The sensation of loss was brief, but the impact lingered. It reminded me of the moment when I had met Vio and caught her, the way Cynthia had gotten angry and admonished me, with her Graves ready to do just that to poor Vio. All because of my recklessness.

Just watching the Pokémon get erased was enough to drive me to tears. To give my partner the command to do so, I wasn’t certain if I would be able to do so. But it needed to be done, if we wanted to keep the people of Jubilife City safe. There was simply no other way. Pokéballs simply couldn’t hold a Pokémon that was determined to escape and if one was already at the stage of attacking humans, persisting even after getting knocked out, would it want to subordinate itself, in order to gain more strength?

I didn’t even want to imagine what was going on inside Gym-Leader Bree’s head and heart as she did her duty, to the town and its people. Still holding Ivie, as she sobbed, I straightened my spine, tears running down my face, and forced myself to watch, as another of the Ninjask regained consciousness and made a run for the city. Attacking.

Again, a flash of Fire from the dark hound, followed by another flash of Darkness. And that sensation of loss, sweeping across the field, striking me almost like a physical blow. Ivie just clung together, quickly joined by Claire who had moved over, desperate for a bit of warmth and comfort.

“I believe we are done here.” Farrell said, his voice thick with tears and his face wet. “The Sun is up, nothing should be able to sneak by.”

“And yet, somebody needs to watch.” I replied, shaking my head as I watched Gym.Leader Bree, standing with her partner before the town. Guarding it, from those Pokémon who, despite getting knocked out, did not retreat but tried to press the attack.

“If only to remind ourselves to treat our partners right. To treat Pokémon right.” I added.

Claire and Ivie quickly untangled themselves, turning to stand next to me and Farrell, watching Bree’s silent vigil. Reaching out, I placed an arm around Claire’s shaking shoulder, trying to give some comfort. She quickly snuggled in, but her eyes never left the Gym-Leader,

It took until mid-morning, and far too many erased Nincada, but finally, the field was clear. No more unconscious Pokémon, waiting to regain their consciousness and either attacking or retreating back into the wilderness. After each of the waves of loss, I briefly believed that the next one would be easier, less jarring and painful, but they never were. Each of the waves sweeping us was a new blow, each subtly different and each just as brutally painful as the first.

“Let’s leave.” I decided, looking around and realising that the other trainers had either already left or were in the process of leaving. Even Bree, who had stood up front all on her own, was walking back to town, her face an iron mask.

After a brief moment, instead of turning away from her and leaving, I decided to walk up, Claire trailing behind me. When I approached, Bree stopped, her eyes studying me.

“Thank you, for your service and sacrifice.” I said, giving her a deep bow. It needed to be said. She had done a heart-wrenching, brutal task, one that I wasn’t sure I could do. But a task that had to be done, if Jubilife wanted to remain, if the people wanted to continue to go about their lives.

When there was no acknowledgement from the Gym-Leader, I straightened my spine and turned away, not saying another word. Simply because there were no other words that needed to be said.

Claire and I caught up with Ivie and Farrell, all of us in a quiet, sombre mood, as we were walking back through town.

“Do you want to join us for breakfast?” I asked Ivie, giving a glance to Farrell.

“I’m not hungry.” Claire threw in, before either of them could reply.

“And yet, we should get some food and some rest.” I gently chided her. After standing in the cold wind the whole night, getting our strength back was necessary.

“We’ll join you.” Ivie replied, while Farrell simply nodded.

Breakfast at the Centre was a quiet, slightly awkward affair. None of us was really in the mood to eat, with morose thoughts hanging in the air as we silently shovelled food into our mouths. Sustenance, nothing more, and by the time Claire and I returned to our room, I had already forgotten what I had eaten.

Lying on my bed, after a quick shower, I tried to get some rest. But each time I closed my eyes, that feeling of loneliness, that sense of loss I had felt earlier, as if something vital had been ripped away from me, returned, leaving me staring at the ceiling with tears in my eyes.

“Can I sleep with you?” Claire asked, her voice a little croaked.

Looking over, I could see her sitting on her own bed, cheeks wet, and simply lifted the blanket in response, inviting her to come over. She quickly did, lying awkwardly next to me, as if not sure what to do next. Reaching out, I put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her in, simply holding her.

While the warmth she gave off was far less than that of my dear Prince Charming, it helped to remind me that I wasn’t alone in the World. Holding her close, I slowly drifted off to a restless sleep.

In my dreams, the flashes of darkness returned for me. Only this time, they didn’t just wash away Pokémon. For a moment, I saw my mother’s face, only for a stream of Darkness to come and wash it away. I tried to avert my eyes, but what I saw was my father, slowly fading away as darkness washed around him.

“Why did you let it happen?” a familiar voice asked and suddenly, I was face to face with my brother. Only that his face, oh, so similar to my own, was warped into a scowling visage, looking at me with hate in his eyes. Behind him, I could see people, some of whom I knew, but many I had never seen before. They all stared at me in silence, their eyes accusing.

And then, they all started to fade away into darkness, alongside my brother.

Leaving me all alone.

A warm feeling at my back made me turn around. There, standing next to Prince Charming, in his true, winged glory, was Cynthia, crying tears of blood.

“I am so sorry.” she sobbed, as a vortex of darkness appeared behind her, eating away both of them.

With a scream, I woke up, my heart trying to beat out of my chest. Next to me, still cuddled against my side, Claire woke up, confused and dazed. She might have tried to say something, but there was no way for me to hear. The words of my brother, the words of Cynthia, they still rang in my ears, as tears ran down my face.

Reaching for Prince Charming’s Pokeball, I grabbed for nothing but emptiness and panic started to grip me. Scrambling around, I got my fingers on my other Pokéball, calling out Vio with the press of a button.

“Your Prince Charming is resting, down in the centre.” Claire soothingly told me, even as I pulled Vio into a tight embrace, burying my head in her teal, grass-like hair. As I sat there, clutching Vio as if she was a safety line, Claire tried to speak to me, soothing, meaningless words washing around me. With Vio’s slender arms around me, and the constant noise, I slowly calmed, my mind settling into something resembling normalcy.

“Why don’t you go, take another shower?” Claire suggested and her words made me realise that the shirt I was wearing stuck to my skin, drenched in cold sweat.

“Yes, I’ll do that.” I agreed, my voice hoarse.

When I stood, Vio stuck to me, holding onto me, just as I held onto her.

“You want to join me?” I quietly asked, reminded of the times I had washed her. The little lady disliked dirt, and especially mud.

When she simply held on tighter, I shrugged, carrying her into the bathroom. It felt a little weird, but there was a part of me that was grateful that I wouldn’t be alone.