Usurping

by walkswithwheels

"And yet… The woman had to try anyway. For the sake of herself, those who had thrown their cause behind her, and the world that stretched out before her." AU, part of Traveler series, longfic. Sequel to Holly Rising.

4. Paradox

Welcome back to the next chapter of Usurping! I have a bit of a break from my classes and this comes after a vacation out of state, so it's the perfect time for me to finish up a chapter! This chapter is a bit longer (10,000 words without author's notes), but as always the reason will be explained in the author's notes at the end of this chapter. As always, I do not own Pokémon and see the author's notes at the end of the chapter for details.

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3. Paradox

The main area of the Pokémon Center was only a short trip down the hallway.

Even in this form, and despite the problems that I had with my nightmares, there were no issues.

A large room greeted me as I walked into it. Sunlight blazed through so many of the room's windows I wondered if I would need sunglasses. Thankfully I didn't, as there were curtains to block it out partially. My feet now trotted along a tan colored floor, and I could see the tiles slowly becoming different colors in the center in the room. Some of the tiles near the top of the room were red, while some closer to the bottom were white. Tan colored tiles formed the shape of a circle, situated neatly in between the whites and the red. The tiles created the shape of a Poké Ball. Fitting, considering what this place was.

But there were other features as well. An orange-red color lined the walls, with something resembling pink pillars. There was a front desk matching the walls, where a nurse could be seen with her Pokémon. My eyes immediately darted to something behind the two. I couldn't see it completely, but I was able to make out a dark yellow machine with circular holes in the center.

My gaze lingered on the machine as I recognized it instantly.

Almost all Trainers did, and those who didn't learned quickly…

It was a machine that provided free and rapid healing, at least for more minor injuries.

The severe ones ended up at the medical ward in the very back, symbolized by the white double doors and the red cross in the center. The latter was eerily unlit.

Considering no one was panicking or acting worried, I assumed there weren't any Pokémon or Trainers back there.

But I wondered how many there would be by the end of the day.

I wondered how many there had been in the past.

I wondered how many Trainers almost had pay a ransom to see their Pokémon healed.

Except I already knew the answer to that wondering.

The answer being, almost none.

Because healing was free for almost all Trainers, with the League and the public paying for everything.

Some places were stricter, making journeying Trainers pay at least part of severe treatments.

Others made adult journeying Trainers pay for everything themselves, even though the fact that they could receive seemingly free healthcare for their Pokémon was one of the few times their age was not a disadvantage and they were entitled to something.

But I hadn't seen anyone force and adult trainer to pay in a long time, and those situations were few and far between.

And I knew all that was so that young Trainers, Trainers in crises, and all the Trainers trying to relive their youthful days or experience some for the first time would not bankrupt themselves.

The system was in place for very good reasons, but it just made me sick.

Just because the system was in place for Trainers did not mean they understood how to use it properly.

Instead, many Trainers abused that system, seeing it as an excuse to recklessly train their Pokémon far more than they should.

Some of those Trainers were caught and punished, that many went undetected or ignored.

It was a problem that no one seemed too keen to fix.

Or perhaps the problem couldn't be fixed, considering the world revolved around Trainers, especially young ones.

Regardless, the only small comfort I had from this was that due to the way my Pokémon functioned, I didn't have to utilize the system much.

But I had heard about Pokémon Centers making people feel better as soon as they stepped in the door, yet all I could do was cringe.

And I knew it wasn't just because I disagreed with payment systems.

No matter the hospital, no matter the location, no matter the patients…

All medical facilities brought back the same memories…

Memories of my life being in the hands of doctors and nurses countless times…

Memories of being handed seemingly endless treatments, only for them to only work temporarily, not work at all, or make things worse…

Memories of people not knowing what was wrong with me, and sending me home despite the fact that there clearly was issues…

Memories of people accusing me of being a hypochondriac, even from within my own family…

Memories that left me anxious about my health to this day…

Of course, those incidents had not happened in many years and never could again…

But the memories still stung as though it had all happened recently…

And glancing at the white doors would only make my feelings worse.

So I chose to focus on other parts of the Pokémon Center.

There were healthy and vibrant green plants, as well as clean tables where Trainers could sit and eat. I could see a lounge area near the direction I came from, including furniture like blue long couches and dark red giant soft chairs. Pokémon dashed around to and fro trying to please the guests. I didn't pay too much attention to them though.

I just had to do what I needed to do, and then leave here.

But it didn't stop something else from catching my attention.

Or rather, I caught the attention of something else.

For as I walked up towards the front desk, I was aware of the Center suddenly growing quiet as several pairs of eyes were on me.

It didn't take me long to look back and realize every Trainer in the Pokémon Center was now staring at me.

I couldn't take note of what they all looked like, but I did make note of the gazes in their eyes.

Some were brimming with curiosity.

Others danced with confusion.

Still others appeared mortified, and I thought I made out gazes of pity.

There was a few that I thought would've sneered if the people if the Pokémon Center wouldn't have otherwise noticed, and a few more looked like they were going to start taunting me.

I knew all this wasn't because I was a celebrity, or because I was often followed by a plethora of Pokémon considered gods…

If it was the former, people would've been running up to me for autographs by now, and the latter was unlikely to happen currently.

The Trainers was staring at me because of what I didn't have, what I was unable to do.

My disability, and the walker that broadcasted it to the world.

As impolite as staring at me was, I couldn't blame the other Trainers.

This is probably the first time many of them had seen a physically disabled person at all, let alone the person being me.

Aside from those that knew the more personal side of me, most people probably didn't even realize I had a walker. I used my fused form for public appearances in the regions, and in that form, it looked like there was nothing wrong aside from a limp.

But even people that weren't Trainers were taken off guard by my condition, so I'd long since grown used to the stares.

But it seemed like even the Pokémon Center nurse wasn't used to them.

She looked like she was about to chastise the Trainers, so I halted in my tracks.

The nurse's gaze changed from scolding to bewilderment as I turned my head.

With that, I swept my own gaze around the room, making sure there was almost nothing I missed.

I showed no anger, sadness, hostility, or even frustration.

Instead, I made sure there was only warmth, friendliness, and politeness as I glanced around.

My face broke into a kindly and genuine smile, and I let it show effortlessly.

It almost looked like an ear to ear grin, despite everything that happened to me before I came out of the room.

I would have greeted all the Trainers, but it would have been impossible to know who it was talking to.

So instead as I glanced around, I gave a polite nod.

Considering I was already looking at them all, the Trainers would know what I was saying.

After all, being polite was much easier than yelling at people when I was used to years of inevitable staring.

If I could educate people, I would.

It would be a better experience than intimidating them.

But I may as well have done the latter.

For almost all the Trainers shrunk back, their eyes wide. Even the nurse at the counter wore the same expression

I couldn't tell if it was surprise, confusion, shame, or fear, but I quickly decided it didn't matter.

All of that was to be expected, considering it happened so often.

Perhaps I could be my own Halloween costume, considering people found me so scary.

But none of that mattered now.

Considering I still had to speak to the nurse at the front, I had to be anything but scary.

I finally stood at the front desk, pleasant smile still on my face.

The pleasant smile carried into my tone of voice as I spoke.

"May I please have one of the Pokémon Centers meals at the tables?"

Surprise still shown in the nurse's eyes, and I rapidly noted that she probably didn't expect me to be polite.

However, she recovered just as rapidly and responded.

"Of course. Breakfast menu, I assume?"

I nodded again.

"Yes, please."

With that, the nurse disappeared briefly and came back holding some slips of paper.

As she handed them to me, she explained.

"You can sit anywhere. Someone will be here to take your orders shortly."

I wasted no time replying.

"Thank you."

I resisted the urge to let out a sigh of relief. I was grateful Pokémon Centers acted like hotels for Trainers. I had needed a decent meal, as my stomach had been quick to remind me.

Luckily, my body also did not take the chance to remind me that I had also needed a decent sleep and probably failed to get one thanks to the nightmare. Hopefully it wouldn't try to. I still had a full day ahead of me.

Regardless, I turned to the right and headed for the first table I saw.

The red and white chair had no handles, but I could work with that.

