A memory that forgot for a long time surfaced. She was about thirteen, trying to fit into the 'in' group at Pokémon Tech. One day, a group of girls came up to her and were actually nice to her, talking with her and laughing as though they were old friends. Starr was wary at first, since usually people hanging around like this meant they needed their homework done, or something. As days went on and they stayed nice, though, Starr grew to trust them. However, one day when the girls left, Raichu's Pokéball was gone. He'd still been a Pikachu then, her first Pokémon and best friend, and she'd been devastated that people she trusted would steal someone so important from her. She wondered why they'd been so cruel. After a week, though, they returned Pikachu to her, half from the guilt and half because he was causing havoc and thundershocking everything within range.
    She was overjoyed when he was returned and vowed to be more careful next time.
 

    All the old feelings of being so sad come back to Starr, and she realizes Ash must feel the same—kicking himself for being so dumb as to let Pikachu out of sight and wondering if he'll ever see her again.
    Pikachu watches Starr closely. The redheaded girl is looking straight down.
    A tear runs down her cheek and splashes on the windowsill.
    "Pika…" Pikachu looks at Starr.
    She sniffs a little, then looks at Pikachu. "Thanks for not frying me, Pikachu."
    "Pika pi?" Pikachu looks confused.
    "Never mind." Starr puts a hand on the back of her head and giggles. "Just the product of my weird mind. Tell you what, let's go find Ash. I'll give you back to him and I'll leave a note of apology, that sound good to you?"
    "Pika pika pi!" Pikachu nods enthusiastically and leaps onto Starr's head, then points at the door. "Pika!!!"
    Starr sniffs, but grins. Even if this does mean getting kicked out of Team Rocket, who cares?
    "Pi pikachu." Pikachu leans down and wipes away the last tear from Starr's cheek. "Pika!"
    "You got it…back to Ash. You're the navigator. Lead on, Pikachu! Raichu, would you mind staying here and guarding the cabin?"
    "Rai rai!" Raichu salutes as Starr, with Pikachu in tow, heads off.

    "Pika," Pikachu whispers, pointing at the embers of a dying campfire.
    "That's where they've camped?" Starr says under her breath, peeking out from behind the shrubs and attempting to make as little noise as possible.
    "Pi pika."
    "Okay...then let's go."
    Starr carefully tiptoes around the sleeping Ash, Misty and Brock and sets Pikachu down next to Ash's sleeping bag. As she does, he mumbles a little and stretches.
    "...eep...!" Starr stays perfectly still.
    Ash yawns and goes back to sleep.
    "Whew..." Starr gasps.
    "Chu..." Pikachu wipes her forehead.
    Starr pulls the note of apology from her pocket and reads it over again.
 

  Ash--
     I'm sorry I took Pikachu. The same thing happened to me when I was younger, and I cried my eyes out. I got my Raichu back, so I'm giving you Pikachu back. She loves you lots. You've really got somebody special. Good luck with your training.
                   --Starr

    "The insanity has returned!" Starr announces as she walks down the hall, ducking James as he goes by.
    "Did you read her that one poem anyhow?" Starr asks once he's landed.
    James shakes his head. "It was a different one, but she still doesn't like me."
    Starr shakes her head as Faris' Kadabra, Batts, comes out into the hall. <It is about time you had some lessons if dealing with Faris,> he announces.
    "AND some lessons on talking to girls!" Starr adds.
    "You'll help me? Thank you thank you thank you!!!! I need all the help I can get!!!" James says enthusiastically.
    <I'm not quite sure we can provide him with that kind of help,> Batts remarks to Starr, who giggles as James dances off down the hall.
    En route to Starr's room, they run into Jessie.
    "So, you failed your mission?" Jessie sneers.
    "Actually, no. I had Pikachu, but I lost her due to some extenuating circumstances."
    Once Jessie figures out the meaning of 'extenuating circumstances', she demands, "Like what?"
    "Raichu and Pikachu together in the same room created an electrical disturbance and there was a power failure. When we got the lights back on, Pikachu wasn't there."
    "Oh…" Jessie says lamely. "Well…well…"
    "Well what?" Starr looks interested.
    "I'm trying to say something nice and it isn't easy! Give me a break!!" Jessie whines, then continues. "Well…maybe you'll have better luck next time but the job you did this time was actually pretty good."
    Starr blinks as Jessie sighs.
    "Thanks!" Starr says. "Now, if you'll excuse Batts and me, we have to give James some tips on dealing with girls."
    "Love tips?" Jessie squeals, a galaxy of starts shining in her blue eyes. "I love romance. If you need help with love, I'm the woman to call!"
    Jessie dashes into Starr's room.
    Starr sighs. This meeting is going to be very interesting.
 

