Author's Notes:

Part eight of ten. Say it with me now: D'awwwwwwww!
There may or may not be spoilers located within any of these textwalls for Ausbrony's story A Brave New World.
Remember: Spoiler. Contain. Protect.

Seth’s ears pricked up as they neared the Unity Building. “Hmm, that’s an ill omen,” he muttered. “We sure we want to go in there?”

“Unless you want me to drag Jessie out here,” Vincent said. “But that just screams romance.” The latter part of his reply was nearly dripping with sarcasm.

“Well then,” Seth grinned and opened the door. “Let’s get started already!”

The lack of a doormon was slightly unnerving, until Lala descended from upstairs, clearly shocked about something. Upon noticing the returning party of ‘mon, she nodded at them and took her seat, still not paying much attention to anything at all.

“Um, you okay there Miss Lala?” Seth asked in an unnerved tone.

“Oh I’m fine. Just suffering a complete lack of any frame of reference for reality after your pink friend in there broke just about every one of them,” she idly commented while staring at a wall. “I don’t know what you trained her in, but it was very effective.”

“Yeah... I honestly don’t know where she learned that,” Seth admitted. “She made friends with somepony named Pinkie Pie... I think she taught her weird things...”

“Weird does not begin to describe what she did in there.” The Leavanny looked to Vincent and sighed. “If they’re staying any longer than a few days, then I need a raise.”

“Aheh...We can talk about that in the morning,” Vincent’s eyes quickly darted over to Seth, hoping the answer wasn’t ‘yes’ to the question of them staying too much longer.

“A day or so,” Seth replied. “We have a lot to do in Canterlot soon.”

“Perhaps we should see just what chaos little Rika has unleashed this time,” Ignis chuckled. “Plus I wanna tell them about Seth’s new girlfriend~”

“...My what!?”

“If it helps any, I promise to keep my mouth shut,” Vincent said, miming a zipper across his mouth.

I too shall not tell them, if that is your desire, Luke pitched in.

“Much more fun to watch chaos when you don’t have a hand in making it,” the Kadabra observed.

“I will Thunderbolt all of you,” Seth muttered as they ascended to stairs, finally getting to the room. Seth raised a paw and knocked on the door. “Anyone home?” he called out. “I’m here to deliver a group of sexy men!”

“Oh good, send ‘em in!” Christine replied from beyond the door. “Where’d you get them, the red-light district?”

“Nope, these boys are homegrown,” Seth chuckled. “Care to let us in ladies?”

“I dunno, girls. Should we?”

There was a muttering as the girls beyond the door convened as to whether or not the menfolk would be allowed in, before the door was grudgingly opened. Mage floated back to the main room afterwards, snickering as she did. Jeanne sat in the living room with a small smile on her face, and Christine and Selena blocked the door to the master bedroom. Of Jessie or Rika, there was no sign.

“I don’t like this,” Seth muttered. “Just what are you girls up to anyhow?”

“Rika wanted a few more minutes before she felt Jessie was ready,” Christine explained, not budging from the doorway.

“That... I think I know what’s going on here,” Seth smiled. “Alright, we can wait I suppose.” He walked over to Fritter and nuzzled her, “I missed you and Rika though.”

“Phew,” Fritter gasped. “Y’all smell like a brewery, didja go drinkin? Without me?”

“That wasn’t our intention at the start,” Vincent clarified. “Apparently if you don’t specify that you want your cider to be non-alcoholic, they give you the alcoholic version. Guess who slipped?”

“Seth, did you do something silly?” she smiled, nuzzling her Luxray.

“He hit on a Gryphon,” Ignis replied and winced as Fritter slugged Seth in the shoulder.

“Y’all did what!?” She exclaimed, then sighed and seemed to calm down. “Was she at least cute?”

“A little,” Seth replied.

“Well... that’s alright then.” Fritter nodded.

“To be fair, she started it,” James pointed out. “Even slipped him her address.”

“Not. Helping. James... wait, she did what?” Seth blinked. “And you all planned on telling me this when?”

“When the right time for comedy gold could occur,” Ignis answered. “Like now for instance. And again when Rika gets out here.”

