Erin

  —

  The next morning Dexter shocked me awake before anyone else, because he couldn't just poke me! He could talk through aura, too! He hated to talk through aura with me for some reason, sure, but a poke was fine! Why shock me?

  Because it was funny to him!

  I still managed to pull myself from the Cerberus cuddle pile, distinct from the Leto cuddle pile, and not wake anyone up, so… I would only pay him back lightly at some point. I quietly moved towards Dhelmise's corner. Not that they were forced into the corner, of course, but they didn't really sleep, so they were just… hanging out, being a huge ghostly anchor full of murderous hunger and rage, I guess? Either way, their eye focused on me and seemed to smile.

  They really smiled when they saw the look in my eyes.

  —

  —

  "Sis, why do you look so excited? That usually means danger, you know?" I ignored Leaf's words, and her pointed looks, as we stood on the Route 17 Bridge, just outside of the city limits. Literally, they had a sign. Let's see the cops try their crap again…

  Alex wasn't going to be left out, of course.

  "She probably has a scheme planned… Actually, I think that's an easy one to guess." My head snapped over to glare at her, and I enjoyed the way they looked at Dexter in confusion. He wasn't poking or zapping me.

  "What? It's been two weeks." They went pale immediately, but I just laughed at their expressions, letting the glare drop.

  "Notice I'm wearing the 'girly' clothes Alex picked out that I actually like? Put my hair back up in pigtails? I… kind of like them? Don't worry, I'm not immediately going back to being mean, but that glare was deserved. I might not surprise you, but I can surprise Leaf!"

  I actually had come around on the pigtails… To my never-ending surprise… Not sure for how long, but for now I kind of liked them… They let my neck breathe, too, unlike just brushing my hair back… I liked the clothes, too… I might even branch out the next time we went clothes shopping, who knows …

  Leaf spoke up shakily.

  "Wait, it worked? I mean, sure, we know you've been nicer…" I laughed at her confusion.

  "Leaf… I may have been forced into it, but it was what I wanted in the first place, I'm just stupidly stubborn… Honestly, I get the feeling it wasn't the 'being nice' part, just the 'being my age instead of reluctantly accepting that I couldn't change it' part when it comes to my taste, my… appreciation of things, even if most of the music is still kind of blah. Not that I'm going to be mean now that it's over… on purpose." I really wasn't.

  Well, I'd said that before, and failed… Dexter and I had an agreement… I mean, I've got a lifetime alibi, might as well get some more use out of him than I already did. This time, he'll just poke me with aura. I was okay with that, honestly. I had been serious when I thought that my basic nature wasn't good. I wanted it to be, though, so screw it. I could make him stop at any time… I didn't mind if it was my choice, not really. Like a bite guard or retainer or something… a sarcastic one who poked me.

  I pulled our Ride Basket out, noting the diminished handle. I would need to replace the bitten handle part, or really, buy a nicer one. This was as basic as they got, considering Pallet Town had sold it… Maybe I could get one in Viridi- Celadon? I would not be stepping foot in Viridian before that fuc- man was in jail, or I had seven Badges. If not? Well… Let's just have some faith in Looker and Lance… Oh Arceus, I have to rest my hopes on Lance!

  "We're going to visit home, aren't we?" I glared at Leaf for ruining it… not that it was hard to guess.

  "Well, yeah… Dexter called mom last night. Dhelmise wants to taste Wailmer lifeforce, and the Professor actually has something for me to do." Their eyes practically sparkled, but I just shook my head at their enthusiasm.

  "Nope, he doesn't want my help with a Pokemon. He wants to do some aura tests after Dhelmise and I get done, basically. That gives you two some time to… I guess train? Let Tinkatink meet mom, stuff like that." Leaf was frowning at me.

  "I thought you were following your old… path? What about eastern Kanto? We haven't gone past Saffron!" I snorted in amusement.

  "Leaf, I've looked up eastern Kanto here. Most of it is barren compared to central and western Kanto. There's a few small towns out there, no Gyms, and they won't let random people into that huge, impractical Power Plant. Maybe we can visit Lavender Town next? Nah, I kind of want to stomp Sabrina next." I raised an eyebrow at their frowns.

