Not anything like you expected.

As you enter the outskirts of Pewter, you are able to use the streetlights to get the slightest bit of a better look at your escortee. You take in what you can, quickly noting that their clothing is covered in spots with clearly hand-done stitching. Other slashes and cuts have been mended all over their body, but there is also a notable ring around the back of it, as if it had been torn off and replaced to remove some art or similar form of branding. Most of their clothing also looks to have been hand-me-downs, all of it clearly worn and aged beyond its damage.

Seemingly noticing your gaze, they comment without looking to you. "No barcodes or identifiers, in case you were looking." Their tone of voice isn't exceptionally hostile, more tired.

Letting out a sigh, you give your own tired response. "You sure were thorough on making sure you couldn't be identified, huh?" You give them a slight side-eye as you keep walking towards the gym, "I must admit, it does make me a bit suspicious."

They turn their head slightly, still not showing you anything underneath their oversized hood. "If it makes you feel any better, it isn't to avoid authorities." While that would have partially reassured you, they kept talking. "At least, that isn't the original intention."

Shaking your head in annoyance, you find yourself at the entrance to your gym at last, thankfully having avoided any encounters with anyone along the way. You unlock the door and open it for your strange guest, ushering them inside before closing and locking the door behind you.

Despite the fact that there isn't anyone who should still be inside the gym at this time, you decide to take a less direct path to your office, going down hallways and through a few rooms to avoid open areas. The stranger you have brought along seems to notice this somewhat, but doesn't make any major comments. If anything, it seems to put them slightly at ease, and it is fun to watch the little electric rat prance down the path and await you at the next door in your way.

Soon enough you arrive at a door that stands apart from the rest within the building. For one, it is a fair amount larger, but another detail is that it is made of a dark wood, instead of the glass and metal the rest are built from. You open it, gesturing for your second guest of the day (or is it a new day by this point? You hadn't checked any clocks on the way) to enter your office, as well as their Pokémon friend.

They walk in slowly, taking their time to look around and examine your decorations around the room. Unlike Red earlier in the day, he doesn't seem to feel too out of place within the slightly claustrophobic chamber, almost seeming more at home than he did outside. He glances over your collections of gems and baubles, stopping momentarily to examine the fossils before stopping at a photo of your family.

Closing the door behind you, you walk over to your desk and sit down, expecting them to take this as a signal to sit as well. Instead, they stand almost in a trance, not taking their eyes off of the photo as they stand in their unnaturally still manner. Slightly disturbed, you clear your throat as you address them. "I hope you aren't trying to memorize their faces. I don't take kindly to threats towards my family."

Your hostility seems enough to knock them out of their stupor, causing them to idly reply. "No, sorry, just... Happy families aren't something I've seen in... awhile." After a few more lingering moments they move over to your desk and at last sit down across from you.

Clearing your throat you decide to begin your interrogation, "So, what was it you were doing out in the woods?" You speak with authority, while not being overly aggressive. The person across from you doesn't seem the type to submit to intimidation, but you still need to show you are in control.

They respond somewhat combatively at first, not making it easy on you. "Didn't know being in the woods was illegal." They give out a shrug as they say it, though their demeanor shows that they do not expect you to relent from that statement alone.

Trying to keep this calm, you respond neutrally. "Not illegal, just strange. Especially when you are covered in wounds that seem to be from some form of fight." You judge their response, seemingly slightly annoyed at your logical comeback.

Silence hangs over the room for a few moments, your guest refusing to answer your question. Just as you are about to continue, they suddenly speak up. "Do I get a phone call or something? That feels familiar."

You raise your eyebrow at them, somewhat shocked by this sudden statement. "You aren't officially under arrest or anything, so you aren't officially entitled to anything. But, I guess I don't have a reason to deny you?"

They stare off into space for a few moments, clearly thinking over their course of action before letting out a huff. "Alright then, can I borrow a phone or something?"

