We left from Hammerlocke after breakfast that morning, still in my Jellicent dress from yesterday, and carrying a still sleepy Zen on my back. Marnie and Piers were particularly eagar to return to Spikemuth, as they both had HUGE plans to carry out that day, and they thought the sooner, the better! I still remained a bit bitter about our brash departure, for Goodra and I was having an intense game of staring before I had to force my winning streak over to it, and I looked around the grassy terrain surrounding the sandy road before leading off into a tunnel. "Helloooooo!" I called, hearing the same voice come back to me in a haunting echo. "HELLOOOOOO!" Piers shouted, and the word began to muddle into a sort of roaring, like an angered Ratticade! I squeaked before hiding behind Marnie, which made her scold lightly, "Piers! You've gone an' scared 'er 'alf to death!" "S-Sorry, I thought I'd join on the fun. Prehaps my voice ain't the type to make kiddos laugh!" He replied, rubbing his arm as he looked away in embarrassment. I felt bad for running, and I left Marnie's comfort to embrace her eccentric brother tightly. "Hehe. It's alright, really! You weren't the first, an' you most likely won't be the last to react that way." He assured, patting me on the head before untangling himself from me to step into the darkened tunnel. Grabbing my hand, Marnie and I followed behind him, and I froze at the feeling of the cool breeze that wafted on through. "Oooooh." I said, closing my eyes to take in the inviting, comfortable wind as Marnie laughed, "Feel good?" "Mmmmmm." was the only response I could give, as I MUCH preferred this compared to how hot it was in Hammerlocke, and Piers re-emerged beside us as he explained, "Spikemuth is only a hop an' a skip away from Circhester as you know already. The winter weather there combined with the warm, tropical weather that generates from Hammerlocke is what gives this temperate result." He held up his hand, spreading his fingers so that the wind could blow through them as I continued to enjoy the breath of the Earth. We made it to the other side when a sinking feeling suddenly washed over me..... Like we weren't exactly supposed to be here..... I stopped again to look around, and in the process caused Marnie to look down in concern as she asked, "Trouble?" I continued to survey the grayed, grassy fields to see if I could find anything; ultimately finding nothing as I shrugged. "Is nothing." I said, brushing away the feeling as we walked past the shuttered gate. We walked through Alleyways as a shortcut to the house, and when I sensed we were close enough, I broke into a little skip down the road. Marnie and Piers laughed, and before I knew it, Marnie had made her way to my side, skipping in the studded shoes she bought yesterday while I was with Allister. We giggled along the way, and it turned out to be lots of fun as we practically raced each other down the block! I was in the lead, giggling along my merry way until a commanding voice shouted, "Stop!" Frightened, I skidded to a halt in front of the hand of an officer, and he continued, "This area is off limits right now. See, a crime has taken place, and it's no place for kiddies like you to roam!" "Hey, Aisling! Get in trouble for skippin' to quick?" Marnie teased when the officer reiterated, "This area is a crime scene! You little birds fly on home to your nest while we fix this issue." "Erm, that's what we were doing, sir? Our house is just-" She stopped with her mouth agape at the sight of their house flooded with police. "H-Hey! What's the big idea?!" She demanded loudly as her brother ran up from behind to observe the sight for himself, equally as outraged and shocked. "Excuse me, but do these two belong to you?" The officer asked him, and he quickly replied, "Yes, they are. And I 'appen to be the owner of the house you're currently searchin' as well!" "So YOU'RE Piers and Marnie then?" "Duh! Who else are we?" She snipped, pulling me close to her as the officer yelled out to his crew, "Found the missing two that were reported!" "M-MISSIN'?! Who ever said we were MISSIN'!?" Piers asked, shocked when two other voices shouted in a relieved manner, "Marnie! Piers!" Two members of Team Yell approached the two, swiftly taking them into their embraces as they sobbed; one of them even bringing me into the embrace beside Marnie. Confused, the pair looked at each other before Piers asked frustratedly for the third time, "Could someone KINDLY explain to me what is goin' on?!" "These sketchy blokes in suits came by an' just DEMOLISHED your 'ome, Piers!" "Kicked in the door they did, an' they scarpered when we tried to get em'. We looked around for you lot an' when none of us 'ad seen or 'eard from you we feared the worst!" "WH-WHAT?!" Piers screamed, furious about the news he was receiving. "Why didn't you call us first before reportin' us as