Only Way Forward

"Devon Dwyer, eldest of three. She'd recently moved to Sinnoh with her family and now seeks to start her journey with her very own Pokémon. What could possibly go wrong..."

Chapter 6 – Old scars, new ghosts

8-8

"We're moving." The words come out cold, stale, lifeless. Sitting in my bed, I find myself staring at the ceiling. I never did like moving—the chaos and the insanity and the new surroundings and the asinine new people. I hated moving to Solaceon, I hated moving here. Even though I was able to make a new start in Solaceon, that I got to know Jen and Trevor. Even though our family expanded here in Veilstone, adding momma—who I love to bits. I still hated it.

Hell, even when factoring in that Sia and I found each other here doesn't change that. It was momma that introduced me to her, saying how Sia had the hardest time making friends, because she tends to be super overprotective, just like her brother. I remember momma saying that she and Cliff have been partners since she moved to Veilstone, that they made the best team in Sinnoh—a flamboyant fudgepacker and a butch momma, were her exact words. I remember laughing so hard I almost passed out.

I turn onto my side, finding Essie gazing at me, her eyes lined with worry. I smile beckoning to her. She climbs into bed with me, snuggling up to me without a word.

Heh. I remember the first time Sia and I hung out. She was everything momma said and more, her eyes always scanning the scene for threats, then checking me to make sure I was okay physically and emotionally. I remember some idiots storming into Auntie Ti's cafe where we were hiding away. They were obviously there to start trouble, turning up a waitress's tray and spilling hot coffee onto her uniform.

And Sia... Mesprit, bless her heart... she took one look at me, she saw instantly how freaked out I was. She shifted her chair to physically put herself between me and those idiots, and she smiled warm and reassuring, just for me.

When those jerks made their way over to me, their eyes twinkling with a dark, twisted joy, I remember how Sia stood and turned to them. "You want a fight? Cool," she said, shrugging nonchalantly. She took out her Dex, hitting a speed dial number. "Eh, yo, Cliff. You there with Sharon, right? Well, we got a situation. Tell her these little shits want to put hands on her baby girl."

I bite my lip, giggling.

Momma, of course, hit the roof. But more importantly, Sia stayed by my side while momma and Cliff thrashed those guys. She was an oasis of calm in the midst of that insanity.

We've been inseparable ever since. Even though she and Auntie Ti keep teasing me about my heterosexuality, I love them all the same.

Knock-knock.

I peer over Essie, at the door-she never did understand the value of closing a door behind her. Mom's standing there, a worried little smile on her face. "You okay?" she asks, a catch in her throat.

I wrap an arm around Essie, refusing to comment.

"I thought so. Come on, young lady. We need a smoothie."

8-8

After making our smoothies, and momma decides to join us, we make our way out onto the balcony, just the three of us. We sit to the table, setting our strawberry smoothies in front of us. Mom and momma keep exchanging looks, both seeming worried.

"Devon, sweetie."

"Mm?" I noise, focusing on my drink and sipping my troubles away. I gaze out at the city below us, the towering buildings, the traffic buzzing this way and that.

"Do you know why we agreed to this move?" mom asks. I shake my head, no. "Your father got out last month."

I've always found this scenery to be so strange. So unnatural. Why would people build things so tall that taking the stairs becomes a marathon, an accomplishment that you can scale it in one go. I mean, our condo is on the forty-second floor, and that's barely halfway up the building.

"Baby?" momma murmurs, reaching out and taking my hands. I shy away, fighting to continue breathing—touch is too much just now. "Please don't shut us out, we need to talk about this."

"He's out. What more's there to say?" I drone, staring at a spectacularly uninteresting car stopping at a red light.

"Sweetie, I—"

"I get it!" I snap, slamming my drink on the table and spilling some of my smoothie all over my hand.

"Devon, calm down. We have more to say, and no, you don't know and no you can't you guess what it is," momma soothes, motioning for me to calm down.

