Chapter 12

TOO FAR GONE

I still don't sleep, and I don't trust myself

To be the stronger for you

It’s all so strange and I don’t recognize

Faces of ones I adore

I’ll try my best to keep moving forward

But, there’s wounds that can’t be ignored

- The Plot In You

I

Ava and Seth laughed joyfully as they played in the crystal-clear waters of a nearby stream. The sunlight danced on the surface, creating a shimmering display of colors. The air was filled with the sweet scent of nature, and the sounds of Chatot singing added to the symphony of nature. A group of playful Squirtles emerged from the water, their shells glistening with droplets. With mischievous grins, they launched bubbles towards Ava and Seth. The bubbles sparkled in the sunlight as they floated through the air, eliciting delighted giggles from the children. Not to be outdone, Ava and Seth gathered handfuls of water and sent powerful waves crashing towards the Squirtles. The waves splashed against their targets, drenching the Pokémon in a playful retaliation. Laughter echoed through the serene surroundings as the friendly water battle continued.

Seth, Glenn, and Emily sat gathered around the crackling fire, the warm glow casting flickering shadows on their faces. Brian stood at his makeshift table, diligently preparing a meal that had become a symbol of comfort in their camp. He carefully crafted the perfect broth and reached for the knife, ready to slice the meat. But as he picked up the blade, he saw her innocent face held down by the grimy scared riddled hand of a Team Rocket member. Judith pleaded, her voice filled with desperation, begging to be allowed to return home. A distant voice called his name, growing louder and more urgent.

"Brian!" Seth's voice finally broke through, snapping him out of his trance. "Are you okay?"

Brian blinked, momentarily disoriented. His hand shaking so much he couldn't believe the blade didn't fly out of his grasp. "Yeah, sorry, what were you saying?"

Seth sighed, then continued, "We'll be reaching Saffron tomorrow. We need to strategize on how to confront Sabrina."

Brian nodded while ripping the meat with his hands, "Darkrai, right?" he asked.

"Yes, but there are a couple of challenges. First, I still need to convince him to help us. And second, only one of us can use him." Seth explained.

Glenn interjected, "Darkrai seems terrified of causing harm. How do you plan to persuade him?"

"He is so terrified of being alone that I will be threatening that,." Seth responded bluntly.

"Do you realize how asinine that is?" Emily questioned. "Darkrai had no knowledge of the Hypno den and tried to fucking fix it. On top of all of that he blamed himself, " Emily argued passionately.

Seth countered, "Are you really going to lecture me about moral high ground?

“Yes, I've killed dozens of those fucking bastards for what they did to me, but I never forced anyone into it. My Pokémon supported me and my decisions." Emily stood her ground, her voice resolute.

"I will do whatever it takes to protect him." Seth's reply dripped with bitterness,

"And Team Rocket does whatever it can to protect them," she replied. The tension lingered in the air as they grappled with the complexity of their choices and the weight of their pasts.

Ignoring Emily's disapproval, Seth turned to Brian, a determined look in his eyes. "You ready?" he asked, his voice steady. Brian took a deep breath and nodded, a mix of anticipation and apprehension written on his face. With a sense of purpose, Seth reached down and released Darkrai from its Poké Ball.

As the bright sunlight filtered through the surrounding trees, the intense blackness of Darkrai's body contrasted heavily with it. His gaze shifted from one member of the group to another, confusion evident in its expression. However, its attention was quickly drawn to Erin and Ava, who were happily engaged in their play.

"Darkrai," Seth called out, "We need your help." The Pokémon turned around, its ethereal form floating back towards the group. Emily watched, shaking her head.

"We need you to fight," Brian said, his voice was flat as he ran his fingers through his black hair. Darkrai shifted and transformed his body into the shadow on the ground, catching the group's attention. They watched intently, trying to discern the Pokémon's feelings and intentions. The shadow eventually took the form of smaller versions of Darkrai, holding hands with people and other Pokémon.

He emerged from the shadow, his intense gaze fixed upon them with his single, piercing blue eye. The gravity of the situation was palpable as they exchanged silent understanding.

"In order to protect the ones we love, sometimes we have to fight," Seth spoke, his words carrying a sense of conviction. Glenn couldn't help but snicker at the irony of it all. The last time he witnessed such violence, he had lost a daughter. But Darkrai's response was immediate and emphatic, vigorously shaking his head.

