Erin

  —

  I guess I wasn't going to follow my old path exactly? I mean, yes, I skipped Viridian Forest, and I do not want to go into another cave unless I have to, and yes, we would have gone to Lavender Town for basically nothing…

  I worried that there may be Team Rocket bases in either one, but… I didn't have anything to support that, either, and Leaf had made very good points…

  "Erin, cheer up! Look, we even get to walk from Saffron to Celadon! Weren't you complaining about being carried everywhere?" I glare- frow- looked at Leaf as she walked, cradling the incubator in its harness.

  Hope wasn't super happy about not cuddling non-stop now that she was back, but she understood that the Egg needed attention, plus, she kind of stood out. A lot. We were sort of trying to just… walk, not draw eyes. We had no Pokemon out.

  "This is also the shortest Route in Kanto! I can see the city in the distance!" I was right, too!

  It was even worse than in the games, somehow. Why have four cities clumped up like this? I mean, I know there's plenty of valid reasons and factors that played into it other than game design, but still! There are walls around most cities! At this point you could almost simply make a walled path! Okay, Pokemon would break it, so make an underground path! It's not like it would be revolutionary!

  Alex snorted at me in amusement.

  "Can you even see over the trees?" I glared at her, up at her, accepting the zap.

  "A short joke, really? I could make you my height, if you want?" Obviously I never would, and she knew it too as she smirked at me.

  "It's okay, maybe we'll buy you some nice heels in Celadon?" I scowl- frown- turned away and stared straight ahead. Fucking Dexter!

  "I may have to accept Leaf's orders for now, so if you force me to buy heels and wear them, I will. I will also either burn them, or force you to wear them after these two weeks are finally over. I wouldn't mind high-heeled boots, sure, but shoes? Absolutely not." I was serious, too. I might not mind in the future if I'm dressed up all nicely, maybe, but we were Journeying! Boots all the way!

  "I think I can be nice enough and not order you to do that… It would still be funny- Oooh! Erin, Alex, look! It's a first for us! They usually run away!" I followed Leaf's finger and snorted to myself in amusement.

  A group of four trainers were sitting just off-Route in a nice, open field… scanning up and down the Route, and when they saw us, every head turned. My smile grew vicio- fuck! Fine! I smiled normally at them… and pulled my aura in as much as I could, which I had been working on, me and mom both…

  'Normally'… It was working, I guess? I didn't want to be a mean bully, of course, so I didn't hate my punishment all that much… Being cruel just came sooo easily these days…

  They were our age, dressed- Fuck! I had just thought that naturally! Our age! I had accepted it, sure, I guess, but… our age?! Nooo…

  They were… our age, dressed relatively plainly, and looked bored. They had a single Nidorina out, but judging from the tarp and playing cards laid out, they had just been idling around.

  The oldest looking one, not that that was saying much, smiled and stepped onto the Route. He wasn't blocking us at all, though, so I didn't let up with my normal smile.

  "Hey there! We challenge you t-" I didn't even have to be my usual self. Leaf was… taking after me a little too much, honestly.

  "We only accept if you have at least three badges! Or a one on one for the two of us if you only have two badges, or a Pokemon of that strength!" She pointed at Alex as she said that and I smiled. Yeah, their Noibats were improving, sure, but they could use the experience.

  The only girl in the group gave me a puzzled look.

  "What about you? Not a trainer yet?" I burst into laughter even as the other two did. Dexter slipped out of my pack as I bent over in laughter. The girl was mad now, though.

  "Excuse me, what's so funny! She's obviously the youngest one here!" I glar- frow- snarled at Dexter, even through the zap, and the girl took a step backwards. Wisely.

  Leaf and Alex were of course laughing their stupid little heads off, and I was frustrated now. I may have been pouting… a little… Leaf eventually caught her breath long enough to talk.

