Disclaimer- I don't own Pokemon or anything else.

--

"Let go!" May Hiromi shouts when her mother grabs her right wrist.

It's bad enough this ditzy woman meddles into things halfheartedly, but even now, when someone goes ahead and humiliates them she still wishes to play-

"What will you get out of attacking him? You'll only be giving him what he wants!" Mrs. Hiromi argues.

"So I should be like you? I don't have time to be some idiot's throw-rug!"

At this point, all Mrs. Hiromi does is shake her head slowly. Not like that means anything, May simply, yet forcefully, removes the woman's grip.

Mrs. Hiromi now watches silently as her child storms out of the café; living up to the expectations that cruel youth and a handful of others in Violet City deem her good for.

Today wasn't suppose to turn out like this, she laments…

Mrs. Hiromi snaps out of her thoughts when the Café owner places a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"You shouldn't worry too much, she's called a devil because of her monstrous strength right?" he assures, giving a small thumbs up for atmosphere.

Making many come to the belief he's totally missing the point…

The private school teenager who earlier aids in that troublemaker's humiliation turns to his three friends. With a nod, all four of them, like many who probably can't handle the drama, make their way out of the Café.

The owner frowns at this but couldn't question it. As he walks off to gather staff and extra cleaning supplies, the waitress knocked over by the troublemaker kindly uses a partially clean napkin to wipe Mrs. Hiromi's face.

"Thank y-Eh?" chokes Mrs. Hiromi the moment she sees the waitress' face.

The waitress, or should we say: Kageyama's Junior High's nurse finds herself in equal awkwardness.

Both women now curse their one-shot memories.

--

Distanced Hurricane Pilot Series

Cursed Wings! A Martyr Named Hiromi -Disillusion-

--

(A couple of weeks later)

The clock reads 6:03 AM as its alarm function starts its furious wakeup call.

A slender arm reaches out to put an end to the annoying contraption only to knock it to the floor out of grogginess.

Low grunting of a female voice is heard as her arm lazily shuffles about until finally grabbing the desired object and bringing it towards the body. As she can't see without her glasses, Kageyama's school nurse squints at the clock before unconsciously turning it off.

My name is Terri Rosen. Age twenty seven, native place of birth: Mahogany Town of the Johto district. My occupation…

Terri nods off for a moment before realizing the time. The woman frantically snatches her glasses when jumping out of bed and racing towards the shower.

--

Terri heaves a sigh of relief, everything seemed set: 7:15 AM and ready for work. She also has two plates full of breakfast, two prepared lunches and a large plate full of sandwiches.

Only one thing left to do…

The woman heads down the hall, stopping in front of a door with the words "PURE & PRETTY" written on pink construction paper. Opening the door slowly, Terri smiles while watching a little girl, about the age of eight, with dark brown hair snuggling close to her Teddiursa. Sitting close to resting duo in a blanket of her own, is Terri's Jynx named Jeanne, who sleeps equally sound on a wooden chair.

Terri can't help but feel guilty for her next course of action: "Safiya, I let you sleep a little extra but its time to get up. You too, Jeanne."

Some stirring occurs on all sides, but eventually, the trio all leave their slumber.

While Jeanne the Jynx simply heads down the hall while rubbing her eyes, Safiya's rituals are a bit more lax. Taking time to sit up, the eight-year-old gives a little yawn, completely unaware of her bad case of "pillow hair" that'll take time to tame. Teddiursa copies these gestures only to reveal his fur suffers from the same syndrome.

"Goo mornin' Auntie." Safiya greets.

"Good morning yourself pillow head," Terri greets before getting back on topic. "Now, stop wasting time. If you stay there any longer you won't have time to do everything and will end up late for school."

Safiya rubs her eyes before turning to see the actual time. With reality finally setting in, she frantically dashes out of bed saying something about meeting her friends before class. Teddiursa hastily follows.

"Hey, just remember to get cleaned up first." Terri chuckles.

Someone might call this scene the heartwarming picture of a loving single parent family… That's not the case though; all of this is just a reflection of the unexpected twists and turns of life.

