I didn't want to acknowledge Rose, not yet. So I looked around at the revived chaos instead.

There she was, sitting against a large stone with Pidgeot in her arms, sobbing. Yellow's face was crumpled, streaked with dirt just like the rest of her appearance. Her trousers were torn and it looked like she'd been pulled against the ground. Her ponytail was unravelled with long strands of beautiful hair messily torn and greyed by dust. She had a gash on her head, but the wound looked dry compared to the red ink staining her hands.

Green's unconscious Pokémon lay beside Yellow, one of its wings spread across her lap. A very faint light was extending outwards. I could tell she was desperately trying to heal the injury, but to no avail; it looked like it was punctured by a bullet and the blood was relentlessly seeping onto her clothes.

Yellow had acknowledged my presence, but it was either fright or logic that persuaded her to stay silent.

And there stood my new enemy. Holding a gun towards Yellow whilst Venusaur's vines held her ankles in place.

I couldn't recognise her from the footage before, but now I knew this was the same girl. Her appearance was completely different, and yet the most noticeable features were still indistinguishable. Rose didn't need to wear a mask. Her lips, plumper now, were still positioned in a sadistic smile. Her eyes, now coloured green, were still widened in a daunting expression. Her hair was now a dark shade of purple, but it was still in the shape of a messy bob. One thing that remained the complete same was her taunting voice. Everything about her was so familiar.

I was frozen, rooted to the ground, and yet hundreds of thoughts were rushing through my head.

"I know you've probably got your bulky Poliwrath with you, so drop your Poké Balls Red, or the blonde gets it." I met her eyes and she chuckled, "You know I don't make false promises."

I felt Pika's body stiffen as his tail flicked upwards, but Rose was quicker. "Don't even think about touching me, you rodent. Venom here can crush your little lady with one tug."

"Leave her out of this. Yellow hasn't done anything to you." I unattached Aero's and Poli's balls, dropping them to my feet in regret.

"Hmm," Rose turned away from me, the gun in her hand dancing in Yellow's direction, "See you're wrong, but you're also right."

"Red! Watch out!" Yellow's scream ran in an echo through the mountain.

In one swift motion, Rose had spun back around to face me, the weapon now pointing towards my head. One shot and I'd be dead.

Stall. The only thing Rose bothers to do is win. Even if it's only in a conversation.

"Arceus, I didn't think you'd fall for such a passive girl. Isn't she boring?"

Sweat was beginning to gather on the back of my neck as the sun rose above us, reminding me that her Venusaur had full advantage in Summer.

"There's nothing boring about a sincere person. Yellow's never lied to me," I met Rose's eyes in resentment, "I wish I could say the same for you."

"Oh don't be a wimp. I thought I was settling for the same man I battled with. Cunning, brave and fiery." To my relief, she lowered her gun in distraction, "I didn't want to date a workaholic who payed more attention to Pokémon during our relationship. Those little tools."

"Our relationship?" I repeated in disgust, "That wasn't a relationship. You never cared about me."

A new expression rippled across her face, and it sent chills down my spine. I'd never seen it before. Rose looked...hurt.

"Don't you dare try to tell me how I feel."

I was silent, observing her expression cautiously.

What was in the past? Were her feelings genuine?

Rose chuckled joylessly, raising her gun again. "You're just like every other man."

Every other man.

"You never told me about your past." I lowered my voice and my tone changed, "I wish you had."

"What's there to tell?" She snapped, "Every man in my life has hurt me. My dad used to beat me when he was drunk. My uncle kicked me out after he became unemployed. And you?"

She lurched forward and I immediately stepped in the opposite direction, "I finally found shelter in K-Z, but none of you wanted me around. You were all so invested in saving those pathetic creatures."

She was only becoming more angry, I had to keep her talking.

From the corner of my eye, I'd noticed that Yellow was sitting up, facing us in an awkward position.

"But that's the point of K-Z, Rose. I love Pokémon, and protecting them is my duty. I can't understand why you'd want to kill so many."

She pointed the gun to my head again, smiling, "Because I wanted you to feel the pain I do."

"Not just you Red, but also this wimp." She met my eyes and I defiantly stared back, "I know about your little healing talents and your connection to Pokémon. Knocking the two of you down with one stone was easy."

Rose turned back to Red, and I knew it was time to finally act.

She thought I was passive for not fighting back, for sending ChuChu away, for letting her taunt Red. What Rose didn't know was that I'd been slowly accumulating power for one of my weaker abilities.