  "No, she- Haha! She's my older sister! She's got three badges, too, but her team is far more powerful than mine is. Most of them." They all gave me a weird look… I mean, I got it…

  Somehow I had been ordered to wear two outfits for my punishment. The one Alex picked out? Not actually that bad, even if it was way too girly and fluttery. She had somehow gotten the trans flag colors, too, once you added the sleeves. Somehow, because there were no trans or pride flags here… Why? Because society barely gave a shit in this world. Some did, obviously, but you didn't see… well, horrible shit like back in my old hell-hole of a world. There wasn't really a need to develop our own communities away from violent, empathy-lacking fascists or conservatives here, so why need our own flags to rally around?

  Either way, I liked it, mostly… aside from the flutteriness. I really liked the detached sleeves, actually, because they… may have made me feel slightly like an anime character, along with being perfect for hiding my blades. It was light and airy, too, so it was comfortable. Just very girly.

  Leaf's choice was also comfortable. Airy. Light.

  It was also designed to embarass me in a very different way than girly clothes were.

  See, I had spilled a little too much to both of them before Vermilion. Especially after I had let it slip that I'd had a crush on Misty when I was a kid! So what did Leaf do after that? Wanted to know everything about her in the anime… So I told her, of course… Everything I remembered… Including Misty's original outfit… The one she wore when I had developed that crush…

  So now I'm wearing jean shorts with suspenders and a yellow shirt that did not go much further than my lowest ribs! Plus my detached sleeves, because I was not taking off my blades!

  It was very comfortable in the heat, sure. She had me keep the pigtails instead of Misty's dumb side-tail thing, yes, but I had finally gotten myself a hat… However, instead of one like that badass purple one the Ranger lady had, instead Leaf bought me a white one! The style? Leafs! She wanted us to match! All three of us now had on wide white sun hats! Only Alex's was a little different, too!

  My bandoleer was in my pack, with my Pokeballs inside a small pouch with a net top clipped to my belt, so they couldn't even see those. Leaf hadn't required that, actually. I'd just rather not wear my bandoleer over half-bare shoulders, even if it was nicely padded…

  I had actually put my headband and feathers away for the walk to Celadon, because the hat? Much better at keeping the sun off despite its looks, and I hadn't wanted to remove the feathers from my headband, since my headband wouldn't fit onto the hat… I could get them back in, probably, but they were tightly sewn in, and I didn't want to rip any fronds off…

  So yeah, take my height and outfit into account, I did look like the youngest here… Which was ridiculous!

  Alex managed to speak, finally.

  "Yeah, I'm actually second Badge, but my starter Pokemon is third, easily. We don't mind having a battle, but her? She doesn't want to kill your Pokemon." They grew very nervous and took a step back from me.

  "Well… I challenge you, then!" The first boy was pointing at Alex, and Leaf soon had her own challenger. They moved off Route to the field as I stood there with the girl and the last boy. Both glanced at each other, then gave me a hopeful look.

  "How about a two vs one? If you're that strong?" I glared at them, nudging Dexter as I did. Serious shit gets a serious glare.

  "My youngest, weakest Pokemon defeated a fifth-badge Pokemon. She probably wouldn't kill your Pokemon, or even hurt them too badly, but why take that chance? I'm certainly not, not unless you have, I don't know, a Forretress, or an Onix or something. She doesn't want to kill your Pokemon, either. Well, a trainer's Pokemon no, but wild Pokemon? Nom nom." I kept my glare on them, but to my surprise they both smiled at me!

  "I do have a Graveller!" The boy had such hope in his eyes…

  "I have a Sandslash?" The girl sounded unsure, which wasn't great...

  "How many badges? Because if you have less than three I'm not going to let this happen." They smiled, because fuck! I glared at them, but serious time was apparently over because Dexter poked me.

  "Fine! Fine! Let's… go over here…" I turned to the other side of the Route and sighed.

  "Hecate, could you come out and make sure we don't get hit by a stray attack? Or really, make sure they don't get hit by debris? I'll be fine." She popped out in front of me, badly startling the two kids. That were my age, fuck!

  "W-What is that?" It was actually very funny to hear them both say that at the same time, and I smiled. Nicely…

  ""She have good taste! He too scared to admire cuteness!"" 'Yes, Hecate, you are cute. Also a little scary.'

  "She's a Hattrem! She's also your safety net!" They had finally moved fifty feet or so away, giving us an 'arena', and Hecate stood to the side in the middle, smiling widely. I frowned as I realized what she was going to do slightly too late.

