A.N: Hey guys! Kicks here with another update! I hope you're all enjoying the story so far, it's kinda one of those fics with a lot of backstories. So I hope you all won't mind the flashbacks every now and then, they are the framework of my plot. As the title of the chapter suggests, this will reveal Zoey's past including her relationship with Kenny and her family.

WeightlessMagic: Yep, yep, he did! I will reveal about it and what happened and how and why at a later chapter :3

QUEENSPELLER67: Yes, Kenny's dad is Palmer but I don't think I'll be using him in this story, but I can't say for sure. And also yes, Cheryl is that stat trainer with long green hair, she looks so modest for me so I thought the role would fit her more aha. She will be an important piece for Paul's character development. Zoey believes that Kenny made it out safely that's why she's gonna look for him once she's done with her mission. I find Will cool, so I'm gonna make him into a cool antagonist. And thank you for enjoying the story so far! Cheers!

ShadowRosealine: Yep! I try to update as often I can, it's hard but I keep trying :3 Yes Kenny remember Zoey pretty much, but he believes that she died during that time of their escape. Well Dawn doesn't feel much different towards Kenny after meeting Paul. I think I need to expound that matter, thanks for the question! And yes there'll be ikarishipping moments, not just now but I promise. This fic is after all an ikarishipping fic. It's one of those stories that are ironic, it features a main ship but doesn't show it that much in the story. But rest assured, the whole plot of the story will revolve around Dawn and Paul :) we'll just have to wait. Thank you for the support! :D

MespiritAngel: G'aaawe thank you for the patience and support! I highly appreciate it :D

LovelyLily13: By now I think Dawn is the only human left in that school haha, that is indeed creepy! Nah Paul had his complete pair of eyes, it grew or recovered or whatsoever haha I will explain it at a later chappy :D I know there are a lot of questions, especially about what happened to Paul's 'brothers and sisters' but we'll answer all of them one by one. Thanks for the review and support! :D

Onwards on the next chapter! Pokemon will never be mine, not that I mind.

Chapter 7

"As a start for our formal discussion." Koga loosened his tie and cleared his throat. He took out a black marker from his chest pocket and started scribbling on the whiteboard.

He raised his sleeves up. "What do devils look like? How are they different from us." He looked back to his class. "What are they?"

"Ms. Lillis?" He called out. "Any guess? Heard of stories about them?"

Maylene stood up. She scratched her head and thought for a second.

"My father used to tell me scary stories about them." She complied. "I remember he told me that they look like us. But just a little different. I can't totally remember."

"Correct. Hmmm." Koga answered. "But a little different? I don't think so."

Koga turned back to the board and wrote 'Red eyes'. "You may take your sit back Ms. Lillis. Thank you for sharing."

"All of you weren't born yet when they existed. They do look much like us. But.."He explained and pointed his own eye. "They have eyes that glows sick red. It's not that hard to tell the difference."

"So what else do they have that we don't?" He turned back to the board and wrote 'Transformation, strength and abilities' .

"They are called 'devils' simply because they are capable of turning into monsters." Koga added. He sat on the teachers table and swayed his legs. "They grow horns, wings, claws, tails etcetera. Some are even capable of turning into complete indistinguishable beasts towering over as tall as a two story house."

Everyone gasped in their seats.

'Where do you think you're going missy?'

'Don't worry. We'll make this quick.'

Dawn flinched at the memory she suddenly recalled.

"You should be afraid. We should all be afraid. That's logical." He chuckled. "Nobody would want to go bumping them at night."

"That is not funny!" One student exclaimed.

Zoey yawned. "Lame."

Koga chuckled. "Sorry, sorry."

"But I didn't mean to scare anyone though. It's the truth.." Koga dropped down from the table and went back to the board. "But that's not all that they could do. They are capable of doing something far more terrifying." He took out the same marker from his chest pocket and started writing again on the board 'Scourging'.

"Scourging..." Dawn muttered under her breath, she felt all her blood drained from her body.

