this time!"

"Yeah, yeah," assured Zack, shaking his head in dismay, "I'll do 
it clairvoyantly!" 

"I'm sure," chuckled Miranda waving as Misty hopped on her own 
bike and the two began to coast forwards, "Just make sure to head 
back this way if you get the chance. I'm terrible at carnival 
games, and I could use a little TK help!"

"Miranda, I'm shocked!" called Zack as the two began to ride off, 
"That's cheating!"

"And it's not when you read people's minds at the card table?" the 
courier laughed in reply, glancing over her shoulder and waving 
farewell, "See you soon, ya brat!"

"Ditto!" called Zack, hopping back out of the truck as Miranda and 
Misty rounded the corner and headed towards the brightly lit 
parking lot.

"Wow," commented Misty with a chuckle, "Your friends are almost as 
amusing as your pokemon."

The woman sighed in dismay, shaking her head as she switched on 
her bike light. "My Uncle is worse," she replied with a wary 
smile, "If we meet him, you'll see."

"You have an Uncle?" asked Misty curiously, "You never mentioned 
you had other family.

Miranda shrugged, her gray eyes looking distant for a moment as a 
peculiar smile crossed her lips. "He's more of an 'almost' Uncle," 
she explained, her tone sounding a little sad, "A friend of the 
family who almost married my Aunt Laurna. But he just took off one 
day. Sure, I still get birthday cards from him, and he writes from 
time to time, but I'm not sure my Aunt really ever forgave him for 
taking off like that."

"He didn't leave her at the alter I hope," commented Misty a 
little annoyed by the thought.

"No, no," assured Miranda with a laugh, "Actually, he fled the day 
after she proposed to him. I'm still waiting for an explanation 
for that one. Especially considering how much they loved each 
other."

"People do strange things," agreed Misty, standing on her bike 
pedals and taking a deep breath of the damp, cool air, "But 
running out on someone like that just isn't right. Are you sure we 
want to meet this guy? If he runs in fear just because-"

"No, don't misunderstand me," assured Miranda, stopping at the 
intersection, "Uncle Frank's a really nice guy. He just... screwed 
up."

Misty nodded slowing to a halt beside Miranda and watching as a 
single car headed down the main street towards the residential 
areas. "It still doesn't seem right, though," she commented, 
meeting Miranda's gaze with a serious look, "I can't imagine what 
that must be like. To pour your heart out to someone, and even ask 
them to marry you only to have them leave."

"I sorta can," the courier replied glumly, "My first love left me 
under rather unpleasant circumstances."

"Oh, Miranda, I, I'm sorry," said Misty sadly, reaching out her 
hand to touch Miranda's shoulder, "I didn't know..."

"I'm over it," assured Miranda, a smile returning to her lips as 
she touched Misty's hand, "I was lucky enough to find someone to 
talk to not long afterwards, and saved myself a pile of therapy 
bills."

Misty smiled in spite of herself and shook her head in dismay. "I 
think your friend's sense of humor is rubbing off on you, dear," 
she chuckled, "That or it's Nezumi's."

From her other shoulder, Miranda's rattata leaned over and blinked 
at Misty in dismay. "Rata..." he muttered sadly, looking up at his 
training with a moonie eyed expression.

"It doesn't mean she doesn't still love you, dear," said Miranda 
in an assuring, maternal tone, reaching up to scratch the little 
creature under the chin lovingly.

Misty laughed as the rattata made a blissful sound and settled 
back down on Miranda's shoulder, looking contented as he prepared 
to take a nap. "And you're way cuter than that icky umbreon," 
Misty assured, smiling as Nezumi exhaled loudly in relief at the 
assurance.  

"Just who's pokemon are you?" inquired Miranda rhetorically before 
turning to Misty with a more serious tone, "So, any thoughts as to 
where you want to spend the night? I know of this okay hotel on-"

"No, no," interrupted Misty, "I'm sure my sisters won't mind if we 
stop in. The gym is my home too. Besides, they're probably out 
right now anyway."