Seth's desperation grew as he pleaded with Darkrai to join them in the fight. He pointed towards the children playing in the stream, emphasizing the need to protect them. "If you truly want to help them find safety," Seth implored, "then you have to fight."

Darkrai once again took his shadowy form and began to shift and contort, transforming into a terrifying version of itself. Its eyes grew sharp and focused, the swirling smoke forming jagged edges as it rose and dissipated. The lower face of its necklace snapped shut, creating a menacing jaw. Two children, presumably Ava and Erin, witnessing this horrifying manifestation, instinctively ran away in fear.

Frustration boiled within Seth, and he couldn't hold back his anger any longer. "If you won't help us," he yelled, "then get the fuck out of here!" Darkrai, halfway emerged from the ground, seemed to reflect a somber expression. Fear in his blue eye was clear as it shot between each member of the group and finally fixed on the kids.

Emily watched with apprehension, her hand gripping her pants tightly. Seth took a deep breath, trying to find a compromise. “We'll part ways with Ava and Glenn after Saffron City.” The group, specifically Glenn, stared at him confused about the point he was trying to make. “But before that, help us in one battle. If you do, you can stay and protect Ava. Deal?"

Glenn’s confusion disappeared as he nodded in agreement. All eyes turned back to Darkrai, waiting for its response. After a moment of contemplation, Darkrai nodded, silently agreeing to join them in the fight. It drifted back towards its Pokéball, without even sparing a glance at Seth.

"Wait," Seth said abruptly, his voice tinged with urgency, halting Darkrai from returning to its Pokéball. He turned back towards Seth, its serious gaze locked on him, still harboring a hint of anger. Seth took a deep breath, meeting Darkrai's gaze head-on. "We need to understand what you can do."

Darkrai drifted back a few feet, a dark ball forming between its hands. The ball, as black as Darkrai's body, rotated violently, emanating an ominous energy. "And what is that supposed to do?" Seth asked, skepticism clearly evident.

Without a word, Darkrai launched the dark ball from its hands, shooting it towards Seth with alarming speed. Seth attempted to evade the attack, leaping out of the way, but his reactions were too slow. The expanding ball engulfed Seth, obscuring him from sight. In an instant, Seth vanished within the void-like sphere.

As the ball dissipated, Seth collapsed to the ground falling hard without the ability to brace himself. Darkrai, seemingly satisfied with its demonstration, floated back towards its Pokéball, disappearing from sight once again. The group stood in silence, a mix of shock and concern filling the air.

II

A beam of light pierced through the eternal darkness that had surrounded Seth, gradually growing brighter until he found himself standing in a serene, lush green valley. The calmness of the surroundings was interrupted only by the gentle nearby stream and the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze. In the distance, a faint roar could be heard, adding to the mysterious ambiance.

Though Seth tried to move his body, he found himself unable to do so, compelled to follow along as if under some external control. Thoughts raced through his mind as he tried to comprehend where he was and what was happening. The body he inhabited turned around, taking in the breathtaking scenery, the wind tugging at the trees, and a Darkrai but smaller than the one in their company, trailing behind him.

As they continued, Seth's attention was drawn to a young girl happily playing, skipping along the rocky terrain near the edge of the forest. The two Darkrai drifted closer to her, their presence looming. However, before they could reach her, a massive Ursaring emerged, lashing out and shattering a nearby tree with its powerful swipe. It prowled towards the frightened girl, who instinctively stepped back, her eyes locked on the formidable creature in fear.

Forced into action, Seth's host swiftly evaded Ursaring's initial attack and lifted it off the ground using Psychic. With its hand pressed against the struggling Ursaring, Seth's host unleashed a powerful Thunderbolt, coursing through the creature's body. Ursaring convulsed, its eyes seeming to melt as blood trickled from its sockets, until Darkrai released its Psychic hold, allowing the corpse of Ursaring to collapse to the ground.

Turning his attention back to the girl, who morphed into Erin, Seth's heart sank. Instead of finding relief or gratitude, he appeared even more petrified, letting out a piercing scream as he fled in terror.

They pressed on, desperate to ensure the safety of the young girl, their attempts at stealth failing as they neared the girl's village. Pink cone-shaped tents dotted the ground, and as people emerged from their shelters, curiosity turned to alarm as she pointed directly at their group. Panic set in, and Seth grabbed the hand of the younger Darkrai, urging them to flee, but the villagers quickly closed in on them.

