Act 1 - Chapter 1

*Spearow! Spearow!*

"It's not even 7….. Uhhhh"

The boy grumbled turning over on his mattress, pulling both the covers and his pillow over his face, trying to return to the sweet embrace of his dreams.

"Oddish! Od-ish!"

"Ah!! You little Impidimp vegetable just you wait till I turn you into a damned salad!" the boy shouted at the small blue and green bundle of leaves. It jumping from his chest to his face, dodging the swipes the boy made for it.

"Ish. Oddish!"

"Don't tell me what to do! I'm getting up…." scowled the young man.

"Are you arguing with my precious little boy again Trey?" asked a female voice from the still darkened room, "Better hurry up or you're going to miss the opening of the store again."

"Shit! Thank you Miss Urah," Trey answered, turning to the small grinning plant in her arms, "You and I are having words later…" he whispered.

Trey moved from his bed past Urah the Directress of the Orphanage and down the hall past the other rooms into the communal bathroom. Quickly brushing his teeth and giving his hair a once over.

"Good as ita'l get for now. Can't waste time and money taking a shower, and we…" giving himself a quick wiff, "Oh Arceus… Ok we only smell slightly like wet Taros," Trey said only, slightly, wincing from the smell.

Bolting out of the bathroom he headed down the staircase and towards the door, Miss Urah already there tending to the garden with her devil- Oddish.

"You don't have to do that Miss Urah. I can get to that when I come back on break from my first job, you do enough as it is!" Trey complained looking at the woman.

Miss Urah was the Directress of the Saffron City War Orphanage. She was blonde and only slightly shorter than Trey at around 5 feet, 6 inches, give or take.

She stood up from her haunches, a red flower in her hand, and pruning scissors in the other, giving Trey a doting smile, "Please Trey don't worry so much. You are already working so hard after just turning 17. Let me do what I can. I'm 25, not 70…"

Trey laughed, "Yeah well with all the stress you put yourself through I think you might be aging quic- Ok I'll be going!"

"You better be you little rascal! I thought I taught you never to bring up a young maiden's age!" she shouted after the running teen, a red rose shaking in the air, Oddish jumping up in faux anger next to her.

---------------------------------------------

Trey ran through the city taking turns down alleys and shortcuts through people's lawns. To the annoyance of a few Poochyenas, a few Growlithes that tried to singe his pants, and a single Vulpix that barely batted an eye at the now normal sight of the teen hopping her fences.

Looking over his shoulder Trey wished he could someday have a Vulpix. Something about the elegance of the Pokemon really made an impression on him.

After almost slamming face first into the fence a step later, Trey hopped it and found himself at the back end of the shabby mart he found work at.

Dusting himself off and looking at the street clock, he barely made it before 7 AM.

"Alright! Not late, that's always good for the first day," Trey mumbled sticking his hands into his pockets as he walked into the back of the mart.

"Mr. Tennerson! I'm here!" Trey shouted as he entered the back of the mart, a blinking light illuminating the hallway, "Is that light supposed to be doing that…?"

"Doing what?" asked a short and stout man, his balding head and creased eyes giving justice to his old age as he turned the hallways corner.

Trey gave a wry chuckle, "Don't worry about it… Well, Mr. Tennerson, thank you again for hiring me, what would you like me to start with today?"

Mr. Tennerson, patted his lower back, "Nothing too difficult Trey. Just sweep the floor, and open up the store for today…" Mr. Tennerson gave a few sniffs of the air, "And use some of the Vileplume freshener, you smell like a wet Poocheana!"

Trey scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "I appreciate it Mr. Tennerson. The Orphanage's shower is out of commission again," Trey explained lying.

"It's quite alright boy. Now off with you, Arceus knows the day's starting," the man said, shuffling off back around the corner.

Trey sighed, raising his arm and giving himself another whiff, "Ooo… He wasn't joking… It's much worse than I thought, haha…"

Walking off through the small hallway and through the employee's door, Trey turned on the lights for the floor of the small general mart.

Snacks, food, drinks, small packages of pokefood and treats lined the shelves from front to back.

