Pokemon Void and Veil- Divergence

"Speech"

'Thinking'

"English"

Note: Characters interaction is a bit different this chapter, you'll see why in the next chapter.


So, I'm still not sure exactly what had happened, but even a day later Sonia was refusing to leave my side, much to my own and Hatty's chagrin.

"Sonia, don't you need to prepare for classes tomorrow?" I asked in an attempt to distract her.

"What? No way, I'm fine," She commented distractedly, keeping her head on a swivel.

I sighed, she had been like this since yesterday. Hell, even the chairman agreed with the exaggerated response of the police, he really wasn't a fan of foreign terrorists on Galarian soil and credit where it's due, he wasn't about to hand over a Galarian citizen to them either, he's still an arsehole though.

All I do know is apparently a dozen or so team plasma grunts were spotted, no one was saying anything else though. Which is why Zoey and Fiona currently had it worse than me and were now under a 24/7 guard, and boy were they pissed.

I'd had almost continuous texts from the two of them regarding it, and this evening we finally had the chance to meet up.

I had planned to return to the church and figure out a way to deal with the Grimm, but with all the eyes on me, that wasn't an option at the moment. Probably for the best though, it was caged, Plasma wasn't and the eclipse was around the corner.

Besides, so far, all I had on them was that they were vulnerable to iron and salt. Well, you could make a crossroads deal with them, but fuck that. And I don't have anything Holy, I don't even know how I would find something like that. Added on to that, the internet hadn't been as useful as I had hoped, Pokemon like Houndoom and Mightyena constantly came up instead of supernatural creatures of legend, it was annoying.

We only saw that monster yesterday because it wanted to be seen, now maybe being aware of the veil means I could see it anyway, but in the case it's not, I'd rather not be fighting something invisible.

There were some curses that could be useful though, in this case, a sight-based curse to see through all or see-through nothing, depending. Second was the, to see all curse, again there was an opposite, to see nothing, still trying to figure out exactly what that means and what they do. They could be physical, mental, or even philosophical in nature, it didn't say.

Ultimately, however, I think alchemy is my best chance against this thing, I just needed some iron.

"I know you aren't happy about this Jerry, but we just wanna keep you safe, OK," Sonia spoke up, likely mistaking my deep thinking for brooding.

I sighed again, Gran was slow in her old age, hence why Sonia had arrived first at the room yesterday, and why she was staying with me, at least until classes started tomorrow.

"Yeah, I know Sonia, let's just get to the cafeteria OK? Joy and Jenny finally manage to get out of their room," I responded, pulling ahead slightly. Though mentally I was cursing my inability to actually eat something filling, I needed to hunt, or get some Pokemon food, either or, that was a top priority.

'Should I make her leave?' Henrietta thought to me, and I could just feel the vindictiveness coming from her.

'Dare I ask how?' I responded, head throbbing at the strain, sleep had helped, but I needed food.

'A little hypnotic suggestion,' She replied gleefully.

'I didn't think you knew how to do that,' I questioned back.

'Of course I can, it's far easier than making an illusion or controlling someone,' Was her prideful counter.

'Wait, can you do that?' I asked once more, she'd never shown such abilities before.

'Not yet~,' She giggled, unnerving Sonia, who eyed the little witch. I seriously find myself questioning the lines between the game, anime, and life at times like this.

Sonia uncharacteristically sighed, "I know they're your friends an' all, but maybe keep some distance for now."

"What?" I questioned my sister in disbelief.

"I just meant till all this blows over, yeah? They've got an entire police force looking out for them, you don't," Sonia responded worriedly.

Sonia and Gran had been given the bare-bones version of Plasma and why they wanted the girls. In this situation, I was effectively a liability, possible collateral. They weren't pleased.

I get that, I do. But I am not defenseless I'd proven that, not that they knew. Still, I was absolutely adamant that I didn't care about the danger, it would be a cold day in hell when I would abandon my own.

I basically snorted and told Gran and Sonia to stuff it. That hadn't gone down well, but I was tired and stressed from the day's events. Still, I'd never done anything like that to them before, so I'd made my point in a way.

"This again? Sonia, I can look after myself, and for when I can't, I've got Hatty," I indicated the psychic acting as a hat on my head. Said hat hummed pleasantly in response.

'Aww, don't worry I'll keep my little human safe,' She communicated, though she knew only I would understand, so to Sonia, she physically made a show of patting my head with one of her feelers.