  "That wasn't mean! Unless she pulls out her personal team Cerberus will destroy her… Probably then, too. Anyways… ready to go?" I smiled as they climbed in. Tinkatink wouldn't be in a Pokeball for another week and a half or so at least, and mom was taking this easy, so there were no worried looks from Alex. She still didn't enjoy speed like Leaf and I, even if she could handle it… If I had to guess, she would soon enough, though.

  "There's apparently a surprise for us, too?"

  They thought they could get me to talk with their huge eyes, but unfortunately, I didn't know either! Dexter refused to tell me!

  That's what made it a surprise!

  —

  Leaf

  —

  I think I should start getting used to Erin's tendency to return home every chance she can. I mean, sure, Dhelmise wanted to hunt large prey after they grew, we were kind of close, and passing by, and there was apparently a surprise, but still! I kind of got it, though… She loved having a home to go back to, a family… We were supposed to be Journeying, though!

  "Think she's actually going to jump off of Gyarados? Not even she's crazy enough to try and assassinate a Wailmer, but… she put her swimsuit on before leaving with them…" I frowned at Alex's unfortunately valid concerns.

  "She won't try and assassinate one, no… I have the horrible feeling she is going to jump with Dhelmise and try to freeze it up with aura, though… She'll have Midir and Kallen, not to mention Gyarados and Kingdra, so she'll be fine… Honestly, I get the feeling that she's just even crazier than before, now that she's finally embraced being a kid again…" Alex nodded as we continued our walk to the Lab. Why the Lab? Because apparently Professor Oak wanted to see me, and Alex was tagging along.

  I hoped he didn't have a dragon to drop on me, honestly. I liked dragons, sure, and Hazard and Noibat were great! Even my lazy boy! I just… clicked more with fae. Not sure if I would have without Hope, but at this point, I didn't care. Fae were just… easy to understand? At their core they were just looking to have fun, each and every one of them. It's how they found that fun that differed. Still, I guess if it was a dragon then Alex would probably be interested?

  Professor Oak was in his office, as usual. He certainly left it to walk around Pallet town, and to manage his Ranch occasionally, but for the most part he was always here, on his computer or looking through stacks of books and loose papers. He perked up when Alex and I walked through the door, a large smile coming to his face.

  "Leaf, Alex! Thanks for coming!" He didn't stand up, though, he just turned his gaze squarely on me.

  "Leaf, I have a situation I could use your help with, actually." I frowned at him, because that was suspicious. Alex was giving him a confused look, though.

  "Not Erin?" Professor Oak shook his head at her question.

  "No, while she could help in a certain sense… This is a bit of a fae problem, actually." My frown only grew.

  "What kind of fae would you even have here?"

  He chuckled a little.

  "Not here, one of my colleagues has a… they aren't a problem, mostly, but… Well, there aren't any fae contractors over there that can handle them. Not because of their disposition, although that certainly doesn't help in the least, but…" He was frowning now, and my frown couldn't grow much larger.

  "Professor, just tell me." He stared at me for a second, but I just kept my frown going. He was testing me, and it irritated me. He smiled after a moment, though.

  "Well, they aren't the most common species to find with a trainer, by far, and they are… shiny." I groaned. Now I knew why he was asking me, fae immunity aside. Leto was kind of the best security guard in Kanto right now, or at least the biggest hammer to any Pokemon thief or poacher-shaped nails…

  "Well, I already let my colleague know I had a trainer that could possibly help when I heard you were visiting today, so would you be interested in meeting them?" I let him stew as I deliberated.

  I could use another fae, especially if they were dual typed… Alex wouldn't be happy, but she would get over it. She was looking very uncomfortable, actually… I was good with fae, and I could use a sixth teammate… Still… I was going to get something out of this, even if it included a Pokemon.

  "I'll meet them, but before I do, I want my carrying capacity for battlers increased." He glared at me for a few seconds, but I just raised an eyebrow. Then he really glared at me, and I felt myself twitch. I still kept my eyebrow raised, and he stopped his glare with a bark of laughter.