Growing up, I always wanted to be a journalist. But as I learned in high school, my editorial abilities are horrid… So I decided to follow in my mother's footsteps by entering the health field… It's a difficult trade, but a lot more in demand than journalists. According to Mom anyway…

Even if that was the case, I didn't want to give-up journalism completely! With Violet City being a place so rich in history and high in nursing demand, I figured utilizing my journalism skills would be easiest there! It was only Jeanne and I when we moved here a year and few months ago… And almost three months, five weeks and seven days ago when Safiya entered my life…

Though I'm still gathering evidence, Safiya is said to be a child of a so-called estranged cousin on Mom's side of the family who left a letter claiming she can no longer raise her. Rather than keep Safiya in Mahogany, Mom and Dad passed legal guardianship over to their "successful daughter living it good in the city of Johto's great history".

Hah… Living it good? Too bad they never realized their "successful daughter" worked as a low paid school nurse, had piles of debt and pretty much regretted her move… Safiya and later, the stray Teddiursa she finds, just became extra mouths to feed… And a reason to land my second job as a waitress at Sprout Café & Luncheon just to balance out the high wages of living in a "prestigious" place like Violet…

…Oh well… Even if I don't know the full details, I worry about how well I can raise a child at all! Safiya is a sweet, unselfish child caught in the middle of some practically nameless family feud. She's family, and I can't deny that. If the story is a lie, then I hope Safiya won't mind being called Safiya Rosen.

This could be a good experience for all of us… At least that's what I believe…

Teddiursa sits on the table, greedily munching away on the plate of sandwiches. Feeling a strong sense of foreboding danger, Teddiursa turns to face Jeanne the Jynx with a nervous expression, offering the sandwich he held.

Jeanne ignores the teddy bear Pokemon and takes the plate of sandwiches as she walks by.

Safiya, like her teddy bear companion, also stuffs her face only to beat her chest followed by guzzling down some juice after swallowing too quickly.

"Safiya we have loads of time, calm down and eat." Terri reprimands.

Safiya makes a response to this, but her words were muffled from all the food in her mouth. Terri sighs at this, sipping her coffee to show there's nothing to worry about.

It is at this point Jeanne hands her human companion her stopwatch, treating the plate no longer holding sandwiches as shield from the particles of coffee Terri spits out…

"AHH!! IT'S THIS LATE!!" Terri stops freaking out to turn to the silent Safiya and Teddiursa. "WHY ARE YOU TWO EATING SO CASUALLY? WE HAVE TO MOVE! MOVE!! MOVE!!"

Safiya, dot-eyed, could only mouth "Bu" before Terri whisks her and Teddiursa to the backseat of the car within minutes. Jeanne joins afterwards, with everyone's belongings in tow and after, in her own way, securing the apartment door.

--

(Twenty minutes later: Violet Streets)

Nothing but honking and frustration exists on the road.

Terri stares at the seemingly endless line of cars before her, heaves a heavy sigh and proceeds to continuously bang her head against the steering wheel.

"Does that really pass the time when you're bored Auntie?" Safiya questions.

"No, but it keeps me going…" Terri sighs dejectedly before rubbing her now irritated eyes.

There's nothing more annoying than others watching you rub your eyes, especially when you wear glasses. It's like they're thinking, how're you getting stuff in your eyes? You're the one with the glasses…?

…Idiots…

In any case, what's bugging Terri isn't an eyelash or straining herself, it's just some nasty tint of light-blue flashing in the corner of her eyes…

"Auntie, are you okay?" Safiya questions.

The eight-year-old repeats her question when her guardian chooses to look towards the equally busy sidewalk over answering. Since she hears her say something like "May", Safiya innocently answers, "But Auntie, its October."

Because Jeanne pulls her longtime friend's cheek, Terri snaps back to attention and instantly realizes the reason for this punishment. Completely oblivious to her growingly noisy surroundings, Terri turns to Safiya who quietly points out they can move now.

