Ace Rogue (OUTDATED)

by Xavier V. Royal

Criminal. Crook. Scoundrel. What did it matter anyways? That wouldn't stop her from becoming champion no matter what label they put on her. Nothing would change that... would it?

1. Episode I: Run

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Pokemon, or anything related to Pokemon or its affiliates. I have taken some of the elements from the Pokemon Game Series and gave my own spin to it.

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Episode I:

Run

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A siren blared throughout the dark streets of Rustboro. The teenaged girl jolted from her sleep, her heart thumping rapidly from the rude awakening. She sat frozen under her bedsheets, and after a few seconds, the sound faded into the night. A silent palm on her chest was all it took to calm herself down now that the crisis was averted. She was thankful the police had driven past her home, unlike last time.

'Well, this isn't really a home,' she thought. Unable to fall back to sleep, she slid out of her covers and flipped on her light switch. The dim ceiling light hummed to life, and her tiny, plain room was made apparent. The wallpaper featuring rows of Wingull and Pelipper had already started peeling away, and the tiled, white floor contained numerous cracks. The girl walked up to her small, red dresser with a mirror and opened the first drawer. She rummaged through her clothing until she finally pulled out a silver necklace hidden near the back. It was a simple, decorated, tiny ball that was attached to a thin, silver chain. She quickly cupped the necklace in her hand and twirled her head towards the worn-out door, making sure it was locked. Finally, she wrapped the silver accessory around her neck before admiring it through the dusty mirror.

The girl's delicate and attractive face smiled back at her with luscious, rosy lips. Her bright, jewel green eyes gazed into her reflection, and she ran a hand around her slender neck. The red nightgown she wore complimented her long, scarlet hair, now a tousled mess. Despite being seventeen years old, she was quite short, clocking in at about five feet and three inches.

Suddenly, a door creaked outside her room, and her heart pulsed with every following stomp. She quickly switched the lights off and scurried under her covers, still wearing the necklace that she was now clutching in her hand. She shut her eyes and breathed deeply through her nose, producing the notion that she was asleep. Light crept into her room, and the silhouette of a heavy-set woman appeared in the doorway. After a few seconds that felt like years, the creaking of her ungreased door began, darkening the room once again.

She waited until the loud footsteps receded before relaxing her stiff form. The cold metal of her necklace began to warm in her palm, and she closed her eyes. Outside her window, ghastly clouds veiled the moon in their haze, and the darkness finally lulled her back into a deep sleep.

A low hum began to emit from the girl's palm, but she was unaware of it in her slumber. Dark purplish energy seemed to wisp around her, and the temperature dropped. The girl shivered, and there was a troubled expression on her dormant face. Soon, the energy dissipated, but not before a disembodied voice whispered, its razor-sharp voice cutting through the air like a blade being dragged over a rock.

'Mine…'

---

'Just three days, Moxy. In three days, you will be free from this orphanage to do whatever your pretty head pleases,' Moxy reassured herself in front of her mirror. The sunlight shone through her window, but it struggled to keep the room well-lit. The sound of cars made it to Moxy's ears, their continuous honks grating them. She wasn't particularly annoyed by it, but she couldn't handle anything in the morning unless she had two things. One was food, and the other waited outside her room.

She was dressed in a uniform that consisted of a black, high-collared blouse, a navy-blue skirt, and white socks in black slip-ons. Her red hair was well-combed, and two silver earrings dangled from her small ears. The silver necklace she held while she slept now lay on her dresser, and it glimmered from the reflection of the sun's rays.

"No, that was a fresh grab. If someone sees you wearing it, you could get in trouble," Moxy whispered her thoughts out loud. Her voice was silvery but high-pitched, a trait she liked but hated about herself. On one hand, it helped her look innocent in the eyes of her superiors. On the other hand, people picked on her for voice, especially the bullies at the Rustboro Training Academy.

Moxy hid the necklace inside her top drawer. After assessing her appearance once more, she grabbed a brown backpack and headed out of her room. The second she opened her door, the cutest purr in the whole world emanated from somewhere down the spiral staircase. The sound of skittering paws against the hard floor drew closer as Moxy made her way down to the large, decorated lobby. At the last step, the form of her best friend came into view around the corner.

"Good morning, Sylveon!" Moxy exclaimed. The four-legged, pink, and white creature leaped into Moxy's arms and began licking her face.

"C'mon stop that, hehe." She laughed in between words, trying to put her hand between her face and Sylveon's relentless licking.

From around the same corner, the headmistress' walked out, a frown on her large, mole-riddled face as she watched Moxy playing with Sylveon. Once she caught sight of the woman, Moxy put down Sylveon gently and walked towards the headmistress.

"Ms. Pennington," the girl addressed politely. The large woman wore a black dress, and her long, graying hair could've used a good wash. She moved in an unbalanced fashion towards Moxy, every step of her black slippers generating a loud slap against the blue tiles. Ms. Pennington made sure Moxy's backpack was on tightly and brushed off any specks of dust on the girl's blouse with her large, rough hand. The woman's hot breath met Moxy's face, which she had to endure as to not upset the headmistress.

"Are you ready for school, Moxy?" asked the headmistress as she forced a paper lunch bag into Moxy's arms. Her thick voice carried a hint of authority, and each word out of her plump lips seemed to criticize the redheaded girl. Moxy nodded in response, but Ms. Pennington's wrinkled, hazel eyes squinted at something on the floor. Moxy was puzzled until she realized Ms. Pennington was eyeing the Sylveon, who became pale under the headmistresses terrifying gaze. Moxy was quick to kneel in front of her pokemon.

"Sorry, Sylveon. Going to have to ball you up for now," Moxy whispered with a tinge of sadness. Sylveon purred lightly, stroking one of her feelers along Moxy's red cheek. The girl pulled out a red and white pokeball from her bag and gently tapped its front on Sylveon's forehead. A brilliant, red light surrounded Sylveon before engulfing the pokemon into the pokeball. Moxy put the pokeball inside her backpack, as well as the bag of lunch given to her by Ms. Pennington.

"I heard a noise in your room last night. What were you doing up?" she asked her hands on her hips.

"I-,"

"And don't you lie to me," Ms. Pennington added, a sickly finger pointed at the girl. "You better not have been trying to sneak out again."

"I wasn't sneaking out, Madame. The police cars woke me in the middle of the night, and I decided to do some last-minute preparations," Moxy explained, pointing to her backpack.

A furious expression formed on the headmistress's wrinkled face, and she quickly grasped the teenager's wrist. Moxy winced in pain as Ms. Pennington started to wring it, "I said not to lie to me, brat."

"I-I'm not, I swear!" Moxy pleaded, wrenching her arm from the headmistress's grip.

After a few seconds of glaring, the headmistress finally gave up and let go of Moxy's wrist, "I want you back here by seven on the dot, young lady. You may think since your birthday is in three days you are exempt from the rules, but I assure you there will be a punishment if you are even a second over seven. SEVEN!"

Moxy coddled her wrist silently as she hurried out of the orphanage. Ms. Pennington screeched out 'seven' once more before slamming the huge wooden door behind her. A couple of bystanders witnessed Moxy's departure, and their hushed tones caused the girl to hide her face in embarrassment.

Once the large, three-story brick orphanage was out of sight, Moxy stomped her foot on the dusty, stone-brick sidewalk. After rummaging through her backpack, she clicked Sylveon's pokeball, priming it and letting the pokemon out.

"I can't wait to get the hell out of that place," she hissed, her eyes burning with hatred.

When Sylveon emerged from the multi-colored light, the pokemon noticed her trainer's angry face. She wrapped one of her ribbon-like feelers around Moxy's hand, and a sense of calmness washed away Moxy's anger and lingering wrist pain. However grateful for the feeling, Moxy was well-aware of its temporary, drug-like effects. Nevertheless, she took in a waft of the crisp, spring air around her, and the two began their stroll down the sidewalk of Rustboro's busy streets.

Rustboro was a fine city dotted with buildings and high-rises. It was the kind of place where someone could start a business since Rustboro was filled with people and opportunities. Most of the buildings were made of sandstone to fit a theme. Those were complexes built for mass housing, to Moxy's knowledge. However, the more interesting buildings were taller, more advanced, and located in the northmost part of the city. Those were the more successful businesses, such as the Devon Corporation, Quartz Mall, and the Rustboro Security Agency. The Rustboro Training Academy, the best school in Hoenn, stood right at the border to the southmost part of the city. This was also the school where Moxy was going to.

Suddenly, she was stirred from her thoughts by a robotic, low-pitched voice.

"Violation. Scanning pokemon and trainer ID. Do not flee or resist."

Moxy's soul jumped out of her body for a split second. How could they have found out? Sweat formed around her hairline, and her breathing came out in short rasps. She turned around to see an orange drone with an erratic, blue ectoplasm surrounding it a few meters away from her. The words "Police" were printed across all four of its small helicopter propellers, and two barrelled cannons protruded from its side. This was a Rotom possessing a police drone.

Fortunately, the drone wasn't facing to Moxy, rather an unkempt-looking man who must have been walking behind her. And his Grimer.

The Rotom unit hovered around the man while its blue, electronic eyes emitted a cone of blue light that scanned the man's face. The man tried to say something, but he was interrupted by the light hitting his eyes. People walking down the sidewalk made wide arcs to avoid the Rotom's business. After a few seconds, the light turned green.

"Facial recognition completed. Citizen 035903376." the Rotom said before repeating its scan on the Grimer. The sludge pokemon tried to escape the light by hiding behind its trainer's leg, but the cone of light flashed green again, indicating its scan was complete.

"Grimer 035903376. Class: C. Identifications are valid. Citizen, are you aware you have violated law C-1301 and C-1303? Encapsulate your Grimer immediately." the Rotom ordered.

The man's eyes widened, "Violation?! Just for walking with my pokemon?! I walk her here every day, this makes no sense!" he huffed accusing, putting his arm between the drone and his frightened pokemon.

"Law C-1301 and law C-1303 states any Class C specimen that expels an unnaturally foul odor or tracts a substance must be kept encapsulated within city limits unless otherwise instructed by legal order or with a specific pokemon license in an SPL requested zone." There were pauses between each number and coupled with its monotonous, drawn-out speeches, it seemed to agitate the man further.

"Does citizen 035903376 have legal order or an SPL license?"

"An SP what now?" the man raised his eyebrow.

"Is a repetition required for citizen 0359-"

"No, I don't have one." The man interrupted. The Rotom's eyes switched red in response, and Moxy flinched from the sound of its twin side cannons cocking.

"Therefore by League authority, you are required to encapsulate your Grimer or this unit will be forced to apprehend you."

At this point, any notion of the man's bravado had disappeared as he stared down the barrel of the cannon, "Woah! I'll put her away, just don't hurt me, okay!?"

The Grimer looked angry, and she raised her arms, ready to strike.

"It's okay, Gry," the man stopped the pokemon from escalating the situation. He pulled out a pokeball and returned the Grimer as quickly as he could. When the red light from the ball faded, the Rotom's eyes returned to their neon blue.

"The League thanks you for complying, citizen. This has been recorded. Another violation of equal proportions will warrant a ticket. Good day." The Rotom hovered away before the man could get any other word in. Moxy's heart rate slowed as the sound of the Rotom's propellers faded in the distance. She put a hand to her chest, thanking Arceus, or whoever was watching over her.

"W-What the hell are you looking at?!" The man yelled, his eyebrows arched as he caught Moxy still ogling at him.

Moxy pulled Sylveon by her feeler and they hurried back on their path, neither of them looking back.

"That was a close one..." she muttered when they were a distance away. A drop of sweat trickled down the side of her head. Sylveon's ears raised in response, and she looked at her trainer.

"Uhh... nothing, Sylveon. That's the first time we've seen a Rotom in this part of the city, right?"

Sylveon nodded and one of her ears drooped in confusion.

'Must be about what happened last night,' Moxy thought. Not wanting to risk a confrontation with another Rotom, Moxy made a sharp turn into an alley between a store and an apartment. Sylveon yelped in surprise at their uncharted deviation.

"It's a shortcut. Don't worry." Moxy confided. Sylveon acknowledged her trainer silently, or so Moxy thought. Moxy saw two Zigzagoons rummaging through a dumpster, and they scurried behind it at Moxy's sight. Being inside the alley did away with that feeling that all eyes were on her. It felt safe.

Soon they entered another sidewalk, this one less crowded than the other. A small fruit stand that was selling a variety of berries in angled baskets could be seen a short way from Moxy's position. Moxy gawked at the plump, scrumptious Oran berries, almost salivating at their sight. The twenty-something-year-old shopkeeper was lazing about in his plastic chair, and he hadn't noticed Moxy yet.

"Wait here, Sylvie," Moxy hushed to her pokemon. Sylveon tried to protest, but Moxy was already on the move. She scanned her surroundings for any onlookers before walking up to the stand.

Moxy picked up an Oran berry and held it high up in the air, her lips puckered, and eyes squinted. She inspected the berry for about a minute or so until the shopkeeper finally noticed.

"Um, are you going to buy that or what?" he said, his baggy, almond-shaped eyes unblinking.

"There is a problem with all your berries. They're horribly bruised. Which farm do you get these from?" she asked, channeling her inner Ms. Pennington to sound as snobbish as possible.

"What are you talking about?" he said, slowly hoisting himself from his chair. The man snatched the berry out of her hand, and Moxy pointed to a couple of spots with one hand. While the shopkeeper closely inspected where she pointed, Moxy cupped two, small berries into her other hand.

The man put the berry back in the basket it was in, "There's nothing wrong with them, they are a deep blue in certain spots on purpose."

"Ah, my mistake. Well, it's certainly unappetizing, so I think I'll take my leave," she said, quickly spinning around to her pokemon. The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow, his expression sour as he retreated into his chair.

After they were out of the shopkeeper's sight, Moxy opened her hands, revealing the Oran berries. She munched on one while holding the other out to Sylveon, but the pokemon was glaring at the girl in contempt.

"Don't give me that look, Sylvie. I only took the smaller ones, so I thought I was being nice," she explained with a mouthful. Sylveon's eyes narrowed on that last statement, and Moxy sighed.

"So maybe I wasn't so nice. But at least I got us breakfast, and if you're going to be like that then maybe I'll eat your berry too," Moxy pouted, holding the berry high in the air. The bunny-eared pokemon cried out, pawing at Moxy's skirt with her small front legs. Moxy succumbed to Sylveon's adorable actions and tossed her the Oran berry. The pokemon hopped and caught the berry with her mouth, disregarding anything that had to do with how the berry was obtained.

They continued down the street and turned another corner. Farther down the road, the smaller buildings gave way to towering, glass skyscrapers, which meant this was the border of the two parts of Rustboro: the quiet district where the orphanage was and, in her words, crazy town. The part of the city bustling with crowds, traffic, and police. The Rustboro Training Academy could be seen just on the other side of the street. It was a large, sandstone-brick building built in a Gothic style, with arches, buttresses, and an open courtyard in the middle. It was one of the oldest buildings in Rustboro, and its architectural style compared to the other high-tech buildings in Rustboro proves it nonetheless. Moxy found it interesting rather than obsolete or archaic. Something about uncovering ancient knowledge within its grand walls to reach limitless heights. In all honesty, she was lucky to be going to this school. To be taught by one of the most prestigious trainers in Hoenn.

Children wearing uniforms like Moxy funneled out of large, yellow school buses. Moxy observed some of the younger kids who grouped up in circles, each catching the others up about yesterday's events or whatever it was they talked about as they endured the cold, morning air.

"Okay, Sylveon," Moxy started, kneeling in front of her pokemon. Sylveon bowed her head in discomfort, already knowing what Moxy was going to say, "I'm going to have to keep you in your ball until lunchtime."

A tiny whine escaped the pokemon's lips, and her eyes sparkled as she looked up at Moxy.

"Oh, Sylvie. You know they don't allow pokemon inside the school. We'll hang out at lunch, okay? Besides, the other kids will get jealous if they see you. I don't feel like getting picked on today."

Moxy pulled out Sylveon's ball. Out of all the sixteen and seventeen-year-olds, only those who had passed the Trainers License Exam with a score of ninety or above received a trainer permit to train pokemon. Of course, an adult with a license had to watch over the student's training for safety purposes.

However, a few, talented kids over the age of twelve but under sixteen got a chance to take the PTLE or the pseudo trainer's license exam. Usually the most prestigious child of a school. Passing that meant a twelve-year-old could get a permit early. However, there were a lot of restrictions that came with it, so it wasn't all that glamorous. Moxy was one of those few to have passed that exam, but she was different than all the other kids. Even the ones without permits.

She was an orphan. The only orphan in Rustboro City at the moment. Sure, it was a big city, and normally many children were orphaned here. However, those children were in and out before she even had a chance to get to know them. Hell, the last child there left a week ago. Except for her.

