And here comes another chapter! No prompt this time, but see the author's notes for details. I do not own Pokémon, and all prompts are the property of Artist's Zone user Wizardmon. They are being summarized here with permission.

12. Consequence

Holly glumly let Anabel escort her to the Pokémon Center. She hoped none of the nurses would notice her tear stained face. If they did, none of them inquired about it. Holly took shaky breaths, trying to stem more from coming. She was aware of Anabel glancing at her as she tried to control herself.

Yet the woman's face was unreadable as she led Holly into the room they'd used before.

Grave thoughts consumed Holly.

What would Anabel do to her? What would she do to her Pokémon? She said she wouldn't stop the journey, but would she hinder her somehow?

Would her mother find out? Would she be a criminal forever?

It was all too much.

Holly couldn't resist bursting into sobs again as she followed Anabel into the room. Hot tears burned Holly's face, and before long her vision was swimming.

She couldn't see much, but she heard Anabel closing the door and lock it tight.

Holly wondered if anyone could hear her sobbing. Would they think she needed rescuing?

She didn't have time to ponder it as she heard Anabel walk over. Holly nearly jumped out of her skin as Anabel grabbed her arm again.

Yet this time, there was no malice or pain, and Holly could feel herself gently being led over to the back of the room. She felt her legs brush up against a chair and instinctively scrambled for a hold.

Yet her hands could not stop shaking, and she missed.

Holly would've fallen if Anabel had not her other arm. She gently maneuvered her in front of the chair. "Sit down." She commanded.

Holly did as she was told, and even through blurry vision, she could see the Anabel had locked eyes with her.

"Stay there for a few minutes. I'm going to get you some water."

Before Holly could protest, Anabel had walked across the room.

She could hear the woman rummaging around in a bag of supplies. Dimly, Holly registered water pouring into a cup.

Anabel's footsteps grew louder, and she spoke to Holly again.

"Here's a cup of water. Can you take it?"

Holly attempted to answer that question, yet her hands were shaking so much she nearly dropped the cup of water.

Luckily, Anabel grabbed it back, stating "I should've known… Wait for just a little longer."

Holly could once again hear Anabel walking away, but soon her ears registered the movement of a chair. The chair clanged a bit as it was moved next to Holly's. Holly could hear the cup of water being set down. She also thought something puffy had been set down.

She reached out her hand, realized it was a tissue box.

"Dry your tears with those, Holly. If you need more water, let me know." Anabel instructed.

Again, her tone of voice left Holly no clues, and she still wondered what Anabel was going to do.

She didn't have time to ponder it much, as she registered something else moving. Even with her blurred vision, Holly could tell that this was a wastebasket, and it had been placed on the side opposite from the second chair.

Holly hoped she wouldn't need it, but the pain in her stomach almost told her otherwise.

What if she was sick in front of Anabel again?

It would be just another way of being embarrassed again today…

Yet if Anabel thought Holly was going to be sick, she gave no indication.

Instead, Holly heard the woman walking around, before she finally sat down in a chair.

Holly rapidly grabbed a tissue, and dried her eyes. She took the time to blow her nose as well, somehow managing to toss the used item into the wastebasket.

Now, she could finally look at Anabel.

The woman was sitting across from her, eyes still betraying no emotion.

Chills ran down Holly's back as she remembered Anabel was a police officer.

Was this what it felt like to be interrogated? Did Anabel think this was an interrogation?

And if so, what did that mean for Holly?

She was snapped from her thoughts as Anabel stated "Start talking, Holly. I want hear your side of things first."

Somehow, Holly's trembling hands lifted up the cup of water. She brought it to her lips and took a huge drink.

Each drop felt like sand against her parched throat, but she forced herself to keep going.

If it kept her from throwing up or crying anymore, it would be worth it.

She set the cup down, and try not to let fear show as she faced Anabel.

"Well, I'm from Celadon." Holly suddenly shook her head.

That was a lie. Who knew where she was from?

So she quickly corrected herself as Anabel waited.

"Well, I'm not really from Celadon. The Gym Leader, Erika, found me when I was a baby. She adopted me and raised me as her own."

Holly remembered now. Her mother had always told her the story.

That story of when, one night, Holly suddenly showed up on the Gym's doorstep. All the authorities could find about her was her name, and any searches for her real parents were futile. Some suggested Erika put Holly in foster care, but her mother had refused.

From that day on, she became the Gym Leader's daughter.

