Ash himself took the roofs as an ordinary person. Dressed as the average person he pretended to be an Parkour expert that scaled roofs, buildings and performed all kinds of tricks to get from one destination to another. Hoping to attract the attention of the woman that tried to rob him he took a break sitting on a post that was on a roof all by himself.
"Pharaoh?" Looking around him Ash found himself lucky there weren't high roofs around to get spotted with the heroine. Mallow in her Leafeon outfit went up to him and bowed on her knees.
"Did you find a clue about my assailant?"
"Forgive me. But I have not."
"You're taking a risk by being together in daylight. This interruption better be good then." Mallow heard his lack of patience and did not wasted his precious time more.
"I know finding your assailant is the most important thing now but something is bothering me my lord."
"Then speak and I shall guide you." Having made the promise any of his girls can come to him if something troubled them he upheld his end of the bargain. Mallow grateful for his time held her head down in subservience not daring to look at him.
"It's about Serena's ribbons and how you used them to influence others."
"You object?" Thinking Mallow is not as faithful as she should be he readied himself for battle.
"No, we all exist to submit to your will. I brought it up since I have a power similar to that." He relaxed his fists but was intrigued but cautious.
"Do you? None of the others have mentioned anything about that."
"That's because I've always seen it as a forbidden power. Nobody else knows, not even Vaporeon. Only you pharaoh."
"Then what is it slave? Don't keep me in suspense."
"I'm one with nature so I have the ability to create spores."
"And what is it that these spores of yours do?"
"They infect people latching on to the brain like a fungus. Inside the body they grow before the fungi attack the brain and possesses people and puts them under my control."
He needed to talk to the others about this if they fulfilled their tasks wondering what other hidden powers they have. Maybe Anabel can infiltrate people's minds and corrupt them.
"Why have you never used it before?" Having it hidden away from even her 'sisters' Mallow was scared of her powers.
"I'm afraid I turn others into mindless zombies. It's an untested method and I have no clue about the lasting effects unlike Serena who has more natural control over her ribbons and did it a few times to keep the peace. Once the spores leave my body I don't know how they mutate so I need test subjects. But if you want your people to be mindless I will use it at your leisure."
He determined her limits she'd turn the whole town into spore slaves if he wanted too.
"I can see why you brought this to my attention away from your sisters. They might frown upon an ability like that since that isn't heroic." Still useful in his end goal it was a desperation plot if things really turned bad.
"My dearest Mallow. I appreciate you sharing this with me but I forbid you to use it. Do you know why?"
"Enlighten me my lord." It sealed her spore powers away till further notice but she hung on his lips.
"Those who know the true nature of the sarcophagus will call it hypocritical but know I've used the power of it to turn you to my cause but it was only to make you see the error of your ways. I don't seek mindless obedience from drones without an opinion. You have maintained some form of personality even under my command."
"This is true." Mallow unable to object there were still traces of who she was before pledging eternal loyalty.
"Personality matters. You don't want to imagine how bland and boring your personal garden would be if I stripped you of everything but your powers. If we want to instill a new culture in this place we need creativity which you will supply with your cooking of course. Making feasts for a king requires a bright mind as yours. That's why I want everyone to obey me but I do not take away free will entirely. Serena's ribbons make people at least get some enjoyment out of it unlike your spores that numb a person to even the most basic of pleasures."
"Thank you. I understand even more now. I shall withhold this ability unless you change your mind. I will get you that drone as it is a disgrace to what you stand for. I will not falter."
"Good slave."
Seeing her leave after calming her worries he checked his phone to see if the others had more luck.
It had been a few days after Marnie and the rest of the sisters had received orders to find a robot with disguise capabilities. Searching the city up and down for a hint they still were without a trace. No police reports or a crime spree going on the heroines did not have much luck in the search as their counterparts. After finding nothing, Marnie took a more modest approach in her search dressed in a pink skirt covering her body and a black leather jacket with black thin spiked heels she wondered the streets of Lumiose City as a civilian hoping that an unsuspecting young woman like her might be seen as easy prey compared to hero form.
