A New World, a New Ranger

by ed2481


Chapter 12

Luke let out a slight, nervous sigh as, fiddling with his sweater as he approached the apartment building that he’d tracked the teleportation signal to. While he’d done this type of thing before, this time he had to make sure he was at his best. The little Abra needed some help with not only his powers, but his mind as well which was something just as important.

He cleared his mind of distractions and focused completely on what he was doing as he knocked on the door.


The knocking noise from the front door of the apartment gave the Abra and Riolu pause, even as they heard their minotaur host going to the door. With a slight crack, Iron Will looked through the door to the other side to see a bipedal creature, mostly green and white, standing there in front of him. Its arms seemed to end in a pair of giant blades, though there were also fingers there. At the moment, its fingers appeared to be nervously fidgeting with each other, it was wearing a woolen sweater with what looked like Celestia’s cutie-mark. “Yes? Can Iron Will help you?”

Um... yes... I... I don’t have anywhere to stay and... well... I don’t want to sleep on the street sir, the creature ‘said’ submissively in Iron’s mind. I was wondering if I could... possibly stay here for the night? I... I promise I will be gone by morning.

Iron Will looked at the creature and sighed. “Another psychic...very well. So long as you are careful and help out with the translating for the others. Little Vincent is tired right now.”

In answer, the creature clasped its hands together and gave Iron a bow. I will... I will do what I can, sir, he said.

Iron Will opened the door wider then and stood back to let the creature within. “Do you have a name? Iron Will can’t just call you ‘you,’ after all.”

Luke... my name is Luke, the creature answered softly, reminding Iron for all the world of a certain yellow pegasus. Thank you so much for letting me sleep here... Mr. Will. The creature walked into the apartment.

Lucy and Vincent were still on the guest bed, with Bit the Porygon-Z hovering in the corner, still repairing himself under Vincent’s order. Sam the Scyther was sitting at the kitchen table, but perked up when he saw the Gallade enter the apartment. “Ah, another Pokemon, and a psychic to boot. Hmm...I don’t recall seeing any of your line in the lab...you’re not from Nurem’s lab, are you? That’d be horrible.”

“Nurem? No... I don’t think so... I’ve never even heard the... the name before,” Luke said nervously, fidgeting with his fingers again. “I... I’m Luke, hello.”

“Ah, yes, where are my manners?” Sam chuckled a bit. “My name’s Sam. Bit unoriginal, but my...my first trainer was a younger kid, before…” The Scyther trailed off, then shook his head. “Anyways!” Here the Scyther pointed into the guest bedroom. “That’s Lucy the Riolu and Vincent the Abra on the bed there. We three tend to share it, pretty easy with them at that size. Iron Will has his own room...somewhere in here. I...I suppose we can offer you the couch and a blanket.”

“If not... I can sleep on the floor,” Luke answered, still fidgeting, this time his fingers moving to the sweater. “I have slept in worse places by far... a bed is not always better.”

Sam nodded at that, knowing all too well himself. After all, when in a lab, you don’t always wake up or pass out in the best of places… “Right. Oh, nearly forgot. Bit the Porygon-Z’s hanging around here somewhere. Not sure, Vincent said something about having him fix himself and I sorta lost track. Let me find that blanket for you. Do you want anything else while I’m up? A drink, something to eat? Not all of us finished dinner…”

“A glass of water would be nice... if you have anything light, I could have that too though I don’t want to burden you any greater than I... than I have already,” Luke said, looking down as he fidgeted. “So...sorry... I’m naturally nervous...”

The Scyther sighed and directed the Gallade to sit at the table where Vincent’s half-eaten meal laid. “Start in on that, then, and I’ll be back with some water.”

The Gallade did so, using his psychic energy to pick up individual vegetables and eating them slowly one at a time, his control superb. Sam came back and slowly placed a glass of water in front of him, taking extra care to not shatter the glass with his arm-blades. “Got a lot of practice...the both of us, I see. Mine came from the doctors’ testing...and yours seems to be just a part of who you are…”

Luke finished a bite he was on and brought the glass up to his lips and took a sip. “Not quite... but close enough. I suppose something that you’ve been doing since you were a Ralts kind of becomes a part of you...”