  "Well, looks like you can handle yourself well these days, Leaf! So confident!" I felt my entire face grow hot at his compliment. It wasn't long ago that a normal frown would have made me nervous. I've been through a lot, though…

  "Well, I think I can get your battler limit expanded to nine, but only if you can safely interact with this fae all by yourself." My mouth dropped open slightly in confusion and he smiled.

  "Well, that would be one way to earn your Fairy Master certification, your very noticeable fae aura aside, which would enable the extension with five Badges. Are you interested?" Fairy Master? Aura? Me?

  He must have picked up on my train of thought, because he laughed.

  "Leaf, your eyes are still brown, but when you focus on something there's a slight pink shimmer in the whites. We don't know for sure if that's a sign of fae aura, even if I'm relatively certain, because… Well, how many Fairy Masters do you think there are in the world?" World? I was very confused as I answered him.

  "I have no idea, but based on your question, not many?" He nodded at me, expression growing serious.

  "There are less than fifty certified Fairy Masters in the world, for very good reasons, as you can guess. They all interact with their fae far more easily than most trainers or even contractors, of course, but even then, those Masters are more like lawyers. They may even have true friendship with their Pokemon, but at the same time, each fae is contracted, limited. Even those Fairy Masters aren't exactly what we would consider true Masters, simply because it was thought there couldn't be one. True mastery comes from fully embracing your Type energy, allowing it to dye your aura, and those who fully embrace the fae usually don't live long enough to regret their foolish choices in life. You, however? I would be proud to give you the certification right now, honestly, but I would prefer to see a demonstration first." And record it, I bet…

  Was I that special? Well, Hope's 'bond' certainly was, but still… I knew I had a lot of aura these days, it was impossible not to when you slept on or right next to a Master level Pokemon for months…

  "What species, Professor? I get the feeling I won't like your answer, considering you haven't even mentioned gender. That means it's probably one of the mono-genders…" He chuckled at me.

  "Right you are, Leaf… Well, how would you like a Dark Fairy on your team?" Oh no… Alex was so pale now.

  "Professor, are you telling me to interact with a Grimmsnarl alone?" He laughed.

  "No, of course not, Leaf!" Oh good, it's another speci- wait, there isn't- "I'm asking you to interact with a Morgrem alone!" I was scowling fiercely now.

  "You think that's a good idea? They have halberd hair! It won't matter if they can't take from me, not if they separate my head from my shoulders!" He shook his head.

  "They aren't so aggressive that they can't be approached, Leaf. I would also have a Mr. Mime nearby to stop any attacks, I keep one around for situations like this." My scowl wasn't as large now, but still…

  "Why not try? I think you'll probably be surprised." 'You're sure, Hope? I mean… They would be a great asset, sure…'

  I sighed heavily and nodded, even as Alex went paler. Professor Oak smiled widely, then dramatically pressed a button on his keyboard.

  I looked at the transfer machine as… nothing happened. He began to laugh.

  "Did you think he was just waiting in a ball, ready to go? He should be here soon, though… Yes, Professor Magnolia already opened the message, and she was eager to get him to an active, competent trainer, one with security like Leto. He was waiting in her office, hopefully not causing any issues. In fact, I would-" The transfer device dinged as an Ultra Ball appeared in a flash of red light. He grinned at me.

  "Well, let's head to the exam room, shall we?"

  —

  —

  I'd never been to the exam room when I briefly worked here as a Junior Assistant. I had imagined the 'exam room' to be like a doctor's exam room, but no. It was very similar to the Pokemon interrogation rooms I had seen so far. Almost identical, actually… I managed not to shudder as the Mr. Mime nodded at me, but it was close. I felt bad about it, but still… they just creeped me out! Worse than Hypno, now! Their friendliness made it worse, somehow!

  The door slid closed behind me, leaving me alone in the room. Alone, except for the Ultra Ball in my hand. I unlocked the sensors and raised it to my mouth to speak quietly.

  "Morgrem, you must know what's going on, why you're here. Don't attack me, and maybe your life can be much funner, maybe you can fulfill more of your desires." I triggered the ball, watching cautiously, but not nervously, as he appeared.