missin'?" Marnie asked. "We DID! Meself an' three others, but none got through." The man said, and Marnie's eyes widened. "W-Well MY phone was well on empty. How 'bout you, bro?" At that moment, Piers's phone set off a barage of pinging noises, and he whipped it out to see hundreds of missed call notifications and texts! "You're just NOW receivin' 'em?" The lady member said, shocked as Piers turned off his notifications to avoid disturbance. Now red in the face, Piers asked the officer as politely as he could manage to see the wreckage for himself, and see if anything was stolen, to which the officer granted him access as he told Marnie and I to wait with the two Team Yell goons. After a while of searching about the house, Piers finally appeared once again, holding my Poké Doll that Bede had gotten for me during my recovery, and handed it to me before saying, "Nothin' was stolen. Damaged, but not stolen. It seems to me the only thing they were after was evidence of Aisling's existence in Galar!" "What makes you say that?" Marnie asked, pulling me closer to her, forcing my brother to take to the air from his position on my back as I tightly clutched the Doll. Piers held up the first league card I've ever made: the one taped to his wall, but the front of it where my face would be looking dopily into the camera was now a bunch of scratches until I was completely obscured! Marnie took the desecrated card into her own hands, and Piers added, "This, all 'er clothes we got for 'er, the Luck insence; only thing I salvaged of Aisling's was the Doll!" "You mean they wrecked everythin'?! What a bunch o' bleedin' hearts." "Who'd destroy a lil' girl's belongings?" The two others asked as Marnie slipped away from me. "People lookin' to do ill, an' hope to get away with it for cash." Piers replied in disgust as he shook his head, and we heard his sister call out in concern, "Bro? I think you oughtta 'ave a look at this!" "Yes, Marnie, what is-" Piers replied, walking up to where she stood about five feet from us when his voice became caught in his throat. The rest of us joined beside him when we spotted the crimson paint graffiti on the wall of an abandoned shopping mart, saying in large, wobbly text: "WE KNOW SHE'S HERE". Shakily, Piers walked up to the phrase, touching the dried lettering when Marnie jabbed his side to get his attention. She pointed silently to the paper stuck around the graffiti, and Piers leaned close to observe each one as the atmosphere around us all became cold. Piers straightened up his back quickly, and presumably pressed his hand over his mouth to stifle a gasp.... Or was it a scream?... "What're we gonna do?" I heard Marnie ask when Piers abruptly whispered a command into her ear, making her nod in understanding before taking a few of the papers down and shoving them into her backpack. She and Piers returned, both having turned a sickly green in color as Piers stammered, "O-Oh! Silly me, I seem to have forgotten somethin' back at Raihan's place! Come along kiddo, back to Hammerlocke we go." I raised my brow at him in shock, as it wasn't very common for him to forget anything, ESPECIALLY when I saw him do a check over TWICE before leaving Hammerlocke. "Is okay?" I asked, only half believing his claim when Marnie ushered, "Peaches! Come along, there'll be a Taxi waitin'." "But hungry..." I said, my face becoming droopy as my empty stomach howled, and Marnie sighed, "We'll eat once we get to Raihan's, but we gotta go back for whatever my lug 'eaded brother left." She took my hand, and begrudgingly, I walked with her back to the open maw of Spikemuth with her, her brother, and the two from the Team that reported the break in. We all took separate Taxis, leaving at different times as to not look suspicious. I rode with my brother and Marnie, while Piers took the other Taxi with the goonies as I asked myself what was going on in their heads. We arrived at Hammerlocke Stadium, and the two of us waited at the entrance for the other three before making our way quickly down the aged, bustling streets to a house that was made from slate gray brick. Knocking on the mahogany wood door, Piers quickly took a step back just as Raihan appeared, still in his house clothes as he asked in shock, "Piers? Marnie? Aisling? Wh-What are YOU lot doing back here?" "S-Sorry for the rush back, but there seems to be somethin' I 'ad forgotten 'ere, an' Aisling's hungry so I thought we'd stay for lunch if your up to it..." Piers replied quickly, eyes darting about as he brought his sister and myself towards him while Zen settled comfortably on his back. Looking between him and the rest that were on his doorstep, he stepped on aside; Piers quickly ushering us and his grunts in before quickly slamming the door behind him as Raihan asked, "I-Is there anything you guys want to drink? There's punch, juice, water, or if you would like I can brew