Acting as if nothing is wrong, I quietly pick up my sleeping bag, folding it and putting it into my normal bag. I already had time to brush my hair and put it into my usual cheery pigtails, since I spent more time stating at the rising sun than I did sleeping. I don't really feel cheery, but I have to proceed with my own facade, and as hard as it may be, Petilil and Meowstic, especially her, will have to follow suit.

  "Up already, Millie?" Clara greets me with a yawn, a strap from her tank top hanging off her shoulder, her hair out and a mess.

  "Yep. Why not get to Anistar City even quicker?"

  "Enthusiastic for the next Showcase?" Clyde follows up with a yawn as he sets down the bowls for the Pokemon to feed.

  "Yep." I don't say "yep" all the time, so why am I doing it now?

  "Meow." Meowstic gives a stale yawn, her eyes still full of scorn, that thankfully, Clara and Clyde are too sluggish to notice.

  "Good morning, Meowstic!" I give her a look, reminding her that we have to act like nothing's wrong. She simply replies with a still irritated look, her eyes so inexpressive that I can't tell if she even got any sleep last night.

  "Breakfast is ready!"

  Clyde's quick to get up on his feet and prepare for the morning, much unlike his sister, who barely has her eyes open. "Food!" Clara sits down after I set up the blanket, and I sit on the near edge.

  "Here you go, Meowstic. Petilil." Clyde kindly sets down their bowls in front of them to begin eating. Petilil cheers with gratitude, her eyes closed in a smile as she begins eating, which is kind of odd seeing as how she has no mouth.

  Meowstic, however, just stares at him with her yellow glare, then looks down at the food, unenthusiastic about everything around her. "Lil!" Petilil hops again and intentionally bumps into Meowstic, showing me that she's picked up on my idea.

  "Mrow." As if springing to life, Meowstic purrs with a grin, happily eating her meal.

  I finish off my pancakes rather quickly, eager to find some time for myself away from everyone else, even though I had plenty of time to do that earlier.

  "Wow," Clyde remarks."You ate fast."

  "I want to fit in some more practice."

  "Yep!" Clara, a naturally fast eater, springs to her feet, her empty plate in her hand."We still have to practice for a battle with Olympia!"

  "Tsk." Meowstic looks away, clearly irritated once again.

  "Wanna battle again, Millie?"

  "Meowstic!!" Meowstic blows up at her, taking me and Petilil, who stops eating, by surprise.

  "Huh?" Clara opens her eyes to reveal a sort of innocent shock, and even Clyde seems taken aback by the usually calm Meowstic's outburst.

  "Petilil!"

  "Meowstic." Meowstic gets up and storms away, her anger causing Clara's glass plate to shatter into tiny pieces.

  "Whoa!" Glass pieces are scattered everywhere, and Petilil hops onto my head, spooked.

  "I'll clean it up."

  Clara rubs herself, apparently looking for any glass pieces that may have fallen into her hair or tank top. "What was that about?" She mutters as she ruffles her hair.

  I struggle to find an excuse, but what other than our friends' secret could make Meowstic angry enough to physically destroy something? Thank goodness Clara had that plate, and I shudder at the possibility of her having been the target if that were the case.

  Clyde scoops up all the glass, then walks over to a nearby trash bin to dispose of it.

  Frogadier, who's on edge from the plate breaking, hurries after Meowstic, and I nervously run after it. "Dier! Frogadier!"

  "Meowstic." Meowstic looks at the blue Pokemon, then at me."Meow."

  "Meowstic, I think an apology is in order."

  "Meowstic!!" Meowstic hisses, her fur bristling with indignation.

  She's giving me so much trouble."If that's how you feel, then... Then cool down! "

  I reach for her hardly ever used Poke Ball and point it at her. The last look Meowstic gives me is a look of utter shock before she's surrounded by a red glow and placed into the ball.

  After that is silence, and I stare at her Poke Ball, expecting Meowstic to shake it in a fierce attempt at freedom, but the ball is still and silent.

  "Lil.." Petilil hops behind me, her face full of concern.