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  Morgrem looked… evil, honestly. They didn't look like they had many positive thoughts in their heads, which actually made some sense to me. They were deceitful tricksters, but not like Clefairy were. If the Clefairy line were mostly benevolent, the Morgrem line were mostly malevolent. They enjoyed violence, even if they were too weak to get up to much as Impidimp. Morgrem could, though, even if they were still physically kind of weak. Not with their hair strengthening them in many ways, though, foremost among them being the halberd their hair formed.

  Most Morgrem had green, three-toed legs, red chests and three-fingered hands, and black hair. Shiny Morgrem apparently had purple legs, bright blue bodies and arms, and white hair. He was two and a half feet tall including his huge ears, smaller than Indeedee, but he looked far more dangerous than my maid.

  Especially when he sneered at me, upturned nose turning it into a smug, condescending sneer, red eyes looking at me dismissively. He grew confused a moment later, though, as I just crossed my arms and glared at him.

  "Commune with me, I give you permission to. Evaluate me." He froze for a second, before he laughed, long and hard and evilly.

  He brought me into that in-between place where I had deep talks with fae. I had never seen a fae not of the Clefairy line here, and I could instantly tell how shocked he was by my complete lack of fear. By my curiosity in his form. By the fact that he couldn't take anything from me.

  Mostly by the fact that I wasn't screaming in agonizing pain, as he was being very deliberately rough in my mind. It still did nothing.

  His form wasn't the same smoke monster as the Clefairy line. Instead he was a small stick figure, one made of… dark embers? Something like that. It was actually very interesting to look at, but I shrugged mentally.

  'Has your life in this… world been fun so far? Have you fulfilled any of your desires while acting this way? I know the answers to those questions.'

  His 'voice' was disbelieving as he answered me, almost panicking.

  "How were you already communing? How can you talk here?! How are you fine?!"

  'One, I didn't know I was communing already. Two? I learned to talk here! Three? I own a fae! She won't let you do anything. The only reason you're still breathing after your little 'I'll act strong, even if I'm weak' tantrum is because she allows it.'

  I felt his utter shock, before Hope decided to drop by for a moment.

  An angry moment.

  "Behave, or I will tear your limbs off, heal you, then let our murder dragon use you as a chew toy! She won't force you to agree to anything, but you will behave if you desire to continue EXISTING!" He shrank back from the huge form of Hope before she disappeared.

  He 'looked' at me in confusion and fear, and I 'smiled'. This wasn't a memory or mind space, this was… souls, I guess? There was no face to see, but expressions still came through somehow.

  'You heard her. I won't force you into anything, ever, but if you want the chance to fulfill your desires, you will listen to me, follow my orders. Make a few promises. You're probably not stupid, you just failed to follow my instructions.'

  The sense of confusion was almost palpable.

  'Evaluate me. Just do it, you can't take anything, as you know.'

  He 'frowned', but his whole form paused for almost a minute. I looked around idly, noticing that this black and red smoke 'space' was much darker towards his 'side', and I couldn't help but wonder if that was a species or disposition thing. Or neither, I guess? It might just be my perception?

  His confusion and shock grew so great they almost hit me like a wave.

  "How?! You own her, but have never ordered her, not truly!" I 'frowned' at him.

  'Hope is my best friend! Of course I wouldn't!'

  "Before you knew you owned her, either! How…" He was confused, and I giggled.

  'That's just not the kind of person I am! Simple as that, and you can tell!'

  "I don't want to give myself to you!" I 'frowned' at him.

  'You know I don't want you to, either! I was mad that Erin tricked Hope into that!'

  I 'looked' at him closely.

  'What are your desires, other than fun, interesting experiences?'

  "I… I desire power. I desire fear. I desire… I'm not… sure…" He sounded so confused I couldn't help but giggle again.

  'That's fine! Are there any other desires you aren't telling me about?'

  "No..." He was sulking! Sulking because he only knew two basic desires!

  'Well, you can be my Pokemon, but you know the promises I will require.' He knew exactly the promises I would require for him to be my Pokemon, and he was not happy about it.

  He still did it, because I was his best chance to live even somewhat free, and he knew it. He was a massive target, fae or not.

  "I promise to never take from anyone unless you give me permission for this Circuit. I promise to follow you for at least this Circuit, and I promise to… be as close to an ideal Pokemon for you as I reasonably can be for this Circuit." Good enough, honestly. For now.

