"So that's my report for the week," Nori concluded to his superior. He had written it before going to sleep, although it turned out to be mostly a wasted effort. He just needed to give it verbally. In fact, for whatever reason, Studd outright refused to even see the pages for whatever reason. At least they helped him to remember everything. He was vague about the Vulpix in the deep wilds, but otherwise covered everything from their first meeting near the docks to yesterday's research.

"That had many more details than I had been expecting!" replied the boisterous man. "You are knowing that you could've said just fine?"

"But you know it wasn't just fine," he replied, as he folded and pocketed the handwritten sheets of paper. "Besides, I didn't know what you expected from me. I didn't even know how to contact you. That's why I came here."

"Yes! Fortunate thing that I, too, came to the same place." When Nori arrived though, Studd was sulking over how he wasn't allowed into the school. "Why had you not called?"

"Well, I don't know how to call you. I don't even have a phone to do it with." The agent never like, gave him a number or anything. And as far as Nori was aware, his Official's radio only received calls. There didn't seem to be a way to enter a number or anything. "I thought you were going to call my radio like before."

Studd's jaw nearly became unhinged. "N-never mind that!" he said in a panic. "How could you live without a real phone?!" he shouted, attracting the attention of everyone around them (which the agent was unaware of).

"I just do?" It wasn't the first time someone had asked him that, nor the first time he'd given that answer.

"Bah!" The agent reached into his jacket and whipped out his phone, contained in a Zubat-themed case Nori had seen for sale in a 100P shop a few days ago. He flipped it open and hoisted it proudly over his head. "I never go anywhere without my trustworthy Sharpe GX dash 25!"

"Isn't that, like, super old?" said a random black-haired little boy, peering down at them from the playground.

Studd sputtered in disbelief for several seconds. "It's more than you can afford!" he eventually yelled back at the kid.

In response, the boy pulled out his own cell. It was like the ones Nori saw everywhere. "The Sharpe Suicune Crystal mark 2!" he boasted with a cheeky grin. "Dad bought me it for my birthday!"

"Well, not every man has money for one of those!" Studd screamed, with both anger and anguish in his voice.

The boy pulled down an eyelid and stuck out his tongue. "My dad makes more than you!"

"Grr, I don't care!" he lied. At least he had the sense not to dignify it further. But as soon as whirled around and caught sight of Nori, he snapped, "Wipe off that smirk out of your face, sir!"

Nori couldn't help it, it was too funny. Kids making fun of adults wasn't uncommon, but it was rare that the adult was so bothered by it. "Hey, as long as it still works, you don't need something new," he reassured Studd.

The man flipped the phone up, and put it back in his jacket. "You should still get one," he grumbled, crossing his arms and turning his nose up.

"Never had a reason to." Besides, he'd only really use it to talk with Arumi or Volkner. Everyone else he could meet face to face.

"Anyway, I'm done here. Same time and same place next week." Agent Studd spun on his heels and began marching away. "As they speak in your language, sayanora sucker."

"That's not what we say!" yelled the kid on the playground. Nori wanted to explain the two mistakes more politely, but Studd started walking faster to his car, trying to ignore the kid.

He shrugged it off. That was one thing taken care of, Nori thought to himself. With that out of the way, he could continue what he'd started last night. He got on his skateboard and set out.

At first, he had thought that he could be of some help to Prema with just a little bit of research. He was also a little curious, due to sort of being involved. Instead, he found a rabbit hole that set off his burgeoning reporter's instincts. He knew there had been an earlier accident, but the problem was, he couldn't find much information about it. He didn't know where it would lead, but he jumped in.

And if nothing else, it'd make a great story for the school newspaper!

He knew from the scarcity of information that it would take a lot of effort to find what he was looking for. Luckily, he had a friend with the right connections.


Slice 9
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Nori had first met Arumi Schrader earlier in the year. They became fast friends at his middle school in Sunyshore, and she was one of the few people willing and able to stick with him through all that had happened. Her last name was third only to Joy and Jenny, belonging to a widespread family of reporters. If there was anyone who could help dig up a buried story, it'd be his bestie.

He went into a manga café. After paying the fee and signing a couple of autographs, Nori went to his rented booth to check his ElectronMail account. After a bit of fumbling with the browser, he got in.

He had two new emails. One was news from the service itself, and the other was a reply from Arumi. After briefly skimming the former, he clicked into what he wanted to check.

