Hi again! This one's a bit on the short side, but it's here to help get things rolling. Enjoy!

Poke-ball 9: Sleuth

The ancient floorboard of the house creaked under the seesawing of Agatha's rocking chair. Her abode was small, but filled with the unbending pride of her bloodline. The mountainside view was worth murder, as many battles both written and unwritten in history books could attest to. The wildlife thrived at taking lives of even veteran Trainers and their pets, true marvels of natural power. But even those expert killers bowed to Agatha, the sovereign of wraiths.

Her Gengar, one of many, materialized beside her with its usual devilish grin. Its eyes flashed crimson, and already Agatha felt the psychic images and information imprinting onto her brain. Her Ghost-types were not just brutes of war and sport, but her personal sleuths that kept her informed of all things. Walls and privacy were nothing to a spirit.

Agatha sighed, letting her small form sink back into the cushions of her chair. "Ungrateful brat. Does he really think his quiet schemes and seething will let him overthrow a nation? You have seen only a sliver of true power and knowledge, child."

The Gengar cackled, and Agatha held out her hand. It passed through the ghost, of course, and some of the smoky vapor within curled around her limb. She pulled back when her arm began to tingle with cold and numbness. The Gengar vanished, though its gleeful cries could still be heard. Feeding time was over.

What to do about the boy? Red, wasn't it? Never had the Champion been so young. The public ate him up, of course, but really it was absurd. The Champion status was meant for adults, perhaps older teenagers. Yet here they were with a child, who knew nothing but battles between pets. Loyal, loving, and well-trained pets, but pets nonetheless.

She supposed she felt sorry for him, in a way. He had fought everyone's pets, thinking those were their strongest. But of course they couldn't use their strongest, not on TV anyway. Had to keep everything sanitized for the viewers.

But this boy…he was too young to remember any of the wars. Yet, sometimes, she saw a cold spark that set his red eyes ablaze. A natural viciousness that she saw only in the wildest beings. It bothered Agatha, to see such bloodlust in someone who should be innocent. If his rebellious behavior continued, combined with that kind of feral heart…

"You think you want war, boy? We'll show you war."

IIIIII

Looks like things might heat up earlier than planned for Red. Is he prepared?