January 4th, 1927
New York City
Anna was spat out of the portal Palkia created, hitting the ground hard on her side. The miniature pokéballs holstered on her belt dug into her side, and she hastily shifted to get off, and could see herself in a mass of trees.
Attempting to prop herself upright was painful, the poison from a wayward splash of Toxic on her leg starting to work its way into her body. She weakly chose a pokéball, pressing the release to summon a Duskull. Feeling her leg, she caught its attention easily, making it fret over her current state.
"Hey, Darrius," Anna said breathily, "See if there's anyone that can help, can you?" The ghost Pokémon nodded, then melted into a shadow, moving away. The trainer groaned, taking deep breaths in an effort to slow the poisoning.
The Trainer cursed when she recalled that all of her status items were used up in battling several Grunts. Luckily, she found a potion, still full, and she sprayed the liquid over her injured leg, wincing at the stinging.
Her vision started swimming, and Anna closed her eyes, focusing on her breathing. The loud sounds of people yelling, and cars filled the air, but she was grateful for the shade the trees provided in a sunny day.
The shouting started to feel closer, and she blearily opened her eyes, the sudden fear of being discovered by strangers blooming. Anna removed her pokéballs and slid them in her jacket pockets, sealing the zipper. Her gaze shifted to see several people in large coats heading her way and looked to see what they were following.
The Duskull had popped up, leading the people in a merry chase, and Anna's gaze focused on a man with reddish brown hair wearing a long blue coat. "There's someone over there!" the man yelled, and Anna waved a hand.
"Good job Darrius," she sighed as the Pokémon returned to her side.
"What is that thing?!" another man with salt and pepper hair growled, pointing at the Gengar.
"Don't hurt him!" Anna instinctively called out, staggering to her feet even when her poisoned leg throbbed unpleasantly. The Duskull hid behind her, blowing a raspberry, "He's harmless, I promise. Don't hurt him." She held her hands up, which was glistening with sweat to show them she was unarmed.
"Do…do you mind taking me to a hospital?" Anna asked, one of her hands gesturing to her leg as she suddenly fell backward. "I've been poisoned." She reached into her pocket to call out Adam, her Alakazam. "Adam, help them, yeah?" Without warning, her world faded into black.
Waking up was a weird affair, as green eyes stared up at a white ceiling. A furry face popped up by her side, and Anna blinked to see Pina out of her pokéball.
"Pina? Where's the others?" she asked, and a grunt made her aware of two of the people she saw approach her before she fainted.
"You gave us quite a fright," Blue Coat man told her as Pina laid a furry paw on Anna's face.
"And what are you doing out of your pokéball, huh, Pina?" Anna directed a question at the Pikachu. "I thought you didn't like strangers, you mysterious, contradicting being." The jab made the rodent Pokémon use Nuzzle, static frizzing the girl's hair.
"Pika Pika!" the Pikachu tilted her head up, rubbing her cheeks against her trainer's. The Trainer could hear the Electric Pokémon's worried thoughts filter into her head, with what sounded like sobs accompanying.
"Hey, Pina, it's okay, I'm alright," Anna muttered to it, hands reaching to pet the fur on the Pikachu's back.
"What kind of creature is that?" Blue Coat man then asked, interest clear in his posture. The older man beside him rolled his eyes at Coat man's enthusiasm.
"This is Pina. She's a Pikachu and my best friend. Electric type rodent Pokémon, number 25 in the National Pokédex. They, um, they communicate by short electrical impulses from their tails, and if there's enough gathered, they can summon thunderclouds. And she's not a…creature, she's a Pokémon."
"Is it a special category, Pokémon?" Coat man asked, his eyebrows moving up.
"No?" Anna's own brows furrowed, "Pokémon…they're their own kind of animal. And if you're asking that, I'm guessing this isn't a world with them. Pity. I'd love to see new ones." Pina nuzzled into her hand, prompting her to pet the mouse Pokémon.
"Fascinating. What's your name? I'm Newt Scamander," the Coat Man offered, and Anna lifted a hand, aware that there was magic in the air, so similar to the vibe psychic Pokémon gave off.