"Prowling the streets in search of fresh victims, no doubt," 
replied Miranda teasingly and making Misty smile, "But if you're 
sure they won't mind, I'm fine with it."

"Oh, they'll probably mind," chuckled Misty slyly, "But I think 
it's about time I started asking for a little payback. If they 
don't like it, they can run away from home! Besides, I have a few 
pokemon there I've been meaning to get back. I just hope you don't 
mind sharing my bed... It's kinda small."

Miranda smiled, taking Misty's hand and shaking her head. "Even a 
narrow cot is as better than anything a five star hotel can offer, 
so long as I get to share it with you."

"That's nice," replied Misty, smiling as she felt the surge of 
emotion slowly travel along all her nerve endings before seeming 
to sublimate off into the air around her.

"Yeah," agreed Miranda, choosing her words carefully and trying to 
hide a sudden bemused grin, "That and it gives me an excuse to 
cuddle you for eight hours."
 
"You make it sound like a bad thing," laughed Misty as she 
prepared to lead the way, "Now come on, if we're lucky we can have 
dinner be settled in before my sister's get back."

"I just hope they don't remember me too well," chuckled Miranda a 
little nervously as they headed West, away from the bright lights 
of what passed for downtown Cerulean, "Otherwise it might be 
mildly embarrassing..."

"Hey," assured Misty with a sly grin, "At least you're not the one 
who slept with Violet."

"Poor Gary," laughed Miranda in agreement, pushing down her 
nervousness, and following Misty homeward...


Chapter IV

The lights were out as the two moved through foyer, into the 
expansive, domed ceilinged area were people came to be entertained 
and to challenge for cascade badges. The room itself was quiet 
except for the gentle lapping of water against the edges of the 
Olympic sized swimming pool at the center, and the gentle hum from 
down the hall. This was also where a pale light that barely 
illuminated the calm water issued forth, marking the site of the 
enormous aquarium the gym held.

"This place doesn't seem to have changed," commented Misty, her 
feet padding quietly along the waterproof tiled floor as she led 
Miranda by the hand through the quiet twilight.

"Home never should," the courier mused, pushing up her glasses and 
rubbing her wary eyes, "It should always be safe and comforting."

"I wish," sighed Misty, leading Miranda towards the pale light, 
down a short hall, and into the long, circular corridor that 
surrounded the expansive aquarium, "but at least I could come here 
to relax sometimes, when things were bad. I used to just stand her 
for hours watching the fish and water pokemon."

Miranda nodded, placing her hands upon her lover's shoulders and 
staring past their mutual reflection into the clear water. "It's 
very nice," she agreed, looking out at the hundreds of lazily 
floating sea creatures who moved about the artificial reef, "And 
your pokemon must like it."

"They do," replied Misty, leaning back as she crossed her arms and 
laid her hands gently over Miranda's, "Infact, I think that's my 
starmie over there."

Miranda stood a little taller to see past a large clump of seaweed 
that swayed in the artificial current. Once her eyes had adjusted 
to the dim lighting, she could just make out an odd shape half 
buried in the sand. A large red crystal that glowed with its own 
inner light, surrounded by a ten-pointed star resting quietly 
after a long day of doing whatever it was that starmie did in 
their spare time.

"See your anything else anywhere?" Miranda inquired, keeping her 
voice low as not to break the spell the quiet dimness seemed to 
cast over the area.

Misty shook her head, leaning forward and taking a few steps away 
from Miranda as she searched along the reef for any sign of her 
other pokemon. "I'm sure he's in here somewhere," she replied in a 
tone that held a hint of worry.

"Are they nocturnal?" asked Miranda, walking in the opposite 
direction, her gaze sifting through the swarms of fish for any 
sign of pokemon.

"No," called Misty, her voice sounding distant.

"The he shouldn't be too hard to find," Miranda whispered to 
herself, glancing at a sleeping shellder and wondering both why 
and how it was snoring.