Hah… well, with Safiya around I'm still trying to get used to the concept that I can't lose myself in thought like I used to… Not like that's exactly a wise thing to do in the middle of a busy street anyway…

Still, when looking back, I almost welcomed the idea of getting a headache… It's been quite sometime since she's been in school after all…

--

(Flashback)

"So, this is it, huh?" Teri Rosen questioned as she opened a box full of medical supplies.

After she sorted the contents, the plain woman gave little expression to the twenty other boxes lying around and, as if she wanted an explanation, turned to a muscular man with a flattop hairstyle wearing nothing but a white T-shirt, red sweatpants along with beat-up white sneakers and a whistle on a string he wore like a necklace.

"T-to be honest…The shipment was a tad sudden… But since we lacked an actual full-time medial aide in years, we really had to make sure the only one willing to take the job got the five-star treatment." The man answered hastily. He coughed abruptly when Terri began piling two boxes. "In any case Ms. Rosen… How 'bout I give you a hand with the lugging? We staff members need to look out for one another, like a tight-nit team against the opposition."

"More hands lessen the time but I have no problem making multiple trips." Terri reasoned before she added: "It's just Jeanne is the impatient one between us."

The man's eyes bulged out of his head when he watched the Jynx haul five of the larger boxes out of the room.

"W-well, I can't match that kind of muscle!" he laughed nervously. "But, at least allow me to escort you there. Things can get pretty ugly around this hour when the hot-blood curse rises to full pressure."

"Curse you say?" Terri voiced.

Maybe I exaggerated my wanting to come to Violet… Though the city of history it pales in comparison to Goldenrod, the city of the new-age sun or Ecruteak, the city of scared ash. But the mission of a journalist is to uncover the reality around us and provide inquiring minds with factual proof to why events occur.

This is why I chose Violet; not just because I already land a job before actually arriving there, but, though a place flowing with credited history, a lot of that said history comes from the said blinding level of spiritualism inhabitants of this place is said to share with the "beyond".

Seriously, curses…superstitions, old folklore! People only fall back on such beliefs because they lack a realistic answer for things that confound them! Such beliefs lead only to blind fear and that only shapes ignorance!

As his wish had finally been granted, the man overcame his nervousness to bask in the attention the new school nurse gave him.

"Ye-yeah, I kinda forgot, you're still new here…" he began coolly. "Well, believe it or not, Violet's most powerful, if not only remaining healer suddenly went nuts and out of the bitterness in her heart, hexed the children of Violet by making them hosts and reenact the savage events from "The War of Gaps" period that happened centuries ago. Or so most rumors say…" he remised. "If it were the vengeful souls prosecuted during the "Cleansing Uprising" that actually happened in Violet a little over five hundred years ago I would've tipped my whistle to it and sure, Lynette Hiromi has a strong soul but, that other story goes over-"

As he was lost in thought, he snapped back to attention when Terri voiced: "Oh come on, do you really expect me to believe that. I mean, not even today's preschooler would buy that nonsense. Are you going to tell me luck is suddenly the determining factor of skill and the reality that lottery's are just deliberately isolated handpicked scams?"

While the flirt in him wanted to laugh and agree, the man instead sweatdropped as Terri adjusted her glasses rather calmly despite the two boxes she once held were now crushing her toes.

Ignoring how and when that result came to be, he instead tried to ask if she was okay only to be silenced-

Before Safiya came into my life, it was just one disillusion after another. I was pretty dull and unnoticeable back then and I wasn't really the most appreciated due to my stance on… well, almost everything Violet stood for… Guess I deserved it…

Though I'm still trying to get on the good-side of the bulk of my staff, Coach Kazuma has always been the most polite to me and still is. Such an odd fellow in this day and age…

It wasn't Terri's inching closer out of suspicion that silenced him, although she smells quite nice… It was more the reality that most people living in cities like Violet and Ecruteak are all bound to the ideas of tradition and due to their strong faith (and possible family branches) it shouldn't be surprising if their actions seems "cold" to an ignorant outsider.

