The Sacred Pantheon: Vol 1: Kanto Chapter 16: Cheering Up a Ghost, a pokémon fanfic

Vixey - Brina Palencia that played the English voiced Holo in 'Spice and Wolf'
Chrono – Phil Hartman who voiced Jiji in 'Kiki's Delivery Service'
Kaze - Hugo Weaving who voiced Noctis in 'Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'hoole'
Sora - Ali Hillis who voices Lightning in 'Final Fantasy XIII/-2'
Shiva - Willa Holland who voiced Aqua in 'Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep'
Hikari - Hayden Panettiere
Baihu - Paul Mercier who voiced Bear from '.hack/SIGN'
Fenrir - Steven Blum who voiced Vincent Valentine from 'Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus'
Bahamut - Jamie Foxx
Ifrit - by Ian Sinclair who voiced the English version of Ginei Morioka from Rosario + Vampire
Eywa - Tricia Helfer who voices EDI in 'Mass Effect 3'

(AN: Ifrit's voice has changed. Voices are subject to change to a more suiting voice if I come across one. So keep an eye out for changes which will be posted here in the future.)

(Chapter AN: All songs in this chapter are the property of those listed. I do not own them in any way. Plus, for the people who are confused at the fact that Valentine's Day is at the end of Summer in this chapter, I'm following the Southern Hemisphere seasons and for us, Valentine's Day is halfway through the final month of Summer. However the Valentine's Concert for other regions will be on days that are far from the original date of the special day but just accept it.)

Chapter 16: Cheering Up a Ghost

(Cue song Chameleon Guy by Taku Iwasaki from Getbackers Original Soundtrack)

"I'm gonna get you this time!" growled Chrono.

"That's what you said last time," grinned Ifrit as Eywa rested her head on his shoulder.

"Why can't you just lose gracefully?" asked Vixey before she slapped her head with one of her tails. "Look who I'm asking!"

"Speak for yourself," laughed Cynthia as she held her Riolu egg in her arms and observed from my side.

"Well too bad but I'm taking this round. Full House!" I said as I placed my cards down; three Jacks and two 10s.

"Someone's confident," said Cynthia. I just grinned at her.

"Damn!" grumbled Chrono as he threw down his three of a kind (9s) from his tails.

Ifrit sighed as he placed his hand down with the cards hidden underneath before grinning and raising his hand, showing his own Full House of three Aces and two Kings.

"Oh snap..." I sighed before glaring at Ifrit.

"Ahem!" coughed Vixey before she placed her hand on the floor of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack and ten, all of hearts. "Royal Straight Flush," she grinned.

"Damn!" muttered the Blaziken.

"The fuck? She sweeped us again?!" I whispered in horror.

"And that's nine times in a row!" cheered the red fox Pokémon.

"Yeah, yeah..." Ifrit and I said gloomily.

"I don't care what you say sis, no-one is that lucky!" Chrono growled.

"Don't blame me for your crappy skills," she replied.

"Crappy?!" the fox Pokémon gaped before he took off after a laughing Vixey. "I'll show you 'crappy'!"

We were currently chilling on the port side deck on the ferry heading to Maiden's Peak. So far it had been 10 hours since leaving Porta Vista in the morning. It was now late afternoon and we would be pulling in quite soon.

As Ifrit gathered up the cards and Chrono continued to chase his sister around the place in anger, Misty cried out, "Hey! Look over there!"

We all moved over to the railing to see what she was looking at. It was the large rock jutting out from the cliff. It was Maiden's Peak.

"Nice spotting Misty. This is where we get off. Tomorrow night is the Valentines concert," I said.

"Ohh, it wouldn't matter to me if I never saw land again," moaned Brock in despair. "I just wasted another summer."

"Geez, what's up his keister?" muttered Chrono as Ifrit handed me the two decks of cards. Vixey moved up next to me, and judging from her slightly ruffled fur, it seemed Chrono had caught her. She was sporting a slightly pouty look too. Chrono also had a small smirk in his victory over his sister.

"But we had a whole summer of adventure," replied Ash.

"I don't think that's what he ordered for his summer itinerary," I said.

"For kids, summer means playing on the beach, splashing around and having fun. But for me," moped Brock.

"Here it comes," murmured Vixey.

"Summer means bathing suites! And girls to wear them! Now bikini season is over and I'll have to wait another year to meet a giiiiirrrrrrrlllll!"

"There we go," I grinned, patting his back.

(Cue song Tsubasa by Kajiura Yuki from Erementar Gerad OST 1)

As we disembarked from the ferry, a PA announcement told us of the Summer End/Valentines festival including the announcement that GOM would be playing tomorrow night. There were posters up everywhere showing my whole team posing with musical notes pasted all around us and the words, 'Guardians of Music', at the bottom with the date and time.

