Chapter 14

HOME

No matter how far we find ourselves

Our love will keep us close

I want you to know, you will never be alone

I'm coming home, I'm coming home

I want you to know, I'm coming home

-Our Last Night

I

Erin was asleep in his room, finding an unusual comfort in his surroundings that allowed him to rest peacefully. The sunlight filtered through his window as the sun began to rise. Outside the window, his father sat, staring at the tree that overlooked his wife's resting place. The sun drifted through the golden leaves and the cool breeze hit his face as he held the cup of stale coffee that provided him so much inner peace.

"What are you doing out here?" Sarah asked, holding Erin close in her arms as he babbled loudly. The wind caught her afro, revealing more of her beautiful face.

"Just wanted to enjoy this before the day," Seth said, smiling at his wife and placing a hand on her leg as she stood next to him.

"Well, when you're ready to stop wasting time, I need help prepping the restaurant," she responded, a smirk starting to form on her face.

"Okay, babe." But then, her face suddenly turned pale and cold. The veins around her neck turned black and started spreading across her body as she held onto Erin, who was now crying.

"You can't save him!" she screamed.

Seth looked at her, not with fear, even though his insides screamed and clenched at the horror before them, just as they did when he first discovered her here months ago. "I don't know what to do anymore, Sarah," genuine sadness creeping over Seth's face as he watched his wife become more decayed. "You were so much stronger than me, and if I had just gotten my head out of my ass, you would be here with Erin, not me. I try so hard for him, to fight for him, but every time I step forward, I feel like I'm being pulled back." He put his head down between his legs, clenching his knees tightly. His coffee mug hitting the ground cracking on impact. Then, he lifted his head back up to confront her, but she was gone, and her tree loomed over him, waiting.

II

"Hey, looking good," Emily said, pointing to Seth's trimmed beard as he walked through the back door into the kitchen.

"Thanks, feels good to get the damn thing off," Seth replied, scratching his chin.

"Are you guys heading out?" Emily asked, washing her dish in the kitchen sink.

"Here in a minute," Brian responded, the sun filtering through the front windows of the dining room area where he sat at a booth in the eyeshot of the kitchen. Seth joined him with his new cup of coffee.

"Emily, since Erin is still sleeping, do you care if I leave him here with you?" Seth asked, looking at her.

"That's fine, but don't you think he will want to watch the fight?" She inquired.

“I have seen Misty once in her gym when a friend of mine faced her a few years ago. She is vicious, twisted, fuck down right insane. I don't want Erin seeing that," Seth explained, gripping the mug tightly.

"Did your friend win?" Brian looked hopeful.

"Didn't even beat one of her Pokémon," Seth replied, killing the hopeful look on Brian's face.

"Do you have a plan?" Emily asked, pulling up a chair and sitting next to the booth.

Seth grabbed Brian's mug and began pouring coffee into it. They both looked at him puzzled, Brian more annoyed by his ruined drink. "I think so. Brian, do you mind if I take her on first?" He asked, looking at his empty mug.

"Be my guest," Brian said, running his fingers through his hair and then pointing to the Pokéballs on Emily's hip.

"Okay, here they are, but please be careful with them. I'm already nervous enough not having either of them," she said, reaching down and putting both Pokéballs in Brian's hand.

"It will be okay. My place has been deserted for so long that no one should bother you. We will be back closer to dark," Seth explained, but the worry on his face was still very much prevalent. He was staring at the hole in the wall created by Mankey the night his adventure began.

III

As Seth, Brian, and Vulpix fed through the bustling crowd, they felt like tiny boats navigating a crowded sea. The main street leading to the Cerulean City gym was alive with an array of colors and noises. The air was filled with a melange of chatter, laughter, and the occasional excited screams from eager citizens.

The street itself was transformed into a vibrant canvas of celebration. Colorful balloons and streamers adorned every corner, and banners with Misty's iconic insignia fluttered in the breeze. The shops lining the street were bustling with customers, selling merchandise. Despite the sea of people, the anticipation and excitement were contagious.