With that, I stopped at the right of the chair, and my right hand shot out. I seized hold of the chair's back and pulled it out from the table. Once it was a short distance away, I let go and parked my walker close to the table. I grabbed the table, side stepping out of my walker and into the chair. After that, I used the table to drag the chair back in.

I glance around again, noting that the other Trainers all back to their usual hustle and bustle. However, my gaze rapidly fell on a chair to my right. It was identical to the one I was sitting in and was neatly tucked into the table.

Perfect for another occupant.

A question formed in my head, and although almost no one no one in the Center could hear it, my voice followed.

Would you like to have a meal with me?

Gabriel instantly knew that the question was directed to him, and responded.

Of course.

There was a slight pause, and I could immediately tell why as he continued.

"You'd like me to use the chair over there, I assume? It's easiest for the nurses, and a Trainer eating with their Pokémon isn't abnormal here."

I nodded.

"Please. I've attracted enough attention already, and having you floating in the air would probably make that worse."

With that, Gabriel appeared out of the shadows and floated over to the empty chair. More shadows erupted from his body, taking the form of pitch black claws.

The aptly named move Shadow Claw, I knew.

One of Gabriel's favorites, because not only was it powerful, it was the closest thing he had to a human hand.

Which was exactly what he utilized it for as the claw grabbed the back of the chair. The claw pulled the chair out before disappearing. Gabriel floated slightly above the seat before lowering himself onto it. Light blue psychic power radiated from both him and the chair as the object moved by itself until was under the table.

Gabriel gazed over the table, eyes curious and warm. However, he was only met by more stares. The Trainers had mostly stopped what they were doing, many with eyes wide. I could see fear and confusion in many of the Trainers' gazes. Some were burning with rage, and others looked like they were about to start mocking Gabriel and me. Still others looked like they were about to laugh or sneer, though they were mercifully silent.

All of the reactions were not unexpected.

Most people didn't even see the god of death, let alone witness the aforementioned Pokémon sit down at a table to eat like a human did!

Of course they wouldn't know how to react!

Yet Gabriel remained unfazed, perhaps even more used to this than I was.

His eyes shone with friendliness, and his countenance turned into a smile.

I copied the gesture, and a tone just as friendly entered my voice.

"Want to say hello to Gabriel? I promise he's friendly!"

Sincerity filled my voice and Gabriel nodded at the Trainers.

Just as before, politeness would get me further than condemnation ever would.

As well as educating other Trainers, of course.

Yet the gazes of the Trainers never changed, some even shrinking back. Confusion and fear were even more noticeable now, including in the eyes of some of the Trainers that had shown it before.

Even though I kept my smile, I resisted the urge to groan.

On top of dealing with a foreign Pokémon in a situation most of the Trainers had never seen, they probably thought that they were dealing with a crazy person!

Perhaps my attempt had backfired!

Suddenly, a shrill tone pierced the air.

"What are you all doing? Haven't you ever seen a Trainer share a meal with their Pokémon before?"

I rapidly registered the sound coming from the front desk, and the nurse was now glaring daggers at the Trainers.

The Trainers' eyes went wide again, and some of them looked like they were about to vomit or fall over.

Regardless, it wasn't long before they scurried back to their places before, heads hanging low in shame.

I couldn't blame them, and despite everything, I couldn't help feeling a stab of pity.

No one wanted to be on the bad side of the Pokémon Center nurse, and to have that happen was one of any Trainers' worst nightmares!

On top of their required exceptional healing skills, Pokémon Center nurses could be some of the most feared battlers in all regions. And becoming a high-ranking Pokémon nurse meant that they had access to every other authority in the regions, so if the nurses didn't know how to stop the problem, they could instantly ask someone that could.

If there was one type of person that commanded the attention of almost every Pokémon Trainer, it was Pokémon Center nurses.

No matter what, the other Trainers understood that well enough.

As did I when the nurse spoke to me.

"Sorry about that. Pokémon Trainers are children, sometimes literally. At times, they need a good scolding."

I rapidly replied.

"I understand, and I agree."

Gabriel's voice could be heard immediately after that.

"As do I. Thank you, nurse."

Confusion was clearly evident on the nurse's face despite her trying not to let it show.

"I don't think we've ever had a Giratina in this Pokémon Center. Pardon me, but I can't understand what he was saying before. Do you know what he was talking about?"

I nodded again.

"He was saying he agrees with you, and he says thank you."

The nurse smiled warmly at Gabriel.

"Well, thank you, and welcome!"

Gabriel simply nodded as the nurse turned back around.

I was rapidly alerted to a growling noise and tried not to look sheepish.

In all of the commotion, I had almost forgotten what I came here for!

With that I glanced down at the menu in front of me and Gabriel did the same with another I passed out to him.

I wasn't worried that he was ordering off of the human menu. After all, Pokémon could eat human food just as easily as humans themselves could, getting adequate nutrition, and without any issues. Some even claimed human food made Pokémon stronger, but I wasn't sure how true that was. There was food made specifically for Pokémon, but I couldn't tell how much anyone used it. After all, some Trainers thought that if Pokémon were more similar to humans than mindless animals, why would people feed them the same dried food day after day? Of course, I hadn't heard of any Pokémon food stores going out of business, so not all people believed that and the Pokémon ate the food made for them just fine.

Since most of my Pokémon fed off of my life energy, I couldn't comment on the situation. When they did eat, they ate human food, but only because I wasn't one for carrying around giant sacks of dried food everywhere. Plus, with my understanding of Pokémon being at the same level of understanding most humans, eating human food only seemed natural.

But I couldn't think about that as I studied the menu.

It resembled what I could get that breakfast cafés, which was refreshing since I hadn't been to one of those in a while.

Yet at the same time I tried not to let frustration show on my face as it boiled inside me.

Frustration mixed in with the bitter tang of homesickness.

What I wouldn't give for a muffin or sweet roll, even though there were none on the menu!

I liked my breakfast small, and the acid reflux within my stomach made sure that would always be the case.

Something like a muffin or a sweet roll could satisfy that requirement easily.

Unfortunately, I couldn't afford that here.

Not when I was traveling in a foreign place with a full day ahead of me.

And even then, I could still have a taste of home.

Such as the item my eyes fell on first.

It was only chocolate chip pancakes with hard-boiled eggs and sausage.

But to me it represented some of my favorite breakfast food.

The chocolate chip pancakes, tasting like a cookie for breakfast as they were dribbled with syrup and whipped cream…

The eggs, something I only really liked if they were prepared in certain ways, but this was one of the ways I liked them the most…

And then there were sausages, one of the many ways I could satisfy my love for meat…

But then, I could do all those things at home, and had…

And when I was away, no matter how homesick I was, I always tried to get something I couldn't at home…

Seeing as I wasn't at home, it would be a good time to move away from those foods now, no matter how tempting they looked…

Of course, that I had to figure out what else I liked…

Even though I ate almost anything, the fact that I didn't really eat breakfast that much often meant finding a suitable meal at that time of day was a bit of a challenge…

Just like the muffins, I longed for the sweetness of fruit and yogurt. Often together, in a parfait.

But it didn't seem like I could get that alone at the Pokémon Center.

I almost wished they served Belgian waffles, as I could go for something even sweeter than that…

But I knew it was really just the stress of what happened taking its toll on me.

I tended to like sweets even more when I was irritated, and there was so much sweetness in the Belgian waffle I could easily go on a sugar high.

And of course, the crash that went with it.

That was something I would rather not have happen, considering there were still things I wanted to do today.

But then, what would I have?

I thought fish would be delicious for breakfast, and I could certainly have that at any time of day.

But those who made the Pokémon Center menu didn't agree with me, as there was no fish on there…

After what seemed like hours I finally spotted something.

It was a dish with a wide variety of food, including all the meats, vegetables, eggs, toast, and potatoes that I liked. It even had garlic, a seasoning I enjoyed often. The garlic could've been and was something I had gotten at home, but it still gave me the taste I wanted.

Smiling in satisfaction as I put the menu down, I glanced over to Gabriel.

"Are you ready to order? I am."

Gabriel replied rapidly.

"I am as well."

His reply was not a moment too soon, as another person walked up to the table.

Or rather, a Pokémon.