Sonia paused, once more eyeing the living hat. I, however, pinched the bridge of my nose. Hatenna knew that Sonia didn't trust her and was both amused and insulted by that. So in turn, she made a point of showing that she would be the one protecting me regardless.

"I appreciate the concern, I do. But I won't be quelled by some psychos like Plasma," I asserted.

"Jerry, please, just be safe," Sonia begged.

I winced slightly because let's be honest, that's not happening, I'm already wounded as is, though admittedly doing much better.

"Only if you do the same on your journey," I stated.

Sonia straightened seriously, "Jerry, I told you, I AM coming home."

"And so am I," I agreed. I was taking up this type of life to save people, not march to my death. I would do all that I could live with to make it home.

Sonia seemed at least somewhat relieved at my declaration, "Good."

We'd finally arrived at the mess hall, much to my relief, I really didn't want to continue this line of dialog.

Unfortunately, the cafeteria was packed, thanks in no small part to all the students that had arrived yesterday. Even so, my friends were easy enough to find, considering that they had a full squad of armed Jenny's escorting them and the rest of their direct and extended family besides.

"Jerry!" Jenny called, standing and waving her arms, which frankly got the entire room's attention.

Zoey was quickly pulled back down and began pouting, even Fiona looked exceedingly irritated with bags under her eyes. I had to roll my own eyes at the sight of all the uniformed Joy's and Jenny's, if they thought that would work as camouflage, then they were sorely mistaken. I could certainly tell the difference.

I felt Hatty's amusement flare through me as I shook my head in my own amusement.

There was little point in grabbing something to eat, I'd hunt later or sneak some pokemix, either or.

Making my way over to them, I immediately felt wary and curious eyes on me. Sonia wasn't as close now but was following regardless.

"Evening girls," I greeted walking up to them, good luck finding somewhere to sit, their family was everywhere. "I'd ask how you're doing but..." I trailed off.

Fiona snorted, though Zoey got up, much to her, handlers? Irritation, and greeted me with a hug. "Jerry, please tell me you know how to defeat them," She begged.

"No such luck, not without a lot more firepower anyway, we're working on it," I returned the hug, but the girl was still pouting at the answer.

"Easy ladies," Mama Jenny spoke up from beside her daughter, causing the assembled family members to, not relax, but more stand down.

"While we appreciate the thought kid, leave it to the adults, OK?" The armed response officer told me.

"Acknowledged," I confirmed.

"But if they attack me and mine, I'm stacking bodies," I added in response, my talk with the family of Pokemon yesterday had helped somewhat. I'd always known killing was a possibility and prepared myself for it, I like to think I dealt with my first sapient kill well, but having beings that didn't judge me for it was surprisingly helpful.

Sonia and Mama Joy both squeaked at my response, which was to be expected, I suppose. Though the simple raised brow from Jenny's mother, and a guff of laughter from an elderly man sitting next to the matron, Joy's grandmother from yesterday, was unexpected. I guess it must sound like naive bravado to them when a child says it, even with the darker aspect, they likely thought I was misunderstanding.

Jenny cleared her throat, "I doubt that will be necessary, and if they do, please try to restrain them."

I shrugged as a none answer, as my Joy openly snorted, and my Jenny shivered slightly at the reminder.

"Have trouble sleeping, Joy?" I questioned the obviously sleep-deprived girl.

Joy huffed, and it was Jenny that answered, "She was up all night reading that book you gave her."

Said book was handed back to me, Joy giving me a look that just said she had questions for later, or maybe that was just the sleep deprivation.

"Thanks," I acknowledged, as I returned the book to my bag as fast as I dared, without looking suspicious. Hatty took the chance to appear on Joy's head, much to their protection details' surprise, all of whom tensed.

The mother Jenny rolled her eyes at that. "Speaking of your belongings kid, I still need that tape," Mama Jenny brought up seriously.

"Right, I nearly forgot about that," I commented, retrieving the data stick from my bag. Then handed it over to the woman, who eyed the stick for a moment before nodding her thanks.

'Human!' A mental voice pushed behind me. I turned partly, in time to see the Mienfoo from yesterday jump on the table, once more spooking the twitchy officers present. And making Hatenna hiss in irritation.

"Good afternoon, Mienfoo," I greeted, a bit reluctantly. I knew why she was here. Hell, Jenny and Joy knew since I bitched about it in return last night over text... Note to self, have them delete those texts.