However, there was no one to blame but herself. Her record was stained after all. One look at it and potential parents ran. Moxy shook her head, not wanting to revisit that. Ever since that day, her classmates have never thought she deserved her pokemon or a permit.

Those were the kinds of kids that she differed from. They had what she didn't. People who cared about them instead of tossing them aside like trash. People who would help them with homework when the going got rough. People who would make sure their children didn't end up as thieves just to make ends meet. Just thinking about it boiled her mind. Sylveon could feel her dark thoughts, and the pokemon purred in reassurance while tightening the grip around her trainers' hand. Moxy mirrored her kindness with a grateful smile before returning the pokemon to her ball.

Moxy made her way towards the sandstone building, making sure to avoid the bigger groups who were more likely to taunt her as she walked by. She was almost at the archway entrance when two quiet voices reached her ear.

"Look, it's that redhead trainer, remember? The police interrupted a class to take her in," a brown-haired, snobby looking boy near the entrance whispered, a little too loudly. The thin, blonde girl talking to him snickered when she noticed Moxy.

"Don't know why the school bothered to give her a permit. She's a criminal. Any pokemon she trains is a guaranteed failure."

Moxy immediately whirled around, confronting the two gossips with wild eyes.

"You want to say something, say it to my face!" she snapped, venom in her voice. The two students covered their mouths in laughter before walking away from her. Other students nearby were jolted awake from Moxy's sudden burst, and they showed their displeasure with frowns and raised eyebrows.

Moxy clicked her tongue in annoyance, 'At least I have a permit, losers.'

As soon as Moxy entered the front door, she was greeted with an odd sight. Students waited in a line to get through a metal detector. A conveyor belt on the left side brought backpacks through another, smaller metal detector. There was a tan, female officer, and she was instructing the students through.

'This is new,' Moxy thought before standing in line with the rest of the students. It was more likely the school was taking precautions because of last night. All of this for a stupid necklace? It made no sense, so something else probably happened that night. Something serious.

"Next," the officer drawled.

Moxy put all her belongings on the conveyor belt stood in front of the detector to wait for the officer's order. She didn't know why, but being scanned made her feel uncomfortable. She had done a lot of bad things, but she was always careful. She never went anywhere with stolen goods on her person. However, what feared her was the unknown. If she had made a mistake or overlooked something important, now would be the time she would pay for the consequences. And she had no idea what it would be.

"Hmph," the officer eyes drew on Moxy. She assumed she must have recognized her. All the more reason to get through this as fast as possible.

Moxy gulped before stepping through the detector.

Nothing happened.

"Take your stuff and beat it," the police officer motioned her head towards the conveyor belt.

Moxy continued through the school. The interior looked like something out of a medieval movie. The floor was copper marble, and it was so glossy Moxy could easily see her reflection through it. Metal lockers decorated with colorful stickers leaned against the tall, sandstone walls. The hallway was packed with students wearing identical uniforms to Moxy.

Moxy walked up to her locker. She sighed at the red graffiti on her locker. She would clean it, but then it would be the fifteenth time she cleaned it, so attempting it again would be futile.

She tossed her lunch in the locker and headed to her first class, which was an advanced course in Pokemon Training. Upon entering the classroom, her eyes drifted towards the many portraits of common pokemon dotted along its white walls, and a blackboard leaned against the long end of the room. A large, finely crafted, mahogany desk situated itself in front of the blackboard, which overlooked four rows of smaller, wood desks. Teary-eyed students were seated in them, some of them yawning as they rested their heads against their arms. All the students in this class wore two-toned colored sports outfits that were popular among pokemon trainers for their flexibility in battle. However, the outfits were quite expensive, and Moxy couldn't afford one despite being a trainer herself. Asking Ms. Pennington was also out of the question. The students wore belts with a single pokeball clipped to them.

All but six desks were occupied with kids, and Moxy soon found out why.

Moxy raised her eyebrow at the five students lingering around her desk near the right-hand corner of the classroom. She made her way towards the students, all of whom were gawking at the desk with wide, hyena-like smiles on their faces. At Moxy's appearance, the students snickered and ran back to their seats.

She gasped in shock. The word 'Crook' was smeared across her desk in big, black marker, and the culprits laughed at Moxy's reaction. She tried to wipe the ink off her desk, but the marker must have been permanent, for no amount of rubbing would remove it.

Moxy's fear was realized as a girl with green hair and a red-yellow jacket among the group sneered at her, a black marker twirling around her long fingers. Moxy lowered her head, her eyebrows furrowing unsteadily at the girl.

'Janice,' a low growl formed deep inside Moxy's throat as she stared deep into the girl's nasty, gray eyes. Moxy tightened her already balled fist, ready to blow that smug grin right off her thin face.

"Good morning, class!" a cheery voice chimed in from the classroom's door. Moxy retreated into her seat, sending Janice a parting shot before turning to attention.

A short, pretty woman entered the room, and there was a huge smile plastered on her pretty face. Her brown hair was fashioned into two large pigtails that crisscrossed behind her head. The woman wore a black, miniskirt dress, red leggings, and a pair of black slip-ons. A long, red bowtie dangled around the collar of her white, buttoned, and short-sleeved shirt underneath. The lady had a black purse too, which she placed on the mahogany desk before starting class.

"Good morning Ms. Roxanne," the students monotoned in unison.

"You know the drill. Take out your homework," Roxanne addressed, her singsong voice projecting itself across the classroom.

All at once, the students did what they were told and Roxanne took out a red pen from her bag. She made her way down the rows of desks, scrutinizing and jotting a checkmark on each student's work. Moxy grumbled while pulling out a black, spiraled notebook from her bag. In the corner of her eye, she glanced at a graceful Janice opening a large, white binder, as if the book were some sort of holy constitution. Moxy imagined a scenario where her black notebook spun through the air and decapitated that stick-like neck of hers. Or she could just let Sylveon rip it off.

Unfortunately, all she could do now was hide the heinous word on her desk as Roxanne passed by.

"Can you show me your homework, Moxy?" Roxanne requested. Her voice was strained back as if increasing her volume any further would make the girl shatter. Moxy turned to the last page of her book which contained passages on common locations where the pokemon Salamance dwelled.

Roxanne skimmed it over, mumbling the rash handwriting directly off the page. "Commonly found hibernating deep inside caves… they only venture out when hungry… they love to fly since they were unable to do so in a previous evolution, so some will live high in the mountains of their homes… evidence shows that Meteor Falls is a good example of such a place…"

Moxy held her breath as Roxanne read the last bits. The teacher took a moment to think it over before nodding in satisfaction. She gave the essay a big, red checkmark before moving on to the next student. Moxy exhaled, thankful for her basic knowledge on the Bagon line, and glad she didn't get a zero for a rushed assignment.

After Roxanne had checked everyone's assignments, she began to lecture the class on the geography and pokemon habitats of the Kalos region, specifically around Western Kalos where the Reflection Cave resided. Moxy rested her head against her crossed arms on the desk as Roxanne spoke. She had already studied the entirety of the Kalos region, and her eyes began to doze on and off. Soon only the pitch of her teacher's voice reverberated in her mind as she drifted off into a deep slumber.

---

"Do we really have to do this?" the young girl complained. Beside her, a wet-eyed Eevee whimpered in front of a vibrant, red, and yellow pepper-like berry resting in a tall man's rough left hand. The man's sharp eyes judged the tiny pokemon before him, and his rocky jaw was expressionless. The sunlight merged with his white outfit, featuring a frilled button-down, slacks, and a pair of shoes. His long, ash-gray waves of hair glowed in the sunlight.

"Don't worry little one," the man confided the small, brown pokemon in an elegant, northern accent. His ice-blue eyes seemed to calm down the pokemon's nerves somewhat, "It will only last but a moment."

The three were in Rustboro's park, and the summer heat bore on them without end. Around them, Tailows chirped from their tree-top perches, and Poliwag played under an iconic, stone Politoed fountain in the distance. A few families enjoyed the hot day, whether that be admiring the fountain, running in the well-trimmed grass, or having a picnic under the shade of the tall trees.

"But what if something happens to my pokemon, Elliot?" the twelve-year-old girl mumbled. Her red, lush hair fell to her shoulders, and her bright green eyes were on the verge of tearing up. She wore a white sundress, as well as white slip-ons that complimented each other.

"Oh brother. Must I explain it to you again, Moxy? She will only feel the pain for a minute, that's all. If you want your pokemon to grow stronger, then you both need to make hard decisions. The strongest steel can only be forged within the hottest fire," Elliot explained, placing his hand over his heart passionately.

"Does Charles do this? I don't believe it," Moxy crossed her arms. Elliot sighed while putting two fingers between the bridge of his nose.

"Yes, yes, once a week until evolution. You shall then swap the berry for a different one. Since Eevee is of normal attribution, this Chople berry will create the illusion of being struck by a fighting type attack, therefore bolstering your pokemon's resilience to the fighting type. When she endures a Close-Combat from Brawly's Hariyama, you will thank me."

Moxy scratched her head, "I'm pretty sure a Close-Combat would kill Eevee, no matter what."

Elliot squinted his eyes, "That's not the point."

"Ughh, fine." Moxy finally gave up, surprising Elliot by snatching the berry from his open hand, "It will go down better if it comes from me."

"By all means." Elliot put his arms behind his back.

The girl knelt in front of her pokemon and gestured her to eat the berry. Hesitantly, the Eevee took a bite out of it from her trainers' hand. Nothing happened, and Moxy had a smile on her face.

"Wow, Eevee must be really-"

A sharp yelp that pierced the air and Eevee toppled onto her side, her body shaking in pain. A wide-eyed Moxy reached for a potion from her bag, but Elliot grasped her arm before the girl could take it out.

"No! You must have faith in your pokemon's strength," he insisted. Moxy's gaze faltered, every yelp from her pokemon causing her to wince.

"I believe in you!" she cried out suddenly, clenching her hands into fists, "A stupid berry isn't enough to take you down, come on!"

Surprisingly, Eevee used all her might to get up, her face turning red as she fought the pain. After one minute of fear and anxiety, Eevee relaxed. She smiled at Moxy and wagged her fluffy tail. It was as if she never went through the trial at all.

"Very well done, little one." Elliot praised the pokemon, tossing her a small Sitrus berry. The Eevee hopped up, eating the berry straight out of the air.

"Yay! Good job, girl!" Moxy beamed while petting her pokemon. Eevee yapped before jumping into her trainers' body, tackling her.

"Waaah!" Moxy yelled, tumbling onto the glimmering grass with Eevee in her arms. The pokemon nuzzled Moxy's stomach, and Moxy's legs flailed in the air as she laughed.

"Alright, that's enough of this tomfoolery," Elliot said, smiling at the young girl playing with her pokemon.

"Oh, one second!" Moxy exclaimed suddenly, throwing Eevee off her. The girl ran to a backpack that was leaning on the side of a nearby tree. When she came back, she was holding a cupcake. The bread was pink, and a small swirl of white frosting garnished the top of the cupcake.

Elliot crossed his arms as he watched the Eevee gobble up the cupcake in an instant, cream and cake flying everywhere, "You know, if you are keen on treating Eevee like a princess, she shall evolve into a Sylveon."

"What's wrong with a fairy type? They are super cute, and they scare dragon types away. Roar!" Moxy mimicked a dragon, and Eevee pretended to be fighting her.

"Fairy types are tough, but like all pokemon they have weaknesses. Besides, your Eevee, according to its battle behavior, is too careful. I would think you'd desired, em, an Umbreon to take advantage of that, or perhaps even a Leafeon."

"I don't care what Eevee evolves into. I just know that when she evolves, it's going to be awesome!" Moxy cheered.

Elliot didn't seem amused, "It would be smarter to think about her evolution now instead of saving it as a surprise for later. If you want to succeed in tournaments, then your team and strategy must be sound."

"I think I'll worry about that when I get my second pokemon. After all," Moxy cleared her voice, "'Battle isn't always about strength. It's about utilizing whatever advantages you can grasp.'" She said, making a bad impression of Elliot's voice.

"That is not how I sound,"

Moxy gave him a slick smile before cleaning up Eevee's cupcake disaster.

Elliot sighed, "to be honest, I can't say I'm not proud of how properly you've raised her from just an egg. I chose well."

Moxy hid her face behind her little hands, embarrassed from the compliment that came out of nowhere.

"Where did you get her, anyway? Moxy asked, trying to change the subject.

Elliot sat down, the grass crinkling under his weight, "You recall what happened in Unova?" his expression was grave as he spoke.

"Yeah. There was a war or something because," she tilted her head, trying to remember the name, "of uhh... Gennis?"

"Ghetsis," he corrected, his body tensing up, "The man who tried to rid the relationships between pokemon and humans."

Elliot stared silently at the floor for a few seconds. It looked like his jaw was hardening in his cheek. Moxy was unsure if it was a good idea to have brought that up. Elliot noticed her face, and he relaxed, the fire in his voice dying down, "I apologize, Moxy. It dredges up bad memories. Anyways, the League granted me two Eevee eggs because of my service to the region. Their species is rare in Unova, so it was meant to be a special gift. It was decided I would give one to Charles, and raise the other myself. However, Charles insisted you participate in his pokemon training. Upon seeing you had yet to gain a starter, I had no qualms about satisfying my younger brother's wishes instead of my own."

Moxy put a hand on Elliot's arm in an attempt to soothe him, "Well, it was very kind of you. I don't know what I would do without Eevee," Moxy thanked, smiling at her pokemon. Eevee brushed her body off the side of Moxy's leg in response.

Elliot gave Moxy a nod. They sat in silence for a few seconds before Elliot picked himself up, "Alright, enough of this. Charles should be finished with his lessons. We'll meet him at the mansion, and then we shall all train together."

Elliot placed his hand on Moxy's shoulder, and suddenly her vision began to darken. All the sounds drowned away until everything around her vanished. Only the feeling of Elliot's hand on her right shoulder was present, growing firmer with every passing second. One, two, three seconds passed, and the feeling began to shove her back and forth. A disembodied voice emanated from the darkness, but it was imperceptible to her. Suddenly, her world flashed white, and she finally heard what the voice was saying.

"Moxy. Wake. Up."

Moxy brought her head up from her desk. Roxanne was standing beside her, hand on her shoulder. Dazed, Moxy looked around the room and found all the students staring at her. She hid her face behind her hand in embarrassment.

"I'm terribly sorry Ms. Roxanne. I didn't mean to-" Moxy was cut short when her teacher motioned her hand towards the front door. Two men in beige trench coats with navy blue suits underneath were standing there. One had spiky, blond hair, a thin beard, and was well-built. He also wore a pair of jet-black shades. The other was leaner, paler, and a flat-topped police cap sat upon his short black hair. Both bore a gold shield on their chest with the words HNLE engraved on them.

"Moxy, these two gentlemen would like to talk with you for a moment," Roxanne whispered. It took a moment for Moxy to get her bearings, but once she did her heart began to pound in her chest. They were police officers with the Hoenn Law Enforcement, and they didn't look happy.

"I… I swear I didn't do anything, miss," Moxy mumbled.

Roxanne allowed a small smile to show and she rubbed Moxy's arm in reassurance, "Don't worry, dear. They just want to talk, that's all."

Moxy's head swirled with fear as she put all her belongings in her bag, got up, and walked hesitantly towards the officers. Moxy looked over at Janice who was mouthing the word 'crook' from across the classroom. The redheaded girl gritted her teeth together in her pursed lips. When Moxy reached the officers, one put his hand on her back and lead her out of the classroom.

Roxanne glanced at Moxy's now empty desk, and she was shocked at the horrendous word exposed for all to see.

'Oh, Moxy. What have you gotten yourself into now?'

---

The room was dark. Moxy crossed her arms and tapped her feet impatiently against the hard, blue floor. The police officers needed a quiet place to talk to Moxy, but it did her no good when they used the only vacant classroom with burnt-out lightbulbs. Why the school never fixed it, she'd never know.

She sat on the front desk of the middle row, her face peeved as she stared at the officers who sat on wooden chairs in front of her. Before any of the officers could get a word in, Moxy stood from her seat, interrupting them.

"I want a lawyer."

The officers looked at one another, smirks on their faces. The officer with the hat gestured the girl to sit down. "Calm down, Moxy, we aren't charging you with anything. Yet," he assured the girl with a bold expression. His voice was young and modulated, but stern. He continued, "Can you tell us why you're here?"

Moxy responded by moving her fingers across her mouth as if she were zipping it shut.

The blond man sighed in exhaustion, "C'mon Moxy, work with us. The captain doesn't like you much as is, what with your history and all. Stop givin' him more excuses to dislike you. So, I'm gonna ask you again now, and don't give me any of that sass, hear? Do you know why you're here?" his voice was southern sounding and more carefree than his partners. They both stared at her, waiting for an answer.