Zoey sighed on her seat. She looked beside Dawn and realized how horrible she looked.

"Dawn? You okay?" Zoey asked. "You look like you've just seen a ghost."

"Scourging..." Dawn muttered again, not even hearing Zoey calling out to her.

"So what's worse than dying? Is there anything worse than dying?" Koga asked. "If you ask me. There is something far worse than dying."

"It's forgetting. Disappearing." Koga continued. "Scourging."

There was something about what Koga said that clenched Dawn's guts. She could feel something squeezing her insides.

It gave her that same clawing feeling that time when she was lost in the forest.

'Somebody help me please. Save me. I don't want to be forgotten..'

She recalled her cries of help that time.

'Forgetting..' It echoed inside her head.

"When a devil gets you. He simply looks you with his red eyes. And in a flash of red, he will steal your memories and identity. He'll be you in this world and you'll be forgotten by everyone you know. Nobody would even know you disappear. It's terrifying. This is what we call 'Scourging'."

The usual silence rationed by boredom in Koga's class now rationed by fear and distraught.

"They can do that..?" One boy asked.

"Yes, they can." Koga answered. "So where do these scourged people go? Do they just simply disappear?"

Dawn gulped silently.

"Nobody knows, for now." Koga added. "Maybe yes."

"That.. That is horrible.."Dawn uttered.

"Indeed. But in order for it to be successful. No other human should witness the process, or it would void it." Koga continued. "But it doesn't redo everything. The victim still disappears. But they won't be forgotten, they'd simply go missing. Disappear. There's not much written documents about scourging yet."

'Shit! That girl saw us!'

'Oh man, oh man, we are done for! What are we gonna do? We're not supposed to be seen!'

"Dawn.." Zoey whispered and shook Dawn off of her stupor. "What happened to you? You're worrying me."

Dawn shook her head. "Nothing, just nothing." She looked back at her seatmate with a forced smile on her face. "I suddenly feel sick.." Dawn lied.

"You sure? You want me to escort you to the clinic." Zoey suggested.

Dawn shook her head for a second time. "It's fine." She let out a meek chuckle to which Zoey grunted.

"I'm so gonna break up with you if I find out you're hiding something from me." Zoey sighed and laid her head on her desk and looked at their lecturing professor.

"Man, I really do hate this subject." Zoey sighed.

Koga continued with his lecture. "Devils have their own world called 'Netherworld'. It's like our world but it exists in a different plane of reality. A different dimension. Scourging serves its purpose when devils want to live here in our world, for whatever reason."

"Knowing about this, anyone you know could be a devil in disguise already." Koga finished, just in time when the school bell rang. "How they got here in our world, will be a topic for another day."

"Anyway, we will continue tomorrow with the lecture." Koga placed back the marker back to his chest pocket. "And remember the prophecy assignment I gave you last week? I'll be expecting it by tomorrow."

Everyone on their seat groaned by Koga's announcement.

"Good bye class." He waved off and went for the door. "And remember, don't stay out too late." He winked and disappeared out of the room.

Everyone was slowly preparing their stuff for lunch break. Everyone talked about Koga's recent terrifying discussion.

"Zoey.." Dawn looked at her bestfriend.

"Yeah?"

"I just had a horrible dream last night.." Dawn tried calming her nerves down. Something was clawing her gut on the inside. She felt so sick she could throw up. "I dreamt that devils still do exist. And they were after me.."

"It was horrible." Dawn added.

Everyone was starting to leave the room one by one, talks slowly became chatters.

"Do you think they still do exist?" Dawn asked. "I don't want them to exist."

Zoey bit her lip.

"It's not a matter of whether they still do exist or not." Zoey looked and stared at her terrified bestfriend. "Nothing has happened to us yet, hopefully it will stay like that. But whatever happens, I'm a dial away." She smiled a lopsided smile. "I'm always up for saving your sorry butt anytime."

"I mean I always do it for your algebra homework. So why not?" Zoey added.

Dawn playfully punched Zoey's shoulders.