Pokémon encircled them, and an Infernape unleashed flames, the scorching heat bearing down on them. Seth was forced to position himself in front, shielding the child Darkrai from harm. The intensity of the flames was overwhelming, but fueled by his determination to protect, Seth retaliated. He conjured swirling orbs of shadow, launching them with precision at the Infernape, Typhlosion, Stantler, and Gastrodon. The impact twisted their bodies, blood spurting forth as they writhed in agony.

As Seth turned, he witnessed a devastating blow. Gallade's fist extended from the smaller Darkrai, the piercing blue eye fixated on Seth, filled with fear and pain. In an instant, the eye dulled, the gaze becoming lifeless as the small Darkrai went limp on the outstretched green fist. Darkrai cried out in anguish as the other Pokémon drew nearer, their intentions clear. Gallade callously discarded the child Darkrai to the side.

Gathering his strength and resolve, Darkrai summoned a colossal pitch-black sphere overhead, swinging it down with a tremendous force. The villagers and their Pokémon were consumed by the void, their bodies falling limply to the ground. Darkrai scooped up his son, tearing away from the village.

III

Seth jolted upright, gasping for breath. As his surroundings came into focus, he found Emily, Brian, and Glenn sitting around him. "You damn well know you deserved that!" Emily exclaimed, her voice filled with far too much happiness.

"What happened?" Seth inquired, still trying to grasp the situation.

"Darkrai hit you, after you sort of asked for it," Glenn explained matter-of-factly. "That black sphere thing knocked you out cold."

"How long was I out?" Seth pressed further.

"About an hour," Brian replied, providing the answer.

"Alright, enough wasting time. Let's get going to Saffron," Seth declared, struggling to rise to his feet.

"Wait, what did you see while you were asleep?" Emily asked, her curiosity piqued.

Seth hesitated for a moment, his eyes averting Emily's gaze. "Just Sarah," he replied in a cool tone, but there was a hint of something hidden in his response.

IV

Saffron City stood before them, a sprawling metropolis that dwarfed anything they had seen before. The towering skyscrapers seemed to pierce the very clouds above, while the Team Rocket wall appeared minuscule in comparison to the grandeur of the city's infrastructure. Amongst the multitude of buildings, one structure stood out with its slight incline on the right side and windows adorned with a distinctive crisscrossing design. Etched across the top of the building in bold letters was the name "Silph Co."

As they marveled at the city, Brian turned to Glenn, who was busy cleaning his glasses with his shirt. "Are you nervous?" Brian inquired, his own face betraying a hint of unease.

Glenn paused for a moment, then replied, "Not too much. After all, they were the ones who reached out to me. But the real question is, are you nervous?" He locked eyes with Brian, his grip tightening as he held his hand.

"Nah," Brian answered with a nonchalant shrug, though his expression contradicted his words.

"You don't have to do this. Stay with me, Char-, Ava," Glenn pleaded, his gaze filled with sincerity.

"I'm doing this for you and Ava. I didn't have a purpose before, but now I do. I want to save you guys," Brian declared, returning Glenn's firm grip. “I failed you once and that wont happen again.”

Glenn's grip tightened even more as he implored, "Then save us by staying here with us. You know what it's like in the major cities. We'll be fine. Please, stay."

"Ava deserves happiness, just like Erin. I'm doing this for you," Brian stated, his smile masking his inner insecurities. It was a smile that he struggled to maintain, a facade of confidence to conceal his own doubts.

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"Are you ready?" Seth asked, placing a reassuring hand on Brian's shoulder.

"Yeah.”

"Alright, Erin, do you want to come with us and watch the gym fight or stay with Emily?" Seth asked turning to Erin

“This fucking sucks. I hate being stuck out of these parts.” Emily grumbled.

Erin pondered for a moment, then exclaimed, "I want to watch! Torterra, follow Dad!" The massive Torterra yawned lazily carrying Ava and Erin and began slowly moving away from Emily.

Seth smiled and nodded, waving goodbye. "Alright, Emily, we'll see you after the fight."

Emily smirked and playfully flipped him off. "Good luck. Don't you dare hurt Vaporeon!" she called out with a mischievous grin.

V

Sabrina lounged on her small throne, her feet propped up as the vibrant Team Rocket "R" logo gleamed behind her. Elaborate statues of Psychic-type Pokémon, including Alakazam, Gardevoir, Slowking, Metagross, and more, stood proudly behind her, creating an imposing presence. The battlefield lay before her, flat and devoid of any hiding spots.

