Buried Alive's twisted grin stretched across his face as he basked in the sweet melody of Austin's screams. The piercing screams echoed through the void, filling it with a chilling atmosphere.

( ~ AHHHHH ~ ! )

( ~ AHHHHH ~ ! )

( ~ AHHHHH ~ ! )

( ~ AHHHHH ~ ! )

( ~ AHHHHH ~ ! )

"How does it feel to know it, to look at the true form of the ruler of the abyss? Tell me how you feel looking at the true form of GOD!" Buried Alive's voice boomed through the empty space, his words filled with malice and glee.

Austin's mind was being torn apart, his screams now a deafening silence as he struggled to comprehend the sight before him. Was that hideous monstrosity really a god? It was beyond any comprehension, and Austin felt his mind shattering into a million pieces.

Buried Alive's grin slowly faded as he watched Austin's life force dwindle. "This is the consequence of your actions, boy," he murmured, his voice barely audible amidst the silence.

But then, something unexpected happened. A beam of aura rose out from Austin's chest, the Lunar Wing emerging from within him. Its powerful aura transformed the void into a paradise of beauty, with gaseous clouds of purple, pink, blue, and yellow spreading throughout. The symphony of dreams began to play, and Buried Alive could feel the power of the Lunar Wing overwhelming him.

He tried to resist, but what could a mere mortal do against a fragment of the Queen of Dreams, Cresselia? Buried Alive's surroundings began to warp and twist as the lunar wing's aura engulfed him, tearing his very being from reality itself.

Austin's eyes fluttered open for a moment, and he saw the beautiful aura of the Lunar Wing surrounding him. He was amazed by the serene beauty of the clouds and the symphony of dreams playing in the background.

"Where am I?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

The warm embrace of the Lunar Wing enveloped him, and he felt a sense of comfort and safety that he had never experienced before. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to succumb to the blissful sleep that had taken hold of him.

As Austin drifted into slumber, Buried Alive's screams echoed in the distance, his cries of anguish and terror now muffled by the void. The symphony of dreams continued to play, its hypnotic melody guiding Austin towards a peaceful sleep.

....

[ Lavender Tower ]

Austin suddenly opened his eyes as he found himself laying flat on the cold hard floor.

There was a putrid smell all around him.

His body was burning up.

Austin tried to get up but sudden sharp pain caused him to stop.

Slowly Austin crawled to a tombstone and pushed himself up into a sitting position.

( ~ Breath in ~ )

( ~ Breath out ~ )

Austin looked at the lunar wing which seemed to have lost its luster.

Austin closed his eyes as he didn't want to think about that experience.

Even though the memory was gone, he still had a vague feeling about what happened to him and he didn't want to remember that morbid moment.

Austin's hand brushed against something causing him to open his eyes as he found a white box.

Curiously, Austin picked it up.

The cover opened revealing a row of cigarettes.

Maybe it had fallen from the pocket of one of the members of Team rocket.

Austin thought as accidentally one of the cigarettes fell to the ground lit up.

Austin said," What the ?" as he picked up the lit cigarette.

How did it get lit on its own?

Austin wondered before looking at the white box that had a blue coil-shaped structure on its bottom.

Austin shook his head before placing the box down.

...

Grady and Brady walked into the room as they wanted to give Agatha a few moments to herself.

The curse of the Ainsworth family was gone?

That Evil being was finally gone without their friend sacrificing her life for that cause.

Brady and Grady suddenly stopped as they gazed upon the Lavender Tower floor, shattered tombstones and rotting corpses of men and pokemon littered the entire floor.

Between all of this Austin was seen by the twin sisters laying against a Tombstone with a cigarette in his mouth.

Austin spat out the cigarette before being reduced to a fit of coughs.

Brady and Grady's sweat dropped at the boy's actions who picked up the cigarette again.

It was as if he was using the cigarette and the horrid taste of nicotine to make himself forget even if for a few seconds of the hell he was in and the hell he had experienced.

Austin's gaze meanwhile was fixed in a particular direction.

Brady and Grady walked towards the dazed Austin before smacking the cigarette out of his mouth.

" Your too young to do that."

Austin raised his eyebrow before rolling his eyes which caused Brady and Grady to glare at him.

" Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Austin looked at the elderly twins before asking," Did you get the help ?"

Brady and Grady winced at Austin's tone before Brady nodded causing Austin to sigh.

" Seems like they missed the party."

Austin's words caused the elderly twins' to be pierced with guilt as they looked at his condition.

His hand seemed to be broken, they could see dried-up blood sticking to most of his clothes. Small wounds littered his body.

Brady and Grady looked down in shame for putting someone so young in such peril.

Austin sighed before asking," Where are my pokemon ?"