Ignoring the tears stinging my eyes, I lick the smoothie from my hand, hating the sticky sweetness for some reason. Even after I get the last of it off me, and I use a wipe to clean myself and the table, I still don't look to either of them. I don't need or want anything more that's going to fuck with my head—anything regarding that man fits the bill.

"We agreed to this move, because this gives us something we don't have now: a safety net. The Harrisons and the Laurants are very protective of their people, just as we are, just as the Mercelinas are." I nod, knowing that Sia and Cliff are as protective of me as momma and mom ever were. "That means, if that man ever comes calling, you'll have a boatload of people that can protect you until we get there."

I look down at my glass, finding it half empty.

"Sweetie, look. I know," mom cuts to the chase. "I know you've been tracking him. That you've been mapping out those sightings and interviews and that you've been watching the news coverage."

"Mm…" I run my finger up and down the stem of the glass, fighting not to think about it. "What you don't know is that Liza talked to Tiana about that. That he was spotted in Mossdeep, visiting someone."

"Oh."

"Yeah. His wife," mom intones, obviously hurt at having to admit she was the other woman. "Misty Ketchum, former Cerulean Gym Leader."

"So?"

"We don't know what it means, or why they brought it up," momma says, sounding frustrated. "What we do know, is that Misty's elder sister have been spotted in Slateport. Also in Hoenn. And that Forest, Pewter Gym Leader, his wife Janine, Fuschia Gym Leader, were also sighted in Slateport."

"So?"

"Sweetie, there's too much going on. We don't know what to think. But, try to see the bigger picture," momma begs, reaching for my hand again. I don't shy away this time, but I don't really do much of anything. "Doctor Harrison, who's coming to Sinnoh, is Forrest's elder brother. It could all just be a coincidence, but the fact remains that Doctor Harrison, Misty, and your father were thick as thieves once."

"…"

"I don't want to give you more reason to panic, sweetie. But I refuse to lie to you."

"…"

"The Harrisons leave for Sinnoh tomorrow. So far there's been no sighting of Ash, but…"

"…"

"I'm sorry. This is probably too much for you," mom cuts in.

"…"

"Hey." Mom steals my hand away from my glass, holding it and obviously begging for me to look at her. When I look up, she seems blurry, almost warped by my tears. "We'll get through this, Dev. I swear we will."

Momma jumps to her feet, taking out her Dex. "Hazel Laurant? Claimant Psychic Gym Leader for Twinleaf Town?" momma asks. Feeling drains from my face. "Yes, I'm Sharon Dwyer, partner to Cliff Mercelina. We are Tiana's foremost Psychic Trainers, and she's asked that we aid you on arrival in Canalave City."

I look to mom, questions in my eyes. She shrugs, looking to momma—obviously she's as confused as me.

"I see. Yes, that's troubling indeed… No, I've heard nothing as yet… Yes, I'll be sure to keep an eye on that… No, no need. I'll contact my partner as soon as I hang up… I see. That's unfortunate. Well, allow me to introduce myself, then. I am married with three kids. My wife isn't really into any Type, but our daughter Devon is definitely into Psychic Types… No, she hates to battle. You might have better luck with Sia, Cliff's younger sister…"

They keep going on and on, but I can't seem to figure out why she felt the need to ca—

"About that. We've heard of sightings of one Ash Ketchum in Mossdeep. Liza said he wanted to meet up with is wife, Mi… Oh, she told you about it? ... No… Yes… I don't follow…"

Momma's eyes go wide as dinner plates, her focus on me. I narrow my eyes.

"Yes… Yes, I understand… No, I've heard of no further sightings… No, I was hoping you'd keep an eye out… No, I can quite imagine… Uh… Listen, I don't think this… No, I'm well aware of that, but… No, you're not listening…" Momma's face loses all colour and feeling. "… …" She keeps working her mouth, trying to say something, but the words won't come.

"How'd you know about that? … No, you aren't… OF COURSE I'M PROTECTIVE OF HER! SHE'S MY DAUGHTER!"

"Sharon!" mom belts out, swatting momma, hard. She turns her full attention to me, her eyes narrowing. My ribs lock. "Devon, sweetie… Devon, please calm down."

