Pokémon Pokémon: Rise Against (Completed)

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 18
​

Have Faith in Me​

They've got me on the outside looking in

But I can't see at all

With the weight of the world on my shoulders

They just wanna see me fall



- A Day to Remember​

I​

Led by Erin who was at a full sprint, the group ascended the hill that laid between the embracing mountains, and as they reached its crest, a scene of haunting beauty unfolded before them. The iconic Lavender Tower, a somber monument that seemed to pierce the very sky itself, dominated the horizon. Its spires stretched upward, ethereal against the backdrop of both the heavens and the sleepy town below.

The tower's architecture was an intricate blend of ancient elegance and contemporary design. It bore the hallmarks of a pagoda, with its tiered levels tapering to the heavens, each adorned with intricate carvings that spoke of a rich history. Yet, interwoven with this traditional motif was a touch of modernity, reminiscent of a skyscraper's sleek lines and glass façades. Toward the apex of the tower, a colossal letter "R" stood out, a stark contrast against the serene sky. The panoramic view that captured their attention more than anything. Lavender Town stretched out before them, a quaint settlement with its buildings clustered together. The streets wound through the town, intertwining the houses.

Beyond the town, the vast expanse of the ocean stretched out toward the horizon, its waters a deep blue that seemed to meld into the sky in the distance. The sun's golden rays kissed the waves, creating a shimmering path toward the horizon. As they walked further up the hill, the town's buildings gradually unveiled themselves, each with its unique character, stories, and inhabitants. The ocean breeze brushed against their cheeks, carrying with it the mingling scents of saltwater and flowers.

"Whoa! So much water!" Erin exclaimed in disbelief, his curly hair swaying with each gust of sea breeze that caressed his face. A smile spread across his lips, revealing his large dimples that added a charming uniqueness to his infectious smile, one that easily brought smiles to everyone else's faces.

"Has he ever seen the ocean?" Brian asked, playfully nudging Seth's side. Seth simply shook his head, still caught up in the moment as he observed the sheer joy radiating from his son. Erin's boundless energy had him jumping back and forth. Amid this excitement, sleek and modern ships cruised in and out of the bustling docks, their sleek hulls cutting through the glistening waters with ease.

As they drew closer to Lavender Town, the sprawling cityscape unfolded beneath them, revealing the daunting challenge of descending to sea level. The path leading down was even narrower and more treacherous than the cliffside they encountered in Aureolin Town. It seemed as though the very mountain they stood upon dropped abruptly at a near 90-degree angle, abruptly transitioning into the flat expanse of Lavender Town below.

"How the fuck are we going to manage this?" Emily's voice carried a mix of disbelief and concern as she pointed down and traced the precipitous path with her finger. Meanwhile, Erin, perched on a rock nearby, was amusing himself by preparing to pounce on Vulpix, seemingly oblivious to the intimidating descent ahead.

"I don't want to take Erin down this," Seth voiced his worry, observing his son's playful antics and then turning his attention back to the almost vertical trail.

"I don’t want him going down this either," Emily quickly agreed, her chestnut hair being tossed about by the brisk sea breeze.

"I could test the route first," Brian suggested, peering down and nudging a few pebbles over the edge to gauge their descent. His words held a more assertive tone than usual, though his face betrayed his underlying anxiety.

"Brian, you could die." Seth cautioned, aware of the dangers that lurked on the narrow maundering path downwards..

"But we're running out of options. We need to figure out if it's even possible and locate any tough spots," Brian countered, his point resonating with both Seth and Emily. The urgency of their situation left them with no better choice.

Brian slung his backpack over his brawny shoulders and took a deep breath. "Just don't die," Emily's blunt remark carried an underlying seriousness as she spoke. "I really want off this mountain."

Brian chuckled, his laughter carrying a hint of nervousness due to both Emily's sarcasm and the magnitude of the task. "You got it. I'll be back soon." With that, he began his careful descent, a brave step towards unraveling the mysteries of the seemingly impassable path.

II​

Brian's heart raced as he stood at the edge of the precipice, peering down the meandering path that led to Lavender Town. The drop was daunting, the mountain seemingly plunging straight into the flat expanse of the town below. The path itself looked like a thin ribbon etched into the rock, winding down at a steep angle. He could feel his palms grow sweaty as he considered the descent that lay ahead.

Taking a deep breath, he adjusted the straps of his backpack. The wind whistled past him, carrying with it the distant sound of the ocean. The air held a sense of anticipation, as if the mountain itself were holding its breath for his descent.

With a final glance back at Seth and Emily, their worried expressions etched into his memory, Brian steeled himself. Every step he took felt like a commitment to the journey, each footfall echoing through his body like a drumbeat of determination.

As he began his descent, his pulse quickened. The path seemed narrower than it had appeared from above, and the angle steeper. Loose pebbles skittered beneath his boots, and he could feel the tension in his muscles as they worked to keep him steady. The world around him seemed to blur, his focus narrowing solely on the next foothold.

The suspense grew with every twist and turn of the path. Brian's senses were heightened, his ears attuned to the slightest sound, his eyes searching for any potential danger. The wind tugged at his clothes, threatening to throw him off balance, and he clenched his jaw to stay focused. His hands gripped the rocky edge as he carefully navigated a particularly tricky section. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, his heart pounding in his chest as he inched his way down. The town below seemed to inch closer and closer, yet the path never seemed to end.

Brian's thoughts raced as he imagined the consequences of a misstep. The abyss below was a constant reminder of the risk he was taking, the sheer drop a constant source of unease. But he pressed on, fueled by the determination to conquer the challenge that lay before him. Time seemed to stretch as he descended, each moment laden with suspense and uncertainty. His muscles ached from the tension, his breath coming in ragged bursts. And then, as suddenly as it had begun, the path widened, and the ground beneath his feet became more level.

Brian stood halfway down the treacherous path, looking up at the distance he had come. The sense of accomplishment mingled with the relief of having safely navigated the most challenging part of the descent. His eyes met those of Seth and Emily, who were watching him from the top of the cliffside, expressions a mixture of relief and pride before they retried behind the rocks.

"Why don't we use Noivern to fly down?" Emily suggested, glancing at Seth, who had just settled down next to Erin, now perched on his back.

"Oh... yeah… that could work," Seth replied, reaching for two pokeballs at his hip, prompting the emergence of Noivern and Ditto. "Noivern, do you think you could carry us down the mountainside?" There was a moment of silence as Noivern and Ditto looked over the steep descent. In what seemed like approval, Noivern flattened its back, creating a surface for them to climb onto. Meanwhile, Ditto's body transformed rapidly, taking on the shape and color of Noivern's image as it, too, flattened for the task.

"Dad, I don't want to!" Erin protested, clearly terrified by the idea of flying down such a massive drop.

"I'll be right there with you, holding on. You know I wouldn't let anything happen to you," Seth reassured, kneeling to meet Erin at eye level.

Emily moved closer as well, offering support. "Would it help if I went first, and you could watch?" Erin clung to his father's arms, nodding in agreement. Emily positioned herself on Ditto's back, securing her arms around its neck. "Alright, let's go!" She commanded, and Ditto started to flap its new wings, beginning a slow descent. "I'll see you down there!" Erin watched with wide eyes as Ditto gradually descended, growing smaller in the distance.

About halfway down, Emily locked eyes with Brian and playfully waved, a mischievous smile on her face. "Oh, fuck off!!" Brian's voice echoed up the cliffside, met with Emily's laughter, creating a cheerful resonance that traveled through the air.

"See, completely safe. She's your Pokémon, Erin. Trust her," Seth reassured Erin, gently patting Noivern's face.

"O-Okay. Promise you'll be with me," Erin asked his father, his eyes earnestly gazing at Noivern, his small hand gently holding resting on her neck. Seth couldn't help but be moved by his son's bond with his Pokémon.

"You know I will," Seth replied, his hand resting on Erin's head, sharing a heartfelt smile.

Erin tightly clung to Noivern's neck with his short arms, gripping the white fur with intensity. Despite the pain caused by Erin's fearful grip, Noivern made no complaint. She began to flap her wings, lifting off the ground and hovering over the edge of the drop-off. Erin's face was buried in the fur, his quiet cries of "No! No! Go back! Go back!" muffled against Noivern's neck.

"It's okay, buddy. I'm right here," Seth reassured his son, holding him tightly to provide the needed support. He also straddled Noivern securely with his legs. Noivern ignored Erin's commands, descending gradually to maintain a slow pace and make the experience as comfortable as possible for his terrified trainer.

Erin slowly raised his head, taking in the view of Lavender Town. The sun shone brightly, reflecting off the sea and casting beautiful gleams of light. The town's iconic tower stood proudly, a symbol of the city. Erin's head rose higher, his hair ruffled by the wind, and a smile began to appear on his face. He glanced at his dad and smiled before turning his attention back to the captivating sights.

Ditto passed them on its way down, presumably to retrieve Brian from the mountainside. The trees gradually obstructed their view of the ocean, the docks, and Lavender Town. Noivern's feet touched the ground, and she flattened her body to make disembarking easier. "Dad, I want to do that again!" Erin exclaimed.

"Maybe another time, buddy," Seth said, sliding off Noivern and reaching for Erin to force him down.

"Fine," Erin replied, pouting slightly.

Emily approached, laughing as she patted Erin's back. "So, he enjoyed it."

"Yeah, about halfway down. Honestly, I don't know why we haven't utilized Noivern more," Seth said, rubbing her neck. "We can't use her for long journeys, but for overcoming obstacles, she'd be quite handy. She could have even carried each of us over the lake, saving us a lot of time."

"You assholes!" Brian's voice echoed as Ditto neared the ground. "Did you make me go down half the mountain just for a laugh?"

"We really didn't mean to, but the way it turned out was absolutely hilarious," Emily responded, her freckled face glowing in the sunlight as she burst into laughter, followed by Seth's.

"Fuck you both!" Brian muttered, a smile finally breaking through his mock irritation. "Well, shall we?" he said pointing the way forward.

III​

The path leading into Lavender Town unfolded with a gentle ease, its surface smooth and accommodating underfoot. The trees, have been long stripped of their foliage, revealed gnarled branches that reached skyward. Despite the lack of leaves, the air held a sense of warmth and comfort, causing them to shed their coats and stow them in their bags. As they progressed, narrow streams meandered alongside the path, the result of mountain runoff, their gurgling melodies adding a soothing backdrop to their journey, and the salty tang of the sea enveloped them.

However, high above, the imposing tower with the bold "R" emblem loomed against the sky. Noivern, having fulfilled its role, returned to the confines of its Pokéball, leaving Ditto alone, its adaptive form taking on a peculiar shape as it clung to Erin's back. An appendage extended, securing itself to Erin's right shoulder, as if reluctant to let go of its newfound perch. Vulpix's golden form stuck close beside him, her head darting back and forth constantly vigilant.

Lavender Town appeared to have shaken off the somberness that often cloaked Kanto in an eerie fog of dread. Here, the streets were alive with movement and activity, a testament to the town's enduring spirit. While a few figures, dressed in the familiar black attire adorned with the "R" symbol, wandered the streets, they were far from the focus. Lavender Town's vitality was evident in its bustling streets, where life flowed freely, untethered from the dark shadows that had plagued its country.

Erin's young eyes were wide with wonder, his attention captivated by the scene before him. Pokémon of various species worked harmoniously to transport crates and cargo, their efforts a symphony of coordinated movements. A Bewear stood at attention, its massive frame carefully balancing two sizeable crates in front of its face, guided by its trainer. Not far away, an Electivire showcased its strength, propelling a substantial cart from the recesses of a building to the street.

Seemingly unbeknownst to Erin, Ditto had assumed a new position, its malleable body melding seamlessly with his curly hair as it perched atop his head. Together, they wandered through the scene, absorbing the vibrant tableau of life that Lavender Town had become.

"I swear, I saw it," a young boy earnestly recounted to his grandmother while they walked down the road. "It was massive and flew overhead yesterday!"

"That's nice, dear," she responded with a dismissive tone, her focus clearly on moving past the group on the street. As pedestrians passed by, a general air of contentment hung in the atmosphere. Despite the absence of older men in their late 30s to early 50s, presumably still entombed under Mount Silver, families and community seemed to possess a renewed sense of unity and purpose. Seth and Emily took in the surroundings, searching for a suitable place to rest for the night. As they strolled past an older house, an elderly man with imposing white eyebrows and a gleaming bald head stood in front of Erin, his gaze fixed on the boy. Instinctively, Seth placed a protective arm on his son's chest and positioned himself between Erin and the stranger.

"We have a problem," Seth muttered, Vulpix tensing with its teeth bared.

The old man quickly reassured them, his voice pleasant. "No, no, I apologize. May I have a moment to observe that Pokémon?" He pointed to Ditto with his weathered hands.

"No," Seth replied succinctly, guiding Erin away from the old man, followed closely by Emily and Brian.

They had moved about ten feet away when the old man called out once more. "Did you enjoy your visit in Celadon City?" His words caught the attention of both Brian and Seth. "Perhaps you enjoyed your time at a Casino? "

Seth turned back, positioning himself between Erin and the old man. "How do you know all of that?" he inquired with blunt skepticism.

"Please, come inside. I'll explain everything," he implored, his hands raised in a gesture of harmlessness.

"Start with your name," Emily demanded with a sharp edge.

"I am Mr. Fuji. Please, come inside," he repeated in a harmless tone, attempting to convey his goodwill.

"I'm not taking my son into a stranger's house. Goodbye," Seth stated firmly before turning his back on the old man.

"Could this strapping young man investigate the house first? I truly wish to share my story, and I believe I can shed light on much of the confusion surrounding that little Pokémon," Mr. Fuji requested, still maintaining his amiable demeanor. Seth nodded toward Brian, who entered the house. After a few minutes, Brian stepped back outside, signaling for them to enter. As they crossed the threshold, a sign to the left of the door caught their attention: "Pokémon Orphanage."

IV​

"Please excuse the mess; it's been quite busy here the past few days," Mr. Fuji mentioned, clearing paperwork off the central table. Pins were positioned all around the spacious room, each holding a different Pokémon. A Cubone was rhythmically tapping its bone club against a gate, its right shoulder swathed in bandages. In the other pins, a Ninjask's face was partially wrapped in bandages. A Magmar emitted flames from its tail weakly, its glow barely illuminated a foot away from it. Seth noticed Sarah’s corpse lying in an empty cage. And a Dollive with one of its light green, olive-like ears missing looked utterly disheartened.

"Are all of them injured?" Emily asked, her gaze shifting from the Magmar to the other Pokémon.

"Yes, we work with volunteers to assist orphaned or injured Pokémon before releasing them back into the wild," he explained. A regular Vulpix with its typical red fur walked up beside him, weaving between his legs and fixating its gaze on Seth's Vulpix. "A golden Vulpix, those are extremely rare. I don't believe I've ever seen one. May I?"

"Sure," Seth replied, and Mr. Fuji crouched down, extending his hand, which Vulpix happily brushed against without any apprehension. After a brief interaction, Mr. Fuji turned his attention to Erin and Ditto, who was still perched on top of Erin's head.

Mr. Fuji stood up, his clothes hanging loosely on his skinny frame as he approached Erin. "May I?" he asked kindly, extending his old hands towards Erin.

"Yupporuni," Erin responded, lifting Ditto off his head and handing it to the old man.

"Hello there!" Mr. Fuji greeted Ditto warmly. "Would you mind transforming into my Vulpix?" Ditto elongated and twisted its body until it imitated the red Vulpix that belonged to Fuji. Ditto immediately started playfully chasing Mr. Fuji's Vulpix, which appeared somewhat less than amused by the spectacle.

Brian's tone took an uncharacteristically sharp edge as he addressed Mr. Fuji, "How did you know about Celadon?"

Mr. Fuji retained his calm and polite demeanor. "I was Giovanni’s chief scientist. But let me start from the beginning," he explained.

Seth remained unyielding, fixing a stern gaze on Mr. Fuji. "You're affiliated with Team Rocket!"

"Please, allow me to explain," Mr. Fuji requested calmly. "In my younger years, long before the war with Johto, I was a Pokémon researcher, focusing specifically on the origins of Pokémon."

Emily's patience wore thin. "What does this have to do with Ditto?"

"I'm getting to that," Mr. Fuji reassured, as Erin positioned himself in front of him, resembling a child ready for a story. All three Vulpixes lay around him, while his own golden Vulpix rested on his lap. "After years of research, I believe I discovered the very first Pokémon to originate on our planet: Mew."

"Mew?" Brian interjected urgently, capturing the attention of all except Seth. "Is it pink, like Ditto, a graceful creature that floats around?"

"You've seen it," Mr. Fuji responded with a slight smile.

Brian recounted, "When we arrived in Celadon, the casino exploded. We went into the building to save people. However, we discovered a Mew caught in a shocking mechanism, caged alongside this little guy," he gestured towards Ditto's Vulpix form, "and about a hundred more of its companions. We released them, and they all transformed into Mew before vanishing completely."

"Teleport. It's a move that Mew can learn. The shocking mechanism was designed to prevent its escape," Fuji explained in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Yes, all the Mews except our Ditto fled," Seth chimed in.

"Well, in my research, I eventually encountered a Mew on Cinnabar Island. It willingly returned to me time and again, and for years, I delved into understanding every aspect of this Pokémon. I grew rather fond of that Mew," Mr. Fuji elaborated.

Emily's impatience had transformed into genuine curiosity. "How did you realize that it was the original Pokémon?"

"Early on in my studies we discovered ruins in Johto featuring a depiction of Mew, along with Kabuto, Aerodactyl, and what we now know as Ho-Oh. It was more of a hunch initially, but after encountering a Mew, I realized it had the ability to learn any move regardless of its type. While it did favor Psychic-type moves, it wasn't limited to just that," Fuji explained.

"That's astounding," Brian interjected, clearly intrigued.

"Yes, well then the war erupted. Giovanni, who was a general at the time, approached us and asked if we could fashion a super weapon using Mew," Fuji continued.

"Us?" Seth inquired.

"Apologies, I meant my partner and me. You may know him as the Cinnabar Island Gym Leader..."

"Blaine!" Erin interjected with a smile, fully aware of the answer.

"Exactly! Well done," Fuji responded, visibly pleased.

"He's a Fire-type Gym Leader. Daddy told me that. He's really strong," Erin added proudly, his gaze wandering around the room.

"How did the war start?" Brian inquired, his voice tinged with sorrow. "Apologies, we just never really got an answer for why our loved ones were killed."

"Greed and arrogance," Fuji began, his gaze distant. "The regions, of course, protect themselves with their military, but the control of legendary Pokémon is what truly showcases a region's strength and deters warfare and invasion."

"We almost died running into Zapdos here. Lugia came out of nowhere and defeated it," Seth added.

"Ah, you ventured near the power plant," Fuji replied knowingly.

"You knew it was there. Why doesn't someone, or even Team Rocket, try to take it?" Emily asked, her frustration evident.

"Legendary Pokémon are like forces of nature. To capture one, let alone control its power, is nearly impossible. Before the war, Kanto had Moltres. Johto possessed Lugia, Suicune, and Entei. Hoenn controlled land and sea with Groudon and Kyogre. Galar had its protectors, Zacian and Zamazenta. I am uncertain about the other regions now, but this is why Sinnoh has held such power throughout history. A specific bloodline has been able to call upon Dialga and Palkia, the guardians of space and time."

"Wait, if Lugia is controlled by Johto, does that mean—" Emily's voice trembled with concern.

"Johto is attempting to claim another legendary, yes," Fuji affirmed solemnly.

"So then, what started the war here?" Brian asked once more.

"Ho-Oh," Fuji's face darkened further, and he seemed wearier. "A new legend was discovered, which had previously only been a subject of myths and legends. A boy in Kanto was nearly killed when his Pikachu unleashed a thunderbolt on him and a flock of Spearow. Before falling into a coma, he swore he saw the mythical Pokémon flying above him. The Kanto government immediately sent a team to try and capture it before it crossed over the Mt. Silver mountain range into Johto. They pursued it relentlessly, eventually finding and attacking it. Johto retaliated, slaughtering the search team to try and steal Ho-Oh. Kanto responded, and the war ignited from there."

Seth redirected the conversation, asking, "So, that's how Giovanni asked you to continue your search for Mew, another legendary for Kanto to use in the war?"

"Yes," Fuji confirmed. "Blaine had refused to comply with Giovanni's request, as he believed that Mew shouldn't be treated as a laboratory specimen or a tool for destruction."

"When we saw it," Brian added, "it seemed incapable of hurting anyone."

"Indeed, Blaine shared that sentiment," Mr. Fuji agreed.

Seth followed up with a pointed question, "Then how did Giovanni expect to create a super weapon from it?"

"Cloning. We've been experimenting with cloning extinct Pokémon for years," Fuji answered calmly.

“So that's why Cinnabar is closed off, Blaine shut out Kanto, he wasn't going to be a part of it. So why didn't you refuse?”Emily asked.

"Blaine was against the war in the beginning, after governing Cinnabar as Gym leader, he saw the writing on the walls and shut down. As for me, I was young, arrogant, and so consumed by the idea of whether I could. Cloning is straightforward, but manipulating genes to create something entirely new... I saw it as a challenge," Mr. Fuji admitted. His posture became more slump and he looked away from them and seemed much more concerned with his own hands.

"Did you do it?" Brian inquired.

"After moving my lab to Celadon City, yes, eventually, after 52 attempts. Initially, we cloned Mew three times in its original form. I made a deal with Giovanni – I would assist him only if my friend was released, to which he agreed," Fuji continued, rubbing his bald head thoughtfully. “But, I sought out to create the most powerful Pokémon in the world. And I succeeded.”

"But you subjected living creatures to a life as test subjects," Seth's tone was sharp with reproach.

Mr. Fuji glanced around the room, the subdued cries of Pokémon filling the air. "Yes, and I've been seeking redemption ever since." The group regarded him, a mix of sympathy and lingering resentment in their expressions. "Regardless, altering Mew's genes proved exceptionally challenging – an endeavor to create a new, powerful creature, more potent than any other. Many attempts resulted in Dittos; bodies in perpetual flux. Eventually, I succeeded, though I consider it an anomaly. The result was a monstrosity, highly aggressive. I named it Mewtwo."

"Mewtwo. Not very imaginative, Mr. Fuji," Brian interjected.

"Well, I'm a scientist, not a wordsmith.".

"So Giovanni had access to Mewtwo. If he intended to use it to win the war, why didn't he deploy it? Why the countless casualties at Mt. Silver?" Seth's voice was sharp with curiosity.

"Mewtwo was extremely hostile. Upon awakening, it communicated with us telepathically, inquiring about its existence and whereabouts. Within five minutes of awakening, it destroyed the lab and escaped. Giovanni was infuriated, demanding I replicate the process. After burying my friends and colleagues, too creating something full of hatred, I couldn't bear it any longer and ran. I suppose he continued without me, since there were 90 failures as you've mentioned, I hope his efforts continue to be in vain."

"Where is Mewtwo now?" Emily's question lingered in the air. Mr. Fuji merely shrugged, his hand returning to his head.

A heavy silence enveloped the room. "At least Celadon City's lab won't pursue that abominable project again," Fuji continued, breaking the silence.

"Why wouldn't they just rebuild the lab and start over?" Emily queried, his curiosity evident. “What resistance would they have?”

"Didn't you hear?" Fuji responded. Their puzzled expressions prompted him to continue, "Celadon City rebelled and reclaimed the city a few months ago. It's been all over the newspapers."

"But Team Rocket was everywhere when we were there. How is that possible?" Brian questioned.

"It was the boy," Seth's voice was almost a whisper.

"The kid with the Charizard," Emily recalled.

"Yeah, he decimated Team Rocket, left and right. After the citizens saw the lab, they must have blamed Team Rocket or at least saw an opportunity to take back their city,"

Fuji continued as if to take Seth’s prediction as fact. "Erika is being labeled a traitor, but trees have sprouted all around the city walls, and they have been repelling Team Rocket's attacks consistently," he added. "I'm relieved the lab is gone. There's been so much pain..." His voice trailed off as he struggled to find the words and looked around at his orphanage. "A lifetime of saving these Pokémon won't atone for my actions."

Tears silently traced paths down his cheeks, and the room remained in a heavy silence. All eyes rested on the frail figure in the worn wooden chair. "It's okay, Mr. Fuji," Erin's voice broke the silence, his infectious smile cutting through the somber atmosphere.

“Thank you," Fuji responded, a smile of gratitude on his lips.

"Thank you for sharing your story, but we need to be on our way," Seth announced, rising from his seat.

"You're more than welcome to stay here. We have plenty of room," Fuji offered.

"No, we need to earn money quickly before heading to Fuchsia City," Seth responded firmly.

"Fuschia, why Fuschia? Are you participating in the League challenge?" Fuji's gaze was intense.

"I am. I'm getting my son out," Seth answered.

"There is a tournament boat that is departing from here to Fuchsia, offering a cash prize. I don't know much about it other than that, but there was one like this last year. I believe it is departing in a few weeks," Brian's interest was piqued by Fuji's information.

"Seth, that's perfect! We can earn money while traveling!" Brian's excitement was palpable, his childlike exuberance contrasting his muscular build.

"Is it safe?" Seth's gaze returned to Fuji, his expression cautious.

Fuji shrugged once more. "I don't know. There's no return journey, but flyers can be found throughout the city."

V​

Leaving the Pokémon Orphanage, Ditto settled back onto Erin's head, while Vulpix strolled alongside him. Across the street, Brian discovered a flyer pinned to a building, promoting a tournament scheduled for the next day. The vibrant purple paper featured bold lettering dominating its front. At the top, it declared "Kanto Boat Tournament," with further details explaining a $1,000 entry fee and a grand prize of $50,000 for the victor. Brian clutched the paper, his hands trembling with excitement. "This is it, our solution to both advancing in the challenge and making money. If all three of us participate, we would have to win!"

"We don’t know anything about the organizers of the tournament. it's a risk, and if we lose we are fucked," Seth countered.

"Staying in Kanto any longer is a gamble itself, Seth," Emily interjected, decisively settling the discussion. The city bustled around them, the blaring horns of passing boats and ships resounding overhead and the Lavender Town tower’s shadow casted over them.

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 19
​

Woven in Gold​

I will never be a product of hate

Take me far, far away from this place

My brother, well, where have you been?

I question every single choice I make

Dear friend, I've been riddled with sin

Somehow, it just drew me in

I need you, I need your hand

To pull me out so I can start again



- Speaking With Ghosts​

I​

Amidst the final moments of packing, the echoes of Pokémon cries permeated the house. "Heading off, are you?" Mr. Fuji's voice inquired, his eyes charmingly concealed under his sweeping white eyebrows, as he rubbed his smooth, bald scalp.

"Yes, we're grateful for your hospitality during these past few weeks," Brian responded warmly to their host.

"Your kindness has been appreciated," Seth added softly, securing the backpack straps around Erin, ensuring they fit snugly.

"Please, it's nothing. Just be cautious. Team Rocket's presence has surged; I can't ascertain if it's Giovanni searching for me or related to this tournament. However, I've learned that things are never as rosy as they seem," Fuji cautioned.

"Tell me about it," Brian chimed in, a chuckle escaping his lips.

"Are you going to be alright? Maybe you should stop your work here for a little while and hide," Emily voiced her concern.

"No, I won't forsake the Pokémon here. If this is my time to atone for my sins, so be it," he declared with a mix of worry and determination etched across his face.

"Thank you again," Seth acknowledged, extending his hand, which Fuji cordially accepted.

II​

The bustling streets greeted them with vivacity, and the gentle ocean breeze replaced the chill of winter, offering respite. On their way to the docks, Erin summoned Torterra, who provided a lofty perch. It felt as if a current flowed through the city, guiding them southeast towards the piers.

Approaching the dockside, Seth and the group were left awestruck by the sheer magnitude of the ship hosting the tournament. Weeks in the city had prepared them for larger vessels, a step up from the smaller riverboats they'd known. Yet, this ship was as though someone had hewn it from skyscrapers and set it afloat. In red letters over its white hull named the ship, S.S. Anne. It loomed above, casting a vast shadow, almost enveloping them. Smokestacks on either end of the vessel belched plumes skyward, marking the transition from Pokémon-powered conveyance to the unconventional realm of coal propulsion. Under the funnels stood two separate structures, the one on the right providing the bridge among other necessary rooms of operation where the structure to the left provided accommodations and living quarters to the elite.

“Whoa!” a small girl with bleach blond hair excitedly screamed holding her fathers hand.

“Yeah that's pretty cool isn't it! You're ready to go.” a large man says, holding her hands. “You think we can win?”

“You know it!”She responded by pulling her father up the stairs leading to the deck. Not only was the daughter and father moving towards S.S. Anne, groups of people began flooding the pier it sat on.

“Don't do this.” A boy no older than fifteen begged. “Please Brother don't.”

“Get on the fucking boat! If you win then you can come back. I don’t have enough for you!” An older and fatter teenager said sternly pushing the kid towards the ground.

“I will die please!” Tears start to fall from his face.

“You will die if you stay! Now go!”

"Excuse me," He nervously squeezed past Brian's frame, a Beldum closely floating behind him and tears running down his face. Brian couldn't help but stare at the altercation.

"No worries," Brian called out. trying to be kind but not knowing what that was all about. "Hey guys, it's getting crowded here. Want to head up?"

Seth recalled Torterra into its Pokéball and clasped his son's hand as they ascended the stairs. Windows adorned the ship's side, offering fleeting glimpses of the interior as they climbed. From the lower deck, where small beds nestled within what resembled tiny cabins, the accommodations gradually expanded in size towards the upper levels. Waiting near the top of the stairwell, they were treated to the sight of massive glass windows that unveiled a battle arena directly at the center of the ship. The arena's surface appeared to be made of steel painted brown, with the customary markings dividing the opposing sides. Just a few steps away from the top of the stairs, they observed a glass ceiling stretching over the battleground, also serving as the floor for the upper deck, which transformed abruptly from sleek wood to transparent glass.

Two people ahead of Seth, a slim woman with blond hair just long enough to brush her neck was attempting to board. To Seth's frustration but not surprise, the attendant was adorned in the distinctive apparel of Team Rocket.

“Fuck me.” Emily muttered under breath. “Seth, Brian I can't compete.

“What why?” Brian asked, looking at her perplexity.

“They are everywhere and they will need a name if they are registering you, look.” She pointed at the desk that had the word competitors sign in on a sign below it.

“Give a fake name,” Brain explained.

“And if that doesn't work!” She retorted.

"Invited guest, passenger, or competitor?" the attendant inquired in a straightforward manner.

"How much for a passenger only?" the short haired woman asked in a soft voice, her body trembling slightly.

"$2,700," came the response.

"And it's only $1,000 for competitors, right?" She glanced back to the ground, seemingly worried about being noticed. While the fat older brother was not the cause of her worry, Brian looked towards the ground noticing him stare up at the staircase.

"Yeah, now hurry the fuck up," the attendant retorted with impatience.

"Competitor," she stated, handing over the money, which he began to meticulously count.

"Hide Erin behind us," Seth directed the others with a sharp look. "Erin, don't make a sound. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Daddy," Erin responded before being obscured from view.

“What?” Brian asked confusingly, drawing his attention back to Seth anxiously positioning Erin behind them.

“I only have $5,500, if Emily is not competing then we don't have enough.” Seth said in hush tones to the others feeling a tense anxiety grip him.

"Now, go check in over there," the Team Rocket member instructed, pointing towards a lengthy desk where three Team Rocket operatives, two women and an older gentleman, sat conversing with the father and daughter from earlier. The woman hastened away, seeming to try to shrink into obscurity.

Next in line was a handsome man donning a pristine purple shirt, his hair cascading over his face. "Competitor," he stated arrogantly, pushing the money toward the attendant before striding toward the desk before the attendant could make a sound.

"Two competitors and a passenger," Seth announced, handing over the money, his desperate focus on ensuring Erin remained unseen. The Team Rocket member's gaze fell upon each of them, his eyebrow arching slightly, likely due to the group's close proximity on the already narrow staircase. Seth felt beads of sweat forming, aware that their strategy might not hold. Seconds stretched agonizingly as the man's gaze inched downwards. Seth’s heart was pounding so hard that he couldn't believe it didn't just crack open his chest and fall on the table the guy was sitting at. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted.

"Hank," the attendant turned around, confronted by another Team Rocket member ascending the deck towards him. This newcomer featured her flowing blue hair and incredibly pale skin that seemed even more striking against her dark attire. "Boss wants you."

"What the fuck for?" Hank retorted.

"I don't know. He asked for you, and here I am," she replied.

"Asshole," Hank muttered as he got to his feet, shoving the money into her hand before departing.

"Why are you still here? Go," the replacement attendant instructed, waving her hand indifferently toward the other desk while casually putting the money in the box next to her without counting it.

Upon boarding the S.S. Anne, the subtle motion of the vessel and its height hit them immediately. Brian momentarily froze, attempting to orient himself.

"You good?" Emily asked, her expression quizzical.

“Yeah, just need a second," he replied.

"Ma'am," the Team Rocket attendant called out, causing all of them to tense as Erin was clearly visible. "You forgot your key."

"Oh, okay." Emily approached, taking it from her.

"Level D, room 76," the attendant stated dismissively before turning to the next passengers.

They made their way to the assigned table, observing the skittish blond woman slinking to the ship's right side.

"Daniel Rivera, Saffron City." the man in the purple shirt declared with an air of arrogance. He didn't glance at the older man behind the desk but instead looked up at the sky, as if the conversation was beneath him. The older team rocket member rose and headed to an Abra sitting behind him. Seth watched as he scribbled a name into a slip of paper and then tied the paper onto Abra’s foot. It then just disappeared out of nowhere, exactly like the group of Mews in the Celadon hideout. One moment Abra was there and then it wasn't. A few minutes went by until Abra reappeared in the exact spot with the slip of paper now tied to the new leg. The older man took off the paper, read it and came back to the desk handing a key towards Daniel.

"Alright, proceed down the stairs to the right of us, leading to the lower deck. You'll find your room, deck F number 24," he informed upon returning.

"The lower level? Are you kidding me, asswipe?" Daniel exclaimed, casting a stern look at everyone.

"If you'd like, I could have any of my associates toss your whiny ass off this boat," the older man retorted, his smile not wavering. Daniel huffed away, shoulder checking Brian as he went past.

"Name," the Team Rocket woman said pleasantly, a smile gracing her face, which caught Seth off guard.

"Seth Conklin."

"What's your home city?" She inquired amiably.

"Westgate in the Cerulean region."

"Just a moment, please." She turned away, walking to another Abra sitting behind the desk. Just like with the older Team Rocket member, she wrote on the slip of paper it disappeared then reappeared a few minutes later. Seth found himself fascinated. He glanced at Brian, who appeared nonchalant about the situation as he was being helped by the 3rd and last Team Rocket member. Seth turned back, realizing that growing up in a major city probably made this less unusual for him.

"You passed the background check. Your room will be deck F, number 2," she announced kindly, looking at him. "The stairs are to your right."

“You got your key?” Seth asked Brian

“Yupp room 16” They both turned around and headed to Emily and Erin until Seth heard something that made him stop for a moment.

“What am I supposed to do if they are from the Celadon Region?” The woman who helped him asked the other female member.

“Just write Celadon on the paper and send it to Pewter City. Apparently they are just passing all background checks from there until they can figure the situation out.” She responded quietly barely audible to Seth who started walking to not draw attention.

They began walking onto the pristine wooden deck on the starboard side of the vessel. The pathway felt notably narrower due to the imposing bulk of the expansive upper deck that soared overhead, encompassing the commanding bridge in its structure. With the maritime expanse stretching before them, they proceeded, tracing the deck's perimeter.

Rounding the curvature, they found themselves facing the forecastle, sprawling invitingly ahead. Erin's pent-up excitement erupted, propelling him into an exuberant sprint around the open space. Wingulls and Pellipers were flying high above them while others perched themselves on the railing around the ship.

Observing Erin's spirited antics, Seth's gaze shifted to his son before returning to the doorway towards their left. "Let’s go to Emily's room?" he inquired, his voice tinged with amusement, as he watched Erin soaking in the novelty of the ship's environment.

Brian, his demeanor relaxed, ran a thoughtful hand through his black hair before responding, "Yeah. We'll probably have to do something for this thing to begin."

"Erin, let’s go," he called out to his son, pivoting towards the entrance located beneath the bridge, a passage leading to the lower decks. The trio and Vulpix descended the stairs, passing 3 decks until they encountered a sign denoting "Level D." Wooden doors, punctuated by modest windows offering fleeting glimpses of the corridor beyond, lined the hallway. "Erin, we're seeking room number 76. You know what numbers we need?" Seth inquired, guiding his son forward while they traversed the length of the corridor.

"A 7 and a 6! Easy peasy," Erin proclaimed with determination, his eyes darting from side to side, scrutinizing the numbers adorning each door. Periodically, he paused to scrutinize the numerals overhead. His pursuit bore fruit as he declared, "Found it! Found it!

Brian extended a congratulatory gesture, tousling Erin's unruly curls affectionately. The door swung open, revealing a modest living space that fulfilled its basic purpose. Crisp white walls formed the canvas for two smaller beds, neatly dressed in white linens, their simple metal frames blending seamlessly into the minimalist ambiance.

"Seems like those cheep tickets were a wise fucking choice." Emily commented sarcastically.

Seth's eyebrows arched in mild surprise, his attention divided between their surroundings and Vulpix weaving through his legs. Meanwhile, Erin's energy bounced through the room as he hopped from bed to bed, his peals of laughter filling the air.

"We should probably head down to our rooms, Seth. We don’t know how long till this thing sets off plus we have no idea what's required of us." Brian suggested, his entrance further filling the confined space.

"Yeah, alright." Seth turned to Erin,”Would you prefer to be with me or stay with Emily?"

"Emily! Emily! Emily!" Erin's response echoed while continuing to jump from bed to bed. Emily smiled warmly at the endorsement and Seth noticed the bright blushing through her freckled cheeks. Vulpix, now nestled beneath one of the beds, silently conveyed its decision to remain with Erin.

"Emily, I'll see you later," Brian stated, his departure accompanied by a smile.

"Behave yourself, Erin," Seth reminded gently as they took their leave.

"Okay, Daddy," Erin's voice drifted from behind the closing door.

III​

Seth and Brian retraced their steps to the stairwell, descending several more floors until they reached the sign designating "level F."

"Once we win, settle our taxes, and make our way to Vermillion for Lt. Surge's badge," Brian mused, his voice a mix of contemplation and excitement, "how about we take a detour through Saffron to visit Glenn and Ava?" Brian said entering the main hallway to Deck F was adorned with a somewhat shabby emerald-green carpet stretching into the distance.

"Sounds good," Seth replied, "We will have to wait at that point anyhow for Misty.”

Brian's face lit up, "I really miss them. I can't wait to show them how much progress I've made in setting them free." The glow of optimism radiated from him, kindling a reciprocal smile on Seth's face. However, a pang of envy surfaced within Seth, with his inability to simply visit his wife. The remnants of her taunts echoed through his thoughts, and her voice seemed to grow even stronger lately.

Shifting his attention to the room on their immediate right, Seth noticed the number 2 affixed neatly atop the door. "Well here I am," he remarked, utilizing his key to unlock the door. The room, darker than Emily's above, struggled to be illuminated by the feeble light filtering in. "What about your room?"

Brian, adopting a more casual tone, replied as he dramatically collapsed onto the comically small bed to the right, "Nah, let's chill without any responsibilities."

"Sounds fucking fantastic," Seth concurred, leaving the door open as they settled in. Their room overlooked a steady stream of individuals passing by – a curious mix of characters. Among them, a man even larger than Brian, a young woman sporting vibrant full-sleeve tattoos who cast a brief, awkward glance into their space before moving on, but mostly, what the two friends perceived was an undercurrent of fear in peoples’ eyes. It was as if these people were fleeing from something or bearing the weight of an impending guillotine.

Yet, Seth and Brian choose not to focus on that. Seth’s mind was intent on capturing the rare opportunity to exist temporarily without the burdens of fatherhood. A break from constant worry was a catharsis they both needed. The specter of Sarah's taunts and presence felt distant, the room now echoing with their laughter.

IV​

A resounding horn sliced through the ship's atmosphere, effectively halting Brian's discussion concerning Glenn and Ava. The vessel's motion, now abundantly noticeable, signified their departure from Lavender Town, propelling them toward the forthcoming challenge in Fuchsia City.

"Attention all passengers and esteemed guests," a voice echoed, replacing the lingering note of the horn. "Kindly proceed to the observation decks situated in the heart of the ship. Competitors are requested to assemble at the central stairwell on level F for access to the battlefield. The bracket unveiling, wager placement, and the inaugural battle will commence in 15 minutes."

Brian, rising to his feet, remarked with a determined nod, "Well, let’s go fucking win!."

Seth contemplated, "Should we first check on Emily and Erin?"

"Nah," Brian dismissed the notion. "Emily's got things under control, and it doesn't seem like we will have enough time."

"Alright," Seth conceded, though his apprehension grew. The once liberating sense of minimal responsibility now yielded to parental anxiety as the tournament's unknown variables came to the forefront.

Making their way down the corridor, their path intersected with the movement of a couple dozen individuals traversing the hallway's length. The teenager who had collided with Brian earlier now stood before him, the boy clutched one shoulder and his posture began shrinking inward.

"Fucking finally, this shit is kicking off," Daniel, the purple-clad Aragonot enthusiast, boisterously declared as he joined the hallway's collective momentum.

Ascending the stairwell was accompanied by a symphony of footsteps, two flights guiding them to another set of doors. The light coming from the other side of the doors was so bright it looked as though they were about to go into a portal. A vista of glass walls and ceiling stretched out before them. A full view of Lavender Town retreating from the starboard side was seen through the magnificent glass wall with few beams supporting the wall obstructing the view. Along the wooden walls to their left and right was tiered seating that scaled upwards as passengers filled the stands. Additional rows climbed toward the ceiling, arranged in uniform fashion. Seth turned, glancing upward to the doorway wall, and found an identical beautiful glass wall hovering over him and connecting to the glass ceiling. In their immediate view, a brown steel battlefield, with pristine white lines that mirrored the traditional Pokémon arena, stretched out ahead.

"Welcome, everyone, to the third annual St. Anne Tournament. We are pleased to have 31 brave and prepared trainers who are here to prove themselves for the cash prize," the speaker's voice reverberated throughout the arena. Seth and Brian exchanged glances, and the hushed silence of the multiple thousand-strong spectators enveloped the space.

"Firstly, I want to mention that the seven-day journey to Fuchsia City has commenced without a hitch," the crowd responded with applause. "Now, for those of us at Team Rocket and our honored guests who have been a part of this grand tradition, we are eagerly anticipating the unfolding battles. To our new passengers, we're excited for you to witness what awaits. Competitors, please release your primary two Pokémon, which you'll be employing in this tournament."

Brian turned to Seth, his expression conveying confusion, while Seth merely shrugged, pondering his own selections. Without hesitation, Brian summoned Ceruledge and Fraxure—logical choices. Ceruledge had been his steadfast partner with remarkable adaptability, and Fraxure boasted versatility without significant weaknesses. Ampharos, though immensely potent, was relatively new to the team, and evaluating its strengths and vulnerabilities was still a work in progress.

Seth released Primeape without any surprises—his strength and speed had been honed over time, rendering him an excellent pick. However, the second choice proved more challenging. While Torterra possessed immense power, the steel platform situated above the ocean would nullify much of its potential. Vulpix was with Erin and Emily at the moment. Ditto's value lay in its surprise gimmick, but once its transformative tactics were shown to everyone, its potency waned. The red light brightened ahead of Seth as he made his final choice, illuminating Noivern, poised and absorbing the atmosphere.

To Brian's left, the still-shaking teenager was accompanied by a Beldum and a Rattata. Further down the line, the tattooed-looking woman with a punk vibe fixed her gaze with determination, flanked by her Dragonite and Clefable. Notably present was Daniel Ravara, whose pronounced presence was accentuated by the presence of his Absol and Houndoom. To Seth's right stood the nervous woman who continued scanning her surroundings, her eyes filled with trepidation. Catching her gaze, he offered a reassuring smile, but she averted her eyes, focusing on her Milotic.

However, what Seth observed beyond these individuals sank his heart. A sense of unease shrouded the scene as everyone resembled individuals sitting on an execution line. Their pallid skin and lifeless eyes trembled behind their Pokémon.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, before we delve into our initial bets, I must outline the rules and share a special announcement. The rules are straightforward—a one-on-one battle where competitors choose from the two Pokémon before them. The match concludes when a Pokémon can no longer protect its trainer or when the trainer themselves is killed," murmurs echoed through the stands in response to this proclamation.

"What did he just say?" Brian asked Seth, turning to lock eyes with him.

"Our Pokémon aren't the targets, we are." Seth replied.

"Besides that, there won't be any other rules!" The crowd cheered in response to the announcer's statement, and the line of competitors sank further into their emotions. Even Daniel didn't have a smartass retort to speak under his breath. "Yes, let's give our trainers a round of applause. They're fighting for their lives for the grand prize—truly remarkable!"

"Now, for a special announcement." As he continued his commentary, the door on the opposite side of the arena swung open. "We have a special guest with us today. She's currently taking a break from her role as a gym leader!" The crowd rose to their feet and erupted in enthusiastic cheers. "Yes! She has accepted the challenge under the same rules as her fellow Kanto trainers, adding even more excitement to the show! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome," his voice struggled to be heard over the raucous crowd, "the Cerulean City gym leader, Misty!" With her short hair swaying, Misty emerged from the doors, making her way down the battlefield while waving at her adoring fans.

"What the actual fuck!" Seth exclaimed in disbelief. Brian was left speechless, offering no response as he stared blankly at her. The already somber mood of the competitors' lineup seemed to plummet further. As she continued to wave to the cheering audience, Misty displayed a mischievous, almost insane grin on her face as she scanned down the line of her future victims. Her eyes inevitably locked with Seth and then Brian, stopping her dead in her tracks. The intensity of insanity in her eyes heightened as she burst into uncontrollable laughter, dropping to her knees and clutching her side.

After her laughter subsided, she regained her composure and stood up, her posture stiff. She advanced directly towards them with a purposeful stride. "This is just perfect," she cackled. "Giovanni isn't here to prevent me from skinning you alive. You will fucking pay.”

"I... why... why are you here?" he stammered.

"After you wrecked my gym, it needed to be renovated. Butch—you remember him," she gazed at him, her expression both serious and accompanied by a creeping smile, "He suggested I come here to compete, but honestly, it's more about slaughtering my competition wholesale, something I can't quite do in my own gym. So, here I am." She confidently positioned herself in line beside Seth, feeding off the tense atmosphere she had intentionally cultivated. Swampert and Starmie were released into the arena, amplifying Seth's concern about what she meant by 'slaughtering.'

Unbeknownst to Seth, Vulpix was growling audibly at Misty as she began her forward march, and the sight of Swampert's emergence nearly set her off. Were it not for Emily restraining her, Emily was fairly certain that Vulpix would have lunged forward to attack.

"If I could direct everyone's attention to the board overhead, on the starboard side window of the ship," the announcement prompted everyone's heads to swivel. An enormous bracket unfurled, displaying cards bearing each competitor's name. Sixteen names adorned each side, with empty boxes converging and narrowing toward the center. Seed numbers were positioned alongside each name. Seth's name appeared with the number 14 next to it, Brian's with 10, Daniel Ravara with the number 16 beside his name, and Misty predictably possessed the number 1. Brian assumed, Ben Turner, the teenager cowering behind Beldum next to them, held the 32nd seed.

"I think you're up first," Seth informed Brian, indicating the top-right corner of the bracket holding his name.

"Yeah, looks like I'm going against him," Brian responded, gesturing with a nod to his right, where Benjamin stood.

Seth observed that he and Misty were positioned on opposite sides of the bracket. If they were to face off, it would be in the championship match and that's if she can beat Brian this time.

"“Today we will be conducting the first half of our Round 1 battles. At this point, betting is open. Kindly consult your nearest attendant, who is navigating through the stands, or visit the betting booths located atop each level to place your bets." A wave of commotion swept over the arena. The line of competitors, uneasy behind their Pokémon, fidgeted, feeling like commodities up for sale. Five minutes passed, then ten, then fifteen, and the commotion persisted—a constant flux of movement akin to a Combee hive. Sarah floated above the stands, her voice persistently calling out to Seth, "You can't save him!" The noise gradually subsided as Sarah's voice grew, cut off abruptly by the announcer.

"With bets now placed, let's get this show on the road!" the announcer bellowed with enthusiasm. "Brian Jarrus and Ben Turner, please take the field."

V​

Brian's intuition had been accurate; Ben was undoubtedly the terrified teenager. As they walked up to the field together, Brian offered him a small smile, hoping to alleviate some of the kid's nervousness. Ben's shaking was so intense it might have been mistaken for Parkinson's.

Brian regarded him seriously, hoping to convey understanding and reassurance. "Are you okay?" he noted.

Ben returned the gaze, his expression indicating a profound grasp of something. "You don't get it."

"Take your positions on opposite ends," the announcer's voice cut through the moment, interrupting Brian before he could inquire further. Ceruledge and Fraxure accompanied Brian as they positioned themselves.

"Ceruledge, you're up. Take it easy on him," Brian whispered to his Pokémon. Ceruledge nodded, acknowledging the instruction, and the pair turned to face their opponent. A man with slick white hair and a matching mustache, trailed by the largest Beartic Brian had ever seen, made his entrance from the doors opposite to those they had used. The Beartic's footsteps left frosty impressions on the steel floor, their icy imprints fading after about six steps, leaving behind tiny reflective pools.

"I am here to officiate the battle. Rule infractions are exceedingly rare as there are very few, but any breach will result in disqualification," the man announced bluntly, his gaze alternating between Brian and Ben. He assumed his position in the middle outline of the field, and the entire arena seemed to hold its breath, a palpable sense of anticipation hanging in the air. "Begin!"

"Zen Headbutt!" Ben cried out, his voice quivering as if wracked with discomfort and lacking any real confidence.

"Ceruledge," Brian spoke calmly, observing Beldum slowly advancing toward Ceruledge with an equal sense of determination as its trainer. "Use Shadow Claw, but strike with the flat side of your blade. Just knock it out, okay?" As Beldum closed the gap between them, Ceruledge's appendage, now radiating a purplish plasma-like substance, swung down onto Beldum's form. The impact sent Beldum crashing to the floor, bouncing thrice before rolling and eventually coming to a stop. Its eye was closed, and its levitating movements ceased. The audience sat in silence for a few moments, as though caught in a suspended breath, before a smattering of half-hearted applause emerged, as if the most anticlimactic of events had unfolded before their eyes. Brian couldn't help but feel that it had.

"Beldum, get up!" Ben's cries were piercing. "Get up! Please, don't let them do this to me."

"Take it easy," Brian urged, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "I'm not going to do anything more."

"Brian Jarrus, conclude the match," the referee's voice sternly demanded.

"I have. Beldum isn't getting up!" Brian retorted.

"The battle ends when the Pokémon can no longer shield its trainer or when the trainer themselves has been killed," the referee quoted.

"Beldum can't protect him any longer!" Brian pointed his finger at Ben, who was now sobbing and desperately trying to rouse Beldum.

"Then finish the fight!" the referee reiterated firmly.

Ceruledge, comprehending what was expected, advanced toward Ben. "Ceruledge, stop!" Brian commanded, yet she continued to stride forward, disregarding her trainer's order. A crimson light enveloped Ceruledge, which she shook off as she persistently closed the gap. "For fuck sake, Ceruledge, stop!" Brian's voice surged with frustration.

