Penny rushed out into the arena, ready to take part in the battle.  "Let's get this thing 
started, then!"  She shouted.
	"A little enthusiastic?"  Tim smiled, "Okay then.  Jessica!  Use your Double Team 
technique!"
	In a flash, several copies of Tim's Gardevoir appeared, and scrambled themselves in front 
of Penny and I.  Penny stood there, mouth ajar, and blinked, "Awha...?  Which one's the real 
one?"
	Tim smiled, and laughed with a fake-evil voice, "Mwahaha... Just try to figure it out, 
pathetic fools!  You'll never find out which one's the real one!"
	"Oh yes we will!"  Penny smiled, "Through process of elimination!"
	"URR... IT'S DE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION!!"  Tim shouted, playing stupid for a 
moment while he pointed upwards while nodding his head.
	"WE'LL figure it out!!"  I imitated.  "NOW Penny!"  I shouted, "Use yer Thunder Shock 
on that third one fer our Process o' elimination!"
	Tim and I laughed, while Penny blinked, "You know, it's really not all that funny..." she 
said, then turned towards Jessica.  "Well, here goes nothing!  Thunder Shock!"
	With a surge of electrical energy emitting from her body, Penny zapped the figure she 
thought was Jessica.  The Gardevoir disappeared into nothing more than a trace in thin air!  Tim 
smiled, shaking a finger, "Oh...!  Not that one!  Try again next time!  Jessica!  Use your Psybeam 
technique!"
	The remaining copies of the Gardevoir swirled around in a circle, and imitated the real 
Gardevoir who was among them in performing Psybeam, though only one actually performed the 
technique.  The blast of the prism-coloured rays knocked Penny over sideways, sending her 
sprawling a few feet.  
	Penny jumped back on to her feet, and wiped her face off, "Alright..." she leered, "Which 
one of you was it?"
	"Go for the one that the Psybeam came out of!"  I shouted.  
	Penny nodded, "Good idea!  Thunder Shock!"
	The attack shot from her body in a bluish-white arch, and struck another one of the 
Gardevoirs that stood still.  The attack went right through another, which ended up disappearing 
in mid air.
	"What!  Not that one either?!"  Penny stared.
	"Hah!  This is easy!"  Tim continued, "Jessica!  Use your Psychic ability!"
	Suddenly, Penny felt herself rise from the ground, suspended in air for a moment.  She 
blinked, "What the...?!  What's... What's happening to me!?"
	"I can't bear to look...!"  Mew turned away while covering her eyes.  Penny kept rising 
higher and higher slowly until she was at about head-heighth when she stopped.
	In a flash, Penny was pushed straight into the ground by a powerful force.  She tried to 
pull herself up, wincing painfully as the invisible force of mind over matter held her down.  She 
gave a loud scream before Jessica released her from the powerful blow.  Tired and exhausted, 
Penny laid there only momentarily.
	Slowly, she pulled herself up, feeling her ribs, then winced again, "Ach... Ben, I don't 
think I can take much more!  She's too strong!"
	"Well, hang in there!"  I said, reaching into the front compartment of my large blue 
backpack.  I pulled out an Item Ball marked with a "P," and popped it open.  "This should be it..." 
I said to myself, as a cylindrical container with a spray nozzle took shape from the Item Ball.  
	I took the item, a Potion that is, and rushed over to Penny, "Where does it hurt?"  Penny 
motioned with a paw that shook when she moved it, and I sprayed the Potion spray over the 
wounded area.  
	Almost immediately, Penny felt the effects of the Potion, and smiled feeling relaxed that 
the pain was gone. "Thanks, Ben!"
	"Okay!  Now then."  I said, observing the three remaining copies of Gardevoir that stood 
before us.  I thought about it, then nodded, "Penny!  Get the one to your right!"
	Quickly, Penny shocked the Gardevoir to her right, which twitched and shook for a 
moment under the attack.  
	Penny and I cheered, "Yes!  That was it!"
	"Hm!  But not good enough!"  Tim smiled, "Jessica!  Use your Psywave technique!"