"Time to open shop then," Trey mused, walking back behind the counter to grab a spray of the cheap freshener, the sweet scent a fresh breath of air to him.

Trey grabbed the broom and got to work, going from the back to the front he made sure there wasn't any leftover dirt and made sure the shelves were stocked properly as he went, eventually making his way to the door. Switching the sign from 'Closed' to 'Open', propping the door open and allowing the morning breeze to run through the mart.

"Another day," Trey mumbled, looking out onto the road. A few passerbyers came and went down the hobbled backstreet that led to Route 8. Most of which had accompanying pokemon with them.

Trey's thoughts wandered to the Orphanage and the other kids that were growing up there.

Trey was turning 18 this year and soon would be able to go into the real workforce instead of taking odd jobs around Saffron. He would be making a real salary so that he could help support Miss Urah and the Orphanage.

When Trey was just 6 years old he had come to it. Miss Urah took donations to purchase some out of the way land to help the less fortunate children of the war. No one really talks about it anymore, wanting the past to be the past, but it still climbed its way up out of Trey's memory every so often.

The memories of his parents who had to go off with their pokemon to fight on the line against Johto. Trey could barely remember them now, their faces, their voices, what they smelled like, what their warmth felt like.

The closest thing to a mother now that Trey had was Miss Utah, a doting younger woman who took in the misfortune orphans of the war, doing her best to care for them and let them grow up to be whatever they wanted to be.

And the closest thing he had to a deadbeat dad was… The distinct face of a slender tall man, in a vest and button down, his gray well trimmed beard framing his stupid face.

"I have to go there today too don't I…" Trey thought, following a younger boy on a bike traveling the path into town from Route 8, a Rattata scampering quickly behind him.

Lost in his thoughts for a time, Trey's head leaned against his hands on the broom handle, listing the Pokemon passing by.

"Haunter… Drowzee…. Oh a Growlithe! A Kadabra?" Trey mumbled.

Being in Saffron meant getting used to seeing many many trainers and people on their way to Celadon, both for the Gyms and the Marts. But most of all.

Trey looked to the side, eyeing the larger than most building in the distance, seen above the rest.

Sliph Company… Even with more competitors popping up they're still pretty big. It's almost every other week now they're discovering and bringing back extinct Pokemon. Trey thought.

"Trey! Why aren't you at the counter boy!?" A shout from inside the mart came, waking Trey up from his daydreams.

"Ah! My bad Mr. Tennserson, just wanted to make sure the storefront looked clean!"

--------------------------------------------------

After returning inside, Trey found himself in utter boredom for the next few hours, looking at the clock every so often, waiting for lunch to come.

[10:35]

Is what the clock blinked on the counter, another trainer walking in as he glanced at it.

"Welcome! Is there anything you're looking for?" he asked the woman, her Persian walking behind her, with almost a palpable regal attitude.

"Yeah, you guys stock potions?" she asked with an embarrassed grin on her face.

"Yeah we have a few in stock, right this way Miss," Trey said with his service man tone, getting up behind the counter to lead her to the small section, "Right here," he said pointing to the small purple bottles.

"Thank you. Wha- It's only 200 credits? How many do you guys have in stock, can I buy them all?" the woman exclaimed, picking up the stack of boxes.

"Apologies but this is everything we currently have, I can take another look in the back though if you would like," Trey responded his picturesque smile still present.

"Yes! Yes please!"

Trey nodded and led the woman to the counter, "Let me ring you up for these, then I'll see what we have in the back."

The woman nodded, placing the stack on the counter, and pulled her red and white backpack off, rummaging through it. Though the pack was only maybe half a foot long, her entire arm delved into the seemingly endless bag.

A Sliph Bag huh, color me jealous, she must do well for herself. Trey thought, slight jealousy in the back of his mind, but his customer service face stayed fixed.

While she rummaged, Trey rang up the potions, "That's 30 Potions in all, so 6,000 Credits for the batch," he said, his eyes drawn to the Persian sitting down next to their Trainer, a soft pur rumbling from its throat.