"Brian, what are you doing? look!" Seth's urgent yell trying to draw Brian's attention to the advancing Beartic, making its way toward him.

"He's a damn child! Stop this!" Brian shouted louder, his tears mingling with Ben's pleas. Brian sprinted, catching up with Ceruledge and interposing himself between her and Ben. "Look at me, damn it!" Beartic altered its course, trailing behind Brian, its frosty footsteps growing nearer.

"Please, don't do this. I had no choice. I don't want to be here. I want to go home," Ben screamed. Brian turned his head toward Ben, a strained smile crossing his face as he placed his hands on Ceruledge’s caved in chest, palms searing from the touch.

"Not again," The stands fell into a hushed silence; not a word was spoken. Tears flowed freely down Brian's face as he fixed a close gaze on his Pokémon, now just steps away from her target, a blade raised.

"Brian, think about Glenn! Think about Ava!" Seth's roar reverberated across the field, struggling to be heard amidst the persistent screams of Sarah, who stood inches from his face.

Beartic loomed a mere 15 feet away. "Brian!" Emily's voice pierced the air, her pain evident.

"Don't make me a part of this. Please, if you love me, return. Have faith in me." She looked sternly at Brian before lowering her arm, followed by a faint nod. A red light emanated from Brian's belt, and Ceruledge vanished from the field.

"Brian has forfeited the match and thus been disqualified; the winner is Ben Turner!" Where applause for the victor should have resounded, an unsettling silence enveloped the scene, as Beartic now loomed a mere 5 feet from Brian.

"Good luck," Brian said, his smile stretched from ear to ear.

"Brian!" Seth's voice echoed while Misty's laughter seemed to fill the entire arena.

Beartic's claws pierced his left shoulder and right side, blood seeming to freeze as it escaped the wounds. Suspended in the air, Brian's feet writhed in pain as reflective cries escaped his mouth. In one swift motion, Beartic detached Brian's head and left shoulder, flinging them to its side. His right shoulder, side, waist, and legs were hurled to the opposite end. Blood splattered the cold steel floor and Ben.

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 20
​

The Jester​

Is there anybody out there looking out for me?

Just say you want me, just say you need me

Is there anybody out there looking out for me?

Does anybody need me?

Is every last soul just fucking me over?

With tears on their shoes and ice on their shoulders

Is there anybody out there looking out for me?



- Badflower​

I​

The stadium fell eerily silent, with not a sound emanating from the thousands of onlookers as blood dripped from Beartic's claws. A pool of blood spread beneath the two halves of Brian as his legs spasmed. The sun streamed through the glass enclosure, casting a surreal glow on Ben, who held Beldum and trembled uncontrollably, his face smeared with Brian's blood.

The silence was eventually shattered by a piercing scream of agony from the stands. "Brian!" Emily's anguished cry encapsulated the moment before a thunderous applause erupted, drowning out her sobs. Erin, standing beside Emily, was frozen in place, absorbing the gruesome scene before him. Emily swiftly picked him up then turned to ascend the stairs, he caught a final glimpse of Brian's remains over her shoulder, the blood-soaked floor beneath him. Amidst the ongoing applause, it was nearly impossible to hear anything. Vulpix yelped loudly as she followed Emily out.

Erin found himself unable to utter a word, move, blink, or even take a breath; he seemed to have shut down completely. Emily's comforting hand on the back of his head slowly reignited life within him, though just barely. Barely enough for tears to stream from his eyes, and then barely enough to cry for Brian, for Charlotte, now sobbing for Flapple, for Staravia, and ultimately, unleashing everything for his mother, who became the primary focus of his lamentations.

II​

Seth heard Emily's shriek, and it felt like his chest constricted around him. Brian's halves lay in front of him, with Sarah hovering between them, her blood mingling with Brian's on the floor. She started chanting, "You couldn't save him," and "You can't save him," alternating each chant, and it seemed as if the only vibrations in the air were the haunting echoes of her contorted, lifeless mouth. Seth attempted to scream and cry, but nothing escaped him; he was trapped, frozen, incapable of taking any action. The audience erupted in applause, louder than anything Seth had ever heard. Misty's screams and cheers, trying to goad him on, yet somehow, they sounded distant.

Breaking him out of his trance, Misty forcefully shoved him, her insane laughter drowning out Sarah’s screams. "That's what that damn bitch deserves!" Misty clutched her stomach, roaring with laughter. "Damn, that's incredible!"

Seth took a step toward Brian, then another. As he drew closer to the scene of his friend's death, toward his wife's lifeless body, everything seemed to fade into the background. Ben still trembled on the ground as Beartic returned to his trainer, the referee.

"I... I... I... Why... Why..." Ben appeared utterly shattered as Seth approached.

Brian's youthful charm had been drained from him, splattered on the ground between them. "Get yourself cleaned up," Seth ordered, averting his gaze from Brian and focusing on Ben, who still clutched the unconscious Beldum. "Then go to room 76 on deck D."

"Why... Why... Why... did he..." Ben stammered.

"RIGHT NOW!" Seth's scream jolted Ben from his trance, and he scurried away, tightly clutching Beldum.

The applause continued to roar, with chants of "Next fight!" echoing loudly overhead.

"I'm sorry," Seth muttered, his voice breaking as he fell to his knees, his gaze locked onto Brian's lifeless face. He moved over to the other half of his friend, his legs trembling beneath him. Finally, the spasms in Brian's leg ceased, leaving behind its cold, lifeless form. Seth carefully removed the three Pokéballs from Brian's belt and secured them on his own, hoping no one would notice. He then reached into Brian's pocket and retrieved Brian's badge case, opening it up. He stared at the Cascade Badge, despising himself for coveting it. He took the badge from the case and placed it in his own pocket.

Two Team Rocket members approached along the field where Seth knelt. "Get off the field so we can clean up," one of them stated. Seth looked up at them, a glare of hatred in his eyes at their insensitive request. "Get the fuck off, or you'll be the next one getting cleaned up," the Team Rocket member warned. Seth continued to glare at them but complied, returning Primeape and Noivern to their Pokéballs, both of which had moved up closer, ready to protect him.

As he returned to his position alongside Misty, whom he ignored, Seth watched as they loaded the pieces of his friend onto a stretcher, leaving behind the bloodstained battlefield.

"Now that the first battle has concluded, let's move on to the next one! Oliver Lewis and Daniel Rivera, please approach." The crowd applauded in agreement as Seth turned towards the doors. He wasn't sure if he was allowed to leave, and quite honestly, he didn't care. His battle wasn't until the following day, and he wanted, no, needed to see his son. The roar of the audience faded behind him as he walked away, leaving him alone in the dark staircase. There, he collapsed to his knees and allowed his emotions to pour out.

At the bottom of the stairs, Sarah's apparition floated in the darkness, her hollow, pale eyes piercing through the gloom. Half her body slumped to the floor, leaving her head that laid on, her left chest and side, eerily resembling Brian's lifeless form. Her mouth twisted, and the familiar chants began echoing once more.

Seth gripped his ears with his hands, burying his face in his knees, and began repeating, "No. No. No! No! NO! Please, it's not my fault he died!" He clutched the cascade badge in his hand, rubbing its metallic shape, pleading, "Leave me alone; it's for him, please, leave me alone."

He finally looked up into the darkness, hoping to see just the ordinary staircase. However, as his eyelids shot open, Sarah's twisted vertical grin materialized before him, her head tilted unnaturally to the side, mirroring the Team Rocket member Jimmy's snapped neck. "You couldn't save me!" her voice muttered. In his fear-fueled anger, Seth hurled the cascade badge through Sarah's collapsed skull, and she dissipated into the darkness.

III​

The door to D76 creaked open, and Seth's eyes fell upon his son, sitting on the bed and staring at his feet.

"Hey," Seth said softly, giving Erin a small smile.

"Hi, Daddy."

Emily was sitting on the other bed, petting Vaporeon whose head rested on her lap as Seth closed the door behind them. "Did he see?" Emily's eyes were red, and her whole face was flushed. She looked at him and slowly nodded her head while averting eye contact.

"Why? Why didn't you hide it from him?" Seth's voice rose.

"Fuck you, I..." She stood up swiftly, pushing his chest and forcing him to take a step back. "I... I am sorry." She broke down on his chest, where Seth held her softly.

"I'm sorry too," Seth said quietly.

Erin continued to look down at his feet, tears welling up in his eyes again.

"Are you okay?" She asked him.

"No, and the fact that the stakes are this high. I don't know what I am going to do," he responded.

"Win. That's the only thing you can do."

"I have his Pokémon," Seth reached to his belt, picking up the condensed Pokéballs before gripping them tightly to expand them to the size of his palm, then placing them on the table at the back of the room.

"We have to tell them," Emily stated.

"I know we do. This room is too small. Let's go outside." He rubbed the Cascade Badge in his pocket. He didn't know why he couldn't bring the badge out. Logically, he had solved a problem; he had the badge, he could continue the league challenge without waiting a year, he could save his son faster. But it just felt wrong. "Will you grab the Pokéballs? I have four already, and with Vulpix—"

"You don't want Team Rocket to see you with over six, yeah, I got it." She grabbed the Pokéballs, placing them on her belt, as Seth turned around to open the door. Almost running into him, Ben stood at the other end of the door, his face frozen in fear as Seth looked down upon him.

"Walk with us," he said dismissively, taking his son's hand and entering the long hallway, making his way toward the stairs to reach the main deck.

Emily placed a hand on Ben's shoulder as she stepped out of her room. She gave a faint smile, but it was hard to focus on it with her red, puffy eyes stealing all the attention.

"I'm sorry. I am here," he said, tears starting to form again.

"Don't be," Seth responded, not looking at him. The walk up the rest of the hallway and stairs was silent, but the warm ocean breeze was immediately felt. The clouds hung in the sky, blocking out the sun, creating a shaded atmosphere.

"You knew what this place was," he asked sternly at the kid resting on the railing. In the light, his shabby appearance was put in full view; the long jeans he wore seemed four sizes too big. The gray jacket draped over his hands fell to the back of his knees.

"Yes."

"Then why are you here?" Emily asked. "Why would you do this, especially if you knew what this place was?"

"Wait. Hold on." Seth took a Pokéball off his hip and handed it to his son. "Erin, Torterra probably needs to stretch his legs. Would you?" Erin took the ball without saying anything. Twenty feet away, Torterra emerged and began traversing the massive deck. "Go on," he said looking back at Ben.

"I was just born when the draft for the war started. My dad was selected, but before he went, he jumped from the Lavender Tower."

"Fuck, I am sorry," Emily said kindly.

"What does this have to do with why you're here?" Seth asked bluntly.

Ben carried on, acting as if he heard nothing. "After he didn't show up, they came back and forced my mom into the war, leaving my brother Chuck to take care of me. We scraped by for a while. He says he has been working since Team Rocket took over, demanding taxes. I think over the years, he just started to hate me for it. This year, I don't know, Chuck changed, started hitting me more, you know." Ben started to hold one of his arms for comfort, his fingertips barely making it out of the jacket. "I know he didn't have the money. I tried getting a job, but no one would hire me; they said my brother stole from them or heard that he stole from people. Chuck told me that he didn't have enough and forced me to the docks this morning, and said if I win, I could come back home."

"But how did you know the penalty for losing?" Seth asked.

"It's a known rumor in Lavender," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "Two years ago, this tournament had its first one. They had over a hundred people join in, and a couple of Chuck's friends entered. We sent letters, but didn't hear anything back. Then the next year, the same thing happened."

"Why wouldn’t Fuji tell us this?" Emily asked, looking at Seth.

"You knew Mr. Fuji?" Ben interjected.

"Yeah, what about it?" Seth responded bluntly.

"He is really nice, but nobody sees him very often unless you go to him. I doubt he would know anyone who got on the ships or talked to anyone about it," Ben answered. He now sat on the wooden deck, the railing behind him, with the vast ocean offering him a sense of freedom.

Seth looked over to his son and was happy to see a small smile on Erin’s face while Torterra carried him around the front of the ship.

"Seth, I am going to give him Ampharos to use in the tournament," Emily said, looking seriously at Seth, catching his attention.

“You can’t,” He answered.

"What, we're just going to let him fucking die, let Brian's fucking death mean fucking nothing!" She began screaming.

"No, and I think Ampharos would, especially after everything that happened to her. But we had to reveal our two Pokémon; he can only use Rattata and Beldum."

"I’m sorry," Ben repeated.

"Stop fucking saying that," Emily snapped. "His death meant something, damn it!"

"He smiled at me, right before." He got to his feet, stepping closer to her. "Why?"

"Because he was fucking too nice." Emily started to cry, but a smile also came across her face. "That bitch fucking smiled. Fuck you, Brian." Through everything, she started to chuckle a little. Even in the end, Brian kept true to who he was, and he didn't sacrifice his morals for a second time.

IV​

"Release them," Seth instructed.

"Release who?" Ben asked. In answer, the crimson lights emerged from the three pokeballs on Emily’s belt and materialized in between them. Ampharos and Fraxure looked around confusedly, with Ampharos appearing more bewildered than Fraxure. Ceruledge, however, immediately fixed her gaze on Seth, and realization dawned upon her like a crushing weight. Her eyes locked onto Ben, and she walked toward him. The bluish-purple fire on her head and arms blazed fiercely.

"Stop!" Emily demanded, her arms raised over Ben as he cowered in fear, holding his hands over his face, waiting for a blow that never came. Instead, he heard a slashing, searing sound — one after another. Ceruledge was losing control, hacking and slashing at the ship's railing. Melted metal dripped off the now-shredded railing and fell into the ocean below, instantly cooling in the water from the heat of its attacker. She finally calmed down, sitting next to Ben with the destroyed railing behind her. She brought her knees up, her bladed arms resting on top as she put her head down, silently unable to release the sound needed.

The silence persisted for a while, with the waves created by the ship's cutting motion and the constant gusts of wind enveloping them. Erin, on top of Torterra, invaded the solemn space.

"Dad, I’m hungry."

"Come on, then. Let’s go find something to eat. Ben, you're more than welcome to come with us," Seth said, finally dropping the cold guard he had reserved for him. The Pokémon that were out continued to walk with them, creating an unusual group of different sizes and colors traveling the deck of the ship. Seth noticed the patrols walking up and down the deck, their black garb containing every inch of their presence, with expressions ranging from unawareness, seriousness, to overall disgust. What caught Seth's eye was their constant checking of the water or under the bow as if someone was hiding on the side of the ship or escaping.

The galley was massive, adorned with beautiful hardwood that led lines toward the windows along the back wall and on each side, allowing a pleasant light to filter in from the sun. A buffet of food was set up on tables on the right side of the room as they entered. On the left side was what truly shocked and lightened the grim mood: tables filled with vegetarian and carnivorous diets for Pokémon.

“Please find a table and enjoy,” a waiter, devoid of any insignias, spoke.

“Are our Pokémon allowed out to feast here?” Emily asked curiously, looking toward the left side of the room.

“Of course,” he responded. “Enjoy.”

Taking their seats at a middle back table against a window that provided a view of the retreating horizon, Vulpix and Fraxure grabbed whole Seaking fillets cooked with seasonings from a pile on a nearby table. Ceruledge walked toward the middle table where berries were scattered. Ampharos and Torterra were situated at the table where mountains of greens rested. Ampharos took an amount that could fit in its arms, while Torterra just lay on the ground, extending its head into the plethora of food. A red light filled the floor as Noivern, Vaporeon, Ditto, Primeape, Beldum, Lairon, and Rattata were released and stampeded toward their awaited meal.

Seth walked beside Erin, loading their plates from platters that held grilled Miltank steaks, boiled Krabby, Tauros ribs, and other dishes. Brian's corpse filled the bottom of one platter, his blood spilling onto the dark floor. Seth stood there with a serving spoon in his hand, Brian's face seeming to fixate on Seth's until his mouth creaked open, “You can’t save him.”

“Dad, come on,” Erin said, tugging at his father's shirt. “Daddy, look at the cooked Alcremies!” Sunlight filled the room once again, and Seth snapped out of his reverie, gazing at the tray of Slowpoke Tails.

After they filled their plates, they took their seats at the table, surrounded by their Pokémon scattered around the galley, until the doors jolted open and Daniel Rivera’s arrogant presence began spilling into the galley, tainting the food and atmosphere like a plague. His smug aura drifted toward them, and after making eye contact, Houndoom and Absol closely followed behind him.

“So,” slamming his hand down on the table, making eye contact with Ben inches apart, “looks like I get to kill you the day after tomorrow. How would you like me to do it?”

Seth swiftly took Erin away from the table, with Torterra, Vulpix, Primeape, Noivern, and Ditto forming a protective barrier around him, blocking him from the tense situation. Ben slunk down, putting his hands to his face as if to defend himself from the onslaught of words pouring out of Daniel’s mouth.

“Would you like Houndoom to incinerate your bones, or possibly Absol to slice you in half?” Daniel sneered. Ben was trembling so intensely that the shared table was beginning to shake with him. “Or I could destroy your pitiful existence now, you pathetic worthless—”

In a flash, Daniel was flat on the floor, clutching his bleeding nose. Emily stood over him, rubbing her fist with her hand. Houndoom growled loudly, met with an equally loud roar reverberating from Lairon. A dark pulse oozed out of Houndoom, immediately dimming the entire galley. Houndoom leaped forward to pounce on Emily, but a steel skull bashed it into a nearby table. Lairon charged to Houndoom's collapsed form, pressed its heavy foot against its chest, bit its head, and tore it clean off its shoulders, its spinal cord following behind.

“Get. The. Fuck. Away,” Emily said, kneeling at eye level with a trembling Daniel. Absol stood protectively at his side but made no intitave to share Houndoom’s fate.. Lairon walked over and dropped Houndoom's head in his lap. “Finish off his Absol for good measure.”

A flash of red lights swept over the galley as Team Rocket members poured into the cafeteria. “Cease all hostilities!” The older man from the Competitor Sign-Up booth stepped into the forefront of the small army. He looked down at the petrified Daniel and then to Emily, who had her friends behind her. “I would ask what happened, but having the unfortunate chance of meeting this shit here, I can already surmise. Recall your Pokémon and get out,” he said to Emily.

“Sure thing,” she answered, her gaze still fixed on Daniel, the bloody, lifeless head of Houndoom still dripping blood onto him.

Seth covered Erin's face with his flannel shirt, shielding him from the horrors that had just unfolded before him. "I am sorry, Seth," she said as five lights shot from her belt, recalling her and Brian’s Pokémon. She held out her hands and took Erin from him.

"It's okay. We had everyone out, ready to guard him. That ass deserved it," Seth replied, watching Erin hold onto Emily tightly, still positioned away from viewing anything. "Let's just get out of here."

V​

"I am going to take Ben with me to the viewing area and see what's going on. Can you watch Erin? I'm sorry to keep putting you on babysitting duty," Seth asked Emily as the stairwell doors closed behind them.

"It's okay. Ben, I'm really sorry I couldn't get his Absol too," she said, showing him a genuine expression that caught him off guard.

"Thank you," he said, a smile taking over him. Had anyone ever done anything to look out for him before?

Seth gently placed his son on the first step of the stairs. "You listen to Emily, okay?"

"Don't fight, Daddy."

"I'm not fighting today. I promise."

"Please, don't, Daddy." Erin wrapped his small hands around his father's neck. "Don't."

"I love you," Seth replied to him without providing a verbal answer. Emily took his hands, and they separated when they reached their floor.

The light flooded in as they entered the battlefield through the competitors' doors. The bracket hanging over them from the other side showed that Henry Davis and Harper Martinez, Lucas Anderson and Mia Hughes, and Lacey Gross had won their fights and would be battling eachother in the coming days.

What immediately caught their attention was Misty standing behind her Starmie, feeding off the crowd's excitement. A Victorybell was suspended in the air, with Starmie's red gem flashing rapidly. Suddenly, its top leaf, acting as its mouth, was ripped off. Both of its leaf appendages followed, and a thick purple substance oozed out of its injuries. "Now, Starmie!" Misty called out excitedly.

Noah Harris, a young black man with short hair, was lifted from the platform and gradually floated under his Pokémon, despite his loud pleas and screams for mercy. Victorybell's body suddenly ripped in half, as Starmie's red gem flashed faster and faster. The purple ooze fell on top of Noah with screams of horror. His flesh fell from his bones almost immediately, his eyes disappeared, and his stomach as the acid ate away every part of him. His screams were muffled by the toxic sludge drifting down his throat. A pile of melting bones sat in the middle of the purple sludge, as Victory Bell's husk of a corpse fell away to the side of its deceased trainer. The crowd roared loudly in approval, but not as loudly as Misty's hysterical laughter, rising to the level of thousands.

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 21
​

Burn​

I've grown accustomed to losing sleep

Sweep me off my feet

Dig your nails into my wounds and pull

A lucid dream

Where my chest will collapse from the weight of a fictitious ghost

Tear through me, sacrifice me to your sea

With broken arms I'm left to carry my shell

With no help from the current



- Counterparts​

I​

Zoe Johnson, her short black hair bouncing as she walked up the brown steel battlefield. Bloodstains were littered throughout it, smudges from where someone had previously half-heartedly cleaned the blood off, probably expecting more blood soon, her blood but hopefully his. She walked next to him, his canvas shoes rose under his slim jeans, to his black and white flannel shirt that fitted his slender frame. The beard he wore on his face was short, hardly a stubble, and his brown hair hovered over his deep blue eyes. He gave a small smile, but she couldn't return it to him. No matter the pleasantness her father had drilled into her as a child, she was half sure that her challenger only smiled out of habit anyway. They separated from each other and walked to either end of the arena. Her knees were shaking immensely, every step she took was as if trekking hip-deep in mud.

"Challengers, release your Pokémon!" She threw the only Pokémon she had ever possessed in front of her. Froslass emerged, and the temperature around it dropped as her graceful presence situated in front of Zoe. She recalled the memory she had when she was lost in her hometown of Rifure Village at the foot of the mountains. Lost and cold where Froslass as a Snorunt guided her back.

The slim man, in return, threw up his Pokéball into the air, and with a slam, Primeape emerged onto the field. It looked menacingly with a wicked scar above its left eye. He whispered something to it, but Zoe couldn't hear over the insanely loud crowd. She was picking her fingernails again; she couldn't stop. They were practically nonexistent at this point, and her cuticles were shredded to pieces. But she was okay, her mom was going to be okay; just win. Froslass was perfect against a physical attacker; she could dematerialize her body anytime an incoming attack was coming her way, making it immune.

"Today marks the first battle of the second day! Seth Conklin and Zoe Johnson, begin!" The crowd's voices shook everything as the vibrations collided with their surroundings.

Primeape ran full speed at Froslass. Its fist was cocked back, steam seemed to bellow out of its nose as Seth stood with his arms crossed, watching his soon-to-be final moments. "Froslass, avoid it!" She screamed out. Froslass dematerialized her body, going opaque as she witnessed Primeape launching towards her through her Pokémon's body. Seth stood back with a smirk glistening on his face. It wasn't slowing; it wasn't turning around to face Froslass, its enemy. It phased through Froslass's body, seemingly like it was the goal. Realization flooded her senses as Primeape was now running full speed at her, his heavy feet slamming on the steel floor. Froslass, understanding the situation, materialized quickly and swung around to see the retreating Pokémon running towards her trainer.

"Blizzard," Zoe screamed in fear. A freezing wind slammed into Primeape's back, ice now matted his fur. All the moisture inside of his back instantly became frozen, expanding his skin and blood vessels, tearing them apart creating shallow wounds. But he still stormed faster towards her, now only 15 feet away, seemingly gaining speed from the wind that was now making it hard for her to see.

Nothing hurt for longer than she would have expected. She looked down to see a giant arm protruding out of her stomach. She coughed, and blood splattered on Primeape's face, who was centimeters away, so close she could smell the hot air falling out of his nose. But his eyes seemed sad, like he wanted to be anywhere other than here with her right now. Pain flooded her senses, so intense that she was frozen, unable to move, as her hands locked onto Primeape's arm. It was more than just feeling his punch, but like a pressure squeezing, no, pushing everything out, up, and down in her body.

"Mom?" Zoe said, confused, her face extremely pale, losing the beauty it once possessed.

Primeape ripped his arm out of Zoe as blood splattered on the floor. Froslass made its way towards her, passing Primeape without any violence; all it wanted was Zoe. Scared, alone, tears freezing and falling, crashing to the ground below her as she hovered over Zoe.

Team Rocket grunts made their way onto the floor as the announcer claimed Seth the victor, and the crowd rose in applause. Flames raced out of one of the grunt’s Quilava's mouth towards Froslass, who went opaque again, but to no use. Her tears now no longer froze as she felt the heat, staring at her trainer. The ground mixed with blood and water, and the stands applauded even louder.

II​

The flames raced over Zoe and Froslass as Seth stared at them. The heat was felt by him but only just barely. He stood solidified to the ground as he looked at Zoe, her eyes fixed on him as her collapsed body lay motionless on the ground. Had he ever killed anyone, not out of self-defense? No, this was self-defense; he would have been killed if he hadn't ordered Primeape to go after her. As if to meet his answer, Sarah floated in the middle of the glass cage, the light reflecting her pale skin as her head swayed back and forth no longer connected to her spine, "You can't save him!" he shouted loudly.

"He fucking deserved it," Seth muttered towards the apparition.

Zoe, laid motionless as the flames raced over her having the smell of burning hair and flesh bake in the green house of the arena. Primeape cut off the scene, walking back up to Seth as the cheers still exploded through the stands. "Turn around," Primeape's back still had some ice matted in with the mixture of his blood. "Are you okay?" He asked, only getting a silent nod from Primeape. He seemed absent-minded, but anything could have been further from the truth. Primeape's mind kept replaying Zoe’s murder over and over in his head.

"We will get you cleaned up, return." The red light illuminated over him, and Primeape was grateful to be free of the sight of Zoe’s corpse.

"Michael Young and Zack Mitchell, please approach the field." Even though she was now inside a body bag, Seth could still hear her, repetitive taunting, as if she was right next to him. Despite needing to help Primeape, the Pokéball wasn't magic; it wasn't going to just pause Primeape's injuries. However, Seth stayed for this match-up as both relatively younger gentlemen took the field. He could see the fear in both their eyes as a Lycanroc and Arcanine emerged before them.

He watched as both Pokémon beat each other senselessly, desperately hoping to save their trainers. Arcanine used flare-blitz against Lycanroc's orange fur. He spun around, slashing one of Arcanine's eyes, causing a deep gash and blood trickling down its face. Seth then saw Sarah sitting in the stands, her necrosis now rising from her neck, overtaking the whole side of her face, fading away from her bright white eye. Lycanroc took a piece out of the concrete wall under Sarah’s seat, gripped it with his snout and chucked it at Zack Mitchell, who dove to the ground, barely dodging out of the way.

Above him, a seat was occupied by another Sarah reflecting the aftermath of a Beartic splitting a person in half. Her face looked at Seth seriously, as if he were judging every aspect of her husband. "What!" Seth said aloud, another challenger stared at him awkwardly. "Was I supposed to give up, die like a coward?" Seth said, staring at her pale face. The other challenger moved away from him.

Arcanine bit the top of Lycanroc's neck, flinging him to the ground, blood smearing the steel floor. Finally, Lycanroc was able to get his lower legs under Arcanine's stomach and fling him into the air, taking a chunk of Lycanroc’s neck with him. Arcanine crashed to the ground, struggling to get up. In a moment, Lycanroc was above him, biting the lower jaw of Arcanine, and pulled furiously. There was a loud crack, and Arcanine's jaw snapped, and then blood slathered the floor as it pulled his jaw off his face, tearing the flesh of his neck and even the top part of his chest with it. Arcanine staggered left and right. Orange flames shot out, but most shot down out of the hole in its neck until he finally fell.

"No, no, no, no, no," Jack screamed, falling to his knees as he was no longer able to support his own weight. "Please don't kill me."

Lycanroc roared loudly above Arcanine, blood still dripping down his neck, staring angrily at Jack’s pitiful form. “Crunch,” Michael said, smiling from ear to ear out of relief. In a flash, Lycanroc's mouth and fangs closed on Michael’s head, cutting his face and the front part of his head clean off, spitting it on the floor. The entire arena got to their feet, applauding loudly.

As if there was nothing more to see, Seth turned and walked out of the stadium as the announcer called for, “Olivia Clark and William Pena.” His cost of survival is closely following behind him with their taunts.

III​

The ugly carpet sat underneath Seth in the hallway outside Emily’s door. He wanted to knock on the door, but he just stood there, holding his fist up, waiting. Was he worried about what his son would think of him? It's all for him; all the blood and violence have to mean something. He knocked on the door loudly, knowing he would wade through an ocean of blood if that meant Erin could just have the possibility of a life more than just survival.

The door creaked open, exemplifying the white walls, white bed, and white pale eyes and skin of Sarah, her shirt becoming soaked in blood as a giant hole replaced her abdomen, and the blood drained on the floor. “You can't save him!” She screeched.

“I…” He stood there, looking at the blood flowing over his shoes, as he looked back at Emily’s face smiling at him.

“Hey, you alright?” she said, smiling but casting a face of concern. He grinned back but didn't give a response; he wasn't okay.

“Daddy!” Erin jumped off the bed, over Vulpix curled up beneath him, and ran to him.

“Sorry it took so long, I had to get Primeape cleaned up.” He said, hugging his son tightly.

“Is he okay?” Erin said questioningly.

“Yeah, want to see if you can make him feel better.” His son simply nodded exaggeratedly as Seth released Primeape in the confined space of the room. Primeape sat down on Erin’s bed, solemn, with Erin jumping all over, attempting to cheer him up.

“Do you want to get some fresh air?” Emily asked, looking intently at Seth. She knew what it meant for him to be here, and understood what it took, and was glad Seth stood before her. Still, her pride in Brian was immeasurable.

“Yeah, Primeape, want to stay out?” Primeape nodded, seemingly happier around Erin as they began to step out into the hallway and up the stairs.

They made it to the bow of the ship, and Erin convinced Seth and Emily to release everyone, where he played energetically. It always surprised Seth just how connected Erin was to any Pokémon he met. If it wasn't for him, Noivern, Torterra, Staravia wouldn't have joined them in the first place. Erin’s ability to initially spark trust with them is the only reason that he made it this far. But it still felt so much further, and he began to rub the Cascade Badge between his fingers in his pocket. Still resenting himself and unable to tell Emily he had it. The breeze drifted over them as they watched Erin play with everyone on the bow, laughing, caring for them.

“You did so well, Daddy,” the little girl with blond hair from the docks said to her father as they walked up close to where Seth and Emily were sitting. “Dad, can I take Donphan and Yanmega to go play with that boy?”

The dad looked at Seth and Emily, “Do you care?”

“Go nuts,” Emily responded, smiling at the girl. She ran off with a smile taking over her whole face.

“Hi, I am--”

“Liam Foster,” Seth finished. “Yeah, I saw you down there with me.”

“That was a good match you had,” he responded.

“Was it?” Seth answered, looking at his hands clenched together as he sat stiff and standoffish.

“Yeah, it was. You did what you could. Trust me, I know.” He took a seat next to them as they all watched the kids and Pokémon run around happily as they sat with their backs against the railing of the S.S. Anne and the ocean beneath them. “Where are you guys from?"

“Outside Cerulean,”

“Outskirts of Viridian,” Seth and Emily said at the same time.

“You?” Emily continued.

“Gringey City, It's a town outside Vermillion”

“How did you hear about this tournament?” Seth asked genuinely. Even though there was a serious chance that he would have to take this man's life just like he did to Zoe, he really seemed to like him. He had this aura of being trusting, or maybe that came from him being another parent. That mutual understanding that no matter what was in front of them they would accomplish at all cost to protect their kids. He had a beard longer than his own that was grey around his chin, thick black hair laid down on his head about to connect with his bushy black eyebrows that were easy to see behind his thick glasses.

“We fled our city a long while ago,” Liam answered.

“Team Rocket ran you out of your town?” Seth interjected.

“Pollution from the factories, I mean Team Rocket didn't help, but the problems have always been there. It was a common rule growing up in the town even before the war that you don't go swimming in the lake. Beth kept coughing blood and only got worse, so I moved her out looking for some work. Figured Lavender might be a good idea. But I have to pay my taxes next month and I am nowhere close.” He smiled, but there was deep tiredness behind those eyes that Seth knew all too well.

“Did you know about what happens if you lose?” Emily asked curiously.

“I didn't think we were going to get a pat on the back and a ‘maybe next time champ’ if that's what you're asking,” he responded. “You were with that man who fought first, right?”

Both Emily and Seth didn't say anything but put their heads down slightly, clearly giving the answer without words.

“Sorry, I just saw you standing with him yesterday,” he continued. Beth and Erin were beginning to play more with each other rather than just their Pokémon. It caused a shift in Seth’s emotion, watching his son play happily with another kid. It had been far too long, he thought. The silence between them continued for a while. It wasn't awkward or tense but pleasant, letting the spectacle of their kids, who they cared so deeply for, forget about the darkness of the world, the threat over their head, just be children, running and laughing. Pelipper and Wingull continued to fly overhead, and Seth looked down at the water below, noticing a pod of Finizen jumping over the waves the S.S. Anne was creating. The sun felt amazing on his face, creating a warm almost blanket that wrapped over him with the smell of the galley reaching his nostrils.

“I looked at the bracket, provided we both make it, we will be facing each other in the semi-finals,” Liam stated, immediately throwing the pleasantness off this ship and enveloping the fog of dread over top of them.

“I saw,” Seth said bluntly, his pissed expression being impossible to miss.

“Sorry, I just... look, no hard feelings, okay.” What was Seth supposed to say to this? It was hard feelings. If he lost, all the hope he had for his son would be gone. If he won, Liam’s corpse would do nothing but haunt him, dragging him further into the insanity that his other victims had made damn sure to push his descent into.

The evening went by quickly. They made their way to the galley, which was a much more pleasant experience this time. Seth was half sure Torterra wasn't going to leave and would just sit and eat any green substance he could find. Erin watched as his Noivern dove into the ocean, catching and consuming Luvdisk. As the night began to descend over them, the crowd on the ship came alive. Even with all the spectators whose bloodlust was intense, the music and dancing that filled the ship were unique. The stars, without a moon to fade them, shone brightly overhead, brightening the party.

“Seth, Emily,” a timid voice rang out behind them. Ben stood there, dressed in new clothes that still seemed to drape over him as if he was hiding from the world. “Could I speak with you?”

They made it to the stern where it was more peaceful and quieter, although not entirely. Erin was being held by his dad, and his crashing energy was evident in the heavy eyes that he was struggling to keep open.

“I want you to give you Beldum.” The Greatball was outstretched in his hand toward Seth. “He has been the best thing in my life, and I don't want him to die for me.” There was a look of determination on his face that hung sternly over the trembling arm and body that held it up.

“Are you sure?” Seth asked, holding his son with one hand and taking the ball with the other.

“I am not going to win. Daniel is going to kill me tomorrow. They just aren't powerful enough.”

“But to give up?” Seth answered back, looking at the Pokéball, not convinced he should take it.

“A part of me gets to live on in him.” Ben was smiling while also chewing the end of his jacket sleeve. Emily hugged him tightly, knowing what he needed—just someone looking out for him. He held her close as tears began to fall freely from his face, from hers as well. “Promise you will take care of him,” he said, struggling to keep his voice together.

“Of course,” she said, taking his face and smiling pleasantly at him. The night continued, and they sat at the back of the ship, just talking. Seth was sure that Ben was terrified to go to sleep, but Seth was also terrified to go to sleep as well. It wasn't until the sun began rising above the horizon that they made their way back to Emily’s room.

IV​

“Daddy, please don't go. Please, please, please,” Erin started crying, clinging to his father as he made his way to the plain door in room D76.

“I know you don't want me to, but I promise I will be right back.” Erin's cries became even louder. Seth tried desperately to unlock Erin’s hand to get free of him. “Don’t do this, buddy. I promise as soon as I am done, I will come back!”

“Then let me go too.”

“You're gonna stay here with Emily, okay.” Emily walked over and got Erin off of her father, trying to console him. He set Beldum’s Great Ball on the table in the middle of the room.

“Are you sure you don’t want Beldum?” Seth said to Ben, who was opening the door to the hallway.

“Yeah,” He gave a faint, bittersweet smile goodbye to Emily, who returned it but half-heartedly. She wanted to save him from the doom that awaited but didn't know how.

The hallway on deck F seemed longer than usual. The challengers filtered into it, being pushed along the current of despair that remained with the significantly smaller population. Seth saw Liam with his daughter on his shoulders walk ahead of them, but even they seemed to imitate a depressed walk up to the gallows ahead of them. Their footsteps echoed on the metal staircase, and Ben, trembling, was wracked with every step. He clutched Rattata's Pokéball, as his thoughts raced for a way out, any way out of this. He looked at Seth, but his face was as blank as everyone else's. They passed the glaringly bright portal, as if stepping into searing hot flames, into the arena, and the sounds of the energetic morning crowd encapsulated them. Daniel was already atop the metal battlefield, gleaming as he watched his pitiful match-up walk in.

Seth put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, gripping tightly, probably trying to give him some relief, but contrary to the bright arena with the morning sun illuminating everyone, a dark cloud was constantly hanging over him. “Am I really going to die?” He asked aloud, not really expecting a response.

“Just keep moving and dodging, look for an opening, and communicate with Rattata,” Seth said, hoping to provide some relief.

“Welcome to the 3rd day of the tournament, everyone, and for the second round of battles to commence. Everyone, please give a standing ovation to our willing competitors!” The crowd cheered loudly, as if applauding Ben's soon-to-be death. “Daniel Rivera and Ben Turner, please approach.

V​

“Why does Daddy have to leave?” Erin asked Emily, sitting on the bed and petting Vulpix as her head laid on his lap.

“He wants to protect you,” she said, sitting on her bed with her head resting against the wall. She looked at Erin with nothing to do but play worst-case scenario scenes in her head. She hated this waiting, having nothing to do and being a passive bystander, letting this boat carry her on the current with no impact on anything.

“Protect me from what?” Erin asked questioningly, getting up from his bed and moving over to Emily’s. He sat next to her, then laid his head on her arm.

She put an arm around him, holding him close. “From the bad guys,” she said, holding her hands out as if pushing an evil force away from him.

“Why didn't he protect Brian, Mom, or Charlotte?” She looked down at him, meeting his hazel eyes that held an uncommon serious look, trying to piece the complexity of the world together.

“Sometimes bad things happen, buddy, but your father would do anything if it means protecting you.” She smiled a little, hoping to find one in him but to no avail. “Let's go for a walk, huh? Maybe get Torterra some more food.”

“Okay!” He yelped, surprising Vulpix slightly. “Let’s bring this Pokémon too!”

“Wait, no!” Emily yelled, but Erin grabbed the Great Ball sitting on the table next to him. Its blue form with red markings stood out in the white void of the cabin. Light flooded the room for a moment until Beldum came to, his eye darting around the room. As he looked back and forth from Emily to Erin, realization flooded his senses, and he peiced together why he wasn't with Ben. In a panic, he crashed his head against the door, denting it slightly.

“What's he doing?” Erin asked Emily, frightened.

“Beldum, go back,” she begged, the red light overtaking Beldum but unmoved from his hammering of the door.

A white light beamed out of his eye, and the door, floor, and parts of the wall began to warp. A force surrounded Beldum as light began to fold and wrap around him. Emily looked at the ball of energy but saw only the side of her head as gravity began bending the light around Beldum, blocking him from view. Erin scurried in Emily’s arms as Vulpix stood steadfast in front of him. The door cracked around Beldum, and its steel frame crumbled around it, parts of it disappearing as the light bent even more unusually. Passengers began to flood the hallway, looking at the disturbance.

With a crash, ripped-up chunks of metal fell to the ground, and sight was returned to normalcy as they stared at Metang, its blue body marked by white claws and protrusions. It looked back at them, its red eyes full of pain. Erin got up, seemingly possessed. Emily reached out for him but held herself back as a sense of knowing seemed to surround Erin. He placed his small hand on the front of Metang. “I know you’re scared, I am too. Go.”

Metang tore away from the room, nearly knocking a few spectators to the ground. It flew through the air as doors darted past its sides as it finally made it to the entryway on deck D that had a viewing area written on top. It broke through the door so hard that one fell off its hinges and smashed even louder than its body ramming through it. It looked down at the steel battlefield over the railing and lost all control. Seth looked up over his shoulder, seeing Metang smash the railing to the ground as he flew down the drop to the battlefield.

“Fuck,” he released Primeape in a hurry, hoping he made it in time. As soon as Primeape materialized, Metang was feet from him, paying him no mind. It was only concerned with the horror on the stadium and the laughter coming from Misty, but more sinisterly from Daniel. “Stop him.”

Primeape just caught Metang in time and hesitantly slammed his body to the ground, pinning him down, as its red eye stared at Ben, writhing so furiously that Primeape had to put so much force down that the steel began to dent beneath him.

“Please, calm down,” Seth begged, placing a hand on Metang's cold body. “He wanted to save you.”

Metang looked in horror; Absol had Ratatta’s convulsing body impaled on its scythe-like horn. Daniel, however, was sitting on top of Ben, hitting away like he was straddling a punching bag. Blood dripped from his fists, mixing their blood as it hammered down on Ben’s face again. Ben’s nose was completely gone, smashed inside his head, blood dripped down his eye, and any front teeth were gargling in his blood-drenched throat. Ben, still conscious, tried to put his hands up but was easily pushed down when another fist cracked his skull and broke his optic canal. He tried desperately to talk, to beg to stop, but all he could do was taste the drowning feeling of his own blood as he desperately tried to swallow to secure his next, maybe his last breath. Laughter filled the stadium as fist after fist swung down on Ben’s tiny frame.

The onslaught was so brutal that Daniel and Misty's laughter didn't need to compete with an applauding audience; they were silent as the child continued to be beaten down. The back of his skull was now pouring blood as each hit slammed the back of his head against the steel floor.

Daniel finally stood up, perhaps yielding to the last shred of humanity he possibly possessed. He then raised his foot and smashed it down on top of Ben’s skull. Finally, after the constant onslaught, Ben's skull gave way to Daniel’s heel, releasing him from the torment once and for all. His hands fell away from his protective stance and dropped to the cold, unforgiving ground.

VI​

Metang’s arm crashed against the wall of the stairwell as Primeape struggled to contain its rage.

“Damn it, we're going to have to go to Emily’s room to get his Pokéball. Why would she let him go?” Seth complained as Primeape struggled to descend the bottom step of the challenger floor on deck F.

The walk towards Emily's room was incredibly slow as Metang jerked left and right, desperate to escape from Primeape and crush Daniel’s head under its foot. “Calm down,” Seth pleaded as Primeape finally reached the second set of stairs, nearly finished. The ugly carpet on D was now torn to shreds as Metang attempted twice to cling to something, anything to set him free.

“Emily!” Seth roared as she appeared, peeking her head out of the doorless frame.

“Shit, hold on.” She disappeared, replaced by Erin, who looked concerned at Metang as he flailed wildly in Primeape’s arms. Suddenly, a red light emerged around Metang, but nothing happened. His hatred was too intense and wouldn't subside until he felt Daniel’s death.

Erin placed a hand on Metang’s cold body, and Seth immediately pushed him back to protect him from the flailing arms. “Daddy, stop!” Erin said, definitely catching his father off guard. “He is sad.”

Primeape, unable to hold him any longer, pushed Metang to the ground, its arms denting the walls as people again poured out into the hallway.

Erin once again placed his hand on Metang, then hugged him silently as people witnessed Metang's form begin to calm. “I'm sorry,” Erin said, tears falling down his face. Metang's red eyes fixated on Erin’s face. It was hard to tell its emotion with its lack of facial expressions, but Metang stayed lying down as Primeape released the pressure on its body. Erin took its giant arm. “Come on,” and Metang floated behind Erin, entering the wide-open room. Seth, Emily, and all the onlookers stared motionlessly, awe-struck and completely confused.

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 22
​

Just Pretend​

'm not afraid

Of the war you've come to wage against my sins

I'm not okay

But I can try my best to just pretend

So will you wait me out

Or will you drown me out?



- Bad Omens​

I​

Erin sat on the bed with Metang lying on the floor below him as he gently rubbed the top of its metallic head. The rage and hatred within the Pokémon seemed to dissipate almost instantly, as if Erin had reached into Metang’s heart and flipped a switch.

“I am so proud of you, dork,” Seth said to his son. Erin simply beamed, his face radiating positivity, his dimples inviting everyone in. “I have to go now. Are you going to be okay?”

Erin didn't say anything, but his bright energy dimmed slightly as he continued to console Metang. Emily walked up behind him, peering into the broken door frame, admiring Erin, just as Seth did. “I'm going to take him to get something to eat. Meet you in the galley after your fight, alright?”

“Yeah, alright,” Seth responded.

“Seth,” she called to him as he began to walk down the hallway. He looked back at her, his serious expression etched across every aspect of his face. What did she want to say? That he shouldn't fight? That Brian was right? No, he needed to survive. But could she see it, his descent into darkness? It had been gripping him, ripping him apart, ever since Commerce Town, where he forced her to be a witness and Brian to be a participant in child murders. It was as if his inner light had been constantly under attack, trying to snuff it out. Erin was the only thing giving Seth something to hold on to. “Be careful, okay?”

II​

"This is the last call for Seth Conklin," the announcer's voice bellowed through the glass cage as the ocean retreated into the distance on all sides.

"I thought you were going to run, coward," Misty screeched. Seth didn't answer, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a response. He walked onto the bloodstain-soaked floor, applause erupting upon his entrance. Michael Young's face immediately dropped upon seeing Seth appear to challenge him, Lycanroc sitting patiently next to him. Seth threw out his Pokéball, and Primeape materialized in front of him. A calm rushed over Seth as a sense of purpose focused his eyes on the obstacle, no older than 20, standing in his way.

"Primeape, remember your speed and keep your ears open, alright," Seth commanded. Primeape looked back sternly, nodding in solidarity, even if it was built off of resentment.

"Begin!" The stands erupted with anticipation as Lycanroc charged for Primeape, its mouth hung open, ready to grip and tear anything it could. Its green eyes leered at Primeape as its orange body blurred with its swift movements.

"Accelerock!" Michael screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Quick Guard," Seth called back. Primeape put his arms up to protect himself from the oncoming attack. Lycanroc's skull crashed into Primeape's cross guard stance, jumping back before Primeape could retaliate.

"Again!" Michael screamed. In a moment that eyes could barely witness, Lycanroc got to Primeape's right, flanking him and drilling into his side.

"Primeape!" Seth called out as Primeape rolled around on the ground, his fur getting coated in a more recent pool of blood from a previous fight. He got to his feet and ran towards Seth, situating himself between him and Lycanroc before anything could happen.

"You good?" Primeape didn't answer, just prepared for any oncoming attack. "Listen, I am going to play bait. He's a rock type. If you can just get one good hit, we'll have this."

Before Seth could prepare for a new tactic, Michael's voice traveled over the arena. "Crush Claw!" Standing resolute in front of Seth, protecting him once again, Primeape took the cross guard stance, and four deep slashes ripped through Primeape's arm, flinging blood into the air.

"Counter!" Before Lycanroc could retreat, Primeape gripped one of its forearms, flinging him up, then grabbing his now reachable tail. Lycanroc was now vertical in the air above Primeape until, with all the force that he could muster, Primeape flung his body down by his tail, crashing him to the steel floor. It created a thud loud enough to be heard by everyone in the stands, possibly even the ship.

Just as hope rose in Seth's heart, Lycanroc rolled quickly onto his feet and retreated in front of his trainer. "I really thought we got to him," Seth said, looking back at Primeape, the blood on his fur and his own blood dripping down his arm sparking worry in Seth's heart. "Come on, it's time to go on the offensive. You can't play defense any longer. Remember, I am bait." Primeape nodded in acceptance and drew up his offensive stance. "Close Combat, go!"

Primeape began his sprint towards Lycanroc, swinging his fists and slamming the ground, missing his target again and again. "Bite!" Michael called out, now extremely close to Lycanroc and Primeape, leaving Seth alone on the other side of the field. Almost immediately, Lycanroc's fangs were sunk into Primeape's side, crunching down as pain exploded and wrapped around the entire right side.

Primeape gripped Lycanroc's throat and pulled him off, his flesh giving way with skin and matted fur clinging to the teeth. "Close Combat!" Seth yelled out. Primeape let go of his neck, and Lycanroc struggled in the air, attempting to gain some leverage. Three consecutive punches rocked the Pokémon so quickly that they might as well have been all at once. Primeape felt the crack of ribs under his power, and Lycanroc soared just past Michael, crashing into the concrete wall.

Struggling to his feet, Lycanroc got up again, rising Seth's stress yet again. He was wide open, Primeape was on the other side of the field, this was it.

"Z-move Splintering Storm Shard!" Michael's voice rose above the energetic audience, "Attack the trainer!" Lycanroc dug one of his arms into the concrete wall and howled loudly. With his other three legs, he began racing towards Seth, with concrete being shredded behind him, shards of grey rock collecting and congealing behind him. Seth stood there defenseless, wondering if this gamble would work. Dust trailed behind Lycanroc as more concrete splintered and formed like daggers behind him.

Red light flooded the field, and suddenly, Aegislash was standing before Seth, its shield protruded with rocks and Lycanroc's claw as it stared in confusion. "Winner Seth Conklin!" the announcer roared as the referee pointed his hand towards Seth, and Aegislash still held back Lycanroc's tremendous force. It looked behind him to see a bloody fist over Michael's now decapitated body.

The sword behind Aegislash moved from behind the shield and struck Lycanroc in the chest, its eyes never taking its sight off Michael as the life faded from him.

III​

Seth stood alone in the chilling darkness outside the Golden Tail Diner, peering through the glowing window that framed his loved ones. Warm light spilled onto the road, casting a deceptive glow around him, while the shadows seemed to writhe around him with an unnatural, almost predatory intent, as though unseen claws were pulling him away from his own home.

Inside, Seth's heart ached as he watched his family. Erin was held lovingly by Seth's father, the two of them sharing hearty laughter. Sarah, surrounded by her mother and father, giggled with joy as the trio pointed at Erin and his grandfather. Seth, overwhelmed with longing, reached for the diner's front door, his hand gripping the handle tightly, desperate to join them.

But the door refused to budge, as if mocking his yearning. His family, bathed in the warm light, continued to radiate happiness, their laughter infectious. Seth planted his foot against the wall, straining with all his might to force the door open, but it remained resolute. Frustration and desperation welled up inside him, and he screamed, "Let me be with them!"

His futile attempts grew more frantic, his foot chipping away at the brick wall as cracks formed. Yet the darkness, with insidious tendrils, tightened its grip on his limbs and neck, dragging him away from his family. Seth clung to the door, his fingers grasping desperately, but it was a futile struggle.

Turning around, he spotted the source of this malevolent force: Sarah's lifeless body, shrouded in shadowy appendages. Horror coursed through him as he turned away from her and sought refuge in the joy and love inside the diner.

But now, pale, decaying hands clawed at him, replacing the shadows. Seth fell to the floor, crawling toward the diner, but it was all in vain. Figures from his past crowded around him: Charlotte, Jimmy, Zoe, Brian and the decapitated corpse of Michael Young, their ghoulish forms tugging at his arms and legs. "Please, it's not my fault you died! Let me be with my family! Let go!" Seth's anguished plea fell on deaf ears as they pulled harder, dragging him down into the abyss of darkness. The diner receded, a dwindling beacon of light in the yawning void until it vanished entirely.