	Tim's Gardevoir pulled itself back up, but then sank back into its position, and gave a 
moan.  Tim gasped, "Jessica!  What's wrong?  Why aren't you moving?  Are you Paralyzed?"  
Jessica appeared to be motionless, but I could tell she  was communicating through her  
telepathic powers to Tim what was going on.  Tim nodded after a while, then opened up his bag, 
and took out an Item Ball, which changed into a liquid container with spray nozzle that contained 
an orangish-yellow liquid inside.  Tim approached his Gardevoir, and sprayed her over with the 
Paralyze Heal, which dissipated the effects of Penny's paralyzing attack in a heartbeat.  Tim 
smiled, "Feel all better now?"
	Jessica nodded at her trainer.
	Tim patted her on the back, "Great!  Then let's get back into battle and use your Psywave 
technique, eh?"
	Jessica pulled herself back into battle, then emitted an ultra powerful violet wave of 
energy, sent out in strange pulses.  The attack seemed to dazzle Penny and I for a moment, but 
then Penny flinched and covered herself, squeaking after each mysterious blow Gardevoir struck 
her with.  The rainbow-like wave seemed to hypnotize me and make me feel tired and drowsy.  
Penny writhed on the ground several times under the punishing blows Jessica sent unto her.
	Finally, the attack was over, and Jessica hovered a few inches above the ground while 
Penny covered herself for a moment, gasping for air.
	"Penny!"  I shouted, "Are you okay?"
	"Just... can't... seem to... hang on..."  Penny moaned as she tried to pick herself up before 
falling again on the sidewalk.
	I winced as I picked her up, setting her into Carman's paws, "Poor thing..."
	"Great job, Jessica!"  Tim praised his Gardevoir in the meanwhile as it returned to her 
master, a mysterious smile across her face.  "Ready for Round Three, Ben?"
	I gulped, looking at Ellis, who gasped and shivered visibly at the realization of what was 
to happen.  "Please, no...!"  Her tiny voice quivered. 
	"I'm afraid so..."  I said.  
	"B-but Ben... I can't fight!  I... I can't hurt anyone- I don't like to fight!  I'm afraid of 
fighting because I could get hurt!"
	I walked over to her, and crouched next to her, ruffling up the fur behind her floppy ears, 
which hung down behind her mane as usual.  "Well, let's try to make this one count..." I said.  
"We'll make sure we don't lose, okay?  You don't like to lose, do you?"
	Ellis shook her head, "No!  No, I don't like to lose, Ben!  I don't want to be the one who 
loses!"
	"Well, then let's give this next one all we've got, and keep that in mind, okay?"  I 
encouraged her.
	Ellis shivered again visibly with closed eyes, but then nodded, "I'll do my best!"
	"Thattagirl!"  I smiled, patting her head.  "Well, go out there, and get ready!"
	Ellis got up, then quickly made off for the arena, trotting daintily like collie shepards 
usually do when trotting.  As my mom put it, the "collie trot."
	Tim's eyes widened at the sight of Ellis walking into the battlefield, "Wow- you're 
actually going to use Ellissa, Ben?  I thought she didn't like to fight!"
	"Don't give up... Don't be afraid..."  Ellis said to herself as she braced herself for what 
Tim had in mind.
	"She wants to win, so there's no stopping her."  I smiled.  "If she wants to win so badly, 
she'll battle, and that's what it looks like she wants to do!"
	"Oh man..." Tim shook his head, "It... It's just... Oh man... I dunno, Ben...  I wouldn't if I 
were you..."
	"Hm...?"  Ellis blinked at Tim.
	"Huh?  What do you mean?"  I asked.
	"I... well, it's just... aww... I'll tell you later.  Can't we just call it a draw?"
	Carman, Ellis, Mew and I blinked at Tim, who seemed very uneasy to battle all of a 
sudden.  Why was he quitting the battle when Ellis was out in the field?  Sure, she wasn't all that 
powerful, but she was determined to win this time!  What was Tim up to...?
	"Um... Can't we just finish it right now?"  I asked, "It's almost over- you've got one 
pokémon left just like me..."
	"Well, I just don't want to hurt Ellis."  Tim said sincerely.  It sounded a bit like Tim was 
being like a power-god or something, but then again, he didn't like to see others cry, either.
