Prema did everything possible to get ready for her return to the warehouse on Wednesday evening. She spent almost every waking hour of her life on it; she even dreamt about it the night prior. After dinner and final preparations, she left the shrine in lockstep with Priestess Satomi. As they did so, a number of individuals gave her well-wishes.
"Get'em for me," Maiden Kaede requested as they stepped outside. Beside her, Monk Naito gave a silent nod.
"You can do this, Lady Kannagi!" Ken waved wildly to her while sitting on the grass. His parents did the same, albeit in a more restrained fashion.
"Do us proud," a visitor to the shrine encouraged her.
She nodded to them all. While Nariya was not present, and perhaps never would be again, Prema was certain she was also praying for their success. Everyone was.
To her surprise, her father was standing silently just beyond the torii. He approached as they passed beneath.
"Prema," was all he said.
"Father." She bowed.
He leaned forward and hugged her. "Good luck."
She returned it. "Thank you, father."
When he let her go, Prema went forward with conviction. She thought back on all the people who had helped her along the way. Father, Priestess Satomi, Nariya, Taiyoko, Maiden Kaede, Acolyte Jack, and Nori. All of their followers, all the people silently cheering for her. Shu and Yahata. Even Akari Schrader in a twisted way. Every one of their efforts helped her along the way. All that remained was to see it through. This would be her greatest test as heir to the Kannagi Shrine to date. She would not let them down. Tonight, the spirit of the warehouse would pass on in peace.
As the princess (she still could not get over that one!) set off down the steps, Satomi had a very brief exchange with the shrine's Master before making to follow.
"As we planned, then?"
"If necessary."
"Will do."
The two rode in silence to the old warehouse. Neither needed to say a word. Upon arriving, they put their helmets away, Priestess Satomi locked up her motorcycle, and they went to the front door. The future head priestess of the Kannagi Shrine retrieved the key. As she placed it in, she shut her eyes. This was it. The time had come. She turned the lock and opened the door.
As they entered, Priestess Satomi closed the door and locked it. The moment Prema stepped into the main room of the old warehouse, a sense of dread came over her. Perhaps part of it was nerves, but at least part of it was the feeling of being watched. There was no doubt. The spirit had been waiting for them.
She gave a silent glance to Priestess Satomi. Together, they combed the room to ascertain it was only them present. People always found ways to sneak into the building. Yet the warehouse was exactly as they left it several nights ago. Every crate was in place, every window had been shuttered, and even the unconsumed feed Acolyte Jack had left on the floor was still there. They met at the back, near the entrance to a small office.
"He's here," rasped the elderly priestess.
Prema nodded. "I can sense him as well." He did not stick out as being a human soul, but that could be masked. The truth would become clear shortly.
"I'll wait in here," said Priestess Satomi, opening the door to the office. "You initiate contact."
"I understand." Spirits were occasionally more inclined to speak with one person than multiple. She could not rule out that was a factor in her previous attempt. Though Priestess Satomi was present to protect her if necessary, her being in another room would be sufficient.
Prema moved to the center of the room, her footsteps echoing through the hollow building. The renovation workers had set up a table and some chairs. Tools, including a broom, were left abandoned on the table. It was where Nariya, Priestess Kaede, and Acolyte Jack had sat on their first outing.
She closed her eyes and breathed in, holding her breath as long as she could. There was no need for so much meditation and preparation this time. Not when she knew what she was up against. Not when the spirit was waiting. Prema simply had to allow her mind to drift into the subconscious world. It was as much for utility as it was to calm her nerves. She was about to speak with the one who had harmed her friends. She could not allow her personal feelings to cloud her judgment.
There was still that sensation of being watched. No, rather, he was waiting to see what she would do. In her focused state and knowing the probable nature of what was before her, it was easy to find where it came from. She opened her eyes and looked the spirit straight in his.
"Konrad Guhl. I call to you."
"Oho…" came the immediate response, spoken aloud.
