Erin

  —

  "And you're sure you'll be fine, dear? You and Leaf just got to Pewter, why not stay awhile, see the sights?" I sighed at her reasonable questions.

  "Honestly, we don't have much reason. There's just not much here. We plan to visit the Museum tomorrow while my PokeNav gets delivered to the Center, but there's not much else around other than the local Breeders Ranch near the Forest." I wasn't joking, either.

  I wouldn't mind playing tourist in a new city, in a new world, but even for Kanto, Pewter had a reputation. Strong, enduring. Like a boulder, and just about as interesting. I wasn't exactly that interested in the mining operations around here either, so that was… it.

  Ms. Gree- Patricia! Patricia stared at me in understanding. She preferred it, and I of all people could call people what they preferred… when I wasn't messing with her. Even if it was kind of awkward.

  "Well, dear, I can't really deny that… You two had better take your time in Cerulean City, then!" I smiled at that. I fully planned to. The city looked beautiful online.

  "Trust me, the city might not recover by the time I get done there." I grinned at her but she frowned through her PokeNav.

  "You better keep things legal, young lady." I laughed at her through the PokeNav.

  "Me? Illegal things? Patricia, you wound me!" Her glare intensified.

  "I mean it Erin. Promise me." Go- Arceus damnit Raihan, why did you tell her? I frowned and grumbled a bit, but eventually I gave in.

  "I promise I won't do anything illegal unless I have to." She opened her mouth and I talked over her. "That's the best you'll get from me. I'll basically be under surveillance after tomorrow, don't act like I'm going to go on a crime spree or anything! Not that I would have anyways, so really, this is just rude!" She had the decency to look a bit ashamed, and I nodded. She spoke up again.

  "Dear… I worry that you'll somehow threaten your Rotom, like you did with Raihan's poor Rotom. The poor thing can barely look at you." I winced at the accusation in her voice. My teeth were gritted as she caught my Plan A. Plan B was still a go, though.

  "I promise I wont threaten my Rotom." Bribery was still on the table. She gave me a wide smile.

  "Then I have no worries, dear!" I scowled at her and shook my finger at the camera.

  "That's not having 'no worries' Patricia! That's saying you don't trust me unless I'm bound like a fairy! Under a contract!" Her eyes were wide and innocent as she stared into the camera.

  "I have no idea why I would possibly think you would do anything impulsive, or unexpected, or insane. Truly, Erin, I have no idea why I may worry about you, your actions, or your immediate surroundings." She was laying it on thick, and I couldn't help but snicker at the sarcasm.

  "Okay, I mean… you're right, but still. Tiny bit far. Just the tiniest, teensiest bit, that was still funny." I held my fingers up practically touching with a smirk and she nodded at me with a serious expression peeking through her own smirk.

  We had finally had, not really a heart to heart, but some one on one time. The poor woman was nervous around me, even if she tried to hide it, but we had talked for a few hours. Set a few boundaries. I might have regressed a bit (just a BIT) mentally, but I was still an adult. Mostly. Patricia was allowed to talk sense into me like the adult she obviously was, but she would do her best not to take it too far.

  It was a learning experience for both of us. She had admitted that she probably wouldn't handle my situation nearly as well as I was, but then again, she was a mother. I did my best to not feel patronized when she would lecture me, and she did her best to respect my boundaries.

  It was a work in progress, but it… it was nice having someone 'adult' to talk to. I hadn't had the privilege in… a very long time. Patricia was nice.

  "Either way, if you're done binding me-" I glared through the camera with a smile. "I'll let Leaf call you. We're going to go to The Rocky Feast tonight with Raihan as a sendoff. You know, we could come pick you up? Flygon wont mess with you." Flygon adored the woman, to Raihans obvious amusement and exasperation, and would happily carry Patricia here so gently she wouldn't even feel it.

  She shook her head at me, though.

  "Dear, have fun with your friends tonight. Let this old lady stay at home and marinade with a nice bottle of wine I've been saving for today." I raised an eyebrow at that and she smiled.

  "Why, my daughter just won her first Gym Badge, Erin! Of course I'm going to celebrate!" Her eyes got soft as she looked through the camera. "I wouldn't be happy right now, if not for you and Riahan, Erin. Thank you." I shook my head lightly.

  "I accept your thanks, but I didn't do it for you." She smiled at me. "She's a good kid, and after I finally just broke him, her brat's been getting better, too. Even if he got too wild today." Her eyes widened.

  "Erin, hush! I only know that you two won! I'm going to watch your matches after I talk with you two, don't spoil it!" I had an amused smile on my face as I replied.

  "Raihan?" She nodded. "Yeah, I figured. Did he happen to send you a third video?" She nodded, a bit uncertainly, and I smiled widely.

  "You'll enjoy that one, too. Okay, well, if you're going to stay at home like a perfectly normal young woman, I'll switch off with Leaf. Night, Patricia!" She smiled and gave me her goodbyes as she blushed a little.

  Thirty five was not an old woman, Patricia!

  I closed my PokeNav, looking around the huge room we had gotten for free. Apparently you couldn't just request these rooms, and had to have a Pokemon large enough to actually require it. I was in the Joy's system already, of course, so when we had checked in they had almost yanked me out of line to accommodate me and my giant mother. The Joy on duty had offered us a second bed, but had gone pale when I simply said we slept with my mom.

  I could understand that reaction, honestly. Even if you trusted a Pokemon with your life, that was an entirely different thing than trusting their unconscious bodies. I had never worried, though, and I don't think Leaf had, either. My mom seemed to be immovable when she wanted to be. Probably so she didn't roll over and turn Artemis into a pancake every night.

  A minute later Leaf stepped out of the shower, dressed in another set of her iconic uniform. I swear she was doing it to mess with me at this point, since we had gone shopping the other day in Viridian. I knew she had other clothes in her backpack!

  I stepped past her, a bundle of clothes under my arm already.