Suddenly, Seth found himself seated at a table, draped in a black uniform. Giovanni, Butch Miller, Allen Wade, the Pewter City Brute, and Misty surrounded him, their grins stretching impossibly wide as their laughter echoed, growing louder and more menacing. Their laughter felt like a million razors cutting into his mind, and they began to devour him, tearing his flesh apart piece by agonizing piece.

A small hand fell upon his face, snapping him back to reality. The dimly lit room came into focus, and Seth felt Vulpix nestled at his feet. Emily's soft snores filled the room, providing a soothing contrast to the nightmare. Seth's racing heart gradually slowed, and he let out a shuddering breath.

With Vulpix's head now nestled in his lap as he got up, he whispered, "I feel like I'm being torn apart from the inside out. Each day, I become less and less of myself. Is it worth it?" Vulpix offered no answers, simply closing her eyes, leaving Seth alone in the consuming darkness of his thoughts.

IV​

"Misty wins Round 3 of the Tournament!" The announcer's triumphant voice reverberated through the audience as Starmie ruthlessly removed the last remaining limb of Mia Hughes, the tattooed woman's Dragonite with its mind. Despite her impending defeat, Mia stood with unwavering resolve, a testament to her courage. Seth couldn't help but admire her fearless demeanor in the face of imminent doom.

However, his attention soon shifted to his left, where Daniel stood, his expression a mixture of horror and disbelief. Seth couldn't deny the satisfaction he felt as he witnessed the shattering of Daniel's arrogance. Tomorrow, he would face a similar fate, and the realization seemed to haunt him. Amidst the cacophony of screams and the thunderous applause from the audience, Mia's indomitable spirit was slowly crushed. Starmie, with its psychic force, folded her body as effortlessly as one might crease a piece of paper at the small of her back. Blood started leaking down her mouth, ears, eyes, and to Seth's imagination any opening in her body as the crushing pressure of her organs from the attack had nowhere to go, leaving her body along with her life.

The crew came to clean up the remains as Misty skipped gingerly back to the sidelines as if partaking in the most minute chore, and Seth began to rub her badge in his pocket. His thumb rubbed across the smooth surface as he recalled his dream. Was he becoming them, something evil?

“Folks, I apologize, but it seems Ethan Jackson, one of our next competitors, was discovered overboard this morning,” Seth grabbed his knees and took a giant breath as if this was the first breath he had taken in weeks. Like a giant pressure that was restricting his lungs simply disappeared in an instant. It wasn't a worry about losing; under no circumstances did he ever imagine losing, how could he? But he fell back into the memory of his dream, being consumed by the evil he knew. Was he becoming like them? He took another deep breath, thankful that he wouldn't be responsible for another hand gripping him back.

“Liam Foster and Caleb Carter, please approach the field,” the announcer's voice said more calmly, easily taking over the audience from the silent expressions caused by the dispiriting news. The resentment from Ethan’s death was thick in the air, as if his dying cheated the audience out of a treat. Seth hardly thought it was suicide, more likely that the Team Rocket patrols caught him escaping.

“You got this, Daddy!” Beth’s voice rang out. The young girl, just slightly older than Erin with whom they played together so well, was in the stands directly behind on top of the concrete wall, where she had been for all of his fights. He gave a small nod to Seth, walking up, and released Donphan to counter his opponent’s Vikavolt.

Seth should have stayed to watch the fight, but he was tired of being away from Erin. Just tired in general, he turned from Misty and Daniel, the two sole competitors left on their side of the bracket, while Liam’s determination clearly had an effect on Beth, who noticed her father not even blinking as she stared at him, absorbed in whatever activity he was doing.

V​

“Let’s Go!” Erin yelled as he seamlessly transformed into Captain Phantom, a daring pirate from Sinnoh legend. A timeworn newspaper pirate hat rested jauntily on his head, while he wielded a makeshift sword from a broken wooden broom handle, clutching it with the utmost seriousness. His father, Seth, was equally committed to this whimsical adventure, embracing the role of Captain Phantom's unwavering second-in-command, Galen.

"Ahoy there, Dad-, Galen!" Erin declared, his voice brimming with the spirit of adventure. "Lets find the Manaphy Egg!"

Seth adopted a blue bandana cap to fully engage in the fantasy. "Aye, Captain Phantom!" he responded with a theatrical salute. "This vessel be harboring secrets beyond imagination, yet none as precious as the Manaphy Egg! Shall we recruit this fine lass for our crew?" Seth asked, gesturing towards Emily, who was reclining on one of the beds in the room.

"No, we will let the Snorlax sleep, '' Erin decreed, making an earnest attempt to maintain a pirate's dialect.

"The fuck did he just say!" Emily retorted, sitting up abruptly and momentarily startling Vulpix from her nap.

"Run!" Seth cried out, shoving Erin out of the room and swiftly closing the door behind them, thus commencing their grand adventure. Side by side, father and son embarked on their escapade, with Erin leading the way. His small but determined steps carried them through the ship's labyrinthine, dimly lit corridors. Cereuledge illuminated their path with its eerie yet enchanting purple flames. Though she tried to embrace the playful mood, her form remained somewhat stiff throughout her participation.

As they ventured further into the shadowy depths of Deck F, the purple flames danced eerily upon an unsettling scene. There, Seth saw the haunting image of Sarah's naked body, her head resting atop the upper left portion of her torso, while her lower half twitched on the floor in a macabre mimicry of Brian's demise. "I am not doing this now," Seth resolved, swiftly turning left to exit the nightmarish scene.

Descending another staircase, Erin clutched his father's hand tightly. "Fear not, Captain Phantom," Seth reassured him with an affectionate tone. "I'll be by yer side through this treacherous voyage."

"Right! Go, Ditto!" Erin exclaimed, pressing the button on a Pokéball attached to his father's belt. Ditto emerged, playfully climbing atop Erin's head. The newspaper pirate hat was displaced, replaced by the curious sensation of Ditto's ever-shifting form.

They continued their exploration and, in due course, stumbled upon the ship's boiler room, bathed in a radiant red glow. "It’s treasure da- I mean Galen!" Erin cheered, pointing at a colossal pile of coal, with several Carkol rhythmically speeding up and down the room's expanse.

"Indeed, Captain Phantom!" Seth chimed in, grinning at his enthusiastic son. "That there be the treasure trove we seek."

"Go, Ditto!" Erin commanded, and Ditto sprang into action, transforming into the nearest Carkol. "Quickly, gather the treasure!" Ditto, masquerading as a Carkol, wasted no time gathering the coal treasure onto its back. The charade, however, was interrupted by the abrupt appearance of an older, imposing figure.

"“What are you all doing? You're not allowed here. Get that kid and go!” He bellowed, his anger intensifying with each uttered word.

"Run, ye scallywags, run!" Seth exclaimed in character, urging Erin and Ditto to retreat. With the ill-gotten coal treasure in tow, they fled from the room, leaving the irate man behind. "That was close, sir!" Seth remarked, fully committed to the pirate's role.

“Yeah. Now come on dad. Let's find Samiya!”

“The secret city.”

“Yupporuni!”

As they traversed the grand ship, raucous laughter filled the air, momentarily pushing aside the weight of their past traumas. Seth was awestruck by the pure joy sparkling in his son's eyes. It depressed him to think about but it had been well before Sarah died that he played this hard with Erin. Every step they took transformed the S.S. Anne into a magnificent vessel of wonder and delight. Erin, now fully immersed in his role as Captain Phantom, and Seth, his unwavering second mate, continued their quest with renewed determination. Together, they sought to uncover the legendary Manaphy Egg and etch their own adventurous tale into the annals of Sinnoh's legendary legends.

They reached the top deck, the glass floor beneath them providing a view directly down to the now-empty stadium and the blood-stained brown steel battlefield. "There it is, Dad! Samiya!" Erin exclaimed.

"Erin, let's not go there," Seth replied to his son, his gaze fixed on Sarah in the middle of the field. She had a massive hole through her stomach, blood pouring out, and the necrotic wound on her neck nearly reaching her forehead, juxtaposed with the open wound below her chest.

"Don't be scared! We can do this together, right, Ditto?" Erin encouraged, and Ditto, still perched sternly on the boy's head, nodded emphatically.

"Erin-" Seth began, but before he could say another word, Erin took off running for the stairwell at the bow of the ship, leaving his father to chase after him.

Erin's laughter intermingled with Sarah's taunts as he finally reached his son, pushing open the doors to the arena. The warm sunlight filled the space as Erin's jubilant laughter echoed through the vast emptiness of the glass arena.

"We found it!" he shouted, his words bouncing off the walls about three times before fading away.

"Yeah, we did," Seth agreed, firmly placing his hand in Erin's dark, curly hair. His eyes, however, remained fixed on Sarah's lifeless, naked body sitting about five feet away in an empty seat. "No," he muttered to her.

"No, what, Daddy?"

"Oh... um... nothing, buddy. Come on, let's get that Manaphy egg," Seth said, pushing aside his trauma to focus on his son.

"Hey," a voice called from behind them as Liam and his daughter, Beth, made their way down the stairs, entering through the same door Erin and Seth had used before.

"Apologies, Beth saw you guys and wanted to play. Do you mind?"

"Nah," Seth replied. "Let dad take a breather, Erin, and play nicely." The two children's laughter filled the space as they ran up and down the stairs, marveling at the landscape on the right side of the ship. They laughed even harder as they watched Ditto transform into each of their Pokémon.

"I have a confession to make," Seth turned to Liam, his expression concerned. "Beth didn't see you. I was looking for you. I have something to ask." His eyes narrowed under his thick glasses, almost hiding beneath his extremely bushy black eyebrows.

"Go on," Seth replied curtly sitting down in an empty seat and then Liam following suit.

"If I win tomorrow," Sarah was directly behind Seth now as Liam spoke, her words drowning out his own, barely making them audible. "Do you have a plan for your boy?"

Seth looked down at the blood-soaked field, trying to push his wife's chants of "You can't save him" out of his head. What did he have? Emily would take him, but would that just leave a life of hiding until Johto finally decided to fully invade them, leaving behind the mask of Team Rocket? No, he didn't have a backup plan. He would win, he would get Erin out.

"Yeah, I have a friend on the ship with us," he responded simply. "Do you?"

"A friend of mine is waiting for us at Fuchsia to take us to a small town on the outskirts," Liam explained, worry washing over his face as he sat, watching Erin release Noivern onto the bottom row of seats just beyond the cut-up concrete wall. "If you do win, will you make sure she does get to him?" He looked seriously at Seth, the desperation clearly visible.

"Of course," Seth assured him. "I guess you're not going to tell me which Pokémon you are using, are you?"

Liam began laughing loudly until an awkward silence began to settle over them. Erin started climbing up on Noivern's neck, Beth doing the same for a transformed Ditto, slowly taking flight a few feet off the ground. Their fathers both looked nervously at them but held back, allowing their children to enjoy themselves. Seth glanced over at Liam and noticed he was no longer watching his daughter, who was laughing and soaring in the air on the glass stage, but at the arena's floor below, where the bloodstains now dominated.

"Will they have to go through this when they are older?" Liam asked. "Just going from shit to shit without any break?"

"I am doing everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen," Seth replied, the expression on his face as if this were the most obvious answer in the world.

"Even if it means giving up your humanity?" Liam just looked at his hands and fell silent for a moment.

"I've already cast that aside. All that matters now is Erin's humanity," Seth said somberly, looking at his cheering son, who was now flying even faster, gripping onto Noivern's white fur. The two sat together for a while, not discussing anything in particular anymore, simply watching their children, hoping that their joy could push back the trauma that consistently dragged them down. The light still bathed them, but both felt as if the void inside them had swallowed it whole, leaving them in the dark.

VI​

"Misty and Daniel Rivera! Please, come forward!" The announcer yelled out as the entire ship seemed to shake at the sheer volume of their cheers. Misty walked up, her yellow shirt with contrasting red suspenders swaying breezily as she smiled to the adoring fans that now started chanting her name. To Daniel, those cheers seemed to torment him into a withering form as he made his way to his side of the field but barely able to suspend his own weight. His purple shirt now seemed dinged and frayed. Absol emerged in front of him, his only hope to survive this torment standing equally as confident as him.

"Fuck, this has been a great break," she yelled, throwing Swampert out of her Pokéball arrogantly, bathing in the applause.

"Begin," the referee on the sideline yelled.

"Absol, Nightslash!" Daniel roared out, the feeling in his legs attempting to come back to stand strong against her. Absol ran across the field, the horn on its head starting to stand out. It wasn't glowing but doing the opposite, as if all light started falling into the horn, making it standout against the setting. The distance closed between them; Absol ran faster at its known impending doom.

"Bulldoze," Misty said quietly, smiling ear to ear. The creepy slit in her face seemed to welcome the oncoming chaos. Swampert jumped up when Absol was twenty feet away and slammed onto the steel floor, which vibrated wildly as if an earthquake had hit it. Absol immediately slowed down as it lost its balance, attempting to realign itself to attack Swampert.

"Ice Punch," Misty whispered, just barely audible to Swampert in front of her. Ice shards formed on Swampert's closed right fist. It launched itself towards Absol, plunging its cold gauntlet into Absol's chest. Absol flew into the air, unable to cry in pain as its chest plate cracked, taking all the air out of its lungs. It fell hard halfway across the battlefield. The cheers and Misty's laughter filled the silent void of Absol's crash to the ground. She started to skip herself towards Daniel, whose tiny form stood at odds with her crazed face, as if she was completely taken over by a psychopath ready to finally indulge herself in butchering her prey.

Swampert grabbed Absol, who was on the ground gasping for breath desperately, the black voided look of its horn completely dulled. "Swampert, I need the horn. Please," she said, skipping by her partner. Swampert grabbed Absol by the horn and began flinging its body against the ground over and over again, each thud causing Daniel to shriek even more as Misty continued to slowly close the distance, her deranged demeanor stepping closer and closer. Finally, the horn on Absol's head gave way, snapping at the tenth time its body was flung and crashing to the ground. Swampert threw the bladed horn at Misty, falling shorthand, sliding along the blood-ridden floor next to her.

"Thank you, sweetie," Misty was now cackling widely, picking up the blade and walking towards Daniel.

"Please let me go, please, please, please, PLEASE!," He was screaming between his loud sobbing as Misty was now only ten feet away from him. The crowd was egging on his murder, begging for it.

Swampert finally let go of Absol, which was now just a blood-riddled corpse with barely any white left on its body, replaced by the thick red that lay all around it. Misty towered over Daniel's shaking body as he knelt, begging for mercy with his hands clasped together as if he were praying to her. Without an answer, she flung the blade, impeding its left shoulder and wrist, nearly cutting them off clean.

"You bitch!" Daniel screamed in pain. With more effort than she would care to admit, she finally got the blade out of Daniel, whose screams nearly took over the onlookers' cheers. On the floor, Misty now straddled and plunged the horn into his chest, suddenly lowering the volume of his screams as one lung was deflated. She pulled it out, then plunged it into his right shoulder, then again, and again, blood flinging up every time she pulled it out of Daniel's pathetic body, painting her face, chest, and stomach.

"Winner is Misty, the Cerulean City Gym Leader." The announcer came over the glass cage giving words to the referee pointing towards Misty’s crazed actions, echoing throughout. However, Misty didn't hear; she was having too much fun watching the life fade from Daniel.

A dark cloud began to drift over the S.S. Anne, blocking out the light as rain started to drizzle on the glass surrounding them. Seth stared at Misty sinking her hatred, her insanity over and over again into Daniel, who he felt deserved this but only to an extent. Finally, she lifted herself off him and walked pleasantly back to where Seth and Liam were standing. She didn't say anything; she didn't need to. For someone whose whole existence revolved around torturing others, the mauled body on the floor, draining blood as the cleaners placed it and his Pokémon on the stretcher, was worth more than any words she could say.

A streak of lightning ripped in the sky over the water, which was now turning as dark as the sky. "I just wanted to say good luck," Liam said to Seth, extending his hand, which Seth took.

"Seth Conklin and Liam Foster, please come forward for our final Semi-Final match." The audience cheered, but not as loudly as Liam’s daughter Beth, who sat in the middle of the stands directly behind them.

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 23
​

Shinebox​

I’m aching, past the point of breaking

What’s right is right but here tonight you’ll lie

Six feet under wondering why

Violent cravings, I’ve lost my mind

What’s right is right but here tonight you’ll lie

Six feet under wondering why



- CrazyEightyEight​

I​

"Competitors, release your Pokémon," the red light illuminated the field, brighter than the blood pools that remained from Daniel and his Absol. Noivern screeched loudly at Liam and then turned his intimidating gaze toward Misty. In opposition, a Yanmega emerged, its wings fluttered so quickly that it seemed to be just a massive blur set upon its long green body.

"Noivern, let's keep our distance, alright," Seth instructed. Noivern nodded in response and took flight above his head, close to the glass ceiling that was getting pelted by rain now. The sky outside became so dark that the inside lights of the stadium had to be turned on for the spectators.

"Begin," the referee said at once, and in response, Yanmega darted so quickly at Noivern that Seth didn't even have time to yell out a command. In defense, Noivern released a Dragon Pulse, the purple vortex jetted across the field narrowly missing Yanmega and colliding with a glass panel, shattering it. The wind from the storm howled through the new opening as rain splattered the inside. Before Noivern had time to stop the violent energy attack, Yanmega moved past Noivern, unleashing Bug Bite, digging one of its pincers into Noivern's neck and dragging it shallowly, ripping the skin under its white fur, staining it red. Yanmega then moved into position to start its attack towards Seth.

"Quick, Boomburst at me!" Without hesitation, Noivern's ears began pulsating, emitting a crushing sound that caused Seth to fall to his knees, clutching his head in pain but causing the same damage to Yanmega, who fell from the sky, slamming on the cold ground, writhing in pain next to Seth. Seth tried desperately to command Noivern to switch attacks, but seconds felt like minutes in the agonizing noise that seemed to split his skull in two. Then silence, which seemed almost as loud as the Noivern’s attack, swallowed the battlefield as Seth released his hands from his ears, noticing the blood on his hands, then gathering his senses of his surroundings. Noivern had its teeth submerged in Yanmega's thorax, as it convulsed in pain, screeching.

"U-Turn!" Liam's voice carried over to the side of the field. Out of nowhere, the large stinger-like appendage on Yanmega's tail sank into Noivern's leg, causing him to release his grip, letting Yanmega retreat closer to its trainer.

"You good?" Seth asked, standing a few feet from his bleeding Pokémon, who simply nodded and gave a smile as if he were playing a game. "Okay, then, let's get an opening, Boomburst."

Predicting the oncoming attack, Yanmega moved closer to the left of the field, fluttering just above the clawed-up concrete wall. When the amplified sound wave collided with it again, it dropped, along with the spectators above it.

"Create an inverted sound wave! Bug Buzz!" Liam screamed. Its twitching form moved its wings as they started to become a blur once more. The loud, amplifying sound suddenly became hushed, as if being canceled out completely. It took flight just as the spectators behind Yanmega began to lift their heads from the protective stance they were in.

"Dragon Pulse!" Seth screamed desperately, but it was futile. Just as the purple energy collided with the wall behind Yanmega, causing screams from the audience, Yanmega was tearing after Noivern once again.

"Air Slash!" Like a green blur, Yanmega followed its trainer's orders and streaked past Noivern, dragging its stinger into him. Blood splattered down after the first pass. Then, before Noivern could even react, another slash emerged from his right wing. Then again on his left leg.

"Noivern, Boomburst!" Noivern faced the oncoming blur, and its ears began pulsating once more, but no noise came from it. Yanmega began beating its wings to the same rhythm from before as it still moved forward; another slash emerged across Noivern's chest.

Seth began to panic, hoping for some tactic that could get him out of this. Noivern was being slashed to pieces, and he couldn't hear anything over the roaring audience. Noivern started soaring through the glass cage, attempting to avoid Yanmega, but the gash in his right wing slowed down his movements. Another cut emerged across his back.

Yanmega turned its attention to Seth once more, now that he had pushed Noivern out of defense.

"Go, Daddy!" Beth's voice was barely heard over the ecstatic stands.

"Bug Bite!" Liam's voice roared. Noivern was too far to attack Liam and too far to protect Seth. This was it. The green blur of Yanmega was sprinting towards him. Seth's thoughts fell to Erin, his smile that lit up everything around him, giving Seth the courage to do anything to protect him.

It was like a flood of realization came pouring into his brain. He understood everything. Yanmega was drifting even closer as Noivern attempted to chase after him. He had to throw away his humanity, but what was left there to lose? "Noivern, attack his daughter! Dragon Pulse." Seth’s voice roared through the air. Noivern stopped dead in his tracks and turned towards her, the purple energy illuminating his mouth.

"No! Yanmega, protect her!" Liam's voice rang out. Yanmega stopped yards away from Seth, turning around sharply to stop the attack. It was already releasing dragon pulse, and Seth knew that even going for the kill on Noivern wouldn't be enough to stop it. Yanmega only had one course of action, which he did without any hesitation. The energy shot out of Noivern, propelling towards the stands as Beth's voice fell in horror. "No!" Seth barely heard Liam cry. Just short of its target, Yanmega threw itself into the energy, and with a purple expulsion, it fell with a thud against the steel floor. Half of its body remained. Two wings on the left side were completely absent, along with half of its face, as the smoking remains became the focal point of the thousands of eyes.

Seth began walking up to Liam, knowing what he had to do. The walk seemed three times the distance it was. "Did I really just almost kill a child?" He muttered to himself as he looked at Beth, who was now crying for her daddy, whom he was now running to. Sarah was sitting behind her, smiling, as the veins around the skin that wasn't decaying seemed tattooed all over her body.

"Seth Conklin! Finish the fight!" The referee's voice rang out. Liam was halfway towards his daughter.

"Please, let him say goodbye!" Seth responded back.

"You have 10 seconds before you're disqualified." It was too far to reach her.

"Don't forget your promise!" Liam yelled to Seth but dared not take his eyes off his daughter as he desperately tried to close the distance.

"5 seconds!" the referee roared, releasing Beartic.

"Dragon Pulse," Seth yelled out to Noivern. Liam leaped over Yanmega's corpse; he was yards from his light, the thing he cherished most, his love, his daughter. The purple explosion hit him as Beth cried out for him. He disappeared in the dust and smoke, his body riddled to shreds.

"Daddy!" Beth screamed and wailed in pain.

"Winner: Seth Conklin!" The announcer's voice drowned her out as the referee pointed towards him.

II​

Seth approached Beth with uncertainty, torn between the tactical necessity of his actions and his sympathy for the girl. He couldn't afford to abandon her, not after Liam's request. The distance to Beth felt both immense and rapidly closing, his thoughts racing about what he could possibly say to her in this dire moment.

"Beth, don't!" he yelled desperately, but it was too late. Beth had crawled under the metal railing, plummeting ten feet to reach her injured father. As she landed, her leg snapped with a sickening crack, and she began crawling towards her father, arms outstretched, screaming for him.

Seth rushed towards her, a mix of compassion and urgency driving him forward. He reached Beth just as she reached her father, who lay in a horrifying state. Half of his face was charred, leaving only his left eye and ear intact. His nose was all but gone, and his tongue hung out of his open mouth, detached from his missing lower jaw.

"Daddy, please don't go," Beth sobbed, cradling her father's head in her arms, the pain from her broken leg mixing with the anguish of her loss.

Seth tried to console her gently, aware that every second counted. "I'm going to take you to Erin, okay? We can help you find your daddy's friend." He held out his hands, imploring her to come with him.

"Go away!" Beth screamed loudly, her grief and fear overwhelming.

"Remove her now!" the referee demanded, adding pressure to the already chaotic situation.

"We have to go, Beth. I'll take you to the infirmary to get your leg looked at," Seth said quietly but firmly, his outstretched hands still offering help. Uncertain of what to do next, Seth's thoughts went to the reversal where he was Liam and Erin was grasping at his nearly severed head. He knelt down to Beth's eye level, attempting to gain her trust and cooperation.

"I know you're scared right now, and I know you want your daddy. Please come with me, so I can help you." He retrieved three pokeballs from his belt, thankful that they were undamaged. "Who are these?" Seth asked, presenting them to Beth.

Trembling, she took one of the pokeballs, which was significantly lighter than the others. "This one is Yanmega's," she said, her voice wavering through her tears.

"Okay," Seth acknowledged. He placed the Yanmega pokeball next to the injured Yanmega and returned to Beth's side. The front of her blue dress was now mostly red, clinging to her skin. "And these?" he inquired, pointing to the remaining pokeballs.

"That's Donphan, and that's Sandaconda," Beth replied, her cries intensifying as the adrenaline wore off.

Seth spoke gently, understanding the trauma she was enduring. "You hold on to these; they're yours now. Come on, let's get that leg looked at." With that, he picked her up, as the referee crossed the stained battlefield.

Beth continued to scream for her daddy as Seth held her. Her father's lifeless body disappeared from view as it was carried away behind the entryway to the F deck. Beth's screams grew louder, and she was now held by her father's murderer, a man she had every right to fear and despise. Seth knew that if she chose to attack him in that moment, he wouldn't stop her. She was alone, lost in the abyss of grief, held by the very person who had attempted to harm her and taken away her beloved father.

As they reached Deck F, it appeared completely deserted except for Sarah, who now bore the injuries Liam had suffered. She followed closely beside him, mere inches away, her tongue swaying back and forth no longer supported by a lower jaw. In this desolate hallway, he stood as the sole remaining challenger, everyone else having been brutally eliminated for the passengers' entertainment. The sound of his knocking on his door reverberated through the corridor, and Seth could hear Erin crying out for "daddy," as though he were flaunting his survival to Beth, whose sobs had now turned into a whimper.

"Emily, Erin, I need your help," Seth urgently called out.

"What happened, Daddy? Is Beth okay?"

"She hurt her leg; come on." They began making their way toward the main deck to access the infirmary, Seth determined to do everything he could to assist Beth. Yet, he was weighed down by the fear that she might reveal what he had done. "Emily, Liam told me yesterday that someone named Khadijah Clayton will be at Fuschia City waiting. Apparently, she's a family friend who will take care of Beth. I'm going to stay with her and Erin. If you need a break."

"No, that's fine; I'll stay with you guys too," Emily responded as the dull light from outside began to illuminate her face when they opened the doors leading out of the stairwell. "Are you okay?"

"No, I feel like shit," Seth replied bluntly, holding his victim in his arms.

"I understand," Emily said, attempting to offer reassurance.

"No, you don't," he responded, his guilt heavy and inescapable.

III​

The S.S. Anne infirmary gleamed with an extraordinary white cleanliness, and the periodic lightning flashes only added to the stark illumination of the room. Seth found it surprisingly empty. There was only one man sleeping in one of the several dozen beds lining the walls.

"What's wrong with the girl?" inquired a good-looking man with a clean-shaven face and brown hair, his ID badge identifying him as Dr. Proctor.

"I think she broke her leg," Seth explained, holding Beth, who had been sobbing for her dad and had grown increasingly distraught since entering the room.

"Are you family?" Dr. Proctor asked with a lazy air, as if their conversation was a significant waste of his time.

"No, we're watching her for the time being though," Seth responded, while Erin began exploring the room.”.

"Great work watching her. Alright, follow me," the doctor instructed, then proceeded to walk to the left side of the room. He pointed to a bed halfway across the extraordinarily white space, which seemed to intensify the dim natural light filtering in from outside. Seth gently placed Beth on the bed, and the doctor began examining her, feeling her leg carefully.

"Chansey, come here," the doctor ordered, and a large pink Pokémon with an egg in front of it started waddling over. "Use Healing Pulse right here. I need to set the leg back before securing it. Healing Pulse will help with the pain, but it's still going to hurt. You," he said somewhat grumpily, pointing at Seth, "hold her still so I can set the leg." Beth's cries gradually lessened as a pink glow radiated from Chansey's hands over her swollen leg. "Alright, on the count of one, two..." The snap of the leg being set resonated through the quiet room, and everyone's eyes remained fixed on Beth, who was now sobbing for her father again as strangers observed her.

"Okay, it's all done," Dr. Proctor announced, sounding irritated by the child's crying. "Keep your leg still while I apply the splint." He brought two straight pieces of wood toward her leg, placing them on either side and then securely wrapping a bandage around it, all while the pink glow from Chansey continued to shine.

"Do you have to fight Misty tomorrow?" Emily inquired while the doctor continued his work on the splint.

"Yeah," Seth replied.

"Do you have a plan?"

"I think so," Seth explained, still holding Beth as if it might somehow alleviate his guilt.

IV​

As day faded into night, they all gathered around Beth's hospital bed. She had slept through most of it, and Emily refrained from asking why Seth was so insistent on staying with her. The storm had finally subsided, but the dark night sky outside still cast an eerie ambiance over the infirmary. Erin lay fast asleep in the bed adjacent to Beth's, and Vulpix stationed herself beside him, enduring the barrage of flailing fists caused by his sleep-induced movements. Seth was surprised that either of them could sleep through the raucous festivities outside on the main deck. Several times, he glanced out the window to witness thousands of passengers a few floors below them on the main deck, reveling in drinks and dance as they celebrated the conclusion of the semi-final battles and awaited the upcoming showdown between Seth and Misty.

"Seth, I think you need to get some sleep," Emily suggested, her eyes tired, and she let out a big yawn. "Nothing's going to happen here. Try to get some rest."

"I can't," Seth replied, visibly trembling at this point. Sarah and her grotesque, deteriorated visage, with her tongue hanging out of her missing lower jaw, seemed to scream 'you can't save him' so loudly that Seth was amazed no one else could hear it. It was as if the sheer volume of those words would leap out of his imagination and become a grim reality. "I can't fall back into the darkness again."

"Darkness? What the fuck are you talking about?" Emily inquired.

"I don't want to be like them," Seth confessed, tears now streaming down his face. Vulpix lifted her head, gazing at him with concern.

"Like who, Seth? Talk to me," Emily implored gently, pushing her disheveled hair away from her face so she could see him clearly.

"Team Rocket, the Brute, Misty, all of them," Seth mumbled, unable to admit that he had tried to harm Beth. He clutched the Cascade Badge tightly with his free hand while Emily did her best to soothe his troubled mind. And like he predicted the darkness took him again in his sleep, with the evil he has met continuing to consume him.

"Seth," Emily spoke softly, her face inches from his. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on her freckled face and chestnut hair. "Seth, your match is in an hour."

He rose slowly from the bed beside Beth's. Erin was, in the loosest sense of the term, quietly playing in the infirmary, leaping from one bed to another, much to the annoyance of Dr. Proctor, whose mood was even worse than it had been the previous night. Dr. Proctor did his best to ignore Erin as he examined Beth's leg, securely bound in the splint. Whoever had occupied the other bed had evidently left, likely to join in the festivities outside from the previous evening.

"Do you want us to come watch you?" Emily asked genuinely. "I know you're worried, but I th-"

"No," Seth interrupted her, his gaze immediately shifting to Beth. Thoughts of the young girl, whom he had regarded as a target less than twenty-four hours ago, flooded his mind. "No, it's fine. Stay here with Beth and Erin. I'll come back up as soon as I'm done." Emily started to say something but then thought better of it. Seth figured she was about to inquire about what would happen if he didn't return, a question that required no answer.

"Do you ever regret coming with us, rather than going after Devin in Pewter City?" Seth asked, breaking the awkward silence that hung between them with a left turn in the conversation.

"No," Emily's voice carried a tone of conviction, which then softened almost immediately. "Well, I don't know. I feel like I'm happier with you, with Erin, with Brian." The latter words trembled out slowly and painfully. "I've killed a lot of people, and while they deserved it, it didn't help me heal. Looking back, I doubt killing Devin would have helped me heal any more than the Team Rocket members I've killed along the way."

"Do you ever see the people you kill?" Seth asked suddenly, his gaze fixed on Primeape's Pokéball in his hands, avoiding Emily's forthcoming response.

"No, they fucking deserved it," Emily replied bluntly, as if putting an end to the conversation. However, upon seeing Seth's face fall slightly and the fatigue etched on his weary bearded visage, she elaborated. "I think it matters why we kill. Sure, I sought revenge because of my own anger, but I went after people who acted the way Devin did towards me. You kill to protect Erin; you have nothing to feel guilty about."

As confident as those words sounded, they did little to ease his conscience. "Well, I'm going to head out. One thing's for sure, I won't feel bad about Misty at all. Erin, come here." Seth hugged Erin tightly and affectionately patted Vulpix. Emily couldn't help but notice how thin and worn he had become. His clothes seemed to hang on him, his beard had grown longer again, and his eyes appeared distant, as if he were simply weary of the world.

"Good luck," she told Seth, watching as Noivern and Primeape followed closely behind him.

V​

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final match of the S.S. Anne tournament. On the left, we have Seth Conklin, with his choice between Noivern and Primeape." Both Pokémon stood tall beside him on his side of the field. Noivern seems to have completely recovered from yesterday's injuries as there were no visible injuries, and appeared ready for revenge, casting a stern gaze at Misty's overconfident figure. "On the right, we have Misty, the Cerulean City gym leader." A wave of cheering erupted at the announcer's statement. Misty was basking in the attention, as though it were a necessity for her existence. Not only was the crowd in the seats energetic, but parts of the sky above were blocked out by people watching from the main deck, peering down through the glass ceiling. "Release your Pokémon."

"I couldn't ask for a more perfect ending," Misty taunted Seth. "Watching that shit stain who defeated me for bullshit reasons died like a bitch at the start, and now having the pleasure of personally taking down the asshole who wrecked my gym." She arrogantly tossed her Pokéball into the air, and Swampert materialized from the red glow onto the battlefield. The unique jewel necklace around its neck sparkled in the sunlight. The arena was so stained with blood that it was overtaking most of the white markings on the steel-brown floor.

"Noivern," Seth spoke softly. "I believe in you." Noivern nodded solemnly and flapped his wings, gliding into position across from Swampert.

"Begin!" the referee yelled.

"Boomblast!" Seth roared, and Noivern's ears began to pulsate.

"Use Protect, create a swirling water barrier around your head," Misty commanded. Swampert raised its head just as Noivern's ears started to pulsate, and water swiftly flowed from its mouth to form a protective helmet-like barrier. As the sound attack should have collided with Swampert, nothing happened except a grin forming on Swampert's face.

"Noivern, hold out until we see her Mega Evolve! Maintain distance, and let's go with Hurricane!" Noivern's wings flapped more slowly but ferociously. Swampert and Misty both planted their feet on the ground, shielding their eyes from the powerful gust of wind with their forearms.

"Swampert, move away from there and get closer to the wall!" But it was too late and her voice was unable to get through the water helmet; Swampert's feet levitated briefly above the ground before it was forcibly propelled backward, slamming into the wall and rolling until it was inches from its trainer. "Get up!" Misty screamed, kicking Swampert. "Get to the wall and use the Rock Slide."

"Noivern, maintain your distance, keep it up with Dragon Pulse," Seth commanded, and Noivern obeyed, flying high toward the glass ceiling unleashing a barrage of attacks. The first purple energy blast struck the steel ground just inches from Swampert's feet. It picked up speed, sprinting toward the concrete wall. The second blast missed as Swampert leaped over it just before it exploded underneath him. However, the third and final blast partially hit the back of Swampert's leg, flinging him against the wall he had been heading for. Blood seeped from Swampert's leg, and the water he controlled around his head dissipated without the required concentration.

"Noivern, this is it! Attack Misty with Dragon Pulse!"

"Rock Tomb!" Misty roared in response.

A pulsating purple energy surged from Noivern's mouth, hurtling towards Misty, who stood confidently without flinching. Swampert slammed its fist against the concrete wall, dislodging a larger boulder, which it swiftly hurled towards its trainer. The attack was nearly upon her when, 20 feet above Misty, the Dragon Pulse exploded in the air, colliding with the rock Swampert had thrown. The resulting shockwave violently shook Misty's hair and clothes.

"Now, use Rock Smash and Rock Slide," Misty yelled. Swampert crushed two chunks of concrete in its hands and launched them toward Noivern.

Seth saw that there wasn't enough time to dodge as hundreds of small fragments hurtled through the air toward Noivern. People on the glass ceiling from the main deck began to scatter as they witnessed the incoming projectiles. "Protect!" Seth yelled, his voice filled with hopelessness. Noivern folded its wings in front of itself, and the rocks slammed into both Noivern and the glass ceiling above him. Shattered glass rained down, causing more damage to the battlefield. One unfortunate spectator fell through, screaming as he plummeted to the floor, landing headfirst and immediately falling silent. Blood trickled down Noivern, and a prominent hole in his wing became apparent as sunlight shone through it when he began flapping his wings.

"Are you okay?" Seth yelled up, and Noivern responded with a resounding roar, looking more determined than ever.

"Enough of this! Use Rock Smash and Rock Slide toward that prick," Misty commanded, pointing at Seth.

"Noivern, come to me!" Seth shouted, but Swampert had already crushed two more chunks of the wall when Noivern was halfway to Seth, preparing to throw them. As Noivern closed the distance, Seth launched himself onto his Pokémon's back, and they began to ascend. A few rocks struck Noivern's leg, causing him to screech in pain, and the glass wall behind Seth shattered as the barrage of rocks pounded into it.

"We have to force Swampert to Mega Evolve. Get in close," Seth whispered to Noivern as he sat atop his Pokémon, staring down at Swampert. They descended to the ground, and Seth jumped off, cutting his hand on a glass shard below him. "What's wrong, Misty? Can't Mega Evolve this time?" Seth yelled, trying to egg her on.

"I don't need that gimmick to wipe you off this damn ship!" she retorted.

"Noivern, Boomblast as you approach!" Noivern's ears pulsated once more, causing Swampert to release more water from its mouth, temporarily deterring it. Noivern closed the gap. Using its legs, it grabbed both of Swampert's arms and slammed it to the ground, causing it to cut its back on the shattered glass. Swampert managed to get its legs under itself, lifting up as it struggled to free its arms. Noivern attempted to pry open Swampert's mouth through the water helmet, one wing grasping its upper jaw. Swampert's arms flailed rapidly, realizing what was coming. Noivern's other wing grabbed its lower jaw, forcing Swampert's mouth open.

"Swampert, break free!" Misty shrieked, but her words couldn't penetrate the water sphere. A light illuminated from Misty's wrist, while simultaneously the gem in Swampert's necklace did the same. A ball of muddy water seeped out of every pore of its body, consuming it while taking over parts of Noivern. As the water fell away, Swampert's Mega form emerged. One of its now much larger arms managed to break free from Noivern's grip, tearing off its wings from its face. Noivern took its freed leg and immediately replaced the arm, resuming its attempt to pry Swampert's mouth open. In desperation, Swampert began tearing at its wing, ripping it from its body, and blood started dripping down.

"This is it! Dragon Pulse!" A purple light began illuminating from its mouth.

"Hydro Pump!" Misty roared simultaneously. Water surged out of its mouth just as a pillar of purple pulsating energy erupted from Noivern's. A purple explosion ignited between the two, with jets of steam enveloping them, making it impossible to tell what happened. Misty, Seth, and Primeape all stood there as Noivern's screams and Swampert's grunts filled the stadium, and not a single spectator dared to breathe too loudly, afraid of interrupting the anticipation. Seth saw one of Noivern's wings flap, and his breath became more relaxed for a moment. But as the mist started to fade, he noticed that Noivern was rooted to the ground. The wing flapped more aggressively, the other wing was missing, and blood flowed freely from its right side, with a small pink blob lying on the floor beside him.

The mist was completely gone now, and Misty shrieked in horror as the lack of control of the situation finally took over her body. Swampert was still in its Mega Evolution, but its lower jaw hung freely, only connected on the left side of its face, and its tongue dropped down with nothing to hold it up any longer.

"Ditto, push through! Transform!" Seth roared, and Misty's mouth hung open, much like her own Pokémon in disbelief. The spectators were all on their feet as Noivern's body began to stretch and convulse into Mega Swampert. While his face remained intact compared to Misty's, Ditto's left arm was still gone, and the same amount of blood was still dripping from the wound.

"Hammer Arm!" Misty roared out desperately. Swampert took a few steps, with blood still trickling from its leg from the earlier attack. Its arm was raised, but it was swaying wildly and incoherently.

"Take Down!" Seth's voice roared. Ditto, seemingly uninterested in its missing arm, rushed toward Swampert and collided with it. Swampert flew backward, cutting up its back further on the glass floor unable to get up.

"End it, Ditto." Ditto grabbed Swampert's upper jaw and dragged it slowly toward the broken window behind Seth. It stumbled a bit, and Seth stood awestruck at the sheer determination of Ditto.

"Get up!" Misty was crying now, on her knees, as she watched Swampert's lower jaw fall away. They were now mere feet from the shredded glass window. "No, this can't happen!" Ditto finally approached the window and gripped Swampert's skull more tightly, lifting it up to finish him off. The stands were now cheering loudly. In a last-ditch effort for survival, Swampert took its arms and gripped them against the metal beams that held the broken windows. But it was futile; it didn't have any energy left. Ditto slammed its throat onto a protruding glass shard, which penetrated through its neck and stuck out the other end. Then Ditto dragged its head along the bottom steel frame, slicing through its throat. Swampert's arms fell to its side as it took one last gurgled breath, leaving Ditto as the victor.

While the stands were now yelling, "Kill her!" loudly, Ditto staggered even more towards Seth and Primeape. Seth knew there was no surviving this; he was surprised Ditto was still upright.

"Thank you, Ditto," Seth said genuinely, and Primeape gave a nod of respect toward him. "End this so you can see Erin," Seth smiled a little to sell his lie, knowing that Ditto wouldn't make it out of this battlefield.

"Stop this!" Misty screamed at the referee, who stood with his arms crossed. "I am a gym leader! This can't be happening."

"Kantoian trash," he responded bluntly, not even meeting her eyes.

Ditto, still transformed as Mega Swampert, walked over the dead fallen spectator, closing the distance between himself and Misty. Hovered over her as she begged for anyone to stop this. Upon the refusal of everyone in the broken glass cage, she gripped one of the shards, pointing it at Ditto and plunging it into his leg. She then threw out her other Pokéball, the red light flooding the ground. But Ditto gripped the ball in mid-air, crushing it between his giant hands. Starmie's body was half-formed, with two of Starmie's points forming on the ground, another pointing to the sky, but the rest were missing. Its back star was completely gone, and only half of its red jewel had formed. It flashed a couple of times in pain and then fell over, dead.

"No! I won't let this happen," but it was useless. Ditto gripped her throat, lifting her in the air, while she stabbed wildly into its arms with another glass shard. Ditto flung her body down headfirst, smashing it onto the steel ground. Her screams silenced after the thud, and only her twitching dead body made any sound as it lay on the cold steel floor.

"The winner is Seth Conklin!" The crowd roared with cheers, and Ditto, smiling brightly, took a few steps toward his owner, wanting nothing more than to see Erin. He stumbled to the ground, transforming back to its original small, unformed pink body, but no longer fluctuating.

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 24
​

Open Water​

Sing me something that’ll bring me to my knees

That’ll put my mind at ease

Please tell me anything

We can build this like a dream

Let’s make believe, just you and me

If your love is like a dream, don’t wake me up

It’s hard enough to face the world alone



- Blessthefall​

I​

The sunlight played upon the shards of glass surrounding Seth, casting sparkling glimpses of light that illuminated the corpses and blood strewn around him. The deafening cheers for his victories seemed to encase the stadium as he and Primeape took slow, deliberate steps closer to Ditto's still form. Seth glanced at the body of a spectator to his left who had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Broken glass lay scattered at their feet as he closed the gap between them and Ditto. Ditto's body lay face down, resembling a lighter shade puddle of blood blending with numerous others staining the battlefield.

"Thank you so much," Seth's voice stuttered out as he recovered from the surge of adrenaline. He picked up Ditto, whose body barely held together, feeling like a bag of water with a hole in, as more blood dripped out from the left side of his body. "You saved me, you saved Erin."

Primeape assumed a defensive stance in front of Seth as two Team Rocket members, dressed in their usual black garments, flanked an official-looking man in a white suit with a small "R" logo on his left suit jacket pocket. His formal attire seemed at odds with his disheveled bright blue hair. "Congratulations, Mr. Conklin! My name is Archer," he said, stepping over Misty's smashed body as if it were a minor hindrance. "On behalf of Team Rocket, here are your winnings." He produced a sleek black money pouch adorned with a bright red "R" pinning down the flap. Seth accepted it, noticing five bundles of bills, each marked with a 10,000 denomination.

"We hope to see you again next year," Archer said cheerfully, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding carnage, which had accumulated over six days of bloodshed. Seth stood there in disbelief, cradling Ditto's lifeless body in one arm while holding the money in the other as more cheers rained down from above. They turned away, and Primeape relaxed as Seth's fatigued face turned towards Archer.

"Come on, let's go and let Erin say goodbye to Ditto." They turned around and began to make their way toward the competitor's entrance, located in the now deteriorating concrete wall.

The walk to the infirmary felt almost instantaneous; Seth was so lost in thought, juggling the task of explaining Ditto's death and dealing with Sarah's presence. As he pushed open the infirmary door, Erin ran to his father, tears streaming down his face. Emily placed a hand over her mouth, shocked and disbelieving, as she moved closer to him. They all held each other, oblivious to the room around them. Erin took Ditto from his father's arms, and a torrent of emotions—sadness, gratitude, and happiness—overwhelmed them in an emotional outpour that consumed the entire infirmary.

"Ditto saved me, Erin," Seth said, tears still flowing. "You should have seen it. It was incredible."

II​

The following day passed quietly, aside from a brief trip to the Galley. A few people offered their congratulations to Seth outside, but he remained unresponsive to the inquiries and questions directed at him. While the ship buzzed with life outside, with affluent passengers celebrating the conclusion of the event, Seth, Erin, and Emily kept to themselves, staying by Beth's side. Beth continued to ask for her father, her memory seemingly clouded by intermittent waves of reality. Relief washed over them like a tide when the ship sounded its horn as it neared Fuchsia City. Seth seized his father's and Emily's hands, coaxing them outside to catch their first glimpse of their destination.

As Fuchsia City unfurled before them, a sense of disappointment settled in. It was starkly different from the towering cities that housed the renowned gym leaders, a point of pride for the Kanto region. At first glance, the eye was drawn to the reddish-brown dirt pathways that wound between the buildings and snaked upwards. Shinden-zukuri architecture, characterized by its intricate design, scattered the landscape in an almost haphazard fashion, as if carved into a hillside and cascading down towards the ocean.

However antique and unique Fuchsia appeared at first glance, the unmistakable Team Rocket’s outer wall loomed tall, rising from the short beach and scaling the hill, firmly imposing the organization's influence on the city's old aesthetics.

"Fuck me," Emily hissed, her words escaping between clenched teeth. She stared at the sight before them with disbelief. "They're dropping us off right in the city. What the hell am I going to do without a valid ID or a name that hasn't long expired for taxes?"

"When we got on—" Seth began, but his words were abruptly drowned out by the blaring horn, causing Vulpix to growl and bare her teeth in a defensive stance. As the ship approached Fuchsia City, still ancient but beautifully preserved, Seth tried to continue his explanation. "When we got on, they mentioned some problem with the files in Celadon City. I guess, given the uprising there, they're accepting peoples’ claims until the city's recaptured."

"And if that doesn't work?" Emily's grip on the railing tightened as the ship cut through the water, now only minutes away from docking.

"We'll have to figure something out," Seth replied.

"That's a lousy plan, Seth."

"Do you have a better one?" he retorted.

She glanced down at Erin, offering him a reassuring smile. "No."

"Come on, let's go get Beth." Seth added, as he picked up his son and left the sprawling city behind the closed door. They hurried up and got Beth, still wearing the stent, and their belongings. Dr. Proctor seemed utterly relieved to be rid of them. Without saying goodbye to him, they made their way to the main deck, greeted by a horde of passengers buzzing about the incredible voyage and eagerly anticipating next year's trip. It took all of Seth's self-control not to unleash his anger on them.

To their relief, no one was checking IDs, and the landing led them straight into the heart of the city. Emily couldn't help but think that it was because no Kantoian from outside a major city could afford such a trip, making the whole process a colossal waste of time. For the first time in her life, she was ecstatic about entering a major city.

The initial disappointment of Fuschia quickly gave way to the breathtaking beauty of the town that terraced into the hillside. Each step revealed an antique-like compound, which ascended to the highest point of the city where the largest building stood, surrounded by a plethora of trees. The buildings themselves were a blend of classic and modern, melding traditional aesthetics with contemporary functionality. Sliding paper doors, or fusuma, graced each building, while the streets wound their way through the city, flanked by small shops with colorful banners and intricate lanterns, all against the backdrop of ancient temples and serene gardens.

Seth had to gently pull Emily away from the mesmerizing sights, reminding her to keep moving as they searched for Khadijah Clayton, a friend of Beth's father.

"Khadijah!" Seth's voice echoed amidst the crowd pouring into Fuchsia City's docks, but there was no immediate response. Panic surged within him as minutes dragged by. What would they do if no one came for her? Finally, a short woman, significantly older than Seth and Emily, stood holding a sign that read 'Foster'.

"Where's Liam?" she asked bluntly, scanning the crowd, but the somber expressions on their faces, especially Beth's, conveyed the answer. "Right. Do you have the money for her?"

"Money?" Seth echoed, puzzled.

"He promised to provide the taxes due this year and the next to take care of Beth if I agreed to care for her."

To Emily's surprise, Seth didn't protest. He reached into his pocket and pulled out two small bundles of neatly bound $10,000 bills. "Erin, say goodbye to Beth." Khadijah knelt down and Erin gave Beth an awkward hug in her new caretaker's arms. He gave her a grin that seemed to infect her. It amazed Seth sometimes that no matter the mood, circumstances, human or Pokemon, Erin’s demeanor just drew you in and refused to let go until you met his dimpled smile with your own smile.

"Goodbye, Beth!" Erin said energetically, as Khadijah lifted the young girl the short distance to her height.

"Goodbye," Beth responded softly, waving weakly, and she disappeared into the bustling crowd.

"I'm fucking starving, and I smell like shit!" Emily exclaimed, turning her attention back to Seth.

"As usual, your point?" Seth responded with a small smirk playing on his lips.

"Take me out to dinner and get me a room, moneybags," she said, playfully shoving him.

"Daddy, can I ride Noivern?" Erin asked, bouncing up and down and reaching for the Poké Balls on his father's belt.

"Um no," Seth replied, grabbing a different Poké Ball from the front of his belt. "But you can ride Torterra." With the emergence of a red light and Torterra's substantial form, the crowd made way for them like a procession, cutting through the bustling city. Erin led the way, perched atop Torterra's back, his face lit up with excitement.

III​

The day came and went, its hours marked by the shifting hues of the Fuchsia City sky as it transitioned from dawn to dusk. Emily's impatience finally got the better of her, and she impulsively picked the first restaurant she laid her eyes on. Once there, she embarked on a culinary journey that left Seth genuinely concerned. She seemed determined to eat to the point where it seemed like she might have to physically push more food down her throat just to make room for additional bites.

As they ventured through the city, it felt like they had stepped into an endless festival. Street vendors had set up shop on nearly every available inch of the meandering dirt paths. Seth couldn't help but notice one particular elderly vendor with a Smeargle companion who specialized in selling decorative masks. Erin, fell in love with a vibrant Flapple mask, and when his father said no, it ignited one of the most spectacular temper tantrums Emily had ever seen from him. A few moments later, Erin was bouncing up and down on Torterra's sturdy back, wearing his makeshift Flapple mask, and accompanied by Vulpix.