Moxy pouted her lips, "If there is no evidence, then I didn't do anything."

"This was a mistake, Ryker. Let's go," the officer with the hat whispered to his partner as he started to get out of his seat.

"Cool it, I've got this," Officer Ryker motioned him to stay put while pulling out a yellow folder from inside his jacket.

"There was a robbery last night," Ryker began, tossing the folder Moxy's way. Moxy feared what she would find if she opened the folder. A robbery? As in the robbery of Rustboro Antiquities?

"Well, go on. Open her up," Ryker said, noticing her hesitation. She took the folder into her hands and opened it. Her heart was relieved when the first photograph showed was the front of a building she recognized. The Rustboro Museum. Another photo showed a broken museum display case, and whatever was inside of it was now gone. Finally, there were forensic pictures like a shattered window, dirty footprints, and a destroyed control box. There was one more photograph at the bottom of the folder, but before Moxy could look at the picture Ryker snapped his fingers to grab her attention.

"The silent alarm was tripped when the display case broke, see. We hurried yonder, but the perp escaped before we could get there," Ryker slouched in his chair, "Nothin' on the security cameras 'cause they were disabled. They left a lot of evidence for the forensics team, meanin' they weren't professionals. I'm gonna ask you one last time now. There something you want to tell us?"

"I don't even know what was stolen. Is that why the city has been on high-alert?"

Ryker and the other officer looked at each other, then back at Moxy, "Yeah. Was a ruby. Huge. Worth about my entire life savings," Ryker chuckled at his own joke. Neither Moxy nor the other officer laughed with him. He coughed before continuing, "Supposed to be some kind of kumbaya between Hoenn and Unova, but someone nabbed it before it could get shipped. League even put out a bounty for the perp."

Moxy shook her head, "I was at the orphanage all night yesterday. You can ask Ms. Pennington. She knows."

"I know. We talked to her already, see. She told us she heard a noise in your room last night. She even let us check inside, but fortunately for you, we didn't find anythin'," Ryker grumbled. Moxy eased herself, thankful the police didn't find the silver necklace she'd stolen the other day. Or they may have found it, but as it wasn't related to their case they ignored it.

"However," he added, "If you would take a gander at that there last picture, you can see why we're concerned."

Moxy looked at the last picture, which showed bits of purple, reflective dust on the floor inside the building.

"You're a smart cookie, right? Can you explain to me what that is?" Ryker asked, his eyebrow arched. Moxy knew exactly what it was, and she wasn't afraid to give the blond officer a plain look as she explained it.

"That's fragmental dust psychic types leave behind when they use the move Teleport. The reflective attribute comes from the air they distort around them when they return to their marked area. Like entering a mirror that shatters after use. I don't own a psychic type, I own a fairy type. Now, are we done here?" Moxy asked impatiently.

"N-Now hold up a second," Ryker continued, hesitation in his voice, "Your friend… Charles owns a psychic type, and I know you got a silver tongue there. I bet you convinced him to lend you his pokemon."

"I also hope you know he is the son of your captain, officer," Moxy emphasized 'officer', "Espeon can't even learn Teleport. Well, not naturally at least."

"Naturally?"

Moxy sighed, "The only way for an Espeon to learn Teleport is for it to be tutored by a master in psychic type moves. Even then, it can take years for it to grasp the technique, and Charles' Espeon only evolved last year. If you're still doubting me, find and talk to him."

"These kids get smarter everyday…" Ryker mumbled, scratching his head.

Moxy wasn't done. She pulled out the picture with the footprints, "Look at the size of these prints. They're about size thirteen," She extended her small feet out for the officers, "That's about twice my size. How's that for smart?

The other officer grunted, "Tch. I told you this was a waste of our time."

"Now, now, Mike. Captain ordered us to check her out, and we did. So, we're done here."

Moxy narrowed her eyes at his statement, "Hold on one second. You're saying that the reason you embarrassed me in front of my entire class was not only because you had hardly any evidence it was me, but because Walter told you it could be me? Well thanks for wasting my time, morons."

"Not me. Just him," Officer Mike deadpanned, turning to Ryker. Mozy followed his gaze with a glare.

"Talk about getting slammed for takin' orders," Ryker scratched his head again before putting a hand on Michaels's shoulder, "Uhh, listen, why don't you wait outside. I want a quick word with her before I send her back to class,"

Mike grunted in acknowledgment. Ryker waited until Mike closed the door behind him before pulling out an unidentifiable object from his coat pocket.

"Listen, Nicole said you'd be turning eighteen in a few days. I'm guessing you're makin' for a pokemon journey as soon as she lets you go from the orphanage, right?"

Moxy, still impatient and upset about the interrogation going nowhere, gave him a nod.

"Some advice? Use that big brain of yours instead of those there sticky fingers," he said, dangling a silver necklace in front of her. The same silver necklace that should've been hidden inside her dresser.

Her assumption was right then. Her instincts screamed at her to make a break for it. But she realized it would do her no good. The necklace swayed from side to side, enthralling the teen.

"It happens to you too, huh? Somethin' about it makes it hard to peel your eyeballs off it. I just can't figure it out for the life of me."

Moxy blinked the trance out of her eyes and raised her brows in surprise, "I don't recognize that."

"Really?" Ryker copied her expression, "So it just found itself a nice, cozy little spot in your dresser then, right? Unless my eyes are foolin' me, it ain't floatin' around holding a bunch of keys. Stop playin' games with me and admit it already. I spoke with Rustboro's Antiquities this morning, see."

Moxy gave up and slumped in her chair, defeated, "Okay, you got me. Are you going to arrest me? It'll be better than spending the next three days in that shitty orphanage." The officer smirked in response.

"Relax, I'm not gonna arrest you," Ryker reassured her. He swung his arm around the back of his chair casually.

Moxy, while relieved at his word, was still suspicious, "I don't understand. If you know that I stole the necklace," she paused, lowering her voice, "Then you know I was out that night. So why are you asking me about a crime you know I didn't commit?"

Ryker scratched his head, "Right, that was just a front to get me to see you. Better if people didn't ask questions, see?"

Moxy sighed while rubbing one of her temples.

"But I understand why you stole it," he started, his tone becoming serious, "I'd hate to bring it up, but you're broken because of what happened back six years ago. With Dahlia. You're a rebel. You steal 'cause you know Nicole hates it."

"It's weird when you say that bitches name like you guys are friends," Moxy huffed.

"Sorry... 'Ms. Pennington' hates it," he corrected himself, "But it's more than that. You've got a knack for being a thief. And you love it. That adrenaline rush? You probably tell yourself you hate it when your heart races like so, but you're always puttin' yourself in those situations. You think your luck will never run out, but one day it'll happen so fast it'll make your head spin. And just like that, there's another two months of staring at iron bars."

"Stop acting as if you know me. We're not friends," Moxy glowered at Ryker, but the unsteadiness in her voice betrayed her words.

"But I do know you. Don't you remember you had to check in with me for a whole year after the incident?"

"Just because I gave you a slip of paper about my whereabouts every week doesn't mean you suddenly know what I'm feeling."

"And just what are you feeling? Pretty invincible now that you're out of here in three days is what I'm thinkin'. But then what? You got any plans once you get your license?"

"I do. People may not know it yet, but I will become the best trainer," Moxy's fist tightened, "Charles and I are going to become Champions, and no one will stop us."

Ryker leaned forward from his chair, putting his hands on the desk, "Life ain't all about becoming the best trainer, red. You don't make a livin' that way. You think a guy like Steven Stone gets by on just winnings? What would happen when your pokemon gets hungry, and you're half-way around the world with no one to help you? You'll steal again just to get by for one more day? That's what your life is gearin' up towards. To become the common crook,"

A vein popped in Moxy's head the moment he said that last word.

"I'm done here," Moxy stood up.

Ryker put his hands up, "Sorry. Guess it's still a touchy subject for you."

Moxy was silent. Ryker was starting to get on her nerves now. She knew what he was talking about, but she denied it. If her will was strong, she could be anything she wanted. She wasn't deluded. Because if she were, then her life was over before it had even begun.

"How about I make it up to you, huh?" he broke the silence, making a short glance at the door before lowering his voice, "Let's make a deal. Just hear me out, and I'll give you back this here beautiful necklace," Ryker proposed, jiggling the silver between his fingers.

"I think I've heard enough," she said crossly.

"C'mon," he stressed, "I'm riskin' my job for just another minute of your time."

She was still hesitant, "I just hear you out, and you'll give it to me?"

"Yep. No strings attached."

Moxy raised an eyebrow at his unintended pun. Or was it intended but he pretended not to understand? Regardless, she nodded and sat back down, eager to get her necklace back and get the hell out.

"What if I told you could be set for life? You'd never have to worry about stealing to get what you want. You'd never go hungry, either. You'd live a happy life with your pokemon, aiming to become a Champion in a new world. And it'll all be yours by using your... sticky fingers. Have I whet your appetite yet?"

Moxy tilted her head. First, he talked about what her future would be like if she continued to steal, and now it sounded like he wanted her to steal?

"You're saying I should steal s-"

"Woah, voice down," Ryker interrupted her, pointing his thumb at the door.

"Steal something worth a lot?" she finished her question in a whisper.

"That's just a tiny piece of the pie. You need to think bigger. What I mean is workin' with a team of people like you. It's risky, but at least you can live a comfortable life, free of worry. It's an opportunity for success."

She just stared at Ryker like he was crazy.

Ryker glanced at the door again, "Okay, how about this? I want you to wait outside the Devon Corporation for someone tonight, at around nine. An associate of mine. Just talk to him. He explains it better than I do."

"Tonight? I have to be back at the orphanage at seven, and Ms. Pennington isn't going to let me leave the house to see some random stranger."

"You've snuck out before. Just do it again. It'll be worth it."

She waved her hand in refusal, "No, no… Look, I'm sorry. This isn't going to work out for me."

"Hold up," Ryker stopped her. He stood up, took her hand, and stuffed the silver necklace inside her palm.

"At least think about it?" he urged, waiting for an answer. After a sigh, she gave him a small nod. Ryker smiled as he walked to the door, holding it open for Moxy.

"Let's get a move on then."

---

Mike was still waiting outside when the two exited the classroom.

"You took your time. Let's go," Mike motioned his head towards the exit.

"Tonight," Ryker mouthed to Moxy before walking away with his partner.

Suddenly, the school bell rang out, and seconds later the halls filled with students going to their next classes.

"The ordeals of learning," Moxy muttered in exhaustion as she made her way back to her classroom.

When she came back to class the entire room went silent. Moxy ignored everyone's stares and just listened to Roxanne teach. She endured two more periods of pokemon training before lunchtime rolled around. She sat down on a picnic table in the courtyard and let Sylveon out of her ball, as promised.

When she opened her lunch bag, there was a soggy peanut butter and jelly sandwich covered in plastic wrap that almost caused Moxy to retch. Its contents were all over the bread, and the jelly looked grimy.

"You want this?" Moxy displayed it in the air for her. Sylveon's face twisted in disgust and she shook her head. Moxy gave Sylveon the sandwich and the pokemon quickly tossed it into the trashcan beside them.

Moxy pulled out a box of food from her bag called 'Toge-pellets'. Moxy turned the box around.

"Now with extra calcium," she deadpanned. Moxy took a cautious whiff of the food before jerking her nose in disgust, "you actually like this stuff, Sylvie?"

Sylveon was bopping her head up and down in excitement, waiting to be fed. Moxy sighed.

The girl settled on an apple before moving on to another four classes of general studies, which were language, history, mathematics, and human biology. Every minute in those classes felt like hours. She didn't need to learn about consonants, what happened to the Desert Resort in Unova one thousand years ago, what the quadratic formula was, or what was keeping her heart beating. Her final class was gymnastics, and it was the only class she even considered 'fun'. As soon as the final bell rung, Moxy hurried out of the school.

The clear, afternoon sky was beginning to darken, and the frosty air chilled Moxy to her core as she strolled along the stone sidewalk. Cars whizzed by her, and every dozen or so steps she would pass a lamppost. As she walked to the pokemon center, the whipping wind struck her face.

'I could train Sylveon against a mini-tailwind in these conditions,' Moxy thought. It took about five minutes to reach the center, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the tall, red-roofed building. Just around the right side of the center was a fenced-off area enclosing a clearing of gravel, and white lines in the clearing formed a rectangular perimeter that was the battleground. She ran across the street, making her way through the automatic doors and into the cream-yellow interior. Right off the bat, she noticed the cheery, pink dressed woman leaning over the reception counter drinking a coffee. Moxy gave her an unfocussed greeting as she walked out a side entrance to the training area.

There were a couple of benches to Moxy's immediate right and left, and pokemon trainers were seated at them. A battle was already taking place in the arena, and the trainers were watching, some even recording the battle on white devices. They were called Vs. Recorders, to Moxy's knowledge.

"Machop, Karate Chop!" someone yelled. In the middle of the rectangular arena, a Machop faced off against an angry-looking Makuhita. Two trainers were at the ends of the battlefield, yelling out orders to their pokemon.

The eighteen-year-old, male trainer on Machop's side was quite tall, averaging at around five feet and nine inches. His white and gray trainers' outfit tightened around his abs, and his broad shoulders bulged out. His polished, caramel hair rose in the front like fire, and there was a battle-hungry grin on his hard, chiseled face. Two, small pokeballs were clipped onto a belt he wore.

Makuhita's trainer was a young, amateurish looking girl with dark purple hair, and she fashioned a similar outfit, only it was red and black. Her eyes twitched as she watched Machop dance around her lagging pokemon. The Makuhita tried to punch the incoming Machop, but the gray, bipedal pokemon swerved around it. Machop planted a Karate Chop on the back Makuhita's head and knocked it down into the gravel. Machop did a fancy shuffle in place, its large, red eyes glinting with determination. The Makuhita picked itself back up, glaring at the flaunting Machop.

"Finish it off with Seismic Toss!" Machop's trainer called out. The trainers' form was composed as he observed the ongoing battle. Machop grinned as it sprinted towards the round pokemon, and that was when the girl made her move.

"Arm Thrust!" she yelled. Makuhita punched Machop right in its gut, winding the gray pokemon. A series of punches followed right after, and when Machop moved a step back, the Makuhita advanced one step forward, keeping up with the assault.

"Grab an arm and follow up with Revenge!" the boy called out impatiently. His pokemon did exactly what its trainer said, grabbing and pulling one of Makuhita's arms mid-thrust. Machop's body seared with power, and one lariat was all it took to knock out the bulky pokemon.

The girl scrambled as she unclipped Makuhita's pokeball. Red light enveloped the pokemon as it went inside the ball. The boy patted his Machop on its rugged head while returning the pokemon to its pokeball. He walked up to the girl, pulled out a yellow device from his jacket, and pressed a couple of buttons. With a little bit of analyzing, Moxy realized it was a PokeNav. The purple-haired girl reluctantly took out her PokeNav, punched in a couple of buttons, and waited until she had paid the other trainer the cash prize for winning. Both trainers put away their PokeNavs and shook hands before returning to the benches along the sides of the arena.

"Who's next?" the boy asked the cluster of trainers at the waiting area, a hint of challenge in his thick, northern accent.

"I am," Moxy spoke up before anyone could. At her sight, the boy's stormy blue eyes lit up in surprise.

"Oh Moxy, I didn't see you there," he gasped. "What did you… think of the battle?"

"That was just a warm-up, Charles," she said with a smirk.

Charles ran a hand through his hair, his eyebrows raised, "That's rich, coming from you. Well then, shall we?" he started, walking towards a pedestal near the left side of the arena. He pressed a button on the pedestal, and a large, glass screen emerged from white lines. The glass had numerous marks and streaks. Moxy threw her bag down by the benches and walked into the glass enclosure through a door. Charles followed her inside and pushed a switch near the door that closed off the arena. Both trainers walked towards opposite ends of the battlefield and faced each other.

"I hope Sylveon is ready!" he yelled from his side of the field while unclipping a pokeball.

"She always is," Moxy said quietly, pulling out a tiny pokeball. She clicked the middle of the ball, causing it to prime and enlarging it. She tossed it into the air, and it burst with multi-colored light. Sylveon landed on the hard gravel in a battle-ready stance.

Charles' pokeball opened in his hand, and a lilac, four-legged pokemon appeared out of the multi-colored light. The pupils of Espeon's starry, dark purple eyes were white, like Sylveon's, and the red gem on her forehead glistened under the blue sky. Her large, cat-like ears lit up at the sight of Sylveon, and she trilled happily in greeting. Sylveon purred in response, waving one of her feelers towards her friend.