"Anna Ride. Just call me Anna. Sorry for scaring you," the trainer apologized, but Newt just waved it off.h
"Where's Adam? My Alakazam? He hasn't been stealing people's wallets, has he? If he has, I blame it on his upbringing in a poacher's gambling den. Not me," Anna started babbling, only for Pina to use nuzzle.
"Pina!" scolded Anna, and the Pikachu visibly sighed, then made wild motions with her paws and squeaked several times. "Oh. I see…that long? And where's my bag? I was going to be fine, Pina, you're not my mother," the girl sighed, and turned her head to see Newt had an amused look on his face.
"What's with that look? Never seen a…oh yeah," Anna flushed, Pina adopting a smug expression.
"What were you doing with several unidentified creatures Miss Ride? How did you come here?" asked the much older man who hadn't spoken since Anna had woken up.
"Some megalomaniac was trying to create a so called perfect world using Legendary Pokémon," a dark expression ghosted over the girl's face, but it was gone immediately after. "He wanted a world where emotion was dead and wanted nothing but order. Kidnapping Legendary Pokémon is a highly criminal offense, you see, let alone five. I should've gone there sooner, but I was waylaid by several grunts."
Pina shivered, burrowing her face into the sheets on top of Anna's chest. "I was tripped into a dimensional hole Palkia, the Pokémon of Space created, while attempting to dodge Toxic. Thank you both for helping me."
"Not a problem. Say, I'd like to see more of your Pokémon," Newt shifted back while the other man groaned.
"Mr. Scamander," he warned the other, "She is a No-Maj with very possibly dangerous creatures. That is a terrible idea."
"Uh, can I get your name Mister?" Anna asked hesitantly, her hands moving to hold Pina close to her, "The thing is, I work on a Pokémon Daycare Center, and sometimes there are scoundrels that want to steal baby Pokémon from their mothers. How do I know if I can trust you?"
"Graves. Percival Graves," said the man gruffly, and Anna nodded, to which Newt butted in.
"If it helps, I trust him very much," the younger man assured the girl, and before she could blink, a green, sticklike creature crawled out of the man's pocket.
"He's so cute!" Anna squealed, Pina wincing at the close proximity.
"His name's Pickett," Newt told her, and the creature did a small wave, to which Anna copied. The creature retreated back into the pocket, hiding once more.
"Fine. Though, I need to warn you. My Pokémon aren't dangerous, even though some of them might look scary. Can you promise me that you won't harm them?" she asked, waiting for a response.
"I promise," reassured Newt, while Percival rolled his eyes, and made a grumble that sounded like a "You better know what you're doing Scamander."
"Pina, get my jacket, I've stuffed all your pokéballs into it," Anna muttered to the Pikachu, which made a cheerful chirp, scampering off the bed to find it.
The Pokémon tugged it on the ground, to which Newt picked it up to place it in easy arm's reach of Anna. She dug into her pocket, pulling it out to count them. Then she looked up to see how big the room was, then calculated how many Pokémon could fit in the hospital room.
"Alright. Masio, Luke, and Esopus, come out. Quietly, please," she called out quietly, throwing the pokéballs into the air. The now empty pokéballs closed, hitting the bed, where Anna scooped them up.
Bursts of red lights filled the room as each Pokémon made their appearance, materializing fully. "Mightyena, Lucario, and Empoleon," she explained, "Nearly all of them were hatched at my Uncle's Daycare Center. They're my friends, my family."
The Pokémon noticed Anna in the hospital bed, converging on her to dote. Masio whined as he butted one of her legs, then gazing at the two men with caution in his eyes. Luke grunted, and the Pokémon all collectively calmed.
"Magnificent," Newt breathed, looking at them with adoration and fascination shining in his eyes.
Luke was the next to check how Anna was when Gary moved back, one of his furred paws resting on Anna's forehead.
'Anna' he said telepathically, 'We were all very worried.' The two men stiffened when they 'heard' the Pokémon talk.
"I'm okay, Luke, really," Anna said comfortingly, "You can check me yourself. Use heal pulse."
Pink light glowed under Luke's paw, spreading over Anna's body, and she relaxed when some minor pain suddenly washed away.
"See? I'm all better, my friend," Anna tells the Pokémon encouragingly.
"What did he do?" asked Newt, still mesmerized.