Sarah, like a persistent shadow, seemed to appear on every street corner. She bore the visible scars of injuries, both her own and those Seth attributed to his actions. However, her incessant attempts at guilt-tripping couldn't dull the joy that Seth felt while exploring the city with his family. Emily briefly mentioned Brian, but she quickly halted her words, as if she didn't want to taint the day's festivities with the memories of their shared trauma. The sting of that loss still ran deep, a constant reminder of Seth's perceived failure to protect those he cared about.

Upon entering their hotel room at the end of the day, they found it spacious and welcoming. The warm water of the shower was a necessity after a day filled with exploration. The fact that there was only one bed meant that both Emily and Seth had to tolerate Erin's restless movements throughout the night. Despite this minor discomfort, Seth couldn't deny the comforting atmosphere of the room and the restful sleep they enjoyed, despite the occasional intrusion of nightmares.

IV​

"Dad, who are you going to use?" Erin asked with infectious enthusiasm, determined to keep pace with Seth and Emily. The reddish dirt path they trod wound its way around the hill, leading them halfway up to the second-largest building in the city.

"What type does he use?" Seth inquired of his son, curious to see if Erin had remembered.

"Um, I don't know," Erin admitted with an exaggerated shrug.

"Yes, you do, come on," Seth encouraged, a smile tugging at his lips. Erin's curly hair danced in the wind, which carried the crispness of winter's end and the promise of warm spring days.

"Poison!" Erin declared triumphantly.

"Good job. So, who should your dad use?" Emily chimed in.

"Well, Poison doesn't work on Steel types, right?" Erin pondered aloud.

"Yup," Seth confirmed.

"So, Metang?" Erin suggested, seeking his father's approval.

"That sounds like a great plan, buddy," Seth praised, and Erin beamed, his excitement propelling him forward as they approached the large, open stadium surrounded by ancient buildings. Statues stood proudly along the main path leading to the gym, their forms majestic against the backdrop of the blue ocean and the spring breeze that rustled the city.

"Emily," Seth said, catching her attention after she had been captivated by the stunning architecture ahead. "If this looks like it's going to get violent, will you take Erin?"

"Of course," she replied flatly, her hair dancing wildly in the breeze.

"Also, could I borrow Lairon?"

She handed over the red and white Pokéball from her belt with a patient nod.

"Take good care of him, okay?" Emily requested firmly, as he accepted the Pokéball.

The gym's interior was, to put it mildly, imposing. As the sun began its descent in the west, the looming figures of Poison-type Pokémon, Nidoking and Toxicroak, gazed down at them. Upon pushing open the gym doors, they were greeted by a ceiling nearly shrouded in trees, creating a floral canopy that allowed intermittent streams of sunlight to filter through. The dirt path outside continued on inside as if the builders just forgot to make an interior. They walked inside the round walls encircling the wilderness and continued past the dirt and into grass leaving memories of their footprints as Krictune sounds buzzed wildly from the trees as they ventured further into the gym.

"Dad," Erin said, a note of concern in his voice as he clutched his father's hand while navigating the forested path.

"It's okay, bud. Vulpix is watching over you," Seth reassured him, keeping a watchful eye on his Pokémon leading the way.

After a couple minutes of winding through the dense trees, the greenery finally gave way to a rectangular open space entirely covered in grass. Three imposing oak trees sprouted sporadically from the ground, continuing to obstruct the sun's rays from fully illuminating the interior of the gym.

"Is this usually how this goes?" Emily asked, taking in the eerie scenery. The air began to take a stale musty smell to it. It appeared to be designed to be intriguing and beautiful, but a sinister darkness had enveloped the entire building, making it feel as if thousands of eyes were peering at their every movement, causing goosebumps to infest their entire bodies.

"No," Seth replied, walking around the battlefield, trying to find answers to the seemingly unexplained emptiness while holding tightly to Erin's hand.

"Hello!" Emily yelled loudly. "Is there anyone here?" Suddenly, huge puffs of smoke materialized out of nowhere with a bang like fireworks. The smell of smoke burned as they inhaled it burning their throats.. Seth immediately grabbed Erin, holding him tight as flames burst out from Vulpix, randomly burning the flora as she desperately tried to find the attacker. Red light flooded in front of Seth as Primeape materialized in front of him when he pressed the button in the middle of his Pokéball.

"Boo," a loud, young voice came from behind Emily, causing her to scream and turn around wildly, attempting to strike. However, her hand was caught by a second person behind her, and Erin was screaming loudly in his father's arms.

"Whoo, I'm sorry. We're not going to hurt you. Promise," said the older voice as his grip softly released Emily's wrist. While the sound of Erin's sobs persisted, the smell of smoke began to fade as they noticed two people now backing away from Emily. The first person Seth noticed was a tall, lanky man wearing a black Keikogi with a tight red scarf that covered and hid his face below his eyes. What looked even more out of place was the similarly dressed person to his left, who was half his height with purple hair tied tightly behind her head.

"I'm Koga, the gym leader. This is my daughter, Janine."

"What the actual fuck, man!" Emily yelled. "What if I attacked you or worse, her!"

"Well, for one, you tried," he said plainly, "but my daughter here is going through a ninja phase, and she really wants to practice. Unfortunately, we don't get many visitors anymore." Janine removed her mask, smiling. She was only a little older than Erin, possibly seven or eight, but she was brimming with energy as she ran around them. "Are you both challenging me?"

"I am," Seth replied, still holding Erin, who had calmed down considerably.

Koga stared at Seth for a moment, which seemed to stretch on as he scrutinized every feature from head to toe, as if trying to decipher a riddle with the answer somewhere on Seth's body. "What's your name, friend?" Finally, he said kindly, trying hard to dispel the tension he had caused.

"Seth Conklin."

"Interesting. Do you have a father who died in the war?" Koga asked, walking closer to Seth and examining his features.

"Who didn't?" Seth replied with growing frustration.

"This man, his name was Edward, had a Rhydon. He had a similar beard to yours, never long, but always enough to notice," Koga continued, rubbing his chin in deep thought.

"Yeah, that's him. What, did you know him?" Seth asked thoughtlessly, rubbing his beard.

"He saved my life at Mt. Silver," Koga answered with a smile.

"What - how - how is that possible?" Janine made her way up to Erin, tugging on his shoe to get him to come play with her. Seth absentmindedly set him down without even bothering to see if he wanted to or not.

"I was a Captain in the war; your dad was one of my men in my Company. I can tell you everything if you want, but first, let's discuss this battle," Koga reassured him. The kids were now running around the tree, throwing small white bags no bigger than the tip of his fingers, creating a loud pop when they hit the ground. "I have been wanting to have Janine practice some gym fights, since she will most likely take over for me. What do you say, your kid versus mine?"

"Um," Seth didn't know what to say. He couldn't risk the continuation of this quest by having Erin battle, could he?

"I will make you a deal. If your boy loses, then me and you will have an actual battle. Deal?" Koga assured, as if reading his mind.

"Erin, come here," The intermittent pops ceased as his son came running to him. "Want to do this gym battle?"

His face lit up brighter than Seth had ever seen. "Oh my gosh! Emily, Vulpix! I'm gonna fight this gym battle! I am going to fight this gym battle!" Emily smiled at the energetic boy who was now running in meandering circles around them.

"Does your boy, Erin, was it? have any Pokémon?" Koga asked, watching Erin's excitement.

"Yeah, three," Seth replied.

"Janine has four can he borrow one of your guys?” Koga asked.

“Yeah of course.” Seth responded.

“ Janine!" Koga yelled authoritatively. "You're gonna battle for me."

"Yes, sir!" She said, grabbing her Pokéballs from her hips and releasing them in front of her. Venipede Spinarak, Skorupi, and Golbat took the field, looking at their trainer. "Alright, guys, remember our training. We got this!"

Seth walked over and placed the Pokéballs in his son's hands, then knelt down to eye level. "You got this, buddy. You have trained these guys way more than I have ever done." Seth couldn't help but smile at his completely electrified son. "Win or lose, you will be amazing."

Seth walked back toward Koga, leaving Erin on the right side of the battlefield.

"Appreciate you doing this for me," Koga said to Seth, walking up towards him. "She can get a bit competitive. Apologies in advance."

Seth looked at Janine and her Pokémon, with the exception of Golbat, small and in front of her, attempting to look intimidating. "Nah, it's good. I think he'll be alright."

Red light flooded in front of Erin, and Torterra, Noivern, Lairon and Metang emerged, taking the field in contrast to Janine's Pokémon.

"My lord," Koga said disbelievingly, quickly met with Seth and Emily's chuckles as they watched with pride from the sidelines.

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 25
​

Oblivion​

The road back to You feels so long

With so many battles along the way

I brought all of this on my myself

And I should accept the blame for everyone I hurt

Through all my mistakes

Those who look down on me

You show me Your face in a way I can see



- Fit for a King​

I​

The grass crunched under the tens of thousands of feet, slowly and gradually succumbing to its death as each time it got a break from the pressure of a boot or Pokémon’s foot, it was immediately replaced with another. Rocks and pebbles tumbled down the canyon walls on each side of Route 28, dislodged by the thunderous quakes caused by the flood of soldiers pressing toward Johto. The peak of Mt. Silver now lay behind them but the snow peak mountain range hovered above each side of them. Edward turned to his left to see a pile of trees, their roots still attached with the dirt still clinging to them towards the side of the canyon walls.

He looked to his right and admired the Rhydon next to him. The two sat in the middle of the thousands marching toward their likely deaths, and he couldn't have asked for a better partner to go into war with. The solemn faces, from weeks of marching surrounding him, had a profound effect. Not a single word was spoken among the masses, and a gloom hung like a cloud above them. This plan should work, though. Generals Giovanni, Bruno, and Flint Harrison had all assured them that this was a secret attack. The war would be over soon, and he would be back home with Seth. General Harrison, a gym leader from Pewter City, was even leading the attack, leaving his home, son and gym behind.

The sheer size of the marching force was incredible. Pokémon like Steelix, Golurk, and Copperajah towered above the people. Many had their Pokémon walking beside them, as Edward did with Rhydon. Others had small Pokémon riding on their backs, like Morelull and Joltik, most likely given quickly to fill this meat grinder of an invasion with warm bodies.

Captain Koga marched a few people ahead of him, his spiky black hair and the Crobat circling above him making him fairly easy to spot. Did he even hear about this plan before the march began three weeks ago? They said that there were two diversionary forces attacking Johto from the North and the Ocean to the South. Edward wanted so desperately to believe that this would work, that he could go back home and live his life before his wife succumbed to whatever was infecting her. They have been so strict with information escaping that all Pokémon were attacked if seen leaving the force without permission and all pokemon that had the ability to teleport were confiscated, that he only was able to get a single letter to him that was vetted before releasing it to his son.

"Sir," Edward yelled, catching Koga's attention. Koga dropped back gracefully and marched close to him.

"What’s wrong?" Koga said, his always positive energy evident.

"I was just wondering how far into Route 28 we wer-” A faint siren interrupted Edward, barely heard from in front of them, catching both Edward and Koga’s attention and cutting him off short. Then another, louder siren, this time closer in front of them. Then another, so loud that any conversation they might have had would have been drowned out. The source of the closest siren was clear: an Exploud clung to the canyon wall with one arm, releasing a deafening, continuous boom that overwhelmed all of Edward's senses. His head vibrated so violently that he was surprised his eyes didn't just pop out of his skull to release the pressure.

Then, silence, almost as abrupt as the sirens, enveloped them. It was finally broken by Koga next to him. “Defensive positions! Flyers on your Pokémon now!” A stream of airborne Pokémon with their trainers on top took flight above them. A few Sigilyphs began setting up light screens and reflects as opaque windows were created out of thin air, turning transparent against the backdrop of the blue sky, disappearing from sight.

“Sir, this is a secret operation. Even if we are almost there, we shouldn't be attacked.” Koga looked away from Edward’s irrelevant question.

“All Pokémon out! Prepare for anything!” Koga continued.

Storm clouds unnaturally spread from the west, creeping over the sky above them and blocking out the sun. Rain started to drip down sporadically onto the soldiers' faces. Everyone was utterly confused about what to do. They were stuck between the canyon walls with nowhere to go but forward or backward, and they waited in this position for either the false alarm to be cleared or for death to release them from their stagnation. An ethereal song gradually took over, echoing through the canyon. A song his son would grow to always remember fifteen years later.

“Sir, what are our orders?” A man next to Edward asked Koga, who was still situated next to him and Rhydon, looking around at the now louder song.

The answer didn't come from Koga, though. Edward watched as the aerial forces made evasive maneuvers out of the canyon, all while the song reached the same volume as Exploud's siren from only a minute ago. Flame burst from Charizard and Talonflames, beams of ice erupted from Swanna, bolts of lightning struck from the sky, likely caused by the Kilowattrel, and purple pulsing energy flew overhead from a Hydreigon with his trainer sitting atop, targeting an advancing threat. Then, like a blur, Lugia shot across the sky, releasing an aeroblast of wind that sent the entire army and air force, Pokémon included, flying backward. All airborne trainers unlucky enough to be in its path were knocked out of the sky, crashing to the ground.

Screams replaced the retreating song as a trainer next to Edward had her right arm smashed by her own Coalossal, the searing embers on its back setting fire to the clothes she was wearing.

“To your feet!” Koga roared out, still next to Edward. But it was too late. Just as he and everyone else saw streams of rainbow light pierce through the storm clouds, the sound of a plume of fire reached them.

“Rhydon, cover us now!” Edward commanded instinctually. Rhydon stomped his feet and hands into the ground. Koga turned around to Edward, raising his finger in anger and protest, but four triangular blades of earth shot out of the ground, isolating Koga from his company, his Crobat, and the fire. Just as Edward saw Ho-Oh's giant golden wings, the fire spilled over the troops like a wave of scorching water, burning everything it touched. Rhydon’s cover enclosed them from the outside world, plunging them into darkness that was soon illuminated as the rocks surrounding them glowed from the intense heat.

“Why did you do that?” Koga screamed at Edward, his face barely visible in the red glow, sweat pouring off him from the intense heat.

“We would have died,” Edward remarked, confused about how anything other than gratitude could fill Koga’s voice.

“Release it now, Rhydon!” There was a loud stomp, and then the earth shrank away, the gray-clouded sky seeming to have holes punctured all through as sunlight collided with the smoldering ground. Bits of the reflect and light screen fell toward them like burning silk. Smoke rose from everywhere, immediately burning his throat as he inhaled for fresh breath after being released from the small confines of Rhydon's protective shield.

Koga stepped around the field in disbelief. A few people with Rock or Ground-type Pokémon emerged from similar protective shields as them, but the scorched bodies of thousands lay around them. The smell of burnt hair, skin, and clothes smothered their senses. The grass that had been previously stomped to the ground by their march was now nonexistent, replaced by burning earth.

“Retreat!” The cry echoed from the few surviving leaders, as Koga and Edward looked around at the desolation.

“Edward, Gavan, retreat,” Koga said softly, still not looking at them.

“Sir, should we try to save anyone?” Edward asked.

“There is no one left, my company is gone. Retreat.” Hooves started to gradually echo through the canyon, cutting off Koga. “Retreat now!” Twenty riders atop Rapidashes, Mudsdale, and Zebstrika came galloping toward them, crushing the burning bodies under them.

One Kanto soldier with a Nidoqueen, a hundred yards ahead, roared out, “Poison Jab!” The Nidoqueen shot out its horn but was met with a pillar of rock that erupted from the ground by one of the Mudsdale. A Rapidash flanked it and released flames from its mouth, torching the Nidoqueen out of existence. A Zebstrika stomped its feet to the ground, and a bolt of lightning emerged from the pierced storm clouds above, finding its target in the now Pokémon-less soldier.

“Release your Pokémon now; we have to fight,” Koga commanded, changing his plans as he realized they would be outrun.

All Edward had was Rhydon; he had left Mankey at home to protect Seth. Rhydon stepped forward, ready for the onslaught. Gavan’s Piloswine did the same, and five Pokémon emerged from Koga as he released them all from his belt. Forretress, Muk, Venomoth, Salazzle, and Toxtricity stood as protectors in front of them all.

"Forretress, Muk, Rhydon, Toxtricity, defend! The rest, attack with everything you've got!" The horde of Johto soldiers riding the mounts approached, a mere 20 yards away. Edward could see burnt bodies cracking like eggs under the weight of the mounts, with one Mudsdale stepping on a skull. Salazzle unleashed a roaring surge of flames, the ground quaked from Piloswine's Earthquake, and Venomoth lifted a trainer off his Pokémon with a psychic attack, but it proved futile. Four Rapidashes charged forward, meeting Salazzle's flames with an explosive counterattack, overwhelming her feeble defense. The intense heat melted Piloswine and Venomoth as the suspended trainer plummeted to the ground, marking Venomoth's demise.

"Defend now!" Koga roared louder, but it was too late; a Rapidash was just feet away, so close that Edward could smell its fiery breath. He heard the Johto soldier yell "Megahorn" as Rapidash aimed its horn toward Koga. Instinctively, Edward pushed his captain out of the way, and the horn impaled his left side, creating a massive hole in his torso that only grew larger as the Rapidash stamped away, holding him on its head. Each shaking step further dug the horn into his abdomen. There was no more pain as Edward's final thoughts turned to Seth.

"No!" Koga bellowed, and Rhydon moved its head to witness and internalize what had just occurred. Losing all composure, Rhydon stomped its feet, causing the Rapidash and its trainer carrying Edward to be pinned between closing walls of rock that lifted from the ground. They screamed and then were silenced by the crunch. However, no longer protecting Gavin, a Mudsdale jumped over Rhydon and kicked both feet behind connecting with Gavin, removing the last member of Koga’s company for existence, as he body jerked violently to the ground and his head sailing yards away.

Toxtricity moved swiftly among all the attacking Pokémon, like a yellow and purple blur, striking each one and exuding a toxic substance. It started as a small sensation in their stomachs, soon turning into necrosis. The Pokémon screamed as they fell to the ground, blood and guts seeping from their rapidly growing wounds.

Rhydon began hurling rocks at the non-poisoned soldiers, obliterating them as they came within range. Koga scanned the carnage, finally spotting a window of escape. One Zebstrika attempted to go after Koga but was blocked by Forretress, who was slammed into the canyon wall upon impact. Inches away from driving a wild charge into Koga Muk fell overtop of the now screaming pokemon and soldier like a horrifying wave.

"Toxtricity, Muk, Rhydon, we need to go!" Koga commanded. Rhydon carried Koga as he returned his remaining two Pokémon, and they ran back east, back to Kanto. Rhydon glanced at the Rapidash and the Johto trainer trapped between the walls of rock it had summoned, and left his partner behind on the battlefield.

II​

"Are you telling me my father's Rhydon is alive?" Seth asked Koga. Both he and Emily watched their kids compete in their first gym battle, although calling it a gym battle was a bit of a stretch. After Erin released Metang, Janine couldn't find a way to counter it, so she released all three of her Pokémon to attack. This prompted Erin to jump onto Torterra's back and join the fray with Noivern and Lairon as well. There was also much more laughter than Seth had ever experienced in a gym fight.

"I am saying that," Koga replied as he reached for the Pokéball on the very back of his belt and handed it to Seth. "My wife is going to be sad to hear that Rhydon will be leaving us, but he deserves to go back to his family. He is a great Pokémon, and your dad trained him right."

"He was my grandfather's Pokémon when he was a kid. How is he still alive?" Seth asked, examining every imperfection of the red and white ball in his hand.

"Pokémon's lifespans vary wildly depending on the type. Ground, Rock, and some Grass types have extremely long lives. I would venture that Torterra," Koga was now pointing at the Pokémon and Erin, “will still be kicking when his great great-grandkids are born," Koga stated. Seth looked at Torterra due to Koga's words, and saw him smiling just as much as Erin was. "Fire, bug and Fighting types have short lifespans, however, due to their fast metabolisms. Ghost types are a mystery, though some think they are immortal." He continued.

"Thank you, Koga, for this," Seth said, cutting off Koga’s lecture and holding the Pokéball higher. "And for telling me about my dad. Did you ever find out who was the spy for the invasion?"

Spinarak had finally found his target, crawling up on Erin, getting around Noivern and atop Torterra, and began relentlessly attacking Erin, who was screaming with laughter. Torterra managed to rip the tree roots out of the ground and capture the small Pokémon, lifting him off his trainer.

Venipede darted towards Erin, but Lairon cut in front of him to protect. His eyes glowed brightly, causing Venipede to slow down. Everyone immediately stopped talking and turned to Lairon, who was now becoming hidden by the rocks being ripped out of the ground encircling him.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," Emily said in disbelief.

The rocks fell away to reveal Aggron, its shining steel frame roaring loudly at Venipede, which ran away in a purple blur.

"No fair!" Janine began yelling.

"Are you out of your fucking mind, Lair—Aggron!" Emily shouted, standing now.

"Yeah, go, Go!" Erin yelled out.

"I've always just assumed Giovanni was the spy. Shortly after the Mt. Silver Massacre, he met with the Johto high command, and then Team Rocket began its takeover into Kanto," Koga answered, getting back to the topic after the excitement of the evolution. “Bruno became an elite four member being the only representation of Kanto and General Harrison died on the field there. They were the only ones who knew the plan, who else could it have been?”

"But you became his puppet?" Seth asked harshly.

"What would you have me do? I will do what I can to protect my family. My position has allowed me to do that, and if I didn't take up this gym, they would just find someone else," Koga replied, his eyes looking tired, and the true age showing on his face. "I've done a lot of terrible things in the name of my family, even capturing Articuno for Team Rocket, but I don't regret any of it. Janine can have a long and prosperous life here. To me, that's worth it."

"You would stand aside for the sacrifice of your country, for the safety of your wife and child?" Emily cut in, astonished at the sheer selflessness of this statement.

"I would, and I'm sure Seth would do the exact same," Koga said, looking away from Emily and back to Seth, who made no comment on the matter. He knew Koga was right, but as he was on the side that was being sacrificed, he hated to admit it.

"If Team Rocket has Articuno as well, that means Johto has all three legendary birds," Emily said back to Seth, overlooking a confused glance at Koga.

"Johto?" Koga asked.

"Mr. Fuji said that Kanto had Moltres before the war," Seth retorted back, ignoring Koga's confusion.

"Johto?" he repeated, trying to be heard.

"And it's safe to assume Team Rocket took it after its takeover. Koga captured Articuno for them, and if Lugia attacked Zapdos, then it's safe to assume that they recaptured it when we left. Plus, they cloned Mew, so they definitely have one of them if not the original. They have every Kanto Legendary and now every Johto legendary except for Raikou, according to Fuji," Emily continued.

"Would you please explain how Johto factors into this?" Koga demanded louder.

"You are a gym leader; how don't you know?" Emily answered him finally.

"I don't get much information from them. They give me a quota on how many challengers can pass my gym challenge, and if I go over that, I will be replaced. Other than that, it's just the few and infrequent orders I get from Giovanni, like my Articuno mission years ago," Koga answered, rubbing the back of his head, trying to process everything.

"Team Rocket is the Johto military. We think they are attempting to slowly take over to avoid causing a war with the other nations, specifically Sinnoh." Seth explained.

"How do you know this?" Koga asked in such disbelief that he had not completely forgotten about the childish battle before them.

"We tortured a Team Rocket grunt into explaining where he was from. He was from Johto and thought that the war was still continuing," Emily answered.

Torterra, still holding Spinarak who was trying like mad to wiggle out of the vines, and Golbat, who was now held down by Noivern. Metang, suspended Skorupi with Psychic. Finally, Aggron had Venipede in its arms as it wiggled trying to get free. Erin jumped off Torterra's back, running up and tagging Janine, declaring himself the winner as if this was the official rule. Janine sulked off to the side under the tree, with small tears falling from her face. Seth and Emily paused their important conversation and watched Erin go up and hug Janine, saying loudly enough for them to hear, "I'm sorry you lost. Do you want to play some more?" Erin then commanded the release of Janine's Pokémon, and the two began their battle again.

“So what after everything I have been through in the war I am just a puppet for Johto. A traitor.” Koga looked down at his hands at his words, as the three sat witnessing the much more unstructured rematch.

“Yes.” Emily said bluntly.

"Why don't you have Fuchsia City rebel? You're the gym leader; they will listen to you. Celadon did it," Emily said eagerly, grabbing fistfuls of grass and ripping them out by the roots.

"That would never work," Koga said softly, casting his gaze towards her without flinching.

"Bullshit!" Emily said louder than she anticipated.

"I know the suffering that is happening outside our walls, but the harsh reality is it isn't happening in the city. Sure, we have taxes, but there is enough commerce through the city where anyone willing to work will find it. Life has honestly not changed much since the war even started. You are asking me to step out to a small army of Johto soldiers, start a coup d'état, and explain to the citizens that their benefactor has been overthrown. They don't care about the suffering outside. They care about their survival and their family's survival. Just like I do," Koga said sternly, not yielding to Emily’s rage.

"Then you're a coward," she shot back.

"Yes, yes I am. But I am alive, my wife is alive, Janine is alive. And I will not put them on the execution block for a non-starter," Koga declared.

There was a long silence at Koga’s words. Seth knew he was right. Why would anyone in this city care? Celadon was an unusual case where the problems of Team Rocket were laid out in the open, and their presence was nearly eradicated. Any city attempting to fight back for Kanto was a hopeless endeavor.

"Completing the League challenge is really the only way to get him to safety, isn't it," Seth asked to no one in particular.

"I am afraid so," Koga answered, his thoughts open. "Which reminds me, here you go." Koga handed out the small Soul Badge. The pink heart flickered in the dull sunlight under the canopy of the trees.

“Shouldn't this be the Marsh badge and Sabrina’s the Soul Badge?” He asked pleasantly.

“You know I have always thought the same thing.” Koga said smiling.

"You're not going to make me battle? I know you said we would leave it to the kids, but you were being serious? Didn't you say that you need to meet a quota?" Seth asked in disbelief at the badge.

"I will be just fine. This is payment for your father saving my life. I am sure you would have rather had him with you, to raise you, but let this badge allow you to do that very thing for your son," Koga explained, smiling kindly at Seth, the age of his face now creeping over again in the light.

"Thank you," Seth said softly, putting the badge into his case. "Now—" He struggled to get the words out as he held Rhydon’s Pokéball firmly in his hand as he got to his feet. "I don't even know if he will recognize me." He pressed the button, and the ball opened, releasing the blinding scarlet light that this time seemed to slowly materialize into Rhydon, who immediately smiled and gripped Seth in the tightest embrace he had ever been held in. The rocky arms created the most uncomfortable, painful, emotional, nostalgic, happy embrace he had ever experienced.

III​

"Daddy, did you see? Janine was like, 'I release all my Pokémon,' so I was like, 'I release all my Pokémon!' Good thing Torterra saved me from Spinarak!" Erin exclaimed, perched on Rhydon's head. Rhydon seemed to be soaking up Erin's infectious enthusiasm as the boy stared upward rather than forward. “And then Lairon evolved, that was so cool!

"I saw it, buddy! You did great!" Seth responded with admiration.

"Erin, I'm so proud of you," Emily added from the other side of him.

"I did do great!" Erin proclaimed proudly.

The sun was slowly retreating to the west, casting a crimson glow over the sky as the lights of the Fuchsia City Zoo began to illuminate their path.

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" Seth anticipated the impending request and sighed, accepting it begrudgingly.

As they wandered through the Fuchsia City Zoo, Seth couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and belonging. The zoo had transformed into a mesmerizing wonderland under the evening sky, with unique habitats for various Pokémon species that illuminated the night with stunning, colorful lights.

Emily and Erin were completely captivated by the sights and sounds that enveloped them. Emily, who had not felt such joy since her early years before her father's departure for the war, radiated excitement, which had now passed down to, as she now considered, her son. Erin, fueled by his youthful curiosity, was a bundle of energy, constantly pointing and giggling as they explored, much to the amusement of those around them. There was one minor interruption when he was denied a giant basket of popcorn close to midnight, which caused a temporary fit.

Their journey began in a lush, tropical habitat where Slowpoke leisurely inhabited a tranquil pond. Erin was utterly fascinated by the Pokémon's slow movements and goofy smiles. Emily knelt down to his level, explaining how Slowpoke's easygoing pace made them excellent fishermen and that their tails were considered a delicacy in some regions.

Venturing further, they found themselves in an electrifying exhibit teeming with Voltorb. These spherical Pokémon emitted a dazzling, bright glow, creating a mesmerizing display of lights that left Erin in awe. He mimicked their round shapes, curling into a ball and rolling around, which caused Emily to laugh wholeheartedly. Even Vulpix, couldn't help but let her guard down and returned to her younger, more joyful self as she attempted to jump on Erin during the playful moment. This brought back memories of Seth watching Vulpix and Sarah play when they were kids.

Kangaskhan's habitat followed, designed to mimic the rolling plains of a savannah. The massive Kangaskhan and their young roamed freely. Erin was thrilled by their strength, while Emily shared stories of Kangaskhan fiercely protecting their young. Seth watched from a distance, witnessing the bond solidifying between Erin and Emily. Although Erin had lost his mother, that pain would never go away, and he still occasionally cried for her. However, Emily had become a vital support, and Seth couldn't help but worry about how he would raise Erin without her.

In another section of the zoo, they stumbled upon an enchanting pool where Lapras glided gracefully through the water, singing a hauntingly beautiful tune. Erin was captivated by the gentle giant, while Emily explained how Lapras had been known to rescue sailors lost at sea. The zoo dedicated an entire section to prehistoric Pokémon, where Kabuto and Omanyte thrived in aquatic enclosures.

Yet, amid all the joy and wonder, a moment of disarray struck. As they passed through a dimly lit corridor, Seth caught sight of Sarah. Her spectral figure, the top and left half of her body laid on the floor in front of them, locked eyes with Seth, her expression a haunting mix of despair and anger. She screamed, "You can't save him." Seth's heart raced, and he fought to ignore the eerie apparition. He concentrated on Emily's laughter as Erin and Vulpix playfully imitated Omastar's and Kabuto's ancient-looking faces, as they passed their faces in a photo stand-in with pictures of the ancient Pokémon.

Before Seth could blink, a clock indicated that it was almost 2 o'clock. After a strenuous battle to get Erin to leave, Seth finally picked him up, kicking and screaming, as they made their way to the exit. Erin was already asleep on his father's shoulder, beginning to drool, before they even reached the main road.

"He loves you, Emily. Thank you," Seth unexpectedly expressed, catching Emily off guard.

"I love him and you, Seth, even if you are a dick," she replied with a small smile. They walked to the nearest hotel and crashed as quickly as Erin did.

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 26
​

Escape​

I've been fighting the process

A constant struggle for progress

No reason to digest

The definition of this sick mess

But I still carry this burden

And all I feel is this hurting

I need a diversion I am the product of this sick mess



- Execution Day​

I​

He slammed Seth forcefully into the ground, causing pain to surge through Seth's body. As Seth lay there, his gaze locked with Sarah's blood-soaked foot, inches from his face. "Let me try that again," still holding his throat Butch bends down closer, "where is my fucking money."

The room seemed to spin, with shadows flickering on Butch's smirking face as more and more people crowded around Seth, gripping every accessible part of his body.

"You did this to me," Sarah whispered into his ear.

"No, stop," Seth pleaded, doing everything in his power to move away from her severed foot as the pool of blood started to connect and flow under his face. He could taste the metallic liquid as it washed over him.

"This is your fault!" she screamed louder as the feeling of more hands gripped and pulled on him, the smell of her decaying flesh taking over his senses.

"Let go of me," Seth begged even louder.

"What are you going to do about it?" Butch's voice came in as his weight and stench replaced the crawling hands.

"Daddy!" Erin's faint cry was heard from outside the diner doors.

"Get off me!" Seth roared, finally breaking free of Butch's grip. He made a desperate break for the door, ripping it open. The door flung across the diner, crashing into the wall and splintering on impact.

Butch had Erin by the throat, pinning him down on the hard road. As his cries filled the empty street, he squirmed desperately, the rough concrete tearing at his flesh with each rash and frantic movement.

"You can't save him," his wife's voice came from behind him, emanating from the decaying body on the diner floor.

"NO!" Erin's body hit the ground as his father thrashed out. The dark room briefly illuminated as Vulpix shot a small burst of fire, revealing Emily jolting up from the second bed. Erin's cries reverberated off the walls.

"Erin, I'm sorry, buddy, come here," Seth requested, holding out his arms over the bed and picking up Erin, who was extremely disoriented.

"They're getting worse, aren't they?" Emily asked, sitting on the bed next to him and running her hand on the back of Erin's head in an attempt to console him.

"Yeah," Seth answered simply, holding his son tight and trying to push his nightmare out of his head.

II​

The Team Rocket walls of Fuchsia City began to recede behind them as they headed north along the peninsula, keeping close to the coast in their quest to find someone who could ferry them across the Kanto Gulf. Just as the imposing wall disappeared behind the blooming hills, a colossal structure came into view. The bridge, elegantly simple in design, stretched over the water, vanishing into the distant horizon. Massive steel beams jutted out of the water on either side of the road, with tight netting suspended between each beam.

"It's enormous," Emily exclaimed in disbelief. "I've heard about this bridge, but damn, I can't even see the end of it." A train car sped toward the land, disappearing behind the hills ahead.

"It's a shame we can't use it; it leads us right into Celadon City," Seth remarked, standing next to his son, who was perched atop Torterra and clinging to the tree growing on its back, his gaze filled with wonder just like Emily's.

"I wonder if Team Rocket ever gained control of the city," Emily pondered, walking slower than usual, unable to tear her eyes away from the massive structure.

"I sure hope not," Seth replied. They continued their walk, the rhythmic crashing of waves creating a soothing backdrop to their stroll. Eventually, they stopped and ate with their Pokémon, savoring the sight of the lush trees in full bloom around them. Noivern enjoyed diving into the ocean, pulling out Wishiwashi for the others to dine on. While the food was good, Seth couldn't help but miss Brian's cooking, which had almost rivaled Sarah's culinary skills.

After a leisurely half-hour walk following their meal, they reached a sign that read "Ferry" in large letters, with an arrow pointing toward a rickety house on the beach and a dock extending into the ocean, where several aged and weathered boats were moored.

"Daddy, I don't want to go on another boat," Erin began, his voice soft as he held his father's hand, gripping it firmly and refusing to move any closer to the boats.

"Erin, we need to get to Vermilion," Seth said, crouching down to his son's eye level. He was surprised by how much less he needed to squat to be at Erin's height, and even more so when he realized that his son was nearly five years old.

"We can walk or take Noivern!" Erin declared, his tone becoming more demanding.

"Emily doesn't have a Pokémon that can fly, and walking would take weeks. Can we please try to get on the boat?" Seth requested.

"No!" Erin exclaimed even louder, stomping his feet on the ground.

"A little help here?" Seth asked, looking up at Emily.

"Honestly, we're batting zero for two with boat rides. I'm with Erin," she replied.

"Fine," he said with aggravation filling his voice. They walked past the ferry and, by the time they were under the shadow of Cycling Road Bridge, Seth's hopes of an easy journey had vanished behind the rolling hills.

Over the course of the next two weeks, the group followed the coastline, embarking on a journey that took them east, then northeast, and ultimately north towards Vermillion. Seth found it a bit uncomfortable squeezing back into the tents, but he couldn't deny the importance of resuming his training. He and Erin engaged in constant sparring and training sessions with each other. One such fight Seth actually lost to his son while trying when Noivern bested Primeape. Erin made sure to continue to taunt Primeape and his dad respectively for the next few days.

However, what was even more crucial was taking charge of Brian's Pokémon and continuing their training. While Ampharos adapted well, the other two Pokémon, Fraxure and Ceruledge, posed particular challenges. Building trust and fostering quick reactions were essential for them to perform at their best. Emily surprisingly had more success with these Pokémon than Seth did. As the days passed and they drew closer to Vermillion, these Pokémon began to adapt to Emily's highly offensive battling style. Even though Vaporeon seemed more interested in the ocean, the rigorous training regimen was paying off as their teamwork and responsiveness improved day by day.

III​

"Hey, birthday boy, we need firewood. Want to take Vulpix and go get some?" Seth's voice called out to Erin as he played with Vulpix near the treeline. The wind was strong, and the branches of the trees rustled vigorously.

"Yupporini!" Erin shouted, excitedly, and dashed into the greenery, Vulpix's golden fur vanishing right after. He followed a path among the trees, picking up one branch and then spotting an even bigger one, so he dropped the one he was carrying and grabbed the larger one. After a while, his arms were full with the four branches he had collected, and Vulpix was playfully dragging the fifth one along.

"Vulpix, I think we got it!" Erin said happily, the branches swaying above him as beams of sunlight streamed through the leaves overhead washing over his brown skin. "Let’s Roll!" He began to run back awkwardly, trying to step on all the scattered leaves on the ground, looking like he was incredibly drunk.

Then, out of nowhere, a loud bang erupted just a few dozen yards from them, as if a tree had just collapsed. Vulpix grew tense in front of Erin, her eyes fixed on the source of the sound. "What was that?" Erin muttered, standing next to Vulpix and casually petting her before wandering deeper into the woods, dropping all of the firewood.

Vulpix followed closely behind him, catching up as he stood still, staring towards the fallen tree. Erin was frozen, not from fear, but from sheer amazement. A large Pokémon, around the same size as his dad, was sitting with its back against the tree. The first thing Erin noticed was its eyes—there was so much pain and anger in them, and a flash of his father's eyes came into his head. Then he saw its pale purple skin, overshadowed by its large, deep purple tail that seemed to sway on its own accord. A large gash was cut into its chest, with fresh red blood trickling down.

Erin took a step forward but was soon blocked by Vulpix, who had her six tails upright. Her fur on the back of her neck was standing almost as straight, with a constant growl emanating from her. Erin took another step, getting around her. "It's okay, Vulpix, look, he is hurt."

Vulpix stood in front of Erin the whole time, growling even louder as he slowly took more steps towards the Pokémon. "Are you okay?" Erin asked softly as he outstretched his hand towards it. Its eyes were still harsh, but Erin thought they seemed to be kinder, even if just a bit. "It's okay, I can make you feel better," Erin said, taking his jacket off and now standing maybe ten feet from the Pokémon, holding it outstretched to help clean up the blood.

Then a sense of urgency flooded Erin's mind, compelling him to stop his feet and not move another inch. It was like the desire to help that Pokémon had fled his mind and was replaced by the Pokémon's desperate plea for him not to move any further towards it.

"I just want to help you," Erin said, still not moving. Erin noticed Vulpix wasn't moving either and wondered if she was experiencing the same foreign thought taking over her senses.

The Pokémon lifted its three-fingered hand that had small balls at the ends of its fingertips and held it against its chest, most likely trying to stop the pain. .

"Please," Erin pleaded. "Let me help. I know it hurts, but Daddy said the pain goes away soon." The light filtered down upon Erin, seeming to reflect every aspect of warmth that he provided. His smile stretched from ear to ear, and his dimples deepened, causing the pain and hatred in the Pokémon's eyes to lose even more of its intensity.

Erin, feeling the foreign thought finally leave him, took another step forward. He wanted so badly to help this Pokémon, to make it smile, but as soon as his foot touched the ground after his first step, images of old men in lab coats flooded his mind. It was as if he was looking through a window with water all on the inside, trapping him in this container. Rage and anger seemed to well up inside Erin like he had never felt, as if he would do anything to punch a hole in the glass container. One of the old men was Mr. Fuji, and this made him angrier somehow—not that seeing Mr. Fuji was some kind of betrayal, but as if he was the cause of all the pain he had ever experienced.

The woods finally flooded back into Erin's vision as the intrusive thought faded away from his mind. Vulpix's growls, while still present, quieted slightly. Erin took another step on the soft forest ground. "I am sorry, they were mean to you. But you can come with us. I’m not meanie, well sometimes I cry and yell when I am sad. But I am not a meanie!" Erin said meanderingly while reaching out with the hand holding the jacket, further indicating for the Pokémon to grab it.

The mysterious Pokémon, still sitting upright and holding its chest in pain, but with all the anger gone from its eyes and its facial expression relaxed, reached out and grabbed Erin's jacket, placing it firmly on the spot where the cut was still slowly seeping blood.

A feeling of happiness flooded into Erin and Vulpix both, and he immediately smiled where the fur on Vulpix's back laid flat and her tails wagged back and forth. The intrusive thought made it seem even being sad was an impossibility.

Just then, a branch snapped behind them, drawing all their attention from the quiet moment as they looked towards the treeline behind them.

"Erin, there you are. Where is the firewood?" Seth emerged from the thicket.

"Daddy, can he come with us?" Erin said excitedly.

"Who?" Erin looked back towards the fallen tree, but the Pokémon was gone. "Stop being a weirdo. Come on, Emily needs firewood for lunch."

"Okie Dokie," Erin responded, taking his father's hand to resume his job.

"And where is your jacket?" Erin just shrugged in response to his father's question.

IV​

"Well, there it fucking is, guys," Emily yelled out as they reached the top of the hill that looked down onto Vermilion City, surrounded by the Team Rocket wall just like all the other gym cities. Part of the city seemed to extend over the ocean, replacing the beach with stone and concrete, with buildings scattered throughout. One particular building with a thunderbolt over the front doors was significantly larger than the others, stretching outwards with a half-circle roof that towered over the surrounding houses, which were in turn dwarfed by the few skyscrapers in the city. Another pier, similar to the others they had seen, had ships weaving in and out of the docks into the Kanto Gulf, reflecting the evening sunlight.

Seth pointed towards a small town on the outskirts of the wall. "You want to try going there for the night? I'd rather not sleep in the tent."

"Let's go!" Erin yelled, playing with his Flapple toy on top of Rhydon's shoulders.

The town lost its grandeur as they entered the desolate streets. Seth didn't know if it was the golden sunset that made it seem pleasant from afar, but every face, whether human or Pokémon, seemed depressed and broken. It was as if Vermilion City was sucking the life out of anyone unfortunate enough to live within it.

A storefront near the edge of the town had its front window shattered, and the front door was completely missing. "Are you sure you don't want to camp out?" Emily asked as she and her Vaporeon looked back and forth at the destroyed homes and businesses.

"Let's just find somewhere to eat and a hotel," Seth answered, determined to find someplace other than a campsite. Over the last two weeks of walking, he had woken Erin up at some point from his nightmares. If he could just get his own bed, possibly his own room, he could have a break from the torment he knew he was causing his son.

After ten minutes of searching, they found possibly the only open restaurant in the broken town. The light outside flickered, revealing chipped paint before obscuring it in the nearly night sky. Luckily, the inside was not as ominous as the outside, but not by much. The booths had ripped and worn leather, and the floors looked like they hadn't been cleaned since before the war. Whoever was cooking in the back was working overtime because although the place gave off the vibe of a nasty, moldy smell, the only scent was a pleasant aroma from the kitchen.

The food was even more surprising as it tasted incredible. Seth was unsure of what they were eating, as it seemed to be a "we're serving the special and that's it" menu, much like he had to do during the last year of his diner. But he found he didn't care or worry about what kind of dirt from the restaurant was also cooked into it because it was like a bomb of flavor exploding in their mouths.

"Since Aggron evolved for me, does that mean he is mine?" Erin said, standing on his seat across from Emily, smiling.

"Keep making jokes, asshole. Let's see how far it gets you." She stabbed a piece of mystery meat on her plate and held the fork pointing at him, with juices falling off it and dripping onto the plate. "But no!"

"I bet Torterra could beat your Aggron," Erin said under his breath, crossing his arms as he slumped back into his seat.

"YOU WANNA GO, PUNK?" Emily said playfully, fighting to hold back a smile on her freckled face.

"Dad, do you think I can beat Emily, right?" Seth said, looking up to his father.

Seth didn't hear him; he didn't hear anything after the front door opened, and Butch Miller, clad in his Team Rocket uniform, entered the restaurant, taking his seat on the other side of the room facing away from him.

"Dad!" Erin said louder, tugging on his shirt, with Emily looking at him concerningly.

"Huh, sorry, what's that?" He said, trying to put his rage, hatred, and the taunting of his wife inches from him, with a giant hole in her stomach pouring blood onto the floor, aside.

"I could beat Emily in a Pokémon battle, right?" he asked, smiling from ear to ear.

"Yup," Seth answered dismissively, staring at the other end of the restaurant.

"Seth, what's wrong?" Emily asked, stiffening up, looking at the Team Rocket members he was staring at. "They aren't looking for us, just ignore them, okay?"

"It's him," Seth answered bluntly, without any context or explanation.

"Who?" she asked, desperately seeking clarification.

"Him," Seth responded, refusing to give any more. Why would he need to? This was the man that took everything from him, who taunts him every night. Who raped and killed his wife. The reason her corpse won't stop taunting him every moment of every day. She now had her head removed from her shoulders, blood squirting up and onto the floor, reflecting Michael Young's corpse. Even without a head, her voice still seemed to push every other sound away like a physical barrier.

"Would you shut up!" Seth demanded in hushed tones, causing Erin to recoil.

"We are not fucking doing this, come on, let's go," Emily said curtly, taking Erin from across the table and holding her hand out to Seth for him to take. "We are leaving; let's go before I kick your ass."

Seth took it begrudgingly and cowered away out of the restaurant with his head down, not wanting to get caught by him. Butch's laughter started to fill up the dimly lit room, with him talking about whomever his victim was and how she was a screamer.

The restaurant started to recede behind them as they turned the corner, with a sign protruding from the faded blue building reading 'vacancy.' Emily walked with Erin inside, but Seth couldn't step inside. He wanted to; he watched the light pour over Emily and Erin, illuminating everything good he had in his life as if that light was showing what was important, but he felt as if the shadows were dragging him back, refusing to let him take a step inside. Sarah's body laid on the road behind him, chanting "You can't save him" over and over again, with the decaying wound from her neck now touching every aspect of her face and naked body.

Emily put down Erin on a couch near the entrance of the hotel lobby and walked back outside. "Come on, Seth, this isn't funny."

"He is right there, Emily," Seth responded, not looking her in the eyes.

"And so was Devin when we were at Pewter City, remember," Emily looked down to see Vulpix sitting beside Seth rather than with Erin, with a fierce hatred in her eyes. "Please, we're not doing this."

"He has to pay for what he did," Seth found it impossible to look into her eyes, for the hypocrisy he was committing.

"Seth, look who you are talking to. No, it won't. It's just a hollow pit you can't escape from. Erin is the only reason I am out. Please, come inside; we are three badges away from the Pokémon League and his freedom. Come inside and protect him," the ending of her pleas fell short of reaching him. He was being pulled by Sarah's body, her never-ending screams; he had to end it.

The door to the hotel opened, with Erin rubbing his eyes. "Can we go to bed, Daddy? I am tired." Seth didn't answer him and turned away from the light of his life to the vacant, dark streets of the town outside Vermilion. He heard him asking Emily where Dad was going, and then he and Vulpix turned the corner to finally bring their vengeance.

V​

Seth and Vulpix stood outside in an alley that was a block away from the dingy restaurant, watching the filth pour out of the establishment. Sarah's head and the left section of her body laid in the street next to them, repeating the phrase, "You can't save him," over and over again. Butch's maniacal laughter echoed down the street, followed by three other Team Rocket members dressed in black, making it hard to see in the faint light provided by street lamps. They turned down the road and continued past the broken buildings, pedestrians crossing to the other side of the street upon seeing their presence. Seth hung back a good block, trying to stay as hidden as possible without moving too far away, so he could still hear them.

"How long are you staying here, sir?" one of them asked as they neared the edge of town, and the Team Rocket wall loomed larger.

"Until I can get this town to generate as much as Cerulean, who knows? But if I can continue to have as much fun as I did with that woman, I might make it permanent!" He said, each word growing louder, his pride unmistakable.

“But how is killing one woman going to generate profit, we didn't even get anything from her?” another more bold grunt asked.

“Oh on the contrary I got plenty from her.” His laughs began to fill the town once more. “But it's not about collecting one person's taxes, it's about striking fear into everyone around to ensure they pay up. Fucking her in the open street, while everyone watched hidden in their imaginary safety hearing her scream. No, we won't have to be traveling to the forsaken shithole for quite some time.”

The road to the Team Rocket checkpoint was short and had no way for Seth to hide. It was out in the open, a straight path toward Vermilion. There was no hiding from Sarah, her charred body mirroring Liam's, the tongue hanging out of her head moving as she continued to chant. As they got a few hundred yards away, Seth looked down at Vulpix, who refused to take her hate-filled eyes away from the group ahead. "Vulpix, don't lose his scent when we stop here, got it?" Vulpix made no noise but brought her nose closer to the ground without tearing her gaze away from him.

"Welcome back, sir!" a watchwoman on the wall said, standing up tall, but the group ignored him and walked undeterred into the city.

The wall had never seemed so large before. Seth wouldn't have been surprised if it was actually larger, but at this moment, it appeared as a giant barrier that not only encircled Vermilion but towered over it as Butch disappeared to the left.

"Identification," the same Team Rocket member asked Seth, without the same obsequious, kiss ass, tone she used with Butch. Seth didn't say anything, just stared at the spot Butch had left while handing over his paperwork. "You can't save him!" Sarah repeated in his ear, her head snapped, leaning on his shoulder. She came back, seemingly longer than usual, but the impatience and worry of losing Butch played a significant role in this delay.

"You're clear to go, but be warned, you only have a few weeks until your taxes are due." Seth didn't even look at her, barely even heard her, overwhelmed by Sarah's growing voice. He and Vulpix walked past the wall, and she immediately put her nose down to the ground.

"You got him," Vulpix shot a quick burst of flames in acknowledgment and began walking. Even in the dead of night, the city appeared brighter and more cheerful than the town just outside. Friendly faces passed by Seth and Vulpix as they continued onward. A few pedestrians briefly morphed into Sarah as they passed, but finally breaking free from the illusion, Butch's booming laughter drifted over them as they stood at the end of a residential area of the city. Unlike the cluttered apartment complexes that dominated the Vermillion, this street was adorned with massive homes, each featuring a red 'R' over its front door.

"Come on," Seth said, hunching down and walking up the empty street toward the source of Butch's laughter. He finally spotted him, his grotesque gut and red beard attempting to conceal his massive chest. Both Seth and Vulpix took cover behind a tree.

"Good work today, boys," Butch yelled out as the three Team Rocket members continued up the street, and Butch disappeared inside.

Seth's heart raced as he inched toward the door. Once in his yard, Seth released Primeape, who exhaled steam from his nostrils.

"Do you want revenge for that?" Seth asked, pointing toward the scar over Primeape's left eye. "As soon as that door opens, I need you to crush his windpipe, but don't kill him!" Primeape clashed his fists together forcefully and took a step toward the house.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The sound echoed through the dark, quiet streets, only interrupted by Butch's yelling, "You guys are so useless that you can't even get to the barracks without me, utterly fucking useless." His footsteps grew louder as Sarah's voice, repeating, "You can't save him," intensified in Seth's ears. The deadbolt unlocked, and the door handle began to jiggle in front of Seth. His heart was now pounding in his chest, and a ringing in his ears began to drown out Sarah's voice.

The door creaked open as light flooded the front porch, and Butch's expression shifted from anger to confusion and then to a smile, like it was some twisted joke. In the next moment, Primeape lunged, wrapping his hand around Butch's throat, squeezing and lifting his massive body off the ground. They stepped into the house and closed the door behind them. Butch's face turned purple as Primeape squeezed even harder. Butch clawed desperately at Primeape's enormous arms, but he couldn't budge them. His eyes bulged out of their sockets.