However, amidst the joviality, Team Rocket members could be spotted lurking like shadows. Their dark uniforms stood in stark contrast to the cheerful ambiance. Their sinister presence added a layer of tension and mystery to the festivities.

As Seth, Brian, and Vulpix inched closer to the gym, the crowd thickened, making their progress more challenging. People shuffled and jostled, eager to secure a good vantage point to witness the grand event. The cacophony of voices rose to a crescendo, creating a symphony of excitement and anticipation.

"Hello, Cerulean!" A voice drifted over the crowd like an all-encompassing fog. Almost immediately, everyone hushed and looked towards the gym, an eerie stillness and focus settling over the gathering as the words carried towards them. "I am happy to see how our hard work over this last decade has come to fruition in this lovely city."

"Seth, you know who that is, right?" Brian asked, nudging his side. Seth didn't respond; he was hyper-focused on the individual next to the well-dressed figure speaking. The man was huge, with an equally large red beard connecting to his ample stomach. "Seth, that's Giovanni," Brian continued, but Seth wasn't listening to him.

"I understand the people outside our cities have become stagnant and lazy, expecting us to lift them out of the shadow of the war." Sarah's image was drifting over Butch, blood pouring out of her severed legs, repeatedly screaming, "You can't save him." The voice took over every word Giovanni was saying, growing more desperate with each repeat.

"Leaders like Butch Miller here," a roar of cheers thundered through the main street of Cerulean, "have been instrumental in bringing prosperity here, and he will be continuing his work in Vermilion City, to ensure the prosperity of Kanto!" Giovanni stated, his voice calm and controlled, but Seth could barely make out a word through Sarah's screams.

"Seth, come on, let's make our way up," Brian asked, but his voice never reached him.

"That's him," Seth said, moving Brian slightly to the left and pointing at Butch, who was clapping next to Giovanni. "That's the man who raped and killed Sarah."

Brian failed to respond with anything. What can you say? There aren't enough words to portray the violent longing needed to bring relief to Seth. He just held his friend, who was shaking with rage or fear, as they stepped closer to their goal. The city erupted in a momentous roar, but for Seth, it was drowned out by the haunting echoes of Sarah's torment.

IV

The fight through the crowd towards the gym was tough; even though Giovanni left, the people of Cerulean seemed to find it necessary to stay and celebrate their fear-mongering leader. It also didn't help that Brian was leading Seth like a blind man through oncoming rapids. When they finally reached the stairs to enter the gym, Seth had calmed down enough to be recapped on what Giovanni actually said. They climbed the stairs that led into the Cerulean City gym, the blue paint and reflective windows making it seem like a giant sapphire sitting directly in the middle of the city.

"You ready?" Brian asked Seth, looking nervous.

"No," Seth said bluntly, "but I really don't have a choice. I have a little under $9,000 left and no way of bringing that to what I need by the end of the year. If I lose, I am dead."

They opened the door to find a giant pool with a battlefield suspended maybe 10 feet above the water, its four corners connected to giant chains. Seth looked below his feet under the glass floor to see that the pool extended the entirety of the building, and a smile overtook his face.

"What are you smiling about?" Brian asked, taking in the complexity of the gym.

"You'll see. I don't want to ruin the surprise," Seth responded. His smile dropped immediately when he looked above the battlefield to the observation deck. Misty was talking to Giovanni. Younger than them but not by much, she was a small girl with red hair that poked out from the side with a ponytail. Giovanni simply sat down as he viewed Seth, Brian, and Vulpix enter. What caught Seth's full attention was Butch Miller sitting in a chair to the other side of Misty. His eyes locked onto Seth, and a smile etched across his face. Seth grabbed his face over his left eye. The headache that came on with Sarah's voice again was splitting. "Please not now," he muttered to himself.