Trey caught the Persian's eyes and gave it a small wave and a smile, while he waited for the woman.

But the Persian gave a surprising scoff and turned its nose up at him, leaving his eye twitching in annoyance.

What the hell is the attitude for..?

The woman finally found her wallet, and pulled a sleek black card with a silver embroidered Pokemon League symbol.

"Oh you're a League Trainer?" Trey said, stating the obvious as he swiped the card.

The woman blushed and scratched her cheek, "Yeah… I'm on my 4th gym! So we aren't doing too bad right, Lady?" she said looking down at the Persian.

"Raowww…" purred the Persian at her side, its eyes closing as it leaned into its trainers hand.

"That's very respectable Miss," Trey answered, handing back the card and the receipt.

"Oh my name is Lauren."

"Well Lauren, I hope you continue to do well, I want to be able to tell everyone I met the next Pokemon Champion when she was still on her journey," Trey grinned.

"Hah.. Maybe not that far.. But maybe one day!" she said, perking up. Lady giving her a nudge with its head from behind.

"Then I'll check our stock. I will be back in a moment."

Trey turned to go back through the employee's entrance near the counter, then waited on the other side of the door, staring at the flickering light above him.

"Ha… maybe I should consider being a trainer.. They must make a good living if they can all provide for so many pokemon," Trey thought aloud, "That Persian was a little snippy but I can tell its well cared for, their fur has a nice sheen to it, and the gem on its forehead shines so brightly."

Trey continued to stand behind the door for several more minutes, pretending to check their stock of Potions, but he already knew they had none. The mart was small and could only afford so much stock. Not to mention the League limited how much non-League affiliated Marts could purchase.

"I'm kind of surprised she doesn't know that as a league trainer."

Another minute later and Trey walked back out of the door, Lauren perking up at the sight of him, expectation obvious on her face.

Trey told Lauren exactly what it was, but went into the back to at least pretend he had gone to look, "Sorry, it looks like you cleaned us out. Is there anything else I can help you with Lauren?"

A look of disappointment flashed for a moment, but she quickly recovered, "Nope, I didn't see any pokeballs, and I make Lady's food by hand.. Thank you.. Uh..?"

"Trey. Just Trey. It was nice to meet you Lauren, I wish you all the best on your journey," Trey said with a slight bow.

"Thank you! I'll be sure to come back if I'm ever in Saffron again!" Lauren replied, waving as she left the Mart, her Persian scoffing at Trey once again, its nose high in the sky.

Waving back, Trey kept his smile. Glancing at the clock again.

[10:50]

Man this day is going slower than a damned Slakoth… I should have stayed back there a little more. He grumbled.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Running back to the Orphanage, a small plastic bag in hand Trey gasped for breath.

He had just finished his shift at Mr. Tennerson's Mart and was on the side path leading to the Orphanage. Coming into view he noticed a man in a black suit talking to Miss Urah.

Trey was too far to tell exactly what their conversation was about, but Miss Urah seemed to be fervently shaking her head no, as Oddish stood beside her, his ruby eyes fixed on the man.

Trey walked up the path more quickly not sure what was going on, but the man finished his conversation and walked down the Orphanage steps bumping into Trey.

"Watch it, kid," His face was covered by a black cap and black sunglasses, his voice gruff and deep. The man turned around and pointed back at Miss Urah, his coat opening ever so slightly, revealing a Red R on his left side chest pocket, "You have until tomorrow to come to terms."

Trey turned to watch the man as he left, confused.

What terms?

He moved up the front path as he took in the Orphanage, it looked wonderful in the midday sun, the flowers Miss Urah tended to reflect the sun off their petals in a symphony of colors, the only other path leading to the building off to the side behind it in the shade.

The building itself was off a ways from the rest of the city, it had a distance in either direction making it the perfect place for the rowdy kids that lived here.

Walking up to Miss Urah, Trey asked her confused, "What was that about?"

She brought her hand to the side of her face tilting her head, "I'm not sure.. That man has been coming around more recently since last week asking for us to sell the land to him, but he can just go to the Saffron City League building and buy it out if he really wanted. The building and the land is technically owned by the League, we just use it as a non-profit."

