Onto the next chapter of Holly Rising! No prompts this time, but a lot of things happen! See the author's notes for details, and I do not own Pokémon. All prompts are the property of Artist's Zone User Wizardmonfan.

20. Criminal

Holly had never been interrogated by police, but she was sure she was going to be now.

Anabel had stated she had committed many crimes, and the woman clearly wanted information…

And wasn't asking criminals for information what police officers did during interrogation?

It certainly seemed what Anabel was going to do.

Anabel's icy cold eyes still pierced Holly's, and she flinched back.

Dark thoughts consumed Holly.

Being read her Miranda rights…

Being hauled off to jail…

And having an entire court staring at her…

But this wasn't a trial. Or at least it didn't seem to be. Usually, at a trial, both sides spoke, and Anabel said that she wouldn't let Holly give her opinion on what happened.

But if not a trial, then what was this?

Holly's gaze wandered to Kris. The older Trainer was still sitting on the bed, but there was still fear in her eyes.

Was she afraid for Anabel, or of her?

Perhaps the older trainer was afraid of Holly?

Perhaps it was something else?

Kris's pain was still jammed, and Holly could detect nothing.

But she did know that a bully had a right to be afraid.

Yet her attention was jerked away from Kris, as Holly was forced to look at Anabel.

The woman was sitting across from her in a chair. Kris and the bed were to her right.

Holly's head was jerked upward, and she stared straight into Anabel's icy eyes.

The woman's voice held no emotion as she started to speak. "Holly of Celadon, you have committed many wrongs. First, you nearly killed a Pokémon. There was no provocation, and you showed almost no remorse."

Holly clenched her fists.

Anabel was wrong!

There was provocation, and she showed remorse afterward!

Holly tried to speak, but found she couldn't.

Psychic power radiated, and the Espeon focused.

It was clear the Pokémon didn't want Holly to speak until Anabel was done.

Anabel continued. "After that, you decided you would abandon me by getting me attacked by wild Pokémon. All because you blamed me for a loss in battle."

Holly glared at Anabel. That battle was her fault! Anabel took Torracat away, and because of that, Holly had lost!

Anabel glanced towards Kris as she continued. "But that's not all. This Trainer, Kris, decided to show you mercy when she heard of your crimes. She simply incapacitated you with her Pokémon, when she could've done much worse."

Holly fixed Anabel with a fiery glare, yet the woman appeared unnerved. Using a Parasect to put her to sleep in some dark cave was "simply incapacitating"? That wasn't incapacitating! That was an attack!

Couldn't Anabel see that?

Yet the woman was already continuing. "However, you repaid that mercy by heavily injuring Kris, to the point where she had to use wild Pokémon to save herself."

Now, Holly was sure Anabel was overreacting. Kris had trouble standing at the end, but she was not that badly hurt. At least, Holly knew her injuries were worse.

Yet Anabel did not care as she continued. "You also put me and my Pokémon at risk by scattering my Poké Balls over a dangerous area. Both my Pokémon and I could've died."

Holly continued to glare. Anabel had gotten her Pokémon back, so what was there to worry about?

But Anabel only fixed Holly with another cold glare as she continued to speak. "Finally, you made Kris so distressed that she had a major panic attack and had to be moved here."

At the mention of her name, Kris looked straight at Anabel, but her expression still held fear.

Perhaps Kris didn't want Anabel standing up for her. But Holly thought the older Trainer would've said something…

Instead, she continued sitting and staring.

Holly might not have known what Kris was thinking, but she knew what panic attacks were.

And she knew almost everything about them was fake.

Kris was probably just having the attack because she wanted attention.

Besides, Holly had a reason for doing what she did.

She had to stop all bullies.

Even ones like her own Pokémon, and powerful Trainers like Kris.

She defiantly glared at Anabel, and the woman shook her head.

"As a member of the International Police, it is my duty to stop criminals, and Holly, right now, you are a criminal. Right now, I should throw you in a jail cell."

Holly felt her blood run cold, and she couldn't stop shaking.

She couldn't be a criminal!

That would make her like the bullies she hated!

And she had done everything she did to stop them!

Anabel couldn't throw her in a jail cell! She said she wouldn't stop the journey!

But looking at Anabel's piercing eyes, she wondered if the woman would do just that.

Yet what Anabel said next made Holly shake even more.

"Kris has a device that allows her to contact many people. We've already contacted the Professor."

Holly's eyes went wide, and her face went pale.

How could they have done that? They didn't even know the Professor! Hardly anyone did!

But now Holly could see a device in Kris's left hand. It looked like a cell phone, but Holly could see that it had many different buttons. Not to mention, Kris seemed to have a place where she could wear it on her hand. Holly briefly wondered what kind of device that was, but Anabel snapped her from her thoughts.

"The Professor has agreed that it would be possible to remove you from the study. Everything you have, including your badges and your Pokémon, would be transferred to Kris. She would continue on in your place."

