Alex

  —

  Turns out me and Erin had a lot more in common than I ever would have imagined. Far more not in common, though.

  The insane girl was from another world, or really, universe! One where Pokemon, our world, was a franchise! A fantasy! Made up! Oh, and let's not forget, Leaf was the protagonist of a game! Her childhood friend is Arceus' Chosen?!

  Erin had been… a trans girl. Just like me. Before she died! She literally died! Heart attack, dead! Then she… probably gets a wish granted by Jirachi, who I had never heard of before now! Gets reincarnated in her favorite world! In the right body!

  Of course, she wasn't too happy with being a kid again, because she had been thirty! She had adjusted by now, and mostly acted her age when she wasn't actively being serious, but she still resented it, and it still drove her insane!

  It was no wonder she was so fucking crazy and weird! She was an older mind that had adapted to her younger body, even as she fought it, and it drove her insane in the process! She had all that aura making her more vicious, too! It tinted her mind! She was like Leto in human form! A crazy human kid Leto! It's why she was so confrontational! So vicious, even if she'd apparently already been vicious before then, so really, even more vicious!

  She knew exactly what I felt like. Well, close enough, I hadn't heard much about her life before, because Leaf hadn't, but I knew Clans were weird and traditional… It was far worse in her old world, though, I'd heard that much…

  She had… bargained with a Clefable larger than Leto. To save rescues, and to give Hope the ability to form true contracts to help more in the future! That's where Hope chose to do good, to help! Because of that Koffing I had seen with their mom! Because of the look of hope in her eyes as Erin spoke to her!

  She had been… pushed beyond what the human body and mind was capable of, survived, and made a full recovery, only because that Clefable had bent reality to ensure it, even after it had somehow Teleported them to the Pewter Center. It had taken her almost two months to fully recover!

  Leaf had told me something else. Something that made me so sad, because it made way too much sense.

  Erin thought she came from a darker, more… evil world, and she was possibly right, but she thought she was more evil than anyone else in this world, or had the potential to be, even if she did good. That she was lesser just because she came from there. Food was apparently fine, just… under seasoned in every way. I'd had their cooking during training, and I knew they used a lot of spices… It worked, too, their food was amazing! Our food and music was just bland to her.

  Bland. That was the word.

  She thought she literally couldn't experience, comprehend as much joy as we could, as much… goodness, happiness. That's why so much was bland. She wasn't tasting it all, and she wasn't feeling all of the emotions in music. Like a child finds simple tunes pleasing for days, because they are more innocent, more… good. She wasn't stupid, she knew this world had evil people, fascists, dictators, monsters in power, but even then… her evils were worse in her eyes, so bad we can't even comprehend them. It was still a utopia to her here, even with Team Rocket and everything else about life that was horrible.

  In her mind, we were so much better than her. So much brighter than her. Closer to her ideals. All because we had made it here the normal way… supposedly. None of this was actually confirmed, but try telling her that…

  She thought she was a monster, and according to Leaf, had stopped caring all that much. After she had 'realized' why everything was bland, and sang dreadful, sad, and hauntingly beautiful songs from her world that had broken hearts. From her… previous life, because this was her afterlife… Even though it has been confirmed there is no afterlife… Because apparently yes, Hope had kind of given that away. We were at the top, and just kind of… recycled, here. Once again, supposedly, as Hope couldn't give an actual answer. This was a lot of conjecture, but Erin was possibly from… lower down.

  She still wanted to do good, and she wasn't going to deliberately cause pain… but most assassins don't cause much, anyways. It's over too quickly. Because she was training herself to be an assassin! That was why she would have individual training sometimes, that's why she was somehow getting quieter over time, and that was why she never took anything with her when she hunted!

  Because she was always wearing those damn 'Hidden Blades' she'd commissioned specifically for herself! The ones inspired from a game from her world literally called 'Assassin's Creed'! The ones that were designed to assassinate people! The ones that had some sort of high powered bolt thrower, which explained those holes in the Pidgeottos! Also a lot of other stuff in them and in a retina-locked case that Erin had refused to tell Leaf about with a huge, vicious grin that had made Leaf nervous! Not her normal one, no, even more vicious and happy! According to Leaf! Leaf, who wasn't even phased by them anymore!

  Erin was always wearing them, let me repeat that! That's why her forearms looked slightly bulky underneath her jacket! That's what those bracer things had been! She only took them off to shower! She could reach out, grab me, and I would just die from a blade in my neck!

  It was kind of badass, not going to lie… also freaky as fuck!

  She had promised not to seek out Team Rocket, even though she knew who the boss was. It was tearing her up inside, too, to let it continue, but she wouldn't abandon her adopted sister, not from the moment she met her. Leaf hadn't told me who the leader was, and that worried me. That meant I knew them! Of them, probably, but still!

  Leaf was also certain that she would be dead if not for Erin's supposed wish, because what had awoken her when Hazard tried to MURDER her in her SLEEP?!