For several minutes, she walked along the arcing corridor, taking 
careful steps across the thinly carpeted floor, paying more 
attention to the aquarium than where she was going. After a short 
time, however, Miranda noticed a large, dark shape descending 
towards her through the water. Looking up, the woman could just 
make out a wide circular form with eight long, dark tentacles. 

With a smile, she watched it slowly descend, moving carefully 
through the water and adjusting its angle of descent with subtle 
movements of its tendrils. "Curious creature," Miranda commented 
as the octopod angled itself forward and stared out at her with 
small curious eyes.

"They're beautiful, aren't they?" commented Misty, walking up 
beside Miranda as the woman stared back at the tentacruel.

"They have a certain appeal," she agreed, giving the creature a 
mysterious smile that caused it to back away a bit, a look of 
alarm showing in its gleaming amber eyes, "Is it yours?"

Misty sighed sadly, shaking her head. "No," she replied wistfully, 
"She belongs to Lily. But she still listens to me though."

Miranda smiled, putting an arm around Misty. "I guess the 
tentacruel can just tell who better trainer is," she teased as her 
lover waved to the pokemon.

"You bet," chuckled Misty, finally catching the tentacruel's eye, 
"Hey! Over here," she called with a wide smile, her eyes full of 
affection, "I need a favor."

The tentacruel moved closer, extending her tentacles and placing 
two against the glass even as she gave Miranda a suspicious 
glance. The woman smiled, shaking her head in amusement as Misty 
placed her hands against the glass across from where the tendrils 
touched it. "I'm not sure she likes me," commented Miranda 
mirthfully, glancing at Misty and catching her eye.

"She's just cautious," the water trainer assured, leaning forward 
and raising her voice a bit to be heard. "I'm looking for the 
pokemon I left here!" Misty explained, her mouth close to the 
glass, "Have you seen them?"

The tentacruel bobbed up and down in an affirmative gesture before 
extending a tentacle meaningfully. "In there with you?" inquired 
Misty hopefully, to which the tentacruel replied by detaching from 
the wall of glass and darting off through the water.

"Come on, she's going to show us," said Misty, grabbing Miranda's 
hand impulsively and leading the courier off down the hall, 
suppressing a laugh as she ran. 

"I don't think she means in the tank," replied Miranda 
thoughtfully, tracking the pokemon as they hurried along, "I think 
she's headed for the entrance."

"I think you're right," replied Misty glumly, slowing as the 
tentacruel floated before the short exit hall and pointed with a 
tentacle out into the main gym area, "I guess my sister's took the 
other one to the pokecenter or something."

"That's alright," assured Miranda, waving goodbye as the 
tentacruel began a rapid accent when she glanced at her, "He'd be 
asleep anyway. Which reminds me, should there be this much light 
in the aquarium?"

"No," responded Misty, warily shaking her head as she looked up at 
the light source far above them, "the timer must be broken again. 
I'll just shut it off up stairs."

"Is that where your kitchen is?" asked Miranda, her voice changing 
to a slightly playful tone, "I'm really hungry after looking at 
all these yummy fish!"

"Don't you dare!" laughed Misty, making her way back towards the 
pool, "And yes, our living quarters is on the second floor along 
with the top of the aquarium. My parents always said that it was 
so we could keep our personal lives separate from our social 
responsibilities." 

"Makes sense," Miranda agreed as they walked through the near 
darkness until they came to a locked door with a 'No Entry' sign 
on it located at the far end of the pool, "That's sorta what my 
family does as well. My parent's house is attached to the company 
buildings, but it's kept separate just the same. Oh, and it's near 
the ocean as well-"

"So I'd like it," finished Misty with a smile as she opened a 
second door and lead Miranda into a comfortable living room, "Ah! 
Welcome to my parlor!"

"I thought you hated bugs," commented Miranda with a smile, 
squinting as Misty hit the wall switch and several lamps 
illuminated. 

