"One more time, Itsuki! Brick Break!"

The Tyrogue jumped out to the side just in time to dodge the rolling Poliwag coming behind him, but that didn't stop it for long. Drifting in place, he sharply turned around and shot toward him once more. Itsuki planted himself, winding his arm back as it glowed with white energy.

"Hya!"

The sheer force of the punch not only stopped his opponent in place, but also sent him flying back at great speed. The fake Sid yelped as his own Pokemon crashed against him, sending him to the ground.

"Ha…haha…" He didn't try to move or stand up, as both his body and that of his Pokemon started vanishing into mist. "W-what's wrong, Siegfried? You always make the same mistake. Always think better of people than you ought to. One of these days… it'll come back to bite you."

Siegfried's face scrunched up ever so slightly, but he did his best to ignore the comment, as sharp and poignant as it was.

The fake Sid vanished, and Siegfried felt a sudden burst of dizziness as the darkness in the room retreated. Suddenly, he was back in the circular room. A very alert, very frazzled-looking Sid stood next to him.

"Heh… welcome back," he said, gulping. "You can be a real headache when you want to, you know? Though I gotta say, I prefer the you that I met there over this one."

Siegfried said nothing. He headed for the other side of the room, where an exit had just appeared. Strangely enough, Sid didn't mock him for it. He followed behind, his usual cocky demeanor absent. He seemed to be regarding Siegfried more carefully, like someone would treat a dangerous yet polite Pokemon. Judging by the look on his face, he had no intention of discussing what he'd seen during his own trial.

It was alright. Siegfried figured he knew anyway.

After a minute of walking, they made it to the end of the hallway, though this time it didn't open up to anything like last time; it wasn't even a room. A warm, bright light met them as they set foot outside. Immediately, both trainers felt things that shouldn't have been possible underground. Wind ruffling their hair. The cold, sweet smell of nature wafting in the air. Their feet sinking an inch into the wet dirt, its scent indicating that it had rained recently.

"W-what?" asked Siegfried, eyes going wide. "This is…"

Sid chuckled nervously. "This is something else. How the hell are they doing this?"

A thick, expansive forest stretched out before them, so full of life and sound and motion that they were stunned into silence for a few moments, their brains unable to process what they were seeing.

Siegfried stood there, frozen, eyes wide in panic. This smell, these sights… it couldn't be…

"Hey! Eyes up, boy scout!" yelled Sid, turning and producing a Pokeball. "We got company!"

The two trainers stood back to back as a pair of figures materialized in front of each of them, slowly approaching. The one facing Siegfried was a tall, hooded figure, a silky white tunic covering them from head to toe. Yet despite it being dragged through the mud with every step they took, no stain appeared on the garment. Siegfried let out a choked sound, feeling something cold solidifying in his stomach.

Sid's apparition was a normal-looking man; tall, bulky and sporting a thick black beard, lines of age all over his face. Judging by his outfit, he seemed to be a hiker. A sharp inhale came from Sid, and suddenly his face went pale.

"Looks like I caught a rebel," said the hooded figure facing Siegfried, his voice that of a grown man. "The Green Father will be proud, I'm sure."

He took a Pokebal from within the tunic, and a large Beedril materialized from the burst of light, larger than any either of the trainers had ever seen. It sharpened its arms against each other, eager to attack.

"Nobu… I don't think I ever paid you back for what you did to my family," said the bearded man, smiling maliciously. He took a step forward and threw a Pokeball into the air, its light falling to the ground and materializing into the shape of a black, quadruped creature with demon-like horns. "Houndoom here seems eager to repay the favor."

Sid gulped, then spat out. "Don't call me that. Dead people have no business causing us any trouble."

But he didn't sound nearly as sure of himself as he would've wanted, and Siegfried couldn't blame him. He could barely move himself. He was… scared. Truly scared for the first time in…

In…

Dear Mew above, how long has it been?

This place, this forest… it smelled like home, sounded like home. And here this figure in white was, one of the Green Father's children. That could only mean one thing.

"It… it seems we must face our own past if we are to get through this," he said, trying to keep the fear from his voice. "Stand strong, Sid."

"Tsk. I don't need you to tell me that."

Two simultaneous lights shone through the darkness of the forest, materializing into the shape of their Pokemon. A thick, muscular Poliwrath on Sid's side. A tiny, timid Cyndaquil on Siegfried's.

Sid threw his hand forward and bellowed. "Get him, Wrath!"

As the battle raged behind him, Siegfried tentatively looked up at the white figure, his eyes meeting with a darker, colder pair under that white hood. A shiver ran down his spine. That uniform, this place… it brought bad memories. Memories of blood, of bodies, of hatred… he remembered how everything that was his was taken away by those people, how the scars inflicted upon him by Abaddon still itched dully at night.