Misty made her way down the stairs, and Giovanni's voice boomed through the enormous room but seemed somewhat calm and controlled. "I hope you challengers don't mind my observation of this fight." Butch got up and whispered something to Giovanni. After he backed away, his boss, Giovanni, chuckled. "Interesting. Are you both challenging?" Brian looked at Seth and saw the pain he was going through. He stared back at Giovanni and simply nodded. "Great, then show me what I might experience in the future."

"How many badges do you guys have?" Misty said, her voice more energetic than her body movements, but not by much. Seth, attempting to focus solely on Misty, held up three fingers. "I would normally just say fuck all that, and battle you with a full team, but as you can see, I have to be more shackled by this shit-ass rules." Misty howled, looking up at Giovanni and itching her nose as if she was trying to saw the damn thing off. Seth started making his way up the small steps to be on top of the battlefield, Vulpix prancing behind him. "I can only use five, but let's be honest, I'll need fewer than that to kick your ass." She threw a Pokéball into the air; the red light streamed down in front of her and materialized a Dewgong. It immediately made its way into the water, disappearing from sight.

Seth pondered for a moment; he needed to get Torterra out, but against an Ice type, it would immediately mess up every plan he had. He looked back at Butch, who was glaring at him as if he were a naked woman or his next meal. Seth was confused which one Butch had hoped for. Sarah's voice started picking up again, and he had to look away. "Fuck it," Seth said and threw his Pokéball. Primeape emerged, pounding its fist towards the ground.

Primeape caught a glimpse of Butch and began pounding its fists even harder, never blinking at his menacing gaze. He looked back at Seth, making his intentions clear, “You think I am going to stop you?” Seth responded, and he tore off to the side of the battlefield where Butch sat. Butch remained unmoving, simply watching the force of wrath charging toward him with a twisted smile. Primeape leaped up, ascending to Butch’s grotesque presence. Dewgong soared out of the water, attempting to stop Primeape, but unlike Seismitoad, Primeape spun around and punched Dewgong, sending it flying down to crash into the battlefield. Now, just feet away from his target, arm stretched back, Seth had a twisted smile plastered over his face.

Red light illuminated from Giovanni, flooding before Butch. A Nidoking formed in front of Primeape, blocking the attack with its arms covering its face. Primeape, unable to stay suspended, landed back down on the battlefield. “Mr. Conklin, after the great times we had together. I am hurt,” Butch yelled down to Seth.

“You try that again, and I will not simply block your attack, do you understand?” Giovanni questioned.

Seth clenched his fist, wanting so badly to rip out Butch’s throat. Sarah's screams were all around him, making his headache even more unbearable.

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“Do you understand?” Giovanni asked more commandingly.

“Yes,” Seth mumbled, holding his head, trying to get the voices under control. Just focus, he thought to himself. For Erin's sake, I have to beat Misty.

V

By the time Seth refocused on Misty, she had already recalled Dewgong. The blood patch on the ground still clearly evident. “That was a lucky shot!” She yelled out. “But this shit ends now.” She threw out her second Pokémon, and a Gyarados emerged, roaring as it towered over Primeape, its long body coiled on the ground. “Get in the water, Gyarados!” Misty called out.

“Primeape, stop it!” He charged towards Gyarados, attempting to grab its tail, but he fell short as the serpent entered the water. “Knock it off the fucking field!” Misty yelled, and a stream of water jetted past Primeape, who barely managed to dodge. Seth was increasingly nervous as Primeape had nowhere to run or hide from this assault. “Primeape, use—” A giant wave emerged from the pool, attempting to wash away everything.

“Primeape, get on the wall!” Seth yelled as he stepped down off the battlefield to prevent getting swept away. Primeape lunged under Giovanni and Butch and sunk his fist into the wall. Gyarados was seen under the water, closing the distance fast. “Aqua Tail!” Misty screamed.

“Rock Slide!” Just as Gyarados leaped out of the water, Primeape slammed his fist against the wall, creating huge cracks and shaking the observation deck. Huge slabs of plaster and cement fell on Gyarados before his tail could reach Primeape. It cried in pain as he sank back down into the pool. Primeape made his way back onto the field. “Awesome work!” Seth called out.