I was not a passive person, a wimp, or boring.

No matter what other people thought, I knew I was strong, and that was enough.

I closed my eyes in intimate concentration.

I could feel the buzzing in my veins as the energy pulsed through my body, just as Lance had described. I focused my vision on the gun, my mind reaching out to the object until I could eventually feel the solid shape. It was warm, rough, and in my grasp. Sweat adorned my face and small trickles slipped down my neck as the sound grew louder.

In one swift motion, I snapped my arm outwards, pushing with all my might. The gun flew from Rose's hand, skidding onto the edge of the mountain before tumbling downwards in such a minute amount of time that she couldn't process what had happened.

My vision blurred before I could grasp the unfolding scene. I was going limp; the energy of telekinesis had drained my body dry. I couldn't control my will to sit as I let myself fall.

A searing pain on the back of my head was the last thing I felt.

We both froze at Yellow's sudden outburst, and I watched in horror as she fell. Pushing Rose away from me, I ran forward and tried to reach the limp body.

"So that bitch has telekinetic powers too?" Rose scowled, "Well at least she's out of my way. Venom, now!"

I was only a few steps away from Yellow when the burning sting of Venusaur's vines struck my torso, and before I could scream out, I was sent flying backwards.

I landed just inches away from the opening of the mountain, any closer and I would've tumbled down the route we'd taken. The rough surface of the terrain scraped against my skin as I finally realised how stupid I'd been to come alone. Grunting, I tried to distract myself from the pain that had unleashed onto my sore body. I couldn't focus on her moving figure, but Rose had definitely moved towards Yellow.

My core was hurting like hell, but I leaned forward and took the opportunity to retrieve my Poké Balls. Aero was too far away, but Poli was within reach. Compared to Pika, who was worn from battling the wild Pokémon here, Poli was my best option for defence. Wincing, I tried to push his ball towards me.

"Aargh!" I failed to suppress myself this time as a booted shoe pushed down on my outstretched hand, crushing me.

It couldn't be Rose, she was beside Yellow.

"Sakura?"

My mind was growing hazy, I had barely conceded her presence when it disappeared into a luminous shock. Sparks of electricity ricocheted against my skin, but they were nothing compared to the volts that had left my colleague paralysed. Sakura, who had only just appeared in this turbulent scenario, was being electrocuted.

As she toppled downwards, I snatched Poli's ball quickly, then stood up in wonder. My eyes scanned for the source of electricity, there was no way my own partner could accumulate such a strong current in his state.

"ChuChu?" I watched, helplessly, as she ignored me and ran towards Yellow.

I had my own job to do now.

"It's a shame, but she wasn't much use anyway." Rose moved closer again, poking Sakura's hand with her heel dismissively. "She wasn't much use, just an insider who delivered my note. Greedy for money."

"You didn't need to get other people involved, Rose." I grounded myself, then stood against her, "You have issues with your past, that's never going to change."

Not waiting for her response this time, I released Poli, and readied for a battle.

"What? Don't tell me you've finally found your backbone Red." She rolled her eyes in response, clicking her fingers as a sign for Venusaur to trudge forward. My thoughts began to rush as I analysed the situation.

Venusaur? Stronger because of the weather boost and a type advantage.

Disadvantages? I've raised my own, so I'm familiar with the moveset. He's limited in space, which means he'll move slower than usual.

My advantages? I've got Poli's speed, he's more agile. He also knows Ice Beam, so there's some hope.

"There comes a point in time where you lose your morals." Rose held up a hand, pausing her Pokémon as she spoke, "I've been thrown around and hurt beyond my own capacity. I snapped. Right now, I'm done caring about other people. I'm my own priority and I don't need anything else."

"Now!"

Venusaur lurched towards the both of us, and it was only then that I realised he'd been gathering energy from the sun. She'd stalled for him.

"Shit," I watched the light accumulate into a sphere, "Poli, shield yourself with Ice Beam."

Pika nudged my arm, and I met his eyes then nodded, "Join."

As we anticipated the blow from Venom, Rose laughed.

"What? Two against one? Fine by me, I can still destroy you all."

The truth was, she was right. We were at no advantage, but that didn't mean I should give up.

Venusaur loudly grunted, and as the blinding light of his Solar Beam surged in our direction, Poli took a defensive stance. Standing in front of me, he outstretched both white hands, releasing a frosty blast of ice in retaliation. Pika aided him, jumping to Poli's side to embellish the Ice Beam with a current of electricity.