  In an instant I was back in that room, the two of us still just staring at each other. I smiled widely and walked towards him, and he extended a hand to shake mine.

  "Good to welcome you to the team then, Morgrem! We're going to have a few discussions about more promises, but for now, those work." He frowned at me, even as he shook my hand.

  "Don't give me that look! 'As close as you reasonably can be' is a loophole, and we both know it. You knew I knew when you tried it! We'll talk more about them once you've finished talking to Hope and Stabby." He didn't go pale, but he certainly got very nervous.

  I turned and exited the room and he followed closely behind me, halberd-hair swinging. Professor Oak met me there with a wide, proud smile, but also… disappointment?

  "Well done, Leaf! I know it worked out, but… Could you possibly tell me what happened?" Oh, yeah… He just watched us stare at each other for minutes…

  I sighed. Heavily. Dramatically. Long-sufferingly.

  "Of course, Professor…" This was going to take so long! I had done this before! He never just wanted to know what happened, no! He wanted to know everything! Every tiny little detail! How I felt at each moment! Probably how Morgrem felt, too!

  —

  —

  It looked like Erin had been having a good day, smiling wide and contentedly… Then she saw Morgrem. She glared at him when she walked into the lab as I finished relaying our conversation to Professor Oak. Murderously glared, still in her frilly baby blue swimsuit… I spoke up before she could really get going.

  "Erin, he's already promised not to take without my permission for this Circuit, stop glaring at him." Her glare shifted to me, but only momentarily before it shifted squarely to the Professor. He smiled at her briefly before he returned a glare so strong I knew he was using aura or something. He couldn't wield it, but it certainly could make his gaze powerful.

  Erin jerked as it hit her like a physical wave, but she kept on glaring at him. Still, it wasn't her decision to make, it was mine, and she knew it.

  "Well… Fine! Who knows, maybe he'll end up being like me and Stabby, you know? A happy little killer?" Morgrem's expression grew so confused… also a little intrigued.

  "She said that so casually!?" 'Yeah, that's my sister. You can't hurt her through communion, either, so she's the only other person you're allowed to commune with other than me unless it's a true emergency. Ask first, though. If she doesn't punish you, Stabby will.'

  He twitched a little at that before he looked at her inquisitively, pointing at his head then her. She snarled a little, but nodded.

  I was expecting the huge twitch, but it was still very amusing. His eyes went wide as he viewed her mind for the first time, even as he looked intrigued. Then he looked very interested… Then he smiled, which worried me for entirely different reasons. Erin was smiling back at him though… Crap!

  "Erin, don't corrupt him!" She turned an incredulous look on me. Well, everyone did, but I just glared at her.

  "If anyone could corrupt a Morgrem it would be you, and you know it! What did you show him?!" She grinned at me, eyes squinted in amusement.

  "Just what I do for work, I guess?" I was about to get really mad, but before I even could, I was interrupted.

  "You seem pretty okay, much better than I expected, really, but are you SURE she isn't looking for another Pokemon?" 'You know the answer to that! You should also know that I don't care what you do to Team Rocket when she finds them if she takes you along! Well, as long as it's over relatively fast. If they attack me? I couldn't care less what you do… as long as it doesn't last too long.'

  Morgrem smiled so widely at that. It was an evil looking smile, but honestly… Well, it could have just been his face, but no, he was just… probably a murderous demon, honestly. Hazard was a murderous dragon, though, so he didn't exactly stand out that much… Except for his coloration, I guess.

  Erin shook her head a little before turning back to the Professor.

  "So, you wanted me to do some… aura things?" His face lit up as he practically sprang out of his chair.

  "Yes, thank you by the way! Now, let's get started, I have so many things I want to test…" He was out the door to his office already. Erin sighed heavily before looking back at us, removing a Luxury Ball from her swim-skirts built-in belt.

  "Take Dhelmise back to the Ranch, please? Let them meet everyone else, especially in the pond, I'll keep Cerberus on me just in case. Morgrem, I know I don't need to tell you this out loud, but I will anyway. Touch one hair on our mothers head, or the rescues, and you will have a very, very long time to regret it. Not that I would do it, no, I wouldn't have the chance. If Hope or Stabby didn't, then Wukong, Maddy, Petals, Midir, Gyarados, Kingdra, the Meowstic couple by now…" Her voice was bright and cheerful as she continued.