I was now dressed to conceal myself. A spiky black hair wig was over my head to hide my very eye-catching white hair, the most identifying think about me. Nothing could be done about Vixey or Chrono, but luckily they weren't singled out, which was a miracle in itself as they were two of the most recognizable members in my band thanks to their unique colouring.

"Why are you hiding again?" asked Ash.

"Because this concert is publicly advertised and so many people will be coming to see me and my team play, including my fan club. I don't want to be swamped by crazed females, thank you very much!" I replied in a whisper. "Vixey, Chrono, how's it looking?"

"So far so good. I don't see any of the regular crowd. Then again, those fan-girls are devious creatures," reported Chrono.

"Damn right," I muttered.

"Look out! Incoming at 2 o'clock!" Vixey hissed as a blonde girl of 17 walked over to us with an inquisitive look on her face as she eyed Vixey and Chrono. She carried a plushy toy of me in her arms and it was squished quite tightly against her chest, which was a nice D-cup rack. Now normally I would be very aroused at the sight of an attractive woman pressing a plushy of me against her wonderful boobs. But as she stopped in front of us, a sudden chill washed over me as I recognised her.

'Shit! It's Ina!' I cursed as she smiled at me and my Ninetails Pokémon.

"Hi there! I love how you dyed the fur on your Ninetails Pokémon. They're the most well done Vixey and Chrono I've ever seen before. How did you do it?" she asked sweetly.

"Uhh…" I began, caught off guard at this question. Thankfully Brock came to the rescue, albeit accidentally.

"My dearest! Your beauty outshines the sun herself. What say you and I spend the last days of Summer together?" he asked in his usual Romeo style.

"No way!" she roared in response before clubbing the poor guy over the head, downing him to the ground in an undignified heap. "My love is for only one man. My soul mate! Josh Kitsuné, the lead singer from Guardians of Music!" she gushed with stars in her eyes.

I flinched, which was not lost on everyone except for Brock and Ina, who were too busy to notice. She then snapped out of it and looked critically at me. I began to sweat, readying myself to bolt if my cover was blown.

"You…" she began and I used every ounce of willpower to change my face to a slightly confused look.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Your Ninetails may be the best Vixey and Chrono cosplay I've ever seen, but you're lacking. You have the eye colour right but your hair is all wrong. Josh has white hair, not black."

I was frozen for a few seconds before I made a sheepish look. "Oh, how stupid of me. I'll bleach it as soon as I get a chance to," I replied.

"See that you do. You have the potential to be a good Josh cosplayer yourself. Well, I'm off. I hope we meet again," she smiled before she bounced off into the crowd. However before she was out of sight, she stopped and came back to us.

'Crap!' I began to sweat as she looked at me again.

"By the way, what's your name? I'm Ina," here she held out her hand. I quickly shook it gently, not wanting to hesitate and make her suspicious.

"I'm Arashi," I replied before looking at my partners. "This is Sophie and Hiro."

"Nice to meet you three! Well, see ya!" Ina replied before she left, this time for good.

As soon as she was out of site, I lost the strength to stay standing and sank to the ground. "That… was too close guys," I said to my partners.

"For sure," Vixey agreed in a very soft voice.

"I thought she had guessed who you really were," Chrono added in the same quiet voice Vixey was using. "Nice thinking on the fake names there, boss."

"Who was that?" Misty asked as she offered her hand to me. I accepted it and she heaved me to my feet, which were still a little weak from the close call.

"That was Ina. She's one of the more extreme fan-girls that's part of the club. You know, the type that most likely has photos and posters of me covering her bedroom walls and merchandise of me littering every flat surface in her den," I shivered. "Let's keep moving. I don't want to be caught out again."

"You sure she's like that? She seemed quite nice to me," Ash asked.

"If I'm not the topic of discussion. When I'm involved, the shit hits the fan for me and if I can, I get the hell away as fast as I can, usually aura enhanced to outrun them," I replied.

"But why would you hate the attention that beautiful woman has for you?" Brock asked.

"Because I prefer the company of women who don't worship me as their object of their desires. That's Gary and his cheerleaders. While I wouldn't mind several women all to myself, I would prefer them to be real and not after me just for my looks or status or money. That's just who I am," I explained.

There was silence as we continued to walk. I didn't notice, but Cynthia and Vixey glanced at each other significantly in this time.

"Well the festival looks like fun," Misty finally broke the conversation silence.

"Oh for sure," I replied, sort of glad to be on another subject. "When I was here five years ago I had a blast."

"This is my first time here," said Cynthia.

"I'll ride the Ferris Wheel all alone," moaned Brock. I turned around to tell him to stop being such an emo when I spotted a young woman on a deserted pier. By the sound of it, Brock had noticed too.

The woman had long lavender hair, fair skin, a white dress on with a necklace of large blue beads around her neck. A deep pink headband was over her forehead and a red flower was placed in her hair, just above her left ear.