“Or we could just let her find the card you slipped under your collar there,” Vincent commented. “Should make for a very fun moment.”

Seth sparked and then sighed. “I give up... Fritter, I need a hug~”

The mare obliged and embraced her Luxray again. Fortunately, at that particular moment, Rika decided to announce her latest work to the men.

The Pyroar looked quite stunning, her mane and coat had been brushed and shone in the light as a light amount of eyeshadow had also been applied. A small red ribbon was tied to the end of her tail and though it was simple, the effect was quite striking.

“I feel ridiculous,” she muttered under her breath so only Rika could hear.

“You look fine,” she whispered back. “And from the looks of it, James thinks so too~”

While the other men had silently appraised the Pyroar’s changed look, James had dropped his jaw and gone nearly slack at the sight of Jessie’s changed appearance for a second time. The first, of course, being when they’d awoken as Pokemon.

“I...thank you, girls. I think I can do this now.” Jessie walked up to James and waved a paw in front of his face to get his attention. It worked, snapping him out of his daze.

“James, I think we should talk.”

James nodded, then looked at the audience they’d acquired. “Perhaps somewhere more private, like the roof?”

Jessie smiled slightly and jerked her head to the front door before heading that way herself.

“And I believe that you have something to say to these two?” Ignis mentioned, pointing at Rika and Fritter.

“Yeah, I guess I do,” he replied... and then looked at everyone else. “I don’t suppose we could have a little privacy please?”

“Lucy will be waking up soon,” Vincent said with a sigh. “So I suppose I can go.”

And my angel and I shall leave you to your own devices, Luke said as Mage wrapped him in a light hug.

“I can wander off as well, dear,” Jeanne said, following in Vincent’s wake as he held the door open for the rest.

“I have a den to make mine,” Christine tacked on as she pulled herself to her feet and stretched before heading out herself.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" James said as Jessie walked through the door he was holding open for her. The Pyroar looked at the garden and tilted her head.

"What, the garden?" she questioned.

"No, the night sky," James clarified. "There are a lot of things we never stopped to appreciate while we were on the job. One of them was how wonderful the stars were back on Earth. Here on Equus, they're both different...yet no less beautiful when woven into a fine tapestry like this one."

Jessie blinked at the deep sentiment behind James' words and looked up, starting to come to the same conclusion that he'd put before her. A new world meant a lot of new things, but one thing that seemed to be a constant was that stars in the night sky were indeed beautiful.

"You're right," she said softly. "We never really stopped to look before. It was almost always about survival or the job, but now that we can...we missed out on a lot, didn't we?"

"I wouldn't say that," the Roserade said, still looking skyward. "There are a lot of things I got to appreciate, if only from afar, on Earth. The stars, the beauty of nature, your beauty..."

Jessie blinked a few times in rapid succession. Did he seriously just say-?

"But I'm not going to miss out on it anymore," James said, reaching into one of his bouquets with the other hand and drawing out a very fine necklace from it. A Fire Stone and two rose quartz, cut and polished and set on a copper necklace. Orange and red and green all bound up in one package, signifying what he hoped for.

"Jessie, it would be my very great honor if you would agree to be my girlfriend."

The Pyroar considered his words for a few moments and sighed before looking the Roserade in the eyes.

"Put it on me," she commanded him, and he hastened to comply with her order. Feeling the weight of the jewelry on her neck made it seem just a bit more...real to her, and she gulped before saying her next words.

"You're lucky I was considering saying something along those lines to you as well, otherwise I doubt we would be here right now...though I will admit, the necklace is a nice touch," Jessie commented, trying to mask her nerves with bluster.

"So..." James trailed off, not quite sure what she was actually saying. Jessie rolled her eyes and used one paw to draw him close to her, before softly pecking him on one cheek.

"Yes, you great buffoon, I will be your girlfriend...though I warn you, it's not going to be easy on you."

James smiled and returned the kiss in kind before just holding her close, reveling in the warmth of someone he cared about so close to him.

...No, someone he loved.