I gasp, trying to suck in much needed oxygen, but nothing seems to work.

"It's alright. Just listen to the sound of my voice," mom soothes, her eyes lined with fear for me—not fear of the situation.

"Devon, baby?" momma calls to me. I look at her, wondering at how subdued she is. She hands me the Dex. "It's for you."

I reach for the it, knocking over my glass instead. Momma runs around the table, putting the Dex to my ear.

"She can hear you," momma says, loud enough for that person to hear her.

"My name is Haze," comes the soothing monotone. "I'm no threat to you or anyone you care about. But more importantly, I need you to think about something for me." I hear a soothing breathing rhythm on the other side.

"I want you to count the doors you went through. Start from this morning. Run through your day in your head. Count them off as fast or as slow as you want. But your thoughts need to ring clear in your head. Go."

Get out of bed, went through my bedroom door—one. Went to the bathroom—two. Got out of the bathroom—three. Went into the living room—four. Went into the kitchen—five. Left the kitchen—six. Back into my bedroom to get my clothes—seven.

Slowly, the anxiety eases. Breathing comes easier.

"Good. Keep going."

Into the bathroom to take a bath—nine. Left bathroom—ten.

"Make a noise if you can breathe."

"N-nn," I noise, taking a slightly deeper breath.

"Good. Let me address the problem. If it gets too much, hang up. No shame in it. If you're okay with that, noise for me."

"N-nn."

"I have no love for Ash Ketchum. I am going to keep a keen eye out for him. And if I find out he's troubling you or anyone you care about, I will deal with him myself."

The anxiety eases some more, I suck in a shaky breath.

"I'm travelling with people that are very protective of those we care for. People who are strong enough to protect you, your moms, and your younger siblings. I swear to you, Devon Dwyer, nothing will stop us from keeping you safe. Nothing."

I nod, breathing. Breathing is good. "Nn."

"I'm here with my girlfriend, Ginny. She's had a few of these episodes, so we can understand exactly what you're going through," he soothes. His voice is almost hypnotic, and so calm, so soothing. "Hey, is there another Pokémon you want? I mean, your mom told me you don't like to battle, but there's no reason you can't have a few friends, right?"

"Nn… I… I've only… only had… I've only…"

"It's alright, just breathe. Take your time, and focus on the words."

I take a deep breath. "It's only been… me and Essie… for years… She's a Meowstic."

"I see. You're only into Psychic and Ghost Types?"

"I… I don't know… Essie's so… Essie's sweet… sweet on me…"

"Yeah? I have a Froslass. I call her Angel. She's an Ice-Ghost Type, but she's so sweet. Aren't you, Angel?" I hear a joyous little 'ii', followed by more Pokémons in the background egging each other on.

Laughter jumps up from inside me, surprising even me.

"Hey, it sounds like someone's doing better."

"Nn," I noise, nodding. "Yeah… Still a bit wobbly, but… much better."

"That's good. So, Devon. You mind telling me about yourself?"

"M-me?"

"Yeah, you," he teases, sounding amused. "Unless you have another you hidden under your bed?"

"No!" I almost shout, wondering at how easily he seeps past my defences. Only Sia and Jen ever managed that before. Well, and momma.

"Well, alright then. So, in fifty words or less. Who is Devon Dwyer?"

"I'm… well, I'm not that interesting," I try.

"I beg to differ."

"Hmm. Well, I'm in… I'm in middle school… with Sia."

"Awesome."

"I turned… thirteen last… last month."

"A year and a half younger. That's fair."

"I love being with Essie. I used to help an intern nurse do her rounds in the Solaceon day care."

"Cool. Our Adam runs the Gym breeding program and takes care of our tykes. Maybe you'll enjoy helping out?"

"May… maybe." What is it about this guy? Why do I so easily feel like I can trust him?

"He's already getting some help from one of our juniors. Her name's Janelle Beaumont, she's ten and really bright."

"I hope… hope we'll get alo… get along, then."

"I'm sure you will."

Let's see. What else? "I love coffee?"