With that said, it could explain why the man got so pale around the minuscule spirits circling Terri who, though lacked strength, could become quite mischievous if attached to one with plenty of negative energy…

"Be strong, Ms. Rosen!" he urged, placing two comforting hands on his interests shoulders before handing a phone card to a local cleaner and rushing off.

(Some time later)

It was more of a trial than they expected, but together Terri and Jeanne lugged the final two boxes of nursing goods to their office. All what needed to be done now was setting it all up and removing the student who stood in the cluttered office in awe.

The poor kid probably heard of a new nurse and rushed over to grab some bandages only to meet a forest of boxes, Terri figured. However rather than relieving a child of their fears, Terri and Jeanne sweatdrop when the girl, whose most distinguished features happened to be her long bangs, turned to them proudly with crossed arms.

And three days into my move to Violet and my new job, I met May Hiromi.

I never thought much of May when we first met. She seemed like just another lost cause crying out for attention because her parents had no time for her. Just in her case, she seemed to be a lost cause that was the key target of every other worthless punk in the school.

"And… Is there anything I can do for you?" Terri began.

"Not you really, this office though… I never saw it open before. Kinda interesting don't ya say?" May answered, giving a sharp-toothed grin that made Terri shudder.

"…Riiiight…" Terri voiced. "Well, now that you got your after-school thrill, mind getting out? The nurse's office won't be open until tomorrow, so I'm sure you can lick your catfight wounds elsewhere until then."

"I can get wounded in a fight? Not against the weaklings here anyway." May countered. "That is, unless you wish to prove that? Never dealt with something as worthless as an adult though."

Did that brat just call her worthless? Wait, why was she stressed about that? This kid was nuts! Terri wanted to call her bluff but as that girl voiced: "So, shall we begin?" she could only back away.

Though still holding her boxes, Jeanne stood in May's path threateningly. Something that seemed to amuse the girl.

"You want to fight me too? Hmhmhm, how interesting. Then I'll you carry away first." May grinned. "But you don't look very strong… Are you really a Pokemon? This should be fun anyway."

Jeanne didn't see enjoyment in being threatened. The humanshape Pokemon emphasized this by blowing a light breathe that covered the box she held in a sheet of ice.

I knew those kids were bad but I was pretty scared right there! Granted though, May's changed considerably compared to then…

Back then, she acted as if she was invincible as if picking fights with others no matter who they were gave her some kind of meaning. Then again, I witnessed what she's capable of a few times and I'd be pretty arrogant too knowing I had that monstrous strength.

But recently, she's been so depressed. Maybe she's been humbled, but I can't gather any solid proof to this. All I do know is she's calmer, a lot less talkative, visits me with far more cuts and bruises and moreover, treats what she claimed to love more than anything as a failed hope that she now must live with and does so grudgingly…

I can't help but sympathize in some forms…

Terri was nervous but there was something in the girl's words that made her see the difference between a dangerous punk and a punk that talked too much.

"Don't be stupid! As if a human, nonetheless a little kid can go hand to hand with a Pokemon!" Terri snapped. "Now tell me what you want or I'll call security!"

Though Jeanne kept her stance, May turned to the woman somewhat surprised.

"You're really a miserable person aren't 'cha?" she huffed before proudly crossing her arms. "How about I cut ya a deal? I use this place to rest and I'll blow away all your bad luck."

Jeanne sweatdropped. This will only end with her longtime friend adjusting her glasses and going raging-skeptic on them…

"Luck? You're going to get rid of all my "bad luck"?" Terri began as Jeanne expected. "And what proof do you have that this "luck" is a possible factor to anything around us, hm? If you were simply trying to ditch class that's one thing, but to pull up- You know what? Do what you want! It's your life after all."

"That it is," May yawned. "Well, you're pretty interesting, so I plan on watching you two anyway. Have everything ready by tomorrow then, I'm off."

Terri watched the girl walk off in exasperation but felt a headache when she voiced: "You should be lucky, you're luck has doubled by cooperating with me" as the lingering breeze she made when passing by wouldn't leave her side.