“SOUP’S ON EVERYBODY!!” The walls rattled with the force of the call and several dogs a few blocks away began to howl as Rika decided to wake up the apartment, along with anyone with ears. That paled in comparison to the reaction the others had, though.

A few startled psychic ‘voices’ made themselves known with simple exclamations as Vincent and Luke were rather forcibly jerked out of dreamland. Lucy jolted awake with a jerking motion, and Vincent made sure to calm her down a touch with Hypnosis before gently binding her again. Sam let out a cry as he hit the floor with an audible 'thunk'.

Christine, though…From the doorway to her room, a lance of fire rushed out and hit the opposite wall. It would appear she still had a few startle reflexes that weren’t ‘turn invisible’.

“Nice to see you’re as hot as always,” Rika giggled. “Come and get some breakfast!”

“Once you help me put this out!” the dragon said, pointing at the on-fire wall. The end result was quite simple. The two girls simply ran around like Farfetch’d with their heads cut off until Fritter emerged with a fire extinguisher.

“Really?” she replied as she put out the blaze.

“Fritter saves the day!” Rika cheered.

“Hey, when I get woken up by loud noises, it has never meant anything good in the past,” the dragon defended herself. “Plus I don’t have any moves to put out a fire I’ve started.” At least not one of that size, anyways.

Fritter stared at the destroyed wall. “Whelp, Vinny’s gonna be mad... again.” She sighed as she went back inside to finish cooking. “Two walls in two days, y’all trying to set a record or something?”

“So far it’s one apiece,” Rika giggled as she huggled her dragon friend. “But I win cause I’m cute~”

I’m actually not mad, Vincent’s said, having monitored the situation ever since he heard his name being mentioned. Exasperated, sure. But I understand how this happened. Plus it gives me a chance to replace that wall with something fireproof, like ceramic...especially if this is going to be a regular thing.

“See?” Rika said to Christine. “You have friends that understand you.”

The dragon sighed, but smiled as well. “It’s Vincent. He understands us all, really. Kinda the selling point back on Earth…”

“As long as he came with a gift receipt,” Rika giggled. “Or at least an extended warranty.”

“Just go and get Ignis and Selena,” Fritter sighed as she put on another batch of pancakes. The Fairy saluted and barged into the couple’s room, soon earning a shout and muffled curses.

“And to think this is before I give her sugar,” Fritter smiled.

Vincent and Luke walked out of their shared apartment, closely followed by Mage carrying Jeanne, along with Sam. “We heard something about breakfast?” Sam asked. After Fritter let them inside, the group laid eyes on the veritable feast that lay before them.

This looks quite good, Luke commented. Vincent nodded, too afraid to open his mouth at the moment, for fear of getting the floor soaked with his drool. Jeanne sniffed a few times and sighed before turning to Fritter. “You and I must exchange recipes, dear. Perhaps even ingredients, seeing as we have some saved Berries.”

“We have our own Berry garden at home,” Fritter explained. “Titania and Miss Umbra is currently looking after it while we’re on this trip. But ah’m more than happy to exchange recipes with you Miss Jeanne.” She motioned at the table and smiled. “Well, dig in everypony, there’s plenty there. Ah got coffee, tea an’ juice here as well.”

Vincent helped himself to a cup of coffee and finally managed to work his mouth properly. “This is quite the spread...you didn’t have to do this, you know.”

“But ah wanted to,” Fritter said. “And y’all ain’t eaten till you’ve had an Apple Family Feast!”

“Willing to believe th-” The rest of Sam’s sentence got cut off as he put a forkful of pancake in his mouth and moaned. Turning to Jeanne, he said around his mouthful, “Sorry, got a new favorite food.”

Luke sat down as well, helping himself to a small amount of the breakfast food. Surely it cannot be that- Once the pancake was eaten, though, the adult psychic changed his tune. ...Abby could learn a thing or three from you…

Mage was then intrigued and ate a bite before joining her boyfriend in praising the mare. Jeanne quirked an eyebrow and looked at the Earth Pony with half a look of suspicion, the other half curiosity. “What...did you put in these pancakes to make them like them so much?”