Trey wasn't sure of the technicalities, but just nodded and handed her a sandwich from the bag, looking past her at the door.

"I see you little rascals too, come on I brought some food from work," Trey grinned kneeling down to pull sandwiches from the bag.

"Yay!"

"Food!" shouted a few children.

Trey handed one to each of them and gave the plastic bag to the last, "There's enough in there for everyone, Stanley," Trey pointed to one of the younger boys, "Make sure everyone gets one, I'm counting on you, you're in charge," Trey said in a fake deep voice, giving a salute.

Stanley saluted back giving a missing front-toothed grin, "Yeth thir!"

Resulting in many of the other children giving groans and rolling their eyes.

Trey stood up and laughed as they all ran back into the building.

He thought about how sad it was that even after the tragic war there were still so many orphans coming into the facility, but also happy that they had come here. They had lost their parents, but even so they had turned this place into a lifelong family. Some of the children here were brought when they were hardly 1 year old, so this was all they knew for family. The rest of the children who Trey knew were long since gone and graduated from the Orphanage, starting their own families and journeys, only so often visiting when they passed by to take the Magnet Train from Kanto to Johto.

"You're spoiling them. You should save your money, Trey, you only have one more year till you're 18," chided Miss Urah.

"Yeah I am, but if I don't spoil them who will?" he laughed.

"Did you at least save one for yourself?" she asked, looking slightly concerned.

"I ate before I got here," Trey said, giving a white lie, "And I'm going to have dinner at the Old Man's Bar."

Miss Urah put her hand on her hip, the sandwich in her hand sticking out like a sore thumb as Oddish looked up, his mouth wide open drool pooling at it.

"Don't fib to me, Trey. I know you cut meals and I can smell when you don't shower in the morning like everyone else," she admonished, shifting her weight to the other foot, the sandwich dangling in front of Oddish, "You need to start taking better care of yourself, you're going to be a full adult soon."

"You know me Miss Urah, I'm no fibber, absolutely no fibbing policies here. May Zapdos strike me where I stand I'm going to eat later," Trey grinned, putting his hand over his heart like a Poke-Scout.

Miss Urah rapt him over the head with the sandwich, the crunching of the wrapper wrinkling soft with the motion. And little Oddish, gave a weary groan as the tasty-looking food was used for evil purposes instead of its lunch.

"See! I knew you didn't eat yet!" she shouted.

Trey covered his head, still smiling, as he moved past her to escape.

"Before I go, here's the rent as always," he said, handing a small stack of credits to her.

She looked down at the credits confused, "Trey. You don't pay rent, you live here for free…?"

By the time she lifted her head, Trey was already running off back toward the city.

"I swear that boy.." she said with a smile.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Trey ran in almost the opposite direction as his first job at Mr. Tennerson's Mart, passing through the Main Street of Saffron.

Each building sparkled and shone in the midday sun. The Sliph Co. skyscraper especially.

Trey jogged past the building with a passing glance as he could only imagine the workings going on inside the corporate building.

Congregating around the base floor and entrance of the building were various Pokemon and their trainers. Trey also spotted several men and women in black suits, not unlike the man who visited the orphanage earlier.

Trey was worried but he glanced at the street clock.

[1:02]

Shit! I'm going to be late again! That old man is going to tear into me again! Trey screamed internally picking up speed, his lungs crying out in protest.

Running down the main street, past many of the larger buildings, Trey hung a right down a side street, then a left, and another right, the street sign titled 5th Ave. Continuing down the street Trey huffed as he found a back alley bricked building, with no markers outside the dirty red bricks and the man in the tropical floral shirt at the metal door sitting on a stool at the front.

"Hey Hank, how's the shirt treating you?" Trey joked, a grin on his face.

Hank just grunted, pressing his cheap sunglasses against his face, then thumbed to the alley behind him for the back door to the building.

"Glad to hear it…" Trey laughed wearily, walking past the man.

Trey went to the usual door and knocked on it, glancing around at the tin trash bins and the bustling street on the other end of the alley.