“Hyper Beam!” Misty called out, irritation exuding from her aura as she began pulling at her hair. Gyarados rose up, a giant of energy forming inside its mouth.

“Get out of there, Primeape!” But it was too late; the beam of light crashed into Primeape, sending him off the stage and crashing into the wall. Blood started seeping in spurts around his body, and then he dropped, falling into the pool.

This is my chance, Seth thought, knowing Gyarados needed a second to recuperate from that attack. He quickly recalled Primeape and threw the ball at Brian. "Check on him for me." He then tossed a Pokéball high in the air, revealing Torterra, who crashed to the ground. Seth had to brace himself to not get flung off the field; it began to sway with Torterra’s immense weight. "Let's go! Grassy Terrain, break this pool apart." While Gyarados's body was still moving sluggishly, Torterra stomped its front feet to the ground. The entire stadium began shaking as roots and trees emerged from the bottom of the pool.

"What are you doing!" Misty called out in anger. "Gyarados, stop it!" But Gyarados, at the moment, was far too slow to close the distance. The water level began to shrink, and Misty stared at it flabbergasted. "No. NO. NO!" A tree popped out of the water close to Misty, roots emerging everywhere along the wall.

"Shit, this was your plan," Brian remarked, disbelieving.

"Water types are useless without water," Seth said simply.

"You think I gained the title of Gym Leader by only having a damn pool?" Misty screamed and stomped her feet like a child, however her face was truly terrifying as she glared at Seth and Torterra. "Gyarados, use Ice Fang!" Fully recovered from the Hyper Beam, Gyarados leaped out of the pool that was now about half full and still draining. Torterra was an easy target, and its movements restricted as it couldn't use its earth attacks, as they would just break the field, crashing it into the still draining pool but too high for any foliage to reach him. "Use Withdraw!" Seth yelled out, and Gyarados's maw encompassed Torterra, hiding its shell. The tree on its back began to wilt, and screams of pain echoed in the Gym. Frost started to creep its way over Torterra's body.

"Recall it!" Brian pleaded, seeing the doom unfold before him.

"No, he can hang on!" Seth yelled, watching Torterra scream in pain, knowing he can't fall behind in this fight.

"Are you really going to kill your son's first Pokémon?" Brian pointed at Torterra's body, helpless in the grasp of Gyarados as he crashed its body into the ground, still holding on with its fangs digging into Torterra's shell. "Seth!"

"Fuck. Fine," a red light engulfed Torterra, disappearing from Gyarados's mouth as it slammed shut. Seth released Torterra, whose head hung limply out of its shell. Its chest rising and falling faintly. "Vulpix, warm Torterra up. Brian, how is Primeape?"

"He will live," Brian said sharply.

Seth threw his 3rd Pokéball, revealing Ditto on the battlefield, suspended over the almost empty pool. Its body fluctuated, a smile encompassing its face. Giovanni stood up, staring at it, his face actually seeming surprised. "What is that?" Misty asked, looking confusingly at the Pokémon before her.

"Ditto, Transform," Seth commanded. Ditto's body stretched and contorted, mirroring Gyarados's long blue serpent body before it. "Ice Fang!" Ditto rushed at Gyarados, attempting to bite just below its head. Gyarados quickly dodged the attack and headbutted Ditto's head, crashing it to the ground!

"You think an imitation can beat me!" Misty roared, "Pathetic! Gyarados, use Earthquake!" Gyarados lifted its tail and slammed it on the ground with tremendous force. The platform began to shake and crack open.

"Seth, get off of it!" Brian called out. Before he could react Seth fell to the ground, barely able to stand up as the field crumbled before him. Primeape, sensing what was happening, jumped up despite its injuries, leaping into the empty pool and catching Seth as they collided with the bottom.