If he was using your phone, that changes things. "You can tell me who you would like to call, if you are using my phone. But I am not just handing it to you to do whatever you want with."

A huff escapes them, seemingly annoyed by this response but not deterred by it. "Their 'TPP'," They pronounce every letter slowly, as if trying to make sure they pronounce an unfamiliar word correctly. "Is 'MarvelousMadamM'." Their tone of voice seems to suggest they are rolling their eyes as they speak, however they still take great care to annunciate each M.

With a shrug, you pull out your Pokédex and search up the person in question. Once you find her, you nearly have to double take to make sure you found the right woman. In immense contrast to the person across your desk to you, "MarvelousMadamM" seems to be a highly eccentric personality, always pictured in bright outfits and attending large scale events.

You flip your screen around so your guest can see, confirming this is the person in question. With a sigh, they nod a few times and shake their head tiredly. With her identity confirmed, you feel bad for calling someone with such an active day life this late at night, but it still felt like something you were partially obligated to do.

The phone barely rings before it gets picked up, a cheery voice speaking in contrast to the tired, hungover voice you had expected. "You have reached the Marvelous Madam! How may I be of assistance?"

Somewhat surprised, you take a moment before you answer. "This is Brooke, the gym leader of the Pewter city gym." You pause for a moment to see if she has any response, however she just waits patiently. "I have someone here who said they wanted to have a word with you?"

After a slight pause, she speaks. "It had better not be who I think it is..." It takes a few more moments before she speaks again. "Put me on speaker, please" You oblige, and the moment you make her aware of that she shouts. "THAT HAD BETTER NOT BE YOU!"

In a defeated voice, your guest responds. "It is."

An angered grumble sounds out from the other side of the device. "I leave you alone for a day and you vanish off the face of the Earth. And then, you show up in Pewter? AND I GET CALLED BY THE GYM LEADER? What have you gotten yourself into this time?"

They shrug, despite that not being visible to the person on the other side of the phone. "Not too much more than usual-"

They get cut off by their friend over the phone, "Oh no, I do NOT believe that. Brooke, would you kindly tell me WHY you have them with you right now?"

You almost feel bad for the stranger as you answer the "Madam's" question. "I found them in the forest just outside Mt. Moon, with signs of a fight all over them." A long silence followed, with the character across the table from you shrinking in stature for the first time since you had found them.

The one to break the silence is actually the Pikachu, which you had somehow forgotten once again. "Pika!" It leaps up onto your desk, seemingly wanting to be included within the discussion.

This addition does not seem to encourage the poor woman over the phone. "What did I just hear?" Before anyone could even hope to respond she continued. "I-is that... Did you rope-"

It was your guest's turn to cut her off now, "Yes, it is him, and no, I did not rope him into this." He turned to the little rat, seemingly giving it a slight glare that it didn't seem to mind. "I have done everything I can to keep him out of this, and he has refused."

You heard a series of deep breaths over the phone, clearly the "Madam" trying to calm herself. "There isn't anything I can do to keep you out of it either, is there?" They didn't answer, turning their head down to the table. "I see. Well, if that's the case..."

Another long sigh let out, before she addressed you. "You don't actually have anything that means they are under arrest, right?" They sounded fearful, clearly believing it was possible, which was not reassuring.

"No, but I do have quite a few things that need answers before I can just let them off." You look back to the figure across from you, who has retreated back to shrinking in their chair.

There is some slight hesitation before she responds. "What kinds of things?"

Getting to the point quickly, you list off your largest concerns. "From what I overheard, it sounded like they assaulted someone, were planning to **** someone else, and are involved in some organized group." The figure cringes at the last point, seemingly not thrilled to have you mention that.

Clearly she had to think for a moment, because it took a long while before she responded. "Team Rocket, right." It was spoken as a statement, with no doubt within her. "You're out hunting, aren't you?"

"I was, hunting them." They responded coldly. "It's what they deserve. And if the league won't do it, I will."