"Just making sure you don't have a monopoly on melodrama," Misty 
assured her, glancing over one shoulder and heading towards a 
dimly lit hall, "Now just make yourself at home and I'll be right 
back."

"Sure!" called Miranda, chuckling to herself as she took it all 
in, "I'll just hog the remote, sit on the couch with no pants, eat 
everything in the fridge and yell at your kids..."

"You say something?" came Misty's echoing voice from down the 
hall, followed by several loud clicking sounds.

"Nothing!" laughed Miranda, sitting down on an overstuffed couch 
and grabbing a handful of cashews from a small crystal bowl on the 
coffee table, "Just quoting my mom!"

"Nice place, though," she commented, only half paying attention to 
the sound Misty made as she went from the aquarium room to the 
kitchen, "And then I'll leave my under-things all over the place, 
run up a huge long distance bill, and- Oh my!"

As Miranda's eyes scanned the room with it's thick plush 
carpeting, simulated wooden walls, a shelf filled with books that 
seemed untouched, and a wall unit filled with family mementos. She 
then spotted a large a painting that gave her reason to pause.

"Wow," she commented, suddenly feeling guilty as she slid to her 
feet and stepped out from around the coffee table. 

Against one wall was a large fireplace that was probably only used 
for special occasions, its mantle filled with pictures of Misty 
and her sisters, but above it was a large, expensive looking 
painting. A small light fixture set innocuously into the ceiling 
illuminated the large portrait of a man and woman. They both 
seemed to be in their late twenties, with clothing that was in 
fashion at least three decades out of date. The woman had long 
dark hair, curled loosely and tumbling over the shoulders of her 
comfortably fitting dress, her emerald green eyes seeming to smile 
knowingly down at Miranda. The man at her side, who lovingly held 
her hand, was much taller, with long reddish hair that he tied 
tightly back, his icy blue eyes almost laughing with amusement as 
he gave Miranda a toothy, but benevolent grin.

"Those are my parents," said Misty, startling Miranda as she 
quietly stepped up behind her, "About a year or so after they were 
married. I'm just glad my sisters haven't done anything strange 
with it."

"I like it," replied Miranda, letting go of the shiver that crept 
down her spine and put her arm around Misty, "It's better than 
some of the stern looking, grim portraits of some of my relatives. 
They look so happy, so alive. So in love."

"They were," agreed Misty sadly as she leaned closer, "And for a 
time they shared that love and happiness with us. But when they 
left, that's when things changed, and this place rapidly began to 
feel less and less like home."

Miranda turned to her, and carefully wiped a tear from Misty's eye 
with her index finger. "And eventually you just left," she 
replied, causing Misty to nod sadly in agreement.

"When I was old enough I told Violet that I couldn't take it 
anymore," continued Misty, allowing herself to be taken in by 
Miranda's warm embrace, "I told her that our parents would never 
approve of the way she ran our household, and that I wasn't going 
to stand by and be used and mistreated anymore. I said I was 
leaving and never coming back."

Misty laughed, shaking her head at the thought before glancing up 
at Miranda with a wary smile. "The things we say as children, eh?" 
she said rhetorically, making Miranda hold her closer for a 
moment, "But, as you know, I came back a few years later. And I've 
visited once or twice since then. I just don't think that I could 
ever stay for good."

"That's alright," assured Miranda with a small smile, feeling 
strangely fulfilled as she held her lover in a time of need, "I 
kinda know what that's like."

"But you visit home more often," added Misty, laying her head upon 
Miranda's shoulder and looking contemplatively up at the painting 
of her parents, "Once a year in October."

"Since I caught Wraith," Miranda agreed, giving Misty a soft kiss 
atop the head, and breathing in the subtle scent of her hair, "But 
I just use Hallowe'en as an excuse. It still hurts to go back, but 
I can't just abandon my Mother, even if she has Bob and my Aunt 
Laurna. But tell my something, my love. Would they approve of me?"

