Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon. This work includes artistic depictions of underage, incestuous, and Pokémon x human relationships. GKEA SINNOH SAGA has potentially traumatizing plotlines including rape, abuse, sex trafficking, grooming, and even death. While at its core a love story, drama, and adventure, there are dark parts. Additionally, I don't condone anything degenerative that I write.

Reader discretion is advised.

Any similarities to people in real life is purely coincidental, no real humans were hurt/involved in the creation of this story.

Avery's Pokemon

1. Evangeline/Eva

Gender: Female

Nature: Rash

2. Lady

Gender: Female

Nature: Modest

3. Chastity

Gender: Female

Nature: Adamant

4. Dusty

Gender: Male

Nature: Hardy

5. Sprite

Gender: Female

Nature: Quirky

Chapter: Tides of Darkness

That dark, empty place again. Lady recognized it for what it possibly was: the dream realm, a place between realities where many things lurked - her mom and dad's favorite feeding ground. This time, the little Kirlia's surroundings were far different, though still vaguely familiar; there was no sense of urgency, no voice in her head taunting and goading her into action, no bright light to wander into. There were still holes in which one might fall to oblivion, though, but since the start she'd known that there are always places you're not supposed to go, but especially here.

Darkrai was blissfully absent, and when she focused, the sound of water crashing against sand could be heard, like a gentle ocean. Swirling images beckoned from every direction. Lady sighed, her eyes cast toward the bleak horizon, taking in the misshapen miasma of other beings' dreams flitting this way and that like ugly caterpillars and fireworks in the sky, streams of energy, and flat, lifeless blobs drifting this way and that. This "place" was filled with a darkness that lived within lighter darkness; it would make no sense to human eyes, and barely did to her own, but every time she came here the more things took shape, made sense. She doubted she could ever truly understand this place, every sight unsettled her.

The hollow wind and crashing water were oddly dull in comparison to a soft whisper that began to call out to her, a familiar, unbelievable voice. She was wrong about not hearing voices, apparently, but it wasn't Darkrai. Perhaps it was worse. Walking slowly toward the echoing source of the sounds, a hazy mist of darkness parted, and Lady found the speaker, a figure sitting alone, a few paces away, dipping their feet in a far-reaching, dark pool of shadow imitating an ocean body. The source of the water sound, and the voice. Dark waves licked even darker sand.

The impossible woman turned her head and offered a smug grin. "Been a while, hasn't it?"

For a long time, Lady said nothing in reply - the green-crested Pokemon merely stood there and stared with a slow-blinking, calm red gaze. She had no doubt she could leave if she wanted to, but perhaps this visitor had come for a reason. So she strode over and sat next to the woman, even as her heart began to race.

"Are you a... ghost or something? How did you get here?"

"A ghost? Don't be silly. Come now, I'm never far," Vanessa smiled, placing a hand upon Lady's head, caressing her with a strange, almost familial fondness. Lady despised the touch - a cold, wet feeling filled her: the touch of the dead. She was being pet by the shadow of a corpse, a sad, pathetic reflection of the woman she'd killed. Here, in this place between worlds, Vanessa was a replica of herself before she died, false flesh and all. It was like staring at a reanimated monster, but Lady was far past the days of cowering, terrified with fright when she saw the impossible. How could she protect anyone that way? The words hung in the air between the pair.

Was this just a normal dream, or was this visitor real? She could be a figment of Lady's imagination, or some buried guilt conjured up in corporeal form, but that was unlikely. Whenever Lady thought long and hard about it, she found she couldn't regret a thing, and never had. One of her fondest memories was getting revenge on the disgusting woman sitting in front of her - eating this human had been a truly joyful experience, but perhaps some buried part of her didn't agree? She doubted that. Dipping her legs in dream waters like Lady had never even killed her in the first place, the sight of this woman was starting to make her angry. Everything she'd done to Master Avery, done to the poor little humans in that mansion, Lady had treated her to in turn and then some - so why was she here? A nightmare? This had to be a nightmare.