"Heal pulse does…well, healing," Anna shrugged, and Luke stepped back, satisfied. "Lucario is known as the 'Aura Pokémon'. Luke, like many other Lucario's, are able to speak through telepathy."
Pina hopped back onto the bed, glaring at her friends with a jealous gaze.
"Pina, no," warned Anna before the rodent could even think of using a small Spark. "I know exactly what you're going to do, little one." Said Pikachu deflated, rolling onto her back.
"Everyone, this is Newt Scamander and Percival Graves. Mr. Scamander and Mr. Graves, these are my Pokémon," Anna shifted so she could move off the bed, Luke at her side immediately.
'We thank you for caring for our trainer,' the Lucario nodding his thanks, the other Pokémon on his team making low noises of agreement. Masio bounced up so he could lick Anna's face, nearly pushing her back onto the bed.
"Trainer?" Newt asks, freezing when he realizes what the Pokémon called Anna.
"Yeah. Most Pokémon are naturally competitive, and there's a whole system in place where we have friendly bouts. I'm a Pokémon trainer, someone who catches and befriends Pokémon to help them get stronger," she explained, petting Masio's head gently.
"You make them fight?" Newt has a strange look on his face, as if he wanted to steal the Pokémon away.
"We don't make them do anything," Anna suddenly snarled, a thunderous expression emerging, "Do you think we could force them to? That we'd hurt them, that I'd let them be hurt for no reason?! Do you think I'd fight tooth and nail to protect them just let them fight for sport? My world isn't always kind, least of all to Pokémon." Her Pokémon tensed at her sudden anger, sharing uncertain looks among them.
"I am sorry if it sounds like I'm accusing you of abuse," Newt apologized, though he was taken aback by the girl's aggression.
Anna's fierce gaze melted within seconds, her hands clenching, "I don't blame you, though. This is a world that doesn't know anything about battling, and it'd be remiss of me to not fill you in. Battling makes Pokémon stronger, and allows them to survive. The world I live in isn't kind."
The girl cupped Masio's head in her hands, the wolf pinning his ears back and making an adoring noise. "You did great, Masio. I should've known Cyrus would play dirty. Using a fairy type was a very, very nasty trick indeed," Anna looked into the Pokémon's eyes, meeting his red gaze. "If Esopus or Luke weren't there you could've been mortally injured. I'm sorry."
The Mightyena whined, licking his lips.
"Can I have my bag? I need to feed them," Anna asked, and Percival nodded, a movement with his hand having her bag soar to her. "Alright!" she caught it in her hands, "Come on you guys. Pokéblocks, poffins and berries for everyone."
Pulling out a long stick filled that rattled, she opened the small case, taking a few colored cubes out. The girl tossed them at Masio's mouth, which he snapped up eagerly, teeth clacking. Some more digging revealed large yellow berries, to which she let Pina hand the fruits to the others.
She wasted no time to take a bite out of one, humming at the sour flavor. "Would you like one? It's a Sitrus berry. Perfectly edible."
"Some other time, perhaps," Percival grunted, shooting a warning look at Newt, who opened his mouth to answer.
"Shame. Esopus, catch," Anna tossed what looked like a pink pastry at her Empoleon. He gobbled it up quickly, opening his beak enough it landed in whole. Anna let her Pokémon have the remaining berries, zipping up that pocket to get to the bag's main zipper.
Anna then pulled out the case with dozens of miniature pokéballs, making sure none of them were damaged when she fell out of the portal. Without another word, she went back to her team's pokéballs, setting the bag aside.
"Return," she ordered, taking a pokéball for the corresponding Pokémon, to which they all allowed the red light to hit them. The girl allowed Pina to stay for emotional support, cuddling her close.
"What exactly are those?" Graves asked, wishing that Newt had such an item, so his creatures stopped escaping his suitcase.
"Pokéballs. They're manufactured to provide a safe environment. Originally, they were used to make Pokémon training safer, but now it's more of a convenient way to carry them without them running amuck," Anna recited, "Case in point is my Murkrow, Murphy. They like shiny things and will fight adolescent Gabite for a pearl."
"Sounds like someone I know," the much older man commented, while Newt glanced at Percival with humor in his eyes.
"Miss Ride, I might need to confiscate your…Pokémon for the foreseeable future," Percival said, all business, and the girl bristled.
