Chapter One: Total Control

"Like the boss wants to talk to you," the grunt laughs, continuing to block the door.

"What do you mean by that," I snap back. I've been trying to get into here for the past few days and been getting ignored. The first person to actually talk to me has done nothing but insult me!

"People with your life don't belong here," the guy responds, looking at me with disgust.

"My life," I ask. "What does that mean?"

He chuckles. "Oh, please. Don't act confused. You may be from Paldea but everyone knows you! Hermosa Realeza from the Realeza family. They own the best clothing company in the world," he explains to me. "And you're their daughter and model. I don't know why you're in Hoen or why you're trying to join a gang, but people like you who get a perfect life just handed to them would never understand the pains and struggles people like us face. You get it easy." He looks me up and down, shaking his head. "The boss wouldn't want you. Just go home."

"Really judging a book by its cover," I mutter. I shake my head and chuckle. Not that I find this funny. I tend to laugh when angry. "I don't know pain. Or struggles. My life is easy," I repeat, barking a laugh. The grunt's demeanor seems to change. He's still eyeing me, but now it's with weariness. "All because I come from a rich family and look happy in the pictures you think I have the perfect life? That's not it at all. My life has to be perfect. I have to pose for pictures for seven hours straight. Go on awful interviews daily. Smile non-stop. I have to dress and act a certain way. I mess up one time, I get-" I stop there, looking down at the ground. "Let's just say the consequences ain't pretty," I mumble.

The man is at a loss for words, staring at me like this is the first time he's seen me. After a couple seconds of consideration, he sighs. "Alright, listen. Let's have a battle. You win, I let you in. I win, you leave. Don't have to go home but you can't stay here. Alright?"

I nod my head. "Alright," I repeat. I take some steps back, putting some decent distance between us.

Once I stop, the guy sends out his Lucario. I pull out my partner's Pokeball. "Let's go, Diamond," I exclaim, my Cerulegde popping out with sparkles bursting off of it as it does. Its orange eyes lock onto the Lucario. The grunts eyes widen with shock.

"What? Thought I was going to use one of those pretty Pokémon you see me in the pictures with," I ask, rolling my eyes with a scoff. "None of those are mine. This is my partner. The one that's been with me through my highs and lows. Stuck with me when my perfect mask falters. It doesn't judge me for my imperfections," I begin to raise my voice and stop, taking a breath. "Sorry," I say, my voice flat. "That became a rant. Let's battle."

"Um… Okay," the grunt mutters. He's looking at me with concern now, which is really angering me. I don't need his pity! I don't know what I need, honestly. I want a place to belong, where I can be me. That's why I'm joining this gang. For a family. Not for people to feel bad for me. I'll show him I'm fine.

"Agility," he commands. Lucario barks as it dashes towards Diamond, which just stands and watches the opponent picks up speed. "Now Bone Rush!"

"Phantom Force," I state simply, and Diamond falls backwards, barely avoiding the bone and disappearing into a shadowy portal. It reappears almost immediately, hitting the Lucario in the back. The grunt gasps with shock, which is ridiculous considering how predictable it was.

"Don't waste time! Shadow Claw," he shouts, and Lucario's fist glows with purple energy as it swings it at Diamond. Diamond takes the hit, only stumbling slightly.

"Bitter Blade," I say with a sigh. Diamond's blade glows longer and hotter as it slashes Lucario, who it sent flying. "Now Psycho Cut."

Diamond kicks off the ground, closing the distance and slamming its swords into Lucario, knocking it to the ground. I feel this rush of something seeing Diamond stand over it, but I can't tell what the feeling is.

Lucario begins to push off the ground. "Don't let it get up! Night Slash," I demand. Diamond slices Lucario, hitting it straight back into the ground. The feeling strengthens. "Again," I say. Diamond slices it, harder this time. Excitement courses through my veins. "More! Don't stop!"

With each slash and Lucario's howls, I begin to understand what I'm feeling. It's the one thing I've never had before. "H-Hey! You can't do that! Hitting a Pokémon when it's already down is against the rules," the grunt yells at me.

"Silence," I command, and the man seems to shrink back a bit. "Those rules are no longer relevant," I tell him, laughing. A laugh of pure joy, something I haven't felt in a long time. "The only rules that matter is mine. I'm in control now."

Just saying it makes me want to burst with pride. Power. Power is what I feel. The thing that throughout my whole life I never had. Right now, though, I have total control of everything that's happening. Diamond lifts its blade above its head, ready to end this, but I raise my hand. "Enough," I tell it, and it freezes, holding its sword in place. "Now I'm going to ask you one more time," I say, putting on the smile that I have been forced to perfect my entire life. "Can I talk to your boss," I ask, my voice filled with false innocents.

The grunt gulps, his eyes full of fear. He nods, stepping away from the door. I hum with satisfaction. "Good. I really didn't want finish that," I say, Diamond following me to the door. Right before I enter, I turn my head to the grunt. "I'd get your Lucario to a Pokémon Center. It doesn't have long," I say, relishing the way he panics and rushes to his Pokémon. Me and Diamond enter the club, the door slamming behind us.

Guess who got bored and had amazing inspiration!

So, I'm helping with another story and was trying to make a character for it.

Unfortunately, none of the three worked.

But that's okay!

Now, I get to use all three of them in this story!

I thought them up for a community story that MonstaDash is working on, so make sure to keep an eye out for that when it's done!

I kind of picture the Night Slash part like from the Sun/Moon anime when Golisopod held the Primarina down and used Poison Jab until it couldn't continue.

Anyways, hope y'all enjoy this and future chapters!