The Scyther whistled at that, then cast a quick glance at the guest bedroom, where the two child-like Pokemon had started to nod off. “Hey, don’t suppose you could stick around in the morning? Vincent...wasn’t always an Abra, and all the things that happened to him plus his powers is not a good combination. I can’t teach him control...or how to deal with the things his ‘father’ did to him…”

“I have nowhere else to go at the moment... so I will stay until you grow sick of me,” the Gallade said, a thin smile crossing his lips as his fingers fiddled with the sweater.

Sam smiled and extended one arm towards the latest psychic-type to be housed under the roof. “Well then, welcome to our highly damaged family.”

What could almost be called a smirk crossed Luke’s face and he bowed his head, his energy wrapping around the Bug Type’s extended arm very lightly and giving it a shake. “My thanks.”


Vincent couldn’t sleep. Then again, that’d been a problem ever since they’d left the ‘lab’ of his ‘father’. It was getting easier and easier to not think of those places as his home...or as people he cared about anymore.

Rolling out of bed and walking to the kitchen for a quick drink of water brought him some relief from the brewing headache, but not enough. He paused on his way to the bathroom for another tablet of headache medication. The Abra’s eyes passed over the couch and the form he knew was resting on it. Another psychic, he thought to himself. Maybe...maybe he could help?

The little fox walked up to the couch and moved around to the front, observing the sleeping Gallade for a moment. How would I go about it? Hi, my father was a sociopath who tortured me and other pokemon for fifteen years in the name of science, can you help me cope?

That is... unfortunate to hear, a new, slightly nervous, yet incredibly strong in its ‘presence within his head’ voice spoke out in his mind. But I believe I could help.

“Gah!” Vincent said, falling back in shock, before remembering something vital. “Oh yeah. Psychic. Shoulda known.”

That... and you’re thinking out loud, the Gallade replied.

The Abra rubbed his head while looking at the apparently not-sleeping Gallade on the couch. “Yeah, see, been an Abra for all of three days...well, maybe four, depending on if it’s after midnight or not. Not got a handle on these sorts of powers or the rules regarding them. I’ve mostly been using them to skim information from other minds and form links in my family’s head so Iron Will and the ponies can understand us.”

It’s fine, the Gallade said. I am Luke... and you are Vincent unless I am mistaken. It is nice to meet you.

Vincent smiled at that. “Yeah, well, it’s nice to meet you too Luke.” At that, the little Abra hopped up to a mostly-empty section of the couch, only brushing up against the Gallade with his tail that he wasn’t used to yet. “So...you said something about how you could help me cope? Cause...nearly every memory I have of that man is terrible…”

I believe I can, Luke answered, opening his eyes to look down at the Abra. I spent the first six years of my life as a whore. Or I suppose that the word is ‘sex slave’ now...

The little Abra shuddered at the thought. “Not...entirely unfamiliar with the idea...but Sam didn’t go into great detail, either. Yet, if you think it’s something that’s on par with my memories, I don’t think I want to know. Just…” The little psychic sighed and looked at the floor.

To his surprise, Vincent experienced something quite like the sensation of hands rubbing over his back, sending relaxing signals down his spine. The first step is to relax... you cannot hope to master your powers if you are tense. Let the pains flow out of you... like water down a mountain, escaping from the bowels of the earth.

The little Abra sighed at the sensation. “Oh, that feels goooood…” He sighed and looked up to the Gallade with a smile. “Thanks, I feel a lot better now...I mean, the things I’ve seen are still there, and I still remember them when I look at my family, but...it doesn’t feel as bad anymore, remembering…”

Good, Luke said, a bit of warmth entering his voice as he closed his eyes. Now then... this is going to feel a bit strange... but allow it to happen please. It will not hurt you.

At this, the Abra actually panicked. So many sessions with his father had begun the same way! Then he took a deep breath and calmed himself, slowly. This was not his father. This was not that lab. He was safe here. There wouldn’t be any tests, any injections. “Um. Word that better please, or explain what you’re doing, cause my heart is going a mile a minute here.”

It is easier to show than to tell, just know that I will be here for you as it happens, the Gallade replied and suddenly, Vincent was no longer in the apartment.

In fact, he was someplace that he had no idea how to properly describe. A roaring sound filled his ears and a billion droplets of water crashed down on his head and back, beating away further tension. Before him was a breathtaking mountain valley in the middle of fall, the leaves on the trees casting an orange and red reflection over the whole world. He couldn’t stop himself from saying one word in reflex at the sight. “Beautiful…”

It is, isn’t it? Luke asked from beside him. Vincent turned his head to see that the Gallade was sitting crosslegged beside him beneath the waterfall, the water droplets slamming into him unnoticed. It was one of my favorite places before we were brought here.