  Because, excuse me!? Why was he alive?! Or at least, you know, here! He had nodded along while she told me that! He had looked regretful, which had absolutely blown my mind, but still! Why was he not released or just removed?

  How was he here!?

  Because Leaf still loved him, somehow, and Erin had broken his pride as a dragon by beating him unconscious in a fight with no Moves! She had somehow broken through to the murderous maniac that Hazard had been. Wait, still was! He just… regretted his actions, and was trying now. Trying a lot harder, lately, after Leaf had lost all fear of him, and after he had finally started showing progress in training. Now Hazard was dedicated to Leaf, grateful to her, he just wasn't exactly affectionate with her… or calm… or non-murderous, it just wasn't directed at us.

  Them.

  I swore he still wanted to dismember me…

  Erin could not only wield her aura and read aura, she could use some weak Moves! She had Roared for a second on Mt. Moon and tore her throat to shreds! Hecate had healed her up there on that mountain because they didn't want to give that huge Clefable any more information on what Pokemon they had. Leaf hadn't released Indeedee up there at all.

  Erin was too scared to try any other Moves after that, for now at least! Even a Tackle might break her neck! A punch Move might shatter every bone in her arm! Indeedee could heal her, make certain she survived, sure… she would also be recovering from that for months!

  Erin was absolutely insane, legitimately crazy, and I couldn't even blame her for it anymore! It made so much sense! Especially with her disturbing view of reality… One that I really thought was wrong, and Leaf did too, but Erin was convinced…

  Erin was… still not back. It had been two hours already…

  "She'll be fine, Alex. She's probably out there hunting down some poor Pokemon right now. Because it's not only food, it's training…" Leaf shuddered a bit, hugging an incubator. Apparently she had been promised by Erin that she would become a target at some point for the flicks. Erin hadn't brought it up since, which was the most terrifying part.

  Yes, incubator. I'd heard from Rotom, but it had been unresponsive until last night. It was recommended to interact with Pokemon Eggs as much as possible, but only once they begin to, well, have a heartbeat I think? Or the equivalent in some species… Incubators had sensors to detect that, so now Leaf tried to hold it as much as possible. Still in the incubator for now, but once it started to actually move it would have to be removed. I really wasn't looking forward to another fae… I could deal with Hope, I kind of liked her despite her pranks, but an uncontracted, un-Leaf'd fae? Yes, Leaf'd, because what would you call it? Bound? Well, maybe… They were basically just best friends though, even if she held Hope's soul…

  "And she was… like me?" Her eyes were understanding as she looked over at me. We were close together by the fire, Dratini curled up in my lap watching me, Noibat thankfully snoozing next to her and pointed away from me for her 'I just woke up' screeches… I really didn't feel like being too far from anyone right now…

  "Yes, and she's already given it thought… if I'm guessing correctly?" I readily nodded at her. Yes, obviously! Please tell me if I could do that! Not the dying part, no, but the whole 'correct body' part would be pretty fucking amazing, yeah!

  "Jirachi is probably asleep again, and she unfortunately doesn't know of any others that may be able to… She also looked into how they do it here…" She trailed off, because yeah…

  Transgender care was actually very effective, common, and free… If your parents allowed it, or you were an adult. I was thirteen! Not an adult, and I was finally starting to hit a late puberty, too! It needed to happen soon, but…

  "I want to, yeah, but my fucking 'parents' won't allow me to, because they want their precious Fourth Heir, and that Heir has to be male…" I didn't give a shit about the position, either! My family did! Why the fu-

  Leaf screamed even as I felt a stick touch my throat and I froze. Erin was crouched between us, somehow, two short sticks held in her hands. One to each of our throats.

  "Don't stare into the campfire if you don't have sentries. I mean, we do, and they just smirked as I crept up on you two, but still." Her grin was far too wide, considering my poor heart. She focused on me as Leaf tried to breathe, her grin growing into a warm and happy smile.

  "Alex, if you want to, you can start. Lance will make it happen. I had a nice long talk with him, actually. Considering he knew, and dressed you like that on purpose, because despite being a good guy with good intentions, he was still a prick about it… Either way, he hasn't done anything yet, but if you're sure, he'll get you permission. Him and Claire and Dragonite, really. And their teams… And most of the Aerie, now that Dragonite opened her big mouth…" Excuse me, what?!

  You're serious?!

  "What?!" Her smile just grew larger and warmer. She was so happy to deliver this news.

  "They were like Dratini, basically. They were just waiting for you to make a choice, because choices are important. Doesn't matter what your decision is, they'll support you. Trust me when I say that some family? Not worth it, just forget they even exist if they can't handle who you really are. Some are more than worth it, though." Her smile was warm, for a few seconds. Then she looked over at Leaf and grinned, and she was back to normal.

  "I mean, look at my adorable little sister! She's so worth it! She's also… about to 'die' a second time tonight." Seraphina fell from the trees onto Leaf's hat with a little plop.