"So you will face me, then?" asked the figure in white, chuckling to himself. "Good, that's how I like it. The Green Father will reward me handsomely for bringing in a traitor like you."

"A… traitor? Interesting words coming from someone whose will has been overtaken by a beast in human form," hissed Siegfried, for once his voice filled with cold and hatred. "I was there in your shoes, hunting traitors to the 'true path'… but I left that life behind. And were you real… I'd recommend you do the same. Alas…"

He raised his hand toward their opponents, and his order echoed throughout the forest.

"Ember, Elliot!" he told the Cyndaquil. "Let's show him what we're truly made of!"

----------------------------------------

Silver and Dexter tried their best to carefully navigate through the narrow corridor, the height of their bodies as well as their scythes making it so they almost toppled over the chandeliers hanging above them every time they passed one.

"Who the hell built this place? Can't move around freely," said Dexter, and almost immediately his scythe got caught up on one of the chandeliers, throwing it to the ground where it shattered. "I swear, the shit you have to do to see some blood…" He threw Silver a side-glance. "What happened to your girl, by the way? The one that was with you before. Couldn't even stand you for the full trip?"

"Heh." Silver frowned. "She's off travelling. Got better things to do than play treasure hunter in a shithole like this."

After a few more seconds they finally made it to the end of the hallway, and walked out into what looked like a completely bare circular room, both the floor and the windows made of the same dull grey rock. Barely a couple steps were taken into the room when the hallway closed shut behind them. Only darkness and stillness remained.

"Trapped… but at least I can move now," said Dexter, brandishing his scythe around him freely.

He and Silver exchanged another glance, but before they could even think of starting a fight, they felt a sudden pressure. As though the gravity of the room had doubled. Both men turned around at the same time, and as they looked up their gazes were met with multiple identical ones, a sea of crimson eyes floating in the darkness.

Soon the bodies around those eyes gained shape, and the two men found themselves standing amidst a massive army of Haunter and Gengar. Hungry, deranged looks crossed their faces.

A woman spoke just then, her voice reverberating ethereally throughout the room.

"This shall be your only trial. There is no greater tragedy than a fight you are fated to lose.

Prove me wrong."

"Twelve Pokemon?" complained Silver letting out a scoff. "Who needs that many? Whoever just talked should buy herself a life instead of so many ghosts."

"In case you haven't finished first grade, that's fifteen, not twelve," muttered Dexter.

"Pfft. What, do they call you Pokedexter you dick?"

"...Let's just get to the fighting." He took in a deep breath, then formed a smile of sharp teeth. "Come out, Scylla! It's time to play!"

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

At the same time as he spun his scythe around him, ready to intercept their opponents, he threw a Pokeball high into the air. This one opened not to a flash of light, but a burst of darkness. From within emerged a creature enveloped by a thick, circular shell covered in spikes. From within the opening in the middle could be seen a darkened face with two sinister eyes and a toothy grin.

"Huh... a Cloyster, eh?" Silver whistled appreciatively. "Good taste. I might have to respect you a little more now."

"As if I care," said Dexter. "In any case, you should get one of your Pokemon out too. I understand the desire to fight only with your hands, but I doubt your scythe will be as effective against these things as mine will."

Silver let out a derisive laugh. "Gimme a break. Where I'm from all this occult shit doesn't matter, you either hit or you get hit! That's all there is to it."

"There's a difference between bravery and stupidity," said Dexter, a sudden weight to his voice. "And not having a good meat shield in a situation like this is definitely the latter."

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》A young girl hummed beneath the moonlight, her skin so pale that it almost seemed to glow amidst the dark hallways of the enormous mansion.

"Dex, you always walk so slowly! Must be 'cause of that scruffy tunic you wear everywhere," said the girl hopping along the hooded man as he lazily traversed the long hallway, a grisly scythe hoisted over his shoulder. "And you're always covering your face with that hood… I'm surprised you never run face-first into a wall or a statue! Must be pretty brave… but come on! I haven't seen your face once yet!"

The girl grabbed onto the man's free hand with her own, but he politely recoiled it from her grasp, a soft smile forming on his lips.

"There is a difference between bravery and stupidity, my lady."

She followed his example, shining back to him a piece of moonlight upon her own innocent smile. The two kept walking through the corridor, heading toward what seemed like the balcony of the mansion.

"In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came…"

The girl's soft, melodious voice rang throughout the hallway as it, and they too, disappeared into the darkness.《

----------------------------------------

Dexter had gone unusually quiet, his eyes hidden in darkness as he surveyed the opponents before them. Silver only spared him a single glance before looking away and chuckling to himself.