"But you are doing it on his terms, aren't you? You're doing it as his little bloodhound."

You decide to interrupt their conversation with a question. "Who is this him I keep hearing about?"

Both of them spoke at once to answer, "You don't want to know."

Seeing your shock, your guest continues. "The more you know, the worse your life gets. And the more I tell you, the worse my life gets." Taken aback, you let them continue for the moment, taking in what you can.

Taking this chance, they quickly silence their friend over the phone. "And I am not his dog. I am doing what I can, and if he gets me what I need to do that, then I will take it. I have made no deals, and I will not make one."

In a dejected voice, "Madam" spoke quietly in a way that made you wonder if it was meant to make it through the phone. "I wonder how long that will last."

A stubborn silence follows, neither party seemingly wishing to speak after what has been said. It is eventually you who breaks the ice by clearing your throat. "Well, this has been... informative-"

Before you can finish, you are cut off by the woman over the phone. "I know this is no place to make requests, but..." You pause, waiting for her to continue. "But I need to ask you a favor."

Looking across the table, you take stock of what you know. They seem misguided, and possibly mislead by a malicious ****, but they also seem to have good intentions. You both share a quite evident dislike of Team Rocket, and helping them seems to be hurting those bastards.

"What kind of favor?" You cautiously ask.

"Could you..." She pauses briefly, "Could you get them registered as a trainer?" A new type of silence falls over the room, far less tense and more simply shocked. The only one who is not completely frozen is the yellow mouse, who almost seems to be vibrating with excitement.

Your guest is the first to speak up, "What are you doing, M?"

She responds with more confidence than she had when she asked, "I am doing what I can to assure your safety. If you are going to be out there trying to get yourself killed, the least you can do for my sake is have someone with you I know will watch your back."

They try to retort, "You know I can't just bring in someone else to-"

But they are quickly cut off, "I don't care about your self-righteous attitude. If what you are doing is too dangerous for someone else, then it is too dangerous for you. And if that is the case, then I will change my request for her to arrest you."

Your eyebrows shoot up in surprise to how quickly this conversation has turned. Pikachu looks back and forth between the phone and his companion while they argue, and you take a moment to go over the proposition within your own head. Sure, you had the complete power to grant them registry, but should you? Well, as "M" had said, they was going to be doing this anyway, so the best thing you could do is to try and assure their safety.

Cutting them both off, you grant your answer. "I can do it, but I am going to need some concessions."

They both quickly quiet down, before your new acquaintance across form you speaks. "What do I have to do?"

You begin counting off on your fingers as you list your demands. "First, you give me regular updates on your condition. If you don't, I will assume something bad happened and send someone after you." They nod, begrudgingly agreeing to this demand. "Second, promise me that you won't do anything to get yourself in trouble with the authorities." After a second and before they could respond, you relent slightly. "At least not in enough trouble for it to get back to me."

With a slight grumble, they concede to your second demand. "That all seems reasonable-"

"And lastly, you can't leave Pewter until you beat me in an official Gym battle." They freeze, completely caught off guard by your sudden addendum. You don't say anything else, simply waiting to see what reaction they may have.

When they at last respond, their voice is slow and deliberate. "Why?"

"Because I need the confidence that you are at least as competent as a newbie before I let you run out there, hunting down people as strong as if not stronger than my real team." You lay it out straight, making it quite clear you will not budge on this one.

This seems to be a much more conflicting option than you would have expected, as they stare off into space for a good amount of time in contemplative silence. Eventually, it is the woman over the phone who speaks. "I know why you are hesitating, but you are going to have to get out there at some point. And that means they will find out about you. Hell, they may have already. But that also means you have the power to show the people that there is someone fighting Team Rocket."

With those rallying words, your guest at last speaks. "Alright." They look at you, their eyes still blocked by their drooping hood as always. "I accept the terms. I'll do it."

The slightest smile finds its way onto your lips. "Alright then, let's get you registered." And with that you began the strangest trainer registry you would have within your entire career.