The flame of his soul briefly flickered orange as the shadows high in the ceiling began to shift. A desaturated figure floated down from above. Human, yet not, with short and spiky blond hair and brown eyes. He was attired in a facsimile of a white and red Mitsutri hakama, no doubt to mock her. Little black embers danced about his dark form, doing nothing to illuminate their surroundings. The shrine had kept Nori's findings quiet, but there were those in the know, like Acolyte Jirou, who did not believe it. Even Prema was prepared for the possibility that his theory was incorrect. Yet hovering before her was that man who had passed away in an accident ten months ago.
"It has been far too long since I heard my name," the man spoke with clarity. The shapes above him moved protectively. Prema immediately identified them as Pokemon. He dismissively asked, "Come to cast me out against my will, have you?"
She shook her head, denying the accusation. "Not against your will, no. I only wished to speak with you, that you may go in peace."
"Go in peace," he repeated slowly, derision dripping from each word. "That's a lofty goal if I ever heard one."
The flames surrounding his body intensified. A manifested grudge. There was no doubt. This man had become an onryō along with his Pokemon. In plain terms, a vengeful spirit capable of bringing harm to the living. Prema could only pray that she could help him.
"I do not see how it could be lofty," Prema replied. She had soothed the souls of similarly pessimistic spirits in the past.
"You know my name," Guhl spat venom, eyes narrowing until they were razor-sharp. "What else can you tell me about myself?"
She obliged him. She told Guhl that he had been a well-known local trainer and about his untimely passing. Prema did not doubt there was more to his life, but Nori's notes had been brief. She resolved to thank him again once she could. As she summed up the lawsuit that followed and was beginning to recount his first recorded attack in January, Guhl interrupted.
"Why do you think they settled?" he asked, tongue flicking out from between his teeth.
Prema folded her hands and bowed. "I apologize. I am not that well versed in tort." Criminal and Pokemon law, yes. A bit of property law as well. But not personal law. She could at least speculate, particularly given the glower she was receiving. "If I must guess, I would say it was their means of ensuring some punishment for the company, rather than fight further in court and chance losing."
Guhl leaned back in midair. "Oh, you naive little girl," he chortled. "It was never about justice to them. All my family cared about was getting money out of my death. The ones who allowed it to happen paid them off and got away with killing me. And they all forgot about me as soon as it was over."
Prema could only gasp softly. Nori had not uncovered this part. The dead can sense when the living think of them. She did not need to ask for clarification, he truly meant everyone had moved on, from his family to his friends.
"If my soul was not bound to this warehouse…well." There was a flash of white in his eyes. "I'm sure I don't have to explain what I would do."
It was fortunate that he was. But if the building was demolished and the property redeveloped, that would set him free upon Veilstone. She could not let that happen.
She sighed heavily. "Fate can be cruel. We–"
"Save it," Guhl cut in. "Your sympathy means nothing. It will not change what happened."
An unfortunate truth. Even if she could travel through time, the Mighty Dialga would not allow it for such a trifling purpose. Of her realistic options, Prema preferred not to use force. That meant it came down to setting his soul at ease or otherwise convincing him to depart of his own volition. But how could she do so? She went over the facts again in her head. Guhl passed in November 2014. His first attack took place in January…and that was when she made a realization.
She brought it up at once. "You became an onryō before the trial concluded." That was in February, and the first recorded attack was a month prior. Moreover, he must have been one even before that.
"Astute," he said. His smirk grew thinner. "Why do you think that is?"
Prema shook her head, somewhat more forcefully than she intended. She could not allow him to completely dictate the course of the conversation.
"There is one thing I would like to know before I answer that. Why have you been attacking innocent people?"
Guhl shrugged. "Why else?" he asked. Before she could speculate, he answered himself. The resentment-fueled flares surrounding his body sparked erratically. "To pick a fight! I was hoping at least one of the fools I attacked would put up resistance. Or failing that, I wanted the city to send a powerful trainer in so that I and my partners may face them!"