  Play referee.

  ""Challengers, send Pokemon!""

  They, of course, grabbed their heads and groaned in pain. Hecate immediately hit them with Heal Pulses, but it still hurt.

  "So sorry about that! The others got used to it, so she just talks to us now! Really, I am sorry, I know that has to hurt!" They both shook their heads at me in pained dismissal.

  To be fair, Psychics weren't that rare to find. One that could and wanted to talk to a human might be, but a trainers Psychic? Almost certainly. Poor kids, though… Wait, fuck, if I'm starting to think like that, what do I call kids? Shit, I can't just call them kids if I slip that far into being one again! Right? Stop slipping, me! Slip back into adult-minded Erin if you're going to slip!

  The Graveler and Sandslash that appeared on the other side of the field made me frown. Graveler had always been a cool Pokemon, and so were Sandslash, but I was disappointed. I could feel the strength of Pokemon these days. Not accurately at all, aura wasn't some 'level scanner', but at the most these were barely fourth badge.

  I sighed. Very heavily, long, and theatrically as Hecate pointed at me.

  "You heard them, Artemis. Remember, half power until you're sure you won't hurt them too badly." I ignored their delicious frowns at my words as she came out. I truly enjoyed the look on their faces when a four foot tall Tyrunt came into existence. I could ride her, actually. Not that she would let me, or I would even try, but still!

  "A-Alpha?! How?!" I smirked at them, accepting the large poke even as Hecate clapped her ponytails together.

  "The match has started! Have fun, sweetie!" She snarled at me before she began to run in place, the light of Rock Polish already shining from her.

  The kids shook themselves a little and called out… orders. Basic orders… Eww…

  "Graveler, Bulldoze!"

  "Sandslash, Bulldoze!"

  Okay, fair enough, Rock was weak to Ground… Still, so uninventive… Also, so glad I forced every one of my Pokemon to memorize the type effectiveness chart after Pewter, even Cerberus. Not that types were the end all of battling, but they were an advantage when the opponent was obviously of a type.

  The two rolling torrents of earth were mildly intimidating, not going to lie. Of course, I was human. I might be a very weird human with a large score, but I was still a squishy human.

  Artemis wasn't. She also didn't give a shit about their attacks, and let them hit her as she continued to run in place, still shining. They knocked her back a half dozen feet, and hurt judging by her face, but with a huge snarl she grinned, dug her heels in, and dashed forward, rage dancing in her eyes.

  She loved that move, to be fair, even if she hadn't missed.

  The opposing Pokemon tried to disengage, and the Sandslash actually managed it by Digging, but the Graveler? It started to roll away, but Artemis was there with the first Stomp of her Stomping Tantrum. It didn't make the earth itself shake or anything, or buckle a metal floor plate like it had in the Gym, but it certainly made the Graveler stumble a bit. The next one landed on its knee, and it went down with a cry of pain.

  The next five stomps were a bit excessive, but I didn't say anything as she paused her attack and looked around, staring at its trainer. Said trainer was staring with his mouth hanging open, but slowly reached down to his Pokeball and returned the unconscious Pokemon.

  Of course, that's when the Sandslash erupted from the ground, right into Artemis' less-protected stomach. With its claws.

  Her cry of pain was so loud that I had to stomp, too! Well, stomp my aura into my Pokeballs. Mom did not need to make an appearance, and Cerberus, or at least part of Cerberus, was infuriated by the sound of his sister's pain. Still, she was a tough little girl. Tough big girl…

  She didn't even have to chase it, since the Sandslash had come up directly beneath her. Even as the Sandslash reached the apex of its attack she was striking with a Bite.

  Shit.

  I reached out and slammed my aura into hers, because I knew the pain had made her forget the half power part of things.

  She stumbled a bit as she snagged that poor Sandslash out of the air with the Bite, but she didn't bite it in half, so I was happy. Not as happy as the Sandslash was to be returned, however.

  I smiled as I walked over to meet them. Well, to meet Artemis, but they were moving towards her, too. Warily, but still. Hecate thudded into the ground beside Artemis and began to heal her, the blood flow stopping almost instantly as she began her work. I smiled widely at the sight, happy and amused all at once. Hecate loved her new mobility, and loved to toss herself around like a Mankey, especially.