Misty tilted her head back and gave the portrait a serious look. 
"I'd like to think so," she replied thoughtfully as Miranda turned 
her gaze towards the couple as well, "They were very easy going 
people. That's probably why my sisters became such brats, though. 
But what about your parents? What would your Father have thought 
of me? And what does your Mother think of me?"

Miranda chuckled, shaking her head slowly as Misty gave her a 
questioning look. "My Mother has yet to voice a strong opinion on 
the topic. But she never completely formulates and opinion of 
someone until she meets them face to face. So far we have her 
approval, though. So that's something."

"And as for my Father," said Miranda, sighing heavily and smiling 
sadly as she turned back to Misty and caught her gaze, "He'd say 
that if can you make me happy, then you're a welcome addition to 
the family."

Misty smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed as Miranda leaned closer 
and gave her a small kiss. "And what about your stepfather?" she 
inquired with a hint of amusement.

"He thinks you're cute," chuckled Miranda, giving another quick 
kiss and trying not to laugh.

"That must drive your Mom crazy," Misty laughed in reply, leaning 
back and guiding Miranda back towards the couch.

"Naw, Mom's a lot more easy going than she let's on," Miranda 
replied with a mischievous smile, "She only pretends to act like a 
real mom. She's actually not even half as serious as people think 
she is. But I'm sure she'll just love you to pieces!"

"Ow! That could be painful!" laughed Misty, letting herself fall 
backwards, pulling Miranda down awkwardly over the arm of the 
couch and laughing as her lover struggled to regain equilibrium.

"So's this," agreed Miranda with a laugh before rearranged herself 
so that she was straddling Misty, who's legs were bent over the 
arm of the couch.

"Sorry," Misty chuckled, reaching up to push Miranda's glasses 
back up her nose as they threatened to slid off, "You just bring 
this out in me."

"And you bring out my laughter," her lover added, giving Misty yet 
another gentle kiss, "And for that, I thank you. By the way, are 
you cooking something?"

"Oh crap!" Misty exclaimed, squirming out from beneath Miranda 
before hopping off the couch and pulling her shirt back down, "I 
almost forgot!"

"I thought I was the one who was no good in the kitchen!" laughed 
Miranda, leaning on the back of the couch, watching Misty as she 
fled into the gloom.

"It's your curse rubbing off on me!" replied Misty, chuckling 
before cursing loudly and making a bit of a commotion in the 
kitchen.

"Need any help?" inquired Miranda with concern as the clattering 
of dishes issued forth, followed by the sound of a glass breaking.

"No, I'm fine," assured Misty, her voice seeming unconvinced, "I 
traveled with an unofficial chef for nearly five years remember. I 
had time to learn a trick or two!"

"Unofficial?" inquired Miranda with amusement as Misty staggered 
from the kitchen with a huge platter held at least one quietly 
sizzling dish.

Misty nodded as she came around the couch and set the platter down 
on the coffee table. "Brock was a natural at cooking," she 
explained, taking a seat next to Miranda and turning to face her, 
"But pokemon were his obsession, so to my knowledge he never went 
for his red seal and became a real chef. Just his breeder 
license."

"He chose to bring new pokemon into the world instead of cooking 
them, I guess," chuckled Miranda, glancing at the fajitas Misty 
had thrown together with whatever she could find in the kitchen, 
"But it looks like you weren't wasting your time with him."

"Yeah, only with Ash," agreed Misty, glancing distantly at the 
food, "But I hope you like it."

Miranda took Misty's hand and held it close to her lips, causing 
her to glance back and smile a little at the mischief she saw in 
her lover's cloudy gray eyes. "Then before I taste that which you 
have wrought, my love," replied Miranda melodramatically before 
giving Misty's knuckles a gentle kiss, "I thank you for this 
delicious meal, so unlike any I've had before."

"I'll call the hospital and tell them to expect two cases of 
salmonella," chuckled Misty, unable to take the gesture seriously.

"You know me too well," said Miranda with a smile, kissing Misty 
on the cheek before reaching out and carefully picking up one of 
the strips of meat that lay upon the pile of still steaming 
vegetables.