"Thanks," Seth pleasantly said to Primeape as he got to his feet, "You okay?" Primeape nodded his head as blood was caked on his fur. "Get up there and lie down, okay?" Primeape leaped from the emerging roots and left the pool. "Ditto, we still good." The imposter Gyarados looked back at Seth and nodded its head, its eyes looking fierce. Seth looked up at Giovanni, who was clutching the railing. His face looked composed, but his grip was so tight that Seth was afraid he was going to break the railing off. “Let’s get this done.”

Gyarados slithered its way towards Ditto, swerving between the trees and emerging roots that cracked through the floor. "Use Crunch!" Misty screamed. Gyarados cocked its head back, attempting to grip Ditto. It tried to avoid the bite, but the vegetation restricted its movement in its newly large form. Ditto began screaming in pain. "Hyper Beam!" A bright white light engulfed the inside of the pool as the energy gathered in Gyarados's mouth, colliding with the pinned Ditto. After the light subsided, Ditto's transformed body hung limp in Gyarados's mouth, and it began to shrink back into its normal form.

"Ditto!" Seth yelled, racing towards it. Gyarados towered over him as he knelt down to examine Ditto. It was out cold but still breathing, its form fluctuating from what Seth could tell from its unusual biology. He recalled Ditto and stared at Misty beyond the behemoth that stood before him. This was bad; all he had left was Noivern and Vulpix. A single ice move could knock out Noivern, and Vulpix wasn't prepared for Gyarados and three unknown water types.

Misty's laughter echoed through the gym, sending shivers down Seth's spine. Her once composed and confident demeanor had transformed into something entirely unhinged. Her eyes gleamed with a manic intensity, flickering with a mix of amusement and madness. Strands of her disheveled red hair fell across her face, partially obscuring her wild expression.

Her lips curled into a twisted grin, revealing a set of clenched teeth. As she cackled, her voice was tinged with a hint of insanity, making her seem like a different person altogether. Her shoulders shook with each burst of laughter, and her hands trembled with excitement. The veins on her neck seemed to pulse, emphasizing her growing fervor.

Misty's gaze locked onto Seth, and she took a step closer, her eyes boring into his with an unsettling intensity. “Well come on,” She roared through her laughter. “Is the person who is going to wreck my gym going to be this fucking pathetic.”

VI

With a resounding screech, Noivern burst forth from its Pokéball, its large wings spreading wide. The majestic creature had sleek, dark-purple scales with striking maroon accents along its wings and ears. Its sharp claws and fangs gleamed menacingly as it hovered in the air, ready for battle. Its red eyes were focused and intense.

Gyarados was trapped down here with nowhere to go or hide. Seth's voice rang out with confidence as he commanded his Pokémon. "Noivern, take to the skies! Attack Gyarados with Dragon Pulse!" Noivern's wings flapped powerfully, carrying it higher and higher until it almost reached the gym's ceiling. The atmosphere crackled with energy as Noivern's attack began to take shape, a swirling purple vortex of pulsating energy.

With Gyarados trapped in the empty pool, it was defenseless against Noivern's aerial assault. The Dragon Pulse shot down like a comet, hurtling towards the serpentine creature below. The force of the attack was devastating, hitting Gyarados square on target as it let out a bellowing cry of agony.

The impact caused gusts of wind to whip around the gym, knocking over foliage and debris. Misty's command to use Hydro Pump was futile; Gyarados had no water to draw upon, leaving its powerful attack useless against Noivern's aerial assault. The Dragon Pulse attacks continued to rain down relentlessly, bombarding Gyarados until the enormous Pokémon finally crashed to the ground.

The colossal menace was finally recalled into its Pokéball, leaving the bottom of the drained pool looking even more expansive. "Fine, you want a range battle, I will give you one," Misty declared, gripping her hair with intensity in her voice that pierced Seth's confidence. She tossed out her Pokéball, and he watched as a Primarina emerged from the light, sitting gracefully next to its master, eyes fixed on Noivern as it circled above. "Shoot it down! Moonblast." Misty commanded with a smile stretching across her face.