He dropped his posturing at once. "Yet instead, they sent," and with these flat words he paused. He scrutinized her and ruefully spoke his next word. "You."
Prema took a step back during his tirade. She opened her mouth, but found herself at a loss for words. Her hunch had been way off. Her initial impression was that he was attempting to get the building demolished so that he could exact revenge upon those who he felt had wronged him. But he wanted something as base as a battle?
She glanced over at Priestess Satomi, who was smirking in a way that said she had figured it out long before. Was that why she had come to the conclusion that they would battle? Prema decided to move forward with another question. "If a powerful trainer had appeared and faced you, what would you have done after?"
"I, in turn, ask you, what do you believe a powerful trainer would have done if they faced my Pokemon?"
That was simple enough. "Attempt to make a capture."
Guhl crossed his arms and folded his ankles. "I suppose. Too many fools of trainers think catching a strong Pokemon is enough to make them stronger. Or those that are strong only want more or varied power." He snorted. "I took a quality over quantity approach."
"It is unusual for a professional trainer, but not an incorrect approach." Their own Priest Warutsu, for example, trained about a dozen Pokemon due to his former role as the Gym Leader of Celestic Town. But there was something to be said about sticking with only six, or less in Guhl's instance.
"And it paid off." Guhl smiled, and with that, Prema thought they were getting somewhere. "It was why few could challenge us. We four share a powerful bond that persists into this life."
"Because of that, Poke Balls would fail."
"Just one came by to attempt as such. He could not even get that far."
Perhaps it was for the best. There could have been many reasons why more did not try. For one, the rumors only spoke of ghosts. The city blamed the attacks on wild Pokemon whenever they received media attention. Most of those who took them at their word likely had the sense to stay away rather than go hunting for a new teammate. That was why the Demon Nidorina eluded capture for so long.
"We had a dream," said Guhl, as three figures above him began to move. He patted a humanoid one. "To travel the world and battle the finest trainers together to become stronger. To find three more worthy partners from across many regions. And eventually, for all of us to become recognized as Champions. I know it's a cliché, but it was what I always wanted." He floated over to an X-shaped one and gave them a sad smile. "If you've done your research, you should know the only thing that stood between us and our dream was the money to travel. I was saving up, doing odd jobs to pay for a flight to Europe. I wanted to visit the regions there, starting with where my family came from. I was close, so very close. But that dream was stolen from us because of this last job. We may never be able to truly rest in peace because of it. We never even had the chance to have a real battle against an equal in our lifetime." He put his arm around the last remaining one. "Call what we've been attempting to do a sort of compromise."
Prema listened intently to Guhl's plight. He had cooperated and told her his tale, that of a trainer aspiring for greatness whose life was cut short. One who still sought to fulfill it after his passing. Guhl did not speak for twenty seconds, awaiting her answer as she processed this. She soon reached her conclusion and spoke it aloud.
"I understand and sympathize with your plight, Mr. Guhl." She paused, carefully considering her choice of words. "However, your means of fulfilling it in your current state was somewhat imprudent."
"Do you intend to banish me after all, then?" His Pokemon came into full view. Prema had sensed what they were, and now saw they were indeed Dusclops, Crobat, and Sinnohian Zoroark. They hovered before him, menacing and protective. "Try it."
Prema was not fazed by the swift and hostile response. She had prepared for it. Guhl showed just a little concern at her unflinching demeanor. Before she could address him further and clarify her position, he cut in.
"No, forget I said that. I have a better idea. A far better idea." He leaned forward, floating ever closer until he was but five meters away. His Crobat followed right behind him as a vanguard. "I recall your family is adept at raising Pokemon, yes? You know who I am and know what I want. So I challenge you to a battle."
Prema blinked. She had not expected him to directly challenge her, nor did she feel it was what should be done. "Mr. Guhl, surely there is another way we could settle this. If there is anything else I might do to appease you, such as–"
"Do you even understand why I wanted to have a strong trainer face us?" he yelled. The voice echoed not only in the room, but in her mind. "I wanted it so we could experience the thrill of a blood-pumping battle we could not have in life! We wanted to experience that at least one time! No one truly pushed us to our limits! Even here, no one we attacked has been worth the energy!"