Soon the door's peephole slid open and he was met with two blue eyes. Trey waved with a smile and the eye's smiled back. The peephole closing and the door swinging open to reveal a tall blonde woman in a sleek red dress, who waved Trey inside.

"Hi Kristine, how's the old man tonight? Am I getting in trouble?" Trey asked, scratching the back of his head.

"No… It's been a good day so far sweetie, don't worry about him," Kristine answered, closing the door, then waving again, a gangly Pokemon the height of Trey's chest walking over, "Mimie, will you be a dear and get Trey started behind the bar? There's some tough customers in today and I don't want to see him getting hurt."

"Mime mime," he answered, pretending to have a towel on his forearm, pulling it out, and whipping it with a snap. Then took it to wipe down Trey's face as if cleaning him.

"Ugh stop Mr. Mime! I can clean myself up, just go to the bar. I'll see you there in a minute after I get dressed…" Trey grumbled, looking at the Pokemon.

"Mime Mime! Mr. Mime!" he answered, hurt obvious on his face as his red cheeks raised with his brows. And then just as quickly went emotionless, Mr. Mime bowing at the hip and walking like a true gentleman back down the short darkening hallway.

Kristine giggled, her hand over her mouth as she walked down the hall as well past him, "Be quick sweetie. I said it was a good day, not a great one~."

Trey sighed but followed her down the hallway until he saw a door on his right and went inside to the small locker room, finding his usual locker and his cheap suit inside freshly pressed.

"At least I get to wear some clean clothes while I'm here." Trey smiled.

-----------------------------------------------------

After taking a few minutes to change, Trey emerged from the hallway onto the floor. The dimly lit area housed several tables with table top lights on them to illuminate the cards, roulettes and craps on them. Each one having a few patrons here and there with either a cup of amber liquid or a cigar in hand.

Some of the gamblers had their Pokemon next to them as well, psychic types.

There were plenty of Hypnos, Abras and some more excotic Pokemon like the Xahtu and Medichamp. Finally a lone Ralts standing behind a man in the corner.

Trey took a bit more time observing the Ralts at the other end of the room, as were some of the other patrons. The poor thing was obviously being abused, but no one would say anything here in a back alley gambling outfit.

The Ralts looked to be malnourished with its sunken green cap, that was more of a lime than a dark healthy green, and what was worse were the small pink and reddish dots on its head.

Trey looked at the bastard sitting at the chair in front of the Ralts, a smug grin on his face as he looked at the spinning roulette, a freshly lit cigar in his hand.

This piece of shit! I know what those marks are! How could he do that to his own Pokemon! Trey thought, his anger spilling over onto his face as he donned a deep scowl.

About to take a step onto the playing floor, Trey was stopped by a rugged hand.

"You won't be doing that boy. Especially if you fancy your job here," the gruff voice said.

"You're just going to let him stay here when it's obvious what he's doing?" Trey growled.

"Not my problem, and definitely not yours. If you know what's good for you, get your ass behind the bar and serve the drinks I pay you to serve," answered the man.

"Donnie, I know you can see that poor Ralts over there! He's obviously abusing it! You have to do something!" Trey pleaded.

"It ain't my business. People come here to play with dirty money. You knew that when you signed on. This place being what it is, the rules are iron clad. As long as he doesn't start trouble here, he can be here same as you." answered Donnie, taking a puff of his own cigar.

"But-"

"No buts kid, you're lucky to be here as is. Don't waste that opportunity on a whim of being chivalrous for a Mon you don't even know."

Trey growled as he grit his teeth, glancing over at the Ralts again, nearly shivering behind the man.

"So as long as he doesn't do it here, nothing happens?"

Donnie nodded, then stepped out onto the playing floor, making his way from table to table with a large grin on his face as he greeted and talked to each of the patrons. Handshakes and clasps of shoulders.

Trey watched as he walked over to the bar, a familiar Mime, cleaning an imaginary glass in his hands with an imaginary towel. After seemingly finishing the glass, it handed it to Trey on his right and picked up another imaginary glass.