"The nectar of the gods." I giggle, covering my mouth with my hand. "Alright, kiddo. Listen, I've got to go."

"Alright," I whine a little, wondering at how I want to talk to him some more. "We… we'll be in Can… Canalve City… when you arrive."

"I look forward to it."

"If you don't… mind me asking?"

"Mm?"

"Who are you?"

I hear a dry laugh, then he mutters something to someone on his side. "Do you really want to know?" he asks.

I need to know! How the hell can you just barge into my world, stave off an anxiety attack, get me to talk to a complete stranger, and not expect me to want to know more?! "Yes."

"Alright." Why does that sound like 'you asked for it'? "I'm Haze. Your big brother."

My fingers are so numb I almost drop the Dex. "Wh… wha…at?"

"I'm your big brother, Devon. That's why I can tell you with absolute certainty, I will never. Ever. Let anything bad happen to you. Do you understand?"

"N… No… No, I don't understand… what's going on?"

"Our match is up. I need to go. Listen, if you want to know more. Go on the Unova's Pokémon League website. There's a competition in Castelia, and Gin and I are in it. You can watch our matches, if you want. Or you can check my info there. I'll call you again tomorrow."

"…okay," I mutter, suddenly feeling dejected.

"Aw, don't be like that. I'd cancel the stupid tournament if I didn't already promise some idiot I'd wipe the floor with him." I giggle, amused with his semi-annoyed tone. "Your mom has my number. Add me. I'll be sure to send you my people's info, too. But I really gotta go."

"Alright… I'll talk to you tomorrow, then?"

"Count on it. Tell Sia hi for me?"

"I will. G'night."

"Night, little sister." He sounds almost dreamy saying it. He was raised as an only child.

The line goes dead.

I find myself staring at momma's Dex, wondering at how I find myself missing his voice.

"Devon?" I look up, wondering why mom and momma look blurry again. I'm probably crying. I take a napkin, rubbing my eyes to dry them.

"Did… did he tell you?"

"That he's my big brother?" I muse, offering a watery smile. I dab at the new tears, wondering at how easily they come. "Yeah. I guess that man is oh-for-two with his kids."

They chuckle, nervous and unsure if they should be laughing.

"Did you know?" I ask, wondering at serendipity bringing him into my life out of the blue.

"No," momma murmurs, shaking her head with eyes full of wonder. "I… we didn't know."

8-8

After we clean up the mess I made, I find myself in front of the PC. I need to know. I need to know who this Haze is.

The first thing I do is go onto the official Unova Pokémon League site. I check the listings of tournaments, finding he was telling the truth—there's one going on in Castellia right now. I click on that one, finding the three brackets, and that they're already in the semi-finals.

I click on the thirty to fifty bracket, looking through for the name—Hazel Laurant. Not there. I go back, clicking on the fifty to seventy bracket, finding him in the semi-finals. His match is indeed up, so I click on it, finding the same silver-haired, golden-eyed boy from Auntie Ti's briefing.

He's wearing a Psychic Trainer uniform, and there's a Froslass shyly clinging to him. Is that… Angel? Beside him is another Psychic Trainer, with longer hair than him, but the same shade and also with golden eyes. Genevieve, no doubt. Curiously, she also has a Froslass, but that one is flitting about, seeming to study the match from every angle.

In front of them are a Gardevoire and a Gallade, who look like they're dancing? They gracefully avoid every incoming attack, not seeming to mind that they're opponents are Bug Types.

I click away from the match, going into Haze's profile. Everything is pretty dull, profile-y. Age, height, weight—why do they post that? Nothing of interest, other than that he's from Mossdeep.

Opening a new tab, I google: Hazel Laurant Mossdeep.

Nothing comes up—or, well, lots comes up, but only about Mossdeep—and this store called 'Hazel Florists', though I doubt there's a connection. I furrow my brow, wondering about that. Curious, I change the search keywords to: Haze Mossdeep.