  Leaf somehow jumped while sitting cross legged, screaming as she did.

  I might have screamed, too.

  A lot, actually.

  That finally woke Noibat up, and Indeedee had to heal us all.

  —

  "Why the fuck are you calling me again, you insane mena- Oh! Nice to see you out of those horrible clothes, Alex!" Lance's grin was far too wide and shit-eating for my liking, but…

  My face was on fire as I squeezed out my words, before I couldn't force myself anymore.

  "Lance… Thank you! Seriously… Thank you… Your still a fucking prick for those clothes! Not to mention my hair!" His smile somehow grew wider.

  "Alex, that was as long as I could let you keep it. I might be First Heir and Champion, but even I have my limits when it comes to tradition, especially that one, since it does make unfortunate sense historically, and even recently, even if Leto makes disguising yourself unnecessary. It's why I kept my hair short before I went on my Journey, actually. They couldn't force me to change it that much, and I'd have killed them if they tried to shave my head." His smile grew a little warmer. Barely, but it was there.

  "You should already know your parents wanted it very short, of course… Be grateful I forced them to step aside! It doesn't look bad at all, in fact it looks very cute on you!" I blushed a little harder, but I regretted feeling good from his words an instant later. Because of course I did. Good guy, yes. Prick as well.

  "Plus, it was still funny even if I was forced to, and you looked so boring in those clothes I picked out! Like the most generic person imaginable!" This fucking guy!

  Erin spoke up from next to me with her usual grin.

  "So, Lance… want some help? I can come scare the shit out of everyone there, if you want? Please? It would give me great pleasure!" He laughed at her, shaking his head.

  "And deprive myself of that pleasure? Alex aside, I love ordering those cranky old bastards around! Getting her what she deserves is a bonus, not my goal! I mean, it is my goal, but you know what I mean! Either way, no! This is my nest to stomp around in!" His grin was far too vicious for someone helping me out as much as he was. Far too vicious.

  "Claire is at the Aerie right now, actually, getting them to calm down. Because somebody told Dragonite, somehow. I don't know how, though… Either way, if the elders pitch a fit? I can just call Claire and have them Roar. Doesn't matter if the Aerie is a few miles away from our estates. Ever heard an entire Aerie of dragons Roar? It is loud! Also intimidating as shit, even for me! Dragonite actually rushed me out the last time they did it, and I'm a Dragon Master!" I burst into laughter. He turned his puzzled face to me even as Erin and Leaf began to giggle.

  "Yes, Alex? You must have something to say with that face." Lance was frowning at me now, but I managed to get my mirth under control long enough to speak. Barely.

  "Lance, Dragonite was rushing you out because she was worried about her precious little Human Mascot." It felt so good to watch his face at that moment. It was so red with fury, but there was a slight look of worry, there. He knew I wasn't exactly lying…

  Erin spoke up with a laugh.

  "Alex, don't be so mean to Lance! He's not a Human Mas- Wait! I don't lie! Wow! That was so close…" Erin actually looked disconcerted by her near-slip, and Lance's face grew even redder.

  "You two are so mean to Lance! I mean, yeah, it's Lance, but he's… he's not that… Well… I don't know if he's a Dragon Master, but… I mean… He's… He loves you, Alex!" I think Leaf actually was trying to be nice to Lance for a moment there. It just didn't work.

  Lance groaned and buried his face in his hands for a moment before looking up.

  "Now I get three infuriating girls on the other end when I receive calls from you? Is this my thank you?" Lance was furious, but he was smiling at me. Barely. It was there, but it might not be a smile… it might just be bared teeth, actually…

  I was still furiously blushing, even as I laughed and spoke.

  "I mean, yes? Thank you, Lance… I'll call Claire tomorrow to thank her, too, but yeah… Thanks." It was so weird to thank him!

  "Well, now that you've said yes… Well, actually, Alex." He sighed and gave me a serious look that made me gulp.

  "Do you want to be in line to lead the Cl-" I didn't even wait for him to finish before I was rapidly shaking my head.

  "Even if I wasn't trans, no, not at all! Ever! It's all yours, Lance." He laughed at me, but it sounded slightly pained.

  "I kind of feel the same way, honestly, but it's either become the leader myself, or have to overthrow an idiot later… Might as well just rule from the start, even if it's going to be irritating..." Yeah, that was a very 'Lance' way to look at the whole situation... He perked up a little and gave me a direct look.

  "Either way, I'm going to go slam around a bunch of old bastards with my aura, you kids have a good night. Alex, feel free to call me anytime you want to talk, okay? Erin? If I SEE your face again I will…" He trailed off, because yeah, what will you do, Lance? Your dragons won't fight her! Go get an Ice type or something to fight Erin!

  Erin just started to laugh. Well, everyone did.

  "Yeah, that's what I thought, Lance! I'll call you whenever I want, which, to be fair, is generally never… Still, thanks for being a good guy under all that… you, Lance." He glared at her through the screen even as Leaf spoke up.