“A little Apple Family secret,” Fritter winked. “So unless you wanna join the family, then ah’m afraid ah can’t tell y’all that. But I’ll be more than happy to make as many as you want.”

Ignis and Selena finally emerged, the former carrying the latter bridal-style. But when Selena saw that everyone else was here, she shrieked and ran back into the bedroom.

“Well,” Ignis chuckled. “Morning everyone.”

Everyone else responded, mostly through mouths full of the delicious food. Vincent nodded at the dragon, too busy eying his pancake warily after its effects on the others. Christine had utterly destroyed her plateful, to almost include the plate, once she had some.

“I feel like I should be worried,” the Kadabra said.

“You’d better eat it before someone else does,” Rika said as she hopped into the room, her paws tied up with her own ribbons.

Ignis sat down next to the table and piled some food onto his place. “Ah, I’m starving!”

Vincent took the smallest portion of pancake that could still reasonably be called ‘a piece’ and ate it slowly. After a minute or two, he swallowed his food, looking at nothing in particular as the taste washed over him.

Fritter watched him with a curious expression for a moment before speaking up. "If you don’t like it, ah could try and make something you do,” she offered. The words seemed to snap Vincent out of his trance...and he nearly stuffed the rest of the pancake in his mouth.

MINE! Was all he offered in response.

“Uh... alright then?” Fritter replied, a little taken aback, but smiling all the same. “Ah guess ah should make some more then.”

Selena emerged a few moments later, her face was still red and she refused to make eye contact with anyone. She gave a quiet ‘good morning’ to anyone within earshot as she sat next to Ignis, hiding under one of his wings.

I was actually about to ask you that. Think you could make up a plate for Lucy as well? I’ll take them to her afterwards. The Kadabra swallowed his mouthful with a little bit of work before continuing. “Be a shame to miss this cooking.”

“Ah was already doing that Vince,” Fritter smiled as she filled a container with an assortment of the food. She also had a bottle filled with a sort of juice. “Here you go, one breakfast, fit for a Princess.”

“Much appreciated,” Vincent said, floating both container and bottle over. Taking a more sane and reasonable bite of the next bit of food on his plate, the Kadabra tilted his head to the side as he regarded the bottle. And this?

“A juice fer Pokemon,” Fritter said. “Seth showed me how to make it a few days ago. He isn’t a morning ‘mon, so he showed me this to help him get going.”

Sam chuckled lewdly as he took in the situation. “Oh, Vincent, I think I know why she made that for you,” the Scizor said. “She thinks you need a little help keeping up with Lucy.”

Fritter dropped her spatula as she glared at the Scizor. “A-a-ah said no such thang!” she stammered, her southern drawl much more prominent. “That there drink was fer Lucy, not...” she petered out and turned back to her stovetop silently.

“At least he’s getting some,” Selena commented as she ate. “You just get Cut.”

“The process of wooing a member of Checkmate is apparently full of pain,” Sam said as he sipped some of his juice. “But what can I say? I set my sights high and never give up when I find something worth fighting for.”

“Much like all of us,” Jeanne said after finishing her latest bite. “I’m glad you all got that at least.”

The rest of the Nurem family nodded at Jeanne’s sentiment, as she considered more than just Vincent her ‘son;’ since he considered the others his family, so would she.

“A nice sentiment,” Ignis nodded.

Rika sat on a chair, then to her bound paws. “How am I supposed to eat?” she asked.

“Should’ve thought about that before you woke me with that Arceus-awful racket,” Selena muttered.

“Family,” Fritter sighed as she sat down to the table herself. Vincent raised a glowing blue hand, carefully teasing the knots that Rika had been bound with undone. They were tied with her own ribbons, after all.

“A word to the wise. More than just us survivors dislike being startled, Rika.” Vincent warned, before looking at his clean plate and smiling. “Well...with this, I must be off to feed and take care of Lucy...before ‘taking care’ of Lucy.” The Kadabra vanished in a flash of blue light.

“An’ with that mental image, mah hunger teleports outta here as well,” Fritter mumbled, but took a bite of her toast regardless.

“D’you think he’s on to us?” Sam questioned.