"No," Anna's voice was colder than ice, "They need me. They're my responsibility, not yours. No." She stopped petting Pina, looking up with frost in her green eyes. The Pikachu made a small noise, pawing at Anna's arm, noticing her trainer stiffen. The girl gave her Pokémon a reassuring smile, the frost melting before solidifying when she looked Percival in the face.
"Mr. Graves, that isn't necessary," Newt objected, his expression changing from his friendly smile.
"Scamander, we have no idea what her creatures can do," Graves was firm, wanting to knock sense into the magizoologist, "Not only that, she is a dimension traveler, and MACUSA can't have her running around, making trouble."
"My Pokémon are harmless unless I am in danger," Anna whispered, "Many of them were hurt by humans, and they only listen to me. I am their protector, their friend. I swore, that I would protect them with my life. I won't let you."
She shuttered, contemplating her next action.
"Disarming voice and Thunderwave," the girl ordered, the Pikachu responding faster than the two men could react. The Pokémon made a sharp, disorienting sound and zapped both Percival and Newt with an attack while they cringed.
"String shot! Disable!" Anna pulled out two pokéballs from her bag, using the moment the men were distracted by Pina. The Alakazam and Butterfree that emerged obliged, using the moves to silence and restrain both men, strong webs also sealing their mouths shut. "I'm sorry," she said, gathering her things and looking both men in the eyes.
"I've been lied to by people to many times, claiming that they wanted to help me and my Pokémon, and I decided I've had enough. I swore a long time ago, that I won't let selfish humans make Pokémon suffer," Anna declared, "Even if I have to give my life. I've seen humanity, and I pity you all. Many seek power, uncaring towards the non-human beings they trample over. Those who disregard non-human lives should be the ones disregarded."
Pina followed her, climbing up the girl's legs until she sat in where Anna's hood fell, nuzzling into the fabric.
It looked like the hospital staff had removed her torn and damaged clothing, her thin form swamped in a hospital robe. She drew a curtain that separated the visitor's chairs from the bed, changing into a fresh pair of clothes from her bag. Anna then released her Murkrow to find anything of value on the men.
What the darkness Pokémon found was a pile of gold, silver and bronze coins from Newt, and a fancy pocket watch, gold cufflinks, and wallet from Graves. The pile of valuables were left on the bed, while Anna waved her hand at Graves. "Disarm." She forced what felt like protective magic to crumble, and a long wooden stick flew into her hand. "A wand," she muttered, looking it over. Without blinking, she sniffed it, noting the smell of a premium wax.
"Nice polish," she complemented Graves, before flicking it, "Light." The tip glowed brightly, the girl grinning. "In my world, wielders of magic are few and far between. I'm one of the lucky ones, though. Darken."
The wand responded, before she left it on the bed. After a moment, the girl sighed, brushing her bangs back. "I'm not a…no-Maj. I don't need a staff, or a wand to use my magic. You're both good people and your auras are bright. I really am sorry, but don't look for me. Please. Because if you do, or if you find me…I can't guarantee you'll survive the encounter. For my sake and yours, especially you, Mr. Graves, don't find me."
Anna recalled the Murkrow, stowing his pokéball away in the case. She replaced her pokéball belt, reattaching her primary team's pokéballs. Meanwhile, Pina had climbed down, tapping her own ball and resealing herself. She waved a hand towards her trench coat, which hung on a coat hanger, sending it flying at her.
The girl put it on, spotting her boots and snapping her fingers so the laces were untied. When she was ready, Anna nodded at her still present Pokémon, ordering them, "Catherine, sleep powder."
Anna held her breath while the bug Pokémon did its work, eyes falling shut as she heard two muffled sounds of sleep. Seeing the two men made her feel like singing a lullaby, one her mother sang to her before leaving for Kanto.
"Knowledge, emotion and willpower are what drives the human race. To see the world as shades of grey, we must live in peace and create our days, and when we go to sleep tonight, we fight the dying of the light…" her voice petered off, a melancholy feeling settling in her chest. Waving a hand, she wished for the string shot to wear off, the white gunk fading from the sleeping men's bodies.
The girl then recalled Catherine, nodding to the Alakazam. "Let's go. Adam, use teleport."