  "Sorry about your Sandslash, she almost went full power on them. If you'd like, my sister has a certified Nurse Pokemon that can check yours out?" I mean, Hecate could, too, and had been learning a few things from Indeedee… but if I was in their shoes, I'd rather take the qualified, certified Nurse. Especially that Nurse Pokemon.

  They both gave me wide stares of incomprehension and I chuckled.

  "I get it, yeah, a little strange to find one as a battler, but she's good at what she does." They exchanged a look before they nodded at me.

  "Yes please, and… Your Tyrunt is…" I laughed at the confused look on his face at that moment. Not rudely, though. It was just funny!

  "Artemis is… Artemis. That was actually only her second fight against another trainer, and not during practice spars against the other girls Pokemon, so thanks! She certainly enjoyed it, even if it was over fast." Artemis threw me a wicked grin as the Healing Pulse finished its work.

  They both held their phones out to give me my money, and Dexter zipped over to quickly verify it.

  "Nice job, Artemis! At this rate, you might be fighting Erika!" I scowled at him.

  "She could take Erika, sure, type advantage or not…" I got a huge, vicious grin on my face. "I think Kallen deserves an uphill battle, though, don't you?" He zipped back over, poked the vicious grin off my face, then laughed.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  "Not Cerberus? He's never fought in a Gym battle!" I flicked him away.

  "That's stupid, and you know it… Well, if Erika sends out a Tangela or something, sure… Something that can survive having chunks taken out of it…" Really, it was a problem! The aggressive head followed my orders, sure, but once it got its jaws onto something, that thing was either losing a chunk of itself, or he was getting returned… I really didn't want to let them fight each other…

  "C-Chunks?!" Oh dear…

  "He's a Zweilous, and… he's a Zweilous." I didn't blame them one bit as they took a hesitant, fearful step back.

  "He was actually the biggest sweetheart before he Evolved, and one head still is… The other head is not, though. It loves me and tolerates my team, that's it… His old head, or the one that's mostly his old self, is not happy about it, either… He just wants to lick and cuddle with his favorite people…" I trailed off, already making myself upset.

  The girl spoke up with slight disbelief in her voice.

  "Wait, are you… Are you the Tiny Tyrant?!" My face grew hot as Dexter roared with laughter. Also sparked right next to my face!

  The boy was laughing in disbelief, though.

  "No, she can't be! The Tiny Tyrant has that jacket and feathers! She also looks mean! Plus, she's missing a…" He trailed off as he noticed the lack of a pinky on my left hand, and they both went pale. Not going to lie, it was very gratifying.

  Cerberus pushed at me with his aura in a whine, and even though he was insane, I knew what he wanted… I had agreed, too… I nudged him once and he burst from his ball. Behind me.

  I thoroughly enjoyed the look on their faces as he fully emerged, then snaked his heads under my arms and wrapped his necks around me.

  "Sorry, he heard his name, and I did agree to let him out sometimes. It's not his fault he's kind of insane, either head, really. He's still the best boy." The licks were enthusiastic, as always, and thankfully limited to my hands… Also regretfully focused on my hands… So much better than the face, though!

  The two other kids were on their butts on the ground, and- I did it again! Worse!

  Other kids! Butts!

  I don't want to be a kid again! I also like cursing! Let me do it in my own mind, at least!

  ""Mean thoughts fade! It good!"" 'Even if I agree with that, and I do, it wasn't my choice!'

  ""Kids not get choice! You kid again! Accept, like me!"" 'You know it's a little different for me, Hecate! I like cursing! It's extra exclamation points for my thoughts!'

  ""Mean words too loud! Hurt me a little! Be nice kid! Older Erin not mean, but had mean thoughts!"" 'Well, sh- shoot… Wait, Hecate, you're not a fairy yet, you can lie… Sh- Shoot! You're not! I can feel it! Fu-... I will absolutely try my best, okay? You know I'm serious about that, but…'

  ""Tiny Tyrant try!"" 'Okay, I felt how amused that made you, so… good for you sweetheart, I guess… Why didn't you tell me before now?'