    “Uhh…” James says nervously. “What is it I have to do again, Jessie?”
    “You have to be dashing! Handsome! Charming!” Jessie repeats, beginning to lose her patience. “And cover her with expensive gifts!!”
    James takes out his wallet and opens it. Out flies a moth, crying in a high-pitched voice, “I’m free, I’m free, I’m freeeeee!!!”
    Starr, James, Jessie, and Batts all stare. “I didn’t know moths could talk,” Starr finally pipes up.
    James sighs, and returns his wallet to his back pocket. “Well, even if it was weird, that kinda said everything: I’m broke. I can’t get any expensive gifts for her.” He sighs again with a frustrated tone.
    Jessie demands, “What happened to your paycheck!?”
    “You,” James grumbles. “Remember? You went on a shopping spree and had me pay for everything.”
    “Ohhhh, yes, that’s right…” Jessie murmurs, recollecting that event. “Well, we’re getting our paycheck for the latest job tomorrow, so you can still get her something nice.”
    Starr pats James on the back. “That’s okay, you don’t necessarily need expensive gifts to win a girl over,” she says comfortingly. “If you give her a gift from the heart, that’s good enough.”
    Jessie snorts. “That’s a crock!” she snaps. “If you want to charm a girl, give her diamonds!”
    “Maybe a slut girl like you is won over by pretty stones, but Faris isn’t like you!” Starr snaps. She smirks, and continues, “But then, I bet a lot of boys have shown you their stones, huh!?”
    Turning bright red, Jessie gets to her feet and snarls, “What did you say!?”
    Rising to face her, Starr snaps in reply, “You heard me!!”
    <That’s enough!!> Batts orders sharply. <The topic at hand is James and Faris, not the questionable state of Jessie’s virginity! So sit down, both of you!>
    Jessie looks as if she wants to strangle Batts, but in the end, she complies along with Starr.
    “So what does Faris like, Batts?” James gives the psychic Pokémon a beseeching look as the girls calm down. “I’ll never get anywhere with her if you don’t help me!”
    <That’s why I’m here,> Batts replies patiently. <Faris likes flowers, first of all. Any kind of flower.>
    “But she doesn’t like the roses I give her!”
    <Any kind of flower except for red roses,> Batts clarifies. <Faris hates red roses. Roses of any other color are fine except for red.>
    James blinks, confused. “But why?”
    <They bring back bad memories for her,> he tells him softly. <Very… unhappy memories. Anyway, that’s not important; just don’t give her any more roses. Her favorite flower is the forget-me-not, so if you intend to win her over, start giving her those instead. She also likes gardenias, lilies, and pussy willow, so you may want to give her some of those as well. Tiger lilies are the best. Also, never give her anything red; she hates that color. Her favorite colors are purple, black, and silver.>
    James finishes jotting this down. “Okay, continue.”
    Batts continues to list Faris’ favorite things, and he finally reaches the subject of books. <She enjoys reading fantasy and dark books, but she likes humor as well. There isn’t anything in particular that she likes for those, however; she tends to read whatever she comes across. Oh, yes; she does enjoy H. P. Lovecraft. There’s a style to his writing that appeals to her.>
    “H. P. Lovecraft… hmmmm…” James murmurs to himself as he scribbles the last of it. “That name sounds kinda familiar. What’s he written?”
    <Lovecraft is known for his horror stories,> Batts informs him. <You’ve probably heard of Cthulhu Mythos; he’s most famous for that.>
    James looks largely clueless for a moment, then shakes his head. “Never mind. So, if she likes to read so much, why doesn’t she like my poetry?”
    <Your writing style is poor,> Batts tells him bluntly. <It is tired and cliché, and Faris looks down on that. However, if you were to dwell onto the more… depressing… side of your love, that would scare her, because she’s been in love in the past.>
    This catches everyone’s attention. “She…she has?” James queries in a slightly quivery voice.