She was growing weary of the monotony, one challenger after another failing to present a worthwhile challenge. While she appreciated Team Rocket for eliminating the weaklings early in her career, that is why she wore their emblem on her chest. Their recent failures were evident in the last year of imposing gym challengers. As she twirled a lock of her bluish-grey hair around her slender fingers, the dimly lit gym was momentarily illuminated by a sliver of light, signaling the arrival of two men, a boy and a Vulpix.

"Wow, look at that!" exclaimed the excited child perched on his father's shoulders, pointing at the grandeur of the arena. “And that! And that!”

Sabrina descended the staircase of her throne, growing increasingly irritated with each step. The incessant words spewing from the child's mouth only served to intensify her frustration. As she moved through her gym, the lights casting an eerie glow that she reveled in, she could discern the appearance of her upcoming opponents.

The scrawny man with a beard, his attention fixated on the "R" printed on her shirt, began to speak, "We are here to compete in the league challenge. We have…"

"I don't care how many badges you have," Sabrina interrupted sharply, her impatience evident. "And you as well?" she turned her gaze to the muscular man with olive skin and slick black hair, who nodded in response.

"You two will team up against me. How many Pokémon do you have between the two of you?" Sabrina inquired, her tone dripping with disdain.

"We have nine in total," the father replied calmly. Sabrina recognized that expression, the one that saw her as a mere obstacle. She relished in the anticipation of watching that expression crumble into horror as she crushed their arrogance. To think they hadn't even brought a full team of six Pokémon each—it was downright insulting.

"I will still use my six, while you can use all of yours. We will have a double battle," Sabrina declared firmly.

"You're not giving us an option," the man with olive skin retorted.

"No," Sabrina commanded, ready to prove her superiority in battle.

VI

Sabrina tossed her Pokéballs into the air, releasing a burst of red light that filled the space before cascading down to the ground. Emerging from the light were Alakazam and Mr. Mime, both Pokémon taking their positions on the battlefield. Alakazam stood menacingly, holding his spoons and scanning the surroundings with his piercing gaze, seeking Sabrina's approval. Mr. Mime, on the other hand, was fidgeting back and forth in front of Alakzam, preparing his defenses for any possible scenario.

The man with the beard whispered something into the ear of the muscular man, but Sabrina dismissed it as useless. They were no match for her. She, who had become the youngest gym leader in history with the highest defeat count, wondered what feeble strategy they could possibly have in store for her.

"Alakazam, remain cautious and be prepared to strike. Mr. Mime, focus on defense," Sabrina commanded, her voice dripping with cool confidence. With a nod, the opponents released their first two Pokémon onto the battlefield. A gleaming golden Vulpix dashed forward, baring its teeth, followed by the flashing red light of an elegant Vaporeon.

"Let the battle begin," Sabrina declared, her icy demeanor unwavering. The audacity of their challenge, attempting to face her with under-evolved Pokémon, only fueled her eagerness to extinguish their misplaced pride.

"Alakazam, use Psychic!" Sabrina's voice echoed through the battlefield. Vulpix cried out in pain as Alakazam exerted its telekinetic power, crushing the poor Pokémon from the outside in with an invisible force.

"Brian, now!" the bearded man shouted urgently.

"Vaporeon, break the line of sight with Waterfall!" Brian commanded. Vaporeon leaped above Vulpix, and a torrent of water gushed out of its mouth and body, enveloping the area. "Now, Ice Beam. Freeze the water!" Vaporeon descended while unleashing an icy beam, instantly turning the water into a solid wall of ice and freeing Vulpix from Alakazam's grip.

"Seth, do it!" Brian suggested, clearly hoping for a breakthrough. But Sabrina sneered, finding their attempts meaningless. She didn't even need to command her Pokémon; they already knew exactly what she wanted.

"Vulpix, use Flamethrower!" Seth shouted, his face filled with shock as he realized his Vulpix and Vaporeon were trapped behind the ice barrier. Mr. Mime was behind a newly created reflective barrier to their right, creating a new line of sight between them and Alakazam. The powerful Psychic Pokémon continued its assault, mercilessly crushing both of their Pokémon.

"Recall them or they die!" Sabrina's voice rang out, her frustration evident. She felt tempted to just end their suffering due to their feeble attempts at strategy, as they had insulted her with their amateurish tactics.