"Hey, Nor!" were the opening words of her reply. That was her nickname for him. It was strange seeing it written out rather than spoken, though.

"Nice to hear from you!I've been just fine. Used to my newfound fame, and helps things have settled since the summer. You would've loved to see how Beau and the others reacted to my article. They all said to say sorry to you. Yuki still wishes he believed in you since things might've gone way different, lol. He wants to know your email. Is that okay?

"I heard about that accident last November, but I had no idea it got buried! You might want to ask my aunt Akari about it. If anyone would be in the know, it'd be a Schrader in Veilstone. You should also ask the guys at the Veilstone Times. Don't worry, told them both you'd be coming by. Just do not accept an interview request with my aunt, okay? Trust me on this one.

"As for the Blackout Killer, all I could find on short notice was some articles you probably already found. Sorry I couldn't do more. School's been crazy lately. I'll try to see if I can dig more up for you. Heard what happened with your assignment though, and yikes! Knew there was a side I wasn't hearing though, i.e. yours. Glad it didn't really make headlines, huh?

"Oh yeah, you hear about that tiny island tribe they found extinct? The Kaltor people? And we only just found out now five years later since they were so isolationist? Real crazy news.

"Miss you lots, man! Mail me back when you can and lemme know how things go!"

The young official smiled and nodded. They might have been a town apart, but they were still best friends. He wasn't expecting much, given he emailed her late last night. Yet the help she gave was enough to exceed his expectations. He composed his reply.

"Thanks! I'll head over to see them later today. I miss you lots too. Gonna have to find a way to hang out sometime in person." If he got a chance to take a vacation, he was definitely picking Sunyshore! Not just to see her, but to see Volkner again too! "I'll keep you posted on Pawniard and the accident."

He paused. That was sufficient, but brief. Looking over what she'd written to him again, he added, "Not surprised to hear about the others. Begging your forgiveness to get in your favor, I take it? I don'tknow how you feel about them now, but tell them I said thanks for the sorrys. Things would be way different if even one of them had believed in me besides you." Although, he supposed, it would've meant making even more friends he wouldn't be able to regularly see. Speaking of which, "Sure, go ahead and tell Yuki how to email me." He didn't anticipate talking with him as much, but he felt it couldn't hurt.

He mused her last point. Arumi liked talking about random news from elsewhere that really didn't affect them. "I haven't heard ofthe Kaltor people before. I've been too busy" Mid-sentence, he realized, duh! He was at a computer, so he could just look it up! So he did some brief research, finding out that they had lived on a remote island in the southern Pacific Ocean. He backspaced over his last four words and typed, "But I looked them up just now. That is really crazy, and freaky too. We knew so little about them, because they were so aggressive and xenophobic, they even refused aid after natural disasters, and now we'll never know. So they're sort of lost to time. It's ironic since they're saying resource scarcity and tribal infighting did them in. They must've had weird worldviews or culture."

He wasn't sure what else to say about these people. Maybe there was a reason why they hated everyone outside their bubble, but he had the feeling that things could've turned out differently if they hadn't. They didn't need to change completely, just a little, while still being themselves. Nori had to do that before.

It also wasn't lost on the young official that he himself was dealing with a Pokemon with a definite twisted take on life. How much Pawniard would have to change remained to be seen. But Nori would do everything possible to try to push him through it.

He finished the message up with a goodbye and hit send.

Nori leaned back in his seat. He would never deny that he missed some people from Sunyshore. Some who he had no way of contacting. He had sent out some letters to certain people like Lux (who didn't live there anymore), but given the circumstances, he had no way of knowing they actually reached him unless he got a reply. Yuki…he left on odd terms with, but was willing to see where it would lead.

He checked the clock. He'd rented the booth for an hour, and still had plenty of time left. The young official decided to spend some of it on news sites, and the rest on researching his assignment. He closed his email and began browsing. He knew what he wanted to do after leaving, but he wanted to make the most of the money he spent.


It was a breezy autumn afternoon in Veilstone City. A gray curtain hung over the sky, with a few darker clouds dangling below. The temperature was pleasantly mild, only 14°C at the most.

Chad Shosha was named after his father's favorite foreign actor. The two kanji that made up his family name were also the first two kanji in the Japanese term for Champion. His great-grandmother, a former Champion herself, had coined their motto: 'shōsha to wa uinā.'