This Pokémon was bright pink with white on its lower half. It had short arms that had pink on the bottom and white at the top. There were appendages on the top of the arms that resembled wings, and similar appendages resembled a skirt. Short pink feet carried the creature, and a pink pouch held a huge white egg. It had rounded pink ears, with a set of black eyes and a black mouth. The mouth turned into a smile as he looked up at me.

I knew that Pokémon's name like I knew my own, and as suspected a bunch of other Trainers did too.

Blissey, a signature Pokémon of many nurses and in many healthcare settings. And for good reason, because no matter where these exclusively female Pokémon worked, they were natural born healers and exceptional in healthcare. They had garnered a great deal of respect, to the point where the strongest battlers used them to protect weaker Pokémon and create formidable teams.

But this Blissey wasn't battling or healing now.

Instead, she held a clipboard and a pencil in her hand.

She cheerfully exclaimed.

"Hello, and welcome to the Pokémon Center! I see you two are ordering breakfast, so may I take your order?"

I nodded.

"Of course. I would like a skillet, please. And some soy milk to drink."

The confusion on the Blissey's face was impossible to miss.

"Soy milk? We don't usually see Trainers ordering that, so I will have to check and see if we have it. Is there anything else you would like to we don't?"

I immediately answered.

"Just water is fine."

The confusion still didn't leave the Blissey's face as she spoke again.

"Are you sure about the skillet? Most traveling Trainers we see don't touch that…"

I nodded.

"Yes, I'm sure. It has a lot of foods I like."

The confusion finally left the Blissey's face as she scribbled down what I had said.

Her smile from before returned as she turned towards Gabriel.

"And you?"

Gabriel responded just as rapidly.

"I'd like an omelet with as many things in this possible, including lots of vegetables and meat. And some oatmeal to go with it. And a glass of orange juice alongside a cup of coffee."

The nurse rapidly wrote down Gabriel's order, but I resisted the urge to give him a strange look.

"The omelet, coffee, and orange juice I understand, Gabriel, but oatmeal? You usually don't like sweet foods…"

Gabriel wasted no time replying.

"I don't mind a change of pace once in a while. And oatmeal is not too sweet."

"Fair enough." I responded.

I was drawn back to the Blissey as she spoke again in her cheerful tone.

"All right! I've got your orders all written down, and I will let the staff know right away!"

No sooner had she come than did the Blissey disappear as she hurried back towards another area of the Center.

But it didn't stop me from noticing something as she left.

Often times, Pokémon Center staff Pokémon were trained to understand human speech, but that didn't mean people understood them.

I expected psychic power to orbit around the Blissey so that the words could be translated, or perhaps there could be some sort of equivalent.

But there wasn't any sort of translation, psychic power or otherwise.

The nurses probably knew who they were dealing with, even though no one had said who I was.

After all, my ability to understand Pokémon speech was fairly well known to all who recognized me, and those who didn't know found out quickly.

But my food preferences were less known.

Such as the fact that my stomach issues with my acid reflux made it so I couldn't digest regular milk.

Soy milk went down just fine, but sometimes I had trouble finding it.

And then there was the awkwardness of ordering it when most places didn't serve it often.

But at least these places were polite about it.

Just like when it came to my preferences for more exotic food.

A skillet was hardly exotic, but I could see why the nurse had been confused.

Most Trainers were a lot younger than me, and they probably preferred sweeter and simpler foods.

So the nurses were most likely used to that.

It wasn't like my love of exotic foods or the fact that I would eat almost anything was common knowledge, aside from those who knew me personally.

Gabriel's favorite foods weren't well known either, even if my relationship with him was at least better known.

He loved sour foods, but it was difficult getting anything sour for breakfast. So I suppose that some acidic orange juice and a bunch of salty meat was the closest he could get. Unlike me, he enjoyed the bitter taste of coffee in the morning, so I wasn't surprised he had ordered it. Even though the oatmeal did surprise me, it made sense he wanted to change things up once in a while.

Regardless, there wasn't much we could do but wait.

I said back in the chair, letting my body relax a bit. If I was going to wait, I may as well get comfortable. I debated pulling out on my smartphone and browsing the morning news. Sometimes, there wasn't a lot that interested me, but it would at least give me something to do. I could probably read a book or something if I wanted as well. And Pokémon Centers had a good enough Internet connection that I could use my smartphone without many issues.

There was yet another silent command, as I was just about to summon my phone into my hand.

Yet no items appeared, because another sensation slammed into me instead.

I recoiled, flinching in the chair.

Yet every movement was soon stopped, and it wasn't something I had done.

For I felt the sensation wash over me, like a wave threatening to drown the world.

I could find no words to describe the sensation, only that my body was no longer mine.

It felt like a hand had grabbed me, lifting something from my body.

And although this hand felt like it was guiding and gentle, I could also feel a commanding presence that overpowered even my abilities.

Because it was taking something from my body.

My soul.

And with that…

The hand was changing me.

Transforming me.

Attaching another name to me.

Astral projection, people called it.

Out of body experience was another name.

Spectral form was something else I had heard spoken.

Illusionary abilities were pointed out as well.

But to me it meant something else.

Something that I couldn't explain to most people, and when I could hardly anyone understood me.

A connection few ever heard of and even fewer had seen.

A message from someone stronger and of a higher power than anything else I could ever encounter in my life, including on any of my journeys.

Perhaps it was the same for everyone.

It was definitely the truth for Gabriel, and he was one of the few that knew what was going on.

One of the few I could explain this to.

Because it was at that point I remembered I still had a voice.

The sensation that not completely enveloped me.

The hand had not taken control yet.

I had not transformed entirely.

Which meant I could still let him know what had begun to happen, if he didn't guess already.

It wasn't like I could see him, my vision already blurring into a mess of colors.

I couldn't move the rest of my body either, and there was no fighting to try.

So it wasn't like I could look at him or indicate anything.

I would probably just look like I was talking to no one, and yet I had to try.

I opened my mouth, noting my voice was already becoming distant.

"Gabriel, I think I'm…"

It was as far as I got before my sentence was cut off against my will, and the Pokémon Center disappeared.

All I could see was blackness in front of me, alone with my own thoughts and silence.

No what names people gave this state, I only had one.

A vision.

I think I'm having a vision.

The above thought being what I'd tried to communicate to Gabriel, but it was too late to finish.

Ironically, I was free to complete my thought here, but there was no one to voice it to.

I suppose I should've been grateful. Most of the time I didn't get the chance speak at all.

Gabriel had known me for so long he would probably understand regardless.

But the others back at the Center might think it was something else.

Perhaps that I was a daydreamer.

Or that I had had an absence seizure.

The latter assumption eerily made sense.

For in ancient times long past, it was believed those with seizures were communicating with the gods.

Now it was shown not to be the case, with the seizures long since being properly classified as a medical condition.

Yet one could call what was happening to me almost a relic of the ancient times.

For even though I looked like I was having a seizure, I truly was communicating with gods.

Or rather, communicating with a god.

No, communicating with a goddess.

The Lady Arceus, to be exact.

Visions were one of the few ways She could get into contact with me as Her Archangel.

But even then, communication wasn't perfect and the message was often garbled on its way.

Considering mortals weren't even supposed to have or properly utilize Arceus's power and knowledge, I was grateful I could get anything at all.

Besides, the visions had been more helpful than harmful over the years, even saving lives.

So I simply accepted all as it was.

But that didn't make it any less annoying that the visions came involuntarily and usually when I was trying to do something else.

At least my body was protected while I was here, so that it was impossible for anyone to have their way with me.

But then there was one question.

Where exactly here was.

There was only blackness and silence ahead of me, and it didn't seem to be letting up.

Another wave of something washed over me, and this time I knew it was unrelated to the sensations before.

Confusion.

Why was my vision like this?

What was the purpose of sending me here?

My visions weren't usually like this.

Yet there was no one to talk to.

No one to answer my questions.

No one to alert to my plight.

I wanted to open my mouth to try and ask anyway, but I found myself unable to move.

Typical of my visions.

My purpose was not to act, but to watch, and the Lady Arceus didn't want anything getting in the way of that.

Besides, the thought of talking was quickly banished from my head.

Because there was something that ended the silence.

A sound so faint I wasn't even sure I heard anything.