When Vanessa's dark, hollow eyes stared into hers, she found she couldn't cast the meaning of this visit aside so hastily, even if it was senseless. "You deserved what I did," Lady remarked cooly, "If you've come for revenge or to try and make me feel bad about killing you… don't bother, Vanessa."

Vanessa merely shrugged, leaning back and tossing a leisurely hand through her long, blond locks. "Perhaps I did deserve it," her very pale, plump lips twisted into a smirk. "You were judge, jury, and executioner. I had no say in the matter. I don't care about that sort of thing, anyways. I'm a dead woman."

"A dead woman visiting my dreams... Tell me why."

Vanessa leaned back, wiggling her bum in the sand as she sighed pleasantly. "I love it here. True freedom at last. It's been fascinating to see the world through your memories. I wonder if you realize how similar you and I are." For a moment, Lady considered disagreeing - but there was no point in pushing back against the spirit of a dead woman. Vanessa turned, skimming her eyes up and down the Kirlia with a strange light in her gaze. "The reason I came… The only reason that matters anymore, of course. Do you realize what will happen if you don't take what you want? You can't ask. Weaklings beg. But you're bigger than that, better than that, aren't you...? You need to be…"

"Tell me, are you satisfied with the Buneary's touch? Does she set your soul on fire, make your heart sing and cry out for more? No… No, she merely made you wither inside, knowing what you really wanted, and what you were accepting instead. But it felt good to burn on the outside didn't it, to feel alive and loved even just for a moment. She worshiped you… as you deserve, as I do… Such joy. I understand that feeling. Pleasure, but with a layer of acid, a slap across the face. The bottom line is that you deserve more. Don't you?"

Vanessa put an arm around her, and pulled Lady close until their legs were touching. The Kirlia merely sat there, lost in her thoughts. What would Master want her to do in this scenario? Surely, he'd tell her to run as far from this woman as possible, but that was the way he was. Always running, always so frightened, so she couldn't be; Lady had known that since she'd seen his face in that nightmare realm, where Darkrai had assembled some kind of mock court to tear Master's insides apart, putting them on grisly display. Sometimes, she relived that moment. So soft and vulnerable in his sleep, she'd called out to him, and used her love to pull him away from that dark place. She'd saved Master from Darkrai, and got what in return? Nothing. Less than nothing!

Lady still remembered the feeling of Master's hand slapping her face, his face staring down at her as if she were a stranger, as if she hadn't killed Vanessa for him . The slight, burning pain, the sudden, humiliating lack of physical control, that had truly been like acid inside. Worse was the humiliation of having used his mouth without permission the way she had. She'd wanted the real thing, and settled for scraps like a lowlife.

"The lukewarm mouth of our sleeping beloved, the insistent touch of an unworthy Pokemon… are either of these really options anymore? Sure, amuse yourself with playthings, but don't stray from the real goal."

"I-I don't need love advice from a dead woman - and don't - don't say "our beloved." You don't love him. You never did. You don't know how to love, Vanessa."

"Because you know so much about it? Adorable! Either way, the advice is there. I can't choose what you do with it. You do recognize it, though, don't you? The truth? Unworthy of his touch, all of them, yet they do whatever they want with him. Everybody has free reign to sweet, strong Master's body… except for you…"

It was true, all of it. Eva was attached to him, pleasing herself, Chastity was using his body whenever she wanted like they owned each other completely… but not Lady. Never Lady, save a few kisses that she herself had to fight for.

"But perhaps you don't deserve him. You betrayed your loyalty to him, purely for excitement …"

When Chastity had touched her, the heat had overwhelmed her… and she'd…The angry, passionate moment beneath Coronet flashed in Lady's mind once more. Chastity's deep brown eyes looking into hers, the hot stroke of tongue against that swollen, lonely place, and then the mutual effort of writhing, bucking, holding each other until they drove closer and closer. Even now she couldn't ignore the hollow ache in her heart as she silently acknowledged and accepted that Master's favorite little hole was making her feel good instead of him. But it was more than just pleasure, meaningless touching. Chastity said it was, they'd agreed it was.