To emphasize his demand, he flew back up behind his Pokemon, who all got into battle poses. "So face me, Kannagi! Face all of us! Show me the power of a clan dating back nearly fifteen hundred years!"
"I…" If his words and Nori's reports had merit, Guhl was an expert trainer. Undoubtedly beyond the abilities of her and her friends to handle. The thought of returning with someone more experienced flashed through Prema's mind. But no. Her father, the shrine, everyone was expecting her success tonight.
Prema glanced over at the office. Priestess Satomi was sitting in a swivel chair, watching intently through the glass window. She had predicted this confrontation. Prema supposed Satomi was capable of challenging Guhl in her stead. Yet not only could she not ask her mentor figure to endanger herself, but she had only two Pokemon to her name in her old age. Not enough for a proper battle.
Satomi waved her wrist and mouthed, "This is your fight."
Prema nodded and turned around. "I accept," she conceded. If doing so was what it took to soothe his soul, it could not be helped. "I cannot promise you that I will be the challenge you seek. Yet I will do my best not to disappoint you."
"Just the answer I was hoping for…" he cooed, tracing a finger in the air. "Very good, Kannagi! Just don't hold back like that kunoichi. Give us everything you have without hesitation!"
Prema took a deep breath to steel herself. She had participated in Pokemon battles in the past, but never anything like this. She had not the experience of a typical trainer, and her formal training paled in comparison to the likes of Nori. But they had advantages which made the battle winnable. Her Pokemon were living and in active training. Guhl's could only practice on their victims, and their incorporeal nature made them less resilient. It was going to come down to technique.
"Want the old crone to serve as our judge?" Guhl inquired, a crooked smirk coming upon his mouth as he leered over at the office.
Prema shook her head. "We should not need one." Their only purpose was to make things official, and she was sure Guhl would know his Pokemon's limits. If not, she would.
"Then choose your first Pokemon. Zwirrklop will be mine. Iksbat, Fuchspuk, you two stay back." He gave a curt nod to the Dusclops, as the other two fell back above. "Our first real battle since the accident, friend. It's unfortunate we lost our Eviolite, but I suppose there's no point in dwelling on it."
That was another potential advantage. Prema knew which Pokemon Guhl would be using. It was not impossible that he knew hers, but it was unlikely. It would be best if she saved Taiyoko for last. Yahata was the best choice against a pure Ghost-type, but the problem lay in the Crobat. That was a poor match for most of her Pokemon, especially Shu.
Prema retrieved the capsule of the Fairy-type. If facing Iksbat was out of the question, and if Fuchspuk was considered his strongest, did it make sense for Shu to be her lead? After a second to affirm her logic as sound, she pressed the Poke Ball against her chest. "I am counting on you," she whispered before sending him out.
Her words must have reached Shu, as he emerged ready. He shuddered a little as he stared up at the soul of a Pokemon, yet flew forward to emphasize his resolve. Prema was concerned fear would overtake him, and it was a relief to see that would not be the case.
"My, my, quite impressive…" Guhl complimented. "Few people I fought in my time had Pokemon from outside Sinnoh, let alone the country."
Perhaps yet another advantage, then: unfamiliarity. They needed all they could get. Prema would be the first to admit her Pokemon friends were unusual in how none were common sights in Japan. It also confirmed he was unaware of her team.
"Shall we begin, then?" Guhl cracked his knuckles, his Pokemon miming the gesture.
Prema held out a palm. "After you, Mr. Guhl."
He grinned. "Shadow Punch, Zwirrklop."
It came from above, the dark room allowing the punch to be swung from almost any conceivable location. Zwirrklop caught Shu by surprise, knocking him to the floor where he was nearly immobile.
First things first. "Shu, get upright." Prema kept watch on their opponent, only for her to vanish into the shadows as the Spritzee righted himself.
