Her feet pounded on paved stone as she ran for the glowing neon sign. Its bright red and white colors were the only thing she could make out clearly in this tempest. She had weighed waiting it out at the cave's exit but she'd already taken longer than she liked traveling to the city. A little bit of water wasn't enough to deter her.

With that decision, she'd donned the rain gear stashed in her pack. It lasted a minute before disintegrating and now her hoodie and sweatpants were heavily sodden. Who in their right mind made rain gear that wasn't actually rain-resistant?

She made it to the portico, grimacing at her state. What glances of the city she did get painted a positive picture. With its size, she'd find it difficult to believe the police here had been completely subverted.

It was just a matter of getting her information to the right ears. The thought of letting bygones be bygones occurred to her, it would have been ideal if she'd not known what she was dealing with. Cults did not operate on rationality, they didn't just let people walk away and especially not someone with damning information.

Her reflection stared at her from the glass. A young girl drenched to the bone shouting about a criminal conspiracy? She didn't like her chances.

She wrapped a hand around her blonde hair and wrung it out as best she could, repeating the action with her clothes. It was tempting to see if her dehydration formula would work but now was not the time.

Getting as much of it out as practically possible, she pushed the door open and suppressed a shiver at the blast of cold air that greeted her.

The sight that met her was reminiscent of an auditorium. Small groups of couches and chairs were situated evenly leading to a counter at the fair end manned by staff. There were computer terminals set up on the right and left sides of the room. She could see multiple sets of double doors leading to other areas of this facility. This Pokemon Center.

She had conflicted feelings about its existence. Government-run facilities that provided healthcare, housing, meals, and a plethora of other support functions made her want to scream into the ether.

Setting aside the fact that governments were inherently inefficient, their presence in the market stifled true competition. How was a company meant to compete with the very entity that not only set the rules but demanded payment on top of that? Not from their customers, no that would make too much sense. Instead, they taxed the companies trying to compete and then offered their own services for FREE.

There was no incentive on the part of the company to participate in such a fraudulent game.

Then you had the consumer who could sit on their fat ass and be leach to a society that would happily accommodate them.

It was preposterous.

What was most galling, is that she'd now have to be a willing participant in this farce. She hadn't even paid any taxes yet!

She consoled herself, exposing corruption would more than makeup for whatever expenses she incurred. And she wouldn't be here long. Her plan was to use their facilities to dry off and make herself presentable before utilizing what passed as phone booths to contact the authorities.

Eyes, both Pokemon and human, had strayed to her upon her entrance but soon turned back to their activities.

They may not have lasted long but young trainers were a dime a dozen.

She approached the counter, her sneakers making squishing sounds on account of her soaked socks.

"Oh my!" The woman manning the counter exclaimed. Her pink hair was made into large rings and she wore some facsimile of a doctor's outfit. "You poor thing. This storm is a nasty thing. Let's dry you up."

She reached under the counter and then walked around the counter with a towel. Her hands extended and Tanya narrowed her eyes at the action. She did not want to suffer the indignity of being dried.

The woman noticed her look and halted in her step.

"Sorry, you'll catch a sickness like that." She handed the surprisingly fluffy towel over. "Dry yourself off please."

Tanya took it with some hesitation, using it to absorb more of the dampness out of her.

"Thank you, I require an area to change clothes. I will return this after."

"They're currently all booked but one should open soon. Also don't worry about the return." The woman dismissed her with a wave. "Please keep it."

Tanya kept her eye from twitching. Giving away government property? Truly, the government exclusively employed failures who couldn't hack it in the real world.

She was rubbing her hair with it when the woman spoke again.

"You didn't happen to come from Reflection Cave did you?" Her words were laced with concern. "There was a warning released by the Rangers. Some increased geological activity was recorded and they're worried someone could have been hurt."

"I hadn't heard of that." She responded carefully, not confirming nor denying her involvement. She'd been careful but her ignorance regarding their methods to uncover the truth bothered her. "It sounds dangerous."

"Hmm, it is. Don't worry too much though. These things happen. Would you like your Pokemon checked out while you wait?"

They were both in their respective balls now, she'd returned them for fear of losing them in the downpour. She suspected they were in fine health but was no expert in Pokemon biology. Refusing may also incur suspicion.

"Very well." She retrieved Carbink's miniaturized ball that had been hidden in her left sleeve and placed it on the counter. Mawile may be recognized so she kept it with her. "Please let me know if there are any abnormalities."

The staff member took it and asked.

"Do you have a trainer card?"

Using context, she could piece together that it was some form of identification. Needless to say, she did not have one.

She supposed the news should be heartening, it meant they were keeping the individual in some way accountable. She imagined those who abused the resources would be given a black mark. It did make her look quite the fool.

"Don't worry sweety." The woman took her lack of response as an answer and leaned in, speaking in a whisper. "We're supposed to take them to keep track of trainers and secure greater funding. I'll make an exception for such a cute little girl like you. It will be our little secret."