Holly wanted to scream back at Anabel, but still found out she couldn't.

Kris couldn't participate in the study! She was much too old! And why use a rookie Trainer's Pokémon when she had all her own?

She glanced at Kris, hoping to get some answer from the older Trainer. However, the expression had changed from fear to something unreadable.

Holly was thrown back to look at Anabel as she spoke again. "The Professor did agree that it would be a bit of an inconvenience due to Kris's age, but after everything that's happened, she's willing to make an exception. She says Kris might be a good way to observe how younger trainers contrast with older ones. And she's very excited to study a disabled trainer, because, apparently, no one else has."

Holly shook her head, stifling a scream.

This couldn't be happening! Anabel promised she wouldn't stop the journey!

Yet Holly felt no relief as Anabel shook her head again. "Lucky for you, Kris has declined. However, the Professor is still leaving that option open, and she might even force it if you act up again."

Holly's eyes continued to go wide, but Anabel showed no sympathy.

Her next words stung more than needles. "The Professor wasn't the only one that was contacted. Kris knows how to contact Erika too."

Holly shakes her head, and could feel bile rising in her throat. Luckily, the psychic energy forced it down, but Holly still couldn't help feeling nauseated.

Her mother now knew everything! What did that mean for Holly?

Anabel continued coldly. "Erika knows everything you did. Your mother wants you removed from the League challenge, Holly."

Holly could feel a scream rising up, but she still couldn't speak.

The study would evaporate, and so would her dreams!

She wouldn't even be able to use the facilities like a regular Trainer could!

Anabel's next words brought little comfort. "Luckily, I was able to negotiate on your behalf. She has instead agreed to place you on a Gym Leader's watch list. This means that all of the Gym Leaders and other League authorities can see what you're doing. If you start to hurt people or Pokémon out of malice, they have the right to turn you in to me or any other member of the police. They also have the right to refuse you entry to their Gyms if they feel you will be a threat to them. Some have requested that Kris battle in your place if that happens, but we've yet to come to a full agreement on that."

Holly glanced at Kris. The Trainer now how the look of sorrow in her eyes.

Holly couldn't bear to see her fake sadness! That bully was probably happy that she would see Holly suffer! Besides, she was just sad that she would need to do extra work!

Holly fixed her with the most intimidating glare she could. Kris met her head-on, taking the intense gaze that Holly had known her for.

Holly blinked.

How could she not be easily frightened, and yet still have panic attacks?

It didn't make any sense.

Holly thought she could still sense pain, but once again Kris's signal was jammed.

It was impossible to tell what the older Trainer was thinking.

All Holly knew was that she truly was being treated like a criminal.

Anabel coldly stated her verdict. "This punishment is to take effect until further notice."

Somehow, Holly found herself smiling a bit with relief.

The punishment might be annoying, but Anabel still wasn't stopping the journey.

However, the woman still looked at her with hardened eyes. "Don't think I'm through with you just yet, Holly. I promised not to stop your journey, but I can most certainly slow it down. I see you value your freedom, so it is best to take that away." At this, Anabel's Espeon glowed as its psychic power intensified.

But this was different than the restraints holding Holly down. Her eyes went wide, and she finally found the psychic Pokémon had allowed her to scream. It felt like something was being ripped out of her, but Holly didn't exactly know what. She wasn't sure she wanted to know.

Instead she looked towards Anabel, eyes begging for an explanation.

But there was none, as the woman's eyes were completely devoid of kindness.

The psychic power was also radiating from Anabel, but the woman didn't seem to care.

Yet the pain and the ripping of the object only grew as time passed. Holly winced and her face turned white. She shut her eyes.

It was as if the pain would never go away!

But eventually, it stopped.

Espeon took control again, and Holly was forced to look at her left side.

She let out a gasp.

On her left side was a pink tether, and the other side was connected to Anabel's waist.

Was Holly some sort of dog, and Anabel her owner?

Now, the woman spoke coldly. "You committed your crimes by running away from me, so this will make sure you don't ever run away again. I have the right to use this tether to restrain you, and it will be your mobile prison. I will also extend and shorten it as necessary. You may have the tether off for things that require privacy, or for emergencies. But the psychic energies shall still surround you, so my Pokémon and I will know what you're doing. From this moment on, Holly, you will never be alone."

Holly tried fixing Anabel with another glare, but she could feel her fire fading.

Anabel couldn't do this! She was not some thing she could lead around!

Anabel shook her head.

"You might earn your freedom back if you behave, but I'm not sure that will ever happen."

Holly's glare returned.

Anabel couldn't do this, because she knew Holly would defy her at every turn!

Anabel's eyes kept their icy coldness as she turned to Kris. The older trainer had finally put down the soda can, but had fixed Anabel with her familiar intense gaze.

Anabel nodded, then turned back to Holly.

"Since you attacked Kris and endangered her life, she will also play a part in your punishment. While I take away your physical freedom, Kris will take away your freedom of choice."