"Man I so hate you." Dawn chuckled.

"Anyway let's have lunch. That lecture was so boring it made me hungrier."

"Whatever you say Zoey. Whatever you say." Dawn rolled her eyes. They got up from their seat as they exited their classroom.

"Oh by the way. What did coach needed from you yesterday?" Dawn asked. They passed along the hallway and went down the stairs all the way to the school pantry. "You've been having after-school meetings since last week."

"Ahh. Coach Johnny had been giving too many announcement." Zoey sighed. "The varsity team is getting busier."

"Maybe because of the coming school anniversary next week." Dawn replied.

"He did say something about inter-school contests." Zoey nodded. She tightened the strap of her backpack.

"That's great!" Dawn cheered. "Now that we're the seniors. There's no way we're not getting that easy win."

"Hey you're making it sound easy!" Zoey glared at Dawn. "There's not much senior players in basketball women."

"Really?" Dawn frowned. "That's kinda bad."

"Unless you join us though." Zoey flashed her signature toothed grin.

Dawn laughed. "As if there's anything I could do. I suck at sports."

Dawn and Zoey entered the pantry and went to their usual table. They talked about the devil prophecy Koga gave as a homework last week and the upcoming school anniversary. By the end of November next week, Sinnoh Hearthome Academy would be celebrating its twentieth anniversary. Williams Anima, the academy's dean, will be holding a very important announcement by tomorrow morning. It was something everyone in school was looking forward to. As one of the biggest and most prestigious academy across four regions, it was going to be a huge celebration.

After lunch, Dawn's class schedule went smoothly. She was excited for school to be over with today. She was so terrified this morning when Koga talked about scourging and now it seemed that it was all just a passing thought.

When the school bell rang, she immediately grabbed her bag and ran outside. Zoey told her that she needed to be at the gymnasium again. Dawn didn't mind, Zoey was just fulfilling her duty as one of academy's basketball women varsity team.

She ran across the quadrangle and saw someone standing by the gates. Dawn was about to wave her hand at him when she found out that it was someone else.

"Oh.."

Dawn felt her world tilt aside.

"Is he still sick?" Dawn asked herself. She was starting to get more and more worried. She sent a text to Solidad hoping she would get a day off today and tend Kenny. But Solidad texted her back that the pharmacy was having a busy day moving in new merchandise and she couldn't give Dawn her desired day off. And since she couldn't get her day off, Dawn decided to wait for a while. And maybe Kenny would still come for her.

Darkness was slowly blanketing the skies. Stars were slowly showing up one by one.

Dawn regretted that she didn't go back to the apartment before heading to the pharmacy.

It was getting too late that she decided to pick her bag and leave.

She was about to stand up when someone she recognized passed by her.

She had short pink hair. Her stature was slim and short for a senior student, she was probably a couple centimeters shorter than Dawn. She had her white uniform blouse removed revealing a dark blue tank. And she had that signature bandage on her nose bridge.

There was no mistaking it, it was no other than Maylene Lillis, one of Dawn's classmate. She had a chocolate bar clamped in her mouth.

Dawn looked at her as she passed through the gates. The security guard scolded her for removing her school blazer inside the school premises which was against the school rules. Maylene just stuck a tongue out and dashed outside.

"Wow.." Dawn awed at her. Maylene was one of those students that stood out in class. Not only that she's very active in class discussions, she's not one of those typical girly girls. She always wear sweatpants with her school skirt and she always squat down.

Maylene really was something.

"Oh crap I'm so gonna be late!" She hurried up and ran towards the pharmacy.

She ran her fastest and reached the pharmacy just a minute before her working shifted started.

Dawn sighed in relief and wiped beads of sweat on her forehead.

"Miss Solidad?" She called out as the bell chimed. She was surprised when she saw someone else behind the counter.

"She's at the storage room doing the inventory." The girl smiled at her and arranged the nursing cap on her head.

Dawn was caught off guard.

"Aren't you Maylene Lillis?" Dawn pointed a finger at her. Her forehead creased. "What are you doing here?"