Guhl chuckled. That was not a Phantom Force. Prema recalled the species of Dusclops could not learn that move. So they were concealed somewhere. It was a matter of finding their foe, and her friend could do just that.
"Shu, lure her out with Sweet Scent."
Obligingly, he scattered his powerful scent up into the air. From behind a stack of crates, Zwirrklop began to drone listlessly toward Shu.
"Not bad," Guhl remarked. "But not good enough. Erupting Shadow Punch!"
Erupting? "It is coming from below," she warned.
Shu tried to dodge, but he was not fast enough. Zwirrklop's fist slammed into Shu once more, this time wreathed in fire. She was correct about where it would come from, yet she had not expected it to come with a Fire Punch. The combination of two different moves was forceful enough to knock her companion several meters up.
"Now Bind it."
Zwirrklop reached into the shadows once more as she lunged forward. Her large palms caught Shu from behind as he came down. Shu tried to wriggle free in one powerful motion, but the ghost kept a tight grip.
"This is it?" Guhl cruelly mocked. "This is all you are capable of, Kannagi? I expected more."
Prema blanched. The battle was already not in their favor. Shu squirmed in vain, firmly in the clutches of a deceased Dusclops commanded by an equally deceased trainer. Their opponents had been savvy enough to ensure he was facing outward, so Shu could not escape by simply firing an attack at Zwirrklop.
"What's the matter? Have you had enough already?" Guhl rasped, a guttural sound rising from his throat.
"I apologize." It was not too difficult to determine what to do, since it was one of their only options. "Fairy Wind, Shu."
Shu perked up and realized what to do. Once more, he began to spread his scent. Only this time, he strengthened it with his fae energy and spread it around his body. Zwirrklop trembled, unable to avoid whilst maintaining the Bind. The little Spritzee chirped in satisfaction.
"Keep holding on," Guhl commanded for clarity. The phantom trainer crossed his arms. "Zwirrklop, Return."
The Dusclops perked up upon hearing the order. Giddily, she began to cavort with Shu still in her hands. She bobbed as she stretched and contracted in what almost seemed like a cheer. With a pirouette, Zwirrklop let go and brought both fists down on the little fairy.
"Shu!" Prema gasped as he crashed helplessly onto the floor.
That was a full-force blow. Prema could tell before he spoke of it that the bond between this trainer and his Pokemon was as strong in death as it was in life. Still, she had not anticipated him to use the move that weaponizes that connection.
"Do you see now what you face, Kannagi?" Guhl boomed. He did not command a follow-up, allowing Shu a moment to get up and into the air again.
She maintained her cool. "Yes, the bond between you and your Pokemon is commendable."
His lip curled. "Let's finish this. Shadow Sneak."
"Shu, hold her off with Psychic." There was no time for hesitation. She had to stop whatever he was planning.
Guhl went from rolling his eyes, to widening them, and finally narrowing them. It was all in sync with his Pokemon striking out with incredible speed, Shu hearing and executing her command quickly enough, and Zwirrklop, though temporarily halted, managing to gradually push through.
Something had to give. Shu was already struggling to maintain the Psychic, yet Zwirrklop was barely tiring. If it persisted–
"Disable it."
The sudden blue gleam from Zwirrklop's eye immediately stopped the psychokinesis. "Shu, please get ready…" Prema warned.
Guhl only chuckled. "Power through whatever she's doing. Soften that bird up with a Rock Smash!"
"Dodge underneath," she said with a simple smile. She was confident that Shu was capable of such.
The phantom trainer returned her expression with condescension. He pulled back slightly when Shu performed the evasive maneuver. Even Shu himself was a little surprised as he just passed under Zwirrklop's right arm. The Dusclops lost control and struck a crate instead. It was knocked to the left, teetering precariously on the edge.
Prema winced, as did the Pokemon, as the crate fell and split its contents – pots and plates – onto the floor in a cacophonous symphony of clattering and shattering. Zwirrklop stared dumbstruck, giving them time to strike.