But then I realized that I had, because the sound crescendoed.

Something I recognized instantly.

The sound of someone running.

But it wasn't a person running.

Because there was nothing pounding against the surface, nothing slamming against a floor, no sound of shoes meeting the ground repeatedly.

Instead this sound was softer.

Quieter.

Lighter.

Gentler.

But also faster.

As if there were more legs on the ground.

I could think of one thing.

Pawsteps.

But why would something be running around here?

And what did it mean that I was hearing it?

All of a sudden another sound pierced the silence.

If my eyes could've gone wide, they would have.

For it was something I recognized like my own name.

A canine's bark.

Yet although I recognized the sound, it wasn't any type of bark I heard before.

It was stronger, shriller, than anything I'd ever heard.

A tone of urgency, perhaps.

But also more intense, authoritative.

Commanding.

Almost like a roar.

But why would a canine be ordering anyone around?

What type of canine made that sound, and what was the meaning of it?

And why was a canine running?

Why did I need to hear it?

Perhaps I would get my answers as the blackness dissipated.

But there was nothing.

Instead I was thrown into anything but blackness.

I was momentarily blinded and wished I could squint from harsh warm light.

Yet this was no light from a Pokémon Center.

Instead, there was sunlight streaming down a grassy green field.

I couldn't see where it was, but I could see something else.

Or rather, part of something else.

For there were two shadows across from each other, and the sun's light did not dispel them.

Shadows, just like the ones Gabriel used, and what I had grown so accustomed to.

Unfortunately, I couldn't make any features, so it was impossible to make out what they looked like or put a name to a face.

But why would shadows be in the middle of a sunny field? I didn't see myself or Gabriel anywhere, so there was a chance it wasn't anything I summoned…

But then, one of the shadows started moving towards the other, looming closer and closer as the other shadow tried to move away.

And that was when the shadows morphed into a different form.

One that sent chills running down my spine.

For although I could not see specifics, I could tell what the shadows were.

The shadows had morphed into people, the change bringing their actions to life in my vision.

Even though the shadows were still featureless, I could make out that one of them was standing tall in the grass. Another was lying defenseless on the ground, twitching feebly as it tried to escape from the other. But the attempts were futile, as the other advanced nearer and nearer. The other shadow almost hovered over the prone one, but then blackness consumed them both.

Darkness enveloped me once again, but silence did not follow.

Instead, a noise pierced the air.

A distinct clicking sound, quiet but clear.

And to me, deafening.

The noise was one I hadn't heard much, but something I instantly understood.

Handcuffs.

I had just witnessed someone being arrested with handcuffs.

Which meant that the other shadow must've been a police officer, or some other type of law enforcement.

But then…

I had witnessed so much more.

I had witnessed someone's freedom being taken away, possibly to never get back it again…

I had witnessed a law enforcement officer exert their authority and arrest someone helpless…

Possibly even a child, if the difference in height went further than simply standing and lying down…

I had witnessed what could've been a beginning of a court battle for the officer, and possibly a path to a retaliation for the victim…

I had witnessed possible corruption being played out on either side, and the setup for the consequences that could bring…

And I had witnessed someone's reputation, possibly even someone's life, destroyed forever…

Something that left me questioning why.

Why was I being shown this?

Why was this even happening?

Why was it important that I know about it?

Trying to guess the answers those questions threatened to make me start shaking, if I could.

A wave of pity washed over me.

I knew no matter what, the lives of the two people I'd seen would never be the same.

For the better or the worse, and there may have been nothing I could do.

After all just because I saw a vision didn't mean I could act on it.

Sometimes, I saw into the past when it was far too late for me to do anything, and all I could do was use the knowledge to prevent something similar in the future.

And that wasn't even taking into account when I outright failed to save someone despite seeing disaster.

Either situation could shake me to the core, no matter how used to it I was.

But even then, I couldn't stop another emotion from blazing inside of me.

Anger.

There was a chance I had just seen an abuse of power, by either or both sides.

And no matter who they were…

No matter what power they had in the world…

No matter the reasons…

I would not tolerate abusers!

I would destroy them by any means necessary, and make sure they never hurt anyone again!

I would not tolerate them since…

Never since…

No, thinking about that wasn't appropriate.

And there was a chance I hadn't seen an abuse of power.

Corruption can and did happen, sadly, with abuses of power from both Trainers and authorities.

But that was far from the only reason this could happen.

Fallen Trainers were just as common, the countless graves and funerals telling the world of their fates. But then there were those that survived, but may as well have died. For they were honest Trainers turned to a life of crime, or even lashing out against the world in enraged desperation. In some cases, they could be stopped before they could do any damage, but some left their mark on the world by making others suffer.

So perhaps what I had seen was not corruption, but heroism.

Perhaps the officer was arresting a Trainer before they fell, possibly ensuring the other would have at least somewhat of a normal life.

If they arrest wasn't happening because the Trainer had already fallen.

But perhaps nothing that drastic was happening.

Perhaps it was just a Trainer taking risks, and paying the price.

A terrifying experience to be sure, but it could easily save the person from doing something worse.

And perhaps it wasn't anything drastic at all, but just a measure to keep the two of them safe while the situation was resolved some other way.

But I had a feeling neither was the case.

My visions rarely ever showed me anything that wasn't drastic.

Such as what was depicted when the scenery suddenly changed.

For it was greeted by what looked like chairs inside of the building. Normally nothing out of the ordinary, but the formation of the chairs filled me with unease. The chairs sat quietly in two long rows. They were almost boxed in by a back wall, and there were other closed off areas nearly everywhere else. The chairs did seem to be at a higher height, and there was a place where someone could reasonably look over walls and glance towards the front of the building. So whatever was supposed to be here wasn't meant to be completely closed off.

But before I could further observe what I saw, the vision whisked me away to another place.

This place was towards the front of the building, with an area that someone could sit at. It had a seat, just like the other place, but instead of being closed off and in rows, there was only enough for one person, and it was clear that person could see everything. But that didn't allow me to see any more details until I was warped away again.

Something similar to the last place rushed into focus. I realized I hadn't gone very far at all, as the new area was so close to the last one that I could still see it in the corner of my eye. Like its predecessor, the new place resembled a desk. Or perhaps a box or low podium. Whatever it was, it was clear someone is meant to be in the area for a while, and perhaps obtain information. With the low height, a person could effortlessly and rapidly view the entire room. And with a lot of space between it and the other place, there would almost certainly be no trouble getting to it.

Except even if a person was supposed to be there for a long time, the object didn't seem like it was set up that way.

Because there was no chair or any means to make a person comfortable at the place, even if it resembled a desk.

That is, until my eyes fell on something else.

It was again on the edge of my vision, despite being in between the new area and the old one.

There was a large chair, exactly what I'd been looking for, yet it was nowhere near the desk-like object.

Why wouldn't it be?

I studied the area a bit more, realizing that the chair was so huge it would take up most of the small space under the desk. So I supposed it would make sense that the chair wouldn't be there.

But I had no time to dwell on that thought as the vision changed again.

Now I noticed I was seeing another object.

Or rather, objects.

For I had been transported to the back of the room, and I could make out many benches. They weren't very open, instead having long handles in front of them that someone could easily grab onto. If I sidestepped across, I could probably make it easily into an open area that I briefly noticed was nearby.

An area that I would see more of.

The building rapidly zoomed out a speed so dizzying that I was surprised I didn't get a headache. Perhaps my current state would not let me, but I did not have time to be grateful for long. For an imposing, completely dark brown colored room loomed before me. And I could finally view all of the objects in their proper places. As I suspected, the desk and the podium were in the front, with the benches and the box in the back.

But that didn't stop confusion from washing over me.

What was the point of zooming out? Nothing had changed…

Until…

The shadows appeared again.

And they morphed again, into faceless, featureless, people. All of them sitting on the benches and staring blankly at the front.

All of them, except for one.

There were two people who were seated at the front. One was at the regular desk with the chair I had seen before. The other was at the podium, standing tall. The shadow person that was seated did not appear to be really focusing on anyone. But the second shadow at the front stared back at the others, focusing as much on them as they did on it.

If the shadow had a face, it would probably be a burning intensity that no one else displayed.

Or perhaps no one could display.