Maylene did a somersault in front of the cash register and landed on her two feet, she bowed her head and offered her hand for a shake.

Dawn's jaw dropped at the insane random act Maylene pulled

"I am Maylene Lillis. Your new workmate here. Nice to meet cha!"

"How the hell did you do that?!" Dawn exclaimed. "Nobody can do that!" She gaped.

"Well I can." She grinned. "I do parkour!"

Maylene then unexpectedly fainted towards Dawn. Dawn caught her in time. Maylene suddenly went pale.

"What happened to you? Are you okay?!"Dawn screamed mentally. "Hey! You okay?!"

Dawn was prepare to call for help when Maylene pulled Dawn's collar.

"I...I need. I need my medicine." Maylene huffed. "I feel dizzy.. I'm dying.."

"DYING?!"

"What medicine?!" Dawn panicked. She gently dragged Maylene to a chair nearby and started looking through the first aid cabinet. "What medicine do you need?" She asked panicky. She scrambled through the shelf, her hands flew through the cabinet like fighter jets.

"In.. In my bag..under the cash register."

Dawn immediately hopped to the cash register and pulled out her bag. "Where did you put it? What does it look like?" She hurriedly asked. "What does it do? Are you sure it's here? I can't find it! Oh my god!"

"Oh.. I forgot.." Maylene tried sitting up. "I have it inside my pocket."

"Miss Solidad? Miss Solidad?" Dawn called out. "We have a problem! Maylene is in trouble!"

Dawn immediately went beside her and helped Maylene take out her medicine from her side pocket.

"A chocolate bar? That's your medicine?!"

"Can you unwrapped this for me?" Maylene asked. Dawn nodded and unwrapped the chocolate bar.

Maylene took a huge bite. Slowly she was starting to regain strength. Dawn was speechless beyond words.

"Thank you my savior!" Maylene was about to do another somersault when her knees buckled. "Whew, still not fully recovered yet."

"But anyway, I will soon repay you for this." Maylene added.

Dawn was still processing what happened.

"Is that some kind of special chocolate?" Dawn asked. "Wait, wait.." She felt her temples and processed everything inside her aching head.

She then glared at Maylene. "The hell! You were messing with me weren't you?!"

"Oh no, no." Maylene shook her head. "I wasn't joking." She took another huge bite of the chocolate bar. "I have hypoglycemia." Dawn helped her stood up as they prepared the store.

"What's that?" Dawn asked.

"It means I have low blood sugar." Maylene replied with the chocolate bar clamped in her mouth. "When my blood sugar drops to critical levels, I get dizzy and I tremble so bad. Sometimes I feel so deranged. Sorry about that."

"That's horrible." Dawn gasped.

"My father said I already had this since I was born. I must not miss a single meal, or else I'm done for." She chuckled. "So technically, yes, this does make this chocolate bar my medicine."

"Well, as horrible as it sounds. That's kind of a convenient disease isn't it?" Dawn said.

"Yep." Maylene agreed. "I just have to make sure I eat, get enough sleep, and don't overdo stuff."

Dawn chuckled. "You scared the hell out of me you know."

"Sorry." Maylene chuckled. "I really do tend to overreact when that happens."

"I'm Dawn Berlitz." Dawn smiled and laid out her hand.

"Maylene. Maylene Lillis." Maylene grabbed Dawn's hand and shook them. "Nice to meet cha."

"So I see you two have met already." Solidad smiled by the door of the storage room. "Starting today Dawn, you'd be working with Maylene. She applied just this morning and I thought that you might want some company."

Dawn felt her cheeks burn red. She smiled wholeheartedly.

With Dawn's new workmate, work ran more smoothly than before despite the rush of costumers coming in and out of the pharmacy. Dawn and Maylene talked and introduced themselves while they work.

Dawn found out that because of Maylene's condition, she was home schooled ever since. She underwent a three hour operation just last year as a last resort to cure her worsening condition. And thankfully the operation was successful, though it didn't remove the condition totally, it was stopped from becoming worse. And now all she had to do was maintain.