She wouldn't trust herself with a box of matches and lighter fluid right now.

The woman slotted the ball into some device and typed on a keyboard. Tanya did not miss the way her expression tightened.

"Is something wrong?" She asked with a higher pitch to emphasize her childish nature.

"No no." She answered with an air of sureness. "This is your first time in a Pokemon Center, right?" Tanya nodded, not seeing any value in obscuring it with how obvious her lack of knowledge was. "These things can take a while for the initial scan. After they're in the system all subsequent visits go much faster."

That made sense. She was being too jumpy, it was not as if the world was out to get her. Not this world at least.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

Still, she couldn't discount Being X from meddling again. She was certain they were responsible for introducing her to this mess in the first place. After all, what were the odds the cafe she sought employment at happened to be run by a cult?

They might have been non-zero but the parallels between Schugel and Xerosic were impossible to miss. No, even if it hadn't said a word to her after her second death its fingerprints were all over this.

That was if she had died at all. The human body was surprisingly durable. Odds were she was alive, if unconscious, after being run through so many times. It could have frozen time, healed her, and dropped her into this world. It was a blatant attempt to circumvent its promise of no third reincarnation but what could she really expect from it?

With its treachery in mind, she scoped out the room in greater detail. She turned, leaning back on the counter while pretending to watch one of the many televisions placed in the lobby. It was hosting some talk show.

One confirmed exit from where she entered, the doors to the right led to a staircase while the ones on the left were unknown. Behind the counter was another set of doors, presumably to care for more serious cases.

Multiple Pokemon were out and about, their trainers nearby. The staff member had an Audino nearby. There was a Machoke arm wrestling with a Hariyama, a Dodue fighting with itself over food, a token Furfrou, a Diggersby rolling around the ground…the list went on and she cataloged each instance.

Her inspection revealed that she was the odd one out, everyone else acting in a relaxed manner. That extended to the staff member, who apart from the odd behavior she'd seen earlier, seemed content to let the machine run its diagnostic.

She slipped a finger into her right sleeve and traced the rubber handle of what she'd found in the survival kit. Attached to it, was five inches of good steel in the form of a fixed blade. It was what you'd expect from a survival knife and its presence mulified her apprehension.

That was until blue and red lights shone through the window. Her eyes drifted to the staff member who'd backed up against the wall, watching her carefully. The Audino had placed itself in between but seemed confused about the situation.

Tanya held no confusion, someone had tipped off the authorities about her presence. The rest of the customers looked over curiously. She'd have to pick apart what gave her away at a later time.

Ideally, she would have turned herself in after some phone calls and cursory work to determine if they had any affiliation with Team Flare. With the way things were progressing, the situation was still salvageable. She was in a public setting; making her case in front of so many witnesses would surely offer her some protection.

The doors pushed open to reveal a blue-haired woman in a police officer's uniform stalking toward her. In her wake trailed a blue and yellow dog-like Pokemon, a Manectric. Water dripped from both, the rain still falling heavily outside.

"Tanya, yes?" There was no pause to confirm her identity. "You're under suspicion for Pokemon theft, assault with a Pokemon, assault, and ownership without a license. I'm going to need you to come with me."

The charges were not without merit but there were mitigating extenuating circumstances she needed to explain.

"I understand, I'm willing to-" The words died in her throat as a mane of red caught her attention. On the tv screen she'd been watching earlier three people were shown laughing and discussing something together. The bottom of the screen had a banner with their titles.

Pokemon Professor - Sycamore

Champion of Kalos - Diantha

Owner of Lysandre Labs - Lysandre

They'd never been introduced but she recognized the last from the cultist headquarters. He wasn't a garden-variety brainwashed follower, he was the leader of the whole damn thing. Yet, there he was, rubbing shoulders with two of the most influential people in the region. No, it was more than that. They were literally patting each other on the back.

Her mind raced with the implications and she could see her future very clearly now. She'd give a speech now, expose them to the region, and be promptly laughed at. What was she to those giants? Maybe one or two who enjoyed donning tin foil hats would believe her but so what? They'd be as powerless as she was.

She would either then 'escape' and be returned to Team Flare's tender care or perish 'choking' on some bad food. Would they even have to work hard for a cover-up? History was written by the victors.

She was distantly aware that something was happening but didn't fully comprehend what had until the Manetric was lunging at her with extended fangs. While she had been distracted by the revelation of Lysandre's position in society, the officer had tried to grab her. Tanya hadn't survived this long without reliable instincts and had subdued them without a thought. Said officer was now on the floor with her arm twisted back painfully. Tanya's foot was on her shoulder blade, applying pressure to keep her down.

The Manetric was quick but attacked in a telegraphed way. Tanya maneuvered the captured arm between them in an effort to halt the attack. It did not have the desired result and the fangs sunk into the woman's flesh.