Vincent cocked his head at that. “So...this is a memory. Your memory.” At the Gallade’s nod, Vincent continued. “So why did you share it with me? Why...are we here?”

Three reasons really, Luke answered with a small smile, water pouring over him. One, it is a better place to practice your powers and calm yourself than the apartment. Two, it is impossible to build a wall against bad memories unless you have good memories to build on so I thought I would share one of my favorites with you. Three, I love the view, heh.

Vincent nodded at the reasons and looked to the sky. “Can...Could I show you my favorite memory, then? Is this place malleable for me?”

I don’t know, the Gallade said, a small smirk on his face. Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn’t.

Vincent frowned and closed his eyes, thinking of the memory he wanted. To the Gallade’s surprise, the wonderful view was not replaced slowly by walls of white and neon lights, but by a different outside setting. A small grassland with a few clouds in the sky, and a road in the distance. The Abra opened his eyes to see this view and smiled before laying back in the grass and watching the clouds drift by.

Luke joined him. This is a good memory, the Gallade said. What is it from?

Vincent smiled and closed his eyes. “Our first moment here.” Gesturing with one hand, he continued. “Over there is where Lucy woke up, and just in front of me is where Sam was. They were skeptical I was still me, but then I reminded them we were poke-friends forever. PFF’s. Something I came up with in the lab, we would say it to each other constantly, drive the researchers batty trying to figure out what it meant. Heh,” he laughed a bit before sitting up. “This is where my family...figured out it was free. Figured out we finally had hope. Didn’t matter if I was an Abra. We were free.”

What a wonderful tale, Luke said. And a wonderful memory as well. Though perhaps it would be better if you spoke like a true psychic Pokemon. I do not want you to get the wrong idea when I say this, but the other way is inferior.

Vincent held a hand to his head before blinking and pulling it away. “Huh...was about to say I still had a headache, but here, that doesn’t seem to matter, does it?...” At the Gallade’s almost mischievous almost-smile, the Abra pouted a bit. “Oh, like you’ve explained the rules at all.”

The rules are there for you to discover yourself, I’m merely here to keep you from doing something unwise, the Gallade answered, his almost smile still in place.

“Fine…” The Abra closed his eyes then. Testing...testing...is this thing on? I hope so, I only use it all the time…

I can hear you, Luke assured him with a small nod. Now then my young Abra friend. What would you like to do? This is the world of the mind, it is to turn a human phrase ‘your Cloyster’.

The Abra looked about and shuddered. I...I want to be able to deal with my memories from the lab. Not…not all of them, not right now. But the memories of what Sam and Lucy and Bit had to go through. That way I don’t remember whenever I look at them.

Alright, I will be here for you as you go through them, Luke said, placing an invisible hand on Vincent’s shoulder. Now... where will we start? After all, you will never be able to wall off your memories if you do not face them first.

A silver screen appeared before the duo then, and Vincent shuddered. i]Chronologically, I saw Bit’s fate first, even if I hardly saw or interacted with him again. The few times I did, I didn’t realize it was him running the lab’s mainframe. Eventually we reconnected, but not to the degree that Lucy or Sam and I did. I think I was purposefully kept away from him as much as possible…

I see, the Gallade said with a small nod. Now... concentrate on the memories and let them fill this screen.

The memories began to play then, of what had happened to Bit, as told from Vincent’s perspective…


“Did you manage to procure the test subject I requested, assistant?”

Doctor Nurem was glaring at a younger man, who held up a pokeball and nodded. “It wasn’t easy, sir. They recognized me. But I eventually managed to obtain a Porygon.”

“Excellent,” the doctor responded. “Perhaps you aren’t totally useless after all. Strap it down there, and I will begin the experiment.”

A flash of red light, and the Porygon was free for all of two seconds before the assistant began securing the Program Pokemon to a steel table. “What? Where is my trainer? Who are you? What are you doing?!”

Vincent held a hand up to the glass and fought back tears. He’d seen this too many times. He knew that the Pokemon didn’t have too great a chance of surviving what his father had cooked up to do to them on that particular day.

“Loading Dubious Up-Grade. Begin sequence.”

