I almost forgot to post today lol So, this is where we move towards our main character of this story, Layla, and her POV of what happened. We see some familiar faces in this chapter, and I promise we are getting close to the present time. Stick with me :D

It was supposed to be a normal night after school, dinner with her parents and then a movie night as usual. What Layla didn't expect was to get attacked by, what she thought was, a rogue Houndoom, then a robber. What he took wasn't money, or anything, but something to do with her mother.

It all happened so fast...

She had turned to ask her father a question then crash!

The glass of the dining room window seemed to explode inward. Shards flew everywhere, raining down on her and her family. Her scream cut out at the sight of a Houndoom leering at them as though it were hungry. She heard a strange sound and saw her father slump to the floor.

Before she could cry for him, her mother grabbed her by the arm and jerked her back towards the living room. Layla stumbled along trying to make it to the stairs to the second floor, but Houndoom darted past them to block it. His razor sharp fangs snapped at them as she did so.

Fear clutched Layla's heart as her mother pulled her to stand behind her, acting as a shield against him. She laid her forehead on her mother's back, her chest heaving as they backed up to the fireplace.

In the slight pause, Layla heard footsteps crunch the glass in the dining room and peeked out to see a strange man standing in the other entryway to the dining room. His eyes were dark, as well as his short hair and beard. He stood tall, looming down at them with a sneer on his face, and looked built like an athlete.

In her training with the Natsume's, Layla's work with illusions gives the chance to see through other people's illusions too. A reason she and Eusine are best friends, his ability to do sleight of hand with the work of a little bit of illusory powers, makes it impossible to trick her. So, when she looked at this man and saw him blurry around the edges of his body, she knew he was using his powers on them.

Normally, she'd be able to see the true face beneath the fake one, but his... There's nothing there.

Like even he forgot who he was.

"Who are you?"

Layla had never heard her mother speak with such ice in her voice, it sent a shiver down her back as she turned her head to watch the other threat in the room. Houndoom had assumed a hunting posture, bent over his legs, muscles coiled and eyes zeroed in on her. It felt as though all the air in the room had left as her eyes met his and she realized what he wanted to do.

Her fingers gripped her mother's shirt harder as the man laughs and Houndoom let out a howl so loud and eerie Layla's legs started to feel like jell-o. Then fire came tumbling from his mouth and she let out the scream she'd been holding back, clutching harder at her mother as the pokemon leapt through, twisted and wrapped his tail around her ankle.

She kicked at the appendage, trying to break free, but the pokemon dragged her back and swiped at her. His claws caught on the skin of her left arm, dragging across her arm and causing blood to spurt everywhere. The pain was delayed due to her panic, so Layla kept kicking until it set in. Then she screamed for her mother, while clutching her arm to her chest.

Her mother bowled the pokemon over, sending her sprawling to the ground with it. The blood felt sticky on her arm and body, and then it started to smear on the floor, Layla's eyes couldn't leave the horrific sight. It was as if she was going to watch herself bleed out and die here, like this.

The next thing she remembers is the pokemon stumbling back, when Layla opened her eyes she saw her mother a little closer than before and recovering from running into him. Houndoom snapped his jaws at Juniper, warning her to stay away from her and Layla felt so much more helpless in that moment. Her head began to swim while her body started growing cold from the blood loss.

The pokemon barked to get her attention, his teeth gleamed down at her, and his eyes were full of intense flames. Her body stilled on instinct, she's been caught, the predator has captured his prey.

There was nothing more she could do.

"He will kill her."
The words echoed in Layla's head.

She accepted long ago that working with pokemon would be dangerous. Joy made it clear that she would be attacked and injured in the course of her career. It only made Layla want it more, most wild pokemon don't understand that they're being helped and once they realise they're more likely to back off. Some, however, will not and that's how she chooses to see Houndoom.

There was a rustling sound from the other side of the room and Layla looked to see her mother focusing on Houndoom. The man spoke, but it was lost in the flurry of motion Houndoom suddenly put her through. His tail tightened on her ankle and lifted her off the ground, giving her a good rattle as if she were a toy.

Layla screamed out, trying to fight against the pokemon only to whimper when it brought her close to his mouth and bared his fangs more. Her head spun with blood loss, adrenaline pumping through her veins and the erratic breaths she took. She peeked one eye open to see her mother breathing in deeply and moving her arms out around her. When the pokemon stiffened, relief flooded her veins, knowing it would be over soon.