coffee." Marnie opened her mouth when Piers quickly interjected, "NO COFFEE! The caffeine ain't good for kids..." Marnie closed her mouth, looking off to the side as I whimpered, "Hungry....." "Aisling love, we'll eat in a bit." He said, continuing to pull me and his sister into a tight embrace, making me sense an intense amount of fear, paranoia, and mistrust coursing through him. "Is something the matter?" Raihan finally asked, confirming that I wasn't the only one who thought he was acting unusual. Piers looked down at the two of us, and said with his best smile that he could manage, "You girls go on upstairs. Raihan an' I will call you when lunch is ready!" He set Zen onto Marnie's back before quickly whispering yet another command in her ear, to which she nodded as she beckoned me to join her. Once upstairs, Marnie found Raihan's phone charger, and quickly plugged in her phone before turning it on, and tapping away at her screen with a series of small clicks from where her claw like nails hit the glass. "Aisling, I'm gonna be in a group meetin' call. When that 'appens, I need you to be a dear, and go on to the next room over for a bit; play with Zen! He needs to get SOME exercise in." I nodded just as her phone began to go off, and she quickly leapt onto Raihan's bed to answer as I slid out of the room silently to go next door. Opening the door, I was in awe at the contents within, and how spacious it was; like you could fit ten Ivysaur inside! I quickly shut the door behind me, and set Zen on the floor as I cooed softly, "Brother? It's time to awaken!" "What's going on? I thought we were going back to Spikemuth?" He yawned, rubbing his eyes before looking around. "We were, but there was a problem that made Piers come back in a state of distress. I don't know why, but I KNOW he's distressed!" "You don't suppose it's something serious, do you?" He asked nervously, tapping his claws together. "I'm unsure.... The best I can do is listen in via tapping into my powers, but I don't know the fullest extent of which they can reach! I may hurt myself if I choose to push the limit. All I'm certain of is that if Piers had to send Marnie and us away, and Marnie's making a private phone call, it CAN'T be good!" I replied uneasily, looking back at the door I came through. "Then mayhaps we just leave the discussion to our elders? Besides, we have more interesting things to talk about anyway." "Like what?" "Oh, I don't know, maybe about that little obsession with that ghost boy prehaps?" "I-I'm not obsessed with him! I'm only......" I paused, my cheeks turning red as I faced away from him, and I could hear a sigh come from my brother as he replied "You may be a psychic to some extent, but you forget that I am too! Your thoughts are as clear to me as the blue sky over Hammerlocke, sister, and I KNOW that you've been thinking about that boy for weeks." "What do YOU know of what goes on in my head! For all you know I just want to know him a little better..." "Then you'll have the illusion you're in love with him, then the silly notion of being compatible with him- honestly, sister, Ghost Pokémon are tricky as they are killers! He'll lure you in like a spearow to a golden cage before snapping the door shut and making the cage a trap." "It was ONE Gengar, Zen." "But that's all it takes, Aisling! All it takes is that ONE to push the image of them ALL." "That Corsola meant no ill, nor did that sweet little Pumpkaboo, or that Sinistea, or even Haunter when we met it in the cave, and Ghastly and Phantump! The Ghosts in Kanto may be looking for trouble, but it's clear that here, HERE is where they're just trying to exist on their own terms. How would YOU like it if someone went on about you the same way you go on about him? Maybe YOU'RE the one obsessing!" I retorted, glancing to the side in annoyance. "Ignorance has never looked good on anyone, sister. Face it! All he's after is someone who he can make into another one of his possessed puppets, and you're giving him just that." "Zen, stop it!" I scolded, throwing my Poké Doll at him while he was in the air, which he caught himself, and threw it to the side as he kept on staring. My eyes welled with tears, and I began to consider if Zen was right as I sunk to the floor..... Remembering the train...... Remembering the Café....... He was so nice to me before quickly pulling a U-Turn on me like a Catterpie! One minute he was charmingly sweet and seemed he wanted to be with me, and the next he was distant.... Reserved..... Terrified to be associated with me..... Was his loneliness a ploy to make me feel bad for him, or was it really true that he was a lonely boy? Does he remain that way by choice? WHY was he so hard to figure out!? Most likely reading my mind again, Zen floated up to me, and dropped himself into my arms to comfort me as he asked, "Sister.... I wouldn't hurt you on purpose..... You know