"Whoa! What a knockout!" blurted out Brock before he was trampled by a crowd of tourists, but my eyes narrowed as I kept looking. The woman looked at me before her form faded and the form of a Gastly appeared for a moment before that too faded from view.

"So, that scamming little Gastly's still here too," I smiled nostalgically.

"Huh? She's gone?" asked Brock as he pulled himself off the ground to look at the pier again.

"It's not a real girl. Just a Gastly doing the yearly festival prank is all," I said.

"What do you mean?"

"Five years ago I was scammed by an old lady selling 'special seals'. In the ensuing chase she revealed herself to be a Gastly. But not before she put on that form of a young beautiful woman with lavender hair," I said. "However after trapping her in a psychic field thanks to Eywa, I was able to talk to her and find out why the Gastly did such things. She wants to keep the legend of the Maiden's Peak alive and so every year at the festival, she changes into the girl from the legend. She also makes a tidy profit at the end of each festival to any male foolish enough to believe the disguised Gastly's stories."

"What's the legend about?" asked Misty who had heard my explanation on the Gastly, along with Ash and Cynthia. I told the story as we walked into the town and through the festival.

"Well, 2000 years ago, a war was taking place and soldiers were being shipped overseas from Kanto to the battlefield. A maiden was in love with one of the soldiers who was being sent to war. She swore to wait on the cliff until her love returned, but he never did. According to legend, she died while standing there, and her body became part of the cliff itself. Her petrified body became a monument, and the location was named for the legend," I explained as we walked past several stalls.

"Oh how romantic!" sighed Misty. Chrono rolled his eyes and was going to say something, but was cut off from a glare from Vixey.

"Nowadays, a festival is held here at the end of the summer. Visitors honour the statue of the maiden, and at the end of the festival, people will release small boats with paper lanterns into the water. These boats are meant to help spirits find their way home, in hopes that the spirit of the maiden's lover will one day be returned to her. Incidentally, the date of Valentine's Day is part of the three day festival. We're in the second day of the festivities," I finished up.

"Hey you there!" came a voice from behind me and I looked around to see a small old woman with long, light grey hair and wore a purple witch like gown. She also held a wooden staff on one hand.

"Hello there Gastly," I replied, grinning.

"Oh ho! You remember me?" she asked.

"Of course I remember you. How could I forget the mad chase you led me on through the entire area. How's business been?" I asked.

"Doing good so far. Scared a few tourists last night," she cackled.

"Good for you," I smiled. "These are my friends; Ash, Cynthia, Brock and Misty," I introduced.

"Hello kids!" she greeted.

"Hi," they replied.

"So what's up? I ain't buying anything from you," I asked.

The old woman shook her head. "I actually want you to meet someone," she said before she turned around and began to walk away, turning around once to beckon with a crocked finger at us.

"Uh huh…" I replied warely before we followed after her.

By the time we reached the place Gastly was taking us, the sun was already setting on the horizon. It was Maiden's Peak. The sun bathed the rock in a brilliant orange glow. It was a beautiful sight.

"So who did you want us to meet?" I asked.

"Just a sec," she replied before looking at the monument. "Samara! Samara, come on out!"

(Cue song Stories to Tell by Tsuneo Imahori from Trigun - the first donuts)

A faint glow emanated from the rock and a see through image of the lavender haired woman stepped out of the rock and floated down to stand next to Gastly.

"Oh my love! I have travelled the world to find you and here at long last I meet you. Your beauty is unique, dazzling! Let us end this summer with a blossoming love!" cried out Brock as he jumped toward the woman, only to fall straight through.

"Ouch," I cringed as Brock landed on his face. I then looked at the newcomer. "So this is the spirit of Maiden's Rock," I said.

The maiden turned to Gastly, who was still in the form of the old woman. "Are you sure about this?" she asked.

"Josh here is a good person. It's ok," Gastly encouraged.

The ghost nodded before looking at me. "Hello there. I am Samara, the maiden from the legend," she introduced.

"Josh Kitsuné, S-ranked Pokémon Master and Aura Guardian," I replied, deciding to reveal both of my titles to her.

"An Aura Guardian?" she looked surprised.

"That's right. So am I," confirmed Cynthia. "My name is Cynthia, A-ranked Pokémon Mistress."

"So what's this all about Gastly?" I asked.

"Well Samara has been feeling very lonely for the past 1000 years and she desperately wants to experience the festival as if she were alive once again. But in order to do so, she needs to possess someone," Gastly explained.

I blinked. "Well that was very straight forward."

"I understand if you can't help me. Not very many people will willingly give up their body for a day," Samara said sadly but trying to put up a brave front.

"Well I'd love to help you, but I'm a guy. Wouldn't you be better off inhabiting a female?" I asked.

"I'll do it," Cynthia instantly spoke up.