	"Don't worry!"  Ellis put on her bravest face, "I won't cry!  Let me battle Tim!  Please?"
	Tim looked up for a moment, then sighed, "Awww... alright.  It seems I'd lose if I gave up, 
anyway...  Okay then.  Here we go...  Go Zapper!"
	"Zapper...!?"  Mew and I gasped.
	Ellis still stood bravely as Tim tossed the pokéball on to the sidewalk, Zapper emerging 
from his pokéball in an electric field, his tuff of hair just lightly covering his eyes.
	"Pi-chaa!"  He shouted.
	"Zapper!  I'm ready to battle you!"  Ellis said bravely, standing her ground.
	Zapper raised an eyebrow, then smiled, nodding, "Kaaah! Pi pika pi!"
	"What's he saying?"  I asked Tim, who could understand the tongue of pokémon.
	"He said, ' Alright!  Let's get this done'!"  Tim translated.
	"Okay then!"  I smiled.  "Ellis!  Sand Attack!"
	Ellis jumped, turning around and tried to kick up dirt with her feet, only to find that there 
was only pavement, and no dirt or sand.
	She looked up at me, nervously, "Ummm... Ben?"
	I shook my head, "Um... Never mind... Try to look threatening!  Use a Growl technique!"
	Ellis blinked, then turned around to face Zapper, who'd laid down with a Newtype 
magazine, flipping through its pages.  Ellis's jaw dropped, and she turned to me again, "Be-en!  
What do I do now?"
	Meanwhile, Tim was laughing at the sight of Zapper's comical doing, and shook his head, 
"Zapper!  Pay attention to the battle!  You can look at that later!"
	Zapper stood up straight, blinking surprised, then quickly pushed aside the magazine and 
stood ready to fight Ellis.
	"Well, just Tackle him, then."  I said, pointing towards Zapper.
	She looked where I was pointing, but blinked, "...Tim?  You want me to Tackle Tim?"
	"No, no..."  I shook my head, "Tackle Zapper!  It'll get him good!"
	"Oh!  I understand now!"  Ellis's eyes widened, then turned to face Zapper.  "I'm going to 
Tackle you now, okay?"  She called out to Zapper.
	"Pi-kaaaah...?"  Zapper raised an eyebrow, disappointed that there was not to be a surprise 
attack or technique used on him.
	"Ellis..."  I shook my head, covering my eyes.
	Ellis took off running towards Zapper, then leaped into the air to tackle Zapper.  Zapper 
took a step aside, avoiding Ellis's move.  Ellis landed on all fours, then turned to attack again, 
making small battle cries to add expression to the battle.  Zapper ducked.  Ellis turned and 
Tackled again.  Zapper step-sided.  Ellis whirled to catch him by surprise.  Zapper dropped down, 
Ellis landing on him.
	Ellis panted, looking into Zapper's face, then smiled, "I Tackled you!"
	Zapper rolled his eyes, then flipped Ellis off of his chest.  Ellis yipped as she hit the 
ground, rolling a ways.
	"Ellis!"  I yelled, "Are you okay?"
	Ellis picked herself up, a bit of water in her eyes.  She shook her head, and put on a 
pouting expression, "I'm not going to cry!  I'm okay!  Here I come again!"
	Ellis ran quickly towards Zapper to do a Head Butt.  Zapper only had to hold out his arm 
to block Ellis with his open paw, Ellis running in place because his hand stopped her.
	"Zapper!  Go easy on her!  Just give her a light shock!"  Tim commanded.
	"Pichaaaaaaaaaaaa...?"  Zapper looked, disappointed.  He shrugged, and emitted a slight 
shock from his cheeks.  The slight jolt traveled through his cheeks, and into his face, from his 
face into his body, from his body to his arms, from his arms into his paws, and from his paws 
into Ellis's face.
	Ellis yipped again, covering her nose, "Owieowieowieowieowieeeeee!!"
	Ellissa danced in a circle for a while, covering her nose before she laid down and cried.  
"My nose hurts!"  She cried loudly.
