He's leading me to the office underneath the battlefield. It's essentially where he takes care of his 'political' business.

I could try now. I could take this knife and stab him at the base of his spine. Then I could slit his throat and it'd be over just like that. In fact, I'll do just that. I slide the pocket knife down into my hand and-

"Ee~v" I look behind me to see Averie walking slowly, almost stalking. I'm surprised she's still here. I would've bet money she would leave. Maybe she's scared she'll get lost. Probably not. Who knows why she decided to stay.

I turn back to the front. Dammit! Wulfric's looking at me! Averie got his attention. Ugh, Averie can't you see I'm trying to kill my grandfather!

Wulfric and I make eye contact for a split second before I look away. My eyes go up to the platform gym trainers stand on. Someone's watching me, though I can only barely see them. They have copper colored hair, so we're not blood related. I don't know why, but everyone who has a blood relation to Wulfric has dark reddish-brown hair. It's strange really.

Mmm, if I would've attacked Wulfric right then, they probably would've jumped in to help. Did Averie realize that? Either way, I must admit she helped me out there.

"Sienna," Wulfric says. "Walk in front of me."

"No," I respond simply.

"That wasn't a suggestion."

"I'd prefer to keep an eye on you." I learned at a young age that it's best to be direct when talking to this man.

He looks back at me. The sly smile he wears let's me know he's expecting me to attack, and he already has countermeasures set into play. His response of 'as you wish' only solidifies my suspicions.

We reach the office. I'm surprised he allows me to come in after him. Averie stalks and stands slightly in front of me, her body tensed, aura uneasy. It's unnerving, really, how much her demeanor has changed. Instead of being a sweet, relaxed little Eevee, she seems almost aggressive. I wonder what's changed her attitude so much.

"Sienna, take a seat." I look at him. Does he really expect me to sit down? He has to be out of his mind. "That wasn't a suggestion."

"You don't have jurisdiction over me," is all I can think to say.

He gives a low grumbling laugh. "But I do and you know it better than me. However, I don't have time to deal with your mental problems."

"I don't have mental problems," I say indignantly.

"You're mentally unstable."

"I'm perfectly stable"

"Stable individuals don't murder their parents."

"I was defending Sage. I couldn't let him go through what I did."

"You barely went through anything. Anyway, I don't have the time to deal with you. I have but one request." I don't speak. He continues anyway. "What did you do to my daughter?"

"Defended myself from her," I say simply.

"...That's all I need to know. You're going back to the Lumiose Mental Institute," his voice is loud and commanding, intimidating. "For a short while at least. Until I can figure out what to do with you. I expect you to behave."

"I don't want to go back."

"How sad. You're leaving around nine o'clock."

"What?"

"Do you honestly expect me to keep you here for the night?"

"But-"

"But what? Did you not like it there? Did they treat you badly? Were they too cold, too rough? Did they treat you like a monster and a murderer? Good. They should have. You shouldn't be treated like a human, or even a Pokémon for that matter."

"But why? What have I-"

"Sienna, I tried to be a decent person to you. I tried to make you a strong trainer. You already had a natural potential: your strategies are admittedly some of the most creative I've ever seen. I thought you'd be one of the greatest gym leader-"

"I didn't want to be a gym leader!"

"Don't interrupt me! I wanted you to carry on my legacy. I wanted you to make a name for yourself." His voice is getting progressively louder and louder. He takes a small step towards me. "And how do you repay me? You kill my daughters and son-in-law and permanently traumatize my grandson. You've destroyed my family."

...I hear Averie growling. Why? It still looks as if she's trying to protect me. Almost like Inouï.

It's distracting. I need to focus on Wulfric and only Wulfric. I need to wait for an opening, when he's not paying attention. Even if it's just for a few seconds, that's all I need. I can't let him call that place. I won't get a chance after that. I can't kill him while he's on the phone, and he'll leave the room as soon as the call is finished. Dammit! Had people not been watching, this murder would've been over and done.