"You think my misery is funny don't you, Jeanne?" Terri groaned to which Jeanne the Jynx shrugged off good-naturedly.

Luck, such nonsense… But in any case, since then, May would grace me with her appearance every now and then. And of course, I got headaches…

Although my relationship with others somehow got better though, and I met Safiya sometime later…

Lucky huh? Hah…But that's all dust in the breeze now anyway…

(End Flashback)

--

(Present time: Kageyama Junior High)

"Hmm… If you're suffering from anything its examination jitters." Terri reasons with a student. "You should just get the test over with, you'll have to take it in the long run or just fail the year."

The student moans about it, but he walks out the room to take the test he blew off twice before.

Terri turns to Jeanne the Jynx with a smile before throwing herself into her chair.

Both were set to a motion of surprise when that same student returned, only this time, he has a strained expression when holding the door.

"THEY GOT HIM!" he shouts. As Terri and Jeanne's only response was blank blinking, he put better emphasis on his words. "Ted and his gang got Ryan!"

At this point, three boys burst into the room with the boys on the left and right hastily carrying the bloodied and bruised boy in the center towards the sick bed.

"Please help him!" the boy on the left pleads.

"Help him? That's why I'm here… Jeanne!"

The Jynx quickly gets to work, grabbing the needed clean cloths while using Powder Snow at its lowest frequency to moisten them. Leaving Terri to simply receive them and do what she could to halt further problems.

It's not like such a sight is out of the norm… From my research, Kageyama Junior High is a low-budget military school that was originally created to be a fighter's paradise for youths worldwide that performed or held interest in various forms of fighting styles and wished to become stronger yet still not lose focus of themselves or the true world around them.

The plan was scrapped out of the fear many living around the area held about such "dangerous" children running around. I also hear there was some foul-play involving the school's Principal, but I've yet to confirm this…

Now, what would've been a journalists paradise and a another proud mark to Violet, has become a home to a lot of the kids who are either delinquents or children who couldn't afford to go to the better schools in Violet.

A hell where only the strong live and the weak are preyed on…

"DON'T CALL THE HOSPITAL!" the boy on the right shouts before lowering his tone. "Just do all you can to help Ryan but don't call that place…"

"School nurses aren't stationed for severe-level matters!" Terri snaps. "The most I can do here is stop the wounds from worsening and call for people who can save him and well as his concerned family!"

"That's why we're begging you to put your fullest effort!" the boy on the left counters. "Ryan is a good guy who doesn't get himself involved in any fights or nothing! He always keeps to himself and was one of the only few guys who had his head on his shoulders… But those bastards! Those low-life bastards still-"

"They only targeted him because kids like Hiromi are getting booted out of school! With them gone, retards like Ted think they can rule…" the boy who skipped his test comments.

"That's why you can't call the hospital because his parents will just freak and transfer him out of Kageyama!" the boy on the right adds angrily. "It's not like it'll do 'em any good! The same shit happens all over and even worse so! Why should guys like Ryan suffer when its assholes like Ted who need to fucking die!"

The venom in the boy's voice really set Terri aback. Jeanne fixes this problem by forcing a Sweet Kiss on the raged youth, successfully placing him under the sandman's spell.

Terri mutters a small apology to the remaining boys as she picks up the phone…

However, this problem seems to go far outside one problem school. In Violet City, all youths within middle and high schools are being consumed by uncontrollable rage; feeling brutal violence is the only resolution to everything…

Many brush this combative behavior off as nothing more than mere youth rebellion until the increase of irrational behavior, not to mention the number of children doing so forced everyone to fear the worse. They even dubbed this epidemic: The hot-blood curse

…Proof in the pudding about ignorance… Nevertheless, the actions going on ARE painful to see and it's even worse when I know there's only so much I can do…

For the first time since high school, I'm able to reflect and contrast the eyes and hearts of others openly… More importantly, just afraid that Safiya will become consumed like them… or worse off, their victim…

For that reason alone I'll need to head for the claimed source to all this damage and confirm this how only a journalist can.