"I found it in the back of the fridge," said Misty, smiling at 
Miranda's concerned look, and laughing at the horrified expression 
the woman wore as she took a small, all too careful bite.

"Hey, not bad!" replied Miranda with genuine appreciation; popping 
the rest into her mouth and quickly eating before speaking again. 
"Spearow, right?"

Misty nodded. "One of the only pokemon I don't mind eating," she 
agreed with a touch of malice, "Those things are just vicious!"

"So much for no pokemon being innately malevolent," Miranda 
chuckled, grabbing a plate and putting together and proper fajita, 
"Although I'd argue that that umbreon we saw tonight wasn't 
exactly Miss Congeniality."

"The glowing red eyes threw me off," agreed Misty with a shudder, 
reaching for a plate as well, only to have Miranda hand her fajita 
one she'd been putting together, "Thanks."

"Hey, you made it," replied Miranda with a loving smile as she 
went about fixing one for herself, "And anyway, I wouldn't let red 
eyes throw me off if I were you. Bulbasaurs have red eyes."

"Yeah, that's true," agreed Misty as Miranda poked at the 
guacamole skeptically, "But bulbasaurs are cute. And they make 
flowers grow and stuff."

Miranda chuckled at the thought. "Cute?" she inquired, giving 
Misty an amused look.

"Mmm, hm!" assured Misty, nodding with a mouthful of fajita.

"Well, I have heard that they're quite loyal, I can't argue with 
that," pondered Miranda, taking a bite of her food and chewing 
thoughtfully as Misty swallowed hard and reiterated her statement.

"In a strange, lizard with a flower growing out of its back kinda 
way," she said thoughtfully before glancing mysteriously at her 
food, holding the fajita to her ear and whispering quietly out of 
the corner of her mouth, "Bulbasaur!" causing Miranda to cover her 
mouth laughing.

"Last I checked, their on the 'No' list in cerulean as far as 
eating goes," she replied with a smile as Misty gave her fajita an 
alarmed look and took another bite, "Something about 'sufficient 
sentience' or something?"

Misty nodded as she finished chewing and swallowed. "Yes," she 
agreed, suddenly remembering she'd forgotten to bring them 
anything to drink, "It's only legal to consume certain types of 
pokemon in most major cities. Even then they usually have to be 
only up to a certain evolution and can only be hunted for food at 
certain times of the year."

"You planning on becoming a chef, dear?" inquired Miranda.

"No," laughed Misty in amusement, shaking her head and looking 
reminiscent, "But as I said, Brock knew a lot about pokemon, and 
he occasionally talked about stuff like that. Although on the 
budget we had our meals were usually rather uninteresting."

"Now you have a decent budget, but you lack a descent cook," 
chuckled Miranda.

"That's true," agreed Misty, finishing her fajita and getting up 
to get a drink, "But don't make your credit card smoke on my 
account. 

"Nothing's too good for you, my dear," replied Miranda, leaning 
back her head back over the couch and looking at Misty with an 
upside down view.

"There you go spoiling me again," her lover replied in amusement, 
giving Miranda a quick kiss before heading down the hall once 
again, "I just hope you don't mind my bedroom."

"Why would I?" asked Miranda, settling back down.

"I have a really small bed," responded Misty, leaning out of the 
kitchen, "But at least I don't have to share a room with Daisy 
since Violet claimed our parent's room."

"That's okay," assured Miranda, "Even the most humble of cots 
would be the lap of luxury were I to spend the night there with 
you in my arms. Although I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable 
sleeping in my parent's room. It would just feel... Wrong 
somehow..."

"Superstitious?" Misty teased, ducking back into the kitchen.

"Hey!" laughed Miranda, "I'm from Lavender Town! What do you 
expect...?!"



Copywrite
Nikolai Mirovich (Nikolai@Nergal.Org)
"http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Nikolai_Mirovich"
June 9, 2001




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