But even then there was still the matter of where I was.

It reminded me of a church, with the benches most of the shadows were in resembling seats in one. And perhaps the remaining shadows in front could be preaching something, even though I found it odd that one of them was sitting down.

But then…

There were too many desks, and the building appeared too drab too be a church…

There weren't any paintings or scriptures anywhere, even though the room had zoomed out. I had not even seen a single picture. The shadows did not appear to be chanting or singing some hymn, and none of them were moving in that way. All they did was remain in their places, with most staring at each other.

But considering what happened before, what I had seen with the other shadows…

Everything finally all made sense as my mind pieced it together.

A realization hurtled towards me as I just stood helplessly.

And I knew it wasn't because I was having a vision.

A prickle of dread stabbed me and chills rushed down my spine.

Because the place I had seen was not a church.

It couldn't be.

This building wasn't something I had much knowledge of or had even seen much, but I understood enough to know what it was.

This might have looked like a church, but Lady Arceus had no presence here, and there were none of Her mortal messengers.

Instead, I recognized this building as the place where those in the living world deliberated on what to do with the wicked, or how to help the innocent.

I could call it humanity's judgment halls, but there was a shorter, more common, name.

One that almost everyone knew.

Courthouse.

I had been seeing the parts of a courthouse.

But why on earth would I need to see that?

I wasn't someone who could be consulted for legal matters, and I spent my time avoiding issues with the law!

What in the world had I done to end up here?

Then again, perhaps I didn't do anything wrong.

Perhaps I was going against someone who was arrested previously or I was just someone who got caught up in the person's antics.

Or maybe the police officer really was corrupt and I never knew.

Then again, there were those that would and could flip the law around and use it for their own ends.

And the vision didn't detail that not happening.

So I could've been going up against one of the people that I thought was in the benches.

Which meant that maybe the one I thought was being arrested was not the aggressor but one of the victims, and the real perpetrator was someone else.

Perhaps the aggressor was me.

It wouldn't be the first time someone thought of me as such.

But then…

I had worked so hard to be an honest Trainer and person…

Even when the expected option was to commit a crime…

Even when the world was in chaos all around me…

So what required me to abandon those ways?

Why was I willing to throw my honest reputation and deeds away?

Was the vision an ominous omen of that happening?

Would I receive my answer in the future?

And if I truly had decided to change my ways and break the law…

Would I ever be the person I was now again?

I did not receive an answer as the part of the vision melted away, and I was thrust into darkness again.

I wondered if the vision ended there, but something flashed in front of me.

It was brief, but I could tell what it was.

A person.

I could briefly catch long blonde hair and green eyes, but I couldn't really focus on much else before the vision faded as quickly as it had come.

If I could've, I would've cringed and shook my head.

If only the vision had remained longer, so I could see clothing, a facial expression, anything!

But there was nothing, so there was no telling who the person might've been.

I had met many people in my journeys, and so this person could've been anyone.

I had no time to ponder, for another person flashed before me.

This one, brownish red hair with eyes that almost matched.

My own eyes would have gone wide, and if I could have, I might've screamed.

Surely this was Blue, my old mentor!

Why would he be involved in whatever was happening?

Whatever was going on was clearly grave!

He had already been on a journey, encountered difficulties, and even raised a family!

He didn't deserve to have anything chaotic happen to him!

Or even anything remotely stressful!

He deserved to just live a quiet life!

So why was he here, in the middle of all this doom and destruction?

What had happened to him?

And why did I possibly have to see a herald of what was going to happen to him?

Suddenly, the image of Blue disappeared.

Another image was in its place, and I thought I glad the vision kept me from vomiting.

For this image was even more familiar than the last.

Brown eyes and long black hair…

The hair was longer, but the resemblance was unmistakable.

There was a chance this was Red, a friend of Blue's and one of the strongest Trainers in the world!

And someone I admired beyond words, even though many stated I had surpassed both him and Blue!

Why did Red and Blue have to get mixed up in this?

Why couldn't they just live peacefully after their own journeys had ended?

Who would dare subject them to more trouble?

What happened, and what was going to?

But my questions were worthless as another picture replaced them.

There was someone female with long braided red hair and matching eyes.

But like before the image was so faded and passed so quickly that I couldn't connect it to anyone.

If I wasn't forced to be still, I would've scowled.

If my vision was going to make me see all these people, couldn't I at least get enough information to figure out who they were?

I immediately regretted thinking that thought, because the next person was so blurry and pixelated it resembled a TV screen losing connection and could rival the worst malfunctioning camera.

I thought I could make out the colors red and blue, but I couldn't really see what they belonged to.

Annoyance and confusion now combined with fear that raced through me like something cold as ice.

If my visions were this garbled, it was never good!

Either it was something very intense, or my body couldn't take it!

But my fears completely vanished as yet another person appeared in front of me.

Yet this one didn't flash or fade.

There was no distortion present.

Instead, it looked like that two of us were just standing across from each other.

With the way the vision presented everything, we may as well have been.

A young girl stood before me, probably about half my age. Her gray eyes brimmed with curiosity and vitality, and her long brown hair was well kept. The girl had on pink clothing with floral patterns, but I had a feeling there was more to her than femininity.

There had to be, if she was here.

But why was this person important?

She didn't look particularly impressive, and she just seemed like every other young girl I'd met on my journeys.

But clearly this girl was involved in something vital if my vision showed her to me.

I wished I could talk to her, but my current state prevented me from speaking.

Even if I could speak, it wouldn't have done much good.

A vision was just a vision. There was no way that the girl could answer back.

Regardless, it didn't stop frustration from filling my body.

I didn't recognize this girl at all.

I didn't even know her name.

Perhaps I shouldn't recognize her, if she was just someone ordinary.

Even with that, it seemed as if seeing the girl served its purpose.

Perhaps my vision would take me somewhere else or release from where I was.

Yet neither happened, and the girl stayed.

She continued staring at me, her curiosity now feeling like a silent question.

Almost as if she was waiting for me to do something.

Perhaps she was, or at least the vision was.

The girl's curiosity was no longer like a silent question, it was a silent question.

Do you remember?

My only response was to stare back at the person before me.

How could I remember?

Staring at this girl wasn't going to help me any, and I couldn't think of anything off the top of my head!

Yet…

There was a spark, something ignited in the back of my mind…

A shred of the memory, like a tiny flame, buried under all the other memories of my journeys…

Or perhaps another thing I wanted to forget.

Forced myself to repress.

But now, seeing this girl before me…

The memory threw itself to the forefront.

Consumed my mind.

Replaying like a silent movie, with me the unwitting audience.

Why would anyone want to be an audience to the images that were now in my head?

A mangled corpse lying in the grass with its throat cut…

A terrified spirit who didn't even realize what had happened and thus had not accepted death…

Having a conversation with that spirit as supernatural powers activated, and eventually allowing said spirit to depart peacefully to the afterlife…

And someone who, in life, didn't favor combat and thus, at first, was not the strongest…

But the person had become strong in a rapid amount of time, and could probably rival some of the best in the League…

But it was not enough, and that person died cruelly in an unfair matchup…

Destroyed by a person who was viewed as a friend… Perhaps at one point an ally…

But had turned out to be neither…

And within all those memories the person had a name.

Ivy.

From what I knew of her, Ivy had been one of the many Trainers who failed on journeys. But the fact that she had failed by being torn apart by a false friend made me sick to my stomach.

If it wasn't for the vision, perhaps I would've vomited.

Especially since that false friend had been Holly, the girl I'd seen in my nightmare.

How ironic that Holly should end Ivy's life the way she did, when Maria ended Holly's life in roughly the same way later on…

And unlike with Holly, I felt nothing but sympathy rushing forth.

For Ivy was an example of a life lost too young, and so senselessly…

But what was she doing here?

As soon as I thought of that question, another emotion struck me like an arrow.

One that I swore could've made me feel cold all over, to the point where I wondered if I would start shivering.

I knew the emotion by a single name.

Fear.

And I quickly realized why.

It was easy to know what happened to the Ivy in Maria's world.

But I had no idea what happened to the Ivy in my world.

Was she here because she was dead?

Was this a warning that I come too late?