Holly's eyes continued to widen. Kris couldn't control everything! It would not even be Holly's journey anymore!

Yet Anabel held no sympathy as she continued.

"Everything you do from now on is not subject to either my or Kris's approval. Furthermore, Kris now has control over all parts of your journey, including what you do, what Pokémon you use, and where to go. If she asks you to go somewhere, you follow. And if Kris wants something, but is unable to retrieve it, you are to retrieve it for her unless she opts to use a Pokémon."

Holly sent a massive glare in Kris's direction, but the older trainer remained unperturbed. Instead, she fixed Holly with her own hardened gaze, and Holly tried not to shrink back.

Holly resisted the urge to clench her fist, but instead shook her head.

There was no way any of this could be happening!

There was no way her entire journey could be controlled by some rogue Trainer!

There was no way she was one snarky comment away from getting kicked out of the League challenge!

There was no way she could lose her place in the study, and there was no way her mother knew everything she'd done!

And yet, as she met the glaring eyes of Anabel and the intense ones of Kris, she was reminded that this was exactly what happened.

Holly tried her hardest to glare back, but was aware that she had lost much of her fire.

Anabel quickly shook her head, and turned to Kris.

Softly, she asked. "Are you able to talk now?"

Kris nodded, and Holly noticed there seemed to be both color and strength in her face.

"I am. I may as well tell you a bit about myself."

Holly gritted her teeth.

She didn't want to hear anything about this adult bully!

Yet before she could open her mouth to protest, Kris began to speak.

Author's notes:

-So, before delving into Holly's punishment, I'd like to go into what could have been, and how it affects future works. Originally, I did want Holly to get hauled off to jail, and Kris to continue on in her place. This is because, as Anabel stated, Holly is a criminal, and legally fits that definition (since she committed her crimes in front of Anabel, a police officer). However, I realized that would not work, mainly because without Holly, there would be no RP. Furthermore, even if this did happen in the RP, there would be a lot of time skipping as Holly somehow gained enough freedom to continue the journey.

Unlike some of my other ideas, this idea will still be used.

-I have decided to create another series where Holly does get convicted and Kris continues on the journey. Since it takes place in the same universe, some background events will stay the same, but many will be heavily altered. It will also read like a traditional story of mine with longer chapters, more description, and generally, slower updates and pace. It will also go more into Holly's world, the characters of the story, and Kris's own character. It is also planned to be quite a bit darker, which is also traditional for my stories.

-Currently, this story is still in the planning phase, but is planned to be called Usurping. It is also planned to be in the first-person point of view. Of the two timelines, Usurping is the canon timeline, while Holly Rising is the what-if. The reason for this is because I consider it more logical for Holly to get hauled off to jail, and it allows me to go into a detail that the RP cannot. A journey with Kris as the main character was always my intention, and, other than the prequels and the sequels, Usurping is my way of doing that.

-However, this also affects the timeline of Holly Rising. There is currently a companion fan fiction in progress called Safety, and it takes place in the timeline of Holly Rising. I am planning on also doing a fan fiction for Usurping's timeline known as Daughter. Once both of these fan fictions are done, Usurping will start. Just like Holly Rising, Usurping will have two sequels. And also like Holly Rising, the first sequel will be featuring Kris and many others, with the second one featuring her only. There is also a short story planned where the protagonists of the two timelines meet each other. As far as Kris's prequel story, it is the same in both timelines. If anyone wants spoilers on any of these upcoming works, they may send me a PM.

Now, as for the punishment Holly did receive…

-I picked the idea of Holly being on a tether from something in real life. In real life, adults can use tethers for children who are prone to wandering. And since Holly got into trouble by wandering off, I figured this was appropriate. The idea of Kris taking away the freedom of choice actually has to do with the type a punishment that happened with my siblings and I. If we were mean to each other, one of the possible punishments was that the victim would have complete control over what the perpetrator did for a certain amount of time. And since Holly attacked Kris, I figured that this was also appropriate.

-A Gym Leader's watchlist is also based off of a real-life punishment. Certain offenses have criminals placed on watch lists, and they are forbidden from doing certain things. Usually, the punishment is for severe offenses, which Holly has committed. The idea of banning people from Gyms comes from the anime, when Erika does this to Ash after he directly insults her and her perfume. There is also a lesser example in the games, where someone states that only girls are allowed in Erika's Gym, and everyone acts annoyed or surprised if a male challenger comes in.

-The device Kris uses is based off of some devices in the Pokémon world. The Pokémon world has many different technological devices with different functions. Their gifted trainers and called by are many different names. Therefore, the device Kris uses is a bit of a mishmash of these devices. One of the common functions is to use it like a cell phone, which is why Kris can use it that way.

-The idea of knowing how to contact Gym leaders also comes from the games. In certain games in the series, Gym Leaders can be contacted via phone for rematches once their Badge is obtained. They will use stronger Pokémon, and sometimes it takes multiple matches before their strongest team is obtained.