Moxy snapped her fingers, and Sylveon narrowed her eyes at her opponent. The trainers at the benches were at the edge of their seats as they filmed the fight with their recorders. Some of them even let out their pokemon to watch.

Charles flicked his hair to the side and stayed silent. Moxy realized he was allowing her to make the first move.

"Echoed Voice!" she yelled, giving Charles no chance to react. Before her pokemon could even open her mouth, Espeon became enveloped in white energy. She sprinted at Sylveon at an alarming speed, headbutting her mid-move. Sylveon still shouted out as she was knocked aside, and the pink soundwave went flying towards the benches. Thankfully, the glass stopped the wave dead in its tracks. Espeon waved her head back snobbishly, the white energy dissipating from her body.

"Quick Attack, while she's trying to get up!" Charles repeated. Moxy's heart skipped as she scrambled to think of a way to defend her pokemon.

"Hide in the gravel using Sand Attack!" she finally shouted. Sylveon immediately sprang back on her feet and used her long feelers to thrash the gravel around her erratically, whipping up a small dust cloud. Espeon dashed away to a safe distance, examining the cloud with her large eyes.

Moxy clicked her tongue in annoyance. Espeon's were known for being able to predict the future by sensing sudden shifts in the wind with their sensitive fur. That was Roxanne told her, anyways. As she read the definition backward in her mind, she came up with an idea to beat Espeon.

If Sylveon created an artificial gust of air, then she could probably trick Espeon into dodging. A calculated Echoed Voice in the direction she landed should score a hit on the nimble pokemon.

"Can you hear me, Sylveon?" she asked, loud enough to hear through the thrashing but low enough just for Sylveon. The pokemon responded with a yip.

"Use Fairy Wind, three o'clock. Echoed Voice at nine o'clock," she ordered, maintaining her speech volume. A smile crept on her face when the dust cloud suddenly dissipated and a sparkling wind blew towards the right side of Sylveon's field of vision.

"Don't move! Use Confusion!" Charles called out, reading Moxy's ploy. The gem on Espeon's forehead flashed, and red circles of energy were expelled. Sylveon was too preoccupied with waiting for Espeon to dodge the fairy wind. The circles passed through her and red energy outlined Sylveon. She was lifted into the air by an unseen force, and her legs flailed as she tried to break free from the psychic grip. Espeon nudged her head to her right, and Sylveon was propelled into the glass wall. An intense expression formed on the Espeon's face and Sylveon yelped in pain. The psychic attack was pressing the delicate pokemon against the wall, and every cry from Sylveon caused Moxy to wince.

"Echoed Voice! Fight against the pressure!" Moxy commanded. Sylveon struggled against the pressure of the Confusion, directing her head towards Espeon. As soon as the opponent's figure was in her sights, Sylveon let loose a loud cry. Espeon was too slow to avoid the following pink soundwave that disoriented her. She withdrew her sensitive ears under her paws, which freed Sylveon from her psychokinetic hold. Sylveon's body enveloped in pink energy as she bounced off the glass wall, striking Espeon with a Quick Attack before she had a chance to stabilize itself. Espeon crashed into the gray sand, scattering gravel in her area of impact.

"Good stuff!" Moxy cheered her pokemon on. Sylveon did a short, angelic jump, squealing with joy. On the other side, Espeon composed herself, shaking the dirt off her fur.

"It isn't over just yet. Espeon, use Swift!" Charles ordered with a sharp tone.

"Counter with your own Swift!" Moxy said, pitting her Sylveon's power against Espeon's. The two pokemon spun around as they started their attacks. They both unleashed numerous stars from their tails, but Espeon's were white, while Sylveon's were pink. As the stars collided with each other, they exploded in flashes of energy. Moxy had to shield her eyes from the light they emitted with each collision. Sylveon sprang into the air, flipping as she fired more stars from her tail. Espeon did a quick sidestep, avoiding the air assault while shooting out counter stars. As soon as the last two stars clashed, Sylveon and Espeon locked eyes with one another, both panting.

Moxy snapped her fingers twice, the clear sound reverberating across the field. Sylveon flopped her left ear twice in response, and Moxy grinned.

"Get up close with Quick Attack!" she shouted, and pink energy enveloped Sylveon as she bounded towards Espeon, all four feelers outspread and aking across the gravel. Charles widened his eyes, aware of the trick Moxy was trying to pull.

"It's a distraction! Focus on Sylveon's follow up move!" he yelled out. As soon as Sylveon got close, Espeon dodged the headbutt with her deft reflexes.

"Use Echoed Voice!" Moxy added, her shoulders tensing up. Sylveon quickly spun around as she passed by Espeon, skating across the gravel and letting her feelers fall gently on the ground. A piercing cry filled the air as the Echoed Voice was let loose. Espeon anticipated the move, jumping up high and evading the soundwave.

'Game over,' Moxy untensed. Sylveon immediately raised her feelers off the gravel. Espeon sensed the move as soon as it presented itself, but she could do nothing, for she was suspended in the air. The feelers coiled around one of Espeon's slender, hind legs, and she gasped as she was dangled upside-down in the air. Sylveon aimed and drew in the deepest breath.

The soundwave boomed through Espeon as she was swathed in red light. Charles returned his pokemon, sighing in defeat. The glass walls slid back into the ground, and Moxy ran to her pokemon.

"You were spectacular, Sylvie!" she said, kneeling to hug Sylveon. Moxy flinched as her pokemon winced in pain. There was a visible bruise on Sylveon's fur, and she trembled weakly.

"We'll get you healed up right away, girl," Moxy promised, scratching Sylveon under her chin. She cooed as Moxy returned her pokemon to her ball. She stood up and walked over to Charles, who was gazing through the hard floor as if some sort of answer lay beneath it.

"Good match," Charles shook his head from his stupor and gave Moxy a warm smile, "I thought I had that one,"

Moxy put her hands on her hip, "You shouldn't have played so defensively. Espeon is much faster than Sylveon."

"I know but... it doesn't help that Sylveon's normal type moves are stronger than Espeon's. I'm already having a hard time getting her to learn Psybeam. And she still can't activate her new ability."

"I know she'll get there soon," Moxy assured him, "It took Sylveon a while to get Pixelate working too,"

Charles returned her kind words with a genuine smile, but Moxy held out her palm. Charles glanced at her hand before his smile turned sheepish.

"Too bad I don't have any solid cash on me right now," Charles simpered, scratching his head, "Maybe if you saved some money on a PokeNav..."

Moxy placed her hands on her hip, "Those aren't the rules. And you know Penny would take my money away before I could even say PokeNav."

"I'd have to make a long trip to the bank…"

"Tell you what. How about you treat me and Sylveon for lunch? Then we'll be even," she convinced. He squinted his eyes at her but succumbed when Moxy gave him the baby-doll eyes.

"Okay, but you better not order four appetizers like last time," he grumbled. Moxy grinned before walking back inside the pokemon center with him.

---

After Moxy's and Charles' pokemon's were fully healed, they went to Moxy's favorite restaurant, a seafood buffet named The Pearl. After the battle, they were hungrier than they thought, so they ended up buying a ton of food, to Charles' dismay. Moxy also bought some sweets, like cupcakes and cookies, for Sylveon and Espeon. Once they were done, they walked over to Rustboro Park and found a bench that overlooked the ocean. They watched their pokemon play under the setting sun while chowing down on cooked Clauncher meat.

"Please remind me never to take you out again," Charles said, dejected at the sight of his bank account from his PokeNav.

"If I did that, then we'd never hang out again," Moxy mumbled with a mouthful. Charles looked up at her, a sarcastically plain face about him.

"Aww cheer up," Moxy finally swallowed her food, punching Charles lightly on the shoulder, "When I become Champion, I'll buy us a feast fit for a king."

Charles let out a roar of laughter at that statement, and Moxy punched him again, this time a little harder.

"Ow, I'm just kidding," Charles grimaced, rubbing his shoulder.

"I'm serious. I'll beat the Elite Four first. Then I'll defeat Champion Steven. And after that, I'll become the Champion of the world, if that's even a title. I promise we are going to change the world."

"You're forgetting you need to win the Hoenn Conference, too," he added.

"That's gonna be a piece of cake."

"How can you be so sure?" Charles asked, "You haven't even gotten your first gym badge yet."

"Well, Roxanne won't let me battle her gym until I've received my trainer's license," Moxy pouted, crossing her arms, "If I had my way, I would have already wiped the floor with Liza and Tate."

Charles laughed again, this time almost falling off the bench, "Hmph!" huffed Moxy as she twirled her body away from him.

"Oh Moxy," he said, pulling her arm, "You know I believe in you, one hundred percent. You're just getting a little ahead of yourself."

After a few more pulls, Charles finally managed to get her to turn towards him again. She was glaring daggers at him.

"I'm sorry," he started while rummaging through his pocket, "But maybe this will turn your frown upside down."

Charles pulled out a thin but small white box, holding it out for Moxy to take.

"F-for me?" she stammered, and she could feel her cheeks burning. After a gesture, she took the box carefully and opened it. Its velvet-lined interior housed a brilliant, gold bracelet. The ceiling of the case had a gold engraving in it.

For my best friend in the world

"I know how much you like shiny things, so happy birthday, Mox," he said, the corners of his mouth parted into a huge smile.

She was speechless. The setting sun plinked light off the bracelet, and her eyes glimmered with happiness. Yes, he truly was her best friend in the whole world.

"I… don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything. I'm just happy that you are happy."

Moxy gave Charles a big hug. No one has ever done something this nice for her. Well, ever since Dahlia or Elliot, the only people who really cared about her. After she put the white box in her backpack, they continued to watch their pokemon play. Moxy laughed when Sylveon tried to bite Espeon's tail, the psychic pokemon squeaking in surprise and slapping the pink pokemon in retaliation.

"Why don't you let your new pokemon out to play, too?" Moxy asked, a smile on her face, "Don't think I didn't notice you have a Machop in your party now. It's going to be tough to raise two pokemon."

Charles' erected himself properly on the bench, leaning forward and clasping his hands together, "He's… still integrating into the party."

"So, did you catch him or did big brother decide to grace you with another member to your party of one?" she asked.

"Umm... sort of. Machop was given to me, yes," Charles hesitated, "They are given as starters. To... new entries in the police academy."

"Entries?" Moxy gasped, her heart skipping a beat, "You mean... you enrolled in the police academy? In Unova? Which means... y-you're leaving,"

The boy looked away, "I'm sorry. Father made me. It's a tradition that all of the boys in the family become servants of justice, just like our ancestors who protected their regions as knights. Quoting my father."

"How long?"

Charles was reluctant to answer, but Moxy's scolding eyes caused him to spill, "About a year."

"WHAT!" she bounced from her seat, "A whole year? I... but you..."

Her voice became scratchy. Her throat turned dry. It was hard to swallow. Anger and sadness clouded her thoughts, and she couldn't form a cohesive sentence. She just waited for him to say something. Anything to alleviate the panic racking her mind.

"W-what if you came with me? You could stay in the family home. Train with Elliot. We-"

Moxy shook her head. Tears were streaming down her cheeks now, "You know I can't. I don't have a passport," she sniveled, "And your father wouldn't even let me. I'm stuck in this god-awful place. Alone."

"Don't say stuff like that. You're not alone. You have Sylveon."

"It's not the same," she rubbed her eyes, but the tears shed faster than she could dry them. A small sob escaped her lips. Charles rose from his seat to comfort her, but she turned away from him. Her shoulders heaved, and Charles placed his hands on them to steady her.

"I know I should stand up for myself, but... I just couldn't. I'm so sorry," Charles motioned his hand at her backpack on the floor, "I thought the bracelet could give you some comfort. Something to remember me by until I come back... if it's any consolation,"

"Consolation?" she hissed, "What am I supposed to do with that? You're the only reason I-" she stopped herself. Charles widened his eyes. He was about to ask her to continue, but she snatched her backpack off the ground and began walking away from him. He grasped her hand.

"I'm not going anywhere until I get to see you off on your journey in three days. Just stay here with me. Let's enjoy the time we have left, okay?" Charles pleaded.

She yanked her hand away from him yet again and whistled for her pokemon. Sylveon's ears perked up at its master's call, and she sounded a goodbye to Espeon as she followed her trainer. Espeon watched sadly as Moxy's and Sylveon's silhouettes faded in the distance.

Charles rubbed his left knuckles with his right hand, and Espeon came to his side. She could sense Charles's distress, and Espeon nudged her nose on his knee. Charles scratched behind her ear in return.

"What do I do now?"

---

Her footsteps pounded on the empty sidewalk as she made her way downtown. Sylveon reached one of her feelers towards Moxy's hand.

"I need to be focused," she said, waving the feeler away. Sylveon's ears drooped.

Moxy had a plan. It was risky and dumb, but as of this moment, she didn't know what else to do. She needed to talk with Walter. Give him a piece of her mind. Make him see that Charles staying to go on a journey was more helpful to his growth than riding out another year of school in a different region. To tell him the truth Charles was too afraid to say.

The duo passed by the pokemon center again, and Sylveon's ears rose when a whistle pierced the air behind them. They turned around to see a familiar, green-haired girl with her hands on her hips and that smarmy grin on her face.

"Where are you going, small fry?" Janice sneered.

"Fuck off," Moxy replied.

"Aww," Janice saw the red in Moxy's eyes, "Were you crying? Didn't know you were such a little crybaby Moxy,"

"What the hell do you want?" Moxy asked through gritted teeth.

Janice pulled out a red and white ball from her pocket and threw it up in the air. A dazzling light filled the sky, and a purple and yellow, cat-like pokemon coalesced, landing gracefully as it touched the hard ground.

"A battle. Right here. Right now," Janice said. Her Liepard wore the same wicked smile as her master. Sylveon took a battle-ready stance as she faced Liepard. She made worried glances at Moxy, wondering if they had to battle on the sidewalk.

"Are you crazy? We can't battle in the middle of the street. Besides, I don't have time for this," Moxy said, turning away from Janice. Sylveon sighed in relief. She cracked a smirk at Liepard before joining Moxy.

"Aww, you scared?" Janice taunted. Unfortunately for her, the comment flew right over Moxy's head. Janice's right eye twitched, and she cupped her hands around her mouth before spitting out one final remark.

"Fine then! Runaway to your mother, crybaby! Oh wait, you don't have one, do you!?"

Moxy stopped dead in her tracks. Janice's mouth curled triumphantly. Sylveon looked to Moxy with widened eyes. One of her feelers snaked around Moxy's hand, but the teen smacked it away and whirled on her rival.

"You want a battle, then let's battle!" she screamed, gesturing her pokemon in front of her. Sylveon shot a glare at Moxy before outspreading all four of her feelers in a wide pattern as she faced the purple feline. Liepard licked her paws, not paying any attention to her opponents ill-attempt at intimidating her.

"I'll let you have the first move," Janice called out, her sneer larger than ever.

"Echoed Voice!" Moxy yelled without hesitation. Sylveon took a large breath, but Liepard was already on her feet as she dashed towards the pink pokemon, not a single word from her trainer. She moved at a terrifying speed, and it took less than a second for the purple cat to reach Sylveon. Liepard clapped both of its paws in between Sylveon's head, disorienting her. Sylveon yelped, surprised by the Fake Out Liepard had dealt her. Sylveon hurried to get her bearings once more, but Liepard had already vanished and was nowhere to be seen. Moxy's eyes darted around as she frantically searched for the deceptive pokemon.

'Really? Hide and seek?' Moxy fumed in her mind. In the corner of her eye, she saw a dark silhouette above the pokemon center.

"Above the pokemon center! Aim and use Echoed Voice!" Sylveon's head twirled to where her trainer was pointing, and she inhaled another gust of air. The dark figure descended upon Sylveon swiftly and scratched her across the face. An angered Sylveon shouted anyways, filling the air with a booming cry. Liepard ducked, the pink soundwave barely grazing her tail.

A bystander on the other side of the street jumped at the noise and backed away from the fight breaking out on the sidewalk. With a shuddering hand, he pushed three buttons on his phone and held it up to his ears.

"Cruciatus!" Janice called out. Liepard flipped backward into the air, kicking Sylveon under the chin at the same time. As it landed, Liepard cackled. Her sickle-like tail drew something into the sidewalk, but Moxy didn't recognize it. Sylveon's ears perked up, and a whisper of a meow escaped Liepard's lips. But it wasn't a meow. It was more like a chant. Moxy didn't understand what Janice ordered Liepard to do. It had been a while since they had a battle, and it looked like Janice finally had a strategy of some sort. Sylveon reared her ears as she barked back a retort, and she started to shake. Purplish wisps of energy arose from the pokemon's head like steam.

"Ignore her and use Echoed Voice! Liepard is just standing there!" Moxy yelled to her pokemon, her fist clenched. However, Sylveon turned towards her trainer, a confused look on the pokemon's face.