"Fine, I guess if you insist so much," he said, producing a Pokeball on his hand. "I know you probably ain't very good, but try stay healthy 'til the end of this. It'll make it more fun when I kick your ass later."

"Took the words right out of my mouth."

----------------------------------------

Had Mycroft still been holding the coin, it would've surely dropped from his fingers already.

"A-are you brain-dead!?" he bellowed toward Caroline. "What were you thinking!? I should've been the one to…!"

"Why are you so upset?" asked Nancy. "If anything, you should be happy that it wasn't you."

Mycroft scoffed. "That's not… Agh, it doesn't matter! Quickly, we have to help her u–"

But he couldn't finish the sentence, because just then there was a burst of wind and pressure in the room, as though a sudden gale had risen up from under the ground. Mycroft and Nancy turned around, Pokeballs in hand. On each side of the square hole Caroline was being lowered into, swirls of black mist appeared from nowhere and began to thicken and coalesce into familiar shapes.

"What!?" yelled Mycroft. "Are those…?"

"I see. So that's why it mattered who we sentenced to the chair."

A pair of Mr. Mime, identical to the one owned by Caroline, now stood between them and the young girl. They lacked all the cheer of the original. Despite being perfect imitations and wearing the same black shades as the one they were based on, behind said pair of shades glowed eyes red as blood. They both raised their hands at the same time, wisps of psychic energy rising off their bodies.

"Considering this new information, it might have been smarter for you to sit on there," observed Nancy. "Your Pokemon are significantly weaker than ours, after all."

"That's not what's important right now!" snarled Mycroft. "Helga, help us out s'il vous plait!"

"One-Hit KO, shield us with Move 1."

As the bursts of light materialized into their companions, the wispy energy spiraling around the two Mr. Mime coalesced into a single point and was fired as a combined rainbow-colored ray of light. It traveled the length of the room in an instant, but was stopped before it could reach the trainers. With a loud Gong, the attack crashed against the translucent dome of energy summoned forth by Nancy's Smeargle, and dissipated into the air. Mycroft waited until the barrier was down before yelling an order.

"Helga, Ember to the one on the left!" A condensed ball of fire was shot forward like a bullet, lighting up the room. "Mademoiselle Nancy, as you just pointed out, my Pokemon are so far inexperienced, and don't count with as many powerful attacks as yours." He had to stop himself from biting his tongue with every word he spoke. It was truly humiliating to have to admit his inferiority, but it beat letting Caroline die. "As such, I'm afraid I'll have to count on you to take down these miscreants."

Almost to prove his point, the Mr. Mime on his left took the Ember straight to the chest, not fast enough to dodge it, yet it didn't seem to have done much damage.

"Hmph. At least you're aware of that much, I suppose," said Nancy. "Very well. Have your #228 distract our foes and attack occasionally. I will dispose of them."

"Alors! Helga, run circles around them! Attack only when it is safe!"

"One-Hit KO, use Move 3 on both of our enemies."

Glowing streaks of red and yellow spiraled around the Houndour's body, the flames boosting her speed as she ran around the room as fast as she could, running past the beams of psychic energy being shot at her from both extremes of the hole. She skid along the ground and stopped in place before one could hit her, and then turned around and shot a burst of flames at the other one, making both attacks explode in mid-air, casting a rainbow light upon the entire room.

"Nah, are you kidding me!? Talk about some rave lighting, girl!" They heard Caroline's voice from somewhere down the hole. "And I'm about to try out the pool! This prison is THE. BEST!"

Merde, thought Mycroft, grinding his teeth. How deep is she already?

"Not to sound impatient, mademoiselle," he told Nancy, his voice thick with irritation. "But whatever your Pokemon is doing, could you tell him to do it faster? I doubt we have the luxury of time here."

Nancy simply scoffed. "He is doing more than your Pokemon ever could, I assure you."

It didn't look like that to Mycroft, but then again he'd never seen an attack like the one the Smeargle was… charging? Preparing? He simply stood in place, hands raised in front of him, casting a small red light upon their distant enemies which almost looked like a target.

"Just tell your #228 to keep it up," said Nancy. "The two of you are being somewhat useful, at least."

Something in Mycroft's chest tightened at those words, their familiarity cutting into him like an ice-cold knife. For a moment, he felt himself back in Johto, back in that dark, rainy day.

His mother's voice rang in his ears.

'Under no circumstances am I allowing you to do this because I believe it's convenient, but unfortunately, your sister's wedding will not be enough to keep us afloat. You will travel to Kanto. You will accept a job from a wealthy client we've already been in contact with, and you will do what is asked of you. I don't personally care about said tasks, but considering your deplorable inclination toward these… creatures, I couldn't have seriously considered you for any other kind of job. Perhaps this way, you can finally make yourself useful to our family.'