that, don't you?" "Of course I do, Zen! You're my little brother." I replied, pulling him into my embrace as I sobbed lightly. He really did mean well, after all he was only doing what was asked of him by father, but sometimes he goes a bit too far. I continued to cry as I burbled, "I want Piers.... I want Marnie.... They're the only true faces I can go to that I truly trust!" "I trust them too..... I know what we can do!" Zen suggested, and he took my hands into his three pronged paws before telling me to close my eyes. I closed them as he asked, my mind becoming clear of all thoughts and I almost felt emotionless as my sobs simply stopped, a numb feeling flowing over me. I looked around, and found my brother beside me but something about him seemed off. He was ethereal, or see through, but I could still feel him as I widened my eyes at the background around us. "ZEN! We're not supposed to be in the lounge!" I exclaimed, fearing that Piers would find us, and scold us for disobeying. "Relax," he began in a laid back sort of manner, "he can't see OR hear us! Besides, you wanted to see him, so here is where we went." I looked around before observing myself, making him say, "Cool, huh?" "What's HAPPENING to us?" I asked, waving my hand only to leave reflections of the wave behind before having them fade. "It's called "Spirit shifting"." He explained, doing a quick sommersault in the air around me before continuing, "We're physically in the room we once were, but our spiritual energy splits off into the farthest reaches of time itself, allowing us to exist in the present in another place, the past, or the future for better clarification of what's to come if we so choose! Like meditative time travel, though it's recommended that you don't spirit shift alone, as it could burn you up physically and your spirit be cursed to wander time, or if you somehow lose your way back to your body." "Th-That's frightening...." I said, looking around as I heard a couple voices coming from the across the room. "The girls are upstairs, now tell me what's wrong." One voice said, and I knew it to be Raihan's. "What time are we in, Zen?" I asked, observing as Piers faded into existence, face in his palms, and resting his elbows on his knees. "This transpired in the short time we arrived, and came to that room." He answered, and I was going to say something to him when Piers replied frantically, "They're here Raihan! They're here, an' they know Aisling's 'ere! I don't know what to do." "Calm down, Piers. Breathe! Whose here? Whose after Aisling?" Raihan asked, handing him a cup of water. Piers's head snapped up at him as he hissed in a whisper, "Those creepy blokes in suits! When we found Aisling, a bobby approached me, an' began to tell me 'bout a missin' baby girl in Kanto that matched 'er description. Said that 'er father was a suspect of a killin' as he was the last to see the baby AND 'er mum before declarin' them dead, and quickly marryin' a lover that he was bearin' child with! Low an' behold, 'ere Aisling is in Galar, an' these men that the copper described trashed my 'ome in search of 'er to finish the job! They took a girl's mother, an' now they're lookin' to take the girl's life." He stopped, trembling before busting into a harsh sob as he said, "Why's this gotta 'appen to a lil girl? I told Aisling I'd keep 'er safe, but it seems I mucked THAT up too!" "Piers, don't be ridiculous! You couldn't have known they were here." "But now that they DO know it places Aisling in peril, an' further more my Marnie in peril! I don't know 'ow much I can take, livin' on edge an' not knowin' who to trust or whatnot. Marnie and Aisling don't understand the fear; the countless nights I've gone with no sleep, worryin' that I'm gonna wake up to find one or the other missin' or worse, an' I hope on my own life they never 'ave to. This is MY burden! This is MY responsibility! I can't bear the thought of losin' 'em, Raihan, I just CAN'T." Piers sobbed, doubling over like a helpless mouse..... He was a man when it came to it: strong and fearless, but he was still as much a mouse, jumping at every little frightening thought, and fretting over every action, and when he's backed into a corner, he cracks under the pressure; making him vulnerable for the Meowth to pounce at just the right moment. Raihan looked down at his cup for a second before placing a firm hand on Piers's shoulder in comfort, and the scene melted away into Raihan's room to reveal Marnie talking on her phone. "What was the important matter you had to discuss with us Marnie?" It was Hop's voice ringing out of her phone, and she quickly replied in an manner of urgency, "There's somethin' you lot needs to see." She produced the papers from her bag, the ones she collected from Spikemuth, and spread them out on Raihan's bed for the others to observe. Walking closer, I realized the papers were actually