	Tim winced, and looked up, "I'm sorry, Ben... I had no intention of fighting her, and 
didn't mean to make her cry..."
	"Well, you did, pal, and now you're gonna pay for it!"
	"Huh...?"  Tim blinked, as did I, from where the mysterious voice came from.
	A Meowth stood before Tim, a white fang protruding from its upper lip, wearing mascara 
and moon-shaped earrings, obviously a girl.  It stood there, arms crossed, and a not-too-happy 
expression across its face.  I immediately recognized the Meowth, as it was my last pokémon!
	"Synthia!"  I shouted.
	"Yeah, yeah, yeah... Quit your yapping!"  Synthia said, brushing me off.  She hopped 
onto the sidewalk, and stepped in front of Ellis, wrinkling her nose at the sight of Ellis crying.  
"You call that a battle?  When are you going to learn, ya whiney-butt animal?"  Ellis kept on 
crying, a bit surprised though to see Synthia coming in to help her.
	She cracked her knuckles, and nodded to Tim, "Mind if I take a shot at him?"
	Tim blinked, then looked at me.  I was still amazed at Synthia's appearance, and stayed 
quiet.  Tim shrugged, "I.... I guess so.  Um... the problem is, I don't have any other poké-"
	"Yiiieaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"  Synthia screeched, rushing at an alarming rate at Zapper.  
Zapper could only blink before he was flattened with an extremely powerful Mega Punch 
technique that knocked him clear over.
	Zapper pulled himself up, shaking the dizziness from his eyes before being smashed again 
by Synthia's Double Edge'd physical attack that took both of them down in its doing.
	"Pi-kaaa!!"  Zapper shouted angrily, pulling Synthia off of him.  He grabbed her chest to 
pull her off, when she screamed at him.
	"Yieaaaaaaaaaak!!  You perverted little rodent!  Grabbing there is off limits to you!  
Rrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!"  With a Fury of Swipes to the face, Zapper was down and out quickly, 
leaving Synthia the victor of the match.
	She stood up, closing her eyes, and began to wipe her hands together as if dust were on 
them, and smiled walking off.
	Tim only stood there with his mouth drawn wide open, saying a few things inappropriate 
before turning to Synthia, "You beast!  How in the-"
	"Shyaddup, unless ya wanna get kicked."  Synthia stopped him from continuing.  "I did 
what I needed to do, and now need to take care of some business.  If you'll excuse me..."
	Synthia turned, and walked over towards me, eyes closed.  "Crouch over, Ben."  She 
ordered.
	I did so, and Synthia walked over.  She opened her eyes slightly, so that only slits were 
showing.  "Tell me, Ben."  She asked.  "When we were staring at each other, did you purposely 
blink?"
	I nodded, "Yes..."
	She nodded right back.  "I see...  So, we didn't have a fair contest then, did we?" 
	"Nope."  I replied right back.
	"Then... would you care to try me again?  I'll bet you I can beat you."
	Something smelled mighty fishy... I could almost taste it... Penny demanded a battle, and 
whomped me.  Carman challenged me with her strength, and overcame my abilities as a trainer to 
fight back with words.  What was Synthia planning?
	I nodded, though, "Yes.  Let's try again."
	"Ready?"  She asked.  "Go."
	We stared at each other for a while, a silence passing as we competed against each other.  
I tried to keep my eyes open as I stared at the unblinking and unmoving eyes of my former 
Meowth partner, who still kept a sharp watch on my every movement.  A few seconds passed, 
and nothing changed.  Tim kept watching from the sidelines, tending to his Pikachu while 
watching us with our Sudden Death match.  I began to feel my eyes drying up, but noticed that 
Synthia was unwavered by the moments of time that seemed like hours as we stared each other 
down.
	Soon my eyes began to twitch, as they usually did when they were kept open for a really 
long while, and I began to switch eyes, watching Synthia's left eye, then her right eye, back and 
forth to bring my focus on to something else.  Synthia still kept unmoving.  
	"Not going to lose..."  I whispered to myself.
	Synthia only snorted, and continued to watch me.  I accidently looked down, only to hear 
Synthia hiss loudly.  Immediately, I looked up, and she leered, "Don't look down!  We're not 
done with this yet!"  