Here, in this dark place… everything seemed less clear. Her mind was cloaked with a fog of slight exhaustion, horribly aware at other times. Vanessa's words rang with a bitter, acrid truth. Lady betrayed Him and her values, just because she longed for the tiniest taste of what she couldn't have. Lady clenched her jaw, her ruby eyes burning with tears. There was so much she wanted to say, but when she opened her mouth, she realized all her thoughts were swirling around, and she didn't quite know how to get anything out except a soft cry. Vanessa spoke in half-truths and spoke Lady's own thoughts back at her. To argue, to agree, would be pointless, and the dead blonde knew it.

Vanessa smirked, giggling softly, absolutely delighted with herself. Then, she leaned close. "It's okay, Lady. You just felt naughty… you felt like a bad girl. I like that feeling too. Here's a lesson. Deserve is what we make of it. You deserve Master because you want him, and because you have the ability to take him… that's the truth of the world. The truth about power. I learned that from you." Vanessa tucked her arms around the Kirlia, delicately embracing her; the human woman's damp chest pressed against the side of the psychic-type's face, and just for a moment, the shadows in the water passed away and the two of them were reflected clear as day.

The twisted woman was peering down at Lady with an odd, morbid affection, an almost maternal light in her eyes; Lady looked so small and fragile, a tiny, ruby-eyed relic within the band of Vanessa's porcelain arms. Everything just felt so cold… yet she burned inside, the way she always did, with a million thoughts and emotions.

Glancing up, Lady managed to hastily plaster on a weak smile. "Chastity, she's just helping me. She's a friend." Lady's voice quivered at the end of her statement, betraying her doubt, and she burned with humiliation. Voices were not real here. Any tone, any inflection in the voice at all, was a display of one's insides. Hesitation, stuttering, signs of fear - these were all hints of genuine weakness in this place.

"What does she know about Avery? Come now, don't be a fool. You know how to get what you want. Take it. He wants it. He's waiting for you." Lady grasped her head. It was throbbing, aching. The words rang true, so cold and desolate. Vanessa's mouth hovered closer now, "No more patience. No more waiting. No more weakness. Take it… take what you want. "

It was tempting… and the icy claws of doubt threatened to tear her apart, but… No. Lady slowly exhaled, blowing all of her dark thoughts and fears away, thinking deeply, clearly, for the first time since she'd opened her eyes and found herself here. It would be far easier to let herself be angry, imperious, but she'd promised that fluffy-eared whore she'd try her best to stay at least lukewarm with the others - and why shouldn't she be?

Master, no matter how she felt about it, loved each and every one of them - even the mangy mutt. She supported him, and Eva… Well, that was complicated. Her promise to be "kind" still applied in her dreams. Besides, she could never trust a word coming from this should-be corpse.

The only human Lady would listen to was Master. Not because she owed him anything, not because he was right, but because of the role he was to play in her life. One day, she would stand proudly by his side as his most formidable lover, the one he held at human gatherings, the one he would show his true self with. Vanessa appealed to Lady's emotions, the ones she specifically buried inside herself. There were small truths mixed in with what she said, but Vanessa had it wrong. Of course, it'd be so lovely "take what she wanted", to wrap the tendrils of her mind around sweet Master, force him awake from his slumber and, while he was caught unaware, clamber between his legs and bathe him in forceful bliss, mounting that beautiful throne just for her between his legs, but that would poison everything. Poison his love for her. Lady wanted him to drown in desire for her the way she'd seen in her past, in her vision. She craved that moment, that flash of the future. Master, pinning her down because he wanted to, his strong hands, the heat of his big body, the wet heat of his mouth.