'Are you ready for our fight,' She inquired, where the hell are her parents?

"Ah, not really, I'm... Still not ready," I answered cautiously, very aware of the officers present.

"Fight!? Sick," Raihan appeared in quick order, ah, crap, where'd he come from.

The Draco could apparently understand our conversation, I mean of course he could, he's a natural adept.

"Fight!?" And there's Sonia, sounding both confused and concerned.

'Aww, still? I umm, I mean, of course, my apologies,' She bowed.

"So no fight?" The dragonkin asked.

"Oh, that reminds me, Jericho, ~" The Joy prodigy spoke up, in a tone that promised retribution.

Don't respond, don't respond, don't respond.

I grabbed at whatever the girl had tossed at my head, and reluctantly gave her my attention.

I looked at the fruit in my hand, a piece of a Sitrus berry, an energized berry with far stronger healing properties than a standard Oran.

"Why?" I begged an answer from the coyly smiling Joy.

"For shattering my worldview," She chirped. Much to Hatty's combined amusement and irritation. And the assembled officers and nurses confusion.

"Joy those are expensive," Her mother spoke up for the first time, frowning at her daughter.

I groaned, she's doing this deliberately, of course. She'd likely calculated this for maximum annoyance, but without openly giving anything away.

"Fight?" The Draco asked for confirmation regarding the new information.

I sighed, "Seriously, can you not?"

"What? That's one of the champion's Pokemon, and she wants to fight you, that's awesome," He grinned just giving it away. Well damn, that got plenty of people's attention in this, now, surprisingly quiet cafe... Right, of course, things are tense right now. Shit, think brain.

"She's a rookie like me and my partner, a psychic would give her a challenge around her level is all," I informed the, apparently, battle-hungry Draco. What I said wasn't a lie per se, some of the information just wasn't relevant.

'What? That's no- aah,' Was as far as the little fighting type got before I scooped her up.

"Well if you'll excuse us, we have to be off, HATTY!" I called, rapidly exiting the mess hall as my partner reappeared on my head. And leaving unintended chaos in my wake as several people scrambled out of my way and one unlucky individual fell as I charged their leg to get by.

As we exited, we did so to Joy's laughter and general mass confusion, leaving Sonia behind. I'm not proud of that last part, but I really don't want her to know.

'Hey, hold on,' The Mienfoo yelped in my grasp.

"Hang on a sec, you wanna fight, right?" I told her. She ceased her struggles at that, giving me a chance to throw the Sitrus berry chunk in my mouth.

After around 10 minutes of running deeper into the castle until I couldn't see anyone else in the hallways, so I picked a room and entered.

Quickly putting down the rather irritated fighting type, I took the chance to catch my breath and rubbed my itching chest.

Man those berries kicked, my chest had burned as my wound rapidly healed, and minutes later all that remained was a scar, and full energy reserves. Joy had calculated the correct amount, it seemed.

I had also received a couple of texts while running into this... Classroom? No, it was just a random room from the castle, it hadn't been refitted, it was an open space with deep gray stone walls and floors.

I pulled out my phone, and read the first message from Sonia, who now had my number, and was asking where I was. My response was a simple;

In the castle, I am OK.

I didn't explain further. The next message was more interesting;

Thanks for the distraction :)

Where are you

My eye twitched at Fiona's message, but I sighed and responded with the room location, as thanks for the berry.

"We're going to be getting some visitors," I said aloud, turning to the Mienfoo who was gently pulsing her aura.

"Umm?" I uttered in question.

'My parents wish to watch our clash,' She sounded proud.

'That isn't a problem, is it?' The Fighting type asked, looking me in the eyes.

"No, that's fine, the girls from yesterday are coming as well," I informed her, shaking my head.

Hatty grinned, 'Well, at least Fiona can put you back together.' She was teasing, but I could feel the underlying worry.

"It'll be fine," I said rather unconvincingly, let's be honest, I was losing against a poorly trained Watchog before, and I only have a few good psychic attacks in me.

This is going to be a pain, but the sooner it's out of the way, the sooner I can get back to work.

Luckily, it didn't take long for people to start showing up. The first, of course, was the mother and father from yesterday.

'Ah, so you two are ready for your play date?' The Mienshao chuckled to herself.

'Muuuum, we're not playing, we're sparring,' The Mienfoo complained to her mother.

And I couldn't help but chuckle alongside the father of the group, it was heartwarming to see, and after recent events, a welcome change.