  ""Not hurt bad! Not want upset you! Hurt more as I grow."" 'Well, that makes sense, your ability to read minds and sense emotions is getting more powerful, and I kind of expected something to happen with your line… Dam- darn it… Sorry, sweetie…"

  I refocused on the othe- other kids, who had gotten off their butts! They were giving me and Cerberus wide, fearful looks, and I couldn't help the smirk- Fucking Dexter! I mean… Dexter!

  "You two okay?" They actually took a step back from me as I spoke, and I smiled, gently, at them!

  "You're in absolutely no danger if I'm here, but trust me, I get it. Let's go watch your friends get stomped?" Dexter grinned at me and didn't poke me for that. I wasn't being mean, I was being accurate!

  Too accurate, actually, as they had already finished and were watching us from the Route. Two disbelieving, scared boys and two highly amused girls.

  —

  —

  "That was fun! We had a double battle with both our Noibat, and Alex's is… so loud! Which is good, sure, but mine only got a single hit in before they went down! They weren't unconscious, but they surrendered… I don't blame them…" Me neither, Leaf. Me neither…

  Celadon was beautiful! If Cerulean had been a beauty of stone and water reminiscent of Venice, Celadon was like… Actually, what city on Earth'd had this much greenery?

  Seriously, it seemed like at least a quarter of the entire footprint of the city was nothing but parks! Beautiful parks, and every road was lined with raised flowerbeds absolutely packed with stunning varieties of shrubs, flowers, trees, everything! I had always kind of liked gardening, before… Well, not the 'digging in very hard, rocky soil' part, but the satisfaction of watching something grow… and then eating some of them, too…

  "She is powerful! Her Supersonic… it's a weapon…" Yes, yes it was, Alex…

  "Artemis enjoyed it, and she learned a lesson, too. Just because you can't see the enemy, doesn't mean they aren't there, so don't get overconfident. Two vs one, sure, but that's not exactly uncommon outside of official matches…" They got a little quiet at that as we entered the huge Pokemon Center here. Well, one of them, the eastern one.

  The Nurse Joy who checked us in gave me a very confused look up and down, and I furiously blushed. I looked nothing like my Trainer Card right now, hair and eye color and scar aside…

  "Yes, it's me… Erin Greenwood…" Of course, Leaf had to throw an arm around my shoulders, smile wide!

  "She's being punished by mom for being so mean to Surge! She has to be nice and follow my lead! It's great!" I did not appreciate the way the Nurse's face seemed to explode into hilarity. I also didn't appreciate the laughter!

  "Oh, oh that is great! I mean, Lt. Surge probably didn't care, it probably amused him, but wow!" I glared at her, ignoring the poke- Dexter! I will develop a resistance at this point! Wait, if I'm a dragon, I already have resistance to electricity!

  She burst into more laughter at the sight, and I… may have pouted. Because apparently that's a thing I do! For some reason!

  Eventually she managed to look me in my eyes, and I straightened a little at the look in them.

  "Miss Erin, we actually have a problem case we could use your help with… Well, it's probably not the dragon, that would be my guess, but we need a Dragon Master to investigate a… request we received…"

  —

  —

  "This is a huge, fancy mansion… Rich pricks, spoiled kids, wealth hoarding… I have a bad feeling about this…" I might have a bit of an issue with the ultra rich…

  I mean, I think anyone with a functioning logic center from my world would have a huge problem with them… The ones who had original thoughts in their heads, at least… 'Nooo, leave the poor billionaires and trillionaires alone, don't tax the fuck out of them, I might be one, one day, after I win the lottery! A thousand times! That's what the billionaires told me to think! Give them more tax cuts, instead!'

  I wasn't exaggerating about my bad feeling, though, justifiable hatred of those too rich at the expense of others or not.

  Dragons were known to be one of the rarer, least numerous types, and also one of the hardest types to handle, to control, to help grow properly. Sure, some were easy to handle, if very weak to start with, like Applin or Goomy. Goomy were also so cute! I knew for a fact, though, that the mucus wasn't just cosmetic… Raihan's Goodra gave me one great hug when I requested it back in Galar, and it was probably one of the best Pokemon hugs I've ever had… In the moment, for a moment… I regretted it so much, though…

  "Sis, it can't be that… Well…" Now you're getting it, Leaf.