Even before Chad received formal trainer's license, his parents and older siblings had constantly pressured him to live up to their name. He had yet to go on a journey; Chad didn't want to rush headlong into it as soon as possible, he wanted to be fully prepared. That meant excelling in his studies and with Pokemon in the meantime.

He was the president of Tobari Junior High School's battling club. They met to talk about everything related to Pokemon battles: strategy, training, their favorite trainers, battles (both their own and those they'd watched), and so on. They also sparred with each other to practice and hone their skills. The best of them made up the battling team which he led.

For a serious trainer, there were no days off when it came to championship aspirations. That was the attitude Chad took with his team. However, only three of them wanted to bother on Sundays: himself, Anthony, and Emi Pikaru. Four of the others weren't serious enough, and a fifth attended a Ceutholic church. But even Anthony and Emi were absent today, for the same understandable reason.

The Demon Tamer Nori Carino, a person who would be a tremendous asset to the team. Chad did not blame him for the incident on Friday, if only due to the futility of pointing fingers. However, he had the sinking feeling he was alone in that belief. It had been an unspoken topic yesterday, and the focus had been on Quade on the day of the incident. He was praying to the Great Azelf that Anthony could overcome the turmoil of his partner's forced retirement.

Part of Chad's weekly ritual around town was to visit a battling spot on Sunday. He rotated, playing among them all. One week it was Mynwest Court. Another, Fightopia. Today, it was the battling cages.

Many schools, sports fields, and larger parks had areas cordoned off by metal fences where outdoor battling could take place. With only a few exceptions, they were open to the public. You could usually find a challenge there if you waited, and they were popular spots for trainers who wanted to have it out in front of an audience. Chad enjoyed them because of the variety of competition you could see. Battling facilities were generally only frequented by serious local trainers, but you could find all types at the cages.

Today seemed to be one of those rare times when it wasn't worth coming by. Everyone was too far below his skill level, so he just sat with his companion and relaxed while they watched. He hoped someone better would come by, but had no expectations.

"Kids, huh?" he remarked to his Pokemon, as a young boy's Buneary rammed into a girl's Shinx. He leaned back on the bleachers. "Remember when we were starting out?"

A quiet nod. It was objectively strange to speak with one who could not answer you back. It was something of a habit of his. When he was young, and his parents were arguing or yelling at him or one of his siblings, Theodore was the only one he could talk to. The now Noctowl had always been willing to listen, even offering him wing hugs after he evolved.

The fights were monotonous, tackles being met with tackles or the odd weak elemental move. Watching other people's battles could be useful to glean information about different strategies, but Chad knew there was nothing to see today.

He looked down at his feet. The bond between humans and Pokemon was expressed in many ways. Battling was only one of them. Most Pokemon were more than happy to do so. Yet what happened on Friday made Chad question things.

What does a Pokemon feel when they are badly hurt in a battle? Why do they take that risk for what was basically a sport? People had hypothesized, and even some Pokemon had given their own answers when they were able to. Yet the only thing clear was there was no single answer. He would not be able to bear seeing Theodore or any of his other friends get seriously injured. It turned his stomach to see what had happened to Quade, and he could only imagine how Anthony felt about it. There was always the possibility of an accident, and yet that Pawniard…

"Oh, look. Someone's all sad."

Had he not recognized her voice, he would have looked up with a leer. Instead, he just frowned without amusement at the teenager, who had a fluffy fennec following at her feet. Her boyishly-short red hair matched the fur of her Pokemon. Her attire was equally masculine, though it was contrasted by her moderate bust size.

"For the record, I was contemplating." He knew she was probably joking, and only wanted to set the record straight for anyone who might have overheard.

"By sitting around watching newbies play with each other."

Chad did not react outwardly, but he still felt the heat in his face and the prickling at the back of his neck. Emi's snark often stung, and this was no exception. "I wasn't really watching," he said slowly. "But I am glad you're here."

She sat next to him. Her Flareon, who had no nickname, trotted over to greet Theodore. The fox spat a couple small Embers, and Theodore replied with a light one-winged Gust. Exchanging attacks was their way of saying hello.

"So lemme guess," Emi asked him, leaning back and putting her hands in her pockets. "You're thinking of trying to guilt-trip him into joining the team."

She didn't need to specify who she was talking about. He confirmed. "I think there's a very good chance he will accept."

"I think so too," Emi agreed. "But that doesn't mean I want him with us."