Next to arrive was of course, Joy and Jenny, still in their uniforms, storming into the room and then slamming the door closed in fast order.

"You good?" I questioned the panting girls, well Joy was. Jenny was peeking back out the now cracked open door.

"Yup, no problems," Joy chirped, smiling just a bit too widely.

"Uh-huh," I responded cautiously, lest I piss off the sleep-deprived manic.

"Sorry, Jerry," Jenny re-closed the crack in the door. "But our families really aren't happy with us going off by ourselves right now," Jenny explained.

"Yeah, I gathered, I am honestly surprised you went along with this," I commented, the girl wasn't beyond bending the rules, but outright breaking them was new. Then again, is staying with her handlers a rule? Probably.

"W-well we ARE safe, and this IS more important," She replied, blushing in embarrassment, at her own audacity.

"Fair enough," I snorted, she wasn't wrong, but that could change in a heartbeat.

"Right, shall we get started then?" I questioned, rather unenthusiastically.

'Yes!' The little fighting type agreed, running opposite me.

"Hatty, if you wouldn't mind," I asked the young witch on my head, who huffed but teleported over to Joy's head.

I cracked my neck as a lines barrier formed around myself and the Mienfoo.

'Very well,' The Lucario cleared his throat, I'm not certain why though, he was using aura. Then he moved between the two of us, though outside the barrier.

'This will be a one-on-one match between, Mienfoo of the Aura Clan and Human of the Psychic Clan,' He announced, much to my confusion, it was likely a traditional thing. But being called Human was weird.

... I feel like I should have asked for more information before agreeing to this.

'You may begin,' The Lucario brought his paw down in a chopping motion.

And the fight was on, I know this because I was immediately dodging a palm strike to the chest.

I lashed out with an outer hammer blow, missing but backpedaling for distance, which didn't help considering how quickly the little Pokemon closed the distance.

As she struck with a kick, a barrier flared to life around me. Some of the blow was mitigated, but it shattered soon after, and I was still launched off of my feet into the lines barrier.

"Oww," I staggered back to my feet, with even more chest pain for my troubles.

"Yeah kick his butt, girl," Joy shouted.

"Really?" I responded, not taking my eyes off of my current foe.

Slam

Moving to the side, I avoided the follow-up punch. The Mienfoo was frowning like this fight wasn't up to her standard, and while I hadn't wanted this fight, that just pissed me off.

Well, if it's close combat she wants, I had something I had been dying to try. I pushed psionic energy into my fingertips and tensed my fingers into a claw shape, then swiped out, psychic claws were my version of psychic fangs, a physical psychic type attack.

But an attack means nothing if you can't hit, my fighting-type opponent jumped back, now grinning. 'Better,' Was all she said before re-engaging.

Another barrier formed and lighted me, so I could dodge her coming assault. "I aim to please," I quipped, flowing into the fight as my adrenalin began to kick in. This was different from sparring with Hatenna where we both usually stayed at range.

"Whoo, go, Jerry," Jenny responded to the scene. Well, at least someone was on my side.

With a yell, the Mienfoo struck with a glowing punch, which I sideswiped with a psionically infused knife hand, it wasn't quite a psycho cut, but it would do.

I backed up again, my hand still out as my confusion attack took hold, but as before, my ranged ability was really lacking, and I needed to act quickly before the attack was dispelled.

With a massive push of power, my energy tightened painfully, electing a yelp from the Pokemon. Then I pushed, slamming her back into the lines barrier.

"Ahh, dammit," I gasped, my reserves mostly depleted and the familiar pain in my head returning. I cut my barrier, retaking some of the energy.

The Mienfoo staggered as she recovered from the hit, and I was far too weak to exploit it.

The Pokemon shot forward again, more seriously this time, shit.

I had a second to put my guard up and manifest a single barrier to my front, which she slammed into.

'Oww,' She rubbed her muzzle. Then she glowed with aura.

"Uh-oh," Was my only comment as I poured whatever energy I had left into the barrier.

'No!' The Lucario yelled, but it was too late as an Aura sphere shattered the weak barrier and hit me, hard.

"GAH," I exclaimed, a half second before it detonated and heat washed over me.

BANG

I vaguely felt my back slam into something, then my face throbbed with pain as I struck the floor. I coughed and choked as my gut spasmed from the hit and I puked from the hit.

"Jericho," Came twin cries along with mental prodding courtesy of Hatty.