  "You could choose the horribly long, painful way you died, actually! Isn't having choices fun?" She patted him on the head as she walked past, and he was frozen in terror. Fae could tell when you lied, and Erin never lied.

  I gave him a huge smile as his terrified gaze met my amused one.

  "Want to walk through town, Morgrem? I get the feeling you haven't had the chance to do that very often." He perked up a little, still visibly disturbed.

  I didn't blame him, honestly… because Erin hadn't lied. He would be treated well, and fairly, but unlike Hope, Stabby, or Tinkatink, he was malicious, and everyone would know it. No deceptive tricks with us, no fake tears or anything.

  He nodded slowly, halberd-hair stiff with nerves.

  —

  —

  I think there needs to be a warning sign on Morgrem, honestly. Why did the brats want to play with him?! He is a Morgrem! He looks evil! I mean… He does also look cool with that blue skin and white hair, and the halberd, sure…

  It was giving him a big head, though. A bigger head…

  —

  —

  "Well, he is certainly a brilliant shade of blue, that's for sure!" Mom wasn't very nervous, actually. She still was, of course, but she trusted me and Hope to stop anything before it started.

  Morgrem perked up a little at that, his permanently upturned nose turning his slightly-smug face into a very smug face. Mom smiled at the sight.

  "I don't suppose you like baked goods, do you?" His eyes gleamed as he nodded. The only thing was, they were dark gleams… Possibly Dark type energy gleams, actually…

  Mom apparently decided the best way to make a friendly demon was with sweets, and honestly… it almost seemed to be working? He was eating a cookie with intense pleasure. I could feel it, even without a bond.

  He looked up at mom as he chewed, and I could almost see the calculations running through his mind. I could also tell very easily when he decided that even minor pranks wouldn't be a good idea. He liked that cookie, and he loved the mini cinnamon roll mom handed him next.

  Hope sort of poked me mentally to get my attention, and I smiled. Slightly deviously, sure…

  "Morgrem, ready to meet the rest of my team?" His shoulders slumped a little, as they should, before he tossed the rest of the cinnamon roll into his mouth. He still nodded and followed me onto our deck, stopping dead in his tracks as he came fully outside.

  Why did he stop dead in his tracks?

  It wasn't Hazard standing there protectively with a snarling glare in front of an excited Tinkatink, although it still startled me slightly despite having seen that he liked her. It wasn't Noibat lazily hanging from the edge of the roof just staring at him, either, although that was pretty cute… It wasn't Indeedee, glaring so hard I was surprised Morgrem wasn't being slapped. It wasn't even Hope glaring at him, fae magic visibly crackling around her.

  It was certainly Leto glaring at him like he was slightly pokey meat that made him freeze, even as I felt her aura wash over him. Then he started shaking, but I wasn't going to stop her. This wasn't a baby fae she had to be gentle with like Tinkatink, which she had been. She was really looking forward to her necklace, actually, but she was going to be waiting a long time. Tinkatink found her fascinating, not to mention Leto was very motherly despite her Leto-ness, so she wanted to make Leto's last so that she had more practice!

  No, Leto could glare at him as much as she wanted. This was a middle Evolution Dark Fairy, the fae line with quite possibly the worst reputation other than the Togepi line… If the Professor had asked me to help with one of those… I might have, but probably not… They were just so wrong!

  "Morgrem, say hello to Hazard, Noibat, Indeedee, Hope, Tinkatink, and Leto! Well, Leto is my other mom, not my Pokemon, but she is the pack leader. I don't need to say it, but the threats Erin made if you touched our human mom or the rescues? If you do anything to Tinkatink? Look at me." He managed to twitch his eyes around, barely, and I smiled at him like Erin. Or Leto, really.

  "I will make it worse. I'll need help, sure, I'm a weak human. I won't need physical strength when you have no limbs or hair. Only warning you ever get. Once she's fully grown, if you two want to fight, I don't care if it's done safely. Until then, you are to be nice to her if you can manage it, neutral or ignore her if you can't. If she takes advantage of that-" I watched Tinkatink twitch a bit, because of course she would have. "-then you can tell me and I will punish her fairly. Understood?"