Dizzy with a strange rush of clarity and euphoria, Lady genuinely laughed out loud, earning a puzzled smile. Temptation was fun, but Vanessa's "advice" was merely food for thought at this point. The path that woman offered was the one that filthy animal of a human herself had walked, one of retribution, loneliness, and empty pleasure. She'd faced Darkrai, what could possibly best her at this point?

When she pulled away from the woman, Vanessa didn't cling, and she found the veil of pessimistic gloom lifting. The farther away from the cold woman she got, the more she regained her clarity. Lady brushed herself off with a dignified sweep of her hands. Focusing, she closed her eyes, and focused on the words of her father as he had briefly taught her in the past. She calmed herself, and let all her fears, worries, and awareness drift away. Returning to a natural rest was hard to do, but it was necessary for dream eaters. For a few seconds, nothing about her surroundings changed, the shadowy world remained around her. Then, her focus paid off. Floating and twisting like a page being ripped, the shadows were torn asunder from all around her.

"You'll see it my way, eventually. Perhaps we'll see each other again." Offering one last knowing smile, the beautiful, blond matriarch of that cursed, burned down household, turned and dove into the liquid, ebony depths.

Lady woke up with a start, gasping. Standing next to her and holding her was a welcome, familiar face. Chastity was lifting her out of the warm pool of water she'd been put in. The normal-type was trying to carry the Kirlia on her back. As rapidly as the dark events came, they left, flooding out of Lady's mind like a rippling whirlpool. For a moment, frightened, she didn't know where she was, how, or why she was here… then the memories started trickling in, along with the comforting words of her companions. She only vaguely remembered her dream, a sketchy outline of it, whispers of words, Vanessa's face.

Chastity was saying something about being glad Lady was okay, being worried she'd made a mistake about exerting herself for Sprite's sake. Inhaling deeply, the Kirlia relaxed as much as she could. Her nightmare wasn't real, but the pain in her head unarguably was. A distant ringing sound seemed to linger at her periphery. She held her head, and Chastity glanced back at her worriedly as she adjusted the psychic-type on her back, using her ears now to hold her aloft. Sighing softly, brooding about her dreams, Lady snuggled into her secret lover's big, fluffy ears. She'd never, ever admit that the soft warm fur banished the fear she'd been trying to hide from. She'd played it cool in front of that… thing, that imitation, or perhaps it was the real thing. Whatever it was, feigning pure confidence had been exhausting. Her headache was dull now, but a constant sleepiness tugged at her, and then there was that sound. The darkness in the cave around them, despite not being that bad with her own vision, was still not the natural light she was born under. She was tired of having a roof of rock overhead, tired of the dry air, the twisting shadows.

"I can carry her, if you'd like," Dusty rumbled, and Lady opened her mouth to instantly reject that offer, but Chastity shook her head.

"No, I've got it. You focus on Sprite. She seems a bit out of it…" Despite her legs being mostly alright now, the little Surskit was still in shabby shape. Her once-injured legs had a subtle, uncontrollable tremble, seeming to weaken every few steps, but perhaps that was just because the water-type was so frightened of everything now. Suddenly aware of how small and helpless she was surrounded by rock that had almost crushed her, she clung to Dusty's front paws like she was one of his pups.

Leaving the pool of water behind them, they began their journey heading into a tunnel that climbed downward steeply first.

"Where are we going?" Lady asked.

The Zubat brothers fluttered above them, chattering audibly. One interjected. "To meet Big Yellow!"

"Pssh, brother you absolutely CAN'T call her that! If she heard you…"

"But have you SEEN that big butt! I haven't!" That particular bro swiveled over to Lady, fluttering his wings and blushing. "Get it? Because I have no eyes?"

"-5 points," She remarked dryly.

He fell to the ground, where he weakly twitched, dramatically acting as if her words had mortally wounded him.

One of the two still fluttering in the air whistled softly, "I don't believe in all that royalty stuff anyways. 'Fair Lady this, Fair Lady that.' None of us do. In fact, weren't you just calling her Miss Piss earlier?" He turned to the brother that had protested against uncouth nicknames for this "Fair Lady" person.