I looked at her. "Are you sure?" I asked.

"Of course. We can't just leave Samara alone. I'm willing to give her a day of fun and companionship. We can do this tomorrow and she can enjoy the Valentine's day concert," explained the blonde.

I smiled. "Very well. This is your choice." I then turned to Samara. "Will there be any side effects?"

"She won't remember anything that happens while I'm inside her. That's all," the glowing spectre replied.

"Well?" I asked Cynthia, who simply nodded.

"Ok. We'll come back tomorrow morning," I said to Samara, who nodded, a large happy smile gracing her face.

"By the way, why are you wearing a wig?" Gastly asked.

"Oh this?" I asked as I removed the wig and shook my head so my hair realigned into its usual spikiness. "I'm just hiding from my fan-girls, that's all."

"I see..." Gastly replied, a little confused.

"Trust me, you need to have them to understand," I explained as I noticed her confusion. "Ok then, see ya tomorrow," I waved as I placed the wig back on and we walked off to find ourselves the Pokémon Centre to stay for the night.

(Cue song Osanpo desu by Kurihara Masaki from Azumanga Daioh Original Soundtrack)

We appeared at 8:30 am at the landmark. We had sealed the eggs away for the day as we were quite sure that they were far from hatching. "Samara?" I called out, looking around for some sign for the ghost. It was just Cynthia, Vixey, Chrono and I. Ash, Brock and Misty had left to enjoy the festival and would meet up later for the concert.

"Over here!" spoke the voice I heard yesterday and we looked over to see the maiden float over to stand next to us.

"You ready?" I asked her. She nodded. I turned to Cynthia. "And you?" She also nodded.

"Then go for it," I said, before standing back to watch.

Samara glided into Cynthia, her eyes closed and she collapsed onto the ground. After a few moments Cynthia opened her eyes and stood up, but her whole presence was different. Her mannerism, her movements. They were completely different.

"Samara?" I asked.

"Yes, it's me Josh," she replied, even the way she spoke was different. But it was still Cynthia's voice.

"Is Cynthia in there?" I asked.

"Of course. Her spirit is sleeping inside while I'm in control," Samara explained.

"Ok then. Well, let's go have some fun!" I said.

"Hold on a moment. I have to say that I'm not a fan of wearing black. Do you think we can go buy some different clothes first?" she asked.

"Sure thing. I take it white is more your thing?" I asked.

"Indeed," she replied.

"Well then," I said as I offered her an arm. She smiled and linked her own around mine. "Let's go jazz you up for the day."

(Cue song Holiday by Taroma Koshida from Gran Turismo 5 Original Game Soundtrack)

"You done yet?" I asked as I waited outside the changing room.

"Almost," replied Cynthia's voice, but I knew it was Samara who was really replying. I took this time to load a blank disk into my Omnicamera.

After a few more moments the curtains pushed back and I blinked a few times at what I saw. The woman in front of me now wore no black to speak of. She wore a white t-shirt with a tan leather bomber style jacket over the top, white loose skirt that ended at her knees and brown knee high boots. Her head was covered by a white lose knitted slouchy beret tam hat with a red flower set on the side of it. She had also brushed her blonde hair into two long bangs framing her face and showing both of her grey eyes. And her usual Lucario hair accessories were gone. In a word? She looked...

"Odd," I said.

She frowned. I quickly waved my hands in front of me. "No, no! That's not what I meant. It's just that I've known Cynthia since forever, and she's never worn white or that style of clothing. It's always been black with pants or, in recent times, stockings and pencil skirt. So it's a little odd seeing her in white now with a loose dress. But if I ignore all my memories of her now, then I think you look very beautiful," I explained.

"That's right!" said Vixey with Chrono nodding.

"Oh, I see. Well thank you," Samara replied. She peered at me. "I guess you're going to keep your black haired wig on?"

"Unless you want our day to be constantly on the run from my fan-girls, then yeah," I replied.

"That would be a bit of a downer for the day. Well then, what shall we do first?" she asked.

"Well let's go outside and see what takes our fancy," I said as I offered my arm, which she linked her own around and we walked out of the store, paying for the purchases as we left.

From there we visited all the different stalls. There were traditional ones like Face painting and cotton candy stalls. At one time we passed a slushy stall and left slurping identical raspberry slushies.

For lunch we had a burger at the Cahoola Meats stall. Then we had some fun on a few rides, Samara won a white Ninetails plushy at a game where you had to knock the toy down by throwing balls at it, bought ice cream, rode the Ferris Wheel and had a great time. Every now and then I recognised one of my fan-girls and it took most of my willpower not to scream like a school girl and bolt from the scene.

As the afternoon was getting by, we came by a familiar, at least to me, stall, staffed by a familiar friend.