	So we continued to stare.  It had been well over a minute and a half now, and neither of us 
seemed to be giving in.  Synthia cleaned her lips with a quick swash of the tongue, clearing 
anything that had been left on her lips.  I licked the tip of mine, realizing on how dry they were.  
Soon, Synthia began to purr, smiling as she continued to watch me with twitching eyes.  
	"Not... done... yet..." She smiled.
	"Ben?  Ben!  What's going on?"  Tim asked.
	"Don't look away..." Synthia advised, "Keep perfectly focused..."
	"I'm a bit busy, Tim."  I said, keeping watch on Synthia.
	"I told you to keep focused... Don't do it again."  Synthia warned me, keeping her eyes on 
me.
	We sat there for another minute, until suddenly, Synthia blinked.  She blinked again, 
widely, this time, and smiled, "I lose."  She admitted.
	"So... I am the victor?"  I asked.
	"Yup.  I guess so."  She said, standing up and walking away.
	I stood there, surprised at her leaving, and asked her, "Synthia!  Where are you going?  
Don't you want to come back with me and the others?"
	"Pah!  No way!"  She called back.  "I only wanted to see if I could beat you in a staring 
contest!  I've got a way better life now than when I was with you!"
	"A better life...?"  I blinked.  I sat there for a moment, then quickly rushed up to Synthia, 
"Synthia, what do you mean by a better life?"
	"Oh... Mmm... Better life, better home, better friends, better family...  It's all good."
	"But... Where do you live?  And what do you mean by 'family'?  Your family lives a long 
ways away!"
	"I know.  I know.  These friends I've got are a much better family than them too!"
	I stopped, watching Synthia walk off a ways.  What was she talking about?  And why was 
she acting so strangely?  
	Okashii... the Japanese word popped into my mind, why is Synthia acting so strangely...?
	Thinking to yourself, Ben?  I heard Mew's thoughts say to me.
	Yeah...  I replied, but why...
	She's probably thinking the same thing, Ben...  Mew replied.  She's probably upset, but 
doesn't want to show it.  Don't forget- it's been over three months since you last saw her.
	...And to think that this much change could have come out of it...  I thought to myself.
	Synthia stopped for a moment, then turned around to face me.  She held up a paw in a 
lazy manner, and nodded, "Great to see you again, Ben.  Hope your life is as good as you hoped 
it to be..."
	"Synthia...!  Wait!"  I blurted, holding up a raised hand.  She watched me, and I stood, 
unsure of what to say.  "I... well, I'm...  I'm sorry, Synthia..." I said.  "I don't want to live like this 
anymore.  I wanted to get you all back, because I'm tired of living alone without you!"
	"Hmph... That's quite thoughtful..." Synthia smiled, a tooth gleaming from her top row of 
hidden teeth.  "I accept your apologies.  You're a good kid.  Hope things go well!  Let me know 
when you've gotten the rest of the bunch."
	"I... But I do!"  I said, surprised at Synthia.  "Synthia, I've gotten them all to return with 
me!  We're all a happy family, but we want you back, too!"
	"Naw-naw, don't worry about me.  Things couldn't get any better for me.  I'm living a life 
now with somebody that really loves me, and I love them back.  They don't act rash or harsh, and 
they've been treating me like I've wanted them to.  I'm really fine now, though.  Thanks for the 
offer."
	"Synthia~!"  I whined.
	She paused, then walked back over to me.  "Ben, sit down for a moment."
	I obeyed her, and sat down as she walked over next to me.  She stepped onto my lap, then 
held my face in her paws.  "Ben..." she said softly, smiling at me, "I loved you dearly.  Our love 
was like kitten-love.  Now it's time that I grew up and get to see the world.  I've found somebody 
else who loves me just the same as I did you...  Don't be upset now just because you won't be 
able to see me...  Rejoice!  Rejoice and remember the good times we had together!  We can 
always look back and reflect on what we've learned from one another..." Synthia blushed, turning 
away, "...like how I learned how silly it was to fall in love with a human...!  What a silly little girl 
I was...  Don't worry, though... Because I realized what I've done, I now know how to prevent 
things like this from happening again."  