--

(Much later that day: Hiromi Household)

"Safiya is such a sweetheart!" Mrs. Hiromi smiles.

I feel as if I'm abusing a newfound friendship, but this woman, Lynette Hiromi, is rumored to be the "enchantress" responsible for placing a "curse" on her fellow Violets for some kind of unknown revenge.

Using her daughter, which is revealed by an anonymous source to really be a demon taking young human skin (possibly a human sacrifice was needed), to be the vessel needed to spread the curse two years ago. Area of the starting point has yet to be revealed…

…This has got to be the largest amount of bull I ever heard! But I'm not just doing this as a journalist; I'm doing this for the future of children like Safiya!

Mrs. Hiromi takes her time going through a few more collected photos before facing Terri with a nostalgic look. "May was quite adorable herself when she was small… a bit sassy, but that only amplified the cuteness. But are you sure this is alright?" she questions. "I mean, those after school programs must be done by now."

Terri shakes her head. "It's alright, the friend I mentioned to you the other day, Jeanne, picks up Safiya while I'm at the Café. It's my day off today but I guess we're both a little too used to the routine…"

Seeing the apologetic expression on Mrs. Hiromi's face, Terri realizes changing the subject would be a heck of lot easier than placing her foot in her mouth. "Umm… you and May…You two are really interesting together, at least that's the vibe I felt when I watched you two chatting that day…"

Mrs. Hiromi's eyes downcast to her coffee mug after that comment making Terri wish she simply went with trying to put her foot in her mouth.

Terri removes herself from her seat, facing the silent Mrs. Hiromi with a guilty expression.

I wish there was another way but, I'll get to the bottom of this even if I must use others! I would've had no problem doing this back in the beginning!

But…

"I… This morning- Tch! I'm very sorry for not revealing that sooner! B-but as a member of school staff I'm very curious to know about May's whereabouts! But I'm equally happy I accepted your invitation from the other day-" Terri bit the bottom of her lip before finishing. "So thank you having me!"

"Shouldn't I be the teary-eyed one? I'm as much a failure of a host as I am a person… "

Terri wasn't expecting her to actually say anything. This act alone left her frozen in in place.

However that freeze eventually thaws when Mrs. Hiromi adds, "Still, you've done this wicked enchantress a great service at the chance of human contact outside her evil incarnate creation… I thank you for caring for her in school as well…"

Terri Rosen isn't one to let a cynic get to her. But when that cynic tries to imply some gibberish of the paranormal…

…Well, her glasses need some adjustment…

--

(Elsewhere: Violet Streets)

Jeanne the Jynx makes her way through the familiar area; completely oblivious to the spontaneous outbreak of dancing from the people she passes. Eventually, the humanshape Pokemon notices the ever familiar sight of a large open gate revealing many buildings within its contents.

However, that familiar place of destination lies on the opposite side of the street…

Without any further thought, Jeanne hastily makes her way across, completely oblivious to the cars that have to make forceful halts to let her by.

This doesn't sit well with one driver, whose vehicle is closest to running Jeanne over; due to the morning traffic jam his carpool no longer trust him at the wheel, was placed with heavy fines, late for work and docked pay he needed!

Now, to make an already crappy day worse, this stupid kid runs in the middle of the street, deliberately stops in front of his car forcing him to hit his breaks triggering that hunk of metals oversensitive "safety" functions!

There's going to be hell to pay and he proves this by storming out his car ready to give the still child the scolding of their life! Rather than see a near crying child, he comes face-to-face with a seething Jynx.

All who were close enough to the area now witness the one-sided fight between the furious Jeanne and the no longer disgruntled man… Many were pretty sure Jynxs should Double Slap their foe rather than pummel them with their fists- No, wait! It was brief, but she just threw a rapid one!

"Oh Jeanne!" a female calls out.

Hearing the familiarity of the welcoming voice, Jeanne gives her opponent one final punch before finally making her way to the gate.

"You just missed her; Safiya went off with her friends saying she'll be going home by herself today."