"Fine," Seth conceded defeat. He called back his Pokémon, and Alakazam released its grip. Vulpix struggled to walk back, stumbling a few times, while Vaporeon was swiftly recalled back into the Pokéball disappearing.

"If that's the level of strategy you're going to use, then give up now and spare yourself the embarrassment in front of your kid!" Sabrina yelled out in frustration. Two more Pokémon emerged before her, a Primeape and Ceruledge. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pity for their poor choices. Coming at her with a Fighting-type Pokémon was truly pathetic. Has anyone been this careless around her? The scar over its eye demonstrates the trainer's inability.

"Flash!" Brian commanded. Ceruledge's purple flames intensified, growing brighter and brighter until the entire battlefield was nearly blinding.

Sabrina shielded her eyes, only to hear Seth's voice calling out, "Fire Punch!" She had to look away just as Primeape's fist collided with Ceruledge's side of its fiery blade and dragged upwards. The light was too intense for her to bear.

"Defense!" Sabrina quickly yelled out. The blinding light finally subsided, revealing Primeape's flaming fist mere inches away from Mr. Mime, held back by another but invisible barrier.

"Brick Break!" Seth roared, and Primeape's second hand came crashing down, shattering the barrier. The flaming fist connected with Mr. Mime, sending him hurtling across the room, slamming into the wall. Meanwhile, Alakazam raised his hands, pointing his spoons towards Primeape, causing the fighting Pokémon to crumble to the ground.

"Save him, Ceruledge!" Brian commanded with urgency. Ceruledge raised its swords and charged towards her Alakazam, determination etched on its face. Primeape, propelled by an unseen force, hurtled towards Ceruledge, who swiftly dodged the oncoming teammate. Primeape crashed into the wall behind Seth and Brian falling hard to the ground.

With a resounding strike, Ceruledge brought its sword down upon Alakazam. However, to Brian's dismay, the attack fell short, thwarted by yet another impenetrable barrier. Brian’s frustration was visible to Sabrina as he recalled Mr. Mime fidgeting in front of Alakzam before the fight.

"Shadow Ball!" Sabrina said calmly. Brian roared for Ceruledge to get out of there, but it was too late. Alakazam used Psychic to hold Ceruledge in place while forming a swirling purple blob. The blob shot forward, colliding with Ceruledge's chest, causing her to fly and skid along the ground before coming to a stop in front of Brian. Her chest armor was twisted inward, and blood began to seep out.

Primeape, who had managed to stand up, collapsed once again. Seth walked over to Primeape, placing a hand on his back, “Are you okay?” he asked, but there was no response. Seth then recalled Primeape back into his Pokéball. "How's Ceruledge?" Seth asked Brian.

"For now, she's okay, but we need to get her help," Brian replied, concern evident in his voice. He dragged Ceruledge behind them, realizing with alarm that he wasn't burned by the touch. He placed a rag over her chest and applied pressure to stop the bleeding. "Vulpix, make sure she doesn't get too cold. Erin, can you watch over Ceruledge?"

"Uh-huh," Erin replied before sitting next to the injured Pokémon.

A red light shot forward, releasing Mr. Mime from its collapsed state. “Clever, let's see how you handle this," she taunted. With a swift throw, Wobbuffet emerged from its Pokéball.

Seth walked back to the field, ruffling his son's hair, and asked Brian if he was ready. "Yeah," Brian confirmed, and they simultaneously released their Pokéballs. Fraxure dragged its tusks along the ground, creating sparks, while Noivern screeched loudly, fixating its gaze on Alakazam.

Erin called out with pride, “You got this Noivern!” Sabrina scoffed internally, finding it ridiculous to rely on another unevolved Pokémon.

"Noivern, Boomburst at Alakazam!" Seth commanded. Noivern's ears began to pulsate, emitting a sharp, piercing sound that collided with Alakazam like a physical force. Alakazam, overwhelmed by the assault, fell to its knees, clutching its ears in pain.

Brian seized the opportunity, “Fraxure attack with Dragon Claw! Remove Alakazam from the field.” Fraxure charged forward, leaping to strike its opponent. Typical strategy and fucking ignorant at that she thought.

Sabrina quickly called out to Wobbuffet, “Counter.” Wobbuffet appeared in front of Alakazam, and Fraxure's tusk was impaled into its body, causing no blood to seep out. The force of Fraxure's attack drove Wobbuffet into the ground and flung it back, colliding with Fraxure, who was thrown toward Noivern. Noivern, in an effort to evade the attack, halted its assault on Alakazam.