Thousands of hits. The first one: The Machamp Incident. A mad Machamp was rampaging in Mossdeep, though no one knows where it came from or why it went mad in the first place. Comparative DNA tests shows this Machamp came from Kanto, though they couldn't narrow it down more than that. Toxicology reports were inconclusive, and every known illness, drug, and virus came up negative in an exhaustive investigation. Even its diet was studied, confirming it came to Mossdeep the week of the attacks.

Known victims: four. Jennifer Pennifair, first known victim. Broken arms and legs, ruptured uterus—rape victim, it seems—hasn't spoken a word since her attack. Jacques Friar, second known victim. Cause of death undisclosed—suspected strangulation, though it's unclear if it was from the Machamp or the kelp and/or wildlife. Found at sea with broken bones and bruises, source suspected to be the Machamp. Xaviera Delanie, third known victim. Broken arms, legs, jaw. Fractured skull. Lingering speech impediment—suspected from psychological trauma. Suspected rape victim; Delanie's family lawyer subpoenaed to keep further details private.

Genevieve Harrison…

Colour drains from my face.

Genevieve Harrison, fourth known victim. Broken arm, concussion, head wound.

Then comes the highlighted bit… Haze is the one that killed the Machamp, saving Genevieve from a worse fate, and getting Delanie to the hospital for life-saving care. It would seem that the Pennifair, Delanie, and Friar families donated millions to Haze, though the specified end for the donations were undisclosed.

Clicking away, I go back to the google results. The second link is Mossdeep gym, Haze was a Trainer there, a senior. I click on his profile, finding the same picture as Auntie Ti's presentation. Known Pokémons—interesting, but not terribly so. Battle records—he lost less than one per cent of his matches. He's good.

Reviews are a mix of death threats—veiled, but I know the signs—and glowing praise as a trainer and loads of 'thanks for the advice'.

I check his standing in Mossdeep Gym, finding he's second in command. But there's no Genevieve Harrison in the roster.

"He called her… Ginny," I murmur, going over the names again, finding a Ginny lumped together with Ilene and Janelle—fresh recruits, bottom rung.

Nodding at the finding, I look around for more info, but find nothing of note.

Going back to the google results, I page through quite a few, but find nothing. Until…

"Misty Ketchum," I murmur, clicking the link. A pirate site, whose goal is to end Pokémon League's abuse of power. I find picture after picture of a younger looking Haze sporting bruises, broken bones, and a nasty gash that nearly tore his cheek off. Scars as innumerable as the stars cover his neck, arms, legs, and back. And yet, in every picture, Haze wears the same, blank expression. As if he barely notices the injuries.

I click 'read further' at the bottom of the page. It details how Mrs Ketchum was initially taken into custody because of a fire that started in her condo in Cherish Heights, Mossdeep. That is, until the fire fighters found a journal Haze must have kept—according to the article's author. Mrs Ketchum was immediately arrested, and a lawyer was immediately assigned to prosecute her—though who hired the lawyer remains unclear.

Then, two weeks ago, Mrs Ketchum was released into Cerulean Gym's custody—all three Gym Leaders demanded her release, and that she be tried in Kanto by League Tribunal. All evidence was turned over to the Gym Leaders, only for it and Mrs Ketchum to disappear.

Curiously, the article continues, one Ash Ketchum shows up no more than two days before her release. He, too, hasn't been seen since.

I click 'next page', only to find the server can't be found. I refresh again and again, the same result each time. I navigate to the previous page, the theme holds true. I go back to the google results, finding it's refreshed itself, and that the pirate site no longer shows up.

I blink, trying to process what I've just learned.

8-8

Morning comes, only to find me still here tearing through every scrap of information I can get my hands on. From Ash sightings, to Misty sightings, to any and all information on Veilstone's Desmodonna and Snowpoint's Jack, to Hearthome's Jean-Luc, and the mystery that is Vance.

But what intrigues me most, is one Lord William Laurant, born in Lumiose City, Kalos, to Duke and Duchess Laurant of Coumarine. William, it seems, is heir to the Laurant titles, lands, and fortunes, but doesn't seem to care. He owns three cruise ships and eighteen cargo ships, and runs a security firm in Castellia City, Unova. Legal bachelor, never been married. No public information on his private life, not even from events or gossip columns. No known children, no known relationships.