  He nodded at me, barely, but I think he was still just kind of petrified by Leto, and I glanced at her. She reeled in her aura, but she was still Leto, Tyrant Queen of Galar, Terror of the Land. She didn't need her aura to terrify you.

  "This is Hope, like I said, and as you can tell. You can have your own conversation with her. I would like to be able to trust you in the future, truly. I am no stranger to malicious Pokemon. Hazard, did you try to murder me in my sleep in the past?" Hazard hunched his shoulders a little, but nodded at Morgrem's flabbergasted face.

  "He tried to kill me, yes, but he's my baby. I hatched him from an Egg. I don't abandon my family, and should you make a few more promises to me, that would include you as well. I will never demand your affection, but there are some promises that I will demand. You know what they are. In fact- Oh! Hey, Stabby!" Morgrem's head whipped around, and I knew the second he saw how towering the tiny Clefable hovering in the air was in that soul-place, because he went pale. It was an interesting shade on his bright blue skin, honestly.

  "Stabby isn't my Pokemon, but he's family. Well, he's Erin's Pokemon, and her best friend, which is close enough." Stabby smiled and nodded at me before he grinned at Morgrem, both mask and true self, and let himself drop out of the air like a stone. Of course, he let himself barely bounce off of the deck, right in front of my newest fae.

  My newest fae, who looked like he was about to have a heart attack. Not that I could really blame him…

  I caught Hope's gaze and exchanged a smile with her before she went still. She hadn't left, just gone to that soul space to join the… conversation. I would feel bad for Morgrem if he had started even a little closer to 'good' or 'honorable', but I think that was a hard ask.

  He would probably slide that way, though. I don't think he would have much choice, not if he wanted to live, to grow. He hadn't had a fun time so far, that was for sure. Well, some of his life was fun, to start…

  Professor Oak had told me his story on our way to the exam room. Morgrem had been captured as an Impidimp and trained. Poorly trained. He had been treated relatively well, actually, and he hadn't been mistreated at all… Until he finally Evolved after a year. A year with no combat, just idle training, relaxation, and a contractor with very little knowledge of how to safely interact with fae.

  Luckily for his old trainer, Morgrem hadn't killed him or even taken anything… anything essential, at least. See, Morgrem had been fine with continuing his life of idleness as an Impidimp, but after he Evolved? Gained some strength? He had not liked being forced into a pen with a Ditto and told to breed… I wasn't even sure if the shiny… gene? Mutation? Whatever it was, I wasn't even sure it could be passed down from a male-only fae species, and we still didn't know. Morgrem hadn't killed the Ditto, mainly because the Ditto had been kind of pissed, too…

  Morgrem's old trainer was an… example case. He was alive, and healthy. All there mentally, too… Investigations said he never wanted kids anyways, which was good, because he had no desire to 'procreate' anymore… Morgrem had actually discarded that one, not that I blamed him in the least.

  Then I felt his mind, a resigned feeling to it.

  "I will… I promise to never deliberately harm you or yours… I promise to treat you, your team, your family, and… strangers non-maliciously, unless I am acting in defense of myself or others. I promise to follow any reasonable order you give, and I will fully explain myself when I refuse to follow one. I also…" I could feel him sigh heavily, even as I heard and saw it.

  "I promise to be the best Pokemon possible for you at least until the end of this Circuit."

  I smiled widely and crouched down in front of him, bringing our heads close to level. He looked beaten down, but I didn't care as I pulled him into a hug.

  I could feel that he had never been hugged before. I could also feel that while it wasn't exactly unpleasant, he wasn't a huge fan, so I didn't keep it up for much longer. Still a bit longer. I would wear him down, just like I had worn down Hazard.

  "I've already welcomed you to the team, but now? Welcome to the family! You're more like a distant cousin for now, but I'll get you there. I doubt you can resist for too long, I'm very persistent." I greatly enjoyed the look of horror on his face.

  Not to mention the vast amusement on every other Pokemon's face, even Hazard's.