The "offended" brother drew back in feigned horror. "W-WAIT! W-We're about to see her! What if she reads my mind and sees that I find that nickname so funny!? Or that I like her big bu-"

Lady wished she'd never spared those three after they attacked in a frenzy while she and Chastity had been trying to work their way back to everyone else. She figured they'd be useful, but now they were just a nuisance! She glowered at Dusty. "Explain their… babble. You don't seem very confused by what they're saying."

His big ears flicked. "Oh. Uhhh… Yeah. I guess their brains shut off when they're talking to you. This "Fair Lady" or… Miss Piss, I don't know, she's supposedly some special Medicham that is… their mother or something? And she's differently colored? I don't know. They were explaining it while you were sleeping. I find it hard to listen to them…"

That was relatable.

Chastity sighed. "You're so dumb, Dusty. Basically, she's the boss around here. As for the 'piss' thing, I don't know, she supposedly has golden skin."

"Yeah! And Avery, he's nearby, or in the same area, it seems. Not exactly sure how far apart we are, but I'll find him," The Furfrou grinned, "I'm on his trail."

Good, because Lady was in no mood to do anything but basic thinking at the moment. "So… you can smell Master, then?"

The big normal-type turned his maw her way. "Yes, he's close."

"Tch. I'll believe it when you bring me to him." Lady snuggled into Chastity, closing her eyes, no longer interested in the conversation. Their journey was progressing with relative ease thus far. Her surroundings faded into the background as she settled into a half-slumber.

"I can't believe you turned out to be such a… Well…" Chastity trailed off. The big, fluffy dog seemed amused. "Well… You went from rapey to kind of a cutie."

'A cutie?' Lady scowled. 'Hardly.'

Dusty froze, his amusement died away. Of course he'd not forgotten that time… "Rapey? Cutie?" He woofed anxiously, "Listen… I-I wasn't in my right mind that day in the garden. My mind just… when I saw you there… your fluffy little hips, your big, beautiful eyes and ears…"

Lady had to force back a retching noise. He might as well confess his love to the bunny. She almost preferred the chatter of the Zubat brothers… though, Lady had to agree about her hips. Hanging onto Chastity now, Lady became hyper-aware of just how strong and shapely sweet little Chastity was, carrying her all on her own. Her cinnamon brown fur was so soft and warm, the cream-colored fluff like touching clouds.

"If I'd known you were such a reliable mate maybe I would've let you have your way with me before

Avery did~ too late now, I'm all his. Though, maybe he'd let you have a go? What do you think, Lady?"

"O-Okay! Don't answer that! Now I know you're just teasing me," Dusty growled, his voice lowering into a gravelly rasp, and the Buneary giggled with delight.

"Oh? I'm teasing you? I didn't realize." Chastity was smiling broadly.

"W-What!? What does that mean?" Dusty desperately looked at Lady, who stared back mutely, then at Sprite, who was merely trotting along quietly. The Zubat brothers laughed, obviously not willing to help out a love rival. With a helpless expression, the muscular, pale-furred canine met Chastity's cocoa gaze head on, his ears twitching. "…Does that mean you were being serious? About…"

"Hmm? Oh, sorry, could you do me a favor and just focus on using that nose of yours to find Avery?" A long moment of silence; Lady heard a water droplet land somewhere in the particular passage of the cage they were going through.

"...Fine, but only because you creeped me out, you pervy Buneary," Dusty growled, "let's go Sprite."

Angrily, he trotted ahead of them, nudging his water-type companion onto his head. Lady and Chastity watched him trot away.

"Something creeped out, that's for sure!" One of the Zubat brothers remarked, causing his siblings, and of course, Chastity, to burst into laughter. Lady scowled when she realized what a filthy joke that was, the flash of pink between Dusty's legs something she had been trying to block from her mind.

"Lady, you should join in next time. Good practice for Avery," Chastity remarked, awfully proud of herself.