"Let him go," Seth commanded. Butch's body hit the ground hard in response to Seth's order, and Primeape now towered over Butch as he tried to get to his feet.

"What the fuck?" Seth thought he heard, but it only came out as wheezes and coughs as color slowly returned to Butch's face. Seth's foot whipped through the air, making contact with Butch's front tooth as he staggered to get up. Butch's body fell with another thud, and the tooth skipped across the living room floor, landing inches from Sarah's taunting corpse.

"Finally, she'll stop. Tonight you pay, not just for Sarah, but for everyone you've killed, you pathetic sack of shit!" Seth said in hush tones that escaped like a hiss. "Primeape, he shouldn't be able to speak, but if he makes even the slightest noise, you shut him the fuck up. Lift his head toward me." Primeape grasped the top of Butch's head, lifting it while Butch's knees still touched the ground but supported no weight.

"Vulpix, use Extrasensory." Vulpix stared into Butch's eyes, causing his pupils to dilate as every sense heightened.

"Ember," Seth commanded. A burst of flames connected with Butch's groin, igniting his pants. His screams emerged as more wheezes and coughs, now muffled through Primeape's hand covering his mouth.

"Ember," Seth ordered again. Vulpix's eyes flickered and shone white for a moment before returning to normal as she unleashed another burst of flames, this time targeting Butch's chest, scorching his flesh. His wheezes and muffled screams persisted for hours, blending with Sarah's continuous chants.

VI​

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Who the fuck is knocking on our door at this hour?" Darren thought as he lay in his bed. The move to Vermilion wasn't as bad as he would have thought. Butch was busy as always, coming in late and slamming every door in the house, but other than his soft bed in Goldenrod City, this city wasn't half bad. For a place in Kanto, that is.

On the floor below, Darren heard what sounded like a giant thud, as if Butch had belly-flopped onto the hardwood on the first floor. Enough was enough. Darren didn't care if Butch was his boss. He didn't care that he was treated well as his second-in-command and even scored this upstairs room in his house instead of living in the barracks. He would go downstairs and tell him to shut up, that he was sleeping.

He jolted out of bed and opened his door, making his way to the stairwell. Wheezy coughs drifted up from downstairs, as a glow of orangish-red illuminated the bottom of the staircases from the far side of the room. He took a step down as the orange light faded, and as if malevolence had manifested behind him, it gripped him, preventing him from moving any further. But that was insane; they were in the heart of a Johto-controlled city. How on earth could he be in trouble? How could they be under attack? He pushed the thought out of his head as he heard a soft but firm voice command "Ember" once more, and again the first floor ignited in a glow of orange.

He got on his stomach and peeked just enough through the stairs to get a glimpse of Butch being restrained by a Primeape. His chest and beard were ignited in flames as a Vulpix and a man stood with their backs towards him, but the side of the man's face was revealed. He wasn't looking at Butch, who was still ignited in a small fire, but towards the side of the room at nothing. First fear jolted him back up to the safety of the second floor, trying everything in his power not to make a sound. Then a wave of familiarity washed over him. He had seen that person before. Who was he?

Darren gripped his Pokéball that held Seismitoad and clutched it tightly, his finger hovering over the button. Butch was his friend; he had the element of surprise. Why couldn't he move? Muffled screams, barely audible, floated up to the second floor, and still, Darren sat stuck to the ground like he was melded into it. He knew that man; who was he? Moving incredibly slowly, Darren inched closer to the opening again, as if this took every inch of courage he had just to peek and eye at his dying friend. He noticed the Primeape again, holding Butch’s head tightly as the stranger's fist thudded repeatedly against his bleeding face. The light flickered over Primeape's scar, which shined in the light over his left eye. Darren now, with understanding washing over him, scrambled back to his room, listening to the hours of Butch’s slow, painful death, stuck in the house with his only exit blocked and his fear locking his legs. The only words he repeated were “Seth Conklin.”

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 27
​

What Sarah Said​

But I'm thinking of what Sarah said

That love is watching someone die

So who's gonna watch you die?

So who's gonna watch you die?

So who's gonna watch you die?



- Death Cab for Cutie​

I​

The lights in the hotel lobby kept flickering on and off. A stain on the wall dripped towards the floor, never quite reaching the bottom as it dried before reaching the end. Seth stared at this spot, his gaze locked on it as the night sky persisted and then gave way to the inevitable sunrise. A few pedestrians came and went, ignoring Seth's blood-soaked hands with cracked knuckles begging to scab over. He kept staring at the stain, finding solace in this fixation, a temporary respite from the relentless screams of Sarah, her voice morphing into all the mortal wounds he had caused, each flicker of the light illuminating her unrelenting presence.

“Seth,” he heard his name, but it seemed distant. Vulpix, on his lap, perked up to greet the stranger. To Seth, whoever this person was felt unimportant. What mattered was witnessing this stain overcome the impossible, if only to prove that it could.

“Seth,” a hand jerked his shoulder, but he didn't want to feel it, didn't want to leave this spot, waiting for that impossibility to occur.

“Seth,” a hand gripped his chin, forcing him to look into Emily's stern face. His expression was blank except for the splatters of blood that seemed to have randomly marked his face. “Put your fucking hands in your pockets and go upstairs to shower. You will not show him this, do you understand me?”

“Where is he?” Seth asked, his voice still distant.

“Hopefully still asleep. I came down to ask the front desk if they had seen you. Now, let's go.” Seth staggered up the staircase to Room 409, the chants of Sarah following him as Emily guided him on and into the room. The sunlight bathed Erin, who was asleep in one of the beds, his feet up on the headboard, and one arm bent in such an unnatural way that Seth couldn't even fathom how he could sleep like that. The voice of Sarah began to fade as the oddity of his son's sleeping posture allowed a slight chuckle to escape Seth's lips.

“He hit me three times last night,” Emily said, obviously hearing the amusement in his breath.

“I've got it from here. Thank you, Emily.” He closed the door, separating them, and proceeded to remove his blood-soaked clothes. Seth untied his shoes, noticing blood splatters all over them. He let the water rush over the shoes in the sink, creating a faint pink waterfall in the basin before it swirled down the drain. It wasn't perfect, but it was as clean as he could get them. He placed the canvas shoes on the floor by the door.

The water continued to rush over Seth as he attempted to clean himself. The cut knuckles on his hands reopened, and the filth and grime seemed to stick to his body, refusing to yield to the cleansing water and soap. After half an hour, he finally gave up, donned fresh clothes, and walked out of the bathroom to find Erin bouncing from one bed to another with an uncanny burst of energy.

“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy! Are we going to take on Lt. Surge today? There's no way we could lose with them!” Erin blurted out, his excitement palpable.

“We?” Seth responded, not really wanting to take Erin. They had been lucky with Koga, but he didn't want to push their luck.

“Yeah, we! I won the last badge, so I'm going to win this one too!” Erin responded loudly and determined.

"Erin, I was thinking of going alone today." Seth said, avoiding eye contact with Erin, hoping not to get drawn into his son's wishes.

“No!” Erin answered sharply and passionately, pointing his finger down as if asserting his authority. “You’re taking me right now!”

“Erin, I just—”

“It should be fun, and I need to catch up on sleep because of this one. It'll be fine,” Emily cut in.

Seth looked back at Erin, who was nearly on the verge of a temper tantrum. “Fine, give Emily a hug, and let's go.”

“Yay! Bye, Emily,” Erin said, giving her a kiss on her freckled cheek. “I'm gonna win!”

“Good luck!” Emily yelled out as she flopped onto the bed when the door closed.

II​

The sky was gray as I walked toward Vermillion City with my dad. I hated rain and storms. They were bad guys. I looked up at my dad, who kept looking forward toward the giant wall around the city. I didn't know why, but he kept looking straight and never looked down at me anymore. I think he's mad at me. I miss him smiling. He always smiled around Mommy, but ever since we left home, he just seems sad and doesn't play with me anymore.

A giant rock wall rose up at the side of the road as we passed the last house in the town. It was perfect and so tall that climbing it would make me even taller than Dad.

"Be careful," Dad said as I climbed the rock wall in no time at all. It was beautiful up here. Is this how Dad and Emily see all the time? There's so much to look at. The boring houses with cracked windows or big boards for doors fell behind us, and Vulpix was walking below me, constantly looking up. That's it! I can finally get the best of her from up here. In a flash, I was flying through the air, and boom! Darn it, missed again.

"I will get you, Vulpix!" I said, running after her golden tails as she hurried up to get away from my quick movements. I looked up, and the wall was even bigger. It was like the giant mountains we saw when that big electric Pokémon, what did Dad call it? "Hey Dad, what was that big Pokémon who was shooting lightning at us called?"

"Zapdos," he said again, still looking straight. Does he know I am down here?

"Oh, that's right!" I said, trying to draw his attention down here. But I can't stop thinking about how excited I am to take on Lt. Surge. Daddy said he uses an electric type, so I definitely need to bring Torterra. I wonder if Dad will let me use Rhydon.

"Hey Daddy, can I use Rhydon?" I asked pleasantly, pulling his arm wildly hoping to get him to smile just once.

"Maybe, we'll see when we get there," Daddy said, passing me a small glance.

"You're gonna be so happy, Dad. He is gonna bring out all his Pokémon, and I will be like Torterra, use Earthquake, and they will shake and fall down, and I will win!" I said to him, looking up. His beard is getting longer. I always hated that it itches me when he gives me a kiss. He laughed loudly at this, which made me smile more, and I spent the rest of the time to Vermillion trying to outspeed Vulpix, which I totally did a couple of times.

"Alright, buddy, I need to hold my hand here," Daddy said, reaching his hand out. He had giant cuts on his hand that seemed to be bleeding. I reached out but only gripped his fingers; I didn't want to touch Daddy's hand; it seemed like it hurt.

A big man in black with a giant R on his chest came walking towards us and asked for, "Identification," which Daddy handed him. I think it was a bunch of papers. I could have just told him I was Erin; why hand him papers? After he walked away, Daddy kept looking around at everyone other than me. His head kept scanning everything, but he just wouldn't look down at me. I saw him begin to tap his foot, so I tried to as well, but man, Dad can tap fast; I keep messing up.

"Daddy, can we go yet?" I asked, but he didn't answer. He just kept tapping his foot and looking up at everyone, who was looking at us as well. I thought I saw an Abra, which I always thought was really cool, but I guess I was wrong, as it was gone after I blinked or something.

The man walked back to us, smiling and showing us all his teeth. I didn't like this smile; it seemed scary, like he was trying to show us every tooth in his head, which quite frankly he should keep to himself because every tooth was very much not in his head.

"Thank you!" The man in black said very nicely. I guess I was wrong; he is a nice guy. "Enjoy your stay."

We walked past the giant walls, and the city seemed happy. Everyone had cool Pokémon that they were walking around with, and we began walking under the big buildings, and I heard the ocean. I loved the ocean when we were walking here. It was so warm and fun to play in with Vaporeon.

Daddy still wasn't looking at me but kept looking at everyone else, like he was trying to examine everyone really closely.

"Daddy, can we-"

"Erin, I think we should come back to face Lt. Surge another time. Let's go." Daddy picked me up, and I started to kick my legs.

"No! I want to face him today." Why couldn't we face him today? Daddy turned around, and there were two guys dressed in black like the nice guy at the wall. One even had a Scolipede, which was super cool. I loved their purple-red bodies. Daddy turned around, and my heart got happy again. Maybe we were facing Lt. Surge. He began walking faster; he must really want to battle him.

Another pair of guys in black stood in front of us, and Daddy began looking everywhere. His chest was beating really hard, and he kept breathing really loudly. He turned to the right and started walking between two buildings on this really small brick street. He was practically running now. I looked on the brick road and saw an interesting shadow dance in the sunlight with a circle playing on it. As I looked up, a giant web and Ariados were connecting the building, peering at us. When we got halfway down the street, under the web, two more guys in black came at the end. I looked behind dad, and the four guys in black now were walking up the alley behind us.

"Daddy, maybe they need help." He looked at me when I asked him this, but he didn't give an answer; he looked scared. Red light emerged on either side of the alley for me, and a bunch of Pokémon emerged from it. Electabuzz, Seviper and Seismitoad at the entrance we were running to, and a Bisharp, Scolipede, Combusken, at the end we came from.

"Oh, Dad, they want to battle. Don't worry, Dad, I got this. Let me see Noivern." My dad's hand drifted toward his belt until a booming voice came from the two guys in front of them.

"Seth Conklin! Don't even think about releasing a single Pokémon! That pathetic Vulpix needs to be put away immediately as well. Failure to comply will result in us attacking at once." Dad bit his lips, and his face seemed drained of color as they began walking even closer to us. Vulpix was growling loudly at them, with bursts of flames jetting from her mouth.

"Vulpix won't return," Dad said loudly, which wasn't a lie; Vulpix hated the Pokéball.

"Then one of my men will restrain her, don't resist, or we will kill the boy immediately!" the man said. Kill the boy? Why is he being mean all of a sudden? We can battle him if he wants; it's not a problem. I love battling!

A larger man walked over; flames were flickering out of Vulpix's mouth when he placed a boot on her head, squashing her to the ground.

"Hey, Vulpix doesn't like that; stop," I cried. "Daddy, make them stop." Vulpix was wriggling relentlessly on the ground, growling and hissing loudly.

"Now with that out of the way," The older man with short blond hair said. "You are charged with the murder of Butch Miller. Is that him?" He looked behind him at an even taller man with long black hair and an even longer face, next to a really big Seismitoad. Dad was staring at the man with his mouth agape; it seemed like he knew this man but wasn't happy about seeing him.

"Yeah, that's him," the black haired man said quietly.

"Well then, Mr. Conklin, my name is Carr Evans, it seems we have a situation here."

"Let me take my son home, and you can do whatever you want with me." My dad said, but the worry in his eyes was scaring me. I don't want Dad to go with these men.

"You're in no place to be making demands. Throw your belt to the side, and if I even see a flicker of light-"

"You will kill us," Dad said, cutting him off. "Erin, stay right by me and hold me the whole time." He put me down on the ground and took off his belt. The shadowy sphere with four appendages moved above us, but I was too scared to look up and see how close it was. Daddy was shaking badly as he fumbled with the buckle a bunch and hesitated before tossing the belt.

"Please just let me get my son home. After that, I will do whatever you want." Dad begged him again.

"Daddy, I want to go home, let's go," I tugged at Daddy's jeans, but he wouldn't budge. "Come on." Laughter surrounded us, as if they were making fun of me. "Come on, Dad."

"Cute, that you think you're leaving. No, son, you will be staying here with us. Your daddy did something bad, and now payment has to be made," The man named Carr yelled out to me which made the laughter of his friends louder.

"Here, take my money," Daddy said, throwing a black wallet at them. It hit the ground, sliding with a shining red 'R' looking up at the Team Rocket grunts. For a second, I saw that shadow move to follow the wallet, and then each sticking out moved slowly, situating the large circle over us again.

The guy in black named Carr kicked the wallet to the side. "No, Mr. Conklin, we will not be needing money from you today. Grab the boy."

"You stay the fuck away from him!" Daddy roared out, picking me up again so tightly that it began to hurt.

A Team Rocket grunt came from behind us, and I was flung with dads body as one of his fists drove into the man's face. Two other men in black swarmed us, grabbing my arm so tightly it felt as if they were trying to pull it off of me.

"Daddy, no!" I gripped my father so hard around the neck, clawing, digging my nails into him, doing anything for them not to take me.

"You bastards," my dad yelled out again, gripping me. I didn't know whose hand was whose, but I saw the anger and fear in my dad's eyes as he stared into mine. My fingers finally gave way, and I slammed on the ground. I couldn't talk or breathe; it was as if all the air had been pushed out of me.

"Give him back!" He was slammed to the ground too, and I saw blood start to trickle out of his nose.

"Let go of me!" I finally yelled out, the air filling my lungs again. His weight was so heavy, and something was digging into my back, causing me so much pain. "Please." I couldn't help it; I wanted to be strong, but tears started to flood down my face. "Please let go of me," I sobbed. But he just dug in harder into my back.

For a split second, I saw Vulpix's eyes flicker white, and then I looked at my dad. He was pushing up on two men, attempting to force him down to the ground. "Let him go!" he roared out, and then the bottom of a boot collided with his face, crashing his body to the ground hard.

Carr hunched down towards dad with a mean smile on his face. "Mr. Conklin, a price has to be paid, a life for a life." I saw Seviper inch closer to him, purple liquid falling off its fangs, staring at dad.

"And I already told you. Take me, just let my son go!" The hair started to rise on the back of my neck as Electabuzz drifted closer to me. And the shadow above me was getting clearer as what looked like a whole other circle attached to the bigger circle. A clicking sound was heard and getting constantly louder.

"That's not how this works, Mr. Conklin. You do not get to pick whose life. Poor Darren here loved Butch, and you took that from him. So now he gets to decide which one of you gets to pay." The group laughed even louder at this as the tall black-haired man stepped closer to me.

"Please just kill me, Please, Don't hurt him." Daddy was begging, tears falling freely from his face as he squirmed, still with two men pressing on each arm. But Daddy can't die; I need him. We have to fight Lt. Surge. Why would they do that?

The man named Darren walked in front of me showing me only his back and blocking Dad's face. Then with the loudest intensity I have ever seen him, he screamed, "No! You bitch, face me. NO! Kill me!" The shadow above me was even clearer now, and the clicking was practically in my ear. A giant yellow and purple leg struck down inches from my eye.

"Daddy!" I screamed. I just want to go home, please. And out of nowhere, I felt a pinch on the back of my neck, and it felt as if someone poured fire into my skin.

"Erin, Erin! No!" Daddy was screaming, but all I could say was "ow" over and over again. It hurt so much, please someone help, why are you all laughing? Help. Light flickered again, but stronger this time, with a ball of red flames engulfing Vulpix and the boot that held it down. As the ball of fire grew, blue flames washed over the red.

"Erin, look at me!" I heard Dad yelling at me and crawling towards me, but the pain was finally getting better. He finally got to me, it was nice to feel him again. Daddy was looking at me, it was hard not to smile.

"I’m fine, Daddy." The pain really was gone, but my-

III​

Ninetales’ grey body emerged from the blue flames. The Team Rocket member's head, whose boot had been pressed against her skull, now lay clenched in her teeth, his spinal cord waving wildly with each of her violent movements. Dropping the man's head, her grey tails with blue tips waved erratically as more blue flames erupted from her mouth, engulfing the men who had been holding Seth down, causing them to scream in a fiery inferno. The intense heat washed over Seth as the scent of burning flesh with the chorus of screams flooded around him. But that didn't matter to him. The weight pressing down on him was gone, and he scrambled, releasing Primeape's Pokeball before crawling on his hands and knees to his son.

In a flash, Ninetales headbutted Ariados off of Erin, smashing it into the building wall. Her tails slammed against the shocked man who had been holding Erin down, knocking him to the floor next to her. In almost an instant movement, she bit him clean in half, his blood dripping off her muzzle.

"Erin, look at me!" he said as he began to pick up his son. The two bite marks were already extremely swollen, and a black ooze was freely oozing from them.

"I’m fine, Daddy," Erin said, smiling a little and showing off his dimples, and then his body fell limp.

“No, no, no, no, no, no.” Seth repeated, laying his son down and putting his ear to his chest, hearing no heartbeat or feeling any rise. “Come on, buddy, don't do this.” He put all his weight on Erin, attempting CPR, something, anything. “You're okay, just keep smiling, Erin.” More blue flames poured from Ninetales, washing over the alley, engulfing Carr Evans, Darren, Ariados, Scolipede, Bisharp, and Combusken in flames as it erupted onto the street.

Electabuzz, Seismitoad, and Seviper were gaining on her, but a fist grabbed Electabuzz. Before any electricity could exude from it, Primeape's fist was already buried in its chest and its body fell limp. Seviper went in to bite Primeape, but Primeape grabbed its neck just below its skull and, in one single motion, tore the flesh and skin from its bone, flinging its parts to the side. A scream roared out of Primeape as he ran towards Seismitoad, it's fist jolting out to counter Primeape's advance. It was useless; Primeape easily avoided it, and his own fist slammed into Seismitoad's face, who was then catapulted into the brick wall. Primeape then grabbed Seismitoad's red left eye and pulled it out of its socket before repeatedly smashing his fist into what was now a mass of unidentified flesh and water.

Twenty more presses, and he breathed deeply into his son's mouth, trying anything to bring him back. “Come on, you said you were going to kick Lt. Surge’s butt. I need you, Erin, please.” Twenty more presses down and another breath into his lifeless son. “Don't do this to me. Erin, come on!” Seth was now screaming loudly, desperately hoping to see the bundle of joy reanimate and bring life to this dark alley.

“Erin! Listen to me!” Seth yelled out. He pushed twenty more times; he heard Ninetales growl loudly at something, but Seth didn't care who it was. He was bringing back his son.

“I am here to help,” a deep voice said to the side of him, but Seth couldn't dare take his eyes away from his son's face. Was it getting paler? He gave him another breath, but still, there was nothing, just his still form, not even his usually curly, wavy black hair seemed to animate.

Ninetales' growls were silenced as a firm hand, draped in black leather, gripped Seth’s shoulder. “I have a place; follow me.”

“No! I need to bring him back!” He yelled at the stranger, still pushing hard on Erin’s chest; seven, eight, nine.

“They are going to be all over this area in the next minute or so. Bring the boy and follow me.” Seth looked up to see a tall, blond, spiky-haired man; his eyes had crow's feet marking his age. He had seen this man once before when his father left him for the war.

“Let’s go, Mr. Conklin. To my gym.” He got up and grabbed Seth’s pokéball belt as Seth carefully lifted up his small child. Erin’s arms dangled in the wind as his father carried him, running across the street and towards the giant building his son had so desperately wanted to go to, to prove to his father how great a trainer he was becoming.

He would wake up once they're there. There will be an antidote, something. He is gonna be fine. Seth held him closer as Ninetales and Primeape ran next to him, each with one eye on Erin's still form in his father's arms.

IV​

The lights flicked on as Lt. Surge opened the door and hit the switch next to him. A large room with bright red carpet unfurled before him as Seth walked the distance, swiped everything off his desk, papers fluttering around to the ground as he laid Erin softly on the desk.

"Where is the antidote, hurry," Seth demanded, not daring to take his eyes away from Erin. His chest still wasn't rising, but it's okay; he is just weak. As soon as he gets the serum, Erin would be his bright, happy self.

"Antidote?" Lt. Surge asked, picking the papers off the floor without protest.

"The fucking antidote. You said you were here to help!" Seth yelled, looking down at his monstrous frame.

Lt. Surge stood up towering over Seth and began walking to the door. The only sound echoing in the large room was his heavy footsteps and Primeape and Ninetales' labored breathing. "I will give you some time," he said before closing the door behind him.

"Nooooooo!" Seth picked up a picture frame from his desk and flung it as hard as he could against the wall. The wooden frame splintered immediately, and glass shards ripped the picture of Lt. Surge on the docks, smiling with his Raichu next to him.

"Come back to me, Erin." Seth started pushing on Erin's chest once more, resuming the CPR. Ninetales laid down next to Seth, closing him off to the room, creating a barrier from the outside, as if this intimacy would help Erin. Primeape collapsed with his back to the wall, watching his trainer push desperately on Erin, an emptiness that took his eyes.

Seth lost count of how many times he attempted to bring his son back. At one point, Lt. Surge returned, and Seth explained who and where Emily was, but that seemed so long ago. The minutes seemed like hours, and he felt as if he was trying to breathe life back into Erin for days. Each time he counted to 20, he would say, "This time it would work. This time he would lighten this dark fucking room with his smile." Then nothing.

V​

"I’m fine, Daddy," Erin said at the end of Lt. Surge’s office. His pale face and hand were holding his mother's pale fingers as she stood suspended in the air with blood trickling out of her severed legs onto the floor.

“You couldn't save him,” she reverberated softly in the brightly lit room.

Seth was collapsed against the desk, looking, not at his son behind him lying dead on the desk, but at Erin and Sarah taunting him across from Ninetales, Primeape, Torterra, Noivern, Metang, and Rhydon.

“What the fuck are you doing with me!” Emily’s voice carried through the door, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Seth felt tears well up in his face, and his heart just stopped. He couldn't feel anything in his body.

The door swung open, and Emily and Seth’s eyes connected. The defeat written on his face caused Emily's expression to immediately drop, and a questioning frown took its place. Then her eyes lifted above him to the desk.

She dropped to her knees, unleashing an anguished, blood-curling, gut-wrenching scream. She clawed her way to the desk. Her legs were so unsupported that she dropped once her knees completely buckled under her, where she laid flat on the red carpet, screaming. Inching her way closer to the desk, Torterra moved out of the way as she inched even further up. She finally made it to the desk by Seth and gripped the top, taking all her effort just to lift her eyes enough to see Erin’s face.

She dropped again, her back hunched over, and repeatedly slammed her forehead on the floor. “I told him to go,” a bang as her forehead collided with the floor again. “I told him to go.” Bang. “I told him to go.” Bang. “I told him to go.” Bang. She looked up again, blood was seeping down from her hairline into her eyes. Every feeling and emotion was gone from both of them only leaving behind pain. Bang.



VI



The door creaked open again after an unknown amount of time. Seth and Emily sat in the same position under the desk. The blood on her forehead was now dried under her chestnut hair. Lt. Surge’s office was completely destroyed. Papers, picture frames, knickknacks, office supplies were thrown to every part of the office. One stapler was impaled into the wall, sticking out halfway, as more papers lay beneath it. The room was filled now with their eleven Pokémon all out, laying or sitting on the destruction of the room, all centered around Erin.

Lt. Surge stepped over and on his possessions without any notice as he walked up to the grieving parents. “You want to make them hurt?” Surge said simply, looking down at them.

Seth looked up with anger in his eyes as if everything was taken out of him and the only thing to fill his hollow body was rage. “I will watch them fucking burn until I strangle the life out of Giovanni himself” Emily said nothing but had the same fierceness blazing in her eyes.

“Go home, bury your son,” Lt. Surge said compassionately while holding out a Pokéball. “This is a Ralts, when you get home, release her, and she will teleport back to me, remembering your location. I will send word through her as soon as I finalize my target and date. It won't be long. My best informant is already scouting it out. Do you have another flying type?”

“No,” Emily said softly.

“Here is fearow,” Lt. Surge said simply in his deep voice, reaching for another Pokéball on his belt. “She isn't a fighter, but she flies fast.”

“What is this?” Seth asked, still sitting under his son.

“This is the resistance. Welcome to Oak’s army.”

 

[Sarnick18]

Interlude 3
​

Eternal Blue​

And what's left of me, a cavity

At least this space is mine

It's where you left me to die

I wish my blood would slow down

You can make my blood rush

Slow down



- Spirtbox​

"FUCK ME!" Sarah screamed as she pushed on her bedroom floor. The outside light finally filled the dark room, reflecting off a massive pool of amniotic fluid that extended far beyond the towel barrier Seth had created.

"You're almost there, baby," Seth said, smiling at his beautiful wife. Vulpix watched overhead from the bed, never taking her eyes off Sarah.

"If you say 'almost there' one more time, I swear on everything, I'm going to hang you from the tree outsi—" Another push interrupted her empty threats as the pain coursed through her body. "He isn't coming; we've been at this for hours."

"I'm staring at his hairy head! Come on, just one more push," Seth encouraged, trying to focus on his still beautiful, albeit exhausted wife.

"FUCK!" she screamed through another push.

"His head is out!" Seth exclaimed.

"Is he cute?" Sarah asked, gasping for air.

"He's beautiful. Now come on!" Sarah let out an excruciating scream, and the room fell into silence. The moment seemed to drag on from excitement to anticipation and finally to dread.

"What's wr—?" And the room fell into a pleasant chaos as Erin's cries filled the Golden Tails Diner.

"What was he like as a baby?" Emily asked, the spring breeze filtering through Sarah's tree blowing her chestnut hair revealing a deep bruise on her forehead. Ninetales's grey fur rustled in the wind.

He opened his mouth, “it my fault he is dead.” but those words never escaped. Couldn’t as much as he would love to have this weight finally lifted from his stomach, chest, fuck his entire being. He knew the reality. Emily wouldn't help carry the weight, she would use it to finally crush him.

"He..." Tears streamed down his face as he sat in his own backyard, feeling the grass and yearning for anything to be underneath the tree with his family. Yet, despite his sorrow, a smile touched his lips as he delved back into his memories. "He was just exhausting, wanting to be with Sarah so badly. No matter how often I held him, he'd just scream until he was in her arms." He wiped his tears with his arm and stared ahead.

"When did that change?" Emily asked, looking at his heartbreak.

"JUST HELP ME, SETH!" Sarah's scream echoed through the kitchen as she struggled to manage both Erin and her cooking endeavors. A burnt smell hung in the air, determined to underscore her culinary misadventures with wafts of smoke.

"I'm trying! For an entire month, if I so much as touch him, he screams," Seth yelled back. Yelling at her was the last thing he wanted, considering she usually won all their arguments. Both of them were utterly drained.

Sarah's afro swayed vigorously as she moved from the kitchen into the dining area, causing an awkward scene for the patrons. They were hastily gobbling their food, hoping not to be entangled in the whirlwind of their marital drama. "Here, now get the hell out."

Erin's screams pierced the air, even louder. They reverberated through the front door of the diner and echoed down the sparsely populated streets of Westgate. Seth, holding his son, swiftly left town, heading to a green field. The hot summer sun beat down on Seth, and Erin. However his son’s dark skin seemed to emit an iridescent, radiant glow, as if it had developed its unique warmth.

As Erin's cries finally subsided, Seth held him close, studying every feature: his bright hazel eyes and his already wild head of curly hair. Seth dipped his feet into the cool water and released Mankey. Finally, he was just enjoying the company of his son, genuinely, for the first time.

"Erin, I know I haven't been the best. You seemed like you didn't want me, and I was genuinely scared," Seth confessed, looking down at his son. Erin gazed back at his father and the sky, where the sun illuminated his warm aura. "I promise, buddy, I will always be there for you. No matter what happens, I will be there for you."

For the first time in his life, Erin smiled. His dimples deepened so much that Seth felt like he could get lost in the joy they radiated. Erin's hazel eyes reflected the sunlight, and Seth couldn't help but shed tears of love and happiness. He realized that Erin's life had become every aspect of his own, and he no longer had an identity other than being Erin's father, and that was the most amazing thing in the world.

"Are you smiling for Dad?" Seth asked through his tears. Then, Erin let out the wettest, most unpleasant shit that Seth had ever heard in his life. The stench was so vile, so putrid, that Mankey, who took a single sniff, fled so far away that he was almost invisible.

"Do you want to know what the worst part is?" Seth asked Emily, his eyes reddening again as the spring breeze continued to rustle the leaves around them. Emily remained silent, merely offering him an ear to listen, the best thing she could do in the situation.

"I would sacrifice this entire country a thousand times over just to be given the opportunity to change that diaper again." Seth's face fell into his hands, his sobs blending with the rustling of the leaves. The smell of coffee wafted from Seth's untouched mug. He couldn't bear to take a sip of something he enjoyed while Erin lay in the dirt beneath him, unable to enjoy anything anymore.

After a few minutes, a bright white light flashed as a Ralts emerged from thin air. The Ralts scurried over to Emily and presented a scroll of paper tied with a thin yellow string. Without any empathy or compassion, as soon as the paper left the Ralts' hand, it disappeared in a flash.

"What does it say?" Seth asked, staring at the scroll, with the string drifting in the strong gust that persisted around them.

"Tell me another story about him," she responded, pretending not to notice his question or the message from Lt. Surge in her hand.

The diner appeared as usual, clean and with its usual handful of customers dining during the lunch rush. The three older gentlemen, Harold, Benjamin, and Samuel, waited patiently at their booth. The smell of the Lunch Special and coffee hung in the air like a thick cloud.

"Seth, this isn't going to last," Sarah said, her dark fist firmly planted on the cashier counter as she gave her husband her demanding stare.

Erin emerged from the kitchen with a shirt that barely covered anything, as he had reached the age where putting on pants was more trouble than it was worth for a three-year-old. He grabbed the notepad and pen, which sat next to his mother's clenched fist, and made his way to Harold and his friends.

"Hi, Harold!" Erin greeted them with a giant grin, looking up at his neighbors.

"Well, hi there, Erin. Are you getting us our food?" Harold chuckled, gazing down at the child in amusement at his outfit.

"Yup! Okay, be right back!" Erin replied, running away as quickly as he had appeared.

"But you didn't take our order," Samuel complained, his hunger growing more desperate. Erin, however, ignored him as he vanished into the kitchen. He was on a mission to bring them their food, and he'd use any means necessary.

"We'll be fine, Sarah. Please, we have customers," Seth responded, desperately attempting to steer the conversation in a different direction.

"Three families are already dead! Are we supposed to wait until it happens here?" Sarah's intensity grew as Erin rushed past her with a plate of carrots and cheese in one hand, and a glass spilling its contents all over the floor in the other.

"What do you have for us, Erin?" Benjamin warmly inquired, raising a bushy eyebrow.

"Carrots and cheese!" Erin cheerfully announced, setting the plate and glass down, although it resulted in even more of a mess, before taking a seat in the empty space next to Samuel.

"And this?" Harold lifted the glass of a brownish liquid.

"Well, Daddy loves coffee, and I love orange juice, so it's both!" Erin enthusiastically responded.

"Oh," Samuel remarked as his hunger waned. "Did you wash your hands?"

"Yup!" Erin cheerfully exclaimed, lying through his teeth and making it clear to everyone else who hesitated to pick up snacks. Nevertheless, it was impossible not to smile in response to his contagious happiness that seemed to radiate from him.

Once more, the warm wind brushed past their faces as they sat closely together, gazing at the tree behind the Golden Tails Diner. Emily wiped away a tear and unraveled the letter from Lt. Surge, which had simple words scribbled on it: "Saffron City, Silph Co. 2 days, sunset."

"Come on, Seth, let's go get prepared," she urged, struggling to her feet, her gaze lingering on the words etched into the tree one last time before helping him up.

Seth remained silent and looked up. “It's my fault he is dead,” But still those words were stuck in his throat. “It's… It’s so fucking dark.” The unneeded but still true words dripped out through his continual sobs. “His life was my life, and now his death will be my death. I will scorch this entire fucking world, because without that all I have left, all I want is to be hanging from this tree.”

“I know,” Emily answered back softly.

“No you fucking don’t!” Seth said, ignoring her hand to help him up and slapping it away while he jolted up.

“After my sister died. I tried so many times to go into the most inescapable situations to finally let my rage kill me.” She continued, paying Seth’s anger no mind. “If it wasn't for Aggron I would have but I kept living and I hated myself for it.” The wind blew her chestnut hair out of her freckled face revealing fresh tears streaming down, and the cut on her forehead where she blamed herself scabbed over and healing. “It wasn't until Erin that I realized how stupid that rage was. I still want the death of Team Rocket and will be glad to kill anyone of those bastards, but it is so no one has to endure my life. Reasons matter Seth and you still have someone who loves you. Who doesn't want you hanging from that tree.”

“It's my fault he died.” Seth struggled and failed again to get out. He took one last look at his failures under the tree and walked inside.

The tree branches creaked as the wind swayed them back and forth, causing the sunlight to dance on Ninetales, who lay there unmoving. The trunk bore immortal words etched into it, which read:

"Sarah Conklin, Loving wife & incredible mother"

"Erin Conklin, If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever."

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 28
​

Married to the Noise​

I found a place to belong

So I went all in

I walked right in the mouth of it

And never looked back again

The only thing that remains

Through the loss and the pain

As for me, there was no other choice

I’m married to the noise



- Stick to Your Guns​

I​

An explosion of fiery orange erupted from a window halfway up the building. Glass shattered and fell past the crisscrossing design on the building's facade, raining down onto the road below. The sunset cast a crimson blood glow in the sky, and the heat of the summer day dissipated as dark clouds rolled in from the south.

"It has already started; we need to hurry," Seth shouted, dismounting from Noivern.

“There is nothing we can do about it. We had to wait for the chaos to sneak in," Emily replied, jumping off fearow beside a body that had been blown onto the road. The only distinguishing feature of the victim was the black Team Rocket attire. The story of her death was written by the glass shards embedded in their clothes and skin from the broken window five floors up.

A flash of lightning streaked across the southern sky, and the crackling of lightning mixed with another explosion above them. Noivern shielded Seth and Emily with his wings from the falling glass. Seth noticed the few remaining holes from his previous fight with Lycanroc on the S.S. Anne as the glass punctured or fell away further on to the ground shattering.

"Noivern, we are going in. I want you out here to deal with any fleeing Team Rocket members you find," Seth commanded, removing two glass shards from his wing. “Meet us South of the City after everything is done. I will yell out.” Noivern's yellow eyes locked onto his trainer with a menacing intensity. "They will pay for this, right?" Noivern nodded and swiftly took to the skies, whipping Emily and Seth's clothes with a powerful flap of his wings before they entered the main lobby of Silph Co.

The flickering ground-floor lights consistently illuminated a colossal fountain at the room's center. Two art pieces, shaped like Poké Balls with their buttons facing the ceiling, displayed the company's grandeur. They no longer sprayed water from the sculpture; instead, they hovered over several floating bodies. The lights flickered out, plunging the area into darkness, before powering back up and revealing the charred remains of two individuals, their genders indistinguishable, bobbing in the water. Just past the fountain, Erin's lifeless face and eyes appeared not to reflect the rekindled light but rather to draw everything in, consuming it.

"I'm fine, Daddy," he said.

Closer to them, a man in a scientist's white lab coat lay face down, blood streaming from his abdomen and staining the back of his coat red.

"Holy fuck. How many people did Lt. Surge send here?" Emily said, gently kicking the side of the scientist's face to get a clearer picture of his demise. She saw his mustached face was sliced in multiple spots as if something was clawing at it and she noticed a red “R” pinned to his front left pocket of his coat.

Seth didn't hear her; he couldn't tear his eyes away from Erin. His soft voice kept repeating his final words, gradually fading as Sarah behind Seth began to scream, "You couldn't save him!"

"Seth," Emily said, waving a hand in front of his face as her repeated questions remained unanswered.

"Huh?" His eyes narrowed as he returned to reality.

"I asked, how many people do you think Lt. Surge sent on this mission?"

"I don't know. But let's go, release everyone." The lights flickered out at Seth's words again, but the flash of red lit up the entire room, casting deep shadows from the sprawled furniture and desks along the walls in the massive lobby. Another explosion from overhead shook the floor lightly as the lights came back on. Everyone surrounding Seth and Emily stood ready to avenge Erin, their facial expressions devoid of doubt, only anger. Vaporeon walked into the fountain, absorbing as much water as possible. Aggron, Ceruledge, Fraxure, and Ampharos stood next to Emily as she took a step toward the staircase on the far-right side of the room. She passed by two more corpses, an Ursaring and a Torracat.

Next to Seth, Ninetales's mouth exuded blue flames as she breathed heavily, released from her loathed Pokéball. Primeape began punching the ground, faint purple energy coating his fists. Torterra, Rhydon and Metang looked around, taking in their grim surroundings.

"Torterra, I want you down here, killing any Team Rocket member who escapes. Not a single piece of these bastards will escape from this place." He nodded firmly as Seth rubbed a hand under Torterra’s mouth. A glimmer of anger towards Seth crossed Torterra’s eyes, Seth noticed, before turning his eyes back to Erin’s corpse.

"Kill anything that moves," Seth yelled out before taking the first step toward his revenge.

II​

After they made their way up the dark staircase, Seth leaped over the body of another Team Rocket member and the corpse of an Electrike. Both bodies had parts of their faces eaten away, with their skulls exposed under rapidly decaying flesh. A large slash had been cut through the man's body, and the Electrike had leaves embedded in its green skin around its hind legs. The others paid little notice as they hurried up the staircase.

An eerie red glow illuminated the second floor from emergency lights overhead. Two grunts, followed by a Cubone and a Golbat, ran down a hallway to the staircase, attempting to flee, but they stopped dead in their tracks when they witnessed the purple-glowing hands of Primeape and Seth, who stepped onto the floor first.

"Move!" one of the grunts yelled out with deep fear in his eyes, even noticeable in the dark hallway's dim light. Emily and the rest of the Pokémon followed behind Seth, emerging into the main hallway that stretched to their right and an entryway to offices in front of them.

"Rage Fist," Seth commanded with an evil smirk glistening on his face. Primeape lunged forward, driving his purple-covered fist into the body of Golbat, who immediately transformed into a sphere of blood and guts, seemingly exploding upon impact and raining itself down on the floor below.

"Run!" the grunt behind Cubone uselessly yelled out, attempting to maneuver through the wall of Seth, Emily, and their Pokémon. But before he could get close, Primeape's clenched hand collided with his side, sending him flying into the sidewall twenty feet away.

"Please don't!" The final Team Rocket member screamed, crashing to the floor and bowing his head low in submission. Primeape stood over his body and drove his fist down into the back of the grunt's head. The crunch of his skull and the tile beneath him echoed through the vacant halls. Cubone cowered in fear beneath his small bone, not moving and stuck in place as Primeape towered over its small frame.

"Rage Fist," Primeape's fist went up without hesitation, up-cutting into Cubone's lower jaw. His head disappeared into a cloud of gore and his mother's skull, which it wore, splintered into three parts, impaling into the wall behind him.

"Let's keep going up," Emily said, trying to ignore the viciousness of what she had just witnessed.

A crash echoed through the halls behind the entryway at the head of the staircase. "Let's go check it out," Seth said, ignoring Emily, and Cureledge walking away from him. Grudgingly, they followed Seth through the dark hallways, with the red light illuminating numerous different Pokéballs sitting open and unfinished on various desks.

Sarah lay on one of the desks, half of her face charred, leaving only her left eye and ear intact. Her nose was all but gone, and her tongue hung out of her open mouth, detached from her missing lower jaw.

"You couldn't save him," she began to jeer at him without moving a muscle, but she stared unblinking with her one remaining eye. Erin lay on the floor, staring at him as he walked by, his radiant smile now appearing as if the joy had simply rotted away, leaving behind a ghastly, crude grin.

"Shut up, Jerry. I think I heard something," a hushed voice echoed out of a room halfway down the hallway.

"I'm trying, Connor, get the schematics," Jerry yelled back louder than his coworker.

Emily and Seth stood at the doorway to their office, with Ninetales hovering over them, emitting a blue glow from her mouth reflecting off her grey fur.

"Please help us. These kids came in and started killing all of Team Rocket. Please help us," Connor said, his white lab coat swaying back and forth as he made exaggerated hand motions during his pleading.

"Flamethrower," Seth commanded.

"What the fuck!" Emily yelled, standing in the doorway, preventing Ninetales' attack. "They are just employees! They aren't complicit in this. As far as you know they are Kantonian!"

“We are!” They both screamed.

"They are all complicit," Seth said harshly, grabbing Emily's hand and yanking her out of the room, which was soon engulfed in an ocean of blue flames and the burning screams of the employees.

However, he couldn't hear them. Erin stood pale in blue flames, “I’m fine, Daddy.”

"Seth!" Emily yelled, but he ignored her and simply walked past their Pokémon, heading toward the stairwell.

The blue flames changed into a lambent orange and red glow, casting a fiery dance across the walls, furniture, bodies, and the floor. Emily fixed her gaze on the room a bit longer before turning her head back to Seth's retreating form. His Pokémon, including Metang, Ninetales, Rhydon, and Primeape, followed him unquestioningly.

III​

The third and fourth floors were completely deserted, except for the corpses of Team Rocket grunts and their Pokémon scattered sporadically on the floor. At one point, Seth thought he heard a deep roar, and his thoughts briefly drifted to Torterra. However, his trainer's image quickly flashed back into his mind and refocused his thoughts.

The eerie darkness, continued as they ascended the floors. They stepped out of the stairwell, emerging onto the fifth floor of Silph Co. The hallway stretched both left and right before turning sharply. Ahead of them lay another vast entryway leading to a large room situated in the center of the fifth floor.

As they entered the well-lit room, a man dressed in black with spiky green hair yelled out, "Who the fuck are you?" A dozen or so Team Rocket soldiers turned to face Seth and Emily, accompanied by their two dozen Pokémon. Eyes from Espurr, Floatzel, Greninja, Crobat, Darumaka, Scizor, and more stared with a mixture of fear and hope.

"Rage Fist," Seth roared, not in response to the man. Primeape lunged forward, thrusting his glowing purple fist at the nearby Greninja, who had sought refuge behind a water substitute. As the substitute dissipated under the onslaught, Greninja took a brutal left hook to the side of his head. He crashed to the floor, struggling to regain his footing.

A Gogoat slammed into Primeape's side, forcing him to his knees. In the midst of the chaos, Seth and Emily's Pokémon were striving to enter the massive office room. Primeape retaliated with another Rage Fist, his radiant purple hand seized one of Gogoat's horns. He hoisted the struggling creature into the air, delivering three consecutive punches that crunched against the underside of Gogoat's body, causing blood to drip from its mouth.

Upon entering the room, Ninetales sprang forward, sinking her teeth into a young Team Rocket grunt who screamed in terror. Cureledge expertly evaded an attack from an oncoming Crobat, driving her flaming blade into the back of the Pokémon's head. The sword protruded from its gaping mouth before she brought it down, emptying the contents of the Crobat's body onto the tile floor below.

"Water Shuriken," yelled Greninja's trainer, causing Primeape to yelp as deep pain radiated from two spots on his back. Primeape dropped Gogoat's lifeless body, his face contorted into a mask of grotesque terror as his wide eyes locked on Greninja.

Rhydon, now able to join the fray, seized a Team Rocket member, lifting the man's screaming head and mercilessly slamming it into the ground as the body twitched violently against the unforgiving tile floor. Floatzel sprang forward with a jet of water behind him, closing the gap between him and Emily, with the intent of taking down the trainer. In response, Emily urgently shouted, "Defend!" Aggron seemingly materialized in front of her, raising his arms to block Floatzel's assault. In the blink of an eye, he gripped the top of Floatzel's jaw and its tails, ruthlessly pulling them apart, causing the creature to split unevenly in half.

Greninja responded by hurling two more Water Shurikens at Primeape as he advanced, each attack fueled by an even deeper rage. Grininja shadow grew across the ground as if it had a mind of its own. Suddenly Greninja disappeared in a shadow sneak.

“Primeape behind you!” Seth’s voice roared out.

In a lightning-fast move, Primeape swiftly caught Greninja's head, not falling for the deceptive ruse. He pressed his powerful leg into Greninja's chest, forcing it to the ground. Greninja's tongue expanded, attempting to encircle Primeape's bulky form in a desperate bid to break free. Unfazed, Primeape seized the tongue, giving it a violent yank that tore it from Greninja's body. Blood sprayed across Primeape's fur as he triumphed over his foe's futile struggle.

Meanwhile, a Team Rocket grunt cowering behind his Stoutland shouted out the command for a Fire Fang. Orange flames enveloped Stoutland's mouth and teeth as he charged forward in a blur of brown and black fur. Metang, still new to battling, instinctively tried to shield himself rather than counterattack. Stoutland's fiery fangs sank shallowly into one of Metang's limbs.

Metang's cries merged with Greninja's as Primeape raised his now darker purple fist and brought it down mercilessly, shattering Greninja's skull beneath the brute force.

Out of nowhere, Fraxure's claws raked across Stoutland's face, gouging out one eye and compelling Stoutland to release Metang.

"Fraxure," Emily bellowed amidst the chaos. "Guillotine!" Fraxure jerked his head downward, cleanly severing Stoutland's head with one of his tusks.

Complete pandemonium and chaos overtook the office room. Shouts and commands resounded, coming from Emily, Seth, and the Team Rocket members led by the green-haired commander. Primeape had just driven his fist into a Simisage when a piece of plaster came hurtling at his head. In an instant, the top of his left ear vanished upon impact the chunk had with the wall behind him.

"Fall back!" Seth ordered, as more fragments of plaster, flames, poison, electric discharges, and energy pulses flew in response to Emily and Seth's initial attack. They, along with their Pokémon, huddled near the room's periphery. Aggron and Rhydon, who had attempted to absorb the full force of the ranged attacks, found themselves targeted by a pillar of fire advancing menacingly towards them.

"Aqua Ring!" Emily cried out amidst the turmoil, bracing herself against the oncoming inferno. Water surged from the ground and formed a towering wall between her and the encroaching flames. Upon collision, the fire immediately vanished, concealed behind a curtain of steam and smoke.

"Ninetales, Flamethrower!" Seth roared.

"Ampharos, Zap Cannon!" Emily exclaimed in unison. A tiny gap appeared in the water wall, projecting blue flames and unleashing a torrent of blue electricity. The other half of the room was engulfed in chaos and destruction as a result.

The Aqua Ring descended to the floor, and the scent of burning flesh, clothing, and hair assaulted their senses like a palpable force. Seth's grin was mirrored in the flames dancing on the floor, desk, and walls. The ground beneath them trembled once more, but at this point, it was unclear whether it was the result of Lt. Surge's strike team above or Torterra's earth-shaking attacks from below.

"Come on, let's keep going," Seth declared, taking to the stairs once again before Emily could struggle to preserve whatever goodness might still be left within him.

"Seth!" She screamed louder than she'd ever thought possible. It tore through her, cutting and shredding her throat as it escaped into the chaotic fifth-floor hallway. He finally turned to her, and for the first time, Emily saw the fear etched on his face, breaking through the anger and rage.

"Don't lose yourself here," she said, gripping his hand and holding it tightly, exerting enough pressure to divert his attention from the flames and smoke billowing out of the office room they had just left.

"I can't hear them in the chaos," Seth said, breaking his gaze on her to Erin just over her shoulder.

"We have to stop Team Rocket here. I'm not disputing that," she said, gripping his chin and forcing his eyes back on her. "But there's a difference between doing it for what's right and enjoying it, Seth." She walked back with him to the stairs, clutching his arm tightly, fearing that losing her physical grip on him might cause him to lose his mental grip on reality.

IV​

The footsteps echoed through the stairwell. Rhydon's and Aggron's massive strides resonated louder than the others as they followed the more agile group. A purple glow from Ceruledge and Primeape intertwined with the red emergency lights. The smell of smoke started seeping through the stairs. Undoubtedly, it was from the flames that had originated from Ninetales on either the fifth floor, the second floor, or both. Seth didn't know or care; he wasn't even concerned about his safety. A significant fire in the building would lead to more Team Rocket deaths, and that was all that mattered.

The sixth floor fell silent as the stairs leveled out, forcing them onto the floor to search for another flight leading upwards. Seth and Emily waited for Aggron and Rhydon to catch up. The smell of smoke drifted upward and started dispersing on the ceiling above them. The lights in the building went on and then quickly out again, and the red lights pierced through the layer of smoke. Another large room stretched out before them, similar to the layout one floor below. The only exception was a Team Rocket grunt and his Machoke lying dead on the floor. Their bodies were contorted as if a psychic force had snapped every bone inwards, folding them in on themselves. The effect was almost as if someone was folding laundry but had forgotten to take out the bodies first.

Emily turned, with Vaporeon and Ampharos at her heels, and approached the glass windows, looking down on Saffron City. Lights pierced the dark night, and a crowd of people stood below, gazing up at the iconic building that had always marked the city's skyline.