The table under the Porygon flashed once, twice, and then streams of light emitted from it and forced their way into his form. It...it looked like an Evolution, but…

...But there was something wrong about it. Possibly the way the Porygon was screaming the entire time. “No no no no no no no NO! SOMEONE, ANYONE, HELP MEEEEE!”

The memory broke there as the Porygon’s voice became less and less understandable…


Vincent was shaking, shivering slightly at having to recall that day. The experiment had succeeded, naturally, otherwise, Bit wouldn’t be here. But he’d been broken that day, forced into a half-life, where his only real use was to keep the mainframe running better than himself...

He blinked twice as Luke’s power touched him very faintly in the center of his forehead.

And be at peace, the Gallade’s voice spoke in his mind. The pain and terror lessened and faded, until the little psychic fox wasn’t shaking anymore.

That...what was...how did you?...I still sometimes have nightmares of what they’ve been through, and you just...wiped it away… The little Abra was confused, to say the least, as to how someone could be so powerful.

I have hidden it away in your mind Vincent, Luke answered simply. It will not trouble you unless you think of it, but I warn you, it is best to build your own wall upon good memories. My seclusions will only last for so long before they collapse and the memory comes rushing back to you even stronger.

Still, any...any relief from these memories, even a little, will let me function, let me form good memories. So thank you. Vincent looked unsure, but slowly walked over towards the Gallade and sat closer.

You’re very welcome, Luke said with a small smile, this one actually appearing on his face. With practice, I’m sure you will be as strong as me. After all... trauma can forge the strongest swords.

Silence reigned for a moment before the Abra spoke again. Are you doing something similar to yourself, then? Suppressing your own memories of your own life?

Yes, Luke answered with a small nod. Or, mostly. I long ago found some kind of peace with them, but... I would rather not have my evolution to a Kirlia replaying in my head at all times.

A strangled laugh echoed through the area. Yeah...not all experiences that help Pokemon grow and evolve are good ones. Like Bit’s. He’s...still broken. But not as bad. Or if he is, I can’t tell anymore. Porygon-Z’s are erratic, so maybe that helped? At least he’s trying to fix himself now. I’ll be happy if he stops referring to us as Subjects. Does NOT help the suppressing.

Indeed... Luke let out a sigh. Now... I’m sure you have noticed a slight difference between me in here and me ‘out there’, haven’t you?

The Abra tilted his head to the side. You’re...less shy, I think? Less hesitant. You simply know things and act on them here. Is...no, there IS a reason for that...let me think…

Luke simply smiled and closed his eyes as he lay in the grass, letting the little Abra figure things out.

Hmm. In the real world, you’re hesitant, but here, you’re all confidence...There’s a disconnect there. Something about the real world makes you shy and careful, or maybe something about this world fills you with confidence. This is a realm of the mind...so...you are who you want to be here? The little psychic tried to puzzle out the reason and rules, guessing mostly, but hoping he was right.

Correct, Luke said with a nod. That, and have you ever heard the phrase that ‘your mind is a fortress’?

Vincent waved a paw in a ‘so-so’ fashion. I know of it, but dad didn’t have many living psychic test subjects. Well...maybe me. If what Bit says is true, then the Pokemon DNA he was using to alter mine might have been an Abra’s. Would explain quite a bit.

Of course, Luke said, nodding again. You see, to humans, it is merely a figure of speech, but to us psychic types it has a very literal meaning.

The world shifted around Vincent and suddenly he was on a balcony overlooking a great fortress. It was made of large white stone slabs and built atop a mountain. The whole structure was majestic and graceful yet had a hard edge to it. Large walls were raised around it and went on for miles and miles.

This is what your mind should look like by the time you reach your final evolution... it is how you will fight other psychic Pokemon if they try to besiege your mind. A place to flee to if inner conflicts become too great or if bad memories overwhelm you. Build it strong, upon happy memories and it will keep you safe all your life.

Vincent looked at it in awe. By Arceus…


Arceus grumbled to himself. I really wish the mortals would stop invoking my name. Now that I can hear it, it feels like my ears are burning near constantly!


The little Abra looked at the fortress and sighed. I...I have too many bad memories, I think. If I could just get rid of the ones around my adoptive family, the only ones who cared...I might have a foundation. But all the things I’ve seen...they’ll stay with me forever. I...I know it, somehow.

Yes, yes they will, Luke said with a simple nod. And yet, as I said, trauma forges the strongest swords.

Vincent turned to Luke and blinked. You mean...use them? Use them to motivate me?