Pink light gathered in Primarina's mouth, and rapid shots were fired towards Noivern. "Dodge!" Seth called out. The agile Pokémon weaved skillfully between three attacks colliding with the ceiling behind him, rubble falling to the ground. However, the fourth one found its mark, sending Noivern plummeting to the ground. He managed to recover just before hitting the bottom, steadying himself in mid-air. "Close the distance!" Seth urged, and Noivern forcefully flapped its wings, rapidly approaching Primarina.

"Don’t waste your water," Misty said calmly. "Ice Wind." A gust of frigid air slowed down Noivern's flight, frosting its wings and face. "Moonblast." Another pink ball of energy struck Noivern, causing him to crash hard to the ground, seemingly defeated.

Seth tightly gripped Noivern's Pokéball, reluctant to recall him. "Get up," he muttered, surprised when Noivern lifted itself upright. "You okay?" Seth called out, concern evident in his voice. Noivern didn't look back, but his shaking body conveyed the answer. "Boomblast," Seth commanded, and Noivern's ears emitted a high-pitched sound, causing Primarina and Misty to clutch their ears, incapacitated by the attack.

"Aqua Jet!" Misty's voice barely audible over the deafening explosion from Noivern. Primarina propelled water from its mouth towards the ground, soaring upward like a bullet towards Noivern. In mid-air, it created a final Moonblast that collided with the stationary Noivern for the third time. The gym fell into sudden silence, with the lack of Noivern’s attack and only broke when Noivern fell limb with a thud that echoed the expansive room.

Noivern disappeared into its Pokéball, leaving Seth alone on his side of the pool. With Vulpix as his last Pokémon against Misty's Primarina and two unknown Pokémon, the odds seemed insurmountable. Reality set in, and the hope drained from Seth as quickly as the water had drained from the pool, leaving him with nothing but despair. He sank to his knees, feeling defeated. Misty's cackling pierced the air again, taunting him, "Is that really all you have!" Vulpix stepped forward, glaring at Primarina, and then turned her head to shoot flames to her left.

"Are you sure?" Seth asked, but Vulpix didn't look at him. She knew what she had to do and didn't need confirmation from her trainer.

VII

“Primarina, use Hydro Pump!" Misty commanded, and a powerful jet of water raced towards Vulpix, who met it with her flamethrower that collided together with a tremendous force. Steam engulfed the pool, reducing visibility to near nothingness. Seth was about to give Vulpix a command when he stopped himself. Vulpix was trained for attacks in low visibility. "Primarina, if you can't see it, then it can't see you. Just keep moving," Misty's voice carried through the steam. Suddenly, a red and orange light pierced through the opaque cloud, followed by screams from Primarina.

“Hydro Pump!” Another jet of water erupted from Primarina, but Vulpix had already moved from her last known position. More flames erupted to the left of Primarina, and the steam quickly vanished, revealing the wall of fire colliding with Primarina.

“Fire Spin!” Seth roared out. Vulpix began swirling around Primarina, shooting flames from her golden blur of a body. A tornado of fire rose around Primarina, helplessly trapping her.

“Extinguish it now! Hydro Pump!” But nothing came out of Primarina. She was out of water, and her screams were barely audible amidst the sizzling pillar of fire surrounding her.

“Fire Blast.” Seth called out. Vulpix stopped suddenly, collecting a growing ball of fire.

“Moonblast!” Misty yelled out simultaneously, the pink light breaking through the gaps in the swirling fire. The ball of pink energy shot out of the tornado, and Vulpix fired back a ball of fire twice the size of her. The Moonblast disappeared in flames and crashed into Primarina.

The smoke covered the aftermath around Primarina, and Seth couldn't believe what had just happened. Vulpix had always been stubbornly strong, but to take down a fully evolved Water-type Pokémon of a Gym Leader was insane. Vulpix hunched down and began to growl at Misty as she finally returned her defeated Pokémon, and it was clear that Primarina wasn't getting back up.