    “Who with?” Jessie eagerly demands.
    <It is not my place to say,> Batts replies. <It ended in heartbreak, and she was depressed for a long time afterwards. She would be most upset with me if I gave details beyond that, and I do not wish to betray her trust. It’s very painful for her to even think about.>
    James nods slowly, contemplating this. “So what should I write like?” he queries.
    <…> Batts remains silent for a moment. <I do not really know how to give writing advice, since the way Faris writes is that she puts her feelings into words that flow well together. Hmmm… let me think of some of the poetry that she’s written in the past… ah, here’s a good one. She didn’t write it, but it’s one of her favorites. It’s technically a song, though; her aunt wrote it a long time ago. It’s called One-Sided Love; I believe you will be able to identify with it.> Batts clears his mind, and begins to recite the poem.
    <As long as the stars spin in the sky, I won’t forget you. / As long as the galaxy lives, you’ll stay in my heart. / Even if your memory of me fades into the night, / Even if I never see your lovely face ever again.
    <How I want to hold you in my arms tight, comforted by your warm presence. / But the love I feel wasn’t shared by you, / I feel like I’m dying… / Through the lonely stars that make up the cosmos, I found you as my true soulmate. / But the love I feel was denounced by you, / I want to run away…
    <How can I resist your charm? / Say I don’t want you? / The innocence in your smile… / A distant cry calls out to you / Do you hear it now? / It is the promise of my undying soul / To serve you, past eternity.
    <I do not care that this pledge / Is only one-sided love.>
    Jessie, James, and Starr are silent for a long moment.
    Finally, James utters, “…wow.”
    Starr nods, agreeing. “That’s really powerful… it’s beautiful.”
    “What kind of person is Faris if she likes such depressing stuff?” Jessie wonders out loud.
    Batts chuckles at this. <Depressing? Hardly, by Faris’ standard. That’s only mildly sad when compared to some of the other things she’s written.>
    “Really? What else has she written?” James queries, getting interested.
    <Ask her yourself. Faris takes great pride in her writing, and will most appreciate it if you ask to see her poems,> is Batts’ reply.
    James nods. “Okay,” he says half to himself, “I should get her tiger lilies and forget-me-nots, give her that poem you just recited—”
    <One-Sided Love will not do,> Batts interrupts. <If you give her that poem, she’ll know I had a hand in this, and that brings bad tidings for us all. It would be best to give her a different poem instead.>
    James scratches his chin. “Like what?” he queries after a moment.
    “Here, I’ve got a book of poems somewhere around here,” Starr says, getting to her feet. She begins to search her bookcase, and extracts a thick, red-covered book. “Here we go! Famous poetry. Let’s see, flip to the love section…” She flips to the index, then heads over to the section of poetry devoted to love. Then she hands the book to James.
    James flips through the pages, looking for a decent poem. He appears to find one, but looks faintly confused. “Hey, Batts, what’s this poem mean?” He shows the poem to Batts, who swiftly and silently reads it.
    <In short, it means you’ll love her forever, no matter what.>
    A slow, wide smile spreads across James’ face.
    Jessie grabs the book. “Lemme see!” she demands, reading the poem for herself. “Mmmm, that is a good poem. Just the way to charm a girl!”
    “Which poem is it?” Starr queries, getting curious. Jessie lets her see, and she reads it. “Ooooooh! A symphony of words! You’re such a Casanova, Jaaaaaaaaaames!” she teases, causing the target of her teasing to blush and rub the back of his neck in embarrassment.
    “Well,” he smiles shyly, “it is how I feel about her.”
    “So you’re all set!” Jessie says cheerfully. “Forget-me-nots and that poem! You’ll knock Faris off her feet!”
    James smiles a little more.