The pokemon lowered her to the ground as if he were told to outloud, and backed up a few paces so she could roll away and get to mother. Being in her arms, Layla could breathe again, watching with a smile as the Houndoom turned to the man with a growl. She felt pride well up in her, knowing her mother wouldn't let anything bad happen to her family.

Then it all changed when the man laughed and Juniper crumpled to the ground from seemingly nothing. Layla knelt down beside her mother, tears blurring her eyes as she shook her mother's body to wake her up.

"Mom!"

Anger rose in Layla's chest at the man and she glanced up to see Houndoom circling her and the man attempting to leave through the dining room. She focused on her breathing and put up an illusion, shifting the floor and distorting the walls. Houndoom fell for it, attempting to find 'stable footing' on the disappearing floor only to crash into the living room wall while the man stumbled back into the room.
"Get. Her."

Houndoom turned and pounded his feet on the ground to get to her, his massive body barreling down on her only to never connect. Having pushed her face into her mother's neck, Layla missed seeing her father's Empoleon blast into the room and knock Houndoom aside.

"Layla!" her father shouted, running to her side.

The man tried to leave, calling Houndoom to him but Empoleon moved to stand in the way, his blue eyes angry. In response to a command, the fire type raised his head and set fire to the ceiling, the flames fanning out over the family and threatening to collapse the house. Layla's scream drew the water type to the family, it's first instinct to protect them rather than deal with the man on his own.

There's a puff of black smoke and the man disappeared, leaving Layla, her father, mother and Empoleon to escape. Preston hoisted Juniper onto his back, gesturing for Empoleon to carry Layla as they dodge the burning debris and burst out into the front yard. Neighbors have already gathered while sirens wail in the distance.

"Honey, honey," Preston panted, laying his wife on the sidewalk. "Oh, please. Wake up."
Layla curled into Empoleon, tears flowing and still holding her arm close. As the adrenaline faded the intense stinging sensation set in demanding her attention. It was a blurr of shouts as the sirens got closer and the authorities took control of the situation.

Firefighters showed up, a few of them running into the flames to save the remaining pokemon left in their homes inside. While the rest of the team started to quell the flames, water pokemon and hoses worked full force to contain the blaze. The neighborhood watched in awe, struggling to understand why the Ostergaard family home had been destroyed.

An accident? Hopefully.

It felt like hours as the smoke billowed into the sky and the fire destroyed the back of the house. One by one they got loaded into the ambulance, Layla separated from her mother and father's pokemon so they could tend to her. She tried to fight against the paramedics getting her to lay down and lost, too much blood had left her system and now the world was spinning.

It felt as though ice set in all over her body while the medics worked over her. Telling each other things she didn't understand and urging her to stay awake though sleeping felt like a much better alternative. Her father's face entered her line of vision at some point, begging her to stay with him, but where else would she go?

It was all so strange.

Then suddenly, she was somewhere different with new faces looking down at her as they were moving.

Where was her father?

She felt like vomiting. Had she already? She felt like drinking water. Why hadn't anyone given her water?

The sharp pain from earlier comes back and Layla succumbs to the darkness looming around her vision.

OoO

Layla sits on the hospital bed, dried tears stuck to her cheek, curls in a messy bun and arm aching from the stitches. She feels a little fuzzy from the pain meds, her mind swirling with the events that lead to this. It feels like a dream, one she can't shake herself out of no matter how hard she tries.

After passing out the night before, she woke up to see her father and his Empoleon stationed on either side of her bed. She was hungry, nauseous, thirsty and in desperate need of a shower all at once. Only three of those four things could be managed right away and she's still waiting on that shower.

That was this morning, now it's nearing lunchtime and she's getting restless without her mother close. She's still asleep but her father assured her that she's out of the woods and she'll be up soon. Layla hopes it's the truth and not a way to placate her for a while longer.

Her father hands her some Jell-O as the door opens and two men step in, both dressed in suits with ties and shining shoes. Both offer polite smiles as her father stands to greet them first, Layla pulls up the blanket higher while Empoleon leans closer, sensing her discomfort.

She's seen more than enough strange men recently, well dressed or not.