She released her hold as a jolt of electricity traveled through the woman. Others had noticed and began to take action, there was no desescalating or winning this situation.

Tactical retreat. Regroup and strategize later.

She rolled over the counter, grabbing her Pokeball and earning a yelp from the staff member.

She ran towards the door leading to the staircase. The front entrance had too many potential obstacles in the form of those Pokemon. The second floor was unknown but there was a set of windows she'd spotted from the outside, that would be her exit plan.

Thankfully, the closest Pokemon to her did not follow. The Manetric was in clear distress over their trainer and the Audino was still befuddled by the recent developments.

She made it up the stairs and encountered a bewildered trainer. Her fist swung forward and she felt something give way with a crunch. She didn't stop to inspect and ran down the passageway.

Spotting a window to a street, she crossed her arms in front of her before charging through it and onto the street. Unfamiliar with the city layout and further disoriented from the storm, she ran in a straight direction.

A dead end was soon reached, a staircase led down to the beach while the other up a hill. Her decision was made for her as a girl appeared at the top of the hill.

"Hey, you!" She had blonde hair peeking out of a helmet and wore roller skates of all things, there was a Lucario by her side. "I don't like this part of the job. But you're under arrest, don't make me-"

Tanya's hand went to her knife, ready to neutralize the threat when the girl was tackled by her Pokemon of all things.

"Lucario!" The cry cut through the wind and she got the message.

She descended the steps rapidly and ran across the beach. Normally, she'd prefer something to break the line of sight but with the storm, she could barely see in front of her as is. If she followed the coast line she'd make it out of the city.

The stretch of sand narrowed and she began wondering where this path led when a wave crashed against her. She was flung into the sea and could quickly feel herself being pulled.

Her head burst through the water and was promptly buried by another wave. She struggled to release the pack but found it stuck. Her knife was gripped and she tried to cut off the straps when another swell impacted her.

Sea water poured into her mouth. She slammed against her chest, hacking it up. A flight formula was spun up, forgetting at the moment that it would not work.

With a kick, she broke out from the surface and rose some meters up. For a moment, she believed herself to be flying, sadly it was just her momentum. Free of the water, she tried to get an assessment of how far from the coast she'd been taken.

Eyes glowing, she used her night vision to peer through the darkness. It didn't have the intended effect as the constant rain barred her from seeing far. She made sure to take a deep breath as she fell back into the ocean.

A feeling of impending dread overcame her. A recent memory flashed in her mind. Reflexively, her hands moved to be outstretched in front of her. Something impacted her, not doing any damage but still sending her careening through the water. Before she could wonder what had happened, she repeated the feat, and rather than be turned into paste, she was sent deeper.

She caught a glimpse of scales and she lashed out with her knife, making a shallow cut into whatever was attacking her.

A cry of rage was returned and a beam shattered whatever defense she had mustered, drilling into her and displacing the saved oxygen from her lungs.

The reality of it all started to hit her. The Pokemon she had on hand were worthless out at sea.

The two options presented to her were to drown or become fish food. She refused both and a yell of frustration erupted from her lips accompanied by a force that blew back the water and tail that had come for her.

The slight reprieve was not enough and she knew there might not be an escape from this.

Suddenly, time seemed to halt as she was suspended in a pinkish ball.

'I figured you'd show up eventually, Being X!' She mentally spat.

It didn't respond with words but a feeling. It was a sense of salvation.

For a price.

The same old game

She did not want to die. Survival was the most basic instinct of all living beings. But hadn't she already faced death without blinking?

Moreover, it hadn't been content to let her die like that.

She wasn't willing to play with something like the Type-95 again. Would her refusal cause it to give up?

No.

Being X, fundamentally, wasn't just a sore loser. It refused to lose altogether. It wouldn't let her go.

Screw it. She was calling its bluff. If it wanted to try throwing her into another world be her guest.

Another feeling, one demanding her submission.

She laughed internally at its pitiful attempts. As an individual, she'd made a choice and it had no right to enforce its will on her.

Satisfaction bled over the connection.

Power crept over her and to her incredulity, she could feel her Ki able to resist it. She poured her remaining tank into shoring up her defense.

Frustration was transmitted.

That invigorated her further.

Acceptance it pleaded.

'Like hell! I'd never accept you!'

She ranted but her resistance began to crumble, the power too much.

With indignation, she felt it coat her form.

There was a pulling sensation followed by one of weightlessness.

She sputtered, the taste of salt strong in her mouth. Regaining her bearings, she shakily rose to her feet.

Just like she thought, it wasn't content to let her die!

"Take that you cheating-"

Illuminated by moonlight, a shadow enveloped her form. She turned slowly.

"No rest for the wicked huh?" Her dry tone was a stark contrast to the rest of her.

A guttural roar that reverberated through her responded.