He's reaching for his phone. His movements are slow and calculated, like he knows that at the slightest misstep, I'll go for the kill, which I will. If I lunge at him now, he'll drop the phone. That takes care of one problem but he's expecting me to pull a move like that. He knows I'm desperate! I just need-

He's on the ground, at least he's kneeling on the ground. The phone has slid across the floor, the number halfway finish.

I see Averie on his back. Her tiny fangs are glowing a deadly black. She bites the base of Wulfric's neck relentlessly. Wulfric reaches around and grabs her tail but Averie does a Quick Attack and slips from his grasp and stands in front of him.

"Damn monster," Wulfric says and struggles to his feet. He reaches for a Pokéball but bright gold stars stop his hand and cut it in the process. Blood trickles from the cuts. He curses again and this time tries to deliver a quick kick to Averie. She dodges. No, not even. That move was to fast to be a normal dodge, but too benign to be an attack. No, that was her special ability, Run Away. I always thought that was a useless ability. I guess it helped her out here.

Her teeth glow midnight black again and she goes for another Bite, this time in Wulfric's leg. He falls, the force of her lunge throwing him off balance. He grabs for a Pokéball again but another well timed Swift stops him mid grab.

I wonder why his Pokémon aren't just popping out on their own. They're well trained enough. I've heard that Pokémon have been known to escape from Pokéballs on their own when their trainer is in danger. Why aren't his?

I hear a feral growl come from Averie. She's attacking Wulfric aggressively, on his back at the base of his neck once more. Attacking viciously with Bite and using Run Away to avoid his counterstrikes. Why is she doing this?

She pauses, out of breath, giving Wulfric just enough time to deliver a devastating punch to the side of her head. She tumbles away and I call out to her.

She looks up and I can look into her unfocused eyes. Dark brown eyes wild and crazed and filled with... with I don't know. Anger? Hatred? Exhaustion? Pain? I know that look. Every time I look in the mirror I see. Maybe not the wild and crazed look, but I see the rage, the suffering, the fatigue. I see it all. But why does Averie feel what I feel? What has she been through that she knows the pure torture I know?

"Eh," I hear her growl unsteadily. She's wobbly on her feet, obviously stunned by the kick. Wulfric's struggling to stand. Blood is pouring from the back of his neck and hands. Various other wounds are bleeding but not as badly as in those two places.

"Eh!" Averie gets my attention again. She cocks her head in a questioning manner. What does she want from me?

I guess she notices my confusion. She turns to Wulfric, her body tense and ready to pounce, ready to go for the kill.

Wulfric's on his feet now. His hands slip to his pocket where his Pokéballs are kept. Averie uses Swift again. Her aim is off but being a no-miss move, it his the man anyway. The sharp edged stars cut his lower arm.

Without missing a beat, Averie uses Quick Attack and sideswipes his leg. Thrown off balance once again, he collapses to his knees and reaches for Averie's tail. I guess she wss caught off guard, because he manages to grab it. He yanks her up and slams her back down on floor. She squeals and turns her head to me. Wulfric repeats the assault, this time the side of Averie's head connecting with the floor. Our eyes meet once more. She's waiting for a command. I see it, that anticipating, almost excited look. She wants permission.

So I'll give it to her.

As soon as I speak the words, she's out of his grasp and poised behind him. She starts building up energy for Quick Attack, pale silver energy starting to outline her body. Seconds later she performs the attack, hitting area of his neck where she had once been tearing away flesh with lethal power. Wulfric goes limp and falls forward.

... I can't believe that just happened. Wulfric, that man, was just killed... and I didn't do it.

I look over to Averie. There's blood on her face and paws. I don't know if it's hers or Wulfric. I hope not the former. She's tense and alert, but shaking and looks close to fainting. I walk over to my little Eevee. Making my way into a sitting position, I pull Averie into my lap. Her heart is beating unbelievably hard; it's feels like her body is shaking with each beat. She's still tense.

"He's not dead," I say quietly. She makes a weak affirmative noise. "Just wait." And so we do.

Six minutes later, Averie relaxes.