  "Call Patricia, Leaf, then we're going to head out. Raihan should already be done in his room." She huffed a bit at me.

  "Don't call my mom by her name, Erin!" I scowled at her.

  "She asked me to, and she's not much older than me." Her face grew mirthful and I glared at the girl.

  "Really? I could have sworn you were fourteen, and an immature fourteen at that!" She ducked away from my swinging free arm and I took a deep breath.

  Brat.

  "Leaf, I'll tell Patricia if you keep this up." Her expression didn't change.

  "So, you're a snitch, now?" I nodded at her blankly.

  "Only a snitch of frivolous children." She frowned as I entered the bathroom.

  I stepped out a few minutes later, new clothes on.

  I had never had a real eye for fashion, if I was being honest. This world seemed to resemble the early 2000's as far as fashion went, and I had seen a lot of young girls around Viridian City, but I still felt weird picking out an 'iconic outfit'. It was a relatively common trend, actually. It might not be your entire outfit, but even Ash's hat was more than enough of a symbol. Lance had his stupid cape, Brock did his whole 'I am a human boulder' bit. People made brands of themselves. So what would my brand say about me?

  I hoped that the sturdy black Tauros leather combat boots with their shiny steel toes, white tights, and short royal purple skirt said that I would absolutely stomp you. Because I would. I hoped that the white sleeveless shirt was a nice accent to my jacket.

  My beautiful Sneasel skin jacket. I had caved to the furrier's enthusiastic ideas and let him use a part of my mothers Weavile skin to provide enough material for an entire, slightly large jacket that I would grow into. The man did great work, and when he had learned the stories behind the skins had practically insisted on making the most personalized jacket he could.

  My first kill, the one missing a head, served as the collar area of my jacket, while the one that Kallen had helped me kill was my left sleeve where he liked to hang out. The final Sneasel was my right sleeve, with rich Weavile fur expertly sewn in between. It looked seamless, even with the darker Weavil fur creating a vague pattern in the lighter Sneasel skins. That man was insane, it looked like he had woven parts of it together, but flat, somehow. The five yellow 'gems' had all been moved onto the folded collar, with one acting as a clasp directly in front of my throat. I could just wear it like a… cape, with that single clasp, and I might, depending on just how hot it got soon… even if capes were lame…

  The collar was tall when I popped it for when it got cold, and full of pockets! I had missed my jackets full of pockets! It was so warm that I would probably only get to wear it for another week or so, before summer truly began, but according to the furrier it should shed excess heat well enough except for the hottest days of the year… Especially in 'cape' mode…

  I hoped so, because this was the most badass jacket I had ever owned, and I never wanted to take it off. It had cost me… a lot, but the quality was worth it.

  A pair of fingerless (in more ways than one) black gloves and a brand-new Sneasel-skin headband with my three feathers completed the look, and I grinned at my reflection. My brand was apparently 'I'll kick your ass and make your lifeless corpse a trophy'.

  I looked badass! Like a badass kid, unfortunately, but a badass nonetheless. I would take that. Age was just waiting, right?

  It's not like I was immature…

  I stepped back into our room to find Raihan chatting with Leaf, their teams joining mine in the large room. It felt like a carbon copy of the one all the way in Galar, and there was more than enough room for everyone to be out.

  "Erin, finally! We've been waiting for you forever!" Raihan was grinning at me and I scowled back.

  "Seven minutes." His eyebrow rose as I walked over.

  "Seven minutes since I entered the bathroom. We've been in the room for… thirty two minutes now." I gave Leaf a flat look that she avoided. I smiled and nudged her on my way past them.

  "Let's go, Slowpokes!" I heard Leaf yelp from behind me even as the Pokemon chuckled. They were fine staying behind and watching some TV. All but Kallen and Hecate, that was. He latched on and I carried my little woods witch with me as we left the others behind.

  We idly chatted as we made our way through the darkening streets of Pewter City. There wasn't much of a night life here, and while the city wasn't silent now, it was certainly quieter. Peaceful, too. Mt. Moon's broken peak in the distance, the nearly-full moon above it, was an almost mystical sight.

  The Rocky Feast was apparently the best restaurant in Pewter City, requiring at least a month's notice for reservations. For most people, that was. When you were a PokeNet-famous Galarian Gym Leader, they suddenly had a private room open. Funny how that happens.

  The entire restaurant reminded me of some sort of entertainment hall, of sorts. A long stage was filled with various acts, a veritable Pokemon Contest to view as you ate. It was slow, with only one group being active at once, but it never stopped. It was almost like an opera house, with different levels of dining rooms stacked on top of each other, aside from the main floor. Our private room was almost dead center in the middle, with one of the best views possible.

  As we sat and the waiter left with our drink orders, their 'famous' lemonade for me and Leaf and some Kalosian Brandy for Raihan, we watched the current act. A Charmeleon and its trainer were appearing to duel, the man dressed like a military man of some sort, loose green fatigues billowing as he slashed a large, dull blade across the endless stream of Ember's being flung at him by his partner. He slowed down at times, but each time he did he was rewarded with an Ember that sizzled out almost immediately.

  An amazing display of skill, for sure, but thankfully not as deadly as it looked. The man could probably tank a hundred of those intense-looking Embers and come away with a nasty burn at worst. It certainly looked like it still stung, though.

  "So, Erin. What will your divine palette find interesting in this lowly realm of ours?" Raihans grin was wide and I couldn't help the snort of laughter that escaped me.

  "My 'divine palette' is wondering what a Kalosian Gogoat roast tastes like, but my 'higher realm senses' are tingling each time I read 'Clawitzer Ravioli'... truly, an impossible choice." They both smiled even as their eyes continued to read the extensive menu.

  Eventually I decided on the Clawitzer Ravioli, Leaf on a whole Farfetch'd and Leek roast she intended to share with Fraxure, and Raihan had cheerfully ordered a Togekiss drumstick feast with Oddish sprouts. That last one had thrown me for a bit of a loop, honestly.