Moxy bit her lip, 'Looks like she's being affected by a Torment,'

"Tere clavus!" Janice called out before Moxy had a chance to give her pokemon a different order. Liepard proceeded to sharpen her claws against each other, as well as beating her tail across the concrete floor.

"Use Quick Attack!" Moxy ordered. Sylveon's body enveloped in pink energy as she dashed towards Liepard. She struck Liepard with a headbutt, causing the cat to tumble backward.

"Give it up, Janice! Your dark type is no match for my fairy type!" Moxy yelled, her head boiling with anger, "Follow up with Echoed Voice!"

Sylveon breathed in a gust of air. Liepard lay on the sidewalk unmoving after being hit by the Pixelated Quick Attack, and Sylveon used this opportunity to unleash the soundwave directly at her foe.

"Ferrum!" Janice yelled sharply. Suddenly, Liepard bounced into the air with blinding speed, dodging the soundwave. Her sickle-like tail gleamed white under the setting sun. Sylveon stared in horror as Liepard's hardened tail grew closer, much like an executioner's axe. Before the Iron Tail could collide with Sylveon, a red light enveloped the pink pokemon, and she was recalled into her ball. The move crashed into the pavement, crushing the concrete with its power.

Moxy was sweating profusely as she held Sylveon's pokeball tightly. Liepard walked over to her trainer, purring as her trainer petted her.

"You were saying?" Janice taunted, her hand resting on an elevated hip.

Moxy's world slowed down around her, 'I… lost… to Janice?' she thought in disbelief.

Suddenly, a siren blared close by. Moxy gritted her teeth, but she knew she couldn't stay. Trainers' weren't allowed to have battles outside the safe zones of an arena. Janice was two steps ahead of her, as the girl and her purple feline were already making a break for it.

Moxy ran into an alleyway opposite of the pokemon center. She kept running until the sounds of the sirens were far behind her. As soon as the coast was clear, she kicked a random can on the floor, her mind searing with anger.

She should have just left, but Janice baited her. She was too angry to fight, and there were unforeseen consequences for playing aggressively. The way she treated her pokemon was unforgivable, too. But she couldn't think about that now. She needed to help her best friend. Moxy shoved her hands in her pockets and walked towards Charles' house, disappearing into the darkness of the alley.

---

Beyond an arched, steel gateway, the Lockwood Mansion could be seen. It was about three stories high, and the building was made of cobblestone, unlike the sandstone buildings that littered Rustboro. The sun had already set, but the sky was still a dark shade of blue. An ominous, large cloud could be seen in the distance. Moxy pressed a button on an intercom next to the gate.

"Who is this?" the voice of an elderly man said through the intercom.

"Its Moxy. Can I come in?"

"Ah, miss Moxy. Young Charles hasn't arrived home yet. Shall I leave him a message from you when he gets back?"

"No, I was just with him. I actually came to talk to Mr. Lockwood. Is he there?"

"Erm, yes. Please come in. I shall notify him of your arrival."

The gate opened automatically, and Moxy let herself in. After a short walk through the estate, she ascended the few steps that led to the front of the house. There was a loud click from the latch of the lock, and the door creaked open. A man wearing a black tuxedo stood behind the door, and he shook Moxy's hand before leading her inside. Her footsteps echoed against the white, marble floor. Regal paintings of kings and queens lined the white walls, their arrogant gazes piercing through Moxy as if they were scorning her. Up ahead, a large staircase led to a second floor, and the base of both sides of its railing was adorned with gold busts of a Bisharp. The ceiling rose high above, where a grand, glass chandelier cast a net of florescent light upon the girl.

"Wait right here, miss," the butler said, gesturing her into a large opening off the side of the lobby. It led into the living room, which looked almost the same as the lobby except for the white, elegant couches and tables in the middle of the room. The large TV mounted on the side of the wall was switched to the Hoenn News Network, where a lady was talking about some odd weather patterns in the sky. The crackling of the fireplace beneath that made the room feel homey. Moxy walked over to a couch, put her backpack on the floor, and sat down.

A minute later, Moxy made out large footsteps going down the staircase. A burly, six-foot-three tanned man entered the living room. His hairy, puffed-out chest could be seen under his thick, black robe. He shared many of the same facial features Charles had, but the man's blue eyes were baggy and darker. On the bridge of his nose lay an old, horizontal gash. His bronze hair surged behind him in a wild way, and he scratched his bushy beard as he entered the living room.

Moxy began to get up to greet him, but the man gestured her to stay seated as he made his way to a couch opposite to hers.

"Walter," Moxy greeted.

"Where's my boy?" he asked in his thick, northern accent, much like Charles but deep and rough. There was a hint of accusation in his voice as if she had done something to his son.

"We went our separate ways about an hour ago," she responded, "But, I came here to talk to you, sir."

"So I've heard. You aren't angry about the police showing up at your school, are you?"

Moxy's forehead strained as she responded once again, "No, I'm sure you had a good reason for embarrassing me in the middle of class."

Walter simply nodded, taking the TV remote off the table and powering down the television, "Well? Out with it. I'm quite busy."

"It's about Charles going to Unova-"

He interrupted the girl, "If you're going to try to change my mind, you are wasting your time."

"Why can't he just go to the academy right here in Hoenn? It's the same thing,"

Walter got comfortable on the couch, "Unova is his home region. He will learn with the same people who taught Elliot, me, my father, and his father before him. I won't change tradition simply to suit your whims,"

Moxy gulped in response to his accusatory statements. But she didn't come all this way just to be shot down.

"He's eighteen," she started, "He's an adult, by law. He can make his own decisions,"

Walter crossed his arms, "He's no adult under the laws of this roof. He's still a boy. My boy,"

"That means he doesn't get to choose if he wants to go or not then, right? Do you know how ridiculous that is? Every trainer with a license goes on a journey. He's had his license for like three months now and you still haven't let him go on a journey. He trains and studies all day, but he can learn so much more actually exploring the world,"

"He isn't 'every trainer'. And its that mindset that will get him killed, or worse. You aren't a cop. You don't know what it's like to find bodies out in the wilderness after 'every trainer' got reckless trying to catch some mythical, dangerous creature they heard a whisper about. No. He will train at the academy. He will be ready. Then he will go. And your tenacity over this matter will not bend me."

Moxy narrowed her eyes, "Was Elliot ready when he ran a full circle around Unova trying to stop Ghetsis?"

Walter returned the same gesture, his eyes far more intimidating than Moxy's, "Yes. He'd done his time at the academy. And, like his ancestors before him, he defended his region from that psychopath. He wasn't deluded by dreams of grandeur. I'm thinking of the future."

"So that's what Charles' life is going to end up like. To lay down his life for a chunk of land? Did you even ask him if he wants to do that? No, you didn't, because I know what he really wants to do." Moxy complained. Every word out of her mouth seemed to make Walter grow more irritated. But she wanted him to be irritated. He had no right to force his son to do something he never wanted.

"He wants to go on a journey," she stressed, "He wants to explore everything Hoenn has to offer, and he wants to give the Championship a shot because he could have that potential. He doesn't want to be drafted into the league to fight their wars. He doesn't want to go back into that warzone. Don't you want what's best for him?"

"Stop lying," Walter snarled, leaning forward, "the only reason you're here arguing on his behalf is that you want him to go with you. Don't think I don't do my homework. I know you don't have a passport to leave. I know he's your only friend. You should be more grateful for that cur Elliot gave you,"

"What the hell did you call Sylveon?!" Moxy's voice cracked as she jumped from her seat. Walter followed suit.

"Don't you yell at me. There isn't a single, goddamn thing on this planet I wouldn't do for my son. After that fire six years ago, I could see right through you. You're full of anger. Hate. Grudges. Charles doesn't need that in his life,"

Moxy tensed. A wave of nausea hit her when he said 'fire'.

"I've m-moved past that. I'm different now," she protested. Walter picked up a fire poker. Moxy's took a step back, for she thought he would do something to her with that. However, he moved towards the fireplace, and the crackling fire grew louder as he stoked it.

"One thing you'll learn in life is that people never change," he said grimly, the embers reflecting against his blue eyes. Moxy was about to retort, but he continued, "I won't ever forget what happened that day. Nicole called the station about a fire. I was worried about what your death would do to my son. I got you, Nicole, and all the other orphans out of there. And then the evidence showed the fire originated from papers set alight next to the curtains in the living room. One of the orphans said they saw you walk downstairs holding a couple of books. I looked into your eyes, and I saw regret. Regret that the job wasn't finished."

Moxy shuddered, "Please, stop talking about that,"

Walter turned his head slightly toward her, "You still think she did it, right? Killed her own sister? She's strict for sure, but she isn't evil. Be grateful the judge only gave you six months. Second-degree arson warrants at least two years. Be even more grateful your permit wasn't taken away. Or your pokemon."

A lump formed in Moxy's throat, "It was an accident. I've changed! I swear! I would never hurt anyone, not even Charles,"

"I'm not convinced. Why do you think I sent police to the school? I know about your midnight hobby," Walter faced Moxy, planting the fire iron on the marble floor like it was a cane.

"W...what are you talking about," she stammered, holding her arm up defensively.

"Lying again!" he yelled, eliciting a startle from Moxy, "You would come in here and accuse me of ruining my son's life, only to not acknowledge the crimes ruining yours? Unacceptable! Over my dead body will Charles ever go on a journey with you! What you are guilty of is manipulating and twisting the truth to fit your needs. That goes against everything my ancestors believed in! Everything I believe in!"

Tears welled in Moxy's eyes, and her mind was brewing with a concoction of rage, fear, and regret. Enough to jumble her thoughts.

Walter's expression darkened further, "Dahlia would be ashamed, as would your actual parents if they were here."

"That isn't true! Stop it!" she yelled, her voice wobbly as she covered her ears. Her heart ached at hearing Dahlia's name.

"I will stop. In fact, I never want to see your face here again. I may not have much evidence of your petty thievery, but so be it. I would take solace in the fact that you are out of our lives for the next year. Do what you please. Go on a journey. Keep stealing. I couldn't care less. The next time I have a conversation with you will surely be inside an interrogation room. And if you think about telling Charles any of this, I'll do everything in my power to get your license taken away. Even if I have to abuse my title and reputation."

He pointed to the door, "Now get out,"

It was over. There was no getting through to Walter, and talking with him only brought back bad memories. She wanted to scream at Walter with all her might, but what he was saying was true. All the community service, training to honor Dahlia's memory, and time wouldn't make up for what she tried to do. But she had endured so much from Ms. Pennington. Letting go wouldn't do her justice. If it ever came to that point again, she didn't know if she would stop herself. The truth was that her soul was being tugged at by two ideals. Vengeance or giving up. And either option would end badly for her.

Moxy's gaze faltered in defeat as she picked up her belongings and exited the living room. At the turn, the butler was at the front door waiting for her.

"Shall I drive you back to the orphanage, miss?" he asked politely, a grave look on his face. Moxy silently shook her head, and the butler nodded in response.

As the gate closed behind her, her legs became heavy. Dark clouds loomed overhead, and Moxy felt a droplet of water hit her scarlet hair. A few seconds later the boom of a thunderstorm echoed throughout and it began to rain. Her clothes were soaking, but that didn't bother her as much as her torn heart. She dropped her bag and slumped against the gate. She couldn't tell if the water running down her cheeks was from the rain or her salty tears.

Suddenly, her backpack began to shake violently. Moxy immediately zipped it open, a surprised look on her face. A flash of multi-colored light shot out from her bag, and Sylveon sprung out, skidding across the sidewalk.

"Damn, I forgot to unprime the ball. Didn't I tell you not to come out by your…" Moxy trailed off half-heartedly. She didn't have the energy or will for anything. Sylveon took one look at Moxy and immediately ran for her trainer. She let out a soft cry before wrapping her feelers around Moxy's body.

Moxy let it all out. She sobbed while holding on to Sylveon as if her life depended on it. Ryker was right, and she was doomed. Her life was heading in one direction, and it wasn't good. She could go on a journey. But the sole reason she wanted to do so was leaving for Unova in three days.

Sylveon trilled softly, tightening her squeeze to comfort the girl.

"I don't know what to do, Sylvie," she sniveled. Sylveon gave Moxy a warm smile, and she wrapped another feeler around one of Moxy's fingers.

A wave of serenity washed over Moxy. Her thoughts were no longer in disarray, but she still had no idea what her next course of action should be. One thought echoed in her mind, and she pulled a watch out of her backpack. The shorthand pointed to eight, and the tallest building in Rustboro was about an hour away. With Sylveon by her side, they slogged through the rain.

---

Another boom of thunder echoed throughout the city. Moxy stood in front of the gateway into the Devon Corporation's forecourt in the dead of night, and she was still grasping on Sylveon's feeler as they waited. She had to squint her eyes to see the shorthand of her water-speckled timepiece. It pointed towards nine now.

Moxy hardly ever went to the north city. The glass skyscrapers towering around her mirrored the world around them, and the wide streets were empty in the miserable weather. Woopers and Zigzagoon ran into alleys at the booms of thunder, and Pidoves sheltered themselves under canopies and scaffoldings.

None of the large buildings, however, could hold a dime against the Devon Corporation. It had a unique, spiral design, and Rotom drones hovered around the apex of the great skyscraper. Most likely protecting the building from any intruders coming from the sky, as it was one of the most reputable technology industries in Hoenn.

The lobby of the building cast a brilliant, white light on Moxy. Apparently, people were still inside at this hour, which goes to show how hard the employees worked to produce amazing products for the public. She and Sylveon walked over to a wooden bench along the tiled, straight walkway in the forecourt. Moxy's legs ached from walking, and the wet bench was a godsend in its own, uncomfortable way. The rain pelted Moxy without pause until she could see nothing through her sopping hair and dripping eyelashes.

A minute passed. Then five more as Moxy waited. Sylveon silently endured the rain, but she shivered when the cold wind brushed her wet fur. She inched closer to her trainer, and Moxy put her arm around her pokemon. It was uncomfortable for a second, but Sylveon's body warmed Moxy up.

"I'm sorry Sylvie. I let you down," Moxy apologized, "I wish I could take back everything I did after Dahlia died. If it meant I could go on a journey with my best friend, I'd do it in a heartbeat," Sylveon stared at her trainer, sadness behind her big eyes.

"Now it's my fault you won't be able to see Espeon either," she added. Sylveon made a soft, miserable cry, and Moxy's heart sank. She laid her head against Sylveon's shoulder, doing her best to calm her down.

"I don't know what the future will hold. But from here on out, it'll just be you and me, Sylvie," Moxy finished. Lightning flashed in the distance, and the two sat in silence. Another ten minutes had passed, and Moxy had enough.

'I guess it wasn't worth it after all,' she thought, getting up from the bench. The rain had stopped hitting her at that moment. Moxy looked up and noticed an umbrella above her head.

"What are you doing out here?! It's pouring!" A man holding the umbrella yelled through the loud rain. Despite his yell, his voice was cool, calm, and collected. He was about six feet tall, and he was wearing a black suit under his long, black trench coat.

Moxy pulled her flopping hair behind her ears to look at him as she responded, "I was waiting for someone, but they were a no show."

Moxy noted some of the man's facial features. His most evident was his unusually long ears, but they complemented his thin and long face. His small eyes gleamed like rough emeralds and his hair was so dark Moxy couldn't see the top of his head under the black umbrella.

"Out here in the rain? You must really like this person to go through all this trouble for them,"

Moxy's pale face heated up, and she hid her embarrassment behind her hand, "No, its nothing like that!"

He let out a small chuckle, almost inaudible in the pounding rain, before speaking up, "Just a little joke. I could lead you to a shelter until the rain passes if you'd like," the man gestured Moxy to follow him, but she stayed where she was seated. Sylveon tightened her grip on Moxy's hand, and she seemed to be pulling her back.

He cocked an eyebrow at her, "I don't bite, I promise," he added another chuckle for good measure.

She was much more comfortable under the shade of the umbrella than under the rain. After a few seconds, the girl sighed as she walked out of the forecourt and back onto the sidewalk, the man holding the umbrella between them. Sylveon stayed close behind in the rain, looking vigilantly at the stranger through her wet tuft of hair.

"Something bothering you? You looked sad back there," his words melted seamlessly together like honey, and there was a lot of concern behind it. Genuine or not, she couldn't tell.

Moxy's gaze faltered, "Well… I'm going on a journey soon."

"A pokemon journey? Isn't that something to be excited for?"

"Yeah. But I'll be going alone. My best friend can't come with me."

"Why not?" he asked, pressing her. Moxy was hesitant in answering.

"Never mind," he apologized, "But maybe it's for the best. Some journeys are meant to be taken alone."

Moxy nodded in agreement. The two reached a park, where they saw a large gazebo in the middle. There was a single, fluorescent lightbulb hanging in the middle.