  "What are you going to do, Erin?" Alex was giving me a very concerned look. Very understandably.

  I frowned as I pressed the intercom in front of the huge gates.

  "What's right for the dragon. I don't care who they are, or how much money they have. If I need to? I'll call in Professor Oak to back me up. Or Lance, I guess… I doubt I'll need-" The intercom crackled for a second before a crisp male voice spoke.

  "Who has the pleasure of visiting the Freemont estate?" I scowled at the voice and the words. I also poked Dexter, because this was serious time.

  "Trust me when I say I take no pleasure in this, mister butler. Your 'young master' put in a request for a Dragon Master to visit and help with a… 'rebellious, uncooperative dragon'. I am that Dragon Master. Open the gates, or they will be opened. Legally, I'll go find an Officer Jenny to do it." I ignored the frown from Leaf, even as I ignored the gasp from the intercom.

  "You have one minute to open the gate, then I escalate this. Do not test me." The gates swung open a few seconds later and I began to stride towards the overblown, overdone, pissi- irritating me structure…

  "Sis, that was kind of harsh…" I just shook my head and let Alex take this one.

  "Leaf, someone with this much money shouldn't have a 'rebellious, uncooperative dragon'. They should have had more than a few people telling them not to have a dragon in the first place, or to help them… Honestly, this is what it would have looked like for you if Hazard had been… 'disobedient' as an Axew. She hasn't accused them of anything yet, but nothing points towards anything positive about this…"

  Leaf was silent as we stepped up to the huge doors. A smaller door in one of them opened, and a very sharply dressed, irritable looking butler glared at me.

  "One would think that a 'Dragon Master' would have more courtes-" I cut him off with a slap of my aura, enjoying the way his eyes sprang open in fear.

  "Shut up. Lead us to your little 'young master', now. I don't give a- I do not care who this family is, I don't even know! I won't care even if I did! Take me to this 'rebellious, uncooperative dragon'. Now." He gasped lightly as I flared my aura once, nodded, turned on his heel and strode off.

  He was fleeing in the most professional manner I had ever seen, and I couldn't help but be a little impressed at his composure and professionalism. That heel-turn had looked like one of Alfred's!

  I once again ignored the frown from Leaf as we followed the butler into a very overdone mansion. I found myself growing vastly irritated by the ostentatious displays of wealth hanging everywhere! The walls had gold inlay in them! It was beautiful, sure, but… It was making me mad, especially as I began to hear a clanging sound…

  He led us to a large door and knocked, slipping inside before we could. Well, he opened the door and tried to slip inside.

  My snarl in his face made him freeze, though, and I was already past him, into the large room.

  I let my aura loose in a wave that stopped the scene in front of me.

  Various Pokemon lay there unconscious, a Seedot, Ekans, and Nidorina, with only a Raticate currently conscious, barely staying on its feet as my aura pressed down on it. I let up a little on it, it hadn't chosen this.

  My glare encompassed the three humans in the room. One was obviously the 'young master', but the other two were very obviously fresh trainers, with maybe two badges each, considering their Pokemon.

  "There better be a very good reason for what I'm seeing here, and I will hear it. Now!" The Raticate sat down, so I released my aura from the Pokemon. Also the other Pokemon.

  The Jangmo-o stared at me in terror, but as I gently touched my aura to it's aura in question, it- he- relaxed.

  'Honor. Lack!' 'I'll help, you will leave here today if you want to.' He rapidly nodded at me, scales clanging together. I smiled at him before I let a snarl come to my face, turning to the fools in front of me.

  The two trainers were backing up, hands in the air, but I barely looked at them. The other boy, maybe a few years older than me, was- dangit! Again! Also, dangit? I haven't used that in years!

  The older boy was glaring at me, even through my aura, and I had to admire that. On some level, because he was trembling, but seriously, the boy had a spine!

  Time to stomp it.