Holly didn't know how much of it was true, but her mother had never lied.

Besides, it was all she had to go on.

Holly resisted the urge to shudder. What would her mother think of her now?

Holly's thoughts were snapped from the past as Anabel focused on the present.

"Your Trainer Card says you begin your journey at Viridian. That's a long way from Celadon. How'd you get so far from home?"

At this, Holly tried even harder not to have her fear make a comeback. Yet she was unsuccessful as she continued to shake.

Anabel was so insistent on supervising her... What would she say when she heard that Holly was allowed to move to Viridian by herself?

Yet the truth had to come out, and it was clear Anabel wouldn't settle for anything less.

So, Holly took another huge swallow of the water.

She tried hard not to let her voice tremble as she spoke. "Well, I heard about this research project from this new professor, Pine. I decided I wanted to participate, and my mother let me leave. The project started in Viridian, though, so I had to move there."

Anabel placed a hand on her chin, deep in thought. However, there was no missing the sternness in her eyes.

"So from what I understand, your mother, Gym Leader Erika of Celadon, let you go to a faraway city, alone. All so you could participate in a research project for a professor hardly anyone knows?" Holly could now hear the slightest hint of exasperation in Anabel's voice.

At this, Holly could not but feel her own rage bubbling inside of her.

Who was Anabel to criticize her mother's decision?

Holly worked to keep her hands from balling into fists as she replied.

"I told her I was strong, and that the journey would be good for me! Besides, most Pokémon Trainers leave when they're younger than me. And the professor paid my mother, too!"

Annabel's eyes hardened, and she adopted the icy cold voice she had used before.

Holly forced herself to make eye contact as another shudder went down her back.

"And yet sending you alone to a remote town where hardly anyone knows you is a tremendous risk. Surely your mother must have known this. Why did you even choose to go on the research project? Why did you choose to take that risk?"

Holly fought to keep her voice even as she stated.

"Well, Erika might've raised me, but I'm nothing like her. We clashed all the time. So I got the chance to leave, I couldn't wait. I wanted to find my real parents, and also who I really was."

"And you did this despite Erika treating you like her own child? Your real parents were that important to you?"

This time, Holly couldn't prevent her voice shaking.

Perhaps Anabel was right, and her reasoning was stupid.

She hadn't told her all of it, though.

So, Holly managed to choke out.

"That's not the only thing! There was also those awful bullies! They were in the schoolyard… The city... Everywhere! They would never stop picking on me, all because I was the Gym Leader's daughter!"

Holly could feel another wave of tears coming on. Somehow, she knew that Anabel wouldn't accept this as a valid answer.

But she had to keep going.

"Bullies... Thieves… Criminals… It doesn't matter who… I'm going to destroy them all! And to do that, I had to get stronger! And leaving on the journey was the best way to do that!"

She paused as she remembered her final reason.

"But more than that, I wanted to develop my own life, apart from my mother! It's the only way to find my real parents! And to make sure those horrible people never torment anyone ever again!"

Holly let out a gasp after she spoke, and noticed Anabel had closed her eyes.

The woman appeared pensive, but in a moment, she had opened her eyes again.

She fixed Holly with the same stern gaze as she spoke. "If you spent your life fending off bullies, then you should know not to act like them. Yet, from your actions earlier today, that is clearly not true. You almost became what you hate… by nearly ending an innocent life."

Holly stiffened, and tears began to well up in her eyes. It hurt to hear the words in her head before, but it hurt even more to hear them from someone else now.

Anabel showed no sympathy in her eyes as she sharply continued.

"So how could someone that went on a journey to stop wrongdoers suddenly decide to murder a Pokémon?"

At this, the tears fell.

Holly knew her reason had been stupid!

And now she had to explain it to someone who held her entire journey in her hands.

Holly lunged for a tissue, trying to stem the flow of tears.

Yet it was no use, and they continued coming.

Holly's vision blurred again, but she was sure Anabel had no kindness in her eyes.

Finally, she managed to barely speak.

"Well… Nidoran had hurt me… and... and… and… I was afraid that if I released her, she would hurt others. So I wanted to make sure… She could never hurt anyone again… And the only way I could think of doing that… Was killing her…"

If Holly's pain affected Anabel, she didn't show it. Instead, she coolly responded.

"So based on what you previously told me… You thought Nidoran was a criminal, and you were going to dispose of her. And you did this without realizing that you were becoming a criminal… Am I correct?"