  There wasn't really an obvious comparison to an Earth animal, not like shrimp and ducks. Leaf and I both asked to try it, and I was glad when he agreed. He had never tried Togekiss, or any Fairy not Alcremie, who didn't count, but he smiled viciously and said he wanted to offer Leaf's Clefairy some. Hecate actually perked up at that, despite her disliking meat. She could eat it just fine, she just preferred fruits and vegetables.

  We all cracked up at that, even Leaf, and sat back to enjoy the show below. There was now an Arbok using its body to launch its trainer into the air like a gymnast. I had never been interested in gymnastics, but I was fascinated as the huge snake curled its body to redirect the woman's inertia as she came back down, launching her easily two stories into the air.

  "You know, that looks like what your Clefairy did with the Onix, Leaf." She giggled a little.

  "She did, didn't she? I felt kind of bad, using her for Brock." We both laughed at her and she stared at us, mildly stunned.

  "Leaf, don't feel bad for having a strong Pokemon. Trust me and Raihan when we say this: The fact that she obeyed you, that she is trying like she is? That is your accomplishment, Leaf. If you deserve to have a strong Pokemon obey you, why not use her?" Her face grew so red, but I meant every word. Raihan apparently agreed.

  "Leaf, if you had tried to get a fairy on your own, we would be having a very different discussion. You didn't, though. You followed your mentors advice and you communed with the fae all on your own. Erin may have mediated that discussion, but that doesn't mean you didn't participate. Clefairy judged you worthy of her trust. It is a fragile, ephemeral thing, but Leaf, I don't think you realize how rare it is for a trainer to commune with their fairy, not just make a verbal agreement! More so for them to actually agree to work with you, to extend their own trust!" His eyes were a bit wide as he spoke. He did not like fae. Me neither, but, I mean…

  "He's right, Leaf. It's hard to get statistics on stuff like this, but something around five percent of fairy trainers that aren't specialists have communed with them. Most hear the stories, draw up a contract, and then watch the fairy follow the contract exactly, to the letter, like an actively malicious drone they have to treat like a primed bomb. Most aren't worded so precisely, and those that are? The fae wouldn't accept the bindings. What you did was different." I took a sip of the lemonade they made here. I wouldn't call it famous, but it was good, sure… Very pricey for just 'good'...

  "Leaf, you didn't make an agreement with Clefairy, with the mask she uses to interact with the world. You met, you communed with the actual being that Clefairy is. That being accepted the bondage that is friendship. She may trip up, but she's earnestly trying to be your friend. The concept intrigues her, and you've already won her respect."

  They both frowned at me, and it was Riahan who quietly spoke up.

  "Then why did you tell her she would be doing you a favor if she tried, Erin?" His voice trembled, and I let a gentle smile come to my face as Leaf's wide eyes watched me.

  "Because it was the truth, Raihan. She would be doing me a favor." His frown deepened, while Leafs eyes just kept growing wider. I sighed.

  "Listen, I have… reasons to believe that I'm in no danger from saying that. No, I can't explain to you. I don't exactly understand it, myself." I met Leaf's eyes.

  "I've… dealt with a much worse fae than your Clefairy, and somehow I could… feel the future when I said that. I agreed to pay a price, but it was something I would have done anyway. Something I won't regret. That's the feeling I got. Just like sweat is the price you pay for exerting yourself, the price is… natural. Inevitable." They were looking at me like I was crazy, and I couldn't blame them. Maybe I was?

  "Yeah, I get it. Erin's crazy, but no. I just… know. It is okay." I was thankfully saved from more awkward looks as the small rooms doors opened, a small procession of waiters and waitresses dropping off various dishes before we were suddenly alone again.

  The smell of the Clawitzer Ravioli's made my mouth water, but before I bit into them I watched Riahan cut into his huge wing, pulling parts off for me and Leaf. Hecate lifted herself like she would ask to eat the fairy as well, before she sat back in my lap. She hadn't been interested in the food, Kallen either. He was actually just watching the stage the whole time, ignoring us. Okay then, bud…

  The taste of Togekiss wing was dry, but not in a bad way. It almost reminded me of some sorts of fried wings, where the texture was more the goal, rather than pure flavor. It was the best poultry I'd had since I came to this world, that I hadn't cooked, at least. I still only shrugged as I chewed, Leaf doing the same.

  It was just okay.

  Raihan was already tearing into it barehanded, though. I shook my head, before I lifted this world's version of Shrimp Ravioli in what looked to be a vodka sauce to my mouth and took a bite.

  I swear, if Arceus did this as a joke, I'm going to kick his ass. I'll catch the Creation Trio and do it, I swear!

  Why is it that every. Single. Species. That I can make an easy comparison is so much more over here? Not just better, I tasted shrimp, but at the same time I tasted the deep ocean, I tasted the crushing depths, I tasted vibrancy. It was the best shellfish I had ever had in either life, and it left me honestly worried. Did… sapients just taste better? What the fuck? How was it so much better than shrimp, lobster, crab? Than any shellfish I had ever eaten? The sauce and pasta itself was… good, sure, but… is it just that the meat is so amazing it tastes bland in comparison? Because I'm still loving this, even with its lack of salt…

  Leaf was eating in a calm manner, but her face said that she was really enjoying the taste. I met her eyes and lifted my plate for a second. She thought, then smiled, cutting off a chunk of her Farfetch'd as I lifted my plate to let her spoon a ravioli over. I offered Raihan some, but apparently he didn't like shellfish?

  I knew there was something very wrong with him!

  The Farfetch'd was much better than the Togekiss, fatty and greasy but rich, and I idly wondered if they had that weird liver pate stuff here. I'd love to try it, if it was ethically sourced. Still, I was happy to get back to my divine raviolis, and I did my best to keep thoughts of intelligence correlating to taste to a minimum.