It would be foolish to assume he wasn’t, Luke replied.

“Just what have you two started?” Selena sighed.

“Something that was fun until just now,” Jeanne responded. “What with Vincent entering the fray, it’s all the more important that all parties are properly armed and fortified...and only a few of us can claim that.”

“Sucks to be you then,” Selena shrugged. “Though I bet Lucy’s doing a lot more sucking right now.”

With the gag in her mouth, she actually-

Sam shook his head at the Gallade. “They did not need to know that,” the Scizor cut Luke off. “Hell, I did not need to know the particulars.”

“You know that there are innocent ladies present right?” Rika replied as she finally ate her breakfast with some sense of refinement.

“You? Innocent?” Christine snorted a few times. “Let’s have Vincent have a look at your head and answer that question once and for all. Probably the only thing innocent about you besides your looks is your ‘purity.’”

“What make you say that Christine?” Fritter asked.

“The things she says, the way she acts,” the dragon ticked off on her claws. “I mean, now that I look over the past week a bit more, I’m willing to bet that she knows exactly the effect she has on others. She just chooses to be innocent most of the time.”

“Effect on others?” Rika blinked. “I have no idea what you mean Chrissy.” The Sylveon smiled sweetly as she lapped at her milk, the creamy substance dripping down her chin.

“Yeah, buying that when hell freezes over,” Christine said, looking away after a moment.

“I’ll go and round up some ice-types then,” Rika grinned, licking her lips.

“Rika...” Selena warned

“What?” the fairy replied.

“Ah have no idea what’s going on,” Fritter replied as she drank her tea. “And something tell me ah don’t want to know either.” It still didn’t stop the small blush from gracing the mare’s cheeks.

“There’s more to Rika than meets the eye, apparently,” Jeanne commented before cleaning her place completely.

“And that’s what makes her so dangerous,” Selena muttered, still taking refuge under Ignis’ wing.

“Best of luck Fritter,” Ignis nodded. “You’re gonna need it.”

“I have the distinct feeling I am being picked on,” Rika pouted.

“Probably shouldn’t make it so easy for the rest of us,” Sam said as he stacked his and Jeanne’s plates together. “C’mon, I’ll carry you back up before I go.”

“Thank you, dear,” Jeanne replied before being carried off by the Scizor.

“So what are we gonna do today?” Rika asked as she finished up her food. “Sethy’s gonna be out all day...”

“I don’t know,” Fritter replied as she filled the sink and started the dishes. “I don’t have any plans.”

“We’re just gonna take it easy for a while,” Selena said. “I’m kinda done with excitement, drama and whatnot for a while.”

“I have to go through my room still. I think there’s a closet I have yet to tackle,” Christine said, placing her dishes near the sink and nodding at the mare. “Thank you for the breakfast.”

“It was no trouble,” Fritter replied, hooves deep in water as Rika moved the help the mare. “Ah’m glad y’all enjoyed it.”

Enjoy is an understatement, Luke thought as he floated his and Mage’s plates over. Many could learn from you.

“Yeah, that’s one of the better meals I ever had,” the ghost chipped in.

“Thank ya kindly,” Apple Fritter blushed from the praise. “But my cookin’ t’aint nuthin compared to Granny Smith or my Momma,” her embarrassment caused her accent to increase again, though she didn’t seem aware.

Believe what you wish, Luke thought as he stood. But I tell you now that yours is the best cooking I’ve had in two worlds.

“And he doesn’t say things just to say them,” Mage tacked on before the both of them made their egress.

The mare just hid into her mane and nodded.

“Ah! Cute Fritter is cuuuuute~” Rika giggled as she hugged the mare.

“You two lovebirds enjoy yourselves, but not too much,” Christine commented before she left. “We’ve already got Vincent and Lucy upstairs. If I have to leave in order to get some fresh air and peace of mind, I’m blaming all of you.”

“Amen to that,” Selena muttered as she followed Ignis towards their room. “Good night all.”

“Really now,” Fritter sighed as she continued to wash. “Just what kinda mare do y’all take me for?”

“It’s not YOU I have doubts about!” the dragon shouted before she was fully upstairs.