Was she here because she was going to die, and like before, would I be helpless to stop it?

Was she already struggling on her journey and constantly losing in battle?

Was it something worse than just struggling with combat?

Had she failed already and had I just never known?

Had she even started on her journey yet?

Would she?

Was it possible?

Yet I still was left with more questions than answers as Ivy's form melted away.

I was thrust into a completely different place, and one that almost made me eyes go wide.

And not just because I recognized it instantly, but because of how I recognized it.

Because this couldn't have been a sharper contrast to the rest of the vision.

For there were no pictures in front of me.

No shadows.

No people.

No objects.

No wordless messages.

No flying around different areas.

Nothing appearing and disappearing.

Nothing moving towards me.

Just three simple, lonely, words.

Will you participate?

If it could have, my jaw would've dropped.

Not at the words, but at who was saying them.

It was a voice I hadn't heard in over a decade, yet I recognized it instantly.

The voice of the young Pokémon professor Julia Pine.

Someone who probably didn't remember me, but it was easy to remember her.

How could I forget when she helped me after I was jumped by rogues in Celedon's backstreets 12 years ago?

I had taken out the rogues on my own, but collapsed due to exertion. Professor Pine didn't stop me from slamming on my back into concrete… But her Absol Katarina's psychic powers stopped me from hitting it too hard, and particularly vulnerable areas. In the end, all I had was a bleeding flesh wound that could be healed easily. At least my visions briefly let me know she was coming, although I imagined she was terrified that my bloody nose released its usual ocean of blood.

But even then, there was more I could remember…

Such as the fact that she was a respected female Pokémon professor when it didn't seem high-ranking female Trainers were represented as much…

Or the last time I had seen her, it had been in the other world, during the prelude to the failed mission…

Professor Pine had been one of the Lady Arceus's chosen Angels, after losing her life bravely in battle…

And then she had appeared in that form to take me to Kanto's Hall of Fame, congratulating me for what had been able to do despite the fact I had failed…

That's clearly wasn't the case now, but I could only hope what happened before would not repeat…

I'd already acted as a messenger, with her as the recipient, so I doubted I could help anymore…

It wasn't the first time the Lady Arceus used me to speak with someone else, but I couldn't control what the other person did or if they could understand what was happening…

So I could only hope that the professor could decipher the message, and react to the warning in time…

By the time I reached her, if I reached her, it would probably already be too late…

Wouldn't it?

Perhaps it wouldn't be, if she was here.

Yet, the question she'd asked…

Participate in what?

And why and how?

Why was participating in anything a young professor did so important that it would show up here?

Was the participation question even directed towards me?

And if it was…

Why was I the one chosen?

And what did it mean for my future?

Suddenly, I was torn away from my thoughts as I could feel something else disappearing.

The feeling of being nowhere and everywhere, the feeling of watching something, and even the feeling of a hand being there plucking me from my body…

All of that dissipated within an instant.

And now there was a new feeling of something hurtling towards me, as though I was falling.

I may as well have been, because I knew that was what was happening even though I could not see it.

I was falling back into my body, falling back into the mortal world.

And all I could do was brace for impact.

---

Author's notes:

-Like most of the current chapters in Usurping, this chapter was originally going to be a little longer. However, the last event that would've been in the chapter didn't really fit with this one, so I chose to split things up.

The name of the title refers to the game Final Fantasy 13-2, and a song within it. It's used several different times throughout the game, but there's a particular event is often associated with. The song mostly plays when main character Serah often has visions of either the future or the past, and these visions happen often. It's later revealed by another character, Noel, that these visions are showing things that happened in different timelines and the paradoxes that resulted. If left alone, the paradoxes will destroy Serah's own world, and according to Noel, her own timeline already seems to be headed for destruction. Serah eventually finds out that the paradoxes are already problematic because they caused the disappearance of her sister, Lightning. Serah wanting to find Lightning is what kicks off the game, and she decides to correct the timeline along with it. Serah then goes on a journey to get rid of the time paradoxes in order to save her own timeline from being destroyed, guided by both Noel and her visions.

I picked this song as a title because of its ominous tone and association with visions. However, I also picked it because Kristine is connecting her vision to what she has seen in other timelines, and hoping to use the information to save her own.

-The line about Pokémon Centers making people feel better when they step in the door is a reference to Pokémon Black and White. Professor Juniper introduces the concept and asks the player that question. Since the player is a silent protagonist, they cannot answer. However, another traveling Trainer, Bianca acts joyfully and runs over to the shopping part of the Center.

-The Pokémon Center description is based off of a cross of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire and Pokémon X and Y. People staring at Kristine because of her disability and not being used to it as well as Kristine's reactions and internal thoughts are all from situations that have happened to me in real life (and continue to happen). Kristine's reasoning for being polite instead of annoyed is also the same as my reasoning in real life, so a lot of times I really do act with politeness and almost the same way she does in this story. The scenario is a bit different and expanded upon because I can't get rid of my walker and I'm thus required to use it for public appearances, but everything else is the same. Kristine stating that she is not being stared at for being a celebrity or having Pokémon gods following her is a reference to Holly Rising. In the prologue, people have a similar reaction to her walking into Pokémon Center, but since she's in her fused form at the time and doesn't leave it, it's because of those reasons.

-Blissey (or more commonly, its pre-evolved form Chansey) is canonically seen in most healthcare settings. Pokémon Centers are also canonically seen serving food, although the details are not known. Pokémon walking up and taking someone's order is seen at least once in the anime, although not very often. Pokémon seeming to have some understanding of humans as long as they're trained by Pokémon Center is also seen canonically, although it's still pretty rare.

The main inspiration for the food scene was a story called Error 404. In this story, the main character is in a foreign region and doesn't understand what's on the menu when he tries to order food at the Pokémon Center. A Chansey eventually comes up to take his and his traveling companion's orders, also helping him decipher the menu. I thought it made a lot of sense, and it was the first thing that popped up when I decided Kristine was going to eat breakfast at the Pokémon Center and order off a menu. So I included something similar there.

-Kristine disliking and being unnerved by hospital wards because of her medical history is real. All of the chaos that happened to her because of her medical history is also something from real life, and exactly as she describes. Kristine's dislike of Pokémon Centers offering free healthcare to Trainers because of the abuse, but also acknowledging it is well-intentioned and even necessary sometimes, comes from real life political arguments against systems that offer free healthcare. Canon Trainers do have problems abusing the system occasionally, but most are appropriately horrified and work to reform.

It's worth noting that in Holly Rising, it was stated that minor injuries, such as ones just had Pokémon being thrown on the healing machine and almost instantly getting better like in canon were treated for free (since the player doesn't have to pay canonically for that service). More severe injuries that ended up with a Pokémon extremely injured and in the hospital were ones that Trainers were at least partially responsible for paying for. This is seen on-screen with Holly Rising, when Maria (as Holly Rising's Kristine) is supposed to be forced to pay for supposedly injuring someone else's Pokémon. However, she correctly points out that it was the stupidity of her traveling companions that made the situation eventually leading to the injuries happen, and she was just trying to fix it and went overboard. While Maria does acknowledge she made that mistake and is partially responsible for what happened, she points out that responsibility is not hers alone. It was her companions that set up the problem in the first place and she just got dragged into it. She ends the argument by calling out her companions on evading their own responsibility, and refuses to let the group continue until they all take responsibility for paying for the treatment. Thus, her companions agreed, and they are all seen reluctantly paying together.

When I got to Usurping, I was thinking of using a similar system but then quickly realized that wouldn't work. The reason was that medical care is extremely expensive, even for a working and successful adult that has something like insurance as a backup. The treatment would be outright impossible for a child Trainer to pay for, or it would otherwise be forced upon the parents or guardians (if they could even pay it, and it would be unfair to them). Even an adult Trainer would have difficulties if they are doing nothing but traveling. And with Pokémon Centers being used so often and expected to be used, not going to one is not an option for most, and probably would if someone in legal trouble if they avoide

d the Center when the Pokémon needed help. So Usurping's system was used instead. However, I did not want to disregard Holly Rising's system entirely, so Kristine mentioned that as something Centers do but they don't do often. It would make sense if that system was there are still, because there are situations (like Maria's one above) where the Trainers can and should pay. Canonically, Trainers are not shown paying for any sort of treatment inside of a proper Pokémon Center, even if the injuries are severe. So a system where all healthcare was free for the most part as long as someone was an official Trainer was feasible.