  "Yeah, I honestly didn't expect something like that from you! You're always so grumpy! Just like Hazard! Oh, that's Fraxure's new name!" Holy shit, she wasn't accurate, but it was funny!

  Lance just glared harder through our laughter.

  "Alex, check the Pokemon Center tomorrow morning. Infuriating menaces, keep her safe. And yourselves, if you can manage it as well." He hung up fast. Visibly fast, actually.

  Erin turned to me with a wide smile.

  "Ready to head back to the Center?"

  —

  Apparently, Leto had never heard of lesbians or bisexuals, because once we were back in the room she pointed to me, then her stomach… Not that it mattered. I mean, I was really grateful to them, and they were great people, and they were both pretty, sure, but… Giratina could take me before I dated either one of those insane girls, so it didn't matter. I'd take them as friends, though, absolutely.

  I found out that calling it the 'cuddle pile' was pretty accurate, as not only the girls, but all the Pokemon, including Kallen and his damn tiny pokey bits liked to just… pile together. I mean, it started with us just laying down normally, sure… then Cerberus slammed into my side, then Dratini was on my head, and before I knew it we were just… tangled. It kind of worked itself out, but I ended up losing feeling in my left arm in the middle of the night. Why? Because Leaf decided it was a great pillow! Somehow Erin managed to be an elbower, too!

  If that was it, maybe it wouldn't have been so bad! Obviously they were used to it, right? Comfortable with it?

  They were both sleep cuddlers, though, probably from sleeping in the pile so much… I mean, I didn't mind in theory, and I was not interested in them, so it didn't make me uncomfortable at all… It was actually very welcoming, to be honest, and I was grateful they were just comfortable around me… But it got so hot right next to Leto, Cerberus, Dratini, all the Pokemon (other than Hazard, obviously), and that's before you factor in the body heat of two other people, plus Leaf's hair in my face! It was bad enough here in the AC! How bad was this going to be camping?!

  It really hadn't helped my mood when I noticed Leto grinning at my pained, oxygen-lacking face in the dim light at one point.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Leaf liked to lightly sleep-strangle sometimes, apparently.

  I was slightly cranky when I woke up the next morning, but… it was still far better than rotting meat and feet!

  —

  It only took me an hour the next morning to get started on treatments after a completely unnecessary but required 'are you sure' discussion with a Nurse Joy. Well, I wouldn't notice anything for a while, but that was fine by me… mostly. It was still amazing to start. It wasn't a vague dream for the future, a dream I had been sure was doomed, it was here, and I'd gotten in before I started growing a beard, before my voice cracked!

  So grateful for the late puberty!

  "You're sure you two didn't want to spend more time in Cerulean? I mean, yeah, I was pretty done with the city, but that's more of a me thing…" Erin was frowning, because of course, she could never be normal.

  Poor girl, I think she literally couldn't, actually… Because of course, crowds were an issue for her these days after her mind was… tinted with her aura. Not a bad issue, and she could walk right into a crowded stadium and feel fine, probably, it was just like 'an itch that I can't scratch. Or maul to death, in this case…' Because that made sense… Well, it did when Leto said she felt the same way about crowds, even if she wanted to perform in Contests in front of them, because of course, they had the same aura, more or less… It wasn't nearly as bad for Erin, sure, but it was always there…

  I don't think Erin would ever come close to normal again, honestly.

  My voice was light as I spoke.

  "No, I'm fine, honestly. I did all the shopping I really wanted there, and I want to save some money for Celadon. They have good clothing stores." I really was.

  Cerulean was beautiful, and it had some great shops, but Celadon had fashion. Not the plain shirts and skirts I had picked out so far… Kind of grateful Erin grabbed those for me to start, though, the shirts were close enough to what I had worn before I hadn't felt too nervous wearing them in public, and the skirts weren't too short… Still, I wanted something nicer eventually. Maybe one outfit in Vermillion?

  "Same here, basically. I'm actually more interested in the path we're taking, you know?" Leaf gave Erin an odd look as we walked down Route 5, not that there was much here, just a straight shot between the two cities with a major road for trucks. It was much shorter than Route 4, had clear visibility the entire way, and was easily walkable in a day. There was a Breeders Ranch here, and that was it… This was our second morning walking, actually. I had been right, too… It got hot when we slept!

  Wait, yeah, now that I finally think about it…

  "Why are we skipping Saffron City?"

  Erin laughed, then kept laughing for a couple seconds, before it broke off into giggles. Leaf was giving her an odd look, but Leaf knew something that I didn't…

  "Lets just say old games made so little sense sometimes…"

  —

  "Why are we taking the tunnel system, Erin? A tunnel system that is rarely used? A tunnel system that doesn't even have Pokemon? Why are we literally going to walk under Saffron to get to Vermillion? We're almost past Saffron at this point!" She just grinned as we kept walking down the brightly-lit tunnel, Seraphina on her head, Hecate held in her arms.