Seeing the worried expression on the Jeanne's face, the security guard of West Violet Elementary begins to second guess her choice…

--

Once a nameless Route, this lush flatland now serves the residents of Violet City as an excellent park to bring their children. It's also gives a beautiful far-off view of the higher areas of the well-known Sprout Tower.

"You guys weren't joking! Sprout Tower looks amazing during a sunset!" Safiya exclaims to her two friends.

"Mr. Stuffums thinks so too." Safiya's friend with long black hair adds in a cute yet mousey voice says. She then points to Safiya's Teddiursa, who treated Safiya's other friend; a girl with messy blond hair as a post to climb on and view.

It's fair to say, the blond isn't too pleased about that.

"The only reason we're here now is because you were a no show this morning Safiya!" the blond girl argues. She then lowers to a more worried expression. "We should just forget the castle today and head home! My sister said it best herself: "When the sun begins to set the hot-blood curse takes its greatest manifestation!""

"You scared?" the black-haired girl teases.

"They're big kids!" the blond argues. "Some of them teenagers like my sister and she's scary when she's mad!! The worst of them is a middle school kid known as the Devil-Girl! She has horns hidden as weird looking hair, has dripping sharp fangs and likes to eat small super cute Pokemon!"

After hearing that, Mr. Stuffums the Teddiursa pales. The Pokemon leaps from his spot gesturing to the trio to move to another (if not safer) location.

The blond feels relief that someone takes her warnings to heart. Not like the other two, who hold deep skepticism over the matter. As the girl with long black-hair isn't the type to budge when she wants something, the blond knows her open pigtailed friend would never let her down!

"Dunno… I suppose if Pokemon exist in the world then things like devils can too." Safiya reasons before facing the blond with a huge toothed-grin. "But if Megumi is scared, Safi will hold her hand to wash all the troubles away."

While Mr. Stuffums and the girl with black hair find amusement in this, the humiliated blond known as Megumi pulls at Safiya's cheeks.

Hi! My name Safiya. I'm an ordinary third grader who never had a stable home until I finally began living under the roof of my guardian. Auntie Terri is a very eccentric woman but I love her very much! The same would go for Jeanne, Terri's roommate and longtime friend, whose fun to be around.

Jeanne isn't exactly normal, she isn't even human! She's actually one of the many species of magical creatures called Pokemon. Even though Auntie Terri doesn't think much of magic and ghosts, Pokemon exist alongside us as our closest friends and as this planet's protectors for as long as time could tell!!

But I'll easily admit there as much bad Pokemon out there as there are cruel people…

You see Mr. Stuffums? He was beaten to an inch of his life by a cruel Pokemon. If me and the two girls I'm with, Naomi and Megumi, didn't wander off during the class trip to Ruins of the Alph to get him help, things would have ended sadly for him.

After that, we all started to slowly talk to each other and finally become friends. Though, I'm not sure if we still would've became friends due to the situation, our equal concern for Mr. Stuffums brought our hearts together to get over our fears and become strong…

How Pokemon can bring people together must be their greatest power!

Though it's kind of silly, Naomi wanted us to meet in Yuzu Park this morning to show us-AHHH!!

The girl with long-black hair known as Naomi gives out a horrified cry that makes her two friends halt their prior actions to rush towards her. Adding to their confusion is a wide-eyed Mr. Stuffums who stood in his place while pointing out to the area before him.

It isn't long until Safiya and Megumi stare at the sight of the once lovely playground ravaged by reckless Pokemon battling.

"Nay-Naomi, i-is this what you wanted show us?!" Safiya exclaims wide-eyed.

"I told you we shouldn't have come to park!" Megumi cries.

The only answer either girl get from now shuddering Naomi is a nasty hissy-fit.

--

"You mean to tell me May running away from home isn't unusual?!" Terri exclaims with a freaked out expression.

