I pulled my hoodie tighter around myself as I walked down the cold dark hallway. Ionia was sitting in her usual spot in my hood, keeping an eye out for the night guards who patrolled the halls like Sigilyph. Never wavering from their schedule, at the insistence of my gene donors.

  Even if it was a terrible way to allow smart thieves past their security, his orders were not to be questioned by those he employed. Not even Pokemon were allowed to patrol off schedule, and Ghost-types were forbidden because “they cause buildings to become dilapidated” or some other pile of garbage.

  My fingers tapped out a tense rhythm on my waist as we made our way to the first and only true security obstacle. A massive oak door leading to the parlor where they hosted their disgusting rich friends. Or at least that's what the ‘friends’ thought, my gene donors hated them as much as I did. I could see the fake smile on their faces disappear the second they had left.

  Even if the false smiles were kept up around me, I could still see through them. I pretty much had to learn how to see if I was pushing my luck when we were with others. Otherwise, the punishments and screaming fits would be worse. The physical side fortunately stopped once Ionia joined me- Harming a trainer of her line was just begging for psychic restitution.

  Shaking those thoughts clear, I thought to Ionia, “Just three teleports, first to get in, the second to get out, and the final one to leave the grounds from the building. You ready partner?”

  I felt a bit of unease mixed with excitement, “I’m ready!”

  A wave of vertigo washed over me, and as my eyes refocused I found myself on the other side of the door, directly across from the reason why I was here.

  The clover fossil the piece of filth had hanging on his wall like a trophy.

  As I walked over, I ran over my plan for the hundredth time.

  Get the fossil and get out, then book it to the Nacrene City Museum to hand it over so it gets to a good home. Finally, I’d use the pictures I had subtly taken the last time I was in here to blackmail my sperm donor into leaving me alone.

  Fossils had actually been discovered to be at some tiny level of awareness before reviving. I don’t understand how, but after all the regional Professors got behind the discovery and confirmed its legitimacy, the League alongside local governments outlawed the act of not reviving them within a reasonable amount of time to reduce the limbo the Pokemon would be stuck in.

  At least Team Plasma had done something right by bringing awareness to Pokemon rights and welfare.

  “Ionia, the second I have the fossil, teleport us back to our room please.”

  Rather than psychically talk to me, Ionia let out a whispered “Tenna.” as confirmation. No reason for her to spend energy when she still had two large teleports to perform.

  I laid my hands on the cold stone. As my palms rested on it, my fingers began tapping out a slight tune. It was calm and peaceful, yet felt as if it was ready to fire up into a much faster tempo and was restrained from doing so. The Pokemon within had been stuck here for years, and it wanted out now.

  Releasing the breath I had been holding, my hands moved to the edges of the slab. With a heave, I pulled the fossil off the wall and was instantly beset by vertigo again, and instantly fell down onto the rock. Ionia had teleported us over the bed in such a way that none of us would be hurt.

  Pulling myself up, I quickly brought out my backpack I had gotten a few weeks ago and carefully pushed the platter sized fossil inside. After that, I took a quick look around my bare room. It had been near empty, at least before I had packed it with stuff to prevent one of sperm donor’s blowups from moving into my room. Now the only things left were furniture.

  Including the mirror.

  One last peek couldn’t hurt.

  Standing in front of it was the new me; Medical science had advanced far enough that treatments used for seriously injured Pokemon were able to be modified for humans.

  Including transition care.

  From behind my glasses a pair of storm cloud gray eyes drank my reflection like another sip of water. I stood at a height of 5’ 4” with a lithe build from my time exploring the Dreamyard with Ionia for the past several weeks since I got out of the hospital. My hair was a wavy curtain of vibrant indigo that reached to my center back.

  I was currently wearing my favorite purple hoodie jacket with a t-shirt underneath, a belted blue starscape patterned knee length circle skirt with Ionia’s pokeball attached to it, and my sun visor I got from a traveling trainer several years ago as thanks for helping them reach the Dreamyard. It was well worn, the dark navy and blue Unova League symbol covering part of the bill and running up the band.

  My freckled face had a grin plastered over it as I did a few twirls to get the spinnys out, only to be interrupted by a huff from Ionia.

  “Hatenna.”

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  I giggled at her pouting frown. “Yeah yeah Ionia, I get it! Getting ready now.”

  Taking my visor off, I quickly pulled my hair back into a pony-tail and slapped the visor back on. With a heave, the backpack with everything truly mine in this mansion was pulled onto my back.

  I was ready to leave this place. For good.

  For all they knew, I would be going out on an overnight camping trip, just like the last several weeks.

  A knock at the door had my heart rate skyrocketing, looking to Ionia and finding her very much so not panicking had me rushing to the door to let who I knew was Maria inside.

  The only member of staff that I could trust, the person who made sure I wasn’t spoiled rotten like Jason.

  “I guess tonight is the night then?” she somberly asked.

  I nodded, “Yes ma’am. I couldn’t wait anymore, especially with them going out on business trips so suddenly.”

  “The guards should be more than conditioned to your heading out late to leave you alone.” She wrapped me up in a hug, “Stay safe out there, the world can be a very cruel place.”

  I gave her a tearful nod as I hugged her back. “I will Maria! I promise!”

  She released me and tousled my hair, “Have a good journey dear.”

  She patted me on the shoulder and left me alone.