"Shu, Draining Kiss."
"Look out!" screeched the phantom trainer.
Zwirrklop turned and raised a fist, just in time to get it on the face.
"Move into Sweet Kiss."
If Guhl and his Pokemon could combine similar moves into one, so could they. As the draining effect concluded, Shu nestled his beak into Zwirrklop more tenderly. Her eye dilated. Prema pondered if the confusion would take hold, given different Pokemon receive psychological moves differently, but it did.
Guhl clapped slowly. "Clever. But that will not turn this around," he stated before looking up at his Pokemon. "Iksbat, get away from this." He gestured upward.
"Shu, find cover!" Prema warned. She uncertain he could withstand whatever was coming. It had to be a massive Ghost-type attack. She edged aside, preparing to sprint away at any moment.
"Try it," Guhl snipped. He closed his eyes and screamed in attempt to reach through to his Pokemon. "Zwirrklop, NIGHT SHADE!"
The Dusclops flailed around, dazed and disoriented, yet managed to spread enveloping waves of opaque darkness all about. Prema threw out a palm in a show of determination and steeled her mind as they passed over her. Night Shade did little to humans and animals, causing only physical and possibly mental discomfort. But it can pierce through to a Pokemon's soul, cutting through all defenses to weaken them. She could not tell if Shu had escaped.
The darkness soon lifted, and Prema nodded in satisfaction at the sight. Shu had sheltered himself beneath the table! To make things better, Zwirrklop dropped right next to him, thrashing in delirium.
"Moonblast, Shu!"
The Spritzee shut his eyes and meditated briefly, allowing lunar particles to flow into his body. His body began to glow a pale white as he chanted softly. With a determined wail, Shu released a spherical burst of energy that was larger than his body.
Zwirrklop never saw it coming and was sent flying by the blast. A fortunate critical hit, perhaps? She landed where the fallen kitchenware sat, although her type, if not her condition, made the fall no worse than landing on a cushion.
Guhl just smirked, a mixture of approval and confidence. "Push through, you can do this!" he encouraged. "One more Return!"
If that landed, that would be it for Shu. Zwirrklop took a moment to steady herself and shake off the confusion. But when Prema noticed where the Dusclops had landed, she realized how they could win.
"Shu, Charge Beam!"
The little fairy focused and let loose. Zwirrklop narrowly escaped getting hit directly by the laser, but it made no difference. Instead, it hit a pot and conducted through the others. The Ghost-type Pokemon toppled and groaned in agony as the electricity shot through her legs.
"Enough! Stop."
Guhl's voice cut through the air, almost seeming to shake the building with its intensity. Prema signaled to her Pokemon to stop, who began nursing his wounds while he could.
The phantom trainer looked down at his Pokemon, giving her a crisp nod and thumbs up. "You did well, Zwirrklop. But you need a rest."
She shook off her trainer's command, getting up and into a battle-ready position. Prema addressed her in turn.
"One more strong hit, and you might not be able to stay on this plane of existence," she warned, looking up at Guhl. Surely he had realized the same thing.
"She's right," he verified as he leaned in. "So come back to my side."
The Dusclops looked at Shu and then at her trainer. With a low moan, she floated up. Guhl gave her a quick hug before sending her to the relative safety of the rafters.
"Not bad," Guhl complimented. He snapped a finger and pointed.
"Thank you." That was one of her opponent's Pokemon defeated. She had the early advantage…and yet she sensed a rapidly approaching hostility. "Shu, look out!"
"Now!"
Iksbat swooped down. Shu caught it out of the corner of his eye, but barely had time to turn around before he found himself in the maw of the Crobat. Poison-laden fangs sank into his body. Iksbat thrashed about before spitting an unconscious Shu on the floor.
"But not good enough," the onryō dismissed with a cruel laugh.
A/N: The name of Guhl's Zoroark was thought up by an actual German. Props there for coming up with something natural.