  Dessert was a small personal chocolate cake topped with Alcremie whipped cream, and I regretted every bad thought I'd ever had about the silly looking Fairy Pokemon the moment I took a bite. I had actually squealed in joy, and only the fact that Leaf had done the same kept me from being too embarrassed. Even Raihan had gasped, and he'd had Alcremie before in Galar, soo….

  I caught a glimpse of the bill when the waitress brought it and I nearly choked on my cake. That was a lot of zeros! Raihan barely glanced at it, however, and I had to wonder just how much he made. I'd have felt guilty, but despite this being a sendoff for Raihan he had insisted on paying. I hadn't even had the heart to make the playboy jokes when he told me he could never let two young girls pay for his dinner.

  I would save those jokes for texts and video calls, when he couldn't physically retaliate.

  We took a bit of a winding path on the way back, trying to stretch the moment out. Tonight, and technically tomorrow in the morning, would be the last time I would see Riahan in person for almost a year, at least. He had responsibilities in Galar, not to mention Rose…

  Damn, I was gonna miss him. He'd been my first human friend here, and despite his goofiness, he was a great guy… Just very goofy, with horrible shorts. Seriously, Raihan, why?

  We were halfway back to the Pokemon Center when Hecate began to sniffle, then wail, before she began pulling on my arm. We all stopped in confusion, but she nodded in the distance, outside of town. I looked at her in sudden dread. Fuck…

  "Is someone hurt?" A shake of her head. "Is someone scared?" A nod, then the nod turned frantic. "Terrified? A human?" A nod, then a shake, then a nod. "Human and Pokemon? Just a few? Or a lot?" She nodded. A lot of terrified humans and Pokemon. On the outskirts of town…

  Shiiit. I met Riahan's eyes for a moment before ours swung in unison to Leaf. She looked stunned, like she didn't know what was going on. Understandable, really. Raihan spoke up first.

  "Leaf, you have Erin's PokeNav saved as a friendly contact, right?" She nodded. "Okay, good, listen to me Leaf. You're going to call the police, and wait right here for them. When they arrive, track Erin's PokeNav and help them find us, okay?" Her eyes got wide and her mouth began to open, but I was already speaking.

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  "Leaf, this isn't the time. Do what he said. The best thing you can do is make it faster." She was shaking her head.

  "Why don't you wait, then! You don't even have any Pokemon!" I raised my eyebrow, along with the arm Kallen was clamped to. Hecate murmured at her from my hands, too.

  "Leaf, we don't have time for that. They're probably already almost done if this many people are panicking, if we don't move fast then they'll be gone. The Breeder Ranch is over that way." She began to tremble a little, her voice weak as she spoke next.

  "I-is it… them? Team R-Rocket?" I gave her a quick hug before stepping away, already turning and walking, Raihan following behind me.

  "Whoever it is, Leaf, they're about to have a very bad night. Stay here, stay safe, or I'll tell Patricia." I felt no shame as I blackmailed the young girl.

  Me and Raihan huddled together as we hurried forward, eyes scanning ahead of us as we went.

  "What's the plan, Raihan? Sneak in, disrupt, disable?" He grunted from beside me, a huge scowl on his face.

  "Erin, we have two Pokemon, and Hecate can barely manage one Protect before she gets tired. Do you have a plan?" I frowned and shrugged.

  "I mean, play it by ear. I don't even know what this place looks like. If they intend to attack a facility that's almost inside city limits, they aren't going for just a few Pokemon. They'll have a truck or something to transport them all in. We pop the tires, take out whatever hostage guards they have. Try and identify the leader or anyone with a psychic, take them out with Kallen." I paused. "If it is them, Riahan, Kallen isn't holding back." Kallen squelched in solidarity from my arm as Riahan winced.

  "I know, Erin, and it's… not illegal in the slightest. Just be damn sure they have a Rocket uniform before the police get here." I was a little unhappy with the insinuation that I would just kill random people, but I ignored him.

  This was stupid, but this was also the right thing to do. Even Raihan was coming with me! I realize that made it seem like I found him to be a font of maturity and rational decisions, which couldn't be further from the truth, but unfortunately I trusted his judgement a bit more than my own at this point, at least as far as this went.

  We finally came to the gates of the Ranch around a corner ahead of us, and I could tell instantly that the 'guard' stationed there wasn't supposed to be there. His head wandered too much, he was slightly twitchy, and he was holding his arms inside his jacket. An easy way to conceal a weapon…

  "Follow my lead." I barely gave Raihan time to process that before I began giggling, running around the corner shrieking in childish joy. It was even more high pitched than normal.

  "You can't catch me, big bro! You're too old!" I purposefully kept my head turned behind me, barely keeping my trajectory as I sprinted at the 'guard'. He was stunned for a second, and as his gaze rose to track Raihan's figure coming around the corner I was there.

  I had never gotten rid of my Pawniard blade, and I don't think I ever would at this point. The pommel was a rough knot in the branch I had carved, and it made a very satisfying thunk as I slammed it into the man's temple. He groaned, stumbling, and I lashed out again. And again. I was kind of weak, actually… The fourth time was the charm and he went down, just as Raihan reached me, his face incredulous.

  "What the fuck was that, Erin!" He practically hissed it out, trying not to scream in my face. I just smiled at him, breathing slightly hard.

  "His first thought wasn't 'enemy attack', Raihan. His first thought was 'this dumb little girl needs to watch where she's going'. That was called strategy." After we restrained the unconscious man with his own shredded jacket, I pushed the gates and they easily swung open, latch broken. I glanced at Raihan as I strode forward.

  "Well, I guess it's time to play the hero, Raihan!" His glower was practically incandescent in the dim moonlight, and I couldn't help snickering as we rushed down the rough dirt road. Fences covered in bushes and shrubs surrounded us, but we didn't see any Pokemon as we walked down the long dirt road.

  We did see a nice, large van parked in front of the huge main house, however. Plain, unmarked. No way to tell that it was our eventual target.