  It was a nice tunnel instead of a mine or cave or something, sure. It looked like the back rooms at Claire's Gym, honestly. Bright white, sterile, and drab. The only things that stood out were the occasional heavy door and a few intersections, and judging from the noise of machinery I heard from a few of those doors, this was the city's basement layer, basically. These tunnels were open to the public, but I think that's more because who would come down here for no reason?! You weren't supposed to come down here and admire the sights, this was maintenance access, basically…

  "Because this is what the game forced you to do, and I'm literally retracing the steps I took… mostly. Viridian Forest I was fine with skipping… I don't think my heart could handle it if a Pikachu reacted to me like stray Rattata do…" Aww, she actually does look sad…

  "It sounded kind of dumb in the games, too. Why can't you just-" She cut off because of the light wail that rang out from Hecate as we passed a thick door.

  A few things happened in rapid succession.

  Erin's team, minus Artemis and Leto (because she wouldn't fit) popped out in front of us, even as Erin dropped Hecate and threw her arms back, letting her backpack slide off. By the time she had crouched by it her team was out, glaring down the hall and at the door. Well, Cerberus was blindly snarling at the door.

  "Serious time, kids. No jokes. Take my backpack, mom, and Artemis with you. You're going to stick together, continue down the tunnel, find the first spot with reception. Call the police, direct them here. Follow their instructions if they ask you to lead them here, but if not, you stay out of here once you are out." She pulled that damn case out and lifted it to her eyes. It popped open, and before I could move to actually look inside she was closing it again. She had two…

  Two curved sheathes longer than the length of her forearm in a harness, with simple leather handles capped with large pommels. She wrapped them around her lower back, and I heard the straps click as she tightened them. She pulled one of them out, and the almost bent metal looked oddly familiar… They weren't Pawniard, but they weren't just steel either. They looked far too sharp to be normal metal. Insanely sharp, actually. That was a Pokemon-material weapon.

  "Understood?" Her eyes were so hard as they stared us down.

  It made her small grin all the more disturbing.

  —

  Erin

  —

  I had done a lot of thinking, after realizing exactly where I was from.

  What I was.

  I mean, I could be wrong, but it just made so much sense! I wasn't from 'Hell', no, but this was the top of the totality! There wasn't anything past this! No afterlife! No next step! We just recycled here, it was confirmed!

  I came from a lower, lesser, darker world than this one! Not necessarily evil, or eviler… just more capable of it. Less capable of good, of even sensing it, even comprehending it!

  I had a realization when I sang 'Over the Rainbow' that night. I mean, I sang it to make myself hurt, that and 'You Don't Know', sang it to get the emotions out. My longing for the heights and joys only they are capable of, that I will never know…

  I sang 'Insane' to demonstrate the entertainment I could enjoy, providing I had the correct target…

  Still, 'Over the Rainbow' had clarified something for me.

  Why Pokemon?

  Why was this world… better, higher up? A franchise, a fantasy?

  Because it was a dream. Where else would your afterlife be? Where you dreamed of going. Maybe our dreams were just us choosing an afterlife, creating our own somehow…

  I was certain there were countless other universes up here at the top, countless other dreams. I just dreamed of Pokemon…

  Except, I hadn't come here the normal way, had I?

  I wasn't reincarnated as a baby, a blank slate, I was transplanted here… My soul is still a lesser, darker soul that didn't advance…

  And now I'm stuck that way, and I'll never advance so long as I am still… me. Still the same person, not a blank slate…

  I mean, I didn't know that, but… it made too much sense, right?

  I don't regret my choice, and I never will, but…

  I only have one real fear for myself… When I die here, will I go back there?

  I HOPE NOT, but if I am going back to that place, I'm going to have as large an impact as I can in this world before I leave it behind.

  Bring some… Hope. To this part of the world, at least.

  Send a monster to kill monsters.

  So cost effective, no matter the outcome.

  Not that I'm at all worried.

  This was going to be too easy.

  I'll even have fun doing it, too.

  I knew what my price was. Now. I hadn't in Pewter.

  I was going to greatly enjoy this, now that Leaf and Alex had completely disappeared from Hecate's senses.

  I could feel Seraphina, Kallen, and Hecate all agree.

  Cerberus agreed as well, as he waited and seethed at the thought of who was ahead of us… back inside his Pokeball. He was kind of stompy and loud…

  He was so ready to put his name to shame.

  Why keep souls in Hell, or out, when you can send them there, instead?

