The pleasantly mild summer day was coming to a close, the sun gradually sinking in the sky; there was not even a cloud to be seen, and it was still rather warm despite the dimming sunshine. It seemed that the fine weather had managed to lure people within the city outside, visitor and resident alike. One could barely see the laid golden bricks, which would appear to have an orange hue to them in the lighting, underneath of the crowd's feet as they drifted around in one chaotic sea. Ellie, much to her own frustration, was drifting among the ocean of strangers, pushing and shoving lightly, muttering 'excuse me' more times that she could count. It was both easy and difficult to understand the appeal of a sleepless city, though there was no time ponder such unimportant matters.

The girl's fingers gently brushed some dull sandy brown stands out of her line of sight, proceeding to absently push her long hair back as her eyes remained fixed on one of the many storefronts in Goldenrod City. "This has to be the place..." The trainer's voice was nothing more than a whisper, though it was obvious that her accompanying pokemon had heard her. The Lucario at her side gave a mild growl in response, crimson eyes flickering from Ellie to the storefront. However, he remained silent. "I just can't believe I'm actually doing this..."

Leaning against the wall of the building and continuing to keep her gaze focused on the mom and pop shop, Ellie waited silently for the old bookstore to finally close up. It was almost that time, she could tell, because they closed at seven in the evening; it was only ten minutes short of that. The lights eventually flickered out and she watched the employees leave through the front door as they always did. Ellie's breath hitched slightly and she couldn't help but feel her heart pound from the anticipation. The very last employee slipped through the door frame and locked the door in one swift motion, just as she always had. It was definitely her.

Ellie's mind was practically screaming at her: 'Go back! This is a terrible idea! Don't do this!' However, she felt her feet bringing herself closer to the woman casually walking down at the street, a Jolteon following her happily. She had come too far, exhausting every last one of her resources; this was it. "E-excuse me..." The younger trainer called out weakly, coming to a stop while leaving a bit space between them. Ellie folded her hands neatly in front of her and her Lucario lingered at the girl's side. She watched as the middle-aged woman turned around to face her, almost loosing her ability to speak in the process. "You're Marie Crossdale... Right?"

"That depends, young lady. Who wants to know?" The woman pulled her ruby red lips in a small yet tight smile, a pair of crisp blue eyes staring at the girl before her.

In that moment, Ellie's suspicions were confirmed. No matter that the stranger's face resembled hers: the round shape of it, the pinkish-ivory skin tone, the very slight curve of her nose, even the color of her partially-graying hair was the same shade of brown- albeit the woman was considerably thinner than Ellie. However, she continued on with the conversation as if everything was normal- even if her entire body felt like it just wanted to crumple under the weight of the situation. "My name is Elizabeth Crossdale... You should remember me now, right?" There was a silence that fell upon them and it felt like the longest two minutes of her life.

"Elizabeth..." The expression with Marie's face softened, the smiling widening slightly as she beckoned the younger girl forward. "My daughter, what are you doing here?" The astonishment, while not present within the wrinkles of her face, was visible within her eyes. Marie approached her daughter and suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.

"I came to find you..." Ellie was sure to return the hug, feeling the warmth from the closeness; it was amazing to think that her mother was right here, yet she reminded herself that this was not real.

This was not the same woman Ellie had known when she was twelve, and even then Marie was always more than she appeared to be.

The apartment that her mother called 'home' was small, as to be expected in a city of such size, the walls washed in a cleansing white while the floor was covered by cool gray carpeting. The majority of the space seemed to be one room with a joint kitchen that had a patch linoleum flooring and a small hallway, two white doors located near the end; it was probably the bedroom and bathroom if Ellie had to guess. The apartment was sparsely furnished, though the furniture present was of a high quality and a had a very sleek, modern appearance.

Ellie had previously been seated on the storm gray sofa in the living area, just as she had been instructed by her mother, but was currently standing at a black desk nearby. Marie explained that she needed to change her clothes and then shut herself in the bedroom, leaving Ellie to sit in silence and await her return. The opportunity was absolutely golden and the girl was quick to start searching for the evidence that she came for- that she needed. Her hands quietly shifted through the papers and she couldn't help but cringe every time the rustle of the documents was audible; she knew exactly what she was looking for, but if only it could actually be found. The trainer's heart was ready to leap out of her throat and she could see her hands visibly shaking.