She saw a Tropius floating just a few dozen feet before her, its green body illuminated by a strong orange light beneath it, revealing its green and brown features. Its trainer, cloaked in black, was nearly invisible if not for the gleam of his Pokeballs at his side. And then, the gleam was gone; the trainer on Tropius had simply vanished into the darkness. Emily thought she had imagined it, but even Tropius appeared frantic, looking around as if confused. Suddenly, Noivern emerged on Tropius's back, his legs gripping its wings. Emily saw the orange light from the building she was in shine on Noivern's cyan-colored wings with black holes punctured through them. A purple pulsating energy erupted from his mouth, disintegrating Tropius, leaving behind only its wings still clutched in Noivern's feet before he dropped them and disappeared into the darkness once more.

“Emily,” Seth yelled out. “Let’s go.”

"Yeah, alright," Emily replied. She turned around and followed the hallway they were on for a moment until a small sign hanging from the ceiling read "Stairs" with an arrow pointing up. They climbed the steps and cut sharply as they ascended the second flight, reaching the seventh floor. Much like the sixth, the staircase only ascended one floor, and they emerged into a larger office space to their right, featuring a large desk covered in scattered papers and Pokéballs haphazardly strewn about.

"Seth," Emily said, her hand covering her mouth. "It's not Team Rocket." A young man, no older than eighteen, leaned against the long wooden desk. Blood dripped down his face from some hidden wound beneath his untidy long light brown hair. A necklace hung around his neck, and his khaki pants were torn in several places. Beside him, unconscious, Seth couldn't yet discern if this was fortunate or unfortunate, lay a Blastoise, its steel cannons gleaming in the red light pushed out of its massive shell.

"Hey, are you okay?" Emily asked, kneeling beside him and giving his face a slight slap in an attempt to rouse him.

"I told him to stop," the boy muttered under his ragged breath.

"Who?" Seth demanded.

"Did Lt. Surge send you here?" The boy's eyes sluggishly opened at Emily's question.

"Not me, him. He just uses him. I tried to stop him. He can't take on Giovanni on his own," the boy said, taking a deep breath in an attempt to become more awake and coherent. He placed a firm hand on his Blastoise. "I lost my grandfather. I don't want to lose him too."

"Giovanni? He is here!" Seth demanded, this time with more urgency. His mind becoming more narrow on a singular purpose.

"We'll go get him," Emily said, providing reassurance and cutting into Seth's impatient request for more information. "The building is on fire. Do you have a Pokémon who can help you get out of here?"

"Yeah," the red light from the stranger's belt and dissipated Blastoise. Another red light emerged just behind his Blastoise's Pokéball, and an Arcanine appeared.

"His Torterra is on the ground floor. I would advise you to jump out of a second-floor window," Emily explained to the kid, who was struggling to get on the back of his Pokémon.

"Thank you. Save my friend, please." Arcanine ran past them and disappeared down the staircase through an even thicker cloud of smoke.

V​

They reached the eighth floor, and Seth turned his head, peering through a window to witness a purple beam colliding with a Skarmory. As the Pokémon and its trainer fell from sight, Noivern rocketed past the window, barely even a blur that Seth could make out.

For a moment, the eighth floor stood eerily still. The wall ahead of them, which ran from the window to his right and continued to the left before sharply turning down another hallway, was strewn with scattered papers.

"Seth, come on, we need to hurry," Emily urged, grabbing for his arm.

"Wait, I hear something," Seth replied to Emily without looking at her. Vaporeon was below her ankles, pushing desperately against the smoke-filled staircase.

"Seth, the fire is getting worse. If we don't want to be trapped, we have to do this now," she said, now actively pulling against him. The building shook once again. However, he ignored her request. Her voice was faint, like a distant sound that was barely, if at all, penetrating the wrath that was consuming him, along with the haunting screams of Erin and Sarah.

He took off down the hall with Ninetales and the rest of the group following. Papers were scattered about, and one that Seth saw had a schematic for a Pokéball, but it didn't look like any ball he had seen. This drawing had an "M" on the top of it with what appeared to be two protrusions that were bulging out.

Emily finally caught up to find Seth at a closed door. He kicked it hard, but it stood unmoving. "Rhydon, open this door." With a crunch of wood, Rhydon's head split through the door frame, followed by shrieks of panic from within. As Seth reached his arm through the new hole, he felt for the lock and unlocked the door, swinging it open with a creak.

"Please, we're not with them," one woman with long blond hair in a lab coat begged. Papers and Pokéball parts were scattered and littered all throughout the room.

"We just want to go home. Please!" another man yelled out from behind her.

Seth was about to command Ninetales when he was interrupted by a short, stubby, balding man with a face framed by large glasses. He stood up and began walking toward them.

"Seth?" he muttered in disbelief, as the flickering lights revealed more of his face than the dim red glow allowed.

"Glenn... I... I..." Seth began to stammer.

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 29
​

Breach​

Crashing waves come to swallow us

Wallow and drown in it

Shadows wait to devour us

It hurts to surrender

Leeches lie in wait, but you're blind to it

But you're blind to it

A void that you create, you give life to it

It hurts to surrender



- ERRA​

I​

"Glenn," Emily called out behind Seth, pushing past him and throwing herself at Glenn, wrapping her hands around him tightly. All his colleagues began to lift to their feet and gathered towards the doorway.

"What's happening?" Glenn asked, pushing her back to look at her face. "We heard an explosion, and then Team Rocket started yelling at us to lock down."

"Us and others are attacking Team Rocket. You guys need to escape; the fire is starting to consume the building," she said, holding his hand and arm, thankful that he had stood up before Seth obliterated them.

"Is Brian here too? I can't believe he would agree to this," Glenn asked, trying to look past the doorway behind Seth and Ninetales.

Emily and Seth couldn't meet his pleading gaze; they simply looked at their feet, desperate to not reveal the truth. But their faces, in the dim light, revealed everything.

"Oh. I see," Glenn muttered, not really knowing what else to say. "Did..."

"Is Ava here?" Seth yelled out behind Emily, cutting him off.

"No, Darkrai is watching her at home, but now that the sun has gone down, he is most likely back in his ball. Team Rocket has been growing their presence more and more, making us work longer and longer hours on this project," Glenn answered. "Where is Erin?"

Seth and Emily didn't answer, and a long, silent pause consumed the room until another shake moved the building, causing more employees to begin gasping.

"I'm fine, Daddy," Erin's pale face let out shortly behind Glenn's body.

"Go," Seth answered, pointing to the door. "Get out now." Smoke was beginning to line the ceiling very faintly as the red from the emergency lights struggled to penetrate through. Glenn and all his coworkers filed out of the room, passing by Emily, Seth, Ninetales, Aggron, and all the Pokémon.

"Wait, Emily, Seth," Glenn turned, facing them promptly. "I—look, when you're sure no one can track you back to my place, here's my address." He reached for a piece of paper on a nearby desk and scribbled upon it with a pencil from his front left pocket.

"Okay," Seth took the paper from Glenn's hands. “Torterra is on the first floor attacking any Team Rocket member escaping, I would go first and let him see your face.”

"I'm sorry, Seth," Glenn said, turning his sympathetic face away from them and rushing down the stairs after his colleagues.

II​

As Seth and Emily ascended the increasingly dark and smoke-filled staircase, the atmosphere grew more oppressive. Their vision was hindered as the thick smoke stung their eyes and made each breath a struggle. The encroaching darkness added an eerie edge to their ascent.

On the way to the top floor, Seth abandoned any pretense of checking for hidden enemies. The impending fire would likely take care of them. The ninth and tenth floors passed in a blur, and they finally reached the eleventh and highest level of the building.

Another violent tremor shook the structure while their Pokémon gathered behind Emily and Seth. In front of them, a long corridor stretched down to their left, shrouded in darkness save for the red emergency lights. To their right, a peculiar door with no markings or handle appeared slightly ajar, spilling dim light and echoing with ominous banging from behind.

"Open the damn door!" A commanding voice reverberated from the dark hallway.

"Boss!" another voice thundered in response.

Seth didn't know how many were in the hidden passage and quite frankly he didn’t care. Suddenly, a flash of blinding white light illuminated the entire eleventh floor, only to vanish with a resounding clap of thunder. Rain began to splatter against the window to their left.

"Emily," Rhydon and Aggron panted as they finally reached the rooftop. "What do you think about Ninetales surprising them with a Flamethrower attack?"

"You've already scorched this entire fucking building with her," Ninetales growled quietly, sounding offended.

"Alright, then. Aggron, Metang, and Rhydon up front to play defense. Fraxure, Primeape, Ampharos, Vaporeon, Ninetales, and Cureledge, look for openings as we push our way—" He stopped, coughing on the smoke that thickened with each passing moment.

Another flash of light illuminated the room, and just before the thunder roared, Seth caught a glimpse of Primeape's massive form entering the hallway without waiting for orders.

"Primeape!" Seth yelled in hushed tones, getting only a brief view of the growing purple glow through the partially open door.

"What the he—"

"Wait, no, stop!"

"Golurk, use—"

Seth turned the corner, chasing after Primeape, to find him shielding himself from an oncoming Ice Beam with the body of a Golurk. He then collided his fist into the Golurk's chest five times until it evaporated into nothingness, leaving behind three fallen Team Rocket grunts and four bronze rings Golurk had been wearing. Primeape roared loudly, his eyes glowing pure white. He proceeded to pummel a Cryogonal, causing it to shatter into tiny shards that fell to the floor. Primeape crashed to his knees, one hand sitting firm on the wall until his whole body slammed on the broken pieces of Cryogonal.

“Primeape!” Seth screamed out. He couldn't lose him too. Not after Erin, Primeape has been a constant in Seth's entire life. the only constant that he had ever known. Losing Primeape was an impossible reality to ever comprehend. Crawdaunt took a few steps and its evil aura began to infest the entire hallway.

A purplish steam began to envelop Primeape's collapsed form. Two jets of water soared from Crawdaunt's claws, but they only added to the expanding steam that took moments to begin to disappear. Annihilape's long grey arms twisted as a shrieking cry roared from him. Then, with a force that dented and cracked the tile floor beneath him, he ran towards Crawdaunt. Annihilape flung his arms up and delivered a Cross Chop to its neck, decapitating it instantly, while the lifeless body slumped to the side, revealing the last cowering Team Rocket member.

"Please, I'll leave!" he screamed as Annihilape's hand gripped his neck and hurled him out of the nearby window.

"Annihilape," Seth said, placing a hand on his gray body. The fluctuating fur appeared to be more like smoke than fur as it danced on top of his body, revealing and concealing the scar over his left red eye.

"Ready," Seth asked Emily, who was inspecting Annihilape more closely.

"Yeah," she muttered back. "Aggron, please open the door."

III​

Aggron once more crashed his iron head into the door, finally causing it to give way. With a snap at its hinges, it fell with a loud thud, revealing the remnants of the Silph Co. President's office. The room, once a symbol of calm and order, now lay in shambles. To the right of the doorway, evidence of an explosion of immense force was apparent, obliterating the wall. Jagged remnants of brick and debris jutted outward, forming a menacing, gaping hole. Scorch marks and blackened smudges outlined the edges of the destruction.

The room's interior was exposed to the elements, with the remains of the demolished wall allowing the outside world to seep in. Debris and shattered glass littered the area surrounding the impact zone, creating a treacherous landscape. lightning filtered into the room, casting eerie, irregular patterns on the burnt carpet.

The furniture near the blast site had been torn apart, with splintered wood and broken fragments of what might have been chairs and tables scattered in all directions. A stone Pokéball statue, much like the ones in the fountains downstairs but significantly smaller, lay broken at the feet of the motionless boy Seth and Brian had encountered months ago in the underground tunnels of Celadon City Casino.

One of the boy's shoes was missing, his jeans frayed at the ends and ripped in several places on his legs. His Pokéball belt, adorned with six regular Pokéballs, glittered in the moonlight. His red jacket bore singe marks in several areas. Blood dripped from his nose, forming a thin line that was similar to the blood trickling beneath his red hat. His head rested on his also motionless Charizard's tail, which flickered with a faint, dwindling flame.

"Ah, so we meet again. You're the one who used Ditto against Misty, are you not?" Giovanni, impeccably dressed in a pristine black suit with a red "R" on the front left pocket, stood before them. Unlike the unconscious kid on the floor, there wasn't a single speck or smudge disrupting the organized manner in which he dressed himself, even amidst all the chaos. Next to him, an older man, severely beaten with his once-nice clothes now torn and tattered in almost every inch, lay collapsed at Giovanni's feet. Sarah's body was near the older man, completely engulfed in blue flames that failed to create any light or shadows.

Behind Giovanni, a Gliscor hovered a foot above Erin's lifeless form on the ground. Its black wings blocked out part of the moon, casting an eerie, elongated shadow of its carnivorous form on the office floor. The purple tail dangled back and forth as its unblinking yellow eyes remained fixed on Seth and Emily, who had just entered the office.

"I could not ask previously, however, I imagine I have you to thank for releasing Mew and the other Dittos in my lab in Celadon," Giovanni continued.

A piercing cry erupted from Ninetales as every one of her blue-tipped gray tails stood up, reaching the remaining ceiling that loomed in the office. Flames rushed out of her mouth, scorching the remaining carpet as they rocketed toward Giovanni. The fiery assault crashed and split, sending two plumes shooting out of the building and into the night sky.

Gliscor shook its wings, attempting to rid itself of the blue flames that clung to its back like an annoying pest. It then turned and swiftly returned to its original position before moving with lightning speed to protect its master. The old man's body was now entirely consumed by flames, matching Sarah's fiery form. "You couldn't save him," a whispered voice emanated from the roaring fire.

"Hmm, unfortunate," Giovanni began in a quiet and composed demeanor, as if nothing unusual had occurred, while he gazed down at the smoldering remains of the old man. "I still had a use for the president of Silph Co. Now, before you and your Pokémon, who are clearly untrained, embarrass yourselves further, let me show you my hand." Seth struggled to say anything, engulfed in a whirlwind of rage and anger, feeling rooted to the ground, his mouth seemingly glued shut. Emily, kneeling down and checking for a faint pulse on the unconscious teen, observed Giovanni's authoritative presence. Giovanni released a Pokémon from his belt, the red light emanating on the floor before him. It briefly outshone the still-burning body as it solidified into an Electrode, approximately half Giovanni's height.

"Do you think I give a damn about my life?" Seth muttered quietly as Annihilape, Ninetales, and Metang took up positions around him, ready to defend him and avenge Erin.

"No, I don't. But I'm willing to bet you care enough about her life or the boy's life not to throw it away in a senseless suicide." Seth looked at Emily, who stared at Team Rocket's leader with intense anger filling her eyes. He honestly contemplated whether a slim chance to kill Giovanni was worth risking their lives. "I will be out of the blast radius of Electrode here, and even if you manage to stop this one from exploding, every floor of this building has one, waiting for the signal to go off."

A heavy silence enveloped the room as both Emily and Seth struggled to control their desire to attack and, instead, focused on the hope of surviving for a better opportunity.

"Recall your Pokémon now, or be buried in this building," Giovanni continued in his monotone commands. "Also, Miss, if you would be so kind as to recall that boy's Charizard, I believe he called it out of the first Pokéball on his belt."

Red light radiated throughout the room, reclaiming all of their Pokémon. In an instant, the already crumbling office space transformed into an eerie emptiness, leaving only Seth, Emily, the unconscious boy, and Ninetales.

"Your Ninetales too," Giovanni demanded, still softly but with unmistakable callousness in his voice.

"Ninetales, I promise I will be okay." Seth requested, the fiery glow of Ninetales' breath dancing in his eyes. "He will pay, trust me." The red light enveloped her, and for a moment, Seth thought she might defy the command, but then she, too, disappeared.

"Better. Now, tell me, who are you working for? It's not a coincidence that you and this boy have, on two occasions, attempted to foil my plans," Giovanni asked politely, in contrast to the tense moment.

"You—" Finally, Seth said, standing up and walking slowly but deliberately towards the man who represented everything wrong in his life. "You are the reason they are dead!"

"Who, your family? Please—" Giovanni started.

"You are the reason my son—" Seth screamed over him.

"I'm the reason you had the opportunity to have a son," Giovanni continued, as if uninterrupted. "Now, you insolent child, who sent you?" He began to walk up to Seth, closing the distance with Gliscor hovering over him closely, its yellow eyes darting back and forth between him and Emily. He walked up inches from Seth, so close he could smell his cologne, noticing the cleanness of his suit as if it hadn't just escaped a fiery inferno from Ninetales.

"Fuck you," Seth said, closing the distance even more between them, not daring to blink. A moment of aversion would be seen as cowardice. Anger flooded his veins, completely taking over all his senses. He was no longer in control. Without his own autonomy, Seth's right hook came flying towards Giovanni's face and crushed into the side of Gliscor's hard, purple pincer. Seth first heard the crack of two of his fingers breaking, then the pain rushed up his arm as he clutched his hand.

"Pathetic," Giovanni responded, fixing the collar of his suit to ensure it was symmetric with the other side. "Fine, maybe she will be more sensible.”

"Noivern," Seth muttered, barely even audible to himself in the ruined office.

“It can’t be someone I haven't heard of, the rural parts of Kanto are far too broken and unorganized. Oak was the only possible person who could achieve this level of resistance without any official power." He began explaining to himself like he was solving an incredibly interesting puzzle. “No, it has to be a Gym Leader. But Who?”

Giovanni's footsteps crackled over the glass shards walking up to Emily. "Who sent you here?" His serious eyes were fixed on hers. She had never felt rage like this before and tried everything to suppress her desire to strangle the life from him. "You fucking invite Johto in to rape and murder our people, and you have the fucking audacity—" She spat on his clean suit jacket, the splotch glistening in the dim room.

"Ah, so you know," he said, removing a handkerchief from his back pocket to tend to his nearly spotless suit, a smirk gracing his face. He turned away from her and strolled to the open area of the room, overlooking Saffron City. "I didn't think it was Erika. She managed to overthrow me for a time, but she is far too stupid to organize this, especially after her expulsion of the city. And Sabrina's treason is far too recent. So it was Lt. Surge," he mused more to himself than to Emily and Seth.

He climbed onto Gliscor with ease, hooking one arm around Gliscor's neck and planting his sleek black shoes on the creature's feet, its tail securing him in place. "Regrettable, he is the only Kantonian who knows the truth that I have continued to stay in power. No matter, though, my plan is so close to being complete." Gliscor took to the sky, hovering just outside the building, a few feet from the broken floor. In his hand, Giovanni held a Pokéball that Seth and Emily had never seen before. The fire below illuminated the white bottom half of the ball, while the flashes of lighting reflected off the deep purple top half, two pink protrusions bubbling out, and an unmistakable white “M” gleamed in the light. "Thank you for your help. It's a quick death. Electrode, expl—"

"Noivern, Dragon Pulse!" Seth roared.

“What—” Giovanni's voice was full of confusion as the sound of shattering glass overcame the opening from which he floated above. Gliscor had just enough time to cover Giovanni with its wing as a devastatingly powerful purple energy surged up the building, hitting the bottom of Gliscor’s wing to the top, letting out a shriek of pain. Just behind Seth, he noticed a red light, but he was too transfixed to see if the blow had hit Giovanni.

His hopes were immediately crushed as Gliscor’s wings lifted, and Giovanni’s voice filtered out. “Explosion!” A white glow began to emanate from Electrode. Seth turned around to find Emily lifting the kid onto Fearow..

“Noivern, to me!” The light was now growing bright, almost blinding, as Noivern's claws pressed firmly on Seth’s shoulder, following Fearow toward the gaping hole on the eleventh floor of Silph Co. They were only a few dozen yards away from the building, when Seth turned his head to see every single floor, except the first and fifth, had a blinding light escaping from every possible window.

In a heartbeat, a deafening roar filled the air as the entire building was enveloped in an infernal explosion. The blast surged outward in all directions, a cacophony of intense, roaring flames and booming shockwaves that shattered what was left of the windows and sent shards of glass flying through the darkened night sky.

A searing ball of orange and red flames erupted from every conceivable opening and crevice within the building, like a monstrous, fiery flower blooming against the black canvas of Saffron. The building's façade, once imposing and unyielding, fractured into countless fragments, crumbling into the flames below. Smoke billowed upwards in a thick, ashy plume, mingling with the roaring flames and casting an ominous shadow across the cityscape.

The fiery plume reached upwards, clawing at the heavens, and at its core, the building itself seemed to disintegrate into a tempest of flames and debris. A rain of scorched paper and ash spiraled down, carried by the relentless force of the explosion's aftermath. The flames lashed out in wild tendrils, hungrily consuming the remnants of the structure that had once been Silph Co.

IV​

Rain poured heavily upon Seth and Noivern, quelling the residual heat from the recent explosion. Gritting his teeth, he clutched his injured hand, each throbbing pulse shooting painful reminders up his arm.

In the midst of the downpour, he let out a desperate cry, "Giovanni!" His voice was lost in the tempest, but he continued his frantic search, directing Noivern through the tumultuous night with a wild, sweeping gaze, scouring the dark void for any sign of his target.

Unbeknownst to him, Emily flew alongside him on Fearow, the unconscious teenager still in her care. She called out, her voice filled with concern, "Seth, are you okay?" But her words went unheard, lost in the maelstrom of Seth's fixation on that elusive figure he sought.

Moments passed, and Emily's attempts to bring him back to the present were in vain. It wasn't her voice but the burning silhouette of Silph Co.'s ruined edifice that finally shattered his tunnel vision.

"Torterra," he murmured, his voice breaking through the haze of obsession. With a determined command, he guided Noivern towards the ground, leaving Emily to follow his reckless descent. The searing heat of the fire, the acrid smoke, and the misty drizzle that clung to the debris stung his eyes as they plunged into the heart of the chaos.

Seth found himself standing amidst the desolation of what had once been Silph Co.'s towering headquarters. The remnants of the building's frame still reached skyward, stripped bare of its walls and floors, leaving an exposed web of steel girders. Each beam bore the scars of the explosion, with scorched and blistered surfaces as evidence of the ferocious heat that had consumed everything within.

Rooms and hallways, now mere echoes of their former existence, were reduced to voids between the skeletal framework. The floors, once solid underfoot, had become a charred wasteland of ash and remnants. The flames had devoured wood, fabric, and metal, transforming the stable foundations into warped, blackened surfaces.

Items of furniture, once part of the daily business, lay as charred outlines, no longer serving any purpose. Here, in the place where they once stood, were only their ghostly imprints.

The one important imprint that remained elusive was Torterra's. A mountain of debris, piled on top of each other, stood defiantly against the rain. Despite the blaze and the smoldering rubble, Torterra's cheerful nature and unwavering devotion were buried beneath the chaos, unable to shine through.

"Seth," Emily called from above, gesturing for assistance in bringing down the teenager who was beginning to stir. Onlookers and concerned citizens were gradually arriving at the scene. Noivern hissed, but Seth quickly hushed it, trying to blend into the chaos and remain unnoticed.

"Hey," Emily said as she dismounted from Fearow and knelt beside the kid. His eyes, under a red hat, squinted as he examined her. He rose to his hands, looked around, and, with a sudden realization, lowered his hands to his belt where his Pokéballs rested securely. "It's okay; your Charizard is safe, injured but safe. Lt. Surge sent us."

The teenager got to his feet, one shoe still missing, with his foot soaking in the growing puddles surrounding the smoldering pile of rubble. He turned back to Seth and Emily, and the pain and distress were evident on his face. Although common in Kanto, these emotions remained unmistakable. His facial features tightened again, and he raised a finger, wagging it back and forth, then lifted both hands, forming imaginary horns that bent up and down.

"What?" Seth asked, his confusion apparent.

"What do you need?" Emily asked more compassionately but still puzzled.

The teenager seemed to grow frustrated, reaching into his back pocket and retrieving a notepad. He scribbled the words "Where's Giovanni?"

"Can you speak?" Seth inquired.

The teenager shook his head and began to stab the paper, punctuating his words.

"Can you hear us?" Emily probed further.

Displaying annoyance in his posture, he nodded vigorously and jabbed at the notepad much harder this time, the ink smearing as the rain soaked the paper.

"He got away," Seth answered, his voice filled with self-reproach. They had been so close, but Giovanni consistently held the upper hand.

Ending the interaction, the teenager turned, and a red light illuminated in front of the Silph Co. remains. Charizard, with its tail still faintly burning, materialized before them. As the teenager and his Pokémon touched their foreheads together, sharing a moment of relief, both Emily and Seth noticed a smile forming on the teenager's face, complete with deep dimples that bore a striking resemblance to Erin's smile. It was as if, in that moment, holding his Pokémon, he attempted not only to reflect Erin's aura but to replicate his exact likeness. Seth's heart sank, a heavy stone in his chest.

Perched on Charizard's back, the teenager offered a friendly wave. His long black hair peeked out from under the red hat, covering his warm eyes, and then, in an instant, he vanished into the darkened sky.

"Alright, the crowd is getting larger. Let's go and follow him back to Vermilion," Emily suggested as she took a few steps toward Fearow.

"We can't," Seth replied, and a red light emitted as Noivern disappeared from view.

"What do you mean?" Emily inquired, confused but mirroring Seth in recalling her Pokémon.

"We have to figure this out before going back to Lt. Surge," Seth explained, holding up a piece of paper. Glenn's address faced him, while the schematics of the Pokéball with an "M" etched on the front faced Emily.

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 30
​

Heaven in Hiding​

Counting hours, counting days

I have nothing left to say

These bleeding scars won't congregate

Is this the price I have to pay?

What do you want from me?

I've paid the piper, so set me free

How do I hold my heart on my sleeve

When I can't stop myself to bleed?



- Imminence​

I​

A chunk of the remaining wall tumbled down, sending a cascade of embers into the cold, rainy air. The persistent rain quickly extinguished the fiery sparks, casting an eerie glow on Emily's freckled face. The blaze reflected in her eyes matched the anger that surged within her as she surveyed the oncoming waves of Vermilion citizens and Team Rocket members, all converging upon the remnants of Silph Company's building to offer aid.

"We need to get out of here, Seth," she urgently implored, her gaze repeatedly darting to the Team Rocket members absorbed in the destruction around them.

"Yeah, let's go," Seth replied. On the still-crowded block up from the ruble, he doubted there was a single quiet or inactive spot in the city tonight. He released Ninetales, who glanced around and sniffed the air before lying down, her eyes locked onto Seth's figure. "I'm sorry. He got away."

Ninetales growled loudly in response, her head resting between her front paws. Her gray tails waved wildly, the fiery blue tips illuminated by the smoldering remains of the building.

"Seth," Emily said, her voice shaking as she shook his shoulder firmly.

"Seth Conklin," a man clad in dark attire, from head to toe, stepped forward, followed by five more Team Rocket grunts and their Pokémon. "I thought I recognized your face from the wanted posters."

A Noctowl soared just above Allen Wade's head as more red lights emitted from each Team Rocket member, materializing into various Pokémon. "You were in Commerce City a few months ago with the group of cowards who tried to evade us, weren't you?" His face bore a pleasant smile, concealing the murderous intent that was about to be unleashed.

Seth and Emily remained silent, their mouths agape, with Ninetales crouched defensively between them, a faint blue light beginning to form in her mouth.

"The man who killed Butch Miller here tonight. That's no coincidence. Surrender peacefully, and this—" Allen's mouth still hung open, but no words came out. A woman to his left dropped to her knees, desperately clutching her throat as though she were grappling with an unseen force choking her. The Noctowl above him crashed to the ground, and a Flareon tumbled, losing all ability to support itself, its trainer beside her soon following suit.

"What the fuck is this?" Emily demanded, taking a step forward. Allen Wade reached out, appearing to request a moment of patience, while his other hand struggled to free the invisible force constricting his breath.

Behind Seth and Emily, a familiar woman walked up the street, accompanied by an Alakazam whose spoons were pointed menacingly at the Team Rocket gang. Her greenish hair swayed as she strode forward, her scarlet top contrasting with her pale skin. The vibrations from her echoing boots reverberated through the streets, drawing the attention of the onlookers away from the burning building.

"Having trouble breathing, Allen?" She cast an observant gaze at both Seth and Emily, making no overt gestures of recognition. Yet, Seth felt the weight of her intimidating stare lingering on him longer than the situation warranted.

The crowd surrounding them continued to close in, inching closer and trapping Seth, Emily, and Ninetales in an advancing circle. "Saffron!" She shouted at the encroaching crowd. "Let them breathe, Alakazam. I want them to witness as I reclaim my city." Allen Wade's, his grunts, and Pokémon’s coughing, filled the rain-soaked streets.

"We've allowed these invaders into our home for too long," Allen Wade struggled to his knees at Sabrina’s words but was immediately slammed to the ground by an invisible force as Alakazam's spoons zeroed in on him. "They are weak scum who maintain power through fear." Sabrina emphasized her point by pressing her black boot onto his fallen body.

The crowd pulled back slightly, creating the sensation that the oppressive encirclement of Seth had retreated a full block as the night air filled the void. "What is wrong with you?" Sabrina screamed.

"Liar," a soft voice called out from behind Seth. The Kantonian's face fell, desperately avoiding Sabrina's gaze. Her footsteps felt like earthquakes to the recoiling faces of the crowd as she closed in on the voice.

"You're the rebel who destroyed the Silph Company's building! You killed all those people!" another voice accused from the other side.

"You're pathetic," Sabrina muttered.

"Liar!"

"Murder!"

"Traitor!"

The crowd surged forward like an onrushing tide, engulfing Seth, Emily, and Ninetales, as it closed in to drown out Sabrina. Above their heads, Allen Wade and his group, along with their Pokémon, were lifted into the air, suspended. Each of their limbs seemed to stretch out as if they were attempting to fly away but got stuck mid-flight.

"Then sit here and wait for them to kill you," Seth heard Sabrina's voice echoing from within the encircling crowd.

Allen Wade and all those surrounding him had their left arms gruesomely snap, creating a sickening sound akin to the breaking of bones. Their arms, wings or front legs, pointed toward the burning building to their left, then abruptly shifted their aim to point directly upward. The citizens of Saffron, who were not suspended, let out anguished screams, unable to look away from the horrifying scene.

Another grotesque snap pierced the rain soaked air as the right arms of the suspended individuals contorted unnaturally at the elbow, now touching the shoulder blade. Their legs, which had been pointing downward earlier, twisted at the knee to face Seth. The crowd, filled with terror, retreated from Sabrina, leaving her and her macabre display behind. They fled like frightened children, desperate to escape the nightmare they had just witnessed.

As Seth stood transfixed, he saw Sabrina laughing maniacally, her hand raised in an eerie salute. Her Alakazam joined in, but it was the head of Allen Wade's Noctowl that sent shivers down his spine. It had twisted around to face backward, and what was even more disturbing was that every member of the suspended group followed suit. Simultaneously, their heads snapped backward, their eyes now locked on their own twisted backs, creating a surreal and nightmarish scene.

"Seth, we have to go!" Emily tugged him, snapping him out of his horrified trance. They hurried up the street, putting distance between themselves and Sabrina, Seth glanced back to see the Team Rocket members and their Pokémon with their backs seemingly broken, their feet, if not already broken, touching the front of their turned heads folding like a cheap chair.

II​

As they moved further west through the city, the streets began to gradually empty. They squinted at street signs on each corner, trying to decipher the lettering in the dimly lit night sky. A plume of smoke in the town's center served as a vague reference point, but finding Glenn's place was more of a guessing game. Tall buildings loomed above them as they traversed the city, propelled forward by their determination. Emily caught glimpses of people's faces through illuminated windows—concerned parents, curious young adults, and anxious senior citizens. Meanwhile, Seth consistently saw the visages of Sarah and Erin in every lit window.

Emily halted her hand up causing Seth and Ninetales to stop immediately and look at her in confusion. In an answer a group of Team Rocket ran at the end of the block and continued down the street. She pointed down a cramped alley, explaining, "Let's go this way, just to be safe." To Seth, the alleyway suddenly brightened, as if a day had suddenly emerged, casting a shadow resembling an Ariados web on the ground but he was too scared to look up. The walls seemed to close in, almost squeezing him.

"Seth?" Emily's voice called from a distant place.

"I'm fine, Dad!" Erin's voice shouted out, his face down on the ground with an Ariados perched on top of him. The clicking sounds of the Ariados overwhelmed Emily's voice, and a hand seemed to be pulling him closer to Erin’s murder. Seth dropped to the ground, letting out a scream in protest.

"You're okay," Emily's freckled face broke through the traumatic episode. The night sky dissolved Erin's apparition, and the alley's walls expanded outward. "Just a little further." Seth felt Ninetales' snout pushing against his lower back.

He didn't respond to them, but with Emily's help, he managed to get back on his feet, trembling slightly. They continued to run north, reaching the city's westernmost point until they finally spotted a small sign reading "Crocin."

"Finally," Emily sighed in relief, pointing at the sign. "Seth, are you okay now?"

"Yeah, let's just get there, please. I need to sit down," Seth replied, turning right down the block. As they reached a small restaurant bearing the sign "Iroh's Sinistea House" with the number 88 etched on the glass window above the door.

"The numbers are decreasing down here," Emily explained, taking a right turn at the tea shop. "The address is 2 Crocin Street, right?"

"Yeah," Seth confirmed. The street was dimly lit, but it stretched ahead of them, with illuminated windows flashing by as they sprinted down the sparsely populated street. Once they passed the three-story building with the number 20 on its door, Seth noticed something unusual up ahead. In the darkness, in front of house number 2 on Crocin Street, a small hill had risen from the road, with a tree atop it reaching toward the rainy night sky.

"No way!" Emily was the first to dive onto the hill, which had sprouted four stubby legs.

"How?" Seth asked, placing his hand under Torterra's head, which openly welcomed the warm touch. For the first time since Vermilion City, Erin and Sarah's voices fell silent as he examined his son's Pokémon. A deep gash ran along the right side of Torterra's body, just under its shell. The tree that marked its unique appearance had noticeably fewer branches than Seth remembered. Finally, one of the gray tusks protruding from the side of its head, on the right, had been sliced down to almost nothing.

"As soon as we get back, I'll get you cleaned up. Are you ready to take a rest?" Seth asked, holding up Torterra's Pokéball.

Torterra simply nodded, its eyes, which usually held some mischievous or goofy plan, now appeared tired and drained of energy. In a flash of scarlet light, Torterra disappeared from the street, leaving the three of them to gaze up at Glenn's house. Its pink facade and purple roof stood in stark contrast to the repetitive yellow houses further down the street.

III​

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The door swung open swiftly, and the warmth of Glenn's home spilled onto the front steps. No words were exchanged, just friendly smiles shared between Glenn, Emily, and Seth. While Emily's smile was exuberant, Seth's was more reserved.

Glenn's home initially opened to a staircase leading to the second floor and a hallway that branched off to the living room, kitchen, and an office, which was partially visible through a slightly ajar door.

"Do you guys want some coffee?" Glenn inquired, gathering a pile of forms and letters and neatly organizing them before ushering them into the cozy kitchen.

"That sounds amazing," Seth replied, glancing around the well-stocked kitchen. Fresh fruits and vegetables adorned the counter. "Thank you."

"No problem," Glenn responded, grabbing a jar of roasted coffee beans and pouring a handful into the grinder. The room filled with the clinking of the hand grinder as the coffee grounds dropped into the bottom.

"Not for that," Seth clarified, placing Torterra's Pokéball on the counter. "You saved him."

"He was in rough shape; the entire lobby looked like it was crumbled like paper. There were dozens of bodies, people and Pokémon alike," Glenn recalled as he poured the grounds into a filter set over an empty pot.

"Team Rocket, not people," Seth corrected him.

"They were people, Seth. It doesn't matter if they were your enemy; they were still people," Glenn responded.

"They have forfeited any humanity they once possessed. No, they're not people," Seth asserted, watching Glenn pour hot water from the kettle into the coffee grounds, filling the room with the rich aroma.

"Anyway," Glenn continued, rolling his eyes and realizing the argument was futile, "Torterra had a significant amount of blood streaming down his side by the time I reached him. He started to charge, but after seeing my face, he slowed down and licked me, flashing his goofy smile. I figured... well, I don't know what I figured. I just told him to come with me and my colleagues, and we fled the building. A few minutes later, as we stood up on the street with the surrounding crowd, the building exploded."

"How have things been here?" Emily asked, clutching one of the coffee cups that Glenn had poured.

"Hard. You know when we were on the road, it was always me and the kids, but it was so tough, just trying to survive. Now I have the means to survive, but it's even harder because I'm away from Ava so much," Glenn confessed, rubbing his eyes, the bags underneath marking the exhaustion that had long overtaken him even before tonight.

"Is it because of this project?" Seth inquired, pulling out Glenn's note with the schematics facing up at them.

"Yeah, it has everything to do with that. Please, let's get comfortable in here," Glenn suggested, leading them into the living room. It was crowded, with toys scattered on the floor and Ninetales sprawled in the middle due to the cramped confines of the kitchen.

"So your Vulpix evolved," Glenn noted, petting her on the head.

"Yeah," Seth replied simply, doing his best to avoid the conversation about why Ninetales had evolved.

"I thought they only evolved with a Fire Stone?" Glenn continued.

"Sarah tried to use one on our wedding night, but Vulpix adamantly refused to evolve," Seth explained, looking at her and, for the first time, noticing her age. He couldn't tell if it was just the way the light was hitting her eyes, but they seemed cloudy.

"Where is Darkrai?" Emily inquired.

"In his Pokéball, upstairs on Ava's nightstand. He's practically the nanny for all intents and purposes. The last four weeks have been almost every day, all day in office," Glenn revealed. Seth took in Glenn's words while sitting on his comfortable sofa in his warm house, and a wave of anger coursed through his veins. How could Glenn sit there complaining while benefiting from Team Rocket and still having one child left? His thoughts then turned to Charlotte, and the anger immediately dissolved into shame. He remembered Glenn reaching for a glass shard to free himself from the pain of losing his child. He wished he had a glass shard right now.

A long silence enveloped the room, only interrupted by Glenn's inevitable question. "Did he suffer?"

Seth's thoughts turned to Erin, with Ariados injecting poison into his son's veins and the screams that filled that accursed alleyway.

"I'm fine, Daddy," Erin's voice came from outside the window, overlooking the street.

"No," Emily finally answered. "It was quick."

"How... How did it happen?" Glenn asked, hesitant to hear the truth despite his words.

"He... I think you had a really big impact on his life, Glenn," she began. "We were on this boat, with cheap passage to partake in a tournament. It was Brian's idea. Turned out if you lose, then you're killed."

"Oh. He lost," Glenn looked down at his clenched hands, struggling with what to say next.

"No, he didn't lose, Glenn," Emily continued. "He won but refused to kill his challenger. They killed him for it, and he died smiling." Even as she described her friend's death, which still hurt her to the core, she couldn't help but smile too. His face when he died was just so smug, like he was the first person to figure out what life was for.

“I think that was more Commerce City than me.” Glenn said, then falling silent for a while. Tears fell down his face as he no doubt was thinking about his time with Brian.

"The Masterball?" Seth asked Glenn after a few moments of grief passed. Glenn grabbed the paper with the schematics written on it as he sighed and leaned far back on his couch.

"It's a Pokéball that forces the capture and return of its Pokémon," Glenn explained. He turned his head to look out the window at the plume of smoke still rising south of them.

"Why is that so important? A captured Pokémon isn't forced to obey the trainer," questioned Seth.

"Plus, we have Pokéballs that increase the rate of capturing Pokémon. What makes this different?" Emily continued the question.

Glenn looked at Ninetales lying on his carpet, taking up most of the room before answering and looking back at them. "She is your answer."

"What do you mean?" Seth asked, confused.

"Why is she never in her Pokéball?" Glenn asked, gradually getting to his point.

"She refuses to, unless it's absolutely necessary," Seth responded.

"Right, and it doesn't matter how luxurious the Pokéball is, if the Pokémon resists its pull, they won't be captured or returned," Glenn continued.

"But how does that work?" Emily asked, scratching the top of her chestnut hair.

"Do you really want me to spend the next four hours explaining the inner workings of a Pokéball?" Glenn asked flatly.

"No, I guess not if it's not important," she answered.

"Right, so the Masterball pulls them in whether they resist or not. While that is already amazing for catching a Pokémon, like you said, Seth, it can't force them to obey," Glenn explained, standing up and circling Ninetales, emphasizing each point with his hand gestures.

"Yeah?" Seth answered, confused about where his point was going.

"But it will recall them into submission," Glenn emphasized. "The Pokémon can’t flee and will have all freedom stripped of them. Let's say you are fighting a legendary Pokémon like Lugia, you can catch it," Glenn continued. "And over time, after Lugia keeps going to attack you or fleeing after being released, it is recalled, so much so that—"

"They will eventually obey, just to be able to be out of the Masterball," Emily finished his thought.

"Exactly, its torture through isolation" Glenn said, sitting down, signaling that his lecture was over.

“We need to get back and tell Lt. Surge.” Emily emphasis to seth.

"You're working for Lt. Surge," Glenn said in a shocked tone

"Yeah, I guess secrecy doesn't matter now that Giovanni knows," Seth continued. "We should probably tell him that, but my guess is Giovanni will have moved against Lt. Surge before we get there."

"Let's just hurry then," Emily said, getting to her feet, prompting Ninetales to look up at her.

"Are you sure you guys don't want to spend the night here and rest? Ava would love to see you" Glenn asked, following Emily's lead.

"No, we need to head out. It would be easier to slip out of the city by flying due to the chaos with Silph Co.," Seth answered, walking towards the door. "Glenn, I'm really sorry about Brian. He really did want to get you guys out."

"I know he did," Glenn said with a small smile, opening up the front door for them. The night sky was beginning to take on a purple hue as the sun was getting ready to begin its ascent. Emily and Seth waved to Glenn at his front door before releasing Fearow and Noivern. Then they disappeared into the sky.

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 31
​

Raindancer​

The rhythm of my thoughts

pushing me further to the edge

The echo of my soul

Freezing the soil beneath my feet



- Lifespark​

I​

"It's been well over an hour; I don’t like this," Seth mumbled as he rested his head upon Ninetales, nestled comfortably in the shade of an oak tree.

"I'm sure Fearow got the message to Lt. Surge," Emily replied, idly plucking clumps of grass from the ground under the towering walls encircling Vermilion City. "But it can't be easy trying to get us into the city."

"We don't even know if he's alive," Seth responded, the distant sounds of Rhydon and Aggron clashing in the distance serving as a disconcerting backdrop.

"It seems normal here. If Lt. Surge had been overthrown, we would have at least seen something," Emily stated, rising and walking past Seth to observe Vaporeon playfully frolicking in the lake behind them.

Seth succumbed to sleep as they waited beneath the warm embrace of the summer sun, oblivious to the Pokémon training and battles that unfolded around them. The reality of his world began to blur, and he immersed himself in a dream where Erin's smiling face played along a picturesque riverside with Noibat, Torterra, and Metang. The echoes of their shared laughter filled every crevice of this imaginary landscape.

Suddenly, a loud noise disrupted the dream, and Seth became aware of the bright sun, the warm breeze, and the image of Torterra uprooting a tree root to defend against an attack from Annihilape. His senses tingled, and he half-expected a sleepy arm to flail into his side as Erin often did. But the blow never came, and the harsh reality crashed back in on him. He lay there, eyes tightly shut, resisting the urge to confront a world without Erin. Then, a low growl reached his ears from Ninetales, forcing him to open his eyes and turn his attention toward the approaching woman.

She was dressed in Team Rocket's black attire, with the vibrant red "R" emblem standing out conspicuously. Her arms were raised, bearing nothing, in a gesture to show that she came in peace. Nevertheless, her actions failed to quell the fierce determination in the eyes of every Pokémon, which had instinctively positioned themselves between Emily, Seth, and this unknown threat.

"I am with Lt. Surge," her voice carried over while walking undeterred, maintaining her pace. Five Poké Balls gleamed in the sunlight on her belt, though she chose not to provide any protection. She approached the group's Pokémon, mere yards away, until Noivern crashed to the ground, hissing loudly. His massive yellow eyes locked onto her, but she simply lowered her raised hand onto Noivern's head. With a crash, Noivern collapsed to the ground as her hand disappeared into the white fur covering his throat.

"Who's a cutie? Who is a cutie?" she said, scratching his neck. Noivern's legs kicked wildly as a strange, joyful hiss escaped from him.

Every Pokémon, except for Annihilape and Ninetales, dropped their guard at the scene unfolding before them. "I told you I wasn't with them," she explained. "My name is Holly, and I am here to help you get into the city."

"Sorry," Emily began, walking forward and placing a gentle hand on Aggron as she approached Holly, with Vaporeon at her heel. "Bold clothing choice. You're lucky we didn't attack you on principle."

Holly responded, "There wasn't any other way. Seth, they're still searching for you like mad." She removed her hat, revealing her short red hair.

A flash of red light illuminated the area, and all the Pokémon, except for Ninetales, vanished. "Do I have to return her as well?" Seth asked, running his hand through her grey fur.

"I would. You killed everyone who saw Ninetales, but your wanted poster specifically mentions a golden Vulpix. The unique color of Ninetales might give you away," Holly explained.

"Fair point." With a low growl, Ninetales disappeared as well.

"Great, let's go. There's a lot to discuss. Oh, and Emily, could I have my Fearow's Pokéball back?" Holly held her hand out and retrieved the Poké Ball from Emily. They turned and began making their way down the hill, heading toward Vermilion's gate.

II​

The lights radiated down onto the Vermilion City Gym, displaying a giant yellow battlefield made of steel. Each large sheet was drilled next to another, with faint white lines marking each side for competitors. Statues of Zapdos hung to the left of the entrance. Seth took this in, realizing it was his second time seeing the vast gym, but the first time he couldn’t consciously remember and take in his surroundings. All he could recall from the previous visit was the blurred memory of his son's still form.

"Ah, Seth, Emily, please come in, come in," Lt. Surge's giant frame stood on a raised platform that extended over the battlefield, with two staircases on either side leading up to what appeared to be a larger group gathered on the platform.

"And what if they use a legendary?" A soft voice drifted down the staircase as Seth and Emily followed Holly up to the platform.

"I don't think Team Rocket has them. They are back in Johto, I am almost sure of it," Lt. Surge said, standing at full attention. He was massive, towering over everyone on the platform by a foot or more.

"That is a massive gamble," Sabrina remarked, sitting on a couch across from Surge. Even in a seated position, her aura of complete control was palpable, especially when looking up to the Vermilion City Gym leader. Erika sat in a chair next to her, donning a kimono with flowers printed throughout the fabric.

Holly walked up to a man in military fatigues, similar to Lt. Surge, whom Seth had met on the day Erin was killed. At the end of the platform, leaning attentively against the railing, the boy that Emily had saved in Saffron City had black hair hanging out from under his red hat, partially covering his eyes.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like you to meet Emily and..."

"Seth Conklin," Sabrina interjected during Lt. Surge's introduction.

"Ah, you know him?" Lt. Surge asked, a hint of curiosity in his tone.

"Yes, he won my gym challenge," Sabrina replied with a hint of disdain in her voice.

"I see, I see. Erika, have you met Seth as well?" Lt. Surge inquired, shifting his attention to her. Erika appeared much healthier than the last time they had met. Her skin and hair had more color, and even her once-frail frame seemed to carry more weight.

"No, I don't think so. Hello, Seth," she greeted him. He didn't protest and didn't care enough to correct her; his desire to finish the league challenge was over.

"Well then, you know Red," Lt. Surge's booming voice filled the air as he turned and gestured toward the teenager leaning against the railing, a whistle resting on his black t-shirt.

Red placed his right hand near his chin, then lowered it, showing a flat palm. He followed this with a V-shaped gesture using his right hand against his left, which was clenched into a fist. He finished by pointing at himself.

"He said, 'Thank you for saving me,'" Lt. Surge explained.

"No problem," Emily responded with a pleasant smile.

"Now that introductions are finished, we need to discuss the next phase of the operation," Lt. Surge continued, capturing their attention. “First and foremost, Red, how was Lavender Town? I don't see Dr. Fuji; I am assuming it didn't go well.”

Red shook his head and pulled out a prepared piece of paper, handing it to Lt. Surge, who began reading it.

“We actually knew Mr. Fuji,” Emily said, speaking up. “What happened to him?”

“Red said that he was attacked by Team Rocket and fled to the Pokémon tower there. He doesn't know if he was thrown or jumped, but he fell from the top floor,” Lt. Surge read aloud, looking at Emily and Seth’s solemn faces. “What's this about stones?”

Red pulled out two stones from his jacket pocket. One was a large stone that contained every shade of blue imaginable, with a dark black flame centered at the top. The other, smaller, gleamed with every color depending on how you looked at it. In the center, another flame but hollow with a single line running horizontally through it.

“Do you know what they do?” Lt. Surge asked.

He shook his head and began moving his hands quickly.

“Well?” Erika asked from the couch behind them.

“He says after his Charizard brought Fuji’s body back to his house he found them on a shelf with the name Charizard written under it. He doesn’t know what they do.”

“I actually do,” Seth muttered quietly, drawing their attention. “Misty, the gym leader, had those same stones; she used them on her Swampert, and it made it evolve even further.”

“That’s impossible; Swampert has no further evolution,” Sabrina said callously.

“Look, you guys are the gym leaders. How is it that Misty knew and possessed them and not you?” Seth answered back with all of them simply looking confused and irritated. “But anyhow, I would have your Charizard wear the blue stone, and you the smaller one.”

"Misty had always been in Team Rocket's good graces due to her cruel nature, but that's besides the point,” Lt. Surge answered. “Back to the main point, I've been planning this since Giovanni's takeover, and it's time to finally reveal myself and fight back in the open."

"How do you have the manpower?" Seth interjected, clutching the railing. "The gym leaders we've met, even Sabrina, have had little power to do anything."

"As I was saying," Lt. Surge continued, now with a hint of annoyance in his voice. "I've been planning this ever since Team Rocket took control of the country. I have a little more than a few hundred trainers ready to attack on my order in the city, and with the element of surprise, there should be no issue."

"You don't have the element of surprise," Emily interjected this time. They all stared at her as she brushed her long hair out of her face, revealing a much fainter yellow bruise on her forehead. "Giovanni knows that you sent Red and us to Silph Co."

"And how does he know that?"

"We—I—let it slip that I knew about Johto's presence in Team Rocket. He concluded that you are the Kantonian in power who knew about that," Emily said, standing tall under Lt. Surge's intimidating gaze.

"Okay. Okay. I just needed to make sure I didn't make a mistake inviting you into this army," Lt. Surge replied, slightly recoiling from Emily but maintaining his composure in the center of the group. "I am surprised you know that fact. What worries me most of all is why hasn't Giovanni struck at me yet. It's been what, six days since your attack. He's had ample time, so why did he even tell you this?"

"He really wasn't planning on letting us live. We were nearly caught up in the explosion," Seth explained.

"Then the assault will take place today," he declared, releasing an Abra from his belt. "It's time to deliver the letters." In a blinding flash, the Abra vanished from sight.

"That's a stupid idea," Sabrina chimed in.

"Yeah, we need to plan this out," Erika agreed.

“We can't wait for Giovanni to act, if he suspects me then we don’t have long.” Lt. Surge answered back. “Red you in? For Professor Oak, right?”

Red fixed his gaze on Lt. Surge, pressing his thumb to his chest with all his fingers pointing upward. There was a fierce anger in his eyes that struck both Seth and Emily. To Seth, he felt the intensity of that anger, which only surfaced in the presence of a void, but to Emily, she couldn't help but empathize with it.

"Does this mean the eviction will be today as well?" Erika asked.

"Eviction?" Emily asked, looking over to Lt. Surge.

"After we deal with Team Rocket, we will have to forcefully remove everyone in the city to make room for the Kantonians who have survived on the outside of these city walls," he responded.

"These people are Kantonian," she said, getting to her feet. "You're just going to kick them out of their homes? All of them, even families?"