  Maybe they would bounce off my old world on their way down there…

  Wait, no, these monsters got to recycle… That, at least, was confirmed…

  Lucky fucks…

  —

  I should probably be slightly worried about what I'm doing right now, but… I wasn't. According to Hecate, there was a bit of an outer ring of Rockets and their Pokemon, and they weren't all stupid. That would explain why there were multiple Hypno and Drowzee stationed in this wide room. Not only could they sense minds, if not as strongly as something like a Kadabra, but the Hypno could put most solo Pokemon, not to mention humans, to sleep easily…

  They were also Psychic, of course, so when my little wood witch hesitantly reached out to one that felt sad? When they knew she was telling the truth? Knew that I wouldn't let what normally happened to them happen? Yes, Hypno and Drowzee creeped me out, but I still wouldn't treat them badly. Not even a… Jynx… I hope I never have to meet one of those, though, honestly…

  Either way, the large open room that was apparently the front line for this base? Very shadowy, very dimly lit, and very easy to sneak around in. Very easy to sneak right up to the furthest Rocket, an older man in their distinctive uniform. His Hypno was very deliberately staring straight ahead as I drew closer and closer…

  I didn't grin like I wanted to, but that's simply because a flash of teeth in the dark was a great way to highlight myself. My eyes were already bright enough by themselves, which is why I was wearing a pair of sunglasses. Well, more like shine-erasers, really. I could see out of them perfectly fine even in dim light, they just gave everything a faint dark tint. My jacket was dark as well, and I had slid my black tights back on for this. My boots were still a bit shiny, but I got the feeling the polished steel would soon be a bit… red.

  I greatly enjoyed the sensation when my Blade pierced right through the base of his spine, right where it met his skull, with a dull snick sound. It was so low that I almost couldn't hear it over my music. Music? Oh yes, I was listening to music while I assassinated my first human- wait, second human. It was so low I could hear my blood pulsing over it, sure, and this was a nice headset that actually made outside sounds louder…

  Still entertaining to watch his corpse slump forward, even as I caught the body and gently let it flop to the ground… Well, as gently as I could, he was heavy! Not to mention almost a foot taller and two decades older…

  I winked at the Hypno as it stared at me in shock and relief before its eyes closed, and I smiled as it pointed off towards my next target, one with a Drowzee…

  I glanced up and saw Seraphina's eyes squint happily before she was off and moving, walking right along the ceiling. Kallen was actually latched onto my back for once, Hecate right below him latched onto my kukri sheaths with her hair, since I needed all of my balance. Well, I could have snuck around with him on my arm, but it would be a risk. I'd rather not turn this into an actual fight until I have to… Each one of these grunts had a submachine gun…

  The next grunt, a younger woman with a resting megabitch face, was harder. She was leaning up against a wall, and there were no decent hiding spots near her. I could be stealthy, sure, but I couldn't be stealthy across ten feet of bare, open flooring… Hecate nudged my mind a little, however, and I grinned. A tight-lipped grin, sure, but it almost grew into a wide open smile as the Drowzee jerked a little, as if startled, then slowly turned to stare off in the opposite direction from us.

  It didn't raise an alarm, just looked, but its 'trainer' grew nervous. Still, I had to assume that in a fucked up organization like Team Rocket, you don't make false claims about intruders, not unless you want to be made an example of… So instead of radioing it in or something, she simply turned and stared off in the same direction, hand resting on a Pokeball. She was still leaning against the wall, but that wouldn't stop me. I had my Blades, of course, so as her head swung around I made my move, dashing in as silently as possible. Which was very silent, sure, but she still turned briefly towards the sound.

  My hand on her mouth, under her chin, drove it closed, and even as I felt her begin to scream I triggered my Blade. So glad they made aura triggers for Lucario, and that they were relatively easy to install… Relatively. It had taken me and Rotom four hours! To install four triggers! Still, I never had to worry about accidentally triggering them again, and I could trigger them almost as fast as I could think.

  It was very convenient, and very fast, just like her death as my Blade drove through her throat and into her spine, severing it completely. I gently let her body slide to the ground against the wall, ignoring the look of horrific terror on her face. Too bad, bitch. Just recycle here and be better next time. Maybe spend a few lives as a Magikarp… Feel lucky you get to come back here…

  I gave the Drowzee a thumbs up as I rose from my crouch, and it hesitantly returned the gesture.

  Then I got started again. Three more here in the first line of defense…

  —

  The next room was a real challenge in theory. It was larger, more brightly lit, and overall just a pain in the ass to sneak around in… It was also much easier to clear. Why? Because this was apparently something of a barracks… and there were only a few people awake, and only one Hypno, one who was very easy to convince, once again. That Hypno actually put its 'trainer' under hypnosis when they were the last one remaining awake, which made it much easier to begin assassinating the sleeping Rockets. I found that it was quite easy, actually. Just cover their mouth as I would grab their neck, triggering both Blades at the same time. They gurgled, sure, but I still managed to get almost all of them before one woke up.

  Not that she had much time to do anything, as Hecate invaded her mind and overwhelmed it before she could even scream. Well, she started to scream, but by that point Kallen had peeked his head over my shoulder and unleashed a pinpoint Water Gun that went right through her eye… and head.