printed pictures...... of US...... I gasped as Bede asked, "Is that-?" "Yes." Marnie interrupted, "That's all of us in Wyndon, and then there's Allister and Aisling in Wedgehurst, Raihan and Aisling in Hammerlocke with us, and one where we first got Aisling out of the recovery wing at the Gym in Circhester! Someone's been stalkin' us, an' their end game is to reach Aisling, an' harm 'er." "Wha?!" Victor screeched. "Huh?!" Gloria added. Hop and Bede remained silent, frozen in shock and fear as they continued to observe the images before them. More strong individuals..... All backed into corners like mice....."R-Right then.... What shall be the next course of action?" Bede asked, clearing his throat before speaking in a somewhat strong countenance, but failing to hide how meek he truly was. "Call the authorities?" Gloria suggested with a gulp. "No!" Marnie replied, shaking her head, "If they know we're on to 'em it'll provoke 'em to actin', then we'll ALL be in deep." "Then what DO we do?" Bede asked, "If we don't do anything, Aisling's in further danger. If we don't comply-" "Don't you DARE finish that sentence!" Marnie interrupted, her composure faltering a bit to reveal just how terrified she truly was of the situation placed upon her's and Piers's brow like a crown of briar thorns. Marnie was terrified..... Piers was sickened..... I, however, was mortified by the very thought. They were risking so much, and to preserve someone that was already dead in her home region! I don't know who the girl that one officer questioning Piers about, but I had a feeling that somehow we were linked...... Only she had died years ago whereas I survived..... I trumped over what she couldn't.... This Catherine girl was only a husk: desecrated and mangled, and I, Aisling, was the golden statuette that nobody could touch for the longest time! But that couldn't be right because Catherine never existed, and I was ALWAYS Aisling since my upbringing! I will always BE Aisling for the rest of my life. I shook off the thoughts passing through my mind as the scene fizzled away, and we heard the door open to reveal Marnie. "Aisling? Piers would like for you to come down an' visit with the others." She said quietly, and the door opened further to show Allister's arm, which quickly retreated to the shadows to avoid being seen. Imagine that..... He wouldn't even face me to say a simple "Hello"! I took Zen into my arms, and I walked up to the door to push it open the rest of the way; keeping in mind not to pay attention to the boy in the darkened corner, invisible as he wished while I made my way down the stairs. I heard him following close behind; not saying a single word, but neither suspecting that I wanted to be left alone as I quickened my step. He copied the motion as I continued down the spiral staircase, and sprinted across the dining room as I shouted, "No, Allister!" causing him to abruptly stop. I felt a shocked aura come from him, but I didn't care.... there was too much going on in my mind to take comfort in someone who plays pretend ghost! I arrived in the lounge, finding everyone I had met from Gym Leaders to trainers alike, all squeezed into the room with worried looks plastered to their faces, and unfathomable fear flooding the air around them as the room glowed brighter. I could hear the thoughts swirling around their minds into a cacophony of noise that grew so loud that I physically let go of my brother to cover my ears before clenching my eyes tight! I felt a pair of gentle hands peel mine from my head, and I opened my eyes to see Nessa in front of me, silent but angelic in nature. She smiled slightly, but her eyes portrayed tragedy and fear as she slid her hands down my face. I brushed past her, stopping to stare each one in the face and finding that same fear and hopelessness until I finally came face to face with Piers. He looked more than a mess; his eyes puffy from crying and his mind strained from so much stress, and his hair more frazzled and unkempt and eyeshadow rubbing off.... he strained a wobbly smile to show he was strong, but it only resulted in another burst of sobs as he pulled me into his arms tightly; leaving me the one to comfort him as I pecked the side of his head, and patted his back. He lifted me into his lap, continuing to embrace me as he garbled his speech into something along the lines of "You'll be alright. I'll make sure you an' Marnie are BOTH alright!" Marnie approached her brother in concern, which promptly made him beckon to her to join him on the recliner, to which she obliged as she squeezed herself beside me to lean herself against her brother. We sat comforting, and crying in each other's arms while the audience around us took each other into a consoling hug, and eventually all went quiet as I rested myself against Piers's shoulder, rising and falling in a slow tempo as I slipped out of consciousness...