  My room felt a lot more empty with Maria having left. I hoped sperm donor wouldn’t blame her for me-

  Interrupting my thoughts, the sound of little feet jumping up and landing on my shoulder heralded the arrival of a multitude of cheek rubs from Ionia.

  “Thanks ‘nia, Just a bit anxious is all. He should still be off at Opelucid or something, not here in the house where his Beeheeyem can-” I cut off that line of thought. The only thing down that path was a panic attack. “Time to go.”

  Nodding, Ionia moved back into her guard position inside my hood as I opened the door into the dark hallway. With a soft thunk the door latched behind me, and my legs were on autopilot for the patio entrance. Less guards there, and a lot more logical for a trainer getting ready for their first circuit to exit into a controlled environment.

  More importantly, it was the place where Ionia could teleport us deep into the woods directly from the gardens.

  The hallways were starting to fill with sound as the guards were finally allowed to get up and move around. Rather than attempt to avoid them altogether, I planned to make an appearance so nothing seemed amiss when I didn’t show up in the kitchen to cook my breakfast tomorrow.

  “Eurrrrrgh finally! A chance to stretch my legs! Come on Daniel!”

  “I hear ya Kass! Calm down, no need to act like your legs will fall off from sitting around for three hours.”

  I softened my footsteps on purpose to eavesdrop on the pair a bit more.

  “Easy for you to say! Last security gig I had, we were supposed to walk our patrols every thirty minutes, and we were able to bring more suited Pokemon with us!”

  “Shush you! You want to get caught saying that sort of thing by the boss? You see how he treats the one kid behind closed doors, at least with them he can’t get rid of ‘em ‘til they’re eighteen.”

  “She uses she/her, but you’re right about the boss. Dude could give a Serperior a run for its money with how nasty his glare can be.”

  Daniel grunted, “I could give two fucks what pronouns they use. Kids a spoiled rich leech like the rest of ‘em. Don’t know why the league didn’t knock this family down a peg like the rest.”

  “‘Cause their family never hoarded wealth as badly as the idiots who used to live in Bl- White Forest. Besides, the kid is nice, never looks down on anyone from what I’ve seen.”

  “The name they go by now, on top of the way they talk to that Hatenna of theirs, is just damn creepy though I-

  I stepped out in front of the two of them.

  “Oh! Good evening Miss Greenbriar!”

  I raised an eyebrow up at Daniel, “I’m going out for the night again.”

  He was properly sweating bullets now. I didn’t have any sort of sway over the staff whatsoever, despite what this guy believed. Hell most of the time I just asked for help with learning basic skills, or even helped the staff with their chores. The guards were the only exception because the head of security was deep in sperm donor’s back pocket.

  “O-of course Miss Greenbriar! Do you need an escort?”

  “No thank you. Ionia is perfectly fine protecting me inside the garden walls. Have a good night.”

  “G-good night Miss Greenbriar. Enjoy your excursion!”

  I gave him a nod and walked off, rolling my eyes the second I was out of view. Most of the staff who I didn’t talk to much had similar thoughts about me. Never mind getting to know me for me. I was just their boss’ silver spoon brat despite having worked hard to take care of myself without intruding on the staff here.

  “You’re stewing again.”

  “Who the hell does he think he is,” I muttered under my breath, “saying those things about me despite only ever seeing me in passing. I try to be nice to everyone here, yet it just…”

  I trail off as I felt the warm glow of comfort sent by Ionia, “Mother always said, ‘That to please everyone, is to strip yourself away for them.’ Best to not dwell, if we ever see him again after tonight, things will be different regardless.”

  I made a fist, “You’re right Ionia, as per usual.” She made a noise of agreement, Let's get out of here.”

  The gardens were just a simple sterile yard full of flowerbeds that were all planted in a grid, trees pruned to perfection, and hedges shaped into a few of the more regal Pokemon species out there. It was the most sterile place on the grounds, far too perfect and emotionless to be comfortable. Not even wild Pokemon visited, which made the offer for an escort even more infantilizing considering this was the fifth time I had done this in the past two weeks.

  I pulled on my hiking boots I had left at the door earlier and began walking through the pathways towards the far wall, which was our ticket out of here. It was almost eerie the way my boots stamped out a marching beat against the stone brick pathway, echoing into the night. The stars above me twinkled as if waving hello to me for the first time.

  “Tonight we’re finally free Ionia!” I smiled, “After months of work we get to travel the region, see new sights, and carve out our own path like everyone else!”

  Maybe we’d also make some friends along the way.

  Reaching my regular campsite, I placed my hand against the garden wall.

  “Normally I’d say some poetic final thing about this.” I shook my head. “But instead, I’ll just keep it simple. Good Riddance.”

  And with those words we teleported past the wall, finally free to begin our journey.

  cause of the negative emotions if someone they're close to (Like Ionia and Psyche) is upset. This is the biggest thing I will change outside of a specific team member getting a move I think it should get

  Aliapanacea for help editing!

  Pokemon seen this chapter:

  Ionia/Hatenna

  Current Team:

  Trained Abilities: Anticipation

  Moves: Teleport, Confusion, Play Nice, Life Dew, Disarming Voice

  Do you want more words written by me?

  A Spark of Sylvan Flame A story about a trans farmgirl facing off against plant aliens, with items bought from an AI chip in her head!