I ignored it in favor of my tunnel vision, staggering to my feet painfully, I saw my foe panting in exhaustion from her own attack, so that was something.

'Oh, thank the tree,' The Lucario sighed out.

'STOP!' Came an Aura-enhanced voice followed by several thuds, then suddenly the lines barrier shattered.

'I think that's enough, you two,' The mother jumped between us.

'Indeed,' The father agreed.

'Aww, it was just getting good,' The daughter commented

'Little child of mine, I think you have forgotten you were fighting a human,' The Mienshao gestured to me in time for my legs to give out as the adrenalin began to fade.

Thud

"Oww," I groaned, face-first on the floor.

'Oh,' The Mienfoo responded.

"You idiot," Joy sighed with Hatenna still on her head, having approached me along with her sister.

I simply groaned in pain and exhaustion, I couldn't think right now.

"Jenny, if you would," Joy asked her sister, and I suddenly found myself lifted into the air with Jenny giving a, "Sure."

I think I told them to put me down, but it came out more as, "Blut ma din."

"Jerry, shut up," Joy scoffed, as I was placed up against a wall, then things started making sense again as cool water rushed over me.

"Bah," I yelped in surprise, then noticed Hatty's familiar weight on my head. Right, life dew.

I groaned yet again and cupped my face, despite the healing move, my head was pounding. I better not have a concussion.

"Here," Joy demanded, ripping one of my hands away and placing a berry of some kind in it.

In too much pain to focus, I simply ate the sour-as-hell berry! "Blak, what is this!?" I demanded, regaining my mental facilities.

Joy grinned sadistically, "Oh, ~ that's just a sitrus berry without any sugar to help the medicine go down, now be a good boy and finish it, nurses' orders."

I paled and looked at the yellow pear-shaped fruit in my hand, it had several marks where I had bitten into it while I was still dazed, and a cutout piece missing, I'm guessing that's what I had beforehand.

I wrinkled my nose in disgust but complied, knowing better than to get further on her bad side. Fuck, it's like biting into a Lemon.

Hatty giggled at my misfortune, but I felt relief through our shared link.

Jenny sighed, "Really Sis?"

"Hey if he's going to keep getting injured then I'm not going to make it pleasant, he needs to think before he acts," She huffed.

I simply groaned again, for a different reason this time, having now finished the fruit.

"Oh posh, it isn't that bad," The trainee nurse rolled her eyes.

'I'm so sorry, Human,' The little Mienfoo bowed in front of us. And of course, Hatenna hissed her displeasure, causing the other Pokemon to wince.

"None of that," I sighed, putting a hand on my partner, who huffed.

"It's fine, I'm the one that agreed to it," I told my recent opponent. Against my better judgment, I didn't add.

"It was a good experience at the very least," I finished, pushing myself back up as the throbbing in my head lessened.

'Yeah,' She agreed, smiling again and nodding as if something sagely had been said.

'Oh no dear daughter, I told you to be careful when fighting the human, it seems you require more lessons in control,' The Lucario made his opinion known. The Mienfoo pouted at that.

'Apologies, she let the momentum of the fight control her,' The mother commented.

"No, no it's fine, I did the same," I replied.

'Yes, but you aren't trained, nor an experienced fighter, little kit. You are a new foundling, and a rookie adept. You did well,' She nodded.

"Thanks," I allowed myself some pride. Reincarnated or not, this shit isn't the standard.

'Come now, I believe it's time you got some rest yourself,' Mienshao patted her daughter's head.

'Mother,' She whined but was picked up by said mother and taken out of the room much to her protests.

'Wait, we need a rematch, we weren't finished, mum,' Was all I heard from the little fighting type as she was taken from the room.

The Lucario bowed, 'The psychic clan is lucky to have you, pup.' Before following his mate and daughter out.

Huh, well that just happened.

Though Joy had ignored most of the interaction in favor of rummaging through her bag, which was concerning, considering this was a look into Pokemon clan culture.

Joy straightened and grinned. "Hungry? Want some food?" Joy asked, pulling out a bag of pokemix and shaking it.

"Yes?" I said unsurely, because I was, but this IS Joy, and I'm not technically in poor health... Well, anymore. I'm not in poor health anymore. But I also know she still wasn't happy about the whole word view-shattering thing, nor likely this, and I doubt what she did in the cafe was the end of it.

"Good boy, come get the food," She commanded in a cutsie voice...