"It's not like May has any other place to go or friends to turn to, so she would just roam the streets for a while until she cooled off…" Mrs. Hiromi admits. "Hah, that's what I get though… I always treated her more like a free-speaking friend, so she never really had that strong figure to feel safest with…or in my case, take seriously…"

"What are talking about? You're her mother and that counts for a lot! Had that been my mom, she would've slapped me so hard my teeth would rattle!"

"So would mine…" Mrs. Hiromi agrees. "That's why I hate her… My mother was authoritative, overbearing and incorrigible; it was her way or out the door… That's why I promised myself, if I ever have children, it would be a relationship based on love and trust, not fear and absolute rule."

Terri doesn't really care for the passive method, but sips her coffee all the same. "Mrs. Hiromi-I mean, Lynette… If I may ask… These rumors, hot-blood curse, you being a witch! We both know this all is a scapegoat to hide from the real problems! So how can you put up with living such horrible lie?"

Mrs. Hiromi is taken aback by Terri's straightforwardness but gives a hesitant little smile all the same.

--

"wh-Is this… some kind of joke?" Safiya voices.

Amongst war-torn destruction is a battered and bruised May Hiromi. Though unmoving, the girl is completely bound to a sandbox by vines which root itself to the ground.

Though all of the onlookers are in a state of shock, Megumi exhibits the most. Whimpering lightly, the blond latches her hands onto Safiya's right hand tightly not even realizing she crumples to her knees.

The trio watches the crying girl shake like a leaf, trying to speak but only generates greater feelings of uneasiness in the process.

On the verge of tears herself, Naomi's confusion turns into frustration as she turns to the crying blond shouting "SPIT IT OUT!!"

"It's her!" Megumi blurts out! "The Pokemon eating Devil-Girl!!"

Safiya, Naomi and Mr. Stuffums feel as if everything in their systems stops when they slowly face the bound May.

'This is…' Safiya mentally shudders. 'This is a living devil?'

The twelve-year-old groans lightly, lifting her head slowly to reveal a lifeless expression.

To be continued…

--

(Notes)

08/17/07 Update- Was hoping I'd release all the Chapter 0 tense changes at once. Oh well. Well, like Part A before it, I edited this chapter in terms of tenses and wordiness.

Also, (though this shouldn't bother newer readers) three scenes have been removed from the original version: The first was the part in the beginning, which was a repeat of the events at the Café before fully branching out to be in Mrs. Hiromi and Terri's perspective. Though not a bad scene it was… unfinished (or missing something in-between). I never realized this until getting around rereading Chapter 0 a couple of months back.

The second removal was Terri actually going to her second job to see the Café vandalized and talks to the owner centering on the hot-blood curse and Mrs. Hiromi. I removed this scene as I felt it was kinda needless and possibly too cruel. Though it held a nice discussion centering on human ignorance and hypocrisy I said "Isn't that Chapter 0 in a nutshell?" So I ultimately removed it and in a more light-hearted approach, have Terri simply get a day off from work to visit Mrs. Hiromi as I also wanted to emphasize on her own levels of skepticism and how much she's grown as a person herself from what she described herself as.

The third removal was a flashback concerning an argument Mrs. Hiromi gets into with May after the events of Part A. It was a nice scene showing the emotion both had for the other but it was overdramatic to me and also, I emphasized pretty well already that though having a "strained" relationship of sorts, Mrs. Hiromi really does love her daughter while May does posses some level of respect for her mother. No need to lay that on so thick.

Also, this half is Terri's story; the reflection of a community-wide problem in the eyes of a neutral third-party.

Finally, to emphasize this truth I plain out altered the events during the scene she "sees" May (in which she leaves the car to talk to the girl. Was never too fond of how I originally handled it.) As well as the flashback which pretty much were events I written for her a side story I scrapped but found use for it here as, this is Terri Rosen's story.

Fun final note- "The War of Gaps" is something I couldn't help but make a reference to as it's an event that carries over to the main storyline. Couldn't help but slip it in early (as it plays no real worth at the moment over someone's reasoning.) While the "Cleansing Uprising" is more or less based on real historical events involving various prosecutions and crusades made by different religions.

A touchy subject I'd rather wish to avoid.