And since she was healing and getting better, she decided to enroll to Sinnoh Hearthome Academy and spend her last year of high school outside her house.

Dawn was struck by Maylene's courage. She immediately admired Maylene. In some way, Dawn somehow saw Zoey in Maylene. Dawn saw that same bright glow around her as she saw around Zoey.

While Maylene had such a story to share to her, Dawn didn't have much to tell. Dawn just told her that she ran away from her hometown of Twinleaf because of a bad relationship with her mother. She didn't want to share it because it was something she didn't want anyone knowing. But it would be unfair for her to not tell Maylene about it when Maylene told her so much about her own life.

Dawn was embarrassed the whole time telling her pathetic life.

"See ya tomorrow Dawn!" Maylene waved off as she went the other way around.

"See you tomorrow too Maylene!" Dawn waved too.

Dawn hurried back to the apartment and checked on Kenny. She was about to knock on his door when he opened up.

"Kenny!" Dawn dropped her shoulder bag on the floor and hugged him straight. "What happened to you? Are you okay? You worried me sick!"

Kenny hugged her back and smiled. He laid his head on her head.

"I'm feeling better now Dawn." He broke the hug and solemnly looked at her. Seeing her ached his heart so much. Dawn didn't know why he looked so broken. Kenny looked so messed up. "I was actually gonna wait for you outside the apartment. Darn it."

"It's okay." Dawn squeezed his hands. "It's okay Kenny. It's okay."

"Anyway. Are you feeling better yet?" Dawn asked. "I can help you up. I mean I want to help you up."

Kenny looked down. "I'm sorry Dawn. I'm so sorry..."

"What..?" Dawn asked. "I told you already-"

Dawn cut herself off when Kenny looked at her with his shaky eyes. Any moment now and Kenny felt he could fall apart.

"I guess I need to rest more." Kenny heaved a broken smile. "See you by morning Dawn." He slowly closed back his door. The door soon clicked.

Dawn just stood there like she was shot by a tranquilizer. Her world felt like it stopped spinning. "Kenny.. Did I do something wrong?" She asked. She knew she wouldn't get an answer, not with the wooden door between them. Dawn didn't know what was happening but she strongly felt that this was her entire fault.

She gripped the hem of her skirt in attempt to stop her hands from trembling. She picked up her bag and dragged herself back to her apartment room and took an early rest.

...

Kenny stood with his back against the door. He couldn't take it anymore that his tears slid from his eyes down to his cheeks. He pushed his back against the door and slid down.

He dug his face in his own palms.

"I'm so sorry Dawn..I'm so sorry." Kenny sobbed. "I swear I didn't mean it. I'm so sorry." He continued sobbing.

"I'm sorry I killed your bestfriend. I am so sorry for fooling you.." He tried so hard to control his sobbing.

On the shiny tiles of his floor, he could clearly see his auburn eyes shifting gradually to glaring crimson.

Chapter 7 End: Scourging

A.N: To avoid confusion, I made the Netherworld (world of the devils) the same with the human world, so it' basically like an alternate dimension or reality. AND bulbapedia said that Zoey originally live at Snowpoint, but what the heck haha you can forgive me for that. Zoey's plan here doesn't include stopping the war, she only want revenge and to see Kenny again, so there's that, and, uh, oh, and when Will said about her being an "Imp Devil" and about her village filled with "Faerie Devils" It simply meant a class for devils differentiating them by strength. An imp devil is stronger compared to a faerie one (weakest class). And a bit of info/spoiler, Will is neither faerie nor imp, his strength is on another level so it's designated with another name. And tadah! So is Paul, well that one is obvious. I'll explain more of this classification in the upcoming chapters, as well as how their world is connected and how one travels in between the different worlds. More action in the upcoming chapters.

Hope you enjoyed the story so far. A review would be highly appreciated :D thanks for the continued support! Keep the questions coming and I'll answer them :)

Kicks!