"Hey there and welcome to the GOM stall," called out Suki as she spotted us. She noticed Vixey and Chrono beside me and her eyes widened before she looked around.

"Good to see you Josh," she added in a much softer voice. "Tej and I have seen much of the fan-club wandering around. They seem to be trying to actively find you."

"I know. I ran into Ina yesterday and it was a close call to be sure. She thought I was a cosplayer. Thanks for looking out for them," I replied.

"Cynthia? That you?" asked Suki.

"Uhh..." began Samara as she looked to me. I nodded. "Y-yes! It's me! I thought I would put on a disguise as well," she replied.

"Well you did a good job! I almost didn't know it was you," Suki smiled.

"So how's the business Suki?" I asked.

"It's doing well. At the moment the boys are getting themselves and me something to eat and drink. I'm manning the store till they get back. So far sales are good and we've well broken even the past two days and today," Suki reported.

I looked around at all the GOM merchandise. There were mugs, t-shirts, scarfs, autographed pictures, plushy toys and other objects all with the band's logo and pictures of the band printed over them. Some only had one of us on there. And of course there were the CDs of all the albums my group had so far created. GOM music played softly over the speakers that were hung up at the corners of the stall.

"From the looks of things it seems that Eywa, Vixey and myself are still the most popular," I mentioned as I looked at the mentioned merchandise and saw that they were almost sold out.

"Yep! That's for sure," replied Suki.

"Well I think it's time I go set up the stage and instruments," I said.

"Ok then. See ya at the concert!" the young woman waved as we exited the stall.

"So, you play in a band?" asked Samara.

"Yeah. Myself and my Pokémon teammates sing and play instruments. We're the first fully functioning Pokémon band in the world," I replied.

"Wow! That's cool," the blonde woman replied.

"It is. Tonight's Valentine's performance is going to be good."

"So, you're going to be playing love songs?" Samara asked.

"Both positive and negative love songs, yeah," I replied.

"Negative?"

"Yeah. I think it's unfair that only positive love songs are sung on this day. What about the people who've had their hearts recently broken? Or rejected? Or who are alone? I want to play for them as well," I explained.

Samara nodded. "I think that's nice that you think about the people on the other side of the spectrum," she smiled.

"Thanks. Well, I got to go set up. You feel like watching?" I asked. She nodded. "I've never seen a band set up before," she said.

(Cue music silence)

After an hour of building the stage, positioning the lighting and setting up the instruments, the stage was ready. Meanwhile a large crowd of people had gathered in front, with all the hardcore girls of my fan-club, 50+ strong, at the front. And finally there was a camera crew for Channel 9 off to the side, setting up cameras for the show. I had a long standing relationship with Channel 9 as they either taped my shows for later viewing on the TV or broadcasted my concerts live.

I was backstage with my team, getting ready mentally when Tej and Suki appeared. I had packed my black wig and donned a pair of black loose jeans held up by a black belt, dark grey t-shirt and a black leather open jacket over the top. Eywa was the only one also wearing human clothes; tight blue jeans and a white spaghetti string top with the chest horn poking through a hole in the front.

"Hey man," I greeted as I bumped fists with my friend.

"Whuz up dawg," he grinned. "Your new friends are out front."

"Cool," I replied as I took a deep breath. I then turned my Omnicamera on and released it. "Showtime." I then stepped up onto the stage with my team, and was greeted by a massive cheer. Chrono went to the drum kit, Ifrit to the keyboard, Sora to the bass guitar, Eywa using her powerful Psychic move to ready all miscellaneous instruments in the first song, Hikari and Shiva on back up and Vixey on the main mic. I picked up a spare mic and addressed the crowd.

"Good evening Ladies, Gentleman and Pokémon of all types! For those of you who are not local, welcome to Maiden's Peak. This is the Valentines Concert by the Guardians of Music!"

There was another large cheer.

"Tonight we'll start off with a song called Lights Out, sung by Vixey and myself. Enjoy!" I then nodded to my team to begin.

[Cue song Lights Out (feat. Far East Movement) by Natalia Kills]

('singing' = Vixey, 'Singing' = Me)

I can see you in the dark
I see you hi-hi-hiding away
I can feel you in the dark mist
I know the little games you play

I can read your dirty mind
Thinking you got shit, won't fly with me
Boy I'm on ya like a polygraph
Love too hard still
This is what I see

I know you when you can't lie
No baby you can't lie
You run but you can't hide
I see you when you're pulling
The wool over my eyes
The wool over my eyes

LIGHTS OUT!

Boy I got a PhD
I got a masters in boy-ology
My sidekick psychi call her
What you wanna, but more
I'm on ya
Made you think that she's the one
And she'll wake up and then your gone
You got the matrix in your head
Run it, run over, gather up, play it

But I know you when you can't lie
No baby you can't lie
You run but you can't hide
I see you when you're pulling
The wool over my eyes
The wool over my eyes

LIGHTS OUT!