  I walked over to the hypnotized Rocket and casually drove a blade into the back of his neck, smiling at the old, weathered looking Hypno as I did. He returned my thumbs up with a huge smile, one that almost made me laugh. Hypno were sinister, but even with that huge nose, he looked joyously delighted. Not that I was surprised…

  Twenty two Rockets down, who knows how many more to go… I was already kind of tired, but I didn't exactly have the option of stopping. I mean, sure, I could stop and wait for the police… Not that I would. I certainly wouldn't be trusting the police to do their jobs! This wasn't a small cell hitting a semi-isolated business. This was a base! Right underneath Kanto's largest city! My own reasonable, lived distrust of police aside, there was zero fucking chance Team Rocket didn't have some sort of spy or informant on the force, probably multiple. If it was the head of the department? Well… I wouldn't kill them… Not without overwhelming proof, at least…

  —

  So apparently even Team Rocket wises up eventually, and that happened after another ten or so assassinations… I was getting very tired now, my arms especially. Still, I was almost glad it had come to this, because I could stop being stealthy! I had offered them the chance to surrender, but of course, fear-based organizations didn't like to let their fellows have an easy out. The one lady who surrendered ended up being stabbed by a senior-looking member, in fact…

  My first opponent that saw me coming sent out a Houndoom, and I didn't need Hecate's sad feelings sent into my mind to know it had… adapted to its life. I really didn't enjoy the Roar, but thankfully I had forced myself, not to mention everyone else, to undergo resistance training. That way it only froze me up momentarily, and it was honestly a good thing.

  Because when I grew enraged, I found out a neat little trick with my aura. One I had known about, I just hadn't thought about it consciously.

  See, aura wasn't physical. I couldn't move even a grain of rice with it if I tried. It was more than capable of terrifying my opponents, however, and when I locked up under the Roar I instinctively swatted at the poor Pokemon with my aura, like a huge club. It jerked as my aura hit it, then froze briefly as I laid my aura down on it like a huge net, even as I recovered and sprinted past it.

  I felt horrible as Kallen blasted its brains out through its ears with a pinpoint Water Gun, almost twisting me around from the force, but… I would have to get over it. I could get some revenge for it, though… Aura worked great on humans, too! The asshole froze in terror, and even as I saw a large stain spread on his crotch I was decapitating him with my kukri, the snick of bone slicing disturbingly silent… Well, not silent, but try and hear something like that with a raging Deino making very short work out of the few Pokemon that didn't surrender… Not to mention the five humans he had already killed. Hecate was actually helping guide him mentally, keeping his terrifying jaws aimed at the correct targets…

  Seraphina had gotten in on the action as well, and I… Well, I didn't feel bad for Team Rocket, but I came very close… Her Acids were horrifying, and it was damn near impossible to see her on the ceiling. Well, not really, her head was pitch black against the almost beige ceiling, but humans don't generally look up when there's a raging Alpha Deino directly in front of them.

  At least her Incinerates didn't cause as many screams… Not that I minded them all that much. They were doing a great job of disorientating and unnerving the Rockets, actually…

  I grinned as I lashed out with my aura, freezing half of the humans in front of me. They mostly got maimed. It was almost a benefit, being this fucking tiny! I was close to their legs, so I didn't have to really bend much to go for their knees…

  I was being merciful! Kind of! I mean, I had asked if they wanted to surrender, plus there were plenty more ahead… plenty more that Hecate could feel rushing this way, of course!

  "Cerberus! That door!" I pointed, foolishly, but Hecate directed him towards it even as Kallen finished sadly destroying the… adjusted Pokemon. I looked around in the brief moment of calm. Not silence, the screams were very loud, actually, but I could breathe! Not for long, but I took deep gasping breaths of air for a long moment.

  Actual exertion aside, my adrenaline had been dumping itself into my system like a broken dam, and I was starting to twitch a little. It wasn't exactly a bad thing, balancing on that razors edge of adrenaline-induced battle fury. Extra split seconds of reaction time were great! I was just so fucking tired!

  It was about to get so much worse, too, as I felt the group of humans and Pokemon on the other side of the door…

  Much worse.

  —

  Leaf

  —

  Me and Alex sat outside of Saffron City, near the tunnel entrance, waiting.

  Again.

  We'd had to get all the way above ground before we got any signal on our Pokenavs, and it had taken the police almost ten minutes to get there. Well, one was close, but the others weren't… They had listened to us, looked at our PokeNavs to see where Erin was, then rushed inside.

  That was two hours ago, and the police guarding the entrance hadn't told us anything. At all.

  "Is this what it was like in Pewter?" Alex's voice was quiet as we sat under a tree, looking at the entrance across the Route. This entrance was technically on the southern outskirts of Saffron City.

  "It was… similar, but no. She has everyone but Artemis and Leto, and she couldn't even have pulled Leto out… She does have training, now… No, that was worse… Not that this doesn't suck, too…" It really did. I wasn't actually worried about her… Well, I was, but I knew she would be fine… Probably…

  Alex scrambled to her feet with an excited gasp and I followed. There were police coming out now. Most looked… queasy and pale. They were followed by Erin.

