Category: Pokémon
Rating: M
Couples: ?/OC
Warnings: AU, hint of rape/character death
Chapter: 12
Copyright: Characters & places © By Game Freak, Plot © by me
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Cynthia and Lucian hadn't lingered longer than strictly necessary, instead taking the first bus to the League Castle, which got them some stares. They really needed insist on getting some rental cars whenever they were in other regions.
In fact, public transport was so slow that they were beaten to the League by several others, Diantha foremost.
"Gym Leader Fantina has gone upstairs already." The secretary informed them.
"Thank you." The blonde Champion headed up the stairs to the guest-quarters, followed by her Elite and several others. Halfway up, they heard angry and loud screaming. "That's Fantina, isn't it?" She didn't even wait for an answer, breaking into a run.
Furious Kalosian echoed in the hallway, before being cut off by a slamming door. By the time they actually reached the small apartment of the Sinnoh-delegation, they were met by an angry man storming towards them. He seemed to care little for the League-members, merely passing them by and heading down the stairs.
"Does anyone know him?" Diantha demanded, following him down the stairs with her eyes. At the lack of answer she turned to go down herself, wanting to know who he was and how he had gotten into the restricted part of the League Palace.
Cynthia and Lucian continued to the apartment they shared with Fantina. Upon entering they noticed that the rooms still looked normal, with no indications of a fight. Still, Fantina herself was nowhere to be seen.
"I can sense you, Fantina." The Psychic Elite whispered, resting one hand on the doorknob to the bathroom. "Just so you know." His attempt to open said door was met with resistance though, Fantina having found enough time to block the door.
"Are you alright?" Cynthia joined him. "Open the door, please."
For several long moments, they wondered if she'd deny them, locking herself in. After a while a purple form faded through the wood, the Hearthome Gymleader's Mismagius appearing to size them up. They just accepted the scrutiny, waiting until the Pokémon decided whether they could enter.
It seemed like hours that the Ghost-type disappeared through the door, said door slowly falling open before them. They found Fantina almost exactly opposite the door, sitting on the edge of the bathtub, surrounded by her Pokémon. She looked up at them when they entered, alerted by the sound of Cynthia's heels on the tile-floor.
"Fantina?" Cynthia had certainly never seen her in this state. The Ghost-type Gym Leader didn't say anything, rubbing her face half-heartedly in an attempt to hide the worst of the tears.
"Here." Lucian wetted a towel and offered it to her. "This is related to the case, isn't it?"
"My brother… I think you passed him on the stairs..." She took a deep breath. "The news of the case broke… about my accusation and all that… My family is not amused that that is coming back around, to say the least."
"The attempted murder, I suppose?" Cynthia shooed the massive Gengar aside so she could sit down beside the other woman.
"Actually the rest." Fantina managed a small chuckle. "Honestly, my 'attempted murder' wasn't really all that bad. It was one of those 'throw it and see if it sticks'-accusations. It's the domestic terrorism and the actual murder that they are particularly angry about. It's a rather sore subject."
"Most terrorism is." Lucian leaned against the wall nearby. "So what happened?"
"It's obvious you two aren't Kalosian. It's illegal for people to talk about courtcase-details unless they personally experienced it." Diantha's voice floated in from outside. "The man that was here disappeared, apparently. Should I be concerned, Fantina?"
"He has Psychic Pokémon that can Teleport." Fantina answered, getting up from her seat. "It's how he got here so quickly as well." Taking a brief look into the mirror, she headed outside. "I witnessed the end-verdict, so I can tell you that. I can tell you that he was at a crime-scene… But I cannot tell you more and my family fears who could be called up to fill the blanks… I fear who could get called up to fill the blanks..."
"Guess we really have to bother Allortan for a copy of the files." Diantha was leaning against a table when the purple-haired woman passed her by. "What's the complete list of the crimes?"
"Six counts of domestic terrorism, three of attempted murder, two actual murders, one count of funding organized crime..." Fantina was leaning on the windowsill. "And I know he was accused of far more than these, but his lawyer managed to finagle those out of the way." Her gaze darkened when she turned to face the three behind her. "He should never have been allowed in the League."
"I asked Wulfric and Wikstrom to find out how that happened." Diantha assured her. "Even one of those crimes should have been more than enough for him not to be allowed to work here."