It’s what I did, Luke said with a nod. It is why my trainer is who she is and why I stay with her.

The little fox smiled. Well, until you got here, but no worries on that front. Once my family and I help Iron Will get enough bits to get on his way, we’ll help you find her. She’s likely a Pokemon as well...at least, if what Arceus said and what happened to me are any guidelines, so it might be a bit difficult. But hey, my family all showed up near one another. Surely your trainer is close.

Oh, do not worry, I know where she is, Luke answered, a ghost of a smirk crossing his lips. The Abra’s eyes narrowed at that, and the area around them turned stormy.

...Then you lied to us. You DID have a place to stay. You came to us on purpose. Why?

Because I sensed a little psychic in pain, the Gallade answered calmly as the stormy clouds disappeared and were replaced by a brilliant sun. A pain that I can at the very least emphasize with.

Vincent blinked again and sighed. Sorry...It’s just...here, let me tell you about Lucy. Maybe then you’ll understand why I’m so...suspicious.

The silver screen appeared again, and the fox recanted his tale. Lucy was a little Riolu that dad’s team brought in one day. We played together when they allowed us to interact, and she told me what they were doing to her, and I told her what they were doing to me. My tales were far less interesting, naturally. The same tests, over and over. I didn’t even realize then that understanding Pokemon was something humans couldn’t do...at least, not without effort. Dad and his team were drilling moves into her, preparing her body for the procedure they had planned. The only one they couldn’t force her to learn was Aura Sphere, but she still learned three others. Dark Pulse, Dragon Pulse...and Earthquake. She was resilient before, but once they put her under the knife…


“Subject thirty-seven, please follow me. Subject thirty-five, please follow my associate.”

Vincent got up and slowly made his way to the first of the two lab assistants. “Where are we going?”

“You’re going to observe another experiment,” the first one said as Lucy was led away. “Your father requested it personally.”

Vincent sighed. He’d grown numb to the idea by now that he might have to watch another Pokemon suffer before dying. He only hoped they died quickly so that he didn’t have to hear their screams in his dreams. “And Lucy?”

“She’ll be fine,” the assistant dismissed. A short walk brought them to the observation room, and Vincent’s blood ran cold.

There, being dragged in, kicking and screaming, was Lucy. “Hey! This isn’t my room, or the training room! What are you doing? Lemme go! Lemme go!”

“Please restrain the subject,” Doctor Nurem’s voice rang out from the intercom. The assistant attempted to comply, but Lucy hit him with a Force Palm, the move she was using until she could learn Aura Sphere. The assistant doubled over in pain, and the Riolu made a run for it.

...Only to be swept up by a mechanical arm and deposited on the table, then rapidly restrained by automatic straps. “Sub-sub-subject restRAINed, doooooctor.”

“Excellent work, subject sixteen.” At this, the doctor entered the room and pulled gloves over his hands. Heading to a tray where his surgical tools were lying, he hummed for a moment. “Begin recording. Experiment number seven zero five, skeletal modification and densification on a prepared Riolu test subject, known at this time as subject thirty-five. I will attempt to alter the species’ famed ‘spike’ features and make the subject more resilient to bone fractures.”

“LUCY!” Vincent pounded on the glass for all he was worth, causing no damage whatsoever. “DAD, NO!”

“Begin the operation.”

“VINCENT!”

The memory broke off there…


Vincent was shaking even heavier than the last time, sweat running down his body and his breath came in gasping heaves.

Be at peace, Luke’s mental voice permeated Vincent’s mind, and when he opened his eyes, he found them once again beneath the waterfall. After a moment to catch his breath, he nodded a few times.

...So. Yeah, that was the last time I trusted a researcher. I questioned them constantly and became suspicious of every time they asked me to change rooms. Lucy survived, clearly, but...we don’t know if the damage will heal when she evolves. If she’ll ever get her marks of adulthood. One thing we do know, she’s damn hardy. The Abra chuckled. Sam accidentally hit her a bit too hard one day, and she just walked off what should have embedded her in a wall. Every cloud, huh?

That is a good way of looking at it, for example, I can hold my breath for nigh on ten minutes thanks to my past, Luke said, nodding his head. As for your friend, I cannot help as far as her evolution goes. My trainer does her best to help all Pokemon she finds, but she is not a scientist.

