Georgia Gaiden

**Georgia Gaiden**is the sixth Gaiden sidestory in the expanded universe of *Pokémon Reset Bloodlines.*It is also the first sidestory written by Partner555 and the eighth sidestory overall.

It delves into Georgia's past as to explore her reasons to become a Buster, while chronicling the events of former Gym Leader Eric Knudsen, also known as the serial killer "The Reaper", that led to his arrest and removal of his position.

## Plot

A news report in Vulpix News shows an interview between Catherine Renee and Captain Jenny of the Mistralton City Police Force, where they discuss a string of murders across the Unova region. The victims don't seem to share any connection between them, barring a specific mark that was found carved in their corpses. However, they're refraining from divulging what it looks like, lest that other criminals decide to copy this serial killer, whom they've nicknamed "The Reaper", and warn the public at large to stay on the lookout.

In Nimbasa City, rumors about The Reaper had already begun. Twelve-year-old Georgia hears them as she heads for school, and feel a bit scared about it, wondering if her Pokémon, Cubchoo and Vanilite would be enough to protect her in case she was attacked. She immediately dismisses it, thinking that there's no way that killer could come to a peaceful neighborhood like hers, and she didn't want to worry her parents talking about that during dinner.

At the Mistralton police station, the officers have linked several more victims to The Reaper, and are mapping out the string of murders so far. There have been seven victims so far, killed in different manners: two of them strangled, another two drowned, one burned alive, and two more buried alive. They all vary in ages, backgrounds and everything else, so there's no identifiable pattern as to why they could be targeted. However, the string of murders form a circle in the location of the map, with Black City being the most recent strike, and they believe Nimbasa could be the next location, so they should probably alert their police force to stay on the lookout. Right before the meeting ends, a phone call informs them that the forensics have identified gold dust in one of the recent victims, the type shed by the Pokémon Cofagrigus. They suspect this could be a valuable clue, as it hints the killer could be using Pokémon to carry out their murders.

Back in Nimbasa, Georgia returns home late from school, happy that it was over since The Reaper was the only topic everyone talked about. However, as soon as she enters the house, she gets a burnt smell, and as she comes into the living room, she finds her parents' charred corpses lying on the floor, recognizing them from their clothes. A figure with a cloak and mask is carving a mark on her father's corpse, flanked by a Golurk and Chandelure. Snapped out of her initial shock for her parents' deaths, she quickly runs out of the house and begins crying for help, and the killer immediately chases after her. Her cries alert the neighbors, with some calling the police and others rushing to her help, but unfortunately the killer catches up and tackles her to the ground. Georgia manages to kick the killer in the groin and then bites his hand, causing him to drop the knife, which she quickly seizes and slashes him with it, managing to draw some blood as her neighbors finally catch up and tackle him away from her. She throws her Pokéballs to release Cubchoo and Vanilite, who immediately launch their attacks at Golurk and Chandelure, and the rest of the incoming neighbors follow suit. The killer, realizing he's outnumbered, orders his Chandelure to use Flash to blind everyone, then disappears from there. The police arrives shortly after, and Georgia is left made a crying mess over her parents' deaths.

Georgia is taken to the police station for questioning, where she tells Officer Jenny about everything that happened. They managed to retrieve the knife Georgia took from him, which might have his blood and thus could be used to identify him through his DNA. Georgia is allowed to stay the night at the police station since she has no close family to live with. The days go by, and the policewoman is angry and frustrated that the killer struck her city five minutes after she got the tip. Georgia has been left in care of the Social Services in order to put her in an orphanage, and her Pokémon are being transferred to her ownership even though she still hasn't turned fifteen, since they're all she has now after she lost her family.

As soon as Georgia arrives in her new orphanage, she's greeted by her new caretaker, Marion. The woman asks Georgia some questions about herself, including if she has any dreams for the future, and Georgia realizes that she doesn't have any. Marion tells Georgia about how she was part of the Fire Busters, and explains that Busters are a special taskforce who train to defeat and take down corrupt Gym Leaders and Elite Four members. After the first day ends, Georgia brings out her Pokémon to chat for a bit before going to sleep, and while it's not like their old home, she feels welcome and everyone seems nice enough, so they can get used to the place. They all hug each other before turning in for the day.

In the Mistralton Police Station, the results of the DNA test have finally arrived. Much to their shock, the DNA matches that of Eric Knudsen, the Gym Leader of Striaton City who specializes in Ghost-type Pokémon, and the marks on the victims are similar to the badges he gives out in his gym. Immediately, they decide to call for the Ghost Busters and prepare a raid to arrest him.

One week later, the Police creates a perimeter around the Striaton Gym, as a SWAT team formed by police officers and Ghost Busters prepares to strike. Captain Jenny leads the main strike team into the Gym, where their target awaits them in the battle arena. He seems surprised that they found him out so soon, but he's ready with all his Pokémon to make a run for it. A battle ensues, and as the secondary team enters the gym to join the fray, Eric climbs on one of his Golurk and rockets out through the ceiling to escape. The SWAT team sends flying Pokémon after them, soon forcing them to lose altitude after getting tired, until they're finally brought down by a combined Dark Pulse blast of two Mandibuzz. The police quickly surrounds him and forces him to surrender.

At the Nimbasa Orphanage, Georgia, Marion and the rest of the kids watch the news about the murderer's arrest. Captain Jenny explains how they got a DNA sample due to his blunder when he murdered Georgia's parents, and how they identified him through it, and now that he's captured, he'll stay in jail awaiting his trial. The captain also thanks the Busters for their help, as they were crucial in catching him. Afterwards, Georgia asks Marion if she could become a Buster one day too, and Marion promises to do everything in her power to help her.

Two years later, Georgia leaves to begin her Buster training camp. Before leaving, Marion and the other orphanage kids give her a Pokéball with a Pawniard so she has more members in her Pokémon team, and Georgia gladly accepts the gift, before promising to her late parents that she'll become a great Buster one day in their memory.

## Continuity

* First appearance of Eric Knudsen, also known as The Reaper. He was first mentioned in **"Approaching the Hunter's trap"** as a Ghost-type Gym Leader who was arrested and convicted for serial murder.