'I-I…'

'Do not get the wrong idea. Once you are back, everything will return to normal. I would recommend you enjoy this while you can, however. I have to hang up now. Have a good trip and remember, the moment you set foot in Kanto, you will be on your own."

That was the last time he'd spoken to his mother, through a simple payphone, and he hadn't even gotten the opportunity to get a word in edgewise or ask any questions, though as always, she'd answered many of them without even intending to. Less than an hour later, he was sitting on the back of a carriage, heading toward Goldenrod's train station, so full of doubts that, even days later, he would find no answers for.

'Perhaps this way, you can finally make yourself useful to our family.'

Those words were still etched onto his mind, weeks later. They'd been the only thing keeping him going, but now they felt as cold and demoralizing as a bucket of water being dumped on him. And coming out of Nancy's mouth…

He forced himself to smile, somewhat foolishly perhaps.

"Thank you for the compliment, Nancy. That is precisely why I'm here. A somewhat selfish reason, don't you think?" he whispered more to himself than to her. "Helga, keep those attacks off One-Hit KO! And Stalker; use your vines to keep Caroline from being dropped into the water! Allez-y!"

Much less agile than his canine companion, the Tangela hopped along happily toward the edge of the hole while flames and bursts of psychic energy flew through the air, lighting up the room. By the time he looked over the edge, the chains had lowered Caroline down to her knees into the water. Not wasting a second, he shot his vines down below and coiled them around the lower part of the chair, holding it in place.

"That's it, Stalker! Keep it up, just a bit longer!"

It was easier said than done, of course. No matter how hard the Tangela pulled, some kind of energy seemed to be resisting against his vines, pushing the chair deeper into the water with every second that passed. He was delaying it, but only by a few seconds at most.

Luckily, a few seconds was all they needed.

A sharp, almost electronic beep resounded through the air, and for a moment all the trainers and Pokemon stopped in their tracks, looking toward the source. Both Mr. Mime looked down with shock as red lights the Smeargle had cast upon them turned into actual markings on their skin, looking exactly like a pair of crosshairs.

"There," said Nancy pushing her glasses up. "Mycroft, recall your Pokemon."

"What? But–"

"Just do it."

He moved almost unconsciously, the commanding tone in her voice reminding him of his mother too much for him to disobey. His Pokemon turned into red light as they were siphoned back to their balls.

Then, Nancy's Smeargle began to glow with a blinding blue light.

"One-Hit KO, use Move 4," she ordered. "Sheer Cold."

An explosion of frost and sharpness burst from within the Smeargle's body, as though a raging blizzard had been set loose, transported directly from the peaks of Mt. Silver. For a moment, the world was nothing but blue and white. The roar of the frozen wind swallowed everything, and even though the attack had been fired in the exact opposite direction of Mycroft, he could still feel the cold biting into his bones as though he were standing in the thick of it.

It lasted for only a moment, but that's all the time it needed. Mycroft looked back, squinting, and he felt his mouth gape at the sight before him.

"W-wh…"

The two Mr. Mime had been taken out in an instant. Their mirage-like bodies shimmered for a moment, covered in frost, before dissipating into the same black mist that had created them. For a moment, he could've sworn he saw the shape of another Pokemon behind them.

Nancy nodded to herself. "I see, so they were ghost Pokemon casting illusions upon themselves. As expected of an expert in the type, I suppose."

But Mycroft couldn't reply, still stunned by what he'd seen.

T-that power… is this what a true trainer…?

The whirring of chains being pulled brought him back to reality, and he remembered what they'd been doing this for.

"C-Caroline!"

Both trainers rushed toward the edge of the hole, where Caroline was being lifted up again from the surface of the water. Judging by the wet sheen around her neck and part of her hair, she'd almost been submerged entirely. A sigh of relief left Mycroft's mouth; they'd finished the fight just in time.

The chair was deposited upon the floor once more, and the bindings let go of the girl's wrists and ankles. She stood up with a big smile on her face and threw her arms up on the air, stretching.

"Ahh… that's what I'm talking about! Cold water does wonders for my skin, it's like a spa day!" she exclaimed. "You should totally try it out, Nancy! Wanna go together next time?"

Nancy opened her mouth surely to say something derisive, but just then they heard that familiar sound of stone whirring against stone, and when they turned around yet another opening had appeared behind them, this one much bigger than the last.

The woman's voice reverberated in their heads.

'Well done, you have earned the right to challenge me. Yet you better hope that your companions have earned the same, or else you will all be walking toward your graves.'