Vincent shook his head. We’ll just have to find out, but Sam doesn’t know the secret, and I failed to look it up...or it was hidden from me. I mean, we know what Riolu evolve into, but not how or when, so we can’t check ourselves…

If I recall correctly, it must be day time, and they must have a very close friend nearby, Luke answered, frowning slightly. Though I could be wrong. So, are there any more memories you would like controlled for a time? Dawn is approaching us and I would very much like to not have your friends strike me out of fear that I have done something to you.

Vincent sighed as the screen reappeared. Yeah, Sam. He was introduced to us, and took on a big brother role to us both. He knew about the world outside the lab and regaled us with so many stories. Once we heard about them, we told him we wanted to see them ourselves, and he promised us that we would one day. That was the start of us planning to break out of that place, and we drew up so many plans. And then came the day when dad decided to subject Sam to a similar treatment that Lucy had been through, but this time, it was so much worse for me…


“Come along, subject thirty-seven.”

Vincent sighed at that. “Dad, you can call me by name, you know.”

The doctor didn’t even hesitate. “And you can follow instructions put to you by your betters, but you only listen to me for some reason.”

Vincent rolled his eyes but smirked. “So what you’re saying is if I listen to your lackeys, you’ll all call me by name? Cause that didn’t happen before.”

“Bargaining is not permitted, subject thirty-seven,” the doctor decreed, and the two of them walked into his surgery room. Once again, Vincent’s blood ran cold.

He’d been expecting to see a Pokemon being experimented on, yes. That’s what father did. Constantly. What he hadn’t been expecting was to see Sam strapped to that table. Vincent whirled on his father with an expression of shock and anger, but the doctor didn’t notice.

“Beginning experiment seven one five. After the success of modifying another Pokemon’s skeletal structure, see experiment seven zero five, I began looking into modifying bug types. All previous bug types were too small, too soft. This one appears to be large and resilient enough to withstand the procedure.”

The doctor picked up a syringe and a vial of liquid and filled one from the other while continuing to narrate. “However, I wish to see if the full effects of experiment seven zero five can be achieved by a simple solution that I have devised. It would cut down on cleaning surgical tools if it worked.”

And then the doctor did something he’d never done before. He put the syringe in Vincent’s hand. Vincent stared at it, shocked, barely registering the next words that came from his father’s mouth.

“And now, subject thirty-seven...inject the serum.”

Vincent was silent for a moment before he shook his head. "I will not! This is wrong, and if you could hear them, see them as more than just subjects, then you would know that too!”

At that, the doctor came over and grabbed a hold of Vincent’s arm, guiding the hand holding the syringe to Sam. “Hey, hey let me go!”

The doctor didn’t listen and jabbed the Scyther by proxy before also injecting him with Vincent’s hand. “Sam, no, I swear I'm not doing it, I swear it isn't me, it's him!"

“Let the record show that subject thirty-seven injected the serum into subject thirty-six himself.”

Sam weakly turned to look at Vincent and croaked out a single sentence. “I...I don’t...blame you…”

The memory broke off as the Scyther began to shudder and shake…


This time, when Vincent returned he saw something new. Luke was standing before him. His eyes closed, his shoulders rocking slightly, his hands clenched into tight fists. It was the first time that Vincent had seen the Gallade have any expression on his face other than wry amusement or simple acceptance.

...Luke? The Abra was still feeling the effects of the memory, but he wanted to be sure his mentor in the realm of psychic powers was okay as well. He reached a hand out to the Gallade before going for broke and softly hugging him. It’s...it’s okay, Luke. It’s a memory. It’s just a memory. A terrible, terrible memory, but just a memory of mine.

I know. Luke’s voice resounded in Vincent’s head. It was full of unimaginable rage. Vincent. Would it trouble you over much to see your father torn limb from limb?

The Abra chuckled. Well, Sam already said that if we ever meet him here, he’s taking the ‘good doctor’s’ head from his shoulders, so I say, get in line.

The Gallade nodded very slightly and to Vincent’s surprise, a perfect replica of his father appeared in front of them. Then, with deliberate movements, the Gallade swung his sword arm, incredibly powerful, yet remarkably thin, blades of psychic energy lancing out and slashing the man to bloody pieces.

And for the life of him, Vincent couldn’t bring himself to care. And it wasn’t only because this was a place of the mind. It was because he knew it was no less than the man deserved, if they ever met him again.

...If I gain as much control of myself as you do, I swear, I’ll do that once a night. At least.