Guardians of Music!
Hide and seek
Made you peek
Put you to sleep, like Quashi
Wrapped by tie around your neck
That's what I call a freak on a leash
Help yourself, grab my belt
Torn my pants, straight to hell
Oh my god Vixey kills
This must be how heaven feels

I know you when you can't lie
No baby you can't lie
You run but you can't hide
I see you when you're pulling
The wool over my eyes
The wool over my eyes

LIGHTS OUT!

The song continued for a few moments after Vixey stopped singing, but when the music stopped, the reaction was good. Everyone cheered loudly and I smiled.

"Give it up for Vixey!" I called out, cueing a second round of applause for Vixey. She closed her eyes and smiled widely before I spoke again.

"The next song is called Fade Into Darkness!" I then took to a second keyboard next to Ifrit.

[Cue song Fade Into Darkness (Instrumental Club Mix) by Avicii]

This song received an even louder applause than the first song. Everyone was getting into the spirit of dancing now. I looked down to see Ash, Brock, Misty, Pikachu, Suki and Samara enjoying themselves.

"Thank you! Thank you! We now have a different type of love song. This is Set Fire To The Rain, sung by Sora!"

[Cue song Set Fire to the Rain (Thomas Gold Remix) by Adele]

I let it fall, my heart,
And as it fell you rose to claim it
It was dark and I was over
Until you kissed my lips and you saved me

My hands, they're strong
But my knees were far too weak,
To stand in your arms
Without falling to your feet

But there's a side to you
That I never knew, never knew.
All the things you'd say
They were never true, never true,
And the games you play
You would always win, always win.

But I set fire to the rain,
Watched it pour as I touched your face,
Well, it burned while I cried
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name, your name!

This song brought a few tears in the crowd, but still received a thundering applause. As some of the girls and guys wiped their tears away, I announced the next song.

"The fourth song performed tonight is about a woman who would do anything for the one she loves. This is Songbird sung by Vixey, Eywa and Hikari." I took up an electric guitar and the three female singers placed themselves at the main mic. Sora went to her bass guitar and Fenrir manipulated an acoustic guitar with his Psychic.

[Cue song Songbird by Eva Cassidy]

('singing' = Vixey, 'singing' = all)

For you there'll be no crying
For yo-ooooou the sun will be shining
'Cause I feel that when I'm with you
It's all right I know it's right

And the songbirds keep singing
Like they know the score
And I love you I love you I love you
Like never before

To you I would give the world
To you I'd never be cold
'Cause I feel that when I'm with you
It's all right I know it's right

And the songbirds keep singing
Like they know the score
And I love you I love you I love you
Like never before
Like never before
Like never before

Despite this song being a simple and slow one, it received the loudest yet applause, indicating a crowd favourite. Also Vixey kept on glancing at me. I had a sense of déjà vu.

"Now this next song is on a happier note. This is Stutter sung by Kaze!" I announced before Kaze took up the main mic and waited as I picked up the lead electric guitar, Chrono stayed on drums, Ifrit stayed on keyboard and Sora stayed on bass.

[Cue song Stutter by Maroon 5]

I really, I really, whoa
I really need to know
I really, I really, whoa
Or else, ya gotta let me go, oh
I really, I really

This time I really need to do things right
Shivers that ya give me keep me freezing all night
You make me shudder, oooh yeah
I can't believe it, I'm not myself,
Suddenly I'm thinkin' about no one else
You make me shudder

Oh I really need to know
Or else you gotta let me go

You're just a fantasy girl
It's an impossible world
All I want is to be with you always
I give you everything
Pay some attention to me
All I want is just you and me always
Give me affection
I need your perfection
Cause you feel so good
You make me stutter, stutter

If I could touch you, I'd never let go
Now ya got me screaming and I cannot shut up, shut up, yeah
Now I am lying on the bedroom floor
Barely even speaking and I cannot get up
Ohh I really, I really, I really need to know
Or else you gotta let me go, ooh

You knock me down, I can't get up, I'm stuck
Gotta stop shaking me up
I can't eat, can't sleep, can't think,
Sinking under, I'm sinking under

You're just a fantasy girl
It's an impossible world
All I want is to be with you always
I give you everything
Pay some attention to me
All I want is just you and me always

You're just a fantasy girl
It's an impossible world
All I want is to be with you always
Give me affection, I need your perfection
Cause it feels so good you make me stutter
You make me stutter
You make me stutter

This song got a good reception. The crowd was dancing and all my fan-girls were screaming the usual things fan-girls scream at their object of their desires.

"Ok! How is everyone doing?!" I called out. The resulting cheer probably could have been heard back at Vermilion City. "Very good! The next song in tonight's concert is one that requires you to dance! So I want to see you shake your bodies as I sing this next song with Ifrit. This is DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love!" Since Ifrit was required to sing in this song, Eywa took over for her partner on the keyboard.