It being around lunch time she headed inside one of the many cafe's Lumiose City has on offer. A fan of a fresh brew she ordered a coffee and a sweet biscuit on the side. A newspaper on her table she grabbed it and read the front page with the headline in bold black letters.
"Crime rate in Lumiose has dropped. Has evil stopped or a silence before the storm?"
The piece went into detail about Lucario's and Lysandre's recent activity. The thief was awfully quiet after the last museum robbery with private collections from rich people save from his hands and the feared mob boss Lysandre laying low as well. It went in further about the failed endeavors of the pair and as long as the Eevee sisters were patrolling the city it should be fine but civilians must main vigilant.
"Master has been occupied with saving you. Show some gratitude."
Marnie resisted the urge to tear the paper up. How she desired to scream out loud about her pharaoh's greatness and that soon everyone in this town will bask in it too. A vision on the city inhabitants all on their knees accepting their new lord she left a number of coin on the table after finishing her drink.
"They can kiss goodbye to the tip." A bit cross after the lies told in the papers leaving the café she tried to come up with a new plan. Wishing she has more to go on then just a description of what she's searching for she walked past a jewelry store. Before she was not one for shiny trinkets but after living in her pharaoh's treasury and fitting some bracelets and necklaces began to grow a fondness for them.
Seeing her reflection in the glass window something peculiar showed on her. A small smile. Marnie having trouble smiling compared to her 'sisters' it was a weird look for her. Secretly practicing in the mirror at home using her fingers to lift the corners of her mouth to make it a natural motion.
"The pharaoh promised me to teach me how to smile. With how unlimited his power is I believe it."
A new motivation to continue her search instilled in her Marnie took to dark alleyways for a shot at more luck. A young woman dressed as she was would not seem out of place compared to the other heroines who were more with the times and fashionable. Determined to find the attacker she blended in with the crowd people stamped as weird in a café only the dedicated punk guys and girls knew off.
A group of guys and girls all dressed as punks none were aware of her real identity. The group looking like she's used too she saw familiar and new faces. Some of them more familiar with the Lumiose underground maybe she can get some intel from here on her target and get word of some robberies that took place with the blonde woman's identity.
The one bartender pouring drinks in the place was cleaning glasses. Marnie sat at the bar presenting a few notes of money rolled up wanting information cause bartenders had good ears to listen and pick up things others normally didn't. The bartender raised an eyebrow over the young woman presenting the stack and checked the notes in a machine to see if they are real.
"Spending money from the pharaoh for being a good girl."
The checking of notes complete the bartender poured her a drink. Marnie asking for suspicious activities the bartender did hear something from the proverbial grapevine.
"I've heard the Loto ID Center is turning out quite the loss. They've been handing out prizes everyday and it cuts into their bottom line."
The Loto Center was a daily lottery being held in a separate building. Each day prizes were on the line from discount coupons to large checks. People entered by showing the number of their passport or ID card and entered a raffle. Lotteries rigged like casino's Marnie never participated in the event. Still it warranted an investigation on why all of a sudden the lottery was losing a lot and with luck it was linked to her true purpose.
Marnie thanking him took the first bus to Estival Avenue to the location she's planning an investigation. The street image normal people went about their business until she found a subject of interest. A man in his early 30's walked out with quite an expensive looking watch on his left wrist. Dressed in a brown shiny jacket and black pants he didn't seem happy he get a good reward from the place that usually provided happy winners.
Him walking away Marnie tailed him from a distance. Even if her look stood out amongst others the man had no clue she was tailing him. Eventually the man turned into one of Lumiose's dark alleys. Marnie hiding behind trashcans saw a ladder and climbing it now followed him now from the roof looking to see where he was going.
Marnie looking down saw him come across a man with almost bleached white skin. Wearing a brown trench coat and hat his face was barely readable but the red glasses he wore and the relative size in waist gave it away to the heroine.
"Xerosic!"
Lysandre's right hand man he was not a public figure as big as the mob boss but causing enough issues for her 'sisters' and the citizens of Lumiose City. Marnie took out her phone and contacted her lord by text.
"So Lysandre has to do with this. I better alert the pharaoh and keep my eyes on them."
The moment Marnie pressed send that she found something the man turned his head right to where she is up high.