  No way except for the half dozen or so Team Rocket members that circled it, bright red R's brazenly displayed. That didn't count the ones who were pulling Pokemon and humans out into the yard from the barns. I felt my blood begin to boil as I witnessed the dozens of crying Pokemon, noticing the sparking whips and rods all the 'herding' Rockets carried. I wondered why the Pokemon weren't fighting back, even against melee weapons, but the hostages made that relatively clear… They might want freedom, but those were their caretakers… They were led by a large man in the same Rocket uniform as them, but it was immediately obvious he was the leader by how they treated him.

  And his weapon.

  I only saw a few Rocket Pokemon out, a Poochyena and a Houndour mainly, but there were a lot of humans with electric melee weapons. I didn't see any guns other than on the leader, and he had a submachine gun. The pistol they left with the guard was the only other projectile weapon I saw, but Raihan had broken it down, leaving most of it behind. Raihan didn't trust his aim, and I had fired an actual gun like, twice before. I wasn't about to have friendly fire.

  My hand tightened on my knife so tightly I heard my knuckles crack as a Nidorina yelped, and Raihan noticed. His hand met my shoulder and I took a deep breath, giving him a thankful look as I furiously thought. Eventually, I had the best idea I could think of. Not that that said much. We scrambled to sneak into position.

  Five minutes later, as what appeared to be the last of the employees and Pokemon were gathered, we struck. An overpowered Water Gun cut through not just the tires, but one of the front wheels themselves, instantly disabling the large van. Immediately smoke began to appear in a line as Kallen shot himself randomly around the scene, spraying Smokescreens as he went.

  The grunts began to panic, obviously, but a loud yell brought them to heel.

  "Stop! Find that Pokemon, and kill it! Group one, start tying them together, Group two start leading them away! We're falling back to the forest! Pokemon first, rem-" He cut off abruptly, and every scared Team Rocket eye drifted towards their loud, intimidating, asshole of a leader.

  They found me pushing his corpse to the side, tearing my blade from his temple as I did. I smiled at them all viciously, feeling his blood spray my face as his corpse collapsed.

  "Congratulations, you've been caught! If you surrender in the next five seconds, you get to live un-maimed! Be grateful for the mercy you are being shown!" The angry shouts and red flashes of light began, and I watched as thin, unhealthy Rattatas and Ekans began to surround me. It hurt me to see the beaten, hurt, scared Pokemon, and I was grateful for my instructions.

  "Well, that's three right there! Last chance! Four! Aaaannnndd we have FIVE!" Three of them had been smart enough to understand that me not being scared staring down that many Pokemon might have meant something. That the Pokemon not immediately attacking me meant something. They survived intact, heads between their knees.

  The others?

  Kallen destroyed them. Humans really had no business fighting Pokemon, and the reverse was just unfair. His first Water Gun was fully powered, and the man's head just disappeared. The next one to shoot out of the darkness was weaker, but still blew a hole right through a woman's torso. By the fifth Team Rocket goon, Kallen had adjusted his strength and aim well enough to start maiming, not killing.

  Soon there was a field of screaming Team Rocket trying to crawl away, hop away, drag their severed leg over the corpses of their comrades. Their Pokemon stood there, utterly confused and untouched. I couldn't see it, but I knew my little witch had been doing her best to talk to them telepathically. She couldn't begin to try it with humans yet, not until she was a Hattrem at the very least, but she was starting to develop the ability, and she had been so desperate to help.

  The Team Rocket Pokemon just stood there, watching their abusive owners writhe in agony. I raised my voice over the sounds of screams that were still growing.

  "Pokemon of Team Rocket, stand down! You will not be harmed! I will personally make sure you are treated fairly, so please, let's not die for scum tonight!" They settled back uncertainly, a hissing and chittering horde in the dim light, and I turned to the employees. Raihan was there already. He had taken out the armed guards with hostages while me and Kallen had played the distraction, and was already cutting crying people free.

  I walked over to the… spread of Rockets and glanced around at the blood and gore with a dispassionate look. I actually… didn't feel anything other than satisfaction in a job well done. Not yet, at least. I would see how I felt once the adrenaline dump stopped… I'd had similar adrenaline dumps before, but never this sharp. Those were me almost dying in car accidents, not… this.

  "You c-cant just w-watch us die! Help us!" The man who yelled at me was desperately clamping his hands over the gushing stump where his knee should be, and I felt a faint hint of… disgust? Even that was faint, barely there.

  I just didn't give a shit…

  I didn't even respond as I stared them down, Kallen already there watching them with angry eyes. His stare was furious, while mine was… blank. For long minutes we stood there and stared in the dark, listening to crying Pokemon and employees behind us.

  "Erin, I think I see the police lights!" I looked up from the pile of trash in front of me and saw flashing lights in the distance, down the dirt road.

  I sighed, but I didn't take my eyes off the injured and surrendered Rockets. Not until an Officer Jenny came up to me did I stop staring them down.

  Blankly.

  —

  "Why did I just receive a call from the Pewter City Police Department, Erin?" Patricia's tone was even, and so was mine as I responded.

  "I would assume it was about the Team Rocket cell me and Raihan busted." Her eyes narrowed at me through the screen.

  "Erin, why were you busting a Team Rocket cell while I was sitting here, relaxing with a nice bottle of wine, rewatching yours and my darling daughters fights in my fluffy pajamas?" I snorted a little at the mental image.

  "We were walking back from dinner and Hecate felt the emotions of people and Pokemon being abused. We sent Leaf off to the police, I'm not sure why you're mad at me. Leaf was fine." Her frown was only growing.

  "Erin, tell me, why would I care about my new ward going to fight Team Rocket with two Pokemon and a knife?" Oh, yeah, guess she really didn't like that part.

  "Kallen was more than enough, Patricia. Hecate even got those poor Rocket Pokemon to stand down, so we didn't have to fight the abused things." Her face softened a bit before the scowl returned.