  "You two, recall your Pokemon and wait in the hall. You're not in trouble, but I will need to get your statements. Don't run, I have your faces recorded. I think I understand the situation well enough. He paid you to help his dragon… train. Actually, maybe you will be in some trouble, because I don't see nearly enough defensive wounds on your Raticate…" They shook as they left the room, and I turned my gaze squarely onto the older boy.

  "You have one chance to explain this in a way that doesn't result in a huge black mark on your trainers card, if you even get to keep it." His glare never stopped, and even as he opened his mouth I was sighing. Predictable…

  "I don't know who you think you are, but I am Darius Freemont, and you are a dirty, cheap-looking excuse of a trainer who has invaded my home! Who a-" I cut him off with a smile like moms. One of Leto's… or maybe Patricia's too, these days?

  "You are forcing a Jangmo-o to attack weaker targets by making him defend himself from their attacks and not letting him retreat. Is that a correct statement?" He frowned at me and nodded like it was obvious. Normal!

  "Of course! I paid them handsomely for the privilege, in fact! Dragons respect strength, he lacks it, and considering how much I paid for this one, he will grow into a powerful dragon. I don't see the problem?" Oh, oh boy… I let the snarl on my face grow dangerous.

  "Ever heard of the Draconic Responsibility Act? From Hoenn? The one that was adopted worldwide? The one where forcing a captured dragon to go against its instincts is a crime?!" It had been very surprising to learn about, but I assumed the Draconid Tribe were behind it…

  "The problem, you stupid child, is the species! Jangmo-o are honorable warriors! They are humble in their strength! They don't flaunt it other than through displays, and they don't pick on the weak! In fact, let me show you the kind of dragon you seem to desire!" Leaf and Alex began to giggle even as I snarled out my next words, eyes blazing.

  "Hazard, c'mere, but don't actually hurt anyone or anything." He popped out in front of me before I even finished, because Hazard had been listening, and he knew exactly which dragon I had been talking about. He used to be one, still was one by nature if not by personal choice.

  Hazard came out like his namesake. He actually came out far more aggressively than normal, but really… This is how he would come out if he had the choice, most of the time… He came out snarling, one foot leading, arms thrown wide as he crouched, rage dancing in his eyes as he shook with his repressed bloodlust.

  He also came out snarling directly at the fool in front of me. A fool whose face went pale, even as he was throwing himself backwards in fear. He didn't soil himself, but I felt him come close. I could feel his terror, and it made me smile as I took a few steps and patted Hazard on his head. He snarled at me, of course, but he knew better than to ever attack me. Us.

  "Meet my friend Hazard! You know what he wants to do to you right now? He wants to dismember you in painful ways! He wants to enjoy your screams, your agony, your terror! He wants to make your last moments of life as horrific as possible, and he wants to do all of that because it is funny to him! He would have no problem not only fighting those poor, weak Pokemon, he would enjoy it greatly, even as he tore their throats out!" Hazard was, of course, nodding along eagerly!

  He was drooling as he sneered at the older boy, and I honestly didn't know, or care, if he was playing it up a bit. Pretty sure he was, though, to get as much torment out of this idiot as possible, so… Good for him!

  I didn't lie. Hazard was a friend, just a very volatile, murderous one.

  "So the next time you decide on a dragon? Go ahead, get an Axew, even if Hazard here is a little special. Try a Gibble next time! Oh, wait! That's not happening! You know why? Because you have a black mark on your card now, if you even get to keep it! Or you will when I get back to the Center with this poor little guy!" He managed to open his mouth, but I talked right over him.

  "You don't have a choice, so shut your golden spoon-fed mouth, you idiotic child! If you want to blame someone, blame your parents! If they are dead, or absent? Blame your butler! Or, you could also blame yourself! Look up their species! One of the first things you will find is that Jangmo-o are warriors! Not killers like me and Hazard here!" I saw a Pokeball on his belt and stomped over.

  He didn't resist as I tore it from his belt. Well, he did, but I had no problem whatsoever with slamming my aura into him. Hard. He did piss himself a little then, thankfully after I already had the ball in hand.