Brian called out to Fraxure, but the Pokémon remained completely unconscious. Seth urgently called for its recall, but Sabrina simply smirked, reveling in the momentum she had gained in the battle.

"Alakazam, go!" Sabrina commanded, seizing the advantage to force Noivern to the ground. As Brian recalled Fraxure, Seth responded by releasing Torterra from its Pokéball directly behind the ice wall.

"Torterra, Grassy Terrain!" Seth called out. Torterra stomped down, roots ripped out of the ground, and trees began to grow, blocking Noivern and freeing him from Alakazam's grasp.

"Seth, we have to find a way to defeat Alakazam," Sabrina overheard Brian saying.

"I know," Seth replied, glancing back at Erin. "This is your team, buddy. Do you think they can handle it?"

"Yuporni!" Erin confidently called out.

"I saw Fraxure driving its tusk into Wobbuffet, but there was no blood," Brian shared with Seth.

"Yeah, I saw that too," Seth responded, nodding in agreement. “It used its body almost like a shield. Noivern, same plan, distract Alakazam," Sabrina overheard Seth calling out. She played with her hair, displaying a nonchalant attitude towards the ongoing battle.

Noivern darted out from behind the trees, only to be immediately brought down by Alakazam, and began screeching in pain.

"Earthquake!" Brian's commanding voice reverberated through the stadium. The ground trembled as Wobbuffet and Alakazam lost their balance, with Wobbuffet's body getting trapped between two broken pieces of the floor. Its black tail hung out.

"Noivern, Boomburst!" Taking flight once again, Noivern aimed its large circular ears towards Alakazam, who yelled out in suffering groans.

"Wobbuffet, Mirror Coat," Sabrina called out, but she was stunned when Wobbuffet failed to respond. She looked over and noticed vines entangling its black tail.

"Giga Drain, Torterra!" Brian's voice rang out. Wobbuffet's black tail began to wither as the vines connected to Torterra's feet, sapping its energy.

Sabrina quickly recalled Wobbuffet and turned her attention to Alakazam, still forced to the ground. Worry started to creep onto her face.

"Noivern, get behind Alakazam and use Dragon Pulse!" Seth commanded. Noivern, still emitting its sharp sound, glided behind Alakazam, and a purplish energy shot out of its mouth, crashing into Alakazam and sending it rolling across the ground. Before it could come to a stop, Sabrina swiftly recalled her Pokémon. By this point, she was visibly fuming. How could these weaklings defeat half of her team, she thought. No, it didn't matter. She would make sure to punish them here and now.

"What's wrong, Sabrina? You look different somehow," Brian taunted, trying to provoke her. She simply smirked and released two more Pokémon from her hand. Musharna and Medicham materialized before them, and a pink mist began to fill the arena from Musharna.

"Noivern, use Air Cutter on Medicham!" Seth commanded. However, he noticed that Noivern wasn't paying attention. It wasn't even looking at its opponents, and the same was true for Torterra. Noivern started darting up and down, seemingly biting at nothing, while Torterra stomped repeatedly on the stadium floor, targeting an invisible enemy. Seth stared at the back of the stadium, frozen in fear. “Sarah. Sarah. Sarah.” he repeated.

Brian crumbled to the ground, repeatedly yelling "no." The boy started crying while clinging onto Vulpix. Sabrina reveled in this moment. "Good work, Musharna," she said, admiring how her opponents succumbed to their nightmares caused by Musharna's mist. "Ice Punch," she whispered. Medicham, accustomed to the mist, tensed its fist as frost formed around it. The air seemed frozen as it shot forward, slamming its fist into Torterra, sending it crashing to the ground.

Seth snapped back to reality upon hearing the thud of his Pokémon and immediately recalled Torterra. He looked around and saw Brian and Erin screaming in fear. Picking up the boy, he threw his Pokéball up with a smile. Sabrina couldn't understand how he could still be smiling in this situation. Suddenly, a black void emerged, spewing white smoke from the top, and a blue eye focused intensely on her. "There's no way!" she exclaimed. She had read stories about Darkrai, but they were extinct. How was one here now?

