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Year 2023, December 13th. It has been 264 days since the anomaly vanished.
Rewinding my TV, I stop when it displays the anomaly dispersing Psychic Terrain by telling their Pokemon to strike the ground. Every known usage of the field effect in high-level play has demonstrated its ability to withstand destructive blows. Not even Earthquake or Dark Pulse had been shown to dent that purple haze. It requires specialized moves or abilities. Yet here the anomaly is, destroying it with a basic move.
I fast forward back to where I was. The moment the anomaly's Pikachu was knocked out. Eyes swirled shut, muscles loose.
I look back to my documents. Being a member of Interpol, I get access to data others aren't privy to.
But even readings provided by state-of-the-art diagnostic machines monitoring the match all point to one conclusion: Pikachu was out cold. I resume the video, where Pikachu rejoins the waking world.
Sickening.
My stomach churns as other unsolved reality-breaking crimes flash in my mind, like a Haunter that just won't leave me alone. Thunder armor. Aim for the horn. And the most revolting of them all, Ash Greninja. Just the thought nearly makes me hurl my malasada.
I wanted to leave it all behind me. But bills don't pay themselves.
Opening my mail, I immediately regret it. A letter from an old client, one who tasked me to look into the legitimacy of a trainer by the name of "Alain", among others. They don't have any money to pay me, just like before, but this person's on the League Disability Program and lives with their parents. A blank cheque, cashed in with the League itself. Just what I needed.
And just what I feared. I’m to investigate another "chuuni OC", whatever that means, who had wronged their idol.
A headache begins to form when I recognize the new trainer's name. Lucius. A heroic man who died centuries ago, and is now only known in myth.
This will be harder than I thought. But with any luck, it’ll be the lead I need to put these ghosts to rest.