Upon hearing a sound, something much like a soft bang on a wall, Ellie immediately turned around yet knocking over the desk lamp in the process. She could feel herself tense more, as if she had felt pain inflicted by the object being thrown at her. The door was fling open and the woman emerged so swiftly that it was almost like she just appeared out of thin air. "What?" Her eyes focused on her daughter, who was incredibly frightened upon being caught. It was only a moment later that Marie had erupted into a rage. The anger was plastered across her face, plain as day, and there was no hesitation in her command. Ellie knew that the woman was aware of her plan- or at least had jumped to that conclusion. "Wattson! Take care of the traitor!"

The Jolteon slipped out from behind his trainer's legs, his fur sparking wildly as he rushed towards the girl. Ellie reflexively attempted to slip away but there was no chance of outrunning such a fast pokemon; she thanked Arceus that her Lucario was able to intercept the Electric Type with only a second to spare. Wattson was sent flying back after being stricken by a stream of energy in the form of a bone-shaped staff- Bone Rush. The Jolteon barely seemed bothered by the attack despite its type effectiveness, and was charging at the two once again.

That was when Ellie realized that she was overwhelmed by the power of this woman, that her pokemon were so finely trained that it likely equaled that of a skilled Champion. "Sky, Bone Rush again!" She called, though the feigned confidence that was usually present during a battle was completely absent. It was replaced by fear... Fear for her own life, and the life of her pokemon. The Lucario was able to keep Wattson occupied for the time being, for how long was not certain. Ellie's pokemon were strong, but this was strength that she had never encountered.

Her mind was racing as she tried to figure a way out. There was only one exit to this apartment that was two stories high: The stairs that were currently blocked by the battle. It rattled the space, knocking over what little furniture occupied it, and Ellie was forced into the corner while her mother was standing in the opening of the hallway. Everything was passing by at an incredible speed and her eyes were focused on the conflict between the two canine-like pokemon. She hadn't even noticed her mother sending out another pokemon in her direction, slamming her back against the wall and using its vicegrip claws to pin her shoulders.

One look at the pokemon was enough to make her scream, frozen with fright upon seeing the creature. Scizor... Ellie loved all pokemon dearly, but bug pokemon were ones that she preferred to admire from a distance... A very, very large distance. Bug pokemon have been a crippling fear since she was nothing more than a small child, the very feel and sight caused her squirm and writhe: Fight or flight, it didn't matter. Whichever could get away from this horrid creature. "STOP THIS! STOP! STOP!" The girl had never been one to scream, but these was nothing that she could do pinned in place with immeasurable strength. Perhaps, someone would hear her and help. There had to be other residents living around this place.

"My dear, no one will hear you or any of this... Everyone who lives in this area will pretend that they don't. They're all on my side," the middle-aged sneered, watching as the Lucario's form went limp after being shocked; there was no doubt Sky had fainted. "Ah, good. Thank you Wattson." The Jolteon replied with a proud cry, and Marie slowly approached the couch where Ellie's bag had been set. She snatched it with one swift movement and tossed it into the hallway. "I'll have to look at those later. I have a feeling that you have some prizes on you. They could fetch a good penny if they're anything like that Lucario."

Ellie's face was red, both due to the anger that boiled inside of her and the fact that she had broken into a fit of tears. They continued to roll down her cheeks as she tried and failed to resist, slip away. But it only pained her when she attempted anything, so she was left to look at the woman through vision blurred by her tears. "Why..."

"Sometimes, there are choices that we have to make in this world. They may not be paths that we want to travel, but a person's situation may prevent them from going anywhere else. None of my others paths would lead anywhere, so I took the offer that I was presented by someone," Marie explained, her expression having changed during the conversation. It was no longer smug, but there was hardness etched within her features. Even her tone of voice had transformed into something lifeless and grim. "Nearly thirty years later, I stand here now."

There was nothing that Ellie could say, or would say. She considered herself to be dead where she stood, outwitted and trapped because she was foolish. Why did she even think that this was a remote possibility, that she could be quicker than someone who relied on cleverness for success- someone that the police could not even find. "Just... Do whatever you're gonna do, I guess..."

"Well, because you are my daughter... I'll present you with two doors to walk through. Choices are a part of life, after all." Marie stepped closer to the girl, her features never shifting. "Door Number One: I kill you right here, and it's all over with. You can probably guess what happens to your pokemon; you're pretty smart, considering that you've gotten this far. Most people are dead not far from where we first meet... Door Number Two: You live and keep your pokemon, but you're simply not allowed to leave. You become my partner and assist me with work, which you seem to be aware of my profession."

"Poaching... Pokemon poaching..." Ellie hissed back.

Marie nodded in response. "Correct. Now, I leave your fate in your own hands. Choose your door wisely."