"Sucker Punch!" Seth roared. Darkrai disappeared from sight and reappeared, colliding its fist into Musharna. She fell to the ground, the mist dissipating as she failed to get back up. Noivern shook its head, erasing the nightmare from its mind.

"Daddy, there were Drowzees coming for me, and..." Erin cried, recounting the horrors of the nightmare.

"It's okay, buddy. It's over now," Seth reassured him, trying to calm him down.

He then turned to Brian, who jolted upright, “Judith,” he screamed. "What the fuck was that?" he yelled back at Sabrina, but she was too engrossed in observing Darkrai to pay attention to his outburst.

Sabrina composed herself and released her last Pokémon. Gothitelle emerged, its black body standing tall before her. "This is what I'm talking about!" she roared, a wide smile spreading across her face. "Finally, a challenge!"

"Darkrai, Dark Void!" Brian yelled.

"Noivern, Air Cutter!" Seth commanded.

"Gothitelle, Thunderbolt! Medicham, High Jump Kick!" Sabrina screamed simultaneously.

The attacks collided, but Sabrina's Pokémon were simply too quick and well-trained. Electric energy shot out from Gothitelle’s hands, slamming into Noivern and sending it crashing to the ground once again. As Darkrai formed its dark orb, Medicham's foot connected with its side, propelling Darkrai towards the ground alongside Noivern. Gothitelle used Psychic to take control of Noivern, beating it to the ground. Darkrai rose up, forming the orb once more, but Gothitelle used Noivern's body as a weapon, striking Darkrai and causing both Pokémon to crash and roll on the ground. Darkrai stood up, but Noivern remained completely motionless.

"A legendary won't do anything against me. I am the strongest trainer in Kanto!" Sabrina yelled confidently.

"You claim to be the strongest, yet you team up with an omnipotent force like Team Rocket, only challenging weak and beaten opponents," Sabrina’s smile faded upon his words, not from blatant disrespect but possible agreement. "Are you ready, Seth?" Brian retorted as Seth recalled Noivern.

"Yeah, let's end this," Seth replied with a smile. B

He threw the Pokéball up, and a pink blob materialized with an unrealistic smile fixed upon it. Sabrina, completely confused, questioned, "What is that?"

"Ask the guys you work for," Seth answered. "Transform!" The blob grew larger until a second Darkrai appeared, its blue eye peering at Sabrina. She couldn't help but burst into laughter. Finally, she had been begging for something difficult. Now the opportunity to fight against two Darkrais. It was too good to be true.

"Ditto, use Dark Pulse!" Brain yelled out. Darkness emanated from the new Darkrai, engulfing the battlefield and making it impossible to see anything.

"Dark Void!" both Brian and Seth shouted into the darkness. When the darkness finally dissipated, both Gothitelle and Medicham were on the ground, writhing in pain.

VII

"Recall them or I will end it!" Seth called out, a disgustingly large smile plastered on his face.

"I surrender," Sabrina said calmly. She called out Musharna, now conscious, who floated towards her two sleeping Pokémon, waking them up, and then walked past them towards her opponents. Snaking her way between the newly grown trees that littered her battlefield.

As Sabrina held out the two badges, Brain scoffed at her. "If you were really the strongest, you would be helping out Kanto by fighting those you worship.” Brian was pointing at the letter R printed across her jacket.

Sabrina unzipped it and tossed it to the ground. Staring at both Seth and Brian. "Take these and get out." Gothitelle gracefully walked next to her trainer and lowered itself towards Erin.

"What is it doing?" Seth asked protectively, concerned for his son.

"I don't know," Sabrina responded curiously.

Gothitelle began to weep in front of Erin. Without thinking, Erin, with his kind soul, simply hugged Gothitelle and said, "It's okay, I'm sorry you lost."

Sabrina gazed back towards Seth and Brian, her usual confident demeanor wavering for a moment. "I...," she hesitated, struggling to find the right words to respond. It was a rare occurrence for her to feel at a loss, especially after her defeat. Brian's words had struck a nerve, hitting closer to the truth than she cared to admit. "You can use the Pokémon Center, especially for her," she pointed to Ceruledge, still lying unconscious, but her flames slightly more noticeable. "Tell the receptionist I sent you, there should be no problems."

They stared at her in disbelief, shocked by her sudden act of kindness. She turned around and recalled her three Pokémon back to the Pokéballs. She walked along her torn-up battlefield, the usual eerie glow casting down on her confident appearance. However, inside, that confidence had never been so shaken.