  "I'm not saying you did a bad thing, Erin. It was a very good thing you did, a very brave thing. It can also be a very foolish thing that you did at the same time! You should be a kid, not killing people!" There it was. I sighed heavily.

  "Patricia, despite what mental issues I'm having due to my… age, I'm a grown ass adult. I've killed people before. I'll do it again. They didn't deserve pity, and they didn't receive it. I wouldn't change a single thing I did tonight, and that is a fact." Her eyes were kind now.

  "Dear, killing a Sneasel and killing a human can't be the same." I shook my head at her, speaking slowly.

  "Felt the same to me, Patricia. Everything bleeds, everything screams, everything dies, and there's not exactly dumb animals here. Everything is sapient." Her eyes grew curious and I cursed softly.

  "It felt like putting down a rabid… Growlithe, Patricia. I'm not going to think back on the agony and death I inflicted today with pride beyond that of a job well done. I don't care about those who are maimed for life. I would have pity if they weren't wearing that uniform. The one that basically says 'We love Geneva Suggestions!'"

  Her face once again grew puzzled and I cursed again. I was still out of it, frazzled. I hadn't even gotten out of the police station's lot yet, standing there under a tree talking as Raihan waited for me at the entrance.

  "Just… just don't worry. Leaf will be fine." Her glare was worried.

  "I don't worry only about my daughter, Erin. Don't get yourself killed, either." Her eyes were serious as she stared at me and I felt guilty. Go- Arceus damnit, I don't need a new mother figure to worry about me and to disappoint!

  "I… I'll be fine, Patricia. I assume you've already blown poor Leaf's head off, too. Sorry. Enjoy the rest of your night." She glared at me through the screen.

  "That wasn't fair, Erin. No dessert or sweets for three days." My mouth dropped open as she met my eyes. "I don't patronize you, or I try my best. You show me some respect." Her eyes were serious, and I took a deep breath before nodding.

  "You're right. Sorry, Patricia… I'm just tired." She was right. That hadn't been kind of me at all… Her eyes brightened a bit as she smiled.

  "Goodnight dear. If you need to talk, remember, you have to call me." I gave her a fake scowl through the screen.

  "Good night, Ms. Greenwood." I disconnected just as she began to giggle.

  I scowled as I walked to meet Raihan. Patricia was great, I didn't need to say that…

  Raihan didn't say anything, just matched my pace as we walked to the Pokemon Center. The Center and the police station were close, so it was only a few minutes before we were opening the door to my room. I managed to take two steps inside before I felt the glares on me.

  Everyone in the room was glaring at me, Leto, Leaf, my Pokemon, Leaf's Pokemon- wait, just Clefairy, and even Raihans Pokemon. They glared at him, too, but mainly me. I squared up and crossed my arms, glaring back.

  "What? Did you expect me to wait, to let them get away with it? Fuck off with that shit." My Pokemon flinched back and I winced. I strode over to lay on my mom, but her head bumped me away. I just stood there for a second, mildly stunned, before Leaf spoke softly up from her spot on Leto.

  "I don't know if I can travel with you if you pull stuff like that, Erin." I turned my blank gaze on her and she flinched, but kept going.

  "I don't care if I'm a kid, Erin. You just made me watch two of my only friends run off into danger, and you just left me! To do the right thing, yes, but it doesn't matter! You said you wouldn't abandon me, right?" I didn't even blink as she continued.

  "Do you have any idea what that felt like? It would be one thing if you had Leto, or the rest of your team, but you didn't! Kallen is strong, and I love Hecate, but… you could have died. Again!" There were tears in her eyes now, but I kept my face blank. Raihan just watched with a frown, worried eyes darting between us.

  "You treat me like a friend one minute, then you treat me like a nuisance child the next. That wasn't… that wasn't right, Erin." She was crying now, but I kept my voice as neutral as possible as I responded.

  "Are you done, Leaf?" My voice was gentle, but so neutral. Her wet eyes met mine and I continued.

  "Leaf, there is a huge difference between you, Raihan, and I. We have a responsibility. Raihan isn't a Gym Toughest Trainer, he's a Gym Leader. It's his job to run towards the danger. Me? I don't care about the age my body is, I'm still not a child, Leaf. I am an adult, I had the power and ability to stop an evil act, and therefore I had the responsibility to act. You would have been a liability." She flinched and I tried not to wince as I continued.

  "You would have almost certainly frozen up, Leaf. Everyone does, I'm not trying to blame you. Best case scenario, we were able to salvage the situation somehow, but that would be leaving things to chance. You're a young girl, you couldn't fight them face to face. Do you have it in yourself to kill, Leaf? To assassinate a larger opponent? To feel their blood spray on your face? Do you?" She was shaking her head, still crying, and the frown on Leto was growing larger even as Raihan's frown grew sad.

  "You would have been a liability, Leaf. You would have gotten one of us killed, or worse, yourself! I'll do my best not to abandon you through death, Leaf, but you are a kid! I'm not letting you go into a fight if I can help it, and certainly not one where you were unarmed with no Pokemon! That's telling you to go die!" I felt tears on my face as I yelled, and abruptly I just couldn't deal with this shit anymore.

  I understand their worry, really I do, but they ambush me? No 'Hey Erin, you okay after killing people?'

  I turned away with a curse, stomping for the door. I felt Kallen try to pull me backwards and without thinking I flung him off, slamming the door behind me as I sprinted away.

  Fuck it all!

  —

  Patricia Greenwood

  —

  My night had rather thoroughly been ruined earlier, so now I sat in my backyard, watching the stars as I slowly drank the rest of the bottle I had stashed away when Leaf turned ten. At least I had managed to watch the battles beforehand. Not that they had been all that long or interesting, honestly. Now, hopefully I could get Erin's Rotom to record their future matches for me. Their third and fourth badges would be very interesting, as the training wheels came off the Gym Leaders.

