Chapter 48:
"E-Excuse me?"
"You know exactly what I said."
Lucy was in complete shock. He wants to go back? And take Jude with him? Repeated through her head, as she tried to rationalize why he would want to do that.
"This world just isn't meant for someone like me. I did not ask for this world."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Before the Revolution, this world was a place where People controlled Pokémon, but there were some who lived as equals. Now, the world is a place where Pokémon are above people, and I've never seen a world more determined to stay that path. It is not right, and I cannot live like this."
"But, it doesn't have to be that way! Lots of Pokémon live with humans on an equal footing!"
"Oh, really? Care to give some examples?"
"Of course! There's…"
"…Go on."
"…Umm…" Lucy was at an impasse. She racked her brain to find a counter to Infernostars argument, but couldn't for the life of her think of one.
"Just as I thought. You couldn't even think to bring up yourself."
"!"
That comment made Lucy's jaw drop. Oh my God, he's right. I try to treat everyone equally, but I didn't even consider myself an example…
"This world is built around Pokémon being the boss now. I cannot, and will not, stand to live in a world like this." Infernostar shifted his gaze ahead, looking and Jude and the others, who were just arriving at the house. "And I know for a fact it's not something he wants either."
"But…But I"
"I am not going to ask now. I will wait for this situation to dissolve beforehand. I told you first because I know you are his Legal Guardian, and if he agrees, I want you to sign over ownership to me."
"…"
Infernostar didn't wait for a response, instead walking ahead to meet up with Jude and the others. Lucy was left alone, watching the seven of them chat. That's right. Legally Jude is under my watch…But...I don't know if he wants to stay that way…
Lucy soon met up with others, doing her best to avoid looking lost in thought. Luckily no one seemed to notice, as the group got to work reversing the damage in her house. Within just a few hours they'd completely removed the unwanted baby furniture, found Jude's backpack with its supplies intact, and were able to track down just what happened to all the old furniture. Turns out she'd never sold it, but had kept it all coped up in the attic.
"I don't even remember putting any of that up there." Lucy said, baffled at how she could have forgotten that.
"Whoever put you in that trance must have worked overtime, if you know what I mean." Artemis said.
"Makes you wonder what their motivation would be. Jude, did you piss off any Psychic types around here?" Cordelia added.
"Not that I can recall. Though I don't think it's a Psychic-type that's behind the entire thing, just one that was sent to do this shit."
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Lucy asked, turning her head to meet Jude's gaze.
"I'd bet money on it. There has to be a connection to them." He responded, his red eyes glowing with that statement.
"Who are you referring to exactly?" Infernostar inquired, raising an eyebrow. Jude turned around and looked directly at him.
"Let's just say this world is a fucked-up place, and some fucked-up Pokémon thought they could fuck-up my life." Jude looked about ready to smash through a brick-wall, but was able to contain the fury to just his eyes.
"…Alright. We will make them pay twofold then."
Several Hours Later…
"…What?!" The Gardevoir was peering into the window of Lucy's home, checking up on their progress, and was stunned. All of their hard work had been completely reversed, without a trace of it ever happening.
"…How did they…No matter. I will get this back on track."
Quick as a flash they teleported into the room, quietly moving towards Lucy's room. They silently opened the door, and crept up to her unconscious body, raising a hand to her head. It started to glow, as Lucy stirred.
"…You may have escaped before…But this time you will not be so lucky."
"Oh you wish."
Before the Gardevoir had time to react they were tackled to the ground, as Lucy pinned their arms down to their sides. They attempted to struggle, but soon found themselves pinned with additional limbs, making them immobile on the ground.
"Hypnotize me once, shame on you. Hypnotize me TWICE, shame on ME." Lucy snarled, as she stared down the Gardevoir. They looked back at her, paralyzed with fear as the Luxray stared them down.
"Now, let's get down to business." Jude said, turning on the lights in the room. Everyone save for him and Artemis were holding the Gardevoir down, as he walked up to them and kneeled down.
"So, you think it's fun to try and make someone miserable, don't you?" He said, the tone of his voice eerily gentle, offsetting his eyes, which burned with rage.
"No…I do not…"
"Bullshit." He replied, kicking the side of the Gardevoirs head with his foot. "Give me answers. Who are you, and who was the asshole that put you up to this?"
"I…will never tell…my client…"
"Oh, so you are working for someone else. Though what you may not expect, is that I can take a guess. Does the name…Martha Swamps, ring any bells?"
The Gardevoir did not respond, but their eyes told Jude everything. They couldn't contain the shock at his statement, making it pretty obvious who was behind this.
"Thanks for cooperating, is what I would say if you did. But since you didn't, I feel a better statement is, brace yourself." Before the Gardevoir could respond, Jude raised his boot and stomped down on their face, taking a moment to rub his boot into it.
"That might have been a bit much" Lucy said, as Jude removed his boot from the Gardevoir's now bleeding face. "She deserved it, but it still might have been a bit too far."
"I don't care. Now the main question is what to do with her, and how to deal with the apparently still kicking MUPIC assholes." Jude replied, looking all too ready to continue stomping should the need arise.
"I vote we hold off that plan until tomorrow. By then I can understand who these MUPIC Pokemon are, and how much I need to beat them senseless" Infernostar said.
"That's a good idea. Though we need to do something about this one first." Stark replied.
"I know what to do" Artemis said. She moved over to the Gardevoirs head, as her golden markings started to glow. "Let's get one thing straight here. If you so much as THINK about trying something like this again, your ass is grass. And to make sure of that, I think a bit of a nightmare is in order. Infernostar?"
Infernostar got up from his pin area, moving over to Artemis and taking one of her paws. She placed another one on the Gardevoirs head, causing them to wince slightly.
"Enjoy this image. For it will happen if you dare try this again."
…
Fire. That was all there was to see. Endless Fire. It burned without reason, destroying anything, and everything, in its path.
"What…What is this…" The Gardevoir said. They couldn't move, as they stood in the center of the neverending blaze. The flames roared around them, burning a rainbow of colors as they consumed the landscape.
"THIS. IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN. SHOULD YOU EVER. TRY THIS. AGAIN." A deep voiced boomed. The Gardevoir presumed it was the voice of Infernostar, and started to panic, seeing just how destructive his rage looked in physical form.
"NOW. LEAVE."
The Gardevoir snapped awake, as Artemis' markings lost their glow. Everyone stepped away from them, allowing them to move freely.
"I said, LEAVE." Infernostar repeated, staring down the Gardevoir, his red eyes boiling with anger. Without saying a word, they teleported away, their last expression showing they wouldn't return.
"One down, four to go." Jude said.