The two forces combusted, hurling us backwards yet hardly even denting our opponent.

As smoke covered the terrain, I motioned for Poli to quietly leap behind Venusaur.

"Double Team!"

In time with my shout, Poli multiplied. His clones circled Venom for a split second, then I gave him a confirming nod.

We'd battled long enough to be in sync.

Poli, along with all the clones, thrust towards Venusaur using Dynamic Punch. Unable to escape, the opponent roared in pain before angrily lashing out with his vines, obliterating all but one of the Poliwrath.

"Nice try. Take Down!"

"Get out of there, dodge it!"

I frantically leaned over, trying to see my Pokémon, who was covered by the stocky figure of Venusaur. It would be impossible for him to escape; there were too many boulders, and Yellow's body, in the way.

"Pika, distract him quickly!"

Scurrying to deliver an attack, Pikachu was quickly dismissed with a whip from Venom's brutish vines. Already weak, Pika flopped down in exhaustion.

I watched, helplessly, as the Venusaur edged towards Poli, "Shield yourself in ice using Ice Beam!"

I knew it was pointless, Rose's Pokémon could easily smash through that.

I closed my eyes, the feeling of defeat conquering my last few shreds of determination. Rose was going to win. I couldn't even bring myself to think about the future consequences of this moment. Would she use Venusaur to kill me? Was Yellow alive? Was anyone even coming to help?

I was tired, and my body was barely synchronised to my brain anymore.

"Poli, use Venusaur as leverage! Leap over him."

The sound of raw pain squeezed my eyes shut as I imagined poor Poli's state, he probably couldn't get out in time.

The shrieks continued, but they were different now.

Wait...

Opening my eyes again, I watched the miracle unfold.

It was Venusaur who was being defeated, with Poli crouched beside me in exhaustion.

Though they should've been hidden away, the Clefairy family were standing before me in broad daylight. There were about five Clefairy and three Clefable, all family of the pink Pokémon I'd saved before.

Together, they had mirrored Venusaur's last move using Copycat, knocking the plant Pokémon unconscious. Eight rounds of Take Down couldn't have been endured.

"You saved us." I murmured, jumping forward and seizing the opportunity, "Poli! Ice Beam on Rose's feet."

"You bastard! How did you even manage to get them against me?" The purple haired girl snarled at me, rooted to the ground as I patted the Clefairy from before.

"I helped this one before coming up." I returned Poli to his Pokè Ball, then retrieved Pika and Aero. "This proves it Rose, Pokémon aren't tools. You don't just use them as pawns in your plans. They have hearts, and a whole lot more compassion than you."

I refused to meet her luring green eyes and didn't intervene when ChuChu, who had stayed beside Yellow all this time, moved to strike Rose with a Thunderbolt.

My adrenaline was stagnating when I felt a hand touch my shoulder, making me flinch at the contact.

"You've done well, kid."

His Dragonite hovering beside Venom, Lance stood beside me as we observed the battlefield, filled with an eerie comfort.

The fainted Venusaur. Sakura and Rose, both unconscious from electrocution. The Clefairy family, circled around Yellow's collapsed figure. Next to her, the deeply wounded Pidgeot.

"I'll take care of it from here," He pointed to the sky and I realised we weren't alone anymore; aid had come. "Go to her."

Too late, though.

I stumbled to reach her as two Clefable allowed me to enter their circle. My fingers trembled as I kneeled down, then placed a hand to her forehead.

The Clefable were chanting to themselves, but their attempts of a Healing Wish had no impact.

"All of this, the long journey and tragic battle, were just so I that could save you." The tips of my fingers pressed against her cheek, "In the end, it was you who saved me."

A/N:
Okay, I've got a bunch of things to say so pardon this.

First of all, I'm really sorry for the late update! It's messed up the normal schedule for releases so that's pretty annoying, I apologise. I took some time off writing since I'm finally able to meet up with all the people I haven't seen in months :)

Secondly, in a previous chapter I accidently referred to Red's Poli as a Poliwhirl. Instead, I meant Poliwrath, who I've been sticking to from the manga. Speaking of manga, I just reread the first exchange between R+Y and it was so cute.

Okay back to the plot! That was a pretty hectic chapter and I doubt the writing is fluent, instead it feels quite shambolic to me, I'm very sorry!

Random side note, I dyed my hair purple today and now I'm getting Rose vibes from the attached picture. T°T

See you next week!
Baii