"There. That should be good enough," The man said, pointing at the gazebo. Sylveon ran ahead of them, eager to get out of the heavy rain. When she was safe, she ruffled her fur, scattering water all over the place. Thunder boomed again as Moxy and the man entered the shelter. The man put away his umbrella, and Moxy noticed his unkempt hairstyle, like dark icicles protruding downwards from his head.

The man looked out into the rain, and Moxy remembered her manners, "Um… thank you."

"Before I go, I have a question for you," he started randomly, leaning his back against one of the pillars of the gazebo.

Moxy tilted her head, "Um, sure go for it,"

"Have you ever wished the world could be a better place?"

Moxy cringed. The question was even more random, but she decided to play along. He did make an effort to walk her here after all, "A better place? For me or you? Everyone has a different opinion on world views."

"Not for me, or you, but for mankind itself. Do you think mankind is logically satisfied with where it is?"

"Where... is this coming from exactly?" she asked. This person couldn't be more mysterious.

"Oh. I work at Devon. I like to make time to hear the ideologies people have about the world," he explained. Moxy was a little satisfied with his answer, but she wanted to be careful about what she said to him.

"How about you tell me what you think first, so I get a better idea."

The man smirked, "Discreet about your dispositions. In my opinion, the world is slowly dying. We've reached an age where mankind no longer wants to strive forward. Too content with where we are and allowing nature to take more steps into destroying us."

Moxy laughed dryly, "If you work as a comedian part-time, then you're really nailing the comedic relief here. Nature destroying us? That's crazy talk."

"Could be," the man said, his smirk unchanged, "But look around you. At the rain."

As he finished that sentence, Moxy's senses were heightened. The damp scent of the water, the deafening rain beating the ground without pause, the whistling wind coursing through her soggy hair, and the size of each raindrop as the storm grew stronger than ever. Just thinking about it made her feel small to such a primordial force.

"Do you know what happens when it rains for a long time? Floods. What about when the ocean rages? Storms and hurricanes. We will always be in an ever-constant battle with nature. We need to evolve in order to defeat it."

"So that's your latest project at Devon? To stop the rain?" she said sarcastically, "Aren't their pokemon that can already control weather?"

"No. Pokemon can only control a small portion of an area for a limited amount of time. Even that takes a lot of strain. And it isn't just the weather. Every year, the water level rises by an inch from rain and melting glaciers. That's a year closer to the end of the world."

Now it just sounded like he was pitching some kind of crazy cult belief on her, "Well even if you could change it, should you? Changing the way the world works has to have consequences."

"A small price to pay for humanity's future."

His answer was disconcerting to her, and it seemed like his mind was completely made up about the topic, "Yeah, whatever you say. Fighting the rules of nature is like dueling a Haxorus with nothing but a stick. It's impossible."

"That's where you're wrong, Moxy," The man said, his eyes narrowed. Danger rang inside of Moxy's head, and she instantly whistled for her pokemon. Sylveon jumped in front of her, her tiny fangs barred at the mysterious man.

"How the hell do you know my name?" she demanded, planting a foot on the ceramic floor. The man put his hands up casually.

"Calm down, I wanted to make sure you weren't tricking me. You did come out of the police captain's home before going to Devon, after all."

"Yeah, his son is my best friend, and I'm an ace trainer. If you don't answer me, I'll have my pokemon rip your throat out. So don't take another step like your life depends on it!" she threatened. Sylveon acknowledged her trainer with a sharp bark.

"Ryker was right when he said you had a little anger temperament," he answered, a smirk growing on his face, "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm only here to help you. Because together, we can change the world."

"Wait," Moxy started in disbelief, "You were being serious about that thing with mankind and nature?"

"It's serious all right. We wouldn't go through all this trouble for no reason."

"We? As in you and Ryker? Who are you?"

"My name is Aiden, and I work for an organization whose goal is... well I gave you a little idea. But we are ambitious. And if you want, you could be a part of that."

"What is your organization? Stop messing around."

"Can't say. Not yet anyway."

"What is it with all the cloak and dagger?" Moxy exasperated, "Fine, what can you tell me?"

"That if you help us, we'll help you. I know you're an orphan. Your parents gave you away at birth. Lucky for you, the headmistress took you under her wing. She spoiled and taught you until you were thirteen before she was killed in a hit-and-run next to a league official. She wasn't the target; the official was. Once Nicole took over, she made you and every orphan there miserable. She beat you for trying to escape, and then you set the orphanage on fire with a couple of kids and Nicole inside. You went to prison. And now nobody will even bat an eye at you. So you steal and rob because it makes you feel better."

Moxy lowered her eyebrows, "How do you know so much about me?"

"Ryker filled me in," he responded plainly, and Moxy mentally facepalmed herself. Aiden continued, "But you and I are alike. I was an orphan too. In Lilycove. And now I'm offering you what you've been searching for your whole life."

"And... what would that be?" Moxy asked.

"A true home," Aiden stressed compassionately, "A purpose. A place where you can fit in, and a place where nobody will reject you ever again."

Moxy was silent. Sylveon grew impatient, but she didn't dare move without her trainers' command.

Aiden continued, "I won't force you. You can contact me on this phone. But don't take too long. My offer ends at sunrise,"

Aiden reached for his pocket, but Sylveon's bark brought his attention. He gazed at the pokemon, whose ears were flattened against her head.

"You have a protective partner," he added, a hint of admiration in his eyes. He pulled out a gray flip phone, "Keep her close to you."

Moxy barely caught the phone when he tossed it to her. Aiden opened his umbrella again and walked into the rain. Sylveon was about to go after him, but Moxy snapped her finger.

"We're okay now, Sylvie," She comforted her pokemon as they watched Aiden disappear into the fog surrounding them.

Moxy looked at the phone in her hand, unsure of how to process everything Aiden had told her. It sounded like something she should run far away from, but at the same time, she had nowhere to run to. It was her against the world, and as much as she denied it, her goal is insurmountable. Especially without Charles by her side. She stared down at Sylveon, whose gaze was still following Aiden through the hammering rain. Moxy ruffled the hair between Sylveon's ears, and the pokemon licked Moxy's hand in return.

What would she do if her pokemon went hungry? Would she steal and risk everything as she has always done, or would she starve herself to make sure her pokemon would be fed? However, she had an opportunity now. People who wanted her, supposedly. And according to Aiden, she wouldn't have to worry about a thing. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to give this a shot.

'No, 'Moxy shook her head.

As much as it pained her, the most honorable way through was to struggle. She couldn't give up on her dreams just yet. If she could win tournaments, she might be able to make enough money to make a living. She could maybe get a part-time job with someone who didn't care about six-year-old records. She wouldn't steep low. She didn't need help from anyone. Once she was free of that orphanage, she was a woman capable of anything she put her mind to.

"The orphanage!" Moxy's heart skipped, too enraptured with her sadness to think of something as mundane as the orphanage. Moxy dreaded what punishment awaited her once she arrived as she and Sylveon bounded for the streets, disappearing into the darkness of the rain.

---

Moxy checked her watch again, almost tripping on the wet sidewalk as she ran. The shorthand pointed towards eleven, and her legs grew heavy when the brick, three-story building came into view. Thankfully it had stopped raining, and the yellow lampposts of Rustboro shone brightly under the moon as the girl hurried past them. Once Moxy reached the steps, she turned around to see her pokemon still catching up to her. Once Sylveon finally made it to her, the pink pokemon was breathless.

"Sorry, Sylvie. Going to have to ball you up, okay? I'll let you out once I get things sorted with Penny," Moxy said in a soothing voice as she pulled out Sylveon's pokeball from her soaking backpack. Sylveon was reluctant, but after a warm smile from Moxy, the pokemon pressed her nose against the red ball and went inside it.

Moxy put away the ball and took a deep breath, 'wish me luck,' she thought to herself as she walked up the steps leading to the orphanage.

All the lights in the building were off as Moxy entered.

"...For all you listeners tuned in this late at night, the clouds have passed over Mauville and are heading north, towards Foretree. Anyone there right now is recommended to get indoors..." a male, persuasive voice spoke on the radio in the lobby.

She slowly closed the door behind her and began to tiptoe up the staircase as fast as she could. Near the middle of the steps, the lights inside quickly switched open.

'Shit,' Moxy turned to look downstairs, where Ms. Pennington stomped into the lobby. She had an angry contortion on her face, and Moxy's mouth turned dry.

"Do you have any idea how long I waited for you to show up!?" the headmistress shouted, her voice ringing in Moxy's ears.

"I- I'm sorry, ma'am. I was training, and I hadn't realized it was so la-"

"Do you think me daft, you scoundrel?" Ms. Pennington interrupted, "The police showed up here shortly after you left. Asking me questions about some robbery and perusing all over the bloody place. And now you come here at almost midnight. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were out pilfering as per usual. But it ends now."

"Please, ma'am, I didn't realize the time…"

"Get. Down. Here. Right. Now," the woman said slowly, but Moxy was frozen on the spot.

"NOW!" the headmistresses yelled, her nose flared. Moxy instantly hurried down the steps. Moxy stood politely in front of her headmistress, her eyes unable to meet the woman's condemning gaze.

"Hands behind your back," Ms. Pennington said, raising a hand. Moxy's hands stayed hovering around her waist timidly, which was an instant mistake.

Within a second, Moxy's world turned red. Ms. Pennington had slapped her across the face, and Moxy collapsed to the floor. Pain welled from the red mark on her cheek. She hid her head in her arms, fearful of Ms. Pennington hitting her again.

"Upstairs to your room. You're grounded until you leave. You will be back here at three-thirty sharp. There will be no training, no going out, and no playing whatsoever. Every chore in this house will be done or that smack will be the least of your worries," Ms. Pennington threatened. Moxy was in tears again, and she muddled around on the floor.

"I SAID UPSTAIRS NOW!" Ms. Pennington screeched as she pulled Moxy by her red hair, eliciting a scream from the girl as she was forced to stand. She then shoved Moxy towards the staircase. Moxy broke her stumbling with the staircase handle and her sobs grew louder.

A little jingle played in the living room where the radio was.

"...This just in. Not too long ago, the missing ruby from the Rustboro Museum was recently discovered by the police, our sources say..." the same man on the radio said, the sound a little louder than before.

Ms. Pennington was still watching Moxy shamble up the stairs.

"...The thief responsible for this robbery has been identified. According to our sources, the Hoenn Law Enforcement officers are en route right now to take the thief in..."

Moxy quieted her sobs. She slowed her ascent about halfway up the stairs, listening intently to the radio.

"...The suspect is..."

Ms. Pennington frowned at Moxy's dwindling movement, "What the hell are you doi-"

"...Moxy Pennington..."

The girl in question froze. Ms. Pennington turned her gaze towards the living room, her face growing more shocked as the radioman spoke.

"...a camera caught them running from the scene of the crime just yesterday. The police recovered the stolen gem in a dumpster outside the Rustboro Training Academy, the same school Pennington studies in..."

If things were bad, they were ten times worse now. Moxy instantly regretted going out that night. But this was wrong. Her heart thumped rapidly when Ms. Pennington's turned her glare back on Moxy. Instinct and fear took over, and Moxy ran to the top of the staircase.

"You stinking, no-good rat!" Ms. Pennington stomped after her. Moxy ran down to the end of the hallway, where her room was. Ms. Pennington was on her heels. The old coot was faster than she looked. Moxy ran inside and slammed the door shut. The entire room shook when Ms. Pennington crashed into the door. Moxy twisted the doorknob lock as fast as she could.

"Open this door right now, Moxy!" her headmistress screamed through the walls, the door rattling with every pummel of her fist.

"I swear I didn't steal that ruby! Please you have to believe me!" Moxy's pleaded, her voice breaking.

"I'll never believe a single word out of that slimy mouth of yours! Open! This! Door!" The door thumped violently with every word.

Moxy backpedaled slowly and sat on her bed. Why was this happening to her? The day went from horrible to straight out of a nightmare. First with Janice, then Walter, and now this? Thinking about it now, she had no one to blame but herself. She let anger control her with Janice. She let it control her with Walter. And now it was all falling apart before her eyes.

M. Pennington growled loudly, and the door was whammed again. This time, something cracked within it. Moxy's eyes widened. She zipped open her bag and rummaged through the disorganized notebooks and pens to find Sylveon's pokeball.

Wood chips exploded from the broken lock as the door swung wide open. Ms. Pennington's face was puffed up and red, and her breath came out in wheezes. The headmistress advanced on Moxy, but she finally felt the cold aluminum of Sylveon's ball. Moxy bounced to the far end of her bed and raised the pokeball at her headmistress. The woman stopped dead in her tracks.

"Put that down!" she demanded through her yellow-tainted teeth.

"You have to believe me, Nicole. I didn't steal that ruby," she blubbered, the pokeball rattling in her fingers, "Someone's framing me,"

A realization festered in Moxy's mind, "I-It's Walter! That's why I came home late! I was speaking to him, a-and he threatened me!"

Moxy bit her lip, realizing how ridiculous it must have sounded to Ms. Pennington. It was confirmed when Ms. Pennington shook her head.

"I've had enough of these idiotic excuses, Moxy. You will come downstairs with me and wait for the police. I won't hurt you," Ms. Pennington held her hand out, but the anger in her voice made Moxy doubt her promise. The headmistress took a cautious step forward, and Moxy instinctively clicked the button to prime Sylveon's pokeball.

A flash of multicolored light erupted in the small room. As soon as it was gone, Sylveon was standing between Moxy and Ms. Pennington. She looked around confused. She saw the broken door, Ms. Pennington's angered expression, and Moxy's feeble form. The headmistress tried to take another step, but the girl snapped her fingers and pointed at Ms. Pennington. Sylveon arched her spine and a growl emanated from her throat.

"What good will come out of any of this?" Ms. Pennington held up her hands in defense, but her voice still held a hostile tone.

"Please, just let me go. I know you hate me being here. I'll run away and never come back. I'll be out of your life. Just don't give me to the police,"

Ms. Pennington glared at her, "Not a bloody chance. Either you come with me and give yourself up willingly or the police will take you in by force. I won't let you get away with your crime!"

Moxy's legs became numb. She couldn't go back. If juvie was a nightmare, what would prison be like? She wasn't eighteen yet, but the judge wouldn't care. According to what Ryker said, she stole a ruby from the king or queen of Unova. She couldn't remember if the region was governed by a monarchy, but it was beside the point. Moxy took a good look at the room around her. She should just give up. Go to prison, get out, and resume her life.

But Sylveon was still standing protectively in front of Moxy. She couldn't bear leaving Sylveon again. She had Charles before, but now? Sylveon wouldn't have anyone to protect her. All of her promises to her pokemon's future would be for naught.

And the funniest part was that she wasn't even to blame for this. It was a damn coincidence, and it infuriated her to no end. The universe might be punishing her, but she wouldn't roll over and give up.

'I won't go back,' she thought, her fearful look turned resolved.

Ms. Pennington caught on to her expression, "Moxy. Don't do this,"

"Sylveon," Moxy started, her lips quivering as she covered her ears. Ms. Pennington took a step back. Without hesitation or command, Sylveon let loose a deafening cry that blasted the headmistress backward through the doorway. The discharge of sound was so great as it tore through Ms. Pennington that even the crusty wallpaper was shredded by the soundwave. Moxy winced from an audible crack as the big brute of a lady landed in the hallway. She lied on the floor, unmoving.

Moxy was wide-eyed as she scampered towards the woman. She kneeled to Ms. Pennington's side and put a finger on the side of her neck, hoping to Arceus she wasn't dead.

Fortunately for her, Ms. Pennington still had a pulse, but blood dripped from her ears. Moxy wiped her sweating brows and looked at Sylveon. The pokemon stayed far away from Ms. Pennington, a horrified look on her face.

"Don't worry, she's only unconscious," Moxy consoled, "But we have to go. Right now."

The soundwave probably woke up everyone in a half-mile radius, and the police were probably close to her house by now. The girl ran to her room and uprighted her backpack. All of its contents had spilled onto the floor when she took out Sylveon's ball. She wasted no time kneeling and shoving everything back inside. Sylveon walked up to Moxy and placed her paw on her trainers' leg, purring in question. Moxy just glanced at Sylveon before returning to her work.

"The police are on their way Sylveon! We have to hurry! Help me, c'mon!"

Sylveon kept gazing at Moxy, her ears drooped. The girl noticed she wasn't helping, and when she looked at Sylveon, she saw tears in her blue eyes.

"I'm so sorry I put you through that," Moxy consoled as she tried her best not to break down in tears herself, "I couldn't abandon you again. You're my only friend now. If something were to happen to you… I don't know what I would do."