Holly shakily nodded. What was Anabel going to do?

Yet, the woman's next comment caught Holly off guard.

"Holly, what is your favorite Pokémon on your team?"

Holly's eyes widened. She wanted to ask where that had come from, but she got the better of it.

"Torracat!" She blurted out.

Anabel held out her hand.

"Could you give it to me?"

Holly's eyes continued to grow wide as the shaking did not cease.

Every fiber in her body screamed at her to refuse.

Yet she could not.

Who knew what Anabel would do to her if she did?

Holly's hands trembled so much he nearly dropped Torracat's Poke Ball. Yet somehow she managed to pass it into Anabel's outstretched palm.

Anabel's eyes grew stern, and she held the Poké Ball tightly in her palm.

"Holly, this Torracat is your Nidoran, and it died by your hand today."

At this, Holly's eyes went wide, and she let out a scream that she was sure the entire Center could hear.

"No, don't kill it!"

Anabel remained unmoved. Instead, she focused on Holly.

"I wasn't planning to. What I want to know is how you would feel if what I just said was the case."

Anabel paused, waiting for Holly's response.

Holly looked down at her trembling hands. Her throat went dry as she realized could not speak.

She couldn't imagine a journey without Torracat! She'd probably just quit right there!

Holly took another huge gulp of her water, realizing she had drained the cup. She wanted to ask Anabel for more, but she could still barely speak.

Finally, Holly managed to choke out.

"I would feel horrible about it... And… And… And… sad beyond belief… Probably angry too…"

At this, Anabel looked straight into Holly's eyes. Holly shrank back as the sharp gaze pierced her.

Holly tried looking away at the empty cup, and Anabel seemed to get the message.

Rapidly, she grabbed some water from her supply and refilled Holly's.

Yet the woman never took her eyes off her, and Holly continued shrinking back.

After what seemed like forever, Anabel finally spoke.

"I see you are honest. But honesty is not enough. You need to remember to show compassion for all innocents, not just the ones you like."

The woman locked eyes with Holly again, and she shrunk back a second time.

"Clearly, you need more reminders."

Holly blinked away tears.

More reminders? What sort of reminders did Anabel mean?

Holly knew it couldn't have been good.

But Anabel said next made her blood run cold.

"I think it's time you faced the consequences of your actions, Holly."

Holly tried her hardest not to cry again as her fearful eyes met Anabel's.

Face the consequences? Didn't she already have consequences after what happened at the lake?

And Anabel could do anything!

Was she going to put her in jail?

Was she going to make Holly a criminal for life?

Would she hurt her? Or her Pokémon?

Holly stared at the chair and her trembling hands. She couldn't meet Anabel's eyes. Not when tears were about to fall…

Yet, Anabel's sharp command pierced through her ears.

"Look at me."

Holly didn't dare look away as she shakily met Anabel's icy cold eyes.

But nothing could prepare Holly for what the woman said next.

"Until further notice, I'm keeping Torracat."

Holly screeched. Her vision blurred as tears ran down her face like waterfalls.

How could Anabel keep Torracat? That would make her a thief!

Holly tried to speak, but all that came out was tears. She registered the water and the tissues being shoved into her hand as she heard Torracat's Poké Ball being put away somewhere.

Holly took another drink of the water, wiping her eyes.

She couldn't see Torracat's Poké Ball, but the sternness had not left Anabel's eyes.

Regardless, Holly blurted out. "You can't do that! That's stealing!"

Annabel shook her head. "I asked for Torracat before, and you gave it to me. Therefore, it's not stealing."

Holly glanced Anabel's belt. Six Poké Balls shimmered on it.

Immediately, the tears threatened to spill over again as Holly screeched.

"You already have six Pokémon! You can't take another!"

Yet Anabel betrayed no emotion as she stated. "Trainers can have more than six Pokémon with them as long as some are not their own. As a Gym Leader's adopted daughter, you should know that."

Holly clenched her fist as her vision started to blur again.

This couldn't be happening!

Holly's voice rose to a pitch that she didn't think possible, and it was loud enough to fill the entire room. She screamed. "But I promised!"

Anabel shook her head. "A promise is not enough. I've seen many, many, people make promises, Holly. Yet when they break them, they're just empty words."

Holy shivered and tried to back away, but she was only meant by a dull ache as her back hit the wall.

Is that what the promises her and Anabel had made earlier were? Empty words?