  "If you want to protest, feel free! I'll already be submitting a report that demands an investigation on how you even got him in the first place! I'll meet you at the Center, even, and we can get the Nurses to judge, even if you've admitted on camera that you broke the Draconic Responsibility Act!" I sneered at his pale face.

  "Considering you just pissed yourself, I highly doubt that will happen, so good day, good life, and never get anywhere close to a dragon again if you value your continued existence. The only reason this dragon didn't kill you is because he is honorable! Hazard would have eaten you! You used up all your luck today when I walked through that door, and not Champion Lance somehow, so I would walk very carefully for the rest of your life." I was pissed!

  There's being young and dumb, there's accidentally breaking the Act, then there's deliberately forcing an unwilling Pokemon to fight! To dishonor itself!

  The Jangmo-o waited for me to walk up to him before he finally moved. He bowed his head to me, and I gave him a deep bow of my own head.

  'Gratitude. Savior. Honor.' 'I'm really not that honorable, little guy, trust me, this idiot is just scum.'

  He barked out a laugh before looking at the Pokeball. I smiled even as I snapped it. The hinges were actually very weak to side torque when it was open, for this exact purpose. He smiled again as the psychic bond was removed, and I bent down to stroke his head.

  'Follow? Leader?' 'I'm a little full up on Pokemon, buddy, but see those two back there? One of them would probably love to have you as a teammate, but if you don't want to go with them, I swear I will find you someplace you do like.'

  He blinked at me a few times before he charged at Alex. I had kind of seen that one coming, considering Hazard and his… hazardous ways. Alex smiled and crouched to meet his charge, and I could feel his excitement when she gave him a nod of respect. Something so basic!

  I frowned as I remembered the two trainers in the hall. They were still there, and… I needed more evidence, just in case… I would have to file a report, too! Dam- Dangit…

  Dexter flew in front of me and smirked, and my return glare was ignored.

  —

  —

  "Thank you for your… swift response, Miss Greenwood. We have verified everything from your Rotom, and you are fully in the clear for your actions. Obviously." The Nurse behind the counter was smiling as Jangmo-o refused to leave Alex's arms for a checkup. "We will also be investigating how he was acquired, of course."

  I smiled at her, somewhat exhausted by my day… and punishment.

  "Not a problem, really, I'm glad I could help him… Now, about that room…"

  —

  —

  "Erin, is this how I'm going to fill out my team? Just from your requests?" Despite her words Alex was radiant as she interacted with her team, formally introducing Jangmo-o to the other two.

  I smiled at her, normally, Dexter! No fun for you!

  "I mean, maybe? Were you trying to only have dragons and draconic species?" She nodded, not that I was surprised. Clan of dragon tamers, kind of obvious.

  "Well, I wouldn't complain if I were you, then. Unless you want multiple Dratini, a Magikarp, or a Horsea, there's not much choice in Kanto when it comes to Dragons or draconic species unless you can find a Charmander, and good luck with that. They're harder to find than Dratini these days in the wild, and getting Professor Oak to let go of one of his Charizard's grandkids is a task! Noivern fly, so we got lucky with them." She distractedly nodded at that and I smiled.

  Dratini and Noibat were ecstatic to have a new teammate, and especially one like Jangmo-o. One not like… Hazard.

  I threw myself back onto moms chest, letting myself relax. All too briefly.

  "So, do you want to wear your girly outfit tomorrow, or do you want us to pick out a dress for you, sis?" I groaned.

  Because that was the primary reason for coming here fast, and I hadn't realized it until earlier this afternoon! Now I had to beat Erika's Gym during my punishment! Not that I would have been antagonistic to Erika, of course, but still! It would also mean Fuchsia while still being punished!

  This was fucking bul-

  ""Tiny Human no curse!"" 'Hecate, they never said not in my head!'

  ""I say so! My head, too!"" 'That's not fair, Hecate, it's my head- I mean, I know what you mean, sweetie, that curses are loud even in my head, but that's… AGH! Fine… Again, I will try…'

  I sighed. Heavily. Deeply.

  Dejectedly.

  "I'll wear my girly outfit tomorrow…"

  I might have been pouting…

  only have 4.5's and 5's... I guess some people just really hate Alex, huh?