[Cue song DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love by Usher. Danced like in the music video. Ifrit and Eywa dance along with me in the chorus]

('singing' = Myself, 'singing' = Ifrit, 'singing' = both)

Big Fox (yeah man)
So we back in the club
Get that bodies rockin from side to side (side to side)
Thank God the week is done
I feel like a zombie gone back to life (back to life)
Hands up, and suddenly we all got our hands up
No control of my body
Ain't I seen you before?
I think I remember those eyes, eyes, eyes, eyes

Cause baby tonight, the DJ got us falling in love again
Yeah, baby tonight, the DJ got us falling in love again
So dance, dance, like it's the last, last night of your life, life
Gonna get you right
Cause baby tonight, the DJ got us falling in love again

Keep downing drinks like this
Not tomorrow that just right now, now, now, now, now, now
Gonna set the roof on fire
Gonna burn this whole place right down, down, down, down, down, down
Hands up, when the music drops
We both put our hands up
Put your hands on my body
Swear I seen you before
I think I remember those eyes, eyes, eyes, eyes

Big Fox, don't lie
Hear no evil, or speak no evil, or see no evil
Get it, baby, hope you catch it like T.O., that's how we roll
My life is a movie, and you just Tivo

Honey got me swishin' like a dreadlock
She don't wrestle, but I got her in a headlock
Yabba dabba do, make her bed rock
Mami on fire, pss, red hot

Bada bing, bada boom
Mr. Worldwide as I step in the room
I'm a hustler, baby, but that you knew
And tonight it's just me and you

Cause baby tonight, the DJ got us falling in love again
Yeah, baby tonight, the DJ got us falling in love, falling in love!
So dance, dance, like it's the last, last night of your life, life
Gonna get you right
Cause baby tonight, the DJ got us falling in love again
Yeah, baby tonight, the DJ got us falling in love again
So dance, dance, like it's the last, last night of your life, life
Gonna get you right
Cause baby tonight, the DJ got us falling in love again

This song really got the crowd jumping up and down in time to the beat and they loved it. Everyone got into the mood of that song, with girls and guys grinding and dancing against each other. Poor Brock still got no action as there wasn't any hot women that wasn't taken in that dance.

"Good to see you all getting into that song! Our seventh song is a slow couples dance. So everyone pair up and dance to The Lady In Red, sung by Baihu with Fenrir, Kaze and Myself as background singers!"

[Cue song The Lady In Red by Chris de Burgh]

I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight
I've never seen you shine so bright
I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance
They're looking for a little romance, given half a chance

I have never seen that dress you're wearing
Or the highlights in your head that catch your eyes I have been blind

The lady in red is dancing with me cheek to cheek
There's nobody here, it's just you and me, It's where I wanna be
But I hardly know this beauty by my side
I'll never forget, the way you look tonight

I've never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight
I've never seen you shine so bright you were amazing
I've never seen so many people want to be there by your side
And when you turned to me and smiled, It took my breath away
I have never had such a feeling
Such a feeling of complete and utter love, as I do tonight

The lady in red is dancing with me cheek to cheek
There's nobody here, it's just you and me, It's where I wanna be
But I hardly know this beauty by my side
I'll never forget, the way you look tonight
I never will forget, the way you look tonight
The lady in red
The lady in red
The lady in red
My lady in red (I love you)

This was a nice song that had many couples, new and old, dancing with each other slowly, looking into each other's eyes. Several of the couples kissed at the end of the song, making me smile at the fact that I and my team could create the right atmosphere for something like this.

"That was The Lady In Red, sung by Baihu. Next up is Only Love, sung by myself, Fenrir and Kaze!"

[Cue song Only Love by Ben Howard]

('singing' = me, 'Singing' all)

Darling you're with me, always around me.
Only love, only love.
Darling I feel you, under my body.
Only love, only love.
Give me shelter, or show me heart
Come on love, Come on love.
Watch me fall apart, watch me fall apart.

And I'll be yours to keep.
A wind in the shadow, a whale song in the deep.
A wind in the shadow, a whale song in the deep.

And I'll be yours to keep.
A wind in the shadow, a whale song in the deep.
A wind in the shadow, a whale song.

Watch me fall apart, watch me fall apart,watch me fall apart.

Only love love love, Only love love love, Only love love love.
Girl show me heart.
Come on love love love, Come on love love love, Come on love love love.
Watch me fall apart.
Come on love love love, Come on love love love, Come on love love love.
Girl show me heart.
Show me love love love, Show me love love love, Show me love love love.

Darling I feel you under my body.
Darling you're with me forever and always.
Give me shelter or show me heart.
And watch me fall apart, watch me fall apart.