	She paused for a moment, then opened her eyes, a sparkle of a tear in her eye, "You've 
still got that child-like look about you, Ben...  And you've only gotten older!  You're what, 
seventeen now?  Wow... do you ever look so handsome...!  If only this hadn't happened, I'd have 
wished you were a Meowth."
	"...Synthia..." I felt a tear form in my eye.
	Synthia smiled, and wiped it away from my face, "Shush... shush, and don't cry...  I know 
you can shape-shift, and that you don't really love me the way I loved you- that's okay, because I 
understand.  You like humans, just as I should have liked Meowths like myself.  I will still love 
you, Ben- make no exception to that.  If you promise you love me, you have to learn to let some 
things go, and to let things be...  Do you remember that song, Ben?  'Let it Be,' by the Beatles...?  
You used to listen to them many years ago, and you taught me that song...  Let it be..., let it be..., 
Whispering words of wisdom..., Let it be..."
	She paused for the effect, then smiled, blinking slowly, "...I love you, Ben..." she 
whispered, then stepped down, still smiling, and slowly walked off down the street, and into a 
small alleyway I assumed was her home.
	I felt the tears come out, as I watched her, thinking of what she told me, when I felt a 
hand on my shoulder.  It was Tim.  I began to cry again while Tim patted my back.  He sat down 
next to me, and kept his silence while I cried quietly.  After a little while, Tim spoke up, "Yeah... 
I felt that way too, when I left Manistique...  I had to leave all my good friends behind, and go to 
a place I'd never been to before..."
	"But why did it have to be Synthia...!?"  I cried.  "I didn't want her to go, and now she's 
just...-"
	Tim sat there for a while, comforting me with his presence.  I don't know how long I had 
been there, perhaps maybe fifteen minutes or so, when a police officer had come over.  
	He paused, then approached, asking smartly, "Everything okay over here?"
	"Yes..." Tim nodded.  "He's just not feeling well..."
	"Not feeling well?  What, was there a fight or something like that?"
	"Well, it's... arrg... He broke up with his girlfriend, and is still upset about it."
	"Oh."  The police officer nodded, "Well, I'm sorry to hear that.  But please do your best to 
keep off the sidewalks so others can get by, okay?"
	"Come on, Ben..." Tim coaxed, nudging me.  "We gotta get off the road right now..."
	I sighed, breaks in my breath as I rose up, hiding my eyes as I walked quickly down the 
street to the edge of a building, which I stood alongside.
	Tim caught up, Mew following alongside him, carrying Ellis.  "You almost forget her..." 
He said, passing Ellis to me.  I held Ellis up close, her head just under my chin.
	She questioned me, "Why are you sad, Ben?  I didn't do anything.  ...Did I?"
	I shook my head, "No... No, you didn't, Ellis..." I said in a choked up voice.  "You 
wouldn't do anything like this to me..."
	"What happened...?  Did Synthia hurt you, Ben?"
	"..."  -I thought about it, then replied silently- "Yes..."
	"See?  Like I told you!  She wasn't very nice to you at all!  She was just a mean old 
Meowth!"
	"No..., Elli..."  I said, "She wasn't just a mean old Meowth...  She was kind, and 
compassionate..."
	"'Uh...?"  Ellis blinked.
	I stood there for a while, looking at the old brick building we were next to, then added, 
"She told me off in a very kind and considerate manner that made me feel good about myself..."
	"But..."  Ellis thought, then asked, "Ben?  What does conpassiderate mean?"
	"Oh Ellis...!"  I cried, trying to keep back a smile, "You always seem to cheer me up, even 
when I'm feeling blue!"
	"I do...?"  Ellis blinked, looking up from under my chin, "How do I do that, Ben?"
	"You make him feel better about things by thinking about something else, maybe..." Tim 
added in.
	Ellis blinked, wide-eyed, "Oh...!  I get it now!  ...No, wait... No, I don't..."
	I shook my head, "Someday, maybe we'll all understand.  But until now, we're all in the 
same boat, Ellissa..."
	"Ben?  Where is the boat at?"