-For those wondering, while Traveler has its own politics, real-world politics will not be seen much. This is both because the story is Pokémon and a lot of real-world politics don't translate well there, and real life political debates don't really have a place in this story. However, there are some areas where real life political topic vaguely overlap. The most notable is when Maria explains how guns work in the Traveler's world after Holly gets startled by someone using one about halfway through Holly Rising. Maria's explanation briefly takes points from real-world gun debates, but also examines what it would be like if these debates went a certain way, and how things could be tweaked to work with the Pokémon world. The references to real-world debates are subtle as a result, and it's mostly to explain why guns and other weapons are allowed without much resistance, but uncommon.

There are a few more minor examples, as well. A point that comes up in Daughter is the idea is the idea of parents taking away toys or things like cell phone from a misbehaving child and what that means. However, if someone tries to do that with a misbehaving child Trainer's Pokémon, it's considered theft no matter the reason (which one character finds out the hard way) due to the logistics of what a Pokémon is and who actually owns the creature being legally different. The death penalty is also legal for hardened criminals, and is mentioned to be in place in Traveler's world. Holly's entire character arc (and to a lesser extent, Maria's) in her own story revolves around ideas about what punishment does to children and when it should be used (as well as what happens when it's misused). This plays into the theme of the cycle of revenge and how it forms, even and especially in children. Most of these instances were themes that were added later into a story instead of having the story created around them, and some of them were still coincidences. Most of them are vague themes inserted into Pokémon, with real life people political figures never been mentioned and never will be.

-Speaking of real-life people, Kristine's likes and dislikes as well as reasons for eating what she does are all real. This includes eating sugar when stressed, the love of exotic foods, and people getting confused by the preference for the latter. The food she orders are also based off of a local café in my current area. However, the food scene would've have been a little bit different in the original draft. In the original draft, she would have seen the Belgian waffle and tried to order it. However, Gabriel would have warned her, mentioned the fact that she was stressed and would probably go on a sugar high. However, I thought it would make more sense and give you more insight into her character if she merely wished for it and then realized she didn't want it for practical reasons.

Furthermore, in order to showcase her love of exotic foods, she would have talked about how she wished she could've found Alolan food and how she was craving some of it. This is based on optional scenes from the Alolan games where the protagonist can eat at restaurants with some of the major characters. If they choose to eat a traditional Alolan dish, they'll dislike the food and not eat much. One of the characters then comments on how the protagonist is not from Alola (they are from the nearby Kanto instead) and that the reaction was typical because Alolan foods are an acquired taste.

Since I really enjoy exotic foods, I could imagine myself having opposite reaction. This plays into real life as well because Alola is based off of Hawaii and I have always wanted to go to Hawaii and try the different foods there. However, the comments on Alola were removed for two reasons. One of which was that it was a bit out of place and would require explanation. Another was that I haven't actually been to Hawaii at the time of this writing, so I have no idea whether I would actually like the food.

-Nurse joy being competent enough to command respect from unruly Trainers as well as possibly being a powerful battler is based off of all canon media to an extent. In the games, starting with Pokémon Black and White, there are nurses and doctors in areas where there are a lot of battles. These Trainers are as strong as any other Trainer the player fights in the area, and sometimes that can mean being at an extremely high level. In other cases more powerful nurses and healers are seen. The most direct level is Cheryl from the Sinnoh games, with her Pokémon focusing on healing abilities and being one of the optional boss battles after the game is cleared. A more indirect example is Glacia from the Hoenn games, as she is a high-ranking Trainer that is mentioned to use healing items on her Pokémon frequently to turn the tide of battles (although it doesn't translate over to gameplay). Another indirect example is Lillie from the Alola games. She starts up not wanting to be a Trainer because she doesn't want Pokémon get hurt and cares for them deeply. However, she always carries a bunch of items, including healing items that she uses to assist the player after several different battles. In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, she eventually does gain her own team and fight in battles after the main game is cleared. However, she mainly focuses toward supporting her allies and healing, and still doesn't like to battle all that much.

An even bigger example is in the anime, with Nurse Joy and other nurses seen throughout. Some of them are seen fighting, in some cases defeating the main characters and then rushing to heal their Pokémon afterward. One nurse is also seen doing very well with a particular exam that has both a battle and a paper portion. This is also a test that many other people have trouble on, including the main characters. Other times, nurses and the Pokémon Centers are seen breaking up fights, sometimes between multiple people and sometimes with the potential to get violent. The nurses usually do that just by talking, or sometimes showing that they can battle and are not afraid to. The respect extends to wild Pokémon, where in a particular episode, a wild Pokémon kidnaps a nearby nurse to try and help its sick comrade. Since the Pokémon is unable to tell the nurse what is going on or bring the other Pokémon to her, she understands and is able to heal the sick Pokémon after the main characters help her get supplies. Therefore, with all the respect and authority the nurses have in canon, I figured something similar be the case here, even if they're not all seen fighting.

Pokémon eating human food even if they have their own food is based off canon. Pokémon to have their own food like pet food, but they are seen eating human food in certain situations. This includes cakes as part of a celebration, or Ash's Pikachu developing a taste for ketchup and eating that in the anime. Said Pokémon also develops a taste for soy sauce in the manga slightly based off of it, and eats fruit on many occasions in both cases. In the anime, there is a farmer that feeds her Pokémon workers apples, which they seem to enjoy and be energized by. In some cases, the Pokémon are only seen eating human food, such as Ash's Fearow in one manga only eating dumplings with soy sauce, but other people recognizing it as food that the Pokémon would normally eat. It's not only the health effects of that are on Pokémon, but it's never stated to be something negative.

Pokémon mostly eating human food is also partially based off of other games where monsters captured by the player do eat human food. While real-life animals usually can't digest human food or even get sick from it, I figured Pokémon were mythical creatures and therefore could eat it safely. There is some support for this canonically with Pokémon Sword and Shield, as the main character can cook curry and feed it to their Pokémon with no ill effects. This is despite the fact that curry is a dish meant for humans, they are eating a full serving as a meal together with their Pokémon, and some of the food is something animals about one based on would not be able to digest (plants for a carnivore, meat for an herbivore). Additionally, no Pokémon is ever stated to have curry in their diet naturally.

Cooking food to make monsters stronger comes mainly from other games, especially Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World. In that game, it's a major gameplay mechanic required to clear the harder modes. Pokémon did eventually introduce cooking to make monsters stronger. However, that was only in Pokémon X and Y onwards, it was not required aside from sidequesting and getting a single Pokémon (Sylveon), and it didn't have much effect on gameplay aside from making the game easier because of the bonus effects it granted. These bonus effects also could not be used in certain areas.

-Kristine having a smartphone and thinking of using while she's waiting is based off of my real life habits. In real life, if I am waiting for something to do, I pull out the phone and read the news or other things that interest me. However, I was unsure about whether Kristine should have a smartphone or something more traditional in the Pokémon world (such as a Pokégear, Pokénav, or Pokétech). I eventually decided to stick with the smartphone, since in real life, aside from my computer, I prefer a smartphone over all other devices. Furthermore, even though the different devices might interest her, Kristine travels through all of the different regions and would probably want to stick with one device for all of them. Since a smartphone has many different functions, it was the easiest one for that. Some devices in the Pokémon world do resemble smartphones, however. The most notable one is in Pokémon Masters, where a smartphone used to recruit Trainers from all over the regions to the player's side. Pokémon Sword and Shield also features phones powered by the Pokémon Rotom, although the player isn't seen using the smartphone much.

-Kristine's reaction to Ivy is based off of Holly Rising and one I could and could not remember. Ivy is an original character from Holly Rising created as part of and a response to an RP prompt. She serves as a contrast to Holly, and that causes the latter to dislike her. Maria (as Holly Rising's Kristine) eventually meets Ivy some time later. Maria acts as though she recognizes her even though the two have never met, and Ivy doesn't know about Maria's celebrity status. Ivy was understandably weirded out and many others are confused.