Misty's laughter rang out, as she cackled maniacally, reveling in the chaos. "Fine, I see you, Vulpix! Try this!" Misty's Pokéball almost exploded with light as a massive Swampert emerged, towering over Vulpix. Its eerie smile marked its face, and it cracked its neck in a disturbing manner. "Oh, I am getting fucking payback for you wrecking my gym," Misty taunted, her eyes glinting with madness.

A strange light emerged from Misty's wrist and the necklace dangling off of Swampert's neck. The ground seemed to tremble as muddy water seeped up, covering Swampert's body. Seth looked on, stunned and unsure of what he was witnessing. "See, there are benefits to playing for Giovanni," Misty exclaimed, her laughter growing louder and more unsettling.

The muddy water collapsed around Swampert, but it was no longer the familiar Swampert Seth was accustomed to. Its forearms seemed to expand three times their size, its once slim body ballooning into a giant mass of muscle. Bright orange paddings covered its entire body, and the black fins that once marked its form now stretched and extended, covering its full length. "Let's see how you enjoy Mega Swampert!" Misty roared triumphantly as the colossal Pokémon slammed its fist into the ground, leaving a deep dent in the floor below.

"Let's go, Flamethrower!" Seth yelled out. The flames danced off of Swampert's moist skin, as if they were a gentle breeze.

"Stone Edge!" Misty commanded. Swampert slammed its fist to the ground once more, and jagged rocks cut off the fire and tearing the ground below Vulpix.

"Dodg-" but it was too late. Vulpix was hit hard, blood dripping off her chest as she flew through the air.

"Hammer Arm," Misty said coolly.

Swampert seemed to disappear entirely from the battlefield and emerged suspended in the air next to Vulpix. Its giant fist swung down, connecting on top of Vulpix, who was sent hurtling downward, colliding with the ground.

"Vulpix," Seth said, attempting to go forward but stopping himself, knowing that if he steps on the field, it means forfeit. Vulpix got to her feet slowly, her whole body trembling, blood dripping onto the ground from her chest, ears, and mouth. "Stop. You don't have to do this." Vulpix turned to Seth, her face stern despite her beat-up body. "We will figure something out," Seth called out. "Please, you promised to protect Erin. You can't do that if you're dead." Seth glanced up at Butch, who was leaning over the railing with a smirk on his face. Vulpix shot a jet of flames right past Seth, as if to bluntly answer his stupidity.

"Are you giving up?" Misty called out.

Vulpix leapt quickly in front of Swampert and made eye contact, using Extrasensory. Swampert started staggering around, grasping its ears and shutting its eyes, opening its mouth to yell out from the dramatic increase in all its senses. "Now, Vulpix!" Seth roared. Vulpix leapt up close and shot fire down Swampert's throat. It hit the floor in pain, rolling around and grasping its neck.

"Now, Quick Attack!" She disappeared from sight and emerged in Swampert's hand as he extended it out in protection. His grip closed over Vulpix's face as she struggled to get out. "No!" Seth called out.

"Do you surrender?" Misty called, jumping back and forth, unable to contain her excitement. "I will pop her like a fucking pimple! Do you give up?"

Seth hesitated but walked onto the field and stepped inches from Swampert, extending his hands. Swampert looked down at Seth and then back to Vulpix in his hand, blood dripping down off its fingers. Seemingly against its judgment, it relinquished her, dropping her into Seth's arms.

Vulpix looked like she had been through a meat grinder. Blood coated her fur, dripping out of her ears, and she coughed up blood. Seth had a flicker of anger thinking of Erin's face, but it went away as fast as it came. He looked down at Vulpix, feeling the struggling breath she was taking. "Badass," he whispered, his voice full of admiration.

Seth collapsed to the ground, the pool littered with singed vegetation, and the sound of Misty's laughter and taunting echoed around him. He was broken and didn't know where to go from here.