Half-awake, diligently hanging on the Buneary in a state of attempted meditation, Lady sighed "You're insufferable, absolutely not." But she smiled.

Negotiations failed. Marissa was just too suspicious - supposedly. The lone council of one, Stu, Marissa's handler, had many questions, and Jack's dear sister had far too few answers. Even so, Jack saw a way out the more the two of them spoke. Everyone knew Vanessa, about the kind of power she wielded, and how she and Stu were what some would call a team, partners, allies at the very least, and absolutely lovers. At some point, it was even rumored Vanessa was going to become a council member, but that was all in the past now. There was camera footage of Marissa on the scene, and of course, her identification chit pinged when she used a Salvation car to escape. All these things Marissa tried to hastily explain away, but the end result was the same: many slaves escaped, Vanessa died, the mansion and many of the profits within burned down, suspicion all over the region flared up. The truth was, Marissa was not innocent, far from it, and Stu knew it.

Listening to all that had transpired, Jack could merely stare in wonder at the pink-haired woman sitting next to him. His sister was truly this deep in Salvation?... And what had Juliet gotten his sister involved in?

The massive man smiled slowly and put his cigar out in an ashtray perched on the left side of his desk next to a large globe. Despite his external friendliness, there seemed a dark shadow cast over Stu's features. Marissa shifted in place in her chair. She was grasping her left arm with her right hand, staring at the surface of the desk.

Never in Jack's life had he seen her so doubtful, so terrified. Pallid, the pink-haired idol had nothing to say, nothing to leverage over the man they sat across from.

"You can ask anyone that survived. I was purely there to visit Vanessa with Amara, but not as allies, just as fellow coordinators. We had dinner, some of our…associates showed up, and…things got foggy at some point around here. Then, I woke up, and the whole place was on fire. There's grunts nearby, some kind of…monster creature. I have no idea what happened. I promise, that's the truth!"

"The funny thing is I have talked to survivors, Marissa, and they tell me a different story. You left with the Higgs boy, practically lovey-dovey. You've talked on the news about how he's your boyfriend, so don't play games. The way I see it, I can't afford to have you walking around independently anymore. You know too much, and, I can't prove it, but I know you had a direct part in Vanessa's death. I just feel it in my gut."

"S-Stu, I promise you; I had nothing to do with her death! Everyone agreed Vanessa was a bitch, but I never, ever wished-"

"Be quiet," Stu roared, slamming his fist down, and Marissa, startled, sat down. "If you had no part in it, then you should be more than glad to stay by my side and assist me in putting all the pieces back together!"

"Stu, I have family obligations, we both do. This-this has never been a primary part of my life."

Stu smirked at the coordinator. "Well, it is now."

"That's enough," Jack swallowed hard. "Please, Stu, my guy…whatever you need her for…" He put a hand on his chest and, nodding firmly, let himself sound sure of what he offered, "…let me do it instead."

"Jack, you don't know what you're agreeing to!" Marissa sat up with a start, but Jack merely turned and smiled, shushing her softly. Hesitant, she relented, sinking back in the chair with an expression of defeat. "Jackson…Please don't…"

"It's okay, Marissa. I've got this," He smiled and turned back to the temporary Chairman. "Stu, come on. You know me. You once called me a slimmer, younger, ginger version of you. Which is pretty much your opposite, but I've always respected that energy."

Stu's angry red mask cracked as he slightly smiled.

Jack grinned back. "That's right. I'm much more fun to have around than Marissa. Let her go, and you and I can be buds. Reluctant hostage versus willing companion? Something like that?"

After a long moment of silence, the clock ticking audibly, Stu turned in his squeaky desk chair to peer directly into Jack's eyes with a Sharpedo-esque smile of deep, dark interest. He nodded at his Magmar, Jewel, and with a dip of her head, she obeyed some sort of silent command because the temperature in Stu's office began to steadily climb, steam erupting from her body. In moments, Jack felt like he might overheat. Less susceptible to the outrageous temperature, Stu dabbed off some of the sweat gathered on his hanging chins but kept himself well put together.