Lala had been awoken by the dreadful racket, but seeing as how it got her up only marginally before she normally would have anyways, she decided to roll with the weirdness.

“Hello?” the voice of Fritter called from the lobby. “Anypony home?”

The doormon decided to go and greet their visitor, and walked out with a book in hand. “Ah, miss Fritter, hello,” Lala greeted with a nod, taking note of Rika as well.

“Mornin’ Lady Lala,” Fritter smiled. “Ah made some breakfast for everypony today, thought you and Bitty could use some as well.” She placed a large container on Lala’s desk, the warm food gaving off an enticing scent.

“That...was unexpected, but it is not unappreciated,” the doormon said, a slight smile on her lips. “Thank you. Bit is currently downstairs, but I doubt you will meet with success should you try to get him to eat.”

“We’ll see,” the Sylveon giggled. “Fritter’s food is irresistible, much like it’s chef!”

“Are you trying t’kill me with embarrassment today?” Fritter waved a hoof.

"No, then I wouldn’t have a cute marefriend,” Rika replied. “Still, Bitty’s already hard at work this early?”

“You forget what he is,” Lala replied as she opened the container a bit more and inhaling the scent. “Mmm...I may require a plate...and silverware.”

“Ah shoot, ah knew ah forgot something,” Fritter muttered. “One sec, ah’ll be right back!” She yelled as she galloped up the stairs.

Rika, on the other paw, went down to the basement. Not even one minute had passed before the Earth Pony returned with the requested implements, and the Leavanny thanked her before she took the box, served Lala some food, and then went downstairs with it.

"This promises to be enjoyable," she commented, before taking a bite and rephrasing her words. "Most delicious indeed..."

Bit was ecstatic. Not only did he have all the parts he needed, but he also had a computer from Earth nearby as a comparison. He had just begun the final weld to hold the whole thing together when a familiar voice made itself known.

“Knock, knock!” it called, revealing itself to be Rika. “You home Bitty?”

“One moment,” Bit called back. “Currently performing an arc welding technique to fuse two components together. Will be done in approximately fifteen seconds.”

“Kay,” she called back. Bit's focus hadn't wavered from what he was doing, thankfully. Sometime in the middle of his welding, the voice of Apple Fritter joined that of the Sylveon, and Bit mentally prepared himself for all sorts of questions as the final part of his rudimentary computer was finished.

“Welding finished, biological units may enter, but refrain from touching anything, please,” the Porygon-Z called out to the pair outside, who walked inside and gasped at what had been accomplished once he said they could enter. Rika in particular seemed to take a moment to look around in quiet awe.

“Wow Bitty, just what have you been doing?”

“Working,” he said, hovering over his mostly-finished computer. “Thanks to the Xtranciever, I know where I went wrong and corrected my mistakes. All that remains is to attempt to turn this on and see if I can interface with it.” True, it probably looked a little...rough around the edges, but he was concerned more with function than form.

“You did all this in one night?” Fritter asked while eyeing his work. “This is pretty impressive. Even though ah have no idea what it is!”

“A computer,” Rika answered. “I think?”

“Most of one,” Bit said with a nod. “There is not yet anything resembling our Internet of home, so that function and all that depends on it are not installed or built. I will attempt to remedy this problem by utilizing the local phenomena known as ‘magic’...once I understand it.”

“MagiNet huh?” Rika asked. “Hee, I like the sound of that.”

Fritter appeared to be confused for a moment before she grabbed ahold of some sort of container she'd brought down with her. “Well uh, I have breakfast?” the mare offered.

“You brought Seth down to charge the generator?” Bit questioned.

“No, ah have pancakes and…Well... horseapples. Maybe ah should’ve asked first.” Fritter said as she gave Bit's form a bit more scrutiny and seemed to notice he lacked a mouth.

“To be honest, I’ve never really met a Porygon before Bit, so I had no idea,” Rika said.

“This unit consumes electricity to continue its functions,” Bit explained. “Though I have been asked to not siphon any from the city anymore to the point where street lights explode.”

“Well, ah guess Sethy could cook something up later?” Rika giggled.

