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.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

"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.