Moxy tried to stroke under Sylveon's chin, but the pink pokemon turned away, returning to her sorrow. It couldn't be helped, she guessed. Moxy reached down to grab more of her stuff, and she saw the phone Aiden had given her. As she picked it up, it burned in the palm of her hand, and she considered calling. She threw it inside her bag along with everything else. After she had put everything away, she put on a dry, black hoodie from her wardrobe before leaving the room.

Ms. Pennington was still unconscious in the middle of the hallway. Something ticked in Moxy's head upon staring down the headmistress's vulnerable state. And she smirked. Sylveon tilted her head as a chuckle arose from Moxy.

Moxy could cover her mole-riddled face with a pillow. Suffocate her. Maybe she would beat her head in until the blood on her knuckles turned dry. Maybe she should, after everything that vile woman put her through.

Moxy tightened her balled fist. There was no time. She stepped over the headmistress's body and hurried down the spiral staircase as fast as possible, Sylveon hot on her heels.

Moxy opened the door to the orphanage. For some odd reason, she felt pleasure in doing so. And she knew why.

She was free.

---

Moxy hurried out of the brick building. The lampposts reflected their light off the wet surface of the sidewalk, and the moon was hidden behind the large clouds in the sky, darkening Rustboro. She pulled her hoodie over her head and checked the time. It was eleven fifteen. She could have sworn everything that happened inside felt like hours had passed. It was still strange, however. The police should be here already. Their response time was normally around ten minutes without traffic.

The sounds of a siren in the far distance jolted her legs into moving faster. Sylveon followed close behind her. Moxy considered recalling Sylveon, but she didn't want to be surprised by the police. If push came to shove, Moxy would fight for her life. It was over anyway, and she might as well go out with a bang. Moxy delved deep into the back of her mind, thinking about her next move.

She could just run away. Go to a different city where nobody knew her. However, the league would have probably put a bounty on her, and she knew how much trainers loved scavenging for thieves when the payday was big. If she had to guess, Ms. Pennington would be lucky to recover at all. Her spine was most likely broken, and the blood in her ears meant she could need a hearing aid. Moxy glanced at Sylveon, who was whimpering quietly to herself.

'Sylveon must be feeling even more horrible than I am,' she thought. She turned her gaze back to the sidewalk and kept brainstorming.

Even if she did go to another city, she couldn't get help from pokemon centers or anything. All public services run background checks on ID's to cross-check them with people with warrants out for them.

She thought about hitching a ride to another region, but unfortunately, she didn't have a passport, and if she were caught without one, she would be deported back to Hoenn for being an immigrant. Worse, her crime was of an international nature, which didn't help her case.

'Maybe I'll just live in the wilderness,' She mused sarcastically. There was one last option. Maybe those people Aiden talked about could help her out of this situation. It was a long shot, and she couldn't help but feel a shiver crawl down her spine thinking about it.

Nevertheless, she swung her backpack around and zipped it open. Upon pulling out the phone, Sylveon growled, which startled the teen.

"Well, what do you suggest?" Moxy fumed, quickening her pace, "We're on the run, and the police have more resources than us. Besides I…" Moxy trailed off. If this last option was a waste of time, she would be out of any favorable options. Her throat became dry when Sylveon made a miserable whimper. The girl stopped and knelt down in front of her pokemon.

"Please stop crying," Moxy mumbled, her left hand caressing Sylveon's neck, "I know its hard, but we have to stay strong and keep moving forward. Or else we're finished. I don't like it any more than you do, but unless I come up with something better, it's all we've got."

Sylveon ears drooped, a sad expression forming on her face as she nodded reluctantly. Moxy wiped her eyes and stood up. She pressed the contacts list on the phone. There was only one number saved, and it was marked unknown. She tapped it and pinned the phone to her ear.

The cold wind sliced through her hair, and with every ring of the phone, Moxy head throbbed. After about ten rings and no response, her heart sunk. Suddenly, Moxy heard the static sound of someone picking up the other side. However, it was just silence after that.

"H-Hello?" Moxy whispered awkwardly, but nothing answered back. Fear flooded into her head, her heart pounding rapidly.

"I need help," she begged her voice breaking, "I have nowhere else to go. Please…"

A second that felt longer then it should have passed before Aiden's voice could be heard, "Go to the Route 116 gate," he said. The phone crackled into silence right after that, and Moxy stared at the phone, dumbfounded.

She couldn't believe it. If Aiden hadn't picked up, she would've had a panic attack. Just being on the brink of devastation, emotional and literal, was enough to make her smile, like it was something she could look back on and laugh.

However, as she looked up, the dark silhouette of a tall, male figure stood about three sidewalk gaps away from her. It stepped into the light of a lamppost, and she could make out those familiar broad shoulders, short caramel hair, and blue eyes.

"Mox, is that you?" Charles asked, squinting his eyes. Moxy took a step back, unsure whether Charles knew about what happened. Sylveon hid behind her trainers' legs, unable to meet Charles' gaze.

"H-hey," She responded, hastily pocketing the phone Aiden gave her, "What are you doing out here so late?"

Charles cocked an eyebrow at Moxy and Sylveon's irregular behavior, "I could say the same to you. I thought it was going to be quite the challenge trying to get past your overprotective headmistress at this hour. But here you are," he pointed behind her, "going in the opposite direction of the orphanage. Did something happen?"

Moxy rubbed her head, "Wait, you haven't gone home yet?"

Charles shrugged, "I wandered around, thinking about what you said earlier today. So, I went to train with Espeon a bit more, and then I came all this way to apologize to you."

"To apologize? For what?"

"I've changed my mind. I want to go on a journey with you, and I don't care about what my father says. He can't stop us," he said, a smile on his face. Moxy crossed her arms, a dejected look on her face as she struggled to look into her best friend's blue eyes.

"What's wrong, Moxy? I-I thought you would be happier," he asked, his cheery voice replaced with a puzzling tone.

"Go home, Charles," she said quietly.

Charles put a hand on her shoulder, "Hey, what's with the brood? I'm right here with you, one hundred percent. I'm not going anywhere. You still want to travel across the region with me, right?"

Moxy gazed up at him, her expression infuriated, "I can't anymore! Turn on your TV! That will probably explain what your snake of a father did to me!"

Charles stepped back from her like he was afraid of getting burned, "What… What did he do? You can talk to me."

Moxy turned away from him, "It doesn't matter what he did. And I can't… trust you. As long as your father is alive, he will do anything to keep you on a leash. And I…" her warbled voice trailed off.

Charles's lips moved, but he had trouble forming a word.

"Just go to Unova. Finish your training. Find someone else to journey with. Anyone but me. I don't deserve to be your friend,"

"Stop saying that. I told you once before and I'll say it again. Nothing you do will ever drive me away,"

Moxy brought her hands up to her mouth, trying to compress her sobs. Suddenly, Charles turned Moxy around so that she was facing him. Charles pulled her chin up, and the pair locked eyes.

"You mean too much to me. I don't know what I would do without you. I-"

Moxy couldn't listen to him anymore as she shoved past him, her eyes shut tightly. Charles grabbed her arm before she could get out of his reach.

"Please, Mox. What about all those things we talked about, huh? Changing the world? Becoming Champion? I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to face my father. Just don't leave me!" he begged.

"If I stay you will lose me anyways. I'm in too much trouble now, so you are going to have to carry on in my place," she said, her gaze faltered, "are you going to let me go, or am I going to have Sylveon do it for you?"

Charles released his grip on her arm, and a tear ran down his cheek. Sylveon gave the boy a heart-broken look before tottering after her trainer. Charles stood under the street light as he watched Moxy's figure fade into the darkness of the streets. He kicked a puddle on the sidewalk, splashing water everywhere. Then he just stood there in torment. He'd ruined everything.

---

A large, white sign that read 'Route 116 ahead' passed her by as she made her way to the destination. The rain had made the air humid, and Moxy slugged down the sidewalk. She had left the southern district, and now skyscrapers surrounded her on all ends, like dominoes waiting to collapse on her. Sylveon became too tired to finish the journey, so Moxy balled her up. She couldn't blame her pokemon; she hadn't brought her to a pokemon center since her fight with Janice. Moxy's black jacket was folded in her arms, and she pulled at the high-collar of her sticky blouse.

Her eyes were dryer than a scorching desert. She walked the entire way to the gate, crying her heart out. She didn't care if the police found her, but alas, they never came. She thought she would feel better if Charles was out of her life, but it was the complete opposite. Her body was weak. Her mind was in ruins. And there was a hole in her soul that she feared would never be filled again.

Moxy looked at her watch, and it was one in the morning. Through the reflection of the timepiece, her puffy red eyes stared back. From what she could see, there was nobody out at this hour, and the occasional cry of a pokemon sounded somewhere within the winding city. It was strange, and she thought she would be ambushed at any moment. But against her better judgment, Moxy stopped in front of the entryway to the city from Route 116. The twenty-foot, iron gate loomed before her, and a stone wall of the same height traveled in both directions of the gate, fencing the entire city. This was to keep dangerous pokemon from entering the city. Upon closer inspection, blue sparks of electricity arced through the gaps in the gate.

Moxy took a step back, wary of being fried to a crisp by the electric grid insulating the gate. There was a control panel on the side of the gate with an ID scanner. If she were to scan her ID now, the gate would open for her. Would have opened for her; since she was a criminal now, it would reject her ID. It was as if the city were a giant Tyrantrum trapping her within its steely jaws.

But Aiden had told her to come here. If she left, he wouldn't find her. Assuming he was coming here.

She couldn't help but feel like she was playing into the proverbial hand. Like any second the shadows would lash out at her and leave her for dead.

Moxy opened her backpack, trading her jacket for Sylveon's pokeball. Her heart was beating rapidly, and she wanted to be ready just in case.

Before she could let her pokemon out, the beat of a light footstep in an alley to her right made her spin around. She pointed Sylveon's ball towards the figure hidden in the shadows.

"Easy there, red," the figure said. There was something familiar about its smooth, male voice. Under closer inspection, she made out the figures trench coat, blond five' o'clock shadow, and black aviators resting in his blond hair.

"Show yourself," Moxy trembled, the pokeball heavy in her fingers.

"It's me, Ryker," He whispered loudly, coming out of the shadow of the alley. His small, jolly green eyes were fixed on Moxy.

"Oh thank Arceus," she exasperated, lowering her arm. Her brow furrowed as she tried to recognize him without glasses glued to his face.

With a grin, he gestured her to follow and disappeared back into the alleyway. They made their way further until they reached a T-intersection. Ryker gestured her to stay behind her as he peeked from around the corner, pulling out a small, black device. He pressed a button on it, and something created a sparking sound.

"Alright, we're clear," he announced. Moxy walked around the corner and saw a camera above a small, gated door that led out of the city. The hanging lights on the side were deactivated, and none of the electronics near the door were responsive either, including the camera, control panel, and electric grid.

"It's an EMP if you were wonderin'," he said, wiggling the device between his index finger and thumb.

"I don't understand. The streets are dead," she said, ignoring his statement, "You're the only cop I've seen since I started walking here. I thought they would have caught me much earlier. Did you do something?"

"Right now Walter's got most of his guys at the south exit. They're thinkin' you're aimin' to escape down by the docks. Only me and another guy are guardin' this exit. He's takin' a nap in my car," Ryker chuckled, jerking his thumb behind him.

"Oh," Moxy said before staying silent. Her knuckles turned white as she tightened her grip on the handles of her backpack. Ryker knelt on one knee to get to her level.

"Hey. Don't worry that pretty little head of yours. Aiden's waitin' for you on the other side. You'll be taken good care of, hear. The organizations big and secretive, and they're always welcomin' newcomers. This'll probably be the last time I' see you for a while. If you come back to Rustboro, give me a holler."

"Who are you guys, really?" Moxy asked, trying to get the truth out of the police officer.

"Nah-ah-ah. I'll let Aiden answer that when you find him," Ryker responded smugly, "Take care of yourself, alright?"

As Moxy stared at the gate, she recalled all the things she would be leaving behind. Her dreams of becoming Champion, the thrill of a journey, and Charles. She was unsure whether she was making the right choice for her future.

Ryker gently pushed her, "C'mon. Enough waitin' around. This EMP doesn't last forever,"

'I'm sorry, Charles,' she thought as she walked up to the gate, unfastening the latch to open it.

"Oh, almost forgot," Ryker spoke up suddenly. He took his aviators off his forehead and stayed kneeling in preparation, "I'm gonna need you to punch me in the face as hard as you can."

Moxy spun around, "You want me to do what?"

Ryker scratched his head, "Yeah, its a weird request. But I'm plannin' on tellin' Walter you caught me and my partner off guard before nabbing the security footage,"

Despite her trauma, a wide grin spread onto Moxy's face, "Okay, but I'm warning you, I've got a mean right jab,"

Ryker laughed loudly, "Let's be serious now, you couldn't hurt a- OOF," he was cut short as Moxy socked him across his left side of his face. His nose was bleeding, and he rubbed his bruised eye in pain.

"You were saying," she giggled, putting a hand on her hip.

"Jeez that hurt," Ryker whined, wiping the dribble of blood trickling down his nose.

"Well, you were asking for it,"

"Thanks, I guess. Now go. Catch you on the other side," Ryker stood up and flashed her a toothy grin before walking back out the way they came in.

As soon as Moxy reached the other side and closed the door, the hum of electricity jumpstarted the cameras and lights, as well as a blue flickering that signified the electric grid was back online. Directly in front of her was a wall of spruce trees. It seemed this exit was supposed to be an escape route out of the city.

Moxy pushed her way through the forest, getting whacked by the occasional branch and watching for the Nincada whose chirps echoed throughout the darkness. Her shoes squished in the wet dirt, and the musk of sodden leaves filled her nostrils. After a minute, she could see a moonlit, dirt road through the overgrown thicket.

She burst out of the woodlands and ran into the middle of a dirt road, scanning the area for Aiden. Sweat dripped down the side of her forehead. Just off to the right side of the road, there was a parked, night-black Humvee. Its lights were off.

Moxy got behind the truck, peering through the rear window to see if there were any black-haired men in the driver's seat. She walked up to the passenger side of the vehicle. No one was inside.

"Boo!" a sudden, cheery voice breathed on the nape of her neck.

"AHH!" Moxy yelped, spinning around to find Aiden behind her, a little too close for comfort. He giggled like a madman while walking around the hood of the car.

"I. Hate. You," Moxy grumbled, entering the humvee as unceremoniously as possible. Aiden entered at the same time, and with a turn of a key, the headlights flared to life. The wheels churned in the sand before the truck drove down the road. Moxy got comfortable in her seat, and Aiden turned up the air conditioner.

"Aren't you looking alive and well," Aiden started as he assessed her condition. Moxy's blouse was uncomfortably damp, and there were a couple of leaves sticking out from her frayed, scarlet hair.

"Just alive. Not well," Moxy growled. Aiden chuckled nervously, and Moxy shot him a silent glare.

"I hope this is worth it…" she mumbled loud enough for Aiden to hear as she crossed her arms and sunk into her seat.

"I promise," Aiden assured, an intense look on his elfish face, "Just being inside this car means you already trust me."

"Not like I had much of a choice. I'm sure you heard what happened."

"It's hard to ignore something on the front page of the news,"

"I'm still confused about this. I spoke with the police earlier today, and I was ruled out as a potential suspect. The footprints, my motive. There was no evidence. I even have an alibi for where I was, but," she cut herself off, sighing, "It wouldn't even matter. What would I have even said? That I didn't steal the ruby because I was breaking into a different place?"

"Do you have any idea who framed you?" Aiden asked, focusing on the road.

Moxy tightened her fist, "I do. Walter,"

Aiden smirked, "That's a little out there, don't you think?"

"No. You know I was at his mansion before I went to see you. We were arguing. He knew Charles wanted to go with me on a journey,"

Moxy turned her body so she was facing Aiden, "I mean, think about it. The police got the ruby back, so he didn't lose anything. I've seen Elliot battle a Gallade in the mansion gardens, too. Those are the means. And he loves his son so much that he didn't want him to leave with me, so there is a motive. I would bet all my money that if I had to measure Walter's feet, they would probably be size thirteen."

Moxy continued with her theorizing, "His only evidence was that the gemstone was found in a dumpster near the school and that I was running from the scene of the crime. Because the evidence doesn't add up, people might think I'm an accomplice for the real thief, but-"

"Moxy. Stop it," Aiden interrupted her, "The only thing you'll get from all this conjecture is a headache. It's already giving me one,"

"I'm... sorry. I just have a lot on my chest,"

"All that walking probably made you tired. Relax. We'll be at the destination soon,"

"Where are we going, anyway?" Moxy asked, picking herself up from her seat to get a better view outside.

"Not too far. We have a hideout a few miles from Rustboro."

"That close? Aren't you afraid of the police finding it?"