  She wasn't exactly surrounded by police, and they were giving her a lot of space, but they looked mad. I could guess why.

  It probably had something to do with the blood that soaked most of her front. Bloodsoaked teens were generally frowned upon.

  She looked over and saw us. Her face lit up in a huge smile, but it was very disturbing, considering the splashes and drops all over her face. There was as much dried blood as there was skin!

  Not to mention the blazing eyes.

  "Hey, you two! Don't worry about all these little chucklefucks, I didn't break a single law, and I have proof! They're just being little bitches about the whole thing! 'Oh boo hoo, you're a kid doing our jobs for us, you make us feel bad about how shitty we are at our jobs! Just like we were shitty years ago, and RIGHT NOW! IT'S ALMOST like you have a DIGLETT in your midst!'... Or something like that! I followed every law exactly!"

  Arceus above, she was absolutely livid! I've never seen her even close to this furious! She looks like Wukong! Worse!

  One of the officers stepped closer to her with an angry look and she smiled at him. Like he was food that had delivered itself to her. Like Leto. He wisely took a fearful step back.

  "Please, please do it, you dumb fuck! I know for a fact you've already talked to the Champion! I know he told you to RELEASE ME! You have NO LEGAL RIGHT to hold me! The only reasons I haven't broken out of your pitiful little encirclement are because I don't hurt innocent people and I am tired! After doing your fucking jobs! They were under your city you FUCKS! I dare you to lay a finger on me! See if you walk away with it!" She was stomping forward, now, seething.

  The police were backing up a little now, but they still didn't stop their encirclement of her. I wondered why I didn't see any Pokemon, but considering Erin… Yeah, they would need to be powerful, brave, or very stupid to face her when she was like this, not to mention the rest of her team. I was honestly surprised she hadn't battered them all with her aura yet.

  She looked over and gave us a wide, easy smile. It did not look reassuring, still.

  "You two just head to the Center, I'll be out soon enough! Lance is already on his way, because THEY HAVE A DIGLETT IN THEIR MIDST! The SAME one who told them to hold me ILLEGALLY!" Oh wow, she wasn't just pissed, I think she might actually kill them if they touched her.

  Maybe even if they didn't…

  —

  Lance

  —

  "Why the fuck am I here in Saffron bailing you out of a situation when you have a mother?!" I mean, I knew, but this menace could tell me herself!

  Tell me her stupid fucking delusions!

  Not that it was hard to tell why she might still be in here, considering she was drenched in blood all down her front! Drenched! It was still dripping all over the interrogation room, actually!

  She was furious as she spoke, teeth bared, nostrils flared. She looked like Leto! A furious, tiny Leto!

  "Because they have spies in their department, and they hate kids that actually do their fucking jobs for them! Who make them feel inadequate! Like RED!" How the fuck did she know THAT?!

  "How- No, not here! Let's grab your gear and go find your new rescues, Erin…" She snorted at me and lifted the back of her jacket to show her… blades. Because of course they hadn't dared disarm her. She was making me nervous, to be fair, so I didn't blame them…

  Still needed the rescues, front lobby, get the hell out of here and interrogate her-

  "Might want to watch the guy with short brown hair, a thin mustache, and the face of a Lechonk, he was giving off some harsh nervous vibes every time I mentioned a Diglett in here. Oh hey, there he is!" She pointed across the front lobby of the police station and yes, she was right!

  Not only did the police officer look remarkably like a Lechonk, I could feel his nervousness from across the lobby. I looked at him in suspicion, but of course, she was already moving. Dripping blood all over the floors… Shit, I didn't even think about that, and she didn't care!

  "Hey buuuuddy, didn't see you down there with all your friends when I paid them a little visit earlier! Ever wondered if Team Rocket keeps information on their spies at their bases? Why do you think the Champion is here, bud? If this is your only chance to get a lighter sentence by complying, I'd take it if I were you!"

  I was here to bail your MENACING self out!

  Even if you did nothing wrong, legally, and they had held you for no reason out of sheer anger! Defying my orders in the process! I can almost understand it, look at you!

  Totally not because Alex called me and begged for my help, too!

  I most certainly was not here to interrogate this man! There was no Diglett in the Saffron Police Department, you insan-

  Or maaaybe I was here to do that, as the humanoid Lechonk gave me a terrified look and dropped to his knees, begging as he practically pressed his face to the ground.

  "I'm sorry! They threatened me, I didn't want to, I swear!" I knew he was lying, even without my aura I would have known, and my eyes narrowed.

  Fuck, Erin was right!

  There WAS a Diglett!

  Fuck!

  I just wanted to enjoy my day off!

  I took it specifically to celebrate Alex getting her freedom! Also to celebrate knocking around the elders, that was a blast…

  I get like, ten a year!

  TEN!!!

  A!!!

  YEAR!!!

  might be slightly unstable? Just a little?