"They can't stay here," Lt. Surge sat down in a chair behind him, putting his hands together and placing them under his head. "I don't want to do this, but after Celadon and Saffron City, it's become clear to me that the citizens who have enjoyed the benefits of Team Rocket can't remain here."

"It's true," Erika expressed. "My people were sympathetic at first after we saw the horrors in that basement of the Casino. They even held strong in the initial phase of the siege that Team Rocket placed on us. But as soon as the rationing started, they turned on me. I barely made it out alive."

"You two were there in Saffron. I saw you. You saw those cowards turn on me," Sabrina added to Erika's point.

"Being scared, being selfish is not a crime. If it was me and Red, would be the only people allowed here," Emily yelled out, now taking the center between them. "You haven't even begun to think this through. What about the people who depend on the hospital here? What the fuck are you going to do about commerce? I have been here for just a day, and I can see it's dependent on the harbor. Are you going to replace all those workers with people who might have never seen an ocean?"

"We can worry about all of that after we deal with Team Rocket," Lt. Surge responded, still sincerely.

"For how long? You're a militant. What do you know about running a city?" She responded harshly.

"What do you know?" he responded back simply.

"Nothing! But I'm not trying to remove innocent Kantonians from their homes."

"We three have run our respective cities each for over a decade," Erika reminded Emily.

"Ha! Don't make me laugh. You all are glorified mascots. Seth, back me up." She turned her head to him, but he didn't meet her gaze.

"Emily, I gave you your time, but quite frankly, I don't give a damn how you feel about me," Lt. Surge answered, getting back to his feet. "But how do you feel about killing Team Rocket members? Seth?" Surge asked with a knowing and manipulative expression.

"Just point us where," Seth replied.

"I will help you deal with Team Rocket, but I refuse to help you in hurting Kantonians," Emily answered.

"Duly noted. Now then, this is the plan," Surge pointed to a map of the city on the desk in the middle of the platform.

III​

The waves of Vermillion City splashed across the flood walls behind Emily and Seth, filling their shoes with saltwater before retreating.

Fraxure pushed the dead but still spasming Simisear body from his left tusk, and it fell with a thud. A trembling Team Rocket member stood in front of them for a moment before sprinting away.

"Doesn't it bother you that he's forcing us to play bait?" Emily asked. The sea breeze rushed past them so furiously that it was difficult to even see her face.

"No," Seth said simply. Noivern, who was circling the sky, let out a loud hiss before everyone else got into position.

"He is manipulating you and the kid, using his pain to do what he wants. You see that, right? Not to mention this tyrannical plan to empty out the city," Emily said, grabbing his wrist to force his attention on her.

"I do, but it doesn't matter. Like I told you at Sarah and Erin's grave, 'His life was my life, and now his death will be my death. I will scorch this entire world because that's all I have left.'"

She placed a hand on his bearded face, and a tear fell from her eye. But she said nothing. There was nothing left to say, no remedy for the pain, no path to healing.

A sea of black began to flood out of every part of the city, rushing towards them. "Seth Concklin!" A new, blank face called from the head of the small army that was closing in on them. A powerful light overtook the entire boardwalk as Pokémon were released, trapped between the buildings of Vermillion and the anger and rage from Seth, Emily, and their Pokémon. "Recall your Pokémon and surrender!"

"He said we had to hold out for a few minutes to draw out all of them. Are you ready?" Seth muttered softly to Emily, who nodded in return.

"This is your last—" In a blur, the Team Rocket member was gone. The rest of them looked around for their commander, but the answer came as two halves of his corpse flopped to the ground, followed by a rain of blood on anyone unfortunate enough to be below Noivern's attack.

"Dragon Pulse!" Seth roared out. Noivern drew his mouth back as purple energy started to gather within it, drawing the attention of most of the Team Rocket members. Then chaos consumed the boardwalk with multiple simultaneous attacks.

"Togekiss, defend!" A Togekiss used its body to collide with the pulsating purple energy, which simply dissipated upon contact.

A Hitmonlee ran up, launching a rolling kick at Seth, but inches before he could make contact, his body froze in mid-air from Metang's psychic attack and was smashed to the ground moments later. Rhydon stepped in front of Seth, crushing Hitmonlee's face beneath his weight.

A Leavanny began charging up towards Emily, but in a single motion, Ceruledge decapitated the Pokémon and the Team Rocket grunt commanding it. After both heads collided with the wooden floor, Emily heard another voice in the crowd of their enemy yell out, "Shadow Sneak!" A Banette transformed into a shadow on the ground in an instant, reappearing and slamming one of its fists, covered with a thick purple cloud, into Ceruledge's already caved-in chestplate.

She fell to the floor, both blades piercing the wooden planks that formed the boardwalk. In between Banette's hands, a shadow ball formed, but before it could release, Ampharos picked up the back of Banette's head, and the ball soared into the ocean's waves, creating a burst of water raining down on them.

"Thunderbolt!" Emily called out to Ampharos, and a bright light illuminated from Ampharos all over her body, flooding down over Banette until one eye popped out of its head, its body clenched tightly on itself, blisters forming all over its grayish body as smoke rose from the top of its head until Ampharos dropped it dead on the ground.

A group of five Team Rocket members and their Pokémon ran against the railing on the flood wall while trying to flank them. About fifteen yards up, a giant wave smashed into them, knocking everyone to the ground. As the water receded, it was as if the water grew hands, gripping each person and Pokémon tightly until they slipped beyond the railing, leaving behind only their screams and Vaporeon, who was walking on top of the railing.

Noivern was taking on an Archeops, Mothim, and a Corviknight. He had just been blasted by Archeops, lunging a chunk of the wall from a nearby building, opening up Corviknight for a devastating Steel Wing. Annihilape went to shadow punch an oncoming Gengar, but Gengar disappeared under the wooden floor, only to appear behind him and unleashing a Shadow Ball that collided with his backside. His fur and skin twisted and contorted, and blood sprayed to his feet.

"Seth! There are too many!" Emily called out from behind Aggron's defensive stance as enemy Pokémon closed in, trapping them closer to the railing. More Team Rocket members started flooding onto the boardwalk, surrounding them.

"Fall back!" He roared out in response. Just as Annihilape, the furthest Pokémon from them, closed the distance, Ninetales leaped out from behind Torterra and unleashed an ocean of blue flames that danced over them. However, it was useless. Inteleon, Politoed, and Gastrodon stood ahead of Team Rocket's Pokémon. Just before the flames hit, each of them pulled the ocean below the boardwalk, creating a vast wall of water that the flames pummeled against and then snuffed out.

"Fraxure, come back!" Emily called out. The small Pokémon walked out against the armada of Pokémon closing in, its eyes shining a bright white. A Vespiquen darted toward him, its clawed arm locked back to attack Fraxure. Purple flames started to swirl around him, and just as Vespiquen tried to strike, Fraxure's tusk impaled its head, and disappeared behind the growing ball of purple fire.

Haxorus emerged from the flames, its yellowish-green scales reflecting the sun's light as it stood in front of the group, roaring at the flood of enemies surrounding him.

"Guillotine!" Emily called out over Noivern's scream of pain as it got slammed by another Corviknight's Steel Wing. The three Water Pokémon, Inteleon, Politoed, and Gastrodon, whose heads fell to the ground, followed by their bodies. A jet of pulsating purple energy collided with Haxorus, dropping him back from a Turtonator.

It was hopeless. There were just too many. Seth looked at Rhydon's back as he stood stoically with his arms up, blocking a flying brick. Ninetales was bellowing another blast of fire, trying to hold back the oncoming storm of Pokémon, burning a Spidops, its greenish long arms incinerating to ash but soon replaced by a Zangoose.

IV​

Two short, piercing whistles faintly echoed as gray storm clouds crept over the Team Rocket army. Noivern was soaring once again, charging despite the three deep gashes on its bleeding body. Flames collided with the Corviknight, causing its body to turn bright red as it fell from the sky, crushing two Team Rocket members and a Nidorino. Charizard, with Red on his back, flew low, accompanied by two more faint but sharp whistle sounds from Red, followed by a pillar of fire that scorched the middle of the attacking Team Rocket group.

A chorus of screams filled the sky but was eclipsed by a roaring, "Thunder!" Seth could barely see the top of Raichu as a blinding lightning strike hit the left flank of the Team Rocket force.

Before he could comprehend the chaos, another command from Lt. Surge was heard, "Wild Charge." Lightning pummeled the left side where Lt. Surge was standing, followed by his Electivire, running through the crowd as Team Rocket grunts and their Pokémon fell dead, victims of either the electricity stopping their hearts or the fierce impact of the colossal Electivire colliding with their meager frames.

Emily heard more screams from the right flank as a pink mist began to flood and hover just overhead. A dozen Pokémon or so, followed by their trainers, began to rise in the air, stiff and rigid, before their bones cracked and their bodies folded inward.

The last thing Seth and Emily heard before refocusing on the battle was a charging cry from what seemed like a giant army of people. Ninetales spat fire at the turned targets, sinking them into an ocean of blue flames. Noivern finally gripped the Archeops, tearing the ancient Pokémon's head from its shoulders with an iron grip.

Torterra stomped on a charging Doublade, its steel hilts cracking under its immense weight. Annihilape, without any commands, jumped back into the fray, sinking its fist into numerous targets' chests. The Team Rocket force slowly dwindled as Lt. Surge, Sabrina, and Erika, along with the accompanying army, pushed further and further into the surrounding force. Noivern and Charizard attacked from the sky, creating a circle of chaos for the last moments of their enemies.

V​

"Please, you can have the city. We'll leave, just let me live," pleaded the last Team Rocket member, a young girl with flowing black hair that was singed, her face so covered in soot it was as black as her hair. Erika's Breloom tore through her skull, collapsing her body onto the ground.

What was left amidst the dozens upon dozens of corpses that littered the boardwalk was Lt. Surge, standing in the center, surrounded by his army, Red, Erika, Sabrina, Seth, Emily, and their Pokémon. There was so little open space to stand that they squeezed the bodies further onto the wooden floor, the blood dripping into the sand and water beneath.

"Alright, that was great. We need to split up now," Lt. Surge bellowed out, standing on a pile of bodies for even more height than his already imposing stature gave him. "Erika and her team, you are taking the residential areas to the left of the city." Erika stood on top of Tangrowth and began marching forward with her small army of trainers and their Pokémon beside them.

Sabrina hovered in the air for a moment below her Alakazam, with Musharna close beside her. "My team, we are hitting the industrial sector to the right!" She disappeared as she was lowered, leaving behind only heavy footsteps.

"My team!" Lt. Surge roared out. "We hit downtown. I'd like to keep civilian casualties low, but we need to rush this evacuation. That takes priority." Emily watched him with disdain as he disappeared as well, with only his faint voice echoing behind him. "Red, close down this harbor."

The boy got back on the back of his Charizard, the same fire burning in his eyes, before taking off into the sky. Seth and his Pokémon began walking into Erika's group before being stopped by Emily grasping for his wrist.

"Don't do this, Seth," Emily begged.

"It's what needs to happen to get rid of Team Rocket. I thought that's what you wanted," Seth replied.

"Not like this. We aren't them. Please, Seth, you're a good person. Don't do this." Tears started to seep down her face as a giant wave collided with the flood wall, splashing water around them.

He didn't respond but shook his head before attempting to leave her, until she pulled him back even harder.

"You saved me from the Brute! You gave Brian a family after he lost his. You traveled through a mile of fucking shit to save your son! You have good in you, don't do this!"

"I am the reason Erin is dead!" Seth yelled out finally, pulling his hands back furiously and looking at his family apparitions over her shoulder. "Because I killed that awful piece of shit who took my wife from me, they killed him!" The thing he had been dreading to tell Emily spilled out into the open. Instead of a weight being lifted, it felt as if the entire world was now crushing down on him as he looked into her tear-stricken face.

"You don't think I don't know that? You came back with blood-soaked hands, and the next day I found the boy that I loved dead."

"Then why didn't you just leave me then? Why even try to explain that there is this good inside me, when you know there isn’t.”

"Because you are my family. You're all that I have left, and you are the reason I am still alive today. You saved me," Emily said, grasping for his hands.

These parasites in the walled cities don't get to live in their safe confines, while my family is underground. The only reason I breathe is to kill Giovanni and destroy Team Rocket. I will do whatever I can to achieve that," he turned away from her and situated himself between Ninetales, Primeape, Torterra, Rhydon, and Metang, with Noivern flying above them disappearing in the hollow depths of the city.

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 32
​

Isolate​

The only dream I chased this year

Was to isolate and disappear

It seems I got my wish now that there’s no one here

So now I’ll just hibernate and sleep away the days

Maybe I’ll wake up and the loneliness will have melted away



- Halcyon Wander​

I​

"No, this is my home!" A woman held her baby in her arms on the front porch while Seth observed two men, accompanied by a Golem and an Avalugg. Smoke was rising from some middle point in Vermilion City.

"Like we just told you, the city is being evacuated. You can grab what's important from your home and leave, or you will be forced," one of Surge's men responded, now placing his foot on the first step of the simple but pleasant home. The baby's cries echoed and carried through the front yard to the road where Seth was standing, observing the solemn faces walking past him.

"Drilbur, NO!" She yelled out over her baby's cries. The small Pokémon with his long claws pointed to the darkening sky, leapt from the front door, missing his target, and rolling on the ground beneath the trainers' Golem. The next moment, Golem's foot stomped hard on the ground, and a stone edge ripped from the ground, piercing the midsection of Drilbur, spilling his blood on his front yard.

"I won't tell you again," the man said harshly, looking back from the carnage behind him. Her tearful face fell behind the slamming of the front door, and Seth picked up his feet again, making his way down the road, following the flood of refugees he was helping force out.

Most people had a bag or two draped over their backs. Some were parents around his age, clutching for their kids as they left behind their happy memories. Others, younger teenagers, walked with their siblings, looking around at the chaos of the city, competing to see who could have a more fear-stricken face. The wall that they always associated with security and prosperity now loomed dauntingly in front of them.

An older man fell to the ground a few yards up from Seth and was helped up by his even older-looking Poliwhirl. He clutched in one hand, which he could have dropped to help break his fall, but he didn't dare put it in harm's way, a goldish urn that shined in the setting sun.

"Hey," Erika called out to Seth from a nearby building. Three families scurried down the steps of their apartment building while her Leafeon carried down the steps behind them, blood trickling down her green leaf tail. "Check that building." She pointed to a structure on the corner with glass windows that danced in the light, with a sign that read Vermillion Coffee Shop swaying in the gentle summer breeze and the violent migration happening under it.

"Annihilape, with me. The rest of you stay out here, okay?" Seth's empty face turned away from his Pokémon and pushed the shop's door open. The lights were out, but the setting sun drifted in from the walls that were mostly windows. Booths and tables littered the floor. Sarah was floating behind the counter, a scene he could remember vividly, accepting payment from patrons and greeting them with that warm smile of hers.

However, the face that greeted him was long past decayed. Her dead eyes locked onto him, and her once bouncy hair remained firm from the dried blood. A wound opened up in her abdomen as more blood began to plunge to the ground beneath her. "You couldn't save him."

Seth didn't respond but turned his head to find the way to go deeper into this cafe to find the undoubtedly home that resided in it. Erin was kicking his feet from a nearby booth. His neck was just as decayed as Sarah's. His head snapped towards Seth almost instantly. "I'm fine, Daddy."

Annihilape made a grunting noise from the left side of the room and began moving his head towards a dark hallway. Seth tried his best to ignore the cries from his dead family that filled the dining area before seeing the hallway that led to a stairwell. The walls were narrow as it swirled up to an eerily quiet living space.

It was cluttered with clothes and toys all over the floor, tables, couches, and chairs. He walked further into the living room that the stairwell emptied into and couldn't help but feel uncomfortable from the quietness that lived there. It was as if something was desperately hiding, commanding the building not to make a single sound. Annihilape followed closely behind them as he pushed the door open into the master bedroom.

It was unmistakable; he heard a muffled cry from beneath the bed. The floor creaked beneath him and Annihilape's footsteps, and he pointed towards the bed.

With a crash, Annihilape flung the bed from its position into the wall behind it. The bedpost impaled the plaster and stood fixed and unmoving. Underneath, a woman no older than him, gripping her daughter's mouth, began to cry.

Seth took a step closer to them, and she threw herself in front of her daughter. "No, please. Don't hurt her. Please." Annihilape stood above them from the side, waiting for the command that never came. Seth thought he would feel anger at these people—the ones who betrayed their country, left for Team Rocket to feast on their starving, decaying bodies. He wanted to watch Annihilape tear them limb from limb, the cowards who lived a happy life with their families while everyone around him died, whether from war, sickness, or ruthless hatred. It was like a ball of fire that sat heavily in his stomach, eager to unleash on them, on everyone. But the little girl's eyes, full of fear, looked so much like Erin’s in his last moments.

The ball of fire in his stomach soon turned to vomit as he wretched on the floor. Could he be as bad as the people who killed Erin? Is that what this mom and daughter thought of him? While they lived happily in this pleasant space, his son was murdered by the people who gave them this livelihood. They had the audacity to look at him like he was the monster.

A red light enveloped Annihilape, and as his Pokémon gave him a questioning look, he could have sworn a faint relaxed expression took over him before he disappeared into his Pokéball.

"Hide in here for as long as you can. When people start coming into the city, try to blend in," Seth said as he walked towards the door. The mom's shaking hands struggled to support her weight, and her daughter's hands wrapped so tightly around her that Seth was surprised if the woman could even take a breath. "I’m sorry for scaring you," Seth said to the daughter, whose eyes were just barely peeking out behind her mom's long black hair.

II​

The flood of scared citizens moved and converged with other groups of refugees northward. Seth recalled everyone but Ninetales and wrestled with the internal battle within him. He watched one of Surge’s men kick an older man to the ground, who had no one there to help him as everyone on Seth’s side of the coup d’etat either laughed or turned a blind eye.

These people deserved it; he had seen so many cities now reveling in the ignorance of what their fortune was built on. But all their homes that they left behind looked down on Seth with judging eyes as the towers grew taller, leaving the residential section of the city and melding into the commerce sector on the northern end of Vermillion.

On one occasion, Seth saw a man shove a scared young woman back into her home as a creepy smile glistened on his face before disappearing into the home behind her, but Seth continued to keep walking away from her unheard but undoubtedly real cries for help.

He felt like throwing up once again as the heavy feeling set in his stomach once more, but it wasn't hot. It was caused by the anger he felt for these people being evicted from their homes but pity.

One absence was definitely felt, however, from everyone on their march forward: Team Rocket. Surge’s trainers surged with joy as the cowards most likely stripped off their uniforms and hid with the refugees. While there were definitely more Team Rocket members left than Lt. Surge’s army, they were too unorganized and disappeared to mount any sort of counter-attack. To the refugees, Team Rocket’s absence just weighed down the burden of the hopeless situation as each step crashed down their reality even further.

Street lights flickered on, illuminating the gloom that swept over the city, forcing the wave to wash up the street to the north wall. It collided and slowed as the huddle of masses bottlenecked at the gate that once kept them safe.

“How could you do this?” A woman struggling to hold all her possessions but still holding a fist rang out in anger at Lt. Surge, who stood atop a platform over the gate witnessing the forced exodus of his citizens.

“You Bastard!” another voice rang out as he kicked the steel beam holding the structure Surge was standing on upright. No matter the anger that was bellowing out, the kick, the structure, and the City’s gym leader stood unmoving.

Lt. Surge said nothing to the thousands of scared, angry cries that erupted under him. He simply stood like a stone statue, watching over the pain without absorbing an ounce of it. Each cry, yell, or desperate plea bounced off his strong stature, following behind the continual flood of citizens into Route 6.

The last citizens walked out into the cool summer air as the gate to the city slammed shut to a tear-stricken child that took his last glimpse at his home. The sound that echoed the city, following up with the gate's slam, was nothing of sympathy but cheers and celebratory calls for their fearless leader descending the ladder.

“Very well done, all of you. That went fairly smoothly.” All the trainers kneeled down under him, making him seem even larger than he was. “Erika, if you could take a few volunteers to strengthen the wall, I would appreciate it.” She stood up elegantly and released Tangrowth, Venusaur, and a Cradily. A glow of red briefly took hold of the end of the road as the group sat under the towering wall.

“Help Erika, meet me back at the gym,” Seth said to Torterra after he released him from the Pokéball. A couple dozen men stood up and followed Erika, disappearing behind the buildings.

“We need to prepare for the arrival of new trainers to our ranks in Oak’s army. I have sent my message to all the surrounding towns and villages to people I have spent the last decade preparing for this exact event. Soon we will take the fight to Giovanni and finish what Professor Oak has started!” A roar of applause exploded, intensifying Lt. Surge’s speech. “All of you, get some rest. Tomorrow we will scavenge the city in preparation. Be on guard for anything; I want everyone to be in groups of no smaller than four. Go!” The group disappeared in all directions with a variety of Pokémon tailing behind.

“Seth,” Lt. Surge walked up to where Seth was sitting. “Walk with me back to the gym.”

III​

The night grew colder as the sea breeze gusted through the canyons formed by the towering buildings. Ninetales' fur blew wildly, while Raichu sought solace, trailing closely behind her large trainer. “You disagree with my actions?” Lt. Surge asked Seth, breaking the awkward silence that had grown between them.

Seth simply shrugged his shoulders not giving a response as his thoughts drifted back to that girl and her mother's eyes filled with true fear. “How do you plan on overthrowing Team Rocket?”

“Viridian City. We need to take it,” Lt. Surge said simply, as if this was only a minor inconvenience.

“You don't have enough people for that,” Seth answered.

“Which brings me to a favor from you. How many badges do you currently have?” Lt. Surge asked.

“What does that have to do with Team Rocket?”

“Humor me, please.”

“Five.” Seth pulled out the badge case and opened it, revealing the badges that shined under the city streetlights. He looked at them with anger at how much it cost him, how far he had to go just to get these badges. Then his thoughts drifted to his son.

“Good, well, you will be needing this then.” Lt. Surge pulled out a yellow badge that looked like a radiant sunflower with a deep orange gem in the middle. He took the badge from Surge’s massive hand with such ease. Was that all it took? His son’s last moments were filled with anticipation to fight for the piece of junk that only represented the failure he had accumulated. A month ago, these badges were the second most prized possessions he owned; they represented Erin’s freedom, and now they just echoed his misery.

“What do I need this for?” Seth responded after he pulled himself from the self-loathing hole he too often placed himself in.

“You need six badges to get to Cinnabar Island. I want you to escort Red, and both of you challenge Blaine. I don't care if you win or not, although Red will undoubtedly win.”

“If I am not there to win, why do we have to challenge him?” Seth asked.

“I need you to convince Blaine to join the attack on Viridian City in two months' time.” Raichu climbed up Lt. Surge's back as they continued to walk through the deserted city.

“Three months seems ambitious,” Seth replied.

“You know about Johto, but I’m curious, do you know why they are imperialising us?” Lt. Surge asked him.

“Koga explained to me that we started the war,” Seth said.

“He isn't wrong, but no, there is more to it. For one, Silph Company is the world's largest supplier of Pokéballs. Sabrina taking Saffron back was always a long shot.”

“Then why did you have me, Emily, and Red attack the Silph Company?”

“I needed to know what they had planned and why Giovanni was so keen on taking over the company. Now I know the—”

“Master ball,” Seth finished Lt. Surge's thought.

“Yes, the Master Ball. Red informed me of it. But that isn't the only reason. It's also controlling all legendary Pokémon, and very recently, they took Zapdos, the last remaining Legendary. With that amount of military might, I believe Johto is planning on officially invading, and soon. I need to overthrow Team Rocket before that happens.”

“So that's why you don't care about the state of Vermillion City. You're planning on leaving the city anyhow,” Seth asked.

“Yeah, your friend Emily is sharp. She might hate me, but I wish I had her in my army earlier on. She is a force to be reckoned with. Still, I think she should go with you all; she kinda scares me.” Lt. Surge laughed at himself for the irony of words and then refocused his conversation back to Seth.

“I need this city for a short time to prepare for an attack and can’t risk the current citizens who have only benefited from Team Rocket to help them. People like you in the outskirts or rural parts of Kanto have been hit the hardest these past ten years. It's your guys' anger that I need to take down Giovanni,” Lt. Surge said.

“And if we fail to convince Blaine?” Seth asked.

“Then it becomes that much harder, but we don't have much of a choice other than moving forward,” Lt. Surge answered.

“Do you feel like this coup was too easy?” Seth asked. The thought has been eating at him since their first attack on the Boardwalk this morning. After that, Team Rocket's forces simply dissolved and hid like they weren't prepared at all. But that seemed far-fetched as Giovanni knew about Lt. Surge.

“Yes, and it is terrifying me. But like I just said, the only path we have is forward.” The gym emerged before them as they turned down another block. “Please take care of Red when you three leave tomorrow. The secret to saving Kanto is with him; that I am almost sure of it.”

Seth paid more attention due to Lt. Surge’s words, to Sarah and Erin who have been appearing randomly during this entire walk. “I'm the last person who should be trusted in protecting anyone,”

Seth answered back as he looked at his son’s corpse lying on the floor whispering, “I’m fine, daddy.”

“I am sorry about your son, Seth. I truly am.” Lt. Surge’s demeanor relaxed significantly with a deep empathy that portrayed true understanding.

IV​

Seth walked into the dark hotel room that Holly explained Emily went to. The only light that streamed in was the faint white glow of the crescent moon and a few stars that overlooked the still-vacant city.

Emily was asleep on one of the beds with Vaporeon curled at her feet. The room was similar to all the others they had stayed in over the past year, but it seemed so much emptier without Erin to bring the room's plain existence joy and warmth.

Ninetales followed into the room behind him, and despite her warm breath, ever since Erin, her presence only emitted more cold sad anger.

Seth didn't wake up Emily, didn't want to feel her wrath that he rightly deserved. He simply laid into the empty bed beside her, rubbed his hands through Ninetales' fur as she lay beside him, and thought of the mother and daughter. Did they get discovered? Did he make a mistake in not evicting them from their home? Is he or would he have been the Butch Miller to their lives? Darkness overtook him, and his dreams made the isolated room seem like a paradise.

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 33
​

Stoke the Fire​

Feel my pain and your whimpers of broken mind

And slow I fade as the darkness inside you shines

I promise not to fight if you say you don’t like it

I'll bet you can’t, I'll bet you can’t



- Seether​

I​

The waves of the ocean crashed around the boat as it sped along against the current south. The Kanto Gulf laid behind them. The only thing ahead of Seth, Emily, and Red was the open water that surrounded them on every side. Red stood on the walkway of the small boat, pushed by a Dondozo and carried by the strong sea wind colliding with the Lateen sail.

Seth and Emily sat in the cockpit, watching in fascination as Red trained at the bow of the ship. Another long, piercing whistle rang out, and a ball of water surrounded Lapras, who was floating in the ocean beside the sailboat. Charizard broke through clouds being commanded by 2 short bursts from Red’s whistle, followed by a pillar of flames that slammed into Lapras' defenses before disappearing into the clouds again.

"What the fuck is he doing!" Emily yelled out as Red jumped off the boat. She made her way to the left side to watch Red swim up to Lapras and climb on its back.

Seth saw the joy gleaming in Red's face. His smile was huge as he pressed his hand against Lapras’ neck to support himself. His eyes seemed so full of life rather than the empty rage he saw both in Saffron and Vermillion. The joy that Red was emanating seemed almost blinding to Seth's empty heart. Even more blinding than the summer sun bearing down on him.

Red light illuminated next to him as a Hitmonchan emerged on the back of Lapras. Two short bursts tore out of Red’s whistle, and Charizard emerged once again, darting toward them. repetitive whistles rang out, and Hitmonchan sprang into the air with a fist cocked back, yellow lightning crackling around his hand. Charizard was closing the distance, only feet away until Hitmonchan's fist blitzed through the air but hit nothing as Charizard dodged out of the way in a blur. Two more short whistles encompassed the air of Lapras as Hitmonchan and Charizard went at it again and again, but he was never able to hit his target. Finally, two more whistles rang out, but Charizard appeared out of the clouds to an empty sky as Hitmonchan remained rooted towards Lapras's back.

Seth couldn't see what Red was doing with him, but the two stood still looking at each other for more than a few moments as Charizard circled above them. Finally, Red blew through the whistle again, resetting the attack by Charizard as he disappeared and then reappeared out of the clouds, and Hitmonchan sprang into the air.

His fist was cocked back, and electricity ripped and crackled through the air. Charizard began going left to avoid, but at the last second, flapped his wings hard, dodging right. However, Hitmonchan saw the evasion, and his fist collided with Charizard’s chest, sending the giant Pokémon rocketing into the ocean below. Hitmonchan fell on top of Lapras’s back, jumping up and down, along with Red, whose dimples were so pronounced that both Emily and Seth could see them from the sailboat. Charizard emerged out of the water, the stone reflecting the sunlight as it was snuggled in a metal bracelet, and flew close to Lapras. Seth thought he would see anger in his eyes, but they were wide, prideful, as the group celebrated.

The red light sprang out from Red’s belt as he climbed up the ladder, while Lapras, Hitmonchan, and Charizard disappeared into their respective Pokéballs.

“How often do you fucking train like that?” Emily asked, fascinated by what she had just witnessed.

Red held up his index finger and twirled it in the air a couple of times as he looked at Emily and Seth’s confused faces. He then reached into his bag and wrote down the word "always" in his notebook.

II​

The food was becoming blander on their last day of the journey, but they all sat in the cockpit of the sailboat as the captain, who remained silent pretty much the entire trip, kept moving forward.

“How old are you?” Emily asked Red as he ate his sandwich, with the gust of wind blowing the hair out of his eyes. He held up his hand with the three middle fingers sticking up, with both his thumb and pinky touching. But after looking at Emily’s confused face once more, he got out his notebook and wrote sixteen.

“Why are you out here and not at home?” Seth asked before getting slapped in the arm by Emily for being insensitive.

He shrugged and began writing furiously. Seth was so shocked by the boy's appearance; he had seen him on more than one occasion bring down a storm of fire on anyone who opposed him, but he looked so young and innocent as he scratched down his backstory in the notebook. His tongue poked out of the side of his mouth as he absentmindedly scribbled down words on the page before handing it to them.

“My dad disappeared when I was young. I don't really know too much about him, but my mom took it hard. I doubt she even realized I left. My neighbor’s grandpa was Professor Oak and he raised me, officially taking me in when I was 10. He showed me everything I know. After he died, I started completing the League challenge because I didn't really know what else to do so I followed my friend Blue, the neighbor and collected badges. Lt. Surge recruited me after I beat him to get my 3rd badge.”

“When I was young, my mom sent me away when I was about your age. Loneliness… I know…,” Emily began without really knowing how to continue. “What do you plan on doing after the league challenge?”

Red started writing again, but the innocence was gone, only replaced by a deep-seated hatred that both Seth and Emily empathized with all too well. “I don't really care about beating the Pokémon League,” he wrote. “I just want to destroy Team Rocket for taking Professor Oak from me.”

“You really miss him,” Seth added, knowing the pain of wanting so badly to be with the person you love most, to know you can’t see them, physically touch them, or even just smell them while standing in their presence.

Red simply nodded before putting up his outstretched hand to his forehead and then began writing again, the innocence returning slightly to his demeanor. “He taught me to read, write, and talk with my hands. He gave me Charmander and well everything.” Tears began to run down his cheeks as he smiled at Seth and Emily.

“We're coming up to Cinnabar Island,” the captain called down to them on the deck. “Get all your stuff ready.”

III​

“The first thing Seth noticed was the tall cone volcano that pierced the sky. The village lay underneath its shadow, surrounded by greenery that spilled into the ocean. As the buildings grew taller on their approach, they noticed the swarm of sentries of flying Pokémon circling over the waves that washed up on the short beach.

A trainer situated on a Braviary swooped down low next to them as they made their final approach to a dock that stretched out just hovering above the high tide.

“Fucking finally!” Emily said, stepping off the ship while cracking her neck and stretching.

A man in khaki shorts and a flowery button-up shirt was making his way towards them as Ninetales followed Seth and Red off the boat. The wood was worn, and Seth noticed a slight bend as he stepped on one of the boards.

“Let me see your badges,” the man said curtly. Both Seth and Red pulled out their cases that held their six badges each. They sparkled in the intense heat that bore down on the group. The strong sea breeze only seemed to push more hot air on top of them rather than give them any relief. “Good. Ma'am, are you challenging as well?”

“No, I'm this guy's plus one,” she said, punching Seth’s shoulder.

“Great, if you would follow me to the gym, then.” He turned around, and the group followed up the creaking pier. Krabbys, Kinglers, and Pyukumuku lined the beach. The formers scurrying this way and that while the latter stayed situated on the coast with the waves flowing over it and then pulling away.

Seth, Emily, and even if they didn't know for sure, Red’s face demonstrated that Cinnabar was like nothing they have ever seen. The expressions in the highly dense city were joyous. People were laughing as their Pokémon helped attend to their shops or business. Kids were riding on top of their Pokémon and playing with them down the streets. A restaurant that was adorned with bright radiant colors had a server bringing a happy couple a meal that looked like Krabby legs as both sat giggling over their drinks. Not a single person was dressed in black with a red R embedded on their shirts lurking with a menacing stare.

“How are you guys so self-sufficient only being limited to the Island?” Emily asked as they walked past another brightly colored restaurant.

“The volcano has created fairly large copper deposits that Kanto has used for their Pokéball production.” He didn't turn around at the words but kept hurrying south to the city inching closer to the large towering mountain.

“What's your name?” Seth asked.

“Jeff,” The street curved east at a clothing store that presented brightly colored shirts. The city began to gradually shift towards a dense forest that trapped the heat inside of it. Thirty minutes of walking on the road towards the Volcano and Seth, Emily and Red were struggling in the unbearable heat. If it weren't for the trees that were numbering on infinite, Seth would have guessed that they were not walking outside but in an oven cranked up to cook at the hottest temperature possible.

Other than Jeff and Ninetales, who seemed completely unfazed by the heat, sweat was drenching their clothes. Seth’s pit stains were now covering the majority of his shirt. Emily kept begging Vaporeon to spray water at her but had to stop by the painful look Vaporeon wore. Red’s jacket was now tied around his waist, and sweat was dripping off his hair and running down his young face.

“Hey, can I trade you Torterra and Metang for Haxorus and Cereuledge?” Seth asked, dropping back towards Emily who was panting hard.

“You don't want Vaporeon for the fire gym?” She responded back, trading the Pokéballs.

Seth didn't respond but simply pointed at her trailing behind Emily. Vaporeon looked miserable, as if the sun was literally beginning to boil her.

“Yeah, fair point. Come on Vaporeon, take a break.” The grateful Pokémon disappeared from the forest as they now started their ascent towards the volcano.

IV​

It was already odd enough, Seth thought, that the gym would be sitting on this volcano. But as he approached the hole with a flame symbol sitting above it two-thirds of the way up the mountain, he was completely baffled.

“The gym is inside the Volcano?” Seth asked Jeff, who was taking his first steps into what, in the loosest terms possible, could be seen as an entrance.

“Yes, you will soon find that Blaine is… Well, he is a little eccentric. He hardly ever has challengers anymore. He got really excited when Lt. Surge sent word of you two,” Jeff said.

The tunnel opened up to a giant cavern. The first thing Seth noticed was how much cooler it was inside the volcano than outside in the overgrown wilderness. A red glow in flickering intensity crept up the walls, and despite its clear indication of the bubbling fire that lived beneath, the room was just so cool.

Sunlight dropped down from the ceiling above, spilling sunlight onto the red steel battlefield that hovered suspended in the center of the room, nestled inside the red lights that danced on the walls. Eight steel chains bolted on the corners and centers of each side snaked toward the walls around them.

At the center of it all, an old bald man stood, resting on a wooden cane that looped at the top under his wrinkling hands. A white mustache stood so pronounced against his face that Seth found it hard to look at anything else. It sat under his nose and stretched off like Blaine decided to wear it for the purpose of whiskers and alert him when anything was close to his face.

“Welcome to the place where firefighters can never win!” Emily, Seth, Red and Ninetales stepped up on the battlefield, confused at the man's words as well as his energy. He walked up to the three of them and energetically shook each of their hands. “Do you get it? The place where firefighters can never win.”

Emily and Seth looked at each other with puzzled expressions before turning back to Blaine with unchanged facial features. He looked down at the boy who had a twisted smile of triumph on his face. He put both hands, which started from a low wide position, together, gradually rising before taking another hand and acting as if he was ripping through the top of his pretend cone.

“Yes, excellent volcano! Well done, kid, at least someone is intelligent in this group,” Blaine said before breaking out into a roaring laughter.

"So, you two gentlemen are here to battle me." They both nodded, but Blaine's eyes turned towards Ninetales, who was standing observant behind Seth. "What a beautiful coat on that Ninetales."

To Seth’s surprise, Ninetales, without hesitation, walked into Blaine's open hands, allowing him to run his fingers through her grey fur. "Truly spectacular. I see she has some age with her. Don’t worry girl I do as well. How old?"

Did Seth even know that answer? He never knew Sarah without Vulpix. Was Ninetales older than her? "My wife would have been thirty, and she had Vulpix the whole time I knew her since we were young."

"I see, did she recently evolve? Ninetales lifespans are significantly shorter based on their type and size but Vulpix metabolisms are slower giving them more longevity." Blaine asked, still analyzing Ninetales closely.

"Almost 2 months ago." Has it really been that long since Erin? His voice cracked a little, and he felt Emily’s soft touch on his arm.

"I see, where is your wife now," Blaine said ignorantly.

"Dead, by Team Rocket. Over a year ago," Seth said, with the pain roaring up inside his stomach.

“I see, I was delighted to read Lt. Surge’s letter, but let's not pretend I don't know your true intention. The answer is no. I will not send my citizens to death for a pointless war that doesn't concern them.”

Seth just hung his mouth open, unable to find the words to even remotely form a counter-argument. What hope did he have to gain Blaine’s help if he had already deduced why they were there and made up his mind?

“Your citizens are already a part of this fucking war. Kanto is still your home, even if you cut us off like we're worthless pests deserving of death,” Emily said, breaking the awkward silence that grew in the middle of the cool volcano.

“Most of my citizens now have lived a large portion of their life never concerning themselves with the mainland's problems. Why would we? We are no more a part of your country than the Orange Islands are. Your imperialism for centuries over our land does not instill loyalty from us.”

The seriousness of Blaine’s face was so sharp that Emily found it hard to believe laughter was just reverberating out of him. “Enough politics, I did not invite you to my home to discuss Kanto but to enjoy a Pokemon battle that has been severely lacking from my life.”

He took another step forward and began staring at the details of both Seth and Red, as if he was trying to discover every story inside of them from each blemish, facial expression, or body posture.

“Blaine…” Seth said quietly.

“Hush, I'm thinking,” Blaine responded. A few more moments went by as the old man continued his study. “Well, then I am ready!”

“Who is facing you first?” Seth asked.

“Well, that depends on you, who can solve their riddle first?” The old man responded.

“Riddle? What are you talking about?” Seth demanded. He was tired of this game. He just wanted to know if this hindrance of a man would help him or not.

“Yes, a riddle. If you don't have the mind to conquer wordplay, then you don't have the mind to beat me in a Pokémon battle.” Blaine began rubbing the top of his bald head and smiling cruelly.

“With all due respect,” Emily added in. “We don't have fucking time for these games. People are heading into a slaughter pen. One that you could help stop.”

“Then you better hurry and answer the question. Now then, boy.” Blaine’s face got so close to Red's that the boy could smell every part of his last meal on his breath. “No legs have I to dance, No lungs have I to breathe, No life have I to live or die And yet I do all three. What am I?”

Red sat down with his legs crossed on the cool steel floor that should have been heated from the liquid inferno collecting below it. He put his hands together and fell into silent thought.

“Great, now you, good sir.” Blaine turned Seth, rotating on his wooden cane, the sunlight from above reflecting off his white vest and eleven Pokéballs fixed on his belt..

“In solitude, my presence swells, An insatiable hunger within me dwells. A commander I am, but virtues evade, For noble causes, I have never paved. A companion to all, though some turn blind, In the shadows, my influence is entwined. Endlessly expanding, I feed on disdain, In the echoes of turmoil, I shall remain. What am I?”

“What the fuck was that?” Emily asked, astonished by its length.

“A riddle, one that I know Mr. Conklin here can answer as his face has been carved so carefully with its chisel,” Blaine responded while still looking at Seth's facial expression of discontent.

Seth had had enough; he walked past Red, who was still crouched in a sitting position, to the edge of the battlefield away from Blaine. He was worried that his anger would simply rage out, and he would strike the elder down. He looked down, expecting to see lava flowing below him, but the red light that crept up the cavern walls were simply lights with a red lens overtop of them. Everything this man said or presented was a lie. He wondered if any of the positive stories Mr. Fuji once said about Blaine even held an ounce of truth to his character.

Breaking Seth away from his rage, Red jumped up with a suddenness that drew everyone's attention as he reached down and threw one of his Pokéballs from his belt, releasing Charizard, the flames of his tail mixing with the light across the walls. Blaine stood in the presence of Charizard with a small smile at the end of his mouth and a pleasing expression in his eyes.

Red took out his whistle and blew two short bursts, and Charizard responded by bellowing out a flamethrower that collided with the ceiling and the smoke escaping from the top of the vent.

“Very good, Red,” Blaine was smiling as ecstatically as Red was. Emily simply stood next to them, puzzled by the exchange which Blaine apparently noticed. “Fire has no legs but is in a constant dance. It has no lungs but always breathes and can both live and die. Well then, boy, let's go!” Seth and Emily cleared off the battlefield and hung around the cave's entrance, the sunlight creeping in from outside, and Blaine and Red took their opposite positions.

"In solitude, my presence swells," Fire was the first thing that came to his mind as it has an insatiable hunger. However, fire cannot lead anyone, nor does it have shadows. Plus, Seth was quite sure that Blaine, who seemed to adore word puzzles, wouldn't use the same answer for both.

Seth pondered these words in his head, pushing out the need to recruit Blaine, the idea of him only pissed him off more. Or why this gym battle was so pointless to him now as the thought of Erin’s safety broke him into a thousand pieces that he didn't even have the desire to piece together. He simply began getting lost in the riddle and his anger hopelessly attempting those two things would push the pieces of his being forward.

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 34
​

Waking Up the Sun​

I will never be the same

And I'll burn with a heart of fire

It's never going to be the same

When I see their faces

They came with different names

And bore the mark of the old

And from their lips came the same strain

That's waking up, that's waking up the sun



- Haste the Day​

I​

Espeon's two pink tail ends twirled gracefully in the air in front of a Scovillain, its two heads snapping at each other before fixing their attention on Espeon. Red knelt down next to Espeon and rubbed her head in between her large pink ears before sending out three quiet whistles. Her red gem flashed brightly as an opaque window appeared, clashing with the curtain of sunlight that ran down from the vent above. Almost as suddenly as it appeared, it faded from sight, blending into the rocky walls reflecting the dim red light.

Red released Hitmonchan and Scyther from their Pokéballs, situating himself between them and facing his back towards Seth and Emily. Before turning, the smile of pride glistening on his face was all-encompassing, as if this child had full control of the situation facing off against one of the most powerful gym leaders Kanto had to offer.

"Showing me two of your Pokémon before the battle starts on top of the Charizard I am already aware of is an amateur play, boy. I have all 12 of my Pokémon on me; I can easily shift my team around to counter you." Red only smiled more at Blaine’s lecture. "And I won't pretend that I didn't see that reflect or light screen you just had Espeon create."

Blaine shifted his weight significantly on his cane before directing his attention to his Pokémon. "Very well, Scovillain, crunch." The Pokémon, carried by its small green legs, sprinted the course of the red steel battlefield, closing in on Espeon. A bright light illuminated out of Espeon’s red gem at the long single whistle from Red. Blaine and Scovillian were bathed in a flash, their shadows creeping and growing on the cavern wall, and then suddenly darkness overtook the cavern as the light was snuffed from existence. Three more bursts of whistles came from Red, followed by the gem beating on and off as three opaque reflects and light screens appeared and disappeared into existence.

"Enough of this, Scovillian. Crunch and hit the target." The red head of Scovillian began chomping its way down the battlefield once more, crashing down its mouth into Espeon’s location, but she vanished from sight inches before Scovillian’s attack connected. Blaine and Scovillian looked around frantically until more pulses from her red gem, centered on her forehead, displayed her presence.

This went on for minutes; Blaine desperately switched from special attacks to physical attacks, but all fell short, whether from evasion or the protection the pure maze of reflects and light screens provided. While Emily was drawn into the battle, her face so fixated on the events that she found it impossible to blink, Seth fell into his thoughts. Ever since the initial flash of Espeon, he was hooked on the possibility of the answer to the riddle being Darkness. "A commander I am, but virtues evade" fits perfectly with darkness, and "A companion to all, though some turn a blind" - in the shadows, my influence is entwined. What else could it be? But then the part of "I feed on disdain, in the echoes of turmoil, I shall remain." How does that fit with darkness? Then he said, "I was chiseled with it," what the fuck does that mean.

A red light illuminated the arena, and Espeon disappeared. “What happened?” Seth asked Emily.

“I don't know. Scovillian never landed a hit; he simply returned her.”

“Why return your Pokémon? You are down one, and I haven't even been able to land a hit,” Blaine asked.

Red looked at Scyther and nodded his head up, which the Pokémon obeyed without hesitation. It fluttered just above the steel ground, its wings moving so quickly they seemed to become one white blur.

“A bug type against a fire type?” Blaine asked, questioning. “Bold.”

Red just wore that same confident smile that both Emily and Seth immediately fell back into memories of Erin battling Janine for the soul badge.

“Use flamethrower,” Blaine said, as the green head of Scovillian began to cock its head up with fire beginning to build in its mouth.

The cave echoed the two short bursts of Red’s whistle, and in a near instant, Scyther was under Scovillian’s body and launched the back of its blade into the green head's lower jaw. The Pokémon soared into the air, and Red rang out two more bursts.

Scyther seemed to have just appeared or teleported above Scovillian mid-air, and the back of his right blade smashed into the red head, and with even more velocity, crashed through a reflect window before colliding with the ground.

Two more repetitive whistles overcame the acoustics of the cave once more before Blaine’s voice overcame it, “Endure.” Scovillian stomped its feet hard on the ground, its green arms in a defensive position as both heads dropped, allowing their skulls to take the blow for survival. Scyther's arm swung down on the red head, and Scovillian's legs scrunched down, but its green head obeyed Blaine’s scream, “Fire Blast!” A ball of fire formed above its mouth that grew larger than its whole form. Scyther dropped back attempting to get away, but it was too late. The ball rocketed out from Scovillian, colliding with an invisible object. The inferno spread out over the light screen, surrounding Scyther but unable to touch him. No matter the inferno dancing around him, Scyther seemed completely unfazed, like he had been in this situation a thousand times over.

Two more whistles bounced off the walls of stone, followed by the thud of the back of Scyther’s blade on top in the gut of Scovillian, who flew back and stayed still on the ground.

The light screen Scyther sought protection under fell apart in embers, and the room itself seemed impossible to make noise from Blaine, Seth, and Emily’s stunned expressions. Blaine looked like a complete joke, returning his Scovillian to its Pokéball with not a single bit of damage done to Red's Scyther. Seth thought back to the last Scyther they encountered with the Pewter City brute and was glad he faced him rather than Red’s. Under no circumstance could his Staravia ever compete with the speed he just witnessed.

“Well done! Well done!” Blaine began laughing hysterically. “It has been some time since I have had a battle like this!” Red’s eyes lit up as he turned back to look at Seth and Emily seeking admiration.

“Armored but not a knight, snapping but not a twig, and I am always home. But who knows I just might explode.” Blaine released Turtonator from his Pokéball. The red and yellow shell was ginormous and all-imposing, but two more short whistles called out, and Scyther didn't just move but appeared in front of Turtonator with its blade centimeters from its throat using False Swipe. The laugh that roared out of Blaine took over everything in the cave that Seth was finding it difficult to even think about the riddle he had to solve.

“Well, clearly defense was not the right play.” Turtonator disappeared back into his Pokéball, only leaving behind a pile of shit on the steel ground. Infernape did not simply materialize out of his Pokéball next but energetically tore into existence as the Pokémon began leaping up and down and pounding his fist to the ground.

“Fire Punch!” Blaine yelled out. His fist collided with a reflected screen that Scyther sought solace in before counterattacking. But Seth soon felt inward towards himself, while Emily and Ninetales remained transfixed to the battlefield. Sarah and Erin had been constantly nagging ever since they got on the Island, but he had been trying desperately to ignore the pain they kept digging in his gut.

“Enough of this. Brick Break!” Blaine roared out. Infernape’s hand sliced down on Scyther behind another reflect, shattering the protective screen. “Fire Punch.” A flaming fist uppercutted into Scyther’s chest. He crashed through a light screen and slammed against the ceiling just feet from the vent outside.

“Flame Wheel!” Infernape leaped from the steel floor, its outstretched hand covered in flames groping for Scyther. Red gave a shattering whistle, but Scyther did not respond to defend. Infernape's blue fingers bathed in flames gripped Scyther's throat and spun him, launching him to the ground once more. Scyther landed on the pile of shit left behind by the Turtonator that went off with an explosion. Scyther rolled, stopping just beside Red’s concerned face. It could have been worse; blood was leaking out of his nose and mouth with singe marks along his side and throat. He tried to get to his feet but collapsed beneath Red once more, who recalled his Pokémon.

Infernape jumped back and forth with his fist raised in pride from Blaine’s laughter. Red looked at the Pokéball that held Scyther with more pride than Emily had ever seen before putting it back in its position on his belt. He plucked the Pokéball furthest to the front and released Charizard.

“There it is,” Blaine said, smiling ear to ear. “Let’s see how your fire type matches up to my own.”

II​

“Infernape uses Thunder Punch!” Blue lightning crackled out of Infernape’s fist as it pounced closer to Charizard. The cavern was silent; no whistle blew out from Red, only footsteps colliding with the steel floor.

“Red, do something,” Emily said.

It was too late; Red made no such command, and Infernape was mere feet from his Pokémon. Its fist smashed into Charizard’s chest, who stood unmoving, simply smiling down at his attacker. It happened in a mere moment. Charizard gripped Infernape's wrist and lifted it up, kicking and punching just out of reach, like an adult holding up a mere child. Red called out two short whistles, and purple energy began pulsating from its mouth.

Red light enveloped Infernape, and it disappeared from the battlefield, the Dragon Pulse unleashed from Charizard as it erupted into the empty void of Infernape and the wall of the cave behind it.

“Amazing! Truly just incredible.” Blaine’s voice was overtaken by a slam that seemed to crawl up the cave walls. “Well, Red, you are the most powerful young boy I have met. It is clear from Charizard not even being phased by that Thunder Punch, you must have trained day and night. You are what gives the name trainers its true meaning.” Another thud echoed through the chamber. Then another. Was something walking up the walls?

“What the fuck is this,” Emily said, looking at Seth's questioning face.

A pile of lava, kept together by a steel bracelet, emerged on the platform just to the left of Blaine. Then another magma hand reached from the cave wall, lifting its steel head. “Let me show you why you can never beat fire with fire.”

“Is that a Heatran?” Emily said in disbelief. It stood on its four legs, the magma that made up its body swirled as if it was carried by an inner current that would bubble up to the top.