“Ah guess so,” Fritter agreed. “Ah hope Jessie, James and their friends are hungry.”

“It is likely,” Bit said. “Commencing test.”

The screen for the computer he’d assembled came on and flashed a few times…Before smoke started to come out of the back. “Is it supposed to do that?” Fritter asked, backing away slowly.

“...No, I don’t believe it is,” Rika replied. Fritter seemed to decide a mad dash to the fire extinguisher was necessary. However, before she got there, Bit turned, saw the problem, and sighed.

“Ice Beam,” He stated, and a lance of pure cold and ice erupted from his beak, putting the computer project under a fine sheen. The screen went black as the whole thing died.

“Well, that... could have gone better,” Rika pointed out. Bit was then hugged by the Sylveon again for a short period of time. “It’ll be okay Bitty, you’ll get this solved in no time. I bet on it.”

“She’s right,” Fritter added. “You built this in one night, ah can’t imagine what you’d have done in a week, or a month?”

“I will have to revisit several components,” Bit said, before smiling softly. “Though with actual computers to work with, it won’t be hard. Thank you.” He then pointed at the still-warm food nearby with one arm. “I believe you had somewhere to take that?”

“Right,” Fritter nodded. “Good luck Bit.”

“Yeah!” Rika cheered, throwing a pawful of confetti. “You can do it!”

Fritter looked at her little Pokemon and blinked. “Rika? Where... where did you get the confetti?”

Rika looked around and shrugged. “I dunno.”

Bit paused for a few moments before sighing. “Some Pokemon seem more easily adaptable to the magic phenomena than others. Whether it is the individual or something relating to typing is yet to be discovered…”

“Bitty’s using big words,” Rika moaned.

“C’mon, let’s leave him to his work and go find the others,” Fritter said. “Have a good day Bit.”

“You as well,” Bit replied before turning to his ruined project. “Maybe the power distributor?...”

James had just been about ready to go downstairs and see miss Jeanne about breakfast when a knocking noise came from the door. Curious as to who would be calling on them at this hour, the former Rocket opened it up to reveal a familiar Earth Pony mare and Sylveon.

“Oh, Rika, Fritter, hello again,” he said politely.

“Morning Jimmy!” Rika greeted chipperly. “Room service!”

“She means that I have some breakfast if y’all want some,” Fritter explained. “Ahm not interrupting anything... am I?”

“Maybe Jessie’s beauty sleep,” The Roserade said. “And...thank you. Normally Meowth and I go down to see Jeanne about having breakfast, it’s never been brought up to us.”

“Well it is this morning,” Fritter said, handing him the container. “Everyone else has eaten, so it’s all yours.”

“My thanks,” the Roserade said with a small bow. “First Seth, then you two...you truly are a giving family, aren’t you?”

“It’s the Apple Family way,” Fritter smiled. “But really, we were allowed to stay here free of charge and have caused some minor problems since arriving. So ah really don’t mind at all.”

“It’s just breakfast,” Rika giggled. She gave the Roserade a once over and smiled. “So how’d it go last night?”

“Rika?” Fritter chided her. “Y’all just can’t ask something like that. T’aint proper.”

“Sorry,” Rika replied. “I’m trying not to be such a nosy fairy...”

“I don’t mind,” James said with a sigh. “She’s...willing to give us a shot. But she made it quite clear that I’d best try my hardest.”

“Well then, I’m rooting for you~” Rika giggled.

“As am I,” Fritter smiled.

“Thank you, for both your wishes and the meal,” James said. “Was there anything else?”

“That about covers it,” Fritter smiled. “Y’all have a good day Mr. James.”

“And good luck with your lioness,” Rika giggled.

“And good luck with your lion,” James said with a wink before closing the door.

"James," Jessie groaned from the bed. "Who was that at this hour?"

"Room service, though don't get used to it," James responded to the Pyroar. "Still, it smells delicious. Should I bother plating something up for you, or will you insist on sleeping a little longer?"

The sound of her form hitting the ground made itself known, and her footsteps drew quite quickly towards the door. "I'm up, I'm up!" she said.