"Do- do you think I'm a dog?" I growled in irritation.

"Hardly, even a Growlith puppy comes when called, maybe when you do~" She mocked.

I growled again but got up regardless. I WAS hungry, it had been two days since I ate anything substantial outside of one or two pellets per meal time.

"See you can do it, aww, you even growl like one." She declared.

I shot a look at Jenny who was steadfastly ignoring her sisters' antics and just smiled and waved. I sighed but decided to put up with the girl's whims.

What she pulled out wasn't a food pellet.

Hatty teleported to Joy's head in time to break into laughter.

"No," I said firmly, she grinned.

'Jericho, the next time I'm teaching you, you can call ME master~' Came Henrietta's teasing mental voice. Oh, no, it's spreading.

10 minutes later, and I was sitting on the ground eating from a fucking dog bowl with my name on it, complete with a pink dog collar and padlock that read; If found return to Fiona Joy. How the fuck did she get this? Scratch that, she couldn't have gotten this here, how long has she had this?!

I sighed, it was likely her way of coping, so I'd put up with it for now. My pride had taken a hit, but at least I was full, and in a strange way I was touched that she put her full name on it.

Joy might have been a sadist, but you had to be alive in order to be tormented, which is probably why she had brought Pokemix with her.

Wait, that doesn't sound right, I shook my head, I'm 90 percent sure I have Stockholm syndrome from this girl.

"So what's the plan?" Joy asked in a sing-song voice, patting my head.

I sighed, having expected that casual continuity, "Honestly? The best thing I can think to do is leave the Grimm alone for now and deal with Team Plasma first."

"But isn't that Grimm a really big threat?" Jenny asked, leaning against the wall with us.

"No, well yes, but it's contained and not a direct threat right now, best to leave it be, I honestly have little clue on how to beat it," I admitted, tugging at the new collar around my neck.

Joy blinked at that, though smirked at my irritation, while her sister cocked her head in confusion before responding, "But you know everything about this stuff!"

I snorted in amusement, "Hardly, all I can reliably tell you about Grimms or Hellhounds, depending on who you ask, is they're low-tier demons that are only seen when death is about to come, with the standard weaknesses, Iron, salt, and holy objects."

"Holy objects?" Zoey inquired.

"Yeah, things blessed by a priest or considered sacred," I answered.

"You mean like a church?" She asked in confusion.

"Yeah, hallowed... Ground," I paused, and a cold feeling leapt to my chest.

"Jericho!" Joy yelled for my attention, frowning.

I started at that, "H-hallowed ground, but a demon couldn't... Desecrated, shit." A reverse pentacle in a church, hell the damn thing was ON church grounds, how did I miss that?

"The church, it's desecrated ground and with the Eclipse coming up, it might be powerful enough to escape, dammit," I grit my teeth and pinched my nose in stress, this wasn't good.

Slap

"Oww, why!?" I asked, rubbing the cheek that Joy had slapped. Then realized who I just asked that.

"How many eclipses have there been since the war?" She asked flatly... Ah, right, that's fair.

"Right, right, sorry, but this still isn't good, and was the slap necessary," I replied, still rubbing my face.

Joy merely smirked, and I sighed... Again.

"I can't believe I missed that, dammit all, you said in the initial investigation they found a reversed pentacle?" I asked the Jenny. At the girl's blank look, I clarified, pointing at my pentacle earring, "This, upside down, on the altar, right?" At my clarification, her eyes lit up in understanding.

"Ah, yeah, why?" She responded.

"Because it might be a way to beat it, did the report mention anything else?" I asked, if I could get rid of the summoner, who is likely dead, or the medium, that MIGHT work.

"Wait hold on, I thought all you knew about them was that they were demons that are weak to iron, salt, and holy objects?" Joy huffed irritatedly, crossing her arms.

"It's all I RELIABLY know, I've never tested any of this, but enough sources mention those things that it has a high probability of being true," I explained.

"So your plan is to get past the Grim and into the church to try something that might or might not work," She said flat as a runway...

"Well when you put it like that," I grumbled.

Smack, "Oww, why!?" I asked the cadet, who in a rare display, huffed at me.

"For being stupid, we work together now," She pouted, Joy looked so damn proud of her. And I was stuck rubbing my the cheek.

"OK, fine, let's... let's just go over the history of the place for now, OK?" I soothed, who knows, maybe I'll find something?... Oh who am I kidding, knowing my luck recently it's probably Cerberus's dog house in disguise.