“Yes, now let me show you why I have been the Gym leader of Cinnabar for as long as I have. Heatran, Lava Plume!” The magma-like body swirled faster, bubbling more violently, and the brightness of its skin became blinding. A chunk of lava dropped inches from Charizard as more lava began being thrown from Heatran into the cavern.

Red whistled once, and Charizard turned quickly, but a pile of lava struck its leg as it roared in pain. Lava splashed the walls and sporadically splashed on the steel battlefield. The rest of the light screens and reflections melted away, and the temperature of the cool cave began to grow exponentially.

“Well, Red,” Blaine cackled again with the hysterical laughter of a madman. “How will you battle the true source of fire?” The cavern walls began to grow brighter as a more true red gleamed over the lights under the steel floor.

Seth completely abandoned his word challenge and stood in shock next to Ninetales and Emily at the legendary Pokémon before them. Red and Hitmonchan stood stoically with a sense of control.

Red blew his whistle longer than they had heard before, and Charizard whipped its head back from its opponent to his trainer. Red curled both hands into fists and then knocked his right on the left, then blew his whistle twice.

Charizard unleashed Dragon Pulse but didn't aim it at Heatran. Instead, it ripped at the cave wall, sending chunks of rock over the arena. Blaine jumped out of the way from a good-sized stone that crashed where he stood. He didn't even have enough time to recover and issue a command to Heatran. Charizard was in the air, gripping falling rocks and flinging them with powerful throws. The first slammed into Heatran’s steel head, the others into his body, and the last collided with his front right steel bracelet. Heatran lost his footing from the blow and fell to the floor below him. The red paint on the floor burned away from Heatran’s body heat.

Another two short whistles bounced off the cave walls, followed by a strong gust of wind. Each flap from Charizard pushed Heatran and Blaine back, both struggling to even keep to their feet. Heatran’s body began to turn darker and darker; the swirling mass of magma was slowing, and there was a flicker of light from Charizard’s stone that sat in the bracelet on his wrist.

As Heatran’s body cooled, the light on the walls turned even brighter, and Emily saw it first—a body of magma was rising from below the stadium. “Seth, we've got to go!” She gripped his arm. “Red! Leave!” Red turned to them, giving a thumbs up with a joyful smile on his face. He looked at Hitmonchan and pointed to the entrance that Seth, Ninetales, and Emily were fleeing to.

As they crawled through the narrow entrance, Ninetales led them out with Hitmonchan following in the rear. Seth saw lava collecting at the edge of the cave they had just been standing on. The sunlight hit them like a physical force when they got out of the tunnel. The flame emblem that sat overhead was lying broken on the rocky ground.

“Seth, we just left him there!” Emily yelled out, making her way back to the entrance to see if she could see anything. Seth just laughed as he looked up above the rising mountain. Red on Charizard rocketed out of the vent that sat in the ceiling of the gym, followed closely behind by Blaine who was situated on a Talonflame. Heatran crawled at the top of the vent they just flew out of, and the lava was now leaking out of the entrance, causing Seth and Emily to drop back further.

“Red, are you okay?” Emily took his arms, looking up and down his lengthy body. He simply smiled and nodded his head. Seth opened his mouth to praise him, tell him how impressed he was, but closed it shut after thinking of Erin. The rage grew in him thinking about his son, how much he would have loved to be here with him. His gut nodded, and it took everything in him to not drop to the ground in cry. Then he saw Red’s face, clearly hurt from the silence Seth gave him. Red, who had now lost two fathers and had been alone his whole life, shrank away to his Pokémon to get away from Seth’s emotionless face.

It was as if a dam broke in Seth’s mind, looking at what his actions, caused by his trauma, did to Red. “In solitude, my presence swells, An insatiable hunger within me dwells. A commander I am, but virtues evade, For noble causes, I have never paved. A companion to all, though some turn blind, In the shadows, my influence is entwined. Endlessly expanding, I feed on disdain, In the echoes of turmoil, I shall remain. What am I?”

“Well, that really got away from me,” Heatran walked up to the group as Blaine slid off the top of Talonflame, recalling him back to its Pokéball.

“Anger,” Seth said.

Blaine didn't verbally acknowledge, but just gave a bellowing laugh. “Come on, follow me; I have a practice battlefield on the beach,” Blaine said.

III​

The ceiling of the tree branches continued to trap the intense summer heat of Cinnabar inside them. Emily thought about heading back to the lava-filled gym to escape from the torturous temperature outside.

“I assume you know that Team Rocket is just Johto imperialising us,” Seth asked Blaine.

“Giovanni was always an arrogant tyrant, but I don't think I have ever met a person that loved Kanto more than him. Are you sure of this?” Blaine responded.

“Yes.”

“Then there is more to the story.”

“You are being a willfully ignorant coward,” Seth blurted out, catching Blaine’s shocked and pissed facial expression. “I am sorry. But yes, I do know that my home is being invaded, and where do you think they will look next after Kanto falls?”

“We have had practice dealing with colonizers, Seth,” Blaine responded sternly but with all anger gone.

“Mr. Fuji was wrong about you,” Seth said quietly, watching Emily’s exaggerated body movements toward Red as they walked behind them.

“Dr. Fuji?” Blaine asked.

“Yes, I met him. He said you didn't give in to Giovanni’s demands to clone a Mew.”

“That wasn't cloning; we have cloned before, bringing back extinct Pokémon. That was genetic engineering, grotesque manipulation to a creature that didn't hold a single ounce of hatred in its heart.”

“So you just fled and cowered in fear on your island, closing off from the war and the fate of Kanto,” Seth responded.

“Standing up and fighting for what's right is not always worth it, Seth. I can’t just send my citizens into a slaughter to help you maybe beat back Team Rocket.” Blaine twisted his mustache in deep thought, choosing his words carefully.

“You are just waiting for the slaughter to be at your beach. There is a reason Kanto imperiled this island, and it will be the same for Johto.” Seth wanted so badly to rock this man to the ground. How could he make him understand, he had already been through this. He pretended like ignoring Team Rocket would save his family until his world crashed around him at their hands.

“Maybe, maybe not. That risk isn't worth it to me,” Blaine responded, looking older than he had all day.

“It was worth it to Mr. Fuji. He abandoned Team Rocket and fled, devoting his life to helping Pokémon. When Team Rocket eventually caught up to him, he threw himself from Lavender Tower rather than help them again. That’s courage.” Seth spoke more sternly, hoping that his use of Blaine’s friend's death would sting more cruelly. It worked; Blaine fell silent for the rest of the long, hot walk towards the beach.

IV​

They finally cut through the thick mangroves, creating a path that suspended just over the bog by a wooden walkway. The waves crashed repeatedly against the sand and receded back to repeat the process. A few sentries above circled in the blue sky that held the hot summer sun. Seth thought he would find some sort of established arena, however crude it might have been. However, there was nothing here. Coarse and rough sand now snaked its burning existence through his toes, accompanied by the steady drum of the waves.

“Where are we battling?” Seth asked.

“Nowhere. We got the beach and the summer sun. What more could we ask for?” Blaine said.

“A delicious Vanillite,” Emily said half sarcastically and half seriously. She released Vaporeon, who immediately booked it towards the ocean, disappearing into the water.

Blaine, with Heatran at his tail, walked halfway down the beach, his cane sinking into the sand before turning to stare at the visitors of his island. “Let’s go, Red.”

Charizard dropped down in front of Red and shot a flame down at the sand in front of him. The boy gripped for his whistle that dangled around his black shirt but had to stop in shock. Hitmonchan stood in front of Charizard, his covered fist situated in front of him, ready for any command Red gave him.

The mutual understanding and silent communication between them all were unbelievable. Charizard simply turned around from Hitmonchan and walked away from the fight without any protest. Red didn't even blink an eye or act as if anything had changed. He simply trusted in his Pokémon and held the same determination in his eye that Erin should have been able to develop.

“Lava Plume.” Heatran's body glowed again as lava began to fire out of its body, striking the sand all around it. To Red’s long whistle, Hitmonchan avoided each drop of the fiery downpour.

Red immediately changed tactics to the offensive with two short calls of his whistle, and Hitmonchan changed with him. The distance closed rapidly as he sprinted towards the slowly stationary legendary Pokémon and Blaine, wearing a smirk.

“Earth Power.” The sand under Hitmonchan exploded as if an Electrode sat just underneath it, flinging him towards the ocean. A wave washed up and ran over him before he got to his feet.

Red called out two whistles again, putting his trust in his Pokémon. Again, Hitmonchan ran up, faster this time.

“Attack and attack, how boring,” Blaine said. “Earth Power.” The sand erupted again underneath Hitmonchan's crouched position, and he disappeared. He was nowhere. Blaine looked back and forth, seeing where the helpless Pokémon fell, but his understanding was illuminated by Red’s command. Hitmonchan was sailing down from the air where he jumped, his fist locked back, ready to unleash his focus punch.

“Dodge!” Blaine roared out, Hitmonchan feet away from the now-aware Heatran. At the last moment, Heatran moved his body just briefly, forcing Hitmonchan to not attack the steel face that he was aiming for. Instead, his gloved fist sank into the inferno of Heatran’s molten body.

“Lava Plume!” Heatran’s body began to glow before the screaming Hitmonchan finally freed his now ungloved hand from its opponent's body. Its three thick brown fingers covered in thick blisters that even Seth noticed from his viewing area at the other end of the beach. Lava rained down again onto the sand, checkering with the now cooled black rock from its previous attack.

Red commanded a second attack, and through screaming pain, Hitmonchan jumped back into close distance with Heatran. The heat attempted to repel him like a physical force, but Hitmonchan’s gloved fist finally connected with the volcanic Pokemon’s steel face. Heatran groaned wildly, a thick crack running down over his left eye. Two more whistles called out before Blaine could command any counter-attack. Another gloved punch sank into its left steel cufflet, cracking it and causing its left side of the body to crumble to the ground as if it lost all support to stand on that side. Another quick punch sank into its steel face again and again.

“Alright, Hitmonchan, I yield,” Blaine said. “Red, do you mind if I take the field for a moment to help Heatran without disqualifying myself?” Red simply nodded and then turned his enthusiastic gaze to Hitmonchan, who was skipping like a small child towards its trainer. Both embraced with huge smiles adorning each other's faces.

Seth turned his gaze to Emily, who sat with her bare feet in the sand, crying from both eyes. “Are you okay?” Seth asked.

“I miss him so much,” Emily replied, disappearing into her sobs.

“I’m fine, Daddy,” Erin’s apparition called out, but Seth ignored the nightmare that haunted him and held his friend tightly, crying with her.

“I’m sorry, Seth. I try not to bring him up, but just watching Red battle. I just…” More sobs filled the air from both of them.

“He would have been just as good,” Seth finally whispered out.

“Yeah, he just could connect with any Pokémon like that kid down there.” Red looked seriously at Hitmonchan’s hand and then pointed at the water. Hitmonchan scurried off with its head down before collapsing into the sand as a wave fluttered over him.

“Are you not using Hitmonchan?” Blaine asked Red, who shook his head. “You’re really making this old man look bad.” Typhlosion emerged in front of the Gym leader, but it was starkly different than any type Seth or Emily had ever seen. Its usual dark blue fur was replaced by a deep purple, and the explosion of flames out of its back instead escaped with a gentle ghostly calmness that resembled Ceruledge. “This Pokémon took me years to procure. Let's see what you got.”

The red light bolted down from Red’s Pokéball and expanded into a rotund Pokémon. Snorlax finally finished its emergence, its body sinking into the sand.

“Well, you were well prepared,” Blaine yelled out. Three whistles took over the beach followed by the drumming of Snorlax as it slammed its giant arms into its belly.

“Flamethrower.” Typhlosion's flames danced from its mouth around Snorlax, who was completely unfazed by the intense heat and simply pounded its fist into his thick fat over and over again until the flames died away.

The next two attacks fell with incredible speed. Typhlosion and its successor, Magmortar, stood no chance. Each footstep from Snorlax shook the ground beneath them, and with unbelievable speed, its teeth were around Typhlosion, and its body fell on top of Magmortar.

“Boy, you are single-handedly the best trainer I have ever faced. This is well deserved.” Blaine handed over a small badge that reflected the bright sunlight off its red surface. A dimple-smile cut through Emily and Seth as they saw the memory of Erin once more admiring his soul badge.

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 35
​

Inside My Head​

It's starting to feel like I can't be helped

At least that's what I convince mysеlf

Reminders of a past I can't erasе

That make me sick, that I can't face



- Until I Wake​

I​

"Sir, all of the supplies are loaded on," a grunt in green military fatigues reported to Lt. Surge, who towered over him.

"Very good." Lt. Surge's hands were locked behind him as he stood on the large cargo ship, overlooking Vermillion city harbor and his gym adding to its skyline.

"Every home and business was picked clean from the city. Should we unload a few crates for the people staying?" The grunt asked with concern, his hands shaking in his pocket.

"No. That will be all," Lt. Surge said.

"But, sir. Shouldn't we—"

"That will be all." The refugees of rural Vermillion flooded onto the ship below him, a mix of hatred and mostly fear pushing them up the ramp. He looked at the onlookers, noticing a young woman and her young daughter standing aside witnessing the wave of anxiety wash up into the ship.

II​

“Well, Seth Conklin, can you entertain me as Red did?” Blaine threw his Pokéball into the air, releasing Arcanine before him. Its fur blew wildly as a strong gust of wind filled the beach.

Six months ago, Seth would have given anything to be in this exact position, but it felt so meaningless now. Without Erin’s cheerful smile shining up at him, what was the point of this? Ninetales stepped forward, anger covering her cloudy red eyes.

“Tell me, before we get started. Why risk everything to overthrow Team Rocket? If what you said was true about Johto, then wouldn't they just officially take over by that point?” Blaine’s face looked humorless again, a serious gaze hardening around his eyes.

Seth looked at his son and wife’s bodies on the beach and listened to their reminder of his complicity in their deaths. “They took my family from me. It is as simple as that.”

“So you have no plan to put out the fire of war after unleashing it in your home. I’m just supposed to stand by and watch the flames dance across the ocean to ignite Cinnabar.

“The fire is already raging. Help us stop it. Flamethrower!” Ninetales' blue flames overtook the sand, aiming at Arcanine.

“Fire Blast!” Blaine said. Arcanine held a growing ball of fire in front of him, and before the blue flames took over his body, unleashed the power of a small sun on the encroaching attack. A red inferno collided with the blue flames, exploding into a wall of fire.

“Extreme Speed.” Arcanine rushed the flames, unfazed, colliding with Ninetales, who was thrown to the other side of the beach next to Seth. The streak of its collision was marked into the sand.

“Show me, Seth! Show me that you care about more than just your selfish desires. Show me that Kanto is worth saving.” Emily sat in the sand, watching Seth’s face of pain and anger overtake him from Blaine’s words.

“Crunch.” Arcanine was closing the distance once more, its jaw unhinged.

“Extrasensory!” Seth called out. Ninetales, getting up to its feet, leered its eyes into Arcanine, who immediately stopped in place. It dug its head into the sand, desperately trying to avoid the cruel brightness that his heightened senses allowed him to bear. The sand provided no comfort as its coarse nature scratched at its skin, clinging to its fur.

“Zen Headbutt.” As Arcanine desperately tried to escape the cruelty of sight, sound, and touch, the space in front of Ninetales' forehead twisted and rotated violently. In a blur of gray and blue, the dense mass she created crashed into Arcanine’s side, blood trickling down as it howled in pain.

“Outrage.” Arcanine quickly recovered at the Gym Leader’s command, and a purple flame exuded from every pore of him, fluttering out of its fur like a violent storm. It took its first step, visibly anguishing through the pain, and began to run after Ninetales.

“Flamethrower,” Seth called out, hoping to slow it down, but it simply ran through the flash fire, gaining speed and power. Ninetales braced for the impact, but no preparation could defend against this power. Arcanine’s head collided with Ninetales' chest, and she flew in the air, smashing into the sand that half-heartedly cushioned the fall.

"Ninetales!" She moved, and Seth hesitated, wanting to check on her but scared of breaking the rules.

"Go to her," Blaine said, as if he had read Seth's thoughts. Her chest was rising and falling, but she was unconscious. Seth didn't see any visible injuries but worried about any bones being broken.

"Emily!" She ran up to Seth and Ninetales, gently placing a hand on top of her.

"I got her, Seth."

"Let me see Torterra and Metang," Seth asked Emily, holding out Ceruledge and Haxorus' Pokéballs.

"Why?"

"Erin is the only reason we have made it as far as we did. I win with his Pokémon," Seth said with a faint smile on his face. Emily didn't respond but just pridefully smiled back.

“You couldn’t save him.” Sarah screamed in his ear, dripping blood from severed feet into the sand below.

III​

Holly watched her home recede into the horizon. An image of her mother playing with her daughter flashed in her mind as she could barely make out the building that once held her family. She gripped the railing of the ship watching Vermillion forever disappear from her sight.

IV​

Torterra braced for the attack from Arcanine, whose purple flames coated its body and crashed into Torterra's powerful shell. The tree on top shook violently, and Torterra smashed his front legs into the sand. The roots from the mangrove that bordered the beach swam towards them, jumping out and diving back into the sand. One root struck Arcanine's leg, gripping it and pulling it down.

"Flamethrower!" Blaine called out. As the flames washed across Torterra's feet, a wall of sand and earth erupted below Arcanine, slamming into its stomach, extinguishing its outrage and its consciousness.

"The Torterra is well-trained," Blaine said, returning Arcanine.

"He was my son’s first-ever Pokémon," Seth smiled, tears filling his eyes as he reminisced about the memory in the hills outside their home in Cerulean City.

"You should be proud," Blaine smiled at Seth while resting his body weight on his cane and reaching for another Pokéball. Talonflame began to soar through the sky, circling overhead.

"Aerial Ace!"

"Stealth Rock!"

V​

"How do you know Giovanni will be at Viridian?" Sabrina asked, standing next to Lt. Surge on the deck of the ship, with Cycling Road just coming into view on the horizon.

"Water team, unleash Mist now." A thick cloud of vapor rose from the gulf, climbing the steel hull of the ship. The bridge in the distance soon disappeared, along with everything else. "I got this letter the day Red left for Saffron City. Did you receive it as well?"

Sabrina took the paper, holding it close to her face due to the thick mist surrounding them. Even Lt. Surge, who was standing right next to her, became obscured.

Team Rocket High Command,

I am writing to inform you of a mandatory meeting scheduled to take place in Viridian City three months from today. It is imperative that each member of the High Command attends this gathering. This meeting has been called to unveil a significant development that is crucial to the success of our endeavors and the continued dominance of Team Rocket. The details of this development will be disclosed during the meeting, and its importance cannot be overstated. Make the necessary arrangements for maintaining control over your assigned regions in your absence.

Giovanni

"Yeah, I did. I didn't think you would be as smart as myself but you are truly dumber than I could have conceived. Attacking the city while the entire High Command of Team Rocket is present! What are you thinking?" Sabrina yelled, outraged.

"Killing Giovanni is not going to end this war, Sabrina." He couldn't see her anymore, so instead, he stared into the white void that covered him. "We need to remove every head that dares replace Giovanni’s. Additionally, this attack rests on its surprise; I won't witness another failure like Mt. Silver."

"You might have to. He sent that letter before yours or my treason was known. Why wouldn't he move the date or prepare for us?" Sabrina said.

"I think something else is going on. He had every opportunity to take back or even attack us at Vermillion. Yet there was nothing. No resistance, no stopping the flood of refugees. Nothing. There is something happening that we're not seeing, and I am going to take advantage of that." The bridge creaked and groaned overhead as the ship fell into silence.

"You're going to create another massacre, and I will not die for your idiocracy. As soon as the battle turns against us for your poor planning, I am fleeing." Sabrina turned away from Lt. Surge’s arrogance disappearing further into the mist.

VI​

"Torterra!" Talonflame's fire-coated body blitzed into Torterra’s head. The sand absorbed the crash as Torterra lost the strength to stand up. As it returned to the Pokéball, the crater from its body weight dipped down and filled with water from the rising tide.

Talonflame hopped in the sand around the new pool of water, blood trickling off its forehead and chest. Rhydon appeared out of his Pokéball, centered around the thick black rocks from Heatran’s attacks.

"Are you ready, Rhydon?" His Pokémon turned his head towards him, admiring the similarities between Seth and his father before nodding and turning back to Talonflame.

“Talonflame! Flee now,” Blaine yelled. But it was too late.

“Rock Throw!” The igneous rock slammed into Talonflame’s side, forcing her to the ground, unmoving in front of her trainer.

“Type difference alone won't save you from this fight,” Blaine said before releasing Houndoom.

“Rock Throw.”

“Double Team,” Rhydon picked up another rock, throwing it at incredible speed at his new enemy. However, Houndoom began running into the sand so quickly that new images of its presence began to dance around Rhydon. The rock smashed into the sand close to the water.

“Flamethrower,” a pillar of fire overtook Rhydon, its arms protecting its face from the heat.

“Solarbeam!” Houndoom fixed its feet in the sand, and the sun rays magnified onto its body as if it was collecting all of the energy the sun had to offer.

“Rhydon, you have to knock it out here. Hammer Arm.” Rhydon struggled through the sand, lifting his immense weight from the gripping ground, inching towards Houndoom. The sunlight was collecting so much on that one spot that the sand beneath Blaine’s Pokémon began to glow a deep red and turned into a liquefied mass.

Rhydon’s arm finally fell atop Houndoom's head, the horn on top cracked and split beneath the power of Rhydon, impaling the molten sand beneath it. The skin on his skull sliced on impact, with blood running over his eye, but no matter how powerful the attack, it failed to stop the assault in time.

In a roar of pain and anger, Houndoom unleashed and redirected the intense sunlight. A beam of bright yellow and orange shot out of Houndoom’s mouth. The ground beneath Rhydon turned to molten sand, creating a dark red line that ended in the ocean. Rhydon’s screams overcame Houndoom’s; its rock body glowed in an intense red.

“Rhydon, get to the ocean!” Seth took the field, running after his father’s Pokémon. Charizard emerged out of nowhere, gripping under Rhydon’s arms, and with a powerful flap of his wings, sent a gust of wind colliding with Seth and Blaine, lifting Rhydon into the air. Twenty yards away, he dropped Rhydon into the shallow water as the waves washed over Rhydon, softening his screams of pain and dulling the glow of his skin. The sand that was under the ray of the Solarbeam solidified into an opaque path of glass.

“Houndoom, are you still okay to battle?” The left side of his face was now lopsided with the absence of his horn and clotted blood that matted its short fur. He nodded furiously at Blaine and turned his piercing gaze towards Seth. Rhydon made his way up to Emily before collapsing next to her and Ninetales.

“Is he okay?” Seth called out and was thankful to see Emily lift up her hand with her thumb up.

Seth held Noivern and Annihilape's Pokéballs in each hand, looking back and forth between the two.

VII​

Erika took another hit from the top of her Gloom, her senses dulled, and the anxiety of the oncoming attack dissipated. She hated herself; six months completely sober faded away with the toxic fumes filling her lungs.

The knock against the steel door of her quarters bounced off the walls, but it seemed so distant and unimportant now.

“Lt. Surge requests your presence on the bridge,” a voice called out.

“Okay,” Erika tried to respond pleasantly. But no words came out; her body was simply too at peace to be bothered with exerting any form of work.

She finally managed to get dressed and make her way down the narrow hallways of the cabin. All the faces around her looked so downcast. The random age of men and women clutching their one or, at most, two Pokéballs, looked at them as if believing hard enough would protect them from the incoming slaughter. But Erika wasn't bothered by any of that. Her worries and anxiety were gone.

“We're coming up to the Pallet Peninsula,” Lt. Surge said, standing in front of the windows that looked out at the water with a faint line of trees in the distance. Sabrina looked at her disapprovingly and faced back to Lt. Surge.

“I have made a list of all the trainers that have support and healing Pokémon; you will be leading the units behind me and my vanguard. Train them on our march from the forest outside Pallet Town to Viridian City, do you understand?”

She nodded and drifted back to the need to take another hit from Gloom. The reality of this assault was becoming too much of a reality.

VIII​

“Shadow Punch,” Annihilape disappeared into a shadow on the sand.

“Get ready, Houndoom. Look at the shadow.” The black spot that was racing along the beach circled Houndoom. His left eye was completely closed shut from the blood raining down from the top of his head. The shadow circled faster and faster, waiting to get to his left side.

“Now!” Houndoom attempted to get ready when Annihilape emerged inches from him. His grey fist slammed into its ribs, lifting its feet from the ground until it crashed into the beach a moment later.

“Well done, Seth. Three left each. Let's see how you handle this,” Blaine said, releasing a Tauros. The usual brown coat was replaced with black as it coated every inch in the new color except for a few faint lines on its mane that stood out as a deep red.

“Flame Charge.” Fire raged around its body while it sprinted down the sand.

“Annihilape, dodge it.” He attempted to transform back in the shadows. Just as it was finishing transforming its body back into the shadow, Tauros’ horn dragged along the sand, connecting with the top of Annihilape’s head, ripping it out of the ground and flinging it across the battlefield.

Annihilape struggled to get back to its feet. Its grey arms pushed into the sand, forcing it to prepare once more. A black blur rushed over the sand, and before Annihilape could even get ready, Tauros' head smashed into its body, throwing him into the wet sand and oncoming waves.

“Annihilape, he is coming again!” His trainer's cries were washed away by the waves, submerging him in the defining silence. A sharp pain dug into his right shoulder, and the next moment, the cries of his trainer and the reality of the battlefield flooded back. Tauros, its body so covered in flames that it was hard to believe it had any black on its fur, flung Annihilape once more. The sand cushioned the fall but did very little for the pain raging down his arm.

“Flame Charge!”

“Final Gambit!” Tauros came inches from impaling Annihilape again, However, he gripped Tauros’ throat, the flames scorching his dead-like grey skin. Annihilape using all his remaining strength jumped in the air, carrying both of them before falling backward. Tauros was flailing attempting to get free of his grip. Both their heads were facing downward as the power of Annihilape flung them on the solidified thick glass.

Tauros lay motionless in the sand, its flames now extinguished from its body. Annihilape stood up and stared at Seth. The scar hung over his left eye which looked more of pride than the usual anger, and even though his fur covered his mouth, Seth knew he was smiling. He collapsed just feet from Tauros, completely exhausted.

IX​

The fire crackled in the woods, mixing with the sounds of Hoothoots and Kricketune. The moon failed to penetrate the thick canopy of branches over Lt. Surge’s army. Every trainer was quiet, eating their rations and flinching at every unusual sound outside the campsite, as if Giovanni was going to descend on them at any moment.

“Emily, Seth, would you follow me for a moment,” Holly asked, petting Ninetales.

The fog of anxiety rested thick over each campfire. Seth saw an old man attempting to tell a story to boys and girls no older than fourteen, trying to calm their nerves. Very few people were in their late 30s or 40s, as their bodies still lay below Mt. Silver. Would they be the next to walk into an ambush? Seth was content with that; he couldn't imagine what life would be like for him, no matter the outcome of this battle. Dying in the field would be preferable, as he could finally be at peace and no longer surrounded by his mistakes that Sarah and Erin kept reminding him of.

“Sit down,” Lt. Surge requested. The fire centered between himself, Erika, who looked completely spaced out, and Sabrina sat ordinarily as the rest of the troops.

“Well?” Emily asked, annoyed, as she sat on an open log around the flames. Ninetales lay down next to her, placing her head in her lap.

“I need to go over the plan for you two,” Lt. Surge said.

“Attack Viridian, what else is there?” Emily shot back.

“You two will be assigned to Red and sneak through the city during the chaos to kill Giovanni.” Lt. Surge didn't meet their looks of horror but stared into the flames.

“He is a fucking kid!” Emily yelled out.

“I will go alone. Leave Red here,” Seth said. He felt Emily's hand grip his arm in a gentle squeeze.

Red stood up and started signing so quickly that Seth couldn't even comprehend the few words he had picked up in his time with him. However, his facial expression looked the exact same as when Erin was throwing a temper tantrum.

“Giovanni is the most powerful gym leader in Kanto. I don't think I could beat Blaine, but Red annihilated him. You can lecture me on morals after we win,” Lt. Surge stood up, looking down at Seth.

“And how do we know he won't escape as soon as we attack?” Holly asked, cutting the tension between the two.

Lt. Surge relaxed and turned towards his soldier. “That's actually where you come in, Holly. You will be leading the aerial units. Not a single Pokémon is to flee; you have never failed me. Now is not the time to start. We will be there in two days, get prepared.”

“Yes, Sir.” She disappeared into the darkness of the camp.

“What of Blaine?” Sabrina asked, only getting a small smirk from Surge.

X​

“Metang!” The blue steel body glowed a bright red, emanating from Blaine’s Camerupt erupting liquid fire from its back. Its eye began to shine brighter than its body, and a swirling vortex surrounded it. Sand was sucked around the ball of bending light, mixing with the lava raining down on top of it.

“What a treat to witness. Camerupt, get ready for the offensive as soon as its evolution finishes,” Blaine said, twisting his white mustache with his free hand.

The light turned back to normal, and the sand and solidified rock fell to its four steel feet, submerged into the sand.

“Earthquake,” Blaine commanded, causing the beach they stood on to shake beneath their feet.

“Magnet Rise, Metagross.” Seth fell to his knees, finding it hard to stand up as the sand beneath him moved violently, with the ground shaking and cracking apart.

“Flamethrower,” Blaine said.

“Light Screen,” An opaque wall grew out of thin air, causing the incoming flames to crash and splatter in every direction but forward.

“Psychic.” Camerupt lifted up, confused and struggling to find footing on thin air.

“Eruption!” Camerupt's back exploded with a bang, shooting lava in every direction. Blaine jumped out of the way to avoid his Pokémon’s attack. His cane, still left in its original place, was bathed in the lava and incinerated at its touch.

“Meteor Mash.” Metagross floated at incredible speed, getting hit by the lava as it got closer and closer to its target. With all its power fighting through the pain of Camerupt's eruption, one of Metagross’s steel legs slammed down on the top of Camerupt and sent him flying into the ground. Lava leaked out from the top of his volcano-like back.

Metagross screamed in pain trying desperately to find the ocean, and finally submerging in its cool water. Metagross's defined lines on its face and legs smoothed out from the intense heat of molten rock.

“Metagross, are you okay?” Seth said, approaching him. The water ran up his feet and legs before receding back over Metagross and into the sea. His red eyes looked up at Seth, and all four legs dug into the ground, lifting himself up in visible pain.

“Go relax over by Emily. Noivern has got this, okay.” Metagross walked slowly by her and the other Pokémon before dropping like a heavy weight, displacing sand in every direction that Emily had to shake off her face and clothes.

“Seth Conklin. I must say I am impressed. I used most of my strongest Pokémon against Red, that is true, but pushing me to my last Pokémon. You should be proud of yourself,” Blaine said. He was looking at the small remains of his wooden cane. Only the loop at the top remained.

“My son raised most of these Pokémon, including this last one.” Seth looked down at Noivern’s Pokéball with admiration that brought a smile to Emily.

Erin’s body laid on the beach waves crashing over it undeterred. Attacking higher up the coast through the hallucination of Erin. “I’m fine, Daddy.”

“I love you.” Seth muttered to himself, looking at his dead son.

“Well, I will tell you this is my second strongest Pokémon behind Heatran. But let's make it interesting. I will bring attention to the attack on Viridian City to my people. I am not a tyrant like the leaders of Kanto so often are. However, if you beat me, showing me that there is actual hope in defeating Team Rocket, I will support your cause. But I say this to you, when Lt. Surge regains control of your country, he needs to leave Cinnabar alone.” Seth nodded seriously to Blaine’s request.

“Great, you will deliver my demands to Lt. Surge. When he sends an agreement to what I have asked, you will at a minimum have me during the assault.” Blaine smiled, bringing 10 years of youth to his face. “Then Seth, all that is left is for you to beat me.”

XI​

The full moon faintly illuminated the field of grass that rushed up against the Viridian City wall. The tall skyscrapers, shining with their inner lights, stood under a large red "R" that the largest building wore like a crown.

"Professor Oak perished a year ago while attempting to kindle the very flame we now bring to their doorstep.” Lt. Surges gripped Red’s shoulder firmly standing outside the treeline of his forces. Your lives have been at their mercy for too long. If you want to save those you hold dear, now is the time! " Lt. Surge's voice echoed with resolute determination.

"Aerial Unit, go!" Lt. Surge commanded. The hundred trainers atop their Pokémon took flight behind Holly, who rode on top of her Fearow.

"Vanguard, march!" He took his first step towards the attack, Electivire walking at a pace next to him.

XII​

Blaine's final Pokéball soared through the air, releasing Volcarona. Noivern hissed loudly, the summer sun shining through the holes in his cyan wings.

"Flamethrower!"

"Dragon Pulse!" The explosive clash of attacks erupted between them, and both Pokémon took to the sky, racing around each other, unleashing attack after attack. No longer guided by their trainers but driven by their rigorous training. Fortunately, Noivern's training was overseen by Erin.

XIII​

The Viridian City wall loomed over Lt. Surge and Professor Oak's army. Fire coming out from a Team Rocket’s Honchkrow along the ground, incinerating the grass below as it advanced toward Lt. Surge. Before the flames could reach him, Holly on her Fearow smashed into Honchkrow’s side, immediately extinguishing the pillar of flames as it pecked its long beak through its left eye. Honchkrow and its trainer crashed into the bottom of the wall sliding down slightly before hitting the ground with a sickening thud.

“I thought you said that Fearow was weak.” Emily said to Lt. Surge who smirked.

"Heatran, Earth Power!" Blaine commanded in front of his Cinnabar troops. The ground beneath the wall first bubbled, then exploded, with earth and molten rock raining into the city as the section of the wall fell into the depths of the city.

 

[Sarnick18]

Chapter 36
​

Lost in Echoes​

The more I fool myself

The more I feel it creeping in

I think I lost my mind again

The more I start to fall

The more I don't see me at all

I think I lost my mind again



- Caskets​

I​

The screams of injured Team Rocket grunts lying below the crumbled walls echoed out of Viridian, to some as a euphonious melody, and to others, it was a precursor of the future. Lt. Surge took the first step into the collapsed wall of the city. Pieces of stone fell into the dark depths of the street, smashing next to a Team Rocket member running behind his Kadabra. Electivire's arm rammed into Kadabra's side, flinging him into a deteriorating building. In a second motion, his hand fell upon the Kadabra’s trainer, crushing her beneath its weight.

“Release all Pokémon and move!” Lt. Surge called out from the highest point of the rubble, releasing Dracozolt and his Raichu. The night sky lit up with elemental attacks from the aerial units above. Seth saw just a hundred yards above him a trainer on top of a Unfezant stop in mid-motion, the blue ice forming around them from a beam of ice erupting out of a Frostmoth. The Unfezant collided with the ground next to him, splintering into a thousand pieces, oozing unfrozen gore.

Hundreds of simultaneous battles lined the street that led into the middle of the city as Seth, Emily, Red, and Ninetales made their way to the top of the crumbled wall. Another flying Pokémon crashed into the building closest to them. In front of the building, a Toxapex sunk one of its thorns into a Meowscarada’s green fur. The shrieks of pain mixed with the others before its skin bubbled and liquified, and its muffled coughs of blood silenced it forever.

The buildings that were closing in the violence gradually rose up to the center of the city like a makeshift mountain, with its supposed-to-be-highest peak missing, signifying the small building of Viridian’s gym. The target they had to fight through to ensure Seth could finally avenge his family. He couldn't witness Erin’s smile anymore, but the void left in his heart would at least be appeased by the lights fading from Giovanni’s eyes.

“Emily, Red, release one Pokémon each to get us there,” Seth said, slipping on the rubble as he made his way to the main street. A Vibrava darted towards Seth’s head, coming feet to slicing his throat before blue flames caught it like a net, incinerating the Pokémon who was flailing on fire before him.

“Shouldn’t we call out more?” Emily asked, releasing Ceruledge in front of her.

“No, we need to be as discreet as possible and move fast.” Red released Charizard who flew closely above them watching the chaos that enveloped them.

“Gigaton Hammer!” a woman in black yelled out. A Tinkaton lifted its large steel hammer in the air bringing it down towards Emily. The hammer severed at the pole Tinkaton was holding, along with its head, before it could make contact. Ceruledge then turned its flaming bladed appendages to the grunt who called the command, plunging incinerating death into her chest.

“Let’s go!” Emily said, making her way down the street. Red called out twice, causing Charizard to unleash a pulsating purple energy that exploded on an incoming enemy and his Skuntank. Pieces of both of them splattered on the brick wall behind them. Seth noticed the look of pure hatred flickering in Red’s eyes as he gave the command. Why did that look terrify him to his absolute core? Was Red enjoying this? Seth turned back ahead, looking at the little progress they made through the street that was drenched in riots, inching closer to the center of it all. To him.

Even though Seth knew they started at the end of the Vanguard attack, he couldn't believe how far Oak’s army attack had already plunged into the depths of the city. They passed another block, and Emily looked to her left on the other side of buildings. A flash of lightning illuminated a parallel street, sending a body flying into view and then out of view behind another structure like a deteriorating ragdoll.

The six of them sprinted down the street, avoiding attacks. A fourth-story window above Seth had the light on, with a father and his child looking down at the ocean of mayhem below them. The realization that Giovanni never called for an evacuation seeped into Seth’s mind. Did he even attempt to protect the citizens here? Or were they supposed to be shields, as if this would stop them, stop him? In the window next to the parent and his child, Sarah and Erin looked down upon Seth before an incoming Pokémon shifted his attention. A Crobat swooped down, attempting to get at Emily before Ceruledge sliced the Pokémon in half, raining its insides on the street.

Seth looked back at the family watching behind them, but a purple energy from an Altaria ripped through the building’s windows, dropping glass shards and sentimental pieces of the family's home and even the family themselves into the chaos of the city.

II​

As the fight continued through the block, Seth finally saw Lt. Surge at the head of it all. Raichu landed on a Feraligatr, electrifying it with an incredible blast of lightning that lit up the street. Feraligatr eyes boiled out of its head, leaving its last vision of this reality being Lt. Surge gripping his trainer's head and burying his knife deep inside the Team Rocket grunt’s head. Heatran was dousing incoming trainers and their Pokémon with lava, as Blaine’s Camerupt unleashed waves of attackers into an ocean of fire.

“Seth, Emily, take Red down a side street away from all of this!” Lt. Surge said, noticing them approaching his rear. Another Pokémon dropped from the sky into the second-story window to the right of Seth.

“While I would love to be your diversion,” Sabrina said sarcastically, “this entire operation rests on your ability to get there and handle this quickly.”

“Do you hear that?” Blaine said, joining the group.

“Hear what?” Lt. Surge asked.

“Exactly,” Blaine responded. Of course, there were explosions in the air above them and more fighting behind them, but the block was empty from Team Rocket and an uneasy calmness took hold.

“Keep moving up!” Lt. Surge commanded, walking up after his troops towards the next intersection in front of them.

“There is no way they are already finished,” Blaine said, looking eerily at the tall buildings cornering him, waiting for something to pop out.

It was too quiet. Red was looking around anxiously next to his Charizard, who walked closely beside him. Ninetales and Cerurledge walked between Seth and Emily, waiting for any attack to counter.

“GET BACK!” a voice called out. They looked in front of them up towards Lt. Surge but couldn't see anything. Only him and his soldiers whom were turning around in terror.

“GET BACK!” Holly yelled out on her Fearow, swooping into the intersection in front of them. A light shined behind the building to their left, spilling into the intersection and bathing Lt. Surge, Holly, and his troops in a bright white light.

“Stone Edge!” Blaine yelled. Camerupt stomped its feet, and a solid stone rock dug out of the ground, cutting off the blinding light and Lt. Surge, their commanding leader, with his soldiers from sight.

The next moment was consumed in a wave of intense heat and a deafening explosion.

III​

Erin lay on the street, the decay spreading from the back of his neck throughout his throat and face. His dead, pale eyes locked onto his father's. Ash and glass showered over him as someone fought desperately through the debris to get further up the street.

"I’m fine, daddy," he said with an evil grin. A flaming couch smashed to pieces just behind him, followed by more furniture and picture frames. A body thudded next to his son; Seth couldn't tell its gender. The clothes clung desperately to the contorted figure whose skin held only small portions of their insides.

"I’m fine, daddy." Rage began to build in his gut. He wanted to strangle anyone who caused his son to appear as a hallucination in front of him. Should he wring his own throat? He flashed a mental checklist of where he was and what he was doing. Vermillion, get Red to Giovanni, kill Giovanni, kill that fucking bastard.

"I’m fine, daddy." Ninetales' snout lifted him to his knees, and the outside world integrated in while his son faded away. Before he could even look for Emily or Red, he took a deep breath in, tasting smoke, followed by his throat screeching in pain from the inflamed air that surrounded him. The building hanging over him wept its insides onto the street. The northeast corner of the building was carved clean except for a few steel beams struggling to hold its immense weight on the upper floors. Another body smashed to the concrete below, forcing Seth to look up and see the top five to ten floors engulfed in a blazing inferno. Above that Seth had no idea the damage, the smoke and displaced plaster blocked out everything else.

Emily was getting to her feet next to him, blood seeping into her shirt on her right shoulder, and her once beautiful chestnut hair singed and covered in ash. Red was helping Blaine to his feet and giving him his cane back. Both he and Sabrina looked unscathed. The burning light screens from Alakazam explained her protection, but Seth was amazed by how Red managed to come out of the explosion mostly unhurt. That is until he saw Charizard’s scratched-up back dripping blood in several places.

The building gave a low groan before periodically cracking in inconsistent intervals but never ceasing. "Run!" Blaine said to the survivors. "The building is going to fall, retreat and regroup."

Everyone took to their feet, fleeing south, praying not to be smashed by the debris above or buried beneath the building. Red was about to follow Blaine and Sabrina until he was stopped by Seth, who gripped his wrist tightly.

"We are going this way." Seth saw for a second the innocence of his son before Red’s fiery anger returned to his eyes. He wondered for a moment if he was marching to another child's death. He wanted to let go of him, let him retreat; he could take care of this. But could he, he thought. Could he beat Giovanni without Red?

"Come on, let’s go," Seth urged, reconfirming his position and hating himself for it. "Emily, come on." The building above gave another snapping sound punctuating the urgency.

"Yeah, let’s fucking go!" She reformed, getting to her feet and sprinting behind Red and Seth. A trainer passed them, fleeing the other way. He had an Ivysaur with one vine wrapped tightly around an unconscious Lt. Surge. The second vine tied as a tourniquet around his missing right arm, and burns ran up his shoulder and painted his face.

The street before them was bathed in the light of the fires above. More debris fell; one dresser smashed with a loud bang against the concrete, dispersing the wardrobe of the individuals who would or already had been shoved out of the building.

"Holly!" Emily called out, cutting left from them. Her Fearow was completely disintegrated. The only things that remained were its upper beak and its right wing, barely attached to a destroyed torso. Holly was bleeding from the back of her head, her back dragged raw, and military fatigues gripped to her like desperate fingers. Clearly, the last action that Fearow made was shielding its trainer from the oncoming explosion with its body.

"Seth, she is still alive, help me move her," Emily begged, lifting her upright. Another loud snap echoed from somewhere in the depths of the inflamed structure.

"Emily, leave her. We have to go; this thing could fall any second," Seth said, stepping back away from whatever humanity he could provide. It was Celadon City casino all over again; he was too scared, too blinded, by revenge to act with decency.

"Fuck you, run then you fucking coward. Charizard, help me," Emily said. Seth took another step back and ran next to Red and Ninetales. The pops and snaps were coming more rapidly.

"I’m fine, daddy."

"You couldn’t save him."

Emily was running up close to Seth, and Charizard blitzed in front of them all, carefully carrying Holly in his arms. With a final ear-shattering, cannon-like blast, the building leaned and then collided with the building across the street they had just been near. The sound of the skyscraper collapsing was a moment of profound devastation. An ominous and thunderous roar echoed through Viridian City—a combination of structural elements breaking, massive amounts of debris crashing down, and the immense impact resonating across the surroundings. It was a sound that signified not only the physical destruction of a massive structure but also the loss of countless lives snuffed out in a single moment.

A cloud of smoke and plaster moved towards them with an almost gentle grace, surrounding them in a cloud for cover. It was a cover that stunk of death and sadness, but one that was desperately needed by the trio and their Pokémon.

Charizard gently laid Holly against one of the buildings and turned to Red, who was coughing uncontrollably. Red pointed his outstretched hand to his chest, letting Charizard know he was fine. The dense cloud grew so silent that Seth was afraid he had gone deaf for a moment before Emily spoke.

“Come on, let's get off this main road.” She reached down and pressed the Pokeballs on Holly’s belt until the last one finally opened, unleashing a red light that materialized into a Togetic. “Get her out of here.”

They left the pair on the road, departing from the main street they had been traveling until the smoke finally cleared four blocks to the east. On the corner of the untouched road stood a green sign reading “Pine Blvd.”

The buildings above them were dark, hiding from the violence that had just occurred so close by. To the left, the road carried the cold pavement North towards the center of the city, a small building guarded by the pillars of the skyscrapers that surrounded it. Above the small doors that Seth could barely make out was a small green dot. The closer they walked further into the eerily silent city, the larger that green dot grew, resembling a small green feather.

IV​

“What the fuck is your problem!” Emily shoved Seth in the vacant, quiet street.

“We have to get there,” he pointed to the gym at the end of the boulevard, a few dozen blocks away. “That’s what matters, Emily. Let’s finish this and end him!” Seth turned away from her disapproving stares that mixed with the hallucinations haunting him.

Anxiety built more than the battle behind the fallen building. During their early march, they could at least see the oncoming attacks, but the deserted, dark street, only illuminated by the full moon, Charizard’s tail, and Ceruledge's eternal flame above, gave an eerie sense of unwelcomed eyes ready to destroy them at any moment. More lightning cracked through the sky above them from some attack from an aerial unit, followed by a blast of fire.

The tension between Seth and Emily built with each step. But what would she have him do? Get himself killed saving Holly, who was already as good as dead? Allow Giovanni to get away with all the atrocities he committed to Erin? To Sarah? No, this would end here, even if it would cost him his life or his very humanity.

“Red, are you okay?” Emily asked. He put his outstretched hand to his chest again; Seth assumed that meant he was fine.

It's too damn quiet,” she continued, running her hand through Ninetales.

“I agree. Let's just hurry up and get there.” They sprinted again, the blocks passing them as the anxiety of a surprise attack increased with each oncoming intersection. But nothing came; the gym grew larger and larger without so much as an obstacle put in their path. The road gradually inclined, ballooning in the center. The street below glowed red from the large red “R” sign on the towering peak of the building next to the gym.

The stone steps leading up to the large gym doors were decorated with Ground-type Pokémon. Seth could barely pay attention; the drumming of his internal rage thumped with each beat of his heart, pushing his boiling blood throughout his body.

Nidoking and Nidoqueen stone facades stood against each other at the top step, and light spilled out of the opaque glass windows. Red took a hand around the doorknob but was stopped by Seth.

“We need to plan really quickly before entering. We know he has the Master Ball and most likely has Mewtwo. He probably gave Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres to Johto, but he has an ace up his sleeve,” Seth said, looking at both of them. Ninetales was humming a low growl behind him, wanting so badly to rage through the front door.

“What are you thinking?” Emily asked.

“Red, release Scyther for me.” He did so, and the Pokémon hovered above the ground, taking in the dark surroundings. “Scyther, we are about to attack Giovanni. I want you to fly up and sneak into this gym. Silently sneak above Giovanni; when you get above him, you need to go for the kill.” Scyther looked at Red for confirmation of his mission, which was agreed with a simple nod.

Scyther began taking flight up before being stopped once more. “Scyther, Red could be in danger. Your mission is to kill Giovanni, no matter Red’s safety. Do you understand?” Flashbacks of Lairon in the warehouse outside Pewter City against the Brute flashed into Seth’s mind, and a cold chill crept down his spine.

Scyther again looked at Red with more admiration than any Pokémon of Seth's ever looked at him, including Annihilape. Red pointed to himself and outstretched his hand to his chest before taking both fingers and pointing him towards the roof of the gym. Scyther obeyed immediately and disappeared into the darkness of the night. A loud crash came from inside, catching all of their attention as they listened quietly before entering.

V​

“Why?” A muffled voice seeped out of the main doors outside. It sounded as if it was taking all its energy just to carry far enough out its owner's vocal cords, let alone into the outside air.

“Why? You ask me why?” Giovanni’s unmistakable voice roared out. Seth creaked the door opened to get a glimpse inside. Giovanni was walking towards a collapsed man with blue hair, dressed in a white suit that Seth remembered seeing giving him his winnings on S.S. Anne. “You invade my home, unleash your criminals like the Pewter City Brute on my people, extort, abuse, and kill my citizens as if they were rabid pests. You ask me why? You're weak, fat, and lazy and allowed me to usurp your country’s rule directly under your pathetic nose.”

Red, Ninetales, and Emily followed Seth inside, crouched low beneath the blind space of grand marble pillars holding the immense ceiling above it. The ceiling was sewn together with giant wooden beams. They saw not only Archer struggling for breath on the battlefield’s dirt floor but a dozen well-dressed individuals all adorning the notorious red “R” on their clothing. Giovanni's hand was wrapped around the purple Masterball, and behind him stood a Pokémon Seth had never seen before. It was taller than Giovanni, wearing black armor and its light purple skin only peeked out around its feet, groin, and arms. Two massive shoulder plates rose above its helmeted head. Seth couldn’t see its eyes; it was hiding behind an black visor. One outstretched hand was lifting to the ceiling, the other was down by its side clutching something tight, and it looked as if a tiny sleeve was popping out of its grip.

Emily, Seth, and Red's minds filled with hatred. Seth’s blood boiled more than it already was from looking at Giovanni, as intrusive thoughts penetrated his thick skull. He felt confined behind glass submerged in a liquid with faces looking in, amused at his torture. He wanted to rip everything apart, destroy every living and non-living thing around him that witnessed his suffering.

All but Giovanni’s and Archer’s bodies simply imploded in an instant. Small explosions of blood and guts splattered on the dirt ground with a small pop when Mewtwo closed his outstretched hand into a fist.

“NOOO! Don’t do this. We gave you everything, Giovanni. Fucking no! Please!” Archer was screaming, flailing in the dirt, staining his white suit brown before the scarlet soon took over.

“You’re a parasite,” Giovanni said coolly, whipping off a speck of blood that landed on his suit. Mewtwo began walking his steel frame closer to Archer. His flailing on the dirt and screaming grew more intense with each powerful crash of Mewtwo's feet.

“Shadow Ball.”

“NO!” A dense purple ball formed in front of Mewtwo's hand before slamming into Archer’s back. His body twisted and contorted around the ball. His spinal cord fused with his organs, his skin melded into the dirt below him. His organs popped in a small burst of blood that fused into the gory mess that reflected the others of Team Rocket high command.

Mewtwo turned his gaze towards Giovanni, and a sense of anger and rage welled up inside them again. The next moment, the feeling completely dissipated from them, as if the intrusive anger had been ripped out. They peeked again behind the stone pillar and saw Mewtwo falling to his knees as an electric shock blasted him from inside his steel armor.

“Turn your power towards me again, and you will spend more painful hours, agonizing days, inside the Masterball. Do you understand me!” Giovanni said, looking down upon Mewtwo.

“Now for you, welcome. It's good to see you again.” Giovanni looked up towards the pillars they were hiding behind.

The door behind them splintered apart when Charizard slammed through, and the heat ran past them as his flamethrower erupted through the entrance, dancing on the dirt floor and crashing into a newly created light screen from Mewtwo.