Trey went to grab the glass, then pretended to let it slip from his hands.

"Oh, oops my bad," Trey said, his face lit in faux surprise as he smiled jokingly.

Mr. Mime said nothing but looked evenly at Trey for a moment.

Trey recoiled slightly then apologized, "Ok my bad! I'm just pissed off, what can I say…"

Mr. Mime nodded but pointed to the sweep all the same.

Trey looked at it exacerbated but walked over to the broom nevertheless and laughed to himself as he swept up the imaginary broken glass to an approving Mr. Mime.

"Ok so what's on the menu Mimie?" Trey finally asked, but keeping his gaze on the man in the corner.

Trey continued to eye the man but listened and followed Mr. Mime's directions as he poured drinks mechanically, putting each finished drink on a tray.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

[5:30]

Trey looked at the clock, his hands rubbing a towel through a freshly washed glass, placing it behind the bar counter.

Looking back out onto the floor he noticed the Ralts and man had left. Trey's heart sank slightly, wishing he could have done something for the Mon. No one should go through abuse like that.

Trey knew first hand how bad mental and physical abuse could get from his younger school days before he chose to drop out in favor of working odd jobs and going to the local library to study.

Sighing, he was poked in the side forcing him to jump and turn to a giggling Kristine.

"Here sweety, it's break time. I'll take over, " she said, putting a plate with a sandwich and some fries on it into Trey's hands, "Go out back and eat, you're all skin and bones! You won't be getting any pretty ladies if you can't put some muscles on."

Trey chuckled wearily, nodding his head.

What girls.. They're the least of my worries right now with the Orphanage. Trey thought, poking his own arm as he walked away down to the employee's entrance.

"She might have a point though.. I haven't been eating all that much," Trey laughed, dismissing the notion of being able to bulk up with his current earnings from his jobs.

Walking down the hallway, sandwich in hand, he ran the numbers in his head. He was saving around 60% of his current income for the Orphanage, 20% for food for everyone at the Orphanage, then 10% for expenses like the library fee, and the odd clothes purchases. Leaving 10% for anything else.

And right now anything else entailed just putting it into the Poke'Bank for a rainy day.

Mulling over how much he was expected to earn this week in total Trey opened the door, hearing a shout immediately.

"You worthless piece of shit! How am I supposed to make any money if you can't even predict or rig the roulette table!"

Trey's gaze locked on the voice, a scowl forming on his face when he recognized the man.

In the man's hand was a white and red ball, already cracked open.

"What's the point in the money I spent to have you shipped here if you can't even make it back you fucking dumb animal!" the man howled raising his hand and slapping the small pokemon across the cap, bringing the weak Mon to the dirty alley floor.

"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing asshole!" Trey shouted, dropping the plate of food on the dumpster and running over.

Trey hadn't thought it through but the man was a head taller than him, well over 6 feet. Forcing Trey to look up at the man as they had a tense standoff.

Trey balled his fists and grit his teeth scowling at the older man, "What kind of grown ass man hits a Pokemon!" Trey yelled, pressing the man.

"Mind your own business punk," growled the man, shoving Trey with his free hand forcing him to stumble backwards.

Trey righted himself and yelled as he ran to tackle the man, shoving him to the building's wall, and making the man drop the pokeball to the ground.

The man grunted only for a moment then elbowed Trey in the back, forcing him to shout in pain as a knee followed up into his stomach knocking the wind from him.

Trey fell to the ground and hit the ground on his side clutching his stomach.

"Fucking little shit!" the man yelled, throwing a foot into Trey's side, once, twice, three times.

Huffing the man fixed his hair and picked up the pokeball, "Fucking both of you are worthless. I'll just have to take another job and cut my Arceus damned losses," the man spat, snapping the pokeball in half and dropping it on top of Trey.

The man reeled back his foot once again about to throw another kick into Trey's stomach, but Ralts moved in front of the blow. Its white like sleeved arms spread wide.

Just before the blow connected to the small green capped Mon, another gruff voice spoke from the doorway.

"I think you better be leaving Charles," said Donnie, a cigar bobbing from the side of his mouth, the smoke slowly rising from the deep orange embers of the tobacco.