Chad had to do a double take at that. He knew full well that the others might think ill of him. But they were failing to see the bigger picture. "Emi, be reasonable," he pleaded with her. "I know it may sound horrible to say, but we can benefit from this."

She shrugged. "Yes, what happened on Friday was definitely the best thing that could have happened to us," she said, so sarcastic that it bordered on parody.

"He will help." Chad was sure he felt bad enough to do so.

"What, you don't think we're good enough?" Emi said, standing over him and clenching her fists. "You and the coach have been so fixated on getting him to join since the semester started. I'm sure he'll make a great team player and not cause any friction at all. Especially after what just happened."

Chad looked up toward the sky. He wanted to say yes, they were not good enough as things stood, particularly with Anthony's status unknown. But now was not the time to say bring those points to bear.

"I want to give us the best chance of victory as possible," he explained carefully. "Nothing more, nothing less. That is all there is to it."

Some would say he was taking things too seriously for a middle school battling team. Nevertheless, Chad wanted to win. No, rather, he had to win. After all, he was a Shosha. And Shoshas were winners.

Emi rolled her eyes. "Sure. But just so you know, it's not just me you'll have to convince. Good luck with the others. This whole idea was dumber than a Slowpoke to begin with, and now?" She paused and threw up her arms dismissively. "It's never happening."

Chad felt like he had been hit in the stomach. He didn't dare say anything else, for fear of making things worse. It wasn't that he didn't believe in his team. He had personally chosen each of them based off a multitude of factors. But as a whole, they were missing something: that immeasurable element of chaos that someone like Nori Carino could bring to the table. Chad knew they would go far with the team they had, but their chances of winning the annual national middle school tournament were slim without him. It may not have meant much to most people, but it did to his family. If they could not at least reach the regional finals, then…

"We don't need him," she attempted to reassure him with a hearty pat on the shoulder. She motioned to Flareon. "Now, let's show these kids how real trainers battle."

Chad could only let out a heavy sigh as he followed her into the battling cage. This was not how it was supposed to go. Almost everyone had agreed that Nori would be a huge help, maybe even the difference maker. Ironically, the only one who had initially dismissed the idea was Anthony. His motivation for challenging Nori Carino was to prove his case to the others. The bitter irony was that he had succeeded. Just not in the way anyone had expected.

He also knew what would happen next. His parents would hear about it. They would find a way to blame him for the rest of the team's opinion, like saying he didn't do a good enough job of convincing them. Every missed step forward was a step toward defeat, as they put it. Chad was not looking forward to that inevitable scolding.


There was a gentle knock at the door of the dim and dusty room. Nori turned to see an elderly man entering. He wore a black blazer with matching trousers. The derby covering his bald scalp indicated the man was ready to go home.

"Sorry, son," he said. "It's past closing time. You should get home. Your mother is probably worried sick."

Nori glanced at the wall clock. 9:17pm! "What?!" he gasped. How did time slip from him like that?!

The man could only chuckle at his shock. "Ah, I understand. I've known more than a few folks who lost track of time trying to reach a deadline."

He started to gather his things and put them in his backpack. "It's okay, I got all I needed. And I told my mom I might be late." Well, okay, he might've been pushing it, but still. "Thanks again for the help, Mr. Sanaka!"

"It was my pleasure, Nori." The man bowed respectfully, before handing him a stick of dango. "And happy Tsukimi."

Nori blinked. How could he forget about the holiday?! In the past, it had been one of the few he could fully enjoy. He didn't need to buy anything or do much to have a moon viewing! "Thanks again, Mr. Sanaka!" he said as he bit into it. Chewy and tasty!

The man smiled. "You take care, and stay safe on your way home."

"I will, sir!" He would be more worried about the safety of anyone or anything that tried to mess with him.

Nori left the Veilstone Times building with a spring in his step while taking bites of the snack. He got a chance to see what real newspaper writers were like! More importantly, he found all the information he needed between their archives and Arumi's aunt. And as they say, it was an eye-opener. He had to put it all together and get it to Prema as soon as possible!


WARNING: If you want to read Memory of a Ghoul, get up through at least Chapter 4 and ideally Chapter 7 (not yet released as of publication but it'll be next) before the next chapter of this fic. It contains big spoilers! I couldn't find a way to avoid this one since there's double-sided character development, but otherwise it's the only one until the end.