"OUTGOING SIGNAL DETECTED NEARBY!" The man suddenly yelled out loud enough for her to hear. Xerosic pressed a button on his watch and the man stood stiff now. With no hesitation the man scaled the walls just as Marnie can do. Marnie put her phone away and readied herself for a fight without aid until her master or another sister can get here.
"PROCEED TO ELIMINATE SOURCE! LETHAL FORCE AUTHORIZED REGARDLESS OF THREAT! THEN RETURN TO BASE!"
The man charged at her as Marnie raised her feet with her sharp heels pointing at him. He slid on the ground dodging it sweeping her other foot as she fell down. Catching herself with her hands she vaulted up again now with her back to her opponent. Catching his right hand from behind she tossed him over her shoulder as he landed on his back but rolled through and got up again coming back at her.
Marnie struck at him as this time her fist was caught. Being struck in the stomach she flew off her feet but with resiliency she still stood. Biting her teeth Marnie charged in again and stayed close to confront in up close and personal exchanging blows while the heroine stalled for time.
Marnie with her fighting style finally managed to get a good hit in right in the face on her opponents left cheek.
"UGH…" A faint voice uttered as if he got hurt.
"Strange, robots don't feel pain."
Marnie kept up her attack regardless while slowly overwhelming the man slowing down. Marnie being able to multitask thinking a robot shouldn't slow down or get tired.
"DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, 60%. RECOMMEND RETREAT!"
Pushing away the surprisingly strong young woman it felt a weight on his back exploding. Marnie seeing a blue sphere cause an explosion and the person that fired it her face began to form a bright smile.
"Pharaoh!" Ash landed right on the mans back putting on quite the squeeze on his arms. The thief putting tye pressure on held a firm hold on the mans neck.
"DAMAGE ASSESSMENT 65...BZZT…TERMI…NATING…DISGUISE…PRESERVE…POWER…"
The mans form vanished and suddenly something else was in Ash's arms entirely. Something dressed in black wearing gray gloves and gray stripes, its head fully covered and the shoulder area was a light orange. Ash not seeing the front Marnie saw an orange visor on the face area with a yellow E lighting it up on the right side.
"I know I said to Clemont I'd bring you in one piece preferably but I have Marnie to carry the rest."
Ash tightening the squeeze on the neck the drone uttered faint words
"SUB…JECT…AIR…SUPPLY…OUT…PROBABILITY DEATH…98%"
"Why would a robot need air?"
Marnie's eyes widened with dread as she begged for the assailants life now wanting to prevent her master from a horrible mistake.
"Wait pharaoh! Don't destroy it! A human being might be inside!"
"Another illusion!?" Since he held a shapeshifting machine in his clutches Marnie continued to beg certain of her case.
"Please my lord! I request a fair trial!"
The person limp in his arms Ash let go off the robot as it dropped to the ground motionless. Laying a hand on the chest to see if it was breathing he felt the curvature of breasts. He copped a feel as they felt real despite all the cloth covering them.
"Why would you give a robot breasts if it can just project them?"
"Is it alive?" The slave heroine edging closer now she as well checked its breathing. The chest heaving slowly there were still signs of life if there was a human as she suspected. Ash calmed down addressed her.
"Thank you Marnie. You stopped me from making a grave error in maybe taking a life. This deserves a reward on its own even if this is not my assailant. But do understand if this is the one faith has smiled upon you this day. But I request you be a little more patient my dear."
"It is my eternal duty my lord. And I can wait since I already know what I desire."
A tiny smile on her face the motion became even more natural. Ash seeing his slave's attempt at smiling looked down at what her and he captured. Finally he'd get some answers and figure out how Lysandre is tied into all this after hearing from Marnie one of his top men was present close to the drone.
"Let's get this thing to Clemont. I was going to dissect it but I'll leave that to him. He'll know what to do with it."
Two in one day? Don't get used to it.
Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. I know I said I'd update this one more often but things just got in the way and I felt more if a flow with my other story then this one. This is why I never do commissions or a lot of requests cause it feels like years till I complete one and I hate people waiting.
Can't seem to get a constant timetable for writing. Am I worrying too much?
Later.