Grady and Brady replied at the same time," They are scouring through lavender town looking for any kind of medicine which we guess is for you. You Scizor broke into a few houses."

" Do I have to pay for any of the things they destroyed ?"

" ..... "

" We don't think so."

" Great," Austin said as he picked up his cigarette which caused Brady and Grady to scowl.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Wortortle, Pidgeot, Butterfree, Ninjask, and Krabby were looking at Clefable with sparks in their eyes.

Clefable silently chuckled in awkwardness from the attention he was getting.

Fearow peeked at Clefable before turning his head away.

Why didn't I get such a welcome when I evolved?

Oh, who cares, I need their attention.

Pikachu, Bulbasaur, and Charmeleon were looking at their sleeping trainer with worry in their eyes.

" Arhhh " Austin grunted before opening his eyes.

Just where am I?

This thought was answered by Pikachu, Charmeleon, and Bulbasaur tackling him in a group hug.

" Pika, Pika, Pi !"

" Bulba, Bulbasaur!"

" Char, Char, Char !"

Austin chuckled but there was a hint of disappointment lacing his tone.

" Guys, I am fine but can you get off me ?"

Pikachu and the others sheepishly laughed before getting off as Austin gazed upon the lunar wing which had lost its previous shimmer.

To think I would gaze upon Giratina's true form.

Did that mean that the other legendaries also had true forms?

Austin ignored his thoughts as he rubbed the lunar wing.

I have to thank Cynthia for giving me this. If not then I would have become a brain-dead vegetable.

Austin shuddered at the thought as he heard Fearow's caw before looking up as all of his pokemon were charging at him.

" Guys, Guys, GUYS ....."

While Austin was being dogpiled by his pokemon, his Pokedex beeped as Professor Oak called him.

.....

The ghostly aura around Lavender Town was slowly dissipating as a mega Gengar tore apart Buried Alive's sealed room.

Agatha's staff when through the skull of a statue.

At least I can rest easy knowing that monster was gone.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Austin walked out of the room with Pikachu on his shoulder he took a deep breath when Marowak appeared in front of him.

Marowak had a melancholic look in her eyes as she handed over a beautiful flower that looked like a cross between a Chrysanthemum and a spider Lily flower to him.

Austin remembered what the teleporter girl had told him when giving him the same flower.

' I am sorry for your loss.'

' It's no problem but why are giving me this flower? '

' These flowers are known as the flowers of death and rebirth. It's a tradition in Kanto to give mourners this flower. There is an old saying behind these flowers; In life, death, and rebirth I will be at peace so don't cry over my departure.'

Austin felt tears building up in his eyes as he took out a PokeBall and opened it, revealing a teary Cubone that ran up to his mother to hug her.

It looked like Buried Alive's actions were just an illusion since Cubone's PokeBall had been transported to Oak's lab.

Marowak meanwhile was left in shock as she felt her precious son's hug.

Marowak tried to stay strong but tears began to flow out of her eyes as she hugged her son back.

Pikachu jumped down from his trainer's shoulders while looking at the mother and son duo crying while hugging each other as a thought filled his head.

When I left, did mom and sis cry?

Pikachu's eyes closed at this somber thought.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

As Austin and his team gathered to lay Raticate to rest. Marowak, with its bone club in hand, was busy digging a hole for the casket. The sound of the dirt being displaced by the club echoed through the quiet countryside.

Each member of the team stood somberly around the grave, their attire reflecting the seriousness of the occasion. Austin wore a black suit, his red eyes puffy from crying. Pikachu stood next to him, tears rolling down its cheeks, its fur slightly ruffled from the breeze.

As the casket was lowered into the ground, the sound of the ropes creaking and groaning filled the air. Everyone held onto the casket as they slowly lowered it into the earth. The sound of dirt hitting the casket echoed through the clearing as each member of the team took turns scooping dirt with their bare hands and pouring it over the casket.

The last person to pour dirt was Austin himself, trying to hold back the tears as he placed the final handful of earth on the casket. His strong front crumbled as he fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face. Each tear drop hit the casket with a small pattering sound.

Pikachu, trying to offer comfort, patted Austin's leg with a gentle paw. The sound of its small claws clicking on the ground broke the silence.

The rest of the team stood back, holding back their tears. Each one remembered Raticate in their own way. To some, she was a mere acquaintance. To others, she was a friend. To Austin, she was a sister, a partner, and a loyal companion who had sacrificed her life to save her family.

Austin patted the grave, his shaking hand holding a lit cigarette. The sound of his breath, labored and ragged, was mixed with the sound of the fire. He gazed at the tombstone with red-rimmed eyes, the letters etched into the stone reflecting the fading light.

"HERE LIES RATICATE," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "A FRIEND, A SISTER, A PARTNER. DIED TO SAVE HER FAMILY. YOU WILL BE MISSED."