Before Holly could fire off a retort, Anabel spoke again.

"I want you to prove to me that you're not like that. It's not enough to simply say you won't try to kill Pokémon again. The only way to ensure you keep your promise… Is to make sure you feel what losing one would've been like."

Holly found her voice, yelling at the top of her lungs. "I will just go capture more Pokémon!"

Annabel shook her head. "I'm not letting you get off that easy. Until your punishment is done, you are forbidden from having more than five Pokémon on your person. If you capture a sixth, you must give it to me immediately. When we reach a PC, you will put the Pokémon in a box."

Anabel focused her gaze Holly's belt, and an angry finger pointed at the space where Torracat's Poké Ball had been. Holly tried to move away, but Anabel held her in place.

Her words chilled Holly to the bone, but she was forced to listen.

"This will be your reminder of what you did. If you had gone through with your plan today, this is what Nidoran would've been. Empty. Nothing. And all because of you."

At this, the tears cascaded down Holly's face.

All because of her…

What had she done?

Holly rapidly grabbed the tissues and the water.

Anabel stepped back as Holly took a drink and blew her nose.

Anabel's words stung more than needles.

Yet a question still rattled in Holly's mind.

Between sobs and gasps she asked. "What if I need to use Torracat for emergencies? For Gym battles?"

In a softer voice, she continued. "What if I just want to play with it?"

Annabel gazed straight at her and she responded. "You may have Torracat back temporarily with my permission. But if I say no, you listen."

Holly couldn't believe what she was hearing! She wasn't even allowed to play with her own Pokémon anymore?

"But what about training?" She blurted out.

"I will train Torracat for you, and you are welcome to watch. But you cannot interfere."

Alongside all her fright, Holly felt a spark of something.

Defiance that burned like fire, she realized.

So she couldn't even train her own Pokémon now? How dare Anabel take the very image of a Trainer away from her!

Holly shouted. "What if I refuse?"

Anabel's voice was as cold as ice as she replied. "If you go back on your promise, then I go back on mine. Your journey will end here. Today."

At this, Holly let out a gasp. Anabel hadn't specified how she would end Holly's journey. However, Holly had a pretty good idea.

She shook her head furiously.

Annabel looked her straight in the eye as she responded. "Then, do you accept the punishment?"

Holly squeezed right shot, and nodded.

It was then that the floodgates opened.

The tears flowed freely, and Holly couldn't stop them no matter how hard she tried.

But something else returned.

That horrific pain in her stomach.

Holly knew was coming next.

Luckily, Annabel did too.

As Holly lurched forward, Anabel grabbed the wastebasket. She wrapped her free hand around Holly's back as Holly vomited into the container.

As before, the tears didn't stop. If anything, they grew worse.

And with it came the vomiting.

Over and over.

Holly thought it would never end.

But eventually, Anabel took the wastebasket away. She sat Holly up, holding the cup to her lips.

Holly gratefully drained the cup, and Anabel quickly refilled it.

"Drink as much as you can. It will help you to stop."

Holly moved her mouth to say something, but Anabel shook her head.

"Now's not the time to talk. Try to sit and listen."

Holly blinked, confusion written in her eyes.

But Anabel clearly answered her silent question. "You were wondering before about who I was. And since you gave me your story, I'm going to return the favor."

Author's notes:

-So Holly gets the second part of her punishment. I chose this because I thought it fit well with Holly's crime. Furthermore, it prevents her from getting off scott-free, while at the same time not slowing down her journey or the story. I felt like it was also in character for Anabel to do something else, because as someone who has probably seen a lot of criminals, she would really want to make sure Holly does not become one (hence her line about promises and empty words).

-Those who have read the author's note for the first chapter may recognize some of Holly story. What Holly talks about can be found in the history section of her original profile for the RP. The exception is what she says about Erika, since the original profile did not elaborate on how the Gym Leader found her.

-The idea that trainers can have more than six Pokémon as long as some are not their own comes from the Generation IV games. In these games, if the player teamed up with a partner character and had six Pokémon, the partner could still send out all of theirs. This means that seven or more Pokémon could be on the battlefield, despite the fact that the games usually only allowed six. Some of these partner battles also carried over into the newer games, where the same thing could happen. The most extreme example of this is in a battle near the end of Platinum, where was possible for the game to have 12 Pokémon in battle. This is because the partner always had six Pokémon, and the player could have six of their own.