  I had still cheered them on, of course. It was inspiring how my baby girl had managed even some level of control over her dragon, especially given that he would have killed her two weeks ago! It had all changed so fast.

  One morning Professor Oak calls in a panic, frantically setting up an 'amazing opportunity' for my daughter. I trusted him, so I said yes and gave my permission. A few days later I'm getting PokeNav calls from not only my daughter and Professor Oak, but a Galarian Gym Leader and an Interpol agent! Asking me to be my daughter's new mentor's legal guardian until she became an adult! Again! Because of course, she had been almost my age!

  I took another sip of the wine, letting myself relax just a bit more.

  Erin was an enigma, that was for sure, but she didn't seem like a bad person. Even if she had just apparently brutally knocked out someone and then killed a cell leader of Team Rocket with her own hands, not to mention commanding her adorable little Kallen to kill and maim the rest of them. The Officer Jenny who had contacted me had been impressed by her decisiveness, and wanted to commend her. Literally, they had a medal they wanted to award to her and Raihan.

  For killing people.

  I wasn't some crazy Team Rocket sympathizer. I had no problem with them getting justice. I had problems with my newest ward acting like the hero Raihan had sworn she wouldn't! He had been right there with her, too!

  I took another sip from my glass, only to find it empty. I rolled forward on the lawn chair I had sprawled out on, reaching for the bottle. If I couldn't have a relaxing night, I might as well have a hangover tomorrow.

  I paused as the sound of huge wings rang out from above me, and I started scrambling for my back door as I looked up. A large shape overhead blocked out the stars, and as it passed by the moon my heart skipped a beat. It looked like a Fearow, but the hyper-aggressive avians weren't nocturnal! What was going on?!

  I got my answer when the bird landed in my yard. It was massive, too, almost nine feet tall, and I was just opening the back door with a trembling hand when I heard a voice.

  "Thanks, you sure you'll be okay to hang out for a bit?" The giant bird nodded at a figure on its back. "Cool, sorry again for, you know… and thanks bud, I'll just whistle a few times when I'm done, alright?" It nodded again, and Erin slipped off its back as it carefully took to the skies.

  Because of course it was her.

  Her eyes scanned around, finding me holding my heart as I grabbed the door handle. Her eyebrows rose in confusion.

  "I thought you were inside?" She asked me calmly, like she hadn't just swooped down on a wild Alpha Fearow! I shook myself a bit, beginning to stomp over to her.

  "What are you doing here, young lady! With no Pokemon!?" Her bandoleer was conspicuously absent. "And just so I don't forget, why were you riding a wild Alpha Fearow, young miss!?" Her face didn't change as I yelled at her, and she stared at me for a long moment.

  "Because I needed to talk, and you were the only person I haven't pissed off too badly… And I just kind of… ran into Fearow. Literally." I held back my fingers as they itched to flick her. Her eyes were serious, and I felt myself grow confused.

  "And your PokeNav? That wouldn't work?" She frowned, turning awkwardly in place as she shuffled her feet.

  "PokeNav's can be hacked. Calls can be intercepted. And some things should only be talked about face to face." Her eyes met mine for a moment, and they were so deliberately calm it sent a shiver down my spine. "I need to get some shit off my chest, and your darling daughter and my Pokemon are too pissed at me right now, and Raihan is dealing with his team." Her eyes dropped to my hands momentarily, but then she continued.

  "I can't tell you everything, but I could tell you a few things. You'd have to keep them quiet forever, Patricia. These aren't 'tee hee, I know a secret' secrets. This is serious." Her voice started to break a little as she forced the last bit out.

  I nodded at her warily. I could do… secrets.

  "And I can't talk to anyone else. Raihan knows, but Leaf still hasn't figured it out somehow." Her breath was coming in short gasps as she crouched, hugging her knees. I wanted to comfort her, but I just stood there in stunned silence as she continued.

  "I'm the kind of monster who doesn't care about taking a life. I felt worse killing the two Sneasels that ambushed me! I stood above screaming people with mutilated stumps and I just stared. I didn't feel anything other than satisfaction for a job well done. I didn't like that they were in agony, I didn't like that they were terrified of death! I didn't feel joy at their pain! Disgust at their agony! Horror at anything! I didnt feel anything!" Her eyes rose to meet mine, and I had to sit down in a chair as they did.

  She was looking through me, but at me at the same time. It was uncanny, and her eyes weren't even glowing.

  "I wasn't like this before. I've been angry before, murderously angry. I've beaten people up before in fights, but I always stopped when they did. I had anger issues, but not anger problems! Now all the sudden I'm just hyper primed for violence? It doesn't even phase me! I didn't feel a single thing as I beat that man unconscious, and I felt less when I killed the boss, because it was easier than trying to keep them alive! One stab instead of four smashes! I didn't ask for that, ever. I asked for a lot of things in my fucking life, but never did I ask to not feel. Not to care as I maim and kill." I remained silent as she vented.

  "I didn't get to choose any of this! I didn't get to choose to be a kid again! I didn't choose to be dropped naked in the Lowlands! I never chose to be eaten. I never chose Galar, I didn't even get to choose my POKEMON! I would easily murder for them now, but I still didn't get to choose! I never get to choose!" She was finally crying now, that mask of hers falling away piece by piece.

  "Wait, I got to choose Kanto! That's… that's IT! One choice since I've been in this fucking world!" I felt my blood run cold. She didn't just say that, did she? World?

  "I didn't get to choose either of the two legal guardians I've had so far, in a world that made me a kid, and along the way, it decided to make me some sort of sociopath or something!" She was sobbing now, but I couldn't find the energy to move. She was from where?

  "I don't get to choose… anything. I never got to choose in my old world, and I don't get to choose in this one. I didn't choose to come here." She was gasping as she tried to talk and cry at the same time.

  "I didn't get to choose my traveling companion, because of course it's Leaf! I can't abandon her! I can't choose to rescue Pokemon, because everyone gets mad at me! I didn't choose to fucking die to come here!"