"Sure," Jenny chirped, happily pulling out her phone."So it starts eight hundred years ago," She began, ah crap.

I groaned and tugged at the collar again.


Esther Jenny POV

I slowly entered the castle's retrofitted medical wing, which like most was predominantly white in color with several rows of beds on either side.

While I might not be on this investigation because of my closeness to it, I still wanted answers. I would not allow ignorance to harm my daughter or her sister.

Of course, Zoey and Fiona were both capable girls, but I still wasn't pleased that they had given their security team the slip.

Still, they should be safe in the castle and are likely with Jericho and his own Pokemon in the event that something does happen. I truly believe that boy would give those bastards Giratina's blessing if they tried anything, and make a ruckus doing it. The boy was feisty like that, more importantly, he wouldn't freeze.

"So what do we have?" I asked the on-duty Joy, Saline.

She sighed, "It's unusual, that's for sure." She paused and yawned. "Sorry been up since last night processing them," She gestured to the morgue door where several Team Plasma corpses lay.

"It's alright, we're all tired," I nursed the tea in my hand having not slept either. I'll be the first to admit I panicked when I heard that the fuckers private army was seen in the area, imagine my surprise when I found out they were all found dead.

"Right, well the bodies were found in an underused backstreet that some offices use to return from their beat a bit faster, almost like whoever did this wanted us to find them. Despite how they look all are in excellent condition, no damage to organs, not even blood loss, it's all superficial damage, we can't find out what killed them," Saline began rubbing her pink eyes and then stretching.

"What? But they were all torn up," I responded in confusion.

"Correct, but the damage was purely superficial like whoever did it was trying to deface them, not kill them," She continued, rising from her chair and moving toward the old iron door

"But they are dead," I confirmed, they wouldn't be in the morgue otherwise.

"Indeed," She opened the old iron door, that really should have been replaced by now.

Then the older woman moved over to one of the body bags and without ceremony opened it.

Inside was a pale ashen-colored corpse, though who it was, was up for debate considering the massive amount of lacerations, tearing, and burns on the body. Muscle on full display where the skin had been peeled back, with pieces of bone and blackened scabbing across the wounds.

"Oh, sweet Mew," In all my years I had never seen this. I took a step back at the smell, it was far worse than normal.

Saline frowned, unfazed, "Strange." And closed, the bodies open eyes.

"As you can see, this was some kind of torture, and all of them have this strange star mark carved onto their backs," She commented, rolling the body slightly and showing a five-sided star with the point facing downward cut into the left shoulder blade where the heart would be. I swear I've seen that Mark before.

I yawned, damn, I needed some sleep.

"So we think it's a cult?" I inquired, racking my brain for possible MOs.

"Yes, we think so, considering the branding, that or another terrorist organization, as it is, we have two possible A-class threats in the area, a memo has already been put out on the battle net, but we aren't sure who this second group is," She explained.

Well, they were killing people in Team Plasma so that was one good mark, too bad it was only grunts here, I sorted, then shook my head at my lapse in discipline.

This might have just been a target of opportunity though, I shudder to think what would have happened to the kids.

"Thanks, Lin," I said gratefully, heading back toward the door

"Sure Esther, we are family after all," She closed the body's eyes and rezipped the bag. Following me to the door... Wait, something seems off, I rubbed my temple in irritation then sighed, I was far too tired for this.

Bang

I jumped as Saline resecured the morgue with that stupid bloody door.

"Sorry," She grinned timidly, like a little Wooloo.

"It's fine, I'll see you in the morning, I have a little girl, or two, to rein in," I waved her off and pulled out my phone.


Jericho Arc P.O.V

"Well, that wasn't as helpful as I would have liked," I mentioned offhandedly. Jenny pouted and grumbled under her breath.

The church was old, yes, but its history was far from outstanding, it had sort of just been there throughout.

The head priest at the time, one Desmond Gale, however, had no history, like at all. And wasn't that concerning?

"Joy, you, OK?" I asked the girl, who had been rather absorbed with her own phone, and was now frowning.

"Yes, but there's an alert on my mother's profile," She paused again, checking something.

"Several bodies have been put into the castle morgue, no exact number, but more than one," She began tapping on her phone again.

"This place has a morgue? You think it's those grunts and the Gurdurr we fought?" I questioned, rather surprised, but also concerned. They'd found those bodies faster than I thought they would, and if they found my knife as well, that could be a problem. That's likely what had the police force in a frenzy, I had thought as much.