"Sweetie, they're G-men," Preston offers, his voice gentle as he returns to the bedside. "They're here to get a statement from you."

She glances at her father, thankful he had just been sedated rather than killed, though it didn't lessen the fear she felt when he got taken away for an exam. They cleared him within an hour of getting here, his blood looked fine and his exam went well. It's just her mother that's taking the longest, still passed out and with a healthy CT scan...

"I'm Wesley Wataru, this is my partner Aaron Lockwood," the first man steps up to the bed with a kind smile on his face. "We want your account of what happened. The more details the better."

Layla appraises him with curious eyes. He's handsome, strong jaw and well kept short, spiky dark brown hair on his head reminds her of heroes in the shows she watches with her mother. There's a scar down the side of his face, old and pink. It doesn't detract from his look, only gives him a more tough and mysterious air about him.

The shocking part is his gold eyes, a color closer to brown but still clearly shining gold. It reminds her of the time before the sunsets, when everything is bathed in a warm natural light. They're piercing but his kind gaze eases her anxiety as she loosens her grip on the Jell-o cup.

She looks to her father, usually when details are needed her illusions provide the best way to see that. While training under the Natsume's, she's become adept at creating them with little repercussions as they're training is rigorous. She rarely uses her powers outside of training, just to protect her family and herself in situations she deems dangerous.

"It's okay, Pip," he nods, moving to sit in a chair. He gestures for the men to do the same. "Does a visual retelling count for a statement?"

The two men glance at each other, unsure what he means before shrugging and following Preston's lead. "We can always get it written down and have you sign it."

Layla waits for them to be comfortable, suddenly shy under their watchful eyes, she claps her hands to focus. The room blurs a tiny bit before shifting into the dining room, unable to talk while working, she lets the events play out as she saw them. Some parts buzz by due to lapses in her memory, but the man stands clear, except for his face, and Houndoom prowls along the memory as if he were in the room.

By the end, she's panting and leaning more on Empoleon. "That's all I remember."

The two stare at each other in awe of having a first person account of what happened before gathering their wits. Wesley approaches the bed first, patting her leg as he does so, and offering that kind smile from before.

"That was amazing, thank you," he starts out. "We'll have your father work out the details, if there's anything else you remember, let your parents know right away. Okay, hun?"

She nods. "Yes, sir."

He grins at that, gesturing for Preston to join him outside the room while Aaron rounds the bed to take a seat. Layla watches him, curious as to why he looks so forlorn, as if he lost something watching the display. His hair is longer than Wesley's, but not by much, slicked back with little wisps falling from the front over his forehead. His eyes are a warm brown, the color of the Earth and somehow soothing to Layla though there's a mix of emotions she can't understand in them.

He adjusts the tray of food for her and smiles with his own polite smile.

"My daughter is a lot like you," he starts out, when Layla perks up at his words, he grins. "She's got some strong powers too."

"Really?" she replies.

It's always exciting to hear about another person like her out there, makes her feel less freakish. Her peers at school always bullied her into 'performing' for them, believing themselves to be somehow better. Though if she were too rough with an illusion, tricking a kid into falling into the dirt or a puddle, she'd be called a bully.

People were always willing to push her into a corner until she lifted a finger back, and she hated it. It's not like she did anything with these powers, there was no point...

Until today.

She needed her powers to keep her family safe and even that failed.

"Yes," Aaron responds, breaking her out of her thoughts. "For the longest time, she felt alone about it, like she was a monster. But I think she's strong, just like you. Trying to save your family, that's quick thinking, many people don't react like that."

"But he still got away, and I put myself in danger," she says, echoing her father's words from this morning.

He wasn't angry, just scared and it wasn't the first time she'd seen him like that. Preston's a good father, just easy to worry and Layla knew it was coming the moment he stepped into the room with her. At least one thing stayed the same, so she didn't get angry as she usually does when he lectures her.

"That's true," he nods. "You did your best and just because it didn't go your way doesn't mean it's your fault."

"Is that what you tell your daughter?"

He laughs. "Yes. She's very stubborn. I hope you two meet someday."

"Me too," she smiles.

When Preston comes back, Aaron takes his leave with a nod to Layla to get better. He stands with Wesley at the door as they bid the family farewell, for now, and leave them to heal in peace for the rest of the day.