  Excuse me, what? Die? We're going to have a talk later…

  "I've gotten exactly one wish! ONE! And of course it's been monkeys-pawed into me finally being a girl, but I have to be a monster at the same time!" That was… rather unexpected.

  "I'm not saying woe is Erin! I'm really not! I love my Pokemon, Leaf is adorable, and you're lovely! I loved the world of Pokemon, and if I had to fucking die again I would choose this world again, but still! I feel like the protagonist with how shit gets chosen for me, but I know who the protagonist of this world is, and I'm not him!" Well, I guess I won't be sleeping tonight. At all.

  "So instead of being a rational adult, I ran when your daughter ambushed me for 'abandoning her'! With my Pokemon glaring at me the whole time! They didn't even ask if I was okay first, they just glared! My mom pushed me away! No 'hey Erin, you okay after maiming and killing people?' Even if I'm more disturbed by my lack of reaction than anything, it would have been nice!" She was still sobbing, and I finally felt the strength return to my legs. I walked over to sit behind her, pulling her into my chest as I held her. I didn't need to say anything.

  "I'm just so, I don't know, mad? Disappointed? Betrayed? Ashamed? What the fuck even is this?!" She growled, the sound vibrating into my chest cavity. "I didn't do anything wrong! I did everything right! Nobody worth a damn even got scratched! So why am I the bad guy?!" She broke off into sobs, and I squeezed her tightly before responding.

  "They acted like that, Erin, because they care. You can't stop them from caring, dear. You feel ashamed because you know what it's like to worry about someone and be powerless to help. You feel betrayed because you betrayed my daughter's hopes in you. Because you betrayed your team, and their love for you when you risked your life, and now they're upset. You feel disappointed, because you wanted to come in like a conquering hero, not a vulnerable child who just took her first human life while risking her own." She was shaking her head, but I kept going.

  "We're going to need to talk about a few things, like your world, dear, but I have to know. Your world… Did you leave anyone behind?" She stiffened in my arms, and I regretted my question before she even growled out her words like acid.

  "None that I would ever care about." I tightened my embrace as she shuddered.

  "I'm sorry I asked that, dear." She shook her head even as I continued. "What I meant was, you have no regrets about being… here?" She shook her head with a tiny, sobbing chuckle.

  "No, this place is still better. Universal healthcare, reasonable unemployment rates? Even without Pokemon that's pretty nice." Universal healthcare? Wait, was healthcare not free in her world?!

  Without Pokemon?

  "And you say you felt… nothing at all?" She shook her head, and her voice was small through the sobs that continued to wrack her body.

  "No. Just satisfaction for a job well done. The same I would get from exercising, or completing a project."

  "Would you do that to an innocent person?" She began to growl, and this one actually felt dangerous, the hairs on the back of my neck rising. I tightened my embrace on her.

  "That's what I thought, Erin. So… I would say talk to someone, but I assume Looker is looking into that." She nodded, Sneasel feathers brushing against my face.

  "In the meantime you need to remember that you're not alone, Erin. I may not be your new mother, but you seem to be prime niece material, you know?" She shook her head, but she chuckled as I continued.

  "Remember, nieces get spoiled, daughters get disciplined." She managed a laugh, but then she was crying again. I tightened my hug.

  "I was joking, Erin, but seriously. You aren't alone. Leaf will be there for you. Your mom will be there for you. Your team will be there for you. I will be there for you, in whatever capacity you want. You don't have to be strong and independent all the time, Erin. It's okay to be weak sometimes." She stiffened, and the hairs on the back of my head rose again. I could see the glow in her eyes spilling out as I hugged her from behind, and I did my best not to tremble.

  This wasn't her 'making herself angry' to demonstrate. She was furious. It felt like I was hugging my daughter's dragon.

  "You aren't a dragon, Erin. You are a human girl, and humans are allowed to show weakness." The glow dimmed enough I couldn't see it anymore, but I could still feel the tension in the air.

  "You're going to break my daughter's heart if you get yourself killed, and your family will be devastated, Erin." She flinched, and the aura of tension disappeared.

  "Now, here's what's going to happen tonight, young lady. You are going to send that poor Fearow back to Pewter, and I am going to call my daughter and let them know where you are." She began trying to pull away, but I just tightened my grip.

  "You are going to get a good night's sleep in a real bed, and you are going to wake up tomorrow feeling better about yourself in general, but horrible about your actions tonight." I squeezed her.

  "You are going to go to sleep and remind yourself that there are people who care about you, and who would prefer to see you stay as intact as possible. You're allowed one more pinky, that's it, young miss." She barked out a wet laugh and I smiled.

  "You're going to go to sleep, and you're going to stop worrying about your reactions. You trust Looker to find someone, right?" She nodded. "Then, until he does, use me as a stop-gap. Tell me, and don't bottle it up. You did the right thing coming here, dear. Even if you did it in the worst way possible, alone on a wild Pokemon." She giggled, and I released one arm to rub her head.

  "Now, go send that poor Pokemon home. I'll call my daughter so she doesn't panic." She giggled again.

  "She knows my PokeNav's location, Patricia. She knows where I went." Well, that was convenient.

  She leaned back into me briefly before she rose, stumbling forward a few paces. She turned to offer me a hand up, and her eyes were clearer. Not clear, and her face was a mess, but it was the first time I had seen her without her mask. I let her pull me up, with surprising difficulty, then watched as she began whistling.

  I managed to remain calm as the huge avian landed in my yard, but even after hearing Erin out it shook its head, curling up in the backyard. She turned to shrug at me, and I did the same. As long as it was this polite, I truly didn't care about wild Pokemon hanging around. I'd just never heard of a Fearow that wasn't a bundle of pure rage, before.

  I managed to get her to change into some of Leafs pajamas and tucked her into bed. Her face was tired, but I heard her whisper as I closed the door to Leaf's bedroom.

  "Thank's, Patricia. For everything."