Charles clicked his tongue and tried to put on a strong front as he dangled his foot in front of Ralts.

"And what if I don't, huh Donnie? Ganna kick me out of your sorry excuse for a Gambling Bar?" Charles goaded.

"Oh, I think we both know what is going to happen," Donnie said evenly, his hands in his pockets.

Mr. Mime's face inched out behind Donnie's leg, his hands open with an eerie purple glow. A sinister stone cold smile showing all of his teeth looking out at Charles.

Charles visibly shivered and he turned with a scoff, "Whatever! Fucking lousy 2-bit Muck bar anyway!" he shouted over his shoulder, but right after, he jumped a foot into the air almost comically as he yelped, doubling over as he fell forward.

Donnie looked back down at Mr. Mime, his foot glowing purple. Mr. Mime catching his eye and turning his head whistling.

Donnie didn't walk over to check on Trey, as Ralts hovered over the teen hesitant to touch the injured Trey.

"You reap what you sow, kid. I told you not to be a hero and you went and did it anyway. Just clean yourself up, you got 15 more minutes on break. You know where the spare suits are," Donnie said leaving to walk back inside.

Mr. Mime looked at Trey, as Trey struggled to sit upright, gripping his stomach.

Mr. Mime shrugged, and followed Donnie inside, satisfied that the boy wasn't too hurt.

Trey coughed and nursed his stomach for a few more moments, then raised his head to look at Ralts.

"You alright there little guy?" Trey asked.

Ralts shook its head, "Ralts…"

"Oh! Girl?" Trey corrected himself, another cough coming out as he tried to get to his feet with the help of the building's wall.

Ralts looked on with concerned body language, its arms spread ready to catch Trey who was nearly 5 times her size.

Trey smiled at the gesture, "I'm fine sweetie. But are you alright? Here," Trey struggled to move over to where he had dropped his sandwich on the dumpster, wiping his hand on a clean part of his clothes and grabbing the sandwich, offering it to Ralts, "Eat up, I'm sure you're hungry."

Ralts perked up, but then quickly looked apprehensive between the sandwich and Trey, one hand going to her mouth the other stretching out for the food.

"Nothing to worry about, go ahead," Trey encouraged continuing to offer the food up.

Ralts's small mouth creased a smile as it gripped the sandwich in both hands, but it's sleeve brushed against Trey's hand, and a psychic connection took hold for a moment.

All of Ralts's emotions poured over to Trey, the anger, the fear, the regret and disappointment of failure her trainer bombarded him all at once, forcing him to double over and kneel to the ground, startling Ralts.

Trey expelled the contents of his stomach on the floor. Ralts looking on with a horrified expression but unable to process the change in demeanor. She looked as if it was her fault, her small mouth quivering as she saw Trey on all fours on the ground.

It overloaded her senses as she scrambled out of the alleyway, her small sleeves wrapped around the sandwich.

"W-wait!" Trey tried to eke out, spittle dripping from his mouth.

Trey's body was in shock and refused to chase after Ralts. Cursing Trey was forced to wait until his body calmed and by that time Ralts was already gone.

"Damn it. I hope she at least eats the sandwich," Trey sighed, finally getting to his feet, staring at the cold leftovers of fries on the plate, "Well it's better than nothing…" Trey said, grabbing and wolfing down the cold cringles of potatoes, and made his way back inside the building walking to the locker room.

Bringing himself in front of the mirror, Try removed his suit vest, and raised the dress shirt, revealing a purple bruise on his side.

"Arceus. What a fucking asshole!"

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Trey's mind was far gone by this point in the night. He looked at the clock to the side of him, as he filled another drink half paying attention, nearly spilling it if it wasn't for Mr. Mime pushing the glass to catch the liquid.

[10:27]

His mind was beginning to get hazy and his eyelids drooped slightly. The ordeal of the asshole Charles and the mental strain of taking on the emotions of Ralts, and experiencing his first psychic connection had drained him.

Thankfully his shift was almost at an end.