This was actually supposed to reference the vision Kristine has in this chapter, since she and Maria would've originally been the same person in different timelines. However, since both Maria and Ivy have taken different paths in Holly Rising, the former realizes the vision is worthless and just dismisses it. What happened in the final draft implies she is still having something visions, but since she and Kristine are no longer the same person, Maria is free to ignore them and things are never expanded upon. Thus, since Kristine hasn't met Ivy before the vision, it was going to hinge on her not being able to recognize Ivy at all.

However, after looking through Holly Rising again, I realized Kristine had met Ivy, but not when the latter was alive.

Near the end of Holly Rising, Ivy obtains a large amount of power and tries to use it to stop Holly. At that point, Holly has betrayed everyone due to being under Maria's control. However, because of the power and ruthlessness Maria has given Holly, Ivy loses easily and is killed brutally. Kristine is then one of them wants to find her body, and uses her powers to send Ivy off and make sure she is remembered as someone who tried to save the region. However, this is not a pleasant memory and Kristine is already shown to try and repress memories that she wants to forget. So it would make sense that she wouldn't remember Ivy right away because her only experience were finding her mangled corpse and ghost.

-Kristine's visions slightly resembling absence seizures, and the lore she talks about is based off of ancient Greece. In ancient Greece, epilepsy was considered a way of communicating with the gods. However, it was not something positive a lot of the time, and eventually it was discovered that seizures were a medical condition. I thought it would be interesting if someone had something resembling an absence seizure but actually was communicating with the gods and had no damage or issues that came with that aside from just leaving the world for a while. For a long time, pre Traveler Kristine's visions were erroneously called absence seizures, to the point where she almost went to treatment for them. However, after doing more research, I realized that there were a lot of other symptoms of absence seizures that Kristine did not have. So the description and comparison was instead made to out of body experiences (which is more accurate to what she's actually having) and several supernatural elements were added. It doesn't stop her from recalling the lore and pointing out the errors, though.

-Kristine having visions that was a long time part of her character, long before she was in Traveler. Thus, I can't exactly remember where the idea came from but I know was a mix of things. I do know that one my first exposures to psychic powers in fiction was Pokémon, specifically Sabrina and her use of psychic powers in the anime. I found the concept fascinating as a result. Kristine's character then began to have visions, but they were almost never controlled in any way.

Some other early influences were the movie Elektra and the game series Fire Emblem. Even though the movie itself wasn't too good, I saw it as a standalone movie and enjoyed the way the visions were portrayed. The main character has visions of the future or of the past, but can't control when or what she sees and can only see them after intense training before the film. She is also implied to have a fraction of the power she could have and she struggled to obtain what she did. The characters visions would result in her standing in one place and the scenery would change, almost as though she was looking over at from above. Then, she would instantly being thrown back to where she was so she could act on it. For a long time, Kristine's visions functioned just like this.

Several character have visions in Fire Emblem, but a particular influence is the character Ninian. Her visions are almost never shown on screen, but she goes into a trance when she sees something. Her visions almost always relate to someone being in danger, and since Fire Emblem is a series about war, she helps many people and saves lives (including those of the main characters more than once). However, her visions cost her a lot of strength, and she can't fight in combat despite being good at supporting allies. Her visions, along with some other supernatural traits, prevent her from living a normal life even after the game is over. And no matter what the player does, the end to her story is bittersweet, and Ninian's enemies exploit her weaknesses a lot.

Kristine's visions had the same ability as for a while. However, unlike Ninian, she could fight and wanted to. This was still the case even though Ninian was turned into a powerful fighter pre-Traveler, since her strength was still supporting allies and she disdained combat. Kristine will also much more reckless and impulsive, getting herself in trouble a lot without telling anyone what was going on or going to more experienced people for help. In the end, a lot of people were upset at her and called her out on it. Since Kristine and Ninian were pretty close, Ninian was one of the ones it was the most disappointed in her. It got to the point of her getting angry at Kristine's recklessness when the character almost never got angry canonically. So this also influence the Kristine's visions looked like and how people reacted to them for a long time, even though they didn't always predict danger.

The most notable example would be the book series Warriors. Several characters have visions, there are huge part of the plot, and the ability to have these visions is highly prized. The visions often come in dreams or performing a ritual in a certain place. However, they can be odd weather or just awkward occurrences when a character is standing around. Visions are often short and vague and characters cannot control where and when they come in the majority of cases. While the visions can have a positive influence on things, help guide characters, and even save many lives, the series does not shy away from the negative aspects of them.

Unlike most examples, it's hard to know whether something is just a natural occurrence or a prophetic vision, leading to several characters to use that to their advantage to create false ones (or just not trusting that someone had a vision). Additionally, several characters are shown suffering psychologically because of the visions, and the series takes place in a setting where therapy does not exist. A lot of times danger is not averted, there's still a lot of harm and negative things even when danger is averted, visions are not always looked at as a positive thing, and they are almost always unwanted. It's all gotten to the point where the current arc in the series as of this time of writing is toying with the idea of having a world without visions or most supernatural occurrences. While this is causing a lot of chaos in the story currently, living without supernatural influences is not seen as a uniformly bad thing.

Regardless, the visions themselves are fascinating, but I also liked how it delved into a more balanced portrayal of them. Therefore, a lot of Kristine's early portrayal was based on that, and to an extent, still is.

-The original end of Kristine's vision was extremely detailed, showing clearly where she was and what she was doing. This was chance for a couple of reasons, one of which was that would be very odd if the rest of it was not in detail but this part was (even though Kristine mentions it could and did happen). The detailed scene would also involve dialogue that was not finalized because in order for Kristine to connect everything together in the fully detailed scene, she would have to know what the other people were saying. Finally there was the fact that Kristine didn't necessarily need the details to figure out what was going on based on the previous scenes, especially since things were connected to events in another story. She would only need to know someone was asking for her participation in something, and that the person was Professor Pine. Therefore, the final version only uses the audio, but has her recognize the voice.

-Professor Pine appearing and meeting Kristine is a reference to both Knowledge and Holly Rising. The events are almost the same, but some details on Kristine's side are switched. Originally, Kristine was going to have a bloody back after being stabbed in the confrontation. The bloodied nose would came after a face plant on a sidewalk and somehow not taking damage otherwise. This was changed as Kristine's abilities also changed, but the narrative in Knowledge still said she had a bloody nose and back despite having no major injuries and easily fully recovering. Therefore, the details in Usurping were added to explain that.

-Professor Pine is an original character created for Holly Rising's original RP. She was a young professor in Viridian City who decided to start studying Trainers. She reaches out to several different eligible ones, created by the players of the RP. The journey the players go on is what starts everything off and becomes the story. Even though she didn't necessarily need to be in Usurping, Professor Pine was an important character to the lore overall who I wanted to expand on. So even though her role is changed, she is still part of the story and appears here.

-Kristine being connected to the message that Professor Pine receives (which is explained in Knowledge) was originally not going to be in the story. Professor Pine still received the same message, and it was planned to be tied to Arceus somehow. However, it was mostly just seen as a coincidence and that power was never demonstrated again. As Kristine's story went on, it made sense to tie her to the message, and to have her as someone who passed things onto other people, simply because she was the only person that was demonstrated to be able to interpret that.

-The representation of female characters is the reason why a lot of my main characters are female, even if they are canon. The problem with representation, especially high rankings and or protagonists, is not just an issue I have with Pokémon, but with several different games (the above-mentioned Fire Emblem being one of the worst offenders when it comes to its protagonists). In Pokémon, it wasn't until Crystal that a player could even play is as girl and thus become a high-ranking female Trainer. Female Champions otherwise didn't show up until Pokémon X and Y, despite being nearly 20 years after the release of the first Pokémon games. Female Pokémon professors didn't even show up until Pokémon Black and White (not counting Professor Ivy, who was a professor for an anime only filler arc). Females were either outnumbered by or equal to males in the Elite Four until Alola (once again, 20 years after the first game). Finally, female Gym leaders are almost always outnumbered by males, even though there is always an even number so they should at least be equal. A female villainous team leader did not show up until the Alola games, and even then was overshadowed by other conflicts. With all this lack of female representation, I decided to have a lot of it in Traveler. Hence why most of the main characters are female.