Second runner up, is Jean-Luc Verette, son of Fantina Verette, Baroness of Levine Town, Kalos—apparently, they own and run the power plant that provides for all of Kalos. Yet, Jean-Luc and his family are in Hearthome City, Sinnoh.

Just behind Jean-Luc, are the three Gym Leaders of Cerulean City—elder sisters to Misty Ketchum, who allegedly got Misty out of jail. Curious how that works. Let alone their tax fraud scandal and sudden disappearance from the Kanto scene.

This is, without a doubt, a shitstorm.

"Dev?" I turn, finding Julie behind me, rubbing her little eyes.

"Oh, oh, what's the matter, sis?" I ask getting out of the swivel chair and scooping her up. She lays her head on my shoulder, yawning mightier than an Ursaring. She wraps her little arm around my neck, her Labyba plushy hugging her side. "Is someone still tired?"

She shakes her head, no, yawning again. Smiling and shaking my head, I start scanning about for mom and momma. Both are in the kitchen—from the scent of waffles, I'm guessing they're making breakfast.

Taking my baby sister with me, I head that way, hearing hushed whispers growing steadily louder as I get closer to the door. I knock, mostly for propriety's sake, entering without a word.

"Morning, sleepyhead," mom coos, rushing over to kiss Julie and me. It takes some effort, but she scoops Julie out of my embrace, gently rocking her side to side to see if she'll go back to sleep.

"Mom, momma. We need to talk," I say, my tone deathly serious. Momma wriggles out the latest waffle, setting it on the plate with the others before adding more batter and closing the waffle iron again.

"Come, have a seat," momma says, motioning to our usual spot with the mugs of coffee. We plop onto the chairs together, facing each other—per the norm. Only, this isn't normal. Not at all.

In the last twenty-four hours, I've learned daddy got out of prison, that I have an older brother, that all the ingredients for international conflicts are present and accounted for, and that I don't have the harshest past—or even close to it.

I mean, just thinking about Haze, about what he must have gone through, starts putting things into perspective. Yet he's so protective, even of me and mine—and he doesn't know us.

The door swings open, revealing Essie, rubbing her eyes as she stumbles into the kitchen. She comes to me, climbing into my lap and zoning out. Her light snores fill my world, teasing a smile out of me.

Taking a long pull at the piping hot chocolaty coffee, I try to organize my thoughts. It's not as easy as it should be, given I'm running on fumes. "I need more Pokémon," the words slip off my tongue. Essie's snores cease, and I feel her squirming a little in my lap. "No, Essie, no one will ever replace you."

Snoring ensues.

I roll my eyes, amused with my munchkin. I sip my coffee, hoping to not mangle my baby's confidence a second time. "What I mean is, I need to start expanding my team. John and Julie need me to be strong. And I'm not there yet."

"Is that so…?" mom murmurs, smiling at momma. Not missing a beat, momma heads out of the kitchen, coming back a few minutes later with John in her arms and a single Pokéball. She hands me the Pokéball, beaming.

"We got her as a kind of a… sorry about the mess gift," momma sheepishly explains.

Curious, I maximize the red and white ball, and press the button a second time to call the Pokémon out. A bright pink little cutie comes out, smiling as she regards us. I get the impression the smile is tattooed to her face, for some reason.

"Frill? Frillish ish!" she declares, beaming at us, far more authentic this time. Her little pink tendrils swish about her as if a dress she's trying to show off.

I blink. "A Frillish, huh?" I muse, finding a smile on my face. "Well you know what? I'mma call you Frills."

"Frill?"

"That's right," I encourage her. I need to talk to Sia. I'll need to take it slow, but I don't doubt she'll be patient with me.

8-8

End Chapter 6

8-8

A/N: And there we have it. Interesting things are happening, and Devon's been set on her path forward. Only, where will it lead? What does she hope to achieve? And will she finally start confronting her past and exercising her old ghosts?