A ruff voice and the smell of a freshly lit cigar knocked Trey's senses awake.

"Alright kid, that's enough for tonight, here's your pay. Don't get lost on your way home alright," Donnie said evenly, placing the credits into his hands.

Trey counted the bills. 100, 200, 300.

"Hey, there's a hundred missing from what we agreed on," Trey said, looking up at the man.

"You got your suit dirty, that ain't cheap to wash."

Trey grumbled, but nodded, just thankful he got some more money. He stashed it in his pocket and headed for the door, ready to change back into his clothes and go back home and sleep.

Exiting the building in his now dirtier clothes, Trey tried to stretch but balked at the pain in his side.

"Ah.. I better look up how to fight on the net. It was almost embarrassing getting my ass kicked by a guy like that…"

Trey grunted and started moving his feet down the alleyway, giving a wave to the ever stoic Hank in his floral shirt and glasses. Hank giving no response as Trey passed by.

"Thanks, you have a good night too Hank. See you tomorrow," Trey grinned jokingly.

Walking down the street, Trey thought of the Ralts again. Wondering if he should stop by the Police Station to put out a Missing Pokemon Report. But the loud noise of the Fire Squad Truck and Police sirens took his attention.

"That's weird, what's going on there?" Trey thought, a weird itch surfacing in the back of his mind.

Trey began feeling a small shred of dread as he saw which direction the car's and trucks were headed.

He dashed off ignoring the pain in his side, rushing at full speed.

Trey ran through every shortcut he knew, hopping fences despite the pain and angry shouts that followed him. But as he got closer he saw the rising of black smoke against the city lights, an orangy red flame above the city line.

It was coming from the Orphanage.

Trey ran like his life depended on it, bumping through people that were stopped on the sidewalks looking up at the smoke, murmuring and holding out their phones. More and more police cars and trucks racing him to the Orphanage.

Please, please be okay! Trey shouted internally, his breath ragged, and his lungs on fire as he continued to run.

Trey bumped into another person in the crowd but he knew this person. It was Charles. His face was sweaty and he was wearing a gray hoodie but Trey could easily recognize the scumbags face after tonight.

Trey didn't have time to register why the man was there, and instead rushed forward breaking through the crowd, and down the dirt path to the roaring fire of the Orphanage.

Trey was stopped by an officer with blue hair and bright red lipstick. "Sir you can't go any further, this is a dangerous area please go back to the road!"

Trey refused to move, as he looked on as the fire raged in front of him, engulfing his home.

"I live here! What is going on!? Where is Miss Urah and the kids!?!" he shouted his voice becoming hoarse.

Countless Squirtles, Marills and Poliwraths shot streams of water into the fire to no avail. There were also Sandshrew and Sandslash throwing sand-attacks onto the base of the flames, doing their best to smother it.

The Officer bit her lip and looked at Trey.

"Sir. I don't know how to tell you this. But the fire started when everyone was inside… No- No one has been found yet by the Fire Department, if y-.." she spoke but her voice trailed off into white noise as Trey's vision blurred and lowered.

Trey had collapsed to the ground on his knees, his mouth hanging open in a silent scream as he stared at the fire.

Everyone was gone.

Again.

He was alone. Miss Urah, the little ones, that smartass Oddish. They were all gone.

Trey couldn't hear the officer as she tried to shake him to his senses and speak to him. He couldn't hear the roar of the fire, the shouting of the Firemen and Pokemon. Nore the loud shrieking of the sirens.

Trey felt cold, empty and numb.

Then he felt a soft touch on his hand, forcing him to turn.

His eyes were hazy and unclear from his tears, but he could feel who it was.

He could feel her warming touch, her assurance, understanding, and sympathy. It was Ralts. Through her psychic connection he could tell she was worried and confused but felt nothing but empathy for him. Her connection relieving some of his pain, and filling the emptiness.

Trey's mouth began to quiver as he roared in pain, his tears turning to sobs as he gripped the Pokemon in his arms. Unsure of what to do next, as the soft touch of her sleeves consoled him. A Pokemon not even a fraction of his size, felt bigger than anything in his arms.