The Gallade let out a breath and the pile of limbs disappeared. I would not advise it. As much as bad memories are a way to strengthen your walls through motivation... revenge is not a worthy goal to work for. At least, not entirely. He let out another breath. Only when you need to relieve stress or when your anger becomes overwhelming... but as I said, do not make revenge your goal, for those who follow that path oftentimes lose themselves in the process.

The little psychic nodded slowly at that before sitting down and thinking. Hmm…

Slowly, around the Gallade and Abra, two shapes formed. Once they were complete, the Abra smiled. Lucy and Sam were now in his mind, and he had his answer.

Them, then. All of us, together, one family. We’ll live together in this land, we’ll find a way to take back the years he stole. We’ll live a new life here...That’ll be my reason to get stronger, to control myself.

The Gallade smiled. Good. Then he put a hand on Vincent’s shoulder. I have done all I can do for you Vincent and now I must leave. A word of advice though, find a career that does not involve robbing casinos. Else, we may just meet again and we both know who will win between the two of us when Abby is arresting you.

The landscape became turbulent as the Abra looked at the Gallade. So you are-! You and her, working together! I should have-!

Yes, for I have caused you a great deal of harm, Luke said simply. Great misfortune and torture I have rained down upon you, torn your mind asunder and left you to rot as a vegetable.

...The Abra narrowed his eyes even further. I’m not sure I know who you are. But if you know that Ranger, then I tell you this: we have one more stop...and once Iron Will has enough to leave Las Pegasus, so too will my family have enough to live elsewhere. It’s hardly our fault if they haven’t heard of psychics.

True, it was just a thought, Luke said calmly as the world around them returned to Vincent’s grassy field. But think on this while you are robbing casinos, though the Rangers and the world failed you... do you really want this world as your enemy?

The Abra shook his head as behind him, a hallway from his darker memories formed. I will not make this world my foe, unlike him. And maybe, just maybe, when that Ranger can explain why she and her organization never caught him, I will forgive them. I seek enough to live the life I was denied. And I will get it.

I would suggest performances personally, at the moment, Pokemon are oddities and the ponies are very curious about what we can do, surely you could make enough money that way, Luke suggested. As for why they never found you... do you have even an inkling of how big the world was?

MY WORLD WAS SMALL! The lab hallway slammed down around them. I was forced to watch Pokemon suffer and die at the hands of that man for all my life! When it wasn’t me on the table, it was those I barely knew, or those that I DID! He murdered HUNDREDS of living, sentient beings, and treated them like ANIMALS because he COULD! Ghosts of Nurem’s victims whipped past, each one screaming in agony. There had better be some DAMN good reasons why I wasn’t found for so long!

Your world was small, the outside world was immense, larger than you can imagine, Luke said calmly, completely unaffected by the imagery around him or the anger in the words. Your father was smart. For every lead, there was a dozen false ones. Every time we came close, there was a way out, sometimes several. In the end, there was only so much anyone could do to find him, try as we might.

The Abra glared up at the Gallade, a representation of the Twisted Spoon Sam had given him in one hand. And you have the gall to tell me that what I’m doing has to stop? I...will...not. For the sake of my family, I will NOT stop until we can live comfortably. Somewhere without others, where we can help each other with our issues. Try to stop me, and you’ll find all of us formidable opponents.

Luke looked down at him, a faint line of pity in his expression. Very well then Vincent. Despite how this ended, I hope you at least enjoyed our time together and take my advice to heart.

The psychic fox laughed once at that. It was fun up until you showed your allegiance, true. And I’ll take some of your advice to heart, yes. But like I said, I’m not done. Not yet.

As you wish, the Gallade said, nodding his head calmly. Before I go, I would tell you why I follow Abby. It is because it was she who rescued me from my Hell, and she would have done the same to you, opportunity permitting, because she cares and loves all Pokemon.

At that, the Abra looked aside and the hallway melted back into the field. From your time as a...slave, right? At Luke’s nod, the Abra sighed. ...Fine. One clue, one hint. And if she truly cares and CAN stop us, then after, we’ll go with her, on the condition that Iron Will gets the help he needs to escape the city and return to his homeland.

The Gallade smiled very slightly. And that hint is?

Royalty visits this casino, and so will we.

I see, the Gallade said with a small nod. Then he did something that he had not done in all the time that Vincent had known him. He reached down and placed a hand on the Abra’s shoulder. Be at peace.

The world around Vincent vanished.