 "Dier..." Frogadier gives up and returns to Clara after seeing Meowstic in her ball. Clara, who seems to have gotten dressed in that short interval of time, brushes her hair back into a ponytail, her expression hard to pin down. She looks somewhat shocked, but underneath that is guilt.

  "Meowstic just got a bit frustrated, is all."

  "About what?" Clyde returns with a nervous air about him.

  "She got.... Distracted during our practice earlier and messes up, which she hates more than anything." That all is a complete lie, as we didn't practice for a couple days, and the fact that Clyde and Clara are most likely on her hate list.

  "Oh. Is that so?" Clara seems to want to ask more, but stops herself, instead going for a new direction."Can't be helped, I guess! Let's go practice, Clyde. "

"S-sure." Clyde follows his twin, glancing over his shoulder back at me, looking uncertain even still before looking back at Clara.

  "It's hard, isn't it, Meowstic?" I whisper once they're out of earshot. Even though there's no response, I'm positive Meowstic can still hear me and understands. Petilil and I have given our best to fake a smile whenever we see them, but when they leave our sight...

  Petilil's leaves droop with sadness, her eyes no longer full of vigor."Lil..."Will they come back? She seems to have said.

  I wish there wasn't such a gap between us, and I start to hate myself for choosing to become a performer. "I always wanted Ti prove my mother wrong, that I could be strong and grow, but weak things just don't."

  "Lil...."

  "Houndoom, apprehend that girl!"

  "H-Houndoom?"

  My sentimental thoughts are interrupted by racing thoughts, each bringing me back to my dream. I turn to see a large black Pokemon, baring its vicious fangs, malice in its gleaming orange eyes.

  "Mrow!" Meowstic pops out of her Poke Ball just in time as the Houndoom gets closer. Behind it is a woman dressed lime a Team Flare operative, but her hair is green, along with her lipstick. A boss of some sort?

  "You fit the description of one of the annoying brats that have been interfering with Team Flare's plans!" She growls. "Glad I got rid of that useless grunt Lennie. Seriously, how hard is it to bring down a weakling grasstype like that?"

  My knees begin to shake as I notice that her Houndoom has Mega Evolved. Just like in my dream...

  "Scared, little girl?" The woman teases. Clyde and Clara aren't nearby. I'm alone... With my Pokemon... Unlike before.

  "I'll shut you up for good." The woman licks her lips, pointing at me, her either hand placed on her hip. "Flamethrower." She doesn't even hesitate to say the cruel command, and her Houndoom is quick to unleash an unmerciful blast of fire.

  I feel the heat as the Flamethrower approaches me, but before me or Meowstic can react, Petilil jumps in front of me, taking the hit herself. She falls to the ground with a might thud, her body burnt and weak.

  "Petilil!" I shriek so loud that I'm sure the others can hear me.

  "Millie!"

  "Tsk. Flamethrower again."

  Clyde and Clara arrive too late, and Meowstic and I are too grilled with shock and fear to even contemplate moving.

  Another blast of fire approaches, and this time, Petilil is surrounded by a glowing green light, rising. The fire hits her, but she seems to be fighting it back with an unexplainable force.

  "Petilil!!!!!!"

  "What on earth....!?"

  "P-Petilil?"

  The Flamethrower lands but does nothing, and Petilil doesn't even flinch. "Meowstic!" Meowstic jumps forth beside her, her face determined. My two Pokemon let out an earsplitting cry, Meowstic surrounded by a magnificent pink light, and Petilil a green light. 

  Simultaneously, the two unleash their attacks. Petilil summons a huge Energy Ball, and Meowstic is then surrounded by a bright yellow light, a Charge Beam pushing it forward, splitting the ground as it hits both the Houndoom and the woman.

  I cover my eyes at the immense light, and it's all too real to be a dream. The Houndoom faints, resting on the body of its owner, who's alive but knocked out.

  "W-what? What!?!?!?!" Clare exclaims, her mouth wide open.

  I don't have any words at the ineffaceable sight. What was that? 

  The light vanishes from both their bodies, and Petilil and Meowstic turn around to give me a quizzical look.

                Chapter 14.... End?!?!?!?! : O