"Yes, and yes, unfortunately, it's still part of an ongoing investigation, I can't access any specific information," She replied, obviously annoyed.

"Great, just great," I rubbed my temples in my own annoyance, more shit to deal with. "I don't suppose you know how to get in there, do you?" I asked.

"Yes, but I doubt any of us will be able to get there, we all have escorts right now," She sighed.

"Besides any evidence would have been taken to the castle police office," Jenny piped up.

"Oh, for- What doesn't this castle have?" I was getting frustrated, admittedly.

"I mean, it IS meant to be able to function by itself during a siege," Jenny nodded to herself.

"Yeah, during the war maybe," I groaned before continuing, "Doesn't matter I need to check the morgue anyway, if it's not the grunts, then we're fine, it means Plasma got to them first. If it is, well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

"Excellent, plan," Joy said with so much sarcasm, you could sick an ocean liner.

"You got a better, idea? I don't like our odds against breaking into a police station, nor do I want to. Besides, tomorrow Sonia's going to be in class and Gran will be teaching, leaving me and Hatty available. Whereas you two are still under twenty-four-hour guard," I explained.

Jenny fidgeted, not liking the thought any better.

"Look, the eclipse is in three days and I can guarantee shit is going to get weird, I want to get this out of the way ASAP so we aren't dealing with multiple things at once," I informed my friends.

"Fine," Joy huffed, "Mum's key card SHOULD get you in, but you'll need to go there after hours, if someone's there it won't matter if you can get in."

"Well what do we after, we can't just attack a paramilitary organization by ourselves," Jenny stressed.

"Yeah we can't, but we'll have a breather for whatever the eclipse throws at us, speaking of," I paused a rummaged through my waist satchel.

"Here, Sage and salt," I handed over a bundle of dried sage and a bag of salt.

"My hero," Joy deadpanned.

"Oh salt, for the Grim?" Jenny inquired.

"Sort of, the Salt works on most unholy creatures, the Sage is something to burn that'll help ward against evil beings, usually ghosts with malicious intent and other intangible threats," I explained.

'Hey, what about me?' Hatennas voice echoed in my head.

I held up a finger in pause toward the two girls while I answered the, admittedly patient Pokemon, "You'll be with me regardless, besides we have a new curse to learn." That satiated the little which somewhat, though she still huffed.

"Curse?" Joy questioned, intrigued.

"Yeah we need to learn a curse to see what doesn't want to be seen, the Grimm, for example, wanted to be seen. It could have just as easily made itself blind to our senses, at least to my understanding," I told them.

Both girls paled at that.

"Oh, wonderful, now we're fighting things we can't see," Joy grit her teeth, though Jenny looked rather nervous at the prospect.

I shrugged, "Trust me I get it, it's why I'm working on it. We'll be able to perform a ritual on you, to bind the power to you as well. Once we've tested the spell, anyway."

"Really?" Jenny perked back up.

"Ohhh~" Joy smiled coyly.

"Yes, and no, it won't require a live sacrifice," I anticipated Joy's question, who began to pout as Jenny barked at the idea.

"Ideally I'll need some Aventurine stone and lily, quartz might work, maybe Daffodil's, likely all four. And some blue candles," I spoke before it went any further.

"Well I can probably get those plants from the garden, I AM trained in herbology, but the stones are another story, why those exactly?" Joy was showing genuine curiosity.

"Because, of what they represent; the blue candles mean truth, both flowers represent honesty, Lily's also mean purity, which would help. As for Aventurine, it means mental clarity, and quartz for universal clarity. At least for our purposes, they are," I once more explained myself.

"Can we watch!" Jenny exclaimed ecstatically.

"I mean, I don't see why not, but we need the materials first," I retorted.

"Yes!" She cheered.

Beep, Beep

"Not again," Jenny moaned as her phone rang.

Guess our time's up for now.


A/N As you can see all sides are missing some information here. And if it isn't sorted soon, shit will hit the fan.

I hope it came across that Jericho was more been firm with his family rather that activly insulting.

Joys sadistic side makes a comeback now they arn't about to die, too much? Or humorous? You decide.

BiazarKaiser: Ain't that the truth, as for the grimm youve got some parts right, others are a bit off.

frankieu:Yeah I figuered why not use the shows faults as my gain.

Sir Da Bomb: Thanks once more for the check over, awesome.