"Yes, yes… Jack, you're the one who showed me that Zoey girl. That right there, very helpful to me, more helpful than you could possibly imagine…" More reptile than man at that moment, Stu stood up and turned away so that only his Pokemon was looking directly toward them, the dark pupils of his Magmar simmering into the pair. "You're not like your pathetic friend, Avery - that brat who I just know killed my sweet Vanessa! Yes, that's right… Your "friendship" with him might serve me. Some new details have arisen that I'm very interested in…"

Stu pondered it more deeply, and just as Jack thought he'd agree, the fat man shook his head. "But no. It won't do. I intend for Marissa to run the circuit now empty with Vanessa's death. There is a financial void left behind that must be filled."

Jack's face went pale. "Come on, Stu! My sister won't have time to do what you ask, even if she was the right person. She's a member of the Hearthome Triad. It'd never work!"

Stu nodded at that. "Hmm. You speak sensibly, but Salvation's circuits are almost always run by women. It puts the guard of public officials down; they're far less suspicious of more soft-spoken people, and male cops are easier to seduce than the alternative. More than that, gathering clientele, throwing parties, all the necessary social obligations… These are affairs better managed by the fairer sex. As much as I'd like to accept your gracious offer…"

Jack slammed his hand down on the top of Stu's desk, shaking his head. "It has to be me."

"Has to be? And why is that?"

Jack trembled. Then, he licked his lips. "Many reasons. Mainly… because I have important information that will stop someone very important from infiltrating the S.S Amber. A man, an international cop."

Eyebrows furrowing, Stu sat forward, his interest immediately ablaze.

"Jack," Marissa sounded horrified. "W-what are you doing?" She said it so quietly Stu didn't hear, but the Magmar narrowed her eyes at the woman suspiciously.

"Tell me this, boy, why exactly do you want this? Suddenly so adamant…"

In another life, perhaps Jack was a hero. Saving his sister was part of it, but the rest of the truth was far uglier. "You said something about running a 'circuit.' So, I'll be allowed to have my own place to run, right? Just like Vanessa supposedly did?"

"Hmph, yes, though, not immediately. I have many such places, an empty one is being readjusted to better suit these purposes as we speak… you truly want to be my right hand?"

Jack slowly nodded. "I truly want it. Most importantly, I want my sister to be able to enjoy our big family cruise on the S.S. Amber. And I… want nothing to do with that. I want to be as far from that ship, from responsibility, as possible. I-I just want to have fun with my starter, get away from rules and stuff…"

"What about this international cop? How do you know him? How do I know you're not working with him?"

"Because telling you about him ruins any chance of me working with him. I was working for him, I'll be honest about that, but against my will - not because I wanted to." In a few short sentences, Jack explained everything. "I want out. I want nothing to do with him or that ship."

Stu let out a short, barking laugh. "I see how it is. All very convenient, Jack. Well, let's go with this… I'll verify that information, you help us take care of this 'International cop,' and we can definitely reach an agreement. As long as you stay with me, your sister is free to go."

Not so bad, but Marissa was in despair. Jack smiled amicably, and the two men nodded and shook sweaty hands. Pleased, Stu sunk back in his chair and clapped his hands three times in short fashion.

After a while, a familiar blue-haired woman appeared from the hallway. "Mystica, you remember Jack? Jack, Mystica?"

Flinching, the ginger avoided the beautiful newcomer's eyes, but not out of shyness, "Of course, I recognize her."

"*If I do end up letting you run some of my 'business,' it'd likely be with Mystica by your side. She's been recently "unpartnered" so to speak. She's great at breaking in recruits."