Throughout this song we were all swaying in time to the beat as well as tapping our feet. All in all, everyone liked it.

"Sadly this concert is almost over," I said, which was responded with a lot of Aww's. "However there is one last song to send you all on your way. This is Lady (Hear Me Tonight), sung by Fenrir!" I then picked up a Spanish Guitar.

[Cue song Lady (Hear Me Tonight) by Modjo]

(AN: I won't bother with the lyrics to this one as they're quite easy to understand.)

This song received the loudest applause, but that was because the concert was over. I waited until the large and loud applause began to drop before speaking again.

"Thank you Maiden's Peak! Give a final round of applause to Sora who was on bass, Chrono on drums, Ifrit on keyboard, Bahamut on secondary guitar, Eywa playing the extra instruments, Baihu, Fenrir, Hikari, Kaze, Shiva, Vixey and of course, myself. Special thanks to Tej for ticket sales, Jimmy for sound mixing, and Suki for help in advertising. This has been Guardians of Music playing for you today. All songs played today will be available to buy on CD or Mp3 format downloaded off the net later on this year. Keep an eye on TV and radio ads for the release date for our newest album, 'GOM: My Kanto Valentine'. We hope you can make it to the concert in Saffron City in a week's time!"

Afterwards was simply cleaning and packing up with several girls wanting autographs from myself and other members of my team. After an hour of this, everything was packed away. Tej, Suki and Jimmy had returned to the stall after I gave them the newly filled disk from the Omnicamera.

(Cue song Companions by Takanashi Yasuharu from NARUTO Shippuuden Original Soundtrack)

"So, what was your favourite songs guys?" I asked as Vixey, Chrono and I walked over to my friends.

"I liked DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love," Ash replied.

"My favourite was Only Love," said Misty.

"Mine was Stutter," said Brock.

"Well I liked all of them, but I would have to say Songbird was my favourite," said Samara.

"So, did you enjoy yourself?" I asked Samara. The reply was not what I expected. She kissed me. Full on the lips. I froze, trying to tell myself that this was Samara kissing me, not Cynthia. But I couldn't help but enjoy the feeling of Cynthia's lips on mine. Soft and warm.

Samara pulled back, making me blink a few times. "I loved it. Thank you Josh," she bowed to me.

"Heh heh," I laughed nervously. "No problem. I was glad to help. And I'm sure Cynthia is as well. Or will be," I said.

Samara nodded before Cynthia's body began to glow and Samara's spirit separated from Cynthia. The blonde sunk to the ground but I caught her. After a few seconds, Cynthia's grey eyes fluttered open.

"Hey, welcome back!" I smiled before helping her up.

"What happened? I don't remember anything. I remember Samara entering me and feeling very sleepy, and then I'm wakening up here. How strange," Cynthia said.

"Samara had a very good time, that's what happened," I replied as I pointed to the ghost next to her.

She turned and smiled at Samara. "I'm glad you had a good day," she said before she looked down at what she was wearing. "I take it you didn't like black?"

"Sorry, but no," she replied.

Cynthia took another good look before smiling. "I guess white isn't so bad on me."

"Samara!" came a call and we turned to see Gastly in her old lady form. She was grinning widely. "Guess who I found just now!" She turned to look at a second ghost that had followed her. It was a handsome young man, about Samara's age. He had short and spiky brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a brown kimono. His eyes widened when he caught sight of Samara.

"Samara? Is that you my darling?" he spoke, as if he hardly dared to believe she was right in front of him.

"Koede! My dear Koede! Yes! It's me, Samara!" cried out the lavender haired ghost as she ran forward and embraced her lover. There was lots of happy sobbing from the pair. We just smiled before leaving to give them some space. We ended up getting some dinner from one of the stalls before going back to the Pokémon Centre for the night.

"Well, it's time to head out to Saffron City. Should take us a few days to get there, if there are no interruptions," I said as I held my Riolu egg in my hands once again. We were just about to exit the town when someone called my name. I looked behind us to see that it was Samara and Koede.

"Hey you two! Glad you finally met up with each other after all this time," I smiled.

"I just want to thank you both again for helping me out," Samara said, bowing. She then straightened and looked at Cynthia. "I hope you find the courage soon," she said.

"Huh?" I asked and turned to Cynthia, only to see her blushing. "Hey Cynthia. Courage for what?"

"Ahh... nothing!" she said quickly.

I narrowed my eyes, knowing that she was hiding something.

"Well, we'll let you continue your journey," Koede said before they rose up into the air and disappeared. We all stood there for a moment before Cynthia started to walk again.

"So what did she mean?" I asked Cynthia.

"It's nothing," she replied with the same quickness from before.

"C'mon! You can tell me," I pleaded.

"No, I don't."

"Just give me a hint!"

"No."

"Pretty Please?"

"NO!" BOINK!

"ooooowwwwwwww... my head..."