"It's hidden inside the forest. Besides, that's just a staging area. The real headquarters is much more secluded."

"Ah, you don't trust me enough to see the big base, is that it?" Moxy joked. Aiden chuckled before continuing.

"It's not like that. We have a certain order of doing things. There is a chain of command, and certain ranks are given specific knowledge and information."

"I'm guessing you aren't going to tell me what kind of organization you are a part of either."

Aiden glanced at her, a sheepish look on his face, "What do you think our organization is like?"

"You're obviously part of some sort of criminal enterprise. I'm not stupid. Ryker told me you guys chose me because of my unique skills. You and he are recruiters for people like me. People who are easy to take advantage of," Moxy answered, unfazed about the way she labeled herself.

"Harsh when you put it that way. Sure, I might have pushed some of your buttons, but can you honestly tell me you were better off? Once you turned eighteen, you would be alone. You've also been profiled into the police database, so what kind of job would you have been able to get? The system was against you from the start."

"That isn't entirely true. I had someone who cared about me. We would have taken care of each other."

"You can still leave if you'd like. Although things would become considerably more difficult for you now that you're wanted by the police."

"No shit. You guys are my best option. For now," she finished. Moxy opened her backpack, pulling out her silver necklace and wrapping it around her neck. She needed something to soothe herself from this trying time besides her pokemon.

Her legs ached, and it was the first time since her afternoon with Charles where she wasn't at the mercy of her emotions. As she rested her head on the cold window, she stared deep into the dark forest, watching the trees whiz past her. It had a hypnotic effect on her, and the past twelve or so hours finally took their toll on her as she fell asleep.

---

The moon was high in the sky, its brilliant splendor shining upon the sleeping city of Rustboro. The summer trees shuffled against the cold, windy night, and lamppost stood in line along the edge of the stone, brick-patterned sidewalk.

Suddenly, a slender figure ran across the sidewalk. The figure made a swift turn into a dark alleyway before hiding around the corner. Bright lights grew in the street, and the ground rumbled as a car drove past the figure. The figure was clad in black, wearing sweatpants, sneakers, a jacket, gloves, and a baseball cap. The figure let out a visible puff of air and took off its hat, revealing the person underneath.

Moxy's red hair was tied into a bun as she continued through the alleyway, hands in her pockets. She constantly turned around, wariness brewing behind her big, green eyes. Her heart pumped with adrenaline, and the cold, night air numbed her nose. The sound of shuffling cans and jars from a nearby dumpster made it to her ears. She had to stifle her yelp as two Zigzagoon scuttled out of the dumpster and disappeared into the streets.

A couple of turns through the winding alleys, and soon Moxy found herself on the sidewalk again. She put the black cap back on, not wanting anyone to recognize her. She finally found what she was looking for on the other side of the street. The lights of Rustboro's Antiquities were shut off. She ran towards the store, making sure to stay in the street camera's blind spot.

Moxy cased the store earlier that day, and she found out there were some problems with the store's camera equipment that management still hadn't fixed. There isn't much crime in Rustboro, so everyone was pretty laid back when it came to security. A mistake they would realize too late.

She peered through the dark window of the store, and after assessing that nobody was around, she pulled out two bobby pins from her pocket. Without a moment to waste, she crouched in front of the doorknob to the front door and inserted her pins into the lock. Her ear was held up close to the door. One click. Then two more. Thirty seconds passed and Moxy glanced to her left. Fourth click. Another glance to the right.

Click. There was no pressure from the lock when she twisted the top bobby pin. To her delight, the old door creaked open. Moxy slipped inside, making sure to close the door behind her.

A flashlight clicked in her hands as she perused the collection of antiquities, the gleam of greed in her eyes. There was a large, totem-like souvenir that resembled a Gengar where the cash register was. Its large teeth smiled wickedly, and its red, crystal eyes seemed to peer into her soul.

'Pass,' she thought. Near the back of the store, she noticed a large, crystalline stone that sparkled like the ocean at night. A water stone. Unfortunately, it was quite large, and she couldn't think of a place secure enough to hide it without her headmistress noticing. She needed something that would fit inside her pocket.

Moxy jumped over the counter. There was a door that went into a back room. Moxy turned her flashlight off and carefully twisted the handle, unsure who or what was behind the door.

The room was dark. And deathly silent. Not even a breath could be heard. Moxy turned her flashlight back on and scanned the room. There were more antiques in the back, all too large or too ugly. On a table at the back sat a cluster of gold rings and necklaces. Moxy ignored them. They were too showy.

Soon, her gaze fell upon a small, iron safe in the corner. A sticky note was stuck on the front.

'DO NOT OPEN' it read. The sticky note looked old, like a sudden shift in the wind would cause it to fall. Curiosity kicked in, and with the flashlight between her teeth, Moxy went to work on the cold, sturdy lock. After about 30 seconds, the lock clicked. The safe door creaked open, and Moxy pointed her flashlight inside.

Trapped inside was a small, silver necklace. The adornment was a plain, decorated silver ball that glistened brightly under her flashlight. For some odd reason, Moxy couldn't turn her gaze from it, and it interested her and terrified her at the same time.

She pulled the necklace out gingerly, the silver cold in the palm of her hand.

'An early birthday present,' she thought, smiling as she shoved the necklace into her pocket. She looked around the room, but nothing else caught her eye. Sure, she could just take more. However, she didn't know anyone who would fence the stolen items for her. And there was no way she was keeping it all inside her drawer at home. Better to have something she would enjoy rather than cold, hard cash.

'Sure would be nice to have a fence, though. Or anyone, for that matter,' she thought. Out of all the people Moxy knew, only Sylveon knew she was a thief, and the pokemon constantly scolded her for it. However, Moxy made sure to leave her pokemon out of her nefarious deeds, lest she ends up like her in some way or another.

The girl locked the safe again and hurried out of the store, making sure to leave everything the way she found it. As she headed outside, the sound of a distant siren blared in the silent night. Her eyes widened. The police couldn't know she was there.

In a moment of sudden desperation, she ran. Straight across the street and towards the orphanage. She had to keep her cap from flying off her head as she zipped around a corner, bewilderingly scanning for the blue and red lights.

About ten minutes later, the gloomy exterior of the orphanage was in her sights. The street was so lifeless that if she were lying on the ground bleeding, not a soul would hear her cries. Fortunately for her, the window to her room was around the side of the building and away from prying eyes. However, her headmistresses' room was also around the side, and that was where the fire escape led to. Moxy crept around the house and into the alleyway as quietly as she could, as to not alert Ms. Pennington in any way. There was a dumpster below the high ladder of the steel fire escape. Moxy took off her sneakers and hid them behind the dumpster, then as quietly as she could, climbed onto the dumpster. She then leaped up, barely making the ladder. She weighed nothing, so the steel fire escape made little to no noise as she climbed it.

As soon as her socked feet touched the second level of the fire escape, she peered into Ms. Pennington's room from around the side of the window. The curtains were closed, but there were no lights on. It was just the way Moxy hoped it would be. Her room was two windows away, and the girl continued up to the roof of the building.

When she reached the top, Moxy looked out into the city. Rustboro, the heart of an everlasting industry. Of all the three-story or so complexes in her sightlines, the skyscraper that was Devon stood out amongst them. Murkrow darted through the night sky, their watchful eyes observing Moxy's every move, or so she thought.

There was a dirty, white cloth tied to a pole right above her window. 'Thank Arceus Penny never checks the roof,' Moxy thought, grasping the cloth and pulling it a couple of times to make sure it was secure. She hoisted herself over the side and grappled down. She barely made the sill as she reached the open window. With all her might, she swung into her room, sliding inside and landing on her bed with a soft thud. Moxy closed the window silently before letting out a sigh of relief.

She tiptoed to her red dresser, opening the top drawer full of clothing. She pulled the silver necklace from her pocket and examined it. It was a simple, unadorned necklace that wasn't even gold, but still, it enthralled her in a way she'd never experienced before.

She couldn't quite grasp the feeling or the reason why, but she decided the answer would come to her someday. Whether that be tomorrow or a year later, she didn't care as she hid the necklace deep within the reaches of her drawer. After closing it silently, she lay in her bed, staring up into the dazzling moon.

Slowly and suddenly, the moon seemed to brighten more and more, until it became as bright as the sun.

Moxy's vision slowly began to darken, but it wasn't from sleep. Suddenly, she began to sink. Through her bed, and into the ground. She kept falling, everything around her complete darkness. She tried to flail her arms, but they were limp.

Laughter filled the void around her, ringing her ears. It was high-pitched, like that of a child, maybe female.

'What's happening?' Moxy thought, her head throbbing in pain. A grating, disembodied voice replied, every word sending a chill down her spine.

'I need more.'

Moxy's heart pounded rapidly, "More? More what?" she spoke out, surprised to hear her own voice.

'More of your despair,' as it finished, she heard a loud plunge and afterward, fizzling. The darkness turned into a haze of deep blue, and bubbles danced around her. She realized she was sinking into the dark abyss of a bottomless ocean.

She was afraid to talk. Or breathe, for that matter, as opening her mouth would cause a torrent of water to enter her body.

'It must be a pokemon using Nightmare,' she thought, 'But how is it speaking to me?'

'Observant. But knowing won't save you.'

Moxy pinched herself, metaphorically. He, or she, was right. The only way out of a Nightmare was to either defeat the pokemon inflicting it, or to wake up naturally. She would be in there for a while.

'Why me? There are many other people with much tastier dreams than mine,' she questioned, still sinking. The pressure of the ocean began to crush her body, despite it being an illusion.

'Because we're connected now. I can feel your anguish. The crucible you went through. This will do.'

Suddenly, Moxy could no longer hold her breath. She tried to climb up to the dark surface, but she was still paralyzed. The voice of the mysterious pokemon spoke, but this time it echoed in Moxy's mind.

'It seems our time has come to an end, but I'm sure we'll meet again.'

Then she inhaled. The water flooded into her, and she started to choke. There was nothing she could do as she descended into a watery doom. Her eyeballs wanted to pop from her skull, and her vision darkened. Only her internal cries for help were the final thing keeping her awake before she lost all consciousness…

"Moxy wake up!"

The girl opened her eyes, reeling forward from her seat in the car as she gasped for air. She was shivering, and her lungs struggled to take in air. Aiden had his hand on her left shoulder, a concerned look on his face.

"Are you okay?!" Aiden asked. Moxy frantically searched her surroundings, trying to locate the source of her recent torment.

"Where is it?!" she exclaimed.

"Woah, calm down. Where's what?"

"The pokemon! Most likely a psychic or ghost type. Tell me!" she yelled hysterically, trying to unbuckle her seatbelt.

Aiden grabbed her arm before she could do a thing, "Hey, calm down! You were screaming in your sleep. Were you having a nightmare?"

Moxy took a couple of deep breaths, thanking Arceus for air, "Yes, but it was a pokemon. They would have needed to stay near me to keep the Nightmare going."

"Stay here," he ordered her as he exited the car. They were parked on the side of the road, still surrounded by two lines of thick trees. Bug pokemon chirped in the silent night.

A minute later the driver door opened and Aiden sat down, "Whatever was attacking you is probably long gone by now. Are you sure it wasn't just a bad dream?"

"I know what I felt. It even spoke to me."

Aiden tilted his head in confusion, "It spoke to you? What did it say?" Aiden asked, the tiniest notion of disbelief in his voice.

"That it would happen again," Moxy shuddered at the thought. She peeked at her watch. She was only asleep for about twenty minutes.

"Were almost there. The hideout is surrounded by dark aura to negate ghost and psychic types. Just hang on," Aiden reassured before shifting the car into drive. Moxy sat back, still traumatized by the dream, as well as terrified of when the next would happen.

---

Moxy checked her watch again. It was about two-thirty in the morning. The car was parked deep in the forest, but still a bit far from their actual destination.

The two hiked it towards the hideout. Moxy was trying hard to stay awake despite the fact she'd been up for almost twenty-four hours.

Aiden explained to her the things she would need to do before she entered. First, she had to take off any metal, jewelry, and electronics before going through the entrance. There was a special metal detector that scanned for just about everything, half of which Moxy didn't even know existed.

Secondly, she would have to keep her pokemon inside an electromagnetic capsule. All pokemon are tagged with a chip to make sure other trainers can't catch them, as well as record them in the database. Since it can also be tracked in case the pokemon goes missing, Aiden said they will have to replace the chip as soon as possible. Even if she didn't join them, it would be a good idea since she is wanted.

Finally, Moxy wasn't allowed to explore the base without a high-ranking member until she was initiated.

"Initiated? This is starting to sound like some sort of cult."

"As funny as it sounds, you need to take this seriously. If you roam around the base without being initiated, the pokemon guarding the base will attack you on sight," he droned on as if he had explained this before, "Do you understand?"

Aiden had stopped, and he waited for a reply. Moxy tilted her head, a little confused.

"I know you don't like rules and regulations. It's in your blood, I can tell. But it's especially important to follow them when any deviation can lead to an injury, or worse. I've had to deal with the aftermath of initiates deciding they were above the rules, only for it to backfire on them. Horribly,"

"Horribly? What happened?" she sounded more curious than morbid.

"I need you to tell me you understand what I'm telling you," he stressed. Like before, he sounded genuine and concerned for her.

"I understand,"

Aiden gazed at her for a few seconds before accepting her reply and continuing forward.

"Good, then I suppose it's time for you to see what we're all about," Aiden said, pushing over some leaves to reveal an open clearing. It was shaped in a half-circle, and the side of a large mountain stood at the end of the clearing. The two made their way over to the mountain wall, and Aiden placed his hand on a part of it. The ground shook, and a portion of the mountain began to slide open, revealing a cave.

"Some technology you guys have," Moxy marveled. Aiden smirked in response.

"Welcome to Team Magma."

---

The sun cracked above the horizon. Two police cruisers and an ambulance were parked in front of the brick orphanage, whose door was covered with yellow, police tape. Inside, the orphanage was torn apart by the police, and a white clock's small hand was pointed to seven. Mike and Ryker, who were standing near the door, moved aside to allow two medics to haul Ms. Pennington's body outside on a cot. Another officer held a Manectric on a leash, and the electric-yellow dog sniffed around the living room looking for evidence.

Upstairs, sunlight crept into Moxy's messy bedroom. Walter Lockwood sat on the disheveled bed, his eyes bagged and heavy. He wore a black trench coat under his suit like the officers downstairs, and a small device was held close to his mouth. Standing beside the rooms broken door was a red and black, bipedal pokemon. Ivory, crescent blades protruded from its body like its ribcage was inside out, and its expression was unreadable under its worn-out, double ax-like helmet. It stood as still as a statue, and the metal blades unsheathed from its gloves looked like they'd seen a thousand wars.

Walter pressed his thumb against the side of the device, and it beeped.

"The day is May the third. The… criminal is still in the wind, and their room carried no evidence as to their current whereabouts. However, they were apparently seen battling another pokemon trainer outside the warranted safe zones and under no supervision. A follow-up interrogation could yield more information. As for when they were last seen, they assaulted two officers at the Route 116 gate, only knocking them unconscious. They disabled the gate and cameras, allowing them to escape undetected. The chip embedded in their pokemon pinged a little ways from the gate but has since then turned unresponsive, so our system cannot track them. After speaking with their guardian, it's been concluded they are deluded, and their pokemon are extremely dangerous. Thus, they should be treated with extreme force. End recording," he said, taking his thumb off the recorder. Walter sighed as he slumped his head.

Just then, Charles appeared at the foot of the door. The Bisharp sensed him and pivoted on its war-boot-like foot, impeding Charles' entry. It met the boy's angry expression with an idle but intimidating glare, and Charles' heart swam up into his throat.

Walter's narrowed his eyes at his son, "I thought I told you to wait in the car," he said sternly.

"I can't believe you would say that! She isn't dangerous, she's just scared!" Charles defended, peering at his father around the Bisharp.

"Go back to the car," Walter ordered.

"She didn't steal that ruby! She's being framed, and you're allowing it! You need to save her, not hunt her!" Charles insisted.

"Don't let your feelings for her cloud your mind. I've taught you better. Go back to the car, or I'll make you."

Charles tried to retort, but the Bisharp took a step towards Charles. Its dark glare bore into him, and it stood there as if it were waiting for a fight. After a second, the boy huffed before storming down the hallway.

'I swear I'll make it right. I'll prove your innocence, no matter what. Just hang in there.'

Authors Note: You guys can go to my profile if you need information about the world elements I added in. That said, I really hope you guys enjoyed this. Feel free to leave a review or PM me if there is something you liked or disliked about the fic. It is my first one, and I want to improve, so if there are any ideas you have to make the fic better, let me know. I will try to respond as soon as possible, but I can get easily burdened with my real-life duties.

Cheers!