THIS woman as his trainer/partner?! As if sensing his thoughts, and she probably did, the blue-haired woman, known as Mystica the Man-Hater around the Hearthome Fanclub, smirked right at him . She was practically infamous; the obnoxious woman found male partners she could abuse, dominate, and resent them at the same time she was obsessed with controlling and touching them… pretty much one of the worst women on the planet in his view. What had he gotten himself into?! Surely, Marissa might be able to face this fate better… but no. He'd picked his path, turned away from his other one.

Swallowing, Jack stepped forward and, smart enough not to look Mystica in the eyes, he looked down at her feet and said, "Apparently, we might be working together on a.. Circuit, or something, whatever that means. I look forward to it."

"Look at me."

Jack turned his gaze up, and at once, Mystica peered into him. Her eyes were glowing. As he felt the sudden intrusion of strange, finger-like sensations in his mind, he was thankful Marissa had been spared this fate. He had a fair amount of experience dealing with Jasper, Kiana's Espeon. The crueler of the twins often foisted all responsibility of her partner onto him when she was home and didn't want to deal with it. So, in a way, he could handle this - his sister probably couldn't. It was just a matter of staying calm, thinking pleasant thoughts. Assumedly. In reality, it felt like his brain was being sifted over hot coals, but then just like that, all sensation was over.

Mystica stepped back, expression neutral.

"How is he?" Stu questioned. "An ally? A proper recruit?"

The water-psychic trainer was silent for just a bit too long. She stared at him, ran her eyes up and down his long, athletic frame. "I already would've guessed it… but Jack the Pervert here is more suitable for the task of being your main man than... probably anyone I've ever seen. A true, self-serving piece of shit if I've ever seen one. Certainly not going to snitch on us, he's got too many skeletons he needs our help getting rid of."

Marissa broke her silence. "What about facing everything together, Jack? I-I'm sorry, but I can't allow this." Her neon blue eyes were so full of worry...

"Yet you'd allow my sweet Vanessa to die?" Stu snapped suddenly, and at that moment, Jack saw clearly just how much the man hated his sister. He swept his hate-filled gaze onto Mystica as well. Maybe he despised them both. "The two of you, Spencer, all of you - you failed me! All my investments in that mansion are gone now…" His fat hands quivered, then clenched. His knuckles turned white, and at his side, his Magmar shifted, drifting closer to him. He put a shaky hand on her head, as if the mere presence of his Pokemon calmed him, and he exhaled slowly. "Girls, leave. Jack, stay put…"

Marissa clearly wanted to protest. The twin-tailed coordinator opened her mouth.

Hardening his gaze, Jack shook his head and pointed to the door. "Get out of here, Marissa. Go meet our family; I'll be fine. Stu and I are bros."

Teary-eyed, she grabbed his hands. "You don't need to do this, I'm older than you. I should be the one making sacrifices…"

"It's not a sacrifice. Go, Marissa. Please." She opened her mouth to protest some more, and angry, Jack sharpened his tone. " Please. You've been absent my entire life. Let's not pretend we're different now"

Stunned into silence, her neon blues burrowed into his. Of course, his words rang with truth. It had always, over ever been about him. Whatever this was between Marissa and Jack, it was a confusing lie, something he didn't even deserve. Her sweet perfume engulfed him as she stepped close. Placing a gentle kiss on the corner of his mouth, Marissa smiled weakly. "I've always cared about you. Always will…"

A few seconds later, Marissa and Mystica left, joining the group of people gathered upstairs in the first floor of the Pokemon Fanclub. Now it was just the two of them, Jack and Stu. The fat man sighed softly. "If I'm to train you, recruit you…you have a lot of catching up to do, Wainwright. Starting with you telling me about this 'international cop' of yours and exactly what he has planned for the S.S Amber. You realize Salvation membership is almost always for life..."

Jack nodded. "Well, truth be told, there was never a way out of trouble for me. Not with what I do, what I've done. There's only one thing that matters to me: Whatever Marissa was involved in… she's out, and I'm in."

Stu grinned. "You can play the hero if you want, but I can see it in your eyes… the burn of ambition. Welcome to the sickness, my boy."