With the excitement dying down, Layla finds herself barely able to eat as she falls asleep mid bite, and it's finally her father pulling the food away so she can sleep. Empoleon chirps softly as she settles into the bed, settling down on the ground next to her bed to ensure her comfort as her eyes droop and eventually close.

OoOoO

Days later, Juniper is up and discharged from the hospital to a dilapidated house and not a clue what happened for them to deserve it. The first floor of the home ended up caving in, destroying the rest of the house with it. Very little was salvaged from the fire department and neighbors volunteering to help while the family recouped in the hospital.

It's heartbreaking to see what all they had reduced to nothing in a matter of hours and for what?

The attack was clearly planned, he was looking for something with Juniper's powers. But why? What did he get from this?

"Do we have to move so far?" Layla's small voice jolts her from her thoughts.

Despite the stitches, Layla has been working meticulously to salvage what she can from the fire in the hopes of keeping some memories alive and safe.

In the hospital, in hushed tones, Juniper and Preston discussed their options with two G-men. Wesley and Aaron as the two men believed Team Rocket to be behind the attack, though there is no definitive proof of it. Having worked with law enforcement before, Juniper is inclined to believe their intuition and was disturbed to know they were acting on their own behalf rather than the organization.

A sign that something is terribly wrong.

She had insisted on joining their ranks, which they wanted her to, but only after cleaning their ranks. They have plans and to keep others safe, they don't want someone new getting pulled into trouble when it can be avoided. Especially if she's already a target.

So, with their help, Juniper and Preston managed to find a new home in Cerulean. A cute family home in the outskirts of the town, a quiet neighborhood with adequate security measures. They handled the paperwork and transfers, aiming to keep their family safe, and will oversee the move over there.
All this was handled while Layla busied herself with homework and some counseling with her school. As much as Juniper would love to stay to ease the trauma of the attack, looking at the remains of their home only reminds her why they have to leave.

"Your father got offered a nice job in Cerulean, sweetie," her mother explains. "It's not that far. I just think it'll be safer to relocate. They have a Pokemon House I think you'll enjoy volunteering at."

Layla's green eyes light up at the mention of the house. Something her parents knew would be the best way to win their daughter over about the move. Despite the decrease in size when it comes to Celadon and Cerulean, Juniper feels it's a better choice to live.

Preston joins them soon after with the two men in tow, their faces carefully neutral. He looks tired and ready to sleep for a couple of days. Instead, he greets his daughter with his usual goofy smile and pulls her in for a hug. A gentle one that minds the wound on her arm.

"Okay, Pip," he breathes, gesturing to the men. "They're going to take us to our new house, okay? You remember them right?"

How could she forget?

Instead of saying that, she nods and offers an unsure smile at the men as they regard her kindly. "H-hello."

Wesley smiles at her, always friendly and always smiling about something, looks relaxed now that she's greeted them. When they first came by, he was the first to talk to her like an adult, telling her things as they seemed and never sugarcoating for her if he could help it. He's handsome, even with the scar on the side of his face, it makes him more mysterious in her eyes. Like a hero, able to tame dragons and protect those weaker than him, and right now, Layla feels weak.

"It's going to be okay."

He says it as if it's a promise, like he's going to be with them each day, offering anything to ensure they'll be happy. Even though she knows he won't be, she believes him, the fire in his eyes oozes confidence and strength.

Beside him, a man with a more angular face also smiles. Aaron had been more behind the scenes with everything, but just as kind. His wife sent food with him to feed Layla and her parents while they were in the hospital and then the hotel after getting discharged. While he hasn't been as forthcoming as Wesley, he's overseen their treatment and their moving procedures with due care.

Layla glances up at her parents, both of whom have grim looks on their faces, before facing the men and nodding. "Okay."

So, the move begins with a teleport to a new city, a new home and, probably, a new life. The sadness of leaving behind the life and friends she knew hangs with Layla. As she goes to a new school, a new counselor and a new room, she doesn't forget the man with the blurry face nor the Houndoom. Every thought towards the fire type brings with it an onslaught of issues. Trouble breathing, sweat and the feeling that she's going to get attacked at any moment. It's eyes always watching her, its teeth waiting to take a bite and the weight of its body crushing her until there's nothing left.

At the end of it all, there's always questions upon questions, burning inside her as she tries to understand it all.

Why her mother? Who was that man? And what did he get from her?